EPISODE 142 - Love Child, Part 1

 "Now that's just too sweet, " Brian says, looking at him.  "I love you, son.  I love you, too, Mom.  Maybe Mommy will tell me, her OTHER son that when she gets here, ya think?  Ya did good, bro.  Did real good.  You sounded a little more nervous than I would've liked, but, I guess this is a nerve-wracking situation, isn't it? So when is Mommy coming?"

 

"She'll be here tomorrow,"  Austin replies, his voice shaky as he fights back tears.

 

"Tomorrow,"  Brian says.  "That's good.  Well, I guess that means that you and I will be spending a second night together.  Only this time, you won't be unconscious.  We can really get to know each other.  Really bond as brothers. Doesn't that sound like fun, bro?"

 

 

 

 

A frightened and defeated Austin looks at Brian, then quickly looks away, terrified of what this psychopath who claims to be his brother will do, and privately worrying that he has just summoned his mother to her own death....

 A steady stream of traffic line the Expressway late in the evening, heading both out of and into Dallas.  Driving in that line of traffic is Peter Love, in a car he had rented a few days earlier under a false name, as he attempts to make his escape from Dallas before the police can figure out where he is.  But, as he makes his way out of the city, he sees that several police cars are up ahead.  

 

"Damn," he says to himself.  Looking to his right, he sees that he can quickly make it over into the far right lane so he can take the upcoming exit off the Expressway.  Peter moves over two lanes, then takes the exit onto another street, but there are police down that street, too.  Peter quickly pulls his car into the parking lot of a  Salvation Army Thrift store, where he sits and watches.  After waiting a moment, he gets out of the car and walks into the store.  He looks around for a moment.  The evening news is playing on a television located behind the counter.  Just more news about the President.  Peter looks around the store for a moment, then he is approached by a store employee, a dark haired woman of about 45.

 

"May I help you, sir?"  The woman asks in a Spanish accent.

the screen, with a story about him being wanted by police for Brittany's murder.  Peter stares at the TV in shock and fear.

 

"That will be $22.50,"  The cashier says to him, but Peter continues staring at the TV behind the woman..  "Sir?"  She says in an attempt to get his attention, but to no avail.  "Sir, excuse me?"

 

"What?"  Peter says.  

 

"Your total will be $22.50 for the shirts and cap, sir."

 

"Oh, yes,"  Peter says nervously.  He quickly takes the money out of his pocket and hands it to her while he again looks at the TV screen, on which he now reads that police have roadblocks on all roads and highways leading into and out of Dallas.  "Keep the change," he says after handing her a twenty and a five.  

 

"Thank you," the woman says, but Peter quickly makes his retreat from the store.

 

Once back in his car, Peter puts the cap on he had purchased.  "I have to get out of Dallas. But how, with all those roadblocks?  My God, what am I going to do.  Donna.  I have to get in touch with her.  Donna's my sister.  She'll help me.  She has to.  She's the only one I can turn to."

Falcon Crest....

 "Jay, we really appreciate you speaking to Judge Flynn on Sue Ellen's behalf, especially this evening, while you're dealing with the news of your grandmother's death,"  Catlin says as he and Sue Ellen walk Jay to the door of Sue Ellen's home that night while Bobby, Ann, John Ross, Krystina, Blaine, Sandy, and C.J. are in the living room talking to Detectives Steven Jones and Craig Anderson.

 

"No problem, Catlin, I was happy to do it,"  says Jay.  "And I'm also happy that the District Attorney agreed to drop all charges against Sue Ellen after she remembered Peter Love being Brittany's killer.  Sue Ellen, congratulations, you're a free woman."

 

"Thank you so much, Jay, for everything you've done,"  Sue Ellen says.  "And I am SO sorry about your grandmother.  I only met her a few of times many years ago when I was married to J.R., but, I remember her being a very sweet and gracious lady."

 

"Thank you, Sue Ellen,"  says Jay.

 

"Please give my love to your family."

 

"I will.  Good night."

 

"Night, Jay,"  Catlin says as the young attorney leaves.  After Jay is gone, Catlin turns to Sue Ellen.  

 

"It's over," she says to him.  "This nightmare is finally over."

 

"Unfortunately, it's not over,"  Catlin says.  "It's not going to be over until Peter Love is arrested and behind bars for what he's done."

 

"Mrs. Ewing, Mr. Ewing,"  Steven Jones says as he and Craig walk into the foyer.  "I'm going to turn in my report to the station.  Detective Anderson is going to stay here for a while."

 

"Good,"  says Catlin.  "I asked Donna Love to come over here, and she should be here any minute."

 

"I'm glad to hear that,"  Craig says.  "I have a lot of questions for Ms. Love about her brother."

 

"Mrs. Ewing, I'm very happy that this worked out for you,"  Steven says.

 

Sue Ellen smiles.  "Thank you, Detective," she says.

 

"Good night,"  Steven says, then leaves.

 

As Steven leaves, C.J. walks into the foyer.  "Dad, Sue Ellen, can I talk to you guys?"  He asks.

 

"Of course, son,"  replies Catlin.

 

"I'll leave you folks alone,"  Craig says, then returns to the living room.  

 

 

 

 

"What is it, C.J.?"  Catlin asks his son.

 

"Sue Ellen, I......I really don't know what to say.  I'm sorry.  I was so wrong about you.  I hope that some day you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

 

 

"C.J., you have no need to apologize," Sue Ellen says.  "If I were in your shoes, I would have doubted my innocence.  As a matter of fact, until I actually remembered what happened that night, I DID doubt my own innocence, so, I understand.  Brittany was your mother."

 

"A mother I obviously never really knew, says a sad C.J.  "How could have kept all these secrets?  And Peter Love......I just can't believe everything that's happened. Mom's double life eventually got her killed. I just want this man caught.  I want him to pay for killing Mom, and for everything he's put all of us through."

 

"And he will pay, C.J.,"  Catlin says.  "I can promise both of you that."

 

The doorbell rings at that moment.  Sue Ellen walks over and opens the door to find Donna, Marley, and Bridget at the door.  "Come in,"  she says.

 

The three women walk into the house.  "Donna, thank you for coming over,"  says Catlin.

 

"I, umm, I am at a total loss for what to say.  Catlin, I still am having a difficult time believing that my brother could've killed Brittany.  I just cannot believe that."

 

"Donna, Sue Ellen remembered what happened that night,"  Catlin says.  "She REMEMBERS Peter with the knife that killed Brittany.  He handed her the knife and fled."

 

Marley looks at Sue Ellen.  "Isn't it possible that your memory is confused?  After all, you had no memory of that night at all until recently."

 

"No,"  replies Sue Ellen.  "I remember very clearly now what happened.  Peter shoved that knife in my hand.  I remember seeing his face very clearly."

 

"Donna, I understand how you feel,"  says Catlin.  "But Peter is a murderer, and he WILL be caught and punished."

 

"Catlin, Jr.," Donna says.  "I'm so sorry.  I can't explain or understand why my brother would do such a terrible thing."

 

"I think it's obvious,"  C.J. says.  "My Mom and your brother were involved, and somehow their relationship went wrong and he killed her."

 

"There HAS to be more to it than that,"  Donna says.

 

"Just keep telling yourself that if it'll help you sleep at night,"  C.J. says, then turns and walks out of the room.  

 

Bridget watches the young man as he leaves the room.  Her heart goes out to him as he deals with the death of his mother and now the reveal of the identity of her killer.  As her aunt and grandmother talk to Catlin and Sue Ellen, Bridget follows C.J. into the kitchen, where he walks to the window and looks out at the darkness, his back to her.  After a brief pause, Bridget walks over to him.

