- Awards
- 7
Start with the funeral of Miss Ellie (good to start with a wedding or a funeral, sets off a chain of events).
JR sits in a folding chair by grave. The family has left him alone. John Ross approaches him, hand on his shoulder. “Daddy
Bobby steps up to Lucy by the car and hugs her. She then says to the very handsome young man next to her, “You remember Uncle Bobby?”
Bobby turns pale.
Lucas says, “Of course I do.”
Everyone goes their separate ways. Sue Ellen says, “Was that Lucas with Lucy?”
“Yes it was,” Bobby answers, not looking at her.
“Ray didn’t come?”
“Haven’t heard from Ray since Jenna died. He kinda lost it. Lucy’s been raising Lucas up in New York.”
“Wow. I didn’t realize. What’s she been married now six or seven times?”
“Something like that.”
“I think you did the right thing, having us sell her and her brother and sister a third of Ewing Oil.”
“So do I. It’s as it should have been, divided up among the three of us to share.”
“And with Clayton and Miss Ellie’s foundation, she’s done a remarkable job. I’m sure Miss Ellie was very proud of her.”
“Yes. Yes, momma was.” Bobby stares off into space.
“She was proud of you too.”
“I’d like to think so.”
“And Gary?”
“We talked on the phone. He couldn’t bring himself to show.”
“I understand.”
Up at the house (original layout) the family gathers, absent JR. Lucy approaches Bobby. “I appreciate you letting me and Lucas stay. Kinda a full house.”
“We’ll of course you can stay. As long as you want. And don’t worry. John Ross boys will just bunk up together.”
“How’s he doing?”
“Well in two months he’s lost his wife and his grandmother. So not so good.”
“I’ll stick around as long as you need me. As long as John Ross and those boys need me. Can’t be easy for you either, taking them in while taking care of Grandma.”
“It not about doing what’s easy. But, to be honest it’s nice to have a full house again. For the longest time it was just me and Christopher. I was happy to have your grandma home again. To be here when she needed me.”
“I’m glad she came home too. She wasn’t happy up in New York with me.”
“Are you happy, up in New York?”
“I don’t know. I guess we’ll see.”
John Ross approaches Christopher. “How you holding up?”
“I don’t know. And you?”
“Not so good, but I’ve got three boys I’ve gotta keep it together for. I hear Uncle Bobby is moving into the cottage for the time being, so Lucas can have his room.”
“And Lucy’s moving into Grandma’s room. What is it with this family all living under one roof?”
“I don’t know but I’m sure glad Uncle Bobby took us in. I don’t know if I could have managed the last couple months on my own.”
Bobby introduced Lucy to an older man. “Ryan was momma’s lawyer.”
“Nice tmeet you Miss . . .”
“Lucy.”
“Miss Lucy. Your grandmother spoke very highly about you. You and your sister being her only granddaughters, her will is pretty simple. She asked that you divide up her personal effects with your sister.”
Bobby says, “Everything is in her room. Do what ever you want.”
“As you know she left the ranch to Bobby and most everything else she owns went to the foundation you run. But the land. That’s not part of the ranch, or the ranch business. She’s leaving it to the foundation, along with a lease for the cattle business at a dollar a year.”
“Oh. Wow. Ummmm, OK. So I assume I’m to look out for the land.”
“That’s the general idea. You can’t develop it or sell it.”
“No of course not.”
He turns to look at Bobby. “The house.”
He says to Lucy, “Momma asked for that back.”
Ryan says, “She left that to John Ross and and the land with the old McKay place on it, to Lucy.”
“She left me a house?”
Bobby says, “She really hoped you’d come down and at least stay part of the time down here.”
Ryan continues, “She also left the old Wade ranch to Christopher. Needs a lot more work, but she wanted him to have something too.”
“The Wade Ranch?” Lucy asks.
“Momma acquired a lot of land around us over the last several years. I’ll tell the boys. Thank you Ryan. Is that everything?”
“Pretty much. That simple. A few quick claim deeds and we’re all done. I’ll file the paperwork. Of and there’s a few acres for your brother, Miss Lucy. There’s no house on it but she wanted to make sure he got a piece of South Fork too. There’s also a couple of cashiers checks I’m going to put in the mail for JR’s other children. But that’s it.”
“Thank you. Thank you very much, Ryan.”
“You’re welcome, Bobby.”
As the lawyer leaves them, Christopher and John Ross approach. Christopher asks, “What grandma’s lawyer say?”
