EPISODE 201 - Requiem For A Barnes

 Standing in the kitchen at Justin's ranch house, Justin embraces Pamela while he and Brad try to comfort her as she cries after hearing the news of Cliff's death.  "No, this can't be,"  she says in tears.  "There has to be a mistake."

 

"Pamela, I'm afraid not,"  says Brad.  "Afton said that she found him in his recliner.  Apparently, he must have sat down, dozed off, and passed away in his sleep."

 

"He was supposed to be here at the wedding,"  Pamela cries.

 

"Sweetheart, I'm so sorry,"  Justin says.  

 

Jimmy walks into the kitchen.  "Hey, what's going on in here?  Justin, what's wrong?"

 

Justin looks at him.  "We just got some really bad news.  We just found out that Pamela's Daddy passed away."

 

"Oh my God,"  Jimmy says.  "Oh........Pamela, I'm so sorry."

 

"Darlin', come on,"  Justin says.  "I'm gonna take you upstairs so you can lie down."  Justin leads Pamela out of the kitchen and into the living room, where the gathered crowd of wedding guests can see that something is wrong as Pamela is still crying.  Bobby, Ann, Sue Ellen, Cally, and Christopher all exchange worried looks as they watch Justin lead Pamela up the stairs.  Cally hurries over to her son and his new wife.

 

"Justin, what is it?"  Cally asks.

 

"Mama, help me get Pamela upstairs and I'll explain,"  Justin replies.  Cally takes Pamela by the arm, and together she and Justin help her up the stairs while the others watch.

 

As Jimmy comes out of the kitchen, Bobby, Ann, and Sue Ellen walk walk over to him.  "Jimmy, what's going on?"  Bobby asks.

 

"Why was Pamela so upset?"  Sue Ellen asks.

 

"Pamela just got some bad news,"  Jimmy replies.  "Her father passed away."

 

"What?"  A stunned Sue Ellen asks.  

 

 

Bobby looks at hims and sighs.  "Pamela was upset because she just found out that..........son, there's just no easy way for me to tell you this.  Cliff died."

 

A look of shock comes over the faces of both Christopher and John Ross upon hearing the news of Cliff's passing.

 

 

 

 A spring drizzle is falling over Southfork late in the afternoon as Bobby, Ann, Christopher, Lucas, Heather, Michael, and Lucy all return to Southfork from Justin and Pamela's wedding.  The solemn group walks into the living room at the ranch, none of them saying a word.

 

Courtney walks into the living room.  "Hi, everyone,"  she says.  "How was the wedding?"

 

"It was lovely,"  Lucy replies.

 

Courtney looks at them.  "Well, if it was so beautiful, why do you all look so sad?"

 

"Michael, honey, come on,"  Heather says to her son.  "Let's go upstairs and you get out of your suit, and I'm gonna lie down for a while."

 

"I'll come with you,"  Lucas says, leaving the room with Heather and Michael.  

 

"What's going on?"  Courtney asks.

 

"Honey, we, uh, we got some news at the wedding,"  replies Christopher.

 

"What news?"

 

"It's about my Uncle Cliff.  He died this afternoon."

 

"Oh my God,"  Courtney says.  "Poor Pamela.  And she still went through with the wedding?"

 

"Pamela didn't know about her father until after the weddin',"  Ann says.  

 

"Apparently, when Cliff never showed up for the wedding. Afton got worried and went back to their apartment to check on him,"  says Christopher.  "When she got there, she found him."

 

"Wow, I can't believe it,"  Courtney says.

 

"Neither can I,"  says Lucy.  "I can't even imagine Cliff Barnes being........gone.  Well, I'm gonna get out of these clothes.  I'll see you all later,"  Lucy says, then leaves the room.

 

"How's Jacob?"  Christopher asks.  

 

"He's fine.  Just a little bored."

 

"I'll go check on him,"  Christopher says.  He and Courtney leave the room.

 

Ann walks over to Bobby and puts her hand on his shoulder.  "Bobby, are you alright?"

 

 

 

 

"I'm fine."

 

"Are you sure?  Honey, I know that you've gotta be feelin' a lot of emotions right now.  No matter what Cliff has done, the two of you went back a long time, and you shared a lot of history together."

 

"Yes, that, we did,"  Bobby says, his mind traveling back in time many years.......

 

 

 

Back in the present, Ann begins thinking about Emma, wishing she had some way to get in touch with her daughter to let her know of Cliff's passing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sue Ellen and Catlin's home....

 Sue Ellen and Catlin walk into their home.  Sue Ellen takes off her jacket and hangs it on the coat rack in the foyer, then the two walk into the living room.  

 

"Honey, can I get you anything?  A club soda?"  Catlin asks.  

 

"No, thank you, I'm fine."

 

"You haven't said a word all the way home from the wedding.  I know this news about Cliff Barnes's death has upset you."

 

"Catlin, I'm not upset,"  Sue Ellen says.  "It was just a shock, that's all.  A very great shock."

 

"I understand,"  Catlin says.  "You and Cliff Barnes shared a lot of history together.  If you wanna talk about it, I'll be happy to listen.  In fact, I would love to listen."

 

"Listen as I talk about my history with Cliff?  That could definitely take a while."

 

Catlin walks over to her and places his hands on her shoulders.  "I have as long as it takes.  Did you ever love Cliff?"

 

"Did I ever love Cliff?  That's a very good question.  There was a time I thought I did,"  Sue Ellen says.  

