EPISODE 192 - The Homecoming

 "Clay, don't believe anything they say!" Michelle Stevens tells her son after Bobby and Bum confront her at the Ball with the revelation that she had murdered Tripp.

 

"You were having an affair with Tripp, weren't you, Michelle?"  Bobby asks.  "You were using him as a way to get your foot in the door of the oil business again here in Dallas, to get revenge on everyone you feel had wronged you in the past, only the affair turned sour."

 

"And when you found out the terms of that loan McKay had given to Brad Stone to save his company, you knew that if McKay was dead, that debt would revert to his estate, and anyone who paid the loan off would own Stone-Barnes Oil,"  says Bum.  By now, all eyes in the ballroom are on what was going on in the center of the room, and the crowd gathers around them.

 

"It's over, Michelle, you may as well confess,"  Bobby says as the music has stopped and a crowd gathers around them.  "Tell the truth, you KILLED Tripp McKay and had your henchman Jake Martin frame my nephew for YOUR crime!  Martin has already confessed his part."

 

"Alright, ALRIGHT!  It's true,"  Michelle says.  "McKay was a low down, lousy son of a bitch who double crossed me.  He promised he would help me.  And when he gave Cliff's son that loan, Tripp promised he would turn the company over to me once he called in the loan and Cliff and Brad couldn't pay it.  But he betrayed me.  Said he had no intention of turning the company over to me, and he laughed in my face."

 

"So you killed him?"  John Ross asks.  

 

"Yes, I killed that little snake!"  Michelle says,slowly backing away.

 

"You had this whole thing planned?"  Cliff asks.  "You and McKay, when he gave Brad that loan, you and that punk conspired to take our company away from us?"

 

"That was the least I could do to you after the dirty trick you pulled on me all those years ago, tricking me into marrying you so you could get control of all of Ewing Oil."

 

"So you waited 28 years to get your revenge?"  Cliff asks. 

 

"I waited until the first opportunity came along,"  Michelle says.  "And as soon as it did, I TOOK it.  I was gonna pay back everyone in this town who made my life a living hell!"

 

"Mom, please, tell me this isn't real,"  says a visibly upset and shaken Clay.  "Tell me this isn't happening."

 

Michelle looks at her son.  "Clay, I'm so sorry, sweetheart.  I did it for you,"  she says as she slowly backs away from the crowd.

 

"You.........you killed someone?  You took someone's life for ME?"

 

"The police are on their way, Michelle,"  John Ross says.  "You're finally gonna get what's comin' to you."  He and Bobby begin walking toward her.

 

"If I'm goin' down, I won't be goin' down alone,"  Michelle says.  Suddenly, she turns and grabs a knife from a table, and then grabs an unsuspecting Ashley by the arm as she is standing nearby, next to Bridget.  Michelle grabs the girl and shoves Ashley in front of her, her arm around a frightened Ashley's neck.  Michelle puts the knife to Ashley's throat.  "Stay back,"  she orders.  "Don't come any closer or I'll kill her."  The crowd backs away from Michelle as she holds Ashley hostage.

 

"Mom, stop,"  Clay begs his mother.  "Please, Mom, let Ashley go."

 

"I'm sorry, sweety, I can't do that,"  Michelle says as she slowly backs toward one of the ballroom's exits, Bobby and John Ross and Clay moving ever so cautiously toward her.

 

 

"Let her go, Michelle, unless you wanna add to the charges you're already facin',"  John Ross says.

 

"No way," Michelle says.  "And if you don't want her sweet little throat cut, you'll stay back."

 

"Alright,"  says Bobby.  "Alright, we'll stay back.  Michelle, you can walk out of here right now, but just let my niece go."

 

"You really must think I'm stupid.  This little niece of yours is gonna be my ticket out of here, and if any of you come anywhere near me, I swear, I'll kill her.  If you don't believe me, then just TRY me!"

 

"We believe you,"  says John Ross.  "We know you're capable of killin'.  You've already killed twice now."

 

"Hillary Taylor and Tripp McKay both got EXACTLY what they deserved,"  an angry Michelle says.  "Hillary Taylor killed my sister.  And Tripp.........he double crossed me.  He used me just like every other man in this damned town!"

 

"So you and McKay were lovers?"  Bobby asks.

 

"That's right.  We were lovers.  He was going to help me FINALLY get the revenge I had been waiting all these years to get against Cliff Barnes and the Ewings.  I was only sorry that J.R. wasn't alive for me to pay him back for what he did to me."

 

"And what the hell did my father do to you?"  John Ross asks.

 

"He poisoned James's mind against me,"  Michelle says, fighting back tears.  She looks at her son.  "Clay, your father was the only man that I ever loved, and because of J.R. Ewing, my relationship with James never stood a chance.  And then when Debra Lynn came to town with that little snot nosed brat of hers, Jimmy...........James left me for her.  He left me when I was pregnant with you."

 

"But he didn't know that you were pregnant,"  Clay says.

 

"No.  Because I never got the chance to tell him.  James never really loved me, he only married me to get Ewing Oil.  Same thing that YOU did, Cliff.  You never gave a damn about me, either.  No one did!  All you and James wanted was that DAMNED Ewing Oil!  And you both used me to get it!  Well, I paid you back, didn't I?  I took your precious company away from you, thanks to Tripp."

 

"Mom, I'm begging you,"  Clay says in tears.  "Please, don't hurt my sister.  Let her go."

 

"Please don't hurt me,"  Ashley begs.

 

"Just shut up," Michelle says to the girl.  

 

Standing nearby, Ray and Conner begin slowly moving toward Michelle, hoping to disarm her and save Ashley. 

 

"STAY BACK!"  She yells.  "I'M WARNING YOU, I'LL KILL HER IF ANY OF YOU COME NEAR!"

 

"Okay, okay,"  Ray says, holding his hands up.  "We're backin' away.  Just don't do anything stupid here."

 

"There's no way out of this for you,"  Bum says.  "Let the girl go."

 

"I told you to stay back,"  Michelle says, slowly backing toward the rear exit of the ballroom, tightening her hold on Ashley.  "I swear, I'll kill her.  I have nothing left to lose."

 

As Michelle backs toward the exit door holding Ashley, Dylan very cautiously moves behind Michelle while her attention is on Ray, Conner, and the others.  

 

 

"Ms. Stevens, no one here wants to hurt you," Bum says.  "But the police are on there way.  They're probably outside right now.  You're not gonna be able to get out of the building."

 

"Stay back,"  Michelle says.  "I'm warning you for the last time.  If the cops ARE outside and they try anything, this girl is dead!"

 

Dylan slowly moves toward the door leading to the exit from the ballroom as Michelle backs toward the door pulling Ashley with her, the knife still at the frightened girl's throat.  While Michelle is distracted by the others, Dylan quietly slips out the door.

 

"Michelle, it's over,"  Bobby says.  "Let Ashley go and give yourself up before someone else gets hurt."

 

"You said my brother was the only man you ever really loved, and yet here you are, holdin' a knife to his daughter's throat,"  says John Ross.

 

"Mom........please,"  Clay begs.

 

When Michelle reaches the exit door, she places her hand on the doorknob.  "Any of you follow me, she's dead!"  Michelle says.  She opens the door, and as everyone stands frozen in the ballroom watching, she slips out the door, pulling Ashley behind her.  In a dramatic moment, as soon as Michelle steps into the hallway, Dylan grabs her from behind.  While Michelle struggles against Dylan, Ashley elbows her in the ribs, allowing her to break free of Michelle's grasp.  Ashley falls to the floor and watches in horror as Michelle turns around and plunges the knife into Dylan's upper left chest.  Dylan cries out in pain, then falls to the floor.  Michelle tries to reach down and grab Ashley again, but hearing someone coming, she realize she doesn't have the time, so she quickly flees down the hallway and disappears around a corner.

 

"DYLAN!!"  Ashley screams, seeing that Dylan is laying on the floor, wounded and bleeding.  She rushes over to him.  "Oh my God," she cries.  Just then, the door to the ballroom opens and Bobby, John Ross, Bum, Christopher, and Ray rush out.  

 

"Dylan!"  Ray says upon seeing Dylan on the floor.  

 

"Which way did she go?"  Bobby asks.  

 

"Down there!"  Ashley replies, pointing down the hall.

 

Donna and Conner come out of the ballroom and Conner sees his brother on the floor, bleeding.  "Oh God, DYLAN!"

 

"You're gonna be alright, son,"  Ray says.  

 

Meanwhile, Christopher and John Ross take off down the hall in search of Michelle.  As Michelle heads down a long hallway toward one of the hotel's exit doors, she sees through the window that several Dallas police cars have 

                                                           

 

arrived at the hotel.  "Damn,"  she whispers to herself in frustration.  She starts back up the hallway in the same direction, but seeing Bobby, John Ross, and Christopher rounding the corner, she turns and runs in the opposite direction.  As John Ross continues down the hallway in pursuit of Michelle, Christopher turns and goes back in the opposite direction.  Michelle starts to round another corner, but stops short when she sees several police officers, including Detectives Steven Jones and Craig Anderson, entering the hotel through the front lobby.  Panicked, she turns and starts back down the hallway in the direction she had come, but seeing John Ross, she feels trapped.  As she turns once again in an attempt to flee, she comes face to face with Christopher.  

 

"It's over, Michelle, give it up,"  Christopher says.  

 

She attempts to flee, but Christopher grabs her.  "LET GO OF ME!!!"  She yells.

 

"HEY, IN HERE!!"  Christopher yells.  

 

Hearing him call, Detective Anderson and two uniformed officers head down the hall, where they find Christopher holding Michelle as John Ross looks on.  

 

"We got her," says Christopher.  

 

"She confessed everything in front of two hundred witnesses,"  John Ross says.  

 

"Good work,"  Craig says.  "Michelle Stevens, you are under arrest for the murder of Tripp McKay,"  he begins reading Michelle her rights as a uniformed officer handcuffs her.  "You have the right to remain silent.  Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law......."

 

 

 

Meanwhile, back the hallway outside the ballroom, Ann, Sue Ellen, and Krystina try to comfort a distraught Ashley, who has blood on her hands from Michelle's knife attack on Dylan.  Conner, Ray, and Donna try to keep Dylan calm while a group looks on, including Detective Steven Jones.  The paramedics arrive with a stretcher and make their way through the crowd.

 

"Okay, what have we got?"  One of the paramedics asks.

 

"Knife wound to the chest,"  Steven Jones replies.  

 

"Okay, buddy, you just hold on,"  one of the paramedics tells Dylan as he kneels beside him.  "You're gonna be okay."

 

Ashley watches in tears as the paramedics begin treating Dylan.  "Sweetheart, why don't we get you out of here?"  Ann asks.

 

"No,"  Ashley says.  "I have to make sure Dylan's gonna be okay."  Looking down at the blood on her hands, she begins to cry.  "My God, he saved my life,"  she says.  

 

"Shhh,.....it's okay, sweety,"  Krystina says, embracing the girl.  "He'll be okay."

 

John Ross and Krystina return.  "Is Ashley okay?"  John Ross asks.

 

"She's just really shaken up,"  Krystina replies.

 

"And Michelle?"  Bobby asks.

 

"She's in custody,"  replies Christopher.

 

Dylan is loaded onto a stretcher.  

 

"Ashley, you should let one of those paramedics check you out,"  Sue Ellen says.

 

"No, I'm fine.  I'm going to the hospital with Dylan."

 

"We should call Jimmy, and let him know what's happened,"  says Ann.

 

 

Walking into the ballroom, where the attendees of the Ball remain, John Ross spots the room, as Clay stands alone, seemingly in a daze after the events of the last few minutes.  Detectives Jones and Anderson approach Clay.  "Mr. Beaumont,"  Steven says.  "We have some questions for you."

 

"Why don't you arrest him, too?"  John Ross asks, walking over.  "Odds are he and Michelle were in this whole thing together."

 

Clay simply looks at them, his eyes filling with tears, a look on his face of total defeat and hopelessness.

 Bobby, Ann, Ray, Donna, Conner, Sue Ellen, Catlin, C.J., Christopher, Courtney, and Ashley are sitting in a waiting room at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital later that night, awaiting word on Dylan, who has been rushed into surgery.   C.J. walks over to Conner.  "Can I get you anything, man?"

 

Conner shakes his head.  "No.  I just wanna know if my brother is okay."

 

C.J. places a reassuring hand on Conner's shoulder.  "I'm sure he'll be fine.  Dylan's young, and he's strong."

 

"There was so much blood,"  Conner says.  "He was bleeding so bad."

 

"Would anybody like some coffee?"  Catlin asks.  "It could be a long night."

 

"I wouldn't mind some," Donna replies.  

 

"Me either,"  says Ann.

 

"Alright, anyone else?"

 

"None for me, thanks,"  says Ray.  

 

"Okay, two coffees coming up,"  Catlin says.  He is leaving the room when a frantic Jimmy rushes in. 

 

"Ash!"  He says when he sees his sister.  

 

Forgetting the anger she'd had toward him recently, Ashley gets up from her seat on the sofa and rushes to her brother's arms, and the two embrace.  

 

"Thank God,"  Jimmy says, hugging his sister.  "Are you alright?"

 

"Yes, I'm fine.  Just really shaken up."

 

"Ash, my God, you've got blood on your hands.  Are you hurt?"

 

"No, it's not my blood,"  Ashley says.  "It's Dylan's."

 

"Okay, can someone fill me in on what happened?"  Jimmy asks.  "Michelle Stevens is Tripp McKay's real killer?"

