Recap: Michael emerges from the wreckage of the limo and helps Blake lift the side of the vehicle in order to free Krystle. Michael checks her pulse and tells Blake she's still breathing...and a few seconds later, a man driving a Winnebago sees the broken guardrail and crashed limo and offers to call 911 from his camper phone. Blake cooingly tells the still unconscious Krystle that help is on the way and that, fingers crossed, she's going to be completely fine by the time the end credits roll.

When the ambulance arrives at the Emergency Room, Blake peppers the paramedics with questions about Krystle's condition, and they tell him that the doctors have to run tests before anyone can know anything. After they wheel her into the exam room, a frustrated looking Blake finds the nearest phone and calls his personal doctor and summons him to the hospital asap.

Over at Carrington manor, Dex asks Alexis whassup with the letter he received from her attorney cancelling her contract with the Lex-Dex Corporation, then accuses her of breaking up their company purely out of of revenge...and Alexis is like, "Well d'yuh" and chides him for expecting to get off scot-free after offering to bail Blake out of his financial conundrum. Dex grumbles about the tedious relentlessness of the Alexis vs. Blake feud 'cause of how much it's hurting her and her business...and when Alexis retorts that she's immune to personal pain, he's like, "What about personal happiness?" and says it's pretty clear that she's a very unhappy woman who's missing two important things on which the two of them used to thrive: love and passion. Alexis dismissively says she's forgotten about those things with respect to their past relationship...and Dex grabs her by the arms, lifts up the little white veil thing that's attached to her hat (LOL), and challenges her to look him in the eye when she says she's forgotten about their love and passion. He then gives her an urgent looking smooch that she looks totally into - just as Ben wanders into the room and unhappily remarks, "I seem to be interrupting something." Dex is all, "No shit" and asks Alexis to order Ben to leave the room - but she instead orders him to leave. After Dex silently stalks off, Alexis tells Ben to rescind the cancellation of her contract with the Lex-Dex Corporation...and when Ben expresses annoyance that it took a mere kiss to change her mind about an important business matter, she snappishly tells him to stay out of her life and her emotions.

When Steven arrives at the hospital, Blake tells him that a vendetta-fuelled nutjob forced the limo off the road after screeching about his "murdered" wife (who perished in the La Mirage fire). Steven tells him that clearly the guy is a madman, and that he shouldn't blame himself for Krystle's injuries. Blake wails about how everything is piling up on him all at once, then asks Steven to please check in on Kristina and explain to Jeannette what has happened. 

Krystle wakes to the sight of Blake hovering over her. She tells him she remembers the grieving freak pulling up beside them and angrily shouting something before forcing the limo off the road. Blake says all that matters is is that she's going to be OK - just as the phone rings...and when Blake answers he hears Philip Thorpe snarling, "I am going to make you pay, I'm not through with you yet." When Krystle asks who called, Blake breezily says it's nothing to worry about and urges her to rest.

Blake runs into Lieutenant Calder in the hall and demands that he locate Philip Thorpe asap. Calder says they managed to find Thorpe's abandoned car and have issued an APB, but Blake rails, "You're not trying hard enough!" and informs him that the lunatic just called his wife's hospital room to further threaten him and his family. Calder warns Blake that Thorpe appears to be super pissed about his wife burning to death at La Mirage, then hands Blake a copy of today's instalment of The Denver Mirror featuring the headline - Agonizing Deaths Described in Carrington Fire - and advises Blake to keep a low profile for the sake of himself and his loved ones.

Adam returns to Carrington manor and runs into Ben, who asks him if he brought the papers he requested from the office. Adam says he didn't and suggests that next time he needs something from the office he send a messenger. Meow.

Adam heads straight to the study and whines to Alexis about the way Ben orders him around, and Alexis breezily says she knows how to handle Ben, despite not really trusting him...then abruptly changes the subject to how thrilled she is that he's chosen to be on Team Alexis. Adam promises to always support and protect her, then hugs her - just as Blake enters the room to gruffly inform Alexis that Krystle is in the hospital with injuries sustained in a car crash that was caused by the crazed man whose wife died in the La Mirage fire. He blames her daily character assassination of him in The Denver Mirror, then threatens that if Krystle doesn't survive, he really will kill her.

Dominique is strutting through the lobby of the Carlton Hotel when a man named Gary Tilden approaches her to offer her a lucrative music/video deal. Dominique looks momentarily intrigued, but tells him she can't discuss it at the moment 'cause she's off to visit her daughter in the hospital's burn ward, then suggests he call her later. After she sashays off, Gary overhears the concierge telling Michael that Blake left word that he needs to be picked up at his new office at 4pm...and after Michael walks off, Gary pretends to the concierge that he's waiting on a driver and wonders if perhaps Michael is available, and the concierge says he isn't 'cause he's Blake Carrington's personal chauffeur.

In the next scene, Gary drops in on Michael in his hotel room and asks whaddup with him pretending to be a chauffeur and living in the servant's quarters, and Michael just kind of shrugs and says that this is the way he gets his kicks. Gary sternly reminds him what his focus should be, particularly after the beating he took all those years ago for boning Fallon...then says it's pretty obvious that his next move is to hook up with Amanda and swiftly dump her, which is problematic 'cause he (Gary) hopes to do business with Blake and doesn't want to risk anything going wrong. Michael grumbles to Gary that he's through with him and his money...so Gary warns him not to forget that, five years ago, he set him up with a profitable business in New Orleans. Michael growls at him to get out, and Gary implores him not to fall for Amanda, aka the beautiful [but horribly recast] Carrington daughter, and Michael assures him he's through with falling hard for beautiful Carrington women.

Sammy Jo drops by the hospital to pay Krystle a brief visit, and the two chuckle over all of the lovely balloons Blake had delivered to her room to celebrate her rapid recovery. Sammy Jo then heads out - just as Blake arrives and tells Krystle that once she's out of the hospital he's going to take her on a memorable jeep ride to show her their future...and as Krystle chews on that puzzling pledge, he promises that it'll be a moment of wonder and magic of the two of them. 

Alexis shows a draft version of The Denver Mirror's front page featuring the headline Blake Carrington's Future: Denver - or Oblivion to her less-than-thrilled looking team of editors, who are no doubt wondering why, in the name of all that is holy, their new boss is so bitterly obsessed with making every issue of this newspaper so completely Blake-centric. One of the editors gently points out that she's putting Blake's future before his present and advises her to maybe focus more on getting accurate La Mirage fire coverage, and Alexis translates that to mean they should publish a faux news article accusing Blake of deliberately committing arson. To that end, she orders one of the editors to write up an editorial that urges the Grand Jury to indict Blake for arson and murder...and the editor somehow refrains from pointing out that it sounds a lot like she's suggesting he engage in the crime of jury tampering and points out that it's actually the DA's job to determine whether or not a crime has been committed, along with uncovering hard evidence and proof of a motive. Alexis is like, "Yeah whatever" and insists that proof will magically materialize once the paper publicly offers a reward of 100K for information that implicates [Blake as] the arsonist.

Blake transports Krystle back to the Carlton Hotel in advance of the press conference...and as they walk through the hotel lobby, we see that a menacing looking Philip Thorpe is spying on them from the top stair landing. It's interesting that the police wouldn't think to keep an eye out for him in Blake's/Krystle's temporary residence.

Over at Delta Rho, Sammy Jo and Clay are lounging in bed together. She tells him she's soooooo happy they're together and hopes that things can always be this good between them...and he chooses to respond to that by telling her he's really not interested in getting involved in a serious relationship. Ouch. A miffed looking Sammy Jo points out that he seems very involved whenever they hit the sheets together, then abruptly tells him she has some business to attend to, despite it being the middle of the night. She asks him if he told his mother about the horse she wants to give her...and when he sheepishly says no, she grumbles that she's getting the distinct feeling he's ashamed of her, then coldly orders him to get dressed and go.

 Press conference! Blake rails to the press about how The Denver Mirror is waging a personal campaign against him, accusing him of arson and murder. As the reporters titter at the seriousness of those crimes, Blake says he needs the people of Denver to know his side of the story. At that moment, Alexis saunters in...and when Krystle snippily tells her she wasn't invited to attend this press conference, she retorts, "I am the press" and urges everyone to continue. Reporter Gordon Wales points out to Blake that the La Mirage fire suspiciously coincided with the near collapse of Denver Carrington, so Blake explains that he's suffered through numerous business hardships before [on account of his dumb tendency to over-leverage himself in the interest of one-upping Alexis] ... and points out that three of his children were present at the hotel when it went up in flames and insists that he'd never do anything to put them in danger. Alexis asks whassup with the insurance company refusing to pay for the damage, so Blake explains that since the cause of the fire hasn't yet been determined, the insurance payment is still pending. He then changes the subject to his new project - Carrington Ventures - and says it'll be largely based on the land his mother left him in her will many years ago. He says he intends to develop that property...and when Alexis asks him how he plans to raise the money, he insists that his stellar reputation will attract the right kind of investors. She follows up by asking if he shouldn't repay his debt to ColbyCo before launching a new venture, and he growlingly assures her that that bill will soon be paid...and Alexis says it better be - 'cause if not, she'll have no problem confiscating the land his late mother bequeathed him and attach it to her many holdings. 

Back at the mansion, Alexis wonders aloud to Steven what Blake meant by Carrington Ventures, and Steven's like, "I have no idea" and informs her that he and Danny are moving out of Carrington manor and relocating to an apartment. Alexis is all, "Noooo!" and calls the move "one of your father's insidious little plots" ... and Steven argues it's not and asks her if she's most upset about him and Danny moving out 'cause she's afraid of being alone. She firmly tells him she's not afraid of anything, and he's like, "Good, then there's no problem", kisses her cheek, and heads upstairs to pack.

Ben meets up with Dex to tell him he thinks Alexis was wrong to cancel the Lex-Dex partnership and pretends that it was his persuasive abilities that convinced her to reinstate the contract. He then warns Dex to steer clear of Alexis or else he'll un-cancel the cancellation of the Lex-Dex contact, and Dex says he doesn't take kindly to being given orders and threatens to steel-toe his ass back to Australia with "that pretty face a lot less pretty".

 Dominique drops by Blake's new downtown office to offer him an investment/cash infusion of $50 million. Blake says he couldn't possibly accept so much money 'cause of how much of a risk it is - but Dominique insists he take the cash, then gently chides him for wanting to deny her the opportunity to make a fortune on what she's confident will be a very profitable venture.

 Ben saunters into Alexis's newly redecorated bedroom, glances around appreciatively...and is comfortably lounging atop the bed when Alexis emerges from the bathroom. He compliments her new decor, calling it "dramatic, exciting, you" - but she tells him not to get too comfy and snippily adds, "If you're lost, I'll draw you a map to your room." LOL. Ben translates that as an invitation to get all grab-handsy and coo about how ravishing she is - just as Blake enters the room and mumblingly likens them to a scorpion and a cobra. He declares that one day soon he's going to get his mansion back and redecorate everything back to its default settings, then hands Alexis a check for $50 million to repay the debt he owes ColbyCo...and also vows to repay her for:

• The car accident that injured Krystle
• Taking ownership of his mansion
• Continually besmirching his good name

He shoots Alexis the stink-eye and sourly wishes her and Ben a pleasant evening...and once he leaves and is out of earshot, a miffed looking Alexis picks up the phone and calls the DA to summon him to the mansion the following morning.

The next day, Blake drives Krystle (via the jeep he promised) to view the vast mountainous property he inherited from Ma Carrington. He calls it "a special place", grabs a handful of soil, and declares to his dead ma that he's finally gotten around to being interested in sussing out the magic of this land.

 Alexis tells Assistant DA Ferguson she'd like him to help in her crusade against Blake by bringing him to justice for the crimes of arson and murder. The DA tells her that that's really not the way his office does business, so Alexis haughtily retorts that if he refuses to do his job the way she thinks he should do it, her newspaper will need to deal with it...and by deal with it, she means she's going to make public his refusal to prosecute a clear case of murderous arson. The DA explains that he can't take on a capital case without hard evidence, and Alexis nonsensically replies, "What I do have, Mr. Ferguson, is the truth, which can sometimes be stranger than fiction", then pronounces that it's going to be a very well publicized truth. With that said, she stares back at him smugly while sipping from her champagne glass.

Krystle is safely settled in the Carlton Hotel suite with Kristina when she answers a knock at the door and - ack! - it's Philip Thorpe, who forces his way inside, pulls out a pistol, and orders her to shut the door. Krystle asks him what in blazes he wants, so he screeches, "My Evelyn is dead! Why did you live? Whyyyyy??" ... and when Kristina cries from the adjoining room, Philip warns an anguished Krystle that if she moves he'll pull the trigger and she'll be as dead as Evelyn. 

Michael enters Amanda's new office while she's changing a lightbulb...and when she stumbles, he rushes over and swiftly catches her before she falls to the floor. The two exchange flirty banter while he holds her in his arms - until Blake happens to walk by and glares suspiciously at Michael. He asks Amanda if she's working late tonight, and she tells him she's just finishing up a report and is waiting for Steven to pick her up...and Blake responds with a cursory nod, then gruffly tells Michael he's ready to be ferried back to the Carlton Hotel now.

Philip Thorpe continues to point his pistol at Krystle, then says he's thirsty and needs a drink of water. Krystle heads over to the water pitcher while trying to appeal to his humanity by asking him if he has children. Philip tells her that he and his late wife had a son, but that he got sick when he was twelve and tragically died. He sadly says it broke his wife's heart, but the two were so grateful they still had each other...then suddenly gets enraged all over again and growls, "But your husband took care of that, didn't he?! He killed her!" and once again aims his pistol at a terrified Krystle.  

 Blake tells Michael he's annoyed by his flirty behavior towards Amanda and warns that if he ever sees him put his hands on her again, he'll boot him out of Denver for good.

Krystle asks Philip if Evelyn would want him to destroy another person's life, and he begins sobbing and absently places his pistol atop the coffee table...and Krystle grabs it and continues to watch him cry. A few seconds later, Blake enters the suite and is all, "What the fuckity fuck?!", and Krystle hastily assures him she's OK and hands him the pistol...and Blake promptly calls the police as Krystle puts a comforting arm around the still sobbing Philip. 

 Sammy Jo drops by the mansion to visit Danny and is miffed to learn that he and Steven moved out without anyone informing her of their new address. When she asks Alexis where they moved, she's like, "I have no idea, ask Steven", and Sammy Jo snidely says the silver lining in the situation is that she (Alexis) is no longer able to contaminate her son with her "lying, conniving and dirty ways". Alexis chucklingly reminds her of what a piece of white trash she is, to which Sammy Jo sassily rejoins, "All I would need is a bath...but with your track record, Alexis, what you need to do is stand naked in a rainstorm. For a week!" Alexis registers surprise at her ex-daughter-in-law's chutzpah and chirps, "You trashy little tramp!" and raises her hand to administer a slap - but Sammy Jo blocks her by firmly grabbing her wrist, then shoots her an extra squinty stink-eye before exiting the room.  

Lieutenant Calder informs Blake that he's needed at police headquarters to answer questions related to his involvement in the La Mirage fire, 'cause apparently the DA's office is meekly heeding Alexis's decree to strongly suspect him of arson. A bewildered Blake is all, "Wha-a-a?" and stares over at an equally-as-bewildered Krystle, his wrinkly face scrunched worriedly.

​Thanks for reading! If you are enjoying TVofYore's recaps, consider thanking me by buying me a "coffee"!

Recap: Alexis is having a fake flashback of the aftermath of Blake (who had much browner hair "twenty years ago") catching her in bed with Roger Grimes. He snarlingly tells her to get out of his house and his life, and doesn't buy her weak excuse that Roger had gotten drunk and forced himself on her - which, incidentally, contradicts her court testimony at Blake's Season 2 murder trial that she had been consensually riding Roger's baloney pony when Blake returned home from a business trip earlier than expected. Alexis changes course and blames her infidelity on his frequent absences, and Blake growlingly points out that he takes a lot of business trips so he can build Denver Carrington into a multi-gazillion dollar company that can support her and their children in the life to which they're starting to become accustomed. He decrees that he doesn't want their children to be contaminated by her and orders her out of his house pronto...and when she pleads with him to not cast her aside, he growls, "I'm going to pay you to go - like the cheap little slut you are!" When Alexis snaps back to the present day, she murmurs in a raspy sounding voice, "Oh yesssss, Blake. You will pay."

