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

THE CITY Mini-Update for Friday, April 5:

STORYLINE: THE TYCOON'S NEW CLOTHES
           (starting location: Stairwell)
* Molly straightens Danny's tie.  He gets in the elevator, she wishes
 him good luck, then they kiss as the door closes.
[Later, at the penthouse.]
Danny rings the doorbell.  Sydney answers the door and greets him by
 asking, "are you hungry?"
* Sydney serves Danny some Dom Perignon and caviar.  Danny (awkwardly)
 drags out some plans and proposals.  Sydney says it's all right -- she
 has already decided to "go with him."  There is, however, one problem:
 Danny!
* Sydney says that a business is only as good as the person fronting it.
 She wants to talk to him about his image -- "MIAMI VICE was canceled
 ten years ago" -- and suggests a shave and a haircut.  Danny says she
 sounds like Delilah, but Sydney points out that Delilah wasn't putting
 up the big bucks for an aspiring coffee tycoon.  Danny says he likes
 the sound of "tycoon."  She gives him a couple of fashion tips.  He
 says his cash flow situation doesn't allow him to go all out.  Sydney
 says she hopes he didn't think this money was going to come out of
 _his_ pocket -- "I'm not just investing in a coffee bar; I'm investing
 in you."  Sydney offers him $25,000 "up front" money.
* For her money, she wants not only a haircut and a makeover, but also
 professional plans and marketing campaigns.  She says she was thinking
 more along the lines of a franchise operation, with coffee bars in all
 the great boutiques.  Danny had those same ideas, but he had been
 thinking small, considering his resources; her money changes things,
 though.  As she strokes his tie, Danny asks what Jared thinks of this.
 "Jared just *loves* a good cup of coffee."  She thinks he should get
 going right away; "how does tomorrow afternoon sound to you?"  He says
 he'll have to check with his secretary, but he's sure he can manage
 that.  He can't wait to think more about the franchise idea.  She says
 she doesn't want to be disappointed; he says that won't happen.  "Oh,
 good."  She gives him a peck on the cheek, they shake hands, and Danny
 leaves.  Outside, he celebrates; he's quite proud of himself.  Inside,
 Sydney says that "wasn't so hard."  The phone rings; it's "Mr. Davis
 calling.  Suddenly, Sydney is mad: "Mr. Chase did *what*?!"

