EPISODE 232 - Life Or Death

Alex and Shawn are driving down a lonely Texas road at night in the Honda Accord Shawn had stolen earlier.  For a long time, the two had ridden in silence.  Finally, Shawn looks over at Alex.  "Sure are quiet, bro,"  Shawn says.  "You haven't said ten words in the last two hours."

"What the hell do you want me to say?"  Alex asks.

"I dunno.  You pick a topic."

"I'm not in the mood to talk.  You want noise, turn on the damned radio."

"I don't wanna listen to the radio, I wanna talk,"  Shawn says.  

 "You really expect me to just carry on a conversation with you right now while you're holding that gun at my side?"  Alex asks.  

"You mean you don't wanna talk about the good old days?"  Shawn asks.  "The days when you were my friend, and I could trust you.  

"Can't believe I was ever friends with you,"  Alex says.  "Can't believe I ever thought of you and treated you like my own brother."

"It could've still been like that.  I tried, man.  I REALLY tried.  I offered you a place in the empire that I was building, and what did you do? You slapped my hand away and threw my offer back in my face.  And then you betrayed me."

"I betrayed YOU?  You were the one who declared war on Ewing Oil and my family.  And look where it got you. You've lost everything, Shawn.  There's no way out of this for you."

"Oh, yeah?"  Shawn asks.  "Well, if there's no way out for me, then there's no way out for you, either.  So how do you think this will end, Alex?  Think either of us will make it out of this alive?"

Alex remains silent as he continues to drive, keeping his eyes firmly on the road.  

Shawn looks at him.  "You didn't answer me.  Well, I'll answer for you.  If we can make it across the border, we should be fine.  If not........in other words, if we get caught, I am NOT goin' to jail.  No way.  I'll die first, and I can promise you one thing.......if I go down, I'm takin' you with me."

Alex's heart sinks upon hearing Shawn's words.  He knows that somehow, he's got to find a way to escape from Shawn, even if it means taking Shawn out.

 Krystina comes down the stairs at Southfork early the next morning looking for John Ross.  She  

makes her way through the darkened house.  Passing by the sliding glass door leading onto the patio, Krystina sees John Ross sitting alone by the pool.  She watches him for a moment, then opens the door and walks onto the patio.  She walks over 

to him and puts her hands on his shoulders and rubs them.  "You haven't been to bed all night,"  she says.

"No.  Couldn't possibly sleep knowin' my son is out there somewhere with that psycho."

"John Ross, I know how you feel.  But you have to get your rest and keep your strength up.  Now you didn't have any dinner last night, and you haven't had any sleep.  You're gonna make yourself sick."

"Darlin', I just can't,"  John Ross says.  "All I can think about is Alex.  Krystina, I'm scared.  I'm REAL scared.  I keep thinkin' how scared Alex must be right now.  And that worries me.  Worries me that he might try somethin' and Shawn........Shawn Smith is desperate.  He knows he has nothin' left to lose.  And desperate men do desperate things."

"John Ross, they're going to find them,"  Krystina says.  The state police and the FBI have roadblocks set up all over the state.  We have to have faith and believe that Alex will be okay, and that he'll be brought home safely."

"If that son of a bitch hurts my son, I swear, Krystina.......I'll kill him with my bear hands."

Krystina leans down and puts her arms around John Ross in an attempt to comfort him, but she is deeply worried about Alex's safety herself.

The Krebbs Ranch....later....

 Ray comes into the Krebbs kitchen the next morning and finds Donna sitting at the kitchen table drinking a cup of coffee.  "Morning,"  he says, going to the stove to pour himself a cup of coffee.  

"Morning,"  Donna says.

"You sure were restless last night," Ray says.  

"I just couldn't sleep.  I'm not sure why, but I just have this feeling........a feeling that something's wrong."

Ray takes a seat next to her at the table.  "Maybe you're just worryin' about Alex."

Donna sighs.  "I don't know, maybe.  I really hope they find him before Shawn Smith hurts him."

"Yeah, so do I.  Have you seen Conner or Dylan this morning?"

"No, I haven't.  I was just about to ask you the same thing.  Not like those two to oversleep."

"Maybe I'd better go wake 'em,"  Ray says.  "We got a lotta work to do around here today."  Ray gets up from the table and leaves the room.  He goes up the stairs and down the hall to Conner's room.  He knocks, but receives no answer.  "Hey, Conner, you awake?"  Ray asks, walking into the room.  He is surprised to find that Conner is not there, and his bed appears to not have been slept in.  Ray closes Conner's door and goes down the hall and knocks on Dylan's door.  "Dylan?"  He calls, then walks in to find that Dylan is not in his room either.  "Now where in the world could those two be?"  he asks himself.  He closes Dylan's door and then goes back downstairs.  

"Well, are the boys out of bed yet?"  Donna asks as Ray returns to the kitchen,

"Yeah, they're gone."

"Gone?"

"Yeah, neither one of them's in their rooms and their beds don't look like they've been slept in all night."

"Well, where in the world could they be?"  Donna asks.  "It's not like Conner and Dylan not to call if they're going to be out all night."

Ray looks at her and sighs, worried about why Conner and Dylan didn't come home last night.

The Beaumont home....

 Over at the Beaumont home, Ashley comes down the stairs and finds Conner in the living room, holding an ice pack to the left side of his face.  "How're you feeling?"  She asks.

"Hurting like hell."

"Did you get any sleep?"

"No, did you?"  Conner asks. 

"Not a wink,"  Ashley replies.  "I've been calling Dylan's phone all night and there's no answer.  I've left him tons of messages begging him to call me back."

"Did you really expect him to?"  Conner asks.

"I'm so worried about him.  Conner, dear God, what have we done?  Dylan could've killed you last night, and the way he left here."

"Maybe he went home."

"Do you really think so?"

"I don't know.  I guess I'll find out soon enough.  As much as I hate to.......as much as I hate to face Ray and Donna, especially looking like this, I know I have to go home."

Ashley walks over to Conner and gently touches his badly battered face.  "Conner, I'm so sorry.  This is all my fault."

Conner stands to his feet and looks at her.  "No, Ashley, this is not your fault.  Look, what happened last night was.......we were both to blame for that.  If we had only been honest with Dylan about our feelings for each other, this wouldn't have happened, at least not this way."

