EPISODE 33 - Day Of Reckoning

Chase is on an American Airlines flight headed back to San Francisco from Dallas.  When a stewardess walks past, Chase stops her.  "Excuse me," he says.  "What time will we be arriving in San Francisco?"

"We're scheduled to land in half an hour, at 12:15, sir."

"Thank you,"  Chase says.  

"Could I get you anything, sir?"

"No, I'm fine,"  Chase replies, and the stewardess walks away.  Chase sighs.  "Big brother," he mutters to himself.  "When I get home, you've got a hell of a lot of explaining to do."

Falcon Crest....

Michael's car pulls up in front of the mansion at Falcon Crest and comes to a stop.  He is bringing Elena home from the hospital.  A couple of minutes later, they walk into the house, Michael carrying Elena's suitcase.  Richard, Emma Channing, Julia, and Angie come into the foyer to greet them.  

"Elena, welcome home,"  Richard says, greeting his daughter-in-law with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you, Richard."

"How do you feel?"  Emma Channing asks.

"A little sore, but, relieved to be home."

"And thank God the baby is okay,"  says Angie.

"I second that,"  Richard says.  

"Elena, it's so good to see you home,"  Julia says.

"Thank you, Julia, and thank you for being here to welcome me."

"Oh, it's my pleasure,"  says Julia.  "Lance and the kids send their love."

"Well, honey, why don't we go on up and get you settled?"  Michael asks.  "I'm sure you wanna get some rest."

"Michael, I've been in the hospital for several days now.  All I've been doing is resting,"  Elena says.  "Where the OTHER Emma?"

"She's upstairs in her room,"  replies Angie.  "I guess she felt it wouldn't be appropriate, her being here to greet you when you came home, since it was HER fault that you fell."

"It was an accident,"  Elena says.  "Michael, on second thought, I would like to go up and rest for a while.  But first, I'd like to see Emma.  Alone."

"Elena, are you sure about that?"  Michael asks.

"Yes, I'm sure.  Would you bring my suitcase up in a few minutes?"

"Yeah, sure."

"I'll have Chang-Li fix you something for lunch and bring it up to you,"  Richard says.

Elena smiles.  "Thank you.  It's good to be home."  Elena kisses her husband, then goes up the stairs.  

Meanwhile, Emma Ryland is in her bedroom, standing at her window, tears streaming down her cheeks, deep in thought about the news she has received from Dallas.  Her thoughts are interrupted by a knock at her door.  She quickly wipes her tears and tries to compose herself.  "Come in," she says.

Elena walks into the room.  "Emma,"  she says.

"Elena, I'm glad you're home.  Are you okay?"

"Yes, other than my wrist, I'm fine."

"And the baby?"

"The baby will be fine, too."

"Thank God for that,"  Emma says.

"Emma, we need to talk."

"Yes, you're right.  We DO need to talk.  I have some good news and some bad news for you."

"Oh?"  Elena asks.

"Good news is, it looks like you're going to get your wish.  I'll soon be out of this house, and out of the Channing family.  Bad news is. ..........you won't have this secret to hold over my head, if that was your plan."

"Emma, what are you talking about?"  Elena asks.

"My mother called.  And my secret is out.  Lucas, and all the Ewings know that Lucas is Logan's father.  And it's only a matter of time before Lucas shows up here, and the whole Channing family knows the truth.  How long do you think Richard will let me stay on here after he finds out that Logan isn't his grandson?"

"What happened?  How did Lucas find out?"  Elena asks.

"Well, you remember Tripp McKay, don't you?"

"Yes, of course.  I heard on the news that he had been murdered."

"Yeah, well, before Tripp met his maker, he somehow found out about Logan's paternity, and he told Lucas and Bobby.  Bobby kicked my mother out of Southfork."

"Oh, Lord.  Poor Ann,"  says Elena.  

"And what about me?"  Emma asks in tears.  "As soon as Richard Channing finds out Kevin was not Logan's father, he'll kick me out of this house so fast......"

"I really don't BELIEVE you,"  Elena says.  "Your mother has lost everything, too, and yet all you can think about is yourself, and what you stand to lose?  You really are just as selfish as you ever were."  Elena turns and walks out of the room.  

Emma turns back and looks out her window again.  "What am I gonna do?"  She asks herself.  "If Richard kicks me out and, if he tries to keep me from getting that inheritance Kevin left me and Logan, where will I go?"

The Gioberti Home....

 A taxi pulls up in front of the Gioberti mansion, and Chase gets out of the back.  He gets out of the taxi with his suitcase and pays the driver.  Chase pauses for a moment in front of his family's home, trying to compose himself before going in and confronting Joseph about what Christopher Ewing had told him in Dallas.  

Meanwhile, Cole is sitting in the living room drinking a beer and reading the Sunday newspaper when Chase walks into the house.  Seeing his son come into the foyer, Cole gets up to greet him.  "Chase, hey, you're back.  How did everything go in Dallas?  Did you get to see Jacob?"

"Oh yeah.  I saw him.  Dad, where's Joseph?  Is he home?"

"Yeah, he's upstairs.  Chase, what's wrong?"  Cole asks.

"I need to have a little chat with my brother,"  Chase replies.

"Hey,"  Joseph says, coming down the stairs.  "Chase, thought I heard your voice down here.  Glad you're back.  How'd it go in Dallas?"

Without saying a word, Chase punches his brother in the mouth, knocking Joseph off his feet and to the floor.  He looks up at his brother.  "Hey, what the HELL was THAT for?"

"Chase, what's going on?"  Cole asks.

Chase looks down at Joseph.  "Tell me it's not true," he says.  

"Tell you what's not true?"  Joseph asks.  "I don't even know what the hell you're talking about."

"YOU LOOK ME IN THE EYE AND TELL YOU DIDN'T HAVE SEX WITH COURTNEY WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRLFRIEND!!"  Chase angrily yells.

"What?"  Joseph asks, getting to his feet.  "You've completely lost your freaking mind!"

"Did you?  Did you sleep with Courtney when the two of us were dating?"

"I have no idea what you're even talking about!"  Joseph says.  "I never even met Courtney when the two of you were dating."

"That's not what her husband Christopher told me.  He told me that I'm not Jacob's father.  YOU are!  And if you're Jacob's father, then that means you had sex with my girlfriend."

"That's the craziest thing I've ever heard.  When you and Courtney were dating she was how old?  15, 16?  I NEVER would've had sex with an underage girl."

"You're a damned liar,"  Chase says.  "Courtney never denied that you and she had sex."

"Little brother, I see you're upset, so I'm gonna let ya have that punch in the mouth you just gave me.  But I'll be damned if I'm gonna stand here and let you call me a liar."

"Alright, just hold on,"  Cole says.  "Chase, suppose you tell us exactly what happened in Dallas."

"I met Jacob, and the two of us started to bond.  He had even agreed to willingly come and live with me, if it meant I would drop the custody case with Courtney and her husband, Christopher Ewing.  Then Christopher and I got into an argument that turned ugly, and he blurted out that I'm Jacob's father, but YOU are!"

"Chase, I don't know why the hell that guy would say something like that, but....."

"You're telling me it's not true?  Why would Christopher lie?  And why would Courtney react as if it were true?"

"I DON'T KNOW,"  Joseph says.  "If I was that kid's father, then why would Courtney lie and say that he's YOUR kid?"

"That's a good question,"  says Cole.  "Chase, didn't Courtney say anything in her defense?  Any explanation at all?"

"She didn't have a chance.  She was so upset by the arguing, that she took a fall and miscarried her baby."

"Oh my God,"  Cole says with a sigh.  "Joseph, think back.  Chase, you and Courtney were dating when?  2006 or 2007?"

"Yes."

"Joseph, is it possible that you met Courtney and didn't know that she was your brother's girlfriend?"

"Dad, I met a lot of girls back then.  You know how it was for me then.  I was drifting, I was bar hopping."

"And sleeping with any female you could get to say yes, and probably a few who DIDN'T say yes,"  Chase remarks.

"I resent that, little brother.  I never, EVER forced any woman to have sex with me, and I never went to bed with any underage girls."

"Joseph, you met Courtney, didn't you, at Kevin and Emma's wedding that didn't happen?"  Cole asks.

"Yes, I met her, and I didn't recognize her at all.  If I'd had sex with her, I wouldn't remembered her."

"Chase, do you have a photo of Courtney?  Maybe one from the time you two were dating?"

"Yeah, I do.  up in my room."

"Go and get it,"  Cole says.  Chase nods, then hurries up the stairs.

Joseph turns to his father.  "Dad, I SWEAR, I have no idea what this is about, or why Courtney and her husband are saying that I slept with her and that I'm her kid's father.  I mean, if that's true then......I had sex with a 15-year-old girl?"

A second later, Chase comes back down the stairs with a photo in his hand.  He shows the photo to Joseph.  "I took this picture of Courtney when she and I were dating in Florida back in early 2007."

Joseph takes the picture and looks at it closely.  After a few seconds, a look of shock comes over his face as he remembers back to one particular night in Florida in early 2007.  "Oh my God," he says.

"Joseph, you remember her?"  Cole asks.

"I.......yes.  I did meet this girl. It was at a bar."

"Then it IS true!"  Chase says.  "You slept with my 15-year-old girlfriend!"

"Chase, I swear to God.......I had NO idea that this girl was your girlfriend, and I sure as hell had no idea that she was only 15.  She told me she was 18.  She had an I.D. that showed she was 18, that's how she was able to get into the bar."

"What would Courtney have been doing in a bar hooking up with another guy?"

"I have no idea.  Maybe you should ask HER that,"  says Joseph.  

"You slept with my 15-year-old girlfriend when you were in your mid-20s and got her pregnant!"  Chase angrily says.  "That's statutory rape, you sick bastard!"

"I didn't KNOW that she was only 15!  She lied to me about her age!"

"COULDN'T YOU LOOK AT HER AND TELL SHE WASN'T 18?"

"NO, I couldn't.  Especially not since she had a fake I.D. that listed her age as 18!"

"Chase, your  brother didn't know,"  Cole says.  "He can't be blamed if he didn't know that the girl was under age, and that she was your girlfriend."

"So if you wanna blame anyone for this......blame Courtney,"  Joseph says.  "If I had know who she was and how old she was, I never, EVER would've hooked up with her!"

Near tears, Chase shakes his head, then starts up the stairs.

"Chase, where are you going?"  Cole says.  

Chase stops and looks at his father.  "I have to get out of here, Dad.  I can't stay in the same house with him.  I'm moving out."

"Son, don't do this."

"Chase, I'm sorry,"  Joseph says.  "I swear to you on my LIFE, I didn't know who she was."

"Yeah, well, maybe that's true, but it doesn't matter.  The only thing that matters to me is that I found out that my older brother slept with my girlfriend, and that he's the father of her child.  So not only have I just lost the relationship that you and I have built this past year after all that time of not getting along......but I lost a son, too.  I guess I should congratulate you on becoming a father."  Chase turns and goes up the stairs.

Joseph lets out a deep sigh.  "Oh God, Dad, what have I done?  Is it possible?  Could Jacob be my son?"