STORYLINE: GIRL TALK II
           (location: Ally/Jocelyn/Molly's apartment)
* Zoey shows off the photo of her mother to Ally and Azure; Jocelyn is
 on the phone trying to get ahold of her mother ("I know you're there;
 pick up!").  Zoey suggests (kiddingly) a game of charades.
* Jocelyn slams the phone down.  Ally tries to console her, but she
 guesses her mom is probably passed out -- any excuse to get back on
 the bottle.  Ally suggests the lasagne (she ordered in this time, so
 it is actually good), and they go downstairs.  Zoey is on the phone
 with Richard.  He is calling to tell her to watch HOTLINE at 10:00
 for a big surprise.  "You'll love it."  She hangs up and Molly enters.
 Molly says she can *feel* that Danny will succeed, and tells Jocelyn
 that she is sorry to hear about her breakup with Alex.  Zoey gets a
 "magic candle" which, when lit, brings your man back.  Jocelyn says
 she wishes it were that easy...then lights the candle.
* Zoey is telling everyone the story of "finding" her mother.  Ally asks
 whether she is going to look for her father.  Yes, but he might be a
 dweeb who wore tie-die and liked disco.  Jocelyn, serious throughout,
 says there are worse things than that.  Ally changes the subject to the
 lasagne.  Azure says it is very good, and Molly "accuses" her of having
 Tony make it, saying that they all know how much time the two of them
 have been spending together.  Ally says that statement is rumor, not
 fact.  Zoey says there *are* no secrets, everyone finds everything out
 eventually.  Jocelyn uneasily leaves, Ally follows.  Zoey says she
 hopes the candle works for Jocelyn.  Molly says she never pegged Zoey
 as a romantic.  "Who said I was?"  Molly and Azure laugh, and Molly
 says it is no secret that she and Richard are...  Zoey accuses her of
 being a "regular one-man [sic] gossip mill."  Zoey says she must be
 jealous.  "When it comes to sex with you two, Danny and Bernardo must
 be using up more cold water than Niagara Falls."
[Later.]
Zoey offers them more wine, apologizing for that statement and saying
 that she isn't "getting any" from Richard.  She tells them that they
 tried, once, but Sister Margaret interrupted.  Molly and Azure laugh
 hysterically.  Zoey finds out that they're out of wine, and Jocelyn
 leaves to go to the bar and get some more.  Molly asks Azure if she
 and Bernardo have...  No.  Molly wonders if they have all missed the
 sexual revolution -- everyone's so careful these days.  Azure says she
 wants somebody to sweep her off her feet.  Molly agrees, saying that
 only then can they utter "that immortal cliche: 'Take me, I'm yours.'"
 Azure says it is more complicated for her, "never having been taken."
 She never felt ready -- until Bernardo.  Molly tells her that she'll
 know when it's time, but that SHE is ready NOW!  In the kitchen, Zoey
 quizzes Ally about her relationship with Tony.  "Not now, not ever!"
 Ally says men and women can be *friends*.  Zoey says she heard that in
 WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, but it didn't work.  Azure enters the kitchen,
 thanking Ally for dinner and saying that she has to go look at some
 used restaurant equipment with Bernardo.  Zoey realizes that it is
 10:00, time for HOTLINE!  She runs to the TV and turns it on.
* Richard says that starting this week, HOTLINE will have a new segment
 devoted to commentary from Zoey.  Zoey is horrified: "What?  Oh, my
 God.  This can't be happening."  She turns the TV off, grabs a coat
 and runs out the door.  The phone rings, it's Danny calling for Molly.
 She runs out too, telling Ally that "something has happened to Danny"
 and telling her to leave the dishes for her.  Now alone, Ally meanders
 around the apartment.  "Some dinner party."
[At Alex/Danny/Tony's apartment.]
Molly enters, concerned.  The place is dark.  She finds Danny and says
 she hopes he's all right, he said it was an emergency.  "It is!  I
 want you."  He kisses her.
[At Ally/Jocelyn/Molly's apartment.]
Ally says that "Cinderella" should get working.  She grabs an apron and
 puts it on, as there is a knock on the door.  It's Tony "Avon calling!"
 Soleito.  He says he's bored and wanted to stay out of trouble, and he
 notices that everyone has left; he says she should have let him cook
 the lasagne.  He notices that she has been left with the dishes.  She
 says, "That's what friends are for."  He says he's a friend.  After
 gazing into each other's eyes for a few seconds and smiling, Ally says,
 "You wash, I'll dry."

STORYLINE: ON THE REBOUND
           (location: City Bar)
* Tony interrupts Alex and suggests "a little mischief" to take his mind
 off of Jocelyn.  Alex declines, then looks past Tony at Lucy, who just
 arrived.  Alex compliments her: "You look great!"
* Alex introduces Lucy to Tony.  Tony says he's not happy with the NYPD
 about being taken off the prostitution case.  Alex informs him that
 this isn't a business meeting, and, while Tony gets the hint, Lucy says
 she thinks they were fired prematurely.  Tony excuses himself.  Lucy
 asks Alex when he "came back on the [single] market."
* Alex somehow drags work back into the conversation, asking if Lucy has
 been in contact with Madame Varoushka.  They're playing phone tag.  He
 tells her he's still looking for the redhead who ditched him; she says
 most prostitutes don't use their real names.  "You mean 'Desire' and
 'Cherry' are not their real names?"  Alex is also mock-shocked to hear
 that these women don't have "hearts of gold."  Lucy says that even so,
 prostitutes are people like everyone else.  They have families, even
 boyfriends.  "Man, that's a scary thought."
* Alex is talking to Lucy about the agency's "very big contracts."  He
 even brings up the *really* big case of the divorcee and her beloved
 Sonny.  He then admits that Sonny is a Boa Constrictor and his owner
 is a dancer at the Boom-Boom Club, and that Sonny is part of her act.
 They laugh.  While they're being silly, Jocelyn enters.  She sees them
 and stops.  Alex then turns and sees her.
