Previously on DALLAS:
---------------Tripp was stunned and angry to learn that he has a half-brother.
---------------Pamela paid Sharon a visit, and Sharon told her of how Carter McKay kept Tripp and Hunter from her all those years.
---------------After being stood up for dinner by John Ross and Krystina, Sue Ellen was invited to have dinner with Catlin Ewing and his son.
--------------John Ross asked Charlie to allow Alex to go to San Francisco with he and Krystina.
--------------Justin and Amanda set Jimmy up on a blind date with an old high school friend of Amanda's.
--------------Afton's mysterious stalker struck again.......this time with a phone call!
Cliff's apartment.....
"Yes, I can tell you what his exact words were," says an upset Afton. He asked me if I liked my latest gift. The locket with the picture of my dear departed mother."
"Do you have this locket?" Asks Detective Miller.
"Yes," Afton says, handing the locket to the detective.
He takes the locket very carefully and looks at it. "Your mother?" He asks, looking at the photo inside.
"Yes. She passed away in December of 2014."
"I'm going to have to hold on to this for evidence. Ms. Cooper, did you recognize this man's voice at all? Was there anything familiar about it?"
"No," Afton replies. "His voice was deep, raspy, as if he was disguising it."
"That's not at all surprising."
"We are going to do everything we possibly can Mr........"
"Barnes. Cliff Barnes."
"Mr. Barnes. Ms. Cooper, I'm going to need to examine the other gifts you've been receiving."
"Yes, of course," Afton says.
"Thank you," Miller says. "Now, I have to tell you, unless we can find some physical evidence, or unless this mystery stalker decides to come out into the open, there isn't much we can do."
"Are you kidding me?" Asks an angry Cliff. "This guy has been sending Afton these weird gifts for weeks, terrorizing her, and you tell us there's nothing you can do?"
"Without any concrete evidence, there isn't a lot. Ms. Cooper, can you think of anyone who might have a reason to want to cause you any stress or harm? Or someone who might have an infatuation with you?"
"No. I mean, I suppose it could be anyone," Afton says. "I am after all, a singer. I own a lounge and I perform there every weekend. It could be anyone who's ever frequented my lounge."
"Alright, we're going to get to work on this. If you receive another gift or phone call, don't hesitate to let us know. And if you receive another call and this guy says anything that makes you feel especially threatened, call 911 ASAP."
"Yes, thank you, I will," says Afton.
"I'll be in touch if we find any evidence such as finger prints on these packages."
"Thank you."
Detective Miller nods, then turns and walks away.
"So that's it," Cliff says angrily. "The police aren't gonna do a damned thing about this."
Justin and Amanda's home....the next morning
"Oh, babe, these look so good," Justin says.
"I'm glad my cooking has improved," Amanda says.
"Yeah, they did. And Katie did say that she thinks Jimmy is really hot."
Justin smiles. "That's awesome. I knew they'd be a great match. I'm so glad you suggested it."
"Well, I always felt so bad for Jimmy, being alone, even if it was by his own choice. And he always looked so lonely when he was hanging out with us. Besides, I wanted Katie to find a good man, too. Just like I did," she says, leaning over to kiss him.
"I love you," Justin says.
"I love you, too."
"I think I'm gonna call Jimmy and see how things went last night after he left to take Katie home."
Amanda laughs. "Justin, you're gonna see him when he comes over later, remember? He said he'd come and help you fix that fence."
Justin smiles. "I know. You're right. I'm just so anxious, and excited about this. I sure hope those two start dating."
The phone rings. "I'll get it," Amanda says. Getting up from the table, she walks over to the counter and picks up the phone. "Hello? Oh, hi. No, no you don't wake us. We were just having breakfast. No, I don't have any plans for today. Lunch? Sure, what time? Yeah, one sounds fine. That's fine. Okay, I'll see you then. Bye."
"That was Cal. He wanted to know if I'd have lunch with he and Jeremy today."
"Well, that's great, darlin'."
"Yeah," Amanda says with a sigh as she retakes her seat at the table.
"What's the matter?"
"I dunno," Amanda replies.
"Are you havin' second thoughts about givin' your daddy a chance? Because if ya are, Amanda, then just call him back and tell him ya can't make it."
"No. I guess I'm just having........not really second thoughts, but, this all so new to me. Seeing my father and actually having an older brother."
