EPISODE 20 - When All Else Fails

 

 

 

 

"You seem kinda happy this morning,"  Joseph says to his brother.

 

 "Well, I am,"  Chase says.  "I took your advice."

"MY advice?"  Joseph asks.

 

 

"Yeah, you know, when you told me that I should look Courtney up on social media."

 

"That was weeks ago."

 

"Yeah.  Well, I finally did it.  I found her Facebook page and I added her as a friend last night.  She hasn't accepted yet, but, I'm sure she will."

 

 

 

 

 

"Wait, who is Courtney?" Cole asks.

 

"Dad, don't you remember?" Asks Chase.  "Courtney Wapner, I dated her in high school."

 

"Oh, yeah, I do remember. She was that cute little brunette you use to bring over to the house."

 

"Yeah, until she just up and left Florida with no explanation," says Chase.  

 

"That was ten years ago,"  Cole says.  "What made you think about her again?"

 

"Well, Dad, Courtney was at Kevin's wedding that-never-was a few months ago,"  Chase replies.  

 

"Really?"

 

"Yeah, and if I remember right, she was with some guy," says Joseph.

 

"Yes, she was.  Christopher Ewing.  Emma Ryland's stepbrother."

 

"Hold on a second,"  Cole says.  "Your ex-girlfriend came to Kevin and Emma's wedding with Emma's stepbrother?  How in the world did THAT happen?"

 

"Courtney is involved with Christopher now,"  says Chase.  "Or at least, she was a few months, and I'm guessing they still are.  Y'now, I went to see Courtney in the hospital after the explosion.  I asked her why she just suddenly left the way she did."

 

"And what'd she say?"  Cole asks.

 

"Nothing.  She didn't really give me an answer."

 

"I remember you had quite a thing for that girl."

 

Chase is silent for a couple seconds, then looks at his father.  "It was more than that, Dad.  I loved her.  Courtney Wapner was my first love, and, the way things ended between us, I've never really been able to put her behind me.  That's why I really need to reconnect with her."

 

"And what about Christopher Ewing?"  Joseph asks.  

 

Chase looks at his brother, then again at his father.  "I'm not really very hungry this morning.  I think I'm gonna just go for a run.  I'll see you both later."  Chase quickly gets up from the table and leaves.

 

Cole sighs.  "Not sure I like the sound of that.  If your brother's old girlfriend is involved with someone else now, and if Chase is still in love with her, I'm just afraid your brother could end up getting hurt again.  I remember when Courtney broke up with him and left Florida.  He took it really hard."

 

"Yeah,"  Joseph says.  "I really think Chase needs closure.  After all, he just wants an answer to why this girl left him without so much as a goodbye or an explanation.  I think he deserves that."

"I think that by the time this baby comes, I will have completely lost my mind staying in this damned house,"  says an angry Emma.  "In this bed!"

 

"Emma, I know how hard this whole bedrest thing is for you......."

 

"No, Kevin, you DON'T.  You can come and go as you please.  You can get out of this mausoleum.  I feel like I'm under some kind of house arrest, and I can't stand it any longer."

 

"I know,"  Kevin says.  "And I'm sorry.  But, for the......"

 

"Sake of the baby, I have to stay in bed for most of the rest of this pregnancy, I KNOW,"  Emma says.  

 

Kevin takes a seat on the bed beside her.  "Emma, I'm sorry this is so hard on you.  I wish that there was something I could do, or say, to make this better for you.  If I could, I would trade places with you in a heartbeat."

 

Emma looks at him.  "I know," she says.  "I'm sorry, Kevin, I know I've been a real pain in the ass lately.  I just really hate this, having to stay in bed most of the time."

 

"But in the end, in three weeks, our baby is going to be born, and, when we have a healthy little little boy, then, this will all be worth it."

 

Emma lowers her eyes and nods, unable to look Kevin in the face when he mentions 'their' baby, since Emma is well aware she is carrying Lucas Ewing's baby and not Kevin's.  "You're right.  Having a healthy baby is all that matters right now."

 

"Emma, I am SO sorry this happened,"  Kevin says.  "If it hadn't been for that explosion at our would-be wedding, you wouldn't be having such a high risk pregnancy and wouldn't be having to be on bed rest."

 

"This isn't totally because of my injuries in the explosion,"  Emma says, tears coming to her eyes.  "Kevin, we both know that part of the reason my pregnancy is so high risk is because I'm a carrier of Neurofibromatosis.  If this baby isn't born healthy, then it's  no one's fault but my own."

 

"Hey, now, how do you figure that?"  Kevin asks, gently stroking her blonde hair.  

 

"Maybe I'm being punished.  Maybe my baby is being punished for all the terrible things I've done.  All the lies I've told.  My affair with John Ross while he was married to Pamela."

 

"Emm, come on, now, that's ridiculous.  We've all done bad things, and things we aren't proud of.  But I don't believe for one minute that God would punish an innocent baby for something the parents did."

 

"Oh, no, of course not,"  Emma says in tears.  "It's just my family's tainted genes."  

 

Kevin embraces Emma as she cries.  He holds her tightly for a moment, then pulls out of the embrace and looks at her, his hand on her face.   "Emma, you listen to me," he says.  "Our baby is going to be born one hundred percent healthy.  I know that.  I BELIEVE it.  And I want you to believe it, too.  Sweetheart, one year from now we're gonna be getting ready for our son's first birthday.  Five years from now we're gonna be enrolling him in kindergarten.  And fifteen years from now, I'm gonna be teaching him how to drive while you worry yourself into a nervous breakdown like the typical mother."

