Exit the hero
“Swan Song” is a masterpiece. This is the best “Dallas” episode ever made because it dares to set aside so many of the show’s conventions — wheeling, dealing, double-crossing — to focus on what matters most: the characters and their relationships. Mostly, “Swan Song” tells the story of Bobby and Pam’s long-awaited reunion, which is cut short when he sacrifices his life to save hers. It’s pure soap opera, yet the performances from Patrick Duffy, Victoria Principal and the other actors are so heartfelt, every emotion rings true. Even though it’s 30 years later, and even though Bobby’s death later turned out to be a dream, “Swan Song” still moves me.
Like “A House Divided,” the 1980 segment that kicked off the “Who Shot J.R.?” phenomenon, “Swan Song” deserves to be remembered as a watershed moment for “Dallas.” Not only was this supposed to be Duffy’s final appearance as Bobby, it also was intended as the last hurrah for producer Leonard Katzman, who wrote and directed the episode before departing to run his own show on another network. Both men eventually returned to Southfork, which would have been unthinkable when the cameras were rolling on this episode in March 1985. (I examine the backstage drama in a companion post, “‘Swan Song: Making a ‘Dallas’ Classic.”) Watching it today, you get the impression everyone involved wanted to send Duffy and Katzman off on a high note. Did they ever.
More than anything, “Swan Song” is remembered for two scenes: Bobby pushing Pam out of the path of the speeding car and his deathbed farewell to his family. Neither sequence would pack as much punch if weren’t for two earlier, quieter moments. First, Pam summons Bobby to her home to discuss their future. The couple has been divorced for years, and now he’s engaged to Jenna Wade, one of the show’s other long-suffering heroines. Bobby tells Pam he still loves her, but she says it will destroy Jenna if he doesn’t go through with the wedding. “As much as I love you, you have to marry her,” Pam says. It’s a line straight out of a Douglas Sirk movie, but it’s crucial to our understanding of Principal’s character — and Duffy’s, for that matter. Bobby and Pam have always been willing to sacrifice their own happiness to spare the feelings of others. That’s what makes them perfect for each other.
Later, Bobby returns to Pam’s home and tells her he’s decided it would be wrong to marry one woman when he’s in love with another. This is something the audience has known for a long time, but “Dallas” fans are always one step ahead of the characters in matters of the heart. Finally, Bobby asks the question Pam — and the audience — has longed to hear: “Will you … marry me … again?” Duffy delivers the line with a sweet, almost nervous enthusiasm, while Principal responds by simultaneously bursting into tears and laughter. The characters kiss, and she elegantly reaches behind her head to turn off the lamp. It’s “Swan Song’s” most romantic moment — until Katzman kills the mood by cutting to the scene outside, where the mysterious driver who’s been following Bobby silently pounds her fists onto the steering wheel.
End of the road
Scream queen
“Swan Song’s” climactic action sequence begins the morning after Bobby’s proposal. A landscaper arrives at Pam’s house and parks his vehicle next to Bobby’s (this will be important later), while inside, the happy couple are beginning to plan their future together. After carrying little Christopher downstairs to breakfast — eggs and toast, not that you need to be reminded — Pam walks Bobby outside. She tells him how bad she feels for Jenna. He reassures her they’re doing the right thing, kisses her goodbye and walks to his car. In the distance, the stalker starts her ignition. Through her windshield we see Pam run over to give Bobby one more kiss, and then the stalker’s car begins moving. The motion slows, our hearts race. Bobby spots the speeding car and shouts Pam’s name. As she turns, he pushes her out of the way, allowing the vehicle to strike him. He rolls over the hood, the roof, the trunk. When he finally hits pavement, we hear the thud.
What happens next is seared into the memories of “Dallas” fans. Pam — dressed in that beautiful white sweater and pants — crawls to Bobby, turns him over and rests his bloodied head on her lap. It’s not unlike Jackie Kennedy cradling her husband in the moments after his assassination. Our point of view switches to the stalker’s car, which has slammed into the landscaper’s truck. He rushes over, reaches inside and pulls off the woman’s blonde wig, which turns her head toward the camera. Katherine Wentworth’s eyes — lifeless, yet still crazed — stare back at us. We then return to Bobby and Pam, who emits a guttural scream. In my behind-the-scenes post, Duffy says the sound she produced made his ears ring. I believe it. Principal has ceased being an actress at this moment. She is Pam Ewing, clutching the hand of the man she loves as he lay dying.
