Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) is seen in this 1979 publicity shot from “The Silent Killer,” a third-season “Dallas” episode.
Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘What a Wonderful Future’
May 15, 2012 by 2 Comments
Mothers
In “The Silent Killer,” a third-season “Dallas” episode, Miss Ellie and Patricia (Barbara Bel Geddes, Martha Scott) watch baby John, who lies in his stroller on the Southfork patio.
PATRICIA: Oh, I just can’t get over this baby. My first grandchild – happy, healthy, so beautiful.
ELLIE: We were lucky, Patricia. The way he came into this world, we weren’t sure he was gonna live.
PATRICIA: I shouldn’t say this, but I prayed for a boy. I really prayed! Of course, I would’ve loved a little girl just as much, but a boy – just like J.R.
ELLIE: [Moving to her seat at the patio table] You know, I must’ve paced backed and forth in front of that phone for an hour before I could call you and tell you about Sue Ellen. You took it remarkably well.
PATRICIA: [Joins her at the table] Well, you were so kind and reassuring. I didn’t worry about it at all. Somehow I knew that if the Ewing family were in charge, nothing bad could happen to Sue Ellen.
ELLIE: Sue Ellen’s had a very rough time. I think it’s gonna be quite awhile before she gets her old spark back.
PATRICIA: Oh she must be suffering from that – oh, what do they call that? – postpartum depression. It’s not uncommon. Well, I know my girls. They always snap right back after any illness.
ELLIE: I’m sure.
PATRICIA: Meanwhile, little John will grow up on this beautiful ranch. His Uncle Bobby will teach him to ride – and someday, I expect, he’ll have a great big office, right next to his daddy’s. What a wonderful future.
Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘Not This Time, Barnes’
May 14, 2012 by 1 Comment
You wouldn’t like him when he’s angry
In “Whatever Happened to Baby John, Part 2,” a third-season “Dallas” episode, Cliff and Pam (Ken Kercheval, Victoria Principal) are talking in his apartment when there is a knock at the door. Cliff opens it, revealing an angry Bobby (Patrick Duffy).
CLIFF: Wait a minute, before you start swinging, let’s talk.
BOBBY: Not this time, Barnes. This time, you’ve gone too far. [Enters and slams the door behind him]
PAM: Bobby –
BOBBY: And you knew he was here all along, didn’t you?
CLIFF: Wait a minute, I just got here. Can’t we talk?
PAM: He didn’t know anything about it.
BOBBY: You’d swear he could walk on water if he told you!
PAM: That’s not fair! Would you wait a minute?
CLIFF: I want my son, I’m gonna have him. I did not – I repeat – I did not kidnap him. [Bobby moves toward him, Cliff steps back] Now wait a minute, you can push me around the room all you want but that’s not going to solve anything. I think we should try to figure out who indeed took him. [Bobby growls and moves closer still.]
PAM: For God’s sake, listen to him!
CLIFF: I swear I did not kidnap him. I wasn’t even in Dallas.
PAM: He’s telling the truth.
CLIFF: Let’s stop wasting time. We can be at each other’s throats tomorrow but today – for today – let’s try to find my boy.
BOBBY: Okay.
CLIFF: Okay.
The Art of Dallas: ‘Whatever Happened to Baby John? Part 1’
May 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment
J.R. and Sue Ellen (Larry Hagman, Linda Gray) are seen in this 1979 publicity shot from “Whatever Happened to Baby John? Part 1,”“Dallas’s” third-season opener.
Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘I Am No Longer for Sale’
May 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Oh, snap!
In “Whatever Happened to Baby John, Part 1,” “Dallas’s” third-season opener, J.R. (Larry Hagman) sits next to Sue Ellen (Linda Gray), who is lounging near the Southfork pool, reading Texas Homes magazine.
J.R.: Darling, I wish you’d try and take a little more interest in things.
SUE ELLEN: Interest? In what?
J.R.: Well, to start with, our child.
SUE ELLEN: [Flips a page] I don’t think he’s exactly suffering from lack of attention.
J.R.: You wanted that child so much, and now you just don’t seem to care at all.
