Dallas s06e09 Episode Script

171109 - Fringe Benefits

Is that Miss Ellie I hear talking - or Frank Crutcher? - Why did you bring him into it? Isn't it a little soon after Daddy's death to be seeing another man? The sight of you in that will set him up.
I'll move in for the kill.
And between us.
We'll buy ourselves a refinery.
- What are you saying? - Ewing Oil isn't worth the lives of half a dozen people.
Why don't we take Christopher and move away? Just leave.
He wanted me to go to bed with him.
Right now.
You knew he was gonna come on to me.
Are you saying I was using you like a hooker? Oh.
That was just a superb dinner.
Just superb.
Darling.
Thank you.
I guess it still is the quickest way to a man's heart.
One of them.
You know.
I guess my time wasn't completely wasted when I was single.
Now that I know my way around the kitchen.
I kind of enjoy it.
We can have a lot of quiet little dinners like this when we move back to Southfork.
You don't think Miss Ellie will mind if I take over the kitchen once in a while? She'll be so glad to have you back.
She won't mind anything.
Sue Ellen I need your help.
Honey.
After all those pretty speeches.
Name it.
Well.
I was thinking how wonderful it would be if you could act as my hostess.
You have such a knack with entertaining.
- Could I count on you for that? - Of course you can.
Oh.
Thank you.
You see.
I'm trying to buy this oil refinery from Gil Thurman and he's coming on a little stubborn.
And it just occurred to me that dinner was so wonderful tonight we could entertain him right here.
You know.
Treat him like royalty.
You could turn on that charm of yours.
It would help me a lot.
- Just how much charm? - I'll leave that up to your exquisite taste.
Just don't get carried away.
Remember.
We're getting married next week.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
- Afton? - Mr.
Conroy? There's a man over there who's very anxious to meet you name of Gil Thurman.
- He's important.
- Sure.
Afton.
This is Mr.
Gil Thurman.
Afton Cooper.
- How do you do? - I'm happy to know you.
Sit down.
Sure love your singing.
I think you're terrific.
- Thank you.
- What can I get you to drink? Oh.
Not a thing.
Thank you.
A little champagne? - Anything.
You go ahead and name it.
- Nothing.
Really.
Well.
Well.
Well.
Well.
You and me.
We know some folk in common.
We do? As a matter of fact.
They're some relatives of yours.
Ewings.
The Ewings are not my relatives.
Well.
I don't mean just blood kin.
I'm including in-laws.
Like Lucy Ewing Cooper being married to your brother.
Not anymore.
Listen.
I have no connection to the Ewings.
Well.
I do.
I just might have me a deal going with the numero uno Ewing J.
R.
his-self.
I'm sure there are lots of oilmen in this town who are after J.
R.
for one thing or another.
They always are.
You got it the other way around.
Little lady.
J.
R.
wants something from me.
And he wants it real bad.
My.
It's a great spot to be in.
Isn't it? Well.
I guess you could say that.
Oil wells? Ls that what he's after? No.
I'm not selling any of my wells and he doesn't need any.
I own a refinery.
One of the biggest and best in Texas.
I see.
And J.
R.
has his eye on it? Sure looks that way.
But I don't know if I'm selling.
Mr.
Thurman I really would love to talk to you some more but I have to get some rest.
Oh.
I'm sorry.
And the name is Gil.
Sure would be nice if you could come back tomorrow.
Though.
We could pick up where we left off.
I really would like to see you again.
Oh.
I'll be here.
Wonderful.
Good night.
Gil.
- Good morning.
Mama.
- Good morning.
J.
R.
J.
R.
.
is it true that the OLM has granted you a variance on oil production? I hear you're pumping to capacity.
- Yes.
Ma'am.
That's right.
- But why? Everybody knows there's too much oil around as it is.
Well.
Mama.
I got a plan.
The variance and the pumping is just part of it.
If you don't mind.
