dynasty Episode 136 - Ben

The drama has kicked into high gear.  Blake and Alexis are back at it, but they need to do a joint appearance for the dedication of the preserve as part of a public relations stunt to get the go ahead on the pipeline.  Alexis is fine with the joint appearance.

Blake, on the other hand, is more concerned about some one purchasing large blocks of Denver Carrington stock.  Adam promises to find who the purchaser is.  The catch, however, is that the purchases, while large, are done in blocks not large enough to require reporting it to the SEC.  Someone is trying to take over Denver Carrington.  Of course, if you know math, this cannot be.  Let's see, Blake owns 60% of Denver Carrington and Dominique 40%.  So, from where is this stock that someone is purchasing?  

Adam tells Blake that the name that keeps coming out with respect to the purchases is Colby Co.  As if there was any doubt.  Blake should have realized it was Alexis after her request for a merger.  Well, Blake is ready to take Alexis on, and to destroy her.  

Alexis has a plan of her own and it involves Blake's brother, Ben.  Alexis tracks Ben down to the outback of Australia where he is wildcatting.  Unfortunately, Ben does not like answering his phone so Alexis has to go out to Australia to speak to Ben personally.  Before Alexis leaves she still has that dedication ceremony to attend to.

Something flares up in Hong Kong so Blake cannot attend the ceremony.  Krystle, the ever loving wife, will represent Denver Carrington (why not Adam?).  Oh, and it may have been wiser for Blake not to tell Krystle about Alexis's pass as Krystle is visibly annoyed being seen with Alexis.  Then again, Krystle is always annoyed in the company of Alexis.  And, Alexis will not make it any easier for Krystle.  During her speech, Alexis makes a dig at Blake for not attending the ceremony.  Krystle calls Alexis out for that cheap shot.

Alexis goes one better and tells a reporter that there are rumors that Blake and Krystle's marriage is crumbling and that they have separate beds.  That reporter bee-lines to Krystle to ask her whether it is true.  Krystle shows great composure in her answer, but that composure does not last long.  As Krystle tries to confront Alexis about this latest stunt, Alexis walks off.  

You would think that Alexis would be going to her car (since she is preparing to go to Australia to fetch Ben).  Instead, Alexis is walking down some trail and is followed by Krystle.  Krystle confronts her about her antics, but Alexis loses her footing and grabs onto Krystle as the two tumble down the side of a hill and into a mud pit.  Two dresses are ruined.  Krystle tells Alexis to back off Blake and Alexis assures Krystle that she has no interest in Blake.  Sure, that is believable.

Before going to Hong Kong, Blake plays the stern patriarch of the family.  First, Blake tries to convince Amanda that she should end things with Dex.  Dex is too sophisticated for Amanda (a block of cheese may be too sophisticated for Amanda).  Amanda will hear none of this.   Well, it is not Amanda's fault she makes bad decisions, she did not have a father growing up.  Well, if Blake cannot get through to Amanda, he will try to get through to Dex by finding the slightest transgression to cut Dex out of the pipeline deal.

Second, Blake convinces Sammy Jo not to leave Denver.  Sammy Jo just wants a fresh start back in New York since she has caused so much trouble in Denver.  Blake, even though he is not thrilled with Sammy Jo, does not want her to leave since that means it will be leaving Danny, Krystle, and the people that love her.  After a good cry, Sammy Jo agrees to stay.  Wow, Blake has turned into some great fountain of wisdom in these totally gratuitous scenes.

Speaking of gratuitous scenes, Bart and Steven are still trying to hammer out a compromise regarding the pipeline but the negotiations are getting no where, even though Bart has taken off his bow tie and unbuttoned his shirt.  The two not only speak of the pipeline, but of Bart's attempts to come out.  Steven is willing to help (whatever that means) but Bart has to be doing it for himself.  While grabbing some files for Bart, Steven comes upon a photo of Luke (why is it sitting in a drawer) and explains to Bart what happened to Luke since the massacre at the wedding apparently did not make the news.  

Bart finds the touching discussion of Luke as the perfect time to make a horribly awkward pass at Steven.  I mean, I guess it was some sort of pass.  Either way, it ended in a hug for the two which back then is as gay at things can get.  Later, Bart pays Steven a visit in more casual clothes and tells him about how he almost got married.  Big deal, Steven has already been married twice.  Instead of getting married, Bart ended up having a romance with a college roommate while in Europe.  It always happens that way - they get you in college.  