Over at the Carlton Hotel, Blake is yelling, "Noooooo!!" while in the throes of a nightmare...and when Krystle comes running into the room to see whassup, he tells her he dreamed that he was back at the mansion and was trying to find her - but behind every door stood Alexis, mockingly laughing at him. Krystle gives him a comforting canoodle and promises that one day soon Alexis will vacate their home, and that this whole 'we've lost everything' storyline will be a thing of the past.

Adam informs Ben that an Australian operator contacted the mansion to pass along the message that it's not possible to give out any information regarding the intriguing call he received during the previous episode...and Ben breezily says it's totes fine, 'cause he's pretty sure it was just a crank call.

Alexis summons Hilda Gunnerson to the study and offers her a $1,000 a month raise in exchange for tattling on any co-worker who demonstrates so much as a whiff of disloyalty towards her. Hilda mulls that over for a few seconds, then says she really wouldn't feel comfortable snitching on her cleaning colleagues...but when Alexis reminds her about the time she helped save her son's life by paying his exorbitant hospital bill, she decides she is comfortable snitching on her workplace besties after all.

Blake is reading the latest issue of The Denver Mirror, looking visibly incensed that the lead article suggests that he's to blame for the La Mirage fire. Krystle expresses surprise that the rag's generally fair-minded editor (Wendell Parker) would print something so inflammatory, and Blake says he intends to pay him an impromptu visit and give him the what for for so publicly defaming him.

Over at the mortuary, Philip Thorpe (aka the man whose wife tragically died in the La Mirage fire) is hovering over his wife's coffin, stewing about how Blake Carrington is responsible for her untimely demise. 

While exiting the hotel, Blake and Amanda encounter Michael Culhane, who's decked out in his old chauffeur uniform. He tells Blake he'd like to atone for his past mistakes by serving as his personal driver...and when Amanda asks what that's all about, he admits to having a steamy affair with Fallon, which was sternly frowned upon by Blake. Amanda asks Blake if he can't find it in his heart to forgive his ex-chauffeur for boning Fallon, given that more recently he rescued her from the La Mirage fire, so Blake decides 'sure, why the hell not?' and orders Michael to drop Amanda off at the office and him at The Denver Mirror. 

Blake enters Wendell Parker's (former) office at The Denver Mirror and is stunned to see Alexis seated behind the desk, discussing the front page layout of the next edition with her assistant flunky. Blake gruffly says that based on today's headline he should have known he'd find her in the publisher's chair...and Alexis smugly informs him that she just purchased the rag, then holds up a front page template with tomorrow's proposed headline: Agonizing Deaths Described in Carrington Fire. She explains that her new mission in life is to print articles about all the things that are wrong in the world, starting with the baseless accusation that he deliberately started the La Mirage fire in order to collect the insurance money - which, in her mind, makes him guilty of arson and murder! Blake challenges her to make those bogus charges stick, then vows that he's going to stay in Denver, fighting her to his last breath...and Alexis counter vows that she's going to see to it that he's put behind bars for his crimes, however completely 'all in her head' they may be.

Adam warns Blake that Denver Carrington stock is falling dramatically, and Blake says he's well aware and is chalking it up to all of the bad press he's been getting in The Denver Mirror. He somehow decides it'd be a good idea to sell off some of his personal stock to keep the price from falling further, and Adam cautions him about the boneheadedness of that idea - not least 'cause there's a good chance he could lose control of the company - and strongly advises him to instead declare bankruptcy. Blake adamantly refuses to go the bankruptcy route and says that now more than ever the two of them need to form an über strong father-son alliance and work really really hard to save the company, a mission to which Adam firmly commits [spoiler: until a better offer comes along later that day].

Dex storms over to Denver Mirror headquarters and offers Alexis $5 million more than what she paid for the rag if she transfers ownership of it to him and his father - for the sole reason that he doesn't want her to have it. He warns that running the paper is going to get complicated and messy - but Alexis insists she knows exactly what she's doing, and that the only person she can really depend on is herself. Dex says he feels sorry for the lonely, empty shell of woman she's become, and she tells him he needn't pity her 'cause she's immensely enjoying being in control of her own fate.

Steven drops by Adam's office in an effort to clear the air and point out that Blake desperately needs them to join forces in order to save Denver Carrington. Adam says he's deeply concerned that Alexis is going to buy up all of Blake's company stock, and Steven declares that he's quitting his job at ColbyCo 'cause he hates what their mother is doing to Blake. Adam reminds him that they haven't worked well together in the past - but then says he's willing to give it another shot, and the two shake on it.

Adam heads straight over to ColbyCo to tattle to Alexis about how Steven is abandoning her to work for Blake, adding that he hates to see her being betrayed by her own son...and says this as though he himself hasn't been working at Denver Carrington for the last season [or two? I've lost track]. He gripes about how he advised Blake against overextending himself in his quest to take over ColbyCo, and is miffed that the old goat stubbornly refused to listen. He then gets a faraway look in his eyes as he recalls how dickish Blake was so him when he first joined the Dynasty cast, holds up the silver rattle he had as a baby [LOL...'cause I guess he carries his baby toys around with him] and credits Alexis for being the only person who believed he was who he was claiming to be. He vows to abandon the sinking ship that is Denver Carrington - just as Ben enters the office. A joyous Alexis offers Adam what seems like a made-up-on-the-fly job being ColbyCo's Director of Legal Affairs, and he happily accepts, gives her a thank you hug, and says he'll start in the morning. Once he leaves and is out of earshot, Ben cautions Alexis about trusting Adam, who has a tendency to always bet on the winner, and she's like, "Well d'yuh" and somewhat nonsensically points out that that she is the clear winner of the never ending Alexis vs. Blake War, then rushes off 'cause she has an appointment with her mansion decorators.

Later, at Carrington manor, Alexis asks Krystle what the hell she's doing in her house, so Krystle explains that she was visiting Danny, who seems very sad these days. Alexis haughtily reminds her that Danny is her flesh and blood, then abruptly changes the subject to Blake's dismal future as a prison inmate. A baffled Krystle says that Blake has done nothing to deserve prison and warns that if she continues slandering Blake in The Denver Mirror, she's going to alienate her children [not to mention risk a UGE defamation lawsuit for all the unsourced lies she's been publishing]. Alexis is like 'yeah whatever' and smugly informs her that Adam is firmly in her corner and strongly believes that the rest of her children will follow suit...and when Krystle gives up on the conversation and sashays towards the front door, Alexis cattily compliments the pretty but definitely out-of-style drapey sweater thing she's wearing.

That evening, Philip Thorpe is skulking around the Denver Carrington parking lot and climbs into the passenger side of Blake's limo when he's caught red-handed by a police officer. Philip weakly claims that he thought this was his friend Wilson's car - but the officer says, "Wrong car" and shoves him away...and Philip bellows, "Don't push me!", and grumbles about how fuuuuuucking tired he is of being pushed around.

Blake tells Krystle he just learned that Adam has decided to suddenly join forces with Alexis and work at ColbyCo, despite the two of them just having a conversation about forming a father-son alliance to save Denver Carrington. He then laments Alexis's purchase of The Denver Mirror, prompting Krystle to defiantly announce that she's returning to Denver Carrington as his new PR chief so that she can begin to rehabilitate his image, and he canoodles her and says he definitely likes the sound of that idea. 

While exiting the hotel, Krystle natters at Blake about her overall strategy to repair his damaged reputation. The two then climb into the back of the limo...and as Michael ferries them away, Philip Thorpe emerges from a nearby bush to jot down the license plate number.

Back at the mansion, Ben warns Alexis about buying too much of Denver Carrington's worthless stock, to which she bitchily retorts, "When I need your advice, I'll ask for it." A dismayed Ben asks her if she was "this sweet" with Roger Grimes, then explains that he learned all about her torrid extramarital affair from the servants. Alexis makes it clear that she does not appreciate him prying into her past...and that if he does it again he'll be expelled from the mansion. Ben says he has no desire to leave her life or this house, and creepily says he wants to get even more deeply enmeshed into her world and has his heart set on running Denver Carrington. Alexis chuckles at that prospect, but then concedes that she has her hands full running ColbyCo and The Denver Mirror and agrees to further discuss it on her way to the office.

Adam is cleaning out his desk at Denver Carrington when Blake storms into his office to express his angry dismay at his sudden decision to work for Alexis. Adam complains that he's never felt appreciated and has grown very disillusioned at Denver Carrington, so Blake grumbles about how he expected him to be a son, a Carrington. Adam insists that he is a Carrington, but Blake retorts, "Not to me", coldly adding that he never was and never will be. Adam tells Blake it's clear that he (Blake) wishes he (Adam) had never joined the cast of Dynasty as his long-lost son, which is precisely why he's going to a workplace where he's loved and respected.

Clay arrives at Delta Rho and finds Sammy Jo tending to her son's favorite horse, Valez. When a banging noise spooks the animal, Sammy Jo falls backwards into the hay...so Clay leaps over to where she's laying to ask her if she's OK (she is), then mounts her while planting a long smooch on her lips. As that's happening, Steven and Danny arrive at the stables and are all ack! when they catch her and Clay in mid-smooch. Sammy Jo pretends as though she and Clay were scouring the hay looking for Valez's medicine...and as the oblivious tot busies himself with feeding the horse, Sammy Jo openly canoodles with Clay as Steven stares over at them with a troubled expression etched across his usual sourpussed face.

Krystle hands Amanda a list of media outlets she needs to phone in order to remind them about the upcoming press conference at the Carlton Hotel this afternoon. Amanda assures her she's on it, then lists off the additional responsibilities she's in charge of: setting up the seating, arranging for the refreshments, and distributing the press releases. Krystle beams happily and tells her step-daughter she appreciates her help and has no doubt that she'll be able to carry out the duties expected of an entry-level PR flunky.

While ferrying Amanda back to the office, Michael shuts off the limo's engine and brings the vehicle to a complete stop on the side of the road, then opens the hood and pretends to look into what might be malfunctioning. Amanda exits the limo and asks whassup, so he replies, "Just a little fine tuning" and promises to get her back to the office on time. He needlessly explains that he and Fallon were just a couple of high-spirited kids when they hit the sheets together, then asks her to hand him a wrench...and in the process gets grease all over her hand. He apologizes and wipes it off, then clasps her hand and stares at her longingly, and Amanda pulls her hand away and says she has an important call she needs to make.

 Dex drops by Denver Carrington to tell Blake he thinks Alexis is "off limits on this vendetta", then offers to lease him some valuable oil property in Wyoming so he can generate some much needed cash. Alexis suddenly bursts into the room, correctly assumes they're talking about her, and smugly announces that as of twenty-five minutes ago she officially became the controlling stockholder of Denver Carrington. As she victoriously waves around the paperwork, she tells Blake he has exactly one hour to pack up his stuff and vacate her building, making clear that this is payback for humiliating her twenty years ago.
​
Steven and Amanda chide Adam for betraying Blake at a time when he most needs the support of his children, and Adam clues Amanda in about how Blake always treats his daughters as if they could do no wrong, while his sons are expected to agree with everything he says and does. Fair point.

 Alexis is contemplating her victory while sitting alone in the Denver Carrington board room - when Steven enters and announces that he's resigning from ColbyCo. Alexis reminds him that when Blake was too homophobic to accept his gay lifestyle, she was the one who came to his defence...and Steven acknowledges her support of his sexual orientation, but that it's not an acceptable excuse for all the damage she's doing to Blake. Alexis sighs heavily and tells him she loves him and that he's welcome to reenter her life any time he wants - but for now hates the idea of sitting by and watching him be a loser. 

 While canoodling in a silk sheeted bed together, Sammy Jo tells Clay she'd like to give his mother a horse and adds that she'd really really like to meet her. Clay [somehow refrains from expressing how weird it is to give someone you don't know a horse and] mumbles, "Sometime soon" and remarks on how long it's been since his mother was into horses. Sammy Jo asks him if he's ashamed to introduce a skanklet such as herself to his family, and he weakly denies any such thing and says he'd just prefer to concentrate on what they have in common...and a few seconds later the two start going at it.

 Krystle is helping Blake pack up his office when some guy named Bill delivers a box of Blake's personal files. Blake thanks him, asks him to assemble the department heads in the boardroom asap, then wrings his hands worriedly about how he's going to say goodbye to his loyal subordinates. Krystle assures him he'll find the right words, then wanks him about how he has the talent, experience, and intuitive sense of people to send himself off in style. A few seconds later, Ben enters the office and smugly announces that he's come to take over as CEO, and Blake sourly warns him that stealing has never been part of this company's philosophy, chiding, "And that's all you know." Ben grins demonically and cackles about how satisfying it is to be taking control of his hated brother's life's work, and Blake turns his attention to Krystle and says they're outa here. When he picks up his box of personal files, Ben's all, "Whoa, those belong to the company now" - but Blake insists that they're his private papers...and that if he wants them, he's going to have to pry them from his cold dead hands. Alexis suddenly appears in the doorway and says that that won't be necessary and snippily tells Blake to take his private files and go.

Alexis shuts the door, surveys the ginormous office, and tells Ben that Blake built an empire here. She hastily assures Ben that she feels zero empathy for Blake as he's stripped of his home and his company...but adds that if she did feel empathy, he can suck on it 'cause her feelings would be her own damn business.

Blake is in the boardroom, encouraging the department heads to stay on the job, keep the company running, and not let anyone destroy everything they've accomplished. He promises that one day soon he'll be back at the helm, thanks them all for their service, and bids them adieu.

 While being ferried by Michael to the Carlton Hotel for the press conference, Krystle tells Blake she received a report from the Fire Department confirming that La Mirage was kept above code, which goes a long way to prove that he had nothing to do with the fire, an update that should put an end to Alexis's lies. In theory, anyway. Michael, meanwhile, notices that they're being followed by a car being driven by Philip Thorpe, who quickly pulls up beside them and screeches, "You killed my wife, Carrington! You murderer!" He then forces the limo off the road, and it skids off of a short cliff and crash lands on its side. A weak looking Blake emerges from the wreckage and sees that an unconscious Krystle is pinned beneath the limo. He does his best to free her...but when he's unable to summon the strength, he sadly collapses beside her. 

Recap: As Blake does his best to strangle the life out of Alexis, Krystle extricates herself from Ben's grasp, runs up the staircase and physically separates the two screeching, "It's not worth it!" As Alexis rubs her injured neck, Blake growls, "You can thank Krystle for your life. I would have killed you", then comes face-to-face with Ben, who chides Blake for his willingness to murder someone simply for crossing him. Blake growls, "Get out of my way", to which Ben haughtily retorts that he doesn't take orders from a nobody like him...and Blake responds by punching him in the face, an assault that sends Ben rolling halfway down the staircase. Alexis shrieks at Blake and Krystle to get out of her house or she'll call the police and report an attempted murder...so Blake tells Krystle that they have no choice but to leave, so they therefore need to fetch Kristina from the nursery, pack an overnight bag, and head over to La Mirage. After that, they'll put their heads together and figure out how to legally reclaim their mansion home.  

The La Mirage, meanwhile, is engulfed in flames as the fire trucks begin to arrive.

Blake gets a phone call informing him that the La Mirage is on fire, and he's like, "Ack!" and asks Jeannette and Gerard to drive Krystle and Kristina to the Carlton Hotel and get them settled in while he races over to La Mirage to survey the carnage.

