- Awards
- 7
(or 2018 if can be done quick enough)
2015
John Ross looks at Elena's black. She stands, hunched over, dressed in prison orange in a small, sparse conference room without windows. He says, "What do you want me to say?"
She says nothing.
"You brought Nicholas into our lives so you could get revenge against my family for something my father did. Honestly, didn't you get what you deserve?"
Again she says nothing.
"Your actions cost the lives my cousin and my best friend, supposedly the man you love and your own brother, and for what? To get back at J.R. Ewing. I wasn't allowed to fight dirty for what my uncle was stealing for me, and he was stealing it, but you could make deals with thugs. I tried so hard to be good enough for you. I wanted to give you everything and I lied to you so you wouldn't think bad of me. And you didn't just leave me. You rubbed it in my face that you were back with Christopher."
She lowers her head.
John Ross takes a deep breath before he says, "You'll spend most of our son's childhood in here. Don't you think he deserves a mother who can be there for him?"
Still Elena sits silent.
"I know what you think about Pamela, but she's my wife. She'll be like a mother to him whether you like it or not. You might as well sign and make it for real, for him." His voice sounds almost on the verge of tears saying, "I'm sorry Elena. You were right about me. Everything about me, except you were the one person who could trust me. You were the only one that ever could. You know I'll take care of him. You know that." Tears well up in his eyes.
John Ross places his hand on her shoulder and says, "I've tried to take care of you too, paying for your lawyers, pulling strings to get you in here, so you'll be safe. I don't know what else to do. To say."
Elena lifts her head, but does not turn to look at him.
"I love her. I love Pamela. Never in my life, even with you, did I ever feel bad for hurting someone. I hated you for walking out on me. Part of me still does. But when I found out that I hurt Pamela, I hated myself. I never felt that before, like I was the one at fault. And I never felt like someone loved me. I know Pamela loves me. Look at what happened to her when I hurt her. You of all people know I never felt like my mother or father loved me. And, how it hurt when my grandmother left to travel. Clayton. I felt like Clayton loved me. Then he died." Tears fall down his cheeks. "There isn't a shred of doubt in my mind that Pamela loves me. She tried to make me believe she was having an affair with someone, an Arab prince who happens to be gay, because she was hurting. She nearly died trying to join me with Emma. I'm going to have to fight to prove to her that I'm good enough to be her husband again, but I'll do it. I'll do what ever it takes to take care of her, like I wanted to take care of you."
John Ross finally sits on the chair at the table behind her. "I've shown her I'm strong and capable. I saw to it that Harris Ryland will never get out of prison and I risked my life to save Emma to make things right. With those CIA contacts of Ryland's, I'm creating a paramilitary company, Branch Water. And, I helped Emma get better and she's off now training for the Olympics next year, putting her life back together. Her grandmother helped me take over Ryland Transport. Judith's running for U.S. Senate and I'll make sure she gets the job. Never hurts to have a friend in Washington. Ryland Transport gives me control of the independents in Texas. Just like J.R. wanted.
My Aunt Donna's a former Secretary of Energy. I went to see her and Margaret when everything fell apart. They encouraged me to start my own oil company and work on leases like you and I worked on with Mrs. Henderson. So I did that too. They helped me buy the Ewing Oil name. Margaret 's a very persuasive lobbyist to have as a friend in Washington. Any my brother, Scott, Cally's son, he's a pretty impressive geologist. And, my sister. Turns out my father kept secret a whole nother family. He married Holly Harwood between his two marriages to my mother and had a daughter. A whole family out in California. Heather went in with us. So, I did it. I put Ewing Oil back together and its mine, mine and Scott's and Heather's. I earned it just like my father wanted."
John Ross and his younger brother work with riggers into the late hours of the night until a gusher of oil comes raining down on them. Everyone celebrates like ruckus cowboys. A beautiful young woman stands off to the side, looking pristine under an umbrella, watching her brothers hug in the filth of crude oil. She smiles as her brother's approach. John Ross yells, "We did it Holly! we did it! Our first strike! Ewing Oil is back!"
John Ross looks at Elena, "So you see, my father's master piece finally came together after all. And those loans Carlos made to Uncle Bobby and my mom. He sold them to the three of us and yes, we called them in and took Ewing Global for ourselves."
So yes, when I have to be, I'm ruthless. You were right, but you were wrong about South Fork. Uncle Bobby gave grandma back ranch when she returned from her travels and then when she died, she left it in his care, with me getting half at my father's death and the rest when Bobby passes away. So, I was right, it's always been mine. I was fighting for what belonged to me. I wasn't wrong. You and Christoper and Uncle Bobby, you were wrong. Anyway, Uncle Bobby and I made a deal. He gave me the house and together we donated the land to the Eleanor and Clayton Farlow Foundation. The South Fork Cattle Company will rent the land for a dollar a year. And, that's what I'm doing now. I'm a rancher and sort of stay at home dad.
