"I'm not so sure about that,"  Elena says.  "Has your family ever framed an innocent man for murder?"

"Hmmmmm, I dunno......probably,"  Michael says with a smile.

Elena laughs at his comment.  "You always know what to say to make me smile," she says, kissing him.

Richard comes down the stairs with Kevin.  "Well, good morning, you two,"  Richard says.

"Where were you guys all night?"  Kevin asks.

Michael and Elena exchange looks.  "We spent the night in San Francisco,"  says Michael.  "And we have some news."

"I have some news, too, but.....yours first,"  says Richard.

"Dad, little brother.......Elena and I were married last night."

"Married?"  Asks Richard.

"You guys are married?"  Kevin asks.

"Yes, we are,"  Elena says, holding out her hand to show the beautiful wedding ring.  "After we left Mr. Ackerman's office yesterday, we stopped by the courthouse and got the license, then went to get the blood tests."

"Well, you're just constantly full of surprises, aren't you, big brother?"  Kevin asks.

"Always,"  Michael replies.

"Well, congratulations,"  says Richard, shaking his older son's hand.  "Elena, welcome to the Channing family."  He kisses her on the cheek.

"Thank you, Richard."

"Dad, you said you had some news, too?"

"Yes, I do.  Remember yesterday when I got that call from McMillan Advertising?"

"Yeah."

"When the representatives of McMillan showed up at my office at The Globe, they were not from McMillan at all."

"What do you mean?  Who were they?"

Richard looks at Elena.  "Bobby and Sue Ellen Ewing."

"What?"  Asks a shocked Elena.  "Bobby and Sue Ellen came to see you?"

"Yes, masquerading as advertisers in order to get to see me."

"What the hell did they want?"  Michael asks.

"Oh, they showed me a file they had put together on all my misdeeds.  They tried to intimidate me into withdrawing my support for Elena and kicking her out of this house."

Elena sighs with aggravation.  "I don't believe this!  Bobby and Sue Ellen came here to try to blackmail you into kicking me out?"

"Don't worry.  I told them to go to hell, and that I know plenty of their secrets as well.  Elena, don't worry.  We're going to get your son back, and in the process, I'm going to make those Ewings regret the day they ever crossed my path."

Michael puts his arms around Elena and embraces her.  

Pilar Cumson walks onto the front porch at Falcon Crest as Eric is working on his motorcycle.  Pilar watches her son for a moment, then walks out to him.  

"I wish you'd get rid of this thing,"  Pilar says.

"My bike?  I'd sooner cut off my right arm."

"If you only gave the kind of care to the rest of your life that you give to this bike."

"Is there a particular point your getting at, Mom?"  Eric asks.

"Yes, actually, there is.  Eric, we need to talk,"  Pilar says.  

"About what?"  The young man asks, sounding extremely uninterested in whatever his mother has to say.

"About you, and about your father.  Eric, your father is under a lot of pressure right now.  He really doesn't need you adding to it."

Eric looks up at his mother.  "Is that I'm doing?"

"You know it is.  He's worried about this drought, he's worried about Falcon Crest.  He's worried about his cousin Angela's visit, AND he's worried sick about you and the trouble you keep getting yourself into."

"I never asked Dad to worry about me.  You either."

"You don't get it, do you?"  Pilar asks.  "Eric, we are your parents.  Yes, you're an adult, but that doesn't stop us from worrying about what happens to you.  Do you know what it does to your father and to me every time the sheriff has to bring you home? Or every time we get a call that our son is in jail again?  Do you even care?"

Meanwhile, Pilar's daughter Gabby comes to the door and stops.  She listens to her mother and brother.

Eric stands to his feet and walks onto the porch.  "What is it you want from me, Mom?  You want me to straighten myself out, put on a suit, and join you and Dad in running this winery?  Well, I've got news for you.......I DON'T want Falcon Crest.  You wanna leave it to someone, then leave it to Gabby, or even Lisa.  Or, if you really wanna do all three of your kids a favor........let Angela and Aunt Emma have it.  Let it ruin THEIR lives for a change.  It's already ruined ours."

