DALLASTALK presents

 

EWING EMPIRE

 

STARRING:

(in alphabetical order)

 

PATRICK DUFFY (BOBBY)

LINDA GRAY (SUE ELLEN)

 KEN KERCHEVAL (CLIFF)

AUDREY LANDERS (AFTON)

SASHA MITCHELL (JAMES)

CATHY PODEWELL (CALLY)

VICTORIA PRINCIPAL (PAM)

TED SHACKELFORD (GARY)

CHARLENE TILTON (LUCY)

JOAN VAN ARK (VALENE)

 

CO-STARRING:

 

CHRIS DEMETRAL (CHRISTOPHER)

DAVID MARSHALL GRANT (WILL)

 

GUEST STARS:

 

RANDOLPH POWELL (ALAN BEAM)

KIMBERLY FOSTER (SHEREE)

 

SPECIAL APPEARANCES BY:

 

HOWARD KEEL (CLAYTON)

and

SUSAN SARANDON

as MADELEINE

 

 

Episode 4: “DALLAS CONFIDENTIAL”

 

 

One month later...

The morning sun was lightening the Southfork Ranch back patio, where all the Ewings had breakfast together...sometimes, though always on sunday. That day,  Bob, Pam, Chris, Gary and Val were sitting at the table... 

                 - When your daddy and I were growing up, the Southfork breakfast would have been enough to feed a couple of cows for one couple of week. - Gary explained to Chris, sounding nostalgic about the far past, rather than the most recent. Chris had moved to the ranch after knowing the truth about his mother, so he would be able to resume his relationship with his parents and know each other again...

- Really? And what was cousin Lucy when she was a child? - Gary and Val looked at each other, expecting some sort of help...

- She was the prettiest baby I had ever seen. Blondie and with pinky cheeks... - Val explained, jumping in her scarce memories as Lucy´s mother. - And when she started to cry, nothing and no one could consol her, except a lullaby I used to sing to her...

- Why didn´t she marry again, aunt Val?

- I don´t know, I guess she´s happy the way she lives now, devoted to her little boy. Anyway, you´ll can ask it to her yourself - Val mysteriously revealed - because Lucy called me yesterday to tell me she´s decided to come back to Southfork with Peter, at least for awhile. Next week she´ll be staying with us again...

- Great, the Ewing family is filling up the new Southfork again, one by one! -Bob exclaimed.

- I am so glad, Valene...Will she be staying at your house or should I get ready her old room at the main house? -  Pam carefully asked.

- I´m afraid Lucy is too independent to begin to live with her parents, at her age...She´s told me she´d better stay with you. - Val said, as she sadly smiled.

- Very deeply, Lucy will always be a real Ewing... - Gary said ironically, as he toasted to her with his glass of orange juice...

 

At the Wentworth manor, Cliff was serving coffee to his wife...

- Here you are my little woman, being served as if she were a queen, just hoping she´ll want to have a swim with me at the pool...

Afton smiled sweetly, though she was feeling a little dizzy.

- Honey, you are adorable...when you want to. Pass me the cold milk, please...

- The throat still bad? - asked Cliff, who knew that Afton had been trying hard to hide her ache over the last months.

- Yes, but I´ll be fine right away - she said as she looked up to Beckie´s room window...- Have you asked her to have breakfast with us?

- Sure, but she had already had a bit in her  room...Don´t worry about her...

- Oh mine, Cliff... - Afton suddenly changed of subject - Since we found her with that bastard from the network, you are treating her even softlier...She doesn´t listen to me when I try to talk with her. She only goes out for swimming and going to shool...You know we are avoiding the real  problem...

Cliff looked up as he ate half a "croissant" spread with butter. - What problem? - he jabbered, full-mouthed...

- It´s time for Rebecca to know that  she can´t be sleeping around with whomever she wants to...neither now nor ever.

- I think butter affected my brain, because I missed something...I´m lost- Cliff said, as he swallowed the rest of the "croissant"...

