'Tuscan Skies' picks up where 'Reunion' left off.
Tuscan Skies
Part 1
J.R. and Sue Ellen went for a walk around the ranch before their evening meal with the rest of the family. Sue Ellen told J.R. that she had arranged to interview a prospective fabric buyer to replace her current buyer, who was insubordinate. She was fed up with his arrogance, and his refusal to involve her in any decisions he made. She owned the company, she had every right to retain personnel, or dismiss whomever she deemed necessary. J.R. said, "I'm proud of you, Sue Ellen. I'm amazed at how savvy a businesswoman you've become." Sue Ellen said, "You didn't realize that I paid attention to you when you and Bobby would talk about business, when we were married, did you?" J.R. laughed and reached for her hand. Sue Ellen smiled at him. She asked, "How are things going on your rig in the Gulf?" J.R. said, "You don't really want to talk about business, do you?" She said, "I don't mind. I've always been fascinated with the oil industry." J.R. looked at her. He was surprised. Sue Ellen had never displayed any interest in the oil business before. He stopped walking, and asked, "Are you serious?" She said, "Of course. I'm serious. I want to hear all about it." J.R. was amazed. She had changed so much since her return from London. He liked the changes he saw in her. He said, "I'd rather talk about us, if that's all right?" She winked at him and said, "I was hoping you say that." J.R. said, "I called the travel agency. We've got first class, round trip tickets from Dallas to Cincinnati. We'll have a connecting flight in London, then we fly into Zurich, and finally Florence, Italy." Sue Ellen looked him directly in the eye, and asked, "Are you sure about taking our honeymoon in Tuscany?" He pulled her into his arms and said, "Sue Ellen, I've never been more sure about anything. I want this to be a wedding, and a honeymoon we'll never forget. I want it to be everything you've ever wanted, and more." Sue Ellen kissed him, and asked, "What about you? What do you want?" J.R. leaned over and whispered, "I want to make love to you for hours on end, under a sky full of stars, on a balcony in an old Italian villa, where no one can hear us." Sue Ellen leaned her head back, as J.R. kissed her neck.
Sue Ellen adjusted J.R.'s collar, before they went downstairs for dinner. J.R. put his arms around her waist and said, "I love you, Sugar." Sue Ellen looked into his eyes, and said, "I love you, too." J.R. grinned and said, "You look beautiful tonight, Darlin'." Sue Ellen said, "Thank you, J.R." He held out his arm for her to put her arm around, as they walked downstairs to meet the rest of the family. They enjoyed a delicious meal, and went into the parlor for after-dinner drinks. J.R. handed Sue Ellen a club soda, and he poured himself a glass of bourbon. J.R. stood next to the chair Sue Ellen was seated in. He placed his hand on her shoulder, rubbing his thumb back and forth against the fabric of her dress. Sue Ellen wanted to tell everyone about the plans J.R. had made for their honeymoon, but she decided to let J.R. tell them, if he wanted them to know. She simply smiled a secret smile, while she engaged in various conversations with family members. Clayton said that he had heard about an offshore rig that hit the largest gusher Texas had seen in years. J.R. said, "Is that a fact? Bob, that wouldn't be a rig from Ewing Oil, would it?" Bobby said, "No, J.R., we don't have any offshore tracks. Clayton, do you know who owns that rig?" Clayton replied, "I can't remember the name of the company. The news report said that it belonged to an independent company, whose owner had yet to be identified." Bobby shrugged his shoulders. Sue Ellen knowingly reached for J.R.'s hand on her shoulder, she lightly tapped his fingers. J.R. gently rubbed her shoulder with his thumb. He understood what Sue Ellen's gesture meant. J.R. said, "I hate to eat and run, but Sue Ellen and I have to be in Harv Smithfield's office before eight in the morning, so we'll see y'all tomorrow." Sue Ellen hugged and kissed John Ross, reminding him not to stay up too late. John Ross promised that he would be in bed no later than eleven.
