- Published on
"We're soooo excited about the upcoming Knot's Landing pilot!"
"Return Engagements"
Original airdate: 12/21/1979
Episode summary: Gary and Valene get hitched and move to Knot's Landing. JR takes Kristin on a faux business trip and catches her in bed with another man.
Original airdate: 12/21/1979
Episode summary: Gary and Valene get hitched and move to Knot's Landing. JR takes Kristin on a faux business trip and catches her in bed with another man.
Recap: It's Gary's birthday, and Miss Ellie is marking the occasion by brooding in her bedroom while looking over Gary's childhood drawings and playing his favorite song (over and over and over) on the record player.
Out on the patio, JR complains about mama repeatedly playing the same song and snarks that he never liked it, to which Lucy snaps, "Why? Because it's Gary's favorite?" When Bobby gently reminds JR that their mother always sinks into a state of extreme depression on Gary's birthday 'cause of how shittily the Ewings have treated him for the last decade or so - an impasse she doesn't seem all that interested in doing fuck all about to help resolve - and JR rolls his eyes derisively and mutters that a deadbeat lush like Gary is definitely not worth brooding over. Lucy's face contorts into a demonic expression of rage as she hissingly warns him to not talk about her daddy like that...and Bobby interjects and points out that a man doesn't have to be a rich and powerful CEO to account for something. JR snidely retorts that Gary is an alcoholic gambler - which, in his book, doesn't amount to much...and Bobby growls about how he needs to learn some manners - just as Jock tells them both to shut it, 'cause he doesn't want Miss Ellie to hear them argue on her annual Sad About Gary Day. When the Ewings begin to disperse from the table, Sue Ellen chides JR for always being such a dickwad to Lucy...and he smirkingly replies that her therapy sessions must be doing wonders for her 'cause her empathy for others is "downright touching".
Jock goes upstairs, turns off the record player, and tells Miss Ellie that all of this brooding is "no good". When he urges her to come downstairs, she refuses and whines, "I want my sonnnnn..", so Jock points out that even if they had the faintest clue where Gary was, there's no way in hell he'd ever be willing to step foot onto Southfork again. As a tearful Miss Ellie stares despondently into space, Jock gruffly says it's always the same story with Gary...meaning he always splits whenever things get so much as slightly uncomfortable.
As JR packs for a business trip to Austin, Sue Ellen wryly says she hopes that he and Kristin will find some time to squeeze in a little fun this weekend...and JR refrains from openly chuckling at his brazen philandering and tells her he's pretty sure they can think of something to keep their genitals occupied. Sue Ellen marvels about how unconcerned he is about displaying his perverse conduct so publicly, and JR weakly argues that the only thing he's guilty of is nepotism by hiring his sister-in-law, and that "only a filthy mind would come to perverse conclusions". As he heads toward the door, Sue Ellen smilingly promises that, while he's away, she plans to be just as discreet as he is. Sounds fun. Now please get a divorce.
Lucy tells Miss Ellie she likes it when she plays Gary's favorite song ad nauseam, 'cause it gives her comfort knowing that someone at Southfork besides herself misses her daddy. Miss Ellie nods sadly and tells Lucy she knows she's been secretly visiting her mom, and quickly adds that she really really needs to talk to Valene. Lucy tells her that, as coincidence would have it, she's off to visit her mom right now...and Miss Ellie's like, "Hurray!" and invites herself along.
Val looks apprehensive when she sees Miss Ellie show up at her secret mother-daughter meetup - but when Miss Ellie politely explains that she insisted on coming along, Val smiles and says it's nice to see her again. Miss Ellie tells her she really really neeeeeeeds to see Gary 'cause she considers him more her son than Bobby and/or JR, who belong more to Jock...which is kind of a dicked up logic, not least 'cause the three are fully grown men now, but OK. Val cagily says she sometimes hears from Gary, and agrees to pass along a message for him to call his mother asap.
Out on the patio, JR complains about mama repeatedly playing the same song and snarks that he never liked it, to which Lucy snaps, "Why? Because it's Gary's favorite?" When Bobby gently reminds JR that their mother always sinks into a state of extreme depression on Gary's birthday 'cause of how shittily the Ewings have treated him for the last decade or so - an impasse she doesn't seem all that interested in doing fuck all about to help resolve - and JR rolls his eyes derisively and mutters that a deadbeat lush like Gary is definitely not worth brooding over. Lucy's face contorts into a demonic expression of rage as she hissingly warns him to not talk about her daddy like that...and Bobby interjects and points out that a man doesn't have to be a rich and powerful CEO to account for something. JR snidely retorts that Gary is an alcoholic gambler - which, in his book, doesn't amount to much...and Bobby growls about how he needs to learn some manners - just as Jock tells them both to shut it, 'cause he doesn't want Miss Ellie to hear them argue on her annual Sad About Gary Day. When the Ewings begin to disperse from the table, Sue Ellen chides JR for always being such a dickwad to Lucy...and he smirkingly replies that her therapy sessions must be doing wonders for her 'cause her empathy for others is "downright touching".
Jock goes upstairs, turns off the record player, and tells Miss Ellie that all of this brooding is "no good". When he urges her to come downstairs, she refuses and whines, "I want my sonnnnn..", so Jock points out that even if they had the faintest clue where Gary was, there's no way in hell he'd ever be willing to step foot onto Southfork again. As a tearful Miss Ellie stares despondently into space, Jock gruffly says it's always the same story with Gary...meaning he always splits whenever things get so much as slightly uncomfortable.
As JR packs for a business trip to Austin, Sue Ellen wryly says she hopes that he and Kristin will find some time to squeeze in a little fun this weekend...and JR refrains from openly chuckling at his brazen philandering and tells her he's pretty sure they can think of something to keep their genitals occupied. Sue Ellen marvels about how unconcerned he is about displaying his perverse conduct so publicly, and JR weakly argues that the only thing he's guilty of is nepotism by hiring his sister-in-law, and that "only a filthy mind would come to perverse conclusions". As he heads toward the door, Sue Ellen smilingly promises that, while he's away, she plans to be just as discreet as he is. Sounds fun. Now please get a divorce.
Lucy tells Miss Ellie she likes it when she plays Gary's favorite song ad nauseam, 'cause it gives her comfort knowing that someone at Southfork besides herself misses her daddy. Miss Ellie nods sadly and tells Lucy she knows she's been secretly visiting her mom, and quickly adds that she really really needs to talk to Valene. Lucy tells her that, as coincidence would have it, she's off to visit her mom right now...and Miss Ellie's like, "Hurray!" and invites herself along.
Val looks apprehensive when she sees Miss Ellie show up at her secret mother-daughter meetup - but when Miss Ellie politely explains that she insisted on coming along, Val smiles and says it's nice to see her again. Miss Ellie tells her she really really neeeeeeeds to see Gary 'cause she considers him more her son than Bobby and/or JR, who belong more to Jock...which is kind of a dicked up logic, not least 'cause the three are fully grown men now, but OK. Val cagily says she sometimes hears from Gary, and agrees to pass along a message for him to call his mother asap.
"Tell Gary I get so sad on his birthday that I stare at his little boy drawings and play his favorite record over and over, to the point of madness."
"I'll be sure to pass that along."
Sue Ellen answers the phone when Rudy Millington (Kristin's old boyfriend) happens to call to see about getting hold of Kristin. Sue Ellen tells him she's working for JR now, and that the two are on a faux business trip in Austin and staying at the Conley Hotel. When Rudy says he'll trying calling her there, Sue Ellen suggests he show up unannounced to break up the drudgery of the business trip, and Rudy says he likes the sound of that and thanks her for the tip.
Val returns to the hotel she's been hiding out in and calls out for Gary...and Ted Shackelford - yay! - emerges from the bedroom and gives her a big smooch. She tells him they need to talk, then falls silent when she notices that he's in the process of packing his suitcase. When she's all, "Wha-at is going onnnnnn?" he tells her he's gotten sick of just sitting around all the time, so he landed himself a job in California. She asks what this means for them...and when he tells her he wants them to take their re-hookup "slow and easy", she snarks back that they've been taking it real easy for many months, and asks how long it's going to take him to decide whether or not they're likely to make it as a couple. He's like, "Dunno", then closes his suitcase and heads for the door - just as she informs him that Miss Ellie told her she's desperate to see him. Gary's like, "Nope" and says she'll just want to drag him right back into his shitty family's dysfunction, but Val implores him to stop being so frightened of the Ewings and grow a pair. Gary shoots her the stink-eye, promises to call, and leaves...and Val stares sadly into space and murmurs, "Happy birthday.."
Kristin is delighted by the swankiness of the Conley Hotel, and reminds JR he promised her there'd be no business this weekend. JR says he intends to keep that promise, then heads over to the front desk to check them into their room. Rudy Millington, who's lurking in the lobby, appears puzzled at the sight of his girlfriend acting so canoodly with her married boss/brother-in-law.
Gary drops by Ewing Oil to see Bobby...and after the two share a hearty man hug, Bobby says he's getting on the horn to inform their mother that her black sheep son is finally back in town.
Miss Ellie is thrilled by Bobby's phone call, but is warned to keep the news about Gary a secret from Lucy so she doesn't get her hopes up about her parents ever wanting to raise her - even though 1) by this point she's pretty much fully grown, and 2) Miss Ellie and Jock have so severely botched the job that any subsequent effort to parent her would be an exercise in futility. Bobby promises to bring her to Gary in the morning, and she breathlessly blurts out, "Yippee! I can't wait to see Gary on the down low tomorrow!" - LOL - and Sue Ellen, who's idling in the nearby study overhears the conversation and stares into space with a mixture of contemplation and amusement etched across her face.
JR and Kristin sashay into the hotel restaurant...and JR spots a grizzled businessman named Eugene Bullock, who's dining with a much younger blonde woman (Sally) who recently made the transition from office assistant to shameless trophy wife. Eugene boasts that Sally saw something she wanted [a grotesque sugar daddy] and went after it, and grimly adds that she barely even has to put out on account of his aged pecker's generally flaccid state. TMI, Eugene. Sally comes right out and concurs that, yep, she married the unsightly, largely impotent old goat purely for the money - and Eugene cackles and advises Kristin to take a page out of Sally's book and force a commitment out of JR...and to stop pretending she cares about him as a person, as "that strains credulity". Bwahahaha! When Kristin explains that she's JR's sister-in-law and functions purely as his secretary, Eugene rolls his eyes and retorts that when he offers advice, "smart people take it". JR cackles and toasts to that...which was a bit weird, considering he doesn't seem inclined to dump Sue Ellen anytime soon. Kristin, meanwhile, stares into space with an intrigued expression on her face.
Val returns to the hotel she's been hiding out in and calls out for Gary...and Ted Shackelford - yay! - emerges from the bedroom and gives her a big smooch. She tells him they need to talk, then falls silent when she notices that he's in the process of packing his suitcase. When she's all, "Wha-at is going onnnnnn?" he tells her he's gotten sick of just sitting around all the time, so he landed himself a job in California. She asks what this means for them...and when he tells her he wants them to take their re-hookup "slow and easy", she snarks back that they've been taking it real easy for many months, and asks how long it's going to take him to decide whether or not they're likely to make it as a couple. He's like, "Dunno", then closes his suitcase and heads for the door - just as she informs him that Miss Ellie told her she's desperate to see him. Gary's like, "Nope" and says she'll just want to drag him right back into his shitty family's dysfunction, but Val implores him to stop being so frightened of the Ewings and grow a pair. Gary shoots her the stink-eye, promises to call, and leaves...and Val stares sadly into space and murmurs, "Happy birthday.."
Kristin is delighted by the swankiness of the Conley Hotel, and reminds JR he promised her there'd be no business this weekend. JR says he intends to keep that promise, then heads over to the front desk to check them into their room. Rudy Millington, who's lurking in the lobby, appears puzzled at the sight of his girlfriend acting so canoodly with her married boss/brother-in-law.
Gary drops by Ewing Oil to see Bobby...and after the two share a hearty man hug, Bobby says he's getting on the horn to inform their mother that her black sheep son is finally back in town.
Miss Ellie is thrilled by Bobby's phone call, but is warned to keep the news about Gary a secret from Lucy so she doesn't get her hopes up about her parents ever wanting to raise her - even though 1) by this point she's pretty much fully grown, and 2) Miss Ellie and Jock have so severely botched the job that any subsequent effort to parent her would be an exercise in futility. Bobby promises to bring her to Gary in the morning, and she breathlessly blurts out, "Yippee! I can't wait to see Gary on the down low tomorrow!" - LOL - and Sue Ellen, who's idling in the nearby study overhears the conversation and stares into space with a mixture of contemplation and amusement etched across her face.
JR and Kristin sashay into the hotel restaurant...and JR spots a grizzled businessman named Eugene Bullock, who's dining with a much younger blonde woman (Sally) who recently made the transition from office assistant to shameless trophy wife. Eugene boasts that Sally saw something she wanted [a grotesque sugar daddy] and went after it, and grimly adds that she barely even has to put out on account of his aged pecker's generally flaccid state. TMI, Eugene. Sally comes right out and concurs that, yep, she married the unsightly, largely impotent old goat purely for the money - and Eugene cackles and advises Kristin to take a page out of Sally's book and force a commitment out of JR...and to stop pretending she cares about him as a person, as "that strains credulity". Bwahahaha! When Kristin explains that she's JR's sister-in-law and functions purely as his secretary, Eugene rolls his eyes and retorts that when he offers advice, "smart people take it". JR cackles and toasts to that...which was a bit weird, considering he doesn't seem inclined to dump Sue Ellen anytime soon. Kristin, meanwhile, stares into space with an intrigued expression on her face.
"If he liked it, then he shoulda put a ring on it."
"You raise an excellent point, Grizzly Adams."
Gary sheepishly returns to Val's hotel room and reminds her it's his birthday, and that he'd like to celebrate it with her. She perks up, and the two hug happily.
JR tells Eugene he'd like to bring him in on his gazillion dollar Asian oil deal - but Eugene stops him and says he now defers all of his business-related decision making to Sally. He then announces he's off to bed, but urges JR to stay awhile and negotiate with his wife. When Kristin pouts in protest, JR tells her to run along and amuse herself elsewhere.
Kristin heads over to the bar and orders an Irish coffee just as Rudy Millington appears on the stool beside her, tells her he booked himself into the nearby St. Francis Motel, and that Sue Ellen tipped him off about her current whereabouts. He asks her whassup with her cavorting around town so publicly with JR Ewing, so she tells him that since Sue Ellen doesn't seem to want him, she decided 'why not hit the sheets with my own brother-in-law and hope I eventually get a marriage proposal out of it?' Rudy boasts that he's no slouch, aka a banker who earns 200K a year...and Kristin chuckles condescendingly and says that JR leaves 200K tips. When Rudy sourly asks her if that includes her [sex-on-demand] fee, she smacks him hard across the face and stomps off.
The next morning, Bobby ferries Miss Ellie to his Ewing Oil office, where Gary and Val are waiting to visit with her. Miss Ellie happily hugs her son, sheepishly apologizes for the horribleness that went down at Southfork last season, then asks him how long he and Val have been seeing each other. Val says they've been shacking up for the last year or so, and Gary says he's into the idea of getting remarried and moving to California - but doesn't want to take Lucy along 'cause he's not entirely confident the remarriage will take, and he no longer wants to make promises to his daughter he can't keep. Miss Ellie nods and says she'd be grateful to be part of his life in any way he's willing to include her...and this prompts Gary to amble over to Val and propose. She stares at him in stunned bewilderment before crying, "Yes!" and leaping into his arms.
Kristin struts into the hotel restaurant in form fitting tennis-wear and snappishly reminds JR, who's huddled in another meeting with Sally, that they had plans to play tennis. JR tells her he's conducting business and to go find something else to do...and she storms over to the valet to retrieve his car so she can drive over to the St. Francis Motel for a revenge nooner with Rudy.
Bobby offers to help with the arrangements for Gary's/Val's quickie wedding, then mentions to Miss Ellie that he has some real estate deals pending with houses in California. Miss Ellie perks up and asks him if the houses are nice...and when Bobby's like, "Well d'yuh" and shows her the photos, she stares at them in quiet contemplation.
Rudy gets out of the shower and is wearing just a towel cinched around his waist when Kristin arrives. He grins at her lustfully and invites her in for a romp.
Miss Ellie and Bobby stop in at Southfork to change into something dressy. Jock asks Miss Ellie where in blazes she's been all day, and she breezily rushes past him and says she's in a hurry and can't talk. When Jock asks Bobby whassup, he spills the beans about Gary and Val being in town, and that they're about to have a quickie wedding. He invites Jock to attend, provided he can behave himself, but Jock refuses to show an ounce of support to his deadbeat son and says he's given him too many chances already. Bobby shakes his head in exasperation and jots down the address in case he changes his mind.
Bobby tells Miss Ellie he told Jock about the wedding, but doubts he'll be in attendance...and Miss Ellie sighs and says he was always way too hard on Gary. Sue Ellen, who's continuing to idle in the nearby study, overhears the conversation and once again stares into space with a mixture of contemplation and amusement etched across her face.
Sally tells JR she's eager to make a deal with him, and promises to convince her husband it'd be a good idea. When JR calls home to check in, Sue Ellen gleefully tells him she has some good news to share: Gary is back in town and plans to marry Valene this afternoon. She smirkingly adds, "I hope this doesn't ruin your little holiday" and an irked JR mutters, "Damn.." and abruptly hangs up before telling a disappointed Sally he needs to rush back to Dallas, pronto, 'cause he has an ill-fated wedding to put a stop to.
JR tells Eugene he'd like to bring him in on his gazillion dollar Asian oil deal - but Eugene stops him and says he now defers all of his business-related decision making to Sally. He then announces he's off to bed, but urges JR to stay awhile and negotiate with his wife. When Kristin pouts in protest, JR tells her to run along and amuse herself elsewhere.
Kristin heads over to the bar and orders an Irish coffee just as Rudy Millington appears on the stool beside her, tells her he booked himself into the nearby St. Francis Motel, and that Sue Ellen tipped him off about her current whereabouts. He asks her whassup with her cavorting around town so publicly with JR Ewing, so she tells him that since Sue Ellen doesn't seem to want him, she decided 'why not hit the sheets with my own brother-in-law and hope I eventually get a marriage proposal out of it?' Rudy boasts that he's no slouch, aka a banker who earns 200K a year...and Kristin chuckles condescendingly and says that JR leaves 200K tips. When Rudy sourly asks her if that includes her [sex-on-demand] fee, she smacks him hard across the face and stomps off.
The next morning, Bobby ferries Miss Ellie to his Ewing Oil office, where Gary and Val are waiting to visit with her. Miss Ellie happily hugs her son, sheepishly apologizes for the horribleness that went down at Southfork last season, then asks him how long he and Val have been seeing each other. Val says they've been shacking up for the last year or so, and Gary says he's into the idea of getting remarried and moving to California - but doesn't want to take Lucy along 'cause he's not entirely confident the remarriage will take, and he no longer wants to make promises to his daughter he can't keep. Miss Ellie nods and says she'd be grateful to be part of his life in any way he's willing to include her...and this prompts Gary to amble over to Val and propose. She stares at him in stunned bewilderment before crying, "Yes!" and leaping into his arms.
Kristin struts into the hotel restaurant in form fitting tennis-wear and snappishly reminds JR, who's huddled in another meeting with Sally, that they had plans to play tennis. JR tells her he's conducting business and to go find something else to do...and she storms over to the valet to retrieve his car so she can drive over to the St. Francis Motel for a revenge nooner with Rudy.
Bobby offers to help with the arrangements for Gary's/Val's quickie wedding, then mentions to Miss Ellie that he has some real estate deals pending with houses in California. Miss Ellie perks up and asks him if the houses are nice...and when Bobby's like, "Well d'yuh" and shows her the photos, she stares at them in quiet contemplation.
Rudy gets out of the shower and is wearing just a towel cinched around his waist when Kristin arrives. He grins at her lustfully and invites her in for a romp.
Miss Ellie and Bobby stop in at Southfork to change into something dressy. Jock asks Miss Ellie where in blazes she's been all day, and she breezily rushes past him and says she's in a hurry and can't talk. When Jock asks Bobby whassup, he spills the beans about Gary and Val being in town, and that they're about to have a quickie wedding. He invites Jock to attend, provided he can behave himself, but Jock refuses to show an ounce of support to his deadbeat son and says he's given him too many chances already. Bobby shakes his head in exasperation and jots down the address in case he changes his mind.
Bobby tells Miss Ellie he told Jock about the wedding, but doubts he'll be in attendance...and Miss Ellie sighs and says he was always way too hard on Gary. Sue Ellen, who's continuing to idle in the nearby study, overhears the conversation and once again stares into space with a mixture of contemplation and amusement etched across her face.
Sally tells JR she's eager to make a deal with him, and promises to convince her husband it'd be a good idea. When JR calls home to check in, Sue Ellen gleefully tells him she has some good news to share: Gary is back in town and plans to marry Valene this afternoon. She smirkingly adds, "I hope this doesn't ruin your little holiday" and an irked JR mutters, "Damn.." and abruptly hangs up before telling a disappointed Sally he needs to rush back to Dallas, pronto, 'cause he has an ill-fated wedding to put a stop to.
"You'll be thrilled to learn that Gary and Val are getting married today."
"Sounds like an even worse idea than when I proposed to you."
JR expresses his annoyance to the front desk clerk when he's told that Kristin absconded with his car - just as the valet saunters over to inform him that she asked him directions to the nearby St. Francis Motel just before taking off.
Miss Ellie presents Gary and Val with their wedding gift: a stack of photos of for sale houses in California. She explains that she'd like to buy them a house in exchange for stealing Lucy and forcibly raising her at Southfork. Gary says that sounds like a reasonable bargain and gratefully clutches her hand - just as Jock arrives and grizzles about how he heard that there's a wedding happening here today. Gary grins and tells him he's glad he was able to make it, and the two share a manly hug.
Kristin takes a post-coital shower, then smooches Rudy while he coos about how much he still loves her. A few seconds later, JR enters the room with the aid of a heavily tipped motel employee and barks at Kristin to get dressed. Rudy glares at JR, who chuckles about how embarrassing this must be for him...this meaning that the skank he just doinked is abandoning him for the man she's more regularly doinking. He spots Rudy's business card and promptly calls his boss, threatening to withdraw all Ewing Oil money from his bank if he doesn't immediately fire Rudy Millington, a man who's completely devoid of character and moral fiber. After the call, he smugly tells Rudy he may need to relocate to Atlanta to find work, then swaggers out of the room with Kristin dutifully trailing after him.
JR arrives at Val's hotel room, and looks mildly miffed when he's told that the wedding ceremony has already taken place. He smarmily congratulates the bride and shakes Gary's hand.
In the next scene, Bobby, Val, and Gary are in Southern California, where Bobby is showing them a house in a fictional suburb called Knot's Landing. Val gushes about the house and tells Gary she'd like to move in asap...and Bobby muses about what a nice ring Knot's Landing has to it. Heh.
Miss Ellie presents Gary and Val with their wedding gift: a stack of photos of for sale houses in California. She explains that she'd like to buy them a house in exchange for stealing Lucy and forcibly raising her at Southfork. Gary says that sounds like a reasonable bargain and gratefully clutches her hand - just as Jock arrives and grizzles about how he heard that there's a wedding happening here today. Gary grins and tells him he's glad he was able to make it, and the two share a manly hug.
Kristin takes a post-coital shower, then smooches Rudy while he coos about how much he still loves her. A few seconds later, JR enters the room with the aid of a heavily tipped motel employee and barks at Kristin to get dressed. Rudy glares at JR, who chuckles about how embarrassing this must be for him...this meaning that the skank he just doinked is abandoning him for the man she's more regularly doinking. He spots Rudy's business card and promptly calls his boss, threatening to withdraw all Ewing Oil money from his bank if he doesn't immediately fire Rudy Millington, a man who's completely devoid of character and moral fiber. After the call, he smugly tells Rudy he may need to relocate to Atlanta to find work, then swaggers out of the room with Kristin dutifully trailing after him.
JR arrives at Val's hotel room, and looks mildly miffed when he's told that the wedding ceremony has already taken place. He smarmily congratulates the bride and shakes Gary's hand.
In the next scene, Bobby, Val, and Gary are in Southern California, where Bobby is showing them a house in a fictional suburb called Knot's Landing. Val gushes about the house and tells Gary she'd like to move in asap...and Bobby muses about what a nice ring Knot's Landing has to it. Heh.
"I believe they call this suburb Knot's Landing."
"Good luck with the spin-off."
The next morning, JR staggers onto the patio for breakfast, looking vexed and disheveled. He chides Sue Ellen for not giving him an earlier warning about his brother's wedding, but she just shrugs and says she couldn't give the tiniest of rat's asses about anything the Ewing family does anymore. She informs him that Miss Ellie bought a house for Gary and Val in California, and JR perks up and goes, "California..?" and starts cackling about his sudden relief at the distance that now lies between him and his most hated brother.
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- Published on
"Something tells me my thunder got stolen."
"Mother of the Year"
Original airdate: 12/14/1979
Episode summary: Sue Ellen decides to let her maternal instincts kick in and be a proper mother to Baby John. JR is elated when the high risk Asian wells strike oil. Ray discovers a skeleton buried on his Southfork lot.
Original airdate: 12/14/1979
Episode summary: Sue Ellen decides to let her maternal instincts kick in and be a proper mother to Baby John. JR is elated when the high risk Asian wells strike oil. Ray discovers a skeleton buried on his Southfork lot.
Recap: Sue Ellen is laying in bed next to JR when Baby John starts mewling...and when his fussing shows no sign of letting up, she reluctantly gets up and slowly shuffles in the direction of the nursery. The camera pans over to Pam, who is in the nursery, enjoying some post-diaper change cuddling when Nurse Reeves bursts in. As Sue Ellen loiters unseen in the doorway, Nurse Reeves marvels at Pam for responding so quickly to the baby's cries and says he's lucky to have her - particularly since his cunty bio mom doesn't seem remotely interested in even having him around. Pam chides her for being so hard on Sue Ellen and says she's been through a lot...and after a few more minutes of cuddling the baby, she returns him to his crib and tiptoes back to her bedroom.
