EPISODE 29 - Power Play

Chang-Li opens the door at Falcon Crest, and Ben Agretti walks in.  "Morning, Chang-Li,"  Ben says.

 

"Good morning, Mr. Agretti."

 

"Is Mr. Channing around?  He's expecting me."

 

"Yes, Mr. Channing is in his office."

 

"Thanks."  Ben walks over to Richard's office and knocks on the door.  

 

"Come in," he hears Richard say.

 

Ben walks into the office, closing the sliding double doors behind him.  "Morning, Richard."

 

"Ben, come in, and and fix yourself a drink."

 

"Your phone call last night sounded urgent.  Is this about Kevin's will?"  Ben asks as he walks to the bar. 

 

"No, nothing like that.  Fix me one while you're at it."

 

"Sure,"  Ben says, pouring himself a glass of scotch, then pours a second glass and hands it to Richard.  "So what's this about?  Your phone call sounded urgent."

 

"Yes," Richard says.  "I have a case for you to handle.  A lawsuit."

 

"Alright, a lawsuit against who?"  Ben asks.

 

"Against Lord Enterprises, and specifically, against Jonathon Lord."

 

"Jonathon Lord?  What kind of lawsuit are we talking?"

 

"I want to sue young Mr. Lord to get my newspaper back.  The newspaper that rightfully belongs to ME.  And since my brother Jeremy has gone missing without a trace, that leaves his son."

 

"Richard, you sold the paper to Jeremy Lord."

 

"Yes, but under duress,"  Richard.  "Jeremy Lord blackmailed that newspaper away from me by using Falcon Crest as a bargaining tool.  Now Jeremy is gone, and I want The Globe back."

 

"What if Lord comes back?"  Ben asks.

 

"The likelihood of that is quiet slim."

 

Ben looks at the older man curiously.  "Richard, you wouldn't happen to know something about Jeremy Lord's disappearance, now would you?"

 

"Me?  Of course not.  But I do think that my brother is probably on the run after helping his killer son escape from the police.  Jeremy knows if he shows his face again, he'll be arrested."

 

"Well, proving that Lord blackmailed you into selling him the newspaper may be difficult."

 

"Ben, I don't give a damn how difficult it may be,"  says Richard.  "I want it done.  So get back to your office and file the lawsuit against Lord."

 

"Alright, if you're determined to do this, I'll get right on it."

 

"Thank you.  That will be all."

 

Ben nods, finishes his drink, then leaves.  

Lord Enterprises....

 

 

"Mr. Lord,"  one of the men says.  "I'm David Brooks, and this is Mark Chapman."

 

"Gentlemen,"  Jonathon says, shaking hands with the two men.  "What can I do for you?  You said this is about Wentworth Industries?"

"Yes,"  Chapman replies.  "As you well know, Mr. Lord, your younger brother, Austin Wentworth, was serving as CEO of Wentworth Industries, but, a little more than two months ago, Austin vanished, along with your mother."

 

"Yes, I'm aware of that.  And, what does that have to do with me?"

 

"We need someone to step in, Mr. Lord, as interim CEO of the company,"  Brooks says.

 

"And, you want ME to fill that position?"  Jonathon asks.

 

"Yes, we do,"  replies Chapman.  "Mr. Lord, as the oldest son of Katherine Wentworth and a grandson of the company's founder, Herbert Wentworth, there is no one else better suited to fill the position, at least temporarily. And we also have a situation brewing."

 

"What type of situation?"

 

"There's someone else who has his eye on the job of CEO of Wentworth," Brooks says.  "Someone the board does NOT want to have the job."

 

"And, who is that?"  Jonathon asks.

 

"Your Uncle, Cliff Barnes,"  replies Chapman.

 

"Cliff Barnes?"

 

"Yes.  Barnes owned Wentworth for a time, and even changed the company name to Barnes Global.  Eventually he lost the company to the Ewing family, who in turn named it Ewing Global.  Your mother and brother Austin were the ones who managed to get the company back in its rightful hands........Wentworth hands.  And now with Austin gone and possibly involved in criminal activity, there's no one else with Wentworth blood to take over. We need you, Mr. Lord."

 

"Gentlemen, really, I'm very flattered, but, there's no way I can possibly take you up on your offer.  As you can see, I'm running Lord Enterprises in my father's absence, and, I couldn't leave this company for another.  Especially not a company I've never had any ties to."

 

"Mr. Lord,"  Brooks says.  "We realize that your grandparents, Herbert and Rebecca Wentworth, died long before you were born, so you never knew them.  Your grandfather was a great man, and both Mark and I owe our successful careers to him.  He started Wentworth Industries and he left that legacy to your grandmother, who in turn left a third of the company to her daughter, your mother Katherine and any future children she might have. And YOU are one of those children and heirs."

 

"My mother had four children."

 

"Yes, but the other three are......missing,"  Brooks says.  "That leaves only you, Mr. Lord."

 

"Look, son, we understand your position,"  says Chapman.  "But Lord Enterprises is a very stable company and the board could appoint a temporary CEO for you here, or you could appoint a member of your family to run this company.  Wentworth, however, is in serious trouble without someone at the head.  Someone connected to Herbert Wentworth who can put the rest of the board's fears to rest, as well as our shareholders and customers who buy our products and equipment."

 

"Gentlemen, really, I'm flattered by your confidence in me, but, I'm afraid I'll have to think about this.  Lord Enterprises is my top priority.  I've never had anything to do with Wentworth Industries, and it wasn't until a little over a year ago that I even learned that Katherine was my mother."

 

"We understand,"  Brooks says. 

 

"But please, we need an answer soon,"  Chapman says.  "Your Uncle, Cliff Barnes, is lobbying the board for that job, and if you don't give an answer in the next day or two, Barnes might just get enough of the board's support behind him to end up in the CEO's chair.  And if that happens, our fear is that he'll take Wentworth down the wrong path again.  Maybe even use it in his personal war against the Ewing family."

 

"Let me talk to the board here at Lord Enterprises this afternoon, and to my family.  I'll give you an answer soon."

 

"Thank you,"  Brooks says.

 

"Gentlemen,"  Jonathon says as the two men leave.  Once they are gone, Jonathon closes his office door, walks to his window, and looks out over the skyline of the city of San Francisco.  David Brooks and Mark Chapman have given him a lot to think about.  Jonathon walks to his desk and picks up his cell phone, then dials a number.  "Vicky, it's me," he says after  his stepmother answers.  "I need to talk to you.  I'm coming over.  I'll be there soon."  Jonathon ends the call, shoves his phone into his pocket, and hurries out of his office.  "Janet, I have to go out for a while.  You can go on to lunch, and if I'm not back when you return, I'll be back in the office sometime this afternoon," he tells his secretary.

 

"Yes, sir, "  Janet says as her boss leaves the office.

A restaurant in San Francisco....

 

 

"Young?  Lisa, I'm 57."