J.R. closed and locked their bedroom door. He grinned at Sue Ellen. She looked at him and smiled. She said, "Clayton was talking about your company, wasn't he?" J.R. said, "Yes, I believe he was, but there was no way in hell that I would let him, or Bobby know that." Sue Ellen asked J.R. if he would lower the zipper on her gown. J.R. walked over to where she stood and lifted his hands to the zipper, Sue Ellen lifted her hair up off of her neck to allow J.R. better access to the zipper. J.R. took the opportunity to kiss the side of her neck. Sue Ellen leaned her head into his kiss. J.R. lowered the zipper and pushed the sleeves of the gown over her shoulders. Sue Ellen turned around as the gown fell to the floor. J.R. pulled her closer to him, and kissed her. Sue Ellen moaned as he deepened his kiss. J.R led her over to the bed, and reached for the strap of her slip. Sue Ellen kissed him, while she quickly removed his tie. She tore at the buttons on his shirt, as their need for each other escalated. J.R. had a wild look in his eyes, as he ravaged her mouth with his kisses. Sue Ellen pulled him on top of her, matching his desire with her own. They abandoned any inhibitions they may have had and savored the feel of skin on skin. J.R. groaned as Sue Ellen's fingernails, once again raked the skin on his back. J.R. had never known Sue Ellen to behave so savagely in bed. Then, again, he thought, this was a whole new Sue Ellen, and he was immensely attracted to her. He called out her name, as she met his urgency with a profound need to fulfill her desires, and his. Her breathing was ragged as she continued tantalizing him. J.R. had a difficult time catching his breath. He finally said, "Oh my God, Sugar. That was spectacular." Sue Ellen provocatively licked her lips, and smiled at him. Her dazzling, half-closed eyes told him everything he needed to know.
Harv Smithfield was waiting in his office when J.R. and Sue Ellen arrived for their taped trial depositions. Sue Ellen was nervous, and held tightly to J.R.'s hand. J.R. had told her that there was nothing to be nervous about. Miranda was the one on trial, not Sue Ellen. Hopefully, the testimony she and J.R. would submit should put Miranda Barrington away for a very long time. Harv instructed J.R. and Sue Ellen to be honest and frank, with regard to any questions the prosecution, and defense might ask. The prosecution called Sue Ellen Ewing Lockwood as their first witness. The prosecuting attorney introduced himself as Francis Findlayson, III. He asked Sue Ellen how she came to know that her ex-husband, Donald Jennings Lockwood was admitted to Bethlehem Royal Hospital for what was initially described as an attempted suicide. Sue Ellen cleared her throat and said, "Miranda Barrington called the Southfork Ranch in Braddock, Texas. She asked to speak with me. When I answered the telephone, Miranda identified who she was, and said that her reason for calling me was that Don had tried to kill himself. The prosecuting attorney asked Sue Ellen what method Don used in his suicide 'attempt.' Sue Ellen said, "Miranda Barrington informed me that Don had taken an overdose of sleeping pills." The prosecuting attorney asked Sue Ellen if she was aware that Don required sleeping pills. Sue Ellen said, "To my knowledge, Don never required taking any prescription medications." The Barrister asked Sue Ellen how well she knew the victim, Donald Jennings Lockwood. Sue Ellen said, "Don and I were married for six years." The Barrister released Sue Ellen from any questions that he had for the time being. The defense attorney, Liam Knowlton, asked Sue Ellen how well she knew the defendant, Miranda Barrington. Sue Ellen said, "I met Miranda shortly after Don and I returned from our honeymoon. Miranda openly expressed disdain for me from the moment we were introduced." The defense attorney asked Sue Ellen when she last visited London. Sue Ellen said, "I arrived in London the morning after I received the telephone call from Miranda." The defense released Sue Ellen from any further questions for the moment. Harv Smithfield pressed the mute button on the three-way speaker phone.
