EPISODE 175 - McKay's Revenge

 

 

 

 

"Well, what do ya think, Zedd?"  Justin asks an associate of his, a fellow record producer, after they watch Michael's newly recorded music video.  "Was I right, or was I right about Michael?"

"You were definitely right, Justin," Zedd replies.  "This kid has some of the most AMAZING, raw talent of anyone I've ever seen, especially someone so young.  And this is your cousin's son?"

 

"That's right.  His Daddy's my first cousin.  I remember the first time I heard Michael sing, I was blown away.  Couldn't believe THAT voice was comin' from someone as young as him, especially someone with no voice trainin'.  That's why I signed him on as my first act.  Michael's new CD, and these three music videos we've shot for him, are gonna help establish the Dallas branch of Ewing Records and put us on the map.  That, and of course, the endorsement of someone of your stature in the music industry."

 

Zedd smiles.  "Well, thank you.  I suppose that's why your cousin Bobby Ewing asked me to come to Dallas to see you."

 

"Bobby's told me what a big help you've been to him out in L.A., helpin' him find acts to sign for the L.A. branch of our record comp'ny.  And it means a lot that you came here."  The intercom in the studio buzzes.  Justin presses a button.  "Yes?"

 

"Justin, Heather Ewing is here with Michael."

 

Justin smiles.  "Great.  Send 'em in,"  he says.  "Zedd, you're about to meet my talented little cousin."

 

Heather and Michael walk into the studio.  Justin and Zedd stand to their feet to greet them.  

 

"Hi, Heather,"  Justin says, greeting his cousin-in-law with a kiss on the cheek.  "Michael."

 

"Justin how's it goin'?"  Heather asks.

 

"Goin' great.  Hey, where's Lucas?  Itn't he with you?"

 

The smile disappears from Heather's face.  "No, he had to work."

 

"Work?  On a Saturday?"

 

"That cousin of yours works almost non-stop since he's been sittin' in for Christopher at Ewing Oil."

 

"I'm sorry to hear that,"  Justin says.  "Well, listen, we just finished watchin' the video we shot, and I'd like you both to meet someone...Heather Ewing, and her son Michael, meet......."

 

"ZEDD?"  Michael exclaims, cutting Justin's sentence off.  "Oh my God, is it really you?"

 

Zedd smiles at the boy.  "Yes, it's really me.  Nice to meet you, Michael.  You too, Mrs. Ewing."

 

"Thank you, same here,"  says Heather.

 

"Did you see my video?"  Michael asks.

 

"I sure did."

 

"And?  What'd you think?"

 

"I thought it was absolutely amazing.  Michael, you have a VERY rare talent."

 

"Thanks.  Wow,"  Michael says as Justin and Heather look on with smiles.

Pamela's apartment....

 Pamela answers her ringing doorbell to find Tripp there.  He looks at her and smiles.  "Well, aren't you gonna let me in?"

 

Pamela steps aside and motions him into the apartment.  Tripp walks in and Pamela closes the door.  

 

"Hunter ready to go?"  Tripp asks.

 

"I'll go get him,"  Pamela says in a cold tone.  

 

"Hey, you seem on edge lately.  I guess you're missing your Ewing cowboy, huh?"  Pamela turns to her ex-husband and looks at him angrily.  Tripp smiles.  "Don't worry, someone else will come along.  As long as he's not a Ewing, I don't give a damn who you choose to date or share your bed with.  After all, three Ewings should be enough for you, shouldn't it?  Let's see, you had John Ross, and his brother Justin, and even his cousin Christopher, who, I guess, TECHNICALLY, would be YOUR cousin, too, right, Pamela?  Wow.  You married your own cousin."

 

"You're a sick and twisted bastard,"  Pamela says.  

 

Tripp slightly laughs.  "I'm just gonna let that pass.  And just to show you that I'm not a bad guy, I'm gonna offer you a deal, Pamela.  There is a way that you can have Justin Ewing back in your life.  Just give me custody of Hunter, and you and Justin can live happily ever after, never having to worry about me bothering you again.  Of course you can have visitation rights."

 

"That will NEVER happen,"  Pamela says.  "You are the most vile, disgusting excuse for a human being.  You make John Ross Ewing look like a saint compared to you."

 

"You're gonna regret those words, Pamela,"  says Tripp. 

 

"The only two things I regret are the day I married you and that my son has a pig like you for a father."

 

"And I regret that I ever let a little bitch like you into my life."

 

Unable to control her anger, Pamela quickly slaps Tripp across the face as hard as she can.  

 "You're gonna be sorry you did that,"  Tripp says.  "The gloves are off now, Pamela.  I'm seeing my lawyer.  I'm suing you for custody of my son."

 

"You will NEVER get custody of Hunter.  I'll see to that."

 

"Wanna bet?  Now go and get Hunter."

 

"No.  You're not taking my son anywhere."

 

"We have a custody agreement,"  Tripp says.  "I get Hunter every other weekend, and this is MY weekend."

 

"You're NOT taking him."

 

Tripp starts to walk past Pamela and toward Hunter's bedroom, but Pamela steps in front of him.  "I said you're NOT taking my son out of this apartment."

 

"Get out of my way, Pamela."

 

"Or what?  You'll hit me?  I wish you would because that would be just the kind of ammunition I need to make sure that you NEVER see Hunter again,"  Pamela says.

 

"You really think you have a chance of winning if you go up against me in this?"  Tripp asks.  "You have enough baggage, enough skeletons in your closet that no judge would ever give you custody of Hunter over me.  If I'd wanted to, I could've taken custody of my son when we divorced.  Now get out of my way, I'm taking my son for my weekend visit."

 

"The hell you are!"  Pamela says as the doorbell rings.  

 

"You think that you're gonna keep my son away from me?  Then you're even crazier than I thought you were,"  Tripp says, coming toward her.  

 

"HEY, PAMELA!"  Comes Cliff's voice from outside.  

 

Pamela walks over to the door and opens it, letting her father and mother in.

 

"Hey, sweetheart......"  Cliff says, then he and Afton stop short, surprised to see Tripp there.

 

"Tripp, what are you doing here?"  Afton asks.

 

"I came to pick up my son, but your crazy daughter refuses to let me have him for my weekend visit."

 "Why, what's going on here?" Cliff asks.

 

"Pamela, are you alright?"  Afton asks.

 

"I'm fine, Mom.  I just want him to leave."

 

"You heard my daughter,"  says Afton.  "Leave.  NOW!"

 

Tripp looks at Pamela.  "You just made one HELL of a big mistake.  I'm taking you to court, and I'm getting my son away from you.  And if anybody stands in my way.........then not even God himself will be able to help them.  You've just declared a war you're not gonna win."

 

"Get out!  GET OUT!!"  Pamela yells.  

 

"I'll see you in court,"  Tripp says as he turns and walks to the door.

 

"Tripp, you try to take my son away from me, and I'll kill you."

 

Tripp looks at her, then at Cliff.  "You know that loan you and your son got from me to keep your pathetic company afloat?  I'm calling it in, Cliff,  That loan is due in full within one week."

 

"Now wait a minute, you can't do that!"  Cliff says.  

 

"It's done.  Either that 15 million is paid back in full by next Friday.........or I will own Stone-Barnes Oil."  Tripp again looks at Pamela, then leaves, slamming the door behind  him.

 

Pamela begins to cry.  Afton puts her arms around her daughter and embraces her.  

The Krebbs home....afternoon....

 "Jay, this is absolutely ridiculous,"  Donna says to Jay Smithfield, who is meeting with her and Ray at the Krebbs home.  "Conner and Dylan are NOT criminals, and they've been in that Braddock jail for four nights already."

 

"Jay, itn't there somethin' you can do to speed things up to get 'em outta there?"  Ray asks. "Seems to be like that damned judge is draggin' her feet about settin' bail."

 

"People accused of murder have gotten out on bail faster than this,"  Donna says.

 

"I agree, it stinks,"  Jay says.  "And yes, Judge Eilberg is dragging her feet."

 

"But WHY?"  Donna asks.

 

"One reason is, she's a little pissed that her courtroom erupted into a circus the other day.  Most judges.....Eilberg in particular......take a very dim view against perjury, which Conner committed.  And it's a damned good thing neither of you were called to the stand, or you'd be sitting in jail right alongside Conner and Dylan."

 

"And the other reason?"  Ray asks.  

 

"John Ross Ewing,"  replies Jay.  "I hear that John Ross is putting pressure on the court to not grant bail for Conner or Dylan."

"John Ross,"  Donna angrily says.  "Of COURSE!  I should've known that myself."

 

"John Ross rivals J.R. for bein' the most hard-hearted SOB who ever lived,"  says Ray.  "Can't you do somethin' about this?"

 

"I already have,"  says Jay.  "As soon as I heard about John Ross putting pressure on the court, I filed a complaint against Eilberg."

 

"Maybe it's time that I used some of my connections,"  Donna says.  "After all, I AM Texas Railroad Commissioner. What's the point of having that power if I never use it."

 

"Look, just don't pull a John Ross on me and start bribing and blackmailing people," says Jay.  "In other words, don't be a typical Ewing."

 

Donna looks at him.  "Jay, I'm sorry.  In all of this worry about Conner and Dylan, we haven't thought to ask you about you and Jill.  How are things on that front?"

 

Jay sighs.  "She called me last night.  And I went by the apartment a couple days ago to pick up a few more of my things, but I didn't say much to her."

 

"Jay, what happened there, anyway?"  Ray asks.  "You and Jill always seemed like the perfect couple."

 

"No such thing as a perfect couple, Ray.  No such thing as perfect anything.  Not in this world, at least.  Well, I'm gonna get going.  I'm trying to move things along as fast as I can.  Donna, in the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to make a few calls.  Use some of those connections of yours."

 

"I will, and thank you for agreeing to represent those two boys.  I know how angry you were that Conner lied to you, and that we did, too."

 

"What Conner did was wrong, and it was crime.  But I understand WHY he did it.  I'll see you both later."

 

"Bye, Jay,"  Ray says as the young attorney leaves.  After he's gone, Ray and Donna embrace.

Donna Love's home....

 

 "Hi, Ms. Love,"  Alex says as Donna Love opens the door of her home early that afternoon.

 

"Alex, hello.  Come in."

 

"Thank you.  Is Bridget here? She's expecting me."

 

"Yes, she's upstairs.  BRIDGET?  ALEX IS HERE."

 

"We'll be right down, Grandmother!"  Bridget yells from upstairs.

 

"We?"  Alex asks.

 

"Yes,"  Donna Love replies as Bridget comes down the stairs with another girl, who looks very much like her.  

 

"Hey,"  Bridget says, giving Alex a kiss.

 

"Hey, there."

 

"Alex, I'd like for you to meet my twin sister, Michelle McKinnon,"  Bridget says.  "She arrived this morning to attend my graduation."

 

 "Come in, quick,"  Pamela says, pulling Justin into her apartment when he arrives that afternoon.

 

"Pamela, what is it?"  He asks.  "You sounded frantic on the phone."

 

"I am.  Tripp was here this morning."

 

"Yeah, it's his weekend to pick up Hunter, right?"

 

"Yes, and it didn't go well at all,"  Pamela says.

 

"What do you mean?"  Justin asks.

 "I have some good news, and some bad news.  Good news is.......we no longer have to hide our relationship from everyone."

 

"You mean......McKay knows?"

 

"No.  He doesn't know about us, but it doesn't matter anymore.  He said that he's going to sue me for full custody of Hunter."

 

"What?  But why?"  Justin asks.

 

"We had this huge fight when he came over.  It got REALLY heated, and, he said he was taking me to court.  So I refused to let him have Hunter for the weekend.  Justin, I'm scared.  What if Tripp really does take my baby away from me?"

 

"Pamela, I'm not gonna let that happen,"  Justin says.

 

"How are you gonna be able to stop it, Justin?  How are we gonna be able to stop Tripp?"

 

"I don't know yet.  But everyone has a weakness, even someone like McKay, with all his money and all that power behind him at Westar.  What that son of a bitch really needs is the crap beat out of him, but I know I can't do that because I won't hurt your chances of winnin' a custody fight.  So we just gotta figure out what his weakness is.  His Achilles heal, and hit him where it hurts."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southfork.....afternoon....

 Christopher is sitting on the patio at Southfork that afternoon looking over some papers and drinking a beer.  Unfortunately, he is barely able to keep his work on his mind.  Bobby walks onto the patio, having just walked up to the house from the stables.

 

"Christopher," he says.  

 

"Dad."

 

"Everything okay?"

 

"I was just looking at this report Bum gave me when we met this morning."

 

"I didn't know you were havin' Bum do any work for you."

 

Christopher sighs.  "Yeah, I had him do an extensive background check on Chase Gioberti and his family.  I was hoping I could come up with somethin' I could use against them in this custody suit."

 

"Any luck?"  Bobby asks.

 

"Unfortunately.......no,"  replies Christopher.  "Chase Gioberti, he's completely clean.  Born in Florida in 1991, he has an older brother, Joseph.  His mom died when he was pretty young, something I can sure relate to, and his Dad raised him on his own, much like you did me.  Chase has never been in any trouble, no evidence he's ever done anything wrong.  It's a wonder this guy hasn't been nominated for sainthood yet.  Basically the same with his father, and his brother.  Nothing at all Courtney and I can use to make the Giobertis look bad in court.  And what scares me is, next to them, us Ewings look pretty bad."

