Lucy gave her smiles and polite hellos, but she wasn't really there. At least not fully. She had spent years putting on a pretty face when she was little, smiling when she really just wanted her mommy and daddy. How was this any different? All the made-up excuses of why Neil couldn't be there because of business, but how he wished he could. Lying about how happy they were. It almost made Lucy nauseous.

She didn't know what made her turn around, but there he was. Todd's smile made everything seem all right for a moment. They had left things unresolved between them, awkward and strange. But it didn't matter now. She hadn't thought about the things that had happened between she and Todd much since Neil's secret was exposed. But looking into his eyes, she couldn't explain it, but she had to admit, everything just felt better.

“Hey,” she said, walking up to him.

“Hi.”

“Look, I'm really sorry…” Lucy didn't want to have this awkwardness last any longer. She could use a friend.

“About what?”

“What happened the other night.”

“We were drunk. We were stupid. Our inhibitions were down. End of story.” Todd was lying. He didn't want to play it off as anything that harmless. It really meant something to him, but he cared too much about Lucy to pressure her. She was married, and that marriage was having problems. He didn't want to complicate things for her any more than he already had.

Was that all it was to him? Lucy wondered this to herself, and prayed that the twinge of disappointment didn't cross her face. She wanted to tell him that it meant something more to her, but she didn't want to make him feel strange if he didn't feel the same way. She was a little hurt by his lack of importance attached to their kiss, true. But he was still a good friend, and she didn't want to lose him.

“I guess you're right,” she smiled.

“How are you?”

“I've been better, let's put it that way.”

“Something happen with Neil?”

Lucy averted her eyes, then her whole head. The wind was blowing her hair back, almost as if some photographer set up the scene. “I don't want to even get into that.” Her eyebrows rose with her last statement, almost as if she was holding something back. How upset she really was.

“Are you sure? My ears are operational.”

She smiled. “I promise. Tomorrow. We'll go get a drink. No, better yet---coffee.” They both laughed at that.

There was a brief moment of silence, but it wasn't awkward. Finally, Todd spoke. “Listen, I don't want things to be weird between us. You know?”

“Neither do I.”

“So is this a deal?”

“Hopefully more successful than our other little plot,” she smiled. “We really ruined him, huh?”

“Call me crazy,” Todd said, thinking of Rex Wentworth and his interest in their plot against J.R. “But I think J.R. will take care of that himself.”

Across the Ranch

J.R. extended his hand and heartily shook Harry McSween's, but the grim look on McSween's face told him that something wasn't right. "How've you been Harry?" J.R. asked, trying to get to the bottom of the problem. He hoped McSween's look wasn't somehow rooted in the conflict between Melissa and John Ross.

"J.R… you and I have had quite a history of working together on just about everything."

"Yeah, you were always there for me, that's for sure. 'Course, you were paid well enough for it," J.R. said with a laugh, trying to crack through Harry's icy demeanor. "But, I won't ever forget all you did for me."

"Good," Harry said dryly. "Then you haven't forgotten all I know about you and all of your dirty dealings over the years?"

J.R. let out a nervous laugh. "Well, some of it I'd like to forget, myself, but I trust you Harry."

"Then butt out of Melissa's business. She has damned good reason to make sure John Ross isn't a part of little T.J.'s life...especially after how he treated her while she was expecting. I know you J.R… and I know you usually have an ace up your sleeve...some kind of trick to try and get T.J. away from Melissa. But let me tell you now; if that ever happens, then I won't rest until you're rotting in jail."

J.R. was both shocked and afraid. He had known Harry long enough to know that he always meant what he said...and then with everything Harry knew about him... "Now Harry, don't do anything foolish. I have no intention of trying to take T.J. away. Melissa and my son are perfectly capable of working out this problem between the two of them...without our help."

Harry nodded. "Good. Just see to it that they don't have your help...and just remember what I said." For the first time, Harry smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Oh, and J.R..."

"Yes?"

"It was good talking to you again. Take care."

The Barnes Residence

"Excuse me! You can't just barge in here and take Megan away like that!" Charla screamed.

"Watch me." Christopher pushed his way past the large nanny and took Megan out of her bed. "Hey Megan...wanna go to Southfork?"

"Mama 'n Da-Da 'dere?"

Christopher's heart sank and he felt sorry for Megan--his daughter. This was just another effect Pamela Rebecca had cast over her and the sooner he got Megan away from her, the better.

"I'll call the police!" Charla shrieked.

"Sure, go ahead. Tell them they can find me at Southfork Ranch...with my daughter."

Southfork, The Basement

“Dammit, Sue Ellen, where is the damn light switch?”

“This is, what, the second time you've been down here since you were born?”

“Ain't nothin' in this cellar but rats and booze, honey,” J.R. said. “Figures you've been down here before.”

“No doubt because my bed was being taken up by some nymphet.”

“I never brought anyone to Southfork. Not with mama here.”

“Speaking of your mother, grab that champagne,” Sue Ellen said. She was pointing to a case leaning against the wall. She had managed to turn a light on, so a single bulb illuminated the basement. “She said that she needed one case, but we should get two.”

J.R. made his way to the case, and grunted loudly as he picked it up. “You going to help me?”

