Jarrod: "I don't mean to dampen anyone's spirits anymore than this biting, cold day already has, but I do have a disturbing piece of news to relate."

Audra: "What is it, Jarrod?"

Victoria: "Do tell us, Dear. You seem terribly troubled."

Nick: "Yea. You do look like somethin's eatin' on you, Pappy. What's up?"

Heath: "This got somethin' to do with ranch business, Jarrod?"

Jarrod: "Nothing at all to do with ranch business. This is strictly about family."

Victoria: "Jarrod, if there's something serious going on none of us know about, please do tell us."

Audra: "He didn't say none of us know about it, Mother."

Nick: "That mean you do know about it, Sis?"

Heath: "Take it easy, Nick. Don't go off half cocked before you hear what it is Jarrod has to say."

Nick: "Well, let him get on with it, then! I'm starved."

Victoria: "Do get on with it, Jarrod. What is this family business you speak of?"

Jarrod: "Well, er, perhaps you haven't noticed, I mean, I really hadn't until today, but---"

Nick: "Will you quit hemin and hawin around, Jarrod, and tell us what the heck you're talkin' about!"

Victoria: "Nick, lower your voice, please! You are surely going to burst every ear drum in this house one of these days. Now, Jarrod, what is it you've just noticed, Dear?"

Jarrod: "That Eugene's been gone, well, shall we say, for quite some time."

Heath: "Boy Howdy, you know it has been a while since we've seen that boy."

Audra: "I'm not sure I can recall the last time."

Victoria: "Oh my! Eugene. Why, I'd completely forgotten about him. You don't suppose something has happened to him, do you?"

Nick: "Wait a minute! Gene's not been gone all that long! Why, it was just a week or so ago that he brought that professor here to vaccinate for anthrax."

Jarrod: "Well, brother Nick, I'm sorry to contradict you, but that was four years ago."

Heath: "Jarrod, you sure it's been that long? That boy could be in real trouble, if he hasn't been home in that long a time."

Victoria: "Jarrod's sure, Heath. Tom and I didn't send him to law school to learn to speak without checking his facts."

Audra: "Four years. I'm surprised one of us didn't notice."

Victoria: "It does seem odd, but, then, we've all been busy."

Jarrod: "Yes, we have, and, to further make allowances for our not noting his absence, Eugene was never here all that much."

Heath: "No, and it was a big day for him, if he said ten words."

Victoria: "Jarrod, Dear, do you suppose we should put in motion a search for Eugene?"

Audra: "Oh, Mother, what a good idea! Doesn't everyone think so?"

Heath: "Boy Howdy, after this long, I'm not sure we could pick up his trail."

Nick: "Is that a fact? Well, let me tell you all somethin'! I can find that boy. I got a good idea where to start lookin'."

Jarrod: "Well now, brother Nick, you do sound rather sure of yourself. Care to confide in the rest of us?"

Nick: "SiLas!!!!"

Silas: "Yes, Mister Nick."

Nick: "Silas, have there been any messages from Mister Eugene lately?"

Silas: "Well, Sir, uh---"

Jarrod: "Silas, if you've had word from Eugene, please tell us."

Silas: "Yes, Sir, well, he, Mister Eugene that is, he's been sendin' letters home all along."

Victoria: "Really, Silas? Why ever haven't we seen them?"

Silas: "Well, Mrs. Barkley, you all are so busy, and I hated to bother you with them, so, well, I read them and then throw them away."

Victoria: "I see. Well, Silas, that isn't quite the thing to do, is it?"

Audra: "Oh, Mother. Don't scold Silas. After all, as long as Eugene is well somewhere, what does it matter?"

Victoria: "Perhaps you're right, Dear."

Jarrod: "Well, then, it seems as though that little matter is settled. By the way, Nick, how did you know to ask Silas about Eugene?"

Nick: "Oh, well, to be perfectly honest, I saw one of those letters one time. Silas dropped it by mistake."

Victoria: "And you didn't mention it? Nick, Dear, why did you not think to tell us?"

Nick: "Mother, I'm a busy man! I've got a ranch to run! Time just got away!"

Heath: "Calm down, will ya, Nick. It's no big deal."

Victoria: "Of course it's not. Now, let's go in to dinner, shall we? It is ready, isn't it, Silas?"