JR asks Sue Ellen if the baby is OK...and she snippily tells him he's fine and just needed changing. JR correctly assumes that Pam was the one who changed his diaper, then asks how she always seems to get to the baby first. Sue Ellen stares at him blankly and asks, "What difference does it make?" and JR says it makes a difference to him...as well as to his mama and daddy, who have remarked more than once on what a negligent disaster of a mother she's proving herself to be. He wonders aloud why he's shelling out big money for her therapy sessions when it's clear she hasn't shown any signs of improvement, then comes right out and calls her an unfit mother. Sue Ellen yells back that he's an unfit father and husband...and JR growls that Baby John is her responsibility and that he doesn't like the idea of Pam raising him. Or himself, evidently.
JR's/Sue Ellen's sniping is loud enough to wake up Bobby...and when Pam returns from the nursery, he tells her that JR's not happy that she and not Sue Ellen is the one who's always responding to the baby's needs. Pam shrugs indifferently and says she can't not respond to his frequent crying - and Bobby says he's siding with JR on this issue and thinks that her responsiveness to the tot has ventured into unhealthy obsession territory. Pam points out that she's only doing it 'cause he doesn't have anyone else, the paid nurse notwithstanding, who gives enough of a crap about him (pun intended) to change his dirty diaper in the middle of the night.
Miss Ellie and Jock look on as a crew prepares the oil well on Section 40 so that drilling can get underway. Miss Ellie stares dejectedly into space as she recalls her daddy's solemn vow to never allow drilling on Southfork, then admonishes Jock for instilling within JR an insatiable need for money and power. As Jock sheepishly drives her back to the house, they honk at Ray, who hired a couple of men to begin construction of his new house. Jock tells Miss Ellie he gifted Ray the shittiest of the lots available on Soutfork - LOL - but figures that since beggars can't be choosers, he's fairly confident that the dumb yokel will make something good out of it.
Jock heads over to Ewing Oil, where he announces to JR, Bobby, and Vaughn Leland that he's swiftly cutting their losses and selling the Asian oil leases at a loss of 75 cents on the dollar. JR looks alarmed and cries, "You can't doooo this!" - but Jock snappishly orders him to sit down and shut up, which JR meekly does [in the way he always does whenever he's snapped at by the grizzly patriarch]. Vaughn tells Jock he'll do his best to round up some potential buyers and get back to him by Friday, then heads out. Jock tells JR and Bobby that he came to this moronic decision after seeing how upset Miss Ellie was about drilling on Southfork. Bobby cautions him to think carefully about selling off the leases, and JR concurs and points out that there's a really good chance the Asian wells will come through now that the typhoon crisis has passed. Jock gruffly retorts that he's determined to appease Miss Ellie by avoiding any drilling on Section 40, which means he needs to get back as much of their cash as possible...and a despondent JR exits the office and tells Kristin he's off to the Cattleman's Club to drown his troubles.
JR asks Sue Ellen if the baby is OK...and she snippily tells him he's fine and just needed changing. JR correctly assumes that Pam was the one who changed his diaper, then asks how she always seems to get to the baby first. Sue Ellen stares at him blankly and asks, "What difference does it make?" and JR says it makes a difference to him...as well as to his mama and daddy, who have remarked more than once on what a negligent disaster of a mother she's proving herself to be. He wonders aloud why he's shelling out big money for her therapy sessions when it's clear she hasn't shown any signs of improvement, then comes right out and calls her an unfit mother. Sue Ellen yells back that he's an unfit father and husband...and JR growls that Baby John is her responsibility and that he doesn't like the idea of Pam raising him. Or himself, evidently.
JR's/Sue Ellen's sniping is loud enough to wake up Bobby...and when Pam returns from the nursery, he tells her that JR's not happy that she and not Sue Ellen is the one who's always responding to the baby's needs. Pam shrugs indifferently and says she can't not respond to his frequent crying - and Bobby says he's siding with JR on this issue and thinks that her responsiveness to the tot has ventured into unhealthy obsession territory. Pam points out that she's only doing it 'cause he doesn't have anyone else, the paid nurse notwithstanding, who gives enough of a crap about him (pun intended) to change his dirty diaper in the middle of the night.
Miss Ellie and Jock look on as a crew prepares the oil well on Section 40 so that drilling can get underway. Miss Ellie stares dejectedly into space as she recalls her daddy's solemn vow to never allow drilling on Southfork, then admonishes Jock for instilling within JR an insatiable need for money and power. As Jock sheepishly drives her back to the house, they honk at Ray, who hired a couple of men to begin construction of his new house. Jock tells Miss Ellie he gifted Ray the shittiest of the lots available on Soutfork - LOL - but figures that since beggars can't be choosers, he's fairly confident that the dumb yokel will make something good out of it.
Jock heads over to Ewing Oil, where he announces to JR, Bobby, and Vaughn Leland that he's swiftly cutting their losses and selling the Asian oil leases at a loss of 75 cents on the dollar. JR looks alarmed and cries, "You can't doooo this!" - but Jock snappishly orders him to sit down and shut up, which JR meekly does [in the way he always does whenever he's snapped at by the grizzly patriarch]. Vaughn tells Jock he'll do his best to round up some potential buyers and get back to him by Friday, then heads out. Jock tells JR and Bobby that he came to this moronic decision after seeing how upset Miss Ellie was about drilling on Southfork. Bobby cautions him to think carefully about selling off the leases, and JR concurs and points out that there's a really good chance the Asian wells will come through now that the typhoon crisis has passed. Jock gruffly retorts that he's determined to appease Miss Ellie by avoiding any drilling on Section 40, which means he needs to get back as much of their cash as possible...and a despondent JR exits the office and tells Kristin he's off to the Cattleman's Club to drown his troubles.
"You've been demoted to coffee boy."
"Cream and sugar, daddy sir?"
Bobby arrives at the Cattleman's Club and finds JR sullenly boozing it up at the bar. Bobby laments blowing the whistle on him, then says he only did it 'cause he mortgaged Southfork...and JR's like, "Whatever, jerkwad" and says as far as he's concerned, he's an only child.
Sue Ellen arrives at a Daughters of the Alamo luncheon and is informed that the keynote speaker bailed, so Cliff Barnes was scheduled to fill in at the last minute. Sue Ellen pales and says she's suddenly not feeling well...but then runs into Cliff on her way out. He tells her he really really needs to talk to her and asks her to please come by his apartment tomorrow afternoon.
Sue Ellen is hovering over Baby John's crib and telling him she just exchanged words with his bio dad, but has no idea how she feels about it. JR enters the room and says he's glad to see that she's finally spending some quality time with their son - but when Baby John starts crying, Sue Ellen just stares down at him stonily. An impatient JR implores her to "pick him up, change him, or something", and Sue Ellen challenges him to do something before snarking at what "an expert parent" he claims himself to be, then saunters off. OMFG, these two. Crawl to the nearest phone, Baby John! And call Child Protective Services asap.
Alan reports to JR that Cliff is still under the illusion that he can get elected to Congress, and JR nods approvingly and says he's done secretly funneling cash to that faux campaign.
During a therapy session, Sue Ellen tells Dr. Ellby about Cliff's request for a one-on-one, then asks him what he thinks 'bout that...and Dr. Ellby throws it back at her and says it's irrelevant what he thinks 'cause she has to decide this kind of stuff on her own. Sue Ellen mulls that over and says, on the one hand, Cliff still has the power to hurt her...but then a few seconds later springs up from her chair and says she has a few things she'd like to say to the shitbag, and that she suddenly feels as though she has nothing to lose. Er...OK.
JR calls Hank Johnson (his contact in Asia) to bitchily demand an hourly progress report on how the oil drilling is going. He adds that it'd be really great if oil could be struck before Friday.
Bobby gets miffed when Pam shows him all the baby stuff she found on sale for Baby John...and seems oblivious to Bobby's furrowed brows as she races up to the nursery to shower the tot with his new stuffed animals and stack of designer onesies.
When Sue Ellen arrives at Cliff's apartment, he peppers her with questions about Baby John's health, and she irritably says he's fine and that he really doesn't need to waste his time worrying about either of them. She then gets all in his face and accuses him of using her to get ahead and destroy JR...and reminds him that when she wanted to flee her marriage last season, he coldly abandoned her in favor of a political career. Cliff snorts derisively and calls her the user for marrying JR solely to attain wealth and a higher station in life...but when the marriage [predictably] went sour, she used him (Cliff) to get back at JR. He adds that she's now using her baby as a weapon to keep the Ewing name, which seems to be all she cares about, then bellows, "Because you're a parasite! You're incapable of loving! Even your son!" An enraged Sue Ellen smacks him hard across the face and insists that she loves her son - but Cliff snarks back that she's nothing but a soulless turd who lacks the capacity to love anyone. Sue Ellen stares back at him with a stricken expression before hastily exiting the apartment.
Sue Ellen arrives at a Daughters of the Alamo luncheon and is informed that the keynote speaker bailed, so Cliff Barnes was scheduled to fill in at the last minute. Sue Ellen pales and says she's suddenly not feeling well...but then runs into Cliff on her way out. He tells her he really really needs to talk to her and asks her to please come by his apartment tomorrow afternoon.
Sue Ellen is hovering over Baby John's crib and telling him she just exchanged words with his bio dad, but has no idea how she feels about it. JR enters the room and says he's glad to see that she's finally spending some quality time with their son - but when Baby John starts crying, Sue Ellen just stares down at him stonily. An impatient JR implores her to "pick him up, change him, or something", and Sue Ellen challenges him to do something before snarking at what "an expert parent" he claims himself to be, then saunters off. OMFG, these two. Crawl to the nearest phone, Baby John! And call Child Protective Services asap.
Alan reports to JR that Cliff is still under the illusion that he can get elected to Congress, and JR nods approvingly and says he's done secretly funneling cash to that faux campaign.
During a therapy session, Sue Ellen tells Dr. Ellby about Cliff's request for a one-on-one, then asks him what he thinks 'bout that...and Dr. Ellby throws it back at her and says it's irrelevant what he thinks 'cause she has to decide this kind of stuff on her own. Sue Ellen mulls that over and says, on the one hand, Cliff still has the power to hurt her...but then a few seconds later springs up from her chair and says she has a few things she'd like to say to the shitbag, and that she suddenly feels as though she has nothing to lose. Er...OK.
JR calls Hank Johnson (his contact in Asia) to bitchily demand an hourly progress report on how the oil drilling is going. He adds that it'd be really great if oil could be struck before Friday.
Bobby gets miffed when Pam shows him all the baby stuff she found on sale for Baby John...and seems oblivious to Bobby's furrowed brows as she races up to the nursery to shower the tot with his new stuffed animals and stack of designer onesies.
When Sue Ellen arrives at Cliff's apartment, he peppers her with questions about Baby John's health, and she irritably says he's fine and that he really doesn't need to waste his time worrying about either of them. She then gets all in his face and accuses him of using her to get ahead and destroy JR...and reminds him that when she wanted to flee her marriage last season, he coldly abandoned her in favor of a political career. Cliff snorts derisively and calls her the user for marrying JR solely to attain wealth and a higher station in life...but when the marriage [predictably] went sour, she used him (Cliff) to get back at JR. He adds that she's now using her baby as a weapon to keep the Ewing name, which seems to be all she cares about, then bellows, "Because you're a parasite! You're incapable of loving! Even your son!" An enraged Sue Ellen smacks him hard across the face and insists that she loves her son - but Cliff snarks back that she's nothing but a soulless turd who lacks the capacity to love anyone. Sue Ellen stares back at him with a stricken expression before hastily exiting the apartment.
"You're a user and a parasite!"
"I much prefer the descriptor gold digger."
JR implores Vaughn Leland to temporarily stall his search for buyers of the Asian oil leases - but Vaughn refuses and says he's way too skeered of Jock to cross him.
Sue Ellen is sitting in her bedroom, staring sadly into space, when JR enters. She contritely asks him if he thinks she's changed since their wedding day, and JR shrugs and says she's roughly as hot looking as she was back then. Sue Ellen tells him she was referring to her personality, then asks if he thinks she uses people for her own ends. JR's like, "Oh, OK...thanks for clarifying" and tells her she hasn't changed a bit, and that she's no less a vapid shell of a woman now as she was the day he married her.
Bobby shows Pam the postcard he received from Luke Middens (of the Lost Boy episode), and says he really misses the lad. A few seconds later, Baby John's crying starts up again - and Bobby quickly blocks the exit and reminds Pam that he's not her baby. Pam tearfully retorts, "He's the closest I'll ever come to having one" and shoves past him. When she gets to the nursery, she finds Sue Ellen standing uselessly beside the crib...and when she asks her why she hasn't picked up the baby, Sue Ellen spacily replies that Nurse Reeves should be here any minute. Pam leans over the crib and picks up Baby John and angrily says she can't stand to hear the poor tot cry...and an irked Sue Ellen orders her to put the baby back down and let Nurse Reeves deal with him. Pam hugs Baby John tighter and says it's no trouble to respond to his crying, and Sue Ellen shrugs disinterestedly and ambles out of the room.
Sue Ellen storms over to Dr. Ellby's office and demands to know what she's paying him for, then snarks - as if it's his fault - that she still can't bring herself to hold her own child. Dr. Ellby calmly asks her what happened during her tête-à-tête with Cliff, so she stares back at him sadly and recounts that he called her a parasite who was incapable of loving anyone. She adds that she doesn't believe anyone truly cares about her...and by anyone, she means JR, Cliff, and possibly Dusty. She ponders her recent history of hooking up with the crappiest of men, and Dr. Ellby warns that if she continues to go through life afraid, she might never be able to love anyone. He urges her to take a chance on someone - her infant son, for example - but Sue Ellen moans about how afraid she is of letting her guard down...then realizes that that's some pretty fucking stupid logic to apply to a helpless baby and figures the little gaffer's probably worth a shot.
Sue Ellen is sitting in her bedroom, staring sadly into space, when JR enters. She contritely asks him if he thinks she's changed since their wedding day, and JR shrugs and says she's roughly as hot looking as she was back then. Sue Ellen tells him she was referring to her personality, then asks if he thinks she uses people for her own ends. JR's like, "Oh, OK...thanks for clarifying" and tells her she hasn't changed a bit, and that she's no less a vapid shell of a woman now as she was the day he married her.
Bobby shows Pam the postcard he received from Luke Middens (of the Lost Boy episode), and says he really misses the lad. A few seconds later, Baby John's crying starts up again - and Bobby quickly blocks the exit and reminds Pam that he's not her baby. Pam tearfully retorts, "He's the closest I'll ever come to having one" and shoves past him. When she gets to the nursery, she finds Sue Ellen standing uselessly beside the crib...and when she asks her why she hasn't picked up the baby, Sue Ellen spacily replies that Nurse Reeves should be here any minute. Pam leans over the crib and picks up Baby John and angrily says she can't stand to hear the poor tot cry...and an irked Sue Ellen orders her to put the baby back down and let Nurse Reeves deal with him. Pam hugs Baby John tighter and says it's no trouble to respond to his crying, and Sue Ellen shrugs disinterestedly and ambles out of the room.
Sue Ellen storms over to Dr. Ellby's office and demands to know what she's paying him for, then snarks - as if it's his fault - that she still can't bring herself to hold her own child. Dr. Ellby calmly asks her what happened during her tête-à-tête with Cliff, so she stares back at him sadly and recounts that he called her a parasite who was incapable of loving anyone. She adds that she doesn't believe anyone truly cares about her...and by anyone, she means JR, Cliff, and possibly Dusty. She ponders her recent history of hooking up with the crappiest of men, and Dr. Ellby warns that if she continues to go through life afraid, she might never be able to love anyone. He urges her to take a chance on someone - her infant son, for example - but Sue Ellen moans about how afraid she is of letting her guard down...then realizes that that's some pretty fucking stupid logic to apply to a helpless baby and figures the little gaffer's probably worth a shot.
"I'm starting to think I might have really lousy taste in men."
"That could be the biggest understatement in the history of understatements."
When Lucy hears Baby John crying, Lucy wanders over to where Sue Ellen is calling up the Farlow residence and leaving a message for Dusty to call her. Lucy bitchily tells her her baby is crying for the umpteenth time this episode...and when Sue Ellen's like, "And this is my problem because..?", Lucy starts railing about the curse of being a neglected, unwanted Ewing kid. She invokes her own dicked up childhood and says she spent years believing that her parents didn't want her, then snarkishly vows to teach her tiny cousin how to survive in the dysfunctional family they've had the misfortune to be born into.
Over at Section 40, Bobby tells Jock that everything's in place to begin drilling for oil. He again urges his father to briefly hold off on selling the Asian leases in order to wait out a possible gusher - but Jock refuses and gruffly says he's done begging the banks for anymore extensions.
Jock and Bobby stop by Ray's plot of land, where two county sheriff's officers are milling about. Ray explains that during excavation he discovered a buried skeleton...so he called the local police who are now investigating the matter.
JR is slumped over his desk at Ewing Oil, staring despondently into space while Kristin gives him a shoulder rub. A few seconds later, he gets a call from Hank Johnson, who reports that Ewing Oil's Asian wells just struck oil...and by struck, he means the biggest strike the Pacific has ever seen. JR lets out a loud woot and hugs Kristin...and suddenly various phones around the office start ringing all at once. LOL. As Kristin and the other secretary scramble to answer the many calls, JR announces that he's off to Southfork to gloat to his family members about his successful gamble.
As Lucy takes a call from a reporter, Pam tells Miss Ellie she's happy for her that there's no longer any need to drill on Section 40. Lucy bounds into the room and excitedly tells everyone that the press is on its way, then rushes upstairs to primp for the cameras. When Jock and Bobby arrive home and look confused by the aura of gaiety, Pam shares the joyous news about the Asian oil wells. Jock's all, "Hurray!" and canoodles Miss Ellie, who tells him how relieved she is that her [brief] nightmare of foreclosure and Southfork oil drilling is over.
Over at Section 40, Bobby tells Jock that everything's in place to begin drilling for oil. He again urges his father to briefly hold off on selling the Asian leases in order to wait out a possible gusher - but Jock refuses and gruffly says he's done begging the banks for anymore extensions.
Jock and Bobby stop by Ray's plot of land, where two county sheriff's officers are milling about. Ray explains that during excavation he discovered a buried skeleton...so he called the local police who are now investigating the matter.
JR is slumped over his desk at Ewing Oil, staring despondently into space while Kristin gives him a shoulder rub. A few seconds later, he gets a call from Hank Johnson, who reports that Ewing Oil's Asian wells just struck oil...and by struck, he means the biggest strike the Pacific has ever seen. JR lets out a loud woot and hugs Kristin...and suddenly various phones around the office start ringing all at once. LOL. As Kristin and the other secretary scramble to answer the many calls, JR announces that he's off to Southfork to gloat to his family members about his successful gamble.
As Lucy takes a call from a reporter, Pam tells Miss Ellie she's happy for her that there's no longer any need to drill on Section 40. Lucy bounds into the room and excitedly tells everyone that the press is on its way, then rushes upstairs to primp for the cameras. When Jock and Bobby arrive home and look confused by the aura of gaiety, Pam shares the joyous news about the Asian oil wells. Jock's all, "Hurray!" and canoodles Miss Ellie, who tells him how relieved she is that her [brief] nightmare of foreclosure and Southfork oil drilling is over.
"Turns out JR may not have screwed the pooch on the Asian oil deal after all."
"Hurray!"
An ecstatic JR bursts into the house clutching two large flower bouquets and two bottles of champagne. Lucy chuckles at him and says they've all already heard the good news, then explains that the Associated Press called the ranch for a statement. A deflated looking JR wanders over to the study, where the family is excitedly gabbling about the gusher, and asks if someone should maybe thank him for making the Ewings billionaires - but Jock's like, "Er, no" and chides him again for gambling their home and committing the sin of stressing out Miss Ellie. JR promises to make it up to her, and Jock snaps, "You damn well better!" and announces that he's coming out of retirement to reinstall himself as Ewing Oil's CEO. As JR stares back at him in shocked bewilderment, Pam hears Baby John cry again and rushes up to the nursery with a miffed looking Bobby trailing after her.
Pam is unpleasantly surprised to find Sue Ellen actually tending to her own baby. Sue Ellen shoots her a smug grin and says, "It's OK, I have him now", and Pam dejectedly exits the nursery and spacily lumbers over to her bedroom. As Bobby hovers behind her, she tears up and squeaks, "I lost him" ... and Bobby gives her a comforting from-behind hug as he dickishly points out, "He was never yours."
Pam is unpleasantly surprised to find Sue Ellen actually tending to her own baby. Sue Ellen shoots her a smug grin and says, "It's OK, I have him now", and Pam dejectedly exits the nursery and spacily lumbers over to her bedroom. As Bobby hovers behind her, she tears up and squeaks, "I lost him" ... and Bobby gives her a comforting from-behind hug as he dickishly points out, "He was never yours."
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- Published on
"Hello, tiny child. You'll be sorry to learn that your childhood won't be as privileged as originally assumed."
"Ellie Saves the Day"
Original airdate: 11/30/1979
Episode summary: Bobby tattles on JR for mortgaging Southfork, prompting Miss Ellie to generate cash by allowing oil drilling on Section 40 of the ranch.
Original airdate: 11/30/1979
Episode summary: Bobby tattles on JR for mortgaging Southfork, prompting Miss Ellie to generate cash by allowing oil drilling on Section 40 of the ranch.
Recap: JR has a freakout on the phone with whoever he's talking to when he learns that a typhoon has struck Ewing Oil's Asian drilling platforms and caused major damage...and that it's estimated to cost the company 500K a day until the rigs become operational again. A panicked JR barks, "If we don't strike oil in the next week, Ewing Oil is out of business!" ... and after he slams the phone down, Kristin cooingly tries to comfort him - but he tells her to skedaddle 'cause he has a lot more important calls he needs to make. Once she's out of earshot, he calls up Alan Beam, who's in bed canoodling with Lucy, and says they need to meet up asap.
Miss Ellie runs into Ray at the stables and asks him why he hasn't started building a forever home on the plot of land Jock gave him last season, and Ray says he doesn't want to build a big house just to rattle around in all by himself. Miss Ellie urges him to lay down roots, regardless of his inability to attract a live woman, and reminds him that land is a precious thing to own.
JR and Alan meet on the side of a quiet road to discuss the Cliff for Congress Situation. Alan assures JR that it's "the beginning of the end" for Cliff at the OLM and will need just 25K to wrap up the faux campaign. JR grumbles about how much money he's poured into this scheme, but then opens his briefcase and hands Alan several stacks of cash. He sternly tells Alan he expects results within the week.
Bobby arrives at work and asks Kristin if JR is around...and when she shrugs cluelessly and says he's out somewhere, he asks to speak with her privately. Inside his office he asks her again where JR is, what she knows about the southeast Asia deal, and if anyone from the cartel is in on the deal...and when she just stares at him blankly and goes, "Dunno", he accuses her of lying and barks, "I need answers!" Kristin gets upset and snarks back that she doesn't deserve to be treated this way, and Bobby brusquely dismisses her and irritably says he's off to have lunch with Jordan Lee to see if he's able to squeeze any intel from that dumb fossil.
Miss Ellie runs into Ray at the stables and asks him why he hasn't started building a forever home on the plot of land Jock gave him last season, and Ray says he doesn't want to build a big house just to rattle around in all by himself. Miss Ellie urges him to lay down roots, regardless of his inability to attract a live woman, and reminds him that land is a precious thing to own.
JR and Alan meet on the side of a quiet road to discuss the Cliff for Congress Situation. Alan assures JR that it's "the beginning of the end" for Cliff at the OLM and will need just 25K to wrap up the faux campaign. JR grumbles about how much money he's poured into this scheme, but then opens his briefcase and hands Alan several stacks of cash. He sternly tells Alan he expects results within the week.
Bobby arrives at work and asks Kristin if JR is around...and when she shrugs cluelessly and says he's out somewhere, he asks to speak with her privately. Inside his office he asks her again where JR is, what she knows about the southeast Asia deal, and if anyone from the cartel is in on the deal...and when she just stares at him blankly and goes, "Dunno", he accuses her of lying and barks, "I need answers!" Kristin gets upset and snarks back that she doesn't deserve to be treated this way, and Bobby brusquely dismisses her and irritably says he's off to have lunch with Jordan Lee to see if he's able to squeeze any intel from that dumb fossil.
"Surely JR told you something about his shady oil deal."
"I don't know nuthin' about nuthin' - a story I'm firmly sticking to."
Over lunch at a fast food joint, Cliff tells Pam he's making a speech tonight...and that if he senses a high level of support from the important ecology groups in attendance, he'll formally declare his intention to run for Congress. Pam wryly says that his resignation from the OLM is bound to make JR and Jock happy, then implores him not to walk away from his plum job. Cliff points out that he can do a lot more damage to the Ewings as a congressman, then changes the subject and says he really really wants to talk to Sue Ellen this episode. After muttering about how she doesn't want to get involved with anything extramarital affair related, she "lets it slip" that Sue Ellen has therapy appointments with Dr. Ellby several times a week, then sashays off without eating her fast food.
Kristin tearfully recounts for JR how angry Bobby was at her when he questioned her about the southeast Asia deal...and JR looks relieved when she assures him she didn't spill the beans about anything. He gives her a dry hanky, offers to take her home, and gives her a smooch.
Over lunch with Jordan Lee, Bobby pretends to float the idea of the cartel drilling for oil overseas, and Jordan says he can't afford that kind of gamble...and to his knowledge, JR is the only cartel member who's taken actual steps in that direction. He tells Bobby that JR used "something real big" as collateral, and Bobby turns ashen-faced as he stares worriedly into space.
