soft country music
I wanna ask you somethin'. -
All right, what do you wanna ask me, George?
Well, I just wanted to ask you,
do you love me?
Baby, you know I do.
Not a good idea.
We made this.
We made it.
All my life, I've been runnin',
and I know where I wanna go,
but I always seem to end up going the other way.
We're playin' Vegas next week.
Oh, I am so excited, Sheil.
I just wish George was.
I don't wanna go. They're gonna laugh at us.
Where's George? -
George don't even know where George is.
tense music
You fed me to them.
I just needed off the ride.
You can't bear happiness.
Nobody wants me happy.
I do.
Yeah, we're keeping 'em busy.
Five years, we cut 12 Tammy solo albums,
and six duet albums.
You two must be exhausted. - Oh, yeah. I am.
You got us in here working on our Christmas holiday.
Oh, God, George.
And then the label wants us
to go up to Eskimo country for New Year's.
You know, we might have to stay in an igloo.
We might.
You want to stay in an igloo, Tammy?
It's our first time in Canada,
and we couldn't be more excited.
Oh, no, we went to Niagara Falls
on our honeymoon.
Mm-mm, that was the Michigan side.
Was it? - George. Yep.
I'm not gonna argue with it.
In a marriage, only one of you can hold the map.
I've learned that, so I defer to Tammy, here.
All kidding aside, I am--
I am really proud of her.
Make sure you write that, okay?
She's had 15 solo number one hits
in the last seven years.
And how many have you had?
Hits?
In the last seven years or total?
What's a little healthy competition in a marriage?
He's the one making it a competition.
Well, here's what I'll say.
I think this is true for both of us.
There's something about having a number one hit...
it does something to a person.
Mm.
After your first number one,
you can't wait for the next one.
Huh. - Yeah, you just want
another and another.
soft country music
I've been noticing things about this life,
being a star.
Not the kind that guides the wayward traveler
who brought the wise men to Jesus, but...
...I'm talking about the kind that's
forced to live down here on Earth,
and the kind that everybody wants something from.
Some more and more and more,
even more,
even if, especially,
you've already given everything you've got to give.
And in return, you get no control.
No control over whether you spend the day
surrounded by strangers wanting to talk at you
or alone in a hotel room.
And guess what?
Nobody cares much
which one you feel like doing on any given day.
And even though
you don't like these quick shifts
between pandemonium and isolation,
it gets to where you're just so dang used to it,
one doesn't feel right without the other, so...
when you take your time off, instead of rest,
you just get restless.
And, uh--
that's where the--
the trouble starts.
This one's on me. -
God bless you.
Get in the car, Jones.
That's my wife.
I think she's mad at me.
Keep my seat warm, Peanutt.
Y'all have a Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
Every time you get drunk
and disappear for a week,
every time you play possum on this marriage,
a little bit of my love dies.
Our love can't die. The Bible says--
Oh, it can.
Bible don't say that.
I know my verse, Jones. It doesn't say that nowhere.
"Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes,
always perseveres."
1 Corinthians, Chapter 13, verse 6.
Mm-hmm, okay.
This thing that makes you a hero to them,
the drinking, it shames me.
Well, the only reason I'm not dead
is 'cause you love me.
What else I gotta do to get you to stop being that man?
Mommy, pop the popcorn
Oh. All right.
Apples, nuts, and candy
Oh, what a Christmas tree
Daddy, play the organ
Sugar, why is this door locked?
Working on Georgette's present.
Can I come in? I'd love to see it.
Uh-uh.
It's a surprise.
Jones, we got half of Nashville coming over here tomorrow,
and I really need you to be sober.
Please, baby, for me. I--I want a nice Christmas.
Well, me too. I wish half of Nashville
would just stay home.
Hey, baby, you stay off that naughty list,
and you'll get a big surprise.
Okay.
Sheila, can you run us down to the auto mall?
Do you mind?
Uh-- - Oh, we haven't finished.
Well, I know, honey, but we're gonna go
get a present for Daddy.
George needs a distraction.
Come on, girls. Get your coats on.
Let's go.
Tina, will you get--
I think I put my shoes in the back deck.
A good old country Christmas
That's what it's gonna be
With all the family gathered...
Mm.
light tense music
dark music
Yeah.
Yeah, I got you right where I want you.
I'm sorry, fellas,
but you kinda outlived your purpose.
All right.
Stay right there.
Just stay nice and still.
Okay.
All right.
Watch out!
Ah, son of a bitch!
