George & Tammy (2022) s01e01 Episode Script
The Race Is On
1
[SHUFFLING DRUM BEAT]
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
[CHANTING] George! George! George!
George! George! George! George! George!
[RADIO TUNING]
George! George! George! George!
[ANNOUNCER] From the Ryman Auditorium
in Nashville, Tennessee,
the country music capital
of the world, it's your Grand Ole Opry
staring Roy Acuff
and the Smokey Mountain Boys.
Let 'er go, Roy!
From the great Atlantic Ocean ♪
To the wide Pacific shore ♪
From the queen of flowing mountains ♪
To the southbelt by the shore ♪
She's mighty tall and handsome ♪
And known quite well by all ♪
She's the combination ♪
On the Wabash Cannonball ♪
- [POUNDING ON DOOR]
- [PROMOTER] Jones!
If you don't get out there George,
there's gonna be a riot.
[PEANUTT] Hey, hey, hey, Jones.
It's Peanutt. You just come out here.
You do two or three songs, that's it.
All them folks came to see you.
You got a responsibility
to calm 'em down.
- [TOILET FLUSHING]
- [PROMOTER] Jones!
- Get out there now!
- [GEORGE] Bye-bye!
George.
[GEORGE, HIGH-PITCHED VOICE]
George ain't here no more,
but I'll tell him that all you
kind and lovely gentlemen
- stopped by to see him.
- [LAUGHTER]
Hear the mighty rush of the engine ♪
Hear that lonesome hobo squall ♪
We're riding through the jungle ♪
On the Wabash Cannonball ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CROWD CHANTING IN DISTANCE]
George! George! George!
- You're on.
- [SIGHS]
Ladies and gentlemen,
the Possum is trapped.
Please put your hands together
for George Jones.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERING DIES DOWN]
- [FAN] Where's George at?
- [ROY] Uh, well, all right. Um
[CROWD CHANTING] George! George! George!
George looks to be having
a standing problem.
- Charlie, you got that tape?
- [CHARLIE] Sure do, Peanutt.
[PEANUTT] Come on, get your ass up.
[GEORGE] Cold and deep inside like ♪
He won't fall over, I promise.
- One more to go.
- I said stop.
- Here, here.
- [GEORGE GROANS]
Sharp and painful that I may
never shake ♪
You might say that I was taking
it hard ♪
Since you wrote me off with a call ♪
But don't you wager
that I'll hide the sorrow ♪
When I may break right down and bawl ♪
Now the race is on ♪
[BOTH] And here comes pride
up the backstretch ♪
Heartaches a-going to the inside ♪
My tears are holding back ♪
They're trying not to fall ♪
My heart's out of the running ♪
True love's scratched for
another's sake ♪
[BOTH] The race is on and
it looks like heartaches ♪
And the winner loses all ♪
[DON] Come on, now, honey.
We're gonna miss him
if you don't hurry up.
- Virginia!
- It's Tammy, now. Start saying it right.
Now the race is on ♪
[BOTH] And here comes pride
up the backstretch ♪
Heartache's a-going to the inside ♪
My tears are holding back ♪
They're trying not to fall ♪
My heart's out of the running ♪
True love's scratched for
another's sake ♪
The race is on
and it looks like heartaches ♪
And the winner loses all ♪
And the winner loses all ♪
- [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
- Whoo!
[GEORGE LAUGHS]
Oh, I sure do love the love!
I'm not sure I deserve it
after standing you all up
all them times.
- But I was drunk.
- [LAUGHTER]
Then again, if you see me sober,
I ain't awake.
- [CHEERING]
- [FAN] I love you, George!
What's that?
- Marry me!
- [LAUGHS]
[MUSIC STARTS]
Well, in North Carolina
way back in the hills ♪
[BILLY WHISTLES]
Come on, let's go, let's go.
We're gonna miss him.
Come on now.
- How's my hair look?
- It's great.
- [BILLY] Let's go!
- Okay, I'll be right back.
[DONNA] Oh, Tammy. Good luck.
Take these girls and get some ice cream.
No, no, no, you go with Donna, now.
Mommy and Daddy will be back soon.
Come on, girls, let's go.
- Thanks, baby!
- [DON] Come on.
Well, the G-Men, T-Men,
revenuers too ♪
Searching for the place
where he made his brew ♪
They were looking,
trying to book him ♪
But my pappy kept on cooking ♪
- Whew!
- [HICCUPS] Ooh.
- White Lightning
- [LAUGHS] We made it, honey!
Don't go acting like
just another fan tonight.
She can't help it if she's excited.
Oh, I've loved this man's singing
more than half my life.
I'm gonna enjoy myself.
Well, I asked my old pappy
why he called his brew ♪
White Lightning
'stead of Mountain Dew ♪
Billy, will you take
a picture of Tammy and me
with George in the background?
- I will not, Don.
- [GEORGE] Bugged out
[BOTH] And my face turned blue ♪
[GEORGE] Lightning started flashin' ♪
Thunder started clashin' ♪
- Whew!
- [HICCUPS] Whoo!
- White Lightning ♪
- [SIGHS]
- [TAMMY] Jackie, you wanna blot?
- [JACKIE] Yeah.
Careful, now.
- Got it.
- Okay. Muah.
Ah, ah, mm!
- Oh, no, you missed some
- [KNOCKING ON WINDOW]
- He ready for us?
- [BILLY] I like the new hair.
Daddy got it for her.
- Hmm. Sure good.
- [TAMMY] Yeah.
Okay. Ohh! You girls be good for Donna.
- [BABY CRYING]
- I'll be right back, baby.
[BILLY] Ooh, watch your duds.
- [TAMMY] Do I look okay?
- Yeah, you look good.
- Don couldn't watch the girls?
- No, today's his writing day.
- [BILLY] His writing day now, huh?
- [TAMMY] Don't be mean to Don.
That man took us in when we had nothing.
[SCOFFS] You're not my flapjacks.
- Yeah. Excuse me.
- [RHONDA CHUCKLES]
You shy?
- [DOOR CLICKS]
- [BILLY, SINGSONG] George.
[GEORGE SNORTS]
- [BILLY] Wake up!
- [GEORGE GROANS]
Lord have mercy.
[BILLY] George, this is Tammy Wynette,
the girl singer
Shorty Lavender's looking
to book for the Knoxville package show,
pending your approval.
You don't come
out of your hole for nobody.
Well, you got my number there, Jones,
but I'm vouching for her.
You just want me over at Epic.
How do you feel about him dangling you
to get close to me?
[BILLY] Watch it, Jones.
Caught some of your show last night.
Canceled so many times
I thought I'd never get to see you.
- I haven't shit in three days.
- [CHUCKLES]
[BILLY] Tammy.
Uh, why don't you tell Jones
about yourself?
[CHUCKLES] Well
I was born in Mississippi/Alabama line,
so I say my top half comes
from Mississippi,
my bottom half's from Alabama.
My daddy was a musician.
Before he died, he told my mama,
"If my daughter shows any
musical ability whatsoever,
that it is to be encouraged."
So I can only hope to live up
to his dreams for me.
How long you practiced at being famous?
Can't say. [CLEARS THROAT]
Mama ended up being, uh
very encouraging, but I did
learn to harmonize at church
and singing to your records.
Now I'm here, so I hope that, uh
says something for me.
[BILLY] She's been in town
18 months, Jones.
- She already charted three times.
- God almighty.
We're making the future of country music
- over at Epic.
- [GEORGE] Hallelujah.
- [PHONE RINGING]
- [GRUNTS]
Oh, no.
Hey, no, what are you doing?
- [PHONE CLICKS]
- Yeah?
[INDISTINCT VOICE]
Well, I don't know
what you're up to, neither.
- [RHONDA] Anybody got a light?
- Shh.
Why I gotta shush? She ain't my wife.
[GEORGE] Well, the way I see it,
I'm out here keeping
a roof over your head,
so your foul tone isn't appreciative
- or appreciated.
- [SLAMS DOWN PHONE]
Marriage is supposed
to make life easier.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
It'd be a big opportunity
for us to open for you.
I'm a man, not an opportunity.
Mr. Jones
I've got a lot of respect for you,
even if this meeting
isn't real professional.
But I've got mouths to feed
and a messy house,
so if you're not gonna say yes to me,
then I'm just gonna get on with my day.
[GEORGE SNICKERS]
Yeah, you're all right.
[GEORGE JONES' "ROOT BEER" PLAYING]
Well, I sent my pretty baby ♪
To the neighborhood store ♪
My head was vibrating
from the night before ♪
I said you'd better hurry
as she went out the gate ♪
Was saving "When the Grass
Grows Over Me" for me,
but if George Jones wants to record it,
I'm not gonna stop him.
