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Message: <blockquote data-quote="stevew" data-source="post: 258430" data-attributes="member: 130">Robert is seen into the living room of a grand Dallas mansion and is welcomed by an older woman, an impressive socialite well into her seventies. “Mr. Barkley, please come in. Sit. Can I get you anything?”“No thank you Ms. Lee. I’m not sure, you go by Lee?”“I do,” she says as they sit. “I’ve been married a few times, but always revert back to Lee. My father, Jordan Lee, was pretty well known in these parts.”“Yes he was. And please call me Robert.”“Robert it is. I understand you’re interested in the Ewing’s.”“And I understand you wrote the definitive book on them.”“I don’t know if it’s the definitive book. There’s a whole lot of secrets they keep buried. But, I’ve tried my best to earth some of them. Mind you the Ewing’s didn’t find my book very flattering.”“No they wouldn’t have. You mention a laundry list of enemies. Like your family, Wendell, McKay.”“It’s not exhaustive, if that’s what you’re wondering. The point was to sell a book. They’ve got enemies whose stories aren’t as juice, but none the less, they’re enemies. But they’ve also got friends.”“Like Senator Brown?”“Yes. Judith Brown is an unfaltering ally of John Ross’s in particular.”“I’ve heard a rumor that John Ross helped put her son in prison.”“It’s not a rumor. Pretty much considered fact. Something he’s pretty proud of. Harris Ryland was an unscrupulous man, even for Dallas standards. The government forced him into helping with bringing down a drug cartel that had enlisted him in shipping their product. I’d love to know all the details to that little matter.”“What do you mean?”“Well the cartel was rounded up in Mexico in a sting which included the U.S. and Mexican governments. They were actually brought to the U.S. And, they never stood trial.”“Why not?”“They were all murdered before they even got to discuss bail.”“You think the Ewing’s had something to do with that?”“John Ross Ewing and Senator Brown.”“Wow, that’s pretty big, if they did.”“John Ross’s girlfriend at the time, she ended up involved with this group, pregnant and had his baby in prison.”“You left that out of your book.”“It’s one thing to write about J.R. and Jock and Bobby Ewing. John Ross will have to wait for a second book.”“Yes, I suppose such accusations would be difficult to make in print.”“What I want to know is about John Ross. So Steven Ewing’s mother is still in prison?”“She is. Her brother was killed by the same drug cartel which she was dealing with. The nearly killed Christopher. I guess he was the next affair she was having. At some point she was engaged to Christopher. I can’t figure that mess out. And Nicolas Trevino. That’s the drug money launder she was involved with in an attempt to take over the Ewing’s business. I heard she blackmailed the family for money as well. Over what, I don’t know.”“And there’s another son? Jay.”“John Ross Ewing the forth. Yes. I’ve been working on that for years. As far as I can tell, John Ross was eighteen when he was born. J.R., his father, took custody of the kid and raised him away from Dallas. I’ve heard a rumor J.R. also had a daughter of his own he was raising away from Dallas.”“Who’s the mother?”“I don’t know. But, you find out, I’d pay to know.”“And his wife. Pamela Barnes is it?”“Yes. Since you read my book you know about the relationship between the Barnes and the Ewing families. The Ewing’s pretty much absorbed the Barnes family.”“Are they still married?”“That I can’t figure out, but I’d guess yes. Though she lives in New York and Florida. I don’t think she’s been in Texas in years. She runs Barnes Global, a company owned by Ewing Industries, media, television and radio stations, casinos. She’s particularly involved with The Pacifica magazine. Her politics are a little more liberal than the Ewing Network.”“Anything you can tell me about her?”“Well, you know her father killed J.R., or supposedly, and died in a Mexican prison.”“That’s what you wrote.”“It’s a good thing it happened in Mexico. With his money he’d have keep things in court here forever but with the help of Carlos DelSol they were able to lock him up until the day he died.”“Was he guilty?”“I don’t know. He was a little nuts.”