Pilar looks at her son for a moment with disappointment.  She sighs, shakes her head. then turns and walks back into the house, passing her daughter in the doorway.  Gabby walks onto the porch to face her older brother,

"Why do you ALWAYS have to be such an asshole?"  Gabby asks her brother.  

"I learned how to be an asshole from the very best......Mom and Dad."

"You really are a jerk, you know that, Eric.  How can you treat Mom and Dad the way you do after all the crap they've gotten you out of and all the times they bailed your sorry ass out of jail?"

"It's because of THEM I ended up there in the first place,"  Eric says.  "Look, you defend them all you want, little sister.  But there's a lot that you don't know about our parents, okay."

"Oh yeah?  Then why don't you fill me in?"

"You'll find out soon enough,"  says Eric.  He turns, walks off the porch and grabs his leather jacket from a chair.  Putting the 

jacket on, he gets onto his bike.  He gives his sister one last angry look as she watches him from the porch.  Then he starts his bike, and rides off.

"Same old Tuscany Valley,"  Cole says.  "Word still travels fast around here."

Lance lets out a slight laugh.  "Yeah, it sure does.  Hey, you look great.  Same as always."

"Yeah, well, you haven't changed much, either."

"So where's Joseph?"  Lance asks.

"He went into town for some supplies.  I'm helping him fix this place up.  He wants to live here."

"Oh, I see.  And how about you?  You staying or just visiting?"

"Just visiting.  For now.  Joseph, I think he plans to stay awhile."

"Well, while you're in town, drop by Falcon Crest.  Or better yet, you and Joseph come to dinner tomorrow night.  We'll sit around, have a few beers, catch up, talk over old times."

"I can't speak for Joseph, but I'd love to,"  says Cole.

Lance smiles.  "Great.  Pilar and I'll be expecting you, around seven?"

"Fine."

"See you then."  Lance walks to the door, then pauses and looks around the old house.  "You ever think about her?"

"Of course,"  Cole replies.  "All the time.  Joseph is a living, breathing reminder of Melissa."

"I think about her, too,"  Lance says.  "Especially since Joseph came back.  He looks so like her.  I'll see ya tomorrow night, Cole."

"Yeah, you bet."

Lance nods, then quickly leaves, and Cole returns to his task.  

Michael and Elena lay quietly in bed that night, both staring aimlessly into space, deep in thought.  

"Elena,"  Michael finally says.

"Yes?"

"Why didn't you tell me Christopher Ewing came to see you?"

Elena raises her head and looks at him. "I didn't wanna upset you, and I knew it would."

"He wanted you to drop the custody case, didn't he?"

"Yeah.  And he made some threats."

"Damn it,"  Michael says, getting out of bed.  "What the hell is it with these Ewings?  They think they can just charge in here, in OUR home, and threaten my wife?  I can't wait until this goes to court.  Because when you get up there on that witness stand and tell what kinda people the Ewings really are.......I can't wait to see the look on John Ross's face when the judge gives you custody of Drew again."

"IF that happens,"  Elena says sadly.

"Honey, it will.  You don't know my father.  When he fights for something, he pulls out all the stops."

"And so do the Ewings.  They already found out about our visit to Rhonda and got rid of her.  She was our secret weapon."

"We still have Cliff Barnes, and his daughter, Pamela McKay,"  Michael says.

"Cliff Barnes, a bitter, sometimes delusional old man who's hated the Ewings his entire life and would do anything to destroy them.   Even perjure himself in court."

"Elena, you've gotta have a little faith.  The Ewings may be rich, and they may be powerful.  But so are the Channings.  Whatever they throw at us, we can match, blow for blow, dollar for dollar......even scandal for scandal.  Don't forget, my father owns the largest newspaper in San Francisco.  That carries a lot of power."