“She left the old McKay place to Lucy and all her personal effects to split up with her sister. The place is in pretty bad shape. Real bad shape. And the old Wade Ranch to you Christopher. I’m afraid that’s in worse shape.”
“We’ll I don’t have any intention of moving out of South Fork.”
“Well that’s the thing. She left South Fork, the house to John Ross.”
“What? How?” Christopher yells.
“Bring your voice down. I gave it back to her, for John Ross and his sons. I only got it because she was afraid of what JR would do. It’s the right thing. Ewing Oil pays you more than enough in running it to fix up the Wade place or build what ever you want in its place.”
“I’m not leaving South Fork.”
John Ross says, “ Of course not. This is your home too. You don’t have to worry about that. Or you either, Lucy.”
Sue Ellen says to a beautiful Hispanic woman, “I hope that commotion isn’t about Miss Ellie’s will.”
“So do I. Christopher’s been on edge. It’s not just his grandma dying. It’s work. He’s trying so hard to grow Ewing Oil but with collapsing oil prices.”
“Well Elena, growing with Punk Anderson as a grandfather you know a thing or two about the oil business. It has its ups and downs. Just like being married to a Ewing.”
“Chris is fuming about Ryland. Apparently he’s got a monopoly on trucking crude for the independents.”
“I’m sure he’ll work it out.”
“In the mean time Lucy’s running a multibillion dollar foundation and John Ross has Ewing Enterprises Clayton gave him to set up.”
“Clayton loaned him money. Granted it was very generous but John Ross was always close to Clayton.”
“Ijust saying it’s a stressor for my husband.”
“I understand that. They’re a very competitive family.”
Bobby approaches Lucas, “Thank you for coming. My mother would be very pleased. She thought highly of your father.”
“We’ll at least someone did.”
“When’s the last time you two spoke?”
“When I was in high school. Right after he killed my mother.”
“That was a hard call for him.”
“Obviously not to hard.”
“Do you speak to your sister much?”
“Margret? Occasionally.”
“Charlie?”
“Less occasionally.”
“Lucy says I should show you the ranch. Would you like that?”
“Can’t imagine I would.”
“You use to work the ranch your father had in Europe.”
“A very long time ago.”
“I also told Christopher to find you a job with the company. An MBA from Harvard should be very valuable at Ewing Oil.”
“No offense, but I can find my own job.”
“I’m sure you can, but the offer stands. You’re family.”
“No I’m not. You all are family. Not me.”
“We’ll think about it.”
“I have. Incredibly fast.”
Lucy says to John Ross, “I spoke to him about working for Ewing Oil but he’s pretty admitted.”
“Good,” Christopher says.
“I can find him a job with Ewing Industries. But I’m not sure that handout will be any different.”
“Probably not. Christopher, you don’t want the Wade Ranch House.”
“Hell no. Nice of Grandma to offer it, but I’m not interested. Why?”
“I’ll buy it from you, for Lucas. It was his mother’s family home. Maybe it’ll be something he can work on. Might mean something to him.”
“Yeah not a problem.”
“You can have the old McKay place.”
“I’m not leaving South Fork. So thanks but no thanks.”
“Well if you and Elena have children, you might want a place of your own.”
John Ross says, “Nonsense. We’ll make room.”
“We’ve got other houses if Elena wants her own space, but my child will be a Ewing’s. And, Ewing’s grow up on South Fork.”
John Ross’s boys come over and he says to them, “You remember my cousin Lucy. She’ll be staying here a while. This is Jay,” motioning to the twelve year old, “and Steven,” motioning to the ten year old, “and Aaron,” motioning to the eight year old. (note: John Ross Ewing IV, Steven Clayton Ewing making note that Clayton was Steven Clayton Farlow III and Dusty was the IV, I just didn’t want to use the name Clayton but wanted to name him after him, and Aaron Enoch, after Miss Ellie’s father but I don’t know about this one).
JR stands at his mother’s fresh grave, laying next to Clayton’s headstone. “Well momma, can’t say I’m pleased to see Clayton where my daddy should be. But if you can put an in memory market for Garrison, least I can do is put one for my father on the other side of you,” he says looking down at Jock’s marker, looking very much like a headstone. I hope you can rest now. You earned it. As for me, I’ve got a lot of work to do to get this family in shape. Mark my words, I’m gonna leave them better off, if I have to drag them kicking and screaming into the twenty first century.” JR laughs.