"Joseph, what are you gonna do?"  Cole asks.

"I don't know.  I have to find out from Courtney if this is true.  I have to go to Dallas and see her."

"Alright, I understand your need to find out, but not now."

"What?"  Joseph asks.

"You heard what your brother said.  Courtney just lost her baby.  That girl needs time to deal with that, and the last thing she needs right now is for you to confront her with this.  Just give her a little while to grieve for the child she lost."

Joseph nods.  "You're right.  Okay, I'll give her time.  But in a couple of weeks, I'm going to Dallas and find out if it's true that Jacob is my son."

Falcon Crest....the next morning....

Richard, Michael, Elena, Angie, Emma Channing, and Angela are gathered around the dining room table having breakfast the next morning.  "Well, it certainly is good having Elena home, and so many of the family around the table this morning."

"I couldn't agree more,"  Emma Channing says.  "But where's the other Emma?"

"She's been staying really close to her room the last few days.  Even having all her meals in there,"  Angela replies.

"Can't say as I blame,"  says Michael.  "I really wouldn't wanna see Emma right now after what happened with Elena."

"Now, Michael, if Elena doesn't blame Emma for her fall, then the rest of us shouldn't, either,"  Richard says.  "Besides, I wanna keep that girl happy to be living here at Falcon Crest.  She is, after all, the mother of Kevin's child, and I want my grandson to remain under this roof."

Elena looks at Richard, herself being the only member of the family to know the truth about Logan's paternity.  

"Elena, are you okay?"  Michael.

"I'm fine.  Just a little tired.  I didn't sleep well last night."

"It's probably because, after spending a few days in the hospital, it felt strange sleeping in your own bed again," Angie says.

Angela's phone vibrates on the table.  She picks the phone up and looks at it, and she has a text message.  Opening the text, she reads it, then smiles.  "Well," she says.  "If you all will excuse me, I have to run."

"Where are you going?"  Emma Channing asks her daughter.  "I thought we were gonna spend the morning together."

"Mom, I'll see you later today.  I have a........meeting."

"Would that meeting happen to be with a man?"  Angie asks her cousin.

"Now why would you think that?"

"Oh, the smile on your face, for one thing."

"Actually, yes.  A very good friend.  Mom, I'll make it up to you, I promise.  Why don't you call Sydney and have lunch with her or something."

"Alright, I will,"  Emma says as her daughter leaves.  

"Well, I didn't know Angela was seeing anyone,"  Richard says.

"Well, she won't tell me much about him,"  Emma Channing says.  "But she seems to be happy."

"Emma, has Sydney given you any indication of how long she's going to be staying in town?"  Richard asks.

"No. But I think she's planning on sticking around for a while, because of Kyle."

Michael sighs.  "Dad, I really can't believe you're actually going to make friends with Kyle Griffin."

"Friends?  Kyle Griffin happens to be my grandson, Michael."

"Yeah, a grandson you just found out about a few weeks ago,"  Michael says as the phone rings.  

"Which is why I plan to get to know him.  I have a lot of years to make up for."

"Excuse me, Mr. Channing,"  Chang-Li says, walking into the dining room.  

"Yes, Chang-Li?"

"You have a phone call.  A man,"  the young butler replies, handing Richard the phone.

"Thank you."  Richard takes the phone to answer the call.  "Hello, Richard Channing here.  What?  Who is this?  Look, I don't have any idea what you're talking about."  Richard pauses as he listens for a moment to the man on the other end of the line.  "No, I don't have any comment, GOODBYE."  He hangs up the phone.

"Dad, who was that?"  Michael asks.

"A reporter.  Said there's something on the news I might be interested in hearing."  Richard quickly gets up from the table and leaves the room.  The rest of the family all exchange looks of curiosity, then get up and follow Richard into the living room, where he picks up the remote control and turns on the television.  The family gathers around and listens as a news report is on:

"In national news, late last evening, at the famous Southfork Ranch in Braddock, Texas, near Dallas, 50-year-old James Richard Beaumont, son of the late J.R. Ewing, was fatally shot by fugitive Katelyn Spencer.  Miss Spencer had been wanted for almost a year for the kidnapping of Mr. Beaumont's son, James Beaumont, Jr. This case has close ties to the San Francisco area.  Katelyn Spencer is the daughter of San Francisco business tycoon Jeremy Lord, owner and former head of Lord Enterprises,and his former wife, Katherine Wentworth Channing, owner of Wentworth Industries of Dallas, and the sister of wanted murderer, Brian Manning.  Mrs. Channing is the wife of Richard Channing, owner of Falcon Crest winery and vineyards.  Both Jeremy Lord and Katherine Channing disappeared a year ago, the same night as their son and daughter."

"Oh my God,"  Richard says.  

"Daddy, do you think Katherine could be involved in that?"  Angie asks.  

"I don't know."

"Dear God, I have to call John Ross,"  Elena says.  "James Beaumont was his half-brother. And I have to make sure that Little John Ross okay."  She quickly rushes from the room.

The Lord mansion....

Meanwhile, Alex is also watching the same news report at the Lord mansion, and learns that his half-sister has now murdered someone:  "Katelyn Spencer is the daughter of San Francisco business tycoon Jeremy Lord, owner and former head of Lord Enterprises,and his former wife, Katherine Wentworth Channing, owner of Wentworth Industries of Dallas, and the sister of wanted murderer, Brian Manning.  Mrs. Channing is the wife of Richard Channing, owner of Falcon Crest winery and vineyards.  Both Jeremy Lord and Katherine Channing disappeared a year ago, the same night as their son and daughter. Brian Manning, son of Jeremy Lord and Katherine Channing, is wanted for the 2016 murders of Pilar Ortega Cumson, wife of Lance Cumson of the Tuscany Valley, and two other people.  We will have further details on this developing story as they become available."

Alex turns off the TV and sighs deeply.  "Great," the boy mutters to himself.  "My father's missing.  My Mom's an alcoholic.  And I have a brother and a sister who kill people.  Awesome family you put me in, God."  Just then, the doorbell rings.  Alex walks into the foyer and opens the door to find Josh McQueen.

"Hey, Alex,"  Josh says.

"Hi."

"Is Vicky home?"

"Yeah, she's upstairs, I guess."

An awkward silence follows as the two simply look at each other for a few seconds.  "Well.....can I come in?"

"I guess, if you want,"  Alex steps aside and Josh walks into the house.  "And I forgot THIS brother, who is...... well, I'm not exactly sure what he is,"  Alex mutters under his breath.

"What?"  Josh asks.

"Nothing.  Nevermind, I was just talking to myself,"  Alex says.

"Are you okay?"  Josh asks. "You seem a little weird this morning."

"Weird?  Dude, I'm probably the most sane and normal person in my entire family right now."

"Okay, well, something's obviously bothering you.  Wanna talk about it?"

"Well, let's see, where do I start?"  Alex asks.  "Okay, here we go......my Dad has been missing for a whole year.  My Mom is upstairs passed out drunk as usual. My best friend is waiting on some tests to see how far his cancer has spread, and how long he has to live.  I have a half-brother who is a dangerous fugitive wanted for killing three people, one of which was my cousin's wife.  I have a half-sister who, I just found out on the news killed somebody in Dallas last night, so now she's in jail.  Another half-brother who doesn't seem to remember that I exists.  The only brother I could ever count on is in Dallas now running his mother's company while she's on the run from the cops, too.  Oh, and then there's you......ANOTHER half-brother I didn't even know existed until a few months ago.  And haven't you been in jail, too?"

"Yeah, look, man, I know right now, your family seems pretty screwed up."

"SEEMS?"  Alex asks.

"Okay, it IS pretty screwed up.  My whole life is screwed up, dude."

"I know, and I'm sorry.  Alex, you said that the only brother you ever had to count on is in Dallas.  Well, while Jonathon is away, I hope you know that you can count on me.  Whatever you need, I'm here for you and for Vicky."

"Why?"  Alex asks.

"Why?"

"Yes, WHY?  Dude, you barely know me."

"That's true, but, we are brothers.  Half-brothers, anyway, and I'd like to get to know you."

"Sure.  Thanks, but no thanks.  You'll probably bail on me like everyone else in my family."

"Alex, that's not gonna happen,"  says Josh.  "Look, man, I've made so many mistakes in my life.  Done so many things that I'm ashamed of.  But now that I know who I really am, I'm trying to change all that.  To make up for some of the things I did in the past.  I grew up as an only child.  Never had any siblings, or even any cousins since my adopted mother was an only child, and my Dad had one brother, but he never had kids.  I was lonely.  I always wanted a brother.  Now I've got one.  Not only that I have an uncle and cousins.  Cousins who can't stand me at the moment, but, at least it's a start.  I'm not goin' anywhere."

Vicky comes down the stairs at that moment, still dressed in her nightgown, and looking very hung over.  "Josh," she says.

"Morning."

"Morning,"  Vicky says, sleepily.  Josh and Alex watch as she makes her way into the living room and straight to the liquor cabinet.  

"Dude, I gotta go,"  Alex says.  

"Go where?"  Josh asks.

"I dunno.  ANYWHERE that I don't have to watch Mom drink herself into a stupor at 9 in the morning."  Alex quickly leaves the house.

Josh watches Vicky with concern as she pours herself a glass of bourbon.

Meanwhile....a prison in Mexico....

 Jeremy Lord sits alone in his drab cell at a prison in Mexico, where he had been confined since Richard had sent him there almost a year earlier.  A prison guard approaches Jeremy's cell and brings him a meal tray.   "Well, Señor Lord, your lunch is served,"  he says.  

"How long do you think you can continue to keep me in this hell hole?"  Jeremy asks.

The guard smiles.  "Oh, Señor, have you not gotten it through your thick head by now?"  He asks in a Hispanic accent.  "You will be here with us from now on.  You  have got a life sentence."

"You filthy bastard,"  Jeremy says.  "I will get out of here.  And when I do, you are going to be one sorry hombre."

"Señor Lord, have you not gotten it through your head yet?  You are never leaving my prison.  No one has ever left my prison......unless in a body bag.  Now I suggest you eat your lunch.  And if you cooperate, perhaps I can arrange for you certain.....privileges, such as going outside for a while, eh?  But if you fail to cooperate, then your many years you have left here can be very, VERY difficult.  Enjoy your lunch."  The guard smiles a sadistic smile, then walks away.  

After he's gone, Jeremy looks at the sorry excuse for a meal on his lunch tray.  "You're wrong, Garcia,"  he says to himself.  "I will get out of here, and when I do.........Richard Channing is going to pay very dearly for the hell he's put me through.  I'm going to get you, Richard.  Brother, or no brother, I'm going to send you straight to hell for this."

San Francisco General Hospital....

 Nick is laying in his hospital bed staring out the window, upset over the news he had received earlier from his doctor.  Alex comes to his friend's door and knocks, but Nick ignores the knock, or in his state of mind, doesn't hear it.  Alex knocks again, then walks into the room.  "Nick?"  He says, but his friend continues staring aimlessly out the window.  Closing the door, Alex walks over to Nick's bed.  "Dude?"