 

"Hi," she says.

 

"Oh, hi,"  C.J. says, turning to face her.

 

"So you're Catlin, Jr.?"  Bridget asks.

 

"Yes, but everyone calls me C.J."

 

"I'm really sorry about your mother."

 

"Thank you."

 

"I'm also sorry about my Uncle Peter's........involvement," says Bridget.  "Uncle Peter isn't a bad man, he just......"

 

 

 

"He isn't a bad man?"  C.J. asks.  "He MURDERED my mother in cold blood.  He brutally stabbed her to death, and then framed Sue Ellen for it, so forgive me if I don't agree with you that your Uncle isn't a bad man."  C.J. looks at the teenage girl, then walks past her and out of the kitchen.

 

"Great, Bridget," the girl says to herself.  "That was a stupid thing to say."

 

 

 

 

 

The Wentworth mansion....the next morning

Austin sits, still tied to a chair in his bedroom the next morning, his mouth again covered by a piece of duct tape. The shower water is running in Austin's bedroom as Brian takes a shower.  Alone in his bedroom now, Austin figures this might be his only chance at making an escape.  He struggles relentlessly against the ropes that bind his hands and feet, but to no avail.  Again, he tries struggling against the ropes, but only succeeds in causing rope burns on his wrists and ankles.  After several moments of struggling, he realizes it's no use.  Austin looks around for something that might help him.  He had a gun in the closet, on the top shelf, but was unable to reach it.  He stares at the closet door for several seconds.  He also had some other tools, including a knife, in the closet. If he could only get there and somehow get that knife, he might could free himself. But how could he do it before Brian emerges from the bathroom?  He thinks to himself.  He manages to turn his chair around, to face the closet.  Slowly, he begins to move his chair toward the closet, inching ever closer.  Just then, the shower water stops, signaling that Brian is out and will be returning to the bedroom in a few minutes.  Austin realizes he has to hurry, inching ever closer to the closet every second.  But unfortunately, Brian comes out of the bathroom, dressed only in a pair of gym shorts he had taken from Austin's dresser.  Brian smiles when he sees his brother almost two feet from where he had been earlier.  

 

"Now I could have SWORN that you were over there,"  Brian says, pointing to the spot he had left his brother earlier.  He walks over to Austin and grabs one side of the duct tape covering Austin's mouth and pulls it off.  Austin winces in pain.  "So what are you doing over here?"  Brian asks, then looking at the closet.  He laughs.  "You were trying to get to that closet, weren't you?  Now I wonder what you could possibly want in there?  Maybe a way out?  Maybe........a gun?"

 

Austin looks at him.

 

Brian again laughs.  "Well, you weren't gonna find any gun in that closet, or any knife, either, even if you'd made it there.  You see, the other night when you were knocked out from that drug our sister slipped you.........I did a thorough search of this room.  Found your gun and your knife.  You didn't REALLY think I'd be stupid enough to leave 'em in there for you to find, did you?"

 

 

 

 

"Why not?"  Austin asks.  "You're stupid enough to get yourself into this deeper by hanging around here.  If you'd gotten out of Dallas a couple days ago when you had the chance, you could be safe somewhere far away from here. But now, it's only a matter of time before the cops find you."

 

 

 

"Now why would the cops find me here?"  Brian asks.  "Why would they even LOOK for me here, at the home of Wentworth Industries CEO, Austin Wentworth?  No one has a clue about our connection.  I doubt anyone else even knows that our beloved....... mother, if you can call her that, gave birth to triplets.  Hell, YOU didn't even know you were one of three.  So, I think I'm in just about the safest place in the world right now.  But, uh, thanks for your concern, brother.  Damn, that shower really felt good.  Bet you'd love a nice shower right now, wouldn't you? Been a couple days since you've had one, and, no offense, but, you're kinda starting to stink a little.  So, tell ya what.  I'm gonna be a good brother, and let you take a shower this morning.  But, I'm gonna be right there in the bathroom with you.  Oh, you can close the shower curtain and have your privacy.  I don't really wanna see what you do in there.  But, I AM gonna be right outside, with my gun.  And if you even think about trying to be clever, or maybe thinking about escaping..........I'll kill you, and I really don't wanna have to do that."

 

"Bull,"  Austin says.

 

"No, it's true.  A couple days ago, I could've killed you with no problem, but, after we've spent all this time together and gotten to know each other, I have actually started to care about you.  So, don't make me have to hurt you."

 

"Brian!"  Comes Katelyn's voice from the hallway.

 

Brian smiles.  "Perfect timing.  Yeah, Katie!  Come in."

 

A couple of seconds later, Katelyn walks into the bedroom.   "Is everything okay?"

 

"Everything's fine,"  Brian replies.  "In fact, your timing couldn't be more perfect.  Our brother here really needs a shower, so, I'm gonna let him take one, and I need your help."

 

"My help?"  Katelyn asks.  

 

"Yeah.  Untie him,"  Brian says, taking his gun from his pocket.  "His feet first."

 

Katelyn walks over to Austin, kneels down and begins untying the ropes that bind his feet, then his hands.  

 

"Okay, bro,"  says Brian.  "Into the bathroom.  We gotta get you all nice and clean for our reunion with Mommy later."

 

Austin stands to his feet and looks at Brian.  "How's this all gonna end, man?  Are you gonna get our mother here, and then kill both of us?"

 

"That's really up to you and Katherine, itn't it?  If the two of you behave, then we'll all come out of this unharmed.  If you misbehave.......well, I can't say what'll happen."

 

Austin looks at Katelyn.  "I really can't believe that you're actually going along with him on this.  You're a beautiful girl.  Why ruin your life by doing this?  You're risking everything to help him in this sick revenge."

 

"Brian is my brother,"  Katelyn says.

 

"And so am I,"  says Austin.

 

"You and I may share the same DNA, but that's where our connection ends.  Brian was there for me my whole life.  Growing up in that hellhole we were raised in, with abusive adoptive parents.  Brian was there for me."

 

"I would've been too, if I'd known you existed," Austin says, a tear streaming down his face.  "Why didn't you just tell me who you were when we met at Starbucks that day?  Is this what you were planning all along?"

 

"Okay, enough talk,"  Brian says.  "Into the bathroom.  NOW!"

 

Austin looks at Katelyn for a moment, then gives an angry look to Brian before walking into the bathroom.  

 

"I'm sure you know where all the towels and things are,"  Brian says with a smile as he follows Austin into the bathroom.  "Katie, get him a change of clothes and lay 'em on the bed."  Brian looks at Austin, pointing the gun at him.  "Come on.  Get undressed and get in the shower."

 

"Dude, I'm......I'm not gonna get undressed with you standing right there watching me," Austin says.

 

Brian smiles.  "What, are you shy or something?  We're brothers.  If we had grown up together, I'm sure we would've seen each other naked lots of times.  So come on.  We don't have all day here.  Get the clothes off, and get IN the damned shower, or I undress you myself while Katie holds the gun.  Now that really WOULD be embarrassing."

 

After looking at Brian for a few seconds, Austin takes his shirt off, then his shorts and boxers. Feeling utterly humiliated, he gets into the shower and closes the glass door behind him.  He looks at Brian, then turns on the shower water.  As the water begins spraying over his body, Austin feels like crying, more out of anger now that fear.  Anger at being stripped down and humiliated like this. Brother or not, Austin feels like he wants to kill Brian, and he vows to himself that he will kill him if he harms Katherine when she arrives.

Sue Ellen's home....

"I made breakfast,"  C.J. says.  

 

"You didn't have to do that."

 

"I wanted to.  It was the least I could do."

