Dallas (1978–1991): Season 6, Episode 9 - Fringe Benefits - full transcript

Is that Miss Ellie I hear talking...

- or Frank Crutcher?
- Why did you bring him into it?

Isn't it a little soon after Daddy's death
to be seeing another man?

The sight of you in that will set him up.
I'll move in for the kill.

And between us.
We'll buy ourselves a refinery.

- What are you saying?
- Ewing Oil isn't worth the lives...

of half a dozen people.

Why don't we take Christopher
and move away? Just leave.

He wanted me to go to bed with him.
Right now.

You knew
he was gonna come on to me.

Are you saying
I was using you like a hooker?



Oh. That was just a superb dinner.
Just superb. Darling.

Thank you. I guess it still is
the quickest way to a man's heart.

One of them.

You know. I guess my time wasn't
completely wasted when I was single.

Now that I know my way
around the kitchen. I kind of enjoy it.

We can have a lot
of quiet little dinners like this...

when we move
back to Southfork.

You don't think Miss Ellie will mind if
I take over the kitchen once in a while?

She'll be so glad to have you back.
She won't mind anything.

Sue Ellen...

I need your help. Honey.

After all those pretty speeches.
Name it.

Well. I was thinking how wonderful it
would be if you could act as my hostess.

You have such a knack
with entertaining.



- Could I count on you for that?
- Of course you can.

Oh. Thank you.

You see. I'm trying to buy
this oil refinery from Gil Thurman...

and he's coming on
a little stubborn.

And it just occurred to me
that dinner was so wonderful tonight...

we could entertain him right here.

You know. Treat him like royalty.

You could turn on
that charm of yours.

It would help me a lot.

- Just how much charm?
- I'll leave that up to your exquisite taste.

Just don't get carried away.

Remember.
We're getting married next week.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

- Afton?
- Mr. Conroy?

There's a man over there
who's very anxious to meet you...

name of Gil Thurman.

- He's important.
- Sure.

Afton. This is Mr. Gil Thurman.

Afton Cooper.

- How do you do?
- I'm happy to know you.

Sit down.

Sure love your singing.
I think you're terrific.

- Thank you.
- What can I get you to drink?

Oh. Not a thing. Thank you.

A little champagne?

- Anything. You go ahead and name it.
- Nothing. Really.

Well. Well. Well. Well.

You and me.
We know some folk in common.

We do?

As a matter of fact.
They're some relatives of yours. Ewings.

The Ewings are not my relatives.

Well. I don't mean just blood kin.
I'm including in-laws.

Like Lucy Ewing Cooper
being married to your brother.

Not anymore.

Listen.
I have no connection to the Ewings.

Well. I do.

I just might have me a deal going
with the numero uno Ewing...

J.R. his-self.

I'm sure there are lots of oilmen
in this town...

who are after J.R.
for one thing or another.

They always are.

You got it the other way around.
Little lady.

J.R. wants something from me.
And he wants it real bad.

My. It's a great spot to be in. Isn't it?

Well. I guess you could say that.

Oil wells? Ls that what he's after?

No. I'm not selling any of my wells
and he doesn't need any.

I own a refinery.
One of the biggest and best in Texas.

I see.

And J.R. has his eye on it?

Sure looks that way.

But I don't know if I'm selling.

Mr. Thurman...

I really would love
to talk to you some more...

but I have to get some rest.

Oh. I'm sorry. And the name is Gil.

Sure would be nice if you could
come back tomorrow. Though.

We could pick up where we left off.

I really would like to see you again.

Oh. I'll be here.

Wonderful.

Good night. Gil.

- Good morning. Mama.
- Good morning. J.R.

J.R.. is it true that the OLM has granted
you a variance on oil production?

I hear you're pumping to capacity.

- Yes. Ma'am. That's right.
- But why?

Everybody knows
there's too much oil around as it is.

Well. Mama. I got a plan.

The variance and the pumping
is just part of it.

