Dallas (1978–1991): Season 9, Episode 29 - Thrice in a Lifetime - full transcript

In the past, I took you for granted.
I'll never do that again.

- You what?
- I went in and I talked with J.R.

You went crawling to that worm?

It's the review board's final ruling.

Your application has been denied.

Glad to see you're all right.

Well, I hope this doesn't make you
change your mind.

I think I blew up everything
by the time I was 10.

This briefcase is gonna make
a lot of noise.

Sue Ellen?

I hope I'm not disturbing you.



No, I'm just having a nightcap.

Can't sleep?

No, I'm just a little thirsty, that's all.

You drink from your bedside table
when you're thirsty.

And you always come down here and look
in the refrigerator when you can't sleep.

But you never find anything you want.

I keep forgetting how well you know me.

I guess we're all creatures of habit.

That's funny.

That's exactly
what Mandy said to me tonight.

Spare me the details.

No, it's, uh... It's not what you think.

She called me at the office and asked me
to drop by her place on the way home.

She said it was important, so I did.



She said that she's decided
not to leave Dallas.

And I told her it didn't matter
one way or another to me.

She said the reasoning
behind her thinking was that...

Well, she figured that if you agreed
to take me back as your husband...

...it'd only be a matter of time
before I got tired of it.

And it wouldn't be long
before I was looking for someone else.

And that someone else might be her.

Well, you can't get mad at her for trying.

I'm mad at me.
There's a lot of truth in what she said.

Sue Ellen.

In the past, I never realized how
lucky I was to have you for a wife.

And a lover.

I took you for granted.
I'll never do that again.

Well, I guess I'm not as thirsty
as I thought I was.

Good night.

That fellow in the red shirt
looks like he was born in the saddle.

Well, a top-paying job,
a chance to work some champion stock.

Not just another round-up.

- How many men we ought to take on?
- Oh, I think four ought to do.

I kind of like the old-timer over there
to keep watch on the rest of them.

Seems like that's all he could do anyway.

Don't you worry about him.
He knows what he's doing.

I didn't think we needed a boss,
thought we were hiring hands.

A hand's no good
without a head attached to it.

But I don't think
that's what's worrying you.

I think you just think he's an old man.

We do need guys
who can do a full day's work.

Oh?

Well, what about me?
You think I can't do a full day's work?

- I didn't say that.
That's what you meant.

I mean we should be looking for somebody
who's not afraid to get their hands dirty.

Well, I got a hunch
his hands have seen plenty of dirt.

- Afternoon, gentlemen.
- Howdy.

Name's Ben Stivers.
You got yourselves a fine start here.

- Thank you.
- Where you from, Ben?

Most recently, Kentucky.

You been working with cutting horses?

No, thoroughbreds.

I tried my hand at racing for a while.

Yeah? What happened?

Homesick more than anything.

I remembered what this was like,
and I realized how much I missed it.

Anyway, I just wanted to say...

...how grateful I'd be
for a chance to work for you.

Well, glad to hear that.

We'll be making up our minds
pretty soon.

As far as I'm concerned,
mine's already made up.

Matt sent a telegram from Bogota?
So he's safe.

Matt's okay.

Great, Pam. He'll be catching
the next flight back to Dallas.

Uh, with the emeralds?

Mrs. Stone. Cliff, I'm sorry.

- Cliff, we have to talk.
- Oh, that's all right, Jackie.

- You wanna get us some coffee?
- Yes, sir.

Pam, can I call you back?

- Bet I can guess why you're here.
- Guess.

You just found out you've been had.
I tried to tell you.

Yes, you did,
and that's exactly why I'm here.

Now you're mad as hell
and you're not gonna take it anymore.

Right, and the same goes
for Andy and Jordan.

Look, we've had about
as much of J.R. Ewing as we can stand.

So if you're still interested,
we'd like to form that consortium.

Marilee, I think you've just made my day.

Would you excuse us
for a few moments, please?

Sure.

What the hell was that all about?

You know,
you're obsessed with revenge.

Why can't you just drop this battle
between the Barnes and the Ewings?

I would love to.
Why don't you tell J.R. That?

