Dynasty - Season 7, Episode 16

Blake and Krystle decide where best to display Alexis's masterpiece

"The Portrait"
Original airdate: 1/28/1987

Episode summary: Blake invites Ben to reside at Carrington manor. Clay gets jealous when he sees how close Steven and Sammy Jo are getting. Leslie confronts Ben about being a deadbeat dad. 

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Recap: Blake and Krystle are aboard the Carrington jet, flying from Singapore to Hong Kong. Blake, who's been napping with his head on Krystle's lap, opens his eyes and coos about how much he loves waking up to the sight of her face. He explains that he wants to make a pit stop in Hong Kong to extend an olive branch to Ben by thanking him for saving his life. Krystle's like, "OK, whatever" and gets up to fetch them some wine. She notices that Blake suddenly looks lost in thought, so she comfortingly tells him it'd be totes understandable if he was thinking about the five days of faux marital bliss he just shared with Alexis. Blake weakly denies that that's what he's thinking about, then tells her he booked the best suite in the best hotel in all of Hong Kong, and plants her lips with a big smooch.

Back in Singapore, Alexis is putting the finishing touches on her Blake portrait when Dex enters the villa. He looks less than thrilled by the subject of her painting and coldly informs her that he met up with Blake last night at the hotel, who told him everything that happened after the rig blew up, and seems totally fine now that he's reunited with his wife. He shoots Alexis an incredulous stink-eye and rails, "What the hell were you trying to accomplish?!", so Alexis "explains" that her goals weren't...

• To manipulate Blake into signing the Assignment of Leases document, [which she stupidly tore up] ... even though she told Adam that a situation just happened to fall into her lap that might make it possible to get back 50% ownership of the leases
• To seduce Blake ... even though it was ickily clear by all her 'being in Singapore feels like a second honeymoon, darling!' talk that she totally would have welcomed goat daddy into her bed if his subconscious had allowed it

Dex asks exactly what she and Blake did together while they were holed up in this luxurious villa for several days, so she stares dreamily into space and recalls how they talked, laughed, danced, and reminisced...then poutishly adds in a passionately breathy sounding voice that she truly enjoyed revisiting a time of her life when she was most sensitive to her own feelings and able to love more easily. A vexed Dex is like, "Seriously?" and whines about how he interrupted his busy life as a pipeline foreman to waste five days and nights desperately trying to track her down, then wonders aloud if she gives even the tiniest of rat's asses about him. Alexis gets all prickly-defensive as she apologizes for the inconvenience she unwittingly caused him, weakly assures him that she sorta/kinda does care for him, then accuses him of always being jealous of Blake. She barks at him to get out so that she can finish the portrait of her beloved, and he responds by knocking over her tray of paints and brushes before bellowing, "Finish it!" Once he's safely out of earshot, Alexis rings up her house servant Kai and asks him to book her a plane ticket to Denver asap.

"Blake's memory loss gave me the opportunity to revert back to the vulnerable, delicate young flower I once was."

"How sweet. By the way, I wasted five days of my life searching for you."

As a thunder storm rages, Danny comes running into the living room to tell Steven he's skeered of the loud clapping noises, so Steven gives him a comforting squeeze and explains that thunder is nothing more than a bunch of clouds bumping into each other. Danny giggles at that visual - just as Sammy Jo drops by also to seek company to ride out the scary storm. She gives Danny a happy good night hug, then sends him off to bed...and informs Steven that Clay stormed out in a huff after she told him she wanted an annulment. Steven urges her to stay the night at his apartment, offering to sleep on the couch so she can have his bed...Sammy Jo mulls that over and decides 'sure, why the hell not?'

 Blake enters Ben's hospital room to thank him for helping him escape the exploding rig. Ben says he realized he could have easily let him die - but figured he should prolly start making up for all the terrible shit he's done to him ever since returning to Denver. Blake says that while he's not totally ready to forgive him for all of his wretched misdeeds, he'd like him to return with him and Krystle to Denver and stay at the mansion until the writers can decide what in blazes they're going to do with this now contrite and largely superfluous character for the rest of Season 7. 

 The next morning, Steven tells Sammy Jo that Danny was sooooo happy this morning when he took him to school, and that he's been loving all of the mommy-son time the two of them have been getting. 

Back at Delta Rho, Clay is angrily pacing the living room when Sammy Jo returns. He demands to know where she's been all night, so she tells him she spent the night at Steven's apartment, mostly to be near Danny. Clay huffily whines that he waited up for her all night 'cause he wants to convince her to nix the annulment idea - but she makes it clear that they're definitely absolutely 100% through. Clay bitchily insinuates that she's fallen back in love with Steven...and when she insists that that's ridiculous, he counters, "Oh, I think it's on the button" and that she really should consider how wise it is to jump into a relationship with a non-hetero guy and where she thinks that baffling kind of decision-making is going to get her.

