01x02 - Community Spirit

[bunniefuu]

I knew it.

KAREN: What did you know?

Texas Ewing moves
to Knots Landing,

before you know it

we've got offshore drilling
at Knots Landing beach.

Look, I'll be your
technical adviser,

but I won't wave
any banners for you.

Why not? You're the
logical one to lead us.

I'm not a leader, Karen.

What in the...?

J.R.: Hi.

How's my favorite sister-in-law?

Keep your mouth shut, Gary.

Stay out of it. Or?

I'll break ya.

Again.

[♪♪♪]

[♪♪♪]

J.R.: Now, you're going
straight back to California,

is that right, Todson?

Yes, sir.

You don't anticipate any
trouble with the community?

As far as I know,

nobody even knows we're
drilling in Knots Landing.

Good, let's keep it that way.

I don't want anything
interfering with this operation.

I'll keep my eyes open.

Anything come up, anything
at all, you let me know, hear?

Okay.

Say, Todson?

We want to nip trouble
in the bud, don't we?

And I'm a specialist at nipping.

Hi, Eric.

I sure do love watching you
all riding in on those waves.

Yeah, I love it.

Isn't it hard,
staying on your feet?

Well, not really.

You wipe out a lot at first,

but once you get the hang
of it, it's as easy as swimming.

Oh, I don't even
know how to swim.

Oh, really? I'll teach you.

Would you?

Well, sure. We'll have
you hanging ten in no time.

[LAUGHS]

I can just see that.

[SHIP HORN BLOWS]

ERIC: What kind of boat is that?

I don't know. Tuna maybe.

No, that's no tuna boat.

I wonder why it's
so close to shore.

I don't know.

ERIC: I don't know
either, but I'll find out.

VAL: How?

Watch.

[SHIP HORN BLOWS]

Sure was strange,
seeing oil people in a boat.

Yeah.

In Texas I was used to seeing
them all grimy in the fields,

and in my living
room, in my dreams...

Oh, damn. What's the matter?

You know what everybody's
going to think, don't you?

What?

That we moved out here

to start a West Coast
branch of Ewing Oil.

I can just hear Richard Avery
saying how he knew it all along.

Knew it all along.

KAREN: Morning, Richard.

I knew it.

KAREN: What did you know?

Texas Ewing moves
to Knots Landing,

before you know it,

we've got offshore drilling
at Knots Landing beach.

Circumstantial, yes, but...

Don't be ridiculous, Richard.

Morning.

Good work, Ewing.

Can't put one over
on Lawyer Avery.

Knew all along you
were up to something.

What's he talking about?

How'd Gary know
anything about that?

Well, didn't Val tell you?

Oh, the oil boat.

We're having a meeting tonight at the
community auditorium: 7:30, to talk strategy.

Uh, I'll pass.

You don't think he knows
anything about this, do you?

Look, if he were into oil, why
would he be selling cars for me?

Well, I don't know why.

I just asked you if you thought
he knew anything about this.

Well, I'm sure he doesn't.

Bye.

[CAR STARTS]

There go Sid and Karen.

Mm-hm.

You know what
they think, don't you?

Mm-hm.

Why should I go? I don't
know anything about it.

I know.

I mean, the whole subject
of oil makes me sick.

Mm-hm.

I don't have to prove anything.

Didn't say you did.

I didn't say you said I...

Okay.

All right.

We'll go.

Good.

Karen said she wanted
that auditorium packed.

Some turnout.

Well, you hardly had time
to tell people about it, Karen.

Your timing's not exactly ideal.

Don't talk to me about
energy shortages.

Where's that oil
company spokesman?

People are more interested
in getting gas right now

than they are in
the environment.

Where's Richard?

[LAURA LAUGHS]

Laura?

Who's that? Oh, I don't know.

Laura.

Chip Todson.

Of course. Chip, hello.

Hello.

This is my husband,
Richard Avery.

Chip Todson.

Nice to meet you,
Richard. Good to meet you.

We used to work together.

I have wondered
what happened to you.

We were counselors
at a summer camp.

Nice car.

Yeah. It's all right.

Take a look.

Oh, I will.

Go ahead. Try
it on. See if it fits.

Camp counselors? Quick thinking.

As long as you're explaining,
why did you disappear on me?

How does she handle?

