Original subtitles

You really think it'll be that simple? I have the impression that Chase and the

young Mr. Deering smell blood.

We'll give them blood.

Their own.

And so with a criminally violent son and a sexually promiscuous daughter... I

don't have to stand for this.

Objection, Your Honor! What can we do to satisfy you? Let Emma Channing testify.

The doctor said to give her one of these every four hours.

Are they necessary, Grandma? And I don't want her to leave the house. Have you

seen Emma? No.

She's escaped.

Douglas Channing was an empire builder whose newspaper grew to become one of

major social forces of our day.

It was a task that only a strong man could accomplish.

I think Douglas sensed his mortality, but he did not fear it.

He faced it with the same volatile strength that always characterized him.

Perhaps it was that strength, that sense of conviction... Notice Emma's not

here. Leave it alone for tonight, all right?

I think we've all had fuller lives for having known Douglas.

And while we share our sorrow this evening with his beloved Angela, let us

thanks for the wisdom and love that Douglas always brought to each of us.

Thank you, Father.

Thank you.

Angela, you know how truly sorry we are.

Douglas was a good friend.

If there's anything we can do... Well, there isn't.

You know, we love Douglas very much. I'm sure you do.

I'm still in mourning. Can't this thing be postponed?

We've already had a week's recess, Angela.

The inquest reconvenes in the morning whether you've gotten over your loss or

not.

How soon will Douglas' estate be settled?

My office is taken with the probate court today.

Apparently there's been some confusion back east about the disposition of the

Globe.

Well, get it cleared up.

Because I need that newspaper.

What are you planning?

I'm going to create such an outcry that Chase will be thrown off of the Board of

Supervisors and exposed for the fraud he is.

How? Well, people believe everything they read in the paper. So we'll prove

he's using his political position for his own personal gain.

Do you really think it'll be that simple?

I have the impression that Chase and the young Mr.

Deering smell blood.

So, we'll give him blood.

Their own.

Jason Gioberti was, in fact, your brother, Mrs. Channing.

Yes, he was.

How would you describe your relationship with your brother?

Oh, I loved him.

Very much.

Now, Mrs. Channing, I want you, in your own words, to tell the court what

happened on the night that Jason Gioberti was killed.

Well, I was coming home from the theater in the city.

My daughter Emma was with me.

And we were going back to Falcon Crest, and I also remember that the road was

very dark that night.

Well, what time was it?

Approximately 11 o 'clock.

And then I noticed that lights came up behind us.

And suddenly I realized that it was Jason's truck.

He passed us on the left.

It started to swerve back and forth across the road.

And before we could do anything about it, it went over the side.

It was terrible.

And there wasn't a thing we could do.

Thank you, Mrs. Channing. No further questions. Your witness.

She's been through so much.

I have no questions.

Your Honor, I would like to call Chow Lee Chee.

Do you think Deering knows what he's doing? I mean, he's just going to

corroborate what Angela said.

Where the hell is Emma?

But we should be there.

Melissa, if she wanted us there, she'd let us know.

What she wants is besides the point.

She's hiding something.

You're all hiding something.

And you're not?

You might as well admit it's your baby, Lance.

Because you'll never be able to prove it's anyone else's. I'm curious about

something, Melissa. Just whose baby is it anyway?

Let's just say there are a number of possible candidates.

And the list is growing.

Maybe it's Cole Gioberti's.

Now, that would be interesting, wouldn't it?

I'm going to the inquest. To hell you are.

You did it, didn't you?

You killed Jason Gioberti. What?

And here I thought you were going to protect Emma at any cost.

How do you know about Emma?

I didn't.

Until now.

You don't know anything, Melissa.

I know that Angie is covering something up.

Something we could use against her.

Falcon Crest could be ours.

What you don't understand are the simple facts, dear.

If Jason's death has proved to be anything but a simple accident, my

could lose everything.

To Chase.

And you'd inherit nothing?

And neither would my wife.

So you see why we've kept it such a secret?

You're the medical examiner for this county, Dr. Cook?

I have been for 16 years.

Uh -huh.

And how did you get your job?

Sheriff Tobias appointed me.

Well, tell me, in your professional opinion, how did Jason Gioberti die?

The truck he was in exploded.

He was killed by the concussive force and subsequent immolation.

And that's your medical opinion?

Yes, it is.

Dr. Cook.

