Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘You Can’t Do It, Mama’

June 22, 2015 by 11 Comments
Dallas, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman, Shadows

The defiant one

In “Shadows,” an eighth-season “Dallas” episode, Miss Ellie (Donna Reed) stands in the Southfork living room, where J.R. (Larry Hagman) is seated and Bobby (Patrick Duffy) stands.

ELLIE: Bobby, J.R., ever since Clayton and I returned from Greece, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. It’s not easy for him to move into this family. In spite of our faults, we’re very close together and we don’t open doors easily to outsiders.

J.R.: [Chuckles] Well, it’s no secret that at one time I was against Clayton, but I don’t think I’ve done anything to make him feel unwelcome since you two got married.

ELLIE: No, you haven’t, J.R., and I appreciate that.

BOBBY: It was a little difficult for me at first to see you with a new man, but I made my peace with that.

ELLIE: You’ve both been very good about it. But there’s something that we haven’t been able to do, and that is to put the past behind us. I’m speaking of Jock.

J.R.: Well, wait a minute. It’s one thing for Clayton to marry my mama, but he’s never going to take the place of my daddy.

BOBBY: Same goes for me.

ELLIE: Bobby, J.R., nobody could ever take the place of your daddy — and not for me either. I loved him with all my heart. [Turns, walks toward the painting of Jock hanging on the wall, touches the frame] But he’s gone, and the rest of us have to be free to go on with our lives.

J.R.: Mama, I think I know what you’re talking about, but that painting’s not hurting anyone. It’s the only thing we got left of Daddy around here.

ELLIE: That’s not true, and you know it.

J.R.: [Stands] You can’t do it, Mama. It belongs here.

ELLIE: It did once, but no more. It belongs at Ewing Oil, the company he built.

BOBBY: She’s right.

J.R.: No, she’s not right.

ELLIE: J.R., please, don’t make it any more difficult —

J.R.: You’re wrong!

ELLIE: J.R., I know how much you loved your daddy, but keeping that painting up there is not going to bring him back. Only our memories could do that, and we have a lifetime of those. I mean, your daddy is in every shadow in this house, in every place he ever walked. And nobody could take away the love we had for him. But his life with us is over, and we’ve mourned him long enough. Taking this painting down is the right thing to do. I’m sure that even Jock would agree. [Lifts the painting off the wall, holds it] It’s time for this family to start again.

Watch this scene in “Shadows,” available on DVD and at Amazon and iTunes, and share your comments below.

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Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘That Blue Thing’

June 17, 2015 by 2 Comments
Dallas, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman, Oil Baron's Ball III

Drive him crazy

In “Oil Baron’s Ball III,” an eighth-season “Dallas” episode, Miss Ellie and Clayton (Barbara Bel Geddes, Howard Keel) exit their car in the Southfork driveway, where Raoul (Tony Garcia) is signing a deliveryman’s paperwork.

ELLIE: That’s for me, Raoul.

RAOUL: Yes, ma’am.

ELLIE: Thank you. [Signs paper] Thank you. Uh, for us.

CLAYTON: Hm?

ELLIE: It’s a new set of bedroom furniture. Donna helped me choose it yesterday and I got them to deliver it today.

CLAYTON: Bedroom furniture?

ELLIE: I thought it was time for a change.

CLAYTON: Oh. [They kiss.]

ELLIE: [To deliveryman] Follow me and I’ll show you where to put everything.

J.R. (Larry Hagman) approaches.

J.R.: Hey Mama, what’s going on?

ELLIE: New set of bedroom furniture for Clayton and me. [Walks away]

J.R.: Oh, really? Well, how about that. [To Clayton] I’ve got to hand it to you. Not here a week and you’re changing things around already.

CLAYTON: For your information, it was your mother’s decision. And since it’s our bedroom and not yours, it’s really none of your business, is it?

J.R.: Mm-hm. I suppose not. [Walks toward his car, which is being blocked by Clayton’s] Uh, could you have that blue thing moved out of the way so I could get my car out of here?

CLAYTON: Be my guest. [Tosses keys to J.R.]

Watch this scene in “Oil Baron’s Ball III,” available on DVD and at Amazon and iTunes, and share your comments below.

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Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘I’m Not Going to Bury His Memory’

June 15, 2015 by 3 Comments
Dallas, Homecoming, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman

No touching!

In “Homecoming,” an eighth-season “Dallas” episode, J.R. (Larry Hagman) enters the Southfork kitchen, where Bobby (Patrick Duffy) sits at the table, drinking a beer.

