Dallas (TV Series)

Second Thoughts (1980)

Larry Hagman: J.R. Ewing

Quotes 

• J.R. Ewing : Bobby, are you job-hunting for your brother-in-law?

  Bobby Ewing : Yes I am. He's in pretty bad shape.

  J.R. Ewing : Are you out of your mind? Don't you realize that anything you get him, it's just gonna backfire on us?

  Bobby Ewing : He is defanged and declawed and we can't do anything more to him. We've won. He's defeated, J.R. What more do we need?

  J.R. Ewing : The only time he's gonna be out of our hair is when he's six feet under and then I wouldn't trust him not to come back and haunt us!

• J.R. Ewing : [Alan Beam returns to his apartment and finds J.R. already there]  You two-timin' double-crossin' little rat.

• J.R. Ewing : Maybe if you spend a little less time chasing Betty Lou and more time trying to get Lucy to name the date, you might be a little more successful.

  Alan Beam : What do you know about Betty Lou?

  J.R. Ewing : Everything that's important.

• Lucy Ewing : [about J.R]  You know, I believe he'd really like to see me flunk out of school.

  J.R. Ewing : Well, now Lucy, if you wanna be the first member of the Ewing family to get your Ph.D, you just go right ahead.

• J.R. Ewing : [about Alan Beam]  What does that little snake got, anyway? I mean, I can understand a nitwit like my niece going for that line of blabber, but... not a pretty, intelligent girl like you... Betty Lou, Alan Beam is a liar and a cheat. And whatever he's promised you, he's not gonna deliver. So the way I look at it, I got two ways of breaking up this marriage: with you or without you.

• Kristin Shepard : J.R., I wanna help. You know that.

  J.R. Ewing : I know it, I know it.

  Kristin Shepard : You never let me anymore.

  J.R. Ewing : What does that mean?

  Kristin Shepard : You don't count on me the way you used to. Nothing seems to be the same.

  J.R. Ewing : Well, Kristin, when things stay the same all the time, it just gets, uh...

  Kristin Shepard : Boring? Are you bored with me, J.R.?

  J.R. Ewing : No, of course not. It's just that... well, things might be a little more exciting if we didn't see so much of each other, you know...

  Kristin Shepard : [realizes]  Familiarity breeds contempt.

  J.R. Ewing : I didn't say that. But familiarity... takes a little bloom off the rose, don't you think?

  Kristin Shepard : J.R., I'd do anything to help you.

  J.R. Ewing : I know, Kristin. I appreciate that. I really do. But there's nothing you can do, is there?

  [she swallows hard] 

  J.R. Ewing : Now, I got some business to attend to.

• J.R. Ewing : [at Betty Lou's apartment]  Oh, hi. I suppose you are expecting Alan. Sorry to disappoint you.

  Betty Lou Barker : Who are you?

  J.R. Ewing : Well, you don't know me, honey, but I know an awful lot about you.

  Betty Lou Barker : You must be J.R. Ewing.

  J.R. Ewing : Yeah. Mm. That's right. And you're Alan Beam's little fringe benefit, aren't you?

  Betty Lou Barker : I don't know what you're talking about. I haven't seen Alan.

  J.R. Ewing : Oh, Betty Lou, you're lying. I know it, and you know it. Stop the play-acting and get down to business. Now, we both have a vested interest in breaking up this marriage. Only, I am willing to make it worth your while. Now how much do you think it'd would cost me for you to come forward and tell Lucy all about your little affair with Alan Beam? One thousand, fifteen hundred?

  Betty Lou Barker : I thought you were all for this marriage.

  J.R. Ewing : Well, changed my mind. You know, you could really spruce this place up for, say, two thousand dollars.

  Betty Lou Barker : [turns around, hands on her hips]  I like things just the way they are.

  J.R. Ewing : What are you doing this for, anyway? Now surely you don't think a two-timing con artist like Alan Beam is worth it?

  Betty Lou Barker : What do you care what I think?

  J.R. Ewing : Just curious, that's all, just curious. Now what has that little snake got, anyway? I mean, I can understand a nit-wit like my niece going for that line of blabber, but... not a pretty, intelligent girl like you. Betty Lou, Alan Beam is a liar and a cheat, and whatever he's promised you,

  [shakes his head] 

  J.R. Ewing : he's not gonna deliver. So the way I look at it... I got two ways of breaking up this marriage: with you, or without you. And if I go it alone, I'm gonna drive Alan Beam into the gutter.

  Betty Lou Barker : Get out!

  J.R. Ewing : You really don't wanna see that, do you?

