dynasty Episode 157 - The Ball

Blake is ready to set his plan in motion to get everything back from Alexis and Ben.  Blake is so confident that he tells Alexis that her black and white ball for the Alexis Colby Foundation will be the last ball she will throw in the mansion because he will be getting back.  Blake also intends to attend the ball.  All of this spooks Alexis.  She knows Blake is not a man to bluff like that.

So, what is Blake's plan?  He needs to get corroborating evidence of Emily's letter where she claims that she was with Ben the day Blake's mother died in that fire.  First stop for Blake is a whore house.  Why do whore houses have to be so horribly decorated?  It would not turn me on (neither do the women, but that is another matter).  Anyway, Blake meets with Cora Van Heusen and tells her that he knows, through Caress, that Cora knows Ben and Emily were having an affair.  Blake wants Cora to swear to that effect.  Being a madame, Cora offers to do it for money.  Blake refuses to pay her (how noble) but does convince her to act out of the goodness of her heart.

While Blake gets to visit the whorehouse, Steven is tasked with tracking down Dan Franklin, the man Ben paid to lie on the stand.  Blake wants Steven to visit every place on skid row if he has to.  Poor Steven, he always gets the shitty work.  Steven does manage to track Franklin down.  He is now clean and sober and living with his wife.  However, Franklin is of no help to Steven.  Blake pays Franklin a visit personally, but Blake does not appear to get anywhere with Franklin even though Blake tries to convince Franklin that he is a decent man down deep inside and that his conscience is eating him alive.  Eventually, Franklin does provide Blake with the evidence he needs.

As noted, Alexis is a little spooked by Blake's threats.  Alexis is further bothered when she has a chance encounter with Krystle at a clothing store (no, not Marshalls).  Krystle also hints that Blake has big plans for Alexis and his plan to get his mansion and company back.  For some reason, Alexis tries to get information from Dex.  Despite being lovers, Dex tells Alexis that he does not know Blake's plan, and if he did, he would not tell Alexis.  I guess Alexis will just have to wait and watch things unfold.

Confident that he will get everything back, Blake decides he wants to buy Michael out of the crater project to prevent him from selling to Alexis.  Blake offers Michael three times his investment but Michael refuses.  Even though he does love Amanda, he hates Blake and he will not be driven from Denver so easily.  So be it, Blake will just squeeze Michael out by refusing to move forward with the crater project.  Blake shuts down the whole operation but assures Dex and Nick that it is temporary.  Nick is not thrilled, especially after all the promises Blake made.  You just got to trust Blake on these things.

Let's side track from Blake's master plan to catch up with Sammy Jo.  While enjoying some lunch with Clay, Sammy Jo feels a little nauseous but claims it is just morning sickness.  Clay forces Sammy Jo to contact the doctor for a prescription.  The doctor will not prescribe anything to Sammy Jo until she goes to the lab and gets the pregnancy test the doctor requested.  Fine, Sammy Jo will do even though she is sure she is pregnant, especially after taking the home pregnancy test.

We all know where this is going to lead.  After going to the lab.  Sammy Jo learns from her doctor that she is not pregnant.  It is a false pregnancy.  Sammy Jo was so eager to have Clay's baby, that her body has tricked itself into believing it is pregnant which is why Sammy Jo is experiencing what she did when she carried Danny.  Sammy Jo refuses to believe it and she also refuses to tell Clay what she learned.  Good plan Sammy Jo.

Things are going great between Adam and Dana.  It really is nice that Adam has finally found someone in Denver who has not been with Steven or Jeff.  Too bad it is with a stalker.  But, I guess Adam finds it endearing that Dana loves telling stories of how she would look at him from a distance (back in Billings) and long to be with him, and now it is coming true.  At least Dana got Adam to tell her that he loves her.  Now, there is just one more obstacle - Alexis.  Considering how well Alexis approved of Kirby, she is just going to love Dana.  As expected, the first formal meeting between the two goes just as Dana expected - horribly.

