From: Susan Richmond <susan@webspan.net>

THE CITY UPDATE
		  Thursday, October 24th, 1996


THE FAMILY TREE
Location: Hospital waiting room

*Jacob is walking around in the hospital waiting room, yawning.  Angie 
suggests that he go home.  There's no need for them to both be there and 
she knows how he hates hospitals (because of his son David's death).  
Jacob's doing fine, he'll stick around.  The one they need to worry 
about is Lorraine, he says.  He doesn't thinks she's eaten at all 
recently. Angie kisses Jacob and goes off to find Lorraine. Jacob sits 
on the couch and pulls out the letter he got from the bank about his son 
David's college fund. He has a flashback of when he brought David to the 
hospital.  Jacob jumps when Richard comes over and puts his hand on 
Jacob's shoulder.

*Richard apologizes for startling him. Richard was looking for Zoey.  
Jacob tells him that Zoey is at the studio, covering for him on the 
show.  Nick's still in surgery, Richard says.  Richard shows Jacob the 
family tree that Nick gave him before he went into surgery.

*Jacob didn't even know Nick had a family, he never mentioned them.  It 
was Nick's way of saying that if something happened to him, Richard 
wouldn't be alone. Well, Richard always has Angie and him, Jacob tells 
him. Richard never thought about having kids, but when Nick gave him the 
family tree, he realized how important it was to Nick to have a son and 
it might be important someday to Richard, too.  Jacob looks sad. Richard 
apologizes, he didn't remember about Jacob's son David who died when he 
was talking.

*Richard apologizes again, he forgot about David.  Jacob tells him that 
its OK. The doctor comes over to them to speak to Richard.  "Is it about 
Nick?", Richard asks. "Yes", says the doctor.....

LET'S MAKE A DEAL
Location: The hospital chapel

*Lorraine is in the hospital chapel praying for help for Nick.  She 
promises to never take another drink if Nick will just be OK. Angie 
walks in and hears Lorraine's bargain.  Angie pretends she didn't hear 
anything and asks Lorraine if she wants something to eat.  Lorraine 
realises that Angie did hear her, and tells Angie it was only a few 
drinks. Angie must think she's pathetic. Angie shakes her head no.

*Angie tells her that she's bargained with God herself.  But with 
liquor?, Lorraine says, that's pathetic.  Angie thinks that God will 
understand. Angie has felt out of control sometimes herself.  But she 
didn't deal with it by drinking, Lorraine says.  No, Angie agrees, she 
found other ways to deal with her problems. What could possibly be wrong 
with Angie's life, she's a respected doctor, she owns a clinic, and has 
a man who would give her the world. What else could Angie possibly want? 
There is one thing she wants and doesn't have, Angie tells her.  She 
want to have a child with Jacob. 

*Lorraine apologizes, she thought that since Angie already had 
Frankie... Angie never really thought about having another child until 
she met Jacob. She also knows how much children mean to Jacob, 
especially because of David. But because of the chemotherapy she had 
when she had aplastic anemia, she can't have any more children. Lorraine 
had no idea that she couldn't have children, she shouldn't have shot off 
her big mouth.  She shouldn't have assumed anything about Angie's life. 
Lorraine knows what Angie's feeling.  Lorraine never wanted to have 
another child after her daughter, Brianna, until she met Nick. Lorraine 
suddenly gets the feeling that something is wrong with Nick.  

*Lorraine definitely feels something is wrong.  Angie tries to reassure 
her that waiting is the hardest part, but Lorraine gets up and heads out 
the door. Angie follows her.


DO YOU WANT TO BUY A BUILDING?
Location: The City Bar

*Uncle Gino walks into the bar and joins Carla, who is sitting at a 
table. Carla asks him if he noticed the building when he came in. How 
would he like to own this building? Gino laughs at her.

*Carla tells Uncle Gino that there are 1.2 million in back taxes on the 
building and the building is worth about 3 times that much. If Uncle 
Gino goes to the IRS and offers them 1.5 million for it before it is 
auctioned off, he'll double his money. And that will give Carla more 
clout with the people that live here, Gino says. Gino's not interested 
in buying a building in this area, where he doesn't know the people. 
Gino tells her that he's lonely sometimes. Carla hopes that he's not 
still thinking about "that Sarah woman". Gino can't understand what 
happened, Sarah won't even return his calls. Carla warns him that there 
are a lot of females out there who would want to take advantage of him. 
Is he a fool, Gino asks. No, but maybe he's just a little too trusting 
when it comes to women. If his family doesn't watch out for him, who 
will, says Carla. 