Dominique yells at a fireman that she neeeeeeeeds to go back into the burning La Mirage 'cause her daughter's still inside...and Dex rushes over at that moment to ask her where she last saw Jackie, bellowing, "Where?! Think!" LOL. A few seconds later, he races into the flames, finds Jackie lying unconscious on the floor, and carries to her to safety. Elsewhere, Sammy Jo finds Clay lying on the floor, helps him up, and leads him towards the nearest exit...while former Carrington chauffeur Michael Culhane, who hasn't been seen on Dynasty since Season 2, spots Amanda (a character that was recast due to a salary dispute with Catherine Oxenberg and somehow no longer speaks with a British accent) pinned under some furniture, so he quickly frees her and carries her out. A few seconds later, Blake arrives at the scene and identifies himself to the fire captain as the owner of La Mirage...and when the captain tells him it'd be super helpful if he had a blueprint of the hotel, Blake says he can get it from the office. The captain forbids him from entering the hotel on account of it's currently on fire, and Blake snarls, "The hell I can't!" and scampers in the direction of the inferno. 

Michael places Amanda on a stretcher, dabs her face with his monogrammed handkerchief ['cause who doesn't carry around a monogrammed handkerchief?], and coos that she's going to be fine. She regains consciousness long enough to thank him for saving her...and when she promptly passes out again, he suddenly recognizes who she is and murmurs to himself, "Amanda Carrington...how about that?"

Over at the Carlton Hotel, Krystle paces nervously when she's unable to get through to anyone at the La Mirage. Jeannette tiptoes into the room to tell her that Kristina, aka the most beautiful child who's ever been born, is asleep...then wanks Krystle about how she and goat daddy have always been so wonderful to all of their servants. She tells Krystle she has no desire to return to the mansion while it's under Alexis's regime and would much rather serve as her in-hotel maid - but Krystle urges her to return to Carrington manor until they can sort through their discombobulating housing situation.

Alexis is making herself at home inside Carrington manor as she walks up the staircase and stares down from the top landing while imperiously toasting her luxurious surroundings. She then wanders over to the master bedroom and finds Ben sitting in one of the sofa chairs, and he applauds her big victory. She tells him it actually feels overwhelming, not least 'cause Blake threw her out of this house - this very room! - when she cheated on him twenty years ago. Ben points out that Blake also exiled him, and that being outcasts has brought them together. He gets up and sashays over to her, purring about how unimaginably beautiful and desirable she is, then pants, "I want you, Alexis. I'm not going to wait any longer than I already have." Alexis gently shoves him away from her as she makes clear that there's currently no room in her life for personal involvements. She tells him to pick one of the many available bedrooms in the mansion to sleep in...and soon after he saunters out, she places a series of framed photos of her children on the nightstand - excluding Fallon, for some odd reason - and gazes at them lovingly.

Blake finds Amanda laying on the stretcher, and she tells him that a handsome stranger saved her from being burned to death and left behind his monogrammed handkerchief in order to move the subplot further. A few seconds later, a distraught, disheveled man gets all in Blake's face to wail about how his wife was just killed in the fire, yelling, "Murderer! You killed my wife!", an exchange that a roving news crew just happens to capture on film. 

A dirty, haggard looking Blake arrives at the Carlton Hotel...and a relieved Krystle hugs him and asks him if he's OK, and he gives her the following updates:

• The La Mirage has been completely destroyed by the fire 
• Jackie is in the hospital with minor burn injuries
• Amanda is fine - but is staying in the hospital overnight for observation

 He then tells her about the distraught rando who accused him of murdering his wife, and Krystle clucks sympathetically and assures him that the fire was not his fault. Blake mutters about the weirdness of the evening, specifically getting kicked out of his mansion and then watching the La Mirage burn down...and Krystle agrees that, yeah, it's really weird to be staying in a hotel when they're in their home city. 

 The doctor tells Dominique that Jackie's recovery will include skin grafts and physical therapy...and when Jackie makes moaning noises, Dominique hovers over her and assures her she's going to be A-OK. A distressed looking Jackie asks where her bio dad is, so Dominique tells her he left the La Mirage shortly before the fire broke out...then declares that since he's proven himself to be a liar, she no longer has any desire to marry the dullard.

Blake is on the phone with someone at The Chronicle, saying he has no comment about the La Mirage fire at this time, then explains that the Fire Department is currently investigating the cause. He finishes the call - just as Adam enters the office to report that Claudia perished in the fire and that her charred remains are currently at the morgue, with her wedding ring still on one of the burned fingers. He laments that he's lost every women he's ever loved while on Dynasty - Kirby and Claudia - and Blake summons as much sympathy as he can muster and grumbles that when bad shit happens in life, the best a person can do is rise above the pain, make funeral arrangements, and be like 'next!'. Adam tells him that Claudia made it clear that she wanted her loved ones to celebrate her life and not mourn her death, and Blake's like, "Perfect! All the better to move on from quickly." Amen to that.

Back at the mansion, Alexis gets snappish with the maid for not serving her a large enough portion of caviar - just as Dex bursts into the room to ask her what in blazes she's doing here. She tells him she's the proud new owner of Carrington manor and, as was her right, evicted Blake and Krystle from the premises last night. Dex rails at her for not caring about anyone but herself, including the poor sods who perished in the fire...and when Alexis is like, "What fire?", he informs her that La Mirage was set ablaze last night. She  looks momentarily alarmed as she asks if her children are all OK, and he assures her they're fine, but that her takeover of the mansion is "a sick trick" and warns that her feud with Blake is eventually going to destroy her. Alexis argues that, on the contrary, she won the war, and that she'd very much like to continue that winning streak by convincing him to sell her his shares of the Lex-Dex Corporation. Dex adamantly refuses and says that holding onto the shares is the best way he can keep an eye on her while continuing to look out for his own best interests, and a miffed Alexis warns that if she ever finds out he's, in any way, double-crossing her with Blake, she'll bury both of them. After she huffs off, Ben appears in the doorway, and Dex is all, "What the hell are you doing here?" Ben smugly replies, "I live here. Jealous?" - just as Gerard informs him he has a long-distance call from Australia. The caller looks to be a mysterious woman from Ben's past who mockingly calls him lover and needles him about what the preacher said at her funeral. An incensed Ben demands to know who he's speaking to, then barks, "Hello? Hello?" when the mystery woman abruptly hangs up.

Alexis tells Jeannette that because she helped transport Krystle to the Carlton Hotel and unpack her stuff, she's being fired with two months' severance pay. Jeannette's just kind of like, "Er, OK" and ambles off - just as Amanda enters the room and chides her mother for the cruel firing. Alexis tells Amanda that she doesn't make it a habit to shelter or feed traitors, and insists that Blake has done a lot of bad shit in his life and totally deserves to be evicted from his home. She tells Amanda she'd much prefer her to focus on the wonderful future she can have as a brilliant heiress, with a mother who truly loves and respects her - but Amanda argues that Blake also loves her, then admonishes her for hating Blake more than she loves her. She then abruptly decides she'd much rather be on Team Blake, and rushes upstairs to pack up her things. 

Clay drops by Delta Rho carrying a large bag and several bunches of bananas. He explains to Sammy Jo - who's decked out in some supremely tacky animal print leisure-wear - that he was going to shower her with roses as a thank you for saving him from the fire, then thought it'd be way more fun to make the world's biggest banana split. He empties his large bag o' ingredients, and Sammy Jo squeals with delight at the plethora of sugary toppings, but soon suggests they forget about the banana split in favor of indulging in some sexy time...and Clay's like, "Can do" before the two start going at it. 

Blake is working the phones in a desperate effort to liquidate enough Denver Carrington assets to repay the massive loan he owes Alexis and then reclaim his mansion. Amanda drops by to declare that she'd like to work at Denver Carrington, despite having zero experience or any kind of employment history, and is refusing to take no for an answer. Blake chuckles at her "spunk" and promptly calls someone named Dana to instruct her to put Amanda on the payroll and contrive some kind of made up job for her in the PR Department. He then asks Dana if she's had any luck locating the benevolent stranger who rescued Amanda from the La Mirage fire, and Dana tells him she hasn't...and when he gets off the phone, he tells Amanda he really really wants to personally thank her rescuer. 

Back at Carrington manor, Danny asks Steven where his grandma and grandpa went - just as Alexis enters the room. Steven moodily tells the tot that his grandparents abruptly moved out, then rushes him off to bed so he can privately rebuke his mother for so callously ousting Blake and Krystle from their home. Alexis says she doesn't appreciate his rude 'tude, reminds him that the mansion was once her home, and insists that Blake deserves to be put down by being thrown out of his home. Steven tells her that Blake is a fighter and won't stay down for long, then says he has no idea why such a smart and generous woman would stoop to this level of meanness...and as he storms out of the room, Alexis murmurs that she truly wishes he could understand her motives.

Ben phones the operator to ask if the call he received last night can be traced, then later tells Alexis he wants all of the phones at Carrington manor to be unlisted so that they don't get anymore crank calls. Alexis is like, "Whatever, just don't bother me with your problems", then is distracted by a TV news report that features footage of the distraught man accusing Blake of murdering his wife in the La Mirage fire. Alexis stares thoughtfully at the little TV and asks Ben if he could get her a tape of that footage, 'cause she'd really really like to do something nefarious with it.

Krystle drops by Alexis' office to hand her a list of personal items she and Blake want extracted from the mansion, namely several treasured paintings. Alexis glances at her list and dismissively describes the pieces as "that dreadful calendar art you bought" - LOL - and says she'd be more than happy to facilitate their removal. She then informs Krystle that she fired Jeannette for her disloyalty, and Krystle's like, "I know. I hired her", adding that she values people. She then heads toward the door - just as Ben enters the office, gives her an appreciative once over, and remarks to Alexis how gorgeous Blake's statuesque blonde trophy wife is. Alexis is like, "Yeah, whatever" while she once again fixates on the video clip of Blake being accused of murdering the distraught guy's wife...and when Ben asks her if she has nothing better to do with her time than stare at a little screen, watching and rewatching the same video clip, she murmurs, "Not today."

Michael Culhane is chillin' in his Denver hotel room when Amanda drops by to return his monogrammed handkerchief and reveal that she managed to locate him by calling every hotel that had guests with the initials MC and fled the La Mirage fire. It's interesting that the staff at every Denver hotel a) could systematically generate a list of the guests who had fled the La Mirage fire, and b) would be willing to violate whatever privacy policy they have in place to give out guests' room numbers. Michael flirtily tells Amanda he thought she was a total smoke show [no pun intended] when he saw her lying unconscious under furniture and in need of rescuing, and that he couldn't help but wonder what she'd look like after she showered off all that soot. A smitten Amanda [refrains from remarking on the total weirdness of that thought process and] tells him that her father wants to personally thank him for his heroic act, and invites him to drop by Denver Carrington in an hour. 

Later, Amanda escorts Michael into Blake's office, and both men react by glowering at each other, prompting a bemused Amanda to ask if they know each other. They tell her that, yeah, they go way back, and Blake asks Amanda to excuse them so he can grudgingly thank Michael for saving her from burning to death and offer to write a big check in exchange for staying far, far away from her. He sneeringly calls Michael "an arrogant opportunist", and Michael sneeringly refers to him as "damned righteous" and says he's going to need time to decide how big a check he'd like Blake to write in exchange for saving his daughter.

Back at the hotel, Michael calls someone to report that he was accidentally able to get to Blake through his daughter, would like $5 million transferred to his account, and has decided to stay in Denver for awhile. After he hangs up, he grins to himself as he recalls the scene where Fallon finds him soaking in her bathtub in Season 1 - except that it's a reshot version of the flashback featuring Emma Samms and not Pamela Sue Martin. Michael grins at the memory of the saucy encounter, then murmurs to himself, "And now...Amanda."

The editor (Mr. Eckland) at The Denver Mirror finds Alexis sitting in his boss's chair and is all 'the fuck?', so Alexis explains that she just purchased the newspaper, wants him to stop the presses pronto, and rework the upcoming issue's front page so that the headline reads Blake Carrington Accused of Arson-Murder in Hotel Fire. Mr. Eckland argues that that headline is inflammatory and out of context, but Alexis nonsensically argues that that's merely his opinion, and that the juicy new headline reflects her opinion...then vows that this kind of sensationalistic, faux news reporting is only the beginning in what will, in essence, continue to be a tedious, never-ending feud with Blake.

​Thanks for reading! If you are enjoying TVofYore's recaps, consider thanking me by buying me a "coffee"!

Recap: Blake tells Krystle that since he hasn't heard back from Minister Han regarding regaining control of the South China Sea oil leases, he's going to jet to Hong Kong and refuse to leave until he's granted a personal audience with the minister. A few seconds later, Gerard enters the library and hands him the morning paper featuring the headline Ben Carrington Given Oil Leases, Chinese Cancel Deal with Brother, Blake Carrington. Blake rails about how this must be Alexis' doing, calls her office and learns she's due to land in Denver soon, and says he's off to the airport to "strip her bare before the world". Yikes. A worried Krystle asks if this idiotic revenge plot isn't hurting him more than it is her 'cause of how ridiculously consumed with hatred he's been over the last week or so, and Blake's like, "Nope" and insists on stopping his ex-wife once and for all. 

While en route to Denver, Alexis cheerily toasts Ben for being The Winner of the Underhanded Scheme...and when Ben suspiciously asks, "What's the catch?", she tells him she's merely being a good sport. She then points out to Ben that since he's now in charge of the South China Sea oil leases, he gets the fun job of placating Jason Colby, aka the man he has a troubled history with on account of he once screwed Jason over on a big oil deal. Ben's like, "Drats" and suggests she deal with Colby, so she agrees to have a chat with him...then shoots Ben a covert stink-eye.

Over at La Mirage, Jackie meets Richard Daniels, one of Garrett's old college friends who's in town for the wedding. Richard remarks on how Dominique managed to snag "the last of the confirmed bachelors" ... and when Jackie's all, "Wuh? I thought he was once married to a woman named Jessica", Richard's like, "Uh, no" and doesn't seem to twig onto the fact that he and Garrett never bothered to get their stories straight ahead of time. A few seconds later, Dominique wanders over and asks Jackie why she suddenly looks so aghast, and she mutters, "Nothing" and pretends she has to rush off for a fitting.

​Sammy Jo barks at her nanny to have her son dressed and ready so that she and Clay can take him on an outing. Amanda overhears the exchange and stomps over to remind the skanklet that she was ordered by the court not to take Danny off the Carrington estate without Steven's permission. Sammy Jo shrugs unconcernedly and says maybe she's above the law...like she (Amanda) was when she got away with a reckless driving mishap for which she let Clay take the blame. She then glares at Amanda, says she'll do whatever the hell she pleases, and accuses her of acting like a jealous cat 'cause Clay is her beau. 

Claudia meets up with Blake at her sad looking dried up oil well. She accuses him of syphoning off oil from her well just to spite her, and he tells her she's making no sense and that the thing likely just dried up from natural causes...then is all, "Hey, wait a minute - why are you referring to this as your oil well?" Claudia says that Adam arranged it, then produces the Power of Attorney form Adam made Blake sign when he was too sick to know what he was signing and natters about how first Adam cheated his father, then his wife. Blake says he'll discuss this with Adam, tells her again that oil wells can dry up without sinister intent, then climbs back into his limo. Claudia chases after the car crying, "Noooo!! Don't go! I'm not done with you yet! I'm not as dumb as you think I am!" in a deranged loop.

Blake arrives at the airport just as the ColbyCo jet lands on the runway. The press pack rushes over to pepper Alexis and Ben with questions about the South China Sea oil lease situation, and Alexis sanctimoniously tells them that she and Ben plan to handle oil production in an honest fashion...and that, unlike Denver Carrington, ColbyCo always pays its debts. A slowly unhinging Blake starts clapping and sarcastically barking, "Bravo!" as he ambles over and tells the reporters he'd looooove to talk about Alexis' honesty. He proceeds to hold up a copy of Caress's Sister Dearest manuscript and explains to the press pack that it's a trashy unpublished tell all by Alexis' own sister, and that Alexis tried to suppress it by purchasing the publishing company. As the reporters look intrigued by the ridiculousness of this public spectacle, Blake reads a passage from the manuscript describing the way Alexis callously stood by while her sister rotted in a Caracas prison. Alexis strides over and snatches the manuscript out of Blake's hand, calls it a work of fiction that her publishing company has the rights to...and that if any reporter dares print anything cited from "this trash", she'll sue. An unfazed Blake tells the press pack he has copies of the manuscript in his limo, and they're all, "Yippee!" and rush across the tarmac to grab their free copy. LOL. Blake then glares over at Alexis and sarcastically welcomes her home.

