From: LMT94002@UConnVM.UConn.Edu (Riley)

The City-Update Friday, November 22, 1996

Storyline:  Surprise, Surprise!

Ally models her dress for Joc.  She's dressed to kill.  Joc thinks she's
already dead.  Tony is going to flip when he sees her.  She hopes so.
The dress cost her a month's worth of groceries.  Tony has something
special planned.  Joc says he offered to make up the bed in Alex's old
apartment.  Joc thinks he has an all night private party planned, but Joc
doesn't mind as long as she gets all the details.  Ally wonders what he's
up to.  Does Joc think he's going to propose?  Joc hopes not.

Danny hopes the birthday surprise arrives on time.  He can't wait to see
the look on Ally's face when he sees what he brought home for her.  With
her money, Carla reminds him.  His idea, her bankbook.  She still hasn't
told him what she has planned for Tony.  He should take care of Ally and
leave Tony to her.  Danny leaves and Carla turns around, coming fact to
face with Tony.

Where did Tony come from?  He lives there, remember?  She thought he was
getting ready for Ally's birthday.  Tony, in most of a tux, says what
does she call this?  He wants to know where Danny went.  He wants to show
him something.  Carla isn't sure.  Did he go out?  Carla says she doesn't
know.  She sees a ring box and asks what it is.  Tony says it's nothing.
She notes its size and he says, "Yeah, well, you know."  He got Ally an
engagement ring, didn't he?

Joc sincerely hopes that Tony doesn't propose to her?, Ally asks.  When
Ally and Tony get married, Joc will be the first person throwing rice,
she'll even supply the china, but...  Ally will settle for a can-opener
that worked.  Tony is still legally married to Carla until the annulment,
Joc reminds her.  Ally says Joc is an incurable romantic, actually more
like an incurable lawyer.  joc goes on auto-pilot.  Ally tells her not to
worry, she's not expecting Tony to give her an engagement ring.  Ally
doesn't need an engagement ring or anything else to tell her that she and
Tony are going to have a wonderful future together.  She thanks Jox.  If
it weren't for her, Tony would still be chained to Carla and Ally would
be alone and that's not a fun place to be.  Tell her aboutit, Joc says.
Joc can empathize with her.  She just wishes Alex would come home.  He
called to say he was going to stay a little longer.  They keep calling
and missing each other.  Ally knows how frustrating that can be, she
tried calling Tyler earlier, but no one was there.  Joc is sure Alex is
just off with his kids somewhere.  Ally says she should call him at the
house.  Joc doesn't want to.  Ally guesses it's because of Ava.

Tony says it's just a ring.  An engagement ring, right?  A pre-engagement
ring, he says.  Carla thanks him for trying to protect her feelings, but
Danny already told her.  She asks to see it.  She opens it, assuring him
that it's alright even though they're still technically married.  She
says it's lovely.  She really thinks so.  It's really beautiful.  She
hands it back to him and takes off her own ring, saying that she won't
have much use for it anymore.  She says their marriage was certainly not
traditional.  Tony says the peanut butter and banana sandwiches hit the
spot.  Carla says she also got a nice ring out of it, nicer than the one
he gave her from a Cracker Jack box when she was 12 and she was so in
love with him.  Tony reminds her that she got it out of the box and said
he gave it to her.  She wouldn't even let him eat the CrackerJacks.
Carla says she was a brat.  Tony says she's still a brat, but maybe she's
growing out of it.  Carla tells him not to count on it.  He won't, but
some guys like brats.  Carla says Ally is a lucky gir.  Tony has every-
thing it takes to be the prefect husband for the right woman.  Carla is
glad that Ally has found him and if it means anything to him, she really
does wish them the best.  It does.  Carla's phone rings.  Danny says
everything is cool and right on schedule.  They'll be there in an hour.
Carla says right on time.  She hangs up and tells Tony that it was the
movers to say they'd be there on Saturday, so she better start packing.
He offers to help her tomorrow, but she declines.  He has to finish
getting ready.  He thanks her for being so understanding and tells her
the right guy is out there.  He leaves.  Carla says she already found him

Joc says she was his wife.  But, she knows about Joc, Ally says.  Ally
tries to convince Joc to call.  Joc balks.  Joc doesn't think they are
back together, does she?, Ally asks.  She talks to Ava all the time and
she ahs moved on.  Alex has moved on.  Alex is craze about Joc.  Joc says
he's crazy about his kids too.  Someone knocks.  Joc says she's leaving.
She says to have a wonderful time, hugs her, and disappears past Tony as
he hands Ally flowers.  Tony closes the door and they smile at each other

Tony made reservations, but then thought they coudl have a little pre-
birthday at the loft.  Ally says that's really sweet.  She goest to hug
him, but he has champagne in his hands.  He hands one glass to Ally and
tells her she looks beautiful.  He doesn't look so bad himself.  They
exchange "I love you's" and he toasts her:  "To the woman who stood
beside me, when I almost lost my lift, when it looked like I was going
to be stuck in a marriage for a long time.  To you, Ally.  The women I
love so, so much, and how much I want to make this day a very, very
special birthday."  They drink.  She says just knowing they are together
makes it special.  Tony says they'll be togehter for a long time, a real
long time.  There's something he wants to ask her.

