John Ross and Pamela, Season 2, Episode 6 - The Ordeal

The Trial of Dr. Stanley Macnamara under Judge Arlen Vickers was a media circus. He'd refused to allow camera's in the courtroom and as a result, the courtroom had a body squeezed into every seat. Reporters, artists, every rag in Dallas was covering the story. It had everything, tragedy, smut, a villain and a rich beautiful princess.

The first witness for the prosecution was the husband himself, explaining that he had given his wife over to the care of Dr. Macnamara after she had tragically tried to take her own life.

"Mr. Ewing, do you know why your wife tried to commit suicide?" The defense cross examined.

"Yes." John Ross's eyes were a steely blue.

"Well, what was it?"

"It was because of me."

"And what had you done?"

"I cheated on her." John Ross was visibly ashamed.

A perceptible hum was heard in the room. "Were you present during her suicide attempt?"

"Yes."

"Was anybody else present."

"Yes."

"And who was that?"

The prosecution objected. "Your honor, we don't see any relevance to this line of questioning. After all it is not Mr. Ewing who is on trial here."

"Sustained," the judge said.

The second witness was a Dr. Gina Emanuele, native of New York City, but practicing in the Islands of St. Kitts and Nevis. Her testimony, long and gruesomely detailed, was an unimpeachable catalogue of the crime. The defense had no cross examination except to ask, "Dr., was Mrs. Ewing under hypnosis the entire time this was being aired?"

"She was."

"Did you discuss it with her afterwards?"

"Yes, extensively."

The prosecution cross-examined. "What were some of these discussions about?"

"Well, about the tests that had to be done, for STD's and pregnancy."

"How did the victim react?"

"She was traumatized, extremely so."

"Any reason in particular?"

"Yes, the pregnancy test was positive and further tests had to be done to determine paternity. At that point Mrs. Ewing became aware of the fact that she had suffered the loss of two children, twins, in a previous marriage. Something she had already come thru. So it is a stretch why the doctor had decided to box up this particular memory. In any case, when Mrs. Ewing received those memories on top of the knowledge that she had been raped and was now pregnant, the trauma was severe, and she had to be hospitalized."

There were so many "Oh's" and "Tsk, tsk's" at this point anyone watching would have said the verdict was a foregone conclusion. How could the defense produce any counter argument?"

At this point the judge called for a break in the proceedings until the following morning.

John Ross and Pamela had to wade thru a press of reporters on the way out of the courthouse. Mercifully, Bobby had a Southfork vehicle waiting for them and drove them home. He was going to pick up Ann, who had stayed with the babies.

As they pulled up the street they saw it; a large contingent of reporters cluttering the front lawn, on the driveway, and blocking the way to the front door.

John Ross and Pamela both had been absolutely quiet on the drive home. Now Pamela whimpered, "Oh my God."

John Rosses protective instincts were immediately aroused. He jumped out of the car and said, "All you all, OFF my property!"

Bobby came around quickly and said, "Take Pamela inside. Let me deal with this." He walked down the driveway saying, "Come with me if you want a statement."

The cameramen and photographers weren't stupid, they stayed to catch some footage of the woman being almost carried inside by her husband.

John Ross shut the door and all they could hear was John Robert in a full tantrum for his mother. Ross Junior, in a strange departure from his usual, was crying too.

"I'm so sorry," Ann said. "They just both woke up all at once."

"You don't have to apologize. I know how it is." Pamela said, kicking off her heels and taking John Robert off to the nursery. "John Ross, bring him. I'll see if I can nurse them both at the same time. If not we'll need a bottle."

"I'll be right there, darling. I think I can get him to let me change him."

"No!" Pamela stamped her foot. "I can't bear to hear him cry."

"Okay, okay. You're the mom."

When they came out of the room, forty five minutes later, they had their house to themselves.

"Poor Ann," Pamela said, "I didn't even get to thank her before she left."

"She knows, darling. Let me get you some food. You must be ravenous. Look at that. There's some chili in here. Ann thinks of everything."

"God bless that woman."

