Previously on DALLAS:
--------------Carter McKay suffered a massive stroke. With his family around him, McKay passed away.
--------------Friends and enemies alike gathered for McKay's funeral.
--------------After his grandfather's funeral, Tripp was stunned when his long-lost mother showed up.
Tripp and Pamela's apartment.......night
"Mom?" A stunned Tripp says as he comes face to face with the mother who had abandoned him and his twin brother when they were only 7-years-old.
"Yes, baby. It's me," the woman says, walking over to him.
"What are you doing here?"
"Sharon arrived not long after you left," Tracey says.
"Why are you here? After all these years?" Tripp asks.
"I read about your grandfather in the paper in Tulsa. Carter McKay even made the news there. I thought you could use a visit from me. I didn't know until I went to the cemetery that Hunter..........that he........"
"That he was dead?" Tripp asks.
"Yes."
"Yeah. That's just great. Your own son died almost two years ago, and you didn't even know about it."
"What happened?" Sharon asks. "Was it an accident?"
"Do you really even care?" Tripp asks bitterly.
"Of course I care."
"Sharon, Hunter was.......he got involved with some very bad people," Tracey says.
"It was a drug cartel," says Tripp. "Hunter was........he was murdered by them."
Sharon puts her hands to her face and gasps. "Oh my God. My son was........murdered?"
"Yeah. So now that you know that Hunter is gone, you can just go back to wherever it is you've been for the last 22 years. Because I sure as hell want nothing to do with you."
Sharon looks at her son with hurt in her eyes.
Ewing Oil....
Courtney walks into the office. "Christopher, I finished those reports and filed them."
"Oh, Courtney, thank you. I didn't realize you were still here this late," he says.
"Yeah, I wanted to get those reports done tonight, and I knew you were still here."
"You go on home. I'll see you tomorrow."
Courtney looks at him for a moment. "Christopher, are you alright?"
"Well, since I know you weren't that close to Mr. McKay, I'm guessing his funeral today isn't what has you so upset."
"No, you're right, it's not."
"Would you like to talk about it?" Courtney asks.
"Thank you, but, no," Christopher replies. "It's late, and I'm sure you wanna get home."
"Oh, sure, home to my empty apartment. No, I'm in no hurry to go home. Besides, it looks like you've had a couple drinks, and I don't think you need to drive all the way home. So if you wanna talk, I'd be happy to listen. Unless of course, you wanna be alone."
"Well, then, why don't we go to my apartment, and I'll make us some coffee, and we can talk?"
Christopher looks at her. "Thank you, Courtney. I'd like that very much."
Courtney smiles at him. "So would I."
Tripp and Pamela's apartment.....later
"Tripp, aren't you coming to bed?" She asks.
"I'll be there in a little while."
Pamela takes a seat on the sofa beside him. "Are you alright? I know your mother showing up had to come as a huge shock, especially now."
"I don't know, sweetheart. I can't even fathom that," Pamela says.
"Neither can I. That baby of ours.......it hasn't even been born yet, and already, I love it. I could never abandon my child, no matter what the circumstance."
"Well, it turned out she did what was best for you, whether she meant to or not. You had your grandfather."
"Yeah, that's true. But what is she doing back here now? My God, the woman didn't even know that her own son had been dead for almost two years."
"Maybe she's come back to try and make it up to you," Pamela says. "Maybe after all these years, she regrets leaving you."
"Well she can never make it up to me," Tripp says, standing to his feet. "I meant what I said. I don't want
"Then you don't have to," Pamela says, standing and walking over to her. "Maybe she'll just go away. Maybe she'll realize how you feel and leave Dallas."
"I don't care if she leaves or not," Tripp says. "Just as long as she stays the hell away from me."
Pamela puts her arms around Tripp and embraces him.
Meanwhile.....Courtney's apartment
"Thank you," he says.
"You're very welcome."
"This is a nice apartment."
"Thanks. So, you wanna tell me what's bothering you?" Courtney asks.
Christopher looks at her and sighs. "You sure you wanna listen to me complain about my love life? After all, that's not part of your job description."
"No, but it is part of the job of being a friend. And, even though you're my boss, I also consider you a friend."
"That means a lot. I think of you as a friend, too, Courtney."
"Have you ever been in love, Courtney?" Christopher asks.