Justin reaches over and takes her hand. "I understand how ya feel. And it's gonna take some time. But I'm real happy to see you at least givin' it a shot with your daddy."
"I wouldn't have if it hadn't been for you. You made me realize that everyone makes mistakes, and how important family is. And Lucy also talked to me, and told me of how she didn't have any kind of relationship with her own father until she was almost an adult, then they were estranged for many years again, but now they're close. So I guess if Lucy and your Uncle Gary can get through all that, maybe it's not too late for me and my father."
Justin looks at her and smiles, then leans over and kisses her.
The Krebbs Ranch....
"Well, this morning I'll do a little house cleaning, and then I was thinking maybe we could drive into town and have lunch, and then drop by and pay a visit to Mavis Anderson."
Ray smiles. "That sounds nice. I'm sure Mavis will appreciate a visit. Listen, Donna, there's somethin' I been wantin' to talk to you about for the last couple days."
"Sounds important."
"It is," Ray says. "Honey, I know that we just got married again, and we haven't had that much time alone together, but, how would you feel if we had a couple more people in the house for a while?"
"A couple of more people?" Donna asks. "Like......who?"
"Couple young people. You always did like kids."
"Yes, I love kids. But, uh, WHO are the couple of kids you want to welcome into our home? A couple orphans?"
"Well, not exactly."
"Then what......exactly?" Donna asks.
"So.......you told Conner that he and Dylan could move in here," Donna says, finishing Ray's sentence.
"Yeah. I did."
"Oh, good Lord, Ray, I don't believe you did that," Donna says, getting up from her seat. "Ray, what were thinking?"
"Donna, look," Ray says, standing from his seat at the table. "Conner was gonna look for an apartment so he and Dylan could move in together."
"Then why not LET him?"
"I figured it'd be easier if they just stayed here with us for a while."
"Dylan Baxter was a very disturbed young man, Ray," Donna says. "My God, he tried to KILL John Ross. He's been in a mental hospital for the last several months. Ray we have no way of knowing what he's capable of. You told me yourself he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder."
"And he's fine now. His condition is under control with medication. Look, honey, I know I shoulda talked to you about this first, and for that, I'm sorry."
"Ray, you don't even know Dylan Baxter. What kind of boy he is."
"Donna, if I thought there was any danger from havin' Dylan here, I never woulda said anything to Conner. But there is no danger. Dylan was a young who was pushed to the edge by what John Ross did to his brother, and by the shock of finding out that Jack was his father, and John Baxter had murdered Jack. All that stuff could push anybody over the edge, especially a vulnerable and confused kid."
Donna sighs. "I know," she says sadly.
"Maybe if you met Dylan and got to know him, you'd feel different. He really is a good kid, Donna. He just had some problems and made some real bad choices. And right now, he needs help."
"But why OUR help? Ray, I know how you feel about Conner. But you and I have just started a new life together. A second chance for us, and you want to start that life by inviting two young men, one of whom has some very serious problems, to move in here and live with us? Ray, I....."
"Donna, just listen to me for a second," Ray says. "When I wasn't quite 15-years-old, my mama sent me here to Southfork with a note for Jock Ewing, askin' him to take me in and give me a job. Now Jock didn't know me from a hole in the wall, but he did take me in and gave me a home. He was like a father to me for 20 years before I found out he really was my father. And, do you remember when I brought my cousin Mickey here from Kansas?"
"Of course I remember," Donna says.
"Mickey was a troubled, confused kid with a chip on his shoulder as big as all outdoors. He needed some guidance, and a little love. And once he got that, I saw a change in him." Ray pauses for a moment and lowers his head. "I failed with Mickey. Failed miserably."
"Ray you did NOT fail with Mickey. He was taken from us by a terrible tragedy, but you did make a huge impact on that boy's life."
Ray looks at her and sighs.
"You want a second chance now, don't you?" Donna asks.
"Maybe I do. I see two young men who are members of my family, struggling. Needing family. And I'd like to help 'em if I can."
Donna looks at him for a moment, then smiles. "You have the kindest heart of anyone I have ever known. Alright. If this is something that you want to do, and if you think it's okay, then..........then Conner and Dylan can come stay with us. At least temporarily."
Ray smiles. "I love you, Donna. I'll tell Conner as soon as he comes over this mornin'. Donna, you won't regret this."
"But Ray, if this doesn't work out for whatever reason, or, if we aren't able to handle Dylan with all his problems, then, other arrangements are going to have to be made."