 

"57 is YOUNG.  You've got a lot of years ahead of you.  Good years, and I know that Pilar would not want you to spend those years alone.  And, you're still pretty attractive, if that's not too weird coming from your daughter."

 

"No, it's not weird at all, and I appreciate the compliment."

"Well, good, because it's true,"  Lisa says.  "By the way, how are things with you and Eric?"

 

"Things are.....fine.  A little uneasy sometimes, but, I still have a problem with my son working for Richard Channing at Falcon Crest."

 

"That's understandable.  I'd hoped that by now, Eric would have quit working there.  Of course, I'd also hoped that my soon to be ex-husband would've dropped Richard as his client, but, no such luck."

 

"Lance, Lisa, hello,"  says Cole as he and his son Chase approach Lance and Lisa's table.

 

"Well, hey, Cole, how's it going?"  Lance says.

 

"Just fine.  How are you?"  Cole asks.

 

"I'm doin' okay.  Thanks."

 

"Chase, how are things going with your case to get custody of your son?"  Lance asks.  "My daughter won't discuss with me, her own father, on grounds of lawyer-client confidentiality."

 

"Well, after everything that happened in San Diego, I agreed to back off on the custody case for a while," replies Chase.  "Jacob has already been through enough, so the last thing I wanna do is put my son through anymore hell with a second custody battle right after the first one."

 

"And I think you made the right decision,"  Lisa says.

 

"Well, it's only temporary.  After some time passes, I intend to go ahead with this case."

 

"And when you do, just give me a call."

 

"I will,"  Chase says.

 

"We'd better get to our table,"  Cole says. "Lance, Lisa, it's good to see you both."

 

"Yeah, you, too, Cole,"  Lance says as his cousins walk away.  He watches Chase as he takes his seat with his father across the crowded restaurant.  "I can imagine how hard that must have been for Chase, calling off the custody suit.  But, like you said, it was the right decision."

 

"Yes.  I feel really bad for him.  Having a son all this time that he never even knew existed."

 

Lance looks at his daughter.  "I know better than anyone what that feels like.  I went through the exact same thing with you."

 

"Only difference is, you eventually ended up married to my mother,"  says Lisa.  "That's not gonna happen with Chase.  But, anyway, thank you for lunch.  I have to get back to the office.  I have a meeting with a client in 20 minutes, and I need to prepare."

 

"I'm glad we were able to get together.  You and the kids come over to the house for dinner one night this week."

 

"I have a better idea.  This weekend, why don't the kids and I come over, and I can cook dinner for you and Grandma?"

 

"I'd love that, and I know Mom would."

 

"Good,"  Lisa says, standing.  She kisses her father.  "I'll see you later."

 

"Bye.  Love you."

 

"Love you, too,"  Lisa says, walking away.

The Lord mansion....

 Vicky opens the door of her home and let's Jonathon in.  "Come in," she says to her stepson.  Jonathon walks into the house, Vicky closing the door behind her.  "So, what's up?"  She asks, her speech slightly slurred.

 

"I need to talk to you about Lord Enterprises."

 

"What....what about it?"

 

Jonathon looks curiously at his stepmother.  "Vicky, have you been drinking?"

 

"I had a couple glasses of scotch.  Now, what is it you want?"

 

"Well, I was hoping to ask a favor of you,"  replies Jonathon.  

 

"I'm all ears.....ask away,"  Vicky says, staggering briefly.

 

Jonathon reaches out and grabs her by the arm before she falls.  "Vicky, come, sit down."

 

"I'm FINE!"  She snaps.  "Just fine."

 

"You don't look fine to me.  Vicky, how long as this been going on?"

 

"NOTHING is going on,"  Vicky says.  "Look, I had a couple drinks, okay?  Now say what you have to say."

 

"I came over here to ask you if perhaps you could step in for me at Lord Enterprises.  But I see that you're in no shape to do that."

 

"Jonathon, I said I was fine.  But as for me stepping in to fill your father's shoes at Lord.......I'm afraid I'll have to pass up the offer,"  Vicky says, her speech slurring still as she walks a crooked line to the bar to pour herself another glass of scotch.  "Your father should be here running his own company instead of off playing house with his ex-wife and the Manson Family."

 

"Yeah, I agree, but he isn't here.  And Wentworth Industries needs me to step in since my brother Austin is also missing."

 

Vicky looks at him.  "So, you're abandoning your father's company to save Katherine's sinking ship, huh?"

 

"I'm not abandoning Lord Enterprises.  Simply taking a temporary leave."

 

"Well......sorry, stepson.  Can't help you there.  Why not just leave?  Let Lord Enterprises go.  After all, your father did abandon all of us.  You, me, Alex.  He left us to go be with his......other family."

 

"Vicky, I don't know what happened to my father,"  Jonathon says.  "But I do know one thing.  He never would've left his businesses or you or Alex if something hadn't happened to him."

 

"I wouldn't be so sure,"  Vicky says, taking a sip of her drink.  "He did have a lot of secrets, didn't he?  His ex-wife, your mother, being alive, for example.  So......do I believe Jeremy left of his own free will?  Yes, I do.  He wasn't here when I needed him, Jonathon.  When my brother died because of me."

 

"You're STILL blaming yourself for Kevin Channing's death?"

 

"It WAS my fault, ya know."

 

"Vicky, if you wanna wallow in this guilt and self pity for the rest of your life, that's your choice,"  Jonathon says angrily.  "But you have a teenage son to think about, and my little brother needs you.  He's already been left without a father.  Do you want him to be without a mother, too?  Pull it together for his sake."

 

"Don't you DARE tell me what to do."

 

"Someone has got to.  Because from what I see, you sure as hell aren't capable of taking care of yourself or my little brother."

 

"Get out,"  Vicky says.  "Just get the hell out and leave me alone."

 

"Gladly,"  Jonathon says, quickly storming out of the house. 

 

After her stepson is gone, Vicky goes back to the bar and pours herself yet another glass of scotch.  As she takes a sip, she begins to cry.

Dallas, Texas....

 Cliff Barnes is walking through the lobby of one of Dallas's office buildings that afternoon with a man named George Stevenson as they talk and discuss Wentworth Industries.

 

"George, thank you so much for meeting with me today," Cliff says to the other man.

 

"My pleasure, Cliff,"  George Stevenson says.  "As I told you earlier, I've been very concerned about Wentworth Industries in the absence of both Katherine and her son Austin.  The company needs direction, and someone at the helm."

 

"And I would love to be that someone.  Your support would mean a lot to me, not only since you're a member of the Wentworth board, but also as president of the Longhorn Bank."

 

 

 

"You have my support, Cliff,"  George says.  "However, I can't speak for the rest of the Wentworth board.  I happen to know that two of our board members, David Brooks and Mark Chapman, are in San Francisco at this very moment to speak with Katherine's other son, Jonathon Lord, and ask him to step in and run the company for the time being."

 

"Uh, yeah, well, I heard that Katherine's boy was being eyed as a replacement for his brother.  But, Jonathon is. from what I understand, busy running his father's company, Lord Enterprises.  I doubt he'd be interested in coming to Dallas to run a company he's never had any involvement with."

