Previously on DALLAS:
-----------------Ray moved out of his ranch house and into Southfork after Jenna asked for a divorce.
-----------------The bank called in Ewing Global's one hundred million dollar loan, which put the company even further in danger of being lost.
----------------Lucy returned to Southfork and admitted to Ray that she found a lump in her right breast.
----------------Cornered, John Baxter was arrested and confessed to the murder of Jack Ewing. John also revealed that his wife had an affair with Jack 20 years ago and that Jack was Dylan's real father!
-----------------The bank called in Ewing Global's one hundred million dollar loan, which put the company even further in danger of being lost.
----------------Lucy returned to Southfork and admitted to Ray that she found a lump in her right breast.
----------------Cornered, John Baxter was arrested and confessed to the murder of Jack Ewing. John also revealed that his wife had an affair with Jack 20 years ago and that Jack was Dylan's real father!
Southfork....evening
Ann, Christopher, and Ray are waiting in the living room when Bobby and Conner walk in after leaving the police station late in the afternoon.
"Conner, are you alright?" Ann asks when they walk in.
The young man sighs deeply. "I'm fine," he says quietly. "Excuse me." He turns and heads down the hall to his bedroom.
"Dad, are you sure he's okay?" Christopher asks.
"He's still in shock. So am I, frankly."
"I just can't believe it," says Ray. "Ol' Harv Smithfield's own son-in-law killed Jack."
"Bobby, what exactly happened at the police station?" Ann asks. "You didn't go into much detail over the phone."
Bobby takes a seat on the sofa and sighs as he rubs his face. "Twenty years ago, it had to be during the time when Jack came back to Dallas briefly, the last time I saw him, he had an affair with Baxter's wife, Harriett.....Linda, as she now calls herself. She became pregnant, and lied to John that the baby was premature. Jack was the father of that child, Dylan. Conner took it really hard when he heard Baxter's confession. I think it blows his mind that he actually has a brother he never knew about."
"What about the Baxter kid? Dylan?" Christopher asks.
"Yeah," Bobby says. "I feel so bad for that poor kid when he finds the man he always thought was his father is a cold blooded killer who murdered his biological father."
"Conner, are you alright?" Ann asks when they walk in.
The young man sighs deeply. "I'm fine," he says quietly. "Excuse me." He turns and heads down the hall to his bedroom.
"Dad, are you sure he's okay?" Christopher asks.
"He's still in shock. So am I, frankly."
"I just can't believe it," says Ray. "Ol' Harv Smithfield's own son-in-law killed Jack."
"Bobby, what exactly happened at the police station?" Ann asks. "You didn't go into much detail over the phone."
Bobby takes a seat on the sofa and sighs as he rubs his face. "Twenty years ago, it had to be during the time when Jack came back to Dallas briefly, the last time I saw him, he had an affair with Baxter's wife, Harriett.....Linda, as she now calls herself. She became pregnant, and lied to John that the baby was premature. Jack was the father of that child, Dylan. Conner took it really hard when he heard Baxter's confession. I think it blows his mind that he actually has a brother he never knew about."
"What about the Baxter kid? Dylan?" Christopher asks.
"Yeah," Bobby says. "I feel so bad for that poor kid when he finds the man he always thought was his father is a cold blooded killer who murdered his biological father."
The Smithfield Mansion....
Jay walks into the Smithfield home that evening and finds Todd in the living room. Jay pauses in the doorway as he watches his cousin standing by the fireplace looking at photos on the mantle, his back to Jay so he doesn't see him. Jay is unsure of how he was going to tell his cousins, and his grandmother, the terrible news he had to deliver.
"Todd," he says quietly.
Todd turns to him. "Jay. What's going on, man. Your phone call sounded urgent, like something bad had happened."
"It has."
"My God. What?" Todd asks. "What happened?"
"Todd, where's Dylan?"
"He's out with a friend or something. Jay, what's going on?"
"I really don't know how to tell you this man. And I sure as hell don't want after all you've been through lately. But, I have to. I have to tell you before you find out some other way. And your Mom is in no condition to tell you, so it's up to me. But before I do, call Dylan and ask him to come home, wherever he is. Get him home now, Todd."
Todd's heart sinks as he listens to his cousin, terrified of what news his cousin had to tell them that was so awful.
"Todd," he says quietly.
Todd turns to him. "Jay. What's going on, man. Your phone call sounded urgent, like something bad had happened."
"It has."
"My God. What?" Todd asks. "What happened?"
"Todd, where's Dylan?"
"He's out with a friend or something. Jay, what's going on?"
"I really don't know how to tell you this man. And I sure as hell don't want after all you've been through lately. But, I have to. I have to tell you before you find out some other way. And your Mom is in no condition to tell you, so it's up to me. But before I do, call Dylan and ask him to come home, wherever he is. Get him home now, Todd."
Todd's heart sinks as he listens to his cousin, terrified of what news his cousin had to tell them that was so awful.
The Smithfield Home....
Todd sits listening in shock as Jay tells him about John's confession to Jack Ewing's murder.
"I hated like hell to tell you this, Todd," Jay says. "But I knew that as soon as your father's confession leaked out, this would be all over the news, and I didn't want you finding out that way. And your mother was so distraught, I couldn't even get her to leave the police station. I asked a detective friend of mine, a woman, to keep an eye on her until I could get back there and bring her home."
"Oh my God," Todd finally says. "I don't believe this. I just don't believe this. My father killed Jack Ewing? Why, Jay? Why did he do it?"
Jay is silent for a moment as he tries to come up with the words to answer his cousin's question. "Your mother........she, uh......she and Jack Ewing apparently had an affair years ago. And......" Jay stops.
"And what, Jay? What were you gonna say?"
"Jack Ewing was Dylan's father."
"No," Todd cries. "No, no, no no, NOI!!!!"
Jay rushes over and embraces his cousin as Todd breaks down in tears. "Man, I'm so sorry," Jay says.
Todd pulls away and walks to the fireplace. He looks at a framed photo sitting atop the mantle of his mother, father, Dylan, and himself. "Damn it, what the hell kind of family is this? I was so freaking worried about my parents finding out I'm gay, and all the time my mother had an illegitimate child and my father is a damned murderer? Oh my God, Jay, how am I gonna tell Dylan?"
"I dunno, bro. He should be here any minute."
"I don't know what to say to him. How do I tell my little brother that our father is in jail because he confessed to cold blooded murder?"
"I hated like hell to tell you this, Todd," Jay says. "But I knew that as soon as your father's confession leaked out, this would be all over the news, and I didn't want you finding out that way. And your mother was so distraught, I couldn't even get her to leave the police station. I asked a detective friend of mine, a woman, to keep an eye on her until I could get back there and bring her home."
"Oh my God," Todd finally says. "I don't believe this. I just don't believe this. My father killed Jack Ewing? Why, Jay? Why did he do it?"
Jay is silent for a moment as he tries to come up with the words to answer his cousin's question. "Your mother........she, uh......she and Jack Ewing apparently had an affair years ago. And......" Jay stops.
"And what, Jay? What were you gonna say?"
"Jack Ewing was Dylan's father."
"No," Todd cries. "No, no, no no, NOI!!!!"
Jay rushes over and embraces his cousin as Todd breaks down in tears. "Man, I'm so sorry," Jay says.
Todd pulls away and walks to the fireplace. He looks at a framed photo sitting atop the mantle of his mother, father, Dylan, and himself. "Damn it, what the hell kind of family is this? I was so freaking worried about my parents finding out I'm gay, and all the time my mother had an illegitimate child and my father is a damned murderer? Oh my God, Jay, how am I gonna tell Dylan?"
"I dunno, bro. He should be here any minute."
"I don't know what to say to him. How do I tell my little brother that our father is in jail because he confessed to cold blooded murder?"
"What did you just say?" Asks Dylan, who's standing in the doorway.
Jay and Todd turn and look at the boy, stunned, and neither knowing what to say to him.
Jay and Todd turn and look at the boy, stunned, and neither knowing what to say to him.
Aboard the Westar jet over California....
That evening, as John Ross sits aboard the Westar jet en route to San Francisco, his mind flashes back to the conversation he'd had with Angie Channing earlier in the day:
"My son? Mine and Elena's son?" John Ross asks.
"That's right," replies Angie.
"Ms. Channing, my son was stillborn."
"No, Mr. Ewing. He wasn't. Your son is alive and well, and living in California with Elena and my brother, Michael."
Thinking about that conversation, John Ross can't believe it. His son is alive! And he knows that he has to get to San Francisco to see Elena and make her explain why she lied to him about the baby.
As John Ross is deep in thought, the pilot comes back to see him. "Mr. Ewing, we'll be arriving in San Francisco in ten minutes."
"Thank you," John Ross says. "The sooner, the better."
"My son? Mine and Elena's son?" John Ross asks.
"That's right," replies Angie.
"Ms. Channing, my son was stillborn."
"No, Mr. Ewing. He wasn't. Your son is alive and well, and living in California with Elena and my brother, Michael."
Thinking about that conversation, John Ross can't believe it. His son is alive! And he knows that he has to get to San Francisco to see Elena and make her explain why she lied to him about the baby.
As John Ross is deep in thought, the pilot comes back to see him. "Mr. Ewing, we'll be arriving in San Francisco in ten minutes."
"Thank you," John Ross says. "The sooner, the better."
Southfork....later
Justin is waiting in the living room at Southfork later that night when Bobby comes down the stairs and walks into the room.
"Justin," Bobby says. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm sorry to bother you. But, I need to tell you somethin'. Cody Williams, one of the hands, never showed up for work this mornin'. Most of his things are still in the bunkhouse, but some of his stuff is gone."
"What do you think this means?" Bobby asks.
"Justin," Bobby says. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm sorry to bother you. But, I need to tell you somethin'. Cody Williams, one of the hands, never showed up for work this mornin'. Most of his things are still in the bunkhouse, but some of his stuff is gone."
"What do you think this means?" Bobby asks.
"I found Cody's cell phone on the floor of his room," Justin says. "He got a call on that phone, which is how I found it. I heard it vibrate when I was about to leave his room. I picked it up and I answered and the person on the other end hung up when they heard my voice. The person who called Cody, Uncle Bobby, was John Ross."
"John Ross?" Bobby asks.
"Yeah. I overheard Cody talkin' to somebody the other day about doin' some work for them, and he even told me he'd been doin' extra work for John Ross."
"What kind of extra work?"
"Cody wouldn't tell me that. He acted downright strange when I asked him. Uncle Bobby, I hate to say this, but, ya know, Lucas thinks one of the hands here might've put those drugs in his car. But why would any of them do that unless they were doin' it for somebody else?"
"John Ross?" Bobby asks, angry.
"Who else?"
Bobby sighs. "My God. Lucas suspected John Ross of bein' behind it, too, but I really didn't wanna believe it. I know he's done some low things but I sure didn't wanna believe he'd stoop so low as to do somethin' like this to a member of his own family."
"John Ross duttin' give a damn about fam'ly," Justin says. "He proved that when he found out who I really was."
"Justin, do me a favor."
"Sure thing."
"Keep this to yourself for a couple days," Bobby says. "At least until we can find Cody. We don't have any proof that either he or John Ross was behind this, only our suspicions. Until we can get proof, let's not say anything to anyone."
"John Ross?" Bobby asks.
"Yeah. I overheard Cody talkin' to somebody the other day about doin' some work for them, and he even told me he'd been doin' extra work for John Ross."
"What kind of extra work?"
"Cody wouldn't tell me that. He acted downright strange when I asked him. Uncle Bobby, I hate to say this, but, ya know, Lucas thinks one of the hands here might've put those drugs in his car. But why would any of them do that unless they were doin' it for somebody else?"
"John Ross?" Bobby asks, angry.
"Who else?"
Bobby sighs. "My God. Lucas suspected John Ross of bein' behind it, too, but I really didn't wanna believe it. I know he's done some low things but I sure didn't wanna believe he'd stoop so low as to do somethin' like this to a member of his own family."
"John Ross duttin' give a damn about fam'ly," Justin says. "He proved that when he found out who I really was."
"Justin, do me a favor."
"Sure thing."
"Keep this to yourself for a couple days," Bobby says. "At least until we can find Cody. We don't have any proof that either he or John Ross was behind this, only our suspicions. Until we can get proof, let's not say anything to anyone."
The Channing Mansion...
Meanwhile, at the Channing mansion near San Francisco, Richard Channing, his son Michael, and Elena are having after dinner drinks in the den.
"Dad, where's Angie tonight?" Michael asks.
"No idea. She said something about going to visit a friend today, so I suppose she's still visiting."
Michael pours a drink and walks over and hands it to Elena. "Thanks," she says with a smile.
"You're welcome," Michael says, kissing her.
"Michael, I heard from your brother today," Richard says.
"Oh yeah? How's Kevin doing?"
"Wonderful. He'll be home at the end of the month."
"Hey, that's great," Michael says happily. "Elena, I can't wait for you to meet Kevin."
"I've heard so much about him I feel like I already know him," Elena says as the phone on the table by the fireplace buzzes.
Richard walks over and picks up the phone. "Yeah," he says.
"Mr. Channing, there's a John Ross Ewing at the gate. He inisists on seeing someone named Elena Ramos."
"Hold on just a minute," Richard says. He looks at Michael and Elena.
"What's wrong, Dad?" Michael asks.
"Dad, where's Angie tonight?" Michael asks.
"No idea. She said something about going to visit a friend today, so I suppose she's still visiting."
Michael pours a drink and walks over and hands it to Elena. "Thanks," she says with a smile.
"You're welcome," Michael says, kissing her.
"Michael, I heard from your brother today," Richard says.
"Oh yeah? How's Kevin doing?"
"Wonderful. He'll be home at the end of the month."
"Hey, that's great," Michael says happily. "Elena, I can't wait for you to meet Kevin."
"I've heard so much about him I feel like I already know him," Elena says as the phone on the table by the fireplace buzzes.
Richard walks over and picks up the phone. "Yeah," he says.
"Mr. Channing, there's a John Ross Ewing at the gate. He inisists on seeing someone named Elena Ramos."
"Hold on just a minute," Richard says. He looks at Michael and Elena.
"What's wrong, Dad?" Michael asks.
"We, uh.......we may have a problem," Richard says.
"What kind of problem?"
"John Ross Ewing is at the front gate, and he knows Elena's here."
"What kind of problem?"
"John Ross Ewing is at the front gate, and he knows Elena's here."
"John Ross?" Elena asks. "Oh my God. How did he know I was here?"
"That's a good question," says Michael.
Richard puts the phone to his ear. "Mark, you tell Mr. Ewing that there's no one here by that name and tell him to go away."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Channing, but he insists. Says he knows this Elena Ramos is here. Should I call the police?"
"No, Mark," Richard replies. "Tell Mr. Ewing he can come up." Richard puts the phone down.
"Dad, what are you doing?" Michael asks.
"Ewing insisted. He already knows Elena's here. And he doesn't know about the baby, so what harm can seeing him do?"
"He must know something about the baby, otherwise he wouldn't be here," Elena says, almost frantic.
"Sweetheart, just calm down," says Michael. "Whatever he wants, he can't touch you here. Remember that. You and the baby are safe."
"Just keep your cool," Richard says. "Ewing is on OUR turf now. He has no power here."
A moment later, the doorbell rings. Elena waits anxiously in the den with Richard and Michael until the butler comes to the door. "Excuse me, Mr. Channing," the butler says. "There's a Mr. Ewing here."
"Send him in, Charles," Richard says.
"That's a good question," says Michael.
Richard puts the phone to his ear. "Mark, you tell Mr. Ewing that there's no one here by that name and tell him to go away."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Channing, but he insists. Says he knows this Elena Ramos is here. Should I call the police?"
"No, Mark," Richard replies. "Tell Mr. Ewing he can come up." Richard puts the phone down.
"Dad, what are you doing?" Michael asks.
"Ewing insisted. He already knows Elena's here. And he doesn't know about the baby, so what harm can seeing him do?"
"He must know something about the baby, otherwise he wouldn't be here," Elena says, almost frantic.
"Sweetheart, just calm down," says Michael. "Whatever he wants, he can't touch you here. Remember that. You and the baby are safe."
"Just keep your cool," Richard says. "Ewing is on OUR turf now. He has no power here."
A moment later, the doorbell rings. Elena waits anxiously in the den with Richard and Michael until the butler comes to the door. "Excuse me, Mr. Channing," the butler says. "There's a Mr. Ewing here."
"Send him in, Charles," Richard says.
John Ross walks into the room. "Hello, Elena," he says, trying his best to restrain his anger.
"John Ross, what are you doing here, and how did you find me?"
"That's not important. You know I always find out what I wanna know. Aren't you gonna introduce me to your friends here?"
"I'm Richard Channing," Richard says. "This is my son Michael. What is it you want here, Mr. Ewing?"
"What do I want?" John Ross asks. "There's only one thing I want here, Mr. Channing, and that's my son."
"No idea what you're talking about," says Richard.
"John Ross, what are you doing here, and how did you find me?"
"That's not important. You know I always find out what I wanna know. Aren't you gonna introduce me to your friends here?"
"I'm Richard Channing," Richard says. "This is my son Michael. What is it you want here, Mr. Ewing?"
"What do I want?" John Ross asks. "There's only one thing I want here, Mr. Channing, and that's my son."
"No idea what you're talking about," says Richard.
"The HELL you don't, Channing! Elena, where is my son?"
"John Ross, I already told you when you were here before, that......"
"That the baby died? Well, I know that's a damned LIE, Elena!! You stood right there in your apartment that night and you lied to my face and told me that my son was born dead! What the hell kinda woman are you?"
"Look, I think you need to leave right now," says Michael.
"I'm not goin' anywhere without my son."
"John Ross, I already told you when you were here before, that......"
"That the baby died? Well, I know that's a damned LIE, Elena!! You stood right there in your apartment that night and you lied to my face and told me that my son was born dead! What the hell kinda woman are you?"
"Look, I think you need to leave right now," says Michael.
"I'm not goin' anywhere without my son."
"Do you honestly think I would ever let you anywhere NEAR my baby after all the things you've done?"
"All the things I'VE done?" John Ross yells, stepping toward Elena. "I may have done some bad things in my time but I never woulda lied to you and told you that your son was dead. You're nothin' but a low down, lyin' little bitch!"
"Now you just hold on right there!" Michael says, stepping between John Ross and Elena. "You'd better watch what you say about the woman I love."
"The woman you love? Do you know what kinda woman you're gettin' involved with? The kinda woman you got livin' under your roof?"
"I know EXACTLY what kind of woman Elena is," says Michael.
"Mr. Ewing, you have overstayed your welcome, now I suggest you leave," Richard says.
"Not without seein' my son."
"When hell freezes over!" Elena says.
"You have two choices, young man," says Richard. "You can leave on your own, or you can be escorted out by my security people, and I can guarantee you won't like that second option one bit. CHARLES!"
Within a couple seconds, the Channing Butler appears in the room. "Yes, Mr. Channing?"
"Would you please alert security that we have a trespasser on the premises?"
"Yes, sir," Charles says, turning and leaving the room.
"I don't know just who you people think you are," John Ross says. "But there is no way in hell I'm gonna just go away. Elena, I WILL get my son. Any damned way I have to."
"Is that a threat, Ewing?" Michael asks.
"It's a promise, Channing," John Ross replies as two tall, heavy security guards walk into the room.
"Is there a problem, Mr. Channing?" One of the guards asks.
"Would you please escort Mr. Ewing here off the property," Richard says.
"Let's go, sir," the other guard says to John Ross.
"All the things I'VE done?" John Ross yells, stepping toward Elena. "I may have done some bad things in my time but I never woulda lied to you and told you that your son was dead. You're nothin' but a low down, lyin' little bitch!"
"Now you just hold on right there!" Michael says, stepping between John Ross and Elena. "You'd better watch what you say about the woman I love."
"The woman you love? Do you know what kinda woman you're gettin' involved with? The kinda woman you got livin' under your roof?"
"I know EXACTLY what kind of woman Elena is," says Michael.
"Mr. Ewing, you have overstayed your welcome, now I suggest you leave," Richard says.
"Not without seein' my son."
"When hell freezes over!" Elena says.
"You have two choices, young man," says Richard. "You can leave on your own, or you can be escorted out by my security people, and I can guarantee you won't like that second option one bit. CHARLES!"
Within a couple seconds, the Channing Butler appears in the room. "Yes, Mr. Channing?"
"Would you please alert security that we have a trespasser on the premises?"
"Yes, sir," Charles says, turning and leaving the room.
"I don't know just who you people think you are," John Ross says. "But there is no way in hell I'm gonna just go away. Elena, I WILL get my son. Any damned way I have to."
"Is that a threat, Ewing?" Michael asks.
"It's a promise, Channing," John Ross replies as two tall, heavy security guards walk into the room.
"Is there a problem, Mr. Channing?" One of the guards asks.
"Would you please escort Mr. Ewing here off the property," Richard says.
"Let's go, sir," the other guard says to John Ross.
"Elena," John Ross says, looking at her. "You've known me long enough to know that I always get what I want, one way or another. And you Channings made one hell of a big mistake, because you just started a war you got no chance in hell of winnin'. And you, Elena......if you even THINK about leavin' here and goin' into hidin' again, I can promise you there won't be a single place on God's green Earth you can hide that I won't find you."
"Get him out of here!" Michael orders.
"Let's go," one of the guards says, grabbing John Ross by the arm.
After the two guards escort John Ross out of the room, Elena starts to cry. Michael puts his arms around her and embraces her.
"What am I gonna do?" Elena cries.
"We're gonna fight him," Michael says.
Meanwhile, standing on the stairs in the foyer, Angie watches as the two guards escort John Ross from the house. Having overheard the confrontation, Angie begins to have second thoughts about whether she did the right thing.
"Get him out of here!" Michael orders.
"Let's go," one of the guards says, grabbing John Ross by the arm.
After the two guards escort John Ross out of the room, Elena starts to cry. Michael puts his arms around her and embraces her.
"What am I gonna do?" Elena cries.
"We're gonna fight him," Michael says.
Meanwhile, standing on the stairs in the foyer, Angie watches as the two guards escort John Ross from the house. Having overheard the confrontation, Angie begins to have second thoughts about whether she did the right thing.
A few minutes later....
After he's been escorted to his car and drives out of the front gate of the Channing estate, John Ross pulls his car over and takes his cell phone from his pocket. He dials a number. After the second ring, someone answers. "Bum, it's me," John Ross says. "I need you to do a job for me, and I mean fast. I want everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING you can find out for me on a Richard Channing. He's some big newspaper tycoon in San Francisco. Oh, and find out all you can about Channing's son, Michael, and any other members of his fam'ly you can dig into. I wanna find enough information to bury these people."
Southfork....the next morning
As Bobby and Ann are coming down the stairs for breakfast the next morning, Bobby's cell phone rings. "Honey, you go on down, I'll be right there," Bobby says. Ann nods, and walks on ahead of him as he stops on the stairs and takes his phone from his pocket.
"Lee, I hope you have some good news for me," Bobby says, answering the phone. After a moment of listening to what his banker has to say, a stunned look comes over Bobby's face. "Lee, you can't be serious!"
A moment later, as Ann, Christopher, Ray, and Lucy are seated at the break-
fast table on the patio the new maid, Maria, serves coffee.
"Where's Conner this morning?" Lucy asks.
"Still in his room," replies Christopher. "He wasn't feelin' up to coming to breakfast."
"Yeah, I told him to take a few days off from workin' at my ranch, to sort of get his head together," Ray says. "Poor kid's been through quite an ordeal."
Bobby comes storming out of the house at that moment
"Bobby, what's wrong?" Ann asks. "Who was that on the phone?"
"More good news," Bobby replies sarcastically, an angry tone in his voice. "That was Lee Phillips on the phone. Our loan has been called in three days early."
"Three days early?" Christopher asks. "But how can they do that? Phillips gave us until Monday."
"Someone has purchased our note," Bobby says.
"What? Who?"
"I have no idea," Bobby says. "But I guess we'll find out soon enough."
fast table on the patio the new maid, Maria, serves coffee.
"Where's Conner this morning?" Lucy asks.
"Still in his room," replies Christopher. "He wasn't feelin' up to coming to breakfast."
"Yeah, I told him to take a few days off from workin' at my ranch, to sort of get his head together," Ray says. "Poor kid's been through quite an ordeal."
Bobby comes storming out of the house at that moment
"Bobby, what's wrong?" Ann asks. "Who was that on the phone?"
"More good news," Bobby replies sarcastically, an angry tone in his voice. "That was Lee Phillips on the phone. Our loan has been called in three days early."
"Three days early?" Christopher asks. "But how can they do that? Phillips gave us until Monday."
"Someone has purchased our note," Bobby says.
"What? Who?"
"I have no idea," Bobby says. "But I guess we'll find out soon enough."
The Smithfield Home....
Jay and Todd walk into the living room of the Smithfield home that morning. "How's Dylan?" Jay asks. "Did he even get to sleep last night?"
Todd sighs. "I don't think so. Neither did I."
"How about Aunt Linda, and Grandmother?"
"Mom was still asleep when I checked on her about ten minutes ago," answers Todd. "The doctor gave her a pretty strong sedative last night. He said she'll probably sleep through the day. And Grandmother, well.......she's not taking any of this well. But the person I'm really worried about is Dylan. He's the real victim in all of this. Especially the way he found out last night, overhearing our conversation."
"Yeah, poor kid," Jay says sadly. "Todd, I'm also worried about you."
Todd sighs. "I don't think so. Neither did I."
"How about Aunt Linda, and Grandmother?"
"Mom was still asleep when I checked on her about ten minutes ago," answers Todd. "The doctor gave her a pretty strong sedative last night. He said she'll probably sleep through the day. And Grandmother, well.......she's not taking any of this well. But the person I'm really worried about is Dylan. He's the real victim in all of this. Especially the way he found out last night, overhearing our conversation."
"Yeah, poor kid," Jay says sadly. "Todd, I'm also worried about you."
"I'm fine, Jay."
"You sure about that?"
"Look, I'm not gonna try to kill myself again, if that's what you're afraid of. What I should've done was kill John Ross Ewing."
"Todd, don't say that. Don't even joke about that."
"Why not, cousin?" Todd asks, walking to the bar. "At least then my father and I could be in adjoining prison cells. Wouldn't that be something? Father and son, both in prison for killing Ewings. Only instead of prison, they should give us medals for wiping as many Ewings as possible off the face of the earth."
"You can't mean what you're saying."
"Oh yeah, Jay," says Todd. "I do. Let's look at this. J.R. Ewing set my father up to blackmail him over thirty years ago. Then a decade later, Jack Ewing has an affair with my mother and fathers a child by her. And now, J.R.'s son digs into my private life and blackmails me to the point where I feel that the only way to escape from him is to kill myself. The Ewings have destroyed my family, Jay. And I won't rest until I pay John Ross and the rest of them back."
"Todd, you're my cousin," Jay says. "And I love you like you were my own brother. But let's be honest here. The Ewings didn't destroy this family. Thirty years ago, how was it that J.R. Ewing was able to blackmail Uncle John? Because Uncle John went to bed with a woman J.R. set him up with. He WILLINGLY went to bed with her, Todd, a fact that your father admitted to. If he'd stayed faithful to your mother then Ewing wouldn't have had anything to blackmail him with. And I'm sure Jack Ewing didn't force your mother into bed with him. I'm sorry, Todd, but your mother and father are to blame for all of this mess, and if you look at it real hard, I'm sure you'll see that."
"And what about my situation with John Ross?" Todd asks, turning to his cousin. "I suppose you're gonna say that if I had just come out of the closet in the first place, John Ross wouldn't have been able to blackmail me?"
