Shadowlands: Dallas, Knots Landing, Falcon Crest 2021

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Shadowland

Idea: a drama series looking at shadow governments, using the popular soap operas of the 1980’s . . .

Cast:

Josh Henderson as John Ross Ewing, III (early 40s)
Based on Charles Koch, following Dallas 2012, John Ross has completed the tasks assigned by his father following his death and has put together a company called Ewing Industries (of which Ewing Oil, Wentworth Tool and Die and the South Fork Cattle Company are components). He shares the company with his brother Bo (the son of his father and his father’s 2nd wife) and the two are commonly referred to as the Ewing Brothers. In addition, the DelSol family owns 16% of the nation’s second largest, privately business. John Ross is married to Pamela Rebecca Barns, who suffers from schizophrenia. The two share three young sons and live at the South Fork ranch in Dallas, Texas. John Ross has supporter former President Ronald Bower, who is now in the middle of several legal batters.

Noah Gray-Cabey as Jacobi Ewing* (late 20s)
Based on Jay Gatsby, John Ross’s son from an affair when he was 18 with a much older woman, Carol Lynne David. Jacobi is a piano virtuoso with a brilliant mind who graduated from Phillips and then Harvard, obtaining his JD. He’s a bit nerdy and awkward, having spent most of his life with his father’s cousin Lucy raising him in New York City only to get to know his father after his marriage to Pamela Barnes. Jacobi is a new lawyer at the Lee Walker law firm in Washington, D.C.

Charlene Tilton as Lucy Ewing (early 60s)
Based on Auntie Mame, John Ross’s cousin who lives in New York as a base to a jetset life. She is a noted philanthropist, socialite and famed for her seven marriages. Lucy raised Jacobi. She is on the board of several organizations comprising the “Ewing Network,” designed to foster intense political influence, as well as the boards of the Channing Family Foundation and the Eleanor and Clayton Farlow Art Museum.

Halle Berry as Carol Lynne David (early 50s)
Based on Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, Carol is the President of the White Rock Group, a global asset management company (nearly $7 trillion in managed assets), one of the three big index funds which dominate corporate America (the company is owned by its funds, thus by its customers). She is the biological mother of Jacobi Ewing and is behind the creation of the online retailer, Fairway.

David Selby as Richard Channing** (80s)
Based on Warren Buffet, Richard controls (largest shareholder and Chairman) the giant public conglomerate Winston Matheson (having taken over the company in the late nineties). Called the Seer of Cisco, windowed three time (all woman from the same family), he has raised two sons on his own. Neither of his sons are interested in business of any kind, so he’s taken an interest in his nephew Lance’s youngest daughter, Sophie to succeed him. He has backed the new President, Joel Bouton, and is now advising him on his transition.

Eiza Gonzalez as Sophia “Sophie” Barkley* (late 20’s)
Based on JR Ewing, Lance and Pilar’s youngest daughter, Sophie attended Baldwin and Bryn Mawr like her great grandmother and grandmother before her. Devoutly religious, her grandmother is a cloistered nun and her uncle a Cardinal in the Catholic Church. Sophie is on the board of the Channing Family Foundation, along with her great Uncle Richard and since the retirement of her father, she directly runs the Falcon Crest Winery, preparing her to take over as head of the Geoberti Family Estates (owner of the Falcon Crest Winery and a private family held company owned: 40% by Richard Channing, 40% by the Trust of Lancelot Anthony Cumson, and 20% by Sophie, having purchased it from her Aunt Emma). Divorced, mother of 3, she is the current President of the WSB (Wine, Spirits and Beer) Alliance, a global lobbying front that aims to protect the profit interests of alcoholic beverages headquartered out of Washington, D.C.

Lee Byung-Hun as Dia Li Chi** (early 50s)
Based on Michael Bloomberg, Dia is the former mayor of San Francisco and has returned to being the President and CEO of Winston Matheson, nephew of the Chao-Li, Angela’s faithful friend. The Chi’s are the second largest shareholder in the massive conglomerate with strong ties to Hong Kong.

Henry Lau as Arnold Chi* (late 20s)
Based on Andy Warhol, Arnold is an eccentric artist, concert violinist and revolutionary painter. He’s Dia’s nephew who has lived most of his adult life without the Chi money, traveling the world and picking up odd jobs or just playing the violin to make money on the streets. Without a formal education, he is extremely well read (his books are on his phone and his family does pay for his phone) and self-educated. He’s returned to his family’s townhouse in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. after having been disturbed by things he’s found from hacking on the internet.

William Devane as Senator Greg Sumner (early 80s).
Based on Lyndon Johnson, Greg is the long serving Senator from California, holding several powerful committee seats. Sumner has backed the new President and is advising him on his transition.

Jake Manley as Matheson Winston “Mattie” Sumner* (late 20s)
Based on Gore Vidal, Greg Sumner and Paige Matheson’s son. Mattie attended Hotchkiss and Yale becoming a Yale Journalism Scholar. Mattie is now working at the Pacifica, a historic news magazine, which now owned by the Longfellow Collective (which is owned by Lucy Ewing) has taken on the role of American’s most progressive publication. Mattie has a new job at the Pacifica’s Washington. D.C. bureau.

*primarily about Jacobi, Sophie, Arnold and Mattie

**member of the Trieceum, a shadow government organization (13 members)


ACT I:

A small group of scantily clad, rich kids gather on the aft of a mega yacht docked off the Bohemian coast.




John Ross Ewing steps off of a golf cart to see a portly man finish his swing with a group of security guards surrounding him. The man says, “Beautiful day. Where are your clubs?”



“I could never stand the game. What I want to know is why you’re here. You do realize the charges they’ll throwing at your head?”


“The lawyers will handle all that.”


“You’re campaign fund is quickly depleting.”


“Then maybe you should make another donation.”


John Ross squares off with the old man, “I’m not giving you another dime. In fact, I find out there’s any credibility to your acts of treasons and I’ll next one to write a tell all book.”


The man laughs. “I’m the rightful President of the United States. You think I’m afraid of you?”



“You should be. But, no I don’t think you’re smart enough to be.”



“Boy I could run circle around you. I can juggle you, the Democrats, the Russians, the banks and the lawyers. Don’t underestimate me.”



“You seem to forget, I helped you put together your Russian connections and if all that makes its way through the courts, what the cost will be.”



“They believe what I tell them to believe.”


“Yea well I don’t. What I do know, the price of oil is nowhere near you were told to get it.”



“But the regulations I cut . . .”



“Nothing more than executive orders that are being rescinded as we talk.”



“And the oil leases you picked up. I’ve made you a very rich man, Mr. Ewing.”



“I was a very rich man before we ever spoke.”



“Well I’m a very powerful man. We’re just one tweet away from civil war.”











A beautiful, young, Hispanic woman walks out of a New York City building to a limousine waiting by the curb, talking to an older man about a business getting into marijuana, “He’s in wine, spirits, beer, and now pot. I don’t want the WSB expanding their lobby efforts to anything like that.”



“It’ll be hard to oppose him,” the older man says.



“No it won’t.” She gets into the back of the car and the chauffer closes the door.







In the back of the car delight overtakes her face, “Uncle Richard. What are you doing in New York?”


“We need to talk.”


“About what? Is something wrong?”



“You’re the president of the Wine, Spirits and Beer Alliance now.”



“Yes.”


“Kind of unusual for someone so young and only running a small winery.”



“Falcon Crest is hardly a small winery.”



“Falcon Crest is just part of the Geoberti Family Estates. Now if you were running the bigger company.”



“One step at a time.”



“Your father and I talk all the time.”



“So you know his plans to step down.”



“I know your sister Lisa isn’t interested.”



“No. A bit like your sons. They enjoy being rich, not so much the work behind it.”



“Speaking of such, you’re friends with Roman Straus.”



“Knew him from school. He went to Haverford when I was at Baldwin.”



“Apparently his father’s yacht went down in the Atlantic Ocean.”



“Went down?”



“Sunk. He was on it with some other rich kids you might know. Along with his father.”



“Oh my God. Are they dead?”



“Still searching for bodies, but yes. Sophie, people like Roman, they’re more than the amble rich like Michael, Kevin, your sister Lisa. They’re hedonists.”



“I’m well aware. What I’m not aware of is what any of this has to do with you and me, Uncle Richard.”


“You understand responsibility. Not many girls your age attend church as regularly as you do.”



“My faith is important to me.”



“I see that. Your grandmother is a nun. Your uncle, a Cardinal.”



“I’m not devoting my life to the church.”



“No. No. Of course not. I’m stepping back from Winston Matheson.”



“I’m sure the Seer of Cisco has an army of people to fill your shoes. What’s that got to do with me.”



“I need someone to do more than the day to day running of a corporation. I need someone who understands responsibility. You’ve read The Art of War. The Prince. The Wealth of Nations. I’ve listened to you talk. Things just don’t happen in the world. They’re made to happen. The game is won or lost before people even sit down to play. Am I making sense?”



“Yes. As a matter of fact, you are.”



“You have three children, you know what it means to leave them something, something safe. Your x-husband. Well.”


“Well.”



“I can count on you.”



“Always.”



“Ben Gurion and Jake Altman are dead as well. Care to guess what they all had in common?”



“I don’t play guessing games.”



“Good answer.”















A handsome, Asian young man plays violin at an art fair in Half Moon Bay, California. People walk by dropping in change and bills. An older, Asian man, in his fifties stops and says, “You wanted to see me.”







Walking among the crowd, the young man carrying his violin case says to the older man, “I want to come home.”



“Of course. Which home?”



“I don’t know.”



“What’s happened to end your nomadic existence?”



“You know my hacking?”



“Yeah. Sure.”



“It’s just I’ve come across stuff. A lot of stuff.”



“There’s a lot of stuff out there. We’ve got a townhouse in Washington. How’s that?”



“I just meant home to America. Some place isolated.”



“You’ve come across stuff which has disturbed you on the internet and you still think there is an isolated place on the planet. How about instead of running you jump right in and confront what needs confronting.”



“Don’t you think it’s too late for that?”



“I don’t know. Uncle Cho-Li, he just stayed at Falcon Crest and took care of Mrs. Channing and her children.”



“He did. But he didn’t hide, if that’s what you think.”













Greg Sumner sits in on a Senate committee discussing the appointment of the new Secretary of State. He asks him questions regarding the Paris Accord and global climate change. He receives an answer which has to do with improving health care and education, globally to change the opportunity for much of the human race, stopping ever increasing population, naturally. He continues to discuss the key of renewable energy and role it plays at the heart of global climate change.



In the room, a man in his late twenties with a press badge and name tag which reads ‘Matheson Sumner, Pacifica Magazine,’ franticly takes notes.

















Cars turn off a winding, wooded road, through a massive iron gate and make their way cut through a forest before a huge, red brick, Georgian mansion appears. Throngs of people walking into the house, all lit up, filled with ruckus talk and laughter. Lucy Ewing holds court in the atrium off the back, out the windows all around her stretch the lush gardens of an era long gone. A woman says across the room, “Lucy, so what are we celebrating?”



“Jacobi’s here. Somewhere at least. And, he dumped that wretched girl he was seeing and is moving to D.C. so I’m moving to D.C.”



“I thought he was staying in Dallas.”



“Dallas. D.C. The boy’s all over the place. But he’s got a job with the Lee Walker law firm.”



“Well that’s reason to celebrate. Lucky Lee Walker.”



“Oh how true.” A woman next to her whispers something. She whispers back, “Jacobi is John Ross’s son. Lucy raised him.”



“So Pamela Barnes isn’t his mother.”



“Oh no. That’s a long story. He was born long before they were married. Pamela adores him though. She treats him like he’s one of her boys.”



“Yes doesn’t she have three?”



“Oh yes. Beautiful family.”



“Of course.”



Lucy spotting Jacobi yells, “Jacobi. Jacobi. Come here. Here. Sit.” She sits him in front of the piano. Hush. Hush everyone. Oh Jacobi. Wait. Wait. Arnold come here. Jacobi is this Arnold Chi. I just adore him. He plays the violin. Arnold come here. I got this just for you. I’m so glad Uncle Dia got you here. I told him, I’d take very good care of you. Here. This is my nephew, Jacobi. OK. Play something you two.”