 

"I'm sure you're right.  But, Brooks and Chapman can be very persuasive when they want or need to be.  And, after speaking with several other board members, they feel that it would be best to have someone connected to the Wentworth family as CEO."

 

"Well, there ya go, George,"  Cliff says.  "Rebecca Wentworth was my mother."

 

"Yes, Cliff, but you had no connection to Rebecca's husband, Herbert, who started the company.  Jonathon Lord is Herbert and Rebecca's grandson, and, as the most stable of Katherine's offspring, he is the last descendant of Herbert Wentworth capable of running the company now that Austin is gone."

 

"I see.  Well, George, that's where you come in.  I need you to work on the board for me.  Rally them for me, and convince them that with my many years of experience in business, I would be the best man for the job.

 

"I'll do my best, Cliff.  Won't be easy, considering your previous history with Wentworth, but we'll try.  Listen. I have to run.  I'll be in touch."

 

"Thank you, George,"  Cliff says as George walks away.  "Hmmm,"  Cliff says to himself.  "Maybe I should have a little talk with Jonathon myself.  Convince him that it wouldn't be worth his time to come here to run his mother's company.  I think it's about time I got to know my nephew, anyway."

The Gioberti home....that evening

Cole sighs.  "I knew that Vicky was having a hard time dealing with everything that's happened.....Kevin's death, and your father's mysterious disappearance.  I have seen her take a drink or two, but I had no idea it was serious."

 

"This isn't the first time I've seen her like this, either. Cole, I'm worried that Vicky might be spiraling out of control.  She still blames herself for Kevin's accident."

 

"I know.  And, I'm not real sure what to do about that,"  Cole says.  "I've talked until I'm blue in the face trying to convince her that she wasn't responsible for what happened to Kevin."

 

"Well, I wanted you to be aware of what was going on,"  says Jonathon.  "I also came to ask your help with something else."

 

"What kind of help?"  Cole asks.

 

"Two men came to see me today from Dallas.  They were here on behalf of Wentworth Industries."

 

"Wentworth Industries?"  

 

"My mother's company,"  Jonathon says.  "Since my brother Austin has vanished, along with the rest of my family, Wentworth needs me to step in as temporary CEO."

 

"So, that means you would have to go to Dallas?"

 

"Yeah, and I'm not sure for how long."

 

"Why'd they ask you?  Why not a member of their board of directors?"

 

"They want a member of the Wentworth family, someone connected to the company's founder, my grandfather, Herbert Wentworth."

 

"Sounds like you're considering it,"  Cole says.

 

"I am.  Which means that I need someone I can trust to step in at Lord Enterprises, and also, The Globe.  That's where I need your help, Cole.  You're Vicky's brother and Alex's uncle.  So, there's no one else I trust more to take care of the company that will one day partly belong to Alex.  I know that your sons are working for you at Gioberti, so, I need you to step in for me at Lord.  Help me protect my little brother's legacy."

 

"Jonathon, I'm really flattered that you have so much faith in me."

 

"Like I said, I trust you.  And, I also know how you feel about Richard Channing.  Channing has been out to get back his newspaper ever since my father took it from him.  And, if he could, he would destroy Lord Enterprises."

 

"Yes, he would,"  says Cole. "Richard Channing is a monster.  He caused my father no end of trouble after he came here to this Valley, and he broke my mother's heart numerous times."

 

"I have someone else in mind to take care of The Globe for me.  I've been trying to juggle the paper and the company, and it's really been wearing me down, so I won't burden you with both.  But will you do this, Cole?  For Vicky and for Alex?"

 

Before Cole can answer, Chase walks into the room.  "What's going on?"  He asks.  "Jonathon, what are you doing here?"

 

"I came to ask a favor of your Dad."

 

"What favor?"  Chase asks.

 

"Jonathon asked me to step in for him and run Lord Enterprises while he's out of town for a while."  Cole says.  

 

"Oh, really?"

 

"Yes, and Jonathon.......consider it done."

 

Jonathon breathes a sigh of relief.  "Cole, thank you."

 

"No problem.  Anything for my sister and nephew.  Chase, I'm gonna need you and Joseph to run Gioberti and Sons without me until Jonathon returns."

 

"Sure, Dad, we'll take care of it."

 

"Cole, of course I'm gonna have to run this by the board first, but, there shouldn't be any problem at all."

 

"Fine.  Jonathon, I do have a question.  Why didn't you just ask a member of your board to step in?"

 

"Well, as I said, I needed someone I can trust.  And, it's not that I don't trust our board of directors, but, I do know how corporate takeovers sometimes work, and, I needed someone that I know Richard Channing couldn't possibly blackmail, intimidate, or buy off to get his foot into my father's company."

 

"Well, that's one thing you can count on.  Richard has never intimidated me before, and he sure as hell won't now."

 

"Good.  Thanks again. I'll call you tomorrow after I speak with the board.  Goodnight."

 

"Goodnight,"  Cole says.  

 

Jonathon smiles, then turns and leaves.  

 

 

 "Dad, are you sure you know what you're getting into?"  Chase asks.  "If what Jonathon said is right, Richard Channing might think Lord Enterprises is vulnerable with both he and Jeremy gone."

 

Cole looks at his son.  "I know exactly what I'm getting into.  And in fact, I hope Channing DOES try something while I'm at Lord Enterprises.  I'd like nothing better than to tangle with him, and finally pay him back for all the pain he's caused my family over the last few decades."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                         

Meanwhile....a farmhouse near Texarkana, Texas....

 Jonathon's brother, Austin Wentworth, is sitting on his bed in a room of the isolated farmhouse 18 miles outside of Texarkana, Texas, where he has been held captive for more than two months by a pair of bizarre teenage siblings by the name of Josh and Kasey.  On the table beside his bed sits a dinner tray, with Austin's half eaten dinner.  Austin looks around the room, a sad expression on his face, all hope fading that he will ever get out of this place.

 

Meanwhile, down the hall in the kitchen of the farmhouse, Kasey opens the oven and takes out a frying pan of cornbread and places it on top of the stove as her brother Josh walks into the house from outside.  "Damn tractor," Josh says.  "Gonna need a new crank case."

 

"Is that real expensive?"  Kasey asks.

"Expensive?"  Josh asks.  "The damned thing is around 950 bucks.  In other words, we're SCREWED.  I don't know what I'm gonna do, Kasey.  I work my ass off to keep this farm goin', but without that tractor, there's no way I can do it."

 

"Josh, there is one way,"  Kasey says.

 

"Oh yeah?  How?"

 

"Austin,"  Kasey replies.  "Josh, I just know he'd give you the money, if you tell him you'll just let him go."

 

"What?  Kasey, how STUPID can you be?  The minute Austin Wentworth sets foot off this farm, he'll go straight to the cops and then we won't need the damned tractor because they'll come and take you and Corey away from me, and I'll end up in jail.  Is that what you want?"

