Knots Landing Police Station......morning
Meanwhile.....California Pediatrics
"Aunt Betsy, it's Dylan."
"Dylan, is anything wrong?"
"Yeah, there is. Aunt Betsy, the cops came a little while ago, and Bobby's been arrested."
"They arrested him for Brandon Williams's murder," Dylan says.
"Oh my God," says Betsy.
"I ran over to your folks' house, but nobody was home, so I thought I'd better call you."
"Thanks Dylan. I'll be home as soon as I can." Betsy ends the call and puts her phone back into her purse. Then she walks over to the receptionist's desk. "Excuse me," she says to the lady at the desk.
"Yes?"
"My name is Betsy Avery and I have an appointment at 9:45 with my children, Laura and Daniel Avery, Jr. I've just had a family emergency come up, and I was wondering if I could reschedule? It's for their checkups and shots for school."
"Let me see," the young woman says. She looks on the computer at the office's appointment schedule. "Mrs. Avery, I have an opening on Thursday at 11."
"I'll take it. Thank you." Betsy walks over to the sofa, takes the two children by the hands and quickly hurries out of the office.
Knots Landing Police Station.....later
"Mom, Karen," Betsy says.
"Betsy, what happened? Where is your brother?"
"Just like I told you on the phone. He was arrested for the murder of Brandon Williams. I was at the pediatrician's with the kids when Dylan called me. I rushed them home, left them with Dylan, and then rushed over here."
"Have you seen him?" Val asks.
"No, they won't let me see him. But I called Mack first thing, and he's in talking to Bobby right now."
Meanwhile....
"That's right."
"Then how the HELL did your bloody thumb print end up on the floor of Brandon Williams's living room not more than three feet from where his murdered body lay?"
"I don't know," Bobby replies with gritted teeth.
Mack sighs in frustration. "You know this looks bad for you, right? And I mean REAL bad. Ya hated the guy. Ya beat the guy up twice in his own apartment. You were arrested for assaulting him only a few days ago. Bobby, come on, I wanna help you but you gotta give me somethin' to work with here."
"Mack, I've already told you everything,."
"LIKE HELL YOU HAVE!!" Mack yells, angrily hitting his fist on the table in front of Bobby. Mack walks around the room, rubs his hand over his mouth, then stops in front of Bobby. "Did you know Meg had dinner with that creep the night he was murdered? In his apartment?"
"The cops told me."
"But you didn't know before?"
"No, I didn't."
"Do ya know WHY she was having dinner with a guy she despised? For YOU. Because Williams had promised to drop those assault charges against you if Meg agreed to have dinner with him. Bobby, you're not tellin' me everything. I deserve to know the truth. I NEED to know the truth. Did you kill Brandon Williams, or are you protecting someone? Are you protecting Meg?"
"It doesn't matter," Bobby says, tears falling down his face. "I'm the one who's being charged."
Mack throws his hands up and again sighs with frustration over Bobby's unwillingness to cooperate.
A FEW MINUTES LATER....
"Is he alright?" Val asks.
"He's fine, under the circumstances."
"Will you be able to get him out?" Betsy asks.
"No. If this were under normal circumstances, he'd be arraigned and bail would probably be set, but Bobby was already OUT on bail for assaulting the guy he's now charged with murdering. There's no way in hell a judge is gonna set bail for him again."
"Oh dear God," Val cries. "You mean he's gonna have to sit in jail until a trial, or until.....until whoever did this is caught?"
"I'm afraid so," Mack says. "Betsy, I think you should call Jason, get him to represent Bobby."
"Why?"
"Mack, why can't you do it?" Karen asks.
"Because........someone else might be involved, and it would be a conflict. Besides, Bobby's not being totally honest with me, so it's best I step aside. Jason is a very good defense attorney and Bobby bein' your brother, Betsy, I'm sure he'd be glad to take the case."
"Okay," Betsy says. "I'll go call him right now." Betsy takes her phone from her purse and heads outside to make the call to her brother-in-law, Jason Avery.
"Val where's Gary? At the office?"
"I wish I knew. He asked Michael to handle things at the office this morning before he left the house. I've tried calling him but he doesn't answer his phone. I don't know where he is."