- Do you want me to remind you? - she asked, looking incredulously, as if she had forgotten the genetic disease he was carrier of - O.K. In one word: neurofibromatosis.

 

Sue Ellen looked thru the jet window: they were getting close to the lands of the first field acquired by new Ewing Oil. John Ross had preferred to stay down in Dallas, since he had had a tough week at college. James was sitting at the seat next to Sue Ellen´s, and came a little closer to her to look at the view too.

- What do you think? You are flying over field Ewing 1...

- So that´s the land that will make me a millionaire or...completely broke. - he sarcastically added.

- You don´t sound too excited about it. Are you still feeling guilty for choosing your brother instead of your second uncles? - Sue Ellen went deep into the wound: she wanted to know if James had got stronger over the years, or still was the fearful young man who used his brother to get wealthy.

- No, not at all. My dad told me once  "don´t..."

- ..."Don´t feel guilty of whatcha you done, feel guilty of whatcha you didn´t do..." - Sue Ellen openly smiled, looking mischievous. - I think that you learned something from your father, after all...

- I´m just afraid of my decision to have bothered Gary and started a new family rivalry...

- Don´t think so. I did business with Gary Ewing. He used to be a black sheep as you are. Remember: wolves devour themselves, not sheeps.

James tried to smile as he thought it would be kinda funny to see if Sue Ellen was right...

 

At the Love Field Dallas Airport, Gary and Val were waiting for Lucy and Peter´s arrival impatiently.

- I´ve talked to the twins before leaving...They are excited about it and feel like coming on holidays to spend more time with Lucy...-Val said, as she fixed her dress.

- Fantastic -Gary said, looking serious.

- Oh, Gary Ewing. Put off that sad clown face right now - Val had seen the same look many times over the last forty years. - Don´t be nervous. Things are different and she was the one who decided to live back in Southfork. I´m just feeling we are going to get a big surprise with Lucy...

At that moment, Lucy and the child came up in front of them, along with the nanny. After embracing and introducing each other, Lucy left Peter with the nanny and hold to her parents´ arms.

- Honey, we have prepared a simple dinner with a few guests for you to know...

- Single anyone? - Lucy asked mischievously.

- All of them, except one: a divorce.

Mother and daughter began to laugh out loudly, as Gary helped the chauffeur out with her daughter´s big baggage. Once inside the limo, they drove back to Southfork.

 

A couple of hours later, the last guest came to the Southfork mansion. Raoul, the butler, opened the door and the guest introduced himself:

- Hello, Raoul. I am Alan Beam. - The man, in his sixties, looked up and down and inside, and let him in...

Gary had seen him come from the living-room door, and called Bobby and Lucy,  who was playing with little Peter.

- Come on here. I´d like ya to welcome my new lawyer:  Alan Beam.

Bobby and Lucy stared at each other, and tried to smile, unsuccessfully in her case.

 

(Fade out)

 

                - What the hell are you doing here? - such was the way Lucy welcomed her former fiancé  Alan.

                - Hello, Lucy. I´m happy to see you too. I´ve been told you´ve got a very pretty son...

                Lucy looked cold and inexpressive, as if she were in front of her worst enemy. She looked back at the living,  where Pam, Val, Chris, Peter and the nanny were chatting with the other guests...

                - Excuse me, can we talk father?

                - Sure Lucy - Gary stared at Alan and said - Just a moment. Please, Bobby, introduce him to those who don´t know him.  

                Gary and Lucy went to next room, a small library.

                - What is this, a bad taste joke? - she asked.

                - No. Alan is a great lawyer who´s just joined the Ewing Group...specifically, my division, though we haven´t made it official until today.

                - Oh... Tell me you don´t know we were about to get married many years ago...and tell me you don´t know he was a suspect of shooting J.R.

                - Like half the Dallas population... - Gary asked her daughter to sit down in one of the armchairs - Darling: listen up to me: All that and more, he told me when he arrived, as we were driving from the airport to his Dallas apartment. I got the best references about him and I thought he deserved an opportunity. If you´re gonna stay with us, you´ll have to begin to rely on your family...

