Dallas (1978–1991): Season 12, Episode 26 - Reel Life - full transcript

NARRATOR:
Last on Dallas:

How do you know about Brundin?

It could have a most disastrous effect
for both our countries.

I can't leave and you know why.

I know I want you and I want this film.

- Aren't we married?
- We are.

- What kind of a question is that?
- Oh, Clayton.

- I need to see Afton.
- They left.

Some agreement could be reached
between the two of us for the future.

If we turn down the Brundin group.

What we said makes no difference.



Only that I may be able to sell them
more oil with you gone.

WOMAN:
Dallas, here we come.

- Good to be back in Dallas, huh?
- It is.

But judging by the weight
of these suitcases...

...you brought half of Europe
back with you.

Your limo driver said he'd carry them.

But that guy's only 6 foot and 200 pounds.
This would give him a double hernia.

Don't hurt yourself.

I wanna keep you in one piece.

I like the sound of that.

Wanna know a secret?

Yeah.

What's your secret?

There really is a cure for jet lag.



And I can show you.

Cally and J.R. Are waiting in the car.

Yeah, but don't you think J.R. Would like
to see you all relaxed and raring to go?

You are something else.

I just wanna make sure we brought
our European romance home with us.

We did. But Christopher is waiting for me
at the ranch.

Of course. I'm sorry.

- I should have thought of that.
- No problem.

How about dinner tomorrow night?
Hm?

Some exotic old-world bistro
like Bad Luke's Texas Steakhouse.

- It sounds wonderful.
- Good.

- See you then.
- Bye.

- Bobby.
- Yeah?

The way we were in Vienna...

...I had the best time of my life.

Of course. You were with me.

[PHONE RINGS]

Hello?

Hello?

Is anybody there?

CHRISTOPHER:
Hey, they're home!

- Hey!
- Hi!

BOBBY: Hi, guys! How are you?
J. R: How are you doing?

- It's good to see you, buddy.
BOBBY: How's everything?

- Hi.
- Taking care of yourself? Not in trouble?

Well, you three look wonderful.

BOBBY: Hello.
J. R: We're feeling fine, Mama.

- Everything all right at the ranch?
- Everything here is great.

We wanna hear all about the trip.

In that case,
you better get a strong pot of coffee.

And I'll need some toothpicks
to prop up my eyelids.

You look beautiful, Cally.

You look like some kind of model
or something.

Well, I guess a little bit of Europe
rubbed off.

LUC Y:
Sounds like you had a wonderful time.

Next trip,
you'll take me in one of your suitcases.

With my luck, that'd be the one time
they wouldn't lose my luggage.

Smile, J.R.

What's that all about?

I'm on my way to a party.

I wanted something
to help me remember you.

Just the way you are right now.

Bye. Thank you.

Well, that's funny.
I didn't know she was going to a party.

Oh, that poor girl.

Her elevator doesn't stop
at the top floor anymore, Mama.

- Hi, Debbie.
- Hi. How are you?

I'm fine, thanks.

Miss Cooper.
I didn't know you were involved in all this.

I wouldn't miss it for the world.

- Have you all seen Sue Ellen?
- Yes, she's right over there.

Oh, great. Thanks.

Hi, guys.

I've got a surprise for both of you.

J.R. Just got back from Europe.
He flew in this morning.

What perfect timing.

Now, where's that hunk I cast
to play Mitch?

I wanna get some pictures
of the two of us together.

Bye.

How soon can you get a rough cut ready?

Oh, very soon indeed.
I'm working on it now.

And how soon will it be before you decide
on that big new directing job?

I'll tell you what.

You give me a couple of days
to finish the rough cut.

And then I'll take you
on a magical mystery tour...

...to somewhere
you've never been before...

...where your deepest, darkest questions
shall be answered.

You really know how to excite a girl,
don't you?

God knows I try.

- I'm sorry. It's my fault.
- No, it's not your fault. It's Afton's.

There's no reason she couldn't have told me
that little girl was mine.

- And she didn't have to run off.
- Well, we're talking one tough lady.

Remember that medical lab in Biloxi?

- The one I checked up on.
- Yeah.