‘It’s Bobby’
Last call
If “Swan Song” had ended here, we’d still remember it as a great hour of television. But “Dallas” doesn’t let us off the hook that easily. The episode now shows us the characters finding out what’s happened to Bobby. Cliff is standing in his living room, arguing with his new wife Jamie and her brother Jack, when a radio bulletin announces the “bizarre turn of events” that’s caused Bobby to be rushed to the hospital. (This is the same radio voice that announced Bobby’s shooting at the beginning of this season, by the way.) When the newsman says the incident occurred at the home of “Mr. Ewing’s ex-wife,” Ken Kercheval closes his eyes and winces. The announcer may be puzzled by what’s happened, but Cliff knows.
Across town, J.R. is awakening in the home of his mistress, Mandy Winger. He’s decided to spend the day with her, so he calls Ewing Oil to let the secretaries know he won’t be coming into work. At the office, Phyllis is hunched over her desk, sobbing. Sly answers the phone and tells J.R. that everyone has been trying to reach him. He asks why she’s upset, but we don’t get to hear Deborah Rennard’s character break the news. Instead, Katzman holds the camera on Larry Hagman as J.R.’s face falls. In the background, we hear a few solemn notes of the “Dallas” theme. “It’s Bobby,” J.R. says as he puts down the phone, grabs his hat and rushes out the door.
This is one of the most powerful moments in the episode. Much credit goes to Hagman, whose reaction is flawless, and composer Lance Rubin, who was smart enough to use the theme music to signal the gravity of the situation. But don’t overlook Deborah Tranelli, the actress who plays Phyllis. More than anyone else in this episode, she serves as a stand-in for the audience. Bobby was Phyllis’s boss, but she also knew him the way we do — as a friend. Phyllis’s tears are ours. Without saying a word, Tranelli delivers one of “Swan Song’s” most haunting performances.
Death is but a dream
Sob brother
The deathbed farewell is a familiar trope in drama, but the “Dallas” cast infuses Bobby’s goodbye with heart and grace. This was a company of actors who cared about each other and their work, and in this scene, it shows. Steve Kanaly’s sobbing is touching, and so is the single tear that streams down Hagman’s face. This also is one of Donna Reed’s best performances as Miss Ellie. Yes, Bobby’s death would have been even more memorable if it had featured Barbara Bel Geddes, but Reed looks believably stricken. Of course, nothing gets me like the moment Bobby’s monitor flat lines, jolting Pam. I don’t know if Principal did this instinctively or if she was following Katzman’s direction, but seeing Pam almost jump out of her skin makes the shock of Bobby’s death palpable. I also love what Principal does next, throwing back her head in quiet agony. It’s an exquisite performance.
Perhaps no one rises to the occasion, though, quite like Duffy. It would have been easy to overplay a scene like this, as we’ve all seen actors in other movies and TV shows do. But Duffy strikes every note perfectly, from his groggy greeting upon waking up (“Hey, Ray”) to the break in voice when he addresses Ellie (“Oh, Mama, I’m sorry”). Duffy brings to bear all the years he spent creating this character; if Bobby’s death feels like the loss of a real person, it’s because of the actor playing him. It’s also worth noting how smartly Katzman wrote this scene. He injects a little mystery into the exchange by having Bobby declare, “All that wasted time. We should have been married.” Is he speaking to Pam or Jenna? It seems clear now, but I can remember debating this with my mom in 1985. On the other hand, when Bobby says, “Be good to each other. Be a family,” do we have any doubt which Ewing that line is directed toward?
