Previously on DALLAS:
---------------Ann managed to track down Dusty Farlow, who told her he will think about coming to Dallas to see Sue Ellen.
---------------Cliff told Amanda to step up her efforts to get John Ross to spill the beans about the Ewings framing him for J.R.'s murder.
---------------Jenna's daughter Charlie and grandson Alex arrived for Christmas, but Charlie gave some sad news to Lucas.
---------------Emma paid a visit to Harris and Judith.
--------------The whole Ewing clan gathered at Southfork for Christmas, and received a surprise guest when Cally Harper showed up looking for her son - who turned out to be Bobby's new ranch hand, Randall!
Southfork....Christmas Eve
"Cally, THIS boy is your son?" Bobby asks.
"Yes, Bobby," Cally replies.
"You've been lying to us this whole time?" Christopher asks angrily.
"Randall, why didn't you just tell me who you were when you first came here?" Bobby asks the young man.
"Because I hadn't planned on lettin' y'all know who I was. Least not for a while," says Randall/Justin.
"Why the hell not?" Asks an angry John Ross.
Justin smiles. "Just wanted to see what y'all were like. This Ewin' fam'ly I'd heard so much about."
Christopher stands to his feet to face his new cousin. "I could kick you right off this ranch for deceivin' us that way. You looked me square in the eye and lied to my face, and to my father!"
"Like you never lied to somebody before," Justin says.
"Alright, everybody just calm down," says Bobby. He looks at Justin. "Young man, you've got a lot of explainin' to do."
"Your fault?" Bobby asks.
"Jimmy, what the hell are you talking about?" James asks his son.
"How do you even know Justin?"
Jimmy and Justin exchange looks, then Jimmy nervously looks at the rest of his family around the table, each of them waiting for his explanation as he wonders if he should have just kept his mouth shut....
Southfork....
"I'd like to hear an explanation myself," says James.
"So would I," Cally adds. "How do you and my son know each other?"
"How come you never told us about this?" James asks.
"Because he asked me not to say anything to my parents or anyone about it."
"Didn't that strike you as odd?" Debra Lynn asks her son.
"Yeah it did, a little. But Justin wasn't real sure he wanted the rest of the family to know about him, since his mother didn't even tell him that Grandpa J.R. was his father. I wondered about that, until he told me how is mother said Grandpa J.R. treated her when they were married."
"Justin why didn't you come to me with any of this?" Cally asks. "Why didn't you tell me you were talkin' to James's son?"
"I thought you'd stop me," Justin replies. "But I wanted to know. I wanted to know what this fam'ly was like."
"So you deceived your way in to find out?" John Ross asks.
Justin looks at him and smiles. "Itn't that the Ewing way?"
"You little bastard," John Ross says standing to his feet.
"John Ross!" Bobby says sternly to calm his nephew.
"None of y'all know what it's like," Justin says. "To wake up one day and find out you had a father who's dead, that you'll never get the chance to know. Or that you have brothers. Uncles, cousins."
"That's not true," Jillian says, standing. "Randall.....Justin.....I know exactly what that's like. I guess that, I'm your sister. And like you, I just found out not too long ago that J.R. Ewing was my father. So far, everyone in this family has welcomed me with open arms. They would've done the same for you. You didn't have to come here under a false identity."
"My father didn't want me. How come I shoulda believed that his fam'ly would want me."
"He did want you," says James. "I know for a fact that J.R. DID want you, Justin."
"How do you know?"
"I KNOW. I was the first person your mother told when she found out she was pregnant. I betrayed her by telling J.R., basically just out of spite."
"James, don't...." Cally says.
"Cally, it's time Justin and everyone knows everything that went on back then." James looks up at Justin. "J.R. was engaged to be married to my mother. I didn't want that to happen, because I didn't want my mother to get the same kinda treatment from him that Cally had, and Sue Ellen before her. When Cally found out she was pregnant, I was the first person she told. And I betrayed her. I betrayed her by tellin' J.R. that Cally was pregnant, and I did it to break him and my mother up. Cally, I have always regretted what I did to you that night."
"Go on, James," Bobby says.
"When J.R. tried to stop Cally from leaving Dallas, she lied to him. Told him the baby was mine. That's the only way he'd let her go. I wanted to protect Cally and hurt him at the same time, so I didn't deny it. Not until later, anyway. But I told him that if he went after Cally or bothered her in any way, he'd lose me forever, and Ewing Oil. Justin, when J.R, found out that you were his child instead of mine, he desperately wanted to go find you. And when he did, he saw that your mother was happy. With another man. So he did the decent thing for the first time in his life, and left Cally alone. A little piece of him died when he did that. So you see, he wanted you very much. And loved you enough to let you grow up far away from here, and away from him."
"I think that's a good idea," Bobby says. "Cally, would you please join us for Christmas dinner?"
"Thank you, Bobby. I accept."
"Justin?" Ann says. "Please sit down."
Justin, tears streaming down his face after hearing James tell the story, is silent for a moment as he stands there, his head down. Finally, he retakes his seat at the table, and the Ewings begin their dinner.
Later....Bobby and Ann's room
"Yeah," Bobby says.
"How do you feel about that?"
Bobby sighs. "I'm not sure how to feel. On one hand, I'm mad as hell at the kid for not tellin' me who he was. And on the other hand, I can understand why he didn't, especially if he thought his own father didn't want him."
"No. No, I didn't. Of course when Cally left town pregnant with J.R.'s child, I was preoccupied with my own problems. That was right after I'd lost April. I was in such a daze for months after her death that, I barely remember anything that went on durin' that time. I didn't even know about Justin until years later, after J.R. came back from Europe and he told me."
"Poor Cally. Sounds like she fared just as bad with J.R. as Sue Ellen did."
"Oh she did," Bobby says. "But Cally was smarter than Sue Ellen, and stronger. She broke away from J.R. and never looked back. Maybe if Sue Ellen had done that, her life might have turned out much different. And happier."
Ann lays her head on Bobby's shoulder. "You know what I keep thinkin'?"
"What's that?" Bobby asks.
"That the last thing we needed around here was another one of J.R.'s offspring showin' up."
The Omni Hotel....
"Why don't you say somethin'?" He asks.
"What do you want me to say?"
"I dunno. Anything."
Debra Lynn gets into bed and looks up at her husband. "Alright, here goes. Why didn't you ever tell me about any of that? About Cally telling J.R. that you were the father of Cally's baby?"
"Debra Lynn, it wasn't important."