"You're right.  But the person who's really at fault is Jasmine.  Damn that bitch.  She brought Dylan over here on purpose."

"I know,"  Conner says.  "But that's not important right now.  What's important is finding Dylan, and making sure that he's okay, and that he understand that neither of us ever meant for any of this to happen.  I'm gonna go."

"I'm gonna come with you,"  says Ashley.  

"Ashley, no.  That's a terrible idea.  Dylan is gonna be upset enough to see me.  I don't want him taking his anger out on you."

"I'm gonna have to face him sooner or later.  It might as well be now."

Conner nods.  "Ashley, I don't know how this is all gonna turn out.  I know that I've probably destroyed my relationship with my brother forever. Ray and Donna may never forgive me for what I've done.  But I love you.  I love you more than I've ever loved anyone, and I would do it all again to be with you."

"I feel the same.  I only wish that we'd handled this differently."

"So do I,"  Conner says, embracing her.  "Let's go and see if Dylan went home last night.  And....... face Ray and Donna with the mess we've made."

Ashley looks at him.  She sighs deeply as she nods.  Conner picks up the keys to his truck from a table, and the two leave together.

Meanwhile....a parking lot in Dallas....

Dylan is asleep in his car in a parking lot somewhere in Dallas.  The sound of traffic noise from the parking lot and the adjacent street begins to wake Dylan up.  

 Slowly, he opens his eyes and looks around.  For a few seconds, Dylan stares straight ahead, and then 

 John Ross, Braddock's Sheriff Derrick, an officer with the Texas Highway Patrol, and an FBI agent all come out of the house at Southfork and onto the patio.  "Mr. Ewing, we're doing all that we can to find your son and Shawn Smith,"  the FBI agent says.  

"We've got roadblocks set up all over the state, Mr. Ewing,"  the Texas patrol officer says.  "There's no way they're gonna get out of Texas,"

"We don't even know what they're drivin',"  John Ross says.  "Shawn Smith must know that an APB has been put out on Alex's car and everyone in the state is gonna lookin' for that license plate.  He's probably ditched Alex's car by now."

"But we have photos of your son and Smith sent to every law enforcement agency in Texas and surrounding states, and in every newspaper in the state,"  the FBI agent says.  "Someone is bound to spot them."

"In the meantime, I'll be hiring my own private detectives to try and find Shawn Smith and my son,"  says John Ross.  

"Mr. Ewing, I would strongly advise against that,"  the FBI agent says.  "In fact, I'm gonna have to insist that you do NOT get involved in this.  Let us handle it.  We have the training and the knowledge to deal with this type of situation."

"You might have the training and knowledge.......but that psychopath has my son,"  John Ross says.

"Mr. Ewing, I understand how you feel...."

 Donna is pacing around the living room while Ray is on the phone calling Dylan's cell number.  When he gets no answer, he hangs up and sighs.  "Dylan's phone just goes straight to voicemail."

"Ray, I'm REALLY worried.  Where in the world could those two be?"  Donna asks.

"I don't know, Donna.  But I'm worried, too."

At that moment, Conner and Ashley walk into the house.  Ray and Donna rush into the foyer to greet them.  "Conner, where have you......."  Donna starts to ask, but she stops short and gasps when she sees the young man's badly battered.  "Oh my God."

"What in the world happened to you?"  Ray asks.

"It's a long story,"  Conner replies.

"Is Dylan home?"  Ashley asks.

"No, we've been trying to call him, and Conner,"  says Donna.  "What is going on?  Conner, who did this to you?"

"Have you seen Dylan, at all?"  Conner asks.

"No, we haven't, now will you tell us what the hell is goin' on?"  Ray asks.

Conner looks at Ray and Donna.  "Dylan and I........there was a.........a fight last night."

"What?"  Donna gasps.  

"Are you sayin' Dylan did this to you?"  Ray asks.

Ashley begins to cry.  "It was my fault,"  she says.  

"YOUR fault?"  Ray asks.

"Ray, Donna, we don't have time to explain right now,"  says Conner.  "But we need to find Dylan.  He could be in trouble.  The way he left Ashley's house last night......"

"Wait a minute,"  says Ray.  "You were at Ashley's house last night?  And that's where this happened?"

"Yes."

Donna looks at Conner, then at Ashley, and back at Conner.  "I really hope and pray this isn't what I think it is.  Please tell me that Dylan didn't find the two of you together."

Conner lowers his head in shame.  "He did."

"Oh dear God,"  Donna says.

"Wait a minute,"  Ray says.  "Just what are you sayin'?  Conner, you and Ashley......"

Conner nods.  "I'm sorry.  Look, we never meant to hurt Dylan.  But Ashley and I are in love."

"Ray, we have to find him,"  Donna says.  

"I know.  Let's go."  Ray grabs his hat from the rack near the door and he and Donna start to leave.

"We wanna help,"  Ashley says.

Ray turns back and looks at her and Conner.  "I think you two have done enough," he says.  "We'll talk about this later."  He and Donna quickly leave.  

Conner walks over and takes a seat on the stairs.  Ashley puts her hand on his shoulder.

Meanwhile....a bar in Dallas....

 Dylan walks into a bar in Dallas.  He looks around, then slowly makes his way up to the bar, where he takes a seat on a stool.  The bartender comes over to him.  "What can I get for you?"

"Vodka......on the rocks,"  Dylan replies.

"I need to see some I.D."

Reluctantly, Dylan takes his wallet out of his back pocket, opens it, and shows the bartender his drivers license.  The bartender nods, then proceeds to fix Dylan's drink.  A moment later, the bartender places the glass of vodka in front of Dylan on the bar.  Dylan looks at it for a few seconds, then picks it up and takes a sip.  As he takes his second sip of the drink, his mind flashes back to the previous night, when he saw his brother in bed with Ashley.  He feels the hurt and anger rise up inside of him all over again.  He finishes off the vodka with a third large sip.  "Gimme another,"  he tells the bartender.

The young man looks at Dylan, then takes his glass.  He pours him a second glass of vodka and places it in front of him.  Dylan immediately takes a sip, determined to drink himself numb so that he can no longer feel the pain of betrayal.

Southfork....afternoon....

  Bobby, Ann, John Ross, Krystina, Charlie, Catlin, Sue Ellen, Lucas, Heather, and Jenna are all gathered in the den at Southfork that afternoon, John Ross once again on the phone with the authorities, when Bridget, Clay, and Michelle walk into the room.  