Well, he hasn't heard it yet, Don.
[DON] We're spending
the whole weekend with him.
If we get a shot, we play him the song.
Well, we just gotta get to know the man
before we insult him
by pretending we already do.
- [SIGHS]
- Mama, I'm bored.
- Hey, no bitching.
- [TAMMY] Oh.
Hey, don't curse at her.
Yeah, don't curse at me, Don.
- I am truly outnumbered here.
- You are.
[DONNA] Are we gonna be like
the Carters?
Mm-hmm, that's the plan, baby.
That makes you the Mother Maybelle,
and I'm the June.
Makes Gwen and Jackie the other two.
Oh, doesn't Tina get a part?
Well, we gotta wait and see
how everybody grows up.
- Not everybody can sing.
- That's the truth.
You don't think my song's
good enough, do you?
I love your song.
I never said nothing about that.
I start talking
about presenting my songs
to George Jones, and you get shy.
We go, we do our show,
we impress everybody,
and then you ask.
That's right. You listen to Donna.
He's sensitive about people
taking advantage.
- We said we'd do me next.
- And we will.
[ALL LAUGHING]
All right, my turn. My turn.
What kind of game has one dice?
That's all I wanna know.
- Six!
- [ALL] Whoa!
Hey, keep this bastard straight.
Come on, now.
[PEANUTT] This game's called
"Aggravation,"
- and I'm aggravated.
- [GEORGE] Ohh.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, man.
[MUSICIAN] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
I'm gon' win this game.
- [FLY UNZIPS]
- [URINE SPLASHING]
Uh hey, hey, hey, no! No!
George, you gotta go
inside the john, man.
- [LAUGHTER]
- I'm just writing my name
in the carpet.
Why don't you try
autographing that toilet?
- Now go on go inside.
- [LAUGHTER]
- [MUSICIAN] All right.
- [PEANUTT] Boom.
- [BUS TUMBLING]
- Oh! Shit.
Ah, come on. Shit!
You made me get pee all over my boot.
- [LAUGHTER]
- Hey, look, pee on my boot.
[DRIVER] This road's
a right bit curvy, sir.
I need all my concentration
to get you to your destination.
Damn, son, you're sweating.
It's hot out, sir, and
you're making me nervous, sir.
You know what, I'm gonna
turn on the air conditioning
and get you and me cooled down properly.
- [DRIVER] Thank you, sir.
- Well, you're hot. I'm hot.
This is a state-of-the-art vehicle.
[PEANUTT] George, leave that boy alone.
Come on back over here and sit down.
It's your turn.
- But I'm hot!
- [PEANUTT] Well
[AIR CONDITIONER RATTLES, HUMS]
- You fixed it.
- [MUSICIAN] Come on, George.
[AIR CONDITIONER SPUTTERING]
- What happened?
- You broke it, sir.
- [GEORGE] I broke it?
- Yeah.
[EXHALES] Oh, Lord.
Well, I can't breathe.
- I need some air.
- [LAUGHTER]
[PEANUTT] Whoa, hey, now, George.
- The hell you doing, boy?
- Ventilating.
- [FIRES GUN]
- Oh, whoa! Whoa!
[TIRES SQUEALING]
- [ALL SHOUTING]
- [GUNSHOTS]
- George, no!
- [CONTINUES FIRING]
[TIRES SCREECHING]
[CRASHING]
[DRAMATIC COUNTRY MUSIC]
- [BUS HISSING]
- [MUSICIAN] Oh, man.
- You're crazy!
- [TAMMY] Hang on there, boys!
- [MUSICIAN] Ah crazy son of a bitch!
- Anybody hurt?
[MUSICIAN] He said to jump on Peanutt!
- Where is he? Is he okay?
- [GROANS]
- [CLATTERING]
- [MUSICIAN] Peanutt?
You all right?
[PEANUTT] Uhh, oh, yeah, I'm okay.
- Whoo!
- [PEANUTT] I'm just gonna grab this beer.
Oh, the great big Jesus
- in the sky can't catch the Possum!
- Oh.
Allow me to pay my compliments
to the fine ventilation of your vehicle.
[GWEN] You smell funny.
That's the sweet nectar
of the gods, my darling.
Why they call you Possum?
'Cause of my funny nose
and bugged out eyes.
- [JACKIE] You don't look like no possum.
- Oh, really?
How 'bout now?
[GIRLS GIGGLING]
Did you know I write songs, Mr. Jones?
Lord, I did not, no.
[TAMMY WYNETTE'S "APARTMENT #9"]
[GEORGE HICCUPS]
[GEORGE YAWNS]
[BOTH] Just follow the stairway ♪
To this lonely world of mine ♪
[MUSIC SLOWS]
There's not enough me in the mix.
[MIXER] Well, I don't know
if you're aware,
but she's the singer.
Oh, I would like
a little bit more guitar.
It helps keep me in tune.
Thank you.
Two, three, four, one.
- [MUSIC STOPS]
- I
I know you boys are
work with a lot of acts
that come through here,
and I'm honored to be singing with you.
This song's about loneliness.
And waiting for someone to save you.
I don't know if any of you boys
ever felt that way.
Maybe it's just a feeling we ladies get.
But if you have,
maybe you could give that lady
you're waiting on a thought.
I believe you have to live
a song to make it good.
Two, three, four, one.
[BAND PLAYING MOURNFULLY]
Beautiful.
[BOTH] Just follow the stairway ♪
To this lonely world of mine ♪
You'll find me ♪
Waitin' here ♪
In apartment number nine ♪
[MOUTHING]
Not so very long ago ♪
You walked away from me ♪
And after all ♪
The plans we made ♪
You decided to be free ♪
[BOTH] Loneliness surrounds me ♪
Without your arms ♪
Around me ♪
And the sun ♪
Will never shine ♪
In apartment number nine ♪
- [PIANO PLAYS]
- Mm, that's nice.
That's real pretty.
I keep waiting ♪
In this lonely room ♪
Just in case you change your mind ♪
You'll find me ♪
Waitin' here ♪
In apartment number nine ♪
[BOTH] Loneliness surrounds me ♪
Without your arms around me ♪
And the sun ♪
Will never shine ♪
In apartment number nine ♪
No, the sun will never shine ♪
In apartment number nine ♪
Uh-uh ooh, that was close.
That was close. All right, your turn.
That is two two numbers.
- "You are very talented."
- [LAUGHTER]
Boy, I've been waiting
to hear that my whole life.
Thank you very much. How do you know?
- Oh.
- Um
- You heard me singing?
- I think you are.
Oh, that's awful sweet.
All right, let me try your, uh
- [TAMMY] You're eating a raw potato?
- I am.
- Why?
- I don't wanna say in front of the children.
Why not?
Girls, did you tell him
that his hair's a mess?
- What?
- [FAUCET RUNNING]
This is very nice.
- Very nice.
- [TAMMY] Good.
I'd hate to have my license revoked.
You need a license to do a man's hair?
Well, I never officially graduated,
but the lady who runs the beauty college
took pity on account
I was pregnant with my third.
She gave me my license anyway.
Damn, I didn't know I was
talking to an educated woman.
You're flirting with me, George Jones.
You're pointing your finger
at me, Tammy Wynette.
- Turn around.
- All right.
What kind of Christian are you?
- Pentecostal.
- Mm-hmm.
Best look out, we do
crazy things with our tongues.
- [CHUCKLES]
- I'm gonna stop doing your hair,
you dirty old, married Pentecostal.
She told me not to come back.
- Sorry to hear that.
- [GEORGE] Yeah.
She wanted to be married
to George Jones,
and then one day she woke up,
and it dawned on her
she was married to George Jones.
- [TAMMY] Hmm.
- [GEORGE] Pass me that potato, will you?
- Yeah.
- [SIGHS] Hm.
[TAMMY] Ugh. Here.
It's a little trick Shorty taught me
to soak up the booze.
[TAMMY] If a girl singer got
drunk like you boys do
[WHISTLES, CLICKS TONGUE]
They would toss her
outta Nashville so fast.
- You gotta be perfect.
- [SCISSORS SNIPPING]
You ain't perfect. Mm-mm.
I can hear it in your voice.
- You don't like the way I sing?
- No.
I love the way you sing.
What? You all right?
Just waiting, it seems, my whole life
- to hear you say that.
- Yeah.
You should grow your hair longer.
Mm. See, you got sadness in you.