"Agreed," Ray says. "But it'll be fine. You'll see."
Klyde Warren park in Dallas....
"I had almost forgotten how good a hot dog from a stand in the park was," Sue Ellen says after taking a bite of hers.
"I love them," says Catlin. "Reminds me of when I was young and these were all I could afford for lunch."
Sue Ellen laughs. "Catlin, I'm so glad you came to Dallas this weekend. Dinner last night was wonderful."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it, Sue Ellen. This sure is a beautiful day. Early spring is my favorite time of year."
"Mine, too. Early spring, and of course autumn."
"Sue Ellen, would you join me for dinner again tonight?" Catlin asks.
Catlin looks at her and smiles. "I'm in no real hurry to leave. In fact, one of the reasons Catlin, Jr. and I are in town is because we're seriously considering moving our company to Texas."
"Really? Well, that's a surprise."
"I like Texas. I think that Catlin Oil can grow here, and maybe even rival some of the other independents. Besides, I have newly discovered family here in Texas that I'd like to get to know better."
"I think that's wonderful," Sue Ellen says. "Your family and your company will be very welcome additions to Texas."
"Are you speaking professionally......or personally?" Catlin asks.
Sue Ellen looks at him and smiles. "Both," she replies as they continue walking and eating their hot dogs.
Southfork....
"Chris, thanks for taking me out riding," Catlin, Jr. says as the two climb down from their horses.
"My pleasure."
"Southfork sure is a beautiful place. I can't even imagine what it must've been like growing up here."
Christopher smiles. "In a word......it was awesome. And what about you? Didn't you tell me you grew up on a ranch in Wyoming?"
"I did, but it was nothing like Southfork," Catlin, Jr. says.
"Y'know, I've been meaning to ask you," Christopher says. "How do people keep from confusing you and your Dad, when you both have the same name?"
"I think from now on I'm just gonna call ya C.J. to avoid confusion," Christopher says.
"That's fine with me, man. I'm just glad for the company today, since my father is spending the day with your Aunt Sue Ellen."
"Really? Well, those two have been getting pretty friendly, haven't they?'
"Yeah, it would seem that way," Catlin, Jr. says, his tone sounding unenthusiastic.
"You don't sound too happy about that," Christopher says.
"To be honest, Chris, I'm not quite sure how to feel about it."
A McDonald's in Dallas....
"Baby, girl, sure appreciate you joinin' us for lunch on this fine Sunday," Cal says. "I know greasy fast food like Micky D's prob'ly itn't the kinda food you're use to these days, but, I'm afraid it's all my small budget can afford."
"No problem, really," Amanda says. "I love McDonald's. Mom use to take to McDonald's every Friday. But, I told you I'd be happy to treat you guys for lunch anywhere."
"Nope, nothin' doin'," Cal says. "I said I was gone treat my youngins to lunch, and that's what I'm gone do."
"Well, thank you," Amanda says.
"Mandy, we were kinda hopin' that husband of yours would be joinin' us for lunch," says Cal.
"Well, Justin had some work to do at the ranch. His nephew Jimmy is there helping him this afternoon."
"Well, if he needed any help, all he had to do was call me," Jeremy says.
"He and Jimmy can take of it. It's only a small job."
"How does he manage to run that ranch and run that......what is it, some kinda foundation or somethin'?" Cal asks.
"It's a Foundation that Justin's brother set up in memory of their father. And it's not easy. Justin sometimes puts in a full day of work at the Foundation, then comes home and works til after dark at the ranch. I keep telling him he needs to hire a ranch hand."
"Well, now, itn't that a coincidence?" Cal asks. "Y'know, baby girl, your brother there just happens to be lookin' for work. Maybe Justin would be willin' to give Jeremy the job as a hand at his place."
"Well, I dunno. Jeremy, have you ever done that kind of work before?" Amanda asks.
"Okay, well, tell you what. I'll talk to Justin when I get home, and you give him a call sometime this evening."
"Sure," Jeremy says. "I'll do just that."
Justin and Amanda's ranch....later
"Nothing really to tell," says Jimmy."
"Aww, come on, bro," Justin says. "You leave here to take that gorgeous girl home to her place, and you say there's nothin' to tell? Surely you two musta talked on the way back to her place."
"We talked a little."
"About?"
"Is that all?" Justin asks.