Bobby heads straight to the Hall of Records and quickly learns that JR has mortgaged Southfork in order to finance Ewing Oil's overseas drilling.
Alan and Cliff are watching a replay of Cliff's recent 'I may possibly run for Congress' speech, during which he remarks on all of the support he's been getting for a prospective run. Alan tells him that the money has been pouring in and asks how much longer the writers are going to drag out deciding whether or not he'll make his candidacy official, and Cliff promises to let him know before the end credits roll.
Bobby is waiting for JR on the patio when he returns home and demands answers about mortgaging Southfork. He thrusts a stack of papers at him and orders him to explain this abomination, and JR mutters something about the mortgage being a mere formality. When Jock and Miss Ellie come outside to see what the ruckus is all about, Bobby blurts out that JR is planning to drill for oil in southeast Asia...and that he was able to raise $100 million by mortgaging Southfork. Miss Ellie's all, "Wha-a-a-a?!" and looks alarmed, while Jock growls about how angry he is...but somehow refrains from pointing out how implausible it is that no one from the bank would bother to at least inform either him or Miss Ellie of such a major re-mortgaging, given that his and/or Miss Ellie's name would surely be listed on the property's deed. JR meekly says he didn't want to trouble him, and insists that the overseas deal is well worth the risk...but in the next breath admits it'll be a miracle if they're able to make the first mortgage payment, given that a monster typhoon has just wiped out a bunch of their oil rigs. LOL. Jock stares mournfully into space and moans, "We're finished.." but Miss Ellie sassily declares that she has no intention of losing her beloved ranch over a stupid oil deal. As she and JR wander into the house, Jock tells Bobby he blames himself for being the moron who taught JR everything he knows about business, and that he never thought to teach him when to stop.
Kristin tearfully recounts for JR how angry Bobby was at her when he questioned her about the southeast Asia deal...and JR looks relieved when she assures him she didn't spill the beans about anything. He gives her a dry hanky, offers to take her home, and gives her a smooch.
Over lunch with Jordan Lee, Bobby pretends to float the idea of the cartel drilling for oil overseas, and Jordan says he can't afford that kind of gamble...and to his knowledge, JR is the only cartel member who's taken actual steps in that direction. He tells Bobby that JR used "something real big" as collateral, and Bobby turns ashen-faced as he stares worriedly into space.
Bobby heads straight to the Hall of Records and quickly learns that JR has mortgaged Southfork in order to finance Ewing Oil's overseas drilling.
Alan and Cliff are watching a replay of Cliff's recent 'I may possibly run for Congress' speech, during which he remarks on all of the support he's been getting for a prospective run. Alan tells him that the money has been pouring in and asks how much longer the writers are going to drag out deciding whether or not he'll make his candidacy official, and Cliff promises to let him know before the end credits roll.
Bobby is waiting for JR on the patio when he returns home and demands answers about mortgaging Southfork. He thrusts a stack of papers at him and orders him to explain this abomination, and JR mutters something about the mortgage being a mere formality. When Jock and Miss Ellie come outside to see what the ruckus is all about, Bobby blurts out that JR is planning to drill for oil in southeast Asia...and that he was able to raise $100 million by mortgaging Southfork. Miss Ellie's all, "Wha-a-a-a?!" and looks alarmed, while Jock growls about how angry he is...but somehow refrains from pointing out how implausible it is that no one from the bank would bother to at least inform either him or Miss Ellie of such a major re-mortgaging, given that his and/or Miss Ellie's name would surely be listed on the property's deed. JR meekly says he didn't want to trouble him, and insists that the overseas deal is well worth the risk...but in the next breath admits it'll be a miracle if they're able to make the first mortgage payment, given that a monster typhoon has just wiped out a bunch of their oil rigs. LOL. Jock stares mournfully into space and moans, "We're finished.." but Miss Ellie sassily declares that she has no intention of losing her beloved ranch over a stupid oil deal. As she and JR wander into the house, Jock tells Bobby he blames himself for being the moron who taught JR everything he knows about business, and that he never thought to teach him when to stop.
"JR mortgaged Southfork for a risky Asian oil venture."
"This sounds so much worse than his usual shenanigans."
Sue Ellen smugly tells JR, "You've finally done it" ... and by it she means lost everything. JR breezily says it will all turn out fine - but Sue Ellen argues that, for the first time, she senses fear in his voice. He snarls at her to go to sleep 'cause of how haggard she always looks when she doesn't get her full eight hours - meow - and Sue Ellen mockingly asks him if he's planning to spend the entire night with Kristin, who's never actually contemplated the idea of bedding a poor man. JR shoots her the stink-eye before storming out of the room. OMG, please get divorced.
Bobby tells Pam he figures every Ewing could probably bear the pain of losing Southfork - except for Miss Ellie. He mournfully adds that he doesn't see a way out of this pickle, then watches JR storm over to his car and squeal off into the night. Bobby muses on how ironic it is that it's JR himself who's about to destroy Ewing family...and I can't help but wonder if Pam is secretly tempted to do a happy dance, now that it looks like she and Bobby have an excuse to no longer live under her in-laws' roof and finally get a damn house of their own.
JR arrives at Kristin's condo and snappishly tells her to get rid of whatever man-whore she currently has stashed in her bedroom, and Kristin looks insulted and assures him that he's the only man she's currently whoring herself with. She starts railing about how mean Bobby was to her during his earlier inquisition, and JR tells her to not be so hard on his simpleton of a brother, who sees everything as black or white...then gives her a smooch and says he intends to stay the entire night at her condo.
Jock is sitting on the patio in his bathrobe, despondently staring out at Southfork. Bobby joins him and says they could probably start over again on a new, maybe less sprawly ranch - but Jock says there's not enough time for that, and that there's no way Miss Ellie could build another Southfork. He laments how badly hurt she is over this, then sadly says this Asian drilling clusterfuck feels like the end of forty years of sweat, hopes and dreams.
JR arrives at Ewing Oil the next morning, looking tired and disheveled. He gets a call from Alan, who informs him that Cliff requested a press conference at noon, during which he's expected to formally resign from the OLM and officially announce his run for Congress. JR cackles evilly and tells Alan he deserves a giant bonus for pulling this off.
JR races home to happily inform everyone that Cliff will soon be out of the OLM, which means that Ewing Oil can go back to pumping oil from all of their idle wells. Bobby perks up at that and points out to Jock that this might bode well for getting a loan extension from the banks...and Miss Ellie looks hopeful and urges Jock to please try.
Later, Jock works the phones to see how fast he can get all of the rigs operational again, and learns it will take a minimum of two weeks. He then tells Bobby he talked to the bankers about their cash flow problems and will hear back from them later regarding their final decision.
Cliff intercepts Sue Ellen as she leaves Dr. Ellby's office building. He asks her if Baby John is OK, and she stares back at him with her cold dead eyes and says she assumes so, and that his nanny takes him for checkups to the best pediatrician in town. Cliff excitedly says he's planning his future - but she cuts him off and barks, "No! Don't", then sashays over to her wood paneled station wagon.
Bobby tells Pam he figures every Ewing could probably bear the pain of losing Southfork - except for Miss Ellie. He mournfully adds that he doesn't see a way out of this pickle, then watches JR storm over to his car and squeal off into the night. Bobby muses on how ironic it is that it's JR himself who's about to destroy Ewing family...and I can't help but wonder if Pam is secretly tempted to do a happy dance, now that it looks like she and Bobby have an excuse to no longer live under her in-laws' roof and finally get a damn house of their own.
JR arrives at Kristin's condo and snappishly tells her to get rid of whatever man-whore she currently has stashed in her bedroom, and Kristin looks insulted and assures him that he's the only man she's currently whoring herself with. She starts railing about how mean Bobby was to her during his earlier inquisition, and JR tells her to not be so hard on his simpleton of a brother, who sees everything as black or white...then gives her a smooch and says he intends to stay the entire night at her condo.
Jock is sitting on the patio in his bathrobe, despondently staring out at Southfork. Bobby joins him and says they could probably start over again on a new, maybe less sprawly ranch - but Jock says there's not enough time for that, and that there's no way Miss Ellie could build another Southfork. He laments how badly hurt she is over this, then sadly says this Asian drilling clusterfuck feels like the end of forty years of sweat, hopes and dreams.
JR arrives at Ewing Oil the next morning, looking tired and disheveled. He gets a call from Alan, who informs him that Cliff requested a press conference at noon, during which he's expected to formally resign from the OLM and officially announce his run for Congress. JR cackles evilly and tells Alan he deserves a giant bonus for pulling this off.
JR races home to happily inform everyone that Cliff will soon be out of the OLM, which means that Ewing Oil can go back to pumping oil from all of their idle wells. Bobby perks up at that and points out to Jock that this might bode well for getting a loan extension from the banks...and Miss Ellie looks hopeful and urges Jock to please try.
Later, Jock works the phones to see how fast he can get all of the rigs operational again, and learns it will take a minimum of two weeks. He then tells Bobby he talked to the bankers about their cash flow problems and will hear back from them later regarding their final decision.
Cliff intercepts Sue Ellen as she leaves Dr. Ellby's office building. He asks her if Baby John is OK, and she stares back at him with her cold dead eyes and says she assumes so, and that his nanny takes him for checkups to the best pediatrician in town. Cliff excitedly says he's planning his future - but she cuts him off and barks, "No! Don't", then sashays over to her wood paneled station wagon.
"Does the baby, by chance, look neurofibromatosis-ish?"
"I'll let you know if I ever get around to dropping by the nursery."
Bobby apologizes to Kristin for his bitchitude the other day, and she concurs that he was pretty dickish to her and thanks him for the apology. In the next scene, Jock, JR, and Bobby settle into JR's office to watch Cliff's press conference.
Cliff arrives at his press conference venue...and once the news cameras start rolling, he tells viewers he's done a lot of soul searching and finally came to the conclusion that he probably has enough support to win a congressional seat. With that said, he formally announces his resignation from the OLM. JR cackles gleefully, while Bobby glumly says this'll probably mean the end of his marriage. JR happily calls that "killing two birds with one stone", and an enraged Bobby responds by lunging at him - but doesn't get in a face punch before Jock breaks up the fight.
Vaughn Leland tells Jock that he and the other bankers aren't willing to extend their mortgage loan. After he beats a hasty retreat, Jock tells JR and Bobby that, barring a miracle with the Asian rigs, it's a certainty that the Ewings will lose Southfork. Oooooh nooooo!
The next morning, Sue Ellen chuckles at a hungover JR for his epic failure and rubs it in his face that Jock is back at the helm of Ewing Oil. She then heads over to the nursery to break it to her tot that he probably won't get the chance to grow up amid the awe-inspiringness that is the Southfork ranch. Miss Ellie quietly stands in the doorway as she eavesdrops and stares contemplatively into space.
Back at Ewing Oil, Jock and Bobby are searching through various documents to find something JR hasn't mortgaged, but don't have any luck. Jock gets a call from the governor's office, informing him that a man named Bill Watson has been appointed to the OLM. Jock gruffly says that Watson is a good man, but that his appointment is too late to matter in terms of saving the ranch from foreclosure.
Ray watches Miss Ellie as she spacily strolls around Southfork with her face contorted in a strange, dream-like expression.
JR tells Kristin he'll stop by her condo later, then tells her he may not be able to provide for her in the pampery way he knows that Shepard women like to luxuriate in. Kristin pretends that money means nothing to her, and insists that she digs him for him. JR mulls over that pantload for a few seconds, then says he's far too distracted to focus on work and is heading out to the nearest bar for a stiff drink. Once he's out of earshot, Kristin calls Jordan Lee and says she's finally taking him up on his standing lunch invitation...which I can only assume will lead to something icky.
Miss Ellie spacily wanders over to Section 40 of Southfork, aka the area where JR once tested for oil without permission, and glances around with a serene smile on her face.
That evening, Miss Ellie informs the family that since her father's will grants her the right to drill for oil on Section 40, she's going to go against his wishes to keep Southfork as one giant cow pasture and drill for oil so that they'll be able to make the upcoming mortgage payment. Jock looks relieved as he weakly asks, "Are you sure?" and she assures him she is, then quietly exits the room.
Cliff arrives at his press conference venue...and once the news cameras start rolling, he tells viewers he's done a lot of soul searching and finally came to the conclusion that he probably has enough support to win a congressional seat. With that said, he formally announces his resignation from the OLM. JR cackles gleefully, while Bobby glumly says this'll probably mean the end of his marriage. JR happily calls that "killing two birds with one stone", and an enraged Bobby responds by lunging at him - but doesn't get in a face punch before Jock breaks up the fight.
Vaughn Leland tells Jock that he and the other bankers aren't willing to extend their mortgage loan. After he beats a hasty retreat, Jock tells JR and Bobby that, barring a miracle with the Asian rigs, it's a certainty that the Ewings will lose Southfork. Oooooh nooooo!
The next morning, Sue Ellen chuckles at a hungover JR for his epic failure and rubs it in his face that Jock is back at the helm of Ewing Oil. She then heads over to the nursery to break it to her tot that he probably won't get the chance to grow up amid the awe-inspiringness that is the Southfork ranch. Miss Ellie quietly stands in the doorway as she eavesdrops and stares contemplatively into space.
Back at Ewing Oil, Jock and Bobby are searching through various documents to find something JR hasn't mortgaged, but don't have any luck. Jock gets a call from the governor's office, informing him that a man named Bill Watson has been appointed to the OLM. Jock gruffly says that Watson is a good man, but that his appointment is too late to matter in terms of saving the ranch from foreclosure.
Ray watches Miss Ellie as she spacily strolls around Southfork with her face contorted in a strange, dream-like expression.
JR tells Kristin he'll stop by her condo later, then tells her he may not be able to provide for her in the pampery way he knows that Shepard women like to luxuriate in. Kristin pretends that money means nothing to her, and insists that she digs him for him. JR mulls over that pantload for a few seconds, then says he's far too distracted to focus on work and is heading out to the nearest bar for a stiff drink. Once he's out of earshot, Kristin calls Jordan Lee and says she's finally taking him up on his standing lunch invitation...which I can only assume will lead to something icky.
Miss Ellie spacily wanders over to Section 40 of Southfork, aka the area where JR once tested for oil without permission, and glances around with a serene smile on her face.
That evening, Miss Ellie informs the family that since her father's will grants her the right to drill for oil on Section 40, she's going to go against his wishes to keep Southfork as one giant cow pasture and drill for oil so that they'll be able to make the upcoming mortgage payment. Jock looks relieved as he weakly asks, "Are you sure?" and she assures him she is, then quietly exits the room.
"Due to JR's clusterfuckery, I have no choice but to go against my father's wishes and allow drilling on Southfork."
"I'll pretend to look dismayed as I quietly let out a huge sigh of relief."
The next day, Vaughn Leland arrives at Ewing Oil with all of the requisite papers needed to extend the mortgage loan - on the condition of imminent drilling on Section 40. Miss Ellie signs the papers, shoots JR the stink-eye, and snarls, "I won't ever forgive you for this." She then tells Jock she wants to rush back to her beloved ranch so she can sit on her patio and smile serenely at her acreage.
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- Published on
"Looks like a slow day in the Chronicle's Gossip Department."
"The Heiress"
Original airdate: 11/23/1979
Episode summary: Lucy is turned on by Alan Beam when he gets into a public spat with JR. Bobby is determined to get to the bottom of JR's purchase of Asian oil leases.
Original airdate: 11/23/1979
Episode summary: Lucy is turned on by Alan Beam when he gets into a public spat with JR. Bobby is determined to get to the bottom of JR's purchase of Asian oil leases.
Recap: JR is in his office, confirming reservations at the Golden Horseshoe for Jock's upcoming birthday party. Kristin sashays into his office and purringly says she hopes he can make it to her condo for a much needed booty call later, but he's like, "No can do" and tells her it's family night, then breezily asks for a rain check...and she pouts unhappily after him as he rushes out of the office.
The Ewings gather at the Golden Horseshoe to celebrate Jock's birthday...and he gruffly thanks his sons for organizing this dinner party while waving his gift - an expensive looking watch - in the air. Alan Beam makes a coordinated-with-JR appearance at the restaurant with a small group of friends, and saunters over to the Ewing table to tell JR that he has no hard feelings about their contrived brawl during the Rodeo episode. JR snappishly retorts that he's not welcome here, not least 'cause he's brazenly wearing a Barnes for Congress button. As Bobby rolls his eyes, JR "demands to know" from Alan how much Cliff Barnes is paying him for his loyalty, then fake grumbles about how he paid him a fortune when he represented Ewing Oil, but was unable to get his loyalty. Alan quips, "Too bad you never learned you can't buy loyalty; you have to inspire it" ... then chuckles and faux dickishly adds, "You couldn't inspire a dog to sit up and beg." As Lucy openly laughs at his sassy 'tude, JR snaps at Alan to get lost, then gets up and makes a lunging motion in his direction. Jock breaks up the fake fight and irritably announces to the Ewing clan that it's time to pack up their doggie bags and go home. A smitten looking Lucy sneaks over to Alan to applaud his sass, but JR swiftly intervenes and drags her away.
The next morning, Bobby wryly tells JR that he and Alan put on quite a show during dinner, and JR's like, "Thanks, bro. I thought it worked out well." LOL. Bobby asks him if he really thinks that Cliff is dumb enough to buy this phony rift between Alan and the Ewings, and JR's like, "D'yuh" and points out that Cliff scored high on the gullibility scale when he fell for his/Alan's falling out during the rodeo...and adds that Cliff is only too eager to believe that a man like Alan would choose to be on his side.
During breakfast on the Southfork patio, JR opens the newspaper and remarks on how his tiff with Alan made the gossip column...and an intrigued Lucy reads the paper from over his shoulder and laughingly tells Bobby and Pam that the article claims Alan would have "wiped JR out" if Jock hadn't intervened. JR shoots her the stink-eye and argues that the paper does not say that - just as Sue Ellen enters the patio to announce that she's off to another appointment with her therapist. After a brief back-and-forth between her and JR, during which he mocks her ongoing therapy as her "latest medical charity", she stonily sashays to her car. When Bobby chides JR on being an insensitive dickwad regarding his wife's mental health needs, JR grumbles about how much he hates that she tells Ewing secrets to an outsider.
The Ewings gather at the Golden Horseshoe to celebrate Jock's birthday...and he gruffly thanks his sons for organizing this dinner party while waving his gift - an expensive looking watch - in the air. Alan Beam makes a coordinated-with-JR appearance at the restaurant with a small group of friends, and saunters over to the Ewing table to tell JR that he has no hard feelings about their contrived brawl during the Rodeo episode. JR snappishly retorts that he's not welcome here, not least 'cause he's brazenly wearing a Barnes for Congress button. As Bobby rolls his eyes, JR "demands to know" from Alan how much Cliff Barnes is paying him for his loyalty, then fake grumbles about how he paid him a fortune when he represented Ewing Oil, but was unable to get his loyalty. Alan quips, "Too bad you never learned you can't buy loyalty; you have to inspire it" ... then chuckles and faux dickishly adds, "You couldn't inspire a dog to sit up and beg." As Lucy openly laughs at his sassy 'tude, JR snaps at Alan to get lost, then gets up and makes a lunging motion in his direction. Jock breaks up the fake fight and irritably announces to the Ewing clan that it's time to pack up their doggie bags and go home. A smitten looking Lucy sneaks over to Alan to applaud his sass, but JR swiftly intervenes and drags her away.
The next morning, Bobby wryly tells JR that he and Alan put on quite a show during dinner, and JR's like, "Thanks, bro. I thought it worked out well." LOL. Bobby asks him if he really thinks that Cliff is dumb enough to buy this phony rift between Alan and the Ewings, and JR's like, "D'yuh" and points out that Cliff scored high on the gullibility scale when he fell for his/Alan's falling out during the rodeo...and adds that Cliff is only too eager to believe that a man like Alan would choose to be on his side.
During breakfast on the Southfork patio, JR opens the newspaper and remarks on how his tiff with Alan made the gossip column...and an intrigued Lucy reads the paper from over his shoulder and laughingly tells Bobby and Pam that the article claims Alan would have "wiped JR out" if Jock hadn't intervened. JR shoots her the stink-eye and argues that the paper does not say that - just as Sue Ellen enters the patio to announce that she's off to another appointment with her therapist. After a brief back-and-forth between her and JR, during which he mocks her ongoing therapy as her "latest medical charity", she stonily sashays to her car. When Bobby chides JR on being an insensitive dickwad regarding his wife's mental health needs, JR grumbles about how much he hates that she tells Ewing secrets to an outsider.
"It says here that Alan Beam got sassy with the Ewing clan's patriarch-in-training."
"Is anyone else as turned on by that as I am?"
Lucy arrives at Alan's Barnes for Congress campaign office and coquettishly slips Alan a hundred dollar bill to support the faux cause. Alan chuckles and remarks that JR surely wouldn't approve of her donation, and she gigglingly replies that it's kinda the point...and that she looooves gazing at the man who's been giving JR so much grief lately. When Alan invites her to dinner, she glumly tells him she has to decline on account of her granddad grounding her for getting too many speeding tickets...and he refrains from asking how it is that a fully grown woman can be grounded by her grandfather, then gives her his card and urges her to give him a call if she's somehow able to meet him for dinner.
Sue Ellen is railing to Dr. Ellby about how JR regularly mocks their therapy sessions, then assures him that their appointments are helping her so much she's starting to question why in blazes she's still married to JR and living at Southfork. She then rails about two men in her life who have so shamelessly used her - JR and Cliff - then says, on a pleasanter note, she's starting to despise her baby less...even though she still isn't able to show the little gaffer the lukewarm feelings she now has for him. She says she has the same problem with Dusty, then stares forlornly at Dr. Ellby and cries, "Whyyyyyy?" He just kind of shrugs and tells her she has to learn how to trust, and that that's going to take time and a helluva lot more therapy.
Alan proudly shows Cliff all of the fake donations he's received from faux supporters, and Cliff looks buoyed by the high level of public support and applauds Alan for doing such a great job. He tells Alan he's still not willing to resign from the OLM until he can be absolutely sure he'll be a congressional shoo-in at the time of the election, then says he was delighted to read about his skirmish with JR at the Golden Horseshoe. When Cliff heads back to work, Alan calls JR and tells him he's going to need more funding to keep this fake congressional campaign alive - but JR says he first wants to see some tangible results. Alan reports that Cliff fell for their fake brawl at the Golden Horseshoe, and that he's pretty sure Cliff is on the verge of formally announcing his candidacy. JR cackles delightedly.
Bobby and Pam are strolling downtown, perpetuating the show's tediously relentless &%$* Ewing-Barnes feud. Pam rails about how the Ewings are trying to get Cliff disbanded from the OLM, and Bobby argues that Cliff is using his position at the OLM to put the screws to Ewing Oil and needs to be reined in asap...blah blah.
JR is meeting with the company lawyer, Harv Smithfield, who heard about his public beef with Alan Beam. Harv offers to fire Alan from his law firm, and JR says that while he appreciates the offer, it might not look good for Ewing Oil to be responsible for having a man fired for his political beliefs, and advises him to keep Alan installed at the firm.
Cliff runs into Sue Ellen downtown and says hey and asks her how the baby's doing. She glares at him as she tells him that the tot is beautiful and healthy, then stonily says, "Have a good day" and stalks off.
Lucy is on the phone with her bespectacled gal pal Muriel and implores her to lie to Jock about how desperately she needs her help studying for a history test...'cause, yeah, that's believable. When Lucy hears Jock approach, she dials up the volume as she says, "I'd like to help you out, Muriel, but you know how granddad is - there's no point in asking." When Jock's all, "Whassup?", Lucy tells him that Muriel wants to ask him something, then shoves the phone receiver in his hand. A nervous looking Muriel tells him she's having an awful time studying for her history test and is convinced she'll fail if she doesn't get help from renowned history buff, Lucy Ewing. Jock decides 'yep, that sounds entirely plausible' and tells Lucy she's temporarily un-grounded so she can aid her friend in need. Lucy's like, "Yay!" ... and once Jock is out of earshot, she calls Alan and arranges to meet up with him for dinner.
Sue Ellen is railing to Dr. Ellby about how JR regularly mocks their therapy sessions, then assures him that their appointments are helping her so much she's starting to question why in blazes she's still married to JR and living at Southfork. She then rails about two men in her life who have so shamelessly used her - JR and Cliff - then says, on a pleasanter note, she's starting to despise her baby less...even though she still isn't able to show the little gaffer the lukewarm feelings she now has for him. She says she has the same problem with Dusty, then stares forlornly at Dr. Ellby and cries, "Whyyyyyy?" He just kind of shrugs and tells her she has to learn how to trust, and that that's going to take time and a helluva lot more therapy.
Alan proudly shows Cliff all of the fake donations he's received from faux supporters, and Cliff looks buoyed by the high level of public support and applauds Alan for doing such a great job. He tells Alan he's still not willing to resign from the OLM until he can be absolutely sure he'll be a congressional shoo-in at the time of the election, then says he was delighted to read about his skirmish with JR at the Golden Horseshoe. When Cliff heads back to work, Alan calls JR and tells him he's going to need more funding to keep this fake congressional campaign alive - but JR says he first wants to see some tangible results. Alan reports that Cliff fell for their fake brawl at the Golden Horseshoe, and that he's pretty sure Cliff is on the verge of formally announcing his candidacy. JR cackles delightedly.
Bobby and Pam are strolling downtown, perpetuating the show's tediously relentless &%$* Ewing-Barnes feud. Pam rails about how the Ewings are trying to get Cliff disbanded from the OLM, and Bobby argues that Cliff is using his position at the OLM to put the screws to Ewing Oil and needs to be reined in asap...blah blah.
JR is meeting with the company lawyer, Harv Smithfield, who heard about his public beef with Alan Beam. Harv offers to fire Alan from his law firm, and JR says that while he appreciates the offer, it might not look good for Ewing Oil to be responsible for having a man fired for his political beliefs, and advises him to keep Alan installed at the firm.
