Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘This is a Mistake?’

May 3, 2012 by 1 Comment
Colleen Camp, Dallas, Kristin Shepard, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing, Sue Ellen's Sister

Hell, or high water?

In “Sue Ellen’s Sister,” a second-season “Dallas” episode, Kristin (Colleen Camp) is in the Southfork swimming pool, lounging on a float, while Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) sits on the edge, dipping her toes into the water.

KRISTIN: You know, I could spend the rest of my life here, Sue Ellen, instead of a few days visiting you.

SUE ELLEN: No matter what Mama says, Kristin, money is not the most important thing in the world.

KRISTIN: That isn’t what you used to think.

SUE ELLEN: Well, I thought I could save you from repeating my mistakes.

KRISTIN: [Glancing around Southfork] This is a mistake?

SUE ELLEN: I might have made other choices – choices that would’ve made me happier.

KRISTIN: You don’t have to worry about me, Sue Ellen. I’ll be very happy. [Adjusts herself on her float] Happy and rich.

SUE ELLEN: You don’t like me very much, do you? Why? What have I ever done to you?

KRISTIN: You didn’t have to do anything. You were there. “Look how pretty your sister is, Kristin. Look how well-behaved she is. Why can’t you be well-behaved like that? No, you can’t have a new dress, Kristin. We’ll just make over one of Sue Ellen’s. It’ll be just fine.” No one paid any attention to me until after you married J.R.

SUE ELLEN: That’s not true, Kristin.

KRISTIN: Yes it is. I remember it very well, Sue Ellen, and I’m not playing second fiddle to you anymore. I’m not gonna be second best. I’m gonna get everything you’ve got and more – much more.

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (Classic), Features Tagged With: , ,

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘God, J.R., How Low Can You Get?’

May 2, 2012 by 1 Comment
Bobby Ewing, Dallas, Patrick Duffy, Red File Part 2

Why, he never!

In “The Red File, Part 2,” a second-season “Dallas” episode, J.R. (Larry Hagman) is seated on the edge of his office desk, talking on the phone, when Bobby (Patrick Duffy) enters carrying Julie’s attaché case.

J.R.: Yeah, no fooling Dave. I think we got Cliff Barnes out of our hair permanently. Yeah, that’s right. [Chuckles]

Bobby snatches the phone out of J.R.’s hand and slams it onto the receiver.

J.R.: [Angry, to Bobby] Now what the hell was that all about?

BOBBY: You’ll have plenty of time for that when I’m through – if you’re still president of Ewing Oil.

J.R.: You know, I think one of the biggest mistakes I ever made in my life was letting Daddy talk me into taking you off the road and putting you into an office next to mine.

BOBBY: No, J.R., that was your second biggest mistake! [Tosses materials off J.R.’s desk, slams down the attaché case] That’s your first!

J.R.: What is that?

BOBBY: [Opens it] Julie was gonna set you up. She Xeroxed all your confidential files and she was gonna turn them over to Cliff Barnes.

J.R.: Where’d you get ahold of this? [Starts rifling through the case]

BOBBY: Oh, it’s all there, J.R. Everything. [J.R. studies a document and sits in his chair] Records of payoffs to senators, congressmen, photographs of judges. It’s all there.

J.R.: Why, that cheating little tramp.

BOBBY: That’s your red file, isn’t it J.R.? I mean, that’s everything that you didn’t think I was ready to see.

J.R.: Well, you are my baby brother. Some of this stuff’s pretty gamey. I suppose you’re ready to face the realities of life.

BOBBY: Yeah. [Reaches into his suit jacket, unfolds a document and shows it to J.R.] Well, I wasn’t ready for that.

J.R.: It’s a copy of Daddy’s will. Now what is she doing with that? You know, sometimes I can never figure out what makes a woman’s mind work. I –

BOBBY: [Disgusted] Yeah, J.R., it puzzled me, too. I mean, it wouldn’t have meant a whole lot to Cliff Barnes, would it? Just part of the package. I think the one that would’ve found this most interesting is Daddy.

J.R.: Now, what are you talking about?