"That's about the size of it, yeah. Todd, I know you were scared of how the family would react. But is it even worth being part of a family that would throw you away just because you're gay? Damn it, if you had just come to me with this, I couldn've helped you."
"How?" Todd asks.
"I don't know. But we could've worked through this together instead of you suffering all alone for all those years, and especially these last few months when Ewing was blackmailing you. I really thought we were closer than that, Todd. I really thought you had more faith in me than that. I guess I was wrong."
"Look, I'm sorry that I'm not as straight-laced and perfect as you are, cousin," Todd says angrily.
"I'm far from perfect. I'm a human being, just like you. I've made mistakes and I have flaws, just like you. Only I've never tried to hide mine from my best friend." Jay looks at his cousin for a second, then turns and walks out, leaving Todd alone, a tear streaming down his face.
"You sure about that?"
"Look, I'm not gonna try to kill myself again, if that's what you're afraid of. What I should've done was kill John Ross Ewing."
"Todd, don't say that. Don't even joke about that."
"Why not, cousin?" Todd asks, walking to the bar. "At least then my father and I could be in adjoining prison cells. Wouldn't that be something? Father and son, both in prison for killing Ewings. Only instead of prison, they should give us medals for wiping as many Ewings as possible off the face of the earth."
"You can't mean what you're saying."
"Oh yeah, Jay," says Todd. "I do. Let's look at this. J.R. Ewing set my father up to blackmail him over thirty years ago. Then a decade later, Jack Ewing has an affair with my mother and fathers a child by her. And now, J.R.'s son digs into my private life and blackmails me to the point where I feel that the only way to escape from him is to kill myself. The Ewings have destroyed my family, Jay. And I won't rest until I pay John Ross and the rest of them back."
"Todd, you're my cousin," Jay says. "And I love you like you were my own brother. But let's be honest here. The Ewings didn't destroy this family. Thirty years ago, how was it that J.R. Ewing was able to blackmail Uncle John? Because Uncle John went to bed with a woman J.R. set him up with. He WILLINGLY went to bed with her, Todd, a fact that your father admitted to. If he'd stayed faithful to your mother then Ewing wouldn't have had anything to blackmail him with. And I'm sure Jack Ewing didn't force your mother into bed with him. I'm sorry, Todd, but your mother and father are to blame for all of this mess, and if you look at it real hard, I'm sure you'll see that."
"And what about my situation with John Ross?" Todd asks, turning to his cousin. "I suppose you're gonna say that if I had just come out of the closet in the first place, John Ross wouldn't have been able to blackmail me?"
"That's about the size of it, yeah. Todd, I know you were scared of how the family would react. But is it even worth being part of a family that would throw you away just because you're gay? Damn it, if you had just come to me with this, I couldn've helped you."
"How?" Todd asks.
"I don't know. But we could've worked through this together instead of you suffering all alone for all those years, and especially these last few months when Ewing was blackmailing you. I really thought we were closer than that, Todd. I really thought you had more faith in me than that. I guess I was wrong."
"Look, I'm sorry that I'm not as straight-laced and perfect as you are, cousin," Todd says angrily.
"I'm far from perfect. I'm a human being, just like you. I've made mistakes and I have flaws, just like you. Only I've never tried to hide mine from my best friend." Jay looks at his cousin for a second, then turns and walks out, leaving Todd alone, a tear streaming down his face.
Ewing Global....
Bobby and Christopher step off the elevators and walk into the Ewing Global offices that morning to find the entire office empty of employees, except for Bobby's secretary, Janice, and Sue Ellen.
"Bobby, WHAT is going on?" Sue Ellen asks, walking over to them with Janice. "I come in this morning, and there are three men here sending all our employees home, and they said that we no longer own Ewing Global."
"Sue Ellen, someone bought our loan from the bank and paid it off in full," Bobby says.
"But who? Why?"
"Could it have been Judith Ryland?" Christopher asks.
"I hardly think Judith Ryland, or Harris for that matter, would have that kind of money," Bobby says.
"So what does this mean?" Sue Ellen asks.
Bobby sighs. "It means.......that we're finished. We've lost."
"Mr. Ewing, I'm so sorry," Janice says. "I wish there were something I could do."
"Thank you, Janice."
Meanwhile, the elevator doors open, and three men step off and approach the assembled group. "Mr. Bobby Ewing," one of the men says.
"Yes. Who the hell are you?"
"George Stevenson, from the Longhorn Bank."
"You're Lee Phillips's boss, aren't you?"
"Bobby, WHAT is going on?" Sue Ellen asks, walking over to them with Janice. "I come in this morning, and there are three men here sending all our employees home, and they said that we no longer own Ewing Global."
"Sue Ellen, someone bought our loan from the bank and paid it off in full," Bobby says.
"But who? Why?"
"Could it have been Judith Ryland?" Christopher asks.
"I hardly think Judith Ryland, or Harris for that matter, would have that kind of money," Bobby says.
"So what does this mean?" Sue Ellen asks.
Bobby sighs. "It means.......that we're finished. We've lost."
"Mr. Ewing, I'm so sorry," Janice says. "I wish there were something I could do."
"Thank you, Janice."
Meanwhile, the elevator doors open, and three men step off and approach the assembled group. "Mr. Bobby Ewing," one of the men says.
"Yes. Who the hell are you?"
"George Stevenson, from the Longhorn Bank."
"You're Lee Phillips's boss, aren't you?"
"Yes, that's right," Stevenson replies. "And I suppose Phillips informed you this morning that your loan was purchased from us and paid in full by the purchaser?"
"Yes, he did," Bobby answers, clinching his teeth and trying to restrain his anger.
"Does your bank always do business this way?" Christopher asks. "Crooked and dirty."
"There was nothing illegal about what we did. This was bound to happen in three days' time anyway because there was no way Ewing Global would be able to raise that kinda money."
"But you didn't even give us a chance to try!" Says an angry Sue Ellen.
"I'm sorry. But Ewing Global no longer belongs to the Ewings."
"And just who the hell does it belong to?" Bobby asks. "Who bought our debt with your bank?"
At that moment, the elevator doors open again, and a group of people step off and walk toward them. Bobby and Christopher are both stunned speechless when they see that one of the people is none other than their former ranch hand, Cody Williams.
"Yes, he did," Bobby answers, clinching his teeth and trying to restrain his anger.
"Does your bank always do business this way?" Christopher asks. "Crooked and dirty."
"There was nothing illegal about what we did. This was bound to happen in three days' time anyway because there was no way Ewing Global would be able to raise that kinda money."
"But you didn't even give us a chance to try!" Says an angry Sue Ellen.
"I'm sorry. But Ewing Global no longer belongs to the Ewings."
"And just who the hell does it belong to?" Bobby asks. "Who bought our debt with your bank?"
At that moment, the elevator doors open again, and a group of people step off and walk toward them. Bobby and Christopher are both stunned speechless when they see that one of the people is none other than their former ranch hand, Cody Williams.
"Good morning, Mr. Ewing. Christopher," Cody says.
"You?" Bobby asks. "You're....you're Cody, a hand at Southfork."
"Cody, what the hell is this?" Asks Christopher.
"Well, guys, it's like this. My name really isn't Cody Williams. It's Austin. Austin Wentworth."
"Wentworth?" Bobby asks, surprised to hear that name.
"You were once married to my Aunt, Pamela. You knew my mother, Katherine Wentworth."
"Wait you're.....you're Katherine's son?" Christopher asks.
"Sure am. So I guess that makes us cousins. And now this company that use to be called Wentworth Industries, is finally back in Wentworth hands."
"You hatched this little scheme all by yourself?" Bobby asks.
"No, Bobby," replies the voice of a woman.
Bobby, Christopher, and Sue Ellen look past Cody toward the elevator as a woman steps off. All three are completely dumbfounded when they see Katherine Wentworth herself lift her veil to reveal her face.
"Oh my God," Bobby gasps. "Katherine?"
"It can't be," Sue Ellen says.
"Oh it's me, Sue Ellen. Bobby," Katherine says, smiling. "It's been a very long time."
"You?" Bobby asks. "You're....you're Cody, a hand at Southfork."
"Cody, what the hell is this?" Asks Christopher.
"Well, guys, it's like this. My name really isn't Cody Williams. It's Austin. Austin Wentworth."
"Wentworth?" Bobby asks, surprised to hear that name.
"You were once married to my Aunt, Pamela. You knew my mother, Katherine Wentworth."
"Wait you're.....you're Katherine's son?" Christopher asks.
"Sure am. So I guess that makes us cousins. And now this company that use to be called Wentworth Industries, is finally back in Wentworth hands."
"You hatched this little scheme all by yourself?" Bobby asks.
"No, Bobby," replies the voice of a woman.
Bobby, Christopher, and Sue Ellen look past Cody toward the elevator as a woman steps off. All three are completely dumbfounded when they see Katherine Wentworth herself lift her veil to reveal her face.
"Oh my God," Bobby gasps. "Katherine?"
"It can't be," Sue Ellen says.
"Oh it's me, Sue Ellen. Bobby," Katherine says, smiling. "It's been a very long time."
"How?" Bobby asks. "It was reported that you died in Europe more than a decade ago."
"I know. I faked it. And I had to remain dead until I could return to Dallas as a free woman and reclaim what was mine."
"You're NOT a free woman," Sue Ellen says angrily. "You're still a wanted fugitive. Still wanted for shooting Bobby. There is no statute of limitations in Texas on attempted murder."
"Oh, I know that. But, I am a free woman, thanks to a pardon from the Governor," says Katherine.
"The Governor pardoned you?" Bobby asks.
"I know. I faked it. And I had to remain dead until I could return to Dallas as a free woman and reclaim what was mine."
"You're NOT a free woman," Sue Ellen says angrily. "You're still a wanted fugitive. Still wanted for shooting Bobby. There is no statute of limitations in Texas on attempted murder."
"Oh, I know that. But, I am a free woman, thanks to a pardon from the Governor," says Katherine.
"The Governor pardoned you?" Bobby asks.
"Yes, he did," Katherine says. "I guess he feels that, crimes I committed while having a mental breakdown more than three decades ago shouldn't count against me now."
"How did you do this?" Bobby asks. "How did you just HAPPEN to know that we were in trouble?"
"Your......trouble......as you call it, dear Bobby, was no accident."
"You set us up to fail?" Christopher asks.
"Of course I had help. My son here, kept close tabs on the Ewings for the past year for me, and of course, my dear friend Judith Ryland was of immense help. Denying or rescinding all your drilling variances, basically driving you to financial collapse."
"Then all we had to do was come in, and buy up the loan, along with all of Ewing Global's assets," Cody/Austin says.
"You waited a hell of a long time for revenge, if that's what this is about," Bobby says.
"I was patient," says Katherine. "And I had to wait until all the circumstances were just right. My father started this company, Bobby, before I was born. And because of my legal difficulties thirty years ago, I wasn't able to take part in Wentworth business. So the company was handled by outsiders. And then, in the late 90s, that little worm Cliff Barnes stepped in and bought the company when it was about to go under, much the same as I've done now. When I heard that Cliff had changed the name to Barnes Global, I was furious. I could've killed him. But I was still a fugitive wanted for shooting you. There was nothing I could do but sit back and watch that bastard run my father's company. And then I heard that Cliff had lost the company to the Ewings. So then I planned to take it back. What you see here today, Bobby, is the result of two years of planning. And now, Ewing Global no longer exists. From this day forward, this company will once again be called by its rightful name......Wentworth Industries."
"Alright, Katherine," Bobby says. "You may own all our assets and our company, but this building and these offices don't go along with it. You're gonna have to find someplace else to set up shop. Now you're trespassing, so get the hell out of this building before I have you thrown out. And take your goons and your little snot nose punk with you!"
"You're gonna be sorry you said that, old man," Cody/Austin says.
"Oh yeah? You wanna take that up with me?" Christopher asks, stepping in front of Austin.
"Yeah, gladly," Austin says. Christopher shoves him, and Austin shoves back. Bobby steps between the two young men.
"That's enough!" Bobby yells. "Katherine, take this punk and get out of my sight before I forget you're a woman."
"Fine," Katherine says with a smile. "As much as I've enjoyed this little reunion, we really must be going. Oh, Sue Ellen, I see the years haven't been very kind to you. Or is it all those years of being a drunk that's causing you to look so haggard these days?"
"You BITCH!" Sue Ellen says as she quickly slaps Katherine across the face as hard as she can.
Katherine looks at her, rubbing her stinging cheek. "You'll be sorry you did that."
"Let's go, Mom," Austin says.
Katherine starts to leave with her son, but pauses and looks at Christopher. "You really did grow up to be a very handsome man, nephew." Without another word, Katherine turns and leaves, followed by Austin and the other men.
As he starts to get on the elevator, Austin turns back to the Ewings. "Oh yeah," he says. "I almost forgot. You might wanna know that John Ross paid me to plant those drugs in your son Lucas's car. Have a nice day." Austin smiles, then gets on the elevator with Katherine.
After they leave, Bobby walks over to one of the desks and, unable to control his anger, he picks up one of the telephones and throws it against the wall, smashing it as Sue Ellen, Christopher, and Janice look on.
"How did you do this?" Bobby asks. "How did you just HAPPEN to know that we were in trouble?"
"Your......trouble......as you call it, dear Bobby, was no accident."
"You set us up to fail?" Christopher asks.
"Of course I had help. My son here, kept close tabs on the Ewings for the past year for me, and of course, my dear friend Judith Ryland was of immense help. Denying or rescinding all your drilling variances, basically driving you to financial collapse."
"Then all we had to do was come in, and buy up the loan, along with all of Ewing Global's assets," Cody/Austin says.
"You waited a hell of a long time for revenge, if that's what this is about," Bobby says.
"I was patient," says Katherine. "And I had to wait until all the circumstances were just right. My father started this company, Bobby, before I was born. And because of my legal difficulties thirty years ago, I wasn't able to take part in Wentworth business. So the company was handled by outsiders. And then, in the late 90s, that little worm Cliff Barnes stepped in and bought the company when it was about to go under, much the same as I've done now. When I heard that Cliff had changed the name to Barnes Global, I was furious. I could've killed him. But I was still a fugitive wanted for shooting you. There was nothing I could do but sit back and watch that bastard run my father's company. And then I heard that Cliff had lost the company to the Ewings. So then I planned to take it back. What you see here today, Bobby, is the result of two years of planning. And now, Ewing Global no longer exists. From this day forward, this company will once again be called by its rightful name......Wentworth Industries."
"Alright, Katherine," Bobby says. "You may own all our assets and our company, but this building and these offices don't go along with it. You're gonna have to find someplace else to set up shop. Now you're trespassing, so get the hell out of this building before I have you thrown out. And take your goons and your little snot nose punk with you!"
"You're gonna be sorry you said that, old man," Cody/Austin says.
"Oh yeah? You wanna take that up with me?" Christopher asks, stepping in front of Austin.
"Yeah, gladly," Austin says. Christopher shoves him, and Austin shoves back. Bobby steps between the two young men.
"That's enough!" Bobby yells. "Katherine, take this punk and get out of my sight before I forget you're a woman."
"Fine," Katherine says with a smile. "As much as I've enjoyed this little reunion, we really must be going. Oh, Sue Ellen, I see the years haven't been very kind to you. Or is it all those years of being a drunk that's causing you to look so haggard these days?"
"You BITCH!" Sue Ellen says as she quickly slaps Katherine across the face as hard as she can.
Katherine looks at her, rubbing her stinging cheek. "You'll be sorry you did that."
"Let's go, Mom," Austin says.
Katherine starts to leave with her son, but pauses and looks at Christopher. "You really did grow up to be a very handsome man, nephew." Without another word, Katherine turns and leaves, followed by Austin and the other men.
As he starts to get on the elevator, Austin turns back to the Ewings. "Oh yeah," he says. "I almost forgot. You might wanna know that John Ross paid me to plant those drugs in your son Lucas's car. Have a nice day." Austin smiles, then gets on the elevator with Katherine.
After they leave, Bobby walks over to one of the desks and, unable to control his anger, he picks up one of the telephones and throws it against the wall, smashing it as Sue Ellen, Christopher, and Janice look on.
The Krebbs Ranch.....afternoon
Ray walks into his and Jenna's home that afternoon and finds his wife sitting in the living room, sipping on a drink. "Jenna," he says.
"What do you want, Ray?" Jenna asks with a sigh.
"Came over to get a few more of my things. And to see if you were alright."
"Oh, I'm just fine. Why do you even care?"
"I care because you're still my wife, Jenna."
"Your wife?" Jenna asks. "That's a joke. Apparently Donna has been more of a wife to you lately that I have." Jenna stands and walks to the bar, where she pours herself another drink.
"Don't you think you've had enough already?" Ray asks.
"Don't you DARE say that to me! It helps. It helps ease my pain that my ever faithful husband has caused me."
"Ya know, I'm really gettin' sick of this," Ray says, walking over to her. "Jenna, you and I haven't been happy for a long time, and we both knew that. Look, I'm sorry I hurt you, but if the shoe were on the other foot......" Ray stops before he says anymore.
Jenna slowly turns to him. "What do you mean by that?"
"It means that I've known all along that you're still in love with Bobby. You never got over your feelings for him."
"But I never cheated on you with him!"
"Only because Bobby would never cheat on Ann," Ray says. "It makes me shutter to think how fast you would've jumped into bed with him if he was willin' to cheat, or how fast you'd have left me if Bobby were free." Without another word, Ray turns and walks out of the room, leaving Jenna in tears. Her hand trembling, she pours herself another glass of bourbon.
"What do you want, Ray?" Jenna asks with a sigh.
"Came over to get a few more of my things. And to see if you were alright."
"Oh, I'm just fine. Why do you even care?"
"I care because you're still my wife, Jenna."
"Your wife?" Jenna asks. "That's a joke. Apparently Donna has been more of a wife to you lately that I have." Jenna stands and walks to the bar, where she pours herself another drink.
"Don't you think you've had enough already?" Ray asks.
"Don't you DARE say that to me! It helps. It helps ease my pain that my ever faithful husband has caused me."
"Ya know, I'm really gettin' sick of this," Ray says, walking over to her. "Jenna, you and I haven't been happy for a long time, and we both knew that. Look, I'm sorry I hurt you, but if the shoe were on the other foot......" Ray stops before he says anymore.
Jenna slowly turns to him. "What do you mean by that?"
"It means that I've known all along that you're still in love with Bobby. You never got over your feelings for him."
"But I never cheated on you with him!"
"Only because Bobby would never cheat on Ann," Ray says. "It makes me shutter to think how fast you would've jumped into bed with him if he was willin' to cheat, or how fast you'd have left me if Bobby were free." Without another word, Ray turns and walks out of the room, leaving Jenna in tears. Her hand trembling, she pours herself another glass of bourbon.
Texas Presbyterian Heath Hospital....
Lucy sits alone in an examining room at the hospital that afternoon when a female doctor walks in.
"Hello, Lucy," the doctor says. "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
"It's alright, Dr. Grant," says Lucy. "I know how busy you must be."
"Well, I've had a chance to look over your x-rays, and, there's definitely something there."
"A.....tumor?" Lucy asks.
"We won't know until we do more tests. I'd like to go ahead and schedule you for an MRI this afternoon, while you're here. And a Mammogram for tomorrow morning, if that's alright."
"Yes, that's fine. I just wanna know what this lump is," Lucy says. "And if it's cancer."
"Lucy, I understand that you're concerned," Dr. Grant says. "But a lot of the time, these lumps turn out to be benign cysts. Now, I'm gonna need a little background information. Family history of cancer, that sort of thing."
"Yes," Lucy says sadly. "Family history. That's why I'm so scared about this."
"Has someone in your family had breast cancer?"
"Yes. My grandmother had it. She had to have a mastectomy. I remember being terrified back then that one day, it would happen to me. And now, it might just be happening. Only, my grandmother was sixty-four when she had it. I just never expected it to happen to me this early."
"Lucy, don't look for trouble until you have to," Dr. Grant says. "Let's get these tests done, find out what the lump is, and take it from there, okay?"
Lucy looks at the doctor and nods. "Okay," she says quietly.
"It's alright, Dr. Grant," says Lucy. "I know how busy you must be."
"Well, I've had a chance to look over your x-rays, and, there's definitely something there."
"A.....tumor?" Lucy asks.
"We won't know until we do more tests. I'd like to go ahead and schedule you for an MRI this afternoon, while you're here. And a Mammogram for tomorrow morning, if that's alright."
"Yes, that's fine. I just wanna know what this lump is," Lucy says. "And if it's cancer."
"Lucy, I understand that you're concerned," Dr. Grant says. "But a lot of the time, these lumps turn out to be benign cysts. Now, I'm gonna need a little background information. Family history of cancer, that sort of thing."
"Yes," Lucy says sadly. "Family history. That's why I'm so scared about this."
"Has someone in your family had breast cancer?"
"Yes. My grandmother had it. She had to have a mastectomy. I remember being terrified back then that one day, it would happen to me. And now, it might just be happening. Only, my grandmother was sixty-four when she had it. I just never expected it to happen to me this early."
"Lucy, don't look for trouble until you have to," Dr. Grant says. "Let's get these tests done, find out what the lump is, and take it from there, okay?"
Lucy looks at the doctor and nods. "Okay," she says quietly.
Pamela's apartment....
Cliff walks into Pamela's apartment that afternoon carrying a bag of groceries.
"Emma," he calls out. "Are you home? Come help me put these groceries away."
Emma comes in from the kitchen.
"Oh, there you are," Cliff says.
"I didn't know you were going grocery shopping," Emma says.
"Yeah. We've got some celebrating to do this weekend. Afton's new club opens, and Tripp and Pamela will be back from their honeymoon. AND the best part.......first of next week is the Westar board meeting, and John Ross will be kicked out of that company."
Emma smiles. "Sounds like things are really coming together for you."
"Yes, they are."
"Well, then, you'll be pleased with my news."
"What news?" Cliff asks.
"You have a visitor," replies Emma.
"Oh?"
"Yeah, a really beautiful woman came by to see you. Said she's an old friend and was in town and wanted to surprise you."
"Who is she?" Cliff asks.
"She wouldn't give her name. But she's upstairs in the bathroom."
"Oh, well, let's go in the living room and find out who she is when she comes down," Cliff says, smiling. He walks into the living room, followed by Emma. "I can't wait to find out who the mystery lady is. Of course, it could be just about anybody. I was quite the ladies' man in my day."
As Cliff is talking, he has his back to the stairs and doesn't see Katherine as she comes quietly down to the living room. "Hello, Cliff," she says.
Instantly recognizing her voice, Cliff freezes, his mouth open, a look of shock on his face. He turns around to see her as she walks over to him.
"Well, aren't you glad to see me? Do I get a welcome back to Dallas kiss?"
"Emma," he calls out. "Are you home? Come help me put these groceries away."
Emma comes in from the kitchen.
"Oh, there you are," Cliff says.
"I didn't know you were going grocery shopping," Emma says.
"Yeah. We've got some celebrating to do this weekend. Afton's new club opens, and Tripp and Pamela will be back from their honeymoon. AND the best part.......first of next week is the Westar board meeting, and John Ross will be kicked out of that company."
Emma smiles. "Sounds like things are really coming together for you."
"Yes, they are."
"Well, then, you'll be pleased with my news."
"What news?" Cliff asks.
"You have a visitor," replies Emma.
"Oh?"
"Yeah, a really beautiful woman came by to see you. Said she's an old friend and was in town and wanted to surprise you."
"Who is she?" Cliff asks.
"She wouldn't give her name. But she's upstairs in the bathroom."
"Oh, well, let's go in the living room and find out who she is when she comes down," Cliff says, smiling. He walks into the living room, followed by Emma. "I can't wait to find out who the mystery lady is. Of course, it could be just about anybody. I was quite the ladies' man in my day."
As Cliff is talking, he has his back to the stairs and doesn't see Katherine as she comes quietly down to the living room. "Hello, Cliff," she says.
Instantly recognizing her voice, Cliff freezes, his mouth open, a look of shock on his face. He turns around to see her as she walks over to him.
"Well, aren't you glad to see me? Do I get a welcome back to Dallas kiss?"
"Katherine?" Cliff asks in shock. "What the hell are you doing here? And how are you here? You're supposed to be...."
"Dead," Katherine interrupts. "Yes, I know. But obviously I'm not dead, because I'm here."
"What is going on?" Emma asks. "Who is this woman?"
"This woman is no old friend of mine," says Cliff. "This is my deranged sister, Katherine Wentworth! A woman I thought died thirteen years ago."
"Cliff, you should have known better than to count me out."
"I'm calling the cops," Cliff says, walking over and picking up the phone. "You're still a wanted fugitive. One phone call and I'll have you in jail."
"Go ahead," Katherine says. "Call them. It won't do you any good. Because, dear brother, just like you, I was pardoned."
"Pardoned?"
"Yes. That's right. The Governor happens to be a friend of a friend."
"Okay, so you've been pardoned, now you can just get the hell out of here, because I have nothing to say to you."
"Well, I have plenty to say to you. You stole the company that my father spent his entire life building, and then you were so stupid you lost it to the Ewings. But I got it back."
"You.....you did WHAT?" Cliff asks.
"I took Ewing Global away from the Ewings today, so now, Wentworth Industries belongs to me again. To me and to my son."
"Your....your SON? You mean nature actually let a barracuda like you reproduce?" Cliff asks.
"Yes, Cliff. I have a son. His name is Austin. And together, Austin and I are going to settle all my old scores here in Dallas. Taking Wentworth back was only the beginning. Next, I'll turn my attention to you, and repay you for taking my father's company and naming it after yourself."
"GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!" Cliff yells.
Katherine smiles, then walks to the door. She turns back to him. "Bye for now, Cliff. You have a lovely daughter here. Oh, and how is my OTHER lovely niece, Pamela?"
"GET OUT!!!!"
Katherine smiles again, then leaves.
"Damn it!" Cliff says. "How the hell did that psycho manage to get a pardon?"
"I'm sorry. If I had known who that was, I never would've let her in here," Emma says, shaken.
"It's not your fault. But now that that witch is back in Dallas and a free woman......none of us are safe because that is one CRAZY lady."
"Dead," Katherine interrupts. "Yes, I know. But obviously I'm not dead, because I'm here."
"What is going on?" Emma asks. "Who is this woman?"
"This woman is no old friend of mine," says Cliff. "This is my deranged sister, Katherine Wentworth! A woman I thought died thirteen years ago."
"Cliff, you should have known better than to count me out."
"I'm calling the cops," Cliff says, walking over and picking up the phone. "You're still a wanted fugitive. One phone call and I'll have you in jail."
"Go ahead," Katherine says. "Call them. It won't do you any good. Because, dear brother, just like you, I was pardoned."
"Pardoned?"
"Yes. That's right. The Governor happens to be a friend of a friend."
"Okay, so you've been pardoned, now you can just get the hell out of here, because I have nothing to say to you."
"Well, I have plenty to say to you. You stole the company that my father spent his entire life building, and then you were so stupid you lost it to the Ewings. But I got it back."
"You.....you did WHAT?" Cliff asks.
"I took Ewing Global away from the Ewings today, so now, Wentworth Industries belongs to me again. To me and to my son."
"Your....your SON? You mean nature actually let a barracuda like you reproduce?" Cliff asks.
"Yes, Cliff. I have a son. His name is Austin. And together, Austin and I are going to settle all my old scores here in Dallas. Taking Wentworth back was only the beginning. Next, I'll turn my attention to you, and repay you for taking my father's company and naming it after yourself."
"GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!" Cliff yells.
Katherine smiles, then walks to the door. She turns back to him. "Bye for now, Cliff. You have a lovely daughter here. Oh, and how is my OTHER lovely niece, Pamela?"
"GET OUT!!!!"
Katherine smiles again, then leaves.