*How does Carla know so much about predatory females, Gino asks.  
Because she is one, Carla tells him. Gino offers to give Carla a lift, 
but she has to go upstairs and get a briefcase.  Gino says he'll wait 
and follows her out into the hallway.  Carla convinces him it will take 
a while and she'll just get a cab.  She warns him to be careful of the 
"big game hunters".  Just then, the elevator opens and Tracy literally 
runs into Uncle Gino.  Tracy walks toward the front door, but Uncle Gino 
follows her and stops her to talk.  She asks if his date ever showed up 
and he apologizes for the food spilled on her. Gino offers her a drink 
in apology, but Tracy refuses. Uncle Gino leaves.  Tracy gives him a 
head start and then walks toward the front door herself. 

ALEX'S PLAN
Location: The Penthouse

Tracy is sitting looking at the pieces of her worthless jewelry 
collection (her father, Edward, apparently substituted fakes for the 
real things before she left Port Charles). She puts the pieces back in a 
jewelry box.  The doorbell rings, it's Alex.  She thought they'd said 
good-bye forever.  He just couldn't stay away, he tells her.  Since he's 
not there to fan old flames, he must want to talk about the building, 
Tracy guesses.  Has Alex figured a way out of the mess?  Actually, he 
has, and the answer is Tracy. A million dollars shouldn't be that much 
money to a Quartermaine.  Tracy laughs at him. Tracy won't help his 
friends? Why, Alex asks.

*It's very simple, the Quartermaine's didn't get rich by giving 
hand-outs. If his friends can't live up to the financial obligation, 
they shouldn't be living there in the first place.  His friends aren't 
looking for charity, Alex explains, they're offering her an "investment 
opportunity".  Tracy doesn't "want to get involved in other people's 
little dramas". "HA", Alex laughs, doing an imitation of Tracy's laugh, 
and tells her he doesn't remember that about her.  Tracy warns him not 
to mock her. This building is not just a building to his friends, it's 
their home, just like the Quartermaine mansion is Tracy's home. "Can you 
imagine how you would feel if you were booted out of those 40 lush acres 
in Port Charles?", Alex asks. "No Alex, I can't imagine that. I can't 
imagine something that would never possibly happen", Tracy replies.  
She's sorry, but she can't consider investing in his friends. She's sure 
Alex will think of something.  He has, he knows who will invest in this 
deal, he's a real risk taker.  Who is it, Tracy asks. "Your father", 
Alex says. "Don't you dare call my father", Tracy threatens him. 

*Did Alex hit a nerve? Why doesn't Tracy want Alex talking to her 
father? Because if this deal is profitable, she doesn't want her father 
to know she passed up on it, Tracy explains.  Alex can't believe that 
she's still so competitive with her father, Edward. She's trying to 
stand on her own two feet. She agrees to at least listen to the deal.  
The deal is that if Tracy pays the back taxes on the building, each of 
the other owners will give Tracy 1% of their share. This will give Tracy 
58% of the building and everyone else a home to live in.  An extra 7% 
might mean a lot to his friends, but to Tracy it means nothing.  There 
is the added advantage of taking Sydney's phony deal and shoving it in 
her face. "Well, I can think of another place I..... never mind", says 
Tracy.  Tracy still isn't sure it makes sound business sense.  Well, if 
all the back taxes don't get paid, Tracy is going to be the owner of 51% 
of nothing.  Tracy appears ready to agree, but claims she needs to talk 
to her lawyer first to see if by some miracle she can get the "tax bite" 
reduced.  Tracy's always looking for the angle, Alex says.  Tracy agrees 
she's an operator. Alex says she's a charming one and Tracy replies he's 
going to make her blush.  "That'll be a first", Alex says.  "There's a 
first time for everything Alex, and a second", Tracy flirts with him.

*Tracy walks Alex to the door.  Alex hopes that this will work out to 
everyone's advantage.  Tracy promises to call Alex as soon as she talks 
to her lawyer.  The elevator door opens and Dillion rushes over to 
Tracy.  Tracy introduces Alex to Beth and Dillion.  Alex shakes Dillon's 
hand and says its a pleasure to meet him. Dillon shows Tracy some books 
he got at the library as Alex leaves. Dillon goes upstairs and Beth 
tells Tracy she went to the library to do some research. She hands Tracy 
a list of day care centers in New York City.  Beth can't keep working 
for Tracy when Tracy isn't paying her.  Beth's sister was helping her 
out, but can't anymore because of her own financial troulbes. Tracy 
promised she will pay Beth and she will NOT put her son in day care. 
Tracy grabs her coat and purse and leaves. (See above)

-- 
Susan


