Dynasty 
The Next Generation

Episode 50
The Man Behind It All" – PT II

The Memorial Hospital 
Jeff Colby entered the ER waiting room, curious and furious. He quickly spotted his AWOL wife and ran right up to her. "Fallon, what the hell is going on now?" He shouted, pulling her up out of her chair and forcing her to face him.
"Jeff, please, get your hands off me!" Fallon cried, obviously having been upset long before his arrival.
"Colby," Zorelli sprang to her aid, "far be it for me to meddle in domestic affairs, but can’t you see that Fallon’s been through enough for one evening?"
Jeff briefly regarded his wimpering wife and gently let her sink back into the chair, sobbing. He turned and faced Zorelli. "I’ll say she has. I suppose I have you to thank for her torn blouse. Who did this to her, you?"
"Don’t be a horse’s ass, Colby," Zorelli said, standing his ground and allowing his armpit holster to show just a little bit. "It was...well, it was Ramieres. He..."
"Ramieres?" Jeff yelled. "Didn’t I tell you to stay away from him??"
"He was shot, Jeff," Fallon cried. "Shot by a cop. He..."
Jeff turned to Zorelli with an accusing look.
"It was a rookie. He got excited. He’s in big trouble."
"Like you’re not?" Jeff spat. "Great. Just what I need. A wife who’s always around when guns are going off. I suppose it never occurred to either of you that Fallon could have been shot as well?"
"Jeff, it doesn’t matter anymore," Fallon said. "He’s shot. It’s done. He’ll probably never walk again. That is, if he ever regains consciousness."
"And what, I’d like to know, did any of this have to do with you in the first place?" Jeff asked. "Just because you were acquainted with the guy, the FBI thinks they can use you as their guinea pig?" The question was directed at Fallon, but Jeff stared Zorelli in the eyes the whole time.
"There’s more you don’t know about Roman!" Fallon shouted. "Turns out he was an old boyfriend of mine. From high school. Seems his father sent him out to marry me, so that they could get to Blake’s money!"
"Yes," Zorelli continued. "And when that didn’t work out, Ramieres went after Sable Colby instead."
Jeff let the news sink in. "Well, I guess it all makes sense after all," he said. "But who is his father?"
"He never got a chance to tell us before he was shot," Zorelli sighed. 
"I’ll be there when he wakes up," Fallon said. "I...I think he was about to tell me the rest when he..."
"You’re not going anywhere near that monster!" Jeff stood up. "You’re going home with me this minute, to your family!"
"Jeff, I have to know!"
"Fallon, why the hell are you so reckless?" Jeff shouted. "You have absolutely no regard for your children, and God forbid should you ever think of me! You don‘t even have any regard for your own safety!"
"Jeff, he’s in intensive care! He’s harmless, okay?"
"That may be true, but what about the next time? How many bullets do you think you can dodge, Fallon? And what’s your poor family going to do once you get shot?"
"You’re being ridiculous, Jeff!"
"And you’re being a horse’s ass!" Jeff said and turned to Zorelli. "Keep an eye on her, will you, Columbo? And for God’s sake, find her a new shirt." He stormed out, completely disgusted.
"That’s funny," Zorelli said. "I don’t think you look like a horse’s ass, Fallon."

Fallon managed a weary smile.

OPENNING SEQUENCE

Written by
YANIV SHALMBERG
ETHAN RILEY

Executive Producer
YANIV SHALMBERG

Story and Language Editing by
ETHEN RILEY

CAST

Blake carrington	Krystle carrington	  alexis colby
jeff colby		adam carrington	  dex dexter
sammy jo reece	  	fallon colby		  steven carrington
sable colby		William Carrington    dana warring
William CARRINGTON  KRYSTINA carrington	  lb colby
danny carrington	ashley hamilton	  lauren colby
jim martinez	     roman ramires	       Cassie spencer
anne hamilton	     kevin laird		  
craig harper	     SUSIE morobOshi

Delta Rho – The Next Morning 
Jim poured two cups of coffee and walked out from the kitchen into the living room. He approached Sammy Jo, served her the coffee and noticed a photo of Steven and her on the nearby table. Sammy Jo looked at the photo, and then at Jim, sadly.
"You shouldn’t do it to yourself, it’s only making it harder," Jim said as he sat next to her.
"Harder than it already is? I don’t think so, Jim," Sammy Jo replied as she took the cup of coffee and drank. "Thank you."
"You’re welcome," he smiled. "Anything else that you need?"
"No, thank you. Your presence here is more than enough, I’m glad you stayed, really."
"I’m glad you agreed," Jim said, still smiling. "Hey, where is that famous smile Sammy Jo always has on her face? I want to see it," he tried.
Sammy Jo forced a smile.
"Nah… it’s not the same."
"I’m not the same, Jim. I can’t be the same. It still hurts," she explained.
"Time is healing, Sammy Jo. I know that right now it seems like the end of the world. But it isn’t! You have two beautiful kids that need their mother to be strong to raise them. You can’t fall apart now, they need you!"
"They also need their father, Jim. A father who abandoned them and ran out, again," Sammy Jo said bitterly. 
"You don’t know what happened, Sammy Jo. Don’t judge him," Jim said.
"It’s obvious what happened, Jim. It’s not happening for the first time. Steven got cold feet and the moment he heard from his ex-lover, he decided he’s gay again and ran away, without thinking of our children and me. And I hate him, Jim. I hate him so much for what he did to us again, I hate myself for trusting him again and ending up hurt again, I hate him so much!" she cried. Jim took her into his arms and embraced her.
"He will come back eventually, Sammy Jo," he comforted her. 
"No, Jim. I don’t want him to come back. I hate him, Jim. I hate him and he can rot in hell, I don’t care!" Her tears flooded her blue eyes. Jim caressed her blonde long hair and tried to calm her.
 
Somewhere… 
"Morning!" Craig called as he walked into the room where Steven was captured. "I have great news!"
"You’re letting me go?" Steven asked.
"Well, I’m letting us both go!" Craig announced, "we’re leaving the United States of America!" he called excited.
"You’re crazy, there’s no way I’m going with you!" Steven exclaimed.
"Why not? It’s all been taken care of, Steven. I have a whole new identity for you, a new passport, a new name, a new life, for me and for you, far away from this screwy country!" Craig announced.
"You’ll never get away with it, Craig. You and the person behind it!"
"What? What are you talking about? There’s no one behind it. It’s only you, my love. You and me," Craig said.
"I’m not fooled, Craig. I heard you last night yelling at somebody on the phone. I know you’re not alone in this--"
"You’re delusional, Steven. Nobody except me knows you’re here. Nobody, and it’s going to stay that way!"
"My mother will never believe I left without talking to her first. My family knows me, they know I’ll at least call them. You’ve got to let me call them and say I’m fine, Craig. At least that!" Steven pleaded.
"Don’t worry, your family have enough problems. I’m sure you’re not on their minds right now," Craig replied.
"What’s that supposed to mean?" Steven asked.
"Nothing, my love. You don’t need to worry about your family. Starting the day after tomorrow, I’ll be your family, far away from here. Far, far away!" Craig announced and with that walked out.
"Craig!!! Come back, Craig!!!" 
 