They look at each other recognizing Lucy has taken them by surprise. They whisper to each other and then begin to play.

The credits roll and instruments are added to scenes all over the world of the cast and scenes to follow . . .





continued below:

 

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. . .
ending with the two playing in Lucy’s conservatory with John Ross, Richard Channing, Sophie Barkley, Dia Chi, Greg and Mattie Sumner joining to the crowd looking on and applauding. John Ross nods to Richard and the two smirk a knowing smirk. Sophie picks up on what shouldn’t occur between the two. Mattie hands Sophie a glass of Champaign. Lucy hugs and kisses Jacobi, over thrilled. Dia walks in with Carol Lynn, standing in the door way, two steps into the conservatory before them.

 

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How does the next generation learn to take over for the one before when those they will replace live in the shadows of the world we all know . . . when everything you know is a lie . . . and there are no good guys . . . power is the game . . . money is a tool . . . sex is a hobby . . . youth is fleeting . . . and master of the game is a million steps ahead of even the most advanced challenger . . . they're the opponents you play you never even knew were playing . . . and all the rest is a side show, even if they don't know it themselves. The Art of War is DECPTION.

 

[Karin]

Interesting concept for a story. I guess the President that John Ross was talking to was Trump!

The latest update makes you think that it's sort of sad how society has changed into this "shadowland". The world we grew up in looked very different compared to this!

Also I like how your stories often includes Lucy.

 

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Interesting concept for a story. I guess the President that John Ross was talking to was Trump!

The latest update makes you think that it's sort of sad how society has changed into this "shadowland". The world we grew up in looked very different compared to this!

Also I like how your stories often includes Lucy.

Yes this is very political - and yes Bower is Trump and Bouton is Biden - and I figured I'd talk all the bad stuff you hear about each and make it true with people like the Ewing's, Channing's and Sumner's running the world. We saw a lot of shadow government stories in the '80's with these three shows so now I'm putting them at the for front. Think everything is deception and you'll be just fine.

Yes I liked Lucy. She had some great stories but I always thought of her as fun to watch, beautiful and sassy, not so much powerful and strong female lead, just fun.

It's very different than other fan fictions. 1) it doesn't take place in any of the original locations, 2) it focuses on all 3 together and what might be side characters, John Ross's never known about son as a teenager, Lance's other daughter for a finally long and happy marriage, Paige's child she always wanted and Choa-Li's family, and 3) it's politics and business mixed together to the extreme, and 4) it's heavily focused on mid twenty-somethings.

I still have Senator Judith Brown and Secretary Donna Dowling to show up. And I always loved Abby.

I hope you like it.

 

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The party rages inside when Jacobi, Sophie, Arnold and Mattie all step out onto the terrace. Jacobi introduces himself, “I’m Jacobi Ewing. You’re pretty damn good,” shaking Arnold’s hand.

“Thank you. I was thinking the same thing about you. Lucy’s your mother?”

“No. I mean she raised me when I was a kid. I don’t really know my mother. My father’s John Ross Ewing.”

“You’re father’s John Ross Ewing, like of the Ewing Brothers?”

“That’s the one. His presence walks in the room ahead of me, for good or bad. Mostly bad.”

“Well, he’s just some Libertarian power player in this town. So I hear.”

Sophie says, “And Ewing Industries is the second largest private company in America. Hi. I’m Sophie Barkley. My Uncle and your father were sort of notoriously on opposite ends of this last election. My uncle’s Richard Channing. Arnold and I go way back. How have you been? Been so long.”

“I’ve been pretty good. Traveling. My Uncle Dia’s put me up here in Washington.”

“I saw him in there. He backed Joel Bouton.”

“So did my father,” Mattie says. “Hi. I’m Mattie Sumner.”

Sophie adds, “As in Greg Sumner?”

“Yes.”

“I bet he’s pissed. I heard he was on the soft list for V.P.”

“I’m afraid my dad’s a bit old for a job whose sole requirement is to outlive your boss.”

“You’ve got a point there. This is Jacobi Ewing. His father backed Bower. Well, until he didn’t.”

Jacobi says, “Yea he really pulled back at the end, didn’t he? Then the public disagreement over Bower refusing to concede the election. I’m a lawyer, so I really hate to take sides. I’d prefer to see where the wind takes me.”

“A lawyer,” Sophie says. “A journalist,” she adds turning to Mattie “And, an artist,” turning to Arnold. “I’m in the wine business. I run the Falcon Crest Winery and as of just recently, I’m the President of the Wine, Spirits and Beer Alliance, so I’ll be in D.C. for a while with this new Congress.”

“A bit young to be running a winery and a lobbying group like the WSB,” Jacobi says.

“My father retired and so someone had to pick up the job. My sister’s a wife and mother. And, my Uncle Richard lobbied for me. I think he thought the exposure would be a good thing.”

Arnold says, “Well Washington is a young man’s town. If you’re thirty you better be somewhere or this town ‘ll eat you alive.”

Sophie says, “Well good then, we’ve all got a few years. I assume the same with you Jacobi.”

“Oh yes. I’m not thirty yet.”

“Good. Good. I wouldn’t want to see you get eaten alive.”





In a bedroom in an apartment overlooking the D.C. skyline Jacobi and Sophie strip off their close and fall into bed.





Mattie sits at a counter in an all night dinner, in earliest hours of the morning, and orders a cup of coffee as Arnold sits next to him. Mattie says, “Can you believe that party. Everyone was there. Lucy Ewing knows both sides of the aisle.”

“And then some.”

“Her dad’s an old friend of my dad’s.”

“And John Ross Ewing was there.”

“To be that wealthy. Of course you said you know Richard Channing. Now that’s a man with a lot of money too.”

“Hundred Billion. Twice what John Ross is worth, but the stories you hear about the Ewings.”

“Yeah Gary Ewing, Lucy’s dad, lost most everything he had. Lives in a cul-de-sac. So you’re really an artist?”

“Well I don’t know. Been a while. You really a journalist.” Mattie goes to his phone, pulling up an article he hands it to Arnold. Arnold reads it, silent for a bit. “Wow. You’re really good.” Arnold hands it back to him.

“Thank you.”

“So this whole fake news thing, must be pretty difficult in your line of work. Everything you say questioned, no matter how many agree with you, just one source says otherwise or tosses out a line or two of doubt and all of a sudden you’re a lying sack of shit.”

“Something like that.”





Bright and early in the morning Lucy meets Sue Ellen walking into her Entry Hall. “Now what dragged you out of Texas?”

“I’m here to visit my grandson.”

“Charming. You and his father speaking yet?”

“John Ross and I are speaking. Occasionally.”

“I heard you’re pretty close to Pamela. How’s she doing?”

“She’s doing well.”

“And the boys?”

“Excellent.”

“You know John Ross and I have had our moments when we’re on opposite sides but when Uncle Bobby got you out of that rehab John Ross stuck you in, I figured whatever your son did to him, he had it coming.”

“Nice of you to care so much.”

“You know you were better off in there than out on your own. Certainly your son was. It’s amazing from the grave what JR could pull off. He took Ewing Energies from you and Uncle Bobby. Took Barnes Global from Cliff. Even ended up with Wentworth Tool and Die. Ryland Logistics. Ewing Oil. West Star. But you know what, he shared it with Bo. He didn’t have to do that. Shared everything but Southfork. And even let Uncle Bobby stay on. Got to hand it to him. He didn’t turn out all that bad, did he?”

“I hear, Judith Brown is a neighbor of yours.”

“Senator Brown, yes just right next door. One of John Ross’s dearest friends. The two are thick as thieves.”

“Grandma!” Jacobi calls out while hopping down the steps. “Don’t you look beautiful. Ready?”

“Couldn’t be more ready. I’ve been waiting for our outing all week. Let’s get lunch first and then we can go looking at apartments.”





Jacobi and Sue Ellen have lunch in a bright and airy restaurant in Washington, D. C. She asks him all about his new job and he replies, “Mostly dull research really. Nothing exciting. I’m attending a fundraiser this evening for the Education for All Foundation.”

“What’s that all about?”

“Well it’s foundation supporting bill Education for All. The idea actually comes from my father. He wants to pay student loan debt of teachers and professors. The more time they teach, the more they get paid off. And it’ll create debt relief and education funding for those in the Peace Corps and a Health Care Corps similar to the Military Reserves Corps. It’s a sweeping change that’ll train and educate millions of Americas as opposed to returning costly unskilled labor jobs.”

“And your father is backing this? John Ross Ewing?”

Jacobi chuckles, “Yeah right. I was taken back. But he set up the foundation.”

“Not to defeat it?”

“No Grandma. To pass it and pay whatever it costs to make happen. I’ve got the Education for All Foundation fundraiser this evening and then I’m headed over to Senator Hardtack’s for a campaign fundraiser.”

“Senator Ashely Hardtack? Your father’s not looking for him to back this Education for All bill is he?”

“Yes. Yes he is?”

“There is no way Senator Hardtack is going to support such a thing.”

“Dad seems to think he’s got the political capital to convince him to do just that.”

“Well I’ve underestimated your father before, but wow. If he can pull that off, I’ll be shocked.”





Sophie hands the rains of her horse to a big, strong blond man, older than her, maybe in his thirties, maybe his early forties. “Nice ride Mrs. Barkley?”

“It was. Mostly political talk.”

“Even a beautiful ride on the grounds of Mr. Channing’s estate and you’re still working.”

“I do work a lot, don’t I? That wasn’t always the case with me,” she hesitates and then says, “I’m sorry. I don’t know your name.”

“Chad.”

“Chad. I use to enjoy school.”

“Did you? Wasn’t that a lot of work?”

“I suppose but it was different. I was a Baldwin girl, just like my grandmother and great grandmother. And I went to Bryn Mawr, just like they did. It’s like another world away from my life now.”

“Did your grandmother work a lot, like you?”

“Oh no. My grandmother is a nun. She lives clustered in Italy where she makes a very fine wine.”

“You’re a very devout family, Mrs. Barkley. Mr. Channing had a nephew here a few times, a Bishop, I think.”

“That’s my Uncle Chris. He’s a Cardinal now.”

“A very good family. Though I’ve heard pretty tragic for your uncle. He’s been widowed three times.”

“He has. And my parents have been married for over thirty years. And my sister, Lisa’s, been married for fifteen, I think. And my cousins, Michael, Kevin, Angela, they all have good marriages and families, and find time to enjoy life. And then there’s me.”

“You don’t enjoy life?”

“Kinda of too busy. Divorced. Three children. A business to run, Falcon Crest. It’s a winery. The most important winery of the Gioberti Family Estates. And now this work heading up the industry’s lobbying efforts.”

“Are your children here?”

“No. they’re back in California.”

“It must be very difficult to be away from them.”

“I suppose so. Um, Chad. You’re a very good looking man.”

“Thank you.”

“I sort of make it my business to know about the people around me, you know, no surprises. You’ve had a colorful past. But one that makes me think you’ve got a particular skill set.” She reaches up and rubs his well-formed and solid chest packed tightly in a cotton shirt.

“I’m sorry Mrs. Barkley, I don’t think . . .”

“I’m not asking that you think.” With her other hand she rubs his crotch. “I’m asking that you perform. You can do that, it would seem.”

Chad backs up. “You’re very beautiful, but . . .”

“I don’t really care what I am. What I’m interested in is what you are. Now you can agree to this or family can see the videos I’ve seen of you. Pretty racy stuff. Maybe your wife’ll get into it. Might really embrace everyone else, your kids.”

“Please Mrs. Barkley. That was a long time ago. My life was . . .”

“You don’t need to explain. It’s nothing more than a performance, just between you and me. But I don’t like to be told no, ever. Take your shirt off.”

He hesitates and then peels his shirt off over his head.

Sophie grins. “You’re beautiful.”





Mattie walks into Arnold’s studio. Arnold’s naked and covered in paint. Various colored body smudges cover the enormous canves in front of him. Mattie says, “Oh my. Talk about throwing yourself into your work.”

Arnold turns around, surprised to see him but not modest about his appearance. “Mattie. What are you doing here?”

“I don’t know. What’s with the painting?”

“I don’t know. I can’t seem to think of anything so I did this.”

“It’s interesting.”