"Damn it!" Cliff says. "How the hell did that psycho manage to get a pardon?"
"I'm sorry. If I had known who that was, I never would've let her in here," Emma says, shaken.
"It's not your fault. But now that that witch is back in Dallas and a free woman......none of us are safe because that is one CRAZY lady."
Westar.....evening
Late in the evening, John Ross stands at the window of his dimly lit office at Westar, looking out at the darkening skyline of the city as night begins to set in over Dallas. In his hand, he holds a glass of bourbon, which he takes a sip of. Only a small lamp on the table behind his desk lights up the office. A knock on his door breaks his train of though. "Come in," he says.
Melissa walks into the office. "John Ross, umm, it's getting late, and if you don't mind, I'd like to head home. It's Friday night, after all."
"Yeah. Go on."
"You know, ever since you came in today, you've been really distracted. I know you're worried about that board meeting next week. So, if you'd like, you could drop by tonight."
"Maybe," he says, continuing to stare out the window.
"Well, the offer's open," Melissa says. She looks at him for a second, then turns to leave. As she heads out of his office, Bum arrives. He nods to Melissa, then walks in as she leaves.
Bum closes the door."John Ross," Bum says.
"Got that info on the Channings I asked for?" John Ross asks.
"Sure do. And it's pretty interesting." John Ross turns to face him, then walks over to his desk and takes a seat.
Melissa walks into the office. "John Ross, umm, it's getting late, and if you don't mind, I'd like to head home. It's Friday night, after all."
"Yeah. Go on."
"You know, ever since you came in today, you've been really distracted. I know you're worried about that board meeting next week. So, if you'd like, you could drop by tonight."
"Maybe," he says, continuing to stare out the window.
"Well, the offer's open," Melissa says. She looks at him for a second, then turns to leave. As she heads out of his office, Bum arrives. He nods to Melissa, then walks in as she leaves.
Bum closes the door."John Ross," Bum says.
"Got that info on the Channings I asked for?" John Ross asks.
"Sure do. And it's pretty interesting." John Ross turns to face him, then walks over to his desk and takes a seat.
"Let's have it," John Ross says.
"Okay, I'll start with the old man," Bum says, taking a seat across from John Ross's desk. "Richard Channing was born in San Francisco in 1943. He was the biological son of Douglas Channing and his wife at the time, Angela Gioberti Channing, who was heiress to the Falcon Crest vinyard and winery empire in the Tuscany Valley, not far from San Francisco. But right after he was born, Channing's life took a strangely dramatic turn."
"How so?" John Ross asks.
"You think your family is dysfunctional? The Ewings have NOTHING on this bunch. According to my research, which was fairly easy to come by, old Douglas Channing was having an affair with his wife's sister-in-law, a woman named Jacqueline Gioberti, the wife of Angela's brother. Around the time Richard was conceived, Angela's brother and his wife separated. When Channing was born, his mother was told the baby died. But in fact, he was stolen at birth by none other than his own father and his mistress, Jacqueline. Channing was taken East, where he was raised by an organized crime boss named Henri Denault. Much of Channing's early life and even into his college years is shrouded in mystery. But, as a young adult, he managed to get involved with various groups, such as a shady cartel Jacqueline Perrault and Henri Denault were involved in, that helped Channing on his rise to power. In 1982, Douglas Channing died, and Richard, his son, moved from New York to San Francisco, where he inherited his father's newspaper, the San Francisco Globe, which he renamed The New Globe. He had numerous affairs. One of his mistresses, a woman named Cassandra Wilder, gave birth to his son, Michael, in 1986. Married three times. First wife was Terry Hartford. She was killed in an earthquake in 1986. Second wife was Terry's own sister, Maggie Gioberti, the widow of Channing's cousin, Chase Gioberti. Maggie drowned in a freak accident in the Channings' own swimming pool in 1989. Channing adopted her son, Kevin, who was born in 1987. In 1990, Channing married his third wife, Lauren Sharpe Daniels. They had one daughter, Angela, born in 1993. Lauren died of cancer in 2009."
"Damn, what is it with this guy's wives dyin'?" John Ross asks.
"I wondered that myself. Channing himself has a criminal record as long as your arm. In 1988, he was indicted on numerous charges and even faked his own death to avoid being killed by a group of organized criminals. Then in 1989, he spent a few months in prison on charges ranging from income tax evasion to extortion, kidnapping, and insider trading."
"Only a few months for all that?"
"The guy had connections. Apparently, though, third wife Lauren seems to have straightened him out. Channing hasn't been involved in any major criminal activity since at least the mid-90s. Not that I could find, anyway."
"Then keep diggin'," John Ross says, standing to his feet. "A guy who was that dirty for so many years duttin' all of a sudden decide to go straight because of the love of a good woman. There's gotta be somethin' there I can use, somethin' more recent. What about his kids?"
"Michael graduated from Harvard with a degree in journalism. Kevin is now in his last year of graduate school at Harvard. Angie doesn't do much of anything since graduating high school four years ago. And then there's Channing's oldest son, one he had from a relationship with a recently married woman when he was in his twenties. The son's name is Danny Sharpe, and......get this......the guy whose wife Channing had the affair with was the brother of his third wife, Lauren, Michael Sharpe."
"Michael Sharpe? I know that name. Big international business man, lost everything a few years back. He was even supposed to be involved in organized crime."
"John Ross, I'm real sorry about the mess up on my investigation on Elena. I don't know how she managed to hide that baby from me," Bum says.
"Channing obviously helped her cover up my son's birth and fake his death records," John Ross says. "Elena couldn't done that on her own, she wouldn't have had the resources."
"Anything you want me to do?" Bum asks.
"How so?" John Ross asks.
"You think your family is dysfunctional? The Ewings have NOTHING on this bunch. According to my research, which was fairly easy to come by, old Douglas Channing was having an affair with his wife's sister-in-law, a woman named Jacqueline Gioberti, the wife of Angela's brother. Around the time Richard was conceived, Angela's brother and his wife separated. When Channing was born, his mother was told the baby died. But in fact, he was stolen at birth by none other than his own father and his mistress, Jacqueline. Channing was taken East, where he was raised by an organized crime boss named Henri Denault. Much of Channing's early life and even into his college years is shrouded in mystery. But, as a young adult, he managed to get involved with various groups, such as a shady cartel Jacqueline Perrault and Henri Denault were involved in, that helped Channing on his rise to power. In 1982, Douglas Channing died, and Richard, his son, moved from New York to San Francisco, where he inherited his father's newspaper, the San Francisco Globe, which he renamed The New Globe. He had numerous affairs. One of his mistresses, a woman named Cassandra Wilder, gave birth to his son, Michael, in 1986. Married three times. First wife was Terry Hartford. She was killed in an earthquake in 1986. Second wife was Terry's own sister, Maggie Gioberti, the widow of Channing's cousin, Chase Gioberti. Maggie drowned in a freak accident in the Channings' own swimming pool in 1989. Channing adopted her son, Kevin, who was born in 1987. In 1990, Channing married his third wife, Lauren Sharpe Daniels. They had one daughter, Angela, born in 1993. Lauren died of cancer in 2009."
"Damn, what is it with this guy's wives dyin'?" John Ross asks.
"I wondered that myself. Channing himself has a criminal record as long as your arm. In 1988, he was indicted on numerous charges and even faked his own death to avoid being killed by a group of organized criminals. Then in 1989, he spent a few months in prison on charges ranging from income tax evasion to extortion, kidnapping, and insider trading."
"Only a few months for all that?"
"The guy had connections. Apparently, though, third wife Lauren seems to have straightened him out. Channing hasn't been involved in any major criminal activity since at least the mid-90s. Not that I could find, anyway."
"Then keep diggin'," John Ross says, standing to his feet. "A guy who was that dirty for so many years duttin' all of a sudden decide to go straight because of the love of a good woman. There's gotta be somethin' there I can use, somethin' more recent. What about his kids?"
"Michael graduated from Harvard with a degree in journalism. Kevin is now in his last year of graduate school at Harvard. Angie doesn't do much of anything since graduating high school four years ago. And then there's Channing's oldest son, one he had from a relationship with a recently married woman when he was in his twenties. The son's name is Danny Sharpe, and......get this......the guy whose wife Channing had the affair with was the brother of his third wife, Lauren, Michael Sharpe."
"Michael Sharpe? I know that name. Big international business man, lost everything a few years back. He was even supposed to be involved in organized crime."
"John Ross, I'm real sorry about the mess up on my investigation on Elena. I don't know how she managed to hide that baby from me," Bum says.
"Channing obviously helped her cover up my son's birth and fake his death records," John Ross says. "Elena couldn't done that on her own, she wouldn't have had the resources."
"Anything you want me to do?" Bum asks.
"Yeah," John Ross says. "Have a couple of your San Francisco contacts you're sure you can trust to keep an eye on Elena and these Channings. But ESPECIALLY Elena. I wanna know every move she makes and every place she goes. In the meantime, I'm gonna contact one of my lawyers. I'm gettin' my son away from that woman. I'll be damned if I'll let him be raised by a bunch of criminals with the kind of history this Richard Channing has. And if Channing or that son of his gets in my way, I'll destroy them so totally that there won't be any way for them to rebuild the wreck I'll make of their lives."
Ewing Global....
Bobby sits alone in the conference room at Ewing Global that night when Ann steps off the elevator. She pauses for a moment as she watches her husband sitting at the conference table, seemingly deep in thought. Then she walks in to him.
"Bobby," she says. "Christopher told me what happened. I am so sorry. I just can't believe it. Katherine Wentworth, alive and back in Dallas after all this time?"
"Alive, back in Dallas, and a free woman," Bobby says sadly.
"She was never prosecuted for shootin' you," Ann says. "There has to be somethin' that can be done."
"Nope," Bobby says as he stands. "Katherine was pardoned by our wonderful Governor. There's nothin' that can be done unless she commits another crime."
Ann walks over to him. "Bobby, I'm sorry. About everything."
"I lost it, Annie. This company that Sue Ellen, Christopher, and I worked so hard to build.....it's gone. And the family's a mess. I suppose Christopher told you the news Katherine's son left us with. That John Ross was the one who set Lucas up."
Ann's mouth falls open in shock. "No, he didn't tell me that. Oh my God. Is there ANYTHING that John Ross isn't capable of?"
"It doesn't seem so. My nephew never ceases to amaze me when it comes to stoopin' to a new low. I'm just afraid of what's gonna happen when Lucas finds out the truth. My son has a temper like mine, and I'm afraid he's just liable to kill John Ross this time. All these years I worried about the feud goin' on between Christopher and John Ross, but the fight between Lucas and John Ross is even worse."
"So, what do we do now?" Ann asks.
"Bobby," she says. "Christopher told me what happened. I am so sorry. I just can't believe it. Katherine Wentworth, alive and back in Dallas after all this time?"
"Alive, back in Dallas, and a free woman," Bobby says sadly.
"She was never prosecuted for shootin' you," Ann says. "There has to be somethin' that can be done."
"Nope," Bobby says as he stands. "Katherine was pardoned by our wonderful Governor. There's nothin' that can be done unless she commits another crime."
Ann walks over to him. "Bobby, I'm sorry. About everything."
"I lost it, Annie. This company that Sue Ellen, Christopher, and I worked so hard to build.....it's gone. And the family's a mess. I suppose Christopher told you the news Katherine's son left us with. That John Ross was the one who set Lucas up."
Ann's mouth falls open in shock. "No, he didn't tell me that. Oh my God. Is there ANYTHING that John Ross isn't capable of?"
"It doesn't seem so. My nephew never ceases to amaze me when it comes to stoopin' to a new low. I'm just afraid of what's gonna happen when Lucas finds out the truth. My son has a temper like mine, and I'm afraid he's just liable to kill John Ross this time. All these years I worried about the feud goin' on between Christopher and John Ross, but the fight between Lucas and John Ross is even worse."
"So, what do we do now?" Ann asks.
Bobby turns to her. "Well, I guess we look at the bright side. At least now we can take that cruise we've been plannin' without havin' to worry about what's goin' on at the office."
"Let's go home," Ann suggests.
"Yeah. Nothin' more I can do here, anyway." Bobby takes one more look around, then grabs his jacket, and he and Ann leave.
"Let's go home," Ann suggests.
"Yeah. Nothin' more I can do here, anyway." Bobby takes one more look around, then grabs his jacket, and he and Ann leave.
Melissa's apartment....the next morning
Melissa lays in her bed watching John Ross as he gets dressed in her apartment. She smiles as she watches him. "Last night was absolutely amazing," she says. "Best ever. I'm so glad you decided to come over after all."
John Ross remains silent and continues dressing.
"I wish you'd say something."
John Ross turns to her. "Want me to say somethin'? Okay, here goes. No need for you to bother comin' in to the office Monday mornin'. Or any other day."
John Ross remains silent and continues dressing.
"I wish you'd say something."
John Ross turns to her. "Want me to say somethin'? Okay, here goes. No need for you to bother comin' in to the office Monday mornin'. Or any other day."
"Why? What do you mean?" Melissa asks.
"It means......that you're fired. I don't wanna see you at the office again, or anyplace else."
"John Ross, stop kidding. That's not funny."
"It means......that you're fired. I don't wanna see you at the office again, or anyplace else."
"John Ross, stop kidding. That's not funny."
"Do I look like I'm jokin', Melissa?" John Ross asks, looking down at her.
Melissa quickly sits up in bed. "But why, John Ross? I've done nothing wrong. All I've ever done is be there for you, and try to help you. I didn't even betray you when Tripp and Pamela were trying to get me to tell them your secrets."
"And I appreciate that. But, you've been a little too helpful sometimes, Melissa. You're clingy, and I don't like that. You clearly want more out of our little arrangement than I am willin' to give. I told you a long time ago that this arrangement was just sex and business, but you want more."
"John Ross, I can't help it. I'm in love with you!" Melissa says as she starts to cry.
"Well, that's your misfortune, darlin'." John Ross takes his wallet from his back pocket and pulls out a large roll of money. "Here you go," he says. "Here's a couple thousand, to help you get started somewhere else. Far away from Dallas. Let me know where you settle and you'll receive a very generous severance check for services rendered." He puts the money on the table beside the bed, then grabs his jacket from a chair and starts to leave.
"You're crazy if you think I'm gonna just pack up and leave Dallas. This is my home, and you can't make me leave. I know too many of your secrets for you to do ANYTHING to me."
John Ross turns back to Melissa and looks at her. After a brief pause, he walks over to the bed and leans down to her. "It really wuttin' a good idea for you to say that to me, Melissa. Because now that you have refused to leave town on your own, and I see that you have the potential to cause me some trouble, you can expect a couple friends of mine to come around here very shortly to help you pack up your little things and make sure you leave Dallas. And next time I see you around this town, or if I hear anymore from you in this lifetime, then next time my friends will make sure you stay away.....for good. Maybe in a mental hospital. I hear lobotomies are really horrible operations that can leave a person messed up in all kinda ways." Without another word, John Ross turns and walks out, leaving Melissa in tears and frightened.
"You won't get away with this, John Ross," she cries. "I'll be back. And when I do it'll be to kill you."
Melissa quickly sits up in bed. "But why, John Ross? I've done nothing wrong. All I've ever done is be there for you, and try to help you. I didn't even betray you when Tripp and Pamela were trying to get me to tell them your secrets."
"And I appreciate that. But, you've been a little too helpful sometimes, Melissa. You're clingy, and I don't like that. You clearly want more out of our little arrangement than I am willin' to give. I told you a long time ago that this arrangement was just sex and business, but you want more."
"John Ross, I can't help it. I'm in love with you!" Melissa says as she starts to cry.
"Well, that's your misfortune, darlin'." John Ross takes his wallet from his back pocket and pulls out a large roll of money. "Here you go," he says. "Here's a couple thousand, to help you get started somewhere else. Far away from Dallas. Let me know where you settle and you'll receive a very generous severance check for services rendered." He puts the money on the table beside the bed, then grabs his jacket from a chair and starts to leave.
"You're crazy if you think I'm gonna just pack up and leave Dallas. This is my home, and you can't make me leave. I know too many of your secrets for you to do ANYTHING to me."
John Ross turns back to Melissa and looks at her. After a brief pause, he walks over to the bed and leans down to her. "It really wuttin' a good idea for you to say that to me, Melissa. Because now that you have refused to leave town on your own, and I see that you have the potential to cause me some trouble, you can expect a couple friends of mine to come around here very shortly to help you pack up your little things and make sure you leave Dallas. And next time I see you around this town, or if I hear anymore from you in this lifetime, then next time my friends will make sure you stay away.....for good. Maybe in a mental hospital. I hear lobotomies are really horrible operations that can leave a person messed up in all kinda ways." Without another word, John Ross turns and walks out, leaving Melissa in tears and frightened.
"You won't get away with this, John Ross," she cries. "I'll be back. And when I do it'll be to kill you."
The Smithfield mansion....
Jay walks into the living room of the Smithfield home later that morning and is surprised when he finds his father there.
"Dad," Jay says.
"Hello, son," David Smithfield says.
"What in the world are you doing here?"
"Dad," Jay says.
"Hello, son," David Smithfield says.
"What in the world are you doing here?"
"Your Grandma's not doin' too good," David replies. "Doctor's up with her now. So, I thought I needed to come and help my sister out a little bit. I figured with John in jail and your Grandma ailin', somebody needed to take control of this fam'ly before it falls apart completely. As well as Smithfield And Bennett."
"You're gonna be coming back to work at the firm?" Jay asks.
"Sure. With Todd out of the office for whatever reason, you need another attorney there. Besides, your Aunt Linda has asked me to take John's case."
"But.....I'm handling Uncle John's case."
"Son, with the mess John's in, he needs a more experienced attorney representin' him."
Linda walks into the living room with an older man, a doctor, at that moment.
"How is she?" David asks.
"Dr. Steele says she's not good," replies Linda, sadly.
"Her condition is quite frail," Dr. Steele says. "Your mother is 93-years-old, and she has a bad heart. She doesn't need the kind of stress she's been under lately. Todd's suicide attempt, and John's arrest, have really taken their toll on her."
"Is there anything we can do?" Linda asks.
"Just try to keep her calm. I tried to convince her to go to the hospital, at least for rest, but she insists on staying at home. Your mother has been my patient for nearly forty years, and that old woman is a stubborn as they come. Just try to keep her quiet, that's about all you can do. I've gotta be going. If you need me, give me a call."
"Thank you, Dr. Steele," David says as the doctor walks out. After the doctor leaves, David turns to Linda. "Well, I hope you're happy. You and your bunch have just about finished Mama off."
"Me and MY bunch?" Linda asks.
"Yes. Your oldest son tries to kill himself for Lord knows what reason, and now your husband's arrested for first degree murder. Nice goin', sis."
"You cannot lay the blame for any of this at my doorstep, brother, dear. Maybe if you had stayed around instead of movin' two hours away...."
"Oh, now wait a minute, don't go blamin' me for your screwed up fam'ly....."
"Would you two just STOP IT!?" Jay snaps. "Aren't things bad enough around here? No wonder this family's in the mess it's in. Dad, you're in your sixties, and Aunt Linda's in her fifties, but the two of you are acting like a couple of spoiled kids. I've had it with this family." Jay turns and walks out of the room. As he walks into the foyer and then leaves the house through the front door, Dylan is sitting on the stairs, tears streaming down his face.
"Yeah," the boy says quietly. "I've had it with this family, too."
"You're gonna be coming back to work at the firm?" Jay asks.
"Sure. With Todd out of the office for whatever reason, you need another attorney there. Besides, your Aunt Linda has asked me to take John's case."
"But.....I'm handling Uncle John's case."
"Son, with the mess John's in, he needs a more experienced attorney representin' him."
Linda walks into the living room with an older man, a doctor, at that moment.
"How is she?" David asks.
"Dr. Steele says she's not good," replies Linda, sadly.
"Her condition is quite frail," Dr. Steele says. "Your mother is 93-years-old, and she has a bad heart. She doesn't need the kind of stress she's been under lately. Todd's suicide attempt, and John's arrest, have really taken their toll on her."
"Is there anything we can do?" Linda asks.
"Just try to keep her calm. I tried to convince her to go to the hospital, at least for rest, but she insists on staying at home. Your mother has been my patient for nearly forty years, and that old woman is a stubborn as they come. Just try to keep her quiet, that's about all you can do. I've gotta be going. If you need me, give me a call."
"Thank you, Dr. Steele," David says as the doctor walks out. After the doctor leaves, David turns to Linda. "Well, I hope you're happy. You and your bunch have just about finished Mama off."
"Me and MY bunch?" Linda asks.
"Yes. Your oldest son tries to kill himself for Lord knows what reason, and now your husband's arrested for first degree murder. Nice goin', sis."
"You cannot lay the blame for any of this at my doorstep, brother, dear. Maybe if you had stayed around instead of movin' two hours away...."
"Oh, now wait a minute, don't go blamin' me for your screwed up fam'ly....."
"Would you two just STOP IT!?" Jay snaps. "Aren't things bad enough around here? No wonder this family's in the mess it's in. Dad, you're in your sixties, and Aunt Linda's in her fifties, but the two of you are acting like a couple of spoiled kids. I've had it with this family." Jay turns and walks out of the room. As he walks into the foyer and then leaves the house through the front door, Dylan is sitting on the stairs, tears streaming down his face.
"Yeah," the boy says quietly. "I've had it with this family, too."
Southfork....
Lucy is sitting by the TV in the living room with Conner watching the news, which is reporting on the hostile takeover of Ewing Global: "In a dramatic turn of events in the Dallas business world, Ewing Global was the object of a hostile takeover yesterday by Katherine Wentworth, a former resident of Dallas. Ms. Wentworth, whose father, the late tycoon Herbert Wentworth, had been living in Europe for a number of years before her return to Dallas recently. She was wanted in connection with the 1984 shooting of Bobby Ewing....."
As the newscast continues, Ann and Christopher walk into the room, and Lucy quickly switches off the set. "I can't believe it," Lucy says. "Katherine Wentworth, back in Dallas. That's all this family needs now."
"Yeah, tell me about it," says Christopher. "She was so smug when she came strutting into the office yesterday with that punk of a son of hers. I wanted to wipe the smirk off both their faces."
"Why can't the police do anything?" Lucy asks. "She tried to kill Bobby."
"I know, but she was pardoned," Ann says. "So, as Bobby said, until she commits another crime, Katherine Wentworth is a free woman."
"How's Bobby doin'?" Conner asks.
"He's not so good. He went out ridin'. Said he needed some time alone."
Ann and Christopher exchanged worried looks, each of them concerned about Bobby.
As the newscast continues, Ann and Christopher walk into the room, and Lucy quickly switches off the set. "I can't believe it," Lucy says. "Katherine Wentworth, back in Dallas. That's all this family needs now."
"Yeah, tell me about it," says Christopher. "She was so smug when she came strutting into the office yesterday with that punk of a son of hers. I wanted to wipe the smirk off both their faces."
"Why can't the police do anything?" Lucy asks. "She tried to kill Bobby."
"I know, but she was pardoned," Ann says. "So, as Bobby said, until she commits another crime, Katherine Wentworth is a free woman."
"How's Bobby doin'?" Conner asks.
"He's not so good. He went out ridin'. Said he needed some time alone."
Ann and Christopher exchanged worried looks, each of them concerned about Bobby.
The Krebbs Ranch....
Alex is shooting baskets at the basketball goal at the Krebbs home that afternoon when Sue Ellen's car drives up and comes to a stop in front of the house. Alex stops his solo game long enough to see who the visitor is, then when he sees it's John Ross's mother, he ignores her and continues his game. Sue Ellen walks over to him.
"Hello, Alex," she says.
"Hey."
"Hello, Alex," she says.
"Hey."
"Umm, how are you?" Sue Ellen asks.
"Just fine. What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you."
"Why?" The boy asks.
"Because you're my grandson," Sue Ellen replies. "And I'd very much like to get to know you."
Alex sighs and looks away from her. "I already have a grandmother," he says as he resumes shooting baskets.
"I'm aware of that," she says, walking over to him. "Alex, I realize this is very difficult for you. As much as I'd like it to happen, I realize that, at this stage of your life you probably don't need another grandmother. But I would like to be your friend, if you would let me."
"Just fine. What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you."
"Why?" The boy asks.
"Because you're my grandson," Sue Ellen replies. "And I'd very much like to get to know you."
Alex sighs and looks away from her. "I already have a grandmother," he says as he resumes shooting baskets.
"I'm aware of that," she says, walking over to him. "Alex, I realize this is very difficult for you. As much as I'd like it to happen, I realize that, at this stage of your life you probably don't need another grandmother. But I would like to be your friend, if you would let me."
Alex looks at her. "Your son send you here?"
"No of course not. John Ross has no idea I'm here. Has..... has he been to see you?"
"Yeah, he came over. I pretty much told him to get lost. I don't want anything to do with him. He screwed up my whole life."
Sue Ellen sighs. "I know that you feel that way right now. Alex, you may not believe this, but John Ross loves you. I know he does."
"Yeah, right."
"I'm sorry if this conversation is awkward," Sue Ellen says. "It's just that, I really don't quite know what to say to you. It's been quite some time since I've been around a teenager. And now, I have a teenage grandson."
"That makes us even, because I don't know what to say to you, either."
"Then, maybe we could help each other."
"How?" Alex asks.
"Perhaps you can tell me what sort of things you like. Things you enjoy. That would be a start. Or, maybe we could talk about how you feel."
"You wanna know how I feel, Mrs. Ewing? I feel like crap. I feel like my whole life has been destroyed. I finally, for the first time in my life, meet a girl that I fall in love with. And what happens? I find out that she's my cousin. And I find out that some dude I can't stand the sight of is my real father. So how would YOU feel?" Alex walks past Sue Ellen and toward the house. As he reaches the doorsteps, he turns back to her. "Like I said, I don't need another grandmother. I already have one. And you can tell your son that I don't need another Dad. Mine died." Without another word, the boy turns and walks up the steps and into the house. Sue Ellen wipes tears from her eyes.
"No of course not. John Ross has no idea I'm here. Has..... has he been to see you?"
"Yeah, he came over. I pretty much told him to get lost. I don't want anything to do with him. He screwed up my whole life."
Sue Ellen sighs. "I know that you feel that way right now. Alex, you may not believe this, but John Ross loves you. I know he does."
"Yeah, right."
"I'm sorry if this conversation is awkward," Sue Ellen says. "It's just that, I really don't quite know what to say to you. It's been quite some time since I've been around a teenager. And now, I have a teenage grandson."
"That makes us even, because I don't know what to say to you, either."
"Then, maybe we could help each other."
"How?" Alex asks.
"Perhaps you can tell me what sort of things you like. Things you enjoy. That would be a start. Or, maybe we could talk about how you feel."
"You wanna know how I feel, Mrs. Ewing? I feel like crap. I feel like my whole life has been destroyed. I finally, for the first time in my life, meet a girl that I fall in love with. And what happens? I find out that she's my cousin. And I find out that some dude I can't stand the sight of is my real father. So how would YOU feel?" Alex walks past Sue Ellen and toward the house. As he reaches the doorsteps, he turns back to her. "Like I said, I don't need another grandmother. I already have one. And you can tell your son that I don't need another Dad. Mine died." Without another word, the boy turns and walks up the steps and into the house. Sue Ellen wipes tears from her eyes.
Jay's apartment.....that night
Jay and Jillian are laying in bed that night in his apartment, her head resting on his chest as he strokes her silky blonde hair. Neither of them have said anything for a while, until Jillian finally breaks the silence.
"You know, you can talk to me about what's bothering you," she says. "It might help."
"I would if I knew what to say. But I don't."
"I'm so sorry, Jay."
"You don't have anything to be sorry for."