 

"I'm sorry, son.  So what are you gonna do?"  

 

"Honestly, Dad......I have no idea.  According to Drew, things really don't look that good for us.  Courtney keeping Jacob's existence from Chase all those years hurts our case, not to mention our stupid move going to California to try and get him to renounce his parental rights to Jacob.  Of course there IS one option."

 

"And what's that?"  Bobby asks.

 

"I could do what John Ross would do,"  Christopher replies.  "Since there's nothing here to make Chase Gioberti look bad.......I could always put something there."

 

"Christopher, I don't like what I'm hearing,"  says Bobby.  

 

"Neither do I, but I'm desperate, Dad."

 

"Son, I didn't raise you that way.  It may be what J.R. and John Ross would've done, but WE don't operate that way."

 

"Dad, I mean no disrespect when I say this, but what about what YOU did to Cliff Barnes?  You had evidence planted on him, framing him for J.R.'s murder when you knew he was innocent."

 

"That was completely different."

 

"How?"  Christopher asks.

 

"Cliff Barnes had caused this family a lot of pain and suffering over the years.  Look at what he did to your babies.  He deserved everything that he got.  But Chase Gioberti........what has that young man ever done to you or this family, and yet you would destroy his life?"

 

"What's he ever DONE?"  Christopher angrily asks.  "He's trying to take Jacob away from us.  Dad, I'm not gonna let that happen."

 

"Christopher there are other ways."

 

"Yeah, well, I sure can't come up with any other ways,"  Christopher says, standing to his feet.  "Dad, let me ask you something.  You remember when my biological father's sister, Lisa Alden, tried to take me away from you?"

 

"Of course, I remember."

 

"Wouldn't you have done ANYTHING you had to do in order to keep her from taking me away?"

 

Bobby looks at his son for a few seconds.  "Yes, I suppose I would," he replies, sadly.

 

"And that's exactly what I'm gonna do.  I love Jacob just like he was my own son.  And nobody's taking him away from me."  Christopher turns and goes into the house, leaving Bobby on the patio and worried about how far his son would go to keep Jacob in the family.

Donna Love's home....

 In Bridget's bedroom at her grandmother's house late that afternoon, her sister Michelle is fixing Bridget's hair in preparation for that night's graduation ceremony at Braddock High School.  "You're a lucky girl, Bridget,"  Michelle says.

 

"Lucky?"

 

"Yeah.  That Alex is a real hottie.  I've seen pics of him on your Facebook and Instagram, of course, but, he's even cuter in person.  Seems really nice, too."

 

"He is,"  Bridget says.  "I love him."

 

"Well, I'm happy for ya, sis,"  Michelle says.  "You haven't had the best luck with guys."

 

"BRIDGET, MICHELLE!"  Their grandmother calls to them from downstairs.  "COULD YOU GIRLS COME DOWN HERE FOR A MOMENT, PLEASE?"

 

"What is it, Grandmother?"  Bridget yells back. "Michelle is fixing my hair!"

 

"It'll only take a moment!"  Donna Love's voice yells from downstairs.  "A package just arrived for you that you're gonna want to see."

 

"A package?"  Bridget asks her sister.  "Wonder what that could be."

 

"Well, why don't we go down and find out?"  Asks Michelle.  "We can come right back and finish your hair."

 

Bridget sighs.  "Okay.  Let's go," she says, getting up from her seat in front of the mirror.  The two girls hurry out of the bedroom.  A moment later, they come downstairs, where they find their grandmother standing alone in the living room.  "Well, Grandmother,"  Bridget says.  "Where's this package you said arrived?"

 

"Oh, it's right.......here,"  says a young man as he steps into the living room.

 

Both Bridget and Michelle gasp.  "OH MY GOD!  STEVEN!"  The twins yell in unison.  The rush over and embrace the young man.  

 

"I've missed those hugs,"  he says.

 

"Steven, what are you doing in Dallas?"  Bridget asks.

 

"Well, I couldn't let my little sister graduate without me there, could I?"  Steven asks.  "When Grandma called me and told when and where you were graduating, I just had to come, especially since I was at Michelle's graduation last year." 

 

"What about Kirk?  Have you heard from him?"  Michelle asks.

 

"Yes, I have,"  Steven says.  "I talked to him a couple days ago, and, unfortunately, our brother won't be able to make it, he's in London on assignment."

 

"Oh, that's a shame.  Would've been great to have both my big brothers here,"  says Bridget.

 

"How, exactly, are the two of you twins, and Michelle graduated a year before you?"

 

Bridget looks at her twin.  "I guess she's just smarter,"  she replies, sarcastically.

 

"I guess I am,"  Michelle says, looking at Bridget, a deep rivalry between the two twin sisters very apparent.

Sue Ellen and Catlin's home....that evening....

 Catlin stands at the mirror in his and Sue Ellen's bedroom that evening, tying his necktie while Sue Ellen puts on her earrings.  "C.J. should be here soon,"  Sue Ellen says.

 

"Yes."

 

"Is he bringing Eric, or did he say?"

 

"I......I really don't know,"  Catlin replies, sadly.  

 

Sue Ellen looks at her husband.  "Catlin, what's wrong with you?"

 

"Wrong?"

 

"Yes, WRONG.  You've been acting strangely for the past few days.  What's bothering you?"

 

Catlin turns to his wife.  "It's nothing.  At least not something to talk about while getting ready for your grandson's graduation.  It'll keep."

 

"Sweetheart, it's been keeping all week.  If something is bothering you, please tell me.  Remember, we agreed to share everything with one another."

 

"Yes, we did, didn't we?"  Catlin asks with a slight smile.  "There is something bothering me.  I went to see Donna Love a few days ago.  That same day you and I talked about it."

 

"When you said that Peter Love wanted to see you?"  Sue Ellen asks.

 

"Yes.  I didn't wanna bother you with this because you were so upset about what John Ross said to you at the trial."

 

"Darling, what is it?"  Sue Ellen asks, placing her hand on Catlin's face.  "Did Donna know what her brother wanted to see you about?"

 

"Yes.  She told me something that Peter had told her on the day he was sentenced to prison.  She said Peter told her that he's NOT Eric's father."

 

"What?  Well, if that's true, then, I don't understand what that has to do with you.  Why should it matter to you one way or another if Peter was Eric's father or not?  Unless of course Brittany wasn't the boy's mother, in which case Eric and C.J. wouldn't be half-brothers."

 

"According to Donna........C.J. and Eric are not half-brothers."

 

"I see.  Then.......Brittany wasn't Eric's mother?"

 

"No, she was."

 

"Catlin, I'm completely lost here,"  Sue Ellen says.  "You just said that C.J. and Eric are not half-brothers."

 

"That's because..........they're WHOLE brothers, Sue Ellen,"  Catlin says.  "Peter told Donna that Eric is MY son."

 

"What?  YOUR son?  Catlin, that doesn't make any sense."

 

"Doesn't it?  Brittany apparently, was already pregnant with my child when she hooked up with Peter again in San Francisco.  Peter didn't even know he wasn't the boy's father until years later, when Eric was a teenager, I guess.  He was injured and needed blood.  But Eric's blood type didn't match either Peter's or Brittany's.  Now that's not that unusual, but, Peter decided to have a DNA test done, out of curiosity, I guess.  So he had Eric's DNA tested, and the test proved that Peter wasn't his father.  It wasn't until the night he murdered her that Brittany finally told Peter that the boy was my son.  According to Donna, Peter told her that Brittany didn't want to raise another child, so she let Peter believe Eric was his, and he raised him."

 

"My God,"  says Sue Ellen.  "Catlin, are you sure you can trust anything Peter Love says?  The man is a murderer, and a liar."

 

"Sue Ellen, I know that.  But Brittany was a pathological liar, too.  And it wouldn't be the first time she'd lied about a child of mine.  In fact, it would be the THIRD time.  It's really amazing.  I spent all those years married to Brittany, and never knew what kind of woman she really was."

 

"My darling, I'm so sorry.  What are you going to do?"

 

"I have to know, Sue Ellen.  I have to know if Eric really is my son, and the only way to do that is a DNA test."

 

"Do you think that Eric would agree to that?"  Sue Ellen asks.

 

"I don't know.  But I have to try.  I just hate to lay this on that young man after everything he's been through,"  Catlin says as the doorbell rings.  "That must be C.J.  Honey you finish getting ready.  I'll go answer the door."

 

"Alright,"  Sue Ellen says as Catlin leaves the bedroom.

 

A moment later, Catlin comes down the stairs into the foyer and opens the door.  He is surprised to see Eric with C.J.

 

"Hey, Dad,"  C.J. says.  

 

"Hello, C.J. Eric, I didn't know if you were coming."

 

"Well, sure,"  Eric says.  "My cousin, Bridget, is graduating, too."

 

"Oh, yes, that's right.  Well, make yourselves at home.  Sue Ellen is still getting ready."

 

 

 

"Is everything alright, Dad?"  C.J. asks.  "You seem a little off tonight."

 

Catlin looks at his son, then at Eric.  "Yeah, everything's fine.  Just fine," he replies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southfork....

 Meanwhile, Ann and Bobby are finishing getting dressed to go to Alex's graduation.   "Are Christopher and Courtney goin' to the graduation?"  Ann asks.

 

"I don't think so.  Courtney said she wasn't feeling well, so she was gonna lie down for a while.  And Christopher..... all he has on his mind these days is that upcoming custody battle with Chase Gioberti."

 

"Bobby, do you really think they could lose custody of Jacob?"  

 

"I dunno.  I sure hope not,"  Bobby replies.  "Christopher loves that little boy so much."

 

"Well, I'm ready to go,"  Ann says.  

 

Bobby looks at his wife.  "You look wonderful.  As always."

 

"Thank you, Bobby."

 

"Honey, is somethin' botherin' you?"

 

"No, I'm alright, Bobby,"  Ann replies, struggling to hold back her tears.  "It's just that, I love you so much.  I don't know what I would do if I ever lost you."

 

"Now why would you say a thing like that?"  Bobby asks.  "You are NOT gonna lose me.  Annie, talk to me.  Tell me what's goin' on with you.  All week you've acted as if you're about to break into tears at any minute."

 

"Bobby........I do need to talk to you.  I'm just not sure now is the right time."

 

"Honey if there's somethin' we need to talk about, then we can MAKE the time."

 

"I just want you to know how very much I love you."

 

"And I love you, and I'm worried about you,"  Bobby says.  

 

As Ann is about to say something, a knock sounds at the door.  Lucas walks in.  "Hey, not to rush you, but if you guys don't hurry, we're gonna be late, and, if we don't get there soon we probably won't find a good place to park."

 

"We'll be right down,"  Bobby says.  

 

 

 

"Bobby, we can talk later,"  Ann says.  "This itn't somethin' we can discuss in two minutes, so it'll keep."

 

"You sure, now?"  

 

Ann nods.  "I'm sure.  Let's go."

 

Bobby looks at her and smiles.  "I love you," he says, kissing her.  Bobby and Ann walk out of their bedroom together and meet John Ross and Krystina coming out of their bedroom next door.  "Well, I guess we're all set to leave,"  Bobby says.  "Krystina, you look beautiful."

 

"Thank you, Bobby."

 

"Alex already gone?"  Ann asks.

 

"Yeah, he left about half an hour ago,"  John Ross replies.  "He's pickin' up Bridget.  Said he'd meet us there."

 

"John Ross, I remember the day you graduated high school.  Now I can't believe you have a son graduatin',"  Bobby says as the four go down the stairs.  

Jeremy Wendell's penthouse....later....

 Katherine is standing at the window in the living room at Jeremy's penthouse later that evening while Jeremy is on the phone.  "It's been a week now since that girl escaped from that asylum,"  Jeremy says to the person he's talking to on the phone.  "Look, I'm paying you a small fortune to find Katelyn Spencer and take her back to that hospital, so do your damned job."  As Jeremy is talking on the phone, Tripp walks into the penthouse and enters the living room.  He pauses at the door as Jeremy continues:  "Just do the job for which I'm paying you so handsomely and find that girl.  Or I'll make sure that your private investigator license is revoked and you'll never be able to work in that field again, do I make myself clear?  Good.  Find Katelyn Spencer."  Jeremy quickly hangs up the phone.  

 

"Well?  What did he say?"  Katherine asks.

 

"Morgan was on Katelyn's trail, and it appeared that she was heading right back here to Dallas,"  replies Jeremy.  "But then he lost the trail.  Incompetent idiot."

 

"Throwing some muscle around, are we, Granddad?"  Tripp asks, walking over to Jeremy.  

 

"What the devil are you doing here?"  Jeremy asks.  "I thought you'd be at your brother's graduation tonight."

 

 

"Why should I?"  Tripp asks.  "That little punk betrayed me by spying on me for John Ross.  Only thing I'm gonna give him is payback."

 

"I should think cheating him out of his inheritance would be payback enough,"  says Jeremy.

 

"Not by a long shot.  Now, what was that all about when you were on the phone?"

 

"Katherine's daughter, Katelyn Spencer, excaped from the hospital where she was being cared for in New Orleans."

 

"I heard you say she might be heading for Dallas."

 

"Yes."

 

"What business is that of yours?"  Katherine asks.

 

"Anything that might potentially screw up my plans for the two of you IS my business."

 

"And just what are your PLANS for the two of us?"  Katherine asks.  

 

Tripp looks at her and smiles.  "You'll find out soon enough," he says, then walks out of the room.

Southfork....

