Dynasty - Season 7, Episode 28

"Third soulmate's a charm."

"Shadow Play"
Original airdate: 5/6/1987

Episode summary: When blood tests are inconclusive about Clay's parentage, he leaves Denver forever...and his exit is followed by Ben, Dominique, and Nick Kimball. Adam and Dana wed in a lavish ceremony at Carrington manor...and following the reception, the mansion is infiltrated by South American thugs and their apparent leader, the long lost Matthew Blaisdel. 

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Recap: Krystle is out shopping when she suspects that her limo is being followed by a mysterious driver in a black car. She alerts (her driver) Alfred to her concerns, so he's like, "Let's find out" and makes several turns...and when the suspicious car doesn't continue to trail behind them, Alfred is satisfied that the stalking was all in Krystle's head.

Dana reiterates to Adam that they really need to just grit their teeth and endure all the hoopla of a Carrington mansion wedding, and he reluctantly says he'll do it - but mostly 'cause it's so important to the love of his life. 

Steven gives Danny a football helmet as a special present, then breaks the news to the tot that he got a job in a different city and therefore has to leave Denver. Danny sadly says he understands, then hugs his dad and runs off...and a bemused Sammy Jo's all, "Did you really get an out-of-town job?" Steven says he was fibbing 'bout that - but that he intends on making it the truth so that Danny will think there's a compelling reason as to why his father no longer lives with them at Delta Rho. Seems somewhat nonsensical, but OK. 

Late that night, a restless Krystle gets out of bed and glances out the window, and is alarmed when she sees a mystery man roaming the grounds. She wakes Blake to tell him what she just saw, so he gets out of bed and calls up his security team and orders them to sweep the property for possible intruders. Krystle races down the hall to check on Kristina, and is relieved to find her in bed, sleeping peacefully. A few minutes later, Blake tells Krystle that security assured him no alarms were tripped, and suggests that maybe she just thought she saw a mystery man. She insists she definitely did see something, then tells him about finding the weird workman in the conservatory after the rest of the workmen had finished prepping the mansion for the wedding - but Blake breezily doubts it's anything to worry about and steers her back into their bedroom.

The next day, Blake and Alexis are meeting with attorney Earl Thompson to finalize some legal paperwork they both expect will be a wonderful surprise for Adam and his future. Alexis thanks Blake for agreeing to do it, then leans in and gives him a cheek kiss. These two have really come a long way from the Season 6 finale, when Blake tried to choke the life out of Alexis after she (temporarily) acquired ownership of Carrington manor.

Clay and Oscar Goldman burst into Ben's Denver Carrington office to demand that he accompany them to the nearest blood testing clinic so that they can get to the bottom of the 'who's Clay's bio dad?' conundrum. Clay insists on learning the truth about who his father is, while Oscar grumbles that he thinks it's a dumb idea 'cause he's pretty sure he already knows the truth. Ben decides 'ah fuck it' and says he's willing to undergo the tests if it can finally put this icktastic storyline to bed. 

The head of security drops by the study to show Blake something he found on the grounds: a white card with a weird insignia of a W or M, depending on which way you look at it. Blake stares at it curiously and says he has no idea what the strange symbol could mean.

While enjoying a pre-matrimonial breakfast in her mansion suite, Dana confides in Krystle about what a stressful adjustment it's been to move into Carrington manor in advance of joining Adam's dysfunctional family. She waxes on about how in love with Adam she's been for a long time...but because she never imagined she'd actually have the chance to marry the freak, she invited other men into her life and bed. She laments her non-virgin status, pointing out, "This family does seem to have a pretty strict set of rules." Krystle somehow refrains from reminding her that Adam has been married twice and no doubt enjoyed countless liaisons before the two of them hooked up, and instead tells her she had a right to live her life before settling down. She then confesses that she too had a pre-marital dalliance with a (married) lover prior to falling "madly in love" with goat daddy, and smilingly pronounces, "And from that moment, the past didn't matter." 

"I regret not remaining an unsullied virgin for my wedding night."

"With that subservient attitude, you'll fit into this patriarchal family just fine."

Clay meets up with Leslie outdoors to break the news that, because DNA testing wasn't a thing in 1987, the blood test was inconclusive...meaning that either Ben or Oscar could be his bio dad. Leslie moans, "Oh God.." and Clay says that since they'll never truly know the truth about his parentage, they probably shouldn't hit the sack anymore. He tells her he's going to pack up and move to Canada, and try not to think about her...or the blechy possibility that he might have been nailing his half-sister for the last several episodes.