Like a dream.

Petrolux is the charter
name of a new company

which has been
formed strictly to drill...

Oh, my. This is it?

Well, now, she had to call
the meeting tonight, right away.

Now, the owners, as
far as I can determine,

are a group of
independent oil men

from Texas and Oklahoma.

I knew it.

Oh, I see the Petrolux
representative has arrived.

Gary says he's not
in the oil business.

But he didn't move
out here for his health.

Chip Todson.

Chip?

CHIP: Ladies and gentlemen,

good evening.

I want to thank you all
for being here this evening.

I understand your concern

for the proposed
Petrolux project.

Now, certainly, any
large-scale drilling activity

is going to involve
some inconveniences.

Yes?

What about air
and noise pollution?

We plan to minimize them.

You haven't mentioned

oil seepage,

the need for storage tanks

near the drilling site,

the odor,

Every... oil mist.

Everything is going to be done

to minimize the
side effects of drilling.

You said that. Can
you be more specific?

Now, what are you
going to do about it?

Well, I'm not an engineer.

Then could you
send us an engineer

to answer our questions?

Yes, of course.

Yeah, and while you're at it,

ask him what alternate
sites are available, if any.

I'm no geologist, but our
Petrolux staff has assured me

that Knots Landing...

But they have not assured us.

We'd like to know about the
various sites you've surveyed

and why the offshore
site was chosen.

It's a valid question, sir.

Unfortunately, I
don't have the facts.

Yeah, well, facts
are what we need.

I can appreciate that,

and I'll be glad to
get back to you on it

if you'll tell me your name.

Gary Ewing.

Ewing?

Yeah.

Uh, I think that we've gotten
to the crux of the matter,

Mr. Todson.

And when you have
more information,

I'm sure that we can meet again.

Thank you very much.

Thank you for
coming this evening.

Thank you all.

These Texas big boys
don't make mistakes.

They'll eat Gary for
breakfast with their grits.

Gary, you really brought
that meeting to life.

We're going to organize

a big rally this weekend,
right on the beach,

and ask some of the
questions that Gary raised.

Won't work, Karen.

We can try.

CHIP: Hello. Hi, Chip.

Hello.

These are some of my neighbors.

This is Karen and Sid Fairgate.

Hello, Karen.

Nice to meet you, Sid.

And Val and Gary Ewing. How do.

Some good questions, Mr. Ewing.

Seemed to get
the folks involved.

And that's what we want,
community involvement.

Well, uh, perhaps I can
call you sometime, Laura,

have lunch together.

Oh, sure.

Uh, we'll see.

Yes, I'll call you. Thank you.

CHIP: Yes, sir,

there were only
about 20 people there

so I don't think we're going to
have anything to worry about.

Except there was one guy there

seemed to know what
he was talking about.

Got the crowd's juices
going pretty good.

You didn't send anybody else

to that meeting
besides me, did you?

No.

No, I didn't think so.

Because, you see, this
fellow's name was Ewing,

just like yours.

Gary Ewing.

I would have thought
he'd stay away from oil.

What?

Nothing.

Well, anyway, like I said,

I don't think there's
anything to worry about,

but this fellow Ewing
did stir the crowd up.

He asked about alternate sites.

Anything you want me to do?

Just stay on top of it.

Uh, about Ewing, I mean.

No. No, nothing. I'll
be out there tomorrow.

Yes, sir.

Well, have a good
evening, Mr. Ewing.

Goodnight.

Look, I'll be your
technical adviser,

but I won't wave
any banners for you.

Why not? You're the
logical one to lead us.

I'm not a leader, Karen.
I'm not even much of a joiner.

I got to go, honey.

You have a good day, okay?

Bye-bye. Bye.

All right, now you
go to work on him.

Karen, I can't.

Look, come with me to
Laura's. We'll talk about it.

You can help me make

some of the posters
for the rally Saturday.

All right, I guess I could.

What is this big phobia about
getting involved, anyway?

It's a long story.

I love long stories.

I know.

Someday maybe
I'll tell it to you.

All right.

Gary just never got
along with his family.

Oh, and they're oil people?

Yeah, and he hates
the whole subject.

All the more reason why
you should go to work on him.

Revenge is one of the
great motives for anything.

It will really give him
a lot of satisfaction.

