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)

 

CO-STARRING:

 

OMRI KATZ (JOHN ROSS)

CHRIS DEMETRAL (CHRISTOPHER)

DAVID MARSHALL GRANT (WILL)

 

GUEST STARS:

 

RANDOLPH POWELL (ALAN BEAM)

 

and

 

LUCY LIU

as

CHOW

 

 

 

Episode 3:  "TIME TO DIE"

 

 

Pamela tried to smile at that woman who used to be one of her best friends...

             - Are you feeling O.K., Pam? - Sue Ellen asked.

             - Yes, of course. I just...didnīt expect to see you here. None of you - she added, as she suspiciously looked askance at her son Christopher.

             - Come on into the living room, aunt Sue Ellen... - he said, as Pam did a kind gesture towards the luxurious room, trying to break the ice...

             The three of them got into the living room of the manor, making themselves comfortable at the armchairs around a small table.

             - The house is decorated so tastefully, Pamela - Sue Ellen remarked. -Did you take care of it yourself?

             - Yes, with the help of Donna and also Valene and Barbara, Bobbyīs cousin...Oh, I forgot you already knew her.

             - Yes I did. I was there when she came up at the old ranch, claiming for her share of the Southfork Estate...

             Christopher was losing his patience and interfered in the conversation:

             - Mother, I forgot to tell you that aunt Sue Ellen was going to come with me today...

             Pamela stared and asked him, in a  soft but determined way:

             - Chris, youīll excuse us, wonīt you please?

             After a little of arguing,  Chris got up and left outside...

             - I am so sorry, Sue Ellen...

             - I see...Christopher didnīt tell you about my visit...

             - No. But Iīm really glad to see you. About his question of Kristin...

             - I am not here because of her, but because of my mother. Patricia died one month ago...and left something for Christopher, her second grandson, in her last will...

 

             Away from Southfork, at the town of Dallas, James was awaiting at the police station to talk to one of the detectives who had come home for him...Finally, the man appeared carrying an old small purse in his hand.

             - Why the hell have you arrested me?

             - Youīre not arrested, Mr. Ewing...- the detective answered.

             - Mr. Beaumont, if you donīt mind - James corrected him, since he only  used his natural daddyīs last name in order to sign up the business papers.

             - We wanna know what kind of relationship you had with late Michelle Stevens Beaumont .

             - I thought she was still in prison, she was serving a sentence for murder... -  James hinted innocently, knowing it was not true...

             - The woman was set free two years ago. His sentence had been lengthened almost three more years for violent behavior and authority contempt. Miss Stevens was found in a Dallas blind alley a few days ago and died of an overdose at the General Hospital.

             James was speechless and, suddenly, he remembered one of the very last times he saw Michelle. They had a date a fancy restaurant to talk about their relationship: he was going to tell her that he was leaving Michelle for his sonīs mother, Debra Lynn,  still legally his wife.

             - You do know that I am the right wife for you, James - she had said to him with tears in her eyes, as she finished her drink.

             James had decided to annulate his marriage to Michelle, since Debra Lynn had never suited for divorce and they remained married, and, whatīs more, they had a son in common, little Jimmy.

             - Mr. Beaumont...? - The detective brought him back to reality.

             James began to feel the pain he felt when he broke up with her, and thought that the best would be getting that matter finished, as soon as possible.

             - We were married for a few months, but we got an annulment right after my father J.R. Ewing died...Then, I visited Michelle at the prison, once, and I knew through the press that she had been sentenced for killing her sister Aprilīs murderer.

             - We found this purse by her dead body, along with a folded photo of yours and the marriage certificate, circa 1990. There are the names of you both on it. And you still are registered as husband and wife at the City Hall Registry....But, if you don't mind...the body should be identified...

 

             Back to Southfork, Pam listened to the story of Sue Ellen's trip to Beacon Hill, and how she made up with her mama just before her death.

             - My mother obviously suspected something devious behind Kristin's death at the ranch's pool. She hired a private eye and found out, not only about her drug-impelled suicide, but also about her baby. However, when she knew that this baby had been adopted and was living happily with his family, she gave up the research.

