Austin, Texas

A month had passed since Sue Ellen had been crowned Miss Austin and her life was busier than ever. Public appearances, charity fundraisers and speeches were amongst her duties as pageant titleholder and combined with her schoolwork, modelling jobs, cheerleading commitments and sorority functions she was well aware she'd been spending less and less time with Clint.

In her bedroom at the Kappa Omega Delta sorority house trying to finish an essay for her Contemporary Literature class, she looked up upon hearing a knock at the door.

"Sue Ellen, your mom is on the phone."

Sighing as she walked into the common area, she prepared herself for what was to come. She wasn't really in the mood to hear her mother chastise whatever action she had a problem with now, especially since she'd done nothing wrong.

"Hello mama," attempting to sound cheerful, the stress and exhaustion in her life was surely apparent in her tone, her mother certainly commented on it immediately.

"Well Sue Ellen, you could try and sound a little more upbeat, a lady always shows her best face to the world and I can just imagine that right now you're not looking your best, you don't sound your best."

She knew criticism was coming, her mother was never just content with her and there was always something to nit-pick, even when she was not there in person.

"I'm sorry mama, I'm just tired. I have three papers due this week, a test to study for, cheerleading practice in two hours, I spent all day touring the new hospital wing and I haven't seen Clint in a week. What did you want to speak to me about?"

Spilling more complaints out than she intended to, she almost immediately regretted mentioning anything to do with Clint.

"Well that sounds like a busy schedule, but I'm sure you'll handle it with the grace and poise of a lady. Now, what I called for, oh yes, I wanted to make sure that you don't plan anything for this coming Saturday night. I've arranged for you to have dinner with John Thurman, his father is a big player in the oil business and it would do you well to make some more connections. I've already selected two dresses that I'd like you to try on and you will wear your hair up. He'll pick you up at 7.30pm at our house and I think you should just spend the night here, because I wouldn't want you to have to worry about getting back to college that late at night."

Finishing speaking, Patricia waited for her daughter to reply, asking, "Sue Ellen, are you there?" when she didn't immediately respond.

Listening, Sue Ellen stood speechless for a moment until she heard her mother asking her whether she was still on the line.

She ought to know better by now, but the audacity of her mother to plan her life without a second thought to her feelings or plans still managed to surprise her. She knew she really shouldn't be shocked, her mother had controlled almost every aspect of her life for the past twenty years, but still, the lengths she went to always managed to leave her without words.

"Uh yes mama, I'm here. But mama, Saturday night I was planning on seeing Clint, we've hardly spent any time together lately and…" cut off by the sound of her mother scoffing, she didn't get to finish her sentence.

"Sue Ellen, I tolerate that boy but we both know that he is only a temporary distraction before you marry a man of better stature. You will go to dinner with Mr Thurman, it's not a request."

Angry, she knew better than to make a scene in the middle of the common room. "I'm not committing to anything right now mother. I have to go and study, we'll talk later, goodbye."

Hanging up the phone, she quickly walked back to her room. Her free time was precious now and she did not want to spend it having polite conversation with a date that she had no interest in, especially when she really wasn't available, something her mother would disagree with but was absolutely true.

Dallas, Texas

In the offices of Ewing Oil, located in downtown Dallas, Jock Ewing and his son JR sat together reading over drilling reports and discussing future strategy.

"Ok, so that's settled, Ewing 12 production is to decrease and Ewing 16 will increase. Is that all for today?"

Speaking with authority, JR Ewing looked at his daddy for confirmation.

"I think so. Julie, type up those notes and you can go home. Buy you a drink JR?"

Walking over to the bar in his office, Jock prepared two drinks, bourbon and branch, as they always drank. Handing a glass to JR, he took a drink himself, engaging JR in conversation.

Sitting together, the men spoke as not only father and son but also as business partners. JR had been preparing for the role of president of Ewing Oil since he was a young boy. For now, he was only the vice president but his father would retire in a few years and he would have control of the company and he couldn't wait for that day.