Don't you?
Well, it's thicker
than I thought it was.
You hair, it would look nice long.
That kind of sadness is a hand-me-down.
Somebody gave it to you,
who gave it to them before.
Well, can't do nothing
about stuff that came before.
- Hmm.
- Well
trying to make a happy home
- for the girls, Don and I.
- He good to his babies?
[TAMMY] Well, the girls aren't his.
- [GEORGE] Hmm.
- Big one is,
but she's mine too now, so
[GEORGE] Hey.
- Is that a haircutting accident?
- No.
When I first met Don, we made a pact.
Swore we'd make it
to Nashville together.
The idea of you defiling yourself
for someone like him
- Someone like him?
- [GEORGE] Yeah.
There's 3,000 Dons a day
come rolling into Nashville.
They all attach themselves
to some pretty girl,
think it's gonna make them more worthy.
3,000 Dons a day,
3,000 pretty girls a day.
But not one of 'em's you.
I always thought you'd look
nice with sideburns.
Ms. Wynette, you spend a lot of time
thinking about my face, it seems like.
- [DOOR SQUEAKS]
- [TAMMY] He's real talented, my husband.
He's got a box full of great songs.
His sister's Jean Chapel.
She had a hit with "I Got
a Memory You Can't Touch."
- You know that one?
- I do not.
Well, there you go.
That looks better, doesn't it?
I look like a genuine
Hollywood movie star.
- [JAUNTY MUSIC PLAYING]
- [CROWD CLAPPING ALONG]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[GEORGE HUMMING "APARTMENT #9"]
- Without your arms
- [DONNA] Wynette, Wynette,
Daddy just ran outta here
- and sent all the local boys home.
- I'll kill him!
[FOOTSTEPS POUNDING]
- She the killin' kind?
- No, sir. [CHUCKLES]
Stop, please.
Your husband told me
the booking was canceled.
I know, I know
I don't know why he said that.
I honestly don't know why.
But if you and your boys would stay,
I'd be so appreciative.
They're already drinking
at the bar right now,
so it wouldn't be much of a band.
- Just you and me.
- Please.
I'm asking for your kindness, please.
We'll start with "Blessed Be Thy Name."
If we sound horrid,
then at least we'll appeal
to their Christianity.
[ANNOUNCER] Ladies and gentlemen,
Ms. Tammy Wynette and the Jones Boys.
- That's your name, innit?
- Yeah.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[GEORGE] That's your song, right?
- [TAMMY] Yeah.
- You best get out there
- and sing it, then.
- [CROWD CHEERING]
[TAMMY] Thank you. Come on!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
I never seen the inside of a barroom ♪
Or listened to a jukebox all
night long ♪
But I see these are the things ♪
That bring you pleasure ♪
So I'm gonna make
some changes in our home ♪
Well, I heard it said ♪
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em ♪
So if that's the way you wanted
me to be ♪
I'll change if it takes that
to make you happy ♪
From now on, you're gonna see ♪
A different me ♪
Because your ♪
[BOTH] Good girl's gonna go bad ♪
I'm gonna be the swingingest
swinger you ever had ♪
If you like 'em painted up,
powdered up ♪
Then you oughta be glad ♪
'Cause your good girl's gonna go bad ♪
- [CROWD CHEERING]
- I'll even learn to like
[LAUGHING] The taste of whiskey ♪
In fact, you'll hardly
recognize your wife ♪
I'll buy some brand-new clothes ♪
And dress up fancy ♪
For my journey
to the wilder side of life ♪
Because your good girl's gonna
go bad ♪
I'm gonna be the swingingest
swinger you ever had ♪
If you like 'em painted up,
powdered up ♪
Then you oughta be glad ♪
'Cause your good girl's gonna go bad ♪
Oh, yeah, your good girl's ♪
Gonna go bad ♪
- [SONG ENDS]
- Yeah!
- [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
- [TAMMY] Thank you.
[GEORGE] Whoo!
Hey, y'all, how's my hair look?
Right there? All right, thank you.
Well, hey, uh, Tammy,
you know this one?
["WHY BABY WHY" PLAYING]
- Oh, I know all your songs, Mr. Jones.
- Oh, no.
My daddy was Mr. Jones.
You can call me Baby.
[BOTH] Tell me why, baby, why, baby ♪
Why, baby, why you make me
cry, baby, cry, baby ♪
Cry, baby, cry ♪
Can't help but love you
till the day that I die ♪
So tell me why, baby, why, baby ♪
Why, baby, why ♪
Well, I got a crow I wanna pick
with you ♪
Just like last time
when the feathers flew ♪
You're running wild,
picking up your heels ♪
Leaving me home with a handful
of bills ♪
Well, I can't live without you ♪
And you know it's true ♪
But there's no living with you ♪
So what'll I do? ♪
I'm going honky-tonking ♪
Get as tight as I can ♪
Maybe by then,
you'll 'preciate a good man ♪
[BOTH] So tell me why, baby,
why, baby ♪
Why, baby, why you make me
cry, baby, cry, baby ♪
Cry, baby, cry ♪
I can't help but love you ♪
Till the day that I die ♪
So tell me why, baby, why, baby ♪
Why, baby, why ♪
- [GEORGE] Hey.
- Hey.
[GEORGE] I'm heading to Memphis.
Not too late to get you on the bill.
[BUS HORN BLARES]
Where'd that thing come from?
[HORN HONKS]
[PEANUTT] Come on, George!
Well, I guess somebody called somebody.
[DONNA] Sucker's brand new.
- [GEORGE] Mm-hmm.
- You live in a fast world.
Fast is the only speed I know.
Well, I have a long drive ahead of me,
but this sure was fun.
[GEORGE] It was.
You know, I got plenty of room
on that bus.
Beds for the girls.
I'll take you anywhere you wanna go.
I think we're going
in opposite directions.
[SENTIMENTAL MUSIC]
Don't have to.
[WHISPERING] I have a husband
I need to, um
track down.
Oh.
Here.
- [TAMMY] Thanks.
- [GEORGE] Mm-hmm.
Hey, you know what? My old bus is yours.
She got a few holes in her,
but I'll get her fixed up good for you.
Oh, thank you,
but I couldn't accept that.
- Yes, she could.
- Oh, she's insisting.
- That's that, then.
- [CHUCKLES]
Um somebody gonna call somebody?
Something like that. Mm-hmm.
- [BUS HORN HONKING]
- [MUSICIAN] Hey, George!
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
Do you ever think about being better?
Better at what?
- Where the hell have you been?
- Does it matter?
George Jones says you don't need me.
[TAMMY] Come on, baby.
You're the one
who'd be nowhere without me.
You know, I was getting
to know him for you.
- [DON] Oh, was it for me?
- Uh-huh.
Help me get the stuff out of the car.
Is he gonna sing my songs?
[SIGHS] I don't know.
I told him how good you are.
- You swear nothing happened?
- Nothing happened.
[BUS HORN HONKS]
[BUS HISSES]
Jones gave us a bus.
[DRIVER] Where y'all want this?
[TAMMY WYNETTE'S
"D-I-V-O-R-C-E" PLAYING]
Our D-I-V-O-R-C-E ♪
Becomes final today ♪
Me and little J-O-E ♪
Will be going away ♪
I love you both ♪
And this will be pure H-E-double-L ♪
For me ♪
Oh, I wish that we could stop this ♪
D-I-V-O-R-C-E ♪
Watch him smile ♪
He thinks it's Christmas ♪
Or his fifth birthday ♪
And he thinks C-U-S-T-O-D-Y ♪
Spells "fun" or "play" ♪
I spell out all the hurting words ♪
And turn my head when I speak ♪
'Cause I can't spell away this hurt ♪
That's dripping down my cheek ♪
Our D-I-V-O-R-C-E ♪
Becomes final today ♪
Me and little J-O-E ♪
Will be going away ♪
I love you both ♪
And this will be pure H-E-double-L ♪
For me ♪
Oh, I wish that we could stop ♪
This D-I-V-O-R-C-E ♪
That's good.
That's good, that's good, that's good.
- Hi, George.
- Hey.
- [BILLY] How you doing? Say hello?
- [GEORGE] Sure.
Come right this way.
Tammy?
- Come here and say hi to George.
- Oh, is he here?
[GEORGE] Yeah, that's real pretty.
[BILLY] What you just heard there,
that song's gonna be a number one smash.
- Mark my words.
- Oh, yeah?
Hey, I heard from somebody
once that, uh,
you really gotta live a song
in order to make it good.
- Mm-hmm. You heard that, did you?