"Has there been any word yet?"  Bridget asks Krystina in tears.

"No, sweety, I'm afraid not."

"Look, I don't give a damn!" John Ross angrily says to the person he's on the phone with.  "I want every man you've got put on this case.  I want my son found.  Don't tell me you're doin' everything you can.  Just find my son!"  John Ross ends the call and puts his phone down.  

Sue Ellen walks over to him.  "What did the state police say?"

"Same old BS.  They're doin' all they can and they have every available man on the case."

"John Ross, they're going to find Alex and bring him home safely,"  Sue Ellen says.  "We have to believe that."

"I'm tryin', Mama.  I'm REALLY tryin'.  But I can't stand this.  If anything happens to my son, I....... I don't know what I'm gonna do."

Sue Ellen puts her arms around John Ross and embraces him. 

Meanwhile across the room, Charlie and Jenna are watching the scene.  "Y'know, Mom, when Alex first found out that John Ross was his father, I was skeptical,"  Charlie says.  "I didn't think that John Ross would be the kind of father I wanted for my son, but, seeing how much John Ross loves Alex, I know now how wrong I was.  And how wrong I was for keeping the two of them apart for so long."

"You're right,"  Krystina says, walking up to the two women.  "John Ross is a wonderful father, and nothing is more important to him than his children."

"I know that now,"  Charlie says.  "I can't stand this waiting, I feel like I'm going crazy.  Why don't we hear something?"

"Charlie, the police are doing everything they can to find Alex,"  Jenna says.  "And the FBI are involved also."  

"She's not doin' so great, Sue Ellen,"  Justin replies.  "She was really traumatized by what that bastard did to her, and by losin' the baby.  I haven't told her anything about Alex's kidnappin'.  I've been tryin' to keep her from seein' any news, but it's hard."

"Justin, I'm so sorry,"  Sue Ellen says.  

"Justin is there anything we can do?"  Catlin asks.

"No, but thank you.  It's just gonna take some time."

John Ross puts his drink down on the mantle and walks out of the room without a word to anyone.  Concerned about her husband, Krystina follows.  "John Ross?"  She says, catching up to him in the foyer.

John Ross turns to face her.

"Where are you going?"

 "I can't just sit around here any longer waitin' for that phone to ring," John Ross says.  "I've gotta get out of here.  I've got to do somethin'."

"John Ross, what are you gonna do?"  Krystina asks.

"I'm goin' to see Shawn Smith's mother,"  John Ross replies.  "Sharon knows her son better than anybody.  Maybe she has some idea where he might be headed."

Hearing John Ross, Charlie walks into the foyer from the living room.  "You're going to see Shawn Smith's mother?"

"Yes.  I thought she might......"

"Yeah, I heard.  I'm coming with you,"  Charlie says.  

"Alright, let's go,"  John Ross says, then he and Charlie walk out of the room.  

Sharon Smith's apartment....a short while later....

Sharon comes out of her bedroom to answer her ringing doorbell.  Opening the door, she is surprised to see John Ross.  "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Need to talk to you,"  John Ross replies.  "Sharon Smith, this is Charlie Walton, Alex's mother."

"May we come in?"  Charlie asks.

Sharon nods, and steps aside to let John Ross and Charlie into her apartment.  She closes the door and turns to face them.  "What do you want?"

"We wanna know if you have any idea where your son might have taken Alex,"  John Ross says.  "Do you know of any place Shawn might have gone, or where he could be headed?"

"What makes you think I would know where my son is?"

"You're his mother, for God's sake, you must have some idea."

"My son had not been speaking to me for quite some time."

"There has to be some place that's special to him,"  says John Ross.  "Some place that he would feel safe goin' to and hidin' out."

"Mr. Ewing, I can't help you," Sharon says.  "Why should I even want to?"

"Because that crazy kid of yours has my son, and the longer he holds Alex, the deeper he's gettin' in this mess, so if you have any idea where he might be hidin out, then you'd better tell us."

"You go to hell.  Now get out of here before I call the police."

"Mrs. Smith, wait, please,"  Charlie says.  "Look, I know that you must be as frightened for your son right now as we are for ours.  Mrs. Smith, if you have ANY idea where Shawn might have gone, if you know of any place where he might feel safe hiding out, then please, you have to tell us."

Sharon looks at Charlie and struggles to hold back her tears.  "I'm sorry, but I really don't know where Shawn would go.  I don't even know my son anymore.  This man who has done so many terrible things.........this person isn't the same little boy that I raised and loved.  So I really have no idea what he's thinkin' right now, or what he might do."

Charlie sighs deeply.  "I'm sorry.  We just thought that maybe you might be able to help us.  I'm sorry.  John Ross, let's go."

John Ross looks at Sharon.  "Your boy better hope and pray that no harm comes to my son,"  he says.  "Because if Shawn has hurt Alex in any way........when I find him, I'll kill him."

 Lila is taking a cake out of the oven in the kitchen of Cass's apartment.  She places the cake onto the kitchen counter, then takes a deep breath in of the cake's aroma and smiles at her accomplishment.  Cass walks into the kitchen.  

"Hey, what in the world?"  He asks.  "What smells so good?"

"I baked a cake,"  Lila replies.

"You?  YOU baked a cake?  Since when have you been interested in baking?  You sure never did any baking when we were married.  Or cooking either, for that matter."

Lila looks at him and smiles.  "Well, Mr. Winthrop, I've been through quite a few changes since our divorce."

"So I see.  I definitely like this 'new' Lila."

"I'm glad you approve,"  Lila says.  The two look at each other and smile, but the mood is broken by the ringing of the doorbell.  "You get the door,"  Lila says.  "I still have to make my frosting."

"Hmmm, home made frosting, too?"  Cass asks.  "Can't wait to taste it."  He walks out of the kitchen, goes to the door, and opens it to find Ashley.  

"Mr. Winthrop, is Jasmine home?"  Ashley asks, an angry tone to her voice.

"Yes, she is.  Come in, Ashley."

"Thank you,"  Ashley says, walking into the apartment.  

"I think she's in her room.  I'll call her."

"No, don't bother,"  Ashley says.  Before Cass can say anything else, Ashley marches down the hall to Jasmine's bedroom.  She knocks on the door.

