EPISODE 165 - Anniversary

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bobby walks into his and Pam's bedroom in the morning and looks around.  After a brief pause, he pours himself a drink from a bottle of J.R. Ewing Bourbon, then walks over to the dresser, opens the bottom drawer and pulls out a box.  Taking the box over to the sofa, he takes a seat, placing the box beside him.  He opens the box and takes out several things, one of which is a framed photo of himself and Pam, his first wife and Christopher's mother.  

"Everything okay with you and Dad?"  Christopher asks.  "I just saw him coming downstairs and he walked right past me without saying a word."

 

"I really don't know,"  Ann replies.  "Your father seemed in a bad mood, and distracted."  She looks down at the box on the sofa and picks it up. Opening the box, she sees the framed photo of Bobby and Pam.  "He was lookin' at this."

 

Christopher walks over to her and looks in the box she  holds.  Taking the photo of his parents out, he looks at it.  "I guess that's it, then.  I should've realized today would be hard for him."

 

"Today?"  Ann asks.  "What's so significant about today?"

 

"Today would've been the 40th anniversary of the day Dad first married my mother."

 

"Oh, I should've remembered that,"  says Ann.  "No wonder he was lookin' at this photo."

 

"Do you know where he went?"  Christopher asks.

 

"Said he was goin' out ridin'.  I guess he needed some time alone."

 

"I'll go see if I can find him."  Christopher lovingly touches his stepmother's arm, then turns and leaves the room. After he's gone, Ann looks down at the photo she holds of Bobby and Pam.  "Pam, you really were beautiful, and you sure must've been somethin' special.  I'll never forget the very first time I heard your name," she says, a memory coming to her own mind.....

"Little did I know then, how closely our lives would one day be intertwined, even though I never met you,"  Ann says.  She places the photo back in the box, closes the lid, and puts the box back on the sofa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cliff and Afton's apartment....

 

 

Dressed in her bathroom, Afton comes down the stairs that morning and finds Cliff staring out the window of the high rise apartment they share.  She stops at the bottom of the stairs and watches him for a few seconds.  "Cliff?"  She finally says.

 

"Huh?  What?"

 

"Are you okay?"

 

"Yeah, I'm fine."

 

Afton walks over to him.  "Is something wrong?  Something at Stone-Barnes?"

 

 

"No,"  Cliff says, turning to her.  "My mind isn't on business, for a change.  I was thinking about Pam."

 

"Pam?  Any particular reason?"

 

"Oh, yeah.  Today is a very significant day in my life.  A day I'll never forget because it's a day my life changed forever, and not for the better."

 

"Cliff, what are you talking about?"  Afton asks.

 

"It was 40 years today that I found out my sister had married Bobby Ewing, the son of the man I had always believed was the reason my father was a drunk, and my family was poor.  And as I said, my life hasn't been the same since."

 

"Wow.  40 years.  It's hard to believe Bobby and  Pam would've been married that long, had they stayed married the first time."

 

"40 years,"  Cliff says with a slight laugh.  "Feels like a lifetime."

 

"You still miss her a lot, don't you?"  Afton asks.

 

"More than I could ever say.  Y'know, growing up, Pam and I had it really rough.  Our mother had left us when I was just 5, and Pam was less than a year old.  Digger was drunk most of the time, so Aunt Maggie had to take care of us.  It was a hard life.  We did without a LOT of times.  But Aunt Maggie always managed go give us a lot of love, and that kind of made up for the other things we didn't have.  And, all those years Pam and I listened to our Daddy rant and rave about how Jock Ewing stole everything from him.  We both grew up hating the Ewings and blaming them for everything that was wrong in our lives.  I guess you could say we were jealous.  Here we were living in a small, run down house being raised by our hard working aunt, while the Ewing boys were raised in the lap of luxury out at Southfork Ranch.  Pam was even worse than I was growing up."

 

"Really?"  Afton asks.

 

"Oh, yeah.  When she was a kid, she use to take rocks and break windows out of the Ewing building downtown."

 

"What?  PAM?"

 

"Yep, sure did.  That's why it came as a complete shock to me when I found out that my anti-Ewing kid sister had married one of them,"  Cliff says, his mind traveling back in time to a day 40 years ago....

 

 

"But my reaction was NOTHING compared to how Digger reacted when he heard the news of Pam's marriage to Jock Ewing's son.  Oh, boy, if you'd been there to see the look on his face......"

 

 

 

"Well, I had nothing against Bobby, at least not back then,"  Cliff says.  "It was J.R. who was always the problem."

