dynasty Episode 62 - The Note 

Jeff has the unfortunate honor to tell Kirby that her father is dead as a result of suicide.  Obviously, Kirby does not take it well.  The entire house is shattered by Joseph's death.  Even Steven returns to the mansion to express his condolences.  

Joseph's note to Blake was very short but it pretty much says he tried to kill Alexis to stop her from ruining another life and since he failed in that, he took his own life to quench her thirst for revenge.  Blake demands to know to what Joseph was referring.  Alexis tells Blake that she never had any intention of telling Kirby about her mother - who appears to be some sort of nympho.  Blake is angered and vows that he will finish the job Joseph started if Alexis ever attempts to tell Kirby.  Alexis has no time for Blake's sanctimony.

Alexis still fears for her life though.  She has the bright idea to hire Mark as her body guard.  Mark, as expected, refuses the position.  While she is at La Mirage, Alexis tries to get information about Joseph's memorial service from Fallon.  Fallon is under strict orders not to tell Alexis.  I guess there will be no opportunity for Alexis to attend and to gloat over the death of the man who tried to kill her.   

Now that we learned that Joseph is the one who set the cabin on fire and he has been killed off, we can begin with the Season 4 story lines in earnest.  Let's start with Adam, who plans on returning to Billings now that he feels completely isolated from every member of the family.  Fallon does not seem too upset that he leaving, and why should she since she does not trust him.  Adam lied to her about Dr. Jonas and the big case involving mercuric oxide.  Adam has no real answer other than he liked Fallon before he found out who she truly was.  Well, you know who she is, a former Nancy Drew.  Fallon takes it upon herself to contact Billings to find a large manufacturer of mercuric oxide.

Kirby is a wreck after her father's death.  Blake tells her that Joseph tried to kill Alexis in order to protect Blake and stop the merger between Colby Co and Denver Carrington.  That seems plausible enough.  But, Kirby feels even worse.  She sees this as punishment for trying to abort her child.  She desperately needs to tell someone, and tells Krystle, since Krystle really has nothing else going on for her, other than Mark still trying to bark up that tree.  

Krystle seems un-phased by the fact that Kirby tried to abort her child by purposely getting into that riding accident.  But, it gets better, Krystle.  Kirby tells her again that Jeff is not the father of the child, but that Adam is.  Kirby even says that Adam raped her.  For some strange reason, Krystle ignores the rape aspect and tells Kirby she needs to be strong and to tell Jeff the truth about the paternity of the child before he figures it out on his own.  Yeah, that is good advice but what about the rape part.  Seriously, Krystle, you need to get your priorities straight here. 

The main story line at this point involves the relationship between Blake and Steven.  Everyone wants the two to reconcile.  Yeah, we have been down this road so many times before.  During a crazy bachelor's night game of parcheesi, Chris tells Steven, as a friend, that he needs to reconcile with his father.  Also, Sammy Jo does not seem thrilled that Chris is living in the apartment with her son.  Steven is his own man, has custody and will do as he pleases.

And what Steven pleases to do is Claudia.  What?!?  Am I missing something here.  Steven goes to the sanatorium to pick up Claudia on the day of her release. (Totally love it that Claudia is back) Can we all guess where Claudia is staying?  La Mirage - which is apparently the only hotel in the Denver area.  Maybe the car ride from the sanatorium made Steven horny or he caught some sort of crazy disease while visiting Claudia, but once Steven brings Claudia to her place, he wants to make love to her.  I think Steven really is not getting the hang of this gay thing. 

Claudia, for her part, cannot be entirely cured if she is going to make love to a gay man, again.  Learn from your mistakes, Claudia.  At least Claudia does have a moment of clarity and tells Steven to make peace with Blake for the sake of Danny. 

On the other side, Fallon really wants her father to reconcile with Steven.  Blake just cannot see how that is possible since they live in two different worlds.  This is also not helping Blake to show Krystle that he is a changed man.  He is doing a decent job by admitting that he was wrong about Mark.  Krystle has not weighed into the Danny-saga, yet, but you know it is coming.

And, as any wealth business owner will tell you, the most trusted individual in your life (now that your majordomo has killed himself) is your lawyer.  Andrew is not happy about Blake's idea of suing Steven for custody of Danny.  It will just destroy the family.  Why not try and reconcile?  Blake is weary but does give it one more try.  

Of course, Blake summons Steven to the study where the two have had such a great history.  They really should try meeting in a different place (not Steven's apartment though, that usually is a problem also).  Well, we all know what is going to happen.  When Blake mentions Andrew, Steven figures out that Blake is contemplating suing for custody.  Blake says there are other ways to work this out - such as have Steven and Danny move back into the mansion (and Chris can do what he wants).  Or, even better, Steven can just give Blake Danny who will be raised by Krystle when she finally decides to return.   

Steven is not going to have any of this and most definitely will not allow his father to use his child to get Krystle back.  Finally, the two get into a physical altercation, which really is tussling.  No one throws a punch.  Wusses!  In the end, Blake vows this is not over and that he will sue for custody of his grandson.  Looks like we are going back to court - this is always fun!   And, you would think Blake would want to stay away from court rooms.

Memorable Dialogue 

Alexis [talking to Blake and referring to Joseph]:  Well, now that he's gone with his ridiculous accusations, would you like some champagne? 

 Alexis:  How noble of you, Blake, to lie.  Do I applaud now; shout Bravo! or just remain terribly impressed.  Well, I'm not impressed.  Many things suit you Blake but being sanctimonious isn't one of them.

Steven:  I haven't touched a woman since Sammy Jo.
Claudia:  And I haven't touched a man who mattered since you. 

Andrew:  A grandfather challenging his son's rights to raise his own child?
Blake:  Now that is not entirely accurate.  It's a grandfather challenging his gay son's right to raise that child in an unwholesome and unnatural environment. 

Blake:  We can work it out, there are always ways.
Steven:  There are always two was, both of them Blake Carrington's. 

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