 

"Yes,"  Bobby replies, walking over to his great-nephew.  "Michelle and Tripp McKay had been having an affair.  Apparently, she enlisted his help or he offered to help her get revenge on us Ewings and on Cliff Barnes for wrongs done to her years ago.  Michelle has been carrying around the anger and bitterness all these years that she felt when your father left her for your mother.  When she was confronted, she grabbed Ashley as a hostage.  And she almost got away."

 

"She would have if it hadn't been for Dylan,"  Catlin says.

 

"Dylan saved my life,"  Ashley says.  "He grabbed Michelle, and she let me go.  Then she stabbed him."

 

"I'm just thankful you're okay,"  Jimmy says.  "Ash, if anything had happened to you......Ash, I'm so sorry.  For everything."

 

"I know,"  Ashley says.  

 

"So, Michelle's been arrested?"

 

"Yes, she has,"  Bobby replies.  

 

"And what about Clay?"  Jimmy asks.  "Was he involved?"

 

"No,"  Ashley says.  "Clay was completely shocked when he found out what his mother had done.  I hope he's okay."

 

A doctor walks into the room at that moment.  "Excuse me, I'm looking for the family of Dylan Baxter," he says.

 

"That's us,"  Ray says.

 

"How is he?"  Donna asks.

 

"Dylan is out of surgery.  He's a VERY lucky young man,"  the doctor replies.  "Another inch, and that knife blade would've pierced Dylan's heart.  "Fortunately, the wound was above the heart, and that's the good news."

 

"Okay, and what's the bad news?"  Conner asks.

 

"The blade did penetrate Dylan's left lung.  There's some damage to the lung tissue, but, again, we're fortunate in that the damage was minimal.  We were able to stop the bleeding, and repair the damage.  We're gonna have to keep Dylan for a few days, and monitor him, in case of infection.  There's also a danger of him developing pneumonia in the damaged lung."

 

"Oh my God,"  Conner says.

 

"Doctor, you said that Dylan was lucky,"  Ray says.  "Tell us.......is he gonna be okay?"

 

"Yes, unless there are any complications such as infection, I expect Dylan to make a full recovery.  In a few days he can go home.  He'll have to take it easy for a while, but he should be fine.  Now, in addition to the damage to his lung, Dylan has lost a lot of blood, and he's dehydrated, so we're giving him fluids and, if needed, we'll give him blood."

 

"Well, thank God this wasn't much worse,"  Donna says, breathing a sigh of relief.

 

"You're right about that,"  the doctor says.  "If Dylan's heart had been involved, his chances of survival would be slim."

 

"Oh my God,"  Ashley cries, placing her hand over her mouth.

 

"Can I see my brother?"  Conner asks.

 

"Yes.  He's in recovery now.  You can all see him, if you'd like, before he's moved to a ICU."

 

"Thank you,"  Ray says.

 

"You're welcome.  Dylan is in room 4, at the end of the hall.  He's very groggy from anesthesia and pain medication, so don't expect him to be able to stay awake for very long.  If you'll excuse me, I have another patient I have to check on."

 

"Thank you, Doctor,"  Donna says as the doctor walks away.  

 

"Ray, we're gonna head on home,"  Bobby says.  "We'll check on Dylan tomorrow."

 

"I appreciate that, Bob."

 

"Goodnight,"  Ann says.  

 

"Night,"  says Donna.

 

"Ash, we should go, too,"  Jimmy says.  

 

"Ashley, sweety, do you wanna go home with Jimmy, or back to Southfork with us?"  Ann asks.

 

Ashley looks at Ann, then at her brother.  "I'd like to go home with Jimmy tonight.  But first, I'd like to see Dylan, if that's okay with you guys,"  Ashley says, looking at Ray and Donna.  "I'd like to thank him for what he did."

 

"Sure, that's fine,"  says Donna.  

 

"You go on, I'll wait here,"  Jimmy says. 

 

Ashley nods, then follows Ray, Donna, and Conner out of the waiting room and down the hall.  Ann kisses Jimmy on the cheek, then she, Bobby, Sue Ellen, Catlin, and C.J. all quietly leave.  

 Meanwhile, Dylan is laying on a bed in a small recovery room, sedated from anesthesia and pain medication, when Conner, Ray, Donna, and Ashley walk in.  Dylan slowly opens his eyes and smiles when he sees them.  "Hey, guys," he says in a groggy voice.

 

"Hey, yourself, Mr. hero,"  Conner says.  

 

"Hey, bud, y'know, if ya needed a few days off work, all ya had to do was ask,"  Ray jokes.  "Instead, you go and get yourself hurt to get off."

 

"I was afraid you'd say no,"  Dylan says with a smile.  He attempts to laugh, but then cringes in pain.

 

"Are you in a lot of pain?"  Donna asks.

 

"Some.  They gave me somethin' for pain,"  Dylan replies.  "Well, another exciting New Year's Eve, huh?  Last year was my drunken accident, and this year, I get myself stabbed tryin' to be a hero."

 

"Well, one thing's for sure,"  Conner says.  "December 31 is definitely NOT your day, bro.  I think next year you should probably just stay in the house all day."

 

Dylan looks up at his brother and smiles.  "Yeah, you're probably right."  He then sees Ashley standing behind Donna.  He smiles at her.  "Hey," he says to her.

 

"Dylan, how do you feel?"  She asks.

 

"Like a million bucks.  How are you?"

 

"I'm fine, thanks to you.  I'll never be able to thank you enough for what you did for me.  If it hadn't been for you, I don't know what would've happened.  You saved my life."

 

Dylan looks at the girl and smiles again.  "I only did what anybody would've done."

 

"But you were the only one who did.  I really pray that you make a fast recovery."

 

"Thank you, Ashley,"  Dylan says, his voice growing weaker as the medications are making it hard for him to stay awake.

 

"I'd better go.  Jimmy's waiting for me."  Ashley walks over to Dylan's bedside, leans down, and kisses him on the cheek.  "I'll never forget what you did for me."  She smiles at him, then turns and walks out.

 

"Well, now, if I'd known that was gonna get you kissed by a pretty girl, I'd have played the hero myself,"  Conner says.

 

"Nothing doing,"  Dylan replies, barely awake.  "I'm the only hero in this family."

 

A nurse walks in at that moment.  "We have to move Dylan upstairs now.  We have a room for him."

 

"Oh, okay, thanks,"  says Ray.  "Listen, bud, we're gonna get outta here and let you get some sleep.  Looks like you can hardly stay awake now,"

 

Donna walks over and leans down to kiss him on the forehead.  "I love you SO much,"  she says in tears.  "And I will be here early tomorrow morning to see you, okay?"

 

Dylan nods, his eyes closing.

 

Conner takes his hand. "I'm so proud of you, little brother.  I'll see you tomorrow."

 

Again, Dylan nods.  The nurse looks at Ray and Donna.  "You really have a beautiful family,"  she says.  

 

Ray and Donna exchange looks, and smile happily.  "Yes, we sure do," Ray says to her.  "You take real good care of our boy, there."  He, Donna, and Conner leave.

Southfork....a short time later....

 Bobby, Ann, Christopher, and Courtney walk into the foyer at Southfork later, after returning from the hospital.  Lucy, Krystina, Lucas, Heather, Alex, and Bridget are waiting for them in the den.  The group meets them in the foyer.  "Hey, guys, how is Dylan?"  Lucy asks.

 

"He's gonna be okay, thank goodness,"  Bobby replies.  "He came through surgery alright and he's very lucky.  The doctor said another inch and the knife would've penetrated his heart.  As it happened, some damage was done to his left lung, but the doctor said that, unless there are complications such as infection or pneumonia, he should make a full recovery.

 

"Thank God for that,"  Lucas says.

 

"And what about Ashley?"  Krystina asks.

 

"Ashley was very shaken up, but, she's gonna be fine, too,"  Ann says.  "She decided to go home with Jimmy."

 

"Good, I'm glad to hear that,"  says Alex.  

 

"Yeah, I hope she forgives him for what he did, switching Clay's DNA test,"  Bridget says.

 

Bobby sighs.  "So do I.  But I think those two are gonna be okay.  Jimmy showed up at the hospital, and he and Ashley seemed just fine with one another."

 

"Well, I dunno about the rest of you, but I am EXHAUSTED,"  Lucy says.  "So, I'm just gonna head on in to bed."

 

"Yeah, same here, Lucy, it's been a long and very trying evening,"  says Bobby.

 

"Goodnight, everyone,"  Lucy says, leaving the room.

 

"Night, Lucy,"  says Ann.

 

"We're gonna head on up to bed, too,"  Lucas says.  "We all just wanted to wait up and hear how Dylan was doing when you guys got home."

 

Bobby looks at his watch.  "Hey, y'know, I just now realized that it's a little after 2 in the morning, which means it's a brand new year.  So.....Happy New Year, everyone."

 

"Happy New Year,"  Christopher says.

 

"I sure hope this year is better than the last,"  says Courtney.

 

"I have faith that it will be,"  Heather says as she and Lucas head upstairs.  "Night, everyone."

 

"Goodnight,"  Bobby says to them.

 

"Well, it's late, so I guess I'd better get you home,"  Alex tells Bridget.

 

"Hey, y'know, it's REALLY late, and I don't like the idea of you being on the road this time of night, ESPECIALLY after what happened last New Year's Eve,"  Krystina says.   "So, Bridget, why don't you just stay here tonight?"

 

Alex smiles.  "Hey, I like the sound of that."

 

"I meant in the GUEST room,"  Krystina says.

 

"SERIOUSLY, Krystina.  It's not like Bridget and I haven't......."

 

"Alex!"  Bridget says, stopping him from revealing more about their relationship to the family.

 

"The guest room,"  Krystina says.  

 

"Sure.......the guest room."

 

"Come on, I'll help you get settled,"  Courtney says.

 

"Yeah, I'm headed on to bed myself.  I'll see you all in the morning,"  says Christopher.

 

"Goodnight,"  Bridget says.  She gives Alex a quick kiss, then leaves the foyer with Christopher and Courtney to head to the first floor guest room down the hall from the living room.

 

Alex lets out a deep sigh.  "Well, I guess I may as well head on up to bed, too."

 

"Good,"  Krystina says with a smile.  "And, uh......no wandering downstairs during the night."

 

"What are you, my stepmother or my jailer?"  Alex asks as he goes up the stairs to his room.

 

Krystina laughs and shakes her head.  "Well, goodnight, guys, and happy new year,"  she says.

 

"Goodnight,"  Bobby tells her as Krystina also heads upstairs.

 

Now alone in the foyer, Ann puts her arms around Bobby.  "Boy, it's been quite a night, huh?"  She asks.

 

"Oh, yes.  We can always count on the Oil Baron's Ball to provide a little excitement of one sort or another."

 

"I think this year's Ball topped them all, as far as excitement goes.  So what happens now, with Justin?"

 

"First thing tomorrow morning, I'm sure the D.A.'s office will be notified that McKay's real killer is in custody, and once the authorities notify the prison, Justin will be released."

 

"Thank God,"  Ann says.  "Maybe this whole nightmare of this last year is over, and the Ewings can start off the new year on the right foot."

 

"I sure hope so, because 2018 is not a year I'd care to relive.....EVER."

 

Ann looks at him and smiles.  "Come on.  Let's go up to bed.  I'm beat."

 

Bobby returns his wife's smile, and the two go upstairs together.

Sharon Smith's apartment....

 Shawn walks into the apartment he shares with his mother after returning from the Oil Baron's Ball.  As he walks into the darkened apartment, he is suddenly startled when a light comes on.  He turns and finds his mother standing in the middle of the room.  "So, you're home,"  Sharon says.

 

"Hey, Mom.  Happy New Year."

 

"Is it true, Shawn?"

 

"Is what true?"

 

"That you are now the new CEO of Westar Oil,"  Sharon says.

 

Shawn smiles.  "Oh, you heard about that, did you?"

 

"Of course I heard.  The phone hasn't stopped ringing.  Reporters have been calling here all evening wanting to know my reaction to my son being named the youngest CEO in Westar's history, AND how I feel about my younger son stepping into the position that my murdered older son once held.  Shawn, what the hell is going on here?  How did this happen? WHY would Westar's board make YOU their new CEO?"

"Because those old farts didn't have a choice,"  replies Shawn.  "Once I became majority stockholder, and had enough voting shares to.......outvote them, so to speak..........they didn't have enough power, or enough votes to stop me."

 

"You became majority stockholder?" Sharon asks, stunned.

 

"That's right."

 

"How?"

 

"Pamela gave me Hunter's shares that Tripp left him in his will, as well as his voting rights.  I also managed to talk Tracy McKay into giving me hers."

 

"GIVING you hers?"  Sharon asks.  "No, Shawn.  No one would GIVE you all those shares and voting rights.  Those shares had to be worth upwards of a hundred million dollars, and I wanna know where you got the money to pull this off."

 

"That's not really important now.  Point is, I AM Westar's new CEO."

 

"It was Jeremy, wasn't it?  Jeremy Wendell put you up to this."

 

"Why would you think that?"  Shawn asks.

 

"Because there is no way in HELL you would be able to do this on your own.  Or was it John Ross Ewing?  I know that you worked with him once before against your brother.  Did John Ross put you up to this so he could gain control of Westar?"

 

"No.  John Ross did NOT put me up to this."

 

"Then it had to be Jeremy,"  Sharon says.  

 

"And what if it was?"  Shawn asks.  "This is only what I deserve, Mom."

 

"What are you talking about?"