 

"J.R. was a problem for EVERYONE,"  Afton says, turning away from Cliff as she replays some memories of her own....

 

Returning to the present, Afton shakes her head.  "How did I ever let myself get involved with that man?"  She asks.

 

"You were no different from the many other women J.R. Ewing smooth talked into bed," says Cliff.  "The list is a long one.  Sue Ellen, Julie Grey, Kristin Shepard, Marilee Stone, Mandy Winger.......and the list could go on and on."

 

"That's a part of my life I'm certainly not proud of."

 

"Yeah, but look at you now,"  Cliff says.  "Even after all these years you're as beautiful as ever, you're successful, you've overcome things that would've broken a lot of women, AND, most importantly, you raised our daughter all alone, and raised her to be the kind of wonderful woman she is today.  Over all, not bad, Afton, DESPITE J.R.'s best efforts."

 

Afton looks at Cliff and smiles.

Southfork....

 Meanwhile, back at Southfork, Bobby steps down off his horse, walks over to the iron gate and enters the fenced in family cemetery containing the graves of some of his family members.  He pauses for a few seconds as he looks at

 "Sometimes I wonder how we ever made it as far as we did in life without killin' each other,"  Bobby says.  As he 

 continues to stand at the graves, Christopher rides out to the cemetery on his horse.  Coming to a stop, he looks

 at his father for a moment, then gets off the horse and walks over to Bobby.  

 

"I had a feeling you'd be out here,"  Christopher says, taking his hat off as he approaches.  

 

"Yeah, I was just reliving some memories,"  says Bobby.  "You know, today would've been mine and Pam's anniversary."

 

"I know.  40 years, huh?  Long time."

 

"Yeah,"  Bobby says.  "In some ways, it feels like just yesterday that I first brought your mother home to Southfork."

 

"I always loved hearing that story.  Mom being a Barnes was an outsider in this family from the very start.  And the only one who made her feel welcome was Grandma."

 

Bobby smiles.  "Well, even Mama was a bit put off at first," he says, again thinking back to that day......

 

"But, it didn't take Mama long at all to come around, and before long, she and Pam were real close.  Mama thought of Pam as the daughter she never had."

 

"Dad, are you okay?  I mean, I know today is hard for you."

 

"I'm fine.  Just a lot of memories, and a lot of.........well, regrets, I suppose."

 

"Regrets?"  Christopher asks.  

 

"Yeah.  Your mother and I lost so much time together, and we had so LITTLE time.  Our whole first marriage was spent taking sides in the Barnes-Ewing feud, and me fighting J.R.  That was what led to our breakup in the first place."

 

"I thought that was because of Katherine."

 

"Katherine was the reason we divorced.  But your mother had already taken you and moved off Southfork after the death of your grandmother, Rebecca.  Pam blamed Rebecca's death on the feud, and, in a way, she was right.  I'll never forget the night Afton came to Southfork to tell Pam about Rebecca's accident....."

 

"Katherine Wentworth,"  Bobby angrily says.  "When I think of all the pain and destruction that woman has brought to my family over the years.........that's why I wanna see her caught and finally punished for all her crimes, and I can't understand for the life of me why Ann doesn't feel the same way.  After what Katherine did, you'd think she'd want that woman caught and put in prison so she couldn't hurt anyone again.  But despite how Ann feels, I will not rest until Katherine Wentworth is finally brought to justice for all the harm she's caused."

 

Christopher puts a reassuring hand on his father's shoulder.

Southfork....

 "Sue Ellen, thank you for comin' over,"  Ann says as she and Sue Ellen walk into the den at Southfork.

 

"Oh, you're welcome, it sounded urgent."

 

"Well, yes, and no.  I need your help."

 

"Of course.  You know you can count on me for anything.  Does this have anything to do with what we talked about a few days ago?"  

 

"No,"  Ann replies.  "It's about Bobby.  Today, as you probably know, would have been the 40th anniversary of his and Pam's first marriage."

 

"40 years,"  Sue Ellen says with a nostalgic smile.  "Hard to believe it's been that long."

 

"Yes, well, Bobby seemed a little down this mornin', and he was lookin' at some old photos of he and Pam.  I thought maybe, to cheer him up, we could have a big family dinner here tonight, with the whole family.  I'm gonna ask Ray and Donna and Conner over, and everyone else.  It could also be a dinner to celebrate Krystina and the baby comin' home a few days ago."

