EPISODE 202 - Phoenix Rising

cloth that covers her eyes.  He removes the blindfold and Emma slowly opens her eyes to see the man wearing a black ski mask in front of her.  Her heart pounds in terror.  "There, is that better?"

 

"Who are you?"  Emma asks.  "Why are you doing this to me?"

 

"It appears you've been a naughty girl, Emma,"  the man says.  "A naughty girl, indeed."

 

"Lucas?  Is that you?  Lucas, if that's you behind that mask, I'm sorry.  I am SO sorry for  what I did to you.  Please, don't hurt me....."

 

The man begins laughing.  "Lucas?  You think I'm your ex-boyfriend, Lucas Ewing?  No, sweetheart.  Try again."

 

Emma looks at the man standing in front of her.  She begins to cry.  "Did Lucas hire you?  Or............."  Emma pauses a moment as she thinks.  "Or.........Richard Channing.  That's it, isn't it?

Richard hired you to kidnap me.  That's the only other explanation."

 

The masked man leans down to Emma.  "Why don't we just play a little game, Emma.  I'll keep my identity and why I have you here a secret........for now.  But let's just say that you were in the wrong place at the wrong time."

 

"The wrong place?  I was at the cemetery visiting my father's grave."

 

"Yes.  Your father, the late, great Cliff Barnes,"  the man says.  "Who would've thought that his death, and you visiting his grave would have given me such a golden opportunity as this."

 

"Golden opportunity?"  Emma asks.  "What are you talking about?"

 

"That's part of the game, Emma.  You have to wait to find out.  And consider yourself lucky.  Your driver.......... Charles, wasn't that his name?  He wasn't so lucky."

 

"What?  Charles?  Oh my God, what've you done with him?"

 

"I gave him a new home...........at the bottom of the Trinity River,"  the masked figure ominously replies, then laugh.  "You try and relax, Emma.  This ordeal will be over soon enough, if all goes as planned."

 

"And what if it doesn't?"  Asks a frightened Emma.  "What if all doesn't go as planned?"

 

The man looks at her.  Emma can see his mouth form into a smile through the slit of the ski mask.  "Then everything will be over anyway,"  he replies.  He turns and starts to leave the room.

 

"Wait.  Please.  I have a son.  Please......PLEASE just let me go.  I don't know who you are, so I can't identify you.  Just let me go so I can go back to my son."

 

"Sorry, Emma, but I can't do that.  And don't worry about your son.  He's being well taken care of."  

 

"What?"  Emma asks, just before the man replaces the gag over her mouth.  As she cries and tries to struggle against the ropes, the masked man smiles at her again, then walks out of the room, closing the door behind him.  Emma continues to struggle to free herself, terrified that, whoever this kidnapper is, somehow he or someone working with him has found Logan and has him, too.....

Maria is serving breakfast to Bobby and Ann on the patio at Southfork when Christopher, Courtney, and Jacob come out of the house, followed by Lucas and Michael.  

 

"Well, good morning,"  Bobby says as the group takes their seats around the table.  "Jacob, how're you feeling?"

 

"A lot better, Grandpa,"

 

Ann smiles at the boy.  "Sure is good to see you join us at breakfast again."

 

"I'll be glad when you can come back to school,"  Michael says.

 

"Well, Michael, that still might not be for a while,"  says Christopher.  "In fact, Jacob may have to stay out for the rest of the school year, depending on what the doctor says when he goes for his appointment on Monday,"

 

Jacob sighs.  "I sure hope he'll let me go back to school."

 

"Wow, you must be the first kid I ever seen who actually WANTED to go back to school,"  Lucas says.  "Most kids would love a vacation from school."

 

"I did at first, but I'm just so bored.  Michael's at school all day, most everyone else is gone, and I can't ride my horse or my bike, or even go swimming yet, so, there's really nothing to do here all day, so I might just as well be at school."

 

"Well, honey, I know it's rought, but, hopefully it won't be much longer and you can start doing some things you love again,"  says Courtney.

 

"Lucas, where's Heather this mornin'?"  Ann asks.  

 

"She wasn't feeling well, so she said she was gonna stay in bed for a while.  Maria, would you mind taking Heather a tray up in a little while?"

 

"Of course, Mr. Lucas,"  the maid replies.

 

"Thank you."

 

"So Katherine's trial starts on Monday, huh?"  Christopher asks his father.

 

"Yeah, and not a moment too soon,"  Bobby says.  "I'm ready to get this behind us and see Katherine Wentworth spend the rest of her life in a maximum security prison where she belongs."

 

John Ross, Krystina, and Alex come out of the house at that moment.  "I only have time for some orange juice,"  Alex says.

 

"What?  No breakfast?"  John Ross asks.

 

"No time.  I have a MAJOR test in biology in my first class, and I have to get to the library to meet a friend to go over some notes."  Alex pours himself a glass of orange juice and downs it fast.  "Well, I'll see you all later."

 

"Wait, you should at least have a piece of toast,"  Krystina says.  "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day."

 

Alex grabs a piece of toast from a plate filled with the bread in the middle of the table.  "Fine, I'll eat it on the way.  Bye,"  Alex says as he rushes away.

 

"Well,"  says John Ross.  "I have to say I'm real proud of my son for his dedication to school."

 

"He must have inherited that from Charlie,"  Christopher says with a smile.  "As I recall, when you were a freshman in college, all you were concerned about was how many girls you could sweet talk into your bed."

 

"Oooh, John Ross was a player,"  Michael says, laughing.  

 

"How do you even know what a player is?"  John Ross asks the boy.

 

"John Ross, come on," Michael replies.  "It's 2019.  Us kids now days know WAY more than you guys did when you were our age."

 

Lucas shakes his head.   "Maybe Heather and I should think about homeschooling," he says.  

 

"Or puttin' a muzzle on your kid's mouth,"  says John Ross.  

 

"Just how many girls DID you sweet talk during your college years?"  Krystina asks her husband, looking at him with a smile.

 

John Ross looks at her.  "Oh, y'know, 3 or 4."

 

"Yeah, more like 3 or 4 dozen his freshman year alone,"  Christopher says, taking a bite of his bacon.  

 

"3 or 4 DOZEN?"  A smiling Krystina asks, looking at her husband.

 

"Yeah, well, I just remembered, I got an early meeting at the office, so, I better be goin'.  I'll remember this, Christopher,"  John Ross says as he gets up from his seat at the table. "Darlin',"  he says, kissing his wife, then he quickly leaves as the others laugh.

 

"Like father, like son,"  Bobby says with a smile.

 

 Afton is sitting in the living room of her apartment, surrounding by some of Cliff's things as she is packing them away in a box.  As she sifts through a stack of Cliff's papers, she finds an old photo mixed in.  She picks up the photo and looks at it with a smile.  It's a photo of herself and Cliff taken many years ago.  