"Well, hello there,"  Michelle says.  "Bridget, if all the boys around here are as gorgeous as Alex and Shawn, I see now why you wanted to stay in Dallas with Grandmother instead of coming back to Bay City."

 

"And, this is my big brother, Steven Frame,"  Bridget says, introducing Shawn to her brother.  "Steven, Alex's best friend, Shawn Smith."

 

"Steven, good to meet you,"  Shawn says, shaking hands.

 

"Yeah, you too, and in case you're wondering why I have a different last name than my sister, well, same mother, different fathers,"  Steven Frame says.

 

Shawn smiles.  "I understand.  I have an older half-brother myself.  My mother's other son.  My last name is Smith, his is McKay."

 

"McKay?"  Steven asks.  "Your brother wouldn't happen to be the McKay of Westar Oil, would he?"

 

"Yeah, that's him.  Tripp McKay.  You know him?"

 

"My company does a little business with Westar Oil in Dallas,"  Steven replies.

 

"What sort of business are you in, Steven?"  Alex asks.

 

"Computer software and computer parts."

 

"That's right, my big brother is a real big whig in the software industry," Michelle says.

 

"Well, isn't that weird, Bridget?"  Shawn asks.  "Our brothers were doing business together, and we never knew."

 

"Is your company based in Bay City?"  Alex asks.

 

"No, New York, actually,"  Steven replies.  

 

"How'd your company end up doing business with Westar?"

 

"Well, my company, Frame Technologies, does business all over the United States and Canada,"  Steven says.

 

Meanwhile, John Ross is standing at a table drinking a glass of bourbon, when Sue Ellen walks up to him.  "Just how long are you going to keep this up?"  She asks.

 

"Keep what up?"  

 

"This cold shoulder you've been giving me for the past few days."

 

"How long are YOU gonna take sides against me, your own son?"  

 

"John Ross, I am NOT taking sides against you."

 

John Ross at his mother.  "Long as you're stickin' up for the kid who tried to kill me and almost killed my son and his girlfriend.......you're takin' sides against me."

 

"I'm sorry you feel that way,"  Sue Ellen says.  "But I don't see it that way at all.  I see a young man who is deeply wounded and in need of help.  And he's certainly not going to get that help in jail."

 

"Yeah, well, jail is right where he and his brother are gonna stay as long as I have anything to do with it."

 

"What do you mean by that?"  Sue Ellen asks.  "It's you, isn't it?  You're the reason Conner and Dylan haven't been granted a bail hearing yet?"

 

"A few people in Braddock owe me some favors, includin' that judge."

 

"John Ross, you once said to me and Bobby that you aren't like your father, that you're worse.  I'm beginning to see that that's true,"  Sue Ellen says, then walks away from her son.  

 

Meanwhile, Alex and Bridget, having shed their graduation robes, are taking a walk in the moonlight to the stables.  "So peaceful out here,"  Bridget says. 

 

"Yeah, it is.  Beautiful, too.  Just look at those stars."

 

Bridget looks up at the sky.  "Wow.  Must be a million of 'em up there.  You ever wonder if there's life out there somewhere, on some other planet similar to Earth?"

 

Alex laughs slightly. "What, like in Star Wars?"

 

"No, for real.  Like right now, I wonder if there's some boy and girl on another planet way out there among the stars who are doing the same thing we're doing right now.  And if they feel the way that we do right now."

 

Alex stops walking, grabs Bridget by the hand and turns her to face him.  "No.  I don't believe there's anyone in the Universe who feels the way that I do right now.  I love you, Bridget.  And I'm so thankful I got to share this day with you.  It was almost perfect."

 

"ALMOST?"  Bridget asks.  "What do you mean, almost?  It WAS perfect.  It still is.  We are out of high school now, and about to start a whole new chapter in our lives.  My brother and sister came to my graduation, and here I am, with the boy of my dreams.  I guess, in a way, you're right.  It was ALMOST perfect, but not quite.  Only thing that would've made it absolutely perfect is if my parents had lived to see this day."

 

"You don't talk much about your parents."

 

"Because I don't remember them.  I wish I did.  I have lots of pictures, and my Grandmother and Aunt Marley have told me so much about them that I feel like I know them, but, I just wish I had some first hand memories.  From everything I've heard, their love story was legendary.  Jake and Vicky.  A couple who overcame all kinds of odds and obstacles to be together, only to have their love story cut tragically short.  Sounds like a Shakespearean tragedy, doesn't it?"

 

"Sounds like your parents were very much in love,"  Alex says.

 

"They were."

 "I want our love story to be like that,"  Alex says.  "But with one, big difference.  I don't want it to be cut so short like theirs was."

 

"Neither do I."

 

Alex leans in and kisses her.  After several seconds Bridget pulls out of the kiss and looks at him.  "What's the matter?"  He asks.

 

"Nothing.  Nothing at all.  Alex, I want you to make love to me.  If you want to."

 

"If I WANT to?"  He asks.  "Bridget, are you sure?  You're absolutely sure you're ready?"

 

"We've waited all these months because we wanted our first time to be special.  A special occasion.  What better special occasion than the night we graduated high school?"

 

Alex smiles at her.  "I agree.  Let's go to the cottage."

 

"What if everyone at the party starts to miss us?"

 

"Right now.........I really don't care,"  Alex replies.  "As far as I'm concerned, there's no one else on this whole ranch but you and me."

 

"Then let's go to the cottage,"  Bridget whispers. placing her hand on the back of Alex's head and pulling him into another kiss.  

 

A couple of minutes later, the two teens walk into the cottage at Southfork.  Alex closes the door, and he and Bridget begin kissing again and remain locked in the kiss as they make their way over to the bed.  Taking a seat on

the bed, Alex and Bridget look into each others' eyes.  "I love you,"  Alex says.

 

"I love you, too.  And NOW, tonight is perfect,"  Bridget says softly, almost in a whisper.  She and Alex begin kissing passionately again.....

 Bobby, Ann, Lucas, Heather, Michael, Jacob, John Ross, Krystina, and Lucy are having breakfast on the patio a few minutes later when Alex and Bridget walk up to the house from the cottage.  "Well, there you two are,"  Krystina says.  

 

"Morning, everyone,"  Alex says.

 

"Morning," says Bridget.

 

John Ross looks at his son.  "Well, where in the world did you two disappear to last night?  Alex, I texted you a bunch of times.  We knew y'all didn't leave the ranch because both your cars were still here."

 

"I know where they were,"  Michael says with a smile.  "I saw them going toward the cottage last night."

 

"Yeah, so did I,"  says Jacob.  

 

"What were you guys doing out there all night?"  Michael asks, teasing his cousin.

 

"None of your business,"  Alex replies.

 

"I know what they were doing,"  Jacob says.

 

"Alright, that's enough of that,"  Heather.

"Bridget, honey, your grandmother was pretty worried about ya last night when she left,"  Ann says.  "But we told her you could stay here for the night when you and Alex came back."

 

"Oh, yeah, I guess I'd better get home,"  bridget says.

 

"Aren't you gonna stay and have breakfast?"  Alex asks.

 

"I'd really better get home and exlain things.  And I wanna get out of these clothes."

 

"Why don't I come into town later and we can have lunch?"  

 

"I'd love that."

 

"Maybe we can show your brother and sister some of the sights in Dallas."

 

"Okay, I'll see you later,"  Bridget says.  "Bye everyone."  She kisses Alex, then promptly leaves.

 

Alex takes a seat at the table.  John Ross looks across the table at his son.  "Well, I hope you're at least bein' careful," John Ross says.

 

"Don't worry, I am,"  Alex says.

 

"Careful about what?"  Michael asks.

 

Lucas and Heather exchange looks and smile at their son's youthful naivety.  "I'll explain that to you when you're older,"  Lucas tells the boy as Courtney comes out of the house.  

 

"Well, good morning,"  Bobby greets his daughter-in-law.

 

"Morning,"  replies Courtney.

 

"Where's Christopher?"  

 

"He went out riding about an hour ago.  Said he needed some time alone," Courtney replies sadly.  "He's been needing a lot of that, lately."

 

Bobby and Ann exchange worried looks as Courtney takes her place at the table.  Jacob looks at his mother with a sad expression, and seeing how stressed Courtney and Christopher have been lately, the boy realizes that he is the cause of all the problems his mother and stepfather are having.  

The Krebbs Ranch....later....

  Ray, Donna, Conner, Dylan, and Jay walk into the Krebbs home later that day.  "Well, how does it feel to be home?"  Donna asks.

 

"Feels good,"  Conner replies, not much enthusiasm in his voice.  

 

"Jay, we can't thank you enough for gettin' these two outta that jail,"  Ray says.  "Don't know how ya did it, especially on a Sunday, but, we sure appreciate it."

 

"Glad I was able to help, Ray, but, I actually didn't do much.  Apparently, it was Donna's influence."

 

"Well, all I did was make a few phone calls, use some of my contacts in the statehouse and called in a few favors.  It was real unfair that the boys had to spend THAT long in jail, just because John Ross Ewing decided to pressure, or blackmail a judge, or whatever he did."

 

Dylan walks into the living room and looks around.  Ray, Donna, and Jay walk in to him.  "Dylan, place changed much in the last couple months?"  Ray asks with a smile, hoping to cheer the young man up.

 

"No," Dylan replies.  "Jay, what's gonna happen now?"

 

"Well, Dylan, you're gonna have to go back to the Hagman Center,"  says Jay.  "Today, in fact.  That was the primary condition the judge had for you being released on bail is that you return to the Center and complete your treatment for alcohol addiction."

 

"And then?"

 

"If you successfully complete your treatment there, that will go a long way in determining the outcome of your sentence when your case comes to court."

 

"And what about Conner?"  Dylan asks.

 

"I'm gonna see if I can get Conner's perjury charges thrown out.  Play on the sympathy of the court.  Conner was just protecting his brother.  It may or may not work.  If not, then I'm gonna work like hell to get his charges reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor."

 

"If everyone will excuse me, I'm gonna go up and take a shower,"  Conner says.  "After spending five nights in that stinking jail, I need one.  Thanks for everything, Jay."  Conner turns and heads up the stairs. 

 

Dylan watches his brother as he leaves, then follows after him, catching up to Conner in the upstairs hallway.  "Conner, wait,"  Dylan says. 

 

Conner pauses, then turns to him.  "What?"  He asks, his tone of voice sounding cold and even angry.

 

 

"Conner, you haven't said two words to me since this whole mess happened.  Since I came to court the other day."

 

 

 John Ross steps off the elevator at Ewing Oil the next morning, Monday, and makes his way toward his office.  "Good morning, Mr. Ewing,"  says Clay Jamison, greeting John Ross.

 

"Mornin'. Clay,"  John Ross says, walking past the young man.  

 

"Good morning John Ross,"  says Sally, one of the secretaries.

 

"John Ross, how are you this morning?"  Janice asks.

 

"I'm fine.  Janice, I need to see you in my office."

 

"Right away,"  Janice says.  Getting up from her desk, she follows John Ross into his office, and he closes the door behind them.  Janice smiles, thinking John Ross simply wants her to take some dictation.  "So, what can I do for you, John Ross?"  She asks.

 "Well, you can start bv clearin' out your desk and gettin' the hell out of Ewing Oil,"  replies John Ross.

 

"What?  I don't understand."

 

"Don't ya?  Janice, you must think we're stupid around here.  You've worked here long enough to know that we are FAR from stupid.  We know you been spyin' on us for Tripp McKay, and you been doin' for more'n a year."

 

"John Ross, I.........I don't know where you got that idea, but......"

 

"Janice, we've known for quite some time now,"  John Ross says.  "You betrayed this comp'ny, and not only that, you have betrayed me, my Mama, my Uncle Bobby, the man who hired you, and my cousin Christopher.  You were givin' top secret information about deals and projects Ewing Oil was involved in to Tripp McKay.  That's how he was able to steal so many important deals right out from under us."

 

"John Ross, I'm so sorry.  McKay, he........he was blackmailing me."

 

John Ross smiles.  "Janice, come on.  I already told you, I am NOT stupid.  I know you were sleepin' with McKay.  Now clear out your desk, and get out of this building before I have you thrown out.  And you can forget about any letter of recommendation from us."  John Ross walks over to his desk, reaches under the desk, and pulls out a cardboard box formerly containing printer paper.  "Here, take this and clean your desk out.  I want you out of this buildin' in fifteen minutes."

 

 

Without saying a word, Janice turns and walks out of John Ross's office, fighting back tears.  A few seconds later, she walks to her desk, opens the top drawer, and begins clearing out her things, placing them in the box John Ross had given her.

 

"Janice, what's going on?"  Sally asks, with Clay looking on.

 

"Yeah, why are you packing your things?"  Clay asks.

 

"Because I'm leaving,"  Janice replies.  "John Ross just fired me."

 

"Fired you?  Why?"  Sally asks.  

 

"I don't really wanna talk about it,"  Janice says.  "I'm sure you'll hear soon enough."  Janice quickly dumps all of her belongings into the box.  "Bye, Sally," she says.

 

"Bye, Janice,"  Sally says as her now former co-worker walks away.  Sally and Clay exchange looks, then Clay goes over to John Ross's office and knocks on the door.

 

"Come in,"  John Ross says.  

 

Clay walks into the office.  "Mr. Ewing?"

 

"Yeah, Clay, what do you want?"

 

"Janice just said you fired her."

 

"That's right.  What of it?"