I know what you think about Pamela, and how she used Chris. How she split the two of you up. By the way, I told Chris who she was before they got married, but he wouldn't believe me. They didn't believe me until all her lies came out and then suddenly we were meeting with her in her father's office building. I know what she's capable of. And, I know what she's done. We're a like, her and I. We'll do anything to prove to our parents we're good enough. But, we're both retired from that bull.
I took apart Ewing Global. The Ewing Energy assets sold to Ewing Oil, and the old Barnes Global assets I sold to Pamela. She's created the Cooper VanBuren Group. I want Jay to grow up to be just one of our children, grow up at South Fork with a mother and father. Uncle Bobby and Aunt Ann left for Virginia where Emma's training. And, my mother's moved in to help take care of the baby. No nanny. We hired another housekeeper, but no nanny. And, he's not going away to boarding school either. Please Elena. Please let him be part of our family and not make him live with the shame of this place."
Iconic Song
Starting:
Julie Gondolas as Pamela Ewing (wife)
Linda Gray and Sue Ellen Ewing (mother)
Josh Henderson as John Ross Ewing (protagonist)
Victoria Justice as Blair Lee (Jordan Lee's granddaughter, intern with CalcoHarwood's legal depart.)
William Levy as Henry Lee V (Blair's father, board of CalcoHarwood)
Alexander Ludwig as Scott Ewing (sidekick / brother)
Hunter Parrish as Oliver Wendell (Amelia's nephew, polo playing, car racing, playboy)
Amanda Seyfried as Heather Ewing (sidekick / sister)
and
Tilda Swinton as Amelia Wendell (daugther of Jeremy Wendell, CEO of CalcoHarwood)
2020
John Ross sits by the pool at South Fork looking over a letter in the early hours of the morning. Heather walks up from the cottage and says, "What a beautiful morning."
John Ross doesn't answer, distracted by the piece of paper.
"Everything OK, she asks?"
Again no answer.
A housekeeper sits a breakfast plate in front of her. Heather says, "Thank you Mrs. Carrington." Giving up waiting for her brother to answer she says, "I assume Pamela and Scottie already left for work. Has Sue Ellen come down?" Hearing no reply she says, "John Ross?"
"Oh Heather. I'm sorry. I ah."
"An important letter I take it."
"Oh no. It's fine. Just thinking of something else. So you taking a break from jet-setting or we just stop on your way someplace?"
"Very funny. No, I'll be around for a while, at least until the end of the week. It's September next week, which means four weeks of laughing at people obsess over the latest fashions."
"You find the strangest things to occupy your time."
"This coming from the man who births cows for a living."
"Pretty amazing thing actually."
Just then Sue Ellen walks out of the back of South Fork with the kids, a five year old boy running ahead of her, a three year old toddler holding his grandmother's hand who carries a one year old in her arms. the young boy runs into his aunts arms and Heather says, "How are my best boys?" She kisses Jay on the forehead and says, "I've missed you." She then kisses his brother and says, "And you too Steven." Holding the two boys in her arms she asks, "And how is your little brother?"
Jay says, "Oh, Mitch just sleeps all the time."
She laughs and holds them tight.
John Ross takes the baby and Sue Ellen says, "I've got several meetings today. Pamela said you're taking the boys with you?"
"That's right. Heather you can come along if you like. We're mending fences."
Jay and Steven jump up and down, cheering.
"No, that's OK. How about I stay here and spend sometime with Mitch?"
"Are you sure? I was just going to take him with me."
"I'm sure."
Sue Ellen tells the boys to sit down for breakfast as Mrs. Carrington brings out three plates and sits them down. Heather takes the baby from John Ross. John Ross excuses himself, picking up the letter and heading into the house.
Sitting down at his study desk he looks over the letter again.
2016
Out by the barns John Ross shakes the hand of an older man in a suite. "Thank you for seeing me Mr. Ewing. Mr. Del Sol asked that I get this done by the end of the week. I was seeing your brother early."
"Scott?"
"No your brother James. One year after your father's death Mr. Del Sol is responsible for distrubuting the last of his estate."
"The last of his estate?"
"Yes. One year after his death I turned over a trust fund for your brother James and his children."
"Oh. Well, my father didn't forget about him after all. Well, that's good."
"I noticed you donated your share of South Fork's mineral rights to the Ewing Foundation."