"Wasn't important? James, Cally told your father that she was carrying YOUR child, and you didn't think it was important enough for you to tell me in twenty-four years?"
"When we left here, I left this life, and all the entanglements behind," James says. "You and I moved back East to start fresh, and that's what we did. There was no need to tell you about something like that."
Debra Lynn sighs, then is silent for a moment. "James, were you and Cally ever lover?"
"Of course not. I loved her, sure, but as a friend. A good friend. That's it. And I tried to help her with her problems with J.R. But honey, I never slept with her."
Debra Lynn looks at him. "I'm sorry. I'm just upset about this whole thing. And about the fact that Jimmy kept this from us."
"I know," James says. "I can understand why he did it, though. He was helpin' his friend. I respect him for that. Our son's a good man, Debra Lynn."
Southfork.....the next day
"Why?" Bobby asks.
"Because I'd rather leave on my own than get kicked off this ranch," Justin replies.
"Randall.....Justin.....no one is going to kick you off Southfork. You're a part of this family, and Southfork is your home." Bobby walks over to the young man. "Son, I wish you'd just told me who you were. What did you honestly think you were accomplishin' by pretendin' to be a ranch hand lookin' for a job?"
"I just wanted to get to know the Ewings. As an outsider, without any of y'all knowin' who I was. That way I could see if this fam'ly was really worth bein' a part of."
"And after last night, did you find your answer?"
Justin turns and looks at Bobby. "I dunno. Maybe."
"When you first came here, I felt somethin'. I sensed somethin' about you that was different. I couldn't explain it, but, it was like you belonged here. Now I know why I felt that way." Bobby looks at him and pauses a moment. "You know, I'm pretty mad at you right now. I wish you'd told me who you really were. This family would've welcomed you. I would've welcomed."
"So what happens now? I mean, now that the truth is out?" Justin asks.
"Well, now, we start over. Fresh. You have a family here, son. If you want it, and I think ya do. Itn't that why you came here? To find your family? Just think about it." Bobby starts to leave, then turns back to him. After a brief pause, he walks out.
After Bobby leaves, Justin takes a seat on his bed.
"No, I wasn't, John Ross."
"Then I'll do it." John Ross starts toward the bunkhouse.
"Just hold it a minute," Bobby says, putting his hand on John Ross's chest to stop him. "Now, NOBODY is gettin' kicked off Southfork."
"You gotta be kiddin' me. That dude came here and lied to us, Uncle Bobby. He deceived us about who he really was, and I want him off this ranch."
"John Ross, you may own half of Southfork, but don't forget that I own the other half, and no one is being kicked out of here."
"That boy's sure taken you in, hadn't he?" John Ross asks.
"That boy is your brother, John Ross."
"HALF-brother, Uncle Bobby. And I don't need anymore siblin's."
Bobby shakes his head in dismay. "You sound an awful lot like your daddy right now, and that's not a good thing. If you can't be nice to your brother, then just leave him alone. But he STAYS. Just as long as he wants to." Without another word, Bobby walks past John Ross and toward the house, leaving John Ross angry.
Sue Ellen's home....
"Well, good morning," Sue Ellen says.
"Mornin', Sue Ellen. I can't thank you enough for lettin' me stay here last night."
"Not very well, I'm afraid," Cally replies in her thick southern accent. "All I could think about was Justin. Sue Ellen, I'm afraid I've lost him. He didn't even wanna talk to me last night after dinner."
"Cally, I was living in England by the time you left J.R. and Dallas. I'm sure you had a very good reason for lying to J.R. and saying that your baby was James's. What exactly happened?"
"J.R. treated me same as he did you. He cheated. More'n once. And somehow, he fell out of love with me. Sue Ellen, I won't go into all the details, but, I left J.R., and we were divorced. I found out I was carryin' Justin, and I just knew that if J.R. found out I was pregnant, he'd never let me go. And never let me have a minute's peace."
"You're probably right about that," Sue Ellen says.
"When James told J.R. the truth, the night of J.R. and Vanessa's engagement party, I so mad at him. And I was terrified of J.R. I packed and tried to leave, and sure enough, J.R. came after me. Sue Ellen. he wasn't gonna let me leave Dallas with his child, so I did the first thing that came to my mind......I told him that James was the father. It was the only way I could get away from him."
Sue Ellen stands and walks over to her. "I think you did the right thing."
"Lookin' at it now, twenty-four years later, Sue Ellen, I'm not real sure I did."
Sue Ellen reaches out and touches Cally's hand.
The Krebbs Ranch....
"This one reminds me of that horse Ray got when you were about nine," Charlie says. "Remember?"
"Yeah, I remember," Lucas says.
"I do love horses. Being back here, just makes me feel good."
"Charlie, we need to talk. About what you told me yesterday, and about you not wanting Mom and Ray to know."
"Lucas, you promised you wouldn't say anything," Charlie says.
"I know. Charlie, I can understand you not wanting Alex to know right now, but Mom has a right to, don't you think?"
"What about treatments?" Lucas asks. "What exactly did the doctor say?"
"I'm still waiting for the results of my last tests. Won't be until sometime after Christmas. But, it's spread, Lucas. I can already tell I'm starting to feel weak and tired all the time."
"I'm NOT gonna accept this, Charlie. I won't. There has GOT to be something they can do. Some treatments, even if it's experimental. But I'm not gonna lose my sister."
Charlie turns and looks at him. "You always were stubborn," she says with a slight smile.
"It's the Ewing in me, and the Wade.""
"I love you so much, little brother," Charlie says, embracing him.
"I love you, too."
"Hey, what's goin' on here?" Ray asks, walking toward them.
"Nothing," Charlie says. "Just sharing a bonding moment with my kid brother, who I've missed something terrible."
"We've all missed you and Alex, too," says Ray. "Sure gonna hate to see you too head back to New York."
Charlie and Lucas exchange worried looks between them.
Southfork....late afternoon
"Can I come in?" Cally asks.
Justin steps aside to let his mother into his room. Then he closes the door after her. "Why'd you come here after I asked you not to?" He asks.
"Because I wanted to see my son on Christmas. Justin, why did you lie to Bobby and everyone?"
"I wanted to get to know these people," Justin replies. "This fam'ly I only just heard about not too long ago. Wanted to see what they were like."
"I want you to come back to Tallahassee with me," says Cally.
"What about me, Justin?" Cally asks.
Justin turns to look at his mother. "What about you, Mama? You lied to me. Why didn't you ever tell me who my father was until after he was dead?"