 

"Well, I was just wondering if there was anything I could do for you, sir.  Anything at all. If you need, I could fill in for Janice until you find another secretary,"  Clay says.

 

"Well, Clay, I might need to take ya up on that,"  says John Ross.  "How many words a minute can you type?"

 

"I can type 90 words a minute, and I can do 105 words a minute short hand,"  replies Clay.  "I've had some secretarial training."

 

"Well, 90 a minute, that's real impressive.  Alright, Clay, consider yourself promoted, at least temporarily.  First time I ever had a male secretary, but, might make my wife feel a little more at ease."

 

Clay laughs.  "Well, thank you, Mr. Ewing."

 

"You're welcome.  But call me John Ross."

 

"Yes sir, John Ross."

 

"Okay, well, you can start right now.  Just take Janice's desk, and for your first duty, you can fix me a cup of coffee, and look in the file cabinet behind Janice's desk.....I mean, YOUR desk.....and bring me the file marked Harwood."

 

Clay smiles.  "Right away, John Ross,"  the young man says, then starts to leave.

 

"Oh, and Clay?"

 

"Yes, sir?"

 

"One last thing.  I just fired Janice for leakin' this comp'ny's secrets to one of our worst enemies.  But you bein' a man.......you ever even think about doin' somethin' like that, and I'll do more'n just fire you.  Understand?"

 

"Well,  that's something you'll never have to worry about with me, John Ross.  I care far too much about Ewing Oil to ever do anything to hurt this company, or my employers."

 

"Good, then we're gonna get along just fine,"  John Ross says.  

 

Clay smiles, then leaves the office.  The sly young man pauses outside of John Ross's door and smiles deviously.  "Well, how lucky can I get?"  He quietly asks himself.  "This is gonna make it a WHOLE lot easier to get what I want."  He nods his head and smiles again, then walks away.

Westar....

 Tripp is working at his desk at Westar later when his cell phone begins to vibrate.  Picking the phone up, he looks at it, then quickly answers the call.  "Tripp McKay," he says, then he listens to the person on the other end of the line for a moment.  "That's great.  Yes, bring him to me.  No, don't hurt him, just bring him to 9147 North Highland Avenue in 15 minutes."  Tripp puts his phone down and smiles.  After a brief pause, he stands to his feet and quickly leaves the office.

Downtown Dallas....15 minutes later....

Tripp is waiting on a street corner when a car pulls up and comes to a stop at the curve.  A man gets out of the car's rear passenger side, then forcibly pulls another man from the backseat.  The man pulled out of the car is Jake, Tripp's private investigator friend who had given him the photo of Jeremy with the man who looked like Hunter a while back.  "Hello, Jake,"  Tripp says.

 

"Tripp, what the.......what's this all about?"  Jake asks, nervously.

 

"Just wanted to have a little word with you, and you're a hard man to track down.  I've been calling you for weeks, and even went by your office and your apartment, Jake.  But you weren't there."

 

"Yeah, umm, I had to go out of town for a while.  On family business."

 

"What kind of family business, Jake?"  Tripp asks.  "Sick relative?"

 

"Something like that.  Look, Tripp, I don't know what this is about, but....."

 

"You know damned well what this is about, Jake.  I don't like being lied to and betrayed.  Especially by someone I've known for so many years."

 

"Tripp, I really have no idea what you're talking about,"  says an increasingly nervous Jake.  

"You've just told me, how many lies, Jake?"  Tripp asks.  "You don't know what this is about, you don't know what I'm talking about, and, oh, my favorite ......you were out of town to visit a sick relative.  Couldn't a private detective come up with something a little better and more original than that?  Jake, I know you were in the Caribbean.   Spending some of that money John Ross Ewing paid you to be a part of his plan to gaslight me?  Jake, you FAKED that photo of my grandfather and the man who looks so much like my dead twin brother.  I know this not because I took my grandfather the snake's word for it, but because I had that photo checked out by an expert.  And I know Ewing was behind it."

 

"Tripp, man, I......I'm really sorry.  But, John Ross, he had somethin' on me."

 

"Jake, I don't give a damn about your reason for betraying me,"  says Tripp.  "Point is, you did it.  And now, it's time to pay."

 

"Tripp, I, I don't know what you have in mind here,but please.  Man, we go way back, you and me.  Remember how close we were in high school?"

 

"Oh, I remember,"  Tripp says.  "Too bad you didn't."

 

"What do you want us to do with him, Mr. McKay?"  Asks one of Tripp's men.  

 

"Work him over real good.  Make sure that handsome face of his itn't too handsome anymore.  Just don't mess him up too bad.  Least not permanently."

 

"What?  No,"  Jake says.  "Tripp, come on, man."

 

"Alright let's go,"  one of the other men says, grabbing Jake by the arm.  

 

"Tripp, we were FRIENDS!"  Jake protests.

 

"That's right......we WERE,"  Tripp says.  "Now get him out of here."

 

The two men each take one of Jake's arms and drag him back to the car.  "Tripp, NOOO!!"  Jake yells as he is forced back into the car.  "McKay, I'll get you!!  I SWEAR IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO, I'M GONNA GET YOU FOR THIS!!"

 

Two of the men get into the backseat with Jake.  As Tripp watches, the car drives away.

Harwood Oil....

 "Mr. Barnes, Mr. Stone, please, come in,"  Brandon Harwood says, welcoming Cliff and Brad into his office at Harwood Oil.  

 

"Thank you, Brad says.

 

"So, what can I do for you gentlemen?"  Brandon asks.

 

"Well, first of all, thank you for FINALLY answering my calls,"  Brad says sarcastically.

 

 

"Uh, we just thought we might could talk about doing a little business,"  Cliff immediately say, cutting Brad off in hopes of not antagonizing a potential new business partner.  

 

"I don't see what business we could possibly do,"  says Brandon.  "The Cartel has made it very clear that they won't be doing business with Stone-Barnes Oil."

 

"Yes, I know,"  says Cliff.  "But we were hoping maybe you'd be more agreeable to doing business with us outside of he Cartel."

"Well, I'm sorry, Mr. Barnes, but that's not gonna happen,"  Brandon says.  "Harwood Oil just joined the Cartel recently, as you know, and I've only been in the job as president of this company for a short time.  Last thing I intend to do is to go against the wishes of the Cartel and do business with Stone-Barnes."

 

"Look, Brandon, my father and I are in a tight spot here," Brad says.  "We need to be able to do business with at least ONE company in Dallas in order to keep our company running.  The Ewings have put pressure on the Cartel not to deal with us.  This is nothing but a personal vendetta against my father and me by the Ewings, mainly John Ross and Bobby."

 

"Nevertheless, I won't go against the Cartel.  I'm truly sorry for the predicament you're in, but I am NOT gonna piss off the Ewings.  They're very powerful in this town, and as the largest company in the Cartel, they pretty much run things.  Again, I'm sorry."

 

 

"So basically, what you're saying is, you're afraid of the Ewings,"  Brad says.

 

"I wouldn't say afraid, exactly,"  Brandon replies. "Let's just say.......I wouldn't wanna cross the Ewings, and have my company end up like yours.  I'm sorry I can't help you, gentlemen."

 

"Yeah, I'll bet you are,"  says an angry Brad.

 

"Harwood, thank you for your time,"  Cliff says.  

 

"Good day Mr. Barnes,"  Brandon says.

 

Brad looks at Brandon, then he and Cliff leave the office.  A moment later, the two men get onto the elevator.

 

"Now what the hell are we gonna do?"  Brad asks.  "Harwood was pretty much our last option since no one else in the Cartel will even talk to us."

 

"We're not sunk yet,"  Cliff says.

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"Brandon Harwood may have said no, but he's not our only option as far as Harwood Oil goes.  Since the son turned us down, it wouldn't hurt to try the mother."

 

"Holly Harwood?"  Brad asks.

 

"That's right.  But let me handle this one.  Holly Harwood and I have something in common.  We both hated J.R. Ewing for many years, and that has been known to draw people together like nothing else."

Afton's Lounge....

 Pamela walks into Afton's lounge early that afternoon and finds her mother practicing a new song for one of her shows.  Pamela takes a seat and listens as Afton begins to sing:  "I dream that my lover takes me one day

To my perfect island, we'll run away

We'll dance in the moonlight

Love on the sand

Play all day in the sunshine

My dream man

Honeymoon in Trinidad

Make my dreams come true

Day and night and all my life I'll be with you

Honeymoon in Trinidad

Oh, we can leave today

Come with me to the island, let's fly away

Come with me to the island and hideaway."  Afton motions for her piano player to stop.  "Okay, George, that sounds good.  I like it in that key."  George nods to his boss and smiles.  Afton walks over to her daughter.  

 

"Mom that was great.  New song?"

 

"Yes it is.  I'll be debuting it next weekend here at the club.  Y'know, I'm really glad that I changed my mind about selling this place."

 

"So am I,"  Pamela says.  "This place really seems to make you happy."

 

"Well, the reason I had planned to sell was because of all the bad memories, with Scott Van Buren, and Jesse,"  says Afton.  "But the memories will still be there, with or without my club.  And you're right, Afton's Lounge really does make me happy.  Now, then, what brings you by?"

 

"I have some news, and I wanted to tell you about it before I tell Daddy, because, I want you there with me when I tell him to soften the blow.  So I want you to be prepared first."

 

Afton sighs.  "Oh, boy.  This sounds like some news I might need to sit down to hear."

 

"It's not bad news.  It's good news.  At least for me, it is, and I hope it will be for you.  Daddy's another story.  Mom, the thing is.......Justin and I are back together."

 

"You're what?"  Afton asks.  "Honey, he broke up with you.  Broke your heart."

 

"I know, but it wasn't his fault,"   Pamela says.

 

"Well I don't understand that at all."

 

"Tripp forced Justin to break up with me.  He threatened to take me to court and sue for custody of Hunter if Justin didn't end our relationship.  And Tripp told him it would be ugly.  So Justin did what he did for me.  To protect me from that."

 

"You're sure about that?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Well, if that's the case......damn Tripp McKay for everything he's put you through.  I can't believe that man changed so much."

 

"Neither can I.  I guess Tripp was never the man I thought he was,"  Pamela says as a man walks into the lounge.  

 

"Excuse me,"  the man says.

 

"I'm sorry, but we're not open,"  says Afton.

 

"I'm not here to eat.  I'm looking for Pamela Rebecca McKay."

 

"I'm Pamela McKay."

 

The man hands Pamela a sealed envelope.  "Here you go, Mrs. McKay.  You've been served," he says, then quickly walks away.  Pamela looks at the envelope in her hand.

 

"What is it?"  Afton asks.

 

Pamela rips open the envelope and looks at the paper inside.  "That bastard.  He's doing it.  He's REALLY doing it."

 

"What?"

 

"Tripp.  He's suing me for custody of Hunter, and he is NOT gonna get away with this.  Mom, I have to go.  I'll call you later."

 

Before Afton can say anything, Pamela turns and quickly rushes out.

 

As she walks out of her mother's club, Pamela takes out her cell phone and dials a number.  On the second ring, Justin answers.  "Hello?"

 

"Justin, Tripp has done it,"  Pamela says.  "I just got served with papers.  Tripp is suing me for full custody of Hunter."

A very angry Justin storms into the Westar offices only a few minutes later and heads straight for Tripp's office without stopping at the receptionist's desk.  "May I help you, sir?"  The young woman asks.  

 

"I'm here to see McKay,"  Justin says, heading on toward Tripp's office.

 

"Wait, sir,"  the receptionist says, getting up from her seat and going after him.  "You can't go in there."

 

Justin stops at Tripp's door and looks at her.  "The hell I can't,"  he says, then barges into Tripp's office, finding him gone.  "Where is he?"

 

"Mr. McKay has gone to lunch, and to a couple of meetings this afternoon, I don't know when he'll return."

 

"Where does he usually have lunch?"  Justin asks.

 

"I couldn't give out that information even if I knew where he was, or if I wanted to."

 

"You're his secretary, right?  Sure you must know where your boss is."

 

"As I said, I can't give out that information, but if you'd like to leave a message, I'll be sure that Mr. McKay......"

 "Yeah, I'll leave a message,"  says Justin.  "You tell your boss that Justin Ewing is lookin' for him, and when I find him, I'm gonna rip his damned head off.  Justin looks at the intimidated young woman for a couple of seconds, then leaves the office.  

Ewing Oil.... 

 Bobby walks into the offices at Ewing Oil that afternoon and approaches the secretaries' desk.  "Afternoon, Mr. Ewing,"  says Sally.

 

"Good afternoon, Sally.  Any calls or messages for me?"

 

"Yes, sir, Peter Ellis called and wants you to call him back as soon as possible, and you also have a message from Don Sharpe."

 

"Okay, thank you,"  Bobby says as Clay walks up and takes a seat at Janice's former desk.

 

"Good afternoon, Mr. Ewing,"  Clay says cheerfully.  

 

"Hello,"  Bobby says, confused as to why the young man is at Janice's desk.  "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

 

"Clay Jamison.  I just started work here a couple weeks ago."

 

"I see.  Well, where's Janice?"  Bobby asks.

 

"Mr. Ewing, Janice is gone,"  Sally replies.  "John Ross fired her."

 

"He......he FIRED her?  Why, for Heaven's sake?"

 

"I really don't know, sir.  Janice wouldn't say."

 

"I'm filling in for her, until a permanent replacement can be found,"  Clay says.