 While Cally, Jimmy, and Ashley are cleaning up in the living room at Justin's house, Justin comes down the stairs.  "How's Pamela?"  Cally asks.

 

"She talked to Afton on the phone for a while, and then she drifted off to sleep.  Afton said she was coming right over to be with Pamela.  She didn't wanna spend the night at the apartment she shared with Cliff, and, I think Pamela needs her mama right now."

 

"Poor Pamela,"  says Ashley.  "This should've been the most perfect day of her life, and now........"

 

"Justin, is there anything we can do?"  Jimmy asks.  

 

Justin sighs.  "I don't think so.  I'm afraid there's not even anything I can do.  It's just gonna take some time for Pamela to deal with her father's death."

 

"Ashley and I sure know what she's going through,"  Jimmy says.  "Losing a parent is the kind of pain I wouldn't wish on anyone."

 

At that moment, the doorbell rings.  Justin walks over and opens the door to Afton.  "Hi, come in,"  he says.

 

"Thank you,"  Afton says, walking into the house.  "Where's Pamela?"

 

"She drifted off to sleep after she got off the phone with you."

 

"Well, I won't wake her.  Sleep is probably the best thing for her right now."

 

"Afton, I am so sorry,"  Cally says, walking over to her.  

 

"Thank you, Cally."

 

"Afton, can you tell us, exactly what happened?"  Justin asks.

 

"When Cliff didn't show up for the wedding after he promised that he'd be here, I knew something had to be wrong,"  replies Afton.  "After Brad and I talked, we were both very worried about him, so I decided to go back to the apartment to see if he was still there.  When I arrived, I walked in, and Cliff was in his chair, his recliner in the living room.  I thought he was asleep, so I called to him, and then I walked over and touched him.  He didn't move.  I could see he wasn't breathing, and I knew.  I checked for a pulse, and there wasn't one.  That's when I called Brad, and then I called the paramedics."

 

"What'd the paramedics say?"  Justin asks.  "Do they know what he died from?"

 

"No.  Not until they do an autopsy, but, one of the paramedics said it looked like it was a heart attack."

 

As Afton is talking, Pamela comes down the stairs, unseen by the others.  She stops on the staircase and listens.

 

"Afton, you must be tired,"  says Justin.

 

"Yeah, you can take my room,"  Ashley says.  "I'll sleep on the sofa bed in the den."

 

"No, Ash, you don't have to do that,"  says Jimmy.  "Afton, you can have my room.  I'll sleep in the den."

 

"Jimmy, thank  you,"  Afton says.

 

Justin looks up and sees Pamela standing on the stairs.  "Hey, darlin'," he says, walking over to her.  "I thought you were asleep."

 

"I tried but I couldn't sleep,"  Pamela says.  "All I could think about was Daddy."

 

"Oh, baby,"  Afton says, walking over and embracing her daughter.  "I'm so sorry."

 

"How could this have happened?"  Pamela asks.  "This was such a happy day.  Everything was so wonderful, and Daddy was supposed to be here.  And now, everything is just........."

 

"I know, sweetheart,"  Afton says as she holds her daughter tightly while Justin, Cally, Jimmy, and Ashley look on.  

 

 

 

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

Christopher is sitting by the pool at Southfork early the next morning as the sun rises over the ranch.  He is staring blankly at the water, his thoughts focused on Cliff.  Courtney comes out of the sliding glass door leading from their bedroom to the backyard.  Looking around, she spots Christopher sitting at the pool.  After watching him for a few seconds, she closes and ties her bathrobe, then walks over to him.  "Christopher,"  she says.

 

"Morning."

 

"I woke up and you were gone.  How long have you been out here?"  

 

"I dunno.  Two, three hours.  I couldn't sleep, so I got up and came out here.  I even took a walk down to the stables to clear my head."

 

"Did it help?"  Courtney asks.  

 

"Not really, no,"  Christopher replies.  

 

"Thinking about your Uncle Cliff?"  

 

Christopher sighs deeply.  "Uncle Cliff.  Y'know, it's been a long time since I've been able to even think of him as my uncle.........until last night."

 

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

 

"I keep thinking back to when I was a kid.  For much of my childhood, there were two men........two people....that I could count on, and that's my Dad and my Uncle Cliff.  God, Courtney, I don't.............I just don't know what happened to him.  I've been going over and over it in my mind.  What my Uncle Cliff was like when I was a kid.  He this warm, loving guy with a heart of gold.  After my mother left us, Uncle Cliff use to spend a lot of time with me.  He'd take me skating and to the movies, or just out for a nice lunch, just the two of us.  Uncle Cliff had this way back then of making me feel special........."

"Pamela, I'll be fine.  I have to start getting use to being here alone, so, I may as well start now."

 

As Pamela is about to say something, the doorbell rings.  "Who could that be?"  Pamela asks.

 

"I'll get it,"  Justin says.  He walks over and opens the door to Brad.  

 

"Afton,"  Brad says, walking into the apartment.  "Hi, Pamela."  Brad hugs his sister.

 

"Hi,"  Pamela says.  "What are you doing here?"

 

"I asked Brad to come over,"  Afton says.  "I wanted to talk to you all here, alone."

 

"Mom, this sounds serious,"  Pamela says.

 

"It is.  Please, sit down everyone."

 

Pamela, Justin, and Brad exchange looks, all of them curious as to why Afton has called this family meeting.  The three take seats on the sofa.  "Afton, what is it?"  Brad asks.  "What's this about?"

