
Saving the day, again
In “Dallas’s” fifth-season episode “Starting Over,” Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes) summons Ray (Steve Kanaly) to the Southfork living room, where they sit across from each other.
ELLIE: I know that in the past, you and Jock used to have these conversations, but in his absence, I, I guess I’ll have to be the one to do it.
RAY: I’m not sure I understand, Miss Ellie.
ELLIE: Well, Donna feels that you’re in some kind of difficulty. And you won’t talk to her about it.
RAY: Well, no disrespect to you, Miss Ellie, but I don’t think it’s anything we ought to talk about either.
ELLIE: But you would talk to Jock.
RAY: [Looking down] I guess.
ELLIE: Do you feel it’s a sign of weakness to talk to a woman about your problems?
RAY: [Smiles sheepishly] No, it’s not that, exactly.
ELLIE: Ray, you know how much I care about you. If you’re in some kind of trouble, why, why won’t you let us help you?
RAY: It’s kind of complicated. I know you and Jock think of me as a Ewing now. But I still think of myself as Ray Krebbs. And I’ve never really done anything to prove that I was as good as the rest of the Ewings.
ELLIE: There’s nothing to prove, Ray. We care about you because of what you are. And above all of us, Donna loves you for yourself.
RAY: But don’t you see? I have to prove it to Donna more than anyone. Look who she was married to: Sam Culver. He was a great man in this state.
ELLIE: You know that Sam’s and Donna’s marriage was for different reasons than yours.
RAY: I know that. But, I mean, look at Donna. She can sit down and in her spare time, she can write what looks like a bestseller. Now how could she be happy married to a cowboy?
ELLIE: You’ve talked about all the reasons for not talking to anyone, but you still haven’t said anything about your problem.
RAY: Well, I guess I just plain got in over my head. You know, the San Antonio deal that Punk and I set up? Well, when he went to South America, I went ahead on my own. I found out I didn’t know half of what I thought I did. Now I’m in danger of losing the whole thing.
ELLIE: And what do you need?
RAY: [Sighs] Another $3 million. Most of what I have invested at this point is Donna’s money. Now how could I go to her and say, “We’re going to lose the whole thing unless you give me another $3 million?”
ELLIE: Your not thinking enough of Donna to tell her hurts a lot more than losing the money would.
RAY: It’s not like I didn’t want to tell her. I just couldn’t. I still can’t.
ELLIE: Will you accept help from me? It’s the same thing I’d do for Bobby or Gary or J.R. if they needed it. [Smiles] We have four sons, you know. And you’re one of them.
RAY: Yes, ma’am. I’d be very grateful. I don’t know how I could ever thank you.
ELLIE: You don’t have to thank me. And if you like, no one else needs to know about this. I think Donna should, but that’s up to you.
RAY: Well, I’d rather try to get out of this mess myself before I tell her anything. I really would like Donna to be proud of me.
ELLIE: All right. Tomorrow morning, you and I will go to see Franklin Horner. I’m sure Ewing Oil can lend you the $3 million. [Ray smiles]




















