Dallas Scenes of the Day – Dallas Decoder

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘You’re the One Who’s the Snob’

July 16, 2012 by Chris Baker 1 Comment

Charlene Tilton, Dallas, Lucy Ewing, Venezuelan Connection

Telling it like it is

In “The Venezuelan Connection,” a fourth-season “Dallas” episode, Lucy (Charlene Tilton) talks to Mitch (Leigh McCloskey) while he puts away dishes in his kitchen.

MITCH: Lucy, look, it was nice of you to come here, but you’ve gotta understand one thing: being rich is a way of life for you. I’ll never have that kind of money.

LUCY: Well, I don’t care about that.

MITCH: Well, I do!

LUCY: Well, why should you?

MITCH: I can’t compete with your fancy friends with their automobiles and their trips off to Acapulco.

LUCY: Well, why do you have to compete with them? They live like that. So what? Can’t you just accept it? They accepted you.

MITCH: Because I was with you!

LUCY: Well, so wouldn’t it be the same way with your friends? They’d accept me only because I was with you. Look, things will change. It’ll be different when they get to know you better. They’ll accept you.

MITCH: Look, I don’t give a damn about their acceptance! [Slams his fist on the table]

LUCY: You know what? You’re the one who’s the snob. With all that medical stuff you study in school, you sure don’t know much about people. [Walks toward the door, turns back to face Mitch] You know, it’s funny. I came here to apologize because I thought we had a good thing going on. But now I wonder if we do. Because if you can’t like me the way I like you, without caring about anything or anyone else, then I don’t even want to know you. Maybe you’re not the man I thought you were.

She leaves, slamming the door behind her.

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (Classic), Features Tagged With: Charlene Tilton, Leigh McCloskey, Venezuelan Connection

TNT’s Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘Some Things Never Change’

July 12, 2012 by Chris Baker Leave a Comment

Dallas, Enemy of My Enemy, John Ross Ewing, Josh Henderson, TNT

Necessity is a mother

In “The Enemy of My Enemy,” a first-season “Dallas” episode, John Ross (Josh Henderson) visits Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) at her office.

SUE ELLEN: Hello, darling. What a nice surprise. [Kisses him]

JOHN ROSS: Mother.

SUE ELLEN: Don’t tell me. You’re here to take me out to lunch, hmm?

JOHN ROSS: I’m afraid not. [Turns away] I came because I need your help.

SUE ELLEN: Well, whatever you need. You know that.

JOHN ROSS: Harris Ryland of Ryland Transport. Is he a friend of yours? [Turns to face her]

SUE ELLEN: I wouldn’t say he’s exactly a friend. I know him a little socially.

JOHN ROSS: Socially is enough. He’s pulled his tanker trucks from Southfork and I can’t pump oil without something to transport it in. Now, I need you to convince him to send his trucks back.

SUE ELLEN: What are you asking me to do, exactly?

JOHN ROSS: You’re running for governor. I need you to play politics. Promise Ryland something. Whatever you want. I don’t care. I just need those trucks back so I can get pumping.

She looks away.

JOHN ROSS: I should’ve known.

SUE ELLEN: [Faces him] No, John Ross, I want to. I need you to believe that. But I made a promise when I got into this race to my backers and my supporters.

JOHN ROSS: Screw your promises! You’ve been compromising everything with me since I was born.

SUE ELLEN: John Ross, if I start down that road. [Pauses]

JOHN ROSS: J.R.’s investors hold a note to the ranch. We’re paying them back with 14 percent of the oil. If we don’t pay them on time, they could take the ranch. And I got a feeling they’re going to do a lot worse than that.

SUE ELLEN: My God. [Touches his face] Who have you gotten yourself into business with?

JOHN ROSS: [Walks away] Save it, mother.

SUE ELLEN: Wait. [He turns to face her.] I can help you in other ways, John Ross.

JOHN ROSS: There’s a simple solution you can do, now. And you turn me down. Some things never change.

He leaves.

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (TNT), Features Tagged With: Enemy of My Enemy, Josh Henderson, Linda Gray, TNT

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘… A Clash Between Those Two Boys’

July 11, 2012 by Chris Baker 2 Comments

Dallas, Jim Davis, Jock Ewing, Ray Krebbs, Steve Kanaly, Taste of Success

Father knows least

In “Taste of Success,” a fourth-season “Dallas” episode, Jock and Ray (Jim Davis, Steve Kanaly) come to a stop while riding horses.

