06x12 - Uncharted Territory

[bunniefuu]

He's building some kind of a pyramid,

and I'm his architect.

Egyptian architects got buried

in their pyramids, Gary.

We don't know Gary Ewing from Adam.

Good.

Neither does anybody else.

If your boy makes one false move...

She's accident-prone, she's preoccupied.

-[Mack] What's going on? -You'll have to talk with Karen.

-[Mack] I'm asking you. -I can't tell you.

-Mom! -I can't!

[tires screech]

[theme music]

[sighs] Suppose Valene calls.

I'll stay right here.

Oh, I-I could cancel the appointment.

No, you won't be at the dentist for more than an hour.

I'm sure. I'll be right by the phone.

Don't worry. Go on.

-Oh, Laura, come on. -Hi.

Hi.

Well, that's Val's suitcase.

I know. They delivered to my house by mistake.

Where do you want me to put--

Where'd it come from?

I don't know why she sent it back after two weeks.

Oh, my God.

Lilimae, you better open it.

[sighs]

Oh.

No.

I made this for last Christmas.

Well, this isn't Valene's.

What is it?

"Dear Mrs. Ewing,

"here are the personal belongings...

you left in your room."

Sincerely, Grace McManus, Neptune Motel, Enoch, Nevada."

Nevada?

Oh, my God. What's happened?

What is all this? What's happening?

Doug.

Here we go.

Four iced teas for you.

-You remind me of someone. -Yeah?

Yeah, last year's 4-H queen.

Well, let me tell you, I'm not much for quilting.

Sir, you're gonna need a little bit of syrup

for your pigs there.

-Yep. -Hey, Verna, uh...

You still in Miss Miller's cherished home?

-Yeah. -Week of hard times, huh?

You got that one right. Let me tell you.

Okey-dokey.

We got one pork barbecue with onion,

one pork barbecue plain, one beef barbecue extra sauce...

one sunny side up with a short steak.

Where's Bonnie's homemade pie today?

I think it's sweet potato,

but why don't you let me check, okay?

-That's my favorite. -Good.

Okey-dokey.

How are you folks doing here?

Anything else I can get you?

Vern, here's your pigs in the blanket.

You got it. Coming right up.

Here we go.

Hand me some plates there, too, hon.

You bet.

There you are.

You know, Bonnie's got this room fixed up

out back our place.

Kindergarten teacher used to rent from us

before she got married.

Want to take a look?

Yeah, thanks, Ron. That'd be great.

It-it's her special shampoo and her favorite nighty,

I mean, she wouldn't leave these things behind

if she meant to be gone...

[Laura] Lilimae, I'm sure, look, I'm sure she's on her way home.

-I-I feel it. -Oh, I hope. I hope.

[sighs]

That's what they said at the motel.

-See? I told you. See. -Yeah.

I'll make up her bed fresh.

-But, Lilimae... -Huh?

They said she left four days ago.

[melancholic music]

Oh, God, it's, it's only an eight-hour drive.

[Ben] Yes, thank you very much. I would like to.

[Ben] Thank you. Put him on.

Yes.

No, not Valerie, Valene. Valene Ewing.

Yeah, the novelist.

What about the hitchhiker that they took to the emergency room?

Alright. I want you to call our stringer up in Fresno

and have him check the emergency rooms up there.

Yeah, again today.

What'd you do, Josh? Win the lottery or something?

Oh, sorry.

I thought you were Joshua.

[chuckles] No, Joshua works for me.

Seventy-four letters addressed to Joshua Rush

to the mailroom guy.

I never saw anything like it.

Thanks.

Hm.

"Your sermon touched our hearts."

[intense music]

[scoffs]

Okay, thank you.

Joshua, there you are.

I wanted to tell you your message to Val

was so moving.

No, we'd appreciate any help you can give us. Thank you.

[Joshua chuckles] I'm glad that you're not angry.

Angry? Oh, no.

In fact, I'd like you to do it again if you would.

I almost made a fool of myself in front of all those people.