"That was my father's wishes, once I reestablished Ewing Oil. So, is there something you have for me?"
"Your father wasn't aware you'd be sharing Ewing Oil with your other brother and sister."
"Yea. Well I didn't do everything J.R. Ewing wanted."
"There are trust funds I'll be turning over to them as well."
"Where exactly did my father get all this money?"
"When he went into the home, having retired from West Star, he still held onto many of that company's shares. Shares with several mergers became shares in CalcoHarwood."
"I'm well aware of the company. My mother and uncle sold Ewing Oil to some dummy company of Cliff Barns set up, and it ended up with CalcoHarwood. Complicated trail to work through to get back the name."
"True. I only meet your father after he retired, when he had turned over his estate to Carlos to manage, but of course I know of the legion."
"You don't have to sugar coat my father for me. I know exactly what he was."
"I'm not. Your father was an impressive businessman."
"Anyway, what can I do for you. My father left me just what he intended and I used my South Fork oil leases to get Ewing Oil started and just as he wanted I donated them to the foundation. So did Uncle Bobby and Uncle Gary. So, I can't imagine there's anymore."
"From your father? No. But your father did postpone for one year something your grandfather's left for you, after your father died."
"My grandfathers?"
"Jock Ewing and Clayton Farlow."
"They left me something?"
"Trust funds that Mr. Del Sol has been managing. I'm hear to turn them over to you."
"Are you serious?"
"I am. It's a great deal of money. Somewhere in the high thirties once combined."
"Thirty million?"
"Thirty billion."
Sue Ellen steps out of a limousine and walks into a building in downtown Dallas, the plaque of which reads, 'The Ewing Family Charities.'
Walking off the elevator a secretary begins to walk with her. "Morning Mrs. Ewing. Any questions about your schedule?"
"No. I read it on the way in. Though I might need you to intrupt my conference call with my brother-in-laws. We get talking and I'll be way off schedule."
"Of course. I've already factored that into my schedule."
"I should have guessed. The DOA meeting, move it to the Gardens."
"Oh yes. I heard they reopened that restaurant. Certainly."
"The committee still hasn't got me the finalists for the scholarships? I need them in plenty of time to plan for the Oil Barron's Ball."
"They're having difficulty narrowing down the list. They finished with your father-in-law's but the one for your x-husband is a big more competitive."
A receptionist approaches and says, "I'm sorry. Ms. Ewing. Mr. Lockwood is on the phone for you."
"I'll take it here," Sue Ellen says, holding out her hand.
In the dark and heavily paneled Cattleman's Club, Pamela sits eating lunch alone when a Hispanic man in his early fifties stands over here. "Mrs. Ewing?"
"She looks up for several pages of business reports and says, "Yes."
"I'm Henry Lee. My family and your husband's family are old friends. I was hoping we could talk."
"I suppose so. Please sit."
Henry sits across from her. "I'm on the board of CalcoHarwood."
"I know who you are. Your father was Jordan Lee, a business associate of my husband's grandfather in the oil industry here in Texas. Your mother's family are the Costilla's, also in oil, as well as gold and silver mining, in Mexico, well before nationalization. You've got your Ph.D. in Economics from Chicago and teach at the University of Austin and the University of Morelia. You serve on the boards of the Jordan Lee Foundation, CalcoHarwood, as you mentioned, the bank SPBC, Globe Media and the Washington think tank The Bellingham Institute. Did I miss any of the highlights from your resume?"
"No I think you about covered it."
"Yes. So what can I do for you Dr. Lee."
"Please Henry."
"Well Henry. What is you want to discuss?"
"Ewing Oil."
"That company belongs to my husband, his brother and sister. Scott actually runs the company. Are you asking me arrange a meeting with him, because since we don't know each other, that would seem rather odd."
"No. Not a meeting. Your support."
"For what?"
"CalcoHarwood wants to buy Ewing Oil."
"Again, why approach me. I have nothing to do with the running of the company."
"You helped your brother-in-law hire his new Executive Vice President of Marketing."
"I did yes. I had some people who could help."
"Yes. They're marketing themselves as EO."
"Correct. But that was just helping him find the right person for the job. Otherwise, I have no relationship with Ewing Oil."
"But as a consultant, your opinion is valuable. We, CalcoHarwood, would like you to consider our proposal." Henry hands her a thick folder. "I'm certain with your expertise in diversified investments you will come to the conclusion that this offer is exceptional and that your family members should consider it."
"I see. I've heard a lot of Amelia Wendell, considering you're here on behalf of CalcoHarwood, I can only presume she sent you. A rare example of someone being able to follow and even surpass their father in business at such a level and a woman at that. Interesting. If you don't see a way in the front door, you come around the back."