Jim’s Apartment 
Slowly and still a little bit dazed, William opened his eyes and looked around. The room he was in wasn’t familiar; neither was the bed he was sleeping in. He tried to remember how he got in there, and the second he realized he was naked, it all came rushing back to him. 
"Well good morning, my mating bull!" Anne called as he walked into the bedroom and saw him getting dressed. 
"Good morning," William murmured.
"Still tired, hmm? Well, no wonder. After the action we had last night…"
"Anne, right?" William asked.
"You remember my name, it’s a good start!" she exclaimed.
"I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened to me. I don’t do these kind of things usually," he apologized.
"What are you talking about? It was wonderful! I don’t know where you learned it, but you’re definitely one of the best sex partners I ever had!" 
"Me?" William asked, surprised.
"Oh, don’t be so modest. It was great. I can’t remember when was the last time a man pleased me that way, and what a man! Young, Charming, sexy, what else could a woman need?" she said with a big smile and approached him, caressing his naked chest.
"Well, I’m glad you enjoyed it, because I don’t remember anything of it," he said as he put on his shirt. 
"Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll have more fabulous nights like this in the future," Anne said and kissed him passionately.
"I better go now, Anne," he rejected her and stood up, heading to the door. 
"Wait a minute, I’ll make some coffee!" Anne said, running after him to the living room. 
"I really should be going," William said as the door got opened and Jim walked into the apartment. 
"Jim, what a surprise!" Anne called and came near William, caressing him again, "This is my roommate, Jim. Jim, this is William," she smiled.
"Nice to meet you, sir. I really should go now, Anne. Thank you for the hospitality," he said and headed to the door.
"See you soon, William!" Anne called after him as he walked out and slammed the door after him.
"What the hell are you doing? Have you lost your mind?!" Jim attacked his ex-wife.
"What happened, Jimmy? Are you jealous?" Anne asked, smiling. 
"This is the new Carrington kid for God’s sake! Now you’re trying to set him up?" he almost yelled. 
"Oh stop being so dramatic, Jim. We met in the bar last night and spent a lovely night together, that’s all, it’s simple. What’s the harm?"
"I know you, Anne. There’s nothing simple with you. If you’re planning to seduce that poor guy as well, think again! You hurt enough people already, I won’t let you hurt this poor guy as well!"
"I didn’t hurt anybody, Jim! You are the one who hurt Steven and Sammy Jo, you are the one who began messing up that family!"
"I didn’t plan to kidnap anybody!"
"Keep your voice down, you idiot, someone will hear you!"
"I don’t care, Anne. You hear me? I don’t care! I’m sick and tried of you and your sick game! This is going to end, Annie. Once and for all!" he yelled and stormed to his bedroom. 
"Damn you, Jim. Damn you!" Anne freaked out, "I won’t let you ruin everything. Not now!" she yelled, but Jim was already in the other room. 
 
Denver Carrington 
"Kevin? It’s Krystina! I’m in Frankfurt!" Krystina said on the phone.
"Kentucky?" Kevin said.
"No! Germany, you dummy!" They both laughed. "How are you, Kevin?"
"I’m fine," he said, hoping that Krystina wouldn’t realize that Susie was in the office with him. "All right, when are you getting back?"
"Not so fast!" she laughed. "I actually called with some good news. I found out where Anne Hamilton used to live with her family, back in the day. I’m going there now to have a look around, making ask the neighbors a few questions."

"Look, Krystina," Kevin said, turning to the wall from Susie for at least a modicum of privacy, "do what you gotta do, and then get out of there, okay? This whole thing is making me uncomfortable."

"I know," she said sincerely. "I’m sorry. But you’re right: I have to do this."

"Um, Krystina," he said hesitantly, "I’m afraid I have some news for you, too. It seems our Danny and Ashley have gone off halfway across the world, themselves."

"What?" she said surprised. "To where?"
"Where else? To Israel."
"Oooh...Ashley that bitch!" Krystina said over an international line. "She would do something like this! Oho, I’ll bet that mother of hers had something to do with it!"
"How could we know?" Kevin said, logically.
"I’ll find out soon enough," Krystina said. "Listen, I have to go now. You tell that Susie not to hog the deposition."
"I’m sure she won’t hog a thing," Kevin said, and Susie looked over, puzzled. "You take care of yourself, and call us the second you find out anything."

Krystina promised she would and hung up. Kevin turned back to Susie who was now sitting up against his desk. "Trouble in paradise?" she said teasingly.
"Good heavens, Miss Moroboshi, but your legs are long," Kevin flirted as he set the phone down.
"All the better to kick you with," Susie joked, referring to her ongoing kick-boxing lessons.
"All right, enough flirting," Kevin said. "Krystina’s worried enough about us without us making it worse."

"Does she have...anything to be worried about?" Susie pushed her body over the desk until their eyes were but inches apart. She playfully batted her eyelashes until the two of them started laughing.
"Enough! Enough!" Kevin laughed. "And I refuse to answer that question, by the way."

Susie quite understood, and pulled herself back off the desk and stood. "Well, at any rate, she should at least be worried about that Anne Hamilton, or Michelle Nelson, or whoever she is."
"Yeah," Kevin sat back and poked at his cheek with a pencil eraser. "Now why would our Miss Hamilton require two names, do you suppose?"

"Ancient Japanese saying: He who have two names, must also have two faces!"
"That’s right," Kevin agreed, " and the sleuth within me deducts that Anne Hamilton is a woman with a lot to hide."
"She’s filled with...seeeecrets!" Susie said, quoting an old tv show catch-phrase.
"Yeah, and until we figure them out, we’d better warn Danny in Israel what’s going on. 
"We’ll call him right now," Susie said. "And maybe, just maybe, he can get all the info we need from little Ashley Hamilton."
 
Jerusalem, Israel 
"Ashley, my goodness, look at you, how much you’ve changed!" Ashley’s aunt called happily as she welcomed Ashley and Danny into her house in Jeruslem.
"Oh, you’re just exaggerating, auntie Rebecca. I want you to meet Danny, my boyfriend," Ashley said.
"Shalom. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Levy," Danny smiled.
"Boy, you are so pretty, even more that I could imagined!" Rebecca called and Danny blushed, "and you can call me Rebecca, and feel like home, I mean that," the lady said.
"Thank you very much," Danny smiled.
"You very welcome. Now come in and let me help you with your suitcases. Come on, don’t just stand there. Come on!" 
They walked into the house and after putting the suitcases aside, they all sat together in the living room.
"So, how long are you plan to stay in Israel?" Rebecca asked.
"I don’t know yet. I’m just glad I’m here, finally," Ashley said.
"Well, you should have been here a long time ago, you know," Rebecca reminded her.
"Yes, I know. Well, it’s better late then ever, you know. The most important thing now is that I’m here, far from all the problems in Denver, and especially from my mother!" Ashley exclaimed. 
"Well, here nobody will bother you or hunt you. You know that," Rebecca said. Danny looked at her and from the look in her eyes sensed that there was no big love between her and Anne Hamilton. 
"Where is Moshe, and the kids?" Ashley asked.
"Work, study. Ran, my eldest, is now finishing his third year in law school, and Noa is about to start business management next year. She just came back from South America two weeks ago," Rebecca said proudly. 
"Good. I’m dying to meet them!" Ashley called.
"You will, honey. Now I’ll go see if your room is ready. You feel like home, don’t be shy!" Rebecca said and walked out from the living room.
"Well? What do you think?" Ashley asked Danny.
"What, about Israel?" Danny asked.
"No, silly. About Rebecca! You haven’t seen slightest bit of Israel, yet. How can you tell me what you think…"
"Oh," Danny smiled, "she seems very nice," Danny said.
"They’re all nice. Wait ‘till you meet Ran. He’s so funny. I’m sure we’ll have wonderful times here, Danny. You’ll see!" Ashley announced and Danny smiled.
 