What?
Twitty Lynn's "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man"
Hey, Louisiana woman
Mississippi man
We get together every time we can
Won't Daddy be surprised, huh?
Are you gonna give it to him at the party?
I think we give it to him right when we get home.
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
Mississippi man
We get together every time we can
There's too much love
In this Mississippi heart
Too much love in this Louisiana heart
Hey
George, baby.
The girls and I have something outside for you.
Come on, let's go.
What kinda fool do you take me for?
Get in here, Tam!
I'm sure he's gonna be home soon.
Come on, Tam. Play your hand.
You've been on your feet all day.
Mm. All right. - I got somethin'.
Oh, you don't have anything.
This is worth $0.50 right here.
Mm-mm.
No, sir. I'm out.
No, come on. Stay in. Keep her honest.
You do it. -
All right, it's all mine.
I wish Nan hadn't taken the girls.
They're my lucky charm.
Yeah, well, I didn't want them to see George drunk.
They worship him, and I'm gonna keep it that way.
Every time that I have seen George lately...
Mm-hmm.
He's doing a lot more eating than drinking.
I'm sorry, y'all, I'm just gonna go ahead and say it.
Mm-hmm. - George is gettin' fat
No.
Can I say that? - No!
George Jones is gettin' fat.
Don't you say that to him.
You know how sensitive he is. - You're so mean.
It's not mean if it's true.
Marriage changes a man.
They get too comfortable.
Marriage don't change anybody.
Tam.
Deal.
Did you just win that hand?
I don't inspire Rich anymore.
What are you talking about, honey?
He adores you.
He adores work.
He asked me to ask you if you had a chance
to take a look at them songs he sent over
for you and George.
Oh, sorry.
Tammy's got so much on her mind right now, Sheil.
Well, he asked me to ask you. So I'm--I'm asking.
Just let me get through Christmas,
and then I'll have a good listen to 'em.
You can tell him that.
I don't like that he put you in that position.
He bought me that dog.
That was nice of him.
Well, in that case...
What?
Hey, next round's on me!
Merry Christmas! -
Jones, what you gon' do if she takes
them lawn mower keys, huh?
Ride my horse.
You ain't got no horse.
I'll buy me one.
Oh, you're gon' buy a horse now?
Why don't you buy two?
Then buy two for these ladies too.
Then we can go for a ride. - Oh, yes.
Ride. - There's an idea.
Anybody got a ranch around here?
Mm-mm-mm.
Tammy won't come.
She don't love us no more.
Course she loves us.
Tammy Wynette is proper.
Butter won't melt in her mouth.
Yeah, but the butter always melts in Charlene's mouth.
It does.
Always.
It's like a-- like a baked potato.
Just eat all that butter up.
Mm, I got a blue ribbon for talking.
I like the way you talk.
laughs]
Little girls
And little boys
Dream of worlds
Full of toys
This time of the year
When Christmas is near
Oh, evergreens
Are snowy white
Sleigh bells ring
Through the night
This time of the year
I'm trying to stay off the naughty list.
Oh, keep the hat.
Okay.
And somewhere near a steeple
Ho, ho, ho!
George Jones? - Yeah.
Merry Christmas. - Merry--Merry Christmas.
And I'm gonna raise you--
I am--10.
No! - I am.
I don't know about you, but I personally prefer
not to get reamed up the butt.
Tell that to Porter Wagoner. -
Buy me a new dishwasher, woman.
Okay. -
Uh-oh.
Porky Pig's home. -
Well, he's gonna be stinking drunk.
So you don't pay him any mind.
Gone all day. Six hours.
Uh, hey, ladies.
Merry Sismas.
Well, Merry Christmas to you, George.
Yep. - You look well.
Yep.
All right, deal me in.
Hey, now.
Don't start without me.
Oh, my God!
Oh, Lord have mercy.
Ready--two-- - Why are we counting?
Are we not counting? - Go! Oh, goodness.
We gotta try it again. We gotta try it again.
Okay, ready? -
We got it, okay. - Okay, watch the boots.
Those are expensive. - Put him through--go.
Head--foot--head first. - Okay, head first.
Sweet Jesus, he's made of lead.
How do you think I keep my girlish figure?
All right, I'm gonna take a break up here.
Okay, we need to focus.
Tammy, can we--
Tammy, get your knees under the mid-part of the body.
Wait a minute. I gotta figure this out.
Let's just let him down for a second.
Regroup.
Okay. - We're doing it!