SUE ELLEN: [Flips a page] Of course, I do.
J.R.: Well, it doesn’t look like it. That’s what I’m saying.
SUE ELLEN: Appearances can very often be deceiving.
J.R.: Honey, I know how – I know how hard this has been for you. How difficult the time it was to quit drinking and go cold turkey and I just want you to know that I admire you for it, Sue Ellen.
SUE ELLEN: [Looks up from the magazine] My drinking was never a problem. I kept trying to tell everybody that.
J.R.: And what I’m saying is, if we try, if we really try, we can solve all our other problems – and I want you to know I am going to try. I really am. [Takes the magazine from her, pulls a ring box out of his pocket] Sweetheart, I got a little present for you this morning. I dropped in a store downtown. [Opens the box] Jeweler calls it a maternity ring. [He holds open the box, smiling.]
SUE ELLEN: You bought me once, J.R. – and you can’t do it anymore. I am no longer for sale.
She snaps shut the box, gets up and walks away.
Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘Who is the Father of Your Baby?’
May 10, 2012 by 3 Comments
Daddy issues
In “John Ewing III, Part 2,” “Dallas’s” second-season finale, Bobby and Sue Ellen (Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray) are seated on the bed in her room at the sanitarium, where she tells him she wants to come home.
BOBBY: [Holding her hand] Sue Ellen, they can help you here.
SUE ELLEN: They can’t help me.
BOBBY: It takes time. You have to give them a chance.
SUE ELLEN: [Stands, walks away from the bed] Yeah, time. Sure. Why not? That’s all I have, is time. That’s what I do all day, is try to figure out what I’m gonna do with my time. I wake up in the morning and I think, “What am I gonna do all day till I go to sleep – alone?”
BOBBY: Sue Ellen. [Looks away, then looks back at her]
SUE ELLEN: [Turns to face him] Am I embarrassing you, Bobby?
BOBBY: No. Yeah. Yes, you are a little, yeah.
SUE ELLEN: I sleep alone a lot, after J.R.’s been out with his sluts, comes home smelling like their perfume, and I just pretend I’m asleep – just blot the whole thing out.
BOBBY: [Stands and grabs her arm] Then why aren’t you having this conversation with him? Confront him with it.
SUE ELLEN: Oh I have, Bobby. I have often. But your brother has that wonderful knack of finding one’s weak spot – the Achilles’ heel. Takes the knife and goes right up to the hilt.
BOBBY: Sue Ellen, what is your Achilles’ heel?
SUE ELLEN: [Turns, walks away] Your mama and your daddy, and Pamela and Lucy, and even you. You think it’s Southfork, the Ewing money, the Ewing name. But you’re wrong. [Walks back to him, touches his face] If I’d only met you first, Bobby, I would’ve married you instead of J.R. You are so kind and strong and loving. Just like a man should be. [Begins crying, kisses him] You are so understanding, Bobby. [Turns away] My men are not understanding.
BOBBY: Your men? Sue Ellen, what are you talking about?
SUE ELLEN: Oh, Bobby. I have something the doctors won’t ever find a cure for. Let’s see, how am I gonna explain this to you? Your life is so simple. Pamela loves you, and you love Pamela. And I really do love J.R. But you know what? J.R. doesn’t love me. But I wanted to have his baby so bad. I even thought we would adopt a baby, but J.R. put a stop to that. Then I thought, “Well, Sue Ellen, just go out and get yourself pregnant.” And that’s what I did. And I just thought, “But maybe I can hurt J.R., hurt him real bad.” Instead, all I did was hurt me and my little baby – and the baby’s father.
BOBBY: You went out and got pregnant? Sue Ellen, what are you saying?
SUE ELLEN: Yeah, but it could’ve been J.R.’s. Chances are it’s J.R.’s.
BOBBY: [Turns her around to face him] Sue Ellen!
SUE ELLEN: [Crying harder] But Bobby, he hardly makes love to me anymore.
BOBBY: Who is the father of your baby?
SUE ELLEN: Cliff Barnes. Now do you see? That’s why no one can help me. No one in the world can help me. [She collapses into his arms.]
Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘I Gave You Up Too Soon, J.R.’
May 9, 2012 by 3 Comments
Mama tried
In “John Ewing III, Part 1,” a second-season “Dallas” episode, Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes) sits at the piano in the Southfork living room, talking to J.R. (Larry Hagman).
ELLIE: You were a small child, J.R., when I stopped interfering in your life. For some time now, I’ve been thinking that wasn’t a very wise decision. But just because I didn’t say anything doesn’t mean I haven’t watched and seen. You’re power hungry. [J.R., standing behind Ellie, throws back his head and sighs.] You’re like your daddy in that. But he has redeeming qualities. His love for his sons, for one. I don’t know that you have any redeeming qualities, J.R. Is there anyone you love?
J.R.: [Standing at the bar] I love Sue Ellen.
ELLIE: From the day you brought that girl into this house, you’ve neglected her. First with the business, then with other women. You didn’t even bother to be discreet most of the time. I don’t know why she didn’t leave you years ago.
J.R.: Don’t you?
ELLIE: I know money’s important to Sue Ellen – and power. But she loves you, J.R. She always has. You just never gave her half a chance.
J.R.: I don’t wanna talk about this anymore.
ELLIE: Sue Ellen’s in trouble, J.R., and your child’s life is in danger. You must do something about it.
J.R.: [Sips a drink] It’s too late. [Leaves]
ELLIE: I gave you up too soon, J.R. I should have held onto you a little longer.
Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘The Ending Depends on the Start’
May 8, 2012 by 2 Comments
In the beginning
In “The Outsiders,” a second-season “Dallas” episode, Donna (Susan Howard) has drinks at the Longhorn Bar with Ray (Steve Kanaly), whom she met the night before.
RAY: I realized I sat around here talking about myself last night. I don’t know anything about you.
DONNA: Well, there’s not a lot to tell, really. My name is Donna. I’m, uh, 28. I was born in Marshall, Texas.
RAY: [Smiles] Marshall?
DONNA: Yeah, you know that little place close to Shreveport?
RAY: Sure, sure.
DONNA: And you know, I really don’t know what I’m doing here with you.
RAY: Oh well, maybe it’s just my rugged western charm, huh?
DONNA: [Laughs] No, no, I don’t think that’s what it is. No, um, I think it’s the fact that you didn’t try and hit on me last night.
RAY: Well, I wasn’t looking for that. I didn’t think you were, either.
DONNA: Well, tell me, what are you looking for?
RAY: I don’t know. Nothing complicated. Maybe just a happy ending. [Drinks]
DONNA: You and everybody else. [Pauses] Why do you think, uh, that it’s so difficult for people to have a happy ending?
RAY: Well, it could be the ending depends on the start. Beginning with somebody that you could end up happy with.
DONNA: Well, that would be terrific. I mean, you know, if things didn’t change – but they do. I mean, they always do.
The waitress arrives with their drinks. Ray thanks her.
RAY: We sure are getting serious here all of a sudden.
DONNA: Oh, I don’t want to get serious. No. [Raises her glass] To fun.
RAY: Yeah, I could use a lot of that. To fun.
Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘Could You Learn to Live with Sam?’
May 7, 2012 by 1 Comment
Facing the truth
In “Royal Marriage,” a second-season “Dallas” episode, Lucy (Charlene Tilton) and Kit (Mark Wheeler) are in his apartment, seated on the sofa and talking about their future.
KIT: Lucy, I can’t marry you.
LUCY: [Flabbergasted] What are you talking about?
KIT: I can’t go through with it.
LUCY: I don’t understand. You said you loved me.
KIT: I –
LUCY: Didn’t you mean it? Did you lie to me?
KIT: No, I didn’t lie.
LUCY: But if you love me –
KIT: OK, listen. Remember when we met Sam the other night when we were dancing?
LUCY: Yeah.
KIT: He wasn’t just my roommate. We were lovers.
LUCY: [Stunned] What?
KIT: I’m a homosexual.
LUCY: You can’t be. I don’t believe it.
KIT: I am.