The Carrington Mansion 
"She’s doing what?" Blake asked angrily after finding out that Krystina was in Frankfurt, trying to find some information about Anne Hamilton. 
"Blake, calm down. She’s just trying to find out the truth about that woman," Krystle tried.
"I don’t understand this. What she has against Ashley and her mother?" the old man asked, a little more calmed now. 
"I told you. Apparently, Anne Hamilton is not her real name. She faked it, and Krystina thinks there’s something weird about it, that’s all," Krystle explained.
"Still. I wish she’d talked to me first. I could have sent a private detective to check this out," he said.
"Kevin did already, but you know Krystina. She wants to check it herself."
"You talked to her?"
"No, but Kevin did. She promised to come back in time for the wedding, don’t worry, Blake."
"I am worried, Krystle. She’s still a young girl. She shouldn’t travel in Europe all alone playing detective. It’s not right. I already have Steven travelling God knows where," Blake said.
"What did Alexis say? She tried to find him?"
"Yes, with no luck. She even blamed me that I’m not there for my children, can you believe it? She thinks I prefer William and Krystina over my other children," Blake said.
"Well, it is Alexis we’re talking about, after all. What’s with William? I haven’t seen him for days," Krystle said.
"I don’t know. He’s pretty depressed. We still don’t know what happened to Patricia, it’s weird," Blake said, "Seems nobody knows where she is."
"I’ll bet Alexis is glad. Seems she didn’t like Patricia," Krsytle said.
"I don’t know about that. Alexis has her own problems now," Blake said.
"You’re talking about the wedding?" 
"Yes. She said she’d come. I warned her not to cause any troubles, but who knows what her twisted mind plans," Blake said.
"I don’t think she’ll cause problems. She loves Amanda, she won’t do anything to hurt her...or will she?"
"I don’t know. Maybe she loves Amanda, but she hates Sable more." Blake said. 
 
The Colbys’s mansion, Los Angeles, California 
"...And it’s been nice being back in Los Angeles," Monica said to her mother, "but I’ve missed you; you know that. But it’s also been real, real nice getting to know Dad again."

"I’m glad for you, darling," Sable smiled, sipping a sherry.
"But enough about me," Monica said with a slightly knowing gaze. "Something’s been troubling you, hasn’t it? You’ve been quiet since the minute you got off the plane."
Sable’s smile never wavered. She took another sip and set the glass down. "I’m afraid your mother’s been the victim of sour judgment, once again, Monica," she finally said.
"Meaning...?" Monica pressed on.
"Meaning your mother has absolutely zero taste and zero caution when it comes to the men she chooses."

"Oh! I knew it!" Monica fumed. "What did that Roman do to you? I knew there was something I never liked about him!"
"As a lot of people warned me," Sable sighed. "But I’m not a good listener, am I? Dear, dear Roman, I’m afraid, was after my money, it seems."
"Did he hurt you bad, Mother?"

"He hurt me bad. Luckily I wised up to him before I actually married him! But you know, I can’t even be mad at him right now! Do you know the devil went and got himself shot by a policeman?"
"Oh, no! Is he--?"
"No, thank God. I still have a chance to kill him myself. But there’s much more to it than you think. It seems our Mr. Roman Ramieres is going by an alias, and not only that, he tried to do the same thing to Fallon, way back in high school!"
"Outrageous!" Monica said, stunned.

"Outrageous, it is," Sable sighed. "Darling, please, please tell me you’ll have better judgment when it comes to men in the future, hmm? Better than your poor old mother ever had."
Just then, Miles and Amanda stepped into the room. Sable quickly pulled herself together; they couldn’t know about her troubles so soon before their own happy day.
"Miles, just look at you!" Sable said, rising and embracing her son. She didn’t exaggerate; Miles seemed completely recovered from his recent health troubles, tan, fit and looking better than he had in years. 
"Hello, Mother," he said, simultaneously taking strength from her and giving her back some of his own. "We just got in. God, it’s good to see you."
"And Amanda," Sable said dramatically, rushing over to hug her future daughter-in-law. By seeing the smile on Amanda’s face, Sable felt assured that Miles and Amanda were still doing all right, that their love was solid and that their subsequent marriage would be a good one.
"Oh, God," Sable suddenly said. "Oh, God, look at you both. I’m so happy for a change!" Slight tears began welling up in her eyes.
"Oh, Mother, really," Monica laughed nervously. "You don’t have to cry!"
"Oh, but I do, Monica," Sable rejoiced. "I do. It’s going to be such a happy day! Such a happy day!"
 
Alexis’s penthouse 
Lauren looked a little lost as she modeled her bridesmaid’s dress for her grandmother. "I look awful!" she said appalled, as she looked down at her dreadful lavender gown. The hem went just below the knee, with an even skirt that made Lauren wince. She absolutely hated the plastic berries on the straps, or "doodads" as she called them.
"Poor Lauren," Alexis almost laughed. "I know it’s hideous. But that’s one of the tricks of a wedding, don’t you see? The bridesmaids must never, never outshine the bride!"
Lauren sunk into a chair and thought of the wretched wedding pictures that were to come. "And why, oh why does Amanda want us to wear matching white pumps with Roman straps? It’ll take half an hour just to put on the shoes."
"I know, dear, I know," Alexis said. "Still, with your hair pulled up nicely and the proper hose you may yet look...presentable."
"I’d rather look hot!" Lauren moaned.
"Then you’ll have to wait until your own wedding, dear," Alexis smiled. "And at that time, you can take your revenge on your own bridesmaids. Think on that!"
Lauren smacked her lips with sadistic glee as she contemplated the fashion disasters that her own dear friends with have to suffer through on her happy day. And it got her to wondering, perhaps for the first time in her life, when that day might come. "So, um, I had a thought. Just a thought. Suppose we were to fly to California with Uncle Dex."

"Are you out of your mind?" Alexis spat. "No! Of course not! Whatever put that idea into your head?"

"Well, I just thought that since he’s going in his private jet, with only Cameron, that there’d be plenty of room for you and me. And we won’t have to bother with that commercial flight, and--"

"You’re mad if you think I’m setting foot on that paper plane of his!" Alexis said excitedly. "Lauren, it’s bad enough that I’m forced to go through that horror of a wedding in the first place. Do I have spend every waking moment of my life with that glorified ranch hand and his miserable brat, too?"

"It was just a thought," Lauren sighed, having fullyu predicted Alexis’ response in advance. She absent-mindedly tugged at her hemline, wishing beyond hope that that damn dress was four inches shorter. But that was no use, so she decided it would be more fun to antagonize her grandmother even further. "You really don’t like Cameron much, do you?"

"I don’t like or dislike Cameron one way or the other," Alexis said disinterestedly. "It’s his sterling mother that I cannot abide. You know that."
"Oh. Well, that’s nice to know," Lauren said innocently.
Alexis caught on immediately. Her first instinct was to throttle that girl, but she decided to play it a bit more delicately. "Cameron is a nice boy, I suppose, but he’s a victim of terrible inbreeding, you see. Sable’s side of the family, if you must know. You can tell by the tilt of the nose. And did you know that Sable has a webbed foot?"

"No. You don’t say," Lauren said amused.
"On her left foot. The one with six toes," Alexis said.

Lauren had to laugh at that. She loved her grandmother very much but wished very hard at this moment that there was no feud between the mothers of the bride and groom. "So, really, Grandmother," she continued, "the only real reason you’re not with Uncle Dex anymore is because of Sable?"

"A very direct question," Alexis said, "deserves a direct answer. And the answer is, ‘kinda, sorta.’ You see, my dear, were I to be together with Dex, I’d also be together with Cameron, and therefore, Sable. And now that Roman Ramieres is out of the picture, Sable will run back to Dex, clinging to him like the barnacle she is. I’ll never have Dex to myself and you can take that to the bank."
Lauren looked at her doubtfully. "But Sable’s probably moving back to Los Angeles to stay. Maybe she’ll chase after Grandpa Jason for awhile."
"In which case it’d be none of my business," Alexis said. "However, that wouldn’t change the fact that Cameron is still Dex’s son, and Sable will never stay far away from him. And therein lies the dilemma."
"I understand," Lauren said with a frustrated tone. The whole thing was far more complicated than Lauren thought her grandmother understood.
But Alexis understood well enough indeed. "So you see, dear, I think it’s best for me to stay away from Dex from now on. After this wedding, if I must go, I daresay I’ll never see him again. Or Cameron." Alexis wasn’t sure whether she’d sounded convincing, but there was at least one layer to this conversation that she knew nothing about.
Satisfied enough that Lauren got the hint, Alexis excused herself to bed. Lauren waited until the door to her room closed and grabbed her cellphone. "Hello, Uncle Dex? It’s Lauren! Listen, everything’s going just like you said it would! After that wedding, she’ll be yours again forever!"
 
