Previously on DALLAS:
----------------Christopher went to see Heather, who realized that Christopher was torn between his feelings for her and Charlie.
----------------Austin Wentworth proposed joining forces with the Barnes and McKays to bring the Ewings down. Katherine scolded him for the idea.
----------------Katherine traveled to San Francisco to see Richard Channing.
----------------Marilee Stone returned to Dallas and warned Bobby and Sue Ellen against going after her son, Bradley, who wants revenge against the Ewings for J.R.'s part in his father's suicide in 1980.
----------------Amanda received an unexpected and unwelcome visit from her father and brother at Southfork.
Southfork......afternoon
"Daddy, what are you doing here?" Amanda asks.
"Well, me and your brother came to see you, baby," replies Calvin Shepherd. "To see how you's gettin' along, and from the looks of things, you're gettin' along just fine."
"Amanda, are you alright?" Lucy asks.
"I'm fine, Lucy."
"Well, sweety, I wish you'd say somethin'," Calvin says. "Aint you happy to see me and your brother again after all these years?"
"I haven't seen you since I was a little girl. What makes you think I would be happy to see you now? You walked out on me and my mother when I was barely old enough to remember you, and now you walk back into my life out of nowhere? Why? Oh, never mind, I think I know."
"Well, baby girl, I aint too sure I know what you're gettin' at," says Calvin.
"Don't you? Since you're here, obviously you heard that I had been married to John Ross Ewing, so that's why you came, isn't it? Thinking you could hit me or the Ewings up for money? But it isn't gonna work. You won't get a damned thing from me. Not EVER!"
Calvin looks at his daughter, surprised by her stinging rejection....
Southfork....
"It's aight, son," Calvin Shepherd says. "I do understand where your sister's comin' from. Baby girl, I know you must hate me now for walkin' out on you and your mama. But there's a reason for that. And, I was awful sorry when I heard your mama had passed away. I wanted to come then, but, I couldn't."
"You couldn't?" Amanda asks angrily.
"No, I couldn't. I was locked up at the time."
"Figures. From what I've heard you spent more time IN jail that out."
"Well, now that is pretty much true," Calvin says. "Mandy, I always loved you. And I loved your mama, but Jackie never made things on me. And I always felt like I wuttin' good enough for her. I mean, your mama was a real classy lady, workin' as an executive secretary for that Cliff Barnes fella over at Ewing Oil. And all I was was a foreman on one of Ewing's rigs. Why your mama ever even looked twice at an old roughneck like me, I'll never know. But she did, and we tried. Tried to build us a fam'ly. Jackie even accepted and welcomed Jeremy, my son by my first wife, in. Then you come along. Somehow we just couldn't make it work. I guess Jackie and me were just too different."
"So you just up and walked out?" Amanda asks.
"I knew your mama'd take real good care of you, Mandy. Shoot, I made some real bad choices when I was with Jackie. And I admit I wuttin' real good to her. But I loved her. I loved you, too, baby girl."
"You honestly expect me to believe that?" Amanda asks as Ann returns home with a bag of groceries.
"Oh, well, what's goin' on in here?" Ann asks, walking into the living room.
An uncomfortable silence follows and lasts a few seconds as Amanda and her father continue to stare each other down.
"Uh, Ann, this is Calvin Shepherd," Lucy finally says. "Amanda's father. And her brother, Jeremy."
"Oh? Well, hello, Mr. Shepherd. I'm Ann Ewing."
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miz Ewing," Calvin says.
"I'm fine, Ann, thank you," Amanda replies. "Daddy, just go."
"Mandy, darlin'......"
"You heard me. Just go!"
"Mr. Shepherd, I think you'd best leave now," says Ann.
Calvin looks at Amanda, then at Ann. He sighs. "Aight," he says. "We'll go. Mandy, I hope you change your mind. I really would like to get to know my daughter again. Jeremy, let's go. Miz Ewing, Miss Lucy, it was real nice meetin' y'all."