I nearly broke down into tears on camera.

Oh, no.

Let me show you something.

"Dear Brother Rush, your sermon touched our hearts."

"It put me in mind of Will Rogers."

"Reminded me of an important promise I made

to myself a long time ago."

"Joshua's voice is nice. Does he ever sing?"

"Please accept our thanks."

On and on, Joshua.

People respond to you in a very special way.

People who might be able to help us find Val.

But not one of the people that called had any news of her.

Well, there are, um, there are several stations in New Mexico

that are interested in taking our program.

Maybe someone there has heard of her or even seen her.

-But-- -[Ben] No buts.

Listen to me, Joshua. Do it.

Try it. Try anything.

Maybe this time you'll reach her.

Maybe.

Joshua.

[birds chirping]

I think you'll be okay, Ed.

Well, we've called everybody.

I mean, people in nine states don't know any more than we do.

The authorities.

Well, the offer stands if there's anything I can do.

Thanks.

Keep busy. That's always the best remedy.

Yeah.

-Oh, you mean Empire Valley? -Mm-hmm.

I don't know. I kind of like it the way it is.

Unspoiled, almost desolate.

Well, it's going to be developed sooner or later.

Towns are growing out to meet it already.

Unless someone does some planning,

the place will turn into a hodgepodge

like the San Fernando Valley.

What do you have in mind?

Well, I always pictured a pretty little town,

a planned community designed to-to fit in with the land,

not sprawled on top of it.

You know, uh, waterways, good schools, bicycle trails.

Well, it's your land. What's stopping you?

Yeah, maybe I'm growing too old.

Maybe I've been at it too long.

[chuckles] Well, you could do anything you wanted to.

No, this calls for a young fellow with fire.

Ah, uh, you mean me.

Well, you-you made Lotus Point happen.

Yeah, and all my cash is tied up in it too.

Money is not the question.

You've got vision, power. That's all it takes.

When you got power, you spend other people's money.

And I imagine you could attract some federal funds

for the Empire Valley.

Well, I do know Senator Sumner.

Maybe I'll invite him up here Wednesday.

-[laughs] Good. -[laughs]

So, what's the trouble?

[chuckles] What makes you think I'm in trouble?

Because that's when you call me, when you're in trouble.

I'm your trouble lawyer.

You're right.

Well, brace yourself.

I think Scott Easton's been k*lled.

-[whistles] -And he had Val's babies stolen.

What?

I think he thought he was doing me a favor.

Now, you know how much I dislike Val,

but I could never do a thing like that to her.

I mean, I could never have her babies taken away from her.

Why would he think he was doing you a favor?

[sighs]

I found out Gary was the father.

Oh, my God.

And you know what kind of complications

it would cause if he found out.

-Wa-wait, he doesn't know? -No.

So then Easton disappears, and now Val's disappeared.

[sighs] She's wandering around Tennessee somewhere.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. What is she doing in Tennessee?

I don't know. I don't know anything anymore.

I don't even know how deeply I'm involved in all of this.

You really think Easton's dead?

Yes.

-What do you think I should do? -Nothing. You don't do a thing.

-I mean it. -I have to do something.

Forget it. Drop it. Don't go near it.

You don't make any phone calls, don't take any phone calls.

You're ignorant, dumb, totally in the dark.

You got it?

[instrumental music]

Residential with some well-screened light industry

to reverse the cash flow.

Probably communication.

Sounds like the rest of Virginia.

Maybe yours will be even bigger.

Could be a showcase for your home state, senator.

Exactly. Out of the desert blooms the city of industry.

[Garrison] Well, I did get a very good deal

on the water rights.

Scott Easton put you under that?

The guy's useless.

I haven't heard from him in weeks.

I've been working with Paul Galveston on this.

He's a very shrewd guy, but I got to tell you,

he's a lot more personal than you'd think.

So, I could use some informed advice.

I know very little about land development.

And I'm talking tax breaks, incentives for developers

with good environmental designs, possible contracts.