- Yeah.
[BILLY] We got
an open door policy, Jones.
Whenever you're ready to sign with Epic,
we'll happily take you
away from Musicor.
I know. I can't record with you boys.
I'm still on contract with Pappy.
[BILLY] All right, but Pappy Daily
ain't getting the best outta you.
Well, hey, he made a commitment.
He's gonna honor it, Billy.
- [GEORGE] She understands.
- Yeah. [LAUGHS]
New Nashville's yours
whenever you're ready
- to embrace it, George.
- All right.
- So
- So?
So does Miss Red Bay like her new bus?
Drives real nice. Thank you.
[GEORGE] Does the air
conditioning run okay?
Yeah. It's perfect.
- 'Cause if it wasn't, I'd fix it.
- [DOOR CLICKS]
- Tammy?
- Yeah?
- Got your cigarettes.
- Oh. Thanks, Richey.
Jones, you know George Richey?
- I do not.
- [TAMMY] Oh, thanks.
I'm the musical director
over at "Hee Haw."
You've been on the show 11 times.
Oh, hell, son, I was probably
drunk out of my mind.
[LAUGHS] Well, my name's George too,
but you can call me Richey
if it's confusing.
Mm, I'm not confused.
Richey here's a right
talented songwriter too,
- Jones.
- [GEORGE] Really?
Seems like everybody in Nashville's
a right talented songwriter.
If you'll allow me,
when I think of your story,
story of a legend,
I get very excited about
the musical possibilities.
I really appreciate that very much,
but I'm not here to see you.
I'm here to see him. Now, this fella,
your wife's telling me that you
are a fantastic songwriter,
so I was curious what you got.
[DON] Well, I got one
I think you'll love.
[GEORGE] Yeah?
It's called
"When the Grass Grows Over Me."
- "When the Grass Grows Over Me."
- The story is, um,
a man loves a woman so hard
that he only stops loving her
when he's dead in the ground.
[WHISTLES] That's morbid.
But it's true.
[SHOWER RUNNING]
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]
What are you stop it.
I don't like that.
- What are you doing?
- You're my wife.
Sometimes I like to look at you
when you're not here.
[GEORGE] I'll be over you ♪
When the grass grows over me ♪
When you left, I thought ♪
That I would soon get over you ♪
Even told myself ♪
That I would find somebody too ♪
Time and tears have come and gone ♪
But not your memory ♪
And I'll be over you ♪
When the grass grows over me ♪
Yes, I'll be over you ♪
When you're standing over me ♪
- [DONNA] Isn't Daddy's song so beautiful?
- [CHUCKLES]
[TAMMY] Oh, yeah, sure.
- You're doin' good, girl.
- Thanks, Pappy.
[PAPPY] I should've signed you
at Musicor
when I had the chance.
- Really missed the boat on you.
- How's that crow taste?
- Oh, goodness.
- [ALL CHUCKLING]
Hey, you know what?
I wanna do this again.
Yeah. Let me come by Saturday night
and we'll talk about some ideas.
Is it okay if I invite myself to dinner?
- Tammy's the best cook.
- Really?
And as long as I live ♪
I know I won't be free ♪
[TAMMY VOCALIZING]
[GEORGE] But I'll be over you ♪
When the grass grows over me ♪
Yes, I'll be over you ♪
When you're standing over me ♪
And as you look down ♪
At the cold, cold ground ♪
I'm sleeping in ♪
Don't expect to hear me say ♪
That I still love you then ♪
- [DONNA] Come here!
- Hey, careful! It's hot.
[DONNA] Get back here right now, Gwen!
[GWEN SQUEALING] Stop it!
Donna, release Gwen.
Donna's grabbing me for nothing.
She stole my hair spray.
Did you take her hair spray again?
You quit, now. Give it back.
Donna, you look great.
[GWEN] I just wanted to use
the hair spray on my dolly.
You finish the song?
- [DOORBELL DINGS]
- Boys, go wash your hands.
We don't Mr. Jones thinking
this is a house full of mongrels.
- [TIMER DINGS]
- Yes, ma'am.
- I didn't finish.
- [SIGHS] Don.
[DOORBELL DINGS]
Oh. Welcome to our home.
- The old hometown ♪
- Thank you.
Looks the same ♪
- Oh, boy. That smells good.
- [TAMMY CHUCKLES]
[GEORGE] You two been busy.
Where'd you sprout the extra ones?
You know Gwen and Jackie,
and the boys are Mike and Gary.
- Donna and Tina, of course.
- [GEORGE] Oh. Hey.
[DON] Donna, Mike, and Gary are mine.
- Oh, yeah?
- Yup.
Then the boys spend
some of the weekends with us.
- Oh.
- Donna's named after me.
I'm Don, so
- she's Donna.
- [GEORGE] Huh.
- [TAMMY] Anybody hungry?
- Yeah.
[DON] And that's Virginia.
[LAUGHING] Virginia Pugh.
- P-U!
- [TAMMY] Don, don't.
Virginia Pugh wasn't never
gonna be famous.
That's why Billy Sherrill changed it.
Well, you know,
my mama always calls me Glenn.
No matter how famous I get.
Keeps me distinct from my daddy.
Kids, go, uh, sit in the dining room,
and Donna, would you take Tina to bed?
- Thanks.
- [GEORGE] Nice to meet you.
Can I fix you anything to drink?
Nope. Nothing for me.
- Nothing?
- Mm.
- What?
- Okay.
[GEORGE] Well, look at this.
It's like I stepped
into the showroom at Badcock.
- [TAMMY] Badcock?
- Yeah.
That's where I get all my furnishings.
Wonderful, stylish people.
Yeah, well, maybe next time.
This was all just delivered.
- [GEORGE] Mm, I can smell that.
- Mm.
Only thing better
than new furniture smell
is a new car smell.
Got one of them too.
- Mm, I saw that Caddy out front.
- Mm-hmm.
- Hmm.
- Yeah, Don and I, we're in a real
level, normal place.
- [GEORGE] Yeah?
- Mm.
[GEORGE, QUIETLY] My ♪
D-I-V-O-R-C-E ♪
Became final today ♪
[SUCKS TEETH]
Mmm, Lord have mercy.
Mike, take your elbows off the table.
Take off your hat too.
Folks make me nervous
when they act fancy around me.
- Hmm? There you go.
- [DON] My house.
- Hands go in laps.
- Mm.
10-4, yes. Officer Chapel.
Hands not in laps, please.
Be advised that
oh, there's gunfire in the area.
- Please, everybody, remain calm.
- [CHILDREN GIGGLING]
Please, remain calm.
- [DON] I'm teaching him about life.
- Mm?
Put your hand in your lap,
and finish what you start.
- Those are my rules.
- [GEORGE] Mm.
- You've never said that.
- [DON] No lip.
Don, we're having a nice dinner.
Would all of the women please shut up?
[SCOFFS]
[GEORGE] My D-I-V-O-R-C-E ♪
Became final today ♪
Something like that, right?
[SILVERWARE CLATTERS]
Anyone want dessert?
Let's go make some sundaes.
Yeah? Leave those grits.
Come on. Come on, kids.
I broke my rule.
[TAMMY] Just grab it
out of the freezer
See difference between me
and my wife,
she sees an opportunity, she takes it.
- [GEORGE] Mm?
- I get close to lucky,
I pack it in.
Maybe you should go get
some coffee, Daddy.
- [GEORGE] Mm-hmm.
- But my song
is in her George Jones book.
Don, don't just stop it.
Every single word you ever sung
is written down in her little book.
Really?
- Hmm.
- [DON] And, uh
I'm in there too, now. So
guess that makes me somethin'.
[CHUCKLES]
You're gonna fuck my wife, aren't you?
[GROANS SOFTLY] Sorry.
You know
I sure would like to, Don.
[DON] Well, then you should know
Virginia Pugh is a lousy lay.
[TAMMY SCREAMS]
- [CHILDREN SCREAM]
- [CLATTERING]
[SCREAMING]
- Wait
- [GEORGE] Come on!
- Don't don't don't hurt him.
- [DON GROANS]
Please, don't.
You coming with me?
Don't make me scare these babies
any more than I already done.
You love me, right?
- Yes, I do.
- Then let's go!
[BOTH PANTING]
Remind me which ones are yours.
["WHITE LIGHTNING" PLAYING]
[BABY CRYING]
You're gonna love me when I'm old?
[DON] Whatever you two are doing, ♪
it isn't gon' be no fairy tale! ♪
Don't look back.
Never.