 

"I have some news.  Pammy, your father and I were going to tell you this after you and Justin returned from your honeymoon.  The truth is...........I loved your father very much.  Cliff was the one true love of my life, despite all the turmoil and chaos of our relationship, and all the pain.  Cliff told me that he was still in love with me.  We started talking about how different our lives could've been if I hadn't walked out on him all those years ago.  What I'm trying to say is, Cliff and I were secretly married a week ago."

 

The news takes the three by surprise, as they look at each other, then at Afton, stunned.  "Mom, you.......you and Dad were MARRIED?"

 

"Afton, that's impossible,"  Brad says.  "If that's true, then why didn't either of you say anything?"

 

"We wanted it to be a surprise,"  replies Afton.  "Sort of a wedding surprise for Pamela."

 

Pamela stands and walks over to her mother.  "Mom, I.........I can't believe it.  You and Dad were married?  That's wonderful.  Dad didn't always show it, but I know how much he loved you, and how happy you made him."

 

"And Cliff made me happy these last few years."  Afton smiles through her tears.  "God, that man could drive me crazy.  Our relationship was never an easy one.  He was SO exasperating sometimes."  Afton's mind travels back to a day in 1984....

 

Ray walks in as Donna and Conner are sitting in the living room at the Krebbs home watching the mid-day news as the anchor is reporting on Cliff's passing:  "And now our top story.  Prominent Dallas citizen Cliff Barnes, former owner and CEO of the now defunct Barnes-Global corporation, died late yesterday at his residence in Dallas.  Barnes, who has had a long history of service both in the public and private sector, had recently been chosen by a state senate panel to serve on the newly created Oil Regulator Commission, which would oversee the oil industry in Texas.  Barnes, who was the son of the late Rebecca Barnes Wentworth, was 74."

 

Donna picks up the remote control and mutes the television.  "Well,"  she says.  

 

"Hard to believe, ol' Cliff Barnes is gone,"  Ray says.

 

"Yeah, it is,"  says Donna.  

 

"You use to date him, didn't you?"  Conner asks.

 

Donna sighs.  "Uh, yeah, a couple of lifetimes ago."

 

"I wonder if this is finally gonna put that old Barnes-Ewing feud to rest once and for all,"  Ray says.  

 

"Well, I certainly hope so.  That fight has caused untold damage to both families for decades.  It should've ended a long time ago."

 

"Well, I've gotta get back to work, guys,"  says Conner.  

 

"I'll be out to help you soon,"  Ray says as Conner leaves the room.  Ray walks over to Donna.  "Somethin' botherin' you, Donna?"

 

"Bothering me?  What do you mean?"

 

"You been awful quiet the last few days.  You seem kinda moody, too.  Somethin' on your mind?"

 

Donna turns and looks at him.  "As a matter of fact, Ray, yes, there IS something on my mind.  YOU."

 

"Me?  Whatever do ya mean?"  Ray asks.

 

Donna sighs.  "Well, last week you put in around 45 hours workin' on this ranch.  The week before that it was close to 50.  And if it hadn't been for going to Justin and Pamela's wedding yesterday, you would've put in a full day then, too."

 

"You keepin' track of the hours I work now?"

 

"Damn it, Ray, you seem bound and determined to work yourself into an early grave."

 

"Donna, don't start that again.  I keep tellin' ya, I am OKAY.  Plus, I got a ranch to run."

 

"Ray, you have Conner and Dylan here to run this ranch, as well as several other very capable ranch hands.   I'm just worried about you.  Especially now."

 

"And why especially now?"  Ray asks.

 

"You and Cliff Barnes were around the same age, and he's DEAD, Ray."

 

"Don't start comparin' me to Cliff Barnes,"  Ray angrily says.  "Look, what the hell do you expect me to do?  Just sit around and do nothing all day?  Well, I'm sorry, but I can't do that.  Donna, I been workin' hard my whole life.  You can't expect me to stop now."

 

"I'm not asking you to stop,"  Donna says.  "I'm not asking you to retire completely or to sit around this house in a rocking chair.  I am just asking you to take it a little easier than you have been.  To cut back in your hours working."  She pauses for a few seconds and looks at him.  "I almost get the feeling that you're working so hard in order to escape from something.  Or maybe to avoid facing something."

 

"That's ridiculous."

 

"Is it?  You leave this house first thing in the morning.  You come in for a half an hour lunch and then you're right back out there with the boys until after sunset.  Then by the time you come home at night, you're too exhausted to talk to me, let alone anything else.  Ray, we haven't spent any time together in a long time.  We haven't been intimate in a long time, and I miss that.  I miss YOU."

 

 "I miss it, too,"  Ray says.  "Honey, look, right now this is just a busy time for us.  We got 30 new head of cattle, we got fences that need mendin' after those last storms we had.  But things are gonna get better, I promise.  But right now, I gotta get back to work.  I'll see ya tonight."  Ray kisses her on the cheek, then picks up his hat and walks out.

 

After he's gone, Donna sighs deeply as she fights back her tears.  "Things are gonna get better?"  She asks to herself.  "Well, I certainly hope they do before you make me a widow, Ray Krebbs."  She turns back and looks at  the TV.  Once again a photo of Cliff appears on the screen as the news anchor continues his top story of the day. Donna grabs the remote and turns up the volume on the TV to listen to the anchor's words:

 

"Clifford Barnes was born in Dallas in 1945, the son of Willard "Digger" Barnes and Rebecca Blake Barnes........"