Well, once you get to Washington,

maybe you keep your ears open.

This is not for me.

You got something against me or Paul Galveston

or you just think the whole idea stinks?

Oh, you're gonna do fine.

Galveston makes a lot of money for his partners.

Then why don't you want to help?

You're gonna have all the help you can handle.

[woman] Why now?

Weren't the Tidal Basin murders solved long ago?

Well, we're not so sure.

Well, I don't think I can help you much.

I was still in college when my aunt was k*lled.

Well, I'd like to meet her friends.

She worked in a research library.

"We're a very dull bunch," she used to say.

You-you never expect to...

[sighs]

...outlive your own children.

I realize this is tough.

I've been thinking about it over and over.

I can't believe she was m*rder*d.

Everybody loved her.

Yeah.

You're probably right.

It was an accident after all.

[Pete] Well, I'll try not to take up

too much of your time, Mr. Thomas.

[scoffs] I got plenty of that.

As far as answers go, I'm all out.

Well, I reviewed the statement you made at the time.

I was hoping you could fill me in a little bit

about your wife's background.

Well, when we got married in '66,

uh, she wanted, uh, three kids and a house.

I, um...

paid off the mortgage the year after she died.

We-we never did have any kids.

-I know. -Lila's not here anymore.

-I'm sorry. -Leave me alone.

But I appreciate any help you can give me.

-Didn't you work with Lila... -I answered a million questions.

-.At Galveston Industries? -Talk to the cops.

I know you did. I need the help--

-No. Le-leave me alone. -You can help me.

Don't come back here!

[machine hissing]

Her parents were nice people and tried to be helpful,

but there wasn't much there.

[Pete] Yeah, same with Farnsworth and Thomas.

Now, Lila Maxwell's roommate, on the other hand,

that's a different story.

She was scared, man.

She didn't want me on her doorstep.

What is it about Maxwell?

I don't know, but I tried to follow up

at Galveston Industries, and anyone who worked,

whether it was either vague

or they couldn't remember, you know?

What do you think?

I think that somebody's got him running scared.

Like our tax guy.

He lost a bunch of records in, uh, last year's mudslide,

but he remembered Maxwell's.

This wise guy even passed off a few snide remarks as to how

she's living in the fast lane and hiding cash transactions.

[phone beeps]

Yeah. Mack.

[sighs]

Well, maybe we're looking at drug traffic.

Maybe the best way to bury a m*rder victim

is to hide her under a smear campaign.

Hi, Peggy.

Val's editor. Great.

-Up, up, up, up. Beverly! -Okay.

Hi, how are you? Thanks for calling back. Yeah.

Get hold of Baxter at the Franchise Tax Board

and get Maxwell's records.

Have you heard from Valene Ewing?

I've been trying to get a hold of her.

Oh, well, maybe she's off

doing research on her next novel.

Listen, if she calls,

would you give her a message for me?

Just tell her I've been trying to track it down

and her mother is interested in, uh, her progress.

[sighs]

This poor lady wants us to add her husband's name

to our missing persons list.

I listened to her for a long time.

These were mostly fans of Joshua's,

and this lady sold Val some running shoes

about a month ago.

This one was a man who wanted to know

where we could get a- a copy of Nashville Junction.

-Enoch, Nevada. -Try.

Talk to the only beautician in town.

Check with every diner on the main drag.

There are only two ticket agents at the bus depot.

One's on vacation.

The other hung up on me

when I wouldn't promise to put him on TV.

-I'm sorry. -Why would she be in Nevada?

On her way to Reno, maybe. Does she gamble?

[scoffs] Not Val.

Look, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas,

maybe she went there to get lost in a crowd.

-I doubt it. -[Ben] Well, it's worth a try.

Have our stringer in the resort cities.

Check out all the hotel guest lists.

She's probably traveling

-under an assumed name now. -Why?

Well, she's a famous author, right?

Look, maybe someone in Enoch recognized her.

-That's where the trail stops. -Maybe.