 

"Thank you,"  Bobby says.  He walks over to John Ross's office and knocks.  

 

"Come in,"  John Ross says.

 

Bobby walks into the office and closes the door.  "John Ross, Sally just told me that you fired Janice."

 

"That's right, I did."

 

 

"Would you mind telling me why?  Janice has been with us for years."

 

"I know,"  John Ross says.  "But I didn't really have a choice."

 

"John Ross, I think you'd better explain that.

 "You remember a while back, we suspected we had a spy at Ewing Oil when Westar was stealin' so many big deals from us?"  John Ross asks.  "And we could never find the culprit."

 

"Yes, I remember."

 

"Well, we finally found her."

 

"Wait, John Ross, don't tell me it was......."

 

"That's right, Uncle Bobby,"  John Ross says.  "Janice was the one who was givin' comp'ny secrets to Tripp McKay."

 

"How do you know this?  Did she admit it?"

 

"Not until after I confronted her with it.  Several weeks ago, Mama hired Bum to follow Janice when she and Christopher began lookin' at possible suspects, and the only ones who had access to that information was you, me, Mama, Christopher, Jill.......and Janice.  So, Mama hired Bum to follow Janice, and she had secret meetings with Tripp McKay."

 

"Sue Ellen and Christopher knew about this, too?"  Bobby asks.  "And why was I told?"

 

"They didn't wanna bother you with this until we had to."

 

"So you just up and fired Janice without even telling me what was going on around here.  John Ross, I am still PRESIDENT of Ewing Oil and as such, I have a right to be told about everything that's going on in this company."

 

"I know, and I'm sorry,"  John Ross says.  "But at least the spy has been caught and eliminated."

 

"And what about this new guy you have filling in until we find a new secretary?  This......Clay kid?  How much do you know about him?"

 

"Checked his background.  Pretty impressive.  Went to business school at Harvard.  I like him, and he seems like someone we can trust."

 

"Alright, but just NOT with any sensitive information just yet,"  Bobby.  "Let Sally handle all that."

 

"Agreed,  And again, Uncle Bobby, I'm sorry for not tellin' you about this."

 

"Just like you were sorry you didn't bother to let me know about your deal with Wentworth Industries?  John Ross, this had better be the last time I find out what's goin' on around here AFTER the fact."  Bobby leaves the office.

Pamela's apartment....

 "I can't believe he's actually going through with this," Pamela says to Justin as he paces around her living room.

 

"What's not to believe?"  Justin asks.  "That ex-husband of yours is a piece of scum.  I'd like to knock his damn teeth down his throat for what he's doin' to you."

 

"Well, at least it's not because of our relationship,"  Pamela says.  "It was because of that fight I got into with Tripp when he came to pick Hunter up on Saturday, and the fact that I wouldn't let him take Hunter."

 

"Did you talk to your lawyer after you got off the phone with me?"  Justin asks.

 

"Yes, I did.  She said she's going to do everything she can to keep Tripp from taking Hunter away from me."

 

Justin walks to the door.  "I'll be back later," he says.

 

"Justin, where are you going?"  Pamela asks.  

 

"To find McKay and beat the hell out of him."

 

"Justin, no!  You do that and you'll be playing right into Tripp's hands.  That's what he wants, more ammunition he can use against us in this custody case."

 

"Pamela, I can't just sit back and let this guy get away with this."

 

 

 

 

 

"He won't get away with it,"  Pamela says.  "I can promise you, he is NOT taking my son away from me."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southfork....night....

 Ann walks into the den at Southfork that evening and pours herself a drink.  As she takes a sip, Bobby walks in.  "Honey, I'm sorry I'm late," he says, walking over and kissing her.  "My meeting with Peter Ellis ran a little longer than expected."

 

"That's alright, Bobby.  We did miss you at dinner, though.  I had Maria save you somethin'."

 

"Oh, honey, ya needn't bothered.  Peter and I had some dinner in town."

 

"Oh, alright,"  Ann says.  "Fix you a drink?"

 

"I would love one.  It's been a long and very difficult day."

 

"Why, what happened?"  Ann asks, pouring him a drink.  

 

"I found out today that my longtime secretary, Janice, had been spying for Tripp McKay, giving away company secrets.  That's how McKay was able to steal so many deals away from us."

 

"Janice?  Bobby, that's hard to believe after all the time she's been with you."

 

"I know,"  Bobby says.  "I can't believe Janice would betray us that way, and for that snake, Tripp McKay.  But that's not the only thing that upsets me.  Sue Ellen, John Ross, and even Christopher all knew about Janice being the company spy WEEKS ago, and not one of them, not even my own son, bothered to tell me about it.  Honey, I'm so sick and tired of everybody in this family keepin' secrets.  I've had it up to my eyeballs with John Ross's clandestine way of doin' things."

 

"Bobby, I'm sorry,"  Ann says, feeling awkward and uncomfortable at the subject of secrets.  

 

"It's not your fault, Annie.  By the way, the other night when we were gettin' ready for Alex's graduation, you mentioned that you had somethin' you wanted to talk to me about."

 

"Later, Bobby,"  Ann says.  "Now really itn't the time."

 

"I can't think of any better time,"  Bobby says.  "It's just the two of us."

 

"Really, Bobby, it'll keep."

 

"Alright, well, I'm gonna go up and get a shower and get ready to turn in early.  You comin'?"

 

"I'll be up soon, Bobby."

 

"Alright,"  Bobby says.  He kisses his wife, then walks out of the room, heading upstairs.  

 

After he's gone, Ann begins to cry.  Knowing how Bobby already feels about all the secrets people have kept from him recently, how will he feel if she tells him that Lucas is the father of Emma's baby, and that she's known all along?

Sharon Smith's apartment....the next morning....

 Sharon Smith is setting her breakfast table and putting a plate of bacon and sausage on the table the next morning when her doorbell rings.  She picks up a kitchen towel and wipes her hands, then proceeds through the living room.  She opens the front door and finds Tripp there.  Sharon smiles, happy at seeing her older son.  "Tripp, come in."

 

He walks into the apartment and looks around.

 

"Thank you for coming by so early,"  Sharon says.

 

"Said you wanted to talk to me.  What about?  And make it quick, I have to get to the office."

 

The smile disappears from Sharon's face at her son's rudeness.  "Well, Tripp, it's been quite some time since I've seen you.  We haven't even talked in a while.  I thought maybe we could have breakfast, and catch up.  I made bacon and sausage.  I remember how you use to love that when you were a little boy."

 

"I'm not a little boy anymore.  My tastes have changed.  And I don't have time for breakfast, anyway."

 

"Sweetheart, I know you're a busy man, but, you could spare half an hour or so at 8 o'clock in the morning to have breakfast with your mother, couldn't you, after I cooked all of this?"

 

"Well, I didn't ask you to do that, now did I?"  Tripp rudely asks.

 

"No, you didn't, but I just wanted to do somethin' nice for my son."

 

"Something nice for your son.  That's nice.  That's REAL nice.  Just a shame you weren't around to do something nice for me and Hunter when we were 10, 13, 16.  But you weren't,"  Tripp says as Shawn comes out of his bedroom.  Hearing his mother and brother in the living room, the boy stops and listens.  

 

"Tripp, where is all this animosity comin' from?"  Sharon asks.  "I thought that we had gotten past all this.  That we were becomin' a real family. You, me, and Shawn."

 

"I guess you thought wrong."

 

"Is this because of Jeremy Wendell?"  Sharon asks.  "Is that why you're actin' this way?  Because you've been hangin' around with him?"

 

"No. Mother, it's not.  Jeremy did, however, open my eyes to a few things."

 

"And what are those......THINGS?"

 

"That our family is REALLY screwed up, and that abandonment seems to run in the genes.  Jeremy abandoned your mother and that's why she never told him she was pregnant with you.  And then you abandoned your twin sons when Hunter and I were little kids. But that pattern stops with me.  I plan to be the kind of parent to my son that you never were to me.  That's why I'm suing Pamela for full custody of Hunter."

 

"You're WHAT?"  Sharon asks.

 

"That's right.  I'm gonna take custody of my son, and I'm gonna be the kind of parent that I never had, because my own father was a no good drug addict who got himself kjlled, and my mother was......what exactly WERE you, Mom?  For all I know you may have been a prostitute."

 

"STOP IT!"  Shawn angrily says, coming into the living room.  "How  dare you talk to her like that!"

 

"Honey, it's all right,"  says Sharon.

 

"No, Mom, it's not alright.  This guy doesn't show his face around here for months, and then he thinks he can just come in here and talk to you like that?"

 

"This is between me and Mom, it's none of your damned business, so why don't you just go back in your room and stay the hell out of it?"  Tripp says.

 

"You coming into this apartment and talking to my mother like that MAKES it my business.  Why don't you just go back to that grandfather you think so highly of and leave Mom and me alone?"

 

"Shawn, stop!"  Sharon says.

"Oh, I'll be glad to get the hell out of here,"  Tripp says.  "And glad to wash my hands of the two of you."

 

"Tripp, you don't mean that,"  Sharon says.

 

"Yeah, Mother, I do.  But before I go, there's a couple things you need to know.  Your other son, here, he's a backstabbing little prick.  He betrayed me last year by  planting listening devices in my apartment for John Ross Ewing."

 

"That's not true,"  Sharon says.  

 

"It's true.  Ask him."

 

Sharon turns to her younger son.  "Shawn, please, tell me that's not true.  Tell me you didn't do that to your brother."

 

"He's no brother of mine,"  Shawn says.  "Damned right, I did it, and I'd do it again.  John Ross has been a HELL of a lot better to me than Tripp ever has."

 

"I hope Ewing paid you well,"  Tripp says.  "And I hope you saved some of that money.  Mother, the other thing I wanted to tell you is that I'm gonna be a VERY rich man one day.  In addition to the estate I inherited from my Grandpa McKay, your father, Jeremy Wendell, has just made a new will, naming ME as his sole heir.  So when that old bastard finally kicks off, I will inherit a fortune of more than a half a billion dollars.  Those two inheritances will make me a BILLIONAIRE."

 

"Jeremy named YOU his sole heir?"  Sharon says, with disappointment in her voice.

 

"That's right, he did,"  Tripp says, looking at his brother with a smile.  "Sorry, Shawn.  Looks like you're just gonna have to work your way through college.  Of course, maybe John Ross will give you a job at Ewing Oil.  Then I can have the pleasure of destroying you right along with that company and the Ewings."

 

"You want a piece of me right now?"  Shawn asks.  "Come on, then."

 

"Stop it!"  Sharon says.  "Tripp, I think you'd better leave."

 

"Gladly,"  says Tripp.  "This place stinks with him in it."

 

"The only person stinking up this room is YOU!"  Shawn says as Tripp walks to the door.  "You stink up everything!"  

 

Tripp turns back to his mother and brother.  "Y'know, maybe I should invest in real estate.  I might even buy this building," he says with a smile, then leaves.

 

"That......."  Shawn says, barely able to contain his anger.  "I hate him, Mom.  I swear, I hate him and I hope I never have to see him again."

 

Sharon begins to cry, and Shawn puts his arms around his mother, embracing her.

Southfork....

 Bobby, Ann, Lucas, Heather, John Ross, and Krystina are having breakfast by the pool that morning when Courtney and Christopher come out of the house.  "Well, good mornin',"  Heather says as they take their seats at the table.  

 

"Morning,"  Courtney says.  

 

"Courtney, your mother wouldn't be looking for a job, would she?"  Bobby asks.

 

"No, she's not.  Why, Bobby?"

 

"Well, we're gonna need a new secretary at Ewing Oil soon, now that Janice is gone."

 

Christopher looks at his father.  "You know about Janice?"

 

"Yeah, I do.  John Ross fired her yesterday.  My question is, since you knew that Janice was our company spy, why didn't YOU tell me?"

 

"Dad, there was a lot going on, and Sue Ellen and I made the decision to handle this on our own.  We were gonna tell you, then, all this other stuff happened."  Christopher says as his cell phone rings.  He takes the phone from his pocket and looks at it.  "It's Drew," he tells Courtney, then quickly answers the call.  "Drew, hey, what's up?"  He says.

 Christopher listens for a moment as Drew Demarest speaks on the other end of the line.  "Yeah.  I understand.  Yeah, Courtney and I can come into your office today.  What time?  3 o'clock?  Fine, we'll be there.  Thanks for calling, Drew."  Christopher ends the call and puts his phone away.

 

"Bad news?"  Courtney asks.

 

"Our court date is set for a week from tomorrow.  Drew wants to see us in his office this afternoon to talk about the case."

 

A worried look comes over Courtney's face.

Dallas Athletic Club.....later....

 Shawn arrives for work at the Dallas Athletic Club a little later in the morning.  As he is heading to clock in for the day, another young man comes out of the building and meets him.  "Hi, Trey,"  Shawn says.

 

"Shawn, look, man, I'm sorry,"  the other young man says.  "I really hate to have to tell you this but, you don't work here anymore."

 

 

 

 

"What?  What do you mean, I don't work here anymore?"  Shawn asks.

 

"Sorry, Shawn," says Trey.  "Mr. Melcher told me I had to let you go."

 

"Why?  I've never called in, I'm never late to work.  I do my job.  Why am I being let go?"

 

"Dude, I don't know.  Mr. Melcher didn't say.  All I know is, he got a phone call, and then he called me into his office, and told me I had to let you go.  I have no idea why."

 

"I have a pretty good idea why,"  says an angry Shawn.  