Cally looks at her son and hesitates a moment before answering. Then she sighs, walks to the other side of the room, and turns back to him. "My relationship with J.R. Ewing was a very complicated one."
"But you was married to him, right?" Justin asks.
"Uh-huh," Cally replies with a nod. "I already told you some of this. I met J.R. Ewing when he and his brother Bobby were on a huntin' trip to Hayleyville. When I first laid eyes on J.R., I thought he was the most handsome, the most charmin' man I'd ever met. Sure, he was a lot older than me, but I didn't care. For me, it was love at first sight, and I thought it was for him, too. Well, anyway, my brothers forced J.R. to marry me, which he did, but not willingly. First chance he got, he took off from our farm and headed right back here to Dallas."
"So, you followed him?"
"Yes. Just as soon as I could. I'll never forget the first night I came here to Southfork. Those first few days I was here were really rough".......
"I was in love," Cally says. "Things did get better, and J.R. married me for real, right here at Southfork. That was the happiest day of my life. But J.R. turned out not to be the man I thought he was. Everybody warned me. Sue Ellen warned me. But I didn't listen."
"He cheated on you?"
"Yes. Same as he'd done to Sue Ellen for all the years she was married to him. I don't even think he could help it. It's just who he was." Cally walks over to her son. "Justin, I didn't tell you about J.R. because I thought you would try to find him. And I didn't want his influence over your life. I plan to stay in Dallas for a few more days. And I hope that you decide to come back home with me. But if not, if stayin' here and findin' out about your daddy, and your family is what you want, then I guess I'll just have to accept that." Cally opens her purse and reaches in. She pulls out an old polaroid photo. She walks over to her son and hands it to him. "I want you to have this. And I want you to know, I'll always love you." Cally kisses her son on the cheek, then leaves.
Dallas....the next day
"Sure is beautiful here," Amanda says. "I always loved this time of year. Especially the holidays."
"Yeah, me too," says John Ross.
"By the way, I really enjoyed Christmas with your family. They're all really nice."
"Well, they do have their moments."
"Like that little scene that played out before dinner?" Amanda asks. "You didn't seem too happy about the arrival of your brother."
"Got no reason to be," John Ross says. "I don't know him from Adam."
"So, you never met, not even when you were kids?"
"Nope. Why all the questions about my so-called brother?"
"Just curious. I wanna know all there is to know about you."
Amanda laughs. "That would never happen."
"Who knows. Maybe one day, or one night real soon, we'll sit down and I'll give you my whole life story. On one condition."
"And what's that?"
"You return the favor by tellin' me everything there is to know about you."
"I've already done that," Amanda says with a smile.
"Have you? I get the feelin' there's somethin' you're not lettin' me in on."
Amanda puts her arms around him. "It's just your imagination," she says.
"Is it?"
"Who knows? Maybe one of these cold winter days, sitting by a warm fire after making mad, passionate love, I'll give you the complete, uncensored Amanda Shepherd biography."
John Ross kisses her, but the kiss is interrupted by the ringing of John Ross's cell phone. He sighs as he takes the phone from his coat pocket and answers it.
"John Ross, we need to get together this afternoon and discuss your divorce hearing, which is coming up on Monday, in case you've forgotten," says John Ross's attorney, Todd Baxter, on the other end of the line.
"Alright, fine," says John Ross. "When?"
"This afternoon. My office? Say, around three?"
"Three's fine. I'll see you then." John Ross ends the call and puts his phone back into his pocket.
"That sounded serious," Amanda says. "Business?"
"You might say that. That was lawyer, Todd Baxter. Mine and Pamela's divorce hearin' is Monday mornin'. Todd wants to meet at his office this afternoon to discuss things."
"I was hoping we could spend the whole day together."
"Don't you worry, darlin'," John Ross says. "Soon as I get done with Todd, we'll spend the rest of the evenin' together, and the night together, and....." John Ross leans in and kisses her. After a moment, he pulls out of the kiss and smiles.
"I'm actually glad your divorce hearing is so soon. After that. you won't be a married man anymore, so I won't feel like I'm.......doin' somethin' wrong sleeping with you."
"Darlin', nothin' that feels as right as we do together, could possibly be wrong," John Ross says, then kisses her again.
Southfork....
"Hi," Betsy says cheerfully.
Justin smiles. "So, I guess that's makes us cousins, then."
"Yeah, I guess it does," Betsy says. "You made quite an entrance on Christmas Eve."
"Yeah, I suppose I did. I guess half the fam'ly's still pissed at me for that one."
"I thought it was kinda funny myself."
Justin laughs. "So, umm, you live around here?"
"No. I live in California. As a matter of fact, I've never been here before."
"Never been to Southfork, and you're Gary Ewin's daughter?" Justin asks, surprised.
"Yes. Long story."
"Quite a fam'ly, huh?"
"That's putting it mildly," Betsy says with a laugh. "Anyway, ummm.......Justin?.......it's very nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, Betsy. And who are these little cuties?" Justin asks, looking down at the kids.
"Hey, guys," Justin says, kneeling down to them. "Do you like horses?"
Both kids nod their heads.
"You do?"
Again, the kids nod their little heads and Betsy smiles. "They LOOOVE horses," she says. "Soon as they're old enough, their Grandpa is gonna teach them to ride."
"I guess the love of horses and the land must be in the Ewin' blood," Justin says.
"I think it's more the Southworth blood," Betsy says.
"Who?"
Betsy smiles. "Our grandmother, Miss Ellie, she was a Southworth, and this ranch belonged to her family. The Ewings had more oil in their blood."
"I'd sure love to know about the family," Justin says.
"Well, for that, I'm afraid you're gonna have to ask one of the other members of the family, maybe Uncle Bobby. I don't really know much more than you." Betsy looks over Justin's shoulder and sees Christopher walking toward them. "Here's someone who could probably fill you in," she says.
"Hey, you two," Christopher says. "Fill him in about what?"
"Justin was saying he wanted to know more about the family history, and I can't really help him there," Betsy says.
"Good," says Betsy. "Well, I think I'm gonna take the kids for a walk. See you both later."
"See ya, Betsy," Justin says as she walks away with the kids in hand. After she's gone, he returns to saddling the horse. "Still mad at me, huh?" He asks Christopher.
"Mad? Any reason you can think of I should be mad? Maybe the fact that you lied to all of us about who you really were. Maybe the fact that I asked you point blank about that phone call I overheard that day, and you looked me in the eye and lied. Other than that, what reason would I have to be mad?"
