A luxury hotel in a city somewhere....night
"Better eat up," George says. "It's really good. Especially the shrimp."
"I'm not hungry," says an angry Christopher.
George puts all of his dinner trash into the large plastic bag he'd brought the dinner back in. "Look, Christopher, I understand how hard this is for you. How hard it is to have all your family and loved ones believing your dead. And believe me, if there was any other way, we wouldn't have to do this. But it's imperative that you lay low and remain dead until Nicolas Trevino and all the other members of the Mendez-Ochoa Cartel have been apprehended."
"And just how long do you figure that'll take?"
"I can't answer that. But if you go back to Dallas, and if Trevino finds out you're alive, then he'll likely try to have you killed again, in which case he might succeed the second time, and all our efforts will have been in vain."
"Elena's fine," replies George. "She's in Mexico City in a very safe location. I have my men watching her around the clock in case Trevino tries contacting her."
Christopher stands to his feet and walks across the room, then turns back to George. "I wanna see her."
"That's not possible."
"This isn't negotiable, Tatangelo. I wanna see Elena."
George stands and faces him. "Are you really that dense?" He asks angrily. "This whole thing is for YOUR protection. Trevino tried to kill you, Christopher. If we hadn't had a guy in the cartel working for us, then we wouldn't have known what they were planning and you would've died in that car. If they find out you're alive now, you won't last more than a couple of days."
Unable to control his anger, Christopher slams his fist into the wall. "DAMN IT!" He yells. "I can't take this much longer. Like I said earlier, I'm givin' you just two weeks, George. TWO weeks. Then, if I have to, I'll volunteer to act as bait to draw Trevino and his men out of hiding." Christopher walks into the bathroom and slams the door.
Dallas....the next morning
"Yes, thank you," Sue Ellen replies with a smile. The waitress pours her another cup, then walks away. As Sue Ellen takes a sip, she sees Pamela walk into the cafe.
Spotting Sue Ellen, Pamela walks over to her table. "Sorry I'm late," Pamela says coldly. "I have a very busy day ahead of me, so what was it you wanted to see me about?"
"Sit down," Sue Ellen says. Pamela takes a seat across from her. "Pamela, I know the last time we spoke, it didn't go very well. I wanted to apologize for the things I said, and hope that we can make things right between us."
"Why?"
"Why? Because we're still family."
"In name only, Sue Ellen," says Pamela.
"I've always liked you, Pamela. And I really don't want us to be enemies."
"I didn't create this enmity, Sue Ellen. You and Bobby did when you stole what was rightfully mine."
"Rightfully yours?" Sue Ellen asks.
"Yes," replies Pamela. "The company that my father built from the ground up. My birthright. It was supposed to have been MINE. BARNES Global. Not Ewing Global."
"I'm sorry. But what Bobby and I did was business. It had nothing to do with you personally. With all the power struggles between you and John Ross, and Cliff, Bobby and I did what we had to do in order to save that company."
Pamela shakes her head. "You can justify thievery all you want, Sue Ellen. But that doesn't change anything. You took from me what was my family's legacy, just as Jock Ewing did to my grandfather, and J.R. did to my father. And you WON'T get away with it. We will get that company back."
"We?" Sue Ellen asks.
"Yes. My father and I."
Sue Ellen looks at the young woman with astonishment. "You have got to be kidding me. You're teaming up with Cliff after what he did to you?"
"To get back what is rightfully mine, I'd team up with the devil himself."
"Cliff murdered your babies. The Ewings have never done anything that evil and twisted to you."
Pamela leans forward and looks her mother-in-law in the eye. "John Ross destroyed me, Sue Ellen. I loved your son and he killed that. You and Bobby stole my birthright. What the Ewings did to me is no less evil than what my father has done."
"You're a very confused, deluded girl, Pamela," says Sue Ellen. "And you're sadly mistaken if you think we're going to just sit back and let you and Cliff take our company. I tried my best to make peace and stop a war between the Ewings and you. But if you want a war, you'd better be prepared to fight hard, and lose."
Pamela stands from her seat. "We will fight. Just as hard as we have to. And we won't be the ones who lose." Pamela angrily turns and walks out of the cafe. After she's gone, Sue Ellen's hands begin to shake as she fights the urge to want a drink.