Well, it turns out Miss Cooper planted
a red flag with them.

She left up-to-date instructions
to call her...

...if anybody ever inquired
about lab tests on the kid.

Damn it. Why couldn't she trust me
with that little girl?

She saw what a great uncle
I was to Christopher.

She knew I had changed.

BO Y:
Hey, mister, throw it here.

Thanks, mister.

Well, she sure knows
how to cover her tracks.

She took a 5 a.m. Flight to New Orleans,
rented a car.

And then according to the rent-a-car agent,
drove back west.

There's even a chance she swung over
to Baton Rouge to see her ex-husband.

I'd like to meet the man
that Afton married.

I'm gonna go there,
see what I can shake out of him.

- I'd better come along.
- No, you stay here.

Follow the other leads and...

I'll be okay.

[RINGING]

Oh, come on.

Hello?

[PANTING O VER PHONE]

Hello?

Look, if you've got something to say,
say it.

Oh, it's good to bring this battle
back to the home front.

Yeah, let's see how McKay handles us
on our own turf, huh?

[BLOWING NOISEMAKERS]

- Welcome home!
- Surprise!

Hi.

- Good to be back.
SLY: It's great to have you back.

Of course now
we're actually gonna have to work.

We got presents for you.
Some chocolates and a little silk scarf.

- Thank you.
- Russian perfume?

Yeah, if you don't like the smell,
you can always drink it.

A roundtrip ticket to Baton Rouge.

- You have one hour to catch the flight.
- I'm out of here.

- I hope everything turns out all right.
- I'll call you.

J. R:
Yeah, Moscow was a lot of fun, I'll tell you.

SLY:
Yeah, yeah.

- I'm glad the office is still in one piece.
CLIFF: Yeah, yeah.

- Here, Jackie. This is for you.
- Thank you.

BOBBY: I'm surprised you didn't call
the ranch last night.

- Thought you'd be dying to hear the details.
- What details now?

BOBBY:
Didn't you get our fax?

I put it on your desk, Cliff.

Oh, yeah. Well, I've just had a lot of
things going on and I'm a few days behind.

We backed out of the whole deal, Cliff.

The consortium turned out to be
a front for OPEC.

It did.

Put the bag down. We got work to do.

I'd like to do that, but I've gotta run.

- What?
- Yeah.

The little girl, Afton's daughter,
turned out to be my child.

And now Afton's run off
and I gotta go find them both. I really do.

So please, I ask you, bear with me, huh?

You bear with him, Bobby.
I got work to do.

- Where are you taking me?
- Don't try to figure it out. It's a surprise.

You like that type of thing, don't you?

Oh, you mean mystery, suspense,
romance.

No, I hate it.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

You're lucky
I didn't make you wear a blindfold.

Oh, it's a shame we didn't use this set
for our movie.

Oh, never mind. We're gonna use it now
to stage a very important scene.

- It's wonderful.
- Yeah.

I got Wardrobe and Props...

...to lend me a few things...

...to make a point.

Which is?

I think I'll cut straight to the chase.

The villain.

J.R. Ewing.

The man who made your life
a Bad Day at Black Rock.

The hero.

You know, that looks like
the kind of hat that would suit me.

But I'll tell you something.

These hats I've always thought
were a little tight.

Here's my kind of hat.

It's not white.

It's not black.

It's somewhere in between.

Now I've shown you my faults.

You know I'll never be perfect,
but I'll try to make our relationship work.

I'll be honest, I'll be open.

I'll give you room to grow.

I can't promise any more than that.
I love you.

In fact, I think I love you...

...more than I thought I was ever capable
of loving anybody.

So share your life with me, Sue Ellen.

Yeah. Come back to England with me.

Let's...

...ride into the sunset together.

And what about John Ross?

Well, I want him to come with us.

I mean it.

It's hard...

...not to think about all the years
I spent in J.R.'s shadow.

Never being myself.

Always being...

...Mrs. J.R. Ewing.

Wife...

...mother...

...and verbally abused punching bag.

Used and abused.

And never knowing who the hell
I really was.

I couldn't stand being your baggage,
Don.

I couldn't have you dragging me
all around the world...

...living your life and never living mine.

