Dallas (1978–1991): Season 13, Episode 9 - Daddy Dearest - full transcript

In the aftermath of the oil tanker collision, Ewing Oil finds itself under fire from the press, environmental groups, and Cliff Barnes' investigative committee.

NARRATOR:
Last on Dallas:

Is he my son?

Yes, J.R.

You're his father.

Kind of a miracle none of your other
bastards haven't shown up before now.

You're being a jerk, Cliff.

As I recall, you were in his stable too.

[CROWD GASPS]

- Why the hell are you holding back?
- Bobby. I mean, he's on the ropes.

You don't owe Bobby anything.

My supertanker was rammed dead-on
by a Ewing Oil tanker.



You're out of your mind.
Ewing Oil doesn't own a tanker, never.

Don't give me that crap.

BOBBY:
I said we have no tanker!

You want me to cut my own throat?

Even if it means dumping more oil
in the gulf.

- You wanna get to the point?
- AI, your pal, Halliday will give you...

...some real interesting facts
on Ewing Oil's sad little ship.

You're really so pleased, aren't you,
having a new son?

He seems to be a chip off the old block.

Cally, there's one more thing.

Do I call you Mom?

- Hi.
- Hi.

Having fun?

Good morning.



Make yourself right at home.

There's a free lifetime membership
that goes along with being a Ewing.

- You wanna use this machine?
- No, it's all right.

If you wanna work out alone, I can leave.

Oh, I don't mind the company.

Good.

So, uh, we're what? Cousins?

I guess so.

Cousins.

James Richard.

J.R. Heh.

I wonder, is the world really ready
for another J. R?

Does it bother you that I'm here?

That I'm J.R.'s son?

Not me.

It was only a matter of time before one of
his indiscretions finally came home to roost.

Heh. That's a funny thing to say.

Not when you know J.R.

Which I do.

You know,
you've got a very, very famous father.

- Famous for what?
- Heh.

Famous for what he does in the bedroom
and in the boardroom.

I'm trying to think of a nice way
to put this but I can't.

Heh. You don't like him
very much, do you?

You can tell.

You're doing your best to hide it
but, uh, I get the message.

John Ross comes home today, huh?

[LUC Y SIGHS]

Yeah, ha, ha...

...to quite a surprise.

He thought he was an only child.

His mother lives in England?

As far away from J.R.
As she could possibly get.

She feels the same way about him you do,
huh?

For different reasons.

He cheated on her so much
he made her an alcoholic.

Is that why he divorced her?

Oh, she divorced him.

Once she finally got her life together
and stood up to him.

I tell you, I don't know how
she put up with him all those years.

Same way Cally does, I guess.

[CHUCKLES]

First time he plays around on her,
she's out the door.

I wonder if he'd have been like that
if he married my mother.

Ha, ha. He'd have been like that
if he married the queen of England.

Um, excuse me.

- Join the crowd.
- Come on in.

No, um, I thought I'd be alone.

Oh.

I'm almost through.

It's all right.

Um, I'm just gonna go take a walk.

[DOOR CLOSES]

It's me, isn't it?

Well, you are a constant reminder
of J.R. And Vanessa.

What about me?

You think I like the idea of finding out
I'm some bastard love child?

How about somebody understanding
my side of it?

Now, when's that flight coming in?

J. R:
Hey, son.

Pardon me.

- Hey, ha, ha, how you doing?
- How's it going, Dad?

- Ha, ha. I missed you.
- I missed you too.

Oh, you grew a foot.

- No, I don't think so.
- Yeah?

- Are you all right?
- What do you mean?

Well, even over in England
we heard about your tanker.

You in trouble over that?

Well, sort of,
even though it wasn't our fault.

But the worst thing
is the damage to the ecology.

But, uh, I'm taking care of the cleanup.

I knew you would.
That's what I kept telling Mom.

- How much you care about stuff.
- Yeah? What'd she say?

- Well, she just kind of laughed.
- Yeah?

- I don't think she understands.
- Probably not. No.

- How's everything at the ranch?
- Well, uh, things have changed a little bit.

- Oh, yeah? Like what?
- How'd you feel about having a brother?

That'd be neat. Cally gonna have a baby?

Well, that's not exactly what I meant. Uh...