Lord! - I feel little drunk now.
I need bourbon. I need a cigarette.
Oh, my God. - Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Okay.
I'm sorry I said you were being mean, Jan.
You're not being mean. - Lean him up.
Okay. - Whew, George is fat.
I gotta take his clothes off him.
Sheila, go make us some drinks.
White wine? - White Russian.
Okay. - Come on, Tam.
Okay, ready?
One, two--
Okay.
I can't let him sleep in these pants.
Jan, you look away. Close your eyes.
Nothing I haven't seen before.
Oh, yeah, you haven't seen him before.
Get off me! -
George.
I'm calling for help!
Jan, he doesn't know what he's doing.
What do you want? Tell me about it!
No, no, no. - Sheila, call the police.
Tell me about it now! - What? What?
You tell me! -
e I said, tell me about it!
Tell you what, baby? - He sent you, didn't He?
Who is he?
Oh, it's the only Him there is, baby.
I don't know who he is.
The only Him there is!
He's the only Him there is!
I don't know who he is, but it's not God.
Get off me!
Jan! -
Jan.
tense music
Jan?
Out of my damn house!
Tell me about it. Tell me.
Here, I been here! I been here!
I been here! Tell me!
Outta my damn house!
Out! Out of my damn house!
Tammy! Tammy!
Tammy, Tammy, come here!
There you are! Get! - Come on, honey!
Tam! - Tammy, come--
Come here, come.
Get down, get down.
Get out!
Why are you smiling?
Sir, I'ma need you to put that weapon down.
Hold it right there!
Get him now!
Get--no, no, no, no!
Hey, hey, hey, hey!
You're tearing my britches down!
Come on, now! - Come on, boys.
Hey, you're pulling my britches down!
Ah! Come on, now!
somber music
I'll be good, I promise.
Please, I'll be-- I'll be good, I promise.
Don't take him. Please, don't.
We're gonna take him to dry him out, ma'am.
I was scared.
I thought--
I thought He was coming.
I didn't--I wasn't ready. - I'm sorry.
I wasn't ready! I wasn't ready!
Hey, no!
Baby, wait! -
Hey! - Wait, don't take--don't--
no. - Hey!
He can stay. It's okay.
I wasn't ready!
No!
Oh, Tam. Oh.
Oh, honey.
No, leave it.
Leave it.
I want him to see what he did.
I'm not his mama. I'm not cleaning up his mess.
tense music
We don't view addiction as a moral failing.
Instead, we see it as an infirmity,
an illness that can be treated.
Mm.
Now, alcohol is-- is mostly sugar, is what it is.
And you've developed a-- -
Has anyone come for me?
No? - No.
Um, it's a predisposition
to addiction that you've had since you were born.
Today's the day
You're telling him
That he's got to set you free
And that being
One man's woman
Brings you down
It's amazing how you keep going after what you've been through.
Oh, thanks.
Put on a show like that, get off stage,
and start writing down a song.
Now, we can cancel the second leg of the tour, hon.
There's no shame in that. - Mm-mm. Nope.
Absolutely not.
Fans paid good, hard-earned money.
Jones isn't gonna turn me into a no-show.
There's no way on God's green earth
that you should be treated this way,
by George Jones or anybody else.
Well, he's gonna get clean in rehab
and he's gonna get better.
What if he doesn't? - Richey, don't.
No, Tammy needs to hear the hard truth.
The way I see it, hard truth is love.
Divorcing Jones would break me.
It doesn't hurt to be ready.
I can have Paul draw up the papers.
Mm-mm.
He's gonna see what he did. He's gonna change.
I think he even scared himself this time.
This is George Jones we're talking about here.
There's a whole generation of country folks
always pulling for him, of course.
But his wife needs to plan ahead just in case,
for her daughters' sakes.
You may not find true love again
So go home while you still can
And find a way
To work it out
With your man
Oh, George.
What in the hell did you do?
Well, I--
All right, you need anything, you call me, now.
Mm. - Or Charlene.
Right. Okay.
Hello?
Run, woman, run
Go back to him and fix things up
The very best you can
Tell him you missed him
While you were gone
Run, woman, run back to your man
Run
Woman, run back
To your man
Thank you. Thank you very much.
Where is she? Where are my girls?
I don't wanna get between y'all, Jones, I don't.
I'm just here to pick up a few of her things.
She didn't come see me once. She didn't even call.
Well, she's taking care of business, George.
She had tour dates to make good on.
Business.