If you don't mind. I'd like to wait until all
the pieces fall into place before we talk.

Some people may not be willing
to hold still until you're ready to talk.

A lot of oilmen are up in arms
over what you're doing.

Is that Miss Ellie I hear talking...

or Frank Crutcher?

Well. Whatever Frank and I talk about.
It's not that.

Why did you bring him into it?

Well. I guess I just might as well
come out and say it.

Isn't it a little soon after Daddy's death
for you to be seeing another man?

Yes. It certainly is too soon
to be seeing anyone seriously.

And it would be impossible
for me to do that.

But. J.R.. that doesn't mean
I'm gonna live like a hermit.

All right.
We'll talk about it later after dinner.

There's nothing to talk about.

Hi.

Good morning.
You want some breakfast?

- Just coffee, thanks.
- Okay.

- How's everything at work?
- Fine.

As a matter of fact.
Last night was kind of interesting.

- Do you know a guy named Gil Thurman?
- I know who he is. Yeah. Why?

Well. He came by last night
and we talked for a while.

- Is he important?
- Well...

he thinks he's more important
than he is, but he's in there.

Well. He was just bragging to me about
how J.R. wants to buy his refinery.

Yeah. I'll bet J.R. does wanna buy
his refinery. He needs a refinery...

because he's up to his gills
in crude right now.

Would you like to meet him?
He'll be at the club tonight.

Yeah. I'll come over.

Good.

Russell. You're the best broker
in the business.

Are you telling me
there's not one single refinery for sale?

I've already told you
the rumor about Gil Thurman's...

outside of that.
Not in Texas there isn't.

Matter of fact. Not in the whole
Southwest. But if you like...

I could always make
some inquiries about. Say. Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania?

No. No. What I have in mind
couldn't absorb the shipping costs.

Well. That's the story.

As a matter of fact, the last refinery sale
I remember was to Harwood Oil.

- You know the company?
- Harwood?

Yeah. Yeah. I think I do.

What other thoughts you got?

You're already on the tracks of
the only one in the state. Keep after him.

- Sly?
- Yes.

- Get Gil Thurman on the phone for me.
- Yes, sir.

Well. Keep trying. I need that refinery.

I need it now. If Thurman falls through.
I don't have any backup.

Of course I'll keep trying. But I don't
think there's gonna be anything...

on the market for months.

I hope you can convince Thurman.
I think it's your only shot.

- See you.
- Thanks.

- Yeah?
- Mr.Thurman on line one.

Okay. Put him on.

Hello.

Hey. Gil. How you doing?

I'm just fine. J.R.. I'm in good shape.

Oh, good, good. H': Always nice to hear
a man with a positive attitude.

Say. We'd like to spend an evening
with you. Have you over to dinner.

- We?
- Sue Ellen and I.

Oh. You two seeing each other again?

Oh. You betcha. You betcha.

As a matter of fact.
Dinner would be at her townhouse.

Well. How about tonight?

Oh. I'm afraid not.
I got something on for tonight.

Oh. Well. That's too bad.
Tomorrow night?

Tomorrow? Let me take a look.

Yes. Tomorrow night looks clear.

Oh. That's wonderful. Wonderful.

Sue Ellen will be pleased.
She's looking forward to meeting you.

- How about 7:00?
- Make it 7:30.

Okay. Fine. 7:30 is just wonderful.

The address is 56 Fair Oaks Road.

- Bye-bye.
- Nice talking to you. Bye.

This fella. Every time
they'd bring a steer in the arena...

he wound up owning it.
Finally. Matthew. That's the auctioneer...

he just stopped the whole auction
and asked him some questions.

Found out he'd never been to an auction
before. But he knew everybody there...

and every time he waved to somebody
he wound up owning another steer.

- That's funny.
- Lf he'd have kept going...

he'd have restocked
the whole King Ranch.

- Well. What happened?
- They just stopped the auction...

and started it over again.

Oh. Frank. This has been wonderful.

