“Excuse me, Iris?” Jack tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around.

“Yes?” She wasn't particularly warm.

“Have you seen Sue Ellen?”

“Why would I have?” She was a little snappy---was that woman everywhere?

“Because she went to get some more wine with J.R. I just talked to Miss Ellie.”

“Well I haven't seen her. Or J.R. for that matter,” she said as much more of an aside.

“Miss Ellie asked them to get the wine two hours ago.”

Iris and Jack both looked at each other. It was almost as if looking into a mirror, an amalgam of anxiety and jealousy reflecting off one another.

A Secluded Corner of Southfork

“God Rex, I hate it here. Especially seeing Cliff,” Afton barked into her cell phone.

“Well dear, get over it,” Rex spoke from his penthouse patio. “I want information. Get into his good graces.”

“How am I supposed to do that?”

“You're a smart girl. Figure it out.”

“Not when he's with that hick bitch,” Afton spouted back.

“Do it Afton.” Rex hung up his phone and looked at the Dallas skyline. It was pointless. He had officially decided that Afton Cooper was useless in hurting Cliff Barnes. Useless while she was alive, that is.

Yes, Rex had a plan. Afton would die, but he would not be suspected. And Cliff Barnes would suffer the ultimate tragedy.

The Basement

The door to Southfork's cellar was not sufficient to mask the laughter the emanated from it. Jack recognized the distinctive feminine laughter of Sue Ellen, while Iris knew J.R.'s laugh right away.

Iris sped up her pace and walked over to the cellar door, opening it in one swift motion. Sue Ellen and J.R. were sitting across from each other on the top landing, laughing hysterically. There were two cases of wine next to J.R. The two looked up when the door opened, a look of shock on their face.

“Thank God!” J.R. said. He quickly stood up. Iris just put her hands on her hips. Jack tried to peek out from behind her.

“Jack!” Sue Ellen quickly said, getting up. It seemed a little too quick to him, almost as if she was covering something. He accepted her embrace nonetheless.

“Thanks darlin'” J.R. said to Iris, giving her a peck on the cheek. “I thought we were going to be trapped in there forever.”

“What happened?” Iris said almost accusingly.

“We got locked in. There's something wrong with the cellar door,” Sue Ellen turned halfway around, her arms on Jack's waist.

Jack and Iris wanted to believe what they were saying, but there was something wrong with the situation. Something didn't feel right. The tension that normally existed between Sue Ellen and J.R., which hung in the air like some curtain of anger, seemed to be gone. It didn't help that J.R. and Sue Ellen couldn't even look at each other.

Southfork

“Where have you been?” Cally asked as she walked up behind her ex-husband.

“Well Cally, I didn't even know you'd be here. Figured it was too fancy for you.”

“Quit it J.R. I got something to say.”

“Where's Justin?”

“With Jillian. Listen to me.” J.R. wasn't about to pay her any mind. “Listen to me!”

“What?”

“I'm leaving Dallas.”

“Don't give up painting for comedy. Doesn't suit you.”

“I'm leaving.” She never took her gaze off him.

“Like hell you are. Not with my boy at least.”

“That's exactly what I'm doing. You can't stop me.”

“Damn right I can.”

“Not this time, J.R. I'm not going to let you control me. Never again.”

“Well what are you planning on doing?”

Cally produced a piece of typewritten paper from her purse. She handed it to him. “Justin's been accepted to a study abroad program. It's like school on a ship. They go to different cities all over the world and base their lessons around the places that they visit. I've read about it. It's hard to get into. Everybody says great things about it.”

“He's not going.”

“Oh he is going, and you're paying for it.”

“Hell will freeze over. Not when he's just come to Dallas.”

“He wants to go. You'll see him again. You can visit him in the cities the ship goes to.”

“You're going to let him go by himself? What kind of a mother are you! He's ten.”

“I'm a good mother, and you know that. I'd go with him.”

“You can leave Dallas and move to the hills, I don't care. My boy isn't going anywhere.”

“Alright, then I'm telling Miss Ellie everything.”

“About what?”

“About what you did. How you tried to make me think I was crazy. I got Sue Ellen on my side, and I've got Jack. She'll believe us. She'll believe me.”

“You're crazy. And Momma won't believe you; she knows you're crazy too. She's just to nice to let you know.”