Afton lets out a deep sigh.  "Oh, Cliff,"  she says.  "We wasted so many years.  Years we could've had together.  If only you hadn't been so obsessed with beating J.R."  Afton puts the photo down on the table and continues sifting through Cliff's papers.  She is interrupted when the doorbell rings.  Afton puts the papers down, gets up from her seat and goes to open the door to find Pamela and Brad.  "Well, hello, you two, come in,"  she says.

 

"Hi, Mom,"  Pamela says, greeting her mother with a hug. 

 

"Hi, Afton,"  Brad says, walking into the apartment with Pamela.

 

"I'm glad you both could come over and help me go through some of  your father's papers and things.  It's been a few days since your father's funeral, so I figured it was time.  I've already started looking through some of his papers and packing away some of your father's clothes."

 

"Mom, you should've waited for us."

 

"I know, honey, but, it's something I wanted to do.  I'm keeping a few of your father's things as momentos.  And, if there's anything you and Brad want, you're welcome to it."

 

"I appreciate that, Afton,"  Brad says.

 

Pamela takes a seat on the sofa and begins looking through some of the things until she comes upon a photo.  She 

across a family photo and picks it up.  

 

"What do you have there?"  Afton asks.

 

"Just an old family photo,"  Brad replies, showing the picture to Afton and Pamela.

 

"That's Grandma Rebecca Wentworth,"  Pamela says.  "Aunt Pam, and......."

 

"And that viper, Katherine," says Afton.  

 

"I wish that I could've known Aunt Pam,"  says Pamela.

 

"So do I,"  Afton says.  "She would've loved you.  You're very much like her in many ways.  

 

"Hey, here's a box of old pictures,"  Brad says, picking up a shoe box from the floor beside the sofa.  He opens the box and takes out a couple of photos.  "Hey, who's this?"  He asks, holding up a faded old photo of two men.  "Oh, wait, there's some-

thing written on the back."  Brad turns the photo over and tries to read the faded writing on the back.  "Digger and...........I can't make this out."

 

"Here, let me see,"  Pamela says, taking the photo from him.  "Digger and. .........Jock.  So, the short man on the left is our grandfather, Digger Barnes, and the other man is Jock Ewing."

 

"Jock Ewing?"  Brad asks.  He takes the photograph back and looks at it. "So, that's John Ross's grandfather with ol' Digger Barnes."

 

"This must have been taken when they were partners, before their big fight,"  Pamela says.

 

Afton sighs.  "That big fight,"  she says.  "The fight that started that whole feud between the Barnes and the Ewings.  A feud that's caused so much devastation and pain to both families."

 "Well, from everything I've heard, it was Jock Ewing who started that feud,"  says Brad.  "Didn't he cheat Digger Barnes?"

 

"No, not exactly,"  Pamela replies.  "You see, Grandpa Digger was a drunk.  And to keep him from drinking and gambling away his share of the profits from the first oil well they struck, Jock Ewing registered the well in his name, and Digger BELIEVED that Jock was out to cheat him.  So the two had this huge fight, and then things got worse when Jock fell in love with Ellie Southworth, who Grandpa Digger believed was HIS girl."

 

"Well, even if Jock Ewing didn't really cheat our grandfather like the old story says, that still doesn't excuse all the terrible things the Ewings did to Cliff over the years,"  Brad says.  "Or what they've done to me, and you too, for that matter, Pamela."

 

"Well, while I partly agree with you, Brad,"  says Afton.  "J.R. did pull some really rotten tricks on your father, but Cliff wasn't exactly innocent himself.  He provoked J.R. every chance he got.  That doesn't excuse J.R. trying to destroy him time and time again, but Cliff never knew when to leave well enough alone."

 

"And what about what they did to him in later years, Afton?  Like framing him for J.R. Ewing's murder and sending him to prison?  Or John Ross making sure the Cartel wouldn't deal with Cliff or me when we started Stone-Barnes Oil?  That was the reason why I had to go to that son of a bitch Tripp McKay for that loan, and that's what put our company out of business."

 

"Brad, I know,"  Afton says.

 

"I'm not gonna forget that.....ever."

 

Pamela looks at her brother.  "Brad, Daddy is gone.  He spent most of his life trying to beat the Ewings, and for WHAT?  He wasted so much of his life going after them.  Don't let the same thing happen to you."

 

"Don't worry, I won't,"  Brad says, an angry tone to his voice as he looks at the faded old photo of his grandfather and Jock Ewing.

Southfork....

 Bobby is sitting in the living room at Southfork looking through a box of old photos and documents when Ann walks into the kitchen through the sliding glass door leading from the patio carrying a bag of groceries.  "Bobby?!"  She calls out.  "Are you here?"

 

"Yeah, I'm in here, honey,"  he replies from the living room.  

 

Ann walks into the living room and finds her husband looking through an old box.  "Hey, what on earth are you doin'?"

 

"I just dug out this old box of photos that Mama had.  It's been in the storage closet up in the attic for years."

 

"Let me see,"  Ann says, taking a seat on the sofa.   She picks up one photo and looks at it.   "Who's this?  Bobby, that little boy, is that YOU?"

with a smile, then lets out a slight laugh.  "Well, would you look at that.  I haven't seen this photo in years.  That is J.R. with Grandma and Grandpa Southworth."

 

"Bobby, you're kiddin'.  THAT handsome boy is J.R.?"

 

"Yep.  My big brother was a handsome devil, and the trouble was, he KNEW it."

 

"Well, your grandmother was beautiful,"  Ann says.  "She looks an awful lot like pictures I've seen of Miss Ellie."

 

"Yeah.  Mama did look a lot like Grandma, and Uncle Garrison resembled Grandpa Southworth,"  says Bobby.  

 

"Bobby, these pictures are PRICELESS.  They really should be scanned onto a computer and put on a CD to preserve them in case anything ever happened."

 

"Yeah, they really should.  It's kind of a miracle these and some other old family heirlooms survived the fire when Southfork burned back in '83.  Luckily they were packed away in back of Mama's closet where the fire didn't reach."

 

"Why don't you let me take care of it?"  Ann asks.  "I'll scan these onto the computer, and save 'em on a flash drive we can put in the safe deposit box at the bank."

 

"Honey, I'd really appreciate that.  These are a part of our family's history that we can't afford to lose.  I'd love for Michael and Alex and Little John and Little Ellie to be able to see photos of their ancestors and appreciate the  heritage they came from."

 

"Miss Ellie only had one brother, didn't she?"  Ann asks.

 

Bobby sighs.  "Yeah, she did.  Uncle Garrison.  He never had any kids we that we know of,  and Grandpa Southworth was an only child, so we had no close relatives on that side of the family since Mama had no first cousins on her Daddy's side."

 

"What about her Mama's side?"

 

"Well, if I remember right, my grandmother, Barbara Southworth, had a brother and a sister.  I remember her sister came to Southfork once, when Grandma died.  Heck, I was only about 4 then, but I still vaguely remember her.  Her name was Gertrude, and I remember that Mama called her Aunt Trudy."

 

"She have any kids?"

 

"I have no idea."