 

Emma manages to laugh through her tears.  "Kevin, promise me something."

 

"Anything."

 

"Right after the baby is born, let's get married.  We don't have a big wedding like the one we were gonna have before the explosion.  I don't even think I want that, anymore.  I just want to be your wife.......Emma Ryland Channing."

 

Kevin smiles, then kisses her.  "I promise.  As soon as you're recovered from giving birth, I will make you Mrs. Kevin Channing.  Then, we're gonna have to find some way to distinguish between you and my Aunt Emma because after we're married, there's gonna be TWO Emma Channings in this family."

 

"Maybe I should just keep my maiden name,"  Emma says in a joking manner.

 

"No way,"  says Kevin.  "YOU are going to be Mrs. Emma Channing."  He kisses her again.

 

 

"Hi, Alex,"  the young woman says.

 

"Hi,"  Alex replies.

 

"Well, I'd better get showered and get to work,"  Nikki says to Jonathon.  "Call me later."

 

"Definitely,"  Jonathon says, kissing her.  Smiling, Nikki walks away as the Lord brothers watch her.

"Wow,"  Alex says.  "She is really, uh......."

 

"Yes she is, isn't she?"  Jonathon remarks with a smile.  "Well, what brings you over, little brother?"

 

"I need someone to talk to.  Probably the only person in the world who'd understand."

 

"Uh-oh.  Sounds serious.  What's on your mind?"

 

Alex sighs.  "Jonathon, when you found out your Mom was alive, and Austin was alive, how'd you feel?"

 

"I was angry,"  replies Jonathon.  "Angry, hurt.  Took me a while to really accept it.  I still haven't been able to completely forgive Katherine, or Dad either, for lying to me all those years."

 

"Why do parents have to lie to their kids, man?"  Alex asks.

 

 

 

Jonathon looks at Alex for a moment before answering.  "I wish I knew the answer to that one, little brother, but I don't.  They always say it's for our own good, but......."

 

"But how can something that hurts us in the long run be for our own good?"  Alex asks.

 

"I dunno.  Alex, why are you asking me all this?  And why are we talking about parents lying?  What's Dad done now?"

 

"This time.......it isn't Dad,"  Alex replies sadly.  

 

"What?  Vicky?  Alex, what's going on?"

 

"Jonathon, you're a lot older than me."

 

"Yeah, so?"

 

"I mean, you've known my Mom longer than even I have.  Did you know she had another kid?"

 

"Another kid?  Alex, what are you talking about?"

 

"Did you know that Mom has another kid?  He's about your age.  She gave him up for adoption."

 

"Oh, wow,"  Jonathon says, stunned by the news.  

 

"So you didn't know?"

 

Jonathon shakes his head.  "No.  Oh my God, Alex, I didn't know."

 

"I wonder if Dad even knows,"  Alex says.

 

"I.......I have no idea.  Neither of them has ever mentioned this, at least not around me.  How did you find this out?  I mean, are you absolutely sure about this?"

 

Alex reaches into his pocket and takes out the birth certificate he'd found that Vicky had stuffed into a magazine.  He unfolds it.  "I'm sure," he says, handing it to Jonathon.

 

"What's this?"  Jonathon asks.

 

"A birth certificate.  My other brother's birth certificate."

 

Jonathon takes the certificate and looks at it.  "He was born February 28, 1989, in Geneva.  Father, Eric Stavros.  Mother, Victoria Gioberti Stavros.  Wow."

 

"Mom has hired a private investigator to find her son.  I saw the guy at the house, and I was thinking the worst, that, maybe Mom was having an affair or something, but then I overheard her talking to the guy on the phone.  Then, I saw her hide that birth certificate in one of her magazines, so I took it."

 

"So, Vicky doesn't know that you know?"  Jonathon asks.

 

"No.  I just took the birth certificate and I hid it."

 

"What are you gonna do about this?  Are you gonna tell her?"

 

"I dunno, dude.  I really don't know what I'm gonna do.  Should I tell Dad?"

 

"No way,"  Jonathon says.  "Look, if Dad doesn't already know that Vicky had a kid before they met, then telling him could create some serious problems there.  This is Vicky's place to tell him, not yours."

 

Alex takes the birth certificate and looks at it.  "Why didn't she ever tell me, Jonathon?  Why did Mom my brother's existence a secret from me."

 

"Alex........"  Jonathon says, then pauses for a moment.  "I'm sure she has her reasons.  We both knew that Vicky was married to that guy Eric Stavros before she met Dad.  Maybe that was a really bad time for her, and, maybe she felt ashamed for giving her kid up.  Who knows."

 

"I really wish that we'd neve moved here,"  says Alex.

 

"Why?"

 

"Because when we lived in London, everything was great.  Our family was great.  We were NORMAL.  Then we move here to the Tuscany Valley, and within a year, we find out that Dad had a half-brother we never knew about, we found out that Dad's first wife.....your MOM, and our brother Austin, are both still alive.  We almost died in an explosion, and now, I find out that Mom gave a kid up for adoption before she married Dad."

