Dallas/A House Divided

A House Divided
Season 3, Episode 25
Airdate	March 21, 1980
Production Number	188160
Written by	Rena Down
Directed by	Irving J. Moore
Produced by	Leonard Katzman
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Dallas — Season Three

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A House Divided is the twenty-fifth episode of the third season of Dallas, and the fifty-fourth episode overall.

Starring in Alphabetical Order: Barbara Bel Geddes (Miss Ellie Ewing), Jim Davis (Jock Ewing), Patrick Duffy (Bobby Ewing), Linda Gray (Sue Ellen Ewing), Larry Hagman (J.R. Ewing), Steve Kanaly (Ray Krebbs) (credit only), Ken Kercheval (Cliff Barnes), Victoria Principal (Pam Ewing), Charlene Tilton (Lucy Ewing)

Also Starring: Mary Crosby (Kristin Shephard), Randolph Powell (Alan Beam)

Guest Stars (end credits): Dennis Patrick (Vaughn Leland), Ron Heyes (Hank Johnson), Jeff Cooper (Dr. Simon Elby), Christopher Coffey (Greg Forrester)

Co-Starring: Don Starr (Jordan Lee), James L. Brown (Harry McSween), Jeanna Michaels (Connie Brasher), Meg Gallagher (Louella Caraway), Ann Nelson (Odette), Susan Keller (News Anchor), John Hart (Dr. David Rogers), Kale Browne (KKGB Reporter), D.J. Sullivan (Hall of Records Archivist)

Uncredited: Paul Sorensen (Andy Bradley) (voice)

Plot Overview

J.R. realizes that nationalization of the Asian oil fields his family has a stake in can have huge impacts on world finances, so he brokers a secret, unethical deal to sell the leases before news of the fields' nationalization is publicized. This wipes out the fortunes of Ewing Oil's former associates and makes J.R. a very wealthy, powerful man. Bobby learns about this and is so angry he can hardly think rationally and straight, and when J.R. insults Pamela's parentage, calling her biological father a lawless drifter and her mother basically a no-good tramp, Bobby has enough, as he has decided he and Pamela are leaving Dallas and breaking off all contact with the family. J.R. is on an ego-triggered roll, as he plans to move Sue Ellen back into a sanitarium for her recent alcohol-related incidents, and then vows to run Krisin and Alan out of town after Kristin, J.R.'s former lover, out of town by ruining their reputation.

But that's not all, as J.R. reveals he plans to ruin Cliff Barnes by exploiting an agreement between their fathers, Digger Barnes and Jock Ewing, and closing the oil fields as a result.

J.R. is certainly not through yet, and is plotting even more despicable, vile deeds. He decides to ponder and formulate in his mind some of those actions that will make him even more powerful ... who knows, maybe even more powerful than the president of the United States and all the world leaders combined. One can envision him having the world at his mercy, and J.R. grabbing every last bit of the world's riches for himself ...

... until he hears a noise outside the office. Not a loud noise, but just a noise. J.R. wants to see what's going on ...

... and then, two shots ring out, hitting J.R. in the chest.

J.R. collapses to the ground. The person who pulled the trigger is never seen on-camera, and leaves J.R. on the ground, writhing in pain and gasping for air as he tries to call for help.

Will J.R. live ... and who pulled the trigger? Tune in in six months to find out.

Trivia

This is the episode that began a nationwide frenzy ... and it all began with JR's conduct becoming more and more despicable, including unethical business deals, ruining the reputation of his former lover and her current boyfriend, calling his wife a no-good drunk, speaking his mind about Pamela's ... telling Bobby where to go ... someday, he was going to push someone too far. Did it?