The Mayors of Ellis Valley - Year of the Monkey stamps are here!

[Benedict 3,119]

Benedict is sitting in the back of his limousine with the privacy screen firmly closed as Melissa drives him back to Eloff. He is using the fact that Melissa thinks he is annoyed with her for not being in the office when he called to make an important call on his cell phone. Melissa is more than a little disturbed by the fact that she picked up the mayor at the Crater Lake graveyard.

"Did you receive the package?" asks Benedict.

"Oh, it's from you..." says the Informant. "What do you want me to do with it?"

"You can bring it to Eloff with you - I need to meet with you as soon as possible."

"What's the rush?"

"There is a delicate matter that needs to be taken care of... and you're just the man for the job."

"Oh, and what job would that be?"

"I need someone to disappear... for good," said Benedict flatly.

"For the usual fee, I presume."

"Yes - payment will be made on completion of the task. And this needs to go better than the Church fiasco."

"I'll be there tomorrow."

"Don't forget the package," says Benedict. He ends the call before the Informant can say anything more. He spends the rest of the trip home in silence, contemplating the plan.

Back at the mayor's mansion, Benedict quickly walks to his office with Melissa scurrying nervously behind him.

"Bring me the development folder, Melissa," says Benedict without looking at her.

"Development folder?" asks a surprised Melissa.

Benedict turns and fixes Melissa with a stare. "Yes, there was a folder marked 'development' on my desk when I left; I know how you are about filing. So just bring me the folder."

Stunned, Melissa goes back to her office and starts opening and closing file drawers, desperately trying to think of something to tell the mayor. Finally she decides that she will just have to tell him the truth.

With a few tears, some stammering, and a bit of nose-blowing, Benedict hears the whole sorry tale.

"Well, Melissa, thank you for telling me the truth. I will just have to salvage the development plans as best I can, although the contracts that were sent out weren't the right ones. I have the correct ones here in my briefcase." Melissa blinks some more.

"And just so we are clear, I won't do anything about your snooping and poor judgement, but now you are going to do something for me. And if I ever find out that you have mentioned this to anyone..."

Melissa just blinks and nods. Benedict has some personality quirks, to be sure, but she has never been more terrified in all her life.

"Now here's what you are going to do..."

Melissa leaves the mayor's office to start her 'errand'. Now suspicious to the point of paranoia, she notices a car that seems oddly familiar. She's sure she's seen it before. As she turns the corner, she catches a glimpse of the occupant... it's a woman wearing dark glasses and a headscarf.

Who could this mysterious woman be? Find out in part 2!

Next: Finale to the season finale!

[Zipme17 18]

ooo, bit of a cliff hanger there

[Darmok 34]

Still there and eagerly reading!

**hitting the refresh page button**

**hitting the refresh page button**

**hitting the refresh page button**

**hitting the refresh page button**

Auuuggggghhhh! 

Talking to self "Be patient..... be patient....."

[mayormommy 8]

Curioser and curioser...

Glad to hear my old CJs were an influence on you, though I noted you didn't say if they were a good or a bad influence! Oh well, I've been meaning to get to my CJ, but keep getting distracted by helping my son with his massive New York-based region.

I love all the intrigue in these cute little towns, great contrast of story and setting.

[Benedict 3,119]

Hi, Zipme17 (x2). One of my other readers (Gabor, I think), used to curse me for the cliff hangers... wouldn't be much of a season finale without a cliff hanger, now would it? Hmmm... synchronized tennis... you really think it might catch on???

Hi, Jacqulina. I love the small details in SC4RH, too. They are the inspiration for this CJ.

Hi, Darmok. Haha, don't worry, the epilogue is coming soon... and one of your big questions is going to be answered finally!

Hi, Mayormommy. Ragged Edge was a very positive influence. Mayors and their assistants up to all sorts of funny business. My CJ has a few other major influences, too... Have fun helping your son, and I will wait patiently for a Nightmare update.

[Benedict 3,119]

Remember this sleepy town in the northeast corner of Ellis Valley?

This is Blackbar.

Remember this house?

This is where Edna Church and her family live.

Once upon a time, Edna Church had aspirations of a political nature. Once upon a time Edna petitioned the mayor of Blackbar. Once upon a time she was a teacher at the local school, and even took the children on a trip to the big city of Eloff, where she attracted the attention of Mayor Benedict Tiles.

These days those events are in the past. Ever since Edna came back from Eloff life has been rough for Edna and her family. She was fired from her job after the school board found out that she left her daughter behind, even though Dr Church made sure little Cathy caught up with the school trip. And the local sims didn't want to see Dr Church any more, so he lost his job at the local clinic and has to commute out of town to work. Edna is actually forced to work 2 part-time jobs.

Then...

...and now...

You must be thinking that the simcitizens of Blackbar are a very unforgiving group. Well, they are somewhat unforgiving, but the real mastermind behind the misfortune of the Churches is also the head of the school board.

And he lives here...

...that's right, the Mayor of Blackbar, Jimmy Fallon!

And where exactly did Edna go wrong? She just didn't realize that nothing comes between Mayor Jimmy Fallon and his video games!

Next: Stay tuned for season 2!!

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Huh oh!!! Kinda like me and Sim City! Anyone gets in my way is likely to be dezoned and have a garbage dump zoned on top of them!

[jacqulina 162]

excellent update my friend i love the housing,the transport system is great fantastic work and pics

[Benedict 3,119]

Hi, Schulmanator. Yes, Mayor Fallon is quite ruthless when it comes to his gaming time. I am sure his relationship with Benedict will be explored further in Season II...