Meanwhile......a bar in downtown Knots Landing
"Hey, buddy, you've been sitting there staring at that drink and fondling it for more than half an hour," the man says. "Are you gonna drink it or what?"
"I was just thinking," Gary says.
"Yeah, well, this is a BAR, not a think tank. So if you're gonna drink then drink. Otherwise, I'd thank you to leave."
After the rude bartender walks away, Gary again looks at the drink in his hand. Temptation getting the better of him, he starts to raise the glass to take a sip, when his cell phone rings. He takes the phone from his pocket and looks at the caller I.D. It's Val calling him.......again. He decides on answering this time.
"Val," he says.
Knots Landing Police Station....
Syd's Bar....
Knots Landing Police Station....
Syd's Bar....
The Cunningham Home....
Kate walks onto the patio from the house. She pauses a moment as she watches her son by the pool. Then she walks over to him. "Trevor," she says. "I was thinking maybe we could have lunch in town."
"Yeah, sure," the boy says, uninterested in what his mother said.
"We can go anywhere you want. We haven't had McDonald's in a while," Kate says. "Or we could go to California Chicken. Whichever you prefer."
"I don't really care. I'm not hungry anyway."
"Honey, you have to eat. You've barely eaten anything the last few days. In fact, this is the first time you've been out of your room all weekend."
Kate sighs. "I know things have been pretty bad around here the last couple of months. But it'll get better, honey."
"No it won't, Mom. Nothing ever does. It just gets worse." Trevor takes his feet out of the water and stands when he hears his cell phone vibrate on the table nearby. He walks over and picks the phone up. Dylan is calling him. "Hey man, what's up?" Trevor asks his friend, answering the phone. "I was gonna see if I could come over later. What? Oh, no, dude, no way!"
Kate listens intently to her son's end of the conversation as Trevor continues:
"Oh, damn, this just keeps getting worse. Yeah. Okay. Thanks for calling bro. Bye." Trevor puts the phone back down on the table, a look of shock on his face.
"Trevor, sweety, what is it?" Kate asks.
"That was Dylan. Bobby Ewing was arrested for Brandon's murder," Trevor replies, his voice shaky.
Kate doesn't seem at all surprised, or disturbed by the news, but rather, relieved.
The MacKenzie Home.....
"How are we going to tell Meg about Bobby's arrest?" Karen asks. "She's already so.......fragile right now."
"I know. I dunno how we're gonna tell her, or how I'm gonna ask her about the night she had dinner with Brandon Williams, just hours before the guy was murdered."
"Do you really have to question her about that now?"
"Yeah, Karen, I do, because Meg bein' there makes her a suspect, even though Bobby's been arrested. Hell, the way the cops think, they may figure Bobby showed up while Meg and Williams were havin' dinner, and......well, you can fill in the rest."
"But, we know that's not what happened," Karen says.
"Do we? Do we REALLY, Karen?"
"You don't actually believe Bobby killed him, do you?"
"I don't wanna believe it, but I dunno. You know Bobby as well as I do. He hated Williams for the trouble he'd caused, and like his father, Bobby has one hell of a temper. He's hidin' somethin'. Either he did it or he's protectin' the person that did. And God help me, Karen, the thought of that scares me to death because......."
"Mack, don't," Karen interrupts. "Don't finish that sentence because I don't like the way this is going."
"Sweetheart, we have to face facts here," Mack says. "I know Meg is our daughter, but under the right conditions, ANYBODY is capable of killing someone. Maybe it was self defense, but you've seen how she's been since that night."
"Mack, just STOP IT! I don't care what you think or what happened that night, but our daughter is NOT a murderer. And I can't believe that you for one minute would even entertain that thought." Without another word, Karen gets out of the car and slams the door.
Mack shakes his head as he watches his wife walk to the house and go in.
Cunningham Enterprises......late afternoon
Abby walks into the office.
"Mom, you're back," he says, standing.
"Yes, I get back into town and I hear second hand all that's been going on the last few days. That boy that Molly was dating......murdered? And Gary and Val's son arrested for the murder?"
"Yeah, it's been a real crazy few days," Brian says. "So how was your trip? How's Olivia?"