 

"I'm really, Shawn.  If it were up to me......"

 

"Yeah, I know, man,"  Shawn says.  "It's not your fault.  Take care."  Sadly, Shawn turns and walks away.

Westar....a short time later....

 Shawn walks into Westar a little later and approaches Tripp's secretary.  "I need to see Tripp McKay," he says.

 

"Do you have an appointment?"  

 

"No.  But I'm his brother.  It's important."

 

"I'll let him know you're here,"  the secretary says.  She buzzes Tripp's office.  

 

"Yes?"  Tripp says.

 

"Mr. McKay, you're brother is here to see you."

 

"Tell him I have nothing else to say to him.  Tell him to get lost."

 

"I'm sorry, but......."

 

"Yeah, I heard,"  says Shawn.  "But that jackass is GONNA see me."  Shawn immediately walks over to Tripp's door.

 

"Wait, you can't go in there,"  the secretary says, quickly getting up from her desk and rushing after him, but she is unable to stop Shawn from barging into his brother's office.  "Mr. McKay, I'm sorry," the embarrassed secretary says.

 

"It's fine,"  Tripp says.  "What the hell do you want, Shawn?  I thought we said all we had to say earlier this morning."

 

"You low down son of a bitch,"  Shawn says, walking over to his brother's desk.  "You had me FIRED from my job?"

 

"Lost your job as a waiter at the club, did you?"  Tripp mockingly asks.  "Hmm, too bad.  But I don't know what that has to do with me."

 

"YOU did it, you bastard!  You called my boss and told him to fire me!"

 

"It's not my fault you couldn't hold on to that job.  Maybe one of the club members didn't like the way you were looking at her teenage daughter of something."

 

Shawn looks at him.  "Y'know, I can see why Jeremy Wendell made you his sole heir.  From everything I've heard about our grandfather, you're just like him.  And I hope you end up just like him, too........a lonely, bitter old man with no one to care if you live or die."

 

"Doris, call security and have this punk thrown out of the building,"  Tripp says.  

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Don't bother,"  says Shawn.  "I'm leaving.  The sight of him makes me wanna puke.  Tripp, I'm warning you.  Stay away from me and Mom, and stay the hell OUT of our lives, or I'll make you sorry.  I swear."

 

"Get the hell out of here!"  Tripp yells.  

 

Shawn gives his brother one last, angry look, then turns and leaves.  

 

"Doris,"  Tripp says to his secretary.  

 

"Yes, Mr. McKay?"

 

"You're fired."

 

"Excuse me?"  The bewildered woman asks.

 

"That's like the third time you've let someone barge into my office like that.  I need someone who can keep unwanted visitors OUT.  And that's obviously not you.  So you're done.  Leave."

 

"I'm very sorry, Mr. McKay,"  Doris says, near tears, as she leaves Tripp's office.  

 

After she is gone, Tripp leans back in his chair.  "I'm not done with you yet, little brother.  For betraying me last year, I'll it it impossible for you to ever get a job anywhere in Dallas.  Except with John Ross, but once I destroy the Ewings......well, you'll just be out of luck all the way around, then."

Holly Harwood's home....

 "Thank you,"  Cliff says as Holly Harwood hands him a glass of lemonade by her pool.  

 

"You're welcome."

 

"Sure is a hot day, itn't it?"  

 

"Yes, it's a hot day.  But I really don't think you came here to talk about the Texas heat, did you, Mr. Barnes?"  Holly asks.

 

"Please, call me Cliff.  And I hope I can call you Holly."

 

"I don't see why not,"  Holly says.  "Now, what is it I can do for you, Cliff?"

 

"I'd like to do some business with you, or rather, with your company, Harwood Oil,"  Cliff says.

 

"Well, then you'll have to go to my son for that.  I retired and turned the presidency of the company over to Brandon earlier this year."

 

"Yes, I know, and my son, Brad Stone, and I already met with your son, and I have to say, he's a very smart and articulate young man.  You must be very proud."

 

"I AM proud.  But if you already met with Brandon, then why come to me about business?"  Holly asks.

 

"Well, there's a problem.  And that problem......is the Ewings."

 

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

 

I'm sure you already know that Ewing Oil has recently joined the new Cartel  And that's caused some problems.  Ewing Oil has strong armed the other Cartel members into refusing to do business with my company, and that includes Harwood Oil."

 

"Strong armed?"  Holly asks.

 

"Yes.  Ewing Oil and the Ewing family has an awful lot of power.  Your son Brandon even admitted that he's afraid of the Ewings, and that's why he won't do business with Stone-Barnes Oil."

 

"Well, what do you want ME to do about it?"  

 

"You still own your company. I was hoping to convince you to tell your son that he doesn't have to be afraid of the Ewings.  In fact, if we team up together, we can beat them."

 

"And why would Harwood Oil be interested in beating the Ewings?"  Holly asks.

 

Cliff slightly laughs.  "Come on," he says.  "It's no secret that J.R. Ewing once almost took over your whole company and that you had an affair with the man.  So one thing you and I have in common is our mutual and longstanding hatred for the Ewings."

 

"Now, wait just a minute, Cliff.   You're right about one thing. I HATED J.R. Ewing.  The man caused me more trouble than I care to remember.  But that's as far as it goes.  I have absolutely no problem at all with Bobby.  In fact, I've always liked and respected Bobby very much.  I also don't have a problem with Sue Ellen or her son.  So, you see, Cliff, there's no reason I would ever want to get into some war with Ewing Oil because of my ancient history with J.R."

 

"So you're just gonna let the Ewings intimidate your son and keep him from doing business with whomever he chooses?"  Cliff asks.

 

"From what I understand, the decision not to include Stone-Barnes Oil in any business deals among them was made unanimously by ALL the Cartel members."

 

"Yes, because they all felt threatened by the Ewings."

 

Holly smiles.  "Cliff, I'm sorry.  But I won't help you with this.  I won't interfere with my son's running of my company, unless of course he does something that warrants my stepping in.  Again, I'm sorry."

 

 

"Okay, look,"  says Cliff.   "I'm kinda desperate here.  I have a $15 million loan that comes due in a couple of days, and, I don't know how I'm gonna pay that loan off and stay in business when we can't even pump oil or deal with any of the other independents in Dallas."

 

"And again......I'm sorry,"  Holly says.  "But I can't help you."

 

Cliff nods.  "Okay, fine," he says as he stands.  "I thank you for your time."

 

"Not at all.  And good luck to you."

 

"Yeah,"  Cliff says abruptly, then leaves, disappointed that his last hope had just refused to help him.  

Southfork....early afternoon....

 Alex is working out in the exercise room at Southfork when Shawn walks in.  "Hey,"  Shawn says.  

 

"Hey,"  Alex says, continuing his workout.  

 

"Aunt Ann told me you were in here.  You mind some company?  I kinda need to burn off some frustrations."

 

"I'd love some company,"  Alex says.  "I thought you were working today."

 

"Yeah, so did I."

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"I showed up for work this morning and got fired, man,"  Shawn replies, slipping off his short and taking a seat on one of the exercise benches.

 

"What?  You were fired?  Why?"

 

"My brother did it."

 

"Tripp McKay?  Dude, why would your own brother get you fired?"

 

"Because he's a miserable jerk, that's why.  He came over to our place this morning, and I heard him talking to my Mom like she was some lowly servant or something after she slaved to cook the guy breakfast.  I told him not to talk to her like that, and then he got all up in my face.  You know what he told us?  That my grandfather, Jeremy Wendell, had made him his sole heir.  Tripp is gonna inherit over half a billion dollars when that old man dies, and my Mom and I get NOTHING.  He got me fired because he was pissed at me."

 

"Dude, I'm sorry,"  Alex says.

 

 

"It's not your fault, bro,"  Shawn says.  "You don't have anything to be sorry for.  But Tripp will.  I promise you.......one way or another, I'm gonna pay big brother back for  this one.  In spades."

 

 

 

 

The Cattlemen's Club....

 Bobby and Lucas walk into the Cattlemen's Club that afternoon, where a young male host greets them.  "Mr. Ewing, hello,"  the young man says.  "Good to see you, it's been a while."

 

"Hello, David, yes it has,"  Bobby says.  

 

"Your usual table, sir?"

 

"Yes, that'll be fine,"  Bobby replies.  David leads Bobby and Lucas across the crowded restaurant to their table, where they take their seats. 

 

"What can I offer you gentlemen to drink?"  David asks.

 

"I'll have a sweet tea,"  replies Bobby.

 

"And, I'll take  a lemonade,"   says Lucas.

 

"Coming right up.  And your server will be with you gentlemen shortly."

 

"Thank you, David,"  Bobby says, and the young man walks away.  

 

"Thank you for takin' me to lunch,"  Lucas says.

 

"My pleasure.  Been a while since the two of us have had a chance to really talk."

 

Lucas looks at his father.  "Dad, is something on your mind?  You seem like somethin's bothering you."

 

"Well, son, to be honest, yes,"  Bobby says.  "In fact, I have quite a lot on my mind these days.  I'm worried about Christopher and Courtney, and Jacob, too, of course."

 

"Do you really think they could lose the case?"  Lucas asks.

 

"I dunno.  I sure hope not.  Your brother has really come to love that little boy, and I don't know what it would do to him and Courtney if they lost Jacob."

 

"Dad, I just can't see that happening.  Jacob has lived at Southfork with Christopher and Courtney for the past several months now, and he loves it.  I can't see a judge turning around and handing him over to a father he's never even met before.  Especially is the case goes to court here in Dallas."

 

"I hope you're right,"  Bobby says.  "I'm also worried about Ann."

 

"Why?"  Lucas asks.

 

"She just hasn't been herself for some time now.  I can tell somethin's weighin' awful heavy on her mind, but she just won't talk to me about it.  She keeps sayin' that she wants to talk to me about somethin', but then she holds back."

 

"Well, just give her time.  Whatever it is, if it's that important, I'm sure she'll tell you when she's ready,"  Lucas says as Daniel Cooper walks over to their table with their drinks.

 

 

"Here you go, Mr. Ewing,"  Daniel says, placing Bobby's tea in front of him and Lucas's lemonade in front of him.  

 

"Daniel Cooper, Mitch's son,"  Bobby says.

 

"Yes, sir,"  says Daniel.

 

"How long ya been workin' here?"

 

"I just started a few days ago,"  Daniel replies.  "I figured I could earn some money over the summer and get some work experience under my belt before I start college in the fall."

 

"Where are you planning to go to college?"  Lucas asks.

 

"SMU,"  Daniel replies.  "I'm planning on going into medicine like my Dad."

 

"I'm sure Mitch must be real proud,"  Bobby says.

 

"Thank you, Mr. Ewing.  Now what can I get for you guys?"

 

"Well, I'll have the Fort Worth ribeye, with baked potato and rice,"  says Bobby.  

 

"You want the 10, 12, or 16 oz. steak?"  Daniel asks.

 

"The 12."

 

"And, you, Lucas?"  Daniel asks.

 

Lucas looks at the menu.  "I will have the country fried sirloin."

 

"And your two sides?"

 

"Fries and rice."

 

"Coming up soon,"  Daniel says, taking their menus, and walking away.

 

While Bobby and Lucas are about to resume their conversation, Justin and Pamela are finishing their lunch across the room.  As they get up from their seats and start to leave, Justin spots his uncle and cousin.  He and  Pamela walk over to them.

 

"Uncle Bobby, Lucas,"  Justin says.

 

"Justin,"  Bobby says.  "Hello, Pamela."

 

"Well, since the two of you are here together, does this mean what I THINK it means?"  Lucas asks with a smile.

 

"Yes,"  Pamela replies.  "Justin and I are back together."

 

"When did that happen?"  Bobby asks.

 

"We've been together for a while, Uncle Bobby,"  says Lucas.  "It's kind of a complicated story, but, we needed to keep our relationship a secret from Tripp McKay, but, now that doesn't matter, so Pamela and I are free to see one another publicly now."

 

"So McKay's backed off?"  Lucas asks.

 

"No,"  replies Pamela.  "Tripp is suing me for full custody of Hunter."

 

"He's doing WHAT?"  Lucas asks.  "Damn, that guy never takes a break from causing trouble, does he?"

 

"Lucas, what do you mean by that?"  Justin asks.

 

Lucas sighs.  "Look, I won't go into detail, but McKay is responsible for Jay and Jill separating, and he's the reason Jill resigned from Ewing Oil."

 

"How so?"  Asks a confused Bobby.

 

"He tried to blackmail Jill into giving him Ewing Oil secrets by using a mistake Jill made against her.  But, she refused to do it.  Jill wouldn't betray the company or the family for McKay.  When she told Jay about her mistake, they separated."

 

"Good Lord,"  Bobby says.

 

"Tripp McKay,"  Justin says.  "That son of a.........not only is he putting Pamela through hell, but now he's responsible for my sister separating from her husband."

 

"I thought Jeremy Wendell and Carter McKay were two of the most ruthless men I'd ever met, but I think their grandson has even those two beat when it comes to being ruthless,"  Bobby says with an angry look on his face.

 

"McKay's gone too far this time,"  Justin says.  "Lucas, would you mind takin' Pamela back to Ewing Records with you?"

 

"Why, Justin, where are you going?"  Pamela asks.

 

"I'm gonna pay your ex-husband a visit."

 

"Looks like you're not gonna have to,"  Lucas says as he looks toward the restaurant's front entrance.  The others turn to look as well and see Tripp coming into the restaurant with a brunette.