The prosecuting attorney asked Sue Ellen how soon after Don's attempted suicide, she had been contacted by Miranda. Sue Ellen replied, "Miranda told me that Don had been admitted to The Bethlehem Royal Hospital the evening before her telephone call. Then, she said something that puzzled me." The defense attorney objected, on the grounds of speculation, and conjecture. The presiding barrister overruled. The prosecuting attorney encouraged Sue Ellen to continue. She said, "Miranda told me that she had been trying to reach me for days, before Don's suicide attempt." The prosecuting attorney asked Sue Ellen if she knew who the sleeping pills belonged to. Sue Ellen said, "According to the emergency Room physician, and the police officer at the scene, the sleeping pills had been prescribed exclusively for Miranda Barrington. The prosecuting attorney thanked Sue Ellen, and stated that he had no further questions for her. The attorney for the defense pushed his chair away from the table, and covered his face with his hands. J.R sat in a chair, next to the table where Sue Ellen was seated. He wore a self-assured grin. He was convinced that the testimony Sue Ellen relayed to both attorneys would be Miranda's undoing. The presiding barrister requested a private conference with Harv Smithfield. Harv asked J.R. and Sue Ellen to wait for him in his outer office. Sue Ellen breathed a sigh of relief as she arose from her chair and walked out of the office with J.R. Harv Smithfield closed the door behind them as J.R. and Sue Ellen left his office.
J.R. said, "Sue Ellen, I believe your testimony will put that bitch Miranda behind bars for a very long time. Prison, or a nuthatch, which is where she really belongs." Sue Ellen wore a somber expression. She momentarily thought about Don, and how isolated he must have felt when he had heard her testimony. She remembered how alone she felt when she found out that her sister Kristin tried to frame her for shooting J.R. J.R. said, "Sugar, I don't want you to feel guilty, or responsible for anything that happens from this point forward. Don is a grown man. He's just gonna have to learn to deal with whatever sentence the judge and jury decide for Miranda." Sue Ellen said, "I know, J.R. You're absolutely right, it's just..." He interrupted and said, "Just nothing, Sue Ellen. Like I said before, you weren't the lunatic who tried to kill Don." Sue Ellen started to say that he was right, when Harv asked them back into his office. Harv asked them both to sit down. Sue Ellen began to worry. J.R. asked, "What in the hell is goin' on, Harv?" Harv told J.R. to calm down. He said, "The jury didn't have to deliberate at all. Sue Ellen's testimony was sufficient to have Miranda remanded to the Springfield Hospital in London. Sue Ellen asked, "What does that mean?" Harv said, "Miranda Barrington will serve out her entire twenty-five year sentence inside a private room in the hospital. She will undergo various emotional, and psychological tests for the duration of her sentence." J.R. grinned, and said, "That's the best news I've heard all day. "Sue Ellen was considerably more tactful, and asked," What happens to her brother, Don?" Harv said, "I would suspect that he will go about his daily routine as if no attempt on his life were ever made." Sue Ellen bit her bottom lip. J.R. reluctantly said, "Sue Ellen, Don is no longer your concern." Sue Ellen said, "I know, I just can't help feelin' sorry for him." Harv Smithfield told J.R. that he and Sue Ellen would have to sign some documents before they left, but they were free to go. J.R. thanked Harv. Sue Ellen forced a smile and hugged Harv. She said, "Thank you, and if I can be of any further assistance, please, let me know."
J.R. opened the passenger door for Sue Ellen. He walked around the car to the driver's side, and sat down. He held Sue Ellen's hand and said, "Sugar, I know this is difficult for you to hear, but Miranda Barrington is out of our hair for good. Given her advanced age, she'll probably die in that hospital, long before her sentence is up. As far as Don is concerned, he is part of your past. I don't think he'll be giving us any more trouble." Sue Ellen said, "I hope you're right." J.R. smiled to himself, as he merged with the traffic, and headed back to Southfork. The private investigator J.R. had hired to dig up some dirt on Don was in London, and already hard at work. J.R. had instructed him to find a skeleton in Don's past, or make damn sure he puts one there...