Adam’s and Dana’s bedroom
Adam and Dana lie uncomfortably in bed. They had barely spoken to one another since Adam’s physical altercation with Jeff.
Dana lie quietly reading the same paragraph in her magazine for the tenth time. Adam lie as still as possible, alternately approving and rejecting dozens of statements he could have made to break the ice. In the end, there was but one phrase that need be said.
"To coin a popular and time-worn cliche’," he said, "we have to talk."
Dana managed to flip a page in her magazine before responding quietly, "there’s nothing more to say, Adam. You know what I want. If you want to start working towards building our own family, then that’s fine. Otherwise, I just HAVE to know what Nick and Jessica are up to."
"Dana," Adam gently tugged at the magazine and took it from her hand, "I understand. I really do. But you mustn’t worry about this thing between me and Jeff. It’ll blow over. It always does."

"Yes, until the next time you two disagree and start beating the hell out of one another. I’m told that at one time he tried to shove you off the roof of a skycraper?"
"No, it was the tenth story of a building under construction," Adam tried to trivialize the issue but Dana’s glare killed his silly grin.
"Adam, I don’t think that’s a bit funny. One of these days you two are going to go too far and somebody’s going to get killed. I mean it! You two behave like the biggest fools, and I--"

"Dana, I said I understand," Adam rubbed her arm. "Listen, to me: just come away to Amanda’s wedding. That’ll take your mind off things at the house."

"I don’t see how," she protested, "since Jeff’s sure to be there as well. And even in a wedding with dozens of guests, I’m sure the two of you will find a way to destroy the whole thing by smashing through chairs, knocking over tables--"

"It won’t be that way!" Adam said. "It’ll be wonderful and beautiful. And whatever differences Jeff and I have will be set aside for Amanda’s sake."

"Well, for my sake, I think I’ll stay at home. Thank you for the invitation."

"Dana, you can’t mean it! What can I do to make you believe me?"

"Well, for starters, you can apologize to both Jeff and LB for what you did to them! Or are you not enough of a man to do that little thing?"

"I will not apologize to them!" Adam said. "I did nothing to apologize for!"

"Oh, really?" Dana couldn’t believe her ears. "Well then, you just keep telling yourself that! No, Adam, I don’t think I’m going to that wedding. In fact, since it’s clearer than ever that you have absolutely no sense of morality, I’m moving to the Carlton until I can decide what I want to do. And it’ll be my decision for a change. I’m not riding piggyback on you ever again, Adam. You either shape up, or I’ll ship out!"

"Oh, God, Dana! You don’t mean it!"

"I do mean it! I will not be married to a dishonest man, Adam! Figure it out!" She pulled herself out of bed and slipped on her robe.

"Where are you going?" Adam tried to stop her.

"The guest room," Dana said angrily. "Not that I ever feel welcome in this house. My step-son thinks I’m Cruella DeVille and my husband likes to hire shady contractors to erect collapsable buildings for fun and profit!"

"Dana, I beg of you--listen to me!"
"Good night, Adam," she continued. "Think of me in Sunny Cal."
Dana left the room and marched down the hall to the guest room. She didn’t notice Joseph, who had heard all the commotion and who had listened to their argument very carefully.
 
The Next day – one day before the wedding
"Yes, I understand. Yes, I suppose there’s nothing we can do for now. Maybe--" Fallon’s words on the phone were cut short as Jeff entered the bedroom. She hastily hung up the phone.
"Let me guess. You didn’t want me to know you were talking to Zorelli," Jeff said flatly.
Fallon remained in her chair, facing him. "All right. If you must know, Zorelli says that Roman’s still unconscious and that’s about it. Any other questions?"
"Just one. When are you and I going to get past all this cloak-and-dagger nonsense and get back to being a family again? I told you it’s high time we moved into our own place and got on with our lives. Or is that too much to ask, under the circumstances? Do we even have lives, Fallon?"
"Stop being sarcastic, Jeff. You know I love you."

"Then prove it. Move out with me."

"Jeff, for the last time, I see no need to leave this mansion. Everyone we love is here."
Jeff felt the familiar frustration return. Talking to his wife could be like talking to a brick wall. Oh well. When push came to shove, perhaps he could shove her right through that wall. An ultimatum was in order. "You have until after Amanda’s wedding to decide: you’ll either come with me to look for new homes, or you’ll stay here. Alone. Good morning, Fallon."
Jeff didn’t look back to see the complete look of shock on Fallon’s face. He didn’t need to. Feeling as if some sort of victory had been won, he waltzed down the mansion corrdior with a spring in his step, and bumped smack into Adam.
"Oh, uh, Adam. Sorry."

"Doesn’t matter," Adam glared. "The fat from your stomach cushioned the blow."
"Pound for pound, I’d take my ‘fat stomach’ over your fat head any day," was Jeff’s retort.
"Cute. Real cute, Jeff. Just like it was real cute when Dana said she might leave me, because of you!"

"What the hell are you talking about now?"
"She said she can’t bear all the fighting between us anymore and that if you don’t stop attacking me, she’d leave. Well you can’t, can you? You just have to take away from me the woman I love, over and over again!"
"Takes two to tango, Adam. And you’re the one who starts most of the fights around here."

"I beg to differ, you’re the one who knocked me down the stairs, and you’re the one who--"
Jeff shoved Adam against the wall. "And you’re the one who almost got my son thrown in jail for a crime you committed! Oh, I know you, Adam, you snaky little shit. You were behind every minute of it, and I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to prove it if I have to."
Adam’s face never wavered. He mustn’t show weakness to the enemy. Jeff relaxed his grip somewhat and straighened Adam’s coat. "Oh, and another thing, Adam. If Dana leaves you, I’d say it’s because she finally got wise. So don’t go blaming me for your own love problems, hmm?"
Suddenly, Adam caught sight of Blake coming around the corner. "Get your hands off me, Jeff!" he shouted. "God! You’re breaking my ribs!"
"What the devil is going on in here?" Blake ran down the hall. "Jeff! Let go of him!"
Caught, Jeff had no choice but to release Adam, who feigned panting, as if Jeff had been choking the life out of him.
"Did...did you see that, Father? He tried to kill me!"
"Adam, quit it. You’re exaggerating," Blake quickly assessed the situation. "But as for you, Jeff, I told you I want no more violence in this house. Do you hear me? Both of you!"

Jeff looked away, not daring to defend himself in such a ridiculous situation.
But Blake went on. "I’m especially surprised at you, Jeff. I thought you were an adult--above such things. There are some things I wouldn’t put past Adam, but you--"

"Hey!" Adam interjected indignantly. "Whose side are you on, Father?"

"I’m not taking sides, Adam! But if I have to sit on both of you to get you to behave, I’ll do it. Now knock it off. You’re both like 50 for heaven’s sake." Disgusted and just the slightest bit amused, Blake wandered off down the corridor.
As soon as Blake was gone, Jeff continued. "Well, I’ve got to hand it to you, Adam. You managed to fool Blake again. But there will come a time, Adam. There will come a time..."

"Any time," Adam said to his face. 
 