"Your sister's fine. She sends her love, and she wants you to call her as soon as you can. Honey, I told Olivia about your father."
"Mom....."
"Brian, I know what you're gonna say. That I shouldn't have told her. But I think she has a right to know that your father is dying of cancer."
Brian sighs. "Yeah. I was gonna call Olivia myself, but, with everything else going on around here and this mess with Molly and Brandon Williams.......it hasn't exactly been on my mind."
Brian lowers his head and remains silent. "Maybe you're right."
Abby smiles. "Well, I'm gonna let you get some work done. I have a couple of appointments this afternoon. I'll see you soon."
"Sure, Mom," Brian says.
Abby walks out of the office. A few moments later, she gets into an elevator and takes out her cell phone. She dials a number. On the third ring, someone answers. "Hey, it's me. I need to see you. Can you come over tonight? It's important. I can't right now I have something else I have to take care of first. Alright, then, first thing tomorrow morning? Fine, 11 o'clock at my house. I'll see you then." Abby ends the call and puts her phone into her purse, then sighs deeply. "Damn it. Why is everything going wrong?"
An apartment in Los Angeles...
"May I help you?" The young man asks.
Abby smiles. "You must be Scott."
"Yes, and you're........Abby, Brian and Olivia's mother."
"That's right, how'd you know?"
"I recognized you from your picture."
"Can I come in?" Abby asks.
"Oh, sure," Scott says, stepping aside to let the lady in. "So, what can I do for you?"
"I was hoping to see your father. Is he here?"
"Well, why? I only wanna talk to your father. Jeff and I haven't seen each other in many years, and I....."
"Look, I just don't want him upset."
"I have no intention of upsetting him," Abby says.
"Scotty, who's at the door?" Asks the gravely voice of a man from the next room. As Scott and Abby's eyes turn toward the bedroom, Jeff Cunningham walks into the living room. He stops short when he sees his ex-wife standing in his home.
Abby stares at Jeff for a moment, the ex-husband she hasn't seen in many, many years. She is surprised at how old and worn out Jeff looks now.
"Hello, Jeff. It's been a very long time."
"Yes it has. Scott why don't you see if the lady would like anything? Tea, Abby? I remember how you use to love tea."
"No, thank you," she says.
"Scott would you leave us alone for a while, please?" Jeff asks his son.
"Sure." Scott looks at Abby.
"Nice to meet you, Scott," she says.
"Yeah, you, too," the young man says. He looks at his father, then walks out of the room.
"Very handsome son you have," Abby says. "He looks so much like you when you were his age."
"Yeah. But, don't even think about it, Abby. My son is about forty years too young for you."
"Same old Jeff," Abby says, shaking her head. "Always ready with an insult."
"Well, just look at you," Jeff says. "You're as beautiful and youthful as ever. You've hardly changed at all. Only YOU could look almost the same as you did when we were divorced thirty-five years ago."
"Well, thank you, Jeff. But I hardly look the same."
"I said ALMOST the same. You've got a few wrinkles and sags here and there."
The smile disappears from Abby's face upon hearing Jeff's less than flattering comment. "Look, I didn't come here to be insulted after all these years."
"Then why are you here?" Jeff asks.
"Brian told me that you were.......ill. So I wanted to come and see you. And I also wanted to let you know that I've been trying to convince our son to come and see you. Olivia, too."
"Why? You sure as hell did everything in your power to keep me from seeing them when they were growing up. Even getting a restraining order to keep me away from them....."
"AFTER you kidnapped them, Jeff, what the hell was I supposed to do?" Abby asks.
"Exactly what you did, I guess. But, anyway, from what I understand, both my kids turned out very successful and well adjusted. I hear Brian is a big business tycoon now. That must make you proud."
"It does. And Olivia is living in San Francisco, and she's the editor of a very successful fashion magazine."
"And.......grandchildren?" Jeff asks.
"Brian has two. A daughter, Molly, who's 21, and a son, Trevor. He's 17. Olivia has a 16-year-old son."
Jeff smiles. "Three grandchildren. Handsome kids, I bet."
