What’s the difference?

In “Endgame,” a third-season “Dallas” episode, El Pozolero (Miguel Sandoval), Nicolas (Juan Pablo Di Pace) and a group of henchmen enter the Mexican house, where Luis (Antonio Jaramillo) stands around, talking to his thugs.

LUIS: I wish I would have known you were coming. I would have prepared you a special feast.

EL POZOLERO: This is not a social call. Sit. Sientate, Nicolas. [Luis and Nicolas each sit.] Lately, I have become a sentimental man. Time has revealed the curse of aging is not illness, but nostalgia. That is why this brings me such pain. You are both like sons to me — two very different sons, with very different skills. In the past, those skills have complemented each other. That’s no longer the case.

NICOLAS: The money I generated has kept your empire funded. I have done this quietly, with intelligence, and self-discipline that puts nothing at risk.

LUIS: Nothing at risk? You lost $600 million of our money.

NICOLAS: Which I more than made up for with the Ewing Global takeover. Luis, on the other hand, has taken American hostages. [Chuckles] In fact, he’s probably killed them already.

Luis speaks to Fernando, who leaves and returns moments later with John Ross (Josh Henderson).

JOHN ROSS: Who let the scumbag in? [Nicolas rises.]

LUIS: These “hostages,” as you call them, they serve a purpose. With the women, I was able to get our product across the border, and they were returned safely. Using this boy, I was able to sell off all of Ewing Global at once, for more money than you were asking for. [Rises] Don Orestes, I have proven that I can do better business than him. The difference between us, Nicolas, is that you don’t have the stomach to do the difficult things. [He circles John Ross, then takes him from behind and puts a gun to his head.] I do.

NICOLAS: The fact that you’re so eager to kill an American proves my point. [To El Pozolero] Don Orestes, to get what you want, you need a businessman by your side, not a criminal.

EL POZOLERO: You have become confused about who we are, Nicolas. We are not businessmen who commit crimes. We are criminals who do business. But this confusion is not your fault. It’s mine. I coddled you. I never asked you to get your hands dirty.

NICOLAS: I did what you asked.

EL POZOLERO: [Puts his hand on Nicolas’s shoulder] Murder is a wonderful bonding experience, Nicolas. It proves to me that you are truly committed to our future together.

NICOLAS: [To Luis] Give me the gun.

Luis looks at El Pozolero, who nods. Luis loosens his grip on the gun, and Nicolas takes it.

JOHN ROSS: [To Nicolas] You don’t have the balls.

NICOLAS: [Furiously pushes John Ross across the room] This piece of shit violated the one true love of my life. He got her drunk and degraded her. [Holds the gun to John Ross’s chin, whispers] Drop when I say drop.

LUIS: [Cocks a gun, points it at the back of Nicolas’s head] Enough talk, Nicolas. Time for somebody to die.