A Family Matter

Knots Landing 

Season 2 Episode 9

Airdate:  January 22, 1981

Recap:  Val, Karen and Abby are all in the car, and talking about JR coming to town for an oil convention.  Abby tells them that she is interested in him, and Karen tells her about the last time he was in town.  They ask her who she is meeting at the hotel, but she won’t tell them.

   Gary is talking to the two thugs; they remind him that he has until Thursday to come up with the money, he tells them that he won’t have it by then.

   They drop off Abby at the hotel, and she knocks at a door, and JR lets her inside his room.

   Sylvie asks Kenny why he lied to her, and shows him the divorce papers she found in his pocket.  She asks him if they can start over and get a new place that is their own, he tells her it won’t work out, he tells her that he wants to get Ginger back.

   Abby tells JR that Gary doesn’t know she has come to see him, and she tells him about what Gary is trying to do for Sid.  She asks him that if Gary came would he give him the money, and JR tells her that he would.

At the dealership Abby goes to Gary and he tells her no, he won’t have anything to do with his brother, she tells him that they will do something to him a lot worse and she doesn’t want to see that happen to him if he doesn’t come up with the money.  She tells him to think of Sid, he reminds her that Sid didn’t want anything to do with the stolen parts, and he tells her that every time he gets tangled with JR he loses, and he won’t go to him.

   Diana comes in and finds Michael making a collage for his class, and gets upset when she finds that he went into her room and took her yearbook and cut out pictures of basketballs that he needed.  She gets upset when Karen reminds her that everyone is trying to help Michael and be patient with him.

   Abby meets JR at the restaurant, he tells her that she is working really hard for someone who doesn’t seem to want any help.  She changes her approach and tells him that Val is talking about moving back to Texas, so if Gary can’t make a success at the dealership, they will move back, and Gary will go back to the family business.  She tells him that 50,000 will help him.  She suggests that he go to see Gary at the dealership.

Gary is trying to sell a car to a guy whose hearing aid doesn’t work, when JR arrives.  Abby comes over and suggests that they show JR around.  When they get into the garage and JR is talking to Sid about his engine, Gary pulls her aside and asks her why she brought him here, she tells him to trust her.  They go back over to JR and Sid and Abby suggests that they all come over to her house for dinner; Gary isn’t thrilled with the idea.

  Ginger is helping Karen with her groceries, and tells her that she is pregnant.  Karen is excited for her and asks her if it is good news, Ginger tells her that it would have been last year, but now with the separation she isn’t so sure.  She tells her that she is she is afraid to tells Kenny, because of what he might or might not say to her.  Karen tells her that she needs to talk to him.  Diana comes in and is eating an ice cream cone, Karen asks her where she got it, Diana tells her that she bought it.  Karen tells her that it wouldn’t be fair to Michael who is on a special diet to see her eating that when he can’t.  She tells her that she is tired of it all and walks out on her.

   Val tells Gary that she doesn’t want to go, he tells her that he doesn’t want to go either, Karen walks into the kitchen and tells them that if she has to go then they have to go.  At the dinner party, JR is trying to give a toast, but Abby’s kids keep interrupting him.  Sid tells JR more about his engine, he asks him about his patent, Sid tells him that it’s not ready for that just yet.  JR mentions Gary’s deal, and Sid asks what deal, JR sees the look on Gary’s face, and tells him that he confused his brothers, it’s Bobby with the deal, not Gary.

Richard is looking out the window at Abby’s house; he asks Laura if she knows what’s going on.  She tells him that Abby doesn’t talk to her.  He tells her that they don’t go out anymore now that she is working, and all she talks about is her work.  She asks him if his problem is that Abby is having a party without him, he denies it, and walks out, when Laura tells him that she knows that is what is bothering him.

   JR is talking to everyone about Lucy and her new boyfriend and that he will have to set him straight and get in going on the right path, Val goes off on him and leaves the house.  When they get home, she tells Gary that she won’t apologize to JR; he tells her that he wouldn’t ask her to.  She asks him what JR wants with them, and makes him promise not to get involved with him.

   Michael listens to his parents talking about him in the hallway.  Sid is telling her to stop treating him like he is a freak.

   JR tells Abby that he wishes his brother had married someone like her; she would be someone he could talk to.  He tells her that he knows that Gary is involved with stolen parts; she says that she wishes she could change his mind.  He tells her that he will give Gary the loan, only if he asks for it himself.

   The next morning Gary asks Abby what she is up to, she tells him that she is only trying to help him, and that she doesn’t want to see him get hurt.  He tells her that nothing is simple with his brother.  Abby tells him that going to his brother will keep him out of a wheelchair.

   JR is on the phone in his hotel room when there is a knock at the door, he goes to answer it and its Val, she tells him that she wants to talk to him about Gary.  He tells her that he didn’t come here for anything but the convention and he doesn’t want anything from Gary.  JR tells Val that she is dragging Gary down, that he could be so much better.  She tells him that she is glad that someone shot him and wishes she had done it.

