Season 3 - 1980-81
(Please note these are the original series Episode seasons. For the DVD release 1980-81 is termed Seson 4)

NOTE: Guest stars Ted Shackelford (Gary) and Joan Van Ark (Val) cross over from the spin-off series, "Knots Landing."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

56.NO MORE MR. NICE GUY: Part II
Original Air Date: Friday, November 09, 1980

As J.R. undergoes his second operation, Bobby takes over Ewing Oil with Jock's blessing. Sue Ellen tries to combat the guilt that makes her believe she may have shot her husband in a drunken stupor. She unsuccessfully fights against the operation that could either let J.R. walk again or cost him his life. Alan Beam is brought back to Dallas by the police. Cliff Barnes is taken into custody. Marilee Stone institutes a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the Ewings. Lucy meets and is frustrated by a poor medical student who resists her advances.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

57. NIGHTMARE
Original Air Date: Friday, November 14, 1980

J.R. fights to overcome the helplessness of his paralysis as Bobby finds that his efforts to run Ewing Oil are thwarted by J.R., even from his hospital bed. Miss Ellie finds the gun used to shoot her son, and the evidence points to someone in the immediate family. Sue Ellen tries to deal with her continuing nightmares that indicate she is the one who shot her husband. J.R.'s power is felt throughout Dallas as Cliff is suspended from his job and Bobby is frustrated in his efforts to run Ewing Oil.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

58.WHO DONE IT?
Original Air Date: Friday, November 21, 1980

Sue Ellen's fingerprints are identified on the gun that was used to shoot J.R. She is arrested and jailed in the shooting of her husband. She is further devastated when the Ewings abandon her, leaving her to languish in jail. After bail is mysteriously posted from an unknown source, Sue Ellen seeks solace from her sister, Kristin. Sue Ellen seeks answers through hypnosis sessions with her psychiatrist, Dr. Ellby. These sessions lead to the answer of who shot J.R.

NOTE: 2nd highest rate show in TV history! Avg. Audience 53.3%; 41,470,000 people; 76 share (#1 is the Mash series finale)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

59. A TASTE OF SUCCESS
Original Air Date: Friday, November 28, 1980

Bobby, Ewing Oil's new president, finds the power intoxicating, which promotes apprehension in both Pamela and J.R. Bobby works hard to buy an oil refinery - something Jock has always wanted and which J.R. could never accomplish. When J.R. learns of his brother's intention, he tries to sabotage Bobby's plan, which leads to another inevitable clash between the brothers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

60. THE VENEZUELAN CONNECTION
Original Air Date: Friday, December 05, 1980

The conflict between J.R. and Bobby escalates as Bobby refuses to step down as president of Ewing Oil. Jock finds himself caught in the middle of the conflict between his two sons. Bobby seems to be doing a better job for Ewing Oil, even making a deal for Venezuelan oil to the new refinery. Pam continues to search for her mother. Lucy introduces Mitch to her friends with disastrous results.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

61.THE FOURTH SON
Original Air Date: Friday, December 12, 1980

The sinking of an oil tanker and the loss of 600,000 gallons of crude oil has J.R. delighted, but to Bobby, it is only an inconvenience. Then he discovers that the oil was not insured and the loss could total over $18,000,000 for Ewing Oil. At the ranch, Ray greets a very unwelcome guest, his father, Krebbs, whom he hasn't seen or heard from since he was a kid. Krebbs has some very disturbing news for the entire Ewing family.

broadcast: 12-Dec-1980 pc: 189008 written by: Howard Lakin d: Irving J. Moore

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

62. TROUBLE AT EWING 23
Original Air Date: Friday, December 19, 1980

An extortionist, threatening to blow up Ewing 23, gives J.R. an opportunity to put a halt on his fading fortunes with the company and the family by out-maneuvering Bobby. Ray has to come to grips with his new-found identity and face the fact that he may be losing Donna to Cliff.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

63. THE PRODIGAL MOTHER
Original Air Date: Friday, January 02, 1981

Pamela believes that she has at last found her mother. Lucy asks Mitch to marry her. J.R. closes in on what he thinks is his brother's reckless running of Ewing Oil. The woman Pam thinks is her mother dashes all hopes for a reconciliation and Pam abandons her quest. Lucy and Mitch defy all of the built-in pitfalls of their romance. J.R. stumbles onto a scheme which he intends to use to put Bobby in trouble with their father.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