"I would certainly never consider you the backdoor to Ewing Oil."
"And send in one of the world's foremost economist to make the deal. Let me tell you what I know about CalcoHarwood. My sister-in-law's mother is your single largest shareholder and that isn't saying much. No one owns enough the company to really make much of a difference, except those who own major chunks of your debt. Ms. Wendell and CalcoHarwood are considered predators, often looking for weak companies to gobble up. West Star is one of them, she took a gamble on buying her father's old company as it was attempting to deal with an environmental disaster in Ecuador. Your legal team has managed to keep putting that off, I'm sure indefinitely is the hope. Your little venture in hydridge batteries, or on going effort to hold onto patents to keep them from the automobile companies. Shall I go on?"
"Every company has its issues."
"Oil spills, shooting protestors. Stop me when you've heard enough."
"So you and the Ewing clan are morally opposed to any deal with CalcoHarwood?"
"I didn't say that. I'll look at. I'm certain you're interested in the Ewing Process for methane extraction and the oil leases my husband got from the Sultan of Manama for his entire country's oil reserves or the Arctic leases. Ryland Transport's stranglehold on independents. Or that big beautiful pipe line up north that send all that Bakken oil east with every move companies like yours attempt to build one sending the oil south ends up blocked in Washington."
"Well you know what we're interested in."
"I might." Patting the folder she says, "What this will tell me is whether or not you underestimate my family."
"Are you talking about the Ewing's or the Barnes's?"
"Both."
"I doubt we've understand estimated either."
Pamela smiles. "Well. We'll see. But let me tell you this, Henry, we've been in a lot of battles and we've been beaten before, but we've never lost. Understand the difference?"
"My cards in there. Let me know if you have any questions. I'll be Dallas for the rest of the week. Very nice to meet you."
Henry stands and leaves Pamela to consider him with an amused look on her face.
A long black limousine rolls down the straight South Fork driveway turning around behind the garage. The driver lets Pamela out of the back and says, "Have a good evening Mrs. Ewing."
"Thank you. You too. And tell, Faith I said hope she feels better."
"I will thank you."
Pamela walks into the back of the house and the limousine pulls away.
Pamela walks into the Living Room of South Fork through the side doors noticing her husband and his sister at the bar. She says, "Still here?"
Heather hands her a drink. "Yes. At least until the end of the week." Taking her own drink she sits down in the wing chair by the fire place.
Pamela kisses John Ross's cheek. "And how was your day?"
"Not bad. The boys and I worked on fences all morning. Then this afternoon we went to Hole-in-the-Wall for lunch with everyone. And, this afternoon we took a ride around the ranch."
"You know I don't like you taking them to that bar."
"No one's rip roaring drunk in the afternoon. Besides, they've got the best burgers in Texas."
"And red meat John Ross."
"It's South Fork beef." He laughs and kisses Pamela. "Besides they had chicken."
Heather raises her glass. "Here's to South Fork beef and the good life."
"How long did you say you were staying?" Pamela asks her sister-in-law.
"You'd like me to stay for ever, wouldn't you."
Sue Ellen walks down the gracefully curved staircase in the Entry just as Scott walks in the front door. "Well look who's here. How come only Heather can get your to come out here for dinner?"
"Because my sister doesn't accept I'm working through dinner."
"No, she wouldn't."
The two walk into the living room and John Ross hands them both soda waters. He smirks at his brother and says, "Glad to see you taking a break from business."
"I walked into my apartment last night to find our sister sitting there waiting in the dark and then sat through a tour hour lecture about family coming before business and all that sort of stuff."
"That sort of stuff?" Heather says handing her glass back to John Ross like he's the butler. John Ross dutifully takes it and gets her another. "You work to much."
Pamela says, "Before we go in for dinner, I needed to talk a bit of work. Henry Lee stopped in to see me."
"Henry Lee?" John Ross says. "What did he want?"
"To buy Ewing Oil, or to at least present the three of you with an offer from CalcoHarwood."
"Through you?" Heather asks.
"I suppose they're looking to go around through the back."
John Ross speaks up, "Well we're going in to dinner so no talk of business. I'll look it over later, but honestly I don't have any interest in selling. We've got more cooking in the fire then CalcoHarwood. We take the steady path and we'll be buying them when Jay's old enough to run things." He sets his glass down on the bar and makes his way to the dinning room.
Sitting down in his grandfather's place at the table, his two boys sit on both sides of him. Pamela sits in Miss Ellie's old place with the baby to her right and Sue Ellen to her left. They talk about the pending Oil Barron's Ball and the boys talk with their father about the Smithfield kid's new tree house. John Ross reminds them that their tree house has history.
