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

THE CITY Mini-Update for Friday, December 8:

STORYLINE: PRINCESS OF NEW YORK
           (location: the Clinic)
* Zoe is looking around for something.  Kayla asks what she is looking
 for.  "It's a surprise."  Kayla tells her that Angie keeps all of her
 drugs locked up.  "I'm not looking for drugs; I'm looking for something
 better."
* Zoe finds some microwave popcorn and puts it in the microwave.  Kayla
 screams when it starts popping.
* Zoe and Kayla discuss Angie.  Kayla says she thinks she's nice.  Zoe
 says she had better not let her know; when people find out you like
 them, they start acting weird.  Kayla says the popcorn is sticking in
 between her teeth.  Zoe asks if she has ever heard of dental floss.
 No.  Kayla says it's funny to eat popcorn without a movie -- she wants
 to watch TV.  Zoe asks why she wants to watch "that crap" and says she
 will make up a story, and Kayla can help.
[Later.]
She makes up a story about "the Princess of Sheba" and some skinheads
 who rip her off...and the "town crier" named Ricardo, who is no help.
 They do get some help from a handsome cowboy, though, who the princess
 falls in love with.  Kayla asks if they looked for her mother.  No, not
 until they find a great wizard, who says she is in the dark castle of
 the king of the skinheads.  Kayla gets upset.  Zoe holds Kayla and
 finishes the story: the princess and the cowboy kill the king and
 break the mother free, who comes home to her little girl and they live
 happily ever after.
* Zoe tucks Kayla into bed.  Kayla apologizes for her behavior; Zoe says
 that's OK -- everyone needs a good cry.  Kayla begs Zoe to tell another
 story.  "OK, but don't you dare tell anyone how nice I'm being."  She
 grabs a book and starts reading her the story of Huckleberry Finn.

STORYLINE: NIGHT OFF
           (location: Jacob's apartment)
* Nick's song "Hey Girl" is playing from an old LP.  Jacob is laying
 down and listening.  The doorbell rings; it's Angie.  She wants to know
 why he didn't show up for work.
* Apparently, she told Buck that he wouldn't be coming in; that he needs
 some quality time with his lady.  He asks if she has the time to spare.
 She says Zoe is babysitting Kayla and asks if she made a mistake.
 No immediate answer, so Angie walks toward the door.  Jacob says she
 didn't make a mistake.  He wishes their relationship had been just the
 two of them in his home town, checking out jazz clubs and everything.
 He says he doesn't want to share her with everybody.  She says she has
 the night off, and she's there.  She pushes him down onto the couch.
* A sweaty Jacob tells a sweaty Angie that she was an animal.  Angie
 asks about Nick.  Jacob tells her that her sense of timing is terrible.
 He says that Nick is a drunk, and that his reputation is on the line.
 He has a feeling that this is the right thing to do, though.  Angie
 compares those feelings to her feelings about Kayla.  He says he hasn't
 asked Nick to move in with him -- yet.  They laugh.
* He says this is how it is supposed to be.  Angie is quiet; Jacob asks
 what's up.  She says she was just thinking about the first time she
 touched him -- the physical.  He says it has taken a long time for her
 to listen to *her* heart.  He says he needs another physical.  She says
 she thinks he's just fine.  He wants a second opinion.  She kisses him.
 He pulls the covers up and they start laughing.

