Dallas (TV Series)

Acceptance (1982)

Audrey Landers: Afton Cooper

Quotes 

• Afton Cooper : What are you thinking?

  Cliff Barnes : [lies on couch, eyes closed, unshaven]  I'm not thinking. I can't think, I can't focus, I...

  [sighs] 

  Cliff Barnes : I just gotta get away from Dallas.

  Afton Cooper : Look, there may be a better way to handle things than letting J.R. win this way.

  [Cliff tiredly shakes his head] 

  Afton Cooper : Cliff, there's a lot we can talk about. But first I need a commitment from you.

  Cliff Barnes : About us? You and me?

  Afton Cooper : Yes.

  Cliff Barnes : [smirks]  Afton, look... what do you wanna tie up with a loser for?

  Afton Cooper : Cliff, you don't have to be a loser. Listen... I'm not gonna press you. Just hang in here in Dallas. You gotta give yourself time to come around. I know... I know you've always had to do it by yourself, Cliff, but not anymore. I can help you. Listen... together, the two of us... we can beat J.R. and come out winners all around. I know a way.

  Cliff Barnes : Baby, there isn't *any* way I am *ever* gonna beat J.R.

• Afton Cooper : [J.R. knocked on the door of her dressing room, then just came in]  Most people wait to be invited in.

  J.R. Ewing : Well, I'm not like most people, you know that, Afton.

  [spots red feather boa:] 

  J.R. Ewing : Say, look here.

  [picks it up] 

  J.R. Ewing : Isn't that something else? My goodness.

  Afton Cooper : [impatiently]  J.R., what do you want?

  J.R. Ewing : Oh, you got that backwards, darling. It's not what I want. It's what you want. And I'm here to give it to you. You remember Cliff Barnes?

  [sarcastic:] 

  J.R. Ewing : The entrepreneur at large? Well, his nearest and dearest have dumped him. His company, his mama, his sisters...

  [fake sigh] 

  J.R. Ewing : and now Sue Ellen. He's all yours, honey. I just thought you'd be pleased to hear that.

  Afton Cooper : [shakes her head]  I'd rather have lost him than have this happen.

  [smirks] 

  Afton Cooper : You really put him through a meat grinder, didn't you?

  J.R. Ewing : Well, I had to. You saw it coming even if he didn't. Of course, you were always a lot smarter than he was. And I hope you're making some good money nowadays, because you might be having to support him.

  Afton Cooper : Just when everything started to look so good for Cliff, I knew... I just knew it was only a matter of time before you'd be sitting right here where you are... gloating

  J.R. Ewing : Well, I'm here to tell you I owe you one. It was pretty sharp of you to spot that situation with Clayton Farlow. So, any time you need a favor, come to old J.R.

  Afton Cooper : [softly]  J.R... . your favors are too expensive. There's nothing I want from you.

  J.R. Ewing : [smiles]  You never can tell.

  [as he gets up, she just glares at him] 

  J.R. Ewing : I'll see you around, honey.

  [as he leaves, she just sits there at her dressing table, quietly seething] 

• Afton Cooper : [Cliff was contemplating suicide, then there was a knock on the door]  May I come in?

  Cliff Barnes : Sure. If you ever decided to stop singing, you should take up fortune-telling. You know, you're really quite good at it. I mean, you called me to a turn. Everything you predicted came true. The minute I got serious about Sue Ellen, J.R. set me up like a duck in a shooting gallery. Bull's-eye. If you wanna enjoy yourself, go for it.

  Afton Cooper : Cliff...

  Cliff Barnes : Look, I wanna tell you. I got fired. Nobody in my family is speaking to me. I'm in debt, worse than that, I'm in the hole. Sue Ellen doesn't even answer the phone when I call her. So now I've got you here to tell me "I told you so."

  Afton Cooper : Cliff, that's not why I'm here. I'm sorry about what happened. But just...

  [her hands go to his shoulders, she looks into his eyes] 

  Afton Cooper : Just give it some time. Things will change.

  [sighs] 

  Afton Cooper : I'll bet you haven't eaten all day. Can I get you something?

  [he shakes his head] 

  Afton Cooper : Would you like a drink?

  [he shakes his head] 

  Afton Cooper : Would you like me?

  [he shakes his head] 

  Afton Cooper : I'm just trying to tell you, Cliff... that I would do just about anything for you. Anything.

  Cliff Barnes : That's sweet of you, Aft. But there isn't anything I want.

  [her hands slip off his shoulders] 

  Cliff Barnes : Nothing.

  [he walks away]