Forest Park Medical Center
"Hello," he says.
"Hello, Cliff. Where are you goin'?" Ann asks.
"Well, they're letting me out of this place this morning, and I just wanted to stop by and see Emma before I left."
"Emma's been through a lot and she's restin'."
"I'm sorry....but no. Look, I really appreciate what you did for Emma. And I can never repay you for savin' my daughter's life. But I can't let you see her."
"Emma's my daughter. I'd like to get to know her."
"No, Cliff, that's not gonna happen. Emma still thinks Harris is her father, and that's the way it's gonna stay."
"I don't believe this," Cliff says. "I have a right to see and get to know my own daughter."
"As far as Emma's concerned, you have no rights," says Ann. "You happen to be Emma's father only through an accident of biology. One night you and I spent together years ago. A night you didn't even remember."
"Ann, look....."
"No, Cliff, YOU look. As I said, I will always be grateful to you for donating a kidney to Emma. But that doesn't give you the right to have any part of her life, or to disrupt her life. You're out of prison, so just get on with your life."
Cliff hesitates a moment, then nods his head. "Oh, I will get on with my life. And part of getting on with my life will be destroying the Ewings for everything they did to me. I will get back my company. And, despite what you say, I plan to get to know my new daughter."
Ann moves closer to Cliff's face. "You listen to me. If I catch you anywhere near my daughter, you're gonna wish you were back rotting in that Mexican prison."
Cliff looks at her for a moment, then turns and walks slowly away as Ann watches him, worried about how she's going to keep this man away from her daughter, and how Emma will deal with learning the truth that Cliff is her father and not Harris.
Ewing Global...
"Sue Ellen, is everything okay?" Bobby asks.
She turns to look at him. "Not really."
Bobby walks in and closes the door. "What's goin' on?"
"I met with Pamela this morning," Sue Ellen replies. "I thought maybe I could talk to her and make peace. But you were right. She's teaming up with Cliff against us."
Bobby sighs. "That's what I was afraid of. Cliff Barnes could cause a whole lot of trouble for us. And unfortunately, that's not all of our worries."
"I'm almost afraid to ask."
"I just got a call from Phil Jacobs, the president of Foskey International. They've decided to sell their cold weather drilling technology to Westar instead of Ewing Global."
Sue Ellen is dumbfounded for a moment as she looks at Bobby and tries to process the news he's just given her. She lets out a deep breath, then walks over and takes a seat at her desk. "So, we lose our first battle with Westar."
"I'm afraid so," Bobby says.
Sue Ellen nods. "Cliff and Pamela. Westar. Carter McKay maybe coming to Dallas. I feel like we're being attacked from all sides."
"Yeah, me too. Seems that no matter how much time passes and how much everything changes, the Ewings are always fighting the same old battles with the same old enemies."
"So, what'll we do?" Sue Ellen asks.
Bobby walks over to her desk. "We keep fighting, just like always. No Ewing has ever given up, or let an enemy get the better of us. And we're sure as hell not gonna start now with the likes of Cliff Barnes, Westar, or McKay."
Sue Ellen looks at him with a smile. "Thank you, Bobby. I really needed to hear that."
"Just remember what Mama once said. "We're Ewings. We stick together, and that's what makes us unbeatable." Bobby smiles at her. "I'll talk to you at lunch."
"All right," Sue Ellen replies. Bobby leaves the office.
Westar Oil...
"Nothin' that can't wait. What's up?"
"I have some awesome news. I just got off the phone with Phil Jacobs. We have a deal with Foskey International."
John Ross smiles. "Well, that is great news," he says, standing.
"I just made my first big deal as CEO of Westar, and I owe it all to you," Jillian says. "I couldn't have done it without you, John Ross. This deal is actually YOURS. Not mine."
"Hey, I didn't do anything," says John Ross.
"Yes you did, so stop being modest," Jillian says, moving closer to him. "And to show my appreciation, how about I make you a home cooked meal tonight?"
"You mean you actually know how to cook?"
Jillian laughs. "Of course I know how to cook. What do you think I am, some spoiled rich girl who doesn't know how to fend for herself and relies on servants to do everything?"