 

"Yeah, I know,"  Jonathon says with a smile.  "It's been a crazy year, that's for sure.  Hey, why don't you come up with me to my room while I take a shower, and then we can hang out together for the rest of the day?"

 

"Yeah, okay, I'd like that."

 

"Good.  We'll go see a movie, a Saturday matinee,"  Jonathon says as he and Alex go into the spa.

"Well, I just thought you and I could get to know one another better,"  Richard says.  "After all, we ARE family.  I also thought I might throw a little business your way."

 

"Business?"  Lisa asks.  "What sort of business?"

 

"You're an attorney, right?  And, it's my understanding that you've relocated to the Tuscany Valley permanently.  So, I thought maybe you could use a client."

 

Lisa smiles, wondering what this man is up to.  "You want to hire me as your attorney?"

 

"Lisa, I want to hire you as Falcon Crest's legal counsel."

 

"I thought you already had an attorney."

 

"I have a PERSONAL attorney,"  Richard says.  "I want you to be my business counsel.  And why not?  I like to keep business in the family."

 

 

 

"You've gotta be kidding me,"  says Lisa.  "How could you think that I would even consider taking you on as a client after you stole Falcon Crest from Lance, who happens to be my father?"

 

"I didn't steal Falcon Crest,"  Richard says.  "I saved Falcon Crest, from Jeremy Lord, who undoubtedly would've leveled the place and turned it into some sort of resort."

 

"Saved it,"  Lisa says.

 

"That's right.  I own Falcon Crest, it's still in the family, and I even offered Lance a job there running the place for me, but he turned me down flat."

 

"And what did you expect?"

 

"I expected him to be just a little bit grateful that I rescued his heritage from almost certain destruction."

 

"Okay, look.  Let's cut to the chase,"  Lisa says.  "Out of all the lawyers in San Francisco.......why ME?"

 

"I've done some investigating,"  Richard says.  "You're one of the best attorneys in L.A. for someone so young.  I want and need the best to handle Falcon Crest's business.  And this way, everything is kept solely in the family.  So, what do you say?  Will you act as legal counsel for Falcon Crest?"

 

Lisa looks across the table at him for a moment, then smiles.  "With you owning Falcon Crest........no way.  Sorry."  Without another word, Lisa gets up from her seat and walks away just as a young waitress comes over to their table.

 

"Are you ready to order, or would you like to wait for your dinner companion to return?"  The waitress asks.

 

Richard smiles.  "No, I'll go ahead and order.  My......dinner companion......had to leave suddenly." 

 

"I may have the perfect solution,"  Richard says.  

 

"Oh?"

 

"Why don't you come to work with me at Falcon Crest?"

 

"Work with you?"  Katherine asks.  "Richard, I don't know the first thing about running a winery."

 

"No, but you do know business, which is what I need.  Someone at my side who knows what they're doing and has Falcon Crest, and my best interests, at heart."

 

Katherine smiles.  "King and Queen of the Tuscany Valley, is that is?"

 

"That's it."

 

"You know, that actually sounds like a very welcome prospect,"  says Katherine.  "But, it would be a little hard, since in the coming months I'll be splitting my time between here and Dallas more."

 

"You can have all the time you need to travel back and forth to Dallas, but I do want you as my partner in Falcon Crest."

 

"Your partner?"  Katherine asks.

 

"That's right.  My partner.  Working side by side with me to make Falcon Crest shine again, just as it did when my dearly departed mother ran the place."

 

Katherine puts her arms around Richard's neck, looks up at him and smiles.  "I would LOVE that."

 

"Then your answer is yes?"

 

"My answer is yes.  I'll help you run Falcon Crest."

 

Richard smiles, then kisses her.  

 

They are unaware that Angela is standing outside the door listening to every word.

Angela walks into the Hydro Bar And Grill in Tuscany later, and spots Eric working at the bar.  After a very short pause, she walks up to the bar.

 

"Hi," she says.

 

"Well, Angela.  You're about the last person I'd expect to see in here,"  says Eric.

 

"I could say the same about you, cousin.  I heard you were working here."

 

"Yeah.  I started last week."

 

"When do you have a break?"  Angela asks.  "I need to talk to you.  It's important."

 

"Hey, Brandon,"  Eric calls to another guy working.  "I'm gonna take my break, okay?"

 

"Yeah, sure man, go ahead.  I'll cover,"  says Brandon, a young man of about Eric's age.  

 

Eric clocks out on the register for his break.  He pours two drinks,  then motions for Angela to follow him over to a table, where the two take seats across from each other.   Eric says, slides one of the drinks over to her. 

 

"Thanks,"  Angela says.

 

"No problem."

 

"I never expected to see you working here."

 

"Why not?  It's good, honest work,"  says Eric.  "Keeps me outta trouble, and I get to meet a lot of hot girls that come in.  It's better than the bike shop I use to work at, and, with Falcon Crest gone, I had to do something.  Now, you said you wanted to talk about something important.  What is it?"

 

"Falcon Crest."

 

"What about Falcon Crest?"  Eric asks.

 

"We need to do something.  Eric, we HAVE to get Falcon Crest back.  I overheard Uncle Richard this morning, and do you know what he's planning to do?  He's planning to make that woman he married, that Katherine, his partner in the winery. The woman is a criminal!"

 

"And what do you want me to do about that?"  Eric asks.