Then I don't understand.

Well, it's kind of complicated.

- I'll explain it to you in the car, okay?
- Okay.

It all happened
long before I met your mama.

CAWLEY: Thanks for the lunch, Bobby.
BOBBY: My pleasure, senator.

- Best food in Austin if you ask me.
BOBBY: Ha, ha.

You figure it bought you anything, Bobby?

Oh, come on, you guys.

I've contributed more to you boys over
the years than a couple of free lunches.

Which we've always appreciated.

But if it's got anything to do with that
tanker spill in the gulf, we can't touch it.

CAWLEY:
Ah. Political dynamite.

All I'm concerned about is the formation
of the investigating committee.

- You're not gonna ask us to stop it?
- Of course not.

They'd wanna regulate oil companies, lay
down guidelines for shipping, I'm for that.

And what do you want?

I wanna keep Cliff Barnes off of it.

Come on. Cliff's been making a lot of noise
in the papers lately and getting good marks.

A lot of people think very highly of Barnes,
Bobby.

He was head of the OLM,
he did quit Ewing Oil...

...and he sounds like
one hell of an ecologist, real caring.

The one and only thing that Cliff Barnes
cares about is ruining Ewing Oil.

He gets on that committee,
he'll turn it into a witch-hunt.

Bobby, that's hard to believe.

You sure it's not Ewing Oil
out to get Barnes?

I'm starting to think that maybe Ewing Oil's
backing the wrong horses in the senate.

We are not in the middle
of the stream now.

Might be a good time for a change.

You may be further in that stream
than you think.

And like we said, it's political dynamite.

We'll try.

No promises.

[SIGHS]

No, I did not quit Ewing Oil
because they were getting heat.

I left because I got sick and tired...

...of the Ewing brothers
doing anything in the name of profits.

Including buying that substandard tanker
they used to ship their oil.

If I'd had known about that,
it would not have happened. Heh.

Always a pleasure talking to the press.

There we go. It's a lock.

I'm not only on the committee, but if I play
my cards right, I'm gonna be running it.

Does this mean
you're out of the oil business forever?

Who knows forever.
All I wanna do is nail the Ewings.

And if I do it right,
I can come out of this riding a tide.

- What kind of a tide?
- A political one.

I almost made it one time, you know?

Maybe this time I can wind up some place
with real power.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Are you expecting someone?

Maybe it's the press.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

CLIFF: Who is it?
APRIL: It's April, open up.

- What are you doing?
- I brought you your clothes.

Look at them, they're ruined.

- What are you, some kind of nut?
- No.

I finally came to my senses.
I was wrong to try to keep you two apart.

That's what I said.

So you did. If ever two people
deserved each other, it's you and Cliff.

Hey, that sounds like an insult.

- That's the way it was intended.
- Who do you think you are?

I don't want anything to do
with either of you.

You no longer live at my place,
stay with Cliff or do whatever you want...

...because I don't really care.

[CLIFF SIGHS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

She is such a bitch.

She thinks she's so much better
than everyone else.

That girl and her boyfriend
are headed for a fall.

Hang all that stuff up in the guest room.

I hate a messy place.

MICHELLE:
Really?

I can stay with you?

Nothing would make me happier.

One good thing about success
is having someone to share it with.

Here's to success.

- Hi, Cally.
CALLY: Hi, John Ross.

J. R: He looks good, doesn't he?
- Yeah, he sure does.

Oh, I missed you so much.

I bet you had the time of your life.

It was real fun.

Hi. Welcome home. Oh.

John Ross,
this is your new brother, James.

Hey, I've really looked forward
to meeting you.

Pretty funny we had a brother
we didn't know about, huh?

Yeah, it's pretty funny all right.

Well, I see you two
are gonna get on real good.

Sure we are.
I've always wanted a little brother.

James has been to England too
you guys are gonna have a lot to talk about.

Yeah.

I gotta get back to the office.
Got that leaking tanker to take care of.

All right if I come along?

Yeah, it's gonna be hot and heavy
down there today, boy.

How about me?

Well, you must be tired from your trip,
son.

Uh, we'll be discussing
a lot of technicalities and things.

I think you'll get a better grip on that
when you're a little older.

Besides, I wanna hear about your trip.