Never the same
Bye, Bob
There’s much more to love about “Swan Song.” This episode also gives us one of the great bedroom fights between J.R. and Sue Ellen (“Joan of Arc would have been a drunk if she had been married to you”); another touching moment from Kanaly when Ray pleads with his estranged wife Donna to come back to him; and Lucy’s sentimental farewell to the Ewings after remarrying Mitch. “I’m going to miss you all. I’ll never be the same again,” she says. I have no doubt the line describes Charlene Tilton’s own sentiments as much as it does her character’s. (Although this was Tilton’s swan song too, she eventually returned, like Duffy and Katzman.)
And yet “Swan Song” isn’t flawless, is it? During the proposal scene, the shadows on Duffy’s face are distracting, Katherine’s wig and her tomato juice throwing scene are undeniably campy, and there’s at least one glaring continuity error: On the morning of the accident, we see Bobby putting on brown boots — but when he’s run over in the driveway a few minutes later, he’s wearing black shoes. The show also gives away quite a bit of the plot in the pre-credits roll, although I suppose that doesn’t matter now that we know how the story ends. Some fans also gripe that “Dallas” was foolish to kill off Bobby in the first place since Duffy ended up returning, but I admire the boldness of his death. Killing major characters is common on television today, but it didn’t happen so much in the 1980s. And let’s face it: “Dallas” handles Bobby’s demise much better than it did Jock’s, which dragged on far too long.
Does it matter that the most memorable parts of “Swan Song” later turned out to be one character’s dream? Not really. Yes, Bobby’s death has gone down in television history with an asterisk next to it, but that doesn’t diminish the quality of the production and the amount of heart that went into honoring the character by giving him a meaningful sendoff. It brings to mind something I learned reading comic books as a kid: So what if this is an imaginary story. Aren’t they all?
Grade: A+
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Death becomes her
‘SWAN SONG’
Season 8, Episode 30
Airdate: May 17, 1985
Audience: 23.3 million homes, ranking 1st in the weekly ratings
Writer and Director: Leonard Katzman
Synopsis: Sue Ellen asks Dusty to help her get sober. Donna tells Ray she’s pregnant. Cliff contemplates ending his marriage to Jamie. Lucy and Mitch are remarried. Bobby proposes to Pam and she accepts, but a vengeful Katherine mows him down in the driveway. At the hospital, Bobby bids farewell to his family before dying.
Cast: Mary Armstrong (Louise), Morgan Brittany (Katherine Wentworth), Roseanna Christensen (Teresa), Pat Colbert (Dora Mae), Patrick Duffy (Bobby Ewing), Walker Edmiston (Parson Carson), Eric Farlow (Christopher Ewing), Linda Gray (Sue Ellen Ewing), Larry Hagman (J.R. Ewing), Jenilee Harrison (Jamie Barnes), Susan Howard (Donna Krebbs), Steve Kanaly (Ray Krebbs), Omri Katz (John Ross Ewing), Howard Keel (Clayton Farlow), Ken Kercheval (Cliff Barnes), Jared Martin (Dusty Farlow), Shalane McCall (Charlie Wade), Leigh McCloskey (Dr. Mitch Cooper), Priscilla Beaulieu Presley (Jenna Wade), Victoria Principal (Pam Ewing), Dack Rambo (Jack Ewing), Donna Reed (Miss Ellie Farlow), Debbie Rennard (Sly), Deborah Shelton (Mandy Winger), Charlene Tilton (Lucy Ewing), Deborah Tranelli (Phyllis), David White (Mark)
“Swan Song” is available on DVD and at Amazon and iTunes. Watch the episode and share your comments below.
Dallas Decoder 
This is a very good critique. Worthy of what I know is your favorite episode. You do an excellent job discussing the set up and impact of Bobby’s death, especially for Patrick and Victoria–both of whom are great in this episode–but other actors too like Deborah Tranelli’s brief but very effective scene. And I love how you close this. “So what if this is an imaginary story. Aren’t they all?” So true!
Thank you, dear!
“So what if this is an imaginary story. Aren’t they all?”
Don’t tell me you’re a comic-book fan, too, Chris B.?
You got it! I wasn’t sure anyone would recognize that reference. I updated the line to reflect its origins in the comics. Thanks J.R.
