"I've already told that to the new nursemaid." "She knows." "Steven." "Very nice to see you again." " Nice to see you, Dad." " Excuse me." "I've come to take little Danny for his morning outing." "Is that all right?" "Well, it's a bit chilly for him out, isn't it?" "Maybe in a little while, Elizabeth." "I understand that you've been coming around quite a bit these past weeks to visit with your son." "At carefully chosen times when I'm not here." "I've come around when it's convenient for me to leave my office." "Oh, yes, yes, Colbyco." "How's it going being an executive with your mother?" "Fine." "Fine." "That's fascinating." "I mean" "The way apparently you've changed your view about the oil business from the days when you refused to be an executive with me." "Blake, I don't think this is the time" "It's all right, Krystle." "Now is as good a time as any." "Views change, Dad, so let's just say that" "Yours have changed." " You've got it." "End of discussion." " No." "No, not quite." "Now, I was wondering whether this wasn't a hopeful sign." "A sign that perhaps you've changed your view about uprooting your son from this house." "No, I haven't." "Blake, Steven came by to tell us that he's moving out of La Mirage in a couple of days and into his own apartment." "And that he's hired a nursemaid to take care of Danny." "Take care of Danny better than we can here?" "I've gotta go." "We'll be in touch." "Go on, go on, say it." ""You were too hard on him, Blake."'" "You've said it before." "I know that you're thinking it right now." "Look." "Just let me take care of this." "Don't get caught in the middle, please." "Blake, I'm not worried about me." "I love you both and the situation between the two of you is impossible." "Now, can't something be done about it?" "The only thing to do is to leave it alone." "Okay?" "Bye." "No, it's not okay." "It's not." " Mr. Carrington?" " Yes, Joseph?" "Congressman McVane showed up a few minutes ago, insists on seeing you." " Where is he?" " I've shown him into the library." "Thank you." "Morning, Neal." "I thought you were still in Washington." " I just flew in." " Is there something wrong?" "Nothing has kyboshed that agreement you made with your friends back there." "Something went wrong, all right." "But not on my end." "On yours." "What the devil are you talking about?" "Blake, I kept my word to you." "For weeks now, weeks," "I've had them hold off any consideration of the proposed Colbyco, Denver-Carrington merger." "So that you would have time to build up your defence." "And what did I get in return?" "A knife in my back." " Neal" " No, no." "I have heard the rumours." "There is someone going around Washington who is trying to dig up things on me." "About my personal life, after hours." "Are you planning to double-cross me, Blake?" "Would you mind telling me what you're talking about?" "That night at La Mirage, at your daughter's party." "It was you who said you would blackmail me with rumours and gossip." "About your dealings in Congress, not bedrooms." "That's because you were trying to go back on your word to me, remember?" "Yes, but the threat was supposed to be forgotten" " when I agreed to help you." " It was forgotten." "Now, you listen to me, Neal." "Instead of running around making wild accusations against your friends, you'd better go out there and find out who your enemies are." "And you're my friend." "At this point in our lives and in this situation, you'd better believe it." "Mother, I came by to bring these reports." "Hello." " I'm Claire Maynard" " Hi." "from The Chronicle." "Your mother's upstairs, she'll be down in a few minutes, Steven." "Yes, I recognise you." "Our City Room was flooded with photographs of Steven Carrington the night you got back with your father." "At which time, two of our copy girls went absolutely crazy." "I've read a lot of your columns." "About the copy girls, did I tell you about them when I phoned you?" "No, you just said you wanted a story from me about my experiences and I said I'd rather not." "That was then." "You must have been pretty upset." "But how about now?" "Miss Maynard, I'd still rather not." "I had an accident." "I've recovered." "There is no story." "Just another guy coming home." "A Carrington is not just another guy." "Besides, I think that there's an interesting human angle to what you've come home to." "Meaning?" "Meaning Claudia Blaisdel, Mr. Carrington." "What about your relationship with that poor, troubled woman?" "Does she blame you for what's happened to her life?" "Is she recovering in that sanitarium?" "From what I've been told, yes, she is recovering." "Oh, told?" "You haven't been to see her?" "Not yet." "I've been too involved putting my own life back in order." "Well, considering your history