He opened his eyes before rubbing them briefly, surprised at the tableau before him. The bedroom was spacious and nicely furnished, he noted. Off to one side was a small dressing room which looked like it led to the bathroom, not unlike his and Sue Ellen's bedroom at Southfork. She emerged and he caught his breath at her appearance, failing to appreciate once more that she had no concept of his or his companion's presence.

"She's forty- one years old now, JR" the woman told him, beckoning him to take a seat with her on the bed. He watched intently as Sue Ellen sat at her dressing table and made her final preparations. She looked older than when he had last seen her, her face etched with the fine lines that begin to appear in middle age, and she was noticeably thinner, too thin he thought to himself.

As she stared in the mirror applying her mascara carefully, there was something about her demeanour that troubled him. "Is she alright?" he asked. "You watch and decide" the woman answered cryptically, but JR knew.

Sue Ellen sighed as she applied loose powder to her face to fix her make-up. She began brushing her hair but was distracted by the sound of the door handle. "Good evening" she greeted him although there was a weary tone to her voice. "Good evening, Sue Ellen. I see that you're ready. That's good" Clint responded, placing his briefcase on the floor. "I must hurry now. There was a slight emergency this afternoon but it's resolved."

She turned back to the mirror without replying and waited for him to retreat to the bathroom before sighing despondently. As she opened her jewellery box, her hands trembled slightly, imperceptibly to anyone who didn't know her, but not JR. Before he could speak, she opened the bottom left-hand drawer of the dressing table and took out a bottle. "She's drinking! I knew it!" JR exclaimed as Sue Ellen twisted the cap and took a heavy swig before stashing the bottle back quickly to avoid detection.

She stood and walked over to the full-length mirror to check how she looked. JR stared at her as she assessed her appearance from various different angles. Reading his thoughts, the mysterious woman made to speak. "Clint has done well for himself over the years, JR. He is now the owner of a small but niche company supplying engineering services to the oil industry. He's worked hard, at everything, just not his marriage…"

JR shook his head. "What kind of life does she have with him?" he asked anxiously. "Look at her? Her cocktail dress is expensive, as are her matching shoes, and she has a nice collection of jewellery, usually bought last minute when her husband has overlooked a birthday or anniversary or feels guilty. They have a housekeeper now, so she doesn't have any chores to do. Her life revolves around her children but her son went away to college last term and her daughter is also planning her future away from her parents" the woman responded.

"She doesn't seem happy though?" JR enquired worriedly. "Watch" his companion replied brusquely, pointing at Clint who was emerging from the dressing room, trying to fasten his cufflinks, an expression of obvious irritation etched on his face. "Damn things!" he remarked as he approached her. "Sue Ellen, will you?" She flinched slightly at his raised voice before walking over to help. As she began to help him, JR noticed that she was keeping her husband at almost arm's length.

"Now, you're going to behave yourself tonight, aren't you, Sue Ellen?" Clint asked sternly as she turned her attention from one sleeve to the other. "Yes, of course, Clint" she responded meekly, backing away from him as soon as her task was done. "I mean it" he responded, moving closer to her before grasping her by the wrist. "Hold on a minute!" JR shouted, outraged, whilst jumping to his feet. "Clint, please, I promise" she pleaded with him. She pulled her arm away before rubbing the reddened imprint his hand had made on her bare skin.

"This isn't right" JR protested. "Has he been violent to her at other times?" The woman nodded. "He's never injured her badly but, yes, their arguments have become physical. He's slapped her face and pushed her around and, in the past, he'd think nothing of forcing himself on her if the urge took him. But the physical side of things between them disintegrated several years ago when he became consumed with making a success of his company. However, that's not really much different to your marriage to her, is it?"

JR lowered his head, ashamed. "I have loved her and we have been happy. I just don't know why it all went wrong?" "Oh, I think you do, JR" the woman replied, her eyes boring into his, making him feel wretched. "Where are they going?" he asked. "To the company Christmas Eve party" she told him. "But we aren't going. You don't need to see what happens there. It's the aftermath that counts. Close your eyes."

Eager, but, at the same time, frightened of what he would see next he obeyed the woman, shutting his eyes tightly for several seconds before opening them once more. He looked around, attempting to orient himself. They were now in the hallway of the house facing the front door. Hearing the key turning in the lock, he stepped back instinctively.

"Don't start, please Clint. The children will be back shortly" Sue Ellen begged as she stepped over the threshold followed quickly by her husband. Grabbing her by the arm, Clint swung her around to face him. "It's deliberate isn't it?" he shouted. "You dancing and flirting with men who work for me, who are my employees, and you, old enough to be their mother! You should be ashamed of yourself!"

She shook her head and attempted to push him away. "It's not worth arguing with you when you're like this. I've done nothing wrong. I was, as you demanded, the perfect hostess. All I was trying to do was to ensure that everyone enjoyed themselves. Unlike you! You had a face like thunder the entire time. What's wrong with you?" As she tried to break free, he pushed her against the wall, causing her to strike her head hard." "You made me do that" he told her, watching without remorse as she winced in pain, a drop of blood trickling slowly down her temple.

She took hold of the bannister and began to climb the stairs wearily. "Happy Christmas, Clint" she told him sarcastically. "I need a drink" he told her. "Don't bother waiting up."

Sickened by what he had seen, JR turned to the woman. "I want to go home" he demanded. "I've had enough." "Oh no, JR, you need to see how all this ends" she answered determinedly.

Tbc