 

"No,"  Kasey cries.  "Of course not.  But, Josh, I also don't want......"

 

"Want WHAT, Kasey?"  Asks an angry Josh.  "You don't want Austin Wentworth to die?"

 

"No, I don't, Josh.  And I also don't want my brother to become a cold blooded killer."

 

"Kasey, I don't wanna do this.  You KNOW I'm no killer.  But I promised Mama on her death bed that I would do whatever I had to do to protect you and Corey and keep the three of us together."

 

"We.....we could just keep him here,"  Kasey says in tears.  

 

"Just keep the guy here, locked in that bedroom for the rest of his life?"  Josh asks.  "Kasey, Austin Wentworth is a rich boy with a huge company and the cops are lookin' for both him and his brother. Not only that, the damned FBI are lookin' for them.  It's only a matter of time before somebody tracks him down here. When that happens, they'll take you and Corey away, and they'll find that other guy's body buried here on our farm. Do you think they're gonna believe he died in that plane crash?  Hell no, they'll try to say I killed him.  I aint gonna take that chance."  Josh walks over to his sister and puts his hands on her shoulders.  "I'm sorry, Kasey.  It's GOT to be done.  Tomorrow afternoon.  I'll take him out in the woods and do it.  Then we'll tell Corey that Austin just ran away or somethin'.  Kasey, I promise.  He won't suffer.  I'll make it quick and painless."

 

"You say that like you're plannin' on killin' some animal instead of a human bein'."

 

"It's either HIM.....or us, Kasey, and it sure as hell aint gonna be us.  I'm sorry, but this is the way it's gotta be. Tomorrow."  Josh sighs deeply as he runs his hand through his hair.  "Look, I'm beat.  I'm gonna go get a shower and go to bed.  Sis, I'm gonna need you to keep yourself together.  Don't want Corey to see you cryin', or he's gonna wonder what's wrong."  Josh kisses his sister on the forehead.  "I promise, I'm gonna take care of you and Corey, just like I always have since Mama died," he says, then leaves the room, heading down the hall to the bathroom.  After he's gone, Kasey takes a seat at the table and begins to cry.

 

 

Standing in the adjoining living room, out of sight, is Josh and Kasey's younger brother, Corey, who has been listening and has heard every word his older brother has said.  Tears run down the young boy's cheeks as he thinks about the horrible tragedy that is about to happen tomorrow, unless he can somehow stop it.  Corey peaks into the kitchen, and hanging on the wall, next to the back door, is a set of keys.  One of those is the key to the bedroom where his brother and sister are keeping Austin locked.  Corey knows that if he is to save not only Austin's life, but also save his brother from becoming a murderer, he has to get those keys and free the young man his siblings have been holding captive!

 

 

 

 

 

Falcon Crest.....the winery, the next day....

  Elena is working in the lab at the Falcon Crest winery late the next morning when Michael walks in.  "Hey, how's it going, sweetheart?"  He asks his wife.  

 

"Just fine.  If all goes well, I should have this new wine ready for sampling very soon."

 

 "That's great,"  Michael says.  "I knew you could do it, Elena.  I knew you'd be able to come up with a new formula for a new and improved wine."

 

"It wasn't easy, but, I think I've come up with just the right taste.  Here, try this small sample."  Elena hands him a tiny cup with a very small bit of wine inside. 

 

Michael drinks the sample, then smiles.  "Elena, that's absolutely perfect," he says.

 

"Thank you," she says with a smile.  

 

"We're gonna need this wine to be a huge success in order to make up for the loss Falcon Crest suffered last year when all that tainted wine was recalled.  And I think you've hit on success here."

 

"Well, thank you very much,"  Elena says.  "By the end of the week this wine will be ready to be sampled, and, if all goes well, we should have it on the market by late winter or early spring."

 

"Terrific."

 

"So has Emma arrived yet?"  Elena asks.

 

"No, not yet.  She should be arriving soon,"  Michael says.  

 

"It'll be nice having Emma's baby back in the house, won't it?  Kevin's baby."

 

"Yeah, it will.  Although I'm not looking forward to the reading of my brother's will.  The reading of a will is always like.......it just seems to make it official.  Kevin is really gone."

 

Elena gets up from her seat and walks over to him.  "I understand."

 

"I couldn't get through this without you by my side, Elena.  You've been my rock."

 

Elena smiles as she gently touches Michael's face.  "You'd better get out of here and let me get back to work.  I still have some more tests to run on this formula."

 

"Okay.  I have some work I need to catch up on, myself.  I'll see you in a little while."

 

Elena nods.  Michael kisses her, then leaves.  

Lord Enterprises....

 "Gentlemen, please, come in,"  Jonathon says as he welcomes David Brooks and Mark Chapman into his office at Lord Enterprises that afternoon.  

 

"Well, Mr. Lord, since you called and asked us here, we assume you've made a decision about Wentworth Industries?"  Brooks asks.

 

"Yes.  Yes, I have,"  Jonathon replies.

 

"And?"  Chapman asks.  "What is your answer?"

 

"I'll do it.  I'll step into the CEO position at Wentworth, TEMPORARILY, until a permanent CEO of the board's choosing can be appointed.  I've spoken to my board here at Lord, and I have found someone to fill in for me here until such time as I, or my father, return."

 

Both men smile.  "Mr. Lord, you have no idea how happy you've made us,"  David Brooks says.  "Both Mr. Chapman and I, as well as several other members of the board feel that your Uncle, Cliff Barnes, would be one of the worst possible choices to run Wentworth.  He had his shot at running the company before, and not only did he change the name of the company, but he eventually lost the company to a rival family.  Wentworth doesn't need that kind of drama again."

 

"Well, I can assure you gentlemen that nothing like that will happen with me.  I intend to continue running Wentworth the way that my brother did, and hopefully, grow the company's profits while I'm there."

 

"Wonderful,"  Mark Chapman says.   "And when can we expect you in Dallas?"

 

"I can fly to Dallas as early as tomorrow afternoon,"  replies Jonathon.  

 

"Good,"  says David Brooks.  "We'll call a special board meeting for tomorrow afternoon, and a vote will be taken.  I see this as just a formality, as we've spoken to most of the rest of the board members, and they all agree, you are the best choice for this job.  Cliff Barnes has only two board members in his corner."

 

"Well, thank you, gentlemen,"  says Jonathon.  

 

"Mr. Lord, see you in Dallas tomorrow afternoon,"  Chapman says.  "We'll be in touch and let you know what time the board will meet."

 

"I look forward to working with you gentlemen and the rest of the board,"  Jonathon says, shaking hands with both men.  David Brooks nods, then the two men walk out of the office.  Jonathon lets out a deep breath.  "Well," he says to himself.  "I guess there's no turning back now.  What the hell have I gotten myself into.  Dad, Austin, where the hell are you guys? And why would both of you just vanish and leave your companies like this?"

A farmhouse near Texarkana, Texas....