64.EXECUTIVE WIFE
Original Air Date: Friday, January 09, 1981

J.R. encourages his father to consummate a business deal, fully aware that the venture will conflict with his brother's investment plans and leave Ewing Oil with a serious cash flow problem. Pam, feeling that she places a poor second to her husband's work, receives the attention she is lacking from Bobby from someone else. Lucy makes an announcement which is unsettling to the Ewing clan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

65. END OF THE ROAD: Part I
Original Air Date: Friday, January 16, 1981

J.R.'s attention to Lucy's future sister-in-law is almost enough to divert his attention from getting Bobby's job as head of Ewing Oil. He is quick to capitalize on Bobby's rash actions. Mitch's sister and mother arrive for the upcoming wedding of Mitch and Lucy and J.R. takes an immediate interest in the new arrivals, which worries Sue Ellen. Bobby finds himself in a tough position after he enters into an oil drilling agreement which will put the company back on good terms with the cartel, even though he knows that Jock has already invested its capital in the land development. J.R. delights in the bind in which his brother has placed the company and investigates a scheme of his own to make Bobby look bad in their father's eyes.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

66. END OF THE ROAD: Part II
Original Air Date: Friday, January 23, 1981

Events at Lucy and Mitch's wedding at Southfork have far more impact on the Ewing family than is apparent to the assembled guests. Lucy Ewing becomes Mrs. Mitchell Cooper. Sue Ellen discovers J.R. getting much too friendly with Mitch's sister and consequently makes her own play for an old boyfriend. J.R. is not as delighted as he expected to be when Bobby resigns as president of Ewing Oil. Miss Ellie shocks Jock by accusing him of behavior for which she can never forgive him.

broadcast: 23-Jan-1981 pc: 189013 written by: Leonard Katzman d: Irving J. Moore

NOTE: Guest stars Ted Shackelford (Gary) and Joan Van Ark (Val) cross over from the spin-off series, "Knots Landing."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

67. MAKING OF A PRESIDENT
Original Air Date: Friday, January 30, 1981

J.R. may have met his match in a high-pressure public relations woman whom he hires to improve his tarnished image as he resumes the reins of Ewing Oil. The prospect of a national image as the all-American business man is attractive to J.R., but even more so is the provocative woman who proposes working to replace his horns with a halo. J.R. is, confused by Bobby's actions after giving up the presidency of the company, as is Pam, whom Sue Ellen discovers is having a rendezvous with a male business associate. At Southfork, coolness prevails as Miss Ellie is unforgiving of Jock for his part in the recent events in the Ewing family.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

68. START THE REVOLUTION WITH ME
Original Air Date: Friday, February 06, 1981

J.R. takes steps to re-establish his power and increase his wealth, even if it means reshaping history and violating the laws of the land. His campaign for power puts J.R. further under the influence of Leslie Stewart who, much to his frustration keeps him at arm's length. He also goes ahead with his plans to topple the government who confiscated his foreign oil fields even though it could lead to prison time if he is caught. Bobby's ambition to purchase a solar energy company again alienates him from Pam. Sue Ellen combats Leslie by resuming an old friendship with Clint Ogden. Cliff is disappointed by Donna Culver. Miss Ellie is still resentful of Ray's influence with Jock.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

69. THE QUEST
Original Air Date: Friday, February 13, 1981

J.R.'s conniving affects the lives of Bobby, Pam, Cliff, Donna, and Ray, but Sue Ellen is ignored as he refuses to acknowledge the fact that she is being followed. J.R.'s influence seems to have no bounds as he works to make sure that Cliff does not get chosen to run for public office. When his plans backfire and draw in Bobby and Pam, he is even more pleased at what fortune has brought him, which even includes an implied promise from Leslie Stewart. Sue Ellen can't get anyone to believe that she is being followed and J.R. could not care less, so she takes matters into her own hands, which results in a shocking revelation.m

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

70. LOVER COME BACK
Original Air Date: Friday, February 20, 1981

Luck seems to follow J.R. as his foreign coup brings the cartel back to Ewing Oil. Jock has his own surprise for the family. Donna Culver and Ray are reunited and plan to marry. Mitch discovers that Lucy has been lying to him. Sue Ellen is shocked to find that Dusty Farlow is still alive but unwilling to resume their old relationship.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

