Lucas stands in front of a group of reporters at night, with a hospital in the background. “Our primary focus is to care for our employees. We’ll determine cause later.”
A reporter shouts out, “Do you suspect foul play?”
“Of course I do. Our employees are the best. They’re family. That’s a Ewing Oil rig, built by Ewing Construction, operated by TridentEO. Family.”
Matty meets with some of his people in an office tailor on the coast just as the sun comes up. Ellie observes. The one guy says, “They’ve got it out.” His three people look like they’ve been fighting a fire. Another tosses down some sort of part, “Sabotage.”
Ellie says, “Shouldn’t we have left that to be found by the authorities?”
Off to the side David Braxton, Richard Channing’s man says, “It has. Who do you think this people work for?”
Lucas says, “I want to know by who?”
“We already know by who,” David tells him. “You’re not going to get proof if that’s what you’re after. Besides would you want it, war with the Russians and Venezuela. No I’ll take care of the reply. You take care of the mess. But be sure, the Ewing’s are going to loose the Mexican bid. Even what support you have in Mexico just evaporated.”
John Ross walks with Jay out among the barns, looking back at the house. “This is where Jock fell in love with Ellie and Aaron fell in love with Barbara and Enoch fell in love with Eleanor and all those moments were so important that nothing else mattered. Yet it was so very long ago.”
“And grandma and grandpa?”
“JR fell in love with Sue Ellen here. There’s was a complicated situation. They meet at a beauty pageant.”
“Grandma was the most beautiful woman in Texas.”
“Don’t let her hear that. She is the most beautiful woman in Texas. But yes, they fell in love many times here. Falling in love is complicated Jay. See you know I love you, I’m your daddy. But a significant other, how do you know?”
“I don’t know. How do you know momma loves you?”
“Well I’m lucky Jay. Before you were born I was in an accident on an oil rig. Fire so bad, I was burned pretty bad.”
“How is that lucky? Sounds scary.”
“I wasn’t even conscious. Your momma pushed by the emergency people to get to me. Not a good idea by the way. But she couldn’t live with out me. She nearly died of breathing in smoke. Burned pretty bad herself. Seems crazy I know. You’ll know the person you’re in love with when it seems crazier to live without them than with them.”
“Is grandma ok without grandpa. She says she feels broken. Is she?”
“I’m a way yes. You see once you live someone, truly love someone, you can’t stop loving them. Even if you get hurt. In the case of your grandparents, they couldn’t live together but that didn’t mean they ever stopped loving each other. See Jay, sometimes the people we love the most hurt us the most.”
“Why if they love us would they hurt us?”
“Because people are pretty messed up. You’ll grow up and at times be so bad at me you can’t stand it. It’ll hurt me bad. No one else but you and your brothers could do that to me. But it’ll hurt.”
“No daddy. I’d never be mad at you. And if Steven and Marv are, I’ll beat them up.”
“Don’t you love them.”
“Well, yes, but if they hurt you.”
“But Jay, If you love them then you don’t hurt them, for any reason.”
“But you said they will hurt you. So they don’t live you.”
“They do. Just like you. But like I said people are messed up. So you’re right, you might hurt them for me, but that’s not love for me or for them. That’s messed up too.”
“I’m messed up.”
“We all are. Only god is perfect.”
“I want to be perfect.”
“Good. Just know, trying is a good thing, but you will never be perfect. No one is.”
“Just god.”
“Just god. And do you know what he wants from you?”
“No.”
“Love. Love god, love each other, love the world. Love enough to forgive.”
“Even my brothers, if they hurt you.”
“Even a stranger, if they hurt me. Don’t go walking around with pain. That’s the devils tool.”
“Like you said about being happy for grandpa. He’s in a wonderful place.”
“That’s right. Now power.”
“First humility. Power comes from being obscure, yet maintain a solid reputation among your friends. Be bold, but not too bold. Power is taken, never given.”
John Ross laughs and messes up his sons hair while saying, “Excellent. Excellent.”
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
“You got it.”
“The leader’s power is to control success.”
John Ross hugs his son.
A television news reporter states that, “While the fire is out, and the cause is still indeterminate, oil continues to leak into the Gulf of Mexico.”
In the early morning John Ross gathers in his office with Lucas, Ellie, Matty and David. Ellie says, “So we just sit back and let the Russian and Venezuelan governments team up against us and get away with what ever?”
“We know them well,” David says. “They don’t know us as well as they think they do. This is a good position.”
John Ross says, “We’re in danger of becoming complacent and overconfident. This isn’t about them but us, baiting them. Keeping us on our toes.”
“Blowing up oil rigs?” Lucas puts out there.
“We didn’t,” David responds. “They’re going to do something. We can’t prevent that. So we watch.”
“And TridentEO takes the hit. I’ve got men who are hurt bad. Three are dead. My stick price is plummeting with every report of leaking oil.”
“So but,” David says.
Matty says, “The point here is this wasn’t our fault and we know it. They’re going to attempt to weaken us so they can close the deal with Mexico. They’re reaching everywhere. The Vice President was forced to resign. They’re getting ballsy. When do they get theirs?”
David Anderson, “Thats above my pay grade. What I do know, your most valuable asset is Ewing Oil. It holds every patent from every division,
Bobby is shown into the Oval Office and soon finds himself alone with the President who quickly points out he gave him the job.
Bobby says, “Only because you can’t afford a revolt in the Senate. The House would impeach you tomorrow if the Senate turns on you. So you needed someone they can trust.”
“My question is can I trust you?”
“As I said before, as long as I believe your innocence.”
“Good. Just keep believing it.”
“But if it turns out I’m wrong, I not only won’t pardon you, I’ll demand they seek the death penalty.”
The President sits behind his desk slowly, as if deflated.
David walks into an office in San Fransisco. Sue Ellen spins around in the desk chair. He says, “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Richard says you work for me now.”
“So I’ve been told. JR actually died and left you control of Ewing Oil.”
“There are a billion shares of Ewing Oil,” Sue Ellen begins to explain, standing regally, looking beautiful, “JRE owns all but one, that one share is owned by a trust fund left to Jay, my grandson, but yes, I am the executor.”
“I’m told that one share is the only one with a vote.”
“That’s correct.”
“Mr. Channing says you’ve agreed to join his friends group and help them control the price of oil and gas.”
“Yes. He’s also asked me to speak to you about rare earth.”
“Right now the Chinese control rare earth markets. Your x-husband had some familiarity with the Chinese government.”
“Some. Yes.”