2015
John Ross looks at Elena's black. She stands, hunched over, dressed in prison orange in a small, sparse conference room without windows. He says, "What do you want me to say?"
She says nothing.
"You brought Nicholas into our lives so you could get revenge against my family for something my father did. Honestly, didn't you get what you deserve?"
Again she says nothing.
"Your actions cost the lives my cousin and my best friend, supposedly the man you love and your own brother, and for what? To get back at J.R. Ewing. I wasn't allowed to fight dirty for what my uncle was stealing for me, and he was stealing it, but you could make deals with thugs. I tried so hard to be good enough for you. I wanted to give you everything and I lied to you so you wouldn't think bad of me. And you didn't just leave me. You rubbed it in my face that you were back with Christopher."
She lowers her head.
John Ross takes a deep breath before he says, "You'll spend most of our son's childhood in here. Don't you think he deserves a mother who can be there for him?"
Still Elena sits silent.
"I know what you think about Pamela, but she's my wife. She'll be like a mother to him whether you like it or not. You might as well sign and make it for real, for him." His voice sounds almost on the verge of tears saying, "I'm sorry Elena. You were right about me. Everything about me, except you were the one person who could trust me. You were the only one that ever could. You know I'll take care of him. You know that." Tears well up in his eyes.
John Ross places his hand on her shoulder and says, "I've tried to take care of you too, paying for your lawyers, pulling strings to get you in here, so you'll be safe. I don't know what else to do. To say."
Elena lifts her head, but does not turn to look at him.
"I love her. I love Pamela. Never in my life, even with you, did I ever feel bad for hurting someone. I hated you for walking out on me. Part of me still does. But when I found out that I hurt Pamela, I hated myself. I never felt that before, like I was the one at fault. And I never felt like someone loved me. I know Pamela loves me. Look at what happened to her when I hurt her. You of all people know I never felt like my mother or father loved me. And, how it hurt when my grandmother left to travel. Clayton. I felt like Clayton loved me. Then he died." Tears fall down his cheeks. "There isn't a shred of doubt in my mind that Pamela loves me. She tried to make me believe she was having an affair with someone, an Arab prince who happens to be gay, because she was hurting. She nearly died trying to join me with Emma. I'm going to have to fight to prove to her that I'm good enough to be her husband again, but I'll do it. I'll do what ever it takes to take care of her, like I wanted to take care of you."
John Ross finally sits on the chair at the table behind her. "I've shown her I'm strong and capable. I saw to it that Harris Ryland will never get out of prison and I risked my life to save Emma to make things right. With those CIA contacts of Ryland's, I'm creating a paramilitary company, Branch Water. And, I helped Emma get better and she's off now training for the Olympics next year, putting her life back together. Her grandmother helped me take over Ryland Transport. Judith's running for U.S. Senate and I'll make sure she gets the job. Never hurts to have a friend in Washington. Ryland Transport gives me control of the independents in Texas. Just like J.R. wanted.
My Aunt Donna's a former Secretary of Energy. I went to see her and Margaret when everything fell apart. They encouraged me to start my own oil company and work on leases like you and I worked on with Mrs. Henderson. So I did that too. They helped me buy the Ewing Oil name. Margaret 's a very persuasive lobbyist to have as a friend in Washington. Any my brother, Scott, Cally's son, he's a pretty impressive geologist. And, my sister. Turns out my father kept secret a whole nother family. He married Holly Harwood between his two marriages to my mother and had a daughter. A whole family out in California. Heather went in with us. So, I did it. I put Ewing Oil back together and its mine, mine and Scott's and Heather's. I earned it just like my father wanted."
John Ross and his younger brother work with riggers into the late hours of the night until a gusher of oil comes raining down on them. Everyone celebrates like ruckus cowboys. A beautiful young woman stands off to the side, looking pristine under an umbrella, watching her brothers hug in the filth of crude oil. She smiles as her brother's approach. John Ross yells, "We did it Holly! we did it! Our first strike! Ewing Oil is back!"
John Ross looks at Elena, "So you see, my father's master piece finally came together after all. And those loans Carlos made to Uncle Bobby and my mom. He sold them to the three of us and yes, we called them in and took Ewing Global for ourselves."
So yes, when I have to be, I'm ruthless. You were right, but you were wrong about South Fork. Uncle Bobby gave grandma back ranch when she returned from her travels and then when she died, she left it in his care, with me getting half at my father's death and the rest when Bobby passes away. So, I was right, it's always been mine. I was fighting for what belonged to me. I wasn't wrong. You and Christoper and Uncle Bobby, you were wrong. Anyway, Uncle Bobby and I made a deal. He gave me the house and together we donated the land to the Eleanor and Clayton Farlow Foundation. The South Fork Cattle Company will rent the land for a dollar a year. And, that's what I'm doing now. I'm a rancher and sort of stay at home dad.
