DALLASTALK
presents
STARRING:
(in alphabetical order)
PATRICK DUFFY (BOBBY)
LINDA
GRAY (SUE ELLEN)
SUSAN HOWARD (DONNA)
STEVE KANALY (RAY)
VICTORIA
PRINCIPAL (PAM)
TED SHACKELFORD (GARY)
CHARLENE
TILTON (LUCY)
JOAN VAN
ARK (VAL)
CO-STARRING:
OMRI KATZ (JOHN ROSS)
CHRISTOPHER DEMETRAL (CHRIS)
DAVID MARSHALL GRANT (WILL)
SCARLETT JOHANSSON (MAGGIE)
JENSEN ACKLES (BOBBY)
RANDOLPH
POWELL (ALAN)
LOIS CHILES (HOLLY)
SPECIAL APPEARANCES BY:
DAVID SELBY (RICHARD CHANNING)
and
HALLE BERRY
as
DEBBI
PORTER
Three months later. Spring
2001.
Sue Ellen got out of her limo carrying
her exec briefcase, perfectly dressed to kill and ready to face an especially
busy workday. Her agenda was full and, to make things worse, James had left to
Europe a couple of days ago, letting her weight the whole responsibility for
the company, since John Ross was finishing her career final exams.
When
she came into the offices, kindly said hello to her secretary Kelly and she
followed her to her office to show her what the messenger had brought: there
was a basket full of white and red roses on her desk, along with a bottle of
wine whose label read: “Falcon Crest. Cabernet Sauvignon vintage 1981.” The
note attached to the mysterious present read:
“I´d like to discuss a very important deal as soon as possible. Would
you honor me having lunch with me today? Signed: R.C.”
Sue Ellen looked at the note as
she took one of the roses from the basket and smelled its fragrance. Her
spontaneous reaction was giving Kelly the bottle of wine, since she “was not a
drinker” and asking her to use the roses to cheer up the offices´ reception.
Before going back to her table,
Kelly reported her about a call she had received from Mrs., Ewing to make an
appointment at the office. -Pamela? She doesn´t need an
appointment to talk with me...
-No,
Sue Ellen. It
was Valene Ewing, Pam´s sister-in-law, who called...
Sue Ellen got surprised about
it. She had never kept any sort of friendship with Val, except a somewhat
embarrassing encounter, ten years before, when Sue Ellen was associated to Gary
on a Wind Energy Company.
-Don´t like surprises - she said to herself – and I´ve begun the day
with two of them...
At lunchtime, Sue Ellen walked by the
restaurant “Les Saisons”, where she used to have lunch at. She was surprised by
the mysterious gentleman who wanted to meet her just there and was longing to
know what it all was about. The maître d´ accompanied her to the table where a
fiftysomething man was waiting for her: short gray hair and small intense blue
eyes. The man stood up, gently.
- Mrs. Ewing, my name is
Richard Channing. Thank you very much for coming.
- I almost couldn´t. Actually I
have a very busy day and can´t stay too long.
- Did you like the wine and the
flowers?
- I loved the flowers...but
wine, sorry but I don´t drink.
- Wine is one of the few
pleasures we can enjoy all our life, you should try our branch...
A little bothered by his
insistence, Sue Ellen asked:
- So you are a winemaker...
- I was for a long long time, in
fact it´s a multigenerational family tradition. My mother controlled the wine
business to the very last day of her life...
- What if we order and tell me
what brought you here from California?
- Right now – Richard said, staring at Sue Ellen.
At the Cattlemen´s Bank
Building, its Vice President Will Monahan was welcoming an unexpected visit: it
was Lucy.
- Hi! Hope it´s alright for you
my coming here...
- Absolutely, I was just about
leaving for lunch...
- I wanted to ask you for
advise...but I could come by another day, if you´re busy.
Will closed a portfolio and
nicely smiled at her:
- I´m all yours.
-
Not long ago I sold out my share of a business I devoted many years to, and
wanted to put that sum on some really good investment. I figured out you´d know
how to guide me with my finances...
- Sure I could. What sum did you
have on mind?
- One million. For now – Lucy
smiled innocently, as if she talked about a meaningless sum.
- You brought me down to
the Ewing world. Though I don´t see you just like the others...
- Then how? Better or worse?
- Remember when we first
met at that Southfork barbecue. You were a very pushing young woman and, though
we dated for a month, we never really knew each other well...
- Not
half well as I´d loved to, sure...I was quite hyperactive those days...and very
aggressive with guys. Now I´ve changed. - Lucy, now I´ve settled down
back in Dallas, I want to make as many friends as I can and see the family I
have left, though it´s limited to Pam and Cliff, and their families.
- That´s why I´m here
partly. Would you like to come with me to the Oil Barons´ Ball next Saturday? - The Oil Barons´ Ball...I´ve
been reading for years the news about the incidents happened at those Balls,
nearly always started by our families... - Both your cousin Cliff and my
uncle J.R. always needed a lot of attention...So I have a date for the Ball? - Bet you do. And also my
investments advise. Out for lunch? - Great. And better get a
tuxedo, ´cause you can´t get into the Ball without one...
At the same time Sue Ellen
and Richard were finishing their meal. She looked surprised when Richard
ordered a glass of milk instead of coffee.
- Your proposal is a real
tempt Mr. Channing...
- You can call me Richard,
please Sue Ellen...