"They are. Jeff, I'm really hoping both Brian and Olivia will want to come and see you before......."
"Before? It's okay, Abby, you can go ahead and say it. Before I croak. No sense beating around the bush here, we both know I'm dying and I don't have much time left."
"As I was saying........I'll do my best to convince them to come and see you, but on one condition."
Jeff laughs. "Uh-huh. I KNEW it. I knew there had to be a catch. There always is with you. Okay, what's the deal? What am I gonna have to give up this time in order to see my now adult kids?"
"Oh, you mean the restraining order that kept me away from them all during their childhoods?"
"Yes. It would serve no purpose to tell them now."
"No purpose except to let them know the truth," Jeff says. "That their father didn't just abandon them. That I was kept away by their mother. Hell, it was partly my own fault. I should've stood up to, but when I made that bad judgement call to take the kids.......I knew then that I had ruined any chance of getting custody of them with the courts."
"Jeff, just promise me. Look, I am the only parent Brian and Olivia have known most of their lives. What good would it do now after all these years to tell them the truth?"
Meanwhile, Scott stands in the bedroom, listening to the conversation.
Back in the living room, Jeff looks at her for a moment. "None, I suppose. Alright, Abby. Just convince my kids to see me one last time. If they don't wanna come here, I don't get out much, but I'll be glad to meet them in a neutral location. Get them to see me, and I won't say a word about that restraining order you took out against me back in '81."
"Thank you," Abby says. "You take care of yourself, Jeff."
Before Jeff can say anything, the door opens, and a blonde woman walks in. Abby turns around, and when she and the blonde woman come face to face, they both freeze in their tracks, staring at each other in shock for a moment.
Jeff smiles. "Honey, I'm glad you're home. Abby, I'd like you to meet my wife, Cathy. Honey, this is my first wife, Abby.......I guess you're using the name Fairgate now?"
Abby looks from Cathy to Jeff, then back to Cathy. "THIS is your.......wife? Scott's mother?"
"Yes, that's right," Jeff replies. "Sweetheart, Abby was just leaving."
"Yes, of course," says Abby. She walks to the door, then turns back to Jeff's wife. "Cathy, how nice to meet the woman who's made Jeff happy all these years. How long HAVE the two of you been married?"
"We were married October 20, 1991," Jeff replies. "If I make it til October, we'll celebrate our 24th anniversary."
Abby smiles deviously. "24th? How nice. Cathy, maybe I'll see you around sometime."
"Who knows," Cathy says.
Abby flashes another smile at the couple, then leaves. Outside in the hallways, she lets out a deep breath. "I don't believe it," she says her herself. "Cathy Geary Rush. Married to my ex-husband. But why is she hiding the fact that she and I knew each other?"
The MacKenzie Home.....night
The next morning....
A few minutes later, Meg walks into the kitchen, walks over to the stove, and grabs the coffee pot. She walks to the sink and fills it with water, then returns it to the stove and turns on the stove eye. Karen walks into the kitchen.
"Good morning," Karen says.
"Morning," Meg greets quietly, with no enthusiasm.
"You're up early. Couldn't sleep again?"
"No."
Karen walks over to her daughter. "Meg, you haven't slept in days, and you've barely eaten enough to keep a bird alive. I'm worried about you."
"I'm fine, Mom. I just need to get back to the office, and back to work."
"You're going to the office today?" Karen asks.
"Yes."
"Honey, I don't think you should. You look exhausted."
"Can't someone else handle your cases?" Karen asks.
"Oh, that'll look real good for me, won't it? I just got out of law school a few months ago, join my father's firm, get some clients, and before I've even tried a big case, I have to turn over my cases to another attorney because I'm having too much drama in my own life to be able to handle them." Meg immediately feels bad for what she said. "Mom, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you that way. I'm just so stressed and so tired."
"I know," Karen says as the phone rings.
"I GOT IT!!" Mack yells from the living room.
Karen rolls her eyes as she smiles. "Sometimes, I think your father's booming voice could wake the dead," she says. "I'll get breakfast started. Feel up to helping me?"
"Sure," Meg says as Mack walks into the kitchen with the phone.
"Meg it's for you," he says. "Detective Randall."
A park....