- I did.
- You what?

I asked him to leave you...
To leave us alone.

To stop all this fighting,
all this backstabbing.

You went crawling to that worm?

Cliff, I did it because I love you.

Well, you got a lot to learn about that
word, because that ain't what I call love.

Great.

Hey. What you doing here all alone?

Nothing.

Thinking?

You know, it's good
to just get away sometimes and think.

Ray and I were hoping
that you had a good time at Southfork.

That's a neat house. It's so big.

You did have a good time.

We were also hoping
that you might like to come...

...and spend the weekend with us.

It'd be fun.

But?

I don't know.

I think I do.

You see, I know that you lost
two families in your life.

And that's more pain
than anyone should have to feel.

But I want you to know I understand.

This is not easy for me.

But I think
it's important for you to know.

Before I came to work at the school...

...Ray and I were going to have a baby.

But there was a terrible accident,
and I lost the baby.

We lost our family.

And after all that pain, it made me...

Afraid?

It made me afraid to try
and have another family.

You're still afraid.

A little bit.

But you see, you can't be afraid.

Because loving is the best part of life.

We love you.

And we want you to become our family.

Well, Jimmy, Bud was right when he said
you had some terrific ideas on wind farms.

Oh, thank you, J.R.

He was wrong when he thought
I was gonna be interested in them.

- I thought...
- You've worked long enough...

...to know that it's gonna take more than
a glut to get me out of the oil business.

- I'm not suggesting...
- You know, all I hear nowadays...

...is people getting out of oil and into
wind or water or solar, lunar whatever.

Unless smaller companies like mine find
other ways to make money, we'll go broke.

Well, I hope that's not the truth, Jim.

You've been a prime example
of an independent Texas oilman.

I'm as proud of this business as you are.

Unfortunately, pride doesn't pay the bills.

I'm sorry, Jimmy.
I just can't go along with you on this one.

Well, I understand, J.R.

- Thanks for your time, anyway.
- You bet.

- Oh, and thank you, Bud.
- Hey, anytime, Jimmy.

- Hey, Bud, hang in here a minute.
- Yeah. See you.

Hey, look, J.R., I'm sorry about that.

Oh, that's all right.
I'm glad you brought him by.

- He tipped his hand.
- His hand?

Mm-hm. I want you to find out
just how much trouble he's really in.

Are you gonna help him out?

No, I was thinking along the lines
of driving him out.

Oh, times are tough.

It's hard out there.
Not only for him, for all of us.

And any chance I get
to thin out the competition, hm...

...I'm gonna take it.

You boys be careful.

You've been smiling a lot like that today.

If I didn't know better,
I'd say that you were in love.

Well, I might be.

Oh, with Jerry?

With J.R.

Sue Ellen.

A week ago, you told me
that that idea scared you to death.

I know.

Believe me,
you're the first person I've told.

I had a feeling I'd get a reaction like that.

Well, I wouldn't be your friend
if I didn't tell you how I feel.

And I admit that I'm worried.

You've come so far.

And J.R. Is still J.R.

I don't know about that.

You think he's changed?

I think he's trying.

Well, he's not trying hard enough.

Mark told you that J.R. Hired somebody
to investigate Jerry Kenderson.

He did.

And then I got mad and confronted J.R.
And he admitted that he had.

But then he said something.

Something that in one breath...

...made the most and the least sense
of anything I've ever heard in my life.

He said there was a magic between us.

And he's right.
I don't know what it is or why it is.

It just is.

And always has been.

Yeah.

He's the only man I've ever really loved.

You're going back to him?

Yes.

- You did say straight up?
- That's right.

So, what did you wanna talk about?

I've been giving
our working together a lot of thought.

You're not thinking
of backing out on me, are you?

No, sir. I'd never do that.

Oh, good, glad to hear that. So?

Well, I sure have been
learning a lot from you.

Well, I'm proud to hear that, really am.

In fact, I figure I'm learning more from you
than I could ever learn in school.

Mm-hm, mm-hm. So?

How would you feel about me
coming to work at Ewing Oil full-time?

What's so funny?

Oh, I'm not laughing at you, son.
It's just that, uh...