Jasmine is laying on her stomach across her bed, holding a stuffed animal, when the knock comes at her door.  "Who is it?"

"Ashley!  Let me in, Jasmine!"

Pausing for a moment, Jasmine sighs, then reluctantly gets off the bed and walks over to the door.  After another brief pause, Jasmine opens the door and Ashley walks into the room.  "What do you want?"  Jasmine asks.

"And you DESTROYED him!"  Ashley yells.  "Dylan is an alcoholic, and he's been missing since last night.  If he's started drinking again, and if any harm has come to him, I swear, I won't rest until I make you pay for what you did!"

"Alright, that's enough," Lila says.  "Ashley, I think you'd better leave.....now!"

Ashley looks at Jasmine.  "Remember what I said.  If any harm has come to Dylan......."

"If any harm HAS come to Dylan, it won't be because of me, it'll be because you and Conner.  And you both should've thought of that before you jumped into bed together.  Now get out of here!"

"Oh, you......"  Ashley lunges at Jasmine again, but Cass grabs her.

"Ashley, go," Cass says.  Leave, NOW."

Ashley gives her cousin one last look of disgust, then walks out of the room.  

"I swear,"  Jasmine says.  "Ashley Beaumont is gonna regret the day she ever crossed me."

 A bar in Dallas....

 Dylan finishes off a glass of bourbon at the bar in Dallas.  He looks at the bartender.  "Hey, gimme another," Dylan says, his speech slurred.

The bartender walks over to him.  "Sorry, buddy, but you've had enough."

"I'll decide when I've had enough, now give me another drink."

"No can do.  I'll call you a cab,"  the bartender says.  

"I don't need a damned cab," Dylan says, becoming angry.  "What I NEED is another drink.  I'm a paying customer, and it's your job to serve me.  So do your job."

"And I have served you.  Several glasses of bourbon, and now you've reached your limit and it's time for you to go."

"I'm not going anywhere until I get another drink. Now you give it to me, or I'll come back there and get it myself."

"Okay, that does it,"  the bartender says.  "Get the hell out of here, or I'm callin' the cops."

"Call whoever the hell you want, AFTER you give me another drink," Dylan says.  

The bartender looks at him.  "Are you gonna go peacefully, or am I gonna have to have your ass thrown out of here?"

"I don't think you know who I am,"  Dylan says.  "My name is Dylan Ewing.  EWING.  That name mean anything to you?"

"I don't care if you're Dylan ROCKEFELLER, you're not gettin' another drink in my bar."

Seated nearby is a young man who overhears Dylan's conversation with the bartender.  The young man gets up from his seat and walks over.  "Excuse me," he says.  "Did I hear you say your last name is Ewing?"

Dylan looks at him.  "Yeah, so?"

"Are you one of the Southfork Ewings?"

"Sort of."

"I kinda thought you looked familiar," the young man says.  "Look, bartender, how about givin' my friend here another drink?"

"Your.......FRIEND......had reached his limit," the bartender says.

"Hey, come on.  One more drink and then that's it.  We'll go.  I know him, and I'll take responsibility."

The bartender looks at the young man and at Dylan for a second, then shakes his head.  He quickly pours Dylan another drink, and slides it over to him.  "Last one,"  he says.  "After this, get your friend the hell out of here."

"Sure thing,"  the young man says.  

Dylan grabs the glass and takes a sip.  Then he finishes off the drink with one long gulp.  He looks at the young man.  "Thank you."

"Hey, no problem."

"Who......are you?" Dylan asks, his speech slurred from the drink.  

"Scott Anderson.  And if you're one of the Southfork Ewings, then your family are very good friends with my grandmother, Mavis Anderson.  As a matter of fact, my older brother, Craig Anderson, is married to a relative of yours, Jill Cryder."

"Oh, that's......cool......I guess."

"So which one of the Ewings are you?"  Scott asks.

"One of the........lesser ones.  REAL lesser ones."

Scott smiles.  "Dylan Ewing......hey, wait a minute, you're Todd Baxter's kid brother, aren't you?"

Dylan looks at him.  "I guess you could say that.  You know Todd?"

"I guess you could say that.  Well, look, uh, you're not gonna be able to get another drink here, so why don't you let me drive you home before we get kicked outa this place?"

"Home?"  Dylan asks.  "I don't......have.......a........home."

"Okay, then, you can come to my house, at least until you sleep it off."

"No.  I want another drink.  Bartender......"

"Like I said, Dylan, you're not gonna get another drink here.  Come on.  Come with me."

"No,"  Dylan says.  "I want.......ANOTHER DRINK!"

The bartender walks over to them again.  "Buddy, do yourself a favor and go with your friend," he says to Dylan.  "Because if you don't, I'm gonna have you thrown out."

"Come on Dylan,"  Scott says, taking Dylan by the arm.  "Let's go."

"Okay....fine, I'll GO!  But this is the last time I ever come into this......bar."

"That's the best news I've heard all day,"  the bartender says.

Scott helps Dylan off his barstool, Dylan almost falling to the floor.  Scott takes out a fifty dollar bill and lays it on the bar.  "This should cover my tab and his."

"Yeah, thanks,"  the bartender says.  He watches as Scott helps Dylan out of the bar, practically having to carry him, as Dylan's numerous glasses of bourbon have rendered him almost unable to walk on his own two feet.

Southfork....

 Donna's car pulls up to Southfork and comes to a stop in the parking area in rear of the house.  Ray and Donna get out of the car and walk up to the house as Bobby is coming onto the patio.  "Bob,"  Ray says.

"Hi, Ray.  Donna,"  says Bobby.

"Has there been any word on Alex?"  Donna asks.

"No, none.  The police have roadblocks set up all over the state, and a statewide manhunt for Shawn Smith, but so far, they haven't come up with anything."

"How's John Ross handlin' this?"  Ray asks.

"Like any father would.  He's worried to death."

"And what about Charlie?"  Ray asks.

"Charlie's a nervous wreck, too.  She arrived this morning.  She's inside if you wanna go in and say hello.  I just needed some air, so I was gonna go for a walk."

"Okay, but, Bob the reason we came over is.......have you seen or heard from Dylan today by any chance?"  

 "Dylan?  No, why?  Somethin' wrong?"  Bobby asks.

Ray sighs.  "Yeah.  Dylan has been missing ever since last night."

"Missing?"