Frankfurt, Germany 
"Hallo!" Krystina greeted the man who opened for her the main door in the house where Anne used to live with her family. The man, who looked to be in his late sixties, stared at Krystina, not too sure what the strange girl wanted from him.
"Hallo," he answered shortly, "Guten abend," he added. 
"Guten abend," she replied. "Sprechen sie Englisch?" she then asked. The man nodded.
"Thank you. I’m Krystina. I’m looking for the Nelsen family. They used to live here. Do you know them?" she asked.
"I don’t know any Nelsen family, I’m sorry," the man replied.
"Are you sure? I know they used to live in this house. How long have you lived here?" she didn’t give up. 
"Twenty years, miss. And I don’t know the family you mentioned. I’m sorry, gute nacht," he then said, and closed the door.
"Damn it!" Krystina murmured. She was about to knock on the door again, as another old man showed up from the neighboring house and approached her.
"Don’t bother. He won’t help you," the man said. Krystina looked at him, surprised.
"So maybe you can. I’m looking for--"
"The Nelsen family. I heard your short conversation. Come on, it’s not a good idea to stay in his territory for a while, he capable to send his dogs after you," the man said. Krystina smiled, but then realized the man wasn’t joking.
"So you’re looking for the Nelsens. Any particular reason? It’s been a while since their name was mentioned here," the man said as they walked into his front yard.
"Actually, I’m a friend of the Nelsen’s granddaugther, Ashley. You know Ashley?"
"You mean Michelle’s baby? I knew she was pregnant, but I never knew if she really had birth," the man said.
"So you knew An – Michelle?" 
"Of course. Everybody knew Michelle. She was a diamond. A precious diamond. Until the Israelis ruined it all," the man said.
"The Israelis? What do you mean by that?" Krystina didn’t understand.
"The Israelis, you know. The Israeli agents, of the Mosad--"
"Mosad? You mean the Israeli institute for special tasks?" 
"That’s right. From the moment they sent that man, everything got wrong. The rumours says that he was the one behind Ewan’s death. But it was never proved," the old man said.
"Ewan is--" Krystina began.
"Michelle’s father, or at least that’s what he was. Poor man. I never believed the stories about him. But who knows, he was a tough man, if it’s true that he was working for Hitler, I can understand why," the man said and Krystina was overwhelmed
"Hitler? Michelle’s father was working for Hitler?"
"Well it’s only a rumour. But who knows. His wife denied it of course when we used to ask her, until she left with her daughter. Who knows what really happened there," the man murmured
"Pieter, Pieter!" a voice came from inside the house.
"Oh, it’s my wife. Nagging me all the time," the man joked.
"Sir, do you know what happened to Ewan’s wife?" Krystina asked when the man was about to walk back into his house.
"No idea. I heard that she became very sick and her daugther took her to a nursing home outside Frankfurt, but where exactly, I don’t know. I hope I helped you. Good night," he said and went to his home, leaving Krystina shocked. 

Delta Rho 
"Not going? Honey, you can’t stay here by yourself! Besides, Amanda will be very disappointed if you don’t come," Krystle told Sammy Jo.
"I don’t know, Krystle. It will be too painful," Sammy Jo explained.
"Look, Sammy Jo," Krystle began as she sat next to hear niece, "I know it still hurts, and that it’s not easy to move on with your life, but it will be a terrible mistake to be stuck in the past. You have two wonderful little children who need their mother to be strong and happy for them," Krystle tried.
"Happy? How can I possibly be happy, Krystle? How?" Sammy Jo asked.
"Honey, I miss Steven myself. God knows I’m having a hard time myself understanding why he left this way, but I can’t judge him, and neither can you, not until you talk to him and get to the bottom of this," Krystle said.
"How? He hasn’t even bothered to call me, Krystle."
"I don’t know what to say. It’s so unlike Steven…"
"Unlike? This is not the first time it’s happened, Krystle. Don’t forget it!" Sammy Jo said bitterly. 
"Look, he knows that Amanda is getting married. Who knows, maybe he’ll show up at the wedding?"
"Yes, right!" Sammy Jo called.
"Sammy Jo…I’m worried about you."
"You shouldn’t be. I’m fine. Right now I’m much more worried about Danny," Sammy Jo said.
"He called?"
"Yes, once. But I have to talk to him again. Kevin called not a while ago. He thinks I should tell Danny the truth about Anne."
"You mean that she has two names?"
"It’s more then just a name, Krystle. Who knows what she’s hiding and what if Ashley knows about it and has something to do with it? Danny has to know about it!" 
"I don’t know, honey, if this is a good idea," Krystle said.
"He has to know!" Sammy Jo said determined.
 
Jerusalem, Israel
"Hmmm… wanna join me in a bath?" Ashley asked Danny as they sat on the bed and kissed.
"What, now? Here?" he asked.
"Why not?"
"We just got here, I don’t know… you go and take a quick shower, then we’ll go to the old city and you’ll show me the famous western Kotel, okay?" he suggested.
"Well, your loss…" Ashley told Danny and then stood up. Danny smiled as he saw her taking off her clothes and going naked into the bathroom. He was about to turn on the television as he heard Rebecca’s voice from downstairs. 
"Danny? You have a phone call, pick it up!" 
"Me?" he wondered but headed to the phone and picked it up. "Hello?"
"Danny!" Sammy Jo called from the other end of the line.
"Mom! What’s up, something wrong?" he wondered. 
"I hope I didn’t wake you up," Sammy Jo said.
"Oh, not, it’s fine. It’s not that late here, actually Ashley and I are going out soon, to the old city of Jerusalem. What’s going on?" he asked.
"I should tell you something. It’s about Ashley," Sammy Jo said.
 
Denver Carrington – Adam’s office 
Only after he made sure Adam was not going to return, did Jeff dare to intrude into his brother-in-law’s office and search for something that would prove once and for all what Jeff was so certain about. 
There’s got to be something, something that he forgot here, there’s got to be! He thought as he opened the drawers at Adam’s desk and dug into it, examining every piece of paper. 
Nothing, nothing at all… he murmured as a piece of paper that fell on the floor caught his attention. It was just a bank receipt, and he was about to throw it into the drawer, only that then he noticed the name that was signed at the bottom: "John Nance." 
Somebody’s got a lot of money here… he thought as he read the receipt’s details. 
"Got you, finally I got you!" 
 