 

"Ann, I think that is a marvelous idea,"  Sue Ellen says.  "How can I help?"

 

"Well, it's already 11 a.m. so we have to hurry if we're gonna pull this off by tonight.  You could help with the menu.  It's kinda short notice to cook a whole big dinner here, so I thought maybe we'd use a caterer.  And you could also call some of the family and invite them."

 

"I'll be happy to.  This sounds like it's going to be lots of fun."

 

"I hope it will, and I hope it cheers Bobby up,"  Ann says.  "I figure everybody can just do some reminiscin'."

 

"Bobby will LOVE it,"  Sue Ellen says with a smile.

The Krebbs Ranch....early afternoon....

 Ray and Conner walk into the Krebbs home early that afternoon, coming home for lunch after a morning working on the ranch.  Donna comes into the foyer to meet them.  "Well, I have lunch ready for you, two."

 

"Thanks, I'm starved,"  Ray says, kissing her.  

 

"Ann just called,"  Donna says.  "She would like for the three of us to come over to Southfork for dinner tonight."

 

"What's the occasion?"  Ray asks.

 

"Just a little dinner for Bobby.  He's feeling a little down today because today would've been his and Pam's anniversary."

 

Ray sighs.  "I remember.  That's not somethin' I'd be likely to forget."

 

"Pam was Bobby's first wife, right?"  Conner asks.  

 

"Yes, that's right,"  Donna replies.  "Christopher's mother."

 

"I remember hearing her name mentioned when I lived at Southfork,"  says Conner.  

 

"Pam was somethin' special," Ray says.  "I thought she and I were gonna get hitched one day, til Bobby stole her away from me."

 

"What?  Bobby stole her away from you?"  Conner asks.

 

"That's right.  See, Pam and me, well, we'd been seein' each other off and on for about three years, and then I made the mistake of takin' her to a barbecue up at Southfork.  She got acquainted with Bobby there, and next thing I knew, he was bringin' her home as his bride a few months later."

 

"Wow.  Learn somethin' new every day."

 

"So how about it?"  Donna asks.  "Can I call Ann back and tell her we'll be over tonight?"

 

"Sure,"  replies Ray.  "Sounds like a fun evenin'.  We haven't been over to Southfork in quite some time anyway.  Conner?"

 

"Thanks, but, you guys go on without me,"  he says.

 

"Without you?  But why?"  Donna asks.

 

"I'm just not in the mood for a big family party, when we just left Dylan in that hospital a few days ago.  Plus, I don't really think it's a good idea for me to be around John Ross and Alex right now."

 

Donna and Ray exchange looks and Donna sighs.  "I didn't think about that."

 

"Yeah, neither did I,"  says Ray.

 

"Alright, fine.  We'll all stay home."

 

"No.  Come on, just because I can't go doesn't mean you guys can't.  Please, just go and have a good time."

 

"No, not without you,"  Ray says.

 

"Guys, please.  I'd really like the time to myself, anyway,"  Conner says.  "Ever since we left Dylan at the Hagman Center, I've been staying so busy I really haven't had a chance to just think or whatever.  Or to relax."

 

"So you're trying to get rid of us so you can relax?"  Donna asks with a smile.

 

"I'm not trying to get rid of you guys.  But, I don't want you staying home on my account, and I really could use the time to myself.  So please, go."

 

Donna looks at Ray.  "Well, Ray?"

 

"Okay.  We'll go to Southfork tonight,"  Ray says.  "I just think it stinks that you can't go with us because of somethin' you didn't even do."

 

"And, Conner, that's something else that we have to talk about,"  Donna says.

 

"Donna, if you're gonna try and convince to tell that Dylan was driving the car that hit Alex and his girlfriend that night, then just don't,"  says Conner.  "Because I'm not gonna add THAT on top of everything else Dylan is going through."

 

"Conner, this is going to affect the rest of your life,"  Donna says.

 

"I KNOW that.  Dylan is my brother.  And so far, his life has been hell.  I don't think that kid has ever had a really happy moment in his life.  And now, maybe he has a chance to get help for his drinking, and, HOPEFULLY, have a better future than he's had a past.  I am NOT gonna take that chance away from him.  Guys, if Dylan were charged with drunk driving that injured two teenagers, it would destroy his life, especially on top of everything else.  He'd go to prison, and he couldn't survive that.  And I would never be able to live with myself if I let that happen.  Please try to understand and try to respect my decision."