I'd like to wait until all the pieces fall into place before we talk.
Some people may not be willing to hold still until you're ready to talk.
A lot of oilmen are up in arms over what you're doing.
Is that Miss Ellie I hear talking or Frank Crutcher? Well.
Whatever Frank and I talk about.
It's not that.
Why did you bring him into it? Well.
I guess I just might as well come out and say it.
Isn't it a little soon after Daddy's death for you to be seeing another man? Yes.
It certainly is too soon to be seeing anyone seriously.
And it would be impossible for me to do that.
But.
J.
R.
.
that doesn't mean I'm gonna live like a hermit.
All right.
We'll talk about it later after dinner.
There's nothing to talk about.
Hi.
Good morning.
You want some breakfast? - Just coffee, thanks.
- Okay.
- How's everything at work? - Fine.
As a matter of fact.
Last night was kind of interesting.
- Do you know a guy named Gil Thurman? - I know who he is.
Yeah.
Why? Well.
He came by last night and we talked for a while.
- Is he important? - Well he thinks he's more important than he is, but he's in there.
Well.
He was just bragging to me about how J.
R.
wants to buy his refinery.
Yeah.
I'll bet J.
R.
does wanna buy his refinery.
He needs a refinery because he's up to his gills in crude right now.
Would you like to meet him? He'll be at the club tonight.
Yeah.
I'll come over.
Good.
Russell.
You're the best broker in the business.
Are you telling me there's not one single refinery for sale? I've already told you the rumor about Gil Thurman's outside of that.
Not in Texas there isn't.
Matter of fact.
Not in the whole Southwest.
But if you like I could always make some inquiries about.
Say.
Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania? No.
No.
What I have in mind couldn't absorb the shipping costs.
Well.
That's the story.
As a matter of fact, the last refinery sale I remember was to Harwood Oil.
- You know the company? - Harwood? Yeah.
Yeah.
I think I do.
What other thoughts you got? You're already on the tracks of the only one in the state.
Keep after him.
- Sly? - Yes.
- Get Gil Thurman on the phone for me.
- Yes, sir.
Well.
Keep trying.
I need that refinery.
I need it now.
If Thurman falls through.
I don't have any backup.
Of course I'll keep trying.
But I don't think there's gonna be anything on the market for months.
I hope you can convince Thurman.
I think it's your only shot.
- See you.
- Thanks.
- Yeah? - Mr.
Thurman on line one.
Okay.
Put him on.
Hello.
Hey.
Gil.
How you doing? I'm just fine.
J.
R.
.
I'm in good shape.
Oh, good, good.
H': Always nice to hear a man with a positive attitude.
Say.
We'd like to spend an evening with you.
Have you over to dinner.
- We? - Sue Ellen and I.
Oh.
You two seeing each other again? Oh.
You betcha.
You betcha.
As a matter of fact.
Dinner would be at her townhouse.
Well.
How about tonight? Oh.
I'm afraid not.
I got something on for tonight.
Oh.
Well.
That's too bad.
Tomorrow night? Tomorrow? Let me take a look.
Yes.
Tomorrow night looks clear.
Oh.
That's wonderful.
Wonderful.
Sue Ellen will be pleased.
She's looking forward to meeting you.
- How about 7:00? - Make it 7:30.
Okay.
Fine.
7:30 is just wonderful.
The address is 56 Fair Oaks Road.
- Bye-bye.
- Nice talking to you.
Bye.
This fella.
Every time they'd bring a steer in the arena he wound up owning it.
Finally.
Matthew.
That's the auctioneer he just stopped the whole auction and asked him some questions.
Found out he'd never been to an auction before.
But he knew everybody there and every time he waved to somebody he wound up owning another steer.
- That's funny.
- Lf he'd have kept going he'd have restocked the whole King Ranch.
- Well.
What happened? - They just stopped the auction and started it over again.
Oh.
Frank.
This has been wonderful.