Thank you. Ellie. I've enjoyed it too.

Danny?

- Let me have the check, please.
- Yes. Mr. Crutcher.

As a matter of fact, it's sort of
a farewell lunch for a little while.

I've got to go back East.

- Is everything all right?
- Oh. Yes.

It's just business, but it's highly
complicated. It's gonna take a while.

Well. Maybe it's all for the best.

My boys seem to feel
I've been rushing things.

Because your boys
don't understand the relationship.

As a matter of fact...

What?

Well. I...
I'm just trying to think how to put it.

Well. Go on. What?

Well. I was thinking how nice
it would be if for any reason at all...

you had to come back to New York
while I was there.

We got plenty of good shows...

plenty of good restaurants.
And plenty of good conversation.

Oh. Frank. I couldn't go
to New York with you.

I didn't mean it that way.

Frank. I...

I hope you don't think
I've been rushing things.

I mean. We've had lunch twice
in the past few days...

and I've really enjoyed it.
But it's not more than that.

- I wouldn't want you to think it was.
- And I never did.

It's... It's been difficult for me to even
go out for lunch with another man.

I can understand that.

- Bobby, I have your Canadian ca}! Now.
- Thank you.

Thornton. Bobby here.

- Bobby, haw are you?
- Just fine. How was your flight back?

The weather was rough but we managed
to land before the airport got sucked in.

Well. That's why I'm calling.

That cold spell you're having
is not helping us get work started. Is it?

Afraid not. The terrain is frozen.

Already had some delays in shipping
the rigs and trouble with housing.

But these cold-weather snags
are nothing new. We're used to them.

- What's the weather forecast?
- Nut good.

We'll be able to start drilling
in the next couple of months...

wand the oil will still be
in the ground waiting for us.

- That's not what worries me.
- I know. It's the time factor.

Le! Me put I! To you this way.

If we don't bring those wells in
within a year...

you just might be doing business
with my brother.

Thanks. But no thanks.

With no disrespect meant. Bobby...

J.R.'s fame has preceded him
all the way to Toronto.

We'd prefer to keep you in the picture.
And we'll make every effort.

Thanks. I need all the help
I can get right now. You stay well.

Well. Now. Cliff. What's the urgency?

I've just found out that J.R.
has put a bid in on a refinery.

I wanna up that price
and beat him to it.

And I wanted to find out
how you three felt about that.

What's the story on the refinery?
What capacity. What price?

I have no details. I'm gonna
find out more about it tonight.

I just wanted to see
if you three had any interest.

I don't know. Cliff.
Most refineries have cut back.

Maybe your timing's a little off.

Gentlemen. The oil business
will turn around. It always does.

Yeah. But should we pursue this just
because Cliff wants to stick it to J.R.?

Now. Hang on. Andy.

Sure. Nothing would give me
more pleasure than to kick J.R.'s butt...

but that's not the only interest I have
in spending this kind of money.

Refineries are a solid investment.
They don't come on the market often...

and if we can get this
and the price is right...

we'd be crazy not to take it.

I think we should pursue it.
But we need more facts.

All right. Bring us the deal. Cliff.

We're all open-minded around here.
Aren't we. Folks?

Sure we are.

Anyway. To look doesn't cost a thing.

Mrs. Ewing. Did I give you the date
for your next fitting?

- Yes. You did.
- That's good. I'll see you then.

- Bye-bye-
- Bye-bye-

Have you decided
on the color of your dress yet?

Well. You're not going to tell me.
Are you?

Well. I would like it to be a surprise.

Well. One thing I can tell you is.
It won't be white.

I can't imagine why not.

I'm glad you're here with me today.

Well. I enjoy being with you, Sue Ellen.

Despite the rivalry
between Bobby and J.R.?

Have you been thinking about that too?

It's odd how relationships change.

I hated you when Bobby
first brought you to Southfork.

That's funny. You never showed it.

Then you were so wonderful to me when
J.R. and I were fighting over John Ross.

