Recap: JR rails to Sue Ellen how annoyed he is that Jock is cutting Ray in on the Ewing spawns' multi-million dollar trust fund, and that he senses trouble with the yokel he can only assume will turn out to be a money-grubbing half-brother. When he asks Sue Ellen what she thinks of all this, she spacily retorts, "What could any of this possibly matter to me?", shoots him a glazed-over stink-eye for several long seconds, then stalks out of the room. LOL.

Downstairs at the breakfast table, Miss Ellie tells Jock she's pissed off that he changed their sons' trust without bothering to talk to her about it first...and when he starts trying to explain himself, she cuts him off and tells him she's off to work on Mission Stop the Takapa Development. Jock's like, "Uh, about that.." and says there's something he really needs to tell her, but she insists she has no time and rushes out of the room, leaving Jock staring worriedly after her.

Over at Casa Yokel, Donna tells Ray she's meeting with Miss Ellie and their ladyfolk friends to press ahead with Mission Stop the Takapa Development and adds that since Jock can't bring himself to tell his own wife he's one of the principle investors, she doesn't feel like it's her place to do so. Ray suggests she back off the movement, not least 'cause it's "a goldmine of a deal" that Jock wants him to be a part of...and Donna's all, "Wuh? Where's the cowboy simpleton I fell in love with?" Ray points out that since he's officially a Ewing now, he has all sorts of new opportunities available to him...and the two start bickering about what the hell that means until Ray abruptly stops, says they're clearly going to be on opposite sides of the Takapa issue, and suggests they never ever bring it up at home. Donna mulls that over, agrees with an 'amen', then leans in for a smooch.

Pam has accompanied Lucy to Alex Ward's office for her modelling audition, and for some reason Lucy has decked herself out in a fussy pink blouse with a blue bowtie and a silly newsboy cap. When Alex asks her if she has a resume or a lookbook, she blankly replies, "No and no", so he writes down the name of a reputable photographer and tells her to have some photographs taken and then come back so he can rubberstamp her hiring. A relieved looking Lucy chirps, "That was so easy!" and scampers off while Alex buzzes his secretary to summon Pam. When she appears in his doorway, he looks visibly dazzled by the sight of her [still sporting that wretched Donna Summer style hairdo] and tells her on the down-low he's totes willing to just give Lucy the job...then remarks that Lucy's actually pretty enough to have gotten it without her connections. He tells Pam he cares sooooo much about being in her good graces - but Pam makes it clear that she doesn't expect any special treatment regarding Lucy's audition, then rushes off to a meeting. 

Sue Ellen is in a session with Dr. Ellby, nattering about the joy she felt finding Dusty alive, and that she'd be totes A-OK if they proceeded with a sexless relationship - but since Dusty adamantly refuses to go that route, nothing in her life means anything. Dr. Ellby encourages her to look deep inside herself, then points out that she somehow managed to find the strength to endure this wistful pain and make a mature decision to put Dusty's needs over her own desires. He equates this to "real progress", then lays out the three life choices currently available to her:
​

1. Stay in a loveless, toxic marriage with JR and thereby continue sucking the golden teat that is the Ewing's wealth
2. Pursue a gold digging opportunity with her new squeeze, Clint
3. Strike out on her own and stop fucking relying on a man to pay for everything

Sue Ellen stares blankly into space before murmuring, "I dunno" and pretends as though she'd actually give any consideration to a life that doesn't entail sponging off of a rich husband and/or lover.  

JR and Leslie Stewart are watching the election coverage for the state senate, during which newscasters predict that Bobby is about to win in a landslide victory. Leslie remarks on how proud the family must be of him, and JR mutters, "At the moment", then says he expects the fur to fly once Bobby is forced to take a position on the Takapa project 'cause either way it'll irritate Jock or alienate Miss Ellie. A few seconds later, Jordan Lee calls to tell JR he'd like to come by tomorrow to discuss some investment idea the cartel is interested in now that the de-nationalization of the Southeast Asian oil leases has vastly improved their cash flow. Leslie perks up at that and asks JR if she could sit in on the meeting, and he's like 'sure, what could possibly go wrong with that?' 

Jock, Ray, and Punk Anderson are watching the election coverage, visibly delighted with Bobby's projected win. The three toast the new senator, and Punk happily says they can consider the Takapa development a done deal now that a Ewing is in the senate. 

Cliff is out boozing and broodily watching the election coverage. He glares up at the small TV mounted over the bar and growls, "Damn you, Bobby Ewing."

Bobby heads onto the campaign headquarters stage, with Pam and the rest of the Ewing clan in tow, to deliver his victory speech. He thanks his supporters, promises to be the most conscientious, hardworking senator in the Texas legislature, and hopes to not piss off too many constituents with his brand of problem-solving. As the crowd cheers, he gives Pam a long, hard smooch. 

Later at Southfork, Bobby promises Pam that his new job will make a wonderful difference in their lives, and she tells him she's hopeful of that, but can't help worrying about how upset Cliff is right now. She hastily assures Bobby that it's not his fault her loser brother can't find meaningful employment 'cause of how fixated he always is on whatever the Ewings are up to, and gushes about how proud she is of his senate win. When they head up to the bedroom, Bobby chuckles about the congratulations gift Pam left for him on the bed: a wooden "soap box" for his important speeches. He tells her he loves the gag gift...and that he'll try it out after they're done enjoying an inaugural romp.

Leslie arrives home to find her former lover, Justin Carlisle, sitting on her couch. He explains that he kept her key in case she might need him...and when she says, "Why in blazes would I need you?", he cacklingly says that JR didn't exactly hire her for her PR expertise, and that he's not going to be satisfied with hand-holding for much longer. Leslie holds her door open and orders him to go home...and as he lumbers toward the door, he warns her that her continual refusal to hit the sheets with JR is going to result in him firing her for services non-rendered. When he adds that he'll be there to help her pick up the pieces, Leslie snappishly retorts, "Don't hold your breath", says she knows what she can accomplish for JR, and insists that he still needs her. After Justin exits her apartment, Leslie mutters to herself, "He just has to be reminded how much." 

Later at Southfork, JR tells Jock that the cartel has an interesting deal brewing that they want Ewing Oil to get in on - just as Bobby enters the room, prompting Jock to grizzle about how delighted he is about his senate win.

Sue Ellen stands in front of Dusty's big white house, which now has a for sale sign on the front lawn. She then sadly turns around and sashays back to her car. 

During a wedding planning session, Donna tells Ray she wants to invite Jock and Miss Ellie to witness their I dos - but Ray says that the two aren't on such great terms these days and suggests they invite Bobby and Pam instead. Donna mulls that over and decides she loves that idea. 

Sue Ellen calls Clint to invite him to lunch, and he tells her he's definitely up for that and suggests they meet at Madison's at 12:30pm. [Looks like Sue Ellen decided to go with Dr. Ellby's number #2 life option.]

Over at Ewing Oil, Jordan Lee and Marilee Stone are pitching an investment proposition to JR that entails a big swathe of oil-rich land in southern Utah. Leslie interrupts to clarify if what they're peddling is strip mining, then reminds them that this type of extraction presents a host of hazards both to human health and the environment. As Jordan and Marilee glare daggers at her and demand to know where she gets the nerve to be so impudent, she explains that she specializes in PR and, at JR's behest, worked very hard to remake the image of Ewing Oil as a friendly, less land-rapey fossil fuel company. Jordan avoids addressing the completely legitimate issue Leslie has raised, and instead snarls at JR about how angry he is for letting his PR hussy do the talking for him, and accuses this of being a "tail wagging the dog" type situation. He then storms out of the office, followed by an equally vexed Marilee...and once they're out of earshot, an unfazed Leslie tells JR she's soooo glad she was present at the meeting, not least 'cause those two idiots could have dragged Ewing Oil through the mud with their ill-thought out strip mining venture. JR responds with a stony glare and growls, "Don't you ever do that to me again" ... and when Leslie feigns confusion, he says he didn't want to shut her up in front of Jordan - but warns that she's to remain mute during all future cartel meetings. He then mutters, "Daddy's going to hit the ceiling when he hears about this." Egads!

Lucy returns to Alex Ward's office with a set of photographs of herself, and Alex calls them "very nice" and remarks on how fortunate she is to be so photogenic [given that she's suddenly aspiring to be a model]. He then throws in the towel on pretending this is a real audition and tells her he's hiring her as the very first Miss Young Dallas. As he produces an advance check for $1,000, a stunned Lucy shrieks, "Thank you!!" and excitedly races out of the office...and Alex calls Pam and leaves a message with her secretary to call him back. 

Bobby drops by Cliff's office to express his sympathy for the loss of his election bid and to tell him he never meant to hurt or insult him. Cliff sourly retorts, "I'm way more qualified than you'll ever be" and Bobby's like, "No argument here. How about being my legal counsel?" Cliff mulls over the unexpected offer, takes him up on it, then says the only reason he's doing it is 'cause he can't wait to see JR's face when he learns that his brother hired a Barnes. Bobby's all, "Say wuh?" and stares back at him with concern etched across his wooden face. 

Sue Ellen and Clint are enjoying a cozy lunch at Madison's. He tells her that being away on his business trip gave him a chance to think about things...and that he came to the conclusion he really doesn't want to go on like this. As Sue Ellen stares at him quizzically, he explains that he's no good at leading a double life and needs to make a choice: marriage or mistress. Sue Ellen responds by caressing his hand, cooing, "Not today", and staring at him all come hither like while making those weird pouty movements with her lips.

Jock is at the Cattlemen's Club when he runs into an angry Jordan Lee, who rails about JR letting Leslie Stewart "lead him around by the nose". He whines that it's impossible to do business with JR, then growls, "Not so long as that uppity broad is calling the shots at Ewing Oil!" ... and after he storms away, an irked Jock's all, "Damned uppity broad" and slams his fist on the table. 

Sue Ellen and Clint book a hotel room and begin enjoying a post-lunch romp.

At Southfork, Jock berates JR for letting Leslie Stewart screw up the cartel deal [without acknowledging that it couldn't have been that great a deal if Jordan Lee wasn't able to articulate a reasonable response to Leslie's concerns about strip mining], then snarls, "A woman's place is in the bedroom - sure as hell not in the boardroom." Miss Ellie, who happens to hear that chauvinistic nugget, appears in the doorway and sneers, "Very nice, Jock." A red-faced Jock tries to back pedal the un-back-pedal-able by explaining that he was only reacting to JR allowing "that uppity" Leslie Stewart to spoil the cartel deal, and Miss Ellie haughtily retorts that he should know all about spoilers since he spoils everything he touches: relationships, people's lives. JR chides his mama for exaggerating, but Miss Ellie accuses both him and Jock of using people up and throwing them way...and by people she means family members. She then glares at the two of them, sneers, "You both sicken me", and stalks out of the room. Ouch.

Lucy excitedly tells Mitch she has a super fun bit of news to announce- the same time he says he has mildly interesting news to announce. Lucy insists on going first and hands him the $1,000 check she received from Alex Ward and explains that she just got hired as Miss Young Dallas and can now pay for maid service. Mitch stares at the check in stunned bewilderment and says he's never held this much money at once - LOL - then looks embarrassed as he shows her the $60 check he earned from working the last two nights instead of studying. He tells her he did it to help pay for the maid...and Lucy looks touched by his selflessness and tells him she loves him soooo much. Mitch reacts by staring despondently into space and remarking on how everything the Ewings touch turns to gold. [Or to shit. Depending on how you look at it.]

Sue Ellen is cuddling with Baby John in the nursery, promising him they'll soon start a new life elsewhere. A few seconds later, JR hovers in the doorway and admonishes her for spending so much time away from her son lately, and Sue Ellen snaps back that her son means more to her than he'll ever know. JR says he can only hope she doesn't pull a repeat of her boozing, the way she was doing when she gave birth to John, 'cause he has zero desire to go through that again.

Donna and Ray get married at the County Courthouse with Pam and Bobby in attendance. Bobby congratulates the happy couple and invites them to breakfast - but Pam says she has to decline 'cause she has a meeting she can't miss and promises to meet up with them later. 

Lucy drops by Southfork to excitedly gabble at Miss Ellie about her new modelling gig. She repeats the news to Donna, Ray, and Bobby when they arrive a few seconds later...and when Lucy mentions that she owes her good fortune to Pam 'cause she asked Alex Ward to audition her, Bobby's all, "The fuck?!" and abruptly races off.

Bobby bursts into The Store looking for Pam, and Pam's assistant Jackie informs him that she's in a meeting with Liz Craig and Harrison Page. In other words, not Alex Ward. In the next scene, Bobby bursts into Alex Ward's office and bitchily warns him to stay away from his wife. An unruffled Alex admits that, yep, he finds Pam very attractive and did his best to charm her 'cause she was giving off a vibe that said she was totes up for some extramarital hanky panky. He adds that he never plays games he doesn't think he can win, and Bobby snaps, "This isn't a game!" and orders him to keep his distance. Alex urges him to talk to Pam, and points out that she never would have given him a second glance if their marriage was fine...and Bobby quietly mulls that over before slinking out of the room.

JR tries calling Leslie, but is told by her secretary that she hasn't shown up at the office today and yesterday seemed very depressed about something. He leaves a message for her to call him back...and after he hangs up, he murmurs, "Damn it, Leslie."

Bobby tells Pam he stormed over to Alex Ward's office after he heard that Lucy got a modelling job due to her influence with Alex - 'cause how the hell else would someone who's barely five feet tall get a fucking modelling job?? Bobby reminds Pam that she had promised him she wouldn't see Alex again, and Pam explains that she only spoke with Alex about auditioning Lucy, and didn't want to tell him about it 'cause she (correctly) assumed he's misunderstand. Bobby tells her that Alex pointed out there wouldn't have been any flirting between them if there wasn't something wrong with their marriage, and she's like, "Well duh" and says there was definitely something wrong with their marriage, specifically that lately she hasn't felt loved or cared for. Bobby mulls that over and asks her if she thinks they still have problems - but before she can answer, Jock interrupts to summon them downstairs to celebrate Ray's and Donna's nuptials.

Bobby toasts the happy couple...and a few seconds later, Miss Ellie says she has a happy announcement: the DOA went to court and got an injunction to stop the Takapa development. Jock pales and snaps, "What are you talking about?! I am Takapa!" - bwahahaha! - and the camera pans around the room to show the shocked reactions of Miss Ellie, Pam and Bobby, and Ray and Donna. When the camera pauses on an indifferent Sue Ellen, she raises her glass in Donna's direction and toasts, "Here's to you, Donna. Welcome to the Ewing Family." Bwahahaha!

Recap: Sue Ellen marches up to the front door of the house she gasped 'oh dear God, it can't be!' at the end of the last episode and asks the maid who answers the name of the man who just drove off. The maid says she can't reveal that...and when Sue Ellen asks her if, by chance, the man is Dusty Farlow, the maid clams up and refuses to answer. When Sue Ellen threatens to wait at the house until he returns, the maid says that the mystery man will be gone for several days, then slams the door in her face. Haha!