Jillian looks up at him. "In a way, I feel like I do. After all, it was my brother who caused a lot of your family's problems by blackmailing Todd."
Jay sighs. "That's on John Ross. It had NOTHING to do with you."
Jillian lays her head on his chest again. "Sometimes I wish I'd never found out that J.R. Ewing was my father. Seems like the Ewings are nothing but poison."
"Not all of the Ewings," Jay says. "Just J.R. and John Ross. And, maybe Jack Ewing."
"Jay, I wanna thank you for showing such restraint when I told you about John Ross blackmailing that judge."
"Well, I had no choice after you retained me as your attorney. I couldn't break that attorney-client confidentiality. But Jill, I wish your brother Justin hadn't done what he did. I was in the process of filing a complaint to have Judge Brewster removed from the bench for ethics violations, and then your brother goes and blackmail the guy into resigning."
"Well, Justin just saved you the trouble. Besides, the courts don't need a crooked judge like that who can be so easily blackmailed and compromised."
"You know, you can talk to me about what's bothering you," she says. "It might help."
"I would if I knew what to say. But I don't."
"I'm so sorry, Jay."
"You don't have anything to be sorry for."
Jillian looks up at him. "In a way, I feel like I do. After all, it was my brother who caused a lot of your family's problems by blackmailing Todd."
Jay sighs. "That's on John Ross. It had NOTHING to do with you."
Jillian lays her head on his chest again. "Sometimes I wish I'd never found out that J.R. Ewing was my father. Seems like the Ewings are nothing but poison."
"Not all of the Ewings," Jay says. "Just J.R. and John Ross. And, maybe Jack Ewing."
"Jay, I wanna thank you for showing such restraint when I told you about John Ross blackmailing that judge."
"Well, I had no choice after you retained me as your attorney. I couldn't break that attorney-client confidentiality. But Jill, I wish your brother Justin hadn't done what he did. I was in the process of filing a complaint to have Judge Brewster removed from the bench for ethics violations, and then your brother goes and blackmail the guy into resigning."
"Well, Justin just saved you the trouble. Besides, the courts don't need a crooked judge like that who can be so easily blackmailed and compromised."
"Jill, while I agree that's true," Jay says. "There's a right way and a wrong way to go about getting things done. And your brother went about it the wrong way. I mean what Justin did was really no better than what John Ross did."
"How can you say that? John Ross blackmailed that judge into ruling in HIS favor in that case to overturn the codicil to my father's will. Justin used the information he had on Brewster to get him out of office."
"Well, there's no sense in us arguing about it," says Jay. "Besides, Brewster's the last thing on my mind right now."
"Worried about your grandmother?" Jillian asks.
"Yeah. And Aunt Linda, and Todd, and Dylan. And my Dad being in town isn't really helping."
"It's strange to hear you say that. You've always spoken so highly of your father."
"Oh don't get me wrong. My Dad's a great guy, and he's been a great father. But, he has one big fault. He ALWAYS thinks he's right about everything. And he and Aunt Linda don't get along that great. Not since my grandfather died, and him being here, especially with what Aunt Linda's going through right now, it might just make things worse, even though he feels he's here to help out."
Jillian looks at him and smiles. "Well, I guess all families are dysfunctional to a point."
"Yeah, I guess so," Jay says as his phone rings. He sighs deeply, the reaches over and picks the phone up from the table beside the bed. "Hello," he says, answering the phone. He quickly sits up in bed. "What? When? Yeah, okay, thanks. I'll be there as fast as I can." He puts the phone down and rubs his face. "Damn."
"What's wrong?" Jillian asks.
"That was the police. Todd was arrested tonight. Drunk and disorderly."
"Oh, no."
"I have to go get him out before my father gets word of this and tries to 'help'."
"I'll come with you," Jillian says as they both get out of bed.
"How can you say that? John Ross blackmailed that judge into ruling in HIS favor in that case to overturn the codicil to my father's will. Justin used the information he had on Brewster to get him out of office."
"Well, there's no sense in us arguing about it," says Jay. "Besides, Brewster's the last thing on my mind right now."
"Worried about your grandmother?" Jillian asks.
"Yeah. And Aunt Linda, and Todd, and Dylan. And my Dad being in town isn't really helping."
"It's strange to hear you say that. You've always spoken so highly of your father."
"Oh don't get me wrong. My Dad's a great guy, and he's been a great father. But, he has one big fault. He ALWAYS thinks he's right about everything. And he and Aunt Linda don't get along that great. Not since my grandfather died, and him being here, especially with what Aunt Linda's going through right now, it might just make things worse, even though he feels he's here to help out."
Jillian looks at him and smiles. "Well, I guess all families are dysfunctional to a point."
"Yeah, I guess so," Jay says as his phone rings. He sighs deeply, the reaches over and picks the phone up from the table beside the bed. "Hello," he says, answering the phone. He quickly sits up in bed. "What? When? Yeah, okay, thanks. I'll be there as fast as I can." He puts the phone down and rubs his face. "Damn."
"What's wrong?" Jillian asks.
"That was the police. Todd was arrested tonight. Drunk and disorderly."
"Oh, no."
"I have to go get him out before my father gets word of this and tries to 'help'."
"I'll come with you," Jillian says as they both get out of bed.
The Krebbs Ranch....
As Alex sits on his bed playing Grand Theft Auto 5 on his Xbox, someone knocks on his door. The boy ignores the knock and continues to play his game. "Alex?" Charlie calls to her son, then walks into the room. "Why didn't you answer when I knocked?"
"Didn't feel like talking."
"Well, I think we need to," Charlie says, walking in and closing the door. "I wish you'd have come down to dinner. It was just me tonight. Lucas is over at Southfork, and your Grandma went out somewhere."
Alex ignores his mother and continues playing the game, trying Charlie's patience.
"Didn't feel like talking."
"Well, I think we need to," Charlie says, walking in and closing the door. "I wish you'd have come down to dinner. It was just me tonight. Lucas is over at Southfork, and your Grandma went out somewhere."
Alex ignores his mother and continues playing the game, trying Charlie's patience.
"Alex, I'm trying really hard to be patient with you here," Charlie says. "I understand that you're still hurting, but this attitude of yours is not helping anyone."
"My attitude?" Alex asks, looking at his mother. "You're trying to be patient with ME? Mom, YOU'RE the one who lied to me about my father."
"I know, and I shouldn't have. I should've told you a long time ago. And I should've told John Ross, especially since Phillip knew all along. But I never thought it would become an issue. I never counted on getting cancer and having to make the decision on whether you should have known or not."
"Would you have told me if you hadn't gotten cancer? When I brought Ashley over and introduced her to you? Would you have told me then, or would you have just let me go on dating my cousin?"
"Alex, I'm so sorry," says Charlie. "I never meant for that to happen or for you or Ashley to be hurt. When I decided to move back here when I got sick, the last thing in the world I ever expected was for you to get close to John Ross's niece." She pauses a moment before continuing. "Look, sweetheart, this is going to take a long time for all of us to adjust to this. Especially you."
"I don't wanna adjust to anything," Alex says as he starts to cry. "I just want things back the way they were, Mom. When we were living in New York and Dad was alive and you weren't sick. I want my life back the way it was!"
Charlie reaches out and touches his face. "Oh, baby, so do I. So do I. But that old life we had......that's gone now. And no matter how much we want to, we can't get it back."
"Mom, please......just leave me alone."
"Okay," Charlie says sadly. She stands. "I love you, sweetheart." She walks to the door, then turns back to her son. "Alex, I know you feel like you don't need another grandmother. But, Sue Ellen is a pretty nice lady. You should at least give her a chance. And you know something else? Phillip was your Dad. He loved you and you loved him. He raised you as if you were his own flesh and blood. And I never want you to forget that relationship you had. But I also want you to remember that you have a whole family here now. The Ewings are pretty okay, once you get to know them." After a brief hesitation, Charlie walks out.
"I know, and I shouldn't have. I should've told you a long time ago. And I should've told John Ross, especially since Phillip knew all along. But I never thought it would become an issue. I never counted on getting cancer and having to make the decision on whether you should have known or not."
"Would you have told me if you hadn't gotten cancer? When I brought Ashley over and introduced her to you? Would you have told me then, or would you have just let me go on dating my cousin?"
"Alex, I'm so sorry," says Charlie. "I never meant for that to happen or for you or Ashley to be hurt. When I decided to move back here when I got sick, the last thing in the world I ever expected was for you to get close to John Ross's niece." She pauses a moment before continuing. "Look, sweetheart, this is going to take a long time for all of us to adjust to this. Especially you."
"I don't wanna adjust to anything," Alex says as he starts to cry. "I just want things back the way they were, Mom. When we were living in New York and Dad was alive and you weren't sick. I want my life back the way it was!"
Charlie reaches out and touches his face. "Oh, baby, so do I. So do I. But that old life we had......that's gone now. And no matter how much we want to, we can't get it back."
"Mom, please......just leave me alone."
"Okay," Charlie says sadly. She stands. "I love you, sweetheart." She walks to the door, then turns back to her son. "Alex, I know you feel like you don't need another grandmother. But, Sue Ellen is a pretty nice lady. You should at least give her a chance. And you know something else? Phillip was your Dad. He loved you and you loved him. He raised you as if you were his own flesh and blood. And I never want you to forget that relationship you had. But I also want you to remember that you have a whole family here now. The Ewings are pretty okay, once you get to know them." After a brief hesitation, Charlie walks out.
Afton's new bar and lounge....
Meanwhile, it's opening night of Afton's new bar and grill on the outskirts of town, and the opening night hosts a large crowd of people. As the booze flows and the crowd mingles, Afton, Cliff, and Emma stand near the door as Afton greets customers coming in.
"If you'll excuse me, I think I'll go mingle a little," Emma loudly tells Cliff.
"Sure, have a good time," Cliff says as she walks away.
Afton looks at her watch. "I sure hope Pamela and Tripp make it," she says.
"Afton, they said they'd be here and they will," Cliff says. He looks around the crowd and spots Jenna sitting at the bar. "Well, I don't believe it."
"Don't believe what, Cliff?"
"Over there, at the bar. That's Jenna Krebbs."
"Wonder what the heck she's doing here."
Cliff laughs. "What I wanna know is......where's that husband of hers, Ray? From the look on her face and the way she's sitting there drinking, there must be trouble in Paradise."
At that moment, Tripp and Pamela walk into the bar. "PAMELA, you made it!" Says an excited Afton, greeting her daughter with a hug.
"We told you we'd be here, Mom," Pamela says. "Wouldn't have missed the grand opening of Afton's for anything in the world."
"Yeah, we just took our bags to my apartment and then came straight here," says Tripp. "We haven't even unpacked."
"If you'll excuse me, I think I'll go mingle a little," Emma loudly tells Cliff.
"Sure, have a good time," Cliff says as she walks away.
Afton looks at her watch. "I sure hope Pamela and Tripp make it," she says.
"Afton, they said they'd be here and they will," Cliff says. He looks around the crowd and spots Jenna sitting at the bar. "Well, I don't believe it."
"Don't believe what, Cliff?"
"Over there, at the bar. That's Jenna Krebbs."
"Wonder what the heck she's doing here."
Cliff laughs. "What I wanna know is......where's that husband of hers, Ray? From the look on her face and the way she's sitting there drinking, there must be trouble in Paradise."
At that moment, Tripp and Pamela walk into the bar. "PAMELA, you made it!" Says an excited Afton, greeting her daughter with a hug.
"We told you we'd be here, Mom," Pamela says. "Wouldn't have missed the grand opening of Afton's for anything in the world."
"Yeah, we just took our bags to my apartment and then came straight here," says Tripp. "We haven't even unpacked."
"Well, I'm very glad you're both here," Afton says. "Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to take the stage."
"Sure, Mom," Pamela says.
"I'll be back soon." Afton walks away from the group.
"Well, did you two have a good time on your honeymoon?" Cliff asks.
"Best time ever," replies Pamela.
"Yeah it was great," Tripp agrees.
"And now that we're back from our honeymoon, I can't wait until next week when we walk into that Westar board meeting and take that company away from John Ross."
Cliff smiles as Tripp puts his arms around his new wife and he and Cliff exchange looks.
"Sure, Mom," Pamela says.
"I'll be back soon." Afton walks away from the group.
"Well, did you two have a good time on your honeymoon?" Cliff asks.
"Best time ever," replies Pamela.
"Yeah it was great," Tripp agrees.
"And now that we're back from our honeymoon, I can't wait until next week when we walk into that Westar board meeting and take that company away from John Ross."
Cliff smiles as Tripp puts his arms around his new wife and he and Cliff exchange looks.
Meanwhile, Afton takes the stage and picks up a microphone. "Excuse me," she says over the noise of the crowd. "May I have your attention please." She waits a moment until the crowd begins to quiet down. "I want to thank you all for coming out tonight to the grand opening of Afton's. I hope that everyone is having a great time.....And now, I'd like to perform a little number for you that was a pretty big hit for me a few years ago.
As Afton begins singing, Jenna sits at the bar, drinking her third glass of scotch. A few seats away, a man notices her. Harris Ryland gets up from his seat and walks over to the bar and slides into the stool next to Jenna.
As Afton begins singing, Jenna sits at the bar, drinking her third glass of scotch. A few seats away, a man notices her. Harris Ryland gets up from his seat and walks over to the bar and slides into the stool next to Jenna.
"Well, hey, pretty lady," Harris says. "Just what is Jenna Krebbs doin' here all by herself? Hubby have some cows to birth or some pigs to slop tonight?"
"You're Harris Ryland, aren't you?" Jenna asks.
"That's right. Now, you didn't answer my question. Ray Krebbs let you out by yourself tonight?"
"Ray has no say in where I go or what I do. Not anymore."
"Buy ya a drink?" Harris asks.
"Sure, why not?" Jenna replies. "I could use a friend to talk to tonight."
Harris smiles at her.
"That's right. Now, you didn't answer my question. Ray Krebbs let you out by yourself tonight?"
"Ray has no say in where I go or what I do. Not anymore."
"Buy ya a drink?" Harris asks.
"Sure, why not?" Jenna replies. "I could use a friend to talk to tonight."
Harris smiles at her.
Southfork.....two days later
Christopher jumps into the pool at Southfork early Monday morning and swims a lap the entire length of the pool. Reaching the other side, he turns, swims back across the pool, then turns again and repeats his lap. As he gets out of the pool and grabs a towel from a chair, Lucas's car drives up and comes to a stop in the parking area. Lucas gets out of the car and walks over to the pool.
"Mornin'," Christopher says, slightly out of breath.
"Morning."
"Join me for a swim?"
"Yeah, I'd love to. I think I still have a swim suit in my old room."
"I'll wait for you. I could use a breather," Christopher says.
"Be right back," Lucas says. He turns and heads into the house.
Justin and Amanda arrive at the patio at that point, having walked up to the mansion from the bunkhouse. "Hey, Chris," Justin says.
"Mornin'," Christopher says, slightly out of breath.
"Morning."
"Join me for a swim?"
"Yeah, I'd love to. I think I still have a swim suit in my old room."
"I'll wait for you. I could use a breather," Christopher says.
"Be right back," Lucas says. He turns and heads into the house.
Justin and Amanda arrive at the patio at that point, having walked up to the mansion from the bunkhouse. "Hey, Chris," Justin says.
"Mornin', guys. What brings you two over?"
"I have a date to go shopping with Ann this morning," Amanda replies.
Christopher smiles. "Good. I'm glad to see you and Ann bonding."
"So am I," Justin says. "Hey, Chris, I just saw Lucas go in the house."
"Yeah, he's gone to get on a swim suit and join me for a few laps around the pool. Since I no longer have an office to go to. You care to join us?"
"I have a date to go shopping with Ann this morning," Amanda replies.
Christopher smiles. "Good. I'm glad to see you and Ann bonding."
"So am I," Justin says. "Hey, Chris, I just saw Lucas go in the house."
"Yeah, he's gone to get on a swim suit and join me for a few laps around the pool. Since I no longer have an office to go to. You care to join us?"
"Maybe later, man. I got a lot of work to do this mornin'. Chris, does Lucas know yet? About John Ross havin' him set up?"
Christopher sighs. "Not yet. My Dad is gonna confront John Ross with that information, but John Ross hasn't been home this weekend. If John Ross doesn't admit it, I dunno how we're gonna get proof. It's not likely Cody, or Austin, or whatever the hell his name is, will admit to the cops that he helped John Ross set Lucas up."
"I just can't believe it," says Amanda. "I knew John Ross was capable of a lot, but setting up his own cousin to go to jail for drugs......that seems a new low even for John Ross."
"What I can't believe is that Cody worked here for almost a year, and no one suspected he was Katherine Wentworth's son," Christopher says.
"This Katherine.....that's your mama's sister, right?" Justin asks.
"Yeah. Unfortunately. And she's caused this family nothin' but trouble. Especially my father."
"But why would Cody work with John Ross to set Lucas up?" Amanda asks.
"What?" Lucas asks, standing on the back porch near the pool, dressed in his swim trunks. He walks over to the others. "Did I hear you right, Amanda?"
Amanda awkwardly looks at Christopher.
"Lucas, we weren't gonna tell you until we had some concrete proof," Christopher says.
"Then it's true?" Lucas asks. "Jay was right? John Ross did set me up? And you said something about Cody. You mean Cody, one of the hands here?"
"Cody really wasn't his name, Lucas," says Christopher. "The guy we knew as Cody Williams, was really Austin Wentworth, Katherine's son. He helped her take Ewing Global away from us. He'd been working here at Southfork spying on this family for almost a year."
Christopher sighs. "Not yet. My Dad is gonna confront John Ross with that information, but John Ross hasn't been home this weekend. If John Ross doesn't admit it, I dunno how we're gonna get proof. It's not likely Cody, or Austin, or whatever the hell his name is, will admit to the cops that he helped John Ross set Lucas up."
"I just can't believe it," says Amanda. "I knew John Ross was capable of a lot, but setting up his own cousin to go to jail for drugs......that seems a new low even for John Ross."
"What I can't believe is that Cody worked here for almost a year, and no one suspected he was Katherine Wentworth's son," Christopher says.
"This Katherine.....that's your mama's sister, right?" Justin asks.
"Yeah. Unfortunately. And she's caused this family nothin' but trouble. Especially my father."
"But why would Cody work with John Ross to set Lucas up?" Amanda asks.
"What?" Lucas asks, standing on the back porch near the pool, dressed in his swim trunks. He walks over to the others. "Did I hear you right, Amanda?"
Amanda awkwardly looks at Christopher.
"Lucas, we weren't gonna tell you until we had some concrete proof," Christopher says.
"Then it's true?" Lucas asks. "Jay was right? John Ross did set me up? And you said something about Cody. You mean Cody, one of the hands here?"
"Cody really wasn't his name, Lucas," says Christopher. "The guy we knew as Cody Williams, was really Austin Wentworth, Katherine's son. He helped her take Ewing Global away from us. He'd been working here at Southfork spying on this family for almost a year."
"So this Cody, Wentworth, Austin, whatever, planted those drugs in my car.......for John Ross?" Lucas asks, his anger rising inside of him.
Almost as if receiving a cue from a stage director, John Ross drives up in his Porsche at that moment and brings his car to a stop next to Lucas's. They watch from beside the pool as John Ross gets out of his car. An angry Lucas quickly marches out to meet him.
"Lucas!" Christopher calls after his brother as he, Justin, and Amanda follow behind him.
"Lucas!" Christopher calls after his brother as he, Justin, and Amanda follow behind him.
"Well, look what the cat dragged back to Southfork," John Ross says as he sees Lucas coming toward him. But before he has time to react, Lucas walks up to him and punches John Ross as hard as he can in the mouth, knocking him to the ground.
Lucas starts toward John Ross again, but Christopher grabs his brother. "Lucas, no, stop it!"
"You little bastard," John Ross says, getting to his feet as he wipes blood from his lower lip. "You really are freakin' crazy!"
"You set me up, you son of a bitch!"
"What the hell are you talkin' about?" John Ross asks.
"The drugs the cops found in my car was all a set up, by YOU! I knew it was all too perfect. I come riding over here that morning, then I leave and get pulled over for a busted tail light that wasn't busted before. And the cop just HAPPENS to find drugs in my glove compartment that weren't there before."
"Christopher, this kid brother of yours is nuts. This dude needs help, and I swear I'll have your ass in jail for assault this time!" John Ross says.
"Come off it, John Ross," Christopher says. "We know you set Lucas up by having that so-called ranch hand Cody plant those drugs. Cody confessed, only he really isn't Cody Williams. His real name is Austin Wenworth. John Ross, you're a complete idiot. You were working with Katherine Wentworth's son!"
"What? No, I had him checked out. The kid was clean."
"Yeah? Well, as good as you THINK you are, the Wentworths were better. The guy was one step ahead of you, and he and his mother, Katherine, have taken Ewing Global away from us in case you haven't heard the news over the weekend. But that's not important now. Cody, or Austin, told us that he planted those drugs in Lucas's car for YOU!"
"He's lyin'," John Ross says.
"Oh, the hell he is!" Lucas says. "John Ross, you've got just one more time to cross me, and cousin or no cousin, I swear.....I'll kill you. Chris, I'm sorry about that swim, but I think I'd better get out of here before I make good on my promise." After giving John Ross an angry look, Lucas turns and walks back to the house. Christopher looks at John Ross, then follows Lucas.
"Is there no limit to the dirty crap you'll do to people?" Amanda asks John Ross.
"When someone gets in my way.....no," John Ross replies, looking at her and Justin. "And next, I'm gonna deal with the two of you. Y'all may think you have the upper hand on me right now, but not for long. Amanda, don't count on you and this brother of mine raisin' my kid."
"There's not a damn thing you can do about it," Justin says. "Unless you wanna go to prison. Come on, Amanda. Let's go back to the bunkhouse, where the air don't stink so much."
As Justin and Amanda turn and head back to the bunkhouse, Bobby stands on the upstairs rear balcony watching, having witnessed most of the scene between the younger generation of his family. He looks at John Ross with anger, contempt, and disappointment and shakes his head.
Lucas starts toward John Ross again, but Christopher grabs his brother. "Lucas, no, stop it!"
"You little bastard," John Ross says, getting to his feet as he wipes blood from his lower lip. "You really are freakin' crazy!"
"You set me up, you son of a bitch!"
"What the hell are you talkin' about?" John Ross asks.
"The drugs the cops found in my car was all a set up, by YOU! I knew it was all too perfect. I come riding over here that morning, then I leave and get pulled over for a busted tail light that wasn't busted before. And the cop just HAPPENS to find drugs in my glove compartment that weren't there before."
"Christopher, this kid brother of yours is nuts. This dude needs help, and I swear I'll have your ass in jail for assault this time!" John Ross says.
"Come off it, John Ross," Christopher says. "We know you set Lucas up by having that so-called ranch hand Cody plant those drugs. Cody confessed, only he really isn't Cody Williams. His real name is Austin Wenworth. John Ross, you're a complete idiot. You were working with Katherine Wentworth's son!"
"What? No, I had him checked out. The kid was clean."
"Yeah? Well, as good as you THINK you are, the Wentworths were better. The guy was one step ahead of you, and he and his mother, Katherine, have taken Ewing Global away from us in case you haven't heard the news over the weekend. But that's not important now. Cody, or Austin, told us that he planted those drugs in Lucas's car for YOU!"
"He's lyin'," John Ross says.
"Oh, the hell he is!" Lucas says. "John Ross, you've got just one more time to cross me, and cousin or no cousin, I swear.....I'll kill you. Chris, I'm sorry about that swim, but I think I'd better get out of here before I make good on my promise." After giving John Ross an angry look, Lucas turns and walks back to the house. Christopher looks at John Ross, then follows Lucas.
"Is there no limit to the dirty crap you'll do to people?" Amanda asks John Ross.
"When someone gets in my way.....no," John Ross replies, looking at her and Justin. "And next, I'm gonna deal with the two of you. Y'all may think you have the upper hand on me right now, but not for long. Amanda, don't count on you and this brother of mine raisin' my kid."
"There's not a damn thing you can do about it," Justin says. "Unless you wanna go to prison. Come on, Amanda. Let's go back to the bunkhouse, where the air don't stink so much."
As Justin and Amanda turn and head back to the bunkhouse, Bobby stands on the upstairs rear balcony watching, having witnessed most of the scene between the younger generation of his family. He looks at John Ross with anger, contempt, and disappointment and shakes his head.
Westar.....later
John Ross walks into the offices at Westar later in the morning. Another secretary is sitting at Melissa's desk, an attractive blonde.
"Good morning, Mr. Ewing," she says.
"Mornin', Patty. I appreciate you fillin' in as my secretary for a few days."
Patty smiles. "It's no problem. For how long? Will Melissa be back next week?"
"Ms. Davis no longer works here."
"Oh. By the way, Miss Carrington is waiting in your office."
"Is she now?" John Ross asks with a smile. "Thank ya. Hold all my calls." He walks over to his office, pauses, then walks in.
"Well, hello," Krystina says, standing in the middle of his office with a smile.
"Hello yourself. I wuttin' expectin' to see you back in Dallas so soon."
"Well, I needed to see you. I know that big board meeting is tomorrow, and I needed to see you before."
"Why?" John Ross asks. "To take one last look at me before I am no longer CEO of a big Texas oil comp'ny?"
"No," Krystina says. "Oh, wow, what happened to your lip? Whose fist did you run into this time?"
"Cousin Lucas again. I swear that guy's crazy. He needs to be locked away someplace and given twenty-four hour anger management classes every day for a damned month."
"Good morning, Mr. Ewing," she says.
"Mornin', Patty. I appreciate you fillin' in as my secretary for a few days."
Patty smiles. "It's no problem. For how long? Will Melissa be back next week?"
"Ms. Davis no longer works here."
"Oh. By the way, Miss Carrington is waiting in your office."
"Is she now?" John Ross asks with a smile. "Thank ya. Hold all my calls." He walks over to his office, pauses, then walks in.
"Well, hello," Krystina says, standing in the middle of his office with a smile.
"Hello yourself. I wuttin' expectin' to see you back in Dallas so soon."
"Well, I needed to see you. I know that big board meeting is tomorrow, and I needed to see you before."
"Why?" John Ross asks. "To take one last look at me before I am no longer CEO of a big Texas oil comp'ny?"
"No," Krystina says. "Oh, wow, what happened to your lip? Whose fist did you run into this time?"
"Cousin Lucas again. I swear that guy's crazy. He needs to be locked away someplace and given twenty-four hour anger management classes every day for a damned month."
Krystina smiles. "Well, I hope that the news I have for you will make you forget all the bad stuff and focus only on the good."
"What news is that, darlin'?"
"Tomorrow, at that board meeting, you, John Ross Ewing, will be able to walk in there and....and win. You'll get to keep your position as CEO, and majority stock holder."
"And just how the hell am I gonna do that when I already lost more'n half the shares I had in Westar?"
Krystina walks over to John Ross's desk and picks up a piece of paper and hands it to him.
"What's this?" John Ross asks.
"Your key to victory. Your secret weapon. It's a bill of sale."
"A bill of sale?" John Ross asks, looking at the document. "A bill of sale for......thirty shares of Westar stock? But, how'd you get this?"
"I did some research into the company," Krystina replies. "I found out who the larger shareholders were, and the names of all the board of directors, and I bout their shares. And now....they're yours."
"Krystina, this musta cost you close to a hundred million bucks."
"Actually, a little more. A couple of those old boys wanted a tidy little profit to part with their shares and keep quiet about it."
"So......now you own thirty shares of Westar."
"No, John Ross. YOU own thirty shares of Westar. I'm selling them to you."
"Well, I hate to disappoint you, darlin', but I aint got that kinda money right now. That stock I have in Jensen Technologies is tied up, and so is most of my capital in Westar. A big chunk of my capital went to buyin' those offshore wells."