Back in Hong Kong, Blake and Krystle are in their luxury hotel suite, smooching on the rug in front of the fireplace and cooing about how much they looooove each other. He informs her that he invited Ben to return with them to Denver and stay at the mansion, reminding a skeptical looking Krystle that the scoundrel risked his life in order to save him. Krystle says she can't just forget all the terrible things he's done since coming to Denver, but Blake insists that he really really wants to work towards restoring their brotherly love. Krystle says she's fine with that, as long as he exercises caution...and then the two continue with their nauseatingly love-dove-ish smoochfest.

​The following day, Blake, Krystle, and Ben return to Carrington manor...and Blake asks Gerard to please prepare a room for Ben. Kristina runs over excitedly, and the three coo over her cuteness until Blake scoops her up and carries her upstairs. Ben takes the opportunity to assure Krystle that he's grateful to Blake for welcoming him into his home and that the only thing on his agenda is showing the two of them how much he appreciates their kindness. Krystle promises to keep an open mind while also remaining cautious about his motives.

Alexis drops by Blake's office decked out in a fantastic, flouncy white fur coat and expresses concern about Amanda, who she hasn't talked to since before the rig explosion/Singapore re-honeymoon. Blake says he also hasn't been able to reach her...and that if she remains incommunicado for much longer, he has a mind to storm over to the remote island [she and Michael are purportedly doinking on all day and all night] to see whassup. Alexis says she thinks that's a fine idea, then asks him if the headaches he had during their Singapore vacay have gotten any better, and he tells her they've definitely improved, and that he's grateful to her for helping him relax and recuperate after the rig explosion. Alexis says she has zero regrets about creepily orchestrating a situation in which the two of them remained holed up together so she could pretend as though they were a husband and wife from the 1960s, and he thanks her for eventually telling him the truth about his marriage to Krystle...despite that by the time she told him the truth, the jig was pretty much up. She says she should probably be going now, and he walks her out...and both begin chuckling about the time the maid in Singapore cooked them a horrible "American" meal - just as Krystle exits the elevator and looks visibly dismayed by their playful banter. 

"Have you heard from Amanda lately?"

"Who?"

Steven chastises Alexis for not contacting him while she was vacationing in Singapore, leaving him with just the tiniest bits of indecipherable intel that Adam was willing to dole out. Alexis counter-chastises him for moving out on her when he vacated the mansion with Danny and relocated to an apartment. Steven explains that he did that in order to take stock of his life, and feels as though he's far less surly and on the right track to being more understanding of people and what he used to consider their faults. When he mentions that lately he and Danny have been hanging out with Sammy Jo, Alexis looks alarmed and worries aloud that the skanklet is going to do something to hurt him and/or their tot.

 Dominique is teaching Kristina to play the piano while Krystle lovingly looks on, when Gerard enters the room to inform Krystle that she just received a package. Krystle excitedly unwraps it, but then is deflated when she sees that it's the Blake portrait Alexis painted while the two of them were in Singapore. Dominique stares at it incredulously and says it's clear that Blake willingly posed for the rendering, then says she can't help but strongly suspect Alexis of wanting to come between them and shake up their marriage. Krystle tries to breezily insist, "It's just a portrait" - but then contorts her face into a worried expression as she stares concernedly into space.

 Michael Culhane bursts into Blake's office and demands to know where Amanda is, then waves around two goodbye letters (one for Blake) that Amanda left behind before abruptly getting axed by the producers - I mean "fleeing to London" and asking that no one follow her. A bemused Blake reads Amanda's note, in which she complains about being forced to choose between her father and her boyfriend. Blake says it's entirely plausible that she fled to London 'cause she has relatives there [and supposedly grew up there despite not having a British accent like Catherine Oxenberg]. Michael barks at Blake to get her to come back asap, so Blake picks up the phone to ask his secretary to track down Alexis asap, then yells at Michael to get the hell out of his office. Michael snarls, "You'll be hearing from me!" before storming out.

 Alexis drops by Delta Rho to 1) mock the art that Sammy Jo is in the process of hanging on her walls and 2) warn her not to screw with Steven or Danny. A few seconds later, she gets an urgent call on Sammy Jo's line from Blake's office with the latest tidbit on What Ever Happened to Recast Amanda?

 Alexis rushes back to Denver Carrington and tells Blake that her cousin Rosalind (who raised Amanda) would likely know where their daughter is, but Blake says he already called Rosalind, and it wasn't a fruitful conversation 'cause she promised Amanda she wouldn't say anything to anyone about her whereabouts. Alexis suggests they hire a private investigator to suss her out - but Blake says it's a bad idea, 'cause it might anger her to the point that they'll lose her forever. He suggests they leave her alone until she's ready to re-enter their lives, and this is the last we ever hear of Amanda Carrington.

Adam meets up with Leslie on the outdoor dining patio of the Carlton Hotel, and she tells him she was jazzed to learn that Ben is currently living in Denver and that the two of them are cousins. She admits she's pretty nervous about seeing her father again and asks Adam if all the nasty stories about him are true. Adam says he's not the best person to ask, not least 'cause he hates Ben with the intensity of a thousand suns, but then diplomatically says that the business world is full of mistakes and jealousies. He assures Leslie that Ben will be overjoyed to see his only daughter, then asks her if she knows anyone else in Denver. She tells him she used to work for Dex Dexter in Alberta at the time he had a run-in with a jerk named Michael Culhane...and looks less than pleased when Adam tells her that the unscrupulous Don Juan is back in Denver. 

