Knots Landing (1979–1993): Season 2, Episode 10 - Choices - full transcript

Hello?

Oh, hi.

No, no, no problem.
Something wrong with Earl?

Look, Judy, I told you.
I've been up to my ears this past week.

Okay, the past two weeks.

Of course I wanna see you.

I don't know when.

Look, it's not that easy, you know?
I mean...

Um...

- Good morning, darling. Hi.
- Yeah, can we, uh...?

Can we talk about this
over lunch? Uh-huh.



Yeah. All right. I'll see you then.

Yeah. We'll talk about it.

Goodbye.

- Who was that, darling?
- Oh, business.

- So early?
- Yeah.

And at night. And on the weekend.
It's nothing new.

Gary, you've been working so hard lately.
Maybe you're just trying to do too much...

what with making breakfast and all.

You look like the cat
that swallowed the canary.

- You made the deal with Lloyd McCormick.
- Yep.

He's gonna buy every piece
of that parts inventory...

- I had to buy from Frank and Roy.
- That's fantastic.

I pay them 50 grand and sell them
to Lloyd for 100.

He undersells every other parts jobber
around and guarantees us...



unlimited parts
at half his discounted price.

J.R. gets paid back, he makes a bundle...

and Sid is guaranteed cheap parts
from his regular jobber.

I am impressed.

And with a little creative bookkeeping,
that's where you come in...

Sid's never gonna notice a thing.

Except that his vice president
is making him a lot of money.

Well, it's the least I can do for him.

And just the start of what you can do
for yourself, Gary.

We'll let it cool off a little bit
and then we'll try that new fuel mixture.

- Give it about 15 minutes.
- Too long.

- What do you mean?
- They're done now.

- Sweet rolls.
- Ha-ha-ha.

- You're a character.
- No, you are.

I can't believe how much
I've learned from you.

Thanks.

I learned a little bit from
that egghead of yours too. Heh.

- I think we make a pretty good team.
- The best.

- I really love working this way.
- Mm.

- You know what George Halas said.
- No, what did he say?

It's not work unless you'd rather
be doing something else.

He's right.

- I only have one question.
- What?

Who's George Halas?

Service, line three.

Service, line three.

So as soon as you can
get all those done and everything...

I think, uh, we'll be in good shape.

Uh, get them prepped by 5:30,
and I think that it will...

Um, I'll talk to you about this later.

Why don't we, uh, go in the office?

Salesman, line two, please.

Salesman, line two, please.

- Hi.
- Hi, stranger.

I don't think it's a good idea
if we meet here.

I agree.

Earl...

Earl's going to his AA meeting tonight.

Yeah, I know. I'm taking him.

You don't have to.
We could have the night to ourselves.

Uh...

- I don't know. Earl needs a lot of support.
- So do I.

- I'll support both of you.
- I don't care about both of us, Gary.

It's been nearly two weeks.

I miss you.

Yeah, I miss you too.

Earl won't be home till at least 11:30.

We could have dinner.

And the night to ourselves?

Yeah.

I'll make a reservation at St. Michael's.

Excuse me.

Oh, I'm sorry, this looks like a bad time.

Gary, when you have a minute?

Salesman, showroom floor.

Salesman, showroom floor.

Salesman, line two, please.

Salesman, line two.

- What are you doing here?
- Lunch.

Oh, Richard, you should have called.

I hate the phone. Uh, can we have lunch?

Oh, I'm sorry. Something's come up.

I can't today.
You should've given me a call.

I need to see you.

Me too. But not today.

Please understand.

Look, I'm sick of understanding.

I mean, I've got a wife who works
seven days a week, 12 hours a day.

- That used to suit you fine.
- And now you've caught the bug.

- I mean, it's spreading like plague.
- Richard.

What am I supposed to do all day?

I mean, sit on the lawn
watching the grass grow?

I don't know. Why don't you, uh...

clean the house, uh, make the dinner,
mop the floors or...?

- You're a riot.
- Ha, ha.

Oh, uh.

- Bye, now.
- Nice to see you again.

- Who's that?
- Judy Trent.

- Customer?
- Heh.

Sort of. She's, um,
shopping for her best deal.