 

                Afton had come up to the television Studio to pick up a dress of her own she had unwillingly  left in her dressing-room. She opened the door and a noise made her tremble: it only was an air current...or maybe was anybody else there at the Studio, besides the security guards?

                - Wow, look who´s here: our biggest stare...

                Afton miró la silueta que se veía reflejada en su gran espejo.

                - Oh, it´s you... What are you doing here? - Afton tried to look quiet. It was Joe, the technician who had seduced her daughter...

                - Well, I´ve come to get some stuff fixed for a special we´ll shoot tomorrow, not your swell show but one with barely dressed chicks for sure...though not as delicious as your baby, course.

                Afton was very self-centered and did not intend to lose the chance to solve that matter out.

                - You listen to me, low-rate casanova: if I ever know you´ve got close to my daughter again, be sure no other woman will enjoy seeing you naked...

                -  Oh, I´m so scared. You think you´re so big...You and your new-rich husband. Let me tell ya one thing: you both are just a rag-to-rich and his favorite playmate. And Beckie must be one of your clients´ daughter...but you don´t know whose, I bet.

                Afton slapped him, unable to hold her anger in, as he was insulting her.

                - I loved that...Gimme more...- he said, as he hold her hand and put it close to his body. - By the way, baby, I´m gonna do you a favor.

                - If you don´t let me go now, l´ll call the guards...

                - This is my favor. Open your eyes: ev´rybody here but you know that your little husband put this show upon for you. He´s behind the sponsors and the network´s director owed him a favor. If you don´t believe me, ask it to Cliff...

                Afton wide opened her beautiful eyes and, in her mind, all the pieces began to fit: maybe Joe was right...about her show. The woman picked up her dress and rushed out of there, slamming the door...

 

                Sunday morning, James and Cally went to the Leavenworth race circuit. The wedding was going to happen one week later and James had promised his future wife to quit the risk sports: parachuting, mountain climbing, car races...but he wanted to enjoy the speed pleasure for the last time...

                - Wish me luck baby  - Cally kissed him in his mouth before he put on his case.

                - James, why don´t you forget about this last race?

                - I´ve been running in the circuits for years and I´ve hardly had a few scratches. Next week, we´ll get married and I want our life to be different, more peaceful: just you and the kids...- James caressed her and fitted his case as he whispered: I love you. - Cally stood there, cheerless until she was obliged to get out of the racetrack.

 

                A dark woman wearing a big hat and sun glasses had been watching her from the distance, and then she watched James´car, until he drove off. The woman walked to a young man who seemed to be James´car mechanic.

                - He´s a Ewing, isn´t he? - she said, making believe she was just feeling curious.

                - Yes, the fastest of all, undoubtedly. Gary Ewing also runs once in awhile but there seems to be some trouble between them...

                - Oh really... - The woman looked over her glasses - Fascinating. But, isn´t it dangerous for someone like him to take chances? A family man...You´re not married, aren´t ya?

                He smiled at her. Then he invited her to have a drink after the competition. Suddenly, Cally came up from behind the unknown woman.

                - Excuse me...- The woman put her glasses back, nervously - Sorry Bill, will you tell James I´ll be waiting for him at the car? I couldn´t stand watching the race...

                Bill went along with Cally after apologizing to the unknown lady. She vanished and the race started off.  

 

                Cliff had got a call from his nephew Christopher. He wanted to talk with him about something important. Though it was a sunday, Afton was not home, nor she had told him where she would be. Cliff and Chris met at Cliff´s favorite Chinese Restaurant. .

                - Have I ever told ya they make the best chop-suey I´ve ever tested? - Cliff asked, without expecting an answer: he knew he had.

                -  Sure, and the owner´s daughter is your exec secretary now...

                - Oh, yeah...When I come here, they treat me as if I were "the Last Emperor"...

                - Uncle Cliff - the young man said, after some laughs - I wanted to talk with you about my mother...

                - About Pamela?

                - No.  Kristin Shepard.

                Cliff looked serious and began to speak in a transcendental way...