 

"I want you to help me get Falcon Crest away from Uncle Richard before he ruins it."

 

"Angela, face it.  Falcon Crest is GONE.  It belongs to Uncle Richard now, and there's not a damned thing any of us can do about that."

 

"Well, I for one, am not willing to just sit back and accept that,"  Angela says.

 

"Well, what can we do?  Jeremy Lord had the mortgage on Falcon Crest, thanks to that loan you were dumb enough to get from him...."

 

"I thought I was saving the winery from bankruptcy....."

 

"Oh, yeah, you saved it, all right.  You saved it so that Jeremy Lord could use it as a bargaining tool to trade it to Uncle Richard in exchange for the newspaper."

 

"I am sick and tired of everyone blaming ME for this,"  Angela says in an angry whisper.

 

"Everyone blames you because, it's pretty much YOUR fault, Angela."

 

"Alright.  I accept that, now can we just MOVE ON, please?  I want to do something now to save the winery from Uncle Richard and that bitch that he's married to."

 

"Well, Angela, you still live there, and so does your Mom,"  Eric says.  "I moved out, remember?  So, honestly, I don't know what I can do, or how much help I'd be."

 

"You could be a lot of help, actually,"  Angela says.

 

"How?"

 

"By getting a job at the winery."

 

"I have a full time job here."

 

"Eric, I know this is asking a lot for you to give up this glorious job as a bartender in this.......'lovely' place.........especially since I'm sure you're able to meet and bang pretty much any hot girl in town, but this is our family's legacy we're talking about.  Falcon Crest should one day belong to us....you, your father, me, and Gabby.  WE are the next generation."

 

Eric smiles.  "You conveniently forgot Michael, Kevin, Angie......after all, they're Angela Channing's grandchildren, too, and, as such, they're entitled to at least part of Falcon Crest."

 

"Yes, part, not ALL, which is what they have now.  Eric, what about when you have children one day?  Do you want to explain to them how you just let what should've been theirs slip through your fingers."

 

Eric begins to laugh.  "Oh......my.......God," he says slowly.  "You're good.  You really are GOOD, Angela.  You should've gone to school and majored in drama."

 

"Well if you're just gonna laugh at me and insult me, I'm LEAVING,"  Angela says, getting up from the table.  

 

As she starts to leave, Eric grabs her by the arm.  "I'll help you," he says.  

 

"Good.  Thank you."

 

"I'm not doin' this for you.  I'm doing it for my Dad and my little sister.  And for my Mom.  She loved Falcon Crest, and I know it would make her happy to see it back in the family......OUR side of the family.  What do you want me to do?"

 

Angela retakes her seat across from her cousin and looks at him.  "Ask Uncle Richard for a job at Falcon Crest.  He likes you, so he'll probably give you one without question.  And once you're in, do a little spy work.  See if you can find something........ANYTHING.......that we can use as leverage against Uncle Richard, or against his wife."

 

"Why can't YOU do this?"  Eric asks.

 

"Because Uncle Richard made it clear that he doesn't want me working at the winery.  He doesn't trust me."

 

"Gee, I wonder why,"  Eric says sarcastically with a smile.  "Alright, I'll do it.  But of course I'm gonna want something in return."

 

"And what do you want in return?"  

 

Eric looks at her for a moment and smiles.  "I'm not sure yet.  But, as soon as I think of something, I'll let you know.  See ya around, cuz."  Eric stands to his feet, flashes Angela another smile, then turns and heads back to the bar.

 

 

 

 

"Thank you,"  says Christopher Ewing as a waitress pours him another cup of coffee at the Insomnia Cafe in Los Angeles that afternoon.  

 

"You're welcome," the waitress says with a smile.  "Would you like some more, ma'am?"  She asks Courtney Wapner, who is sitting across from Christopher.

 

"No thank you, I'm fine for now,"  Courtney replies.  

 

"Let me know if you need anything,"  the waitress says, then walks away.  

 

Christopher looks across the table at his girlfriend.  "Hey, you okay?"

 

 

 

"I'm okay," Courtney says with a sigh.  "I'm just.....nervous. Christopher, do you think I'm doing the right thing? Trying to get my little boy back from his adoptive parents?"

 

"Yeah.  I do.  Courtney, you were barely 16 when you had Jacob.  You were young, and scared, and not thinking straight.  I saw the way that you looked at him.  I saw the love in your eyes.  Courtney, you DESERVE to have your son back, and Jacob deserves to be a part of yours."

 

"So, who are we gonna hire to be my attorney?"  Courtney asks.  "A lawyer here in L.A., or one back in Dallas?"

 

"I think it would be best if we hired one in Dallas, one we know."

 

"Good, then I want Jay Smithfield,"  Courtney says.

 

At that moment, Christopher's cell phone rings.  He takes the phone from his pocket and looks at it.  "It's Bum," he says.  "I asked him to see what he could dig up about the Reeds."  He quickly answers.  "Bum, what's up?  Find out anything?"

 

While Christopher is on the phone with his private detective, Bum Jones, Courtney picks up her cell phone and opens up her Facebook app.  She sees that she has three new friend requests.  Opening up her friend requests, Courtney is shocked to see one request is from Chase Gioberti.  Pausing for a moment, she looks at Chase's name and profile picture.  Then, she clicks to accept the friend request from her ex-boyfriend, a look of worry on her face.