- Come on. Just a half an hour.
- I can't, Richard, I really... I've gotta run.

Bye.

Showroom, line three, please.

Showroom, line three.

Hey, Sid, uh, can I put this poster out
in the front window?

Sure. What is it?

California Trans-Am?
I didn't know that was this week.

I thought every racing nut
in the Western Hemisphere knew that.

Well, here's one racing nut
who sure didn't.

It's in, uh, Monterey this year.

- Boy, it'd make a nice weekend.
- Hope so.

- You're going?
- I wouldn't miss it.

I was supposed to go with my girlfriend,
but she got these basketball tickets.

I mean, can you imagine anyone
missing the race of the decade...

to see a bunch of skinny giants
stuff some ball in a hoop?

Well, that's a long trip
to make by yourself.

Why don't you come with me?

I'm serious.

You know...

I wouldn't mind seeing that race.

So see it.

I'll give it some thought.

- Really?
- Sure. Why not?

Hello, St. Michael's?

Yeah, this is Mr. Gary Ewing's secretary.

I'd like to make a reservation
for him for dinner tonight.

Oh, he did?

No kidding.

For what time?

Ah-ha.

Oh, yeah, that's it.

Well, uh, okay. Thank you. Bye.

Hi, Val?

It's Abby.

Terrific. How about you?

Listen, I was wondering
what you're doing for dinner tonight.

Great.

Sid.

Sid.

Okay, I'll be with you in a sec.

No, don't worry.
Gary said he'd drive me home.

- Okay.
- Okay. Bye-bye.

- See you later, Linda.
- Bye-bye. Take care.

Still at it, huh?

Yeah. Just about to call it quits here.

- What are you doing?
- Oh, waiting for Sid.

You know him, once he gets
his head under the hood of a car.

Ha, ha. You need a ride?

- Oh, gee, could you?
- Sure, no problem.

- I'll be right back.
- Oh, thanks.

- So, uh, what will it be?
- What'll what be?

Trans-Am, Monterey.

- Have you had time to think about it yet?
- I've had time...

but I haven't had a chance
to talk to Karen yet.

- Karen?
- Yeah. Have to see her first.

You mean you would talk
to your wife about this?

Sure.

It's not the type of thing
I like to bring up on the telephone.

Well, uh...

how would you bring it up?

Ha. I'd just bring it up. It's no big deal.

- It's not?
- No.

It's not like we're going to Hawaii
or something.

So, uh, you would bring it up and she
would give her opinion on the idea?

Mm-hm. If she says yes, we're on.

Oh.

I'm really sorry about this morning.

Walking in on you and, uh...

- What's her name again?
- Judy. Judy Trent.

Yeah.

Her husband's the writer
and drinker, right?

Are they, um...

still having problems?

Yeah, something like that.

She's lucky to have someone
like you to lean on.

It isn't what you think, Abby.

What do you mean? What do I think?

Earl's having trouble with the booze.
It's, uh, been hard on Judy too.

It's been hard on you.

Chasing out after him at all hours
of the day and night.

You know, she's awfully pretty.
It's too bad she doesn't smile more.

I don't think she's got much
to smile about these days.

I guess not.

- Well, thanks for the ride.
- You're welcome.

- Have a nice evening.
- Thanks, you too.

Good night.

Richard. What are you doing?

I just came to borrow a cup of sugar.

Not tonight. Mm-mm.

I'm tired and I, uh,
I've got a lot on my mind.

Nervous tension. Acupressure's
just the thing, and I'm an expert.

Oh, hey, that's delicious.

- Another time?
- Tonight?

I'm having dinner with Val.

I'll wait up.

It, um...

It... Oh! It might be late.

What's Laura gonna say?

I wasn't planning
on asking her permission.

Actually, I would like
to see you for a while.

I'll watch for your lights.

- How about a little hors d'oeuvre?
- Later, Richard.

Stock-car racing?

Yeah. Michael will love it.

As a matter of fact, so would you.

Leave me out of this.

- I don't think so, Sid.
- Why not?

It wouldn't be very good for Michael.

Couldn't sit still
for such a long car ride.

