From: Kristen.K.Patterson@dartmouth.edu (Kristen K. Patterson)

Thursday, December 28, 1995 in The City:


COOPER WANTS TO BE A DADDY
==========================
Steffi's on the phone with her mom, who went back to Corinth.
She says she's fine, but tired, and Tony and everyone is fine.
Jocelyn is all dressed up for New Year's Eve.  Steffi asks her
about her "date."  Jocelyn hedges.  Steffi tells her mom there's
a party at the club, and everyone's going.  Steffi tells her mom
that Cooper isn't an issue in her life, and please stop talking
about her premonitions about him.  He's high over the Atlantic,
so forget it.  There's a knock at the door; it's Cooper!  He says
he knows he's not supposed to be there, but he has to say what
he came to say, then he'll go.  Steffi says he's supposed to be
on a plane.  Cooper says he was, but he suddenly realized he
was angry, and got off the plane. He says the baby is as much
his as hers, and he's not leaving.

Steffi can't believe he's doing this.  Steffi says he knows how
she feels about Tony.  Cooper says this isn't about Tony; he's
the baby's father.  Steffi says he can see the baby whenever
he wants after it's born.  Cooper says that's not good enough.
Steffi says he knows she would never keep him away from his
own child.  Cooper says she's already been doing that for 8
months; he would have come back if he had known.  Steffi says
she was going to tell him.  Cooper says but you decided I was
a jerk.  Steffi asks if that's what he calls someone who has
his affair, a jerk?  Cooper says there's no word to describe
what he did, but since she didn't like what he did, that doesn't
mean she didn't have to tell him about their child.  Steffi says
she didn't think he'd care.  Cooper says she knew he would
care, and that's why she did it; she was mad, and wanted to
get back at him.  But he missed out on so much, watching the
child grow, feeling it kick, hearing its heartbeat, and maybe
he deserved it, but he's not missing the most important moment.
Steffi asks what he wants.  Cooper wants to be here when it's
born, and he's not leaving New York until he holds him/her in
his arms.

Cooper says he knows he's asking a lot, and he knows Tony
isn't going to be happy about it, but he has to be here.  Steffi
says Tony is going to be more than unhappy.  Cooper says he'll
talk to him.  The baby kicks, and Steffi lets him feel.  Cooper
says it's going to be a Sumo wrestler.  Steffi slips and says
"she" isn't going to be a Sumo wrestler!  Cooper is surprised
she knows what it's going to be.  Steffi says it was a secret.
Cooper is blown away that they're going to have a daughter.
Cooper begs to be a part of it; he knows it's a pain, but it
would mean everything to him.  Steffi says okay.  Cooper
thanks her, and kisses her cheeks. Cooper says he's going
to go and take care of everything.  Steffi smiles after him,
but then winces and sinks to the floor in pain. She's writhing
on the floor, whimpering.  Cooper comes back to the door
and knocks, saying he forgot to get the number of her doctor.
"Cooper, help me," Steffi cries out from inside.  Cooper
comes in.  Steffi says she's scared.  Cooper hugs her, and
says it's going to be okay.


A SKELETON IN JOCELYN'S CLOSET
==============================
Jocelyn runs into Malcolm on the stairs.  She asks what
he's doing there.  Malcolm says he just wanted to say hello.
Jocelyn says goodbye.  He blocks the stairs, and tells her
that's hardly the holiday spirit.  She says she's not in the
mood to verbally spar with him.  He says he was thinking
of another kind of sparring. She says she's Sydney's lawyer,
and as such will continue to work with him even though she
doesn't want to, but what was between them is over and it's
going to stay over.  Jocelyn pushes past him. He grabs her
and says his wife's out of town.  He won't let go.  He gives
her his address and says be there tonight at 10:30.  She
says he's crazy.  She says she has plans.  He says change
them, and be there, or she'll no longer be Sydney's lawyer,
or anyone else's, for that matter.  Malcolm thinks she knows
he doesn't make empty threats.  He kisses her hand, and tells
her to wear the blue dress.  Jocelyn looks as if she's going to
cry.


TONY'S ON CLOUD 9: ALEX IS SLIGHTLY LOWER
=========================================
Tony is on the phone making sure Cooper's plane is gone.
Alex comes in.  Alex wishes Tony a happy new year.  Tony
says it's only going to get better.  Alex asks if they have a
new client, and Tony says it's not who they got, it's who
they lost: Cooper.

Alex can't believe that Tony actually called the airport.  Tony
says and his hotel room, and he's definitely history.  Alex
says he could have parachuted out over the Atlantic.  Tony
isn't amused.  Alex calls him paranoid.  Tony says it doesn't
matter; now it's just him, Steffi and the baby, and they're
going to have a great new year.  They order drinks from Buck.
Jocelyn comes in after her run-in with Malcolm.  Alex says
they might both have a good new year.

