Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘The Ending Depends on the Start’

In the beginning

In “The Outsiders,” a second-season “Dallas” episode, Donna (Susan Howard) has drinks at the Longhorn Bar with Ray (Steve Kanaly), whom she met the night before.

RAY: I realized I sat around here talking about myself last night. I don’t know anything about you.

DONNA: Well, there’s not a lot to tell, really. My name is Donna.  I’m, uh, 28. I was born in Marshall, Texas.

RAY: [Smiles] Marshall?

DONNA: Yeah, you know that little place close to Shreveport?

RAY: Sure, sure.

DONNA: And you know, I really don’t know what I’m doing here with you.

RAY: Oh well, maybe it’s just my rugged western charm, huh?

DONNA: [Laughs] No, no, I don’t think that’s what it is. No, um, I think it’s the fact that you didn’t try and hit on me last night.

RAY: Well, I wasn’t looking for that. I didn’t think you were, either.

DONNA: Well, tell me, what are you looking for?

RAY: I don’t know. Nothing complicated. Maybe just a happy ending. [Drinks]

DONNA: You and everybody else. [Pauses] Why do you think, uh, that it’s so difficult for people to have a happy ending?

RAY: Well, it could be the ending depends on the start. Beginning with somebody that you could end up happy with.

DONNA: Well, that would be terrific. I mean, you know, if things didn’t change – but they do. I mean, they always do.

The waitress arrives with their drinks. Ray thanks her.

RAY: We sure are getting serious here all of a sudden.

DONNA: Oh, I don’t want to get serious. No. [Raises her glass] To fun.

RAY: Yeah, I could use a lot of that. To fun.