...well, I said the same thing to my daddy
when I was your age.

And when he finished laughing,
what did he say?

Well, he said I was rushing into things.

And I had a lot of growing up to do first.

I knew you were going to say that.

I know you're disappointed. I was too.

- But?
- But your grandpa was right.

He knew how much
the oil business was gonna change...

...before I was ready
to take over Ewing Oil.

And he also knew that an education
would prepare me for those changes.

And by the time you're ready
to run the company...

...it'll have changed that much again.

And you just have
to be prepared for that.

You're sure there's no way
I can change your mind?

Nope, afraid not.

Well, I guess I better
go finish my homework.

Mm-hm, I guess you better.

- Good night, Daddy.
- Good night, son.

Hm.

Oh, morning, Mama.

Morning.

What you got there?

Oh, an invitation
to Pam and Mark Graison's wedding.

Well, that's nice. Huh.

Yes, it is, isn't it?

Something wrong?

I don't know.

Everything is changing,
becoming so different.

Like how?

Well, Pam and Mark getting married
and Jenna getting back on her feet.

With a fresh start.

Well, it's all for the best.

I know.

But there's just such a sense of finality.

With Pam and Jenna picking up their lives,
it's almost as if, uh...

As if Bobby were never here.

Not even in memory.

I know you miss him, Mama. We all do.

We all do.

I feel as if I were standing...

...at the edge of my life, looking
back at all the wonderful things...

...that aren't there anymore.

I'll always be here for you.
You know that.

I worry about you too, J.R.

There's nothing for you
to worry about there.

My life couldn't be better.

I'm a winner. Don't you forget it.

No, I could never do that.

Hm.

I gotta go to work.

I haven't seen
that young partner of yours today.

Well, he had other business to tend to.

I owe you my thanks.

I got the strong impression
he didn't wanna hire someone my age.

Nothing personal.
He's just got a lot on his mind.

I still owe you my thanks.

There's plenty of good work left in me.

A lot left in me too, Ben.

Did you work down in Kentucky long?

Oh, a couple of years, I guess.

Seems like forever now that I'm back.

- Ever been there?
- Oh, yeah. Many times.

Beautiful place.

- It is, and so is this.
- Mm.

You lived here long?

No, I'm from San Angelo.

I had a spread down there
called the Southern Cross.

What brought you here?

The lady that owns Southfork.

I fell in love with her, married her...

...and finally moved in lock,
stock and barrel.

She must be some woman.

I guarantee you,
you never met anyone like her.

She is one of a kind.

I look forward to meeting her someday.

Hey, Ben.

Better not let your other partner
get upset with me.

- Ha-ha!
- Nice talking to you, Mr. Farlow.

Clayton. Nice talking to you, Ben.

How could you do that?

Who, me? I didn't do anything.

She was the one crawling
on her hands and knees.

She doesn't wanna see you get hurt.

She probably just ensured that I will.

Because nobody goes to J.R.
And begs for mercy.

He's like a shark
sensing blood in the water.

I don't need lessons on J.R. Ewing
from either one of you.

It seems to me he's a lot less like a shark
and a lot more like the weather...

...since everybody complains about him
and nobody does anything about it.

But Jamie did.

Her heart may have been
in the right place, but...

You're damn right her heart's in the right
place, and that's the issue here, not J.R.

She's crazy about you, you idiot.

It shouldn't matter to you if she paints it
on a billboard or writes it across the sky.

She went to J.R.
Knowing that she could be humiliated.

And the irony is,
he didn't humiliate her, you did.

Well, Pam's right.
Jamie deserves better from me.

Or from us.

Someday, someone will give J.R.
What he deserves.

Ohh.

Motive's important to most people
but me.

Because I don't have motive
like you have motive...

...you know?

For me, it's my country.

Always been that.

Fourth of July, Vietnam. Same thing.

Lots of times,
people don't even remember...

...their first Fourth of July
when you ask them.

You?

I didn't think so.

I couldn't forget mine if I wanted to.

What a day.

Easy, easy.

Easy...

There.

That's always tricky.

I just couldn't believe
what you could do with a firecracker.