 Meanwhile, Jonathon's brother, Austin Wentworth, is looking out the window of his bedroom at the farmhouse where he's being held captive outside of Texarkana, Texas.  Austin watches as one of his teenage captors, Josh, is out by the barn continuing a last ditch effort to get his tractor running.  Austin also sees Kasey as she walks out of the house carrying a basket full of laundry to be hung out on the clothesline.  Watching the two, the anger rises inside of Austin, more so at Josh than at Kasey, as he feels that if he could actually get to speak to Kasey alone for a while, he could possibly convince her to help him.  Austin's train of thought is interrupted when he hears the sound of the door to the bedroom being unlocked.  Confused, Austin turns around.  He is surprised when young 

stop as he peeks out around the corner of the house toward the barn to make sure his brother was still busy, and that Kasey had not discovered Austin missing and alerted Josh.  Austin pauses and waits for several seconds, until Corey tells him all is clear.  "Okay, come on,"  the boy finally tells him.  Austin follows him around to the front of the house.  Corey opens the door, and they go in.  Corey walks to the window and again looks up toward the barn.  "Soon as Josh goes in the house, you take off runnin'.  Head for the woods.  Go straight in about, I dunno, a hundred feet or so, and you'll find a creek.  Just follow that creek all the way that way, and after a long time, maybe 5 or 6 miles, you'll come out on a highway."

 

"5 or 6 miles?"  Austin asks.

 

"Yes.  We're in the middle of nowhere."

 

"Corey, why are you doing this?  Why are you going against your brother and letting me go?"

 

"Because I like you.  You were nice to me, and I don't want......."  Corey pauses and looks at him.  "I don't want anything bad to happen."

 

"Anything bad?  Like what?  Corey, what didn't you want to happen?"  Asks a nervous Austin.

 

Corey looks at him and begins to cry.  "Josh, I didn't want him to......to hurt you."

 

"Hurt me?  Josh was gonna hurt me?  Oh my God.  Corey, he was gonna kill me, wasn't he?  Corey, WASN'T HE?"

 

"He said he had to.  Because if you got away, you'd tell somebody and they would take me and Kasey away."

 

"Dear God.  Corey, your brother, he's sick.  He's crazy."

 

"He's not crazy.  He's just tryin' to keep us together.  To protect us,"  the boy cries.

 

"Protect you from WHAT?"  Austin asks.  "Corey, what happened to your parents?"

 

"They're dead."

 

"I know that, but how did they die?"  Austin asks.

 

"My Daddy got killed, right here on this farm.  His tractor run into a hole when he was plowin' and he got thrown off.  The tractor turned over on him. I was only 5 when it happened, but I still remember my Mama screamin' and runnin' out in the field when she seen it happened.  Mama, she, she was sick, even then.  She died two years ago.  She had cancer."

 

"Corey, I'm sorry.  What about any other relatives?"

 

"Don't have none,"  the boy replies.  "None that matter or would help, anyway.  My Daddy had a brother, and a sister.  His brother is a piece of crap and we don't even know where Daddy's sister is now."

 

"What about the authorities?  Child protective services?"

 

"They don't know we're here.  My brother promised my Mama when she was dyin' that he was gonna look after me and Kasey, and that we would stay together.  Nobody around here ever come around much.  People keep to themselves around here.  She told everybody before she died that we were goin' to stay with my Uncle.  When Josh goes to town he just tells folks that he came back to check on the farm and stay for a couple days."

 

"And nobody ever comes out here to check?"  Austin asks, completely stunned by the story.  

 

"Nope.  There's a gate up with a keep out sign.  You're the only outsider we seen around here since Mama died."

 

"Unbelievable,"  Austin says, running his hand through his dark hair.  "Corey, you and Kasey......you haven't even been off this farm since your Mom died, have you?"

 

"No.  Josh says there's no need to.  That everythin' we need is right here.  Austin, I need you to promise me somethin'."

 

"What, Corey?"  Austin asks.

 

"I'm lettin' you go.  But you gotta promise me that you won't say nothin' to nobody about us bein' here without our parents, or about what my brother did.  Please, Austin.  Promise me.  I'm lettin' you go.  I'm savin' your life.  Please do this for me."

 

"Corey, come with me, and I won't say anything about Josh and Kasey.  You deserve a better life than this.  You deserve to go to school, and have friends."

 

"I can't.  They're my family.  They're all I got left."

 

"If your brother and sister gave a damn about you, they'd want you OFF this farm and having a better life than this."

 

"You promise me that you won't tell nobody,"  Corey says.  "Promise me, Austin, or I'll yell for my brother right now!"

 

Austin looks at the little boy.  "Alright.  I promise," he says, lying, thinking that he has to tell Corey what he wants to hear in order to get out of there.  Privately, in his mind, Austin has every intention of coming back for Corey later.  

 

Corey returns to the window.  He watches his brother for a moment as Josh is still working on the tractor.  "I'll let ya know soon as Josh goes in the house or the barn, then you make  a run for them woods, and don't stop runnin' til you get to that highway."  As Corey returns his gaze out the window, his eyes suddenly widen with fear, watching as Kasey runs out of the house to Josh.  Corey sees his sister say something to his brother, and Josh has an angry reaction.  "Oh no,"  Corey says, realizing that Kasey had discovered Austin missing from his locked bedroom.

 

"What?"  Asks a worried Austin, rushing to the window.  

 

"Kasey must have found you missin' from your room and told Josh,"  Corey replies as he and Austin watch Josh and Kasey run back into the house.

 

"Oh my God,"  Austin says.

 

"You gotta go.....NOW!"  Corey says.  

 

Without saying a word, Austin runs for the door and quickly bolts from the shed, running as fast as he can toward the nearby woods, Corey watching him.  

 

Meanwhile, Josh runs out of the main house carrying a shotgun.  Seeing Austin running toward the woods in the distance, Josh raises the gun and takes aim.  After a brief pause, he pulls the trigger, firing a shot in Austin's direction, but missing.  Austin stops for s second, startled by the shot, then quickly makes a dash for the woods.  Josh raises the gun to take another shot.  Kasey runs out of the house.  Josh takes a second shot at Austin, and this time, Austin stumbles and falls, as if he has been hit.  But seeing Austin attempting to get to his feet again in the field, Josh raises his gun to finish off his prey.  

 

"Josh, NO!!!"  Kasey screams, grabbing for the gun when she sees her little brother Corey run out of the shed and into the field to help Austin.  Josh shoves his sister to the ground, then realizes that Corey has helped Austin up.  Not wanting to hit his little brother, Josh lowers the weapon.  He watches as Corey helps Austin make it to the woods nearby.  

 

"Damn it!" Josh yells angrily.  "Kasey......get in the house.  I'm goin' after them.

 

"Josh, Corey's with him.......please........please be careful."

 

"Don't worry,"  Josh says.  "I'll bring Corey back.  And then he's gonna be sorry he done this."

 

Kasey watches in tears as her brother races to his pickup truck and gets in with the shotgun.  Josh starts the truck and speeds off across the field toward the woods where Austin and Corey had fled.

