Dallas, Texas
"…ask JR to come in here after he's finished with Diane, then send Bobby in when he arrives. See if you can locate Jack too, I want to speak to him". Giving his orders, Jock nodded to indicate that was all he had to say for now, and then waited for Julie to leave before opening his top desk drawer and pulling out a brown manila folder. Leafing through the numerous resumes the employment agency and Ewing Oil's internal HR department had sent through to him, he shook his head and muttered a few words to himself before tossing the folder onto his desk and getting up to make himself a drink. It was still early in the morning and coffee was probably a more appropriate drink than bourbon, but coffee wasn't really strong enough to satisfy the 'need' for a drink, so bourbon it was, for him at least. Turning around as he heard a knock at the door, he called out to JR to come in, and looking up at him as he closed the office door behind him, noticing the cup of coffee in his hand, he didn't bother to ask his customary question, instead just going straight for what he had called JR in to discuss.
"Take a quick look at these and tell me what you think…" taking a seat, he slid the manila folder across his desk toward JR and then sat watching his son leafing through the resumes just like he had done. "Pathetic isn't it? Two million people in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and that's the best they can come up with. This job isn't suitable for an older man, it's not suitable for a married man, and it's certainly not suitable for a woman; those idiots downstairs and at that damn agency don't seem to understand that though. What I don't understand is why we're getting attention from everyone except the ones we actually need it from; you're unique and so is Bobby, but you're not so different that the characteristics you both had that benefitted the role are nowhere else to be found. It's PR, pimping if you really want to be honest about it; it requires the right man, but it's not rocket science; there's something wrong with a certain group of young men nowadays if they don't read that advertisement and think what we're offering in return is a good deal".
Rolling his eyes, he waited for JR to finish looking at the documents and to voice his agreement; he was right, he knew he was, he always liked to hear the sound of someone agreeing with him that he was right though. In this case, he expected JR would be that person, at least in regard to the quality of the applications they had received, when it came to the idea he had to overcome their recruitment problem, he wasn't quite so sure JR would agree with him. He and JR didn't always get along and he was sure his eldest son was going to have something to say about the solution he had thought up in light of the problem they were facing, because he was clearly not sold on Jack's presence. At the end of the day though, JR wanted what was best for Ewing Oil, and from Jock's perspective that was replacing Bobby with an equally young, single, charming, and willing man, all of which Jack was. His opinion had been swayed somewhat by the fact that Jack was a Ewing too, albeit not specifically his branch of the Ewings, but a Ewing nonetheless; Ewing Oil was a family company, it was only right to employ family; with the lack of suitable talent in Dallas too, he saw no harm in at least giving Jack a chance.
"Mm", looking over the resumes and listening to his father, JR knew to make a sound in agreement, it was what his father had called him in to do. Not wanting to go too far with his agreement before he actually agreed though, he simply made a short sound and continued to read. "This one isn't so bad, but on the whole, you're right. Who wouldn't want to work for Ewing Oil? We're offering a good deal here and getting nowhere. We have to make a decision though, so I propose we interview some of these men, perhaps they're better in person than they are on paper. I doubt it, but you never know, and we need someone, fast. By the time we get through negotiations and they hand in notice, Bobby's last few weeks will be over…" Pulling one paper out of the file, he placed it on the desk and pointed his finger at the top of the page so his father could see which applicant he had selected as a possibility. Neither of them particularly wanted someone who was too experienced in a professional environment, the job they had open wasn't a traditional public relations role and it definitely wasn't a traditional marketing role, the job wasn't suited to someone who expected to actually be involved in running the business. The recruitment agency didn't quite seem to understand their needs though and continued to send them overqualified or irrelevantly qualified applicants; as he had said to his father though, they needed to make a decision and they needed to do it soon.
"I agree, we need to make a decision. I disagree with you though that we need to interview any of these men, I can see it from these applications they're not right, I'm not wasting my time interviewing to confirm the same", pausing for a moment, Jock made sure he had JR's attention before continuing. "I have a better idea; I wanted to wait until Bobby was here to discuss this but I suppose now is as good a time as any; I think we should bring Jack in for a trial run. From what I've gathered from talking to him he's perfect for the role; he knows oil, he's good with people, and he's a Ewing. Bobby can bring him along on his remaining trips, to train him, and then when he leaves, Jack can take over". Dropping the news on JR, Jock wasn't surprised at all when he received a glare and a very clear, "no"; JR had been downright rude to Jack earlier in the week, but he would just have to get used to his cousin being around, because he wasn't going anywhere if he could help it. He didn't trust just anyone, he wasn't stupid and he hadn't made it as far as he had in life by acting stupidly, he trusted Jack enough though, and from the basic report he'd had put together, he was right to. Jack was likely an opportunist, but he wasn't dangerous or a threat to Ewing Oil, in fact he could be an asset if his talents were exploited just right, and on a personal level, he liked having another person around to tell him exactly what he liked to hear. Jack was running from manual labour in Alaska, but unlike Gary he wasn't running from hard work, and he didn't blame him for wanting something different, drilling was arduous and a smart Ewing knew it wasn't the pathway to the real oil riches. What went on in the offices, restaurants, boardrooms, and hotel rooms of Dallas and greater Texas was where the real money was made, for both the company and the individual.
"No", maintaining the eye contact his father had established, JR stayed silent for a moment before elaborating, "we barely know this Jack person, other than what he's told us, which isn't a whole lot we didn't already know. I don't trust him and I won't have him worming his way into Ewing Oil; he's entitled to nothing and I intend for it to stay that way. I say that as the vice president of Ewing Oil, not as your son; we are not hiring that boy, not for a trial run, not ever". His father wasn't a stupid man, in fact he was a very smart man, but in this instance he was being incredibly naïve and unfair; they didn't know anything about Jack and inviting him to join their company was just about the stupidest thing they could do; his father had to understand that, yet it seemed he didn't. What really got him though was the fact that despite knowing Jack for only a very short period of time, his father already seemed to hold a very favourable opinion of him, he was treating him well, like he treated Bobby, but not like he treated him. Once again, Jock Ewing was being exactly who JR knew him to be, exactly who he claimed not to be; once again, it was everyone but him that received Jock Ewing's positive, caring thoughts and attention. Jack was the new Bobby and there was little he could do about it except fight to ensure his voice was heard; simply wishing his father would take notice and responsibility for his attitude and actions was futile.
To be continued…