Uh-uh, not Gary. He wants
to be left alone, not reminded.

I don't know,

he seemed to be enjoying
himself the other night.

What in the world...?

Well, how's my
favorite sister-in-law?

Hi, honey.

Hi. Karen Fairgate.

Karen. J.R. Ewing.

Oh, Gary's brother. Mm-hm.

What brings you
to California, J.R.?

Oh, same thing takes
me everywhere, honey.

You know, big doings.

I sure could use a cup
of strong black coffee.

Uh, how about
joining us, Mrs., uh...

Karen. Um, no, thank you.

Maybe I'll see you later.

I'll be at Laura's,
painting posters, okay?

J.R.: Posters?

Yeah, for a rally we're having
this Saturday on the beach...

You wouldn't happen to be here

because of the Petrolux
drilling plans, would you?

I'm affiliated with
Petrolux, yes.

Ah, then we're enemies.

Oh, why can't we
just say adversaries?

No, I prefer enemies.
It's got much more bite.

Bye, now.

That's a fine-looking woman.

[♪♪♪]

Oh, it's nice, real nice.

A gift from my
mama, I understand.

Yeah.

Oh, just wonderful.

All right, J.R.,
what do you want?

Well, Valene,

I understand that
my brother Gary

is providing a certain impetus

to a protest movement which
has very little chance of success,

but still might become
a thorn in my side.

Well, it's got no
chance of success,

so why don't you leave us alone?

I didn't say no chance,
hon. I said very little chance.

Now, I got an obligation to
my partners, to my family,

to protect their investment.

So why don't you call Gary
on the phone, get him home?

I'd like to talk to him.

Listen, J.R., we're
doing just fine here.

Gary's got a nice job...

Oh, yeah? What's he doing?

Selling cars for
Karen's husband.

Well, that's
wonderful. Call him up.

We've got nice neighbors,
we like it out here.

We don't mean to
move back to Texas.

And we don't mean to
claim anything that's yours.

Well, Gary was always
the Ewing with the integrity.

Get him on the phone, honey.

You've got nothing to
gain by upsetting Gary.

Oh, Valene, I'd be
the last one in the world

that would want to drive
him back to the bottle.

We just wanna be left alone.

Well, I'm more than willing
to leave you alone, darling,

as long as it's an even trade.

Now, you don't
want Gary to mess up

a wonderful opportunity
for his family, do you?

That is up to Gary.

Well, tell you what, get
him on the phone, huh?

I'm really anxious
to talk to him.

[DIALING]

Sure is a nice place
you got here, no fooling.

Gary Ewing, please.

I just love cookbooks.

Gary, you best come on home.

J.R. is here.

What's he like?

Oh, like a big
Texas-oil man, I guess.

You know, bigger than life.

Not bad-looking.

Mm-hm.

What's the story between
Gary and his family, anyway?

Has Val ever told you?

Oh, well, just that
they don't get along

and their daughter
lives with them in Dallas.

With Uncle J.R.?

No, no, no, with
Gary's mom and dad.

Well, I don't understand
what they're waiting for.

Why doesn't Lucy
come move here now?

Well, I guess they want to
see if their marriage will work

before they, you know,
bring Lucy out here.

I can tell you right now,

Val and Gary's marriage is
every bit as solid as yours or mine.

[PHONE RINGING]

Probably more.

Hello?

Yes.

No.

Please don't call me anymore.

I can't.

Look, goodbye.

Are you crazy?

You can't let me overhear
a conversation like that

and not tell me about it.

It was nothing.

Nothing Todson?

[LAUGHS]

Aha!

You and Chip had a little thing
going that summer, didn't you?

So?

So why the cold shoulder?

One's supposed
to be terribly wistful

about remembered
summer romances.

Not me.

You're impossible.

Oh. I think my floor
days are numbered.

KAREN: I'd give half my soul
to be inside that house right now.

Say, Gary!

Well, ain't you
just looking great!

How you doing, bud?

I'm doing okay.

[CHUCKLES]

Hey, you look better than okay.

You look like a young man
who's getting it all together

in the prime of your life.

We're trying, J.R.

Say, why didn't you tell
me you wanted to sell cars?

Hell, we'd have bought
you your own used-car lot.

Hmph.

You want to get
to the point, J.R.?

