10x16 - Poor Jill

[bunniefuu]

If the MacKenzies fight for custody,

those headlines will m*rder us.

But if we can stay out of the news

for seven more days, I think we can win.

Let's have a secret, okay?

Let's not tell anybody that you saw me here, okay?

I thought we were talking about what was best for Meg here.

-Not your ego problem. -You're not interested

in keeping Meg out of the news!

You're interested in keeping a custody battle

out of the news! That's all.

I'm not going to keep letting her do this to me.

We'll take care of it.

I mean it, I'm not.

Are you afraid? Are you listening to me?

Have I got your attention?

[theme song]

[narrator] Previously on Knots Landing.

I will fight for you with everything that I have.

I am not saying that I can guarantee

that you'll end up with custody of the child.

Do you think Laura would have you raise her child?

Well, she doesn't have much to say about it anymore,

does she? She's dead.

If we fight back, if we tell the reporters

that he gave us his child for good, for life,

and now he wants to steal her back, forget it.

His career is over.

I can't do that to her.

You can't wait.

You have to go to the press with your side of the story.

I will not use my daughter for cheap publicity.

Your paper may not know that...

My husband has had a very tragic personal life.

I made a reservation for you at both these hotels.

Stay as long as you like or...

Till whenever your apartment is finished.

I don't care. But if this happens again,

don't come back here.

There is one thing you have to understand,

whether you're sane or out of your mind.

I am not going to let you hurt Val

or the twins or anybody else. Can you understand that?

[Pete] If there was normal wear, I hadn't noticed before.

Yeah, well, this wasn't normal wear.

There's not enough friction down there to cause this.

Besides, that is too easy.

Somebody cut this.

I can't stop thinking about what could have happened

to little Julie.

Well, I guess we're lucky

she got away with a broken arm.

Had there been more weight in that saddle...

Somebody like you, Jill or Miss Williams

might have been a lot worse.

Of course, the ladies don't usually use your saddle.

What do you mean "ladies"? Jill doesn't ride here anymore.

Not as much as she used to, no.

[scoffs] You mean, not at all.

[rain falling]

-Well, every once in a while. -She rides here?

Sometimes she rides, sometimes she hikes.

Here?

-Where here? At the ranch? Yeah. -Yeah.

How often?

Now and then.

Pete... Jill doesn't live here anymore.

She hasn't lived here in weeks.

Well, no one told me.

I'm sorry, I... I didn't know.

I thought you two were getting married.

[sighs]

[eerie music]

Laila.

Did you... Take a picture of the twins

out of here and move it someplace else?

No.

A few weeks ago, were you putting wildflowers

in a vase over there?

No, Sir.

Do you know anybody else around here

who might have done that?

No, I don't.

Have you been turning my bed down at night?

No, but I will if you want me to.

No... Never mind. Thanks.

[footsteps]

[music continues]

[sighs]

That's it.

No more horseback riding.

I don't want Julie to go back to Gary's ranch, not until...

Well, just don't take her back out there.

Okay, Frank, just settle down.

We don't have any absolute proof that Jill has done this.

Jill did it.

I'm telling you, she did it!

And I don't want Julie babysitting for Val anymore.

Oh, for heaven's sakes. Why not, Frank?

As long as Jill is on the prowl,

anybody within 50 feet of Val is in danger.

[phone ringing]

-Hello. -[woman whispering] Frank.

-Hello? -[whispering] Frank, it's Val.

Hello, who's this?

[whispering] Frank!

-[whispering] It's Valene. -Val?

What's the matter? Speak up.

[whispering] There's somebody outside the house

and I think they're trying to break in.

Where?

[whispering] Outside, the back of the house. Hurry!

Okay. Just be cool. I'll be there, okay?

Dial 911. There's a problem with Val.

[intense music]

[music continues]

[grunting]

-Hold it! -Come here.

-Don't move, son of a... -Hold it!

[groaning]

I'm on a Security Service!

Yeah, and I'm Michael Jackson!