                - Good, I see they told you...finally. Yes, I tried to save her from drowning...but just couldn´t. - Suddenly, he realized he had been exaggerating - I mean when I...came to Southfork, she was already dead.

                - That´s what my parents explained to me but, was it an accident? What happened to her?

                - Dear Christopher: I´m glad you make me that question. Your mother falled down the balcony by accident, so to say. Although the coronary said she had taken some substances and it was considered a suicide...she lost control. But I always thought it was damned J.R. who pushed her, to get even on her for the shooting...

                - So what I found on the net was true...they were lovers and, when he walked on her, Kristin tried to kill him.

                - Sometimes, truth is harder to take than fiction, dear Chris.

- What about Lisa Alden? - he added.

- Obviously you´ve got qualities for a good detective... - Cliff had a shot at his drink - Lisa was your natural father´s sister, Jeff Farraday. A good girl, though she was not centered and your uncle J.R. just messed it all up and get things red heat...There´s a story being told at Southfork that says that, when Bobby found it out, he threw himself over J.R. and tried...Well, we´ll let that for next time...

Cliff noticed the frustration in his nephew´s face:

- But remember, my boy, that nobody in the world could ever have loved you more than those you call mama and daddy...

                Chris thanked him for the chat and the waiter brought the dinner´s first dishes...

 

                - Cally! Wake up...come on!... - it was Bill, warning her about something unexpected that had happened. Cally opened her eyes and saw her friend´s face...

                - James! - Cally cried, as she opened the car´s door and rushed out of it...

                The woman wearing a big black hat was using her binoculars to follow the frightened bride...and, when she saw what she came to see, she got on her second-hand sports car and drove away...

 

(Fade out)

 

At the Velodrome Infirmery, James was receiving first aids: he only had a wrist twist, due to a rough turn on the last curve. The car was useless, however. James had been able to jump out before the engine exploded...

                - See I really am a lucky guy? -  James said to his wife, who didn´t let his other hand go.

                - Yes, but you almost can´t explain it. Besides, you´re left-handed and your damaged hand is the left one... - she added, as a loving reproach.

                - I don´t understand how the engine could explode that way if the crash was such a little thing - Bill had accompanied them there. - I´ll examine the remains of the body...By the way, James, you really are a lucky guy and you passed me a little of luck to me: before the race, I met a blue-eyed beauty who was continuously making questions about you...

                Cally and James looked at each other, with a bit of concern in their eyes.

                - Did she tell you her name? - James asked.

                - If I understood well, her name was something like...yeah, Sheree, right...or maybe Shelly...She must be a society columnist...

                One second later, the couple remembered that was the name her family used to call the late Michelle...Shelly.

                Cally caressed his fiancé´s bandaged hand as she thanked Bill for his attentions.

 

                Afton drove on for hours, until she was so tired that she had to stop. Her throat was aching enormously and she was getting dizzier and dizzier. Then she picked up her cell phone and dialed a number with the code for Biloxi, Mississippi: it was her mother´s, Arliss.

                - Mama, it´s me. I just felt like talking to you...

               

                That evening, at Southfork, Pam and Bobby were having dinner, with a romantic atmosphere and nothing breaking the silence of the night, apart from the usual night animals of the surroundings.

                - So, you and me together and alone, again... - Bobby served her a glass of champagne.

                The couple kissed with equal doses of tenderness, lust and complicity.

                - It seems we got to pass by the Kristin page...what do you think?

                - No doubt. Our son already knows where he comes from, he only has to decide where to go to from now on. Patricia´s inheritance will be great for him...

                - What such a generous woman...Knowing all these years that her daughter had had a son and refusing to see him for his own good, for not threatening his happiness.

                - And how generous from her to leave exactly the same share of Union Oil stock to both of them. Chris says he wants to sell them out and donate half to charity. John Ross only thinks about oil, like his daddy, and he´s already bought his first oil field...

                - By the way, Clayton will return for the weekend with a guest. I wish James and Gary could make up before the wedding...

 

                - I wish James and you could make up at once... - Valene was saying at that very moment, at next house.