“You seem to be doing just fine. I'll lead the way,” she said, turning around as J.R. hefted the second case.

“Here's to equal opportunity darlin',” he huffed.

They made their way up the stairs, Sue Ellen in the lead. She put her hand on the doorknob to open it. It wouldn't budge. She shook it violently, but it still wouldn't move. “It's locked or stuck or something,” she said as she continued to shake the door.

“What did you do?” J.R. said. He put down the cases on the landing. “Move out of the way,” he said, grabbing the doorknob. He tried to open it, but it wouldn't budge. He threw his entire bodyweight against the frame, and still nothing happened. J.R. turned to his ex-wife. “What in the hell did you do?”

“I didn't do anything!”

“Well we're locked in!”

She raised her voice even louder. “I didn't even know this door had a lock! Do you think I did this on purpose?”

“Well what are we supposed to do?”

“Someone will come looking for us. Theresa or one of the caterers. They'll hear us.”

“This isn't on the way to the kitchen, Sue Ellen. Slim chances.”

“We can't be down here forever,” Sue Ellen rationalized out loud.

“No, but how long before someone hears us? It could be a while.”

The two looked at each other, and simultaneously realized that they were locked together, in the basement, for an unknown period of time. In sync with each other, they turned toward the door, and began banging and yelling for help.

Outside...

"Christopher..."

With Megan in his arms, Christopher turned around to face John Ross. "If this is about you-know-what, then I don't think we have anything else to talk about."

"Look...can we talk? Please." John Ross' face was covered in a mixture of emotions and Christopher reluctantly nodded and motioned to Theresa, who was standing nearby. She walked to him and he handed Megan to her, instructing Theresa to take Megan inside...and to make sure Pamela Rebecca didn't get near her.

"Ok John Ross. Shoot."

"How did we ever get mixed up with someone like Pamela Rebecca?"

Christopher managed an exasperated smile. "Who knows...and who cares now. All I know is that I want her out of my life, and Megan's...permanently."

John Ross nodded his head and folded his arms. "Yeah. Me too. I know I've lost Megan...and now I've accepted it. But, I'm glad I'll still get to see her, because at least she'll be at Southfork. Now that I know what Pamela Rebecca has done, I can agree with you. Megan would be better off if Pamela Rebecca is NOT around."

Christopher looked a little surprised, but he felt relieved, he hadn't enjoyed the idea of fighting Pamela Rebecca and John Ross. "I've already made plans to sue her for sole custody...and maybe with a little help, and a little Ewing influence, I can pull it off."

John Ross raised an eyebrow. "Now you're sounding like my Dad."

Christopher paused for a moment, shaken by the comment. "Well..." There was more silence. "He usually gets what he wants, doesn't he?" Christopher had scared himself with that comment.

Several feet away...

"Well, hello Sly, Phyllis. Glad you two could make it!" Ellie said cheerfully. "Can I get anything for either of you?"

"No thank you Miss Ellie. I'm fine."

"Me too," Phyllis answered.

Phyllis looked over Ellie's shoulder and saw Wade Sawyer walking toward them. "Stud alert...extremely sexy man coming our way wearing tight jeans and cowboy boots..."

Sly looked in the direction that Phyllis was subtly pointing. "He's not my type. You take him Phyllis. Go for it."

"Howdy Mrs. Farlow, mind if I have a word with you for a second?" Wade tipped his hat to Sly and Phyllis and Ellie stepped away to talk to him.

"Wade? Is something wrong?"

"Yes Ma'am. I just got back from Dr. Holden's office. He finally got those test results back."

"Test results? Oh! You mean the cattle. Well, what did he say?"

"Just like we thought. Somebody has been poisoning the Southfork cattle."

Ellie was momentarily quiet. "How strange..."

"I know you probably don't want to worry about this mess now, but I reckon I need to ask you if you know of anybody who might do something like this?"

Miss Ellie managed a weak laugh. "Well, we Ewings have quite a few enemies. I just hope this isn't the beginning of another range war."

"Range war?"

"Yes. A few years back, someone moved into the ranch next door...it belongs to Ray now. Anyway, he stirred up trouble and we ended up in a full-fledged shootout on Southfork. He dammed up the river and the cattle had no water, among other things..."

Wade took off his hat and scratched his head. "Who was the guy?"

"Carter McKay. After that all blew over we made up and he became a sort of family friend. He even came back for my late husband's funeral a few months ago."

"Oh, so you don't think he'd do somethin' like that again?"

Ellie shook her head. "No, I don't think Carter would. Maybe it's time we called the sheriff."

"Mrs. Farlow, if you don't mind, I'd like to check out the other ranches nearby."

"No need to search Ray's ranch...he's family."

"Oh, that's right. Well, are there any others around?"

"Yes, there's one...owned by the Hammond family. They bought the place about two months ago...or maybe three."

"Worth a shot."

"Oh, Wade..."

"Yes Ma'am?"

"Don't worry about any of this today. It'll keep, as long as the rest of the cattle are alright now. Why don't you just enjoy the barbecue? I think there are two women behind me that are smitten with you..."

Wade glanced back at Phyllis and Sly and blushed. "Well, they are awful pretty…"

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