They didn't talk about the trial at all. They spent the evening on the thick rug on the floor with the babies.

After looking out the front window a few times John Ross said, "Tomorrow I think we should take the babies to Southfork. Ann can take care of them there. She'll have help and there'll be security. I never expected the press to move into my driveway."

He looked over at Pamela and saw that she was asleep on the rug. She had just passed out.

John Ross managed to get Ross Jr. into the crib without protest. He had just been nursed and was drowsy. He didn't know what he would do about John Robert. He mixed some formula and put it in a clean bottle. He sat in the rocker in the nursery and said, "Here, you like this. The milk comes out quicker."

He didn't allow himself to think about anything but holding his son. He was all his.

When he came back out she was curled up in a ball, a sleeping beauty. He scooped her up expertly, and put her in their bed.

Now he was alone. With his thoughts. No wonder Pamela was exhausted. He had watched her all day. Her back ramrod straight, her dignity unruffled. On the outside.

But on the inside he felt this could be tearing her to shreds. She wasn't talking. That was usually a prelude to something. He had once told her she had nine lives. That was when she had survived the explosion on the rig. But even if he had been telling the truth, someone must be keeping count. The attack by her "brother." The aneurism. The miscarriages. The suicide attempt. The beach. The near death during the birth. Surely, her nine lives were drying up. He couldn't think about it.

As for himself, he didn't want any mercy, or pity, or compassion. All this had been brought about thru his actions and he never forgot it. But it was a little bit hard to see the Ewing family name dragged thru the mud in such a public way. To confess his sins so they could be rubbed in the face of the person who had suffered them. He wanted to beg her forgiveness, but it was stuck with that perpetual lump in the back of his throat. Oh, Pammie. I didn't mean to hurt you. I wish I could take it back. He kissed her hand and then put it on her pillow.

John Ross came awake the next morning with a start. Pamela was gone. He rolled out of bed and found her in the nursery, nursing.

"These little guys let me sleep all night. Wasn't that sweet of them?"

"Yeah. Outstanding. Mr. Ross, have you had your breakfast? Oh, I see you have. You're kicking up a storm. Well why don't you come in the shower with me big guy. That's right." He leaned down to kiss Pamela and John Robert.

John Ross didn't let Pamela come outside until he'd loaded all the baby equipment and both babies in their car seats. When he brought her out the air was filled with the click-click sound of camera shutters.

The defense started the morning, as expected, calling on character witnesses for the defendant. The courtroom was bored.

But all ears perked up as the defense called John Ross Ewing back to the stand.

"What was the demeanor of Dr. Macnamara towards yourself?" the lawyer asked him.

"He was condescending, standoffish, obstructionistic." John Ross himself felt that was a mouthful of words. But he wanted to be precise.

"What obstructions did he put in your way?"

"He kept me away from the hospital for three months, saying that it was better if she didn't see me."

"Why would he say that?"

"Because she had tried to commit suicide because of me. Because I cheated on her." Why was he making him repeat himself?

"Who told the Doctor about your cheating on her?"

"I did. Every gruesome, hurtful detail."

"And it was after that that the Doctor asked you to stay away for a while. Did her forbid you to come?"

"No. But he put the fear of God in me."

"You didn't have the fear of God before this?"

Touché. Now he could see where the guy was going. "Don't twist my words. Of course I did. I felt awful about causing my wife, whom I love, to feel such despair that she would try to take her own life."

"So you resented the doctor for asking you to stay away. Did you stay away?

"Yes I did. I only—"

"Did you think then, at the time, that he was being unreasonable?"

"No. I—I just wanted her to get better. So I did what he said."

"Way to get the ball back in your court John Ross," Bobby whispered to Suelen.

"Your honor, the defense reserves the right to call the witness again, at a later time," the lawyer said.

"Witness is excused."

"At this time, your honor, the defense calls Miss Emma Ryland to the stand."

A clamor ensued and the judge struck his gavel, asking for order in the court. Pamela passed a note to the prosecutor.

The prosecutor spoke first, "Your honor, this witness's testimony is immaterial. She has no direct knowledge of the defendant or of the victim's relationship with the defendant."

