From: Robert Willers <willers@trombone.sps.mot.com>

THE CITY Update for Friday, March 8:

STORYLINE: I'LL NEVER LEAVE YOU (WARNING: SOAP CLICHE)
 (starting location: Free clinic)
* Jacob and Angie enter.  He is telling her that Lorraine was very upset
 when she returned to the bar.  Angie (rather angrily) says she was fine
 when she left the clinic.  Jacob says that Lorraine wanted a good stiff
 drink.  Angie gets a bit defensive and says nothing happened, and asks
 Jacob exactly what Lorraine said to him.
* Jacob admits that she didn't exactly say that she wanted a drink, and
 she didn't exactly say that it was because of their meeting, but it
 seemed like it was.  Angie repeats that *nothing* happened -- she says
 they discussed her working in a bar, but she was fine when she left.
 She accuses Lorraine of starting up her "routine" when she saw Jacob.
 He asks why she would want to "play him" like that.  Angie says that
 it is obvious: "she wants you back."
* Angie says she is being too manipulative, making him feel sorry for
 her and making Angie out to be the bad guy, then she was insinuating
 to Angie that he looked unhappy.  Jacob says there is no threat of
 Lorraine being a problem.  Angie says this isn't jealousy on her part,
 it is fear -- "the woman is obviously trying to mess us up."  Jacob
 rolls his eyes.
* He observes that Lorraine really has Angie worried.  She just warns
 him to watch out.  "You know, they have this saying: 'It takes two to
 tango.'  And you and I make two, so don't you worry your prettly little
 head."  She says she'll try, and smiles.  He holds her.  He says they
 have been a little off-track since they got engaged.  He continues,
 "Nothing or nobody will ever come between us."  "Jacob, sometimes what
 we have is so good, it's scary."  Jacob says he is here, and he isn't
 going anywhere.

STORYLINE: FIELDS OF GOLD
 (starting location: Ally/Molly/Jocelyn's apartment)
* Ally and Tony enter.  Ally calls out for Danny but he's not there.
 Tony says they expected him to be there at 7:30; Ally says she hasn't
 seen him since noon.  She tells Tony that Danny got some blueprints for
 the building and is looking for the buried treasure.  Tony is angry,
 saying that they all agreed that he would do some checking first.  We
 all did, says Ally, but when it comes to money, Danny is like a dog in
 heat.
[In the basement of the building.]
Danny is comparing the blueprints to what is built and he decides that
 "this must be it."  He closes the door, then he goes to a grate.  He
 shines a flashlight in...
* [In the apartment.]
Tony asks how he got blueprints.  From Bernardo.  Molly enters and asks
 what is going on.  Tony says he hopes Joey and his friends don't kill
 Danny, because he'd like to do so himself.  Molly says that isn't very
 nice.  Tony tells Molly that she doesn't know Danny like they do.  She
 asks what he did, and Ally tells her.  She wonders how he got such a
 stupid idea, then remembers that she mentioned that there was a similar
 storyline on DYNASTY.  Tony asks if she knows where he might be.  She
 says he has done some bad things, but he has changed, and asks them to
 give him a chance.  After a moment of considering this, Ally says maybe
 he *has* changed.  Tony says that maybe he'll hit the lottery, but
 Danny Roberts will never change.  Tony leaves, angrily.
[In the basement.]
Danny unscrews the grate.  He removes it and shines the flashlight in.
* [In the apartment.]
Ally tries to convince Molly that she really doesn't know him like they
 do.  Molly says he has been very nice to her.  Ally says she thinks he
 tries to do the right thing, but he "takes shortcuts" and that he is an
 "operator."  Molly says that maybe he is finally doing the right thing.
 She tells Ally about Danny being such a nice guy when Joey came to the
 motel.  She even says that she made a pass at him, but he didn't want
 to take advantage of her.  Ally says she thought "taking advantage of"
 was his middle name.  Molly says that proves how wrong she was -- she
 knows how he was, but he's not like that now.  "The man is a saint."
 "Molly, if Danny is a saint, then Heaven is in a lot of trouble."
[In the basement.]
Tony comes in and grabs Danny, asking what he is doing.  He says that
 if Joey's friends find him, they'll fit him for cement shoes.  Danny
 tells him that nobody is going to catch him, and suggests to Tony that
 he help him look.  Look for what??!  Danny figures that there must be
 *something* good, or these people wouldn't be going to such trouble.
 Tony tells Danny that he doesn't care if Danny gets himself killed,
 but "these people" aren't going to stop with him -- they'll come after
 Molly and Ally.  Danny tells him to go upstairs and look after the
 "women folk."  He says he doesn't listen to Tony.  Tony grabs him and
 says that he had better start listening to him.  "You and I are going
 to have a little talk about things."
* [In the apartment.]
Tony and Danny enter.  Tony says Danny was "checking the plumbing" for
 his coffee bar.  Ally says she was just re-wiring the fuse box.  She
 says he is going to get them all killed.  Molly goes to Danny to take
 his jacket off, and as she does, she tells Tony and Ally to give him
 a break.  Ally half-screams that if there *is* something valuable in
 the building, they won't stop with him, "they'll take all of us out!"
 Tony says he and Danny just "had a talk," and Danny understands that
 now.  Danny says, "Yeah, whatever."  Molly asks Danny what he got on
 his jacket.  Ally says it's probably just dust from the pipes.  No,
 says Molly, it looks like little flakes of gold!

