'Dallas' Season 3 premiere - 'The Return'

We open on 12 hours after the last season ended. Bobby is at the Ewing family cemetery, talking to Miss Ellis and Jock about they "finally won. I'll try not to disappoint you," he says as he rides away.

Emma and John Ross are in bed together fooling around. They go through the briefcase of papers she stoked from her father's safe and find her grandmother's power of attorney over her father's trucking company should he become incapacitated. "Nothin' says incapacitated like a 20-year prison sentence," jokes John Ross, who tells Emma that he needs her to get him control of her father's transports. Then they have sex again.

Bum finds John Ross downstairs later. Bum tells him to be wary of Emma but John Ross replies, "Don't worry. I won't do anything to jeopardize the love of the good woman I have waiting for me at Southfork." Then, Bum gives John Ross a box he says JR wanted him to have. "You've earned this," Bum tells John Ross. It has JR's gold belt buckle in it.

That evening, Rebecca, who now wants to be called Pamela, meets John Ross at the old hay barn like he asked her to. She says she's expecting a big surprise. He gives her a huge diamond ring, which he says he got in Houston the day before. He tells her that he wants to "do things right. The proper ring means a proper proposal." He then gets down on one knee and asks her to marry him. She accepts, he slips the ring on her finger and they kiss.

At the main house, Bobby finds John Ross with contractors and asks him if he is "remodeling Southfork?" John Ross replies, "Since we'll be living here, I thought the place could use a facelift." Bobby replies, "I won't let you turn Southfork into you or your father's self-indulgence." John Ross then says as a newlywed he wants more privacy. Bobby replies, "If you want privacy. Move out! This house's history is what grounds us as a family. It's our roots. It's about time you start respecting the past." John Ross fires back that the "past holds us back" and tells Bobby that he can't stop him from remodeling the place. He tells Bobby that he's going to talk to the contractor about putting in an elevator.

Christopher is furiously chopping wood while flashing back to yelling at Elena about how Cliff killed his unborn babies. He then hears Pamels reminding him how he has always loved Elena and to not let that go. He then picks up his cell phone.

Elena jolts awake courtesy of her buzzing cell phone. Christopher left her another message. She's in Mexico. She glad he back to Cliff telling her that JR switched the deeds so her father ended up with the worthless land, how he gave his proxy to the 1/3 of Barnes Global he still owned "to make the Ewings pay for the sins against your family." She then goes back to see Cliff in the prison. She tells him that she's accepting his offer to partner up.

Cliff then tells Elena that she's going to help him get out prison. She asks him why she should and he replies, "Because you want real pier over that family and for that you Ned leverage. Evidence that they framed me for JR's murder." He tells Elena how he was set up, how his plane was moved, how that woman said he was in that club when he wasn't, etc. "Together we can take back Barnes Global and Southfork. Take from them what's most important, what they took from us. But, I need to know if you have the strength to exact revenge," Cliff asks Elena. She details how the Ewings have wronged her then says that she "doesn't think if this as revenge. I think of this as justice."

Christopher sees a female ranch hand being hassled by one of John Ross' employees but she handles herself. Christopher introduces himself. She introduces herself as Helen. He tells her that she can come to for help if she's hassled again. She replies That she grew up with four brothers and knows how to handle herself but thanks him for the offer before she rides away. Christopher looks intrigued.

John Ross is wearing JR's gold belt buckle as he looks over the remodeling plans. Sue Ellen comes in. She's proud to see him wearing it and JR's watch. She says she's also proud of his choice of wife. She then tells him nit to underestimate Bobby. She tells him that JR did and lost. John Ross replies That JR didn't have her as an ally. Then, they hug and kiss.
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Outside on the Souhfork porch, Ann admires Pamela's "big" diamond engagement ring. Sue Ellen then tells Pamela how happy she is that she's letting her "plan the proper wedding for you and John Ross." Pamela then confesses that she's "shy about having the wedding here at Southfork. After everything my father did, losing the babies. I never thought I'd find happiness again." "Happiness found you and that's the best kind of happiness," Sue Ellen replies. Then, Emma arrives and Ann asks her if she's seen Pamela's engagement ring yet. She says it's beautiful and sees they're planning the wedding, sits down but eyes Pamela. Then, Elena arrives much to Sue Ellen's surprise. Then, Christopher arrives and is also shocked that Elena is back. She apologizes for her actions concerning her brother. She then apologizes special to Pamela and Christopher, who asks to talk to Elena alone.

Inside, Christopher asks Elena if she got his messages. She replies That she didn't answer because she "had to clear my head." He replies that he's had time to think too and says he was "angry, out of control and cruel." He then says he wants to work to get back what they had and apologizes for all of his actions. He touches her face, but she backs away. She then says that they're both "still broken and we need to take some time to fix what's broken in us before we can see if this is right." She then says she only came back to pack. He begs her not to leave saying, "It's your home too." She thanks him and leaves the room.

Carmen finds Elena, is glad she's home and asks her what Cliff wanted to talk to her about. Elena lies to her mother saying that Cliff is "a delusional old man and I went down there for nothing." She then tells her mother that she saw her brother, Drew and gives her a letter from him. She adds, "He got to Joaquin's safely. He's working with Joaquin." She reminds Carmen of the pact that she,Drew and Joaquin have and that Joaquin would never break his word to Drew. Joaquin was a homeless boy Elena's parents took in. Carmen then asked how things were between her and Christopher. Elena said they were better and that they had both apologized, but that they're taking a break. Carmen then remarks that the Ewings have been good to them despite what Drew did. Elena replies,"They're still after him," and tells her that she must burn Drew's letter after she reads it. Carmen agrees to do so.