 

"And what about your Grandma Southworth's brother?"

 

"His name was............damn, it was either Alfred or Albert, I can't remember which.  And I don't know anything about him at all."

 

"Maybe we should find out,"  Ann says.

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"Why not hire a geneologist to look into Miss Ellie's family?  I mean, Catlin already provided you with a pretty detailed history of your Daddy's family.  So why not try and find out somethin' about Miss Ellie's?  Who knows, you might have some second or third cousins walkin' around out there and not even know it.  Wouldn't it be nice to find them?"

 

"Y'know, Annie, you're right, it would.  You might be on to somethin' there.  It would be nice to find out if we have some more family out there somewhere.  Until I started lookin' at these old photos, I didn't realize just how little I actually do know about my family's history."

 

"Then maybe it's time to find out,"  Ann says.  "Now, I gotta go put those groceries away."  She kisses him, then gets up and leaves the room.  Bobby picks up the photo of J.R. and his grandparents and looks at it again, seriously considering what Ann had suggested about trying to find out more about his family history.

The Krebbs Ranch....early afternoon....

 Ray, Conner, Dylan, and several of Ray's ranch hands are working in a pasture on the Krebbs Ranch, herding some cattle, when Donna drives out to the pasture in her car and comes to a stop at the edge of the pasture.  

 

"Hey, Ray,"  Conner says.  "Donna's here."

 

Ray turns and looks in the direction Conner points and sees his wife across the field.  "Alright, you boys keep goin'," he says.  "I'll be back in a couple minutes." He takes off on his horse toward Donna.

 

"Wonder what that's about,"  Dylan says to his brother.

 

"I dunno, but, I get the feeling there's somethin' goin' on between Ray and Donna lately,"  replies Conner.  "There's a lot of tension between them."

 

"Yeah, I've felt it, too.  I even heard them arguing one night,"  Dylan says.  "I hope it's nothing serious."

 

Meanwhile, Ray trots his horse over to Donna and brings the animal to a stop.  He climbs down from the horse and walks over to her.  "Hey,"  he says.  "What brings you all the way out here?"

 

"Well, I just wanted to let you know that I have to fly down to Austin this afternoon,"  Donna replies.  "I have a meeting early tomorrow morning with Matt and the governor to discuss the new Oil Regulatory Commission, and I wanted to let you know."

 

Ray nods.  "I see.  And how long ya figure you'll be gone?"

 

"Should be no more than a day or two."

 

"Good. I'll miss ya."

 

"Miss me?"  Donna asks.  "You leave the house at the crack of dawn and don't come back again until almost dark at night, and then you're so tired all you do is take a shower, eat a quick bite and crawl into bed, so how are you gonna miss someone you barely say hi to anymore?"

 

Ray sighs.  "You gonna start that again?  Donna, you know I got a ranch to run."

 

"And you have two strong, strapping young men to run it for you, not to mention 7 or 8 ranch hands.  There's no reason for you to be out here all day long every day in this heat working like a man half your age, Ray."

 

"Alright, is that it?"  Ray angrily asks.  "You came out here to tell me you're flyin' down to Austin.  Okay, so ya told me. Now I gotta get back to work if that's all you came to say."

 

"Ray, WHY are you doing this?"  Donna asks, struggling to hold back tears.  "It's almost like you are TRYING to work yourself into an early grave."

 

Ray walks back to his horse, then pauses a moment and turns back to her.  "Well, y'know what?  If I die doin' what I love best, that's a hell of a lot better choice than sittin' around in a rockin' chair like an old man and just waitin' to die.  I'd rather die in the saddle than the rocker, and that's just somethin' you're gonna have to accept."  Ray climbs back on his horse, and Donna watches as he rides away from her across the pasture to rejoin the other men herding the cattle.  Donna shakes her head in frustration as tears begin falling down her face, worried about how hard Ray is driving himself.

Kimberly Cryder's home....late afternoon....

Kimberly Cryder is coming out of her swimming pool late that afternoon.  She grabs a towel from a chair and pats her body dry, then begins drying her hair.  She tosses the towel onto a chair, then picks up a glass and a pitcher of lemonade from a patio table.  Pouring herself a glass, she takes a sip of the lemonade and then smiles as her made comes onto the patio.  "Excuse me, Mrs. Cryder,"  the Hispanic maid says.

 

"Yes, Mia, what is it?"

 

"I'm sorry to bother you, but John Ross Ewing is here to see you, and he says it's very important."

 

"John Ross Ewing?  What the hell does he want?  Tell him to go away."

 

"You do not wish to see him?"  Mia asks.

 

"What part of 'tell him to go away did you not understand'?"  Asks an annoyed Kimberly.  "Yes, Mia, tell Mr. Ewing to go away.  Or, better yet, tell him to go to hell."

 

"Yes, ma'am,"  the nervous young maid says.  She turns and walks back into the house.  Kimberly takes a seat to relax on a patio lounge chair beside her pool.  A moment later, she hears a commotion coming from the direction of the house.  

 

"I am sorry, Mr. Ewing, but you cannot go out there,"  Mia says, following John Ross out of the house.

 

"The hell I can't,"  John Ross says as he storms onto the patio and makes his way over to Kimberly.  

 

"I am very sorry, Mrs. Cryder,"  Mia says.  "I try to stop him."

 

"It's quite alright, Mia,"  Kimberly says, sitting up.  "Mr. Ewing inherited his bad manners from his father, so you'll have to forgive him.  That'll be all."

 

The maid looks at Kimberly, and at John Ross, then turns and goes back to the house.  

 

"What do you want, John Ross?"  Kimberly asks.

 

"You and I have a little business to discuss, Kimberly,"  John Ross replies.  "Business we started a few months ago, and we never got to finished.  I've been a little preoccupied with family issues and other things since then, but now that all that's over, it's time we resumed that conversation we had the last time I was here."

 

"You mean that day I told you to leave my home after you called me a liar to my face?"

 

"That would be the conversation, yes."

 

"As far as I'm concerned, that conversation was already finished, John Ross."

 

"Not by a long shot, Kimberly.  Now, before we talk any further, would ya mind puttin' this on?"  John Ross picks up Kimberly's robe, which is draped over the back of a chair and tosses it to her.

 

Kimberly smiles.  "What's the matter, John Ross?  See something that's distracting you from your little......business talk?"

 

"Yes, as a matter of fact, and I would like to be able to eat my dinner this evening without bein' sick to my stomach.  You can save that flirtation with me, Kimberly.  You might've been a hot little number when you and my Daddy were screwin' around but that was over 30 years ago.  Now you're just another older woman who should NEVER wear a bikini."

 

Kimberly puts the robe on.  "You really are a disgusting little prick, aren't you?  Just like your father.  Now get the hell out of my house."

 

"Not until we talk about what I came here to talk about, which is your association with Allison Jones."

 

"You're STILL harping on that, even after all these months?"  Kimberly asks with a smile.  "My, my, you must really be bored with your life these days to find Allison and myself so interesting."