"I'm sorry for getting your family mixed up in this,"  Elena says.  "When I first arrived in San Francisco and met you that first day here, when I applied for the job at The Globe, I had no idea then that I'd end up falling in love with you.  Marrying you.  I was pregnant and scared, and running from a painful past."

"Well, Mrs. Channing, you don't have to run anymore.  At least not AWAY from anything.  And you said MY family.  Elena, this is your family too, now."

Elena looks at him and smiles.  "What did I do to get so lucky to deserve a wonderful man like you?"

"I'm the lucky one,"  Michael says, kissing her.

Lance and Pilar are getting ready for bed that night.  As Lance sits up in bed reading, Pilar turns down the covers on her side of the bed.

"Oh, honey, I forgot to tell you,"  Lance says.  "I invited Cole and Joseph over for dinner tomorrow night.  Hope that's okay."

"Sure, it's fine.  I look forward to getting to know Cole and Joseph,"  Pilar says, getting into bed.  

"Joseph looks so much like Melissa,"  says Lance.  "He seems to have her same spunk, too."

"This is the first time you've mentioned Melissa's name in a long time."

"Been thinkin' a lot about her since Joseph showed up."

"I saw the way you looked at him the other day,"  Pilar says.  "Do you still wish Joseph had been your son?"

Lance looks at his wife.  "No," he says.  "I use to.  But not anymore.  We have a son and two beautiful daughters.  That's enough for me."

Pilar smiles as Lance leans over and kisses her.  Suddenly, their kiss is interrupted by the sound of a thud, and then a crash from downstairs.  "What in the world was that?"  Pilar wonders.

"I don't know, but I'm sure gonna find out,"  Lance replies, getting out of  bed.  He opens a drawer on the night stand and takes out his revolver.  "You stay here."

"No, way,"  Pilar says, getting out of bed.  She follows him out of the bedroom, where they meet their daughter Gabby in the hallway.

"What was that noise?"  Gabby whispers.

"I don't know.  You stay here with your mother."  Lance moves slowly toward the stairs as another crash is heard at the bottom of the stairs.  Pilar embraces her daughter while Lance creeps slowly down the stairs, his weapon drawn, ready to confront any intruder he happens upon.  When he gets halfway down, he sees that the cause of the noise is none other than Eric, who is laying at the bottom of the stairs, Kevin kneeling beside him.  Lance switches on the light and walks down the stairs.  "What's going on here?"

"Well, if it isn't dear old Dad,"  says a drunken Eric, laying beside an overturned table amidst the pieces of a broken vase.  

"Laaaaance, what's up?"  Asks Kevin, also extremely drunk.

Pilar and Gabby follow Lance downstairs.  

"Eric, what are you doing?"

"He.........he tripped and fell,"  Kevin replies, his speech slurred.

"Yeah, who put that table there?"  Asks Eric.

"Alright, come on,"  Lance says, grabbing his son by the arm and pulling him to his feet.  

"I'm okay.......reeeaally."

"Come on, we'll put you to bed,"  Pilar says, taking Eric's arm.  "Gabby, help me with your brother."

The girl takes her brother's right arm and throws it over her shoulder.  Pilar takes Eric's left arm and throws it over her shoulder, and they practically drag him up the stairs.

"See ya later, Eric,"  Kevin says as he sways on his feet.

Lance angrily looks his cousin in the eye.  "Kevin, go in the living room, and sleep it off on the couch."

"Nah, Lance, I gotta get home,"  Kevin says.

"No way,"  Lance says, grabbing his car keys from him.  "Now get your ass in there and go to sleep, or else, I'll  put you to sleep."  Without another word, Lance turns and heads up the stairs, leaving Kevin alone in the foyer downstairs.

Meanwhile, Pilar and Gabby dump Eric onto his bed.  Pilar takes off his shoes while Gabby covers her brother with a blanket as Lance walks into the room.  

"Goodnight, guys"  Gabby says.

"Night, sweety,"  says Pilar.  She kisses her daughter on the cheek, and Gabby leaves the room.  Pilar looks at her sleeping son. "He's out of control, Lance, and getting worse."