  Betty Lou Barker : I said, get out.

  J.R. Ewing : [nonchalantly]  Okay.

  [walks to door] 

  J.R. Ewing : Oh, Betty Lou, you're never gonna get a chance like this again.

  [but she glares at him] 

  J.R. Ewing : All right, all right. Bye.

  [closes door] 

• Kristin Shepard : [to Alan]  I'm surprised you have any friends at all, the way you treat them.

  Alan Beam : Our association with this family means we have to run into each other once in a while, Kristin. I'll try to be pleasant if you will.

  Kristin Shepard : The thing is, I'm not sure how much your association with this family is going to last.

  J.R. Ewing : That's enough, Kristin.

  Kristin Shepard : J.R., I know you don't wanna hurt Lucy, but I'm not sure you're doing the right thing by her.

  J.R. Ewing : I'm the best judge of that.

  Lucy Ewing : What are you talking about, Kristin?

  Alan Beam : Just sounding off as usual.

  Kristin Shepard : I ran into a friend of yours today, Alan. Betty Lou Barker? We talked some, and I guess I must have let it slip about you and Lucy getting married. Lord, you should have seen her face. She was just shocked!

  J.R. Ewing : Kristin!

  Kristin Shepard : From what she told me, she seemed to think that you and she were getting married. Of course, you can hardly blame her, can you? Considering how close you two had been. Up till this morning, at any rate.

  Lucy Ewing : Kristin, you and J.R. are just alike. You'll stop at nothing just to get your own way.

  Kristin Shepard : I'm telling you the truth!

  Lucy Ewing : Forget it, Kristin! I don't believe a word you say.

  Alan Beam : I knew you never liked me, Kristin, but I didn't think you hated me so much you'd lie about me to Lucy's family just to ruin our chance of happiness.

  Lucy Ewing : Sure she would. She's nothing but J.R.'s litle stooge.

  Kristin Shepard : Lucy, believe me, I'm telling you for your own good.

  J.R. Ewing : Lucy, listen to me...

  Lucy Ewing : I have an announcement I'd like to make. I know you've all been waiting for me to set the date. Well, I want you all to know that I've finally decided. Alan and I will be married June the fourteenth.

• J.R. Ewing : [still buttoning his shirt, on phone to his secretary:]  Well, I'm gonna be a little late. Yeah. Yeah, I overslept. I'll... I'll be there in, uh, thirty minutes.

  Serena Wald : [entering bedroom]  Coffee, baby?

  J.R. Ewing : No, no, I'll pick it up at the office.

  Serena Wald : Well, some say I make the best little cup of coffee in Dallas.

  J.R. Ewing : That's not all you make that's good, darling.

• J.R. Ewing : What got into you? What on earth made you do such a stupid thing?

  Kristin Shepard : I was just trying to help. I thought that if I were the one to tell Lucy, she'd believe me.

  J.R. Ewing : Who asked you to put in your two cents in? And now, because of you, exactly what I did not want to happen, is gonna happen. Alan Beam is gonna marry Lucy, they're gonna move into Southfork, and then I'm gonna have my brother Gary and his greedy wife swarming all over me.

  Kristin Shepard : Well, aren't you jumping the gun?

  J.R. Ewing : Gimme a little credit, will ya?

  [looks out over the city] 

  J.R. Ewing : I know my family. And as for you, my dear... You just might know more than is good for you.

  Kristin Shepard : Meaning?

  J.R. Ewing : Meaning I think it would be a good idea for Louella to come back and work as my secretary.

  Kristin Shepard : J.R., you can't mean that!

  J.R. Ewing : Well, if you didn't know so much, you wouldn't be able to get us into all this trouble, now would you?

  Kristin Shepard : But that's just it, J.R. I know enough to make plenty of trouble for everybody.

  J.R. Ewing : [regards her with a smile, and as she backs down, he nods]  You're not thinking of blackmailing old J.R., are you?

  Kristin Shepard : [smiles uneasily]  Of course not. I wouldn't do anything like that.

  J.R. Ewing : [nods]  I'm glad to hear that, Kristin. Because whatever you do know, could be attributed to the ravings of a jealous woman.

  Kristin Shepard : I'd never do anything to hurt you, J.R.

  J.R. Ewing : [smiles]  I knew you'd listen to reason. And I just want you to know... the condo is yours... until you're ready to leave for California.

  Kristin Shepard : [knows it's all over]  That's very sweet of you, J.R.

  J.R. Ewing : I'm always trying to think of things to make you happy.

  [kisses her, goes off]