 

"Tripp shafted both of us in his will, Mom.  That guy was worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and what did he leave his mother and his brother?  A measly fifty thousand dollars each.  That just showed what your precious firstborn son thought of us, doesn't it?  We were nothing to him.  Well now, I have everything that he had.  I have his beloved company, Westar.  I have replaced Tripp as my grandfather's sole heir.  And, I even had his wife."

 

"What?"  Sharon asks, shocked by her son's words.  

 

Shawn smiles.  "That's right, Mom.  Pamela and I had this......thing going for a while.  That's how I got Hunter's shares and voting rights."

 

Sharon looks at her son in astonishment.  "My God.  Who are you?  What has happened to my son?"  She says in tears.

 

"I grew up, Mom.  If there's one thing that my big brother taught me is that you have to be hard, you have to be tough, and you have to be ruthless if you wanna get anywhere in this world.  You have to be willing to do whatever it takes."

 

"And your brother ended up dead because of that twisted set of values he held on to.  BOTH of your brothers ended up dead, Shawn, because of their need for power and money.  And now you're following that same path."

 

"Well, I guess all three of your sons inherited your father's ruthless streak.  His need for power.  But I am NOT gonna end up like Hunter and Tripp.  No one is gonna be able to touch me."

 

Sharon looks at her son, her eyes filled with tears.  "That's exactly what Tripp thought, too.  Shawn, where is your grandfather?  I need to know!"

 

"Why, do you can turn him into the cops?"  Shawn asks.  "No way."  He walks over to his mother.  "Mom, I'm doing this for you as much as for me.  You've been poor and struggled your whole life, even though your own father was almost a billionaire.  Well enough of that.  From now on, we're gonna have everything that we ever wanted."

 

"No, Shawn.  I don't want it that way.  Not if it means being obligated to Jeremy Wendell and losing my son's soul to the devil."

 

"Fine.  You don't want it, okay.  But I do.  And I'm gonna have everything I ever wanted, and you're not gonna stop me."

 

"Shawn, please,"  Sharon cries.  "I am BEGGING you.  Jeremy Wendell is evil, and he will destroy you.  He'll go down and he'll take  you down with him."

 

Shawn stops at the doorway to the hall and turns back to his mother with a smile.  "Not if I take him down first.  Oh, and Mom..........the Oil Baron's Ball was really interesting tonight.  Tripp's real killer was caught and arrested at the ball."

 

"What?  His.......his REAL killer?"  Sharon asks.

 

"That's right.  Turns out Justin Ewing didn't do it.  The real killer was a woman named Michelle Stevens.  She was sleeping with Tripp, and he doubled crossed her or something, so she killed him."

 

"Oh my God,"  Sharon says, taking a seat on the sofa.  

 

"Well, I'm goin' to bed,"  says Shawn.  "Goodnight, Mom."  He smiles, then heads down the hall to his bedroom.  He closes the bedroom door behind him.  He walks over and takes a seat on the bed.  His mind travels back in time to a night several months ago.......the night of Tripp's murder......

********************FLASHBACK....THE NIGHT OF JUNE 9******************

Museum Tower parking garage....

 Shawn drives his car into the parking garage at Museum Tower, where Tripp has his apartment.  Shawn has come to confront his brother, and make Tripp pay for what he has done to him, and to their mother.  He reaches over and opens the glove compartment of his car, taking out a small handgun.  Stuffing the gun into his pocket, he sits in the car for several minutes, but it seemed like much longer, just listening to music.  Finally, he turns off the radio and gets out of the car.  As he begins to make his way toward the elevator to take him upstairs to his  brother's apartment, he hears something.  Several 'thuds' in the distance.  He stops short and listens.  When everything goes silent, he walks in a fast pace toward the elevator, where the sounds had come from.  As he nears the elevator, he sees what looks like a body on the ground in the distance, and a figure standing over the body wearing a black hoodie.  Shawn quickly dashes behind a column and hides, peaking out to see that the figure is standing over the body holding what looks like a tire iron in their hand.  Then, the figure quickly turns and runs away, completely unaware that they had been seen by Shawn.  After a few seconds, Shawn makes his way toward the body, stopping 

 short when he sees that the person on the ground in a pool of blood is his own brother.  He is completely stunned.  

Shawn is standing in the parking deck of Tripp's apartment building, looking down, an expression of complete 

 shock on his face as he looks down at his brother's body, laying face down in a pool of blood.  Slowly, Shawn leans down and feels Tripp's neck for a pulse, unwittingly getting some of Tripp's blood on his hand.  Realizing that his brother is dead, Shawn looks around to see if anyone else is there.  He stands, again looking at Tripp's body, and the blood on the ground surrounding Tripp's head.  Terrified, Shawn quickly runs back to his car, gets in, and speeds away as fast as possible!

*************************RETURN TO PRESENT****************************

Shawn stands to his feet and walks to his dresser.  He opens the bottom drawer and takes out a box.  Reaching into

his pocket, he takes out a key, unlocks the box, and opens it, revealing the small handgun he had taken with him to Tripp's apartment the night of the murder.  Shawn takes the box back over to the bed and sits down.  "Well, big brother," he says.  "Looks like that Michelle Stevens lady ended your life that night, but she probably saved mine.  Thanks to her, I didn't have to use this gun that night."  He lets out a deep sigh.  "And, in a way, I'm glad I didn't.  As much as I hated you, and as much as I wanted to do it, I'm not sure I could've actually killed my own brother."

 

 

 

Pamela's apartment....the next day....

 "Alright, I'm coming,"  Pamela says as she makes her way into her living room, still dressed in her bathrobe, to answer her ringing doorbell the next morning, New Year's Day.  She opens the door and Cliff and Afton walk in.

 

"Pamela, why aren't you dressed?"  Afton asks.  

 

"Yeah, I'd think you'd be real excited and on your way up to the prison to tell Justin the news,"  says Cliff.

 

"Mom, Daddy, what are you talking about?"  A confused Pamela asks.  

 

"You mean you haven't heard?"  Cliff asks.

 

"Heard WHAT?"

 

"Pamela, last night at the Oil Baron's Ball, the police arrested Tripp's real killer,"  Afton says.  

 

"What?"  Pamela asks, stunned as she takes a seat.  "Tripp's real killer?"

 

"That's right,"  Afton replies.  

 

"My God.  Who?  Who was it?"

 

"You'll never guess,"  says Cliff.  "It was Michelle Stevens."

 

"What?  Michelle Stevens?  Clay Beaumont's mother?"

 

"That's right,"  says Cliff.  "Oh, she was crazy.  Completely out of her mind.  I thought Katherine Wentworth was nuts, but Michelle had even HER beat last night.  She took James Beaumont's daughter hostage at knife point when she was confronted.  She may have killed the girl if that kid, Dylan Baxter, hadn't stopped her, and then Michelle stabbed him."

 

"Good Lord,"  Pamela says.  "How did they find out that Michelle killed Tripp?"

 

"Apparently it was that P.I. friend of Bobby's, Bum," says Afton.  "I guess he dug into the case on his own."

 

"Yeah,"  Cliff says, taking a seat.  "They arrested some guy who helped Michelle frame Justin."

 

"But WHY?  Why would she kill Tripp.  How did she even know him?"

 

"Well, see, there's the clicker," says Cliff.  "According to Bobby and Bum, Michelle had been having an affair with Tripp for who knows how long."

 

"An affair?"

 

"Yep.  Not too surprising.  Michelle always did like younger men.  First James Beaumont, who was a few years younger than her, and then, with Tripp, I guess she decided to go a generation younger, I dunno.  But yeah, they were lovers, and when Brad asked Tripp for that loan to save our company last year, Tripp and Michelle conspired to make the terms of that loan so that we wouldn't be able to pay it back, and then Tripp could take the company from us.  He was then supposed to turn the company over to Michelle, only apparently, he double crossed her and refused to give her Stone-Barnes Oil.  And, maybe he jilted her as a lover, too, who knows?  So, she killed him, and I guess she had that other guy, some friend of Tripp's he'd also pissed off, plant the tire iron in Justin's trunk to frame him."

 

"Oh my God,"  Pamela says, standing.  "This is unreal."

 

"Michelle had waited 28 years to get revenge on me for cheating her out of Ewing Oil back in '91.  But it's not surpring that she killed Tripp.  After all, the woman is a nutcase and she's killed before.  She gunned down that woman, Hillary Taylor, the one who got her sister April killed in Paris, and thanks to J.R., she never served any time for that murder."

 

Afton walks over to her daughter.  "Sweetheart, this is wonderful news.  Justin is going to be freed."

 

Pamela begins to cry.  "My God, I.......I can't believe it.  This nightmare is going to be over soon?  And I'm not dreaming?"

 

"No, you're not dreaming,"  Afton says.  

 

Pamela begins crying tears of joy as her mother embraces her.

Clay's apartment....

 Ashley gets off the elevator just outside of Clay's apartment.  She rings his doorbell and waits for him to answer.  When no answer comes, she rings the bell a second, then a third time.  Finally, she takes the key Clay had given her from her pocket and opens the door.  "Clay?"  She calls to him as she walks in.  "Clay?  Are you here?  I saw your car downstairs."  Ashley makes her way through the living room and then into Clay's bedroom, where she finds him still in bed, laying on his back, his head turned away from the door.  "Clay, are you awake?"

 

"I'm awake,"  he says.  

 

Ashley walks over to him.  "Clay, I...........I'm so sorry about what happened last night. Are you okay?"

 "I'm fine,"  he replies.  "Please, just leave me alone."

 

"Clay, you're not fine.  Please talk to me."

 

"What is there to talk about?"  Clay asks.  "The father I never got to know is dead.  My mother is in jail charged with murder.  The family I came to this God forsaken city to find hates me.  Life couldn't get any better."

 

"That's not true, Clay.  The family doesn't hate you."

 

"Sure.  Jimmy hates me.  The Ewings don't care whether I live or die."

 

"Clay, I care,"  Ashley says.  

 

Clay finally sits up in bed.  "How can you, after what my mother did to you?"

 

 

"Clay, you had nothing to do with what Michelle did. You're not to blame.  You're as much a victim in all this as anyone."

family..........BOY, did I screw that one up.  Instead of handling it tactfully and sensitively, what did I do?  I stood up in front of everyone at the man's funeral and announce that I'm James Beaumont's long lost son.  Instead of trying to actually get to know the family that I came here to find, I alienated them. So if I've ended up all alone now, I have no one to blame but myself.  In fact, not only do I deserve it, but, I prefer it that way."

 

"Clay, you're NOT alone,"  says Ashley.  "I'm here for you."

 

Clay looks at her for a few seconds.  "No.  Ash, I'd really like it if you'd leave now."

 

"Clay........."

 

"Ash, please.  Go.  I'm not gonna drag you down with me.  I care too much about you for that."

 

"And I care about you.  That's why I'm not going anywhere."

 

"Look, right now, I'd really RATHER be alone,"  Clay says.  "Please."

 

Ashley walks over to him.  "Alright, I'll go,"  she says, near tears.  "But only for now, and Clay, you have to promise me that you won't do anything rash or stupid."

 

"Yeah, like what?"

 

"Like......hurting yourself."

 

"Hurting myself?  That's not my style."

 

"Good,"  says Ashley.  "Clay, whenever you need me, all you have to do is call or text me."  

 

Clay nods.  

 

"I mean it, Clay.  I care about you,"  she says.  Ashley walks to the door and starts to leave.

 

"Ash,"  Clay says.

 

She turns back to him.  

 

"Ever since I came to this city........you've been the one bright spot in my life."

 

Ashley looks at him and nods.  "Please call me later," she says, then leaves.  

 

Once Ashley is gone, Clay walks over to the mirror and looks at himself.  After a moment, he wallks to the bed and takes a seat.  He closes his eyes, then buries his face in his hands, unsure of his next move or what he will do now.

Harris Correctional Institute....

 

 

While Tim lays on his bunk watching, Justin is doing his daily exercise routine at Harris Correctional Institute that afternoon.  Bored out of his mind, Tim picks up a book, opens it, and attempts to begin reading.  After a minute, unable to concentrate, he closes the book and  lays it down beside him.  "Dude, why do you even bother to exercise like that every day?"  Tim finally asks.  "We're in prison."

"That's exactly WHY I work out every day,"  Justin replies as he continues doing his push ups.  "For one thing, working out gives me something to do instead of just sittin' around goin' crazy in this place.  And second, it pays to be in great shape when you're in here.  You saw what happened the other day.  Take my advice, Tim, scrawny, weak guys won't last long in this place."

 

"Good point,"  Tim says with a sigh.  

 

The sound of the door unlocking can be heard.  Justin stops doing his push ups and stands to his feet as the cell door opens.  "Ewing, come with me.  You got visitors."

 

"Visitors.  Okay."  Justin looks at Tim, then follows the guard out of the cell.  

 

A moment later, Justin is led into the visitation room, where he finds Cally, Bobby, and Jay Smithfield waiting. 

 

"Hi, baby,"  Cally says.  

 

"Mama, Uncle Bobby, Jay,"  he says.  "What are y'all doin' here?"

 

"Well, we came to see you, and to bring you some really good news,"  says Bobby.  "In fact it's better than good.  It's great news."

 

"What are you talkin' about?"  Justin asks.

 

"Justin, you're gonna be freed,"  Cally says.  "Baby, you're gonna be goin' home real soon."

 

"Freed?  I don't understand.  Jay, what are they talkin' about?"

 

"Justin, last night, the police arrested the person who really murdered Tripp McKay,"  replies Jay.

 

"What?  Are you.......oh my God, are you serious?"

 

Cally smiles and nods.  "We're serious.  It happened last night at the Oil Baron's Ball.  The real killer was arrested."

 

"I can't believe it,"  Justin says, running his hand through his hair.  