RAY: You all right?

JOCK: Yeah, why?

RAY: You’re riding awful hard. That usually means you got something on your mind.

JOCK: You know me real good, don’t you?

RAY: Yes, sir.

JOCK: Well, it’s Bobby and J.R.

RAY: I thought Bobby was working out all right.

JOCK: Well, he is. Of course, he’s got a lot to learn. But that’s not the problem.

RAY: Well, what is the problem then?

JOCK: Well, you know J.R. likes being president. He’s about ready to go back to work, as you can see.

RAY: So?

JOCK: Gonna be a clash between those two boys. Some kind of explosion. And I’ll be damned if I know what to do about it. I just wish that there was some way that I could get those two boys together. You know, work side by side.

RAY: Well, there ain’t no way. You know that as well as I do, Jock.

JOCK: Yeah, I know, but that’s not the worst part of it. After the clash, Bobby may pull out and leave Dallas. And if that happens, well, Miss Ellie’s gonna blame me. And so help me, I, I just don’t know what to do about it. [Pauses] I’ll see you. [Takes off on his horse]

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (Classic), Features Tagged With: Jim Davis, Steve Kanaly, Taste of Success

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘It Was You, Kristin, Who Shot J.R.’

July 10, 2012 by Chris Baker 6 Comments

Who done it

In “Who Done It?,” a fourth-season “Dallas” episode, Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) arrives at Southfork to find J.R. (Larry Hagman) reading in his wheelchair on the patio.

SUE ELLEN: J.R.?

J.R.: [Looks up from his book, startled] What are you doing here?

SUE ELLEN: Where’s Kristin?

J.R.: Don’t come any closer. [Moves his wheelchair toward the table] I’m going to call the police. Don’t you come any closer. [Struggles to get out of the wheelchair]

SUE ELLEN: [Looks at him with pity] J.R., I didn’t come here to hurt you. I just want to know where Kristin is.

Kristin (Mary Crosby) exits the house, steps onto the patio.

KRISTIN: [Cheery] Sue Ellen, I brought your things.

SUE ELLEN: [Sarcastic] Regular angel of mercy, aren’t you? So supportive. Keeping my secrets. Taking me in.

KRISTIN: What happened? What are you talking about?

SUE ELLEN: I have finally figured everything out, that’s all. You have been trying to frame me.

KRISTIN: [Laughs] You’re crazy.

SUE ELLEN: [Smiles] Well, you were right. I was at that condo that night, looking for J.R. And yes, I did have his gun. But you saw how drunk I was, and you still gave me a drink, knowing I’d put the gun down to take it. You went to the office that night with J.R.’s gun. It was you, Kristin, who shot J.R. Then the next morning, while I was showering, you hid the gun in the closet. [Flashbacks appear as Sue Ellen speaks.]

KRISTIN: You think you’ve got it all figured out.

J.R.: [Speaking into the phone] Get me the police.

KRISTIN: I wouldn’t do that if I were you, J.R. [She and Sue Ellen walk toward him.] Not unless you want your child born in prison. Now wouldn’t that be a scandal? Jock Ewing’s grandson: jail baby. [Snickers] I think I’ll write my memoirs there.

J.R.: You’re bluffing.

KRISTIN: Call Dr. Gibson. I saw him yesterday. He’ll tell you. [A voice on the phone says, “Dallas Police Department.”]

SUE ELLEN: [Reaches for the phone] Give me that phone. I’m not going to jail for her.

J.R.: Nobody’s going to jail. I’ll handle Kristin my own way.

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (Classic), Features Tagged With: Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Mary Crosby, Who Done It?, Who Shot J.R.?

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘If You Need Me, I’m Here’

July 9, 2012 by Chris Baker 1 Comment

Dallas, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman, Ray Krebbs, Steve Kanaly, Who Shot J.R.?

Cold shoulder

In “Dallas’s” fourth-season episode “Nightmare,” Ray (Steve Kanaly) visits J.R. (Larry Hagman), who is seated in his wheelchair in the hospital’s rehabilitation center.

RAY: Look, something I gotta say, J.R. Been quite a few differences between you and I over the past couple years. Before that, we were friends for a long time. I just wanted to tell you, that if you need me, I’m here.