"Yes. I have."
"I don't know what it is about me," Christopher says. "But every time I fall in love......every time I let my heart feel something for someone, it always seems that relationship is doomed. Maybe I'm just cursed when it comes to love."
"I don't believe that."
"Well, that's the way it seems to me. First there was Elena. My first true love. I guess you've heard that story."
"Some of it," Courtney says.
"Then after Elena, there was Rebecca. Turned out she wasn't who she said she was, and I didn't find out until after I married her that she was really Pamela Rebecca Barnes and had only married me so she and her father could get their hands on my methane patent. Then there was Heather, who of course is now dating my brother Lucas. And then.......Charlie."
"And.......what about the woman you met when you were in California?" Courtney asks.
"Yeah. Erin. Well, it seems that her ex has come back into her life."
"And that's why you're so upset?"
Christopher nods. "Yeah. I called her earlier this evening, hoping we could find a time to meet and spend some time together. But, she told me about this guy, and, she's still in love with him. I guess I was just a rebound romance for her. Sometimes I feel like I'm gonna be alone for the rest of my life. Maybe I'm meant to be."
"Christopher, that's not true," Courtney says, taking his hand. "You've just had a little bad luck, that's all. You're a wonderful man, and any girl would have to be out of her mind not to see that. You're handsome, kind, caring, gentle. And one day, you're gonna make some lucky female extremely happy."
Christopher looks at her and smiles. "Well, maybe I should hire you as my publicist after that build up."
"It's only the truth, Christopher," Courtney says, fighting back tears. She stands and walks to the window and looks out, her back to him.
Christopher watches her for a moment. Seeing that Courtney is crying, Christopher stands and walks over to her. "Courtney, are you okay?" He asks. "What's wrong?"
"Courtney, I.........I don't know what to say."
"There's nothing to say."
"I guess I was better at hiding it than I thought," Courtney says, lowering her head.
"Or I was just blind." Christopher gently touches Courtney's face, and she looks up into his eyes. He then kisses her. After a moment, he pulls out of the kiss and looks at her. "I don't really feel like going home tonight," he says.
"Then why go home?" Courtney asks softly, almost in a whisper.
Southfork.....the next morning
"Where IS everyone this morning?" Lucy wonders, looking around at all the empty seats at the normally full table.
"Well," Bobby says. "Lucas spent the night with Heather and Michael again. Christopher called last night and said he wouldn't be home, and Conner spent the night over at Ray and Donna's."
"I wonder where Christopher spent the night," Krystina says.
"Maybe he's met a young lady," says John Ross.
"I sure hope so," Ann says. "It's really been hard on him since Lucas and Heather started seein' one another."
At that moment, Justin and Amanda walk into the room. "Hey, y'all," Justin says.
"Well, good mornin', you two," Ann says happily.
"Welcome home," says Bobby. "How was the honeymoon?"
"It was wonderful," replies Amanda.
"Yeah, we had a lot of fun."
"When did you two get home?" Lucy asks.
"Well, sit down and have some breakfast," Ann says.
"Don't mind if we do," Amanda says. "Looks like the breakfast crowd is thinning out at Southfork."
"Yeah, where is everybody?" Justin asks as he and Amanda take seats at the table.
"Christopher and Lucas stayed in town last night, and Conner spent the night over at Ray and Donna's," Bobby replies.
Mara walks into the dining room. "Excuse me, Mrs. Ewing," she says to Ann. "Mr. Bum is here to see you."
"Thank you, Maria," Ann says. "Please tell him to come in."
"Yes, ma'am."
As Maria walks out, Bum walks into the dining room. "Morning, everyone," he says.
"Mornin', Bum," says Bobby. "You want some breakfast?"
"No, thanks. I'm sorry if I interrupted your breakfast, but, I found some information about your brother, Ann, and I thought you'd wanna know as soon as possible."
A worried expression comes over Ann's face as she looks from Bum to Bobby, wondering if what Bum was about to tell her was good or bad.
Bobby's office......a couple minutes later
"Have you located my brother?" Ann asks.
A look of surprised crosses the faces of Bobby and Ann. "Dallas?" Ann asks. "Mark was in Dallas in '94?"
"Yes. Apparently, he came here to see you, Ann."