Dominique runs into Tilden at the Carlton.  Remember Tilden?  He is somewhat associated with Michael Culhane and he wanted to get Dominique to record a record for his people.  Well, Dominique has checked out his people and does not want to work with them (for some vague reason).  Tilden threatens Dominique that there is only one studio in Denver who can handle Dominique's needs and Tilden's men are looking to buy that studio.  No need because Dominique just did so.  (Dominique cannot fly to another city to record an album.) Of course, Tilden is not thrilled and manhandles Dominique.  Good thing that Nick is there to aid Dominique.

Dominique is grateful for Nick's help and apologizes to Nick for not jumping into bed with him a few nights previously.  Nick responds that it is nothing.  You can cut the sexual tension with a knife.  The two also have another encounter at Alexis's ball as Dominique chastises Nick for being so rude to Blake over the shutting down of the crater operations.  By the way, Dominique cannot be thrilled about the crater operations since she also has a $50 million investment.  She is so trusting of her brother.

Speaking of the ball, let's get to it.  Everyone is dressed in their beautiful black and white, except for Alexis who is dressed in red.  I love Krystle's hair puffed up without those predictable bangs.  We know that it will not last long.  Before Blake finally unveils his plan to Alexis, there is little excitement at the ball.  Some gay guy who remembers Steven from a Chris Deegan party is very aggressive and pretty much wants to take Steven up to a room to do it.  Steven is not thrilled about that and just needs some air (Sammy Jo actually shows some sympathy).  I love when random gay guys make passes at Steven.  It is to remind us that Steven is gay without actually have Steven be gay.

Alexis is still interested in Michael's interest in Blake's crater operations even though Blake has shut it down.  Michael still holds Alexis off.  Neither Dex nor Amanda is thrilled with Alexis's meddling in the crater operation or her involvement with Michael.  Amanda even threatens her mother that she will never be able to come between she and Blake or she and Michael.  Just give Alexis time.

Alexis may have to reconsider her priorities as Blake takes she and Ben into the library and tells them the evidence he has against them that they perjured themselves.  Blake is willing to send them to jail even if it will stain Emily's memory.   Ben thinks Blake is bluffing, but Alexis will not take that risk.  She will not return to jail.  Blake gets everything he wants - the mansion, Denver Carrington and the South China Sea Leases.  Moreover, Ben is too pay he and Dominique back the money he took from Tom's Estate.  Alexis hates losing, but Blake is a little more gracious.  He gives the two one more night in the mansion which is more than Alexis gave them.  Alexis can even sleep in the master bedroom because Blake is having it disinfected in the morning.  All is back to normal!

Memorable Dialogue

Alexis:  You're bluffing.
Blake:  Bluffing, am I.  You're going to find out that I never bluff.  Never. . . I hope you enjoy your ball because it's the last one that you're going to give.  You are on your way out of this house.  [leaves and sees Ben]  And, you too.

Alexis [to Krystle]:  What will give me enormous pleasure is to show the two of you how to give a really good party and to show you how I've redecorated your drab bedroom.  I'll have one of the servants take you around.

Alexis [to Dex]:  Another time. . .another trailer.

Dana:  I don't take orders from you anymore.  I only take orders from Adam.
Ben:  I understand that's not all you're taking from him.

Dex:  You do have a way of picking winners, don't you.
Alexis:  Yes, well I picked you, didn't I, lover.

Alexis:  If I sign these, what guarantee do I have that you won't use Emily's letter against us.
Blake:  You have my word, which is worth more than anything you've got.  And, you'll get the original of this when I have the South China Sea oil leases returned to me.
Alexis:  [signing documents]  You don't give an inch, do you?
Blake:  Oh yes.  Yes, I do.  I'll give you one more night in this house, which is more than you gave me and my family.  [Alexis hands Blake the signed documents.]  Oh, you can sleep in the master bedroom tonight.  I'm having it disinfected tomorrow.

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