Steven will be supportive and will respect Bart's time table on coming out.  Too bad for Bart, Adam is not as respectful.  Adam's private investigator learned about Bart's affair with his roommate and can verify it.  I kind of would like to know how he will do that.  No matter, Adam has the ammunition he needs to get that pipeline deal done.

Jackie loves it when Dominique tells her "fake" stories about Jackie's father.  Dominique has no time for these stories.  Meanwhile, it has taken Garrett some time but he has done the math and figured out that Jackie was probably conceived while the he and Dominique were together.  Dominique refuses to admit what we all know - that Jackie is Garrett's father.  Just come clean, Dominique, even though Jackie is not going to be happy being lied to all these years.

Caress has lied to Alexis and told her that she has returned to Europe.  Instead, Caress pays Blake a visit to get his side of the story regarding Alexis's testimony at the Ted Dinard trial and to convince Blake to call her Caress and not Cassie.  Old habits are hard to break.  Even though Caress and Blake have a common enemy in Alexis, Blake is not going help Caress in her endeavor.  If Blake has something to say about Alexis, he will say it to her face.  How noble!

During that discussion, Caress mentioned Ben, which got Blake thinking about his mother and what had happened with Ben.  Krystle wants Blake to tell her what had happened, but it is too painful for Blake to do so.  He may have to discuss this as Alexis made her way to the Outback and tracked down Ben.  

Of course Alexis always travels in comfort and tries to convince Ben over an elegant meal that he should come back to Denver and help her destroy Blake.  Why would Ben want to do this?  Alexis assures him that he should do it to get a share of Tom's estate - an estate that was split among Alexis, Blake and Dominique.  How can Ben get a share since Tom cut him out of the will?  Alexis assures him that she will help Ben fight for his rightful share.  (FYI, Ben has no legal claim and the will has already been probated).  Ben asks Alexis for a night to think it over, but Ben already made his decision since he was well aware of what Tom Carrington had done even though he played dumb for Alexis.

Alexis and Ben celebrate their endeavor in the Penthouse and are interrupted by Caress.  Alexis had believed that Caress had gone to Europe.  Oh no, Caress is staying in Denver and to make it better she will be staying at Alexis's penthouse.  Alexis wants none of that and commands Caress to leave.  Caress refuses to leave and brings up her time in prison as her justification.  Life in the penthouse, now with Caress and Ben staying there, has just got more interesting.  Alexis assures her darling sister that she has always won against her and this time will be no different.  Can't wait to see.

Memorable Dialogue

Alexis [to operator]:  Get me Ben Carrington in Yalalula, Australia. . . No, I don't know how to spell it, just get it.

Steven [to Bart]:  It's a lot easier to come out of the closet than it is to get back in.

Blake:  She's [Alexis] in for a big surprise.  By the time I get finished with her, she'll wish she never heard the name Carrington.

Alexis:  Don't tell me that you are representing Denver Carrington, or are you here as Blake's former stenographer to take little notes, make yourself seem useful.

Alexis:  You stupid bitch, look what you have done to this outfit.
Krystle:  I've never seen you looking better.  And, by the way, Blake's mine and you're never going to have him.
Alexis:  I don't want him.  You can keep him!

Alexis:  Cassie
Caress:  Uh uh, Caress, remember?
Alexis:  Well, whatever it is you're calling yourself these days.  What are you doing here, I thought you were going back to Europe.
Caress:  No, my darling, I've decided to stay in Denver
Alexis;  Oh, where are you going to live
Caress:  Why here, Alexis, with my sister.  I've moved in.  I'm home.

Caress:  Oh, Australia, I've always longed to go.
Alexis:  Maybe you should
Caress:  Some day, Alexis, some day.

Alexis:  I don't owe you a place to stay, Cassie.
Caress:  Oh, of course you don't, darling.  You gave me a place to stay for five ugly years. Well, I'm going to be here for a lot longer than that.  You do owe me, Alexis, and you know it.
Alexis:  All I know is that I always deal with my enemies, ex-husbands, sisters, you name it and ever since we were children Cassie darling, I always won.  Always!

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