I know what you think about Pamela, and how she used Chris. How she split the two of you up. By the way, I told Chris who she was before they got married, but he wouldn't believe me. They didn't believe me until all her lies came out and then suddenly we were meeting with her in her father's office building. I know what she's capable of. And, I know what she's done. We're a like, her and I. We'll do anything to prove to our parents we're good enough. But, we're both retired from that bull.
I took apart Ewing Global. The Ewing Energy assets sold to Ewing Oil, and the old Barnes Global assets I sold to Pamela. She's created the Cooper VanBuren Group. I want Jay to grow up to be just one of our children, grow up at South Fork with a mother and father. Uncle Bobby and Aunt Ann left for Virginia where Emma's training. And, my mother's moved in to help take care of the baby. No nanny. We hired another housekeeper, but no nanny. And, he's not going away to boarding school either. Please Elena. Please let him be part of our family and not make him live with the shame of this place."
Iconic Song
Starting:
Julie Gondolas as Pamela Ewing (wife)
Linda Gray and Sue Ellen Ewing (mother)
Josh Henderson as John Ross Ewing (protagonist)
Victoria Justice as Blair Lee (Jordan Lee's granddaughter, intern with CalcoHarwood's legal depart.)
William Levy as Henry Lee V (Blair's father, board of CalcoHarwood)
Alexander Ludwig as Scott Ewing (sidekick / brother)
Hunter Parrish as Oliver Wendell (Amelia's nephew, polo playing, car racing, playboy)
Amanda Seyfried as Heather Ewing (sidekick / sister)
and
Tilda Swinton as Amelia Wendell (daugther of Jeremy Wendell, CEO of CalcoHarwood)
2020
John Ross sits by the pool at South Fork looking over a letter in the early hours of the morning. Heather walks up from the cottage and says, "What a beautiful morning."
John Ross doesn't answer, distracted by the piece of paper.
"Everything OK, she asks?"
Again no answer.
A housekeeper sits a breakfast plate in front of her. Heather says, "Thank you Mrs. Carrington." Giving up waiting for her brother to answer she says, "I assume Pamela and Scottie already left for work. Has Sue Ellen come down?" Hearing no reply she says, "John Ross?"
"Oh Heather. I'm sorry. I ah."
"An important letter I take it."
"Oh no. It's fine. Just thinking of something else. So you taking a break from jet-setting or we just stop on your way someplace?"
"Very funny. No, I'll be around for a while, at least until the end of the week. It's September next week, which means four weeks of laughing at people obsess over the latest fashions."
"You find the strangest things to occupy your time."
"This coming from the man who births cows for a living."
"Pretty amazing thing actually."
Just then Sue Ellen walks out of the back of South Fork with the kids, a five year old boy running ahead of her, a three year old toddler holding his grandmother's hand who carries a one year old in her arms. the young boy runs into his aunts arms and Heather says, "How are my best boys?" She kisses Jay on the forehead and says, "I've missed you." She then kisses his brother and says, "And you too Steven." Holding the two boys in her arms she asks, "And how is your little brother?"
Jay says, "Oh, Mitch just sleeps all the time."
She laughs and holds them tight.
John Ross takes the baby and Sue Ellen says, "I've got several meetings today. Pamela said you're taking the boys with you?"
"That's right. Heather you can come along if you like. We're mending fences."
Jay and Steven jump up and down, cheering.
"No, that's OK. How about I stay here and spend sometime with Mitch?"
"Are you sure? I was just going to take him with me."
"I'm sure."
Sue Ellen tells the boys to sit down for breakfast as Mrs. Carrington brings out three plates and sits them down. Heather takes the baby from John Ross. John Ross excuses himself, picking up the letter and heading into the house.
Sitting down at his study desk he looks over the letter again.
2016
Out by the barns John Ross shakes the hand of an older man in a suite. "Thank you for seeing me Mr. Ewing. Mr. Del Sol asked that I get this done by the end of the week. I was seeing your brother early."
"Scott?"
"No your brother James. One year after your father's death Mr. Del Sol is responsible for distrubuting the last of his estate."
"The last of his estate?"
"Yes. One year after his death I turned over a trust fund for your brother James and his children."
"Oh. Well, my father didn't forget about him after all. Well, that's good."
"I noticed you donated your share of South Fork's mineral rights to the Ewing Foundation."
"That was my father's wishes, once I reestablished Ewing Oil. So, is there something you have for me?"