 

"I just wanna know what the hell you two are up to, that's all."

 

"What makes you think we're UP to anything?  I told you the last time you were here to grill me about Allison Jones that there was nothing going on.  It was true then, and it's still true now."

 

"Well, you see, I happen not to believe that,"  John Ross says.

 

"I don't give a damn what you believe."

 

"Kimberly, you can cut the bull.  Because I happen to know that that wasn't the first or the last such meeting that you and the lovely but shady Ms. Jones have had together.  You went to her sister's funeral, and you also paid the vast majority of her sister's funeral bill.  Now why would you do that if you didn't have some deep, close connection with Allison and her sister Karen Myers?"

 

"How did you know about that?"  Kimberly nervously asks.

 

John Ross smiles.  "Oh, Kimberly.  You were my father's mistress, and you can ask me that?  You should know by now that, just like my father, when I wanna know somethin', I make it my business to find out.  You should also know that money talks, and money makes PEOPLE talk. Now why would you pay for the funeral of Allison Jones's sister?"

 

"Because she didn't have any money, or insurance, and I felt sorry for her.  Especially for her son, and for Allison, as well."

 

John Ross laughs.  "Kimberly, you're not even a convincin' liar.  Especially when you're cornered.  I want the truth."

 

"I told you the truth.  Now you are trespassing so I suggest that you leave now, or I'm calling the police."

 

"You can call the damned Texas Rangers if you want to, but I can promise you that I am not stoppin' until I find out the truth about you and Allison Jones.  And I don't care how long it takes me."

 

"Why is this so important to you to establish some dark, secret partnership between me and Allison Jones?"  Kimberly angrily asks.  "She can't possibly be a thorn in your side anymore.  I heard she resigned from the Oil Regulatory Commission."

 

"Why is it so important?  I'll tell ya why.  Because when two of the most devious women in Dallas start gettin' together for secret meetings at out of the way places, especially since one of those women has a definite score to settle with me, then I get nervous.  I get even more nervous when one of those women pays a funeral bill for the other one's sister, who she claims she didn't even know.  So whatever's goin' on between you and Allison, I WILL find out."

 

"Get out!"  Kimberly says.  "Get the HELL out of my home."

 

John Ross smiles.  "Y'know what, Kimberly?  I'd watch my back if I were you.  Allison Jones is a real cobra.  And she WILL turn on you.  Just remember what I said."

 

"John Ross..........don't ever come here again.  If you so much as set one foot on my property again, I'll have you arrested."

 

John Ross looks at the woman with a smile.  "Yeah, there's somethin' that's got you scared, all right.  And I'm gonna make sure that whatever it is.......it's gonna bring you down HARD, Kimberly.  Both you and Allison Jones.  You have a good day, now."  John Ross smiles at her again, then leaves.  

 

"Damn it,"  says an angry Kimberly after he's gone.   Getting up, she walks over to another table and picks up her cell phone.  She dials a number and waits impatiently for an answer.  Finally, as she is about to hang up, the other party answers.  "It's Kimberly.  We have to meet.  Because we have a serious problem to discuss.  VERY serious.  No.  I'll come to your place tonight at 8.  ALRIGHT, 10.  I'll see you tonight."  Kimberly ends the call and puts her phone down, a look of anger on her face.  

The Krebbs Ranch....that night....

 Ray is putting some dishes away after clearing the dishwasher that night when Conner walks into the kitchen.  "Ray,"  he says.  

 

"Hey, after that day we had I thought you'd be in bed by now."

 

"Yeah, I was just heading to bed.  Ray, can we talk for a minute?"

 

"Sure.  What's on your mind?"  Ray asks.

 

Conner walks over to him.  "Look, I don't wanna overstep, or anything, but, I can't help but notice, you and Donna... .......is everything okay between the two of you?  Things seemed pretty tense when she came out to the pasture to see you before she left for Austin today."

 

"Yeah,"  Ray says.  "Everything's fine.  Nothin' for you to worry about."

 

"You sure about that, Ray?"  Conner asks.  "Look, I've seen a lot of tension between you and Donna for a while now.  I've also heard the two of you arguing about how hard you've been working.  And I've seen how tired you've looked lately.  Ray........"

 

"Conner, everything's fine.  Donna's just been a little........ overly concerned, that's all."

 

"Concerned about your health?  Well, quite frankly, Ray, so am I.  You've been working REALLY hard lately, and, like I said, you look tired.  Y'know, you don't have to work so hard every day.  I've got things under control."

 

Ray sighs.  "Now don't you start, too."

 

"Start what?"

 

"Don't start naggin' at me about takin' it easy.  You sound just like Donna.  If it were up to her, she'd have me sittin' on the porch in my rocking chair all day."

 

 

"Ray, that's not what we want."

 

 

Ray turns to Conner and looks at him angrily.  "Well, you sure could've fooled me.  Look, just mind your own business, okay?  I get enough naggin' from Donna, I don't need it from you."  Ray walks past Conner and leaves the   

room.  A worried look comes over Conner's face.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allison Jones's apartment....

 Allison opens the door of her apartment that night and lets Kimberly in.  "Thank you,"  Kimberly says, walking into the apartment.  

 

"Alright, make this quick,"  says Allison.  "And keep your voice down, Casey's in bed asleep."

 

"I figured that's why you wanted to meet this late."

 

"So what's so urgent?"

 

"John Ross Ewing, that's what,"  replies Kimberly.  

 

"John Ross?"  Allison asks.  "What are you talking about?"

 

"He paid me a little visit today, and he's still determined to find out why you and I had that little meeting he questioned me about a while back."

 

"You've GOT to be kidding me,"  says Allison.  "That was months ago, and he's still fishing around for answers about that?  I was sure he's dropped it after I resigned from the ORC and he hadn't bothered us anymore."  

 

"That's what I thought, too.  But John Ross is like a dog with a bone.  And he's not going to stop until he finds something.  Especially since he dug around and found out that I paid most of the bill for Karen's funeral."

 

"You did WHAT?  The funeral home told me that Karen's funeral had been paid for by an anonymous donor.  I assumed that donor was my former husband, Mike.  Why the HELL would you do that?"

 

"Karen was the adoptive mother of my grandson,"  Kimberly says.  "I felt I owed her something."

 

"Alright, so what do we do?"  

 

"Somehow, we have to find a way to neutralize John Ross once and for all."

 

"And I think I know someone who might be able to help us do just that,"  Allison says.  

 

"Good.  Just make that John Ross will never be a threat to us again,"  Kimberly says.  "If the truth ever comes out about Casey.........then you and I could both be looking at very long prison sentences.  Not to mention that my daughter will never forgive me, and I am not about to risk everything I have and my freedom.  So if you don't take care of John Ross Ewing........then I will."