Jerusalem, Israel 
The old city of Jerusalem was filled with people, mostly with tourists who came to visit the Holy land and Orthodox citizens that came to the Western Wall Kotel to pray their evening prayer. Ashley explained Danny that the Kotel was the western supporting wall of the Holy Temple, which the Romans destroyed in the year 70 CE, and that today, the Kotel is the most holy place in israel, and is the focus of the Jewish World.
Now they were traveling around, between the walls, stopping next to souvenir shops and taking pictures. Ashley was very happy and dragged Danny after her to the bazaars that offered specials sales, and Danny forced a smile on his face and nodded when she asked his opinion about certain souvenirs. 
"What’s going on, Danny? You’re not yourself," she said eventually as they finally sat at an Israeli-Arabic restaurant, to eat a late dinner, "I can tell that something is bothering you," she added, "what is it?"
"Actually it’s about you, Ash," he said quietly.
"Me?" she asked, surprised.
"Look, I don’t know if this is a good idea to bring it up now, so--"
"Danny, if something is wrong you should tell me. We should be open and frank with each other. I want to know if something is bothering you. Tell me!"
"I just don’t want to spoil our trip," he explained.
"Is it THAT bad? What, something I did?"
"No, actually, it’s your mother"
"My mother? What? My mother is bothering you?"
"I want to ask you something, Ash, and I want you to tell me the truth."
"Sure. What?" she asked.
Danny looked at her and hesitated. When Sammy Jo told him about Anne’s faked identity, he was pretty shocked and didn’t know what to do with the information. At first, he refused to ask Ashley questions about her mother and thought it wasn’t his business, but Sammy Jo convinced him that if Anne was hiding something, maybe Ashley knows about it – and if so, Danny had the right to know it as well. Now it was the time to ask her.
"Well? You wanna tell me?" Ashley asked him.
"Look, you never talked much about your mother, all I know is that you have some strong issues with her, but I can’t say I’m not curious about what it is," Danny said.
"What? You mean why I’m so distanced from my mother?"
"Yes."
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything. You just said we should be open and frank with each other, so I’d say you should be the first one to tell me the truth. I think I deserve it, don’t you?" he said.
Ashley looked at him. Now it was her turn to hesitate. She hoped he’d never ask her about her mother and her family history, but knew it would come up eventually. "Look, Danny. This is a long story, one that I tried to forget. It’s not easy for me to talk about this," she finally said.
"I understand. This is the reason why I never asked you. But I think we’ve known each other long enough now, and there’s no better place to open up to each other than here," he said.
"I know, and you’re right. I guess I didn’t talked about that before because I was so scared to bring up all the memories again. Bad memories," she began.
"From your parents?" Danny asked.
"Parents? I never had real parents, Danny. My father died before I was born. His family blamed my mother in his death. You can say that I was born into a permanent argument between two families: my father’s family and my mother’s family," Ashley said.
"I’m sorry," Danny said and felt bad for bringing it up.
"It’s fine, not a big deal. I’ve learned to live with it, Danny."
"And your mother?"
"My mother? She always tried to turn me against Rebecca and the rest of my father’s family. She hates them as much as they hate her," Ashley said. 
"Is this the reason why she changed her name?" Danny suddenly asked and Ashley looked at him, stunned.
"What?" she asked.
"I asked if this is the reason why she changed her name," Danny repeated. 
Ashley was confused now. How could he have found out about that? And why was he asking all these questions now? Who told him about it? She tried to think, but didn’t have the time now. Danny was there, in front of her, waiting for an answer. 
"You seem surprised," Danny said.
"Well, yes. I am," Ashley tried to earn time.
"And still? I’m sure there’s an explanation to that name changing?" he asked.
"Yes, I told you. My father’s family blamed my mother for his death. When I was born, they planned to take me away from her and raise me. You need to understand that she was young and scared, she didn’t know what to do," Ashley explained.
"So she changed her name?" Danny asked.
"Yes. It was the only thing she could have done back then. To run away and change our names to Hamilton. It was the only solution she could think of, to protect me," Ashley said.
"But obviously they found you, eventually," Danny said.
"No, Danny. I’m the one, who found them, when I discovered the truth. It was a few years ago, when I finally realized my mother had lied to me all those years. She said of course it was her way of protecting me from them, but when I met Rebecca for the first time I realized it was really her way of making sure I’d never have any connection with my father’s family," she said with a sad look in her eyes.
"I’m sorry. I feel so bad now," Danny said.
"Don’t. It’s all right. I’m glad that I told you about it. It’s even a relief," she forced a smile. 
"I’m glad that you told me, Ashley. And I love you. I love you very much," he said and reached his hands toward hers. 
"I love you too, Danny. I love you too," Ashley replied.
 
Alexis’s penthouse – the next day
"And you can be in charge of the tickets, darling," Alexis said to her granddaughter.
"But do I still have to wear that awful gown?" Lauren protested.
"Yes, you have to wear that awful gown," Alexis nagged. "We went over this, Lauren dear. Now don’t hurry. If we miss the flight, it’s all right with me."
"If you say so," Lauren grinned.

"Can you just imagine it? The wedding disaster of the year and it has to be my own daughter’s!" Alexis excalimed as they headed out, on their way to the airport.
 
The Dexter Ranch
"Now, did you pack enough clothes, Cameron?" Mary Anne asked her nephew. "You’re staying over with your mother for two whole weeks, you know."

"Never mind clothes," Cameron said. "Where’s my Game Boy?"
"Would you forget your video games for one minute and get your butt in the truck?" Dex sighed. 
Cameron did so, all the while rummaging through his flight bag for the elusive Game Boy. He finally found it as the truck sped off for the airport, and was busily blooping away at it, oblivious to the spectacular scenery melting by.
"Dad," he finally said, not looking up at his game, "why are we going to Amanda Carrington’s wedding anyway? It’s not like she’s part of the family, is she?"
"Not at present, no," Dex stewed.
Cameron grew very silent for a long time then finally asked, "Dad, is it true that you once had an affair with her?"

Dex nearly drove the truck off the road. "Now where in hell did you hear that?"
"Lauren told me a long time ago. She told me she’d heard about it years ago."

"Oh, so Lauren thinks she knows everything does she? She wasn’t even around in those days, and neither were you."

"So it’s true then?"

"Yes, I suppose it’s true. But it was...it was nothing, son. Don’t give it a thought and don’t go blabbing it around. It’s her wedding day, for Christ’s sake."
Cameron grew silent again, except for the annoying electronic bleeps. Eventually, he once again broke his silence. "But, Dad, if you don’t really care about Amanda, then why are we going?"

Dex kept his eye on the road as he answered. "Because of her mother. I need to be there for her mother."

"But Alexis doesn’t want anything to do with you," Cameron said, without remorse. "Doesn’t that sort of make us unwanted guests?"

"Amanda invited us, and I’m more than happy to share in her special day," Dex answered correctly.
"But if Alexis--"
"Oh, all right, Cameron. I suppose you’ll have to know, since Lauren will probably spill the whole thing to you anyway. The real reason we’re going to the wedding is so that I can be near Alexis. Does that bother you? That is, if I end up back with Alexis, I mean?"

"It’s not my idea of a perfect world," said Cameron, "but I don’t see how anybody can stop you."
 
Somewhere…
"Hey, lover. Ready for the big night?" Craig asked Steven as he walked into the room.
"Big night?" Steven asked, confused.
"Yes, well. It’s all set. If everything works by the plan, tomorrow by this time we’ll be in Mexico City, far away from the United States of America!" Craig announced. 
"Craig, it will never work, I told you already, it--"
"Shut up, Carrington! I heard enough! I’m done listening to you crying and complaining. In a few hours you’ll get your new identity and start a whole new life, together with me!" Craig called.
"You don’t understand, Craig. My mother knows me. she’ll come look for me, she knows I wouldn’t leave her in the middle of a big business deal!" Steven yelled. He hoped it would help.
"I told you I took care of everything, right? Your mother got a message from you, she’s not worried about you," Craig assured him.
"You don’t know my mother. Maybe Sammy Jo bought that, but not my mother. She knows me better than anyone. I was about to close a huge deal at Colbyco. I would have never left without telling her first, or I would have closed the deal first, and she knows it! I bet she’s already looking for me and wonders why I vanished that way without calling her first!" Steven said quickly, and hoped that somehow it would come into Craig’s mind. 
"Well, we can’t do anything now. It’s too late," Craig said.
"But she will look for me. Don’t you understand? My mother has connections everywhere, even at the borders! I bet she already hired a private detective to look after me!" Steven called.
Craig looked at Steven, thinking. If Steven was right, and they’d have problems crossing the border, things could become complicated. But what can he do?
"Let me talk to her!" Steven suddenly said. 
"What?" Craig asked.
"Let me call my mother! I can tell her I’m in Europe, and still working on this deal. Those businessmen are from Europe. At least let me telling her that I didn’t forget the deal and that I’m fine," Steven asked.
"No. It’s too risky," Craig said.
"As you wish. But don’t wonder if we have problems crossing the border. I’m sure the private detective sent his men there as well," Steven said, "I know him and his type of work and--"
"OK, OK!" Craig suddenly called.
"What?" Steven asked, unbelievingly. 
"I said okay! I’ll let you call your mother, saying you’re okay. You’ll tell her you’re in Europe and still working with those men. But I’m warning you, Steven, one wrong word--"
"Don’t worry, I won’t say anything," Steven assured him.
"You better not!" Craig warned him. He then pulled his cellphone from his jeans pocket and gave it to Steven. "Call her, but be careful, and do it fast!" he ordered Steven. 
"Sure," Steven said and began dialing the number. 
"Well?" Craig asked.
"It’s ringing," Steven said, "Damn it, it’s a voice machine," he said disappointed, "Maybe I can call her cellphone, or Sammy Jo," Steven tried.
"No way! You leave your mother a short message, that’s it!" Craig said angrily. 
Steven knew he had no choice now. He had to use it and somehow let his mother know that something was wrong. 
Please leave a message after the tone, said the automatically machine, and Steven quickly spoke: "Mother, this is Steven. I’ve tried to call you but you weren’t home and I don’t have much time. I just called to inform you I’m fine and still working on our big deal. The negotiation with Sean Rowan exploded, but I’ll do everything I can to save that deal with him, and with Mr. Woo. I’ll keep in touch. Love you," he said and then hung up…
 