 

Meanwhile, Austin and Corey are running through the woods, but Austin has to stop.  He takes a seat on a fallen log.  Corey stops and runs back to him.  "Austin, come on!"  Corey tells him. 

 

"I can't.  I.....I've gotta rest for a minute,"  Austin says.  He reaches around and touches the left side of his lower 

back.  When he looks at his hand, it's covered in blood.  Corey's mouth falls open in shock at the sight of the blood.

 

"Austin.....you're hurt!"

 

"No, it's......a bullet just grazed me, I think."

 

"But you're bleedin' bad,"  Corey says.  At that moment, the sound of Josh's pickup can be heard approaching.  "IT'S JOSH!"  Corey says.  "Austin, come on!   If Josh wasn't gonna kill you before, he sure will now.  And he'll prob'ly do worse than that to me, 'cuz I helped you get away."

 

"Come on,"  Austin says.  Mustering all of his strength, he gets to his feet, and he and Corey head deeper into the woods.  Josh parks his truck at the edge of the woods.  Getting out of the truck, Josh takes his shotgun and pursues his prey on foot.  As he and Corey tread deeper into the woods, Austin tries to keep his left hand over the wound in his back, hoping to at least slow the blood loss.  "Those shots," he says.  "Somebody'll hear those shots and come."

 

"No they won't,"  Corey says.  "This is a big farm, and nobody lives close by.  Nearest neighbor is about five miles away."

 

"Oh, great!"  Austin says.

Back at Falcon Crest....

 

 

Emma Ryland walks into the mansion at Falcon Crest that afternoon carrying baby Logan on one arm and her suitcase in the other hand.  She sits her suitcase down on the floor in the middle of the foyer.  

 

"Miss Ryland,"  says Chang-Li, coming into the foyer to greet her.

 

"Hello, Chang-Li."

 

"Welcome back,"  the butler says.  "I hope you enjoyed your time in Dallas."

 

"I did, thank you.  Is anyone else at home?"

 

 

"Mr. Channing is in his office.  I'll let him know you're here."  Chang-Li walks over to Richard's office and knocks on the door.  

 

"Yes?"  He hears Richard say from inside the office.  

 

Chang-Li opens the sliding double doors to the office.  "Mr. Channing, Miss Ryland has returned."

 

"Well, then, send Miss Ryland in,"  Richard says.  

 

"Yes, sir,"  Chang-Li says.  "Miss Ryland, you may go in."

 

"Thank you,"  Emma says.  She walks into Richard's office.  "Hello, Richard."

 

"Emma,"  Richard says, standing to greet her.  "Welcome home, and how's my little grandson?"

 

"He's just fine.  A little cranky from the flight,"  replies Emma.  "Chang-Li, would you please take Logan up to the nursery and put him down?"

 

"Yes, Miss Ryland,"  the young butler says.  He gently takes the infant and carries him out of the room and up the stairs.

 

"How was your visit with your family?"  Richard asks.

 

"It was fine,"  replies Emma.  "The time away was just what I needed.  In fact, I was planning on staying in Dallas for a longer period of time, but then I got a call from Ben Agretti about Kevin's will."

 

"Yes.  The will is going to be read day after tomorrow."

 

"Yes, that's what Mr. Agretti told me.  Do you have any idea what's in the will?"

 

"No, I don't, is there any reason I should?  Or any reason you have to be curious, or rather, worried, about what's in the will?"

 

"Of course not.  Why would I be worried?"

 

"No reason I can think of.  Far as I know, Kevin left the bulk of his estate to his son, and, very likely, his son's mother,"  Richard says, looking at Emma.  

 

"Well, I'm very tired after that flight, so I'm gonna go upstairs, check on the baby, and unpack."

 

"Fine.  By the way, are you back to stay, or do you have plans to return to Dallas after the reading of Kevin's will?"

 

"I'm not sure yet.  Why?"

 

"Well, I would like to have my grandson around for a while at least."

 

"We'll see,"  Emma replies.  "Oh, by the way, Richard, have you by any chance had any word on Katherine?"

 

"No, I have not.  Why do you ask?"

 

"Just curious.  Katherine did try to kill my mother.  Naturally, I'm curious if the authorities are any closer to finding her."

 

"As far as I know, they are NOT,"  says Richard.  

 

"I'll see you at dinner, Richard,"  Emma says, then leaves the room.  She starts up to her bedroom, but pauses on the stairs and breathes a sigh of relief that there's been no new word on Katherine or her capture.  Emma knows that her Aunt Katherine could blow her out of the water if she returns and reveals that Lucas Ewing and not Kevin Channing was the father of her son.  After a brief pause, Emma continues upstairs.

Dallas, Texas....

 Cliff Barnes steps off an elevator in the building that houses his company, Stone-Barnes Oil, when his cell phone rings.  Cliff takes the phone from his pocket and sees it's George Stevenson calling, so he answers quickly.  "George, what's up?"  Cliff asks.

 

"Cliff, did I catch you at a bad time?"  George asks.

 

"No, of course not.  I was just about to leave my office to head to the airport.  I'm flying to San Francisco in hopes of seeing Jonathon Lord."

 

"You shut up, Corey,"  says Josh.  "I'll deal with you later.  You think you was just gonna get away from me, Austin?"

 

"If you're gonna kill me, then just go ahead and do it,"  says a defeated Austin.  "Just let Corey go.  I don't want him to see it."

 

"Get up,"  says Josh.  "We're goin' back to my truck.  And Corey, you get your ass back to the house and go to your room."

 

"NO!"  Corey says, defiantly.

 

"What'd you say to me?"

 

"I said no."

 

"You never talked back to me like that before in your life.  Not til HE came here."

 

"Because you was never gonna kill somebody before, Josh,"  Corey says.  "Please.  If you're scared that Austin's gonna tell, he won't.  He promised me."

 

"And you believed him?  Damn, you're stupid."

 

"I won't,"  Austin says.  "Just let me go.  Corey told me about your parents, and how they died.  He told me why you're doing this, and Josh, I understand.  Look, I can help you.  If it's money you, I have a LOT of money."

 

Josh laughs.  "So what?  I let you walk off this farm, you won't tell the cops about us bein' here without parents, and about what all I've done to you, and then you'll send me some money back here as a 'thank you' for not blowin' your brains out?  Yeah, right.  Come on.  Get on your feet."

 

"No.  I'm not moving from here."

 

Josh points the gun at Austin.  "You really want my little brother to see your head explode and your brains splattered all over these woods?  Because if you don't do like I said and get on your feet in 3 seconds, then that's what's gonna happen."

 

His heart pounding with terror, Austin looks at Corey, then immediately follows Josh's orders and stands to his feet.  

 

"Now.....move,"  Josh says,  "Back the way you came.  You too, Corey."

 

Reluctantly, both captives do as they are told and walk ahead of Josh, who is holding the gun to Austin's back.  As the three leave the area of the creek, someone else is in the woods and looking on from behind some trees nearby.  The ominous presence watches as Josh marches Austin and Corey away at gunpoint.