Come on, call my supervisor!

Val, who is it? Who is it?

He says he's with some security services.

Who sent you?

-[grunting] -Who sent you? Jill Bennett?

-Jill? -Yeah, Jill Bennett.

I have a contract with a man named Gary Ewing!

He hired us to protect you, Mrs. Gibson.

What?

[phone ringing]

-Hello. -[Val] Gary !

How could you hire a guard service

without telling me?

I was going to.

But somebody could have been hurt!

We were scared to death.

-I'm sorry. -No, thanks.

Look, Gary.

I've gone without help all these months.

-You know that. -It's different now.

Why is it different?

Gary?

- Jill... -What?

I think she tried to hurt me.

How?

Somebody cut my saddle.

I don't understand, what?

Julie ended up riding it instead of me.

[whispering] Oh, no.

Jill did that?

Yeah, I'm pretty sure, so...

For the kids sake, for your sake,

you've gotta keep those security guards.

Sure.

Okay, Gary, sure.

You try and get some sleep, alright?

Okay.

[dog barking at distance]

[dramatic music]

[suspense music]

[barking continues]

[whistles]

[dog barks]

Hey, pal. Yeah.

Come on down. Come here.

[music continues]

[sighs]

[barks loudly]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's alright, it's alright.

[growling]

Come here.

[music continues]

Yeah, what'd you get out there, huh?

A rabbit?

[vacuum cleaner whirring]

[coughs]

Congratulations.

Reading this, the voter might get

the impression that giving up your child

for someone else to raise is about the noblest thing

a guy like me could do.

Do I thank one of you for this?

Or... do I go on pretending that it's just

one journalist's opinion?

Hey, this is just one journalist's opinion

and we are lucky he didn't m*rder us.

If the MacKenzie's fight for custody

those headlines will m*rder us.

But if we can stay out of the news

for seven more days, I think we can win.

In the meantime, this is our position.

MacKenzie's were happy to be of help.

They did one heck of a job during her time of need

and you're grateful to them for that.

And they, for their part...

are happy that Meg's back home with her father and his family.

Naturally, they'll miss her.

But they want what's best for her.

Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

Maybe even win some sympathy vote.

It's great having you around, Ted.

Depressing, but reliable.

Has anybody thought about

what the MacKenzie position might be?

I imagine there's somebody out there

who's interested in their opinion.

-Let's ask them. -Ask them?

The four of you, sit down and talk.

-Not a good idea. -Uh-uh.

I'll make the approach.

For the good of the child.

All they can do is say no.

Wear protective clothing.

Good night.

[sighs] Can you sign for this?

Yeah, what is it?

Six bottles of Chateau Bland.

-Six bottles of-- -Wait, wait, wait.

-Who ordered all of this? -Mrs. Ewing.

There's... Let me see this.

-There's no Mrs. Ewing. -You mean she moved?

No, I mean there is no Mrs. Ewing.

Oh, no. Did she die?

No.

Well, her account is current.

Get this stuff out of here.

I think I should talk to Mrs. Ewing first.

She's been restocking her wine cellar.

[bottles clinking]

Mrs. Ewing's not gonna like this.

What's the problem with talking?

I've got no problem with talking. I love to talk.

I'm just a little picky about who's on the other side

of the conversation.

This is in Meg's best interest.

It's in Meg's best interest to be left alone.

-Exactly. -So you leave her alone!

[Karen] What's the point of getting us together with them?

Isn't that what lawyers are for?

Yes and no.

No one wants to... Good morning.

Good morning.

No one wants to see Meg victimized by the press.

That's what I mean by being left alone.

I can guarantee you that there are

one or two reporters out there

who will see this story as an opportunity

for career advancement.

Now, I know you don't want Meg used as a publicity football,

and neither do Mr. and Mrs. Sumner.

At least you could agree to get together

and coordinate the press on this thing.

To protect the child.

-Slug. -Mack!

Paige, that dope a friend of yours?

What difference does that make--

huh? Is that the jerk you've been dating?