And then, just to be a spectator
at the races...

he'd have no way
of spending his energy.

I never thought of that. Heh.

It's just beginning to dawn on me
how complicated this whole thing can be.

He's a hyperkinetic kid
and we just found out about it.

It's gonna take a lot of dawning.

- Sid?
- Mm?

- Why don't you take Eric?
- Without you?

Why not? He's been
working so hard with Michael.

We haven't been paying much attention
to him. It'll do him some good.

I don't know.

Besides, he could chaperon you
and that siren in overalls.

Siren? Linda?

Half the time I forget she's a woman.

I never forget.

Well...

it is kind of a long drive
just for a weekend.

We could do without you
for a couple of days.

I thought you said I'm not
home enough on weekends.

But this is the Trans-Am.

Anyway, think about it.

As long as you let me know...

so I can make plans.

Good work, Sidney.

Honey?

Are you, uh... Are you going to eat?

Yeah, sure.

When's Jason coming home?

Uh, he's spending the night at Jackie's.

Ah.

Jason's gone...

you're home early.

What do you know?
The little lady has love on her mind.

Maybe I do and maybe I don't.

How about you?

Maybe I will and maybe I won't.

Why don't we just, um...?

Why don't we just go upstairs?

Isn't that supposed to be my line?

It's been so long
since we've been alone together.

We need to be alone.

I hadn't noticed.

Well, uh...

I have.

You know?

Honey?

You wanna give it a shot,
we'll give it a shot.

Go on, put on some candles, incense.

How about a soft negligee,
some sexy music? Hm?

I mean, it might work.

Then again, it might not.

Richard, if you don't wanna
make love with me, don't.

Okay.

Well, I tried.

Did you believe that waiter?

- Was he gorgeous?
- He sure was.

When he asked what we wanted,
I had to bite my tongue.

I noticed that. I saw that. Ha, ha.

Listen, it's early yet. Why don't
we have a coffee and a brandy?

Well, I don't know.

Gary will be getting home pretty soon.

Come on. It'll be good for him
to miss you a little.

- I really should be getting back, Abby.
- Oh, Val, just a half-hour.

I know a fabulous place. Come on.

Well, look. Look at it
from Earl's point of view.

I am sick of looking at everything
from Earl's point of view.

And of trying to be understanding
and sympathetic all the time.

All right. But get off the fence.

If you're gonna stick with Earl,
then do it. Get behind him, support him.

If you're sure it can't work,
then leave him.

But, Judy, it's gotta be a clean break.

Where does Gary Ewing stand?

Which side of the fence?

Neither. I don't wanna
figure in your thinking.

Stick with Earl or leave Earl,
but do it because of the two of you.

The fact that you and I have been sleeping
together is completely immaterial, right?

Well, to your decision, yes.

You want me to stay married to him,
don't you?

Me a married woman, you a married man
makes our affair safe.

Gary, I'm not made that way.

Despite what you may think...

I'm not used to being
an unfaithful wife, and I don't like it.

- Maybe we should stop seeing each other.
- No, that's not what I'm saying.

I'm telling you, from the first moment
you and I slept together...

I knew Earl and I were through.

If you know that,
why don't you leave him?

I want to.

- What's stopping you?
- You are.

Gary, I don't know
what to expect from you.

Believe me, I'd leave him in a minute
if I thought I could count on you.

You can always count on my support.

I don't mean that.

Then what do you mean?

Tell me, what is it you want
from me, exactly?

I want you.

I want 100 percent of you.

I'm sorry, Judy, it's not possible.

Because of Valene?

- Yes.
- So if you love her so much...

I do.

Why are you my lover?

Why, Gary?

- Hi.
- Hello.

- Two for dinner?
- No, just drinks.

- Okay. The bar is down there.
- Thank you.

Thank you.

Is this place as expensive
as it looks? - Well, sure.

Jeff Cunningham only takes us
to the best places.

What's he got to do with it?

Well, he likes taking care of me,
so he's, uh...

- not taken back his credit cards yet.
- Oh.

It really is beautiful.

What's the matter?

It's Val.

Val, why don't we go somewhere else?

Come on, Val.