J.R.: Thank you, Ray. Thanks. [Begins wheeling away]

RAY: Hey. [Touches J.R.’s shoulder] I just keep thinking of all those good times we had.

J.R.: Like in Waco?

RAY: Yeah, like in Waco. Or how about that time down in Houston when you had them all convinced that you were the talent scout for the Miss Texas contest and I was the front man. [Laughs]

J.R.: [Chuckling] Yeah, they almost killed us with kindness, didn’t they? Yeah, we’ve had some pretty good times, haven’t we, Ray?

RAY: Yeah, you helped me out of some pretty tough scrapes, J.R. More than once. I just wanted you to know, you can count on me if you need to.

J.R.: Well, Ray, I don’t want to ever have to count on anybody but myself. Thank you.

J.R. wheels away.

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (Classic), Features Tagged With: Larry Hagman, Nightmare, Steve Kanaly, Who Shot J.R.?

TNT’s Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘Ewing Oil is Back in Business’

July 5, 2012 by Chris Baker 2 Comments

Dallas, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman, TNT, Truth and Consequences

The road back

In “Truth and Consequences,” a first-season “Dallas” episode, Bobby and Ann (Patrick Duffy, Brenda Strong) confront J.R. (Larry Hagman) over the deed that lists him as Southfork’s owner.

J.R.: You know, I always felt a little funny about that Marta del Sol girl, ever since I saw her at the Cattle Baron’s Ball. Daddy always said beautiful women were the most dangerous.

BOBBY: I know all the things Daddy used to say.

J.R.: Well, a couple weeks ago, I heard she was planning on selling Southfork to Cliff Barnes. I was surprised she could put it right back on the market after buying it from you, but hell, I figured that was just the deal you and Lobell made with her.

ANN: That wasn’t the deal, J.R., and you know it.

J.R.: Bobby kept me out of the deal, so no, I don’t know it, darlin’. When I heard that vulture Barnes was trying to steal Southfork and get his hands on the ranch and all the oil my boy found under it, I got a group of investors together and swooped in and bought it from del Sol. Well, I don’t think Cliff Barnes knew what hit him. And I guess, maybe neither did you. [Grabs his hat off a table, holds it] Now that she’s mine, I’m going to start sinking more wells as soon as I can. Ewing Oil is back in business, Bobby.

BOBBY: [Steps closer] That’s not going to happen, J.R. [Holds up the deed] This is not going to happen. That’s why I wanted to sell Southfork in the first place, to stop all this feuding, and leave a legacy to Mama.

J.R.: You wanna carry on Mama’s legacy? Well, I wanna carry on Daddy’s. I’m taking back what should have been mine in the first place.

BOBBY: That’s how you justify this? How twisted can you get?

J.R.: Now, why don’t you settle down and accept what’s what? The deed is real, and this place is mine, but you can stay here as long as you like, Bobby. We’re family.

BOBBY: I’m going to make this right. And then I’m going to take you down, brother.

Ann begins to follow Bobby out of the room.

J.R.: [To Ann] Always did get a little hot under the collar when he didn’t get his way. But he’ll come around, you’ll see.

ANN: [Turning to face him] They warned me. My whole marriage, they told me about you. But in my wildest imagination, I never thought you could stoop to this.

J.R.: Well, Annie, you’re just going to have to work on your imagination.

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (TNT), Features

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘Nobody Beats Old J.R.’

July 3, 2012 by Chris Baker 1 Comment

Dallas, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman, No More Mr. Nice Guy Part 2, Who Shot J.R.?

True that

In “No More Mr. Nice Guy, Part 2,” a fourth-season “Dallas” episode, Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) enters the hospital room where J.R. (Larry Hagman) is sleeping.

SUE ELLEN: [Whispering] J.R.?

J.R.: [Awakens] Hi, sugar.

SUE ELLEN: Hi. [Sits on the bed]

J.R.: [Groggy] You been crying?

SUE ELLEN: [Smiles] No.

J.R.: Roclaire’s supposed to be the best in the business.

SUE ELLEN: I know.

A nurse opens the door and indicates it’s time for Sue Ellen to leave. Sue Ellen kisses J.R. and gets up from the bed. He holds onto her hand.

J.R.: Sue Ellen, nobody beats old J.R. You know that.

She turns and leaves.

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (Classic), Features Tagged With: Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, No More Mr. Nice Guy Part 2, Who Shot J.R.?