Blake admonishes Adam for stealing a Denver Carrington oil well and gifting it to Claudia, then snarkishly asks what else he's stolen. Adam sheepishly replies, "Nothing", and Blake asks him if this was why he refused to let Steven look at his files, then growls that it's this sort of treachery that made him cut him out of his will. Adam admits making a mistake, but then complains that he's always having to fight for his life as a Carrington 'cause he's never been treated like a true son. Blake's like, "Blah blah...bottom line is that I can't trust you. Now get out of my sight."

Back at the penthouse, Alexis rails to Ben about the unflattering press coverage she's going to get once everyone reads Sister Dearest, then declares war on Blake and vows to take everything he's ever worked for. She tells Ben he'd better be on her side, 'cause she's very confident she'll continue winning and destroy his brother.

Blake tells Bob Ashmore he needs an extension on his loan, but Bob warns that an extension would be highly unlikely 'cause the backers are concerned about his ability to repay the loan. Blake urges him to try...and once he's out of earshot, Bob calls Alexis (aka, "the backers") to ask what he should do, and she crisply orders him to deny Blake's loan extension request.

​Gordon Wales drops by Alexis' office to get her comment about Sister Dearest, particularly the part where she stood by and did nothing while Caress languished in a Caracas prison for a crime she didn't commit. He then asks where Caress is these days, and Alexis says she hasn't the slightest idea, not that she gives a rat's ass about someone she considers dead to her. 

A newly re-incarcerated Caress summons the guard and asks why her urgent message to the Venezuelan authorities hasn't been answered. The guard says that all he knows is that she's supposed to serve out the last two years of her five year sentence, then sympathetically adds, "Sorry señorita." Caress hands him a letter addressed to Blake Carrington and pleads with him to mail it, offering up her diamond ring as a bribe. The guard glances at the envelop, then the ring, and agrees to do her this one favor. Caress moans about how vital it is that Blake receive this letter 'cause her life depends on it. 

Blake meets with Faruq Ahmed to remind him that the consortium agreed to loan him a billion dollars, and that they can't just cancel the loan without warning. Faruq's like, "Uh, sure they can" now that his collateral in the form of South China Sea oil leases is no more. Blake explains that he's doing his best to sort that out - but Faruq is all, "Whatever" and reminds him he still owes the consortium the $250 million lending fee. An incredulous Blake says he must be joking if he thinks he's going to pay a lending fee on a billion dollar loan he never actually received, so Faruq warns that if he refuses, the consortium will sue him, which means there'll be a lien on his company's assets. Blake finally gets around to demanding to know exactly who is in this consortium, and Faruq admits that it's one person: Alexis.

After Blake's head explodes, he races over to ColbyCo to confront Alexis about using a shadowy consortium as a front for her revenge plot against him, then flatly refuses to pay the $250 million lending fee. Alexis tells him she'd be happy to waive the fee in exchange for $250 million in Denver Carrington stock - but Blake refuses, since that would translate to her getting controlling interest of his company. He growls that he'll see her in hell before she takes Denver Carrington away from him, and she growls back that she intends to get everyyyyything he owns and holds dear. 

Dominique drops by Alexis' office to offer up her personal assets in order to settle Blake's debt, but Alexis refuses and says that right now this vendetta is the most important thing she has going in her life. Dominique clucks sympathetically about how her life resolves around her hatred for Blake, then vows that once her engagement party is over, she'll deal with her in the 'down and dirty' kind of way she's always dealt with her kind of filth.

At Carrington manor, Adam tries to explain himself to Blake - but Blake isn't interested, tells him to get lost, then grumbles to Krystle about Adam's betrayal. Krystle argues, "He's still your son" and that clearly Adam needs his father's help and guidance - but Blake shuts her down and says that just 'cause Adam is his son, it doesn't mean he's on his side...then cites the shittiness of his brother and ex-wife as other examples of treacherous family members.  

Jackie stops in at ColbyCo looking for Dominique...and when Alexis sees that she's visibly upset, she urges her to unload her troubles and dish about whatever's on her mind. When Jackie looks hesitant, Alexis lays it on thick about how she and Dominique are very similar in that they're strong businesswomen, and - under entirely different circumstances - would probably be friends. Jackie mulls that over, then spills the beans to her about the shock of discovering Garrett's never-been-married status.

Dex drops by the penthouse looking for Alexis, and Ben says she's not in and reminds him again that their marriage is kaput and that Alexis regards him as scum for bumping uglies with Amanda. Dex reacts to that last thing by punching him, then receives a kick to the face...and the two launch a ridiculous looking brawl across the main level of the penthouse, overturning large houseplants as they punch, wrestle, and pose with what I can only assume are karate style hand gestures to psych each other out. LOL. Alexis returns home a few minutes later, smashes a large vase to get their attention long enough to yell at them to stop, then orders Dex to get the hell out of her trashed penthouse. 

Blake tells Krystle he's miffed at the lack of communication he's been getting from Minister Han, not least 'cause if he can't get his oil lease conundrum resolved, he stands to lose everything. Krystle somehow refrains from screaming 'I fucking WARNED you this might happen!' and urges him to take a break from worrying about losing his empire and accompany her to La Mirage to attend Dominique's/Garrett's engagement party. Blake says he'd rather sit by the phone in case Han calls - but then decides he'd like to talk to Garrett to see if he's willing to be, in any way, useful to his cause. 

Engagement party! Sammy Jo is cozily dancing with Clay...and makes a show of looking even cozier when she spots Amanda staring over at them in dismay. Jackie arrives at the party and is standoffish to Garrett, who figures he can remedy whatever's bothering her by asking her to dance. Alexis makes her grand entrance to smugly offer Dominique a personal gift...and by personal gift she means ratting out Garrett for lying about having had a wife named Jessica. Dominique chuckles and calls her a liar, and Alexis chuckles in return and tells her she should look into it with her lyin' fiance. An enraged Dominique responds by slapping her hard across the face, and an unfazed Alexis says it's Garrett she should be slapping...and as she flounces off, Dominique stares after her worriedly.

Dex seats himself beside Alexis and asks her if she's truly happy, and she says that since she's accomplished everything she's always wanted in life - money and power - she couldn't be more thrilled with herself. Dex shakes his head in dismay, chides her for hanging out with a creep like Ben, and reminisces about how awesome they were together. He sadly adds that he barely recognizes the revenge-obsessed freak she's morphed into.

In the ladies room, Krystle smugly tells Alexis that she doesn't have the important things in life - Blake, a mansion, a loving family - then smugly says, "You'll never have what I have." Alexis somehow refrains from letting that interaction deteriorate into a messy bathroom brawl and sashays back to her table to tell Ben that it's time to move on to "the main event". She hands him a piece of paper and says she got to Bob Ashmore first, and that there's no limit to the amount of feces she's willing to fling at Blake. 

Blake approaches Garrett at the bar and tells him he'd like to hit up Jason Colby for a giant loan, offering Denver Carrington as collateral. Garrett's like, "Seriously?" and says he'll go through the motions of presenting the request to Jason, but that he already knows what the answer will be: fuck no. He then informs Blake that Alexis phoned Jason the other day to discuss the logistics of transporting oil out of the South China Sea, and Blake growls that he shouldn't be doing business with the she-devil who's responsible for swindling his oil. He assures Garrett that he's expecting good news from Minister Han any minute about having control over the oil leases reinstated, but Garrett says that until that actually happens, there's nothing much Jason can or will do for him. Blake vows to fight this injustice and snarkishly orders him to pass that message along to Jason, and Garrett's like, "Yeah, whatever...you can fuck off now."

Dominique storms over to Garrett, demands to know if he bullshat her twenty years ago about being married to a woman named Jessica, and Garrett avoids admitting that Jessica never actually existed by weakly insisting he loves her. Dominique snaps, "Leave me alone!" and huffs off.

Blake receives a message that someone is waiting for him at the mansion, and Blake assumes it's a Chinese representative who's there to deliver good news and hastily leaves the party with Krystle.

Amanda is standing by the La Mirage's outdoor swimming pool, enjoying the night air, when Clay wanders over. He flirtily tells her he's wanted to dance with her all night, so she pulls him into a slow dance and apologizes for all the times she was so abruptly rude to him. Clay assures her that all is forgiven, then leans in for a smooch - just as Sammy Jo appears alongside the pool, carrying two full champagne glasses. She promptly empties them, struts over to the dancing duo, and sweetly asks Clay if he wouldn't mind getting them something to drink. Once Clay is out of earshot, Sammy Jo snarls at Amanda to run along now 'cause Clay is her date for the evening. Amanda smirkingly tells her to "enjoy him while you can" ... and when Sammy Jo asks what that's supposed to mean, Amanda grabs her and leaps with her into the pool while chirping, "Here's your answer!" The two half-heartedly wrestle in the water in their gowns and high heels as Sammy Jo vows, "You'll never get Clay!" as if he's the man-prize of the century.

Back at the party, Steven spots Adam boozing it up and tells him he's had enough to drink, and Adam explains that he's been binge drinking 'cause of how depressed he is about Claudia, wherever she may be.

Claudia is in her La Mirage suite, spacily pacing the room while muttering, "Liars, liars.." She then strikes a match and lights several candles while naming them: Blake, Adam, Steven, Alexis, Krystle, Sammy Jo...all of whom are again summarized as liars. A few seconds later, one of the candles topples over and sets the drapes ablaze, and Claudia stares at the quickly spreading fire in stunned muteness.

As the engagement partygoers continue to enjoy the evening, smoke starts to spread through the vents...and Claudia's room is now fully ablaze.

Blake and Krystle return to the mansion and are perplexed by the sight of luggage stacked at the foot of the grand staircase. Ben strolls towards them and smugly informs Blake that a cable from Minister Han just arrived, and that his response to Blake about reinstating him as the primary holder of the oil leases is a definitive no...which he translates to mean that Blake is financially wiped out. Alexis, meanwhile, appears on the second floor landing holding a property deed and smugly declares that she now owns Carrington manor, then orders Blake to pack up his shit and his blonde tramp and get the hell out of her house. Blake starts to mentally unravel as he climbs the staircase while insisting that this is his house...and when he gets to where Alexis is standing he shrieks, "I'm going to kill you!!" Alexis stares back at him in horror as he advances on her, wraps his hands around her throat, and starts choking the life out of her...ignoring Krystle's desperate pleas for him to stop.

Thanks for reading! That's a wrap for Season 6.

Recap: Blake summons Adam to his office to happily report that he's managed to convince a bunch of ColbyCo stockholders to sell their shares to him at a stupidly high premium...and when Adam asks how much this revenge buyout is going to cost them, Blake admits, "A fortune!", but insists it's well worth it to gain control of ColbyCo and stick it to Alexis. Adam warns that he's allowing his hatred for Alexis to cloud his judgement and run up enormous debts, but Blake snarls, "It's between me and Alexis!" and assures him that the revenue from the South China Sea Oil leases will provide an endless source of income to keep this tedious feud going ad infinitum.

Alexis tells Ben she's sooooo excited for Blake to see his falsified oil production figures...and when Ben asks her what she plans on doing if Blake figures out that the documents have been doctored, she nonsensically replies that since she's smarter than him she'll be able to double-cross him worse than any man has ever been double-crossed in the history of double-crossing. She then chuckles and predicts that one week from now she'll own the most valuable oil leases in the world, which means she'll effectively own Denver Carrington. She then changes the subject and asks Ben why he's still hanging out in Denver when he's now super rich, so he tells her he likes the idea of being near her and (more importantly) wants to split control of the oil leases with her. She cackles, "You must be joking!" ... and when he points out that she wouldn't have been able to put this giant scam into motion if it weren't for his role in it, she denies owing him anything, tells him he should be happy with the multi-million dollar inheritance she helped him get, and makes it clear she doesn't do charity.

Dex enters the La Mirage dining room, sees Ben boozing at the bar, and quietly approaches him before blurting out the warning 'watch out, bandit!' in "Chinese". As Ben stares back at him with a startled 'the fuck?' expression, Dex peppers him with questions about why he spent so much time in China over the last twenty years. Dex explains that he suddenly remembered he once saw him doing business in the Shanghai port area, and a rattled Ben mumbles that he has no idea what he's talking about and abruptly scuttles out of the bar.

Dex heads over to Alexis' office to caution his ex-wife about Ben's secret past dealings with the Chinese, but Alexis brushes off his concerns and says he must be mistaken. Dex insists he's absolutely sure and warns her that Ben is going to drag her into some kind of trouble - but Alexis says she's not worried in the least, nonsensically invokes Dex's infidelity with Amanda as proof of his general unreliability on all matters, and assures him that she's quite capable of assessing a man's character and has somehow deemed Ben perfectly trustworthy. A frustrated Dex urges her again to be careful, then exits her office.

Blake gleefully tells Krystle that when he buys enough ColbyCo stock, Alexis will be thrown out on the street. A worried Krystle points out that Alexis is too smart to just lose everything that easily and gently asks if his harebrained scheme to take over ColbyCo could possibly fail on a monumental scale. Blake assures her that everything will work out A-OK - just as Gerard enters the room to deliver a cable from Minister Han, who is perplexed by discrepancies regarding Denver Carrington's South China Sea oil production figures and wants to meet asap. 

Blake races over to the penthouse to accuse Alexis of doctoring the stats on his South China Sea oil lease production rates, and she denies doing any such thing and points out that it wouldn't make any sense for her to do that 'cause she'd be putting her own investment in jeopardy. She chalks up the discrepancies to Denver Carrington's shoddy paperwork...and then the two start bickering about how imminently each is going to own the other's company, blah blah. Blake announces that he plans to clear up any confusion with Minister Han directly...and as soon as he exits the penthouse, Alexis calls her pilot and instructs him to gas up the jet and have it ready to transport her to Hong Kong tonight.

One long flight across the globe later..

Alexis tells Minister Han that Denver Carrington's oil production figures are purposely inaccurate, accuses Blake of cheating the Hong Kong taxpayers out of millions of dollars in royalties...then cites as proof the transcript of the recent kangaroo court trial, during which Blake was outed for cheating his own brother from his inheritance and blaming him for their mother's death. As Minister Han glances over the transcript, furrowing his brows concernedly, he tells Alexis he's always known Blake to be a man of honor...and that he finds this intel very disturbing. Alexis agrees that, yep, she too is plenty disturbed about it - but refuses to just stand by while Blake swindles Hong Kong. Minister Han asks what she's proposing, so she suggests awarding her full control of the oil leases - not just the 25% she currently holds - and will see to it that the [non-existent] fraud is promptly corrected. Minister Han mulls over her laughably self-serving proposal, promises to consider her request under the caveat that "nothing is quite that simple", then thanks her for bringing the court transcript to his attention...its complete irrelevance to the issue of the contrived discrepancies in oil revenue reporting notwithstanding.

Steven tattles to Blake that Adam refuses to hand over his documents after being ordered to do so as part of the board committee's watchdog audit, and Blake chuckles about how his two idiot sons are going to have to figure out a non-combative way to live and work together. As Steven stares back at him imploringly, Blake tells him he'll have a talk with Adam once he returns from Hong Kong - but in the meantime will issue a company-wide memo stating that all Denver Carrington employees are to provide him with full access to everything...even though it sounds like he probably really only needs to issue the memo to one non-compliant douchewad. 