"What do you mean is that all? Yeah, that's pretty much it. We got back to her place, I walked her up to her door, we said goodnight, and I left."
"Wow. Well, man, I woulda thought you would have at least........"
"What, bro?" Jimmy asks with a smile. "Slept with her? Come on, dude, it was our first time hanging out together. Besides, I'm just not ready for a step like that. I have to get to know her better first."
"You're right, dude," Justin says. "I guess I just thought that, the two of you seemed to hit it off so well, and it's been so long since.... Justin stops talking. "Sorry."
"Yeah. You thought that it's been so long since I've been with anyone that I would just hop into bed with Katelyn last night within hours of meeting her."
Justin smiles with embarrassment. "Boy, I sure stuck my foot in my mouth then, didn't I?"
Jimmy laughs. "No, it's okay, bro. You're partly right. I did think about it. But, I realized I wasn't ready. And the last thing I wanted to do was push Katelyn away by trying to come on to her and imply that she's the kind of girl who'd hop into bed with a guy on their first hang out date."
"Well, it's hot as heck out here, so why don't we take a break and go to the house and have some some of that lemonade Amanda made for us before she went to lunch with her daddy?"
"That sounds great. I'm melting here," Jimmy says.
As the two start to head to the house, they see Amanda's car drive up and come to a stop. "Hey, my beautiful wife is back. Let's go see how her lunch with her daddy and brother went."
Jimmy nods, then grabs his shirt from a fence post and follows Justin to the house as Amanda gets out of her car.
"Hey, sweetheart," Justin says, walking up to his wife and kissing her.
"Hey, oh, you're all sweaty," Amanda says.
"Yeah, sorry about that. We were just takin' a break to come get some of that good lemonade you made us. How'd your lunch go?"
"Other than being really hot and dirty right now, I'm great," Jimmy says.
"Well, there's some lemonade in the fridge, and some blueberry pie left over from last night."
"Sounds great."
"Justin, can I talk to you for a minute?" Amanda asks.
"Sure, darlin'. Jimmy you go on in and we'll be there in a couple minutes," Justin says.
"Sure," Jimmy says. He smiles at the couple, then walks into the house.
After he's gone, Justin turns to his wife. "So what's up?"
"Well, you know how I've been hounding you about hiring a hand to help out around here so you're not so overworked?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Well, I think I have the perfect person."
"Who's that?" Justin asks.
"My brother, Jeremy," Amanda replies. "He's looking for a job, and you need help around this ranch now that you're running the J.R. Ewing Foundation, so it's a perfect solution."
"Jeremy, huh? Okay, well, I'll talk to him about it. Maybe we can give it a try."
Amanda smiles. "You are AWESOME. No wonder I fell in love with you."
Justin returns his wife's smile, then kisses her. Meanwhile, Jimmy is standing in the doorway watching Justin and Amanda as they kiss, a look of envy on his face.
Southfork.....the next morning
"I love the ranch on a spring mornin'," Ann says.
"So do I," says Bobby. "Mama always said the morning on the ranch was the best time of the day. So what are you thinkin' about?"
Ann turns to face him. "My brother. What I'll say to him if and when I finally come face to face with Mark after so many years."
"You'll know what to say."
"I wonder if he'd even wanna see me after so much time has passed."
"Honey, you're his sister. Of course he's gonna wanna see you."
"I'm sorry, Annie. I wish there was some way I could make things better between you and your mama. Maybe when you and Mark connect, that'll change your mama's attitude."
"I don't think so, Bobby. Maybe I just need to accept the fact that I'll never have a relationship with my mother. But if I can get to know my brother again, at least I'll have some feelin' of havin' a fam'ly."
Bobby puts his arms around her. "You do have a fam'ly, honey. Right here."
"I know. I know I have you and the Ewings. But it's not the same, Bobby. Do you understand?"
"I do," Bobby says. "Let's go down to breakfast."
The Wentworth mansion....
"Mother, good morning," he says.
"Well, good morning, Austin."
"I'm surprised to see you. I thought you were gonna be in California for another couple days."
"I felt that I needed to get back home, and check on things here."
Katherine looks at her son. "I never said that, Austin. I have complete faith in you, or I never would've turned Wentworth Industries over to you."
"I'm sorry, Mom, I just......"
"It's alright, darling. So, anything interesting happen while I was in San Francisco?" Katherine asks. "Or anything I should know about?"
