She Said It: The Wit and Wisdom of Sue Ellen Ewing

Dallas, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing, TNT

Yes, she did

Sue Ellen WeekNext to J.R., Sue Ellen possesses the sharpest tongue at Southfork. (No wonder they got married.) Sue Ellen Week continues with this small sampling of Linda Gray’s most delicious “Dallas” dialogue.

Dallas, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing, Wedding Bell Blues

Opposites attract

On Love

• “Sick. Very sick.” (Sue Ellen’s response when J.R. asks her to describe their relationship)

• “Anything that makes you unhappy has got to be good for the rest of the world.” (Responding to J.R.’s anger over Bobby and Pam’s reunion)

• “He’s a man of charm, sensitivity and class. In short, your exact opposite.” (Describing Don Lockwood to J.R.)

Dallas, Dove Hunt, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing

Adopt a smirk

On Marriage

• “I’m touched by your concern with children. I’m just sorry you didn’t adopt me instead of marrying me.” (Responding to J.R.’s interest in Lucy’s life)

“Don’t remind me.” (Responding to J.R.’s announcement that he’ll be home soon)

“You’re in it.” (Her response when J.R. asks what’s wrong with their bedroom)

Brothers and Sons, Dallas, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing

Cold shower

• “I hope you have a miserable time today. Because I know I will.” (After J.R. forces her to spend the afternoon with him)

“Joan of Arc would’ve been a drunk if she’d been married to you.” (Responding to J.R.’s insults about her alcoholism)

• “Why? You feeling particularly dirty these days?” (After J.R. asks if he can join her in the shower)

Dallas, Linda Gray, Oil Baron's Ball, Sue Ellen Ewing

Night visitor

On Sex

• “I love your sudden urges, J.R. They’re almost as romantic as your daddy’s pit bull.” (Responding to J.R.’s invitation to sleep with him)

“What other possible use would I have for you?” (After J.R. complains she treated him like a stud service)

• “I know what you like. And I’m sure that wasn’t it.” (After kneeing J.R. in the groin while he’s trying to “seduce” her)

Dallas, Fall of the House of Ewing, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing

Viper dodger

On J.R.’s Other Women

“Well, the Winger tramp. Don’t tell me that J.R. let you out of bed long enough to have lunch.” (Greeting Mandy in a restaurant)

“Oh, is there a convention in town? Or maybe the fleet’s in?” (Responding to J.R.’s statement that Mandy is at work)

“Modeling? Let me guess: mattresses?” (After J.R. tells her Mandy landed a new modeling gig)

Dallas, Guilt and Innocence, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing, TNT

No drama, Mama

“Cutting you off, you viper!” (After Mandy asks her why she tore up her contract with Valentine Lingerie)

• “You are a very sick little girl.” (Responding to Holly Harwood’s claim that she’s sleeping with J.R.)

“You’re a very strange and awful woman.” (Taking another swipe at Holly)

“She’s drama, John Ross.” (Describing Afton Cooper)

Bypass, Dallas, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing

Lady of the manor

On Life at Southfork

“From a shop girl to a wet nurse. That’s a step up.” (After Pam begins caring for John Ross)

“Next to the Alamo, one of the great battlegrounds of Texas.” (Describing the bedroom she shared with J.R.)

“Who am I kidding? Telling a Ewing to stop fighting is like telling a horse to grow wings.” (After telling John Ross and Christopher to stop fighting)

Dallas, Linda Gray, Something Old Something New, Sue Ellen Ewing

Student of success

On Herself

“I’m a snob, and I can be a witch at times if I don’t get my own way.” (Describing herself to Dusty)

“Lately I find my own company preferable to almost anybody I know.” (Explaining to J.R. why she wants to be alone)

“I had a great teacher.” (After J.R. compliments her on her “brilliant” scheme to get rid of Mandy)

What did I miss? Share your favorite bon mots from Sue Ellen below and read more features from Dallas Decoder.

Happy Birthday, Darlin’

Dallas, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing

Thanks for the memories

Sue Ellen WeekToday is Linda Gray’s birthday. Share your good wishes and favorite Sue Ellen memories below. Visit Dallas Decoder tomorrow for more Sue Ellen Week posts.

Dallas Cliffhanger Classics: Season 14

Dallas Decoder celebrates “Dallas’s” classic cliffhangers with weekly summertime flashbacks. Collect all 14 images and share them with your friends.