Sue Ellen smiles.  "Well, it certainly smells delicious."

 

"My son is an excellent cook,"  says Catlin.  "And C.J., I'm glad you stayed here last night.  I felt better with you here, especially with Peter Love still on the loose."

 

"Come on, Dad, you don't really think that Love would come after me, do you?"

 

"I don't know.  Peter's desperate, and when a man is desperate, there's no telling what he's capable of doing."

 

C.J. sighs.  "When is this nightmare ever gonna be over?"

 

"When Peter Love is arrested and he spends the rest of his life behind bars,"  Catlin replies.

The Omni Hotel....

 

 

As Courtney takes her cell phone from her pocket and dials a number, Heather looks first a Lucas, then at Christopher.  "Okay, boys, how long is this gonna go on?"  She finally asks.

 

"How long's what gonna go on?"  Lucas asks.

 

"This ridiculous silent treatment you two are givin' each other,"  Heather says.  "You two are brothers, and this is just plain crazy."

 

 

"Well, you're gonna have to talk to HIM about that,"  Lucas says, referring to Christopher.  

 

"Me?"  Christopher asks.  

 

"Yeah, you're the one who got all pissed off and bent outta shape about nothing."

 

"If you'd just come to me and told me that you were planning to turn the company that I gave you over to Justin........"

 

"That's right, Christopher, a company that you GAVE me,"  Lucas interrupts.  "Which means that you didn't want Ewing Records, and you gave it to me to do with as I pleased."

 

"I gave it to you to run, not to pass on to someone else."

 

"Justin isn't just someone else, Christopher.  He's our cousin, which means that Ewing Records will still be run by a Ewing."

 

"That's not the point,"  Christopher says angrily.

 

"Then what is?  Tell me!"

 

"Alright, alright,"  Heather says.  "I think I'd rather we just go back to the silent treatment."

 

 

 

"Hey, don't break it up now,"  Shawn says, walking over, followed by Alex.  "It was just gettin' good."

 

Heather looks at the boy.  "Why don't you two just mind your own business and go back to your swimmin'?"

 

Shawn looks at her and smiles.  "Yes, ma'am," he says, in a tone and with a look that would appear flirtatious.  He gives Heather another look, then he and Alex return to the pool.

 

"That kid REALLY gets on my last nerve,"  Heather says.

 

"Yeah, Shawn gets on everybody's nerves,"  says Christopher.  "Except maybe Alex's."

 

Courtney sighs with frustration as she tosses her cell phone onto the table.  

 

"Honey, what's wrong?"  Christopher asks.  

 

"I've been trying since early this morning to reach my mother, but, she doesn't answer her phone."

 

"Maybe she's working."

 

"Not likely on a Saturday,"  Courtney says.  "Mom always loved her weekends off."

 

"I'm sure she's fine,"  Heather says as Christopher's phone rings.  

 Drew Demarest," he says.  He quickly answers the phone.  "Drew, what's up?  What?  Oh my God.  Is he alright?  No, Courtney hasn't been able to get in touch with Jacob's father yet. Yes.  Drew, look, I agree, we need to get this case into court as soon as possible.  Alright, I'll tell Courtney.  Thanks for calling.  Bye."  Christopher ends the call and puts his phone down.

 

"Christopher, what is it?"  Courtney asks.  

 

"Drew received a call from Melinda Bracket, Adam and Jennifer Reed's attorney."

 

"A call about what?"  A nervous Courtney asks.  "About Jacob?"

 

"Yeah.  He's gonna be okay, but he was in a little accident.  He had to spend the night in the hospital."

 

"Oh Lord, what happened?"  Heather asks.

 

"He apparently fell and got a little bruised up riding his bike,"  replies Christopher.  "Drew said that Ms. Bracket called him as a courtesy.  Courtney, Drew wants to get this case on the court calendar as soon as possible, which means.......you're gonna have to tell Jacob's father."

 

"Christopher, I wanna go to California,"  Courtney says, getting up from the table.  "I wanna see for myself that Jacob's alright."

 

"Honey, he is.  Drew said he's gonna be fine,"

 

"I have to see that for myself,"  Courtney says, then turns and rushes into the house, Christopher following her.  

 

As they head into the house, Bobby and Ann come onto the patio.  "Well, they were sure in a hurry,"  Ann says.

 

"Yeah, I hope everything's alright,"  says Bobby.

 

"Me, too.  This fam'ly could sure use some good times now that Sue Ellen's trial is over and Brittany's true killer has been identified."

 

Bobby looks at his wife. "Y'know, honey, I'm a little surprised that you took the fact that I kept that blood I found on Sue Ellen's hands that night from you all this time.  I thought you'd have been more upset."

 

"I understand why you did what you did,"  Ann says.  "You were tryin' to protect Sue Ellen.  And, we've all made mistakes, so, I couldn't judge you or be angry with you for tryin' to protect someone you love.  I'd have done the same."

 

Bobby looks at his wife and smiles. "No wonder I love you so much.  And from now......no more secrets from each other, even if it's a secret meant to protect someone we love.  Deal?"

 

Ann looks at her husband, unsure of how she was going to answer the question, given the huge secret she is keeping from him concerning Emma's baby.  Before she can say anything, they are interrupted when a car drives up to the house and comes to a stop in the parking area.  Ann breathes a sigh of relief when Bobby is distracted from his question.  They watch as Jenna gets out of her car, and even as much as Ann dislikes Jenna, she is happy to see her at this particular moment.  Jenna walks up to them.

 

"Hello, Bobby.  Ann,"  Jenna says.

 

"Jenna, hello," Bobby says.  "How are you?"

 

"Just fine, Bobby.  I spoke to Sue Ellen this morning.  I'm so happy that this nightmare is over for her."

 

"We all are."

 

"Jenna, what brings you out here?"  Ann asks.

"My son and both my grandsons happen to live here, Ann,"  says Jenna.  "Do you have a problem with me visiting them?"

 

Ann looks at her rival and smiles.  "No.  Of course not."

 

"Lucas and the boys are over by the pool, Jenna," Bobby says.

 

"Thank you, Bobby,"  Jenna says, then walks past the couple and to the pool.  

 

 

 

 

Abandoned warehouse, Harwood Road, Dallas....

"Thank you for coming," Peter says.

 

"Did you think I wouldn't?  You're still my brother."

 

"And I could always count on you."

 

"Peter, what in the hell kind of a mess have you gotten yourself into?"  Donna asks.

 

"I know that, by now, you already know that......"  Peter stops talking and hesitates a moment before finishing his sentence.  "You already know that I killed Brittany."

 

"Yes,"  Donna says, fighting back tears.  "Peter, WHY?"

 

"I loved her, Donna.  Please know that.  I probably never stopped loving her.  Brittany and I ran into each other again, several years after I left Bay City and moved to New York.  It was a chance meeting, but, the spark, the attraction was still there.  We talked, and then we agreed to keep in touch, which we did.  We would call each other from time to time. A year later, we decided to see each other again.  She called me, and wanted to meet.  By that time, I had started Love International, and I had to be in San Francisco on business, so we agreed to meet there.  Brittany was disillusioned, dissatisfied in her marriage to Catlin Ewing.  We both flew to San Francisco, checked into a hotel, and spent a few very happy days and nights together.  The timing was actually perfect, because Brittany had an aunt in Wyoming who was ill, and Brittany had planned to go see her, and take care of her for a while.  Catlin was often working, and away on business so that left Brittany at home with their son.  She got lonely.  Anyway, after that visit in San Francisco, Brittany went to Wyoming.  A few weeks later. she found out she was pregnant."

 

"Pregnant?"  Donna asks.