When Leslie returns to the mansion, Ben informs her that he's leaving Dynasty immediately following Adam's/Dana's wedding. He further explains that he's graciously exiting her life in an effort to help soothe her misery after losing Clay. Leslie insists that she forgives him and pleads with him to stay - but he says he can't forgive himself...plus his usefulness on Dynasty has completely run its course now that he and Blake aren't constantly at each other's throats anymore.

Oscar Goldman is boozing while staring at a framed photo of deceased Emily and having a flashback to when she swore to him that Clay was his son as she lay dying on the street. Oscar murmurs, "I believe you, Emily" - but is secretly thrilled that he has accomplished his life's mission: ensuring that Clay is forever done hooking up with Carrington women.

Adam is summoned, along with Steven, to the study by Blake and Alexis. Blake ceremoniously hands Adam a bundle of legal papers and explains that it's a Decree of Adoption, which states that he - Adam Alexander Carrington - is entitled to inherit Carrington property and cash as if he had been Blake's/Alexis's bio child [which he could actually be - but I digress]. Adam is speechless for several seconds, profusely thanks his faux(?) parents, and promises to never again do any more fucked up shit that hurts anyone within the Carrington clan. Steven congratulates him, while Blake urges him to sign the papers so that they can all focus their full attention on today's nuptials. Adam happily obliges, and Blake smilingly says, "Welcome back, son."

Steven hangs back to inform Blake that he's made the decision to leave Denver and maybe go to the east coast (e.g. New York), where he was once happy. Blake acknowledges that his life couldn't have been easy, not least 'cause of all the homophobic hatred he's been spewing his way ever since Season 1 - but is very worried about him venturing into the big scary world in which he could so easily get infected with AIDS. Blake points out, "It's no longer just a gay disease", so Steven assures him that he's a grown ass man who's fully capable of slipping on a rubber if circumstances should arise, then needlessly clarifies, "I know about safe sex, and I know about celibacy if that becomes necessary." Blake implores him to reconsider moving, 'cause the threat of AIDS scares the bejeezus out of him...and says this as though AIDS is a not-just-gay New York disease that doesn't exist in the state of Colorado. 

"I'm thinking about moving to the east cost."

"If you do that, you'll die of AIDS."

The wedding guests begin to arrive...and while that's happening, a mystery person in the same black car that followed Krystle earlier is spying on the mansion through binoculars. 

 Leslie is primping in her bridesmaid gown when Dex enters the room. He clucks sympathetically about her relationship with Clay abruptly going kaput, then offers to promote her to Clay's now vacant position. Leslie hems and haws about being expected to just excise Clay from her mind, then decides that maybe having a more challenging job will help ease her broken heart and put the icky visual that she might have been knocking boots with her half-brother out of her mind. 

 Gavin arrives at the mansion, much to the disapproval of Dex, who demands to know what the hell he's doing here. Gavin smugly tells him that Alexis - aka his ex-wife - invited him, then makes it clear how little of a damn he gives that Dex doesn't think he belongs here. 

 The ceremony begins with 1) the two bridesmaids, Leslie and Sammy Jo, making their way down the staircase in their lacy pink frocks, followed by 2) Kristina (flower girl) with Danny (ring bearer), and then 3) Dana in her frothy white gown, as she's escorted down the aisle by Blake. The couple exchange vows and rings...blah blah blah...and soon the minister pronounces them husband and wife. As the two indulge in their first marital smooch, the wedding guests clap and titter happily. 

"I assume you still have no qualms about marrying a deeply disturbed individual."

"To the contrary, it's all I ever dreamed of."

After the ceremony, the guests amble over to the conservatory, where they applaud the newlyweds as they enjoy their first dance as husband and wife. A few seconds later, Danny asks Kristina to dance (cute!) ... and when Gavin asks Alexis to dance, she grins when she hears that the musicians are playing her/Blake's favorite song, and declines with, "Sorry, this one's taken." She strides over to where Blake is standing and tells him that, as the parents of the groom, it's time for them to dance. A few seconds later, Adam cuts in to dance "with my beautiful mother", while Blake invites Krystle onto the dance floor. Dana, meanwhile, dances with Steven and thanks him for all of his support during the run-up to the wedding, and he gushes about how she's what has been missing in Adam's life.