I think I blew up everything
by the time I was 10.

Even my grandpa's old 78s.

You take a 2-incher
and you stick it in the hole.

And you scale that baby up
about 50 feet, and, blam!

Frankie Laine all over the street.

Frankie Laine.

All over.

Everybody always watched
the parade. Not me.

Everybody thought the drums
made a lot of noise.

I'll tell you what's gonna make
a lot of noise.

This briefcase gonna make a lot of noise.

You got strong nails?

You got to have strong nails.

Well, not the glued-on ones.

You got to be able to do this.

When you wanna set the timing,
you pull this pin out.

Like that.

That's why you got to have strong nails.

It's like pulling the pin out of a grenade.
You ever throw a grenade?

You got just so much time.

And all I can give you is seven minutes.

"In God we trust. "

You know, we're the only country
that says that on our money.

Just us.

Some country, huh?

Well, I'm sure you'll be happy.
You come again.

Jamie. I'm home.

What's for dinner?

Smells good.

Not still mad at me, are you?

You aren't, are you, huh?

That's better.

No.

That's better.

Okay, I deserved that.

I'm sorry, I don't know
what got into me yesterday.

It's not what got into you yesterday,
Cliff.

It's what's been into you
your whole damn miserable life.

I just got carried away
when Marilee stopped in, that's all.

You know, someone tells me how J.R. Put
something over on them, I get a little crazy.

I've heard it all before, Cliff.

Well, you made matters worse
by going to that creep...

...pleading with him to leave me alone.

Well, somebody's gotta do it.

Lookit, I just can't stand back and
watch you and J.R. Destroy one another.

That's not the kind of life
that I wanna share with you.

Okay, I apologize.

It was a temporary lapse
and it won't happen again.

Give me a break.

Hey, no, I mean it.

You know, I don't always
have to be the one that nails J.R.

I mean, there are people standing in line
that wanna do that.

So I'll just let them do it for a change.

That'll be the day.

No, you have my word.

- Do you really mean that, Cliff?
- I really mean that.

Because I know that if I keep it up, I'm
gonna lose you and nothing's worth that.

And will you tell Marilee
that the whole deal's off?

Done.

And will you forget about
getting together Pam and Mark...

...for this crazy
diversification plan of yours?

We both know that the reason why you got into
that in the first place was to get at J.R.

I promise you
I'll never pick another fight with J.R.

Now, that doesn't mean I won't try to
strengthen my own hand once in a while.

I'd be a fool not to do that, but...

Hey, look. Look, just meet me halfway.

And if it ever looks like I'm going back
on my word...

...you can walk out on our marriage
with my blessing.

But just don't give up on me yet.

I'm gonna hold you to this one,
you know.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

You...
Come here.

Where's that bottle of wine?
I wanna see if it tastes as good as it felt.

Did you get a chance to check
the proofs the printer sent over?

Mm-hm, they look terrific.

Then should I give them the go-ahead
to run off the brochures?

Absolutely.

I'd like them mailed
by the end of the month.

Hi, am I interrupting anything?

We were just about ready
to call it an evening.

- Thank you for staying so late.
- Oh, you're welcome.

- Mr. Graison.
- Good night, Kelly.

- Good night.
- Night.

Jerry told me you were back.
I was so glad to hear that.

Did he also happen to tell you
that we've stopped seeing each other?

It came up.

I don't know.

I guess we both tried so hard
to make something happen.

And it didn't.

Hey, Sue Ellen,
you don't have to explain anything.

I just hope that you won't be
too uncomfortable to stay with the job.

Might be awkward for a little while,
but we're both adults. We can handle it.

Good.

Because I could really use your help
on something.

I've contacted a number of people
I've done business with over the years.

And they're all coming to Dallas this week
to see what Graison Research is all about.

Well, how many people?

Oh, 50, give or take a few.

You're telling me that I have a week...

...to plan a series of tours and parties
and receptions for 50 VIP's?

I also promised that we'd take care of the
air and hotel reservations from this end.

Oh, well, you don't believe in giving a girl
a lot of lead time, do you?

Hey, what can I say? It's an inspiration.

