Original air date: February 7, 1998

Written by: Tyler Bensinger

Directed by: Rodney Charters

While working at the “Hearts Desire Escort Service”, Jarod uncovers a plot to destroy a low-income housing project in favour of an ultra-modern high rise.

Jarod’s Discoveries: Valentine’s Day, Heart Boxes of Chocolate, Cupid

Jarod’s Occupations: Gigolo, Romance Novelist

Jarod’s Aliases: Jarod, Jarod Heart

Behind the scenes insights and the Creator’s Take

Official Synopsis

While impersonating a gigolo, Jarod discovers a plot concocted by a real estate developer to drive residents of a poor urban area from their neighborhood.

As Valentine’s Day approaches…Jarod views a DSA in which Sydney discussed the difference between “a house” and “home.”  Meanwhile, Miss Parker, Sydney and Broots discover designer clothing and a book entitled “The Kama Sutra of Love” in Jarod’s old lair.  Sydney concludes the items can only mean that Jarod is eager to find a new form of expression.

In Detroit, Michigan, Jarod finds employment at the “Heart’s Desire Escort Service.”  His boss, Felicia Pratt, arranges a tryst between Jarod and one of her clients, a European aristocrat named Isabella Thyssen.  Their time together goes so well that Thyssen sends Jarod a thank-you in the form of an expensive watch.  Jarod tells Felicia that his secret with women is his ability to listen.

Jarod suggests to Felicia that she set him up with Cynthia Sloan, a Detroit Socialite and the only female member of the Forbes Fifty.  Felica arranges the meeting through Sloan’s no-nonsense businessman, Frank Linden.  Jarod attempts to impress Cynthia with his knowledge of large business transactions, but she labels him “a prop,” comparable to a piece of jewelry.  Cynthia tells Jarod his services will be required until the day of a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Sloan Towers, an ultra-modern high-rise that threatens to destroy a low-income housing project called Jefferson Heights. reviewing a newspaper article documenting the death of a young boy who plunged to his death after stepping onto a weather-torn fire escape, Jarod visits the housing project.  There, he befriends Alice Evans, who discusses the young boy’s death.

Felicia assigns Jarod another client, Joyce Cullman, a housewife who recently separated from her overweight, soon-to-be-ex husband, Howard (and who has since moved into the garage apartment of their home).  Joyce is more than eager to have sex with her handsome gigolo.  But Jarod attempts to dissuade her, opting for conversation instead of physical contact.  The ploy works, and when the conversation veers towards Joyce’s children, it has the same effect as a cold shower.

Clues in the form of tiny candy hearts (discovered at Jarod’s old lair) lead Miss Parker, Sydney and Broots to an adult bookstore.  The proprietor, Bucky, shows them a piece of erotica authored by Jarod, which features a half-naked Miss Parker on the cover.

Jarod speaks with an engineer under Sloan’s employ.  He quizzes the man about sulfuric chloride, a chemical used to weaken brick on buildings targeted for demolition.  Later, Alice describes a man, who identified himself as a safety inspector, that had inspected the fire escape shortly before it collapsed.  Alice tells Jarod that the man wore an expensive diamond watch.  Later, while attending a party, Jarod realizes Frank Linden owns just such a watch.

Felicia threatens to fire Jarod unless he satisfies Joyce.  Before entering Joyce’s home, he intentionally insults her husband.  This has the intended result, as Howard tosses a pile of manure onto his car, setting off the alarm and interrupting his tryst with Joyce.  Later, Jarod invites Joyce to his new lair, where he insults Howard’s name, hoping Joyce will defend him.  The ploy works, and Joyce realizes how much Howard means to her.

Protestors at the Jefferson Heights project attract the attention of the news media.  Frank concludes the outcry could jeopardize the entire project.  Shortly thereafter, Jarod convinces Cynthia she must confront the protesters face to face, and convince them their building is unsafe.  At the housing project, a young girl, Tracy, tells Cynthia she discovered toy horses in her secret hiding place when her family moved into the building.  Cynthia moves towards the floorboards…where the name “Cindy” is carved into the woodwork.  Later, Cynthia discusses her childhood with Jarod, and how she attempted to erase her past, including the building where she grew up, all in an effort to maintain her image of wealth and power.

Jarod lures Frank onto the fire escape where the little boy plunged to his death.  A piece of metal railing falls off, causing Frank to cling to a window ledge.  A terrified Frank admits he is responsible for the boy’s death and, later, he is placed under arrest.