Thank you for this excellent critique of a true DALLAS milestone. Just reading it was enough to make my eyes water… I love the way you appreciate everyone’s contribution to this perfect episode. While I can imagine how Barbara Bel Geddes would have acted in the final scene, I am a great fan of Donna Reed’s truthful performance here; in my experience this is how people do react in that situation – shock and disbelief.
Until now I did not know that this was actually the last scene filmed in the spring of 1985, but I can completely understand the sentiment that went into the shooting schedule. If there was a letter in the alphabet before A, “Swan Song” would deserve that, too.
Thanks Stephan. I thought about giving this episode an “A++.” I’ve been wanting to go back and revise my letter grading for a while now. I think I probably misjudged quite a few, although I’ll ever love anything as much as “Swan Song.”
BTW can’t find that recap online anywhere.
I remember at the start of the next series when Barbara Bel Geddes returned she did the scene of Ellie crying out Noooo! in the hospital by Bobbys bed. They reshot Donna Reed’s scene. They didn’t even put Barbara in an outfit similar to Reed’s.
I’ve never heard this! Does anyone else remember Barbara Bel Geddes doing this scene?
Great critique as always Chris – it seems like only yesterday I was settling down to watch this episode as a 9 year old kid the first time round (8 pm on a Wednesday here in the UK btw).
Apparently it was watching the death bed scene that helped BBG decide to return as Miss Ellie – she knew it should have been her in that scene not Donna Reed!
Why oh why was Bobby so unconcerned about Katherine Wentworth for most of this series, an obviously unhinged woman who had tried to kill him twice already? Still if Bobby had to be killed there was no one better than her to do it.
Looking forward to your reviews of the rest of Pam’s dream (I mean Season 9!) In particular episode 6, the Oil Baron’s Ball episode when Pam makes her famous decision about Bobby’s share of Ewing Oil – if Swan Song is the best ever episode, that one is a contender for 2nd place.
Oh my goodness, that Oil Baron’s Ball speech! I’m looking forward to writing that critique too. I have a feeling I’ll be handing out a lot of “A’s” for Season 9 — or at least for the first stretch of episodes.
Thanks for your comments, Paul.
But you may have to hand out your first “Z” in that season – don’t get me started on “Masquerade” it’s too painful (but knowing you Chris you’ll probably spot some redeeming feature even in that stinker that I would never notice!)
Barbara Bel Geddes’ return was announced before “Swan Song” aired, so this episode was not the reason she returned.
I really liked your review, Chris! And to me, Swan Song is an especially great episode too – no doubt about that. Wonderful acting by everyone.
That said, there’s one thing I have to mention, honestly – although I’m afraid I might upset some people here (sorry, folks): To me, the deathbed scene at the hospital was just “too much”. I know soap opera scenes in hospitals (or elsewhere) are often totally unrealistic, that’s what makes them soap operas and no documentaries. I know. But seeing how a patient is at the verge of death, in a very bad condition obviously, and still the whole family is cosily surrounding his bed, no sterile clothing or masks, no medical staff in sight, and of course, this almost-dead-man can speak those beautiful words…
Best thing: When the monitor shows the flat line – wouldn’t that be the moment where a team of doctors, nurses, anybody would come rushing in, sending everybody out, immediately starting resuscitation??… Not in Dallas Memorial – they just let the guy die.
Puleeeezzzz!!!
I know, it’s a soap opera, but still… this is too much for me! It’s too bad because it spoils the tragedy in my opinion, making it campy, or cheesy, I’m not sure about the right word here, but maybe somebody sees what I mean?…
I understand what you mean, Balena. I understand how these things could undermine someone’s appreciation for that scene. I suppose I love it because it’s fantasy. If only death in real life could be as beautiful as what’s depicted here!
Z
We are finally here, wonderful critique Chris and this episode deserves the A+ you gave it. The actors especially VP and PD truly made this episode worthy to watch and memorable!!!. It is sad to see the last for now of Bobby and the last of little Eric Farlow (Christopher) and the last for now Pam and Bobby as a couple!!!
I am not looking forward to the next critiques because for me the next season just made me sad and mad for so many reasons which are too long to list!!! Anyway great job Chris!!!!