Ah, say, I don't
suppose you'd have

a drop of bourbon for a
weary traveler, do you?

You know we don't.

Oh, of course, of
course. I'm sorry.

Thoughtless of me,
Gary, thoughtless.

I'll get you some iced tea.

Fine, fine. That'd
be even better.

The point, J.R.?

Well, a brother
visiting a brother

is a point all
its own, isn't it?

No, not these brothers.

You don't want me
to have anything to do

with that offshore
drilling protest.

Well, I don't want this
project held up, Gary.

Certainly not by you

or that pretty lady next
door, for that matter.

All I wanted was a few answers.

Fire ahead. Give you
all the answers I got.

Look, J.R., I'm not going to
get the answers I want, right?

So what worries you?

Delay.

If you delay this project
for any length of time,

do you have any idea

how much money that's
going to cost your mother?

Well, did I say
something funny? Huh?

Or has your mother's
financial security

become a laughing matter,

once she bought you this
nice house here in California?

Ha.

Oh, thank you,
thank you, darlin'.

Yeah, pretty as a picture.

Oh, everything's
just so pretty out here.

Hi, honey.

Hey, I'm sorry about this mess.

Oh...

How you doing?

How come you're home so early?

I had to file a complaint
in the neighborhood.

Whose limo?

Oh, that's Gary's brother.

God, we got a lot done today.

J.R. Ewing, uh...

Yeah.

Oh, excuse me.

I have to show you...

Do you see this?

You like it? Cute.

Where is Jason?

Upstairs, pouting,

because I wouldn't
let him shave the cat.

[LAUGHS]

Richard?

Richard, what's wrong?

Oh, it's just... it's just...

It's just that's all
I get to do lately,

file complaints,

research idiot cases,
ask for postponements.

Honey, you're a good lawyer.

Yes, I am. And I'm being
wasted because I'm not noticed.

Laura?

Mm-hm?

That fellow with
the sports car...

Chip Todson?

He works for
Petrolux, doesn't he?

LAURA: Yes.

If I landed the
Petrolux account...

He's an old friend
of yours, isn't he?

Yes, but...

He asked you to call him?

I don't like him.

So what? He's Petrolux.

He could guide Petrolux to me.

No, Richard.

Have lunch with him,

go over old times.

LAURA: I don't want to.

Please don't make me.

What's the matter with you?

Laura...

I need a break.

All my life I wanted
to be a lawyer

and now that I am one,

they give me things
that Jason could do.

I'm rotting in a tiny office

at the wrong end of
the wrong corridor.

I need a break,

to get out of there.

I'm asking you to help me.

Okay.

Okay.

Hello, Chip Todson, please.

Laura Avery.

Now, what do you think
that averages out per week?

I don't know yet.

I haven't worked enough
weeks to figure an average.

Enough to live on, though.

Oh, I imagine it would be.

Especially with your
mortgage payments

being made for
you and all and...

Oh, thank you.
Thank you, darlin'.

Mm!

Say, that is good.

What do you call this?

Tuna fish.

Well, you certainly
have a way with tuna fish.

Say, Gary,

I'm here to protect
the family interests.

And you seem bound
and determined to hurt us.

No, I'm not.

Yeah, you are.

No, I'm not, J.R.

And even if I were to go
through with this protest business,

I'd only be acting as a
member of the community.

What do you mean,
"even if I were to

go through with this protest"?

What do you mean by that?

I'm not gonna.
It's not worth it.

I'm sure I'd never get
the information I need.

So why bother? Gary,
you have to bother.

Why? Because
this isn't Southfork.

It isn't Dallas.

This is the place in California

where we've come
to live and start over.

Then why not just leave Ewing
matters to us Texas Ewings?

Because this is our home.

And you can't come in here

and tell us what
we can and can't do.

Val. We can't win.

Sure we can.

I mean, we must
have a chance to win

or he wouldn't even be here.

J.R.: It's your decision, Gary.

We've been head to head before
and I always come up on top.

Yeah, well this is different.

No, just the same.

Keep your mouth
shut, Gary. Stay out of it.

Or?

Or...

I'll break you.

Again.

Hi.

Oh, hi.

I was just admiring
your garden before...

When? Before I said "hi."

Say, listen, I could
sure use somebody

to show me around
here in California.