with the lady" "I mean, what she was forced to reveal on the witness stand about her affair with you while she was still married to your old friend or at least, so they say." "And the man that you worked for, correct?" "Yes, correct." "And I want you to turn that recorder off immediately, understand?" "Yes, of course." "But I would think that a visit to her would be part of putting your life back in order." "With you present, Miss Maynard?" "To make public record of the visit?" "Maybe win another award?" "But this time, for a supermarket rag." "Well, forget it." "And if this was an interview, it's over." "Drat." "Good morning, Mrs. Colby." "How lovely you look." "Let's skip the amenities, Miss Maynard, and get down to some answers from you." "First of all, why are you here?" "And why hasn't that story that I gave you three weeks ago about Congressman McVane appeared in your precious column?" "Don't you think that your readers would be interested in reading about our good congressman's tawdry affair with a teenage girl?" "A governor's nymphet daughter?" "A reconciliation dinner with Steven?" "Is that what you're trying to say?" "Blake, all I'm saying is to invite him back to the house and sit at the same table with him." " And talk." " Yes, and talk." "Well, my God, Krystle." "Do you remember that famous dinner we had with Adam?" "When that son just got up and walked out of the house?" "Yes, but he did come around." "And the two of you are getting along better." "Yes, and you were at the house this morning." "You heard what Steven handed me." "Yes, and I heard you hand him back the same kind of hostility." "So, about dinner." " Blake." " I don't know." "I really don't know." "I've got so many urgent things on my mind at the moment." "I've got Ross Kennison coming in here in half an hour." "Ross Kennison is more urgent, more important than your son?" "I thought I'd never see this, Blake." "After what you said." "After what I said?" "Do you remember the day that we talked together?" "When we thought that Steven was dead?" "And you said to me that you'd never given him your total love and understanding." "But that you'd try to make it up to him with Danny." "Well, you also said that if you had another chance to try with Steven, that you'd act differently." "Well, you've got your second chance, Blake." "Are you gonna take it?" "Or are you just going to throw it away?" "Mother, I know you wanna take a look at these reports." "Oh, wonderful." "And so are you, my darling." "You know, you're doing an absolutely dazzling job on analysing the potential of those Far Eastern leases that we're bidding for." "Well, I did spend a lot of time in the Far East after I walked out of the house that night." "Correction, Steven." "You mean, after your loving father drove you out." "How about a cup of coffee?" "Oh, no, thanks." "Steven?" "Are you happy here at Colbyco, working with me?" "Yes, I am." "Good." "You know, I'm not exactly smothered by honesty in this empire of mine." "I'm happy, Mother, because you've given me important things to do." "You've shown a respect for my intelligence." "A respect my father never did." "Well, your happiness makes me very happy, Steven." "Finally, we're together, my very special son." "In spite of the fact that your father tried to exile us from each other." "First, he drove me away from you and then he drove you away from me." "But it was a bond, Steven, that was meant to be." "And not even your father's cruelty could break it." "Jeff?" "I must thank you very much for keeping me so closely posted on Alexis' manoeuvres." "Well, even though Colbyco is half mine," "I think you know where my loyalties lie." "Let's hope what happened here will do it for both of us." "It will, just as soon as I get the wheels rolling on this, which is right now." " Marcia." " Yes, Mr. Carrington?" "Will you get Alexis Colby on the phone for me, please?" "Yes, sir." "Blake Carrington phoning you, Mrs. Colby." "Good morning, Blake." "And forewarn me." "What is your mood of the moment?" "Determined, Alexis." "You see, I've found a few new discrepancies in the recent merger figures your people prepared." "So I'll expect you here at 4:00 this afternoon." "Blake, we can talk about your alleged discrepancies but we'll talk about them here at my office." "In case you've forgotten, I'm the one who's in charge now." "No sale, Alexis." "I've got the books, I've got the ledgers and I've got the clout." "All in my office." "Clout?" "What clout?" "Well, you be here, 4:00." "You'll find out." "How did she take it?" "Like a cup of hemlock." "Hello, Mrs. Colby." "Hello, Abby." "Is my husband in his office?" "Well, I was out of the office but I think I heard he was in with Mr. Carrington." "I see." "Come in." " Kirby, what a nice