"Hey, man,"  Nick says in a soft, sad tone.  

"How you feeling?  Did you get the results of your tests?"

"Oh, yeah,"  Nick replies.  

"And?  What'd the doctor say?"

 "The cancer's back,"  Nick says, a tear running down his cheek.  "And it's spread."

"It's......spread?"  Alex asks.  "H...how bad?  What are they gonna do?  More chemo?"

"No,"  Nick replies, still staring out the window.  "No more chemo."

"Then.......what, dude?  What are they gonna do to fight the cancer?"

Nick finally turns his head and looks at his friend for a few seconds before answering.  "We're not gonna fight it, Alex."

"What?  Nick, dude, what are you saying?"  Alex asks, his voice sounding upset.

"I'm saying that I'm gonna die."

"No.  Nick, don't say that.  You had chemo before and your cancer went into remission."

"Yeah, it did.  But not this time,"  Nick says, his voice strangely calm.  "The cancer has spread to lymph nodes all over my body, and to my bones, and my lungs.  There's even a spot on my liver.  It's too widespread now.  They can give me chemo, and Dr. Carter said that might could give me a little more time, but....."

"Then you have to take it!"  Alex says, now in tears.  

Nick looks at him, tears streaming down his own face.  "No, bro.  The most time the chemo would buy me is  a few weeks, a couple months at most.  And I'd be too damned sick to enjoy that little bit of time, so it's not worth it."

"Nick, come on, man.  Your life is worth it."

"Not if I'm gonna die anyway, and I have to spend the last few weeks so sick I can't even get out of bed.  Alex, I wanna be able to enjoy what little time I have left, while I can."

"Oh, God,"  Alex cries, lowering his head.  

Nick reaches over and touches his friend's head.  "Alex, look at me," he says.  Alex looks up at him.  "It's okay,"  Nick says.

"Okay?  OKAY?"  Alex asks in tears.  "Dude, you just told me that you're gonna die.  How is that OKAY?"

"Alex, when the doctor first told me I had cancer a couple years ago, I made peace with the fact that I might die then.  I've had all this time to come to terms with it.  Dying doesn't scare me the way that it use to."

"How long?  How long did the doctor say.........that you have?"

"Maybe two to three months, if we're lucky.  The cancer is spreading pretty fast."

"Oh my God, I can't believe this,"  Alex cries.  "How can you be so calm?  Dude, I'd be freaking out."

"Didn't you hear what I just said?"  Nick asks.  "I've had two years to prepare for this.  And don't you think that I didn't freak out?  Dude, I've layed in this bed for HOURS, just crying.  I sent my Mom and Dad home because I couldn't stand to see them cry anymore, and I didn't want them to see ME cry.  I was laying here, looking out the window, and thinking how unfair this is.  How damned unfair.  I'm 18-years-old.  I won't graduate high school or go to college.  But there's not a damned thing I can do about it.  Nothing.  This cancer has robbed me of too much already, Alex.  I won't let it rob me of enjoying the time I have left.  Alex, I want you to promise me something."

"Sure, bro.  Anything."

"Gabby still doesn't know I'm in the hospital.  I told her that I was going away with my parents for a few days.  But I have to tell her.  I'm just not sure how.  If you happen to see her before I can tell her, please, don't say anything."

"No, of course I won't."

"Thanks,"  Nick says.  "Can I ask you another favor?"

"Dude, anything."

"For right now, could you please go?"

"What?  You want me to leave?"

"Yeah, dude,"  Nick says.  "I just need to be by myself right now."

"Yeah, okay,"  says Alex.  He reaches over and takes Nick's hand.  "If you need me, call me, or text me.  Anytime, even if it's 3 in the morning."

"I will."

Alex stands to his feet.  "I'll come by and see you tomorrow."

Nick nods.  "I'd like that.  Alex?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you, man."

"I love you, too,"  Alex says, trying his hardest to fight back his tears.  "Just text me later, even if it's just to say hi."

"I will,"  Nick says.  Alex hesitates a moment, then turns and leaves the room.  Nick returns his gaze out the 

 window.

As Alex leaves the room, he walks down the hall to the elevator and presses the button for the ground floor, a stoic look on his face.  After about 30 seconds, the elevator doors open and Alex steps onto the empty elevator.  As the doors close, Alex can contain his emotions no longer.  He breaks down crying in the elevator......crying for his best friend, for his father, and for the total mess his life and his entire world had become.

A bar in Tuscany Valley....evening....

Chase is sitting in a bar that evening in downtown Tuscany Valley sipping on a drink, when Eric Cumson walks in.  Spotting Chase, Eric walks over and takes a seat on the bar stool beside him.  "Well, Chase, what's up, cuz?"  Eric asks.  Chase doesn't respond, and simply takes a sip of his beer.  "Man, you look like you just lost your best friend."

"Not exactly,"  Chase says.  "Worse."

"Hey, Eric, what can I get for ya?"  The bartender asks.

"Give me a beer, Tim,"  Eric says.

"Coming right up,"  Tim the bartender says.

"You wanna talk about it?"  Eric asks his cousin after a short hesitation.

"Eric, thanks, but, I'd just as soon be alone right now."

Tim puts Eric's beer down on the bar in front of him.  "Thanks, Tim," he says.  "Eric, it's none of my business, of course, but, you look like you could use a friend.  I'm a good listener, so I'm told.  It might help you to get whatever it is off your chest."

Chase sighs deeply.  "Maybe you're right.  Maybe I do need to get this off my chest.  You knew that I'd hired Lisa as my attorney to represent me in a custody case, right?"

"Yeah, you were trying to get custody of your son.  Is that not going well?"

"It's not going at ALL anymore."

"What do you mean?"  Eric asks.  

"I found out a few days ago that Jacob isn't my son, after all,"  Chase replies.  

"Oh, man.  I'm sorry.  I can only imagine how much that must hurt."

"Yeah, well, that's not even the worst of it,"  Chase says, taking a sip of his beer.  "Turns out the boy's father is none other than my own brother."

"What, Joseph?"

"Well, since Joseph is the only brother I have, yeah.....Joseph.  My own brother had sex with my girlfriend when Courtney and I were dating."

"Oh, wow, man.  That's pretty heavy.  I'm sorry."

"I feel like I've been kicked in the gut,"  Chase says. 

Meanwhile, Cole walks into the bar, He immediately spots his son at the bar and walks over.  "Chase,"  he says.  "Hi, Eric."

"Hey, Cole, how ya doing?"  Eric asks.

"I'm doing okay.  Would you mind if I talked to my son alone?"

"Not at all.  Chase, I hope everything works out, and if you ever need a friend, just give me a call."

"Thanks, man," Chase says as Eric walks away.  

"I've been looking all over town for you,"  Cole tells his son.  

"Well, here I am."

"Son, I want you to come home."

"Dad, I CAN'T.  I can't live in the same house as Joseph."

"Chase, you and Joseph are brothers."

"Not anymore, as far as I'm concerned."

"Chase, your brother didn't know that Courtney was your girlfriend that night.  He didn't even remember her until you showed him a photo of her from back then."

"And that's supposed to matter to me, Dad?"  Chase asks. "The only thing that matters to me is.......once again, Joseph comes out on top."

"What do you mean by that?"  Cole asks.

"My older brother slept with my girlfriend, who was underage at the time, and now, he has a son." 

"I think this is more about your hurt over not being Jacob's father than anything else,"  Cole says.  "Isn't that true, son?"

Chase looks at Cole.  "Okay, maybe you're right.  But damn it, Dad.  I may not have known Jacob that well, but I came to love that kid.  He was my son."

"I think I can understand how you feel.  But blaming your brother isn't gonna help anything.  Joseph said he had no idea that Courtney was your girlfriend, or that she was underage and I believe him."

"Doesn't matter, Dad,"  Chase says.  "Where or not Joseph knew who she was that night doesn't matter to me.  Only thing that matters to me is what I've lost.  And I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive Joseph."

Cole looks at Chase, disturbed by the current state of the relationship between his two sons.

A restaurant in San Francisco....night....

"That's because I AM,"  Danny says.  "I'm much more comfortable in jeans, a ripped shirt and flip flops than in this damned suit."

Angela laughs again.  "I can't believe you.  With all that Carrington money you grew up with  you must have had to attend hundreds of formal parties, and now here you are uncomfortable in a suit."

"Well it's BECAUSE of all those damned parties and formals I had to attend that I hate wearing a suit and tie.  Couldn't we have had dinner at Del Oro, or at least in a less fancy restaurant."

"No, because I wanted to come to the best restaurant in San Francisco and show off my handsome date."

Danny reaches across the table and takes her hand.  "Well, in that case, I'll just grin and bear it, no matter how uncomfortable it gets."

Angela smiles at him.  "You're so sweet.  How'd I get so lucky?"

"Oh, I'm the lucky one."

At that moment, Kyle Griffin and his mother Sydney walk up to Angela and Danny's table.  "Well, Angela, fancy meeting you here,"  Kyle says.

Angela looks up at him, the smile quickly disappearing from her face.  "Well, well, look what the cat dragged in."

"Angela, you remember my mother, Sydney, don't you?"  Kyle asks.  

"Of course.  Sydney."

"Hello, Angela, how are you?"  Sydney asks.

"I'm fine."

"Aren't you gonna introduce us to your date?"  Kyle asks.

"Sure, why not,"  says Angela.  "Danny Carrington, this is Kyle Griffin and his mother, Sydney Griffin."

"Danny, it's a pleasure,"  Kyle says.

"Yeah, same here, man,"  Danny replies, shaking hands with Kyle.  "So you're a friend of Angela's?"

"Oh, no, not at all,"  Kyle says.  "I'm actually Angela's cousin.  Her uncle, Richard Channing, is my grandfather."

"Oh, I see."

"Kyle, we'd better get to our table,"  says Sydney.  "Angela, it's nice seeing you again.  And Danny, it was nice meeting you."

"Same here."

"Angela, I guess I'll be seeing you around,"  Kyle says.

"Not if I can help it."

Kyle laughs at her comment, then walks away with his mother.  

"So, that's the cousin you told me about?"  Danny asks Angela.  "Your Uncle Richard's newly discovered grandson?"

"Yep, that's him."

"He doesn't seem like such a bad guy."

"Oh, you don't think so?  Try spending about five minutes with him,"  Angela says.

Meanwhile, Kyle and Sydney have taken their seats at their table.  "You and Emma's daughter don't get along very well, do you?"  Sydney asks her son.

Kyle smiles.  "What gave you that impression?"

"She seems like a nice enough young woman."

"She's a social climbing, gold digging little twit, Mom.  But, I think she could be a lot of fun,"  Kyle says, looking across the room at Angela.

Falcon Crest....the winery.....next morning....

"Of course, I meant it,"  Lance says.  "Was there ever any doubt?  Falcon Crest is a part of me.  And now that I own a piece of it again, I......."

"A SMALL piece, Lance,"  Michael interrupts.  "Don't forget that.  My brother left you a SMALL piece of Falcon Crest."