Oh. Ha-ha. Okay.

I'll do everything I can to make sure
their visit is worthwhile.

Good. I'll send the guest list
in the morning.

That would help.

Listen, if there's anything else I can do,
you know where to find me.

Thank you, I think you've done
quite enough already.

I knew I could count on you, Sue Ellen.

Good night.

This is really neat.

Watch yourself on the stairs, you guys.

How many bedrooms?
Four.

Why so many?

Seemed like a good idea at the time.

When are you guys
gonna be able to move in?

That's a good question.

We were hoping a month,
but it looks more like two.

Far out. You could see forever.

There's that pond
I was telling you about.

I play there all the time.

It's so close.

That's one of the reasons
that Ray and I picked this site.

Is this gonna be your bedroom?

No, um...

No, our room is right over there.

Yeah, we were kind of thinking that, uh...

...this would be Tony's bedroom.

- So.
- Lf you'd like to give it a try.

Well, partner?

How do you feel about...

...that?

I would like to. Very much.

Oh, that's great. That's great.

All right.

Ha-ha. You're back.

A little worse for wear,
but at least I'm in one piece...

...which is more than I can say
about a good part of Colombia.

Well, I was so relieved
to get your telegram.

The reports of the earthquake
were a little sketchy, and...

Well, I just didn't know.

It was bad.

- Mark.
- Welcome back.

Thanks.

Well, sit down, Matt.
You must be exhausted from that flight.

No, really, I can't stay.

I just came by to bring you
up to date on the mine...

...and then I'll be on my way.

First, the good news.

I'll be damned. You hit.

We hit big.

That's just a small sample of what
we uncovered there before the quake.

Which brings me to the bad news.

You lost the mine.

We were this close.

It was all there for the taking.

And then disaster.

First tremors brought down
half the mountain on top of it.

We could never dig out, even if you wanted
to continue backing the operation.

- I'm sorry, Pam.
- Don't be.

The emeralds aren't important.
They never were.

That's very big of you,
considering the loss you're gonna take.

Bobby believed in that mine.
He believed in you.

And you proved him right
on both counts.

That's really all that matters to me.

- But you believed in me too.
Yes, I did.

When you had every reason not to.

You know, Pam, everyone was right...

...when they said
that I was a loser most of my life.

But I'd gotten so used to hearing them
say it, I'd begun to believe it myself.

Well, you aren't a loser anymore.

Thanks to you.

Thanks to the trust you put in me.

And it wasn't misplaced.

Let's just say I owe you, Pam.

More than you'll ever know.

Goodbye.

What are you going to do now?

Oh, there's some unfinished business
I have to take care of here.

Then who knows?

Matt.

Keep in touch?

You bet.

If this is Alex's idea of a joke,
well, I don't find it very funny.

Mr. Garrett couldn't be more serious.

He's ordered production stopped
on the offshore venture.

Well, he can't do that.

According to the agreement between Ewing
Oil and Marinos Shipping, he can, and has.

For the same reason that you've kept
the majority of your stripper wells.

There's one hell of a difference.

I only shut down wells that were pumping
less than 15 barrels a day.

Hell, has he even bothered to take a look
at where we stand on this operation?

I assure you,
he's reviewed the situation very carefully.

We have surpassed 5000 barrels a day.

And even with the slump in prices, we can
make a pretty profit on that kind of volume.

Well, that's where
you and my boss disagree.

He really is quite adamant on this issue.

Marinos Shipping has other sources
of revenue to fall back on, I don't.

I have to keep those wells pumping
to hold up my end of the deal.

Mr. Garrett is well aware of the financial
burden this will place on you.

Well, you just make him aware that
I'm gonna fight him tooth and nail on this.

Look, I've tried to make Mr. Garrett's
position to the Marinos Estate clear.

He regrets the situation...

...but until there's a favorable change
in oil pricing...

...those wells will remain capped.

Come in.

Nan, we really thank you
for staying so late to see us.

Truth is, we couldn't wait
until tomorrow to see you.

Tony's had a change of heart.
He has finally agreed to the adoption.

You have two very happy people here.

I didn't expect Tony
to turn around so fast.

