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Melrose Place

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The Scene: A day in the life of Fox's Melrose Place, which has put the suds back in prime-time soaps. *The Players: Cast members Josie Bissett, Heather Locklear, Courtney Thorne- Smith, Doug Savant, Grant Show, and Andrew Shue are shooting a Feb. 9 episode centering on yet another possible breakup between Alison (Thorne- Smith) and Billy (Shue). *The Behind-the-Scenes Melodrama: Thorne-Smith and Shue are undergoing a real- life split-up (''People just grow apart,'' says Thorne-Smith), while Show is dating costar Laura Leighton. ''I'm hardly on the set with her,'' says Show, explaining what makes their relationship work, ''and Jake and Sydney are a really unlikely couple.'' *So, When Is Jake Going to Fall for Alison? ''They made out once,'' says Thorne- Smith. Show: ''But they didn't do the nasty, so it doesn't count.'' Thorne- Smith: ''They might have.'' Show: ''They might have?'' Thorne-Smith: ''I think they did and you forgot and that's the problem with the relationship.'' *Dynasty, It's Not: The set, located about 40 miles from the real Melrose, is hardly glamorous. The trailers come small and without phones; mice, rattlesnakes, and coyotes frequent the premises; and some of the furniture is from IKEA. *Atmosphere on the Set Before Locklear Arrives: Like watching paint dry. *Atmosphere on the Set After Locklear Arrives: All hugging and kissing. ''Everyone loves her,'' says Show. ''What's not to love?'' *Why Locklear Loves Being There: ''I've had ups and downs. When you've been out of a job and then you get one, you're so happy to work,'' says Locklear. ''It's like, 'Yes, I have somewhere to go!'''