"I never heard from Mark," Ann says. "But, 1994 was when I made the big mistake of returnin' to Gilmer to see my parents, somethin' I wish I'd never done."
"Do you have any information on Mark's activities while he was in Dallas?" Bobby asks.
"Yeah, He got a job workin' for a Walmart in Dallas that summer, and he met a young woman. The two of them soon left Dallas together and moved to Houston, where they stayed for about two years. In 1996, Mark returned to Gilmer with his girlfriend. He tried to hold a job, but it was hard for him because of his prison record and his past drug addiction. Word has it that his girlfriend also had expensive tastes."
"And of course I can't imagine my parents helpin' him one bit," Ann says.
"You're right......they didn't. In 1998, your father died, and not long after, Mark's girlfriend came up pregnant, a financial burden your brother didn't need. After their son Shawn was born in early 1999, Mark was hangin' by a thread. Not only was he havin' to pay for a new baby. but he was havin' to support his expensive girlfriend, and help your mama out financially as well. He got involved in dealin' drugs again, and he worked for a bookie to make extra money. Wasn't long before Mark was arrested again, just before Christmas of '99. He was released on bail, and then he married his son's mother. A little over a year later, in January of 2001, Mark finally went to court on the drug charge. He was sentenced to three years in prison. For the first few months he was in prison, Mark's wife and son lived with your mother, until she and the wife had a huge falling out and your mother kicked them out. Eventually Mark's wife divorced him. He was released from prison in 2004 after serving his three year sentence. In 2005, he and his wife reconciled and remarried. They stayed together for the next ten years, and separated just last year. After his release from prison in '04, Mark seems to have straightened his life out. He held the same job for ten years, held his marriage together, and from all indications, he was a good father to his son."
"Where is my brother now?" Ann asks.
"Mark stayed in Gilmer until he and his wife split up last July, and then he left town. I'm still workin' on trackin' him down."
"Honey, I'm sure your mother would know," Bobby says.
"Bobby, I would never go to her for anything."
"There's somethin' else you should know," Bum says.
"What, Bum?" Bobby asks.
"In 2002, after Mark and Ann's mother kicked Mark's wife out of her home, she came back here to Dallas with her son, and she contacted someone and asked for money."
"A friend? A relative here in Dallas?"
"You might say that. Here's where it gets really weird. You'd both better sit down because when I tell ya who Mark's wife went to for help, you might just faint."
Bobby and Ann look at Bum with confused expression, then look at each other.
Meanwhile.....Courtney's apartment
Christopher wakes up in Courtney's bed that morning. He is startled when he sees her sitting up in bed beside him, smiling at him.
"Good morning," she says.
"Morning," he says sleepily. "What time is it?"
"Just a little after 8."
"How long have you been awake?" Christopher asks.
"Maybe twenty minutes," Courtney replies.
"Why didn't you wake me?"
"Because I was enjoying watching you sleep. Hearing the sound of your breathing. You looked so sweet. And I was thinking about last night, and how incredible it was."
Christopher sits up in bed and kisses her. "I'm really glad you invited me over. I was feelin' so low last night after talking to Erin and hearing she was wanting to give her ex-boyfriend a chance."
Courtney smiles at him. "Well, are you feeling better this morning?"
"Oh, yeah," he replies, then kisses her again.
"I'd better get dressed and make us some breakfast. Then we have to get to the office."
"Is it gonna be weird for you now? I mean working at Ewing Oil knowing you've slept with me?"
"Not at all. Will it be weird for you?"
"Not in the least," Christopher replies with a smile. "But, don't bother making breakfast. I have a better idea. Let's take a shower, then I'll treat you to breakfast before we go to the office."
"I like your idea better," Courtney says.
Southfork....
"Bum, are you sure about this?" Ann asks.
"Yes I am."
"Mark's wife went to Carter McKay and asked him for money while Mark was in prison?" Bobby asks.
"That doesn't make any sense," says Ann. "Was Mark's wife a relative of McKay's?"
"You might say that. Ann, your brother's wife was the ex-girlfriend of McKay's son, Tommy, and the mother of Tommy's two sons, Hunter and Tripp, Sharon Rogers."
"My brother was married to Tripp McKay's mother?" Asks Ann.
"Yep."
"But.....how's that possible?" Bobby asks.