J.R.: Hi, Bob. When did you get in?

BOBBY: [Sighs] About an hour ago.

J.R.: [Opens the refrigerator, peers inside] How was the play?

BOBBY: It was good.

J.R.: For a man who took his fiancée to the theater, and the play was good, you don’t seem to be too happy.

BOBBY: I notice you’re padding around the house in your jammies. What’s bothering you?

J.R.: [Opens a beer, approaches the table] I just can’t believe that as of tomorrow night, Clayton Farlow is actually going to start living in this house.

BOBBY: Now just where would you expect Mama’s husband to live?

J.R.: [Sighs] I don’t know. I just hate the idea, that’s all.

BOBBY: J.R., if you’re planning on doing something funny, I’m warning you.

J.R.: No, no, Bobby. That’s all over. I’m not going to cause Mama any more grief. It’s just that I haven’t been able to change my feelings towards Clayton, that’s all. [Takes a sip]

BOBBY: Well, Clayton’s a good man. That was a wise decision on Mama’s part to marry him. And even if it weren’t, she loves him and that’s all that matters.

J.R.: Well, if everything’s so wonderful, how come you’re sitting up at 3 o’clock in the morning?

BOBBY: Because I was thinking. Things are going to be a lot different here at Southfork now. You and I have been running things ever since Daddy died. And now that’s all going to change. I like Clayton, but now we’re going to have to make some adjustments, some compromises. You and I are going to have to learn to deal with a new man here.

J.R.: Well, personally, I can’t understand how he could bring himself to live in another man’s house. You can just feel Daddy’s presence all over this place.

BOBBY: Well, maybe we should do something about that. Right now. [Gets up, sets down his beer, walks into the living room, slowly approaches Jock’s portrait and begins to take it down]

J.R.: [Standing in the living room entrance] What the hell are you doing?

BOBBY: [Pauses] J.R., it’s time for this picture to come down.

J.R.: Not on your life. It stays exactly where it is.

BOBBY: It’s going to be hard enough for Clayton to feel comfortable around here without this portrait to remind him that it was Daddy’s house and Daddy’s family.

J.R.: [Enters the room] You have no right to take down that picture just because Clayton Farlow might be a little sensitive. He knew what he was doing when he married Mama.

BOBBY: Come on, J.R. Lighten up. I want to do everything I can to make Clayton feel welcome around here, for Mama’s sake.

J.R.: Mama’s sake? Well, how do you think she’s going to react when she finds this painting gone?

BOBBY: I think she’s thoughtful enough to want Clayton to feel comfortable.

J.R.: Let her take it down or move it or do anything she wants to it. I’m not ready to start pretending that Daddy never existed. We can’t get rid of everything in this place that he was connected to, Bob. Hell, he built this house. And he built Ewing Oil. He’s the reason the two of us are here. Now I found it hard to admit that he was dead. But I’m not going to bury his memory.

BOBBY: We’ll let Mama decide.

Watch this scene in “Homecoming,” available on DVD and at Amazon and iTunes, and share your comments below.

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Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘Are We Going to Cap Her Teeth?’

June 10, 2015 by 6 Comments
Dallas, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman, Shadow of a Doubt

Cruel and unusual

In “Shadow of a Doubt,” an eighth-season “Dallas” episode, J.R. (Larry Hagman) comes home and begins fixing a drink in the living room as Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) comes down the stairs.

SUE ELLEN: Good evening. I’ve been waiting for you to come home.

J.R.: Well, I guess so. It’s like a morgue in here.

SUE ELLEN: Well, it is a little quiet with Miss Ellie and Clayton gone, and Pam and Lucy doing whatever she’s doing lately. She hardly comes out of her room at night.

J.R.: Well, it’ll never be like it was in the old days when everybody at the table was a Ewing. We got Farlows and Krebbs and well, even Lucy’s a Cooper still I guess, isn’t she? [Sue Ellen nods.] Yeah, it’s just you and me and Bobby left, that’s all. [Sips his drink]

SUE ELLEN: There is one more Ewing.

J.R.: What, John Ross? Well, I don’t count him as a Ewing yet.

SUE ELLEN: Well, I was thinking about Jamie.

J.R.: You don’t think I consider her a Ewing, do you?

SUE ELLEN: What I was about to say is that she and I went shopping today and we have a little surprise for you.

J.R.: She’s going back to Alaska?

SUE ELLEN: Stop that.

J.R.: [Chuckles] I’m just teasing, honey.