"Bobby, it's a long and complicated story,"  says Donna.  "We won't get into it right now since we know you've already got a lot on your mind with Alex.  But please, if you or anyone does happen to 

hear from Dylan or see, let us know."

"Don't worry, I will."

"Bob, tell Charlie that Donna and I'll be prayin' for Alex, and that I'll come over and see her tomorrow,"  says Ray.

"I will, Ray.

"Let us know if you hear anything about Alex,"  Donna says.  "And if we can do anything.  Love you."  Donna kisses Bobby on the cheek.

"Love you, too, and I'll let you know."

"Bye, Bob,"  Ray says, he and Donna walking away from Bobby.  

Meanwhile....

Upstairs, John Ross is standing in the nursery, looking at little Ellie as she sleeps soundly in her crib.  Charlie comes to the nursery door and looks in.  She watches as John Ross gently touches the child's face.  After a moment, John Ross turns around and sees her.  

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude,"  Charlie says.  

"You didn't intrude.  I was just lookin' in on my daughter."

Charlie walks over to the crib and looks down at the child.  "John Ross, she's so beautiful."

"John Ross, I'm so sorry,"  Charlie says.  "If I could go back and do things differently, I would.  I'll always regret the years that I robbed you of with Alex."

"Charlie, I don't blame you for that.  Not anymore.  I know you did what you thought was best at the time.  Hell, I was young, wild, and real reckless in those days.  There was no way I ready to be a father when I was 20-years-old."

"Maybe fatherhood would've made you grow up,"  says Charlie.

"I kinda doubt that, lookin' back on what I was like in those days.  But none of that matters right now.  All that matters is gettin' our son back safe and sound."

"You're right about that.  John Ross, I'm so afraid.  Alex is all that I have, and if anything happens to him, I don't think I can......."  Charlie pauses as she begins to cry.

"Hey, listen to me,"  John Ross says, putting his hands on her shoulders.  "I don't want you to even think like that.  Don't even entertain the idea that somethin' is gonna happen to our son.  I've got the best private investigators in the country workin' on this.  The FBI and the state police are lookin' for Alex and Shawn Smith.  They'll find them."

"From everything I've heard, Shawn Smith is very dangerous and very unhinged.  John Ross, what if he panics and hurts Alex?  Or what if he......"

"Shhhh, it's gonna be alright,"  John Ross says, putting his arms around Charlie and embracing her.  As

John Ross comforts Charlie, Krystina comes to the door of the nursery.  Seeing her husband with his arms around another woman, a look of worry comes over Krystina's face.  

Meanwhile....near the Texas-

 Alex and Shawn are headed down a long stretch of highway in west Texas, Shawn holding Alex at gunpoint as Alex drives. 

"We're gonna be out of gas soon,"  Alex says.  

Shawn looks over at the gas gauge and sees that it is almost on E.  "Damn."

 "What'd you expect?  That we were gonna be able to drive forever and not run out of gas?"

"Just shut up.  We have to get gas somewhere, and soon,"  Shawn says.  

"Fine.  I'll pull into the nearest gas station," Alex says sarcastically.

"I said shut up.  I need to think,"  Shawn says.  "Okay, we need to find some place.........a house or a farm or something.  Some place we can get some gas."

"So what are we gonna do?  Just pull up and say, 'excuse me, but can we please have some gas for our stolen car?"

"Y'know, man, you are REALLY starting to get on my last nerve with your sarcastic mouth.  So unless you want to swallow some of those pearly white teeth of yours, you'll just shut up and drive.  Start looking for some place where we can steal some gas.......or another car.  And remember, you try anything funny.......anything at all...... and I'll put a bullet in you."

A short time later....

 Alex and Shawn drive up to a farm in west Texas, not far from the Texas-New Mexico border.  "Okay, turn the lights off,"  Shawn says.

"What?"

"You heard me.  Turn the lights off."

Alex does as he is told and switches off the car lights.  

"Pull over and stop here,"  Shawn orders.

Again, Alex does as he is instructed and brings the car to a stop on the side of the long driveway leading up to a farmhouse.  

"Okay, give me the keys,"  Shawn says.

Alex looks at him, then takes the keys from the ignition and hands them to Shawn.  

"Now, get out, but SLOWLY," Shawn says, holding the gun on Alex.   Shawn gets out of the passenger side of the car, holding the gun on Alex as he gets out of the driver's side.  In his other hand, Shawn is carrying a license plate.  "There's gotta be a car up there.  Let's go.  We'll make our way up to the house through those trees so no one sees us.  And remember........try anything stupid and I'll kill you without a second thought.  And anyone who happens to hear the shot and comes out to investigate."

Alex looks at him angrily, then the two begin sneaking toward the house via the woods that line both sides of the long driveway.  Once they reach the edge of the front yard, Shawn touches Alex on the shoulder, indicating for him to stop.  

"Over there,"  Shawn says, pointing toward the house.  "There's a car.  Come on, let's go."  Shawn forces Alex up the hill and across the yard to where an older model Honda is sitting near the farmhouse.  The two make their way to the car, making sure to keep low so as not to be seen by anyone from the house.  "Get in,"  Shawn says, opening the passenger door of the car.  Alex climbs in, then slides over to the driver's side as Shawn gets into the car on the passenger side.  "Now as I recall, you know how to hotwire a car.  So get busy putting that skill to work."

Alex gives Shawn an angry look, then begins to hot wire the car.  After a moment, the car starts.  

"Come on, let's get the hell out of here!"  Shawn demands.  "GO!"

Reluctantly, Alex puts the car into 'drive' and they speed away from the farmhouse, unaware if anyone inside the house had heard them or not.  At the end of the long driveway, Alex turns right onto the main road.  

"First secluded place you can find to pull off the road, do it,"  Shawn says.  "We're gonna put this here license plate on.  Soon as those people realize their car is gone, the cops are gonna be lookin' for it, but, they're not gonna be looking for a car with THIS license plate."

"How long do you think it's gonna be before the cops finally catch up to you?"  Alex asks.  "There's a statewide manhunt, maybe even a national manhunt now.  It's only a matter of time before they catch you, and I can't wait to see that happen."

Dylan begins to slowly wake up the next morning.  Opening his eyes, Dylan sits up in bed and looks around, realizing he is in a strange bed and a strange room.  He hears the sound of a door closing in the next room, and then Scott Anderson walks in after taking a shower.  "Morning,"  Scott says as he picks up a shirt from his bed and slips it on.