Without another word, Calvin and Jeremy walk past the women and leave. Ann walks over to Amanda.
"You sure you're alright?"
"Amanda, I'm really sorry," Lucy says. "I thought you'd be happy to see your father and brother. If I had known........well, I never would've let them in and called you over here."
"It's okay, Lucy. You couldn't have known," says Amanda. "Calvin Shepherd was never a father to me. And I'm sure as hell not about to let him start trying now, after all this time."
Meanwhile, outside, Calvin and Jeremy get into Calvin's truck. "Can you imagine that?" Jeremy asks. "That girl wuttin' happy to see us at all. She acts like she thinks she's too good for the likes of us because she married into this fam'ly with this ranch and all that money. Somebody needs to remind that girl that she came from the bottom just like us."
"Now just hold on there, son," Calvin says. "Your sister might be a little upset over our return right now, but don't worry. She'll get use to havin' us around." Calvin starts the ignition in his truck, then he and Jeremy drive away.
Perry's Steakhouse And Grille in Dallas....
"Sweetheart, you've been sitting there playing with that spaghetti for the last half-hour, barely saying a word while I've been doing all the talking," Jenna says.
Charlie sighs. "I'm sorry, Mom. I just wasn't hungry, I guess."
"Are you still upset over Christopher?"
"Yes, Mom, I am."
"Charlie, you're much better off. You did the right thing breaking it off with him before that relationship went any further."
"I'm better off?" Charlie asks. "Better off alone?"
"Charlie......"
"Mom, I love him. I know you don't understand that, but I do. I fell in love with Christopher."
"Could we please not do this right now?" Charlie asks, starting to lose patience with her mother.
"Why don't you and Alex come and stay with Harris and me for a while?"
"No thanks, Mom. We have our own place."
"I know, and I can see how lonely you are. Charlie, a lot has changed for all of us in the year since we moved back here. Ray and I got divorced, Alex discovered that John Ross is his biological father. You battled and beat cancer. Lucas's life has been turned upside down more times than I care to count. Everything has been crazy. That's why I think that right now we need to come together as a family, instead of pulling apart from each other."
"That's not what I'm doing," Charlie says. "I just need time, Mom. Time to myself."
"I think being by yourself is the last thing you need."
"No, it's not," Charlie says as she looks past Jenna and sees Bobby and Christopher walk into the restaurant. She watches as the restaurant's hostess leads them in the direction of Jenna and Charlie's table.
"Sweetheart, what is it?" Jenna asks.
Before Charlie can say anymore, Bobby and Christopher walk up to their table. "Hello, Charlie," Bobby says. "Jenna."
"Hi, Bobby," Charlie says. "Christopher."
"Hey."
"Well, Bobby, how are you?" Jenna asks.
"Just fine, how have you been?"
"Never better."
"That's good. Well, I guess we'd better get to our table. It was nice seein' you both," says Bobby.
"You too."
"Charlie, could we talk?" Christopher asks.
"I don't think so, Christopher. I think we've said all that needs to be said."
A moment of awkward silence follows as Christopher looks at Charlie, then at Jenna. He sighs deeply, then turns and follows Bobby and the hostess to their table. After they are gone, Charlie fights back tears. Jenna reaches across the table and takes her daughter's hand.
Meanwhile, Bobby and Christopher take seats at their table across the room. "Are you okay, Christopher?" Bobby asks.
"No, Dad, I'm not."
"You know, you never told me what exactly happened between you and Charlie that ended your relationship."
"Because I'm not all that sure myself," Christopher says. "Charlie believes our relationship wouldn't work for a couple of reasons. Our age difference for one. That bothers her, NOT me. If the roles were reversed and I were nine years older than her, then there'd be no problem. She also thinks that I would come to resent her if she wasn't able to give me children."
"Could it be there's some validity to that?" Bobby asks.