surprise." " Oh, I thought Jeff was in here." "No, he isn't." "That's a very pretty dress." "Picking up your groom for lunch?" "And how is the blooming, if not exactly blushing, bride?" "Jeff must be in his office, that's where I'm going." "Jeff." "You know something, Kirby?" "Just invoking that name does not push me out of your life." "I'm Adam." "The same Adam you had dinner with one night." "Danced with that night and then made love with." "Jeff, I was just on my way to your office." "What are you doing here?" "I thought you were in here." "You weren't." " I looked these over, they seem fine." " Good." "Well, it's time for lunch." "I hope you two enjoy yours." "Kirby?" "Well, how about it?" "You ready?" "You think I was being sweet to Adam?" "You've got to realise, you can't as much as say hello to him without his taking advantage of it." "Well, if I can't say hello to him, you should try the same with her." "Who?" "Who?" "Try Fallon." "You should try the same with her and not drag me to her hotel for lunch." "I don't like going to those crowded downtown places every day." "La Mirage is convenient?" "Not exactly." "It's a 20-minute drive but" "But I thought it might be convenient to a house that we could look at today and maybe buy so that we could be alone, finally." "You know, you told me weeks ago that there was a business crisis and we had to put looking for a house on hold." "But what happened?" "When are you gonna tell me the business crisis is over so we can finally get out from under the Carrington roof?" "The crisis isn't over." " When will it be?" " I don't know." "Well, give me a ballpark figure." "I deserve that at least, don't I?" "Well, as soon as I know, I'll tell you." "God, we're having our first fight." "And married a month." "Other couples have done worse, Kirby." "Excuse me, I better go fix my face." "What's the matter?" " I feel faint." " Are you all right?" "Yeah, I think so." "Well, thinking so isn't good enough." "You look a little pale." "It was the argument." "I'm all right." "Why don't you tell that to Dr. Winfield?" "I want him to give you a checkup." "I'll set the appointment, okay?" " Steven?" " Hi, Krystle." "I understand your mother's at lunch." "You have a minute to talk?" "No." "Except that I always have time to talk to you and more than a minute." "What makes you so nice?" "I take lessons." "Correspondence courses." "Actually," "I wasn't very nice this morning to you." "I mean, getting you caught dead centre while I had it out with my father." "Well, that's what I'm here to talk about." "I want you to come to the house tomorrow night for dinner." "Krystle, I know what you're trying to do." "Get me to say yes and then go tackle my father on the basis that I agreed." "Well, I'm sorry but I can't go along with it." "You're wrong." "Because I've already tackled Blake and convinced him." "And I don't intend to lose out with you." "Steven," "I love your father, you know that." "But he's got a blind spot where you're concerned." "He doesn't see you as clearly as I do." "And what is it you see?" "I see a boy who left Denver and was gone a long time." "But who came back a man." "A man who's willing to take on the full responsibilities of his life, including the responsibility of being a single parent." "And you want Blake to see what you see?" "Do you really believe in miracles?" "Your being alive is a miracle." "Now all I'm asking is for you to give it a chance." "I want you to be friends with your father." "And I'm not gonna stop fighting until it happens." "Okay." "Dinner tomorrow night." "What time?" "Seven o'clock." " Seven o'clock tomorrow night." " Yup." "Oh, don't go, Krystle." "I'd like you to stay." "I want to talk to you for a moment." "Alone." "If you'll excuse us, Steven." "Sure." "How dare you come into my office uninvited?" "And how dare you interfere in my son's life?" "You'd love it, wouldn't you, Alexis, if you could get revenge on Blake by keeping him and his son apart?" "Oh, no." "Oh, no, Krystle." "Because just the opposite is true." "Blake has taken every chance, every possible chance to poison Steven's mind against me." "And what's so funny?" "I can't believe how little you know the man you were once married to." "Because Blake wouldn't do that." "It's beneath his dignity, for one thing." " And he doesn't lie." " Oh, that's right, of course." "His sainted mother taught him the sin of that, didn't she?" "Along with the president of the United States." " I'm not finished." " Let me remind you, this is my office." "You can have it when I finish." "Blake doesn't lie unlike you who could hardly wait until Steven got back to tell him that Blake tried to buy his own son from Sammy Jo." "How dare I interfere?" "Well, I'll tell you how I dare." "I'm going to keep