BOBBY: I’ll refresh your memory. [Begins reading] “This codicil amends paragraph 37. In the event of my death, I hereby grant to my son, John Ewing Jr., full drilling rights to all oil found in Section 40 of Southfork Ranch, as described in said paragraph.”

J.R.: Bobby, I can explain that!

BOBBY: To who? To Daddy? To Mama?

J.R.: Well let’s not bring them into this!

BOBBY: J.R., this is a forgery!

J.R.: It was a business maneuver!

BOBBY: A bu – it brought an oil crew to Southfork. Ray was damn near killed on account of it! And to make matters worse, you were trying to con your own mother and father. God, J.R., how low can you get? [Turns away from J.R.]

J.R.: [Rises from his seat] I was trying to make Ewing Oil into the most powerful independent in Texas! I needed the muscle!

BOBBY: [Faces J.R., looks stricken] Do you mean that somebody else in the cartel knew about this? J.R., you’re the one who knew that Julie was going to give these, these papers to Cliff Barnes!

J.R.: I didn’t know about that!

BOBBY: [Slams the attaché case shut] Don’t lie to me!

J.R.: Bobby, I never killed anybody in my life. I’m not a murderer. I didn’t kill anybody, not even during the war. Now, if you don’t believe me, you talk to Dan Marsh. He had a tap on Barnes’ phone. He brought me those tapes the next morning, after Julie was dead.

BOBBY: The next morning?

J.R.: That’s right.

BOBBY: Well, then I guess I’d better talk to Dan Marsh.

J.R.: You’re not gonna say anything to Daddy about this, are you?

Bobby walks to the door, pauses and then slams it behind him.

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (Classic), Features Tagged With: , ,

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘… Or the Secrets We Share’

May 1, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Dallas, J.R. Ewing, Julie Grey, Larry Hagman, Red File Part 1, Tina Louise

Twice upon a mistress

In “The Red File, Part 1,” a second-season “Dallas” episode, J.R. and Julie (Larry Hagman, Tina Louise) stroll along a pier while drinking champagne.

J.R.: Three days down here, and what do we get? We get rain, sleet, sun. I tell you, this Gulf weather’s enough to drive you crazy.

JULIE: [Laughs] Well, darling, one thing you don’t have is power over the weather.

J.R.: I use my powers in other ways.

JULIE: Yes, I’ve noticed. I’m constantly amazed. [Giggles]

J.R.: Never underestimate your charms, my sweet. [Kisses her]

JULIE: Thank you, darling. I never know if it’s me or the secrets we share that makes me so appealing to you. [He pours more champagne in her glass.] Thank you. Honey, does it ever bother you that I betrayed you once with Cliff Barnes?

J.R.: Now, I’m hungry. What do you want for lunch?

JULIE: Now, J.R., we never talk about it. You know, I could’ve given him the whole red file instead of just those tidbits on the payoffs to Senator Orloff.

J.R.: Well, that’s water under the bridge, or over the dam, or however the saying goes. I don’t know.

JULIE: I gotta know how you feel about me.

J.R.: [Playfully] Well, I like that. I cancel every appointment I got in Dallas. [Motions toward the water] We’re supposed to be out inspecting the Ewing Oil platforms. Now I ask you, what have we been inspecting here? [She laughs and kisses him.]

JULIE: I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make demands. I’m having a wonderful time.

J.R.: But?

JULIE: But sometimes I wanna know what you’re feeling. I wanna know what you’re thinking.

J.R.: All right. That affair with Cliff Barnes. Now, how does he rate on a scale of 1 to 10? [Julie playfully tosses the champagne in her glass at him. He ducks and laughs, and then they kiss passionately.]

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (Classic), Features Tagged With: , ,

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘I Intend To Keep It’

April 30, 2012 by 2 Comments
Barbara Bel Geddes, Dallas, Julie's Return, Miss Ellie Ewing

Finders keepers

In “Julie’s Return,” a second-season “Dallas” episode, Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes) and Julie (Tina Louise) chat in the Southfork living room.