"No," Austin replies. "Nothing happened here that you need to know about. How was your trip to California and your meeting with Richard Channing?"
Katherine remains silent for a moment. "It went fine," she replies, not wanting to tell Austin that she had seen his father in San Francisco.
"So is Channing gonna help you in your quest to destroy the Ewings?"
"Yes. Everything is under control on that front," Katherine says. "One interesting thing did happen while I was in California, though."
"Oh yeah? What?"
"John Ross? What was he doing in San Francisco?"
"Well, his son's mother lives there. But I can't help but feel that there was another reason behind John Ross's visit to San Francisco."
"Oh yeah? Like what?" Austin asks.
"I'm not sure. But just a feeling I have. Call it intuition, and my intuition is usually correct."
Ewing Oil....
"Good morning," he says. "Coffee?"
"Love some."
Bobby pours Sue Ellen a cup of coffee and hands it to her. "So, I understand you spent part of the weekend with Catlin Ewing."
Sue Ellen smiles. "Yes. John Ross and Krystina stood me up for dinner Saturday night, and I happened to run into Catlin and his son at the restaurant, so I had dinner with them."
"And......yesterday?" Bobby asks.
"Yesterday, we went to the park, and then an afternoon movie, and dinner last night."
"So, I take it you and my cousin really like each other."
"I'm glad, Sue Ellen. You really do seem happier than I've seen you since Dusty left."
"I am. Bobby. And the best part is, Catlin is thinking of moving his company to Texas."
"So I heard," Bobby says. "And just think, you won't even have to change your last name from Ewing."
Sue Ellen laughs. "Bobby, Catlin and I are just enjoying each others' company right now, we're not engaged for goodness sake."
"Well, I can hope, can't I?" Bobby asks with a smile. "Anyway, John Ross is coming home tonight, huh?"
"Yes."
"Good. I can't wait to hear how his meeting with Ted Griffin went."
"Neither can I," Sue Ellen says. "I would love to see Ted again, it's been a long time."
As Bobby is about to say something when Christopher walks in. "Hey, guys," he says. "We have a problem."
Bobby and Sue Ellen exchange worried looks, wondering what the problem is.
Southfork....
"Mornin'," Donna says.
"Good mornin' to you."
"Sure is a nice day, so I was hoping maybe you or Lucy would like to go into town with me, do some shopping, or have lunch?" Donna asks.
"I would love to. But Lucy drove over to Fort Worth this mornin' to visit an old friend of hers. You want some ice tea?"
"Sure," Donna says, taking a seat at one of the tables by the pool. She grabs a glass and pours herself a glass of tea from a pitcher sitting on the table.
"Is everything alright, Donna?" Ann asks.
Donna sighs. "I'm not real sure."
Ann takes a seat across from her. "What's goin' on?"
"Ray dropped a little bombshell on me yesterday. He's invited Conner to move in with us and bring his half-brother Dylan Baxter with him when Dylan gets out of the hospital in a couple of weeks."
"Really? And my guess is you're not at all happy about that."
"How would you feel? Look, I like Conner. I REALLY do. But Dylan.........after what he did to John Ross, I....... I'm just not sure I would be comfortable with him living in our home. And, not to mention the fact that Ray and I just got married again."
"Yes, he did. Which really reminds me of some of the things Ray use to do during our first marriage. Important decisions, he just goes right ahead on his own."
"You talked to him about this, right? Told him how you feel?"
"Yes," Ann says. "Mickey and Lucy fell in love, and then he was injured in an accident."
"Right," Donna says with a sigh. "Sue Ellen had been drinking, and she got into J.R.'s car and took off. Mickey tried to stop her and the car was rammed by a man named Walt Driscoll, who was trying to kill J.R. for screwing him over in some business deal. Mickey was paralyzed from the waist down."
"Another victim of J.R.," says Ann.
"Yes. But in all fairness to our dearly departed brother-in-law, J.R. may have played a part in the whole tragedy, but in the end, it was Driscoll who was driving the car."
"Bobby told me that Ray turned off Mickey's life support. That must've been a very painful time for both of you."
"Oh, it was. One of the worst times we'd ever been through. And I think Ray has never gotten over Mickey's death. He blamed himself for a long time because he brought Mickey here. And now, I think his relationship with Conner, and now agreeing to take Dylan in, is a way for him to make up for what he considers his failure with Mickey."
"But that wasn't Ray's fault," Ann says.