"Well, you can let it UN-cross your mind, because I happen to be a very good cook. So how about it? Dinner tonight at my place? 8?"
"Okay. Dinner at your place at 8. Can't wait to see if you're as good a cook as you make out to be."
"Trust me, I won't disappoint," Jillian says. "And I've had lunch with you enough to know some of the foods you like. Anyway, I have to get back to work. I have a meeting with our financial adviser in fifteen minutes to discuss our deal with Foskey. I'll see you later. Tonight at 8 if not before."
"You bet," says John Ross. Jill flashes a flirty smile at him, then walks out, closing his door behind. John Ross walks back to his desk and takes a seat. He unlocks the bottom drawer, opens it, reaches in, and takes out a file. Opening the file, he looks at it and sighs. It's a file Bum had given him with a list of the Westar board members and the largest stock holders, complete with information Bum had been compiling on each one. John Ross smiles, puts the file back in the bottom drawer, and locks it again, confident his plan will soon come to completion.
Forest Park Medical Center...
Harris opens the door. He's carrying a bouquet of yellow roses. "Hey, sweetheart," he says. "Feelin' up to a visit from your old man?"
"Hi, Daddy. Come in."
Harris walks in. "Brought ya some flowers, sweetheart."
"Thank you. They're beautiful."
"You always did love yella roses." He takes a seat at her bedside. "How ya feelin', Emma?"
"Fine. Still sore. Where've you been? And why hasn't Grandma been in to see me?"
"You needed your rest," Harris replies. "And your Grandma knows how Ann feels about her, so she didn't wanna start anything. But we both been real worried and upset about you."
"Emma, sweetheart, things are just real complicated right now," Harris says.
"Complicated how? You're not making any sense."
Harris lets out a deep breath. "It's hard to explain, sweetheart. But just know that I love you with all my heart. So does your Grandma. She's had a real hard time facin' you since you came back from Mexico. She blames herself partly for what happened to you. And so do I."
"I was so angry with you. With you both," Emma says. "I blamed you, too. Because you never told us you were working for the CIA. And Grandma, she's always been so money and power hungry. But lying here in this hospital, I've been doing a lot of thinking. And what happened to me is just as much my fault as yours. If I hadn't gotten involved with Luis in the first place, I wouldn't have been in that mess."
Harris reaches out and touches her hand. "I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to you. And I want you to know that, whatever happens, I'll always love you, sweetheart."
"Whatever happens?" Emma asks. "What do you mean by that?"
Before Harris can answer, Ann walks in. She stops in the doorway when she sees Harris, an annoyed look on her face.
Harris stands. "Hello, Ann," he says.
"Harris," Ann replies coldly. Emma looks from her mother to her father, wondering why there seems to be this newfound anger between them.
Harris turns back to Emma. "I love you, sweetheart. I'll be back to see you later." He leans down and kisses Emma on the head, then leaves without saying another word to her or Ann.
"What's going on between you two?" Emma asks.
"What do you mean?"
"You and Daddy were getting along so much better before my accident, and now, you looked at him like you could kill him."
Jillian's apartment.....that night
"What kinda information?" John Ross asks. "And Bum, I hope this is good."
"Oh, it is. Seems when Hargrove was in college, he was involved in a date rape scandal. His family used their money and influence to pay off the girl's family not to press charges. But that's not the only time that happened. There were two more girls after that first one. Ol' Dan seemed to have some sort of fetish for forcin' himself on young college girls. And every time his Daddy paid off the families of the girl's involved."
"Will do, John Ross."
John Ross says ends the call with a smile, places his phone back in his pocket, and rings Jillian's doorbell.
After a moment, Jillian opens the door, dressed in a lovely red evening gown. "Well, good evening. Come in."
"Thanks," John Ross says, walking in. Jillian closes the door as John Ross looks around the elegant apartment. "Nice place," he says,
"Thank you. It's nice and comfy. Suits my needs very well."
John Ross takes in a breath. "Hmmmm, somethin' smells real good."
Jillian smiles. "I'm sure you'll like it. It's chicken and rice, pork chops, and for desert, pecan pie."
"I love chicken and rice, and pork chops," says John Ross.
"So do I."
"Something we have in common," Jillian says.
