JR sits up so that he can look at his daughter when he talks to her. He looks at Sue Ellen, and gives her an encouraging look and nods at her. They both face their daughter as Sue Ellen addresses her.

"Kassidy, what is going on with you?"

Kassidy looks at her mother, not quite ready to open up completely. "What do you mean? Nothing's going on."

JR and Sue Ellen can see that getting Kassidy to open up completely will not be as easy as they'd have hoped. "Kassidy, when you started middle school, you were happy. You started to change, though. You acted out more and you started to rebel more and in more dramatic ways, like not doing your homework and starting to pull away from me. But I thought that it was just a part of you growing up…I didn't think it was anything major. And you still managed to keep yourself on the honor roll. You were just being a typical pre-teen and you'd grow out of it. I thought I just needed to be patient, so I was. I heard stories about what other kids did at that age, and I just thanked my lucky stars that you weren't doing those kinds of things. But--"

Kassidy nods. "See, Mama. I'm just being a normal kid, doing normal things. It's not--"

Sue Ellen continues, cutting her off. "Then, you finished middle school and this summer, you really started acting differently. You made friends with a new group of kids and you wanted less to do with me and started doing more things at the mall and with your friends. But I still believed it was a part of growing up. Not even when I saw evidence of things did I believe I really had to be worried."

"What do you mean by 'evidence', Mama?"

"Well, like when you would come home from a friend's house smelling like smoke. I let myself believe that you had just been near someone who smoked. I believed you when you swore to me that you weren't doing the same things that your friends were doing. I thought that you were a leader."

"Kassidy, don't you get it? Your mother and I trusted you. We thought that all those talks we had with you had made an effect on you."

"You went to high school and you seemed to adjust. You didn't fight me on doing work. On the contrary, I would come home to find that you had done all of your assignments. While some of the other parents I work with were getting notices and phone calls from the school that they needed to attend a conference with the teachers and principal regarding their kids, I took pride in the fact that MY daughter wasn't like that. I even mentioned that to your father and the rest of the family that we had a great daughter."

"Mama--"

"Let me finish, Kassidy. Like I said, I took pride that MY daughter, OUR, your father's and my, daughter wasn't having problems at school like other kids. But we were wrong. Everything was a lie."

"Wait a minute--"

"Don't deny it, Kassidy. Everything was a lie. Turns out our daughter was just like some of those other kids. Notices were coming home, but you intercepted them. You went out of your way to hide what you were doing from us. But it finally caught up with you when Mr. Ackerman called, didn't it? Oh, yes it sure did. Then we learned what our darlin little Kassidy was really up to-smoking, making out with guys, ditching class, drinking-and those are just the things that you weren't too smart to get caught doing!"

"Mama, let me--"

"Explain? You want me to let you explain?" Kassidy nods. "Why? So you can try to lie more? No way. Then as if you weren't in enough trouble, you have a boyfriend in college and you went to a fraternity party with him. Once again, you thought you were too smart to get caught, but John Ross saw you with Luis and you were once again caught. Then to add to it, after he brings you back home, you go upstairs and start drinking -and to the point of passing out! What are you thinking?"

"Mama, give me a chance to say what I have to say, please. Yes, I acted out. Drinking and sneaking out was a major mistake, I know that. I wanted to not be a goody two shoes. I was just trying to look cool and--"

"And what about dating your brother's friend? What about going out to parties without our knowledge, let alone our consent? Why do you feel that you have to act this way?"

"I don't want people always seeing me as a little kid. Mama, I'm just being me. Nothing's changed. I'm still the Kassidy that you know, I'm just growing up…"

JR interrupts. "That's the thing. You're not the same Kassidy. The Kassidy I know wouldn't behave the way you have been behaving. The Kassidy I know--"

Kassidy looks at him with utter contempt. "You DON'T know. You weren't there for most of my life…even when you and Mama were together. You don't have to have you for a father. You don't know what it's like." She turns to look at Sue Ellen. "Neither of you know what it was like."

"You're right. Your father and I really don't know what you felt all those years. But we WANT to understand. Kassidy, please make us understand."

"You really want to know?"

Both JR and Sue Ellen nod.

"Okay then. Being the daughter of JR Ewing has its good things and its bad things. People always know who you are and who your parents are. Growing up, I had to live with the gossip about you and our family from everyone. I knew at a young age that when Mama was pregnant with me that y'all weren't sure who I was for. It's not easy knowing that a kid might very well have fathered you. Then, when I was a little girl, I saw and heard a lot of things that a kid shouldn't see or hear. I heard many arguments when you thought I was asleep. I saw both of you with your respective lovers. I remember seeing Daddy with that Winger tramp and then later on, walking in on him in bed with that Kimberly bimbo. Mama had to calm me down many nights after I got upset with what was going on. I came to see Mama as this awesome person, who was always hurt by Daddy."

JR's fears from earlier that he failed horribly as a father come back to the surface. "Kassidy--"

She ignores him as she continues. "Then I realized that Mama was just like Daddy. First it was Nicholas Pierce. You never knew it, but I saw you guys together, kissing and stuff. You were still married to Daddy! People don't do that to each other and their kids! Then my world shattered when you and Daddy divorced and you moved on with Don. You pulled me away as a little kid and took me to London with you. John Ross stayed with Daddy, and I thought at the time that Daddy chose him over me. I remember toward the end how Daddy fought you for John Ross. I always heard him say "my boy" and I thought that Daddy didn't care about me. Sure Don was nice to me, but he wasn't my Daddy…as flawed as JR was, I still wanted my Daddy."