Alex tells Jocelyn she looks marvelous, and a tad upset.
Jocelyn says it's New Year's.  Alex says yeah, have fun or
die, right?  Alex says he has a solution for that.  Jocelyn says
what, keep it the same year all the time?  No, Alex says, we
stay at the party, and then slip out and have a nice dinner for
2.  Jocelyn says it sound perfect, bt she can't; she has a date.
Alex says story of my life.  Jocelyn makes up a story about a
group of her girlfriends who hate new years, and every year
they get together, order a pizza, watch the ball drop, and say
thank god we're not there in Times Square, and they drop the
ball, and they go home.  She says she'd much rather be with
him, but it's tradition.  Alex says her friends should be glad
she's found someone to make her forget what a terrible night
this is.  Jocelyn says that shows how much you know about
women; they'd hate me.  Alex thinks he's misjudged the whole
situation. She denies it, but he says he's been a cop too long;
he may not hear all the words, but he gets the message.  He
gets up and leaves.

Tony and Alex are sitting at the bar.  Tony tells him the joke
about the horse in the bar ("why the long face?").  Alex asks
what long face?  Tony says it's written all over his face.  Tony
tells him not to worry, Jocelyn is seeing girlfriends, not some
other guy.  Alex says he's the one that told the story, he doesn't
need a summary. Tony doesn't think Alex believes her.  Alex
leaves to go back to his hotel.  Tony wants him to stay till the
New Year, and Tony promises to kiss him.  Alex tells him to
lay off the drinks.  Tony suggests a walk, it's good for depre-
ssion, or Tony will kiss him right here.  They leave.


SYD "LEAVES TOWN": TESS BREAKS & ENTERS
=======================================
Tess and Bernardo are working on the elevator lock to the
penthouse.  They see Sydney and Samuel come down and
head into the bar, carrying luggage.  Tess smiles.

Buck's kicking people out of the bar so the party will be pri-
vate.  Buck tells Nick, who is warming up, that he sounds
good.  Nick says it sounds weird.  Buck says it must be
because he's sober.  Nick's bummed he can't drink on New
Year's.  Sydney and Samuel come in.  Sydney comments
that Nick's still here.  Nick apologizes for going back on his
word; maybe she should buy him another sold-out concert.
Sydney says she never does anything twice.  Nick asks how
she's going to get him out of town this time.  Sydney says
he doesn't have to leave; she is.

Tess and Bernardo come in; Tess says it's too good to be
true that Sydney is going on a trip.  Bernardo is nervous,
and says just because she's leaving doesn't mean they can't
get caught. Tess verifies that he took care of the alarm and
the lock on the elevator.  Tess tells him to stop worrying.
Tess orders a drink for Bernardo from Buck.  He asks if
she wants one.  Tess says she has to go to work.

Buck asks Bernardo if Tess is really working tonight; she
was supposed to sing.  Bernardo dodges him.

Sydney tells Nick that Jared is stuck in London, so she's
going to go join him.  Nick says it's kind of cold this time
of year.  Sydney says that's all right, there's a fireplace,
among other amenities.  Nick says about the other night...
Sydney tells him to forget it, she already has.  Nick wants
to talk, but Sydney says they've both said more than enough
to last a lifetime.  Nick says it's important.  Syd says she
has a plane to catch.  She calls Buck over and says she's
leaving town for a few days, don't let the place burn down.
Nick says happy new year.  Syd tells him not to celebrate
too hard.  Nick says don't laugh, but he's on the wagon.  She
asks if he got religion.  No, a job, Nick says.  She asks where,
and he says here.  Sydney is amazed they're going to take
another chance on him.  What a concept, Nick says.  The bar-
tender tells Sydney she has a call.  While he's gone, Nick
looks in her suitcase.

Sydney comes back.  Nick asks her why she keeps running
away from him.  "Good taste," Syd says.  She tells him to
try to stay off the booze, and leaves.  Out in the street,
Samuel asks if she's sure she doesn't want to just stay at
the 5th Avenue place.  Syd says no, too many people know
here there.  Let's just stick with Plan A.

Tess enters Sydney's penthouse and sneaks around.  She
rearranges a couple of pieces on the chessboard, looks
through some books (including the Kama Sutra, and comments
that even she wouldn't have thought of that), rifles the desk
(and finds junk food; "junk food and dirty books, and she
thought we couldn't be friends," Tess comments), and heads
up the stairs.  (Not wearing gloves, that I could see; brilliant,
Tess.)  In the bedroom, Tess finds what looks like a Thighmaster,
and makes fun of Syd's buns of steel.  Just then, the door down-
stairs shuts; Syd's back!

Cliffhanger!

Happy New Year!

-Kristy