"So...tell me about my dad."

"He's a hateful jerk, much like every other Carrington male."

Leslie runs into Dex in the hotel lobby...and based on their conversation, it's obvious that she was the female employee in Alberta (Dex once described to Blake) who Michael got liquored up and then enticed to spill the beans in order to undercut his (Dex's) bid to purchase an oil property. Dex assures Leslie that he puts all the blame for that indiscretion squarely on Michael, then changes the subject and asks how she and her mom are doing. Leslie sadly replies that her mom died about a month ago...and Dex clucks sympathetically, then warns her that even though Denver's a big city, she's more than likely to run into Michael, who's currently in town "making waves".

 Alexis stops by Blake's office for the third time this episode to drop off the pills he was taking in Singapore for his headaches. She runs into Krystle, who haughtily informs her that Blake has already been prescribed updated pills from his Denver doctor, so they don't need her pills and/or her stupid portrait painting. Alexis smugly wonders if she's most upset about the fact that she and Blake were in isolation together for several days, leaving her wondering if anything happened between the two of them. She needles Krystle further by urging her to silently ponder, "Did Blake and I make love? And was it better with me than with you?" then shoots Krystle a mischievous grin before sashaying out of the office. Hee!

 Steven drops by Delta Rho to suggest to Sammy Jo that they have dinner together tonight, then leave Danny with a sitter so they can enjoy a night out on the town. Sammy Jo beams happily and says that she definitely likes the sound of that idea. 

 Blake calls Krystle to tell her he's busy catching up on work and will be home later. Krystle assures him it's no problem and offers to hold supper for him, suggesting that they enjoy an informal meal in the kitchen...but after hanging up, she once again stares concernedly into space.
​
 Leslie spots Michael drinking in the hotel bar and saunters over to him. She assures him she doesn't hold a grudge against him for the time he used her to screw with Dex in Alberta, then invites him to join her in her suite for a drink. Michael perks up at that prospect - I guess this means he's suddenly over Amanda - and in the next scene, the two are smooching intensely while Leslie peels off his clothes. When she suggests they take a sexy shower like they used to in Alberta, Michael says he's definitely into it and hastily gets all the way naked and excitedly bounds over to the bathroom. LOL. Leslie proceeds to gather up his clothes before exiting the suite and depositing the clothing in the laundry hamper part of the chamber maid's cart. A few seconds later, Michael emerges from the bathroom looking for Leslie, and is dismayed to see that neither she nor his clothes are anywhere to be found. He irritably calls the concierge and barks at him to open the boutique pronto so that he isn't forced to walk around the hotel naked. 

 Sammy Jo and Steven are dancing the night away at a lively nightclub - when Clay happens to show up, watches them boogie for a few seconds, and sourly asks if they're having fun. He angrily informs Steven that Sammy Jo just asked him for an annulment, then accuses him of using Danny to worm his way back into her life. He fumes, "The ironic thing is, you're not even a man!", a homophobic slur Steven reacts to by punching him in the face. Clay reacts to the face punch by lunging at him...and the two exchange blows until a bouncer physically separates them. Sammy Jo snarlingly tells Clay that she can take care of herself - but Clay insists she needs him and that he's refusing to let her go.  

"You're not a man - you're a gay'."

"Who has a fist!"

Leslie arrives at Carrington manor to confront Ben and chastise him for walking out on her and her mother. Ben is stunned at the sight of his long-lost daughter, gazes at her in awe before gushing about how he could never forget those eyes, and explains that her mother was the one who packed up and disappeared on him. Leslie doesn't buy his version of events and insists that he betrayed his family, then informs him that her mother died about a month ago. As Ben stares back at Leslie with a look of mournful bewilderment, she snarls, "Everything I've learned about you today is true!", then races out of the room and down the corridor towards the vestibule, while he chases after her, begging her not to go. The spectacle is witnessed by Blake, who has just returned home..and he wanders over to Ben and asks him if the sobbing woman was his daughter. Ben sadly says it was, but that he doesn't want to talk about it.

 Blake ambles over to one of the sitting rooms to see whassup with Krystle, who's staring unhappily at the portrait Alexis painted. Blake tut tuts Alexis for sending that thing over here, but then remarks on what a nice piece of art it is. Krystle agrees that it is pretty good, and that she'd be petty if she demanded it be removed from the premises just 'cause Alexis is the artist. Blake concurs, then asks her if there's something else that's troubling her, e.g. the uncertainty of whatever icky carnal acts may have occurred between himself and Alexis while they were playing house in Singapore for five long days. He assures her that there was no new spark of interest nor was there any sex, 'cause she was always in her heart, even if just subconsciously. Krystle tears up with relief, thanks him for clearing up that source of blechy unease, and presses herself against him in a hug.

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