Clay Fallmont is playing tennis at La Mirage when he notices Amanda sashaying past the courts. He runs over to say hey and apologize for not realizing she should have been on suicide watch prior to swallowing a bottle of pills. She graciously tells him his apology isn't necessary 'cause she fully grasps that it's up to her to summon the inner strength to not want to off herself whenever life gets stressful...but when she learns that he heard about the overdose from Sammy Jo, she's all, "Sammy Jo? The fuck?!" and huffily stomps off. 

Amanda makes a beeline over to Delta Rho to yell at Sammy Jo for spilling the beans about her overdose to Clay...and Sammy Jo apologizes for the indiscretion, but then asks if she's mostly mad that it's specifically Clay who now knows about her suicide attempt. As Amanda hotly denies that, Sammy Jo smugly points out that a senator's son prefers her to a Carrington born brat, then barks at her to get off her ranch.

Steven is going through Adam's filing cabinet when Adam enters his office and demands to know what he's doing. Steven informs him that Blake gave him carte blanche to view any company files he needs to, then remarks on how his purchase orders don't appear to add up. Adam yells, "This is my turf! Back off!" and Steven threatens to call Blake, accuses him of hiding something he plans to uncover, then once again stalks out without getting the documents he needs for his watchdog committee. Once he's out of earshot, Adam calls the person in charge of the shredding room and says he has a big pile o' files that need disappearing pronto.

Ben lets himself into Alexis' Hong Kong hotel suite...and when Alexis asks him what in blazes he's doing here, he smarmily professes his love for her, along with feelings of jealousy and concern about the possibility of her trading sexual favors with Kai Liu for scheduling a meeting with Minister Han. Alexis says she doesn't buy that for a second, admits she did know about his teenage crush on her when she and Blake were first together, then tells him to run along to his own suite now. Ben says he's sure she wants him as much as he wants her, then declares that it's simply a matter of time until she's his.

Elsewhere in the hotel, Blake compares his company's oil production figures with those that Minister Han received and tells Krystle it doesn't make sense - but that he has the requisite documentation to prove he's right and is confident he can straighten it all out with the minister. Krystle says she suspects that Alexis is behind this, then calls the hotel's check-in desk to ask if Mrs. Colby has checked in yet. When she learns that Alexis is indeed on the premises, Blake dismayingly says he figured she'd have "her finger in the pie", then heads out for his meeting with Minister Han.

Ben returns to Alexis' suite while she's eating breakfast, insists again he's totes in love with her, and proposes they hook up and become "a world class partnership". Alexis declines and reminds him she's doing fine as a single woman running ColbyCo...and when Ben suggests they create a new company, she makes it clear she's dunzo with entering into business partnerships with men, and that he should thank Dex for souring her on the entire notion.

Blake shows Minister Han Denver Carrington's oil production reports, points out that they're substantiated by Hong Kong's own reporting, and blames his enemies for stirring up trouble by falsifying a conflicting set of reports. Minister Han says he'll consider that possibility, then changes the subject to the legal matter that was initiated by Ben Carrington, specifically when he (Blake) was convicted in a court of law of cheating his brother and leaving his mother to die. Blake refrains from pointing out that the trial didn't actually convict him of anything and was more of a proceeding to determine whether or not Ben should be awarded an equal portion of his late father's estate, insists that much of the testimony was either irrelevant or complete lies...and is frankly annoyed that it could have any bearing on his South China Sea oil leases. Minister Han solemnly replies that Asians highly value honor and that he considers "the charges" to be serious. Blake explains that Alexis and Ben perjured themselves in court to make him look like a monster - while he, on the other hand, is a human angel who has always based his business decisions on truth and integrity. He irritably pronounces that no one has the right to question the strength of his character.

Alexis is trying on a mega-expensive Cartier pearl necklace when Krystle enters the store and accuses her of fucking with goat daddy by falsifying oil production reports. Alexis denies it, then accidentally breaks the necklace when she tries to remove it...and as the pearls spill to the floor, Krystle smugly says, "You break them, you buy them" before flouncing towards the door. 

Dominique is busily making wedding plans when Jackie enters her suite and apologizes for the sucky way she's been behaving since learning her race car driver father was a figment of her mother's imagination. Dominique, in turn, apologizes for lying about her parentage for so many years - but Jackie says she did the best she could to give her love-child legitimacy and is sooooo happy that her bio parents are about to be married.

Over at Delta Rho, Sammy Jo cooks Clay dinner, then serves him a ginormous banana split he's far too stuffed to eat. She explains that she may have overdone it with dessert 'cause of how nervous she is about being a hostess, and he assures her she did a great job with dinner. The two retire to the bear skin rug in front of the fire, and during a toast to a very special evening, Sammy Jo accidentally (?) smashes his glass, soaking his shirt with brandy. Clay chuckles at the mishap, urges her to relax, and takes off his shirt before mounting her.

Ben meets with Minister Han, and the two greet each other as old friends and reveal to viewers that they first met years ago when Ben was hired as a South China Sea oil drilling consultant. Han recaps that so far this episode he's met with:

• Alexis, who claims that Blake isn't fit to hold any South China Sea oil leases, and
• Blake, who insists that the most damaging testimony from the recent inheritance trial was perjury

Ben tells the minister that Blake's role in their mother's death is a deep source of shame he's been covering up - until it recently came to light in court. As for Alexis, Ben wryly says she's got plenty of skeletons of her own, and hands him chapter 12 of the Sister Dearest manuscript and warns Han that the truth might cause him some dismay, but that he's entitled to learn what his potential business partner's sister really thinks of her. Minister Han's all, "Wuh?" and begins reading the chapter while Ben smirks evilly.

Alexis is decked out in a bathrobe and frothy pink headband while looking miffed and perplexed that Minister Han has just cancelled his next appointment with her...and when Ben drops by her suite, she tells him she suspects that Han is suddenly avoiding her. Ben rattles off a phrase in "Chinese", and when she's all 'huh?', he translates: 'he's the boss here, his privilege'. A startled Alexis says she had no idea he spoke the language, so he explains that years ago he worked with a Chinese delegation on a mineral rights deal in Australia. Alexis remarks on how much she's learning about him, including how easily he was able to lie on the witness stand...and when he's like, "Uh huh...how about some dinner?", she declines and says she'd rather sit by the phone all night and wait for the minister to call. Ben assures her that everything will work out great and says, "Trust me" ... and after he exits her suite, she snarls, "Trust you?" while scrunching her face distrustfully.

Ben runs into Blake in the hotel elevator and smugly tells his brother he knows how hard he's working to hold onto the South China Sea oil leases - but that sometimes fortunes change. Blake grumbles about how his filthy lies have brought him and Alexis to Hong Kong, but warns that he won't get the revenge he's so desperate for. Ben says, on the contrary, he got exactly what he wanted (e.g. his inheritance), and that he's merely bumming around Hong Kong, looking for investment deals.

Claudia is at the fur store trying on various pricey coats and jackets when she gets into a needlessly bitchy scrap with the salesclerk after an imaginary snub about being a soon-to-be ex-Carrington. She buys half a dozen expensive garments, then flippantly barks at the salesclerk to send the bill to her husband.

​Adam storms over to Claudia's La Mirage suite, stares with disgust as the jewelry and furs strewn across the furniture, and angrily says he heard about her drunken sailor type shopping spree. He snappishly asks why he should pay for all this, so she snaps back, "Because we're married, and I had to put up with your lies!" Adam says he's not stupid enough to pay her bills...and when she says she'll just pay them herself from all the oil profits she's raking in, he smugly informs her that her oil well is starting to dry up. After he storms out, a rapidly unhinging Claudia cries, "It can't be!" and tries to call Blake at his office...then decides she can wait until he returns from Hong Kong to force an ugly confrontation. 

While en route back to Denver, Blake assures Krystle that everything is going to be fine, and that he'll get his answer from Minister Han in a couple of days and is optimistic that he'll remain in full control of 75% of the South China Sea oil leases.

Alexis is still waiting to hear from Minister Han when Ben drops by her hotel suite for the umpteenth time this episode. He informs her that a dramatic statement will be publicly released in two days, then proceeds to read it aloud: the oil ministry is cancelling the oil leases that belonged to Alexis and Blake, and is giving them to a lad named - and this is where Ben suddenly gets all weirdly giddy and demonic looking - Ben Carrington! As Alexis pales and is all, "What the fuuuuuck?!", Ben says he's more than happy to give her control of 25% of the leases, then does his best to convince her that she's only capable of loving a man who's as clever as she is, and who shares her taste for blood: specifically Blake's. After he joyously scampers out of the suite - LOL - Alexis glowers into space and vows to the empty room that she's going to do everything within her power to take both Ben and Blake down. 

Godspeed to that.

Recap: Alexis and Ben are standing on the penthouse terrace discussing "the scheme to end all schemes", aka Faruq Ahmed's shady role in loaning Blake a billion dollars, and Ben wanks Alexis about how she's the best schemer of all the schemers he's ever seen in action. Alexis suddenly gets distracted by the oddness of Amanda's voice during their earlier phone conversation and is now thinking that something could be terribly wrong. She calls her daughter's suite at the La Mirage, gets a busy signal, and decides she needs to rush over to the hotel asap to make sure she's OK.

Over at Carrington manor, Blake tells Krystle he's worried that something might be troubling Amanda, then says he regrets not prioritizing her when she stopped by his office this afternoon at the same time Faruq Ahmed showed up for an impromptu meeting. Krystle assures him he's a superb father who can do no wrong where his children are concerned, but he argues that there's lots of room for improvement...which, d'yuh.

Clay tells Sammy Jo he'd love to take her and Danny to the circus...and when Sammy Jo complains that she gets hassled every time she wants to take the little gaffer off the mansion grounds, he wonders aloud whaddup with the Carringtons and their issues, and cites Amanda as a particularly troubled head-case. Sammy Jo bristles at the mention of the vapid tart and snappishly tells him he can always take her to the circus, and Clay assures her he's not interested in the "mixed-up rich kid" and would much prefer to slum it with her and Danny.

Dominique bursts into Garrett's La Mirage suite and tells him she just learned he jetted to Denver to take Jackie to dinner...and he confirms he did, but now realizes it was a rotten idea and grumbles about how too many years have passed to expect them to function as a real family. Dominique likens him to a cat who has strayed from its owner...and when he sourly retorts, "You left the door open", Dominique gives him a canoodle and says, "If you wanna go, just remember one thing: it's very, very cold outside" and leans in for a kiss. When he stares back at her in surprise, she tells him that that, in case he missed it, was a proposal...and Garrett perks up at the word proposal and gives her a return kiss and canoodle.

Blake asks Steven if he's heard from Amanda in the last several hours, and Steven says he hasn't, and that earlier he had to bail on their lunch date. He then pulls a note out of his pocket left in his office by Amanda, which he forgot to read until now:

Dear Steven,
Always remember that I love you.
Amanda

Blake gets alarmed and takes that as a sign she's in grave trouble, and runs over to the phone to alert the police. 

Alexis arrives at La Mirage with a hotel flunky, who unlocks Amanda's suite. Alexis is aghast when she finds Amanda passed out on her bed with an empty insomnia pills bottle beside her. As the hotel flunky calls 911, Alexis pulls Amanda out of bed and onto her feet, desperately apologizing for snubbing her so cruelly since finding her in bed with Dex. She breathily assures her semi-comatose, flopsy-ing daughter she loves her despite all of the hurtful shit she's said to her lately, then orders her to live, damn it!

Dex drops by the penthouse and tells Ben he has business to conduct with Alexis, and Ben snarkishly tells him he should conduct this business in her office, hand in his penthouse key, and fuck the fuck off. Dex asks him why he's continuing to hang around the penthouse given that he just inherited $125 million...then studies him carefully before remarking on how familiar his face is, and that he vaguely recalls seeing him with a group of men in an oil field many years ago. Ben just shrugs and says, "Oil is my business" and pretends to have no earthly idea what Dex is talking about, and Dex says eventually he'll figure out who he is, then beats a hasty retreat towards the elevator. 

An ambulance transports Amanda to the hospital...and once it reaches the ER, Alexis tells the doctor that the nitwit swallowed an entire bottle of insomnia pills.

Caress barges into Ben's bedroom while he's reading, shirtless, in bed. She smugly tells him she knows he was doinking Emily Fallmont while his mother was burning to a crisp...and since apparently it's the crime of the century, she's pretty sure that Emily would easily crack and spill the beans to the DA. Ben asks her what she wants in exchange for keeping her trap shut, so she tells him she'd like 10% of his inheritance. Ben pretends that he's totes OK with that...and after she flounces out of earshot, he gets on the phone and plans an impromptu trip to Caracas.

Dominique and Garett are enjoying some post-coitus afterglow when he proposes marriage. Dominique happily squeals that she's waited a loooooong time for him to pop the question and promptly accepts. Congratulations, Dullards!
​
Blake and Krystle arrive at the hospital and learn from the doctor that Amanda overdosed on barbiturates and just had her stomach pumped. Blake asks Krystle to call Adam and Steven and inform them about what's going on, then weakly promises to do his best not to snipe at Alexis.

Twelve hours later..

Alexis sits at Amanda's bedside and implores her unconscious daughter to somehow signal if she can hear her. Blake gets on his bitchy horse and demands an explanation from the doctor as to why Amanda hasn't woken up yet, so the doctor tells him there's no set timetable for overdose recovery, and that it could take a couple of days to determine if his daughter's pill popping has resulted in any permanent brain damage. 

Alexis snarls at Blake not to blame the doctor, but rather himself for driving Amanda to the point of wanting to overdose. Blake retorts that if anyone's to blame for this near suicide it's her for turning her back on Amanda after catching her in bed with Dex. The two then bicker back and forth about what a shitty parent the other is until Amanda regains consciousness long enough to weakly shriek, "Stop it!" She promptly slips back into her coma as Blake and Alexis hover over her while quietly staring daggers at each other. 

Ben arrives at Prison Caracas, aka Caress's former place of incarceration, and bribes a Señor Lopez to ensure that Caress serves the two years that are still left on her five year sentence. When Lopez points out that extradition with the United States can be a long, complicated legal process, Ben smirkingly says to leave the legalities to him and to just keep her cell available.

At the hospital, Adam snarks at Steven about demanding to see his Denver Carrington files, and Steven reminds him he's on the watchdog committee and has every right to ask any Denver Carrington employee for whatever documents he wants to look at. Adam warns him to back off and reminds him that he always settles his scores.

Steven visits with Amanda, who has finally regained consciousness sans brain damage. He apologizes for setting her down such a dark path when he bailed on their lunch date, then assures her he'll always be there for her when being a Carrington brat becomes too overwhelming.
​
Claudia drops by the Carrington manor playroom to bid a final farewell to Danny, who pleads with her not to leave. She tells the unhappy tot she won't be coming back to the mansion ever again, assures him he'll be OK, and gives him one last I love you before exiting the room. She runs into Krystle in the hall and remarks on all the flowers being brought in for Amanda's homecoming before bitchily adding that there isn't enough of them to cover up the stench of what's wrong inside Carrington manor. A bemused Krystle asks her what the Carringtons ever did to piss her off this much, so Claudia nonsensically admonishes her and the entire family for making her feel like a charity case when they took her in after she went all squirrelly so they could feel superior to her. She then accuses Krystle of standing by and enabling the treachery with her obnoxious benign sereneness while the rest of the Carrington clan turned on each other...and somehow concludes that Krystle is therefore the most dangerous family member. With that said, she huffily stalks off.

Adam tells Sammy Jo he recently ran into Clay Fallmont who couldn't stop dishing about how beautiful, exciting, and fresh he finds her. [LOL, fresh..?] Adam reminds her that Clay comes from a powerful political family, and that it'd totally freak Steven out if she somehow convinced Clay to shackle himself to a skanklet such as herself in holy matrimony and then sued for full custody of Danny. Sammy Jo looks intrigued by that scenario as she stares contemplatively into space.

Ben arranges to meet Caress clandestinely in his car under the darkness of night to exchange 50K for her Sister Dearest manuscript. As soon as they make the trade, a man hiding in the back seat pops up to chloroform Caress, then removes her from Ben's car to be smuggled to Venezuela via a freighter.

