Better late than never
In “Post Nuptial,” a sixth-season “Dallas” episode, J.R. and Sue Ellen (Larry Hagman, Linda Gray) are on the patio of their honeymoon suite, where she leans on a table as he pours himself a cup of coffee.
SUE ELLEN: I rode over to the boat dock yesterday and I thought maybe we could take a boat out for a sail this afternoon.
J.R.: Oh, you know me and water. Unless it’s cooped up in a swimming pool, I have a definite aversion to it.
SUE ELLEN: [Giggles, touches his face] I’ll protect you.
J.R.: More than enough to wet my bourbon, it scares the devil out of me, honey.
SUE ELLEN: That’s not true.
J.R.: No, the truth is, I have a meeting in town today.
SUE ELLEN: [Exasperated] J.R.!
J.R.: I couldn’t get out of it.
SUE ELLEN: Well, this is my honeymoon!
J.R.: Well, it’s mine too. [Reclines in his seat] This is an important meeting. It really is. Vital to our future, as a matter of fact. [Sips his coffee]
SUE ELLEN: Then I’m going with you.
J.R.: It’s business!
SUE ELLEN: When we started our new life together, I wanted to make sure that that included both family — and business.
J.R.: You sound like a different woman.
SUE ELLEN: [Smiles] I am. And I want you to be different too. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure it works this time.
J.R.: So am I.
SUE ELLEN: If you really do mean that, then I want a commitment from you. No other women, no games. A total commitment, all the way.
J.R.: That’s what I did when I married you this time, Sue Ellen.
SUE ELLEN: I certainly hope so. Because I couldn’t handle it any other way.
J.R.: [Leans forward, sets down his cup] You won’t have to. [Kisses her] I promise you.
Dallas Decoder 
A very interesting choice of “scene of the day” (the pool fight would have meant much less dialogue to type up ;)). It shows us Sue Ellen taking an early step in the character’s development, whose culmination we see in the TNT seasons. The given scene makes it obvious that Sue Ellen is clearly aware of what it takes to have a successful relationship and to stand your own ground. So in her head, she has it all straightened out, but we know that in 1982 she didn’t have the strength to follow through. Finding that strength to put her words into action is left for later seasons – and in fact a whole new series…
You’re very correct: This feels like the period of “Dallas” when we begin seeing Sue Ellen become the character she is today.
As always, thanks for sharing your feedback. You always have terrific insight into these characters.
Chris
“No other women, no games” is Sue Ellen living in fairy tale land. JR making a commitment is a joke in itself, but no more women and no games is like telling JR not to breathe. Then again Sue Ellen was taking a big chance with her heart going back to JR, so I guess she needed him to take a big chance also which means making a real honest commitment which he has never really done all the years they were together. Sue Ellen at this point was desperate for change in her relationship with JR and a change in JR himself. JR never lived up to that promise for long but can’t blame a girl for wishing and hoping, poor Sue Ellen she truly was long suffering.!!!!
Very true. Thanks Maryann.