Or the clown you just broke up with?

-Mack! -I work for Greg Sumner.

He works for Greg Sumner, we both know each other

because we work for Greg Sumner.

-Have a nice day. -Ah.

Okay, Meggie, come on. Let's go.

You wanna go color, huh?

You want to go change? Yes, I know.

Anything you want to do.

As long as we're not in this room

with these grown-ups, huh?

Yeah.

[sighs]

Was it Abby's idea to take the baby back?

Nope. It was no one's idea. Greg is the girl's father.

Oh, don't tell me you're responsible.

Why am I wrong? For trying to reunite

a daughter with her father?

You don't care about reuniting a family.

You want to assemble a portrait. Make a better photo opportunity.

You don't care about that little girl in there.

Don't tell me what I care about.

-Save it, slack. -Damn me for doing my job!

Like your character and nobility of purpose are above question.

I am no saint, but I would never do to a child

what you are doing to Meg.

You know what's best for her, huh?

In this case, I do.

I was bounced from father to father.

News flash, Ted, bulls... and it was wrong.

It's not the child's job to accommodate the parents.

It's the parents job to accommodate the child.

But I have no doubt a spin doctor

with your talents will find a way to say

that dragging that little girl out of a healthy, solid home

is quote, "In the child's best interest." Unquote.

[car engine revving]

[tires screeching]

Why am I the only one who puts the paper back together

after I've read it?

It's too much trouble? Michael!

Is it too much trouble to ask you

to put the paper back together after you finish reading it?

How do you know Michael did that?

Because he's done it before. Everyone does it around here.

I'm the only one who puts it back together,

and I'm the only one who puts the keys back where they belong.

[instrumental music]

I'm going to talk to them.

[sighs]

I will not give up Meg.

But I will... talk.

It was a stupid idea bringing her here, you know that?

Dumb idea.

Good morning. Can I help you?

Time to go. Time to pack up

and move back to Ukiah or Sacramento,

or wherever the hell you come from.

-Get out of my office. -Get out of my life!

Look it, Gary. I am not going to give up my career

just because you and a cul-de-sac

full of your crazy friends want to get rid of me.

Hey, put that down.

I'll find a way to make you lose your career.

There has got to be a fraud or embezzlement conviction

in here somewhere because of the way

you helped your brother weasel his way

into Sumner's family, if not a conviction,

a disbarment or censure.

But I will make you lose your job.

I will finish your career.

Unless you go away quietly and forever. I mean it.

I mean it, Jill!

I'll do whatever I have to to get you out of my life.

You got that?

[dramatic music]

Joy.

Call the police.

[instrumental music]

-Gary Ewing? -Yeah.

I have a temporary restraining order here for you.

Me?

"Stay more than 200 yards from... Jill Bennett

at all times and from her residence and placement--"

This is terrific.

"Refrain from telephoning her or trying to communicate with--"

I don't believe this, the woman deserves to be locked up

and instead she convinces you guys

to come out here and dump this... thing!

This is stupid. This is really stupid.

Just stay away from her or you'll end up in jail,

you understand?

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[sighs]

[Abby] Are you sure they're coming?

[George] Their attorney said they would.

What do you think persuaded them?

I'm sure they have the best interest of the child at heart.

As of course we all do.

There they are.

Hmm.

-Hello. -Hello.

-Iris Kornberg. -George Morris.

Nice to meet you.

Thank you for coming.

Let me set some parameters for this discussion.

I'm not here to talk about custody.

It's not a deposition.

We're here to only find mutually agreeable ways

to minimize whatever adverse impact

attendant publicity might have on Meg.

You pay this guy by the syllable or what?

Do you care to sit down, Mr. MacKenzie?

Oh, no.

My clients will support any measures

that are in the best interests of the child.

It behooves us to expedite any decision

-we're not-- -"Behooves us to expedite"?

Would you care to ask your client

if he could help facilitate this process?

-"Facilitate". Oh, this is good. - [Iris] Mack.