[GEORGE] Whew! White Lightning ♪
[SOFT COUNTRY MUSIC]
[SHUFFLING DRUM BEAT]
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
[CHANTING] George! George! George!
George! George! George! George! George!
[RADIO TUNING]
George! George! George! George!
[ANNOUNCER] From the Ryman Auditorium
in Nashville, Tennessee,
the country music capital
of the world, it's your Grand Ole Opry
staring Roy Acuff
and the Smokey Mountain Boys.
Let 'er go, Roy!
From the great Atlantic Ocean ♪
To the wide Pacific shore ♪
From the queen of flowing mountains ♪
To the southbelt by the shore ♪
She's mighty tall and handsome ♪
And known quite well by all ♪
She's the combination ♪
On the Wabash Cannonball ♪
- [POUNDING ON DOOR]
- [PROMOTER] Jones!
If you don't get out there George,
there's gonna be a riot.
[PEANUTT] Hey, hey, hey, Jones.
It's Peanutt. You just come out here.
You do two or three songs, that's it.
All them folks came to see you.
You got a responsibility
to calm 'em down.
- [TOILET FLUSHING]
- [PROMOTER] Jones!
- Get out there now!
- [GEORGE] Bye-bye!
George.
[GEORGE, HIGH-PITCHED VOICE]
George ain't here no more,
but I'll tell him that all you
kind and lovely gentlemen
- stopped by to see him.
- [LAUGHTER]
Hear the mighty rush of the engine ♪
Hear that lonesome hobo squall ♪
We're riding through the jungle ♪
On the Wabash Cannonball ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CROWD CHANTING IN DISTANCE]
George! George! George!
- You're on.
- [SIGHS]
Ladies and gentlemen,
the Possum is trapped.
Please put your hands together
for George Jones.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERING DIES DOWN]
- [FAN] Where's George at?
- [ROY] Uh, well, all right. Um
[CROWD CHANTING] George! George! George!
George looks to be having
a standing problem.
- Charlie, you got that tape?
- [CHARLIE] Sure do, Peanutt.
[PEANUTT] Come on, get your ass up.
[GEORGE] Cold and deep inside like ♪
He won't fall over, I promise.
- One more to go.
- I said stop.
- Here, here.
- [GEORGE GROANS]
Sharp and painful that I may
never shake ♪
You might say that I was taking
it hard ♪
Since you wrote me off with a call ♪
But don't you wager
that I'll hide the sorrow ♪
When I may break right down and bawl ♪
Now the race is on ♪
[BOTH] And here comes pride
up the backstretch ♪
Heartaches a-going to the inside ♪
My tears are holding back ♪
They're trying not to fall ♪
My heart's out of the running ♪
True love's scratched for
another's sake ♪
[BOTH] The race is on and
it looks like heartaches ♪
And the winner loses all ♪
[DON] Come on, now, honey.
We're gonna miss him
if you don't hurry up.
- Virginia!
- It's Tammy, now. Start saying it right.
Now the race is on ♪
[BOTH] And here comes pride
up the backstretch ♪
Heartache's a-going to the inside ♪
My tears are holding back ♪
They're trying not to fall ♪
My heart's out of the running ♪
True love's scratched for
another's sake ♪
The race is on
and it looks like heartaches ♪
And the winner loses all ♪
And the winner loses all ♪
- [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
- Whoo!
[GEORGE LAUGHS]
Oh, I sure do love the love!
I'm not sure I deserve it
after standing you all up
all them times.
- But I was drunk.
- [LAUGHTER]
Then again, if you see me sober,
I ain't awake.
- [CHEERING]
- [FAN] I love you, George!
What's that?
- Marry me!
- [LAUGHS]
[MUSIC STARTS]
Well, in North Carolina
way back in the hills ♪
[BILLY WHISTLES]
Come on, let's go, let's go.
We're gonna miss him.
Come on now.
- How's my hair look?
- It's great.
- [BILLY] Let's go!
- Okay, I'll be right back.
[DONNA] Oh, Tammy. Good luck.
Take these girls and get some ice cream.
No, no, no, you go with Donna, now.
Mommy and Daddy will be back soon.
Come on, girls, let's go.
- Thanks, baby!
- [DON] Come on.
Well, the G-Men, T-Men,
revenuers too ♪
Searching for the place
where he made his brew ♪
They were looking,
trying to book him ♪
But my pappy kept on cooking ♪
- Whew!
- [HICCUPS] Ooh.
- White Lightning
- [LAUGHS] We made it, honey!
Don't go acting like
just another fan tonight.
She can't help it if she's excited.
Oh, I've loved this man's singing
more than half my life.
I'm gonna enjoy myself.
Well, I asked my old pappy
why he called his brew ♪
White Lightning
'stead of Mountain Dew ♪
Billy, will you take
a picture of Tammy and me
with George in the background?
- I will not, Don.
- [GEORGE] Bugged out
[BOTH] And my face turned blue ♪
[GEORGE] Lightning started flashin' ♪
Thunder started clashin' ♪
- Whew!
- [HICCUPS] Whoo!
- White Lightning ♪
- [SIGHS]
- [TAMMY] Jackie, you wanna blot?
- [JACKIE] Yeah.
Careful, now.
- Got it.
- Okay. Muah.
Ah, ah, mm!
- Oh, no, you missed some
- [KNOCKING ON WINDOW]
- He ready for us?
- [BILLY] I like the new hair.
Daddy got it for her.
- Hmm. Sure good.
- [TAMMY] Yeah.
Okay. Ohh! You girls be good for Donna.
- [BABY CRYING]
- I'll be right back, baby.
[BILLY] Ooh, watch your duds.
- [TAMMY] Do I look okay?
- Yeah, you look good.
- Don couldn't watch the girls?
- No, today's his writing day.
- [BILLY] His writing day now, huh?
- [TAMMY] Don't be mean to Don.
That man took us in when we had nothing.
[SCOFFS] You're not my flapjacks.
- Yeah. Excuse me.
- [RHONDA CHUCKLES]
You shy?
- [DOOR CLICKS]
- [BILLY, SINGSONG] George.
[GEORGE SNORTS]
- [BILLY] Wake up!
- [GEORGE GROANS]
Lord have mercy.
[BILLY] George, this is Tammy Wynette,
the girl singer
Shorty Lavender's looking
to book for the Knoxville package show,
pending your approval.
You don't come
out of your hole for nobody.
Well, you got my number there, Jones,
but I'm vouching for her.
You just want me over at Epic.
How do you feel about him dangling you
to get close to me?
[BILLY] Watch it, Jones.
Caught some of your show last night.
Canceled so many times
I thought I'd never get to see you.
- I haven't shit in three days.
- [CHUCKLES]
[BILLY] Tammy.
Uh, why don't you tell Jones
about yourself?
[CHUCKLES] Well
I was born in Mississippi/Alabama line,
so I say my top half comes
from Mississippi,
my bottom half's from Alabama.
My daddy was a musician.
Before he died, he told my mama,
"If my daughter shows any
musical ability whatsoever,
that it is to be encouraged."
So I can only hope to live up
to his dreams for me.
How long you practiced at being famous?
Can't say. [CLEARS THROAT]
Mama ended up being, uh
very encouraging, but I did
learn to harmonize at church
and singing to your records.
Now I'm here, so I hope that, uh
says something for me.
[BILLY] She's been in town
18 months, Jones.
- She already charted three times.
- God almighty.
We're making the future of country music
- over at Epic.
- [GEORGE] Hallelujah.
- [PHONE RINGING]
- [GRUNTS]
Oh, no.
Hey, no, what are you doing?
- [PHONE CLICKS]
- Yeah?
[INDISTINCT VOICE]
Well, I don't know
what you're up to, neither.
- [RHONDA] Anybody got a light?
- Shh.
Why I gotta shush? She ain't my wife.
[GEORGE] Well, the way I see it,
I'm out here keeping
a roof over your head,
so your foul tone isn't appreciative
- or appreciated.
- [SLAMS DOWN PHONE]
Marriage is supposed
to make life easier.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
It'd be a big opportunity
for us to open for you.
I'm a man, not an opportunity.
Mr. Jones
I've got a lot of respect for you,
even if this meeting
isn't real professional.
But I've got mouths to feed
and a messy house,
so if you're not gonna say yes to me,
then I'm just gonna get on with my day.
[GEORGE SNICKERS]
Yeah, you're all right.
[GEORGE JONES' "ROOT BEER" PLAYING]
Well, I sent my pretty baby ♪
To the neighborhood store ♪
My head was vibrating
from the night before ♪
I said you'd better hurry
as she went out the gate ♪
Was saving "When the Grass
Grows Over Me" for me,
but if George Jones wants to record it,
I'm not gonna stop him.