Lance sighs.  "I know."

"He and Kevin could've been killed tonight."

"Come on.  Let's go to bed.  He'll sleep for the rest of the night.  I made Kevin sleep on the sofa downstairs."

Pilar again looks at her son, then switches off the light and leaves the room with Lance.

Lance, Pilar, and Gabby walk into the dining room at Falcon Crest the next morning as the family maid, Juanita, is serving breakfast.

"Kevin still asleep?"  Pilar asks.

"Yeah, I just checked on him,"  replies Lance.  "You checked on Eric?"

"Still sleeping like a log."

Juanita pours Gabby a glass of orange juice.  "Thank you, Juanita."

"You're welcome, Miss Gabby,"  the maid says with a mild Hispanic accent.  "Mr. Cumson, will Mr. Channing be joining us for breakfast?"

Lance and Pilar exchange looks.  "Maybe he'll have some coffee when he wakes up, Juanita,"  says Pilar.

The maid smiles and nods, then leaves the room as Angela walks in.  

"Good morning, cousins,"  Angela says cheerfully, taking a seat beside Gabby.  "What was that noise I heard last night?"

"It was Eric coming home,"  Gabby says.

"Oh?"

"Hey, everyone,"  Kevin says as he walks into the dining room.  

"Well, good morning,"  says Angela.  "I didn't know you were here."

"Hey, Angela.  Yeah, I slept on the couch last night.  It's great to see you."

"Great to see you too, cousin."

"So, I guess you and my brother partied pretty hard last night, huh?"  Gabby asks.

"Yeah,"  Kevin says.  "Lance, Pilar, I'm really sorry about last night.  I'll pay for the vase."

"Damn right you will,"  says Lance.  

"Kevin, what the hell was wrong with the both of you last night?"  Pilar asks.  "You went out with my son, got him so drunk he couldn't even stand up, and then you drove here.  You both could've been killed."

"Look, I know,.  It was really stupid.  How's Eric?"

"Still sleeping, as far as I know,"  replies Pilar.  "You want some breakfast?"

"No, thank you.  I don't think my stomach could stand any food right now."

"Coffee?"  Angela asks.

"Yeah, some coffee would be nice."

Gabby pours a cup of coffee and hands it to her cousin.

"Thanks,"  Kevin says.  "So, Angela, how's Aunt Emma?"

"She's doing great.  She's planning on coming for Christmas."

"Oh, awesome, I know my Dad will be happy about that."

"Thanks for the coffee,"  Kevin says, taking another sip, then sitting the cup on the table.  "I'd best be going."

"I'll walk you out,"  Angela says.  "I'm heading over to the winery anyway."

"Sure.  Lance, Pilar, Gabby......see you guys later."

"Kevin, be careful going on,"  says Pilar.

"Yeah, thanks.  I will."

Angela follows Kevin onto the front porch.  "Hey, Kevin, umm, what exactly happened last night?"

"Ah, Eric and I met up at a bar downtown, we got a little drunk, and he fell and broke a vase when I brought him home last night."

"I guess Lance and Pilar were pretty upset, huh?"  Angela asks.

"Yeah, you could say that.  Why do you ask?"

"Just curious.  I get the feeling the Cumson family is on pretty shaky ground right now.  I overheard a heated argument between Lance and Eric the other day."

"So?  Father and sons fight sometime.  Why're you so interested?"

"No reason,"  replies Angela.  

"How long are you gonna be staying around?"  Kevin asks.

"Not sure yet."

"Text me.  We'll have lunch or go out for a few drinks or somethin'."

"I sure will.  And tell Uncle Richard I'll drop by to see him soon."

"I will.  Take care, Angela."

"Bye,"  she says as Kevin walks off the porch.  She watches her cousin with a smile as he gets into his car and drives away.

Richard sits by the pool at his home later in the day sipping on a glass of ice tea, as Cliff Barnes sits across from him sipping on his own glass.