 

"Yes.  Well, after she learned of her pregnancy, Brittany decided that she still loved Catlin and their son, and she wanted to make the marriage work.  Only problem was, this baby would stand in the way of that, since Catlin would know there was no way the baby could be his.  They had not made love in quite some time before she came to San Francisco.  So, to hide her pregnancy, Brittany stayed in Wyoming for several months, until after her aunt died."

 

"And what about the baby?  Did she........did she have an abortion?"

 

"No.  She had the baby."

 

"And she gave it up?"  Donna asks.

 

"Yes, she gave the child up.  Our son.  The child that should've been mine almost 9 years earlier,"  Peter says.  "She gave him to me to raise."

 

"Peter.......I don't understand.  How can this be?"

 

Peter looks at his sister for a few seconds.  "It's Eric, Donna. My son, Eric.  Brittany was his mother."

 

Donna's mouth falls open in shock.  "No.  Peter, this can't be true.  Lorraine, your girlfriend, was Eric's mother.  She died in childbirth when Eric was born."

 

Peter shakes his head.  "No.  There was no Lorraine, Donna.  Since you and I didn't speak on a regular basis in those days, it was easy for me to keep up the deception."

 

"Peter, when you contacted 22 years ago and told me you had a son, you told me that you had been engaged to his mother, Lorraine Milner, and that Lorraine had died while giving birth to Eric."

 

"I lied to you,"  Peter says.  "Donna, I knew how much you hated Brittany, especially after she shot me, so, the last thing I wanted was for you to ever know that Brittany was the boy's mother.

 

"Let me see if I can get this straight,"  says Donna.  "Brittany gave birth to this child.......YOUR child, and then she went back and resumed her life with Catlin, and he never knew about the child?"

 

"That's right.  I raised Eric on my own.  Sent him to the best schools, and to an Ivy League college.  Gave him the best."

 

"Did Brittany ever even see the boy?"

 

"A couple of times.  But Eric thought his mother was dead.  I told him she was dead.  A few years ago, Brittany and I met up again.  I was having some difficulties with Love International and Brittany gave me some money.  We resumed our old relationship, and that's when she left Catlin."

 

"So why did you kill her?"  Donna asks, starting to cry.  

 

"I was desperate for money.  So, I did some things I'm not proud of.  Illegal insider trading.  I embezzled some funds from my company to pay off some gambling debts, and to cover that money, I became involved in the sale of illegal arms to some militant factions in Syria that were sympathetic to ISIS."

 

"Oh my God!  You sold illegal arms to TERRORISTS?"

 

"I needed money, Donna, and FAST.  It was then that John Ross Ewing's private detective tracked Brittany down and brought her here to Dallas to break up Catlin's relationship with Sue Ellen Ewing.  He paid her a LOT of money to do that.  Brittany helped me pay off some of my debts, and the arms deal helped with the rest."

 

"Peter, why didn't you come to me.....your own sister?"

 

"I couldn't.  Donna I had always been a loser in the eyes of my family.  You know how Father made me feel.  I had made one mistake after another in my life.  As far as you knew, I was doing well for myself, FINALLY.  I didn't want you to know that I was involved with Brittany again and that my life was a complete disaster."

 

"It sounds like your life became a disaster every time that woman came into it.  Did she know about your illegal activities?"

 

Peter looks at her and nods.  "Brittany helped set up the arms deal through this guy she knew.  She wanted me to help her to hurt Sue Ellen Ewing.  To destroy her rival.  Brittany asked me to use some of my contacts to get her this drug, a sedative.  So I did.  She planned to use the drug to make it look as though Sue Ellen was drinking, because the woman was a recovering alcoholic.  After I gave her the drug, I asked her why she was going to such lengths, especially since John Ross Ewing had washed his hands of her.  She told me she was still in love with Catlin and wanted him back again.  So she was willing to go to any lengths to make that happen.  We argued, and she threatened to blow the whistle on my part in the sale of arms to ISIS.  I threatened her, but, she was vicious.  I told her I'd tell Catlin about our son, and she even used Eric to hurt me.  She said that Eric would never forgive me for lying to him about his mother being dead, and that's what really set me off.  That night I managed to slip into the Oil Baron's Ball.  I paid a LOT of money for a ticket.  But I knew one way or another I had to stop Brittany because she said she was going to the cops the next day.  I made sure she didn't see me in the crowd.  Then, I waited.  I saw her go into the restroom, and I knew she was alone in there because I had waited for a long while and didn't see anyone else go in there ahead of her.  I followed her in, and I.........I killed her.  When I ran out of the bathroom, Sue Ellen Ewing was wandering around, dazed from the effects of the drug Brittany had slipped her.  I couldn't have asked for a more perfect set up.  It was as if the Universe was on my side for once.  I wiped the handle of the knife off with my handkerchief, and then I shoved the weapon into her hand, to get her fingerprints on it, and Brittany's blood on her hands.  Then, using the handkerchief, I took the knife back, and ran. I tossed the knife into a laundry room, and then left the hotel through a back exit.  Sue Ellen was like an infant.  She was so out of it, she had no idea what was even going on.  I prayed she'd never remember.  I thought she'd be arrested immediately, and I was surprised when she wasn't."

 

By now, listening to her brother's horrific tale, Donna is in tears.  "I can't believe what I'm hearing.  You brutally murdered the mother of your son, and then framed an innocent woman who YOU helped to drug?"

 

"Donna....."  Peter says, walking toward her.

 

"NO," she says loudly.  "Don't.  Don't you come near me. Dear God, Peter.  You're my brother, and I love you.  But I obviously don't know who you are.  I knew that you were capable of a lot of things, but THIS?"

 

"I had no choice!  Brittany would've sent me to prison!"

 

"And now, you're going to end up there anyway."

 

"Not if you help me,"  Peter says.  "If you help me get out of Dallas."

 

"I can't,"  says Donna.

 

"You have to.  Donna, you're my sister.  You're my only hope!  This city is crawling with cops looking for me.  My picture is all over the newspaper and all over television.  They have road blocks.  Donna, I'm begging......"

 

"No," she cries.

 

"If you won't do it for me, then damn it, do it for your nephew!  For my son."

 

"No.  I'm sorry.  I won't turn you in, but I CANNOT help you escape from this."  Donna turns and starts to leave.

 

"Then, I'm afraid I'm not giving you a choice,"  Peter says.  "You're GOING to help me, Donna, and you're not walking out that door."

 

Donna stops, pauses a moment, then turns back to face her brother.  She is stunned speechless when she sees Peter standing there, holding his gun on her.

The Wentworth mansion....

moment later, she walks into the mansion. "Austin?"  She calls out to her son.  "Austin, I'm here."

 

Meanwhile, upstairs, Brian has Austin once again tied up to a chair, a piece of duct tape over his mouth, as Katelyn looks on.  Brian smiles upon hearing Katherine's voice downstairs.  "Well, looks like Mommy is home.  It's showtime.  Katie, why don't you go down and greet the old girl? Brother and I will be down in a minute."

 

Katelyn nods, then walks out of the room.  She comes down the stairs as Katherine walks into the middle of the living room.  "Hello,"  Katelyn says, reaching the bottom of the stairs.  Mother and daughter stand face to face for the first time.

 

Katherine is surprised seeing a young woman in her home.  "Well, hello, there.  Are you a friend of my son's?"

 

"You might say that.  And you're Katherine Wentworth.  I've heard a lot about you."

 

"From Austin?"

 

"Among others,"  Katelyn replies.  

 

"Umm, where IS my son?"  Katherine asks.  

 

"Here he is,"  comes Brian's voice from atop the stairs.  Katherine looks up and sees the young man standing there with Austin, his hands tied, and the tape still covering his

mouth. 