"Well, as I said, Mark Smith came to Dallas in 1994 after his release from prison. My guess is they met around that time when Sharon Rogers came to Dallas and left her two sons with their grandfather, Carter McKay."
"This is unbelievable," says Ann.
"Talk about a wild coincidence," Bobby says.
Ann looks at him. "
Ann looks at him. "Well, I guess this isn't our first wild coincidence, is it?"
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital....
Brad walks into the room. "Mother," he says.
"Oh, hello, darling, thank you for coming."
"You almost ready to go?" Brad asks.
"Yes I am DEFINITELY ready to get the hell out of this hospital and back into my own home."
"Has your doctor been in yet?"
"Oh, yes, he was here earlier."
Marilee looks at her son and smiles. "Much better. I suppose I needed a few days of rest and relaxation."
"So what happens now? I mean, did the doctor prescribe medication or anything to prevent this from happening again?"
"Well, the only thing he said was that I should avoid stress as much as possible. Stress is the worst thing for a heart condition, or any condition, really."
"True," Brad says after a brief hesitation. "Look, Mother, I'm sorry. I feel like this whole thing was my fault."
Marilee looks at her son. "Oh, sweetheart, that's nonsense."
"No, if I hadn't confronted you about Cliff Barnes, and if I hadn't pushed you so hard, this might not have happened."
"Don't blame yourself, darling. It's over, and we don't have to talk about it anymore. And now, I'm ready to get the hell out of this hospital."
"Alright, then," Brad says. "I'll get your bags, and we'll call the nurse to come wheel you down."
"I'd rather walk."
"I know, but, it's hospital policy, Mother. They have to take you down in a wheelchair, regardless of your ability to walk out on your own."
Marilee smiles at her son as Brad begins gathering her belongings, hopeful that her little fake heart attack had helped her dodge the bullet of Brad continuing to question her about his true paternity.
Perry's Steakhouse And Grille....early afternoon
"You're right about that. I told you that Bobby had asked Bum to try and find my brother, Mark."
"Yes. Any luck yet?"
"Well, somewhat," replies Ann. "Bum still hasn't located my brother, but he has located Mark's former wife."
"Oh, well, that's wonderful. At least it's a start."
"Yeah," Ann says with a sigh.
"Ann, what's wrong?" Sue Ellen asks.
"It was a shock when we found out who my brother's wife is, especially to Bobby."
"I don't understand. Why? Who is she?"
Ann looks at her friend for a moment. "My brother's wife is none other than Tripp McKay's mother."
Sue Ellen is stunned by the news and looks at Ann in shock for a moment before she can say anything. "What? Did I hear you right? Your brother's wife is Tripp McKay's MOTHER?"
"Oh, you heard right," says Ann.
"But......how?"
Ann sighs. "Sue Ellen, there's a lot I haven't told you about my family, and my brother. I won't get into all the ugly details, but, to make a long story short, my brother got very heavily into drugs when he was young. He met this girl, who also had a problem with drugs and one day while they were both high, Mark's girlfriend was accidentally killed. Mark was convicted of manslaughter and served eleven years in prison for her death."
"Oh, Ann, I'm sorry. I had no idea," says Sue Ellen.
"It was while Mark was in prison that I moved to Dallas, and eventually I met and married Harris Ryland. When Mark was released in 1994, he came to Dallas to see me, but, by that time I had left and gone back to my hometown of Gilmer for a while. When he was here, Mark met Sharon Rogers, Tripp and Hunter's mother, and it was apparently during the time that she brought those boys to Dallas and left them with Carter McKay. Mark and Sharon were eventually married, and had a son. Sue Ellen, I have a 17-year-old nephew that I've never laid eyes on."
Sue Ellen reaches across the table and takes Ann's hand. "Ann, that's wonderful. Hopefully now, once you actually locate your brother, you and he can reconnect and establish a relationship."
"Make it possible, Ann. You know, many times I wish that I could have my sister Kristin back in my life. If I had known years ago what I know now, I would've done things a lot differently. What I'm trying to say is, like me, you only have one sibling, so if there'a even the slightest chance that you and your brother can establish a relationship, then you have to try. Or you'll end up regretting it for the rest of your life."
Ann looks at her and nods.
Westar....
Jill walks into the office. "Hi, you busy?" She asks.
"Well, hey, come in," Tripp says, standing to his feet. "I didn't know you were back. How was the honeymoon cruise?"