Let's clear the air, shall we?

You're not really a doctor at all, are you?

Not really, no. I'm sorry, I can't hear that.

Not really, no.

Well, frankly, I'm not concerned about whatever liabilities you may have for...

posing to be a certified pathologist when in fact you are not.

But I would like to ask you one question.

Why did Sheriff Tobias fail to have an autopsy performed in this case?

Everyone knows that Angela Channing gets whatever she wants in this valley.

She didn't want us to perform an autopsy on her brother, and so we didn't do

one.

Sure. Emma, you in there?

Come in.

And it's very lovely, Emma.

Oh, Lance.

It's so nice of you to come and visit me.

Let's make a... special occasion.

Oh, I didn't give you enough, did I?

Thank you.

A toast.

To what?

To the next generation.

Cabernet Sauvignon 63.

Kind of leaves a nice finish, doesn't it, Melissa?

You're not going to push her down the stairs, too, are you?

Everything's going to be fine, Emma.

If you'll excuse us, we have to do a little business downstairs.

Oh, of course.

Oh, no, you keep yours.

You haven't finished yet.

Okay.

It's nice seeing you.

Melissa?

You see what I mean?

In the state that Emma's in, they would never put her on a witness stand.

What was that about stairs?

Your Honor, I would like to bring to the court's attention Government Codes

27491 .7 and 27504 .100 concerning the summoning of witnesses to these

proceedings.

I'm familiar, Mr. Deering.

Then I would insist upon their enforcement so we can hear the testimony

Emma Channing.

Philip, do something.

Should the subpoena calling for Emma Channing's appearance be enforced, I

move to strike her testimony.

On what grounds, Mr. Erickson?

I would cite her inability to determine fact from fantasy, her repeated comment

to various members of her family.

that Jason Gerberity is still alive, or conversely, that he has died more than

once.

She is, in truth, an unstable personality with... I'm sorry, Your

Honor, but this is all conjecture and innuendo, not based on any facts

whatsoever. I do have an expert witness.

And although I only saw Emma Channing once, I learned a great deal about her.

Would you tell us what you learned, Doctor?

Yes, she's suffering from post -trauma shock.

Did you discover what caused her condition?

The death of her uncle, Jason Giaberti.

Would that be sufficiently traumatizing to create her current condition?

Well, Emma's episodes of confusion are clearly the result of her inability or

her refusal to deal with the death of her uncle.

Thank you, Doctor.

You're a witness.

Precisely how many times did you examine Emma Channing, Doctor?

Once.

Once.

And had she received any psychological care prior to your visit?

To my knowledge, none.

Well, had she ever been institutionalized for any condition

I don't believe so.

Thank you, Dr. Banning.

Let the record show that Emma Channing has never received any regular

psychiatric or psychological counseling, has never been institutionalized, and

has absolutely no clinical record of any instability whatsoever.

Mr. Erickson? Mrs. Channing.

has long recognized her daughter's problem and has been caring for her at

Emma Channing has been unnecessarily sheltered, practically held prisoner in

mother's house. Now, why not let Emma speak for herself?

Good evening, Maggie. I'm sorry about just dropping in like this. May I speak

with you, Chase?

Sure.

I'll be in a minute.

Chase.

You know that Angela's a woman of great pride.

Oh, yes, I know that.

This inquest of yours...

will only erode the reputation of Falcon Quest every day that it continues.

I'm sorry about that, but it's the coroner's inquest, not mine.

I know that you're not happy about your inheritance.

But I think I can find a way to improve things for you.

Oh, really?

I'll speak to Angela personally.

My guess is that she'd be willing to give you...

An interest -free, open -ended loan that would enable you to build your own

winery. If you could convince young Mr. Deering to desist from this public

airing of your family differences.

In other words, call the dogs off.

So to speak.

You still don't get it, do you, Philip?

Sure, I'd love to have my own winery.

But more than that.

More than anything.

I want to know what actually happened to my father. That's all.

I see.

I wish I could help you.

So do I.

But this obsession of yours is going to ruin you, Chase.

Is Emma okay?

Yes, the doctor said to give her one of these every four hours.

Are they necessary, Grandma? And I don't want her to leave the house. Is that

understood?

Derrick's in the chair, Miss Channing. Thank you, Charlie. Send him in.

Philip? Good evening.

You look as if you could use a drink.