Lance looks at his cousin.  "I know exactly how much of a piece of Falcon Crest I own, Michael."

"Good, because I wouldn't want you to think that your role here is more important, or bigger, than it actually is."

Lance smiles.  "Well, one day my role in Falcon Crest WILL be bigger than it is now.  I intend to get Falcon Crest back."

"Not gonna happen, Lance,"  Michael says.  "My father legally owns Falcon Crest.  Now you're perfectly free to work here if you want, or do whatever you like with your small piece.  But I think the simplest and best thing you could do would be to sell your portion of the vineyards to my father.  Or better yet......to me."

"To YOU?  Now why on Earth would I wanna do that?"  Lance asks.

"Because I'm willing to pay a lot of money.  More than that piece of land is worth.  And more than my father would pay."

"Michael, why would you want that piece of Falcon Crest so much?"

"Because it belonged to my brother,"  Michael replies.  "And because he never should've left it to you in his will."

"Falcon Crest was stolen out from under me, and I plan to have it back one day."

"Falcon Crest was about to go under with you at the helm, Lance.  You were on the verge of bankruptcy, which would've ruined Falcon Crest, not to mention the fact that you were about the lose the winery to Jeremy Lord.  If it weren't for my father, Falcon Crest would be OUT of the family and in the hands of a man with absolutely no Gioberti blood at all.  And now that Lord has disappeared, who knows what would've happened to this place.  So not only did my father keep Falcon Crest in the family, he also saved it.  Since we've taken over, Falcon Crest is thriving again.  I think our recent successes in sales has PROVEN who our late Grandmother would find more fit to carry on her legacy."

"Y'know, you're just as smug as your father,"  says Lance.  "And I know for a fact that Grandmother never wanted Richard to have anything to do with Falcon Crest, and she's probably spinning in her grave right now if she knows this place is in Richard's hands."

Michael smiles.  "Lance, why don't you just think about the offer I made to buy your small piece of Falcon Crest? And if you want you can even keep your job here."

"Michael, I'd sell my piece of Falcon Crest to a total stranger before I'd sell to you or Richard.  So you can just take your offer......and shove it."

Michael looks at his cousin for a moment, then turns and walks out of the lab.  As he descends the stairs to the ground floor of the winery, he is surprised when he sees Richard walk into the winery with Sydney and Kyle.  Curious, Michael approaches them.  "Dad," Michael says.

"Michael, you remember Kyle and his mother Sydney?"  Richard asks.

"Yeah, I do.  What are they doing here?"

"Your father was kind enough to offer to give Kyle and I a tour of Falcon Crest this morning,"  Sydney replies.

"Was he, now?"

"I've always been curious about Falcon Crest, and how the place runs,"  Kyle says.

"Well, now you're about to find out EXACTLY how it runs,"  says a smiling Richard.  "Shall we continue with our tour?"

"Of course,"  Sydney says.  

Kyle flashes a smile at Michael, then he and Sydney follow Richard to begin their tour of the winery.  Michael watches as the three walk away from him, an angry look on his face as he believes Kyle Griffin and his mother are trying to insinuate himself into Richard's life for a piece of Falcon Crest, and a piece of the Channing fortune.

Gioberti and Sons....

"Yeah, it is.  I'm afraid I'm gonna have to call off the custody suit."

"Call it off?  Chase, what happened?"

"I went to Dallas to try and see Jacob.  While I was there, some things happened.  I found out that I'm not Jacob's father.  I don't have proof, but, chances are I'm not his father."

"Oh, Chase, I'm sorry,"  Lisa says.  "You said that chances are, you're not the child's father."

"Yeah,  Look, this is all very confusing.  But, as I said I went to Dallas to see Jacob and to talk to Courtney.  While I was there, her husband, Christopher Ewing, blurted out that I'm not Jacob's biological father........my brother Joseph is."

"What?"  Asks a surprised Lisa.  "Joseph?  You've gotta be kidding."

"I wish I were,"  says Chase.  "But Courtney didn't deny it.  In fact, she seemed angry with Christopher for letting it slip out."

"But, why would Courtney Ewing lead you to believe that Jacob was YOUR son?  And, she has to be years younger than Joseph.  If Courtney was 15 when she had Jacob, then....."

"Then my brother had sex with an underage girl when he was in his mid-20s, yes."

"Well, that might explain why Courtney lied about the child's paternity,"  Lisa says.

"I don't understand."

"Maybe she didn't wanna get Joseph into any trouble.  If anyone had found out that the two of them had sex, and that she'd gotten pregnant by him, your brother would've been in some very serious trouble.  He could've gone to jail for YEARS."

Chase sighs.  "Yeah, I thought about that, too.  Joseph swore to me that he had no idea that Courtney was only 15."

"She was your girlfriend,"  Lisa says.  "How could he not know?"

"Because Joseph never met Courtney when I was dating her.  Back then, Joseph was out sowing his wild oates.  Being irresponsible.  He'd come home for a couple days, and then disappear again for months on end, so he was never around when Courtney was in my life.  He did come home, however, for a few days, but, as far as I knew they never met.  At least, I never knew that they HAD met.  Apparently, this meeting took place one night when Courtney went to a bar and used a fake I.D. to get in. She told Joseph she was 18, according to HIM.  They hooked up that night, and a couple days later, Joseph took off again."

"So, there's still a chance that Jacob could be your son,"  Lisa says.

Chase shakes his head.  "No.  Lisa, Courtney and I had been dating for several months at that time, but we'd not had sex yet.  We had messed around, but, never actually had intercourse.  She lost her virginity to my brother that night.  Courtney and I didn't officially sleep together until almost a month later, and she had to have already been pregnant by that time.  I know our first time together was at least 3 or 4 weeks after Joseph left again.  Jacob's birthdate lines up perfectly with him being conceived the night Courtney slept with my brother.  That was the only time Courtney and I had sex.  Right after that, she left.  Just disappeared, and left me a note saying she was going back home to her Mom's house in Texas, and that our relationship was over.  I didn't see her again for almost ten years, until the day of Kevin's wedding to Emma Ryland, two years ago."

"Chase, I'm so sorry.  That had to be really hard on you, finding all this out."

"Hard?  You have no idea how much it hurt finding out that my girlfriend betrayed me with my older brother.  But the thing that hurts the most is........is knowing that Jacob's not my son.  I wanted him to me, so much,"  Chase says, his voice filled with sadness.

The Fairchild home....evening....

 Nick is laying on his bed in his room that evening when someone knocks on his door.  "Come in," he says.  

Gabby Cumson walks into the room.  "Hey," she says with a smile.  

"Hey, yourself.  I'm glad you're here."

Gabby closes the door and walks over to him.  "Well, when you called me and told me you were home, of course I wanted to come see you.  How was your vacation?"

Nick looks at the girl, a sad look on his face.  "Gabby, that's what I wanted to talk to you about."

"What?  Your trip?"  Gabby asks with a smile.  "I can't wait to hear all about it."

"Gabby, I wasn't on vacation,"  says Nick.

"What?  You weren't?  But, Nick, you said that you and your family were going out of town for a few days."

"I know.  But the truth is......I was in the hospital."

The smile disappears from the girl's face.  "The hospital?  Why were you in the hospital?"

"Several days ago, my Mom got a call from my doctor, and he wanted me to come in to his office.  He had gotten the results back from my latest scans and blood tests."

"And?"  Gabby asks.  

"Gabby.......my cancer has come back.  That's why I was in the hospital.  They wanted to do some tests to see how far it had spread, and what they could do."

"So, what are they gonna do?  More chemo?"

"No, Gabby.  There's nothing they can really do for me this time."

"Nick, what do you mean, they can't do anything?"  Gabby asks.  

"The cancer has spread.  All through my lymphatic system, and there's even a spot on my liver."

"My God, what are you saying?  That......"

"I'm gonna die, Gabby,"  Nick says.  

The girl begins to cry.  "Nick, no.  There must be something they can do.  More chemo, more aggressive treatments."

"No.  They can give me chemo, and MAYBE it would buy me another month or so.  But I'm not gonna spend the little time I have left too sick to even get out of bed."

"Oh my God,"  Gabby cries.  Nick reaches over and gently touches  her, then pulls her into an embrace.  "Nick, why didn't you tell me?"  She asks.  "I could've been there for you."

"I didn't wanna upset you.  And I didn't tell you in that hospital.  I wanted to wait until I was home."

Nick pulls out of the embrace and looks the girl in the eyes.  "Gabby, it's okay."

"How can you be so calm?"

"Because I know there's nothing I can do.  I've already done all my crying, and screaming, and punching the walls. Now, I just have to accept that I'm gonna die soon.  And I wanna spend as much time as I can with you."

Tears falling down her cheeks, Gabby looks at Nick.  She kisses him, then lays her head in his lap.  Nick gently strokes her hair as she cries.

Falcon Crest....the next morning....

Meanwhile, Angie Channing is coming down the stairs and into the foyer when the doorbell rings.  "I'll get it," she says loudly.  Walking to the front door, Angie opens it to find Lucas.  "Yes, may I help you?"

"Is Emma Ryland here?"  Lucas asks.

"Yes, she's upstairs.  You look familiar.  Are you a friend of Emma's?"

"You might say that.  I'm Lucas Ewing."

"Lucas Ewing.......Emma's ex?"  Angie asks.

"Yes, that's right,"  Lucas replies.  "I really need to see Emma.  It's important."

"Alright.  Come in,"  Angie says.  Lucas walks into the house, and Angie closes the door behind him.  "Make yourself comfortable," she says.  "I'll let Emma know that you're here."

"Thank you,"  Lucas says.  As Angie heads up the stairs, Lucas walks into the living room and looks around.  

Michael walks into the house.  As he starts to head upstairs, he notices Lucas in the living room, Lucas looking at some Channing family photos on the mantle, his back to the doorway so he doesn't see Michael when he walks into the room.  "Excuse me,"  Michael says.  "Can I help you?"

Lucas turns to face him.  "No.  I'm here to see Emma."

"You're Lucas Ewing.  What the hell are you doing here at Falcon Crest?"

"Like I said, I'm here to see Emma.  WHY I'm here to see her is really none of your business."

"This is my home,"  says Michael.  "Whatever goes on here IS my business."

At that moment, Emma Ryland comes down the stairs, followed closely behind by Elena.  The women nervously hesitate in the foyer when they see Lucas in the living room talking to Michael.  Elena and Emma exchange worried looks   After a few seconds, Elena walks into the living room.  "Michael, is everything alright?"  Elena asks. 

"Yeah, everything's fine."

"Hi, Elena,"  Lucas says.  "How are you?"

"Lucas.  I'm fine.  And you?  How's everyone at Southfork?"

"To be honest, things could be better."

"How's Little John?"  Elena asks.

"Your little boy's just fine."

Nervously, Emma Ryland walks into the living room.  "Lucas,"  she says.  

Lucas looks at her.  "Emma, we need to talk.  ALONE."

"Michael, Elena, could you please leave us alone for a while?"  Emma asks.