Cut to opening credits
JR sits in a folding chair by grave. The family has left him alone. John Ross approaches him, hand on his shoulder. “Daddy
Bobby steps up to Lucy by the car and hugs her. She then says to the very handsome young man next to her, “You remember Uncle Bobby?”
Bobby turns pale.
Lucas says, “Of course I do.”
Everyone goes their separate ways. Sue Ellen says, “Was that Lucas with Lucy?”
“Yes it was,” Bobby answers, not looking at her.
“Ray didn’t come?”
“Haven’t heard from Ray since Jenna died. He kinda lost it. Lucy’s been raising Lucas up in New York.”
“Wow. I didn’t realize. What’s she been married now six or seven times?”
“Something like that.”
“I think you did the right thing, having us sell her and her brother and sister a third of Ewing Oil.”
“So do I. It’s as it should have been, divided up among the three of us to share.”
“And with Clayton and Miss Ellie’s foundation, she’s done a remarkable job. I’m sure Miss Ellie was very proud of her.”
“Yes. Yes, momma was.” Bobby stares off into space.
“She was proud of you too.”
“I’d like to think so.”
“And Gary?”
“We talked on the phone. He couldn’t bring himself to show.”
“I understand.”
Up at the house (original layout) the family gathers, absent JR. Lucy approaches Bobby. “I appreciate you letting me and Lucas stay. Kinda a full house.”
“We’ll of course you can stay. As long as you want. And don’t worry. John Ross boys will just bunk up together.”
“How’s he doing?”
“Well in two months he’s lost his wife and his grandmother. So not so good.”
“I’ll stick around as long as you need me. As long as John Ross and those boys need me. Can’t be easy for you either, taking them in while taking care of Grandma.”
“It not about doing what’s easy. But, to be honest it’s nice to have a full house again. For the longest time it was just me and Christopher. I was happy to have your grandma home again. To be here when she needed me.”
“I’m glad she came home too. She wasn’t happy up in New York with me.”
“Are you happy, up in New York?”
“I don’t know. I guess we’ll see.”
John Ross approaches Christopher. “How you holding up?”
“I don’t know. And you?”
“Not so good, but I’ve got three boys I’ve gotta keep it together for. I hear Uncle Bobby is moving into the cottage for the time being, so Lucas can have his room.”
“And Lucy’s moving into Grandma’s room. What is it with this family all living under one roof?”
“I don’t know but I’m sure glad Uncle Bobby took us in. I don’t know if I could have managed the last couple months on my own.”
Bobby introduced Lucy to an older man. “Ryan was momma’s lawyer.”
“Nice tmeet you Miss . . .”
“Lucy.”
“Miss Lucy. Your grandmother spoke very highly about you. You and your sister being her only granddaughters, her will is pretty simple. She asked that you divide up her personal effects with your sister.”
Bobby says, “Everything is in her room. Do what ever you want.”
“As you know she left the ranch to Bobby and most everything else she owns went to the foundation you run. But the land. That’s not part of the ranch, or the ranch business. She’s leaving it to the foundation, along with a lease for the cattle business at a dollar a year.”
“Oh. Wow. Ummmm, OK. So I assume I’m to look out for the land.”
“That’s the general idea. You can’t develop it or sell it.”
“No of course not.”
He turns to look at Bobby. “The house.”
He says to Lucy, “Momma asked for that back.”
Ryan says, “She left that to John Ross and and the land with the old McKay place on it, to Lucy.”
“She left me a house?”
Bobby says, “She really hoped you’d come down and at least stay part of the time down here.”
Ryan continues, “She also left the old Wade ranch to Christopher. Needs a lot more work, but she wanted him to have something too.”
“The Wade Ranch?” Lucy asks.
“Momma acquired a lot of land around us over the last several years. I’ll tell the boys. Thank you Ryan. Is that everything?”
“Pretty much. That simple. A few quick claim deeds and we’re all done. I’ll file the paperwork. Of and there’s a few acres for your brother, Miss Lucy. There’s no house on it but she wanted to make sure he got a piece of South Fork too. There’s also a couple of cashiers checks I’m going to put in the mail for JR’s other children. But that’s it.”
“Thank you. Thank you very much, Ryan.”
“You’re welcome, Bobby.”
As the lawyer leaves them, Christopher and John Ross approach. Christopher asks, “What grandma’s lawyer say?”