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

 Heather is sitting on her and Lucas's bed the next morning, her hand on her stomach as she leans forward, experiencing some pain in her stomach that is evident on her face.  Meanwhile, Lucas is in the bathroom.  When he comes out, Heather tries to hide the look of pain on her face.  "Boy, I am NOT lookin' forward to today,"  Lucas says, walking into the bedroom.  "We have got a long day ahead of us.  Got about a hundred head of cattle to move from Two Stick Pasture over to Section 8.  Hopefully, we'll get some rain soon and end this little drought we've been having."

 

"Yeah, I hope so,"  Heather says.

 

Lucas puts on his shirt and looks at his wife.  "Heather, are you okay?"

 

"Yes, I'm fine.  Why do you ask?"

 

"You sound a little........strange.  You sure you're feeling okay?"

 

"I'm fine.  Just a little mornin' sickness, that's all.  Perfectly normal."

 

"Well, maybe you should call Dr. Webber."

 

"No, like I said, it's just a little morning sickness,"  says Heather.

 

Lucas walks over to her.  "Honey, you look pale and tired," he says, taking a seat beside her on the bed.  "Are you sure that you're okay?"

 

"Lucas, yes, I'm okay.  Dr. Webber said I should expect mornin' sickness.  I had it really bad with Michael, too  It's normal.  But, I don't think I feel like havin' breakfast this mornin'."

 

"Okay.  I'll have Maria bring you somethin' up a little later, okay?"  Lucas asks.

 

Heather nods.

 

Lucas leans over and kisses his wife.  "Y'know what?  I think I'd like to go with you to your next appointment with Dr. Webber.  When is it?"

 

"Ummm, it's next week,"  Heather nervously replies.  

 

"Good,"  Lucas says.  "I'll plan to go with you.  I wanna be a part of this baby's life right from the beginning."

 

Heather looks at him and nods, mustering all of her strength and will to keep from crying.

 

"I have another idea."

 

"And what's that?"  Heather asks, her voice shaky.

 

"Maybe you shouldn't be climbing up and down those stairs.  I think that, until the baby's born at least, you and I should move into the guest bedroom downstairs as soon as Jacob is able to move back up to his and Michael's room."

 

"Yeah.  I think maybe that's a good idea,"  says Heather.  "I should take it easy, especially as the pregnancy advances."

 

Lucas smiles.  "I'm glad you agree.  I was afraid you were gonna put up a fight.  But I wanna do EVERYTHING possible to make this pregnancy as smooth and problem-free as possible.  Are you sure you don't feel up to coming down for breakfast?"

 

"No.  I'm too nauseous right now.  I'm just gonna lie back down for a while."

 

"Okay.  I'll tell Michael to come up and say goodbye before he leaves for school."  Lucas kisses her, then stands to his feet.  "I love you.  I'll check in with you today every hour, okay?"

 

"Okay,"  Heather says with a smile.  Lucas leans down and kisses her again, then leaves the room, closing the door behind him.  After he's gone, Heather almost doubles over in pain.  She composes herself, and as the pain begins to subside, she reaches over to the nightstand and picks up her cell phone.  Dialing the number of her doctor, she waits for an answer.  "I need to speak to Dr. Webber,"  she says when someone answers.  "Okay, this is Heather Ewing.  Can you give me an appointment with Dr. Webber this morning?  As soon as possible."  Heather listens for a moment as the person on the other end of the line speaks.  "Yes,"  Heather says.  "10 A.M.?  Yes, that's fine.  Thank you."  She ends the call and puts down her phone, then gently touches her stomach.  "Please, God.  Don't let there be anything wrong with this baby.  Please."

Meanwhile....the patio....

Bobby, Ann, Christopher, Courtney, Jacob, Michael, John Ross, and Krystina are having breakfast on the patio when Lucas comes out of the house.  "Mornin',"  he says.

 

"Good morning,"  Bobby greets his son as Lucas takes his usual seat at the table.

 

"Where's Mom?"  Michael asks.

 

"Your mother isn't feeling very well this morning, so she said she didn't wanna eat right now.  She's laying back down for a while."

 

"Is she alright?"  Ann asks.

 

"Yeah, just a little morning sickness.  Maria, would you mind taking Heather some food up to our room a little later?"

 

"Or course, Mr. Lucas,"  the maid replies.

 

"Thank you."

 

"John Ross, where's Alex this morning?"  Christopher asks.  

 

"He spent the night over at Sly's place last night with her son, Cole,"  replies John Ross.  

 

"I'm glad to see Alex and Cole hittin' it off so good and becoming friends,"  Bobby says.

 

"So am I,"  agrees John Ross.  "Especially since Shawn turned out to be such an ass."

 

"I don't think Shawn's such an ass," Jacob says.  "He came to see me in the hospital."

 

"Yeah, well, that don't mean a whole lot, kid, when he's tryin' to wage war on Ewing Oil."

 

"Jacob, I don't like you using that word,"  says Courtney.

 

"What word?  Ass?"  Michael inquires.

 

"You don't use that word, either,"  Lucas tells his son.

 

"Well, this mornin', we are missin' Alex, Lucy, and Heather,"  Ann says.  "Seems like our numbers get smaller every mornin' for breakfast."

 

"Where IS Lucy, anyway?"  Christopher asks.

 

"She had a date last night.......with Mitch,"  Krystina replies with a smile.  "And, she didn't come home."

Mitch's apartment....

Meanwhile, Mitch and Lucy are laying in bed in his apartment, Lucy with her head on Mitch's bare chest.  She smiles.  "I wish we could stay like this forever,"  she says.

 

"So do I,"  says Mitch.  "But we've gotta get up and get to the hospital.  I have a consultation at 9 A.M., and that's in....." He looks at his watch.  "55 minutes."

 

"Luckily the hospital is only two miles from here."  Lucy looks up at him.  "Mitch, last night was..........wonderful."

 

"Yes, it was, Lucy."

 

"It's like no time at all had passed for us."

 

Mitch lets out a slight laugh.  "I wish that were true.  But, unfortunately, a LOT of time has passed since the last time we were together like this."

 

Lucy sits up in bed and looks at him.  "Mitch, what happens now?  Between us, I mean.  This has been coming for a long time, and, I was just wondering where do we go from here?"

 

Mitch sighs.  "Lucy, I wish I could answer that.  But I can't.  Right now, Lucy, let's just enjoy what we have here, and then see what happens.  Hey, I have to get up and get a shower.  You'd better do the same.  Care to join me?"

 

"I'd love to, but, why don't I fix you breakfast while you're in the shower?"

 

Mitch smiles, then kisses her.  "Now that sounds good to me."

 

"I've learned to cook a whole lot better than I could when we were married."

 

"Even better still,"  Mitch says.  He gets out of bed, closes and ties his bathrobe, then goes into the bathroom as Lucy watches him with a smile.

 

Lucy gets out of bed and begins to get dressed.  A couple of minutes later, Lucy walks into Mitch's kitchen and begins getting a pot and a frying pan to cook Mitch's breakfast, the smile never leaving her face as she starts to hum a tune.  