Well, you tell Tammy
if she wants to pick something up,
she can do it herself.
All right.
Do you need any help cleaning this up?
I can send Sheila over.
No, no. I can handle it.
I'ma get this place fixed up
just like it was before.
You tell Tammy that too.
Of course.
When are you looking to make a move?
I haven't really thought about it yet.
We're just looking for now.
I do love these windows. There's so much light.
Mm-hmm, yeah.
The seller is very eager.
These modern places seem to sit awhile.
Mm.
It'd be an easy close, assuming all cash.
And the kitchen's right over this way.
All modern appliances, of course.
Oh, that's nice. - Yeah.
Go right this way.
Would you mind giving us a minute?
Of course. - Thanks.
Come on, girls. Let's take Alphie outside.
Well?
He looked just absolutely pitiful,
moving from room to room.
He got it back the way it was for you,
like it never happened.
But it did happen.
He just wants me to forgive and forget.
Did he say anything?
He was upset that you went out on tour.
That's what he was upset about?
Why don't you have Paul draw up those divorce papers,
just in case?
But, uh--
Yeah, do it quick before I change my mind.
All right.
You see right here?
You've had five or six new adhesions
since the last surgery.
I just need something stronger to help me make it through.
Tammy, we have to schedule another operation.
Oh, they make it worse. I'm in pain.
Please.
This is Dilaudid.
But I'll tell you right now, you need that surgery.
What's in this one?
I don't know.
That's why you gotta open it.
Isn't this girl pretty? - Look at my dress.
Oh, the dress.
Now, what should we name this girl?
What's she look like? - Hi, Mommy.
Oh, hey!
Merry Christmas.
Christmas is long gone, George.
Well, shoot, don't tell the girls that.
Mommy, look!
It looks just like our other house.
That's right. I got all the details exactly.
Looky here.
That's your room.
Find it.
There she is.
Yeah.
I love my new car.
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle, jingle
You got another one?
No. - Oh, I see.
How about sharing that one?
How dare you come here acting like nothing happened.
I tell you what, you tell me
what I need to say, and I'll say it.
'Cause you don't know?
I just wanna get it perfect, that's all.
Mm.
Well, we're not in the studio.
Right? - Mm-hmm.
And this isn't a take that you can just redo
because you drank too much.
Tammy, I know that I don't deserve you.
I know that.
So is that why you'd have me dead?
What?
Don't talk like that.
Why you talkin' like that?
You're gonna kill it, George. - Kill what?
All I can think is that you wanna kill my love for you.
Mm-mm.
I don't wanna kill it. - Mm.
I don't wanna kill nothin'. I ain't got killin' in me.
I got four walls full of buckshot says otherwise--
All right, you know what?
That wasn't me. That was the devil.
You hate yourself so much,
you can't help but hate me for loving you.
Well, did you stop?
Did you stop loving me when I was gone?
Is that why you didn't come see me?
Did you stop? Come on, just tell me.
It's all right. - Don't touch me, please.
'Cause I didn't-- I didn't stop loving you.
Oh, come on.
Scream at me. Hit me. - No.
As long as we're fighting, we're talking.
George, don't. - Come on!
Don't--I don't--
The girls are watching, George.
I'm sorry.
I don't wanna fight no more.
melancholy country music
Oh, God.
What are you doing here, Richey?
We got the divorce papers.
Oh.
Thank you.
Okay. - Mm-hmm.
Have a good night. - Good night.
My wife is the prettiest.
My wife is the most talented.
George. - My wife's the smartest.
My wife's the most forgiving.
My wife's amazing. - Stop it, George. Stop it.
No, I'm never gonna stop.
Shh.
This place will be good for us.
Mm. - Fresh start.
It's kinda cold, though.
What do you mean, cold? - Like a tomb.
Hey, I like it.
Oh, yeah? - Yeah.
You're gonna like it even better with the Jones touch.
Kelly green. - No.
Banana yellow. - No.
I'll put some lattice up downstairs.
Mm-mm. - Probably grow some ivy on it.
Ivy won't grow indoors, Jones.
With them big ol' windows,
anything will grow. - Mm-hmm.
But if it's too much upkeep,
I've seen some plastic ones
that look just like the real thing.
You ready for some coffee?
Yeah.
light music
Now, you tell me, boy!
George! George! - Just tell me now!
George! - Son of a bitch!
George! George!
Come on, George.
Calm down. It's--
It'll be all right. -
Fine.
Yeah.
She don't even know what to do with the kitchen.