"I'm giving you a bargain. Could you possibly swing......thirty million? That's a million a share."
"Thirty million dollars? Sweetheart, that is nowhere near even half of what you paid for this."
"Just sign the damned contract and write me a check for thirty million," Krystina says. "That check will be half my payment for those shares."
"What news is that, darlin'?"
"Tomorrow, at that board meeting, you, John Ross Ewing, will be able to walk in there and....and win. You'll get to keep your position as CEO, and majority stock holder."
"And just how the hell am I gonna do that when I already lost more'n half the shares I had in Westar?"
Krystina walks over to John Ross's desk and picks up a piece of paper and hands it to him.
"What's this?" John Ross asks.
"Your key to victory. Your secret weapon. It's a bill of sale."
"A bill of sale?" John Ross asks, looking at the document. "A bill of sale for......thirty shares of Westar stock? But, how'd you get this?"
"I did some research into the company," Krystina replies. "I found out who the larger shareholders were, and the names of all the board of directors, and I bout their shares. And now....they're yours."
"Krystina, this musta cost you close to a hundred million bucks."
"Actually, a little more. A couple of those old boys wanted a tidy little profit to part with their shares and keep quiet about it."
"So......now you own thirty shares of Westar."
"No, John Ross. YOU own thirty shares of Westar. I'm selling them to you."
"Well, I hate to disappoint you, darlin', but I aint got that kinda money right now. That stock I have in Jensen Technologies is tied up, and so is most of my capital in Westar. A big chunk of my capital went to buyin' those offshore wells."
"I'm giving you a bargain. Could you possibly swing......thirty million? That's a million a share."
"Thirty million dollars? Sweetheart, that is nowhere near even half of what you paid for this."
"Just sign the damned contract and write me a check for thirty million," Krystina says. "That check will be half my payment for those shares."
"Mmmm, a catch," John Ross says. "I shoulda known there'd be a catch. I'm almost afraid to ask what the other half of that payment's gonna be. Okay, I'll play along. What else is it you want besides thirty million dollars?"
"The other thing I want......is you," Krystina replies, much to John Ross's shock.
"Excuse me?"
"In case you haven't noticed the last few months, I've fallen in love with you. And, giving you this gift of Westar, I'm really protecting not only my investment in those Gulf wells, but also in my future. I wanna marry you one day, John Ross Ewing. And I'd rather marry the head of a big oil company than a pauper."
John Ross looks at her for a moment, then he smiles. He walks over to her and puts his arms around her. "You are somethin' else, Krystina Carrington. And you are just the kinda woman I been lookin' for my whole life."
Krystina smiles, then she and John Ross kiss.
"The other thing I want......is you," Krystina replies, much to John Ross's shock.
"Excuse me?"
"In case you haven't noticed the last few months, I've fallen in love with you. And, giving you this gift of Westar, I'm really protecting not only my investment in those Gulf wells, but also in my future. I wanna marry you one day, John Ross Ewing. And I'd rather marry the head of a big oil company than a pauper."
John Ross looks at her for a moment, then he smiles. He walks over to her and puts his arms around her. "You are somethin' else, Krystina Carrington. And you are just the kinda woman I been lookin' for my whole life."
Krystina smiles, then she and John Ross kiss.
The Channing mansion near San Francisco....
Meanwhile, in California, a Hispanic maid serves breakfast to Richard Channing, Michael, and Elena on the patio by the pool at the Channing mansion.
"Thank you, Anita," Richard says as the maid pours him a cup of coffee. "Michael have you seen your sister this morning?"
"No, I haven't, Dad," Michael replies.
"Angie's been staying close to her room the last few days," says Elena.
"Here I am," Angie says, coming out of the house. She takes a seat at the table beside her father.
"Well, good morning," Richard says.
"Morning, Daddy."
The butler comes out of the house and walks over to the group. "Excuse me, but there is a man here to see Miss Ramos."
"A man?" Elena asks, her heart sinking as she fears who the man could be.
"Who is it, Charles?" Michael asks.
"Says he is a lawyer."
"Send him out, Charles," says Richard.
"Yes, Mr. Channing." Charles goes back into the house.
"Wonder what that's about," Michael says.
"I don't know, but it can't be good," says Elena.
"Thank you, Anita," Richard says as the maid pours him a cup of coffee. "Michael have you seen your sister this morning?"
"No, I haven't, Dad," Michael replies.
"Angie's been staying close to her room the last few days," says Elena.
"Here I am," Angie says, coming out of the house. She takes a seat at the table beside her father.
"Well, good morning," Richard says.
"Morning, Daddy."
The butler comes out of the house and walks over to the group. "Excuse me, but there is a man here to see Miss Ramos."
"A man?" Elena asks, her heart sinking as she fears who the man could be.
"Who is it, Charles?" Michael asks.
"Says he is a lawyer."
"Send him out, Charles," says Richard.
"Yes, Mr. Channing." Charles goes back into the house.
"Wonder what that's about," Michael says.
"I don't know, but it can't be good," says Elena.
A moment later, a young man follows Charles out of the house. "Elena Ramos?"
Elena slowly stands from her seat. "I'm Elena Ramos. Who are you?"
"Miss Ramos, I'm Stephen Smith. I'm an attorney, and I'm here to personally inform you that you've been summoned to appear in Tuscany County Family Court at 9 a.m. Thursday morning." Smith hands Elena a sealed envelope.
"What the hell for?" Michael asks.
"It's all explained in the summons. Have a nice day." Without saying another word, Smith turns and walks away.
Elena quickly tears into the envelope and pulls out a piece of paper. "Oh my God," she says.
"What is it?" Richard asks.
"John Ross. He's bringing a custody suit against me. He wants custody of Drew. Oh God."
Michael embraces Elena as she starts to cry. "Shhhh, everything's gonna be okay."
"I can't.....I can't let John Ross have my son. I just can't."
"I'll call our lawyer," says Richard.
Angie sits quietly watching Elena as she cries, feeling horrible guilt and realizing she made a terrible mistake going to John Ross and telling him about Elena and the baby.
Elena slowly stands from her seat. "I'm Elena Ramos. Who are you?"
"Miss Ramos, I'm Stephen Smith. I'm an attorney, and I'm here to personally inform you that you've been summoned to appear in Tuscany County Family Court at 9 a.m. Thursday morning." Smith hands Elena a sealed envelope.
"What the hell for?" Michael asks.
"It's all explained in the summons. Have a nice day." Without saying another word, Smith turns and walks away.
Elena quickly tears into the envelope and pulls out a piece of paper. "Oh my God," she says.
"What is it?" Richard asks.
"John Ross. He's bringing a custody suit against me. He wants custody of Drew. Oh God."
Michael embraces Elena as she starts to cry. "Shhhh, everything's gonna be okay."
"I can't.....I can't let John Ross have my son. I just can't."
"I'll call our lawyer," says Richard.
Angie sits quietly watching Elena as she cries, feeling horrible guilt and realizing she made a terrible mistake going to John Ross and telling him about Elena and the baby.
Austin, Texas....
At her new apartment in Austin, Donna Dowling makes her way through her living room to answer her ringing doorbell. Donna opens the door and she's surprised to find Ray there.
"Ray," she says.
"Hi, Donna. Can I come in?"
"Of course."
Ray walks into the apartment and Donna close the door behind him.
"What on earth are you doing here?" Donna asks.
"I came to see you."
Donna sighs. "Ray, at Margaret's wedding, I thought we had decided that we weren't going to see each other again."
"No, Donna. YOU decided that. And I know it was because of Jenna."
"Yes, exactly."
"Well, Jenna isn't gonna be a problem anymore, Donna," Ray says.
"And what does that mean?"
"It means that my marriage to Jenna is over. On the day of the wedding, Jenna asked me for a divorce. We separated the next day, after we got back to the ranch. I been stayin' at Southfork, and for the last week I've wanted to come down here and see you and tell you."
"So......your marriage is over. And Jenna wants a divorce. And just how do you feel about that?"
"Happy. Donna, I haven't been happy with Jenna in a long time. I told ya that. And you know that I'm in love with you."
"Ray," she says.
"Hi, Donna. Can I come in?"
"Of course."
Ray walks into the apartment and Donna close the door behind him.
"What on earth are you doing here?" Donna asks.
"I came to see you."
Donna sighs. "Ray, at Margaret's wedding, I thought we had decided that we weren't going to see each other again."
"No, Donna. YOU decided that. And I know it was because of Jenna."
"Yes, exactly."
"Well, Jenna isn't gonna be a problem anymore, Donna," Ray says.
"And what does that mean?"
"It means that my marriage to Jenna is over. On the day of the wedding, Jenna asked me for a divorce. We separated the next day, after we got back to the ranch. I been stayin' at Southfork, and for the last week I've wanted to come down here and see you and tell you."
"So......your marriage is over. And Jenna wants a divorce. And just how do you feel about that?"
"Happy. Donna, I haven't been happy with Jenna in a long time. I told ya that. And you know that I'm in love with you."
"Ray.....I don't know what to say to all this."
"Well, you could say you'll give me a chance. Give US a chance," Ray says. "Donna, I know that my marriage was what was standing in our way. But that's not a problem anymore, and I wanna be with you. You were the first woman that I ever loved completely. And letting you go almost thirty years ago was the biggest mistake of my life. So how 'bout it? Give us a chance?"
"Yes," Donna says, crying. "Yes, Ray. I never stopped loving you, either. I resented Jenna because she had you for the last twenty eight years and I didn't."
Ray smiles. "Well, if you'll have me, I'm yours til the end of my days."
"I'll have you......cowboy."
"God, it's been way too long since I heard you call me cowboy that way." Smiling, Ray begins kissing the love of his life.
"Well, you could say you'll give me a chance. Give US a chance," Ray says. "Donna, I know that my marriage was what was standing in our way. But that's not a problem anymore, and I wanna be with you. You were the first woman that I ever loved completely. And letting you go almost thirty years ago was the biggest mistake of my life. So how 'bout it? Give us a chance?"
"Yes," Donna says, crying. "Yes, Ray. I never stopped loving you, either. I resented Jenna because she had you for the last twenty eight years and I didn't."
Ray smiles. "Well, if you'll have me, I'm yours til the end of my days."
"I'll have you......cowboy."
"God, it's been way too long since I heard you call me cowboy that way." Smiling, Ray begins kissing the love of his life.
Southfork.....that night
John Ross's car drives up and comes to a stop at Southfork that night. Getting out of the car, he heads toward the house.
"John Ross," Bobby calls to him from the back porch. "I wanna talk to you."
"John Ross," Bobby calls to him from the back porch. "I wanna talk to you."
John Ross stops, looks at his uncle, and walks over to him. "Even'in, Uncle Bobby. I've had a long day, and I'm stayin' in town tonight. I just came home to get some clothes, so if you don't mind...."
"This will only take a minute," Bobby says. "I overheard part of what went on this morning between you and Lucas."
"Yeah, well, that son of your has some serious problems, Uncle Bobby."
"I agree, and most of his problems add up to you. John Ross, it's taken all of the restraint I can muster to keep from rippin' you apart for what you did to my son. And before you lie to me and say you don't know what I'm talkin' about, just save it."
"Look, Uncle Bobby....."
"Just shut up and listen," Bobby says. "I don't have the power to kick you out of this house and off this ranch, as I'd like to. Mama tied my hands with that when she left half of Southfork to you. But, I am gonna make a suggestion. For your own safety, why don't you move out and find someplace else to live? You've got almost 90,000 acres on all the rest of Southfork on which to build a house of your own. Why don't you do that and let the rest of us live here in peace for a change, before somethin' really bad happens and someone gets seriously hurt during one of these fights? Just think about that." Without another word to his nephew, Bobby turns and walks into the house, leaving John Ross alone on the patio.
"This will only take a minute," Bobby says. "I overheard part of what went on this morning between you and Lucas."
"Yeah, well, that son of your has some serious problems, Uncle Bobby."
"I agree, and most of his problems add up to you. John Ross, it's taken all of the restraint I can muster to keep from rippin' you apart for what you did to my son. And before you lie to me and say you don't know what I'm talkin' about, just save it."
"Look, Uncle Bobby....."
"Just shut up and listen," Bobby says. "I don't have the power to kick you out of this house and off this ranch, as I'd like to. Mama tied my hands with that when she left half of Southfork to you. But, I am gonna make a suggestion. For your own safety, why don't you move out and find someplace else to live? You've got almost 90,000 acres on all the rest of Southfork on which to build a house of your own. Why don't you do that and let the rest of us live here in peace for a change, before somethin' really bad happens and someone gets seriously hurt during one of these fights? Just think about that." Without another word to his nephew, Bobby turns and walks into the house, leaving John Ross alone on the patio.
Westar.....the next morning
Tuesday morning dawns bright and sunny over Dallas as the day of the big Westar board meeting finally arrives. John Ross stands at the window of his office looking out over the city of Dallas, confident that he will achieve victory in the meeting. As he stands at the window looking out, his back to his slightly open door, Pamela walks over to his office and peaks in. She pauses a moment and smiles, then walks into the office.
"Well," she says. "Thinking about all you're about to lose?"
John Ross smiles, then turns to face her. "I'm not about to lose a damn thing. It's you and your new hubby who are about to lose out."
"My, my. Awfully confident for a man who doesn't have a leg to stand on anymore. Board meeting starts in fifteen minutes. Better practice your concession speech." Pamela smiles at him, then turns and walks out.
"Oh, Pamela, my darlin'," John Ross says after she's gone. "Have you and ol' Trippy boy got a BIG surprise comin'."
"Well," she says. "Thinking about all you're about to lose?"
John Ross smiles, then turns to face her. "I'm not about to lose a damn thing. It's you and your new hubby who are about to lose out."
"My, my. Awfully confident for a man who doesn't have a leg to stand on anymore. Board meeting starts in fifteen minutes. Better practice your concession speech." Pamela smiles at him, then turns and walks out.
"Oh, Pamela, my darlin'," John Ross says after she's gone. "Have you and ol' Trippy boy got a BIG surprise comin'."
A few minutes later, a crowd has gathered in the Westar board room. Various conversations are going as the board members and share holders in the company talk among themselves and mingle. In one corner of the room, Cliff, Pamela, and Tripp chat with Tripp's grandfather, Carter McKay, and Aunt Tracey.
"Boy, I thought this day would never get here," Cliff says happily.
"Well, Cliff, the day IS here," Carter says. "The day J.R.'s boy is booted out of this company on his ass."
"Daddy, are you sure you're feeling well enough to be here?" Tracey asks.
"Tracey, I'm feeling wonderful. Now would you stop treating me like an invalid?"
"Well, Cliff, the day IS here," Carter says. "The day J.R.'s boy is booted out of this company on his ass."
"Daddy, are you sure you're feeling well enough to be here?" Tracey asks.
"Tracey, I'm feeling wonderful. Now would you stop treating me like an invalid?"
"Alright, Daddy, I'm sorry," Tracey says. "I was only trying to help. Pamela, what's the matter with Tripp?" Tracey asks her new niece-in-law. "He looks upset."
Pamela, Cliff. and Carter all turn and look in the direction of the door, where Tripp is standing alone, and seemingly nervous and restless.
"My grandson does seem a bit bothered by something," Carter says.
"Yeah," Pamela agrees. "He was quiet this morning. Hardly said a word on the way over here."
"He's probably just nervous about this big board meeting," Cliff says. "I'll go talk to him. Excuse me." Cliff walks away from the others and makes his way through the crowd to where Tripp is standing. "Well," Cliff says. "What's the matter with you? Nervous?"
"Yeah, I'm nervous," Tripp says. "Look, Cliff, I've been doing a lot of thinking, and......."
"Hey, wait a second. I hope you're not about to tell me you're backing out of our deal."
"My grandson does seem a bit bothered by something," Carter says.
"Yeah," Pamela agrees. "He was quiet this morning. Hardly said a word on the way over here."
"He's probably just nervous about this big board meeting," Cliff says. "I'll go talk to him. Excuse me." Cliff walks away from the others and makes his way through the crowd to where Tripp is standing. "Well," Cliff says. "What's the matter with you? Nervous?"
"Yeah, I'm nervous," Tripp says. "Look, Cliff, I've been doing a lot of thinking, and......."
"Hey, wait a second. I hope you're not about to tell me you're backing out of our deal."
"Tripp, we had a DEAL," Cliff says, getting a little angry. "We've been talking about this for months."
"I know, and I'm sorry," Tripp says. "But, I've been thinking of nothing but this since the day of our wedding, and I realize how much being named Westar's new CEO means to Pamela. It's all she's talked about for days. Weeks, even. I won't betray her and side with you."
"You won't be betraying her, you'll be saving your marriage. You know what it's gonna mean if she becomes the new CEO, don't you? Her entire life will be devoted to business. To running Westar. She won't have any time for you or the marriage, just think about that!"
"I know, and I'm sorry," Tripp says. "But, I've been thinking of nothing but this since the day of our wedding, and I realize how much being named Westar's new CEO means to Pamela. It's all she's talked about for days. Weeks, even. I won't betray her and side with you."
"You won't be betraying her, you'll be saving your marriage. You know what it's gonna mean if she becomes the new CEO, don't you? Her entire life will be devoted to business. To running Westar. She won't have any time for you or the marriage, just think about that!"
"Why don't you just let me worry about that, Cliff," Tripp says, then walks away from him, leaving Cliff angry.
Meanwhile, Jillian stands across the room chatting with her mother, Kimberly Cryder, and another man, when she sees a very neatly dressed Justin walk in. Smiling, Jillian walks over to greet him as he enters the board room.
"Oh, wow, just look at you," she says. "My very handsome little brother. You look a whole lot different with a haircut and without a cowboy hat."
Justin smiles. "Well, thank you, Miss Cryder."
"I'm surprised to see you here, though."
"I just figured that, since I am a shareholder in this comp'ny, even though it's only a measly five percent, I should be here. Plus I wanted the pleasure of seein' John Ross dethroned."
Jillian smiles. "Well, I think you're about to get your wish."
"Oh, wow, just look at you," she says. "My very handsome little brother. You look a whole lot different with a haircut and without a cowboy hat."
Justin smiles. "Well, thank you, Miss Cryder."
"I'm surprised to see you here, though."
"I just figured that, since I am a shareholder in this comp'ny, even though it's only a measly five percent, I should be here. Plus I wanted the pleasure of seein' John Ross dethroned."
Jillian smiles. "Well, I think you're about to get your wish."
At that moment, John Ross walks into the board room, along with three other men and a woman. John Ross smiles at Justin and Jillian as he walks past them. Then he flashes a smile at Cliff and the McKays.
"For a guy who's about to be voted out as CEO, John Ross seems awfully confident," Carter McKay says.
"He's just like his father," says Cliff. "He's good at bluffing."
One of the men steps forward to the head of the large table at the front of the boardroom.
"For a guy who's about to be voted out as CEO, John Ross seems awfully confident," Carter McKay says.
"He's just like his father," says Cliff. "He's good at bluffing."
One of the men steps forward to the head of the large table at the front of the boardroom.
"Everyone, please find take a seat," the man says. "Thank you. This meeting of the Westar board is now called to order." The group takes their seats on cue and quiets down. The man continues: "For those of you who don't know me, my name is Tom Griffith, and I am a member of the board of directors of Westar and I have served as an executive vice-president of this company since 1998. Now, our first order of business is the position of chief executive officer. A position which has been held the last several months by Mr. John Ross Ewing, III. Now, down to business. And I turn the floor over to Mrs. Kimberly Cryder."
After a round of applause, Kimberly steps forward and stands beside Griffith. "Thank you, Tom. As all of you know, my father, Dr. Herbert Styles, started this company seventy years ago, and Westar is a legacy that I've always taken great pride in. Now, without further delay, let's get on with the election of a new chief executive officer." Kimberly looks at John Ross. "We have three names that have been submitted as candidates for CEO. The first name, is our current CEO, John Ross Ewing. The second name, is Mrs. Pamela Barnes McKay. And our final candidate......Cliff Barnes."
A look of shock crosses Pamela's face upon hearing her father's name as a candidate for Westar's new CEO.
Kimberly continues: "We will begin voting. I'm very sorry to see that a number of our shareholders are absent from this meeting. Well, we'll just have to vote without them....."
After a round of applause, Kimberly steps forward and stands beside Griffith. "Thank you, Tom. As all of you know, my father, Dr. Herbert Styles, started this company seventy years ago, and Westar is a legacy that I've always taken great pride in. Now, without further delay, let's get on with the election of a new chief executive officer." Kimberly looks at John Ross. "We have three names that have been submitted as candidates for CEO. The first name, is our current CEO, John Ross Ewing. The second name, is Mrs. Pamela Barnes McKay. And our final candidate......Cliff Barnes."
A look of shock crosses Pamela's face upon hearing her father's name as a candidate for Westar's new CEO.
Kimberly continues: "We will begin voting. I'm very sorry to see that a number of our shareholders are absent from this meeting. Well, we'll just have to vote without them....."
"Excuse me.....Kimberly," John Ross says, standing to his feet. "May I have the floor?"
"Mr. Ewing, we're about to begin the voting," says Kimberly.
"Well I believe I can save us all a little time here today. A vote to elect a new chief executive officer won't be necessary," John Ross says, to everyone's shock.
"What the hell is he up to?" Tripp whispers to Pamela as they sit listening.
"No idea. But it can't be good, especially as cocky as he's been lately."
"Mrs. Cryder," John Ross says, walking around the table. "Isn't it true that the CEO of Westar is elected by the largest number of shares voted in that person's favor?"
"You know that it is," Kimberly replies.
"Then a vote here today is unnecessary," continues John Ross. "Because as the largest shareholder in Westar, with 51%, I vote to retain myself as chief executive officer."
Audible gasps can be heard from the crowded room. "51%?" Pamela asks. "That's impossible. You HAD 51%, but half of that went to me in our divorce. And then you lost another ten percent to your brother."
"While that is true, Pamela, circumstances have turned once again in my favor. I recently acquired 30% of shares in this comp'ny, bringing my total shares of stock up to 46%. And then, early this morning, after a lengthy conversation with one of our other larger stockholders, Mr. Ned Barker, I acquired another 5%, bringing my total shares of Westar stock......to 51%, making me once again the majority shareholder in this comp'ny. So, even if every other stockholder votes against me, they still won't have enough votes to oust me as CEO."
Sitting in the audience, Cliff's mouth falls open in shock as he witnesses all of his dreams of taking control of Westar go up in smoke.
"And now, with that said," John Ross continues. "Our second order of business is to elect a chairman of the board. I vote for myself." John Ross looks at Pamela, Tripp, and Cliff with a big smile, silently gloating.
"What the hell is he up to?" Tripp whispers to Pamela as they sit listening.
"No idea. But it can't be good, especially as cocky as he's been lately."
"Mrs. Cryder," John Ross says, walking around the table. "Isn't it true that the CEO of Westar is elected by the largest number of shares voted in that person's favor?"
"You know that it is," Kimberly replies.
"Then a vote here today is unnecessary," continues John Ross. "Because as the largest shareholder in Westar, with 51%, I vote to retain myself as chief executive officer."
Audible gasps can be heard from the crowded room. "51%?" Pamela asks. "That's impossible. You HAD 51%, but half of that went to me in our divorce. And then you lost another ten percent to your brother."
"While that is true, Pamela, circumstances have turned once again in my favor. I recently acquired 30% of shares in this comp'ny, bringing my total shares of stock up to 46%. And then, early this morning, after a lengthy conversation with one of our other larger stockholders, Mr. Ned Barker, I acquired another 5%, bringing my total shares of Westar stock......to 51%, making me once again the majority shareholder in this comp'ny. So, even if every other stockholder votes against me, they still won't have enough votes to oust me as CEO."
Sitting in the audience, Cliff's mouth falls open in shock as he witnesses all of his dreams of taking control of Westar go up in smoke.
"And now, with that said," John Ross continues. "Our second order of business is to elect a chairman of the board. I vote for myself." John Ross looks at Pamela, Tripp, and Cliff with a big smile, silently gloating.
Later....
"How the hell could this have happened?" Tripp asks as he, Cliff, and Pamela are talking after the board meeting is over.
"That's what I'd like to know," says Pamela. "We had him. We HAD John Ross exactly where we wanted him, so how did he pull this off?"
"I'd like to know that myself," Cliff says. "And who were these shareholders who sold out to John Ross?"
"I have a question for you, Daddy," Pamela says. "Why was your name mentioned as a candidate to replace John Ross as CEO. Why didn't you tell me?"
"That's what I'd like to know," says Pamela. "We had him. We HAD John Ross exactly where we wanted him, so how did he pull this off?"
"I'd like to know that myself," Cliff says. "And who were these shareholders who sold out to John Ross?"
"I have a question for you, Daddy," Pamela says. "Why was your name mentioned as a candidate to replace John Ross as CEO. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Sweetheart, none of that matters now," Cliff says. "What does matter is that....that.....spawn of Satan has outsmarted us, and somehow we have to find a way to get him back."
"You were trying to beat me out, weren't you?" Pamela asks, near tears.
"No," Cliff lies.
"You knew how much this meant to me, and you didn't care. You wanted to be CEO yourself, and all these months you've let me go on and on about how much I wanted this for me. You really haven't changed at all, have you?"
"Pammy, of course I have. Sweetheart, I only wanted....."
"You only wanted what you've always wanted," says Pamela. "And that's power, and to beat the Ewings, at the expense of everyone and everything else."
"Well, you're right about that," John Ross says, walking over to them. "Beating the Ewings has been Cliff Barnes's life's ambition. But, it aint gonna happen today. Cliff, you hadn't learned by now? A Ewing will ALWAYS beat a Barnes, because the Barnes fam'ly are nothin' but a bunch of losers and tramps, and now y'all have got even losers on board your sinkin' ship since you're tied up with these McKays."
"You shut the hell up!" Cliff says angrily.
"I told you once, old man, I was gonna get you for settin' me up with Amanda," John Ross says. "I still aim to keep that promise."
"Not if I get you and your uncle first, for framing me for killing that snake you called a father!"
"Pamela, take this bum of a daddy of yours and your new stud of the month and get the hell outta here."
"You little son of a bitch!" Cliff says as he lunges at John Ross, grabbing for his neck. Pamela and Tripp quickly restrain him.
"Cliff, stop!" Tripp says, holding his father-in-law back.
John Ross laughs.
"Daddy, let's get out of here," Pamela says, holding Cliff by the arm.
"I think that's a good idea," says John Ross.
Cliff looks John Ross dead in the eye. "One of these days, John Ross, somebody is gonna do to you what they did to J.R., and I hope to God I'm there to see that day."
"That a threat, old man? One stint in prison not enough for you?"
Pamela looks at John Ross. "I'm gonna tell you something. This war isn't over yet. You may have won this round, but we have a LONG way to go before this is over. Come on, Daddy."
Reluctantly, Cliff allows himself to be led out of the room by his daughter.
"No," Cliff lies.
"You knew how much this meant to me, and you didn't care. You wanted to be CEO yourself, and all these months you've let me go on and on about how much I wanted this for me. You really haven't changed at all, have you?"
"Pammy, of course I have. Sweetheart, I only wanted....."
"You only wanted what you've always wanted," says Pamela. "And that's power, and to beat the Ewings, at the expense of everyone and everything else."
"Well, you're right about that," John Ross says, walking over to them. "Beating the Ewings has been Cliff Barnes's life's ambition. But, it aint gonna happen today. Cliff, you hadn't learned by now? A Ewing will ALWAYS beat a Barnes, because the Barnes fam'ly are nothin' but a bunch of losers and tramps, and now y'all have got even losers on board your sinkin' ship since you're tied up with these McKays."