Thank you.
Ellie.
I've enjoyed it too.
Danny? - Let me have the check, please.
- Yes.
Mr.
Crutcher.
As a matter of fact, it's sort of a farewell lunch for a little while.
I've got to go back East.
- Is everything all right? - Oh.
Yes.
It's just business, but it's highly complicated.
It's gonna take a while.
Well.
Maybe it's all for the best.
My boys seem to feel I've been rushing things.
Because your boys don't understand the relationship.
As a matter of fact What? Well.
I I'm just trying to think how to put it.
Well.
Go on.
What? Well.
I was thinking how nice it would be if for any reason at all you had to come back to New York while I was there.
We got plenty of good shows plenty of good restaurants.
And plenty of good conversation.
Oh.
Frank.
I couldn't go to New York with you.
I didn't mean it that way.
Frank.
I I hope you don't think I've been rushing things.
I mean.
We've had lunch twice in the past few days and I've really enjoyed it.
But it's not more than that.
- I wouldn't want you to think it was.
- And I never did.
It's It's been difficult for me to even go out for lunch with another man.
I can understand that.
! Now.
- Thank you.
Thornton.
Bobby here.
- Bobby, haw are you? - Just fine.
How was your flight back? The weather was rough but we managed to land before the airport got sucked in.
Well.
That's why I'm calling.
That cold spell you're having is not helping us get work started.
Is it? Afraid not.
The terrain is frozen.
Already had some delays in shipping the rigs and trouble with housing.
But these cold-weather snags are nothing new.
We're used to them.
- What's the weather forecast? - Nut good.
We'll be able to start drilling in the next couple of months wand the oil will still be in the ground waiting for us.
- That's not what worries me.
- I know.
It's the time factor.
Le! Me put I! To you this way.
If we don't bring those wells in within a year you just might be doing business with my brother.
Thanks.
But no thanks.
With no disrespect meant.
Bobby J.
R.
's fame has preceded him all the way to Toronto.
We'd prefer to keep you in the picture.
And we'll make every effort.
Thanks.
I need all the help I can get right now.
You stay well.
Well.
Now.
Cliff.
What's the urgency? I've just found out that J.
R.
has put a bid in on a refinery.
I wanna up that price and beat him to it.
And I wanted to find out how you three felt about that.
What's the story on the refinery? What capacity.
What price? I have no details.
I'm gonna find out more about it tonight.
I just wanted to see if you three had any interest.
I don't know.
Cliff.
Most refineries have cut back.
Maybe your timing's a little off.
Gentlemen.
The oil business will turn around.
It always does.
Yeah.
But should we pursue this just because Cliff wants to stick it to J.
R.
? Now.
Hang on.
Andy.
Sure.
Nothing would give me more pleasure than to kick J.
R.
's butt but that's not the only interest I have in spending this kind of money.
Refineries are a solid investment.
They don't come on the market often and if we can get this and the price is right we'd be crazy not to take it.
I think we should pursue it.
But we need more facts.
All right.
Bring us the deal.
Cliff.
We're all open-minded around here.
Aren't we.
Folks? Sure we are.
Anyway.
To look doesn't cost a thing.
Mrs.
Ewing.
Did I give you the date for your next fitting? - Yes.
You did.
- That's good.
I'll see you then.
- Bye-bye- - Bye-bye- Have you decided on the color of your dress yet? Well.
You're not going to tell me.
Are you? Well.
I would like it to be a surprise.
Well.
One thing I can tell you is.
It won't be white.
I can't imagine why not.
I'm glad you're here with me today.
Well.
I enjoy being with you, Sue Ellen.
Despite the rivalry between Bobby and J.
R.
? Have you been thinking about that too? It's odd how relationships change.
I hated you when Bobby first brought you to Southfork.
That's funny.
You never showed it.
Then you were so wonderful to me when J.
R.
and I were fighting over John Ross.
Well.
