3.4 "Secrets" Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bobby felt Pam was spending too much time with (Sue Ellen's) baby, John Ross.

From the moment Sue Ellen had returned from the maternity ward with her baby boy, John Ross, she had found many excuses NOT to interact with the baby. Pam was determined to fulfill the maternal role if - and, when - Sue Ellen refused to do so. Bobby emphatically reminded Pam the baby had other people who should be caring for him - his own mother and/or his (hired professional) nurse, for example. Bobby told Pam she should be concentrating on having her own baby with him. Little did he know ...

Answer: Lucy's mother, Valene

We the regular viewers of "Dallas" should have recognized Lucy's mother, Valene (aka Val) immediately. Joan Van Ark reprised the role as she was seen in two episodes during the second (previous) season. The last time we saw Val, she left Southfork in the wee hours of the morning - without a word of farewell. J.R. convinced all of his family - including Lucy - that Val had eagerly accepted money to go. Of course, J.R. was not telling "the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" but what were the secrets behind Val's abrupt departure?

Answer: The doctor who had diagnosed her father's neurofibromatosis

Pam called to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hollister - the doctor who, in a previous episode, saw Pam and Cliff's dad, Digger, (as an acquaintance of Pam's bother, Cliff) when he exhibited some very concerning behavior. Dr. Hollister had told the three of them they were all carriers of the genetic disorder neurofibromatosis. Dr. Hollister also told them often children who are born of a parent who is a carrier of the disease - whether that parent exhibits symptoms or not - does not survive infancy. Pam hoped she could be reassured otherwise with more information from Dr. Hollister.

At this point, her biggest secret was that she had not told Bobby - or, anyone - that she would have inherited the disease from Digger and, thus, it could be transmitted to her children

Answer: Alan speculated Cliff would leave the OLM if he were to be convinced he had enough backing to run a campaign.

Much to Harv Smithfield's chagrin, Alan did propose to bribe Cliff but not with a buy-out situation. Alan reminded the group of four that Cliff had been extremely interested and invested in running of state government before his appointment to the Office of Land Management. Harv and Jock dismissed the idea with their staunch remarks that Cliff would not be able to find anyone to back his political aspirations. Yet, from the look on his face, we the viewing audience knew that the idea was not lost to ol' J.R.

It would be intriguing to see just who J.R. and Alan could - secretly - convince (or, more likely invent!) to endorse Cliff for office.

Answer: Bobby

Of course, it would be Bobby - everybody's friend, everybody's knight in shining armor! Valene called for Bobby at the Ewing Oil office; fortunately, she called at a time when J.R. was NOT there. Bobby agreed to meet her near the hotel where she was staying. Valene stressed to Bobby that it was important to her not to let the other family members know that she had returned to Dallas (Texas).

Answer: He told her she was pregnant

In what might have been the biggest secret of the episode, Dr. Hollister told Pamela that she was pregnant. From her reaction, we the viewing audience were led to believe it was a complete surprise to her. She feigned a head-ache (to Miss Ellie) and being overly tired (to Bobby) to seclude herself in her bedroom for a while.

As a footnote for this episode and several others in which the character of Dr. Hollister appeared, there seemed to be a discrepancy about his name. As the episodes play it sounds as if the "Dallas" characters were saying, "Dr. Holliston" some times and "Dr. Hollister" other times.

The name plaque on his desk read "Paul Holliston, M.D."; yet, many online services identify the character as Dr. Paul Hollister (played by William Bassett). For the sake of continuity, I will continue to identify him as Dr. Hollister.

Answer: Cliff

Pam asked Cliff to meet her somewhere they could talk privately. She shared secrets galore! Pam told Cliff she had confirmed her pregnancy with a visit to the doctor, that she had NOT told Bobby about her pregnancy, and that she had not told Bobby about her recent knowledge of her genetic disease.

But what may have been the biggest secret of all that Pam shared with Cliff was that she was considering having an abortion before anyone - including and especially, Bobby - knew she was pregnant.

Answer: Cheerleading practice

Maybe when you are Bobby Ewing you can walk onto a football field in the middle of cheerleading practice and interrupt your niece and it is all OK? Apparently because that was exactly what Bobby did. Still Lucy refused to talk with Valene (Valene had wisely waited in Bobby's red Mercedes). Bobby promised Val he would talk with Lucy again, later at the ranch.

As fate would have it (or, as TV dramas do), Bobby was not the only member of the Ewing family interested in Lucy's cheerleading practice. J.R. was in the bleachers with a buddy of his - just in time for a secret peek at the lovely blond passenger in Bobby's car. We knew J.R. would not let this discovery go without his interference.

Answer: "Children are so important to Bobby. I don't know if our marriage can survive without them."

That comment was all that Pam would allow herself to say to Miss Ellie although her inner struggle was obvious. Pamela Barnes Ewing had been developed as a strong and resilient character but even she must have her limits. She would not be able to continue to keep all of her secrets to herself but when, how and to whom would those be revealed?

Answer: J.R.

It was J.R. He was smiling and telling Val how quickly she was going to pack her bags and get out of town. Valene told J.R. she would NOT leave at his suggestion or even at his threats - not again. Bobby and Lucy must have come to the doorway soon after J.R. had arrived; they heard the entire exchange. With its mix of tugging-at-the-heartstrings reunions, in-your-face retaliations and just a bit of humor the ending of this episode - trite, though it was - it was one of the best endings of the entire series. J.R. was always the one "we loved to hate"; thus, anytime someone called his bluff and knocked him from him self-imposed pedestal it was especially sweet to watch.