Maybe you could ask your client

to sit down and shut up.

-Come on, Mack. -Let's just hear them out, Mack.

[George] This isn't conducive to finding--

I'd like to say, excuse me.

I'd like to say one thing before we get started.

Then we'll never get started.

I'm sorry for...

What happened.

What happened?

For what...

transpired between us.

Oh.

You mean you're sorry for hitting me?

-Yes. -She hit you?

I apologize for that.

-Not hard enough. -What?

Ladies and gentlemen, please, let's stick to the agenda.

Now we can all agree we want what's best for Meg.

Now the first stop is going to be the pet shop.

Not to buy, just to look.

And then we're going to the library and then the shoe store.

Oh, we're going to have a wonderful day.

Okay, but no more sweets, no more cookies.

You've had enough cookies to last you a month.

Oh, Valene, we never have sweets.

Alright, but you listen to me, alright?

Alright, diamond, we will. See you later.

-Bye, bye. -Bye, bye.

Bye, guys. Bye.

So... How's your arm feeling?

Oh, it's much better. Thanks.

Oh, good. I'm glad.

Guess Aunt Ginny's going to have to help you with the babysitting

for a while until your arms feel a little bit better, huh?

No, I can still do it.

-Sure? -Oh, positive.

I can babysit for you whenever you want me to.

Oh, well, that's a deal.

[chuckles]

Not anytime soon.

No, Daddy. I mean, the kids aren't that hard

to take care of.

-You wanna do me a favor? -What?

See if you can find that screwdriver your mom borrowed.

Sure.

Bye, bye.

Bye, sweetie.

I don't think with her arm this way

it's a good idea to leave her alone with the kids.

Sure.

I mean, we don't know when she's going

to have to lift something heavy.

You're absolutely right.

And I don't want her to re-injure herself.

-Okay? -I understand.

Frank.

That's not it, is it?

Look, Jill may have intended to get back at Gary,

but it was my little girl who got hurt.

-Yeah. -I'm sorry.

I don't want Julie at your house without me.

I understand.

I do.

One, no interviews on or off the record.

Two, you know, photographs permitted and then provided.

Three, every effort will be made to shield the child

from inappropriate casual contact with strangers.

Four, questions about litigation or legal status

will be referred to council.

Does that accurately reflect our consensus?

What... Consensus?

What have we been talking about here for the last four hours?

We agreed to listen. We did not agree to agree.

-And I don't agree. -Neither do I.

God, I love you.

Let's please take a minute to reflect--

Could you not talk to us that way, please?

We are not your employees.

We do not do what you want just because you want it.

I thought we were talking about what was best for Meg here.

-Not your ego. -You're not interested

in keeping Meg out of the news.

You're interested in keeping a custody battle

out of the news! That's all.

This has nothing to do with Meg's welfare.

This is the most cynical, self-serving thing

-I've ever witnessed. Yes! -Self-serving?

Karen, do you think no one notices the fact

that you are totally unable to deal with the fact

that you are not God's gift to children?

That there are other people in this world

that are equally able to take care of children?

Dare I say it, maybe even better at taking care of them.

Is that the new Abby talking or the old Abby?

It's the new Abby until after the election.

Mack, just a minute. Just... Please.

Hey, look, Counselor, don't base your legal case

on comparative parental skills.

Your client will lose hands down.

Is it too much to ask if we address the subject at hand?

No. Do whatever you like.

Keep on talking, keep on billing him.

Oh, oh, here is a good one. Mmh.

I used to read this one when I was a little girl.

Do you think you'd like this one, honey?

-Nah. -Alright then.

We are going to find one that you do like.

You both can select one book of the--

Oh, no, Betsy, darling girl that has your name.

But honey, that is for a grown up person.

Oh, yes. You take that back, sweetheart.

Let's see now, what can we find here?

[intense music]

Come on, it's Aunt Jill, come on!

Betsy, you come on back here. Where are you going?

You come on back here.

[instrumental music]

Bobby, Betsy.

