Original subtitles

You think it will be simple?

I've 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? -I don't want her to leave.

-Have you seen Emma? -No.

She's escaped.

Douglas Channing was an empire builder...

...whose newspaper grew to become...

...one of the 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....

You notice Emma is not here.

Leave it alone for tonight, alright?

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 give 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 loved Douglas very much.

I'm sure you did.

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 checking 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 gonna create such an outcry that Chase will be thrown off...

...the Board of Supervisors and exposed for the fraud he is.

How?

People believe everything in the paper.

We'll prove that he's using his political position...

...for his own personal gain.

Do you really think it will be that simple?

I have the impression that Chase

and the young Mr. Deering smell blood.

So? We'll give them 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 theatre 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 11:00.

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 just 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 Chao-Li Chi.

Think Deering knows what he's doing?

He's just gonna corroborate what Angela said.

Where in the hell is Emma?

But we should be there.

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

What she wants is beside 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. 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. -The hell you are.

You did it, didn't you?

-You killed Jason Gioberti. -What?

And here I thought you were gonna 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 is proved to be anything...

...but a simple accident...

...my grandmother 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.

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...

...and so we didn't do one.

- She's probably sleeping. - I don't wanna see her.

She gives me the creeps asleep or awake.

Now, is that any way to talk about your nice Aunt Emma?

She's not my aunt, she's yours.

-Emma, you in there? -Come in.

That's very lovely, Emma.

Oh, Lance, it's so nice of you to come and visit me.

Let's make a special occasion of it.

Take it.

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 gonna push her down the stairs too, are you?

Everything's gonna 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 was nice seeing you.

Melissa.

You see what I mean?

In the state that Emma's in,

they would never put her on the witness stand.

What was that about stairs?

Your Honor. I'd 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 that we can hear the testimony of Miss Emma Channing.

Phillip, do something.

Should the subpoena calling...

...for Emma Channing's appearance be enforced...

...I would move to strike her testimony.

On what grounds, Mr. Erikson?

I would cite her inability to determine fact from fantasy.

Her repeated comments to various members of her family...

...that Jason Gioberti 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 Gioberti.

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. Your 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 whatsoever?

-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. Erikson.

Mrs. Channing has long recognized...

...her daughter's problem and has been caring for her at home.

Emma Channing has been unnecessarily sheltered...

...practically held prisoner in her mother's house.

Now, why not let Emma speak for herself?

Indeed, why not?

Phillip.

Good evening, Maggie.

I'm sorry about just dropping in like this.

-May I speak with you, Chase? -Sure.

I'll be in 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 Crest...

...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, Phillip?

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

But more than that, more than anything...

...I wanna 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 gonna ruin you, Chase.

Is Emma okay?

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

-Are they necessary? -And I don't want her to leave.

Is that understood?

Mr. Erikson is here, Mrs. Channing.

Thank you, Chao-Li. Send him in.

-Phillip. -Good evening.

You look as if you could use a drink.

-Yes, please. -Hello, Phillip.

-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.

I wanna talk to the managing editor of the Globe right away.

Angela, read this.

It was waiting for me at 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' son.

Why... 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'll share half ownership of the paper.

Richard Channing will assume the position of chairman...

...and receive the other 50 percent.

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 apearing today,

Commissioner Witkin.

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...

...and her treatment might be jeopardized...

...by the pressure of giving testimony.

They're keeping her against her will.

I can't help that. Now, sit down.

Then, Your Honor, I'd like to call Deke Johansen to the stand.

Emma?

Emma, wake up.

It's time for your pill.

-Lance. -What?

My pill already?

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

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

Come on.

Go on, take it.

That's a good girl.

Can I have 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 Bates...

...did he ever mention the name of Jason Gioberti?

He sure did. Plenty.

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, 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. Johansen?

Burglary.

And what was Turner Bates in jail for?

Petty theft, I think.

-Where do you currently reside? -Folsom Prison.

I'm doing five to 10 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 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 Gioberti.

The witness may step down.

I would appreciate it, thank you.

Chao-Li, I'm expecting a phone call...

...from a private investigator in New York City.

He's checking out Richard Channing for me.

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

Okay.

Chao-Li.

-Chao-Li? -Yes?

-Have you seen Emma? -No.

Oh, she's escaped.