“I don’t know about that.”

Mattie says, “But put the name Arnold Chi, the wondering, every allusive nomad, and it’ll sell for far more than the cost of the average house in D.C.”

“It probably would. But I don’t think I’ll sell it.”

“No?”

“No. Would you like it?”

“A painting with shadows of your nude body all over it? Maybe I would. I’ll have to move. I’ll need a bigger wall.”

“Then it’s yours. But I won’t sign it. That way it’s not a horribly expensive gift, it’s just a throwaway canvas.”

Mattie laughs. “You’re something else, you know it. You really are.”

“I like to think so.”

“Any way, you spoke the other day at the diner about hacking.”

“I probably should have.”

“No. No I’m glad you did. What you said, it probably needs to get out there. People need to know. And, well I can get the attention of credible news sources and keep your name out of it.”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, just think about it. In the meantime, I’m going to a fundraiser tonight for the Education for All Foundation. And I was wondering if maybe you’d like to be my date?”

“I don’t know. I don’t so well at those sorts of things.” Arnold begins to clean up the things around him, more a way of keeping busy then making a dent in the mess of art supplies around him. “Besides, if I’m going to be your source, should we be seen together?”

“If the enemy cannot find you, you may hide in plain sight.”

“You know the Art of War.”

“If they cannot see your strength or know your plans, they may make foolish moves.”

“In deed they might,” Arnold says, putting down the stuff he was straightening, giving full attention to Mattie. “All warfare is based on deception, hence when we are able to attack, we must seem unable. When using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when we are far away, we must make him believe we are near.”

“So is that a yes?”

“Yes. Yes, I’ll go with you to this thing of yours.”





Cars roll up in front of a restaurant in Washington, D. C. and valets take them away after their passengers get out, well dressed, Washington’s elite, including Senator Sumner by himself. Greg is greeted at the door by a couple who are thrilled he’s able to attend what they think is a very important cause.

“I heard that the Ewing’s are your biggest donners, so I couldn’t resists finding out more, what magic you have to bring over the dark side.”

The couple laughs. She says, “Oh John Ross came to us. He said he hear about what we were doing and wanted to jump on board. He had all sorts of ideas that frankly we didn’t think could pass.”

“Well, you know you’ve got my vote. It’s a great piece of legislation.” Greg pats the man on the should and walks in.



Inside the restaurant Jacobi and Sophie walk over to Mattie and Arnold. John Ross says, “I see your father is here,” to Arnold.

“Oh of course he is. This bill is the biggest thing he’s had a chance to jump on since the Affordable Care Act. With your father behind it, I’m expect it to get even more watered down.”

“Oh my father’s add to it. And helped line up the bipartisan support. I’m headed over to Senator Hardtack’s after this to talk to him about supporting the bill.”

“Senator Hardtack? Your father doesn’t really think he can get Senator Hardtack to support Education for All, does he?”

“I give you my word, he does. He’s sending me over to deliver the message.”

Sophie takes Arnold’s arm and pulls him away, saying, “We’ll be right back.”





Off to the side, walking through the standing room only crowd, Sophie says, “What in the world are you doing here? Of all the people I can think of which would surprise me to see here, and still I wouldn’t have thought of you.”

“Mattie asked me.”

“Mattie asked you? And that’s it. How long are you staying in D. C.?”

“I don’t know. Right now I just need a place to stay put.”

“Are you alright?”

“Yes of course.”

“It’s just, well, Arnold, you’ve walked this entire planet and all of a sudden you’re staying put and attending political fundraisers. What’s your family say?”

“I’m staying at my uncle’s house.”

“Well I know that.”

“Are you seeing that Ewing guy?”

“Jacobi? No. Nothing like that. But together people do notice us. And that’s why you attend these things. To be noticed.”

“I’m just here because Mattie asked me.”

“Well, I can tell you everyone’s talking about Arnold Chi showing up the second you walked through that door. Spotting you is a bigger thing among this people than finding Waldo. And if you’re with Mattie, the son of a Senator just got a whole lot more attention.”

“It’s not like that. Not everyone is using everybody else, Sophie.”

“Well I don’t know about that. But I know you’re my friend. So, if you need anything. I’m here for you.”

“I’m probably the only person in the world that would here that from you and can honestly believe it.”

“It’s true. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“I know, Sophie. I won’t. And if I do, like all the other times, I’ll come running to you and you can beat them up.”

“I never beat anyone up. I mean not personally.” She smiles and laughs, holding tight to Arnolds arm. “So you think walking around here with you has got him enough notice?”

“Oh so you’re the one using me.”

“You knew that when I told your arm. Jacobi thinks he’s the one everyone around here is talking about, the son of John Ross Ewing showing up to the most liberal event in D. C. in ten years.”

“So did our stroll help you one up your date?”

Sophie laughs, “Oh I’ve missed you Arnie. I’ve missed you so much.”





Later that evening at a much smaller gathering at very large house of Senator Hardtack Jacobi and Sophie enjoy a few small snacks and glasses of wine. “Not Falcon Crest Wine?” he asks.

“No. In fact, a pretty inferior product.”

“Is everything inferior to Falcon Crest wines?”

“No of course not. But this is. But what do you expect. Look at this room. They hired some magazine editor to decorate it for effect.”

“And the effect isn’t working for you?”

“No that’s the problem. By design it’s meant to impress, so it just simply never can.”

“I see. Can you excuse me. I need to speak to Senator Hardtack.”



Alone, together, in a closed door library Jacobi says, “Senator Hardtack, my father asked me to speak to you about the Education for All bill.”

“Tell him no worries. It won’t make it out of committee.”

“No that’s just it. He wants it out of committee, on the floor and on the President’s desk very quickly.”

“You’re joking.”

“Not at all. My father believes one of the most important functions of a capitalist government is to provide the funds for education.”

“Well that’s not going to happen.”

“Senator Hardtack. My father is dyslexic. He can barely read. I’m serious about that. But there are two books he owns that are well worn. A copy of the Art of War that came from his father, J. R. Ewing, and a copy of the Wealth of Nations which came from his stepfather, Don Lockwood, the Lord Maitland. Now in that second book, Adam Smith is very clear about the role government plays in funding education.”

“Listen, I don’t give ant’s piss what some book says about funding education. We’re talking a lot of money which will require a lot of taxes and I’m not supporting any bill that will force us to raise taxes.”

“Well, not from my father, but I’d be happy to talk to myself about a GST.”

“Would you now. See I’m thinking your father isn’t very supportive of this Education for All Bill. I’m thinking it’s you. And you’re just coming here to use his name. But I’m not that stupid, boy.”

“No that’s not true.”

“Well, I think it is. So we’re done here. Go and tell your daddy I said Education for All can f**k off and die.” The senator walks out of the room.





The next day the Senate Education committee begins to argue about the Education for All bill and Senator Hardtack slams his gavel several times calling for order.

Senator Sumner says, “You better believe this time next week, I’ll be holding that gavel.”

Senator Hardtack snaps back, “Why, you planning on stealing another election?”

“Not at all Senator. The people, the real people of this country with a brain in their head looking to educate their children, they’re gonna hand us the majority in this chamber and don’t you think for one second you’re not the only one who can play hardball.”

“That a threat Mr. Sumner?”

“Statement of fact. This bill is good for this country, for our businesses, for our people. And you’re tryin’ kill it so a bunch of your low life friends can keep a few more billion in their pockets.”

“We’re all wealthy men sitting at this table, Senator Sumner.”

“Yeah I’ve noticed, wealthy, old white men. But some of us are so god damn greedy.”





Senator Hardtack walks into his office complaining to his stay that follows that if they don’t win Iowa, “Game over. They’ll create five more states in a few months, all Democrat, and Game over.”

A woman says, “Senator. Mr. Ewing is waiting in your office.”

“Of good. I need a friendly face.” He walks in and shuts the door. “John Ross. Good to see you. We need to talk. Iowa. I’m told you haven’t contributed a dime. What’s going on?”

“My son told me your response to the Education for All Act.”

“And?”

“So, I flew all the way out here to correct your thinking. I did send him to talk to you. I do support it and I expect you to as well.”

“Well that’s not gonna happen. So what about Iowa.”

“I’ve made a contribution to the Democratic Party of Iowa.”

“That a threat? Cause I’m really sick of threats today.”

“I don’t threaten people. That’s a fact. A done deal actually. The problem isn’t am I getting this bill passed. The problem is can I count on your to make it happen?”

“No.”

“You’re telling me no?” John Ross walks right up to the man. “You know I’ve always considered you a Ewing asset. But my daddy always told me, a man’s got to know when to sell and when to buy.”

“You’re not your daddy.”

“No, I’m not. Senator, do you honestly think that Bower is the only one who knows your secrets? We know who gave him those secrets. But do you know how those people got their hands on that information?”

“Again more threats.”

“Not at all. A done deal. I just want to make sure you know it was me who closed the deal. And I want you to talk. Tell everybody you know. A hanging ain’t no good unless it’s a public hangin’.” Good day Senator Hardtack.” John Ross walks out of his office just as several minute walk into the out office flashing badges.

Hardtack stands at the door. “What is this?”

“Ashely Hardtack, you’re under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. You have the right . . .” The Senator puts up a fight as two other men manhandle him and handcuff him, shoved up against the door jam.

John Ross walks out of the office.





A Sunday morning television news panel talks over each other.

“President Bower is under arrest for tax evasion, along with a dozen other people in his administration, and now Senator Hardtack. Is this the Democrats trick, catch everyone on tax technicalities?”

“The Truesdale report doesn’t mentioned Senator Hardtack but does allude to information flowing from Russia to Bower to use against member of his own party.”

“There are recordings. God damn recordings of meetings!”

“They stole the election and now they’re out to crucify him and his disciples. It’s a witch hunt. All the while we ignore President Bouton meeting with the Chinese. The single greatest threat to this country and they’ve bought and paid for our president.”

“What about Iowa?”

“What about Puerto Rico, Columbia, Southern California?”

“What about Iowa?”

“What about Texas?”

“What the hell is going on in this country?”





End of Episode 1

 

[stevew]

Shadowlands

Episode 2:



The sun rises over D. C. flooding the streets and reflecting off the white builds as the traffic begins.







Morning rush hour meanders along the wooded southern edge of the Potomac, mostly into the city, a few cars driving out.







Lucy eats breakfast out on her patio overlooking the wide lawn and gardens of her home. A younger man, fifties probably, walk out of the house and says, “Morning Lucy.”

“Morning. How are you?”

“Doing great. Thank you. Have you heard. The House has already opened up an investigation into the election and President Bouton’s campaign over ties to China?”

“That was quick.”

“Bouton has made it clear that he will fully cooperate with the special counsel and has directed the Attorney General to cooperate with the independent investigation.”

“How independent can it be? The Department of Justice falls under the President and his party controls the House.”

“Well, I think he’s trying to distance himself from the obstruction of justice played out in the last administration.”

“Probably a good idea. And probably good they’re taking talk of Chinese interference seriously as they’re going after Bower for Russian collusion.”

“Speaking of investigations, Jeremey Steinberg. He’s resigned?”

“Yes. He’s been appointed special advisor to the President.”

“I heard. Why? What’s he have on Bouton?”
Jacobi walk out at that moment and says, “What’s with Steinberg?”

“Oh he’s someone I know. Jacobi, do you know Daryl Walker?”

“I don’t think so. Hello. I’m Jacobi Ewing.”
“John Ross’s boy. Yes. I’ve heard of you. Funny we’ve never run into each other.”

“I just hired Daryl as sort of my assistant. Help me coordinate things. Lionel retired last month.”

“Oh good for him.”
“He comes from the museum and will run my grandparent’s foundation.”

“Oh the Eleanor and Clayton Farlow Museum in New York. I bet we did run into each other there, at some lush and loud event of Lucy’s.”

“Probably so.”

“What’s with Jeremey Steinberg?”

“He’s on an education advisory committee with Lucy.”

Lucy said, “In addition to being a shady businessman he’s a pervert. A sick pervert. But everything I knew he was tied to the Bower administration. Like weren’t they buddies.”

“Well you know how things go. Party politics is just a game at the top. No body except the grass roots voters really care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican.”

