Dynasty Episode 139 - The Trial (Part 1)

Alexis is in special form this episode - she has two characters "threaten" her life and ends up perjuring herself on the stand.  That's correct - this episode begins the farce which is Ben's attempt to get a share of Tom Carrington's Estate.  Despite the legal inaccuracies, the trial does give the viewers the opportunity to see plenty of gratuitous drama - just what is needed.

Why is this probate hearing a farce?  First of all, the estate has already been probated, so Ben is bringing his case too late.  Further, let's pretend that Tom's will which excluded Ben was drafted with Blake's undue influence, that means a previous will would be the one the courts would probate and that will would exclude Dominique.  If there was no previous will, then the estate would be split among Blake, Ben and Dominique and that would exclude Alexis.  Under both scenarios, Ben would be entitled to a third, not a quarter.  But, as noted, this is for drama purposes, not legal accuracy (why else call Claudia and Steven to the stand).

Before we get to the trial, let's cover a few other issues.  Jackie finally gets a copy of her birth certificate and confronts her mother as to why she listed the father an unknown.  Dominique has no time to explain as she needs to testify.  Dominique does try to find Jackie later to explain but only meets up with Alexis at La Mirage which ends with Dominique quasi-threatening to kill Alexis.

Caress is excited because she has turned over the last chapter of Sister Dearest and is expecting a big windfall.  But Caress's celebration is short lived as Alexis arrives and informs her inebriated sister that Sister Dearest will never be published because she owns the rights to the book and she will never allow it to see the light of day.  This allows Caress to quasi-threaten to kill Alexis.  Alexis tells her sister to call her to make good on that threat when she is able to get back on her feet.

Finally, we have Dex who is still lonely without Alexis.  There is a flashback scene of he and Alexis.  Afterward, Dex goes to some bar (I think the same one where Alexis sang) to fire a Mr. Hawkins, the foreman on the pipeline project who has been cheating the company.  Why is this important?  Mr. Hawkins does not seem to be happy about being fired and you know he is dying to hit Dex.  He finally has his opportunity when Dex buys a drink for a very attractive blonde female employee.  Predictably, Dex wins the fight.  Even more predictably, the lovely blonde offers to take care of Dex's wounds.  Not predictably, Dex turns down the invitation.

Let's get to the trial.  The first one to the stand is Dominique, who looks uber Grace Jones fierce in her outfit.  Dominque testifies that Tom had disowned Ben because he killed his mother.  How did this happen?  It seems Ellen Carrington had broken her leg and Tom Carrington was away on business so he told his two sons to care for Ellen.  Apparently, they could not afford a nurse to do this.  Anyway, there was an issue in one of the oil fields and Blake went to take care of that.  Ben was left behind to care for Ellen, except Ben did not stay with his mother.  Instead, Ben went into town to drink and sleep with some woman.  While Ben was away, there was a fire and Ellen could not escape and perished in the fire.  Ellen would have survived if Ben had been there.  

Ben's attorney, a perfect caricature of the aggressive trial attorney claims that Dominique's story is just triple hearsay and that she only met her father on the day he died and managed to get into the will.  Next up is Claudia.  Now what could Claudia possibly add?  Oh yeah, we are going to hear about that damn oil well, which is about what Claudia testifies.  Claudia testifies that Blake is a kind man as long as you live by his rules and then you will be cut out and Claudia was cut out for marrying Adam.  Even though the testimony is not damaging or relevant at all, Krystle still feels the need to confront Claudia afterward and accuse her of just being greedy.

Steven is also called to the stand.  How many times will Steven be forced to testify against his father?  And we all know what Steven is going to be forced to testify about - the Ted Dinard murder and Blake's custody battle.  Steven feels horrible for making Blake look bad on the stand, but Blake understands and supports his son.  What a pillar of goodness.

Ben obviously testifies and agrees with the general details of Ellen's death with one exception.  It was Blake who was in town drinking and whoring around while Ben was out on the oil field.  Blake lied to Tom and said it was Ben and Tom believed Blake.  Of course, Blake cannot accept hearing such lies without outbursts.  This is Blake's third trial, when is he going to learn that he cannot engage in such outbursts?  But, Ben also has another individual testify that Ben was the one out in the field the day of the fire that killed Ellen.  Blake wonders how much Ben paid that man to testify as such.

Blake is ready to testify and set the record straight.  He testifies that Ben was the one drinking and whoring around when Ellen died.  That is why Tom had cut Ben out of the will.  Further, Blake could not exert any undue influence on Tom because he was estranged himself from Tom.  I guess Blake does a decent job rehabilitating his credibility.  But, Alexis will see to it that Blake will not win.

Alexis is called in Ben's rebuttal and Alexis testifies that she knows that Blake was the one drinking and whoring around the night of Ellen's death because she was the one Blake was having sex with that night.  Really?  Why did Alexis keep this to herself all these years?  It seems that Alexis is nothing more than a meek, naive woman who kept the secret for Blake because he promised to marry her if she did.  Alexis was manipulated but now she is telling the truth.  Sure she is, sure she is.  The judge tells the courtroom that he will be rendering a judgment soon as Alexis walks off triumphant, again. (For now!)

Memorable Dialgoue

Caress:  Alexis has always been public property - just ask her husbands.

Dominique:  Why, you dirty little. . .
Alexis:  Don't choke on words, spit it out, or has the former nightclub queen become too much of a lady these days.  Whichever.  All I know is there are only two kinds of wonders in this world - gutless and my gut.

Alexis:  I've come to ask you for your autograph.  Congratulations, Sister Dearest is a wonderful piece of fiction.
Caress:  You mean you've read it.
Alexis:  Well of course I read it.  It doesn't take very long.  It's like a comic book without the pictures.

Caress:  I'll see you dead for this, Alexis.
Alexis:  If you're going to threaten me, I suggest you call me when you can stand on your own two feet.  You've got my number and I certainly got yours.

Previous Episode - The Subpoenas
Next Episode - The Trial (Part 2)