I think you'd do the same thing for me.
Yeah.
I don't want us to lose our friendship.
Well.
There's no reason for that to happen.
It's up to us.
We have to try harder not to get into their fights.
I think it would be ironic after hating each other for so long and finally being friends, that we'd lose our friendship over their fight.
Yeah.
Now we just have to make sure that doesn't happen.
And I know we'll try.
Come on.
My group is gonna need all the information on the refinery.
Size.
Capacity.
Personnel.
All of that.
But I will say this whatever J.
R.
's offer is.
I would like the opportunity to meet it and better it.
I'll tell you.
Cliff what would interest me is not a better offer but a deal that had a little something extra in it.
Something that would make me happy personally.
Yeah.
Okay.
Whatever it takes.
So for hors d'oeuvres.
I thought we'd start off with Scottish salmon.
Scottish salmon.
Why don't we have those little weenies? Those little cocktail franks.
Now.
What do you got in mind for the main course? Are you ready for this? Not bad for high school French? Yeah.
This dinner is kind of important.
Darling.
What is that? That's that chicken dish I fixed for you.
- Yeah.
Right.
That was good.
- You liked it, remember? But I think Gil would prefer steaks.
Just throw them on the barbecue and char them real black.
He likes them well-done.
- J.
R.
.
he can have that any time.
- Just trying to make him feel at home.
And for the wine I thought we'd serve this.
This was your daddy's favorite.
- Bourbon.
- With dinner? Before.
With and after.
Darling.
Who are you inviting.
King Kong.
or“? Oh.
No.
He's just a good old boy.
Now.
What are you gonna wear? J.
R.
.
just hold on a minute.
I'm really trying very hard to understand this.
I do read the papers and I know there's a surplus of oil.
And you're pumping full out? On top of that.
You wanna buy a refinery.
Now.
What's going on? Darling.
It's just too complicated to explain.
But the fact is I need that refinery.
I need it bad.
Whatever you say.
Mrs.
Chambers brought down three dresses for you to look at.
- Oh.
Yeah.
- This one? Oh.
I don't know.
Maybe this one? Yeah.
It's nice.
But it doesn't have what I'm looking for.
Oh.
Right.
Turn it around.
- That's it.
That's perfect.
Yeah.
- You like that? All right.
Well.
I just wanna ask you one question.
Why did you choose the sexiest? It's called the old Ewing one-two.
Gil likes pretty ladies.
The sight of you in that will set him up.
I'll move in for the kill.
And between us.
We'll buy ourselves a refinery.
That goes right over there with the other chair.
- Well.
What a nice surprise.
- Hi.
He looks wonderful.
Doesn't he? - So does the house.
It looks great.
- Doesn't it? I know I'm rushing things.
But I want to move in as soon as possible.
Come on over here.
Christopher.
I have something for you.
Oh.
Mother.
That's lovely.
I just got this for him.
- There you go.
- That's so sweet.
Pam.
It's very thoughtful of you to bring the baby here.
Well.
I know how awkward it is for you at Southfork.
With everything that's happened.
Mother.
I feel very bad.
Christopher is growing and changing every day and it's such a shame you're not seeing it happen.
- What would you have me do, Pam? - What any loving grandmother would do.
- Visit your grandchild.
- At Southfork? I can't.
Yes.
You can.
But you don't want to.
Pam.
You make it sound as though I'm rejecting the baby.
Or worse.
As though I'm rejecting you.
Now.
You know that's not true.
It feels like it.
After everything we went through to get our baby.
You just turn away.
Pam.
I almost lost my son.
How would you feel if you lost Christopher because of the Ewings? Mr.
Ewing.
There's a Mr.
Macklin on the phone for you.
Oh.
Fine.
Hey.
Hello.
John.
What's new in your life? What's new is I'd like to see you.
- Got a deal brewing.
How's your day? - It's pretty filled up but nothing I can't push around.