Well. I think you'd do
the same thing for me.

Yeah.

I don't want us to lose our friendship.

Well. There's no reason
for that to happen. It's up to us.

We have to try harder
not to get into their fights.

I think it would be ironic
after hating each other for so long...

and finally being friends, that
we'd lose our friendship over their fight.

Yeah. Now we just have to make sure
that doesn't happen.

And I know we'll try.

Come on.

My group is gonna need
all the information on the refinery.

Size. Capacity. Personnel. All of that.
But I will say this...

whatever J.R.'s offer is. I would like
the opportunity to meet it and better it.

I'll tell you. Cliff...

what would interest me
is not a better offer...

but a deal that had
a little something extra in it.

Something that would
make me happy personally.

Yeah. Okay. Whatever it takes.

So for hors d'oeuvres. I thought
we'd start off with Scottish salmon.

Scottish salmon.
Why don't we have those little weenies?

Those little cocktail franks.

Now. What do you got in mind
for the main course?

Are you ready for this?

Not bad for high school French?

Yeah. This dinner is kind of important.
Darling. What is that?

That's that chicken dish I fixed for you.

- Yeah. Right. That was good.
- You liked it, remember?

But I think Gil would prefer steaks.
Just throw them on the barbecue...

and char them real black.
He likes them well-done.

- J.R.. he can have that any time.
- Just trying to make him feel at home.

And for the wine...

I thought we'd serve this.
This was your daddy's favorite.

- Bourbon.
- With dinner?

Before. With and after.

Darling. Who are you inviting.
King Kong. or“?

Oh. No. He's just a good old boy.
Now. What are you gonna wear?

J.R.. just hold on a minute.

I'm really trying very hard
to understand this.

I do read the papers
and I know there's a surplus of oil.

And you're pumping full out? On top
of that. You wanna buy a refinery.

Now. What's going on?

Darling. It's just too complicated
to explain. But the fact is...

I need that refinery. I need it bad.

Whatever you say.

Mrs. Chambers brought down
three dresses for you to look at.

- Oh. Yeah.
- This one?

Oh. I don't know.

Maybe this one?

Yeah. It's nice.
But it doesn't have what I'm looking for.

Oh. Right. Turn it around.

- That's it. That's perfect. Yeah.
- You like that?

All right. Well.
I just wanna ask you one question.

Why did you choose the sexiest?

It's called the old Ewing one-two.

Gil likes pretty ladies.

The sight of you in that will set him up.
I'll move in for the kill.

And between us.
We'll buy ourselves a refinery.

That goes right over there
with the other chair.

- Well. What a nice surprise.
- Hi.

He looks wonderful. Doesn't he?

- So does the house. It looks great.
- Doesn't it?

I know I'm rushing things. But I want
to move in as soon as possible.

Come on over here. Christopher.
I have something for you.

Oh. Mother. That's lovely.

I just got this for him.

- There you go.
- That's so sweet.

Pam. It's very thoughtful of you
to bring the baby here.

Well. I know how awkward
it is for you at Southfork.

With everything that's happened.

Mother. I feel very bad.

Christopher is growing
and changing every day...

and it's such a shame
you're not seeing it happen.

- What would you have me do, Pam?
- What any loving grandmother would do.

- Visit your grandchild.
- At Southfork? I can't.

Yes. You can. But you don't want to.

Pam. You make it sound
as though I'm rejecting the baby.

Or worse. As though I'm rejecting you.
Now. You know that's not true.

It feels like it.

After everything we went through
to get our baby. You just turn away.

Pam. I almost lost my son.

How would you feel if you lost
Christopher because of the Ewings?

Mr. Ewing. There's a Mr. Macklin
on the phone for you.

Oh. Fine.

Hey. Hello. John.

What's new in your life?

What's new is I'd like to see you.

- Got a deal brewing. How's your day?
- It's pretty filled up...

but nothing I can't push around.
What's your pleasure?