I don't get out here much.

Well, I'm sure
Gary can show you.

He knows this area pretty well.

I'd like somebody
from California.

I'm from New York.

The best kind.

Mr. Ewing? J.R.

J.R.

Yeah.

Buzz off.

What do you think
made him come here?

Problem, I guess.

They've been
planning on drilling,

and we're trying to stop them.

Oh, that wouldn't have done it.

Why not?

Well, think of it.

Fewer than 20 people
showed up at that meeting.

That wouldn't have
made Todson send for J.R.

Maybe it was what you said,

about an alternate
drilling site.

Yeah, maybe.

Well, what does
that mean exactly?

Well, the best way to
get to oil, once you find it,

is straight down.

But you can't always
drill straight down.

So you slant drill, right?

Right. But it's tricky
and expensive.

Okay, now, suppose

Petrolux knew that drilling
offshore could cause problems.

Which is a pretty good bet

after that spill off the Gulf
of Mexico last summer.

KAREN: They would have
looked for another place to drill.

GARY: They probably found
another place then forgot about it

because it would
cost too much money.

How can we find out?

[SCOFFS]

Well, there must be some way.

Gary, think like a Ewing.

Hold that thought.

Wait a minute, I
am a Ewing, aren't I?

I mean for once, I just
might make it work for me.

If I could get J.R. out
of the Petrolux office...

When?

Tomorrow.

Consider it done.

Well, I always wanted
to be Mata Hari.

So if you get those
papers in by Thursday,

I think we'll make that
deadline, don't you?

Yep.

I guess that's about it.

You going to be
in your office, J.R.?

No, no,

I have an appointment
at my hotel.

[KNOCK]

Well, hello.

Hello.

Come right in.

Hello.

Hello.

What made you change
your mind about seeing me?

Does it matter?

CHIP: Not at all.

Well, I'll tell you anyway.
My husband suggested it.

Nice guy.

He's a lawyer.

And his firm would like to
get the Petrolux Oil account.

And he wants me to help him?

Yes.

I'll be glad to.

You will?

Why not?

Aren't you going
to say thank you?

Thank you.

Well...

It doesn't bother you that I
really don't want to do this?

Not at all. It's unique.

I'm looking forward to it.

Well, hi.

Hi.

You're here to tell
me about the birds?

The birds?

Told me about
the bees yesterday.

Remember?

"Buzz off."

Uh-huh.

Oh, boy.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Well, just don't worry.

WOMAN: Thank you.

I'll have him call you
as soon as he comes in.

Right. Goodbye.

Good morning. May
I help you? Hi, yeah.

My name's Gary Ewing.
My brother's expecting me.

I'm afraid I don't have
you down, Mr. Ewing.

Well, probably slipped his mind.

Is he in? No. Not yet.

But if you'd like
to have a seat?

Uh, yeah, sure. Thanks.

Uh, Mr. Ewing...

Actually we were going to
go over some files together.

I can start without him.

Of course.

[FOOTSTEPS PASS NEARBY]

You'll have to move it, miss.

Oh, I'm just waiting on my...

Move it.

[HORN HONKS]

What happened? A
cop made me move.

When J.R.'s in town, I
always assume the worst.

Let's get out of here, fast.

I certainly have enjoyed your
scenery out here in California.

Well, you really
haven't seen that much.

No, I haven't, have I?

Dessert?

No, thanks. I don't think so.

You really do take good
care of yourself, don't you?

Yeah.

I've noticed the
same thing about you.

There's something I've always
loved about Southern men.

What's that?

They never forget what
it means to be a man.

Or how to appreciate a
really beautiful woman.

J.R., you're making
my ears warm.

That's not the only thing
I'd like to make warm.

[PHONE RINGING]

What?

Uh, aren't you going
to answer the phone?

I don't hear it.

The phone's
ringing. It's a mistake.

It gets me so nervous
when the phone rings.

Hello?

I thought I told you

not to disturb me
for a couple of hours.

Who?

Put him on.

Did you tell Gary you were here?

Gary?

Oh, fine.

Great.

I'll talk to you later.

Well, I gotta go.

What's going on here?
What-what's going on?

You invited me to lunch.

Oh, it was so delicious,
thank you very much.

But it's late. I got to pick
up the kids, and dinner...

