dynasty Episode 137 - Masquerade

Gee, I wonder based on the title of this episode what is going to happen.  No, this is not the 1980s movie with Rob Lowe, Meg Tilly, and Kim Cattrall, there is going to a masquerade ball.  The ball is part of Alexis's plan to reveal Ben to Blake.  Pretty elaborate and dramatic if you ask me, but I would not have it any other way.

Alexis decides that there needs to be a fundraiser to pay for amenities at the park land Colby Co and Denver Carrington just donated.  Alexis has a television interview where she details the ball ($5000/ticket) and then announces that the ball will be held at the Carrington mansion.  Oh, Alexis forgot to tell Krystle and Blake that.  It is a good thing that Krystle watched the interview on television.  Predictably, Krystle calls Alexis and Alexis tells Krystle that Denver Carrington needs to do its share for the park land, but if Krystle hates the environment, then go ahead and cancel the party.

Blake returns from Hong Kong and does not seem to bothered by Alexis's ploy.  All Blake cares about is that their is a fund raiser.  And to make Krystle's life more hectic, he wants to have the Fallmont family over for dinner as a friendly gesture despite their political differences.  

We meet the Fallmonts, Senator Buck Fallmont, his wife Emily (who seems rather gracious and knows Blake very well), Bart (who we already know) and the adventurer Clay Fallmont who arrives to the dinner late.  Ted McGinley, as Clay, somehow manages to make it into the opening credits.  That's a bad sign for any television show as far as jumping the shark.  At least Clay's late arrival allows him to run into a very well-dressed Sammy Jo who is still sliding down the bannister.   There may be a spark between the two.

Can we all guess how well the dinner went.  Well, at least Buck waited until desert before he stormed out and took his family with him.  Blake and Steven try to convince Buck to get politicians to accept the pipeline especially when one considers the jobs it would bring.  Buck goes into the gutter and suggests Blake may want to grease a few palms, but the ever so moral Blake does not do business that way.  Then, Buck becomes holier than thou himself when he leaves after realizing the two will not see eye to eye.

As the family leaves, Adam decides to stop Bart and let him know that Bart should really support the Carrington family on this matter or else all sorts of secrets about Bart will come out.  Bart, putting on a brave face, tells Adam he will fight his own battles, his own way.  Yeah, I do not know what that means.

Adam's antics may be catching up with him though.  Ever suspicious, Steven decides that he is going to monitor every large transaction at Denver Carrington.  Wait, doesn't Steven work for Colby Co? Oh yeah, Steven is on the Board of Directors of Denver Carrington and he is going to use that position to monitor Adam.  Adam makes a hollow threat that Steven will not always be on that Board.

Back at La Mirage, Dominique and Jackie arrive to a beautiful bouquet and piece of jewelry from Garrett to Jackie.  Dominique is not happen about the gift because she believes it to be too extravagant for Jackie from a man she hardly knows.  Jackie believes Garrett is doing this because he wants to get closer to Dominique - ahh if only Jackie knew.  

Garrett later confronts Dominique about Jackie's paternity.  After some snooping of his own, Garrett learned that the father is listed as unknown on Jackie's birth certificate.  Dominique is adamant that she knows who her baby's daddy is and that it is not Garrett.  Besides, Jackie has the beautiful image of her father that Dominique will not allow Garrett to destroy.  

Alexis still wants Caress to leave the penthouse, but Caress convinces Alexis to allow her to stay for just a week.  Well, this is not an altruistic act on Alexis's part.  She knows Caress is up to something and this will give her the time to discover what it is.  Well, it does not take Alexis long.  While looking for Caress, she answers a call from Caress's publisher.  Curious as to what book Caress is writing, Alexis does her best Caress impression and learns that it is a book about her.

It gets better for Alexis who snoops through the room and finds the manuscript.  Oh, Alexis will not have any of this.  She calls Steven and wants to know how many outstanding shares of Creighton Publishing Company are on the market.  Steven is curious as to why.  Alexis is diversifying.  Nowadays, Alexis would have to purchase the entire internet to stop any such publication.