SUE ELLEN: Come on.

J.R.: All right, what is this surprise?

She takes him by the hand and leads him to the foyer. Jamie (Jenilee Harrison) comes down the stairs, dressed to the nines.

SUE ELLEN: Isn’t she beautiful?

J.R.: Well, it’s amazing what a few thousand dollars can do, isn’t it?

SUE ELLEN: Oh, J.R., what a terrible thing to say.

J.R.: Really? Well, what’s next? Are we going to cap her teeth?

JAMIE: There’s nothing wrong with my teeth.

J.R.: Well, I guess not. You’re sure taking a big enough bite out of the Ewing apple.

JAMIE: You know, I didn’t ask for any of this.

J.R.: Well, I know how hard it must have been for Sue Ellen to convince you to take it.

SUE ELLEN: As a matter of fact, it was.

J.R.: Well, congratulations, young lady, on finding yourself a real nice home.

JAMIE: You know, you’re really something. No wonder my daddy didn’t want to have anything to do with you.

J.R.: Well, it’s a shame you’re not more like him. [Jamie runs upstairs.] Now don’t go away mad.

SUE ELLEN: How can you be so cruel?

J.R.: Not cruel. Suspicious.

SUE ELLEN: I thought you had changed. But I still see a lot of the old J.R. — the one I hated.

He enters the dining room and takes a seat as Teresa (Roseanna Christiansen) enters.

TERESA: Will you be eating alone?

J.R.: Yeah, it seems like it, doesn’t it?

Watch this scene in “Shadow of a Doubt,” available on DVD and at Amazon and iTunes, and share your comments below.

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Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘To the Winner’

June 8, 2015 by 2 Comments
Dallas, Family, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing

Game show

In “Family,” an eighth-season “Dallas” episode, Jamie (Jenilee Harrison) joins J.R. (Larry Hagman), Sue Ellen (Linda Gray), Bobby (Patrick Duffy) and Jenna (Priscilla Beaulieu Presley) for dinner at Southfork.

SUE ELLEN: Well, I think it’s time that we welcomed Jamie officially. So I’d like to propose a toast to the newest member of the Ewing family. Welcome. [Everyone raises a glass and drinks.]

JAMIE: Thank you.

JENNA: I thought that was going to be me.

JAMIE: When are you and Bobby getting married?

JAMIE: [Looks at Bobby, smiles] Uh, one of these days.

J.R.: Well, Jamie, now that you’re a member of the family, we have certain traditions we like to adhere to.

JAMIE: Oh?

J.R.: One of them is dressing for dinner. [Sue Ellen looks crossly at him.]

JAMIE: Well, I’d sure like to but this is as good as it gets.

J.R.: Oh, I take it you don’t own a dress?

JAMIE: Just the one I got to church in, and that’s not near fancy enough for this.

JENNA: [Winks at Sue Ellen] I think we can fix that. I happen to own a boutique. [Bobby clears his throat.] Well, sort of. [Laughs]

SUE ELLEN: That’s right, so we’ll go shopping tomorrow.

JAMIE: I can’t. I don’t have enough money, at least not for clothes.

SUE ELLEN: We’d appreciate the chance to buy them for you. [J.R. does a double take.]

JAMIE: I’m sorry, but you’ve done enough for me just by letting me stay here for a while.

SUE ELLEN: Jamie, it would really give me pleasure.

JENNA: And me.

BOBBY: Look, Jamie, I think I know how you feel, but you should pick up a few things. You might need them.

JAMIE: Lookit, I really appreciate the offer, but I’ve been fixing to get a job. Pay my own way.

BOBBY: What would you do?

JAMIE: I’m not sure. But this is Texas, and one thing I do know about is the oil business. [Smiles]

J.R.: Is that a fact?

JAMIE: [Seriously] Yeah.

J.R.: I suppose that’s from hanging around Jason.

JAMIE: From working with him.

J.R.: Oh, yeah? Where?

JAMIE: All over. Mostly Alaska, though, lately.

J.R.: Hmm. Where in Alaska?

JAMIE: Kenai Peninsula, Point Barrow, the Umiat anticline, Prudhoe Bay.

J.R.: Umiat, huh? Well, I guess you met the man who ran that operation up there?

JAMIE: Slim Whitaker? Nah, I never met him. Heard an awful lot about him, though.

J.R.: Yeah, old Slim. He was the first one to use the drag bit up there.

JAMIE: Not at the Umiat. Drag bit’s for soft formations. [Sue Ellen smiles, dabs a corner of her mouth with a napkin.]