"Hello, Cathy," Abby says.
"Abby," Cathy replies coldly.
"Thank you for agreeing to meet me so early."
"What do you want, Abby?"
"The story."
"What story?" Cathy asks.
"That's NONE of your business," Cathy says.
"Isn't it? What kind of game are you playing?"
"I'm not playing any game."
"Does Jeff know anything about your life before he married you?" Abby asks.
"And then you had little Scotty," Abby says.
"First, we had Ryan, and then Scott."
"Ryan?"
"Yes. Ryan was a year older than Scott. He was hit by a car and killed while riding his bicycle when he was thirteen."
"So why did you never tell Jeff about your own ties to Knots Landing?" Abby asks. "Does he even know you were married twice before?"
"He knows. He also knows that both were abusive relationships and that both died."
"But does he know you served time in prison because of your first husband? And that your second husband, Joshua Rush, was Valene's brother?"
"No," replies Cathy. "Jeff has been good to me, Abby. And I've been damned good to him. We've made a very happy marriage, and if you do or say ANYTHING to hurt him or my son, so help me I'll......"
"You'll WHAT, Cathy? You'll do nothing, because I hold all the cards here. You had to know that coming back here, you were bound to run into SOMEBODY who knew you."
"The only reason we came back here was for Jeff's cancer treatments."
"Well, I have another appointment soon," Abby says, looking at her watch. "I still don't completely buy your story, Cathy."
"I really don't give a damn what you BUY, Abby. I didn't come back to L.A. because I wanted anything from you or your family. In fact, I was hoping I would never have to lay eyes on you again."
"Really? Hmmmmm, I've seen your apartment, dear. And of course you know Brian, Jeff's son, is the head of a billion dollar corporation."
"I don't want any part of your precious billion dollar company," says Cathy.
"Good," Abby says. "Let's keep it that way." Abby starts to walk away, but then turns back to Cathy. "One other thing. I want Brian and Olivia to see their father one last time before it's too late, because Jeff IS their father. But I want YOU to stay far away from my family." Without another word, Abby turns and walks away.
Cathy shakes her head. "Same old Abby," she says, watching her walk away. "What a bitch."
Knots Landing Police Station....
Meg and Mack take seats at the table as Detective Parker walks in. "Mr. MacKenzie," Parker says. "Thank you for coming down."
"Sure, no problem," Mack says. "What's this all about?"
"What? That's impossible," Mack protests.
"Afraid not, Mr. MacKenzie," says Parker.
"During the autopsy, the coroner discovered traces of semen on the victim's underwear and traces of vaginal secretion," Randall says. DNA from that sample was tested, and it's a match for Meg. And minute traces of Brandon Williams's DNA was also found on Meg. She apparently had showered immediately after the sexual intercourse, but there were traces left. Enough for a match."
Meg begins to cry.
"Miss MacKenzie, why did you lie to us when asked if you'd had sexual intercourse with the victim shortly before his murder?" Parker asks.
"Meg, you don't have to answer that," Mack says.
"Did you kill Brandon Williams?" Randall asks. "Or were you simply there when Bobby Ewing killed him?"
"NO!!!" Meg yells. "It wasn't like that. I did NOT have consensual sex with Brandon Williams." She begins crying.
"Meg, what are you saying?" Mack asks.
Meg turns to her father in tears. "Daddy, Brandon, he.........he raped me!"
Mack stands from his seat and looks at his daughter. "He did WHAT?"
"Oh my God," Mack says, retaking his seat beside his distraught daughter. Mack embraces Meg as she cries.
Detectives Randall and Parker exchange surprised looks, while Parker's expression is one of suspicion.
Ewing-Fairgate Realty....
"Well," Michael says, walking into the office. "I just met with Dr. Brewster and his wife, and I think I've got them interested in the house on Green Street."
"Oh, good. That's good," Gary says, sounding very uninterested.
"Gary, are you okay?" Michael asks.
"I'm fine. I'm fine."
"Thank you, Michael, but no. You've already shouldered more than your share of the burden around here lately."
"Gary, it's fine. Heck, when all this is over with Bobby, you can make it up to me by holding down the fort while I take a couple days off."