 

"What's going on?"  Katherine asks.  "What IS this?"

 

"It's a party,"  Brian replies.  "And you, and your little baby boy here, are the guests of honor."  Brian forces Austin down the stairs ahead of him.

 

Katherine looks at Katelyn, who smiles at her.  "Who the hell are you two?"

 

"Now isn't that just like you to forget?"  Brian asks.  

 

"Is this about money?"  Katherine asks.

 

 

"Partly,"  Brian says with a smile.  "But not entirely.  I think it would be more fun if Austin here tells you exactly who we are.  Don't you, Katie?"

 

"Yes, I think so,"  Katelyn replies.

 

"Good."  Brian pulls the tape from Austin's mouth.  "Go ahead, Austin.  Tell her.  Tell Mommy who her guests are."

"Austin?  Who are they, and what is this about?"  Katherine asks.

 

"They, uh, they said that they are my brother and sister. Your other two kids,"  Austin says.

 

Brian looks at Katherine and smiles.  "That's right. Mom, we're home!"

 

"You're out of your mind.  This is a lie!"

 

"No, it's not,"  Katelyn says.  "You gave birth to triplets, right?  Austin, Brian, and me.  And you gave two of us away to your friend, while you kept one........Austin."

 

"Oh my God,"  Katherine says.  "I still don't believe it.  You could've found out that information anywhere."

 

"How?"  Brian asks.  "Your own son here didn't even know that he was one of triplets. Our father doesn't even know about us, does he?  And what about our older brother, Jonathon? What the hell kind of a mother gives birth to four children, but only decides to keep one of them?"

 

"Why are you here?"  Katherine asks.  "What do you want from us?"

 

"Only what's coming to us.  Only what we deserve."

 

"Money?"

 

"Yeah.  Money.  Money.......and revenge."

 

"Revenge for WHAT?"  Katherine yells.

 

"When you gave us away, did you know what kind of a life we would have?"  Brian asks.  "You know that old movie with Jimmy Stewart, It's A Wonderful Life?  Well ours was a MISERABLE LIFE!!!!  Our adoptive parents beat us.  They would lock us in our rooms for days. Sometimes we'd have to go without food."

 

Katherine fights back tears.  "I'm sorry.  I didn't know."

 

"So this is all true, Mom?"  Austin asks.  "When I was born......you really had triplets?"

 

"Yes, honey, it's true."

 

"Oh my God.  Until now, I didn't wanna believe it."

 

"See, Austin?"  Katelyn asks.  "We told you what kind of a woman this mother of ours is."

 

"When I gave you two up, I thought you would be well taken care of.  I had no choice."

 

"No choice?"  Brian asks.  "No CHOICE!!!???"

 

"I had to keep you away from your father,"  says Katherine.  "All three of you.  Jeremy Lord is an evil, vindictive man.  The night I went into labor with you, he pushed me and I fell.  I gave birth to the three of you, but, I knew that I could only keep one.  I faked Austin's death, to make Jeremy think that I had miscarried, and I knew that I would never be able to hide three children away from him, so I had to give you two up."

 

"Why us and not him?"  Brian asks.  "Why did you decide to keep HIM?"

 

"I had a choice to make.  I could have just as easily chosen to keep you, or your sister.  Jeremy had already taken Jonathon from me.  I knew that he would never allow me to get my hands on him, so, I was not about to let that monster get all four of you.  So I did the only thing I could."

 

Brian looks at Katherine as he nods his head, an expression of pure anger on his face.  "The only thing you could," he says.  "Well, lady, the only thing you could, was LOUSY!  While your other son here was living in mansions like this growing up, getting everything he wanted, Katie and I, your other two children that you tossed away, we were living hand to mouth, beaten every other day.  All we had was each other.  I protected her.  I protected my sister, YOUR daughter, from adoptive parents who treated us like pure crap.  And every time I stepped in to protect my sister, I got a beating."

 

"I'm so sorry,"  Katherine says, now in tears.

 

"My life wasn't easy, either,"  says Austin.  "During my entire childhood, Mom was on the run from the authorities.  She was a wanted fugitive, so we had to keep moving.  City to city.  Country to country.  We could never stay in one place long enough for me to even have any friends."

 

Brian looks over at him.  "Oh, you're just breakin' my heart, brother. Well, Mommy, it looks like you ruined the lives of three of your four kids.  And what about older brother Jonathon?  What kinda life did HE have?"

 

"Better than the three of us, that's for sure,"  Austin says sadly.  

 

Brian again looks at Katherine.  "Better than the three of us?  So, the one kid that got to stay with Daddy had a decent life?  And you called HIM a monster?"

 

"You don't understand,"  Katherine says.  "Jeremy was ruthless.  Vindictive.  Cruel."

 

"From your point of view,"  Katelyn says.  "But let's look at your track record for a minute. 

Let's see now.  You fell in love with your sister's husband.  Not a bad thing in itself. No one can help who they fall in love with. But then you conspired with his brother to break Bobby and Pam up for good.  Then, when you found out you couldn't have Bobby Ewing, you shot him and framed your own brother for it."

 

"Nice family we come from, huh?" Brian jokes.

 

"I know everything that I did back then," says Katherine.  "You don't have to remind me."

 

"I guess a penchant for violence and hating our relatives must run in our family, huh, Mom?" Brian asks.  "Maybe we should get the rest of the clan here.  Call Dad and ask him and Jonathon to come join this family reunion.  Dad can bring his wife, and.......oh, wait, I just remembered.  We have ANOTHER brother, don't we?  Yeah.  A younger brother from Dad's second marriage.  What's his name again?"

 

"Alex,"  replies Austin.

 

"Yes......Alex.  Well, if Jeremy Lord was nothing else, he sure was fertile, wasn't he?  Wow, five kids.  Four sons and a daughter.  One he thought was dead, and two more, he was never even told of their existence.  But the two sons he did raise........they had a good, stable life, and this woman has the unmitigated nerve to stand here and call Jeremy Lord a monster?  He took care of his kids.  At least the ones he knew about.  Maybe I shouldn't have targeted him with the rest of you last year."

 

"Targeted?"  Katherine asks.  "What do you mean by that?"

 

"The bomb.  You know, the one that blew Richard Channing's beautiful mansion to pieces."

 

"Oh my God......no, please.....no,"  Katherine says.

 

"Yeah.  I delivered that bomb.  It was all me,"  Brian says, confirming Katherine's worst fears.

 

"You?"  Austin asks.  "YOU were the one who sent that bomb and nearly killed all of us?"

 

"Austin almost died,"  says Katherine.  

 

"Yeah, that was kinda the plan,"  Brian says.  "For all of you to die."

 

"You son of a bitch!"  An angry Austin says, starting toward his brother.

 

"Don't even think about it,"  Brian says, pointing his gun at Austin's chest, stopping him.  "I won't hesitate to blow a hole in you."

 

"Why?"  Katherine asks in tears.  "Why would you do that?  People died in that explosion.  Innocent people."

 

"Yeah, and I'm sorry for them.  They were just collateral damage.  My real targets were the two of you, Jeremy, his wife, and his other two sons."

 

"You're even sicker than I thought you were,"  says Austin.

 

Katherine looks at her daughter.  "You BOTH did this?"

 

"No,"  Brian replies.  "Katie had absolutely nothing to do with that bomb.  Oh, we both wanted revenge on our beloved parents for abandoning us and our siblings for, well, just for existing.  But Katie didn't have anything to do with the bomb."

 

"I didn't even know about it until later,"  Katelyn says.  

 

"So Josh McQueen.......he wasn't the one,"  says Katherine.

