City Life was a New Zealand soap opera that screened on TVNZ from 1996-1998. It was portrayed the lives and loves of ten singles who lived in an upmarket apartment building in Auckland, New Zealand. The show was touted as New Zealand's answer to Melrose Place. The show starred Claudia Black, Lisa Chappell, Laurie Foell and Oliver Driver and featured a guest appearance by well known New Zealand actor, Kevin Smith. The show had a long development period, and the original treatment for the show had it set in Wellington with the working title 96 Oriental Parade. However, it was decided to produce the show in Auckland instead, and as such, the shows setting was changed along with the name to City Life. The first episode began with a controversial first scene, featuring a drunken Damon who owned the apartment building, in a homosexual kiss with his former lover Ryan on the night before his wedding. Damon was later killed off in the same episode after being hit by a car on the way to his wedding, and he left his apartment building to all of his friends. However, Damon's fianceè vowed to fight for her share of Damon's estate, leading to a storyline that would span the show's first five episodes.
Episode 1
Jul 15, 1996
On his way to his own wedding, promising young physician Damon South is killed in a tragic auto mobile accident. Shortly after his death, Damon's closest friends are taken to a theatre to view Damon's video testament. To their surprise, they discover that he has left his big apartment complex, 'The Ancestral Pile', to them. But Rebekah, the woman who was set to marry Damon, has never gotten along too well with his friends. She has a whole different idea about Damon's legacy.
Episode 2
Jul 22, 1996
Rebekah makes it perfectly clear that only she is the rightful heir to the 'Ancestral Pile' because she's carrying Damon's baby. Aaron moves into the 'Pile' and demands his attorney Avery to pay him his trust fund because Aaron has met the neccessary terms (gotten himself a University degree). Angela is still wrecked with guilt after Damon's death. At his big house-warming party, a careless Aaron gives Angela some designer drugs - with dramatic consequences. Bronwyn falls for Daniel Freeman, a good-looking artist she works with at the gallery. However, there are others too interested in Daniel. Hugh continues to persue Aimee and wonders how she knew Damon.
Episode 3
Jul 29, 1996
Aaron discovers that the reason why Avery refuses to pay out his trust fund is because he has embezzeled Aaron's money and made personal investments with them. However, Avery has dirt on Aaron too; he knows that his University degree is false. Mia, Ryan's friend and co-worker, asks Ryan to be a sperm donor so she and her sterile husband can have a child. Aimee's line of work is driving Hugh paranoid. Shocked after catching Daniel and Rebekah in a fiery embrace, Bronwyn discovers that this isn't the first moment of passion they've shared. Bronwyn grows curious and starts wondering if maybe Daniel - and not Damon - could be the father of Rebekah's baby.
Episode 4
Aug 5, 1996
The gang demands to know the truth about who the father of Rebekah's unborn child is. Bronwyn tries to convince Daniel to take a paternity test, while a furious Rebekah threatens to have Damon's body exhumed in order to obtain evidence that he is the real father. Wiki lands a leading role in a play but later learns that the play is a savage attack on Bronwyn and Aaron's rich family, the Kelletts. Gideon starts dating a model named Siobhan. Stephanie thinks their relationship is unserious and makes a bet with Gideon about his new girlfriend. Rebekah's behavior infuriates several people and the consequences are tragic: late at night, after hearing loud noises, Stephanie and Kristen make a terrible discovery at the 'Pile'.
Episode 5
Aug 12, 1996
Rebekah survives her fall down the stairs but loses her unborn child. Everyone wonders who could have pushed Rebekah down the stairs, and Rebekah herself points the finger at Bronwyn. Bronwyn denies being involved but has a hunch who might be responsible. Siobhan finds out she's part of a bet and decides to get even with Gideon. Rebekah moves to New York and sells her gallery to Bronwyn. Too late, Bronwyn realizes that Rebekah has tricked her and is stuck with huge debts. Meanwhile, Josh moves into Rebekah's vacant penthouse apartment in the 'Pile' in order to get closer to Kristen, whose affection he lusts for. Unfortunately for Josh, computer nerd Nevin is giving him competition.
Episode 6
Aug 19, 1996
A little girl is stuck under a tanker and is asking for her children's TV idol Stephanie. Steph blankly refuses to risk her life for a young girl. Until she starts considering the media opportunities that is. Bronwyn reads the script for Wiki's play and is shocked by the slanderious attack on the Kelletts. Bronwyn runs to her influntial uncle, Ernest Kellett, in order to get the play stopped. Josh and Nevin continue to fight for Kristen's affection. With Rebekah gone, the gang have to take care of everything themselves. They agree to slip the costs in ten, and Gideon decides to move in with Josh at the penthouse.
Episode 7
Aug 26, 1996
Ryan meets Michael, whom he instantly falls in love with. Unfortunately for Ryan, it turns out that Michael likes drag, which Ryan himself can't stand. Stephanie's mother Aileen tries to make contact with her daughter again but is coldly dismissed. Bronwyn, however, feels pity for Aileen, and asks her to stay. It turns out that Aileen has dramatic news about Stephanie's father. Gideon struggles with financial debts and asks Aaron for advise on how to get some cash. Aaron comes up with a plan that isn't exactly legal. Angela and Kristen are both unemployed and decide to become full-time 'slackers'. Bronwyn and Wiki continue to fight over the Kellett play.
Episode 8
Sep 3, 1996
Hugh runs into Helen, a woman he met on vacation in Bali. The problem is that he told Helen he works as a war photographer in Bosnia. Hugh is forced to keep up his charade but how long will it work? Ryan refuses to go to Mia's transvestite night at The Lava Lounge; resulting in fighting with Michael. Gideon receives his insurance money and pays down some of his debts. Later, Roger Merritt offers Gideon money in exchange for inside information from his work. Stephanie's father, Carl, claims he got infected with AIDS through a blood transfution. This, however, turns out to be a lie and so Aileen has to be tested as well...
Episode 9
Sep 10, 1996
Kristen is helping Mr. Crabtree with maintenance work at the 'Pile', when she and Josh accidentally get locked in the laundry room. Josh is thrilled; thinking this is the moment where he can finally tell Kristen about his feelings. Gideon wonders how Roger Merritt could know about his car insurance scam and confronts Aaron about it. Still struggling with her gallery, Bronwyn employs Zoe and Seth, two eccentric artists whose provocative and erotic art causes much fuzz. Wiki is thrilled to have landed a leading role in the B-movie 'Lone Hunter III' opposite good looking actor Nick Vogel. However, during the shooting of the film, Wiki is subjected to a horribly cruel surprise.
Episode 10
Sep 17, 1996
Bronwyn's conservative gallery landlord, Mr. Llewellyn, threatens to evict her unless she gets rid of Zoe and Seth and their provocative exhibit. Bronwyn fails to mediate but, surprisingly, Aaron takes it upon himself to help Bronwyn and uses some highly unorthodox methods. Gideon is increasingly frustrated by Siobhan's heavy drug use. It all culminates during an important banquet with the Minister of Justice when Siobhan arrives completely high, crawls under the table and passes out. Wiki refuses to press rape charges against Nick and instead blames herself for what happened.