"That really is some damned good tea,"  Cliff says.  "Not sure which your maid does best, tea or lemonade."

"Agnes is quite proficient with both tea and lemonade, Cliff.  Now then, just as soon as my lawyer gets here, we can get started.  I really want to thank you for coming all this way to provide us with some dirt we can use against the Ewings when Elena's case goes to court."'

"No thanks are necessary, Channing,"  Cliff says.  "I'm happy to do anything I can to bring those Ewings down after what they've done to me and to my family."

"Ah, here he comes now,"  Richard says, seeing his attorney, Tim Ackerman, coming out of the house and walking toward them.

"Good afternoon, Richard,"  Tim says.

"Hello, Tim, thank you for coming."

"My pleasure."

"Tim Ackerman, I'd like for you to meet Cliff Barnes."

"Mr. Barnes,"  the lawyer says, shaking hands with Cliff.

"Mr. Barnes here has come all the way from Dallas to provide us with some ammunition we can use against the Ewing family in court,"  Richard says.

"That's right,"  says Cliff.  "No one knows the Ewings better than I do."

"You've known the family long, Mr. Barnes?"  Tim asks.

"My whole life.  My sister use to be married to Bobby Ewing, and my daughter Pamela was briefly married to John Ross Ewing, the father of Elena Ramos's baby.  But, my connection to the Ewings goes back even further than that."

"Anything you can give us would help,"  Tim says.  "We have several obstacles against us in winning this custody fight.  But the more dirt we can dig up on the Ewings, the better."

"Well, there's no shortage of dirt when it comes to the Ewings,"  Cliff says.  

"Well, Cliff, let's hear it,"  Richard says.

My family's connection to the Ewings goes back generations.  My grandfather, Henry Barnes, worked at the Southfork Ranch, which was owned by Bobby Ewing's grandfather, Aaron Southworth.  My Daddy Digger Barnes, grew up on the ranch and he was in love with Bobby's mother, Miss Ellie. Anyway, when Digger was around 20, he left the ranch and he ran up on this drifter by the name of Jock Ewing.  Now this was during the Great Depression, and work was hard to find, so Digger and Jock partnered up, along with Jock's brother Jason Ewing, to wildcat for oil in East Texas.  In August of 1930, they hit a gusher, and Ewing Oil was born.  Now, I won't get into all the boring details, but eventually the partnership went sour, and Jock ended up with not only the whole company, but also with the woman my Daddy was in love with, Ellie Southworth.  Digger never got over losing her to Jock, and he became a lifelong drunk......"

Eric comes down the stairs at Falcon Crest that afternoon.  Seeing no one around, he walks into the living room and lays down on the sofa by the fireplace.  The young man sighs deeply as he looks at a series of framed photos sitting on a table......a photo of his parents on their wedding day many years ago;  a photo of himself and Gabby as children; a photo of his grandmother, Julia Channing Cumson, and a larger photo of his late great-grandmother, Angela Gioberti Channing.  

Gabby comes down the stairs and starts to walk into the living room.  When she sees her brother, she turns to leave.

"Gabby?  Hey,"  Eric says.

The girls stops, turns around, and walks into the room.  "Well, you're finally awake.  And sober."

"Where are the parental figures?"  Eric asks.

"Dad's at the winery, and Mom went into town."

"Good.  I sure don't feel like another lecture from them,"  Eric says.

Gabby looks at her brother for a moment.  "What happened to you, Eric?  What happened to my big brother I used to feel so close to?  Now, it's like I don't even know you, and I sure don't like you."

"Great......Mom and Dad are gone and I still have to listen to a lecture from my little sister."

"You said something to me the other day.  You said there's a lot that I don't know about Mom and Dad, but I'll find out soon enough.  What did you mean by that?"

"Nothing,"  Eric replies.

"Don't give me that crap.  You meant SOMETHING by what you said, and I'd like to know what you meant.  What is it that I don't know about Mom and Dad?"

Before Eric can answer the question, Pilar walks into the house, carrying two bags of groceries.  She pauses in the foyer when she sees her two kids in the living room.