- Mrs. Lockwood, if you
don´t mind – Sue Ellen looked up to him directly – Ewing Oil has not planned to
make such an investment, an oleoduct doesn´t get into our politics, though we could
be interested in acquiring those oil fields you own in California.
- I feel you´re anxious. I hope
not to have said anything inconvenient.
- Oh, no. What worries me
is what you didn´t say. Ewing Oil has been working for half a year with we the
new management. Maybe you were expecting the company my ex husband J.R. Ewing
used to run, but not any more...
- The company or your
husband? - He was the company. He devoted
all his life to it but it´s been our son who had to rescue it from ashes and
bring it back to business. We move on other levels. My companies also work on
fashion, publishing, movie production and so on. Ewing Oil is looking for
steady project now, not multi-million deals. We´ve come to Dallas to stay and
become a business leader again.
- You know something? When I
decided to fly to Dallas, I thought I´d find an ultraconservative society where
women would take care of PR, but it´s a shock to me to find top executives as
you are, so self-assured...
- I am, with no doubt. But it took
me a lot of time to get where I am now, and I won´t risk anything: this is a
family company, and the family´s stability always comes first. Therefore I must
refuse your proposal and thank you for remembering us...
Sue Ellen made a sign at the
Maître d´, stood up and shook Richard´s hand: - Ewing Oil invites you, Mr.
Channing. I hope you find your partner here in Dallas. -
Would I look too bold to think of tempting you again? – Richard said, with a
half smile.
- You can tempt me whenever you
want to, Mr. Channing, but you won´t get anything more than today. In every
sense.
- Please Richard... Sue Ellen´s patience was almost
over. She smiled and said:
- Try with the Yellow Pages.
People offer any service you might need... Richard looked frozen, as if the
conditioned air of that restaurant had suddenly lowered the temperature. Indeed
Ewing Oil could be erased from the list...
(Fade
out)
When she returned to Ewing Oil,
Sue Ellen suddenly needed to disconnect from business. She remembered that
working out was fine for those moments and, after making a couple of calls, she
told Kelly that she would be at the gym, on the first ground of the Ewing
Building.
Once she changed her clothes,
walked into a big room where Step sessions were being done. As she entered the
place, casually met Pam:
- Hi Pam! It´s a day full
of surprises...
- Yes, I had no idea you
come to this gym too...
- I don´t only come. Actually I
own it since last month – she said as twinkled an eye to her- . When we moved
the editorial staff over, I just met a chance to buy it. Being so close to the
Ewing Oil offices, it seemed to me a good idea. Besides, all our employees get
a special discount...
Both women walked on to the
gym´s bar, where they asked for
isotonic drinks. Pam was sweaty but happy to see her friend again, after
her fortnight out of town. Suddenly she looked closer to her face. Sue Ellen
looked splendid, almost perfect. Pam opened her mouth, but put her hand on it
right away.
- The answer is yes, Pam. – Sue
Ellen raised her head proudly – I´ve taken profit of these mini-holidays to
“get rid of some parts of me” - she
whispered, looking for complicity... – I didn´t feel so good about myself since
I divorced J.R... Pam began to babble,
trying to be spontaneous and honest altogether. - I´d ever imagined if you
hadn´t told me – she said, smiling graciously. - Haven´t you thought about
doing it yourself? – Sue Ellen looked at her friend, who suddenly felt
uncomfortable – Oh, Pam. I´m sorry, I really am. I forgot what a bad time you
went through after the car crash... - Don´t worry. When I bumped
into you, you looked angry...Anything wrong? - Nothing I can´t control. I´ve
had lunch with someone who has put on my nerves... -
You mean a man? Tell me more. - It´s not worth awhile.
Everything´s going fine with the magazine? I´ve been told the sale numbers have
increased lately, and I owe that to you.
- You´ve got true pros working
for that magazine, they are responsible for it. I just...give´m some
motivation. - What about your brother´s
television network? I tuned in a couple of times and I loved its style... - That´s not because of me
neither. Thank the director, Debbi. A fine girl...
Not far away Debbi Porter was
reading a report in her WKB office. Her secretary informed her about an
unforeseen visitor. It was John Ross Ewing III. Debbi asked the young woman to
let him in. Debbi introduced herself to John Ross, and then offered him a
coffee. He politely refused. Once alone, she was the first to talk:
- So Mr. Ewing. How may I help
you? - Please call me John Ross –
Debbi smiled. She knew that the young man belonged to one of the biggest
families in Dallas, and was intrigued about his reason to come on her, besides
without a previous date. – I´ll get to the point Debbi... - Miss Porter, if you don´t mind
John Ross... He raised his eyebrows and
continued.
- One of your reporters talked
to my brother James last week, in order to interview him for a show devoted to
the Dallas young executives... - True, but we didn´t put a date
because Mr. Ewing had planned to make a trip... - Yep, he´ll be away for a
couple of weeks, on a family vacation. During his absence I´ll assume his
engagements... - I thougth you co-ran the
company with your mother... John Ross slightly blushed and
added:
- It´s a family company and my
brother also owns a share of it. But I am the president myself. Just wanted to
tell you that I will take my brother´s place at the show if that´s o.k. for
you. -
Are you volunteering...for an interview? - Yeah but with one condition: –
Debbi looked really interested, for the first time since he came into the
office – being interview by you, but separately. Debbi was surprised but kept on
smiling.