Hank Johnson tells JR that everything in Southeast Asia has "fallen into place" and that by tomorrow the communists will be out of power in whatever fictional country currently holds ownership of JR's oil leases. JR orders him to call back tomorrow to confirm, then buzzes Louella to ask her to track down Jordan Lee and the rest of the cartel.

Cliff is glumly boozing on his apartment balcony when Pam drops by to make sure he's OK after learning that Bobby was chosen to run for the state senate. Cliff whines about always being shit on by the Ewings...blah blah... and says he plans to spend the day filled with self-pity and bitterness. Pam points out that the committee may not have ever chosen him to run, calls him "a royal pain in the ass", and storms out...and Cliff stares at his drink and decides he doesn't want to go down the same alcoholic path as Digger and dumps the liquor.

Over at Ewing Oil, Leslie is meeting with JR when Jordan Lee arrives with the rest of the cartel in tow. JR tells them he knows it would greatly please his daddy if they could go back to doing deals together - just as Hank Johnson happens to call to share some good news. JR puts him on speaker and then turns on the TV in time to hear a news anchor announce a bloodless coup that just occurred in Southeast Asia, which has resulted in Ewing Oil's oil leases being de-nationalized. The cartel woots happily and tells JR they're so pleased by this development that they'd definitely be open to working with him again. Jordan Lee invites JR to meet up with them for a celebratory lunch at the Cattlemen's Club...and once he and the cartel are out of earshot, Leslie congratulates JR on a job well done, then asks if he knew in advance what Hank Johnson was going to call about. JR's all, "Wuh? Of course not" and pretends he had absolutely no idea what has been going down in Southeast Asia.

Bobby and his advisers return to his Ewing Oil office after his first campaign speech...and they all wank him about the marvellous job he did, and that he should continue to tell voters what they want to hear. Pam tries to join the conversation with her thoughts on the matter, but can't get a word in edgewise and then is asked by Bobby to make everyone some coffee.

​Sue Ellen returns to the house of mystery and is told by the maid to go away...but when she hears a familiar voice, she shoves her way inside and is stunned at the sight of Dusty Farlow in a wheelchair.

After the commercial break, Sue Ellen cries, "You're alive!" and smothers Dusty with hugs and kisses. He explains that when his plane crashed, his ranch hand was trapped aboard and died when it exploded - while he, on the other hand, was thrown clear. He was then able to crawl to a nearby ranch house and call his father for help. Sue Ellen asks him why he never phoned her to let her know he didn't perish in the plane crash, and he says that since he no longer has the use of his legs, he didn't want to be a burden to her.

Mitch stops in at the condo to pick up a textbook and finds Dolores vacuuming the bedroom. He's all, "Wha-at is going on?", so Dolores explains that Lucy hired her as a maid to keep their apartment tidy. Mitch says that starting now they'll no longer be requiring her services, and Dolores just kind of shrugs and is like, "OK, then. I'll be on my way."

Jock is at the Cattlemen's Club with Ray and Punk, discussing Donna's and Miss Ellie's very vocal protesting of the Takapa development. Punk worries that their activism might stall the project and asks Jock to call off Miss Ellie, and Ray volunteers to persuade Donna to get the pesky womenfolk to ease up. 

Bobby is meeting again with his campaign advisers when JR enters the office and congratulates him on his favorable poll numbers and smarmily compliments Pam for working alongside him as a devoted political wife. After he and the advisers leave, Bobby fixes drinks for himself and Pam and thanks her for pitching in and helping.

When Lucy returns home, Mitch asks whassup with her hiring a maid and not telling him, so she explains that she's too much of a lazy slob to keep the condo clean, so she figured 'why not just hire someone else to do it?' Mitch irritably points out that he hasn't been working nights so she could blow the extra money on a cleaning service, and she sheepishly promises to avoid any similar such expenses in the future. Mitch looks satisfied enough with that and gives her a happy smooch.

Leslie calls JR and says she needs to speak to him in private at her apartment this evening, and he gleefully assumes that this means she's ready to hit the sheets with him and cancels a romp he had just scheduled with Marilee Stone.

Dusty confesses to Sue Ellen that he put up the bail money after she was arrested for trying to kill JR in the Who Done It episode, then had her followed by Mr. Appleton to make sure she was OK. Sue Ellen insists that she loooooves him and doesn't care about his paralysis - just as the maid informs Dusty that it's time for him to take his medication and rest. Sue Ellen agrees to leave, but promises to return tomorrow.

JR arrives at Leslie's apartment with two champagne bottles - but she tells him she's not in the mood to celebrate, then explains that whatever effort she's put into rehabilitating his image pales in comparison to whatever he did to mend fences with the cartel. She says that while she was doing piddly things like putting ads in newspapers and setting up interviews, he was using some secret backchannels to overthrow a foreign government. JR denies that he had anything to do with the bloodless coup, and Leslie's like 'whatever you say, JR' and says that since he clearly doesn't need her services anymore she wants him to void her contract. JR argues that he likes the work she's been doing for him, so she says that if he wants her to stay on she needs to know exactly what he's up to at all times, including the de-nationalizing of his Southeast Asian oil wells. JR says he never shares all of his secrets with one person, and that if she expects to gain his full trust they're going to need to get a whole lot closer. He says, "The ball's in your court", which Leslie calls "quite an offer" and says she needs to think it over...and after JR leaves her apartment, she opens a box containing a tape player that's been recording their conversation and hits the stop button.

Ray and Donna return to his house after a night out...and after some pleasant chit-chat, Ray comes right out and tells her the real reason he asked her out: to get her and Miss Ellie to back off of their protesting the Takapa development. Donna's all, "Why the hell do you care if we protest a swampland development?", so he reveals that Jock is one of the investors, and that Miss Ellie's anti-development activism is putting a major strain on the old goat. Donna irritably says that Jock should have the balls to break the news to his wife, insists that the development is a terrible idea, and refuses to stop protesting. Ray argues that the project has great potential and that he has a deep respect for Jock's judgement. Donna accuses him of being like the rest of the greedy Ewings and starts to storm out - but Ray pulls her towards him, snarls, "I'm not through with you yet!" and forcibly smooches her...and after a couple of seconds she looks totes into the yokel's icky rough play and starts smooching him back. 

After breakfast the next morning, Lucy tells Pam she heard that Alex Ward was starting up a new magazine and asks if she could pull some strings to get him to hire her as a model. Pam somehow refrains from pointing out that fashion models are generally required to be at least five feet tall and promises to look into it.

Ray and Donna - blech - wake up in bed together. Ray regrets their breakup and wasting so much time not being coupled with her, and Donna says he can easily change that if he wants to. He perks up at that and says he definitely wants to...then asks if she'd be interested in marrying him, and she's like 'yeah, sure, why the hell not?' 

Sue Ellen returns to the Farlow house and is ushered inside by Dusty's father, Clayton. He comes right out and says he's less than thrilled about her being back in his son's life 'cause he's worried it'll put pressure and stress on him. When Sue Ellen just stares back at him quizzically, he reveals that the paralysis-type injuries Dusty sustained include a penis that's no longer in proper working order...and she stares back at him in shocked bewilderment.

Ray tells Jock that Donna prolly won't be easing off of her Takapa protesting anytime soon, but that he no longer gives a shit about the swampland conundrum 'cause she agreed to marry him. Jock exclaims, "That's great news!" and urges him to go out and buy his lady somethin' nice.

Alex Ward drops by Pam's office and says he was surprised and delighted to get her call. Pam explains that she summoned him 'cause she needs a favor, namely would he consider auditioning Lucy as a model for his new magazine? Alex says he'd be thrilled to do her any kind of favor and that if she actually believes Lucy is anything close to resembling model material, he'd be more than happy to just offer her the job.  

Cliff is telling someone on the phone to look into JR's relationship with Hank Johnson 'cause he's suspicious the two cooked something up that may have resulted in the recent overthrowing of the fictional Southeast Asian communist government that had nationalized Ewing Oil's oil leases. After he hangs up, he mutters, "Nobody is that lucky, JR. Not even you."

Dusty returns home from his latest doctor's appointment and sadly shakes his head at his father, which I translated to mean 'nope, still no movement below the equator'. Sue Ellen asks Clayton to step out of the room so she can have time alone with Dusty, then tells him she doesn't care about the no sex thing 'cause she loooooves him and wants to share her life with him. Dusty firmly tells her that since he's now a man in a wheelchair who can't have sex or father any children, he is flatly refusing to allow her to tie herself down to him. Sue Ellen insists that he's what she wants, then accepts an invitation from Clayton to stay for dinner.

The Ewings congratulate Ray and Donna on their upcoming nuptials...and when Jock makes a toast, he announces that today he expanded his sons' trust fund to include Ray, who's suddenly a millionaire in his own right. Most of the Ewings express happiness or indifference at this latest development - except for Miss Ellie and JR, who both scrunch their faces into alarmed, WTF? expressions.

After dinner, Dusty tells Sue Ellen not to come back to his house again, then explains that he wouldn't be able to bear the look in her eyes when it fully dawns on her that he's not the fully functioning man he was when they first fell in love. He says that if she really loves him she won't put him through that...and a sobbing Sue Ellen insists she really really does love him, but then kisses him and whimpers, "Goodbye my darling."

Recap: Claude Brown drops by Ewing Oil to pay an in-person visit to JR, who's all, "Ack! What the hell are you doing here?!" Claude says he doesn't trust phones and wanted to report in person that the money he got from JR's Swiss bank account was "distributed properly", meaning that JR can expect to see favorable results from Operation Overthrow a Fictional Southeast Asian Communist Government very soon. He once again reminds JR that the shit could hit the fan if he's caught financing a foreign country's revolution, and warns that he (Claude) will immediately become invisible if the feds ever catch wind of what they've done - but JR just shrugs unconcernedly and says, in that case, the reward will be his alone. Claude exits Ewing Oil just as Leslie Stewart arrives to inform JR that she scheduled an interview with him and a New York columnist...and JR's like, "Yeah whatever" and flirtily invites her to join him for dinner tonight. She declines and says she has a late meeting with someone named McAlister...and when he stares back at her poutishly, she reminds him that she does have clients other than him. She then suggests they go over his interview questions, and while she's reading them aloud he gets all touchy-feely with her hands while gazing at her lustfully. 

Clint calls Sue Ellen to invite her to dine with him tonight, then says it'll be the last time they'll see each other for awhile 'cause he's jetting off to Japan in the morning. Sue Ellen says she'd loooove to have dinner with him, and the two agree to meet at Petrino's at 8pm.

JR is in a meeting with Phil McKenna, who's on the nominating committee for the state senate to decide who should replace Dave Culver. JR makes it clear that he does not want Cliff Barnes to be considered for the seat...and Phil says that while he's [a spineless lapdog who's] more than happy to do his bidding, he only represents one vote. JR says he's going to have to "push harder" to make certain that Cliff isn't considered by the committee, then barks, "Do you understand?" and Phil hastily assures him he does.

Bobby returns home from work just as Sue Ellen is heading off to her dinner with Cliff. She remarks on Pam's absence during the last episode and a half and implies that her "business trip" is a front for some extramarital hanky-panky.

Jock is pouring himself a drink when Bobby enters the sitting room and gabbles about how excited he is about his new solar energy project and how much he's loving building something from the ground up. As Jock grunts disinterestedly, Miss Ellie pokes her head into the room to inform them that she's going out for dinner...and Jock growls about how the Ewings never sit down together for dinner anymore. Bobby breezily says it doesn't bother him 'cause it'll give him more of an opportunity to natter at him about solar energy...and Jock's like, "Oh joy" as the two amble over to the dining room. 

Pam is having a cozy dinner with Alex Ward, who wistfully says how sorry he is that her business trip is almost over. Pam agrees that it's been nice, but says she's also anxious to get home to Bobby despite the fact that he's been so wrapped up with his solar energy project. Alex asks her why she's not more bitter about being neglected by her husband...and when she says she knows he doesn't mean to neglect her, Alex clucks disapprovingly and calls Bobby a fool for taking his smokin' hot wife for granted.

JR drops by Leslie's apartment with a basket of wine and cheekily says word has it that her late meeting with McAlister got cancelled, and that he'd really like it if she got rid of her other clients so she could devote herself entirely to him. Leslie says she can't/won't do that, not least 'cause he's a married man...and JR dismissively retorts that that "detail" has never been a barrier to his slutty penchant for hitting the sheets with any remotely attractive woman who happens to stumble into his orbit. Leslie rolls her eyes and tells him that when McAlister cancelled on her she promptly scheduled another meeting, and JR's all, "Wha-a-a-a?" and scrunches his face unhappily.

​Sue Ellen arrives at Petrino's and notices a car pulling into the parking lot a few seconds later. When she stares over at the man who was behind the wheel, he casually mills around the parking lot as if he hasn't been tailing her all day.  

Over dinner, Sue Ellen tells Clint she has a strong feeling she's being followed and asks if his wife might be behind it. Clint says he's pretty sure his wife has no idea that he's been stepping out on her, and Sue Ellen mulls that over and says she's determined to get to the bottom of this boring-as-fuck mystery.

Mitch arrives home and finds Lucy in happy homemaker mode, decked out in an apron as she cooks up some beef stroganoff for a last minute dinner party she's throwing for his mother and sister. Mitch says he can't stay 'cause he's scheduled to work at the lab this evening, but tells her it'll give her an opportunity to get better acquainted with his family. Lucy breezily assures him she's A-OK with that and gives him a happy smooch.

As the dinner party wraps up, Arliss and Afton tell Lucy they're extremely grateful to JR for getting Afton a singing gig [in Dallas's low rent district], then wax on about how awesome and hardworking Mitch is. Lucy tells Afton that while Mitch is very proud of her fledgling singing career, he'd be crushed if he were to hear any nasty rumors about her [jumping into the sack with married men like JR] ... and Afton's all, "This has been fun, but I gotta go now" and shoots Lucy the stink-eye before beating a hasty retreat.

Pam returns to her hotel room and finds a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of champagne, and a note from Alex reminding her that if she's up for an extramarital romp, she need only open the connecting door separating their suites and jump his bones. Pam wanders over to the connecting door, stares at it for a few seconds, and firmly locks it.

Miss Ellie returns home and finds Jock asleep on a sofa chair in their bedroom. She stares at him contemplatively for a few seconds before covering him with a blanket and taking off his glasses. 

Sue Ellen asks JR if he's having her followed, and he's like, "As fucking if" and dismissively tells her she really should discuss her paranoias with her psychiatrist. Sue Ellen insists that a man has been following her around for the last few days, and JR lets out a long sigh and says he wouldn't bother going to the trouble of having her followed 'cause there isn't a rat's ass small enough for him to give about where she goes and who she sees...and clearly isn't remotely concerned about his wife's general safety if, in fact, a strange man has been stalking her. 