Michael looks at Emma, then at Lucas.  "Make it fast," he says, then turns and leaves the room.  "Emma, Elena has a doctor's appointment in town and I'm driving her.  We should be gone no more'n a couple hours.  When we get back, I expect this guy to be gone."

"Don't worry, Michael,"  Emma says.  

Michael nods, then walks into the foyer. 

"Lucas, it was nice seeing you again,"  Elena says. 

"Yeah, you, too,"  Lucas says as Elena leaves the room and joins her husband in the foyer, the two preparing to leave. 

"Michael, wait!"  Angie says, rushing down the stairs.  "Mind if I catch a ride into town?  I have a few errands I can run while Elena's at the doctor's."

"Sure, come on,"  Michael replies.

"Emma, will you be alright?"  Elena asks.

"I'll be fine, Elena,"  Emma says.  "You guys just go."

Michael looks at Emma, and at Lucas, then he and the two young women leave the house.  

"It wasn't like that,"  says Emma.  "This had nothing to do with Falcon Crest.  Lucas, I didn't wanna come between you and Heather, and, okay, yes, I was selfish.  I didn't hurt Kevin, and I didn't wanna lose him.  Whether you believe this or not, Lucas, I loved him. I loved Kevin with all my heart."

"Yeah, well, I DON'T believe that, because you're not capable of loving anyone but yourself."  

"That's not true,"  Emma says in tears.  "I loved Kevin, and I love my son."

"You love Logan so much that you would deprive him of knowing who his real father is.  Oh yeah that's love, but it's Emma's special brand of love.  A sick, twisted kind of love."

"Lucas, what are you going to do?"  Emma asks.  

"What the hell do you think I'm gonna do, Emma?  First, I'm gonna make sure that Richard Channing and his whole family find out the truth.  And then, I'm gonna take your ass to court and take my son away from you."

"You can't do that!"  Emma says.  

"Yeah?  You just watch me,"  says Lucas.  "No judge would let you keep custody of that child knowing what you did.  And the minute Richard Channing finds out you deceived not only him, but his dead son........he's gonna toss you out in the street.  You'll end up with nothing, Emma.  Where is Channing?  Is he here?"

"NO!  He's not here."

"Fine, then I'll come back.  But before I leave, I wanna see my son."  Lucas starts to leave the room.

"NO,"  Emma says, stepping in front of him.  "You're not going anywhere near my baby," she says in tears.

"Emma, get the hell out of my way,"  Lucas says.  "I'm gonna see my son, and you can't stop me."

Lucas pushes past Emma and walks into the foyer.  A frantic Emma looks around, and grabs a fireplace poker, the first object she sees that she can use to stop him.  She follows Lucas into the foyer and as he is about to head up the stairs, Emma raises the poker and brings it down hard against the back of Lucas's head, knocking him immediately unconscious!!  Lucas falls to the floor at the bottom of the stairs, Emma looking down at him, 

horrified at what she has just done!  "Oh dear God," she says softly.  "Lucas?"  Emma stares at the young man on the floor in front of her for a few seconds.  He is still, and Emma can't even tell if he is breathing.  

Finally, she kneels beside him.  "Lucas?"  She calls to him as she touches his shoulder.  She touches his face and head, and when she touches the back of Lucas's head, it is wet.  pulling her hand away, she sees her hand is covered in blood.  "Oh God, no," she cries.  "No, what have I done?  Why?  Why did I have to do that?  Lucas?"  Emma reaches down and touches Lucas's neck for a pulse, which is very faint.  She stands and continues to look down at him.  At that moment, baby Logan begins to cry upstairs.  Emma begins to panic, terrified that the baby's cries would alert someone, but then she realizes that no one else is in the house......Michael, Elena, and Angie just left; Richard is at the winery; Emma Channing and her daughter Angela are both out for the day; and Chang-Li has the day off.  Emma realizes she has to do something, and fast.  Richard, Emma Channing, or Angela could come home at any time.  She has to get Lucas out of here.  Reaching down, she grabs both of Lucas's wrists, and, using every bit of physical strength she can muster, she begins dragging him out of the foyer.  A moment later, Emma opens the door to the basement.  She pauses to catch her breath, not realizing just how heavy Lucas was until now.  After a brief rest, she drags Lucas down the basement steps, and around a corner, placing him in a small space under the stair.  Breathing heavy after the ordeal, Emma looks at Lucas laying on the floor under the stairs, Emma still can't believe the events of the past few minutes.  

How could she have done such a terrible thing to Lucas, the father of her child?  The man she once loved.  She begins to cry, realizing that Lucas was seriously injured and could die if he doesn't get help, but how can she possibly call an ambulance or get him to a hospital?  As soon as Lucas wakes up, he would tell the police that she'd hit him, and she would be arrested.  Emma knows she would surely lose her son and everything.  "Lucas, I am SO sorry," she says.  "But you gave me no choice.  I cannot let you ruin everything.  If I were arrested for what I did to you, I would lose EVERYTHING.  I would lose my baby boy, and I can't let that happen.  I WON'T let that happen.  Lucas, I'm sorry.  Please, forgive me."  Suddenly, Emma remembers that the baby was crying upstairs.  Leaving Lucas, she rushes up the basement stairs, closes the door, and locks it.  Going back into the foyer, she starts up the stairs, but notices blood on the floor where Lucas had been laying.  "Oh my God," she says.  The baby is still crying.  Emma runs into the kitchen, grabs several pieces of paper towel, and wets some of them.  Going back into the foyer, she hurriedly wipes up the small pools of blood, then wipes the blood from her hands.  She then rushes up the stairs, flushes the paper down the toilet, and goes into the nursery, where little Logan is now screaming at the top of his lungs.  Emma picks her son up and cradles him in her arms, tears streaming down her face, her heart pounding with terror over what she had just done, and over what will happen if Lucas wakes up and someone finds him.  "Oh my God, Logan, what have I done?  I hurt your father.  I didn't mean to, but I couldn't let Lucas ruin everything for us.  Somehow, I have to make sure that he never tells anyone what I did."

A prison in Mexico....

 As Jeremy is about to doze off on the uncomfortable bed in his prison cell, a guard unlocks the outer door and walks into the dungeon like room that separates Jeremy's cell from the hallway.  "Señor,"  the guard, much younger than the guard who had visited Jeremy earlier.  

Jeremy opens his eyes and looks at the guard.  "What do you want?  Don't tell me it's time for me to be fed some more of the slop you people call meals around here."

"No, Señor Lord,"  the man says in a thick Hispanic accent.  "I only have a moment, but I am here to help you."

"Help ME?"  Jeremy asks.

"Si, Señor,"  the guard replies.  "But we must act soon......tonight."

"Now, why on Earth would you want to help me?"

"Because, I do not like what I see.  The way you are treated here.  The way all the prisoners are treated here.  And I have heard things.  Terrible things.  I have also heard you say that you are innocent of the crimes they have accused you of.  And I want to help you get out of here because I believe you are innocent."

"And so, out of the goodness of your heart, you've decided to help me, is that it?  Or is  there something in this for you?"

"Of course, I will want something in return."

Jeremy nods.  "Of course.  And what would you like?  Money?"

"Money........and help."

"What sort of help?"  Jeremy asks.

"My wife and I, we........we want to leave Mexico.  To go to the United States.  But your changing immigration laws under your President Trump have made this very difficult."

"And what do you expect from me?"

"You are a very rich and very powerful man in the States, Señor Lord.  You could use your influence to help us.  Please understand, we do not wish to live in the U.S. illegally.  We want to become U.S. citizens, but we have not had the means to get across the border.  I could help you get back to California.........."

"And in exchange, I help you and your wife attain sanctuary there?"  Jeremy asks.

"Yes."

"And how much money will you also want in exchange for helping me?"

"Two hundred thousand American dollars,"  the guard replies.  "Enough to help Consuela and I start a new life."

"And why should I trust you?"  Jeremy asks.

"Because you have no choice.  Señor, if you do not trust me to help you, then I am afraid you will be in this hell of a prison for the rest of your life.  But if you do trust me, then we can leave here together, and escape to the United States.  You can be reunited with your family."

"Yes, my family.  My wife and my sons must think I'm dead by now."

"Then do we have a deal, Señor?"  The guard asks.  

"Alright.  Since I have nothing to lose, we have a deal.  You help me get out of this nightmare, and I will do all I can to help you and your wife."

The guard smiles.  "Excelente.  In a little while, I will make certain that I bring your dinner tray.  On that tray, you will find your means of escape, and instructions on how to carry out your escape.  I will then wait for you outside.  Once you have made your escape, go down this corridor outside the door, and take a left.  At the end of the hallway there is a door.  I will be waiting outside that door.  I must go now, or Morales will become suspicious.  Follow my instructions to the letter, Señor, or we could both be killed."

"Don't worry.  I'll follow any instructions to a T,"  says Jeremy.

The guard nods, then turns and leaves.  As he hears the large door close outside of his cell, for the first time in a year, since he had been in this place, Jeremy feels that he has some hope.  

A hospital near San Francisco....

  That afternoon, at Good Samaritan Hospital near San Francisco, Dr. Brown and one of his colleagues, Dr. David Shapiro, are examining the patient who had been brought into the hospital months earlier, suffering from severe burns.  

The mystery patient looks at the doctor, blinks his eyes and slightly nods his head.  

Dr. Brown smiles.  "Good.  You've come a long way, and we're gonna see you through this all the way.  Are you in any pain?"

The patient shakes his head, indicating no.  

"Good.  You get some rest, and I'll be back in to check on you later."  Dr. Brown flashes a smile to his patient, then he and Dr. Shapiro leave the room.  

Outside in the hallway, the two doctors are approached by an attractive young blonde woman. "So what do you think?"  She asks.  "Is this patient a good candidate for treatment?"

"Yes, I'm very encouraged," replies Dr. Shapiro.  

"When are you gonna proceed with the surgery?"  The young woman asks.

"We should be able to begin in a couple of days."

"Dr. Shapiro, again, I can't thank you enough for agreeing to come here and  take this case,"  says Dr. Brown.

"It's my pleasure.  Dr. Brown, you seem to have taken a special interest in this patient.  Any particular reason?"

"Just something about him.  I suppose I feel terribly sorry for him.  Young man was brought in here several months ago, barely alive and horribly burned over most of his body.  A miracle from God is the only way that I can possibly explain the fact that he even survived such horrific injuries in the first place.  For weeks and weeks he barely hung on, and quite a few times we thought we were gonna lose him.  But somehow, that young man clung to life with a will I haven't seen in a very long time.  He's a survivor.  He's been through hell, and, he doesn't even seem to have any memory of his own identity.  I think if anyone ever deserved a chance at life again, it's that patient in that room."

"Your dedication is admirable, Doctor,"  the young woman says.

"Thank you, Miss Shapiro."

The young woman smiles.  "Please, call me Diana.  Daddy, I'd like to go back to the hotel now and get a little rest.  I'm still jet lagged from the flight out here from New York."

"Of course, Diana,"  Dr. Shapiro says.  "I'm gonna stay here for a while.  I'll take a taxi to the hotel."