What's your pleasure? I'm at the club.
Why don't you come.
We'll hit a few.
And discuss the deal? Fine.
I'm looking forward to it.
I'll just change and be right over.
- That's fine.
See you soon.
- Yes, sir.
Yeah.
That puts my golfing to shame.
Now let's go get some drinks.
My drinking is a lot better than my golfing.
That's for sure.
Well.
What about the deal? What do you think? - Here you are.
John.
Thank you.
- Thank you.
I'll tell you, under normal circumstances.
It would interest me quite a lot.
First.
Because I've never had any involvement in West Coast offshore oil and second.
Because you like the deal.
John.
- But? - But to tell you the truth I don't think I'd see a return on my investment for, say.
Two years.
At least.
Maybe three.
Well.
That's the problem.
I know it would be big profits down the line.
But it just doesn't fit in with my immediate plans.
Look.
I know about this contest between you and your brother.
But I also know your dad wouldn't have turned down a proposition like this.
- It's good for the company as a whole.
- Different times, different needs.
Well.
Suit yourself.
But if you don't mind I'm gonna talk to Bobby about it.
He may appreciate the benefits more than you do.
Well.
Feel free.
Feel free.
Bobby and I operate differently.
I'm sure he'll jump at a unique chance like this.
At least I sure hope he does.
Yeah? Bobby? Mr.
Anderson is here.
Send him in.
Please.
- Come on in.
- Howdy.
Bobby.
I hope my phone call didn't throw you.
I mean.
Busting in on your schedule this way.
- I'm always glad to see you.
Come on in.
- Thank you.
- Can I make you a drink? - No.
No.
Thank you.
"No.
Thank you“? Well.
You must be upset about something.
" Yeah.
As a matter of fact, I am.
I want you to understand that interfering in the terms of your daddy's will is the last thing I wanna do.
I mean.
You've got your half of Ewing Oil to run and J.
R.
's got his half.
And a year from now one of you is gonna come up a winner.
Punk that's all old news.
You better sit down and tell me what's on your mind.
You see.
Being the administrator of your daddy's estate I've got a moral responsibility to make sure those assets are properly conserved so to speak.
Oh.
I see.
What is my big brother up to? Is that it? That's right.
Your mother, me and the whole oil community are not only puzzled.
But we're alarmed at what's going on.
Why did J.
R.
ask for a variance on oil production? And why did the OLM give it to him? Why is he pumping his fields at capacity and what's he doing with all the oil? That's right.
- You got any answers? - No.
I don't.
Punk.
I made a vow to stay out of J.
R.
's territory.
He's got a right to run his half of Ewing Oil whichever way he sees fit.
And so do I.
Bobby.
I understand that.
But I tell you, there'd be a lot of people who'd breathe easier if you get some inkling of what's going on.
All right.
Punk.
I'll nose around.
I'll see if I can find something out for you.
I'd appreciate it.
How's Pam and that good-looking boy of yours? Oh.
They're doing just fine.
Thank you for asking.
- You give my love to Mavis.
- I'll do it.
Thank you.
Phyllis.
Would you get me Jerry Wheatland at the refinery? Right away.
- Yes? - I have Mr.
Wheatland In! You.
Jerry.
Bobby Ewing here.
How are you? - Good, sir.
What can I du In! You? - I just need a little information.
Has J.
R.
increased his production output there any? Increased it? No, Pd say we're at the same level you and I discussed.
Is that so? Yeah, if anything, we're down a little.
Maybe a few hundred barrels.
Well.
Thanks.
Anytime.
Well.
What is J.
R.
doing with all that oil? Oh.
I'm sorry.
I thought you were somebody else.
Please.
Come in.
You must be Mr.
Thurman.
That's right.
But my friends call me Gil.
Welcome.
Please.
Come in.
J.
R.
not here yet? Oh.
He should be here any minute now.
Yeah.
Well.
Let's hope that he takes his time.