The next morning, Mitch starts cleaning up the dishes after the dinner party - but Lucy stops him and says that his only job is to attend class and study hard. Mitch perks up at that and heads out...and a few seconds later the cleaning woman that Lucy hired arrives and gets admonished for showing up too early and nearly running into Mitch. Lucy then motions at the unwashed dishes on the dining table, half-heartedly apologizes for the gross mess she lazily let sit overnight, and announces that she's going back to bed.

Sue Ellen tells Dr. Ellby she's pretty sure that someone is following her, but he looks doubtful and says she can't come up with a single reason why anyone would want to do that. Sue Ellen gets irked at his skepticism and says that her instincts have been right on many past occasions - but Dr. Ellby says she probably only has a feeling about being followed, and that if she really believes it's happening she should report it to the police. Sue Ellen insists it's really happening and snappishly says she's not going to put up with it any longer.

Pam runs into Alex in the lobby of their hotel as he's checking out...and when she asks him why he's leaving earlier than expected, he tells her that since it's clear she has no intention of ever hitting the sheets with him, there's no reason for him to keep barking up that tree. Pam apologizes for rebuffing his advances and explains that she's not quite ready to blow up her marriage, and Alex tells her to give him a call if she ever decides to leave Bobby.

Sue Ellen meets with her trusted lawyer Kyle Bennett to report her suspicions about being followed, and he promises to look into it with the help of his friends on the police force.
​
Over at Ewing Oil, Donna has convened a meeting of The Committee to Decide Who to Support for State Senator and informs Bobby that he's their number one pick. A stunned Bobby says that while he's flattered, he's really not politician material, so Donna points out that his record as a regular citizen (?) speaks for itself in that many people share his beliefs when it comes to equality and his general interest in the public good. Sounds like a fairly vague set of credentials, but OK. She tells him she's offering him the opportunity to "stand and be counted", and the men of the committee second that and strongly urge him to accept. Bobby stares blankly into space as he mulls over the proposition, then decides 'ah, what the hell?' Donna squeals happily and hugs him before wrapping up the meeting - just JR enters the office to see whassup, and then looks amused by Bobby's latest venture. He advises Bobby to discuss his senate plans with Pam, who, it's been rumored, has been spending a lot of alone time with Alex Ward during her business trip.

An enraged Cliff slaps down the newspaper featuring Bobby's photo and blurb about him running for the state senate and admonishes Donna for not suggesting him. He rails about how he earned that seat and expresses his anger at her and the committee for offering it to a Ewing by snarling, "That really rips it!" Donna explains that Bobby was the committee's unanimous choice, then asks him if he's through railing at her...and when he says he's definitely through, she shakes her head dismayingly at the predictableness of his reaction.

That evening at Southfork, Bobby tells Pam about possibly becoming a state senator, and she makes it clear how miffed she is that he'd make such an important life decision without first consulting her. He makes it clear that he's miffed about her hooking up with Alex Ward during her business trip, and she denies sleeping with him despite seriously considering it (!). When he pales and is all, "Wha-a-a-a?", she says that lately it's been very lonely being married to a man who barely pays any attention to her - but assures him she loves only him and won't see Alex again.

JR drops by Chez Sleaze to ogle Afton as she sings to a sparse audience. When she finishes her set, she scampers over to him to blushingly say hello, and he says he'd looooove to hear her sing that song again - preferably while they're both naked - and she says she's definitely up for a romp and exits the bar with him.

At breakfast the next morning, JR toasts Bobby's state senate run...and Jock reacts by growling about Bobby's lack of focus as is evidenced by his various competing interests. Miss Ellie announces that she's off to meet with her high society lady friends to discuss how to stop the Takapa swampland development...and once she's out of earshot, Bobby tells Jock he really should tell his wife that he's one of the developers. Jock snappishly tells Bobby to mind his own business before rushing off somewhere with Ray, and JR warns Bobby to never cross daddy when it comes to secret swampland developments.

Sue Ellen is strolling downtown when two police officers grab a man who's clearly following her. Kyle Bennett appears from out of nowhere and demands his name, so the man identifies himself as a PI named Appleton and readily agrees to spill the beans in exchange for not being charged with harassment.

Hank Johnson calls JR to inform him that there'll be some good news coming from overseas within the next twenty-four hours, and JR happily tells him to keep him informed. A few seconds later, Leslie arrives to chide JR for being seen hanging in a sleazy bar for the purpose of hooking up with a second rate salon singer (hee!) and advises him to not continue carrying on with Afton, at least publicly. JR chuckles and says he wouldn't need to tap that if she (Leslie) would simply agree to hop into bed with him. 

Appleton admits to Kyle that he was hired to follow Sue Ellen - but has no idea who's behind the effort. He explains that he sends daily logs of Sue Ellen's activities to a post office box in Denton, and in turn receives a money order every Friday. Kyle mulls that over for a few seconds and says he's going to send someone to watch the post office - but Sue Ellen nixes that idea and says she wants to follow through with this herself, regardless of the potential danger.  

Sue Ellen is milling around the Denton Post Office when she spots a man wearing a horrible blonde wig enter, empty the PO box that Appleton's been sending his reports to, then head back out to his car. Sue Ellen follows him in her car and witnesses Wig Man drive to an estate and hand the log reports to a shadowy person sitting in the back of a limo...and after the limo drives off, a mystified looking Sue Ellen climbs out of her car, stares across the street looking aghast, and exclaims, "Oh dear God! It can't be!"

Recap: Hank Johnson calls Ewing Oil to inform JR that the government of whatever fictional Southeast Asian country controls his oil leases is more destabilized than ever, and that there are a few higher up revolutionaries they can probably work with to get the ruling communists out. JR perks up at that development and says it sounds promising...and when Hank says he'll do his best to avoid causing any unnecessary bloodshed,  JR replies, "Yeah, whatever. Just give me a call when you're ready to move."

Leslie Stewart arrives at Ewing Oil to show JR her latest ad work on Operation Boost JR's Image. She hands him a strategic plan she cobbled together titled 'Ewing Oil: People Before Profits', and he laughs heartily and says he doubts anyone involved in the Texas oil industry would buy that bullcack. Leslie shrugs unconcernedly and says she's planning to run her ads not in local papers, but in the more swanky national papers and promises that one day soon Ewing Oil will be viewed as an international powerhouse. JR looks intrigued by the prospect and invites her to lunch (aka some much needed sexy time), but Leslie says she's going to be too busy finalizing the ads over at the ad agency. A dejected JR asks if he'll see her later, and she smiles and politely replies, "Of course."

Bobby is meeting with Jim Lassiter prior to their quick flight to Oklahoma City to wrap up the necessary paperwork for the sale of Lassiter's solar company. Bobby excitedly chirps, "We have a deal!", then calls Pam - who's sporting a fuzzy new Donna Summer 'do - to tell her he'll be out of town for the day. He promises to be back in plenty of time to escort her to Liz Craig's dinner party this evening...which I can only assume means that no way in hell will he be back in time to escort her to Liz Craig's dinner party this evening.  

Sue Ellen and Clint are wandering down memory late, aka their old Dallas stomping grounds, reminiscing about their first date. After the two smooch, he gazes at her lovingly and coos about how it feels as though all the years between college and now haven't passed. The two agree to meet up for dinner tomorrow night...and Sue Ellen happens to glance behind her and notices that, several feet away, a strange man is not-so-subtly spying on them. 

Richard Leecock, a top architect in Dallas, is pitching ideas to Jock, Ray, Punk Anderson, et. al. about the prospective Takapa (Texas/Louisiana) swampland development. Once he's finished his presentation, exits the office, and is out of earshot, Punk says that Richard is the best architect around and that he'd prefer to cut the bidding process short and just hire him. Jock mulls that over and asks Ray what he thinks...and when Ray says they should probably consider other bids, Jock gruffly concurs. Punk scrunches his face in annoyance, but agrees to endure a more drawn out bidding process.

At Southfork, Miss Ellie and Donna are hosting another Stop Development of the Takapa Swampland meeting with their high society lady friends. They tell the ladies they're still trying to figure out who's behind the development [hmm...I wonder], then hand out pledge cards so they can continue donating money to the cause. Donna tells Miss Ellie that Cliff has been eyeing Dave Culver's soon-to-be-vacated State Senate seat, but that she isn't sure she wants someone in the State Senate who isn't totally onboard with their current Save Takapa campaign.

Sue Ellen giddily tells Dr. Ellby that her new boyfriend Clint is sooooo attentive, and gushes about how alive, young, and pretty he makes her feel. Dr. Ellby agrees that, yep, she seems happy all right - but warns that, given what a vapid simpleton she is, she tends to see things as she wants them to be, not as they are...and that it's pretty clear that she and Clint want different things out of this ill-fated extramarital hookup. 

Donna drops by Dave's office to ask him if he's decided whether or not to take the Senate seat he was offered, and he happily tells her he's going to go for it. Donna asks him what he thinks about Cliff taking over as his successor in the State Senate, and he replies that while Cliff is bright, ambitious, hard working, and knowledgeable, he's worried he's the type who'd be willing to sell himself to the highest bidder. 

Bobby calls Pam at The Store to tell her he's going to be a no-show for Liz's dinner party 'cause he's stuck in Oklahoma City for the next several days, sorting out all the paperwork associated with the Lassiter deal. Pam makes it clear how miffed she is that she has to attend Liz's party solo, and slams the phone down before storming out of her office. 

Leslie drops by JR's office to inform him that she's lined up several high profile interviews for him...and he nods approvingly and invites her out for a celebratory dinner, but she declines and explains that she'll be too busy meeting with a NY Times writer. JR's all, "I'm sooooooo frustrated that you continually refuse to shit where you eat!" and says he doesn't much care for her preoccupation with business [despite having hired her as his chief PR consultant] and would rather she spend the evening in bed with him. Leslie chuckles in response and suggests he think of her as a man...or at the very least a professional who may not be in the habit of jumping into bed with her horniest clients. After she heads out, Louella pops by the office to tell JR that her husband is on the road yet again and hints that she wouldn't mind some company for dinner, and he mulls that over and decides that since a romp with Louella is pretty much a sure thing 'why the hell not?'

Over at Southfork, a sullen looking Miss Ellie ambles into the sitting room, where Jock is pouring himself his nightly drink. When he asks her what's wrong, she accuses him of not giving a crap about his sons...aside from Ray, his illegitimate yokel spawn. Jock denies that - just as Sue Ellen interrupts to tell Miss Ellie that Baby John is asking to be tucked into bed by his grandma. 

Post-doink, JR is sitting on the end of Louella's bed, getting dressed while rolling his eyes as she prattles nonsense. Louella eventually notices his glumness and asks whassup, and he brusquely says he doesn't want to talk about it. She advises him not to let Leslie's rejection get to him, 'cause [well, Leslie excepted] he can have any woman he wants...and JR chews on that for a few seconds before beating a hasty retreat. 

Dinner party! Pam is chatting it up with Liz Craig, who asks her if she wouldn't mind supervising an out-of-town photo shoot tomorrow. Pam chirps, "Yes please!" - just as Alex Ward arrives at the party and wanders over to flirtily say hello...and Liz takes the hint and saunters off to mingle and give the two a moment alone.  

Sue Ellen is primping at her night table, decked out in a furry negligee, when JR returns home. She comes right out and tells him she went out for the evening and adds that she knows he no longer cares what she does and with whom she does it...and he gives up on pretending to have any interest in their soulless shell of a marriage and is all, "Nope, I really don't." She remarks on how interesting she finds it that he hired an attractive female PR consultant and asks if he's slept with her yet, and JR irritably says he hired Leslie 'cause she's an expert in her field, aka not the usual type of cupcake he likes to surround himself with. Sue Ellen correctly assumes that if he hasn't yet hit the sheets with Leslie it's 'cause she's not into him, then jokes about how he must be losing his touch...and JR shoots her a hateful glare before storming out of the room.

Pam arrives at her hotel room and finds it filled with a ridiculous amount of flowers. She quickly realizes they're from Alex, who has posted a handwritten 'Hello, pretty lady' sign on the adjoining door...and when she opens the door, she finds a grinning Alex standing before her. 

JR glances at the various Ewing Oil ads that Leslie has placed in all of the major newspapers and says that while he's impressed, his myopic daddy will only be truly satisfied if he can do business with the local cartel. He wants to find a way to get back into their good graces...and to that end figures he needs to regain control of the oil leases in whatever fictional Southeast Asian country nationalized them during the recent coup. Leslie warns him to not do anything resembling overthrowing a foreign government, and JR pretends he zero interest in doing something so heinous and says he merely wants to do whatever is necessary to regain his status as Dallas' top oil man. After he exits the office, Leslie opens her drawer and shuts off the recording device she was running during the conversation, then stares contemplatively into space.

JR calls his banker in Zurich to inform him that he needs to make a sizeable withdrawal from his secret account asap.

Pam and Alex are out on the town, dancing together...and Alex gazes into her eyes and schmaltzily coos about how much he loooooves to admire her beauty.

​Sue Ellen and Clint wander out of a movie theater together, and Sue Ellen gushes about how much she loooooved the romantic film they just saw. She tells Clint that while she wishes they were doing more than sneaking around, she's not completely ready to give up the Ewing gravy train that is her dysfunctional marriage to JR. She then notices the same man from before spying on them a few feet away - but he disappears by the time Clint turns around to get a look at the man for himself. Clint tells Sue Ellen he's perfectly willing to dump his wife so that they can be together, but Sue Ellen says that for now she's happy enough enjoying their sneaking around time...and the two smooch and make plans to meet up again tomorrow.

Pam is overseeing the photo shoot when Alex wanders by and tells her she's so much hotter than all the models. The two then make plans to meet up later, and Pam smilingly gets back to work.

Leslie arrives at Ewing Oil - just as JR is wrapping up a meeting with a stockbroker, who's trying to convince him to take the company public. Once the stockbroker is out of earshot, Leslie points out to JR that going public means he'll be beholden to stockholders and won't have the freedom to do all of the nefarious, underhanded things he regularly takes glee in doing. JR mulls that over and gushingly compliments her savvy smarts, and says she's so darn capable she could one day run the world. 

Pam and Alex return to the hotel, giggling while guzzling champagne. Alex gazes lovingly at her and gives her an intense smooch - a few seconds before Bobby calls to inform Pam that he'll be back in Dallas tomorrow and that he misses her. A deflated Alex dejectedly shuffles to his adjoining suite as Pam and Bobby exchange over-the-phone I love yous.

JR gets a call from Hank Johnson, who reports that they've "hit pay dirt", and that "people are primed" to retake control of the embattled fictional Southeast Asian country that controls his oil leases. He warns JR that the re-coup attempt is going to cost plenty of money, then gives him a heads up that someone named Claude Brown will be calling him to set the plan in motion.

Alex drops by Pam's photo shoot to invite her to breakfast, and she eagerly accepts and says she's relieved that he's not miffed about Bobby's phone call cutting short last night's hanky panky.

During a meeting with Donna and a group of political cronies, Dave Culver announces that he thinks Donna is the best person to take over his state senate seat - but Donna's all, "Wuh?", makes a blech face, and says she's not remotely interested in public office. LOL. The cronies look disappointed by her reaction and agree to meet tomorrow to haggle about who their second choice should be. 