Forest Park Medical Center....
"Lucas," Bobby says.
"Hi. What are you doing here?"
Bobby comes into the room and closes the door behind him. "I came to see how you're doin'. I talked to Ray and he said they're lettin' you out of here tomorrow morning."
"That's right. Just packin' my things. I'm ready to get out of this place."
"How's your wrist feel?" Bobby asks.
"Hurts a little. But it'll be okay," Lucas replies, unable to look Bobby in the face.
Bobby walks over to him. "Lucas, I'm so sorry, son. Sorry this happened. Sorry for the truth that Ray, Jenna, and I kept from you all your life."
Lucas turns his back to Bobby, pauses a moment, then walks to the window and looks out, his back still to his biological father.
Bobby continues. "I just want you to know that I've always loved you. So many times over the years I've regretted the decision I made when you were a baby. I've wondered if it was the right decision. But you had a good life with Ray and your mama. And that's the one thing I don't regret."
"Of course it did. It still does."
Lucas looks at him for a moment. "How can you stand there and say I counted for anything in your life? You adopted a son. You loved and raised him. But your own biological son? You give him away to your brother to raise! What the hell kind of a father does that?"
"I know you're angry," Bobby says. "And you have every right to be. But when I agreed to let Ray raise you as his own, it was very difficult time in my life. It wasn't long after I lost Pam, and I was not in a good place emotionally. I had also gone through a very trying time with Christopher."
Lucas nods his head. "I get it. I would've just been in the way. Another distraction."
"That's not true, son."
"STOP calling me that!" Lucas yells. "I stopped being your son the minute you gave me away. I don't wanna hear any of your excuses about why you did it. Because I don't care. Maybe you weren't in any condition to be a father to both me and Christopher at the time. But what about later? What about all the years I grew up thinking Ray was my father? All the years I called him Dad while Christopher was growing up in your house? You had twenty-six years to tell me the truth. All three of you did, but you continued to let me believe a lie. And then I had to find out in the worst way possible. Just get out. I don't wanna see you. I don't ever wanna see you again."
A look of intense emotional pain comes across Bobby's face as he hears his son's angry words. He turns, opens the door, and starts to leave. He pauses and turns back to the young man. "You can hate me all you want. But that doesn't change the fact that I AM your father. And I will always love you. Whether you believe that or not." Bobby leaves. Lucas starts to cry, confused about his identity, his future, and his entire life.
Back at Jillian's apartment....
Jillian laughs. "Thank you. I'll have to have you over some day when I make my awesome chilli. It's my other specialty."
"Chilli. That sure brings back some memories."
"Memories of what? Your childhood?" Jillian asks.
"Uh-huh," replies John Ross. "Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, could make chilli the way my grandmother could. She had her own special recipe and people use to come from all around for a taste of Miss Ellie's famous Texas chilli. It was always a favorite at all the Ewing barbecues every year."
"Your grandmother sounds like a remarkable woman."
The smile disappears from John Ross's face. "She was. She was one of the most influential people in my life when I was a kid. I miss her."
"Your family was very close?"
"Yeah. Well, use to be. Things kinda fell apart there. I miss the old days. Big ol' family dinners in the dinin' room at Southfork. My Grandma and her second husband, Clayton Farlow. My parents. Uncle Bobby and Aunt Pam. My cousin Christopher. Cousin Lucy. And sometimes my Uncle Ray and Aunt Donna. And there were a various array of other relatives that came and went over the years. But those were the ones I remember most."
"Sounds like you had a very happy childhood," Jillian says.
John Ross stands to his feet, walks over to the window, and looks out at the night skyline of Dallas. He sighs. "It was in some ways. Then there were times when my mama and daddy would fight, split up, and put me right in the middle of their war. Those were the times I hated. But, even through all that, my Grandma was always there for me." He turns back to Jillian. "Well, enough about my dramatic childhood. Tell me about yours."
Jillian stands. "My childhood was nothing special. My mother and father.......let's just say they had what you might call a cordial relationship at best. They barely spoke. For years my mom and I traveled a lot. Europe, the far East. Canada. Sometimes it was like she couldn't stand to even be in the same house with my father. Then, when I ten they finally divorced. He sort of drifted out of my life by the time I reached my teens."