Yeah, I wanna know everything you saw
and what you did.

It wasn't all that much.

Come on, James.

See you later, John Ross.

Come on, let's go inside
and tell us all about your trip.

So how's your mama?
I bet she was so happy to see you.

LUC Y:
You see any museums?

Bobby, do you wanna look at these?

- More hate mail?
- I'm afraid so.

- We've been getting more and more.
- Yeah, set it down. I might as well see it.

Bobby, can I talk to you for a minute?

Sure. Thanks, Phyllis.

I don't know what to do
now that Cliff's gone.

I came over with him
and now it's just you and J.R.

You really don't need me anymore.

Ha, ha. You could help us with the mail.

Thank you. But I would understand
if you wanted to let me go.

I mean, that is just a big empty office
back there.

Yeah, but not for long.

Say, Bob, what a perfect place
for James to learn the oil business, huh?

I mean, like Jackie said,
there's an empty office out there.

And... Well, you're the head of the company,
you wanna give it to him?

Sure, why not?

Thanks, Uncle Bob.

Just Bobby's fine.

Ha, ha. Show James his new office,
and get acquainted with your new boss.

My pleasure. This way.

Oh, Bob, he made a good move there.

He's gonna be a big asset
to this company.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Is there a reason you didn't discuss this
with me in private first?

Well, this is a family company again.

I mean, like Daddy used to say,
"All Ewings in Ewing Oil."

I thought his name was Beaumont.

Ha, ha. Well, that's a technicality.
He is a Ewing, believe me.

[INTERCOM BUZZES]

Yes, Phyllis.

PHYLLIS: Carter McKay
and two other gentlemen are here.

He wants to see you.

Send him in.

What do you want, McKay?

My lawyers
have a little something for you.

This is notice of civil proceeding
being instituted against Ewing Oil.

And specifically Bobby James Ewing,
president...

...by Carter McKay on behalf of Westar.

On what grounds?

For negligence.

For operating an unsafe tanker.

Maliciously ramming a Westar tanker.

Damages for all the oil I lost.

For the total cost of the cleanup.

And for any other damn thing that I can
think of to break Ewing Oil once and for all.

- I thought one of the boys would meet us.
- I ordered a limo.

- The boys have enough problems right now.
- I guess you're right.

We appreciate your time.
Thank you, congressman.

- When will this air?
- As they say, "film at 11."

Come on, guys.

Mr. Farlow, Mr. Farlow.
Keep it rolling, guys.

Mr. Farlow.

- Any comments on the disaster in the gulf?
- No.

Mrs. Farlow? How do you feel
about what Ewing Oil caused?

- I, uh... I've nothing to say.
- Don't you find it disgraceful...

...after the Valdez disaster Ewing Oil
operated a substandard tanker?

CLAYTON: No comment.
- How'd you feel when you heard it?

What about the damage
to the marine life?

Now, I told you we have no comment.

It seems that neither the Farlows
nor the Ewings have any comments.

This is Wally Runkle at DFW.

Damn those people.
They think they own the world.

Obviously this is not gonna go away.

We got home just in time.

I was looking for you upstairs
to say good night.

Well, I wasn't tired.

James has got you upset, hasn't he?

How come you never told me
about him before?

Well, son, I'd...

I didn't find out about him
till just the other night myself.

It's gonna change everything.

Isn't it?

[J.R. CHUCKLES]

No.

Nothing will ever change
the way I feel about you.

You took him with you today.

John Ross...

...you got friends
that you've had for a long time.

Yeah.

Well, when you make new friends...

...that doesn't change the way you feel
about your old friends, does it?

I guess not.

Look, I know how you're feeling.

I felt the same way
when I found out about Ray Krebbs.

I was afraid my daddy
might love him more than he did me.

And I resented your Uncle Ray,
I really did.

So, what happened?

Well, when I got over the shock...

...I was the first one in the whole family
to treat Ray like a real brother.

And in the end...

...Ray and I became as close
as Bobby and I are.

And that's the way
I want you and James to be.

I'll try.

That's my boy.

If you loved Uncle Ray so much...

...how come you used to make jokes
about him?

Ha, ha. Well, that's just a game
Ray and I play.

As a matter of fact, I want you and James
to be even closer than Ray and I are.

All right.