Lucy has ditched class to treat Mitch to a romantic picnic - that she proudly specifies was prepared by caterers - in the park. Mitch chides her for blowing off school and says it's important for her to pursue her own goals and dreams, but she poutishly points out that she's being a good wife, then gigglingly hands him two large gifts: a pair of cowboy boots and a microscope. A dismayed Mitch is all, "Holy shit! These things are sooooo expensive!", and Lucy cackles, "So what?" and leans in for giddy smooch.

JR meets up with Claude Brown in an out-of-the-way watering hole to discuss Operation Overthrow a Fictional Southeast Asian Communist Government. Claude tells JR he'll do his best to help the revolutionaries seize power, but cautions that it could get messy...and that it's a serious crime in the U.S. to overthrow a foreign government. JR snappishly says he doesn't need a lecture - but Claude warns that if word got out, the consequences could be prison and a destroyed Ewing empire. He tells JR there's still time to change his mind about unleashing such a dangerous plan, but an unfazed JR's like, "Nope, I'm A-OK with all the risks" and downs his drink while staring defiantly into space.

Recap: JR tells Bobby he can't go along with his resignation proposal 'cause he doesn't like..

• The idea of creating an Alternative Energy division within Ewing Oil
• Giving him personal control of the Ewing 23 well, 'cause by law Cliff Barnes gets 50% of those profits

Jock shrugs at JR's concerns and says that if Bobby can live with making Cliff wealthy off of their oil, then so can he. JR further complains that Bobby wants 25% of the oil refinery profits, and Jock agrees that that's excessive and negotiates that down to 12%. Bobby agrees and explains that that money will be used to fund the Alternative Energy division so that Ewing Oil can expand beyond fossil fuel and look into developing solar, wind, and geothermal energy. Jock's like, "Yeah, whatever" and signs the contract and orders JR to do the same, and he reluctantly obeys his daddy.

At Southfork, Lucy and Mitch pack up their stuff so they can head over to their luxury marital condo. Mitch thanks Miss Ellie for funding their fantastic honeymoon, and Lucy gives her grandmother a warm hug goodbye.

Bobby arrives at Madison's Restaurant for a meeting with Jim Lassiter...and on the way to his table he spots Justin Carlisle and stops by to say hello. Justin introduces him to the woman he's lunching with: Leslie Stewart, attractive media consultant who's relatively new to Dallas. Leslie tells Bobby she heard about his interest in alternative energy and would looooove to schedule a meeting to discuss how she can help him promote this new initiative. Bobby's like, "Word gets around fast" and invites her to call his secretary to set something up. He then heads over to Jim Lassiter's table...and once he's out of earshot, Justin tells Leslie she's focusing on the wrong Ewing, and explains that JR is the one who's in dire need of a complete image redo.

Over at the Cattlemen's Club, JR meets with some crony named Elroy to propose a joint venture between Ewing Oil and his cartel, and Elroy warns him that the Jordan Lee et. al. cartel might be miffed if he joined a different cartel after Bobby worked so hard to heal that rift. JR says he couldn't give a rat's ass 'bout that, so Elroy agrees to broach the subject with his cartel. After Elroy lumbers off, JR notices the Jordan Lee et. al. cartel seated at another table and wanders over. They smugly tell him they're celebrating striking oil in the the Gulf and cackle about all the money they're going to make. JR laments the fact that Bobby passed on the Gulf deal, but Jordan snappishly retorts that with him (JR) back in the president's chair, there's no way in hell they'd offer to cut Ewing Oil in on the deal. He snarls, "You're finished as a power in Dallas", and JR looks startled and bewildered at the insult. 
​
Over at The Store, Pam calls Bobby and suggests they get together for lunch, but he declines and explains that he already had lunch with Jim Lassiter. Pam says she's miffed that while he was out of town this week he only called her twice...and when she hangs up and looks visibly irritated at the dissatisfaction that is her marriage, Alex Ward enters her office and invites her to lunch tomorrow so they can discuss whatever's bothering her. She mulls that over for a few seconds and decides 'yeah, sure, why the hell not?'

Clint Ogden calls Sue Ellen to invite her to lunch tomorrow so they can talk about old times, and she agrees that that'd be a fantastic idea.

JR arrives at Ewing Oil and finds Afton waiting for him in his office. He tells her he figured that she and her ma would have returned to Mississippi by now, so she tells him she cashed in her airline ticket and rented an apartment in Dallas. She further explains that she's looking to break into showbiz as a singer, asks if he can help her out with that, and sexily offers to audition...and he grins and purrs, "Audition real quietly" before mounting her atop the couch. 

Over lunch, Donna and Miss Ellie are racking their brains to try to figure out who the investors of the Louisiana/Texas swampland development project could possibly be. Hmm...I wonder. Donna wanks Miss Ellie about the stoic way she holds her own in a family of male douchewads, and is further impressed that she accepted Ray so gracefully into the family. Miss Ellie stares sheepishly into space, no doubt recalling the cunty way she chastised Jock during the previous episode for letting a non-Southworth nobody like Ray Krebbs co-run her daddy's precious ranch.

Over pre-dinner drinks at Southfork, JR grumbles at Bobby for his alternative energy pursuit, which he thinks is "money down a rat hole". Jock tells them to stop bickering, then tells JR he hopes he's able to patch things up with the Jordan Lee et. al. cartel. A few seconds later, a drunken Miss Ellie staggers in, apologizes for holding up dinner, then invites them to file into the dining room so they can all sit down and eat. As the family stares after her perplexedly, Sue Ellen pulls JR aside and tells him he needs to convince Jock he's fit to be president of Ewing Oil, then snidely adds, "Since you're back to your old self in every way." 

Bobby gets up early the next morning and tells Pam he wants to catch Lassiter before he leaves Dallas on a business trip. Pam urges him to slow down...then complains about feeling as though her life was on hold when he was running Ewing Oil, and reminds him that during the Season 3 finale they had made the decision to leave Southfork and start a life that didn't involve them living under the same roof as his parents and brother's family. Bobby says he's decided to scrap that excellent idea 'cause he now thinks it was wrong to leave Southfork, and has gotten himself involved in something new and exciting. Pam points out that she no idea what his new venture is, so he grunts, "Solar" and that he needs to hightail it downtown right now to meet with Lassiter. A frustrated Pam shrieks after him, "Who the hell is Lassiter?!"

Afton is about to audition for a restaurant owner, who cackles at JR that the busty blonde looks like she's good in the sack. JR pretends to look appalled by the remark and pretends that Afton is nothing more to him than his niece's new sister-in-law, then asks Afton to demonstrate her singing ability. She does...and when her voice turns out to be not half bad, the restaurant owner agrees to hire her. Afton thanks JR for helping her get her foot in the door and suggests they go somewhere for a nooner, but he declines and says he'll drop in on her from time to time to see how she's doing.

Leslie Stewart is in Bobby's office, excitedly making recommendations for his new alternative energy venture: developing a new logo, and attending the upcoming Alternative Energy Symposium. Bobby seems overwhelmed by her enthusiasm and says that for now he'd prefer to keep a low profile. She dials it down, thanks him for meeting with her, and encourages him to call her once he's ready for a full on launch. As Bobby escorts her to the reception area, they run into JR...and JR looks intrigued by "the new PR lady that Justin's been raving about". Leslie tells JR to call her if he needs her to help promote Ewing Oil, and he smittenly says he may do that.

Over lunch at Bruno's, Clint tells Sue Ellen that his then-girlfriend Alicia stuck by him while he was in Japan learning about electronics...but that all the while he was hoping that she (Sue Ellen) would divorce JR, and even delayed proposing to Alicia until after John Ross III was born. He admits that he attended Lucy's wedding so he could spend time with her and determine whether or not he was over her, then gives her a wistful stare and says he wishes they were back in college, aka a time when there was no JR or Alicia. Sue Ellen glances across the restaurant and sees Pam arrive with Alex Ward, and Pam stares back at Sue Ellen and reacts by looking aghast at being "caught" ... even though Alex reminds her that it's perfectly acceptable to be seen publicly with a business associate. Pam ignores that sensibleness and insists on abruptly leaving the restaurant as if she's got something to hide.

​Jock and Ray are in a meeting with Punk Anderson to look over the renderings of their new swampland development. Punk says he's worried about the "do gooders" halting their construction, but Jock just chuckles and growls in his obnoxiously misogynistic way, "By the time those ladies finish sipping their tea and making sure their hats are on straight we’ll have a permit, maybe even start building.” 

Sue Ellen enters the Southfork sitting room, where Pam is downing some hard liquor. Sue Ellen assures her her secret is safe with her, and that Ewing wives need to create a life of their own. Pam snappishly retorts that she did create a life of her own as a career woman at The Store, then insists that her lunch with Alex Ward was business-related. She says she can't/won't accept that Bobby and JR are anything alike, and Sue Ellen points out that when Bobby was running Ewing Oil, he pretty much treated her like a non-person...similar to the way JR views her (Sue Ellen) as arm candy. She adds that since JR so often seeks affection and sex elsewhere, she feels she should be able to do the same. Pam says that her marriage isn't quite as fucked-up - but Sue Ellen warns her to protect herself, says that Ewing men are all the same, and that the choices are to either get divorced or play by their rules. A few seconds later, Bobby enters the room...and Pam gives him a big hug while looking over at Sue Ellen, who stares back at her smugly.

Elroy stops by Ewing Oil to regretfully inform JR that his associates expressed zero desire to do business with him on account of the shitty way he sold out his partners during the Asian oil lease fiasco at the end of Season 3. He further explains that there isn't an oil man in Texas who's willing to go into deals with Ewing Oil, and that they consider him yesterday's news. JR reacts to being shunned by staring despondently into space.

Sue Ellen tells Dr. Ellby that she suspects Pam is about to have an affair, and he's like, "Uh, so?" and asks her why she cares. Sue Ellen says she finds it fascinating that even though Pam is married to the kind brother, she's still afflicted with "the Ewing disease": falling in love with a Ewing man, being lavished with attention and affection, then neglected once the husband gets busy with Ewing Oil. Dr. Ellby asks her if she suspects JR of having an affair with Afton, and Sue Ellen says she's sure of it and that at first she felt hurt by the betrayal - but now realizes the problem isn't her 'cause she knows she's more than capable of having a sane extramarital relationship with the right man (as evidenced by her hookup with Dusty).

Cliff meets up with Donna at Dave Culver's office, where he gets introduced to Senator John Bascomb, who announces that he's just been given a Cabinet post and is appointing Dave Culver to fill his seat in the Senate. Cliff perks up when this, of course, means that Dave Culver's seat in the State Senate is up for grabs.

While having dinner in a Japanese restaurant, JR asks Leslie Stewart what her "angle" is, so she tells him she's heard a great deal about him during the short time she's lived in Dallas, namely that he's a cheat, liar, and double-dealer. Bwahaha! JR shoots her a pouty look, so she wanks him by adding, "You're my kind of man" and urges him to hire her as his consultant so that she can rehabilitate his image to the point where the oilman cronies who currently refuse to give him the time of day would beg to do business with him. JR looks intrigued by the prospect, then suggests they head over to the nearest motel to seal the deal - but she sassily says she'd rather they meet in his office tomorrow and sign an official contract.

Alex Ward drops by The Store to tell Pam that furtive handholding and sneaking around isn't his style, then comes right out and asks her if she wants him. She says she does, but that they're at a stalemate 'cause she's not ready to give up on Bobby and therefore doesn't want to cheat on him.

Arliss and Afton drop by the condo to visit Mitch and Lucy and share the exciting news about Afton's new singing gig, courtesy of JR's restauranteur connections. As Lucy stares suspiciously into space, Mitch agrees to drive Afton to the restaurant for her first night on the job...and as Lucy closes the door behind them, she snidely calls JR 'a true soul of generosity'. Heh.

At Southfork, JR grumbles to Sue Ellen about their new bed, which she bought 'cause the previous one "had been used once too many times". She remarks on his cheery demeanour and tells him that Mitch's sister and ma decided to stay in Dallas permanently, and he tries to look completely unaffected by that development as he mumbles, "That's nice." Sue Ellen then comes right out and says she actually feels sorry for Afton, and calls her "a poor little girl who has no idea what she's getting into", and JR smirks mutely before exiting the room. 

JR is moping in his office now that it's become painfully clear he can't get any Texas oilmen to return his phone calls. Leslie Stewart arrives to discuss Operation Pull JR's Reputation Out of the Dumpster and tells him she's lined up interviews with the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, and explains that her objective is to put Ewing Oil on the national map so that he doesn't have to rely solely on the local yokels to enter into joint business deals. JR says he definitely likes the sound of that and eagerly signs the contract, then pours each of them a drink. After Leslie toasts, "To my biggest challenge", JR suggests they kick off the campaign with a sexy romp - but she says she has no time for that, then exits the office, leaving JR staring after her in befuddlement.

That evening, Leslie is in the sack with Justin Carlisle...and after some post-coitus canoodling, she tells him this will be their last evening together 'cause she just took on a big client that requires her to have "room to maneuver". Justin perks up at that and asks, "Ewing?", then looks impressed when Leslie confirms that, yep, it is.

JR calls Hank Johnson and learns that whatever fictional Asian country his oil leases were based in is experiencing instability, unrest, and an active underground. JR barks that he wants a revolution, and that he wants it now so he can finally regain control over the oil fields.

Recap: Mitch complains to his mom and sister that they aren't being sympathetic enough about his resentment of the Ewings for wanting to shower him and Lucy with material things, and Arliss is like, "What are you, some kind of idiot?" and says that clearly the Ewings are thinking of Lucy's happiness. Afton concurs and says she haaaaates his tiny apartment, and Mitch gets all defensive and says he's determined to live solely on what he can afford, not what the Ewings insists on lavishing on him and Lucy. He reminds the two that they made do with the bare essentials after the untimely death of his pops, and Arliss rolls her eyes and says her husband was a nice enough man, but dirt poor and likely would have had no problem taking a handout if a rich Ewing had offered it. Afton urges Mitch to consider what Lucy wants, and Arliss tells him it's fine to continue on with medical school, but that he should marry Lucy and quietly accept the luxury condo that comes with her. Mitch mulls that over as he stares contemplatively into space.

Bobby tells Brady York that Ewing Oil will no longer be able to supply him with gasoline, and Brady's all, "Wha-a-a-a-a??" and says that that decision is going to put him out of business. When Bobby suggests purchasing gasoline from a different refinery, Brady says that the refinery he was buying from just got snapped up by West Star. He tells Bobby he's now willing to pay $2 more a barrel, but Bobby says it's too late to negotiate that now...and that unless he can come up with $12 million in the next day or two, he has no choice but to cut him loose. Brady says he has a snowball's chance in hell of quickly raising that kind of dough, snappishly says he regrets ever trusting him, and huffily exits the office.

