Season 2
Episode 3
Jay walks into the living room of South Fork and hands Sue Ellen some papers. “What’s this?” she asks.
“So three years ago you gave me twelve thousand dollars to invest. I lost two thousand of it.”
“Right.”
“I learned that investing is to buy something expecting to make money so I really had to know what I was buying.”
“True. And?”
“I learned to buy low, sell high and to diversify, so you gave me another twelve thousand.”
“Right.”
“I then had twenty-two thousand and I added over eight.”
“Which was impressive. I mean no insider information, just good hard work. Searching for the best investments. Some worked, some didn’t work. Some worked really well.”
“But six thousand wasn’t going to get me anywhere. How could I live on that for a whole year? So you gave me another twelve. But forty thousand. At best I’d make twelve thousand, I thought, probably not. So I’d borrowed money but you said the rule was I could borrow what ever I could get from who ever, but I had to pay it back by the end of the year, plus at least four percent interest. I thought about really focusing on one thing, diversify later. I mean all this is fine I guess. For most people.”
“It’s not like you need the money.”
“True. So it’s not money I’m after, is it? It’s power. If I’m going to have power I have to take it. Like you. You look like a kind grandma, helping everyone out. Caring about your family and the community. All the while you took control of billions in Ewing assets protected from government taxes.”
“Not totally true. What did I tell you?” Sue Ellen asks.
“To avoid taxes the foundations must payout five percent of the average market value of its net investment assets annually.”
“Not difficult, and still manage to grow.”
“Significantly. And, six months to a year of operating expenses liquid.”
“Good. So what’s all this mean?” Sue Ellen holds up the papers.
“To take power. That’s what that is. I own the Banning Construction Company. Old man Banning was a friend of my grandfather Cliff’s. He helped me arrange the purchase.”
“Where’d you get the money for something like that?”
“He didn’t require me to put up anything. He gave me a good price and financed the purchase over fifteen years. But I hope to have him paid off sooner. It’s a construction company for oil fields”
“I know what it is. I also know you know nothing about the business.”
“What I’ve got to do now is line up even more work and hire the best people.”
Sue Ellen looks suspicious. “What did you do to make this deal happen?”
“I took it.”
John Ross shows Ben how to ride a horse. Pamela shows Lilly. Bobby says to Steven, “Race you to the duck blind.” The two take off.
Pamela and Lilly are the last to trot up to the duck blind. Ben’s talking to Steven about how it would make a cool fort.
John Ross is bragging about Steven taking college courses in high school already, saying he reminds him of Christopher with school.
Bobby says Sue Ellen said there’s a streak of genius that’s runs on the Shepard side; her father had an IQ of 158.
Pamela helps Lilly down and then lays out a blanket. Bobby and John Ross set out the picnic food.
Sue Ellen sits at a table with Banning at the Cattleman’s Club for lunch. She hands him a check. “That covers my grandsons debt to you. Now he owes me. It was a fair deal all the way around, except what could a nineteen year old kid do to make you agree to a hundred million dollar deal. No don’t answer. I don’t want to know.”
“You’ve got something else on your hands with that kid.”
“I can handle him.”
“Well you’ve never been know for being the fierce one in the family.”
“No. I’ve always been underestimated. But I’m the one in control of thirty-six billion dollars of Ewing family assets. Even when Bobby walked away, he trusted me.”
“Pays to be underestimated.”
“It does. But I do have to tell you, any retaliation on your part for what ever my grandson did to make this deal happen and you’ll deal with me.”
Late that evening John Ross slides into bed with Pamela. “I’ve got something to tell you. It’s not really that bad but you know how I don’t like to appear weak in front of you. It’s like my job to take care of you.”
“It’s not but I know you feel that way. I know I don’t like to feel broken in front of you either.”
“You’re not broke. It’s just depression.”
“It’s a great deal more than depression. But what is it?”
“I’m going to have a colonoscopy next week. Uncle Bobby said he’d take me. It’s no big deal.”
“Of course. It’s just a test. Nothing to worry about.”
“Right.” John Ross kisses her.
“Are you worried?”
“A bit.”
She rolls over on top of him, kissing him. “Nothings going to happen to you.”
“But . . .”
“They took three bullets out of you and you walked home. You saved my life. I think about that everyday. You didn’t hesitate to think about it for one second.” She kisses him again. “Nothing can harm you.” She softly sings, “Demons'll charm you with a smile, For a while, But in time, Nothing can harm you, Not while I'm around.’” And she passionately kisses him.
He holds her tight and slides down into the soft bed.
Late at night John Ross sits out on the back porch in his lambs wool jacket as Jay walks up from the driveway. He startles his son by saying, “Care to tell me about Banning.”
“What are you doing sitting in the dark?”
“Waiting for you. Banning?”
“Nothing to tell. I bought his company.”
“Then there’s a lot to tell.”
“He was selling it. I wanted to buy it.”
“Go on.”
“So I did.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“As far as I’m concerned holding back is lying. Don’t lie to me. If there’s one person in this world you better never lie to it’s me.”
Jay considers what his father is saying.
John Ross stands. He hugs his son. Holding him he says, “Don’t you ever forget where you come from. Who you are. Banning is a nasty piece of work. Only reason he stayed in business was Cliff Barnes kept giving him work.” John Ross hands him a letter. “This is the most the important thing I own. My daddy gave it to me. It’s yours now. One day give it to your son.” John Ross walks into the house.
Jay opens the letter:
John Ross climbs the stairs up to bed and stops and smiles before continuing on.
A long black limousine pulls up at the Four Seasons. The Ewing Family emerges. Reports bombard them with questions like, “What can you tell us about the accident at South Fork?” The family ignores them, walking into the hotel as happy as ever.
Inside the big ball room Bobby and Sue Ellen make their way to the lead table, a long table at the front of the room, where they’re thanked for serving as the honorary chairs of the Oil Barrons Ball.
John Ross and Pamela make it to the big round Ewing family table. Ellie and Anthony join them. Jay introduces his date, Caroline Horner, nearly twenty years his senior. Mateo and Roger step up next. Roger says, “Yes, we’ve meet. Caroline started out in banking in Michigan before moving to Dallas. We’ve worked on financing a few projects together.”
John Ross says, “Should we go over and say hight to your brother’s family and his kids?”
“I suppose so.”
As they walk over John Ross says, “So your mother isn’t coming this time?”
“She’s pretty much left Texas since the funeral.”
“I can’t imagine what it’s like to loose a child.”
“She wants answers.”
“Don’t we all.”
At the bar Greg says to Jay, “Is that woman really your date?”
“Why?”
“Everyone’s talking about it.”
“Well if anyone says anything to you, you can confirm she is. But it’s just sex. We don’t actually have any business together.”
“Everyone’s talking about you buying Banning.”
“What are you looking for a job?”
“No. I’m premed.”
“Who’s that you brought?”
“Janet Jeong. She’s premed too.”
“Cute.”
“Yes she is.”
Jay smirks. “Tell her to save me a slow dance.” And, walks away.
John Ross is prepped for surgery. Pamela kisses him and he’s wheeled away.