J.R.: What would he have used?

JAMIE: Probably a diamond drill core bit. Maybe a rotary.

BOBBY: I heard he had some pretty hard formations up there.

J.R.: Bobby did a lot of drilling up in Canada. Real hard, frozen.

JAMIE: [Smiles] Oh, really? Did you use the Stratapax? It worked real good at Point Barrow.

BOBBY: No, I didn’t have any luck at all with them.

JAMIE: Oh, so what’d you use?

J.R.: Don’t you know?

JAMIE: No, I wasn’t there. Of course, there was an awful lot of talk about them using a Tundra something or other.

BOBBY: That’s right, the Tundra Torque. That’s it.

JAMIE: [Smiles] Yeah, I knew it was something like that.

J.R.: Uh, just one more thing. In Prudhoe, how deep did they have to drill their test well?

JAMIE: I don’t know. Why you asking me all these questions?

J.R.: Because anybody in the oil business ought to know the answers to them.

JAMIE: Oh, really? Well, how many producing wells are at the Kenai right now?

J.R.: [Pauses] Twenty-four.

JAMIE: A hundred and three. [Bobby stifles a laugh, clears his throat]

SUE ELLEN: Well, if your little game is over, J.R., I’d like to finish dinner.

BOBBY: Yeah, so would I. That’s if you’re through, J.R.

J.R.: I’m through. [Sticks a forkful of food into his mouth] For now. [Smiles]

BOBBY: [Looks at Jamie, raises a glass] To the winner.

SUE ELLEN: [Raises a glass] To the winner.

Watch this scene in “Family,” available on DVD and at Amazon and iTunes, and share your comments below.

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Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘If I Can’t Have Him, Nobody Can’

June 3, 2015 by 2 Comments
Dallas, Jamie, Katherine Wentworth, Morgan Brittany,

Hot sister

In “Jamie,” an eighth-season “Dallas” episode, J.R. (Larry Hagman) confronts Katherine (Morgan Brittany) in a hospital corridor, where two security guards restrain her after her latest attempt on Bobby’s life.

J.R.: Katherine, what the hell were you doing in Bobby’s room? And what was in that needle? [She’s silent.] Come on, what was going on in there? All right, call the Dallas police. Tell them to get up here right away.

SECURITY GUARD: They’ve already been called, Mr. Ewing.

J.R.: Good, because I think she just tried to kill my brother. And I also think she’s the one that took those shots at me.

KATHERINE: You? Don’t make me laugh! I never tried to shoot you.

J.R.: The hell you didn’t! And I’ve got three bullet holes in my chair to prove it.

KATHERINE: They weren’t meant for you. It was Bobby I wanted dead.

J.R.: You shot him in my office. I was sure you got him by mistake.

KATHERINE: Mistake? There was no mistake! I love him! Don’t you understand that? I love him! But he doesn’t want me. Oh, no, he wants Jenna Wade. And before that he wanted Pam. Sweet, darling Pam, who everybody just adores! Well they’re not going to have him — neither one of them! Don’t you see? They poisoned his mind against me to keep me away. But they’re going to have him. I’ll see to it, because if I can’t have him, nobody can.

J.R.: You’re not going to see to anything — not after the law gets finished with you. But how did you get into my office? And how did you know that Bobby was up alone up there that night?

KATHERINE: I didn’t care if he was alone or not. I just wanted to get to him. My life was over. Why shouldn’t his be? [In a flashback, Katherine explains how she saw J.R. leave the Ewing Oil building, then went to the executive offices, heard Bobby in J.R.’s office and fired three shots into the back of the chair.] I caught a plane to Houston that night. And I didn’t know until the next day that he was still alive.

J.R.: Hold this woman until the police get here. I’m going to see my brother.

Watch this scene in “Jamie,” available on DVD and at Amazon and iTunes, and share your comments below.

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Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘… Until Our Scores Are Settled!’

June 1, 2015 by 12 Comments
Dallas, If at First You Don't Succeed, Pam Ewing, Victoria Principal

That’s Miss Barnes to you!

In “If at First You Don’t Succeed,” an eighth-season “Dallas” episode, J.R. (Larry Hagman) arrives at the Ewing Oil building, where Pam (Victoria Principal) is waiting for him.

J.R.: Well, you got a lot of nerve coming around here after what your brother did to mine.

PAM: What were you doing there yesterday when my brother was arrested?

J.R.: You consider that your business, do you?

PAM: Yes, I do, because I think you had something to do with it.