At Southfork, Jock wanders into the living room and finds Miss Ellie sitting on the couch, staring blankly into space. She tells him she's still upset about Mitch storming off...and when Jock suggests that maybe he's not right for Lucy, she's like, "Why? Because he's not an oil man?" She says she loooooves that Mitch stood up to him and Jock, but feels badly for Lucy now that it looks like the wedding is off. Jock asks her if she's mostly mad that Gary won't be coming to Dallas after all, and Miss Ellie admits she is supremely pissed off about that, not least 'cause she continues to cling to the futile hope that Gary will one decide to move back to Texas permanently. Jock argues that Gary could never be happy at Southfork - just as Ray wanders in and asks Jock if he's ready to head out. Jock tells Miss Ellie they have to go into town for awhile...and once Ray is out of hearing range, Miss Ellie chides her husband for never having the kind of affection for Gary that he obviously feels for Ray. Jock chews on that for a few seconds before wandering off.

Alex Ward drops by The Store to flirt with Pam again, but she tells him she can't talk right now 'cause she's on her way to an important business lunch. After she rushes off, Liz Craig asks Alex what he's doing here, and he comes right out and says he wants Pam and that he's used to getting what he wants. So there.

A glum Lucy is sunning herself by the pool when Mitch arrives at Southfork to apologize for walking out on her during the previous episode. He explains that he can't stand the pressure that comes along with marrying someone with the last name Ewing, and she's all, "That's my name!" and shoves him into the pool. He's like, "Thanks, that was refreshing" and points out that if she marries him her last name would no longer be Ewing, and she perks up and asks him if he still wants to marry her. He says he does, and that he'll tolerate living in a Ewing-subsidized condo, but won't accept a house or a job at Ewing Oil. He then stretches his arms out and asks, "Will you marry me?" and Lucy squeals joyfully and leaps into the pool to give him a smooch.

Brady York returns to Ewing Oil to tell Bobby that there's definitely no chance in hell he's going to be able to raise the $12 million he needs to continue getting supplied with gasoline from Ewing Oil's refinery, then sadly says this means that he and 500 independent gasoline station owners are about to go belly up. Bobby suggests that perhaps West Star is open to supplying the independents, but Brady lets out a bitter laugh and says that West Star is looking to run the independents out of business in order to rid itself of the competition, then storms out of the office.

JR calls Jeremy Wendell to find out if Bobby signed the contracts with West Star. Jeremy says he hasn't signed yet, but that he fully expects him to do so by tomorrow.

Jordan Lee calls Bobby to excitedly announce that they'll be able to start drilling off the Gulf imminently. He suggests they meet at the bank tomorrow in order for Bobby to pony up the $12 million needed for Ewing Oil to enter into the cartel deal. Bobby promises to be there at noon, then contorts his normally wooden face into an expression of concern as he pours himself a stiff drink.

Jock and Miss Ellie pick up Gary and Val at the airport. After the hello hugs, Miss Ellie gushes to Val about what a nice strong man Mitch is, and that she's sure she and Gary will like him a lot.

Bobby is at a watering hole with Connie, and he's boozing it up while she nurses one drink. She tells him it's getting late, and he glumly says he doesn't want to go home to his shitty family just yet. Connie says that binge-drinking isn't going to solve what's bothering him, then bids him goodnight and kisses the side of his face, leaving behind a lipstick imprint for Pam to misinterpret. He promises to only have one more drink before heading out...and she refrains from pointing out that his blood alcohol level is no doubt already over the legal limit, and that he's in no shape to be behind the wheel.

Pam is reading in bed when Bobby finally staggers in. She admonishes him for not being home in time to spend some quality family time with Gary and Val...and when he starts whining about his work problems, she snappishly asks him if these problems have anything to do with why he's drunk and has lipstick smeared on the side of his face. He's all, "Whoa, I didn't do anything wrong" ... and she snappishly retorts that he's becoming more like JR every day, and that if she wanted an unfaithful douchetard for a husband, she would have married JR.

The next morning, Bobby and Gary swim laps together. Bobby apologizes for getting home so late last night, then complains about how wretched it is to be president of Ewing Oil, and questions if it's worth all the grief [hint: it's not]. The two climb out of the pool - just as the rest of the family emerges from the house for breakfast on the patio. JR pulls Sue Ellen aside and covertly tells her that today Bobby has to either:

• Sign a contract with West Star, which will result in screwing over Brady York and the independents and enrage Jock to the point of booting him out of Ewing Oil 
• Not sign the contract with West Star, which will result in blowing the deal with Jordan Lee and the cartel and enrage Jock to the point of booting him out of Ewing Oil 

JR cackles, "Either way I win", and Sue Ellen shoots him a devilish 'you go!' type grin. 

A gussied up Donna stops by Cliff's apartment and implores him to escort her to Lucy's/Mitch's wedding at Southfork. When he expresses zero interest in doing that, she stares at him disapprovingly and says they can only remain a couple if it's right...and that they'll both know if that changes for either of them. Ouch. Sounds like someone's getting the heave-ho in the foreseeable future. 

Over at Ewing Oil, Jeremy Wendell presents Bobby with the contract for $12 million worth of gasoline and urges him to sign. Bobby looks contemplative for a few seconds and says he has just one question: if he signs, will West Star stockpile the gasoline instead of distributing it to the independents? Jeremy's like, "Why do you care?" and Bobby shoots him a hard stare before the camera abruptly pans back to Southfork.

Wedding time! As the wedding guests stream onto Southfork, Sue Ellen is reintroduced to Clint Ogden, an ex-boyfriend from university. Clint tells her that back in the day he had assumed she was his girl until JR swooped in and stole her away, and Sue Ellen's like, "OK, awkward" and hastily excuses herself.

​Alex Ward approaches Pam to say hey, and she's all, "How in blazes did you get an invitation?", so he tells her he's an important publisher who just happens to be doing a feature on Texas weddings. Pam mulls that over for a few seconds before excusing herself to go inside to see how Lucy's doing. He yells after her, "You can't run away forever!" - discreet, dude - just as Bobby returns home and rushes upstairs to get changed.

Lucy is surrounded by the Ewing womenfolk as she puts the final touches on her wedding ensemble. The ladies do the something old, new, borrowed, and blue tradition - and Lucy is positively giddy when Val presents her with her something new: a pearl necklace from her and Gary.

As the Wedding March begins, Gary walks Lucy down the aisle...and the spectators oh and aw about her pretty wedding gown hand-me-down. As Lucy and Mitch exchange vows, Clint stares hungrily at Sue Ellen, while Pam stares glances over at Alex Ward. When Lucy and Mitch are pronounced husband and wife, they smooch in an awkwardly long lip-lock.

Lucy dances with Gary and tells him she always dreamed of him walking her down the aisle, and is happy to report that her actual wedding lived up to her expectations. 

Ray runs into Donna, and the two shake hands, which was weird. She notices that his tie isn't tied quite right and fixes it while staring deeply into his eyes - until an acquaintance screeches, "Hey Donna!" and drags her away for an impromptu chit-chat.

Clint tells Sue Ellen he never lost interest in her and has been following her [various drunken escapades] in the local newspapers. He tells her that after she dumped him he spent five years in Japan to learn how to start an electronics company, and she perks up at that extramarital gold-digging opportunity and asks him if he followed through and started the company. He tells her she's going to have to dance with him to find out, and she's like 'sure, what the hell'. 

Gary welcomes Ray to the Ewing family, then explains that Jock filled him in about his new bio dad situation. He says he couldn't be happier that Southfork is in such great hands, and that he now can live his life in California and no longer worry about the family ranch...which prompts Miss Ellie to scrunch her face in disapproval at the thought of her fully grown son not wanting to live under the same roof as his parents and siblings his entire life and retreat inside the house. Val asks Ray if JR has made him feel welcome, and Ray chuckles and says he doesn't spend a whole lot of time with his dickish half-brother - as the camera pans over to JR's bedroom, where he's laying next to Afton, enjoying some post-coitus afterglow. Afton hovers over him and insists that she's not easy, despite having leaped into bed with him one episode after they first met, and that she had a deep desire to get boned by him 'cause of how different he is from anyone she's ever met. She says she could immediately tell that he's someone who always gets what he wants, and he chuckles and says, "I try." He then says he's really going to miss her [cooch] when she returns to Mississippi with her mom, and Afton stares smilingly into space and whispers, "Maybe we're going, maybe we're not." I'm guessing not.

One of the Ewing manservants accidentally crashes into Sue Ellen and spills wine all over her dress, so she rushes inside to change - just as Afton is on her way out. Sue Ellen snidely remarks that this house seems to hold a fascination for her, then runs into JR a few seconds later. He tells her he was just using the bathroom, and she narrows her eyes skeptically and rushes upstairs to their bedroom, pulls back the comforter, and finds the sheets sexily rumpled underneath. She glares at the bed and murmurs, "So, the real JR has finally come home."

Pam introduces Bobby to Alex, and Alex gushes about what a great dancer Pam is and how great she is at her job...and Bobby mumbles, "Yeah whatever", prompting Alex to awkwardly wander away. An embarrassed Pam asks Bobby if he'd mind it if she danced with Alex...or went to bed with him, and he sighs wearily and says he's in no mood for a fight, then ambles off to find JR and Jock so he can make an important announcement.

Donna tells Ray that Lucy blabbed to her about him being Jock's bio son, and that Lucy invited her to the wedding in the hope that they two of them will resume their relationship. Ray makes a meh face and says he doesn't think a cowboy and a politician should be together. Donna admits that she hoped he'd be at least a little jealous when she hooked up with Cliff, then bitterly adds, "It's a shame that love doesn't conquer all" before storming off. 

While dancing, Alex tells Pam he can't understand Bobby's lack of interest in her, and that he'd loooove to take her to a place where there are no Ewings - yes please! - and Pam stares back at him with an intrigued expression on her face.
​
Inside the study, Bobby announces to Jock and JR that he wants out of Ewing Oil and says, "It's all yours, JR." He explains that today he nearly did something he'd never be able to forgive himself for...and when a confused JR asks if this means he didn't sign the contract with West Star, Bobby bitterly retorts, "You know all about that, don't you? I guess I'm not surprised" - to which JR smugly says the reason he's on top is 'cause he makes it a point to know everything that happens in Dallas. Bobby says he had wanted to run the company "on the up and up" - but eventually the deals became more important than people. JR's like, "Blah blah, did you blow the deal with Jordan Lee and the cartel?", so Bobby assures him and Jock that they're fine with the cartel and says he phoned Jordan Lee earlier, explained the dire money situation, and arranged for another oil company to step in and take over their part of the investment. He snidely adds that the cartel is delighted by the arrangement, but made it clear that they don't want JR back at the helm. After Bobby stalks out of the room, Jock tells JR he thinks that Bobby did a great job as president and is proud of how he ran things. He gruffly declares him "a helluva son and a helluva man", then ambles out, leaving JR staring unhappily into space.

Clint reminds Sue Ellen that they had themselves some great times back in university, and that he thought a lot about her after she dumped him like yesterday's news. Sue Ellen coquettishly says the last page of their relationship may not yet be written...and when he informs her that, despite all the flirty comments and come hither looks he's lobbed at her today, he's married, she replies, "Aren't we all?" and starts dancing cheek-to-cheek with him.

Jock tells Miss Ellie that Bobby is stepping down from Ewing Oil and transitioning back to being a ranch hand at Southfork. Miss Ellie snaps that she couldn't give a rat's ass who runs Ewing Oil now that Gary is lost to her forever (!) ... and makes it clear how upset she is that Ray, who doesn't have a drop of Southworth blood in him, is co-running her daddy's ranch. She angrily declares, "I'll never forgive you for what you've done to him and me. You and Ray Krebbs", then huffily walks off. What a bitchy weirdo.

Lucy throws her bouquet, which is caught by Afton...and the camera pans over to JR, who's standing by the bar and staring into space with a smug smile on his face.

Recap: Bobby stops at the gas station in Braddock and chitchats with Red (the attendant), who tells him that customers have been bellyaching to him about the rising prices of gas despite the fact that he doesn't set the prices. Bobby clucks sympathetically, then goes inside the gas station to get himself a cup of coffee.

Over at Southfork, Lucy is wearing Miss Ellie's wedding gown as the seamstress makes the necessary alterations. Miss Ellie gets a dreamy look on her face and recalls that after Jock proposed, he had the fancy white fabric specially flown in from Paris. Sue Ellen reminisces about how the day she married JR was the most wonderful day of her life...and everyone just kind of lets the remark about her now philandering husband hang in the air until Pam reminds everyone that she and Bobby eloped to New Orleans and found the nearest Justice of the Peace to wed them. Miss Ellie chuckles and tells her that her daddy hated Jock at first, which she translates to mean that it's A-OK for Pam to have had the last word on who she married. Lucy changes the subject and complains that Mitch is sooooo focused on med school, and Sue Ellen says she's lucky he's so ambitious and looks to Pam to concur - but Pam argues that ambition is only OK if it doesn't become an obsession.

When Bobby arrives at the office, Connie passes along a message that Jordan Lee wants to schedule a meeting with him this afternoon to sign the Gulf oil deal contract...and Louella covertly buzzes the phone in Bobby's office, where JR is busily snooping. JR tells Bobby he dropped by to see if he needed help with anything, but Bobby says he's too busy to talk and assures him he'll give him a call if he ever needs his assistance.

Jock and his cronies are at the Cattlemen's Club, poring over their plans to develop the Louisiana/Texas swampland. They discuss their concerns about Dave Culver getting in their way, then express relief that (for now, at least) no one knows that they're the ones behind this raping of the swampland. One of them suggests bribing some commission so that the ecologists will give them the go-ahead for the project.

Louella calls the office from a motel room and tells Connie that JR has assigned her to an important task...and by important task, she means she's currently in bed with JR enjoying some post-coital afterglow. After she hangs up, Louella tells JR she regrets marrying a man who's always on the road...then explains that she has no compunction about spilling Bobby's secrets 'cause she strongly feels that he's the brother who should be running Ewing Oil. She adds that she's pretty sure Connie has a thing for Bobby - but because he's always so busy working, he doesn't have time for any extramarital hanky panky.

Liz Craig drops by Pam's office to tell her that Alex Ward invited them to lunch on the pretext of discussing doing a feature media spread on The Store. Pam says she's too busy, and that it's prolly better if she doesn't see him for awhile. Liz offers to go in her stead and cackles, "He's mighty persistent!"

When Jordan Lee and his attorney arrive at Ewing Oil, Bobby signs the contact and hands him a check for the initial 50K downpayment. Jordan thanks him and assures him that this venture is going to be a HUGE moneymaker for everyone in the cartel, then says he's soooo happy to do business with him and not JR. After they leave, Connie asks Bobby why he didn't mention that he's short the $12 million he's going to need in a few months, and Bobby says he'll find it somehow...but then contorts his default wooden expression into one of concern. 