Dallas County Jail....

 

Sitting in her jail cell at the Dallas County Jail, Katherine is also watching the mid-day news, and learns of her half-brother's death.  She sits, transfixed by the TV as she listens to the news anchor:  "Clifford Barnes was born in Dallas in 1945, the son of Willard "Digger" Barnes and Rebecca Blake Barnes.   At the age of 5, he moved with his mother and father to Corpus Christie....."

 

 

 

 

 

As Katherine listens to the news anchor, her mind is filled with her own memories of her brother, one memory in particular comes  to her mind:

 Brad steps off the elevator down the hall from his apartment.  He slowly makes his way down the hall until he reaches his apartment door.  Taking the key from his pocket, he unlocks the door, and walks into his apartment.  As he closes the door and turns around, he is immediately startled when he sees Marilee sitting on his sofa.  "Mom," he says.  "You startled me."

 

Marilee stands and walks over to him.  "I'm sorry, sweetheart, I didn't mean to.  When I arrived you weren't home, so I used my key."

 

"Oh.  I forgot you still had a key to my apartment,"  Brad says.

 

"Bradley, I came as soon as I heard about Cliff,"  Marilee says.  "Why didn't you call me and tell me that your father passed away?  I had to hear it on the news."

 

"Look, I'm sorry, Mom, I should've called you, but, everything happened so fast, I wasn't thinking."

 

"Well, I'm very sorry."

 

"Are you really?"  Brad asks.

 

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Did you really care about my father at all, Mom?"  

 

"Of course, I cared about Cliff.  I cared a lot about him."

 

"And that's why you kept it from him for more than 35 years that he had a son?"  Brad asks.  

 

"I thought that we had gotten past that.  But I see that you're still bitter that I kept you and your father apart all those years."

 

"How am I supposed to feel, Mom?  My whole life, when you were shipping me off to one boarding school after another, lying to me that Seth Stone was my father.  And all that time, my father was very much alive and well and living right here in Dallas.  I keep thinking about all the time.......all the years I missed out on with my father.  Time I can never get back."

 

"Bradley, I'm sorry.  What more can I say?  At least you can be thankful that you had the last couple of years with Cliff."

 

"I am,"  Brad says.  "I'll always be grateful for that."  He lets out a deep sigh.  "Mom, I'm........I'm sorry for what I said.  It's just been a really lousy twenty-four hours, and........."

 

"It's quite alright, darling, I understand,"  Marilee says.  "And if it's any consolation, if I had it to do all over again, I probably would have done things a lot differently."

 

"We can't change the past, Mom,"  Brad says.  "All we can do is try to come to terms with it."

Meanwhile....an apartment in Brighton, England....

 Someone walks up to the door of an apartment in the town of Brighton, England.   The person reaches down and picks up a rolled up newspaper, then unlocks the door to the apartment.  Walking into the apartment, the person places a bag of groceries on a table in the kitchen.  The person lays the newspaper on the table beside the bag of groceries, then quickly begins to put the few items groceries away.  Once finished, the person pours a glass of milk, then picks up the newspaper.  Taking a sip of the milk, they slip off the rubber band that had bound the paper, then 

unrolls it, then folds it in half.  As the person begins reading, suddenly, the glass of milk falls to the floor and shatters.....

Taking a seat at the kitchen table, for a moment Emma Ryland stares at the newspaper article announcing her father's death in disbelief.  Emma appears to be in shock as she reads the article.  Once finished, she puts the paper down on the table, puts her hand to her forehead and begins to cry.  "No,"  she says softly to herself.  She picks the paper up again and looks at Cliff's photo at the bottom the front page, underneath the article.  "No, this can't be happening."  Reaching into her purse, she pulls out a cell phone, an older model flip phone, and opens it.  She begins dialing her mother's cell phone number, but once she's finished dialing, Emma changes her mind about calling Ann and forcing her to once again have to lie for her.  She erases the numbers she has just dialed.  It has to be true.  It wouldn't be printed in an English newspaper were it not true, she thinks to herself.  But she has to know for sure.  She again picks up the phone and dials Ann's number.  

Southfork....

 Ann is straightening some pillows on the sofa in the den at Southfork when her cell phone rings.  Picking the phone up from the coffee table, she looks at it, sees it's a restricted number, but decides to answer anyway.  "Hello," she says.

 

"Mom, it's me,"  Emma says on the other end of the line. 

 

Ann's heart is filled with joy upon hearing her daughter's voice.  "Emma,"  she says.  "Emma, my God, is that really you?"

 

"Yes, it's me."

 

"Emma, where are you?"

 

"I can't tell you that.  It's not important.  Look, I only have a minute.  I just need to know one thing.  I heard the news that Cliff........that my father died.  Please, tell me that's not true."

 

"Oh......darlin', I'm so sorry.  But I'm afraid it IS true.  Cliff passed away sometime yesterday at his apartment.  Afton came home and found him." Ann can hear the sounds of Emma crying.  "Emma?"

 

"I'm sorry.  Thank you.  And Mom......I'm sorry for everything.  For hurting you."

 

"Emma, sweetheart, where are you?"  Ann asks as Bobby and Lucas walk into the foyer and hear.  "Emma, please, just tell me where you are.  Or better yet, come home.  We can fix this."

 

"I can't come home, and I can't tell you where I am.  Just know that I'm alright."

 

"And what about Logan?"