Yes, please.

Hello, Philip. Mother?

No, thank you.

Well, how did it go?

Well, he turned it down flat.

He won't back off.

Well, we'll just have to discredit him and the entire inquest. At least Douglas

gave me the tools to do that.

Angela... You know, I want to talk to the managing editor of the Globe right

away. Angela, read this.

It was waiting for me in my office this afternoon. It's from New York.

I thought I should give it to you personally.

What is this?

Who's Richard Channing?

Douglas is.

son.

What? Why, that's preposterous.

Douglas was never married to anyone but me.

Be that as it may, Douglas Will was presented by his attorneys today.

It names Richard Channing as primary beneficiary of the San Francisco Globe.

But what about Julia and Emma, his daughters?

Those are his children.

As I understand it, they will share half ownership of the paper.

Richard Channing will assume the position of chairman of the board and

the other 50%. Who is Richard Channing's mother?

We're working on that.

Your Honor, I call Emma Channing.

I'm afraid that Miss Channing's condition has prevented her from

today. Commissioner Whitkin. Oh, and just what is her condition today?

I have a letter and additional documentation from Dr.

Harcroft, her physician.

Harcroft would write anything Angela wants.

Dr. Harcroft indicates that Miss Channing is taking medication, that her

treatment might be jeopardized by the pressure of giving testimony.

that house against her will. I can't help that. Now sit down.

Then, Your Honor, I would like to call Deke Johansson to the stand.

Emma?

Emma, wake up.

It's time for your pill.

What?

My pillow ready?

It's only your second one today. Come on, sit up.

But when I take them, the time is so short.

Come on, take it.

Can I have, um, fruit juice next time?

Sure. You can have anything you want.

Sleep well.

And when you were sharing that cell at the Corwin County Jail with Turner

did he ever mention the name of Jason Gioberti?

He sure did, Lenny.

And what did he say?

He said Jason Gioberti dying in a truck wreck was a pack of lies, some kind of

cover -up.

He said he was there when the old guy died, that he fell during a fight.

You know, uh...

I think Turner felt pretty bad about that. He wasn't a killer.

Thank you.

Your witness.

What were you in the Corwin County Jail for, Mr. Johansson?

Burglary. And what was Turner bathed in jail for?

Petty theft, I think.

Where do you currently reside?

Folsom Prison.

I'm doing five to ten for armed robbery.

As a matter of fact, you've spent nearly half your life in institutions.

And you've been convicted of a number of felonies, including perjury.

Haven't you?

So? And Turner Bates had a history of criminal activity himself, didn't he?

He's a lousy criminal.

No further questions.

Your Honor, I call Chase Giaberti.

The witness may step down.

I would appreciate it.

Thank you.

Charlie?

I'm expecting a phone call from a private investigator in New York City.

checking out Richard Channing for me.

I'll be up in Emma's room. Very well. Okay.

Jolie!

Jolie! Yes?

Have you seen Emma? No.

She's escaped.

Uh -oh. Grandmother's going to be mad.

It just slipped out.

New York?

Well, I'm his wife.

Perhaps I can take a message?

The way we were dealt with by Angela and her attorney immediately after my

father's funeral.

And once we moved here, there were little suggestions here and there of

something mysterious about the death.

And then those letters my son Cole brought back from Italy.

And for some reason, Emma Channing has practically been a prisoner in her

mother's house since my father's death.

And all these things led you to believe that there had been some foul play?

Maybe no one of them alone would suggest that, but when you add them all up...

And it doesn't take a particularly suspicious nature

to wonder why an autopsy was never performed.

Thank you.

Aside from your overriding curiosity about your father, isn't there something

else motivating all of this?

Something else?

No, just the truth.

Isn't it true that you would inherit all of Falcon Crest?

If you could prove that your father died under suspicious circumstances. Yes,

but that's not why I'm pursuing this. Oh, really?

With the control of Falcon Crest, a multi -million dollar enterprise at

you would have us believe that you have other motives?

You know I do. When you came to my house... Please, Mr. Giobetti, we have a

system here. I ask the questions, you answer them.

Yes. Please confine yourself to answering the questions.

Please tell the jury what it was that brought you to the Tuscany Valley in the

first place.

Well, I was born here, and we felt it would be a good place to bring our

You mean after your son was arrested in New York?

She's not there.