Cliff runs into Sue Ellen downtown and says hey and asks her how the baby's doing. She glares at him as she tells him that the tot is beautiful and healthy, then stonily says, "Have a good day" and stalks off.
Lucy is on the phone with her bespectacled gal pal Muriel and implores her to lie to Jock about how desperately she needs her help studying for a history test...'cause, yeah, that's believable. When Lucy hears Jock approach, she dials up the volume as she says, "I'd like to help you out, Muriel, but you know how granddad is - there's no point in asking." When Jock's all, "Whassup?", Lucy tells him that Muriel wants to ask him something, then shoves the phone receiver in his hand. A nervous looking Muriel tells him she's having an awful time studying for her history test and is convinced she'll fail if she doesn't get help from renowned history buff, Lucy Ewing. Jock decides 'yep, that sounds entirely plausible' and tells Lucy she's temporarily un-grounded so she can aid her friend in need. Lucy's like, "Yay!" ... and once Jock is out of earshot, she calls Alan and arranges to meet up with him for dinner.
"I'm going to need Lucy's rare historical expertise if I am to have any hope of passing this exam."
"I'm in a gullible kind of mood today, so permission granted."
Pam drops by Cliff's apartment for dinner, and he tells her he ran into Sue Ellen, who told him that her baby is doing well. Pam concurs that the tot is indeed healthy for the moment, then asks him if he's seriously considering running for Congress. Cliff says he's still mulling it over - one advantage of getting elected being his ability to win Sue Ellen back, 'cause he figures she'd leave JR in a New York minute if she had the chance to hook up with a powerful congressman. Pam points out that Sue Ellen doesn't love him, and that since getting elected to Congress isn't easy, he shouldn't give up his plum OLM job for a fantasy. Cliff totally ignores the last part of what she just said and says that once he's elected to Congress he'll have the power to finish off the Ewings for good...then reveals that he has a report that proves Ewing Oil secretly leased oil fields off the coast of Asia, which will make the Ewings mega rich if the wells strike oil. Pam scrunches her face confusedly and says that foreign leases cost millions, and that Bobby has told her over and over again that all of Ewing Oil's capital is currently tied up. Cliff says that clearly Bobby is lying to her, 'cause he has irrefutable proof that Ewing Oil has spent gazillions on the foreign leases. Pam stares back at him, aghast.
During dinner, Lucy stares dreamily at Alan and gabbles about how thrilled she is to be out on a date with someone JR hates so much. Alan says he doesn't want to get in the way of her weird uncle issues and general family dysfunction and would understand it if just wanted to dump him and flee - but Lucy giggles conspiratorially and tells him that their budding romance could be their little secret. Alan grins and coos, "That's my girl", then stares creepily at her as he calls her beautiful and suggests they head over to his place for a roll in the hay.
The next morning, Bobby tells Jock that his above board efforts to oust Cliff from the OLM are going well, and that he's expecting the authorities to open an investigation into Cliff's abuse of power at the OLM any minute now. He says that, unlike JR, he wants to handle the Cliff Situation fairly and legally - but Jock grizzles that politics is a lot like ranching, aka "sometimes you have to get your hands dirty".
Pam coldly asks Bobby if he's succeeded in ruining Cliff's career yet, then screeches, "You lied to me!" When Bobby stares back at her with his usual wooden blankness, she asks him where Ewing Oil is getting all the money to buy up foreign oil leases...and when Bobby's default expression remains unaltered, she blabs that Cliff is in possession of a report that proves Ewing Oil's recent purchases of Asian leases.
During dinner, Lucy stares dreamily at Alan and gabbles about how thrilled she is to be out on a date with someone JR hates so much. Alan says he doesn't want to get in the way of her weird uncle issues and general family dysfunction and would understand it if just wanted to dump him and flee - but Lucy giggles conspiratorially and tells him that their budding romance could be their little secret. Alan grins and coos, "That's my girl", then stares creepily at her as he calls her beautiful and suggests they head over to his place for a roll in the hay.
The next morning, Bobby tells Jock that his above board efforts to oust Cliff from the OLM are going well, and that he's expecting the authorities to open an investigation into Cliff's abuse of power at the OLM any minute now. He says that, unlike JR, he wants to handle the Cliff Situation fairly and legally - but Jock grizzles that politics is a lot like ranching, aka "sometimes you have to get your hands dirty".
Pam coldly asks Bobby if he's succeeded in ruining Cliff's career yet, then screeches, "You lied to me!" When Bobby stares back at her with his usual wooden blankness, she asks him where Ewing Oil is getting all the money to buy up foreign oil leases...and when Bobby's default expression remains unaltered, she blabs that Cliff is in possession of a report that proves Ewing Oil's recent purchases of Asian leases.
"You've been lying to me!"
"I'd react more appropriately if I had the ability to emote anything other than blank confusion."
Lucy drives over to Barnes for Congress headquarters and pulls up behind Alan, who doesn't notice her parked behind him and hits the gas. Lucy decides it'd be fun to follow him to wherever he's driving, so she trails after him to a nearby park. She watches in growing horror as he secretly meets up with JR, with whom he exchanges an unmistakable shit-eating grin and conspiratorial looking handshake. Lucy's all 'the fuck?' and looks troubled as she flounces back to her car and squeals off.
Sue Ellen is railing to her therapist about how Cliff is only interested in her 'cause he wants what JR has. She then tears up and vows to rebuff Cliff's advances, not least 'cause of the intense hatred she now feels for him.
Bobby is going through his Rolodex of contacts to get to the bottom of whatever nefariousness JR has been up to lately. He calls local rig leaser, Herb Reynolds, to see if he's he's been in contact with JR lately...and Herb says he hasn't, but hopes to do business with Ewing Oil again soon. Bobby scratches his name off his list and calls Roy Tate, who he tricks into revealing that he's been involved in JR's new "top secret Asian deal". When Roy expresses surprise that Bobby seems to know all about it, Bobby wryly says there are no secrets in the Ewing family, then thanks him for unwittingly spilling the beans.
Lucy wraps up cheerleading practice with Muriel, who suggests they both go to a co-ed party this evening. Lucy irritably says she's still grounded and far too cranky to go...and an insulted Muriel tells her where she can shove her moody 'tude.
Alan is in his apartment, canoodling with his hot blonde girlfriend Betty Lou, when a heartbroken looking Lucy leans on his doorbell. When Alan finally decides to answer the door, he's shocked to see a tearful Lucy, who snarls at him for being a liar who merely pretended to stand up to JR. She yells about what a giant arse he's made of her, and calls him out on colluding with JR to create the illusion that they're feuding. As she scampers off, Alan dashes back into the apartment and says aloud that he needs to call JR asap. When Betty Lou asks him why in blazes he'd be calling JR Ewing, he tells her he's onto something big...and by big, he means they're going to have to cool off their relationship for the foreseeable future. As Betty Lou stares at him in shocked bewilderment, he explains that since Lucy is so hot for him, he can't help but wonder what it'd mean if he took total advantage of the situation, then threw caution and all common sense to the wind by marrying the blonde munchkin. Betty Lou tears up, stares at him with a look of incredulity, and asks, "What about me?" Alan says he can't pass up this golden opportunity to marry into a wealthy Dallas family, and weakly promises that eventually they'll both have everything they've ever wanted. Betty Lou shakes her head at the nonsensical pronouncement, calls him a rotten jerk, and storms out of the apartment.
Sue Ellen is railing to her therapist about how Cliff is only interested in her 'cause he wants what JR has. She then tears up and vows to rebuff Cliff's advances, not least 'cause of the intense hatred she now feels for him.
Bobby is going through his Rolodex of contacts to get to the bottom of whatever nefariousness JR has been up to lately. He calls local rig leaser, Herb Reynolds, to see if he's he's been in contact with JR lately...and Herb says he hasn't, but hopes to do business with Ewing Oil again soon. Bobby scratches his name off his list and calls Roy Tate, who he tricks into revealing that he's been involved in JR's new "top secret Asian deal". When Roy expresses surprise that Bobby seems to know all about it, Bobby wryly says there are no secrets in the Ewing family, then thanks him for unwittingly spilling the beans.
Lucy wraps up cheerleading practice with Muriel, who suggests they both go to a co-ed party this evening. Lucy irritably says she's still grounded and far too cranky to go...and an insulted Muriel tells her where she can shove her moody 'tude.
Alan is in his apartment, canoodling with his hot blonde girlfriend Betty Lou, when a heartbroken looking Lucy leans on his doorbell. When Alan finally decides to answer the door, he's shocked to see a tearful Lucy, who snarls at him for being a liar who merely pretended to stand up to JR. She yells about what a giant arse he's made of her, and calls him out on colluding with JR to create the illusion that they're feuding. As she scampers off, Alan dashes back into the apartment and says aloud that he needs to call JR asap. When Betty Lou asks him why in blazes he'd be calling JR Ewing, he tells her he's onto something big...and by big, he means they're going to have to cool off their relationship for the foreseeable future. As Betty Lou stares at him in shocked bewilderment, he explains that since Lucy is so hot for him, he can't help but wonder what it'd mean if he took total advantage of the situation, then threw caution and all common sense to the wind by marrying the blonde munchkin. Betty Lou tears up, stares at him with a look of incredulity, and asks, "What about me?" Alan says he can't pass up this golden opportunity to marry into a wealthy Dallas family, and weakly promises that eventually they'll both have everything they've ever wanted. Betty Lou shakes her head at the nonsensical pronouncement, calls him a rotten jerk, and storms out of the apartment.
"Would you do me the honor of stepping aside so I can make Lucy my wife?"
"Come again?"
JR is at Kristin's condo, engaging in some heavy smooching action when his beeper goes off. He immediately contacts Alan, who tells him that Lucy saw them at the park earlier, and that he's worried she'll blow the entire Cliff for Congress Operation. JR promises to sort it out, then tells Kristin he has an urgent family matter to take care of.
Bobby is laying in bed, staring at the ceiling, when Pam turns the light on and urges him to talk to her. He insists that he has absolutely no idea where all the money for Ewing Oil's new leases came from, but that - by golly - he'll do his best to get to the bottom of it. Pam assures him she now believes him and leans in for a kiss.
The next morning, JR picks up the phone receiver, waits for Lucy to get within hearing range, and pretends to be on the phone with Harv Smithfield. He tells Harv he did his darnedest to talk sense into Alan the other day - but he refused to listen to reason and is firmly in Cliff Barnes' camp. He then gives Harv the green light to fire Alan from his law firm...and an eavesdropping Lucy smiles in relieved delight. Even though the secret meeting she witnessed in the park doesn't resemble at all what JR is now trying to peddle.
Bobby calls JR out on buying oil leases in Asia, and JR looks aghast and asks him how he knows 'bout that. Bobby says it's none of his business and points out that there's no record on the books regarding these purchases and assumes that Jock has no knowledge of it either. JR says he didn't want to worry Jock, and that he's sneakily venturing into an overseas business deal in an effort to save/grow the company. When Bobby asks him where the money's coming from, JR tells him not to worry his pretty little head about it and beats a hasty retreat from the office.
Lucy tells Alan she's sooooo sorry for jumping to conclusions, and he flirtily suggests they go somewhere and talk...and by somewhere, he means straight to his apartment, where they hit the sheets, then feed each other fruit. Lucy asks him if there's anything going on with the woman he was at the Golden Horseshoe with earlier in the episode, and Alan chuckles and says she has nothing to worry about 'cause no one matters to him as much to him as she does...and by she, he means her family's wealth and power.
Bobby is laying in bed, staring at the ceiling, when Pam turns the light on and urges him to talk to her. He insists that he has absolutely no idea where all the money for Ewing Oil's new leases came from, but that - by golly - he'll do his best to get to the bottom of it. Pam assures him she now believes him and leans in for a kiss.
The next morning, JR picks up the phone receiver, waits for Lucy to get within hearing range, and pretends to be on the phone with Harv Smithfield. He tells Harv he did his darnedest to talk sense into Alan the other day - but he refused to listen to reason and is firmly in Cliff Barnes' camp. He then gives Harv the green light to fire Alan from his law firm...and an eavesdropping Lucy smiles in relieved delight. Even though the secret meeting she witnessed in the park doesn't resemble at all what JR is now trying to peddle.
Bobby calls JR out on buying oil leases in Asia, and JR looks aghast and asks him how he knows 'bout that. Bobby says it's none of his business and points out that there's no record on the books regarding these purchases and assumes that Jock has no knowledge of it either. JR says he didn't want to worry Jock, and that he's sneakily venturing into an overseas business deal in an effort to save/grow the company. When Bobby asks him where the money's coming from, JR tells him not to worry his pretty little head about it and beats a hasty retreat from the office.
Lucy tells Alan she's sooooo sorry for jumping to conclusions, and he flirtily suggests they go somewhere and talk...and by somewhere, he means straight to his apartment, where they hit the sheets, then feed each other fruit. Lucy asks him if there's anything going on with the woman he was at the Golden Horseshoe with earlier in the episode, and Alan chuckles and says she has nothing to worry about 'cause no one matters to him as much to him as she does...and by she, he means her family's wealth and power.
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"Have I ever told you how pissed off I still am about everything Jock stole from me more than forty years ago?"
"Mastectomy: Part 2"
Original airdate: 11/16/1979
Episode summary: Miss Ellie returns to Southfork and deals with the aftermath of her mastectomy.
Original airdate: 11/16/1979
Episode summary: Miss Ellie returns to Southfork and deals with the aftermath of her mastectomy.
Recap: Jock takes a break from hovering over a comatose Miss Ellie in her hospital bed to drive back to Southfork and update the family with the latest news: Miss Ellie survived the surgery, and the surgeon's pretty hopeful he was able to remove all of the cancer.
Upstairs, JR tells Sue Ellen he's very optimistic that Miss Ellie has been cured and that she's going to live, and Sue Ellen snappishly retorts, "Sometimes that's not enough" ... and JR shoots her a confused WTF? glare before ambling over to the window in time to see Jock climb into his car to make a return trip to the hospital.
Bobby finds Lucy sitting in a room by herself, despondently staring into space. When he invites her to have breakfast with him, Pam, JR, and Sue Ellen, she tells him she's not hungry, and that she's also too distraught about her grandmother's cancer to visit her in the hospital.
Jock arrives at the hospital clutching a bouquet of flowers. He leans over a still-sedated Miss Ellie, caresses her face, and croaks, "My God, I love you."
Pam tells Sue Ellen that Lucy seems to be having a particularly hard time dealing with Miss Ellie's illness, and Sue Ellen's all, "Like I give a shit" and directs the conversation to the importance of feminine beauty to the Ewing men and cites her stunning looks as the main reason JR decided to snap her up around the time she was crowned Miss Texas. Pam tells her there's more to being a woman than gorgeousness, and Sue Ellen snidely retorts, "What? Brains...charm...personality?" and asks Pam if she actually believes that. Pam's like, "Yes, yes, and yes" and argues that women don't exist solely for the pleasure of men, to which Sue Ellen snaps, "They do if they're married to a Ewing" and chides her for being naive. She insists that Ewing men (yes, including Bobby) are all the same...and by all the same, she means they consider their wives property and whose appearance needs to be pleasing to them at all times. She snappishly warns Pam that if she finds herself one day riddled with disease, she'd "better be wrapped up in a pretty package!", then stomps out of the room. What a noxious twit.
Upstairs, JR tells Sue Ellen he's very optimistic that Miss Ellie has been cured and that she's going to live, and Sue Ellen snappishly retorts, "Sometimes that's not enough" ... and JR shoots her a confused WTF? glare before ambling over to the window in time to see Jock climb into his car to make a return trip to the hospital.
Bobby finds Lucy sitting in a room by herself, despondently staring into space. When he invites her to have breakfast with him, Pam, JR, and Sue Ellen, she tells him she's not hungry, and that she's also too distraught about her grandmother's cancer to visit her in the hospital.
Jock arrives at the hospital clutching a bouquet of flowers. He leans over a still-sedated Miss Ellie, caresses her face, and croaks, "My God, I love you."
Pam tells Sue Ellen that Lucy seems to be having a particularly hard time dealing with Miss Ellie's illness, and Sue Ellen's all, "Like I give a shit" and directs the conversation to the importance of feminine beauty to the Ewing men and cites her stunning looks as the main reason JR decided to snap her up around the time she was crowned Miss Texas. Pam tells her there's more to being a woman than gorgeousness, and Sue Ellen snidely retorts, "What? Brains...charm...personality?" and asks Pam if she actually believes that. Pam's like, "Yes, yes, and yes" and argues that women don't exist solely for the pleasure of men, to which Sue Ellen snaps, "They do if they're married to a Ewing" and chides her for being naive. She insists that Ewing men (yes, including Bobby) are all the same...and by all the same, she means they consider their wives property and whose appearance needs to be pleasing to them at all times. She snappishly warns Pam that if she finds herself one day riddled with disease, she'd "better be wrapped up in a pretty package!", then stomps out of the room. What a noxious twit.
"Do you really think JR married me for my wit and sparkling personality?"
"No and no."
Pam urges Lucy to come with her to the hospital, but Lucy declines and says she's much too depressed about Miss Ellie's cancer, along with the increased breast cancer risk she herself now faces. When Pam tells her that Miss Ellie has a very good chance of living cancer-free for the rest of her life, Lucy snaps, "Stop lecturing me, you non-doctor!" and storms out of the room. It remains a mystery why Pam doesn't insist to Bobby that they move out of this toxic ranch shithole asap and get their own place.
Miss Ellie's surgeon tells the Ewings that he was able to remove the entire tumor, and that there's no sign the cancer has spread. A relieved Jock tells everyone that since there's nothing more to be done at the hospital, they should feel free to go about their day. Sue Ellen's like, "Can do!" and makes a beeline over to the nearest pay phone to call Dusty.
When Miss Ellie regains consciousness, Jock tells her her cancer's gone and assures her she'll be just fine. He leans in to kiss her, but she turns her head away and stares sadly into space.
Pam heads over to Casa Barnes to inform Cliff and Digger about Miss Ellie's mastectomy. Digger's all, "Wha-a-a-a?", then rushes into the other room to change before heading off to the hospital to see her. Pam marvels to Cliff about how much Digger still loves Miss Ellie after all these years, and Cliff concurs and says it's pretty clear that the old goat has never gotten over his first love.
Jock happily tells Miss Ellie that she's still alive and still with him...and she stares stonily at him and mutters, "Am I?" He offers to clear the air of their tedious marital issues...and when she tells him she'd rather he didn't, he ignores her and natters about how, back when they were courting, he was in competition for her with Digger and worried he'd lose her if he came clean about Amanda. JR eavesdrops on the awkward conversation for a few seconds before entering the room to tell Jock he's ready to go to lunch.
JR promises Jock he'll get right on setting up Amanda's trust, but Jock tells him not to bother, and that they can worry about it when Miss Ellie is feeling better.
Digger drops by the hospital with a bouquet of freshly picked wild flowers. Miss Ellie smiles happily and reminisces about how she used to pick wild flowers on the ranch when she was a young girl...and this prompts Digger to once again - OMFG - bellyache about losing her to Jock more than forty years ago. He asks her if she has any romantic-type feelings for him, and she chides him for the unfair question and thanks him for dropping by [translation: time for you to leave]. After he leaves, Jock enters the room and tells Miss Ellie he saw Digger just now and hopes he didn't upset her with his self-piteous, 'I've been wronged for forty years!' ramblings. Miss Ellie assures him he didn't, and that despite his obnoxious inability to let go of the past, he's a very honest guy. When Jock says it annoys him whenever she defends Digger to him, she snappishly calls him callous and cruel and orders him to get lost.
After the commercial break, Miss Ellie returns to Southfork and is warmly greeted by her castmates - except for Lucy, who stares sullenly at her from the staircase as she half-heartedly apologizes for not visiting her in the hospital. Miss Ellie shrugs her indifference toward the self-absorbed brat and tells everyone she's going upstairs to lay down for awhile, but would like some company later.
Later, Miss Ellie talks to Pam and Sue Ellen about the possibility of having breast reconstructive surgery. Sue Ellen fixes her cold dead eyes on her as she asks her what Jock thinks about having a wife whose diseased breast area needs reconstruction, and Miss Ellie spacily says he hasn't said a word about it. Pam shoots Sue Ellen a look of disgust at her incomprehensibly shallow dickishness, then reminds Miss Ellie that Jock looooves her somethin' fierce...but Miss Ellie just stares sadly into space as she murmurs, "I'm not sure I believe that."
Miss Ellie's surgeon tells the Ewings that he was able to remove the entire tumor, and that there's no sign the cancer has spread. A relieved Jock tells everyone that since there's nothing more to be done at the hospital, they should feel free to go about their day. Sue Ellen's like, "Can do!" and makes a beeline over to the nearest pay phone to call Dusty.
When Miss Ellie regains consciousness, Jock tells her her cancer's gone and assures her she'll be just fine. He leans in to kiss her, but she turns her head away and stares sadly into space.
Pam heads over to Casa Barnes to inform Cliff and Digger about Miss Ellie's mastectomy. Digger's all, "Wha-a-a-a?", then rushes into the other room to change before heading off to the hospital to see her. Pam marvels to Cliff about how much Digger still loves Miss Ellie after all these years, and Cliff concurs and says it's pretty clear that the old goat has never gotten over his first love.
Jock happily tells Miss Ellie that she's still alive and still with him...and she stares stonily at him and mutters, "Am I?" He offers to clear the air of their tedious marital issues...and when she tells him she'd rather he didn't, he ignores her and natters about how, back when they were courting, he was in competition for her with Digger and worried he'd lose her if he came clean about Amanda. JR eavesdrops on the awkward conversation for a few seconds before entering the room to tell Jock he's ready to go to lunch.
JR promises Jock he'll get right on setting up Amanda's trust, but Jock tells him not to bother, and that they can worry about it when Miss Ellie is feeling better.
Digger drops by the hospital with a bouquet of freshly picked wild flowers. Miss Ellie smiles happily and reminisces about how she used to pick wild flowers on the ranch when she was a young girl...and this prompts Digger to once again - OMFG - bellyache about losing her to Jock more than forty years ago. He asks her if she has any romantic-type feelings for him, and she chides him for the unfair question and thanks him for dropping by [translation: time for you to leave]. After he leaves, Jock enters the room and tells Miss Ellie he saw Digger just now and hopes he didn't upset her with his self-piteous, 'I've been wronged for forty years!' ramblings. Miss Ellie assures him he didn't, and that despite his obnoxious inability to let go of the past, he's a very honest guy. When Jock says it annoys him whenever she defends Digger to him, she snappishly calls him callous and cruel and orders him to get lost.
After the commercial break, Miss Ellie returns to Southfork and is warmly greeted by her castmates - except for Lucy, who stares sullenly at her from the staircase as she half-heartedly apologizes for not visiting her in the hospital. Miss Ellie shrugs her indifference toward the self-absorbed brat and tells everyone she's going upstairs to lay down for awhile, but would like some company later.
Later, Miss Ellie talks to Pam and Sue Ellen about the possibility of having breast reconstructive surgery. Sue Ellen fixes her cold dead eyes on her as she asks her what Jock thinks about having a wife whose diseased breast area needs reconstruction, and Miss Ellie spacily says he hasn't said a word about it. Pam shoots Sue Ellen a look of disgust at her incomprehensibly shallow dickishness, then reminds Miss Ellie that Jock looooves her somethin' fierce...but Miss Ellie just stares sadly into space as she murmurs, "I'm not sure I believe that."
"Has Jock mentioned when he plans to dump you like yesterday's news now that you're one breast short?"
"Nope, he hasn't said."
Sue Ellen calls Dusty from her bedroom, and he tells her he'd really really like for them to meet up in a swanky hotel room this afternoon. He says if she pulls a no-show he'll understand and continue to be an overly accommodating doormat...and Sue Ellen gazes contemplatively into space.
Bobby barges into JR's office and demands to know whassup with Alan Beam, with whom he had a contrived altercation during the Rodeo episode, and who is now supporting a suspiciously timed Cliff for Congress movement. Jock enters the office and gruffly asks what in blazes they're bickering about, so Bobby tells him that word on the street is that JR is up to something with all the backing Cliff has been getting to campaign for a congressional seat. JR comes right out and admits that, yep, he's behind the faux campaign movement, then explains that once Cliff resigns from the OLM to declare his candidacy, the fundraising will immediately dry up...and he'll no longer be in a position to control if, how, and where Ewing Oil can drill. Jock mulls that over, decides that since Cliff [in his opinion] has abused his OLM position to sideline Ewing Oil, he's A-OK with JR colluding with Alan Beam to launch the faux congressional campaign. Bobby stares at him incredulously and says he doesn't want anything to do with continuing to perpetuate the tedious Barnes-Ewing feud the writers refuse to let go of, and Jock concurs and says they should all shut up about it now. Amen to that.
After dinner, Miss Ellie tries on a few of her sack dresses, but gets depressed when she contemplates the low neckline of several of them and sinks to the floor, sobbing. Jock enters the room and asks her what's wrong, and she snarks at him to go away, then explains that her clothes no longer fit. He assures her that everything will be A-OK and that her ill fitting clothes don’t matter, and Miss Ellie snaps, "Why? Because I'm not young anymore?" and tells him she still cares about how she looks. She moans, "I'm deforrrrrrrmed", but Jock assures her that a mastectomy couldn’t possibly change how he feels about her...and she snarks back that he has no idea how it feels to be a woman without a breast. No argument there, I'm sure.
Digger calls up Miss Ellie and invites her to hang out with him in a downtown park, and she happily accepts.