 

Just then, Christopher ends his call with Bum and puts his phone down.  He notices the look on his girlfriend's face. "Courtney?  You sure you're okay?  Did you get some bad news there?"

 

"Uhh, no,"  replies a nervous Courtney.  "I was just checking my Facebook.  I hadn't even looked at it in a few days, and I'm just surprised at the number of notifications I have."

 

"If yours is anything like my Facebook, most of those notifications are junk."

 

"Yeah.  So what did Bum say?"  Courtney asks.  "Did he find anything out about the Reeds?"

 

"Yes he did.  Something pretty interesting that could help you get custody of Jacob."

 

Courtney looks at him, curious as to what Bum had learned about her son's adoptive parents.

Chase is sitting at his desk in his bedroom that afternoon writing a report for Gioberti and Sons shipping when he sees a notification from his Facebook.  He quickly pulls up his Facebook window on the computer and goes to his notifications.  He is happy when he sees that Courtney has accepted his friend request.  Chase clicks on Courtney's profile and looks at her photo for several seconds, overcome with emotion and memories of their time together when they were teenagers.  He clicks to look at some of her other photos on her Facebook, and almost immediate sees a photo of Courtney with Christopher Ewing.  The two are all smiles, appear to be happy together, and seem to be very much in love.  Chase sighs deeply as he looks at photo of his first love and the man she's with now. In his mind, Chase knows that he shouldn't walk back into Courtney's life now, especially if she is happy with Christopher Ewing.  But in his heart, Chase knows that never seeing her again would be next to impossible for him, especially since he had thought of Courtney almost every day since seeing her at Kevin's wedding and in the hospital after the explosion months ago.  Courtney Wapner was Chase's first love, and even after ten years, he was still very much in love with this girl he dated and lost when he was 16.

"Well, there are certainly a lot more hours involved, that's for certain,"  Jeremy says.

 

"I'm worried about you, Jeremy," says Vicky.  "You've been working seven days a week and putting in such long hours with the newspaper AND Lord Enterprises since Richard signed The San Francisco Globe over to you."

 

"Darling, I'm fine.  I realize that I haven't had much time to spend with you and Alex lately, but it won't always be like this.  I promise."

 

"You know, there IS  a solution."

 

"Such as?"  Jeremy asks.

 

"Why not let your son take over some of the responsibility?"  Vicky asks.  "Jonathon isn't doing much of anything these days.  Either let him take over the newspaper, or let him run Lord Enterprises for a while."

 

Jeremy walks over to his wife.  "Victoria, I have waited practically all my life to own the newspaper that my father started and left to Richard when he died.  I can't give that up.  And I started Lord Enterprises with my own hands.  Built it from the ground up.  I'm not ready to give that up, either."

 

"I'm only worried that you're burning yourself out, Jeremy.  Working 16 hour days, 7 days a week isn't good for anyone, not even a......." Vicky stops suddenly.

 

"Go ahead and say it, Victoria.  Not even a young man, which I am NOT anymore, is that it?"

 

"Well, you're by no means OLD, sweetheart, but you're not 25 anymore, either,"  Vicky says.  "I just worry about you, and I would like to be able to see my husband a little more often than a few minutes at night and a couple of minutes every morning."

 

Jeremy smiles.  "You're right, darling, and I'm sorry.  I should've realized how my long work hours were affecting you.  Alright, I'll take your suggestion.  I'll talk to Jonathon tomorrow and have him take over most of my responsibility at the newspaper.  I can still oversee things.  Have final say.  I would give him charge over Lord Enterpises, but, he just doesn't have the business experience yet to take on such a responsibility just yet."

 

"Good.  I held dinner for you.  Why don't you go upstairs and wash up, and I'll wait for you."

 

"Sounds perfect,"  Jeremy says.  "Where is our son, by the way?"

 

"Upstairs.  Alex already had dinner up in his room.  He's been pretty quiet lately.  I think something's going on with him, but he won't tell me what it is."

 

"I'll talk to him soon.  I'll be back down shortly."  

 

"Okay,"  Vicky says.  Jeremy kisses her, then turns and heads up the stairs.  After he's gone, Vicky pauses for a moment, then walks over to the bookshelf and looks for the magazine where she had stored her firstborn son's birth certificate a couple of days earlier.  Locating the magazine, she takes it off the shelf and opens it to the page she had placed the certificate.  When the document isn't there, Vicky begins frantically flipping through the magazine in search of it as Alex comes down the stairs.  Standing at the doorway, he watches his mother as she takes two more magazines from the shelf and frantically searches them, with no luck.  

 

"Looking for something, Mom?"  Alex asks, startling his mother.  

 

Vicky quickly turns to face her son.  "Alex, I didn't hear you come in."

 

"No, I guess you didn't.  You were too busy searching for something in one of those magazines."

 

"Oh, it was nothing.  Just a recipe I was looking for,"  Vicky lies.

 

"A recipe?"  Alex asks.  "You sure this isn't what you were looking for?"  He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the birth certificate, holding it out to his mother.

 

A stunned Vicky looks at it.  "What's that?"  She nervously asks.

 

"You know what it is, Mom, so don't lie to me anymore.  It's a birth certificate.  Your SON'S birth certificate."

 

Vicky's heart sinks.  "Alex, sweety......"