No, no, no. It's okay.

- Hi.
- Hi.

I asked him to meet me here...

uh, to talk about Earl.

Is he drinking again?

He is, and I'm, uh, at the end of my rope.

I've decided that we can't go on,
Earl and I are getting a divorce.

I really needed someone to talk to.

I don't have friends,
certainly none out here.

- No, I know.
- Val...

No, that's all right, Gary.
You stay right here. Um.

Y'all stay right here, I'll be right back.

16000 block, Seaview Terrace.

Valene! Val...

Thank you.

Coincidence?

No.

No.

Thank you.

What did you expect to gain?

I'll tell you what.
Let's leave me out of this.

This isn't about me.

What is it about?

It's about you and Val and Gary.

- The classic triangle.
- Where do you fit in?

I told you, I'm not the topic tonight.

- Well, it seems to me you are, and...
- Well, hey.

- May I buy you ladies a drink?
- Take a hike.

- Tough cookie.
- If I have to be.

I guess that's the attraction.

Yours to Gary.

You're the complete antithesis of Val.

She's so sweet and trusting and naive.

Oh, what am I, Madame Defarge?

No.

But you're smart...

and you're stylish,
you're sophisticated.

Your Gary's equal.

Val tries so hard,
and she's really very, very charming.

Gary is just growing by leaps and bounds.

He knows what he wants,
he knows where he's going.

He just outgrows his little country girl
more every day.

You want him, don't you?

Why would I want him?

I don't know why...

just that you do.

This was really very clever,
the way you set all this up.

You're sending me in
to clear away the debris.

You want me to wreck the marriage
to give you clear sailing.

Well, it won't work.

Oh, I'll wreck the marriage, all right...

but I'll get Gary.

And do you wanna know why?

Because I already have him.

In his own, slightly strange way,
Gary is a one-woman man.

Wait a minute. I'm pretty good
at arithmetic, and I've always...

Gary hasn't really been with Val
since the first night he spent with me.

Now, don't you worry about Val.
I'll take care of her.

But don't expect to move in,
I'll be right there.

Oh, wait a minute.

Seems Gary left you holding the check.

I'm not holding it. You are.

You said, uh, something about a drink?

Valene...

it isn't what you think.

Look.

Judy and Earl had a fight tonight,
a big one.

When I got there, Earl had walked out
and Judy was in bad shape.

I figured she needed as much help as Earl,
so we went out to talk.

Honey, Judy and Earl are friends.

By helping one of them, I help them both.

I thought you understood
what I'm trying to do.

I do, Gary.

Wait a minute.

You think I'm having an affair
with Judy, is that it?

No, Gary, it's just that I was...

Honey, I'm just trying to do
what's best for both Earl and Judy.

And by helping them, I help myself.

- I know that.
- Look, uh...

if it's gonna cause a problem,
I'll cut them loose right now.

No. It's just that I... I...
I feel kind of...

Confused. Forget it.
I won't deal with them anymore.

- No, Gary, I don't want that, I just...
- Valene...

you mean more to me
than any drunk and his neurotic wife.

Honey...

we've been through it all together.
We've come too far.

Val, there's no me without you.

I know that every minute of every day.

I couldn't betray you. You know that.

Look.

I know how it looked, but...

Oh, Val, I love you very, very much.

But I've gotta have your trust.

If I don't have that, there's nothing else.

Oh.

Hey. Glad I'm not buying
real estate today.

- Be hard to say no to you.
- Oh, really?

It happens sometimes. Believe me.

- I'm ready, Sid.
- Good.

- Hi, Laura.
- Abby.

Some night last night, huh?

- You all right?
- Yeah, I guess so.

How's Val?

She jumped to all the wrong
conclusions, didn't she?

No. Not at all.

Val knows that you're just being
a good friend to Judy, doesn't she?

I hope so.

Well, if I were Val, I'd worry about
an attractive guy like you sometimes...

with other women...

but not Judy.

She's not your type.

Gary, if there's anything that I can do...

please let me know.

Really.

You and Val are very important to me.

Okay?

All right.

Excuse me.

I thought we should talk.

But I see you're going out.

No, uh, it can wait.