"You never see him now?" John Ross asks.
"Not in the last five years. Oh, I hear from him from time to time. Birthday cards, Christmas cards, but that's it. No real relationship."
"Damn."
Jillian walks over to him. "Looks like we both grew up with pretty messed up parents. Another thing we have in common." Jillian places her hands on John Ross's chest, then slowly leans in to kiss him. John Ross quickly pulls away, walks over to the table and takes a sip of his wine. "John Ross, what is it?" Jillian asks, walking over to him again.
"It's gettin' late. I guess I should be goin'. We both have to be at the office bright and early tomorrow mornin'."
Jillian touches his face. "Well, you could spend the night. Then we could drive in together."
John Ross gently removes her hand. "I don't think that's a good idea," he says, walking away. He turns back to her. "I really do have to go."
"John Ross, what's the matter? I mean, I know you're still technically married and all, but you said it's over between you and your wife."
"It is."
"Then why do you keep putting me off? John Ross, I'm really attracted to you. And I thought you were attracted to me, too."
"It's not that," John Ross says.
"Well what is it then? Have I done something to turn you off?"
John Ross looks at her for a moment. "Not at all. Look, believe me, it's not you at all. Just be patient with me. Soon, you'll understand."
"Understand what?" She asks. "You're not making any sense."
"I can't explain anything now. All I can say is, I don't think we should mix business and pleasure right now. And I really do have to go." Without another word, John Ross quickly leaves the apartment.
The next morning...
"Well, I just checked in with our guys in Mexico City," George says. "Elena's fine."
"How do I know you're telling me the truth?" Christopher asks.
George looks at him. "I guess you'll just have to trust me. Elena's fine. I have a tail on her that follows wherever she goes and makes sure she's all right."
Christopher sighs.
"Look, Christopher, try to relax."
"That's easy for you to say."
"I know it's hard for you to believe, but this will all be over soon," George says. "I've got every agent at my disposal working on finding Nicolas Trevino and the rest of the Mendez-Ochoa Cartel who escaped. There's only so many places in the world for Trevino to hide."
"It took the U.S. government YEARS to find Osama Bin Laden," says Christopher. "And I'm supposed to feel confident that the CIA can track down Nicolas Trevino in a matter of weeks?" He walks to the window, pulls back the curtain slightly, and looks out. "What about my father and the rest of my family?"
"Your family is fine, too. But your father is having a hard time dealing with your.....'death'." George stops abruptly.
Christopher turns to face him. "What the hell aren't you telling me?"
"What do you mean?" George asks.
"Something else is wrong. I can hear it in your voice. My father is having a hard time dealing with my death, and what else is going on?"
George pauses a moment. "Your father's other son.....he was in an accident. Along with Emma Ryland."
"My father's other son? You mean Lucas?"
"Yes," replies George. "It happened a few days after your funeral. But both Lucas and Emma are fine now. In fact, he's supposed to be getting out of the hospital today."
Christopher takes a seat on the bed and rubs his face. "Lucas," he says. "Boy, I haven't seen him since he was a kid. When my grandmother died." He looks up at George. "I still wanna see Elena."
"I already told you...."
"Yeah, I know what you told me," Christopher says, standing to face George. "But I'm tellin' you, George....make it happen."
"It's too dangerous," says George.
"I don't give a damn about the danger. I wanna see for myself that she's okay."
"You really love that girl, don't you?"
Westar Oil....
He stops, hesitates a moment, then walks into her office.
"Nothin' to talk about. I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression."
"Wrong impression?"
"The impression that our relationship could be anything more than business for the time bein'."
"I really don't understand you," she says. "I've heard a little about your reputation as a ladies' man. Am I really that unattractive to you?"
"You're not unattractive to me at all," John Ross answers. "I told you that last night."
"Well there must be some reason why you're not interested in me."
"Look, our arrangement is a business one. I work for you here at Westar, trainin' you to be a successful CEO of this company. For right now, we need to concentrate on that and not complicate things by gettin' too......involved personally. I've mixed business with pleasure before, and it's never gotten me anything but trouble. But trust me, you are a very beautiful and attractive young woman. And any man would be damned lucky to have you show him even the slightest bit of attention. It just can't be me." Without saying another word, John Ross turns and walks out of the office.