Kenny comes into the house and tells Ginger that he broke things off with Sylvie, she realizes that he thinks he can move back in now, she tells him that she had been asking him for months to break things off with her and now that she started seeing someone he wants her back.  He admits that it’s true; he tells her that he thought that this is what she wanted.  She tells him that she wishes that things could be as simple as he wants them to be.

   Karen asks Michael if he is ready for their jog, he tells her he doesn’t want to go, and tells her that he heard them talking about him last night.  He tells her that he doesn’t want to be a freak.  She tells him that he isn’t a freak.  He tells her that Diana is always mad at him, and that the rest of the family is always trying to keep him busy, he tells her that he isn’t worth it.  She tells him that he is her son, and he is worth it, and that everyone is just trying to help him.

   The two thugs come by the dealership; they split up one going through the back way, checking to see if anyone is around.  Gary comes out and attacks him, when the other guy gets in from the front, he grabs Abby and tells Gary to let him go, they tell him that they only came to talk, and remind him about tomorrow. 

JR hands Gary the check, he tells Gary that he knows that he isn’t interested in helping Sid out, he wants the power.  Gary notices that the check isn’t sign.  JR takes the check back and gives him a suitcase full of money, he tells Gary that he wants to talk to him about Sid’s engine.

Guest starring Larry Hagman

Final Thoughts:  I thought this was a good way to bring JR back to Knots Landing.  Val got on my nerves in this episode though, she keep going on and on about how JR wanted something from Gary, when he probably would never have come seen him if Abby hadn’t gotten involved.  I know that she doesn’t like him, but come on.  I like that Karen is telling Michael that everyone is trying to help him when it’s clear that Diana hasn’t done much to help him or anyone else for that matter.  I hope this stolen parts story line doesn’t last much longer, I’m not sure how Gary is going to get away from it, once he pays them for the parts how exactly is he going to explain it to Sid?
Best Outfit:  Why would you go out of the house in this, it's fine going around the house in, but to go to your neighbors house.

Reunion Part 1

Dallas

Season 1 Episode 6

Air Date:  September 23 1978

Recap:  The family is hanging out by the pool, they are talking about the cattle auction that Jock and Lucy are going to the next day.  Sue Ellen tells Jock that JR really wants to go with him. 
Bobby and Pam are going to go to Vegas. 
At the cattle auction asks Jock if she can go to a store, Ray follows her and asks where she's going, she tells him she'll tell Jock about them if he doesn't let her go, she goes off with Pam's cousin and says she'll met Ray here in a hour. 
Bobby is saying good bye to the people that were in their suite.  A man dressed as a waiter comes in and tries to clean up the mess, Bobby wants him to go till he and Pam are down at the pool, he turns the guy around and sees that it's his brother Gary, they talk and go to dinner together. 
Lucy is visiting with her mother, Valene, they talk about Lucy's father.  Valene tells Lucy that JR wouldn't like it if he knew that Lucy was seeing her. 
Bobby convinces Gary to come back to Southfork. 
Back at the ranch Miss Ellie tells everyone the good news, she tells Jock and JR that she doesn't want anything to go wrong.  Sue Ellen and JR talk about Gary coming home, and that JR will have to make room for Gary at the office too. 
Lucy and Ray see Pam and Bobby come home with someone, Lucy runs out and says hello to her father. 
Later Bobby is telling everyone about how he met up with Gary at the hotel.  Jock says he wants to clear the air, and JR is the first one to apologize to Gary. 
That night Bobby finds Gary in the kitchen, they talk about the last time they were together in the kitchen.  Miss Ellie come in and tells Gary how much she missed him, and that she's so happy that he's home for good, he said that it's only a visit. 
The next morning Lucy takes Gary to Fort Worth and to the diner her mother works at.
Pam's aunt calls her and tells her that Digger is in the drunk ward, Bobby wants to go with her, but she says that it will only make things worse. 
Lucy tells Gary that Valene found her, she used to hang out in front of the high school, and Lucy knew that she was waiting for her.  Valene says that she won't go back to the ranch, but she eventually agrees after Gary says that it would mean a lot to Lucy and when Lucy asks her if she's going to come back with them.  Gary goes and calls to let them know that they are coming. 
Miss Ellie tells everyone that Gary and Lucy are bringing her mother back with them.  JR doesn't like that, but Miss Ellie says that she's Lucy's mother, and Bobby says that she's welcome as anyone else.  JR calls Tom and asks about the company that they were going to liquidate and have him rework the books so the company looks like it's doing better than it really is, he has plans for his brother, and it doesn't look good for Gary
Best Outfit:  She is having a great time at the party, in this sporty halter-top jumpsuit.
Fight Count: 0