Well, he hasn't heard it yet, Don.
[DON] We're spending
the whole weekend with him.
If we get a shot, we play him the song.
Well, we just gotta get to know the man
before we insult him
by pretending we already do.
- [SIGHS]
- Mama, I'm bored.
- Hey, no bitching.
- [TAMMY] Oh.
Hey, don't curse at her.
Yeah, don't curse at me, Don.
- I am truly outnumbered here.
- You are.
[DONNA] Are we gonna be like
the Carters?
Mm-hmm, that's the plan, baby.
That makes you the Mother Maybelle,
and I'm the June.
Makes Gwen and Jackie the other two.
Oh, doesn't Tina get a part?
Well, we gotta wait and see
how everybody grows up.
- Not everybody can sing.
- That's the truth.
You don't think my song's
good enough, do you?
I love your song.
I never said nothing about that.
I start talking
about presenting my songs
to George Jones, and you get shy.
We go, we do our show,
we impress everybody,
and then you ask.
That's right. You listen to Donna.
He's sensitive about people
taking advantage.
- We said we'd do me next.
- And we will.
[ALL LAUGHING]
All right, my turn. My turn.
What kind of game has one dice?
That's all I wanna know.
- Six!
- [ALL] Whoa!
Hey, keep this bastard straight.
Come on, now.
[PEANUTT] This game's called
"Aggravation,"
- and I'm aggravated.
- [GEORGE] Ohh.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, man.
[MUSICIAN] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
I'm gon' win this game.
- [FLY UNZIPS]
- [URINE SPLASHING]
Uh hey, hey, hey, no! No!
George, you gotta go
inside the john, man.
- [LAUGHTER]
- I'm just writing my name
in the carpet.
Why don't you try
autographing that toilet?
- Now go on go inside.
- [LAUGHTER]
- [MUSICIAN] All right.
- [PEANUTT] Boom.
- [BUS TUMBLING]
- Oh! Shit.
Ah, come on. Shit!
You made me get pee all over my boot.
- [LAUGHTER]
- Hey, look, pee on my boot.
[DRIVER] This road's
a right bit curvy, sir.
I need all my concentration
to get you to your destination.
Damn, son, you're sweating.
It's hot out, sir, and
you're making me nervous, sir.
You know what, I'm gonna
turn on the air conditioning
and get you and me cooled down properly.
- [DRIVER] Thank you, sir.
- Well, you're hot. I'm hot.
This is a state-of-the-art vehicle.
[PEANUTT] George, leave that boy alone.
Come on back over here and sit down.
It's your turn.
- But I'm hot!
- [PEANUTT] Well
[AIR CONDITIONER RATTLES, HUMS]
- You fixed it.
- [MUSICIAN] Come on, George.
[AIR CONDITIONER SPUTTERING]
- What happened?
- You broke it, sir.
- [GEORGE] I broke it?
- Yeah.
[EXHALES] Oh, Lord.
Well, I can't breathe.
- I need some air.
- [LAUGHTER]
[PEANUTT] Whoa, hey, now, George.
- The hell you doing, boy?
- Ventilating.
- [FIRES GUN]
- Oh, whoa! Whoa!
[TIRES SQUEALING]
- [ALL SHOUTING]
- [GUNSHOTS]
- George, no!
- [CONTINUES FIRING]
[TIRES SCREECHING]
[CRASHING]
[DRAMATIC COUNTRY MUSIC]
- [BUS HISSING]
- [MUSICIAN] Oh, man.
- You're crazy!
- [TAMMY] Hang on there, boys!
- [MUSICIAN] Ah crazy son of a bitch!
- Anybody hurt?
[MUSICIAN] He said to jump on Peanutt!
- Where is he? Is he okay?
- [GROANS]
- [CLATTERING]
- [MUSICIAN] Peanutt?
You all right?
[PEANUTT] Uhh, oh, yeah, I'm okay.
- Whoo!
- [PEANUTT] I'm just gonna grab this beer.
Oh, the great big Jesus
- in the sky can't catch the Possum!
- Oh.
Allow me to pay my compliments
to the fine ventilation of your vehicle.
[GWEN] You smell funny.
That's the sweet nectar
of the gods, my darling.
Why they call you Possum?
'Cause of my funny nose
and bugged out eyes.
- [JACKIE] You don't look like no possum.
- Oh, really?
How 'bout now?
[GIRLS GIGGLING]
Did you know I write songs, Mr. Jones?
Lord, I did not, no.
[TAMMY WYNETTE'S "APARTMENT #9"]
[GEORGE HICCUPS]
[GEORGE YAWNS]
[BOTH] Just follow the stairway ♪
To this lonely world of mine ♪
[MUSIC SLOWS]
There's not enough me in the mix.
[MIXER] Well, I don't know
if you're aware,
but she's the singer.
Oh, I would like
a little bit more guitar.
It helps keep me in tune.
Thank you.
Two, three, four, one.
- [MUSIC STOPS]
- I
I know you boys are
work with a lot of acts
that come through here,
and I'm honored to be singing with you.
This song's about loneliness.
And waiting for someone to save you.
I don't know if any of you boys
ever felt that way.
Maybe it's just a feeling we ladies get.
But if you have,
maybe you could give that lady
you're waiting on a thought.
I believe you have to live
a song to make it good.
Two, three, four, one.
[BAND PLAYING MOURNFULLY]
Beautiful.
[BOTH] Just follow the stairway ♪
To this lonely world of mine ♪
You'll find me ♪
Waitin' here ♪
In apartment number nine ♪
[MOUTHING]
Not so very long ago ♪
You walked away from me ♪
And after all ♪
The plans we made ♪
You decided to be free ♪
[BOTH] Loneliness surrounds me ♪
Without your arms ♪
Around me ♪
And the sun ♪
Will never shine ♪
In apartment number nine ♪
- [PIANO PLAYS]
- Mm, that's nice.
That's real pretty.
I keep waiting ♪
In this lonely room ♪
Just in case you change your mind ♪
You'll find me ♪
Waitin' here ♪
In apartment number nine ♪
[BOTH] Loneliness surrounds me ♪
Without your arms around me ♪
And the sun ♪
Will never shine ♪
In apartment number nine ♪
No, the sun will never shine ♪
In apartment number nine ♪
Uh-uh ooh, that was close.
That was close. All right, your turn.
That is two two numbers.
- "You are very talented."
- [LAUGHTER]
Boy, I've been waiting
to hear that my whole life.
Thank you very much. How do you know?
- Oh.
- Um
- You heard me singing?
- I think you are.
Oh, that's awful sweet.
All right, let me try your, uh
- [TAMMY] You're eating a raw potato?
- I am.
- Why?
- I don't wanna say in front of the children.
Why not?
Girls, did you tell him
that his hair's a mess?
- What?
- [FAUCET RUNNING]
This is very nice.
- Very nice.
- [TAMMY] Good.
I'd hate to have my license revoked.
You need a license to do a man's hair?
Well, I never officially graduated,
but the lady who runs the beauty college
took pity on account
I was pregnant with my third.
She gave me my license anyway.
Damn, I didn't know I was
talking to an educated woman.
You're flirting with me, George Jones.
You're pointing your finger
at me, Tammy Wynette.
- Turn around.
- All right.
What kind of Christian are you?
- Pentecostal.
- Mm-hmm.
Best look out, we do
crazy things with our tongues.
- [CHUCKLES]
- I'm gonna stop doing your hair,
you dirty old, married Pentecostal.
She told me not to come back.
- Sorry to hear that.
- [GEORGE] Yeah.
She wanted to be married
to George Jones,
and then one day she woke up,
and it dawned on her
she was married to George Jones.
- [TAMMY] Hmm.
- [GEORGE] Pass me that potato, will you?
- Yeah.
- [SIGHS] Hm.
[TAMMY] Ugh. Here.
It's a little trick Shorty taught me
to soak up the booze.
[TAMMY] If a girl singer got
drunk like you boys do
[WHISTLES, CLICKS TONGUE]
They would toss her
outta Nashville so fast.
- You gotta be perfect.
- [SCISSORS SNIPPING]
You ain't perfect. Mm-mm.
I can hear it in your voice.
- You don't like the way I sing?
- No.
I love the way you sing.
What? You all right?
Just waiting, it seems, my whole life
- to hear you say that.
- Yeah.
You should grow your hair longer.
Mm. See, you got sadness in you.
Don't you?
Well, it's thicker
than I thought it was.