You brought him a long way.

It's a tribute to both of you.

It's a dream come true.

Nan?

This is just the worst possible timing.

I received this earlier today.

It's the review board's final ruling...

...on your suitability
as adoptive candidates.

We were approved?

I'm sorry.
Your application has been denied.

I don't understand.
You said that everything was just fine.

Yes. In my opinion, it was.

Otherwise, I would never have allowed
you to approach Tony.

I don't believe this is happening.

This... This is not happening, damn it.
Not now.

Wait a minute, uh...

...was there a specific problem?
I mean, something that we could change?

Unfortunately, no.

Mr. Krebbs is criminally responsible
for the death of his nephew.

- The board just couldn't reconcile that.
- Are they aware of the circumstances?

I pleaded your case personally.

L... I guess it just wasn't enough.

Well, let me talk to them, then.

The process doesn't work that way,
Mr. Krebbs.

Well, then, the process stinks.

Ray.

No one understands
your disappointment more than I do.

I have no doubt that the two of you...

...would provide Tony
with the best possible upbringing.

That's it?

You expect us
to just walk away from this?

At this point, I have no alternative.

Well, we better find one.

Because this little boy
expects to have a future with us.

How the hell do I tell him
that he doesn't?

Uh-uh. No, no. Not true.

I was responsible for the decision
to cap those wells, not Garrett.

I could see it coming for a long time.
It was necessary.

But it's only temporary.

If you're asking if this will have any
effect on my loan payments, the answer is no.

No.

Well, I can't be any clearer than that.

Well, do I sound worried?

That's why you're in the business
of loaning money.

And I'm in the business of making it.
It's all part of the game, Franklin.

And nobody plays it better than me.

All right. I'll keep you posted.

Yeah, come in, Sly.

- Well, Cantrell.
- J.R.

Heard you had a shake-up
in your neck in the woods.

Glad to see you're all right.

Well, I hope this doesn't make you
change your mind.

What was that for?

That's just my way of saying thanks
for showing me the worst in myself.

You know, if it hadn't been for you,
I'd never know I could be better than that.

Oh, don't bother to get up.
I know my own way out.

Little late in life to find out
you have a conscience, isn't it?

That's something
you'll never understand.

So long, pal.

Work her hard, Cleat.
Let's see what she can really do.

Bring her left now.

Come on, push her.

Push her.

That's right.

Nice job, Cleat.

Coming along real nice, isn't it?

- By the looks of it, very quickly.
- Most of it due to that man over there.

Ben.

Someone here I'd like you to meet.

Morning, Clayton.

Ma'am.

Ben, this is my wife Ellie.

Ellie, this is Ben Stivers.

- Pleasure to meet you.
- Pleasure's all mine.

Clayton's done nothing but brag
about you. Ray too.

They say you've already pulled
this operation together.

I don't know about that.

Well, we're happy you're here.

I'm happy to be here.

Now, if you'll excuse me,
maybe I better get back to it. Mrs. Farlow.

- You're a lucky man, Clayton.
- Sure am.

Mr. Hodges?

My name is Andrea Barrett.

Uh, oh, no,
I know that you don't know me.

But, uh, I believe we have
a mutual acquaintance.

He'd prefer that I didn't use his name.

Uh, would it help...

...if I told you
that he was a very patriotic fellow?

Yes, I'm aware of the fact
that you don't come cheap.

But can we get together soon?
Very soon?

I have some business in Dallas
that needs to be settled.

And I'd hate to keep my friends
waiting much longer.

Wonderful. Thank you.

"And the canyon,
very narrow and extremely deep...

...was by no means
entirely bridged over by snow. "

"It was just in the narrow places
that the drifts had built out...

...until they'd formed a complete arch. "

J. R?

Are you okay?

Yeah.

I was just reading the boy a story.

I guess he didn't enjoy it
as much as I did.

I just wanted to kiss him good night.

J. R...

There's something
I'd like to discuss with you...

...but, um, maybe this isn't
a good time though.

Is it important?

Yes, it is.

Well, I don't think
I can deal with that tonight, darling.

- Well, maybe tomorrow.
- Fine.

Good night.