SOUTHFORK
This story takes place during the dream season the morning after the wedding of Pam and Mark. JR has just told Sue Ellen that he intends to go into Ewing Oil to meet with Angelica Nero; he kisses her as he gets into the car. Sue Ellen watches his car drive out of the gates. She silently stands on the driveway thinking back to the night before when she had begged him not to go, reminding him that she loved him and didn't care whether they lost Ewing Oil or not. However he had insisted that he needed to do this, he needed to secure Ewing Oil, and he didn't want to be a failure. Sue Ellen told him he wasn't a failure that he had a wife and son who loved him very much but JR wouldn't listen and finally she gave up the argument. Last night they had laid wrapped tightly in each others arms, JR had tried to reassure her that everything would be alright, that he would come straight home to her after the meeting but Sue Ellen was afraid she knew how dangerous Angelica could be and this meeting was not going to be that simple. She asked him if she could go with him but he had said no. Now standing alone on the driveway she felt sick with worry; she silently prayed for him to safely return to her. After realizing that she could no longer see his car she returned to the table where Miss Ellie and John Ross sat. She smiled as she saw John Ross put yet another doughnut into his mouth
"Hey what did I tell you" she said "No more doughnuts"
"Mom!" John Ross replied
Miss Ellie laughed, Sue Ellen soon found herself laughing too.
"How long will JR be?" Miss Ellie asked
"He promised not to be long" Sue Ellen replied "But you know JR and Ewing Oil"
JR'S CAR
Meanwhile the traffic on the road was quiet, JR figured that he could be back at Southfork within the hour; he wanted to get back to Sue Ellen. Suddenly the thought of Sue Ellen made JR want to stop the car, finding a quiet layby he turned in. He turned off the ignition and sat there thinking about the last few days which he had spent with Sue Ellen; he thought about the night of the fundraiser when he had promised her that he would make a real commitment to her; a promise he didn't plan to break. He put his head back against the headrest, what was he doing now? he thought; she had pleaded with him not to go, repeatedly told him that she loved him and that she didn't care about Ewing Oil why then was he going to the Office on a Sunday instead of spending the day with his family. He realized that all she ever wanted from him was for him to love her and only her; this was a new start for them, a chance to be a real family with perhaps more children something he had always wanted. Closing his eyes he made a decision, he knew what was important to him. He then picked up the car phone and dialed Harry McSween's number and told him that he wouldn't be at Ewing Oil; that he would ensure that the doors were opened to let the police in before Angelica got there. Harry told him that he would phone him that evening to tell him what had happened. After finishing the phone call JR turned the car around and headed back to Southfork.
SOUTHFORK
Sue Ellen and John Ross had decided to go for a walk; Sue Ellen knew it would do her no good being in the house thinking of JR and wondering what was going to happen to him. John Ross carried his football in his arms. They reached the lake and began to play catch.
"Momma why did daddy have to go to the office?" John Ross asked
"He had an important business meeting he couldn't get out of" Sue Ellen replied
"I wanted him to spend the day with us" John Ross said "Are you two going to get divorced again"
"What made you ask that?" Sue Ellen said
"Because daddy prefers going to the office instead of spending time with us" John Ross said
"Hey, he promised he would be back by 11 o'clock and then we can go out" she replied, hoping that JR would keep his promise.
"Do you love daddy" John Ross asked
"Yes" Sue Ellen replied
"Does he love you" John Ross said
Sue Ellen thought, that was the million dollar question, did JR love her or were they just words he used to get her to do what he wanted. She looked at her son watching her waiting for an answer
"Yes" she softly said "He loves us both"
Meanwhile JR had parked his car and got out, seeing Miss Ellie and Clayton on the patio he walked towards them.
"You're back early" Miss Ellie said
"Change of plan" JR replied "Where's Sue Ellen and John Ross?"
"They went for a walk by the lake" Clayton replied
"Okay, I'm going to get changed and go and find them" JR said
Ten minutes later JR had got changed out of his suit and went back downstairs. It was a beautiful warm day with a gentle breeze. As he walked towards the lake he heard the sound of laughter. He smiled to himself knowing that he had made the right choice, this is where he was supposed to be with Sue Ellen and John Ross; Ewing Oil could wait. He approached the lake and stood by a tree watching John Ross and Sue Ellen play. He thought back to the night of Bobby's death and how he had berated Sue Ellen for not being at the hospital. He had destroyed her in front of his mother and Clayton, calling her an unfit mother and a poor excuse for a human being. He wished he could take those words back, he had been so upset that he had taken his anger out on her when she hadn't deserved it, she was a warm loving human being who if he had let her would of helped him through his grief, he also told himself that she was the better parent, he loved John Ross but if he had got custody of him and John Ross had wanted to live with Sue Ellen, he knew he wouldn't have let him. She did what was best for their son regardless of what she wanted. Looking at her he thought his heart was going to burst with love and pride, she had come so far. Finally she had managed to conquer her alcohol problem, although he knew he was partly to blame for that, she was still attending AA meetings and he wanted to support her in any way he could. After five minutes of watching his family he called out to them.
"Hey you two, can I join you" he shouted
John Ross swung round "Daddy!" he shouted running towards him.
JR picked him up and walked towards Sue Ellen. In her eyes he saw a look of love as she walked towards him. JR put John Ross down and Sue Ellen ran into his arms. He lifted her off her feet and kissed her.
"I'm sorry" he said
Sue Ellen looked at him curiously.
"I put Ewing Oil before you" he said "I promised you that I would never do that to you again"
"Did you cancel the meeting" Sue Ellen asked
"No, the police are going in my place" JR said "Harry McSween going to phone me tonight and tell me what happened"
Sue Ellen looked at him "It will be okay" she said "As long as we have each other and John Ross, nothing else matters"
JR held onto her tightly "That's all I needed to hear" he said "I love you"
"I love you too" she said "So much"
"Hey you guys" John Ross said "Remember me?"
The couple looked at their son; JR smiled and picked him up lifting him onto his shoulders. He then wrapped his arm around Sue Ellen and together they strolled back to the ranch.
"Okay what do you guys want to do today?" JR asked
"You promised that we could visit the amusement park" John Ross replied
"And I guess I've got to go and the rides with you" JR laughed
Sue Ellen looked at him and smiled "Of course, what are fathers for" she said
"Don't supposed you're going to join us?" JR replied
Sue Ellen laughed "No way! I'm scared of heights" she said
Halfway back to the ranch, JR set John Ross back on the ground and the couple watched their son run on ahead.
"He looks happy" JR said
Sue Ellen smiled "He's got what he always wanted his mom and dad together" she said
"What about asking momma and Clayton if they want to join us?" JR asked
"Of course" Sue Ellen replied
They approached the patio table where Miss Ellie and Clayton were sitting playing cards.
"Hey, how would you like to come out and spend the day with us" JR said
"Where are you going?" Clayton asked
"Our son informs us that he wants to go to the amusement park" Sue Ellen said
"Yes and I need someone to go on the rides with me" JR said "Since my wife claims she's scared of heights"
"When are you leaving?" Miss Ellie asked
"Half an hour" JR said as he and Sue Ellen walked into the house.