             - My God, Sue Ellen... - Pam was beginning to feel towards that woman the same sympathy and compassion she had felt all through the years, when they used to live at old Southfork. - I wish we didn't cause any trouble to your mother by adopting Christopher...You know he always was the most important person to both Bobby and me, though I had to leave him for awhile...

             - I am here to tell you that Chris has rights to his grand-mother's inheritance, even if you don't wanna say to him the way he was really linked to her. That's up to you both. But I wouldn't like to lose our long-time friendship because of these years of absence. It was so hard to us to really like each other, Pam...

             Pamela hugged her old friend, the only person she had considered her loyal sister, though, as Sue Ellen had said, she used to pull her down during her first months at the Ewing home. Outside, Christopher decided to drive off his motorcycle and get away from there...

 

             Afton was taping one of her performances for the show. She used to play live at the studio, but lately she had been feeling somewhat uncomfortable as she was singing, and was afraid of that becoming obvious to everybody. Therefore, she had suggested to get tapped at least one of her acts, in order to give more display to the new talents she featured in every show.

             That day, Afton had to stop singing twice, but, at last, she performed beautifully a great song, that made the crew clap enthusiastically.

 

             Afton went straight to her dressing-room, after asking about her daughter to the  make-up girl, who seemed to ignore where she was...

             When Afton opened up the dressing-room door, she had the biggest surprise...she just could yelled out:

             - Pamela Rebecca Cooper! But how can you...?

             An almost naked young man rushed out of there...

 

             At the morgue,  a blonde, young, not-too-tall woman, with curled long hair, high heels and a yellow tailored suit, was following the man in charge to the place where Michelleīs dead body presumably was shelvered. When she took a look at her white, pale, clean face, the woman started to whimper:

             - Oh, my God...! It canīt be... - she took a scarf and pretended to be overwhelmed, as she nod before the man - Yes, let her rest in peace.

             - So she's your sister, miss...

             - Stevens, April Stevens.

 

             When James and the detective arrived at the morgue, the woman had just vanished out...and the identification was not necessary any more.  Then James considered her dead and buried.

 

(Fade out )

 

             The next morning, Pamela and Bobby went out to ride before breakfast. Sue Ellenīs visit and Chrisīs questions had exposed past stories they tried hard to forget. Though they knew that, some day, theyīd have to tell the truth about his mother to Chris.

             - At one very moment, I was so afraid that Sue Ellen had already told Chris everything...and that he had  a negative reaction.

             - But  Pam... - Bob stopped, choosing his words carefully - Chris is nineteen years old now. Last year, when he called us up in Toronto, for his summer holidays, that idea was in his head yet...Heīs a grown-up, settled person, in spite of his age. He deserves, for many reasons, to know what happened to his mother.

             - What about his mama sleepinī with her brother-in-law and you thinkinī he was J.R.īs baby? What about Kristin shooting his uncle or you faking his birth certificate to be able to adopt him?

             Pamīs words were getting Bob more and more upset.

- Remember what you have been repeatinī to me for years: we should forget the past and be happy today, with the people whoīre by our side, without thinking of all that wasted time...

             Bob holded Pam as tightly as he could and then put her on her horse, and they rode back home...

 

             "Illegal Eagle" finished his burger and his drink and dropped down the leftovers. Once he was in his old car, he opened his PC and switched it on. He had several messages in his email, one of them signed by CME, the young man who bought his old court file about the custody trial...

             He opened the message as he didnīt get any virus alert...and then, a Mr. Smiley popped up, along with the line: "Is the water valve open in your house..."dude"?"

             For 30 seconds, "Illegal Eagle" wondered what that could mean, and when he looked back at the display, he saw that all his computerīs files had been deleted by that unexpected visitor. He closed down the PC and drove off, rushing to the place he called his "den".

             Once he was at the doorway, he took out his keys and, when he was getting them into the keyhole, he noticed his feet were wet: the water had flooded that "den", including the security copies of his court files with which "Eagle" used to bootleg..