Oh! Sid's tan suit.
I'm glad I remembered.

J.R.: Whatever's going
on with you and Gary,

I'll find out about it.

Me and Gary?

I can be just as tough on
you as I will be on him, honey.

No doubt.

Goodbye, J.R.

[CAR DOOR OPENS]

Gary!

Gary!

Well, I suppose you got
quite a little laugh out of that,

didn't you?

It wasn't a joke, J.R.

I guess it was funny.

But I'm telling you,

if you use whatever you
found in my office today,

I'm going to feel compelled

to tell that lovely
little daughter of yours

that her parents are remarried

and living out
here in California.

From what I understand,

that will be quite
a surprise for her.

What's Lucy got to do with this?

Nothing.

She's a w*apon.

And I use whatever
weapons I can.

Now, I've said it, Gary.

I've said it and I mean it.

There's Chip.

What do you think,
should I talk to him?

No. He said he'd do
what he can to help you.

Why don't you ask him to dinner?

Richard, he's only a
public relations man,

he doesn't have a lot to
do with the business end.

RICHARD: Who's that he's
talking to? You know him?

LAURA: That's Gary's brother.

RICHARD: J.R.?

Yeah.

And you say he doesn't
have much influence?

J.R.'s the top man
in the operation.

All right, Richard, what
do you want me to do?

I want to meet J.R. Ewing.

I'll handle it from there.

You nervous?

Are you crazy?

I'm terrified.

No, actually, I'm nothing.

I mean, I've never beaten
J.R. at anything in my life.

Guess even now I'm not
so sure I'm going to win.

You will win, Gary.
Don't be scared.

I'll be scared for you.

KAREN: Some people
round on the other side.

VAL AND GARY: Hi.

JACK AND RICHARD: Hi.

KAREN: Oh, hi. All set?

Yeah, fine. And
thanks for your advice.

You know, it's funny, I
could see right through him,

with all his Texas charm.

But beneath that, I think
I saw something more.

What?

He's not nice.

[ALL LAUGHING]

He's not.

You got it.

Wait till he's finished
talking to the reporter.

Dad, can we build a sandcastle?

Yeah, in a minute, chief.

Why don't we finish
this line of questioning

after Mr. Ewing
gives his address.

Thank you.

Mr. Ewing?

Uh, J.R.?

Oh!

I'm Richard Avery,
Gary's neighbor.

Oh, right.

This is my wife, Laura. Hi.

Hi, Chip. Richard.

Chip, you haven't
met my son Jason.

Honey, come here.
Come here, sweetie.

I just thought I'd let
you know, Mr. Ewing,

that I'm not on the side of
my neighbors in this issue.

Is that right? What's
you name again?

Uh, Avery.

Did your husband tell you

to distract me while he
got friendly with J.R.?

Yes.

Well, he doesn't
miss a trick, does he.

But, then, neither do you.

Jason, be careful.

How does a woman like you
get to be a woman like you?

Shut up, please.

First time we met, you
seemed to enjoy yourself.

First time had nothing to do
with you, it had to do with me.

But yesterday it did.

I don't want to talk
about this right now.

I do.

You see,

the sort of indifference that
you demonstrated yesterday

excites me.

I don't care.

And I want to pick up on it.

I don't care.

Mommy, can we go to the water?

Is he yours, Laura?

Yes.

And Richard's?

Or aren't you sure?

Give you a call? Yeah.

Hey!

RICHARD: Hey!

Hey, hey. What's going on here?

Nothing! Nothing.

Just talking over old times.

Yeah, well, talk them over
with your hands to yourself.

Uh, come on, Jason. Come on.

It was nice, Laura. You're
really one of the best.

What's that supposed to mean?

Richard, forget it.

Forget it.

Hey, why didn't you tell me?

Is that why you didn't want
to have lunch with him?

During that summer when
you and Chip were counselors...

Hey, hey, it's okay.

There is life before marriage.

Oh, Richard.

What did he want? An encore?

And you had to keep your
distance, without offending him?

But...

But I knew that you wanted
me to get friendly with him.

Yeah, but I...

I didn't want you to
humiliate yourself...

I mean, for any reason.

I mean, you're my wife, Laura.

If you're humiliated,
I'm humiliated.

Oh! Oh, Richard, I
love you so much.