"Your father wasn't aware you'd be sharing Ewing Oil with your other brother and sister."
"Yea. Well I didn't do everything J.R. Ewing wanted."
"There are trust funds I'll be turning over to them as well."
"Where exactly did my father get all this money?"
"When he went into the home, having retired from West Star, he still held onto many of that company's shares. Shares with several mergers became shares in CalcoHarwood."
"I'm well aware of the company. My mother and uncle sold Ewing Oil to some dummy company of Cliff Barns set up, and it ended up with CalcoHarwood. Complicated trail to work through to get back the name."
"True. I only meet your father after he retired, when he had turned over his estate to Carlos to manage, but of course I know of the legion."
"You don't have to sugar coat my father for me. I know exactly what he was."
"I'm not. Your father was an impressive businessman."
"Anyway, what can I do for you. My father left me just what he intended and I used my South Fork oil leases to get Ewing Oil started and just as he wanted I donated them to the foundation. So did Uncle Bobby and Uncle Gary. So, I can't imagine there's anymore."
"From your father? No. But your father did postpone for one year something your grandfather's left for you, after your father died."
"My grandfathers?"
"Jock Ewing and Clayton Farlow."
"They left me something?"
"Trust funds that Mr. Del Sol has been managing. I'm hear to turn them over to you."
"Are you serious?"
"I am. It's a great deal of money. Somewhere in the high thirties once combined."
"Thirty million?"
"Thirty billion."
Sue Ellen steps out of a limousine and walks into a building in downtown Dallas, the plaque of which reads, 'The Ewing Family Charities.'
Walking off the elevator a secretary begins to walk with her. "Morning Mrs. Ewing. Any questions about your schedule?"
"No. I read it on the way in. Though I might need you to intrupt my conference call with my brother-in-laws. We get talking and I'll be way off schedule."
"Of course. I've already factored that into my schedule."
"I should have guessed. The DOA meeting, move it to the Gardens."
"Oh yes. I heard they reopened that restaurant. Certainly."
"The committee still hasn't got me the finalists for the scholarships? I need them in plenty of time to plan for the Oil Barron's Ball."
"They're having difficulty narrowing down the list. They finished with your father-in-law's but the one for your x-husband is a big more competitive."
A receptionist approaches and says, "I'm sorry. Ms. Ewing. Mr. Lockwood is on the phone for you."
"I'll take it here," Sue Ellen says, holding out her hand.
In the dark and heavily paneled Cattleman's Club, Pamela sits eating lunch alone when a Hispanic man in his early fifties stands over here. "Mrs. Ewing?"
"She looks up for several pages of business reports and says, "Yes."
"I'm Henry Lee. My family and your husband's family are old friends. I was hoping we could talk."
"I suppose so. Please sit."
Henry sits across from her. "I'm on the board of CalcoHarwood."
"I know who you are. Your father was Jordan Lee, a business associate of my husband's grandfather in the oil industry here in Texas. Your mother's family are the Costilla's, also in oil, as well as gold and silver mining, in Mexico, well before nationalization. You've got your Ph.D. in Economics from Chicago and teach at the University of Austin and the University of Morelia. You serve on the boards of the Jordan Lee Foundation, CalcoHarwood, as you mentioned, the bank SPBC, Globe Media and the Washington think tank The Bellingham Institute. Did I miss any of the highlights from your resume?"
"No I think you about covered it."
"Yes. So what can I do for you Dr. Lee."
"Please Henry."
"Well Henry. What is you want to discuss?"
"Ewing Oil."
"That company belongs to my husband, his brother and sister. Scott actually runs the company. Are you asking me arrange a meeting with him, because since we don't know each other, that would seem rather odd."
"No. Not a meeting. Your support."
"For what?"
"CalcoHarwood wants to buy Ewing Oil."
"Again, why approach me. I have nothing to do with the running of the company."
"You helped your brother-in-law hire his new Executive Vice President of Marketing."
"I did yes. I had some people who could help."
"Yes. They're marketing themselves as EO."
"Correct. But that was just helping him find the right person for the job. Otherwise, I have no relationship with Ewing Oil."
"But as a consultant, your opinion is valuable. We, CalcoHarwood, would like you to consider our proposal." Henry hands her a thick folder. "I'm certain with your expertise in diversified investments you will come to the conclusion that this offer is exceptional and that your family members should consider it."
"I see. I've heard a lot of Amelia Wendell, considering you're here on behalf of CalcoHarwood, I can only presume she sent you. A rare example of someone being able to follow and even surpass their father in business at such a level and a woman at that. Interesting. If you don't see a way in the front door, you come around the back."