Knocking on the door, Julie Grey entered to let Jock know that she was finished typing the notes and to ask a question that had been escalated to her. "Jock, JR, I'm sorry to bother you with this but PR wanted to know how to respond to this particular invitation. Usually they would just handle it themselves but this one is addressed to you JR and it has very little to do with the company itself."

Handing JR a piece of paper, he started reading the letter himself only to be interrupted by his daddy.

"Well boy, what does it say?"

Looking up, JR grinned. "It's just a letter thanking Ewing Oil for our donation and sponsorship of the Miss Texas competition. Good move by our accountants by the way, a nice little tax deduction we can get from that."

Nodding, Jock agreed, but didn't appear satisfied with the answer, not until JR continued.

"They're inviting me to be a guest judge at this year's pageant."

"Well that ought to be interesting," chuckling, Jock knew his son's answer to the invitation without needing to ask.

Sipping his bourbon, JR's demeanour was as expected, as was his comment.

"Yes daddy, very interesting indeed."

Austin, Texas

"Ok girls, that's all for today. Great job with that final routine. Remember that we have to be in Houston on Friday by 7.00pm, the game starts at 8.00pm so I want everyone here and on the bus by 4.45pm, no exceptions."

Listening to Coach Williams speak to the cheer squad, Sue Ellen waited for the final release and then headed off with the rest of the girls to the locker room to change.

After dinner, she returned to the sorority house to find Clint waiting in the common room.

"Clint!" running and hugged him, she looked around to check whether they were alone before embraced in a long, slow kiss.

"I missed you."

"Would you like to go for a walk? I think we should talk."

Replying, the look in Clint's eyes worried her.

"Sure."

Walking outside, silently until they reached a quiet spot, Sue Ellen felt strange. Breaking the silence she hoped that what she had to say would improve whatever was going on between them.

"I'm sorry that I haven't been around much lately, it's just everything is happening at once and there are so many things that I have to do that I really can't get out of. I love you and I need you to know that".

Placing a hand on her cheek, Clint looked into her eyes. "I understand that you're busy, and I'm not breaking up with you, but we do need to figure out our relationship, we cannot go on like this. I love you and I want to be with you, but to do that we actually have to spend time together. It'll take effort, but we'll figure this out one way or another."

Smiling, Clint lightly kissed her lips to reassure her that he was being truthful.

Nodding, Sue Ellen smiled and hugged him again. He intended to make things work and so did she, so they had a fighting chance.

"Now that we've cleared up the elephant in the room I want to show you that I am serious about making this work. Saturday night, I've planned a special night, just you and me, with no distractions from the outside world."

Listening, Sue Ellen's heart jumped at the thought of a perfect, relaxing night with Clint and then fell when she remembered how insistent her mother had been about seeing Mr Thurman. She wanted Clint, but her mother would be very angry with her if she disobeyed her wishes by not going on Saturday.

"Clint, that sounds absolutely wonderful, but…" becoming quiet, she asked herself how was she supposed to tell her boyfriend that she was cancelling their plans, plans they'd already set aside time for, in favour of a date with a man she'd never met nor wanted to meet.

"But what? Don't tell me you can't go, because we already agreed on Saturday to do something before I came up with exactly what."

Looking at the ground, she whispered, "I'm sorry, I have a dinner that I have to attend. My mother arranged it and I really couldn't say no, you know what she's like."

Sighing as he listened to her attempt to justify cancelling on him, Clint sounded completely unimpressed with her when it was his turn to speak again. "This is what I'm talking about. We have plans and then you go and do something to mess them up. I am making an effort here and you're throwing it back in my face."

Embarrassed, she knew he was right, but she had no defence other than to apologise. "I'm sorry, I just can't."

Her words so quiet that they were almost inaudible, she didn't think there was much more she could say. Turning, she started to walk back toward the sorority house, leaving Clint standing alone.