"Yeah," Christopher says, skeptically. "I hope you really mean that, Randall, or Justin."
"Randall's my middle name. I answer to both."
Christopher shakes his head. "Justin Randall. J.R. Just what we need around here." Christopher looks at his new cousin for a moment, then turns and walks out. After he's gone, Justin smiles deviously.
Smithfield And Bennett Law Firm....
"Damn it, Todd, what the hell good are you as a lawyer if you're not willin' to get your hands dirty ever once in a while?" An irritated John Ross asks his lawyer, Todd Baxter.
"I want her to walk away from this marriage with nothin'."
"On what grounds?" Todd asks.
"On whatever grounds you can come up with," John Ross replies. "Adultery, whatever."
"Come on, you know as well as I do the adultery card would backfire, especially when it was YOUR adultery that led to the breakup of your marriage in the first place. And not just any adultery, but with your wife's own sister...."
"Which I did not know at the time."
"That doesn't matter, John Ross. You still had a very sordid affair with Emma Ryland. Now, we can use Pamela's little.......well, we can use the moment she walked in on you and Emma and asked to join you, plus her overdose to our advantage. Now those are FACTS, John Ross. Facts that make Pamela look unstable. But then again, the judge could see it was a desperate act by a wronged woman who discovered her husband was sleeping with a woman she considered a friend."
"Todd, you are not makin' me feel any better about this," John Ross says with a sigh as he stands to his feet.
"I'm sorry, but I'm just telling you the truth. You have to be prepared that, if that judge rules in Pamela's favor, she could end up with a fairly good chunk of your Westar stock and any other financial or liquid assets you have."
"Damn. I did not go through everything I went through to get control of Westar just to have that woman end up with half of it."
"Sorry, John Ross," Todd says. "But I don't know what you can do about it. Legally, that is."
John Ross looks at his attorney for a moment. "Well, then, maybe it's just time to take some other course of action."
"I don't like the sound of that. John Ross, for your own sake, DON'T do anything stupid. It could backfire and make Pamela look even more like the victim."
John Ross smiles. "Don't worry, Todd. This aint gonna involve you, and it aint gonna backfire. You may be afraid to get down in the mud, but I'm sure as hell not."
The Krebbs Ranch....
"I'll get it!" Charlie says. She comes down the stairs into the foyer and opens the front door to find Lucy
"Thanks," Lucy says, walking into the house. "How are you?" She greets Charlie with a hug.
"Just fine," Charlie says.
"It was so great seeing you at Christmas. And meeting your son."
"You too. I suppose you're looking for Ray?"
"Yeah," Lucy says.
"He's in the living room, getting beaten by my son in a card game. Go on in."
Lucy walks into the living room, followed by Charlie.
"Hey, Lucy," Ray says.
"Ray."
"Charlie, this kid of yours is a real card shark," says Ray. "Already beaten me in one game, now he's workin' on the other one."
Charlie laughs as Jenna comes down the stairs and walks into the room. "Hi, Lucy," she says.
"Hello, Jenna."
"Charlie, are you almost ready?" Jenna asks.
"I'm ready, Mom."
"Where're you two off to?" Ray asks.
"We're going shopping," replies Jenna. "I told you that this morning, Mr. Absentminded."
Charlie looks at her son sternly. "Aren't you supposed to ASK me if you can go instead of telling me?"
"Okay then, CAN I go?" The boy asks sarcastically.
"Yeah, okay," Charlie replies.
"Come on, we'll drop you off at Southfork on our way to town," Jenna says.
Alex gets up from his seat and walks out in a sullen mood. "I'm sorry about that," Charlie says.
"Lucy would you like to join Charlie and me shopping?" Jenna asks.
"No, thanks. I need to talk to Ray about something."
"Okay."
"Lucy, it was great seeing you again," Charlie says.
"You too," Lucy says back. Jenna grabs her car keys from the table and she and Charlie walk out.
Ray stands after his wife and stepdaughter are gone.
"He seems like a nice boy. Charlie's son," Lucy says.
"He is. He has some problems, though. Ya know,he lost his father in a car accident last January, and he's had a real hard time adjustin' to that. But I think bein' here has helped some, and he seems to have taken a likin' to our new arrival, Randall, or Justin or whatever that kid's name is."
"Good," Lucy says sadly.
Lucy sighs. "I do."
"Wanna drink?"
"I'd love one."
Ray walks over to the liquor cabinet and opens it as Lucy takes a seat on the sofa. "So what's eatin' on you?" He asks, pouring two glasses of bourbon. He walks over and hands one to Lucy.
"I've been thinking a lot about our talk at Southfork on Christmas."
"You mean about Mitch?"
"Mitch, kids, everything."
"This has really gotcha down, huh?" Ray asks.
"Seeing Mitch with those two kids of his. And seeing Charlie's son. Seems like so many people I know have got kids now. And it hurts, Ray. It really hurts."
"i never heard you talk much about havin' kids, or not havin' 'em."
"I know. I feel like you're the only person in this family I can really talk to. You know about my abortion, right?"
"Yeah, you told me about that years ago. That was botherin' ya now?" Ray takes a seat beside her.
"In a way. There's something I didn't tell you, and haven't told anyone. Anyone but Mitch, that is."
"Well, what is it?" Ray asks, concerned.
"Ray, haven't you ever wondered why I never had children? Why Mitch and I never had them? It's because of that abortion I had." Lucy stands and walks across the room. She takes a sip of her drink, then turns back to him. "I didn't find out until a few years later. Mitch and I had remarried and were living in Atlanta. I wanted kids, but he wanted to wait because his career was so important to him. Then he agreed to try. But we had no luck. Finally, after a year of trying we went to the doctor and had some tests done. We found out, that abortion had left me unable to have children. We were both devastated. That was one of the things that led to our breakup the second time. We drifted apart after that and Mitch spent more and more time working."
Ray stands and walks over to her. "Lucy, how come you never told anyone about this?"
"It was too painful. And Grandma never knew about my abortion. Only Pam, and Bobby, and later, you."
"Oh, Lucy, I'm sorry. I really am. Haven't you ever thought about adopting?"
"Oh, yes. But, I've moved around so much since I moved away from Dallas. And, it's hard for a single woman to adopt children. A couple of times, years ago, I was involved in relationships, but as soon as they found out I couldn't give them children.....it was over. So, all these years I've basically stayed out of relationships. No attachments and no commitments. It was easier that way, so I didn't have to deal with another breakup because of something I did when I was so young."
"You regret the abortion?" Ray asks.