"Counsel?" The judge inquired.

"This witnesses testimony goes to …character issues of the accuser, your honor."

"I will allow. But on very narrow grounds."

Emma made a big impression. She put on her most demure demeanor, as if she had been the party seduced.

"Miss Ryland, you have intimate knowledge of the event that led to Mrs. Ewing's ending in the hospital."

"Yes."

"Why do you have this knowledge?"

"Because I was there."

"In what capacity?"

"I was…John Ross and I were… we were having sex in the hotel and she bribed the house maid to let her in."

Pamela took one second to look at John Ross. His eyes were nearly shut. He seemed immersed in the horror of that moment. A moment she had no recollection of. She didn't know what was coming.

"Your honor, please," the prosecution pleaded.

"Counsel, I am cautioning you," the judge said.

"Miss Ryland, without embellishing any details of the…act…tell us what …ensued."

"She, Pamela, asked if she could join us."

Pamela was paralyzed. Oh my God!

The court was a-buzz.

"And did you?"

"Uh-hum." Emma nodded, eyes on the floor.

"And what happened…with regard to her alleged…what was the reason the paramedics were called in."

"She had taken some pills, before she came in."

"I see." The lawyer was done with Emma. The prosecution was left to salvage what they could of Pamela's character.

"Miss Ryland, were you known to the victim before this event took place?" he asked.

"Yes. We were best friends," Emma said, in all sincerity.

"Do you know what pills she had taken and how many?"

"No."

"So you can't say whether they were poisonous or recreational, is that correct?"

"Uh-hum."

"Can you speak up, Miss Ryland."

"Yes, that is correct."

"Your honor, we had previously, if you recall, entered into the record that the victim took a dose of 15,000mg of aceto salicylic acid, commonly known as aspirin, and which, to our knowledge has no recreational use. The intention to take her own life in the presence of the best friend and husband who had betrayed her are not in question."

At this point, Dr. Macnamara was quietly whispering to his lawyer and the result was that he said, "Your honor, if it please the court, we recall Dr. Gina Emanuele."

It was quickly done. "Dr. all that you have recounted of the incidents alleged, were these statements obtained under hypnosis?"

"Yes, they came out spontaneously under hypnosis."

"Has Mrs. Ewing recounted any of these events outside of the suggestive state?"

"No memories surfaced outside of hypnosis." Gina was clear.

"Does Mrs. Ewing, the conscious Mrs. Ewing, remember the alleged acts?"

"I cannot say to what extent Mrs. Ewing remembers the rapes."

"Well, does she or doesn't she?"

"The mind is complex, and so is memory."

"Isn't it true that she does NOT remember them?"

"Objection, your honor. Counsel is badgering the witness." The prosecutor said.

The defense reeled, "Your honor, with all due respect, what witness? If Mrs. Ewing doesn't remember the alleged offences against her, how can she be considered a witness? And if she's not a witness, then whatever others have heard her say is just that, hearsay."

A great hue and cry was raised among the court. The lawyer was already presenting closing arguments, it seemed. He had turned the whole case upside down.

Pamela felt herself being taken away by a drifting current. Her chance for justice, her future, they were drifting away. She saw a scenario where Dr. Macnamara would always be free, to stalk her, to come near her family, her children. A future where John Ross would be haunted and obsessed with getting revenge for the wrongs inflicted on her. A future with no peace.

"I'll do it," Pamela said.

"What? Mrs. Ewing, did you say something?" The lawyer fished, hoping the witness would destroy herself further.

Pamela rose, a sign of respect, and addressed the judge. "Your honor, if it please the court, I will submit to hypnosis here. Right now. So that I can remember and the court can hear it from my own lips."

The judge called the prosecution and defense up to confer with him. He also called Gina to opine on the safety of the procedure. But at the end of a heated hush-hush discussion Pamela, who had remained standing, raised her voice and said, "It's my life, it's my decision. I WANT to do this. I don't care about the risk to my sanity."