 

Brian laughs.  "McQueen?  Hell no.  Josh is a complete idiot.  See, I did a lot of homework on all of you before I did what I did.  I knew Josh was close to the Channings.  Isn't it really ironic that he turned out to be RELATED to them, too?  Life is just full of surprises.  Let's see, Josh is Dad's wife's biological son, so that makes him our stepbrother.  Anyway, what was I saying? Oh, yeah, Josh.  I knew he was close to the Channings, so I thought I could use that.  I got a job working for him.  Made myself invaluable to his pathetic little P.I. firm.  Then the perfect opportunity came when he got on the wrong side of not only Michael Channing, but also dear old Dad Jeremy Lord, and John Ross Ewing.  All three of those men were out for Josh's blood.  That, and the fact that he isn't too bright, made him a real easy patsy to take the fall for that bomb."

 

Austin looks at Katelyn.  "How could you go along with this?  How could you just let him get away with this?  3 people died in that explosion."

 

"Including an unborn baby,"  Katherine says.  "Richard's grandchild."

 

"I'm sorry about that,"  Brian says.  "I truly am.  But I didn't know of any other time or place where all of you would be in the same room, together."  Brian fights back tears.  "I see the look in your eyes right now.  You're wondering how this monster standing before you can be your son.  Easy.  I am what you made me.  I am the product not only of your tainted blood, but also of your abandonment."

 

"So what's gonna happen now?"  Austin asks.  "What are you gonna do with us?"

 

"Well, we have time to figure that out," Brian says.  "In the meantime, you two get comfortable.  We're gonna all get to know each other real good."

 

Katherine and Austin exchange worried looks, both of them afraid of how this situation will end.

Southfork....afternoon

"I'm all ears.  What's up?"

 

"I've thought about this a lot, Bobby, and, now that the nightmare of the trial is over, I've decided that I'm going to ask Sue Ellen to marry me."

 

Bobby looks at his cousin and smiles.  "Well, Catlin, that's wonderful.  That's just wonderful. And I won't even have to welcome ya to the family, because you're already part of it."

 

Catlin laughs.  "Thank you, Bobby.  I really love Sue Ellen.  Y'know, when Brittany left me, I was crushed.  Took me a long time to get over the hurt, and the anger.  For a long time I never thought I'd find my soul mate again. But then I met Sue Ellen."

 

"And I know she feels the same,"  Bobby says.  "Sue Ellen was hurt very deeply when Dusty Farlow walked out of her life again.  I'm very happy that she found someone who loves her the way she deserves to be loved.  That lady is very special to me.  Not only was she my sister-in-law for a number of years, but, even though she and J.R. had been divorced for a long, long time, I will always think of Sue Ellen as family.  And it's all the better that you're a Ewing.  She won't even have to change her name."

 

Meanwhile, Lucas takes a seat beside his mother by the pool as Jenna sips a tall glass of lemonade.  "I'm glad you decided to hang around and chill today, Mom," he says.

 

"I'm glad, too,"  Jenna says.  "Especially since Harris is out of town on business.  It was very nice of Bobby to invite me."

 

"And Ann, too?"  

 

"I know how Ann Ewing feels about me.  If it were up to her, I wouldn't even be allowed to set foot on Southfork."

 

"Come on, Mom,"  Lucas says.  "Ann is a wonderful woman.  You just never gave her half a chance.  And I have to wonder.......is it because you're still in love with Dad?"

 

"Lucas, your father was my first love.  My childhood sweetheart.  Bobby and I shared an awful lot together, and we share a son and a grandson.  Of course there's a part of me that will always love him. And I can't help but wonder......if things had been different, if our wedding hadn't been stopped when Naldo Marchetta showed up on the day Bobby and I were to be married right here at Southfork all those years ago, IEs wonder what might have been.  Bobby and I might've been married all this time. Instead, Naldo showed up, kidnapped me, and that was the beginning of the end for Bobby and I.  After I got out of prison, he remarried Pam when I was pregnant with you."

 

"None of us can change the past, Mom,"  says Lucas.  "So there's no use dwelling on what might have been."

 

"You're right.  I'm very happy now with Harris, so it's pointless dwelling on ancient history."

 

John Ross and Krystina come out of the house just as Bobby and Catlin begin placing the burgers on the grill. 

 

"I heard you needed some barbecue sauce,"  John Ross says, handing Bobby the bottle.

 

"Well, thank you, John Ross,"  Bobby says.  "Oh, hey, John Ross, if I remember right, burgers are your specialty, so why don't you take over and do the burgers and hot dogs, and I'll take over and do the chicken when you're done."

 

"If you insist," John Ross says.  "By the way, where the hell are Christopher and Courtney?"

 

"They're on their way to California,"  Bobby replies.  "Courtney got some news that her little boy had a small accident, so she wanted to go make sure he was okay."

 

"I sure hope it's not serious,"  Krystina says.

 

"No, I don't think so, but, Courtney was concerned.  Catlin, would you help me get a couple more tables?"  Bobby asks.

 

"Sure thing, Bobby."

 

After the two men walk away, Krystina puts her arms around her husband and smiles.  "So, think you can handle this all by yourself, or you need me to stick around?"

 

"Darlin', I GOT this."

 

"Good.  I'm gonna go up and see if Little John is awake yet.  If he is, I'll bring him down."

 

"Fine,"  John Ross says.  "I love you."

 

"I love you, too,"  Krystina says.  She kisses him, then goes into the house. 

 

After Krystina is gone and John Ross is alone at the grill, Shawn walks over to him.  "Grill duty, huh?"  Shawn asks.

 

Shawn laughs.  "Can't wait.  John Ross, can I have a word with you?"

 

"What about?"

 

"About my brother, Tripp.  I hung out with him last night and he told me about this really huge deal he's workin' on for Westar, and I thought maybe you might be interested."

 

"Huge deal, huh?"

 

"Yeah."

 

John Ross looks up and sees Alex coming toward them.  "Get with me later.  I wanna hear all about it."

 

"Hey, what's goin' on?"  Alex asks.

 

"Oh, I was just offering to help John Ross here,"  Shawn replies.  "Looks like Uncle Bobby turned his grilling duties over to him."

 

Alex laughs, then the boys' attention is turned to a car driving up and coming to a stop in the parking area, which is already crowded with vehicles.  "Hey, Shawn, isn't that your Mom and Dr. Cooper?"

 

Shawn sighs as he watches his mother Sharon, Mitch, and Mitch's son Daniel get out of the car.  "Yep, unfortunately."

 

"Hey, everyone,"  Sharon Smith says as she, Mitch, and Daniel walk up to them.  "Hey, Shawn."

 

"Mom."

 

"Shawn, how's it goin'?"  Mitch asks.

 

"Was goin' fine until now,"  the teenager replies rudely.

 

"Daniel, you bring your swim suit?"  Alex asks.

 

"Sure did."

 

"Well, why don't you go put it on and come swim with us?"

"I will.  Be right back,"  Daniel says, going into the house.

 

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, while Ann and Sue Ellen are making some desert, Lucy is peeling some potatoes at the sink when she looks out the window and sees Mitch and Sharon talking to John Ross, Alex, and Shawn.  A sad look comes over her face.

 

"Lucy, are you alright?"  Ann asks.

 

"I'm fine.  I just didn't know Mitch and Sharon were gonna be here."

 

"Oh, honey, I'm sorry, I invited Sharon to come because of Shawn, and, I forgot that she would probably bring Mitch and Daniel,"  Ann says.  

 

"No, it......it's fine."

 

"I thought that you and Mitch had made amends."

 

"We have,"  Lucy says.  "It's just kinda hard seeing him with Sharon."