Bobby--

Where are you?

Shh!

I don't like this game playing.

-This is not a fun game! -[person] Shh!

-Aunt Jill! -Aunt Jill!

-Oh, hi. How are you? -Hi.

Good.

Where's your mom?

She's at home.

Oh, so you here with Gary?

-No, Aunt Virginia. -Aunt Virginia. Oh?

I'll tell you what, you guys let's have a secret, okay?

Let's not tell anybody that you saw me here, okay?

-Why not? -Because...

Because why?

Because it's fun to have a secret.

[whispering] Okay? So we'll have a secret.

Shh. Don't tell anybody. Okay, bye.

Oh, there you are, my gracious.

You gave me a start.

-Where have you been? -Shh! It's a secret.

It's a secret. Well, no more running away.

Let's go select our books and that way we will have

a nice treat after we finish the shoe store.

Alright, come along, let's find a good one.

-Come on, we're home. -Mommy. Mommy.

-Hey! -Look! Look!

What did you get? Let me see these books.

Oh, you chose wonderful, wonderful books.

You know what? We'll read one after the bath,

the other just before bed.

Did you thank Aunt Ginny for taking you?

[both] Thank you, Aunt Virginia.

Oh, you are most welcome, I'm sure.

They were so well behaved, Valene.

They're absolute angels.

We got lost on the way home.

-You got lost? -You little tattletale.

You're not supposed to tell your mommy that.

Well, they know they're not supposed

to keep secrets from mommy. Unless it's a surprise.

Like a birthday present.

Getting lost is no secret.

Well, not anymore it isn't, that's for sure.

So what happened?

Well, we went on sort of a driving tour, is all.

And I really think the police were very friendly,

weren't they?

Any more secrets like too many cookies?

-[Virginia] No. -[both kids] Yes?

Yes?

Ginny, did they have sweets?

Now I told you, no more sweets.

Darling, not a grain of sugar past their lips.

What about Aunt... Jill?

-[Bobby] It's a secret, dummy. -Aunt Jill?

Honey, I don't want you to know that kind of lang--

Stop. Just a minute, Ginny.

What about Aunt Jill? Come here. Mommy wants to talk to you.

Very important.

Did you see Aunt Jill today?

-Yes. -Where?

At the library.

Did she say anything to you?

-Yes. -What?

She said not to tell you.

She told you not to tell me?

She said it would be our secret.

Okay, go on upstairs and get your bath

Aunt Ginny will be up in just a minute.

-Here I come! -Who is she?

-I'm going to k*ll her. -Valene.

Who is she?

Please stay with the kids, alright?

I swear they were out of my sight for 20 seconds.

You can't keep canceling news conferences and interviews.

It's only making it worse.

We are running out of time.

What does it matter?

If the MacKenzies fight us in court,

and they will, then we lose the election.

And if we leave the baby with Mac and Karen

and the opposition jumps all over that.

And we lose the election. Where is he?

[scoffs] He said he wanted to take "a walk".

[phone ringing]

[sighs]

Well, how long before we resume your public appearances?

You can't hide forever.

I need a favor. I want to see Meg.

I'm not going to kidnap her. I just want to see her alone

without Abby being there.

You stay away from my children.

It was an accident.

Get out of my office.

Joy, would you call the police, please?

One thing if you attack me.

But don't you ever threaten my children. You hear me?

You understand?

I had no intention of seeing your children.

-It's not true. -And I most certainly

did not threaten them.

-"Don't tell Mommy". -It was an accident.

-"It's our secret." -So I told them not to tell you.

-It's not true. -It is.

I didn't even know they were there!

You're lying, Jill. Just like you've always lied.

Joy, call the police. Please.

Don't...

Now look, I didn't know they were there,

and I tried to get away before they even saw me.

[Val] You got away with trying to k*ll me

so you think you can get away with anything? Well, you can't.

Not anymore, because nobody believes you anymore.

Nobody trusts you anymore.

And this is the last time you're going to threaten anyone

[grunting] Don't you dare!