 

"Speak of the devil,"  says Bobby.

 

Spotting Pamela and the Ewings, Tripp flashes a smug smile, then walks over to them with his lunch date.  "Well, if it isn't Dallas's most infamous family.  Some of them, at least."

 

"This place has really gone downhill,"  Bobby says.  "They'll let just anybody in here now days."

 

"Yes, as evidenced by all of YOU being allowed in here,"  says Tripp.  

 

Feeling that Justin is about to lunge at Tripp, Pamela places her hand on his chest to hold him back as Justin looks at Tripp as if he wants to rip him apart.

 

"Pamela, I see you didn't heed my warning to stay away from this guy."

 

"I'm done letting you control any aspect of my life,"  Pamela says.  

 

"Well, I guess you two deserve each other,"  says Tripp.  "At least my son will be out from under your influence soon."

"Emma Ryland's kid, Logan.........that's your son, Lucas.  YOUR grandson, Bobby.  And your wife, Annie........she knew the truth all along."

 

"You lying son of a bitch,"  Bobby says.

 

"Ann and Emma kept the truth from ALL of you for more than a year.  Don't believe me........go home and ask your wife, Bobby.  Then you'll find out who the real liar is,"  Tripp says, then he and his date turn and walk out, leaving the Ewings stunned at what they had just heard.

 

"Oh my God,"  Lucas says.  "Dad.......is this possible?  Could this be true?"

 

"I dunno,"  Bobby says.  "But I am DAMNED sure gonna find out."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Krebbs Ranch....

 Meanwhile, Ray and Conner are working on painting a fence at the Krebbs Ranch.  After a long period of working in virtual silence, Ray looks at the younger man.  "Y'know, you sure are awful quiet today.  Last few days, in fact."

 

"Sorry.  Just don't have much to say these days."

 

"Yeah, I noticed that.  Ever since you came home from Braddock jail."

 

"Okay, why don't we just go ahead and get this over with?"  Conner asks.

 

"Get what over with?"  Ray asks.

 

"You saying 'I told you so.'  You and Donna, you both warned me not to take the fall for Dylan in that accident, and I did it anyway.  And look what a mess I made.  Or Dylan made, I should say."

 Back at Ewing Oil, John Ross and new secretary, Clay Jamison, are working in John Ross's office, as he is having Clay sort some old files.  "Wow, some of these files go back decades,"  Clay says.

 

"Yeah, some do.  In fact, I do believe there's some files in there that belonged to my Granddaddy, Jock Ewing, the man who started this comp'ny way back in the early 30s."

 

Clay smiles.  "That would be somethin' to come across one of those."

 

"Well, gettin' our files in order is somethin' that's long overdue.  Clay, I really appreciate you helpin' with this.  Your time will be rewarded."

 

Clay smiles.  "Thank you, John Ross, I appreciate that."

 As Tripp returns to the offices at Westar that afternoon, he finds Ewing Oil's former secretary, Janice, waiting for him.  He pauses for a few seconds when he sees her.  "What are you doing here?"

 

"I needed to see you.  Not sure if you know this yet, but, John Ross fired me from Ewing Oil.  Somehow, the Ewings found out that I was working for you."

 

"So?"  Tripp asks.

 

"So.......I need a job, Tripp.  I was told that you no longer have a secretary, so, I was just thinking......you need a secretary, and I need a job."

 

"Tell you what,"  Tripp says.  "I was just about to leave the office for the day.  I'm going for a run in Warren Park.  Why don't you drop by my apartment in about an hour and a half, and we can talk about it over drinks?"

 

Janice smiles.  "Okay.  Sure, I'd love to."

 

"Alright, well, I'll see you then."

 

"I look forward to it,"  Janice says, still smiling as Tripp walks past her and into his office.

Southfork....

 Bobby's car pulls into Southfork and comes to a stop in the parking area rear of the house.  Lucas's car drives up and comes to a stop a few seconds later.  Both men get out of their cars and head into the house.  A moment 

later, Bobby and Lucas walk into the den, but find the room empty.  "She must be upstairs,"  Bobby says.  He starts into the foyer, just as Ann comes down the stairs.  

 

"Bobby, Lucas," she says.  "What are you doin' home so early?"

 

"We need to have a talk,"  Bobby says in a stern voice.  "Now."

 

Ann nods, then walks into the den, followed by Bobby and Lucas.   "Bobby, what is it?"

 

"I want the truth, Annie.  Lucas and I deserve that."

 

"Ann, am I the father of Emma's baby?"  Lucas asks.

 

Ann's heart sinks as she realizes that Bobby knows her secret.  She fights back tears.  "How did you find this out?"

 

"Just answer the question,"  says Bobby.  "Is it true?  Is Logan Lucas's child?"

 

"Yes, it's true,"  Ann says in tears.  "Lucas, I'm sorry.  But yes, you are Logan's father."

 

Lucas's mouth drops open in shock.  "Oh.......my.........God," he says, taking a seat on the sofa.

 

"How long have you known about this?"  Bobby asks.

 

"Since before Logan was born,"  Ann replies.

 

"I don't believe what I'm hearing!"

 

"How, Ann?"  Lucas asks.  "How could you keep this from me all this time?  How could Emma keep this from me?  I have another child, a SON, that neither of you thought to tell me about?"

 

"Lucas, I'm so sorry.   By the time Emma found out she was pregnant with Logan, she was with Kevin, and you were involved with Heather.  Emma didn't want to cause any problems for you."

 

"SHE DIDN'T WANNA CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR ME?!!!"  Lucas yells, standing to his feet.  "WHAT THE HELL DID SHE THINK KEEPING MY OWN CHILD FROM ME WOULD DO?!"

 

"Lucas, I tried to get Emma to tell you.  I BEGGED her too.  But she didn't wanna hurt Kevin."

 

"Kevin Channing is DEAD!  You and Emma have had months to tell me the truth."

 

"I know.  Lucas, please believe me, Emma thought she was doin' what was best, because she didn't wanna come between you and Heather."

 

Lucas walks over to his stepmother.  "I could expect somethin' like this from Emma.  She's always been a liar and a manipulator.  But YOU?  You're my stepmother.  Someone I have loved and respected, and you do THIS to me?!  You keep my child from me!"

 

"Hey, what's goin' on in here?"  Heather asks, walking into the room.  "Lucas, I could hear you yellin' all the way on the other side of  the house, what's happenin'?  And what did I just hear about a child?"

 

"Lucas, why don't you take Heather upstairs and talk to her?"  Bobby asks.  "I wanna speak to Ann alone."

 

"Yeah,"  Lucas says.  "That's a good idea, because I've said all I have to say to her."  Lucas walks over to his wife.  "Heather, let's get out of here.  Let's go upstairs and I'll explain everything."   A confused Heather nods, then she and Lucas leave the room and head up the stairs.

 

Bobby hesitates a few seconds, then turns to Ann.  "Alright.  I heard the explanation you just to Lucas, but now I want one.  And I want the truth.  No more lies, Ann.  Just tell me why.  Why in the HELL did you keep this from me and from Lucas all this time?"

 

"Bobby, I wanted to tell you.  So many times I wanted to tell you.  But Emma begged me not to."

 

"Emma BEGGED you not to?  Why, because she didn't want her perfect little life in California with the Channings ruined?  YOU should've been the one to tell me.  That child is my grandson!"

 

"Bobby, I'm sorry,"  Ann says in tears.

 

"You're sorry.  That's all you ever say when you're caught in a lie, itn't it?  For months I've known somethin's been botherin' you, but you wouldn't tell me what it was.  This was it, right?  You were constantly worried and stressed that the truth was gonna come out."

 "It tore me apart, keepin' this from you,"  Ann says.  "Lyin' to you.  But I was caught in an impossible situation, Bobby, torn between my husband and my daughter."

 

"Your DAUGHTER?  Y'know, I thought when Emma moved to California with Kevin Channing, and when she had the baby that we were done dealing with her drama.  That maybe motherhood had matured her.  But even now, she's STILL dragging us into her mess."

 

"I know.  Bobby, I was gonna tell you.  I have TRIED to tell you the past few days, but, somethin' always interrupted us."

 

"So who else knew about this?  Who else knew that Logan is Lucas's child?"  Bobby asks.

 

"Emma, me, and.........Katherine Wentworth."

 

"Katherine?  How the hell did Katherine find out?"

 

"She found out when she lived at Falcon Crest.  That's why I went to see her that night she tried to kill me.  I went to confront her about it."

 

"You went to confront her, and she attacked you?"  Bobby asks.

 

"Yes.  And she's been holdin' this over my head.  Months ago, I started receivin' these letters in the mail from someone sayin' 'I know your secret.'  I got, I dunno how many of these over the past 2 or 3 months.  Then Emma started gettin' these same messages.  Katherine was torturin' us, threatenin' to reveal the truth to you."

 

"So the only ones who knew about this were you, Emma, Katherine, and Tripp McKay."

 

"Tripp McKay?"  Ann asks.  "What does Tripp McKay have to do with this?"

 

Bobby walks closer to his wife.  "McKay is the one who told me about this.  And he took a whole lotta pleasure in rubbing it in that my wife was keeping this secret from me."

 

"How did he find out about this?"

 

"I have no idea.  The point is, YOU should've been the one to tell me about this a long time ago,"  Bobby says.  "Lucas should've known about his son from the moment Emma found out she was carrying his child.  But this is nothing new for you, is it?  This is a pattern, you keeping these kind of secrets from me, and I'm fed up with it!"

 

"You have every right to be angry,"  Ann says.

 

"Angry?  Yes, I'm angry, but that's not all I'm feeling right now.  I'm feeling disgusted that my own wife continues to keep these life altering secrets from me, even after all this time.  And I just don't think I can live like this anymore."

 

"Bobby, what are you sayin'?"

 

"I'm saying I think we need some time apart.  Right now, if I don't get out of here, I'm liable to say somethin' we both may end up regretting.  When I come back, I expect to find you moved out of our bedroom.  You're perfectly welcome to stay at the cottage........but I want you out of this house."  Bobby looks angrily at her for a couple of seconds then turns and walks out of the room.   Ann breaks down in tears, and falls to her knees as she cries uncontrollably. 

Meanwhile....Lucas and Heather's bedroom....

 

 

 

Stunned after Lucas tells her that he is the father of Emma's baby, Heather takes a seat on their bed, a blank look of shock on her face.  "I........I just don't know what to say."

 

"Yeah, neither do I,"  says Lucas.

 

 

"So, let me just get this straight,"  says Heather.  "You're the father of Emma's baby, and Ann has known this all along, and she never bothered to tell you?"

 

"Yeah, that's about it,"  Lucas says.  

 

"I just can't believe it.  Why would Ann keep that from you all this time?"

 

"I have no idea."

 

"And you found this out from Tripp McKay of all people?"  Heather asks.

 

"Yeah.  How McKay knew about this, I have no idea.  But I intend to find out."

 

"So now that you know the truth, Lucas, what do you plan to do about it?"

 

Lucas takes a seat on the bed beside his wife.  "What am I gonna do?"  He asks.  "That's a good question.  I've been so shocked finding out this news that I haven't even had a chance to think about what I'm gonna do.  My God, Heather.  This still hasn't sunk in yet.  I have another son.  Another SON.  And for the second time, I missed out on so much.  My son's first year.  Teething.  Taking his first steps.  Just like I missed all that with Michael."  Lucas 

begins to cry.  "How could Emma do this?"  He asks.  "How could she keep my child from me?  And how could Ann?"  

 

Heather looks at her husband, so shaken by this news, so vulnerable, and she is overcome with guilt over having also kept Lucas's son away from him for so long.  

 

 

Near Klyd Warren Park....late afternoon....

Tripp is jogging back to his apartment building late in the afternoon and finds Brad waiting for him in front of the building.  Tripp pauses for a few seconds, and Brad walks over to him.  "What are you doing here?"  He asks.

 

"I went by your office and they told me you'd already gone home for the day,"  Brad says.  "I rang your doorbell, but no answer, so I decided to wait for you."

 

"Okay, so what do you want?"  Tripp asks.  "Make it quick.  I have other things to do."

 

"I need an extension on that loan."

 

"And why should I agree to that?"

 

"My father told me what happened at Pamela's the other day.  You only called that loan in out of spite against me and my father because of your problems with Pamela.  Tripp, there's no way we can repay that loan right now, and you know it."

 Jay Smithfield walks out of the large office building that houses the law offices of Smithfield And Bennett that afternoon.  As Jay heads to his car, he sees Jill walking toward him.   "Hello, Jay," she says.

 

"Jill.  What are you doing here?"

 

"I was coming up to your office to talk to you. I figured that was the only way, since you haven't answered or returned any of my calls."

 

"Can't this wait?"  Jay asks.  "I'm on my way out to Fort Worth to see Dylan and talk to him about his case."

 

"So, even now, you don't have time to talk to your wife?"  Jill asks.

 

"I think that we said everything we needed to say the other night, when you told me you'd been having an affair with Craig Anderson,"  Jay says.

 

"Jay, I am SO sorry that I hurt you.  But you know, this wasn't entirely my fault.  We haven't had a happy marriage for quite some time now.  You buried yourself in your work to the point where I felt totally neglected and unloved.  I tried to talk to talk you about it, but you never had the time to even hear me out.  All you would do is apologize and say that things would change soon, but they never did."