Well.
I mean.
That way you and me.
We can get acquainted.
Right.
What may I fix you to drink? Well.
Let's see.
Well.
I started with bourbon about three hours ago.
I may as well stay with a winning ticket.
You can save the ice and hold the branch.
All right.
There you are.
You know.
I was kind of surprised to hear that you and J.
R.
were back together again.
Of course.
The last I heard you and Clayton Farlow's kid were off to San Angelo.
That's really none of your business.
Now.
Honey.
I didn't mean to upset you.
Fact is.
I'm always glad to hear when a couple takes another shot at the gold ring.
Well.
I'm sure you remember that old song: “It's Always Better the Second Time Around.
“ If it had been me in J.
R.
's boots, there never would have been a second time.
I would never have let you go in the first place.
Beautiful woman like you.
Refill? Well.
If you don't mind.
- Hello? - Hi, it's me.
Oh.
Hi.
Honey.
Where are you? I was starting to get worried about you.
Well, I would have called you earlier, but we've been meeting all day.
Look, Ray, they've asked me to present that hill we've been discussing to the legislature in Austin.
The thing is, I just really didn't want to promise them that I would go until I talked to you.
And it': Taking a little more time than you thought, huh? If you don't want me to go.
You just say the word.
No, no, it sounds to me like you could do that hill some good.
You just go ahead.
Tell them yes.
I will.
And I'll be home real soon.
You haven't had a drink with me all evening.
Of course I have.
Oh.
Yeah.
Well.
That's just plain soda.
I call that downright unfriendly.
It's not meant to be.
I I just don't drink, that's all.
Well.
I don't know what's keeping J.
R.
It's 8:30.
He should be here any minute.
He might.
Then again.
He might not.
Now.
I got a good idea.
Why don't you and me split? We'll leave a note for J.
R.
: “Gone fishing.
“ Go to my place.
And then you won't have to worry about being walked in on.
It must be J.
R.
Oh.
Sue Ellen.
I can't apologize enough for this.
Darling.
Say Oh.
Gil.
Doggone I'm sorry about keeping you waiting this long.
I had an emergency.
One of my wells caught on fire.
Did the telephones burn too? Well.
I had to keep the lines open to the field.
Let me freshen this up for you.
No.
Thank you.
I don't want any more.
In that case.
We can sit down to dinner right now if that's convenient for you? - Certainly.
- No.
I've lost my appetite.
- I think I'm just gonna head on out.
- Well.
Now.
Gil.
Hold on there.
Put those steaks on right away.
Honey.
We can have a couple of more drinks maybe a couple of laughs.
And talk some business.
Frankly.
I don't think we've got any business to talk about.
Because I haven't heard the right offer yet.
Thank you for the booze.
Good night.
- Say.
Gil.
We'll do it again - Good night.
Yeah.
All right.
Fine.
Nice talking to you.
Sue Ellen.
What the hell did you do wrong? Me? Me? You're the one who left me stranded here for over an hour with that disgusting animal.
How could you be so thoughtless? Thoughtless? I did that on purpose.
You what? Oh.
Sue Ellen.
I was counting on some soft lights and a few drinks with a beautiful woman just to mellow him out so when dinner was over.
I could have struck a deal with him.
You used me? He wanted me to go to bed with him.
Right now.
You knew he was gonna come on to me.
Are you saying I was using you like a hooker? Well.
What would you say? Oh.
Sue Ellen.
I've been in business a lot of years.
And if I think I can close a deal with a client by offering him a hooker I'd do it, honey.
I admit it.
But if I was gonna go that route do you honestly believe I'd use the woman I love? My bride-to-be? All right.
I made a mistake.
I misjudged the man.
If I thought he was gonna come on like an animal do you really think I'd have subjected you to that? I hope you believe me.
I love you very much, Sue Ellen.
Think dinner can wait just a little while longer? I suppose so.
We've waited this long.