"Of course not."
"You sure about that? Christopher, I know how much you want children of your own. What if Charlie wasn't able to give you that for whatever reason, her age or the chemo she went through last year? Would you be able to live without ever having a biological child of your own?"
Justin and Amanda's home......that night
"Not feelin' any better, darlin'?" He asks.
"I'm okay."
"Amanda, I know somethin's botherin' you. I could tell when you called me today and cancelled lunch. Especially when you said you were sick and didn't want me to come on home. So what is it?"
"I wasn't sick today," Amanda says. "At least not physically. I was upset."
"About what?" Justin asks.
"Lucy? What'd she want?"
"If I'd known what she wanted, I wouldn't have gone," Amanda says.
"Well what was it?"
"I had a visitor at Southfork. Or rather, two visitors."
"Who?"
Amanda sighs. "My father and my brother."
"Your.......your father and your brother?" Justin asks. "I didn't even know you had a brother."
"A half-brother. Jeremy. He's my father's son by his first wife. I haven't seen either of them since I was a little girl."
"What are they doin' here?"
"What do you think?" Amanda asks. "They obviously found out I'd been married to a Ewing, so they came here to cash in."
"You sure 'bout that?"
"Of course, I'm sure. Where was my father all those years I was growing up? Where was he when my last name was Shepherd instead of Ewing? He's a greedy, manipulative gold digger just here for a hand out or to cause trouble. And from the looks of him, my brother is the same."
"Well, I won't let that happen," Justin says.
"I told them to get lost. Hopefully, they will."
"Yeah, let's hope so."
"It's getting a little cold out here."
Justin smiles. "Well, then, I have a great idea. Let's go upstairs, get into our warm bed, and watch a movie."
Justin leans over and kisses her. After a few seconds, he pulls out of the kiss and looks at her. "You go on up," he says. "I'll be up in a minute, darlin'. I need to call John Ross and ask him somethin' about the Foundation."
"Okay," Amanda says. She gives him another quick kiss, then gets up from her seat on the swing and goes into the house.
Once she's inside and closes the front door, Justin takes his cell phone from his pocket. He scrolls through his contacts until he finds the name and number he wants, then hits the 'call' button. On the second ring, someone on the other end of the line answers. "Hey, it's Justin Ewing. You said that if I ever needed your help, I could call you? Well, I need it now. I need ya to find someone for me. Yeah, two guys who're stayin' here in Dallas, prob'ly at one of the cheaper motels. Check all those first. The names are Calvin Shepherd and Jeremy Shepherd. Amanda's father and brother. Yeah. Do your best, and let me know when you find out where they're stayin', or if they've left town. Okay......thanks, Bum." Justin ends the call and puts his phone down.
Southfork....
"Honey, what's botherin' you?" Bobby asks. "You were real quiet all through dinner, and I can tell somethin's wrong."
"I was just thinkin' about Amanda."
"Amanda? Why?"
"We had a visitor here today when I got home from the market. Amanda's father was here, along with his son."
"Amanda's father? Calvin Shepherd. What the hell is he doin' back in town?"
"I suppose he came to see Amanda," Ann says. "But she wasn't happy to see him at all. I felt so bad for her, Bobby. You could see the pain on that girl's face seein' the father who abandoned her after all these years."
"Honey, you've never fully dealt with the feelings you have toward your own parents. The RESENTMENT you have toward them.
"Bobby, I really don't wanna talk about this," Ann says.
"Annie, if you don't talk about it........if you don't get it out of your system, then this is always gonna eat away at you. Honey, ever since Christmas, when Emma started asking questions about your family, I've noticed a change in you."
"Bobby I am FINE." Ann walks over and turns down the covers on her side of the bed.
"I don't think you are," Bobby says. "I know you don't like to talk about your family, or your childhood. But don't you think you could at least talk to ME about it? I think that's the only way you're ever gonna be able to deal with the past and put it behind you."