You hair, it would look nice long.
That kind of sadness is a hand-me-down.
Somebody gave it to you,
who gave it to them before.
Well, can't do nothing
about stuff that came before.
- Hmm.
- Well
trying to make a happy home
- for the girls, Don and I.
- He good to his babies?
[TAMMY] Well, the girls aren't his.
- [GEORGE] Hmm.
- Big one is,
but she's mine too now, so
[GEORGE] Hey.
- Is that a haircutting accident?
- No.
When I first met Don, we made a pact.
Swore we'd make it
to Nashville together.
The idea of you defiling yourself
for someone like him
- Someone like him?
- [GEORGE] Yeah.
There's 3,000 Dons a day
come rolling into Nashville.
They all attach themselves
to some pretty girl,
think it's gonna make them more worthy.
3,000 Dons a day,
3,000 pretty girls a day.
But not one of 'em's you.
I always thought you'd look
nice with sideburns.
Ms. Wynette, you spend a lot of time
thinking about my face, it seems like.
- [DOOR SQUEAKS]
- [TAMMY] He's real talented, my husband.
He's got a box full of great songs.
His sister's Jean Chapel.
She had a hit with "I Got
a Memory You Can't Touch."
- You know that one?
- I do not.
Well, there you go.
That looks better, doesn't it?
I look like a genuine
Hollywood movie star.
- [JAUNTY MUSIC PLAYING]
- [CROWD CLAPPING ALONG]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[GEORGE HUMMING "APARTMENT #9"]
- Without your arms
- [DONNA] Wynette, Wynette,
Daddy just ran outta here
- and sent all the local boys home.
- I'll kill him!
[FOOTSTEPS POUNDING]
- She the killin' kind?
- No, sir. [CHUCKLES]
Stop, please.
Your husband told me
the booking was canceled.
I know, I know
I don't know why he said that.
I honestly don't know why.
But if you and your boys would stay,
I'd be so appreciative.
They're already drinking
at the bar right now,
so it wouldn't be much of a band.
- Just you and me.
- Please.
I'm asking for your kindness, please.
We'll start with "Blessed Be Thy Name."
If we sound horrid,
then at least we'll appeal
to their Christianity.
[ANNOUNCER] Ladies and gentlemen,
Ms. Tammy Wynette and the Jones Boys.
- That's your name, innit?
- Yeah.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[GEORGE] That's your song, right?
- [TAMMY] Yeah.
- You best get out there
- and sing it, then.
- [CROWD CHEERING]
[TAMMY] Thank you. Come on!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
I never seen the inside of a barroom ♪
Or listened to a jukebox all
night long ♪
But I see these are the things ♪
That bring you pleasure ♪
So I'm gonna make
some changes in our home ♪
Well, I heard it said ♪
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em ♪
So if that's the way you wanted
me to be ♪
I'll change if it takes that
to make you happy ♪
From now on, you're gonna see ♪
A different me ♪
Because your ♪
[BOTH] Good girl's gonna go bad ♪
I'm gonna be the swingingest
swinger you ever had ♪
If you like 'em painted up,
powdered up ♪
Then you oughta be glad ♪
'Cause your good girl's gonna go bad ♪
- [CROWD CHEERING]
- I'll even learn to like
[LAUGHING] The taste of whiskey ♪
In fact, you'll hardly
recognize your wife ♪
I'll buy some brand-new clothes ♪
And dress up fancy ♪
For my journey
to the wilder side of life ♪
Because your good girl's gonna
go bad ♪
I'm gonna be the swingingest
swinger you ever had ♪
If you like 'em painted up,
powdered up ♪
Then you oughta be glad ♪
'Cause your good girl's gonna go bad ♪
Oh, yeah, your good girl's ♪
Gonna go bad ♪
- [SONG ENDS]
- Yeah!
- [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
- [TAMMY] Thank you.
[GEORGE] Whoo!
Hey, y'all, how's my hair look?
Right there? All right, thank you.
Well, hey, uh, Tammy,
you know this one?
["WHY BABY WHY" PLAYING]
- Oh, I know all your songs, Mr. Jones.
- Oh, no.
My daddy was Mr. Jones.
You can call me Baby.
[BOTH] Tell me why, baby, why, baby ♪
Why, baby, why you make me
cry, baby, cry, baby ♪
Cry, baby, cry ♪
Can't help but love you
till the day that I die ♪
So tell me why, baby, why, baby ♪
Why, baby, why ♪
Well, I got a crow I wanna pick
with you ♪
Just like last time
when the feathers flew ♪
You're running wild,
picking up your heels ♪
Leaving me home with a handful
of bills ♪
Well, I can't live without you ♪
And you know it's true ♪
But there's no living with you ♪
So what'll I do? ♪
I'm going honky-tonking ♪
Get as tight as I can ♪
Maybe by then,
you'll 'preciate a good man ♪
[BOTH] So tell me why, baby,
why, baby ♪
Why, baby, why you make me
cry, baby, cry, baby ♪
Cry, baby, cry ♪
I can't help but love you ♪
Till the day that I die ♪
So tell me why, baby, why, baby ♪
Why, baby, why ♪
- [GEORGE] Hey.
- Hey.
[GEORGE] I'm heading to Memphis.
Not too late to get you on the bill.
[BUS HORN BLARES]
Where'd that thing come from?
[HORN HONKS]
[PEANUTT] Come on, George!
Well, I guess somebody called somebody.
[DONNA] Sucker's brand new.
- [GEORGE] Mm-hmm.
- You live in a fast world.
Fast is the only speed I know.
Well, I have a long drive ahead of me,
but this sure was fun.
[GEORGE] It was.
You know, I got plenty of room
on that bus.
Beds for the girls.
I'll take you anywhere you wanna go.
I think we're going
in opposite directions.
[SENTIMENTAL MUSIC]
Don't have to.
[WHISPERING] I have a husband
I need to, um
track down.
Oh.
Here.
- [TAMMY] Thanks.
- [GEORGE] Mm-hmm.
Hey, you know what? My old bus is yours.
She got a few holes in her,
but I'll get her fixed up good for you.
Oh, thank you,
but I couldn't accept that.
- Yes, she could.
- Oh, she's insisting.
- That's that, then.
- [CHUCKLES]
Um somebody gonna call somebody?
Something like that. Mm-hmm.
- [BUS HORN HONKING]
- [MUSICIAN] Hey, George!
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
Do you ever think about being better?
Better at what?
- Where the hell have you been?
- Does it matter?
George Jones says you don't need me.
[TAMMY] Come on, baby.
You're the one
who'd be nowhere without me.
You know, I was getting
to know him for you.
- [DON] Oh, was it for me?
- Uh-huh.
Help me get the stuff out of the car.
Is he gonna sing my songs?
[SIGHS] I don't know.
I told him how good you are.
- You swear nothing happened?
- Nothing happened.
[BUS HORN HONKS]
[BUS HISSES]
Jones gave us a bus.
[DRIVER] Where y'all want this?
[TAMMY WYNETTE'S
"D-I-V-O-R-C-E" PLAYING]
Our D-I-V-O-R-C-E ♪
Becomes final today ♪
Me and little J-O-E ♪
Will be going away ♪
I love you both ♪
And this will be pure H-E-double-L ♪
For me ♪
Oh, I wish that we could stop this ♪
D-I-V-O-R-C-E ♪
Watch him smile ♪
He thinks it's Christmas ♪
Or his fifth birthday ♪
And he thinks C-U-S-T-O-D-Y ♪
Spells "fun" or "play" ♪
I spell out all the hurting words ♪
And turn my head when I speak ♪
'Cause I can't spell away this hurt ♪
That's dripping down my cheek ♪
Our D-I-V-O-R-C-E ♪
Becomes final today ♪
Me and little J-O-E ♪
Will be going away ♪
I love you both ♪
And this will be pure H-E-double-L ♪
For me ♪
Oh, I wish that we could stop ♪
This D-I-V-O-R-C-E ♪
That's good.
That's good, that's good, that's good.
- Hi, George.
- Hey.
- [BILLY] How you doing? Say hello?
- [GEORGE] Sure.
Come right this way.
Tammy?
- Come here and say hi to George.
- Oh, is he here?
[GEORGE] Yeah, that's real pretty.
[BILLY] What you just heard there,
that song's gonna be a number one smash.
- Mark my words.
- Oh, yeah?
Hey, I heard from somebody
once that, uh,
you really gotta live a song
in order to make it good.
- Mm-hmm. You heard that, did you?
- Yeah.
[BILLY] We got
an open door policy, Jones.