"Morning,"  replies Dylan.  "Where.......where am I?"

Scott takes a seat on the bed across from Dylan.  "Well, you're in my room, and this is my house, or rather, it's my grandmother's house, but I live here with my grandmother and my parents."

"You're, ummm, you're Scott, aren't you?  Your grandmother is Mrs. Anderson?"  A confused Dylan asks.

"That's right, Mavis Anderson."

"I've seen you at a couple Ewing Barbecues."

"Yeah, but until yesterday we'd never actually met.  You remember anything about yesterday?"  Scott asks.

Dylan sits up in bed and rubs his aching head.  "I went to this bar.  I had a few drinks....."

"A few?  I'd say you had more than a few.  You were too drunk to drive.  I offered to take you back to Mr. and Mrs. Krebbs's place, but you said you couldn't go back there.  I offered to take you to Southfork, and you refused to go there, too, so I didn't know what else to do with you except bring you home with me and let you sleep it off.  You must have one hell of a headache this morning."

"Oh, yeah,"  Dylan says.  

"Dylan, what happened?  What made you wanna get that drunk?"

Dylan looks at him and sighs.  "I don't wanna talk about it."

"Okay, fine, then you don't have to.  You must be hungry.  I'll go down and get you some breakfast.  What would you like?"

"Thanks, but I'm really not hungry,"  Dylan says.  "I'd rather have a drink if you've got any liquor."

"A drink?"  Scott asks.  "At 8:30 in the morning?"

"Anything.  I'll take anything you've got......bourbon, or scotch......"

"Ummm, some food really would be better for you, man,"  Scott says.  "Why don't you just relax and I'll go and grab you some bacon and maybe some eggs?  Or would you rather have grits?"

 "I'd rather have a drink,"  Dylan says.  

Scott smiles.  "I think a nice hot bowl of grits and bacon would be better.  I'll be back in a few minutes.  Just get some more rest in the meantime."  Scott gets up and goes to the door.  He pauses, looks back at Dylan, then leaves the room.  

 Dylan lays his pounding head back onto the pillow as his mind flashes back to a couple of nights ago, when he found his brother in bed with Ashley.  Dylan closes his eyes, trying to block out the memory.

Southfork....

Jenna is standing at the kitchen sink looking out the window at Southfork as she sips a cup of coffee.  Jenna had suffered through a sleepless night, her mind on Alex and how worried she is about him.  She finishes off her coffee, then immediately pours herself another cup.  Ann comes to the kitchen door, but pauses before going in when she sees Jenna.  "Mornin',"  Ann says, walking into the kitchen.

"Morning,"  Jenna says.  "I made some coffee.  I hope you don't mind."

"No, of course not."

"Would you like a cup?"

"Sure, I'd love some," Ann says.  

Jenna picks up the coffee pot but finds it almost empty.  She sighs.  "I'm sorry, there's not enough. I'll make some more."

"No, you sit down," Ann says.  "I'll do it."

"Why are you being so nice to me after everything that happened between you, me, and Bobby?"  Jenna asks.

Ann goes to the counter and picks up a jar of Folger's Coffee.  She pauses for a second, then looks at Jenna.  "No matter the problems we've had in the past or how we feel about each other, none of that seems important now.  All that matters is Alex and gettin' him home safely."

"You're right.  I didn't sleep a wink last night.  All I could think 

about was my grandson and how frightened I am for him.  By the way, thank you for letting Charlie and I stay here at Southfork last night."

"That's alright,"  says Ann.  "The family needs to be together right now."

Bobby comes into the kitchen.  "Jenna, good morning,"  he says.

"Morning, Bobby."

"I'm just about to make some coffee,"  says Ann.

"I think I'm gonna go for a walk,"  Jenna says.  "I really need to clear my head."  She puts down her coffee cup and quickly leaves the room.  

"Was it somethin' I said?"  Bobby asks.  

"No,"  Ann replies.  "Y'know, Bobby, I never thought I'd say this, but I really feel sorry for her right now.  She's very worried about Alex."

"I know,"  says Bobby.  "We all are."

Ann puts her arms around her husband and embraces him.

Just over the New Mexico state line....

 Alex wakes up that morning in the front passenger seat of the car Shawn had forced him to help him 

steal the night before.  Alex's hands are tied behind the seat, and a piece of duct tape covers his mouth.  Turning his head to the left, Alex sees that Shawn is asleep in the backseat.  Trying to be as quiet as he can, Alex begins struggling to get his hands loose from the rope that binds them, but the rope is too tight.  The more he struggles, the more the rope presses into the skin of his wrists, creating painful rope burns.  Alex continues to struggle to no avail.  

Shawn begins to wake up.  Opening his eyes, he sees Alex's hands struggling against the rope.  "May as well give up," Shawn says, startling Alex.  "You'd never be able to get out of these knots."  Shawn sits up, reaches over, and unties Alex's hands.  He then gets out of the backseat of the car and gets into the driver's seat.  "Sleep well?"  He asks.

Alex looks at him.

"Oh, I'm sorry, man,"  Shawn says.  "I forgot, you can't answer me with that tape over your mouth."  Shawn reaches over to Alex's face, grabs a corner of the duct tape, and quickly rips it off Alex's mouth, the pain of which is excruciating.  Shawn lets out a slight laugh at the sight of Alex wincing in pain.  

"You son of a bitch,"  Alex says, rubbing his face.  

"Sorry about that.  Well, I guess we should be getting out of here.  We were lucky to find this secluded place in the woods to sleep for a couple hours.  At least we made it out of Texas.  Come on, get out of the car."

"What?"

"You heard me.  Untie your feet and get out of the car,"  Shawn says.  "You're gonna drive, so come on." 

With Shawn's gun on him, Alex slowly leans down and unties the rope that binds his feet together.  Then he gets out of the car on the passenger side while Shawn gets out on the driver's side.  Shawn still holding the gun on him, the two switch places, Alex getting into the driver's seat.  "So what now?"  Alex asks after Shawn gets in.  "Where the hell are we headed now?"

"We need to find a phone,"  replies Shawn.  "Then we call John Ross.  How much do you think you're worth?  A million?  Five million?  Ten?  That's a drop in the bucket to the fortune you damned Ewings cost me."