Sue Ellen arrives at the swanky hotel...and when Dusty offers her a glass of champagne, she declines and tells him it's possible she's an alcoholic 'cause of all the uncontrolled boozing she did last season that culminated in a horrific self-inflicted car accident that nearly killed her and her unborn spawn. She adds that she's been suppressing her feelings ever since...and Dusty is somehow able to keep himself from shrieking, "OMG! You did wha-a-a-at?!!" and assures her that there's no need to be suppressing any feelings now that she's here with him. After a brief smooch, Sue Ellen pulls away and tells him she's not sure she has the strength to disturb her privileged Ewing lifestyle, and Dusty reminds her that he too is rich and that he'd be happy to offer her whatever strength she needs...and that even though he finds her sexy and desirable, he's not thinking purely about getting her in the sack. Sue Ellen mulls that over and says she only came to their rendezvous to see if she could force herself to take one step away from her cushy Ewing-financed life, and Dusty somehow refrains from making a break for the nearest exit and running fast and far from this vapid waste of a human train wreck.
Bobby barges into JR's office and demands to know whassup with Alan Beam, with whom he had a contrived altercation during the Rodeo episode, and who is now supporting a suspiciously timed Cliff for Congress movement. Jock enters the office and gruffly asks what in blazes they're bickering about, so Bobby tells him that word on the street is that JR is up to something with all the backing Cliff has been getting to campaign for a congressional seat. JR comes right out and admits that, yep, he's behind the faux campaign movement, then explains that once Cliff resigns from the OLM to declare his candidacy, the fundraising will immediately dry up...and he'll no longer be in a position to control if, how, and where Ewing Oil can drill. Jock mulls that over, decides that since Cliff [in his opinion] has abused his OLM position to sideline Ewing Oil, he's A-OK with JR colluding with Alan Beam to launch the faux congressional campaign. Bobby stares at him incredulously and says he doesn't want anything to do with continuing to perpetuate the tedious Barnes-Ewing feud the writers refuse to let go of, and Jock concurs and says they should all shut up about it now. Amen to that.
After dinner, Miss Ellie tries on a few of her sack dresses, but gets depressed when she contemplates the low neckline of several of them and sinks to the floor, sobbing. Jock enters the room and asks her what's wrong, and she snarks at him to go away, then explains that her clothes no longer fit. He assures her that everything will be A-OK and that her ill fitting clothes don’t matter, and Miss Ellie snaps, "Why? Because I'm not young anymore?" and tells him she still cares about how she looks. She moans, "I'm deforrrrrrrmed", but Jock assures her that a mastectomy couldn’t possibly change how he feels about her...and she snarks back that he has no idea how it feels to be a woman without a breast. No argument there, I'm sure.
Digger calls up Miss Ellie and invites her to hang out with him in a downtown park, and she happily accepts.
Sue Ellen arrives at the swanky hotel...and when Dusty offers her a glass of champagne, she declines and tells him it's possible she's an alcoholic 'cause of all the uncontrolled boozing she did last season that culminated in a horrific self-inflicted car accident that nearly killed her and her unborn spawn. She adds that she's been suppressing her feelings ever since...and Dusty is somehow able to keep himself from shrieking, "OMG! You did wha-a-a-at?!!" and assures her that there's no need to be suppressing any feelings now that she's here with him. After a brief smooch, Sue Ellen pulls away and tells him she's not sure she has the strength to disturb her privileged Ewing lifestyle, and Dusty reminds her that he too is rich and that he'd be happy to offer her whatever strength she needs...and that even though he finds her sexy and desirable, he's not thinking purely about getting her in the sack. Sue Ellen mulls that over and says she only came to their rendezvous to see if she could force herself to take one step away from her cushy Ewing-financed life, and Dusty somehow refrains from making a break for the nearest exit and running fast and far from this vapid waste of a human train wreck.
"I got piss drunk during the late stage of my pregnancy, then stole a car and crashed it - an accident that could have easily killed my unborn child."
"But I'm still not sure if that qualifies what people like to call 'a drinking problem'."
Over at the park, Digger gives Miss Ellie another wild flower bouquet as the two amble over to a nearby bench and reminisce yet again about being sweethearts during their formative years. Digger gushes about how she's still "the girl I remember", then takes a turn toward the bitchy when he snarlingly pronounces that they'd be married right now if it weren't for Jock - aka the man who stole her, along with his oil. He continues to rant about Jock ruining everything...and Miss Ellie shoots him a weary WTF? look and tells him that, nope, given his nutty tendency to rant and rave about shit that went down forty fucking years ago, nothing would be different...then gives him a cheek kiss and says she's outa here. Digger scrunches his face confusedly and stupidly asks, "Whad I say?" and Miss Ellie mutters something about finally having everything in perspective.
Back at Southfork, Miss Ellie summons Lucy to the study and asks her why she's been avoiding her for the last two episodes...then correctly guesses that she's wigged out about her increased chance of one day being diagnosed with breast cancer. Lucy wails about how much she hates the illness and how it made her worry so much about whether or not she (Miss Ellie) would fully recover...but that she's actually a lot more troubled about having to endure the same thing herself one day. She cries, "Why meeeee?!", then hugs Miss Ellie, who tells her it's possible she may never get cancer...but urges her to stay on top of her health and get regular checkups. She tells her to buck up and get on with the business of living...and Lucy promises to try before flouncing out of the room.
Back at Southfork, Miss Ellie summons Lucy to the study and asks her why she's been avoiding her for the last two episodes...then correctly guesses that she's wigged out about her increased chance of one day being diagnosed with breast cancer. Lucy wails about how much she hates the illness and how it made her worry so much about whether or not she (Miss Ellie) would fully recover...but that she's actually a lot more troubled about having to endure the same thing herself one day. She cries, "Why meeeee?!", then hugs Miss Ellie, who tells her it's possible she may never get cancer...but urges her to stay on top of her health and get regular checkups. She tells her to buck up and get on with the business of living...and Lucy promises to try before flouncing out of the room.
"I appreciate all of your concern for my well being."
"Actually, I'm more concerned about being riddled with cancer one day, thanks to your shitty genes."
Miss Ellie explains to Jock that when she learned he had ditched his first wife 'cause of her mental illness, she used it as an excuse to drive him away after finding out about her cancer diagnosis, 'cause she was afraid the mastectomy would turn him off so much he'd want to divorce her and hook up with a younger, more intact woman. She figured it'd be easier to tell everyone that Amanda was the reason for their breakup - and that it wasn't 'cause he was unable to bear to look at her now deformed body. Jock assures her that that could never happen, and that he's determined to make it up to her and do his part to make their marriage work. Miss Ellie promises to try, and the two collapse against each other in a hug.
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"I'll never leave you, Miss Ellie...and not strictly 'cause of my grossly unappealing-to-women grizzled exterior."
"Mastectomy: Part 1"
Original airdate: 11/16/1979
Episode summary: Miss Ellie undergoes a mastectomy when her breast tumor is found to be cancerous. Sue Ellen spends time with Dusty. Alan Beam urges Cliff to run for Congress.
Original airdate: 11/16/1979
Episode summary: Miss Ellie undergoes a mastectomy when her breast tumor is found to be cancerous. Sue Ellen spends time with Dusty. Alan Beam urges Cliff to run for Congress.
Recap: Miss Ellie calls up Dr. Danvers to express her worry about a changing lump in her breast...and hastily ends the call just as Jock enters the room. He asks her if she wants some breakfast, but she declines and tells him she's off to run errands...and also declines his offer to ferry her around town in favor of Pam giving her a lift into the city. As she scurries out of the room, Jock stares after her worriedly.
JR accidentally spends the night in Kristin's condo after falling asleep post-doink, and is all, "Ack!" when he sees the time and chides Kristin for not waking him up sooner. As she purrs, "I like it when you spend the night", JR leaps off the bed and rushes into the bathroom, where he quickly washes up and changes into a fresh suit before heading out to the office.
Ray tells Bobby he's newly hopeful about embarking upon a relationship with a live human woman now that he knows Donna Culver only reconciled with her husband so the poor old sod wouldn't be alone while suffering from terminal cancer. Ray tells Bobby he assumed she had been writing him to arrange the occasional roll in the hay, and Bobby says if he believed that, he clearly doesn't know what a quality woman like Donna is all about. Or how hard up she must be for some male companionship.
Dr. Danvers tells Miss Ellie that her mammogram doesn't seem to indicate that the lump is anything more than a benign cyst - but she insists that she's been feeling a change in the tumor, plus she's had discharge. Dr. Danvers says he'll get the lab to test the discharge fluid pronto, then urges her to continue with her regular, nerve wracking self examinations.
Sue Ellen is sitting in the diner where she first met Dusty, and is craning her head in the direction of the front door so she can spot him if he happens to come in. She's visibly disappointed when he doesn't show up.
Jock drops in on JR at Ewing Oil to ask him how the trust fund for Amanda is going...then gets frustrated at JR's inaction and general disinterest in the task and declares that he's going to call his accountant and set the damn thing up himself. JR admits he's been lying about all the progress he's been making with the trust fund and pretends it's 'cause he didn't want to be doing something shady behind his mother's back. Jock sheepishly says he still hasn't told Miss Ellie about marriage #1 'cause he can never seem to find the right time...but promises he'll have a private one-on-one with her about it tonight.
JR accidentally spends the night in Kristin's condo after falling asleep post-doink, and is all, "Ack!" when he sees the time and chides Kristin for not waking him up sooner. As she purrs, "I like it when you spend the night", JR leaps off the bed and rushes into the bathroom, where he quickly washes up and changes into a fresh suit before heading out to the office.
Ray tells Bobby he's newly hopeful about embarking upon a relationship with a live human woman now that he knows Donna Culver only reconciled with her husband so the poor old sod wouldn't be alone while suffering from terminal cancer. Ray tells Bobby he assumed she had been writing him to arrange the occasional roll in the hay, and Bobby says if he believed that, he clearly doesn't know what a quality woman like Donna is all about. Or how hard up she must be for some male companionship.
Dr. Danvers tells Miss Ellie that her mammogram doesn't seem to indicate that the lump is anything more than a benign cyst - but she insists that she's been feeling a change in the tumor, plus she's had discharge. Dr. Danvers says he'll get the lab to test the discharge fluid pronto, then urges her to continue with her regular, nerve wracking self examinations.
Sue Ellen is sitting in the diner where she first met Dusty, and is craning her head in the direction of the front door so she can spot him if he happens to come in. She's visibly disappointed when he doesn't show up.
Jock drops in on JR at Ewing Oil to ask him how the trust fund for Amanda is going...then gets frustrated at JR's inaction and general disinterest in the task and declares that he's going to call his accountant and set the damn thing up himself. JR admits he's been lying about all the progress he's been making with the trust fund and pretends it's 'cause he didn't want to be doing something shady behind his mother's back. Jock sheepishly says he still hasn't told Miss Ellie about marriage #1 'cause he can never seem to find the right time...but promises he'll have a private one-on-one with her about it tonight.
"My strong moral compass simply wouldn't allow me to do anything behind mama's back."
"Heh. That's a good one, son."
Miss Ellie tells Pam she's skeered to tell Jock about her breast tumor and possible mastectomy, 'cause even though he's a crotchety, badly grizzled old goat, he's not shy about making it known how much he digs hot woman and symmetrical breasts. When she tears up at the possibility of losing a breast, Pam assures her that Jock would never turn away from her - not least 'cause he has absolutely no business being remotely picky about the kind of female companionship he'd be able to attract if he were to suddenly find himself single - and reminds her that she had once pronounced that her marriage was based largely on truth and honesty. A teary-eyed Miss Ellie nods and says she'll try breaking her breast tumor news to Jock tonight.
That evening, Jock comes right out and tells Miss Ellie that forty years ago he used to be married to a woman named Amanda, and that he quickly bailed on her shortly after she suffered a nervous breakdown. He says he's been paying her medical bills ever since...but that when he got shot during the Dove Hunt episode, he realized he should probably set up a trust fund for her in case anything were to happen to him. Miss Ellie stares back at him in horror and says she's appalled that he would callously abandon his first spouse due to an illness. Jock explains that Amanda's doctor said it would be best for everyone involved if he divorced her, but Miss Ellie doesn't look placated and snappishly asks him if he'd walk out on her if she were to fall ill...then gets up and storms out of the room.
That evening, Jock comes right out and tells Miss Ellie that forty years ago he used to be married to a woman named Amanda, and that he quickly bailed on her shortly after she suffered a nervous breakdown. He says he's been paying her medical bills ever since...but that when he got shot during the Dove Hunt episode, he realized he should probably set up a trust fund for her in case anything were to happen to him. Miss Ellie stares back at him in horror and says she's appalled that he would callously abandon his first spouse due to an illness. Jock explains that Amanda's doctor said it would be best for everyone involved if he divorced her, but Miss Ellie doesn't look placated and snappishly asks him if he'd walk out on her if she were to fall ill...then gets up and storms out of the room.
"I divorced my first wife 'cause her illness was too much for me to handle."
"In that case, I have nothing special to report on regarding my current health situation."
Pam blabs to Bobby that Miss Ellie told her about the lump in her breast and that she's pretty certain it's cancerous...and is really worried that Jock will dump her like yesterday's news if she has to undergo a mastectomy. Bobby pales and is all, "OMG!" then says he just saw Miss Ellie storming out of the study while talking to Jock, and wonders exactly what the two were arguing about.
The next morning, Sue Ellen tells JR that everyone's wondering whassup about the big blowup between Jock and Miss Ellie - but JR pretends to be too preoccupied with choosing a tie to care about his parents' marital woes, and snarkishly orders Sue Ellen to buy him a new supply of ties next time she's in the city.
Sue Ellen is thrilled when Dusty finally makes an appearance in the diner. He seats himself across from her, orders a giant breakfast, and tells her he's been eager to see her again - but doesn't have the nerve to call Southfork. Sue Ellen says she's not sure if it's a good idea for the two of them to start seeing each other - but Dusty insists it is, and tells her he's decided to stay put in Dallas, instead of bouncing from ranch job to ranch job the way he usually does.
Alan Beam recruits a group of volunteers to help him set up a campaign office for Cliff's faux congressional run and mount a Cliff for Congress sign above the entrance, Alan climbs into his car, calls JR on his private line, and triumphantly reports, "We're open for business!" ... and JR grins and cackles approvingly.
That evening, Bobby finds Miss Ellie moping alone on the patio and asks her whassup with her skipping dinner. She says she wasn't hungry and doesn't feel like talking about what's bugging her...and when Bobby blabs about how Pam blabbed to him about her breast lump, she admonishes him for prying into her private affairs.
Dr. Danvers calls Miss Ellie to report that the discharge from her breast is definitely in the suspicious category, and that he wants to see her asap.
Ellie quickly packs a suitcase and asks Pam if she could please drive her to the hospital.
Sue Ellen tells her therapist (Dr. Ellby) that she recently met a nice man and had fun hanging with him at the annual Ewing Rodeo...but is afraid, if things go too much further, he's going to expect her to hit the sheets with him. When Dr. Ellby asks her how she feels about getting some extramarital action, she says she's not all that interested 'cause of how cold and dead on the inside she's been feeling lately.
The next morning, Sue Ellen tells JR that everyone's wondering whassup about the big blowup between Jock and Miss Ellie - but JR pretends to be too preoccupied with choosing a tie to care about his parents' marital woes, and snarkishly orders Sue Ellen to buy him a new supply of ties next time she's in the city.
Sue Ellen is thrilled when Dusty finally makes an appearance in the diner. He seats himself across from her, orders a giant breakfast, and tells her he's been eager to see her again - but doesn't have the nerve to call Southfork. Sue Ellen says she's not sure if it's a good idea for the two of them to start seeing each other - but Dusty insists it is, and tells her he's decided to stay put in Dallas, instead of bouncing from ranch job to ranch job the way he usually does.
Alan Beam recruits a group of volunteers to help him set up a campaign office for Cliff's faux congressional run and mount a Cliff for Congress sign above the entrance, Alan climbs into his car, calls JR on his private line, and triumphantly reports, "We're open for business!" ... and JR grins and cackles approvingly.
That evening, Bobby finds Miss Ellie moping alone on the patio and asks her whassup with her skipping dinner. She says she wasn't hungry and doesn't feel like talking about what's bugging her...and when Bobby blabs about how Pam blabbed to him about her breast lump, she admonishes him for prying into her private affairs.
Dr. Danvers calls Miss Ellie to report that the discharge from her breast is definitely in the suspicious category, and that he wants to see her asap.
Ellie quickly packs a suitcase and asks Pam if she could please drive her to the hospital.
Sue Ellen tells her therapist (Dr. Ellby) that she recently met a nice man and had fun hanging with him at the annual Ewing Rodeo...but is afraid, if things go too much further, he's going to expect her to hit the sheets with him. When Dr. Ellby asks her how she feels about getting some extramarital action, she says she's not all that interested 'cause of how cold and dead on the inside she's been feeling lately.
"How do you feel about getting a little on the side?"
"I'd be up for it if my emotional innards weren't so cold and dead."
Alan launches Operation Urge Cliff to Run For Congress by gushing to Cliff about how much he'd loooooove to see him get elected, not least so he could somehow use Cliff's powerful new status to wreak some sort of vengeance-by-association on JR. When Cliff mulls it over and is all, "I dunno..", Alan insists it'd be "a natural move" and adds that "lots of people" are lining up to back his campaign. When he hands him the faux list of names, Cliff says he can't deny how flattering it is.
Pam implores Miss Ellie to call Jock and explain to him why she's spending the night in the hospital, and says she's pretty sure he'll stand by her in the event of a mastectomy. Miss Ellie snappishly retorts that it's none of her business what she decides to tell Jock, then asks her to please leave. Pam gives her a cheek kiss, then makes a beeline over to the nearest pay phone to blab to Bobby about Miss Ellie's imminent surgery.
The surgeon explains to Miss Ellie that he'll remove the offending lump and immediately have it tested it for cancer...and if it comes back positive, he'll proceed with a mastectomy. That's interesting; I wonder why he wouldn't do a biopsy of the lump prior to surgery. Miss Ellie signs the requisite permission forms...and after the surgeon exits her room, she stares tearfully at herself in the mirror.
Jock, JR, and Bobby arrive at the hospital...and Jock quickly finds out what room Miss Ellie is in and rushes over to his beloved. He holds her hand, says sorry for being secretive about wife #1, and that he feels bad she didn't want to tell him about her breast tumor. She weakly asks him if he's going to dump her like Amanda if she loses a breast...then leaves him staring tearfully into space as she's wheeled off to surgery.
Sue Ellen and Dusty are having a delightful time horseback riding together. When they stop for a short break, an exuberant Dusty tells her he wants her to be happy enough to "fly just as high as you can!", then makes it clear he's A-OK with moving their budding romance along veeeery slowly. Sue Ellen warns him that she's not ready to trust another man...then chides Dusty for being interested in her despite her unbearably snooty disposition and tendency toward bitchiness whenever she doesn't get her way. Dusty grins and says she can't possibly be that bad (could, is), and leans in for a kiss. When she shoves him away, Dusty shrugs unconcernedly and says he's prepared to wait until she's more receptive to some extramarital smooching.
Oh, Dusty. Run far and fast.
Pam implores Miss Ellie to call Jock and explain to him why she's spending the night in the hospital, and says she's pretty sure he'll stand by her in the event of a mastectomy. Miss Ellie snappishly retorts that it's none of her business what she decides to tell Jock, then asks her to please leave. Pam gives her a cheek kiss, then makes a beeline over to the nearest pay phone to blab to Bobby about Miss Ellie's imminent surgery.
The surgeon explains to Miss Ellie that he'll remove the offending lump and immediately have it tested it for cancer...and if it comes back positive, he'll proceed with a mastectomy. That's interesting; I wonder why he wouldn't do a biopsy of the lump prior to surgery. Miss Ellie signs the requisite permission forms...and after the surgeon exits her room, she stares tearfully at herself in the mirror.
Jock, JR, and Bobby arrive at the hospital...and Jock quickly finds out what room Miss Ellie is in and rushes over to his beloved. He holds her hand, says sorry for being secretive about wife #1, and that he feels bad she didn't want to tell him about her breast tumor. She weakly asks him if he's going to dump her like Amanda if she loses a breast...then leaves him staring tearfully into space as she's wheeled off to surgery.
Sue Ellen and Dusty are having a delightful time horseback riding together. When they stop for a short break, an exuberant Dusty tells her he wants her to be happy enough to "fly just as high as you can!", then makes it clear he's A-OK with moving their budding romance along veeeery slowly. Sue Ellen warns him that she's not ready to trust another man...then chides Dusty for being interested in her despite her unbearably snooty disposition and tendency toward bitchiness whenever she doesn't get her way. Dusty grins and says she can't possibly be that bad (could, is), and leans in for a kiss. When she shoves him away, Dusty shrugs unconcernedly and says he's prepared to wait until she's more receptive to some extramarital smooching.
Oh, Dusty. Run far and fast.
"I really really dig you, Sue Ellen."
"Care to explain how on earth that's possible?"
Jock grumbles to JR and Bobby about how dismayed he is that Miss Ellie checked into the hospital for surgery without telling him, then wanders off down the hall, looking discombobulated. JR tells Bobby that Miss Ellie had a freakout when Jock told her about his first wife, and Bobby contorts his normally bland-faced expression into one of puzzlement and is all, "First wife? Wha-a-a-a-a-t?"
Pam drives back to Southfork to let Lucy know about Miss Ellie's surgery, and that they all need to be strong in case her prognosis is in the dire range.
After the operation, the surgeon informs Jock that Miss Ellie's breast tumor was, in fact, cancerous, and that he went ahead and performed a mastectomy. He adds that when she regains consciousness, someone (perhaps, uh, the surgeon??) is going to have to break the [not surprising] news to her.
Pam drives back to Southfork to let Lucy know about Miss Ellie's surgery, and that they all need to be strong in case her prognosis is in the dire range.
After the operation, the surgeon informs Jock that Miss Ellie's breast tumor was, in fact, cancerous, and that he went ahead and performed a mastectomy. He adds that when she regains consciousness, someone (perhaps, uh, the surgeon??) is going to have to break the [not surprising] news to her.
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- Published on
"Sound the alarm, Lucy! I finally got me a steady gal."
"Rodeo"
Original airdate: 11/9/1979
Episode summary: Sue Ellen meets a handsome cowboy named Dusty Farlow, Digger gets his first look at Baby John, and Ray gets good news from Donna Culver.
Original airdate: 11/9/1979
Episode summary: Sue Ellen meets a handsome cowboy named Dusty Farlow, Digger gets his first look at Baby John, and Ray gets good news from Donna Culver.
Recap: An exhausted, but grouchily invigorated Jock is presiding over the elaborate setting up of the 14th Annual Ewing Rodeo on Southfork. Ye haw!
Inside the Ewing mansion, Sue Ellen rebuffs JR's attempt to give her a sensual shoulder massage...and he gets miffed and says it's insulting that, despite his patience and understanding, she clearly can't stand the feel of his touch on her bare skin. Sue Ellen snidely retorts that it's soooo flattering to be desired by him after so many years of neglect - but that it's far too late for him to play the role of faithful husband and loving father.
Lucy flounces around the ranch as she excitedly surveys the rodeo set-up. She says hey to Ray, but he just grunts that he's busy and has no time to talk.
Bobby tells Miss Ellie that Pam went into town to spend time with Digger, who recently suffered some kind of attack. When he remarks that Digger has been pretty rough on his body over the last several decades, Miss Ellie stares concernedly into space and says, at a certain point, everyone's body betrays them, regardless of how healthily they've been living. As Bobby chews on that prophetic nugget, Sue Ellen breezes into the room and complains about all the pre-rodeo ruckus, and asks Bobby if she can get a lift with him into Braddock so she can do some shopping.
Ray checks the mail, gets a letter from Donna Culver, and heads back to his hovel to add it to the pile of unopened letters from Donna he's been storing in his drawer. He picks up a newspaper clipping that contains an article about Donna Culver reconciling with her husband (must have been a slow news day in Dallas), contorts his face into an expression of bitter anguish, then angrily crumples the clipping and throws it on the floor.
Bobby and Sue Ellen arrive in Braddock. He tells her he has about two hours worth of work stuff to do, and arranges to meet her at the downtown diner at noon.
Over at Ewing Oil, Alan Beam is updating JR on the progress of their Cliff Barnes for Congress scheme. He says the best way to progress with this subplot would be for someone close to Cliff to nudge him in the direction of quitting the OLM so he can run for office, and JR grins evilly and suggests he insert himself into Cliff's life in order to get that accomplished. Alan looks puzzled, yet intrigued by the soon-to-be fleshed out challenge.
Pam is visiting Digger at Cliff's apartment when she notices a flyer for the Ewing Rodeo laying on the coffee table. She asks Digger if he's planning on crashing the event so he can see Baby John, then implores him to not cause trouble. Digger assures her he won't be the cause of any more Barnes-Ewing feud fueled drama, then says he's starving and would like to go out and get some lunch.
Sue Ellen enters the Braddock diner, accidentally dropping her packages on the way in. A handsome cowboy appears out of nowhere and helps her pick everything up, then gazes up at her all smitten-like. The diner manager rushes over, snarks at the cowboy to get lost, then apologizes to Sue Ellen for allowing someone beneath her station in life to directly interact with a Ewing wife. Sue Ellen assures him it's fine 'cause he was being helpful, then directs her attention to the cowboy, who holds up a Ewing Rodeo flyer and asks her if she's this Mrs. Ewing. When she grimaces and nods, he introduces himself as Dusty Farlow, then says he's planning to compete in the Ewing Rodeo and will likely see her at the ranch. A few seconds later, Bobby enters the diner, gets introduced to Dusty, and smirks knowingly at the obvious attraction between Dusty and his sister-in-law.
Inside the Ewing mansion, Sue Ellen rebuffs JR's attempt to give her a sensual shoulder massage...and he gets miffed and says it's insulting that, despite his patience and understanding, she clearly can't stand the feel of his touch on her bare skin. Sue Ellen snidely retorts that it's soooo flattering to be desired by him after so many years of neglect - but that it's far too late for him to play the role of faithful husband and loving father.
Lucy flounces around the ranch as she excitedly surveys the rodeo set-up. She says hey to Ray, but he just grunts that he's busy and has no time to talk.
