AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Soap Opera "As The Mouse Moves" - Thursday May 31^st 2001
"Starlene I'm home," Tiffany said closing the door to her apartment overlooking Washington Square Park.
"In here," Starlene called out from the bedroom.
Tiffany threw her purse on the chair beside the door and walked down the hallway towards her younger sister's bedroom.
"What are you doing?" Tiffany asked noticing that the bed was covered with clothes and expensive designer bags on the floor.
"Tryin' on these new clothes," Starlene said in her thick southern accent as she tucked a price tag into the seam on the low cut dress she was wearing.
"Where did all of these clothes come from Starlene?" Tiffany asked shocked as she noticed the names of the Fifth Avenue stores on the bags next to the bed.
"I went shopping today," Starlene said glancing in the mirror on the wall and turning sideways to admire her figure in the tight low cut black dress.
"You went shopping.  Does that mean you got a job?"
"No. It means I went shopping."
"Starlene how can you afford these expensive clothes without a job?"
"Easy. Stanley helped me out."
"Oh he did?"
"Yeah. I told him I needed something to wear because the media is following me around now.  He doesn't want me to look like a rag doll.  How do you like this one?" she asked looking up to see her sister's angry stare.
"It shows entirely too much cleavage and it's too short," Tiffany said taking a seat on the bed.
"Give me a break.  Come on.  Don't you think it looks hot?"
"Where are you planning to wear it?"
"The party at Gracie Mansion."
"You've heard about the party at Gracie Mansion?" Tiffany asked.
"Yeah.  It was all over the TV today."
"Oh," Tiffany said.
"What's the matter?  You don't sound excited.  Look …you can wear one of the dresses," Starlene said seeing the downtrodden look on Tiffany's face.
"I don't need a dress."
"Did you buy something already?"
"No.  Starlene I'm not going to the party."
"What?" Starlene asked turning quickly to look at her older sister.
"I'm not going.  I might not even have a job after this party."
"What are you talking about?"
"Stanley came by the office today and Clark told him that Jan had been angry over you seeing her father."
"She's always angry."
"Yeah.  But this is different."
"How's that?"
"Well, Stanley seemed to be listening but then the mayor called and talked to him about the party.  As soon as he hung up he said he'd get someone else to plan the party since Clark felt it was a conflict of interest."
"What's that got to do with you?"
"Clark blamed me for the whole thing, even though Stanley told him it wasn't my fault and he didn't want me to lose my job over this."
"So, it's not your fault."
"True but Clark lost the party.  Jan's probably still angry and Clark's taking it out on me."
"I'll ask Stanley if I can bring you along with us."
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE PHOTOS BELOW.