"Mom," Gabby says.  

"Honey, there's another bag of groceries in the car, would you get that for me?"  Pilar asks.

"Sure," the girl replies as she leaves.

Pilar walks into the living room and looks at her son.  "How're you feeling?"  

"Hung over."

"Serves you right.  Listen, Eric, we're having company for dinner tonight, so I'd appreciate it if you were on your best behavior."

"Company?  Who's coming?"

"Your father's cousin, Cole Gioberti, and his son Joseph."

"Great, more relatives,"  Eric says.

"Just behave, alright?  Or don't be here.  YOUR choice."  Pilar turns and walks out of the room with her groceries.  

Back at the Channing home, Cliff continues to tell his story to Richard and his attorney, Tim Ackerman. 

"So, in order to keep me ruin me and destroy my company, J.R. had my drilling foreman in the Gulf on HIS payroll, and the guy was deliberately NOT striking oil while I sunk an entire fortune into that track.  I was almost ruined until a good friend of mine named Jordan Lee put me in touch with another foreman.  I fired my original guy, hired the one Jordan recommended, and at the last minute I struck oil.  J.R. came to my office that night I was about to lose everything and gloated to my face that he was behind the whole thing. Boy I  could write a whole book on all the crap J.R. Ewing did to ruin me over the years."

"And what about John Ross?"  Tim asks.  "J,R. Ewing is dead.  It's his son we're most concerned with right now."

"John Ross is every bit as twisted and evil as that father of his was.  He married my daughter Pamela in order to get her to give him her shares of my company so the Ewings could take the company away from me.  And then, they framed me for J.R.'s murder.  The Ewings took everything away from me, they poisoned my daughter's mind against me, and then they left me to rot in a Mexican prison for the rest of my life.  And once John Ross had my daughter's love and complete trust, he cheated on her with my other daughter."

"Wow,"  Tim says.  "Elena has told me about the frame-up for the J.R. Ewing murder.  Only problem is, we have no concrete proof of that."

"We almost did,"  Richard says.  "We had the woman who helped the Ewings set Mr. Barnes up for that killing, but unfortunately, she's disappeared."

"The Ewings got to her,"  Cliff says.  "They got to her, and there's no telling what they did to the girl."

"Mr. Barnes, would your daughters be willing to testify for Elena at the custody hearing?"

"Oh of course."

"Good.  That'll help."

"Hello,"  Elena says, coming out of the house.

"Elena, how are you?"  Cliff asks.

"Just fine, Cliff.  What are you doing here?"

"I'm here filling your lawyer in on all the Ewing family's dirty laundry."

"My main concern right now is the lie that Elena told to John Ross Ewing that his son had been still born."

"I've already explained that,"  Elena says.  "I only wanted to protect my son from John Ross."

"But did you feel your son was in any physical danger from his own father?"

"The Ewings are a danger to anyone and everyone they come in contact with,"  says Cliff.  "I wouldn't trust a pet porcupine with those people, much less an innocent baby."

"The Ewings are obviously worried about losing this case,"  Richard says.  "Other wise Christopher and Bobby and Sue Ellen Ewing wouldn't have already tried to intimidate us into backing down.  I also have all my private investigators working on finding Rhonda Simmons and getting her to testify for Elena.  Cliff, you said you have enough dirt on the Ewings to write a book?"

"That's right,"  Cliff says.  "Elena and I both do."

"Then why not do it?"  Richard asks.  "Or at least a very scandalous expose?"

"In The Globe?"  Asks Elena.

"No.  Not in my paper.  In one of Texas's major newspapers.  That way, the publicity from it would be where we want it to be.....which is where the custody case is going to be heard."

"Not a bad idea.  As long as it's a reputable paper,"  Tim says.

Richard smiles.  "It will be.  As a publisher I have lots of connections all over the country.  In the meantime, we'll keep looking for Rhonda Simmons.  Harris Ryland might also be able to help by using some of contacts with the CIA."