"You shut the hell up!" Cliff says angrily.
"I told you once, old man, I was gonna get you for settin' me up with Amanda," John Ross says. "I still aim to keep that promise."
"Not if I get you and your uncle first, for framing me for killing that snake you called a father!"
"Pamela, take this bum of a daddy of yours and your new stud of the month and get the hell outta here."
"You little son of a bitch!" Cliff says as he lunges at John Ross, grabbing for his neck. Pamela and Tripp quickly restrain him.
"Cliff, stop!" Tripp says, holding his father-in-law back.
John Ross laughs.
"Daddy, let's get out of here," Pamela says, holding Cliff by the arm.
"I think that's a good idea," says John Ross.
Cliff looks John Ross dead in the eye. "One of these days, John Ross, somebody is gonna do to you what they did to J.R., and I hope to God I'm there to see that day."
"That a threat, old man? One stint in prison not enough for you?"
Pamela looks at John Ross. "I'm gonna tell you something. This war isn't over yet. You may have won this round, but we have a LONG way to go before this is over. Come on, Daddy."
Reluctantly, Cliff allows himself to be led out of the room by his daughter.
Tripp turns to John Ross after Pamela takes Tripp out. "I don't know what you did or how you did it to get that 35% of shares, but if I find out you used blackmail and threats again like you did before......I'll take you down, John Ross. Any way I have to."
"You hadn't got the guts, McKay, or the power. I'm actually glad you married Pamela. The Barnes and McKays deserve each other. Two losers in a pod. You could do the world a big favor if you just all climbed in a car together and drove off a cliff somewhere." John Ross smiles at Tripp, then turns and walks away.
"You hadn't got the guts, McKay, or the power. I'm actually glad you married Pamela. The Barnes and McKays deserve each other. Two losers in a pod. You could do the world a big favor if you just all climbed in a car together and drove off a cliff somewhere." John Ross smiles at Tripp, then turns and walks away.
John Ross looks at his sister, then at his brother. "If you two are gonna stick around, there are a couple things you need to remember about me. First is......never underestimate me. And the second thing......never, EVER count me out." John Ross smiles at the two, then turns and walks out of the boardroom, triumphant.
The former Ewing Global....
Meanwhile, Bobby and Christopher are in the conference room of the former Ewing Global looking over some papers and documents as they clean out the offices.
"You okay, Dad?" Christopher asks. "Not sayin' much."
Bobby sighs. "Well, there's not much to say, son. Who knows. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise."
"How so?"
"Well, there's that business proposition your cousin Bobby made to you about startin' a record label with him. Now that Ewing Global is gone, you can concentrate on that. You haven't given him an answer yet, have you?"
"You okay, Dad?" Christopher asks. "Not sayin' much."
Bobby sighs. "Well, there's not much to say, son. Who knows. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise."
"How so?"
"Well, there's that business proposition your cousin Bobby made to you about startin' a record label with him. Now that Ewing Global is gone, you can concentrate on that. You haven't given him an answer yet, have you?"
"No, I haven't. But maybe I should," says Christopher. "But what about you, Dad? Can you honestly say losing the company was a blessing in disguise for you?"
"I dunno, maybe it is," Bobby says. "Now I can go back to doin' what I was doin' before, runnin' the ranch. AFTER Ann and I take that cruise I've been promisin' her, of course."
"Oh, of course," Christopher says with a smile.
Meanwhile, the elevator doors in the lobby open and a man steps off. Looking around, the man spots Bobby and Christopher in the conference room and walks over. He knocks on the door.
"Bill?" Bobby asks, standing. "Bill Whitaker, come in." Bobby walks over and shakes the man's hand.
"Oh, of course," Christopher says with a smile.
Meanwhile, the elevator doors in the lobby open and a man steps off. Looking around, the man spots Bobby and Christopher in the conference room and walks over. He knocks on the door.
"Bill?" Bobby asks, standing. "Bill Whitaker, come in." Bobby walks over and shakes the man's hand.
"Bobby, I hope I'm not interrupting anything," Bill says. "I phoned Southfork first and your wife said you were here."
"Yeah, Bill, we were just packin' up a few things," Bobby says sadly. "Bill, I don't believe you ever met my son, Christopher. Son, this is Bill Whitaker, president of Whitaker Petrol."
"Mr. Whitaker," Christopher says, standing to shake the older man's hand. "It's a pleasure."
"Pleasure's all mine, to finally meet this boy Bobby's bragged about all these years."
"Bill, what brings ya by?" Bobby asks.
"Well, Bobby, I'm here on business, and also for old time's sake. I heard about you losing Ewing Global, so I'm here to offer you a proposal. Actually, it's almost like some weird twist of fate this happening at just this time."
"I'm not sure I understand, Bill."
"Bobby, I'm finally retiring. Getting out of the oil business."
"Really?" Bobby asks. "Well, congratulations."
"That's why I'm here. I'm selling my company and all it's assets. Bobby, I still own every field and every asset that I acquired when I bought Ewing Oil several years ago. Some of those fields are ones your daddy opened up many years ago, and they're still producing. And as long as I'm selling out, I wanted to offer you all of Ewing Oil's old fields back. At a very fair price."
Christopher smiles and looks at his father.
"Bill, I......I don't know what to say."
"Say yes."
"Listen, I'm sure you're in a hurry to get this done, but, can I have a couple days to think about it?" Bobby asks.
"Sure, take a few days if you need to. I would like an answer within a week, though," says Bill.
Bobby smiles. "You'll have an answer in two or three days, I promise."
"Good," Bill says, smiling. "Take care, boys."
"You too, Bill," Bobby says, shaking his old friend's hand. Bill turns and walks out.
"Wow," says Christopher. "Dad, I can't believe this. We can actually get Ewing Oil back?"
"Yeah," Bobby says.
"But, why didn't you jump at this? Why did you want some time to think about it?"
"Because, son, I'm really not sure I wanna stay in the oil business."
Christopher looks at his father with surprise, stunned that Bobby didn't jump at the chance to have Ewing Oil back.
"Yeah, Bill, we were just packin' up a few things," Bobby says sadly. "Bill, I don't believe you ever met my son, Christopher. Son, this is Bill Whitaker, president of Whitaker Petrol."
"Mr. Whitaker," Christopher says, standing to shake the older man's hand. "It's a pleasure."
"Pleasure's all mine, to finally meet this boy Bobby's bragged about all these years."
"Bill, what brings ya by?" Bobby asks.
"Well, Bobby, I'm here on business, and also for old time's sake. I heard about you losing Ewing Global, so I'm here to offer you a proposal. Actually, it's almost like some weird twist of fate this happening at just this time."
"I'm not sure I understand, Bill."
"Bobby, I'm finally retiring. Getting out of the oil business."
"Really?" Bobby asks. "Well, congratulations."
"That's why I'm here. I'm selling my company and all it's assets. Bobby, I still own every field and every asset that I acquired when I bought Ewing Oil several years ago. Some of those fields are ones your daddy opened up many years ago, and they're still producing. And as long as I'm selling out, I wanted to offer you all of Ewing Oil's old fields back. At a very fair price."
Christopher smiles and looks at his father.
"Bill, I......I don't know what to say."
"Say yes."
"Listen, I'm sure you're in a hurry to get this done, but, can I have a couple days to think about it?" Bobby asks.
"Sure, take a few days if you need to. I would like an answer within a week, though," says Bill.
Bobby smiles. "You'll have an answer in two or three days, I promise."
"Good," Bill says, smiling. "Take care, boys."
"You too, Bill," Bobby says, shaking his old friend's hand. Bill turns and walks out.
"Wow," says Christopher. "Dad, I can't believe this. We can actually get Ewing Oil back?"
"Yeah," Bobby says.
"But, why didn't you jump at this? Why did you want some time to think about it?"
"Because, son, I'm really not sure I wanna stay in the oil business."
Christopher looks at his father with surprise, stunned that Bobby didn't jump at the chance to have Ewing Oil back.
Tuscany County, California Courthouse.....two days later
Elena arrives at the Tuscany County, California Family Court shortly before 9 a.m. on Thursday, as ordered by the summons she was delivered a few days earlier. Michael, Richard, and Angie accompany her. Elena is a bundle of nerves as they walk into the courtroom. Richard's attorney spots them and walks over.
"Good morning," the young attorney says.
"Morning, Chad," Richard says.
"I don't see John Ross," Elena says.
"Maybe with any luck the guy won't show up," Michael says. "Or, with better luck, maybe his plane crashed on the way here."
"Good morning," the young attorney says.
"Morning, Chad," Richard says.
"I don't see John Ross," Elena says.
"Maybe with any luck the guy won't show up," Michael says. "Or, with better luck, maybe his plane crashed on the way here."
"No way," Elena says, closing her eyes. "I've never been that lucky."
"Maybe you should've asked your mother to come," says Michael. "As a character witness or something."
"No. Mama has been through enough this last year with losing my brother. I didn't want to involve her in an ugly custody battle between me and John Ross."
"Speak of the devil," Richard says. Michael and Elena turn around and see John Ross walking into the courtroom with his attorney, Stephen Smith, and Krystina Carrington by his side. John Ross looks at Elena, flashes a smile, then he and Smith take seats on their side of the courtroom.
A moment later, a bailiff walks in and steps to the front of the courtroom. "All rise," he says. "Family Court of Tuscany County, California is now in session. The Honorable Judge Terry Newman presiding."
Judge Newman, a not unattractive woman in her early forties, takes the bench. "Please be seated," she says. "This is the case of Ewing Vs. Ramos. Custody of three month old infant boy, Andreas Ramos. Are all parties present?"
"Yes, your Honor," replies John Ross's attorney.
"Yes, your Honor," echoes Elena's lawyer.
"Good. Mr. Smith, are you ready to proceed?"
"I am, Judge," Stephen says, standing. As John Ross's young attorney walks to the front of the courtroom, Elena looks at him with fear, then looks across the courtroom at John Ross, and her expression of fear turns to one of pure hate as she stares at the man she once loved.
A SHORT TIME LATER....
"Maybe you should've asked your mother to come," says Michael. "As a character witness or something."
"No. Mama has been through enough this last year with losing my brother. I didn't want to involve her in an ugly custody battle between me and John Ross."
"Speak of the devil," Richard says. Michael and Elena turn around and see John Ross walking into the courtroom with his attorney, Stephen Smith, and Krystina Carrington by his side. John Ross looks at Elena, flashes a smile, then he and Smith take seats on their side of the courtroom.
A moment later, a bailiff walks in and steps to the front of the courtroom. "All rise," he says. "Family Court of Tuscany County, California is now in session. The Honorable Judge Terry Newman presiding."
Judge Newman, a not unattractive woman in her early forties, takes the bench. "Please be seated," she says. "This is the case of Ewing Vs. Ramos. Custody of three month old infant boy, Andreas Ramos. Are all parties present?"
"Yes, your Honor," replies John Ross's attorney.
"Yes, your Honor," echoes Elena's lawyer.
"Good. Mr. Smith, are you ready to proceed?"
"I am, Judge," Stephen says, standing. As John Ross's young attorney walks to the front of the courtroom, Elena looks at him with fear, then looks across the courtroom at John Ross, and her expression of fear turns to one of pure hate as she stares at the man she once loved.
A SHORT TIME LATER....
Stephen Smith is questioning Elena on the witness stand.
"Miss Ramos, how long have you known John Ross Ewing?" Smith asks.
"About twenty-three years.
"So, you were childhood friends?"
"Yes."
"How did you meet?"
"My mother went to work at Southfork Ranch for John Ross's uncle, Bobby Ewing, sometime in the fall of 1991, when I was nine. I met John Ross the following summer when he came over from England, where he lived with his mother, for a visit with his uncle and cousin."
STILL A FEW MINUTES LATER....
"Miss Ramos, how long have you known John Ross Ewing?" Smith asks.
"About twenty-three years.
"So, you were childhood friends?"
"Yes."
"How did you meet?"
"My mother went to work at Southfork Ranch for John Ross's uncle, Bobby Ewing, sometime in the fall of 1991, when I was nine. I met John Ross the following summer when he came over from England, where he lived with his mother, for a visit with his uncle and cousin."
STILL A FEW MINUTES LATER....
"Miss Ramos, would you please describe your relationship with Mr. Ewing in the past year?" Stephen asks Elena.
"What exactly do you mean?" Elena asks.
"At the time your son was conceived, were you and Mr. Ewing in a relationship?"
"I object, Your Honor," says Richard's attorney, Chad Hollister, standing to his feet. "Mr. Smith's question is irrelevant."
"I'm merely trying to determine the circumstances surrounding the conception of this child, Your Honor."
Judge Newman looks at the two attorneys for a second. "I'll allow the question," she says.
"Thank you," Stephen says. "Miss Ramos? Were you and John Ross Ewing in a relationship when your son was conceived?"
"No."
"Would you please describe to the court the circumstances of that night?" Stephen asks.
"Objection!" Says Chad Hollister.
"Overruled," Judge Newman says. "Miss Ramos, please answer the question."
"What exactly do you mean?" Elena asks.
"At the time your son was conceived, were you and Mr. Ewing in a relationship?"
"I object, Your Honor," says Richard's attorney, Chad Hollister, standing to his feet. "Mr. Smith's question is irrelevant."
"I'm merely trying to determine the circumstances surrounding the conception of this child, Your Honor."
Judge Newman looks at the two attorneys for a second. "I'll allow the question," she says.
"Thank you," Stephen says. "Miss Ramos? Were you and John Ross Ewing in a relationship when your son was conceived?"
"No."
"Would you please describe to the court the circumstances of that night?" Stephen asks.
"Objection!" Says Chad Hollister.
"Overruled," Judge Newman says. "Miss Ramos, please answer the question."
"It was the night before my brother's funeral. I was upset and grieving, and I'd had to much to drink."
"So, you fell into bed with Mr. Ewing because you'd had too much to drink?"
Elena hesitates a moment before answering. She looks at John Ross for a moment.
"Miss Ramos? Answer my question, please," Stephen says.
"Yes," Elena replies, feeling it best not to go into the true details of the night she seduced John Ross to steal J.R.'s letter from him..... the night her son was conceived.
"When you learned you were pregnant, did you know that Mr. Ewing was the father?"
"No."
"So, you had slept with Mr. Ewing, and another man in a short time span?"
"Yes."
"And who was this other man?" Stephen asks.
"Nicolas Trevino."
"Nicolas Trevino, a major player in a very dangerous Mexican drug cartel who tried to steal the Ewing family's company from them and tried to kill Mr. Ewing's own cousin, am I correct?"
Elena looks at the attorney for a moment, then at John Ross, and finally at Michael sitting in the courtroom listening to all of her dirty laundry being aired. Tears fall from her eyes. "Yes."
"And is it also not true, Miss Ramos, that you never intended to tell Mr. Ewing that he was in fact, the father of your baby after you discovered his fact from a DNA test?"
"Yes," Elena replies in tears.
"And you left Dallas after Mr. Ewing learned the truth? You went into hiding?"
"Yes."
"And after your baby was born, you faked a death certificate and then told Mr. Ewing when he visited you a couple of months ago that your son had been stillborn?"
"Yes," Elena says and breaks down.
"I have no further questions for this witness," Stephen says.
"You may step down, Miss Ramos," Judge Newman says.
Elena hesitates and looks out at the courtroom full of people, particularly Michael and his family, before stepping down from the stand.
"So, you fell into bed with Mr. Ewing because you'd had too much to drink?"
Elena hesitates a moment before answering. She looks at John Ross for a moment.
"Miss Ramos? Answer my question, please," Stephen says.
"Yes," Elena replies, feeling it best not to go into the true details of the night she seduced John Ross to steal J.R.'s letter from him..... the night her son was conceived.
"When you learned you were pregnant, did you know that Mr. Ewing was the father?"
"No."
"So, you had slept with Mr. Ewing, and another man in a short time span?"
"Yes."
"And who was this other man?" Stephen asks.
"Nicolas Trevino."
"Nicolas Trevino, a major player in a very dangerous Mexican drug cartel who tried to steal the Ewing family's company from them and tried to kill Mr. Ewing's own cousin, am I correct?"
Elena looks at the attorney for a moment, then at John Ross, and finally at Michael sitting in the courtroom listening to all of her dirty laundry being aired. Tears fall from her eyes. "Yes."
"And is it also not true, Miss Ramos, that you never intended to tell Mr. Ewing that he was in fact, the father of your baby after you discovered his fact from a DNA test?"
"Yes," Elena replies in tears.
"And you left Dallas after Mr. Ewing learned the truth? You went into hiding?"
"Yes."
"And after your baby was born, you faked a death certificate and then told Mr. Ewing when he visited you a couple of months ago that your son had been stillborn?"
"Yes," Elena says and breaks down.
"I have no further questions for this witness," Stephen says.
"You may step down, Miss Ramos," Judge Newman says.
Elena hesitates and looks out at the courtroom full of people, particularly Michael and his family, before stepping down from the stand.
Back in Dallas.....Todd's apartment
Todd answers his ringing doorbell to find Jay standing there. "Jay, what are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question," Jay says, walking into the apartment. "I was surprised to find out you moved back to your apartment."
"I couldn't take it at the house anymore. Your Dad and my Mom both on my case. Them arguing about my Dad. Grandma sick, and Dylan........my poor kid brother walking around like he's in a trance all the time now since he found out Dad isn't his father, and Dad killed his real father. And I honestly don't know what to say to him. I'm not even emotionally able to help myself, much less Dylan. I just needed to be by myself, to process how my life and my family have completely fallen apart in just the course of a few months. And it's all because of the Ewings."
Jay sighs. "Todd, look, why don't you come back to my apartment. You can stay with me for a while, until you get your head together."
"No, thanks, Jay." He walks over and takes a seat on a chair.
"Todd....."
"I could ask you the same question," Jay says, walking into the apartment. "I was surprised to find out you moved back to your apartment."
"I couldn't take it at the house anymore. Your Dad and my Mom both on my case. Them arguing about my Dad. Grandma sick, and Dylan........my poor kid brother walking around like he's in a trance all the time now since he found out Dad isn't his father, and Dad killed his real father. And I honestly don't know what to say to him. I'm not even emotionally able to help myself, much less Dylan. I just needed to be by myself, to process how my life and my family have completely fallen apart in just the course of a few months. And it's all because of the Ewings."
Jay sighs. "Todd, look, why don't you come back to my apartment. You can stay with me for a while, until you get your head together."
"No, thanks, Jay." He walks over and takes a seat on a chair.
"Todd....."
"Oh, Jay, would you get off my back?" Todd says. "I am NOT going to try to kill myself again, so stop worrying about that."
"Maybe you wouldn't, intentionally."
"What do you mean by that?"
"A few nights ago Jill and I had to come bail your ass out of jail for getting drunk in a bar and starting a fight. Todd, you are......I'm worried about you."
"I'm fine," Todd says, standing to his feet. He walks over to his bar and pours himself a drink. "My family is shattered, my career as an attorney is over, and my political ambitions have been flushed down the toilet, but I'm fine." Todd starts to cry. Jay walks over and puts a reassuring hand on his cousin's shoulder.
"It's gonna be okay, bro," Jay says. "Things look bad right now, but it can't stay this way forever. And as for your career being over as a lawyer, no way. Other lawyers have weathered worse scandals than you, and they came out on top. You will, too. Now will you PLEASE come stay with me for a few days? I could really use the company myself."
"You've got your girlfriend."
"Jill isn't there all the time. Besides, it would really help me out by easing my mind. Please, Todd. You can have your own room and all the privacy you want. But we're family, and we need each other now."
Todd looks at his cousin, and nods his head. "Okay," he says quietly. "Okay."
"Maybe you wouldn't, intentionally."
"What do you mean by that?"
"A few nights ago Jill and I had to come bail your ass out of jail for getting drunk in a bar and starting a fight. Todd, you are......I'm worried about you."
"I'm fine," Todd says, standing to his feet. He walks over to his bar and pours himself a drink. "My family is shattered, my career as an attorney is over, and my political ambitions have been flushed down the toilet, but I'm fine." Todd starts to cry. Jay walks over and puts a reassuring hand on his cousin's shoulder.
"It's gonna be okay, bro," Jay says. "Things look bad right now, but it can't stay this way forever. And as for your career being over as a lawyer, no way. Other lawyers have weathered worse scandals than you, and they came out on top. You will, too. Now will you PLEASE come stay with me for a few days? I could really use the company myself."
"You've got your girlfriend."
"Jill isn't there all the time. Besides, it would really help me out by easing my mind. Please, Todd. You can have your own room and all the privacy you want. But we're family, and we need each other now."
Todd looks at his cousin, and nods his head. "Okay," he says quietly. "Okay."
Tuscany County Courthouse....
A hush falls over the courtroom as Judge Terry Newman retakes her seat on the bench after a recess to ponder her decision in the case. "Please be seated," she says. "This is a very difficult case. Any case that involves the
custody and welfare of a child is difficult, but especially so when there is such obvious animosity between the parents. In this case, thankfully, we are dealing with a very small infant who is still much too young to understand what's going on around him. Miss Ramos, I look at you, and I'm sorry, but, I find it very hard to feel any empathy toward you. What you did, deliberately keeping the paternity of your child from his father was bad enough, but then for you to lie to the child's father and tell him that his son was dead.......I simply have no words for that. What you put Mr. Ewing through, is reprehensible. And Mr. Ewing, your hands are not entirely clean, either. But I feel you have suffered agony that no parent should have to suffer need-lessly. In this case, I am going to make a very unusual ruling because this is an unusual case. I'm ruling in favor of the plaintiff. Mr. Ewing will be granted custody of his three month old son, Andreas Ramos."
"NOOOO!!!" Elena screams, standing. "NO, you can't do this! PLEASE!!!"
"Miss Ramos, sit DOWN!" The judge orders.
"Elena, come on," Michael says, pulling her back into her seat.
Across the courtroom, John Ross smiles victoriously as Krystina takes him by the hand.
"Now," the judge continues. "Mr. Ewing will be granted custody of the infant child for a period of six months. During that time, I am ordering that Elena Ramos undergo psychiatric counseling......and that she have time to really think about and ponder the choices she's made. At the end of six months, I will review this case again and if I find that Miss Ramos has made significant steps to get her life together and that she and Mr. Ewing can work together as parents for the good of their child, visitation will be discussed. Miss Ramos, I also order that you find a new place of residence within that six months. I find that the home of Mr. Richard Channing is an unfit place for the raising of a child."
"Unfit?" Richard says. "Your Honor, I raised three children of my own and they turned out very well."
"Mr. Channing, one more word, and you will find yourself in contempt. Miss Ramos will relinquish custody of the infant Andreas Ramos immediately. Court is adjourned." The judge bangs her gavel, the exits the bench.
"No, this can't be happening," Elena cries to Michael. "John Ross can't have my son."
At that moment, John Ross and Krystina walk over to Elena and the Channings. "I told you I'd get my son, Elena,"
"NOOOO!!!" Elena screams, standing. "NO, you can't do this! PLEASE!!!"
"Miss Ramos, sit DOWN!" The judge orders.
"Elena, come on," Michael says, pulling her back into her seat.
Across the courtroom, John Ross smiles victoriously as Krystina takes him by the hand.
"Now," the judge continues. "Mr. Ewing will be granted custody of the infant child for a period of six months. During that time, I am ordering that Elena Ramos undergo psychiatric counseling......and that she have time to really think about and ponder the choices she's made. At the end of six months, I will review this case again and if I find that Miss Ramos has made significant steps to get her life together and that she and Mr. Ewing can work together as parents for the good of their child, visitation will be discussed. Miss Ramos, I also order that you find a new place of residence within that six months. I find that the home of Mr. Richard Channing is an unfit place for the raising of a child."
"Unfit?" Richard says. "Your Honor, I raised three children of my own and they turned out very well."
"Mr. Channing, one more word, and you will find yourself in contempt. Miss Ramos will relinquish custody of the infant Andreas Ramos immediately. Court is adjourned." The judge bangs her gavel, the exits the bench.
"No, this can't be happening," Elena cries to Michael. "John Ross can't have my son."
At that moment, John Ross and Krystina walk over to Elena and the Channings. "I told you I'd get my son, Elena,"
John Ross says.
"You WON'T get away with this, John Ross," Elena says in tears.
"I already have." John Ross looks at the Channings. "And you, Channing," he says, looking at Richard. "For helpin' her keep my son away from me, you and your son are gonna pay."
"You WON'T get away with this, John Ross," Elena says in tears.
"I already have." John Ross looks at the Channings. "And you, Channing," he says, looking at Richard. "For helpin' her keep my son away from me, you and your son are gonna pay."
"Young man, you don't know me," says Richard. "But if you did, you'd know that I'm sure as hell not gonna put up with you or anybody else making threats against my family. I've dealt with enemies before."
"Oh, I know you have," John Ross says. "And so have I." John Ross then turns and looks at Richard's daughter. "By the way, Angie, thanks for gettin' in touch with me last week. I can't thank you enough for tellin' me my son was alive."
"John Ross, let's go," Krystina says.
"I'll be waitin' to pick up my son," John Ross says. He smiles, then he and Krystina walk out of the courtroom.
"Oh, I know you have," John Ross says. "And so have I." John Ross then turns and looks at Richard's daughter. "By the way, Angie, thanks for gettin' in touch with me last week. I can't thank you enough for tellin' me my son was alive."
"John Ross, let's go," Krystina says.
"I'll be waitin' to pick up my son," John Ross says. He smiles, then he and Krystina walk out of the courtroom.
Michael turns to his sister. "You? YOU did this?"
"Well, Angie, what have you got to say for yourself?" Richard asks.
"I....."
"How could you?" Elena asks in tears. "Angie, I thought we were friends. How could you do this to me?"
"I....I'm so sorry. I didn't know it would happen like this. All I knew was there was a man who had been lied to that his baby was dead, and I......."
"And you just decided to stick your nose in where it didn't belong," Michael says. "Don't think I'll ever forgive you for this." Michael takes Elena by the arm and together, they leave the courtroom, as Angie breaks down in tears. Richard embraces his daughter in an attempt to comfort her.
"Well, Angie, what have you got to say for yourself?" Richard asks.
"I....."
"How could you?" Elena asks in tears. "Angie, I thought we were friends. How could you do this to me?"
"I....I'm so sorry. I didn't know it would happen like this. All I knew was there was a man who had been lied to that his baby was dead, and I......."
"And you just decided to stick your nose in where it didn't belong," Michael says. "Don't think I'll ever forgive you for this." Michael takes Elena by the arm and together, they leave the courtroom, as Angie breaks down in tears. Richard embraces his daughter in an attempt to comfort her.
Aboard the Westar jet....later
John Ross and Krystina are aboard the Westar jet heading back to Dallas with the baby a couple of hours later. John Ross sits looking at the baby in a small crib he and Krystina had bought in California.
John Ross smiles as he takes her by the hand. "You know, this has been one hell of a week for me. I got to hang on to Westar, and I got my son. And I couldn't have done any of it without you."
"Well, I'll take the credit for your Westar victory, but, I didn't have anything to do with you getting custody of this precious little boy."
"Yes you did. Because you were there for me. Supported me. That meant a lot. You are an incredible and amazin' woman, Krystina Carrington. All the baggage I got. Three kids by three diff'rent women. An ugly custody battle. A divorce from my second wife in a year in progress right now. And with all that, you still stick around. How come? I know it aint my money, 'cause you got plenty of that yourself. Is it my incredible charm, or my movie star good looks?"
"Both. But the most important reason is.......I'm in love with you. Completely, totally, head over heels in love. I can't explain it. And I swore to myself that the next man I loved would not have any heavy baggage or drama or ex-wives, or current wives. But then you came along with all of the above, and I couldn't help myself."