"You know that and I know that. Everyone knows that except Ray. You see, he has his own way of seeing things that differs from everyone else. And I just don't really know what to do about this dilemma. Do I give in and let the boy who tried to kill John Ross move into our home and see how it goes? Or do I protest and risk hurting not only Ray, but also Conner, a boy Ray has come to love like a son?"
Ann looks at Donna with sympathy as she reaches across the table and takes her by the hand.
Ewing Oil....
"How could Ted Griffin have backed out of this deal he just made with John Ross two days ago?" Wonders Sue Ellen.
"Sue Ellen, have you talked to John Ross today?" Bobby asks.
"No, I haven't. They were going to stop off in Denver and see Krystina's mother on their way back to Dallas today."
Meanwhile....aboard the Ewing Oil jet
"John Ross, have you spoken to Ted Griffin since your meeting with him the day before yesterday?" Sue Ellen asks.
"You're right, something IS up. Ted Griffin's office phoned and said that he is backing out of the deal you made with him to use his tankers to ship our oil."
"Griffin did WHAT?" John Ross asks. "He can't do that. We had a DEAL. He was all set to sign that contract."
"I'm afraid it's true, John Ross. Did anything happen when you met with him? From what you told me when we talked yesterday, your meeting with Ted was a success."
"It WAS a success," an angry John Ross says. "Griffin was all set to sign that damned contract, now what the hell happened?"
"I don't know." Sue Ellen says. "Bobby is trying to reach Ted now to find out why he did this. Are you on your way back home?"
"Alex and I are. Krystina's stayin' in Denver for a couple days. We got word this mornin' that her nephew, Adam, Jr., was in a real bad car accident last night and she wanted to be with her family right now."
"I'm very sorry to hear about her nephew. I'll let you go, John Ross. I'll talk to you when you get home. Bye."
"Bye, Mama," John Ross says. He puts the phone down and sighs. "Damn."
"What's the matter?" Alex asks.
"Why?" Alex asks.
"I don't know. But I'm sure as hell gonna find out," John Ross says,
Meanwhile....San Francisco
"Mr. Griffin, Richard Channing is here to see you."
Ted remains silent for a moment.
"Mr. Griffin?"
"Yes. Send Mr. Channing in."
"Yes, sir."
A moment later, Richard Channing walks into the office with a smile. "Well, hello, Ted," he says.
"Richard. What do you want?"
"Well now is that any way to greet your benefactor? I take it you've notified the Ewings of your intention to not go through with that little deal you worked out with John Ross during his weekend visit to our fair city?"
"Yes, I have," Ted says as his secretary again buzzes. "Cindy, what is it?"
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Mr. Griffin, but Bobby Ewing is on the phone again. He says it's urgent."
"Take a message," Ted says.
"Why not go ahead and take Mr. Ewing's call?" Richard asks. "Let him know once and for all that your company will NOT be doing business with Ewing Oil."
Ted gives Richard an angry look. "Cindy, I'll take Mr. Ewing's call." Ted picks up his phone and presses a button. "Hello, Bobby," he says. Richard walks over to the window and looks out as he listens to Ted's end of the conversation: "Yes, Bobby, I know, and I'm sorry. I'm afraid that I just can't get my company into any further deals at this time. All my ships are tied up. I know what I told your nephew, and as I said, I'm sorry. Look, Bobby, I know we go way back, but, I can't go through with this deal. I'm sure you'll find another shipping company willing to do business with Ewing Oil. Bobby, I understand you're angry, and you have every right to be. Again, I'm very sorry, Bobby. I have to go. Goodbye." Ted quickly hangs up his phone.
"Very well done, Mr. Griffin," Richard says. "Very well done, indeed. I'm sure that the Tuscany Bank And Trust will be more than happy to extend that mortgage of yours they hold, with a word from me, of course."
"Why are you doing this, Channing?" Ted asks. "Bobby Ewing is an old friend of mine and you just forced me to stab him in the back."
"Ted, Ted. Old friends are a dime a dozen these days," Richard says. "As for why I'm doing this.........for two reasons. First of all, I have a very personal score to settle with the Ewings. Second, I feel that I could help a fellow businessman out of a very precarious financial situation he's gotten himself into, in exchange for a small favor."
"And if I hadn't cancelled my deal with John Ross Ewing?" Ted asks.
