"Since I've Been Lovin' You" becomes the huge hit Bill swore it would be. Nicolas was surprised MTV even played the video at all, but Bill used his power as the CEO of his company to roll over any objections & force the song and video onto radio and TV playlists. Technically, all the credit belongs to John Paul Jones, who produced the whole project, but it's Nico doing all the promotional end of the business, as though it were his record. Jackie asks him about jamming again, says their drummer has been calling, wondering whether Bill is trying to pull him out of the band. "Not as hard as he used to pressure you," Nico answers with a laugh, explaining again that it was just one song, and that life will be back to normal once the next big hit comes along to replace him. He says it as much to reassure himself as Jackie, because he's only managed to hang onto his sanity by telling himself there's a 'normal' life waiting for him on the other end of this. What a beautiful luxury it would be to just jam with his band...but Bill has him working full time promoting one song, a song he's performed so many times now just in the past week that he'd rather not pick up his guitar at all now if that is the song he must play. "I have to go to an Industry party with Bill tomorrow, I could be out all night," Nico says, sighing a little. The label is throwing a big bash for it's top acts, the kind of party where no one is friends and everyone smiles, the last thing Nico is interested in. But Mary will be there, she's a friend of Bill's and uses that sometimes to create opportunities for them to meet.

"Why don't you take Andrea along?" Jackie suggests, telling him that his little brother needs to get of their house & meet people. She's right of course, it's just that he can't let Andrea find out about Mary, and she's going to be there; she's even taken a room, as the party is at the same hotel where Sam & Julia Valentine had their wedding reception. Jackie notices Nico's hesitation & laughs, "C'mon Nico, your little brother is as grown up as you are, he's not going to get in any trouble, it's just a party."

Nico starts to explain that the party will be a huge bore for Andrea, but changes his mind before any of the words come out. His life already is contaminated with lies: he doesn't want to make it habitual. "Of course, Jacklyn, you're right," he agrees, "I'll take Andrea with me tomorrow." Mary will understand, it's a family thing.

It is a very dull party, exactly what Nico expected; the media is here in force, and all the shiniest stars on Bill's label, with some models thrown in for decor. Mary hasn't shown up yet, not that Nico looks foward to her arrival, since with Andrea here, he will have to be even more circumspect around her than usual.

Mary doesn't have to know his brother is here to know not to embrace him or otherwise show affection in public. When she arrives, she joins the group at the punchbowl, without singling Nicolas out in any way.

Angelyne looks like a model, but she's a singer, and like Nico, she's Bill's 'talent'. She started out as a folk singer, but these days it's just a lot of over-produced soda-pop. While Mary dips into the punch and Andrea is busy flirting with the model that appeared in Nico's video, the blond songstress approaches Nico to talk about her anti-war activities.

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