 

"I've spoken to the D.A. this morning, and also to the judge,"  says Jay.  "Now, since today is New Year's Day and a holiday, unfortunately, we won't be able to do anything today, but the judge assured me that, first thing tomorrow morning, the necessary paper work will be processed, and you could be home by tomorrow night."

 

"Oh.......my God,"  Justin says, his voice full of emotion.  "I don't know what to say.  This.........is this REAL?  I'm not dreamin'?"

 

"Baby, you're not dreamin',"  Cally says, reaching across the table to take her son's hand.  "You're comin' home.  Justin, ever since that jury found you guilty, I been prayin' real hard for a miracle.  And my prayers were answered."

 

"I can't........this is too good to be true,"  Justin says, tears streaming down his face.  "I'm goin' home?  So, who is this person the cops arrested?  Who killed McKay?"

 

"It was Michelle Stevens,"  Bobby replies.

 

"Michelle?  You mean, James's ex-wife, Michelle?"

 

"The one and the same,"  replies Cally.

 

"But......why?  What possible motive could Michelle have for killin' Tripp McKay?"  Justin asks.

 

"Sweety, it's kind of a long and complicated story,"  Cally says.  "We'll explain everything to you in time, but right now, the important thing is, you're gonna be gettin' out of this awful place."

 

"Does Pamela know?"

 

"I'm sure she does by now,"  says Bobby.  "Michelle's arrest has been all over the news."

 

Justin wipes the tears from his face with his hand.  "I still can't believe it.  I'm goin' home."

Later....

Ten minutes later, Justin is being led back to his cell.  The guard unlocks the cell door and Justin walks in, after which the door is closed and locked again.  Tim looks at Justin curiously.  "Dude, is everything okay?"  Tim asks.  "Who was your visitor?"

 

"It was my Mama, and my uncle, and my lawyer,"  Justin says.  

 

"Damn, they must've given you some real heavy news.  You look like you just got punched in the gut or somethin'."

 

"They gave me some news.  Some great news.  The best news.  I'm goin' home, Tim.  I'm goin' home."

 

"What?  You're.......you're goin' home?"  Tim asks.  "How?"

 

"They arrested the person who killed Tripp McKay.  She confessed everything."

 

"The..........oh, wow,"  Tim says.  "Then, you really ARE innocent and in here by mistake?  Dude, I really thought that you were just sayin' that, like, everybody else in prison claims they're innocent.  But you really ARE."

 

"Yes, Tim.  I am, just like I told you.  And I can't believe it.  I feel like I'm dreamin'.  But I'm not dreamin'.  I'm really goin' home."

 

"Yeah, well, uh, that's.........that's great, man, I'm happy for you,"  Tim says, his tone of voice lacking any enthusiasm for Justin's happy news.  "Some people get all the luck."

 

Justin looks at him.  "Tim, listen, man, when I get out of here, I'm do everything I can to help you.  I'll ask my lawyer, Jay Smithfield, to look into your case.  Maybe he can do somethin'."

 

"Yeah, man, sure,"  Tim says, believing in his heart that as soon as Justin walks out of this prison, he will forget all about Tim.

Dallas Police Department....that evening....

Cliff is sitting at a table in the visitation room at the Dallas Police Department that evening.  As he looks at his watch, the door opens, and Michelle is brought in.  Cliff stands from his seat.  "Well, hello, Michelle,"  he says with a gloating smile.  "I would say happy new year, but, I don't think yours is going to be very happy."

 

"What the hell are YOU doing here?"  Michelle asks.

 

"My, my.  Are you saying you're not glad to see me?"

 

"You miserable little worm.  If you came here to gloat, you can just go straight to hell!"

 

Cliff laughs.  "Well, you're right about one thing, Michelle, I DID come here to gloat, and to see you here in jail, once again.  It's really ironic, itn't it?  Kind of like we've come full circle.  You and I parted company the first time all those years ago when you were in jail, charged with murder, and now, here we are again.  Only this time, you're not gonna have J.R. Ewing coming to your rescue by getting you off in exchange for half of Ewing Oil.  This time, Michelle, you're goin' to prison for a long, LONG time, probably even the rest of your life.  How old are you now?  54?  55?  You could live another 30 to 40 years in prison."

 

"Are you finished?"  Michelle angrily asks.

 

Cliff looks at her and smiles.  "No, Michelle, I'm not the one who's finished here.   But you are.  Another strange irony.  You waited 27 years to get your revenge on me, and then when you finally thought you had, when you stole my company out from under me, the whole thing boomeranged back onto you.  And now, here we are.  You're sitting here charged with first degree murder, and I'm gonna come out on top.  I'll find a way to get my company back from that kid of yours, and if I can't do that, I'll find a way to destroy the company, and him."

 

"Cliff, I'm warning you,"  Michelle says.  "You do ANYTHING to hurt my son and I swear, I'll......."

 

"You'll WHAT, Michelle?  In case you haven't noticed, sweetheart, you're gonna be rotting in a prison cell for the rest of your life, so there's nothing.......nothing at ALL.......you can do to protect your boy anymore."  Cliff stands and looks down at her.  "Well, I gotta go now.  It's the start of a brand new year, and as they say, the first day of the rest of my life.  You take care of yourself, now.  This will probably be the last time you and I ever see each other.  At least I hope so.

 

"You son of a bitch,"  Michelle says.  "I should've framed you for Tripp's murder instead of Justin Ewing."

 

Cliff laughs.  "Yeah, well, you never could do much of anything right, could ya?  Y'know, I loved your sister.  April was one of the best people I ever knew.  But I'm glad she's not here to see how you turned out."  

 

"GET OUT!"  Michelle screams at him.

 

"Gladly,"  Cliff says.  He walks to the door and knocks.  A couple of seconds later, the guard opens the door.  He turns back and looks at her with a smile.  "Goodbye, Michelle.  Enjoy the rest of your life in the big house,"  he says, then leaves.

 

"Damn you, Cliff Barnes!"  Michelle yells after him.  "I'll get back at you for this!  If it takes the rest of my life, I swear, I will!!"  

Southfork....the next morning....

By January 2, the morning after New Year's Day, all the Christmas decorations have been taken down at Southfork, and things begin to return to normal after the holidays.  Ann is standing in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee as she looks out the window, when Courtney walks into the room.  "Morning,"  she says. 

 

"Good mornin'.  Sleep well?"

 

"I slept okay,"  Courtney replies, pouring herself a cup of coffee.  "Christopher's still asleep.  I didn't wanna wake him."

 

"Bobby was up early.  He went out on the ranch with Lucas."

 

The two women take seats at the kitchen table.  "Ann, I've been thinking a lot about the other morning, at breakfast, when we were talking about my father."

 

"Yes, so have I,"  Ann says.  "I just can't get over the fact that Andy Murray is your father.  Small world."

 

"I know."

 

"Honey, Christopher told me what happened,with your stepbrother, and why you feel the way you do about your father.  I hope you don't mind."

 

"No, of course not."

 

"Y'know, sweety, I truly know and understand how you feel.  I was also a victim of sexual abuse when I was very young.  My father.............and that drove a wedge between me and my family for a long time.  The wounds never healed between my mother and me."

 

"I'm sorry, Ann."

 

"It's alright.  I came to terms with it quite some time ago."

 

"Ann, what was my father like when he was young?"  Courtney asks.  

 

"What I remember most about Andy was how handsome he was,"  Ann says.  "I had a huge crush on him.  A lot of girls did.  Andy was a real ladies' man."

 

"That part never changed, obviously,"  Courtney says.

 

"Andy and my brother Mark, Shawn's father, were very close friends."

 

"How did you happen to meet my father?"

 

"Well, my family was originally from Dallas.  My father was born and raised here.   As a young man he later moved to Gilmer, where he met and married my mother.  They lived there for a while, and that's where Mark and I were born.  When I was about 12, my father lost his job in Gilmer when the plant he worked at closed, so, he and my mother moved back the Dallas area, and bought a house in Irvine.  It was there that we met the Murrays. They lived just a couple house down the street from us.  Mark and Andy and I we rode the school bus together, and the boys got to be good friends.  They went to the same school, only Andy was a grade ahead of Mark.  I remember one day after school this bigger boy was pickin' on Mark.  Bullyin' him real bad.  Andy stepped in and punched that boy in the nose.  From then on, Andy and Mark were inseparable.  Like brothers."

 

"Did you know my grandparents, too?"  Courtney asks.

 

"Yes, I did.  Very nice people."

 

Courtney sighs.  "I never knew them.  They both died before I was born.   And, it's amazing how little I even knew of my own father."

 

"I remember Andy as a very kind, free spirited boy.  But, for some strange reason, my mother never liked him.  She didn't like Mark spendin' time with him, but, my brother was willful, and he spent time with Andy even more, if only to spite Mama."

 

"So when did your family move back to Gilmer?"  Courtney asks, taking a sip of her coffee. 

 

"The summer of '76, when I was 16,"  Ann replies.  "My Mama never liked livin' in Irvine.  My father got a job in Gilmer again, so we moved back there.  About a year later, Mark left home and returned to Dallas.  I believe that at some point he and Andy shared an apartment together."

 

"I do remember my father mentioning a friend of his when he was in college that he shared an apartment with.  A Mark.  But he never mentioned his last name.  Did they stay close over the years?"

 

"Honey, I'm afraid I really don't know.  I left home, and I became estranged from my family.  I didn't see Mark very often after that.  Later, I married Harris, and he and Mark couldn't stand each other, so I never saw him at all.  I wish I could be more help."

 

"You HAVE been,"  Courtney says.  "You told me what my father was like when he was a boy.  I never knew much about him at all."

 

Ann smiles and reaches across the table and takes her hand.  

 

"I wish I'd known that side of him you described to me.  The side who stepped in to save his friend from a bully.  By the time I was growing up, he was a much harder, and colder man."

 

"Well, there must have been some good still in him.  After all, Phyllis did fall in love with him."

 

"Yes,"  Courtney says sadly.  

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital....

 Dylan is laying in his bed at the hospital flipping channels on the television, his half-finished breakfast tray on the table beside the bed, when someone knocks at his door.  "Come in," he says.  

 

Ashley opens the door and peaks in.  "Hey, mind a visitor?"

 

Dylan smiles.  "No, of course not.  Come in."

 

She walks over to his bed.  "I brought you some flowers,"  she says, placing a vase of flowers on a table.  "I wasn't sure you even liked flowers, but, I took a chance."

 

"Oh, thank you, they're beautiful.  I love them."

 

"I came by yesterday, but, you were sound asleep and I didn't wanna wake you, so I just left."

 

"You should've woke me up,"  Dylan says.  "I've been wondering how you were doing.  If you were okay." 

 

 

"I'm fine, and that's thanks to you, Dylan.  I'll never be able to repay you or thank you enough for saving my life."

 

"You don't owe me anything.  I'm just glad that you're safe.  That's thanks enough."

 

"How do you feel?  Are you in much pain, still?"  Ashley asks.

 

"Yeah, some.  They stopped wanting to give me pain medication because of my addiction.  So, they're pretty much just giving me Tylenol or Aleve.  But, thank goodness they took those annoying oxygen tubes out of my nose."

 

Ashley smiles.  Then, after a few seconds, the smile disappears and she lowers her head.  "Dylan, I feel so terrible about what happened to you."

 

 

"Why?  Ashley it wasn't your fault,"  Dylan says.  

 

"No, but you almost got killed helping me.  Michelle Stevens, what a total nut job." 

 

"You got that right.  Ashley, how is......what's his name?  Your brother........Clay?  Have you seen or talked to him since the other night?"

 

"Yeah, I saw him yesterday,"  she replies.  "And he's not good.  I'm really worried about him.  He was so depressed, so hopeless.  He was devastated to find out what kind of woman his mother really is."

 

"Poor guy,"  says Dylan.  "I really understand how he feels.  I went through the same thing when I found out that my fa.........well, when I found out that the man I thought was my father, John Baxter, had murdered my biological father, Jack Ewing.  It nearly destroyed me."

 

"I can't even imagine.  Dylan, do you think you could do me a favor?"

 

"Sure, just name it."

 

"When you get out of the hospital, do you think you could maybe talk to Clay?"  Ashley asks.  "I realize that you don't know him, but, I thought that, since you've been through a similar ordeal, it might help him to talk to someone who understands what he's feeling."

 

"Yeah. sure, I'll be glad to,"  Dylan says.  

 

Ashley looks at him and smiles.  As she is about to say something, her cell phone rings.  Taking the phone from her jacket pocket, she looks at the screen and sees that it's Cole Duncan calling her.  She ignores the call and puts her phone away, a sad look on her face.

 

"Are you okay?"  Dylan asks.

 

"Yeah, I'm fine."

 

"You could have taken that call."

 

"No, it's okay,"  Ashley says.  "It was no one important."
Phyllis's apartment....

 "Wow, honey, I can't believe it,"  Phyllis says as she pours Courtney a cup of coffee in her apartment.  "So, your father's friend Mark was Ann's brother?"

 

"Yes, Mom,"  Courtney replies.  "Did you ever know him?"

 

"I met him a few times.  He came to the house when your father and I were married.  But then, he just stopped coming around.  I was never sure why, whether he and your father had a falling out, or what happened.  I never asked your father, because, we were having problems by then.  But I still can't get over the fact that Ann Ewing's brother was your father's friend."

 

"I know, it shocked me, too.  Very small world."

 

"Courtney, considering your feelings toward your father, why this sudden interest in him, and in Mark Smith?"  Phyllis asks.