The first school holiday, you're gonna come
down the office and work with me, hear?

Okay.

And don't you ever forget
how much your daddy loves you.

CLAYTON:
The boys may be in a pack of trouble.

Mm. And so is the environment
with all that spilled oil.

But there are other things
to worry about too.

Including James.

- And John Ross, you mean?
- Yes. And Cally.

J.R. Seems to be, uh...

...very taken with his new son.

Good reason. He's quite a boy.

Oh, I'm not saying anything
against James.

I just don't wanna see the others hurt.

How come you didn't tell them
about our trip...

...and give that letter to J.R. Tonight?

Well, I don't know, exactly. The...

- The timing just didn't seem right.
- Yeah.

If Jock wrote that letter
when he thought he was dying...

...it's gonna have a very special meaning
for J.R.

And I wanna save it for a time
I think he really needs it.

Well, he seems to have
quite a few problems right now.

Hmm.

I'll know when the time is right.

- Hey, you mind some company?
- Help yourself.

- You know, about this morning.
- Yeah, what about it?

I was as surprised as you were
I got that office.

Hmm. Is that so?

I hope you don't feel
like I'm being forced down your throat.

There comes a time
I don't want you around, I'll tell you.

Ha, ha. Fair enough.

You know, I like it that you let people know
where they stand with you.

Answer me a question, James.

Sure.

How come it took you so long to tell J.R.
That he was your father?

Well, it's kind of hard to explain.

Try me.

Well, when I met him, I wasn't sure
whether or not I wanted to tell him.

Didn't know if I wanted him for a father.

And he just won you over, huh?

Yeah. Ha, ha.

I like his style. I like the Ewings.

You even like Ewing Oil.

I don't wanna get anybody's nose
out of joint.

I just wanna be accepted for what I am.

Make this the family I never had.

You just let things run at their own pace,
James.

And everything will be just fine.

You sure you don't mind me
being at Ewing Oil?

Not as long as you remember
who runs it.

[LAUGHS]

J. R:
Before this is over...

...I wanna have Cliff Barnes' head
on a platter with an apple in his mouth.

Assuming we haven't been run out of Texas
by then. Seen the mail we've been getting?

World's full of people who got nothing
better to do than sit and write letters.

It don't mean a thing.

The people that are still doing business
with us are getting the same mail.

Wonder how long
they're gonna hang in there.

Weren't we to meet Harv at his office?

- That's what he said. Why?
- Well, look here.

- J.R., Bobby.
BOBBY: Hello, Harv.

Phyllis said you were walking over.

The air conditioner is out in my building.

- We can go to our place.
- No, this won't take that long.

Boys, I hate to have to tell you this,
but you are up the proverbial creek.

Yeah, we know that, Harv.
Question is, do we have any paddles?

A couple of things
you're gonna have to do.

First, fire the tanker captain.

Blame everything on him.

You had no knowledge of his problems.

I already did that.

Second, sue Halliday for selling you
a substandard tanker.

Hell, I think he skipped town.

Ah.

And now the most important.

Find some way to keep Cliff Barnes
off that committee.

I'm working on it, Harv.
But it's a problem.

With him on that committee, they're gonna
try to point the finger at Ewing Oil.

Why don't you tell us something
we don't know?

Now, if they establish
Ewing Oil's liability...

...it will lend credence
to McKay's lawsuit.

And with the kind of money
he's talking about...

...if he should win in court...

...Ewing Oil
might very well cease to exist.

Well, J.R., drowning yourself in drink?

Who could blame you?

Always nice to have a concerned friend
drop by with a word of cheer.

And to think that you might have
dragged me down with you.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. What a disaster.

I don't know what you're doing with him,
but take my advice and run while you can.

I'm comfortable here, thank you.

That's what the man in the electric chair
said before they threw the switch.

Marilee, why don't you take
your faded charms to another table.

Not before I meet
this, uh, darling young man.

Marilee Stone...

...this is my son, James.

Really? Ha, ha.

One of your better-kept secrets.

His mother anyone I'd know?

Oh, I doubt it.
She's a very civilized person.

[LAUGHS]

Well, if you ever wanna know all about
Daddy here, you call me. I'm in the book.

No, I'd like to find out my own way.
Thanks.

Ah.