 

"Logan is  fine.  You don't have to worry about either of us."

 

"Emma......."  Ann says as Lucas rushes into the room.

 

 

 

 

"That's Emma?  Give me the phone,"  he says, then grabs Ann's phone from her hand.  "Emma, Emma, where the hell are you?  And where is my son?  Is Logan alright?"  He asks, but he immediately hears the sound of a 'click' as Emma hangs up.  "Damn it,  She hung up!"

 

"What did you expect, when you come chargin' in here like that and take the phone?"  Ann asks.

 

"Honey, did she give you any idea where she was calling from?"  Bobby asks.

 

"No, she wouldn't tell me.  She was just callin' because she heard the news about Cliff, and she wanted to find out if it was true."

 

"She heard the news about Cliff?"  Lucas asks.  "Then that means she has to still be somewhere in the United States."

 

"Not necessarily,"  says Bobby.  "Cliff was a pretty prominent businessman, and I'm sure he was well known in other parts of the world."

 

"What number was she calling from?"

 

"It was a restricted number.  No way to trace it."

 

"Maybe through the phone company."

 

"Chances are, Emma was calling from a burner phone,"  Bobby says.  "And those can't be traced."

 

"DAMN IT!"

 

"Lucas, Emma said that Logan is fine."

 

"And I'm supposed to just believe that?"  Lucas asks.  "Ann, your crazy daughter tried to kill me to keep me from telling the truth that I'm Logan's father, and then she kidnapped my son.  I'm supposed to just take her word for it that my son is just fine and dandy in her care?"  Lucas angrily storms out of the room.

 

Bobby puts his arms around his wife as she begins to cry.

The Krebbs Ranch....three days later.... 

Ashley drives her car out to the horse barn at the Krebbs Ranch three days later, on Wednesday, and comes to a stop.  Getting out of her car, she hears the pleasant sound of Dylan playing his guitar inside the barn.  She stops and listens with a smile as he plays out a tune.  Her smile grows wider when Dylan breaks into singing the old song by the band America, Sister Golden Hair:  

"Well I tried to make it sunday, but I got so damn depressed

That I set my sights on monday and I got myself undressed

I ain't ready for the altar but I do agree there's times

When a woman sure can be a friend of mine

Well, I keep on thinkin' 'bout you, sister golden hair surprise

And I just can't live without you, can't you see it in my eyes?

I been one poor correspondent, and I been too, too hard to find

But it doesn't mean you ain't been on my mind

Will you meet me in the middle, will you meet me in the air?

Will you love me just a little, just enough to show you care?

Well I tried to fake it, I don't mind sayin', I just can't make it

Well, I keep on thinkin' 'bout you, sister golden hair surprise

And I just can't live without you, can't you see it in my eyes?

Now I been one poor correspondent, and I been too, too hard to find

But it doesn't mean you ain't been on my mind.

Will you meet me in the middle, will you meet me in the air?

Will you love me just a little, just enough to show you care?

Well I tried to fake it, I don't mind sayin', I just can't make it."

 

As Dylan finishes the song, Ashley walks into the barn and claps.  "That was AMAZING."

 

Dylan looks up at her and smiles.  "How long have you been there?"

 

"Long enough to hear that whole song.  Dylan, my God, you have the most amazing voice.  And the way you play that guitar, it's like, you're better than some professional musicians I've heard."

 

"Well, thank you."

 

"You never did tell me how you learned to play so well,"  Ashley says. "Did you take lessons when you were younger?"

 

"No,"  Dylan replies, standing to his feet.  "I never took a guitar lesson in my life.  I actually taught myself how to play, and how to read music.  And how to play chords."

 

"How'd you do that?"

 

"Lots of time and patience.  You see, when I was younger, I was a lonely kid.  And I mean REAL lonely.  I had an older brother, Todd, but, he was more than 11 years older than me, so we didn't grow up together.  My two cousins, Jay and his sister Leslie were even older than Todd, so, I basically had to find ways to entertain myself growing up all alone in a very dysfunctional family."

 

"And you had no friends?"

 

Dylan lowers his head.  "No.  Kids thought I was weird and nerdy because I was so shy and quiet.  I kept to myself so much.  I wrote the book on being a socially awkward teenager.  So, I had no life outside of the safety of my bedroom.  At school I was either ignored or bullied for being different.  And at home, I was just.......ignored."  Dylan fights back tears as he recounts the horrors of his earlier life.  "I'm sorry, I, uh....."

 

"Dylan, it's okay,"  Ashley says, walking over to him.  "I'm so sorry you had to go through that."

 

"It's okay.  Music became my salvation.  Out of all my family, my cousin Jay Smithfield was the only one who ever spent any time with me.  But Jay was real busy, at first going to law school and then getting his career off the ground after he passed the bar.  But one day, when everyone else was too busy for me, Jay  took me to see a movie.  I remember it was Thanksgiving Day, in 2005.  I was pretty young.  The movie we went to see was Walk The Line, the Johnny Cash story."

 

Ashley smiles.  "Oh my God, I love that movie."

 

"Me, too.  After the movie, I asked Jay if I could come home and spend the night with him.  And he said yes.  So, he took me home, and at his house, he had this guitar that I asked him if I could play.  He said, sure.  He never played with it anymore, anyway, so I could mess around with it.  I picked that guitar up and I picked out a couple tunes from the movie that I remembered.  I don't know how I did it.  I'd never held a guitar in my hands in my life before, but I could somehow pick out tunes I knew by ear.  Well, Jay told me I could have that old guitar, even though the guitar was almost as big as I was.  He said I'd grow into it.  And he was right.   