I'm at the club. Why don't you come.
We'll hit a few. And discuss the deal?

Fine. I'm looking forward to it.
I'll just change and be right over.

- That's fine. See you soon.
- Yes, sir.

Yeah. That puts my golfing to shame.

Now let's go get some drinks.

My drinking is a lot better
than my golfing. That's for sure.

Well. What about the deal?
What do you think?

- Here you are. John. Thank you.
- Thank you.

I'll tell you, under normal circumstances.
It would interest me quite a lot.

First. Because I've never had any
involvement in West Coast offshore oil...

and second.
Because you like the deal. John.

- But?
- But to tell you the truth...

I don't think I'd see a return
on my investment for, say. Two years.

At least. Maybe three.

Well. That's the problem. I know
it would be big profits down the line.

But it just doesn't fit in
with my immediate plans.

Look. I know about this contest
between you and your brother.

But I also know your dad wouldn't
have turned down a proposition like this.

- It's good for the company as a whole.
- Different times, different needs.

Well. Suit yourself. But if you don't mind
I'm gonna talk to Bobby about it.

He may appreciate the benefits
more than you do.

Well. Feel free. Feel free.

Bobby and I operate differently.

I'm sure he'll jump at
a unique chance like this.

At least I sure hope he does.

Yeah?
Bobby? Mr. Anderson is here.

Send him in. Please.

- Come on in.
- Howdy. Bobby.

I hope my phone call didn't throw you.

I mean. Busting in
on your schedule this way.

- I'm always glad to see you. Come on in.
- Thank you.

- Can I make you a drink?
- No. No. Thank you.

"No. Thank you“? Well.
You must be upset about something."

Yeah. As a matter of fact, I am.

I want you to understand that interfering
in the terms of your daddy's will...

is the last thing I wanna do.

I mean. You've got your half
of Ewing Oil to run...

and J.R.'s got his half.
And a year from now...

one of you
is gonna come up a winner.

Punk...

that's all old news.

You better sit down
and tell me what's on your mind.

You see. Being the administrator
of your daddy's estate...

I've got a moral responsibility...

to make sure those assets
are properly conserved...

so to speak.

Oh. I see.

What is my big brother up to?

Is that it?

That's right.

Your mother, me
and the whole oil community...

are not only puzzled.
But we're alarmed at what's going on.

Why did J.R. ask for a variance
on oil production?

And why did the OLM give it to him?

Why is he pumping his fields at capacity
and what's he doing with all the oil?

That's right.

- You got any answers?
- No. I don't.

Punk. I made a vow
to stay out of J.R.'s territory.

He's got a right to run his half of
Ewing Oil whichever way he sees fit.

And so do I.

Bobby. I understand that.

But I tell you, there'd be a lot
of people who'd breathe easier...

if you get some inkling
of what's going on.

All right. Punk.

I'll nose around. I'll see
if I can find something out for you.

I'd appreciate it.

How's Pam
and that good-looking boy of yours?

Oh. They're doing just fine.
Thank you for asking.

- You give my love to Mavis.
- I'll do it. Thank you.

Phyllis. Would you get me
Jerry Wheatland at the refinery?

Right away.

- Yes?
- I have Mr. Wheatland In! You.

Jerry. Bobby Ewing here. How are you?

- Good, sir. What can I du In! You?
- I just need a little information.

Has J.R. increased
his production output there any?

Increased it?

No, Pd say we're at the same level
you and I discussed.

Is that so?

Yeah, if anything, we're down a little.
Maybe a few hundred barrels.

Well. Thanks.

Anytime.

Well. What is J.R. doing with all that oil?

Oh. I'm sorry.
I thought you were somebody else.

Please. Come in.
You must be Mr. Thurman.

That's right. But my friends call me Gil.

Welcome. Please. Come in.

J.R. not here yet?

Oh. He should be here any minute now.

Yeah. Well. Let's hope
that he takes his time.