Marilee, if you don't hurry, somebody else
is gonna get your street corner.

I was just leaving.

Your son. Ha, ha.

Funny. At first I thought
he might be your wife's older brother.

[JAMES SIGHS]

She's quite a character.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Dallas' answer to Vampira.

Funny. If I'd been willing
to bed that woman...

...I wouldn't be in the mess I'm in now.

But my marriage vows are sacred to me.

I guess that means you won't be
getting together with my mother.

Oh, James.

I'll always love Vanessa.

More now, I suppose,
because we have you in common.

But Cally and I are a team for life.

Yeah, ha, ha. I know.

I hope I get that lucky someday.

Ha, ha. Well, don't make it too soon.

There's a whole bunch of beautiful flowers
out there just waiting for plucking.

And speaking of beautiful flowers,
you're gonna see one tonight.

Say, Debbie.

- Yes, Mr. Ewing?
- We're ready to have lunch.

Yes, sir.

So is this the important meeting?

It is.

Oh, thank you.

[BOBBY SIGHS]

I needed that.

Mm.

Lie down on your stomach.

[BOBBY SIGHING]

Mm, is there no end to your talents,
my dear?

None. And they're all at your disposal.

[BOBBY CHUCKLES]

I know how terrible
these last few days have been.

- Mm.
- I want you to forget them and just relax.

You can't fight this all alone.

So if there's anything I can do
to make it all better...

Would you consider
shooting Cliff Barnes for me?

I've got something just as bad.

I let him have Shelly.
Serves them both right.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

I don't know.

She might be backing a winner.

I know I'm in trouble.

I might have to marry you
for your money.

You know you can have any or all of it
without that.

On the other hand,
if that's what it takes...

[BOTH CHUCKLING]

...l'm all for it.

Besides, there's a special added bonus
that you don't even know about.

I'm almost afraid to ask what it is.

Besides being a great cook,
a masseuse...

...I can knit argyle socks
to keep you in footwear forever.

[BOBBY LAUGHS]

A man would have to be crazy
to pass up a woman like that.

[BOTH CHUCKLING]

You know, maybe it is time
to think about marriage.

[APRIL HICCUPS]

I can't believe it. Ha, ha. The happiest day
of my life and... Hic! I get the hiccups.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

[APRIL HICCUPPING]

[BOBBY LAUGHING]

He throws the whole family
into an uproar.

John Ross is so upset
he doesn't know what to do...

...and he just doesn't see any of it.

And that's it, is it?

That's what's got you so upset?

Isn't that enough?

That isn't the half of it.

At least not the reality of it.

Now, what does that mean?

You're worried about John Ross,
about the family.

I just told you I was.

It's what you didn't tell me
that I'm interested in.

Well, there's nothing else to tell.

Except how you feel about James
being there and why.

I don't have anything against James.

He's probably a real nice boy.

[SIGHS]

And he is J.R.'s son.

And your life was much better
before he showed up.

Yeah, it was.

And the bottom line is that
now J.R. Is tied to Vanessa forever.

They have something you and J.R. Don't.

A son.

[SIGHS]

All right, it's true.

I don't like myself for feeling this way
but that's how it is.

It wasn't bad enough always expecting...

...that at any time Sue Ellen
might show up again.

Now there's James
always reminding him and me of Vanessa.

I know how much he loved her.

But now he loves you.

I don't know.

I don't know anything anymore
except that my life is a mess.

And in the meantime,
you haven't painted anything.

Is that all you care about, my painting?

You don't care what I feel at all.

Of course I do.

But what I want you to do
is use what you're feeling.

Use it to get rid of the pain.

- I don't know if I can.
- Then you're not who I thought you were.

If you want us to continue...

...if you want this place and me
to be here for you...

...then don't quit on me.

[DOOR CLOSES]

J. R: Why don't you go on home, Sly?
SLY: I don't mind waiting.

J. R: No, that's all right. I'm just gonna have
a drink and then I'm on my way home.

SLY:
All right. Good night.

So who is this mysterious person
we're waiting for?

All in due time, all in due time.

But I guarantee you,
it's worth waiting for.

Does it have anything to do
with Cliff Barnes or Westar?

Barnes.

You know that man has got a fatal flaw.

He thinks he's as smart as I am.