- I am sorry but our politics
prevents us from promoting private companies out of the ad time, much less on
prime time. I´ll contact you with the advertising departament... - I think you didn´t quite
understood my offer. Obviously you are not a Texan native, otherwise you´d know
what being a Ewing really means. What if I explain it to you as we have
dinner...?
- I think, Mr. Ewing, that
you´re wasting your time. We decide our guests and, of course, I decide who I
have dinner with. No, I´m not having dinner with you. Now you´ll excuse me...-
she said, as pointed at the door. - We´ll meet again and then,
you´ll regret to have said no to me. Debbi. Debbi remained serious until
John Ross walked out through the door. Then she smiled and caressed her nape.
- Excuse me Miss Porter. It was the secretary again,
telling her about an important waiting call...
- Debbi Porter here – she said,
alone again – Oh, hello Mr. Barnes. How are you? Is your wife better? – Debbi
listened to the answer, showing she was interested in it – You´d never tell who
has come to see me: J.R. Ewing´s son. He wanted him to be interviewed for our
Sunday News Special. What? But are you sure? All right, I´ll keep you informed.
– Afterwards she hang off and put her earring on again. One of the morning
newspapers´ front page mentioned the Ewings: “Five new fields beat up
previsions. Ewing Oil rises from ashes.”
Unaware of that, Gary Ewing´s
only son was hiding away on the top of one of the barns, reading the last pages
of a book with interest.
- Does he marry the girl at the
end? – a youthful sharp voice said. - At the end the girl remains
married: to her husband – the newcomer was his sister Betsy, who knew where to
locate her brother when nobody else could find him. - Do you like her writing? – she
asked, not too interested. - Evelyn Waugh was a male
author, not a woman – he corrected as closed the book, entitled “Brideshead
Revisited”. – Yeah I enjoyed it, but I thought the two boys´ relationship was a
bit less...platonic. At least so it seemed, on the television series we watched
on the sat Channel... - You and your old-fashioned
romanticism...I prefer Danielle Steel. Speaking of corny things, Maggie´s here:
as you know, next Friday she´ll be sixteen and has decided to hold a party at
home. But on Saturday instead, since everyone will be at the Oil Barons´ Ball. - An evening party? - No, just a usual dinner, a
sort of night barbecue for her friends. Besides, Maggie is not the type of girl
who holds that kind of parties in her parents´ house...not even on her
birthday. Maybe for the horses but not for herself... - Don´t be so tough to her,
she´s a great girl. Intelligent, pretty, sensitive, environment concerned...The
opposite to you, really. Betsy picked up a pack of hay
and threw it on him.
- You bastard.
- You bitch.
- Come on down. Maggie
asked us to help her to prepare the party, you know, decoration and things like
that, and wanted to talk about it today... - O.k. – he said as he stood up,
buttoning his shirt up – Do you know who she´s inviting? -
Nobody with a police record. What´s more, they´ll have to go through her
daddy´s lie detector...Poor Maggie, she´ll suffer a lot when she´s got a
boyfriend... Bobby and Betsy came out of the
barn and she put her arm around his shoulder, as they kept on joking. On the
distance, you could see Donna, Maggie and Val, sitting by the pool... That night at Southfork, Pamela
was taking her make-up off, pensively. In the bed, her husband Bob was reading
a book about the Texas history, taking a look at his wife once in awhile. Pamela passed her hand on
her right cheek, noticing the small winkles her face was beginning to show.
- Something wrong Pam? - No. Guess not. I was just
thinking about something Sue Ellen said this afternoon. I met her at the gym.
By the way, now the gym belongs to Ewing Oil and the “Woman Today”´s editorial.
- Oh how is she? Everything´s
fine at Ewing Oil, ain´t it? James looked somewhat concerned when he left with
Cally a couple of days ago. - No, it´s all under control.
But she...don´t tell anyone but, when she took her holidays recently...she had
aesthetic surgery done. Bob looked funnily amazed. - Word of “boy-scout”...Have you chosen the gown for
the Oil Barons´? - Tomorrow I´ll pick it up. Hope
you like it... - Sure I will. Now...come on
here – he said, shaking off her bedside. Pam got into the bed and kissed
her husband. - I helped him to carry his
stuff to his old condo, but promised he´d come on us before the weekend. - Do you think he might feel
closer to that woman, that Lisa, than us, for being his own blood? - Don´t worry about it. For what
he said, Lisa is a much more stable girl than she was then, she´s got her own
family. I´m sure counting on each other will be good for both of them. Remember
that she was the one who eventually made the decision to let Christopher with
us...
- Sure, there´s nothing to
worry about...
Bob kissed his wife as he
turned the lights off...
At Turtle Creek, Sue Ellen
lit her bedside light on. She had heard a car parking by her house, and thought
it could be John Ross. It was almost twelve, and decided to come down to the
kitchen and get a glass of milk, and say hello to her son. - Hi son – she said when saw him
come in, wearing the tie in his jacket´s pocket, looking tired. - Hi mother– he said, as he
opened the fridge door and picked up the milk bottle – Want some? – he asked,
looking at the bottle and then at his mother. - Yes, thank you, I´ve come down
for this. – Sue Ellen excused herself. John Ross sat by her side and
began to drink. - Everything´s o.k.? - Sure. Why shouldn´t it? - I´be been worried about you
these days: you know, the exams, your job at Ewing Oil, and about the movie
too... - Mum, don´t worry: I do
understand, know why you did it and know the way daddy treated you. I just
didn´t thought fair you pretended to tell the whole world about it...and
through such a movie... - I wanted to make sure he
wouldn´t hurt us again, me or you. Don´t know if I´d ever had it released.