 

"I'm really not sure, Mom.  Just curious, I suppose.  Ann was telling me about my fa.......about Andrew, when he was a boy.  It made me realize how very little I know about my own father, and my grandparents."

 

"Well, I never knew your grandfather Murray,"  says Phyllis.  "He died the year before I met Andrew, in 1990.  I believe he had a heart attack."

 

"What about my grandmother?"  Courtney asks.

 

"She died in 1992, the year you were born.  In fact, I was pregnant with you when she died."

 

"See, I never even knew that.  What did she die of?"

 

"She had ovarian cancer,"  replies Phyllis.  

 

"What was she like?  Were you close?"

 

"We were pretty close, yes.  Your grandmother was a very kind, very loving woman.  She accepted me into the family right away.  I only wish that I had known her longer.  Your father and I were only married for a year when his mother got sick.  And it was a brief illness.  She died only two months after her diagnosis.  You know, you're very much like Helen, your grandmother Murray."  

 

Courtney sighs.  "Helen Murray.  That's a very pretty name."

 

"Courtney, are you alright?" Phyllis asks.  "I can understand you wanting to know about your family, but, why now?"

 

"I've spent all these years hating my father.  Since I was 14-years-old, and even before that, we were never close.  I spent so much time hating him and wanting to forget that I'm his daughter that I never even gave any thought to any of my other family.  Not to Ben, or to my grandparents.  And Dad's brother, Uncle John.  I haven't even seen him since I was about 9 or 10. I don't even know if he's still alive or not.  All this got me thinking about Jacob, Mom.  What if, one day, he wants to know about that side of his family, and I wouldn't even know what to tell him because I don't know anything myself."

 

"Well, why not find out?"  Phyllis asks.

 

"What do you mean, Mom?"

 

"Why not look into your Murray family background?  I'm sure it would be easy enough."

 

"That's actually a great idea, Mom.  Just because I feel the way I do about Andrew, that's no reason to just completely forget that whole side of my family."

 

"I'll tell you what I'll do.  Somewhere around here, I have my old address book.  I'll see if I can find it, and I had your Aunt Colleen's address and phone number in it.  Of course that 15 years ago, so she may have moved by now.  I haven't spoken to her since your father and I were divorced, but it's worth a try."

 

"Mom, thank you,"  Courtney says.  "That would be great."

 

Phyllis looks at her daughter and smiles.  

Harris Correctional Institute....afternoon....

 Bobby, Cally, Pamela, and Jay are waiting anxiously in the warden's office at Harris Correctional Institute that afternoon.  Cally looks at her watch.  "What in the world could be takin' them so long?"  She asks.

 

"How long have we been here?"  Pamela asks.

 

"A little over an hour now,"  replies Bobby.

 

"Jay, is this supposed to take this long?"  Pamela asks.

 

"They have to make sure all the paper work is in order,"  says Jay.  "That takes time."

 

"I guess we're just real anxious for Justin to be released,"  Cally says.

 

Bobby reaches over and takes her by the hand. "That's understandable.  We ALL are."

 

The door opens and Deputy Warden Jim Porter walks into the office.  "Well, everyone, I'm very sorry for taking so long,"  Porter says.

 

"What about Justin?"  Pamela asks.

 

"Justin is being formally discharged as we speak.  He's changing clothes, and he'll be here in a few moments.  I can imagine how happy you all must be."

 

"Happy doesn't even begin to describe how I feel, Mr. Porter,"  Cally says.  

Meanwhile....

In another room down the hall from the warden's office, Justin is getting dressed into his street clothes as a prison guard stands near by.  Once he has finished dressing, he reaches down to the floor, picks up his former prison uniform, and tosses it onto a table.  "There ya go,"  he says to the guard.  

 

"Boy, you really got lucky, Ewing,"  the guard says.  "Sentenced to life without parole and you make it outta here in less that three months."

 

"Luck had nothin' to do with it, Carter,"  Justin says.  "I was wrongly convicted of a murder I didn't commit.  And now I'm walkin'."

 

"Yeah, well, you just make sure you walk the straight and narrow, Ewing.  Wouldn't wanna see you back in here."

 

"You'll never have to worry about seein' me again."

 

"Alright, come on, Ewing.  Let's get you outta here."

 

"Carter, wait,"  Justin says.  

 

"What?"  

 

"Is there any chance I could see Tim before I leave?"  

 

"What the hell for?"  Carter asks.

 

"To let him know I'm not gonna forget him when I walk out of here."

 

Carter looks at him and flashes a smug smile.  "Sure, why not," he says.

 

A few moments later, the guard leads Justin down a hallway to his old cell, the cell he shared with young Tim.  The guard opens the food slot on the cell door, which looks like a door within a door.  

 

"Hey, Martin,"  the guard, Carter, says to Tim through the slot.  

 

Laying on his bunk in the cell, tears streaming down his face, Tim sits up.  "Yeah?"

 

"Get over here,"  says Carter.  "Somebody wants to see you."

 

Tim stands to his feet and walks over to the door.  Justin walks up to the door.  "Hey, Tim," he says.

 

"Justin I thought you were long gone by now."

 

 

"I'm about to be,"  Justin says.  "But I didn't wanna leave without seein' you.  I meant what I said.  I'm gonna talk to my lawyer, and do whatever I can to help you.  You take care of yourself."

 

"Yeah, thanks, Justin, you do the same,"  Tim says.  "And Justin.........you're really all right, man."

 

"So are you, Tim.  And Carter.........I'd really make it worth your while if you'd look after him for me.  I'd consider it a personal favor."

 

The guard looks at Justin curiously.  "Ewing, you're about to walk outta this prison a free man, and yet you're worried about a prisoner you're leavin' behind here?  You really do seem like a decent guy, Ewing.  So yeah, I'll keep an eye on Martin."

 

"Thanks,"  Justin says.  

A few minutes later....

As Bobby, Cally, Pamela, and Jay continue to wait inside the deputy warden's office, Justin is led into the room by Carter.  Upon entering the office, he sees his mother, uncle, and Pamela.  For a few seconds, Justin looks at them, and they look at him, smiles of happiness and relief on their faces, a surreal moment that almost feels like a dream.  Finally, Pamela rushes into Justin's arms and the two embrace tightly, then kiss.  Silently, Cally also walks over to her son and embraces him.  No one present says a single word, for this is one of those moments in life that need no words.  

Still a couple of minutes later....

Justin, Pamela, Bobby, Cally, and Jay all walk out of the front entrance of the prison together.  They make their way down a walk way and past two guards at a front gate.  One of the guards opens the gate for them, and the five people walk out and to a parking lot on the outside of the fenced in facility.  Once on the outside of the fence, Justin

pauses and takes in a deep breath.   

 

"Are you okay, baby?"  Cally asks her son.  

 

"I'm better'n okay, Mama,"  he replies as he looks at the prison through the fence.  "This has got to be the best day of my life right here."

 

"Mine, too,"  Pamela says, taking his hand.  

 

"I never thought I'd stand on this side of that fence again.  But here I am."

 

"Just proof that prayin' works, and miracles DO happen,"  Cally says.

 

 

 "You're sure right about that, Mama,"  Justin says with a smile.  "Damn, freedom feels good.  It's somethin' I'll sure never take for granted again."

 

"Well, why are we just standin' here?" Bobby asks.  "Justin, you must be anxious to get as far away from this place as possible, so let's go.  We got some people back at Southfork waitin' to see ya."

 

"Okay, then, let's go,"  Justin says, getting into the back seat of Bobby's car.  

 

"Jay, we'll see ya back at Southfork?"  Bobby asks.  

 

"I'll be there,"  Jay replies, then gets into his own car, which is parked behind Bobby's.  A moment later, Bobby's 

 Mercedes Benz S400 drives away, followed by Jay's Lexus.  As he leaves this prison in the rear view mirror of his uncle's car, Justin also hopes to the put the memory of not only this place, but this whole, long ordeal behind him. 

Southfork....evening....

 Bobby, Ann, Christopher, Courtney, Jacob, Lucas, Heather, Michael, John Ross, Krystina, Alex, Bridget, Justin, Pamela, Lucy, Sue Ellen, Catlin,  Ray, Donna, Cally, her niece Kasey and nephew Corey Harper, Jimmy, Ashley, and Jay are gathered in the living room at Southfork that evening, celebrating Justin's release from prison.  Various conversations are going on around the crowded room.  While John Ross and Krystina chat with Sue Ellen, Bridget, and Alex, Bobby walks up to Ray, who is pouring himself a drink at the bar.  "Ray,"  Bobby says.  

 

"Bob."

 

"Is Conner gonna make it tonight?"  

 

"Well, I'm not sure.  He's at the hospital with Dylan tonight,"  Ray replies.  "He said he'd come if he can."

 

"Good."

 

"Y'know, it sure is good seein' you and Ann back together again,"

 

Bobby smiles.  "Well, thank you, Ray.  It really feels good, too."

 

"Bob, I never got the chance to ask you, but. how'd Jenna take it when ya told her?"

 

Bobby sighs.  "Well,naturally she was not happy, but,I think she accepted it."

 

Ray nods.  "I hope so.  Even though Jenna and I are divorced, I do still care about her.  She deserves to be happy."

 

"I couldn't agree more, and I hope that one day soon, Jenna will find someone who can make her happy."

 

Meanwhile, across the room, Justin and Pamela are talking to Cally, Kasey, and Corey, when Michael comes over to  

them on his crutches.  "Hey,"  the boy says.

 

"Well, hey, man,"  says Justin.  "I heard you tried to fly off the upstairs balcony."

 

"Ha ha, very funny.  I'm really glad you're back."

 

Justin smiles.  "Thanks, Michael, I really appreciate that.  And, congratulations to you.  Jimmy told me your EP was released on New Year's Eve, and how well your first single is doing."

 

"Oh, yeah, congratulations on that, Michael,"  Pamela says.  "You must be really excited."

 

"I am."

 

"Sweety, I listened to your EP, and I thought it was just great,"  Cally says.

 

Michael smiles.  "Thanks.  So, Justin, are you coming back to Ewing Records?'

 

"I dunno, Michael.  Maybe.  But probably not right away.  I wanna spend as much time as I can with Pamela and the kids.  I've been away from them for a long time."

 

"But, you were only in prison for like three months,"  Michael says. 

 

"Three months, is that all it was?"  Justin asks.  "Felt more like three YEARS."

 

"It did to me, too,"  Pamela says as Jimmy walks over to them.

 

"Excuse me,"  Jimmy says.  "I hate to interrupt, but could I borrow this guy for just a minute?"

 

"Sure, as long as you bring him back,"  Pamela says.

 

Jimmy smiles.  "I will, I promise."  Jimmy and Justin walk a few feet away from the others.  Jimmy looks at him and smiles.  "Bro, I can't tell you how great it is to have you home."

 

"Well, thanks, man.  And, I also wanna thank you for holdin' things down for me while I was gone." 

 

"Now that you're back, I assume you're gonna be returning to Ewing Records?"  Jimmy asks.

 

"I'm not real sure about that just yet,"  Justin says.  "I know I won't be comin' back any time soon.  For right now, I just wanna enjoy spendin' time with Pamela and the boys, without havin' Tripp McKay to worry about for the first time.  As for Ewing Records, you keep holdin' it down there for me.  You did a great job while I was locked up, and 

I know you had your own problems."

 

"I guess you heard about the whole fiasco with Clay and the DNA switch, huh?"  Jimmy asks.

"Yeah, itn't it great, though?"  Lucas asks.  "I just wish that some of that luck had rubbed off on you and Jill and the two of you had been able to save your marriage."

 

Jay looks at him and nods.  "Yeah, so do I,"  he says sadly.  

 

"Jay, is there any chance at all for you guys?  Maybe if you and Jill talked now that things have cooled off some, you'd be able to work through your differences."

 

"No, Lucas, I appreciate your concern, but that's not gonna happen.  I guess you know why Jill and I separated."

 

"Yeah," Lucas replies with a sigh.  "She was having an affair with Detective Craig Anderson."

 

"That was the big part of it, yeah,"  Jay says.  "But our problems went much deeper and started long before she cheated on me with Craig Anderson.  Jill was keeping secrets from me.  Like the reason she wasn't ready for us to start a family of our own."

 

"You mean because of the baby she lost when she was in high school?"  Lucas asks.

 

Jay looks at him shocked.  "Wait a minute, you KNEW about that?"

 

"Yeah, but I found out by accident.  When Jill was still working at Ewing Oil and I was there filling in for Christopher, I knew somethin' was up with Jill.  She was actin' really weird one day, so, worried about my cousin, I followed her and she went to this cemetery where her son is buried.  I confronted her and she told me everything."

 

"Did she also tell you that Craig Anderson was the father of that child and that they were high school sweethearts?"

 

"Yes, she did."

 

Jay lets out a sigh of frustration.  "So she could tell her cousin about the baby she lost, but not her own husband.  That's just great."

 

"Jay, come on, man, don't get mad,"  Lucas says.  "The only reason she told me was because I dragged it out of her after I followed her to the cemetery."

 

"Point is, Lucas, she should've told ME.  Especially after I spent the better part of two years trying to convince her to have a baby.  Now I understand why she was reluctant to, but, if she'd only told me, we could've worked through it together.  Instead, it drove a wedge between us."

 

The front doorbell rings.  "I'll get it,"  Ann says.  She walks into the foyer and opens the door.  She is surprised when she sees Jill standing on the front porch.  "Jill,"  she says with a smile.

 

"Hi, Ann."

 

"Honey, please, come in."

 

Jill walks into the house.  "Thanks.  Wow, it's cold out there.  Living in L.A. the past few months, I kinda forgot how cold Dallas gets in the winter."