Jim’s Apt. 
"I told you already, the girl is in Germany, checking up on me, I want you to take care of it!" Anne shouted into the phone, "I don’t care how, you just do what you have to do, and don’t call me unless you have good news!" She then hung up the phone, but had to pick it up again as it rang again. "What now?" she yelled.
"Anne?" Craig’s voice was heard from the other line.
"Oh, great. Now you! What do you want?"
"I called to let you know we’re leaving tonight," he said.
"Fine! Good riddance!" Anne replied.
"Look, I need you to come over here, to get rid of the evidence," he said.
"You are joking, right?"
"No, I’m not. I won’t have the time to get rid of everything. It’s a lot of things. You have to come here and clean it all," Craig repeated.
"Oh for God’s sake, Craig. Hire a cleaner or something, I’m not your maid!"
"Anne. There are things nobody should see, if you know what I mean. We can’t take the risk that a stranger will see what was going on here. But if you don’t want to come, maybe I can talk to Jim, he did call me the other day."
"What? When?"
"Two days ago. He left a message, I just didn’t have the chance to call him back."
"You don’t dare call him, Craig! The last thing I need is you and him talking!" she said, not noticing Jim who walked into the house and overheard her talking from the kitchen. 
"So you’ll come here?" Craig asked.
"You’ll have to give me directions," Anne told him. Jim quickly stepped into his bedroom, and picked up the other phone, carefully, listening to their conversation.
"Okay, write it down," Craig told Anne and began explaining to her how to drive into the place where he held Steven.
"Bingo!" Jim murmured as he wrote the directions. 
 
The Carrington Mansion
"Dana, can I come in?" Joseph asked as he stood at Dana’s doorway.
"Sure, Joe, what is going on? Getting ready for the flight?" Dana asked.
"Yes. Something you should do yourself," the boy exclaimed. 
Dana looked at him with a sad look. "Come over here for a second, Joseph," she asked, and the boy joined her on the bed.
"Look, I’m not coming with you to L.A. I’ve decided to leave the mansion," she said.
"Yes, I know," the boy said.
"You do?"
"Yes. I overheard you and my dad talking the other day. And I feel so guilty. Please don’t leave him, Dana. He loves you so much!" 
Dana smiled. She’d waited so long to hear from Joseph those words, wanted so much for him to accept her. Now it was already too late. "Honey, sometimes love is not enough," she explained.
"I don’t believe it. No. My father loves you, Dana. You are the best thing that happened to him since my mom died, you can’t leave us, not now, that everything is getting along finally!" he called excited. 
"Joe – "
"Are you still in love with my dad?" he asked.
"It’s complicated, look--"
"Just answer, okay? Are you still in love with my dad?" he repeated.
"Yes, I love your father very deeply."
"So? What’s the problem? Look, Dana. I know I made your life hell here, and that I didn’t want you in my dad’s life. But I was wrong! I know how much he loves you, and you love him too! you should stay together!"
"Joe, please try to understand," she began but he cut her words off.
"Just come to the wedding, okay? Amanda will be very sorry if you don’t come. Me too, and I’m sure my daddy will be happy if you’ll join us," the kid said. "Just to the wedding. One day! please, please!" 
 
Downstairs…
"You won’t believe what I found out, Mother. It’s amazing!"
"Right now I’m more worried that amazed, Krystina. You should have been back home by now, your father will be furious, if you don’t come to the wedding," Krystle told her daughter on the phone.
"Don’t worry, Mom. I said I’ll be there, I just have to talk to Anne’s mother first, and then I’ll take the first flight back, okay?" Krystina’s voice was heard through the phone.
"I just don’t want you to take any risks, especially not if this woman is dangerous. You should be home."
"I promise I’ll leave the country as soon as I talk to the old lady," Krystina assured.
"And I want you to call me right after," Krystle asked.
"Okay, Mom. Don’t worry. I got to go now. Love you, bye!" 
"I love you too, bye sweetheart," Krystle said and hung up as Blake walked into the living room.
"Was it Krystina?" he asked.
"Blake. Please don’t be angry. She promised she’ll come straight to Los Angeles," Krystle said hesitantly.
"Damn it! I knew she shouldn’t go there by herself, I would have never let her go if I knew what this was about!" Blake called angrily.
"Darling, she’s a big girl, and you know how stubborn she can be. Just like her father," Krystle tried to smile.
"Well Krystle is right," Fallon showed up suddenly behind them and turned to her father, "there’s no way you could have changed her mind, Daddy. She’s doing what she needs to do," she then added.
"So you’re in it as well?" Blake asked.
"Daddy, it might be nothing. But if there’s a slight chance that Anne and Ashley are not whom they claim to be, we should know about it," Fallon explained, "So don’t worry. I’m sure everything will be fine. Now, have you seen Jeff? I looked for him anywhere."
"Oh, you mean he didn’t tell you? He said he had to do something urgent, and will meet us at the airport," Krystle said. 
 
The Nance’s house
Jenny, John Nance’s widow, opened the door and found Jeff standing at her doorstep. She knew who he was.
"What do you want, Mr. Colby?" she wasn’t too nice.
"A few minutes of your time, Mrs. Nance, that’s all," he asked.
"I don’t have time right now, Mr. Colby, and frankly, I’m not interested in anything you have to say," she said and was about to shut the door.
"Please, just one mintue," he asked.
"Quickly," she said, still standing at the doorway.
Jeff pulled a document from his pocket and gave it to her. "Please read it," he asked.
It was a copy of the bank receipt for the money transfer Adam made to the Nance’s account. "I don’t know what it means," the lady said coldly.
"Mrs. Nance. I’m not here to hurt you. God knows you suffered enough," Jeff began.
"So what do you want from me?"
"The truth. I want to know exactly what Adam Carrington promised you and your husband," he said.
"I don’t know what are you talking about, Mr. Colby. My husband was the one who worked with Mr. Carrington and he was the only one who took care of things. Not me. I never met Adam Carrington and I’m not intrested in anything he or you or any other representative of your undistinguished company have to say to me!" she said coldly.
"I’m not here as Denver Carrington’s representative, Mrs. Nance. I’m here because I’m terribly sorry for what happened to your husband, and I want to punish those responsible," Jeff explianed.
"His murderer is in jail, Mr. Carrington. My son and I have suffered enough, as you said, and I won’t let you or anybody else to drag us back again into that sorrow. Now if you’ll excuse me--"
Jeff looked at his watch. It was late. Fallon and the rest of the family were probably waiting for him at the airport. He pulled out his business card and gave it to Jenny Nance.
"Please take it. I won’t bother you again. But if you’ll change your mind, call me. I won’t do anything to hurt you or your son. I guarantee you that," Jeff said, giving her his card and then he left.
 