STORYLINE: *REAL* NEWS AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE
 (starting location: Penthouse)
* Sydney, dressed in red, asks Jocelyn what she thinks [of her outfit].
 Jocelyn says she finished the press release.  She then admits to being
 upset and asks how someone who is being blackmailed is *supposed* to
 act.  Sydney says she should just be glad that her lover won't find out
 about her past extracurricular activities.  Jocelyn says she could go
 to jail for the papers she just signed.  Sydney retorts that she could
 go to jail for a lot of things.  She says that they're just telling the
 world the truth about Jared's death -- or a variation of the truth.
 Jocelyn is still nervous about the paper she signed.  As the doorbell
 rings, Sydney offers to tear the paper up and inform the world about
 the way Jocelyn worked her way through law school -- turning tricks.
 Alex enters.  Sydney welcomes him: "Alex!  We were just talking about
 you."  He acts flattered; Jocelyn just glares at her.
[At Jared's hideout.]
Jared holds out a copy of Sydney's speech.  Malcolm asks how he got it.
 Through the magic of computers, answers Jared.  He says it is touching,
 especially the part about handing the company over to Richard.  He says
 that it's a shame that she won't get a chance to deliver it, though.
 He checks his watch: "You'd better get going.  It's almost showtime!"
* [In the elevator.]
Tess thanks Nick for being her way into the press conference.  Nick is
 unimpressed.  Tess thinks he really wanted to go himself.  Nick denies
 it, but Tess says this could change things between Nick and Sydney.  He
 says nothing is going to change unless he wants it to, and frankly, he
 likes things just the way they are.
[At the penthouse.]
Sydney greets Richard and thanks him for coming.  She even welcomes Zoey
 to the press conference.  Zoey says this looks like it will be *some*
 party.  She calls Richard aside and asks him to stand beside her at the
 podium.  He agrees to do so.  He goes back to Zoey.
Alex asks Jocelyn if she is sure she's all right.  She says she'll smack
 him if he asks her again.  He says it looks like she and Sydney had a
 misunderstanding.  Jocelyn says no misunderstanding, everything's fine.
Tess and Nick enter.  Sydney tells him that she thought he wasn't going
 to come.  He says his friend needed a date.  Sydney says she hopes Tess
 didn't have to pay him *too* much to come.  Tess says she can afford
 it.  Sydney tells Tess that she should take that money and buy a life.
 "Or maybe a shotgun," retorts Tess.  Sydney turns to Nick and says she
 is truly glad he came: "Tonight is the beginning of a new life for me,
 and I was sort of hoping it would be a new beginning for you, too."
[At Jared's hideout.]
Jared chuckes.  "Oh, Syd, if you only knew."
* Richard tells Zoey that he had a talk with Sydney earlier today, and
 it sure explained a lot of things.  Zoey wants to know more, but he
 won't tell her.  "Let's just say that after tonight, things are going
 to be a lot different, in a good way."  She presses him, but he sticks
 to the secret, repeating that things will be explained at the press
 conference.  "Do you trust me?"  "Do I have a choice?"  She hugs him.
Tess tells Sydney that this party reminds her of the first time she was