-Try anyhow. -Okay.

Mm.

Abby and Gary hired a detective.

I hope he's a good one.

Oh, I hope so, too, but I don't know.

He hasn't turned up any-any-anything yet.

Wish she just called.

Why would she leave her clothes behind her?

You know I've gone days

without talking to her or seeing her, but...

this is different because...

I just don't know where she is.

When I used to travel, she said she couldn't do it.

She'd get homesick, she said.

I couldn't sit still long enough for a movie.

I hope you don't mind.

This isn't gonna work.

Maybe you should talk it through first.

I don't see that this is gonna do any good at all.

Well, sure it will.

I mean, there's no telling till you try.

I mean, talking about Val's troubles in public,

wha- what if that just serves to drive her further away?

Then don't mention her by name.

I mean, just talk about home and love and family.

I mean, do what you can.

You have this wonderful opportunity

to get a message to Val,

and you're not gonna try

because you're not absolutely sure it'll work?

That's not like you, Joshua.

Well, Abby seems to think that it's worthwhile.

She's really been great about this.

You know, she wouldn't be giving you free airtime

if there weren't something in it for her.

What is it about you and Abby?

Every time I mention her name, you have some remark to make.

Is there something I should know?

Because if there is, I'd like you to tell me,

and if not, I'd like you to stop going on about this.

Why is everybody so down on Abby?

Abby isn't as kind to everybody as she is to you.

[intense music]

You're stopping all phase three construction?

-Postponing it, that's all. -Why?

Because I've earmarked those funds

for Empire Valley Designs.

Wait a minute. Let me see if I got this straight.

You want to fund your new project

at the expense of Lotus Point?

A project that can't begin to turn profit

until we're all long gone?

It'll be good for Lotus Point in the long run.

-I don't believe it! -All this development

is gonna bring in more vacationers,

small service businesses,

an elite clientele for the resort.

-Elite clientele? -Executives.

Well-paid engineers, designers, scientists.

Executives out in the middle of nowhere?

-An industrial park. -A planned community.

Home, schools, businesses, light industry, microchips,

computer parts as ecologically clean as your own backyard.

Why?

Because it's a great opportunity.

It's got scale.

It's got Paul Galveston.

What did he ever do to you?

Remember what they said to us? You can't work with him.

-You work for him. -[sighs] Sour grapes.

You used to say the same thing about my dad all the time.

Look, he's building some kind of pyramid,

and I'm his architect, he's using me.

Great. Terrific. I'm using him, too.

How many chances does a guy get to build a pyramid?

Egyptian architects got buried in their pyramids, Gary.

[chuckles]

You'll hear the whole plan at the meeting.

I don't have time.

I've got a contractor behind schedule,

an appointment from Michael at his guidance counselor--

Wednesday, the meeting's here.

[door slams]

[dramatic music]

[chuckles]

[gasps]

[chuckles]

I love it. Oh!

It's very, uh...

homey.

-Your bedroom. -Um...

I made the curtains and the bedspread myself.

-You made this? -Mm-hmm.

Oh, you're good.

Yeah.

[Valene gasps]

Is that a lilac bush down there?

No, there's plenty more down by the creek.

Oh, that's where I jog.

Oh, you're one of them fitness folks, huh?

Oh! Just to keep the weight down.

[both chuckle]

I don't see how you people do that.

I never exercised a day in my life.

[gasps]

I'm telling you, I think I could be real...

real comfortable here.

Say, are you in relation to the Ellers's

that have that big dairy farm down by the interstate?

Well, no, I don't think so.

My daddy hails from West Virginia.

Look at this.

-It's my grandma's sofa. -Oh!

Every time we get something new, the spare stuff comes out here.

You want me to have Ron haul some of it away?

Oh, no, no, no. I love a lot of clutter.

I have this sofa filled with pillows

and junk in no time at all.

[chuckles] Oh, uh,

now your bathroom is just right down the hall here.

-Oh, let me take a look. -Mm-hmm.