Bobby tells Miss Ellie that Pam went into town to spend time with Digger, who recently suffered some kind of attack. When he remarks that Digger has been pretty rough on his body over the last several decades, Miss Ellie stares concernedly into space and says, at a certain point, everyone's body betrays them, regardless of how healthily they've been living. As Bobby chews on that prophetic nugget, Sue Ellen breezes into the room and complains about all the pre-rodeo ruckus, and asks Bobby if she can get a lift with him into Braddock so she can do some shopping.
Ray checks the mail, gets a letter from Donna Culver, and heads back to his hovel to add it to the pile of unopened letters from Donna he's been storing in his drawer. He picks up a newspaper clipping that contains an article about Donna Culver reconciling with her husband (must have been a slow news day in Dallas), contorts his face into an expression of bitter anguish, then angrily crumples the clipping and throws it on the floor.
Bobby and Sue Ellen arrive in Braddock. He tells her he has about two hours worth of work stuff to do, and arranges to meet her at the downtown diner at noon.
Over at Ewing Oil, Alan Beam is updating JR on the progress of their Cliff Barnes for Congress scheme. He says the best way to progress with this subplot would be for someone close to Cliff to nudge him in the direction of quitting the OLM so he can run for office, and JR grins evilly and suggests he insert himself into Cliff's life in order to get that accomplished. Alan looks puzzled, yet intrigued by the soon-to-be fleshed out challenge.
Pam is visiting Digger at Cliff's apartment when she notices a flyer for the Ewing Rodeo laying on the coffee table. She asks Digger if he's planning on crashing the event so he can see Baby John, then implores him to not cause trouble. Digger assures her he won't be the cause of any more Barnes-Ewing feud fueled drama, then says he's starving and would like to go out and get some lunch.
Sue Ellen enters the Braddock diner, accidentally dropping her packages on the way in. A handsome cowboy appears out of nowhere and helps her pick everything up, then gazes up at her all smitten-like. The diner manager rushes over, snarks at the cowboy to get lost, then apologizes to Sue Ellen for allowing someone beneath her station in life to directly interact with a Ewing wife. Sue Ellen assures him it's fine 'cause he was being helpful, then directs her attention to the cowboy, who holds up a Ewing Rodeo flyer and asks her if she's this Mrs. Ewing. When she grimaces and nods, he introduces himself as Dusty Farlow, then says he's planning to compete in the Ewing Rodeo and will likely see her at the ranch. A few seconds later, Bobby enters the diner, gets introduced to Dusty, and smirks knowingly at the obvious attraction between Dusty and his sister-in-law.
"Howdy, pretty lady."
"Is a pissant like you even allowed to be looking at a rich society wife?"
Kristin gushes to JR about the Ewing Rodeo being "so big!" and loooves that the Ewings do everything "in a big way". As the two gaze appreciatively at each other, Kristin spots Sue Ellen glaring at her from across the lawn. She poutishly complains to JR about how annoying his wife is with her haughty superiority, airs, and graces - but is quickly chided by JR for criticizing his wife. He snappishly reminds her that, regardless of who he's hitting the sheets with at any given time, his first loyalty will always be with his wife and spawn.
Dusty has arrived at the Ewing Rodeo, and is hanging with a group of cowboys when he spots Sue Ellen milling around a few yards away. He smiles and politely tips his hat to her, and she smiles back.
During the rodeo's opening Bronc Riding event, Pam tells Bobby she's worried that Digger is going to show up at Southfork and make a scene about Baby John being his bio grandson. Bobby says they'll handle the situation if it arises, then urges her to not ruin the day by worrying so much.
As Ray readies himself to bronc ride, Lucy tells him she's concerned about how depressed he seems lately and asks him if she's done something wrong. Ray says he's bummed about the current situation with Donna Culver, aka the lady he briefly canoodled with during the Outsider episode...then later learned she was married, but was A-OK with leaving her old, rich husband. He tells Lucy he recently read in the newspaper that she decided to reconcile with the old man...and that he's so bummed about it he can't bring himself to read any of the letters she mailed to him. He stares wistfully in the distance and says he may get around to reading them one day, then shakes off the pain of his lost lady love and says he needs to focus on his imminent bronc ride.
Dusty has arrived at the Ewing Rodeo, and is hanging with a group of cowboys when he spots Sue Ellen milling around a few yards away. He smiles and politely tips his hat to her, and she smiles back.
During the rodeo's opening Bronc Riding event, Pam tells Bobby she's worried that Digger is going to show up at Southfork and make a scene about Baby John being his bio grandson. Bobby says they'll handle the situation if it arises, then urges her to not ruin the day by worrying so much.
As Ray readies himself to bronc ride, Lucy tells him she's concerned about how depressed he seems lately and asks him if she's done something wrong. Ray says he's bummed about the current situation with Donna Culver, aka the lady he briefly canoodled with during the Outsider episode...then later learned she was married, but was A-OK with leaving her old, rich husband. He tells Lucy he recently read in the newspaper that she decided to reconcile with the old man...and that he's so bummed about it he can't bring himself to read any of the letters she mailed to him. He stares wistfully in the distance and says he may get around to reading them one day, then shakes off the pain of his lost lady love and says he needs to focus on his imminent bronc ride.
"My new girlfriend left me for her old, rich husband."
"That sounds messed up on every level."
Dusty is the next bronc rider, and his stunt double manages to stay on the bucking horse for at least eight seconds...as does the stunt double for Bobby, who's introduced as "one of the best cowboys in the country". That title, being announced at a Ewing Rodeo, seems wildly nepotism-laden, but OK.
Jock tells JR he's worried about Miss Ellie, but JR breezily assures him she's fine, and adds that the trust fund he asked him to set up for wife #1 is in the works.
Digger arrives at the rodeo, heads straight for the bar, and orders a - phew! - club soda. Miss Ellie greets him warmly and says he's welcome to stay for the rodeo festivities - but only as long as he remains sober and behaves himself.
When JR notices Alan Beam arrive, he quickly summons Kristin over and asks her if she's clear on Step 1 of their nefarious plan. She contorts her freakish lips into a sultry grin and assures him she is.
JR runs into a sour looking Sue Ellen and implores her to at least pretend as if she's having a good time at the rodeo. She responds by stretching her lips into a wide, fake smile, then wanders away from him. She accidentally bumps into a passerby and spills her drink all over her pants, and Dusty appears from out of nowhere to hand her a cloth. After a few seconds of flirty banter, the two agree to head over to the barbecue and get something to eat.
Over lunch, Dusty tells Sue Ellen he's moved around a lot on account of his general restlessness, and that he really enjoys competing in rodeos and earning prize money. He then gazes into her eyes and dreamily says he feels like he can talk to her about anything. JR, meanwhile, is guzzling a drink and glaring over at their brazen flirting.
The rodeo has now progressed to the Calf Roping event...and after Dusty's remarkable calf tying performance, Jock remarks to Bobby that this Dusty fella really knows his stuff and reckons that he's a skilled enough cowboy to win the top rodeo prize. Ye haw!
Lucy tiptoes into Ray's hovel, notices the crumpled newspaper clipping on the floor, and opens his drawer and finds the pile of Donna Culver's unopened letters. She picks up the most recent one and opens it - just as Ray bursts in and demands to know what the hell she's doing in his place. She tells him to quit feeling sorry himself, then says that from what she could glean from the one letter she opened, Sam Culver is dying of cancer, and Donna pity-reconciled with him so he wouldn't be alone during his final days. She also professed her love for Ray, despite the fact that the two only hooked up for part of one episode, nine episodes ago. A newly buoyed Ray sits down in his easy chair and picks up the phone to call Donna...and looks delighted when she answers and is all, "Hiiiii Ray!!" LOL.
Bobby readies himself for the Calf Roping event...and by the looks of it, his stunt double does a fantastic job lassoing and restraining the poor animal in record time.
Dusy ambles over to Sue Ellen and tells her that Bobby Ewing is a damn fine calf roper, and that he may well win the top rodeo prize. Sue Ellen scrunches her face disdainfully and says, "The Ewings like winning" ... and when Dusty rejoins that he too enjoys winning, Sue Ellen shoots him the stink-eye, says, "I don't even know what the word means anymore", and storms off, leaving Dusty staring after her confusedly.
JR makes it clear to Alan that he wants as many bystanders as possible to witness the contrived spectacle that he and Kristin are about to unleash on the unsuspecting rodeo guests.
Digger tells Miss Ellie he's been off the sauce ever since his role got recast, and Miss Ellie applauds his sobriety, and expresses relief that he's finally moved on from blaming Jock for every bad thing that's ever happened him during the last forty years. She says she finds the ongoing Barnes-Ewing feud worrying [not to mention tedious for viewers] and wonders where it will end...then swiftly changes the subject and asks him why he decided to come to Southfork today. He says he'd like to see her new grandson, and Miss Ellie beams at the mention of the tot.
Alan pretends to inappropriately flirt with Kristin as the two launch Operation Faux Public Argument. She smacks him hard across the face and screeches, "How dare you!" ... and a few seconds later, JR rushes over to "intervene". When Kristin fake tattles on Alan for insulting her, JR orders him to leave the ranch immediately, and berates him for his lack of respect for women. Alan dutifully retorts, "I'm gone! I've had enough of all of you!" - a reaction that unwittingly turns Lucy on, and prompts her to scamper after Alan. She flirtily introduces herself, then coquettishly adds, "I'll see you around" ... and makes it clear that her uncle has no say about who she dates.
Dusty asks Sue Ellen if she knows the people involved in the weird spectacle they just witnessed, and she points out her sister and husband and wryly says she doubts that her sister's "honor" was in need of defending. Heh. JR ambles over, gets introduced to Dusty, and tells his wife's handsome new suitor that Texans are protective, nay possessive of their women and often take a special interest in who they're spending time with. An unfazed Dusty's like, "I know, I'm a Texan too", then tells Sue Ellen he's off to compete in the next rodeo event - but that he'll see her later. Sue Ellen smugly points out to JR that he has no leverage against a guy like Dusty, and that there's nothing he can deprive him of...and JR snarks, "If you mean yourself, I'm not so sure."
Jock tells JR he's worried about Miss Ellie, but JR breezily assures him she's fine, and adds that the trust fund he asked him to set up for wife #1 is in the works.
Digger arrives at the rodeo, heads straight for the bar, and orders a - phew! - club soda. Miss Ellie greets him warmly and says he's welcome to stay for the rodeo festivities - but only as long as he remains sober and behaves himself.
When JR notices Alan Beam arrive, he quickly summons Kristin over and asks her if she's clear on Step 1 of their nefarious plan. She contorts her freakish lips into a sultry grin and assures him she is.
JR runs into a sour looking Sue Ellen and implores her to at least pretend as if she's having a good time at the rodeo. She responds by stretching her lips into a wide, fake smile, then wanders away from him. She accidentally bumps into a passerby and spills her drink all over her pants, and Dusty appears from out of nowhere to hand her a cloth. After a few seconds of flirty banter, the two agree to head over to the barbecue and get something to eat.
Over lunch, Dusty tells Sue Ellen he's moved around a lot on account of his general restlessness, and that he really enjoys competing in rodeos and earning prize money. He then gazes into her eyes and dreamily says he feels like he can talk to her about anything. JR, meanwhile, is guzzling a drink and glaring over at their brazen flirting.
The rodeo has now progressed to the Calf Roping event...and after Dusty's remarkable calf tying performance, Jock remarks to Bobby that this Dusty fella really knows his stuff and reckons that he's a skilled enough cowboy to win the top rodeo prize. Ye haw!
Lucy tiptoes into Ray's hovel, notices the crumpled newspaper clipping on the floor, and opens his drawer and finds the pile of Donna Culver's unopened letters. She picks up the most recent one and opens it - just as Ray bursts in and demands to know what the hell she's doing in his place. She tells him to quit feeling sorry himself, then says that from what she could glean from the one letter she opened, Sam Culver is dying of cancer, and Donna pity-reconciled with him so he wouldn't be alone during his final days. She also professed her love for Ray, despite the fact that the two only hooked up for part of one episode, nine episodes ago. A newly buoyed Ray sits down in his easy chair and picks up the phone to call Donna...and looks delighted when she answers and is all, "Hiiiii Ray!!" LOL.
Bobby readies himself for the Calf Roping event...and by the looks of it, his stunt double does a fantastic job lassoing and restraining the poor animal in record time.
Dusy ambles over to Sue Ellen and tells her that Bobby Ewing is a damn fine calf roper, and that he may well win the top rodeo prize. Sue Ellen scrunches her face disdainfully and says, "The Ewings like winning" ... and when Dusty rejoins that he too enjoys winning, Sue Ellen shoots him the stink-eye, says, "I don't even know what the word means anymore", and storms off, leaving Dusty staring after her confusedly.
JR makes it clear to Alan that he wants as many bystanders as possible to witness the contrived spectacle that he and Kristin are about to unleash on the unsuspecting rodeo guests.
Digger tells Miss Ellie he's been off the sauce ever since his role got recast, and Miss Ellie applauds his sobriety, and expresses relief that he's finally moved on from blaming Jock for every bad thing that's ever happened him during the last forty years. She says she finds the ongoing Barnes-Ewing feud worrying [not to mention tedious for viewers] and wonders where it will end...then swiftly changes the subject and asks him why he decided to come to Southfork today. He says he'd like to see her new grandson, and Miss Ellie beams at the mention of the tot.
Alan pretends to inappropriately flirt with Kristin as the two launch Operation Faux Public Argument. She smacks him hard across the face and screeches, "How dare you!" ... and a few seconds later, JR rushes over to "intervene". When Kristin fake tattles on Alan for insulting her, JR orders him to leave the ranch immediately, and berates him for his lack of respect for women. Alan dutifully retorts, "I'm gone! I've had enough of all of you!" - a reaction that unwittingly turns Lucy on, and prompts her to scamper after Alan. She flirtily introduces herself, then coquettishly adds, "I'll see you around" ... and makes it clear that her uncle has no say about who she dates.
Dusty asks Sue Ellen if she knows the people involved in the weird spectacle they just witnessed, and she points out her sister and husband and wryly says she doubts that her sister's "honor" was in need of defending. Heh. JR ambles over, gets introduced to Dusty, and tells his wife's handsome new suitor that Texans are protective, nay possessive of their women and often take a special interest in who they're spending time with. An unfazed Dusty's like, "I know, I'm a Texan too", then tells Sue Ellen he's off to compete in the next rodeo event - but that he'll see her later. Sue Ellen smugly points out to JR that he has no leverage against a guy like Dusty, and that there's nothing he can deprive him of...and JR snarks, "If you mean yourself, I'm not so sure."
"Texan men tend to be possessive of their trophy wives."
"Gotta go rodeo. Good luck with that."
Next up on the rodeo agenda is the Bull Riding event...and Dusty's stunt double is able to last just over eight seconds on the bucking beast and remain a strong contender to win the top prize for Best Rodeo-er.
Kristin tells Sue Ellen that her brazen flirting with Dusty is becoming a spectacle, and Sue Ellen does her best to not laugh heartily when she points out that she (Kristin) has already supplied the rodeo crowd with enough dramatics for one afternoon. She then applauds Kristin for figuring out JR in far less time than it took her: his pathological need to have what someone else wants/has.
Pam gets worried when she sees Digger chatting with Miss Ellie and rushes over to scold him for crashing the rodeo. Miss Ellie assures her it's all fine, and that she and Jock were about to show Digger their new grandson.
Dusty tells Sue Ellen he doesn't actually need the cash prize that comes along with winning Best Rodeo-er, 'cause he comes from an uber-wealthy ranching family in San Angelo. Sue Ellen's all, "Wha-a-a-a?" and looks put off by his equally-as-rich status to the Ewing family and moodily says they probably shouldn't hang out anymore 'cause people are starting to talk. Dusty scrunches his face confusedly and says it almost seems as though she liked him a lot better when she thought he was just a poor, "of no account" cowboy...then is able to coax her into admitting that she genuinely likes him a lot.
Ray bounds over to Lucy and smilingly tells her that after his illuminating phone chat with Donna Culver, he's finally learned to trust again. Lucy's all, "Yippee!" and gives her ex-lover/future uncle a happy squeeze.
Up in the nursery, Digger cradles Baby John while Jock gruffly lays it on thick about how the tot "is a Ewing through and through". When Digger opens his mouth to object, Bobby swiftly interjects and says, "What do you think, Digger? Doesn't he look like a Ewing to you?", and Digger shuts his mouth and just quietly stares at the baby. Miss Ellie concurs that the baby is definitely JR's [and not Cliff's] boy, not least 'cause he looks just like JR did when he was an infant. Digger's like, "Yeah, OK...whatever", hands the baby back to Jock, and rushes out of the nursery. He exits the house, goes straight to the bar, and orders a stiff drink...and when Pam and Bobby follow him out and look on anxiously, Digger quickly guzzles the drink, snaps, "It's only one!", and storms off.
Kristin tells Sue Ellen that her brazen flirting with Dusty is becoming a spectacle, and Sue Ellen does her best to not laugh heartily when she points out that she (Kristin) has already supplied the rodeo crowd with enough dramatics for one afternoon. She then applauds Kristin for figuring out JR in far less time than it took her: his pathological need to have what someone else wants/has.
Pam gets worried when she sees Digger chatting with Miss Ellie and rushes over to scold him for crashing the rodeo. Miss Ellie assures her it's all fine, and that she and Jock were about to show Digger their new grandson.
Dusty tells Sue Ellen he doesn't actually need the cash prize that comes along with winning Best Rodeo-er, 'cause he comes from an uber-wealthy ranching family in San Angelo. Sue Ellen's all, "Wha-a-a-a?" and looks put off by his equally-as-rich status to the Ewing family and moodily says they probably shouldn't hang out anymore 'cause people are starting to talk. Dusty scrunches his face confusedly and says it almost seems as though she liked him a lot better when she thought he was just a poor, "of no account" cowboy...then is able to coax her into admitting that she genuinely likes him a lot.
Ray bounds over to Lucy and smilingly tells her that after his illuminating phone chat with Donna Culver, he's finally learned to trust again. Lucy's all, "Yippee!" and gives her ex-lover/future uncle a happy squeeze.
Up in the nursery, Digger cradles Baby John while Jock gruffly lays it on thick about how the tot "is a Ewing through and through". When Digger opens his mouth to object, Bobby swiftly interjects and says, "What do you think, Digger? Doesn't he look like a Ewing to you?", and Digger shuts his mouth and just quietly stares at the baby. Miss Ellie concurs that the baby is definitely JR's [and not Cliff's] boy, not least 'cause he looks just like JR did when he was an infant. Digger's like, "Yeah, OK...whatever", hands the baby back to Jock, and rushes out of the nursery. He exits the house, goes straight to the bar, and orders a stiff drink...and when Pam and Bobby follow him out and look on anxiously, Digger quickly guzzles the drink, snaps, "It's only one!", and storms off.
"I shall rename him Digger Jr."
"I was rooting for Jock Minor, but got overruled."
Dusty tells Sue Ellen that despite her general aura of bitchy moodiness, he really really likes her and can see how unhappy she is in her shitty marriage...and when she stares back at him longingly, JR storms over and demands to have a word with her in private. He steers her inside the house, up to their bedroom, and creepily orders her to smile for her husband. When she reacts by smacking him hard across the face (!), he pushes her onto the bed and snarls at her to pretend he's her new cowboy suitor. She snarls back about how much he disgusts her, then says if he wants a marital rape type roll in the hay, he should talk to her sister, who would likely be more than willing to oblige. JR snaps, "Maybe you're right" and derisively adds that he's wasted enough time on her. As he climbs off of the bed and storms out of the room, Sue Ellen hears someone on a blow horn announce that Dusty Farlow has won the award for Best Rodeo-er.
Ye haw!
Ye haw!
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- Published on
"Thanks for being my surrogate son this episode."
"The Lost Child"
Original airdate: 11/2/1979
Episode summary: Bobby befriends the young son of a ranch hand. Pam suffers an accident while horseback riding.
Original airdate: 11/2/1979
Episode summary: Bobby befriends the young son of a ranch hand. Pam suffers an accident while horseback riding.
Recap: Bobby and Ray ride over to an area of Southfork, where a group of prospective ranch hands are gathered. Ray gives the grizzled men a once-over, grimacing at some of the older candidates, when a young boy - Luke Middens - saucily tells Bobby he'd loooove to ride his horse sometime. Bobby perks up at that, decides he'd like to bond with a spirited young boy this episode 'cause of how much he loves laying it on thick about his deep love of children, and motions at Ray to hire the young'un's father, Bo Middens.
Sue Ellen stops by the breakfast patio to announce that she's off to run errands in town. JR hobbles after her and asks her exactly how she's been spending her days lately, and pretends to be worried that she's overdoing it. Sue Ellen glares at him and tells him to stay out of her life the way she stays out of his - but he argues that he doesn't want to spoil "the pretty picture" that is their dysfunctional marriage. She snaps, "That's for the public, not for us" and climbs into her car.
Bobby gushes to Pam about how cute, adorable, and all around awesome the new ranch hand's kid is, and that he looooves the idea of a child frolicking around Southfork. Pam's like, "That's nice", then scrunches her face concernedly and spacily wanders off in the direction of her car. Bobby wonders aloud if he said anything wrong, and Miss Ellie tells him that Pam is probably just nervous about her baby 'cause of the miscarriage she suffered in Season 1.
When JR arrives at work, he discreetly fondles Kristen, who suggests they hook up at her condo later. He perks up and is all, "Can do", then asks her to please get his private investigator, Cal McBride, on the phone pronto.
Sue Ellen is in a session with her therapist, Dr. Ellby. She drones on about her dismal life, including (possibly) getting knocked up by Cliff Barnes. When Dr. Ellby points out that even though it's 1979, there are ways to establish paternity, Sue Ellen's like, "Meh.." and says she prefers to live with the uncertainty as to who fathered her spawn. She tells him she'd rather spend her energy figuring out how to be happy, gain full control over her life, and be a good mother to the son she's been so shittily neglecting from the moment she discovered she was preggers.
Sue Ellen stops by the breakfast patio to announce that she's off to run errands in town. JR hobbles after her and asks her exactly how she's been spending her days lately, and pretends to be worried that she's overdoing it. Sue Ellen glares at him and tells him to stay out of her life the way she stays out of his - but he argues that he doesn't want to spoil "the pretty picture" that is their dysfunctional marriage. She snaps, "That's for the public, not for us" and climbs into her car.
Bobby gushes to Pam about how cute, adorable, and all around awesome the new ranch hand's kid is, and that he looooves the idea of a child frolicking around Southfork. Pam's like, "That's nice", then scrunches her face concernedly and spacily wanders off in the direction of her car. Bobby wonders aloud if he said anything wrong, and Miss Ellie tells him that Pam is probably just nervous about her baby 'cause of the miscarriage she suffered in Season 1.
When JR arrives at work, he discreetly fondles Kristen, who suggests they hook up at her condo later. He perks up and is all, "Can do", then asks her to please get his private investigator, Cal McBride, on the phone pronto.
Sue Ellen is in a session with her therapist, Dr. Ellby. She drones on about her dismal life, including (possibly) getting knocked up by Cliff Barnes. When Dr. Ellby points out that even though it's 1979, there are ways to establish paternity, Sue Ellen's like, "Meh.." and says she prefers to live with the uncertainty as to who fathered her spawn. She tells him she'd rather spend her energy figuring out how to be happy, gain full control over her life, and be a good mother to the son she's been so shittily neglecting from the moment she discovered she was preggers.
"You know, there are ways to determine your son's paternity."
"I much prefer that my husband live with the uncertainty about my baby daddy."
JR orders Cal McBride to follow Sue Ellen, then report back asap about how and with whom she's spending her leisure time.
Pam and Cliff are having one of their usual meetings-on-the-street about the usual Ewing-Barnes-feud-fueled conundrums. Pam chides her brother for being so consumed with hatred toward the Ewings and accuses him of using his OLM job to constantly stick it to them. Cliff weakly denies doing any such thing, then says there's been talk of rich donors wanting him to run for Congress...and that he's so flattered he's seriously considering launching a campaign. Pam's like, "That's nice" and tells him she hasn't yet 'fessed up to Bobby about the genetic disease situation their baby could be facing, and Cliff stares at her incredulously and is all, "Wha-a-a-a??"
Pam returns home from work and watches Bobby as he teaches Luke how to make and throw a lasso.
Bobby and Luke are enjoying a lunch break and talking about Luke's nomadic existence on account of his pa moving them from place to place in a never ending search for permanent employment. Ray gallops over and informs them that the hot weather has attracted more rattlesnakes than usual, and that one just bit Bo. Luke looks alarmed and cries, "Pa!" and he and Bobby quickly mount their horses and gallop into the remoteness of Southfork.
Bo is laying on the ground, moaning all delirious-like when Bobby, Luke, and Ray ride over. Bobby hovers over Bo and assures him he'll take good care of Luke while he's in the hospital getting his anti-venom treatments.
Sue Ellen is sashaying down the street in Dallas when she unexpectedly runs into JR and Kristin, who claim they were just entertaining clients at a business lunch and that she should have joined them. Sue Ellen glares at them skeptically and coldly retorts, "I never interfere with my husband's business" and saunters off. Once she's out of earshot, Kristin asks JR if he thinks his wife is onto them, and JR just shrugs and goes, "Do you care?" ... and when it's clear that neither of them does, they head back to the office.
Cal McBride reports to JR that Sue Ellen spent the day shopping and getting her hair done. JR looks unsatisfied with that and orders him to continue following her around.
JR returns home and finds Jock sitting on the patio, talking on the phone to the doctor who's treating Bo...and he gruffly orders him to take good care of the ranch hand and send him the hospital bill. When he finishes the call, he asks JR if he set up the trust fund for his first wife, and JR barely refrains from rolling his eyes and promises to get on that asap. He asks his daddy if he told Miss Ellie about his first wife, and Jock admits that, nope, he hasn't gotten around to that yet. A few seconds later, Miss Ellie steps outside to see how Jock is doing...and Jock assures her he's feeling fine and waxes on about how much he loves her. She, in turn, kisses his hand and tells him he's a good man and that she's always loved and trusted him. Subtle, show.
