Dynasty - Season 8, Episode 16

"I hereby declare that I shall wear drab pastels after all."

​"The Bracelet"
Original airdate: 1/27/1988

Episode summary: Alexis survives Sean's sniper bullet and continues her quest to become Colorado's next governor. Jeff rescues Sammy Jo when she's attacked by a creepy admirer. Karen Atkinson is shocked by the return of her estranged husband.

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Recap: After the initial shock of Alexis being shot, a panicked Sean hurriedly climbs down from the rafters and tries to blend back in with the crowd. As the Carrington clan et. al. hovers over an unconscious Alexis, Steven shoves back overeager photographers from snapping pics of her bloodied face. She briefly regains consciousness, sees Blake staring down at her worriedly, and murmurs, "Blake.." before passing out again...and then Sean rushes over and moans, "Oh dear God, don't let her die." He asks Blake if he knows who did this, and Blake tells him he has no clue.

Across the globe in Natumbe, Dex sneaks into Harry Thresher's office with a flashlight. He searches through desk drawers and file folders until he comes across a pile of photographs, some of which feature Harry and Sean from whenever they served together in some kind of military unit. Dex stares at it in fascination and mutters, "Bingo."

At Cheney Hospital, Jeff tells Blake it's quite possible that the bullet was meant for him, a theory with which Krystle agrees. Blake says he can't be 100% sure of that, and that right now Alexis's survival is the only thing that matters. A few seconds later, the doctor enters the room and tells Sean that Alexis was extremely lucky, 'cause apparently the bullet just grazed a tiny part of her forehead...and despite what seems like kind of a non-injury, he insists on keeping her overnight for observation. 

Alexis is lying on her hospital bed with a small white bandage across the right side of her forehead when Sean enters the room, clasps her hand, and assures her she'll be fine. Alexis asks him if the police have found any suspects [answer: no], then laments what the world has come to, when a political campaign may have cost her her life. She worries that next time the shooter won't miss, then decides she should drop out of the race asap and go back to running ColbyCo. After that declaration, she weakly loses consciousness [? maybe the doctors gave her some potent painkillers] ... and Sean scrunches his face unhappily at her decision to no longer run for governor and storms out of the room.

"Next time the bullet might not just whizz past me."

"Oh, I'm fairly confident that next time the shooter will successfully hit his intended target."

Sean makes a beeline over to the nearest pay phone and leaves Harry Thresher an urgent message to call him back asap.

Sean brings Leslie to his/Alexis's suite at the Carlton Hotel for a romp - but she tells him she's not into the creepy prospect of having sex with him in his wife's bed while she languishes in the hospital. An unfazed Sean gets all date-rapey and starts forcibly undressing her, and his roughness causes the bracelet she's wearing (aka the one Alexis gifted her) to slip off of her wrist and land unseen on the carpet. As Leslie continues to make clear that she does not want him to bone her right now, Sean growls, "Don't fight me. I need you tonight", then insists, "You want me just as much as I do." Leslie gets a reprieve when the phone suddenly rings and Sean has to rush into the living room to answer [Harry Thresher's return call]. She hastily puts her blouse back on, then eavesdrops on Sean telling Harry that they're going to have to change their plans and that he'll be overseeing the operation himself. As Sean finishes the call, Leslie blows him a kiss and rushes out of the suite while wondering aloud to herself what change of plans Sean could have been referring to.

Blake drops in on Alexis to make sure she's OK, and she looks visibly happy to see him. She admits to her fear of being a target and tells him she's definitely going to withdraw from the gubernatorial race. She says, now that she's out of the picture, surely he'll win the election...and jokingly requests that he throw at least one state dinner in her honor. Blake grinningly agrees, then urges her to get some rest. 

Later, Gordon Wales drops by the hospital to return to Alexis the notes from her 'I'm withdrawing from the race' speech that were left scattered across the stage after her bullet grazing. He tells her he's decided not to write his article about the rumors swirling around her two minute marriage to Cecil just before his death, but rather the vast amount of public sympathy and concern that's been pouring in for her after the shooting. He wanks about how her popularity is at such a high that she could probably run for president, then urges her to stay in the gubernatorial race...jokingly adding that he likes the idea of having a direct pipeline to the frontrunner. Alexis chews on all that for a few seconds, then dramatically rips up her 'I'm withdrawing from the race'  speech notes. 