 

Jay sighs.  "I know.  And you're right, Jill.  You're absolutely right.  I'm partly to blame for what's happened to our marriage.  But that doesn't make knowing that my wife went to bed with another man any less painful.  Jill, you wanna know one reason why I threw myself into my work the way I did?  For a long time, I tried talking to you about us having a child.  Starting a family of our own.  But you never wanted to talk about that.  I got the feeling that you didn't want kids."

 

"Jay, that's not it.  That's not it at ALL."

 

"Then why?"  Jay asks.  "Your career?"

 

Jill wipes tears from her eyes.  "Jay, there's something I never told you.  When I was in high school, I got pregnant.  I had a little baby boy."

 

"You.......you had a baby?"

 

"Yes,"  Jill says.

 

"So, what happened?  You gave the baby up for adoption?"

 

"No.  He died before he was a month old.  Losing my little boy destroyed me.  Jay, the reason I didn't wanna think about starting a family is because I was afraid.  I was terrified of going through that again."

 

Jay takes his wife by the hand.  "Jill, I'm so sorry for what you went through.  But that doesn't mean it would happen again."

 

"I know.  It just scares me so much."

 

"Oh my God, Jill.  If I had only known about this, I never would've put so much pressure on you to have a baby."

 

"It's okay,"  Jill says,  "Jay, you are such a good man, and if anyone deserves to be a father, it's you."

 

"Jill, what about your baby's father?"  Jay asks.  

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"Was he there for you when your baby died?  Who was he?"

 

Jill again wipes tears from her eyes and looks at her husband.  "It was Craig.  Craig Anderson was the father of my baby."

 

Jay looks at her, disappointment in his eyes.  "Craig Anderson?  So, you hooked up with your high school sweetheart who was also the father of your child?"

 

"Jay, I....."

 

"No, Jill.  I can't talk to you anymore right now."  Without saying another word to her, Jay walks away from Jill and heads to his car in the parking lot.  Jill watches in tears as her husband drives away.

 

"Tripp,"  she says angrily to herself after Jay has driven off.  "This is all your fault.  You ruined my life and my marriage, and I'll be damned if I let you get away with this."

Stone-Barnes Oil....

 As Brad sits at his desk, sipping on a glass of bourbon, Cliff anxiously paces around Brad's office.  "So, he wouldn't budge an inch?"  Cliff asks.

 

"I already told you, no,"  Brad replies.  "McKay is bound and determined to put us out of business."

 

"But WHY?  We're a small company, surely Tripp can't think that we're a threat to Westar."

 

"He wants this company.  The more small companies Westar is able to swallow up, the more wells they posses, and, the more money they make."

 

"Well, I'll go talk to him,"  Cliff says.

 

"It won't do any good."

 

"It might.  Tripp and I use to be pretty close when he was married to Pamela, he was like a son to me.  I think if I talk to him, and explain our situation, he'll back off and give us an extension."

 

"God, Cliff, you just don't get it, do you?"  Brad angrily asks.  "Tripp McKay is determined to put us out of business, and it looks like he and the Ewings have done it.  It's over.  Come Friday morning, when we can't repay that loan to McKay, he will own this company, pure and simple.  It's time to face reality.........we're finished."

 As sunset heralds the end of another day in Dallas, someone walks into an apartment in the city and switches on a light.  The man walks across the room to a small bar and pour himself a drink, then takes a seat in a chair.  Taking a cell phone from his pocket, the man dials a number and waits for an answer.  After four rings, someone answers.  "Hi, it's me,"  says the man, who turns out to be Clay Jamison, the mysterious new employee at Ewing Oil.  "I have some news, and you'll never guess what it is.  I got a slight promotion at Ewing Oil.  Yes, already.  I am now John Ross's secretary.  I can't believe how easy this was.  All I had to do was turn on the old charm, and that was all it took.  This will make it a lot easier, now that I've got my foot in the door.  Listen, I gotta go.  I'll talk to you soon.  Bye."  After putting down his cell phone, Clay reaches over to a table and picks up a framed photograph.  Placing the photo on a table in front of him, Clay looks at it.  It turns out to be a photo of J.R. Ewing.  He smiles at the photo as he raises his glass in a toast.  "To you, sir," he says.  "After all these years, I'm finally here.  In Dallas, in YOUR 

 "Well, I put the boys down for the night,"  Pamela says, walking into her living room after tucking her sons into bed.  "Hunter was a little restless.  I think he knows something is going on."  Entering the living room, Pamela finds the room empty.  "Justin?"  She calls.  She walks to the kitchen door, opens it, and looks in.  "Justin, where are you?"  Wondering where he could be, Pamela goes back into the living room and immediately sees a note on the coffee table.  Walking over, she picks the note up and reads it aloud:  "Pamela, I was too keyed up to just sit here, so, I am going out for a while.  I'll be back in an hour or two.  Love, Justin."  A worried and confused look comes over her face after reading Justin's note.  She picks up her cell phone from the coffee table and dials Afton's number.  After  

the second ring, Afton answers.  "Mom, can you come over right away?"  Pamela asks.  "I have to go out for a little while, and I need for you to stay with the boys.  Yes. Now, if you can.  Thanks, Mom."  Pamela puts down her phone, her bottom lip trembling as she fights back tears.

 

 

 

Tripp's apartment....

                                                                                                           Tripp and Janice lay in his bed that evening after making love.  As Janice runs her hand across Tripp's bare chest, he lays in bed looking up at the ceiling, as if bored.  "That was wonderful," she says.  "Even beyond wonderful.  Better than the last time we made love."

 

"Yeah, I'll give you credit for your bedroom skills, anyway."  Tripp says.

 

"I'm really gonna love working for you at Westar."

 Tripp looks at her.  "Wait, who said you were gonna be working for me at Westar?"  He asks.

 

"Well, Tripp, didn't you?  When I came to your office, and you told me to meet you back here later, I thought that....."

 

"No, wait a second.  I asked you back here for this......sex.  That's all.  Not to talk about you coming to work for me."

 

Janice props herself up in bed.  "But why not?  Tripp, haven't I proven myself loyal to you?"

 "Yes you have,"  Tripp replies.  "And that's the whole problem.  Janice, how long did you work for the Ewings?"

 

"Five years.  Why?"

 

"See, that's my point.  You betrayed the Ewings to spy on them for me after working for them all that time.  If you did that to them, then you'd do it to me.  I need someone I can trust."

 

"But you CAN trust me."

 

"No, Janice.  I can't.  Look, we're pretty much done here, so you can leave now."

 

"What?"  But, Tripp, what about us?"

 

"Us?  Janice, you can't possibly think that there's an 'us' can you?  Are you really that stupid?"

 

Janice fights back tears.  "But, I just thought that, because of tonight......"

 

"Janice, tonight was no different than all the other times we went to bed together,"  Tripp says.  "It was about sex, and nothing more.  So now that's over, you can leave.  NOW, Janice."

 

Tears streaming down her face, Janice gets out of bed and begins to gather her clothes from the floor around the bed.  "I thought you at least cared about me,"  she says as she begins to get dressed.  

 

"Well, sorry to disappoint you.  You were great for a good time in the sack, Janice.  But, I can do better."  Tripp gets out of bed.  Slipping on his boxers, he walks over and picks up his pants, hanging on the back of a chair.  He takes his wallet out, then hands Janice two one hunred dollar bills.  "Here."

 

"What's that for?"  She asks.

 

"For tonight.  It was worth it."

 

"Keep your damned money.  I'm no hooker."

 

Tripp smiles.  "Well, you could've fooled me.  Let yourself out. I'm gonna take a shower."  He tosses the money in her face, then turns and walks into the bathroom.  After he leaves the room, Janice begins to cry.

Jeremy Wendell's penthouse....

 The doorbell rings at Jeremy's penthouse.  Walking into the front hall, Jeremy pauses.  "William?"  He calls to his butler.  When no answer comes, Jeremy makes his way to the door and opens it.  Shawn is standing in the hall.  

 

"Jeremy Wendell?"  The boy asks.

 

"Yes, I'm Jeremy Wendell."

 

"I'm......"

 

"I know who you are,"  Jeremy says.  "You're Shawn, my grandson.  Please, come in."  Jeremy steps aside and lets the boy into the apartment, then closes the door.  "Can I offer you something?"

 

"No,"  Shawn replies.  "All I want is the truth."

 

"And what truth is that?"

 

"Is it true that you named my brother Tripp as your sole heir in your will?"  Shawn asks.

 

Jeremy looks at the young man for a moment.  "Yes, Shawn, it's true."

 

"And what about my mother?  She's your daughter, don't you think she deserves SOMETHING just for the stigma of being related to you?"

 

"Shawn, listen to me.  What I did......making that new will naming your brother as my sole heir, I had no choice.  It has nothing to do with you or your mother."

 

"What do you mean, you had no choice?"

 

"Shawn, just take my word for it.  I had no choice but to rewrite my will.  Tripp has some information on me that could cause me a great deal of trouble.  But I did make a provision for you and Sharon.  Should Tripp predecease you and your mother, my entire estate will go to the two of you."

 

"So, Tripp blackmailed you into changing that will?"  Shawn asks.

 

"Yes."

 

Shawn angrily shakes his head.  "Wow, he's really a piece of crap, isn't he?  He cheated my mother out of whatever you had planned to leave her in your will, and he got me fired from my job.  I never thought I could hate anyone as much as I hate Tripp right now."  The boy walks to the door and opens it.

 

"Shawn, where are you going?" Jeremy asks.  

 

The boy pauses for a few seconds, and looks at Jeremy.  "To take care of something I should've taken care of a long time ago," he says, then abruptly leaves.  

 

After Shawn leaves, Katherine walks into the foyer.  "Well, that's one very angry teenager," she says.  

 

"You heard all of that?"

 

"Yes.   And he has every right to be angry."

 

"Jeremy, I think it's time that we take care of Tripp,"  Katherine says.  

 

"And what do you mean by that?"

 

"I mean that I am sick and tired of that grandson of yours holding us here like this.  Threatening to turn us in to the police if either of us sets foot out of this apartment.  My daughter is out there somewhere and I don't even know where is or if she's alright.  I have no idea where my son Brian is, or if he's even still alive.  I won't sit around here any longer as Tripp McKay's prisoner."

 

"And what do you propose to do, Katherine?"  Jeremy asks.

 

"It's time that your grandson was neutralized so that he no longer has a hold on either of us,"  Katherine replies.

Tripp's apartment....

 

Tripp comes out of his bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist after a shower.  Walking to his closet, he gets out a shirt and a pair of pants.  He slips on his pants, and as he is about to put his shirt on, his phone rings.  Going into his bedroom, he picks up the phone and looks at it, then answers.  "Tripp McKay?  Oh?  What sort of problem?  Well, can't you take care of it?"  He listens to the person on the other end of the line for a moment, then sighs.  "Okay, yeah, fine.  Yeah, I'll be there in fifteen minutes."  Tripp hangs up the phone and shakes his head in frustration, then proceeds to finish dressing.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southfork....

Christopher walks into the den at Southfork and pours himself a drink.  As he takes a sip, Heather comes down the stairs and walks in.  "Christopher," she says.

 

"Evening.  Where is everyone?"  Christopher asks.  "The house is so quiet tonight."

 

"It's been a REALLY crazy evening around here.  You didn't happen to see Lucas outside did you?"

 

"No, I didn't.  His car's gone."

 

"His car is gone?"  Heather asks.

 

"Heather, what's goin' on?"

 

Heather sighs.  "You're gonna find out soon enough.  We had some real drama around here earlier.  Your father and Lucas came home, really angry.  They had just found out that, Lucas is the father of Emma Ryland's baby."

 

 

"What?"

 

"Yeah, we were all really shocked.  But the most shocking thing is that Ann knew about it all along and she never said a word to Lucas, or to your father."

 

"That's hard to believe,"  says Christopher.

 

"I know.  Anyway, Ann said she was movin' out to the cottage.  Your father was so upset that he just up and left, and now Lucas is gone.  Christopher, I'm worried.  I'm REALLY worried."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile....

 Tripp steps off the elevator in the parking deck of his apartment building.  As he starts to walk to his car, someone 

steps out of the shadows in front of him.  "Geeze, what the......"  he says.  A look of surprise comes over his face

when he sees the person facing him.  "What the hell are YOU doing here?"  Tripp asks.  Tripp sees that the person has something in their hand.  

 

The person begins to move closer to him.  

 

"What are you doing?"  Tripp asks as the person continues to move closer to him.  "What the HELL are you doing?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Suddenly, before Tripp can even react, the mysterious person strikes him on the side of the head with something sharp, creating a wound that begins gushing blood.  Tripp gasps in excruciating pain, then falls to the floor, 

 moaning.  Tripp looks up into the face of his attacker.  "No.......please........." he begs.  The person stands over him, drawing back with the weapon they had used, poised to strike him again.  Tripp quickly kicks the person in the leg, almost knocking them down, and causing the weapon, a lug wrench, to fall from their hand.  Using every bit of strength he has left, Tripp makes an attempt to crawl away from his attacker.  But the person picks up the wrench and goes after him, catching him only a few feet away.  As Tripp attrempts to crawl away, his attacker brings the wrench down on his head in one hard blow that knocks Tripp out.  Almost immediately, the person flees the 

 scene, leaving Tripp laying face down in a pool of his own blood!  The sound of car tires screeching can be heard as Tripp's assailant makes their escape into the night....

END OF EPISODE 175....