"Okay.  I'll see you soon,"  says Diana Shapiro.  "Dr. Brown, it was nice to meet you."

"Very nice to meet you too, Diana,"  Dr. Brown says, and the young woman walks away.  After she's gone, Dr. Brown walks to the door of his patient's room and looks through the narrow window in the door at the patient.  He smiles, confident that Dr. David Shapiro, foremost cosmetic surgeon in the country, can help his patient.  Now, if they only knew the identity of this mystery man.

The Gioberti home....late afternoon....

 Chase walks into the Gioberti home late that afternoon.  Joseph walks into the foyer from the living room to greet his brother.  "I'm glad you're home,"  he says.  "I've been waiting for you.  I called the office and Denise said that you were headed over here."

"You're about the last person on Earth I wanna see right now,"  Chase says.  "I just came by to get some more of my things."

"I was hoping that you were coming home."

Chase looks at his brother.  "This isn't my home.  This is YOUR home, and it could never be mine again."

"Chase, we have to talk about this,"  Joseph says.  "I know that you're REALLY pissed at me right now, but you've gotta believe that I had no idea who Courtney was that night we had sex, and I had no idea that she was only 15 at the time.  I swear to you on everything I hold dear."

"It doesn't matter,"  Chase says.  "Maybe you didn't know that Courtney was my girlfriend that night."

"Then why the hell are you still so angry with me?"

"Maybe you didn't know who Courtney was that night you had sex with her, but that still doesn't change the fact that it happened.  That you slept with my girl and got her pregnant."

"You know, you REALLY don't make any sense, little brother,"  Joseph says.  "You finally believe I didn't know who Courtney was that night years ago, and yet you still blame me.  You're still angry with me."

"Joseph, I'm really in no mood to go over this again.  I just came to get some more of my things, and then I just wanna get out of here."

"You just wanna run away, is that it?  Run away instead of working things out between us?"

"You're a hell of a fine one to talk about running away, when that's all you've ever done.  Things get a little rough, and Joseph just bails."

"We're not talking about me right now, we're talking about you.  I'm willing to stay right here and work this out like brothers, but now you're the one wanting to bail."

"Just get the hell out of my way,"  Chase says.  He starts to walk past Joseph and go up the stairs, but Joseph grabs him by the arm.  

"Chase, you're not going anywhere until we talk,"  Joseph says.

"Let go of my arm,"  says an angry Chase.

"Not until you hear me out."

"I said, let go of me!"  Chase says, pulling out of Joseph's grip and shoving his brother against the wall.  

An angry Joseph looks at him.  "I gave you that last punch, but I'm not giving you this,"  he says, then shoves his brother backward, knocking Chase off his feet and to the floor.  

"You son of a bitch,"  Chase says, quickly getting to his feet.  He tackles Joseph and shoves him to the floor.  

"Alright, you wanna go at it?"  Joseph asks, getting up.  "We'll do this right here and right now."  Joseph throws a punch at his brother, but Chase ducks, then punches Joseph in the stomach.  As Joseph doubles over in pain, Chase punches him in the face, sending Joseph crashing into a table beside the front door.  Joseph rebounds quickly, and tackles Chase, shoving him to the floor as hard as he can.  As Chase attempts to get to his feet, Joseph punches him across the face, knocking him to the floor again.  

 Cole walks into the house at that moment, stunned to see Chase on the floor and Joseph standing over him with a bloody lip.  "What the hell's going on here?"  Cole asks.  

Chase stands to his feet.  He and Joseph look at their father, then at each other, both brothers remaining silent.

"I asked a question,"  Cole says.  "What's going on?"

"Nothing,"  Chase replies.  "Just came by to get some more of my things, and then I'm outta here."

"Chase, don't go," says Cole.  "This is your home.  Stay, and we can work this out."

"No, Dad.  This isn't my home.  It's HIS home.  And this can't be worked out."  Chase again gives Joseph an angry look, then goes up the stairs.

Cole looks at his older son.  "Okay, you wanna tell me what was going on here?"

"Dad, y'know what?  I'm done.  If he wants to continue acting like a jerk over this, then let him, because I'm done trying to talk to him,"  Joseph says, then he turns and walks out of the foyer.  

Cole lets out a deep sigh, worried about the state of his family.

A prison in Mexico....evening....

 Jeremy is anxiously pacing around his cell that evening when he hears the large door outside unlock, and open.  The young guard who had visited him earlier walks in carrying a meal tray.  "Señor,"  the guard says.  "Your dinner."  The guard opens the cell and gives Jeremy the tray, and winks at him.  "Now remember what we discussed earlier,"  he says in a low voice, almost a whisper.  "I will be waiting for you in half an hour, outside. You must follow these instructions to the letter." 

Jeremy nods, and the guard turns and walks out, closing the cell door behind him.  After the guard leaves, Jeremy places his tray on the small table next to his bunk.  Taking the cover off the tray, he finds a small handgun, and next to it, a folded piece of paper that he picks up and opens.  The paper contains instructions the guard had written for him.  Jeremy smiles and nods, hopeful that this plan would finally make him a free man, and, as soon as he's back in the states, he plans to make Richard Channing pay dearly for the last year of hell he's suffered in this place.

Falcon Crest....

 Emma unlocks and opens the door to the basement at Falcon Crest.  Slowly, she descends the steps into the basement and finds Lucas still unconscious, exactly where she had left him a little more than an hour earlier.  She reaches over and touches his neck, then breathes a sigh of relief when she feels a pulse.  "Thank God, you're still 

alive," she says softly.  "Lucas, I'm so sorry I had to do this, but you left me no choice."  Reaching into her pocket, Emma pulls out a bandana and places it over Lucas's mouth, tying it behind his head.  She then grabs two pieces of robe, one of which she ties Lucas's hands, and with the other she ties his feet together.  Once finished, she looks at him.  "I'm so sorry I have to do this to you.  But I can NOT let you ruin everything, and I won't let you take my baby away from me.  Logan is all I have.  I'll be back later."  Emma gently touches Lucas's face, then hurries out of the basement.  Locking the door behind her again, she stuffs the key into her pocket, then goes back into the foyer.  A small spot of blood still remains on the floor where Lucas had fallen earlier.  Emma has to clean that spot up before anyone else comes home.  She runs into the kitchen and grabs a small kitchen towel and wets it.  

 Seconds later, she is back in the foyer, vigorously scrubbing the floor, washing away all traces of her crime.  As 

As darkness falls on the prison in Mexico where Jeremy is being held, Jeremy is sitting on his bunk when he hears the large door in the room separating his cell from the hallway outside being unlocked.  Hearing the door open, Jeremy lays down on his bunk just as the door opens and Garcia, the older guard Jeremy is most familiar with, walks into the room.  Garcia looks at Jeremy's tray, still full of food, sitting on the table next to his bunk, and smiles.  "Señor, you did not eat your dinner," he says, unlocking the iron door of Jeremy's cell.  

"Garcia, I.....you have to help me,"  Jeremy says in a soft, weak voice.

"Help you, Señor Lord?"  Garcia asks.  "Help you in what way?"

"I.......I'm in pain.  Terrible pain,"  Jeremy replies, laying on the bunk in a fetal position.  

Garcia walks into the cell and goes over to Jeremy.  "Where is this pain, Señor?"

"My stomach.  It's really bad."

Garcia kneels beside Jeremy's bunk and places his hand on his stomach.  "Does this hurt?"  He asks, pressing Jeremy's abdomen.  

"Oh,"  Jeremy cries out.  "Yes, please, stop.  It hurts.  The pain is terrible."

"I will have some medicine sent to you."

"No.  Garcia.....please.  I need a doctor.  It could be my appendix."

"I think you be alright, Señor.  Upset stomach."

"Garcia......I'm begging you.  Please, I need a doctor.  Do you want it on your conscience that I died here like this, when you could've helped me,"  Jeremy says.  

Garcia laughs.  "You seem to think I have what you call a conscience, Señor,"  he says.  "You are here for the rest of your natural life.  That does not matter to me whether that is one day, or twenty years."

"Garcia, I know that my brother, Richard Channing, is paying you to keep me here in this hell.  But I don't think even Richard wants me to die here.  And if I do die..........then that means that the money he's paying you stops."

The smile disappears from the man's face.  "Alright.  I will get a doctor,"  he agrees, not wanting to jeopardize his steady paycheck from Richard for keeping Jeremy a prisoner here.  "Just sit tight."  Garcia stands, and as he turns his back to leave the cell, Jeremy suddenly springs to his feet and grabs the guard around the neck from behind, placing him in a choke hold. 

"Now then, Señor Garcia,"  Jeremy says.  "You have just become my ticket out of your stinking dungeon."  Using all of his strength, Jeremy uses his arm around Garcia's through to choke him to the point of rendering him unconscious.  As soon as Garcia passes out, Jeremy lets him fall to the floor.  He smiles as he looks down at the sadistic guard who had made his life a living hell for almost a year.  But with no time to spare, Jeremy quickly grabs Garcia's hand gun from its holster, then reaches into his pocket and takes out some bullets for the gun.  Jeremy again looks down at the unconscious man and he has to resist the urge to finish Garcia off here and now.  But he realizes there isn't time.  He has to act fast if he wants to get out of here.  

A few minutes later....

Now wearing Garcia's uniform after switching clothes with him and leaving the guard tied up in his cell, Jeremy peaks around a corridor of a hallway once he's made it out of the cell.  Once he's sure no one is coming, Jeremy makes his way down the hall, then takes a left at the next corridor just as the other guard's written instructions had said for him to do.  He passes two other guards in the hall, but he lowers his head, and wearing a hat and Garcia's uniform, the other two men fail to recognize that Jeremy isn't another one of the guards.  He finally makes it to the end of the long hallway, where he sees the door leading to the outside.  He takes Garcia's security key card and uses it to open the door.  Going through the door, he exits the prison and looks around.  

"Señor,"  he hears someone whisper from behind him.  

Jeremy looks around and sees the guard who is helping him escape.  "It's you," he says.

"I see you have made it, Señor."

"Yes, thanks to you.   But we have to hurry if we want to get out of here.  Garcia won't out for that long, and it's only a matter of time, probably minutes, before someone finds him in my cell."

"Then we must leave now,"  the guard says.  "My car is just through the gate."

"Alright, then, let's go,"  says Jeremy.  "The sooner we make this hellhole a bad memory, the better."

The two men quickly make their way toward the gate, and as they almost reach the gate, they hear sirens going off inside the prison, indicating that Jeremy's escape has been discovered.  "We must run!"  The guard says.  "Now, Señor!"  The guard and Jeremy rush to the gate leading to the parking lot where his car is parked.  The guard gets the gate open using his security code, and he and Jeremy rush to the car and quickly get in.  In a flash, the car speeds away from the prison, the sirens continuing to sound inside the compound, and lights begin flashing as a search gets under way for the escaped prisoner!

Del Oro Spa and Health Club....

 Angela and Danny Carrington are lounging in the tub in Danny's suite at Del Oro that evening, sipping wine.  "Today was amazing,"  Angela says.