The next morning, Alexis's hospital room is filled with flowers from well-wishers. Sean briefly pops by to announce that he's off to Natumbe to personally handle the Vitron oil deal, then kisses her goodbye and exits. After that, Fallon and Steven pay her a visit and deliver the stack of mail she's received since the shooting...which includes a letter from the White House. A paparazzo suddenly sneaks into her room and snaps her photograph before Steven angrily hustles him out...and Fallon wryly remarks that the attempted assassination has made her front page news. Fallon and Steven urge their mother to get some rest, and they head out - just as Russ Kelton arrives. He tells Alexis that he had arranged for the paparazzo to take her picture just now...and when Alexis looks miffed at being exploited during a moment of vulnerability, he says he figured she'd be wanting to maximize the massive amount of sympathy she's been enjoying since last night. He then tells her that the public largely considers her a heroine after taking a bullet for the opposing candidate, and that she really can win the election...and she responds by looking contemplatively intrigued.

"You getting shot in the head was the best thing that could have happened to this campaign."

"In that case, I welcome any amount of personal exploitation you can subject me to."

Across town, Dana, Sammy Jo, and Karen have just gone on a shopping spree for baby things and have returned to Karen's house. A few seconds later, the phone rings...and Karen tells whoever's on the other end that she can't talk right now and abruptly hangs up. When Dana asks her whassup, Karen looks visibly upset and says she needs to lie down now...and after Dana and Sammy Jo head out, a distressed looking Karen stares worriedly into space. 

At Delta Rho, Dana tells Sammy Jo she's worried about Karen's sudden mood change after that phone call...and can't help being concerned that Karen is going to change her mind about wanting to hand over the surrogate baby (to her and Adam) after it's born. 

Karen is milling around her backyard when her ex-husband Jesse suddenly appears holding a pair of dolls to give as gifts to their daughters. Karen angrily tells him she doesn't want him around when the girls come home from school, then explains that she's pregnant 'cause she figured the best way to make a whole lot of cash without getting a job was to enter into a surrogacy arrangement with a wealthy family. She chides him for failing to make child support payments for the last year and snarks that she didn't even know he was back in the country. Jesse contritely says he came back to the U.S. 'cause of how much he missed her and the girls - but Karen sourly says she doesn't buy it and reminds him that they're divorced. Jesse's like, "Er, about that.." and informs her that since he never actually signed the papers they're not technically divorced...and Karen stares at him in stunned incredulity when he declares them still married, and that he never stopped loving her. 

Back at the hospital, Alexis is transported to a room via a wheelchair [despite that fact that her legs probably work just fine] where the press has gathered to cover her impromptu press conference. She tells the reporters she's angry at the senseless violence she was just a victim of - but is also very touched by the outpouring of love and support she's received from the public.

Over at campaign headquarters, Blake tells Krystle that he's assuming the purpose of Alexis's press conference is to formally announce her withdrawal from the gubernatorial race - but when they turn on the TV, they're dismayed when they hear Alexis gabbling about how the people of Colorado deserve to have a strong leader, and that she's determined to stay in the race and win the election. Krystle looks visibly miffed and says she doesn't believe that Alexis ever intended to withdraw, then asks Bill Cochran if they can use Cecil's original will to throw dirt at her. Bill tells her he wouldn't advise it, not least 'cause Alexis has gained a lot of public sympathy after her bullet grazing. Blake points out that she still has a big fight ahead of her, and that he's confident he'll come out the winner.  
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At Delta Rho, Sammy Jo is on the phone with her banker, discussing her foolhardy decision to borrow too much money against her assets. Jeff drops by (to pick up Little Blake, who's still horseback riding with Danny) and asks Sammy Jo whaddup with her downbeat mood. Sammy Jo admits that she took a huge financial risk buying more horses - just before the horse market went soft. Jeff offers to infuse some fresh capital into her failing ranch and expresses optimism that he'll somehow get a great return on his investment, and then he and a grateful Sammy Jo shake on it.

Dex meets up with Jeff at the Carlton Hotel to discuss the inert pipeline project. Jeff reminds Dex that Colby Enterprises has a lot of dough invested in the pipeline, really really wants him back on the project, and asks what it'll take to convince him to resume this work. Dex flatly says he'd only consider returning if Blake were back in charge, 'cause he's had it with stupid Steven at the helm, and his inability to work alongside Fallon and Adam without constant conflict. 

That evening, Steven stops by Delta Rho to tuck Danny in...and Sammy Jo needlessly gives him the heads up that Jeff has invested some capital funds in the ranch after learning about her financial woes. Steven bitchily admonishes her for not coming to him for the money, so she explains that she doesn't want to be so financially dependent on him anymore [but is perfectly OK being financially dependent on a different man]. He irritably asks her if there's more than just a money arrangement going on between her and Jeff, and she haughtily refuses to dignify that insulting question by admitting 'yeah, there kinda is'.

"Is there anything resembling hanky panky going on between you and Jeff?"

"You insult me. And yes."