"It's okay, Jill. There was no need to disturb you on your honeymoon."
"Well, is there anything I can do for you?" Jill asks. "I mean, I'm actually kind of surprised to see you here at work today. I thought you would've taken a few days off."
"I understand. Is something else bothering you?"
"No."
"You sure about that?" Jill asks. "I do know you pretty well."
"Yeah, I guess you do," Tripp says. "I had a visitor last night. It was my mother."
"Your mother? But I thought you didn't even know where she was."
"I didn't," says Tripp. "Not until last night. She claimed she came to Dallas because she heard about my grandfather's death."
"You think she's here for another reason?" Jill asks.
"Yeah, Jill. I do, and it's pretty obvious to me why she's here. From the looks of her, she hasn't been doing so well financially, so she heard my grandfather died, and she's sure I'm gonna come into all those McKay millions, so she came here to cash in and get a piece of the pie."
"That's pretty harsh."
"It's the truth. The woman dumped me and my brother on my grandfather 22 years ago and never looked back. So why would she show up here now, after my grandfather's death?"
"I'm sorry, Tripp," Jill says. "Is there anything I can do?"
"Thanks, Jill, but, I'll be fine. I appreciate you asking."
Jill smiles. "No problem. Despite our past, and despite the feud between our families.......I do still care about you. And if there's anything you need, or if you just need to talk, I'm here."
"That means a lot. Thank you."
"Well, I'd better get back to work. I just wanted to let you know I was back and tell you how sorry I am about Carter."
Tripp nods at her and manages a weak smile. As Jill is heading out of the office, she meets Pamela.
"Well, Pamela, hello," Jill says with a smile. "My, you're looking.........nice these days."
"Jill," Pamela says somewhat rudely, then walks past Jill and into her husband's office. Jill smiles and walks away as Pamela closes Tripp's door behind her.
"Hello, sweetheart," Tripp says, greeting Pamela with a kiss in his office.
"Hi," says Pamela.
"What brings you down here?"
"I was doing a little shopping, and I hoped I could persuade my handsome husband to take me to lunch."
Tripp smiles. "I think your handsome husband can be persuaded," he says, kissing her again.
"Are you okay?"
"I was just thinking about last night. My mother showing up so unexpectedly like that. Hopefully she's on her way out of Dallas by now."
"I dunno, but if she's got any sense, she has. I mean, I want nothing to do with her ever again, so there's nothing left for her here."
"Tripp, I've been thinking, and, maybe you should see her again. Just to talk to her. You were upset last night, and shocked by her arrival, so you didn't give her much chance."
"Talk to her?" Tripp asks. "Pamela, why would I wanna do that?"
"Tripp, did you see the look on her face when you told her about Hunter? It was obvious that she was upset, and hurt."
"Yeah? Well if she really cared about Hunter and me, she never would've abandoned us 22 years ago."
"Tripp, she IS your mother," says Pamela.
"I've done very well without a mother since I was 7-years-old.. I sure as hell don't need one now that I'm almost 30. Come on, Pamela. I don't wanna talk about that woman anymore. Let's get out of here and get some lunch."
A worried Pamela looks at her husband, then nods. Tripp quickly shuts down his computer, then he and Pamela leave the office together.
Ewing Oil....
"No, John Ross," Sally replies. "She said she was having lunch with Mrs. Ann Ewing, and probably wouldn't be back into the office until late afternoon. But your wife just walked in."
John Ross sighs. "Aight, thank ya," he says. "Send her in."
"Yes, sir."
A couple of seconds later, a smiling Krystina walks into the office.
"Hey, darlin'," John Ross says, greeting his wife with a kiss.
"Hello, sweetheart. I had lunch with Lucy, and I thought I'd stop by here on my way back to Southfork."
"You and my cousin Lucy have been gettin' pretty tight, huh?"
"I like Lucy. She and Ann have been very sweet to me since we got married."
"Well, I'm glad," John Ross says. "Want a drink?"
"Sure, that'd be nice."
John Ross walks to his bar and pours two glasses of bourbon, and hands one to Krystina. "Actually, Krystina, I'm glad you stopped by.
"Any particular reason, or are you just happy to see me?"
"A trip? Where to?" Krystina asks.