"Everything you lost, and everything that's happened to you, you brought it all on yourself,"  Alex says.

"Just shut up and get us out of here."

Alex starts the car.  

"Drive until I tell you to stop,"  Shawn says.  "And let me remind you one more time.......you try anything stupid, ANYTHING........and it won't bother me one bit to blow your brains out."

 "I don't think you're gonna kill me,"  Alex says.  "At least not any time soon.  You need me alive as a hostage too much, both to use as a bargaining chip with the cops, and to get ransom money from my father, so you wouldn't kill the only chance you have at getting out of this mess alive.  But I can promise you one thing, Shawn.  First chance I get..........first time you turn your back on me, or let your guard down, or get a little sleepy........."  Alex pauses and looks over at him.  "First chance I get, I'm gonna kill YOU."

"You think I need you alive so bad?"  Shawn asks, looking at him.  "Well don't bet on that, bro.  Sure, I hope to get out of this alive, but I'm wanted for murder, rape, and kidnapping, three of the worst crimes in existence.  So I have little hope of getting out the country alive. which means I have nothing to lose.  The cops corner us, I'll make sure I take you down with me.  You make one wrong move.........and I WILL kill you without blinking an eye, so don't think for one minute that you're more valuable to me than you are.  Now just shut your damned mouth and drive."

Alex turns the car around in the clearing, and begins driving back toward the main road.

The Krebbs ranch....

 Scott Anderson's red Ferrari 599 GTO pulls up to the Krebbs home late that morning and comes to a stop in front of the house.  Dylan looks at the house, reluctant to get out of the car and go in.  "Well, here we are,"  Scott says.  

Dylan lets out a deep sigh.  "Yeah.  Here we are. Not sure I wanna even go in there."

"Dylan, I'm sure your family's been worried sick about you. Don't you at least wanna let them know that you're okay."

"All I want right now is a drink,"  Dylan says.  

"That's not the answer, Dylan. Come on, I'll go in with you."  

Reluctantly, Dylan gets out of the car, along with Scott.  Dylan pauses in front of the house as he looks at it, not wanting to go inside, and especially not wanting to see his brother, Conner.  After a moment, Dylan braces himself to go inside.

Meanwhile, Conner is in the living room talking on the phone.  "Look, my brother has been missing for two days.  There must be something you can do,"  Conner says, talking to the police.  "What difference does that make?  Anything could've happened to him by now."

Dylan and Scott walk into the house.  Entering the foyer, Dylan looks at his brother.  Surprised to see Dylan, Conner immediately hangs up the phone.  

"Dylan, where are you gonna go?"  Ray asks.

"I'll go to Todd's,"  Dylan replies.  "Anywhere but here."  Dylan turns and heads up the stairs as Ray and Donna sadly watch.  

Tears begin to stream down Conner's face as he is consumed with guilt over having hurt his brother so deeply, and destroying the happy family they had here with Ray and Donna.

Holly Harwood's home....

"I wanted to come over here a couple of days ago,"  Samantha says.  "But I was too upset, and I needed some time to calm down first.  I've already spoken to my mother, or, the woman I THOUGHT was my mother.  But I wanna hear it from you.  Is what you told Brandon the truth?  Are you my mother?"

Holly looks at her for a few seconds.  "Samantha, I think you already know the answer to that."

"I wanna hear you say it.  Are you my mother?"

"Yes, Samantha.  I'm your mother,"  Holly replies.  

"And Brandon and I are twins?"  Samantha asks in tears.  

"Yes.  Samantha, you were never meant to find out."

"And we wouldn't have if Brandon and I hadn't started to fall in love, would we?  Did you and my parents REALLY think you could keep a secret like that forever in town like Dallas?  Both families are in the oil business.  Did you honestly think that mine and Brandon's paths wouldn't cross at some point?"

"Of course, I figured your paths would cross,  But who the hell ever thought the two of you would become as close as you did?"  Holly asks.  

Samantha walks over to Holly to face her.  "What would you have done if Brandon and I had actually slept together?"

"Well, thank God that didn't happen."

"But it could've happened!  It ALMOST happened!"  Samantha yells.  "How would you feel about that, Holly?  How would you feel if your dirty little secret was the reason your son and your daughter had sex with each other?  Would it have been worth keeping this secret all these years?"  Samantha turns to leave.

"Samantha, wait, please,"  Holly says.  "I have so much I want to tell you.  So much I want to explain."

"I don't wanna hear it,"  Samantha says.  "There's nothing you have to say to me that I wanna hear." 

"Don't you even want to know about Brandon?  About where he is?"  Holly asks.

Samantha turns back to face Holly.  "What do you mean......where he is?"

"Your brother was so angry and upset with me that he took off.   He just up and left town.  Said he needed some time away, some time to think, and he needed to put some distance between him and me."

"Well, then I guess I should congratulate you, Holly.  You succeeded in driving away probably the one person who really loved you.  I almost feel sorry for you right now,"  Samantha says, then walks out of the room.  

After Samantha leaves, Holly begins to cry.  

Todd Baxter's apartment....

 Dylan steps off the elevator down the hall from his half-brother Todd Baxter's apartment.  He makes his way down the hall to Todd's apartment door and puts his suitcase down.  He pauses for a few seconds before ringing the doorbell.

Meanwhile, inside the apartment, Todd Baxter is in his bedroom, dressed only in boxer shorts as he opens his dresser drawer and takes out a clean pair of shorts when the doorbell rings.  "Now who can that be?"  Todd wonders.

"Beats me," replies another male voice across the room.  

"Would you mind getting that?"  Todd asks.  "I need to get in the shower, or I'm gonna be late for that meeting this afternoon downtown."

"Sure,"  says Scott Anderson, the other male in Todd's room.  As Todd goes into his bathroom and turns on he shower water, Scott slips on a pair of shorts and makes his way through the living room to the door.  

In the hallway, Dylan is waiting impatiently for Todd to answer the door.  He is stunned when Scott opens the door, shirtless.  

"Dylan,"  Scott says, equally surprised.  

 Alex and Shawn are driving down a highway in New Mexico, headed for the Arizona state line.  "Okay, if I remember right, when we get over the state line, a couple miles up, there's a side road I want you to take."

"Shawn, where the hell are we going in Arizona?"  Alex asks.