John Ross pulls Krystina into his lap and looks down at her. "You and me. Together we can build an empire so powerful that nobody'd even dare tryin' to mess with us." John Ross leans down and kisses her.
"Well, I'll take the credit for your Westar victory, but, I didn't have anything to do with you getting custody of this precious little boy."
"Yes you did. Because you were there for me. Supported me. That meant a lot. You are an incredible and amazin' woman, Krystina Carrington. All the baggage I got. Three kids by three diff'rent women. An ugly custody battle. A divorce from my second wife in a year in progress right now. And with all that, you still stick around. How come? I know it aint my money, 'cause you got plenty of that yourself. Is it my incredible charm, or my movie star good looks?"
"Both. But the most important reason is.......I'm in love with you. Completely, totally, head over heels in love. I can't explain it. And I swore to myself that the next man I loved would not have any heavy baggage or drama or ex-wives, or current wives. But then you came along with all of the above, and I couldn't help myself."
John Ross pulls Krystina into his lap and looks down at her. "You and me. Together we can build an empire so powerful that nobody'd even dare tryin' to mess with us." John Ross leans down and kisses her.
Southfork.....that night
Bobby, Ann, Christopher, Lucy, Sue Ellen, and Dusty gather in the living room that night for after dinner drinks. While Dusty chats with the others, Bobby and Sue Ellen stand at the bar as Bobby pours Sue Ellen a glass of soda water.
"Thank you, Bobby," she says.
"Sue Ellen, I'm glad you and Dusty could come over for dinner tonight."
"I had a feeling you had something you wanted to talk to me about."
"I do. I haven't made a decision about this just yet. But, how would you feel about owning Ewing Oil again?" Bobby asks.
"Ewing Oil? But Bobby, how? Ewing Oil was sold several years ago."
"I know. But Bill Whitaker came to see me today. He's retiring and he wants to sell off all his company's assets. He still has all the fields that Ewing Oil owned, including all the old ones that Daddy and J.R. opened up. He offered to sell them back to us."
"Thank you, Bobby," she says.
"Sue Ellen, I'm glad you and Dusty could come over for dinner tonight."
"I had a feeling you had something you wanted to talk to me about."
"I do. I haven't made a decision about this just yet. But, how would you feel about owning Ewing Oil again?" Bobby asks.
"Ewing Oil? But Bobby, how? Ewing Oil was sold several years ago."
"I know. But Bill Whitaker came to see me today. He's retiring and he wants to sell off all his company's assets. He still has all the fields that Ewing Oil owned, including all the old ones that Daddy and J.R. opened up. He offered to sell them back to us."
"Bobby that's wonderful," Sue Ellen says. "So you're considering it?"
"I really don't know yet. It would be nice to have Ewing Oil back in the family again. But, I wonder is it worth it? All the stress and the problems and the fights bein' in the oil business has caused this family over the years. Then I get to thinkin' about the next generation. Christopher, and Lucas. Ewing Oil is a legacy that Daddy started that he passed down to J.R. and me. And it was his dream that we pass it down to our sons. Remember how we use to picture John Ross and Christopher running Ewing Oil together someday?"
"Oh, yes."
"I'm just not sure what to do, Sue Ellen," says Bobby. "It's somethin' I'm gonna have to think on for a while."
Meanwhile, across the room, Ann notices Lucy standing alone and seemingly upset about something. Ann walks over to her. "Lucy, is everything alright?"
"Sure. Why?"
"You hardly said a word durin' dinner, and you look like somethin's botherin' you."
"I'm fine, Ann. Really," Lucy says.
Before Ann can say anymore to her, they hear the front door open. A moment later, John Ross walks into the house with Krystina....and a baby. "Well, good eve'nin everybody," John Ross says.
"John Ross," Sue Ellen says.
"Everyone, I would like for you all to meet two people who are very special to me," John Ross says. "This is Krystina Carrington. Krystina, this is my mother, my Uncle Bobby, his wife Ann, and my cousins Christopher and Lucy. Oh, and this is Dusty Farlow, my mother's........well, whatever he is."
"Hello, everyone," Krystina says.
"Miss Carrington," Bobby says.
"John Ross, what's going on?" Sue Ellen asks. "Ms. Carrington, is this your baby?"
"No, Mama," replies John Ross. "I would like for you to meet........your grandson."
Everyone in the room looks at John Ross in shock, then exchange puzzled looks among themselves.
"My......my grandson?" Sue Ellen asks.
"That's right. I recently learned that I was lied to. My son with Elena did not die as she had told me."
"What?" Asks a stunned Christopher.
"That's right, cousin. The woman you were in love with deceived me into believin' my son was stillborn. When I found out the truth, I initiated a custody suit against Elena, and today, the judge granted me custody of my son."
"Why didn't you tell us this?" Christopher asks.
"Because I have learned that, with the total lack of support I get from my fam'ly these days, it's best I do things on my own. And this week, I not only got my son away from a lyin' tramp of a mother, but with Krystina's help, I managed to hold on to my power at Westar."
Sue Ellen walks over to John Ross and looks at the baby in his arms. She smiles.
"Mama, would you like to hold your grandson?"
"Yes, I would," she replies happily. John Ross gently places the baby in her arms. "Oh, he's beautiful."
"He certainly is, John Ross," Ann agrees.
"What's his name?" Sue Ellen asks."Well, Elena had named him after that punk of a brother of hers, Drew. But, I've got a much better name in mind for this little dude. How does.......John Ross Ewing IV sound?"
"John Ross Ewing IV," Sue Ellen repeats. "I like that." As Sue Ellen holds the baby, the others gather around her and admire the beautiful bundle of joy in her arms.
"I really don't know yet. It would be nice to have Ewing Oil back in the family again. But, I wonder is it worth it? All the stress and the problems and the fights bein' in the oil business has caused this family over the years. Then I get to thinkin' about the next generation. Christopher, and Lucas. Ewing Oil is a legacy that Daddy started that he passed down to J.R. and me. And it was his dream that we pass it down to our sons. Remember how we use to picture John Ross and Christopher running Ewing Oil together someday?"
"Oh, yes."
"I'm just not sure what to do, Sue Ellen," says Bobby. "It's somethin' I'm gonna have to think on for a while."
Meanwhile, across the room, Ann notices Lucy standing alone and seemingly upset about something. Ann walks over to her. "Lucy, is everything alright?"
"Sure. Why?"
"You hardly said a word durin' dinner, and you look like somethin's botherin' you."
"I'm fine, Ann. Really," Lucy says.
Before Ann can say anymore to her, they hear the front door open. A moment later, John Ross walks into the house with Krystina....and a baby. "Well, good eve'nin everybody," John Ross says.
"John Ross," Sue Ellen says.
"Everyone, I would like for you all to meet two people who are very special to me," John Ross says. "This is Krystina Carrington. Krystina, this is my mother, my Uncle Bobby, his wife Ann, and my cousins Christopher and Lucy. Oh, and this is Dusty Farlow, my mother's........well, whatever he is."
"Hello, everyone," Krystina says.
"Miss Carrington," Bobby says.
"John Ross, what's going on?" Sue Ellen asks. "Ms. Carrington, is this your baby?"
"No, Mama," replies John Ross. "I would like for you to meet........your grandson."
Everyone in the room looks at John Ross in shock, then exchange puzzled looks among themselves.
"My......my grandson?" Sue Ellen asks.
"That's right. I recently learned that I was lied to. My son with Elena did not die as she had told me."
"What?" Asks a stunned Christopher.
"That's right, cousin. The woman you were in love with deceived me into believin' my son was stillborn. When I found out the truth, I initiated a custody suit against Elena, and today, the judge granted me custody of my son."
"Why didn't you tell us this?" Christopher asks.
"Because I have learned that, with the total lack of support I get from my fam'ly these days, it's best I do things on my own. And this week, I not only got my son away from a lyin' tramp of a mother, but with Krystina's help, I managed to hold on to my power at Westar."
Sue Ellen walks over to John Ross and looks at the baby in his arms. She smiles.
"Mama, would you like to hold your grandson?"
"Yes, I would," she replies happily. John Ross gently places the baby in her arms. "Oh, he's beautiful."
"He certainly is, John Ross," Ann agrees.
"What's his name?" Sue Ellen asks."Well, Elena had named him after that punk of a brother of hers, Drew. But, I've got a much better name in mind for this little dude. How does.......John Ross Ewing IV sound?"
"John Ross Ewing IV," Sue Ellen repeats. "I like that." As Sue Ellen holds the baby, the others gather around her and admire the beautiful bundle of joy in her arms.
Meanwhile.....the Channing mansion
At the Channing mansion that night, in the darkened room that served as baby Drew's nursery, Elena sits alone in a rocking hair cradling a stuffed animal and crying. Michael comes to the door and looks in on her. After a moment's pause, he walks over.
"Elena," he says, kneeling beside her. "Sweetheart, I wish you'd eat something. You haven't had anything all day."
"I don't want anything. Except my baby."
"Elena, I am SO sorry this happened. I'm sorry that my family cost you your baby. But we'll fight this. We can appeal that judge's decision."
"What good will that do?" Elena asks in tears. "I've known John Ross for a long time. He always wins. Somehow, he always wins. And he always wins until somebody stops him."
"Come on, honey. Don't do this to yourself. Come to bed. You need some rest."
"I can't," Elena says. "Michael, I have to go to Dallas."
"What?""I have to go back to Dallas. I have to at least be near my baby."
"Elena....."
"Elena," he says, kneeling beside her. "Sweetheart, I wish you'd eat something. You haven't had anything all day."
"I don't want anything. Except my baby."
"Elena, I am SO sorry this happened. I'm sorry that my family cost you your baby. But we'll fight this. We can appeal that judge's decision."
"What good will that do?" Elena asks in tears. "I've known John Ross for a long time. He always wins. Somehow, he always wins. And he always wins until somebody stops him."
"Come on, honey. Don't do this to yourself. Come to bed. You need some rest."
"I can't," Elena says. "Michael, I have to go to Dallas."
"What?""I have to go back to Dallas. I have to at least be near my baby."
"Elena....."
"Please, Michael. Just leave me alone for now. I need some time by myself. Please."
Michael looks at her for a moment. "Okay." He stands, then leans over and kisses her on the head. "I love you, Elena." Without another word, Michael turns and walks out.
After he's gone, tears begin streaming down Elena's face. "I can't let you keep my baby, John Ross. I can't let you have him and turn him into you. I won't."
Michael looks at her for a moment. "Okay." He stands, then leans over and kisses her on the head. "I love you, Elena." Without another word, Michael turns and walks out.
After he's gone, tears begin streaming down Elena's face. "I can't let you keep my baby, John Ross. I can't let you have him and turn him into you. I won't."
Westar....the next morning
A happy John Ross walks into the front lobby of the Bank Of America Plaza, which houses Westar, the next morning and finds Bum waiting for him.
"Mornin'. John Ross," Bum says.
"Well, good mornin', Bum. I take it that findin' you here this early in the mornin' means you have some good news for me."
"Mornin'. John Ross," Bum says.
"Well, good mornin', Bum. I take it that findin' you here this early in the mornin' means you have some good news for me."
"I do," Bum replies, followed by a pause.
Wentworth Industries.....a short time later
Katherine and Austin are in her office at the new Wentworth Industries offices at The Campbell Center that morning.
"Well, the company looks in great shape," Katherine says, looking over some reports. "But now that it's Wentworth Industries again, I plan to diversify. Get away from.....oil.....and back to the business my father created."
"Sounds good to me."
"I'm so glad to hear you say that. Because there's something I've been wanting to tell you, Austin."
"What's that, Mom?"
Katherine stands from her seat at her desk and walks over to her son. "I want you to run the company."
"You.....you what?"
"I want you to be President of Wentworth Industries," Katherine says.
"I can't believe it. Mom, thank you. Thank you SO much." Austin hugs his mother.
"I think it's time you take up the torch, darling. And of course I'll be here to help you any way I can. While also concentrating on other important matters."
"Such as?"
"Well first......finding a way to get rid of that insufferable Judith Ryland," says Katherine. "The woman actually thinks she's our 'partner' now. What a joke. Judith was simply a means for us to get back our company."
"Well, I'm sure you'll find a way."
As Katherine is about to say something else, her intercom buzzes. She presses the button on the phone on her desk. "Yes?"
"Ms. Wentworth, John Ross Ewing is here to see you," says a female secretary's voice.
"John Ross Ewing?" Katherine asks with a smile. "Thank you. Send Mr. Ewing in. This should be fun."
Austin smiles.
A moment later, John Ross walks in. He pauses for a moment, then closes the door and walks over to mother and son. "Well, well. The rumors are true. Katherine Wentworth is alive and well and back in Dallas. And with her son. Cody, or is it Austin?"
"It's Austin," he says.
"Ms. Wentworth, I don't believe we've ever actually met. I'm John Ross Ewing."
"I know who you are. What do you want here?"
"Simply to congratulate you on your big vic'try over my Uncle Bobby. And to congratulate your son on bein' smart enough to pull the wool over not only my eyes, but those of the most competent private detective I know."
"Well, the company looks in great shape," Katherine says, looking over some reports. "But now that it's Wentworth Industries again, I plan to diversify. Get away from.....oil.....and back to the business my father created."
"Sounds good to me."
"I'm so glad to hear you say that. Because there's something I've been wanting to tell you, Austin."
"What's that, Mom?"
Katherine stands from her seat at her desk and walks over to her son. "I want you to run the company."
"You.....you what?"
"I want you to be President of Wentworth Industries," Katherine says.
"I can't believe it. Mom, thank you. Thank you SO much." Austin hugs his mother.
"I think it's time you take up the torch, darling. And of course I'll be here to help you any way I can. While also concentrating on other important matters."
"Such as?"
"Well first......finding a way to get rid of that insufferable Judith Ryland," says Katherine. "The woman actually thinks she's our 'partner' now. What a joke. Judith was simply a means for us to get back our company."
"Well, I'm sure you'll find a way."
As Katherine is about to say something else, her intercom buzzes. She presses the button on the phone on her desk. "Yes?"
"Ms. Wentworth, John Ross Ewing is here to see you," says a female secretary's voice.
"John Ross Ewing?" Katherine asks with a smile. "Thank you. Send Mr. Ewing in. This should be fun."
Austin smiles.
A moment later, John Ross walks in. He pauses for a moment, then closes the door and walks over to mother and son. "Well, well. The rumors are true. Katherine Wentworth is alive and well and back in Dallas. And with her son. Cody, or is it Austin?"
"It's Austin," he says.
"Ms. Wentworth, I don't believe we've ever actually met. I'm John Ross Ewing."
"I know who you are. What do you want here?"
"Simply to congratulate you on your big vic'try over my Uncle Bobby. And to congratulate your son on bein' smart enough to pull the wool over not only my eyes, but those of the most competent private detective I know."
"Trust me, it wasn't that hard," Austin says smugly.
"You know you sure do look a lot different in a suit and tie than you did workin' as a cowhand on Southfork," John Ross says.
"Just say what you want and get out," Katherine says. "And I know you must want more here than to just 'congratulate us' as you claim."
"You really are a smart lady, Katherine. Mind if I call you Katherine? No wonder my Daddy worked with you so often."
"Look, enough of this bull," says Austin. "What do you want here, John Ross?"
"Just a little cooperation. Maybe Wentworth could throw a little business to Westar every now and then."
"Why would we ever want to do business with you? The son of J.R. Ewing?" Katherine asks.
"Because if you don't, your son here might just be helpin' you run your comp'ny from a prison cell," replies John Ross.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Austin asks.
"You know you sure do look a lot different in a suit and tie than you did workin' as a cowhand on Southfork," John Ross says.
"Just say what you want and get out," Katherine says. "And I know you must want more here than to just 'congratulate us' as you claim."
"You really are a smart lady, Katherine. Mind if I call you Katherine? No wonder my Daddy worked with you so often."
"Look, enough of this bull," says Austin. "What do you want here, John Ross?"
"Just a little cooperation. Maybe Wentworth could throw a little business to Westar every now and then."
"Why would we ever want to do business with you? The son of J.R. Ewing?" Katherine asks.
"Because if you don't, your son here might just be helpin' you run your comp'ny from a prison cell," replies John Ross.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Austin asks.
"The REAL Cody Williams. The guy whose identity you stole so you could come to Southfork, get a job workin' for my fam'ly, and then work with your mama to take Ewing Global away. Cody disappeared about a year or so ago, didn't he? Just disappeared into thin air. Damn shame. Cops just sorta dropped that case, didn't they? Amazin' what a lot of money can get done in a small town. It can even stop the investigation into the possible murder of a 19-year-old kid. Money can also get investigations reopened."
"I had NOTHING to do with Cody Williams's disappearance," Austin says.
"Can you prove that?" John Ross asks.
Katherine smiles. "Are you seriously trying to blackmail my son?"
"Maybe."
"John Ross, you're way out of your league. I was scheming and blackmailing when you were just fresh out of diapers, so don't even go there."
"You may have a few years experience on me, Katherine, but J.R. Ewing was my father. I learned from the best. And right now, since I have this information on the REAL Cody Williams, and with one phone call and a little money thrown around to the right folks, I can easily get the investigation into young Mr. Williams's disappearance reopened, it seems I have the upper hand here. Now, since today is Friday, I'll give y'all the weekend to think about acceptin' my offer of my silence, for a little Wentworth business." John Ross stands and walks to the door, then turns back to Katherine and Austin. "Y'all have a real nice weekend, now." With a smile, John Ross turns and walks out.
"What a little prick," Katherine says angrily. "He's even more despicable than his father."
"Yeah, but he's right about one thing," Austin says. "If he has that investigation reopened.....he could cause us a LOT of trouble. Guess I'm just gonna have to take care of Mr. John Ross Ewing III."
"I had NOTHING to do with Cody Williams's disappearance," Austin says.
"Can you prove that?" John Ross asks.
Katherine smiles. "Are you seriously trying to blackmail my son?"
"Maybe."
"John Ross, you're way out of your league. I was scheming and blackmailing when you were just fresh out of diapers, so don't even go there."
"You may have a few years experience on me, Katherine, but J.R. Ewing was my father. I learned from the best. And right now, since I have this information on the REAL Cody Williams, and with one phone call and a little money thrown around to the right folks, I can easily get the investigation into young Mr. Williams's disappearance reopened, it seems I have the upper hand here. Now, since today is Friday, I'll give y'all the weekend to think about acceptin' my offer of my silence, for a little Wentworth business." John Ross stands and walks to the door, then turns back to Katherine and Austin. "Y'all have a real nice weekend, now." With a smile, John Ross turns and walks out.
"What a little prick," Katherine says angrily. "He's even more despicable than his father."
"Yeah, but he's right about one thing," Austin says. "If he has that investigation reopened.....he could cause us a LOT of trouble. Guess I'm just gonna have to take care of Mr. John Ross Ewing III."
The Channing mansion in California....
Richard Channing walks into the foyer of his home as a frantic Michael comes down the stairs. "Michael, what's wrong?"
"It's Elena."
"What about Elena?" Richard asks.
"She's gone."
"Wait, now what do you mean gone?"
"She's GONE, Dad. She's not here. She slept in the nursery last night, and when I went in there this morning, she was gone. I thought maybe she just took a walk or something on the grounds, but I searched everywhere, and she's not here. And her car's gone."
"Maybe she just drove into town for a while," says Richard.
"No. Dad, I know where she's gone. Because she told me last night. Elena's gone to Dallas, Dad. Look, I have to go after her."
"It's Elena."
"What about Elena?" Richard asks.
"She's gone."
"Wait, now what do you mean gone?"
"She's GONE, Dad. She's not here. She slept in the nursery last night, and when I went in there this morning, she was gone. I thought maybe she just took a walk or something on the grounds, but I searched everywhere, and she's not here. And her car's gone."
"Maybe she just drove into town for a while," says Richard.
"No. Dad, I know where she's gone. Because she told me last night. Elena's gone to Dallas, Dad. Look, I have to go after her."
"Michael, that's ridiculous," Richard says. "You wouldn't even know where to look for her in Dallas."
"I have to try, Dad. Because in Elena's state of mind, there's no telling what she might do. And to be honest, I wouldn't blame her. I feel like strangling John Ross Ewing myself right now."
"I have to try, Dad. Because in Elena's state of mind, there's no telling what she might do. And to be honest, I wouldn't blame her. I feel like strangling John Ross Ewing myself right now."
Smithfield And Bennett....
"Thanks for coming, guys," Jay says, welcoming Bobby and Lucas into his office at Smithfield And Bennett that afternoon.
"It sounded important," Bobby says. "What's up, Jay?"
"I have some good news."
"Well tell me. I sure as hell could use some of that," Lucas says as he and Bobby takes seats across from Jay's desk.
"The DA's office has decided to drop the case against you, Lucas. They sited 'insufficient evidence'."
"How could it be insufficient evidence when the bag of drugs were found in my car?" Lucas asks.
"Hey, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Insufficient evidence is the official reason, but we all know it was because Cody Williams, also known as Austin Wentworth, admitted to Bobby in front of witnesses that he had planted the drugs in your car."
"So what happens now?" Bobby asks. "Does Wentworth get charged in this?"
"Not likely, Bobby."
"It sounded important," Bobby says. "What's up, Jay?"
"I have some good news."
"Well tell me. I sure as hell could use some of that," Lucas says as he and Bobby takes seats across from Jay's desk.
"The DA's office has decided to drop the case against you, Lucas. They sited 'insufficient evidence'."
"How could it be insufficient evidence when the bag of drugs were found in my car?" Lucas asks.
"Hey, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Insufficient evidence is the official reason, but we all know it was because Cody Williams, also known as Austin Wentworth, admitted to Bobby in front of witnesses that he had planted the drugs in your car."
"So what happens now?" Bobby asks. "Does Wentworth get charged in this?"
"Not likely, Bobby."
"And what about John Ross?" Lucas asks. "Is he gonna get charged for setting me up?"
"No, Lucas. There's no proof. All we have is the word of Austin Wentworth, a guy who actually said he planted the drugs while using an assumed name and identity. There's nothing at all on John Ross."
"DAMN IT!" Lucas says, springing to his feet. "So, my cousin just gets away with this? He tries to have me sent to prison or at the very least have me end up on probation with a criminal record, and he's just gonna get away with it?"
"Lucas, the charges against you have been dropped," Jay says. "It's over. You're free. You don't have to worry about this anymore."
"No," Lucas says. "That's where you're wrong, Jay. It's not over. And it will never be over as long as John Ross is allowed to go on ruining peoples' lives. Somebody needs to stop that guy." Lucas walks to the door.
"Son, where are you goin'?" Bobby asks.
"I've gotta get out of here. I need to be alone. You know it's weird. I thought I'd feel happy to hear that these bogus charges had been dropped, but all I feel is anger because John Ross is getting away with doing this to me."
"Lucas...." Bobby calls to him as the young man walks out.
"Bobby, let him go," Jay says. "I think I know how he feels. My cousin Todd feels the same way."
"No, Lucas. There's no proof. All we have is the word of Austin Wentworth, a guy who actually said he planted the drugs while using an assumed name and identity. There's nothing at all on John Ross."
"DAMN IT!" Lucas says, springing to his feet. "So, my cousin just gets away with this? He tries to have me sent to prison or at the very least have me end up on probation with a criminal record, and he's just gonna get away with it?"
"Lucas, the charges against you have been dropped," Jay says. "It's over. You're free. You don't have to worry about this anymore."
"No," Lucas says. "That's where you're wrong, Jay. It's not over. And it will never be over as long as John Ross is allowed to go on ruining peoples' lives. Somebody needs to stop that guy." Lucas walks to the door.
"Son, where are you goin'?" Bobby asks.
"I've gotta get out of here. I need to be alone. You know it's weird. I thought I'd feel happy to hear that these bogus charges had been dropped, but all I feel is anger because John Ross is getting away with doing this to me."
"Lucas...." Bobby calls to him as the young man walks out.
"Bobby, let him go," Jay says. "I think I know how he feels. My cousin Todd feels the same way."
Jay's apartment....
After fixing himself a ham sandwich for an early dinner, Todd walks into the living room of Jay's apartment and sits down on the sofa to eat. He grabs the remote control and switches on the TV, which is on the afternoon news. As he starts to take a bite of his sandwich, a news story about John Ross comes on. Todd listens closely as the female newscaster speaks: "This week's dramatic turn of events at Westar Oil has the entire Dallas oil community talking. In a semi-annual meeting of the company's board of director's and shareholders, John Ross Ewing III stunned the rest of the Westar board when he announced that he had acquired an additional 35% of shares in the company, once again making him Westar's majority shareholder. As a result, Ewing was re-elected to another term as Westar's chief executive officer......"
As a photo of a smiling John Ross is shown on the TV screen while the reporter continues reporting the Westar story, Todd feels the anger and hatred rising inside of him for the man who destroyed his life. Unable to control himself, he quickly hurts his plate at the TV screen, smashing the plate and shattering the screen. "DAMN YOU, EWING!" He says angrily. Todd stands to his feet and paces around. Then for the first time he actually notices that he has destroyed Jay's television. "Oh, God," he says. Then he remembers something. He turns and quickly walks into Jay's bedroom. Making his way to his cousin's dresser and opens the top drawer. Looking down, he sees the gun that Jay always kept in the drawer. The gun that had once belonged to their grandfather, Harv Smithfield.
After a moment's pause, Todd reaches into the drawer and picks up the gun. "John Ross took everything from me," he says quietly to himself. "I've got nothing left to lose. Nothing." Todd reaches back into the drawer and takes some bullets for the gun out of a box. Then he stuffs the gun and the bullets into his pocket and hurries out of the bedroom.
Tripp and Pamela's apartment....evening
Tripp walks into the living room of the condo he now shares with Pamela, and finds her sitting alone, staring blankly at the TV, the same news story as Todd was watching.
"Pamela," Tripp says.
"He did it to me again," Pamela says. "John Ross won again. I don't know how he did it."
"Bastard probably blackmailed and strong armed those shareholders into selling out to him, same as he did before," Tripp says. "We both know that's what John Ross is best at."
"I could've killed him the other day. If I'd had a gun, I probably would have."
"Yeah, me too," Tripp says.
"It's been quite a week," says Pamela. "First, my crazy Aunt Katherine turns up again after more than two and a half decades and takes back the company that the Ewings stole from my father. And now John Ross has sent my dreams of becoming CEO of Westar up in smoke."
"I hate that son of a bitch even more than already did for what he's done to you," Tripp says, walking into the kitchen to get a beer. He opens the refrigerator and takes a bottle of beer out and opens it. "Hey, you want a beer?" He calls to Pamela. She doesn't respond. "Pamela?" Still no reply. Tripp walks into the living room to find his wife gone. "Pamela?" He walks into the bedroom, then the bathroom, with no sign of her. Finally he rushes back through the living room and out the front door of the apartment. Looking down the hall, he sees the elevator doors close. Tripp sighs deeply.
"Pamela," Tripp says.
"He did it to me again," Pamela says. "John Ross won again. I don't know how he did it."
"Bastard probably blackmailed and strong armed those shareholders into selling out to him, same as he did before," Tripp says. "We both know that's what John Ross is best at."
"I could've killed him the other day. If I'd had a gun, I probably would have."
"Yeah, me too," Tripp says.
"It's been quite a week," says Pamela. "First, my crazy Aunt Katherine turns up again after more than two and a half decades and takes back the company that the Ewings stole from my father. And now John Ross has sent my dreams of becoming CEO of Westar up in smoke."
"I hate that son of a bitch even more than already did for what he's done to you," Tripp says, walking into the kitchen to get a beer. He opens the refrigerator and takes a bottle of beer out and opens it. "Hey, you want a beer?" He calls to Pamela. She doesn't respond. "Pamela?" Still no reply. Tripp walks into the living room to find his wife gone. "Pamela?" He walks into the bedroom, then the bathroom, with no sign of her. Finally he rushes back through the living room and out the front door of the apartment. Looking down the hall, he sees the elevator doors close. Tripp sighs deeply.