Joc is in the stairwell, looking miserable.  She takes out her cell phone
and dials.  A woman answers.  She thinks it's Ava, but it's a babysitter.
Alex and "Mrs. Masters" went out of town yesterday.  Can she give them a
message?  No.

Carla holds a couple pieces of lingerie up to her.  Danny walks in the
door.  He has Ally's surprise, does she want to see?  Carla is busy with
her own preparations, just go do it.  Danny leaves, but tells her to go
for the black one; it always works for him.

Tony knows the last few months have been hard for her.  She says not all
the time.  They've had their moments.  Not enough, Tony says.  He ushers
her to the couch.  Tony says most normal people would have thrown in the
towel and walked away, but not her.  Tony wouldn't know what to do
without her.  Ally says that's something he'll never have to worry about.
He knows:  From now on, it's going to be the two of them together
forever and that's why there's something he needs to ask her.  He should
have asked her a long time ago.  "Oh my God!"  Ally says as she looks up.
She can't believe it.  "Surprise!"  Tyler yells.  She runs to him and
hugs him, spilling campagne on Tony.  "Happy Birthday, Mommy!" Tyler says
in a loud voice.


Storyline:  A picture is worth a thousand words

The photographer's flash goes off and he says sorry.  Doesn't he have
anything less bright?  An assistant, he says, but she's off today.  He
needs the flash.  Did she give him directions?  He knows how to get there
but he wants to konw why she wants him to take her picture there.  Not
just her, her date too.  Who's her date?  The man she'll be with and
that's all he needs to know.  She hands him some money.  He says that
will buy her the roll.  She just wants one picture, then he leaves.  The
phone rings.  She asks Beth to get it as she escorts the guy out.  It
was Gino.  he's still downstairs and wants to come up.  Beth wants her to
reconsider.  She doesn't think Tracey should go.  Tracey says to pray for
her.  Beth warns her that Gino is dangerous.  Tracey says he has a lot
more to worry about than she does.

"Little Italy" Restaurant.  Gino says it's a family favorite.  Tracey has
never dined quite so...downtown before.  Gino says it's the best Lasagna
she ever tasted.  Tracey is distracted.  Gino says they can go somewhere
else if she'd like.  No.  Someone brings wine.  Gino asks her what's the
matter.  Tracey was just thinking that she'd like to get to know him
better.  Gino seconds and says she's one beautiful lady.  Tracey says he
is...indescribable.  But, she says, even the best laid plans go astray.
She wasn't goin to bring this up until after dinner, but she can't help
it.  As much as she desperately wants to, she can't see him anymore.

What does she mean, she can't see him anymore?  It's her son, she says.
Gino thought he liked him.  He does, it's her father, Tracey says.  If he
got wind of her seeing a man in his "special line of work," he'd think
she was an unfit mother and try to take him away from her.  Gino says
he can't do that.  Tracey says he can and will.  Tracey says she thinks
he already knows about their friendship.  He's everywhere.  She sys he
has people just like Gino does.  He wants to control Dillon's life like
he tried to control Tracey's.  That's why she left Port Charles in the
first place.  Tracey is an adult, she has to stand up for herself, but
her son is young and very impressionable.  Tracey says her father is very
overbearing.  She takes his hand.  She says if her father even got the
idea...a flashbulb goes off and Gino looks where it came from.  Tracey
says it's a photographer!  The photographer leaves and Gino gives a
slight signal.  Two guys follow him out.  Tracey worries that her father
might see that photo in the newspaper.  Gino says to trust him, he won't
see it.

Gino's guys drag the photographer in, kicking and screaming.  Gino says
he believes he has something the lady wants.  The photographer recognizes
Gino.  Tracey says she would really like to avoid a scene.  Gino says
there won't be any scene.  Tracey asks them to just let him go.  The
photographer says it's all her fault.  Tracey says she has no idea what
he's talking about.  The guy says he met with her at her apartment.  Gino
doesn't believe him.  The guy insists that she paid him to take the
picture.  He says Tracey set him up.

Have a great holiday!  See you in two weeks.  Susan is covering for me
next week.
##################################################
"THE CHEAPNESS OF WRITING PAPER IS, OF COURSE, THE
REASON WHY WOMEN HAVE SUCCEEDED AS WRITERS BEFORE
THEY HAVE SUCCEEDED IN THE OTHER PROFESSIONS."
                         -VIRGINIA WOOLF,
                          PROFESSIONS FOR WOMEN

LISA MARIE TURCOTTE (RILEY)
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
STORRS, CT 06269
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