During pre-dinner drinks at Southfork, Jock tells JR and Bobby he heard that Jordan Lee is putting together a big Gulf oil deal. JR feigns surprise and is all, "Wuh? Really?" - LOL - while Bobby proudly says he knows all about it 'cause he's in on the deal. JR asks him how he's going to come up with the $12 million he's going to need to throw into the pot once the drilling starts, and Bobby says he's working on it...and the two bicker back and forth about what a great/terrible idea it is to enter into a deal without having all the needed cash upfront. Jock grizzles that he rather likes the idea of Ewing Oil working with the cartel again, and Bobby earnestly assures his daddy that [with no help from him] he'll somehow scrape together the necessary cash.

Lucy and Mitch are in his teeny tiny apartment, enjoying some sack time and discussing the imminent arrival of his mother and sister. Lucy says she really hopes they like her, then informs Mitch that she booked them a couple of rooms at the Fairview Hotel. Mitch scrunches his face disapprovingly and says he'd prefer it if the two bunked with him in his apartment and says he's pretty sure that, given what an impoverished lifestyle they've been enduring up until now, they'd feel a lot more comfortable staying in his cramped shithole as opposed to a swanky hotel (as it turns out: not). Lucy's all, "OK, whatever", then says she definitely wants them to move to a better place once they're married - but Mitch decrees that they're going to live wherever he can afford. 

Bobby returns home from work and finds Pam milling around the dining room. He moans about all the problems he's dealing with at Ewing Oil...but when Pam encourages him to open up to her about exactly what problems these are, he says he'd rather work through them on his own. Pam gets visibly irked and says it'd be nice if they solved their problems together, then stalks out of the room.

The next day, Mitch and Lucy greet Mitch's mom (Arliss) and sister (Afton) at the airport. When Mitch introduces them to Lucy, Afton asks her if it's really true she's rolling in dough, and Lucy sheepishly admits that, yep, her family is pretty wealthy. Arliss says there's no reason to feel bad about being disgustingly rich, and Lucy beams happily and asks Afton if she'd like to be one of her bridesmaids.

Donna, Dave Culver, and Cliff are guest speakers at Southfork at an engagement aimed at a group of women who are advocating stopping the Louisiana/Texas swampland development [which Miss Ellie seems to have no idea that Jock and his cronies are behind]. Miss Ellie privately applauds Donna for her speech and promises to do what she can to save the swampland, while Cliff wanders over to where Sue Ellen is standing and tells her how good she's lookin'. Sue Ellen says she's never been happier and is getting along really well with JR these days...and Cliff's all, "Oh yeah? Well Donna's super bright, strong, and caring." Sue Ellen tells him how fantastic that is - but that since people are starting to gawk at them, they should probably stop talking now.

Jock ambles into the study and finds JR reading a book. JR explains that since he's been banned from running Ewing Oil he doesn't have much to do these days, so Jock suggests the two of them drive into Braddock and tie one on at the local bar. 

The Ewing Oil accountant goes over the books with Bobby and confirms that, yep, he definitely has a temporary cash flow problem...and that there's little in the way of assets he can sell without interfering in oil production. Bobby stares despondently into space for a few seconds before vowing to somehow find the $12 million he needs for the Gulf deal.

After a short boozefest, JR and Jock head over to the Braddock gas station and chitchat with Red, who sourly informs them that Bobby just ordered Brady York to raise the price of gas...and threatened to cut off his gas supply if he doesn't capitulate. Red complains that this gas hike is going to put all of the independents out of business, and Jock scrunches his wrinkly face disapprovingly and declares that no son of his would knowingly screw over the little guy...and if he did, he'd be steel-toed out of Ewing Oil. JR perks up at that pronouncement and promises Red that they'll look into the matter.
​
JR summons Jeremy Wendell to the Ewing condo to ask him if it's really true that he offered to buy gasoline from Ewing Oil. Jeremy confirms it's true and says he offered Bobby $2 more a barrel than he's been getting from the independents - but Bobby declined 'cause he's so skittish about breaking the handshake deals Jock made with the yokels more than twenty years ago. Jeremy shakes his head in dismay and tells JR he'd much rather do business with him, and looks forward to the day he returns to the helm of Ewing Oil.

Alex Ward calls Pam at The Store and invites her to dinner - but she declines and tells him that while she's not trying to avoid him, she doesn't think they should ever see each other anymore [which is kinda the definition of avoid]. Alex points out that there's nothing to worry about if her marriage is solid, but she firmly says no and abruptly ends the call.

During pre-dinner drinks at Southfork, Lucy returns to the ranch with Arliss and Afton Cooper in tow and introduces them to the Ewing clan. As Miss Ellie makes polite smalltalk with Arliss, JR openly ogles Afton and offers to fix her a drink. Arliss giddily tells Mitch that Afton just loooooves the fancy, cleavage-baring dress Lucy bought for her, and Mitch scrunches his face disapprovingly and grumpily says that he'd prefer to be the one who buys his sister new skankwear.

That evening, Pam finds Bobby doing paperwork in bed and asks him if he can finish that in the morning, but he says he's waaaay too busy to stop working until well into the night. Pam sighs and tells him they neeeeeed to spend more time together and complains that he hasn't boned her in weeks, and Bobby kind of rolls his eyes and offers to move his papers out of the way so they can enjoy an impromptu romp. Pam gets annoyed and snaps, "No one's ever made love to me out of pity!" and storms out of the room.

At breakfast the next morning, Jock tells JR that the Cooper women seem nice enough, and JR nods his agreement and wonders aloud if Afton can type. Oh dear. When a grim-faced Bobby and Pam emerge from the house, JR gleefully tells Bobby it takes a special kind of woman to be an executive's wife. Bobby snappishly retorts, "It's none of your business" - just as Jordan Lee calls the ranch to inform Bobby that the oil samples in the Gulf look great, and that they hope to start drilling in ten days. He excitedly adds, "Get your money ready! It's gonna be a bonanza!" ... and Bobby hangs up the phone, his face etched with worry. He tells Jock that drilling in the Gulf is scheduled to start in about a week, and JR cheekily reminds him, "You just need $12 million."

JR summons Jeremy Wendell back to the condo and orders him to offer Bobby $15 million upfront for gasoline from the new Ewing refinery, then assures him that Bobby is so desperate for the cash that he won't be able to avoid screwing over the independents that Jock so cherishes.

Pam returns to her office and finds a bouquet of pretty flowers waiting for her. She assumes they're from Bobby until she opens the note that reads 'Just in case you change your mind. Love, Alex'. She stares contemplatively into space for a few seconds, picks up the phone, but then puts it down and defiantly tears up the note.

As Sue Ellen gets dressed, she reminds JR that Lucy is having her bridal shower at the ranch today - and that since the house is going to be overrun by females, he might want to spend the day elsewhere. JR shrugs and says he doesn't mind, then tells her that Bobby's downfall at Ewing Oil is imminent...and cackles as he adds, "And so is my reinstatement at Ewing Oil." Sue Ellen grins at the sound of his evil laugh, and climbs onto the bed for a quickie.

Out on the patio, Lucy excitedly opens her shower gifts. Afton asks Miss Ellie if that's JR's car in the driveway...and when Miss Ellie says it is, Afton asks why he hasn't come out to say hello. Miss Ellie shrugs and says that since this is Lucy's party, he probably just wants to stay out of the way. Afton mulls that over for a few seconds, then glances around before covertly wandering towards the house and slipping inside. Mmm hmm..

Connie tells Bobby that Jeremy Wendell has requested an urgent meeting this afternoon, and Louella immediately perks up at that intriguing development.

Afton pretends to accidentally stumble into JR's bedroom, where he's lounging atop his bed reading the paper. As he stares at her hungrily, she "explains" that she left her sweater in Lucy's room...then purrs about how much she looooves Southfork, has no desire to go back to Mississippi, and really wants someone to talk her into staying in Dallas.

One of the shower guests asks Sue Ellen to bring her son to the party so they can all gush over the cute tot...and then the camera pans over to JR's room, where he and Afton are pressed against the door in a lip-lock. She tells him they shouldn't do anything heavier today, then exits the room...and JR stares longingly after her and moans to himself about wanting to tap that soon.

Afton runs into Sue Ellen after descending the staircase and tells her she's lucky to have a fine husband like JR and live in this beautiful house...and as she sexily sashays towards the patio, Sue Ellen stares after her suspiciously.

Jeremy Wendell offers Bobby $15 million upfront for a large supply of gasoline, and Bobby looks startled by the cash offer and says he's definitely going to rethink all the handshake deals his stupid father made decades ago [seemingly without bothering to get any of it in writing] and strongly consider accepting his offer.

Mitch arrives at Southfork just as the bridal shower is winding down. When JR ambles over, Arliss expresses her concern on how hard Mitch is going to have to struggle financially before he gets his medical license. JR says there's always room at Ewing Oil  for "an enterprising man" and tells Mitch he could earn big money if he decides to ditch medicine and leap into the oil business. As Mitch twitches angrily, Jock raises a toast to the happy couple and announces that he's gifting them a giant condo in the fancy Oakridge neighborhood. As Lucy claps joyfully, Mitch frowns and says he'd prefer them to begin their married life in his teeny tiny apartment. Arliss completely ignores that and says she loooooves the idea of her son living in a nice big, Ewing-subsidized condo...and JR chuckles and jokingly (?) tells Lucy that once she's knocked up, he'll buy her a house so that Arliss and Afton can come live with her and Mitch full-time. A steamed Mitch makes it clear he has no desire for a job at Ewing Oil and intends to stick to his plan of becoming a medical researcher, then snaps, "I don't want the Ewing money!" and storms off.

Later, JR gets a call from Jeremy Wendell, who reports that Bobby accepted his $15 million offer. When Jock stumbles into the study a few seconds later and asks whassup, JR says, "You'll find out soon" and grins evilly.

Recap: Pam is presiding over a downtown photo shoot when a man who's been ogling her from across the street for several minutes finally wanders over. He introduces himself as Alex Ward, the publisher of Dallas Life Magazine (aka the agency that commissioned this photo shoot) and flirtily tells Pam he'd loooove to stay and observe the photo taking.

Over at Ewing Oil, Jeremy Wendell (of West Star Oil) is imploring Bobby to sell him some much needed gasoline for $2 more a barrel than what he's currently getting, but Bobby says that most of their supply is contracted for Brady York, an old friend he can't bring himself to hit up for an additional $2 a barrel. Jeremy points out that if he cuts Brady York loose and does business with him, he'd make a cool $18 million profit - but Bobby sanctimoniously says that honesty and friendship are far more important to him than profits. Jeremy shakes his head in utter incredulity as he heads out, and Bobby tells Connie to cancel his lunch with Pam for the umpteenth time 'cause he needs to schedule an emergency summit with his accountant that absolutely needs to take place over the lunch hour.  

JR arrives at Ewing Oil just after Bobby leaves and gets the low down from Louella on everything Bobby's been up to lately. She blabs about how Bobby is meeting his accountant to discuss a $12 million deal he has brewing with Jordan Lee, and JR stares contemplatively into space as he chews on that fascinating nugget. 

After the photo shoot, Alex Ward asks Pam to lunch, but she says she already has a lunch date with her husband - just as Bobby pulls up in his convertible to let her know he's once again far too busy at Ewing Oil to spare any time for her. Pam's all, "&%$#!!" and tells him she urgently needs to update him on Operation Find Mother Barnes, but he's like, "No can do!" and squeals off. LOL. A miffed Pam strides back over to where Alex has been watching the embarrassing exchange and tells him she'd be more than happy to have lunch with him after all.

Jock is at the Cattlemen's Club, yukking it up with Punk Anderson and Pat Powers as they discuss the Texas-Louisiana swampland conversion project...and Ray and JR bob their heads approvingly. JR urges his daddy to jump on the deal, so Jock growls, "I'm in!" and raises a toast to the exciting new venture. 

A smiling Pam returns to work after her lunch with Alex Ward. She gets on the phone, calls Ewing Oil, and asks Connie to tell Bobbie to call her asap.

Bobby, meanwhile, arrives home and finds JR lounging by the pool. When JR asks whassup, Bobby tells him he needs to talk to Jock about a Gulf Coast oil deal he wants to enter into with Jordan Lee and the cartel and reveals that it amounts to a $12 million investment. JR pretends to look impressed and says it sounds like a great opportunity, and Bobby curtly nods and heads inside while JR smirkingly stares after him.

Bobby runs into a swimsuit-clad Sue Ellen, who expresses surprise that he's home at such an early hour. She remarks on how hard it is to run Ewing Oil 'cause "you can't call your soul your own" - but Bobby insists that he can, and that he wants Ewing Oil to play by the rules. Sue Ellen chuckles about the notion of a Ewing respecting rules and says that JR generally operates by the principle of 'when it comes to power, there are no rules'. Bobby argues that he doesn't just want power for power's sake, and Sue Ellen snidely retorts, "Don't worry, you'll never get it" and adds that JR is a natural born fighter who understands power and is enough of a sociopath to know how to control and manipulate people. She then gives Bobby a derisive once over and says that he, on the other hand, is "JR's little brother" before smiling smugly and sashaying off to the pool.

Pam arrives home late and irritably gives Bobby the update she's been trying to give him all episode: she found her bio ma, learned that she's married to a rich guy and has a daughter - but she doesn't want to blow up her marriage by telling him she used to be married with children. Bobby's like, "Yeesh, sounds rough" and admits that he's been so busy with work lately that he hasn't had time to feign interest in her family problems. Pam accuses him of caring only about Ewing Oil, so he snaps, "Did it ever occur to you that I might need a little support from you now and then?!", and she counter-snaps, "I wouldn't know...you're never home!" Bobby says he won't apologize for being so dedicated to his work, then announces that he's so fuckin' pissed off right now that he's off to spend the night in Kristin's old condo...and as he storms out, Pam glares into space and visibly trembles with rage. 

When Mitch arrives at Southfork during pre-dinner drinks, Lucy ushers him into a vacant room and eagerly suggests they get married next month. He's like, "What's the rush?" and reminds her that he needs to finish school. Lucy chirps, "So do I!" and says they could study together so she can be with him all the time. When he doesn't have the good sense to refuse, object, or give her a tepid maybe, she drags him into the sitting room where the Ewings are assembled and excitedly announces, "Mitch and I are getting married!" A dismayed looking Miss Ellie moans, "Oh no, Lucy.." - LOL - while Jock scrunches his wrinkly face disapprovingly and grumbles, "The hell?" Lucy ignores the lacklustre reaction and happily gabbles about how she's giving them a month's notice so that Miss Ellie has time to plan the grand affair, and Mitch confirms that, indeed, he's on board with this horrible decision and half-heartedly declares his love for Lucy. JR points out that it's going to take him awhile to get a medical practice going and be able to accommodate his spoiled niece in the lifestyle to which she's become accustomed, and Mitch just shrugs and replies, "Her style will have to change", then clarifies that he's chosen to go into research, not start a medical practice. JR asks if that pays well, and Mitch retorts, "Well enough", then says all that matters is the love he and Lucy feel for each other. Pam strides over and says she'd like to be the first to congratulate the happy couple, then kisses Lucy's cheek before shooting JR the stink-eye...and Jock rolls his eyes and growls, "I need another drink."

