Original air date: November 18, 1992
Production number: 2309216
Written by: Joe Viola
Directed by: Charles Braverman
Guest Stars: Judith Hoag, Sydney Walsh
Co-Stars: Jeremy Davies, Peter Dennis, Rene LeVant, Alex Mapa, James Quarter
Rating: 3***

Summary: Billy walks out of his room in a blazer, prompting Alison to ask where he's going. He tells her he's "cruising for babes" He walks out of the apartment and grabs champagne and glasses he hid in the bushes, heading up Jo's apartment. Jo declines, saying she wants to do nothing tonight. Billy suggests they do nothing together. She says "some other time." Jake tells Billy in Shooters later that that was a lame come-on line. Jake says it's his turn in the ring. Jo is photographing Jake's bike in the morning for her portfolio. Jo is admiring the bike and Jake offers her a ride. Jo uses the same line about doing nothing today, and Jake again suggests they "do nothing together." Jake takes her to a canyon with a view. He explains how much he likes being alone, and Jo says she feels the same way because her mother wasn't around and she's used to it. Jo cuts their time together short to head downtown for a job interview as a photographer's assistant. Jake offers her a ride there. Jo instead goes to a pawn shop to pawn an old bracelet. The dealer offers her $7000 for it and asks to see her ID. She has nothing with her so she takes the bracelet and leaves. Jo is upset to see Jake outside the shop, obviously he has been following her. Jo shouts at him that if he wants to know something about her, he should just ask next time. Alison and Jo are in Jo's apartment painting the darkroom. Alison asks how she met her husband and about the job search. Jo says the job search was a bust and is reluctant to talk about her husband, but says they met in college. Jo also says that she got her photography skill from her mother. Alison comments how fortunate it was they got the landlord's permission to construct the darkroom. Jo says, "Did I tell you I slept with him?" Alison immediately turns around and then realizes it was a joke. They laugh. Michael is cleaning the pool and sees a locksmith come out of Jo's apartment. Michael demands Jo give him a duplicate key. Jo apologizes to Jake for the mess that morning and asks him to pawn the bracelet for her because she has no photo ID; no one drives in New York. A second person is only willing to give him $4500 for it, but Jake demands $7000 and the salesman caves in. He asks for a photo ID and who "Beth" is, which is the name engraved on the bracelet. Jake says he's selling it for a friend and the salesperson has to decline, because for all he knows it could be stolen. Jake goes outside to where Jo is with his bike and he demands to know who "Beth" is, and he hates being lied to. Jo says he probably won't believe the answer and she's sick of all the questions from everyone. Jake drives off without her; Jo starts crying. Billy and Jake are at Shooters and Jake is telling Billy that Jo is nothing but trouble and he is keeping his distance. Jake denies that Jo got under his skin. The police carry Jo to Jake's apartment the following morning saying that Jo stole his motorcycle. Jake goes along with Jo's story that he loaned it to her and gets a ticket for letting his bike be driven by an unlicensed driver. Jo tells Jake she got the key from the plant next to his apartment and drove to clear her head. Jake suggests she use a fan next time. Jo explains that the bracelet is really hers and offers to take out Jake that night, and she picks the place. Jake agrees, and Jo gets on his case of his habit of dunking doughnuts in his coffee. Jake and Jo arrive at the club and they see a sign that forbids pictures. Jo tells Jake to hide her camera. A man named Jerry recognizes Jo and starts calling her "Beth." Jake orders him away and when he refuses, he punches him out. He turns around to notice Jo has already made her way into the club. Jake shows up at Jo's apartment drunk later wondering why she ditched him. She says that she doesn't like fights and he demands to know again who "Beth" is. Jo declines to tell him. Jake comes back to reason with Jo one last time, saying he's not the kind of guy to run away from. He doesn't care about secrets or anything. He cares about her. Jo asks why? She hasn't given him much reason to. Jake says he can see that she's desparate to have someone care. Jo makes him feel good. Jo starts explaining that all her life she's felt like she was escaping something. When she was seven, her mother died of a suicide and her father didn't waste any time remarrying. In college she met her husband, Charles Reynolds. He was wealthy and handsome. It was good for a while, until she dropped out of school and tried too hard to be a socialite. Jo started to see herself fade away. She left Charles. No notes, no goodbyes, and he doesn't know where she is. Jo says she just wants to start living her life. Jo explains about the bracelet, that Jo "Beth" is her full name. Her mother called her "Jo." When she died, Jo didn't want anybody else calling her that, until now. She apologizes for the lies, and Jake says he's sorry that happened. Jake says they're a lot alike. They kiss.