We'll form our own production company.

Equal partners...

...in work and in our relationship.

If another man ever said that to me,
I wouldn't believe him.

But somehow I believe that you'd try.

Does that mean yes?

I need to talk to John Ross.

I need to think.

But I'll get back to you soon.

Meanwhile...

...l'll just take care of this.

[CHATTERING AND LAUGHING]

WOMAN:
Congratulations, Mr. McKay!

MAN: An incredible victory, Mr. McKay.
- Thank you.

On behalf of the employees of Westar...

...we'd like to salute
your successful invasion of Europe.

Thank you. I'm very touched. Thank you.

But I don't believe anyone should rest
on their laurels.

We may have cut the biggest oil deal
in Texas history...

...but it's only the beginning.

Yay! Whoo.

Westar won't be satisfied
just being number one.

We're going to own
the Texas oil industry...

...and break the backs of pretenders
to our throne.

In a year's time, there won't be anything
left of companies like Ewing Oil.

Well, unfortunately for Carter McKay,
he made one big mistake.

By accepting all that Arab business...

...he left his old customers dangling
by their belt buckles.

They're gonna be unhappy
when he breaks the news to him.

Even more unhappy,
because we're gonna do it first.

Bobby, we're gonna be able to steal
40 percent of Westar's oil business.

And let me tell you that is big bucks.

Using Westar's own greed
to make us rich.

I like the irony.

And that's only the start.

Carter McKay may be
Dallas' new 600-pound gorilla...

...but we're going make him slip
on his own banana peel.

I love it.

I'm going to buy you some new clothes
and then we're going out to lunch, okay?

- Hi, Sue Ellen.
- Great.

- Oh, hi, Cally.
- Hi.

I'd like to thank you for taking such
good care of John Ross. I appreciate it.

Oh, well, we're real pals now.

Could you go and wait for me in the car?
I'll be right there.

- Sure.
- Thanks.

Cally, I'd like to talk to you
for a moment.

Well, I'm always real glad to talk to you,
Sue Ellen.

Thank you.

You look wonderful.

Your honeymoon
must have been very successful.

Well, there were some tricky parts...

...but right now,
me and J.R. Are getting on just fine.

I'm glad.

You are, aren't you?

Mostly, you have been truly kind to me,
considering I'm the second wife and all.

Well, that's because I like you, Cally.

Look, maybe it's none of my business,
but I'm tempted to give you some advice.

I won't be offended. Go ahead.

I think you're very good for J.R.

You have a way of drilling deep
and bringing up the best in him.

Well, I try.

But you're very young.

Well, l...

You're not doing anything wrong,
but you're sweet.

And you're eager to please
and I know that...

I know that he hopes that he can mold
and shape you into his idea of perfection.

Is that so terrible?

Cally, it cost me a big piece of my life...

...to get rid of the spell of J.R. Ewing.

In a sick way...

...maybe I needed somebody like J.R.
To give me the strength that I have today.

Fight for your own identity.

Because at the end of the day...

...that's the only thing
that's gonna mean anything.

[BABY CRYING]

Harrison Van Buren.

Harrison Van Buren, III.

If I owe you money,
the check's in the mail.

If you're somebody's husband,
I didn't do it, honest.

Wait. You got the wrong idea.

Well, in that case,
whatever you're selling, forget it.

I'd like to talk to you.
It's neither one of those things. L...

My name is Cliff Barnes.
I'm a friend of Afton Cooper's.

Oh, why the hell didn't you say so?

- You haven't seen her lately, have you?
- No.

But you can come on in anyway.

Please, have a seat.

- I'll stand.
- Well...

...can't say I blame you.

- Wanna drink?
- No, thank you.

Good.

More for me when you're gone.

You're really Afton's ex-husband?

Hard to believe, isn't it?

But she met me during
my old riverboat gambler days.

I still had a little dazzle, little charm.

Plus I come from a long line
of southern aristocracy.

Of course, my family's been broke
since the war between the states.

Have you seen her lately?

Why do you want to know?

We used to be together.

And obviously she came to you
when we broke up.

And I figure you got her on the rebound.

Well, I knew that.

Of course, it only took her a few months
to see me for the loser I am.