71. THE NEW MRS. EWING
Original Air Date: Friday, February 27, 1981

Donna Culver becomes the new Mrs. Ewing as she and Ray marry. The newlywed's happiness is not reflected in the rest of the Ewing family as the cold war between Jock and Miss Ellie escalates. Bobby forms a new alliance with Cliff, but his growing jealousy over Pam compels him to a confrontation with Alex Ward. Lucy is happy to win the title of Miss Young Dallas which again makes Mitch feel inferior. Leslie Stewart succeeds in driving a wedge between J.R. and the cartel to further her own ambitions.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

72. MARK OF CAIN
Original Air Date: Friday, March 13, 1981

J.R. succumbs to the cunning of Leslie Stewart, who now knows she has the head of Ewing Oil right where she wants him. Bobby is caught in the middle of Jock and Miss Ellie's feud. He is put in the same uncomfortable position while taking his new place on the senate committee which will decide the future of Takapa. Pam enters a new phase in the relationship with her and Cliff's mother. Sue Ellen continues to seek comfort from Clint Ogden. The new "Young Miss Dallas" makes life very difficult for Mitch.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

73. THE GATHERING STORM
Original Air Date: Friday, March 27, 1981

Discord haunts the head of the Ewing clan as Jock threatens to sell the company business if Miss Ellie divorces him. Jock and Ellie become even more estranged when they learn Bobby is on the senate committee investigating the Takapa development project. J.R. manipulates Jock into declaring he'd sell Ewing Oil if he and Ellie are divorced. Lucy's "Young Miss Dallas" career is actively driving a wedge into her marriage to Mitch. Cliff gets wind of J.R.'s involvement in the Asian Oil scam. Pam warns her mother about Cliff's motives. Clint urges Sue Ellen to divorce J.R.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

74. EWING VS. EWING
Original Air Date: Friday, April 03, 1981

Donna and Ray try to reconcile Jock and Miss Ellie, and find there is more to their discontent than the Takapa project. Ellie has consulted an attorney regarding divorce. J.R. accelerates his efforts to sellout Ewing oil. Leslie Stewart's past dealings are revealed when her ex-husband shows up in Dallas. Cliff learns about his mother from Pam. Bobby stuns everyone at the senate hearings on Takapa. Meanwhile, the differences between Mitch and Lucy grow wider.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

75. NEW BEGINNINGS
Original Air Date: Friday, April 10, 1981

Jock and Miss Ellie's reconciliation results in a second honeymoon for them, but it stalls J.R.'s scheme to sell Ewing Oil. Westar Oil's Jeremy Wendell plots revenge on J.R. for reneging on their deal. Donna threatens J.R. after he sets up Ray for a falling out with the family. Sue Ellen meets Clint's wife. Leslie earns applause from her ex-husband for manipulating J.R. Cliff vacillates about meeting his and Pam's mother. A peaceful moment for Sue Ellen and J.R. is broken by news of Kristin.

broadcast: 10-Apr-1981 written by: Arthur Bernard Lewis d: Irving J. Moore

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

76. FULL CIRCLE
Original Air Date: Friday, April 17, 1981

Kristin Shepard returns and reveals another scheme. Sue Ellen meets Dusty again. Lucy moves out on Mitch. Cliff uses Westar's help in building evidence against J.R. and hands it over to Bobby's senate committee. J.R. consults a lawyer about gaining custody of John Ross. Rebecca and Cliff meet at last.

broadcast: 17-Apr-1981 written by: Arthur Bernard Lewis d: Michael Preece

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

77. Ewing-Gate
gs: Susan Howard (Donna Krebbs) Susan Flannerey (Leslie Stewart) Leigh J. McCloskey (Mitch Cooper) Audrey Landers (Afton Cooper) Morgan Woodward (Marvin "Punk" Anderson) David Healey (Senator) Len Birman (Claude Brown) Jay Varella (Senator) Joseph Warren (Senator) Byron Morrow () James Hong (Ambassador) Jared Martin (Steven "Dusty" Farlow) Howard Keel (Clayton Farlow) William Smithers (Jeremy Wendell) Mary Crosby (Kristin Shephard)

JR gets a security force to keep the press away from the ranch in light of the recent news of the impending investigation. Ellie calls from Paris after reading about the investigation in a newspaper. JR maintains his innocence and says he'll take care of Cliff's troublemaking - there's nothing to worry about. Ellie agrees to keep the news from Jock.

Dusty wants Sue Ellen to face JR and take John Ross away with her but Sue Ellen maintains it's not the right time - she knows JR won't just let her take him. Her plan is to take the child away while JR's in Austin. Clayton tells her the Farlows have enough resources to help Sue Ellen win any court battle.

