The start of a career in journalism and the bloom of a tumultuous love affair.

First the authors will introduce their characters one by one. Then they are taking us for a tour of Montreal. From Lafontaine Park, up to the Mont Royal and back downtown with its trendy restaurants of the early 90’s, they give us a good idea of the City. They will also take us to the Abitibi, Saguenay and the Eastern Township Regions. But SCOOP is first of all a look at urban Québec.
Before leaving his hometown, Michel will quit his wife and his profession as a lawyer. He arrives at the Express well prepared and determined to make a career. As a first assignment, he is asked to make light on the murder of a young fighter named Jimmy Fontaine. This will lead him to the strange world of boxing, the Mafia, the police and the prison. Michel’s illusions of journalism will fade away as snow in April as he will be going along the tough road of learning the profession. He will be in daily contact with crime and violence.
This will happen at the same time that he will fall in love with Stéphanie. Their relationship was born in the turmoil created by their unsatisfied ambitions for their jobs. First, they were sexually attracted but their fever and drives had to be restrained because of many obstacles. Although Stéphanie is intrigued by Michel, he is physically attracted by her. She finds him good looking and at the same time she feels a repulsion. She does not like his attitude of common people and his ambition scares her. But Michel wants her but he will not give up his goals.
Stéphanie first look on Michel will reveal her feeling. She then will gauge and judge him until she really falls in love. Their mutual desire will be stronger than their fiery personalities and they will fall for one and other. Michel will make a first approach, offering her his help when a government’s minister will commit suicide and Stéphanie think that she is responsible because of her articles.
After staging an intimate evening with her, Michel will be frustrated when Stephanie has to leave on an emergency call. So you can see Michel standing in Stephanie’s apartment, wearing jeans and a jacket, with a bottle of Champagne in one hand and flowers in the other, with his curly hair and irresistible look in his eyes, helpless and devastated by a stupid telephone call that took her away from him. He falls on a sofa, holding the bottle. This incident will leave a mark on him, teaching him that a journalist career does not leave much room for a love affair...

Even from the start, when Michel steals a first kiss

from her and until their most torrid love scene in her father’s office, on the desk, their relationship will be pretty hectic, as they are both as jealous as ambitious. Stéphanie will make a scene when she sees a picture of Michel with a female singer and he will be outraged by her behavior with one of his friend. Misunderstanding, heartbreaks and reconciliation.

We are taken through a series of some beautiful Montreal scenes like the one in Lafontaine Park on a summer night where we see Michel and Stephanie sucking a popsicle.
And another one kissing on a Park bench on the Mont-Royal facing east of the city.
One of the best shot for me is the one on a cold fall evening in the streets of Old Montreal, a scene which is enlightened by a beautiful blue light. Michel looks very tall in his long overcoat. He is holding Stéphanie by the shoulders. She is dressed all in black and shows very long legs. They are walking, looking at each other in the eyes, while speaking softly. The vapor of their breath goes off up in the air at the end of their phrases, it’s like magic.
These three exteriors have in common that they very much look like us.

The first series will end up in the Editor’s office. Every one is hassling the Editor-in-Chief for a space on Front Page, every one guaranteeing a fabulous scoop. But Stéphanie will steal the show announcing that Michel will be a father. He is flabbergasted. He is there standing motionless in his long overcoat, facing Stéphanie. The others will slowly leave the room and they will remain alone clasped in a fond embrace and Michel will have a protective gesture.

Breakup and reconciliation. The creation of the SCOOP.

At the opening of the second Series, Michel and Stéphanie have a morning argument about their son Francis. Knives are low flying, but it is a routine problem for all young parents who both have to work outside. The problem of baby sitters. And that’s adds up to all the others daily problems.

But Michel is a good father. You should watch him feeding his few months old baby : it is a tender scene. His gesture and voice are so calm and soft ; he is adorable. But between him and Stéphanie, the atmosphere is getting pretty heavy. They are challenging each other. The load is hard to carry for Stéphanie, adding to this her parents unhappy with their daughter’s choice for life companion. And Michel does not feel good with this common life arrangement, having to face in-laws that really don’t approve of him. So money will be the first cause for disturbing their union.
Michel will look at his son’s picture in a pensive mood. Finally, he will decide to leave Stéphanie and Francis, at least for a little while. That will destroy Stéphanie.

One afternoon in a small hotel in the country, they will try to make up ; but in vain, it will not work out. Michel does not feel confident enough to start all over again, leaving Stéphanie fed up with his changing mood. No exit.

So Michel is leaving for the Lac-St.Jean as a reporter and also to see his parents. Upon his return, he has made up his mind. No doubt that he loves Stéphanie and that he wants to go back with her.
In a lovely scene shot in downtown Montreal, walking down the streets together, he tells her of his intention of going back with her. But Stéphanie still feeling the pain, says no.

In the meantime, shooting had been stopped for a few months. When Michel returns back on the screen, he has lost a few pounds and is sporting a new short haircut. He is leaning against the Bar with an absent look...he is an easy prey for Christine Cartier, the young singer whom he had follow the career a couple of years ago in Ontario. Christine always had a crush on him. As he looks available, she will not hesitate to cruise him and he will not be able to resist her advances.

During that period of time, Michel feels that he is like in a «no man’s land» as to his romantic life. And although sharing Christine’s bed, he is still longing for Stéphanie. Then, slowly, he will conquer her again, her love, her bed and her apartment. His break-up with Christine, demanded by Stéphanie, will be a tough moment for him. The young woman being so much in love with him, Michel tries to convince her that it’s all over and that she must forget him.

The second Season will close with the reconciliation of Michel and Stéphanie and with the creation of a new daily : SCOOP.