Well, she came back into my life recently
with a little girl.

And now I can't find her.

A girl.

I wondered how that turned out.

The little girl is mine.

Well, what do you want?

A cigar?

I can see I'm not getting anywhere.

Now, hold on. Hold on.

Afton still has a few friends left in town.

I'll make some calls.

I'm at the Stars and Bars Hotel.
If you hear anything, do give me a call.

I surely will, Mr. Barnes.

I surely will.

JOHN ROSS:
It's not my birthday, Mom.

SUE ELLEN:
I know.

But it is kind of a special occasion.

You've been waiting all lunch
to tell me something, haven't you?

Just like your father.

You never miss a thing.

You're not gonna marry that English guy,
are you?

Is he that bad?

I guess he's really okay.

I'm even kind of getting used
to the way he mumbles.

[SUE ELLEN LAUGHS]

Well, I'm glad to hear that.

Something's up.

What would you think
if I went to England with Don?

You mean for good?

For a long time anyway.

Would you consider coming too?

I mean, we could do a lot of traveling
all around the world.

I'd get you a private tutor
and you could see how movies were made.

And you'd see a lot more of life
than you'd see here in Dallas.

I know it would be very difficult
leaving your father and Christopher.

That's why I'd like you
to make your own decision.

And I'd understand
if you wanted to stay here.

You really wanna leave?

I love you very much.

And I love Don
and I'd like to be with him.

And if I wanted you to stay in Dallas?

Then I'd stay.

But if I did go...

...and you stayed...

...then we'd visit each other all the time.

John Ross.

I love you very much.

That's why I want you
to think this over very carefully, okay?

APRIL: I haven't been sleeping very well.
- I know, jet lag can be murder.

I don't think it's jet lag.

You do look a little run-down.
Are you all right?

[PHONE RINGING]

I've been getting these phone calls.

What kind of phone calls?

Crank calls.

No voice, just noises.

I want you to answer.
Come on, pick it up.

- Hello.
MAN: I'll be seeing you soon.

Who is this? Who is it?!

[CLICKS]

[DIAL TONE HUMS]

- Can you pack a bag right away?
- Why?

You'll spend a few days at Southfork.

You really think that's necessary?

- I mean, they're probably just crank calls.
- Maybe they are.

But maybe they're not.

Suppose they're from somebody
we both know.

What if crazy Tommy McKay
is back in town?

Tommy?

I'm not taking any chances, April.

I want you to go up
and pack your bag and get dressed.

BOBBY:
I'll have your bags brought in. Come on.

Wait a minute, Bobby.

- Suddenly I'm getting cold feet.
- Why?

You should have stayed
overnight at my place.

That's all the protection I need.

Overnight is not enough time
for them to trace those calls.

- You're right.
- April.

I want you to stay here until it's safe.

Come on.

J. R: When that car drove up
and that Russian got out...

...I thought we'd both had it.
I'm not kidding.

CLAYTON: You've been reading
too many spy novels, J.R.

Yeah.

Hello.

- Hi.
- Hi, Bob.

Hello, April.

- Hi.
- We were gonna eat dinner out tonight.

- We changed our minds.
- Well, join us.

- There's plenty of food.
- I'll go get an extra chair.

I got it, it's okay.

Well, I'm glad to see you. We haven't
had a chance to talk since we got back.

I know.

BOBBY:
Come on, buddy, scoot over.

This is my place.

APRIL: It's okay.
BOBBY: Come on, scoot over.

I'll move.

Hey, Uncle Bobby, should have gotten
Christopher's highchair.

Shut up, John Ross.

All right, settle down, you two.

Welcome to dinner at Southfork, April.

Prepare yourself.
It can be a frightening experience.

Oh, nonsense.

Anyway,
it's good to have a full table again.

For a while, it was getting pretty sparse.

I'm very happy to be here, Miss Ellie.

It's nice to visit.
You wouldn't wanna live here.

J. R:
I don't see you moving.

The price is right.

Come on, we have a guest.

I was trying to put her
in the proper Southfork mood.

Cally tells me that you surprised everybody
by arriving in Salzburg.

It was an impulse.

Well, that's quite an impulse.