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital....
Lucy waits alone in an examining room at Texas Presbyterian that evening, a worried look on her face, when Dr. Grant walks in.
"Lucy," she greets.
"Hello, Dr. Grant."
"I have the results of your mammogram."
"So tell me," Lucy says.
"There is definitely a lump in your right breast. It's not a cyst."
"Is it......cancer?"
"Lucy, we won't know until we do a biopsy. I'd very much like to admit you to the hospital tonight, and do a biopsy first thing tomorrow morning. Once we get the result, we can go from there."
"And, what if it's cancer?" Lucy asks, fighting back tears.
"If it turns out to be a malignant tumor, more tests will be done to determine if it's spread. If the cancer is localized, then we can do a simple lumpectomy. If not, then....."
"A mastectomy?"
"Yes."
"Okay," Lucy says. "Let's get this done so we can see what it is."
"I'll go write up the necessary orders and see about getting you a room," Dr. Grant says. She gently touches Lucy's arm, then turns and leaves the room. After she's gone, Lucy breaks down in tears.
"Lucy," she greets.
"Hello, Dr. Grant."
"I have the results of your mammogram."
"So tell me," Lucy says.
"There is definitely a lump in your right breast. It's not a cyst."
"Is it......cancer?"
"Lucy, we won't know until we do a biopsy. I'd very much like to admit you to the hospital tonight, and do a biopsy first thing tomorrow morning. Once we get the result, we can go from there."
"And, what if it's cancer?" Lucy asks, fighting back tears.
"If it turns out to be a malignant tumor, more tests will be done to determine if it's spread. If the cancer is localized, then we can do a simple lumpectomy. If not, then....."
"A mastectomy?"
"Yes."
"Okay," Lucy says. "Let's get this done so we can see what it is."
"I'll go write up the necessary orders and see about getting you a room," Dr. Grant says. She gently touches Lucy's arm, then turns and leaves the room. After she's gone, Lucy breaks down in tears.
Southfork....
Christopher rides his horse out to the edge of one of Southfork's north pastures, one that borders an old dirt road. Bringing the horse to a stop at the end of the pasture, he looks down the old country road, then turns and
looks out across the wide open pasture land that he loves so much. He smiles with satisfaction as he pauses to take in the scenic beauty of Southfork's landscape.
Then he takes off on his horse, heading back toward the house.
A short time later....
Christopher arrives back at the house about twenty minutes later, and as he walks onto the patio he meets Ann coming out of the house.
"Have a nice ride?" She asks.
"I sure did. It's been a while since I got out and really rode the ranch. I'd almost forgotten how beautiful it is."
"Well, your father and I are goin' out to dinner tonight. You wanna join us?"
"Nah, I think I'm gonna see if Lucas wants to hang out. He's been pretty down lately. And I could kinda use some cheerin' up myself."
"This, uh......John Ross bringin' Elena's baby back the other night really threw you for a loop, didn't it?" Ann asks.
Christopher sighs. "Yeah, it did. I just can't believe Elena lied to John Ross like that. I mean, I know he's done some terrible things. But not even John Ross deserves to be lied to that his child is dead. I thought I knew Elena. But after this, I guess I never really knew that woman at all. What kind of person does something like that?"
"I don't know, Christopher. I was pretty shocked by it, too," Ann says as Bobby's car drives up and comes to a stop in the parking area. Ann and Christopher walk out to meet him as he gets out of his car and heads toward the house.
"I was hopin' Lucas would be here," Bobby says.
"No, haven't seen him," says Ann.
"Dad, what's wrong?" Christopher asks.
"We were at Jay's office. Jay called and asked to see me and Lucas, so I met Lucas there. The drug charges have been dropped."
"Well that's great," says Ann.
"Yeah, so what's the problem?" Asks Christopher.
"Lucas was real upset that no charges are gonna be brought against Austin Wenwtorth and John Ross for the set up. He stormed out. I can really understand how he feels. It burns me up knowin' John Ross and Wentworth are gonna get away with this."
"Have a nice ride?" She asks.
"I sure did. It's been a while since I got out and really rode the ranch. I'd almost forgotten how beautiful it is."
"Well, your father and I are goin' out to dinner tonight. You wanna join us?"
"Nah, I think I'm gonna see if Lucas wants to hang out. He's been pretty down lately. And I could kinda use some cheerin' up myself."
"This, uh......John Ross bringin' Elena's baby back the other night really threw you for a loop, didn't it?" Ann asks.
Christopher sighs. "Yeah, it did. I just can't believe Elena lied to John Ross like that. I mean, I know he's done some terrible things. But not even John Ross deserves to be lied to that his child is dead. I thought I knew Elena. But after this, I guess I never really knew that woman at all. What kind of person does something like that?"
"I don't know, Christopher. I was pretty shocked by it, too," Ann says as Bobby's car drives up and comes to a stop in the parking area. Ann and Christopher walk out to meet him as he gets out of his car and heads toward the house.
"I was hopin' Lucas would be here," Bobby says.
"No, haven't seen him," says Ann.
"Dad, what's wrong?" Christopher asks.
"We were at Jay's office. Jay called and asked to see me and Lucas, so I met Lucas there. The drug charges have been dropped."
"Well that's great," says Ann.
"Yeah, so what's the problem?" Asks Christopher.
"Lucas was real upset that no charges are gonna be brought against Austin Wenwtorth and John Ross for the set up. He stormed out. I can really understand how he feels. It burns me up knowin' John Ross and Wentworth are gonna get away with this."
"I understand how he feels, too," Ann says. "I think it would be better for all of us if John Ross just move out of Southfork."
"I feel the same way, honey," Bobby says. "But unfortunately, I don't have the power to kick John Ross out since he owns half of Southfork. I did, however, suggest to him that he find a nice little place on another section of Southfork and build his own house. I doubt he'll listen, though, since he's never listened to anything else I ever said. By the way, Christopher, I'm glad you're here. I wanted to talk to you, and I guess now's as good a time as any to tell you both."
"Tell us what?" Christopher asks.
"I've done a lot of thinking since Bill Whitaker made that offer the other day to sell Ewing Oil's old fields back to us, and.......I've decided to take him up on his offer and get Ewing Oil back up and running again."
Christopher smiles. "Dad, that's great."
"And, if you want, son, you can call Bobby and we'll set up a subsidiary of Ewing Oil to finance a record label."
"Well, I guess our cruise will have to wait," says a disappointed Ann.
"Why?" Christopher asks. "Dad, once you sign the papers with Bill Whitaker to buy Ewing Oil back, Sue Ellen and I can take care of the rest while you're gone."
"You sure, son?"
"Of course. I think we can spare you for a week or so."
"Then it's settled," Ann says. "Bobby, go call Sue Ellen and tell her, then call Bill Whitaker and tell him you accept his offer, and then we'll book that cruise."
Bobby smiles. "That sounds like the best idea I've heard in a long time," he says, putting his arm around Ann.
"Tell us what?" Christopher asks.
"I've done a lot of thinking since Bill Whitaker made that offer the other day to sell Ewing Oil's old fields back to us, and.......I've decided to take him up on his offer and get Ewing Oil back up and running again."
Christopher smiles. "Dad, that's great."
"And, if you want, son, you can call Bobby and we'll set up a subsidiary of Ewing Oil to finance a record label."
"Well, I guess our cruise will have to wait," says a disappointed Ann.
"Why?" Christopher asks. "Dad, once you sign the papers with Bill Whitaker to buy Ewing Oil back, Sue Ellen and I can take care of the rest while you're gone."
"You sure, son?"
"Of course. I think we can spare you for a week or so."
"Then it's settled," Ann says. "Bobby, go call Sue Ellen and tell her, then call Bill Whitaker and tell him you accept his offer, and then we'll book that cruise."
Bobby smiles. "That sounds like the best idea I've heard in a long time," he says, putting his arm around Ann.
The Smithfield Mansion....
As dusk begins to settle over the Smithfield home that evening, Linda sits alone in the living room as the maid, Nancy, picks up a tray from the small table beside Linda.
"Can I get you anything else, Mrs. Baxter?" Nancy asks.
"No, thank you, Nancy. That will be all."
The maid takes the tray and walks out of the room as Linda's brother David walks in. He heads straight for the bar and pours himself a drink. "Sure is quiet around here tonight," he says. "I just checked on Mama. She's asleep already."
"Good. Sleep is probably the best thing for all of us right now. I wish I could sleep."
"All those pills you pop I'm surprised you're not in a constant state of sleep," David cracks. "Where's Dylan?"
"He went out. I don't know. I don't know anything anymore."
The phone rings. "I'll get it in here, Nancy!" David calls to the maid. He walks over to the table and picks up the telephone. "Hello," he says. "This is David Smithfield. What? Damn. When did that happen? Alright, thank you. I'll be right down." David puts the phone down and sighs. "Damn. Great, that's JUST great," he says in a disgusted tone.
"David, what on earth is it?" Linda asks. "Who was that?"
"Can I get you anything else, Mrs. Baxter?" Nancy asks.
"No, thank you, Nancy. That will be all."
The maid takes the tray and walks out of the room as Linda's brother David walks in. He heads straight for the bar and pours himself a drink. "Sure is quiet around here tonight," he says. "I just checked on Mama. She's asleep already."
"Good. Sleep is probably the best thing for all of us right now. I wish I could sleep."
"All those pills you pop I'm surprised you're not in a constant state of sleep," David cracks. "Where's Dylan?"
"He went out. I don't know. I don't know anything anymore."
The phone rings. "I'll get it in here, Nancy!" David calls to the maid. He walks over to the table and picks up the telephone. "Hello," he says. "This is David Smithfield. What? Damn. When did that happen? Alright, thank you. I'll be right down." David puts the phone down and sighs. "Damn. Great, that's JUST great," he says in a disgusted tone.
"David, what on earth is it?" Linda asks. "Who was that?"
"That was the police," David replies. "A little while ago, John was complaining of chest pains, so they took him out to the hospital for some tests, and guess what......he ESCAPED, sis."
"What?" Linda asks, standing from her seat. "John......"
"Yep, he escaped from police custody. As if things weren't already bad enough for this family, he has to go and pull this crap!"
Linda looks at her brother with worry.
"What?" Linda asks, standing from her seat. "John......"
"Yep, he escaped from police custody. As if things weren't already bad enough for this family, he has to go and pull this crap!"
Linda looks at her brother with worry.
A Coffee Shop In Dallas...
Conner Ewing walks into a small coffee shop in downtown Dallas that night and looks around. When he spots the person he's here to meet, he walks over to their table.
"Hi," Conner says.
"Hello. Thanks for coming," Dylan Baxter says. "Would you sit down?"
After a brief pause, Conner takes a seat across from Dylan. "I was really surprised when you called and asked me to meet you. How'd you get my number?"
"It wasn't hard," replies Dylan. "It was actually on your Facebook page."
"Oh yeah. I forgot I had it on there."
"I just wanted to meet you. To see what you looked like. What you ARE like."
"Hi," Conner says.
"Hello. Thanks for coming," Dylan Baxter says. "Would you sit down?"
After a brief pause, Conner takes a seat across from Dylan. "I was really surprised when you called and asked me to meet you. How'd you get my number?"
"It wasn't hard," replies Dylan. "It was actually on your Facebook page."
"Oh yeah. I forgot I had it on there."
"I just wanted to meet you. To see what you looked like. What you ARE like."
"Yeah, I have to admit I've been pretty curious about you, too, since I found out," Conner says.
Dylan looks at his new found half-brother for a moment. "I'm so sorry," he says, fighting back. "For what my Dad did. God, feels so weird calling him Dad now, since he wasn't."
"Dylan, you don't have anything to be sorry for. You're not to blame for what John Baxter did."
Dylan looks at his new found half-brother for a moment. "I'm so sorry," he says, fighting back. "For what my Dad did. God, feels so weird calling him Dad now, since he wasn't."
"Dylan, you don't have anything to be sorry for. You're not to blame for what John Baxter did."
Dylan looks across the table at him for a moment. "I can't even imagine what it was like, losing your Dad like that," he says.
"It's been rough," Conner say. "You know, you look a lot like him. From pictures I've seen of him when he was young. You have a lot of the same features."
"What was he like?" Dylan asks as his cell phone rings. He takes the phone from his pocket and looks at the caller ID. "It's my Mom. Hold on," he says, answering the phone. "Mom?" Dylan listens intently for a few seconds as his mother relays to him the news about John. "What? Oh my God. Yeah. Okay, I'll be right home. Yeah, I'll be careful. I'll try to call Todd." Dylan puts the phone back into his pocket.
"What's wrong?" Conner asks.
"My Dad.......he.......he's escaped."
"Escaped?"
"Yeah. Dude, I gotta go." Dylan quickly gets up and leaves as Conner sits there, his mouth open in shock after hearing the news that his father's killer has escaped and is at large.
Meanwhile, as Dylan rushes out of the coffee house, he almost runs into Melissa Davis, John Ross's former secretary, whom John Ross had ordered to leave town days earlier. Melissa walks over to the counter and takes a seat.
"Well, hey, Melissa," says the young man at the counter.
"Hi, Charlie."
"What can I get for ya?"
"Just a small cappuccino," Melissa replies.
"Coming right up." Charlie grabs a cup and starts to make the cappuccino. "So, Melissa, where ya been? I aint seen you in here in about a week or so."
"It's been rough," Conner say. "You know, you look a lot like him. From pictures I've seen of him when he was young. You have a lot of the same features."
"What was he like?" Dylan asks as his cell phone rings. He takes the phone from his pocket and looks at the caller ID. "It's my Mom. Hold on," he says, answering the phone. "Mom?" Dylan listens intently for a few seconds as his mother relays to him the news about John. "What? Oh my God. Yeah. Okay, I'll be right home. Yeah, I'll be careful. I'll try to call Todd." Dylan puts the phone back into his pocket.
"What's wrong?" Conner asks.
"My Dad.......he.......he's escaped."
"Escaped?"
"Yeah. Dude, I gotta go." Dylan quickly gets up and leaves as Conner sits there, his mouth open in shock after hearing the news that his father's killer has escaped and is at large.
Meanwhile, as Dylan rushes out of the coffee house, he almost runs into Melissa Davis, John Ross's former secretary, whom John Ross had ordered to leave town days earlier. Melissa walks over to the counter and takes a seat.
"Well, hey, Melissa," says the young man at the counter.
"Hi, Charlie."
"What can I get for ya?"
"Just a small cappuccino," Melissa replies.
"Coming right up." Charlie grabs a cup and starts to make the cappuccino. "So, Melissa, where ya been? I aint seen you in here in about a week or so."
"I've been out of town , Charlie," she says.
"Oh? Back for good now?"
"No. I just came back to take care of some unfinished business, and then......I'll be leaving Dallas for good."
"Oh? Back for good now?"
"No. I just came back to take care of some unfinished business, and then......I'll be leaving Dallas for good."
Southfork....
Alex is waiting at the gazebo at Southfork when Ashley walks up to him.
"Alex?" She calls.
He turns and looks at her. "Hey, I wasn't sure you got my text, or if you were coming."
"I just got it. We were having dinner. What's up? How'd you get over here?"
"Rode my bike," Alex replies. "I parked it down the driveway, out of the way. Ash, I just came to tell you that...... that I'm running away."
"Running away? Alex. why?"
"I just can't take it over there anymore. My Mom is always on my case about something, and Lucas is pissed off at the world all the time. And my Grandma......lately she's drunk most of the time, and since Grandpa Ray moved out it's like, everything is coming apart."
"Where will you go?"
"No idea. Just......away from here."
"Come stay at Southfork then," Ashley says.
"Are you kidding? With John Ross here? No way. I'm getting out of here, Ash."
"Alex, please, don't. I don't want you to go."
"Alex?" She calls.
He turns and looks at her. "Hey, I wasn't sure you got my text, or if you were coming."
"I just got it. We were having dinner. What's up? How'd you get over here?"
"Rode my bike," Alex replies. "I parked it down the driveway, out of the way. Ash, I just came to tell you that...... that I'm running away."
"Running away? Alex. why?"
"I just can't take it over there anymore. My Mom is always on my case about something, and Lucas is pissed off at the world all the time. And my Grandma......lately she's drunk most of the time, and since Grandpa Ray moved out it's like, everything is coming apart."
"Where will you go?"
"No idea. Just......away from here."
"Come stay at Southfork then," Ashley says.
"Are you kidding? With John Ross here? No way. I'm getting out of here, Ash."
"Alex, please, don't. I don't want you to go."
"Then come with me," Alex says. "We can go far away from here."
"Alex, that's crazy. We're fifteen-years-old and neither of us has a license. How far would we get on two bikes?"
"Then.......we'll take one of the ranch trucks. At least til we get far away from here, then we'll ditch it. I know where they're parked, and where there are spare keys. I have my learners permit and I know how to drive."
"Alex, we can't."
Alex walks over to her and takes the girl's hand. "Ashley, please. I love you, and I don't care that we're cousins. I love you and I wanna be with you, and I know you still love me, too."
"Alex, that's crazy. We're fifteen-years-old and neither of us has a license. How far would we get on two bikes?"
"Then.......we'll take one of the ranch trucks. At least til we get far away from here, then we'll ditch it. I know where they're parked, and where there are spare keys. I have my learners permit and I know how to drive."
"Alex, we can't."
Alex walks over to her and takes the girl's hand. "Ashley, please. I love you, and I don't care that we're cousins. I love you and I wanna be with you, and I know you still love me, too."
"You're right, I do," Ashley says as she starts to cry.
"Then let's do this. It'll be okay. We'll go somewhere nobody knows us. We'll lie about our age. I'll get a job. We'll be okay. I've got some money, too. Enough money to get us away from here and somewhere we can be together."
Ashley nods.
"You go get some things together. I'll go get one of the trucks, and I'll meet out by the front gate in twenty minutes."
"Okay," she says.
Alex kisses her, then runs off toward the driveway as Ashley watches. Once he's out of sight, she turns and heads back toward the cottage.
"Then let's do this. It'll be okay. We'll go somewhere nobody knows us. We'll lie about our age. I'll get a job. We'll be okay. I've got some money, too. Enough money to get us away from here and somewhere we can be together."
Ashley nods.
"You go get some things together. I'll go get one of the trucks, and I'll meet out by the front gate in twenty minutes."
"Okay," she says.
Alex kisses her, then runs off toward the driveway as Ashley watches. Once he's out of sight, she turns and heads back toward the cottage.
Downtown Dallas.....
Lucas sits in a car in a parking lot across the street from the Bank Of America Plaza, which houses Westar. He has a bottle of bourbon in the car. He takes a sip of the bourbon and then looks up at the tall building across the street. Westar. John Ross's company. His cousin. The cousin who tried to frame him for drug possession. John Ross, the man he hates more than anyone else in the entire world. Lucas is wearing a pair of dark glasses. He takes them off, then wipes tears from his eyes as he thinks about what John Ross did to him, and the fact that he is getting away with it.
Meanwhile....
John Ross is in his office finishing up some work when his cell phone rings. He picks it up from the desk and answers. "Hey, darlin'," he says with a smile.
"Hey, yourself," Krystina says, talking on her phone as she drives down a Dallas street. "I'm heading in your direction, and should be there in maybe five to seven minutes. And the baby is in good hands. Your Mom agreed to sit for him tonight."
"Hey, yourself," Krystina says, talking on her phone as she drives down a Dallas street. "I'm heading in your direction, and should be there in maybe five to seven minutes. And the baby is in good hands. Your Mom agreed to sit for him tonight."
"I knew she would," John Ross says. "It'll give her a chance to get to know her grandson a little. Listen, darlin', I'm gonna head on down, and I'll meet you in the parkin' garage, level three, in, say, five minutes?"
"See you in five minutes," Krystina says.
John Ross ends the call, puts his phone in his jacket pocket and stands. He shuts off his computer, grabs his brief case, and after shutting off the lights in his office, he walks out.
"See you in five minutes," Krystina says.
John Ross ends the call, puts his phone in his jacket pocket and stands. He shuts off his computer, grabs his brief case, and after shutting off the lights in his office, he walks out.
Downstairs.....a few minutes later
In the parking garage downstairs, Todd stands partially hidden from one of the columns holding up the roof. Having seen John Ross's car in the garage, he is waiting for John Ross to come down. Todd slips his hand into his pocket and fondles the gun he brought with him. At that moment, he hears an elevator open nearby. As he watches intently, he sees John Ross get off the elevator and begin walking in the direction of his car near the end of the parking area. Todd pulls the gun from his pocket and points it at John Ross's back. Then he is startled by the sound of John Ross's phone ringing. John Ross pauses, takes the phone from his pocket, and talks to the person on the other end of the line. Todd points the gun and takes aim directly at John Ross's back as he stands in the middle of the parking garage, talking on his phone. Todd's hand begins to tremble. Unable to hold the gun steady, Todd breaks out into a cold sweat and begins to cry. He lowers the gun, then quickly runs off. A moment later, Todd gets into his car, where he breaks down in tears. He slams the car door shut and starts the motor.
As he ends his phone conversation and puts his phone back into his jacket pocket, he hears the sound of Todd's car door slam, and the engine start. Thinking nothing of it, he turns and begins slowly walking toward his own car. Suddenly, the sound of screeching tires can be heard from behind him. John Ross turns around to see a car headed straight for him, the lights of which temporarily make him unable to see. Before he is able to react, the car comes directly at John Ross and hits him, the force of which sends him hurdling over the car's hood and over the driver's side of the car. John Ross is thrown violently onto the concrete floor of the parking garage., his head and face bloody from the impact. The car quickly comes to a screeching stop as it rounds a corner. Someone gets out of the car and looks back at John Ross, then gets back in, and speeds off, tires screeching as John Ross lies unconscious and motionless, facedown in the middle of the parking garage!!!
As he ends his phone conversation and puts his phone back into his jacket pocket, he hears the sound of Todd's car door slam, and the engine start. Thinking nothing of it, he turns and begins slowly walking toward his own car. Suddenly, the sound of screeching tires can be heard from behind him. John Ross turns around to see a car headed straight for him, the lights of which temporarily make him unable to see. Before he is able to react, the car comes directly at John Ross and hits him, the force of which sends him hurdling over the car's hood and over the driver's side of the car. John Ross is thrown violently onto the concrete floor of the parking garage., his head and face bloody from the impact. The car quickly comes to a screeching stop as it rounds a corner. Someone gets out of the car and looks back at John Ross, then gets back in, and speeds off, tires screeching as John Ross lies unconscious and motionless, facedown in the middle of the parking garage!!!
Meanwhile....Braddock Road
Alex and Ashley are driving down the darkened Braddock Road in a truck they stole from Southfork. Alex looks in his rear view mirror, then puts his eyes back on the long stretch of road ahead of them.
"Do you think we're doing the right thing?" Ashley asks.
"Ash, I KNOW we are. Do you love me?"
"Alex, you know I do."
"Then.......we're doing the right thing," Alex says. "Because I love you, too, and you know if we stayed they wouldn't let us be together. Look, we'll be okay. I love you, Ashley."
"I love you, too," Ashley says, reaching over and taking his hand.
"Are you scared?" Alex asks.
"A little. But I know as long as I'm with you, everything will be okay."
Alex looks over at her and smiles. Suddenly, as Ashley looks back at the road, she sees an animal crossing the road.
"ALEX, LOOK OUT!" She screams.
Alex quickly looks forward and seeing what appears to be a dog running across the road just as they drive onto a bridge, Alex jerks the steering wheel, causing him to lose control of the large pickup truck. As Ashley screams, Alex struggles to get the truck under control. Just then, headlights coming directly for them. Alex again jerks the wheel to the right.
ALEX!!!!!" Ashley screams.......
"Do you think we're doing the right thing?" Ashley asks.
"Ash, I KNOW we are. Do you love me?"
"Alex, you know I do."
"Then.......we're doing the right thing," Alex says. "Because I love you, too, and you know if we stayed they wouldn't let us be together. Look, we'll be okay. I love you, Ashley."
"I love you, too," Ashley says, reaching over and taking his hand.
"Are you scared?" Alex asks.
"A little. But I know as long as I'm with you, everything will be okay."
Alex looks over at her and smiles. Suddenly, as Ashley looks back at the road, she sees an animal crossing the road.
"ALEX, LOOK OUT!" She screams.
Alex quickly looks forward and seeing what appears to be a dog running across the road just as they drive onto a bridge, Alex jerks the steering wheel, causing him to lose control of the large pickup truck. As Ashley screams, Alex struggles to get the truck under control. Just then, headlights coming directly for them. Alex again jerks the wheel to the right.
ALEX!!!!!" Ashley screams.......
As Ashley and Alex both let out blood-curdling screams, the trick crashes through the guard rail over the side of the bridge, and plunges more than twenty feet into the Trinity River below! Stunned but conscious, Ashley realizes that they have crashed into the river. She looks over and sees that Alex is unconscious, his head resting on the seat, his air bag deployed.
"Alex," she cries. She touches his face and realizes that he has a large cut on his head that's bleeding badly. "Alex!! Oh my God, Alex, wake up!" She shakes him but he doesn't respond. Then, Ashley realizes that the truck is sinking into the river. "Oh no," she cries. "OH MY GOD! HELP! HEEEELLPPP!!!" She screams. She manages to get her seat belt unbuckled, but Alex's seat belt is stuck. "HEEEELLLPPP!!! SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP UP!!! The girl screams as the truck becomes completely submerged and goes under.....
"Alex," she cries. She touches his face and realizes that he has a large cut on his head that's bleeding badly. "Alex!! Oh my God, Alex, wake up!" She shakes him but he doesn't respond. Then, Ashley realizes that the truck is sinking into the river. "Oh no," she cries. "OH MY GOD! HELP! HEEEELLPPP!!!" She screams. She manages to get her seat belt unbuckled, but Alex's seat belt is stuck. "HEEEELLLPPP!!! SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP UP!!! The girl screams as the truck becomes completely submerged and goes under.....
Westar....the parking garage
As John Ross lays unconscious on the ground of the parking garage, Krystina drives her car in. As she nears the area where John Ross told her earlier he was parked, she looks over and sees him lying face down. Bringing her car to a quick stop, she jumps out and runs over to him.
"John Ross!" She calls to him. Kneeling beside him, Krystina turns him over onto his back and sees that he's hurt very badly. She gasps in horror. "John Ross, oh God," she says, beginning to cry. "John Ross." She places her head on his chest to listen for a heartbeat. "No, no. John Ross, please. Please don't leave me." She quickly runs back to her car, grabs her cell phone, then runs back over to him and dials 911. After the first ring, a dispatcher answers. "Yes, I need an ambulance. The parking garage at the Bank Of America Plaza. Yes. Please, hurry. Someone has been hurt very badly." Krsytina tosses her cell phone to the ground, then gently cradles John Ross's head in her lap as she cries. "John Ross, please......please be okay. God, please don't let him die...."
"John Ross!" She calls to him. Kneeling beside him, Krystina turns him over onto his back and sees that he's hurt very badly. She gasps in horror. "John Ross, oh God," she says, beginning to cry. "John Ross." She places her head on his chest to listen for a heartbeat. "No, no. John Ross, please. Please don't leave me." She quickly runs back to her car, grabs her cell phone, then runs back over to him and dials 911. After the first ring, a dispatcher answers. "Yes, I need an ambulance. The parking garage at the Bank Of America Plaza. Yes. Please, hurry. Someone has been hurt very badly." Krsytina tosses her cell phone to the ground, then gently cradles John Ross's head in her lap as she cries. "John Ross, please......please be okay. God, please don't let him die...."