             "Eagle" pronounced the dirtiest words he could remember and began to cry, as he put on his knees at the corridor...

 

             At that moment, Cliff Barnes was arriving at his "First Commercial Bank" office. His personal secretary, Chow, welcomed him, in a kind and  coldly competent way. 

             - Mr. Barnes, the 10 oīclock meeting is about to start...I put the urgent messages by Rebeccaīs portrait and your new jacket on the left rack...

- Hmm, thanks, Chow... - he absently answered, and then added: But, before that, I gotta dictate a letter to you, very important...

Chow twinkled and put on her fashion glasses. Then she followed her bossīs steps and closed his officeīs door behind them.

- Chow... - he said, pointing at the couch at one of the officeīs corners.

- Yes, Mr. Barnes - she answered, putting off her glasses again...

- And pleease, call me Cliff! After all, you are my pychotherapist...

Chow was the daughter of the owner of Cliffīs favorite chinese restaurant, where he had been introduced to his biggest pleasure. By request of her mother, he had employed her as a secretary, and two years later, she had become his personal secretary and part-time psychotherapist. Because that was Chowīs real profession...

- Oh, Chow...All is goinī  downhill again...Iīve achieved that President charge I wanted steppinī over the only livinī kin I had left...Will just resigned and I am the biggest executive in the bank...and all Dallas. I feel so guilty about it...Besides, Iīm sure Will is gonna tell all to Pamela, as he used to do when we were kids, and she will make me a speech again. I let her down again...Whatīs more, Afton has found our daughter with another boy in her dressing-room, both of them undressed...If J.R. were alive, I could blame him...

Chow, sitting by his side, stared at the picture that Cliff had hung over there, featuring himself with a big happy smile...

 

- Listen up to me, Cliff:  J.R. is dead. For 10 years. And your nightmares are only nightmares. Youīve got a family who loves you and your sister is back in Dallas. Everybody obeys your orders here. Youīve got hundreds of millions in your personal account and a big number of investments spread along the whole country. Now, youīre going to put on your feet, youīll put on your new jacket, your favorite tie and youīll go into the meeting room, where you are awaited to prove that you deserve that job and deserve to be happy.  The Barnes curse is over. Your fortune cookie says: "Enjoy the present day and, above all, forget J.R."

Cliff got up, very cheerfully and with an ear-to-ear smile.

- Chow, I donīt know what Iīd have done without you...but, what about my daughter...?

 

          Sue Ellen and John Ross arrived at their manor in Turtle Creek, one of the wealthiest suburban areas in Dallas. At last, the house had been re-conditioned for mother and son to live there. John Ross had decided to move in  there temporarily, though he was going to keep his apartment.

The courses were beginning again the next week, and, with a bit of luck, this would be his last college year. Afterwards, he would take over Ewing Oil as its President and major shareholder. But, if he didnīt pass the final exams, his fatherīs inheritance would remain being managed by Bobby...upon J.R.īs last will.

 

             - I never liked the other mansion very much... - the young man remarked.

             - Nor its tennis courts neither? - she looked askance at him, knowing that his tennis skills had been developed there, during his games with Christopher.

             - You know me too well mama... - John Ross changed of subject. He was worried about his mother and Christopher - You didnīt tell me what happened in Southfork...though I think my cousin played no fair game...

             - You know him well too. He didnīt say to Pam that I was coming over, and tried to find out things about his mother...

             - Kristin...I just canīt believe that she got drown in the Southfork pool...

             - There are many things that you donīt know son. Nor Christopher neither...

 

That evening, at the new Southfork...

- My God, I canīt believe it... Michelle, dead...

- No, Bobby - he was corrected by James, who had come with Cally to report his uncle. After all, the late woman had briefly been his sister-in-law. - Michelle had been murdered, up to the policeīs  version. They found in her body remainders of alcohol and drugs, but her fingerprints couldnīt be identified any more, her finger tips were burnt...As it seems, her prison time was like hell to her...

- I suppose thatīs not all, am I wrong?