-Next to the washer-dryer. -Uh-huh.

Oh, yeah, I see right there.

Oh, Ron put a new shower in last summer.

Ah. [sniffles]

Well, what about the rent?

I'm used to asking $65 a month.

Well, you got yourself a deal.

-Thank you. -Mm-hmm.

I love it.

Why would Mrs. Weller say that?

She thinks I'm spending too much time on sports,

I guess, I don't know.

She wants everybody to be in the drama club.

Well, as long as you keep your grades up.

[gasps]

[bicycle bell rings]

-Mom. -I can't!

[Karen gasps]

[tires screech]

Oh, my Lord!

[sighs]

Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm okay. How about you?

I'll be fine. I'll be fine.

[panting]

Well, how do you know it isn't injured?

You better have it examined.

Yeah, maybe you shouldn't even be moving it.

I'm not gonna wear my arm in a sling.

Well, have it X-rayed.

The way you're favoring it like that,

it must hurt like crazy.

I guess I just bashed my funny bone

when I tried to turn the wheel so fast.

That's all.

-But you didn't. -She didn't what?

Turn the wheel. That's why I grabbed it.

-You grabbed the wheel, huh? -Yeah.

You didn't tell me that part.

I just got flustered, that's all.

Wait a minute. What else happened?

Well, at first, I-I thought the steering wheel locked.

There was nothing wrong with the steering.

My mechanic said you tore up the front tires,

but that was it.

Karen?

I guess I just panicked

when this bicycle came from out of nowhere.

[Michael] Out of nowhere?

You saw her coming a block away.

[gloomy music]

Alright, guys, get this stuff out of the kitchen.

Listen.

We're going to the doctor tomorrow, just the two of us.

That's the end of that discussion.

We've contacted the motel people,

the lady in the dress shop.

But they don't know where she is now.

Where are we going to look for her next?

If anything develops, we'll let you know.

Well, you might as well say you're not looking at all.

Now look, Miss Clements, Mister...

-Rush. -Right, uh...

Think of this as good news.

I mean, you should hear the kind of news

I have to bring people sometimes.

Suppose, suppose she's been hurt or something.

There's not one shred of evidence to suggest that.

We haven't heard from any hospitals.

Uh, we've been over the suitcase.

No blood.

Nothing to indicate problems.

We've talked to people who've seen her.

They say she seemed okay.

Then why isn't she here?

Why haven't we heard from her?

More than a million individuals disappear every year.

For a lot of reasons.

Some run away, some are driven away.

Some are victims of crime.

Others of whatever it is they can't face.

Some just need to wipe the slate clean.

Many of them are never found.

Others are, and decide not to come back anyway.

I know it's hard to let go of anybody

who's never said goodbye. I know.

But you might as well think of Valene as alive and well.

Chances are very good that's the case.

Then why doesn't she let us know where she is?

That she's alright?

Maybe she doesn't want to be found.

[waves crashing]

[sighs]

[door closes]

[floor creaking]

-Valene? -Oh, boy.

-Kelly. -[sighs] Oh, don't.

[grunts]

I... [sighs]

It's, uh, tough enough without you having to see me.

-Oh, it's tough. -Acting.

[sighs] Oh, I'm a lousy actor.

That's why I switched from drama to broadcast journalism.

Well, you don't have to act with me.

No. That's what I've been doing. Acting.

Playing the role of a free spirit.

Out for a good time.

Mm, offering body warmth.

Carnal fun. No emotional investment.

No commitment exchanged.

I never bought it for a second.

See what I mean? I'm a lousy actress.

[both chuckle]

[soft music]

Ben, will you kiss me?

[sighs]

[smooches]

You know how good I'd be for you?

Yes.

Do you know how neurotic your situation is?

-[chuckles] -With Valene?

-Yes. -[chuckles]

Why don't you give us a chance? It's a trial run.

Give me a chance to make you happy.

[smooches]

Maybe...

if we knew where Valene was that...

that she was alright.