She had quite a reason.

I guess I did.

Mama.

April is gonna spend tonight
here at the ranch.

And maybe a couple of nights.

She's had some pretty scary phone calls
at her place.

Well, of course.

She can use Sue Ellen and Cally's
old room.

Does that mean I have to marry you?

Well, if I wasn't so happily married,
I'd fine that delightful.

Thank you.

Congratulations, Bobby.

You've finally found a gal
I really approve of.

You know, that scares me.

You said 8:00. It's almost 9.

Sorry, I can't talk
until I've had some coffee.

Miss, a cup of coffee, please.

WAITRESS:
Here you go.

Thank you.

That's better.

Where is she?

Mr. Barnes, there's a couple of things
you need to understand about me.

The first one is...

...I drink.
- I see.

I also like the ponies.

Spend a lot of time at the track.

Sometimes I win.

Mostly I lose.

Not really interested
in your personal problems, Mr. Van Buren.

You know where Afton is?

Yes.

- She's in town.
- Where?

Let me level with you.

I need $25,000 to get
a couple of good old boys off my back.

You take me to Afton,
I'll write you a check.

You don't trust me.

I should trust you?

You tell me you're a drunk
and compulsive gambler.

Those aren't terrific references.

Right.

I'll meet you in your hotel lobby at
9 a.m. Tomorrow.

And I'll take you to Afton...

...but I need that money in cash.

Cash your check now.

She won't be there until in the morning,
Mr. Barnes.

I agree with you, Rolf.
The first shipment should be small.

We don't want to arouse any suspicion
before everything's in place.

NANC Y:
Mr. Ewing.

Rolf... Rolf, I'll have to call you back.

- Where's Tommy?
McKAY: Get the hell out of here.

NANC Y: Sorry.
- One beating wasn't enough for him?

- You're crazy, you know that?
- Don't push me.

My fight's not with you,
it's with Tommy.

NANC Y: Security, send someone.
- He's after April.

He's not after April.
He's not even in Dallas.

He calls her, day and night.

It couldn't have been him.

Listen, I want you
to get off of my son's back.

- Where is he?
- I don't know.

But I've had you up to here
in my business and personal life.

Are you gonna blame me and my kids
for everything that goes wrong in your life?

- Mr. McKay.
- Nancy, I don't need security.

Get them out of here.

You stay away from me.

Or one of us is gonna wind up dead.

If you want another war, McKay...

...l'll give it to you.

Hi.

Hello.

The office told me
I'd find you down here.

Yeah.

It's always sad when a movie's finished
and you see them striking the sets.

Then why watch?

Well, it's an idiosyncrasy, I guess.

To see it all coming down
means the picture's really over.

But it's the only way
I can start a new project.

So when do we see the movie?

Oh, you'll see a rough cut tomorrow.

Then there's the final edit, music, effects
and then it really is ckkk, over.

- And then?
- Then...

...it's up to you.

Do we go on as a team?

It's been a very hard decision, Don.

The hardest decision
I've ever had to make.

You've made some big ones in the past.

Yes, I know.

But this one means leaving Dallas.

I haven't been happy here in a long time,
but it is home.

And it means leaving John Ross.

He won't come?

No.

He loves his daddy.

He loves Southfork.

But he'll visit.

He said he'd love to come
and visit me in faraway places.

So...

...are we on as a team?

Yes.

MAN:
That's it for tonight.

- Good night, Mr. Lockwood.
- Good night, guys.

Our picture is now history.

It will be once I finish
one more piece of business.

[PHONE BUZZES]

J. R: Yeah?
SLY: J.R., Sue Ellen's here to see you.

All right, send her in.

What are you doing here?

Hello, J.R. How you doing?

Well, I know you're not here
to engage in pleasantries.

Well, as a matter of fact, I am.

Among other things.

I'm sure John Ross told you
that I'm leaving Dallas.

Yes, he did. He also told me
that you wanted him to come with you.

And he said no.

He loves his daddy.

And he loves Southfork.

You gonna be able to live
without seeing him?

I'll see him from time to time.

And yes, it will be very hard for me.

But I have to get on with my life.

