
Strange alliance
In “Brave New World,” “Dallas’s” third-season finale, Bobby and Sue Ellen (Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray) stand in the Ewing Global offices, gazing at J.R.’s portrait.
BOBBY: I miss him.
SUE ELLEN: Me too, but I think I finally feel free of him. Hell, I might even find love again.
BOBBY: You deserve that, Sue Ellen.
John Ross (Josh Henderson) enters.
JOHN ROSS: I agree. I want you to be happy, Mama.
SUE ELLEN: I am so glad you came back, John Ross.
JOHN ROSS: I just wanted to let you know that there are no hard feelings about what you did to me. [To Bobby] And I wanted to let you know that I am sorry to hear that you had to resign as railroad commissioner to buy those shares. [Sighs] It’s sad news, especially given all the environmental work you did with that lesser prairie chicken.
BOBBY: [Smiling] What are you up to, John Ross?
JOHN ROSS: See? Always suspicious of me, Uncle Bobby. A guy could get a complex. But since you ask, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the new railroad commissioner.
The elevator dings and the doors open, revealing Judith (Judith Light).
BOBBY: [Chuckling] You have got to be kidding.
JUDITH: [Striding into the room] It’s no joke, Bobby. The governor and I are old friends through some ladies he knows, and I’ve always had an eye toward public service. So when John Ross mentioned that the position opened, well, I jumped on it.
JOHN ROSS: Now those Ryland ships that I procured for Ewing Global to drill the Arctic? They can only enter, and exit, through ports of Texas — ports that are regulated by the railroad commission.
JUDITH: So if you want to make a play for that grand frontier, you’re going to have to deal with me.
JOHN ROSS: She means “us.”
BOBBY: Well, you can partner with the devil all you want to, boy. It won’t make any difference. I’ll always see it coming. In a lifetime, your daddy never got the best of me, and he was twice the opponent you’ll ever be.
JOHN ROSS: You see, that’s just it, Uncle Bobby. The last few months, no matter how much my old man I try to be, everybody keeps telling me, “You are just like your father.” I’ve done some soul searching, and I finally figured out the answer. [Steps forward, gets in Bobby’s face] I am not just like my father. I’m worse.
He locks arms with Judith, they walk into the elevator and turn to look back at Bobby and Sue Ellen as the doors close.