STORYLINE: SCRATCH THAT ITCH
           (starting location: Tony/Danny's apartment)
* Tony is calling an escort service.  He is looking for a lady -- a
 specific lady named Larissa Jones.  He says he knows that's a fake
 name, but she has a daughter named Kayla.  They hang up on him.
Danny enters.  Tony suggests that they go next door (to Stephanie's) for
 dinner.  Danny wants to stay there -- you never know when the press is
 going to come to the door when you're a big name model.  Tony points
 out that his commercial is for a jock itch product (not a big media
 event) and re-invites him to dinner.  They leave.
[At the elevator.]
Alex meets Jocelyn in the elevator.  She decides to use the stairs,
 He says there's no chance they'll get stuck in an elevator twice.  She
 says she needs the exercise.  He decides he needs the exercise, too.
[At Stephanie/Ally's apartment.]
Ally is asking why Stephanie is lying to Tony about the letter from
 Cooper.  She says she's not lying.  A delivery boy knocks on the door;
 he has flowers for Stephanie.  Ally tips him and points out once again
 how special Tony is.  Stephanie takes the flowers; the card falls out.
* Tony tells Alex that he has called every escort service in the city;
 no sign of Larissa.  Alex says that means she's back on the streets
 and he has a guy looking into that.  Tony asks what Tess' job for him
 was.  He says she wants Tony to find some dirt on his landlord.  He
 says he wants to pass.  Tony wants to take it.  Alex advises him to
 "tread lightly" because she is powerful.  Tony still wants to take it.
 Alex reluctantly agrees.  Tony asks if his reluctance might have
 something to do with a certain someone losing her job...?
"Jock itch!?"  Danny tells Jocelyn that he's had it up to here [above
 his head] with the jock itch jokes.  "Don't you mean up to here [she
 points to her waist]?"  They both laugh.  He says it may not sound
 like much, but it's a start, and jock itch pays pretty well since it's
 a national ad.
Stephanie says she doesn't see the point in "telling him."  Tony walks
 up.  "Telling me what?"  She gives him a hug.  We pan to the card.
* Ally says she's sad that Ava didn't follow Alex in the door.  She asks
 what now?  Alex says he's considering working with Tony.
Tony asks Stephanie what Deborah is spending all her money on.  She
 doesn't know.  Tony asks if she said anything in the letter.  Um...no,
 she didn't say anything.
Ally tells Danny that he looks spiffy.  He asks her to save it, he's
 been through it already with Tony and Jocelyn.  "Don't scratch; use
 Natch.  That's Natch 17, the herbal solution to Jock Itch."
Jocelyn asks Alex if he has ever had a girl friend (a friend who just
 happens to be a girl) before.  No, but he is open to new experiences.
[Later.]
Everyone is eating dinner.  Tony asks Ally if she has told Alex about
 the dead body in the rug.  Yuck!  Ally tells him the condensed version
 of the story.  Stephy asks Tony if he told Alex about the mob.  Tony
 tells him briefly about Buck's garbage service incident.  Alex starts
 to tell everyone about Nick showing up at Sydney's party, when he and
 Jocelyn were there.  Danny asks Alex what they were doing together at
 a party.  Jocelyn answers yes, with a lot of other people.  Alex asks
 if he has a problem with that.  Tony tries to calm everyone down and
 asks Alex to continue the story.  Danny says he knows the story; Tess
 told him all about it.  He gets up to "have some coffee."  Ally gets
 up and asks Danny if he is a natural-born jerk or does he practice real
 hard at it?  He says he doesn't like Alex and Alex doesn't like him.
Jocelyn asks Tony if he wants her to put in a good word for him with
 Sydney; she uses PIs quite a lot.  Tony is not interested.
* Dinner is over.  Tony asks Jocelyn what it's like working for Sydney.
 She's very nice, charming, tough when she has to be.  Ally sits down
 and says that someone named Malcolm called for her a little earlier.
 She says she doesn't know anyone by that name.  Alex reminds her that
 Malcolm was the guy at the party.  Ally suggests that they all go down
 to the bar and have a nightcap.  Danny says he can't; he has a date.
 "With who?"  "What do you care?"  She says she doesn't, but she has to
 know what kind of girl would go out with him.  It is the wall street
 girl from the party -- Ally tried to sabotage that.  Danny leaves.
 Tony asks if anyone wants coffee.  He sees the card and picks it up.
 "What's this?"  Stephanie says it's the card from the flowers he sent.
 "What flowers?"  He opens the card.  "Cooper."