 

"I am so glad to see you, but I'm also surprised to see you."

 

"I heard about Justin's release, so, I had to come and see my brother."

 

Ann smiles.  "Well everybody's in the livin' room.  Come on."

 

As Jill follows Ann into the living room, she immediately stops in the doorway when she sees Jay across the room talking to Lucas.  

 

"Jill,"  Bobby says as he walks over.

 

"Hi, Uncle Bobby."

 

"Honey, I'm so glad to see you.  Happy New Year,"  Bobby says,greeting his niece with a hug.

 

"Thanks, Happy New Year to you."

 

"Well, I don't believe it,"  John Ross says in a loud voice when he sees Jill.  "Hey, everybody, look who's here!"

 

The rest of the crowd in the room react happily when they see Jill.  As Lucas goes over to greet his cousin, Jay stands at the bar, surprised to see his soon to be ex-wife.  He watches from a distance as Jill happily hugs Justin.  Then she sees him across the room.  Jay's and Jill's eyes lock, and the two simply look at each other for a few seconds.  Finally Jay walks over to her as the rest of the family walks away, leaving the two to talk.  "Hello, Jill," he says.

 

"Jay."

 Justin and Pamela walk into her bedroom later that night.  "Boy,"  Justin says, taking off his jacket.  "As much as I enjoyed bein' with my fam'ly tonight and seein' everybody, I sure am glad to finally get a chance to be alone with you.  We haven't had a minute alone since I got out of Harris today."

 

"I know,"  Pamela says, a hint of sadness in her voice.  "Y'know, to be honest, I wasn't sure you'd even wanna see me there when you were released."

 

"Because of Christmas?"  Justin asks.

 

"Yes.  You didn't wanna see me then.  I was afraid you really meant what you said about not wanting to see me again."

 

Justin walks over to her and takes her hand.  "No, Pamela.  Darlin', the only reason I said that was because I didn't want you wastin' your life waitin' on me when I was  gonna be in that prison for the rest of my life.  You deserve better than that."

 

 

"Justin,"  Pamela says, then she pauses for a moment.  "Every moment that you were in that horrible place was like a nightmare for me.  I can't even imagine what it must have been like for you."

 

"It was awful.  Nightmare would be a good way to describe it."

 

"I felt so helpless,"  Pamela says, fighting back her tears.  "And I felt so alone.  Justin, there's something I have to tell you........"

"Shhhhh,"  Justin says, stopping her.  "Don't say anything.  There's plenty of you to tell me everything that happened while I was gone.  But right now, I need to say somethin' to you.  Pamela, when I went to prison, I had to adjust to a new way of life.  A new reality.  And unfortunately, that reality couldn't include you or anyone else I loved here in the outside world.  I had to get use to bein' locked up for the rest of my life.  I had to get use to the idea of growin' old in that place, and dyin' there."  Justin pauses as tears begin streaming down his face.  "Every day was a struggle, not only to stay alive, but to stay sane.  I spent a lot of time alone in my cell, just layin' there thinkin'.  I tried not to, but I couldn't help it.  You and the boys were on my mind all the time.  But I knew I'd never be able to be with you or them again.  I was angry.  Boy, I was angry.  Angry at the injustice of bein' locked up for somethin' I didn't do.  Angry at Tripp McKay for pissin' off so many people that somebody killed him and I got the blame for it.  I was angry at anybody and everybody livin' out here in the free world while I rotted in prison.  I was even angry with you.  I was angry at the person who really killed McKay.  But I think I was most angry with God for lettin' this happen.  For a while, I think I even stopped believin' in Him, and I hated myself for that.   Honestly, Pamela, at one point things got so bad for me that I thought about killin' myself because there was no reason to keep livin'.  Only, in prison, I wasn't sure how to go about doin' it.  Now that whole thing feels like I nightmare I just woke up from.  I'm here, with you.  And if I'm dreamin' I pray I never wake up."

 

Pamela places her hand gently on his face.  "You're not dreaming, my love."

 

"Good.  Pamela, I love you so much, and I want nothin' more than to spend the rest of my life with you."

 

"I want that, too,"  Pamela says in tears.  "I love you with all my heart."

 

The two look into each others' eyes for a moment, then Justin kisses her.  He looks at her and smiles.  ''I think I want you more at this moment than I ever have before."  he says, gently stroking her hair.

 

"Me, too,"  Pamela says.  The two begin kissing passionately, and a make their way to the bed, still locked in the kiss. As Justin pulls out of the kiss and looks at her, Pamela lays on the bed on her back.  Justin takes off his shirt, tossing it onto the floor, then gets on the bed, on top of her and begins kissing her.  After a few seconds, Pamela begins removing her blouse, then her bra as Justin kisses her neck and chest.  The two continue kissing passionately as 

 Justin is tossing and turning in bed, his sleep restless and disturbed by haunting visions, nightmares of his time

at Harris Correctional Institute.  In his sleep, Justin can see the images and hear the voices and the sounds as clearly

shower, he pulls back the curtain, steps in, and turns the water on.  He stands there for a long time, simply letting the warm water of the shower run over him as he tries hard to get the images of prison out of his mind.  But deep down, Justin knows he never will, and that the memories will be with him for the rest of his life.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later....

 Pamela wakes up almost an hour later.  She looks around and realizes that Justin is not in bed beside her.  She props herself up in bed on one elbow.  "Justin?"  She calls.  "Justin?"

 

He comes out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, drying his hair with another towel.  

 

"I woke up and you were gone,"  Pamela says.  

 

"Yeah.  I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep, so I decided to take a shower.  Hope I didn't wake you."

 

"No, not at all.  Justin, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine,"  he replies, managing a weak smile.  "I just couldn't sleep.  I guess it's gonna take me a while to get use to sleepin' in a real bed again."

 

"Are you sure that's all?"  Pamela asks.  

 

Justin sighs.  "Yeah, that's all.  Oh, I had a bad dream that woke me up, but it was nothing."

 

"A dream about.........prison?"

 

Justin lowers his head and nods.  He takes a seat on the bed.  

 

Pamela sits up beside him.  "Last night was only your first night home.  It's gonna take some time for you to adjust and get use to being out of that place."

 

"I know,"  Justin says.  "The dream it, seemed so real.  When I woke up, I thought I was still back there."

 

"But you're home now, and you're safe.  It hasn't even been 24 hours yet.  But I intend to make you feel as safe, and as comfortable as I possibly can."

 

Justin reaches over and picks up his watch.  He looks at it and sighs deeply.  

 

"I thought today, we could spend the whole day together, just you, me, and the boys,"  Pamela says.  "And maybe have dinner with your mother and your cousins tonight."

 

"Yeah, that sounds good.  But there's one things I've gotta do first,"  Justin says, standing to his feet.  

 

"What?" 

 

"I have to go out for a while this mornin'.  Then when I come back, we'll have the rest of the day together."

 

"Do you want me to come with you?"  Pamela asks.  "I can get my Mom to take care of the boys."

 

"No,"  Justin replies, putting on a pair of blue jeans.  "This is somethin' I gotta do myself."  He walks to the dresser and opens the drawer with his shirts and takes out one.  He slips the shirt on.  "I won't be long."

 

"Okay, well, you want me to fix you some breakfast before you go?"

 

Justin looks at her and smiles.  "Yeah, that would be great."

 

Pamela gets out of bed, walks over to Justin and kisses him.  "Breakfast coming right up,"  she says, then leaves the room.  

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital....later....

 Dylan is sitting up in his hospital bed and finishing his breakfast a short time later that morning when someone knocks on his door.  "Come in," he says.

 

Lucy opens the door and peaks her head in.  "Hi, how ya feelin'?"  She asks.

 

"Still in some pain, but, better."

 

Lucy walks into the room and goes over to his bedside.  "Well, that's good.  I just wanted to come and check on you.  You know I work as a volunteer upstairs with the pediatric cancer patients."

 

"That's gotta be depressing."

 

"It is, sometimes,"  Lucy says.  "But, seeing the smiles on those kids' faces when you do something for them makes it all worth while."

 

"That's really a good thing you're doing,"  Dylan says.  

 

"I think so, too.  So, any idea when you're gonna be able to get outta here?"

 

"The doctor said probably a few more days, but I'm ready to go home NOW.  I'm sick of this place and sick of the food."

 

Lucy smiles.  "I know what you mean.  Well, how about later, for lunch, I bring you back some REAL food?  How'd you like a chicken sandwich from Chick-Fil-A?"

 

"Lucy, I would LOVE that.  And I would love you forever if you could bring me one, and some waffle fries."

 

Lucy laughs.  "Consider it done.  My lunch break is at 12, so I'll bring it back around 1.  Anything else I can get you?"

 

"Not unless you can convince the doctor to let me get out of here earlier."

 

"Not a chance, young man.  You're gonna stay right here until you're well enough to leave,"  Lucy says as a knock sounds at the door and Ashley walks in.  

 

"Oh, I'm sorry,"  Ashley says.  "Lucy, I didn't know you'd be here."

 

"Yeah, well, I work upstairs as a volunteer.  So, I thought I'd drop in and see how Dylan was doing.  But, I see you're gonna in good hands now, so I'm gonna get back to work.  I'll bring you that sandwich this afternoon."

 

"Thanks again,"  Dylan says.  

 

"You're welcome.  Bye,"  Lucy says, then leaves.  

 

Ashley smiles. "She's really sweet, isn't she?"

 

"Yeah, she is.  So what brings you by?"  Dylan asks.

 

"Came to see how you're doing."

 

"I'm okay.  Just feels like I'm goin' stir crazy in this place."

 

"I kinda figured,"  says Ashley.  "That's why I brought you some books.  I wasn't sure if you liked to read or not."

 

"Yeah, I love to read."

 

"Well, here's some reading material,"  she says.  She reaches into her bag and pulls out some DVDs.  "I also didn't know if you would have your laptop here or not, but......."  she pauses as she looks over and sees Dylan's computer sitting atop the table next to the bed......"I see that you do, so, I brought you some movies to watch to pass the time.  I mean, in case you can't find anything online to watch."  She gives him the DVDs. 

 

"Oh, wow, Ashley, I LOVE these.  These are like, my favorite movies, especially The Nutty Professor.  How did you know?"

 

"I didn't.  I just guessed.  I love them, too.  I was hoping you did, too."

 

"Well, I do,"  Dylan says.  "Thank you.  You really didn't have to do this, but I appreciate it."

 Justin is sitting at a table in the visitation room at the Dallas Police Station late in the morning when the door opens and Michelle Stevens is brought in by a female guard.  Justin looks at her.  "Well, Michelle Stevens,"  he says.  "I'm Justin......"

 

"I know who you are,"  Michelle says.  "Justin Ewing.  J.R. and Cally's son.  So you're out of prison.  That was fast."

 "Well, ya see, they have this thing about not keepin' the wrong person locked up any longer than they have to,"  Justin says.  

 

"What do you want?"  Michelle angrily asks.

 

"Oh, I just came to see what you were really like.  I was curious.  I mean, after all, I guess technically you would be my ex-sister-in-law.  And not only that, you're the bitch who framed me for a murder I didn't commit and had me rotting in prison for your crime."

 

"Okay, well, now you've seen me, so you can get the hell out of here."

 

"Not so fast.  There's one other reason I came here,"  Justin says.  "I wanna know WHY.  Why me?  Out of all the people you could've framed for McKay's murder, why in God's name did you frame me?  I never even knew you.  Never did anything to you."

 

"You wanna know why?"  Michelle asks.  "Two reasons.  First, you're J.R. Ewing's son.  That bastard ruined my life, and if he hadn't interfered in my marriage to James, we could've raised Clay together. My son could've had a father if it weren't for YOUR father."

 

"Are you serious?  You framed me for murder, and had me sent to prison for somethin' my father did to you years ago?"

 

"That's right.  I'm a firm believer in that Biblical passage about the sins of the fathers being visited on their sons."

 

"You said there were two reasons.  What was the other?"

 

"You were easy.  John Ross was my first choice to set up.  He was such a nasty little brat to me when James and I were married and I lived at Southfork.  And, he hated Tripp just as much as you did.  But I couldn't get to him.  Jake and I wouldn't have been able to get onto Southfork to plant evidence to make John Ross look guilty.  You, on the other hand.........you were SO damned easy.  Living out there on that ranch in the middle of nowhere.  No security.  Not even any ranch hands roaming around the property.  I watched your place for a couple days.  Then all Jake had to do was sneak on your property at night, break into your trunk, and switch your tire iron with the one I used to kill Tripp.  So you see.........I didn't single you out for any particular reason.  It was either gonna be you or John Ross who went down for Tripp's murder......one of J.R.'s sons......poetic justice.  It just happened to be YOU who was the easiest brother to get to."

 

Justin looks at her for a moment.  

 

"What the hell are you staring at?"  Michelle asks.

 

"Just curious what my brother James saw in you, that's all.  You might've been a hot little number back in the day but now.......well, you wouldn't even classify as a MILF now."

 

Michelle looks at him angrily.   "You better enjoy this while you can."