Maybe then...

[sighs]

But not now.

[music continues]

[Dave on radio] Uh, there is an accident alert

northbound near the 16th Avenue off-ramp.

It seems a truckload of plywood scattered across three lanes.

I guess the musicians will be blubbering off

to work by all means.

[Dolly on radio] Yeah, right.

Hey, have you heard the item about the missing novelist?

[Dave] No, Dolly, did you have trouble crossing the road, too?

[Dolly on radio] Uh, no. For real.

Valene Ewing,

best-selling author of Capricorn Crude

disappeared from her home in Knots Landing

according to our Hollywood hotline.

Our Nashville listeners will remember her

for her second novel, Nashville Junction.

I thought it was top flight. Didn't you?

[Dave] I haven't read it yet, but I guess I'd better.

Uh, Dolly, you heard the new hit by Mace Patterson?

[Dolly on radio] No, but play it for me, Dave.

[humming]

[music plays on radio]

[dramatic music]

These were the only messages you got this morning.

-You sure no one else called? -Yeah, I'm sure.

Hello, I'm Abby Ewing.

Our consultants look like they came from the same mold.

I know, that's true, but they can help us.

They know the right people in communications,

electronics, defense.

They're gonna connect you with the people

whose money you're gonna spend.

Come on.

John, Walter,

stop flirting with Mrs. Ewing and say hello to Gary.

-Mr. Ewing. -Nice to meet you.

-Pleasure meeting you, sir. -Same here.

I don't want you driving, remember?

Alright, I'll have someone take me.

Okay, and I'll see you at Dr. Garner's at 4:30.

-Okay? -Okay.

-See you later. -Bye.

-[Abby] Karen? -Hi.

[Abby] Mack.

How do you do? I'm, uh, Paul Galveston.

Oh, yeah, Patrick MacKenzie, Mack.

Ah, Karen-Karen's husband.

-Oh, hello. -Hi.

-Spirited lady. -Oh, yeah.

You're the governor's special investigator, aren't you?

That's right, I am, thank you.

Now let me ask you a question.

Well, you're an investigator, investigate.

[chuckles] A couple of years ago,

you had a young lady working for you

by the name of Lila Maxwell.

-About four or five years ago? -Oh, yeah.

Yeah, that poor girl.

I never knew her, but, uh...

of course, we were all saddened by her death.

Yeah, it's just that I had a hard time

gaining any information from your corporate headquarters.

Well, if anyone was being uncooperative.

Ah, it wasn't that so much.

It was-it just seemed scared.

Well, uh, m*rder makes people uncomfortable, MacKenzie.

Yeah, well, you're probably right.

Well, we better get started.

Well, if, uh, if there's anything I can do...

Thank you. I appreciate it.

Karen, 4:30.



Boardrooms were never like this when I was starting out.

Well, I hope this meeting is just as tough as the old days.

We need a lot of answers.

Yeah, such as, what's your role in this proposal?

Well, the proposing's, uh, all been done.

Uh, the Empire Valley project is now Gary's project.

Uh, my role is the same as yours.

Admiring observer.

[sighs]

[knock on door]

Thanks. You started without me?

You're joking.

I thought you were up at the stockholders' meeting

at Lotus Point.

I never joke about tennis,

and I never joke about lunch.

Tell you something,

if I was a shareholder in that corporation ,

I'd be up there right now asking a lot of questions.

Look, I get my dividends on time.

If this plan pans out,

the checks will just become bigger, that's all.

-Aren't you even curious? -You are so funny.

Gary tried to spell out

the whole plan for you the other day.

You could have cared less.

When the annual report is published,

you'll find out same as me.

Well, I guess it's tennis then.

Mm. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

Uh, I'm just curious about one thing.

What's that?

You told Gary

how rich Paul Galveston makes all his partners.

But you don't-you don't seem

to want to be part of a winning proposition.

Did I ever recite that poem I wrote for you?

[scoffs]

It's about white tennis shorts

-over the back of a chair. -Mm-hm.