Let's try the Giroverdi place.

You don't think she'd be that foolish? She's obviously a lot smarter than we

give her credit for.

And so with a criminally violent son and a sexually promiscuous daughter... I

don't have to stand for this.

Objection, Your Honor! Get to the point, Mr. Erickson. But please, without

innuendo.

Let me reassure you, these are not my personal opinions.

Your family's problems have been widely chronicled.

But perhaps we can agree on something else.

How would you characterize your grandfather's will?

I suppose he had reasons for drawing it as he did.

You're not the least bitter that he left you with less than 10 % of Falcon Crest

while everything else went to your aunt, Angela Channing.

No, I'm just trying to get to the truth.

The fact that Jason Gioberti died in a flaming truck crash is not the truth as

far as you're concerned.

Not without an autopsy.

But Sheriff Tobias has already testified as to the futility of such an exercise.

What can we do to satisfy you?

Let Emma Channing testify.

Your hunch leads you to the one person we all know is medically unable to be

with us.

Isn't this just that you're upset over the way Falcon Crest was divided? Isn't

all this just your attempt to undermine the intent and purpose of your

grandfather's last will and testament?

Absolutely not.

As long as the terms of that will were followed.

As long as they were evenly and fairly applied to all heirs.

Perhaps you have evidence of some conspiracy again. All I'm

looking for is unquestionable verification that my father died in that

The fact is, I don't believe it.

I don't know how my father died.

I don't think anyone in this room knows.

With the possible exception of Angela Channing.

Carl! Carl! What are you doing here?

What's the matter?

Well, now I ran away. I've got to get to the inn first now.

Hey, maybe you better take her home.

Please. All right. All right. We're going. We're going. Okay. All right.

All right.

Emma?

Emma, what are you doing way out here?

Now, you know how grandmother gets upset when you wander.

Tell you what.

I'll take her home, okay?

You do yourself a favor, Cole, and stay out of it.

Why don't we ask Emma what she wants to do? I want to go to the inquest. The

inquest? Emma, what for? There's just a bunch of stuffy old lawyers there. I

don't care how old they are. They'll listen to me.

You go ahead, Cole.

I can finish up here.

You do yourself a favor, Cole. Stay out of this. I don't think you've got much

to say about it. Get out!

Let go!

The tire's flat.

Get the spare.

And unless you can give me a good reason not to, I'm going to make a motion to

adjourn this fiasco you've created here.

Is that a question?

Perhaps you'd like to rephrase.

Isn't this whole thing just part of your personal vendetta against Angela

Channing? No, I have no vendetta.

This is the right room, I mean... Order!

Order, please!

Please, order.

Mrs. Channing, please.

May we have a recess?

Denied. Mrs. Channing, please return to your seat or I'll have the bailiff

remove you from this hearing.

And who are you, young lady?

I'm Emma Channing.

I want to tell you about my Uncle Jason.

And what happened the night he died?

Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the

truth, so help you God?

I do indeed.

Sit down, miss.

State your name and address for the record, please.

Emma Channing.

Falcon Crest Vineyards.

I can't trust you to do anything, can I?

Commissioner Whitkin.

I would ask you at this time to rule upon the issue of this witness'

to testify.

She's obviously under a good deal of psychological strain, as you can see.

And how do you feel, Miss Janney?

A little nervous.

But otherwise, I'm fine.

I see no reason not to proceed.

Are you sure about this?

Whatever she has to say, just getting it out will be the best thing for her.

Now, Miss Channing, continue.

I was wondering.

I get a little nervous and confused, and I had written some things down in my

book, and I wondered if I could just say them once, and then... Miss Channing

will make a statement.

Again, this is highly irregular.

Mr. Erickson, it's within my purview to conduct this inquest in the most

efficient manner I can.

Now, please sit down.

I've been very confused about certain things lately.

And the last couple of days have been very difficult for me.

But I had certain things that I wanted to say.

And I read in a book once that if you

write your thoughts down, it makes them clearer.

So, uh, that's what I've done.

It wasn't very late that night when I met Turner Bates.

On the veranda of the house.

He suggested that we go for a walk.

Turner was a very romantic man.

And we always had a lot of difficulty finding a place to be alone together.

So we decided to go into the vineyards.

Turner was so attractive.

And his love for me was so intense.

He wanted me to go away with him.

But I was frightened.