"It IS behind me, Bobby. Look, we were talkin' about Amanda and her father. I dunno how we got off on me and my family."
Bobby walks over and gently touches his wife's face. "Don't you ever wonder about your brother? When was the last time you saw or even spoke to him?"
"Fifteen years. And NO, Bobby. I don't wonder about him, I don't think about him. Now I really don't wanna talk about this anymore." Ann turns and walks into the bathroom, leaving Bobby worried about his wife.
Southfork.....the next morning
"Well, why didn't you brush your teeth BEFORE you put your tie on?"
"I always brush my teeth after I get dressed, darlin'. Been doin' it for as long as I can remember." He walks to the bedroom closet and opens it. He takes out three ties and holds them up. "Which one looks best with this suit?"
Krystina turns and looks. "Mmmm, I like the gray one."
"Thank ya, darlin'," John Ross says. "So what are your plans for the day?"
"Well, I have to take Little John to the pediatrician for his checkup at 10:30. Then, I may take him shopping for some new clothes."
"Krystina, duttin' he HAVE enough clothes already? You buy him new stuff every week."
"Yes, but the way he's growing, he's outgrown them in a few weeks."
John Ross looks at her and smiles. "You know you are ONE amazin' woman."
"And just why do you say that?"
"Hey, now," Krystina says. "If we're not careful, we might miss breakfast and you'll be late for work."
John Ross smiles slightly. "Well, I wouldn't mind skippin' breakfast and burnin' some calories. And as for work........My first meetin' itn't until 11 o'clock, so......."
"But I AM hungry," Krystina says softly. "Didn't you get enough last night?"
"Darlin'," John Ross says. "I could never".........he pauses and kisses her.........."Get enough of you."
"You have an insatiable sexual appetite, Mr. Ewing."
"Yes, I do. Itn't that one of the things that made you fall in love with me?"
The dining room......a few minutes later
"Morning, everyone," he says.
"Morning, son," Bobby greets as Christopher takes his usual seat at the table.
"Where's Ann this morning?"
"She wasn't feeling well. Said she wasn't hungry."
"Is she alright, Bobby?" Lucy asks. "Ann's been kinda moody lately, but more so since yesterday when Amanda's father and brother showed up."
"Wait, what?" Christopher asks. "Amanda's father showed up here yesterday?"
"Yes, he did," replies Lucy. "And stupid me, I called Amanda and got her over here. Needless to say, she wasn't at all happy to see her father."
"Lucy, you couldn't have known," says Lucas.
"No, of course not, so don't blame yourself," agrees Conner.
Lucy sighs. "Truth is, I know how she feels," she says sadly.
John Ross and Krystina walk into the room at that moment. "Good mornin', fam'ly," John Ross says as they take their seats.
"John Ross," Bobby says. "Morning, Krystina."
"Good morning, Bobby. Where's Ann?"
"Not feeling well. Said she's gonna skip breakfast for now."
Meanwhile.....Bobby and Ann's bedroom
She then picks up another photo and looks at it for several seconds.
"Annie, what's goin' on? What's on this?"
"Just some old family photos. I haven't taken this box out and look at these in years."
"Is that your brother?" Bobby asks, looking at the picture of the boy.
"Fine lookin' boy."
"Yes, he was. I remember when I was in school, all my girlfriends had crushes on my brothers."
"Yes."
"And who's the woman?" Bobby asks. "I've seen a photo of your mother, so I know it's not her."
Ann wipes a tear. "That's my Aunt Margie. Margie Smith Franklin, my father's youngest sister."
Bobby turns the picture over and looks at the back. "Lake Jackson, 1972. How old were you? Eleven?"
"Uh-huh," Ann says, taking the picture and looking at it. "Aunt Margie and her husband, Uncle George, had a house on Lake Jackson. Mark and I use to spend part of our summers there when we were kids. About the only time we were really happy was when we were there. Home sure wasn't a very happy place."