J.R.: Well, what on earth could I have to do with it?

PAM: How did you know he’d be arrested at that precise moment?

J.R.: Well, I have friends at the department. I went down there to see the expression on that worm’s face when the police arrested him for shooting my brother.

PAM: Let me tell you something, J.R. If he did shoot Bobby, it was because he thought it was you — and he had every reason to shoot you.

J.R.: You know, I’m getting kind of tired of that old song. Mean, nasty J.R. beating up on poor, innocent Cliff Barnes. You’re sounding more and more like him, you know that?

PAM: Well, that’s fine with me because I’m beginning to sound more and more like a Barnes, thanks to you. I’ve never believed in the Barnes-Ewing feud, J.R., but now I’m going to join it. I’m going to do everything I can to help Cliff. And I’m not going to rest until all our family scores are settled!

Watch this scene in “If at First You Don’t Succeed,” available on DVD and at Amazon and iTunes, and share your comments below.

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Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘With Family, You Play Fair’

May 27, 2015 by 2 Comments
Battle Lines, Dallas, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman

Daddy knows best

In “Battle Lines,” an eighth-season “Dallas” episode, J.R. (Larry Hagman) stands over John Ross (Omri Katz), who is cleaning his bike on the Southfork patio.

JOHN ROSS: Are you going to see Uncle Bobby at the hospital?

J.R.: Well, I might drop in on him this afternoon. [Looks at his watch] I’ve got an awful lot of work to do at the office.

Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) exits the house and stands on the patio, listening.

JOHN ROSS: Maybe I can go to the office and help you.

J.R.: [Chuckles] Well, that’s a good idea. Maybe we ought to wait until you’re a little older, though, huh?

JOHN ROSS: Daddy are you going to be running Ewing Oil all by yourself?

J.R.: Well, I’m just going to run it until Bobby gets back. Why do you ask that?

JOHN ROSS: Well, you said you were going to run the company all by yourself some day and then give it to me.

J.R.: Well, I couldn’t take it away from Bobby while he’s in the hospital.

JOHN ROSS: But Mama said Bobby can’t see right now.

J.R.: [Sits in a patio chair] John Ross, there’s something I want to explain to you, son. One of these days I expect to control all of Ewing Oil, and Bobby won’t work there. He’ll be doing something else. But I want you to remember that he’s my brother — and I love him very much. And it just wouldn’t be fair to take advantage of him while he’s sick. That’s just something you don’t do to people you love. But when he’s well — and able to defend his shares in Ewing Oil — well, I’m going to fight for it. And of course I’ll win. Then I’m going to give you the whole company — and you’ll never have to share it with anybody. Now you understand that?

JOHN ROSS: I think so.

J.R.: Good. And you’ve got to remember: With family, you play fair. Because there are rules to follow. And if you do, you’ll be able to live with yourself.

Watch this scene in “Battle Lines,” available on DVD and at Amazon and iTunes, and share your comments below.

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Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘You Make J.R. Look Like a Saint’

May 25, 2015 by 9 Comments
Afton Cooper, Audrey Landers, Dallas, Killer at Large

Unhappily ever Afton

In “Killer at Large,” “Dallas’s” eighth-season opener, a cheerful Cliff (Ken Kercheval) comes home and begins opening a bottle of champagne when Afton (Audrey Landers) enters carrying a suitcase.

CLIFF: We gotta celebrate.

AFTON: I’ve gotten permission from the police to visit my mother in Biloxi.

CLIFF: You’ve gotten permission from the police? What are you talking about?

AFTON: I need permission from them to leave the state.

CLIFF: Why?

AFTON: [Sets down the suitcase] Cliff, where have you been? Didn’t you hear that Bobby was shot?

CLIFF: Yeah, I heard that he was shot but I don’t know what that’s got to do with us. Why do you have to have permission from the police?

AFTON: I found him just after he was shot. You don’t seem to understand, do you? Bobby was shot in J.R.’s office.

CLIFF: So?

AFTON: Doesn’t that mean something to you?

CLIFF: No. No, why should it? [A beat] Oh, now wait a minute. Unless you think I had something to do with Bobby being shot.

AFTON: Yes. I think you went to the Ewing offices to kill J.R. and you shot Bobby by mistake.

CLIFF: Well, that’s ridiculous. That is absolutely ridiculous. Is that why you went there — to stop me?

AFTON: Yes.

CLIFF: Well, I hope you didn’t tell the police that crazy story. I could be in a lot of trouble!