“But Sue Ellen's not, and neither is Jack. John Ross knows too, J.R. He'll tell her. Why do you think he gave Sue Ellen his share of Ewing Oil?”

“She still won't believe it.” His voice was starting to waver.

“Do you want her to even suspect? Could you look her in the face and deny it.” Cally's voice was filled with fury. “I'll find that woman that helped you if I have to. I'm not letting you do this to our son.”

“I'm not doing anything! You're the one that wants to take him away from his father.”

“I'm the one that's listening to what this little boy wants, and thinking of him for once. Did you even consider how Justin was going to react if you really got custody of him? If I stayed in jail?”

“I'm always thinking of my son.”

“You're thinking of yourself and how you want him here, just like you want to run this family and run Ewing Oil and run everything else. Well not this time. Justin is my son too, and I'm not letting you control him the way you tried to control James!”

“He wants to stay here.”

“Do you know that? Have you really talked to him J.R.? He wants this more than anything else, anything that I've ever seen. He applied and got in all by himself. You should be proud of him. You should encourage him.”

“How long is the trip?”

“Six months.”

“How do I know you wouldn't run again?”

“You found me before, didn't you.” She paused. “I wouldn't do that to Justin. He's too crazy about you. I love him too much to do that.”

“I want to talk to him. To make sure this is what he wants.”

“Be my guest. The pricing is all on the back of that paper. We can talk later about how to pay and all that.” She began to walk away.

“Cally,” J.R. called after her. She turned around. “Am I going to see you again?”

“When you do, it's on my terms. That's the way it's going to be from now on J.R. My terms.” With that, she turned around and walked away.

J.R. smiled. He taught her well.

Southfork, sunset

Pam was standing off by herself looking out over the ranch. The setting sun cast a soft pink glow all around her. The argument with Cliff had really upset her. They hadn't fought like that since the early days right after she had first married Bobby.

Bobby saw her silhouetted against the setting sun and came up behind her. “Hey, I've been missing my dancing partner, where have you been?”

As she turned to look at him, he saw the hurt in her eyes. Bobby reached out and gently touched her cheek. “What's wrong Pammy?”

“Oh Bobby, Cliff and I had a horrible fight.” Pam turned and slipped her arms around him, settling her cheek against his shoulder.

Bobby made a mental note to have a little talk with his 'dear' brother-in-law. Pam didn't need any added stress while she was pregnant. “What about?”

Pam leaned back so she could see his face. “It was about Megan. And it was awful.” As she remembered the fight, her sadness was quickly turning to anger again. “You know, I don't think he'll ever change. I thought things were different now, but he still hates the Ewings so much. Can you believe he actually made it sound as though we were stealing Megan!”

Bobby looked at her with a slightly bemused look. “Well, he may have a point there… Christopher did just go and take her.”

Pam pouted, “But Cliff didn't know that… he doesn't know she's here yet. He actually brought up my being a 'traitor' to my family by marrying you.”

Bobby chuckled in earnest. “You may be right, some things never change!” He tightened his grip around her waist. “Come on, let's forget about Cliff. I hate to waste this beautiful sunset talking about him. I think we could find much better things to do.” He said with a twinkle in his eye.

Pam looked into his eyes and smiled warmly. “You're right, dance with me.”

Bobby raised his eyebrows. “Dance? Are you sure that's what you want to do?”

Pam moved her arms from his waist and put them around his neck. They kissed, and then Pam pulled away from his embrace, taking him by the hand. “I want to dance… for now.”

Bobby sighed, “All right.” He led her to the dance floor where a few couples were still swaying to the now soft and slow music. It felt good to be warm and safe in Bobby's arms. She breathed in the night air and let her eyes close. Then she suddenly remembered that she had some news of her own for him… but how to tell him?”

Southfork, Inside, later...

The setting sun cast a peaceful glow on Southfork's living room. The yellow and orange mixing on the walls, only to fade into the darkness of the ground. Ellie stepped inside but didn't bother turning on the light. She enjoyed the serenity of the darkness. Across the room, she could clearly see Jock's picture above the mantel. Proud, strong, vibrant, just as he was in life.

Ellie moved over to the picture, looked up and smiled. She hadn't talked with him for a while. Part of her felt a little silly; no one knew she had these conversations with Jock. But she knew he was listening.

