Dallas/Survival

Survival
Season 2, Episode 9
Airdate	November 12, 1978
Production Number	188571
Written by	D.C. Fontana, Richard Fontana
Directed by	Irving J. Moore
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Dallas — Season Two

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Survival is the ninth episode of the second season of Dallas, and the fourteenth episode overall.

The plane JR and Bobby are traveling in crashes, and while they survive, the news isn't immediately known to the rest of the family. Miss Ellie learns of the crash and decides to keep the news from Jock, who is recovering from a heart attack. What will happen when a rouge TV reporter comes to Southfork to try to get a comment from Miss Ellie?

Starring:

Guest Starring: Barbara Babcock (Liz Craig), John Zaremba (Dr. Harlan Danvers), Trey Wilson (Johnnie), Andy Jarrell (Kin Jackson-Reporter), Bill McLaughlin (), Karen Austin (Dailey), Art Bradford ()

Co-Starring:

Plot Overview

A routine business flight JR and Bobby are on crashes during a storm. The two are OK, but they're stranded in the heavy rain. Miss Ellie gets the phone call telling her that the plane went missing and a search party is trying to find them. She decides to keep the news from Jock, because she is afraid he'll suffer another massive heart attack and it might kill him.

It's all Ray and other ranch hands can do to keep the press away – for all Jock knows, it could be they're seeking comment about his recent health issues, which were known around Dallas – and make sure the reporters understand that there will be not even so much as a statement coming from the family; there is no comment.

But one reporter decides to breach ethics and sneak onto Southfork.

Kin Jackson, a TV reporter who had previously covered one of the Ewings' past Fourth of July picnics, comes to the back door of Southfork, where Miss Ellie answers. At first shocked, she quickly becomes very angry when he reveals he's seeking comment from someone in the family. Miss Ellie tells Jackson in no uncertain terms there is no comment – that he is not welcome and that he is shown zero respect for a family in a private moment. After telling Ray to get his shotgun from the hall closet, Ellie tells Jackson that anyone who comes onto their land without an invitation is a trespasser and that he had better leave – now – or else he'll be shot. It's all Jackson can do to leave quickly.

Just then, Jock hears the commotion, realizes that the plane carrying JR and Bobby had been forced to crash-land ... and becomes very upset with Ellie. He tells her that despite his fragile health, he could have taken the news.

Eventually, JR and Bobby come home, safe and sound.

Trivia

Allusions and References

• Associated Press and privacy: The Associated Press Stylebook includes a section on the right to privacy and topics related therein, including newsgathering conduct, publication of private information, intrusion upon seculsion, etc. One case cited involved a mother who told a Chicago newspaper reporter she did not want to make any public statement about her son's death, but the reporter hid in the room, recorded the mother's last words to her now-deceased son and published the comments (with a photo) in the newspaper. That case possibly inspired the confrontation between Miss Ellie and the Dallas News newspaper reporter.

Quotes

The family is awaiting news on the search for JR and Bobby. Earlier, Ray has announced he and a couple ranch hands have successfully gotten television news crews to cooperate and leave the perimeter of Southfork, and gotten them to understand there will be no statement coming from the family. Later that evening, there is a knock on a side door, which Miss Ellie answers, leading to the following exchange:

• Jackson: "Mrs. Ewing?"
• Miss Ellie: "Who are you?"
• Jackson: "Ken Jackson. I’m with the (Dallas) Press. I called earlier."
• Ray: "You’re trespassing, mister."
• Miss Ellie: (to Ray) "I’ll take care of this, Ray." (Turning back to Jackson) "How did you get in here?" (Walks toward Jackson, who backs up onto the front porch, raising voice.) "How did you get onto the ranch, Mr. Jackson?"
• Jackson: "Well I did an article on the place a couple years back, and I remembered an arroyo that led into the feedlot."
• Miss Ellie: "We’ll have to take care of that." (Continues walking toward him, growing angrier by the second) "Now, exactly what do you want with me, Mr. Jackson?"
• Jackson: "Well, uh, you know, maybe a statement. You know, just a few words."
• Miss Ellie: "You hear a rumor that a plane is down, my two boys missing. And with no respect for human feeling, or private grief, you come circling around here like a vulture. Do you know what we do to vultures out here, Mr. Jackson?" (Continues staring at him, and without looking at Ray ...) "Ray, get me the shotgun out of the hall closet."
• Ray: "Yes, ma’am." (Puts on his hat and enters the house.)
• Jackson (trying to back off): "Now, Mrs. Ewing, I’m just – I’m just doing my job."
• Miss Ellie: "Then find a better job! Or a better way of doing this one." (Ray returns with the shotgun and, after stepping onto the porch and cocking it, hands it to Miss Ellie.) "Now, Mr. Jackson, anybody on my land, without invitation, is a trespasser. So unless I see your tail heading out of here right now – and fast – I’m going to blow it off." (Points the gun at Jackson.)
• Jackson (scared): "Yes, ma’am. Yes, ma’am." (Turns and runs.)
• Miss Ellie (her voice raising): "Now GET OUT!!" (snarling at the top of her lungs) "GET OUT!!!!"