“Seems like from what you wrote, the whole Barnes family is disturbed.”“There was a rumor of an affair between Pamela and a prince from some Arabian emirate.”“Go on.”“It seemed she went out of her way to make it clear she was having an affair but no one around her bought it.”“Why not?”“He was gay.”“Was?”“He ended up back in his country and put to death, leading to a whole revolution. Interesting fact, John Ross made a deal with the new Emir. Ewing Oil got a lease for every last drop of oil in the country and began to drain it dry.”“You think John Ross had something to do with the revolution?”“No doubt about it in my mind. Sounds a bit like something his grandfather and father would have done.”John Ross steps out of a Lincoln, Mateo out from the passenger side, in the shadow of a private jet, down out of walks Richard Channing. The two shake his hands and John Ross, “So where do we stand with Venezuela?”Leslie meets with Roger in her hotel suite looking over several pages of a report. She says, “I don’t understand. What do you mean our people overvalued our assets?”“Just that. When Ewing Oil looked into they had to adjust their offer. So, I followed suite with an independent report. And, I have to agree. A new, significantly lower bid, is warranted.”Jay looks over a scaled model of a downtown Dallas development, explaining to the architects. “My father asked me to oversee this project, as a new headquarters for Ewing Industries, but I think he’s looking for something more. This is impressive, mixed use and all, but I think what he wants is to make a mark on the skyline like the Reunion Tower.”Lucy walks out of the back of South Fork as her phone rings, “Momma . . . Always great . . . Yes. I wanted to ask you about Uncle Bobby, did he tell you what he did? . . . Yes, the whole thing with Lucas, not only revealing his Lucas’s biological father but leaving him half his shares in Ewing Industries . . . Well of course that’s up set things around here. Lucas went off to talk to his mom and dad, Ray that is. He comes back and says it’s true. I mean I figured it would be. Why would Uncle Bobby lie about such a thing? But then again why after all this time is he gonna just come clean? . . . I don’t know if I agree it’s the right thing to do . . . Yes, I’m serious . . . Well the right thing for Uncle Bobby might not be the right thing for Lucas or Christopher . . . No, maybe J.R. wasn’t wrong . . . I don’t know what he left his other children. I don’t’ even know his other children . . . No I’m not giving J.R. the benefit of the doubt to have left them anything, but I’ll tell you, it might not be a bad thing to grow up thinking someone else was your father . . . No that’s not the same for Uncle Bobby. Uncle Bobby would have made a great dad to Lucas, but he didn’t And Ray was a great dad. Is a great dad to him . . . I’m just saying I don’t necessary agree it’s the right thing to do . . . They’re fine. I’m looking into a new school for Steven. I don’t like this passing him along. He should be in third; they’ve got him in sixth and next year he should be in forth and they’re talking ninth. I have to find a better way than just to pass him along like that . . . Of course John Ross is involved . . .”Mateo walks into the horse barn where John Ross his bathing his horse. “I just got some information you’ll want to hear.”“What?”“Well with Leslie and the deal with Ewing Industries, I got a bit concerned, you know keeping an eye on things. I didn’t want to see something happen between the two of you.”“Between the two of us?”“You and Leslie.”“There’s nothing between the two of us. Whatever there was, was a long time ago.”“Still, friends or whatever, business does get in the way.”“So what did you find out?”“Christopher is underpaying her for the company and her brother-in-law is helping him. Robert Barkley own owns twenty percent of the company. So by undervaluing it they can pay her less and Robert can get paid off. Ewing Industries gets the company for way less that it’s worth and Barkley gets a bigger cut.”“I see.”“You were just informed of this?”“I had someone do some checking. It’s been in the works for some time now. They’re close to signing.”“Thank you.”“I’m sorry John Ross.”“How’d the McKay auction go?”