Ann takes the photo and looks at it. "Yeah. On their weddin' day. August 25, 1956."
"Your mother was very beautiful," says Bobby. "You look a lot like her."
"Well, as long as my resemblance to her ends at a physical one, I don't mind. She was a very beautiful woman. At least on the outside."
"Bobby, I'm not purposely tryin' to keep the details of my childhood and adolescence from you on purpose," Ann says in tears. "It's just that it's very hard to talk about. I've tried for so many years to put it out of my mind and live a normal life, despite the scars I carried with me." Ann picks up another photo of
Bobby reaches over and takes her hand. "Honey, I'm here for you, whenever you wanna tell me about it."
"I will, Bobby. I just can't right now."
"Alright. Fair enough."
"You'd better get ready to go to the office," Ann says.
"If you want, I could stay here today."
"No," Ann says. "I'll be alright. I think I've gotten some of this outta my system, lookin' at these old pictures."
"I love you," Bobby says, kissing her.
"I love you, too, Bobby."
He looks at her for a second, then kisses her again. Then he gets up and walks into the bathroom. Ann again picks up the photo of her parents and looks at it, shaking her head. She puts the photo back into the box and closes it.
Charlie's Home....
"Christopher, what are you doing here?" Charlie asks.
"I was hoping maybe we could talk now."
"I told you the other day........we've said all there is to say."
"No, we haven't, Charlie," Christopher says, walking into the house. He closes the door behind him. "YOU said all you have to say, but so far, I haven't gotten to say ANYTHING."
"Christopher, please. Just go."
"Not until I say what I came here for."
"Okay, fine. Say it and go."
"If our roles were reversed and you were the older person here, I would still be young enough to give you children and raise them, Christopher," Charlie says.
"So we're back to that? This whole issue of you MAY not be able to give me children? Well, I guess we'll never know whether you can or not because you refused to even get tested to see if you CAN get pregnant. You know what, Charlie? I think you're using this as a cop out. I think you're afraid to get involved in a relationship."
"That's ridiculous."
"Is it?" Christopher asks. "Then why the hell do you insist on pushing me away?"
Charlie turns and looks at him. "Christopher, I know how much you want a child of your own. Maybe I can or maybe I can't give that to you, but as I told you before, I don't want to have another child at my age. And I know that someday, you would resent me for not giving you the one thing you want more than anything else in the world. And if I am able to get pregnant again, and I gave you a child........Christopher, eventually I might come to resent you and our child. And I won't put either of us through that. Please, understand.......I do love you. God help me, I do. But we both know that sometimes, love isn't enough to make a relationship last and grow. We want different things, Christopher. And I won't put either of us through the pain of our relationship ending later. It's over. Just accept that, and move on. You are SUCH wonderful man, Christopher Ewing, and such a good person. You deserve the best. You deserve a woman who will love you and can give you what you want and need. A woman who will be by your side when you both grow old and gray, not a woman who'll beat you to becoming a senior citizen. You deserve a house full of noisy, rambunctious children to chase after, to coach in ball games and take to father and son picnics and father/daughter dances. That's what you deserve, and I can't give you any of that. So please, just walk out that door and forget that we ever happened."
Christopher hesitates a moment as he looks at Charlie. Then, he quietly turns and walks out.
After he's gone, Charlie begins to cry. "I'm sorry, Christopher," she says. "As much as I love you, I have to let you go."
Ewing Oil....later
Jimmy walks in. "Hey, man, miss me?"
Justin smiles. "Oh wow, Jimmy," he says, getting up from his seat and walking over to him. "Welcome home, bro."
"Thanks man."
"So how was your trip to see your folks?"
"It was great. I really needed the time away from here," Jimmy says.
"Well, it sure is great to have ya back, dude. And how's my new little niece?"
"Got any pictures?" Justin asks.
"Are you kidding? Of course I've got pictures." Jimmy takes out some photos and shows then to Justin.