"I don't believe you, John Ross," Jillian says quietly after he leaves. "There's something you're not telling me. And I'm gonna find out what that is."
Forest Park Medical Center....
He stops and walks in. "I thought you were asleep. I wasn't gonna wake you."
"I wasn't asleep. Just resting."
"Well, they're lettin' me out of here this morning, so, I wanted to let you know. I'll come back and visit."
"Good," Emma says. "The doctor says if I keep improving I should be able to go home in a few days."
Lucas smiles. "That's awesome. When you get out, maybe we could hang out again. That is, if you want to."
"I'd love to. You're probably the nicest person I've met in a very long time."
"Are you all right? You seem a little down for a guy who's getting out of the hospital today."
Lucas sighs. "I'm just real confused right now. Bobby came to see me last night. I was so angry. I lashed out at him good. I'm so damned angry with him and my mom and my......and Ray."
"I understand," Emma says. "My father lied to me for most of my life, too. So I know how you feel. Lucas, I know you're angry and hurt right now, but, for what it's worth, Bobby Ewing is a really great guy."
"Great guy? He gave up his own flesh and blood son, but kept the son he adopted. How's that a great guy?"
"I can't explain why Bobby did what he did. But that was a long time ago. I don't know what he was like back then, but I do know what Bobby's like now. Lucas, he risked his life to come to Mexico to rescue Ann and me. When he was negotiating with the men who kidnapped us, they gave him a choice: he could have back either Ann, or me. Bobby chose me because he knew that's what Ann would want. He's a good man, Lucas. Don't judge him too harshly over a choice he made twenty-seven years ago."
Lucas looks at her and smiles slightly. "I'll let you get some rest. I'll come visit tomorrow. Maybe tonight if you feel up to it."
"Sure," Emma says. Lucas bends down and gently kisses her. Then he leaves. After he's gone, Emma smiles. She felt something for Lucas Krebbs. Something she never thought she would feel for anyone other than John Ross. She reaches over to the table beside her bed and picks up a stack of cards. She takes one out of the stack and looks at it. It's a get well card from John Ross with a note attached. Emma puts the card down and lays her head back on her pillow.
Pamela's apartment....later
Pamela walks through the posh living room of her apartment in Dallas to answer her ringing doorbell. She opens the door and is shocked to see John Ross standing there. "Hey, darlin'," John Ross says. "What the hell are you doing here?" Pamela asks. John Ross smiles, then walks past her into the apartment. "Ya know, you really should find a new greetin' for me. That one's gettin' kinda old." Pamela slams the door. "Why are you here?" "Just came by to take my lovely wife to lunch." "You really must be delusional. Do you honestly think I'd have lunch with you?" |
Before Pamela can say anything, Cliff walks out of one of the bedrooms. John Ross's mouth drops open in shock when he sees Cliff.
"What the hell are you doin' here?" John Ross asks in a demanding voice. "Pamela, what's he doin' here?"
"I should ask you the same question," says Cliff. "What are you doing here after everything you did to my daughter."
"You murderin' old bastard," John Ross says as he angrily walks toward Cliff.
"I didn't murder anyone. You know damned well I didn't kill that son of a bitch daddy of yours. You Ewings framed me, and when I'm able to prove that, you're whole family is going down."
"That's never going to happen."
"John Ross, you need to leave," says Pamela. "Now."
John Ross looks from Cliff back to Pamela. Then he walks over to her. "This old fart killed your babies. And you actually got him out of prison?"
"Bobby asked me to."
"What the hell?" John Ross asks. "I know that's a damned lie cause my Uncle Bobby would never want this piece of scum out of prison."
"Then why don't you ask him? And get out of my apartment."
John Ross stares at her for a moment, his eyes angry.
"You heard my daughter," says Cliff. "Get out. Before we have to call security."
Without another word, John Ross turns and storms out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him as Cliff looks on with a smile.
Ewing Global....later still...
"Well, come right on in, John Ross," Bobby says sarcastically.
"We need to talk, Uncle Bobby."
"Haven't seen much of you since Christopher's funeral."
"Been busy," John Ross says.