"You know Harris Ryland?"  Cliff asks, surprised.

"Yes, I do,"  replies Richard.  "Through mutual........friends.......in the agency."

"I'm sure I don't have to remind you that we don't have a whole lot of time on this,"  says Tim.  "The custody hearing is coming up in just a few days, so the sooner we get the ball rolling, the better."

Richard looks at the others and smiles, while Elena looks worried.

Later, Lance, Pilar, Eric, Gabby, Angela, Cole, and Joseph are seated around the dining room table at Falcon Crest as the maid, Juanita, serves a delicious dinner of veal cutlets.  

"So, Cole, Joseph tells me you own your own business in Miami,"  Angela says.

"That's right, I do.  Gioberti & Sons Shipping.  My younger son Chase is handling the business right now while I'm here spending some time with Joseph."

"How old is Chase now?"  Lance asks.

"Twenty-four,"  replies Cole.  "Hard to believe.  I don't know where the time has gone."

"I feel the same way about ours,"  says Pilar.  "Seems like only yesterday I was going off to the hospital to give birth to Eric."

"So how does it feel being back here after all these years, Cole?"  Gabby asks.

"It feels kinda weird.  Lot of memories in this Valley, both good and bad."

"And in this house too, I imagine,"  Lance says.

Cole laughs slightly.  "Definitely.  Lance, I almost expect to see your grandmother sitting at the head of this table, presiding over a family dinner."

Lance laughs at the memory.  "Oh yes, Grandmother LOVED to preside over family events."

"And everything else,"  Pilar adds.

"My Dad's told me a lot about Angela Channing,"  says Joseph.  "I wish I had more memories of her.  The ones I do have are very vague."

"Well, you were very young when you left the Valley to live with Cole in Australia,"  says Lance.  

Cole smiles.  "Angela was quite a character.  Lance, do you remember when we first moved here, and your grandmother tried to replace you by making me her heir."

"How could I forget?  You were all for it until you found out we were behind sabotaging your father's harvest, and then you pretty much told Grandmother to go to hell."

"You actually told Grandmother that?"  Angela asked.

"Well, not in so many words."

"Cole, I wish I had lived here in the Valley when you did,"  Pilar says.  "I think we would have gotten along just fine."

"Eric, you're being awfully quiet tonight,"  Angela says.  "Not like you at all.  Still feeling the effects of last night?"

"What happened last night?"  Joseph asks.

"Our cousin here went out and got himself plastered with Kevin Channing,"  Angela replies, as Lance and Pilar give her unapproving looks for sharing their family's dirty laundry.

"Kevin, how is he?"  Cole asks.  "I didn't realize he was back in the Valley.  I thought he was still off at grad school."

"He came home a few days ago,"  Lance says.  

"I should go over to Richard's and see him then."

"Eric, are you okay?"  Angela prods.

"I'm just fine,"  Eric says.  "Just sitting here listening to the pleasant conversations going around the room over dinner.  Listening to all the hypocrisy at this table."

Lance and Pilar cringe as their son begins speaking.  "Eric, that's quite enough,"  Lance says.

"Enough, Dad?  You always told me when I was growing up that I had to be honest.  But what about you?  What about Mom?  Don't you guys have to be honest, too?  And cousin Cole?  Why don't we all be honest here?  Come on, let's go around this room and everyone just tell what they really feel and think about everyone else in this room?"

"Eric, stop.  Now,"  Pilar says. 

"Why, Mom?  Afraid of a little honesty this evening?"  Eric asks as Cole, Joseph, and everyone else at the table looks embarrassed.  "Afraid that maybe my feelings will be hurt if I knew that Dad is sitting there right now wishing to God that JOSEPH was his son instead of me?"

"Eric, shut up!"  Lance says angrily.

"And what about cousin Angela?"  Eric asks.  "You guys think she's really here just to visit because she missed all of us?  Hell no.  She's here to spy on us for Aunt Emma so that she can see if Dad is really capable of continuing to run Falcon Crest.  And what about you, Joseph?  Everyone here has seen the way you and Angela have been looking at each other all evening.  You screwed her yet?"

