Dallas (TV Series)
Acceptance (1982)
Ken Kercheval: Cliff Barnes
Quotes
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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.
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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]