Gary looks at him. "You're sure?"
"I'm sure."
Gary sighs. "Thanks. I really haven't been able to concentrate on anything today. I think I will get outta here."
"Okay, go. Get some rest, or whatever you need to do."
Gary stands. "I really appreciate this."
"No problem. That's what a business partner's for."
"Yeah," Gary says. He picks up his brief case and walks out of the office.
The Avery Home....
"Hey, bro. Come in," says Dylan.
Trevor walks into the house and closes the door. "What's up?"
"Just trying to learn this new song on my guitar," Dylan replies. "Aunt Betsy's over at her Mom's house with the kids, so, I needed something to keep me from losing my mind around here."
Trevor sighs. "Yeah, me too. I had to get outta my house for a while."
"Want some lemonade or anything?"
"No, thanks. You heard anything from Bobby? Is he still in jail?"
"Yeah, man. I heard Uncle Danny and Aunt Betsy talking. Since Bobby was already out on bail, he probably won't get out again. Aunt Betsy called my Dad to take his case, so Dad's gonna be driving up from San Diego tonight after he leaves his office."
"Yeah, you got that right," Dylan agrees.
"I just wanna leave. I just wanna leave and go away somewhere. Far away so I can just forget all of this. And I'm really thinking about it, Dylan."
"You're thinking about running away?" Dylan asks. "Where would you go?"
"I dunno, dude. Just.....anywhere. Anywhere my life wouldn't be so screwed up," Trevor says as he starts to cry. "I hate it hear, man. Everything is just SO messed up now and it's all because of Brandon Williams. And nothing's ever gonna be the same."
Syd's Bar....
"Let me a have a bourbon. Straight," Gary says.
"Are you gonna actually drink it this time or just sit there starin' at it?"
"I'm paying for it so just give me the damned drink," Gary says angrily with gritted teeth.
"Alright, alright," the bartender says. He walks over to fix Gary's drink.
Gary nervously fidgets as he waits for his drink. After a moment the bartender returns and places the bourbon on the bar in front of him. Gary sighs deeply as he picks the drink up and looks at it. His hand begins to tremble. He closes his eyes, then raises the glass to his lips and takes a sip. He then takes another sip, and then finishes the drink off. "Bartender," he says. "Gimme another."
"Yeah, sure thing," says the bartender. He walks over and pours Gary another glass, then walks away.
Gary quickly takes a sip of the drink without hesitation. The recent events and stress has caused Gary Ewing to fall off the wagon after more than two and a half years of sobriety!
Abby's Home....
"What's up, Abby? This sounded urgent."
"What the hell do you think, George? I'm sure you've been keeping up with the news lately and know what's happened."
"You mean Brandon Williams's death?" George asks. "Of course I know. It's been pretty big news."
"Look, Abby, I don't know why you're getting so upset," George says. "Williams is dead, so no one besides you and me will know that you're the one who brought the kid here to distract Meg MacKenzie from investigating Harris."
"I told you to get Brandon Williams to Knots Landing to DISTRACT Meg, not to get involved with my granddaughter and create all this havoc on everyone I know and care about."
"Do you honestly think I wanted this?" Abby angrily asks.
"I dunno, Abby. Did you? You're the one who wanted the Williams kid brought here because Meg MacKenzie stumbled on something that could incriminate you and Greg Sumner, and ME. It wasn't my fault that Williams was a loose canon who started so much trouble. But you have to admit he did accomplish what you wanted. I seriously doubt Meg will even remember her little investigation into Harris with all that's going on with her and Ewing."
"So you're just willing to let an innocent person rot in prison for murder?" Abby asks.
"Better him than us. Besides, I don't know that Ewing is innocent. From what I hear, he's got one hell of a temper and he'd had a couple violent run ins with Brandon. Maybe Ewing or MacKenzie DID kill Williams. Unless.......unless you know something I don't, Abby."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
George moves closer to her. "You seem sure that Bobby Ewing is innocent. That must mean you know something that I don't, like.......who REALLY killed Brandon Williams. Maybe it was you, Abby. Or maybe someone you know."
A worried look comes over Abby's face as she thinks about the mess she's gotten herself into this time!