We ran into the winery.

His kisses were like magic.

But then suddenly, Uncle Jason entered the winery.

He, uh, he'd been drinking.

Turner announced that he and I were going to be married.

Uncle Jason seemed to become enraged by that. He lunged after Turner, but Turner

didn't want to fight him because he knew that Uncle Jason was drunk.

Uncle Jason chased Turner up into the catwalk.

By then, he was hitting Turner with his fists, choking Turner.

I ran up after them, only to stop them from fighting. And I pulled at Uncle

Jason. And then before anybody could do anything, Uncle Jason fell to the floor,

all the way down.

I didn't know what to do.

I ran to get my mother.

I didn't mean to do it.

I loved Uncle Jason.

I was only trying to keep them from fighting.

And where did Turner Bates go?

He went away.

And what happened then?

Oh.

My mother was very angry with me.

I told her that I didn't mean to push Uncle Jason.

But she didn't seem to care.

We put Uncle Jason's body in the car.

Then we went out to the road where Charlie put Uncle Jason into the

truck.

Then he started the truck.

I was inside the car with the mother.

I was so frightened.

I knew that they were doing something wrong, but I didn't know how to stop

When the truck went over the cliff, I feel like I went with it.

I loved Uncle Jason.

I have no questions.

Mr. Erickson?

I've heard enough.

Now you know the truth.

Yes.

Now I know.

Maybe we could negotiate something with Chase.

I'm not going to beg for something that's rightfully mine.

What are you doing here?

Delivering the message.

A friend of yours called from New York.

Well, what did he say?

I'm not sure I understand.

But he said there were only two things that scare him.

Violent death and Richard Channing.

Personally, I can't wait to meet him.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a verdict.

Will you please read the verdict?

Pursuant to Section 27504 of the Government Code, we find that the death

Jason Gioberti, occurring on December 12, 1981, was at the hands of another

person other than by accident.

I didn't mean it.

Any further disposition of these matters now rests with the district attorney of

this county.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for a job well done.

This inquest is now adjourned.

I hope you're not going to prosecute Emma.

No. No, I don't think there'd be much point.

Philip Erickson would just fight me every inch of the way. We'd probably

couple of years debating her intent as opposed to the negligence of her trying

to break up the fight between her uncle and her lover.

And even a conviction would be appealed.

Oh, yeah, sure. It would just cost the taxpayers a lot of money.

What about Angela? What she did was illegal.

Well, sure, but what would prosecuting her prove? I mean, remember, she didn't

kill him.

Now, she may be guilty of obstructing justice.

Maybe you could use that as leverage with her to get Emma into a mental

program.

Then at least some good will have come out of my father's death.

Close all of the bank accounts immediately.

Let that be hasty, Angela.

I'm sorry about what happened.

I... I really loved your father, you know.

I know you did.

And I'm sure your love was very important to him.

Can you forgive me?

Emma.

Let's go to the car, dear.

Oh, no, thank you, mother.

When a young man takes me somewhere...

He's the one that takes me home.

I'll see you later.

I am sorry it had to happen this way.

I will not be driven from my land.

I never wanted to drive you away. I only wanted the truth.

And now you want Falcon Crest.

My grandfather's will entitles me to everything.

But all I really want is what's rightfully mine.

What should have been my father's when he was alive.

You can't be serious.

When this is all settled, we'll each have 50%. Half shares of the vineyard,

shares of the winery.

Or you could go to court again and possibly lose everything. Not to

perjure yourself again.

You expect me to be your partner?

Why not?

Your intelligence, your experience, your power.

Those are assets Falconcrest can't afford to lose.

I'll fight you all the way.

You know that.

Fine.

That'll keep us both on our toes and ensure our success.

You won't be any more successful than Jason was.

I'll see to that.

Then it'll be business as usual, won't it?

All right.

I'll have my lawyers draw up the papers.

We're family.

He thinks he's won.

Next on Falcon Crest.

Now your first job is to see to it that Chase Gioberti never sets foot in this

winery. You got yourself a deal. Whose baby is that, Melissa?

You come here and accuse my daughter of breaking her marriage vows, you scum.

I'm going to kill you. My husband was unfaithful to me.

And there's a woman out there responsible for that.

Responsible for all of my pain. Someone has to pay for it. Angela, there's

really no point in fighting this anymore.

I haven't even begun the fight.