The prosecution only agreed on the condition that the testimony be taken as is, and that counsel would not be allowed to cross-examine the witness during the process of memory re-integration.

When Gina approached the stand she tried to convey to Pamela some confidence and assurance by her demeanor. After inducing the hypnotic state she went thru a few preliminaries and then asked, "Pamela, do you remember having sex with Dr. Macnamara?"

"Call me Pammie. Yes, I remember." She answered, in a sweet, willing voice.

"What did Dr. Macnamara say to you to convince you to do this?"

"He said, don't be afraid. This will go easier if you let yourself go. It's part of your treatment."

"He said it's part of your treatment," Gina repeated, for the benefit of the court. "How did you feel about that?"

"I believed him. It felt icky, but…I believed him. He said I would never get out of there if I didn't do it."

"And what happened then, Pammie?"

"I…I let him make love to me."

"Was it always in his office?"

"Yes."

"Was it every day?"

"No."

"How often did it happen?"

"I don't know."

"Was it more than once?"

"Yes."

"Was it three times?"

"More. Many, many times."

"When you left the hospital, Pamela. Did you continue to go back for appointments with the doctor?"

"Yes."

"How often?"

"Twice a week."

"Did he force you to have sex with him then?"

"Yes."

"Why did you do it, Pammie?"

"He said if I didn't he would have me committed again."

By this time every one of the jurors and every one in the court was ready to throw up. Not a word, not even a cough was heard. John Ross had a look of horror on his face, and the tears were welling up. Christopher had lowered his eyes, and only brought them up from time to time. Suelen had her arm in John Ross's and he was squeezing her hand so tight she thought he would break it. Until it went slack suddenly and she looked at him and saw a glint of sheer dementia in his eyes.

Gina now said, "I have just a little more Pamela that I want to ask you."

"I am going to wake you up now. I want you to try and stay very calm, remember you are strong, you've worked very hard for your sanity, for your peace of mind. Now, I want you to remember these things we've discussed when you wake up."

As Gina counted her back to a conscious state Pamela's shoulders sagged and her head slumped forward. When Gina called her again she lifted her head, looked long at the silent room with a straight face and said, in a tone lower than her normal voice, "What you all staring at? Haven't you ever seen an abused woman?"

At that precise moment, when a gasp released everyone's held breath, a silent, but very agile John Ross vaulted the barrier in front of him and bodily lifted the taller defendant out of his seat and started strangling him.

A volley of cries and screams broke out, the judge hit his gavel furiously, the guards broke it up and a recess was called in the trial. But the emotions of that aggression, gruesome as they were, were a release to the horrific tension of the trial.

This time there were two victims that had to be escorted out through the press of reporters and photographers on the courthouse steps. Pamela was flanked by her mother and Christopher and whisked into a waiting car. John Ross, when he was released by the guards, was escorted by his mother and his uncle, nearly incoherent, but still on his feet. Both parties headed for the protection of Southfork, to heal their wounds.

Pamela rejected all her mother's fussing, gruffly saying, "My boobs are hurting I'm so full. I want the boys." In her bedroom, with the two babies on the bed, she said to Ann. "Please, leave me alone with them. Don't let ANYONE in here. Not even John Ross. You'all can take care of him. I got enough on my hands with these two. Don't…let…anyone…in."

She was stripping her court clothes as she said this, and putting on comfort clothing. Ann nodded her head at her gruff instructions; it was a side of Pamela she hadn't seen before. She knew better than to open her mouth. This woman needed to ground herself, and her children were her cure.

When John Ross arrived at Southfork he asked one question, "Where is she?"

"John Ross," Ann said, "she…she asked not to be disturbed…by anyone…She's nursing the babies, and taking a nap." She felt sorry to deliver the news. He was obviously in need of some comfort too. "Let me get you something, dear."

John Ross paused, pensive. Then he wheeled around and headed for the door again."

"John Ross!" his uncle called. Then he called to his son, "Christopher, go with him. That boy's liable to do himself harm."

Christopher took off saying, "I'm on it."

By the time he got down to the stables though, John Ross had already saddled Samson and taken off.