"Isn't she? By the way, those are yours. I have copies for everyone in the family. Mom and Dad asked me to give them out."
"Thanks, man. So, when do you start back to class?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"Good. When can you start to work here at the J.R. Ewing Foundation?"
"Anytime you need me," says Jimmy.
"That's terrific. No time like the present," Justin says as his cell phone rings. "Hold on a minute, dude." He walks over to his desk and picks the phone up and answers. "Hey, what's up?"
"Which one?" Justin asks.
"Motel 6 out on Plano Road, room 211."
"Thanks, Bum. I really appreciate you workin' on this so fast."
"It was no trouble. I just did what you suggested and checked the cheaper motels in the Dallas area, and on the fourth try, I found where Shepherd was stayin'."
"Well, I really appreciate it."
"Anything for a kid of J.R.'s," Bum says. "Just yell if ya need me again."
"I will. Later, Bum." Justin puts his phone down and smiles.
"Bum? John Ross's personal private eye?" Jimmy asks. "What was that all about?"
"I asked Bum to find somebody for me. Amanda's daddy and her brother are in town. They showed up at Southfork yesterday and seein' 'em upset Amanda pretty bad. I just wanna make sure that duttin' happen again."
Meanwhile....Bobby's office
"Oh, sorry, I didn't know you guys were busy," he says.
"No, it's fine, son," Bobby says. "We were just lookin' over the geologist's map of our newest field in East Texas. The one we share with Catlin Ewing and his son. What's up?"
"I was just wondering if I could talk to you."
"Of course," Sue Ellen says. "I'll let the two of you talk. I have a conference call in a few minutes anyway. I'll see you both later."
"Thanks, Aunt Sue Ellen," Christopher says as Sue Ellen walks past him and out of the office.
"I just got off the phone with cousin Bobby," Christopher replies. "He's getting the ball rolling, getting our Ewing record label started, and I'm gonna fly out to California and help him."
"California? But why?"
"I told you. To help Bobby get the record label started. Maybe Lucas can fill in for me here again."
"Are you sure that's the only reason?" Bobby asks. "I'm sure your cousin Bobby is capable of handling the L.A. operation of your record label on his own."
"No, you never could."
"Truth is, Dad, I need to get away from here for a little while. A week at least."
"Because of Charlie?" Bobby asks.
"Yeah. I went by her place this morning before I came to work. I had to try one more time to see if I could fix whatever's wrong between us."
"And? I take it it didn't go well?"
"No. She doesn't think our relationship could ever work. Mainly because she doesn't think she would ever be able to give me children. She said that at her age, she doesn't wanna have another child, and she thinks that eventually I'd come to resent her for that."
"As much as I hate to admit it, she does have a point to that," Bobby says. "Son, we talked about this before. Could you live with the fact of not ever having kids of your own? And if Charlie doesn't even wanna raise another child, biological or adopted.....could you live with that?"
"I guess since she broke up with me, we'll never know," Christopher replies.
Before Bobby can say any more, his intercom buzzes.
"Mr. Ewing, Bill Radcliffe is here to see you," Janice says.
"Oh, thank you, Janice, please send him him."
"Bill Radcliffe?" Christopher asks.
"Yes, he's the private detective I hired a while back to find out about my Daddy's missing teenage years after he left the orphanage."
"Bill, thank you for coming," Bobby says, standing to greet the man with a handshake.
"Mr. Ewing," Bill says, shaking Bobby's hand.
"Bill, this is my son, Christopher."
"Hello, Christopher."
"Bill, how are you?" Christopher says.
"Just fine."
"Bill, have a seat," says Bobby. "I trust you have somethin' for me about those missing years of my Daddy's youth?"
"Yes, Mr. Ewing, I do," Bill replies. "It's taken me quite a while this, but I discovered what happened to your father between the time he left the orphanage at the age of 15 and the time he reunited with his brother Jason two years later. But......I don't think you're gonna like it."