"Kassidy, your father and I didn't--"

"I heard you argue with Don too, and that hurt me too. After the marriage started to fall apart, I was getting used to having just you and then we come back to Dallas after JR faked his death. My world was shattered when you told me and John Ross that Daddy was dead. I remember crying so much. Then we got here and there JR was, alive and well." She looks straight at JR. "How do you think that looked to me? That confused me beyond belief! Then, Mama and Don divorced and you and she started seeing each other again. But I still remember the times when you two wanted nothing more than to destroy each other. And now, here you two are, together again. Only this time, I'm older and that means there's more pressure on me too. It's like everyone is just waiting for the daughter of the great JR Ewing to make a mistake for the entire world to see. The pressure got the best of me, and so I started acting like that. I acted that way at school and smoking and stuff to just survive being a Ewing. Or at least I thought I needed those things to make it as a Ewing."

"Kassidy, I felt the pressure too. My daddy was the great Jock Ewing and I was scared of him and at the same time, I really respected him and wanted his approval. When I realized that Garry was Mama's favorite and Bobby was my Daddy's, I felt that I would never be good enough, so I became ruthless and hurt many people in the process, including you, John Ross, and your Mama. I realize now that I don't need to be a snake to get respect."

Sue Ellen nods. "I thought I needed the warmth of a man or the company of a bottle when your father and I had problems. But all I did was cause more problems for myself and the family. So, now you need to decide what you're going to do next."

"Well, I certainly don't want to have the reputation I have right now. I want to go through Braddock High with a positive reputation. I'll go to class from now on and I won't smoke or drink or anything like that." She takes a deep breath before continuing. "I really don't know what to do about Luis."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I really like him. He's sweet and all, but--"

JR looks at her. "Kassidy, he's 21, you're 14. At your age, that's too old. He's off limits."

"Your father's right. Seven years might not seem like that much, but at your age, it is. He's an adult and you're still a minor in the eyes of the law."

"I know that. I just don't know how to handle the stares of everyone at school…Becky is Daniel Gregory's little sister and she hears all about what happens with the college kids from him. I just know she's going to tell the whole school."

"I've been there. There were many times when the women in the DOA were talking about me. You just hold your head up high and act like you don't rightly give a care. And of course, we'll be here for you."

"Okay." Kassidy is about to stand up when she remembers that they have not yet discussed her punishment. "Um…I meant to ask…I know I was grounded before I snuck out and stuff. What's the new punishment?"

JR, who has been discussing suitable punishment with Sue Ellen, speaks for them. "Well, you were already grounded for a month. Consider that extended for another 3 weeks. You are not allowed on the phone or out of this house without your mother's or my explicit permission. You are to come home and do your homework and we will check it. Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"Oh, and one more thing. You are on cleaning duties until further notice. You are going to clean this house and wash the car on Saturdays."

"Yes ma'am. I'm going to call Luis right now and tell him it's over."

"Good idea. You have 15 minutes."

Kassidy goes upstairs to her room and dials Luis's phone number.

"Hey Kassidy. How are things?"

"They're okay babe. Listen, we have to talk."

"Yeah, I need to talk to you too."

"Okay, you go first."

"Well, I thought about it. We shouldn't see each other. You're just 14 and in high school. You need to be a kid before you try to be an adult."

"You're breaking up with me?"

"Yes, I am. Sorry to do it like this."

"No, don't be. I was going to break up with you. It's not that I regret anything, it's just that I don't know if I'm ready for a serious relationship like that. And I am just a freshman in high school. I want to enjoy those years."

"Yeah, you should. Anyway, I'm glad we agree. Stay sweet and enjoy yourself."

"I will. Goodbye Luis."

After she hangs up the phone, she goes back downstairs. Surprisingly, she is not that upset. JR and Sue Ellen are still on the couch. Sue Ellen looks up when she comes in.

"Is it over?"

Kassidy nods. "We both agreed that we should break up. I'm fine."

"That's good. You'll have plenty of time for boyfriends…although your father would probably love it if you became a nun or something."

JR bursts out laughing. "You know it Sugar."

Kassidy smiles. "I know I do. Anyway, what's for dinner?"

JR stands up. "How about we go out for steaks and we celebrate a new start for Kassidy and hopefully for our family?"

Kassidy, who loves steak, jumps up. "Let's go!"

"Okay, let's go. I'll wait down here while you and your Mama get ready."

"Okay Daddy." Kassidy turns to go upstairs, then turns back. "Daddy?"

"Yes, darlin'?"

"I just want you and Mama to know that if you guys want to get back together, that's okay with me."

JR and Sue Ellen smile at each other. "Thanks baby."

An hour later, Sue Ellen and Kassidy emerge from their rooms and go back downstairs to wait for JR. He arrives and they all go out for dinner. Over dinner, Sue Ellen whispers something to Kassidy, who nods.

"JR, would you like to come home with us?"

JR looks at his ex-wife and his daughter. "Are you sure?"

Both of them nod. "Kassidy already said it's okay with her."

"Well, then, why not?"

He gets up and they leave the restaurant. As they wait for the car, he and Sue Ellen hold hands and he kisses her cheek tenderly as Kassidy rolls her eyes and laughs. When the car gets there, JR tips the valet and they all get in and head back to Sue Ellen's house as a family.