2.17 "The Red File, Part 1" Multiple Choice Quiz | Dallas

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The opening scene of this episode is that of a couple strolling on an expansive pier, arm-in-arm, sharing champagne. We soon recognize the couple; J.R. Ewing and his former secretary, Julie Grey. Who portrayed Julie in this episode?

Answer: Tina Louise

Tina Louise reprised her role as Julie after a brief absentee. Julie left Dallas (the city, and thus the series) when J.R. learned she had shared Ewing Oil secrets with arch rival, Cliff Barnes. J.R. was never one to hold a grudge if it meant he could use the errant friend or relative as a pawn in HIS own game.

As they were enjoying this lovely, romantic get-away, Julie was (apparently) naive enough to believe J.R. had no ulterior motive. That would have been highly unlikely. Yet, Julie got right to point and admitted to J.R. she had given "tidbits (of information) to Cliff rather than the entire Red File". BTW, watch for Morgan Fairchild to play Jenna Wade (on "Dallas") during a future episode.

2. When J.R. learned Cliff Barnes had been appointed the (new) Chief of the Office of Land Management, he (suddenly) decided his tryst with Julie would be shortened. Although J.R. escorted Julie to her apartment, he bid his adieu at her door. Very soon after he left, though, Julie saw evidence that J.R. had not forgotten her apartment was empty while she was with him. What did she notice?

Answer: Someone had searched her apartment

It should come as no surprise that J.R. had a "mole" (spy, confidant) already in place among the board members of the Office of Land Management. It was he (that spy) who called J.R. to alert him of the "big investigation into Ewing Oil" at the stipulation of Office of Land Management. Of course, this meant J.R. needed to get back to Dallas, posthaste.

When she was left alone in her apartment Julie noticed too many signs that someone had been searching in her closets, furnishings and jewelry box - anywhere and everywhere looking for that something (as Julie said aloud) "you'll never find it, 'cos you don't know where to look".

3. With all of J.R.'s clandestine dealings, the appointment of Cliff Barnes would prove to be only one of J.R.'s immediate concerns. Bobby and Ray (Krebbs, ranch foreman) were both suspicious that J.R. was behind the (secretive!) oil drilling in a location that had been adamantly taboo to the Ewing family. Where?

Answer: On Southfork

Ray alerted Bobby (privately) that J.R. had ordered him to keep his nose out of Ewing Oil business when Ray had asked questions about the evidence he had found that drill crew he had been on Southfork. Bobby and Ray decided to launch their own investigation of this concern - without telling Jock, at least for a time. Ray had a better idea as to where to find the working class of oilmen who may know (and, tell) something of interest to him and Bobby.

4. Ray and Bobby began a search for one man who would have the information they needed to prove what J.R. had planned. This man was known to be a drifter who had worked on oil rigs throughout Texas with various crews. One common theme was his reputation was less than stellar. What was the name for the worker or for the type of work he did for the oil rigs?

Answer: Roughneck

A roughneck was a man (well, most likely a man in those days) who did the tough, manual labor at an oil drilling site. It was grueling work with long hours and little rest until oil was found (i.e., "struck"). More often than not, the emphasis was on "rough" as brawn of body was more desirable than strength of character. Easy to see that some cowhands and some roughnecks would have been "cut from the same cloth". Ray began to inquire about a roughneck named Charlie Waters.

He would soon get a lot of answers.

5. In what may or may not have been a coincidence, Julie joined Cliff at one of his favorite lunch places. Their meeting did not go unobserved. Who was shown - at another table - wearing the grimace of concern about the lunch partners? He/she was someone who would benefit greatly if the contents of the Red File remained unknown - at least for the time being.

Answer: Willie Joe Garr

Willie Joe watched from a distance while Julie and Cliff, as two former lovers might do, traded a few barbs. They reminded each other that Julie knew a lot about J.R.'s "skeletons in the closets" and that Cliff was willing to pay if she was willing to sell. Julie attempted to convince Cliff she was confident her "new" relationship with J.R. was different and there would never be a need to betray him. Willie Joe and Jeb (Ames) were both members of the Oil Cartel and had both aligned with J.R. hoping to cash in on future (questionable, if not completely illegal and/or unethical) oil deals. That was the sort of information that might be found in J.R.'s Red File.

6. Julie may have had utmost confidence in a "new" relationship with J.R. but, true to character, J.R. was less concerned about their relationship than how Julie's allegiance could benefit him the most. J.R. wasted no time in letting Julie know he knew she had shared lunch with Cliff. What did he ask Julie to do? J.R. included the words "pillow talk" with his request.

