From: Deborah Graham <dgraham@centra.com>

Wednesday in "the city:"

Tracy is talking on the phone to Isabelle. Tracy says this will 
be like her 20th wedding,she does not want to wear white. No, 
not black..not yet. Something in a sweet silk suit. She needs 
it right away. No, not that reason! Let's just say her 
fianance is dying to marry her. She hangs up when the doorbell 
rings. It's Zoey. What's the deal? Zoey asks. Are they shopping 
for rice and shoes today? Nope, Tracy says, both are in stock. 
Tracy has some news that might chase her blues away. The taxes 
have been paid on this building, Tracy says. A wedding present 
from the big guy? No, not Gino, Tracy says. Tracy wonders if 
Zoey is pining over Sydney's little wombat. His name is Richard, 
Zoey says, and she wishes she had never meet that little wombat.

In his apartment, Nick is on the phone, Richard comes in. Nick 
hasn't heard from Loraine. Does he thinks she's drinking again? 
Richard asks. Nick hopes not, but the way she looked yesterday, 
he's worried about her.

Meanwhile, Loraine is looking over a drink menu when the waiter 
comes up and suggests a magrarita. Loraine declines. He wonders 
if he can tempt her. Yes, she says, but she wants coffee. Irish? 
the waiter asks. No, Loraine says, straight, no chaser. Okay, 
the waiter says.

Angie comes down to the bar. Tess and Buck comes in. Angie asks 
how it went. Tess says it went, She was in, she was checked, she 
was out. Angie's beeper goes off. Jacob asks what's next. Tess 
says she goes into the hospital this afternoon, she has her biopsy 
tomorrow and then the moment of truth.

Tracy says Richard's charms allude her, she doesn't know what Zoey 
sees in him. Zoey wonders how to get him back into her life. Tracy 
says she is not Zoey's Fairy Godmother. The hair? Zoey wonders, 
does she need to do something with her hair? Tracy laughs, of 
course. Think normal, Tracy suggests. She's never been normal. She 
left the convent and the uniforms right to the street and thrift 
shops. She skipped the "normal". Tracy finally agrees to help, but 
she doesn't know if she can make a silk purse out of those ears.

Nick and Ricahrd are talking about Loraine. Richard says that if 
she is in a bar, there is nothing Nick can do about it. Richard has 
more faith in Loraine, it seems. Richard invites Nick to breakfast. 
Nick says no thanks, but he just made some coffee. Nick is impressed 
that Richard wants to spend time with Dad than with his suit-friends. 
Richard mentions that he promised Sydney to change some thing about 
the company. He wants to add day care and to start treating the 
employees like humans instead of just numbers. Nick is impressed. 
Richard was hoping Zoey would be, too. They talk about why Richard 
didn't call Zoey more often while he was in Australia. Richard says 
when he did call, she would always ask if he had found himself yet 
and when he was coming back. Nick says every day that he didn't call 
she got more worried and madder. Then he comes back a changed man, 
with a beautiful woman on his arm. What was Zoey supposed to think? 
Richard wants to know how to get her back. Nick wonders if he is 
asking for fartherly advice?

Tess asks Jacob about the baby clothes she saw upstairs. Jacob says 
he got a little carried away. He says he's going to give this 
surrogate thing a chance. Buck leaves to sign for a delivery. Tess 
asks Jacob to look after Buck for her. Afraid he'll find someone 
else? Jacob asks. Maybe he should, Tess sighs. She just wants to make 
sure if he gets the blues that he has someone to talk to. Jacob says 
no problem. Buck signs for the package. Angie returns. Buck asks her 
what if Tess does have cancer? Angie says lots of women survive. He 
feels like he's in a box and he doesn't know what to do. She tells 
him to be optomistic for her. He can do that, can't he?

He'd do anything for Tess, Buck says. How about a smile? Angie 
suggests. Tess comes over and Angie says it wasn't an emergency - 
her nurse couldn't find the scotch tape. Tess wants to talk to Angie. 
Tess is scared to death. But, she's trying not to let Buck see it, 
since he's being so optomistic. She doesn't want to worry Buck any 
more than she has to. Buck and Jacob talk. Jacob asks how Buck is.
Buck says he's great, he acted like such a jackass before he knew 
what was going on with Tess. When she was talking about the breast 
reduction, he went on and on about not changing anything, how she 
was perfect just as she is. That caused her not to go to the doctor
to see about this lump. Jacob wants to know if Buck wants him to 
punch him out now - it will be less painful than the beating that 
Buck is giving himself. Buck thinks it's his fault, she could have 
gone to the doctor sooner...

Tracy is in her penthouse with Isabelle, looking over possible 
dresses. Zoey comes in wearing a white suit. She is a nerd, Zoey says. 
Tracy says that suit looks so different on Zoey than when Tracy wears 
it. Tracy introduces her personal shopper, Isabelle, to Zoey. Is there 
any hope? Tracy asks Isabelle. Isabelle says maybe...she goes to Zoey. 
The phone rings. Richard is calling to talk to Zoey. Tracy says she is
here, but she can't come to the phone right now. Richard wants to see 
her. Tracy says this is not a good time. Maybe in three or four hours, 
Tracy says, looking at Zoey. Richard is in Nick's apartment and he 
will be up in a few minutes. Richard slams the phone down. Tracy tells
Zoey that her friend needs better phone manners. He's on his way up, 
tracy says, let's get to work!

Richard hangs up and Nick tells him to loose the suit coat. He'll just 
freak Zoey out again. The phone rings. It's a wrong number. Nick hangs 
up angerly. Richard tells him not to jump everytime the phone rings. 
Loraine will call him when she is ready to call him. Nick wants to go 
look for Loraine.

Meanwhile, Loraine is writing Nick a letter. She says the good news is 
that she is not drinking. The bad news is that she doesn't think she 
can be with him, it just isn't right for her. There is only one thing 
that she can do and that is the right thing.

Tess will be in the hospital on Valentine's Day, she tells Angie. And 
Buck will be with you. It may be the last one they spend together, 
Tess sighs. Buck heads over to the table that Angie and Tess are at, 
but he stops and overhears what they're talking about. Tess is worried 
that the cancer has spread, and that she'll have to undergo 
chemotheraphy. She won't put Buck through that, Tess says. Angie 
reminds her that Buck wants to marry her. Tess says that is one promise 
she will not keep. Buck overhears this conversation, and he returns to 
Jacob to ask a big favor.

Loraine is calling someone to see how far she can get on $200. Nick is 
calling people looking for Loraine. Richard changes out of the suit. 
He leaves. Nick dials another number. 

Zoey is dressed up, looking great. Tracy is pleased, and she asks 
Isabelle to go this good on her wedding dress. Isabelle sees herself out. 
Richard is at the door. Zoey answers, and Richard mistakes her for 
Tracy, then he laughs. This upsets Zoey, who runs out to the elevator. 
Good going, Mr. Wilkins, Tracy says. Richard takes off after Zoey. The 
elevator door closes, and Richard laughs and appologizes for laughing, 
but really, he says.

do-I-smell-a-Valentine's-Day-wedding-at-the-hospital-hanger

deb
(dgraham@centra.com)


