From: djg@city.hq.ileaf.com (Deborah Graham x5530 4NE tech:writer)

Tuesday in "the city":

Christmas in The City... As we look down on Steffi and 
Ally's tree, Tony is unwrapping presents. This must have 
cost a fortune, he says. It's okay, Deborah says, she 
has one now. And nothing is too good for her future 
son-in-law. Ally is on the phone with Tyler. She says 
she misses him and she tells him to have a good holiday. 
Danny watches and looks like he feels sorry for her.

Kayla and Angie are hanging around the clinic. Santa comes 
in, Ho Ho Hoing.

Howdy, cowboy, Tess says at the bar. Whatcha doing, Buck 
says. Waiting for you, she puurs as the reply.

Back at Ally and Steffi's place, Danny asks Ally if she's 
okay. She misses her son, she says. Danny walks over to 
Jocelyn and Alex by the tree. He hands her a box. Jocelyn 
unwraps the present from Danny. It's a beautiful watch, 
Alex says. She thought so when she bought it, Jocelyn says. 
Danny says he found it in his bed; he sees they were 
enjoying themselves while he was away. There's a knock on 
the door. Come in, Steffi says. It's Cooper.

He brought over some presents...from Tyler. Did he pick 'em 
out himself? Ally asks. Cooper tells Steffi that he's 
thought about what she said, and he's on the next plane out. 
He'll talk to her about support and visitation and all that 
later. She says that he can see him whenever. Cooper says 
goodbye. Where are you going? Steffi asks. He figured he'd 
find a hotel in Corinth. No, why don't you stay here? Tony 
doesn't look happy.

At the clinic, Santa passes out presents. Kayla gets a lot,
but she's not sure what to do. Angie tells her that it looks 
like they're all for her. She smiles, and attacks the presents.

Back at the bar, Buck says he's gonna go upstairs and crash 
for a while. Tess has a better idea. She leads him over to 
as table and tells him she has pasta with sun-dried tomatoes 
for two. Italian Christmas? Buck says. You betcha, Tess says 
as she lights the candles.

Cooper sits at the table with Deborah, Steffi, and Ally, and 
Tony stands back in a doorway as Ally opens the presents from 
Tyler. She hugs Cooper and says this really made her day. 
Since he's gonna be leaving before the baby comes, Cooper says, 
he bought him some things, if that's okay. Tony turns towards 
Cooper and he doesn't look happy.

Zoey tells Angie that she's never owned a hard-covered book, 
and this is her favorite book. Angie kisses Jacob/Santa. He 
says he had a little trouble with the foster parent idea, but 
if she's serious....she kisses him again. She says the three 
of them are crowded in this clinic, so if his offer to move 
in with him is still open...She wants to live with him? He's 
happy. Frankie gives Jacob/Santa a Kwanza gift. What's 
Kwanza? Zoey asks. It's a 7 day celebration, Frankie explains. 
The gift is a good luck charm. Angie suggests that Kayla has 
something to say to Santa? Kayla stands and walks over to 
Santa and tells him that this is her happiest Christmas, she 
just wishes her mother was here. Silence descends on the room.

Tess toasts, "to friends". She mentions how it shouldn't be 
a surprise. Buck says that nothing she does surprises him. 
Well, Tess smiles, he should have been there last week when 
she was auditioning a male model. Buck stops her story and 
changes the subject. Tess tells him about Sydney threatening 
to frame her for Clay's murder. Buck can't believe that. 
Tess says she has something planned for her, too.

Cooper says that boy or girl, the kid should learn baseball. 
Tony says, defensively, that he'll teach him...or her...the 
game. Alex tells Jocelyn that her brother has a big mouth. 
Now he has to talk to Ally before Danny gets to her. Alex 
walks over to Ally and tells her that he knows it's tough 
being without the kid on Christmas. He got to talk to them, 
but it's not the same. She agrees. Alex wants to talk to her 
about something. They go off. Danny comes over and asks 
Jocelyn if she knows what time it is. She asks him to keep 
his big mouth shut for once. Cooper gives the baby a frog. 
Steffi laughs, and Cooper explains that they have a thing 
for frogs. Tony says, frogs...like Kermit; big deal. Tony 
gets up from the table and Alex, back from talking to Ally, 
asks him if everything is okay. 

Angie is passing out desert. Jacob says that he was starting 
to think that he'd be spending Christmas alone. Kayla asks if 
she can go play with her toys.  Kayla goes to her bed and 
plays. Frankie asks if social services has found a family for 
her. Yes, Angie says. Allll right! Frankie is happy. She 
applied for the foster family, Angie says.

Tess tells Buck that he dislikes Sydney as much as she does. 
Buck says no way, he's not getting involved in one of her 
schemes. Tess says then she'll just have to do it alone. She 
*is* going to do this, whether he helps her or not. Okay, Buck 
says, then Merry Christmas, Tess. Merry Christmas, Buck, she 
says sacrastically.

At Ally and Steffi's place, Bernardo is surprised that Azure 
got him a hat for a present. Bernardo asks Azure how she knows 
about the hats? He mentioned it at the agency, she says. Is 
she sure they'd never met before? Bernardo asks; no, he 
continues, he'd remember a face like that. She looks 
apprehensive. Bernardo brings Jocelyn over a present a guy 
dropped off for her. It's from Malcolm (this is a guess...
it's a small TV, people), she is not happy. Dany suggests to 
Ally that there is a new year coming, maybe they can make a 
fresh start? Cooper says it's getting late, he should go. 
Yeah, it's late, Tony agrees, right Steph? Yeah, she'll get 
his stuff, Steffi sighs. At the door, Cooper says Merry 
Christmas and Happy New Year, and Steffi is sad. After 
Cooper leaves, she hugs Tony, who is looking like he's 
buying a clue. 

Yes-Alex-I'd-like-to-buy-an-A-hanger

deb
(djg@city.hq.ileaf.com)