Jacobi smiles and raises his cup of coffee, “There is only one party in the U.S., the Property Party.”

Lucy gives him a knowing look and nod.











Dia welcomes a tall black woman into his office with a view out toward the Washington Monument. “Madam Vice President. Welcome. Take a seat.”

“President Bouton has asked me to speak to you about our relationship with China. We need to get things back on track.”

“Well putting back together the Trans-Pacific Partnership and leaving China out, says otherwise.”

“We did not leave China out. China declined our offer.”

“Regardless. Though I do applaud your administration from backing away from this foolish idea of returning manufacturing to the United States.”

“It’s not foolish. It’s just been happening longer than the Bower administration wanted to admit, thanks to automation. The thing is the best he could accomplish was a one perfect drop in unemployment while not making a dent into the trade and professional jobs we need filled.”

“Yes that’s an ever growing deficit forcing the U.S. to accept the educated people from what was it, shit hole countries.”

“Bowers words, not ours.”

“Well it would seem you’ve got an education problem not an unemployment problem.”

“I would agree. And so would the President. But that’s not why I’m here. We want to work on our relationship with China.”

“While the House, under your own party, investigates your President for colluding with the Chinese to help him win the election?”

“That didn’t happen.”

“I hear there’s talk about making Lucy Ewing Ambassador to Venezuela.”

“Ms. Ewing is very talented at socializing.”

“John Ross Ewing, Senior died in Venezuela. John Ross Ewing, Junior had business dealing with a Venezuelan business, De Le Vega. One of Lucy’s husbands was a De Le Vega from Spain. And John Ross Ewing the third, he’s eyeing off shore oil leases.”

“As are the Chinese.”

“We both know that SinoEnergy is way beyond eyeing. With also know that these leases are purely political at this point. The Ewing’s and the Chinese government can’t turn a profit off off-shore drilling with the price being so low. So, what does the President want from me?”

“He wants you to consult with the Ambassador to China, Prescott Walker.”













Jacobi finishes up his work out at the gym, sweaty, tight shorts, a muscle shirt. Arnold walks by, “Jacobi?”

“Hey Arnold. I didn’t know you belong here.”

“My Uncle sponsored me. I don’t know. Nice place I guess.”

“Oh sure. They have reciprocity with my club in New York. I heard you’re a bit of a nomad. You settling down in D.C.?”
“No. I don’t know. Just feeling things out.”
“Sophie tells me you’re seeing Sumner. Matheson Sumner, the journalist. My cousins in California grew up with him. Small world, really.”

“I don’t know. We’ve talked a lot.”

“Careful just talking with a journalist. Never know what he’ll publish,” Jacobi jocks, hitting Arnold on the shoulder. “Just kidding man. Always seemed like a nice guy. My cousin Bobby introduced me to him like a long time ago. Senator Sumner’s kid.”

“Yeah. Everybody in this town seems to know each other. You umm, been seeing a lot of Sophie Barkley?”
“Here and there. Your families are tied together or something like that.”

“Goes back to Angela Channing, her great grandmother, and Choa-Li Chi, my father’s great uncle.”

“Yeah she said that Angela’s father took him in when he was a young man, escaping the Chi money to live as a monk. Kind of like you, she said, traveling around on your own. Doin’ your own thing. You mean a lot to Sophie.”

“And she means a lot to me. I just want to warn you, she’s not a people person. She loves the Geoberti Family Estates, the company and particularly Falcon Crest.”

“She does seem to be really into her work.”

“That’s putting it mildly. She bought her Aunt Emma’s share the business recently and well, I’d guess when the time comes, her sister, Lisa, will sell her, her share. And her Uncle Richard, well, he dotes on her like she was his own daughter. He has two sons.”

“Well having a man like Richard Channing consider you a daughter isn’t a bad thing.”

“No it isn’t, especially when he’s the one shareholder you can’t remove. But like I said, she’s not a people person. I might be the one person she’s close to. She tends to look at people like objects.”

“Well, were not that serious so, if she feels that way about me, it’s fine.”

“I hope so. But she’s more than that. Unfortunately, I’ll take a very strong man to get there.”

“Well, if I decide I want to go there, I’ll keep your words of advice in mind.”

“Please do.”

“Well. Nice to see you, Arnold. Will you be at Sophie’s dinner party?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”













Sophie watches as staff sets the table. “Watch what you’re doing. That’s my great, great grandmother’s china . . . The crystal, we’ll need water, reds, a Bordeaux, and a Burgundy, and a white wine for the appetizer. Champaign. The linens. Did they make it up stairs to be ironed? . . . The woods. Did they arrive? . . .” She walks over to a woman polishing silver and expects her work. “That’s good. Perfect.” Turning to the room. “Candles. Did those twenty-four-inch candle sticks arrive?” Sophie walks out of the dining room as if to look for them.













The evening and the front of the mansion is warmly lit, cars drive up to the front door and valets take them away while a man in fine uniform holds open the very heavy, wooden front door leading into the entry way and a small gathering in adjacent living room. Sophie holds court, only stop and welcome each new guest, checking on what they’d like to drink and sending the order onto another staff member. Light music plays in the background, a single piano with yet another staff member stationed. “So where were we. Oh Arnold. Tibet. So please continue.” Seventeen people fill the room, including Jacobi and Mattie, some standing, mostly sitting, all with drinks and helping themselves to the munchables in front of them.



Then a beautiful woman appears in the doorway with only Sophie to face here, the rest of the room facing Arnold as he talks about enlightenment. A black woman, in her fifties, elegantly dressed, a thick tapestry jacket with fine needle point, oranges and other autumn colors, moves a knitted silk scarf from around her neck and smiles.



Sophie stands and walk around to her, all eyes follow her. “Carol Lynne David. Thank you so much for coming. Everyone, sorry Arnold, last time, this is Carol Lynne David, a dear friend of my Uncle Richard’s who is in town on business. She’s the President and COO of White Rock, the global asset management company, one of the big three index funds which dominates corporate America. Come in, meet everyone. This is my oldest and dearest friend, Arnold Chi. You know his Uncle Dia, I believe. He’s a bit of a tech savant. He’s telling us all about his experience in the Himalayas.”

“Very nice to meet you. I too have been on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas. I look forward to reminiscing.”



“And Mattie Sumner. He’s a new friend. He and Arnold are a bit amoureux.”



“Nice to meet you. I know your father. And I believe I’ve meet your mother, a couple of times.” The two shake hands.



“And this is Jacobi Ewing. I believe you know each other.”



Jacobi says, “Good evening . . . mother.”

 

[stevew]

Episode 2 part 2





Carol says, “I’ve heard so many good things. Your new job. Working with your father. Friends with Richard Channing’s neice.”

“I’m not one for social media so I’m not sure where you heard all this.”

“Oh around. So, Arnold. Tibet.”

“Oh actually I was trying to change the conversation around to Jacobi. He’s on the board of the Education for All Foundation. I was fascinated about the idea. The Ewing’s behind such a thing. The idea is to provide trillions of dollars so that every American can attend a university, public or private.”

Jacobi says, “Vouchers that cover some of the costs and then national service to pay off student loans. Teaching for ten years would be one way to forgive loans. Service in the military reverse corps and a new health care reserve corps for twenty would pay off pretty much anything. The idea is we don’t have an employment problem, we have a training and education problem. We’ve got plenty of jobs which go unfilled because people don’t take their schooling serious. We’ve got the best schools in the world, so let’s make sure everyone either becomes a very highly qualified specialist or very broad generalist leading the way.”

Sophie applauds sarcastically. “One problem. It’s costly.”

“Well of course. It costs money to drill for oil, doesn’t mean you leave the oil underground because you don’t want to be burdened with the coast of bringing it up.”

“Who pays it?”

“That’s another issue Congress will have to take up. For decades everything just keeps getting put off, borrowing like there’s no tomorrow. I suppose at some point this nation has to wake up for drug induced stupidity it’s been on. But that’s a whole ‘nother debate.”

“So pay for this program and then come up with the financing?”

“You know as well as I do, this nation has the money to fund such a thing.”

“Oh I see, so take it from people like me who earn it and give it to those who don’t. That’s the answer of the Ewings. Take from the rich to give to the poor.”

“Mrs. Barkley, you and I both know people like you and me don’t earn money. Make put together schemes to generate money off of which we skim as much as we can, at best. Some of us just rack in what their parents or grandparents did. So this pretense that you earned money like you were sent down into coal mine, isn’t even dignified. But I’m talking an investment. Adam Smith was clear about the role of education and in order to run the free market economy which our founding fathers set up for us, we need to keep pushing that education component. This nation wasn’t set up by a bunch of usurping rebels.”

The gathering watches at the two spar.

“What I want to know is why the about face for the Ewings. You supported Bower. Where was this Education for All then?”

“We most certainly discussed it. His Secretary of Education strongly supported vouchers so that parent can pick the schools of their choice, not subject them to the segregation of local school districts. But as we’ve been clear regarding our disappointment with Bower, our priorities were not addressed.”

“Disappointment,” a young woman scoffs. “He was vulgar. What did you expect?”

Jacobi says, “Vouchers. School choice. Sufficient higher education financing so that America can compete. Look it, no doubt, you drop off all our schools meant just to warehouse kids who don’t want an education, who’s family don’t want an education for their kids, who wouldn’t know an education if it bit them in the ass, and we compete. Best schools in the world. But that’s not good enough. Because you add them all in and this country isn’t competing is it.”

Carol says, “I read such about health care. Best health care in the world for those which sufficient insurance. We end up competing with Papua New Guinea when you include them.” There’s a chuckle. “But the fact is even with the America Cares Act there are still Americans, millions, who just don’t want health care.”

A young man corrects her, “No not really. View few don’t want health care, I mean nothing at all, not just the anti-vaxxers. But very few people in this county don’t want health care. They just don’t want to pay for it. They figure they’ll pay for it when something happens, but they can’t afford it then, so worst case scenario they figure they’ll file bankruptcy or some such or ignore the bills or if they’re lucky, truly lucky, they’ll never need health care. But they grab their chest and go down, better believe that expect to be treated.”

Carol responds, “Good point.”

Sophie says, “Could we have a don’t respond list? They call an ambulance and it rushes out only to call and says, hey you declined health care so we’re sending the ambulance back.”

“Wow,” Arnold remarks.

“Well, if you don’t really want health care.”

Carol says, “Now that’s what I’d expect from the Ewings. No offense sweetheart. It’s just hard for me to figure out what the Ewings are doing backing the Education for All Act. This is a family drilling in the Artic on leases he got from the Bower administration days before he was forced out of office. Speaking of which. Lucy. How is Lucy doing? I don’t know if you all know it, but Jacobi’s cousin Lucy owns the Pacifica magazine, you know like the Post and the Times and all those other so called fake news venues going after Bower for over four years now.”

“Lucy’s just fine. She’s in D. C. for the fall. She stayed in New York until Fashion Week ended but then decided to put off Europe to see me settle down here. She’s like a mom to me.”

Carol raises her eyes.

Sophie, looking mischievous, claps her hands together and says, “Well, the first course is ready. Shall we head in?”







In the dining room the group of associates talk politics, art and philanthropy around the table in small groups.













Mattie steps out of a hot shower and dries off with a towel before wrapping it around his waist. He then combs his hair back and walks out of the rooms into the bedroom. “Have you heard the name Trieceum?” he asks Arnold, sitting up in bed reading a Coelho novel.

Arnold looks disturbed, “What?”

“Trieceum? I’m kinda caught in this long term investigation, which has popped up again, and the name Trieceum pops up. Not often, but it does.”

“Why would I know something like that?”

“I’m just wondering if you’ve heard the word.”

“Is it a word? In what language?”

“Well I thought you might now. Trie is apparently a computer term.”

“Tree, like a walnut tree?”

“No. T. R. I. E.”

“Oh. Well, it has to do with data structures. But I don’t know what Trieceum means.”

“And you have never heard the word?”

“No. Why would I?”

“Well sometimes in my research your Uncle Dia comes up. And sometimes Richard Channing.”

“If you’re digging into my uncle or into Richard Channing’s life, I’d advise you not to.”

Mattie sits on the bed and leans into Arnold. “And why’s that?”

