Dallas 2021
Five news commentators facing each other: “The world of oil and business woke up today to learn that the last of the great oil tycoons, JR Ewing, has died. When you think of oil drilling you think of J. Paul Getty and H. L. Hunt and J. R. Ewing. The son of legionary oil rigger Jock Ewing, J. R. lived a life of scandal, two wives, illegitimate children and shady business deals. In the end he mastered the game, creating Ewing Industries which today owns several companies including the field services company Ewing Oil, Wentworth Tool and Die and Branch Water Security. Ewing Industries is also the largest investor in DSP Bank from its investment in the former Cattleman’s Bank as well as in the Trident Corporation from its investment in West Star and CyberByte. It’s oldest family asset is the Southfork Cattle Corporation, which began with J. R. Ewing’s great grandfather, Enoch Southworth in 1858.”
“Ewing Industries announced that John Ross Ewing the third and Boaz Harper Ewing each will each inherit forty-two percent of the company.”
“No estate tax this year, J. R. Ewing couldn’t have planned his death better.”
“Some say he did plan it through aggressive lobbying.”
“Anyone wondering who will show up for the funeral? His x-wife, Sue Ellen Lockwood, sold out and moved back to the UK twenty years ago. His brother Bobby, after another clash over control of Ewing Oil and the family ranch, left nearly bankrupt. His brother Gary left Texas back in nineteen seventies over family fighting, the stuff that’s made up the novels of Valene Clements, Gary’s wife.”
“J. R.’s half brother, Ray Krebs, lives in Virginia with his wife, former Secretary of Energy and Stanford Professor, Donna Krebs.”
“How about Cliff Barnes? J. R. bankrupted him as well, ending the Barnes Ewing feud, which people around Dallas still talk about. They say Barnes’s sister, Pamela, lived in hiding from J. R. for decades, before Bobby Ewing found her. They’re married and also live in Virginia.”
“Senator Bobby Ewing from Texas.”
(note: even if I wrote this in 2012 I would have stated with J. R.’s death considering Larry Hagman’s health and used flash backs. I’d have used J. R. as the ghost of the father much like Hamlet. As is, I’d use some flash backs from CC’s filming just to include Larry Hagman, especially the scene where he dances with Sue Ellen in this 2021 version. I would have also used Linda Gray to guest star, focusing on the next generation in 2012 as I will in this 2021 version. Finally, I would have used Patrick Duffy to guest star as well, though maybe more than in this version).
A lawyer approaches Sue Ellen by the pool off the back of Southfork. “Excuse me, Lady Maitland.”
She ends her conversation with old acquaintances about the DOA. “Yes.”
“I’m Paul Channing, Mr. Ewing’s lawyer. He asked me to hand you this.” The man gives her a letter.
Sue Ellen enters the back of the house, the dark study, alone. She reads the letter. “Dear Sue Ellen, I want you to know that my last thoughts are about you. I believed you could never have loved me and after all I put you through, you’d never believe that I love you. I’ve made my peace with Bobby and Gary and even Ray, near as I can, but I will have no peace with you. Momma’s last words to me were to take care of you. She told me you loved me. She’d be proud of how you’re running her foundation. You’re a remarkable woman. I am so very sorry for hurting you. Now I am alone again, left with just the knowledge that my own insecurities did this, to you and to me. I love you always, J. R.”
Sue Ellen falls to her knees crying, mumbling, “I’ll always love you, J. R. I’ll always love you.” Out of the envelope falls Miss Ellie’s engagement ring from Jock. Sue Ellen puts it on her finger.
Outside family and friends gather. They share old stories. John Ross introduces his children. “John.”
Someone mumbles nearby, “I heard he dropped out of U. T. and sent to Bartlett College and then dropped out of there.”
“This is Ellie. Eleanor Sue. She’s starting her gap year. She was very close to her grandpa. And this is Steven.”
Someone says, “Oh I new your namesake. Clayton Farlow was a fine man. Or is he named after Dusty?”
“Both I suppose but really, Clayton, he was the only grandpa I ever knew.”
“Well I’m sure you’ll grow up to be just like him. A fine man.”
“He’s an all A student at Bixby Academy.”
“Fine school young man. Fine school.”
Bobby approaches Amy and hugs her. “How are you holding up, Amy?”
“I’m fine. I keep myself busy.”
“I’ve heard. J. R. couldn’t have been pleased when John Ross stepped down at the company, let alone turn it over to you. I mean, no offense. He was a bit of a chauvinist.”
“No he wasn’t pleased. John Ross is still involved.”
“I’ve got to say when John Ross married Punk and Mavis’s granddaughter, ole J. R. couldn’t have been happier.”
“Except Jordan Lee was also my grandfather.”
“Yes, that had to irritate my brother. He always expected me to marry Jenna Wade. Never got his way.”
“That’s Lucas’s mom?”
“Yes. She’s on her fifth husband living in Switzerland.”
“Good to see she’s got something to keep her busy. And how’s Pamela and Christopher doing.”
“Great. I’ve got three grandchildren now. Let me show you.” He pulls out his wallet and shows her pictures.
Gary with Lucy greets Ray. They ask about Donna and Margret. Ray asks about Val and the twins. Bobby steps over for the big reunion. He then says, “Hay isn’t that Matty Culver?”
Ray says, “Sure is. Sam’s grandson. Looks a lot like him. I hear he’s running the ranch, has been since he returned from Afghanistan. Donna keeps in touch with him. He was a Navy Seal.”
Bobby says, “Oh there’s Bo. Let me go say hi to him.” He walks over and hugs his nephew. “Bo, how you holding up?”
“Well as can be expected.”
“Your mother here?”
“Somewhere.”
“Where are you living now?”
“Well, I’ve been living on Southfork since they called in hospice for my father. Now, I don’t know where I’m gonna go or what I’m gonna do. But if you’ll excuse me. Sue Ellen looked up set, I’m gonna check on her.”
“Sue Ellen?”
“We’ve got pretty close these last few months. She moved into the ranch too.”
“Oh I didn’t know.”
Bo leaves and Gary approaches, “That Cally’s boy?”
“Yeah. And that’s Lee Wendell,” pointing to a couple arriving, “with her husband Damon.”
“Lee’s Amy’s sister?”
“That’s right.”
“And Damon’s Jeremy Wendell’s son?”
“Youngest, yes.”
“Bad blood between you and J. R. and the Wendell’s.”
“Very bad.”
Bo walks into the study to find Sue Ellen crying on the floor. He sits with her and holds her.
Amy approaches John Ross, “Someone just asked me if your father left you the house.”
“Of course he did, but how rude to bring it up.”
“They wanted to know if you were considering giving it back to Bobby considering what happened.”
“What? Of course not. Who asked you that.”
Amy motions toward a woman looking up, in a big hat, Katherine Wentworth. “She asked about James Beaumont and Heather Harwood.”
“And there she goes approaching Uncle Bobby. All we need now is Cliff Barnes and someone is going in the pool.”
Cliff walks up from the driveway.
<cue Dallas theme song and opening credits with 3 way split screen>
Dallas
starting in alphabetical order:
Jared Ackles
Austin Butler
Jamie Darnon
Jacob Hopkins
Mia Mitchell
Jace Norman
Jared Padalecki
Christina Ricci
and
Julia Stiles
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