"Yes it was,"  Danny agrees.  "But tell me.  What was the best part for you?  The day we spent with you showing me around Falcon Crest?  Or that delicious dinner we had?  Or our incredible love making?"

"All of it,"  Angela replies.  "Just being with you makes any day perfect."

"Well, we could fix it so that we could spend a lot of perfect days together, you know.  All you have to do is come back to Denver with me."

 Angela sighs.  "Danny, we've been through all this before.  And I've told, I can't......"

"I know, I know.  You can't leave Falcon Crest."

"Some day owning Falcon Crest has been my dream for as long as I can remember.  I wanna be the next Angela Channing of the Tuscany Valley.  My grandmother was a legend in this valley for decades, and everyone respected her, and everyone feared her.  I wanna be just like that.  I wanna rule this Valley one day."

"Well, you're forgetting one very important thing.  Your Uncle Richard Channing owns Falcon Crest, and when he dies, I'm pretty sure he's gonna leave it to his kids and not to his niece that he's not particularly fond of."

"That's why I have a plan in motiop,"  Angela says.  "Danny, if you really wanted to, if you REALLY love me, what's stopping you from relocating here?"

"My family is in Denver."

"So?  You're not involved in your family's business, Denver-Carrington.  Your cousin runs that company.  And I'm sure your father could get along just fine without you at Carrington Construction.  Heck,if you wanted to, you could even start a California branch of your father's company right here in the Tuscany Valley.  That way, we could be together, and you'd still be working with your father, sort of."

"A California branch of Carrington Construction?"  Danny asks.

"Sure, why not?  There's an explosion of building going on here now, especially after those horrible fires a few months ago.  A lot of people lost their homes and businesses, and they're wanting to rebuild."

"Y'know, that's actually a damn good idea.  Carrington Construction in California.  Angela, I like that idea."

Angela turns to face him.  "Then, you'll do it?  You'll move out here to be with me, and start a branch of your father's company here?"

"Well, I'll have to talk to him, first.  But I don't see any reason why not.  I'll talk to him as soon as I get back to Denver tomorrow."

"I wish you didn't have to leave."

"So do I.  But hey, I'll fly back to Denver tomorrow, talk to my Dad about this idea, and, with any luck, I can be back out here in  a week or so, and set things in motion."

"Danny Carrington,"  Angela says.  "I do love you."

 Meanwhile, at Falcon Crest, Richard, Michael, Elena, Angie, and Emma Ryland are having dinner in the dining room.  

"How'd everything go with your doctor's appointment today, Elena?"  Richard asks.  

"Went fine.  The doctor says the baby's heartbeat is strong, and I'll be having my ultrasound in another couple of weeks."

Richard smiles.  "Well, now that's just wonderful.  I can't wait to have another grandson under this roof."

"And what if this is a granddaughter, Daddy?"  Angie asks.

"Bite your tongue, young lady."

"Well, it could very well be a girl, Richard,"  Elena says.

"I know, and if it is a girl, I'll love her just the same.  In fact, since I already have a grandson, I hope this one IS  a little girl.  But whatever it is, boy or girl, I'll be happy seeing your child and Logan growing up in this house side by side."

Emma drops her fork into her plate at the mention of Logan's name, causing the others at the table to look at her.

"Emma, are you alright?"  Richard asks.  "You've been awfully quiet all evening."

"Yes, unsually quiet,"  says Michael.  

"I'm fine,"  Emma says.  "I just.......my stomach is a little upset, that's all."

"Oh, I kinda thought your being so quiet and distracted might have something to do with that visitor you had this afternoon,"  Michael says.

"Visitor?"  Richard asks.  "What visitor was that?"

"Lucas Ewing was here to see Emma,"  Michael replies.

"Lucas Ewing?  Who the hell is Lucas Ewing?  Oh, wait a minute.  Itn't that the guy you were seeing before you and Kevin got together, Emma?  Bobby Ewing's boy?"

"Yes, that's right,"  a nervous Emma replies.  

"What the hell did he want?"

"I was wondering that myself,"  says Michael.  "He seemed angry, and like it was gonna be a pretty intense conversation."

"It was nothing.  He was just in town and dropped by to talk."

"Didn't seem that way to me,"  Michael says.

"Honey, I'm sure that Emma doesn't wanna talk about Lucas,"  Elena says.

"You're right, I don't," Emma says.

"I just think it's strange that your ex showed up here to see you, and it didn't seem like he was here to pay a social call."

"Michael, just leave it alone!"  Emma angrily says.  "It's none of your business."

"Emma this is my home.  You're a GUEST in this house, and the only reason you're still here is because you're the mother of Kevin's son."

"Michael, don't,"  Elena says.  

"Excuse me, I'm not hungry,"  Emma says, getting up from the table. She looks at Michael, then at Elena and leaves the room.  

"Was that really necessary?"  Elena asks.  

"Was what really necessary?"

"Interrogating Emma like that."

"I wasn't interrogating her, I was just asking some simple questions.  She's hiding something."

"You think she's hiding something to do with Lucas Ewing and his visit here?"  Richard asks.

"Yeah, I do,"  Michael replies.  "I think she's definitely hiding something, and I'm gonna find out what it is," he says, unaware that Emma is listening outside the door.  Emma realizes that she has to act fast and somehow get rid of Lucas before any of the Channings decide to go into the basement and find him! 

The Fairchild home....

 Nick is laying on his bed that night looking up at the ceiling, deep in thought, when Alex comes up the stairs and knocks on Nick's open bedroom door.  Nick turns and looks at him.  "Alex," he says.  

 "Hey, bro,"  Alex says.  "Your Mom said I could come on up."

"Come in.  I'm glad you're here.  I was kinda goin' stir crazy just laying here thinking about stuff."

Alex walks over to him.  "I figured Gabby'd be over here."

"She was.  She went home a couple hours ago.  I'm actually kinda glad she did."

"Why, dude?"  Alex asks.

 "Because I can't stand the look in her eyes, man.  The look of sadness, of pity.  I wish I hadn't have even had to tell her about the cancer."

"Nick, she was gonna find out.  There's no way you could've kept something like that from her."

"I know.  I just wish I could've spared her,"  Nick says as his mother comes to the door.  

"Hey, sorry to interrupt,"  Susan Fairchild says.

"It's okay, Mom.  What is it?"  Nick asks.

"Honey, since Alex is here with you, I need to run to the store for a few things.  Alex, can you stay for a while?"

"Sure, Mrs. Fairchild, take all the time you need."

Susan smiles.  "Thanks, Alex.  I'll try not to be too long.  I'll see you boys in a bit."

"Bye, Mom,"  Nick says as his mother leaves the room.  After she's gone, he lets out a deep sigh.  "She won't even leave me at home alone anymore.  She's afraid something will happen to me while she's gone."

"When will your Dad be home?"  Alex asks.

"Sometime tomorrow, now that my Grandma is recovering from her stroke and my Aunt Debbie's there to look after her."

"So, what do you wanna do?"  Alex asks.  "Watch a movie?  Play GTA?"

"Movie sounds good,"  Nick replies.  "Why don't you go downstairs and look in the food pantry.  There's a big bag of Doritos in there.  Get them and bring them up.  I have a few sodas up here in my mini-fridge.  Maybe you can spend the night."

"Yeah, I'd love that. I'm sure my Mom would never even miss me,"  says a sad Alex.  "I'll be back in a couple minutes.  Why don't you pick us out a good movie."

"I will,"  Nick says.  As soon as Alex leaves the room, Nick begins rubbing his temple.  

Near San Vicente, Mexico....

Meanwhile, in Mexico, Jeremy, Manuel Espinoza, the prison guard, Manuel's wife, and two young children are driving down a rural road, headed for the Mexico-California border, with Manuel driving.  "How much further do we have?"

Jeremy asks.

"About fifty miles,"  Manuel replies.  

"Fifty miles,"  says a discouraged Jeremy.

"Manuel, estoy asustada," Mrs. Espinoza says in Spanish.

"What's she saying?"  Jeremy asks.  

"She says she is frightened."

"Yes, well, she's not the only one,"  says Jeremy.  "If we're caught......"

"Do not say that.  Do not even think it,"  Manuel says.  "We cannot afford to be caught.  Consuela, no te preocupe," he tells his wife, who is sitting in the backseat with the two children, ages 8 and 10.  

"What's that up ahead?"  Jeremy asks, seeing a car and lights in the distance ahead of them, in what appears to be a road block.  

"Oh dear,"  Manuel says.  "It is the police."

"You think they know of my escape?"

"Probably."

"What do we do?"

"We remain calm.  Just act calmly, and allow me to do the talking."  

"Shouldn't we try and make a run for it?"  Jeremy asks.

"We would never make it.  Not in this automobile."  Manuel brings his car to a stop at the point where a police car is blocking the road.  Two armed officers are standing in front of the car.  When Manuel's car comes to a stop, the two officers approach,

"¿Puedo ver tu identificación?"  One of the officers asks.  

Nervously, Manuel reaches into his pocket and brings out his wallet.  Opening it, he shows the officer his identification.  The officer takes the wallet, looks at Manuel's I.D., then shows it to the other officer.  The two men exchange some words in Spanish, then look at Manuel and  his passengers as they draw their weapons.  

"salir del coche lentamente,"  one of the officers says.  

"What's going on?"  Jeremy asks.  

"They are telling us to get out of the car,"  Manuel replies.  "We had better do as they say."  He looks into the backseat at his wife, son, and daughter.  "Consuela, ven," he tells her.  

Slowly, Manuel, Jeremy, Consuela, and the two small children get out of the car, Jeremy making sure to hide the gun he had taken off the guard at the prison.  Stuffing the gun in his pants, he gets out of the car, his arms raised.  

"Habla usted Inglés?"  Jeremy asks the two guards.  

"Si, Señor, I speak a little English,"  one of the guards replies.  "And you are under arrest."

"Under arrest?  For what?"

"You are a fugitive, Señor.  Jeremy Lord, the American who escaped from El Grecco Prision earlier tonight.  With the help of this guard here."

Conseula begins to cry, and so do the two children.  

"Look, let me explain something to you,"  Jeremy says.  "I am an innocent man.  I was kidnapped and sent to that prison by my brother, Richard Channing.  I committed no crime."

"You can tell that to a judge, Señor,"  the English-speaking guard says.  "Now place your hands on your head."

Jeremy and Manuel exchange worried looks.  As one of the guards attempts to handcuff him, Jeremy quickly elbows the man in the ribs, and pulls out his gun.  The other guard draws his weapon on Jeremy, but Manuel hits him in the arm, causing him to drop the gun.  Manuel then punches the guard, and grabs his weapon.  

"Alright, now, throw down your weapon,"  Jeremy orders the officer.  "And do it slowly."

The two officers exchange looks between them, then the first officer does as he's told.  Manuel picks up the officer's gun.  

"Manuel, do you have any rope or anything in your trunk we can use to tie them up?"  Jeremy asks.

"Yes, I think so."

"Then get it and tie these two up."

"You are making a big mistake, both of you."  says the English speaking guard.  "When you are caught, you will both be in very big trouble."

