Right stuff
In “Winds of War,” an eighth-season “Dallas” episode, J.R. (Larry Hagman) is fixing a drink in the Southfork living room when Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) arrives home and stands in the doorway.
SUE ELLEN: Why don’t you pour one for me? I know you’re not used to drinking alone.
J.R.: [Turns to face her] Well, you must be joking, darlin’. You know you don’t drink.
SUE ELLEN: [Walks toward him] You have no idea how close I came to starting up again. I sat in a bar for an hour, staring at a double vodka. Thinking about Jamie, you, our lives.
J.R.: But you didn’t drink it, did you?
SUE ELLEN: No. Because in the end, you weren’t worth it. Then I drove around for awhile, trying to decide what I was going to do when I got home.
J.R.: Darlin’, I explained that little misunderstanding.
SUE ELLEN: Didn’t you? I almost chose to believe you, rather than leave you.
J.R.: Oh, Sue Ellen.
SUE ELLEN: Oh, I wouldn’t do that. Uh-uh. Because I have earned the right to be here. God knows I have paid the price for that privilege. Jamie really made me look at myself today. And I didn’t like it. And I didn’t like our charade, pretending that we could be happy together.
J.R.: We can be, darlin’, honestly.
SUE ELLEN: Never. I’m moving into Jamie’s old room. I’m going to stay here to protect my son. But don’t you ever come near me. You do what you want, when you want. But don’t you ever explain anything to me again. Because I don’t care anymore. [Turns and leaves]
Watch this scene in “Winds of War,” available on DVD and at Amazon and iTunes, and share your comments below.