Here, it'll be all right.
Another round?
She don't know what to do with that kitchen.
No, I've had enough.
Yeah. She'll be sorry about it.
All right, George, relax.
I think it's under Pugh, P-U-G-H.
Nothing for Pugh.
No? Huh.
Well, I dropped it off a week ago.
You'll have to go back to your doctor.
I can't help you.
Sorry.
Could you check under Wynette, please?
Nothing under Wyn--
My wife is not gonna believe this.
Well, shit! -
Well, what are you doing, standing around for?
Quick, get me something to sign for.
Okay.
What is your wife's name, sugar?
Paula. - Paula.
Oh, I love that name.
Every Paula I ever met was just the sweetest.
You're a lucky man.
You and George, you're family to us, ma'am.
Oh, don't call me "ma'am."
You call me Tammy.
What'd you say that prescription was for?
Oh, uh,
I think it was Dalmane.
Okay.
Oh, thank you. Thank you.
I'm here to see Bill.
George, you can't be back here.
I can't be back here? I can't be--
what do you mean I can't be back here?
Ain't you never heard
of George Jones? - Take it easy!
I'm the greatest damn country singer of all time!
Hey, get your goddamn hands off him, Jones!
You understand me, son?
God damn it! - Okay!
He touched me first.
This son of a bitch-- - Shut up!
Just shut up! You all right? - This was his.
You all right? - Yeah, yeah. I'm good.
Man, it might not look like it, but this piece of shit here
is a national treasure.
Oh, the piece of shit is here?
Jones, what are you doing here?
I'm just giving her what she wants, Billy.
Just giving that woman what she wants.
All right, let's talk about it in the office.
Come on, now.
You sure you okay, Steve? - I'm fine.
All right, then.
You are needed in Iowa.
You are not needed here. It is that simple.
He's about as sober as we're gonna get him.
I'm asking what you want.
You'd prefer that I go, wouldn't you?
Under the circumstances, Ruth, yes, I would prefer it.
We'll cut it on tonight, before we lose him.
I'm asking what you want, Joe.
You'd prefer that I go, wouldn't you?
somber music
Step right up
Come on in
If you'd like to take a grand tour
Of a lonely house
That once was home sweet home
I have nothing here to sell you
Just some things that I will tell you
Some things I know would chill you
To the bone
We had to pump her stomach.
I'm sure she didn't mean to.
Look, she's been in so much pain.
She needs another surgery.
She's been putting it off and putting it off.
Here we are.
We're gonna remove all those adhesions
and hope they don't come back.
This is a more aggressive approach, Tammy.
Cut me.
And this old house will
Never be the same
Without the love that we once knew
Straight ahead
That's the bed
I don't know if you meant to or not...
...but a world without Tammy Wynette
is not a world I wanna live in.
I'm never talking about this again.
See her picture
On the table
Don't it look like she'd be able
Just to touch me
And say, "Good morning, dear"?
The marriage might be over, but...
he's doing the work he's supposed to.
Jesus.
Isn't that just brilliant?
Like she left them when
She tore my world apart
You wrote a beautiful song, Richey.
As you leave, you'll see the nursery
Oh, she left me without mercy
Taking nothing
But our baby
And my heart
Step right up
Come on in
Look at this. "Suicide Shocker."
It's over for me.
No girl singer survives that.
Yeah, but you're not a girl singer anymore.
You're the woman who did her best,
and her best was not good enough.
Now she's picking up the pieces.
And that's a song.
That's a hit song. - Mm.
You wanna write that with me?
It'd be my honor.
Hey, fellas.
Awful glad to see you smiling.
Oh, you're sweet.
We just want you to know,
anywhere you're going, that's where we're going.
You just tell us when and where to show up.
But you're George's band.
No, ma'am, we're your band,
if you'll have us.
If I'll have you? What are you talking about?
I'll just keep on
Falling in love
Till I get it right
Right now, I'm like
A wounded bird
Hungry for the sky
But if I try my wings
And try long enough
I'm bound to learn to fly
So I'll just keep on
Falling in love
Till I get it right
My door to love
Has opened out
More times than in
And I'm either fool
Or wise enough
To open it again
'Cause I'll never know
What's beyond the mountain
Till I reach the other side
So I'll just keep on
Falling in love
Till I get it right
If practice makes perfect
Then I'm near 'bout as perfect
As I'll ever be
In my life
So I'll just keep on
Falling in love
Till I get it right
George.
Step right up
Come on in
soft country music