“She left the old McKay place to Lucy and all her personal effects to split up with her sister. The place is in pretty bad shape. Real bad shape. And the old Wade Ranch to you Christopher. I’m afraid that’s in worse shape.”
“We’ll I don’t have any intention of moving out of South Fork.”
“Well that’s the thing. She left South Fork, the house to John Ross.”
“What? How?” Christopher yells.
“Bring your voice down. I gave it back to her, for John Ross and his sons. I only got it because she was afraid of what JR would do. It’s the right thing. Ewing Oil pays you more than enough in running it to fix up the Wade place or build what ever you want in its place.”
“I’m not leaving South Fork.”
John Ross says, “ Of course not. This is your home too. You don’t have to worry about that. Or you either, Lucy.”
Sue Ellen says to a beautiful Hispanic woman, “I hope that commotion isn’t about Miss Ellie’s will.”
“So do I. Christopher’s been on edge. It’s not just his grandma dying. It’s work. He’s trying so hard to grow Ewing Oil but with collapsing oil prices.”
“Well Elena, growing with Punk Anderson as a grandfather you know a thing or two about the oil business. It has its ups and downs. Just like being married to a Ewing.”
“Chris is fuming about Ryland. Apparently he’s got a monopoly on trucking crude for the independents.”
“I’m sure he’ll work it out.”
“In the mean time Lucy’s running a multibillion dollar foundation and John Ross has Ewing Enterprises Clayton gave him to set up.”
“Clayton loaned him money. Granted it was very generous but John Ross was always close to Clayton.”
“Ijust saying it’s a stressor for my husband.”
“I understand that. They’re a very competitive family.”
Bobby approaches Lucas, “Thank you for coming. My mother would be very pleased. She thought highly of your father.”
“We’ll at least someone did.”
“When’s the last time you two spoke?”
“When I was in high school. Right after he killed my mother.”
“That was a hard call for him.”
“Obviously not to hard.”
“Do you speak to your sister much?”
“Margret? Occasionally.”
“Charlie?”
“Less occasionally.”
“Lucy says I should show you the ranch. Would you like that?”
“Can’t imagine I would.”
“You use to work the ranch your father had in Europe.”
“A very long time ago.”
“I also told Christopher to find you a job with the company. An MBA from Harvard should be very valuable at Ewing Oil.”
“No offense, but I can find my own job.”
“I’m sure you can, but the offer stands. You’re family.”
“No I’m not. You all are family. Not me.”
“We’ll think about it.”
“I have. Incredibly fast.”
Lucy says to John Ross, “I spoke to him about working for Ewing Oil but he’s pretty admitted.”
“Good,” Christopher says.
“I can find him a job with Ewing Industries. But I’m not sure that handout will be any different.”
“Probably not. Christopher, you don’t want the Wade Ranch House.”
“Hell no. Nice of Grandma to offer it, but I’m not interested. Why?”
“I’ll buy it from you, for Lucas. It was his mother’s family home. Maybe it’ll be something he can work on. Might mean something to him.”
“Yeah not a problem.”
“You can have the old McKay place.”
“I’m not leaving South Fork. So thanks but no thanks.”
“Well if you and Elena have children, you might want a place of your own.”
John Ross says, “Nonsense. We’ll make room.”
“We’ve got other houses if Elena wants her own space, but my child will be a Ewing’s. And, Ewing’s grow up on South Fork.”
John Ross’s boys come over and he says to them, “You remember my cousin Lucy. She’ll be staying here a while. This is Jay,” motioning to the twelve year old, “and Steven,” motioning to the ten year old, “and Aaron,” motioning to the eight year old. (note: John Ross Ewing IV, Steven Clayton Ewing making note that Clayton was Steven Clayton Farlow III and Dusty was the IV, I just didn’t want to use the name Clayton but wanted to name him after him, and Aaron Enoch, after Miss Ellie’s father but I don’t know about this one).
JR stands at his mother’s fresh grave, laying next to Clayton’s headstone. “Well momma, can’t say I’m pleased to see Clayton where my daddy should be. But if you can put an in memory market for Garrison, least I can do is put one for my father on the other side of you,” he says looking down at Jock’s marker, looking very much like a headstone. I hope you can rest now. You earned it. As for me, I’ve got a lot of work to do to get this family in shape. Mark my words, I’m gonna leave them better off, if I have to drag them kicking and screaming into the twenty first century.” JR laughs.
Cut to opening credits