"You just let us worry about that,"  Jeremy says.  

The Fairchild home....

 Back at the Fairchild home in the Tuscany Valley, Alex and Nick are in Nick's room, watching a movie.  "Man, this movie's better than I thought it would be,"  Alex says.  

"Yeah, it's okay,"  Nick says, a look of pain on his face.

 Meanwhile, over at Falcon Crest, Michael, Elena, and Angie are sitting in the living room, the movie they had been watching is ending.  "Well, I can't speak for everyone else, but I think that movie is over rated,"  Michael says.

"How can you say The Conjuring is over rated?"  Angie asks her brother.  "It's one of the best newer horror movies in years."

"You know your brother, he hardly likes ANY movies,"  says Elena.

"I do so.  Well, anyway, it's getting late, and I'm tired.  It's been a long day, so why don't you and I head on up to bed?"

Elena looks at him and smiles.  "Good idea.  I'm kinda tired myself."

"I think I'll turn in, too,"  says Angie.  "I'll probably read for a while before I go to sleep."

Michael picks up the remote control and switches off the TV as he, Elena, and Angie all stand.  Michael and Elena walk into the foyer hand in hand.  "I guess Dad's still working in his office,"  Michael says.

"Yeah, I'm gonna tell him goodnight,"  says Angie.  

"Okay, we'll see you in the morning,"  Michael says, he and Elena heading up the stairs together.  

Angie knocks on her father's office door next to the stairs.  "Come in," she hears Richard say.  

Angie opens the doors and walks into the office.  "Just wanted to say goodnight, Daddy," she tells her father, walking over to Richard.

"Goodnight, sweetheart," Richard says as his daughter kisses him on the cheek.  

"Still working on these reports?" 

"Yes.  But I'm almost done.  I just wanna get these finished tonight."

"I won't keep you, then. I'll see you in the morning."

"See you in the morning, darling,"  Richard says.  Angie smiles at her father, then leaves, closing the two sliding double doors of the office behind her as she exits the room and heads upstairs to bed.  Alone in his office again, Richard begins reading over his reports on his desk again but after a few seconds, he rubs his eyes, sleepy and exhausted from working.  After reading just a few more lines, he takes off his reading glasses and places them on the desk in front of him.  He leans back in his chair and closes his eyes, intending to rest for only a few minutes.

The basement....

Lucas finally begins to wake up after being unconscious for several hours due to the blow Emma had given him to the head.  Opening his eyes, Lucas finds himself bound hand and foot, and gagged.  Looking around the basement, it is so dark he can't see much and he wonders where he is, his memory of what had happened to him fuzzy.  After a few seconds, he begins to remember his confrontation with Emma earlier in the day.  As he tries to move, his head hurts badly.  Despite a pounding headache, Lucas begins to struggle to free himself from the ropes that bind his hands.  Since Emma had not been able to tie the ropes around his wrists very tightly, Lucas manages to loosen them slightly.

Meanwhile....upstairs....

Emma Ryland slowly opens her bedroom door and peaks out into the hallway to see if anyone is around.  When she sees no one, she quietly slips out of the room and down the darkened hallway to the stairs.  As she starts down the stairs, she meets Angie coming up.  Startled, Emma stops suddenly on the staircase.

"Emma, I thought you'd gone to sleep,"  Angie says.

"I......I just woke up.  Thought maybe a glass of warm milk would help me get back to sleep."

"We think alike.  I just went to the kitchen and got a glass myself.  Well, I'm gonna turn in and read for a while.  Goodnight."

"Night,"  Emma says as Angie walks past her.  

Angie stops at the top of the stairs and turns back to her.  "Emma, are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine."

"Look, I know it's none of my business, but, that visit from Lucas Ewing this afternoon........that upset you, didn't it?"

"No, why should it?"  Emma asks.

"I dunno, you tell me."

"Angie, I'm not upset.  Everything is FINE."

"Okay, well, goodnight, then,"  Angie says.  She turns and heads down the hall.  Emma watches her and then waits for a few seconds until she hears Angie's bedroom door open and close.  Breathing a sigh of relief, Emma goes downstairs.  

A couple of minutes later, Emma unlocks the basement door as quietly as she can.  Taking her flashlight since there is no working light in the basement, she turns it on, but the light is dim.  Emma shakes the flashlight, then becomes frustrated when the beam from it becomes even dimmer, and finally goes out completely.  "Damn it,"  she says to herself in a whisper.  She shakes the flashlight several times to try and get it to burn again, but to no avail. The batteries are dead, and Emma has no idea where to find another flashlight in the house.  She quietly closes the door to the basement and goes into the foyer, and picks up a candelabra from a table.  Finding some matches it a drawer. she lights the five candles on the candelabra, then returns to the basement.  Opening the door, she walks into the basement, closing the door behind her, and descends the darkened staircase now illuminated by the light from the candles she carries.  She stops on the stairs halfway down and listens.  Not hearing a sound, she figures Lucas must still be unconscious.  Emma continues down the stairs and into the dark, eerie basement.  Looking under the stairs where she had left him, Emma is stunned, and fearful, when she finds Lucas gone, the ropes she had used to tie his hands and feet on the floor.  

"Looking for ME, Emma?"  Lucas's voice startles her from behind.  Emma quickly turns around to see him standing in front of her.  

"Lucas," she says.  

"Surprised to see me?  I'm sure you probably thought you'd killed me with whatever the hell that was you hit me with."

"Lucas, I'm sorry,"  Emma says in tears.  "I never meant to hurt you."

"Yeah?  Well, you can tell that to the cops after I have you thrown in jail for assault and attempted murder."

"I wasn't trying to kill you.  Lucas, please, I'm sorry.  But I had to stop you."

"Stop me from what?  Telling the truth about my son's paternity?"  Lucas asks.  "You know, you're as crazy as that deranged aunt of yours, Katherine Wentworth.  I'm calling the police."  Lucas reaches into his pocket for his phone, but fails to find it.  "I suppose you took my phone."

"I had to.  Lucas, just let me explain."

"Emma there's nothing left to explain.  Before, when you lied about Logan's paternity, that was pretty low.  But what you did to me this afternoon.......knocking me unconscious and tying me up here.........that's  CRIME, Emma.  A crime you're gonna pay for, and then I'm gonna take my son."

"You can't do that.  Lucas, please, think of Logan.  I am his mother."

"My son would be much better off without you for a mother,"  Lucas says.  "Now get out of my way, Emma."

"No.  Lucas, I'm not going to let you ruin everything,"  Emma says in tears.  

"You can't stop me, Emma, now get the hell out of my way."  Lucas pushes past Emma and starts to head up the basement stairs. 

Emma puts the candelabra down on the floor, rushes for Lucas and grabs him, scratching the right side of his face with her fingernails.  Lucas yells out in pain, then pushes Emma against the wall.  She immediately grabs him again, and as the two wrestle around on the stairs for a moment, Lucas's jacket comes off of him.  He throws the jacket over Emma's head, and again heads up the stairs.  Emma tosses the jacket aside, and it lands on top of the candelabra sitting beside the stairs.  The basement goes dark as the light from the candles is extinguished by Lucas's jacket.  Emma blindly makes her way up the stairs just as Lucas reaches the top.  He tries to open the door but finds it locked.  

"HELP!"  Lucas yells.  Emma grabs him, and as Lucas struggles to get her away from him, he loses his balance in the dark and tumbles down the stairs, landing at the bottom, hitting his head and again rendering himself unconscious.  

"LUCAS!"  Emma calls out, unable to see if Lucas was injured because of the darkness of the room.  Meanwhile, smoke begins to billow from under Lucas's jacket laying atop the candelabra on the floor.  Within seconds, the flames from the candles catch up and begin burning through the jacket.  Emma slowly makes her way down the basement stairs, and sees Lucas laying at the bottom, unconscious.  She rushes to him and kneels beside him.  

Meanwhile, as smoke begins drifting from under the door and throughout the first floor of the house, Richard is still dozing at his desk in his office, the sounds of Emma's screams from the basement going unheard.  

Upstairs, Michael and Elena are in bed and already asleep.  Just down the hall, Angie, who has been reading for a few minutes, puts her book face down on the table beside her bed, switches off the lamp on the table, and settles into her bed for a night's sleep, all of them oblivious to the fire in the basement.  
Meanwhile....Del Oro Spa, Health Club, and Spa....

  Emma Channing has been spending the evening with Sydney Griffin and her son Kyle, and Sydney walks Emma to the door as she is about to leave.  

says.  

Kyle smiles at his great-aunt.  "Not at all, Emma.  I really enjoyed listening to you and Mom talk about the old days.  Some day you're gonna have to fill me in on the Channing and Gioberti family history."

"I look forward to that.  Sydney, I do hope you'll stay in town for a while.  I really like having you around."

"Thank you, Emma,"  Sydney says.  "We'll see."

Well, I'd better go.  Goodnight Sydney.  Kyle."

"Goodnight, Emma,"  Sydney says as Emma leaves, Sydney closing the door behind her.

"Well, that was definitely a lot of fun,"  says Kyle.  "She's a very interesting woman."

"Yes, Emma's terrifific.  And I'm glad you like her.  But, as for sticking around here for a while......I don't think that's a very good idea, Kyle."

"But WHY, Mom?"  Kyle says, standing to face his mother.  

"Because staying here and trying to get close to the Channings, especially Richard, that's just a recipe for getting hurt."

"Richard's not gonna hurt me, Mom.  I have my eyes wide open.  Besides, I came to this Valley to find my father, and to find out about my family.  And I'm not leaving until I do that and until I get to know them.  Richard is already coming around.  He even took us on that tour of Falcon Crest."

"Or maybe he's just stringing you along,"  Sydney says.  "Kyle, you don't know your grandfather.  You don't know what kind of man he is."

"And you DO?"  Kyle asks.  "Mom, you hadn't seen Richard Channing in years, so you have no idea what kind of man he is now."

"He's the same man he always was, sweetheart.  Why do you think your father walked away from Richard and hasn't spoken to him in years?"

"Well, I'm not leaving this Valley until I get what I came here for,"  Kyle says.  "And what I came here for, Mom, is my place in that family.  A place I should've had my whole life, and would've had if you hadn't been so held bent on keeping me away from my real father and from the Channings."  Kyle turns and walks out of the room, leaving his mother concerned.

Falcon Crest....

Emma Channing gasps in horror as she looks up at the fire, which now seems to be spreading throughout the old Victorian mansion.  

Inside, Danny makes his way upstairs and into the hallway.  "HELLO?"  He calls out.  "IS ANYONE HERE?"  The smoke in the hallway is so thick that Danny can't see more than a couple of feet in front of him.  As he attempts to make his way down the hall, a small beam suddenly falls, grazing Danny's head.  He falls to the floor, unconscious as the flames begin to surround him!

Outside, as the sounds of sirens can be heard in the distance, Emma Channing, Angela, and Elena look on in horror, each of the women feeling helpless as they watch their home burn, and their loved ones trapped inside!

 END OF EPISODE 33....