Dallas Cliffhanger Classics 14

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘I’m Gonna Drink Myself Into Oblivion’

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

Who’s afraid of Sue Ellen Ewing?

In “Ewing Inferno,” “Dallas’s” sixth-season finale, J.R. (Larry Hagman) comes home and finds Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) seated on the living room sofa, drinking.

J.R.: Sue Ellen, what are you doing down here? You need your rest, honey.

SUE ELLEN: How solicitous.

J.R.: You feeling better?

SUE ELLEN: You mean am I still drunk? [Smirks] Well, not enough. Somebody thoughtfully locked up all the liquor. But I just happened to find this lovely little bottle of burgundy in the kitchen. [Holds it aloft] Theresa tried to protect me from it. It seems like everyone’s protecting me, except my loving husband.

J.R.: Let me have the bottle, Sue Ellen. You shouldn’t be drinking. You know that.

SUE ELLEN: Don’t you lecture me on what I should and shouldn’t do. [Takes a drink]

J.R.: All right, all right. I won’t.

SUE ELLEN: My, how agreeable you are. [Gets up, walks toward him, still holding the glass and the bottle] Wonder why you’re so agreeable, J.R.? Hmm? Did you find someone new to sleep with you today? Or did you have to rely on one of your old mistresses? Maybe, just maybe, Miss Holly Harwood made herself available to you. Maybe the two of you were out wildcatting.

J.R.: That’s all over, Sue Ellen. It was a big mistake. I thought I explained that to you.

SUE ELLEN: You know, you are a terrific explainer. In fact, you do that better than you do almost anything. You know, you even explained away the 10 years of hell I went through during our first marriage. And you know what? I believed you so much that I married you for the second time. What an idiot I was.

J.R.: Sue Ellen, I love you. What do I have to do to prove it?

SUE ELLEN: You don’t have to do anything. You’ve ruined my life, J.R. You have destroyed me. Like you destroy everything you touch. [Moves closer] Now, why don’t you do one kind little thing for me, hmm? Unlock the liquor, because I’m going to drink myself into oblivion.

J.R.: We’ll talk about this when you calm down. [In the distance, John Ross calls for his mother.] I’ll see to the boy. [J.R. turns and heads toward the stairs.]

SUE ELLEN: Don’t you dare touch that son of mine. He’s mine.

J.R.: Well, I’ll get Mama to take care of him. Where is she, anyhow?

SUE ELLEN: She went away with Clayton. She can’t stand the sight of you either!

John Ross calls again.

J.R.: I’ll take care of him myself. [Climbs the stairs]

SUE ELLEN: Keep away from him.

J.R.: You stay here Sue Ellen.

SUE ELLEN: No! [She steps forward and throws the bottle at J.R. It smashes against the wall.] You stay away from him.

The Art of Dallas: ‘Penultimate’

Dallas, Donna Krebbs, Penultimate, Ray Krebbs, Steve Kanaly, Susan Howard

Ray and Donna (Steve Kanaly, Susan Howard) discuss Mickey’s condition in this 1983 publicity shot from “Penultimate,” a sixth-season “Dallas” episode.

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘I Truly Love You’

Dallas, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman

Would he lie?

In “Penultimate,” a sixth-season “Dallas” episode, J.R. (Larry Hagman) enters his bedroom, where Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) sits in the bed.

SUE ELLEN: I waited up to talk to you.

J.R.: All right.

SUE ELLEN: I want you to explain to me why this nightmare happened.

J.R.: [Walks toward the bed] Sue Ellen, it was a terrible, terrible mistake.

SUE ELLEN: Mistake? If you wanted to be with other women, why didn’t you just go ahead and do it, instead of playing this silly charade?

J.R.: What charade?

SUE ELLEN: Our marriage, J.R. Why did you want me to marry you again? Why did you chase me like you did? Do you find some kind of perverse pleasure in hurting me?

J.R.: You know I don’t want to hurt you, Sue Ellen. [Sits on the bed]

SUE ELLEN: Then what is it? Is it the game? Is that what it’s all about, J.R.?

J.R.: What happened between Holly and —

SUE ELLEN: [Shouting] Stop it! Stop it! I don’t want to hear any more from you!

J.R.: Listen to me, please. I can’t, I can’t tell you how sorry I am about what happened. But I promise you it was a direct result of the battle for Ewing Oil. Winning the company means everything to me. When we got married, the second time, I vowed I would never hurt you again. But things got out of hand, Sue Ellen — and I don’t blame you for hating me. But I hope you can reach down in your heart and believe me when I say that I love you. [She closes her eyes and turns away.] I truly love you.

