Shortly after the rodeo, Miss Ellie was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. Pam kept the news from Digger until it was certain she was out of danger.
Digger insisted on seeing her straight away. "You don't understand how I feel about Ellie, do you, Pam?"
He visited her at Dallas Memorial Hospital, presenting her with a bunch of wildflowers.
Digger: I remember how you used to look when you picked those in the fields
- face lit up, glowing.
Ellie: Digger, you have the longest memory.
Ellie was pleased to see him, and they arranged to meet again after she had
been released from hospital. They sat on a park bench and reminisced about
their courting days.
Ellie: Nobody ever realised how gentle you were.
Digger: Only you. 'Course, I had a terrible temper - still do. I wish things had worked out differently. We were good for each other ... We still are. Do you know how much I've always loved you?
Ellie: Digger, Willard Barnes - always the romantic ... Right now, I wish I could blank out the last few weeks and become that girl you remember.
Digger: You can, with me.
He asked her to come away with him, to leave Texas for a while.
Ellie: I belong at Southfork, Digger.
Digger: With Jock? You don't need him, Ellie. He's cold, he's mean. He stole
my oil, he stole you from me ... If it wasn't for Jock Ewing, we'd be
married right now. We'd be on top of the world. I'd be rich, I'd have my own
oil company. I'd be respected, and powerful. Jock Ewing ruined it for both
of us.
Ellie: No, Digger, you wouldn't have changed, and neither would I. I'd still
be just the same, no different. I wanted to turn the clock back. I can't do
that. I'm sorry, Digger.
Miss Ellie bade him a fond farewell and returned home to Southfork. Digger
remained behind, wondering what he had said or done wrong.
As a result of his work at the Office of Land Management, Cliff had been
approached to run for congress. Persuaded of the level of grass-roots
support in his district, he announced his candidacy. This meant resigning
from the O.L.M. to avoid a conflict of interest. Digger proudly endorsed his
son, but the crusade came to an abrupt end when all of Cliff's campaign
contributions mysteriously dried up, and he was forced to withdraw from the
race. Cliff was convinced that the campaign had been sabotaged by JR Ewing,
but he had no proof. The idea of another Ewing victory was enough to start
Digger drinking again.
When a reporter from the Dallas Press arrived at Cliff's apartment for an
interview, she found a drunken Digger bitterly recounting all the losses he
had suffered at the hands of Jock Ewing: "He stole my oil wells, he's got
all the money ... stole my daughter ... Now, he's got my grandson." Digger
went on to reveal the secret of John Ross Ewing III's paternity. When the
reporter asked Cliff to confirm the story, he did so.
The allegations made front page headlines, and the prominent Ewing family found themselves knee-deep in scandal. A furious Pam asked Cliff to explain himself.
Cliff: Don't you see? They're trying to strip me of everything - just like
they did [Digger]. Well, this time history's not gonna repeat itself. I'm
not gonna retire quietly to the bottle. If I go down, I take JR with me.
The Ewings filed a libel suit and so Cliff, goaded by Digger, demanded a
paternity test. JR was forced to comply. While waiting for the results,
Digger's anticipation of finally achieving victory over the Ewings was
tempered by his concern for the baby's health. Cliff assured him that so far
they had lucky; Little John displayed none of the symptoms of
neurofibromatosis. It transpired that luck had nothing to do with it. The
paternity test revealed conclusively that JR Ewing was the baby's father. It
was a bitter blow, especially for Cliff.
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