The Colby Library – a few hours later
"Well, thanks to the good graces of Ronald Reagan, we’ve come full circle, Sable," Jason said to her, as they sat alone, sipping champagne and reminiscing.
"What on earth do you mean by that?" Sable said, looking wistfully into her first husband’s eyes.

"I mean that the last time we sat in this room, amicably, old Ronald Reagan was just being voted out of office. Now that he’s gone, here we are again."
"An interesting coincidence, I suppose," Sable grinned, sipping her drink. "Oh, Jason, there are times when I miss those days. Sitting here by the fireplace with you, hearing you talk of all your plans for Colby Enterprises and your horses and that damn pipeline..."

"Yes, and Connie telling me that I’m spending too much money."
"Dear Connie. I know it’s too late for me to say this, but I do wish we’d been better friends."

"You should have been. You two shared a lot of the same qualities," Jason said, tipping his glass to the portrait of Constance Colby which still hung above the fireplace. 
"She was a wonderful woman, and I’m sorry I ever hurt her."
"She had a lot of love for our children, and she’d be so happy to be here today, and see that Miles gets all the wonderful things he’s always deserved."
Sable sat back thoughtfully in her chair for a moment. Part of her could scarcely believe that she was actually sitting here, having a pleasant conversation with the man who had torn her heart in two, so long ago. But she had no more blame for Jason. Her own mistakes were a matter of record.
"But you’re right, darling," Sable said. "We have come full circle. Just to see you, reunited with your children is enough to make me want to cry." It wasn’t long before she did so.
"Now, Sable," Jason set down his glass. "Don’t do that. There’s nothing to cry about anymore."

"But there is, Jason!" she wept. "All those horrible things I said to you, and Zach Powers, and the lawyers, and what I did to Connie..."

"All in the past now," Jason said gently. He sat closer to her and put his arm around her. Sable could feel that some of his legendary strength was still within him.
"Oh, Jason, Jason," Sable sobbed. "Oh, hold me in your arms, just for a little while. Your arms were always so strong. I always thought you could part waters with them."
"I always had enough strength for the both of us," he smiled.
"You did indeed, and now that there’s no man in my life, I’m not at all certain I am to be trusted with you," she tried to joke.
"No man? But whatever happened to that Roman whosis?"
"There is no more Roman," she sighed, leaning back into his chest. "It’s all over. But you mustn’t worry about me, Jason. No, from now on perhaps I’ll find that I don’t truly need a man in my life."
He stroked her hair, regarding the softness and beauty of her face that time had not dimmed. "Sable, no matter what happened between us, you know you’ll always have a special place in my heart."
"And you don’t know how wonderful and painful it is for me to hear you say that," Sable said. She bent her neck backwards. They both kissed with a long unspoken yearning that was fulfilling yet short-lived. They both sat back on the couch, neither daring to speak or move.
All the while, Francesca Colby stood behind them in the doorway. "Well, well," she said to herself. "Here we go again!"

A nursing home Outside Frankfurt, Germany 
The nursing home where Anne’s mother was hospitalized was located outside of Frankfurt, at the city of Kassel. It took a few hours for Krystina to find where the old lady was staying, and more than two hours until she found the place, after explaining to the taxi driver where she was heading. 
When she finally reached the nursing home, she had to decide what would be the best way to get inside and meet Nicole Nelsen without causing the nurses there to suspect her motives. Then she had the idea to use the same weapon Anne used: a faked identity.
"Hi, I’m Ashley Hamilton. I called earlier. I came to visit my grandmother," she said to the clerk who welcomed her at the reception. 
"Oh, yes, Miss Hamilton. Let me check something first and I’ll be with you in a minute. Please prepare your ID at the meantime," the man said and stepped into the next office. Krystina used it and entered behind the receptionist’s desk, looking for the room number Nicole Nelsen was in. Her heartbeat throbbed faster and faster as she searched for Nicole’s name at the classeur that was on the desk. Come on, come on, she panicked as she heard the clerk’s voice from the other room. He was about to come back any second. "So many patients, God!" she thought. Luckily, she found the room number in time, and left the place quickly, before the clerk came back. Thank god it wasn’t a computer… she thought as she headed to Nicole Nelsen’s room. 
"Fifty-nine, finally," she murmured and knocked on the door. When nobody answered, she opened the door slightly and walked in. It took a few moments before she noticed the old lady who was sitting in a swinging chair. The lady looked pretty old. Krystina thought she must be in her eighties and assumed that it was a long time since she saw her only granddaughter, Ashley, so she hoped the old lady would be fooled. The other problem was her German. She knew only a few words in German, and hoped the old lady could speak English. Her instincts said that Ashley knew German of course, but used to speak English with her family. She hoped it wouldn‘t be a problem. 
"Hallo, Oma," she carefully said. She hoped that if she‘ll call her grandma, the woman will recgonize her as Ashley. 
"Mein Gott...!" the old lady called excited as she noticed Krystina. "Ashley?" she asked.
"Ja, oma. Wie gehts?" she asked her how is she.
"Mein Gott, Ashley!" the old woman was still very much excited. Krystina hugged her. The lady embraced her warmly. 
"How are you, grandma?" Krystina tried in English. 
"Gott, Gott!" it was obvious the woman thought this was really her granddaguther. Krystina smiled.
"It‘s been a while, hasn‘t?" Krystina tried her luck with English again.
"Look at you. so beautiful!" the old lady said and Krystina felt a relief. She knew English. 
"...Und your mutter? Where is Michelle?" 
It took a few seconds for Krystina to understand the old lady asked about Anne. "Oh, mother. Yes, she is still in America. You know, America? She cannot come back to Germany, oma, you know why…" Krystina said and hoped the old lady would start talking now.
"America? No, no America. No America!" the lady became upset.
"Grandma, calm down, please. You know Mom can‘t come here," Krystina tried but the lady became only more upset. She began yelling something in German that Krystina didn‘t understand. Before she realized what was happening, two nurses stormed into the room and ran to the old lady, calming her.
"Get out, miss. Out!" one of them yelled at Krystina. The girl stood there for a few seconds, watching them taking care at the old lady, and when she realized the nurse just called the security, she stormed out quickly and ran away. 
"You stop right there!" a voice came behind her suddenly, as she was about to step down the stairs. 

The Memorial Hospital 
"God, Fallon, no! Don’t let them do this to me!" Roman shouted in his dream.
"Roman!" Fallon seemed to say! "You betrayed me! You betrayed my whole family!"

"I didn’t, Fallon! I love you! It was my father, he was behind all this! Every bit of it, and more than you know!"

"Goodbye, Roman! Goodbye, and may God have mercy on you!"

"Fallon, no! Wait!"
Roman flicked open his eyes. The last thing he remembered was being in his apartment, then...the pain! His back hurt him incredibly. He couldn’t move his legs. "My God. My God, what happened to me?" he said weakly.
He could barely lift his hand to wipe the sleep from his eyes. How long had he been there? Days? It hardly seemed to matter. He knew that Fallon was gone, that Sable was gone, that any chance he ever had at happiness, or of pleasing his father, was gone as well. 
"All’s been lost, all," he muttered in despair. 
"Not all, no," a voice said beside him.
"Father!" Roman shouted hoarsely, as he looked into the eyes of an ancient, feeble-looking man with the eyes of the very devil. Eyes full of hatred and vengeance.
"You haven’t lost all," his father said. "After all, you still have your life...don’t you?"
Roman’s heart beat in terror as we FADE OUT…
 
END PART II