She hadn't felt the way she did in a while. Things didn't look so bleak. The family was together, truly together, after so many years.

“Sometimes I wish you could see us Jock. Everything's changed so much since you were here. I wish you were here. I miss you so much, everyday.”

“We're stronger now, the family. You were always right. Alone we're tough, but together we're unbeatable.” Ellie laughed. “We weren't always like that, though, were we?” She paused. “Bobby and J.R. are getting along. It's hard to believe, but I think those days are finally behind us. I thought Bobby was lost forever. I tried not to give up hope. I could only be so strong. I knew that you would watch over him, though. You brought him back.”

“And there is wonderful news, Bobby and Pam are going to have another baby! I still can't believe Pam's come back to us after all these years. They're still as in love as they were when he first brought her here all those years ago. It's amazing how strong their love is. It even got to you,” Ellie said as she laughed again. “I know you were fonder of Pam than you let on. In many ways, they remind me of us in our younger days.” Her eyes misted over.

“You've missed out on so much. You wouldn't believe the grandchildren! You only got to see John Ross; I wish you could have seen them all. The boys, John Ross and Christopher, remind me so much of Bobby and JR sometimes… I wish you could have been here when Bobby and Pamela finally had their baby. They had waited so long.” Ellie smiled, “You would have grumbled about wanting another grandson, but I know you would have loved little Gracie.”

“And Christopher! I wish you could have known him Jock. He's grown into such a fine young man. He's had some rough spots the last two years, but he's a good husband and a good father. He's married to a wonderful woman, and she's got a son of her own. You're a great grandfather, twice over. But you'd be proud of him. He's like his father---he's like you. He survives.”

“J.R.'s calmed down a bit.” Ellie paused. “Alright, maybe not. But Ewing Oil is as strong as ever. You would be proud of him. There isn't a day that goes by that he doesn't think of you, or what you built.”

“Sue Ellen is his partner believe it or not. She's come so far. She's a businesswoman in her own right. She doesn't drink anymore, and her commitment to this family is as strong as it could be. She and J.R. are off again, on again as they always are. Some things never change.”

“John Ross is quite an impressive site. He reminds me so much of his father---and of you. He's a father now too, to a beautiful little girl and a boy. You're head would roll Jock. The mother of little Megan is Cliff Barnes' girl. But Cliff's changed too. He's calmed down. He and J.R. are still at it all the time, but Cliff's like Digger was---when we both met him.”

“Donna and Ray have found their way back to each other after all these years, where they belong. They just announced their remarriage tonight. I know you'd be happy for them.

“You'd be the so proud of Gary, Jock. He's still in Knots Landing with Valene. They've made a wonderful life for themselves. He's strong---he's got your strength. He's successful in his own right, and he makes me incredibly proud that he's my son. Our son.”

“Lucy's grown up too. A lot. It took her a little while, but I think she's found someone she really cares about. She's much more focused than she ever was. On everything. Not the little girl that used to run around and get in trouble whenever you'd turn your head.”

“So much has changed Jock. The last two years especially have been a whirlwind. There are just so many people I wish you could have met. J.R. has three children that you've never even met. But they know about you. We've all made sure of that.”

Ellie paused, swallowing audibly. “Clayton's gone now too. I miss him. I miss him so much. But I know he's with you and that you're both watching out for each other. Take care of him. He took care of me.”

Ellie walked over to Jock's portrait, and planted a kiss on it with her fingers. She stared at it for another moment. Sounds from the barbecue filtered through the windows, music that Ellie didn't recognize. She walked over to the piano, Clayton's picture smiling up at her. She ran her fingers across it, a smile appearing on her face and tears welling up in her eyes. She missed him. But she knew he was safe, with Jock.

(Click here to download the music for this final scene)

She took a seat on the piano bench and didn't take her eyes off of Clayton's picture as she began to play and sing softly to herself...

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me,
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see...

Ellie took her eyes away from Clayton's picture and looked at Jock, staring down at her from above the fireplace and still, she played.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed...

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home....

Ellie's voice trailed off into tears as she stared at the picture, but then she began to laugh. Everything would be alright, she realized. Her family was together. The Ewings. It was pretty amazing what they had been through--and survived. She marveled to herself and smiled as she resumed her singing...

Credits Roll... (For the 100th time!)