I don't know if I told you,
but Bobby was once married to his sister.

And you talk about a troublemaker.

What happened to her?

She's long gone.

Good riddance to bad rubbish
as far as I'm concerned.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Yeah, come in.

Well, you're looking rather fetching
this evening, my dear.

Come in, come in.

[DOOR CLOSES]

I, uh...
I don't believe you know my son, James.

James, this is Michelle Stevens.

Hello.

You were at the Oil Barons that night
with Cliff Barnes.

And you were the center of attraction.

Would you like a drink?

No, thank you.

Well, I see you managed to get away
from Cliff Barnes easy enough.

He's in Austin for a couple of days.

Getting ready to cook your goose.

You say that
with a certain amount of relish.

You still harbor some ill feelings
towards me?

Considering you totally reneged
on your promise to me...

...I think I'm entitled.

Would you like to sit down?

Thank you.

You sure I can't get you
something to drink?

A little white wine.

I'd like to rectify that mistake I made.

I could make you a wealthy woman
if you do me a little favor.

And how wealthy is that?

Very.

This is a bank book
made out in your name.

Now, if you keep me a supplied with
information about Cliff Barnes, it's yours.

I need to know his plans.

What he's up to,
that sort of thing, you know.

That boat sailed, J.R.

You're on the downswing
and Cliff's star is rising fast.

I'm going with him.

I think you're making a big mistake.

And why is that?

Because Ewing Oil is gonna come out
of this with or without you.

And I think you'd be better off with us.

And how do you know that?

Just a feeling.

I get real strong feelings sometimes.

It would take a lot of convincing
to get me to change my mind.

But you might.

Thanks for the wine.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Yeah, to hell with her.

More than one way to skin a Barnes.

Behind those doors, the governor's
blue ribbon panel is meeting...

...to decide the fate
of the investigating committee.

An ad hoc group formed...

...to look into the recent disaster
in the gulf.

Now the big question remains.

Will such a committee be named?

And if so, who will be its members?

We should get an answer
in a few minutes.

Coming out of the building, Senator Lee.
Behind him, Cliff Barnes, who's all smiles.

REPORTERS:
Senator. Senator.

REPORTER 1:
Can you give us answers?

REPORTER 2: Have you given the green light
to the investigative committee?

The answer is yes.

Now, we expect to begin
questioning witnesses in the next few days.

And to be gathering
all of the pertinent data.

But now, I'd like Mr. Cliff Barnes
to take over. Cliff.

Thank you.

Uh, it's an honor and pleasure
to chair the committee...

...to investigate
the Ewing-Westar disaster.

Justice will be served.

Those guilty will answer for their crimes.

And further, using the broad powers
granted us by the committee...

...we will be able to take safeguard so that
these types of disasters don't happen again.

Even if that means shutting down
the companies responsible...

...for what's happening in the gulf today.

Did you see Cliff Barnes
on television this morning?

I cannot believe with all the clout
we got down in Austin...

...that idiot
became the head of that committee.

I thought you'd go down there
and cash in some markers.

I did. You don't seem to understand, J.R.
We are the bad guys in this.

There's not a politician in Austin paid for
or not that's gonna go against Cliff Barnes.

Maybe I should've been
the one to go to Austin.

Explain the facts of life
to those old boys.

Let me explain some facts of life to you.

We don't have a leg to stand on!

Now, you bought
that damn substandard tanker.

And I'll guarantee you that drunken captain
rammed right into the Westar tanker!

Wonderful. Maybe you ought to appear
as a witness for Barnes.

What I am trying to do
is figure a way out of this.

And if I do,
and if there's a Ewing Oil left...

...you're out of it once and for all.

Oh, Bob, I know you're upset...

...but listen, don't say anything rash.

Rash. You're talking to me about rash.

What about you making a deal
with Shaughnessy after I told you not to?

I did what I did and no amount of talk
is gonna change that.

What we have to do now
is work together to get out of this mess.

No, J.R.

We can't work together.

You dug us a hole
and now they're throwing dirt in on us.

I think you finally succeeded
in burying Ewing Oil once and for all.

[DOOR CLOSES]

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Yes?

JAMES:
It's James Beaumont.

What a surprise.

Is it?

Come on in.

I wanted to see you.