Everything´s different now, but I know the making of that movie helped me to
re-examine my life all over and see what my part was in that. Besides Don was a
great friend since day one and he still is. I was outraged because you thought
I was plotting against your father... - Let´s forget it. Do you
already have it all for the Ball? - Yeah, I´ve been brought the
dress today. Hope you like it. Are you sure you don´t rather go with somebody
else, instead of your mama? Let´s say, with a girl? - Nope. You are my favorite girl
– John Ross said, holding her hand – Now I´m going to bed. Tomorrow will be a
hard day at college. - Hold on darling: you´re on the
final path and will soon work full-time at Ewing Oil and, what´s more, your
daddy´s testament will be effective... Sue Ellen finished her drink,
kissed her son and went back to her room. - Yeah – he muttered to himself
– it´ll be effective, if I get my degree. But what if I don´t...?
(Fade
out)
The Friday morning, Richard
Channing met Gary Ewing and Alan Beam to present the oleoduct deal´s offer.
Dressed in a brown suit and a black tie, he helped himself to walk with a silver-handle
stick, since a former back injury had affected his spin again. Richard was
accompanied by a young blond assistant, in charge of making the presentation
itself, with the help of a magnetic board showing the drilling zone map. Gary was listening up to him, as
Alan did some comments once in awhile, since he had already met with Richard in
his San Francisco offices. Once he finished, Gary said: - It´s a really ambitious project Mr. Channing. But I
guess you offered it to other Dallas companies, didn´t you? - Yes I did Mr. Ewing. I almost
canceled our meeting when I found out you belonged to the Ewing family. - Yes I do, though Ewing Oil has
nothing to do with us currently. We work with different energy sources and move
on a nation-wide level. We´re looking for a project similar to this but,
anyway, we´d always be interested in investing on those California fields. - Well, we´ll communicate our
decision to you in a few days – Richard
said, winking at the blonde, who unfolded the plans and put them into a
briefcase – The best offer till now has been made by Ewing Oil, in fact the
deal is almost signed. But let me study the numbers deeply. It has been a
pleasure meeting you, Mr. Ewing. Mr. Beam. Alan went after Richard to lead
him to the elevator. Gary called his secretary and told her: -
I need you to research Mr. Channing´s past, personally and discreetly. I know
you´re very skilful finding information on the Net. If you had any trouble
please contact my nephew Christopher´s company. Once inside the elevator,
Richard looked askance at his assistant and told her sarcastically - Incredible. Absolutely
incredible. 90% of the Dallas executives are alcoholic. Believe me, I can
recognize one when I see him... The young woman giggled as if he
had told a joke and then pulled down her mini-skirt...
At the same time, John Ross was
pursuing his cousin Christopher on the streets of Dallas... -
That idea is nonsense, John Ross. And unethical too. - It´s about my company, my
heritage. The company my dad devoted himself to. And I don´t want everything
depending on an exam´s result. - Are you asking me to install a
system on the Ewing Oil intranet to control any movement, from both your
brother and your mother? - Right, but only the movements
related with the company: transferences, phone calls, meetings, etc. - I repeat you it´s unethical,
it´s wrong. Besides, I can´t give you access to their bank accounts, even if I
know how to... - Tell me how much and you´ll
have the money transferred to your count tomorrow. -
It´s not a matter of money. Don´t you understand it John Ross? It´s about
principles. What´s more, I don´t need the money, nor you need to control your
family... - I never asked you a favor
Chris, and I didn´t expect you to stuck me... - Let me think about it and
maybe I can find an intermediate solution... John Ross wondered what that
solution could be, as Chris got into his sport scar and drove off away from
there.
The Saturday afternoon, the
young people gathered to celebrate Maggie´s birthday. Her father put a scarf
around her eyes to give her his present. When he finished, waved out and a
trailer truck drove onto the road leading to the mansion. Maggie´s friends were there, as
well as her closest family: her mother Donna, her aunts Pam and Val, her uncles
Bob and Gary, and her cousins John Ross, Chris, Lucy, Bobby and Betsy. The
truck stopped about 5 meters away from the group, and Ray himself opened the
gate down: one minute later, the present was standing in front of Maggie,
nervously neighing before the crowd, and tied up to the reins hold by Ray. - Open you eyes honey – Ray said
to Maggie, after putting the scarf off. The girl looked amazed, admiring that
thoroughbred horse. – He´s an Australian Waler. - I remember, we saw horses of
this breed when we visited the sheeping farms down under...I love him, thanks
dad – the girl said, holding his father. - He whispered: The present is from
your mama too. – Maggie looked at her mother, smiled and embraced her too – May
I ride it? – she asked. - Sure, they told us that he´s
very quiet and fast. – Ray helped her daughter to get on the horse. – You gotta
make out a name... - I got one already: Asfaloth, like Arwen´s steed in Tolkien´s
books... Bobby and Betsy looked at each
other and she raised an eyebrow. Maggie and the horse rode away from the group
and into the stables. Once there, they turned around and re-united with them.