 

Catlin walks into the kitchen and approaches Sue Ellen.  "How's it going in here?"

 

"Just fine,"  replies Sue Ellen.  "I'm making some chocolate chip cookies for later.  Have you heard from C.J.?"

 

"Yeah I just got off the phone with him.  He'll be here in about ten minutes. But before my son arrives, can I speak to you for a moment?"

 

"Well, Catlin, I'm making cookies."

 

"It'll only take a minute,"  Catlin says.  "Ann, would you mind?"

 

Ann smiles.  "Of course not, you two go on. Sue Ellen, I'll finish with the cookies."

 

Sue Ellen nods.  Catlin takes her by the hand and leads her out of the  kitchen.  A moment later, they walk into the den.  

 

"Catlin, what on earth is so important that it couldn't wait until later?"  Sue Ellen asks.

 

"Well, I started to do this later tonight, when we were home, but, I just can't wait any longer."

 

"Wait any longer for what?"

 

"Let's sit down,"  Catlin says.  The two take a seat on the sofa.  Catlin takes her by the hand. "Sue Ellen......"  He says, then pauses.  "Sue Ellen....."

 

"Yes?"

 

"How about this?  At my age, I'm so nervous I'm struggling to figure out how to say this."

 

"Just take a deep breath and say it."

 

"Sue Ellen, until I met you, I was beginning to believe that I would never find love or happiness again.  Then you came into my life and changed all that.  Even through these last few horrible months you were the one bright spot in my life.  During the trial, I was terrified that I was going to lose you, and I couldn't have beared that.  I've done a lot of thinking.  Sue Ellen, I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.  What I'm really trying to say is.......Sue Ellen Ewing........will you marry me?"

 

Sue Ellen looks at him for a few seconds, then smiles.  "Marry you?  You're asking me to marry you?"

 

"Yes I am.  Will you?"

 

"Yes, Catlin," she says with a smile.  "Yes, I'll marry you."

 

Catlin smiles.  "Yes?  Did you say yes?"

 

"Yes.  I did say yes.  I can't wait to become your wife.  To become Mrs. Ewing......again."

 

Catlin kisses her.  "You have just made me the happiest man in the world." 

 

"I love you, Catlin."

 

"And I love you.  So, should we announce our engagement to everyone here, this evening. Both my son and your son, and most of the people we love are gonna be here this evening, so I can't think of a better time."

 

"Neither can I."

 

Catlin again kisses her, but the kiss is interrupted when his cell phone rings.  "Hold that thought," he says, taking the phone from his pocket.  "It might be C.J. again."  He looks at the screen.  "Nope, it's not," he says, answering.  "Hello?"  

The Omni Hotel....

"Catlin, this is Marley Hudson,"  says Donna Love's daughter, talking to Catlin on her phone from her hotel suite.  

 

"Marley, what can I do for you?"  Catlin asks.

"I was wondering if you've seen or heard from Donna, or if she's with you now?"

Southfork....

"No, Marley, I haven't.  Not since last night.  Why, is something wrong?

The Omni Hotel....

 

"I certainly hope not,"  Marley replies.  "Bridget and I went out for a while earlier, and Donna wasn't feeling up to coming with us, so she stayed here.  When we got back, she was gone. I've been calling and texting her phone all afternoon, but she doesn't reply.  I thought maybe she had gone to see you again."

Southfork....

"No, as I said I haven't spoken to her since last night, when the three of you left Sue Ellen's house,"  Catlin says.  "Marley, do you think it's possible your mother may have heard from Peter?"

 

"I really don't know.  I suppose at this point, anything's possible."

 

"Okay, listen to me.  Keep trying to reach her.  But in the meantime, call the police.  With Peter on the loose...."

 

"Catlin, Peter is Donna's brother,"  Marley says.  "There's no way he would put her in danger or harm her."

 

"I wish I could believe that, Marley, but Peter killed Brittany,"  Catlin says.  "And how he's desperate.  Call the police, and if you hear from your mother, let me know."

 

"I will.  Thanks, Catlin.  Bye."

 

"Bye,"  Catlin says, then ends the call.

 

"What is it?"  Sue Ellen asks.  

 

"That was Donna's daughter, Marley.  Donna is missing."

 

"Missing?"

 

"Yes.  Marley went out earlier and when she came back, Donna was gone."

 

"Do you think that Peter Love had anything to do with it?"  Sue Ellen asks.

 

"I don't.  Or maybe Donna is helping her brother.  Either way, the cops need to know what's going on.  I'm calling Detective Steven Jones."  Catlin again picks up his cell phone and dials a number.

Meanwhile.....upstairs....

 

 

 

"Thank ya, Uncle Bobby, I appreciate that,"  Heath says.

 

"Why don't you just call me Bobby for now, okay?"

 

"Sure, whatever you want.  So, nice place ya have here."

 

"Thank you,"  Bobby says.

 

"So this was my Granddaddy's house, huh?"  Heath asks.  "Not too shabby at all."

 

"Excuse me,"  Donna says, having gotten her fill of Heath already.  "I think I'm gonna go see how Dylan is doing.  He's standing over there by himself and looks like he could use some company."  She walks away from the other man and makes her way over to Dylan, who is standing alone.

 

Meanwhile, Conner is standing by the pool drying himself with a towel when Alex, Shawn, and Daniel walk up to him.  

 

"Hey, dude,"  Alex says.  "Why doesn't your brother join us?"

 

Conner looks over to his brother and sees Donna talking to him.  "He's just.......he's not feeling well."

 

"Bro, what's the real story with him?"  Shawn asks.

 

"What do you mean?"  Conner asks.

 

"No offense, dude, but, your brother's a little weird.  Standing over there all alone, not even talking to anyone.  That's weird.  Is it really true that he ran John Ross down with his car a couple years ago and he spent time in a mental hospital because of it?"

 

Conner looks at the boy.  "Look, man, my brother's had a lot of problems, okay.  And today, he's upset because his grandmother died yesterday.  So just back off."

 

"Whatever,"  Shawn says.  

 

"Conner, I'm sorry,"  says Alex.  "I didn't know about Dylan's grandmother."

 

"Excuse me, I'm gonna go see if he's okay,"  Conner says, walking away.

 

"You could've been a little more sensitive, dude,"  Daniel says to Shawn.

 

"Sensitive?  For what?"  Shawn asks.  "That Dylan guy is obviously not all there, and knowing what he did to John Ross makes me nervous bein' around him."

The Wentworth mansion....

 

 Katherine sits on the sofa while Austin is tied to a chair in the Wentworth living room.  Brian paces around the room restlessly, almost as if he's waiting for something.  Austin watches his brother pace, privately wondering if, at any minute, Brian would completely snap and hurt either him or Katherine.  As Brian continues to pace, Katelyn comes in from the kitchen.

 

"Okay, I have to go,"  she says.  

 

"Go?  Go WHERE?"  Brian asks.

 

"I told you last night.  I'm seeing Jimmy tonight.  I have to go home, get a shower, and change clothes."

 

"Isn't this little family reunion more important?"  Brian asks, annoyed.

 

"Brian, I already told you.  I can't just stay here all the time.  I do have a life outside, you know."

 

"Oh yeah.  GREAT.  You have a life.  Well I could really use your help here, sis."

 

"Katelyn, I........I really do wish that you wouldn't go,"  Austin says.

 

"Why do you care?"  Katelyn asks.

 

"Bet I know,"  Brian says.  "I bet I know exactly why Austin wants to keep you here. It's because he's afraid of me.  He probably thinks that you're the more level headed of the two of us, and, he doesn't want himself and Mommy to be left alone here with just me.  Right, brother?  Isn't that why you want Katie to stick around?"