Amanda is discharged from the hospital and returns to Carrington manor to be greeted warmly by Krystle, escorted up to her room by Blake, and wrapped up in cotton wool by a team of loving servants. She remarks on all the lovely lilacs Krystle placed in her room, then sheepishly adds that she doesn't deserve all this fuss. Blake insists she does, then points out that she didn't actually want to die when she swallowed the pills - but rather send out a cry for help that both he and Alexis unwittingly ignored. He promises that from now on he'll be more on the alert whenever she's looking poutier than usual.  

Alexis is mystified when she calls La Mirage looking for Caress and learns that someone checked her out and paid her hotel bill. Ben shrugs disinterestedly at Caress's mysterious disappearance and cryptically says he made it possible for her to get a great suntan [from her windowless cell in Caracas..?], and that it's not important to comb over the details that resulted in the desired outcome. Alexis quickly loses interest in her sister's whereabouts and helps herself to some breakfast - just as Ben announces that he's jetting out of town for a few days on a business trip.

Steven overhears Sammy Jo telling Danny about their outing to the circus and bitchily reminds her that she's not supposed to be taking him off the estate. Sammy Jo snarks back that she's sick of his rules and his threats...and that he'll be sorry he didn't treat her with respect once she's married to Clay Fallmont and has full custody of their son. Steven's all, "Wuh? Clay?" and stares back at her in shocked bewilderment.

Garrett drops by the mansion to warn Blake that Jason Colby was displeased when he heard about the South China Sea oil leases being used as collateral for a billion dollar loan handed out by some shadowy consortium. He urges Blake to focus on his pipeline project instead of pointlessly waging war with Alexis, but Blake's like, "No can do" 'cause he really gets off on constantly sticking it to Alexis, then insists that the oil leases are secure.

Alexis calls Kai Liu to confirm her meeting with Minister Han in Hong Kong the day after tomorrow, at which time she expects to be in full control of Blake's oil leases. After the call, Liu tells the unidentified man in the room with him that their scheme is working out exactly as planned...and as the camera pans over, we see that - shock of all shocks! - the unidentified man is Ben. Ben hands Liu chapter 12 of Caress's manuscript and tells him to translate it into Chinese (despite Chinese not being a language, but rather an umbrella language term that includes multiple languages and/or dialects the Dynasty writers didn't bother to acknowledge). Ben wryly calls the chapter 'Alexis at her best', and Liu looks giddy with delight. 

Alexis is smiling affectionately at the framed photo of Amanda when Dex bursts into her office to tell her he heard about Amanda's overdose and to ask how his ex-lover is doing. Alexis tells him she was shaken by the sight of Amanda being so close to death, was reminded of how immature and vulnerable the nymphet is, and acknowledges that her harsh behavior was the likely impetus for the suicide attempt. Dex gently points out that maybe the silver lining in this near tragedy is that the two of them are no longer sniping hatefully at one another, and a chastened Alexis agrees and says she'll pass along his best wishes to Amanda.

Alexis sweeps into Carrington manor decked out in a fantastic fur cape, exchanges barbs with Krystle as per usual, then heads upstairs to visit with Amanda. 

Alexis gives Amanda a lovely jeweled necklace that was handed down from her mother, explains that she acted so bitchy towards her ever since catching her in bed with Dex 'cause she felt betrayed, and didn't actually mean to say all those hurtful things. Amanda insists that she never meant to hurt her, and Alexis breezily replies, "I know, dahling" and says she loves her so much she'd give her life for her. A few seconds later, Blake enters the room - but is so miffed by the sight of Alexis sitting at Amanda's bedside that he abruptly exits. 

As Alexis makes her way downstairs, Blake angrily insists that they discuss Amanda's fragile state - but Alexis ignores him until she reaches the bottom of the staircase. She then looks up at him and declares that one day soon their children and this house will be hers again...and a perplexed Blake's all, "The fuck you just say?" as the two shoot stink-eyes at each other.

Recap: Amanda packs a suitcase, then pauses to stare sadly at a framed glam shot of Alexis as she flashes back to The Subpoenas episode when Alexis told her she could take her 'I'm sorry for sleeping with Dex' apology and shove it. Amanda produces a bottle of insomnia pills, pours several in her hand and stares at them tearfully, then puts them back into the bottle. After that, she heads downstairs and tells Krystle she's off to visit her friend Kate in Vail...and Krystle wishes her a fun time, but then stares after her concernedly.

Over in the library, Blake continues to work the phones in an effort to secure a billion dollar loan. When Krystle brings in a tray of coffee, he tells her that Jim Ellison, a money broker on the east coast, has agreed to fly to Colorado to meet with him about his billion dollar request. He deflatedly adds that it's obvious many bankers have lost confidence in him 'cause of all the bad press from Ben's inheritance trial, and Krystle wanks him about his awesome integrity and assures him that, at the very least, she'll always stand by him.

Adam asks Steven when he plans to resign from the Denver Carrington board, given that he works at ColbyCo, aka a competing company. That's actually a reasonable question. Steven's like, "Uh, never", to which Adam snarlingly warns that he's going to find a way to remove him from the board.

Alexis - who's sporting a really thick green and black headband to match the rest of her ensemble - tells Ben she's planning to meet with Faruq Ahmed and then launch "a scheme to end all schemes". Ben looks intrigued and asks her for more details...and when she assures him she'll tell him all about it in good time, he bitchily threatens to double-cross her with Blake if she continues to keep him in the dark. Alexis lights up a cigarette, tells him to chillax, and explains that she isn't used to having a partner in her Blake vendettas 'cause she's been battling him on her own for so long. Ben seems satisfied enough with that retort and is all, "So girrrrl...tell me all about Faruq."

Jackie, who's now living in some kind of rooming house in or near Denver, calls Dominique on a pay phone and leaves her a message that she called to once again assure her she's OK. On her way back to her room, a fellow resident named Fred introduces himself, ogles her smittenly, and invites her to go to the movies with him. Jackie says she can't go tonight, reluctantly agrees to a rain check, and heads back upstairs. 

Amanda is sipping ginger ale at the La Mirage bar when the bartender asks her whassup with her mopey disposition. Amanda explains that she's feeling very guilty for something she recently did, then proceeds to loudly regale the bartender with the story of her reckless fire-hydrant-smashing joyride during the previous episode, and that she was more than happy to let someone else take the blame for it. A few feet away, a reporter named Blanchard overhears her confession, and makes a beeline to the nearest phone to tell his editor he unwittingly latched onto a potentially scandalous story about Amanda Carrington, and promises to investigate further.

Clay seats himself beside Amanda at the bar and invites her to join him for dinner, but she declines and snappishly says she just wants to be alooooone. Clay shakes his head at her rudeness and calls her a spoiled brat, and Amanda poutishly retorts that brats are raised by parents who spoil them. [Um, not necessarily.] Clay implores her to have dinner with him...and when she threatens to scream if he doesn't leave her alone, he backs off and tells her she really should consider seeing a shrink. 

​Jim Ellison tells Blake that no he can't/won't lend him a billion dollars, and that yes his bad reputation as a result of the inheritance trial is largely the reason. A dismayed Blake says he'll try to find the cash elsewhere, and Jim's all, "Good luck with that" and exits Blake's office.

Amanda enters a diner in Logan (Colorado), spots Dex eating alone, and flounces over to his booth. Dex makes it clear that it's over between them...and when Amanda says she's well aware of that but just really needs a friend to talk to, he stares back at her skeptically. A few seconds later, one of the construction workers bursts into the diner to inform Dex of a pipeline emergency, and Dex abruptly tells Amanda he has to run, then races out the door. A despondent Amanda stares after him sadly and whimpers, "Goodbye, Dex."

Caress drops by Blake's office to tell him she learned the identity of the woman Ben was hitting the sheets with the day his mother died: Emily Fallmont. A stunned Blake asks her if she's absolutely sure 'bout that, and Caress assures him she is. She points out that they can use this intel to send Alexis to prison for perjury, then gives him what looks like a pretty thick manuscript, aka an unpublished copy of Sister Dearest: The True Story of Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter and explains that it can only help with his relentless battle against her she-devil of a sister. Blake thanks her for providing him with so much background research, then growls, "I'm going to destroy her."

Blake arranges to meet with Emily Fallmont at the cemetery, in front of Ellen Carrington's grave, so he can point to the headstone and tell her he likes to come here whenever he needs to ponder the truth. Subtle, Blake. A rattled looking Emily comes right out and admits that, yep, she was between the sheets with Ben on Fire Day, and that she only hooked up with him (briefly) 'cause she got so lonely-horny while her husband was away in Washington D.C. She further admits that she's been in contact with Ben recently, and that he'd threatened to ruin her life and marriage if she told anyone about their decades old rooming house romps. She tearfully asks Blake what she should do now, and he tells her that since he doesn't have the heart to ruin her life she doesn't have to do anything. He adds that he'll find a way to deal with his vindictive brother that doesn't entail blowing up her marriage...and Emily thanks him and gives him a grateful hug.

Blake storms over to the penthouse and admonishes Ben for being the worst kind of coward by hiding behind Emily and threatening her when she suggested coming clean about their affair. He says he refuses to ruin a decent woman's life and will find another way to nail him to the wall. Ben reminds him that when they went to war against each other he won, then smugly asks his brother how it feels to be the loser...and Blake tells him the war's not over yet, barks, "Wipe that damn smile off your face!", and vows to make him regret ever returning to Denver. 

Alexis meets with Jim Ellison to request a loan of a billion dollars using ColbyCo's vast resources as collateral. Jim assures her that that'd be no problem, then remarks on how it's the second time today that someone has asked him for a loan that large. Hee! What a remarkable coincidence! After he leaves for the airport, Alexis grins evilly into space and says to her empty office, "You've got your money, Blake. The hard way."

Later at the penthouse, Alexis rails at Caress for involving herself in The Mystery of Who Ben Was Doinking on Fire Day, and Caress snappishly warns her not to threaten her 'cause there's nothing preventing her from going to the DA's office to report the identity of the mystery woman. She smugly tells Alexis that she's going to be subpoenaed, forced to recant her bullcack testimony from earlier, and (fingers crossed!) charged with perjury. 

Krystle tells Blake she heard from Amanda's friend in Vail, who told her she hasn't seen or heard from Amanda in weeks. Krystle adds that she's very worried about Amanda, who seems as though she's getting more despondent by the day.  

Alexis tells Ben that Caress is determined to exact revenge on her, and warns that she penned an unauthorized Sister Dearest biography while she was languishing in a Caracas prison cell. A displeased looking Ben says that Caress is definitely dangerous to have around, brings up the fact that she was released from the prison two years early, then says it'd be great if they could figure out a way to somehow get her re-incarcerated in Venezuela so that she's forced to serve her full sentence. Yep, that'd definitely be a neat trick.

Fred comes knocking on Jackie's door and asks her if she wants to watch TV with him, but she tells him she's too busy and asks him to leave. Fred reacts by shutting her door and getting all grab handsy with her - just as Dominique and Garrett burst in, are all, "The fuck is going on here?!", and physically toss Fred out of the room. LOL. Jackie hugs her mom and assures her she's OK, and then Dominique drops the bombshell that Garrett is her bio dad. Jackie stares back at her in stunned bewilderment and angrily demands to know why she kept this detail from her for so many years, but Dominique has no answers and just stares back at her mutely.

Back at La Mirage, where Jackie is resting in the bedroom, Dominique wrings her hands to Garrett about how Jackie feels betrayed by her...and Garrett's like, "Well d'yuh" and says he too feels betrayed that she kept his daughter from him for twenty years. Dominique reminds him that he was married when he unwittingly knocked her up, and that she believed she was doing the right thing by carrying a secret that prevented society from labelling her daughter a bastard, aka the way she was branded throughout her childhood. A few seconds later, Jackie emerges from her bedroom and stares mutely at Garrett, who clucks sympathetically about all she's been through tonight, and that getting used to him being her bio dad will take time. He says he's thrilled to be her father and hopes that she loves him as much as he loves her, and she spacily wanders over to him and leans against him in a clingy side-body hug.

Blake finds Amanda waiting for him in his office foyer and agrees to spend some quality time with her - but then has to put a pin in the father-daughter bonding session when he learns that Faruq Ahmed is waiting for him in his office. 

Faruq reminds Blake that he once made a hurtful accusation that he had kidnapped his grandson, but is willing to let bygones be bygones and help him out financially. He tells Blake he represents a consortium that can give him access to a billion dollars using Denver Carrington's South China Sea oil leases as collateral. Blake asks what the terms would be, so Faruq says that the loan can pretty much be called in whenever he feels like it, and that in lieu of an interest charge the loan [shark] fee will be $250 million dollars. Blake's all, "Wuh? That's ridiculous!", but then accepts the terms without further negotiation 'cause he has no better options, other than to simply scrap his idiotic plan for a hostile takeover of ColbyCo that shows every sign of leaving him penniless and powerless.

Amanda gets bored of waiting around for Blake to finish his meeting and poutishly tells his secretary she wouldn't want to rush her father and lose a big deal on her account, She heads down to the lobby and calls Steven to ask if he's free for lunch, and he's like, "Sure, come on by." Amanda happily offers to pick up some food and meet him in his office at 12:30pm.

Faruq meets with Alexis and happily reports that Blake took his shitty loan deal. She gleefully says, "He has bought his own death", and extends a bravo to her devious Middle Eastern ally.

Adam tells Claudia he managed to transfer ownership of the Lankershim oil well to her, and hands her the papers. He asks that she keep this under wraps until the hostile ColbyCo takeover storyline has run its course, and Claudia says she's agreeable to that. Adam changes the subject and says he now regrets rebuffing her sexual advances the other night and would like her in his bed again, and Claudia's like 'why the hell not? I have needs too' and invites him to stop by her La Mirage suite for a booty call any time.

Amanda drops by Alexis' office and explains that her lunch with Steven got cancelled when he was unexpectedly called away. Alexis invites her to sit down so she can reprimand her for her abject stupidity in loudly recalling a reckless driving incident in which she let someone else take the blame, which was overheard by a reporter named Blanchard from The Denver Chronicle. She sighs and asks Amanda how much more she's going to publicly embarrass her, and lectures her about how privilege comes with responsibility. She bitchily promises not to cut her out of her will - only her heart - then asks her to run along now so she can enjoy her catered lunch in private. Amanda wails that she needs her love not her money...then gets all sad and dejected about how no one in her family has time for her, and that they shouldn't worry about her embarrassing them ever again. 

​Krystle tells Blake she's worried about the terrible deal he made with Faruq Ahmed, but Blake says he didn't have a choice 'cause he's in a crisis situation. Krystle points out that a contrived, voluntary battle with Alexis doesn't translate to being in a crisis situation, but he's like, "Does too" and assures her he knows what he's doing. 

Amanda is in her La Mirage suite, holding a glass of water and staring sadly at the handful of insomnia pills in her hand.

Alexis writes Faruq Ahmed a check for $1 million and thanks him for helping her with Operation Fool Blake Into Thinking He Wasn't Being Double-Crossed When He Borrowed a Billion Dollars. After he heads out, a smiling Ben wanders over and says a toast is in order...and is about to smooch her when the phone rings. As Alexis contemplates answering, Ben tells her to let it ring so they can get busy.

Over at La Mirage, an overdosed Amanda is clutching the phone moaning, "Please be there, please answer" ... and Alexis finally answers and exasperatedly tells her they have nothing more to talk about. She barks, "Let's end this!" and a sleepy Amanda agrees before dropping the phone and passing out.

Recap: Alexis breezes onto the main floor of her penthouse decked out in a fur trimmed negligee while Ben is seated at the breakfast table, reading the morning paper. He shows her the article detailing Denver Carrington's pledge to initiate a hostile takeover of ColbyCo...and when she just shrugs unconcernedly, Ben marvels over her calmness. Alexis dismissively calls the pledge Blake's pathetic attempt to flex his muscles and take over her company...then says that what's really bothering her is not knowing the identity of the woman he (Ben) was doinking while his mother was burning to death. Ben keeps mum (no pun intended) about who his lover was on that fateful day and says he'll handle the situation himself, to which a miffed Alexis says she's determined to find the woman - with or without his help. 