- Well well, now come you all to
the back patio, where you´ll find food and drinking. Meanwhile, we the girls
are gonna get ready for the Oil Barons´
Ball... – Donna announced, leaving the boys alone. Gary, Bob and Ray
were chatting about the horse. Some meters away, Chris and John Ross were
watching the group. - Have ye been thinking of what
I told you? - Please not now John Ross. It
is not the right time. Try to enjoy yourself and, above all, don´t spoil
Maggie´s party.
One hour later Sue Ellen gave
herself the last touch in front of the mirror: she had chosen a white gown for
the Ball, wearing luxury platinum earrings and an elegant pearl necklace. John
Ross knocked on her door. - Come in darling – she said.
John Ross had dressed up in a tuxedo, as the association´s rules dictated. - You look so handsome, babe. - You do look breathtaking. Time
to leave to the Ball. The limo is at the front door, waiting for us. Sue Ellen held her son´s arm and
said him warmly: - I´m so proud of you son. Your
daddy would, too. John Ross Ewing III attends his first Oil Barons´ Ball... - Come on mother, don´t make
feel like a debutante... - Oh ain´t you? – she laughed,
as stepped down slowly with his son, through the mansion´s majestic staircase.
At another mansion, Gary and
Val´s at Southfork, the couple was ready to join the others. Several limos were
expecting at the main house porch as well. - Gary, we must talk... – she
said, putting her second earring on. - About what? – he asked, not
too interested, as he tried to tie up his bow tie for the umpteenth time. - You know that. Three months
have passed by and we haven´t discussed the issue seriously. - We haven´t because you spent
two months in California taking care of your mother. -
But she´s in a rest home and, thanks God, healthier now. I think we should handle
the kids´ problem. They were expelled from the academy and they complain about
the Braddock high all the time. Education is very important in life and we
should keep it in our minds. - I think what you´re really
keeping in your mind is what happened with our daughter, and don´t know how to
face...“that”. – Val blushed up. Gary knew her deeply and, this time, he was
right. - I know it´s not the right
moment, but promise me that we´ll talk with them about it tomorrow. - Promised – The doorbell
interrupted them and the servant told them the others were waiting for them.
One minute later, Gary and Val joined the other couples: Bob and Pam, Ray
and Donna, and Lucy, who was coming to the Ball with Will. Before to leave,
they toasted to Ellie and Jock´s memory with champagne: they had attended those
Balls so many times in the early years...
(Fade
out)
The Oil Barons´ Ball was crowded
as usual. There was half an hour to dinner, but most guests had arrived and
were having the first cocktail. The family came up at the right time, not too
soon nor too late, as usual too.
First to come in were Sue Ellen
and John Ross.
- You´ll knock everybody out,
the man, with your business skills, and the women, with all the rest... - Mother you´ll get me
blushed... - Just wait to step up to the
stand to give the Jock Ewing memorial scholarship, that will make you even
lovelier... John Ross puffed and pointed at
the table the Ewings had been placed at. After them came Gary and Val. The
latter, dressed in a sleeveless black gown, looked dazzled, as had happened in
the previous years... - Oh Gaary...It´s fantastic,
this Ball is one of the few things I´d really miss if we returned to California.
Apart from family, of course... - Sure... – he answered,
sarcastically. – When I was John Ross´s age, my mama and daddy wouldn´t have
moved one finger to let me go to the Ball with them. Probably they would have
spent the whole evening concerned about me getting drunk.
- Forget that. Now they´d be
proud of all you´ve achieved. Of what we´ve achieved. And their grandchildren
too, in spite of everything... Behind them followed Pam and
Bobby. Undoubtedly she was one of the prettiest women in the Ball...especially,
among her own age´s. Suddenly Bob heard someone to call out his name: -
Hello Bobby Ewing. – It was a woman´s voice. Pam turned to her first and then
Bob did. She was an old acquaintance of them: Holly Harwood, oil baroness and a
woman to be reckoned with. She didn´t wear a curled short hairdo, as she used
to at the 80´s, but longer and straight. She had not attended the Oil Barons´
Ball for over twenty years.
- Hi... – Bob took a few seconds
to remember her name and, when he did, tried not to express any special
sympathy towards her, who was already in her fifties, but had kept her magnetic
charm and, above all, her bubbly personality. – Oh Pam, remember Holly Harwood?
Pam looked at her politely, even
with envy. At last she remembered who that woman was: the person who had
interfered in Sue Ellen´s marital life, and whose deeds have led her back to
the bottle, not to mention her responsibility about the accident that made
Ray´s cousin a vegetable.
- How do you do? Glad to
meet you. Bobby, our table is over there - Bob looked at Holly hinting an
apology and left with Pam.
Ray and Donna came in
afterwards:
- So, Ray Krebbs, here we are
again. Who do you think that´ll start the fight this year? - I bet on a girl, whoever she is. Besides, this is
the first year a woman is rumored to be winning the Oil Man of the Year Award. - Which would make her the Oil
“Woman” of the Year...I bet they´ll choose Sue Ellen or our friend Marilee
Stone. Look at her, over there, trying to butter the Association´s Prez up... - And why couldn´t they choose
you? We also belong to the Oil Industry. - True, but in that case, it´d
be a shared award, be sure of that...shared with you, Maggie and... - Asfaloth. – Donna nodded and
openly smiled as they walked to the table.