Wentworth Industries, Dallas....

 An elevator opens down the hall from the boardroom at Wentworth Industries in Dallas.  Cliff Barnes steps off the elevator, and sees his friend, George Stevenson, down the hall and approaches him.  "George," he says.  

 

"Ah, Cliff, I'm glad you're here.  The meeting is in ten minutes."

 

"Yeah, so, is Jonathon Lord here yet?"  Cliff asks, the two men walking down the hall.

 

"No, he hasn't arrived yet, but most of the board is already here," George replies.  

 

"George, how do you think it looks?"

 

"Cliff, after speaking with some of the members of the board, if I were you, I wouldn't get my hopes up.  Most of them still harbor ill feelings for the way you took over the company almost 20 years ago, changed the name from Wentworth Industries to Barnes Global, and then lost the company to the Ewings."

 

"Losing the company wasn't my fault, George,"  says Cliff.  "The Ewings set me up."

 

"I know, Cliff,"  George says.  

 

Before Cliff can say anything more, Jonathon steps off the elevator down the hall.  George and Cliff make eye contact and exchange looks with the young man, then Jonathon walks down the hall to a water cooler.  "Here's my chance to talk to him,"  Cliff says.  "Probably my ONLY chance before that board meeting."

 

"Good luck,"  George says as Cliff walks away from him and approaches Jonathon, who is drinking from the water cooler.

 

"Hello,"  Cliff says to the young man.

 

"Hello,"  Jonathon replies, standing.

 

"I'm......"

 

"You're Cliff Barnes.  I know."

  "That's right.  I'm your uncle,"  Cliff says with a smile.  "I guess you probably know why I'm here."

 

"Yes, I do.  Same reason I'm here.  You're hoping the board will vote you in as interim CEO of Wentworth."

 

"That's right.  You know I use to own this company.  I ran it for years."

 

"Yes, and with disastrous results, from what I've heard."

 

Cliff laughs slightly.  "Well, things happened that were beyond my control.  Jonathon, why are you REALLY here?  You have your father's company in San Francisco to take care of in his absence, and a newspaper.  Why bother with a company here in Dallas that you've never had any connection to at all?  You didn't even know that Katherine was your mother until what, about a year and a half ago?"

 

"That doesn't matter," says Jonathon. "Wentworth is still part of my heritage, same as Lord Enterprises is."

 

"You're not cut out for this, son.  You're stepping into this position on a temporary basis, but what's gonna happen when this company needs a permanent CEO?  Are you gonna leave your home and your father's company in San Francisco to move here and run Wentworth?  If you really think about this, and do some soul searching, I believe that you will see what a mistake this would be for you to take this job. What are you getting out this, anyway?  Do you think you owe any allegiance to your mother and your brother? Katherine abandoned you when you were a little kid and ran away with her other son to raise him.  Not once did she ever give you a moment's thought."

 

"And just how would you know whether or not my mother thought about me over the years?"  Jonathon asks.

 

"Because I know my sister,"  replies Cliff.  "I know what kind of a woman she is, and I know that she doesn't give a damn about anyone but herself.  She's proven that time and time again.  So you don't owe her anything."

 

"Why do YOU give a damn about Wentworth Industries, UNCLE Cliff?"  Jonathon asks.  "This company belonged to your mother's second husband, Herbert Wentworth.  He wasn't your father."

 

"No, but Wentworth Industries has always held a very special place in my life.  This company was also very special to my other sister, your Aunt Pam."

 

"If Wentworth was so special to Pam Ewing, then why didn't she ever step in and run it after my mother disappeared the first time?"

 

As Cliff is about to answer, George Stevenson comes down the hall.  "Cliff, Mr. Lord, the meeting is about to begin."

 

Cliff looks at his nephew.  "Now's your chance," he says.  "It's not too late to back out."

 

"No thanks.  I'll see you in the boardroom.  And may the best man win,"  Jonathon says.

 

"Oh, the best man WILL win,"  says Cliff.  "And that's gonna be me."

 

Jonathon smiles, then walks past Cliff and down the hall.  After a brief pause, Cliff and George follow.  A few seconds later the three men walk into the boardroom, where a group of 10 men and 4 women, all members of the Wentworth board, are seated around a long table.  George takes his usual seat at the table on the board, mostly made up of older people in their 60s and  70s, all Wentworth vets who had served with the company since the time of its founder and Jonathon's grandfather,  Herbert Wentworth himself.  Once everyone is in the boardroom and has taken their seats, someone closes the door, then takes a seat at the table.  

 

"Good afternoon,"  a man seated at the head of the table says.  "Thank you all for coming to this rather hastily called meeting of the board of directors of Wentworth Industries.  For the past two and a half months, this company has been without leadership in the absence of its Chief Executive Officer, Austin Wentworth.  This meeting has been called to appoint an interim CEO to serve until such time as a permanent replacement can be appointed.  We have two candidates whose names have been put forth, Mr. Cliff Barnes, who once owned Wentworth Industries.  Mr. Barnes is the son of the late Rebecca Barnes Wentworth, and most of us here have known him since his days of running Wentworth Tool & Dye from 1981 to 1982.  The other candidate for interim CEO is Mr. Jonathon Lord, who is the son of Katherine Wentworth, and grandson of Herbert and Rebecca.  Both candidates are here with us, and we will be hearing from both....."

 

As the speaker pauses briefly, Cliff and Jonathon exchange looks between them.  

The farm near Texarkana....

 

Meanwhile, as Josh watches, his shotgun beside him, Austin is digging a hole in the woods...... Austin is being forced to dig his own grave.  As he digs, he looks up at Josh watching him.  "Enjoying this?"  He asks.  "Making me dig my own grave?"

 

"Just shut up and keep diggin'," says Josh.

Austin stops digging and looks at Josh.  "No," he says.  "I'm not doing this anymore.  You wanna kill me, then just go ahead and do it.  Then YOU can dig the hole to put me in."

 

Josh picks up his shotgun and points it.  "You got a choice here, Austin.  You can keep diggin' until I tell ya to stop, and I'll let ya go out quick and painlessly ........or, we can do this the hard way where you'll be in so much pain you'll be BEGGIN' me to kill you and end your sufferin'."

 

"You crazy little bastard,"  Austin says.  "You're really getting some sick, sadistic pleasure out of this, aren't you?  Why?  What the hell did I ever do to you to make you do this to me?  I didn't ask to be here.  This is the last place on God's Earth I would ever choose for my plane to crash."

 

"Me and my brother and my sister were doin' just fine until you came along.  I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would ever be forced to take another life.  But you're dangerous to us."

 

"You were doing fine?"  Austin asks.  "Corey told me everything.  He told me about your father getting killed on his tractor out in the field.  And about your mother dying of cancer a couple years ago.  Josh, that must've been hard.  You having to step up and be the man of the house, taking care of your younger siblings.  But Josh, was this really fair to Corey?  He's such a good kid, a SMART kid.  He deserves to be in school.  To have friends.  To have a normal life."