Steven drops by Jeff's apartment to tell him that he's willing to allow Dex to resume work on the pipeline project - but that he wants him (Jeff) to rescind his investment in Delta Rho, 'cause he wants to be the one to provide for his own family. Jeff points out that 1) clearly Sammy Jo doesn't want his help, and 2) Dex would rather eat dirt than ever work for him again. Steven starts nonsensically railing at Jeff for messing up Fallon's life and doesn't want to see the same thing happen to Sammy Jo...and after he bitchily storms out, Jeff calls up his financial advisor and orders him to buy up as much Denver Carrington stock as he can, but to do it quietly and keep his name out of it.

Alexis (hurray - she can walk again!) sashays over to Blake's campaign headquarters to explain that she's decided to stay in the gubernatorial race 'cause of how touched she was by the public's outpouring of love and concern for her wellbeing following the shooting. Blake angrily accuses her of wanting to destroy his campaign, then puts a pin in that 'cause he has to rush off to a scheduled campaign event.

Blake is yammering at a group of supporters about the scourge of slumlords who, if elected, he's going to make clean up their act in providing decent housing for renters. When someone in the crowd asks Blake how he could possibly relate to the plight of poor renters, given that he lives in a swanky mansion, he tells her that his family represents three generations of poverty-stricken Coloradans, and that he got rich through years of hard work...and that he genuinely wants to give them all the ability to achieve the American dream. As everyone claps at that platitude, Sammy Jo, who's there as part of the Blake for Governor entourage, hands out buttons. A rando supporter wanders over and is so helplessly smitten by her beauty - but she coldly ignores him as she packs up the buttons and races off.

Alexis returns to her ColbyCo office and gets a briefing from her secretary (Jennifer) about all the calls and telegrams she's received since last night. Alexis asks her to set up a meeting with Leslie...then registers surprise when Jennifer informs her that Leslie is currently in Natumbe.

The rando who was so smitten with Sammy Jo at the campaign event enters the downtown campaign office, which Sammy Jo is about to close up for the night. He fawns over how super gorgeous she is...but when she reacts by looking repulsed by his flattery and shoves him away, he accuses her of flirting with him earlier and angrily declares, "What you show, you owe." Sammy Jo reacts to that idiotic pronouncement by slapping him, then struggles against him when he gets really grab-handsy - just as Jeff happens to enter the campaign office at that moment. He pulls the rando off of Sammy Jo, and starts punching him...and the two wrestle around - until Jeff's stunt double steps in. He leaps high into the air to give himself the kind of bouncy momentum needed in order to pounce atop the rando...all while a trembling Sammy Jo helplessly looks on. Eventually Jeff delivers a hard enough punch to send the rando running off...and then Jeff turns his attention to Sammy Jo and asks her if she's OK. She mutely nods, and gives him a grateful hug. 

"You flaunt it, you want it."

"I didn't, and I don't."

Thwack!

Wheeee!

Jeff tucks in Sammy Jo at Delta Rho, then calls Blake and explains that Danny is going to need to spend the night at the mansion. A few seconds later, Sammy Jo wakes up looking panicked about Danny's whereabouts, and Jeff cooingly assures her he's with Blake and Krystle for the night, and that she's safe in his tender loving presence.

Dex drops by Alexis's hotel suite to check up on her, and to gift her a bottle of her favorite perfume. She admits to feeling a new level of vulnerability after being attacked as an emerging public figure, and vows to take more stringent security measures in the future. The conversation then shifts to Sean's trip to Natumbe...and Dex hands her the military photo he found of Harry Thresher and Sean. He tells her he definitely doesn't trust Harry, and Alexis translates that to mean he doesn't trust Sean and gets all prickly about being criticized for her dumb decision to marry a weirdo she barely knew. Dex insists that he's only trying to help, but she wearily tells him to leave 'cause she's getting tired...but then stares concernedly at the photo.

Leslie drops in on Sean at his Natumbe hotel room, and he irritably demands to know what she's doing here. She smugly tells him she knows he's into something shady, like maybe trying to personally profit off of the Vitron oil deal...and that she won't blow the whistle on him 'cause she too wants a piece of the action. She taunts him about being the son of a servant, promises to not blow his cover, and says she's willing to work hard for her cut, citing the toughness of the world in which "a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do". Ick, Leslie.  

As Alexis sits atop her bed and continues to stare concernedly at the photo of Sean and Harry Thresher, her adorable Shih Tzu waddles into the room and starts sniffing at something under the bed. Alexis helps him find his lost toy...and in the process, spots the bracelet that Leslie unwittingly lost earlier. Alexis has a flashback of when she gave it to Leslie, then glares at a framed photo of Sean on the nightstand and throws the heavy bracelet at it while screeching, "You bastard!"

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