The next morning, Ray assures Jock that Lucy could do a lot worse than marry Mitch - but Jock just grunts disapprovingly and says that Lucy has always had terrible luck with men...and Ray refrains from chuckling, "You don't know the half of it!", 'cause I don't think Jock has any idea that in Season 1 Lucy was bumping uglies with him, aka her now-uncle. Ew. Jock changes the subject to the Texas-Louisiana swampland conversion project and says he feels positively vigorous now that he's officially committed to the venture...and Ray says he may want to give Bobby a heads up that he's about to draw $10 million from the Ewing Oil account. Jock snarks that Ewing Oil is his, and that if Bobby doesn't like him randomly withdrawing millions from the bank account of the company he himself appointed him to run, then tough shit. 

Bobby drops by The Store to present Pam with a flower bouquet and an apology for acting like such a dickwad last night. They both agree they love and miss each other, and Bobby suggests they have a romantic dinner date tonight...and promises to pick her up at never o'clock 'cause no doubt another emergency meeting will pop up to place a continued strain on their crumbling marriage. 

Back at Southfork, Miss Ellie urges Lucy to consider if a quickie wedding with a guy she's only known for eight episodes is truly the best thing for her and Mitch, then suggests she give him the time and space to finish med school and get his research career off the ground before he's burdened with such a twit-wife. Lucy nixes that idea and says she badly neeeeeeds to belong to someone asap in order to make up for her parent-less upbringing.

Jock takes his coterie of man pals along to the Lonestar Bank so they can watch him withdraw the $10 million he needs to invest in the Texas-Louisiana swampland conversion project. JR wanks him about "the helluva deal" he just made and asks him if, by chance, he spoke to Bobby about withdrawing so much cash, but Jock dismissively says that Bobby is probably too busy to have a conversation about it. What a shithead.

Alex drops by The Store to gush to Pam and Liz Craig about how awesome the photos from the shoot turned out, then invites both ladies to lunch to celebrate. They happily accept.

Bobby meets with Les Crowley of the Lonestar Bank to tell him he's going to need a quick infusion of cash once he withdraws $12 million from the Ewing Oil account. Les gets an uncomfortable look on his face and informs him that his daddy was just at the bank and withdrew $10 million from the account for a new real estate venture, and heard that he and his man pals - JR included - were off to the Cattlemen's Club to celebrate. Bobby pales and is all, "The fuck?" and informs Connie that he's off to angrily confront his father and brother.  

Bobbie storms into the Cattlemen's Club, glares at JR, and asks him why he wasn't told about the impromptu $10 million withdrawal. Jock interjects and says that JR doesn't generally go around discussing his private business with anyone, so then Bobby turns his ire towards his father and asks why he didn't think it would have been helpful for the Ewing Oil President to know that the company's bank account would suddenly have a debit of $10 million, then angrily explains that he needs $12 million for a Gulf Coast oil deal with Jordan Lee. Jock furrows his brows, gets all in Bobby's face, and declares that every penny in that bank account is his...and when Bobby points out that the money actually belongs to Ewing Oil, Jock snaps, "Ewing Oil is me! And don't you forget it!" When Bobby reminds him that he gave him the power to run the company, he Jock growls, "Real power is something you take!" ... and after Bobby chews on that nonsensical pronouncement for a few seconds, he grits his teeth and replies, "Well, I'm going to remember that" before stalking out of the restaurant.

Liz Craig is third-wheeling it on Pam's lunch date with Alex Ward as the two flirtily gabble about their passions, hopes and dreams.

Bobby calls Jordan Lee to cancel their meeting, but promises to reschedule for tomorrow afternoon. He then asks Connie to hold his calls for the next hour so he can stare despondently out the window. 

JR takes Sue Ellen jewelry shopping and buys her a giant sapphire ring for being such an agreeable trophy wife lately...and she gigglingly thanks him for the needlessly extravagant gift. 

Connie tentatively enters Bobby's office to ask him if he's OK, and he moans, "A whole lot is wrong" and tells her about Jock's $10 million withdrawal, which is going to compromise his ability to finance the Gulf Coast oil deal. He says he could always dump Brady York and sell gasoline to Jeremy Wendell for $2 more a barrel - then looks as though he's just stumbled onto a brilliant compromise: ask Brady York to pay $2 more a barrel for his gasoline. He tells Connie that this request is somehow going to entail him meeting with the accountant all evening...which means he's going to have to cancel yet another dinner date with Pam.

After leaving the jewelry store, JR and Sue Ellen run into Donna Culver and Cliff and share a few seconds of awkward chit-chat. When they part ways, JR mutters about how disturbing he finds the combination of those two, so Sue Ellen says it won't last 'cause he won't let it...and JR chuckles at the seed she just planted into his devious brain.

Alex drops by The Store to invite Pam to dinner, but she declines 'cause she [is still under the impression that she] will be dining with Bobby for the first time in a very long while. A few seconds later, Bobby calls to cancel dinner, and she stonily asks, "How can you do this?" He starts nattering about the rough day he's having, and she's like, "Oh fuck off, Bobby" and hangs up before ringing Liz's office to tell Alex she's free for dinner after all.

The next morning, Bobby apologizes to Pam for standing her up yet again, and she breezily tells him not to worry about it 'cause she had a perfectly lovely time with Alex Ward. Bobby says he'll somehow make it up to her, but she snappishly tells him to not make rash promises...and he sheepishly mentions that he has a late meeting with Les Crowley and won't be home for dinner tonight. An exasperated Pam climbs into her car and squeals off, leaving Bobby staring after her with his wooden face contorted into a pained expression.

Jock ambles around Southfork with Ray and grumbles about how much Bobby has changed, and not for the better. Ray gently points out that Bobby has a lot on his plate with Ewing Oil, but Jock sneers that he now regrets installing him as President and is still pissed off about the way he embarrassed him in front of his yokel friends.

Pam arrives at her office in The Store and is stunned to find it filled with flowers. She assumes they're from Bobby - until Liz Craig wryly hands her the card that reveals Alex Ward as the sender...and that he's inviting her to meet him for dinner at a swanky restaurant this evening.

Brady York tells Bobby that no way in hell can he afford an extra $2 a barrel for gasoline without passing along the cost to his customers, and Bobby's like, "That's too bad, 'cause I really need the capital" and vaguely says he has to see what he can work out. After Brady York slinks out, Connie suggests to Bobby that he dump the lightweight in favor of doing business with Jeremy Wendell - but Bobby says he wants to run Ewing Oil honestly, while also having enough cash to do business with Jordan Lee.

Pam arrives at the swanky restaurant looking all dolled up, and is stunned when she sees that Alex Ward has closed the restaurant for the next two hours so they could dine and dance in private. He pours her a glass of wine and says he hopes that by the end of the evening she's as interested in him as he is in her, and she stares at him with a wistful expression on her face. 

​Later, the two slow dance while the live band plays...and when Alex leans in for a kiss, Pam is all into it and kisses him back. He whispers, "Come home with me", but she says, "I can't." Alex says he can tell she wants to...and she doesn't disagree, but explains that at the moment she's vulnerable 'cause her marriage is in the shits. He nods and says, "When you're ready, I'll be here" and Pam chews on that intriguing prospect as she ambles out of the restaurant. 

Recap: During pre-dinner drinks at Southfork, JR urges Bobby to write off Ewing 23 now that it's been blown up, and Bobby glares at him and snarks back, "You'd like that, wouldn't you, JR? Then you could cut Cliff Barnes right out of his share." Bobby insists that he wants Ewing 23 back in production asap and points out to Jock that the oil wells can generate an annual revenue of $30 to $40 million. Across the room, Mitch discreetly asks Lucy if the Ewings have nothing better to talk about than money 24/7, and Lucy's like, "Uh, nope." Bobby admonishes JR for not doing as he was instructed during the previous episode, to which Sue Ellen growls, "Extortion money" while JR says he wasn't about to give $5 million to a terrorist. When he tries to draw Mitch into the conversation to get him to agree with him, Mitch shrugs cluelessly and says he has no concept of that kind of money. Lucy snappishly asks if they have to talk about this now, and Miss Ellie concurs and announces that dinner must be ready by now, prompting everyone to get up and dutifully file over to the dining room. On the way, Miss Ellie urges Jock to spend some time talking to Mitch, but Jock makes a blech face and haughtily growls, "What the hell do I have to talk to a parking lot attendant about?" Miss Ellie informs him that Mitch is working his way through medical school, and a still unimpressed Jock just sneers disinterestedly...and the two idiots are having this conversation within earshot of Mitch, who's standing just a few feet away. 

Pam gets a call from her PI, John Mackey, who reports that he's pretty sure he has located her mother, who's now living in Houston. He urges Pam to get to Houston asap so she can get a look at the woman in question, and Pam excitedly tells him she'll be on the next plane.

After dinner, Pam rushes upstairs to pack for Houston. A disapproving Bobby tells her it'd be better for her to travel when she's not so wound up, then says he'd accompany her if he didn't have a smouldering Ewing 23 to deal with. He asks her to please be back in Dallas by Wednesday night 'cause Jock is insisting that the family attend a fundraising dinner for Dave Culver...and Pam sarcastically retorts, "Oooh, well I'll be home then. I wouldn't want to disappoint your family."

Downstairs, Mitch tells Lucy they don't belong together, and that it's obvious the Ewings don't like him 'cause they clearly only have respect for money and power, aka two things he'll never have. When Lucy assures him that the Ewings' acceptance of him is just going to take some time, he says he couldn't give a rat's ass about their acceptance 'cause he has zero desire about wanting to be in their orbit, then suggests they stop seeing each other for awhile. Lucy snaps, "OK, fine" and angrily opens the front door. After Mitch exits, JR - who's been eavesdropping on the conversation - says, "You sure can pick 'em" and mocks his niece for being a magnet for losers and failures. Lucy somehow refrains from pointing out that Mitch is studying to be a doctor and is therefore not an "up and coming pauper" as JR characterizes him, and glares at her uncle as she snaps, "I can't do much worse than Sue Ellen, can I?" and stomps up the stairs. 

In Houston, John Mackey shows Pam all of the evidence he's gathered that prove Rebecca Burke (who now goes by Rebecca Wentworth) is her mother. He then suggests they regroup first thing in the morning so she can get a good look at the woman.

The next morning on the patio, Jock asks Lucy whassup with her moping, so she tells him she's bummed that Mitch put a pause on their relationship, but is confident that they'll make up soon enough. Jock makes a blech face and says that while Mitch seems like a nice enough guy, he's definitely not good enough to be dating a Ewing, even when the Ewing in question is an obnoxiously infantile twit. Lucy argues that Mitch is "as good as they come" 'cause of how honest, smart, and ambitious he is...then points out to her crusty granddad that Mitch likes her in spite of the fact that she's a Ewing, 'cause he's made it clear that he really can't stand the pompous, back-stabbing, money-obsessed clan.

Bobby meets up with Jordan Lee, who offers him the opportunity to join the cartel in an oil drilling venture off the Gulf Coast if he's able to scrape together the required $12 million. Bobby says he'd loooove to participate and be able to boast to his daddy that Ewing Oil and the cartel are playing nice again - but admits that he's currently in a cash bind and will have to figure out to free up that kind of dough.

John Mackey drives Pam to the gated estate where Rebecca Wentworth lives with her rich husband. The two peer through the gates as a sophisticated looking woman exits the front door, chats with a womanservant for a few seconds, then climbs into a chauffeured car before it drives off. Pam tells John she's stunned that her mother is living so high on the hog, so John explains that after she quit her waitressing job, she put herself through secretarial school, got a job at an oil company named Wentworth-Pitts, and caught the eye of the magnate-in-charge, Herbert Wentworth. Not long after that, she became his trophy wife...and the two seem happily married and have a daughter named Katherine.

JR arrives at the Cattlemen's Club and finds Jock and Ray lunching with Punk Anderson and Pat Powers. When JR ambles over and asks whassup, Punk spills the beans about their prospective plans to invest - by each throwing in $10 million - in a project that will transform swampland on the Texas-Louisiana border into a recreational area. As Jock looks visibly irritated that JR now knows about this, JR smugly points out that Bobby has been overspending and wonders aloud if his daddy will even be able to extract $10 million for the venture. Jock growls that he can't fathom the day Ewing Oil doesn't have that kind of cash laying around for a pet project, gruffly reminds Punk and Pat that he's still in the process of thinking about the investment, then abruptly gets up and exits the restaurant.

Pam phones up Rebecca Wentworth, introduces herself, then asks her if the name Pam Ewing means anything to her. Rebecca says that naturally the name Ewing rings a bell, but not Pam Ewing specifically. Pam tells her she really really needs to speak with her in person about an important matter, so Rebecca invites her to swing by the estate at 5pm. After the call, Herbert Wentworth, a wrinkly old man, tells his wife he's off to Dallas, and she chides him living such a fast-paced life at his advanced age, says she has no idea what she'd do if he suddenly keeled over, and gives him a goodbye kiss.

Lucy and her bespectacled friend Muriel are walking together on campus. Muriel tells Lucy she's a jerk if she continues to chase after Mitch, given that they definitely don't belong together. When she tells Lucy she should be happy that Mitch walked out on her, Lucy huffily retorts, "No one walks out on me!" and stomps off in search of Mitch.

Pam arrives at Casa Wentworth via cab, and is ushered inside the house by the womanservant and brought to an indoor pool area, where Rebecca is waiting. Pam gabbles about how she's rehearsed this moment a dozen times...and that when she was a child she thought about her mother every day, never accepted that she was dead, and launched a search for her against the advice of everyone. She giddily squeals, "And then I found you! You're alive! I'm soooooo happy!" - to which Rebecca Wentworth reacts by stonily saying that it's literally impossible for her to be her mother. Pam's face falls as she's all, "Wuh? That can't be", but Rebecca insists it be, and that she's sorry to have to break such difficult news.

JR calls a Ewing Oil flunky named Baxter Kirby and orders him to bring the company's accounting books to Kristin's old condo tomorrow morning...and to keep their meeting on the down low.

Les Crowley tells Bobby that the bank is nervous about giving yet another multi-million dollar loan to Ewing Oil, and urges him to slow down with spending like a drunken sailor. Bobby says he's sure the cartel venture will result in huge profits and urges him to convince the loan committee that it's a sure thing. After Les exits the office, Pam calls Bobby to report that she'll be back in Dallas by noon and really really wants to have lunch with him so she can bare her soul about what just happened on her ill-fated trip to Houston. Bobby declines and says he's far too swamped and suggests they talk tonight, so she sourly reminds him they're scheduled to attend the Dave Culver fundraiser this evening. Bobby tells Pam to just spit out whatever it is she wants to talk to him about, so she tells him that it turns out the woman John Mackey tracked down isn't her mother after all. Bobby's like, "Oh well, it was a long shot" and says he really has to go now.