"I do now. Back then I never realized it would screw up my whole life. Ray, if I'd had that baby, my son or daughter would be almost thirty-two years old? I might even have a grandchild or two by now."
As Lucy starts to cry, Ray puts his arms around her to comfort her.
Southfork....later
"Well you're doin' real good for somebody who hadn't rode in a while," says Justin.
"Thanks for hangin' out with me today, dude. I was bored to death over at my grandparents' house."
"What do you mean? Things not going so goo with the family?"
Justin sighs. "Nah, I guess they're all still kinda pissed at me, and I don't blame 'em."
Alex smiles. "Dude, I thought that was so cool, how you stood up at Christmas dinner and just announced that your were part of the family and not just a ranch hand. Oh my God, the looks on some of their faces. Especially that guy John Ross. Dude seems like a real jerk."
"Yeah he does," Justin says with a laugh. "Guess I may as well get use to it, though, if I'm gonna stay around here."
"That what you're planning on doing?" Alex asks.
Justin sighs. "I guess. I wanna get to know my fam'ly. And I hope once they get to know me, they'll like me. How 'bout you, man? You and your mama stayin' til after the new year?"
"I dunno. I guess so. I'm ready to get back to New York. To my friends."
"Don't like it here?" Justin asks.
"Nah. Too lame. I like the city. Got friends there. Lot to do there."
Tripp's apartment....that night
"Mmmmm, this is nice," Pamela says.
"Gonna be even nicer after your divorce," Tripp adds. "When you're finally free of that SOB John Ross."
Pamela smiles. "And you do realize that I am entitled to at least half of John Ross's assets, and that means......."
"Half of those Westar shares he stole," Tripp says with a smile.
"I feel the same way," Pamela says. "It's amazing how everything can turn around. Sometimes for bad, but sometimes for good. Earlier this year, when I found out John Ross was cheating on me with Emma, I thought my life was over. It felt like I'd never be able to be happy again. And now, here I am, at the end of the year, with the most amazing man I've ever known."
Tripp smiles again as Pamela leans down and kisses him. "I love you, Pamela," he says. "I think I loved you from the first moment I saw you that day at the restaurant with your mom. You're right, it's funny how things change. I came to Dallas to find out about my brother's death, get justice for him, and I met you. The worst year of my life turned into the biggest blessing of my life."
"2015 is gonna be better for both of us. I feel it."
"Yeah. Especially with John Ross out of your life, and if you're able to get those shares from him and unseat him from Westar.......2015 could be the best year of our lives."
Pamela smiles, then kisses Tripp again passionately....
Southfork....
"Come in," she says.
Emma is surprised when John Ross walks in. "Good evenin', Emma," he says.
"John Ross. What do you want?"
"Don't worry. Lucas itn't back yet from Uncle Ray's, so he's not gonna walk in and find me in here this time."
"Just state your business, John Ross," Emma says. "I'd like to relax and finish my book."
Emma gives him an angry look. "Yes, John Ross, I was, and that's the last thing I needed right now. I finally have my life to a point where things are semi-calm. I have Lucas in my life, and now once again, I'm dragged into yours and Pamela's mess."
"I'm sorry about that, Emma. But look, it wuttin' my doin'. Pamela's the one who named you in the divorce."
"Don't know what you mean," he says. "What makes you think I want anything?"
"Because knowing you as well as I do and for as long as I have, I seriously doubt that you came in here just to apologize to me because Pamela's attorney called me to testify at your divorce hearing. You must want something from me."
John Ross smiles. "I never could fool you, Emma. As a matter of fact, there is somethin' you could do that could benefit us both."
"And what's that?" Emma asks.
"Well, as you probably have guessed, Pamela's attorney will likely try to paint the two of us in a very bad light indeed. But you, my dear, could do a little damage control."
"Damage control?"
I have two plans. Plan A is a little bit of along shot, and it involves somehow tryin' to keep you off that stand on Monday."
"How do we pull that one off?" Asks Emma.
"Like I said....damage control," replies John Ross, walking over to her. "You talk to Pamela. Get her to back off from callin' you as a witness."
"John Ross, Pamela can't stand me. Why on earth would she do ANYTHING I asked her to do?"
"Because you're her sister. And if that duttin' work, there's always Cliff Barnes."
"Cliff? What's he got to do with this?"
"He has influence over Pamela. Call him and ask him to meet you tomorrow. Then you just ask him to get Pamela to back off on you because of everything you been through."
"And what if that doesn't work?" Emma asks. "What's your Plan B?"
"Then you give the performance of your life on that witness stand," says John Ross. "You make Pamela look like straight trash and the biggest bitch in Dallas. And that's why I turned to you for comfort. Because I was so.....lonely and......deprived."
"You have GOT to be kidding me. Why would I do that? Pamela is my half-sister. If she hadn't gotten Cliff Barnes out of prison to donate his kidney to me, I'd be dead right now. And you want me to trash her in open court?"
"Emma, Pamela is not gonna give a rat's ass about trashin' you in court. Her lawyer's gonna make you look like a total whore, and you know it." He walks to the door, then turns back to her. "It's like you said, your life is goin' a lot smoother right now. Do you really wanna be painted as the slut of Dallas? Or a compassionate other woman who comforted a lonely, sexually deprived and mistreated husband? Think about it." Without another word, John Ross walks out, closing Emma's door and leaving her to think. As John Ross leaves Emma's room and heads back down the hall, he's surprised to find Justin standing in the living room smiling at him.
"What the hell are you doin' here?" John Ross asks angrily.
"Just vis'tin. Itn't that.....itn't that Emma's room I saw you comin' out of?"
"That's none of your damned business."
"Lucas aint home, is he?" Justin asks.
John Ross walks over to Justin and gets in his face. "Let me give you a piece of advice, little brother.....'round here, it pays to mind your own business and stay outta my way."
Justin looks John Ross in the eye and smiles. "I'll try to remember that......BIG brother."
John Ross stares at him for a moment, their faces only inches away from each other, when Bobby and Ann walk in.
"John Ross," Bobby says. "What's goin' on?"
"Nothin', Uncle Bobby," replies John Ross. "Just havin' a private word with my brother, here." After a brief moment, John Ross walks away from Justin and out of the house, leaving Justin smiling.
"Is everything alright?" Bobby asks.
"Yessir," Justin answers, still smiling. "Everything's fine. Just fine."
Meanwhile....Amanda's apartment
"Okay," Cliff says. "As I'm sure you know, John Ross and Pamela's divorce hearing is Monday morning, and I couldn't be happier about that because it means that my daughter is finally going to free of that family."