A little while longer won't hurt.
- Cliff.
I wanna ask you something.
- Yeah.
Now that we're alone Sort of.
Just between you and me is it really worth getting into this refinery deal just to spite J.
R.
? If that's all there was to it.
No.
But there's more to it than that.
I mean.
Beyond the value of the investment.
There's more to it than that.
I'm thinking about me and the cartel.
If I can deliver this deal to Jordan Lee and the others.
I'm only cementing my position with them.
Don't forget.
The last time I was up against J.
R.
.
I got suckered.
And they know that.
I've got to prove to them that I can do it.
I just got to.
And I gotta prove it to myself.
Oh.
Afton.
Look.
This might be the most important deal of my whole life.
Look.
John.
The more I think about your proposal the more I can see it's rock-solid.
But I'm still gonna have to turn it down.
You too? The payout is just a little too long in coming back to me.
Simple as that.
That's what J.
R.
said.
I figured you'd be a little wiser.
Daddy put us in some pretty stiff competition with one another.
I know that.
But he never meant for you to throw all concern for the company out the window.
- I'm not doing that.
- Well.
Of course you are.
You two aren't building Ewing Oil.
You're using it for a battlefield.
John.
There is a time pressure on both of us.
I can't speak for J.
R.
.
but I'm already involved in one long-term investment.
- With the McLeish brothers.
- The Canadians? That's right.
And that's off the record.
I'm gonna be sweating that one out enough as it is.
I can't afford another long-term investment.
Not this year.
Well if that's how things stand.
I feel sorry for the legacy Jock left you both.
Ewing Oil may be a shambles by the end of the year.
You all through for the night? Yes.
That was the last set.
Have you made a decision yet about your refinery? Well.
I'll tell you Why don't we turn the cards face up? At this point, I guess you could call me a wealthy man.
And I wanna sell the refinery.
For me.
It's the right thing to do now.
Frankly.
I don't care who I sell it to.
- Really? - Sure.
A couple of hundred thousand one way or the other.
What difference does it make? What I'm interested in is the fringe benefits.
Do you understand"? Oh.
That's a shame.
I guess I'm just gonna have to call J.
R.
and tell him he's got it.
Barnes really wants my refinery.
Doesn't he? Look.
I offered him the price we agreed upon.
I just haven't heard back from him yet.
Jordan.
I won't go over the limit.
All right.
I'll call you just as soon as I hear from him.
Yeah.
So long.
Hi.
You know.
I fell asleep last night waiting up for you watching television? I thought you were gonna come over after the last show.
I was working kind of late last night.
So I just went straight back to my place.
Was that Jordan Lee? Yeah.
That was Jordan Lee.
And just a few minutes before that.
Marilee Stone called.
And then Andy Bradley before that.
Suddenly.
They're anxious to get that refinery from Thurman.
Just as anxious as I am.
Almost.
You see.
I finally figured out why this deal is so important to me.
Why? Because just once.
Just once.
I would like to beat J.
R.
in a straight deal.
No trickery.
No chicanery but just because I'm the best man.
I have a feeling you'll get the refinery.
Hello.
Ray.
Howdy.
I I was just over at your house looking for Donna.
Where is she? She went to Austin last night.
Drove her to the airport.
Back tonight.
Or tomorrow morning.
Something I can help you with? Did you ever have one of those moods where you need somebody to just think out loud with? You mean.
A good listener? Try me.
I'm I'm not sure I know how to put it into words.
Bobby and J.
R.
? Yes.
With each passing week.
I see it getting worse.
I'm just so afraid that their rivalry is gonna tear the family apart.
They're in a high-stakes game.
Miss Ellie.
I know.
Oh.
How I wish Jock could have found some other way.
Anything except pitting them against each other like this.
Well.
That's something I thought about a lot too lately.
I don't know what else he could have done.
Jock knew those two boys couldn't run this company together.
Only one of them could.