 

As Lucy is about to start breakfast, Mitch's son, Daniel, walks into the kitchen.  The young man stops short in the doorway, surprised to see Lucy in his kitchen.  "Lucy?"  He says.

 

She turns and smiles at him.  "Oh, good morning, Daniel."

 

"Lucy, what are you doing here at 8 o'clock in the morning?"  Daniel asks, walking over to her.  

 

"I'm about to make breakfast for you and your Dad.  So what would you like?  We have pancakes, waffles, scrambled eggs, bacon, and grits.  Oh, and sausage.  Take your pick."

 

"Thanks, but I'm not hungry."  The boy starts to leave the room.

 

"Oh, come on.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day."

 

Daniel stops and looks at her.  "I said I'm not hungry."

 

"Okay......fine,"  Lucy says.  

 

"I guess you spent the night here last night?"

 

"Yes.  As a matter of fact, I did,"  Lucy says.  "Do you have a problem with that?"

 

Daniel looks at her with an expression of disdain.  "As a matter of fact.......I DO,"  he says, then walks out. 

 

A couple of seconds later, Lucy hears the door of the apartment open and close loudly as Daniel leaves.  She sighs and shakes her head.  "What the hell is it with that kid?"  She quietly asks herself.  

 

 

 

Pamela's apartment....a short time later....

 "Mom, hi, come in,"  Pamela says, welcoming Afton into the apartment a little later in the morning.

 

"Good morning, sweetheart,"  Afton greets her daughter with a kiss on the cheek as she walks into the apartment.  

 

"GRANDMA!"  Exclaims an excited Hunter as he runs toward Afton.

 

"Hunter, there's my handsome little man!"  Afton picks her grandson up in her arms and hugs him.  "Wow, you're getting so big."

 

"I'm THREE,"  the child says.  

 

"Yes, you're getting to be a big boy."

 

"Mornin', Afton,"  Justin says, walking into the living room from the kitchen.

 

"Good morning, Justin."

 

"Mom, when you called and said you were gonna stop by, it sounded important,"  says Pamela.

 

"It is,"  Afton says.  "I need to talk to you."

 

"Here, I'll take this little guy,"  Justin says as he takes Hunter from Afton's arms.  "Come on, buddy, let's go and finish your breakfast with your little brother in the kitchen."  Justin kisses Pamela and carries Hunter with him into the kitchen.  

 

"I need to spend some time with the boys,"  Afton says.  "I've really missed them both."

 

"And they've missed you.  So, what was so important this morning?"

 

"I got a call from your father's attorney, Frank Andrews, and he thinks that we should proceed with the reading of your father's will as soon as possible."

 

Pamela sighs.  "Have you spoken to Brad about this?"

 

"No, I wanted to talk to you first."

 

"Well, then, if Mr. Andrews thinks that we should read Daddy's will soon, then, I guess that's what we should do,"  Pamela says.

 

"Darling, are you sure that you're ready for this?  So soon, I mean?  Will you be able to handle it?"

 

Pamela looks at her mother.  "I knew that we were going to have to deal with the will eventually.  I just didn't think it would be quite THIS soon.  It just makes it seem more..........real.  That Daddy's really gone."

 

"I know.  Pamela, if you'd like for me to, I could ask Mr. Andrews to put the will reading off.  I don't know much about the law, but I don't think anything that says we have to do this so soon after your father's death.  I have no idea why Mr. Andrews is in such a hurry."

 

"No,"  Pamela says.  "We should do it.  Maybe this will give us all closure to some extent.  So, if Brad is fine with it, call Mr. Andrews back and tell him to set up a day and time for the reading."

 

Afton nods.  "Alright.  I will."

A medical building in Dallas....later....

Heather waits anxiously in the office of her doctor later that morning, when Dr. Webber finally walks in.  "Heather, hello,"  Dr. Webber says.  "I understand you're experiencing some pain?"

 

"Yes.  It started during the night.  Dr. Webber, I'm really frightened that something is wrong with my baby."

 

"Well, let's get some tests and see what's going on."

 

"Could this be caused by this condition?"  

 

Dr. Webber looks at her.  "Yes, it's a possibility that it could be.  But let's not get ahead of ourselves, okay?  I'll go and order an ultrasound."

 

"Thank you, Dr. Webber."

 

"I know this is easier said than done, but try not to worry.  Sometimes, these kinds of pains in pregnancy are perfectly normal and could simply be caused by something you ate, or stress.  I'll go get those tests ordered and we can get started as soon as possible.  Do you have someone here with you?"

 

"Yes, my sister-in-law came with me."

 

Dr. Webber.  "Good.  I'll be back in a ,moment," she says, then leaves the room.

Texas State Capitol, Austin, Texas....

 

Donna, Matt, Senator Bill Watson, and Governor Greg Abbott are finishing a meeting in Matt's office at the state capitol late in the morning.  "Well, everyone, I wanna thank you all for coming and for your input concerning the new Oil Regulatory Commission,"  Gov. Abbott says.  

 

"Governor, we appreciate your support,"  says Senator Watson.  "And I can assure you that I will personally see to it that the ORC will operate above board, and that no one on that commission will be subject to being corrupted or bribed."

 

"Well, I certainly hope that you're able to keep your word on that, Bill," Donna says.  

 

"Don't worry, Donna,"  Bill says.  "You have my word.  Now if you'll all excuse me, I have another meeting in less than ten minutes that I have to get to.  Governor, I'll speak with you soon.  Donna."

 

"Bill, always good to see you,"  Donna says as Bill leaves the office.

 

"I have all the faith in the world in Bill, and in Matt, of course,"  says Governor Abbott.  "Donna, it's always a pleasure to see you."

 

"And you, as well, Governor Abbott."

 

"How long will you be in town?"

 

"Until tomorrow."

 

"Fine. Why don't you and Matt and that lovely daughter of yours come for dinner at the governor's mansion tonight?  Unless you have plans, of course."

 

Donna and Matt exchange looks.  "Uh, as a matter of fact, I don't have any plans,"  Donna says.

 

"And  I'm sure Margaret would love to come,"  says Matt.

 

Governor Abbott smiles.  "Fine.  I'll let my wife know.  Shall we say.........7:30?"

 

"7:30 is fine,"  Matt replies.  

 

"Good, I'll expect you all then,"  Governor Abbott says.  He smiles again, and then wheels himself from the office in his wheelchair.  

 

"I think that went well,"  Matt says. 

 

"I suppose,"  Donna says, sounding uninterested.

 

 "Donna, are you alright?"  Matt asks.  "Is everything okay back home?  I couldn't help but notice how distracted you were all during the meeting.  Anything you wanna talk about?"

 

Donna looks at her son-in-law and lets out a sigh.  "I do have something on my mind, yes."

 

"Tell me about it."

 

"I'm worried about Ray."

 

"Ray?  Why?"  Matt asks.

 

"Because of how hard he's pushing himself.  It's almost as if Ray is trying to somehow recapture his youth.  He spends all day working out on the ranch right along with the hands in the heat.  Almost as if he's trying to prove to himself, or someone else, that he can still work as hard as any man half his age."