Jane is awakened to a call from her boss at the dress shop, with an announcement about the closing of the shop. Jane is ordered to pick up her personal belongings the next morning. Jane is cleaning the place and a woman comes in criticizing the entire place. She sees Jane, who recognizes her as Kay Beacon. Kay starts commenting on her dress, implying that her self-designed dress is a rip-off of her stuff, but then asks Jane if she can design stuff like that under her supervision. Jane jumps at the chance and Kay tells her to show up the next morning in her office. Jane is home celebrating her new position of jr. design associate with Kay Beacon. She and Michael toast this over champagne. Kay starts bitching at Jane about her designs, that everything that comes out of her shop is to be perfect. Kay offers Jane any clothes in the back room from her previous spring line, and then tells a co-worker to show Jane how to inspect the "Kay Beacon way." Michael and Jane are feasting on Chinese food for dinner and Jane is talking about how arrogant Kay is, and she doesn't know if Kay loves or hates her. Michael starts to give Jane a massage to relax her and Jane excuses herself for the medicine cabinet. Michael sees her taking birth control pills and Jane explains that she doesn't know if she wants to have a baby any time soon. Jane is heading to work again, upset about how mad Kay makes her. Michael tells her that she's not getting any praise from Kay and he's worried about her. Jane thanks him for the concern, but explains that she can take care of herself. Kay is bossing everyone around at work and asks for Jane's opinion on a jacket. Jane thinks the buttons are too small, and Kay cuts that idea down, by saying that big buttons would weigh it down and insults Jane that she was absent on the day that was covered in design school. Jane blows up that if being successful means turning into a rude, egotistical bitch like Kay then she doesn't want to. Kay calls her into her office and admits that she is, but if Jane can get through this first week then she can handle it. Michael shows up with a picnic basket and takes Jane on top of the roof, saying how much she deserves this shot at success.
Listen to Kay Beacon bitch.

Matt is with his lawyer, hearing the news that the halfway house wants to offer him his job back, but still won't admit that they fired him because he's gay and they won't give a settlement. Matt tells his Sarah (the lawyer) to reject the offer and keep fighting. Matt is serving a customer at Bikini Burger and recognizes him as Pete Stoller, a former halfway house resident. Pete is grateful to Matt for changing his life, and getting him started in a sales job. Pete asks what Matt is doing here and he says it's extra money. Sarah tells Matt later that she managed $10,000 and his job back. Matt is delighted because they have now won. She offers to take it to court and get $100,000 easily. Matt declines, because they have admitted their wrongdoing and he misses the kids. He later tells Rhonda that he's using the money from the settlement to start a foundation for victims of discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Alison comes home to find Billy lying on the couch recovering from a visit to the dentist where they repaired a toothache. Billy has taken two pills and they have almost knocked him out. Alison agrees to give him a hand. Billy later starts dreaming that he calls for Alison and she shows up and starts kissing him. He is awakened by Alison, and says the pills have serious side effects. Billy awakens the next day with the side effects of the pills having worn off. Alison asks what he dreamt about and he makes up some story about trying to save Alison from a tyrannosaurus rex that broke into their apartment. Alison laughs and Billy asks to know of her dreams. Alison says that some things are better kept private.
Listen to Billy's famous "Ali-thun" call.

The Stuff You May Have Missed:

It looks like at this point the writers were thinking of having Alison and Billy be a couple; thus the odd dream plot.

Memorable Quotes:
"Who drives in New York?" --Jo Beth Reynolds

"It was less painful than a New Kid's concert." --Billy Campbell, referring to the dentist drilling his toothache

Jane is talking about Kay Beacon:
JANE: She is rude, and vain, and opinionated.
MICHAEL: The collective term is "bitch."
JANE: Most of all, she is good, Michael, and I just want her to know that I'm good too.
MICHAEL: Well, that's not gonna happen, Jane. Not with her breed. She would rather donate a vital organ while she is still alive than admit that.

"Good looking, and a doctor. Your mother must sleep like a log, Jane." --Kay Beacon, upon seeing Michael for the first time.