Alone.
So he sets up this slugfest to let them decide who wants it the most.
They're tough boys, Miss Ellie.
I think they'll come out of this okay.
I don't know.
Ray.
What I do know is that I've I've never been so afraid for my family.
- Yeah? - Mr.
Barnes? Mr.
Thurman is here to see you.
Show him right in.
I took a chance coming without an appointment.
I figured it was fifty-fifty you might be free.
Odds are better than that for you.
Have a seat.
What brings you my way? I wanted to tell you in person.
You got it.
The refinery? It's all yours.
You're the winner.
Oh.
Fantastic.
This calls for a drink.
- Branch and bourbon? - Hold the branch.
Now.
I gotta ask you something.
Sure.
Just tell me.
Was J.
R.
ever really in this? Oh.
Hell.
Yeah.
But I gotta tell you.
I think he's losing his touch.
The king of the dealmakers has lost it.
Ain't that too bad? Now.
You.
You know how to put a deal together.
That's nice to hear.
Well.
Let's drink to whatever it takes to win.
Whatever it takes.
Hey.
Honey.
I thought you were gonna swim with me.
- What's the matter? - Oh.
Everything.
Well.
Now.
It can't be that bad.
Come on.
What's on your mind? Jack's will.
It's ruining our lives.
Bobby.
All of us.
My mother After everything that's happened my mother can't bring herself to even come to Southfork anymore.
- Because J.
R.
's back in the company.
- Yeah.
And she and Miss Ellie have become such good friends.
And now that's gone.
She won't even come here to see Christopher.
- Well.
Do you think that's right? - No.
But I understand it.
Another thing.
Sue Ellen is my friend.
And we want to stay friends.
I don't know if that's even possible now.
- I know.
- And worst of all.
You and J.
R are at each other's throats.
You should see Miss Ellie.
Why didn't Jock think of his wife when he wrote that will? What's she supposed to do? Choose between her two sons, or be torn apart? Pamela.
That's just the way it is.
And we're gonna have to live with it.
Why do we have to? What are you saying? What I'm saying is that Ewing Oil isn't worth the lives of half a dozen people.
Why don't we take Christopher and move away? Just leave.
And give Ewing Oil to J.
R.
on a silver platter? Oh.
To hell with Ewing Oil.
All right.
Okay.
We leave.
And we leave Mama to J.
R.
's tender mercies.
Is that what you want? No.
But what about the rest of us? All right.
The rest of us.
If your mama doesn't understand there's a difference between J.
R.
and me that she should come to Southfork to see her grandson.
That's her problem.
And as for Sue Ellen and you.
Well.
I want you to befriends.
I want you to stay friends too but whatever happens.
Happens.
And as for my mama.
After 45 years of marriage she'll have to have faith in her husband's judgment.
And it's gonna be that faith in him that keeps her from being torn apart.
And as for me.
My daddy put a challenge to me in that will and somewhere in that challenge is his confidence in me.
Confidence that I might have even just a little bit of what he had.
Of the guts that it took to build Ewing Oil.
And if he had that confidence in me.
Pam.
I'm not gonna back off.
Not now and not ever.
- Yeah? - .
I.
R.
? Mr.
Cliff Barnes is here to see you.
J.
R.
? Are you there? Send him in.
You took so long to answer.
I thought maybe you'd gone out that window.
What are you doing here? I've got a news item for you and I just didn't want you to hear it from anybody else but me.
I know I'll just love it.
I just closed a deal for the Thurman refinery.
Right underneath your nose.
Barnes.
You have a short memory.
Are you really gonna cross me again? Yeah.
But with a difference.
This time I'm not coming up against you alone.
I've got the whole cartel behind me.
As a matter of fact I've got every independent oilman in the state of Texas on my side.
You're gonna need them all.
Now you're alone.
You've got nobody.
You've got nothing except your ocean of oil to drown in.
I'll let myself out.

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