“I know them Mattie. Just leave it at that.” Arnold start to get out of bed. “Maybe I should just go.”

“No. No please stay. Spend the night.”

“I don’t know. Sounds like a big step. Spending the night.”

“Maybe it is. Is that so bad?”

“No. Just quick. I need to get to know you better. And I’d like to get to know you better.”

“What better way than to lay here in the dark and talk?”

Arnold looks over Mattie’s face, examining, breaking into a grin. “About what?”

“What do you want to talk about?”

“If you could just stop right now and go away, where would you go, what would you do?”

Mattie thinks for a minute and then lays on his back, starting to tell his story as Arnold lays back in bed, the two cuddling into each other’s arms.













Arnold walks into Dia’s office. Dia sits on the sofa, leaning back, eyes closed. Arnold says, “We really need to talk.”

Without opening his eyes, Dia says, “OK. Talk.”

Arnold takes out his phone and after moving through the screens for a bit a ‘dinkg’ comes to Dia’s phone, sitting next to him on the sofa. Dia picks it up and looks at it. His express of clam does not change. “Why would you send me these?”

“Three people Mattie is investigating.”

Dia sits up. “Really. OK. And?”
“They’re advisors to Bower, through which much the bull shit about a stolen election flowed.”

“Go on.”

“Mattie’s looking for their connection. He’s certain they worked together, under someone’s direction, someone who knew very well they were peddling lies to fan the fire. At least that’s his theory.”
“Why bring it to me.”

“I’ve found that someone.”

“And you’ve shared with Mattie?”
“No. All three have a connection to Branch Water. The paramilitary group John Ross Ewing put together with Harris Ryland’s CIA contacts. Ryland’s rotting away in prison and Ewing manages to turn them into a business, which is a lot deeper than paramilitary.”

“So what. We all know the Ewing’s backed Bower. Or at least did. They seem to have soured on him, from what I hear.”

“You do more than hear.”

“Do I?”

“Earl Ashford.”

“Why do you mention him?”

“An old friend of yours.”

“By way of both of us spending a lot of time in Hong Kong in the seventies and eighties. I know his son well. He lives in South Africa; his son I mean. His father, Lord Ashford attempted mining.”
“He attempted a lot things. Movie making. He was also married to Sue Ellen Ewing. John Ross Ewing’s mother.”

“Oh. I see. Are you trying to tell me that there’s a link between me and John Ross Ewing? Because if you are, it certainly is only a coincidence.”

“Those three people knew fully what they were doing. John Ross Ewing was in on it and so were you. Probably Don Lockwood. Probably Richard Channing.”

“Careful where you’re taking this.”

“You know where I’m taking this.”

Dia stands up.













A meeting of lawyers discusses losing Rio Tagus account. One man says to another, “Find out why, an Australian mining company just wakes up one morning to drop us as their U.S. retainer. Doesn’t make sense. I want to know why.”

A nock from the class door and woman pops in. “Excuse me. Mr. Sumner. There’s a woman to see you, Sophie Barkley.”

Mattie turns around. “Thank you.”

The man at the head of the table. “Sophie Barkley?”

“Friend of a friend.”

“Who could hand us the Geoberti Family Estate’s account. You’d better go.”

“Don’t count on it.” Mattie shoves off from the table, seeming a bit perturbed.









Mattie walks into his office to find Sophie looking around at the paintings on his walls, the books and the knickknacks. “You were on the row team,” she states without looking at him, just knowing he was at the door.

“Why are you here?”
“I was in the area and thought you’d like to have lunch. Didn’t that secretary tell you? I didn’t interrupt a meeting did I?”

“Of course you did. And no I don’t want to have lunch.”

“You left abruptly last night, right as others were leaving. I thought you’d at least stay until Mattie and Arnold left. I had an idea I wanted to pitch.”

“An idea. Well go ahead.”

“I wanted to pitch it with the four of us together.”

“Well I assume you ran it by them last night and so now run it by me.”

“My Uncle’s Yacht is just up in New York. I was thinking, we could borrow it head up the coast to see the color, maybe to Quebec City. What do you think?”

“Sounds boring to me. If that’s all, I should return to my meeting. Uncle that is you have something else, maybe you want to talk about giving us Geoberti Family Estate’s legal business.”

Sophie scoffs, “No. I’ve very happy as things are. But, maybe if you come up to New York with me, you could talk to my Uncle Richard before we set sale. If he’s willing to change legal representation, I have no objections.”

“Next time he’s in D.C.”

“You were upset I invited your mom to dinner last night.”

“Not were and not mom. Mother. Biological mother. My mom is Pamela Ewing.”

“It’s so sweet how she took you in like a son. And Lucy. That must have been something, growing up with Lucy Ewing. Didn’t Pamela adopt all three of your children? I mean the others. She didn’t adopt you.”

“I’m not talk about my family with you. But next time you have this idea to stick your nose into my family business, stick it someplace else.”

“So you weren’t thrilled to see her.”

“I have to get back to work.”

“Why? What’s up.”

“Good bye Sophie.” Jacobi walks out of his office leaving her behind. He says to the secretary outside his door, “Show Mrs. Barkley to the elevator.”













That evening at dark bar in D.C. Arnold shoots pool with a stranger by Mattie spits a drink at the bar, watching the game on the TV overhead. Jacobi sits down. “Bourbon and water.”

“Hey Jacobi,” Mattie says. “I gotta say, I didn’t expect you.”

“You said most Monday’s is the night.”

“Yeah. Long day for me in meetings all day. Most of the rest of the weak is flexible, but Mondays. So I been coming here for a while to unwind.”

“Bringing Arnold with you, ha?”

“Yeah. He’s kind of a hustler. This’ll be the fourth game he’s almost won. He keeps putting more and more down. Next one, well.”
“Oh I see.”

“So that was your mom the other night. Carol Lynn David. Damn. John Ross Ewing’s your dad and Carol Lynn David as your mom.”

“My mom’s Pamela Ewing. Carol Lynn David just screwed around with my dad and then nine months later I came along.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to strike a shore spot.”

“It’s not. Just what it is. How I hear the story is they meet when my dad was in New York visiting Lucy. She was an up and coming Wall Street hack. Her father started out on the trading room floor worked his way up to CEO. Called him Big Black Chuck.”

“Cause he was a big black man?”

“Because he brought he black death. He wasn’t a big man, scrawny really, short. He’d come into a company and everyone would throw up from fear. He’d come in and tear a company apart. Piece by piece. One guy told me he could ring every last dime of profit out a bloated company by tearing it apart and axing executives. Known for going after then after the fact, law suits that would leave them whipped out. Said it was the danger of being an executive. If you want a chance to make the big bucks, you better make the owners bigger bucks.”

“So you did get to know him.”

“No. Just the legion. Much like the legion of JR Ewing. And her mother, she’s a beautiful singer, blues, jazz. And of course my father’s mother, Sue Ellen. She once told me that grandpa proposed to her over their first dance. Well he said, I think I’m gonna marry you.”
“He must have been on firm ground.”

“She told him that if she had a nickel for every man who had said that to her, she’d be a rich woman.”

“Oh. Wow. So just as confident.”

“I guess at some point she must have been. She is now, but for a while I know she struggled with confidence. She has this letter from my grandfather. He says in it his one regret in life is he didn’t get to have just one more dinner with her. One more chance to look across the table and see her face and dream that just maybe, maybe she did actually love him.”

“Your grandfather didn’t think your grandmother loved him?”

“He probably thought she married the most eligible bachelor in Texas, the son of Jock Ewing and all the money that came with it. And like she said, it was probably true at first. But then for him, he married the most beautiful blue blood Texas had ever spawned. And she knew why he married her. At least at first. And as the legion goes, they nearly destroyed each other over it and somewhere in their he fell in love with her. To this day, no one knows from where, but flowers show up for her, where ever the world she is on Friday.”

“Friday? Like every Friday?”

“Every Friday.”

“Wow. And she still cries herself to sleep, every Friday, missing him terribly, just like she let herself every Friday before he died. They were divorced for a long time.”
“I read Lacey’s book on the Ewing. Apparently Ewing men never get over that one woman.”

“Oh yes. Yes. Well my father dotes on my mother. He takes very good care of her.”
“Not to pry, but she has a mental issue, at least I hear.”

“She has difficulties. So did her father and her aunts. My Uncle Bobby takes care of my Aunt Pam to this day. When he found her in that institution, he brought her home and has never left her side. She has her good days and her bad.”

“Yeah I read that. No one really knows what mental illness the Barnes’s deal with but that they’ve all struggled. All the children of Rebecca Wentworth.”

“My mother and Aunt Ellie are Rebecca’s only biological grandchildren and my mother won’t have any biological children.”
“Your Aunt Ellie is your grandfather and Katherine Wentworth’s daughter?”

“Despite the feud you must have read a lot about, the Barnes and Ewing family is just one family.”

“Yes I remember. Must be something, coming from such a family.”

“And your family?”

“Oh my mother and father have been divorced for a while. They do love each other. It’s just easier to live part I guess.”

“Your mother is a Matheson as in Winston Matheson, the company Richard Channing and the Chi’s took over.”

Yes. Richard Channing is the Chairman of Winston Matheson and Arnold’s Uncle Dia is the President and CEO.”

“Now that’s a man to get to know. Richard Channing. The Seer of ‘Cisco.”

“True. But I don’t bring it up with Arnold. I don’t want him to think I’m using him to get in contact with people.”

“I’m sure your father’s name provides plenty of contacts.”

“He’s been in politics a long time. Considers Richard Channing a friend, though I’ve never meet him.”

“Sophie mentioned the four of us borrowing his yacht to sail up to Quebec City to see the fall color.”

“Oh that would be beautiful. Are we doing it?”

“I’m not really talking to her after her stunt with my mother.”

“Ah. I see. You have seen the MaggieMae?”

“What’s the MaggieMae?”

“Richard Channing’s superyacht. It’s over 500 feet long.”

“Oh. Impressive I guess.”

“You guess. You really are a Ewing.”

“You’ll have to excuse me.” Jacobi gets up and walks over to two girls at the other end of the bar and starts chatting them up.

Arnold takes his place and says, “Wow, he just got here.”

Mattie says, “I thought he was seeing Sophie.”

“I guess he’s better off not. I kinda warned him off her.”

“You warned him off Sophie. Why?”
“Don’t get me wrong. I love Sophie, but she tends to use people and I didn’t want to see her get hurt.”

“She uses people and she’s the one that would get hurt.”

“Oh I’m sure Jacobi could too, I don’t know, but yes Sophie gets hurt.”

“Then maybe she shouldn’t use people”

“And maybe the sun should come up in the west for a change.”

“So how much did you fleece out of the new people?”

“Little over five hundred. This city’s full of too many broke people.”

“I wanted to talk to you about meeting your uncle. Do you think you could arrange it?”

“You’re talking about for a story?”

“Yes.”

“Then no. He won’t talk to you.”

“Any informal way we could set it up?”

“No.”















Jacobi rolls around in bed with the two beautiful girls from the bar.















In the morning Greg Sumner is being shown the law offices when Jacobi comes into work. The older man showing Greg around says, “Jacobi. I’d like you to meet Senator Greg Sumner.”

“Senator Sumner,” Jacobi says, holding out his hand.

“This is Jacobi Ewing, one of bright young new hires.”

“Hello Mr. Ewing. Your father gave a lot of money last year to my opponent.”

“Just placating the Republicans in California. No change of unseating you.”

“It is the game we play. I’m looking for a new legal team. Seems mine is engaged in a bit of controversy at the movement along with some of your father’s placated friends.”

“Yes I noticed.”





Jacobi works in his office, reading at his desk when Greg knocks and enters. “Mind if I come in.”

“No. Of course not.” Jacobi stands and offers his hands. The two shake. “Please take a seat.”

“Thank you. Nice view.”

“Not bad.”

“I think you can see my office from here. I don’t know. I’m not in it much. I actually hate working in the Senate Office Building.”

“Sure I can see that. I’m trying to freshen up for a meeting later today. Something I can help you with?”

“I want you to be responsible for my retainer.”

“For your campaign.”

“Personal and campaign.”

“Not that I don’t appreciate it, but I’m thinking it seems unusual. My experience, or lack thereof, my father’s opposing political position.”