- No. They found a copy of our marriage certificate and the police checked it out and found it īs still valid:  in this state, we were husband and wife. J.R.īs lawyer didnīt get the annulment done, as he promised to. Then, Cliff formally accused Michelle for Hillary Taylorīs murder and she was sentenced to several years in jail...

Bobby dried the sweat on his forehead as he was beginning to feel anguished.

- Donīt worry, Iīll go to the point: the police think that Michelle was poisoned by another person, and her corpse was identified by somebody called...April Stevens.

When he heard his late wifeīs name, killed in Paris, Bobby looked astonished, as Pamela did, since she had just come into the room...

 

(Fade out)

 

Pamela walked to her husband and the couple, still surprised by what she had just heard...

-  Whatīs happened, Bobby?

- A poor young woman has been found in a blind alley...She died from overdose at the hospital and turned out to have James and Michelleīs marriage certificate. Besides, someone with a weird sense of humor posed as April in order to identify the body.

Cally was feeling so dizzy that she decided to sit down in one of the armchairs. So did Bobby and James, as Pam went to the kitchen to have some herbs done...

 

The night fell over Southfork like a rock.  Bobby and Pam had many questions for each other, but none of them dared to break the silence. Finally, Pam talked...

- I know we promised to let past go, but I just canīt help thinking...what kind of woman was April...? Cliff only told me funny things about her...

Bobby hold on his wife, while his second wifeīs image returned to his memory, for first time in a long time...and he felt guilty about it.

- She was a very special person...and very different from you in everything. Blonde, curled hair, blue eyes. And so tenacious, very tenacious...She had to wait a long long time for me to feel emotionally secure.

- Iīve regretted so many times to have taken that decision and caused you all so much trouble...

- It was the hardest thing for me to understand, but now I think I do. Just wanted to save us from suffering to see ya die, when they made you believe that you were sick...April tried very hard to gimme her friendship and compassion, before goinī further...Things were uneasy to her, and never lost hope...

- What about her sister? Was Michelle somewhat like her...?

Bobby smiled as he remembered the very first time he saw her, lying down on Aprilīs  condoīs  ground...

- She was completely mad...and Iīm afraid she got really mad in prison. She adored James since the moment she met him. Shelly did all her best and even more to get his love and givīm what he wanted most: Ewing Oil. But... - Bobby took a breath and caressed Pam - what happened in Paris changed our plans...forever.

Pamela stared at him and whispered:

- I love you, and Iīll never get away from you. I promise.

 

         The next morning, Gary Ewing drove to the Dallas Love Field Airport to pick up his new lawyer. His plane was coming from Chicago half an hour late, and Gary didnīt have any photo of Alanīs, so he was afraid of not being able to find him.  Alan told him by phone that he did saw his picture in a paper, so he could be relieved.

             Gary heard his mobile ring, and accepted the call: it was his wife Valene. A stranger walked on to him, waving his hand. Thinking he had to be Alan, he apologized to his wife and hang off the phone..

             - Mr. Beam, I suppose...?

             - Right - the newcomer answered. He was a man in his forties, with thick eyebrows, dark-haired. He was only handling a travel bag and a pipe - but, call me Alan, please...

             - And you can call me Gary. Welcome to Dallas... - he said, shaking his hand.

             - Thanks, but, as my associate Frank Williams told you, Iīve been here before, long ago, at the early 80īs...Hard times by the way...but I remember I left in a good mood...

             At that moment, Alanīs memory went 20 years back, to the moment he was going to airport and fly back to Chicago...

             - Kristin... - then young Alan Beam said to her partner in betrayal...

             - Alan...Are you still a suspect?

             - No, I was checking into a hotel room in Missouri about the time J.R. was shot, so Iīve got an iron clad alibi. Besides, Kristin, I figured you did it....

             - I wanted to...He treated me so badly... - she sounded suspicious.

             - Well, I guess itīs time to say good-bye... - he added, kissing her friendly. - Iīm sorry the two of us were on opposite sides for so long. We could have made a good team. Listen, if youīre ever in Chicago...

             - I will. - She said laughing. Alan turned around and got into his car. Driving home, 90 miles away from penalty for minor rape...