 

 

"Careful, Michelle,"  Justin says.  "You wouldn't wanna say anything that might be interpreted as a threat.  You're in enough trouble as it is.  Well, now that I've seen you, I guess I can go.  As you may realize, this place holds some pretty awful memories for me, just as I hope it will for you."  Justin walks to the door, pauses, then turns back to her.  "You know the one I really feel sorry for in all this?  Not Tripp McKay.  He was a dirty rotten bastard who pissed a lot of people off, including myself, so, really, I can't blame you for killin' him.  I don't even feel sorry for myself.  After all, I'm free now, and I can start puttin' this whole nightmare behind me.  No, the one I REALLY feel sorry for in all this, your true victim, is your son Clay.  He's gonna have to live with what you did for the rest of his life.  And you're gonna have to live with what you did to Clay for the rest of YOUR miserable life, and I hope you're haunted by that in your every waking moment, and in your sleep, too, especially since you believe in sins of the fathers, or in this case, the mother, being visited upon the son.  It's gonna be hard for Clay, bearin' the shame of havin' you for a mother."

 

"Get out of here!"

 

"Oh, I'm goin',"  Justin says.  "Back to my life that you almost destroyed.  Y'know, Michelle, I really hope they give you life instead of the death penalty.  That'd be too easy.  You deserve to rot in a cell until you're at least a hundred years old, thinkin' about what you've done." Justin knocks on the door.  The guard opens the door and he leaves.    

Southfork....that night....

 While Ann, Pamela, Krystina, and Courtney sit on the two sofas in the den at Southfork and chat that evening, John Ross and Justin are fixing themselves drinks at the bar.  "I wanted to tell you, I went to see Michelle Stevens at the jail today,"  Justin says.

 

John Ross looks at his brother.  "You did what?  Justin, why the hell would you go see that murderin' viper after what she did to you?"

 

"Because I had to, John Ross.  I felt like I needed to confront her in order to have some kinda closure.  And, I wanted to ask her why she set me of all people up for Tripp's murder."

 

"And what'd she tell you?"  John Ross asks.

 

"Well, John Ross, you should be thankin' your lucky stars.  Michelle told me that YOU were her first choice to frame for the murder."

 

"Me?"  John Ross asks, looking at him.  

 

"That's right.  Her reasons for choosin' one of us is because we're J.R.'s sons.  She wanted one of us to pay for somethin' he did to her years and years ago when she and James were married.  Only reason she chose me, was because that guy who helped her, that Jake Martin, wasn't able to get onto Southfork to plant the murder weapon in your car, so, I was the lucky one that got picked."

"Oh my God,"  John Ross says.  "That woman had to be completely out of her mind."

 

"I wouldn't exactly say that.  She was just out for revenge.  Revenge over somethin' that happened almost three decades ago."

 

"Well, hell, you got to be out of your mind to hold on to a grudge and plan revenge for that long,"  says John Ross.  "Good Lord, it could've been me sittin' in that prison.  Damn it, Justin, I'm sorry."

 

"John Ross, it wasn't your fault,"  Justin says as Jill walks in.  

 

"Hi, everyone,"  Jill says.

 

"Hello, Jill,"  Ann says.

 

"Hi, Ann,"  Jill says.  She walks over to Justin and hugs him.  "How's my little brother?"

 

"I'm okay,"  Justin replies.  "I didn't get much sleep last night.  Had kind of a restless night."

 

"He had nightmares,"  Pamela says, walking over to him.

 

"Nightmares?"  Jill asks.  

 

"Yeah, well, it's gonna take me some time to get over that whole experience."

 

"And I'm gonna be there to help him every step of the way,"  says Pamela.

 

"Oh, that's just great,"  Jill says sarcastically.  "I'm sure that's just what he needs."

 

"What's that supposed to mean?"  Pamela asks.

 

"Now, hold on, you two,"  Justin says.  "Look, the last thing I want is for my sister, and the woman I love to be at each others' throats.  Itn't it about time you two called a truce in this little feud you've had goin' on for years?"

 

Pamela and Jill look at each other.  "Well, maybe he's right,"  Jill says.  

 

Pamela sighs.  "Yeah.  After all, the reason our feud started was because of Tripp, and he nearly destroyed us both, he's dead now.  So I guess we have nothing left to fight about."

 

Jill nods.  "I guess not.  We'll probably never be BFFs, but, I see no reason for us to hate each other anymore.  So, truce?"

 

"Truce,"  Pamela says, shaking hands with her.  "Oh, Justin, look at the time, we'd better go."

 

"What, you're not staying for dinner?"  Jill asks.

 

"We can't,"  says Justin.  "We're havin' dinner with my Mama and my cousins Kasey and Corey in town.  They're goin' back to Florida in a couple days.  Hey, how about I take you to lunch tomorrow?"

 

Jill smiles.  "I'd like that, but, instead, I'll take YOU to lunch."

 

"Sounds good,"  Justin says.  He kisses his sister on the cheek.  "So good to have you back in Dallas.  How long are you stayin', by the way?"

 

"I'll be here for another week.  I have some business to take care of, and I wanna spend some time with my mother. She's still in shock over Tripp's kid brother Shawn becoming the new CEO of Westar."

 

"Yeah, I was blown away by that myself,"  Justin says.  "How in the heck could that have happened, anyway?  He's just a kid, same age as Alex."

 

"I have no idea.  Maybe we should ask Pamela,"  Jill says as Pamela looks on with an uncomfortable expression of both sadness and worry on her face. 

 

"Pamela?"  Asks a confused Justin.  "Jill, what are you talkin' about?"

 

"Justin, come on, we're gonna be late meeting Cally and the kids," Pamela says in an attempt to get Justin away from his sister.

 

"Pamela sold Shawn Hunter's shares of Westar that Tripp left his son in his will."

 

Justin turns to Pamela, a look of shock on his face.  "Pamela, you did WHAT?"

 

"What was that I just heard?"  John Ross asks.  "Pamela sold those shares of Westar to Shawn?"

 

"Well, Pamela, I think we're ALL waiting for an answer,"  Jill says.

 

"Alright, YES!  I sold the shares."

 

"Darlin' why would you do that?"  Justin asks.

 

"That's a damned good question, and to Shawn Smith of all people,"  says John Ross.  "Why in the hell didn't you sell those shares to me?"

 

"Shawn came to me with an offer, okay?"  Pamela says angrily.  "It was very low point in my life.  Justin, you were in prison, and I felt hopeless."  She pauses as she begins to cry.  "Shawn came to me, and told me that I should sell the shares and be free of Tripp, and of Westar and of the oil business all together because holding on to them would only cause stress and problems, and eventually it would drag Hunter into the business that had already caused so much heartache for my family.  So I sold them."

 

"And did you ask him where he got the money to buy those shares?"  John Ross asks.

 

"Yes, and he wouldn't tell me."

 

"And you weren't the least bit suspicious that a 19-year-old kid who was virtually penniless a couple months ago suddenly came up with enough money to buy all of your shares of Westar, and Tracy McKay's, too?"  Jill asks.  

 

"I didn't care,"  Pamela angrily says.  "I just wanted to be rid of those damned shares and voting rights, and Westar and anything that reminded me of Tripp and the oil business.  Justin, can we please go?"

 

"Yeah,"  Justin says.  "I'll see you all later."  Justin and Pamela are leaving the room just as Bobby and Christopher walk in.  

 

"Well, good evening,"  Bobby says.  "Are you two stayin' for dinner?"

 

"We can't, Uncle Bobby,"  replies Justin.  "We're meetin' Mama for dinner in town."

 

"Oh, alright, well, give Cally my love."

 

"We will,"  Justin says, then leaves.  

 

John Ross and Jill are still standing at the bar.  "Did you buy that whole line about her just wanting to be rid of that Westar stock, so she sold it to Tripp's brother?"  Jill asks.

 

"Not one bit,"  John Ross says.  

 

"I wonder why she really sold those shares,"  says Jill.

 

"I don't know.  But I'm sure gonna find out."

Southfork....five days later....

 John Ross and Krystina come down the stairs five mornings later and walks into the dining room, where Bobby, Ann, Christopher, Courtney, Jacob, Lucas, Heather, Michael, Alex, and Lucy are gathered around the table having breakfast.  "Good mornin', everyone,"  John Ross cheerfully says.

 

"My, you're in a good mood this mornin',"  Heather says.

 

"Well, everything's been goin' real good for this fam'ly lately,"  John Ross says, he and Krystina taking their usual seats at the table.

 

"And it's about time, too,"  says Christopher.  

 

"I agree,"  Bobby says.  "This family is LONG over due for some good times."

 

"You boys are awful quiet this morning,"  Courtney says.  

 

"First day back to school,"  Jacob says with a sigh.  "Christmas break SURE went by fast."

 

"Yeah, TOO fast,"  Michael agrees.  

 

"Speaking of which, you boys better hurry and finish your breakfast or you're gonna be late,"  Lucas says.

 

"I'll drive you guys,"  says Courtney.

 

"You mind if I ride along?"  Heather asks.

 

Courtney smiles.  "Not at all.  We can do a little shopping in Braddock if you'd like."

 

"Sound great to me."

 

"Ann, Krystina, would you guys like to come along?"  Courtney asks.  "We can make it a Ewing women's day out."

 

"Thanks, sweety I'd love to, but I have a lot of stuff I need to do around the house,"  Ann replies.

 

"And Ellie has an appointment for a checkup with her pediatrician at 9,"  says Krystina.

 

"Well, looks like it's just us two,"  Heather says.  "I'll go up and get my purse."

 

"Alright, come on, boys,"  Courtney says.  

 

"I'll see you this evening,"  Christopher says, kissing his wife.  "I love you."

 

"And I'll see YOU later this afternoon,"  Heather tells Lucas.

 

"You bet,"  says Lucas.  

 

"You guys have a great first day back at school,"  Christopher says.

 

"Sure,"  Jacob says.  

 

Michael gets up from the table and grabs his crutches.  

 

"Hey,"  Lucas says to his son.  

 

"Yeah, Dad?"

 

"Have a good day."

 

"I will.  Bye,"  Michael says.  He hobbles out of the room on his crutches, following Courtney and Jacob.  

 

"Well, I gotta get going, too,"  Alex says.  "I have an 8 o'clock class.  Uh, Dad, can I talk to you alone for a minute?"

 

"Yeah, I'll walk you out,"  John Ross says. He and Alex both get up from the table and leave the room.  A moment later, the two walk onto the patio.  "So what's up?"  John Ross asks. 

 

Alex removes the strap of his book bag from over his right shoulder and lays the bag on the ground next to him.  "I've spent a lot of time thinking over the Christmas break about that offer you made me for that intern- ship at Ewing Oil."

 

John Ross smiles.  "Well, I sure hope you're gonna give me some good news about that."

 

"I've decided that I would like to take that internship.  I talked to Cole Duncan, and he's really been enjoying it."

 

"Damn, son, you don't know how proud that makes me to hear that.  I always dreamed a son of mine would be workin' at Ewing Oil right beside me, ever we got the comp'ny back."

 

"Look, don't get your hopes up,"  Alex says.  "I'm not saying I wanna follow in your footsteps and go into the oil business, but, I figure it'll be a learning experience for whatever I wanna do career wise."

 

John Ross places his hand on his son's shoulder.  "It will be.  And it's gonna be great, us workin' together.  You'll see."

 

"I know.  When can I start?"

 

"This afternoon soon enough?"  John Ross asks.  "What time you get out of your last class?"

 

"I'm done at 1 o'clock today."

 

"Good.  Come by the office about 1:30, and I'll get you started.  Cole can show you the ropes, he'll be back at the office today."

 

Alex smiles.  "Great.  I'll see you then.  Now, I really gotta go."  Alex picks up his book bag and walks out to his car.  John Ross watches his son with a smile of pride as Alex gets into his car.

Westar Oil....

 Shawn walks into the offices at Westar that morning to begin his first official day as new CEO of the giant company.  As he walks into the outer reception area of the company, people begin staring at him, none of them quite sure what to make of this young man, not even out of his teens yet, who has now become their new boss.  

 

"Good morning, Mr. Smith,"  the secretary says as Shawn walks up to her desk.  

 

"Good morning........Kathy, isn't it?"

 

"Yes, that's right."

 

"Kathy, have their been any messages or mail for me?"

 

"Yes, this arrived for you by messenger just a few minutes ago,"  Kathy says, handing Shawn a large envelope.  

 

"Oh, thanks.  Come into my office."

 

"Right away."

 

Shawn turns and looks at the other employees in the office, who had been staring curiously at him.  However, when Shawn looks at them, everyone turns their heads away quickly. Shawn smiles, then proceeds into the CEO's office, followed by the secretary.  He rips open the envelope and pulls out a copy of Forbes Magazine, the cover of which 

bears a large photo of him, and the headline of  a story about him to go with it.  He smiles as he looks at the photo.  

 

"What is it, Mr. Smith?"  Kathy asks.

 

"Upcoming next edition of Forbes Magazine.  It's all about me becoming the youngest CEO in Westar's history.  I didn't think they'd have this print of the cover done so fast, they just did the interview on Thursday."

 

"It's a very nice picture,"  Kathy says.  "And congratulations."

 

"Thank you.  Kathy, the reason I wanted to see you is, well, as you know, I'm very inexperienced in business.  In fact, I have NO experience at all.  And I'm also very young, but don't take that to mean that I'm totally incompetent in my job."

 

"Of course not."

 

"Whatever I don't know, I intend to learn,"  Shawn says.  "My brother learned this business and this company inside out, and so will I.  And I'm gonna need your help."

 

Kathy smiles.  "Well, I'll certainly do all I can."

 

"Good, thank you.  Kathy, I have to tell you that, I AM gonna wanna hire my own secretary.  My own people.  But I hope that you'll agree to stay on until I hire a secretary of my own."

 

"Of course,"  Kathy says, no longer smiling, and a tone of disappointment in her voice upon hearing that she will soon be without a job.  

 

"First thing's first,"  Shawn says.  "Kathy, get me the files on all current deals Westar has in the works, and any upcoming ventures.  And, wait about ten minutes, and get Tom Griffith on the phone for me."