Over at the buffet table, Nick fixes Dominique a plate of caviar and smarmily proposes marriage. Dominique tells him that since weddings always put her in a romantic frame of mind, she's totes into the idea of them sneaking out of the mansion without a word to anyone and flying off to New York to "just do it". As an afterthought, she coos about how much she loves him, then leans in for a smooch...and that's the last we ever see of Dominique and Nick. Godspeed, newlyweds-to-be!
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Ben wistfully watches Leslie as she dances with Dex, then gives Gerard a note to pass along to Blake after the wedding. He then sneaks out of the mansion, and that's the last we ever see of him too. Godspeed, Ben!

As Gavin dances with Alexis, he remarks on the torch she clearly still carries for Blake - but she denies that and points out that a woman doesn't always need to be with a man. Gavin glances across the room, sees that Dex is nearby, and plants a forcible smooch on Alexis's lips...and she reacts by angrily shoving him away from her and snarling, "When I want to be kissed, I'll let you know. And when I want to dance again, I'll let you know that too." As she storms off, Dex makes a beeline over to Gavin and tells him they need to have a private chat, and the two head over to the solarium. Dex warns Gavin to stay away from Alexis, not least 'cause he's just as big a crook as his uncle Dirk...and vows that he's not going to get a penny out of Alexis. An angry Gavin responds by taking a swing at Dex, but Dex easily knocks him down with one punch. As Gavin recovers from the blow, he mockingly says, "You might have won the fight, Dexter, but you lost the lady" ... and an incensed Dex hauls Gavin to his feet, shoves him towards the door, and snarls, "That is the way out."

Dana, meanwhile, has changed into her honeymoon suit and throws her bouquet from the landing of the staircase...and the lucky receiver is Sammy Jo, who clutches the flowers while staring wistfully at Steven. She then runs up the staircase looking visibly distressed...and Steven follows her and moans about how much he hates seeing her so unhappy. She tearfully chides him for walking out on her, says she's tired of making a fool of herself, and snappishly tells him to just leave her the hell alone. 

Dex tells Alexis that he persuaded Gavin to leave the mansion by non-subtly punching him in the face...and when Alexis argues that he had no right to do that, he insists he does have that right, 'cause: "years of loving you, taking care of you." She angrily retorts that she doesn't need his protection, so he counter-retorts by needling her about what an empty shell of a life she lives, and describes her as a very lonely lady who has nothing and no one. Alexis looks deeply distraught by the critique, hisses, "Damn you!" and throws a drink in his face before storming out the back door. She climbs into a random car and squeals off, prompting one of the caterers to yell, "Hey lady, that's my car!" LOL. As she mindlessly hits the gas pedal, Dex's hurtful words run through her mind in a torturous loop, and she tears up and cries, "I don't need anybody!" She becomes so uncharacteristically overwrought by another person's opinion of her that as she drives over a long bridge at full speed, she somehow doesn't see the giant metal pole that's blocking the bridge exit. When she comes upon it, she panics and cries, "Aaaaahhh!!" and takes her hands off the steering wheel in order to shield her face from the horror of an imminent crash...and after she loses control of the car, it plunges off the bridge and into the murky water below. 

To kick off the season's final scene, which seems suspiciously derivative of the Moldavian Massacre that followed the wedding of Amanda and Prince Michael, three armed South American thugs dressed in tuxedos storm into Carrington manor, needlessly manhandle Gerard, and successfully fight off an attack by Dex. Upstairs, Blake and Krystle are amiably chatting about Adam's/Dana's honeymoon plans when they hear the sound of glass breaking. Blake gets on the phone to inquire about what just happened, is puzzled when no one downstairs picks up, then tells Krystle that the phone suddenly went dead. One of the thugs bursts into their bedroom and points a gun at them...and we see that he has the weird M/W insignia thing tattooed on his wrist. He orders Blake and Krystle to go downstairs and into the study, where the thugs are in the process of herding everyone else. A few seconds later, the long lost Matthew Blaisdel - who now has an unsightly scar carved into the left side of his forehead - saunters into the room, causing a stupefied Krystle to gasp, "My God! Matthew!" When Blake growls, "You..?", Matthew nonsensically informs Blake, "I've come back for what belongs to me. What you stole from me." He then caresses Krystle's cheek and tells her that after all these years he's come back for her...and she tries not to recoil from the touch and discomfiting presence of the disfigured weirdo, and stares back at him in horrified bewilderment. 

"I'm back from South America with a few screws loose."

"That will prove to be a major understatement."

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