“Christopher got the property.”“Good. Really good. The three of us will all be neighbors. Well four of us, with Lucy.”“I’m not sure Christopher is even thinking it will up set you, I mean if Leslie’s only a friend.”“Yes. True.”“What do you want me to do?”“Give him an out. Tell him you’re coming to him first. Make sure he knows I won’t let Leslie get cheated. But, don’t tell him you’ve talked to me yet. That’ll let him back out of the deal without thinking I’m interfering.”“Sounds good. I am sorry. I know normally this wouldn’t be an issue. But I also know how you really feel about Leslie.”“Yeah well, it’s not enough is it.”Mateo pats John Ross’s shoulder and leaves him alone. John Ross finishes washing his horse and then makes a call. “Bob, this is John Ross. Call me when you get the chance. I want to make an offer to you or Betsy, or both of you. The Henderson place, I bought it and I was thinking, with Lucy here, and Christopher and Lucas, that just leaves the two of you. I was hoping you’d consider it. I know you both love horses and I’d keep the cattle. You could bread horses. Well anyway, think about it. Be really nice to have all of us here. Bye.” He hands up.In a hotel room in Dallas Jay rolls around in bed with Amy.Lucy sits in the living room, working on her schedule with her personal secretary, including Jay and Steven attending the first fashion week in New York with her, but will get sent back to Dallas for school and work and that she’ll head to Europe for the next three weeks. He reminds her of Jay’s big polo match in Argentina. She tells him to schedule it in and make sure she’s there. He brings up the last DOA meeting before she leaves and Amy being President for the next year. She then turns to the South Fork house keep and says, “OK and the meals for the week.”Mateo confronts Jay while he’s shooting skeet. “I need to talk to you.”Jay, takes off his glasses and takes out his ear plugs. “What?”“I need to talk to you.”“OK. Talk.”“Your partying, sleeping around, jet setting. It’s going to get in the way of your job.”“My job is just to oversee Caddo Crossing. It’s not like that takes all that much time. What are you like spying on me?”“Your father is hoping you’ll step up and take his place someday.”“What, retired. I’ve already got a head start.”“And Amy Anderson?”“What about her?”“You’re still sleeping with her.”“What the hell. You gonna tattle on me to my father? Listen, I’ll do what I want to. I don’t need your approval or my father’s. I’ve got my own money.”“I’m well aware of exactly how much J. R. Ewing left you. But that’s not gonna help you with your family when everyone’s left wondering if some baby is yours or Christopher’s. I’ve seen the prenup. If she has a baby which isn’t his, she gets nothing in a divorce. Maybe you should ask yourself, playing around with her worth the trouble you’re gonna cause your whole family?”“Piss off.” Jay goes back to shooting skeet, yelling, “Pull!”John Ross’s early morning meeting breaks up and Chris heads outside from the study to get breakfast. Mateo says he’s got eight hundred head of heifers to move and size up. John Ross tells him he’ll be right there. Last remains Lucas. John Ross says, “I want to thank you for joining us. I think working together, I think Chris will come along. Running the bank pretty much keeps you separate from him and it’s a good position within the company. But, in the future, I’d suggest dropping anything talk of going public. Even just the bank.”“CMBC could be much bigger, with a lot of merger opportunities.”“Well your assignment is to expand it without going public.”“Can I ask about Mateo.”“Sure.”“I mean he’s not even the President of the South Fork Cattle Company. He’s the ranch foreman.”“That’s right.”“I’m working out a deal with Gus Fillerman to sell my cattle operation and turn around and lease my land to the South Fork Cattle Company.”“Yes. He’s working on the same deal with Chris and the old McKay place.”“And I’ve got someone from the Eleanor and Clayton Farlow Foundation contacting me about donating the land to protect it.”“Same with Chris.”“None of them are here for these Monday morning meetings.”“Well they will be if we need them.”“But Mateo is. The ranch foreman. Who reports to someone who reports to Gus Fillerman.”“Something like that.”