A cemetery in Gilmer, Texas....
Back at Ewing Oil....
"So, after your father spent two and a half years in reform school, he was released on good behavior," Radcliffe says. "That's when he joined his brother Jason and moved into the Lewis family's boarding house."
Bobby sits back in his chair and sighs deeply. "So that's what happened," he says. "Daddy killed a man in self defense and went to jail for those two years."
"Well, he only spent a week in the county jail. Once he was tried, since he was a minor, he was sent to the Blake Reform School for Boys in Marshall, Texas. The information was very hard to come by. The school burned down in the 1950s, but some of the record survived and were in the county courthouse."
"You had no idea about any of this, Dad?" Christopher asks.
"No, none whatsoever. I never knew my Daddy spent time in reform school as a boy."
"Your father didn't want anyone to know," Bill says. "Later, Jock Ewing asked that those records be sealed. I guess he didn't want his family embarrassed by this."
"And what about the man he killed?" Bobby asks.
"Name was Daniel Cox. He was 28-years-old at the time of his death in the fall of 1924. Apparently, this Cox was drunk and assaulting a woman outside of a saloon in Tyler, Texas, in early October, 1924, about two weeks after Jock ran away from the orphanage. Jock stepped in to help her, a fight ensued, Cox drew his gun, your father drew his, and Cox was shot dead. Your father was arrested and then sent to the Blake reform school."
"For shooting a man in self defense?" Christopher asks.
"Well, Dan Cox was kind of a big wheel in Tyler at the time. He was well known by everyone in town, where as Jock Ewing was a stranger. Plus, Cox left behind a wife and three small children."
"Children," Bobby says sadly.
"Yes. A boy and two girls. The youngest, Evelyn Cox Wheeler, is still alive. She's 94 now and still lives in Tyler."
"Well, I guess that explains everything," Bobby says. "Why the trail went cold after Daddy ran away from that orphanage when he was 15. He spent the next two and a half years in a boys' reform school for killing a man in self defense."
"Yes sir," Bill says. "And, since your father was only 15 at the time, and it was self defense, he didn't have a criminal conviction on his record. He later had the record sealed, but, since so much time has passed and your father was long dead, it wasn't that hard to get the record unsealed after I found out what had happened."
Bobby stands from his seat. "Bill, I wanna thank you for finding this information for me."
"It's no problem, Bobby. And if there's anything else I can do, don't hesitate to call."
"Thanks, Bill."
"You fellas take care," Bill says as he leaves the office.
Bobby closes the door behind Bill, a somber look on his face.
"You okay, Dad?" Christopher asks.
"I'm fine, son. This just comes as a shock to me, knowing that your granddaddy spent time in reform school. But at the same time, I feel kinda proud, knowin' he stepped in to help a lady in distress. That's somethin' he'd do, for sure. Anyway, Christopher, when were you thinkin' about leavin' for California?"
"As soon as possible. Maybe tomorrow morning. I'll talk to Lucas tonight about filling in for me here."
"Alright," Bobby says. "I'm sorry you feel you need to leave town for a while, but, I understand it."
"Thanks, Dad. This is just somethin' I need to do. Between Heather and Charlie, I need to get my head together, and I can't do it here."
"I understand. Well, since we have no more pressing business here today that can't be handled by Sue Ellen and John Ross, I think I'm gonna head home early and spend some time with Ann.
Motel 6......Plano Road
"Yeah, can I help you?" The young man asks.
"Is Calvin Shepherd here?" Justin asks.
"I'm Justin Ewing."
Jeremy looks at him for a second, then turns around. "Hey, Dad, we got comp'ny." Jeremy motions Justin into the room, then closes the door.
Calvin Shepherd comes out of the bathroom. "Well who the hell......." Calvin stops short when he sees Justin. "Who's this?"
"Mr. Shepherd, I'm Justin Ewing."