Finally came in Lucy and Will,
both very elegant too. - So this is the famous Oil
Barons´ Ball. I suppose that oil is the only talk in these tables, isn´t it? - Are you kidding honey...Oil
doesn´t makes Dallas go around as it used to. Now there is a lot of alternative
energy companies replacing the old wildcatters like my grandpa...And, people
here only gossip, business deals are made in the offices and the beds... - I love your style for sure
Lucy. I didn´t enjoy myself so much for a long time... -
You ain´t see nothing yet, Will Monahan... Lucy walked on, holding his
hand, as they were saying hello to the people they knew and making introductions
to each other.
At the Southfork party, there
was a completely different atmosphere. The music was not played by a live
orchestra, nor was the same style heard at the Ball either. It was pop and
country music, especially by young bands, and its volume was a lot higher. - Maggie, do you know Johnny Lee
Stone? – Bobby asked her sister.
- No, hi. Welcome to Southfork.
Are you Marilee Stone´s son, by chance? - No...her grandson – the boy
specified, as old as Maggie was, dark-haired and very thin...though not
attractive at all. - Oh sorry...Johnny Lee. - My grandma is sorrier, believe
me... – he answered. - Johnny, darling – Betsy came
into the scene – have you already seen the horse Maggie has been given? - No, I just arrived... - Come on, I´ll show you it.
Let´s walk to the stables – Betsy took the boy´s hand and Bobby moved his head. - My sister is hopeless. Look
there comes Chris... - Hello, I´ve been in Dallas
picking up my gift. Here you are, happy birthday Maggie. The
young girl unwrapped the present her cousin had given to her and, to her
surprise, found a jewelry box in it.
- It´s...just beautiful Chris,
thanks a lot... – it was a silver bracelet with her name engraved on it. Maggie
kissed her cousin and he embraced her. - Well, I´m gonna see...if we
need more...whatever – Bobby said, and left discreetly.
At the Oil Barons´, the
atmosphere was warming up. - Can´t believe it. How can that
horrible woman come up here... –Sue Ellen complained about Holly. - I don´t know, maybe she has
some friend from oil business... –Pam tried to reason. -
That Holly only has friends of one kind: the wife-cheating kind... Val and Gary did not know what
she was talking about and Bob tried to help them to understand the situation:
- About twenty years ago, Holly
inherited her dad´s oil company, Harwood Oil, but she had no experience at all
so she hired J.R. as her advisor. Things drove wild when he and I were fighting
for getting Ewing Oil, upon daddy´s will. J.R. used Holly´s company to put a
lot of obstacles before me and, as it seemed, their relationship went beyond
the professional thing, though Holly really hated J.R. - If that´s what she did with
her enemies, I´d like to know what she did with her friends – Sue Ellen added
as she stood up... - Obviously – Bobby said looking
how Sue Ellen walked away – J.R. was still married to Sue Ellen, and when she
found them at Holly´s place, Sue Ellen began to drink, again...The worst of all
was that she had an accident driving J.R.´s car, along with Ray´s cousin,
Mickey Trotter, who was trying to stop her. Mickey went into a comma and died
not long afterwards... Val looked up at Ray, not too
far from them, having a drink with Donna. - Oh mine, it should´ve been
awful to Ray...and Sue Ellen too – she said. - J.R. turned everybody´s life
into a hell. It was a miracle his not destroying Sue Ellen...- Gary added.
At other corner of the place,
Sue Ellen was talking with old acquaintances. Suddenly she heard a familiar
voice. Unluckily familiar. - Sue Ellen honey! What a big
nice surprise! She slowly turned around: right
there, as if time had frozen, was an artificial-looking Marilee Stone, holding
a glass of champagne in her hand. - Oh, Marilee...It´s been a long
time... – Sue Ellen said, with a false smile in her face. - It´s become more obvious for some than for
others... – Marilee answered, with her usual sarcasm. - I heard your grandson is
sixteen. Congratulations, “honey”, Seth would be proud of him...at least. - Tell me something Sue Ellen.
I´ve been told you work on tabloid press now. Is that true, Ewing Oil is just a
front? You already sold sexy lingerie so nothing about you would surprise me... Sue
Ellen was trying to repress her wrath. She had always hated that gossipy
manipulative woman. - So I was told you went to the
surgeon so often that ended up marrying him...just to get special discounts. - At least, only pros put their
hands on me – she said, lowering her voice, and then spoke louder again. –
Unlike you, I can see he was a real butcher darling... Sue Ellen picked up one of the
champagne glasses over a table... - Oh, babe. I had no idea –
Marilee said, noticing the glass – Be quiet, I´ll make believe I haven´t seen
you...Take a sip, if you need to... That was really the last drop.
She pretended to trip and threw the champagne on Marilee´s gown. Some friends
came over and asked if everything was alright. - Yes, course. Sue Ellen´s just
a little dizzy and poured her glass of champagne on me, casually, that´s for
sure... Sue Ellen got angry and walked
in a hurry to the ladies´ room.
Meanwhile, Bob had bumped into
Holly when came over to say hello to some old family friends. Holly took him
away to talk with him privately. - Bobby, I´m sorry if I made you
feel uncomfortable, especially Sue Ellen. - Don´t worry, it was just a
matter of time. What I don´t understand is...what are you doing here? Thought
you had sold out Harwood Oil after all that... - I almost did. After our last
meeting down in Galveston, I went on a cruise through the Nile, and met my
future husband there: a very handsome, very rich British man who ran my
company, but after marrying me and changing its name. If you knew how often I
regretted the things I did during my time at Dallas... - Are you here with your
husband? What´s his name? Maybe I know him... - Simon died last year and now I
run the company again. But oil is only a part of the business. We might have
dinner together one these days and bring each other up to date...So, what about
it...? Suddenly Pam came up: - What about what, if I may
know?