Well. I mean. That way you and me.
We can get acquainted.

Right.

What may I fix you to drink?

Well. Let's see.

Well. I started with bourbon
about three hours ago.

I may as well stay with a winning ticket.

You can save the ice
and hold the branch.

All right.

There you are.

You know. I was kind of surprised...

to hear that you and J.R.
were back together again.

Of course. The last I heard...

you and Clayton Farlow's kid
were off to San Angelo.

That's really none of your business.

Now. Honey. I didn't mean to upset you.

Fact is. I'm always glad to hear...

when a couple takes another shot
at the gold ring.

Well. I'm sure you remember
that old song:

“It's Always Better
the Second Time Around.“

If it had been me in J.R.'s boots, there
never would have been a second time.

I would never have let you go
in the first place.

Beautiful woman like you.

Refill?

Well. If you don't mind.

- Hello?
- Hi, it's me.

Oh. Hi. Honey. Where are you?
I was starting to get worried about you.

Well, I would have called you earlier,
but we've been meeting all day.

Look, Ray, they've asked me
to present that hill...

we've been discussing
to the legislature in Austin.

The thing is, I just really
didn't want to promise them...

that I would go until I talked to you.

And it': Taking a little more time
than you thought, huh?

If you don't want me to go.
You just say the word.

No, no, it sounds to me
like you could do that hill some good.

You just go ahead. Tell them yes.

I will.

And I'll be home real soon.

You haven't had a drink with me
all evening.

Of course I have.

Oh. Yeah. Well. That's just plain soda.

I call that downright unfriendly.

It's not meant to be.
I... I just don't drink, that's all.

Well. I don't know what's keeping J.R.
It's 8:30.

He should be here any minute.

He might.

Then again. He might not.

Now. I got a good idea.

Why don't you and me split?
We'll leave a note for J.R.:

“Gone fishing.“

Go to my place. And then you won't
have to worry about being walked in on.

It must be J.R.

Oh. Sue Ellen. I can't apologize enough
for this. Darling.

Say... Oh. Gil. Doggone I'm sorry
about keeping you waiting this long.

I had an emergency.
One of my wells caught on fire.

Did the telephones burn too?

Well. I had to keep the lines
open to the field.

Let me freshen this up for you.

No. Thank you.

I don't want any more.

In that case. We can sit down to dinner
right now if that's convenient for you?

- Certainly.
- No. I've lost my appetite.

- I think I'm just gonna head on out.
- Well. Now. Gil. Hold on there.

Put those steaks on right away. Honey.

We can have a couple of more drinks...

maybe a couple of laughs.
And talk some business.

Frankly. I don't think we've got
any business to talk about.

Because I haven't heard
the right offer yet.

Thank you for the booze. Good night.

- Say. Gil. We'll do it again...
- Good night.

Yeah. All right. Fine. Nice talking to you.

Sue Ellen. What the hell
did you do wrong?

Me?

Me? You're the one
who left me stranded here...

for over an hour
with that disgusting animal.

How could you be so thoughtless?

Thoughtless? I did that on purpose.

You what?

Oh. Sue Ellen.
I was counting on some soft lights...

and a few drinks with a beautiful
woman just to mellow him out...

so when dinner was over.
I could have struck a deal with him.

You used me?

He wanted me to go to bed with him.
Right now.

You knew
he was gonna come on to me.

Are you saying
I was using you like a hooker?

Well. What would you say?

Oh. Sue Ellen.

I've been in business a lot of years.

And if I think I can close a deal
with a client by offering him a hooker...

I'd do it, honey. I admit it.

But if I was gonna go that route...

do you honestly believe
I'd use the woman I love?

My bride-to-be?

All right. I made a mistake.

I misjudged the man.

If I thought he was gonna come on
like an animal...

do you really think
I'd have subjected you to that?

I hope you believe me.

I love you very much, Sue Ellen.

Think dinner can wait
just a little while longer?

I suppose so. We've waited this long.