 

"You think you know everything, don't you?  You don't know CRAP about my life.  Ya wanna know somethin' about my old man, Japhet Harper?  He was a real bastard.  Town drunk.  A mean drunk who hit my Mama and hit me.  When he died, I was glad.  Corey was too little to remember what an ass he was.  His brother was no better. When my Mama died, Daddy's brother, my Uncle Boaz........he wouldn't even take us in.  He was our only livin' relative around here."

 

"Corey said your father had a sister."

 

"Oh yeah.  A sister that got as far away from her brothers and this crap hole as she could.  I never laid eyes on her. I did hear my old man say she'd run off to marry some rich guy and he never wanted to see her around him again. I guess he couldn't control her, so he hated her."

 

"You never thought about trying to get in touch with your aunt?"  Austin asks.  "Maybe she would've taken you in."

 

"You just don't worry about it,"  Josh says.  "Get back to diggin' and quit stallin'.  It aint gonna help you."

 

"Josh, you don't have to do this.  Look, you're just a kid.  You're NOT a killer."

 

"You think I wanna do this?"  Josh asks, his voice breaking as he fights back tears.  "I don't hate you.  I'm not doin' this because I hate you.  But I made a promise to my Mama on her deathbed that I was gonna look after my brother and sister and keep us all together.  I aint gonna break that promise."

 

"How old were you when your mother died, Josh?  15?  16?  You were a child yourself."

 

"I was the man of this fam'ly.  I did what I had to do for Corey and Kasey."

 

"I could help you, Josh.  I've got lots of money."

 

Josh looks at him for a moment.  "I don't want your help.  Only thing I want is for your to get back to diggin' that hole and shut your mouth."

 

"No,"  says Austin, tears running down his face.  "I'm not doing this anymore, Josh.  If you wanna kill me, then just do it.  If you have it in you to look me in the eye and shoot me down in cold blood, then go ahead."

 

Tears running down his own face, Josh looks at Austin and raises his shotgun, pointing the weapon directly at Austin's head.  His heart pounding with more fear than he's ever experienced in his life, Austin begins trembling, then closes his eyes and begins to pray.  Josh places his finger on the trigger, but hesitates when he again looks at Austin.  How can he do this?  Josh thinks to himself.  After a moment's hesitation, Josh again realizes that he has no choice.  He places his finger back on the trigger, but again hesitates, unsure that he can really pull that trigger while looking his victim in the face.  As Josh begins to cry, someone strikes him from behind on the back of the head with a piece of wood.  Josh drops the gun, then immediately falls to the ground, knocked unconscious by the blow.

 Hearing Josh fall, Austin opens his eyes, a look of complete shock on his face upon seeing Josh's assailant.

 "Well, hello, brother.  Long time, no see,"  says Austin's twin brother, Brian Manning, kneeling beside an unconscious Josh.  "From the looks of things, I just saved your life."

 

Austin looks at his brother with both fear and disbelief, wondering where Brian had been all this time since the plane crash, and also terrified that he had just gone from the frying pan into the fire!

Wentworth Industries, Dallas....

 

Back in Dallas, Cliff is presenting his case for the board making him CEO of Wentworth.  "And so, ladies and gentlemen, as you can plainly see, I have both the experience, and the history with Wentworth that is needed to carry this company forward.  During my time running the company, this became an even bigger and more profitable organization that it had been before.  My nephew, on the other hand, lacks both the experience or the personal connection to Wentworth Industries, qualities that are needed in the new interim CEO.  Jonathon Lord is young.  Granted, he's a few years older than his brother Austin, the company's previous CEO, but Jonathon is very new to the business world, having joined his father's company only recently.  So, there you have it.  Four decades worth of business experience and a personal connection to Wentworth, as opposed to almost NO business experience, and no connection at all to this company. Thank you."  Cliff smiles at the members of the board, then walks over to retake his seat.

 

"Thank you, Mr. Barnes,"  says Jim Autry, one of the board members and moderator of the meeting.  "Mr. Lord, do you have anything to say to the members of the board before we take a vote?"

 

"Yes, sir, I do,"  Jonathon says, standing to his feet.  "My uncle is absolutely right.  I don't have much experience in business, but I have been running my father's company, Lord Enterprises, as well as his newspaper, The San Francisco Globe, for more than two months, since my father has been gone.  In that time, Lord Enterprises has dramatically increased its fourth quarter earnings.  I may not have the hands on experience in running a major corporation that my uncle does, but I do have the training and the education.  My father taught me everything he knows about big business, and I also have a business degree from Yale University.  Not only that, but, contrary to what my uncle said, I do have a very deep, personal connection to this company.  I never knew my grandparents, Herbert and Rebecca Wentworth, but, since learning that I am their grandson, I've made a point to find out all I can about them.  I want this job because I want to protect the Wentworth legacy, which is part of MY legacy.  My uncle is a Barnes.  He has no Wentworth blood as I do.  He also had his shot at running this company, and he blew that chance when he allowed the Ewing family to take the company away from him.  And, at the time, the Ewings were aided by my uncle's own daughter, Pamela, who betrayed her father.  I think that speaks volumes about my uncle's ability to inspire loyalty, even in his own children.  So, I ask the members of this board to take these things into consideration when making a choice of who will run my grandfather's company.  Thank you."

 

"Thank you, Mr. Lord,"  says Jim Autry.  "Now, if there is no further discussion, I believe this board is ready to take a vote.  We ask that Mr. Barnes and Mr. Lord please leave the room and have a seat in the waiting room outside.  We will inform you when the vote has been decided."

 

Cliff and Jonathon both nod to the board members as they stand, then silently exit the room.  

 

"Well, do we need to have any discussion, or is the board ready to vote?"  Autry asks the 14 other board members, which include George Stevenson, David Brooks, and Mark Chapman.  The group looks around the room at each other.  

 

"I believe we're ready to vote on Wentworth's interim CEO,"  David Brooks says.  

A few minutes later....

Cliff and Jonathon are waiting in a room adjacent to the boardroom, Cliff pacing anxiously.  He looks at his watch.  "Good grief, what are they doing in there?"  Cliff asks.  "They've had plenty of time."

 

"Worried, Uncle Cliff?"  Jonathon asks.

 

"Not a bit.  I'm confident the board will see that, with my experience, I'm the better man for the job,"  says Cliff.

 

The door to the adjoining boardroom opens, and Jim Autry is standing there.  "You gentlemen may come in," he says.  Cliff and Jonathon walk into the boardroom as Autry retakes his seat at the table.  "The board has taken a vote and reached a decision."

 

"And?"  Cliff asks.

 

"The vote was 11 to 4.  Mr. Lord..........congratulations.  You are now the new interim CEO of Wentworth Industries," Autry says.

 

Jonathon smiles triumphantly as Cliff's mouth falls open in shock.  Members of the board stand and begin to congratulate Jonathon and shake his hand, while a defeated Cliff stands alone, looking on in anger.  After he