Answer: Sleep with Cliff

Julie had just spent a seemingly delightful afternoon with hors d'oeuvres, champagne, sex and J.R. Understandably, she was taken aback when J.R. mentioned she should use her resurrected relationship with Cliff to do espionage work for him/Ewing Oil. Julie told J.R. that Cliff would never tell her ANYTHING.

Not to be dissuaded, J.R. told Julie a lot of most important information could be (and, had been) revealed as a part of "pillow talk". Julie could not believe her ears! Yes, J.R. wanted (expected) her to sleep with Cliff.

He even reminded her, with a classic J.R. wink, that it could mean a lot of money to her. Left alone in her state on dejection, Julie was also reminded of Cliff's most recent warning to her: J.R. "hasn't hurt you badly enough this time".

7. Charlie Waters was name of the drifter Bobby was trying to find in connection with the clandestine oil drilling. After just a few phone calls, Bobby learned Waters had suddenly left for Mexico that same day. Bobby knew J.R. had to be the driving force behind Waters' departure. Bobby was convinced he had enough proof to confront J.R. When/where did Bobby find J.R. alone and in a place to make his suspicions vehemently known?

Answer: On the telephone, in the den, just before dinner

J.R. had found Charlie Waters the day after Waters and a few of his "friends" from his latest oil crew gave Ray Krebbs a good beating. J.R. convinced Waters (as enough money will often do - especially on TV) to make an immediate trip to Mexico. In the meanwhile, Jock had (inadvertently) provided Bobby with additional condemning information about Waters. Bobby found J.R. in the den (at Southfork) on the telephone just as the family was ready to sit for dinner. Of course, J.R. totally disregarded Bobby's questions by changing the subject and reminding him "Daddy likes to eat dinner on time". Bobby was left with little more than his growing suspicions.

8. J.R. had bugged Cliff's phone. Willie Joe and Jeb had bugged Julie's phone. Thus, it was NO surprise when all parties knew about the call soon after Julie phoned Cliff's apartment and left a message telling him she was "ready to sell". What did Julie put in a envelope and drop in a mail slot immediately after leaving the message for Cliff?

Answer: A flat silver key. One that appeared should open a lock box or small safe.

Julie's message to Cliff included: "You were right. I've been hurt enough and I'm ready to sell. All we have to talk about is price." (Why even on 70s TV anyone would leave a message like that on an answering machine is beyond me. But I suppose it made for "good TV".) Before Cliff arrived home to hear his message, the man doing surveillance (i.e., bugging Julie's phone) for Willie Joe and Jeb called Jeb and re-played the recorded call for him. Even before Julie knew she had been "heard" by someone other than Cliff she retrieved a small, flat key that was taped with what appeared to be a claim check or ID tag of some kind.

She put both the paper and the key in an envelope and dropped it in the mail slot. We the viewing audience were not privy to whom it was addressed.

9. Julie's telephone call to Cliff created a flurry of activity. Who was the first to knock on her apartment door - soon thereafter? It was rather unsettling for Julie to receive that visitor.

Answer: Jeb Ames

Julie quickly determined that Jeb had "bugged" her phone. At first she thought J.R. had sent him but Jeb told her it was his plan NOT to let her reveal the contents of the Red File. Jeb gave Julie "five minutes to get packed and move on". Julie managed to escape her apartment only to find Willie Joe waiting in the stairwell as she attempted to leave the building.

She hoped to find a safe haven on the rooftop but both Willie Joe and Jeb were close behind her.

10. On the roof of her apartment building Julie struggled, trying to resist the clutches of both Willie Joe and Jeb. It was to no avail. They were too close to the edge of the roof. Julie slipped over the edge and fell to her death. Who was arrested the next day in connection to her "murder"?

Answer: Cliff

Cliff did go to Julie's apartment (too late to see her) and, clueless to her situation, he left evidence he had been there. He came and went without knowing she was in any danger or of her demise. News of Julie's death interrupted an otherwise jovial Ewing family breakfast and (an obviously troubled) J.R. wasted no time in contacting his "friends in high places" to set in motion the arrest of Cliff Barnes for the murder of Julie Grey.

When Pam visited Cliff in jail the two of them discussed J.R.'s involvement in all of this. Soon thereafter, Pam packed a bag and left Southfork, pleading to Bobby that she needed "time alone" away from the Ewings.

The episode closes with J.R. and Sue Ellen watching Pam speed down the drive as J.R. tersely reminded Sue Ellen that the mother of HIS unborn son should not be so concerned "over a stranger she hardly knew".

Source: Author cowboybluedog

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
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2.17 "The Red File, Part 1" Trivia Quiz

This is the next in my series of quizzes - beginning to end, in order - for each episode of "Dallas". This quiz will feature questions which are a bit less detailed. Hopefully, this can be done without sacrificing the continuity.

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