Greg smiles, a bit amused, “There is no opposing political position between myself and your father. You’ll find we agree far more than we disagree. This Education for All Bill for example.”

“That’s highly unusual for him.”

“Maybe. You’ve heard about Senator Hardtack?”

“Yes. An old friend of my fathers.”
“He wouldn’t support the Education for All Bill, I heard.”

“No he wouldn’t. My father sent me to talk to him.”

“Yes. The whole city’s talking about it. He denied you and then he denied your father. Then he was arrested.”

“You’re not suggesting the two are linked?”

“You think they’re not. Hardtack hated Bower. Then overnight he bent over and took up the ass anything Bower feed him. Why do you think that is?”

“Bower had something on him.”

“Well Bower wouldn’t be the only one.”
“My father as well?”
“Your guess is as good as mine but seems like a logical conclusion.”

“But then why wouldn’t Hardtack not just do as my father wanted?”

“Two opposing masters.”

“So my father went to him, threatened him and then Hardtack called his bluff.”

Greg laughs. “Men like your father don’t threaten and they don’t bluff. There’s not monologue. They don’t threaten to hurt you. You know they can and you know they will. And when they choose to pull the trigger, they just pull the trigger. Your father has friends in this city and your father has assets. He’s reshuffling his assets. Hardtack an idiot. He thinks he’s had power. What he had was your father feeding him so he performs, like a trained seal, and just like a seal, he has no idea he’s been trained. Then he took a nip at your father. And your father put him down. Can’t trust him anymore and more importantly, all the other train seals need to watch.”

“You think Hardtack will go to prison?”

“My guess. There’s worse things than prison, worse than death. If I had to guess your father will make Ashley Hardtack wish he’d never been born.”

“Exactly who do you think my father is?”

“Did you know your grandfather died in a particularly interesting year. President Bush signed legislation to cut the estate tax, bit by bit, all the way down to nothing for one year, and then it had to be authorized. It wasn’t. But that one year without any federal estate tax. That was the year that J. R. Ewing died.”

“My grandfather was murdered by my other grandfather.”

Greg stands. “Was he? Anyway, the job is yours. You’ll need to meet with my campaign staff next week.” Greg walks out.













Senator Judith Brown answers the phone in her office, “John Ross. How are you? . . . Yes of course you can count on me. There’s a lot buried in that Education for All Bill, but if you’re sure it’s what you want, I can’t say no to a dear, old friend.”













Donna Dowling picks up the phone in her office, “John Ross . . . Been a long time . . . Yes, I’ve looked over the Education for All Bill. I hate to tell you, I’m supporting it. There’s a lot in there I don’t like, some unrelated but overall, we’ve got to get it passed . . . You’re calling to support it. Really? . . . I agree, it’s about time America became competitive again and that requires training and education, but . . . Well yes I am surprised . . . Well I’d be happy to talk to you about your ideas for an energy bill but I doubt we’d be on the same page . . . Yes, I was Secretary of Energy back then and I’m probably more aware of the workings of the oil industry than anyone on the hill, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to hand big oil whatever it wants . . . You want what? . . . Your father would roll over in his grave if he heard that . . . What about the bottom line for Ewing Industries? . . . Yes, I’m aware the company is a conglomerate, but are you willing to let Ewing Oil take a hit like that . . . You are? . . . Certainly. Next time you’re in D. C. let’s meet to talk . . . Well as one of the loan voices in the party to stand up to Bower it’s been lonely in this town is an understatement . . . I look forward to it . . . Yes, I will. I’ll tell Margret. I’m sure she sends her best too . . . Talk to you soon.” Donna’s face goes white. “Oh yes. Love you too.” She hands up the phone and mumbles, “Aunt Donna?”



A knock comes to the door and a woman peaks in. “Senator Connelly’s on the other line.”



Donna picks up the phone, “Michelle. Hello. How are you? . . . Yes, I did get a call from John Ross Ewing. In fact, that’s who I was just on the phone talking to . . . No he didn’t talk me out of my vote for the Education for All Bill; he called to support it . . . Well you heard right then . . . We’ll I’m sure you’ll get a call next . . . Well if you don’t I’d say that would be interesting, after all you control the agenda and he has been one of your biggest supporters . . . True he was a big supporter of Hardtack too.”















Richard Channing gets out of the back of a limousine and walks to the pillars of the World War II memorial. Lucy steps from behind the pillar of Texas, “I sure hope you know what the hell you’re doing. This country is about to tear itself apart.”

“That’s exactly what Bower was elected to do.”

“Take it to the brink, not break it.”

“Nothing’s out of control. It’s just getting interesting.”













Riots lead to arm insurrection in St. Louis, Missouri, shots fired, bodies fall, tear gas spreads, explosions and the side of a fifteen story building comes crashing down.

 

[stevew]

Episode 3



Police and protestors class on the streets all across America, tear gas flies and fills every nook and cranny. Shots are fired and bodies lie on the cold pavement. Blood flows down gutters. Placards, calling to “Stop the Steal” painted in blue and red, litter everywhere.







A television news broadcaster says, “The Mexican government has confirmed the death of Boris Sechin, Russian oil and gas billionaire. His compound in the Yucatan Peninsula, raided by Mexican federal troops, lead to a deadly confrontation in which Sechin and dozens more were killed. The SPCA in on hand to rescue hundreds of animals, mostly dogs, held in squalor for fighting. The Mexican government has called in the American National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, stating that over two hundred children were found, held captive on the compound, many believed to be American.” A videos plays as the man talks, a somber horror in his voice. Mexican federal troops and Branch Water mercenaries, clearly marked, walk the grounds, rescuing dogs and children.









A fleet of limousines twist and turn in a line through the Rocky Mountains coming to an enormous, old, brick mansion turned resort and then letting out the passengers of each, among them Richard Channing and Sophie Barkley, John Ross and Jacobi Ewing, and Dia Chi.

Inside a crowd gathers in a large reception room and a wide barrel vaulted hallway. Coming to the end of the corridor a grand staircase appears where Lucy stands on the landing, a magnificent window behind her, leaning against the railing, watching as the people below wonder. Nodding to friends and acquaintances below. She holds out her hand and says, “Jacobi. Welcome to the Tamarack Institute.”







Among the crowd Richard says, “Queen Muna. How are you? I’d like you to meet my niece Sophie.”

“Hello Sophie. I’ve heard a great deal about you from your uncle.”









Greg Sumner says to John Ross, “I assume you heard before the rest of us, about Boris Sechin.”

“Of course. The Mexican government asked for Branch Water’s help. Terrible that they couldn’t bring him in to stand trial.”

“I hear the records they captured are going to take the news off Bower’s trial.”

“I don’t know if anything could do that. What I’m curious to find out is if Bouton’s special assistant, Jeremey Steinberg, is in any of Sechine’s videos.”

Greg chuckles, “I’m curious to see if Bower and/or Bouton show up in any themselves. They were both chummy with Steinberg. But then you already know if they will, I suspect.”

“Greg. Do you know my son, Jacobi?”

“Yes I do. Nice to see you again, Jacobi. He and my son, Mattie, are friends.”

“Oh really. Always nice to have a journalist for a friend, you just have to be careful; they’re always taking notes.”

Greg says, “I’m sure, so are you. I bet your files are packed full of notes.”

“Well my daddy taught me to keep everything organized.”

Greg chuckles, “I bet he did,” and walks off to meet the next person.

John Ross says to Jacobi, “One day remind me to show you the red files.”

Jacobi questions, “The red files?”

“Just remind me. And when I do, don’t forget the black box. We just a whole lot more information we have to decide what to do with.”

“From this raid in Mexico?”

“Exactly. What to keep? What to release. When to release it. There’s a lot of work to be done.”

Before Jacobi can follow up, Dia Chi walks over to them, “John Ross. Was that Senator Sumner?”

“The one and only.”

“You think he’ll end up the Senate Majority leader?”

“I do. Of course, if the Republican’s loose the special election. Then they’ll also loose in Wisconsin, eventually, because that idiot doesn’t know when to stop. You got to love dumb folks. They just keep giving and giving.”

Richard approaches next. “Dia. John Ross. Jacobi.” Looking at John Ross he says, “Excellent job in Mexico.”

“Thank you.”









In an auditorium the crowd gathers in comfortable seats while a panel takes to the stage. One of the members on the panel says, “Well actually, I don’t see how originalist judges cannot throw-out preemptive pardons and pardons for confessions of guilt - maybe reduced sentences at best, but not pardon someone who confessed. A pardon, when reading what the intention was, has to do with a court case going awry. Pleading guilty isn’t awry, it’s an admission of guilt. Maybe the sentencing went awry so you commute it, but that’s not what happened. A check on the court system finding him guilty was used, the pardon because he was bullied or some such. But he wasn’t found guilty. He confessed to guilt. And the same applies for preemptive pardons. You can’t pardon someone for something on which they haven’t been found guilty. I get what you’re saying about president, but I’m talking three originalist judges. How do you look at the original thought behind pardon and accept that a President can pardon someone preemptively or even someone who confesses to guilt? Even the Texas Attorney General was only under investigation. He wasn’t found guilty.”

Another panelist asks, “And as an originalist lawyer yourself, this is your take on how the three Bower appointees will come out, if, or when, this comes to their court?”

“That’s the thing about being an originalist, just as you can predict the ruling or a partisan judge, you can predict the ruling of an originalist if you study the original documents surrounding the insertion into the constitution.”

“And this is coming to the court, having wide ranging impact, through this case of sedition. Define for us an originalist’s definition of sedition under the 14th amendment.”

“Conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of the constitution, that to which we swear an oath.”

“And by supporting the Texas case for the Supreme Court to take up the issue of election fraud, these members of Congress, and others, engaged in sedition?”

“No. Supporting a court case is your constitution right to speech and even petition, even if such a case is baseless and the court calls you out on it.”

“Meaning so little evidence they don’t even give it a trial.”

“Exactly. What is sedition is the act of inciting people to rebel which has gone alone with this case and all the others. Words on record matter. Those words are sedition.”

Another speaker says, “Link that to the fact that clearly what is being attempted here is a divide of the United States on par with what happened to the Soviet Union in the early nineties and that the Russian government is not ever held to task for his acts of war on the United States under Bower, including a massive raid just prior to his leaving office, and you have a conversation of Treason. High Treason.”

This statement is followed by a lot of mumbling in the crowd.









Later in the day, under a beautiful tent, everyone gathers for a meal around a hundred round tables, candlelight and twinkling crystal. John Ross and Jacobi find themselves at a table with Richard, Sophie and Dia. Richard says to Jacobi, “So what did you think about that discussion on Rouge States?”

“I found it fascinating that so many have been removed from the list so quietly. It’s impressive how a simple speech from our President at the time can lead to a revolution in another county. And the next thing you know, no more rogue state.”

“Your great grandfather was involved in helping the U.S. with Venezuela and your grandfather had business dealings with a company involved with the Venezuelan government. It’s been a long play. A very long play.”

“Yes, my grandfather was murdered in Venezuela and today Ewing Industries owns DeLeVega. Yet, I’m not sure we’ve made any progress.”

“Oh we have. I assure you we have.”

“And what about North Korea and Iran?”

“Two complicated stories. I wish we’d put into practice the agreement we had with Iran.”

“Wasn’t it kind of us bending over backwards for them.”

“Not at all. The most important part is we get access inside that county. We’ve got to lift sanctions. Not so the ruling class can horde it all and continue behind our backs working on nuclear weapons, but so the American culture intoxicates the Iranian culture. It’s how you turn a rouge state friendly.”

Dia says, “Unfortunately, we’ve lost Syria to Russia.”

Sophie says, “And why isn’t Russia and China on the list?”

“Counties like Russia, China, the United States, they can’t be rogue by definition,” Dia states.

Jacobi says, “It just seems like a very complicated chess came.”

Richard replies, “Exactly. The point is to be many moves ahead of your opponent so that he continues to play, not to win.”

“So the conspiracy theories people buy into, some of them are true?”

John Ross says, “Of course not. If you think you’re smart enough to know the play, you’re the one being played.”







Arnold sits alone on a bench surrounded by the walls of towering shrubs when Mattie finds him. Out of breath he sits down next to him, “Don’t you find this a bit extreme?”