Dallas Cliffhanger Classics: Season 13

Dallas Decoder celebrates “Dallas’s” classic cliffhangers with weekly summertime flashbacks. Collect all 14 images and share them with your friends.

Dallas, James Beaumont, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman, Sasha Mitchell

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘Well, You’ve Destroyed Her Again!’

Barbara Bel Geddes, Dallas, Miss Ellie Ewing, Things Ain't Goin' Too Good at Southfork

No stairway to heaven

In “Things Ain’t Goin’ Too Good at Southfork,” a sixth-season “Dallas” episode, J.R. (Larry Hagman) enters Southfork and heads toward the stairs, unaware a drunken Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) is waiting for him in the living room.

SUE ELLEN: You bastard! You finally came home. [Sips from her glass, pours another]

J.R.: You’ve decided to come back to Southfork, I’m happy to see. [Enters the living room, sets his car keys on a table]

SUE ELLEN: [Glares at him] Not because I wanted to.

J.R.: I was so worried about you, Sue Ellen.

SUE ELLEN: When were you the most worried? Before or after you made love to Holly Harwood?

J.R.: Sue Ellen, just because you may have seen my car in front of her house doesn’t mean anything happened.

SUE ELLEN: [Guffaws] Your car? You think this has anything to do with your car? I saw you and Holly in bed.

J.R.: You couldn’t have.

SUE ELLEN: Why not, because you didn’t see me? No, because you were too damn busy doing other things to see anything. [Begins to cry]

J.R.: [Steps forward] Sue Ellen, don’t fly off the handle. I can explain all of this.

SUE ELLEN: [Swats at him] Don’t you touch me!

J.R.: Darlin’. …

She tosses her drink in his face, grabs his keys and runs out of the room as Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes) comes down the stairs.

ELLIE: Sue Ellen!

J.R.: [Rushing into the foyer] Sue Ellen!

ELLIE: Well, you’ve destroyed her again. Don’t you ever learn?

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘Was Sue Ellen That Woman?’

Barbara Bel Geddes, Dallas, Miss Ellie Ewing, Tangled Web

The other woman

In “Tangled Web,” a sixth-season “Dallas” episode, Miss Ellie and Clayton (Barbara Bel Geddes, Howard Keel) sit in the dining room at the Cattleman’s Club.

CLAYTON: I think what I ought to do is lease a place for awhile, don’t you? That way I can look around a little more leisurely. What do you think, Ellie?

ELLIE: If that’s what you want.

CLAYTON: Well, I think it’d be the wise thing to do. [Silence] Ellie, are you all right? Is something troubling you?

ELLIE: Clayton, tell me. Why did you leave San Angelo?

CLAYTON: [Chuckles] Well, I thought I told you. Don’t you remember?

ELLIE: You told me that you were running away from memories.

CLAYTON: That’s right. Memories that concerned Southern Cross. They had no place in my life anymore. I wanted to erase them from my mind.

ELLIE: Have you been successful in doing that?

CLAYTON: Not completely, but I’m trying. Why do you ask?

ELLIE: Well, when we, when we met at Galveston that time, you were very troubled over a woman. So much that you had to get away from her and go down to the gulf. Clayton, were you in love with this woman?

CLAYTON: Yes, I was. Or at least I thought I was.

ELLIE: Clayton, I’ve been thinking about you and Sue Ellen. And all the things she said. Your attitude toward each other. Clayton, was Sue Ellen that woman?

CLAYTON: Yes. [Ellie rubs her temples.] Ellie, try to understand. Sue Ellen came to my home. She was in love with my son. And that relationship didn’t work for her. She didn’t know which way to turn. She was desperately in need. And I felt that I had to comfort her some way. And before I knew it, I found myself in love with her.

ELLIE: Did you tell her that?

CLAYTON: No. She thought of me as a father. She never recognized my feelings.

ELLIE: Well, didn’t you tell her how you felt?

CLAYTON: Yes, I tried, but I just couldn’t seem to get through to her. [Silence] Ellie, that part of my life is over now.

ELLIE: [Looking down] Is it?

CLAYTON: Yes, it is. And the feelings that I had for Sue Ellen then are gone. [Grabs her hand] If it eases your mind, nothing happened between us. Nothing.

Dallas Cliffhanger Classics: Season 12

Dallas Decoder celebrates “Dallas’s” classic cliffhangers with weekly summertime flashbacks. Collect all 14 images and share them with your friends.

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