ELLIE: [Pours coffee, then sits] I’m glad you could come, Julie. Everybody’s out. We can talk.

JULIE: Well, you knew I would. There aren’t many people in this world that intimidate me – but you’re one of them.

ELLIE: Because I’m Mrs. Jock Ewing?

JULIE: No, because you’re Ellie Ewing. You don’t need a man’s name to give you power.

ELLIE: But I’ve got that man’s name – and I intend to keep it.

JULIE: Ewing men don’t give up their wives that easily, Miss Ellie. You should know you’ve got nothing to worry about.

ELLIE: Your relationship with Jock has gone far enough.

JULIE: Your husband and I are just friends. [Rises, walks around the living room] We keep each other company while the people that we love are too busy to see that we’re in pain, that we’re lonely. We make each other feel needed, respected. We shop, we lunch, we talk about the people we love. That’s all.

ELLIE: [Rises] I want you to stop seeing him.

JULIE: [Walks closer to Ellie] Why? What harm are we doing? For you, he’s a man who’s got to be told not to smoke, not to eat salt, not to get excited, not to overdo. For me, he’s Jock Ewing. And for that man to need my friendship, to want my company, you don’t know what that means to me – and to him. Can you deny that he seems younger, more full of energy, happier than you’ve seen him in a long time? Our relationship is not what you thought it was.

ELLIE: No, Julie, it isn’t. It’s far more serious.

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (Classic), Features Tagged With: , ,

Dallas Styles: Cliff’s ‘Winner Look’

April 27, 2012 by 2 Comments

Dashing!

“Dallas’s” second-season episode “For Love or Money” establishes an interesting facet of Cliff’s character: He may be the show’s biggest cheapskate, but he’s willing to splurge on nice clothes.

The first time we see Cliff in this episode, he’s being fitted for a new suit at The Store while his sister Pam, a Store employee, watches and teases him.

Special delivery

“I am impressed,” she says. “Did you get tired of your underdog look?”

“Underdog?” Cliff responds. “That’s out. Now it’s the winner look that’s in.”

The conversation alludes to the events of an earlier second-season episode, “Election,” when Cliff loses a race for state senate because he isn’t willing to play dirty like the Ewings, who backed his opponent.

After the loss, Cliff resolves to do whatever it takes to beat the Ewings. He begins an affair with J.R.’s wife Sue Ellen, then becomes the state’s land-use chief, a position he uses as a platform for revenge.

In “For Love or Money,” Cliff’s new suit – a three-piece, pinstriped number – symbolizes his attempt to emulate his wealthier enemies.

Cliff is wearing the vest and pants at the end of the episode, when his secretary buzzes him in his office to announce J.R. wants to see him. Cliff quickly and somewhat nervously dons the jacket and adjusts his shirt cuffs before opening the door to his archrival. The implication: He wants J.R. to see him as an equal.

This dynamic continues during “Dallas’s” later years. Cliff remains a tightwad – he lives in modest homes and never loses his affinity for Chinese takeout – but his sense of style never suffers.

The result: Ken Kercheval becomes “Dallas’s” sharpest-dressed actor. Flamboyant pocket squares becomes one of Cliff’s signatures, and in the next-to-last episode, “The Decline and Fall of the Ewing Empire,” the character achieves his longtime ambition of taking Ewing Oil away from J.R.

Finally, Cliff isn’t just dressing like a winner. He is one.

Filed Under: Dallas Styles, Dallas Styles (Classic), Features Tagged With: , , ,

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘Is That What I Am? The Marbles?’

April 27, 2012 by 3 Comments
Cliff Barnes, Dallas, For Love or Money, Ken Kercheval, Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing

The biggest loser

In “For Love or Money,” a second-season “Dallas” episode, Cliff (Ken Kercheval) meets Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) in a park, where he ends their relationship.

SUE ELLEN: I thought you loved me.

CLIFF: I do, I do – in my own way. It’s just that J.R. made me realize that there are things that I need – and I can’t have them and you.

SUE ELLEN: And would it be so bad just to have me?