                - No way - he answered, as he got into the bed, wearing only the pajamas pants. - James is a drifter and has been using us to get a position in Dallas. When he first came here about ten years ago, he didn´t even have a profession and had been expulsed from a few colleges...

                - Sometimes I think that, somehow, he reminds you to yourself a little bit, the way you were many years ago...- Valene hinted, as was being afraid of having gone too far in her wanderings. - For what I know, James has always felt an outsider in his own family: being so different from the Ewings of Texas and losing his daddy led him to booze and get out of control...

               

                Meanwhile, Bobby offered his wife his own version of it, though not very different:

- I think Gary adopted James as his son emotionally because they had a lot of things in common, at least in the past. Now, James has chose his closest family: his brother.

 

- James has chosen what´s best for him: his brother´s money  - Gary assured, as was holding his wife Valene - and I already got three swell kids. Think your theory doesn´t stand at all. All these years, James associated with his daddy´s enemy, Cliff, became a suspect of shooting him, he almost married his daddy´s lover, Mandy, and now he´s gonna marry J.R.´s second wife. Can´t deny it´s an impressing cv...

- Gary, the Ewing Group has taken benefit of his work over these years, he´s doing a great job for enviroment and he´s trying real hard to build up a family...

- Why is that? After all he´s got J.R.´s blood in his veins...

 

- Maybe Michelle´s death affected him - Bobby said - and family comes first for him now...Something he never had. Gary has no reasons to be angry about...

                - I´m the one who should be angry...You´re going off on a tangent... - Pamela said as she unbuttoned her blouse...

                - I´ll try hard to find the right direction... - he answered as he proceeded to undress her very slowly...

 

 

The next morning, Lucy and Valene went out shopping to Dallas downtown, and made an appointment with Pamela for lunch. During their walk around the fanciest boutiques of downtown, Valene tried to prove her daughter how important their comeback was to Gary and to her...All of sudden, she changed of subject...

- What´s Clayton Farlow like? He´s gonna return to Southfork this week and I hardly know him. When we moved in here, five years ago, he had left to San Angelo with his son and his daughter-in-law - Valene meant Steven, also known as Dusty, and his wife Carrie, Barbara Baxter´s daughter.

- He´s a great man. Sweet, understanding, and he´s got an iron patience. J.R. used to drive him wild but he never was afraid of J.R. Grandma was very lucky to find two extraordinary men like Clayton and Grandpa... - Lucy stopped by a display window - I love that gown, I think I´m gonna wear that at Cally´s wedding...Besides, Clayton was the most faithful person who ever lived in Southfork, as a husband, as a grandfather and as a friend. 

- What about you Lucy? What are you gonna do with your life, now that you sold out your share of Cally´s Art Galleries?

- My baby is my life, mother. I could kill to defend him. - she assured as she pushed the boutique´s door...

 

A couple of blocks further, Pamela got out of the fancy car that had brought her to downtown, driven by her personal chauffeur. Since she got desfigured due to a huge car crash, Pamela had not dared to drive again. Now she had no scar visible on her face any more, but she did have psychological scars. Not even a therapy had helped her to overcome that.

She went into the shopping mall and got onto the escalators, without noticing a man following her, a man a little younger than she was. He was wearing sun glasses and a haute couture executive suit.

Suddenly, Pam stopped in front of a mirror displayed at the window of an antiques shop, and fixed her make-up smoothly. Afterwards, she put her hand in her purse...

- Pammy...! - the man cried out not too loudly.

- Cousin Jimmy! - she turned to him and smiled happily: her suspicions had been confirmed. That man she had seen when she got out of the car was cousin Jimmy, the one she hadn´t seen for years. And the one everybody called Mr. Monahan now...

- Can you call me Will, little cousin? - he said, as he embraced Pam.

 

(Fade out)

 

                Pamela and Will were sitting at one of the outside tables in a nearby restaurant.

                - I´m so sorry about what happened with Cliff... - Pam apologized.