Richard turns around to look at Ted and smiles. "Then I might have been forced to give my old friend Blake Matthews at Tuscany Bank And Trust a call and suggest that he foreclose on your mortgage. And you'd lose your entire shipping company."
"Everything that I've ever heard about you is true, isn't it, Channing? You really are a ruthless, heartless son of a bitch."
"Ruthless?" Richard asks. "Perhaps. But heartless? Now Ted, if I were heartless would I have given you the chance to do the right thing by cancelling that Ewing contract in exchange for putting in a word for you at the bank? No. If I were heartless, I'd have simply allowed you to lose this fine business you started for yourself." Richard walks to the door, then turns back to Ted. "Have a nice day, Ted." Richard smiles at him again, then walks out of the office.
Ewing Oil....
She walks into the office. "I spoke to John Ross," she says. "He was as shocked as we were to find out that Ted Griffin pulled out of that deal. Were you able to reach Ted?"
"And? Did he give you any answers?"
"None that made any sense whatsoever. Griffin simply said that he couldn't get his company involved in anymore deals right now, and he was sorry."
"That really DOESN'T make any sense, especially since he agreed to the deal with John Ross just a couple of days ago."
"I know," Bobby says. "Something about this just itn't right. I had a feeling there's a reason behind Ted Griffin's sudden change of heart. Griffin and Ewing have done a lot of business together in the past, and Ted wouldn't have just pulled out of a deal with us unless he was forced to."
"Forced to? But by who?" Sue Ellen asks.
"I dunno. But I sure intend to find out who and what was REALLY behind this."
Justin and Amanda's home....
"Hey, how's it going your first day on the job?" She asks.
"Just fine. Never expected your hubby to tell me to come start work this mornin', though."
Amanda smiles. "Well, he really needed the help around here to keep the place up. Now that he's working for the foundation named after his father, he stays pretty busy. Oh, I brought you some lemonade, freshly made. And I wanted to invite you up to the house for lunch."
"I do my housework. And most days I drive into town and have lunch with Justin. Some days I go over and hang out at Southfork with Ann or Lucy."
"Yeah, your hubby's aunts, right?"
"Ann is his aunt. Lucy is his cousin," Amanda replies.
"Oh yeah, that's right," Jeremy says. "It all sounds kinda borin' to me. But, I guess with all that Ewing money, boredom aint somethin' you really gotta worry about too much."
"You'd be surprised. Sometimes it does get a little boring, and I miss working."
"You.......you MISS workin'? Ya gotta be kiddin' me."
"No, not at all. There are days when I honestly think about going back to work."
"So what did ya do?" Jeremy asks, pouring himself a glass of lemonade. "I mean before you met and married a Ewing."
"I worked as a secretary, just like Mom."
"That how you and Justin met?"
"Not exactly. I was married to his brother, John Ross, first. It's a long story."
"Sounds complicated."
"Yeah, sort of," Amanda says. "What about you, Jeremy? Ever been married? Or engaged?"
"Came close once or twice. But nah. Women are too complicated."
"It's amazing, isn't it?"
"What's amazin'?" Jeremy asks.
"You're my brother, and I really don't know anything at all about you."
"There aint much to know."
"There's gotta be a story there. What was your life like growing up?"
"But why?" Amanda asks. "Why didn't he just settle down somewhere? He had to realize it was hard on you, moving around so much."
"He didn't care," Jeremy says. "You were the lucky one, little sister. You at least had your mama to live with. Mine was dead, so, I had no choice but to go with him. Jackie obviously didn't want me when their marriage broke up. But who could blame her? Nobody'd want a snot nose little step kid of a husband who's walked out on her. Just consider yourself lucky, sis. At least, growin' up with your mama, you made somethin' outta your life. Instead of endin' up a big nothin' like your big brother."
"Jeremy, don't say that. You're NOT a nothing."
"Well, I'm 25-years-old and I'm workin' as a ranch hand on my little sister's husband's place. That don't really spell success in my book. Thanks for the lemonade. I better get this work done."
Amanda watches her brother with great sadness as he puts his glass and the container of lemonade back into the picnic basket and then returns to his job loading hay. Amanda is sad because she senses a great bitterness in her brother, and she wonders what her life would have been like had she been raised by their nomad of a father, too.
Wentworth Industries....
The San Francisco Globe....
Wentworth Industries....
The San Francisco Globe....
Wentworth Industries....