 

Dylan and Ashley ride out to a secluded pond on the Krebbs Ranch.  The two climb down off their horse and walk over to the pond.  "Dylan, wow, this is beautiful,"  Ashley says.  

 

"I love this place.  It's quiet and it's kind of secluded from the rest of the ranch.  I come here a lot, just to think, or to sit and write.  I moved this old swing out here a few months ago, after I came home from rehab."

 

"You sit and write?"  Ashley asks.  "What do you write?"

 

"Music,"  Dylan replies.  "I write music.  Songs.  This is probably the most peaceful place on the ranch, and it's my favorite place."  He reaches out and takes Ashley by the hand.  "From now on, I'd like this to be OUR special place."

 

Ashley looks at him and smiles.  "Any place I'm with you is special.  But I couldn't think of a more perfect and beautiful place."

 

Dylan pulls her close to him and kisses her.  "We'd better head back if you have to get over to Pamela's to babysit for her boys."

 

"Yeah, I guess we'd better. I wish we could stay right here all evening and all night."

 

"Well, this place is gonna always be here, and so am I.  So we can come back any time you want."

 

"You've got a date,"  Ashley says.  The two kiss one more time, then walk back to their horses, climb onto the animals, and hurry off across the pasture.

Pamela's apartment....later....

Pamela is looking through her jewelry box in her bedroom that afternoon as she searches for a pair of earrings to wear to her father's funeral.  She comes across a pair of beautiful, small earrings and takes them out of the box.  She looks at them as Justin walks into the room.

 

"Darlin' how's it comin'?"  He asks.

 

"Fine.  I was looking for a pair of earrings that would go with this dress.  I found these.  My father gave them to me years ago.  They belonged to my grandmother, Rebecca Wentworth."

 

Justin walks over to her.  "They're beautiful.  You almost ready?  Everyone's here.  My Mama, Jimmy, your Mama and your Uncle Mitch and Lucy."

 

"What about Brad?"  Pamela asks.

 

"Brad called, and he and his mother are gonna meet us at the church."

 

"Oh.  I see."  Pamela turns back to the mirror and puts on her grandmother's earrings.  "Okay, let's go,"  she says.

 

In the living room, Afton, Mitch, Cally, Lucy, and Jimmy are chatting when Justin and Pamela walk in.  Afton goes over to her daughter.  "Sweetheart, are you alright?"

 

"As well as I can be."

 

"Are you ready to go?"

 

"Pamela, would it help if I give you something?  Something mild, to calm your nerves?"  Mitch asks.

 

"Thank you, Uncle Mitch, but no.  I want to have my mind clear today.  Maybe........after the funeral I'll need something."

 

"Fine, all you have to do is just ask."

 

"Pamela, I know this is little consolation,"  says Jimmy.  "But I know what you're going through right now., having lost my own father a year ago.  And I just want you and Justin to know that, I'm here for you both.  Whatever you need."

 

"Thank you, Jimmy, that really means a lot."

 

The doorbell rings at that moment.  "That's probably Ashley,"  Justin says.  He walks over and opens the door to her.  

 

"Hi, I hope I'm not late," Ashley says, walking into the apartment.

 

"No, you're right on time,"  Justin says.

 

"Ashley, thank you for staying with the boys while we go to my father's funeral,"  says Pamela.

 

"You're more than welcome, Pamela.  I told you, any time you need a sitter, I'm here."

 

"Sweetheart, we'd better go,"  Afton says.  "It's almost time."

 

Pamela nods.  "Alright.  I'm not sure how I'm gonna get through this."

 

"You have lots of love and support, sweety,"  Cally says.  

 

"You sure do,"  Lucy says.  "From all of us."

 

"Come on,"  Justin says.  "We'd better get to the church."

 

Pamela nods.  She takes Justin by the hand, and together, the group leaves the apartment.

A church in Dallas....a short time later....

 A large crowd is gathered at First Baptist Church in Dallas that afternoon for Cliff's funeral.  Bobby and Ann walk into the church, followed by Christopher, Courtney, Lucas, John Ross, Krystina, Sue Ellen, and Catlin.  As they walk in, the Ewings are greeted by some old friends, who shake hands with Bobby and Christopher.  

 

"Bobby,"  a man says, walking up to he and Ann.  "Ann, how ya doin'?"

 

"Just fine,"  Ann replies.

 

"Bobby, I gotta say, I never thought I'd see you at Cliff Barnes's funeral."

 

"Well, Jack, my relationship with Cliff was......complicated, to say the least."

 

Ray and Donna walk into the church.  "Boy, I sure feel outta place here,"  Ray complains.  "It's not like Cliff Barnes and I were ever best buds."

 

"No,but we're here for Pamela and for Justin," Donna says as Matt and Margaret walk up to them.

 

"Mom, Dad,"  Margaret says.

 

"Well, hey, there,"  says Ray.  

 

"I didn't know that you two were coming,"  Donna says.

 

"Well, you know Cliff Barnes and my father were fairly close, so I felt I should be here to pay my respects,"  Matt says.

 

"And, since Matt has some business here in Dallas, I thought I'd come along and visit for a couple days,"  Margaret says.

 

Donna smiles.  "Well, I cannot TELL you how happy that makes me."

 

"And what about our beautiful grandson?"  Ray asks.  "You bring him with ya?"