No! Don't! You want to know what's like to feel terror, huh?

[screams]

Be afraid of every sound, huh?

Not just for your own sake,

but for your children's and your families.

How about this?

Joy!

No, don't call her because she's not there.

Are you afraid, huh? Are you listening to me?

Do I have your attention?

And this is not "Poor Val" talking.

I am not "Poor Val! Poor Val! Poor Val!"

Okay, because from now on it's going to be

"poor Jill" if you don't leave us alone.

[exhales]

Oh, thanks so much.

I didn't know how I was going to get that door open.

I know I shouldn't try to carry so much.

Did you have an appointment?

I'm back.

I couldn't remember if you wanted tuna or turkey so

[sighs] ...one of each.

[Karen] Yes.

Alright.

Bye, Barbara.

-No, thanks. I'm not hungry. -Mack?

-How's Meg? -She's fine.

Barbara said that Paige came by to take her for a walk.

I'm glad... Meg's too young to understand what's going on.

Mack MacKenzie's office.

I hope she never finds out about this.

Just a minute. Mack. It's for you.

If it's their lawyer, hang up.

No, it's Jill. She seems pretty upset.

[sighs] Jill.

[clears throat]

-Yeah. -[Jill] Mack. Mack,

You got to help me. Look. Val's gone over the edge.

She's gone crazy. She's after me, Mack.

-You've got to help me. -[Mack] I'm busy.

Mack, this is serious.

With all due respect, Counselor, I think you have it backwards.

Val's the one who needs protection.

Look, Mack. No matter what you think of me,

you can't let her hurt me.

She's gone out of hand, Mack. She came to my office.

She tried to k*ll me. You've got to help me. I'm afraid!

If I believed you, Jill, I'd say "call the police".

I did. Look it, Mack. There's no witnesses.

Her word against mine.

I'll pay you whatever it takes. For God's sake, I'll hire you.

Mack, I need help!

[Mack] I've got my family to protect,

and that's all that I can handle.

Especially since this conversation sounds like

the story of the little boy who cried wolf.

[gasping]

[sighs]

What was that all about?

Jill wants to hire me as a bodyguard or something.

Says she needs protection from Val.

Can you beat that?

[Gary] My turn, okay. Whoa! Ah!

[laughs]

Okay, your turn.

That's okay. Two feet, two feet. Go ahead.

Where's Aunt Ginny?

She said you got the wrong kind of mayonnaise.

She went to the store, so I watched the kids.

Wrong kind of mayonnaise? What is she talking about?

I don't know.

Hey, who's the best hand washer?

-Me! -Me!

I'll be the judge of that.

Get in there. Wash your hands. I'll be in a minute.

Hey, hey, hey, hey.

-What? -It's my question, what?

What's the matter?

Nothing, Gary. Nothing's the matter.

Okay. I got a message from Jill.

-Jill? -Yeah, restraining order.

I get within 200 yards of her, I go to jail.

Pretty nifty, huh? Could happen by accident.

I mean, I could be in a restaurant or a shopping mall

or whatever, and there she'd be and I'd be arrested.

Well, look at the bright side.

At least this way she'll stay away.

She was with the kids in the library today.

What?

She claims the meeting was accidental,

-but I know she was lying. -What did she do?

She told the kids not to tell me.

She said all they did was talk.

She's not going to do that again.

Gary. Where are you going?

Gary... Don't go.

It doesn't matter... Gary!

Hi, sweetie. Come here.

[car engine starts]

[car revving]

I know. I know. I know. Mommy loves you.

[instrumental music]

Hi.

Oh whoa, you are so heavy.

What are they feeding you? Cement? Huh?

Oh, that's nice.

I get my hug.

Let's see.

You think she looks like me?

-I think she's better looking. -Ooh. Ooh.

You want to go to the park?

Where's the-- Where's the sliding board?

Which direction? You want to take me to it?

Okay, show me the way, point the way.

Over there? Over there?

Over there?

[instrumental music]

[Greg] Very good, very good.