CLIFF: Look, if it stopped me from getting them, it would, because I might not ever be able to forgive myself – or you – for what our relationship might cost me.

SUE ELLEN: And what about what it would cost me?

CLIFF: Look, I can’t explain it. J.R. just pushes certain buttons and maybe I’ve got to learn to play the other man’s game.

SUE ELLEN: So that’s what it is? Just a game?

CLIFF: No.

SUE ELLEN: The winner takes the marbles and goes home? Is that what I am? Just the marbles?

CLIFF: Look, I’m sorry.

SUE ELLEN: You’re sorry? [Voice breaks] Yeah, so am I. You’ll never know how sorry.

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (Classic), Features Tagged With: , ,

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘I’m the Head of this Household!’

April 26, 2012 by 1 Comment
Dallas, Home Again, Jim Davis, Jock Ewing

OK, big guy. Calm down.

In “Home Again,” a second-season “Dallas” episode, Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes) is seated in a chair in the Southfork den, where she has called Jock (Jim Davis), J.R. (Larry Hagman) and Bobby (Patrick Duffy) together for an announcement.

ELLIE: This is very hard for me because you know how I love Southfork – and all of you. But I have to do what I think is right. My brother was named heir to Southfork in my daddy’s will. When he was lost at sea, your father and I declared him dead and claimed the ranch. It was right that we did that then. Now that he’s back, Garrison must have what is really his. We have to give Southfork back to him.

JOCK: [Angry, rising to his feet] What do you mean give Garrison Southfork? What kind of reasoning is that?

ELLIE: Jock, even when I thought he was dead, that day in court when we made it official, I felt I was stealing something from him.

JOCK: Miss Ellie, it was my life, my sweat and my money that saved this ranch. When Garrison ran away, he was bankrupt, the sheriff was knocking at the door.

ELLIE: Jock, I know how hard you worked – but it’s still ours by default. We have to correct that.

BOBBY: Mama, you are talking about giving up our home – a place we grew up in.

J.R.: Even if Uncle Garrison had stayed, he couldn’t have saved the ranch. I’m with Daddy. I don’t mean any disrespect, but what’s done is done, Mother.

ELLIE: What’s done can be changed. [Rising] Jock, I never told you how hurt I was when I found out that my daddy made Garrison the sole heir – but that’s the way things were done in those days: father to son. Daughters – daughters always came second. It was my daddy’s wish that Garrison have the ranch. My conscience won’t let me do differently.

J.R.: I knew he came here for some reason. He used to hang around with Digger Barnes – used to sing the same refrain, over and over again. The Ewings stole everything from them.

BOBBY: J.R., we’ve got enough problems without turning this into a Barnes-Ewing feud. Now leave it alone.

JOCK: [Raising voice] Miss Ellie! There’ll be no more talk about giving away Southfork. [Turns to leave]

ELLIE: Jock, we do need to talk about it!

JOCK: [Serious] You’re overstepping your place, Miss Ellie.

MISS ELLIE: [Screaming] My place! Just what is my place?

JOCK: It isn’t running this ranch! It isn’t running Ewings’ businesses! It isn’t saying what we keep or what we give away. I am still the head of this household – with or without your permission!

ELLIE: I’ve asked Garrison and Cathy for lunch tomorrow. Do I need your permission for that?

Jock glares at Ellie and leaves the room. Moments later, she leaves, too.

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (Classic), Features Tagged With: , , , ,

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘I’m So Scared, Cliff’

April 25, 2012 by 1 Comment
Cliff Barnes, Dallas, Ken Kercheval, Kidnapped, Pam Ewing, Victoria Principal

Words are cheap

In “Kidnapped,” a second-season “Dallas” episode, Pam (Victoria Principal) passes through Southfork’s foyer before dawn and notices Cliff (Ken Kercheval) standing on the porch.

PAM: [Through the window] Cliff? Cliff, didn’t you sleep?

CLIFF: No. Did you?

PAM: [Joins him on the porch] I’m so scared, Cliff. You like now, don’t you, since you got to know him?

CLIFF: Yeah, I do. I like him.

