Deborah Rennard

When a young man is found dead of an apparent overdose, Dixon fiercely pursues a homicide investigation as an old unsolved case comes back to haunt her.

Bobby returns from South America with evidence regarding Wes Parmalee but it's an unexpected, and uninvited, guest at the annual Ewing barbecue who provides Miss Ellie with the shocking truth. J.R. and Clayton grow closer as a result of the Parmalee calamity. Donna has a brief but intriguing meeting with an important senator in her efforts for the oil lobby and J.R. and Cliff strike further sparks at the barbecue.

Sue Ellen is unsuspecting when B.D. Calhoun, whom she knows as Peter Duncan, makes contact with her in his vendetta against J.R. Calhoun "accidentally" bumps into Sue Ellen and Pam. Ray feels the frustration of losing his wife and their expected child. He and Clayton resume working together in the horse cutting business in an effort to forget their troubles. Pam's increasing overprotectiveness of Christopher worries Bobby. Jeremy Wendell pursues his plan to bring ruin to Ewing Oil.

Bobby finally learns the reason behind J.R.'s recent mysterious actions. B.D. Calhoun continues to terrorize J.R. with his dangerous game playing. Bobby and Pam fear that Sue Ellen has resumed her drinking when she fails to return home one evening but J.R. has good reason to believe that may not be the reason for her absence. A worried Ray travels to Washington D.C. to be with Donna while she is in the hospital and gets a surprise when Senator Dowling pays her a visit.

Threatened by B.D. Calhoun's menacing presence, J.R. takes the necessary steps to rid himself of the mercenary. Pam's suspicious investigation into some of Cliff's business deals prompts him to reconsider Jeremy Wendell's proposition while April Stevens eyes a fortuitous opportunity when she "accidentally" runs into Wendell. Jenna attempts to sever more ties with Bobby while her pregnancy continues to put a strain on Bobby and Pam's marriage.