Thank you, Mary Ann! The next critique will be hard to write, that’s for sure.
Chris and Mary Ann: I’m looking forward to the next critiques because I like the dream season a lot – not because Bobby is gone, but because that season (to me) offers many great storylines. So I can’t wait. 🙂
I’m looking forward to re-visiting those episodes too. Stay tuned for my critiques!
Excellent critique, Chris. I love this scene, although it is is so sad.
Thank you, Elizabete!
Great critique C. B. I am not in the camp with the newly reengaged Mrs. Pamela Barnes Ewing about having to “feel sorry for Jenna Wade Marchetta Marchetta.” After all, look at it in context boy. Jenna sensing an estrangement or distance between herself and Fiance Bob at Lucy’s 2nd wedding to Mitch Cooper outright “released” him if he wasn’t happy b/c she could see he was also distant.
Thank you, R.J.!
I also liked the scenes between Jenna and Bobby in which she released him from his obligation to her.In a way she put Bobby’s happiness before her own
Love your text! I actually feel it is too hard to rewatch. Can’t handle death bed scene again. And as I said earlier I love the scene with Bobby and Pam in previous ep more.
One scene I thought was so good was the scene with Bobby and Jenna in the living room after Lucy’s wedding. Cause it is so sad. It’s before he goes to Pam. She knows, and he knows, and it is shot perfectly.
As I said, great great critique, and I might dare rewatch it now, a day I feel like weeping a bit.
Thank you for your kind words!
Hard to believe I watched this last night – 2 days after your post! I concur with your sentiments. I would go further to say that this episode befits the closing of Season 8 very well. The entire season was a pleasant surprise as the invective and tension ascribed to the characters is supplanted by more intricate action occurring outside the confines of the offices and Southfork (trip to Hong Kong, lots of Oil Barons’ Club scenes, the jail, the trial, the Naldo scenes). After a somewhat slow start this season has proved to be perhaps one of the most enjoyable, if not the most enjoyable, for me personally. The plot had a consistent resonance with authenticity and, in contrast to the earlier seasons’ high-tension, tightly-woven choreographed dramas (typically in the episodes leading up to a finale) interspersed with dull, drawn-out dialogue-laden stretches, Season 8 manages to keep things moving at a reasonably interesting pace throughout.
Thank you, P. I found this season to be uneven, but I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it.
I’m was happy ray and donna got back together they were the only stable couple on the show and they were deserve to have a child together.
There is one other blooper. Watch Pam’s shoes when it all goes slo-mo for the accident.
My partner and I (he is watching for the first time) have been underwhelmed by Donna Reed’s performance all season, but also startled by the producers’ steadfast refusal to give her a single meaty scene. The closest she got was when Clayton was adjusting to life at Southfork and Miss Ellie had the scintillating experience of… buying new bedroom furniture!
This episode – in its uncut version – shows that, given the chance, Reed could have added much to the show. She was always going to have a very different energy to Barbara Bel Geddes, and perhaps inherently a less naturalistic, more Hollywood-ised one, but it’s unforgivable to me that we never get to see Reed’s Miss Ellie really confront JR, slap some sense into anyone, or face torment. It’s clear from her numerous scenes in this episode that Reed was able to hold her own if the situation presented itself. The reality is many perfectly talented actors struggle to be interesting in small parts. It is a skill of its own. In some episodes, Susan Howard, for instance, may only have a couple of lines, but she is always entertaining to watch. Reed, on the other hand, was the kind of actor who needed to be “written for”. My impression is that the producers were underwhelmed by Reed early on, and so neglected to give her a meaty story, which ironically would have been what she needed to show her skills.
Anyhow, I can’t deny I’m overjoyed to have Barbara back, and that we’ll get to see Miss Ellie gardening and cooking again, but “Swan Song” was a real revelation of what could have been with Miss Ellie #2.
I remember after the shower scene, there were four scenarios for Patrick Duffy’s return:
1) Twin Brother
2) He never actually died
3) Dream Series
4) Imposter
I also remember that #3 would have been the worst of the four.. I still think they could have picked up where Season 9 left off and still had a pretty good show.