"I would certainly never consider you the backdoor to Ewing Oil."
"And send in one of the world's foremost economist to make the deal. Let me tell you what I know about CalcoHarwood. My sister-in-law's mother is your single largest shareholder and that isn't saying much. No one owns enough the company to really make much of a difference, except those who own major chunks of your debt. Ms. Wendell and CalcoHarwood are considered predators, often looking for weak companies to gobble up. West Star is one of them, she took a gamble on buying her father's old company as it was attempting to deal with an environmental disaster in Ecuador. Your legal team has managed to keep putting that off, I'm sure indefinitely is the hope. Your little venture in hydridge batteries, or on going effort to hold onto patents to keep them from the automobile companies. Shall I go on?"
"Every company has its issues."
"Oil spills, shooting protestors. Stop me when you've heard enough."
"So you and the Ewing clan are morally opposed to any deal with CalcoHarwood?"
"I didn't say that. I'll look at. I'm certain you're interested in the Ewing Process for methane extraction and the oil leases my husband got from the Sultan of Manama for his entire country's oil reserves or the Arctic leases. Ryland Transport's stranglehold on independents. Or that big beautiful pipe line up north that send all that Bakken oil east with every move companies like yours attempt to build one sending the oil south ends up blocked in Washington."
"Well you know what we're interested in."
"I might." Patting the folder she says, "What this will tell me is whether or not you underestimate my family."
"Are you talking about the Ewing's or the Barnes's?"
"Both."
"I doubt we've understand estimated either."
Pamela smiles. "Well. We'll see. But let me tell you this, Henry, we've been in a lot of battles and we've been beaten before, but we've never lost. Understand the difference?"
"My cards in there. Let me know if you have any questions. I'll be Dallas for the rest of the week. Very nice to meet you."
Henry stands and leaves Pamela to consider him with an amused look on her face.
A long black limousine rolls down the straight South Fork driveway turning around behind the garage. The driver lets Pamela out of the back and says, "Have a good evening Mrs. Ewing."
"Thank you. You too. And tell, Faith I said hope she feels better."
"I will thank you."
Pamela walks into the back of the house and the limousine pulls away.
Pamela walks into the Living Room of South Fork through the side doors noticing her husband and his sister at the bar. She says, "Still here?"
Heather hands her a drink. "Yes. At least until the end of the week." Taking her own drink she sits down in the wing chair by the fire place.
Pamela kisses John Ross's cheek. "And how was your day?"
"Not bad. The boys and I worked on fences all morning. Then this afternoon we went to Hole-in-the-Wall for lunch with everyone. And, this afternoon we took a ride around the ranch."
"You know I don't like you taking them to that bar."
"No one's rip roaring drunk in the afternoon. Besides, they've got the best burgers in Texas."
"And red meat John Ross."
"It's South Fork beef." He laughs and kisses Pamela. "Besides they had chicken."
Heather raises her glass. "Here's to South Fork beef and the good life."
"How long did you say you were staying?" Pamela asks her sister-in-law.
"You'd like me to stay for ever, wouldn't you."
Sue Ellen walks down the gracefully curved staircase in the Entry just as Scott walks in the front door. "Well look who's here. How come only Heather can get your to come out here for dinner?"
"Because my sister doesn't accept I'm working through dinner."
"No, she wouldn't."
The two walk into the living room and John Ross hands them both soda waters. He smirks at his brother and says, "Glad to see you taking a break from business."
"I walked into my apartment last night to find our sister sitting there waiting in the dark and then sat through a tour hour lecture about family coming before business and all that sort of stuff."
"That sort of stuff?" Heather says handing her glass back to John Ross like he's the butler. John Ross dutifully takes it and gets her another. "You work to much."
Pamela says, "Before we go in for dinner, I needed to talk a bit of work. Henry Lee stopped in to see me."
"Henry Lee?" John Ross says. "What did he want?"
"To buy Ewing Oil, or to at least present the three of you with an offer from CalcoHarwood."
"Through you?" Heather asks.
"I suppose they're looking to go around through the back."
John Ross speaks up, "Well we're going in to dinner so no talk of business. I'll look it over later, but honestly I don't have any interest in selling. We've got more cooking in the fire then CalcoHarwood. We take the steady path and we'll be buying them when Jay's old enough to run things." He sets his glass down on the bar and makes his way to the dinning room.
Sitting down in his grandfather's place at the table, his two boys sit on both sides of him. Pamela sits in Miss Ellie's old place with the baby to her right and Sue Ellen to her left. They talk about the pending Oil Barron's Ball and the boys talk with their father about the Smithfield kid's new tree house. John Ross reminds them that their tree house has history.