At Ewing Global, Bobby, Sue Ellen, John Ross, Pamela and Christopher strategize about buying arctic oil leases. Sue Ellen questions the move but John Ross explains how powerful it would make the company. Bobby says they need ships before they can bid and John Ross says he has already brokered a deal with Ryland Transport because it's new CEO "was easily persuaded." "We're all working together that's what counts," John Ross says. Christopher then explains that selling off the consumer division of Barnes Global would give them the capital they need for the bid. Then, Elena unexpectedly shows up. She asks for a job. Sue Ellen says that she thought Elena was drilling on her father's land. Elena replies That she's finally accepted that the land is dry and has stopped the drilling. Bobby apologizes and they all welcome her to Ewing Global.

Later that night, Elena is snooping on the company computer.
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The next day, Elena calls Cliff in prison to tell him that she's been hired at Ewing Global.

At Ewing Global, Sue Ellen and Pamela are looking at magazines of wedding dresses. John Ross gets a call from Emma that he ignores when Bobby walks in. He tells everyone that he's spoken with ConAgra, that they're very interested in buying the consumer division and will have a bid to them by the end of the week. Then, an unknown man barges in. He introduces himself as Nicolas Trevino and that he's there as Cliff's proxy for his shares in the company. Bobby says it doesn't matter because they hold the majority shares but Nicolas replies, "State law supersedes your corporate bylaws and state law says that your family doesn't have a super majority. So, no sector of Barnes Global will ever be sold. Cliff Barnes would rather destroy the company than see the Swings profit." Nicolas then says that he doesn't want to fight and wants to get along with each of them while he's in Dallas, which is until Cliff is a free man. Sue Ellen counters that Cliff will never be free because he killed JR. Nicolas reiterates Cliff's claim that he was framed then asks what's on the agenda.

Later, Pamela tells everyone that the office received a letter from her father's attorneys naming Nicolas as being able to vote Cliff's proxy. Christopher then tells everyone what he found about Nicolas. That he's a billionaire financier who came from nothing and invested well off a well-placed horse racing bet. Sue Ellen insists that they need to find a way to make Nicolas an ally so they can do business how they want. Christopher asks Elena to call the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and set up a meeting so they can persuade them to postpone the auction, which would buy them some time to make their bid. Pamela, Elena and Sue Ellen leave the room and Christopher reminds Bobby that Nicolas said Cliff plans on proving that he was framed, which could land them in jail. He also doesn't want Sue Ellen or Pamela to know the truth. Bobby replies That Cliff won't get the evidence he needs to prove he was framed because "Carlos Del Sol and I made sure."

At Southfork, Emma is messaging John Ross on her laptop, but changes the screen when Pamela walks in. Pamela says they need to stick together since they both put their fathers' behind bars. She tells Emma that if she ever needs to talk, she'll listen. Emma replies how nice she is and that she sees why John Ross loves her. Pamela then says good night and as soon as she's gone Emma writes a different message to John Ross.

Elena tells John Ross and Sue Ellen that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management won't postpone the auction. John Ross wants to drill on Southfork to raise more capital even though Bobby would never allow it. He says that Bobby has no say. Elena replies, "Those arctic leases are the Holy Frail. I'll do anything I can to help you get them."

John Ross and Sue Ellen have Christopher and Bobby meet them out where John Ross wants to drill. John Ross tells them his plan to drill the shale deposit on Southfork to get the capital they need to buy the arctic leases. Bobby reminds him that he and Gary still own 2/3 of the mineral rights. John Ross replies that he doesn't need their permission to drill in the part of the land that he owns. Bobby reiterates that there will never be any drilling on Southfork. Then, Christopher says that Cliff wants them in-fighting and they will find another way to get the money they need, but John Ross won't budge. Bobby then tells him that he stopped "JR and I stopped you once and you're not half the man your Daddy was." Then, he and Christopher drive away. Meanwhile, Elena has been eavesdropping on the whole thing from behind a tree.

At the main house, John Ross and Emma meet. He tells he needs those contracts for the tankers she's giving him from now that she's CEO. Emma wants to know why he's in such a rush. He tells about Cliff and how he needs the ships, tankers, etc. "guaranteed." She replies by asking how he'll "pay for this rush service?" They then start to fool around.

Later, Sue Ellen happens by and John Ross remarks, "Mama, you look like you've seen a ghost." She replies That she thought she had. She tells him that he has her support for the drilling but advises him again "to be reasonable with Bobby. We'll all be stronger together fighting Trevino and Barnes." John Ross tells her not to worry. She then comments about him coming out if Emma's room. He replies That she's the one he made the deal with for the ships, etc.

Harris Ryland is pacing in his prison cell. He's let out to talk to a man about his "product being delivered in 24 hours or we'll have to teach your daughter a lesson."

In Mexico, Elena revisits Joaquin's estate. We see that Joaquin is really Nicolas. They hug and he says, "Your father is the only father I ever knew so there's blood in this for me too." She replies That there's no turning back. Joaquin tells Elena that JR killed her father by robbing him of his dream and that the Swings are criminals because they framed Cliff for JR's murder. He adds that Cliff gave him the use of of his penthouse so he'll be in Dallas for as long as she needs him. He says that Elena saved his life when he was a boy and now it's his turn. "We will get justice for your family...for our family."

image courtesy of TNT