 up there, when she handed them all eviction notices.  Sydney says the
 difference is that she didn't invite Tess tonight.  Tess says she is
 surprised Sydney isn't wearing black: "Widow's color!"  She says she'll
 loan Sydney her eye drops, because a fake tear or two would look great.
 Sydney mock-thanks her for all her help, saying she wishes she could
 repay her.  Tess says the $100,000 is a good start.  Sydney warns Tess
 that she has a long memory, and, "You are a reckless vulgarian who has
 crossed my path just once too often.  But people like you just seem
 predestined to screw up in some major way somewhere down the road, and
 when it happens, I am going to be right there to pick up the pieces and
 put the finishing touches on your demise.  And I am going to love every
 minute of it."  Sydney leaves.  Tess just smiles, almost admiringly.
Malcolm enters and tells Jocelyn that she looks lovely tonight.  She
 asks what he is doing there.  He says that he has a "vested interest."
 He asks her if Alex is a new client.  Alex introduces himself, saying
 that they have met, and tells Malcolm to take a hike.  "Nice seeing you
 again, too," says Malcolm.  Alex tells Jocelyn that he can't *believe*
 she dated him.  She changes the subject, asking if he wants wine.  Red.
 She leaves to get the wine.
Nick is drinking a glass of milk (!).  Sydney approaches him and asks
 where his date is.  He says he thinks she's in the ladies' room.  Too
 bad, says Sydney, she might miss the big event.  Nick wishes her good
 luck -- that she pulls this off and that everything works out the way
 she planned it.  She says he almost sounds sincere; Nick says he is.
 She thanks him.  She says that means a lot to her, and she is really
 glad he is here tonight.  She leaves: "It's showtime!"
* Alex asks if Jocelyn thinks she'll have to stay, or if they can get
 out of there after the press conference.  It depends on Her Majesty's
 mood, says Jocelyn.  He asks if they are getting along all right.  She
 says they are, this is just business stuff.  He asks if Malcolm still
 bothers her.  She says he's not a problem.  Alex says that someday, he
 and Malcolm are going to have to have a little conversation.  "Oh hell,
 why not now?"  Jocelyn stops him.  Sydney calls the press conference
 to order.
Richard leaves Zoey to go to the podium: "Here goes nothing."
Tess says, "Wow.  Here comes the fireworks."
Sydney: "First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for coming tonight.
 I have an annoucement to make about Chase International.  Most of you
 know that Chase is the brainchild of my husband, Jared Chase.  Jared
 and I have worked side-by-side ever since we were first married back
 in 1976, and I've learned this business from the ground up.  And, well,
 that knowledge is going to serve me well now, because there's been a
 rather shocking development..."
Jared, just inside the door, interrupts.  "Go ahead, darling, tell them!
 The press is waiting."  Nick smiles and shakes his head.  Sydney just
 stares at him as if she's seen a ghost.

-----
|  "Half of the people are stoned and the              |  Bob Willers  |
|   other half are waiting for the next election..."   |  Phoenix, AZ  |
|   (Can anyone guess what this is taken from?)        | MY opinions!! |
+------------ willers@trombone.sps.mot.com ------------+---------------+