                - So do I. I don´t know why, but I thought he´d have changed over the years. He´s exactly the same he was when he was ten: grumpy and suspicious.

                - If you knew all that he went through, you´d understand him...

                - Maybe, but we all have had our problems, look at my mama, Digger or yourself...

                - I´d love you to explain me how you´ve become a big financial executive...but I´ve got a date for lunch and I cannot miss that. Lucy and her mother,  remember Lucy, don´t you?

                Will widely smiled and Pam noticed the expression:

                - Because you don´t wanna join us, do you? - Pamela proposed subtly, just to check if his cousin still was a shy guy with women, in spite of his position.

                - No, I can´t today. - Will looked at his watch - but I wouldn´t mind coming to one of those barbecues you hold at Southfork...

                - It´s your lucky day: next month we´ll hold one, and you´re one of the guests. You have no excuse...

                Pam said goodbye to his cousin and he got up to embrace her. Then, he looked on her and saw her meeting two attractive blondes;  one, the youngest, alluring and proud, took a look at him from the distance...

 

                Becky was looking at his daddy´s portrait on his desk. At last, he came in...

                - Hello baby, what a nice surprise...- exclaimed - Come on here... - Cliff opened up his arms and kissed his daughter tenderly - Will you tell me what´s wrong?

- Why do you think something´s wrong? - Becky asked, unaware that her eyes revealed she had been crying. Cliff smiled and sat by her daughter.

- I need you to do me a favor, honey.

                - Course. What is it?

                - Your mama. She´s been very depressed lately. I don´t why but she doesn´t feel she´s being a good mother...especially, since she found out you are no innocent child any more.-Besides of her business skills, the best of Cliff came up when he was with his family: he was an excellent father and husband.

                Becky started to cry, silently. She knew that her parents had to tell her something important for a long time. Her flirting with Joe had just been a way to call their attention and annoy them...She only wanted everything to be the way it used to be, like when they came back from Paris and Afton confessed her that Cliff was her real daddy. Since that day on, life had been perfect, at least to her. But, what was wrong about her mother?

                - We´re gonna do something special: not gonna go to work and you´re not gonna go to school. We´re gonna go for your mother at the studio and will go on a picnic the three of us. What da ya think?

                - You´re such a tricker, daddy...- Becky started to laugh and Cliff looked up for his cell phone to call Afton.

 

                That evening, the Ewings had gathered for dinner at the house: Bobby, Pam, Gary, Valene, Christopher and Lucy. Suddenly, when they proceeded to go into the dining-room, a claxon could be heard from outside: it was Clayton Farlow´s limo. His return had been brought three days forward. They all went out to welcome him. The driver got out of the car, opened the other door and, unexpectedly, two thin legs in black stockings came up...complete with high heel shoes, black too. From the other door, came out the old patriarch, Clayton.

                The woman was in her fifties, though she looked a little younger. Dressed in a jacket suit with a not too long skirt, her hair was gathered down in an elegant horsetail. The woman said hello to the family:

                - You must be those adorable Ewings...I am Madeleine. I was just dying to know you...

                Clayton came close to her and threw his right arm around her shoulders.

                - Let me introduce you my wife, though I think she´s introduced herself yet...

                Bobby, Pam, Gary, Valene and Christopher twinkled. Lucy just raised an eyebrow.

 

                At the Ewing Building, Sue Ellen was arguing with John Ross on the phone...

                - But, darling, remember our deal: therapy with Dr. Wyler wasn´t negotiable. If we went with this, you had to make your part of the deal. Yes, I know class steal most of your time away but that is no excuse...

                At that moment, James came into the office, after being listening to the talk from outside...

                Sue Ellen decided to postpone that argument when she saw him:

                - I´ll call you later, honey. - after this, she hung off, as she felt embarrased by James´ appearance. - Next time, knock on the door before coming in, all right?

                - Next time, just close your door. You could hear every word from my office. Sue Ellen stared at him, as he was putting the Ewing 1 contract on her table. - Read it when you can. The deal must be closed as soon as we can. Unless you wanna change your mind and close down the company...