 

"Why didn't you ever tell me, Mom?  Why didn't you ever tell me that you had a kid born ten years before me that you gave away?"

 

"Honey, I'm so sorry,"  Vicky says, fighting back tears.  "I should've told you.  That was a very painful period in my life and for years, I tried to forget it.  It was after my marriage to Eric Stavros ended.

 

"Does Dad even know?"  Alex asks.

 

"I never told your father about the baby."

 

"I don't believe this!  Not only did you lie to me my whole life, but you've been lying to Dad for twenty years!"

 

"Alex, please keep your voice down,"  Vicky says, afraid Jeremy would hear.

 

"Oh, that's right.  Can't let Dad hear your big secret.  Mom, I have to wonder who you and Dad really are.  I also have to wonder what else the two of you haven't told me.  Am I adopted or something?"

 

"Of course not.  Alex, please, just let me explain,"  Vicky says in tears.  

 

"Whatever you have to say, Mom, I don't wanna hear it.  I wouldn't know whether to believe it or not."  Alex turns and walks into the foyer.  He starts to leave the house.

 

Vicky follows her son into the foyer.  "Alex, where are you going?"

 

The boy pauses and turns back to her.  "I'm going over to Nick's.  I'm gonna spend the night."

 

"Without asking first?  Alex, tomorrow is a school day."

 

"I can go to school from Nick's house just as good as I can from here.  And do you really wanna say no right now, Mom?  Especially since Dad doesn't know your big secret and I do?"  Without another word, Alex leaves.  Vicky breaks down in tears after her son walks out.

"Good morning, Chang-Li,"  Eric says.

 

"Eric, good morning.  Very nice to see you."

 

"Nice to see you, too.  Is my Uncle Richard here?"

 

"Yes, Mr. Channing is in his office,"  Chang-Li replies.  "I will let him know that you are here."

 

"Thanks, man,"  says Eric.  

 

Chang-Li walks over to Richard's office and knocks on the door.  "Yes?"  He hears Richard say from inside.  

 

Chang-Li opens the door.  Richard and Katherine are in the office.  "Mr. and Mrs. Channing, sorry to disturb you, but Mr. Eric Cumson is here to see Mr. Channing."

 

"Eric?"  Richard asks, surprised.  "Alright, send young Mr. Cumson in."

 

"Yes, Mr. Channing,"  Chang-Li says.  "Eric, you may go in."

 

"Thanks, Chang-Li,"  Eric says, walking into the office.  Chang-Li closes the sliding double doors behind him.  

 

"Eric, hello,"  Richard says.

 

"Uncle Richard."

 

"You remember my wife, Katherine, don't you?"  

 

"Of course, I do.  Morning, Aunt Katherine."

 

Katherine looks at the young man and smiles distastefully.  "KATHERINE, will do just fine."

 

"Oh, of course."

 

"Eric, have a seat,"  says Richard.  "May I offer you a drink?"

 

"No thanks, Uncle Richard,"  Eric replies, taking a seat across from the desk.  

 

"Now, then, what can I do for you, young man?"

 

"Actually, I came here to ask you for a job, Uncle Richard,"  Eric replies.

 

"You came here to ask me for a job?"

 

"You want to work at Falcon Crest, Eric?"  Katherine asks.

 

"Yes.  You know, I did work in the winery before we lost Falcon Crest to you.  And, I miss the place."

 

"I see,"  Richard says.  

 

"So, if you have a place for me......."

 

"Son, I think we can surely find a place for you in a big operation like Falcon Crest,"  says Richard.  "After all, this is a family operation, and you ARE family, despite what your father might think of me.  Speaking of Lance,   does he know you're here asking me for a job?"

 

"No, he doesn't,"  Eric says.  "But I'm an adult, and I don't need my father's permission to do anything."

 

 

 

 

"Richard, I like this boy,"  Katherine says.  "We must hire him right away.  I think Eric will be a valuable addition to Falcon Crest."

 

"I'm in complete agreement, my dear,"  Richard says, getting up from his seat behind his desk. He walks over to his great-nephew as Eric stands.  "Eric, welcome back to Falcon Crest."

 

Eric smiles.  "Thanks, I really appreciate this, Uncle Richard.  When can I start?"

 

"How about first thing tomorrow morning?  Be here bright and early at 9 o'clock."

 

"I sure will, and thanks again."

 

"You're very welcome, Eric,"  Richard says.

 

Eric smiles at his uncle and at Katherine, then as he opens the double doors to the foyer to leave, he is met by Chang-Li and none other than his brother-in-law, Ben Agretti.  Eric is stunned to see his sister's husband.  "Ben?  What are you doing here?"

 

 

 

 

"Hello, Eric,"  Ben says.  "I'm here to see Mr. Channing.  What are YOU doing here?"

 

"Same,"  replies Eric.

 

"Well, now this is a very opportune time," says Richard.  "Eric, I've retained your sister's husband here to serve as legal counsel for Falcon Crest's business affairs, effective immediately."

 

"Really?"  Asks a surprised Eric.  "You're leaving your practice in L.A., Ben?"

 

"Well, since my wife and kids are here in the Tuscany Valley, and with what Mr. Channing offered to pay me, I couldn't turn this job down."

 

"I see.  Well, congratulations.  I guess we're both gonna be working for Falcon Crest, then."