"You know, kid, you've got a really big mouth for someone with such a small brain,"  says an angry Joseph as he quickly gets up from the table to confront Eric.

"Yeah, well, dude, at least I aint got the hots for my own cousin. That's kinda sick."

"Somebody needs to teach you some manners."

"Joseph, stop!"  Cole says, standing and taking his son by the arm.

"I guess you're gonna teach me, huh?"  Eric asks, standing to face his cousin.

"Damn right."

"Joseph, let it go."

"And you get out!"  Lance says to Eric as he also stands from the table.

"Lance, it's okay,"  says Cole.  "Joseph and I should just go."

"Yeah, okay,"  Lance says, disgusted.

"Don't go away on my account,"  Eric says.

"One day, I AM gonna teach you some manners, boy,"  Joseph says.

"I'm ready any time you are, cuz,"  Eric says.

"Joseph, let's go,"  Cole says, grabbing his son's arm.

"Cole, Joseph, I'm so sorry about all of this,"  Pilar says.  

"Pilar, it's okay,"  Cole says.  Without saying another word, he and Joseph leave.

Eric smiles.  "I'd say that little family reunion went well, how about y'all?"

Lance turns to his son.  "I've had it with you.  You're gonna either straighten up, or you can get the HELL out of this house!"

"Lance, no,"  Pilar says.

"You want me out?"  Asks Eric.  "FINE.  I'm gone.  I'm sick of this place and you."  Eric storms out of the room.

"Eric, wait!"  Pilar calls after her son.  

"Let hjm go, Pilar!"

"Lance, if that boy walks out of this house, there's no telling what'll happen to him or where he'll end up."

"If he stays here, Pilar, he'll end up tearing this family apart.  Eric is 22-years-old and we've pampered him long enough.  I was just like him at his age, and I'll be damned if I wanna see my son turn out like I did all those years.  If he gets out and learns to stand on his own two feet, then MAYBE he'll also learn how to be a decent human being."

"And if he doesn't?"

"I'm sorry,"  Lance says.   "But I'm gonna have him in this house any longer.  Not unless he makes some major changes."

"If anything happens to our son because his own father kicked him out of his home......I'll never forgive you."

"Angela, don't try to kid me,"  Eric says.  "I know you want Falcon Crest for yourself, so why don't you just come right out and say it?"

Angela smiles as she walks over to her cousin.  "Alright.  I want Falcon Crest.  And if you were to help me get it, then, I think things would be a lot better for you and your family."

"How's that?" 

"The Cumsons could start to rebuild themselves as a family, without the added pressures of running this winery.  If your family is to even survive, then it's gonna have to be away from Falcon Crest.  Come on, Eric, I know you hate it here.  You've said so."

"Yeah, I do.  Falcon Crest is all my parents give a damn about."

"Then let's take it away from them,"  Angela says.  

"How?"  Asks Eric.  

"We'll figure it out.  After all, we're both young, and bright.  But I think you know that I'm right, and as much as you hate your parents, I know you wanna hurt them.  Losing Falcon Crest would be the best way to do that.  Here."  Angela hands him some money. "Go stay at the hotel tonight and then call me tomorrow morning.  We'll talk about how we can go about causing Lance and Pilar to lose Falcon Crest."  She walks to the door and starts to leave.

"Angela,"  Eric calls after her.

She stops in the doorway and turns back to him.

"You may not believe this, but, I don't hate my parents,"  Eric says.  "I just hate who they've become, and what they do.  And I think the best thing for them would be to lose Falcon Crest."

Angela smiles.  "Good.  I knew I could count on you."  Without another word to him, she walks out of the room, closing the door behind her.  In the hallway outside of Eric's room, Angela leans against the door and smiles, feeling triumphant and confident that soon, Lance and Pilar will be out of Falcon Crest, and the entire family empire will be hers!