Blake is meeting with a banker named Winston Towers to see about borrowing a billion dollars for Operation Take Over ColbyCo, and says he's willing to put up his South China Sea oil leases as collateral. Winston tells him that since these are leases they can't serve as collateral, then regretfully declines his loan request. Blake accuses him of turning him down 'cause of all the bad press he's been getting as a result of the recent trial, then bitchily says he has important business to do with agreeable bankers who'd be more than happy to help him out. He then buzzes his secretary and asks her to call the New York bank. 

Caress is dining with Ben at La Mirage, faux reminiscing about how she had the hots for him back in the day, and was crestfallen when it was clear that he barely noticed her. She purrs about how he was something of a ladies man, then pretends to try to recall the name of the woman he was hitting the sheets with around the time his mother died. Subtle, Caress. Ben snidely tells Caress that the "non-existent" woman is in her imagination, and recalls that their paths didn't actually cross much in the past and that he'd like to keep it that way. He then gets up and storms out of the dining room, prompting Caress to mouth damn.

Caress drives over to the cathouse Ben used to frequent in his younger days and talks to the redheaded madam [who's still on the job decades later, pimping out her stable o' harlots]. Caress tells Red there's money in it for her if she happens to remember a man-whore customer named Ben Carrington...and, more importantly, who he was boning the day Ellen Carrington met her fiery demise. Red tells her that Ben stopped frequenting her establishment well before Fire Day 'cause word on the street was that he'd fallen in love with a non-hooker. She never found out her name, but recalls that it was a big secret 'cause the woman was married to a Colorado big-shot of some sort. Caress grins slyly and tells her she's been very helpful...and then gets mistaken for a lady of the evening while sashaying past a customer on her way to the door. LOL.

Alexis learns from one of her corporate spies that various bankers have turned down Blake's billion dollar loan requests, and that he's been offering his South China Sea oil leases as collateral. When the spy adds that Blake is about to jet to New York to meet with a banker there, Alexis writes her a check and thanks her, then calls Kai Liu, aka assistant to the Chinese Oil Minister, to tell him she has urgent intel about some South China Sea oil leases he's not going to want to ignore. 

Ben meets up with Emily on a deserted road on the edge of town to tell her that various people are trying to figure out who he was in bed with the day his mother became a human shish kabob. Emily's all, "Wha-a-a?!" and gets visibly freaked out, but Ben assures her that everything will be fine as long as she keeps her mouth shut...and if she doesn't, they could both end up in jail for conspiracy. A panicked Emily says she'd be more than happy to spill the beans to whoever wants to know their intimate bidness, but Ben snarls, "Don't you fucking dare!" and shoves her into the driver's seat of her car and tells her to run along now. As she drives off, Caress, who's lurking in her car on a nearby road, smiles smugly at the exchange she just witnessed.

As Blake is about to board his New York bound plane, Alexis arrives at the airstrip for no reason other than to get all in his face about how satisfying she finds it that his empire is crumbling. Blake retorts by snarkishly telling her to enjoy being head of ColbyCo while she can, then boards his plane. 

Krystle drops by Dominique's La Mirage suite to ask her if she's heard from Jackie, and Dominique tells her she hasn't, but that Garrett called the police to help with the search. She laments lying to her daughter about being a married man's love-child, and Krystle says to not beat herself up about it too much 'cause twenty years ago having an out-of-wedlock baby was a deep source of shame [on account of so many judgey people back then deciding it was their business who was born to whom]. She then points out that Jackie can now have the father she's always wanted - despite being fully grown and no longer needing to be parented - and urges Dominique to let Garrett be a part of their lives. 

Claudia confronts Adam again about how she found the Power of Attorney form he manipulated Blake into signing while he was too sick to realize what he was signing, and threatens to show it to Blake if he doesn't help her get her stupid oil well back. Adam sadly asks if blackmail is all that's left of them, and she unrepentantly says, "Yep", calls the oil well her severance pay before she leaves his shitty family for good, and warns that he'll regret it if he doesn't come through for her.

Caress meets up with Emily at La Mirage and gets all weirdly probey about how she dealt with the horny loneliness that must have accompanied her (senator) husband's long absences a couple of decades ago. When Emily just shrugs and asks her to cut to the chase about why she summoned her here, Caress says she recently talked to Little Jimmy, aka the local dwarfling who used to hang out at the old rooming house on the outskirts of town. As Emily pales, Caress tells her that Little Jimmy remembers seeing Ben and his married girlfriend sneak into the rooming house for frequent nooners...and that he's pretty sure they were going at it the day Ellen Carrington perished in the fire. A shaken Emily asks her what she wants, and Caress is all, "I only seek the truth. Which you've provided, so thanks!" LOL.

Alexis jets to San Francisco and squeezes into a black poofy '80s gown for her meeting with Kai Liu, a blushing admirer who openly tells her how often he's fantasized about the two of them getting it on. Alexis chortles flirtily at his creepish intensity and says she needs him to arrange a meeting with Minister Han so she can give him an earful about all the bad press that's come out about Blake as a result of the inheritance trial, and then tattle on him for wanting to use the South China Sea oil leases as collateral to secure a billion dollar loan. Kai Liu says he'd be more than happy to set up the meeting as long as there's some puntang in it for him, and she non-committally tells him she'll be in Hong Kong ten days from now. After he exits the hotel suite, Alexis calls ColbyCo's Hong Kong affiliate George MacKenzie and orders him to get all the stats on Blake's South China Sea operation, and then figure out how to doctor the documents to suit her nefarious purposes.

Dex angrily asks Blake whaddup with Denver Carrington putting a pause on the pipeline project and no longer reimbursing him for the accumulating expenses, so Blake explains that he's temporarily delaying construction of the pipeline 'cause he's pouring every cent he can into his ridiculous Get Revenge on Alexis At All Costs vendetta. An incredulous Dex calls him crazy and growls that he'll be damned if he's going to allow himself to be dragged down with this idiotic feud.

Amanda is sitting in the La Mirage dining room, writing an apology letter to Alexis for having sex with her husband and thereby destroying their marriage. She looks unhappy with what she's written so far and crumples up the piece of paper and starts over - just as Clay Fallmont wanders over and asks what she's up to. She bitchily tells him it's none of his business and that he's not welcome to join her...and when he chides her for always brushing him off, she abruptly gets up and leaves the hotel. Clay stares at the crumpled letter curiously before scooping it up, then chases Amanda all the way to the parking lot and implores her not to drive away mad...and when she proceeds to ignore him, he leaps into the passenger seat before she squeals off. He warns her that driving dangerously isn't a good way to resolve her problems, and she responds by sharply swerving to avoid hitting another car...and ends up smashing into a fire hydrant, causing water to start gushing everywhere.

Steven gets irked when Sammy Jo tells him she took Danny to the zoo earlier, and reminds her that she's supposed to keep him on the mansion's grounds. She rolls her eyes, tells him to relax, and assures him she won't try to kidnap him (again). He snidely asks if Clay went to the zoo with them, and she just-as-snidely replies that it's perfectly normal for her to have a boyfriend since she's a girl, and insists that Clay - who she emphasizes is straight - is a good influence on Danny. Sort of. 

Clay tells the police that he was the one who smashed into the fire hydrant, and shushes Amanda when she weakly tries to point out that she should probably face the consequences of driving so recklessly and stupidly endangering every other motorist on the road. The police administer several tests to ensure that Clay hasn't been drinking, and he passes them all with ease. 

Emily arranges another sneaky meet-up with Ben to warn him that Caress knows they were an item around the time his mother went up in flames, and that she's extremely wigged out about her husband learning of their decades old love affair. She wails, "Why is this haaaappppening?!", and Ben assures her he'll handle Caress, and that nothing bad will come of this.

Dex drops by the penthouse to complain to Alexis that Blake has halted work on the pipeline. He offers to put up 500K of his own money if she can fund the rest, but she gives him a hard no on that and dismissively tells him to look for a loan elsewhere. Dex implores her to put her personal feelings aside for the sake of the pipeline project, and she snaps back that he should have thought about her personal feelings before he "raided the kindergarten". She adds that she rather enjoys seeing him suffer, and he snorts with disgust at her desire to get back at him by hooking up with Ben, then asks, "What's next? Streetwalking?" Alexis slaps him hard across the face, and he glares at her before pulling her towards him and planting her lips with a hard, forcible smooch. When she looks totes into the rough play, he smugly growls, "Face it, Alexis. I'm the best man you ever had in your bed and you know it." She contemplates that before leaning in for another smooch - but he holds her back, glares at her some more, then stalks out of the room.

Blake is having a troubled sleep and yells out, "Liar!", which wakes up Krystle...who then turns the light on and asks him what's wrong. He tells her he keeps having the same dream about Ben and Alexis lying about him in court, but quickly assures her he'll fight the injustice of the bogus inheritance trial and win. He then decides that since he's up anyway, he's going to head into the office early and get a jump on the day. When Krystle stares back at him in pensive concern, he explains that he always feels better when he's doing something to help his dire situation.

Blake is meeting with someone named Bob Ashmore, who's willing to help fund the ColbyCo takeover as long as Denver Carrington's ELC holdings (which contain valuable real estate) are used as collateral. He warns Blake that the arrangement would open him up to other buyers snapping up property from that subsidiary for a period of sixty days, but Blake assures him he's A-OK with that and signs the papers. 

Krystle storms over to the penthouse to ask Ben how much longer he's going to try to destroy his brother, then asks why he hates Blake so. Ben tells her that it's a long and nonsensical story, vehemently denies killing his mother, and chuckles about how much he's been enjoying blaming Blake for something he's been blamed for for so long. Krystle throws in the towel on trying to appeal to her brother-in-law's conscience and dejectedly exits the penthouse.

Over at Carrington manor, Blake admonishes Clay for taking a dangerous joyride with his daughter in the car - until Amanda interrupts to confess that she was the one behind the wheel. Clay beats a hasty retreat so that Blake can focus his ire on Amanda and demand to know whaddup with her self-destructive tendencies lately and wonder aloud what she's doing with her aimless life. Amanda poutishly replies [with the episode's biggest understatement], "Nothing! I'm a hopeless failure!" and rushes out of the library. 
​
Krystle tells Blake she went to see Ben earlier and was aghast at how consumed with hatred and jealousy the man is, and that she's never seen anyone so vicious and driven. When Blake quips that Ben can't harm him 'cause he's indestructible, Krystle says she's deeply troubled by the Cain and Abel dynamic, and how desperately Ben wants to see his own brother dead. 

Bob Ashmore informs Ben that he has sixty days to buy up as many ELC holdings as he can, and Ben grins all sinister-like and says that sixty days will give him all the time he needs to screw his brother good.

Recap: As Denver Carrington stock plummets to sewer levels, Blake is on the phone with some flunky named Charles, ordering him to liquidate a bunch of company assets and then buy up as much stock as possible - while keeping his fingers crossed that this'll help raise the stock's value. Krystle enters the library and suggests to Blake that he appeal the judge's ruling - but Blake complains that that'd take years...and since he needs to clear his name pronto, he has no choice but to track down the woman who was doinking Ben while their mother was being barbecued alive.

Alexis tells whoever she's on the phone with to discreetly buy up as much Denver Carrington stock as possible. Ben, who has overheard her half of the conversation, says he's deeply impressed with her business acumen...but when she says she could do a lot with his $125 million windfall, he bitchily makes it clear that that kind of financial advice is not welcome. He heads out - just as Martin Gaines (aka one of Denver Carrington's board members) arrives after being summoned by Alexis. She invokes the [unexplained] scandal his brother got himself tangled up in which she presumably made go away...and when Martin irritably points out that that happened years ago, she smarmily retorts, "I'm calling in my marker."

Over at Denver Carrington, Blake, Steven, and Adam are busily buying back as much Denver Carrington stock as possible when Ben bursts in to smugly stick it to Blake about how word on the street is that he's having trouble buying up his own stock. He offers to lend Blake some money in exchange for two Denver Carrington board seats...and Blake correctly assumes the seats are for him and Alexis, calls him indecent, and rails at him for the umpteenth time for letting their helpless ma die in a house fire. Ben sneers, "Tell that to the judge - except, you already have" and swaggers out of the room.

Amanda enters the La Mirage dining room and runs into Jay Bradley, aka the new operating manager of La Mirage. She tells him she'd like a job at the hotel and heard that there was an opening in guest relations, an area to which she feels well suited...despite having no credentials in the hospitality industry and never having worked a day in her life. Jay looks less than thrilled at the prospect of hiring the spoiled woman-child and says she'd be better off taking it up with her rich daddy, then firmly tells her he doesn't currently have any openings.

Clay Fallmont wanders over to Amanda, tells her he overheard that embarrassing exchange, and clucks sympathetically about how hard it can be to have a rich, powerful father. He says he's managed to get through that kind of personal hell by figuring out what he wants to do with his life and then going about doing it. [That Clay is sure a profile in brilliance.] Amanda whines that she can't seem to find anything interesting to occupy her time, and Clay suggests she's not trying hard enough, then reminds her that her mother owns a huge corporation and could surely find her some kind of superfluous, high paying executive position. Amanda sourly says she doesn't want to discuss Alexis, then gets up and flounces out of the dining room.

During an interview with Gordon Wales, Blake insists that the current plummeting of Denver Carrington stock is just a temporary sitch...and that after all of the damaging testimony from the recent trial is revealed as hateful lies, his company will once again be riding high. Gordon marvels at his confidence and asks if this isn't history repeating himself...and by this he means the irrelevant-to-this-plot, untimely death of Ted Dinard. He reminds Blake of the ridiculously light sentence he was given for that manslaughtering, and is now getting away with the murder of his mother. Blake angrily retorts that he didn't murder his mother, refrains from pointing out that the recent court proceeding he underwent was not actually a criminal trial to determine whether or not he was guilty of causing Ma Carrington's death, and barks at the cheeky reporter to get the hell out of his office. 

Alexis is sitting at the head of the empty Denver Carrington board room...and when Blake gets wind that she's on the premises and asks her what the devil she's doing here, she decrees that since his company is about to become hers, she's been thinking of how she might redecorate this drab, wood-paneled room. LOL. Blake reminds her that they proposed merging their companies back in Season 3, but it didn't take...so Alexis says she has a much better business brain now, and is as ruthless as is necessary to go for the jugular. She then gets up and sashays out of the room, leaving a troubled looking Blake staring contemplatively into space.

Dominique calls Garrett in L.A. to tearfully inform him that Jackie has run away, but has been calling her to assure her she's safe...and Garrett reminds her that Jackie is a grown woman who's legally allowed to leave Denver if she wishes, and that it's probably a very good sign that she's regularly been in touch.

Alexis arrives at Dex's pipeline jobsite via helicopter to ogle his disheveled ruggedness and deliver some Lex-Dex papers he needs to sign. Jennifer happens to wander over at that moment to ask Dex something that could easily have waited another five minutes...and exchanges barbs with Alexis, who haughtily informs the attractive young blonde that she's her "absentee co-employer". Once Jennifer has wandered out of earshot, Alexis wryly remarks on how hot she is, and Dex breezily describes her as "a very good worker" ... then swiftly changes the subject and says he's going to need time to read over the papers before he's ready to sign, but promises to deliver them by morning. Alexis wishes him a pleasant evening and clarifies that her unannounced pop-in was to check on what he's doing with her millions, not to see him per se. Mmm hmm..

At Carrington manor, Garrett expresses concern to Blake about the Denver Carrington stock sewer dive and how it will affect his business commitments to Jason Colby. Blake says that the trial testimony that has besmirched his company was largely horseshit, and that he fully intends to clear his good name asap.