Pam and Cliff are having one of their usual meetings-on-the-street about the usual Ewing-Barnes-feud-fueled conundrums. Pam chides her brother for being so consumed with hatred toward the Ewings and accuses him of using his OLM job to constantly stick it to them. Cliff weakly denies doing any such thing, then says there's been talk of rich donors wanting him to run for Congress...and that he's so flattered he's seriously considering launching a campaign. Pam's like, "That's nice" and tells him she hasn't yet 'fessed up to Bobby about the genetic disease situation their baby could be facing, and Cliff stares at her incredulously and is all, "Wha-a-a-a??"
Pam returns home from work and watches Bobby as he teaches Luke how to make and throw a lasso.
Bobby and Luke are enjoying a lunch break and talking about Luke's nomadic existence on account of his pa moving them from place to place in a never ending search for permanent employment. Ray gallops over and informs them that the hot weather has attracted more rattlesnakes than usual, and that one just bit Bo. Luke looks alarmed and cries, "Pa!" and he and Bobby quickly mount their horses and gallop into the remoteness of Southfork.
Bo is laying on the ground, moaning all delirious-like when Bobby, Luke, and Ray ride over. Bobby hovers over Bo and assures him he'll take good care of Luke while he's in the hospital getting his anti-venom treatments.
Sue Ellen is sashaying down the street in Dallas when she unexpectedly runs into JR and Kristin, who claim they were just entertaining clients at a business lunch and that she should have joined them. Sue Ellen glares at them skeptically and coldly retorts, "I never interfere with my husband's business" and saunters off. Once she's out of earshot, Kristin asks JR if he thinks his wife is onto them, and JR just shrugs and goes, "Do you care?" ... and when it's clear that neither of them does, they head back to the office.
Cal McBride reports to JR that Sue Ellen spent the day shopping and getting her hair done. JR looks unsatisfied with that and orders him to continue following her around.
JR returns home and finds Jock sitting on the patio, talking on the phone to the doctor who's treating Bo...and he gruffly orders him to take good care of the ranch hand and send him the hospital bill. When he finishes the call, he asks JR if he set up the trust fund for his first wife, and JR barely refrains from rolling his eyes and promises to get on that asap. He asks his daddy if he told Miss Ellie about his first wife, and Jock admits that, nope, he hasn't gotten around to that yet. A few seconds later, Miss Ellie steps outside to see how Jock is doing...and Jock assures her he's feeling fine and waxes on about how much he loves her. She, in turn, kisses his hand and tells him he's a good man and that she's always loved and trusted him. Subtle, show.
"Don't forget to set up that trust fund for my long forgotten first wife."
"That seems sooo last episode, daddy."
Ray tells Bobby that Bo is going to make a full recovery, but that they'll need someone to take over his workload. Luke offers to do it...and after some hemming and hawing from Bobby about how he's much too young to do the work of a grown man, he agrees to give the kid a shot and orders him to round up the stray cattle in the south end of the ranch. Luke [literally] screeches, "Ye haw!" and rushes off...and Ray stares after him with a look of dismay and tells Bobby, "I hope you know what you're doing."
Sue Ellen stares down at Baby John Ross in his crib and promises to finally be a good mother...and JR overhears her and calls it "a touching scene". He asks her again how she's been spending her days in downtown Dallas, but she refuses to say and retorts that she should be the one asking what he's been doing with Kristin. JR fibs, "Just lunch" and reminds her that she's his wife and is therefore expected to act accordingly. Sue Ellen argues that she's not his wife in any way that matters, and points out that they no longer share their lives together or give even the tiniest of rat's asses about each other. She describes their marriage as "sick, very sick", shoots him the stink-eye, and stalks out of the room. Please get a divorce.
Sue Ellen stares down at Baby John Ross in his crib and promises to finally be a good mother...and JR overhears her and calls it "a touching scene". He asks her again how she's been spending her days in downtown Dallas, but she refuses to say and retorts that she should be the one asking what he's been doing with Kristin. JR fibs, "Just lunch" and reminds her that she's his wife and is therefore expected to act accordingly. Sue Ellen argues that she's not his wife in any way that matters, and points out that they no longer share their lives together or give even the tiniest of rat's asses about each other. She describes their marriage as "sick, very sick", shoots him the stink-eye, and stalks out of the room. Please get a divorce.
"How would you describe our marriage, sugar?"
"Something along the lines of: a vermin infested turdpile."
Luke reports to Bobby that he was able to round up the stray cattle, then assures him he's A-OK with sleeping and eating at the bunk house, like the rest of the ranch hands are expected to do. Bobby nods approvingly, then offers to take him out to a movie later.
Later, Pam tells Bobby she had great time at the movies and is happy that Luke seemed to really enjoy third-wheeling it with them. Bobby says he likes the kid a lot and could totally see himself planning a father-son type picnic so they could cement their bond even tighter...then quickly promises that he'll love their baby just as much. Pam asks him if he'd be OK not having a baby, and Bobby's like, "The hell you talking about?" and tells her she's just nervous after the Season 1 miscarriage and assures her that she's going to deliver a healthy baby and that everything is going to be marvelous.
The next morning, Pam goes down to the patio for breakfast and is informed by Miss Ellie that Bobby and Luke went riding...and Pam decides that even though she's pregnant and that there's been more rattlesnakes slithering around the ranch than usual, it would be a good idea for her to go riding too.
Bobby is at the bunk house, saddling up Luke's horse when he sees Pam come riding over. A few seconds later, a rattlesnake spooks her horse...and she gets thrown from her saddle and hits the ground with a loud thud. Bobby's all, "Pammmmmm! Nooooooo!" and races over to where she's laying, unconscious.
In the next scene, Pam regains consciousness in the hospital and asks Bobby about the baby, but he just tells her not to worry about anything and go back to sleep. The doctor pulls Bobby aside and confirms that she did lose the baby, but that they could always try for another one. Bobby tears up and squeaks, "But we wanted this one sooo much", then sadly ambles off.
Cal McBride reports to JR that in between charity meetings and fashion shows, Sue Ellen has been keeping regular appointments with a therapist. He adds that Dr. Ellby has a solid reputation as a psychiatrist, but that he's also known as a ladies man who has a penchant for rich, beautiful women. JR stares contemplatively into space.
Bobby tells Luke that he's moping around 'cause he's sad about Pam losing their baby. Luke shares the sad story of how his mom died giving birth to him, and that he feels bad about causing her death.
JR returns home from work and finds Sue Ellen sunning herself by the pool. He seats himself beside her and asks her whassup with her going to a shrink, so Sue Ellen tells him that their married life is less than desirable and so she needs to get her shit together to figure out how it got so bad. JR grimly retorts, "It's probably 'cause you can't stay away from any man who stares cross-eyed at you", then chides her for wanting it all: the Ewing name, privileges, and the freedom to be a tramp. He says he's pretty sure that Dr. Ellby is only treating her 'cause he's trying to get her in the sack, and Sue Ellen asks if it bugs him more that she might sleep with him, or reveal something he'd rather keep hidden.
Pam tells Bobby there can't be anymore children for them...and when Bobby's all, "Wha-at do you mean??" she finally tells him about the genetic disease she recently learned she's a carrier of, and that she'll likely pass it onto their children. Bobby scrunches his face in misery, then looks alarmed and asks about Baby John Ross. Pam says she took him to a doctor for some tests, and that in a few months they'll know whether or not he's afflicted with the disease. She then tears up and says how sad she is that she can't give him the one thing he really really wants.
Later, Pam tells Bobby she had great time at the movies and is happy that Luke seemed to really enjoy third-wheeling it with them. Bobby says he likes the kid a lot and could totally see himself planning a father-son type picnic so they could cement their bond even tighter...then quickly promises that he'll love their baby just as much. Pam asks him if he'd be OK not having a baby, and Bobby's like, "The hell you talking about?" and tells her she's just nervous after the Season 1 miscarriage and assures her that she's going to deliver a healthy baby and that everything is going to be marvelous.
The next morning, Pam goes down to the patio for breakfast and is informed by Miss Ellie that Bobby and Luke went riding...and Pam decides that even though she's pregnant and that there's been more rattlesnakes slithering around the ranch than usual, it would be a good idea for her to go riding too.
Bobby is at the bunk house, saddling up Luke's horse when he sees Pam come riding over. A few seconds later, a rattlesnake spooks her horse...and she gets thrown from her saddle and hits the ground with a loud thud. Bobby's all, "Pammmmmm! Nooooooo!" and races over to where she's laying, unconscious.
In the next scene, Pam regains consciousness in the hospital and asks Bobby about the baby, but he just tells her not to worry about anything and go back to sleep. The doctor pulls Bobby aside and confirms that she did lose the baby, but that they could always try for another one. Bobby tears up and squeaks, "But we wanted this one sooo much", then sadly ambles off.
Cal McBride reports to JR that in between charity meetings and fashion shows, Sue Ellen has been keeping regular appointments with a therapist. He adds that Dr. Ellby has a solid reputation as a psychiatrist, but that he's also known as a ladies man who has a penchant for rich, beautiful women. JR stares contemplatively into space.
Bobby tells Luke that he's moping around 'cause he's sad about Pam losing their baby. Luke shares the sad story of how his mom died giving birth to him, and that he feels bad about causing her death.
JR returns home from work and finds Sue Ellen sunning herself by the pool. He seats himself beside her and asks her whassup with her going to a shrink, so Sue Ellen tells him that their married life is less than desirable and so she needs to get her shit together to figure out how it got so bad. JR grimly retorts, "It's probably 'cause you can't stay away from any man who stares cross-eyed at you", then chides her for wanting it all: the Ewing name, privileges, and the freedom to be a tramp. He says he's pretty sure that Dr. Ellby is only treating her 'cause he's trying to get her in the sack, and Sue Ellen asks if it bugs him more that she might sleep with him, or reveal something he'd rather keep hidden.
Pam tells Bobby there can't be anymore children for them...and when Bobby's all, "Wha-at do you mean??" she finally tells him about the genetic disease she recently learned she's a carrier of, and that she'll likely pass it onto their children. Bobby scrunches his face in misery, then looks alarmed and asks about Baby John Ross. Pam says she took him to a doctor for some tests, and that in a few months they'll know whether or not he's afflicted with the disease. She then tears up and says how sad she is that she can't give him the one thing he really really wants.
"I probably should have told you about the disease I learned I have, four episodes ago."
"Ya think?"
Digger and Cliff drop by the hospital to visit Pam...and afterwards, Digger moans to Cliff about how sad he is that he'll probably never have grandchildren (and apparently, any kids Bobby and Pam adopt won't count, the douchebag). Cliff boldly announces, "You have a grandson" and says he's pretty sure he was the one who knocked up Sue Ellen nine months before Baby John Ross was born. He promises Digger that if Baby John Ross doesn't die of neurofibromatosis and someone decides to finally take the bull by the horns and looks into some paternity testing that proves he's the baby daddy, he'll demand that the Ewings turn the tot over to his bio dad.
Bobby returns home that evening and tells everyone that Pam is OK, but that she's taking the miscarriage very hard.
The next morning, Luke tells Bobby that his pa is out of the hospital, and that they're moving to Montana to live and work at his uncle's farm. Bobby looks sad, but says it sounds great, and that living in Montana is a whole lot better than constantly moving from place to place.
Bobby arrives at the hospital, where Pam is packing her stuff and hanging with Cliff. When Cliff remarks on how the miscarriage was probably for the best, Bobby gets angry and snarls, "You've never loved anyone!" Cliff snaps back that he loves his son, who could be dying right now...then calls Bobby out on trying to "corner the market on self-pity".
When Pam and Bobby return home, Sue Ellen expresses her condolences about the miscarriage and assures Pam that the grief will get easier with time. A few seconds later, Bo and Luke pull into the driveway to say goodbye...and Luke promises to send Bobby a postcard. The two shake hands before Luke climbs back in to the truck...but then rethinks the inadequateness of that goodbye and jumps out of the truck, races toward Bobby, and leaps into his arms for an extended hug. As the two tear up about the end of their three day friendship, Pam stares over at them with a stricken expression on her face.
Bobby returns home that evening and tells everyone that Pam is OK, but that she's taking the miscarriage very hard.
The next morning, Luke tells Bobby that his pa is out of the hospital, and that they're moving to Montana to live and work at his uncle's farm. Bobby looks sad, but says it sounds great, and that living in Montana is a whole lot better than constantly moving from place to place.
Bobby arrives at the hospital, where Pam is packing her stuff and hanging with Cliff. When Cliff remarks on how the miscarriage was probably for the best, Bobby gets angry and snarls, "You've never loved anyone!" Cliff snaps back that he loves his son, who could be dying right now...then calls Bobby out on trying to "corner the market on self-pity".
When Pam and Bobby return home, Sue Ellen expresses her condolences about the miscarriage and assures Pam that the grief will get easier with time. A few seconds later, Bo and Luke pull into the driveway to say goodbye...and Luke promises to send Bobby a postcard. The two shake hands before Luke climbs back in to the truck...but then rethinks the inadequateness of that goodbye and jumps out of the truck, races toward Bobby, and leaps into his arms for an extended hug. As the two tear up about the end of their three day friendship, Pam stares over at them with a stricken expression on her face.
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"In case you die, would you mind making me your sole beneficiary?"
"The Dove Hunt"
Original airdate: 10/26/1979
Episode summary: Jock and JR are shot by revenge seeking yokels during a hunting trip in Louisiana.
Original airdate: 10/26/1979
Episode summary: Jock and JR are shot by revenge seeking yokels during a hunting trip in Louisiana.
Recap: Bobby and Ray are rounding up the Southfork cattle while Miss Ellie is at the doctor's office, looking into whether or not a lump in her breast is malignant. The doctor tells her it's probably a cyst, but will do further testing to make sure...and Miss Ellie says she's been keeping this potential cancer scare a secret from Jock 'cause she doesn't want him to worry until there's something to actually worry about.
JR is on the phone, barking in annoyance at someone regarding the Southeast Asia deal he foolishly leaped into (after mortgaging Southfork) during the previous episode. Kristin wanders into his office and starts massaging his shoulders...and after he finishes the call, she cooingly invites him to share with her whatever's stressing him out. Before he can respond, another call comes through with more troubling Southeast Asia related news - just as Jock arrives. Kristin's all, "Ack!" and tells him that JR's super busy at the moment, but Jock ignores her and barges into JR's office. JR hastily finishes the call and tells him he's just been dealing with the usual OLM harassment, and Jock says he's been working too hard lately and insists he take a break so they can go to lunch together...and JR obediently replies, "Yes daddy sir."
That evening, Lucy excitedly tells Bobby that Val told her she's been in touch with Gary, and that the two might rekindle their stupid rollercoaster of a relationship. JR frowns disapprovingly and says, "Don't count on that" and reminds her that her idiot parents have broken her heart before. Bobby concurs and advises her to not get her hopes up...and, fortunately, this tedious will Val and Gary?/won't Val and Gary? subplot gets wrapped up for the time being when Miss Ellie steps into the room to announce that dinner is ready.
Jock wonders aloud why everyone's quieter at the dinner table than usual, then remarks to Miss Ellie that she's looking especially spacey. She assures him she's fine, then suggests that he and the rest of the Ewing menfolk get away for awhile - by going on a hunting trip in Louisiana, for example. Jock perks up at the idea and says he'd like to invite Ray along...and JR rolls his eyes at the prospect of having to rough it in nature in the company of Ray.
JR is on the phone, barking in annoyance at someone regarding the Southeast Asia deal he foolishly leaped into (after mortgaging Southfork) during the previous episode. Kristin wanders into his office and starts massaging his shoulders...and after he finishes the call, she cooingly invites him to share with her whatever's stressing him out. Before he can respond, another call comes through with more troubling Southeast Asia related news - just as Jock arrives. Kristin's all, "Ack!" and tells him that JR's super busy at the moment, but Jock ignores her and barges into JR's office. JR hastily finishes the call and tells him he's just been dealing with the usual OLM harassment, and Jock says he's been working too hard lately and insists he take a break so they can go to lunch together...and JR obediently replies, "Yes daddy sir."
That evening, Lucy excitedly tells Bobby that Val told her she's been in touch with Gary, and that the two might rekindle their stupid rollercoaster of a relationship. JR frowns disapprovingly and says, "Don't count on that" and reminds her that her idiot parents have broken her heart before. Bobby concurs and advises her to not get her hopes up...and, fortunately, this tedious will Val and Gary?/won't Val and Gary? subplot gets wrapped up for the time being when Miss Ellie steps into the room to announce that dinner is ready.
Jock wonders aloud why everyone's quieter at the dinner table than usual, then remarks to Miss Ellie that she's looking especially spacey. She assures him she's fine, then suggests that he and the rest of the Ewing menfolk get away for awhile - by going on a hunting trip in Louisiana, for example. Jock perks up at the idea and says he'd like to invite Ray along...and JR rolls his eyes at the prospect of having to rough it in nature in the company of Ray.
"You look uncharacteristically morose tonight, Miss Ellie."
"It's nothing that some much needed time away from you and the boys couldn't cure."
As the Ewing menfolk (plus Ray) prepare to board the Southfork helicopter, JR grumbles to Bobby that he doesn't get why Jock always has to invite Ranch Hand Ray along. Bobby just shrugs and says that Ray's practically family...and by practically, he means that eventually Ray will get outed as Jock's illegitimate son and expect to be treated as an equal.
Jock et al. arrive in a tiny Louisiana town named Landowne and quickly head over to the general store to load up on supplies. While chit-chatting with the store clerk, Jock needlessly but proudly identifies himself as Jock Ewing - as in, the dickwad patriarch behind Ewing Oil...and the clerk's all, "Wha-a-a?" as he visibly processes that fascinating nugget. When Jock et al. leave the store, the clerk immediately calls up a grizzled yokel named Tom Owens to report that Jock Ewing and his sons are in town and that they plan to hunt in some nearby woods. Tom narrows his eyes, mutely stares into space for several seconds, then growls, "I've waited thirty-two years to face this man." Yeech...sounds like another Digger who can't let go of a decades old grudge in response to whatever Jock once did to piss him off.
Jock et al. are at a local bar, drinking and gruffly cackling about something or other when Tom Owens, his fresh-faced son Dan, and another yokelly looking guy named Ben enter the bar. Tom sneeringly tells Jock that the Ewing name doesn't mean shit in these parts, and Jock just shrugs amiably and says he didn't claim it did. Tom orders him to look him in the eye, so Jock glares back and him and derisively says he has absolutely no clue who he is. After a few more seconds of hostile sniping, the two suddenly lunge at each other, and this prompts Bobby and Ray to leap into action and start punching Dan and Ben. JR remains safely seated, clutching his beer...but effectively ends the rumble when he smashes his beer mug over Dan's (or was it Ben's?) head after he comes sliding head first across the table. After a full asskicking has been administered, Jock et. al. saunter out of the bar, snickering about the big swinging dicks they each fancy themselves to be.
Jock et al. arrive in a tiny Louisiana town named Landowne and quickly head over to the general store to load up on supplies. While chit-chatting with the store clerk, Jock needlessly but proudly identifies himself as Jock Ewing - as in, the dickwad patriarch behind Ewing Oil...and the clerk's all, "Wha-a-a?" as he visibly processes that fascinating nugget. When Jock et al. leave the store, the clerk immediately calls up a grizzled yokel named Tom Owens to report that Jock Ewing and his sons are in town and that they plan to hunt in some nearby woods. Tom narrows his eyes, mutely stares into space for several seconds, then growls, "I've waited thirty-two years to face this man." Yeech...sounds like another Digger who can't let go of a decades old grudge in response to whatever Jock once did to piss him off.
Jock et al. are at a local bar, drinking and gruffly cackling about something or other when Tom Owens, his fresh-faced son Dan, and another yokelly looking guy named Ben enter the bar. Tom sneeringly tells Jock that the Ewing name doesn't mean shit in these parts, and Jock just shrugs amiably and says he didn't claim it did. Tom orders him to look him in the eye, so Jock glares back and him and derisively says he has absolutely no clue who he is. After a few more seconds of hostile sniping, the two suddenly lunge at each other, and this prompts Bobby and Ray to leap into action and start punching Dan and Ben. JR remains safely seated, clutching his beer...but effectively ends the rumble when he smashes his beer mug over Dan's (or was it Ben's?) head after he comes sliding head first across the table. After a full asskicking has been administered, Jock et. al. saunter out of the bar, snickering about the big swinging dicks they each fancy themselves to be.
"Ewing! I'm going to kick your ass!"
"Not if I kick yours first, hostile stranger."
Miss Ellie tells Pam she's off to a routine doctor's appointment, and Pam scrunches her face concernedly and points out that she just saw her doctor for a routine appointment a day ago. She asks if anything is amiss, but Miss Ellie assures her that all is well, then heads out.
Ben suggests to Tom that they head to the woods and terrorize Jock et al. in their campsite...and Tom nods solemnly and vows that, one way or another, Jock is going to remember who in blazes he is.
Miss Ellie is in the sitting room at Southfork, worriedly reading a pamphlet about breast cancer. Pam invites her to join her in the nursery while she feeds Baby John Ross...and as the two head upstairs, they run into Sue Ellen on the staircase. When Baby John Ross starts mewling from his crib, Pam's like, "Er, that's your baby crying", and Sue Ellen shoots her the stink-eye and sassily retorts, "No shit. Good thing I hired a baby nurse...plus, there's the two of you." Pam refrains from telling her where to shove it and continues on to the nursery with Miss Ellie...and as Miss Ellie cuddles her grandson, Pam asks her again what's wrong. Miss Ellie assures her it's nothing, gives her a quick hug, and volunteers to go warm the baby's bottle.
As Jock et al. spread out to hunt in the woods, an unseen man skulks nearby, tampers with the lantern in their campsite, then opens fire on Bobby. Jock, JR, and Ray rush over to see if he was hit, then decide that the flying bullets must have been some kind of freak hunting accident. A few minutes after they return to the campsite and crack open a few beers, the lantern that had been tampered with explodes...and Ray studies the charred remains and deduces that someone punctured a hole in the bottom of it. Jock decides to ignore that second red flag and chalks it up to another freak accident...and JR stares despondently into space and says he really really wishes he were back in his Ewing Oil office.
Late that night, the skulker reappears and quietly opens the hood of the rental vehicle and tampers with the engine. Jock hears the commotion so he grabs his rifle to investigate, and the skulker opens fire and shoots Jock in the abdomen.
After the commercial break, Bobby and Ray are firing back at the gunmen (aka Tom, Dan, and Ben) while JR cowers behind a tree. When Bobby and Ray yell, "They shot Jock!", JR stupidly leaves his safe spot to check on his father and immediately gets shot in the leg. Ray's all, "Noooooo!" and races in the direction of the gunmen, but by that time Tom, Dan, and Ben have hightailed it out of there. When Ray grimly discovers that the engine of their rental vehicle has been pooched, he and Bobby decide to go on foot to Landowne and get some help while a hobbled JR stays behind to guard the campsite with his rifle.
Bobby and Ray walk through the woods, their rifles raised. They find blood on a tree and correctly assume that their return gunfire injured at least one of the shooters.
Tom tells Ben and Dan (who's clutching his bleeding arm) that Jock and JR are sitting ducks and that he wants to return to their campsite, pronto, so he can finish them off.
As JR wipes a wet cloth over Jock's face, a contrite looking Jock invokes his heart attack in the Bypass episode and says that this shooting has reinforced for him how short life is...and that he has a huge confession he'd like to get off his chest. He tells JR he was once married to a woman named Amanda Lewis who had a nervous breakdown two years after their wedding. At the time she was confined to a state mental institution, but now lives in a private hospital, courtesy of Jock's secret payments to cover all of her medical expenses. He tells JR that if he dies this episode, he wants him to set up a trust fund for Amanda so she can continue to enjoy her cushy digs. JR looks weirded out by the startling confession and half-heartedly promises his father that if he doesn't make it out of this hunting trip alive, he'll be sure to get right on that trust fund request.
Ben suggests to Tom that they head to the woods and terrorize Jock et al. in their campsite...and Tom nods solemnly and vows that, one way or another, Jock is going to remember who in blazes he is.
Miss Ellie is in the sitting room at Southfork, worriedly reading a pamphlet about breast cancer. Pam invites her to join her in the nursery while she feeds Baby John Ross...and as the two head upstairs, they run into Sue Ellen on the staircase. When Baby John Ross starts mewling from his crib, Pam's like, "Er, that's your baby crying", and Sue Ellen shoots her the stink-eye and sassily retorts, "No shit. Good thing I hired a baby nurse...plus, there's the two of you." Pam refrains from telling her where to shove it and continues on to the nursery with Miss Ellie...and as Miss Ellie cuddles her grandson, Pam asks her again what's wrong. Miss Ellie assures her it's nothing, gives her a quick hug, and volunteers to go warm the baby's bottle.
As Jock et al. spread out to hunt in the woods, an unseen man skulks nearby, tampers with the lantern in their campsite, then opens fire on Bobby. Jock, JR, and Ray rush over to see if he was hit, then decide that the flying bullets must have been some kind of freak hunting accident. A few minutes after they return to the campsite and crack open a few beers, the lantern that had been tampered with explodes...and Ray studies the charred remains and deduces that someone punctured a hole in the bottom of it. Jock decides to ignore that second red flag and chalks it up to another freak accident...and JR stares despondently into space and says he really really wishes he were back in his Ewing Oil office.
Late that night, the skulker reappears and quietly opens the hood of the rental vehicle and tampers with the engine. Jock hears the commotion so he grabs his rifle to investigate, and the skulker opens fire and shoots Jock in the abdomen.