 

"Of course,"  Matt replies.

 

"He's back at the hotel with the sitter,"  says Margaret.  "Mom, Dad, I promise you won't recognize your grandson, he's gotten so big."

 

Meanwhile, Brad and Marilee walk into the church, where they are approached by Holly Harwood and her son Brandon.  "Bradley and Marilee Stone,"  Holly says.

 

"Holly Harwood, what a surprise,"  says Marilee.  "I never expected to see you here.  Last I heard you were in Europe someplace."

 

Holly smiles.  "I was on a vacation there for a couple of months.  It's nice to see you again, Marilee."

 

"Brad, I'm very sorry about your father,"  Brandon Harwood says.

 

"Are you, really?"  Brad asks in a bitter tone.  

 

"Of course.  Look, I know you're probably still upset that we couldn't do business together, but......"

 

"Couldn't do business?"  Brad asks.  "You wouldn't even give my father and I the time of day, now you come here to pay your respect?"

 

"Brandon, darling, let's go find a seat,"  Holly suggests.  "You DO have our deepest condolences,"  she says. then she and Brandon walk away.

 

"Just look at all these people here,"  Brad says as he surveys the crowd in the church.  "Half these people couldn't stand my father when he was alive, and wouldn't even return his phone calls, and yet they're all here for what?  To mourn a man they all looked down on as a loser?"

 

"Bradley, a lot of people DID care for your father,"  Marilee says.  "But Cliff didn't always make it easy to care for him.  Lord knows there were times when I loved Cliff, and times when he made me despise him."  Marilee thinks back on her own relationship with Cliff....

Maggie Monahan, was a member here.  I can remember as a  little boy and Cliff was a rising young attorney with aspirations of a political career, he came here to a luncheon with his aunt and he gave a speech.  A very inspiring speech, as I recall.  I saw Cliff a few more times after that, but, I never got to know him well, since we wasn't a regular church goer.  But I did follow his career with great interest over the years as he ran for the senate, and then headed several committees.  Cliff was, if nothing else, a very complicated man.  A very passionate man who jumped into everything he did with great zest........"

A few minutes later....

 

Brad steps to the podium a few minutes later.  "Unlike many of you,"  he begins.  "I didn't have a chance to know my father for a real long time.  I only found out three years ago that Cliff Barnes was my father.  I grew up believing that another man, Seth Stone, was my father.  But in those three short years, Cliff and I forged a relationship.  A good, strong relationship as father and son.  I guess it's really true, that old saying that it doesn't matter how long someone is in your life.  What matters is the impact they had on your life.  And my father had a major impact on me that will last for the rest of my life.  Although I wish that I had known him longer, I'm very grateful for the three years I DID have with Cliff Barnes as my father."

 

 

 

 

Pamela takes the podium next, following her brother.  She pauses for a moment as she fights to hold back her tears in order to get through her eulogy.  "Like my brother, Brad,"  she finally begins.  "I didn't grow up with Cliff Barnes as my father.  I found out that I was his daughter when I was older.  But I do have this very vague memory of the first time that I ever met my father.  I was very young, and I remember he came to our house one night while my mother was away.....

 

"Our relationship wasn't always an easy one,"  Pamela continues.  "In fact there were times when it seemed broken beyond repair.  My father did a lot of things that I don't understand.  I don't even think HE understood some of the things he did himself.  But I'm thankful that, in the end........in the last few years of his life, my father worked so hard to make up to his family for all the pain.  I do know that he loved all of us.......me, my Mom, my brother Brad, and.......my sister, Emma."  Pamela turns to her right and looks at her father's casket.  "And I love you, Daddy.  I love you so, SO much, and I will always miss you."  As Pamela steps down, she breaks down in tears.  Afton immediately gets up from her seat and rushes to her daughter, embracing Pamela as she cries.  After a moment, Pamela returns to her seat, and Afton steps up to the podium to speak.  

 

"I first came here to Dallas when I was just 20-years-old, for my brother Mitch's wedding,"  Afton begins.  "After being here for a while, I decided to stay.  And it was shortly after that, about 38 years ago, that I met Cliff Barnes, and my life would never be the same.  Cliff and I became friends, and it wasn't until later that I fell in love with him.  Several months later, in fact.  But when I did fall, I fell hard.  Sometimes, I don't know how I put up with Cliff for as long as I did.  He could be incredibly selfish, and incredibly infuriating, to say the least.  But that was only one side of him.  The man I knew could also be incredibly loving and he just had something about him that I couldn't resist.  Our lives were destined to be intertwined from the very beginning of our relationship.  We had our daughter, Pamela, and then, a few years ago, I came back into Cliff's life at a time when the two of us really needed each other.  And those old feelings were still there for me.  Oh, for the longest time I tried to ignore those feelings, and to deny them.  But in the end, I couldn't.  When Cliff asked me to be his wife...........I said yes.  Cliff and I were married only a week before his death."

 

The Ewings and many others, including Mitch, are completely stunned by Afton's revelation that she and Cliff were married.  

 

"I know that many of you are surprised to hear this news,"  Afton continues.  "But, our daughter Pamela was about to be married, and Cliff and I intended to tell our families the news after Pamela and Justin returned from their honeymoon.  Unfortunately, we never got that chance."  Afton pauses as she begins to cry.  "I'm sorry,"  she says.  She turns to face Cliff's casket.  "Cliff, I have loved you for most of my life.  And I'll always love you.  I'm sorry, I can't......"  Crying Afton steps down from the podium and retakes her seat between Pamela and Mitch.  Mitch puts his arm around his sister and attempts to comfort her.  