 

"Oh, really?"  Ben asks.

 

"Yes, I just hired young Eric here to work for me,"  Richard says.  "He starts tomorrow morning."

 

"Oh, well, congratulations to you, too, Eric,"  says Ben.

 

"Thank you.  Well, I guess I will see you tomorrow morning."

 

"Fine, Eric,"  Richard says.  "I'll talk to Michael this afternoon and you come by the house tomorrow morning around 8:30, and he'll take you to the winery and put you to work."

 

Eric smiles.  "Sounds good.  Have a good day, Uncle Richard.  Ben.  Aunt.....oh, I'm sorry.....KATHERINE."

 

"Bye, Eric,"  Katherine says.  

 

"Ben, come on into my office,"  Richard says.

 

As Richard, Katherine, and Ben walk into Richard's office and Katherine closes the doors behind them, Eric walks to the front door of the house, then looks back to 

see Angela standing on the stairs looking at him with a sly, knowing expression.  Eric smiles and winks at her, signaling that part of their mission had been accomplished, then he leaves.  Angela looks at the closed door of Richard's office, the office that once belonged to her late grandmother, Angela Channing.  Scheming and calculating just like the woman she was named for, young Angela St. James has plans, and those plans include one day owning, and running Falcon Crest herself, once dear Uncle Richard and his family are out of the way!

 

 

 

 

 

Alex is standing at his locker at Tuscany Valley High School.  He takes a science book from the locker as Nick walks up to him on his crutches.  "Dude, you look awful," Nick says to his friend.  "You look even worse than you did when we left my house this morning.  You didn't sleep at all last night, did you?"

 

"Nope, I didn't,"  Alex says, closing his locker.

 

"I didn't figure you did,"  says Nick.  "I heard you up a couple times."

 

 

 

"Sorry, bro, I didn't mean to wake you.  I tried not to."

 

"Nah, man, you didn't.  I have a lot of trouble sleeping sometimes myself.  My bones ache some nights, thanks to the chemo.  Still thinking about your Mom?"

 

Alex sighs.  "Yeah.  I can't believe she never even told my Dad she had another kid.  Dude, I can't help but just wonder what kind of people my parents are.  I mean, WHO are they?  And how many more deep, dark secrets do they have?

 

"I wish I could help, man.  But look, I do have a solution, at least a temporary one,"  says Nick.  "Why don't you stay at my house for a few days, if your folks will let you during the week.  I have a chemo treatment this afternoon, and sometimes they make me pretty sick.  I could really use you there to help me with homework, stuff like that.  And that'd be a good excuse for you to stay with me."

 

"Sure it'd be cool with your parents?"  Alex asks.  "And, I mean, if you're sick from chemo, I wouldn't wanna get in the way."

 

Nick smiles.  "Dude, you'd never be in the way.  So, I'd love for you to stay, if you wouldn't mind hearing me in the bathroom throwing up every half hour."

 

"I wouldn't mind,"  Alex says.

 

"Good.  I'll tell my Mom this afternoon, and you ask your parents,"  Nick says as the bell rings.

 

"Sure, dude.  Well, I have a science test next period, so, I have to do a quick little review.  I'll see ya later, bro, and thanks."

 

"Later, man,"  Nick says as Alex walks away, headed down the crowded hall to his next class.

"Well, so much happened after that,"  Vicky says.  "There was the whole situation with Jeremy trying to get his hands on Richard's newspaper, and then Jeremy's first wife and their son turning up alive, and all that was followed by the explosion at Kevin and Emma's wedding.  Jeremy's son Austin Wentworth was critically injured and in the hospital for weeks.  Finally, after everything began to calm down, I started thinking about my son more and more, especially seeing the relationship Jeremy began to form with Austin.  So, I decided now was the time.  I had the baby's birth certificate, and I hid it.  But somehow, Alex found it, and he knows."

 

"He was pretty upset, huh?"

 

"Angry would be a better word.  Angry, and even bitter.  He stormed out of here last night and went to spend the night with his friend, Nick Fairchild, you know, the boy who has cancer.  Cole, I'm scared.  I'm scared I'm losing my son."

 

"Hey, come on now,"  Cole says, embracing his sister.  "You're not losing him.  Alex is 17-years-old, and he's had a pretty rough year.  The move here, the explosion.  Finding out he has another brother.  All the secrets.  Not to mention the fact that his new best friend was diagnosed with cancer.  That's a lot for a kid his age to take in.  I'm sure he's angry and confused, but my nephew is a very resilient kid.  He'll come around, and he'll forgive you for keeping this from him."

 

"I sure hope so,"  Vicky says.  "And I hope Jeremy will forgive me when I tell him."

 

"What?  Vicky, you mean, after all this time you still haven't told your husband about your firstborn son?"  Cole asks.

 

"No,"  Vicky says in tears.  "I've really made a mess of everything, when all I wanted to do was find my son.  God, Cole, I feel everything coming apart.  What if that detective can't find my son?  What if he's dead?  Cole, if I get that kinda news, I don't think I'll be able to handle it.  What kind of a mother am I, anyway?  I should be able to feel something about my own son.  To sense whether he's dead or alive, or if he's doing well, or in some kinda trouble.  Shouldn't I?"

 

"Shhhh,"  Cole says, embracing his sister again.  "Vicky, you are a wonderful mother.  And I believe with all my heart, that your son is gonna be found, and that he's okay.  You have to believe that, too."