Sneakers slowed you down a little bit, huh?

[instrumental music]

[dramatic music]

Gary!

Wait.

-What are you doing here? -I don't know. I was worried.

-Val, go home. -Are you okay?

Yes, I'm fine. Can you go?

-No Gary, wait. Maybe I should-- -What?

-I don't know-- -Val, go home!

Go home.

I cannot afford to be seen here. The restraining order.

I can't go home, Gary! I'm too upset.

Then I'll drive you home. Let's just get out of here.

Gary. Just... Go for a walk with me for a minute, please.

-Please. -Alright, alright.

[intense music]

[Mack] Here we go.

[humming]

Open up.

There's too much of it.

Here.

Open.

That's it.

How did Meg like the park?

Oh, she enjoyed it.

-Good. -Where's dinner?

-It's right here. -Oh.

Thai takeout, huh?

You used to be such a good cook, too.

I didn't have time.

That's fine, Michael, thank you for ordering.

So did you come to any agreement with Sumner?

No.

I don't want to talk about that.

We don't think...

it's going to go to court. He doesn't want the headlines.

So what, you're going to call this bluff?

Hey, I don't want to talk about it.

I don't want to talk about it in front of Meg.

She doesn't know what we're talking about.

I don't want to talk about it now.

Michael...

Mack and I have decided,

if there is a lawsuit,

we're going to give her up.

Rather than have her suffer the publicity

from a custody battle for the rest of her life.

[dramatic music]

Somebody... Michael, feed Meg.

[music continues]

[inaudible]

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[tires screeching]

[indistinct chatter]

[man 1] We're basically just going to sh**t you

Just tight shot, okay?

We're at Frank Capra. We don't do makeup.

Thank you.

You're going to vote for me though, right?

Alright.

I think probably need to be right in front of there.

Okay. Lights.

Alright. Tape is rolling.

Alright, anytime you're ready, Mr. Sumner.

Anyone who pursues public office pursues public trust.

I have no right to that office if I don't have your trust,

so you should have an answer as to why my daughter Meg

is not living with me.

-I was intending to focus-- -I don't know--

Shh. They are recording.

During a very painful time in my life

after the death of my wife Laura,

I asked my friends Karen and Mack MacKenzie

to take care of Meg.

Meg was less than a year old at the time

and I was not in any shape to be both

father and mother to her.

-Do you know who wrote this? -Shakespeare?

Hey, shut up, Ted.

-You can edit that out. -No problem.

These people who were close friends of my wife's

provided Meg with the kind of home

every parent wants to provide.

And every kid wants to grow up in.

And Meg became attached to them.

It's painful for me to admit, but...

Meg thinks of them as her parents.

For Meg's sake,

I've decided to leave her with MacKenzie's,

who are willing and able to raise her in a way

that would make her mother extremely happy.

There are a lot of compelling reasons

for me to want Meg back.

The pressure I'm feeling that my opponent

may make my daughter a campaign issue is one reason.

But there is... one compelling reason

for her to stay with the family she knows as her own.

It's the best thing for her.

If that loses me the election, so be it.

That's it.

And... Cut.

Doesn't look like he wants to win.

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[sirens wailing]

[Officer] Pull your car over, please.

Please, pull your car over.

Bring your car to an immediate stop.

[intense music]

Step away from the car, please.

Put your hands behind your head.

-What? -Step away from the car

and put your hands behind your head.

[music continues]

[narrator] Next on Knots Landing.

Jill Bennett was m*rder*d. They're holding Gary.

They found Jill's body in the trunk of his car.

They love your speech.

They love you.

You're a hero. The reaction was positive.

When they established the time of death,

they're going to realize I couldn't have done it

because I was with Val.

Doesn't matter what we say or do,

it's too late to make the news or affect the outcome.

Who the hell would pull a stunt

like this on a day of the election?

-Why they pull him over? -There was a witness.

Police were tipped off by somebody

who saw your friend put the body in the trunk.

[theme music]