"I know that. So what did you wanna see me about?" Amanda asks.
"After John Ross and Pamela are divorced it will be the perfect opportunity for us."
"How so?"
Cliff walks over to her. "Don't you see? If that divorce is granted on Monday, and there's no reason to believe it won't be, then John Ross will be a free man on New Years. You and he celebrate, you get him drunk, and get him to talk about framing me for the murder of that sleazeball of a father of his. Perfect opportunity."
"What if it doesn't work?"
"Ho ho, how could it NOT work? John Ross is already beginning to trust you. Ply the boy with liquor and he'll talk. Hell, if ya have to, marry him to get him to trust you more."
"Marry him?"
"Yes. Don't worry, it wouldn't be for long, just until we have the evidence we need to prove the Ewings framed me for J.R.'s murder. I could put Bobby and John Ross in prison, and then I could easily take back my company from Sue Ellen. Remember, Amanda, you owe me."
Amanda fights back tears as she nods her head. "I know I do."
Cliff smiles. "Good. You do this for me, and you'll never have to worry about money again for the rest of your life." He looks at Amanda and gently touches her face. "Your mother would be proud of the way you're helping me. Sometimes, I see her in you. Well, I'll get out of here and let you get ready for your night with Mr. Casanova, Jr." Cliff laughs heartily, then turns and leaves.
After he's gone, Amanda walks to a small cabinet in one corner of her living room. Opening it, she reaches in to reveal a small safe. Unlocking the combination, Amanda opens the safe and takes out a box, which she also opens. She takes out some photographs, one of which she looks at. She starts to cry. "I'm sorry, Mama," she says. "I'm so sorry I got myself into this. I never meant to fall in love with John Ross, but I did. And now, I don't know what I'm gonna do." Amanda continues to look at the photo of her mother.......
The Bijoux Restaurant, Dallas.....the next day
"Thank you," Emma says to the waiter. He smiles and walks away.
"Hurry and get to the point of why you wanted to see me," Pamela says.
"I just thought we should talk," says Emma.
"As far as I'm concerned, you and I have nothing to say to each other."
"Call it curiosity. I was curious to hear what you have to say."
"I realized that I never thanked you for saving my life," says Emma. "If you hadn't gotten Cliff out of prison, I'd be dead right now. And I know how hard that must have been for you."
"I didn't do it for you," Pamela says. "I did it for Ann. And simply for the fact that I did not wanna live the rest of my life with your death on my conscience."
Emma looks down and sighs, then looks back up at her. "Pamela, I wish that somehow, we could get past this. After all, like it or not, we ARE sisters."
"I suppose I should actually thank you. If you hadn't slept with my husband, I might not have found out until much later what a lying, cheating snake John Ross really is."
"That's........very true," Emma says nervously. "Pamela, for what it's worth, I really am sorry. I know I did a terrible thing to you."
"Yes, you did," says Pamela. "But I'm no angel myself. I've done some pretty horrible things, too. Maybe the things that have happened to us were punishment for the things we did. Me losing my babies. Your kidnapping, the accident." Pamela fights back tears. "Damn it, Emma, I thought you were my friend. And you betrayed me. How am I supposed to get past that? But I guess I have to, don't I? Otherwise, how will I ever allow myself to be happy with Tripp."
Emma looks across the table at Pamela, her half-sister, and truly feels compassion and tenderness for her. She knows she will never be able to do what John Ross asked her to.
Southfork....
"Thanks for helpin' me this afternoon, Lucas," says Christopher. "We're kinda short handed around here with most of the hands still off for the holidays."
"No problem, Chris," Lucas says, and Christopher notices his brother's bad mood.
"You okay, Lucas? Been awful quiet ever since Christmas Eve. Somethin' wrong?"
"I'm fine!" Lucas snaps.
"Okay, okay. I was only tryin' to help."
Lucas sighs. "I'm sorry, Christopher. I didn't mean to snap at you. I just have a lot on my mind. Some stuff I have to work out."
"Everything okay between you and Emma?"
"Yeah. Everything's fine. It's something else."
Lucas looks at his brother. "I know. Thanks, I really appreciate it."
"Hey, that's what big brothers are for."
"Not tryin' to change the subject, but, what about you? Have you heard from Elena at all since she's been gone?"
"Not a word," replies Christopher.
"Have you tried to find her?"
"John Ross has. He's got Bum workin' on it, but so far, no luck. Elena's pretty good at covering her tracks, and she's not gonna be found until she wants to be."
"I'm sorry, man. Why does life have to be so complicated all the time? Just when you think things are starting to look up and go your way, something happens to mess it all up again."
Christopher is silent for a moment as he ponders the question. "I've been asking myself that same question since I was a kid. Wish I knew the answer. But that's just the way life is."
"Yeah, well that plan sucks," Lucas says, attempting to fight back tears. Unable to, he starts to cry.
Christopher walks over and puts a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Lucas, what is it? Come on, whatever is on your mind must be really serious to get you so upset. Tell me, maybe I can help."
Lucas looks at him, tears in his eyes. "No one can help. But I have to tell someone, Christopher. I can't keep this inside any longer. I can't tell Emma, or my Mom, or Ray, or even Bobby."
"What is it, little brother? I promise, I won't say a word."
"It's Charlie. She's sick, Christopher."
"Sick? What do you mean? Sick....how?"
Lucas hesitates a moment before answering. "She has cancer. It's spread. She told me on Christmas Eve. My sister may be dying."
Christopher's mouth drops open in shock. "Oh my God," he says.
Dallas County Courthouse.....two days later
"All rise," the bailiff said. "District Court of Dallas County is now in session, with the Honorable Judge Henry T. West presiding."
The judge, a tall, slender man appearing to be in his early fifties, walks to the bench and takes his seat. "Good morning," he says. "Be seated please. Today is Monday, December the 29th, 2014, and the first case on the docket for this morning is Ewing Vs. Ewing. Are all principle parties present?"
"Yes, Your Honor," says Pamela's attorney, standing. "George Russell, attorney for the plaintiff."
"Yes, Your Honor," Todd Baxter says. "Todd Baxter, attorney for the defendant."
"Fine," says the judge. "Mr. Russell you may proceed."