LUCY: Then why –
KIT: Because I didn’t want to be. I wanted to be socially normal. I wanted to be accepted. [Stands up, turns away] I wanted to make my parents happy, to make them proud of me. There are a whole lot of reasons. When I first started to care for you, I was like a drowning man who just found himself a life raft or something.
LUCY: Then that’s OK, Kit. [Stretches across the sofa, reaches and pulls him back down] Then everything will be all right. If a life raft is what you need, that’s what I’ll be.
KIT: Lucy, it’s not that simple.
LUCY: I love you, Kit. I don’t like what you’re telling me, but I can learn to live with it. I know I can.
KIT: Could you learn to live with Sam, too?
LUCY: Sam?
KIT: Or if not Sam, someone else? I’m telling you Lucy, I’m not going to change. I know it. I’m tired to trying. I’ve got to learn to like myself the way I am. Now could you marry me under those conditions?
LUCY: I don’t – No.
KIT: [Moves closer to face her] Lucy, somehow by loving you, I’ve managed to find out a whole lot about myself and I’m very grateful to you for that. I can’t tell you how badly I feel that I’ve hurt you. If I’d known it was gonna end up like this, I never would have let it get started.
LUCY: [Sobs] Oh, Kit.
KIT: Now it’s gonna be messy, too. Because Bobby understands but J.R. is furious and he’s not gonna keep his mouth shut.
LUCY: Bobby and J.R. know?
KIT: I told Bobby this morning. J.R. has known it all the time. Now, I’ll tell my folks. I don’t know how, but I will. But that’s not gonna satisfy J.R. He’s gonna want some kind of a scandal, I know it.
LUCY: I know how to deal with J.R. There won’t be any scandal. [Kisses him, stands over him] Kit, can we still see each other sometimes?
KIT: I would love to see you again. But I think we bought ought to wait until it stops hurting first.
LUCY: Well, that’s not going to be for a very long time.
She leaves.
Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘I Married a Fighter’
May 4, 2012 by 1 Comment
Winners reconciled
In “Call Girl,” a second-season “Dallas” episode, Pam (Victoria Principal) is leaving her apartment, suitcase in hand, when Bobby (Patrick Duffy) arrives.
PAM: Bobby, what are you doing here?
BOBBY: It’s time to come home, Pam.
PAM: Didn’t you see the paper?
BOBBY: Yes, I saw it. So what?
PAM: I’m leaving Dallas. [Turns to walk away; he grabs her arm]
BOBBY: First Southfork, then me. Now Dallas, Pam?
PAM: I can’t live with the scandal.
BOBBY: Come on, Pam. It was a setup – and everybody knows it.
PAM: How can I go back to Southfork with this hanging over my head?
BOBBY: It’s the only thing you can do. Are you still looking for excuses to stay away from me?
PAM: I don’t want to stay away from you. I never did.
BOBBY: Then give some credit to the people that love you – to Mama, Daddy and me. Now, we know you wouldn’t be involved in something like that.
PAM: Well, how can I face them? What do I say to everybody at The Store?
BOBBY: You take it one step at a time, Pam – and the first step is to come back to the people that love you. For a while, nothing else matters.
PAM: I truly wish I could believe that. [Turns away from him]
BOBBY: Do you know I love you?
PAM: I know you love me, Bobby.
BOBBY: But you don’t know why that picture was taken, do you?
PAM: [Turns and faces him] To embarrass Maxwell.
BOBBY: Honey, if it were only to embarrass Maxwell, why were you involved in it at all?
PAM: J.R.? J.R. did that to both of us?
BOBBY: I don’t know who else – except I couldn’t prove anything.
PAM: Well that finishes it. Don’t you understand? It’s over. [Turns to walk away; he grabs her and makes her face him]
BOBBY: It’s only over if you want it to be! It’s only over if you stop fighting! Pamela, J.R. has been trying to do this to you ever since I brought you to Southfork. And if you leave now – if you run – then he wins, finally and completely. I married a fighter. Are you ready to let J.R. win? Or do we stand together and fight him? Together, we can win. And I want you with me.
PAM: I love you, Bobby.
BOBBY: Then let’s go home.
They kiss.
Dallas Decoder 