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘The Company Isn’t Worth My Family’

July 2, 2012 by Chris Baker Leave a Comment

Barbara Bel Geddes, Dallas, Jim Davis, Jock Ewing. Miss Ellie Ewing, No More Mr. Nice Guy Part 1, Who Shot J.R.?

That’s that, Jock

In “No More Mr. Nice Guy, Part 1,” “Dallas’s” fourth-season opener, Miss Ellie and Jock (Barbara Bel Geddes, Jim Davis) talk while leaving Dallas Memorial Hospital.

ELLIE: Jock, now that Bobby’s back, you’ve got to find a way to keep him here.

JOCK: I don’t know how. He was mad as hell at me when he left.

ELLIE: Well, that was because he felt you’d given him a job to do and then you didn’t stand behind him.

JOCK: Well, I couldn’t. When he opened Ewing 23, he made Cliff Barnes a partner in the profits. After what that man’s done to us, no way.

ELLIE: Does Ewing Oil have to cost us another son? Jock, I know how important the company is to you, but I’ve lost Gary and now, unless you stop him, Bobby will leave again.

JOCK: Ewing Oil has been my life, Ellie.

ELLIE: And J.R. may be dying because of it. [Jock puts his hand on her shoulder.] I don’t think the company is worth my family. I want Bobby home, no matter what it costs Ewing Oil.

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (Classic), Features Tagged With: Barbara Bel Geddes, Jim Davis, No More Mr. Nice Guy Part 1, Who Shot J.R.?

TNT’s Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘I Will Never Stop Fighting’

June 28, 2012 by Chris Baker 2 Comments

Cliff Barnes, Dallas, Ken Kercheval, Last Hurrah, TNT

True colors?

In “The Last Hurrah,” a first-season “Dallas” episode, Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) is behind her desk when J.R. (Larry Hagman) knocks at the door.

SUE ELLEN: J.R.?

J.R.: I just wanted to drop off a little good luck charm, for your campaign. I found Miss Ellie’s pearls when I was packing up Southfork.

He hands her a box as Cliff [Ken Kercheval] enters.

CLIFF: Well, what do we have here? An angel talking to the devil.

J.R.: What’s he doing here?

SUE ELLEN: Well, not that it’s any of your business, J.R., but I heard he was in town and I figured I needed a little political advice.

CLIFF: And I was happy to oblige.

J.R.: Sure was an unpleasant surprise to see you at Southfork last week. You must have been out of your tiny mind to think that Bobby would ever sell the ranch to you.

CLIFF: I will never stop fighting for what is rightfully mine – and I know you are the same way.

J.R.: I’m a changed man, Cliff. Evidence of that is the fact that you’re not being wheeled out of here with two broken legs. Now that Bobby’s sold Southfork, you can go ahead and leave town. Nothing left for you to do in Dallas.

CLIFF: Well, when you have several billion dollars, J.R., you can do whatever you want to, wherever you want. [To Sue Ellen] Shall we?

J.R.: Are you really going to break bread with this lowlife?

SUE ELLEN: You lost your right to have a say with whom I lunch a long time ago.

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (TNT), Features Tagged With: Ken Kercheval, Larry Hagman, Last Hurrah, Linda Gray, TNT

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘You’re a Drunk and an Unfit Mother’

June 26, 2012 by Chris Baker 6 Comments

Dallas, House Divided, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing, House Divided

Can’t a brother have breakfast in peace?

In “A House Divided,” “Dallas’s” third-season finale, Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) follows J.R. (Larry Hagman) into the Southfork dining room, where Jock (Jim Davis) comforts Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes), who is seated at the table.

SUE ELLEN: [To J.R.] You drove Gary away. And now Bobby. You tried to bribe Valene. You cheated your friends. You’ve done everything in your power to get what you wanted. Well, you did it. Congratulations, J.R. You are now the Ewings’ only son.

J.R.: [To Ellie] Mama, I don’t want Bobby to leave. You know that.

ELLIE: All I know is, J.R., he’s gone. [She gets up and leaves the room, followed by Jock.]

J.R.: You’ve had your last say in this house, Sue Ellen. You think you can get away talking about me in front of my mama and daddy like that? You’ve caused me enough humiliation. You’re a drunk and an unfit mother, and I honestly think you’ve lost your reason. I’m going to call Dr. Rogers. The sooner we have you put away in that sanitarium, the better off you’re going to be. [He turns and leaves.]