 

"Ray's a pretty strong guy, Donna."

 

"Yes, he is.  But he's not a young man, Matt, and that's what worries me.  That, and the distance that's grown between us.  Matt, there's somethin' bothering Ray, and he won't tell me what it is.  But I can tell."

 

"Well have you asked him?"

 

"Of course,"  Donna says.  "He just says he's fine, and it's nothing.  He rarely talks to me about anything anymore.  He leaves the house every morning at the crack of dawn to go out and work with the boys.  Then he usually goes into Braddock to have lunch.  And he comes home late, and by that time he's so tired all he does is grab a quick bite to eat, shower, and crawl into bed."

 

"I'm sorry, Donna.  I wish I had an answer for you."

 

"So do I.  But this is a problem Ray and I are gonna to have to work out on our own.  I just hope we can.......before it's too late."

A medical building in Dallas

In the afternoon, Heather is again anxiously waiting in an examining room in Dr. Webber's office.  She looks at her watch, then gently touches her stomach.  Heather feels as if she has been waiting in this office forever.  At last, Dr. Webber walks into the room.  

 

"Well, Heather,"  the doctor says.

 

"Do you have the results?"

 

"Yes, we do.  Heather, there's nothing to be overly concerned about......THIS time."

 

"Then, why have I been having this pain today?"  Heather asks.

 

"Heather, have you been exerting yourself?  Or doing more than you should?  Maybe,been under some stress lately?"

 

"No more stress than usual.  As for exerting myself........nothing except going up and down the stairs to my bedroom."

 

"That could be it,"  Dr. Webber says.  "Heather, from now on, for the duration of this pregnancy, I don't want you climbing stairs.  In fact, I want you to spend as much of your day as possible in bed.  I'm going to write you a prescription for some vitamins.  But you have to engage in as little physical activity as possible."

 

"Lucas was just sayin' this mornin' that we should move to the downstairs guest bedroom so I don't have to climb the stairs while I'm pregnant."

 

"Oh, then your husband knows about your condition?  You've told him?"

 

"No, I haven't,"  Heather replies.  "I've tried, and several time I started to tell him, but, then he starts talkin' about how happy he is about this baby, and how he can't wait to be a father.  And I just couldn't do it to him."

 

"Heather, you're going to have to tell him.  This is not a situation you're going to be able to keep from your husband for long.  I've told you that this could be a VERY problematic pregnancy.  Heather, you still have an option.  A choice."

 

"If you're talking about abortion, my answer is still NO,"  Heather says.   "I won't get rid of this baby."

 

"Alright.  I respect your decision.  But Heather, you have to take extra good care of yourself.  Get this prescription filled."  Dr. Webber tears the prescription page from her pad and hands it to Heather.  "No more climbing those stairs, and stay in bed as much as possible.  I'd like to see you back here in a few days.  Before you leave, make an appointment for early next week."

 

"Alright,"  Heather says.  "And thank you, Dr. Webber."

 

The doctor smiles at her.  "You're welcome.  Now you go home and get some rest."

 

"Alright, and thank you again,"  Heather says, looking at the prescription in her hand.  

 

A few minutes later, Heather walks into the waiting room of the  OBGYN offices, where Courtney has been  waiting.  Seeing Heather, Courtney gets up from her seat and walks over to her.  "Heather," she says.

 

"Courtney, I'm so sorry you've had to wait this long."

 

"No, that's perfectly fine,"  Courtney says.  "Is everything okay?  There's not a problem with the baby, is there?"

 

"No.  Dr. Webber said it's just stress.  And that I need to take it easy.  She said that I need to move to a bedroom downstairs and not climb up and down the stairs to our room."

 

"Well, that's not a problem.  Christopher and I will switch rooms with you and Lucas until Jacob is well enough to move back up to his and Michael's room."

 

"Oh, Courtney, no, I couldn't ask you to do that,"  Heather says.

 

"I insist.  If your doctor doesn't think you need to be going up and down the stairs, then you won't.  Christopher and I will just move up to your room for the time being."

 

"Courtney, thank you."

 

"No problem.  Are we all set to go?"

 

"Yes,"  replies Heather.  "I've already made a follow-up appointment with Dr. Webber for next week.  I'm just ready to get home."

 

"Okay, let's go,"  Courtney says as she and Heather walk out of the office, Courtney with a worried look on her face, concerned over Heather's and the baby's health.

Fair park in Dallas....late afternoon....

 Kimberly Cryder is walking along a jogging trail in a Dallas park late that afternoon, watching the joggers go by until the sound of a group of children catches her attention.  Kimberly turns in their direction and sees an older woman about her age with 3 kids, obviously her grandchildren, about the ages of 5 to 8. Kimberly smiles as she watches the woman with the kids, then, slowly, the smile fades from her face, sadness having set in as she thinks about her own grandson........the grandson she took from her daughter and gave away.  For a moment, Kimberly wonders with sadness how different, and how much fuller, her life would be if she had her grandson in it.  After almost a full minute of watching them, Kimberly turns her eyes back on the trail, and almost immediately spots a shirtless man jogging toward her------the man she had come here to see------none other than Brad Stone.  As Brad approaches her, Kimberly begins walking in his direction until the two meet.  "Bradley Stone,"  she says.

 

Brad stops jogging and turns to the woman.  "Yes?  Can I help you?"  He asks, breathing hard from his jog.  

 

"Mr. Stone, I am......"

 

"Kimberly Cryder,"  Brad says.  "Yes, I know who you are."

 

"Good.  Well, since there's no need for introductions, I wonder if I might have a word with you."

 

"Is your being here a coincidence?  Or did you plan for it?"

 

Kimberly smiles.  "I must confess that our meeting here was planned.  When I learned that you jog here every afternoon around this time, I thought this would be the perfect place for us to meet and talk."

 

"Okay.  Why did you go to all this trouble to find out where I jog every day so you could run into me here?  And what could you and I possibly have to talk about?"

 

"More like WHO we have to talk about,"  says Kimberly.  "I'm referring to our common enemy.........John Ross Ewing.  And if we put our heads together, we just might be able to come up with a plan to neutralize him, once and for all."

 

Brad looks at the woman, intrigued by her proposal.  "Well, you've definitely got my attention.  But how do I know I can trust you, since your daughter is John Ross's half-sister?"

 

"Oh, you can definitely trust me, Mr. Stone.  John Ross Ewing has been a thorn in my side for far too long, and I wanna remove that thorn.  But I'll need an ally I can trust to help me do that.  Someone who hates John Ross as much as I do."

 

"Well, that would definitely be me,"  Brad says.  "John Ross destroyed my company.  Helped drive my father and I out of business last year.  In fact, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if my father's death wasn't caused by all the stress the Ewings have put him through.  Especially my sister Pamela marrying John Ross's brother.  My father quietly accepted that union for Pamela's sake, but it was eating him up inside to see his precious daughter marrying ANOTHER one of J.R.'s sons."