“Find what?”

“Being here.”

“No. Why?”

“Never mind. It is beautiful here. Kind of peaceful, considering all the people on the other side of this shrubbery. I was in high school when my mother brought me here. I was studying French and having a hard time of it. I look Japanese in elementary school and could actually read and write something so far removed from English, but I couldn’t master congregating verbs in French. It was . . .”

“Don’t tell me how educated you are. Tell me how much you’ve traveled.”

“My mother and I traveled a lot actually. All over Europe. Every nook and cranny. Then one day she decided we should go to Japan. I guess I’ve been traveling my entire life. A lot of it for work.”

“But now, you’re mostly in Washington, for work?”

“I guess so. I don’t, things changed in the last four years.”

“That they did.”

“So why did you come all the way here?”

“I like it here. There’s a little café I think about a lot. Not far from here. Want to grab a bite to eat?”

“Sure. You don’t want to walk around some?”

“I have. It’s one of the places in the world that just makes you feel small, it’s size, it’s precision, it’s place in time.”

Mattie hugs Arnold. They sit there holding each other, in that small outdoor room, part of a maze, part of a garden, part of the landscape of Versailles, in the shadow of the chateau.







John Ross meets Jacobi as he gets out of the pool, drying off in the early hours of the morning, the mountains in the background. “Good to see you up early.”

“You’re up early yourself,” Jacobi says.

“Oh, I’ve been up. I start my first meeting at five.” He hands him a piece of folded note paper.

“What’s this.” Jacobi looks over it.

“That’s a list of Ewing assets.”

“It’s a list of names.”

“Yes.”

“Since when are people assets?”

“When you own them. Look it over. Everyone on there should know by the time we leave you’re my number one.”

“Your number one?”

“The person I most count on.”

“What’ll I do, go up to them and say, ‘hi, I’m Jacboi, John Ross Ewing’s number one.”

“Don’t be silly. You have to decide if you want this. There’s no going back.”

“Of course. I told you I did.”

“Yeah well, without any prior knowledge. But you’ll get there. I didn’t have a choice. It’s what my father wanted. He worked hard to join. And, I was all he had. I’ve got one more task and then I’ll have completed everything he left me to do.”

“Venezuela?”

“Yes.”

“I want to help you.”

“No. This is something I have to do on my own. I heard you meet Carol Lynne.”

“I did. Thanks to Sophie.”

“Don’t let Lucy hear, she’ll be pissed.”

“Well and I don’t want momma to know either. Things are difficult enough for her.”

“Probably best. You OK?”

“Of course. Is Sophie Richard’s number one?”

“No. Her father is. I think his intention might be for Sophie to be Lance’s number one. Have you heard about Lance’s brother, Cardinal Rossini? He on a short list for Pope next go round.”

“You’re kidding?”

“Not in the least. Watch out for Sophie. Hear me?”

“Why?”

“Because I told you to.” The Ewing men watch a gorgeous Asian girl in a bikini make her way from the building to the pool and dive in. “That’s Oliva Fang. Everybody knows she works for Dia Chi.”

“What’s up with that dude?”

“What do you mean?”

“Is he on our side or the Chinese?”

“You’re a long way from getting those questions answered.”











From the Oval Office President Boutton addresses the nation. “I come to you tonight with a heavy heart. As our nation faces its great existential threat in a hundred and fifty years, an age old enemy continues to relentlessly attack us in cyber space. While I have sent a team to negotiate with China, demanding a ceasefire in the meantime, the Russian government has refused such, claiming that they are innocent. Yet all intelligence sources, ours and our friends, have made it very clear to me and the Congressional leadership that they are the culprit for what has been happening to this nation for over four years. It is not a witch hunt to say that President Bower’s team colluded with the Russians and it is not fake news to say that President Bower did not address them once, over anything they did, not so much as even calling them out. And so it falls on me to address an emboldened enemy. At the invitation of Georgia, as I speak the United States Navy has arrived in Poti to set up a permanent U.S. military base. We are also recommending Georgia and the Ukraine for NATO membership. Furthermore, the U.S. Military has begun a cyber-attack on Russia the likes of which has never been seen. This attack will last for twenty-four hours. Following that I ask that the Russia government present themselves as more thoughtful in their actions. The United States will not stand by while a corrupt authoritarian dictatorship attacks our very institutions of government. We will attack in kind.

To my fellow Americans I say that as we come out of this most trying time, I ask that you stand by each other. The enemy is not here among us. He rests out there, revealing in the belief that he can divide and conquer us. He cannot. We are one nation, under God, indivisible.”









Jacobi and Olivia ravish each other as they enter his hotel room, still in their swimwear, mostly naked, hands all over each other, mouths groping one and other.









Mattie walks along a cold, rocky shore to find Arnold sitting on a stone tossing pebbles into the crashing waves. “Why am I having to crisscross the globe to find you? First Paris. Then Tibet and now New Zealand. What’s going on?”

“Aren’t you terrified?”

“Of what?”

“The confrontation with Russia.”

“Well, I guess I’m concerned. But I’m more concerned about you right now. Besides you were on the run long before Boutton made his announcement. You were in that monetary in Tibet. How did you even get here about it up in those mountains?”

“I knew about it before I left Washington.”

“What the Russian’s hacking?”

“That and Boutton’s response. He was meeting with Congress.”

“Yes but no one knew about that. You’re saying you knew what he was planning?”

“I’m saying I knew what going on as it was going on and I’m terrified. It’s just stuff you see. You wish you didn’t. You wish you could stuff it all back in the box, but you can’t. You can’t unsee what you saw.”

Mattie sits next to Arnold and holds him in his arms.

 

[stevew]

Episode 3



Police and protestors class on the streets all across America, tear gas flies and fills every nook and cranny. Shots are fired and bodies lie on the cold pavement. Blood flows down gutters. Placards, calling to “Stop the Steal” painted in blue and red, litter everywhere.







A television news broadcaster says, “The Mexican government has confirmed the death of Boris Sechin, Russian oil and gas billionaire. His compound in the Yucatan Peninsula, raided by Mexican federal troops, lead to a deadly confrontation in which Sechin and dozens more were killed. The SPCA in on hand to rescue hundreds of animals, mostly dogs, held in squalor for fighting. The Mexican government has called in the American National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, stating that over two hundred children were found, held captive on the compound, many believed to be American.” A videos plays as the man talks, a somber horror in his voice. Mexican federal troops and Branch Water mercenaries, clearly marked, walk the grounds, rescuing dogs and children.









A fleet of limousines twist and turn in a line through the Rocky Mountains coming to an enormous, old, brick mansion turned resort and then letting out the passengers of each, among them Richard Channing and Sophie Barkley, John Ross and Jacobi Ewing, and Dia Chi.

Inside a crowd gathers in a large reception room and a wide barrel vaulted hallway. Coming to the end of the corridor a grand staircase appears where Lucy stands on the landing, a magnificent window behind her, leaning against the railing, watching as the people below wonder. Nodding to friends and acquaintances below. She holds out her hand and says, “Jacobi. Welcome to the Tamarack Institute.”







Among the crowd Richard says, “Queen Muna. How are you? I’d like you to meet my niece Sophie.”

“Hello Sophie. I’ve heard a great deal about you from your uncle.”









Greg Sumner says to John Ross, “I assume you heard before the rest of us, about Boris Sechin.”

“Of course. The Mexican government asked for Branch Water’s help. Terrible that they couldn’t bring him in to stand trial.”

“I hear the records they captured are going to take the news off Bower’s trial.”

“I don’t know if anything could do that. What I’m curious to find out is if Bouton’s special assistant, Jeremey Steinberg, is in any of Sechine’s videos.”

Greg chuckles, “I’m curious to see if Bower and/or Bouton show up in any themselves. They were both chummy with Steinberg. But then you already know if they will, I suspect.”

“Greg. Do you know my son, Jacobi?”

“Yes I do. Nice to see you again, Jacobi. He and my son, Mattie, are friends.”

“Oh really. Always nice to have a journalist for a friend, you just have to be careful; they’re always taking notes.”

Greg says, “I’m sure, so are you. I bet your files are packed full of notes.”

“Well my daddy taught me to keep everything organized.”

Greg chuckles, “I bet he did,” and walks off to meet the next person.

John Ross says to Jacobi, “One day remind me to show you the red files.”

Jacobi questions, “The red files?”

“Just remind me. And when I do, don’t forget the black box. We just a whole lot more information we have to decide what to do with.”

“From this raid in Mexico?”

“Exactly. What to keep? What to release. When to release it. There’s a lot of work to be done.”

Before Jacobi can follow up, Dia Chi walks over to them, “John Ross. Was that Senator Sumner?”

“The one and only.”

“You think he’ll end up the Senate Majority leader?”

“I do. Of course, if the Republican’s loose the special election. Then they’ll also loose in Wisconsin, eventually, because that idiot doesn’t know when to stop. You got to love dumb folks. They just keep giving and giving.”

Richard approaches next. “Dia. John Ross. Jacobi.” Looking at John Ross he says, “Excellent job in Mexico.”

“Thank you.”









In an auditorium the crowd gathers in comfortable seats while a panel takes to the stage. One of the members on the panel says, “Well actually, I don’t see how originalist judges cannot throw-out preemptive pardons and pardons for confessions of guilt - maybe reduced sentences at best, but not pardon someone who confessed. A pardon, when reading what the intention was, has to do with a court case going awry. Pleading guilty isn’t awry, it’s an admission of guilt. Maybe the sentencing went awry so you commute it, but that’s not what happened. A check on the court system finding him guilty was used, the pardon because he was bullied or some such. But he wasn’t found guilty. He confessed to guilt. And the same applies for preemptive pardons. You can’t pardon someone for something on which they haven’t been found guilty. I get what you’re saying about president, but I’m talking three originalist judges. How do you look at the original thought behind pardon and accept that a President can pardon someone preemptively or even someone who confesses to guilt? Even the Texas Attorney General was only under investigation. He wasn’t found guilty.”

Another panelist asks, “And as an originalist lawyer yourself, this is your take on how the three Bower appointees will come out, if, or when, this comes to their court?”

“That’s the thing about being an originalist, just as you can predict the ruling or a partisan judge, you can predict the ruling of an originalist if you study the original documents surrounding the insertion into the constitution.”

“And this is coming to the court, having wide ranging impact, through this case of sedition. Define for us an originalist’s definition of sedition under the 14th amendment.”

“Conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of the constitution, that to which we swear an oath.”

“And by supporting the Texas case for the Supreme Court to take up the issue of election fraud, these members of Congress, and others, engaged in sedition?”

“No. Supporting a court case is your constitution right to speech and even petition, even if such a case is baseless and the court calls you out on it.”

“Meaning so little evidence they don’t even give it a trial.”

“Exactly. What is sedition is the act of inciting people to rebel which has gone alone with this case and all the others. Words on record matter. Those words are sedition.”

Another speaker says, “Link that to the fact that clearly what is being attempted here is a divide of the United States on par with what happened to the Soviet Union in the early nineties and that the Russian government is not ever held to task for his acts of war on the United States under Bower, including a massive raid just prior to his leaving office, and you have a conversation of Treason. High Treason.”

This statement is followed by a lot of mumbling in the crowd.









Later in the day, under a beautiful tent, everyone gathers for a meal around a hundred round tables, candlelight and twinkling crystal. John Ross and Jacobi find themselves at a table with Richard, Sophie and Dia. Richard says to Jacobi, “So what did you think about that discussion on Rouge States?”

“I found it fascinating that so many have been removed from the list so quietly. It’s impressive how a simple speech from our President at the time can lead to a revolution in another county. And the next thing you know, no more rogue state.”

“Your great grandfather was involved in helping the U.S. with Venezuela and your grandfather had business dealings with a company involved with the Venezuelan government. It’s been a long play. A very long play.”

“Yes, my grandfather was murdered in Venezuela and today Ewing Industries owns DeLeVega. Yet, I’m not sure we’ve made any progress.”

“Oh we have. I assure you we have.”

“And what about North Korea and Iran?”

“Two complicated stories. I wish we’d put into practice the agreement we had with Iran.”

“Wasn’t it kind of us bending over backwards for them.”