Hi, Jacqulina. Thanks for the comment - I have only zoned a small area of medium density housing in the entire region - and it isn't in Blackbar... so most of the pictures have single family homes in them. Perhaps there'll be syscrapers in seasons to come...

[jacqulina 162]

hi my friend i am sure whatever you decide to build next will be fantastic

[Shadow Assassin 336]

Season 2?

Ah, I see why you did it. There's 26 episodes per season (13 for some shows). So, I get it.

You know what you should've done? You should've left what happened to Edna next season.

[mayormommy 8]

Oh, I'm confused! Is Edna the woman following Melissa? Why would she be doing that?

Nice region shot though, and interesting pics with the new commute. Glad we didn't have to wait too long for season 2!

[Benedict 3,119]

Hi, Jacqulina. I'm glad you have such confidence in the construction skills of the Ellis Valley sims. They have done a good job with low-rise residential and farms, but I don't know if they can handle heavy industrial or highrises yet. I'm sure they'll prove me wrong, they usually do.

Hi, Shadow_Assassin. Well, Season I was focused on the Skeleton Coast (and Ellis Island, obviously). Season II will shift the focus a little bit. I went back to Edna because (a) she is the most asked-about character in the fanmail, and (b) it allowed me to start and finish Season I with the same town, which I thought was a nice little story arc. Don't worry, Season II will start with something juicy!

Hi, Mayormommy. Edna is far too busy taking care of her family and working 2 jobs in Blackbar to be involved in any covert activity in Eloff... That mysterious woman is... someone else. (A new character, who will be revealed in Season II). The plots, subplots, characters, scenes and script for Season II are in preparation... stay tuned for a special inbetween-seasons update which focuses on the region view.

Season 1 review by BlondeTwiggy is HERE. Thanks

[Darmok 34]

**sounds of a screeching chair**

turning of TV set

flippin' through the TV Guide pages, to note Season 2 airing time....

**turning off the lights while speaking to self....**

"Now that was a good TV show!"

-clic-

[Benedict 3,119]

Thanks for that, Darmok.

While you wait for Season II, have fun with first The Mayors of Ellis Valley Contest!

The first person to correctly name all of the towns featured in Season I on the map below will win a special prize.

A few of the towns have not been featured individually. They are:

14 - Ellisport

18 - Whiteleaf

22 - High Pass

23 - Low Pass

28 - Cruickshank

The other 24 have been shown in one or more episodes.... what are they?

And to the victor, the spoils!! The prize is your choice of one of the following: (a) I will construct a metro map for your city in the style of the London, Paris, Cologne, or Moscow maps, or (b) You will have a guest star role in an upcoming episode of The Mayors of Ellis Valley.

Good Luck!!

[Giligone 10]

Hey, thats a great looking region! How'd you make it night, and how'd you get those fireworks in there? Excellent region shot. Sadly, I do not know the names of the towns

[Zipme17 18]

I hope all this is right, i was a bit unsure about some of them. But this is my entry:

1	West Smith
2	East Smith
3	Blackbar
4	Crater Lake
5	Ridgeback
6	Anbonn
7	Westonia
8	Readmar
9	Readbridge
10	Newbridge
11	Northbridge
12	Ellis Landing
13	Elmouth
14	Ellisport
15	Uphoff
16	Eloff
17	Westmouth
18	Whiteleaf
19	Oxbridge
20	Quelton
21	Bellamie
22	High Pass
23	Low Pass
24	Denby
25	Anessa
26	Elbow Pass
27	Digby
28	Cruickshank
29	Darby

Took me ages

[Benedict 3,119]

Hi, Giligone. Thanks for the comment. I took in game snaps of each city at night, then assembled them in photoshop, cropping edges where necessary so they would all fit together (took me a while!). I got the fireworks in Eloff by waiting for them to go off (around Jan 1) with the night setting on. Then, once assembled, I distorted and skewed the map to make it square.

Congratulations, Zipme17!!!!! You are the first entry, and you have all 29 towns correct! Well done. You may now claim your prize...

[Zipme17 18]

I'll take B, guest star role if you don't mind.  I'm so excited.

[Benedict 3,119]

OK, Zipme17, a guest star you will be! Let me know your name (or the name you wish to use) for the script, and I'll work on an idea.

[Zipme17 18]

I'll be Andrew Bridge, please.

[jacqulina 162]

hi my friend im sure your sims will do a great job,this is a great idea

[Benedict 3,119]

The simcitizens of Ellis Valley haven't quite got around to revealing the plotlines for season 2 (something about scandalously low pay for the 'extras' in Season 1). In the meantime, here's a census from the towns we have visited so far.

Regional population: 60,604

Year: 50

Next: Season 2 coming soon!

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Interesting way to present your census. I like it!

[jacqulina 162]

nice work my friend

[mayormommy 8]

Ah, now it's a lot easier to work out the jurisdictions. Nice graphic. And give the extras a bonus and get them back to work, would you?

[Simfan34 11]

Nice!

[sc4portugal 10]

Great work!

[homeandaway 1]

cant wait to see more of this CJ my friend

take care

~alex~

[Benedict 3,119]

Schulmanator, glad you like the census, it was fun to create.

jacqulina, thanks for popping in, as always.

mayormommy, haha, the bonuses have finally been paid, and the sims of Ellis Valley are almost done with pre-production on season 2. How is Vanilla Town coming along? And any chance of a new Nightmares chapter?

SimFan34, thanks for stopping by.

sc4portugal, thank you for the nice comment. Hopefully you'll enjoy the new stuff when it comes out.

alex, you will have to wait a little bit longer, but there'll be an update soon with new characters, new cities, new plots and subplots, old friends (and enemies), as well as some tying up of loose threads.