on interfering, Alexis, until Blake and his son are what they should be to one another." "A father who loves and respects his son." "And a son who loves and respects his father." "Despite you." "Get out of my office before I have you thrown out." "I love your desk." "The tusks, they're so you." "Get out!" "All right, Blake." "The mountain has come to Mohammed." "So where is your so-called clout and what's your problem?" "Let's reverse those." "First the problem." "I've been after you for weeks because you've been consistently under evaluating the assets of Denver-Carrington." "Which makes my company's stock worth millions of dollars less, if I let you get away with it." "Well that's nonsense, Blake." "You're implying that" "I'm implying nothing." "I'm stating that one of my company's most valuable assets is its shale-oil extraction process, a process which could revolutionise the oil industry." "Well, you won't get any argument from me there, Blake." "And if you bothered to look through the documents, you'll see that Colbyco has evaluated its worth and fairly." "Yeah." "It happens to be the only item that you have evaluated fairly." "And that is only because of its tremendous importance to Colbyco." "What, with all of your shale properties showing no profit at the moment, if ever." "Now, about my clout in all of this." "Up to now, that shale-oil extraction process has been leased by an inventor to Denver-Carrington." "A university professor named Ross" "Kennison." "Yes, I know all of this, Blake." "What you don't know is that this morning," "Mr. Kennison sold all the rights in his process to me, personally." "So I seriously doubt if I want to continue to lease to our merged companies unless" "Unless what?" "Unless the evaluation of all Denver-Carrington's assets meets with my approval." "You know I like a fight as much as you do, Blake." "But this time, you are really playing dirty." "Below the belt." "Not dirty, Alexis, just tough." "Now, you may think you can cut a big figure in this industry but the oil industry is my turf." "And I warned you, this is a high-stakes game, very high." "So," "I will send over those documents to you tomorrow with the correct evaluation figures inserted." "And for the moment, our meeting is adjourned." "I'm sure you can find your own way out." "Hello, Steven." "Claudia." "They gave me your message that you were driving up here today." "It's beautiful, isn't it?" "You look beautiful, Claudia." "Happy and healthy." "It's the jogging." "I really enjoy it." "And the people here are very good to me." " They're very good for me." " I'm glad." "Your eyes." "They're still the same." " Is that good?" " Yup." " I heard your leg was hurt." " Oh, not too bad." "I was using a cane for a while but it's healing." "It's like me." "I'm healing too." "Oh, I'd like to give you a welcome-back-to-life hug but I'm all sweaty." "I don't mind." "I'm used to a little honest sweat." "I meant to come sooner." " Did you?" " Yes." "Well, I've had company." "Krystle, especially." "She's been up quite a few times." "She's talked to me about you." "Must be difficult for you." "Trying to put your life- Your new life back together again." "Well, it must not be very easy for you either." "Everything you've been through." "The hell and the torment." "Yes." "God, I wish I'd been with you that day." "What day?" "On the roof, with the doll." "The doll." "I thought it was Lindsay." "They told you about it?" "That's why you're here." "Well, yes, that's part of it but" "To pity me." "It's why you're here, isn't it?" "No, Claudia." "No." "The person that you should pity is Fallon for what I put her through." "You didn't tell me about your son." "I was going to." "I don't think so." "You know what I think?" "I don't think that you wanted to mention him." "Because you were afraid that I might shatter." "Because you were afraid that I might fall to pieces in front of you," "like I used to over Lindsay." "You still pity me over that, don't you?" "Krystle told me about your son because she doesn't pity me." "She understands how hard I'm working to put the pieces of my life back together." "And I'm getting there." "I'm getting there because I wanna get well." "Claudia, believe this." "I came here today because of what we meant to each other once." "And because of what I cost you." "No one cost me." "No one cost me anything." "I'm not looking for crutches because I'm not an emotional cripple." "The doctors here say that I'm gonna be leaving soon." "On my own." "And I want you and I want the rest of the world to know that I have glued myself back in one piece." "And a large part of what I've glued back is my pride." "Goodbye, Steven." "I really am sweaty and suddenly, I'm feeling a bit grimy." "I'm gonna take a