Whenever you're ready to sign with Epic,
we'll happily take you
away from Musicor.
I know. I can't record with you boys.
I'm still on contract with Pappy.
[BILLY] All right, but Pappy Daily
ain't getting the best outta you.
Well, hey, he made a commitment.
He's gonna honor it, Billy.
- [GEORGE] She understands.
- Yeah. [LAUGHS]
New Nashville's yours
whenever you're ready
- to embrace it, George.
- All right.
- So
- So?
So does Miss Red Bay like her new bus?
Drives real nice. Thank you.
[GEORGE] Does the air
conditioning run okay?
Yeah. It's perfect.
- 'Cause if it wasn't, I'd fix it.
- [DOOR CLICKS]
- Tammy?
- Yeah?
- Got your cigarettes.
- Oh. Thanks, Richey.
Jones, you know George Richey?
- I do not.
- [TAMMY] Oh, thanks.
I'm the musical director
over at "Hee Haw."
You've been on the show 11 times.
Oh, hell, son, I was probably
drunk out of my mind.
[LAUGHS] Well, my name's George too,
but you can call me Richey
if it's confusing.
Mm, I'm not confused.
Richey here's a right
talented songwriter too,
- Jones.
- [GEORGE] Really?
Seems like everybody in Nashville's
a right talented songwriter.
If you'll allow me,
when I think of your story,
story of a legend,
I get very excited about
the musical possibilities.
I really appreciate that very much,
but I'm not here to see you.
I'm here to see him. Now, this fella,
your wife's telling me that you
are a fantastic songwriter,
so I was curious what you got.
[DON] Well, I got one
I think you'll love.
[GEORGE] Yeah?
It's called
"When the Grass Grows Over Me."
- "When the Grass Grows Over Me."
- The story is, um,
a man loves a woman so hard
that he only stops loving her
when he's dead in the ground.
[WHISTLES] That's morbid.
But it's true.
[SHOWER RUNNING]
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]
What are you stop it.
I don't like that.
- What are you doing?
- You're my wife.
Sometimes I like to look at you
when you're not here.
[GEORGE] I'll be over you ♪
When the grass grows over me ♪
When you left, I thought ♪
That I would soon get over you ♪
Even told myself ♪
That I would find somebody too ♪
Time and tears have come and gone ♪
But not your memory ♪
And I'll be over you ♪
When the grass grows over me ♪
Yes, I'll be over you ♪
When you're standing over me ♪
- [DONNA] Isn't Daddy's song so beautiful?
- [CHUCKLES]
[TAMMY] Oh, yeah, sure.
- You're doin' good, girl.
- Thanks, Pappy.
[PAPPY] I should've signed you
at Musicor
when I had the chance.
- Really missed the boat on you.
- How's that crow taste?
- Oh, goodness.
- [ALL CHUCKLING]
Hey, you know what?
I wanna do this again.
Yeah. Let me come by Saturday night
and we'll talk about some ideas.
Is it okay if I invite myself to dinner?
- Tammy's the best cook.
- Really?
And as long as I live ♪
I know I won't be free ♪
[TAMMY VOCALIZING]
[GEORGE] But I'll be over you ♪
When the grass grows over me ♪
Yes, I'll be over you ♪
When you're standing over me ♪
And as you look down ♪
At the cold, cold ground ♪
I'm sleeping in ♪
Don't expect to hear me say ♪
That I still love you then ♪
- [DONNA] Come here!
- Hey, careful! It's hot.
[DONNA] Get back here right now, Gwen!
[GWEN SQUEALING] Stop it!
Donna, release Gwen.
Donna's grabbing me for nothing.
She stole my hair spray.
Did you take her hair spray again?
You quit, now. Give it back.
Donna, you look great.
[GWEN] I just wanted to use
the hair spray on my dolly.
You finish the song?
- [DOORBELL DINGS]
- Boys, go wash your hands.
We don't Mr. Jones thinking
this is a house full of mongrels.
- [TIMER DINGS]
- Yes, ma'am.
- I didn't finish.
- [SIGHS] Don.
[DOORBELL DINGS]
Oh. Welcome to our home.
- The old hometown ♪
- Thank you.
Looks the same ♪
- Oh, boy. That smells good.
- [TAMMY CHUCKLES]
[GEORGE] You two been busy.
Where'd you sprout the extra ones?
You know Gwen and Jackie,
and the boys are Mike and Gary.
- Donna and Tina, of course.
- [GEORGE] Oh. Hey.
[DON] Donna, Mike, and Gary are mine.
- Oh, yeah?
- Yup.
Then the boys spend
some of the weekends with us.
- Oh.
- Donna's named after me.
I'm Don, so
- she's Donna.
- [GEORGE] Huh.
- [TAMMY] Anybody hungry?
- Yeah.
[DON] And that's Virginia.
[LAUGHING] Virginia Pugh.
- P-U!
- [TAMMY] Don, don't.
Virginia Pugh wasn't never
gonna be famous.
That's why Billy Sherrill changed it.
Well, you know,
my mama always calls me Glenn.
No matter how famous I get.
Keeps me distinct from my daddy.
Kids, go, uh, sit in the dining room,
and Donna, would you take Tina to bed?
- Thanks.
- [GEORGE] Nice to meet you.
Can I fix you anything to drink?
Nope. Nothing for me.
- Nothing?
- Mm.
- What?
- Okay.
[GEORGE] Well, look at this.
It's like I stepped
into the showroom at Badcock.
- [TAMMY] Badcock?
- Yeah.
That's where I get all my furnishings.
Wonderful, stylish people.
Yeah, well, maybe next time.
This was all just delivered.
- [GEORGE] Mm, I can smell that.
- Mm.
Only thing better
than new furniture smell
is a new car smell.
Got one of them too.
- Mm, I saw that Caddy out front.
- Mm-hmm.
- Hmm.
- Yeah, Don and I, we're in a real
level, normal place.
- [GEORGE] Yeah?
- Mm.
[GEORGE, QUIETLY] My ♪
D-I-V-O-R-C-E ♪
Became final today ♪
[SUCKS TEETH]
Mmm, Lord have mercy.
Mike, take your elbows off the table.
Take off your hat too.
Folks make me nervous
when they act fancy around me.
- Hmm? There you go.
- [DON] My house.
- Hands go in laps.
- Mm.
10-4, yes. Officer Chapel.
Hands not in laps, please.
Be advised that
oh, there's gunfire in the area.
- Please, everybody, remain calm.
- [CHILDREN GIGGLING]
Please, remain calm.
- [DON] I'm teaching him about life.
- Mm?
Put your hand in your lap,
and finish what you start.
- Those are my rules.
- [GEORGE] Mm.
- You've never said that.
- [DON] No lip.
Don, we're having a nice dinner.
Would all of the women please shut up?
[SCOFFS]
[GEORGE] My D-I-V-O-R-C-E ♪
Became final today ♪
Something like that, right?
[SILVERWARE CLATTERS]
Anyone want dessert?
Let's go make some sundaes.
Yeah? Leave those grits.
Come on. Come on, kids.
I broke my rule.
[TAMMY] Just grab it
out of the freezer
See difference between me
and my wife,
she sees an opportunity, she takes it.
- [GEORGE] Mm?
- I get close to lucky,
I pack it in.
Maybe you should go get
some coffee, Daddy.
- [GEORGE] Mm-hmm.
- But my song
is in her George Jones book.
Don, don't just stop it.
Every single word you ever sung
is written down in her little book.
Really?
- Hmm.
- [DON] And, uh
I'm in there too, now. So
guess that makes me somethin'.
[CHUCKLES]
You're gonna fuck my wife, aren't you?
[GROANS SOFTLY] Sorry.
You know
I sure would like to, Don.
[DON] Well, then you should know
Virginia Pugh is a lousy lay.
[TAMMY SCREAMS]
- [CHILDREN SCREAM]
- [CLATTERING]
[SCREAMING]
- Wait
- [GEORGE] Come on!
- Don't don't don't hurt him.
- [DON GROANS]
Please, don't.
You coming with me?
Don't make me scare these babies
any more than I already done.
You love me, right?
- Yes, I do.
- Then let's go!
[BOTH PANTING]
Remind me which ones are yours.
["WHITE LIGHTNING" PLAYING]
[BABY CRYING]
You're gonna love me when I'm old?
[DON] Whatever you two are doing, ♪
it isn't gon' be no fairy tale! ♪
Don't look back.
Never.
[GEORGE] Whew! White Lightning ♪
[SOFT COUNTRY MUSIC]