             Alan came back to year 2000. He got into Garyīs limo, and felt sincerely glad of things having changed. Now, he was not a loser any more, and Dallas would know. And Gary and his daughter Lucy too...

 

James got out of his fancy convertible in front of the Ewing Building, still known like that, though the Ewings hadnīt been working there for years and years. When he was going inside, Sue Ellen called his name to call his attention.  James smiled at her and she smiled back.

- Hello, James. I though we could walk around instead of going up to the office. John Ross couldnīt come, he got to call on the college to get some papers ready.

Sue Ellen and James began to walk, looking for the shadowed path, since the summer sun still shined bright and heat was unbearable when the day wasnīt windy, although September had come.

- I wanted to talk to ya īcause something happened...

- I know:  Aprilīs sister, right?

- Once again, bad news spread quickly...especially in Dallas. I gotta get out of the city to attend Michelleīs funeral at her town, Springdale. Her mama is completely alone now. Callyīs coming along...

 

- Weīve got some unfinished business, James...

- Yeah. Only two more days. Then, Iīll tell ya if Iīll join you at Ewing Oil or stay at Ewing Group, with Gary and Bobby.

- All right - Sue Ellen said - but donīt forget what I told you in our last meeting: nobody can get hurt and much less, John Ross. Heīs been quite stable for a long time and went through too many breakdowns due to his addiction...Besides, heīs quit his sessions with Dr. Wyler lately...

James frowned and looked at the woman, as he began to understand certain things...

 

At the Wentworth Manor, Pamela, Afton and her daughter Beckie were swimming in the pool...That mansion had sheltered first the Barnesesī and Katherineīs mother, Rebecca, then Pamela and Christopher, and lastly and after years of neglect, the family formed by Cliff, Afton and teenage Beckie.

- Baby donīt walk with your feet wet, youīre gonna slip and...

- Oh, mama, you always have to expect the worst from me...Iīm fed up...

- Pamela Rebecca, you go into the house...! - Afton ordered, with a tough look, as got out of the pool and got her hair dried. Pam followed her and both of them sat down on to the hammocks.

-Tell me Afton: whatīs up with Beckie? - Pam asked with a smile in her face.

- Nothing, I guess. It must be one of those teenagerīs phases... - she avoided her friendīs look and lied down over the hammock.

- Donīt tell me she is in love...

- Oh, no...Thatīs not fashionable...I found her in my dressing-room, alone with a much older man, one of the studioīs light boys...Itīs been impossible to talk to her seriously since then.

- Well, Beckie is almost sixteen now, and besides, sheīs  a great girl: a good student, loves swimming and doesnīt get blinded by the Barnesī money...

 

- Pam...Iīm afraid of...

- Of what...? - she said, looking at Afton.

- When I was her age, I didnīt date the high school boys...I had the ambition of becoming a famous singer and I seeked for anyone who could help me...I won some radio contests and a beauty one. And when I arrived at Dallas...

Pam softly shut up her friendīs mouth with her hand, and then added:

- When you arrived at Dallas, you met J.R. I know, Afton.

Afton blushed up and cried,  feeling ashamed.

- Iīm afraid  of Beckie wanting something like that through her friends or the networkīs people, just like me. Besides, Cliff is starting over again...

At this point, Pamīs face looked tougher:

- What do you mean? - she said, as the other woman took out a card from a bag on the terraceīs table.

- This is your cousin Jimmy personal card. His current name is Will  and was named President of the "First Bank". But Cliff made him resign and took his place...and he hasnīt even talked to me about it. Iīve known everything by the paper. Old Cliff Barnes and his twisted secrets are back...

 

(Fade out)

        

Pamela woke up alone: Bobby probably had left to have a ride before breakfast. She had a shower, got her hair dried and put her rose-colored silk gown on. Suddenly, she reminded that she had been wearing it for 20 years already. Since she spent some time at the Brooktree sanitarium. Bobby gifted it to her. She was wearing it the day she wrote the letter...it was that far 1981.