“Not at all. The most important part is we get access inside that county. We’ve got to lift sanctions. Not so the ruling class can horde it all and continue behind our backs working on nuclear weapons, but so the American culture intoxicates the Iranian culture. It’s how you turn a rouge state friendly.”

Dia says, “Unfortunately, we’ve lost Syria to Russia.”

Sophie says, “And why isn’t Russia and China on the list?”

“Counties like Russia, China, the United States, they can’t be rogue by definition,” Dia states.

Jacobi says, “It just seems like a very complicated chess came.”

Richard replies, “Exactly. The point is to be many moves ahead of your opponent so that he continues to play, not to win.”

“So the conspiracy theories people buy into, some of them are true?”

John Ross says, “Of course not. If you think you’re smart enough to know the play, you’re the one being played.”







Arnold sits alone on a bench surrounded by the walls of towering shrubs when Mattie finds him. Out of breath he sits down next to him, “Don’t you find this a bit extreme?”

“Find what?”

“Being here.”

“No. Why?”

“Never mind. It is beautiful here. Kind of peaceful, considering all the people on the other side of this shrubbery. I was in high school when my mother brought me here. I was studying French and having a hard time of it. I look Japanese in elementary school and could actually read and write something so far removed from English, but I couldn’t master congregating verbs in French. It was . . .”

“Don’t tell me how educated you are. Tell me how much you’ve traveled.”

“My mother and I traveled a lot actually. All over Europe. Every nook and cranny. Then one day she decided we should go to Japan. I guess I’ve been traveling my entire life. A lot of it for work.”

“But now, you’re mostly in Washington, for work?”

“I guess so. I don’t, things changed in the last four years.”

“That they did.”

“So why did you come all the way here?”

“I like it here. There’s a little café I think about a lot. Not far from here. Want to grab a bite to eat?”

“Sure. You don’t want to walk around some?”

“I have. It’s one of the places in the world that just makes you feel small, it’s size, it’s precision, it’s place in time.”

Mattie hugs Arnold. They sit there holding each other, in that small outdoor room, part of a maze, part of a garden, part of the landscape of Versailles, in the shadow of the chateau.







John Ross meets Jacobi as he gets out of the pool, drying off in the early hours of the morning, the mountains in the background. “Good to see you up early.”

“You’re up early yourself,” Jacobi says.

“Oh, I’ve been up. I start my first meeting at five.” He hands him a piece of folded note paper.

“What’s this.” Jacobi looks over it.

“That’s a list of Ewing assets.”

“It’s a list of names.”

“Yes.”

“Since when are people assets?”

“When you own them. Look it over. Everyone on there should know by the time we leave you’re my number one.”

“Your number one?”

“The person I most count on.”

“What’ll I do, go up to them and say, ‘hi, I’m Jacboi, John Ross Ewing’s number one.”

“Don’t be silly. You have to decide if you want this. There’s no going back.”

“Of course. I told you I did.”

“Yeah well, without any prior knowledge. But you’ll get there. I didn’t have a choice. It’s what my father wanted. He worked hard to join. And, I was all he had. I’ve got one more task and then I’ll have completed everything he left me to do.”

“Venezuela?”

“Yes.”

“I want to help you.”

“No. This is something I have to do on my own. I heard you meet Carol Lynne.”

“I did. Thanks to Sophie.”

“Don’t let Lucy hear, she’ll be pissed.”

“Well and I don’t want momma to know either. Things are difficult enough for her.”

“Probably best. You OK?”

“Of course. Is Sophie Richard’s number one?”

“No. Her father is. I think his intention might be for Sophie to be Lance’s number one. Have you heard about Lance’s brother, Cardinal Rossini? He on a short list for Pope next go round.”

“You’re kidding?”

“Not in the least. Watch out for Sophie. Hear me?”

“Why?”

“Because I told you to.” The Ewing men watch a gorgeous Asian girl in a bikini make her way from the building to the pool and dive in. “That’s Oliva Fang. Everybody knows she works for Dia Chi.”

“What’s up with that dude?”

“What do you mean?”

“Is he on our side or the Chinese?”

“You’re a long way from getting those questions answered.”











From the Oval Office President Boutton addresses the nation. “I come to you tonight with a heavy heart. As our nation faces its great existential threat in a hundred and fifty years, an age old enemy continues to relentlessly attack us in cyber space. While I have sent a team to negotiate with China, demanding a ceasefire in the meantime, the Russian government has refused such, claiming that they are innocent. Yet all intelligence sources, ours and our friends, have made it very clear to me and the Congressional leadership that they are the culprit for what has been happening to this nation for over four years. It is not a witch hunt to say that President Bower’s team colluded with the Russians and it is not fake news to say that President Bower did not address them once, over anything they did, not so much as even calling them out. And so it falls on me to address an emboldened enemy. At the invitation of Georgia, as I speak the United States Navy has arrived in Poti to set up a permanent U.S. military base. We are also recommending Georgia and the Ukraine for NATO membership. Furthermore, the U.S. Military has begun a cyber-attack on Russia the likes of which has never been seen. This attack will last for twenty-four hours. Following that I ask that the Russia government present themselves as more thoughtful in their actions. The United States will not stand by while a corrupt authoritarian dictatorship attacks our very institutions of government. We will attack in kind.

To my fellow Americans I say that as we come out of this most trying time, I ask that you stand by each other. The enemy is not here among us. He rests out there, revealing in the belief that he can divide and conquer us. He cannot. We are one nation, under God, indivisible.”









Jacobi and Olivia ravish each other as they enter his hotel room, still in their swimwear, mostly naked, hands all over each other, mouths groping one and other.









Mattie walks along a cold, rocky shore to find Arnold sitting on a stone tossing pebbles into the crashing waves. “Why am I having to crisscross the globe to find you? First Paris. Then Tibet and now New Zealand. What’s going on?”

“Aren’t you terrified?”

“Of what?”

“The confrontation with Russia.”

“Well, I guess I’m concerned. But I’m more concerned about you right now. Besides you were on the run long before Boutton made his announcement. You were in that monetary in Tibet. How did you even get here about it up in those mountains?”

“I knew about it before I left Washington.”

“What the Russian’s hacking?”

“That and Boutton’s response. He was meeting with Congress.”

“Yes but no one knew about that. You’re saying you knew what he was planning?”

“I’m saying I knew what going on as it was going on and I’m terrified. It’s just stuff you see. You wish you didn’t. You wish you could stuff it all back in the box, but you can’t. You can’t unsee what you saw.”

Mattie sits next to Arnold and holds him in his arms.











In the early morning Jacobi swims across the length of the pool before coming to the end and walking up and out, soaking wet, pushing his hair back. Richard stands where the steps of the pool water meet the deck and hands the young man a towel. “Good morning for a swim.”

Jacobi takes the towel, “Yes I suppose it is.”

“Dia and I would like to have a talk with you.”

“Sure.”





The three take a seat at a round table near the pool, a few other’s swim and meet around the large outside deck just off the hotel. Richard says, “Olivia Fang.”

“What about her?” Jacobi asks.

“An attractive woman, but she may compromise you and the last thing any of us wants is for you to be compromised.”

“I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself.”

“None of can, so don’t go talking stupid. Your father’s got a lot on his plate, with Venezuela, this woman from your room last night, she’s friendly with the Chinese and that’s my play.”

“Play?”

“Has your father mentioned the Tredecium?”

“No.”

“I’m one of them.”

“And my father?”

“No. John Ross is what we refer to as an associate. There are different levels of associates but your father is of the highest regard.”

“So who else is part of this Tredecium?”

“That I can’t tell you.”

“And what is it?”

“Friends who organize things, business, government.”

“Like some sort of conspiracy theory shadow government?”

“No. Those are for people to pretend they know what’s going on, but once you think you know the play, well, you’re being played.”

“Something my father would say his father said.”

“Your mother, your biological mother.”

“Carol Lynn David.”

“Carol Lynn Rosemont.”

“Rosemont?”

“Her father was a member of the Tredecium. I had the opportunity to address him and his friends at one time, thinking there was something that could be done, but they only became stronger. Just as you think they’re defeated they come back stronger. Just as you think you know what they’re up to, they’re playing you for a fool. But make no mistake, without them, what you call a county does not exist.”

“And you’re now one of them?”

“And I believe, that one day, so will you, be one.”

“You’re not passing this title down to your son?”

“No. That’s not how this works. I certainly wouldn’t wish the burden on them. It’s not a gift Jacobi. It’s a responsibility.”

“Why bring this to me?”

“I want your help.”

“With what?”

“China. I’ll leave you with Dia. If you stay, you’ll learn more than you can ever forget. But there’s no turning back. So, if you don’t want to hear what he’s offering, then leave the table as well and we’ll find someone else. But as a friendly bit of advice, no matter what path you choose, Olivia Fang, she is not who you think she is.” Richard gets up and leaves Jacobi at the table with Dia Chi.









Inside the lobby of the mansion there’s a stirring, a commotion of people sharing with one and other a major news event. Greg Sumner stops a very handsome, young blond man and says, “What’s going on?”

“The news . . . Russia’s power grid has collapsed. They’re saying they can’t even access the money in their banks. Planes can’t take off. Trains have stopped, right in their tracks. Aircraft carriers are just floating out to see.”

 

[Karin]

Finally I'm all caught up. This is a really interesting story unlike any other fanfic I've read.
You have a fascinating perspective on all the politics and the two Presidents.

I am having a bit of a trouble keeping all the new characters apart at times, as it usually takes a while to get to know a new character on a show.

Loved that Donna made a cameo in one episode.

So what's next?

 

[stevew]

Finally I'm all caught up. This is a really interesting story unlike any other fanfic I've read.
You have a fascinating perspective on all the politics and the two Presidents.

I am having a bit of a trouble keeping all the new characters apart at times, as it usually takes a while to get to know a new character on a show.

Loved that Donna made a cameo in one episode.

So what's next?

Thank you. Glad you liked it. I wanted to do something different and with all the mess in the news anyone I figured mine it for a show. Dallas, KL and FC all had these shadow government / underworld figures we talk about so much and some take so seriously these days. With a young, beautiful and diverse cast, I thought, it was worth exploring.

I’m not sure where next.

John Ross wants in this organization which includes Richard and Dia The next target for Dia is China and for Richard is repairing America’s power. The Ewing’s are promoting education reform so American can compete globally. Lucy is up to her eye balls in this despite her apparent innocence. Carol Lynne has word hard her while life to protect her son even giving him up, she’s not about to watch him be harmed now. And Greg, he’s aware of what’s going on and the never ending treat of war with Russia. But that’s all back ground.

Jacobi wants power, real power, and he’s only just begun his climb into lobbying and then running for office, but can he accomplish it with out selling his soul?

Sofie is set up to be the most powerful force in the alcoholic beverages industry, but is finding out this just might be the tip of the iceberg in her family’s legacy.

Arnold knows way too much to ever be at peace, which also makes him a target and a sought after asset, and just how much Dia can protect him remains to be seen.

And Mattie, Mattie wants to do some good, write the truth, stand up for the little guy and be that patron of noblesse oblige, but the reality is he enjoys his privilege too much and doesn’t want the inconvenience of all Arnold knows.

Yeah cameos would be fun for all us original fans.

But where next? I don’t know, yet.

 

[Karin]

Thank you for sharing and explaining your characters and their goals. It's all a very interesting concept for a show.
It's original somehow so maybe you should approach some network with it and try to get a show going. I know easier said than done. But I could really see it working as an original series, if you lose the connection to the 80s shows we all love.

 

[stevew]

Thank you for sharing and explaining your characters and their goals. It's all a very interesting concept for a show.
It's original somehow so maybe you should approach some network with it and try to get a show going. I know easier said than done. But I could really see it working as an original series, if you lose the connection to the 80s shows we all love.

Sorry I didn’t get back sooner. Didn’t see this.

Thank you. I wouldn’t have any clue how to pitch it to a network.

I see your point minus the 80s soaps, but unlike Dallas on TNT, I think it could work with such, drawing an audience to see what’s gone on with their favorite characters without being a let down because it’s so far removed from any of the originals. I do picture it with more of a House of Cards meets Friends meets Dallas vibe. Lol.