"Just a little place I use to come with my Dad when I was real young.  In between his prison stays, that is.  Oh wait, I guess I should say, a place I use to come with Mark Smith, since he wasn't my father after all.  But you know all about that, don't you, Alex?  How it feels to find out the man you always thought was your father, wasn't.  We got a lot in common, you and I."

"You and I have NOTHING in common,"  Alex says.  "Least not anymore."

Shawn smiles as they cross over the state line into Arizona.  "Good ol' Arizona,"  he says.  "Lot of good memories for me here.  And I have a feeling this state is gonna be my ticket to freedom.  Once we get to a phone, we call John Ross, and have him take care of getting me a lot of money and a way out of the country."

"You're a damned fool if you think you're gonna get away with this.  The cops are probably at Southfork right now, hoping you'll call demanding ransom."

Shawn looks at him.  "Y'know, you keep telling me that I'm not gonna get away with this.  I can't even count how many times you'd said that since we've been on our little road trip.  But you'd better hope and pray that I do get away with this and that I get safely out of the country, if you wanna live.  Anyway, just shut up and drive."

As Shawn turns his eyes back onto the road ahead, he sees what looks like a police road block set up down the road.  

"Damn,"  Shawn says.  "The cops."

"Yeah and it looks like they're stopping every car.  Possibly on the search for an escaped criminal,"  Alex says.

"SHUT UP!"  Shawn angrily says.  "Okay, take that road up ahead, the one that turns right up here and don't even think about doing anything to attract the attention of those cop down the road."

Alex takes a right turn onto the road Shawn had told him to take.  For a few brief seconds, Shawn breathes a sigh of relief, sure that he had once again eluded the authorities.  But as the car rounds a corner shortly after turning onto the road, Shawn is stunned when he sees, just up ahead, four cars stopped in the road.......the cars are stopped at yet ANOTHER police roadblock. 

"DAMN IT!"  Shawn angrily says. 

Alex brings the car to an abrupt stop just behind the fourth vehicle in the line of cars stopped by the police ahead.  Shawn's heart pounds with fear as a police officer begins walking toward their car.

"Get us out of here,"  Shawn nervously tells Alex.  "Get us the hell out of here NOW!"

Alex quickly throws the car into reverse.  He turns the car around in the road and he and Shawn speed away.  The police officer immediately radios to another officer.

Meanwhile, Alex and Shawn turn back onto the main highway, and speed away from the police roadblock, heading back to the New Mexico state line.  Within seconds, the sounds of police sirens can be heard coming up behind them as the Arizona state police give chase.  

"Come on, get this damn thing moving!"  Shawn tells Alex.  "We gotta reach the state line."

"I'm goin' as fast as this car will go,"  Alex says.

Terrified for his life, and realizing that Shawn was crazy enough to carry out his threat, Alex presses the gas pedal all the way to the floor as three police cars follow in hot pursuit!

Southfork....

John Ross is working out in the exercise room at Southfork, trying to work off some of his anger and frustration over Alex's kidnapping, when Justin and Clay walk into the room.  "John Ross,"  Justin says.

"Justin."

"Krystina told us you were in here,"  Justin says.  

"Yeah.  Only way I could think of to work off this damned frustration I'm feelin'.  Clay, what the hell brings you out here?"

"I came to see if there's any news about Alex,"  Clay says.  "No matter how you and I feel about each other, John Ross, Alex is my cousin and I care a lot about him."

John Ross looks at him.  "I know.  There's been no news."

"How are you holdin' up?"  Justin asks.

John Ross sighs.  "If you want the truth, I'm about to go out of my damned mind just sittin' around here waitin' on news.  And every minute I wish I could get my hands on Shawn Smith."

"I know exactly how you feel, John Ross,"  Justin says.  "I'd love to choke the life out of that bastard for what he did to Pamela."

"How's she doin', by the way?"  John Ross asks.

"Not so good.  She's real depressed right now.  Blames herself for the rape."

"That's ridiculous, that's not her fault,"  says Clay.

"Well, she blames herself for ever gettin' involved with Shawn in the first place."

"We all got taken in by that snake,"  John Ross says.   "We took him into our home here.  I treated him like a son, and this is what I get."  John Ross's cell phone rings.  He reaches down and picks the phone up from the weight lifting bench beside him and looks at it, then quickly answers.  "Hello?  Yes, this is 

John Ross Ewing.  What?  Where?"  John Ross listens for a moment as the person on the other end of the line speaks.  Clay and Justin exchange curious looks between them, wondering what the call is about and if it has anything to do with Alex and Shawn.  "Yes, just keep me informed.  Thank you."  John Ross puts his phone down, a look of fear on his face.

"John Ross, what is it?"  Justin asks.

"The police spotted Alex and Smith at a roadblock."

"Where?"  Clay asks.

"Arizona, just over the state line from New Mexico.  When they saw the police, they turned around and took off.  The Arizona and New Mexico state police are in a high speed chase with them right now.  Oh my God.  God, please, protect my son."

Justin puts his hand on his brother's shoulder in an attempt to comfort John Ross.

New Mexico....

"Then you'd better be sayin' your prayers, bro, because those cops are NOT gonna take me alive,"  Shawn says.  "And if I die........I'm takin' you with me to meet St. Peter."

"Shawn, this is insane.  If you get caught and go to jail, you could be out at some point.  You're only 21.  If you do twenty years, you'll still be pretty young when you get out.  But death is permanent.  There's no parole from that."

"I'd rather be dead forever than spend one day in a stinking jail cell. so you just shut the hell up and pray we get away from those cops.  They've gotta be holdin' back because they know I've got you as a hostage.  They could've caught us if they'd wanted to.  This little Honda is no match for those police cruisers."

"Oh boy,"  Alex says.

"What?"  Shawn turns his head and sees that several more police cars are blocking the road straight ahead.

"So now what?"  Alex asks, fearing that this truly may be the end of the road for him.

Shawn looks around, and seeing an embankment leading down a steep hill, he quickly reaches over and grabs the steering wheel from Alex.

"Hey, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"  Alex yells.

"I'LL KILL US BOTH BEFORE I'LL GO TO JAIL!!" 

Taking the wheel from Alex, Shawn aims the car directly for the embankment.  In a split second, the car veers off 

 the road and down the steep embankment.  Alex screams in horror as the car goes airborne over the embankment and looks as if it will crash into the trees and shrubbery below!!!

END OF EPISODE 232....