 

"Dear Bobby: Iīve decided to give up my therapy with Dr. Conrad and go back to the ranch, since I think Iīve overcome my breakdown and Iīve made up with my past. Otherwise, Iīve realized I really need to give you a baby, what you have wanted all your life. Something Iīll never can give you. Therefore, Iīm leaving and let you live your life. Our lawyers will settle down the divorce agreement. Please, donīt look for me: I just need make peace with myself. Maybe someday, Iīll come back..."

 

             It was then when Pamela stopped writing: a loud argument could be heard from the living room downstairs. It was between J.R. and Miss Ellie, who were having a big discussion about J.R. wheeling-and-dealing. She was so self-absorbed with the letter that she didnīt hear their cars come. At that  moment, also Bobby was parking his red convertible in front of the garage...

             A doubtful Pamela went downstairs...

             - You have no excuse for that...! - Miss Ellie assured.

             - Mama, I donīt wanna talk about it... - J.R. tried to skip the subject.

- Like it or not, we'll have to talk...

Pam was almost downstairs, and got thrilled to see a surprised Bobby holding a smiling baby in his arms...Could it be true...?

- A baby, we got a baby! Oh, Bobby...why didnīt you tell me that you could adopt a child at last?

 

Pam came back to present, after having remembered the happiest day in her life. From that day on, Christopher had become her priority, yes, until the day of the car accident...when everything seemed to vanish along with the flames...

Pam looked at her reflection in the mirror: she was over fifty, but she felt so tired, exhausted, emotionally empty, especially when she was in  Canada, far away from Christopher. Bobby was everything to her, but both wanted to resume their relationship with family and friends...that is why they came back. But...could they become Chrisīs parents again...or would he choose his natural (though dead) parents?

 

Pamela put her gown off and wide opened her wardrobe to choose a dress to wear. On the shelf over the hangers, a few boxes were piled up, and Pam stretched out her arms to get down one of them. Inside that pale-colored box, she had been keeping pictures of her loved ones: first appeared his emotional daddy Digger, his brother Cliff together with his very young cousin Will (then Jimmy), afterwards, entered the Ewings: first of all Ray, who happened to be just the Southfork foreman and his first formal boyfriend, in every sense;  Jock and Miss Ellie, Lucy, Sue Ellen...

And then, her mama Rebecca, always a mystery to her, and her fiancé Mark Graison, both of them ending so tragically...And when she found her first photo with little baby Christopher, Pam burst into tears and her emotions overflew...

 

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under Heaven: a time to be born and a time to die; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace..."  

 

The Minister was saying the psalm, as James and Cally, both dressed in black, were listening to him respectfully but away from the family group. Michelle Stevens was going to be buried next to her sister Aprilīs grave, at the town of Springdale, Arkansas. James had felt obligated to come and offer his help to Aprilīs mother, almost 80 years old.

Once the ceremony was over, James came over the mourning woman, whose suspecting neighbors were expressing their condolences.

- Mrs. Stevens... - James stammered- Iīm James Beaumont. I was married to Michelle...

- That canīt be - she said, without looking at him - My baby never got married...Iīd have known. Please go.

- Iīm Bobby Ewingīs nephew, your daughter Aprilīs husband...

Amy Stevensī blue eyes were wide open and penetrated Jamesīs eyes...

-What did the Ewings have to do with my daughter Shellyīs death?

- Nothing, nothing at all...Michelle just couldnīt overcome her stay in prison and was found almost dead, in a blind alley...

- My baby, in a blind alley? You are crazy...Why have you come to tell me those lies?

One of the neighbors got in the middle, keeping James away with her hand...

Cally came over too, to try to fix things up:

- Mrs. Stevens, Iīm Cally, a friend of your sister Aprilīs. We just came to tell ya that, if you need anything, you can count on us...

             - Cally...yes, I remember April told me something about you...yesterday.

             Cally looked at her pitifully and then at James...All of sudden, Amy started to cry and ask them to leave...

             "The Ewings are guilty for what happened to my babies...Let Heaven have my dear Shelly in its Glory...and let the devil take you all...one by one." - At that moment, the neighboring crowd came closer and took Amy away. James got pensive for awhile...and Cally hold him tight, trying to comfort him...