Uh-oh, grandmother's gonna be mad.

Hello?

No, he just stepped 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.

Then those letters, my son, Cole, brought back from Italy.

And for some reason, Emma Channing...

...has been a prisoner in her mother's house...

...since my father's death.

And all these things lead 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?

But that's not why I'm pursuing this.

Oh, really?

With the control of Falcon Crest,

a multimillion dollar enterprise at stake...

...you would've us believe that you have other motives?

You know I do. When you came to my house...

Please, Mr. Gioberti, we have a system here.

I ask the questions, you answer them.

Yes.

Please confine yourself to answering the questions.

Yes, sir.

Now, then, 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 family.

You mean, after your son was arrested in New York?

She's not there.

Let's try the Gioberti 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. Erikson. 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 bitter that he left you...

...with less than 10 percent of Falcon Crest...

...while everything 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.

How convenient.

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 this your attempt to undermine the intent...

...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 against you?

All I'm looking for is unquestionable verification...

...that my father died in that truck.

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.

-Cole, Cole. -Emma.

What are you doing here? What's the matter?

They'll know I ran away.

I've gotta get to the inquest now.

You better take her home.

-Please, hurry. -Alright, we're going.

-Okay, well, hurry. -It's alright. It's alright.

Emma?

Emma, what are you doing way out here?

Please, Cole. Please.

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 wanna go to the inquest. -The inquest, what for?

There's just 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.

Do yourself a favor. Stay out of this.

I don't think you've got much to say about it.

Get off.

Let's go.

-The tire's flat. -Get the spare.

Unless you give me a good reason not to...

...I'm gonna 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. -Hurry, Cole.

This is the right room, I mean...

Order, order, please.

Please, order.

Emma.

Mrs. Channing, please.

-May we have a recess? -Denied.

Mrs. Channing, 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 wanna tell you about my Uncle Jason...

...and what happened the night he died.

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 Witkin, I would ask you at this time...

...to rule upon the issue...

...of this witness' competence to testify.

She's obviously under a good deal of psychological strain,

as you can see.

And how do you feel, Miss Channing?

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.

Miss Channing, continue.

I was wondering, I get a little nervous and confused...

...and I've 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. Erikson, it's within my purview...

...to conduct this inquest...

...in the most efficient manner I can.

Now, please sit down.

Read it.

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 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.... He wanted me to go away with him...

...but I was frightened.

We ran into the winery.

His... His kisses were like magic.

But then suddenly, Uncle Jason entered the winery.

Let her go.

-Uncle Jason, it's alright. -He'd been drinking.

I told you to keep away from her.

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?

He's dead, I didn't mean it.

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.

Chao-Li, get the car.

Then we went out to the road.

Where Chao-Li put Uncle Jason into the truck.

Then he started the truck.

I was inside the car with mother.

I was so frightened.

I knew that they were doing something wrong...

...but I didn't know how to stop them.

I didn't mean it.

And when the truck went over the cliff,

I feel like I went with it.

I loved Uncle Jason.

I have no questions.

-Mr. Erikson? -I've heard enough.

Now you know the truth.

Yes.

Now I know.

Maybe we could negotiate something with Chase.

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

-What are you doing here? -Delivering a 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 of Jason Gioberti...

...occurring on December 12, 1981,

was at the hands of another person...

...other than by accident.

I didn't mean it.

Further disposition of these matters...

...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.

Nope, no, I don't think there would be much point.

Phillip Erikson would just fight me.

We'd probably spend a couple of years debating her intent...

...as opposed to her trying to break up...

...the fight between her uncle and lover.

And even a conviction would be appealed.

Yeah. It would 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

to get Emma into a mental health program.

And at least some good would've come out of my father's death.

Close all of the bank accounts immediately.

Let's not be hasty, Angela.

Chase.

I'm sorry about what happened.

I really loved your father, you know?

I know you did.

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

Then 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've been my father's when he was alive.

You can't be serious.

When this is all settled, we'll each have 50 percent.

Half shares of the vineyard, half shares of the winery.

Or you could go to court again and possibly lose everything.

Not to mention perjure yourself again.

You expect me to be your partner?

Why not?

Your intelligence, your experience, your power.

Those are assets Falcon Crest 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?

Alright, I'll have my lawyers draw up the papers.

No rush.

After all, we're family.