Jock and Miss Ellie (Jim Davis, Barbara Bel Geddes) step onto the porch.

JOCK: Time to go, Cliff.

ELLIE: You bring my son home safe, I’ll be grateful to you forever. We all will.

Jock hands the bag of money to Cliff, who takes it and walks away.

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (Classic), Features Tagged With: , , , ,

Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘Don’t You Ever Threaten My Brother’

April 24, 2012 by 1 Comment
Dallas, Fallen Idol, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman

Blood is thicker than oil

In “Fallen Idol,” a second-season “Dallas” episode, J.R. (Larry Hagman) enters his office to find Jeb and Willie Joe (Sandy Ward, John Ashton) waiting for him.

J.R.: Well boys, what’s got you all stirred up on a busy Monday morning?

JEB: We heard about your little brother’s shopping center. It was all over town by 9 this morning.

J.R.: [Standing behind his desk] Well you didn’t come here to talk about a shopping center.

WILLIE JOE: He’s building exactly where your daddy’s will gives you the right to drill for oil!

JEB: We share in that oil, J.R. It’s the basis to every deal we’ve made. I’m beginning to think that maybe that will is a fake.

J.R.: You calling me a liar?

WILLIE JOE: If we come up dry in the Panhandle, and Bobby builds on that red-file land, we could be out of business!

J.R.: I’ve always protected you boys. You keep this up and I’m gonna stop.

JEB: [Leaning across J.R.’s desk] If you don’t stop Bobby, I’ll stop him.

J.R.: [Drops his mail on his desk] What’s that supposed to mean?

JEB: You know damn well what it means.

J.R.: [Pauses, then slaps Jeb, sending him back on his feet] Don’t you ever threaten my brother – or any other Ewing. I told you I’d handle this. Now get out of my office! [Turns his back to Jeb and Willie Joe and stares out the window. They leave.]

Filed Under: Dallas Scenes of the Day, Dallas Scenes of the Day (Classic), Features Tagged With: , , ,

Dallas Styles: Ray’s Plaid Suit

April 23, 2012 by 2 Comments

Good men wear plaid

When “Dallas” begins, J.R. isn’t the only shady character at Southfork – so is his buddy Ray. The two men try to break up Bobby and Pam and go carousing in Waco, all while Ray is secretly having trysts in the hayloft with Lucy.

Perhaps realizing two cads are two too many, “Dallas” turns Ray into a hero during the second season. The evolution doesn’t happen overnight – on his way to redemption, Ray has a one-night stand with Sue Ellen – but it’s soon clear Ray is becoming a new man.

The character grows more honest and reliable, and much more honorable. In other words, Ray becomes a lot like the cowboys who preceded him in prime time. Think Marshal Matt Dillon, but without the badge.

To underscore this change, “Dallas” tweaks Steve Kanaly’s wardrobe. The orange hunting vest and heavy jacket he wears during the first season are replaced by a more traditional cowboy uniform of plaid shirts and blue jeans.

The transformation continues in “Triangle,” when Ray falls for Garnet McGee, an ambitious country-western singer who cheats on him with J.R. It’s the first time we really root for Ray, which is pretty remarkable given all the smarmy stuff he’s done in the past.

In one of “Triangle’s” pivotal moments, Ray brings Garnet to a nighttime party at Southfork. The scene is a plot device to introduce Garnet to J.R., who is instantly smitten with her, but the show also uses the sequence as another opportunity to remind us of Ray’s cowboy bona fides.

The character comes to the party dressed in a gray plaid suit with a blue string tie, not unlike the ones Colonel Sanders used to wear in those Kentucky Fried Chicken commercials. Ray’s outfit is thoroughly western, letting us know he’s a cowboy even when’s off the clock.

It’s a little surprising Kanaly is given a gray hat to wear in this scene instead of a white one, which is the color of choice for most western heroes.

Then again, no “Dallas” character is all good or all bad – and even though Ray is becoming a better man, he’s far from perfect – so maybe a gray hat is the best choice after all.

Filed Under: Dallas Styles, Dallas Styles (Classic), Features Tagged With: ,
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