“What gives?”“Mateo leaves a lot of the work at the ranch to other people as well. He’s kind of a friend of mine who helps out. He’s like a consultant with Branch Water.”“The mercenary company?”“Yes and more. They do more than guard things. They collect information. And Mateo consults. So the head of security for South Fork know to contact Mateo. And if I need anything done, that I don’t have a specific person to handle, I know Mateo will get it done.”“I think I understand.”“Good.”Horseback riding Leslie stops out by a creek and says to John Ross, “I’ve got to bring something up and I don’t want it to cause us problems.”“What is it?”“Robert told me that Ewing Oil had to lower their offer. He even told me he agreed because the assets were overvalued. So, I did some checking of my own. They’re not.”“So you think Robert and Christopher are trying to cheat you?”“That’s exactly what I think.”“I certainly wouldn’t put it past Christopher, but sounds like he’d need to make a deal with Robert to make it happen.”“And I wouldn’t put it past Robert.”“Christopher pays him off and he gets more than he’s otherwise entitled to and you get less.”“Significantly less. My first thought was to let it go and then I’d have a hell of a case against Robert and Ewing Oil. But, I don’t want that to upset you.”“I appreciate it. Problem is, if I confront Christopher it becomes a fight. I know my cousin. It’ll be I need to pick him over you. I’ll handle it. I promise. Robert still coming to dinner this evening?”“As far as I know. Brining his daughter with him.”“I’ll tell you the truth Leslie. I already knew what Chris was doing. He didn’t tell me and I certainly didn’t approve. I’m trying to handle this so that Chris doesn’t think I’m handling it. You know what I mean?”“Yes. I do.”“I promise you. I’ll fix it.”“Thank you.”Christopher gets out of a hotel bed and pulls up his underwear. A young woman rolls over and says, “Now where are you going?”“I told you, I have a dinner at South Fork.”“And Amy will be there?”“Listen, I’m not fighting with you over here. She’s going to be my wife. You can either live with that or not.”“The question is, can she live with me?”Christopher chuckles, “I’m sure she could care less.”Lucy sets the table at South Fork out by the pool with Amy. Amy says, “So you set up this dinner not because of business but to get John Ross and Leslie to have dinner together since they won’t go out on a date together.”“Something like that. They keep riding horses and going on picnics. I mean that’s something but, I’m hoping that if they keep being thrust together in these kind of social settings they’ll get the hint. I’m going to bring up the Oil Baron’s Ball.”“To get them to go together?”“Exactly.”“What about the Cattleman’s Ball?”“One step at a time.”With everyone there, John Ross and Mateo manning the grill, Lucas, Christopher, Jay and Steven playing cards, Steven winning, Lucy and Amy set out the side dishes, the Barkley’s arrive. Robert and Leslie are accompanied by a beautiful young girl, in her early to mid-twenties, a dress barely long enough to cover her bottom. Leslie introduces her niece, Monica Barkley. Jay gives her a wink. Lucy sets Monica next to Lucas and pulls Jay as far away as possible. The family sits and eats with their guests in the warm late summer sun out back on the South Fork ranch. They talk about the upcoming rodeo in October. Lucy talks about Robert retiring and Robert confirms he has no intentions of retiring, he’s actually looking at a job with ToGo.Chris says, “The Venezuelan company.”“It’s an American company.”Mateo takes a quick look at his phone and then excuses himself from the table.“Which is a wholly owned by Venezuela and everyone knows it’s sitting on debt that has to be paid to the Russian, giving them fifty-one percent when they don’t”Lucy says, “There’s no business talk at the table.”Mateo returns, “I’m sorry, but we’ve got a problem. There was an oil rig explosion out in the Gulf. I’ve got the helicopter ready.”Johns Ross jumps up, “Let’s go.”In the night sky out in the vast darkness of the Gulf of Mexico burns an oil platform, flames and smoke high up overhead.End of the 1st Episode to kick off a new series or a standalone move.</blockquote>

Verification: What month follows July?