Last night was very awkward for me.

Heh, well, it was awkward for all of us.

That's why I thought we should talk.

Sure. Come on in.

You know, it's funny. Now that I'm here,
I don't really have very much to say.

Me either.

I want my husband.

So do I.

Gary and I have been seeing each other.

We're very close.

We're lovers.

I... I think you better go.

And we love each other very much.

Last night changed a lot of things
for all of us.

I'm leaving Earl.

And Gary and I wanna be together.

I'm asking you to get out.

All right, Valene, you tell me.

Do you and Gary
ever talk the way you used to?

Do the things you used to do together?
Do you have anything in common anymore?

Don't.

Val, come on, admit it.

Whatever brought the two of you
together and held you together...

doesn't exist anymore.

Get out!

- It's amazing.
- Yes.

Uh, what's amazing?

The way they design these new babies.

There's not an inch
of wasted space anywhere.

- Mr. Fairgate?
- Sid.

Sid.

Feel how comfortable this is.

- Come on, get in.
- Uh, I was wondering if...

Sit down, sit down. This is much more
comfortable than those old gas-guzzlers.

- See that new seat?
- Yeah. Yeah, it's comfortable.

Definitely very comfortable.

I was wondering about this weekend.

This weekend?

Oh, you mean Monterey.

- So, uh, are we going?
- Uh...

- I'm afraid I can't, as much as I'd like to.
- Oh.

Yeah, you see, Michael's got
this physical problem...

and he needs a lot of physical therapy.

You know,
Karen gets pretty worn out doing it.

Oh, I understand.

The weekend's the only time
I can spell her and give her a break.

- Well, that's only fair.
- Yeah. She wants me to go, actually.

But...

I don't really think I should.

I think I owe it to her
and to Michael to stay home.

Absolutely.

Salesman, line two.

So I'll take a rain check, all right?

Salesman, line two, please.

- Uh, Mr. Fairgate?
- Sid.

Uh, Sid.

Do you mind if I ask you
a personal question?

I don't mind if you ask. Ha, ha.

Do you and your wife
always talk about things like this?

- Things like what?
- Well, like a weekend away.

Well, sure. It's not the kind of thing
that I can just go and lay out to her.

She's not the kind of woman that'll let
her schedule be laid out for her, anyway.

- I mean, it's her weekend too, right?
- Oh, definitely.

Sid, line three.

Uh, the two of you have a very
modern arrangement, then?

I don't know. I guess so.

What's good for the goose
is good for the gander, isn't it?

Thanks. Sid Fairgate.

Mr. Robertson? Sid Fairgate here.

Yeah, I know that we said
we'd have your car by noon, but...

- Sid?
- Mm, thank you.

Gary?

- Roll?
- Mm.

- Uh, I really like this, Karen.
- Heh.

- I know, you told me.
- No, but, I mean, I'm surprised I like it.

I don't usually like pork cooked this way.

- Well, the secret is to use veal.
- Huh.

Right, you, uh, did tell me
it was veal, didn't you?

Veal chops.

Well, what do I know?
I see a piece of meat that isn't steak.

We've had veal like this, haven't we?

Val?

You've made veal like this before,
haven't you?

- Pork.
- Ha, ha.

Well, you see, honey, there's the source
of the problem right there.

Val?

- I could get you something else.
- Oh, no, no, thank you. I like this fine.

It's all right if you don't like it.
I'm used to cooking for the kids.

No, really. I like it fine.

- It's no trouble.
- Karen.

It's okay.

Uh, Harry Anderson came in today.
I think he wants to sell out.

Well, he'd lose his shirt
if he sells out now.

That's why we should be the buyers.

I feel sorry for Harry.
He's such a nice guy.

Yeah, well, if we can take advantage
of the market now...

Val, you met Harry Anderson.

He was here with Doris
last summer one night.

Will you excuse me, please?

- Are you all right?
- Excuse me.

- Val...
- Will you let go of me?

- What is it? What's the matter?
- I know about it.

- About what?
- Judy.

I had a visitor today.

And I know about it.

And I can't stand to look at you,
so will you please let me go?

Uh...

I'm sorry.