J.R., will it be possible for you
to get away from the office for a while?

Why?

Let's just call it a goodbye celebration.

There's something very important
I have to show you.

Now?

No time like the present.

Well, I guess I can buy you
a farewell lunch.

SUE ELLEN:
If you like.

And shall I buy you and Lockwood
a wedding present?

No, J.R., that would be premature.

- Anything interesting?
- They all look like bills to me.

And catalogs, of course.

More catalogs?

- I think we get five or 10 of those a day.
- Yeah.

Surprised the postal workers
don't revolt over that.

Well, you know, neither snow nor sleet.

- Hey, here's something interesting.
- What?

It's addressed to Jock.

Jock?

But who would send a card to Jock now?
He's been dead over seven years.

Well, why don't you open it up
and find out?

ELLIE: "Happy birthday, dude.
Have a great day."

Then it says,
"Hey, Jock, I hope you're not angry...

...because you had to wait so long.

I always promised I'd come through.

It's all yours."

Signed, Mallory.

Who's Mallory?

I don't know.

A birthday card for Jock
after all these years. How bizarre.

"I always promised I'd come through.

It's all yours."

What does that mean?

Well, maybe the return address...

What's this?

- That was in the envelope?
- Yes.

Looks like a key for a strong box
or a safe-deposit box.

But which one?

And there's no return address
on the envelope.

How strange.

J. R:
Well, I am impressed.

Must be fun owning your own studio.

You've shown me your office.
I'll get back to mine.

No, no, no, J.R.

Come with me.

You know, I'm the executive producer
of our first movie also.

Bruce Harvey's producer
and Don Lockwood wrote and directed it.

You're not gonna show it to me now.
I don't have the time.

Come along.

Yes, you do.

See, this is just a rough cut.

- There's no sound effects or music.
- Yeah, I really don't have time.

No, J.R., you do. Now, you just sit down,
get comfortable, put your hat down.

I guarantee you, you won't be able to keep
your eyes off the screen.

Roll it.

[PHONE RINGING]

- Southfork, may I help you?
MAN: Stevens, please.

One moment, please.
Miss Stevens, it's for you.

For me?

Hello.

I know where you are.

And you can't get away.

- Where is she?
- Hand over the money.

[CLIFF CHUCKLES]

Not until I see Afton.

She's here.

Yeah? Where?

There.

CLIFF:
Well, that's not her.

Let's get the hell out of here.

Just where do you think you're going,
darling?

I'm leaving you.

You been hitting the bottle again?

I'm cold sober.
I have been for a year and you know it.

You walk out of here and you'll be
in the gutter in less than a week.

I've watched you cheat your brothers
and cheat your friends.

I've heard about the tramps
you've slept with.

I've stayed sober through it all.
Imagine what I can do without you.

Goodbye, my loving husband,
and good riddance.

Burn it, Sue Ellen.

Not on your life.

Are you planning to put that trash
in movie houses all over this country?

That's normally what's done
with a picture.

Well, I'll have a team of lawyers
all over you.

You won't be able to take that garbage
off this lot, much less show it.

I'll have you in court for years.

Can my publicity department
quote you on that?

It's exactly what we need...

...to prove to the world
that the movie really is about you.

- You're making a serious mistake, Sue Ellen.
- No, I'm not.

I learned how to be devious
at the feet of the master.

All right, suppose I don't interfere.

Suppose you release it.

That's not only gonna hurt me,
it'll hurt Mama and Daddy.

And John Ross.
What I saw up there is libel.

It's not libel, J.R.

It's the truth and you know it.

You don't have anything to worry about.

I have no intention of releasing the film,
at the moment.

What the hell does that mean?

It means that the movie
will be locked up securely in a vault.

But if I hear that you're planning
to come after me...

...or if you cross me for any reason...

...or if I feel that you're not doing right
by John Ross...

...or anyone else for that matter...

...or if I get up on the wrong side of the bed
one morning...

...or if I'm simply bored...

...then I'll release the movie.

And then, J.R.,
you will be the laughingstock of Texas.

Sue Ellen.

You'll never know if
or when I plan to make it public...

...just to humiliate you.

Just for laughs.

[ENGLISH SDH]