shower." " Claudia, look" " Steven." "Thank you for coming." "Visitors are always welcome here." "It says it in the brochure they hand you when you walk in." "Except some of the patients here aren't as lucky as I." "Claudia." "Claudia!" "Sit down, Mark." "I'd rather stand." "And I want you to know the only reason I'm here is because I didn't want you coming to La Mirage and creating a problem." "That's no part of why I sent for you." "Come on, Alexis, we've both been involved in situations" "like this one before." "We had a thing." "It was pleasant." "Now it's over." "And if you dragged me here to find out why" "You're not going to tell me." "Well, you don't have to because I already know." "It's Fallon, isn't it?" "A rather intimate little kiss in the pro shop, of all places, confirmed what I know." "You followed her to Haiti when she was getting her divorce, didn't you?" "Well, because of that divorce and because of Jeff's remarriage, my daughter is very vulnerable right now." "And I want you to stay out of her life." " Just like that." " Oh, no." "Because of who you are and what you are, just like this." "I'll pay you anything that you want, within reason." "And then I want you to leave." "Put that away." "I don't want your money, Alexis." "How many Alexises have heard that before?" "I don't want it and that's that." "What you want is Fallon." "Because you love Fallon." "That's right, lady." "Love." "Come off it." "You're nothing but a second-rate fortune hunter in tennis shoes." ""Mark."'" "Alexis." " What do you want?" " I want to come in, Mark." "Look, I'm sorry about what happened before." "Must I eat crow in the corridor?" "I apologise, Mark." "You see, a woman like me doesn't enjoy losing out to another woman." "Especially not her own daughter." "It was beneath my dignity to insult you the way that I did." "So will you please accept my apology?" "All right." "Okay, I do." "Now I wanna thank you for coming all this way to deliver it personally." "But I'm tired and I wanna finish showering." "So do you mind going?" "What if I said I did?" "I'd say it again." "I'm tired." " And, Alexis, I want you" " Do you really?" "I want you to get out of here." "All right." "Mark?" "What the hell are you doing?" "Oh, I'm having a glass of champagne." "Would you care to join me?" "Mark, I got your note" "Oh, my God." "Fallon." "Fallon!" "What do they call a woman like you?" "Smart and intelligent." "A woman who always knows exactly what she wants and how to go about getting it." "You get your clothes on, get out of here and tell her how this happened." "I've got my clothes on, Mark." "And nothing happened." "And even if it had, I'm afraid it would have been as boring as those few other truly, truly boring afternoons I wasted with you." "Fallon." "Pease let me explain." "Fallon." "Look, she set this up." "Fallon." "So it's absolutely clear then." "I don't want you back in town until after 9:00 tonight, all right?" "Mother?" "Can't you find someone else to pull this off?" "Steven and I are not exactly friendly types to go off into the field on a mission together." "Adam, I instructed you weeks ago that I wanted you to become friends with your brother." "Now, you haven't exactly extended yourself in that direction." "I've tried." "Well, not hard enough, obviously." "Now, I'm giving you a chance to try again, to be alone with Steven, and then to see and appreciate his fine qualities." "Although he may be younger than you, darling," "I think there are a lot of things that you can learn from him." " Now, I have to go and get dressed." " I want you to listen to me first." "On one hand, you want me to be friends with my brother." "And on the other, you make that impossible by involving me in your schemes." "Now, when do I get a break?" "My poor little innocent Adam." "The innocently melting heart." "What other wonders are in store for us?" " Damn it, Mother, I'm serious!" " And you're out of control." "Now I've seen your father's rotten temper in you but" "Is there something else?" "Of course not." "It's just that growing up alone," "I had to do my own share of struggling and scheming." "And there were times when I got sick of it then, just as I'm sick of it now." "Sick?" "Just make sure, darling, that I never get sick of you." "Just do what you're told." "I'm sorry, Phil." "I guess it's just not my morning." "I'll make up the lesson later today, okay?" " What time, Mark?" " I'll phone your room." "Fallon, I wanna talk to you." "What's there to talk about?" "Oh, yesterday." "Well, I saw what I saw." "Look, why don't you get back to the court?" "That's what you're paid for." "Among other things, right?" "Somewhere along the line, I got the impression that I meant more to you than being just another tennis pro." "I guess I was