"Justin Ewing........Mandy's.........well, whatever you are to my daughter."
"Amanda is my fiance."
"Oh, well, very pleased to meet you, Justin. I see you've met Amanda's older brother, Jeremy."
"Yes, I have," Justin replies.
"Amanda told me about you payin' her a little visit at Southfork yesterday."
"That's right. I hadn't seen my daughter since she's a little 'ol bitty thing. So I figured it was time I seen how she was doin'."
"I admit I shoulda come back sooner," Calvin says. "But when Jackie died, I was doin' a short prison sentence. Then by the time I got out, I didn't know where to find my baby girl."
"So, you waited all these years until Amanda had been married to a Ewing, then you show up?"
"I don't too much like what you're gettin' at, son," Calvin says. "You sayin' I come here because my daughter married into money?"
"Didn't you?" Justin asks. "The timin' sure looks funny to me."
"I think you'd better leave," Jeremy says.
"No, now wait just a minute," says Calvin. "I can understand Mr. Ewing's position. I do see how it looks that I just showed up outta nowhere after all these years. But I can assure you, young man, I don't want anything from Amanda or from your fam'ly. All I want is to get to know my daughter again."
"Mr. Shepherd, Amanda is carryin' around a lot of hurt from bein' abandoned by you when she was a little girl. I love your daughter, and I don't wanna see her hurt again, not by you, not by anybody."
"Fair enough," says Calvin. "I see you're a good man, Justin. My baby girl's lucky to have somebody like you."
"Look, I can't tell you to leave town. I'd prefer it if you did, but, I do want you to stay away from Amanda. At least unless she WANTS to see you."
"Well, maybe you could help in that," Calvin says.
"What do you mean?"
"Justin, I really do wanna talk to my daughter and explain things to her. But I can't do that if she won't even give me the time of day. So, I'd really appreciate if you'd talk to her on my behalf. At least get her to talk to me."
"And why would I do that?" Justin asks.
"Because you love my daughter. You wanna see her happy, am I right? Well, do you think Amanda is gonna be happy as long as she's carryin' around all this hurt? I just wanna help smooth things over with my daughter, and then, we'll be movin' on."
Justin hesitates a moment. "If I get Amanda to talk to you, you'll leave Dallas? For good?"
"That's all I ask," Calvin says. "Son, I had my reasons for walkin' out on Amanda and Jackie. I figured they'd be better off without me. I just wanna explain those reasons to my daughter."
"I'll talk to her," Justin says. "On one condition."
"And what condition is that?"
"If Amanda still duttin' wanna see you..........you leave her alone, and leave Dallas."
"Deal."
"Alright, fine," Justin says. "I'll be in touch." He looks at Calvin, then at Jeremy, then he turns and leaves.
"That guy's got a lot of nerve," Jeremy says.
"That boy's just like his daddy," says Calvin. "J.R. Ewing. Thinks he owns the whole world and can just order folks like us to do anything he wants us to do."
"You think he'll really talk to Mandy?"
"I don't know. But, don't matter. We aint goin' anywhere. Least not til we get what we come here for....... a little slice of that Ewing pie." Calvin smiles deviously.
Southfork....
"Maybe she went to the store or somethin'," Christopher says as Lucy walks into the room.
"Well, hey, you two are home from work early," Lucy says.
"Yeah, things were slow at the office, so I thought I'd come home and spend some time with Ann. Where is she? Her car's gone."
"I dunno," replies Lucy. "She left this morning, not long after you went to the office."
"She's been gone all day?" Bobby asks.
"Yeah."
Bobby takes his cell phone from his pocket. "I'm gonna call her and see if she's okay." He speed dials Ann's number.
Meanwhile.....a street in Gilmer, Texas
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After almost a minute, the door is opened by an elderly woman with blonde hair. The woman looks stunned to see her visitor.
"Annie?" The woman says. "Annie?"