Here I am.

I think we left
our conversation unfinished.

Did we?

I wanted to see if maybe there was some
way I can convince you to help my father.

I hear the Lord helps those
who help themselves.

Sometimes the Lord needs a little push
in the right direction.

That's a start.

My father could really use you.

Well, I like to keep an open mind.

But Cliff's becoming
a very important man.

But you don't love him.

I don't even sleep with him.

Ha, ha. He's dumber than I thought.

But you're smart enough to know
which side to back.

I'm already backing Cliff.

There must be some way
I can change your mind.

Why don't we see?

Congratulations. You pulled it off.

Yeah, with your help.

Those damn Ewings, they pulled
every string they could to stop it.

They still don't have Westar's power.

They're not gonna have anything
when I'm finished.

Just as long as we remember
to play by the ground rules.

I remember.

But you know, our association
doesn't have to end here.

- Meaning what?
- When this is over, I'm not stopping here.

I want the governor's seat.

With your backing, I can get there.

I'd just as soon have you as governor
as anybody else. I might even prefer it.

- There's a hurdle you gotta get over first.
- It's a snap.

No, I'm not just talking about
nailing Ewing Oil.

Westar has got to come out of this
as the injured party.

Believe me, you'll be clean as a whistle.

I hope so.

Mr. Governor.

[LAUGHS]

[CAR APPRO ACHING]

J.R.

Mama.

Are things that bad?

Yes, they are.

Well...

...you've had bad times before,
you'll work this out.

No.

I lost it, Mama.

All those years I had the golden touch.

Everything I did just worked.

And now
I just can't see my way out of this one.

J.R., there's one thing you are not.

And that's a quitter.

I hurt the company and I hurt Bobby.

And I put that idiot Barnes in a position
where he can destroy us.

Are you just gonna let
your daddy's company sink?

What would he think of that?

Right now...

...I think my daddy
would be ashamed to call me his son.

No.

He'd never be ashamed of you.

And I think I'm gonna lie down for a bit.

Okay. We'll talk later.

No.

Later I'm gonna go down to Ewing Oil
and clear my things out.

I'm not gonna let Bobby
take the fall for this.

But I just don't belong there anymore.

J. R?

Mama, what are you doing here?

I, uh...

I came to bring you something.

From your daddy.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I, uh... I don't understand.

In Montana, we met this family who saved
your daddy's life during the war.

They hid him from the Nazis
when his plane crashed.

And later, they came to America.

And that was what Mallory's joke
was all about?

Yes.

And it was a, uh...

It was a very moving time for me.

But when your daddy...

...thought he was dying...

...he wrote this to you.

It was given to me in Montana.

I don't know what's in it but I think
this is the time you should read it.

And remember...

...you were the only son he had then.

And you were very, very special to him.

J. R:
John Ross...

...as I write this,
I know I may never see you again.

I had hoped to have many children
to follow in my footsteps...

...but that will not happen now.

So I pass the torch to you.

The future of the family and Ewing Oil
is in your hands.

I know that you're too young now to fully
understand what I'm about to say to you...

...but in time you will.

There are certain things that I've always
held true and I pass them on to you.

Any man can win
when things go his way.

It's the man who overcomes adversity
that is the true champion.

And when your back is to the wall,
remember...

...that a cornered animal
is the most dangerous.

Keep your enemies close
but your friends even closer.

And when things look darkest,
remember your heritage.

Never stop trying.

Never let the bastards get you down.

The Ewing name and our company
can't stop with me or you.

Perhaps, in God's grace...

...I may be back to stand beside you.

Because one day you will stand
beside your son and pass the torch to him.

Should that not happen...

...I want you to know that I love you.

And I will forever.

Your loving father.

Thank you, Daddy.

I love you too.

And I'll never let those bastards
get me down.

NARRATOR:
Next on Dallas:

- Good news?
- The best.

We're gonna beat them on this.
Nobody is gonna stop us.

- I have nothing against Cally but...
- She's married to J.R.

And your mother's not.

I just wish she'd go away somewhere
forever. Heh.

How could he betray me like this?

It may not be what you think.

KAY: Is Bobby Ewing in, please?
- Kay?

Are you sleeping with my husband?

Yes, I am.

[ENGLISH SDH]