Alexis reminds Ben that it's important for the two of them to trust each other, then demands to know why in the hell he went to Denver Carrington to see Blake this morning. Ben says that that's strictly his business, and makes clear that he doesn't trust her 'cause he figures that at some point one of them is going to double-cross the other. Alexis says, in that case, she wants to dissolve this unholy alliance, and snarls at him to pack up his shit and get out of her apartment. Ben rapidly softens and agrees that, yep, they really do need to trust one another and assures her he's fully committed to their shared desire to destroy Blake. He then leans in for a conciliatory smooch.

When Garrett jets to Denver from L.A. and arrives at La Mirage, Dominique hugs him and coos about how much she neeeeeeds him. She tells him she hasn't heard from Jackie in awhile, is very worried about her wellbeing, and that...oh yeah, he's her bio dad. Garrett does his best to look utterly stunned by that revelation, then asks her why she waited so long to tell him. Dominique asks if they could put a pin in that discussion until she locates Jackie, and Garrett's like, "OK by me" and suggests they call the police to see if maybe they're interesting in tracking their daughter down.

​As Alexis coats her lips with a thick layer of red lipstick, Ben hornily suggests they head upstairs to her boudoir 'cause he's not into the idea of nailing her in the living room. Alexis says she's not into the idea of getting nailed by him at all...and when he implies that she's a shameless cock tease, she admits that, yep, she definitely enjoys flirting with smitten men. Ben translates that as an invitation to lean in for another smooch - just as Dex enters the penthouse with the Lex-Dex papers Alexis had delivered to him earlier. He glares at Ben as he informs Alexis that the papers are signed, and she tells him to leave them on the table, then grabs Ben and indulges in an in-yer-face-Dex! type smooch. Dex purses his lips unhappily and beats a hasty retreat.

Over at Carrington manor, Amanda explains to Krystle that she's been moping around so much lately 'cause she's soooo miserable about her icky hookup with Dex that hurt her mother so deeply that she's not even speaking to her anymore. Krystle says she can empathize 'cause she once made a similar mistake, and Amanda's all, "That's nice, but we're talking about me now", then wanders across the room to stare despondently out the window.

Elsewhere in the mansion, Sammy Jo is horsing around with Danny when she runs into Steven and gaily tells him that she and their son are off to a picnic...and when Steven scrunches his face disapprovingly, she hastily explains that they're picnicking in the mansion's playroom 'cause it's too cold outside. She then tells him how sorry she is about how Blake's trial played out...and when Steven eyes her suspiciously and asks what her ulterior motive is, she rolls her eyes and chides him for always taking himself so seriously.

Sammy Jo and Danny are joined in the playroom by Clay Fallmont, and the three are enjoying a picnic of corn dogs, pizza, and large helpings of other types of junk food. Steven wanders past the room and looks less than thrilled by the sight of Clay playing with Danny. Or maybe that was just his default sour expression.

Caress drops by Blake's office to deliver an urgent piece of good news: she knows for a fact that Alexis perjured herself on the stand, then explains that the two of them were shopping in Chicago the day Ellen Carrington became a crispy critter. Blake looks intrigued, thinks back, and says he now recalls that Alexis wasn't in Denver on Fire Day, and that he saw her for the first time after the tragedy at the mortuary. Caress earnestly says she wants sooooo much to help him 'cause she only feels intense hatred for her sister. Blake perks up at that shared sentiment and says they're going to need hard evidence to prove that Alexis committed perjury...and Caress assures him that she'll move heaven and earth to find it.

Krystle stops by ColbyCo to admonish Alexis about her hostile behavior towards Amanda, but Alexis sneers that she has zero desire to talk to her about any of her children, especially her whore-daughter. Krystle calls her heartless for not being more forgiving of the Amanda-Dex dalliance, and implores her to give Amanda the life direction she so desperately needs. Alexis snarls that she doesn't answer to her and barks at her to get out of her office.

Blake informs Steven that one of the board members, Martin Gaines, has demanded that he resign as board chairman, lined up other members to vote his way, and summoned the entire board for an emergency meeting. As Steven's all, "Wha-a-a-at's happening?!", Blake growls that Alexis is surely behind this, and that she's out for blood...but vows that what she'll get instead is hers and Ben's blood. 

Claudia arrives at Denver Carrington to meet up with Adam...and when she finds his office empty, she snoops through his drawers and finds the Power of Attorney form he manipulated an ill Blake into signing during The Alarm episode. Claudia's all 'jackpot!', makes a photocopy of the form and stuffs it into her purse, then confronts Adam with the original when he returns to his office. He stares at her in stunned horror and asks how she obtained the top secret document [he didn't think to keep more secure under lock and key], and she smugly says it only matters that they're partners now...and that he'd better do as she says, otherwise she'll blow up his world by showing the document to Blake. 

Gordon Wales tells Alexis he interviewed Blake yesterday, fibs about how Blake spent most of their time trash-talking her, and says he already feels bad about how ape-shit she's going to go when she reads the interview. Alexis mulls that over and agrees to offer her side of the story, then calls Blake "a tarnished person, cruel, and unforgiving". She adds that his image as a benevolent father figure is a load of shit, that he's responsible for the deaths of Ellen Carrington and Ted Dinard, and when the world learns of his true colors he'll be the most hated man alive.

Board meeting! The old white men (plus Dominique for a dash of diversity) convene in the Denver Carrington boardroom, where Martin Gaines decrees that Blake should step down as board chair. He points out that the bad publicity generated from the recent trial has rubbed off on the company and caused the value of the stock to plunge into the shitter. Blake says he intends to turn that situation around and assures the board that the company will be back to its robust self in no time...and when Martin asks how he plans to accomplish this, Blake replies, "By launching a hostile takeover of ColbyCo." Steven points out that that's a very risky move...but when the vote ends up in a tie, Steven gives his aye in favor of Blake's revenge plan. A pleased Blake growls, "Now, once and for all, let's get ColbyCo."

Recap: Blake is informed by his P.I. (Mr. Hall) that he has a solid lead on the whereabouts of Mr. Franklin, but hasn't yet been able to track down the floozy Ben was hitting the sheets with on the day his poor mother burned to death. Blake snarkishly orders Mr. Hall to conduct a hard target search of every flop house and saloon in the area to find her, and that if he can't manage the task he'll hire someone who can, damn it...and Mr. Hall [somehow refrains from telling the wrinkly bully to go pee up a rope and] meekly replies, "Yes sir."

Over at the penthouse, Ben is staring into the crackling fireplace and asking Alexis what she sees when she looks at fire, and she gleefully retorts, "I see Blake...burning at the stake." Ben says that he sees victory rising from the ashes, and the two toast to their impending victory and Ben's potential windfall of $125 million. When she asks him what he's going to do with his new found wealth, he stares dreamily into space and says he could definitely get used to living in a swanky penthouse and having a valet and chauffeur. Alexis contorts her mouth into a pouty expression and reminds Ben that he owes her a token of appreciation for rescuing him from his grim life in the Australian Outback and helping him bring this matter to trial (in extremely speedy fashion), to which he points out that she's not exactly a trustworthy benefactor, given that she so brazenly perjured herself on the witness stand...but then softens his general disgust of her treacherousness by pouring her another glass of champagne. 

Blake commiserates to Krystle about how all the bad press from the trial could be devastating to his reputation and company...and that he could lose everything he's ever fought for. Krystle's like, "Well d'yuh" and says they absolutely have to find the woman Ben was in bed with during the fire so that she can refute Ben's and Alexis' bullcack testimony.

Steven grumbles at Bart Fallmont for getting dropped by the party as a senatorial candidate just 'cause he's gay, then wanks him about being the brightest, most creative candidate the party has ever had. Bart says he's actually really happy to be out of the race, is thrilled to no longer be living his life as a closeted gay man, and has taken a job in the Environmental Agency in Washington D.C. He invites Steven to come along to D.C. with him, but Steven declines and says he'd rather mope around his father's Denver mansion and live the rest of his dull life under a perpetual cloud of gloom. 

Blake storms into Alexis' office and demands to know the identity and whereabouts of the woman who bumped uglies with Ben on the fateful day their mother died. After bickering back and forth about whether or not such a woman even exists, Blake reminds Alexis that just five episodes ago she was begging him to take her back...and when he refused, she framed him by committing perjury. Alexis calls the notion of her begging him to take her back absurd, then says he committed a far greater sin than perjury when he vowed to love and cherish her 'til death do them part, and then threw her out of Carrington manor and their children's lives. She vows to ruin him - just as Blake gets a call from Mr. Hall, who informs him that Mr. Franklin has been located in a seedy motel on the edge of town. After hanging up, Blake smugly tells Alexis that her plot to ruin him might not be successful after all, then hurries out of the office. 

Mr. Hall tells Blake he found Mr. Franklin living in a motel on the wrong side of the tracks...and the two are about to head over to Skid Row when Blake's secretary informs him that a deflated looking Oscar Goldman has been waiting for him in his office for nearly an hour. Oscar glumly tells Blake he's really bummed that Bart is no longer in the senatorial race, and is worried he's throwing his life away by moving halfway across the country and taking a job with the Environmental Agency. Blake assures him that Bart will be just fine, and points out that taking a fat government job doesn't exactly qualify as 'throwing one's life away' ... and Oscar gets a clue that Blake is busy with Operation Locate a Helpful Trial Witness and says he's ready to shuffle off dejectedly now.

Steven confronts Adam about his role in destroying Bart Fallmont's political career, but Adam says he has zero remorse about doing something that resulted in getting the injunction terminated so that Denver Carrington could resume construction of the pipeline. He adds that whatever personal carnage his gay friend suffered was well worth the reward.

Over at Motel 6, Blake asks Mr. Franklin why he lied in court, so the wino admits he was paid to lie...and that he took the cash fully intending to give it to his long-suffering family, but stupidly used it to buy booze instead. He says he's been sober for the last two days, intends to stay that way (fingers crossed), and that he's totes down with returning to court in a couple of days' time and telling the judge the truth about who was in the oil field the day Ellen Carrington died. Blake squeals happily and shakes Mr. Franklin's hand while smugly predicting that the plaintiff side is going to be in for one helluva surprise - but somehow doesn't think to get Franklin on the record with a signed affidavit...or at least put the man in a more controlled environment, aka not leave him to his own devices in a seedy motel, where he could easily be tempted to fall off the wagon and show up to court drunk (spoiler).

Steven asks Alexis if she was being honest on the witness stand, so she carefully says that whatever she specifically said about Blake was true. When Steven's like, "What about the rest of your testimony?", she chides him for not showing her the kind of loyalty he routinely shows to Blake, and demands that he give her equal love and respect. Steven just stares back at her in stupid muteness instead of insisting she answer his question about the veracity of her entire testimony.  

Jackie calls Dominique from a pay phone to let her know her she's OK, but is still really tearful about being lied to about her bio dad's identity. Dominique begs her to reveal her whereabouts, but Jackie whimpers, "Sorry" and promptly hangs up. This storyline is bringing back traumatic memories of enduring Lindsay Blaisdel's non-stop ugly crying (during Season 1) about being conceived out of wedlock.

Caress bursts into Alexis' office to tell her she knows for a fact she wasn't doinking Blake on the day his mother burned to death, then explains that she checked her diary from twenty years ago (!), which indicated that the two of them were on a shopping trip in Chicago on that day. She smugly tells Alexis she still has the power to hurt her...and after she sashays out of the room, a concerned looking Alexis gets on the phone and frantically tries to call Ben. 

At the La Mirage, Dex manages to persuade Clay Fallmont to take a job as his explosives expert on the pipeline project...and while he's exiting the dining room, he spots Amanda sitting alone and sulkily sipping on a drink. When he tries to say hey to her, she poutishly tells him it's too late for them to be talking, then barks, "Leave me alone." Dex is like, "OK, can do" ... and a few seconds later, Clay wanders over to Amanda and remarks that she was pretty rough on Dex just then. He offers to join her and listen to her First World problems, but she bitchily declines and tells him she's not interested in having him be her sounding board.  

Claudia drops by Steven's office to commiserate about the two of them being forced to testify against Blake in court. Steven sourly points out that she didn't seem to feel bad while she was trashing Blake on the stand, but Claudia insists she did it under duress, and declares Adam to be their shared enemy 'cause he outed Bart Fallmont and - she's pretty sure - is up to something even more nefarious. Steven shrugs unconcernedly and says he'll just deal with his brother face-to-face, so Claudia says she'll find out what Adam is up to by herself, then bitchily storms out of the room. 

Blake arrives at the pipeline jobsite by helicopter to check in with Dex and voice his approval for the decision to hire Clay Fallmont as the explosives guru. As they're chatting, Hawkins (the foreman who was fired by Dex during the previous episode and who has sneaked onto the jobsite) loosens the chains holding giant pipes atrop the flatbed truck Blake and Dex are standing beside. Blake sees them begin to topple and grabs Dex, then pulls him to safety beneath the truck. A grateful Dex is all, "Thanks, goat daddy. You saved my life."

Adam finds Claudia sexily lounging in his bedroom at Carrington manor, purring about how much she's missed him this season, then sexily invites him to join her atop the bed. After a half-hearted smooch, Adam coldly reminds her that she abandoned their marriage when she moved to La Mirage, remarks on what a horrendous idea it'd be for them to knock boots, and says he's going downstairs to get himself a drink and doesn't want to see her in his room when he returns.  

The next morning at the courthouse, Caress makes a smug entrance and tells Alexis she's suddenly interested in watching the proceedings. Blake arrives soon after and snarlingly suggests to Ben he head back to Australia...and when Ben worriedly asks Alexis what the penalty for perjury is, she just shrugs and says she has no idea what the word perjury even means.

The judge announces that he's allowing additional testimony...and as Alexis and Ben are all, "Wha-a-a?!", Mr. Franklin ambles into the courtroom and onto the witness stand. Mrs. Davis reminds him that he testified to Ben being at work in the oil field the day Ellen Carrington died and asks him if he'd like to change that testimony...and Franklin, who suddenly looks as though he's been hitting the sauce hard since his 'come to Jesus' moment with Blake earlier, scrunches his face in misery and incoherently natters about how his wife was the only person who'd ever had faith in him. The incredulous judge orders the bailiff to escort the drunkard off the stand, admonishes Blake et. al. for wasting the court's time, and announces that he's ready to make his ruling.

The judge weighs all of the superfluously irrelevant evidence that was presented at this ridiculous trial and comes to the conclusion that Ben is entitled to a quarter of his father's estate. As Ben and Alexis woot happily and hug, Dominique assures Blake that this isn't over, and that Alexis won't be allowed to get away with what she's done.

While walking past the press pack, Alexis gaily pronounces that justice has finally been done...while Blake tells reporters that he fully intends to appeal this ruling, and also locate the woman Ben was doinking while their mother succumbed to the flames of a house fire.

In an out-of-the-way restaurant, Ben meets up with Emily Fallmont (trying to look incognito in large sunglasses), who wrings her hands about the ruling against Blake and tells Ben she wants to come forward and tell the world it was she he was boning on that fateful day. Ben tells her that that'd be a horrible idea, points out that she'd only succeed in ruining her reputation and marriage, and asks her if Blake Carrington is really worth destroying her life over. Emily ponders the high cost to her confession as she stares contemplatively into space.

At the penthouse, Alexis and Ben guzzle champagne and toast to "the sweet smell of success". Alexis tells Ben she has great plans for his $125 million, but he makes it clear that he's perfectly capable of spending/investing his own cash windfall and doesn't need any direction from her. He laments Blake stealing a chunk of his life, then declares that in revenge he shall build his own empire and use it to destroy his brother...and Alexis squeals excitedly at that vague, implausible plan and says she'd really like to somehow get in on that. 

Over at Denver Carrington, Blake is working the phones and barking at various flunkies to get a breakdown of ColbyCo's projected revenues, loans, and details on every shareholder. When a puzzled Adam asks what in blazes he's doing, Blake snarls, "I call it 'survival of the fittest'" and says he intends to find ColbyCo's weak spot, and use it to destroy Alexis for once and for all.