JR asks Senator Arvilla to tell him what evidence the committee has but the Senator says his hands are tied because the Department of Justice is overlooking the case. JR promises to remember this at election time. As he exits the senator's office, he is given a subpoena to testify in one week. Louella is served with the same papers. JR calls Louella and tells her to find Claude Brown and get him out of the country. Sue Ellen calls the office and Phyllis tells her that JR and Louella are still in Austin. Sue Ellen goes to collect John Ross that night but she dilly-dallys somewhat and just as she is about to leave, JR walks in and grabs his son, while his security guard grabs Sue Ellen. Sue Ellen tells him that she'll get her son back - one way or the other. JR repeats that he'd kill her first. Pam witnesses the exchange and berates JR for what he's doing. JR tells her to stay out of his way or he'll destroy her too.

Leslie goes to see Wendell and says she has proof that JR financed the counter-revolution. She says she'll present it to the committee in exchange for the promise of becoming Weststar's exclusive media consultant. She asks Jeremy to come by her place tonight to check out the proof.

Kristin comes to Ewing Oil and asks JR for more money, threatening to cause further scandal to the Ewings if he doesn't pay up. JR reluctantly agrees but asks for some time.

Punk and Ray celebrate the success of their latest project. Punk is so impressed by the way Ray's handled himself lately that he offers him a 3 percent share of Unified Development for 3 million dollars. Ray hedges about the amount of money but Punk reminds him that Donna can cover it easily. Besides, Jock will be thrilled. That seems to make up Ray's mind. He calls his banker and asks him to make up a check for the 3 million dollars. He tries to call Donna in Washington but she's out. Later in the day Donna returns to Dave Culver's office and the banker tells her about the withdrawal. Confused, she says she agrees to the withdrawal. Then she decides to return to Dallas.

JR is advised by his lawyer to find out what evidence the Senate committee has against him - it appears to be his only hope. JR gets Afton to drug Cliff, and JR and Harry McSween search his apartment, finding the briefcase, and taking photographs.

The trial begins. Marilee and Jordan tell the committee that they believed that JR was behind the coup - he's capable of anything. Claude Brown tells the court about his trip through Switzerland as his distribution of money to key figures in Asia. He admits that the money was used and intended to finance the counter-revolution. Leslie is next and submits the tape she made of her conversation shortly after the coup took place, in which JR admits his guilt.

Finally, JR testifies. He says that there's a simple explanation to all of this: the money was not intended to bribe anyone or finance the coup; it was simply a philanthropic gesture to the country in the hopes that they would look favorably on Ewing Oil as a business. He says he lied to Leslie about being responsible for it all because he wanted to impress her. JR calls on Lam Thong, ambassador to the U.S., who tells the court that the money was used to build schools and hospitals in the developing country, and indicates that he has full receipts for all of the money that Claude brought to Asia. The ambassador also mentions that JR's generosity has extended even to the donation of 10 percent of all of his oil profits to help the country's infrastructure - which comes as a bit of surprise to JR. The committee declares JR and Ewing Oil innocent.

Cliff says he doesn't know how JR got himself off but he'll slip up someday. JR laughs it off. Cliff accuses Bobby of handing over the evidence to JR, which Bobby denies. Bobby asks Cliff to come to Southfork that night and talk about it and Cliff agrees.

JR triumphantly returns to Ewing Oil and asks Louella to type up a letter of recommendation. He fires her for not getting Claude out of the country like he asked. He visits Leslie that night and tells her he's not upset at her - she did just what he would do in her position. He says he still wants her if she's interested and she seems to agree.

Sue Ellen comes to Pam's office and tells her about Dusty. She asks Pam to give her a little help...

Kristin calls someone in California and says that a certain someone is going to pay for spurning her.

JR arrives home the next morning to find John Ross gone. The security guard tells him that Pam took him for a ride. JR tells them to find her immediately. He also gets Harry to alert the highway patrol to find Pam's car.

Cliff arrives at Southfork that night and sees a female body floating in the pool. He jumps in and sees JR looking down from the balcony, giving him the Line of the Day.

broadcast: 01-May-1981 written by: Leonard Katzman d: Leonard Katzman

NOTE: This was Jim Davis Last episode. Even though his character lived on in South America throughout the beginning of season 5, the actor Died during the Spring of 1981.

DALLAS RECAPS
Relive episodes of Dallas in pictures in the Recap section.

LOCATIONS
Delve into the world of Southfork Ranch and Ewing Oil.