Lucy complains to Ray about how everyone thinks she and Mitch are wrong for each other, then points out that it's the very same reason he and Donna Culver broke up. Ray says he understands what she's going through, but that she and Mitch go together like oil and water. Lucy snarks at him for being too chicken to give a relationship with Donna a chance, then huffily declares that no way in hell is she going to allow a diamond in the rough like Mitch to slip away.

The Ewing clan arrives at the Dave Culver fundraiser and warmly greets Dave and Donna, while ignoring Cliff. When Sue Ellen asks JR why Jock was so insistent about the entire family attending this event, JR explains that since it's Dave is likely going to become governor one day, it never hurts for the Ewings to preemptively suck up to the politician. Pam, meanwhile, runs into Rebecca Wentworth, who introduces her to Herbert and looks visibly weirded out when Pam points at Cliff and identifies him as her older brother.

Cliff goes on stage and introduces Dave Culver as the Texas state senator and future governor...and when Pam glances around the room, she notices that Rebecca and her husband are no longer sitting at their table.

The next morning, Lucy finds Bobby doing laps in the Southfork pool and tells him she definitely doesn't want to talk about how supposedly ill-suited she and Mitch are. Bobby advises her to make her own life decisions and stop asking people what they think, and then respond by getting upset. Lucy translates this to mean that she should permanently hook up with a dud she met just seven episodes ago, and happily hugs her uncle and gushes about how terrific he is.

Over in Kristin's old condo, JR is looking over the Ewing Oil books with Baxter Kirby. JR tells Baxter he's dismayed that Bobby has everything tied up in equipment and leases and left the company with a total lack of liquidity, and says that one day soon Jock is going to want to withdraw $10 million for his swampland-leisure area venture. He then stares contemplatively into space before grinning devilishly.
​
Bobby tells Jordan Lee he still wants to get in on the Gulf Coast oil drilling deal, but first needs to sort out his cash flow problem. Jordan warns that the clock is ticking, but that he'll give him 24 hours to come up with the cash.

Lucy and Mitch are lounging on a campus lawn, and for some reason they've dressed themselves in matching shirts. Mitch apologizes to Lucy for being so distant lately, and Lucy acknowledges that they come from very different backgrounds and regrets inviting him to Southfork and making him endure the shittiness that is her family. Mitch says that, yep, her family makes him very uncomfortable, and Lucy chirps, "Me too!" and points out that that's something they have in common. Mitch chuckles and says, "I love you very much", prompting Lucy to propose so he can take her away from the Ewings. Mitch laughingly calls her "a genuine little stinker" ... and when Lucy says if he had any guts he'd marry her, Mitch mulls that over and accepts her dare, er proposal. The two start smooching and going at it as Lucy happily shrieks that they're going to have the biggest, bestest wedding ever. 

Rebecca Wentworth stakes out The Store until Pam exits the building. She asks Pam if they could take a walk together and have a soul baring one-on-one so she can admit that, yep, they are mother and daughter after all. Rebecca explains that she managed to seal off the first part of her life for many years - but when she saw Pam and Cliff in person at the Dave Culver fundraiser, the whole facade instantly broke apart, and she had to endure the pain of admitting that she's Rebecca Barnes, the woman who abandoned her own children. Pam tearfully asks, "You are my mother..?", and Rebecca confirms she is, and explains that she never divorced Digger 'cause she was terrified he'd find her and force her to resume her shitty life as his wife...and eventually she saw a chance for happiness and took it. She adds that Herbert has no idea she was previously married with two children, and that the shock of it would devastate him. She implores Pam to try to understand that she doesn't want to lose her second family by telling them she had a first family, and Pam weeps and sympathizes about how difficult this must be for her. 

Later, Pam drops by Cliff's apartment to report that John Mackey wasn't able to locate their birth mother after all...and Cliff shrugs disinterestedly and murmurs, "Well, that's that" even though there's no chance in hell of that being that.

Recap: Ray is horseback riding on a remote area of Southfork when he stops, dismounts, and runs his fingers through the dirt while staring contemplatively into space. A few seconds later, he climbs atop his horse and trots off. 

JR paces the pool deck while Sue Ellen suns herself on a lounger. He rails that he's still in his prime and nowhere near ready to retire from Ewing Oil, and Sue Ellen sexily concurs that she can definitely testify to him being in his prime. She suggests he start a new company, but he points out that Ewing Oil is already his company and that he wants it back. He admits to being surprised at how well Bobby handled the latest crisis, and says it's nice to see he has "some Ewing blood in him". As Ray rides over, JR rolls his eyes derisively and says he's willing to tolerate having a new half-brother as long as the yokel stays on the ranch and out of his way. Sue Ellen remarks on the fact that Jock always paid more attention to Ray than he did Gary, then worries that since Bobby continues to run Ewing Oil, which squeezes him (JR) out, their importance in the family's pecking order is slowly getting chipped away at. JR assures her she has no reason to worry 'cause he's about to hatch a plan that will "put a burr" under Bobby's saddle. And possibly Ray's too.

Over in the stables, Ray tells Miss Ellie he's grateful to her for not reacting to the news that he's Jock's bio son by wanting to throw him off the property. Miss Ellie just shrugs and says the news wasn't exactly the world's biggest bombshell, then tells him he's in for a huge adjustment now that he's officially the fourth Ewing brother. Ray argues that he's been Ray Krebbs for too long to suddenly switch over to being Ray Ewing, and would prefer it if no one but the immediately family knew about it - but Miss Ellie says she doubts that'll be possible, and welcomes him into her dysfunctional family.

Pam's private investigator, John Mackey, drops by ​The Store to give her an update on Operation Find Mother Barnes. He managed to trace her movements to Kingsville three months after she supposedly died in Corpus Christi twenty years ago. Specifically, she worked in Kingsville as a waitress in a coffee shop, where she met a traveling salesman and then left town with him. Pam exclaims, "That's wonderful!" and urges him to keep pressing ahead with his investigation.

Jock tells Miss Ellie that JR and Sue Ellen are upstairs "taking a nap", and Miss Ellie beams and says she's soooo she's pleased that the two have managed to repair their former train-wreck of a marriage. She then says she had a lovely chat with Ray and remarks on how much like Gary he is in loving the land, which she mistakenly thought was a trait that she alone passed along to Gary and (sort of) Bobby. Jock grins at that acknowledgement and gruffly coos about how much he looooves Southfork.
​
Bobby is meeting with Les Crowley of the Lonestar Bank, discussing the possible purchase of the Wilson property, aka a large plot of land that sits adjacent to Ewing 23. Les tells him he has a few weeks to make a decision, and Bobby promises to give it some serious thought.

Ray picks up the morning paper, sees an article about Donna Culver heading up a charity drive, and stares wistfully into space.

Cliff is putting the last touches on a fancy dinner for two at his apartment when Pam drops by to share the latest news about Operation Find Mother Barnes. Cliff tells her it's not a good time for a brother-sister chat...and when Pam notices the fancy table settings, she correctly guesses he has a hot date. A few seconds later, Donna arrives and gives Pam an eyeful when plants Cliff with a tongue-on-tongue smooch...and Pam's like, "OK then, I'll talk to you another time, Cliff" and beats a hasty retreat. Cliff tells Donna that once Pam starts blabbing about what she just saw, the entire Ewing family is going to know they're hitting the sheets...and Donna's just all whatever and says that people are going to have to find out about them sooner or later.

Bobby calls the foreman at Ewing 23 to give him a heads up that he's dropping by tomorrow to look at the adjacent Wilson property. A few seconds later, we see that some nefarious looking guy is skulking around Ewing 23, planting a bomb inside an oil well.

That evening at Southfork, Bobby tells Jock he's contemplating buying the Wilson property and wants to take Ray along to look it over with him. He figures that even if there's no oil on it, it could expand the grazing land for the Southfork herd. JR asks why Ray isn't joining them for pre-dinner drinks...and when Miss Ellie says he isn't ready to make any dramatic changes in his life, JR predicts that that'll soon change, given that "Ewing assets are hard to resist". When everyone stares at him, visibly appalled, he's like, "Just kidding!" and agrees it's probably best to slowly ease Ray into the Ewing fold. He then changes the subject and asks Bobby if Cliff Barnes is getting cut in with the Wilson real estate purchase [not sure why he would], then says that that loser wouldn't be getting a dime from the Ewing 23 crude oil profits if he were in charge. Pam angrily reminds JR that Cliff is legally entitled to any profits generated from Ewing 23, then smugly informs him that Cliff is currently involved with someone who could potentially cause trouble for him. When she names Donna Culver as her brother's new romantic interest, JR chuckles and mutters, "Will wonders never cease?" and Miss Ellie cuts the bitchy conversation short by announcing that it's time to go eat dinner. 

At bedtime, Pam tells Bobby she hates herself for letting JR get to her - but Bobby tells her not to beat herself up about it too much, and points out that Cliff's/Donna's hookup will eventually become public knowledge. Pam says she's mostly worried about Ray finding out, and Bobby nods solemnly and says he'll drop by Casa Krebbs in the morning and break the news to his half-brother. Pam changes the subject and announces that she got some news from her PI that indicates her mother might be alive and well and living in Texas, but Bobby just grunts and disinterestedly warns her about getting her hopes up. Pam gets miffed that he doesn't share her excitement and says she's really starting to hate what's happening to their marriage, specifically how obsessed with work he is and what an insensitive prick he's becoming. Bobby explains that as the CEO of Ewing Oil he has to do his hardest to concentrate a lot more than he did when he was JR's underling, and assures her he loves her...but she just stares back at him with a look of scepticism etched across her face.

JR frets to Sue Ellen that he now has to worry about Cliff and Donna Culver joining forces against him. He asks her if she's bothered by Cliff hooking up with another woman, but she assures him that there's zero heat left over from that icky affair, and that their newly re-bonded marriage is all she cares about these days. JR nods approvingly, but then pronounces, "A man needs more" and vows to cut Bobby out of Ewing Oil any way he can.

The next morning, Donna drops by Ray's house to tell him in person that she's now hitting the sheets with Cliff. She says he's fun and easy to be with and that she got tired of being alone, but that this hookup is not nearly as deep and meaningful as their relationship was. Ray assures her he's fine with it and is happy if she's happy - just as Bobby arrives to pick up Ray to go check out the Wilson property.

As Bobby helicopters himself and Ray to Ewing 23, Ray admits he was totally freaked out when Jock announced to the family that he's his bio dad. Bobby asks him if he told Donna the shocking paternity news, since it's soooo obvious they love each other - but Ray shakes his head and says she's now into Cliff, with whom she has a whole lot more in common. When the two arrive at Ewing 23, the foreman informs Bobby that some nut just called the field house and threatened to blow up the wells unless he gets $5 million by 4pm, and will call again at 12:30pm to get an update on his demands. An ashen-faced Bobby's all, "Wha-a-a-a-a?!"

JR drops by Ewing Oil to give [his secretary] Louella a bouquet of flowers and suggest they have a late lunch to "catch up" ... and she's all, "Mmm hmm.." and assures him she's totes into that idea.

Pam tells Cliff that her PI learned that their mother lived in Kingsville after Digger claimed she had died - but Cliff's like, "I really don't give a shit" and reminds his sister that the woman abandoned them when they were children. He adds that he has zero interest in digging into the past and much prefers looking to the future with his fancy new girlfriend. Pam asks him if he's mostly interested in Donna 'cause she's rich and has powerful political connections, but he pretends that any such ulterior motive is the last thing on his mind. 

Bobby calls Connie at Ewing Oil, gives her a quick debrief of the bomb threat, and asks her to locate Jock asap. Ray, meanwhile, orders the men working at Ewing 23 to spread out and search for bombs. 

JR notices Connie and Louella frantically working the phones and asks whassup, so Louella tells him that some nut threatened to blow up Ewing 23 and that they're desperately trying to locate Jock. JR chides them for not coming directly to him and reminds them that since he used to run the company, he's more than capable of handling this type of crisis.

At 12:30pm, a sweaty looking man calls the Ewing 23 field house from a pay phone. He tells Bobby he's demanding a fully gassed jet at 4pm, $5 million in cash on board, and no police involvement. He promises that once he's safely in the air, he'll reveal the location of the various bombs he planted. Bobby whines that $5 million is a lot of money to raise quickly, so Sweaty responds by directing his attention to the toolshed on Ewing 23, then presses the explode button on his detonator. When the toolshed promptly blows up, he smugly says, "In case you think I'm joking", and Bobby looks completely freaked out by the explosion.

The sheriff and his officers are on the scene at Ewing 23, picking through the charred remains of the toolshed. Bobby gets on the phone with Les Crowley at the Lonestar Bank and orders him to put together $5 million and deliver it to Ewing Oil stat. One of the officers finds the remains of the bomb and tells Bobby it looks to be a sophisticated contraption that was set off by a remote control. Bobby gets on the phone with JR, tells him what's happening, and that he's decided to cave in to Sweaty's demands and have the $5 million and gassed jet ready at the nearby airstrip by 4pm. JR asks him if he's absolutely sure he's doing the right thing, and an impatient Bobby pissily tells him to just make sure that all of the demands are met. JR calls Franklin Horner at the Cattlesman Bank to inform him that the Lonestar Bank will soon be frantically trying to put $5 million together for Bobby, then orders him to not cooperate and to convince the other banks to be equally as uncooperative.

The sheriff goes over the Ewing Oil employee list and comes up with two of the likeliest suspects: a drunkard named Duke, and a disgruntled slob named Gillis. 

The sheriff's men, along with Bobby, head over to the trailer park where Duke lives and burst into his trailer home. They find Duke, passed out drunk in front the TV, then deduce that since he's probably been passed out for hours, the bomber has to be Gillis. 

Les Crowley manages to scrape together the $5 million and rushes it over to Ewing Oil. A dismayed looking JR calls him "a real go-getter". 

Bobby and Ray arrive at the airstrip just as the fully gassed jet lands. The bomber, who is indeed Gillis, runs onto the tarmac with a detonator clutched in one hand. He glares at Bobby as he races towards the plane - just as JR and two armed police officers exit the plane and point their guns at Gillis. When he waves his gun at them they open fire on him, and he falls to the ground and drops the detonator. As everyone stands around and uselessly watches, Gillis crawls toward the detonator while a horrified Bobby yells, "Noooooo!!" and runs toward him in slow motion. Gillis reaches the detonator and presses the explode button, and a few seconds later, the nearby Ewing 23 oil wells simultaneously explode with some pretty spectacularly fake looking '80s style special effects. LOL.

Bobby is furious at JR for allowing the officers to shoot Gillis instead of giving him a chance to talk the nut down - but JR points out that since Gillis pulled a gun on them, they had no choice but to shoot, and that he really really hates the idea of giving in to an extortionist. Bobby picks up the detonator, then whips it angrily into space before staring despondently at the hilariously fake looking flames. 

It remains unclear if this debacle was, in fact, "the burr" JR was plotting to put under Bobby's saddle to get him out of Ewing Oil - but if so, talk about overkill.

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