"Thank you, Your Honor," Pamela's lawyer says, as he steps forward. "Mrs. Pamela Rebecca Barnes Ewing. Mrs. Ewing comes before this court requesting a dissolution of her marriage to Mr. John Ross Ewing, III, on grounds of adultery, mental cruelty, and irreconcilable differences. Mrs. Ewing is also requesting to be granted one half of the assets of her husband acquired during their marriage, which includes fifty percent of his shares of stock in Westar Oil Company, as well as any income Mr. Ewing has earned as Chief Executive Officer of Westar Oil over the past three months."
"Mr. Baxter, you're acting as counsel for Mr. Ewing?" The judge asks.
"Yes sir, Your Honor. Mr. Ewing is counter suing Mrs. Ewing, also on grounds of adultery and mental cruelty."
Wendy's.....Dallas
"Boy this smells good," Jimmy says. "I haven't eaten at a Wendy's in a while."
Justin smiles. "Wendy's is one of my favorite restaurants. Use to eat at one in Tallahassee all the time. It was about a couple miles up the road from our house."
"I'm glad you called me and wanted to have breakfast, Justin."
"Well, I wanted to talk to you. To say how sorry I was that I dragged you into that mess on Christmas. But I do appreciate you speakin' up for me."
"I"m stayin' here, least for a while," Justin replies. "I like it here. I love Southfork."
"Do you really think the Ewings are gonna make it easy for you, there? Especially John Ross?"
"Oh yeah? What happened?" Jimmy asks.
"Caught him comin' out of Emma's bedroom at Southfork the other night."
"Emma? Now that's......."
"Ann's daughter," Justin says. "Cousin Lucas's girlfriend."
Jimmy smiles. "Really, now?"
"Yep. I kinda get the feelin' somethin's goin' on there."
"Wouldn't surprise me a bit, from everything I hear about John Ross. He's just like Grandpa J.R. Look, Justin, I'm gonna give you some advice, friend to friend. Be careful of John Ross. I don't know him all that well, but from what my dad says, John Ross is a real cutthroat. He'll run over anyone who gets in his way, or he thinks is in his way."
"He don't scare me none," Justin says, taking a bite of his biscuit. "I think tanglin' with big brother might be kinda fun."
"Just be careful, okay, dude?" Jimmy says.
"Don't worry, nephew. I'm always careful." Justin takes another bite of his biscuit, then a sip of his orange juice. "Sure do hate to see you leavin' town with your folks tomorrow, Jimmy. Be nice to have a friend around here. Someone in the fam'ly around my own age. So far the only one who seems to be on my side at Southfork is Uncle Bobby."
Jimmy smiles. "Well, you know, ummm, we might could work somethin' out there."
"What do you mean?" Justin asks.
"Well, I applied to several colleges over the last year or so, and SMU here in Dallas was one that accepted me. So, about a month ago I enrolled online for classes there. I start in January."
"You....you what?"
"Yeah. I told my parents last night. So, I'm going home with them tomorrow, and then, I come back in January, and I'll be here for a while."
"Jimmy, that's great, man!" Justin says with a smile. "Why didn't you tell me before now?"
"Well, I wanted to tell my parents before I told anyone else. And, they're happy about it. They hate that I'll be so far away, but they're happy at least that I'm gonna go back to school and get my degree, something my mom's wanted me to do ever since I graduated high school almost seven years ago. Sometimes I wish I had, but, I wanted to do stuff, experience the world little bit before I went to college, so I worked with my dad."
"Bro, ya really made my day. Who'd a thought a year ago when we first started talkin' on Facebook, that we'd both be here, soon to both be LIVIN' here in Dallas?"
"Not me," Jimmy says with a laugh.
Dallas County Courthouse....
"Pamela Rebecca Barnes Ewing."
"Thank you. Mrs. Ewing, how long have you been married to John Ross Ewing?"
"A year," Pamela replies.
"When you married Mr. Ewing, did you love him?"
"Yes. I loved him very much. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him....."
A few minutes later....
"Mrs. Ewing, can you describe the evens of the night you walked into a suite at the Omni Hotel and found your husband with another woman?" Pamela's attorney asks.
Pamela hesitates a moment before answering. "It was the most devastating moment of my life."
"How exactly did you happen to find your husband and his mistress?"
"A video was sent to me on my cell phone. A video of John Ross and Emma Ryland."
"Emma Ryland being the young woman your husband was having an affair with?"
"Yes."
"Who sent you this video?" The attorney asks.
Pamela sighs. "A man named Nicolas Trevino. He was a business rival of my husband's family."
"And this video was of your husband and Miss Ryland doing what?"
Pamela looks at John Ross, then at Emma, who looks as if she's about to cry. "They were......John Ross was performing oral sex on Emma," Pamela says as Emma lowers her head in shame.
"Lucas," she calls to him in the hallways outside the courtroom.
He stops, turns and looks at her. "I'm sorry, Emma. But I just couldn't sit there and listen to anymore of that."
Emma walks over to him. "Lucas, I know how much my affair with John Ross bothers you. And for that, I am SO sorry. But you have to know that it's in the past. I'm a different person now, and I truly do love you."
The Krebbs Ranch....
"Hi, Mom. Awfully pretty picture, seeing you standing there with that horse. Reminded me of when I was a little girl."
Jenna looks at her daughter and smiles. "I think about those days a lot. Especially having Alex here. This may sound strange because he's a boy, but he reminds me so much of you at that age. I like having my daughter and grandson around. I'm sure going to miss you when you have to leave after the new year. So will Ray."
"What?"
"What if, ummm, what if Alex and I didn't have to go back to New York right away?"
"Charlie what.....are you saying what I hope you're saying?" Jenna asks, walking over to her daughter.
"I was talking to Lucas at Christmas, and it got me thinking. What is there in New York that we have to rush back for now? Phillip's gone, all my family is here."
"What about Alex's school?"
"He can transfer. Braddock has some pretty good schools, if I remember correctly."
"But, what about your job? Charlie, you're a big fashion designer."
"I can get job here," Charlie says. "Or I can take some time off."
Jenna laughs happily, then embraces her daughter. "Oh, Charlie, that would be wonderful. You've made me the happiest I've been in a long time. OH, It'll be so wonderful having you and my grandson here all the time."
"Yeah, Mom," Charlie says, embracing her mother. But the look on Charlie's face is anything but one of happiness, as she knows she isn't moving back for the reasons her mother thinks she is.
Dallas County Courthouse....