A little while longer won't hurt.

- Cliff. I wanna ask you something.
- Yeah.

Now that we're alone...

Sort of.

Just between you and me...

is it really worth getting into
this refinery deal just to spite J.R.?

If that's all there was to it. No.
But there's more to it than that.

I mean. Beyond the value of the
investment. There's more to it than that.

I'm thinking about me and the cartel.
If I can deliver this deal...

to Jordan Lee and the others. I'm only
cementing my position with them.

Don't forget. The last time
I was up against J.R.. I got suckered.

And they know that.

I've got to prove to them
that I can do it. I just got to.

And I gotta prove it to myself.

Oh. Afton. Look. This might be the most
important deal of my whole life.

Look. John. The more I think
about your proposal...

the more I can see it's rock-solid.

But I'm still
gonna have to turn it down.

You too?

The payout is just a little too long
in coming back to me. Simple as that.

That's what J.R. said.
I figured you'd be a little wiser.

Daddy put us in some pretty stiff
competition with one another.

I know that. But he never meant
for you to throw all concern...

for the company out the window.

- I'm not doing that.
- Well. Of course you are.

You two aren't building Ewing Oil.
You're using it for a battlefield.

John. There is a time pressure
on both of us.

I can't speak for J.R.. but I'm already
involved in one long-term investment.

- With the McLeish brothers.
- The Canadians?

That's right.
And that's off the record.

I'm gonna be sweating
that one out enough as it is.

I can't afford another
long-term investment. Not this year.

Well...

if that's how things stand. I feel sorry
for the legacy Jock left you both.

Ewing Oil may be a shambles
by the end of the year.

You all through for the night?

Yes. That was the last set.

Have you made a decision yet
about your refinery?

Well. I'll tell you...

Why don't we turn the cards face up?

At this point, I guess you could call me
a wealthy man.

And I wanna sell the refinery.

For me. It's the right thing to do now.

Frankly. I don't care who I sell it to.

- Really?
- Sure. A couple of hundred thousand...

one way or the other.
What difference does it make?

What I'm interested in
is the fringe benefits.

Do you understand"?
Oh. That's a shame.

I guess I'm just gonna have to call J.R.
and tell him he's got it.

Barnes really wants my refinery.

Doesn't he?

Look. I offered him the price
we agreed upon.

I just haven't heard back from him yet.

Jordan. I won't go over the limit.

All right. I'll call you just as soon
as I hear from him. Yeah. So long.

Hi. You know. I fell asleep last night
waiting up for you watching television?

I thought you were gonna come over
after the last show.

I was working kind of late last night.
So I just went straight back to my place.

Was that Jordan Lee?

Yeah. That was Jordan Lee.

And just a few minutes before that.
Marilee Stone called.

And then Andy Bradley before that.

Suddenly. They're anxious
to get that refinery from Thurman.

Just as anxious as I am.

Almost.

You see. I finally figured out
why this deal is so important to me.

Why?

Because just once. Just once. I would
like to beat J.R. in a straight deal.

No trickery. No chicanery...

but just because I'm the best man.

I have a feeling you'll get the refinery.

Hello. Ray.

Howdy.

I... I was just over at your house
looking for Donna.

Where is she?

She went to Austin last night.
Drove her to the airport.

Back tonight. Or tomorrow morning.

Something I can help you with?

Did you ever have one of those moods
where you need somebody...

to just think out loud with?

You mean. A good listener? Try me.

I'm... I'm not sure
I know how to put it into words.

Bobby and J.R.?

Yes.

With each passing week.
I see it getting worse.

I'm just so afraid that their rivalry
is gonna tear the family apart.

They're in a high-stakes game. Miss Ellie.

I know.

Oh. How I wish Jock could have found
some other way.

Anything except pitting them
against each other like this.

Well. That's something I thought
about a lot too lately.

I don't know what else
he could have done.

Jock knew those two boys
couldn't run this company together.

Only one of them could. Alone.