 

"If the truth of this comes out, then not only will Dylan be in trouble, but you will, too, for lying about this,"  says Donna.  "And Ray and I could also be implicated because we know the truth."

 

"No  one will find out.  Dylan has no memory of that night."

 

"And what he does remember?"  Ray asks.

 

"We just have to pray that he won't,"  Conner says.  "Look, I don't know.  We'll cross that bridge if we come to it.  But if he remembers, hopefully it won't be until he's out of treatment."

 

"Look, umm, lunch is getting cold, so why don't we head on into the kitchen and eat?"  Donna suggests.

 

"Sounds like a good idea,"  says Conner.  "I'm starved."  He looks at them, then turns and heads into the kitchen.

 

"I don't like this at all," Donna says.  

 

"Yeah, neither do I.  But Conner's an adult.  This is his choice, and nothin' we can do about it but stand by him.  Let's go eat."

 

Donna nods, then she and Ray follow Conner to the kitchen.

Catlin and Sue Ellen's home....late afternoon....

 While getting dressed in her and Catlin's bedroom that evening as he takes a shower, Sue Ellen opens a box sitting on top of her dresser and takes out a pair of pearls J.R. had given her that once belonged to Miss Ellie.  Looking at the pearls, she smiles as she thinks about her beloved former mother-in-law....

  Later that night, Bobby, Ann, Christopher, Courtney, Jacob, Lucas, Heather, Michael, John Ross, Krystina, Alex, Sue Ellen, Catlin, C.J., Justin, Jimmy, Ray, Donna, and Lucy are all gathered in the living room at Southfork, each sitting or standing around in their own little groups carrying on their individual conversations after dinner.  Ray, Donna, Bobby, Ann, Sue Ellen, and Catlin are standing by the fireplace chatting.

 

"Ann, that dinner was delicious,"  Ray says, patting his swollen stomach.  

 

Ann smiles.  "Thanks, Ray, but I can't take credit."

 

"Sue Ellen?"  Ray asks.  

 

"I'm afraid that I didn't make the dinner, either.  Neither did Maria,"  says Sue Ellen.

 

"It was such short notice and we didn't have time to prepare a whole family dinner, so, we cheated and called a caterer,"  says Ann.

 

"Well, then, the CATERER did a marvelous job,"  Donna says.

 

"And it sure is good to have everybody here tonight,"  Bobby says.  "It's a real shame Conner couldn't be here."

 

"Yeah, with this whole mess with Alex and the accident, Conner didn't wanna be here for John Ross to start any drama,"  says Ray.

 

"That's understandable.  But anyway, we're real glad you and Donna made it."

 

"Well, when Ann called and said that you needed some cheering up, we just had to come right over,"  says Donna.

 

"And I could always count on you for some cheerin' up,"  Bobby says, kissing her on the cheek.  "If only Gary and Val were here, this little family reunion would almost be complete."

 

"Well, we would've invited them, but I doubt that they could just drop everything and fly here from California on just a few hours notice,"  Sue Ellen says.  

 

Ray smiles.  "Y'know, as long as were talkin' about rememberin' the good old days, the one memory that sticks in my mind, Bob, is that time you and J.R. were on that plane that went down and the rest of the family was here, not knowin' if you two were alive or dead."

 

"That's something I'll never forget, either,"  Sue Ellen says.  "What a terrible time for the family, especially for poor Jock and Miss Ellie."

 

"Miss Ellie was goin' through pure hell, but she never lost her resolve,"  Ray says.....

"I was just thinkin' about the day Jock told me that he was my father, and when he told the rest of the family," Ray says.  

 

"I can only imagine the look on J.R.'s face."

 

"Well, we were all pretty shocked about that," says Bobby.  "But I, for one, was very happy to have another brother.  Especially one I'd already been close to for 20 years."

 

"Did J.R. welcome you into the family with open arms?" Catlin asks.

 

Ray laughs.  "Well, I wouldn't say open arms.  Nope, J.R. never was too thrilled to have me as his brother."

 

"Just about as thrilled as he was to have my Daddy as a brother,"  Lucy says, walking over to the group.  "J.R. did everything in his power to keep my Mama and Daddy away from Southfork."

 

"But why?"  Catlin asks.  "I mean, you'd think the guy would've wanted to be close to his brothers.  Did something happen between J.R. and Gary?"

 

"Oh yes, something happened,"  Lucy replies.  "First, my Daddy was born.  Second, he didn't quite measure up to the Ewings.  Unlike J.R. and Granddaddy, my Daddy had a softer side.  He wasn't ruthless or willing to do anything to succeed.  Money and power weren't important to him.  They saw him as weak, especially when he started to drink.  And the third thing my Daddy did wrong.......he met my Mama, a girl J.R. considered trash."