After having been held captive in a windowless room in San Francisco, Josh McQueen is about ready to lose his mind.  He lays on his bed, fully dressed, his eyes closed for a moment. Then he opens his eyes and looks around the room.  He has spent countless hours searching for some way out of this room, but there is none.  The only people he has seen since being brought here are Michael and Kevin Channing, and three men who come and bring him food every day.  Josh sits up on the bed.  He looks around, then he thinks about those three men.  One of those men is young, probably a little younger than he is himself, and he is the one who has been bringing his lunch the past couple of days, having taken the place of an older guy of about 40 who had been bringing it.  It should be lunch time soon, Josh thinks to himself. So maybe that would be his way out.  Maybe that young man who brings his lunch is his way out.  As he sits on the bed, he begins to realize that he hasn't showered or changed clothes in a couple of days.  From his guess, he still has a little while until his lunch is brought to him, since it always arrives the same time every day.  Josh stands to his feet as he decides to take a shower and change.  He knows that he only has one chance to make his escape.  He grabs a change of clothes and walks into his small bathroom.

 

 

 

Twenty minutes later, having finished his shower and changed clothes, Josh takes a seat on his bed.  He has formulated a plan to make his escape, but he knows this can only work if that new guy, the young one, brings his lunch today.  And, if there are no other guards in the hallway or in the building to stop him.  He takes in a deep breath and lets it out.  "Okay, Josh," he says quietly to himself.  "This had better work.  You only got once chance outta here, and if this fails, you're screwed. Can't believe I didn't think of this before."  Just then, he hears the key turn in the door, just on cue, at the same time as his lunch arrives every day.  Josh takes a deep breath and braces himself, then lays down on the bed in a fetal position.  

The door opens and a young man in his early to mid-20s walks in.  "Okay, McQueen," he says.  "Got your lunch here.  Chicken sandwich and some fries."

 

"I'm........I'm not hungry,"  Josh says in a very weak voice, sounding as if he's in pain.  

 

The young man walks over to him.  "Hey, McQueen, what's wrong?"

 

Josh looks up at him, tears in his eyes.  "I......I hurt......real bad."

 

"Hurt?  Where?"

 

"My stomach, and my right side."

 

"Here, let me take a look.  The young man gently touches Josh's stomach, then his lower right side of his abdomen.  Josh winces and yells out in pain.  "That bad, huh?"

 

"Hurts like hell.  I.........I think it's my appendix."

 

"Oh, man, no.  Look, just lay back and rest.  You'll be okay.  Or, maybe you should eat something."

 

"I can't.  Look........."

 

"Chris."

 

"Chris, please,"  Josh says in tears.  "It hurts so bad, I can't stand it."

 

"H...have you been throwing up?"

 

"Yes.  This pain.....it's killing me.  Chris, please......I have to see a doctor."

 

"No, you can't!"  Chris says quickly.

 

"Dude......if I die here......like this......it's on your head.  Can you just do nothing and let me die?  What did......I ever.....do to you?"

 

Chris paces around for a moment, running his hands through his hair as he thinks about his predicament.  He was hired to keep this guy here and bring him food for the Channings, but if McQueen is really sick......what if he dies?  Could he live with himself?  What if he's charged with his death?  

 

"Chris.....PLEEEAASE!!!"  Josh yells out in pain.  "I CAN'T TAKE IT MUCH LONGER!"

 

"Okay, look, just hold on, okay.  I'm gonna call somebody.  I'll call Mr. Channing and ask him what to do."

 

"Chris I need a doctor!"

 

"Just hold on.  Just relax, okay,"  Chris says.  He takes his cell phone from his pocket, and as he begins to dial Michael's number, he turns his back to Josh for only a moment, but in that moment, Josh bounds off the bed to his feet, grabs the lamp beside the bed, and as Chris turns back to face him, Josh hits him across the head with the lamp, knocking him to the floor, unconscious!  Smiling, Josh reaches down and picks up Chris's cell phone, ending the call he was about to make, and shoves the phone into his pocket.  

 

A few minutes later, he has Chris, still unconscious, tied up in a chair with strips he ripped from the bed sheets.  Josh looks at him.  "Well," he says to himself.  "When all else fails, improvise."   He then takes the key to the room from Chris's pocket, walks to the door, and slowly opens it. He peaks into the hallway to see if anyone is around.  Seeing no one, he quickly slips out, closes, and locks the door.  Making his way down the hall as fast as he can, he gets to the elevator, and presses the button.  A few seconds later, the doors open and he gets on.  A couple of  

minutes later, the elevator opens on the ground floor.  Getting off, Josh sees a couple of men who look familiar in the distance, men he believes have brought him food in that room before.  The men do not see him.  He quickly dashes down another hallway until he finds a side exit to the building.  Josh leaves the building through that side door and steps out into the bright sunlight, his eyes taking a moment to adjust after having been locked away in that room with no windows for more than a month and a half.  But he knows he can't stop now.  He has to get a safe distance away from this building and these men working for Michael Channing, before someone goes to that room to check on him and finds Chris.  Josh hurries away from the building.  At long last, Josh McQueen, Vicky's biological firstborn son, is free from his captors, and determined to make Michael and Kevin Channing pay for the hell they've put him through!