 

"Can you blame me?"  Austin asks.  "You haven't shown yourself to be exactly........ stable."

 

Brian lets out a laugh.  "Wow.  My brother thinks that I'm unstable.  Did you hear that, Mom? Gee, I wonder where I get that unstable gene from.  Any ideas?"

 

Katherine looks at her son sadly, then lowers her eyes.  

 

"You're being awfully quiet, Mom,"  Brian says, taking a seat across from Katherine.  "I've been doing all the talking.  Why don't you talk for a while?"

 

"About what?"  Katherine asks, her voice shaky.

 

"Well, why don't you tell me a little about our family history?  I'd love to know all about your parents, my grandparents.  Katie, have a seat for a while.  Let's listen to Mom tell us about Grandma and Grandpa Wentworth."

 

"No, thanks, I really don't care,"  Katelyn says.  "I have to go.  And Brian.......stay cool.  I'd like to find our mother and brother unhurt when I come back."

 

Brian looks at his sister and smiles.  "Don't worry.  They're perfectly safe with me.  We're gonna get to know each other better.  I wanna know my heritage,"  Brian says as Katelyn leaves.  "So, come on, Mom.  Tell me.  I wanna know all about my grandparents.  What was your father's name?"

 

"Herbert,"  Katherine says in a low voice.

 

"What?  I didn't hear that."

 

"Herbert.  His name was Herbert Wentworth."

 

"Herbert.  I kinda like that name.  And your mother?  What was her maiden name?"  Brian asks, in an almost child-like manner.

 

"Rebecca Blake,"  replies Katherine.  

 

"Rebecca.  Rebecca,"  Brian says.  "Itn't there another Rebecca in our family somewhere?"

 

"Cliff's daughter.  Pamela Rebecca."

 

Brian smiles.  "Pamela Rebecca.  Pretty name.  And your half-brother and half-sister, Cliff and.......Pam?" I take it your relationship with them was about as warm as my relationship with ol' Austin here,"  Brian says, his smile growing larger.  

 

"Brian, please,"  Katherine says.  "You can put a stop to this.  Just.....look, I know you're scared.  You did a terrible thing, but I can help you.  I can give you money.  A LOT of money and you can disappear.  You can go far away from here so that no one will ever find you."

 

"And why would you wanna do that for me?"

 

"Because you're my son."

 

"I was your SON the day that you gave me away.  And now you wanna help me get away with murder?  Suddenly have a change of heart?  Did you suddenly develop some maternal feelings for me after 23 years?"

 

"I have always loved you,"  Katherine says.  "Not a day has gone by that I haven't thought about you and  your sister."

 

Brian looks at her for a few seconds.  "Yeah, I'll bet," he says in a disbelieving tone.  "So, you really wanna give me money to go away?"

 

"So that you can go somewhere safe,"  Katherine says.  "Brian, the longer you stay here, the greater your chance of getting caught."

 

"That's so sweet of you,"  Brian says, sarcastically.  "Could it be that Katherine Wentworth really cares about her son?  I mean, a son other than Austin."

 

"I do."

 

 

"Maybe that's not the reason at all," says Brian.  "Maybe you wanna get me away from here because......you're afraid of me. You're afraid I'm gonna hurt your precious Austin.  He's your whole world, isn't he?  I wonder what you would do if anything ever happened to him."  Brian walks over to Austin.

 

"Brian, please, just stop this,"  Katherine says.  "You can end this now.  I've got a lot of money.  I can give you whatever you need."

 

"It's too late.  What I needed was a mother when I was growing up.  But I didn't have that.  At least not a good mother.  Not MY mother.  No.  You were busy raising your favorite kid.  You called Jeremy Lord a monster?  But you were the one who gave away two of your kids, and left a third one with the man you called a monster.  You were the one who gunned down a man you claimed to love.  And you were the reason that three of your four children had miserable childhoods.  I was wrong about something, and I admit that.  I was wrong about my father.  For years, I hated both of you.  But my father didn't even know that Katie and I existed.  So this whole thing is your fault, Mom.  What I've become.  Everything that I did.  Those lives that were lost in that explosion.  It's all because of you.  Maybe I could just take the money you offered me and skip the country.  Just disappear forever.  Then you'd be rid of me for good, which is what you always wanted."

 

"That isn't true,"  Katherine says.  

 

"You're a liar,"  says Brian.  "So what if I do take the money and run?  You two just resume your lives and nobody pays.  Nobody pays for the hell that Katie and I went through growing up, or those people who died in that explosion.  Where's the justice in that?  Someone has to pay.  And who better than the woman who caused all of this?"

 

"So what are you going to do?"  Katherine asks.  "Kill me?"

 

Brian looks at her.  "No.  I'm not gonna kill you, Mom.  But I think justice would be served if you were hurt, and hurt very deeply.  I'm not gonna kill you.  But what if I kill your favorite son?"  Brian points the gun at Austin's head.  "Wouldn't that be justice?  You get to watch one of your sons kill the other, and then you'll have to live with that for the rest of your life. Knowing that, if you'd actually been a mother to your kids, you could've prevented this. Austin, I really doubt that you're very religious, but, now would be a REAL good time to make your peace with God."

 

Austin trembles with terror as Brian points the gun directly at his temple, with Katherine watching in horror!

The Omni Hotel....

 

John Ross looks across the crowd at his mother and Catlin as they kiss.  "She sure does look happy."

 

"Because she IS happy."

 

"Well, I guess Catlin itn't such a bad guy,"  John Ross says.  "And, I guess the best thing about her marryin' him is, she won't have to change her last name."

 

"Well, Sue Ellen and Catlin aren't the only ones with some good news,"  says Krystina.  "I have some of my own."

 

"I could sure use some good news right now."

 

"I was gonna wait until we were alone later to tell you, but, I can't wait any longer.  John Ross.......I'm pregnant."

 

"You......you're pregnant?"  Asks a stunned John Ross.  "Darlin', are ya sure?"

 

"I took two pregnancy tests and both were positive."

 

John Ross lets out a yell of excitement as he embraces Krystina and picks her up, kissing her.

 

"I wonder what that's about,"  Sue Ellen says, watching her son and his wife from a distance.

 

"Whatever John Ross is happy about, you can BET it's not the news of our engagement,"  Catlin says.

 

As Sue Ellen laughs at Catlin's comment, her cell phone rings.  "Oh, I wonder who that can be.  Almost everyone I know is HERE," she says, taking the phone from her pocket. She looks at the screen, but doesn't recognize the number.  "Hello?"  She says, answering the call.  "Yes, this is Sue Ellen Ewing.  Who's this?"

 

Catlin, Bobby, and Ann watch the smile disappears from Sue Ellen's face as she listens to the person on the other end of the line.

 

"What?"  She says, in tears.  "No, that can't be.  Oh my God.  "Yes.  I understand.  Yes.  Thank you for calling."  Sue Ellen drops her phone, a look of pain of her face as tears fall down her face.

 

"Sue Ellen,"  Catlin says.

 

"Sue Ellen, what is it?  What's wrong?"  Bobby asks.

 

"Who was that on the phone?"  Catlin asks.

 

"That was a man named George Lancaster.  Dusty's friend, and attorney."

 

"Dusty Farlow?"  Ann asks.

 

"Yes,"  replies a shaken Sue Ellen.  "Dusty died late last night."

 

"Oh my God,"  says Bobby.  "Sue Ellen, I'm so sorry."

 

As Sue Ellen breaks down in tears over the sad news of Dusty's passing, Catlin embraces her, wondering how this news would affect their plans to marry....