"Be seated, please," Judge West says. "Divorce is never an easy issue, no matter the length of the marriage. Thankfully, in this case, there are no children to bear the emotional scars and burdens of the breakup of a marriage. This is a very complicated, and very ugly case. Having heard both sides of this case, Mr. Ewing's and Mrs, Ewing's adultery, Mrs. Ewing's rather colorful and inventive way of stopping her husband's extramarital tryst.......and I have to say I was thoroughly disgusted at some of the things I heard." The judge looks at John Ross. "Mr. Ewing, marriage is an alliance never to be entered into lightly, and it appears to me that's exactly what you did. You committed adultery almost immediately after your marriage to your wife, and that, I find contemptable." He then looks over at Pamela. "And Mrs. Ewing, I find your behavior to be equally disturbing. However, given the circumstances of her husband's affair with your friend, your behavior becomes more easy to understand. Therefore, in this case, I am ruling that the divorce be granted to Mrs. Ewing, and that she receive one half, or fifty percent of all of her husband's assets acquired during the marriage, as well as fifty percent of any income earned by Mr. Ewing during that time."
Sitting in the audience, John Ross is enraged at the judge's ruling. He leans over to Todd. "Damn it, Todd, do somethin'," he says.
Todd stands to his feet. "Your Honor, I really must object. Fifty percent of Mr. Ewing's total assets?"
"Yes, Mr. Baxter, that's exactly what I said."
"Isn't that a little steep, Your Honor?" Todd asks.
"No, counselor, I don't believe it is," Judge West replies sternly. "Now, I understand Mr, Ewing's assets are quite vast at this time, so I'm giving until exactly two weeks from today for these assets to be divided equally between Mr. and Mrs. Ewing. Court is adjourned." The judge bangs his gavel.
An angry John Ross stands. "Todd, what the hell just happened here?"
"Exactly what I warned you might happen, John Ross."
"Why the hell didn't you do somethin'?"
"Like what? What was I supposed to do?" Todd asks as Pamela and Tripp walk over to them.
"Well, John Ross," Pamela says with a smile. "It looks like you and I are about to be business partners once again. From Ewing Global to Westar, I just can't seem to get rid of you, can I?"
"I told you once that I was gonna take everything from you," Pamela says. "Well, this is only the beginning." Pamela and Tripp smile at him and then turn and walks out of the courtroom, leaving John Ross seething with anger and plotting his revenge.
Southfork.....two nights later
"I'm the one who should be thanking you for inviting me. You know, Cally went back to Florida yesterday, and with her gone, I'm all alone in that big house again."
Bobby walks into the room at that moment. "Well, won't be long now and we will be in a brand new year, ladies," he says cheerfully.
"Let's just hope that 2015 is better than 2014 was," say Ann.
"Now, honey, this year had its ups and downs, but, over all, with you and Emma surviving that kidnapping, and Christopher bein' alive after we all thought he was dead, I'd have to say this turned out to be one of the best years of my life."
"Where is everyone?" Sue Ellen asks.
"Lucas and Emma went to a New Years Eve party, and they invited Christopher," Ann replies. "And I'm guessin' John Ross is out with Amanda."
"Yeah, I guess they didn't wanna sit home and ring in the new year with the old folks," Bobby says with a smile.
"Frankly, so do I. after that rather.....interesting Christmas we had with the entire family here," says Ann.
Bobby sighs. "You know, as much as I enjoyed everybody bein' here, I have to agree. Maybe I'm just gettin' old, but this is exactly the kind of New Years Eve I like. Quiet, without all the drama. Speaking of which, I haven't had much of a chance to talk to John Ross since his divorce hearing on Monday. How's he doin', Sue Ellen?"
"Naturally, he's very angry," replies Sue Ellen. "He was hit pretty hard, losing half of his Westar stock to Pamela. And honestly, I find it hard to feel very sorry for him, considering the way he got it. But, I only wish he'd lost it to anyone but Pamela."
"Yeah," Bobby agrees. "Did you see that smirk on Cliff's face when they left that courtroom? I wanted to wipe it off and shove it down his damned throat."
"I guess that, one way or another, the Barnes family is ALWAYS going to be a thorn in the side of the Ewings," says Sue Ellen.
Amanda's apartment....
"John Ross, how long is this gonna go on?" She asks.
"How long's what gonna go on, darlin'?"
"THIS," she says, walking over to him and pointing to his glass. "You've been moping around all day. For the last two days, actually. And how many drinks is that you've had tonight?"
"Lost count," he says. "Besides, it's New Years Eve. We're supposed to be celebratin'. You know, out with the old, in with the new."
"John Ross, I have no doubt that somehow you're gonna find a way to keep those shares instead of turning them over to your wife."
"EX-wife," John Ross corrects, finishing off his glass of bourbon.
"Sorry. Ex-wife."
"And you're right. I will find a way. Her and that son of a bitch Tripp McKay....they're gonna get theirs. And that daddy of Pamela's, Cliff Barnes." John Ross walks to the bar again and pours himself another drink. "I'm gonna make him pay, too. For everything he's done to my fam'ly over the years."
"Well, for tonight, can't we give that a rest?" Amanda asks. "It's New Years Eve, and I'd kinda like to spend it with the man I adore, not discussing his ex-wife and her daddy."
John Ross turns to her and takes a sip of his bourbon. "You know, you are abso-lutely right," he says, slurring his words slightly. He finishes off his bourbon, then walks over and puts his arms around Amanda, then kisses her. "And I know just how we can ring in 2015."
Amanda smiles. "After all those drinks, you sure you're up to it?"
"Darlin', I am ALWAYS up to the task," he says confidently. "Why don't you join me in one more drink to celebrate my freedom from that Barnes bitch, and then we can celebrate us."
"Good idea. You go on in the bedroom and I"ll fix our drinks and be right in."
John Ross looks at her for a moment and smiles. Then he kisses her, and walks into her bedroom, taking off his shirt as he goes. Once alone in the living room, Amanda sighs deeply, then walks over to the bar. She picks up a glass and pours some bourbon. Then she picks up the glass John Ross was using and pours another glass for him. She puts the bottle down, replaces the cap, then takes a small vial from her pocket, opens it, and pours a liquid from the vial into John Ross's glass, stirring it up in the bourbon. After a moment's hesitation, Amanda takes the two glasses and heads into the bedroom to join John Ross....
Sue Ellen's home....later
"Happy New Year, Sue Ellen," says a man's voice from behind Sue Ellen, startling her. The voice is strangely familiar. Even though she hasn't heard this voice in many years, she has never forgotten the sound of it.
He walks closer to her. "It's been a long time, Sue Ellen. Happy New Year."
Sue Ellen is stunned speechless. All she can do is look at him, unsure if this is a dream, or if Dusty is real.....