[CRYING]

Well, ready for our little
debate this morning?

Yep.

Here.

Well, what's that? What is that?

A couple dollars in change.

That's very kind of you,
Valene. What's it for?

To call Lucy with.

I meant what I said yesterday.

Would you tell your little
woman not to toy with me.

We know you meant it, J.R.

Go on, call her.

Call Lucy and tell her.

We were going to
tell her soon anyway.

But if that's what
you have to do, do it.

VAL: It'll hurt her

and it'll do you no
worldly good at all,

but we're all strong.

I mean, she's strong,
we'll all get over it.

And whatever pain it causes,

it's better than letting you
have your way with us now.

So go on, J.R., call Lucy.

There's no reason
to upset the little girl.

No.

Especially not since Mom and Dad

would come down
so hard on you for it.

Well, that's figured in
my thinking, I'll admit it.

What's in the envelope, Gary?

Oh, a few reference
notes for our debate.

I know you found something,

snooping around in
my office yesterday.

And I know I've been had
by that pretty girl Karen...

First time I've ever seen the
beauty of being named a Ewing.

Give me the envelope.

I'm not afraid of
you, J.R., not here.

Well, you better be afraid
for your near and dear,

because I'm going to use

every ounce of my
power to break you, Gary,

I swear it.

The surveys you did

and the discovery

of an alternate
drilling site onshore,

out of the way.

Do you realize how much
money that's going to cost us?

So you make 15 million the
first five years instead of 20.

That's Ewing money. It's
your mother's and father's.

I think they can
get by on 15 million.

Cut a few corners.

Gary...

don't use that survey.

I'm gonna.

Nothing short of a
rain-out is gonna stop me.

And, J.R...

it never rains in
Southern California.

Ladies and gentlemen, may
I have your attention, please?

What's he doing?

[CHATTERING]

Ladies and gentlemen, may
I have your attention, please?

Uh, news media people,
are you ready? Good.

I'd like to make a couple
of announcements here

that I think might be of
great interest to all of you.

My first announcement

is that commencing
at this moment,

I am terminating the
services of Mr. Chip Todson.

[CROWD CHEERING]

All right!

He is being discharged for
withholding vital information.

Information, by the way,

that I have just been
appraised of myself,

revealing that there is
an alternate drilling site,

onshore.

[ALL CHEERING]

Well, now,

of course this is going to
cost Petrolux and Ewing Oil

quite a bit more money.

As a matter of fact,
quite a few millions.

But to protect the environment

and to supply much needed
fuel for our great country,

we are going to accept that loss

and drill onshore.

[CROWD CHEERING]

SID: We did it! We made it.

I don't believe it.

Well, you better believe it.

I'm going to parlay this

into $10 million
worth of publicity.

Hey, uh, Todson.

J.R.: Todson, get over here.

Come here.

Crowd seems to be enjoying
themselves, don't they?

All right, you are
our PR man now.

No, you don't have a PR
man out here. I'm unemployed.

Oh, come on, don't be stupid.

Now, I have a project
I want you to work on.

I think I can get the
cover of Time Magazine.

Uh, the caption
reads something like,

"Oil Man Environmentalist," huh?

"Gives Up Millions To Save
Wild Birds" or what the hell ever.

Well, don't just stand there.

If you're going to continue

your dealings with
the Ewings, Todson,

you're going to have to learn
the meaning of the word "adapt."

I'll get right on it.

Good boy.

Well, I've got to
hand it to you, Gary,

you're starting to
act like a real Ewing.

Yeah, you know,
I think you're right.

Blackmail,
espionage, dirty tricks.

Proud of you.

Valene, you'll probably
need this more than I will.

Karen! Let's have lunch again
real soon. What do you say?

[CHUCKLING]

He's amazing.

I didn't win, he did.

He may have come out
ahead, but he didn't win.

Oh, I don't think he won.
We saved our beach.

Right. No derricks
and we still get more oil.

Yeah, which
he'll get credit for.

So what? Who's keeping score?

You have to kinda
go in at an angle

underneath the ocean out there

and that costs a lot
more money, see.

But we're willing
to go for that.

I mean, it's only money, and
you got to think of the environment.

[ALL LAUGHING]

KAREN: And it's a beautiful day.

[♪♪♪]