Right, right, right.

-Mm? -Do you think ...

do you think that Galveston's gonna be trouble for Gary?

No.

-Is Galveston trouble for you? -No.

Okay, so we'll play tennis.

Well, I guess that's it.

Thank you for coming.

I work here.

And for advising us of your concerns.

I think we know what your needs are now.

If we can accommodate you, we'll get back to you.

One more question, Mr. Ewing.

-[sighs] -I didn't understand one word.

I'm gonna run through the phase three figures again.

I'm not satisfied.

I'm, uh, going to the station for Joshua's taping.

-[sighs] Okay. -I'll drop you at the doctor's?

[sighs] No- no. Um, I've already missed that.

-I'll see you tomorrow. -Okay.

Well, I understand these are your partners,

but we are not interested in resorts.

Yes, I know that. They will, too.

We will stick to the community planning.

You gentlemen fill the industrial complex

that's gonna pay for all this.

But Mrs. Ewing seemed quite concerned

about something called phase three.

-Tennis courts, I believe? -[exhales] Yes.

Mrs. Ewing and I quarrel about everything.

Family policy. You leave her to me.

And Mrs. MacKenzie?

Well, she doesn't understand the total concept yet.

When she does, she'll come around, believe me.

[scoffs] Not that it matters.

I'll be making all the decisions anyway.

[intense music]

I just spoke with Karen on the phone.

She's at a meeting and wants to postpone.

[chuckles]

That doesn't surprise me.

I can see you both day after tomorrow at 11:00.

I need some answers now, Dr. Garner.

Karen ought to be here.

Well, you gotta tell me. Is that her chart?

Let's go over her chart.

I don't have to tell you anything.

Is she on drugs?

No, it's not drugs.

Your wife has a dependency problem.

I wouldn't even give her aspirin.

Neither would any other doctor.

Then what are you doing for her, huh?

She doesn't make sense. She's accident-prone.

She's preoccupied. What's wrong? What's going on?

You'll have to talk with Karen.

[Mack] I'm asking you.

I can't tell you. Don't put me in the middle.

If you can't communicate with your wife,

there's nothing I can do.

Do marriage counseling, too, huh?

Mr. MacKenzie, if you'll excuse me,

I do have other appointments.

[door slams]

I think that's a- a grease spot.

I'm not sure, but it's probably grease.

Okay.

Ellers. Verna Ellers.

Two L's, right. E-R-S, right.

Okay. Be ready day after tomorrow.

Okay. I'll stop in during my break.

Oh, where do you work?

Oh, I'm right down there at the coffee shop.

Oh. Too bad.

What do you mean too bad?

Come on. I like Ron's barbecuing.

Well, yeah, but, uh, you serve all that food, though.

You probably wouldn't be interested

in our big doings on Sunday.

What kind of doings? You mean a church supper?

Well, that's what the Baptists are doing,

but our fire station is giving a pancake breakfast.

-Nom, nom, nom, nom. -I love pancakes.

-Yeah. -Well, lots of people come.

Um, we're raising money for a new generator.

Oh, well, then I guess I'll just have to pitch in.

Thank you for telling me.

Uh, say, uh, do you know

-where the fire hall is? -I'll find it.

Uh, you want me to drop by and, uh, walk you over?

That's okay. Gonna be there?

You bet.

Maybe I'll see you.

[indistinct chatter]

Be calm, speak. I'll be in the booth.

Go at your own pace.

-Take your time. You'll be fine. -Joshua, oh...

[chuckles]

I wish Jonathan could see you and hear you speak.

-Where's Cathy? -She dropped me off.

Said she'd pick me up afterwards.

Haven't you... haven't you settled

that quarrel with her yet, huh?

You know, these lights

-are very, very bright. -Don't worry about it.

Now, you'll just look right into the lens of the camera.

Valene is out there somewhere.

-Excuse me. -Right.

You are gonna be fine.

[gasps] I don't know why,

but I have a feeling this is gonna work.