- Hello Pamela. I´m happy
to see ya again. You look great...
- You too. Sorry but I´m
gonna steal my husband away from you.
Bobby said goodbye to Holly
and they returned to the table. Once they sat down, Pam made up an excuse.
- Gary wanted to know...which of
you won at the Ewing Oil competition.
Bobby looked at Gary surprised,
and he looked at Pam astonished.
Unaware of that, Sue Ellen
entered the ladies´ room, where a dark-haired woman with feline green eyes was
sitting in front of the mirror, touching her make-up. The woman, known as
Alexis, instantly recognized her and used the big mirror to watch her all over
without being noticed, nor losing a detail of her mature beauty. She did not
know her personally but had followed the unstoppable rising of Sue Ellen
Lockwood in the last years and could not help remember herself, years before,
when she became the most powerful woman in Denver: she gave up being Alexis
Carrington to be Alexis Colby instead...she did not only left a bitter past
behind, also began a new life surrounded by all that divorce had taken her away
from her and got power... “I wish leaving Blake behind had been so simple as
changing my surname”... or getting rid of new Mrs. Carrington: Krystle. Sue
Ellen had become a powerful woman too, eventually on her own, but they shared
the same starting point: their marriage to one of the wealthiest man each in
his state, Blake Carrington and J.R. Ewing.
- Good evening – Sue Ellen
politely said, as she took the seat by her to check her make-up out.
Alexis answered equally politely
but with no intention of beginning to talk with her, smiling at her as she
renewed the red lipstick on her still alluring lips. Sue Ellen took the
nearness to find what the press photos could not show, some sort of scar
proving what everybody took for granted, one of her many aesthetic surgery
operations...but she did not find any. That woman seemed to have made a pact
with the devil to remain forever young, because watching her so closely and
remembering the social events she attended during her early years as the
ColbyCo Chairwoman, you could say that no more than five years had passed by...since
it actually was twenty the time separating that woman from the other sitting by
her side.
- Excuse me...you are
Alexis Carrington Colby, aren´t you? –Sue Ellen finally dared to say, as she
had recognized her.
- Yes I am darling...and better forget my other
married surnames, too many and make my name something very long and
boring...just like a marriage itself – Alexis added sarcastically – And you, if
I´m right, must be Sue Ellen Lockwood. I´ve got to congratulate you for
reaching the top in this competitive world...so controlled by men.
- I took me a lot...and I don´t mean only money... –
Sue Ellen answered as thanking the compliment from an almost legendary woman in
oil business – Know something? Some way you inspired me to become what I am now...
Alexis was flattered,
closed her eyes and smiled at her again, picking up her powder compact from her
purse and softly applying it on her cheeks.
- I was very young when my mother
followed every social event the Carringtons of Denver attended– Sue Ellen said,
now indirectly watching Alexis´s reflection -. She used to admire you Mrs.
Carrington, and wanted my sister Kristin and I to be like you some day...
The false smile got frozen on
Alexis´s sophisticated face after such a confession. But she soon recovered, if
Alexis was expert on something, that was to react extraordinarily fast to those
subtle offences...even when they only were such under her point of view, since
Sue Ellen had not intended to make that comment that way.
- How funny! Your mother
said? Don´t fool yourself sweetheart...There´s no such age difference between
us... The only difference is that you, sick of being J.R. Ewing´s cheated wife,
got your first dollars selling lingerie, I was making multimillion deals at the
other side of the world.
-Yes true...but J.R. didn´t die in a mysterious way
on our wedding´s day nor I took advantage of his fortune...I´ve raised my
empire on my own.
- Sure! I forgot it...you made pictures too... How
was the name of that bloody film? You wed the director, didn´t you? Am I
mistaken or your only production never got released...?
Sue Ellen had finished her
make-up touches and was tired of that empty conversation with a woman she would
not possibly meet again, so she took her purse and walked her way out to the
Ballroom and enjoy the evening. Alexis was not going to leave it there and
laid the powder on the table to brush her hair and give the coup-de-grâce.
- My beloved Sue Ellen, you do
know that don´t look like me at all, you´ve got plenty yet to learn...You´d
rather remind me of that kept blond that Blake decided to make the final Mrs.
Carrington...
Sue Ellen smiled at her, before
to blow on the powder and throw all its content on her face, now covered by the
pink powder and prevented from seeing, though not hearing the laughs of that
woman who was returning to the Ball.
A few minutes later, John Ross
was stepping on the stand to give his grandfather Jock Ewing´s Memorial
scholarships of the year.
- Before proceeding to read the
holders´ names, I´d like to mention several people missing here for different
reasons. One of them is, obviously, my grandfather Jock Ewing. – The room began
to clap in a polite though unenthusiastically way. – I also want to name two people who are not here, but also
deserve to give the scholarships: I´m talking about my brother James
Beaumont-Ewing and my cousin Christopher Ewing. – Pam and Bob happily
applauded. – Finally, I can´t but tribute the person who taught me all I know
about oil, my everyday inspiration. Marilee raised an eyebrow as Sue
Ellen smiled proud of her boy. - I mean my father J.R. Ewing. I
just hope a son of mine can ever tell the same thing I´m going to say of him
tonight: though some people might disagree, he was a role model: dad, I want to
dedicate this applause to you. – John Ross cheered up the attendants to clap
along. Gary and Val could not help look into each other´s eyes, motivating each
other to keep on clapping, although J.R. did not deserve it. Right away, John
Ross read the names of the students from the envelopes.