"California," John Ross replies. "This weekend is Elena's weekend for her little supervised visit with Little John. I have a business meetin' in California this weekend, so, I figured we could have a nice little trip away from Dallas and Southfork for a couple days. And on the way back we can stop and pay a visit to your Mama."
"John Ross, that would be wonderful."
"I thought you'd like that," John Ross says.
"So what kind of business meeting do you have in California?" Krystina asks. "Ewing Oil business?"
"That's right," John Ross replies.
"I didn't realize Ewing Oil did any business on the West Coast."
Krystina walks over to him. "You know what? You're so sexy when you're talking about wheeling and dealing. You really love this high pressure, high stakes oil business, don't you?"
"You were born for the oil business, John Ross Ewing," says Krystina. "It's in your blood."
"Damn right. I may be way down the line around this comp'ny right now, Krystina, at the bottom of the totem pole under Mama, Uncle Bobby, and my cousin Christopher. But it was always my Daddy's dream that I run Ewing Oil, and now it's my dream, too. One day, Krystina, Ewing Oil will be mine. And then, my sons after me. Alex, Little John, and our sons."
"Our sons?" Krystina asks. "And what if we have daughters?"
"Hell, they can help run it, too," John Ross says with a slight smile.
"I love you, John Ross."
"And I love you back, Mrs. Ewing," John Ross says, kissing her.
Stone Oil....
"Mr. Stone, Chase Benson is here."
"Thank you. Send him in." Brad stands and walks over to his bar. He pours himself a drink as Chase walks into the office.
"Mr. Stone," Chase says.
"Hello, Chase. Would you like a drink?"
"I'd love one, thanks."
Brad pours Chase a drink and hands it to him. "Well, you said on the phone that you have that information on Krystina Ewing I asked for?"
"That's right," Chase replies, taking a sip of his drink.
"Well let's have it," Brad says.
"Yes, I've heard of the company," says Brad. "Go on."
"Krystina's mother was the former Krystle Grant, and she was previously married to a man named Mark Jennings. Krystina has two half-sisters, Amanda Carrington, who lives in England now, and Fallon Carrington Colby, who lives in Denver, and two half-brothers, Steven and Adam Carrington. Both of the brothers also live in Denver. Now after the father died in 2013, he left the company to Krystina to run, with his other four children receiving equal shares in the company."
"That's interesting," Brad says. "I wonder why old man Carrington made Krystina president of his company instead of one of his older children?"
"Well, from everything I can gather, Blake Carrington didn't trust his oldest son Adam. The other son, Steven, had no interest in the company, and neither did the other two girls. So, that only left Krystina as a worthy choice. There really isn't a whole lot about her that's very interesting. In fact, to have been the daughter of a wealthy oil family, Krystina Carrington is pretty boring."
"Oh, yes, she dated a number of men from her college years until just a few years ago. She was involved with this guy for several months, but he was married. As soon as Krystina found out, she broke things off with him."
"Well," Brad says, taking a sip of his drink.
"Not exactly what you were looking for?" Chase asks.
"Not exactly. I really expected a much more interesting report. But, never mind that. Chase, I have another job for you."
"Sure. What is it?"
"You've heard of Cliff Barnes, right?" Brad asks.
"Of course I have. Who in Dallas HASN'T heard of Cliff Barnes?"
"I want you to find out everything you can about Barnes. His business life, his personal life, his family. And especially any and all relationships he's had over the years."
"I'll get right on it," Chase says. "Umm, but would you mind telling me why?"
Brad looks at the young private detective. "I have my reasons, Chase. Just get this done ASAP. I want that information YESTERDAY."
"Sounds important."
"Oh, it is. VERY important."
Westar.....late afternoon
Motel 6 in Dallas......a short time later
"Umm, I must have the wrong room," Tripp says. "I'm sorry."
"Who are you looking for?"
"Sharon Rogers."
"No, you got the right room," the teenager says. "Sharon's my Mom."
Tripp's mouth falls open in shock. "Your.......Sharon Rogers is your mother?"
"That's right. Well, she USE to be Sharon Rogers, a long time ago. She's Sharon Smith now. And you must be Tripp.......my Mom's other son."
A look of complete shock comes over Tripp's face as he looks at this young man.......the half-brother he never knew existed......the son his mother had decided to raise after abandoning Tripp and Hunter!