Alexis's other house guest, Ben, is going to ruin Alexis's plan if he does not do exactly as she says.  For some reason, Alexis is preparing martinis for two.  It's a good thing she did because Ben showed up on time for one.  Ben went to check out Carrington 1.  Alexis cannot have Ben just roaming around Denver Carrington property or Blake might see him before the grand reveal.

And the grand reveal will be at the masquerade ball.  The ball is totally done Dynasty style.  Everyone is dressed up, well except for Bart who shows up to speak to Steven.  Steven shows off for Bart but Bart is not thrilled as he got an advanced copy of the National Informer with its expose on Bart's gay summer adventure.  Bart cannot believe Steven leaked the story, but Steven assures Bart he did not and knows who did.

We all know who did, and we all know what is going to happen.  Steven goes to confront Adam and the two have an awesome fight on the mansion steps as party goers watch with excitement and awe.  There is no reason to try and stop it.  Also, wouldn't there be some sort of security to stop the fight also.  No, it is up to Blake to stop the fight.  He does not care why the two fought, he will not have such foolishness in his house.  Steven wanted to speak to Bart after the fight but Bart had already left.

Despite his better judgment, Dex agrees to go to the party with Amanda.  Blake is glad to see Amanda and surprised to see Dex.  Amanda decides to give Dex a grand tour of the mansion, which basically is an invitation to her bedroom for sex.  Classy Amanda.  Dex wants none of that and leaves the party but not before having an exchange with Alexis and recruiting Clay to work on the pipeline construction.

It is a good thing Clay went to the party because he also meets Amanda and Clay is instantly taken by Amanda (thanks to Blake showing him pictures of her at dinner earlier in the week).  Clay convinces Amanda to dance but Amanda is not interested.  All she wants is Dex.  I smell a love triangle coming here, maybe even a love square.

So, Ben is dressed as a pirate and no one recognizes him.  Of course, Ben also has to be mysterious which only adds to the intrigue.  Blake knows the voice but just can't quite place it.  Ben does speak to Emily Fallmont and two of them definitely have a past together.

The time for Ben's great reveal comes as Blake is giving his speech for his party goers.  As he speaks, Ben pushes his way through the crowd and takes off his eye patch, hat and beard.  Blake is startled and stumbles through the rest of his speech.  Afterward, he commands Ben into the library to throw him out of the mansion and to tell Ben to stay out of his life.  Ben lets Blake know that he cannot so easily be disposed of him.  Triumphant in his arrival, Ben kisses Alexis's hand in celebration.  Oh, it is on!

Memorable Dialogue

Adam:  You make your father see the light, or. . .
Bart:  Or what?  I can't make my father do anything he doesn't want to do.
Adam:  Ah, but you will.  Play the game our way or you personally are going to find that closet door of yours opening very wide.

Alexis [reading from "Sister Dearest"]:  There are those who call her the most powerful woman in the western United States, there are others, however, who simply call her. . .

Ben:  I assume the beautiful woman [Krystle] with him is his wife
Alexis:  As the old saying goes, never judge a book by its cover.

Alexis:  Krystle, you look so elegant, I hardly recognized you.
Krystle:  Alexis, what a realistic courtesan you make.
Alexis:  My dear, didn't you know Madame de Pompardou was a Marquess but you make a very realistic gold digger.
Krystle:  Takes one to know one.

Alexis [to Dex]:  Up the stairs together, down the stairs alone.  Trouble in paradise already?

Ben:  You've changed Emmy.
Emily:  I pray you have.

Blake:  I want you to go through that door and walk out of this house and don't ever set foot in it again because if you do. . .
Ben:  What will you do to me?
Blake:  I'll make you wish you've never been born.  Now get out.  Get out of this house and stay out of my life.

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