EPISODE 20
"Starting Over"
Ewing Oil
JR sat in his office, busying himself with various idle tasks as he waited for Sue Ellen. They had planned to have a late dinner. Their schedules had been so hectic over the last several days that they hadn't spent much time together. The rest of the office had long been deserted, and a sense of eeriness permeated the walls. JR thought he heard a noise in the outer office.
He listened momentarily thinking it was probably Sue Ellen. When she didn't appear, he dismissed it as nerves. Though he would never admit it to anyone, this whole Elizabeth Benson/CIA business had him jumpier than a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
“Oh JR, you're getting edgy in your old age,” he thought to himself.
“Good evening, Mr. Ewing,” a voice called.
JR nearly leapt from his chair, his heart pounding as he looked toward the door.
“You again,” he said secretly relieved, sinking back into his chair.
“Yes sir. Did I startle you,” the voice asked?
“No, I was expecting someone else,” JR replied looking anxiously at his watch.
“So whatever it is you want, hurry up and get out of here before they show up.”
“Alright then. I have the papers you required in return for your cooperation on this Elizabeth Benson matter. Let me just say that it was not the easiest thing in the world to do either.”
“I don't give a damn,” JR replied. “I'm takin' all the risks here. If this thing goes bad, you don't stand to lose anything, but we're talkin' about my whole life. Everything and everyone I care about. Give me the papers, I want to have a look at them before I sign anything,” JR said reaching across the desk.
He read quickly through the papers, before signing each of the copies.
“Everything appears to be in order,” he said, handing one to the CIA agent and placing the other in his briefcase temporarily. “What happens now?”
“Now, you arrange a meeting with Ms. Benson and tell her that you are quite willing to do business with her. Tomorrow, I will have a young man from the FBI contact you. His name is Wesley Scott. He will need complete access to all your offices so that wire taps and bugs can be properly installed.”
“FBI. I thought I was just dealing with the CIA?”
“This is a joint operation with the CIA and FBI.”
“Great,” JR said sarcastically, “double the pleasure.”
“What is the best way for him to disguise himself so as not to raise suspicion with anyone,” the CIA agent remarked, ignoring JR's comment.
“I don't have any idea. I thought you people were supposed to be the experts at this kinda thing.”
“We are, but you know the people who work for you better than we do.”
JR rubbed his forehead, thinking, “How about we say that we're wiring the whole building for, what is it they call it, that stupid Internet stuff. Oh hell,” he said disgustedly.
“DSL,” the agent replied?
“Yeah, that's it. Would that work?”
“That's the perfect cover. I'll see to it.”
“Good,” JR said looking again to his watch, “now could you get out of here? I'm expecting my wife any minute.”
“Certainly, Mr. Ewing. We'll be in touch.” And with that, the agent vanished as quickly and quietly as he appeared. JR propped his elbows on the desk and rested his face in his hands, rubbing gently. After several minutes had passed, he asked himself out loud,
“How in the hell did I get mixed up in this mess?”
“What mess,” Sue Ellen asked entering the office?
JR looked up from his hands. “Hi Sugar. I didn't hear you come in,” he said smiling and rising from his seat. He walked over to her, embracing her tightly and kissing her lips softly. He stood for several seconds just hugging her close to him.
“Are you ready for dinner? Where do you want to go, the Oil Barons?”
“No,” she said closing the door and pulling him toward the sofa. “I want you to tell me what kind of mess you're in now.”
“It's nothing for you to worry about, darlin'.”
“JR, I thought we agreed when I came back to you that we would be honest with one another,” she replied, becoming more agitated and turning her back to him.
“I guess I was wrong again. You'll never change. You always have to have some secret from me.”
“Sue Ellen,” he said compassionately, taking her by the shoulders so she had to face him, “I have been honest with you. I know that you probably are thinking it's one of two things. You're thinking either, I have another woman, which I don't, or that I'm involved in something dirty, underhanded and illegal, which I'm not. I just can't tell you what's goin' on right now.”
“How are we ever gonna build a real relationship if you don't trust me,” she said wiggling out of his grip and standing to her feet.
JR sat back on the sofa as she looked at him and sighed deeply. “Alright darlin', you win. Sit back down and I'll tell you the whole long, drawn out story.”
Sue Ellen returned to the sofa, and this time it was JR who stood. After about thirty minutes of constant talking, JR finished his story and returned to the sofa. Sue Ellen sat stunned.
“John Ross Ewing, Jr.,” she said raising her voice angrily, “exactly how long were you planning on keeping secret from me that you intended to endanger our lives.”
JR started to respond angrily, but he knew he was in trouble because she was using his full name. He decided to try to stay calm and sat down on the sofa beside her. He took a deep breath and replied sternly, “Our lives are not in danger, yet, and I don't know the answer to that question. I suppose I hadn't really thought the whole thing through completely. I was just trying to do what I thought was best. I didn't mean to upset you. You have to know,” he said looking powerfully into her eyes, “that I would never, ever let anything happen to you.”
“When are you gonna learn that what affects you involves me as well. JR, it's taken almost thirty years for us to have half a chance of making our relationship work. I don't want to lose that. I don't think I could take another heartbreak with you.”
JR pulled her close to him, “I love you Sue Ellen, and I promise I'll never break your heart again. I promise, but I didn't have a choice in any of this particular mess. I was damned if I did and damned if I didn't.”
She pulled back and looked deep into his eyes, “But you had no right to keep it from me. You should have told me.”
JR touched her cheek softly, “I wanted to tell you, but I wasn't supposed to tell anyone. I thought I was protecting you,” he whispered, resting his cheek against hers. “I'm sorry.”
“I suppose you're forgiven this time, but in the future, I would appreciate your honesty, and openness. Most of all JR, you have to trust me. Agreed?”
“Agreed, darlin',” he replied.
“Now,” she responded, rising to her feet, “you promised me some dinner and I'm starving.”
“You know darlin',” he said grinning mischievously, pulling her back toward the sofa into his lap, and kissing her passionately, “I'm hungry too.” He slid his hand inside her revealing blouse, and whispered, “But what would you say about a little dessert before dinner?”
“Hmm,” she smiled as he kissed down her neck, “dessert always was my favorite part of the meal.”