AFTON: Cliff, where were you last night?

CLIFF: [Chuckles] I got drunk. I slept it off in my car.

AFTON: But where were you drinking?

CLIFF: Uh, I don’t know. I don’t know. Two or three places.

AFTON: You don’t know. You’ve blacked out before so I guess you blacked out again last night.

CLIFF: So I blacked out.

AFTON: Then you could have done the shooting.

CLIFF: Look, if that’s what you want to think, that’s fine. But I got a rich oil strike to celebrate. [Pops the cork]

AFTON: Doesn’t it even bother you that Bobby was shot?

CLIFF: No, not really. No. He’s not married to Pam anymore. He’s a Ewing. [Pours a glass, raises it] Want a drink?

AFTON: I’m not drinking with you. You are the coldest man I have ever met. You make J.R. Ewing look like a saint. [Turns, grabs her suitcase, heads toward the door]

CLIFF: [Laughs] Well, say hello to your mama in her new house. When you coming back? [Grabs the bottle, follows her to the door]

AFTON: [Stops, turns to face him] I’m not.

CLIFF: [Scoffs] Now that’s ridiculous.

AFTON: No. No, Cliff, our relationship is ridiculous. It’s over. I just wish I could say it’s been terrific. I’ll send for the rest of my things. [Turns away]

CLIFF: Just when everything is going great.

AFTON: [Turns back] Great? Great for whom? For you. The only one you’ve ever cared about: Cliff Barnes. [Exits, leaving Cliff standing alone]

CLIFF: [Walks back into the room, takes a sip] Who needs her?

Watch this scene in “Killer at Large,” available on DVD and at Amazon and iTunes, and share your comments below.

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Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘You Needed Slapping Down, Cliff’

February 4, 2015 by 2 Comments
Dallas, End Game, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman

Slap master

In “End Game,” “Dallas’s” seventh-season finale, Cliff (Ken Kercheval) pours a drink in his office for Vaughn (Dennis Patrick), who sits in front of the desk.

CLIFF: Vaughn, now look, we’re two civilized human beings. [Hands him the drink] We’ve made money before and we’ll make money again. I’m just asking you for a little bit more time. [Walks behind his desk]

VAUGHN: No. The interest payment must be collected on its due date. Now you read the papers. It was very specific.

CLIFF: I’m just asking you to bend the rules a little bit. There’s oil in that tract and we’re gonna hit, and we’ll all be rich. [Turns his back, looks out the window]

VAUGHN: If you don’t strike oil by midnight tomorrow night, the bank is foreclosing. And all of the assets of Barnes-Wentworth will belong to the bank.

J.R. (Larry Hagman) enters.

J.R.: Well, Vaughn, not all the assets. If I remember correctly, our deal calls for me to get control of Gold Canyon 340.

CLIFF: What are you doing here?

J.R.: Oh, I just thought you might want to see the face of your other friendly banker.

CLIFF: No, no, no. I got my money from Vaughn.

J.R.: You got your money from both of us. And tomorrow night, we’re going to turn off the faucet, and all your cash flow is just going to dry right up.

CLIFF: You set me up?

J.R.: From the very beginning. But I didn’t do it alone. In addition to Vaughn Leland here, I had a great assist from your massive ego and unbelievable stupidity.

CLIFF: I had those tracts checked. There’s oil in there.

J.R.: Well, sure there is. Millions of dollars’ worth. Oh, it was a fair setup. As a matter of fact, it was the fairest setup I’ve ever had the pleasure of engineering. I couldn’t lose — because I knew you were just too dumb to find that oil.

CLIFF: Why? Huh? Why did you do that?

J.R.: Because you needed slapping down, Cliff. You’d been stealing deals right out from underneath my nose. And after all these years, you know better than to butt heads with me. But I got all that property back. I got Kesey and Murphy, and tomorrow night, I’ll own Gold Canyon 340. You needed a lesson, you see. And the only way I could get the message through that thick skull of yours was to have you bankrupt your mama’s company while I just sat back and watched you. You’re out of my life for good.

CLIFF: [Softly] No, uh-uh. No, I’m not finished yet.

J.R.: Sure you are. Tomorrow morning, the janitor’s going to come in here and sweep you out with the rest of the trash. Unless, of course, you do the honorable thing, get in the elevator, go up to the roof and jump off, huh? [Chuckles] Oh, come on, Vaughn. I’ll buy you a drink. [Turns and leaves, followed by Vaughn]

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (Classic), Features Tagged With: , , ,
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