wrong." "Your mother said you were vulnerable." "You are." "Like the Rock of Gibraltar." "We'll be touching down on the airstrip soon." "Steven?" "Do you wanna put aside the maps and reports long enough to listen to what I wanna discuss with you?" "It's something personal." "I've had more than a sample of your personal small talk, Adam." "Why don't we just stick to business?" "The truth of why Mother sent you on this trip is" "Spare me what's coming." "You could have handled everything yourself but she wanted to pamper me a little." "No, that's not it." "You think I can't deal with the field manager when we survey this operation?" " Look, if you'll just listen for a minute" " No, big brother, you listen to me." "Have you ever worked on a rig?" "Ever been part of a crew when a well came in?" "Ever worked in a refinery?" "In fact, have you ever, in your entire career with Colbyco, gotten oil sludge under your fingernails?" "No, I haven't." "Well, all your poring over law books, advising and consulting over drinks won't do a thing for us once we're down on the ground checking out Johnson's operation." "Just keep your mouth shut, Adam, and let me do the talking." "You know, you're not only a hard guy to get along with, you're an even harder guy to help." "I know why you're smiling, Mrs. Gunnerson." "Oh, and why is that, Mrs. Carrington?" "This is the same dinner you wanted to cook for Steven the night he came home." "And you said, "No, let's keep it simple, less rich."'" "Or words to that effect." "Well, tonight, I think you should prepare these wonderful dishes." "Because I'm hoping that tonight will be the beginning of his real homecoming." "I know why you're still smiling, Mrs. Gunnerson." "Oh?" "Why is that, Mrs. Carrington?" "You've already prepared half the dinner." "Oh, have I?" "Well, yes, I have." "What happened to the plane?" "It's 6:00." "Where's Derek?" "He's late." "Probably because he had to fly up north to pick up Art McLafferty before swinging back for us." "You didn't tell me about that, Adam." "I tried." "You weren't listening." "You haven't been all day." "I have a very important engagement back in Denver tonight." "How am I supposed to make it?" "Steven." "I'm a hired hand." "With or without the oil sludge under my fingernails," "I follow Mother's orders and her orders are that the plane be sent on to pick up McLafferty first." "I said once we'd have to get used to each other as brothers." "I wonder if we ever can?" "Hello, darling, I'm sorry my meeting took so long." "Thank you." "Has Steven arrived yet?" "Didn't you get the message I left with Marcia?" "No, I came directly home, I didn't check back at the office." "What was the message?" "Steven called." "He said he can't make it." "Is that all he said?" "No, he said, he was marooned on an airstrip somewhere in Wyoming." "What's he doing in Wyoming when he's got a date here with us tonight?" "He said he had to fly up on business for Alexis." " He thought he'd be home in time." " I see." "Making a convenient excuse for him not to have dinner with his father." "Blake, I don't think so." "I think Alexis is behind this." "Because she's determined to keep us apart?" " I don't think so." "Not in this case." " No, thank you." "Besides, Steven's making all those loud noises about being his own man and making his own decisions." "Come on, Blake." "Think of the kind of woman Alexis is and has always been." "I know." "And I know the kind of woman you are, darling." "Caring and with good motives." "But where Steven is concerned, don't waste your time trying to be a referee." "I told you before, he is my son and he is my problem." "And that doesn't concern me." "No, it doesn't." "Well, what should I be concerned with, Blake?" "The dinner menu?" "The right dress to wear to a party?" "Is that the kind of marriage we have?" " Krystle, we're talking about Steven." " So am I." "I'm trying to accomplish something for Steven and for you." "And, yes, even for myself." "So there can be some feeling of understanding of tranquillity around here." "Or is that too much to ask for in this house?" "Especially from an outsider." "Because that's what I feel I am." "Oh, come on now, please." "You know" "No, I don't know." "When you went to Bali to look for Steven, you said you didn't need anybody, not even me." "And when you went to Singapore to see if it was Steven, you didn't want me to go along with you in case it wasn't Steven." "Blake, you're like a man on a mountain." "Your mountain." "And you don't want anybody to climb it with you, including me." "Now, that is not true." "Isn't it?" "Well, I think it is." "And it's time I start to worry about myself." "Now, from now on, I'll take care of my own problems." "And you solve your own, on your own." "Krystle." "Krystle."