 

"That's a bit harsh, isn't it, Lucy?"  Sue Ellen asks.

 

"It's not harsh at all.  After all, when my Mama and Daddy reunited and lived here at Southfork, J.R. couldn't stand it, so he drove Daddy away again, and tried to buy Mama off."

 

"Tried to buy her off?"  Ann asks.

 

"Oh, yes,"  Lucy replies....

 

 

 

 

"And a few people actually went through with it, INCLUDING Sue Ellen," Lucy says with a smile....

"You think any of us will ever get it right the first time, Uncle Bobby?"  John Ross asks.

 

"Oh, I dunno, Gary and Val's daughter Betsy and her husband Daniel Avery seem VERY happy together.  So do Margaret and Matt, and Jay and Jill."

 

"Well, I guess I stand corrected, then."

 

Bobby lets out a slight laugh.

 

"What the hell's so funny?"  John Ross asks.

"Just looking at Jimmy made me remember somethin',"  Bobby says.

 

"And what's that?"

 

"Speaking of multiple marriages, James has to be the only Ewing who's had two wives at the same time."

 

John Ross laughs.  "I'll be damned.  I had forgotten all about that."

 

"Well, you and Christopher were still pretty young.  But James had married Michelle Stevens, April's sister, and moved her in here to Southfork, and then who should show up out of the blue but Debra Lynn, with little Jimmy in tow, claiming that she was still married to James....."

"It is.  But don't worry, Dad, it's good news for a change."

 

"What is it?  I'm dyin' to hear."

 

"I've decided that I want to legally adopt Jacob," Christopher replies.  "Of course there are gonna be obstacles........Chase Gioberti, for one.  But it's something I wanna do, and hopefully, Gioberti won't stand in the way."

 

Bobby smiles.  "Christopher, that's wonderful.  It really is.  It's very plain to see that you love that little boy."

 

"I really do, Dad.  I love Jacob like he was my own."

 

"I sure know that feeling well,"  Bobby says.  "And I know that you will be the best father Jacob could ever ask for."

 

"Yeah, well, if I am, it's only because I had the best example.  You brought me home under, really bizarre circumstances, and you came to love me like I was your own son."

 

"That was easy to do from the very first moment I brought you home,"  Bobby says.....

 

 

"I was just watching Christopher and Uncle Bobby," replies John Ross.  "I always envied the relationship those two have.  Wish I could've had that kinda relationship with my own father."

 

"There was a time when you and J.R. were very close," Sue Ellen says.  "Your father loved you, John Ross."

 

"Yeah, I guess in his own way, he did,"  John Ross says........

 Sue Ellen comes down the stairs at Southfork later that night and finds Bobby in the den.  Pausing at the door, she watches him for a few seconds as he picks up a framed photo from the piano and looks at it, then she walks into the room.  "Bobby," she says.

 

"Oh, Sue Ellen."

 

"I'm leaving now.  Where's Catlin?"

 

"He went out to take a phone call from his sister, Blaine,"  Bobby replies.

 

"Oh.  Tonight was very special."

 

Bobby smiles.  "Yes, it was.  And thank you for helping Ann put this night together, and for being a part of it."

 

"And I thank YOU, Bobby,"  Sue Ellen says.  

 

"Thank me, for what?"  Bobby asks.

 

"Just for being a part of my life all these years."

 

"Well, it has been my pleasure."

 

Sue Ellen looks around the room.  "So much has happened in this room, in this HOUSE.  Some of it good, some of it bad.  So many people have come and gone over the years........Jock and Miss Ellie, Pam, Clayton, Dusty, April.  Cally."

 

"And let's not forget.....so many fights."

 

Sue Ellen laughs.  "Yes, the fights.  As they says, if these walls could talk.  Do you remember the day that Miss Ellie got the news from Donna that the Justice Department was launching a criminal investigation into Ewing Oil because of J.R.'s connection to that madman, B.D. Calhoun?"

 

"Boy, do I,"  Bobby says.  "I'd never seen Clayton so mad......."

 

 

 

 

The bittersweet memories bring tears to Sue Ellen's eyes.  She looks around the room one more time, again thinking of all the times she spent in this room, in this house.  She walks into the foyer and looks at the staircase, then, following another brief pause, she smiles as she turns and walks out.