Bobby stands from his seat. "Yes, your mother told me all about your new job at Westar. John Ross, what the hell were you thinkin' goin' to work for that company?"
"I didn't come here to talk about my job at Westar. We got more important matters to discuss. What the hell is Cliff Barnes doin' out of prison? I just stopped by Pamela's place, and that old SOB is stayin' there!"
"John Ross, just calm down," Bobby says.
At that moment, Sue Ellen walks into the office. "What on earth is all the yelling about?" She asks. "John Ross, what's wrong?"
"Sue Ellen, come in and close the door," Bobby says. She does as she's told, then Bobby looks at his nephew. "John Ross, it was necessary to get Cliff out of prison....in order to save Emma's life."
"What in the hell is that supposed to mean? How could Cliff Barnes gettin' out of prison have anything to do with Emma?"
"You know that Emma had surgery," Bobby says.
"Yes I do know that. Get to the point."
"Emma had to have a kidney transplant, John Ross," Sue Ellen says. "And Cliff was her donor."
"What?" John Ross asks, stunned.
"I asked Pamela to use Cliff's pardon that Elena gave her and get him out of prison so he could be a kidney donor for Emma," Bobby tells him. "She needed a kidney from a close blood relative because of her rare blood type and some other factors."
"Close blood relative? Cliff Barnes and Emma aren't related."
Bobby and Sue Ellen exchange looks. "Yes they are," Bobby says. "John Ross.....Cliff is Emma's biological father. Not Harris Ryland."
John Ross's mouth drops open in total disbelief. "What the hell are you tellin' me?"
"It's true, John Ross," Sue Ellen says to her son.
"It's a long story," Bobby continues. "But years ago, Ann and Cliff had a one night.....fling. And he's Emma's father. We all just found after the accident, and after Harris confessed that he's sterile and could never father children."
John Ross sits down. "Oh wow. Does Emma know?"
"I can't believe this," John Ross says. "If I saw a damned dinosaur walkin' down the streets of Dallas, I wouldn't be anymore stunned than I am at hearin' this."
Meanwhile, at Dallas-Love Field Airport...
Pamela's apartment....
Cliff walks into the living room, a big smile on his face. "Okay, sweetheart. Where you going?"
"Just out. I'm going stir crazy sitting around this apartment."
"I know what you mean. Mind some company?" Cliff asks. "I've been cooped up in that stinking jail for so long, then the hospital, that some fresh air would be nice. It would also be nice to see if Dallas has changed in my absence."
"Maybe another time," Pamela says coldly. "Right now, I just want to be by myself for a while."
"Okay, okay. That's fine. I guess I'll see you when you get back then. I think I'll maybe watch a little TV, maybe do a little thinking and planning on how we're gonna take our company back from the Ewings."
"Fine," says Pamela. "There's plenty of food in the fridge and the pantry. Help yourself to whatever. I'll be back in a couple of hours."
"Take your time. I'll be just fine." Cliff tries to give his daughter a kiss on the cheek but she quickly pulls away. She grabs her coat and keys, and leaves. After she's gone, Cliff looks around the apartment, a huge smile on his face. Then he feels a sudden pain in his side where he recently had surgery to remove a kidney for Emma. He places his hand on the area. "I gotta be more careful til I'm all healed up," he says. He takes a seat on the sofa, picks up the remote control from the coffee table, and turns on the television.
Meanwhile, in the hallway, Pamela gets on one of the two elevators down the hall from her apartment. As the elevator doors close, the other elevator opens, and the mysterious woman from the airport gets off. She looks around, then makes her way down the hall to apartment 809, Pamela's apartment. Looking at a piece of paper in her hand, she makes sure this is the right apartment number. Sitting her suitcase down, the woman rings the doorbell. Inside, Cliff is just settling down to watch a little afternoon news, when he hears the doorbell. At first he ignores it. Then it rings again. Then a third time. Finally frustrated, Cliff gets up and walks over to the door.
"Hold your horses," he mutters angrily. Cliff opens the door, and to his astonishment, the woman standing in the hall is Pamela's mother, Afton Cooper. "Afton?" He says.
Cliff simply looks at her and smiles as Afton stares at him, a look of complete shock on her face....