            

- Itīs been so long...!

- Yes too long...Iīm glad to see ya again, Sue Ellen.

- Me too , Bobby.

The former brother and sister-in-lawīs had a date at one of her favorite restaurants, "Les Saisons".

- I hope it didnīt bother you when I insisted in your coming alone...without Pamela, I mean.

- I suppose you have your reasons.

- Sure. Maybe you donīt know, but Christopher lied to both of us, a few days ago,  to meet us in your house and talk about his natural parents...

- Did Christopher do that? Gee, I knew Pam was keeping something away from me but I couldnīt imagine such a thing...There must be some Ewing blood in your ancestors, and I mean it for my son...Thatīs almost up to J.R.

- First of all, I called you to let you know that John Ross, I and maybe James, will associate in a new Ewing Oil. No rivalry with you, of course...personally, at least.

- There shouldnīt be any,  īcause the Ewing Group is gonna quit the oil business, if it depends on me.

- What Iīm really cared about is Pamīs reaction to see me, almost panicked...

- I cannot understand... - Bob said, as he declined the wine offered by the  maître and asked for two Perrier bottles. - Since she returned to Dallas, sheīs been leading a happy quiet life. Weīve been to Houston to see Chris every time we could, and heīs spent his holidays with us...Perhaps we made a mistake when checked him in that special school..

- Donīt think so, Bob. Youīve been a great mama and a great daddy, so much better than J.R. and me. These latter years, Iīve tried to offer John Ross all that money can buy, plus a positive life philosophy. Iīll never forgive myself for the breakdown he went through when J.R. died, but I think heīs overcome it. Anyway, like me with alcohol, heīs always be an addict...

- But letīs not speak of sad things...Tell me Sue Ellen, what about your other business?

- Oh, if I could tell ye...I never know what time it is nor who Iīm speaking to, on the mobile  ...

Curiously, at that very moment, Bobīs cellular phone rang. He apologized and, as he saw Pamīs name on display, accepted the call. After saying "I love you", Bob hang off and looked at his friend:

- Iīm sorry Sue Ellen, but I gotta leave.

- Anything wrong, may help you somehow?

- You did...As I believe, our problems are about to be worked out...

 

"I am ready" . That was all that Pam had told him by phone. Half an hour later, she and Bob rang Chrisīs apartmentīs bell...The young man opened the door, looking the most surprised...

 

- Hi son - Pam said as she smiled -Weīre here to answer all your questions. Finally.

Christopher wide opened the door as he walked back to let them come inside. As they did, Bob slightly pulled his wifeīs forearm, to transmit confidence to her...

 

That night, at the only relatively luxurious hotel in Springdale, James was meditative and silent, as Cally kept on brushing softly her hair...

James remembered something that had happened ten years before, at the Dallas prison where Michelle had spent some months. It was the day prior to her transfer to the Womenīs State Penitentiary. James used his ways to get the right to a last visit. Their relationship had degenerated into mutual hatred. Before leaving, he had said to her:

"You are where you deserve to, and Iīve got what I deserve too: my dadīs company. Iīm gonna get it even if I gotta kill Cliff for it..."

 

Soon afterwards, Cliff was found with several bullets in his body...but James had nothing to do with that. The young man came back to reality when  she called him out:

- James, whatīs wrong?

- Nothing. I guess I feel partly guilty of poor Michelleīs suffering...Iīm sure it was hard to her to shoot that woman...

- You gotta leave that part of your life behind. You got your son Jimmy and Ellie too. You like your job and it gives ya what we need and even more...Donīt make the same mistake that your brother John Ross did. Donīt load a burden than you donīt have to...

- What have I done to deserve such a marvellous woman like you are? - he said, getting his body closer to hers.

James hold Cally lovingly and then switched light off. They made love but he couldnīt stop thinking that, maybe, somewhere, Michelle might be alive...and plotting a revenge...That night, his last thought was for her:

"Rest in peace, Michelle...Wherever you are..."

 

END OF EPISODE 3