At a private airport near
Dallas, a jet plane was ready to take off. On it, Richard Channing was drinking
his usual glass of milk when got a call. He picked up his cell phone and,
seeing Alan Beam´s number in display, he called out the pilot:
- David, hold on a minute. Got
an important call. – After saying that, he accepted the call - Richard Channing
here.
- Hello Mr. Channing, Alan
Beam speaking – the man said, dressed in a tuxedo, since he was calling from
the Oil Barons´ Ball – I only wanted to confirm you that Gary Ewing is morally
at the best moment to close the deal. He has just been thrown in his face what
a big man his brother J.R. was. If I know him a little, Monday morning he´ll
ask me to contact you to insist for his company being the perfect choice for
your proposal. - Congratulations Beam. Tomorrow
I´ll give the order to make a transference of two million dollars. One of them,
to your account in a Swiss bank. The other million, to your personal account in
the “First Commercial Bank”, specifying that the transference has been made by
your dear late Aunt Gladys from Connecticut. You´re a lucky boy: every good
student has his reward. Now remember that all will depend on you...
- Don´t worry Mr. Channing.
All is going to work out fine. Gary Ewing will end up biting the dust... Richard hang up and said to the
pilot:
- David, we can take off
now, please bring me back to San Francisco. I need to get detoxified of this
town as soon as possible. Too many Lady Macbeths for my taste...
In the meantime, Bobby had
served himself a drink from the Krebbses´ bar at Southfork, though alcoholic
drinks were not allowed at the party. Betsy found him holding the glass in his
hand. -
What the hell are you doing? We´re not allowed to drink alcohol at the party. - Aren´t we? So what can I do?
Talk to the cows, or maybe to you, sister dear, and interrupt your attempts to
seduce that wimpy Johnny Lee?
- Bobby, you know booze doesn´t become you at all...and if what
used to happen at the academy, I won´t make myself responsible again. You´ll
gotta face the truth and your own problems... - You know nothing... - Sure I do. I know the
Principal almost found out your involvement with the Art professor. To cover
you, I had to make believe I was the one who had been fooling around with one
of your friends... - And did you have to blackmail
him to get his collaboration...? - That was my only choice: I
wanted to stop us to be expelled, but it was too late. From now on, think
everything you do twice, because, though you don´t like the country high we´re
going nor those wimps dancing out there, this is what we got, and better get
used to it... Betsy left her brother at the
Krebbses´ living-room, with his half-empty bourbon glass. That was the way he
had been feeling too: almost empty. Then, he went outside and walked to the
main house. At the front door, he saw Chris´s bike. He noticed the key was on
and looked up to check if his cousin was around. He wanted to ask him for a
ride, but he did not see Chris anywhere so he decided to ride the bike himself,
and drove off. Then he took the way out to the local road.
In Dallas, Bob was up at the
stand now. He was the person chosen to give the Oilman of the Year Award. After
making a couple of jokes very kind of him, Bob was given the envelope by the
hostess and opened it. After that he read the name written on the card.
- And this year´s winner
is... – he said, slowly pronouncing the words, to create some suspense - ...Mr.
Simon Thompson. This award is given posthumously, and will be accepted by Mr.
Thompson´s widow, Mrs...Holly Harwood-Thompson... The Ewings looked at each
other...until Sue Ellen exclaimed: - Undoubtedly, these awards are
not what they used to be... In spite of everything they
clapped and the woman stepped on very smartly and, when she accepted the award,
kissed Bob´s cheek...which was noticed by Pamela. Sue Ellen looked at her, and
so did Val...Gary finished his Perrier glass and the Krebbses stared at each
other.
- It´s been a reasonably quiet
Ball – Lucy sentenced, half an hour
later, looking at Will, who was driving his green Mercedes on the way to the
ranch – my uncle J.R. once threw a cake to your cousin Cliff in the middle of
one those balls. Years later, Sue Ellen herself punched J.R. in front of
everybody. - After all, this year´s has
been a really quiet Ball – he said as turned to smile at her... All of a sudden, out of nowhere, a motorcycle crashed
onto the car and the couple stopped, quickly getting out of it. Over there, on the ground, there
was lying the bike´s young driver. Lucy remarked: -
It looks like Christopher´s bike... Will took his helmet out, and
checked he was bleeding... - My God! – Lucy screamed, when
she saw the boy´s face – He´s my brother Bobby! - He isn´t breathing – Will told
her after listening to his beating. Lucy was horrified... - No, he can´t be dead! – she said.
END OF
EPISODE 9
GUEST STARS:
FERN FITZGERALD (MARILEE)
KEHLY SLOANE (KELLY)
and
JOAN COLLINS
as ALEXIS
"EWING
EMPIRE" is a web-based Fan-Fiction written and edited by PAM´S TWIN SISTER
and TONI DÍAZ. The main characters of this net super soap were created by DAVID
JACOBS for the shows "DALLAS" and "KNOTS LANDING".
This episode is affectionately dedicated to Emilio aka ej carrington,
for his generous collaboration at writing the ladies´ room scene.