"Miss Wentworth, Brad Stone is here to see you. I told him you were busy, but he INSISTS on seeing you."
Katherine sighs. "Susan, tell Mr. Stone I'm tied up and CANNOT be disturbed."
"Yes, ma'am."
A moment later, Katherine hears the sound of arguing from the outer office. Suddenly, Brad Stone bursts into Katherine's office with her secretary, Susan, behind him.
"Miss Wentworth, I'm so sorry, I tried to stop him," Susan says.
"It's fine, Susan," Katherine says. "Mr. Stone is infamous for not taking no for an answer. That will be all."
Susan nods, then leaves the office, closing the door behind her.
An annoyed Katherine stands from her seat and looks angrily at Brad. "What do you want?"
"What do I want?" Brad says. "I want some answers, Katherine. I've been waiting days and days for you to return from California, and now I want the truth from you."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," says Katherine.
"I wanna know the truth about why you really ended our relationship."
"I already told you."
"Yeah, yeah, the age difference," Brad says. "Is that the truth? Or was it because you were led to believe that your half-brother is my father?"
Katherine looks at him in shock. "What?"
"It's true, isn't it?"
"Did your mother tell you that?" Katherine asks.
"No. As a matter of fact, your son told me."
"Look, just tell me the TRUTH for a change, Katherine!"
"Okay, you want the truth? Your mother told me that Cliff is your father several weeks ago, and YES. That is why I stopped seeing you."
"So you told Austin?"
"No. I never said a word to Austin or to anyone else about this."
"Then how the hell did your punk of a son find out?"
"I don't have a clue," Katherine says. "But I'm going to get to the bottom of this." Katherine buzzes her secretary. "Susan, have my son step into my office right now. Tell him it's urgent, and to drop whatever else he's doing."
"Yes, Miss Wentworth."
"Good," Brad says. "Maybe we'll both get some answers. In the meantime, you might be interested in knowing that what my mother told you was a lie."
"A lie?"
"Yes. She wanted to keep you away from me, so she came up with this lie that Cliff Barnes is my father."
"How sure are you that it's a lie?" Katherine says. "Just because Marilee said it was? Brad, come on. Are you really THAT stupid? If you really want to get at the truth, then ask my nitwit of a brother to take a DNA test. That's the only way you're gonna be sure."
Before Brad can respond, Austin walks in. "Mom, what's up, I......" He stops short when he sees Brad. "What is HE doing here?"
"Austin, I have to ask you something, and I want the truth," says an angry Katherine.
"Come on, Junior," Brad says to the young man. "Go ahead and tell Mommy about your little visit to my penthouse while she was California. Tell her how you told me how you overheard her and my mother talking about Cliff Barnes being my real father."
"Well, Austin?" Katherine says. "I'm waiting for your answer."
A look of fear comes over Austin's face as he looks from Brad to his mother, and he regrets ever telling Brad the truth.
Afton's lounge......
"Hi, Jesse," Afton says.
"Oh, Afton, are you okay?" Jesse asks. "We were all really worried about you the other night when you called and said you couldn't perform."
"I'm sorry. Something came up."
"You didn't receive another one of those gifts, did you?" Jesse asks.
"No. Worse," Afton replies. "This time it was a phone call. At home."
"Oh my God. Afton, I can't even imagine how freaked out you must be by all this. Now this jerk is actually calling your home?"
"I finally called the police."
"And? What did they say?"
"There's really nothing they can do unless they can get some physical evidence such as a fingerprint or DNA. Anyway, I just wanna forget about it, okay? Let's rehearse."
Jesse smiles. "You got it. And if there's anything at all I can do, just let me know."
"Thank you, Jesse. I will," Afton says as another employee, Jan, walks in.
"Afton," Jan says.
"Hello, Jan."
"What is it?" Jesse asks.
"I have no idea," replies Jan.
Afton takes the box and looks at it. "This was.......outside my dressing room?"
"Yeah, it was just sitting there in the hallway outside your door."
Afton looks at the box for a moment.
"Aren't you gonna open it?" Jesse asks.
Afton looks at him, then at the box again. Finally, she unties the ribbon around the box, then slowly takes off the lid. Afton's eyes grow large as she sees what's inside the box. "OH my GOD!" She yells, dropping the box to the ground to reveal it's content.....a small, dead mouse! Jesse quickly stands to his feet as he and Jan both appear as shocked by the bizarre gift as Afton!