Hey, listen.
You don't owe us an apology...

but don't you think
you'd better go talk to Val?

I don't know what to say.

Well, you were right.

- What?
- We should've had steak.

Is, uh, Jason in bed?

Where else do you think he'd be at 9:15?

I, uh... I called.
There was no answer, Richard.

Yeah. We went out for pizza. Pepperoni.

I left you a slice and, uh,
your martini's in the fridge.

I'll, uh... I'll see you later.

- Where are you going?
- Out.

Richard, do you wanna be married to me?

I am married to you.

Is it my job?
Is my job making you like this?

I love your job.

I mean, we sure couldn't get by
on my income.

Considering I don't have an income.

- You haven't been looking for work.
- Why should I?

You can't make a career out
of being angry at me.

Look, uh...

I've got a late interview for a job.

Why don't we talk about this
in a couple of months, huh?

Is Abby expecting you again?

Yeah, she's, uh, interviewing me for some
night work at Knots Landing Motors.

Well, go ahead. I don't care.

- You don't?
- No.

When I saw you going
next door last night...

you know what? I really didn't care.

Richard, we're in a lot of trouble.

- I think we should get some help.
- What kind of help?

Professional help. A therapist who can
look at our problems from the outside.

You mean a shrink? Forget it.

A lot of people who have trouble
with their marriage go to a therapist.

- There's nothing wrong with it.
- Nothing at all.

But I already have a therapist.

She lives right next door
and she doesn't charge a fee.

Valene...

Listen.

It's beautiful, isn't it? Ah.

It sounds just like it looks.

I'm sorry, Val.

I'm sorry.

I believe you.

I don't know how it happened.

It happened, that's all.

I know this is gonna sound terrible...

but it didn't have anything
to do with you...

or us.

Don't make it worse by pretending.

- I'm not.
- Yes, you are.

If you think it didn't have anything
to do with us.

Of course it did.

You're lying to yourself
if you think it didn't.

I thought we were doing good, Gary.

We were. We are. Really good.

Well, then, where did we go wrong?

We got married...

we had a baby.

We didn't get to raise her.

That was my fault.

I ran away and my family took her.

Then we were driven apart...

and we stayed apart for a long...
Oh, yeah, such a long, long time.

And I waited and I waited.

But it paid off.

We found each other again.

Yeah.

Right.

Then we came to this place,
where we were...

We were strangers.

We were so terribly out of place.

You even started drinking again.

And I... I tried to please you.

I even took to acquiring tastes for things
I couldn't even pronounce the names of.

Valene, you're wrong.

You've done fine.

We do fit in.

- We know what we're after and why.
- No.

Uh-uh. She was right.

We've gone backwards.

We've gone no place.

No, no "we."

Just me. Me.

I lied to you.

I'm to blame, not you.

I don't know, Gary. Something...

really did just go wrong.

I went wrong.

No. You didn't.

Believe me now, please.

Please.

Valene...

I love you.

I love you.

Joe, report to the service area.

Okay, we need more of these 7400s.
Now, if I order...

- I don't know, maybe a truckload...
- Don't worry.

I can put it in as a sort of a, uh...

Why don't you, um, give me a buzz
when, uh, when you're ready?

Come on in.

Why'd you do it?

I think Earl and Val have a right to know.

- You told Earl too?
- No, not yet.

I wanted to make sure
that this was the right time.

It's not. There won't be a right time.

Gary, I thought you said...

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

Neither of us thought.
And you did all the talking.

Well, you led me to believe...

I led you to believe what, Judy?

That you loved me.

Did I?

Val's been holding me up for so long.

I don't know, I guess with you...

I liked being the one
doing the holding up.

I was impressed with you.

Impressed with myself
for being the strong one.

Don't you like being looked up to?

Don't you wanna be depended upon
for the rest of your life?

Yeah, I want it.
I wanna be strong and dependable.

Without Val, I got no way
of knowing how close I'm coming.

The way she sees me
is the way I measure myself.

Gary, that's pitiful.

Maybe.

But it's the truth.

Bye, Gary.

Well, congratulations, and good luck.

You're gonna need it.

Gary?

You ready for me now?