I think he's gonna reach his sister.

Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Lilimae. Hello.

-Lilimae, have you met Mary? -Oh.

Mary, this is Lilimae Clements, Joshua's mother.

-Nice to meet you. -Pleased to meet you.

[chuckles]

Don't be scared.

Well, vain is more the word.

We're supposed to be trying to find Val,

and I'm the one that's getting all the attention.

Lilimae, why don't you come and sit down over here?

You can see real well.

You have a gift.

You're putting it to good use.

It's time. Excuse me.

-Good luck. -Thank you.

Joshua...

Joshua, don't worry about a thing, alright?

I bought two more stations in Arizona

and two more in New Mexico.

This little news service of ours is turning

into a cable syndicate all over the Southwest.

And, Joshua, we're sure to reach her now.

So you just go out there and just do your best, okay?

Excuse me, Mrs. Ewing.

Joshua, 30 seconds.

Come on.

[indistinct chatter]

[woman] Everybody okay right now? Oh.

[man] Everybody in position.

[man] Everyone quiet now. We're good.

[sighs]

[sighs] I wondered who turned on the sprinklers

because I-I thought Mi-Michael had practice

and Eric was at work.

[sighs]

You got the message that I got hung up.

Yeah, I got the message at Dr. Garner's office.

Oh, I'm sorry.

You'd- you had to go all the way down there for no reason...

It's all right. I told him about your arm.

I was feeling much better.

He didn't think that was the problem.

-So we talked for a while. -Oh?

Not that we talked at great length

about your problem.

-My problem? -Yeah.

I told him about your sprained wrist

and your burned finger.

He said that wasn't it.

He thought the problem was between you and me.

We don't talk enough. What do you think?

My problem?

I think it's that I have one sore arm,

two flat tires, and a husband who treats me

-like a hostile witness... -Why weren't you

-with Dr. Garner's with me? -I told you.

I don't believe you had to work.

I don't believe your arm

had anything to do with the accident.

I think there's something very wrong with you, Karen.

And I'll tell you something else.

I don't see any hope for us.

This is not a marriage. I don't know what's worse.

The way you've been lying to me or the fact that...

Lying, Karen.

You caused an accident that could have k*lled a kid.

[gloomy music]

Okay.

My operation wasn't really successful.

What are you talking about?

My spine.

There's a b*llet fragment.

It's paralyzing me.

-Karen! -Mack.

I'm gonna die.

No.

No.

[chuckles] No.

[stammering]

No.

[Paul] Thanks, Jerry. That's all.

Here you go.

What does Gary Ewing know about military contracts?

Nothing. That's a plus.

He'll have the place crawling with birdwatchers.

Every time we turn around, binoculars.

Why are you so confident?

Maybe because I know I'm right.

Ewing is perfect.

John, we've worked together on projects like this before.

-Like this? -We all know it's classified.

[man] We don't know Gary Ewing from Adam.

Good. Neither does anybody else.

He's unconnected.

General Henry is not gonna buy this.

General Henry is your problem.

If your boy makes one false move...

For 30 years, you've come to me

with your most delicate problems.

I've always got you what you want.

You know I know what I'm doing.

What I am doing now is grooming Gary Ewing

to take complete charge of the physical premises.

He is a man of intelligence and vision.

His ambitions are compatible with your aims.

He is my choice.

I'm not asking your permission.

[dramatic music]

[sniffles] I know I don't deserve any favors.

Why should you listen to me?

But, please.

[sniffling] Just send my girl home safe and sound.

Please.

[sniffling]

Oh, Valene.

[sniffling]

[sighs]

[Mack] I don't want you to spare my feelings.

I just wanted you to be you.

I didn't want you to have to take care of me.

Karen, that's what I love to do.

I don't know.

[sighs]

We just give it our best shot.

Well, I'm scared.

Me too.

Don't die, Karen.

When the chances are slim or none, you go with slim.

Always.

Always.

[sighs]

I won't let you die.

[theme music]