 

"I was very sorry to hear of your father's death,"  says Kimberly.  "Cliff Barnes had the potential to be a great man in this city, or even the state, had the Ewings not constantly knocked him down."

 

"You're right about that.  It just burns me up that my sister can forget everything that family did not only to my father, but to her, to me, and to our grandfather.  So, yes, Mrs. Cryder, I DO wanna bring the Ewings to their knees."

 

Kimberly flashes Brad a devious smile, confident that she has found a partner in crime to help her get John Ross out of her hair.

Ewing Oil....evening....

 John Ross pours himself a drink in his office at Ewing Oil that evening as darkness begins to fall over the city.  Drink in hand, he walks over to the window and looks out over the lights of the Dallas skyline, and at the evening twilight in the sky just beyond the cityscape.  As he takes a sip of his drink, Sly buzzes his office.  "John Ross, Bum Jones is here to see you."

 

He walks over to his desk and presses the button on his intercom.  "Thank ya, Sly.  Send him in, then you can go on home."

 

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow."

 

John Ross walks back to his bar and pours another glass of bourbon.  When Bum walks into the office, John Ross hands the drink to him.

 

"Thanks,"  Bum says.  "How's Sue Ellen enjoyin' her vacation?"

 

"Welcome.  She's havin' the time of her life loungin' on the beach with Catlin.  They'll be back in a couple days.  Enough small talk.  You find anything we can use on Allison Jones?   Anything on her connection to Kimberly Cryder?"

 "Nothing yet on the Cryder connection,"  Bum replies.  "But I do have something else that I think you're gonna find REAL interesting."

 "Hmmm, can't wait to hear this,"  John Ross says.  "What is it?"

 

"I got it on very good authority that Ms. Allison Jones has been involved in illegal insider trading.  She recently bought some Apex Oil stock with a tip that the stock would double in value.  And get this........."  Bum takes a piece of paper from his pocket and shows it to John Ross.  He takes the paper and reads over it carefully.  

 

"Is this for real?  Bum, where's you get this?"

 

"I have a very good friend who's daughter works in Allison Jones's office, ummm, shall we say.........courtesy of me,"  Bum replies.  "I helped her old man in a big way a few years ago, so she owed me.  I had her get a job in Allison's office a couple months ago when you wanted me to dig into Allison and Kimberly Cryder's connection.  So my friend's daughter did some digging of her own on the inside, and found out that Allison has been embezzling funds from the city to purchase that stock.  She replaced most of it from money she made on her investment, but not all.  Even if she DID replace it all, she's still guilty of embezzling."

 

John Ross smiles.  "Embezzling,"  he says.  "Well, I'll be damned."  He paces around the room, barely able to contain 

his elation at the news.  "If that's the case, then, this might just be enough to bring Allison Jones down.  Force her to resign from her position on the city council, and from any and all other public duties.  And who knows? To keep her ass outta prison, she just might be persuaded to tell me exactly what her connection is to Kimberly Cryder.  It's perfect all around.  Bum, I can't thank ya enough.  You can expect one HELL of a hefty bonus for this one."

 

Bum nods at John Ross and smiles as the two men toast their soon-to-be victory.

A parking lot in Dallas......night....

 A chauffeur stands beside a long, white limousine in a parking lot on the outskirts of Dallas later that night when another car pulls into the parking lot and comes to a stop.  Brad gets out of his car and walks over to the limo.  The driver, remaining silent, opens the passenger rear door of the limo and Brad gets into the backseat, where another man is sitting.  The driver closes the door behind them.  "Thank you for coming,"  Brad says.

 

"Of course.  I felt it better to speak in person than on the phone,"  Adam Carrington, the other man in the limo, says to him.

 

"So how's everything going on that offshore deal between your company and Ewing Oil?"

 

"Everything is proceeding very smoothly,"  Adam replies.  "John Ross doesn't suspect a thing.  But I must say, I don't like doing this.  Krystina is my little sister, after all, and John Ross is her husband."

Emma remains tied to a chair, gagged and blindfolded in a darkened room in Dallas.  She has struggled with the ropes that bind her hands to the point that her wrists are sore and bleeding, but the ropes are too strong for her to break free.  Emma's heart begins pounding with terror as she hears her captor unlock and open the door, then walk into the room.  The kidnapper, still wearing a dark ski mask, walks over to Emma and removed first her blindfold, then the gag from her mouth.  

 

"Good evening, Emma,"  the man says.  "Brought you a little snack."  He hands her a bag of chips.  "Figured you could use these since you barely ate any lunch or dinner today."

 

"Would you be able to eat if you were tied up and left in this room, blindfolded and gagged for days on end?"

 

"Now, Emma, it's not that bad,"  the man says, untying her hands to allow her to eat the bag of chips.  "After all, I do come back and give you regular bathroom breaks.  A lesser man would just let you go in your clothes."

 

"Please........how long are you gonna keep me here?"

 

"For as long as necessary."

 

"Richard Channing put you up to this, didn't he?"  Emma asks.

 

"No.  For your information, he didn't."

 

"Then who did?  Who the hell are you working for if not for Lucas Ewing or Richard Channing?"

 

"Better eat those chips,"  the man says.

 

"TELL ME!"  Emma yells.  "Who is doing this to me!?  And WHY?"

 

"The 'why' is simple, Emma.  MONEY.  And lots of it.  And the who?  Well, no one hired me to kidnap you.  I'm doing this all by myself, and for one person......me."

 

"But why? How did you even know who I am?"  Emma asks in tears.

 

"Because I know who you are.  You see, I never planned this at all.  It was only good luck on my part and bad on yours.  I was in the right place at the right time, while you, my dear, were in the wrong place at the wrong time.  When I found out ol' Cliff Barnes had finally croaked, I couldn't resist watching his funeral from a distance, and then you showed up.  Your big mistake, though, was showing up at the cemetery AGAIN later that evening.  This wouldn't be happening to you had you not gone back there.  But I saw an opportunity, and I TOOK it.  You're gonna be my way out of this."

 

"Your way out of what?"  WHO are you?"  Emma asks.

 

The man laughs.  "Well, I guess there's no harm in letting you know.  Especially since you're never gonna be talking to anyone.  Not only are you a fugitive yourself, but if you were to get out of here somehow, alive, going to anyone and telling them of my identity would be signing your little boy's death sentence.  So, you wanna know who I am?  Well, here goes, Emma.  But remember.......you asked for it."  The man reaches up to his face and slowly removes his 

mask and reveals himself to be none other than Katherine's psychotic son, Brian Manning, much to Emma's horror.  "There you have it.  It's me."

 

"Oh.......oh my GOD!"  Emma cries out in terror.

 

"What's the matter, cousin Emma?"  Brian asks.  "Aren't you gonna welcome me back from the dead?"

 

 

Emma begins to cry in fear, terrified that she would never again see her little boy, terrified of what fate would befall her at the hands of this madman, her own cousin!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

END OF EPISODE 202....