After the commercial break, Bobby and Ray are firing back at the gunmen (aka Tom, Dan, and Ben) while JR cowers behind a tree. When Bobby and Ray yell, "They shot Jock!", JR stupidly leaves his safe spot to check on his father and immediately gets shot in the leg. Ray's all, "Noooooo!" and races in the direction of the gunmen, but by that time Tom, Dan, and Ben have hightailed it out of there. When Ray grimly discovers that the engine of their rental vehicle has been pooched, he and Bobby decide to go on foot to Landowne and get some help while a hobbled JR stays behind to guard the campsite with his rifle.
Bobby and Ray walk through the woods, their rifles raised. They find blood on a tree and correctly assume that their return gunfire injured at least one of the shooters.
Tom tells Ben and Dan (who's clutching his bleeding arm) that Jock and JR are sitting ducks and that he wants to return to their campsite, pronto, so he can finish them off.
As JR wipes a wet cloth over Jock's face, a contrite looking Jock invokes his heart attack in the Bypass episode and says that this shooting has reinforced for him how short life is...and that he has a huge confession he'd like to get off his chest. He tells JR he was once married to a woman named Amanda Lewis who had a nervous breakdown two years after their wedding. At the time she was confined to a state mental institution, but now lives in a private hospital, courtesy of Jock's secret payments to cover all of her medical expenses. He tells JR that if he dies this episode, he wants him to set up a trust fund for Amanda so she can continue to enjoy her cushy digs. JR looks weirded out by the startling confession and half-heartedly promises his father that if he doesn't make it out of this hunting trip alive, he'll be sure to get right on that trust fund request.
"I want you to set up a trust fund for a secret wife I never told anyone I had."
"Yeah...I'll be sure to get right on that."
Bobby and Ray arrive in Landowne and are quickly unsettled by how quiet the podunk town is. They run over to a florist who just happens to be sweeping the street in front of his shop and implore him to summon help for their wounded hunting mates, but the florist tells them he couldn't give a rat's ass about their problems and snappishly orders them to get lost. Bobby and Ray decide that their best option is to "borrow" a vehicle so they can race back to the campsite and rescue Jock and JR...and the two find a pickup truck that the owner stupidly left his keys in.
JR has nodded off when Tom et al. return to the campsite to exact their revenge on Jock's decades old dickishness. Tom snarlingly informs Jock that thirty-two years ago he tried to strong arm him into selling his land...and when he refused, Jock leaned on him so hard (?) that no one wanted to buy his crops, which subsequently drove him into bankruptcy. Tom growls, "I waited a long time to get revenge", and Jock wearily retorts, "Fine, go ahead and kill me." Tom raises his rifle, stares stonily at his target for a few seconds...but then gets a stricken look on his face and lowers his weapon while muttering, "I can't...I'm not a killer." A few seconds later, Bobby and Ray return in the stolen truck, raise their rifles in ready-to-fire positions and order Tom et al. to drop their guns. Jock assures them it's all good, and that he doesn't want to involve the law for something he's going to classify as a hunting accident [as well as a completely pointless episode]. Jock then turns his attention back to Tom and admits that, yep, he he rode roughshod over a lot of people back in the day and feels kinda bad about it now. When he mumbles something about how all men deserve to go to their graves with dignity, Tom's like, "This doesn't mean you're still not going to hell", but then peacefully skedaddles with Dan and Ben. Jock tells JR that as soon as he gets home, he's going to carefully comb over their finances and sort out the secret situation they discussed earlier...and JR does his best to mask his panic as he nods in agreement.
JR has nodded off when Tom et al. return to the campsite to exact their revenge on Jock's decades old dickishness. Tom snarlingly informs Jock that thirty-two years ago he tried to strong arm him into selling his land...and when he refused, Jock leaned on him so hard (?) that no one wanted to buy his crops, which subsequently drove him into bankruptcy. Tom growls, "I waited a long time to get revenge", and Jock wearily retorts, "Fine, go ahead and kill me." Tom raises his rifle, stares stonily at his target for a few seconds...but then gets a stricken look on his face and lowers his weapon while muttering, "I can't...I'm not a killer." A few seconds later, Bobby and Ray return in the stolen truck, raise their rifles in ready-to-fire positions and order Tom et al. to drop their guns. Jock assures them it's all good, and that he doesn't want to involve the law for something he's going to classify as a hunting accident [as well as a completely pointless episode]. Jock then turns his attention back to Tom and admits that, yep, he he rode roughshod over a lot of people back in the day and feels kinda bad about it now. When he mumbles something about how all men deserve to go to their graves with dignity, Tom's like, "This doesn't mean you're still not going to hell", but then peacefully skedaddles with Dan and Ben. Jock tells JR that as soon as he gets home, he's going to carefully comb over their finances and sort out the secret situation they discussed earlier...and JR does his best to mask his panic as he nods in agreement.
"I'm letting you off with some kind words and an apology."
"OK, but it doesn't mean you're still not a douchebag."
Jock, Bobby, JR, and Ray return to Southfork by ambulance...and when Miss Ellie sees her beloved in a wheelchair, she's all, "Wha-at happened??" Jock assures her he's fine - and that, in fact, he finds the occasional gunshot injury rather stimulating. LOL. As everyone ambles toward the house, Jock pulls JR aside and reminds him about his promise to set up the trust fund for Amanda, and JR's like, "Uh huh" and stares concernedly into space.
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What could possibly go wrong with these two hooking up?
"The Kristin Affair"
Original airdate: 10/19/1979
Episode summary: JR installs Kristin in a hideously decorated condo, where the two begin a torrid affair. Pam continues to keep Bobby in the dark about her genetic disorder.
Original airdate: 10/19/1979
Episode summary: JR installs Kristin in a hideously decorated condo, where the two begin a torrid affair. Pam continues to keep Bobby in the dark about her genetic disorder.
Recap: Kristin is enjoying an early morning frolic in the Southfork pool...and she contorts her freakish Joker-like lips into a smug grin when she notices JR standing a few feet away, brazenly ogling her taut, bikini clad bod. She gives JR a better eyeful of her curvy attributes when she flips onto her back for a leisurely backstroke, then climbs out of the pool so she can gratuitously display her entire near naked self. JR hands her a towel and tells her how positively fetching she looks in wet skimpy-wear, and Kristin tells him she loooooves spending time at Southfork 'cause it really makes her feel like part of the family...and JR assures her she is part of the family and adds that he's going to miss staring hungrily at her when she heads back to Santa Fe. Sue Ellen emerges from the house in her bathing suit, and JR sidles over to her and suggests that since he has a brief opening in his morning schedule, they could go upstairs and pound one out. Sue Ellen disinterestedly rolls her eyes at the bizarre proposal, sneers about how not subtle he is whenever the "romantic" mood strikes, then casually sashays over to the pool to listlessly lay on a lounger.
Over at Ewing Oil, JR receives the latest OLM report, aka a bitchy assessment of how Ewing Oil is not doing nearly enough to meet the new emission standards. Jordan Lee drops by to rail at JR about how annoying it is to the rest of the cartel members that the OLM keeps hassling them and says they're considering forming a new cartel (sans Ewing Oil). JR summons Bobby to his office and snarks at him to put more pressure on the Austin senators 'cause they don't seem to be moving fast enough to rein in the OLM - but Bobby says he doesn't really want to spend so much time in Austin, and reminds JR that he has a job here, plus a ranch to help run. The two bicker for a few more minutes...and after Bobby stomps out, JR pulls out a cash-filled briefcase and smiles smugly.
JR meets with Alan Beam for a secret one-on-one and asks him how the Cliff Barnes for Congress scheme is coming along. Alan tells him they're getting "nibbles" from potential fake donors, and JR snaps that nibbles are no longer enough and that he wants him to step up his efforts pronto. He shows Alan his cash-filled briefcase and cackles about how money is the best way to any politician's heart...and tells him to use this cash to seduce Cliff into believing he has a lot of donor support to help him run a congressional campaign. Once he's convinced he's a shoo-in and resigns from the OLM, the financing for his campaign will suddenly dry up.
During dinner at Southfork, Mama Shepard tells the Ewings she's totes excited about her upcoming trip to Europe with the new rich beau she was somehow able to snag. Kristin does her best to look as dispirited as possible when she tells everyone about her plans to attend architecture school in Santa Fe, and wonders aloud if she's missing something by rushing into higher education too fast. Mama Shepard's like prolly and says she'd much prefer her to focus all of her energy into getting her hooks into a marriageable rich man so she can live a pampered life of leisure, and Kristin perks up at that and says she's so eager to stay in Dallas and cruise the single scene that she'd settle for a temporary job. JR tells her there's a vacancy at Ewing Oil 'cause one of the secretaries is on an extended honeymoon trip, and Kristin excitedly says she'd loooove that...then contorts her face into a faux contrite expression and says she couldn't possibly continue living at Southfork and sponging off of the rich Ewings. JR suggests she move into one of Ewing Oil's condos (aka, a continuation of her sponging) ... and when Mama Shepard asks a grim-faced Sue Ellen what she thinks of all this, Sue Ellen just shrugs and wearily retorts, "Kristin always knows exactly what she's doing."
Over at Ewing Oil, JR receives the latest OLM report, aka a bitchy assessment of how Ewing Oil is not doing nearly enough to meet the new emission standards. Jordan Lee drops by to rail at JR about how annoying it is to the rest of the cartel members that the OLM keeps hassling them and says they're considering forming a new cartel (sans Ewing Oil). JR summons Bobby to his office and snarks at him to put more pressure on the Austin senators 'cause they don't seem to be moving fast enough to rein in the OLM - but Bobby says he doesn't really want to spend so much time in Austin, and reminds JR that he has a job here, plus a ranch to help run. The two bicker for a few more minutes...and after Bobby stomps out, JR pulls out a cash-filled briefcase and smiles smugly.
JR meets with Alan Beam for a secret one-on-one and asks him how the Cliff Barnes for Congress scheme is coming along. Alan tells him they're getting "nibbles" from potential fake donors, and JR snaps that nibbles are no longer enough and that he wants him to step up his efforts pronto. He shows Alan his cash-filled briefcase and cackles about how money is the best way to any politician's heart...and tells him to use this cash to seduce Cliff into believing he has a lot of donor support to help him run a congressional campaign. Once he's convinced he's a shoo-in and resigns from the OLM, the financing for his campaign will suddenly dry up.
During dinner at Southfork, Mama Shepard tells the Ewings she's totes excited about her upcoming trip to Europe with the new rich beau she was somehow able to snag. Kristin does her best to look as dispirited as possible when she tells everyone about her plans to attend architecture school in Santa Fe, and wonders aloud if she's missing something by rushing into higher education too fast. Mama Shepard's like prolly and says she'd much prefer her to focus all of her energy into getting her hooks into a marriageable rich man so she can live a pampered life of leisure, and Kristin perks up at that and says she's so eager to stay in Dallas and cruise the single scene that she'd settle for a temporary job. JR tells her there's a vacancy at Ewing Oil 'cause one of the secretaries is on an extended honeymoon trip, and Kristin excitedly says she'd loooove that...then contorts her face into a faux contrite expression and says she couldn't possibly continue living at Southfork and sponging off of the rich Ewings. JR suggests she move into one of Ewing Oil's condos (aka, a continuation of her sponging) ... and when Mama Shepard asks a grim-faced Sue Ellen what she thinks of all this, Sue Ellen just shrugs and wearily retorts, "Kristin always knows exactly what she's doing."
"My original plan was to return to Santa Fe and study architecture so that I could become a productive, contributing member of society."
"Shame on you. That's not the kind of gold digger I raised you to be."
Later that night, Mama Shepard tells Kristin that JR is a fine man, and hopes that she too can land as rich and powerful a husband...or land this particular rich and powerful husband. She advises Kristin to keep her eyes peeled for the right opportunity...then pretends to cluck sympathetically about Sue Ellen's post-partum depression and says that, because of her constant depression, things might not end well between her and JR. Kristin slyly replies, "I'll worry about JR", and Mama Shepard nods approvingly at the icky possibility of both her daughters being nailed by the same man and says, "Whatever you do, it'll be the right thing for all of us." Kristin promises to not let her down.
JR is showing slide photos of potential drill sites in Southeast Asia to the cartel members, but they make it clear they're way too nervous about expanding their oil drilling outside the United States and decline getting in on the deal. Kristin sashays into the room, wearing a strapless top that accentuates her cleavage, and sets down a tray of snacks. The men eye her ample bosom, then cackle at JR for not falling into the trap of "all work and no play" ... and don't stop cackling even after JR pretends to look offended as he informs them that Kristin is his wife's sister.
Bobby tells Miss Ellie he's off to Austin, and that he's worried about the OLM continuing to put the screws to Ewing Oil. A few seconds later, the nurse from Pam's gynecologist office calls Southfork to confirm her appointment, and Bobby's like, "Gynecologist..?", then stares up at the sky looking happy and hopeful.
JR tells a consultant that Ewing Oil is going it alone in Asia, and that he wants to be assured his company will beat out any competing bids. The consultant hems and haws about the unethical nature of providing inside info to a bidder, then decides 'ah fuck it', and writes down his "opinion" on what the highest bid would be and advises JR to top that number by a wide margin.
JR meets with (banker) Vaughn Leland to request a ginormous loan so that Ewing Oil can drill overseas - but Leland says he's reluctant to loan him that much money, especially since it's a risky venture that doesn't include any of the other cartel members. JR reminds him that Ewing Oil has made him rich over the years and strongly urges him to reconsider, then says he's determined to head up the biggest and most independent oil company in all of prime time TV.
Cliff and Pam meet up for another of their anxiety-ridden one-on-ones on a public street. He tells her he's miffed that she's seriously considering an abortion, so she explains that she simply can't bear the thought of watching her baby get sick and die during infancy, and that she still hasn't found the right moment to tell Bobby about any of this so that he could be weighing in. Cliff just shrugs and is all, "Whatever...this is yours and Bobby's decision to make", and Pam says it would help a lot if the Ewings weren't always under so much pressure from the OLM. Cliff says he has no intention of easing up on her shitty in-laws, and that one day soon he intends to "break JR" by announcing to the world that Baby John Ross is his spawn.
JR is showing slide photos of potential drill sites in Southeast Asia to the cartel members, but they make it clear they're way too nervous about expanding their oil drilling outside the United States and decline getting in on the deal. Kristin sashays into the room, wearing a strapless top that accentuates her cleavage, and sets down a tray of snacks. The men eye her ample bosom, then cackle at JR for not falling into the trap of "all work and no play" ... and don't stop cackling even after JR pretends to look offended as he informs them that Kristin is his wife's sister.
Bobby tells Miss Ellie he's off to Austin, and that he's worried about the OLM continuing to put the screws to Ewing Oil. A few seconds later, the nurse from Pam's gynecologist office calls Southfork to confirm her appointment, and Bobby's like, "Gynecologist..?", then stares up at the sky looking happy and hopeful.
JR tells a consultant that Ewing Oil is going it alone in Asia, and that he wants to be assured his company will beat out any competing bids. The consultant hems and haws about the unethical nature of providing inside info to a bidder, then decides 'ah fuck it', and writes down his "opinion" on what the highest bid would be and advises JR to top that number by a wide margin.
JR meets with (banker) Vaughn Leland to request a ginormous loan so that Ewing Oil can drill overseas - but Leland says he's reluctant to loan him that much money, especially since it's a risky venture that doesn't include any of the other cartel members. JR reminds him that Ewing Oil has made him rich over the years and strongly urges him to reconsider, then says he's determined to head up the biggest and most independent oil company in all of prime time TV.
Cliff and Pam meet up for another of their anxiety-ridden one-on-ones on a public street. He tells her he's miffed that she's seriously considering an abortion, so she explains that she simply can't bear the thought of watching her baby get sick and die during infancy, and that she still hasn't found the right moment to tell Bobby about any of this so that he could be weighing in. Cliff just shrugs and is all, "Whatever...this is yours and Bobby's decision to make", and Pam says it would help a lot if the Ewings weren't always under so much pressure from the OLM. Cliff says he has no intention of easing up on her shitty in-laws, and that one day soon he intends to "break JR" by announcing to the world that Baby John Ross is his spawn.
"Can't you ease up on the Ewings with all your bogus OLM restrictions?"
"No, 'cause aside from the off-chance that I'm Sue Ellen's baby daddy, it's the only thing that gives me any relevance on this show."
JR finds Kristin hanging on the Southfork patio, and she waxes on about how much she looooves being on the ranch 'cause it has real strength, just like Ewing males...which is an odd sounding analogy, but OK. JR purrs, "And you're a lady who likes strength" - just as Sue Ellen appears from out of nowhere, glares suspiciously at the two of them, and snaps, "I didn't know anyone was out here." JR sheepishly says he was just showing Kristin the lovely view from the patio...and when Sue Ellen rolls her eyes and retreats back inside the house, JR continues to flirt with Kristin.
Pam greets Bobby after he returns from yet another hectic day in Austin. He tells her she got a call from her gynecologist's office earlier and comes right out and asks her if she's pregnant, and she confirms that she is. Bobby woots happily and lifts her for an up-in-the-air hug, then steers her over to his car 'cause he suddenly wants to whisk her to downtown Dallas for a celebratory dinner.
The next morning, Pam tells Bobby there's something she really really needs to tell him - but he says there'll be plenty of time for that after he's announced the happy baby news to the family. LOL. They head downstairs to the patio, where everyone's assembled for breakfast, and Bobby blurts out the news of his bun in Pam's oven. The Ewings squeal delightedly and jump up to hug the expectant parents, while Sue Ellen stares indifferently into space. A few minutes later, she pulls JR aside and snarkishly tells him that the family finally has what it's always wanted: a real Ewing heir. Ouch.
Pam greets Bobby after he returns from yet another hectic day in Austin. He tells her she got a call from her gynecologist's office earlier and comes right out and asks her if she's pregnant, and she confirms that she is. Bobby woots happily and lifts her for an up-in-the-air hug, then steers her over to his car 'cause he suddenly wants to whisk her to downtown Dallas for a celebratory dinner.
The next morning, Pam tells Bobby there's something she really really needs to tell him - but he says there'll be plenty of time for that after he's announced the happy baby news to the family. LOL. They head downstairs to the patio, where everyone's assembled for breakfast, and Bobby blurts out the news of his bun in Pam's oven. The Ewings squeal delightedly and jump up to hug the expectant parents, while Sue Ellen stares indifferently into space. A few minutes later, she pulls JR aside and snarkishly tells him that the family finally has what it's always wanted: a real Ewing heir. Ouch.
"Hold onto your hats, everyone. Pam's preggers!"
"Finally...an heir that isn't Cliff's love spawn."
Bobby walks Pam to her car and asks her what she really really needed to tell him earlier, and she says it's not important, then glumly climbs into her car and stares despondently into space.
Kristin gabbles about how exciting it is that Pam's pregnant, and Sue Ellen woodenly mutters, "Yeah...real exciting." An exasperated Kristin asks her if there's anything she actually gives a rat's ass about anymore, including her not-so-subtle flirtation with JR, but Sue Ellen just shrugs and asks what it matters, since she (Kristin) just does whatever she wants, regardless of how it affects anyone else. Fair point.
While driving to work, JR tells Kristin her new condo is ready for her to move into...and when she gushes at him for being such a great brother-in-law, he asks her if brother-in-law is really the way she thinks of him, then urges her to "work on that" and come up with a more interesting idea for both of them. Subtle, JR.
When JR barks at Bobby to step up his visits to Austin to pressure the senators, Bobby says it's really not necessary for him to be taking daily trips anymore, then wonders aloud if there's some reason he's trying to get him out of the picture with all this superfluous travel.
JR shows Kristin her new condo, a horror show of hideous '70s wallpaper clashing with floral couches. She tells him she's super happy about getting her own digs and gives him a thank you kiss, then heads down the hall to the bedroom. As Kristin shoots JR a come hither stare in the mirror, he gives her a come-from-behind embrace that TV shows always like to do and starts unbuttoning her blouse. She whirls around to face him and makes it clear that she didn't give up architecture school for something as tawdry as a one night stand, and he scrunches his face unhappily and says, "I hope you're not expecting any promises." Kristin assures him she isn't - but that since she totally is expecting promises and a whole lot more, she needs more time to ponder how badly she wants to throw all sense of decency to the wind by hopping into the sack with her own sister's husband. JR looks satisfied enough with that answer and tells her to take all the time she needs.
Kristin gabbles about how exciting it is that Pam's pregnant, and Sue Ellen woodenly mutters, "Yeah...real exciting." An exasperated Kristin asks her if there's anything she actually gives a rat's ass about anymore, including her not-so-subtle flirtation with JR, but Sue Ellen just shrugs and asks what it matters, since she (Kristin) just does whatever she wants, regardless of how it affects anyone else. Fair point.
While driving to work, JR tells Kristin her new condo is ready for her to move into...and when she gushes at him for being such a great brother-in-law, he asks her if brother-in-law is really the way she thinks of him, then urges her to "work on that" and come up with a more interesting idea for both of them. Subtle, JR.
When JR barks at Bobby to step up his visits to Austin to pressure the senators, Bobby says it's really not necessary for him to be taking daily trips anymore, then wonders aloud if there's some reason he's trying to get him out of the picture with all this superfluous travel.
JR shows Kristin her new condo, a horror show of hideous '70s wallpaper clashing with floral couches. She tells him she's super happy about getting her own digs and gives him a thank you kiss, then heads down the hall to the bedroom. As Kristin shoots JR a come hither stare in the mirror, he gives her a come-from-behind embrace that TV shows always like to do and starts unbuttoning her blouse. She whirls around to face him and makes it clear that she didn't give up architecture school for something as tawdry as a one night stand, and he scrunches his face unhappily and says, "I hope you're not expecting any promises." Kristin assures him she isn't - but that since she totally is expecting promises and a whole lot more, she needs more time to ponder how badly she wants to throw all sense of decency to the wind by hopping into the sack with her own sister's husband. JR looks satisfied enough with that answer and tells her to take all the time she needs.
"I'm hoping to become Wife Number Two."
"If by Wife Number Two you're expecting me to commit to more than just the occasional roll in the hay, then sorry...no can do."
Vaughn Leland tells JR that three banks are willing to loan him $100 million under one condition: put up Southfork as collateral. JR looks aghast and says he couldn't possibly mortgage his family's beloved home...but when Leland says that the banks are insisting on it, JR mulls it over for a few seconds and goes, "Done."
Pam is having lunch with Digger, who's doing a whole lot better now that his recast is no longer boozing all day long and burning the candle at both ends. Pam breaks the news that she's pregnant, and Digger calls it wonderful news, and reminds her that both she and Cliff survived babyhood, despite being diseased with his genetic disorder. He urges her to keep quiet about it to Bobby and just keep her fingers crossed that everything is going to turn out fine...which seems like weird fatherly advice, but OK.
Kristin enters JR's office to deliver an unsigned letter, then starts rifling through his drawers. She jimmies open a locked drawer and finds a black briefcase filled with intel about his secret Southeast Asia drilling plans and looks intrigued as she reads it over.
JR meets with Leland to go over the paperwork for the ginormous loan application. Leland warns him that if something in Asia goes wrong and causes Ewing Oil to fall behind on its payments, the bank will have no choice but to take over Southfork. JR dismissively calls that "loser talk" and declares that Ewing Oil will soon become a powerhouse in the oil industry. The two men celebrate with a drink.
As JR breaks open a bottle of champagne over in Condo Horrible, Kristin says she definitely made the right decision to pass on architecture school, 'cause there's no way it could possibly be as interesting as the oil business. She purrs about how utterly fascinating she finds everything...and by everything, she means all the secrets she just got wind of that he's obviously keeping from the rest of the family. When JR's all, "Wuh? Secrets?", she tells him she has some of the pieces to the puzzle - e.g. clandestine meetings with Vaughn Leland, maps of drilling sites in Southeast Asia, and a huge bank loan - and JR exclaims, "Why, you devious witch!" Kristin saucily retorts, "I thought you liked devious", and JR says he looooves it, then asks what she plans to do with her newly discovered intel. She promises to keep it under her hat - but, in exchange, she wants him to make lots of return visits to her condo for extramarital romps. JR looks untroubled by that arrangement, and the two stare at each hungrily before quickly getting it on.
Pam is having lunch with Digger, who's doing a whole lot better now that his recast is no longer boozing all day long and burning the candle at both ends. Pam breaks the news that she's pregnant, and Digger calls it wonderful news, and reminds her that both she and Cliff survived babyhood, despite being diseased with his genetic disorder. He urges her to keep quiet about it to Bobby and just keep her fingers crossed that everything is going to turn out fine...which seems like weird fatherly advice, but OK.
Kristin enters JR's office to deliver an unsigned letter, then starts rifling through his drawers. She jimmies open a locked drawer and finds a black briefcase filled with intel about his secret Southeast Asia drilling plans and looks intrigued as she reads it over.
JR meets with Leland to go over the paperwork for the ginormous loan application. Leland warns him that if something in Asia goes wrong and causes Ewing Oil to fall behind on its payments, the bank will have no choice but to take over Southfork. JR dismissively calls that "loser talk" and declares that Ewing Oil will soon become a powerhouse in the oil industry. The two men celebrate with a drink.
As JR breaks open a bottle of champagne over in Condo Horrible, Kristin says she definitely made the right decision to pass on architecture school, 'cause there's no way it could possibly be as interesting as the oil business. She purrs about how utterly fascinating she finds everything...and by everything, she means all the secrets she just got wind of that he's obviously keeping from the rest of the family. When JR's all, "Wuh? Secrets?", she tells him she has some of the pieces to the puzzle - e.g. clandestine meetings with Vaughn Leland, maps of drilling sites in Southeast Asia, and a huge bank loan - and JR exclaims, "Why, you devious witch!" Kristin saucily retorts, "I thought you liked devious", and JR says he looooves it, then asks what she plans to do with her newly discovered intel. She promises to keep it under her hat - but, in exchange, she wants him to make lots of return visits to her condo for extramarital romps. JR looks untroubled by that arrangement, and the two stare at each hungrily before quickly getting it on.
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