                - Why should I do that? - she said.

                - For what I could hear, it seemed to that this new Ewing Oil is kinda toy for my brother, in exchange of his good behaviour and not doing any more naughty things...

                - John Ross must go on with his therapy though he doesn´t really have to...look for the wrong help. He´ll always have that weakness if he doesn´t assume it...and acts consequently. - The woman sat down as James turned to her.

                - Why should he follow a therapy? You don´t go to the A.A. meetings, do you?

                Sue Ellen got up to James´ eyes. Afterwards, she slapped his face.

                - Never say anything like that to me again, you bastard - Sue Ellen swallowed hard as she was walking to the door - Only the way I hated your father allowed me to quit drinking. I want my son to have a much better life than mine...or yours.

                James walked out of her office and into his own. When nobody could see him, he put his hand in his hand: Michelle had been the only woman who had ever slapped him in all his life...until now. But Sue Ellen had hurt his feelings and self-esteem too...

 

                In one the apartments the Ewing put at their most privileged employés´ disposition, Alan Beam was serving himself a drink and lighting his favorite pipe...as he re-read the  "Dallas Press".                A headline had called his attention: "Imminent dissolution of Ewing Group. Who´s to take the biggest piece of cake?" And below: "Ewing Oil reborn out of ashes."

                - Not if I can help that. I´m not gonna let you do without a legacy, my son. Though your mother or your uncles try to, we´re gonna get what belongs to us by law: the Ewing fortune.

                Alan turned down and picked up a portrait he had put on his bedtable: it was Peter, Lucy´s healthy little son...  

 

                Teresa had added two more settings at the table: Clayton and Madeleine had become the talk of the evening. She talked unrelentlessly: they had married one week before and only had been dating for one month. Clayton was admiring her silently, which was obvious to Bobby and Gary. The women put more attention in her style and elegance, in her confident way if talking and her caring gestures to Clayton.

                After dinner, they had a drink. Bobby reported Clayton about the wedding to be held next week at the mansion´s garden. Gary looked angry and Val held his arm, trying to avoid discussions.

                - A wedding at  the garden? For God´s sake, how can you organize a wedding at the garden when you have such an amazing mansion as this is? If it seems to belong to one of those marvelous 80´s supersoaps..Please let me do it and you´ll see that wedding becoming the season´s event in the State of Texas...I can see the headlines now: "Texan Dynasty holds a royal wedding..."

                Bobby, Pam, Gary, Valene and Christopher twinkled. Lucy just raised an eyebrow. Again.

 

                While this was happening at Southfork, Cliff Barnes and his daughter Becky were arriving at the Wentworth manor in Antioch Drive, Dallas. When they saw Afton´s car, they realized she had come back from wherever she had been, since she hadn´t come up at the Studio to shoot the programme...

                Cliff and Becky came into the house and began to call her out loudly, quietly first, then nervously. The maid had had the night off...

                When he walked out to the patio, Cliff saw a dark spot in the pool...He got close and called her wife´s name again. Shockingly, Cliff identified Afton´s face and jumped into the pool, as Becky did. Both of them tried hard to take her body out of the water and put her on the floor.  Then, Becky proceeded to apply the artificial breathing on her, but Afton began to spit red-colored water out...

                Cliff held on her tightly, as he tried to revive her...

                - Oh please, Afton, wake up... - he desperately begged - Wake up my love...

 

 

                                    END OF EPISODE FOUR

 

  

"EWING EMPIRE" is a web-based Fan-Fiction created, written and edited by TONI DÍAZ. The main characters of this net super soap were created by DAVID JACOBS for the shows "DALLAS" and "KNOTS LANDING".

 The photos that have been used belong mostly to WARNER BROS.  Its purpose is  only for illustration and non profit-making. No actor, screenwriter, producer or star belonging or not to these shows, have any kind of relation to the web-based Fan-Fiction, tough we are open to any offer.

This episode is lovingly dedicated to all the gold classics that inspired the DALLAS plots, from GIANT to IT´S A WONDERFUL LIFE!