 

"Yes, sir,"  Kathy says.  She turns and leaves the office.  

 

Shawn walks over to his desk and takes his cell phone from his pocket, and dials Alex's number.  He takes a seat at the desk and waits for Alex to answer.  On the fourth ring, Alex picks up.  "Alex,"  Shawn says with a smile.  "Dude, what's up?  Guess where I am right now.  Sitting in my very own office, behind my desk at Westar.  That's right.  Listen, how about you and I having lunch this afternoon?  My treat?  Perry's, around 1?"  Shawn listens for a moment as Alex speaks on the other end of the line.  "Oh, well, can you swing by my office on your way to Ewing Oil, since it's just down the street?  About 1:15?  I have somethin' real important to talk to you about.  Great.  Okay, I'll see you then, man. Bye."  Shawn puts his phone down, leans back in his chair and smiles.  "Well, Tripp," he says.  "I'm sitting at your old desk.  Wouldn't you just LOVE that?"  He picks up the advanced copy of Forbes Magazine and looks at it.  He smiles again.  "Youngest CEO of Westar ever," he says.  "I'm 19-years-old and I have the whole world at my feet, and I owe it all to my big brother.  If Tripp hadn't gotten himself murdered, I wouldn't be here right now. So thanks, Tripp.  You wanted me to have nothing, but instead, I ended up with everything."  Shawn laughs.

Dallas Police Department....

 Jill walks into the Dallas Police Department and approaches the desk sergeant on duty.  "Excuse me,"  she says.  

 

"Yes, miss, can I help you?"  The man asks.

 

"Is Detective Craig Anderson here?"

 

"Hey, Brady," the Sergeant says to a young officer.  "Tell Detective Anderson a lady is here to see him."

 

The young officer disappears down a hallway.  Jill walks over and looks at a group of framed photos hanging on the wall of the police station as she waits.  A minute later, Craig Anderson comes down the hall from his office and sees her.  He pauses for a couple of seconds, then walks over to Jill, her back to him as she looks at the photos on the wall.

 

"Jill?"   He says.

 

She turns to face him.  "Hi, Craig."

 

"Hello.  I had no idea you were back in Dallas."

 

"I've been here for a few days,"  Jill says.  "It's just taken me this long to muster the courage to come and see you."

 

"I'm glad that you did.  Let's step in this office so we can talk."  Craig and Jill walk into an empty office, and he closes the door.  "You look great.  How's California?"  Craig asks.

 

"I love it out there.  The scenery is gorgeous, and I'm enjoying it.  I really needed the change after all that happened."

 

"Have you seen your husband?"  

 

"Yes.  My soon to be ex-husband.  Our divorce hearing is in a few days.  It's hard to believe.  It was just three years ago that Jay and I were married, and here we are, getting a divorce."

 

"I'm sorry, Jill."

 

"Thanks, but I'm not.  Jay and I were doomed from the start.  We were never compatible.  And, another man always stood in our way."

"Another man?"  Craig asks.  

 

"Yes.  I never got over my feelings for you,"  Jill says.  "Our affair last year proved that.  You've been in my system ever since high school."

 

"You've been in my blood ever since high school, too,"  says Craig.  "And now that you and Jay Smithfield are getting a divorce........Jill, do you think that maybe there's a chance......."

 

"Craig, I.......I don't know.  Right now, I don't see how.  I'm not coming back to Dallas.  Oh, I'll be back to visit from time to time, but, I've decided to move to Los Angeles permanently."

 

"I see."

 

"There are just too many painful memories for me here,"  Jill says.  

 

"Jill, if you stayed, we could make new memories.  Better ones."

 

"But those would be tainted by the bad ones,"  she says, wiping a tear from her face.  "I need a fresh start, Craig.  And Los Angeles has given me that.  It's the perfect place for me to start over.  After all, I do have family there, my Uncle Gary and Aunt Val, and my cousins Bobby and Betsy.  I've been seeing them pretty often since I've been out there."

 

"So I guess this is really goodbye, then?"  Craig asks.

 

"Yes.  I'll still be in Dallas for another week or so.  I have some business to take care of, and my divorce hearing.  But I wanted to see you, while I still had the nerve to."

 

"Well, I really am glad you came by.  Jill, you take care of yourself.  And I hope you find happiness in California."

 

"Thank you,"  Jill says. "And I REALLY hope that you find happiness.  You deserve it.  Goodbye, Craig."

 

"Jill,"  Craig says sadly as she walks past him and leaves the office. 

 

As she rushes out of the police station, Jill pauses outside and begins to cry, having just said a final goodbye to the one true love of her life.  

Braddock Elementary School....early afternoon....

 

 

Michael is sitting on a bench outside the lunch room at Braddock Elementary School right after finishing his lunch.  He is playing a game on his phone while waiting for the rest of his class to finish lunch and come out of the cafeteria.  

 

Meanwhile, Michael's bully, Casey Myers, comes down the hall with two other boys.  Upon seeing Michael, Casey stops.  "Hey, boys, look who it is,"  he says.  "Mikey.  Come on."  Casey and the other boys walks over to where Michael is sitting.  "Well, well,"  Casey says.  "If it aint Mikey Knievel."

 

Michael looks up at the boys, then returns to playing his game in an attempt to ignore them. This gesture only seems to anger Casey.

"Hey, Mikey, how'd you break your leg?"  Casey asks as the other two boys giggle.  "I heard you tripped and fell off the balcony at your house."

 

"He WHAT?"  One of the other boys asks, laughing.

 

"Yeah.  No wonder Mikey was never any good at sports.  Can't even stand on his own two feet."

 

Michael puts his phone away, picks up his crutches, and starts to stand.  

 

"Mikey, where ya goin'?"  Casey asks.  "Don't you wanna hang with us?"

Michael looks at him, then starts to stand, but Casey grabs his crutches away from him.  "Give those back!"  Michael says.

 

"If I don't, are you gonna cry?"  Casey asks, his other two friends laughing at Michael's misery.  

 

"Casey, maybe if you're nice to him, he'll sing for you,"  one of the other boys says.  

 

"Oh, yeah,"  says Casey.  "Mikey the songbird.  I heard your song.  You sing like a girl, Mikey.  So come on.  Sing a song for me and the boys."

 

"Leave me alone and give me my crutches, Casey,"  Michael says.  

 

"Come and get 'em, songbird,"  Casey says. 

 

Michael reaches for the crutches, but Casey pulls them away, causing Michael to fall to the floor as Casey and his friends laugh.  Jacob and another group of kids come out of the cafeteria.  

 

"Michael!"  Jacob says, rushing to his stepcousin's aid.  

 

"I'm alright,"  Michael says as Jacob helps him up.

 

Jacob looks at Casey.  "Give him those crutches, Myers."

 

"Oh, yeah?  What are you gonna do if I won't?"

 

Just then, a teacher comes out of the cafeteria, and Casey quickly hands the crutches back to Michael to avoid getting into trouble.

 

"What's going on here?"  The teacher asks.  "You boys get to class."

 

"Yes, Mrs. Lindstrom,"  Casey says in a polite tone.  He looks at Michael and Jacob, then walks away with his friends.  

 

"Man, one of these days, I'm gonna knock that kid on his ass,"  Jacob says to Michael after the other boys have walked away.  Michael stands, takes his crutches, and hobbles away without saying anything.  

Westar....

 "Hey, man, come on in,"  Shawn says, welcoming Alex into his office at Westar that afternoon.  

 

"Thanks.  Hey, nice office."

 

Shawn smiles.  "Thank you.  I love it.  Of course, I'm gonna do a little redecorating when I get settled."

 

"Well, dude, I don't have much time,"  Alex says.  "What'd you wanna see me about?"  

 

"I've got an offer for you, bro.  As the old saying goes, it's an offer you're not gonna be able to refuse."

 

"What offer?"

 

Shawn picks up the Forbes Magazine and shows it to Alex.  "Take a look at this, bro."

 

"Very impressive."

 

"I'll get to the point of why I asked you here.  Alex, I want you to come to work with me here at Westar."

 

"You want me to work for you at Westar?"  Alex asks.

 

"Dude, not for me, WITH me.  Just think about it, man.  You and me, two fresh young bucks ready to take over this town and show the old farts in Dallas that their time is UP, and it's time to make way for the Millennial generation.  So what do you say?"

 

"Shawn, I appreciate it, man, but, I can't."

 

"Dude, if you're worried about school, I promise, this won't interfere,  You can work around your class schedule."

 

"I still can't.  The reason I'm on my way to Ewing Oil is because I'm taking an afternoon job as an intern there.  John Ross has been trying to get me to do it for a month now, and this morning I told him I would."

 

Shawn laughs.  "Alex, come on.  You're passing up a JOB, I mean a PAYING JOB for an internship with your Dad?  Bro, that's completely nuts.  I'm offering you a chance to rise to the top with me.  Together we can own this town in a year."

 

"Yeah, well maybe I don't wanna own this town.  Shawn, would you listen to yourself?  Six, eight months ago, all you could think about was starting college in the fall, having fun, and getting laid.  Now, you're this big oil executive and you're talking about owning Dallas.  That's something my Dad would say."

 

"Well, John Ross did kinda teach me a thing or two.  At least I was willin' to listen to him, unlike you."

 

"You've changed, man,"  Alex says.  "First, the way you treated Ashley.  You just dumped her because she wouldn't have sex with you, and then almost immediately you hooked up with Bridget's sister.  And just how in the hell did you end up owning a majority of stock in Westar, enough to  become the CEO at 19?  I thought Pamela owned the majority of shares because your brother left them to Hunter in his will."

 

"Pamela was nice enough to part with those shares.  I have them now.  I bought 'em from her."

 

"How?  Dude, where did you get that kinda money?  Last summer you were working at the Athletic Club."

 

"Yeah, until that bastard Tripp got me fired,"  Shawn says angrily.

 

"That bastard?"  Alex asks, surprised at the coldness in his friend's voice.  "Dude, that BASTARD is your dead brother."

 

"Yeah, so?"

 

"You don't act like you even care that your own brother's dead.  That someone bashed his head in."

 

"Why should I?"  Shawn asks.  "Tripp never gave a damn about me or my mother, and he wanted to see me end up with nothing, but guess what, Alex.  I now have everything that he had.  His job, his company, and I plan to move into his apartment.  I rented it over the weekend."

 

"Oh my God, man,"  says a stunned Alex.  "What happened to you?"

 

"I grew up, bro.  You might wanna try that yourself."

 

"How'd you get that money?"  Alex asks.  "The money to buy Hunter's shares, and how did you get Pamela to sell?  Did you take advantage of her when she was so messed up while my Uncle Justin was in prison?"

 

"Not exactly.  She was a VERY willing participant."

 

Alex's mouth falls open in shock.  "What?  You......you had SEX with her?"

 

"So what if I did?  Not like she was married or anything.  She needs it, and I needed something from her.  So we both got what we wanted."

 

Alex looks at him angrily.  "You're a piece of crap, you know that?  And hell would have to freeze over before I would ever work with you."  He walks to the door.

 

"Alex,"  Shawn says.

 

Alex stops at the door and turns back to face him.

 

Shawn walks over to him.  "I offered you a chance to be somebody NOW, while you're young.  But you threw that back in my face.  Well SCREW you!  But let me warn you........I'm head of Westar now.  And soon, Westar is gonna come up against Ewing Oil in deals.  If they stand in my way, I'm gonna crush them, and if you're with them......that goes for you, too.  I plan to become as big in this town as my grandfather, Jeremy Wendell, ever was.  And you're either with me, or against me."

 

"Well, that's an easy choice.  You can go to hell,"  Alex says.

 

"I'm warning you, Alex,"  Shawn says.  "You walk out that door and our friendship is over.  You're my enemy."

 

Unable to control his anger, Alex draws back his fist and punches Shawn across the face, knocking him off his feet and to the door.  "Now let me warn YOU, Shawn.  You come anywhere near me again and I'll knock your teeth out. I had been reluctant to join John Ross working at Ewing Oil because I wasn't sure that's what I wanted to do with my life, but y'know what?  I am gonna join my family.  And if you come up against us........you're the one who's gonna get crushed because you're nothing but a ruthless, arrogant little punk, and I can't wait for the day you get taken down." Alex glares angrily at him, then storms out of the office.

 

After he's gone, Shawn stands to his feet, and using his hand, wipes blood from his lip.  "If that's how you want it, Alex.......then it's on," he says.

Sharon Smith's apartment....

 "Alright, alight, I'm coming, hold your horses," Sharon says as she walks into her living room to answer her ringing doorbell.  She opens the door and she is shocked to find Andrew Murray, Courtney's father, standing before her with  a smile.  

 

"Hello, Sharon,"  Andrew says.

 

"Andy?  Oh my God, what on Earth are you doin' here?" Sharon asks, surprised, and appearing to be unhappy to see him.

 

"Can I come in?"

 

"I suppose."

 

Andrew walks into the apartment and looks around.  "You've done very well for yourself, but I'm real surprised you haven't moved on up now, all things considered."

 

"Andy what are you doing in Dallas?"  Sharon asks.

 

"I have business here.  My kids all live here.  My daughter is actually married to Christopher Ewing, Ann's stepson."

 

Sharon's mouth falls open in shock. "What?  Courtney Ewing is your daughter?"

 "That's right,"  Andrew says.  "But I'm not here to talk about Courtney.  I'm here to talk about my son, Shawn......... the new CEO of Westar."

 

Sharon looks at him with an expression of  anger mixed with fear.

END OF EPISODE 192....