So he sets up this slugfest to let them
decide who wants it the most.

They're tough boys, Miss Ellie.

I think they'll come out of this okay.

I don't know. Ray.

What I do know is that I've...

I've never been so afraid for my family.

- Yeah?
- Mr. Barnes?

Mr. Thurman is here to see you.

Show him right in.

I took a chance coming
without an appointment.

I figured it was fifty-fifty
you might be free.

Odds are better than that for you.

Have a seat.

What brings you my way?

I wanted to tell you in person.

You got it.

The refinery?

It's all yours. You're the winner.

Oh. Fantastic.

This calls for a drink.

- Branch and bourbon?
- Hold the branch.

Now. I gotta ask you something.

Sure.

Just tell me.
Was J.R. ever really in this?

Oh. Hell. Yeah.

But I gotta tell you.
I think he's losing his touch.

The king of the dealmakers has lost it.

Ain't that too bad?

Now. You. You know
how to put a deal together.

That's nice to hear.

Well. Let's drink
to whatever it takes to win.

Whatever it takes.

Hey. Honey.

I thought you were gonna swim with me.

- What's the matter?
- Oh. Everything.

Well. Now. It can't be that bad.
Come on. What's on your mind?

Jack's will.

It's ruining our lives. Bobby. All of us.

My mother...
After everything that's happened...

my mother can't bring herself
to even come to Southfork anymore.

- Because J.R.'s back in the company.
- Yeah.

And she and Miss Ellie
have become such good friends.

And now that's gone. She won't even
come here to see Christopher.

- Well. Do you think that's right?
- No.

But I understand it.

Another thing. Sue Ellen is my friend.
And we want to stay friends.

I don't know if that's even possible now.

- I know.
- And worst of all. You and J.R...

are at each other's throats.
You should see Miss Ellie.

Why didn't Jock think of his wife
when he wrote that will?

What's she supposed to do? Choose
between her two sons, or be torn apart?

Pamela. That's just the way it is.
And we're gonna have to live with it.

Why do we have to?

What are you saying?

What I'm saying is that Ewing Oil isn't
worth the lives of half a dozen people.

Why don't we take Christopher
and move away? Just leave.

And give Ewing Oil
to J.R. on a silver platter?

Oh. To hell with Ewing Oil.

All right. Okay. We leave.

And we leave Mama
to J.R.'s tender mercies.

Is that what you want?

No.

But what about the rest of us?

All right. The rest of us.

If your mama doesn't understand there's
a difference between J.R. and me...

that she should come to Southfork
to see her grandson. That's her problem.

And as for Sue Ellen and you.

Well. I want you to befriends.
I want you to stay friends too...

but whatever happens. Happens.

And as for my mama.
After 45 years of marriage...

she'll have to have faith
in her husband's judgment.

And it's gonna be that faith in him
that keeps her from being torn apart.

And as for me. My daddy
put a challenge to me in that will...

and somewhere in that challenge
is his confidence in me.

Confidence that I might have
even just a little bit of what he had.

Of the guts that it took
to build Ewing Oil.

And if he had that confidence in me.
Pam. I'm not gonna back off.

Not now and not ever.

- Yeah?
- .I.R.?

Mr. Cliff Barnes is here to see you.

J.R.? Are you there?

Send him in.

You took so long to answer. I thought
maybe you'd gone out that window.

What are you doing here?

I've got a news item for you...

and I just didn't want you to hear it
from anybody else but me.

I know I'll just love it.

I just closed a deal
for the Thurman refinery.

Right underneath your nose.

Barnes. You have a short memory.

Are you really gonna cross me again?

Yeah. But with a difference.

This time I'm not coming up
against you alone.

I've got the whole cartel behind me.

As a matter of fact...

I've got every independent oilman
in the state of Texas on my side.

You're gonna need them all.

Now you're alone.

You've got nobody.

You've got nothing
except your ocean of oil...

to drown in.

I'll let myself out.