 

The minister again steps to the podium.  "Would anyone else like to say something?"

 

"Yes,"  Christopher replies, standing to his feet.  "I would."  Much to the surprise of Bobby and everyone else, Christopher walks from his seat in the congregation to the front and steps up to the podium beside the minister.  

 

"I hadn't planned on saying anything here today,"  he begins, as Cliff's family watches him intensely, afraid of what he might say.  "Most of you know that Cliff Barnes was my uncle.  He was my mother's brother, but it's been a long time since I've been able to think of or refer to Cliff as my uncle.  Many of you in this room know why, so I won't get into that.  Today, I don't wanna remember the Cliff Barnes I have known these past several years.  Instead, I only wanna remember the Uncle Cliff that I knew when I was growing up.  The brother that my Mom loved dearly.  That's the man that I mourn for.  After my mother left us when I was just 7-years-old, Uncle Cliff really stepped up and became a big part of my life.  He spent time with me, took me to the movies and skating.  Anywhere I wanted to go.  And he talked to me about my Mom, Pam.  Y'know, if Uncle Cliff's death has taught me anything, it's that people are complicated.  They have more than one side to them.  Events of these last few years made me forget the kind of man I knew when I was growing up.  Maybe I wanted to forget that side of Uncle Cliff because forgetting made it easier to hold on to the pain and the anger.  But the last couple days, I've been remembering my childhood, and remembering the good man that I knew all those years ago.  And that's how I choose to remember my Uncle Cliff Barnes....."

A short time later....

 As In The Sweet, By And By is played on piano from inside the church, Cliff's casket is carried from the building by a group of pallbearers and placed in back of a waiting hearse.  Afton, Pamela, Justin, Brad, Mitch, and Marilee emerge from the church after the casket, followed by scores of other funeral attendees.  Cliff's family descends the church's steps and get into an awaiting limousine.  Meanwhile, across the street in the back seat of a black sedan with tinted windows, Emma watches with tears in her eyes as her half-siblings come out of the church following their father's casket, the father who had saved her life almost five years ago by donating one of his kidneys to her.  Emma lifts her veil, and lets down her window just far enough to be able to watch unhindered as Cliff's casket is loaded onto the hearse.  Regrets fill Emma's heart......regrets of her past mistakes which have made it impossible for her to even attend her own father's funeral.  She begins to cry.

 Fifteen minutes later, Cliff's funeral procession is headed down a Dallas street en route to the cemetery, a long line of cars following the hearse and several police vehicles leading the procession.  Within a few minutes, the procession turns into the cemetery on the outskirts of Dallas, where Cliff is to be laid to rest.  The hearse comes to a stop, and all the vehicles following it pull up and come to a stop behind the hearse, making two rows along each side of a road cutting through the cemetery.

 Meanwhile, watching from afar is Emma, who is sitting in the backseat of a black Lincoln Town Car that had brought her to say her goodbyes to the father she had only known for a few years.  She opens the window just a bit and looks down the hill toward the crowd gathered at Cliff's grave site, unable to hear anything the minister is saying, and too far away to even make out the faces of those present, but at least she is here, paying her respects to Cliff in her own way.  

 

Back at the cemetery, the large gathering of mourners looks on and listens as the minister begins to speak and to 

by other mourners.  As Afton, Pamela, Justin, Brad, Marilee, and Mitch are about to head back to the limousine that will take them away from the cemetery, Afton turns back and takes one last look at Cliff's casket.  She holds back her tears and a smile comes to her face as she remembers the good times she shared with Cliff.  After a moment, she turns and follows her daughter and the others to the car....

covered by a blanket of flowers from the funeral.  Emma carries with her a single red rose, which she kneels down and gently places on top of the other flowers covering the grave.  She as she lowers her head to say a short prayer.  After almost a minute, Emma raises her head and then stands from her kneeling position.  She looks down at the grave, then turns and walks back to the black car parked by a tree on the road cutting through the cemetery.  Reaching the car, she pauses, looks back in the direction of Cliff's grave, realizing she can never come back here again, then gets into the car.  "Alright, Charles, I'm ready to go now,"  she says to the driver.  But the driver doesn't reply.  "Charles?"  Emma calls to him.  Again, she receives no answer.  Finally, Emma reaches up and touches the man's right shoulder, gently nudging him.  "Charles?"  She says, but the driver simply falls over onto the passenger seat, as if unconscious, or dead.  Emma gasps.  "CHARLES!"  She says, frightened.  She quickly gets out of the backseat of the car, opens the front passenger door to check on her driver.  "Charles," she calls to him, touching the man's face.  "Oh God, what's wrong with you?"  Emma feels for a pulse, then quickly picks up Charles's cell phone from the seat to dial for help, realizing that, despite her precarious legal situation, she has to help her driver.  But before she is able to dial 911, a hooded figure dressed all in black comes up behind Emma, grabs her, and then places a pair of gloved hands around her throat.  Emma struggles, but her attacker is too powerful as she is choked unconscious.  Emma falls into the hooded figure's arms, and she is quickly placed on the seat in the back of the car.  As Emma lays unconscious in back of the car, the sound of the driver's door can be heard opening, then closing.  A second later, the car drives away from the cemetery with a captive Emma....

END OF EPISODE 201....