- Previously on Monarch... - The Texas Truth-teller
and his Rose, you are
the king and queen of country music.
The rumor making the rounds is that you've got cancer!
The Roman family legacy will continue
with my children, Nicky, Gigi and Luke.
Nicky, you're very talented, but you're not her.
Geeg, that would mean you singing.
There's a reason I gave up on music all those years ago.
This is what Mama wanted for you, Nicky.
# And tell me now... #
So you stayed out of the spotlight because you thought
you'd outshine me?
Well, there can only be one queen.
What happened between us was a mistake.
I'm married to your sister.
I'm dying Saturday night,
right after the concert, and you're gonna help me do it.
I've done things that can never be forgiven.
What did you do?
A Roman never forgets a friend.
Or an enemy.
Rest in peace.
Yeah, I need you to run some tags for me.
No, Geeg.
Gi?
Wait. Please wait.
Geeg, you don't understand.
She wanted to die.
I think I understand perfectly.
You helped Mama.
She made me do it.
Geeg.
No, Geeg.
Geeg, let me explain.
Geeg...
# The best thing about being a woman #
# Is the prerogative to have a little fun and #
# Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy #
# Forget I'm a lady #
# Men's shirts, short skirts #
# Oh, oh, oh, I want to be free, yeah #
# To feel the way #
- # I feel # - # The way I feel #
# Man, I feel like a woman #
# Come on, baby #
# Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! #
# I feel like a woman. #
My girls.
- That was so much fun! - Mm. It was.
Mm. They want an encore.
Well, should we?
"We"?
They're calling for the queen.
Yeah, but I flew in for the show...
I mean, honey, what have I always told you?
- That there's only one queen. - That's right.
Your turn'll come. Someday.
I'm Marybeth. I'm available 24/7.
If you have questions.
Thank you.
Hey.
Come on, Dad.
Hey. Geeg.
Thank you for not saying anything.
Nicky.
You killed our mother.
Yes, and that's gonna haunt me for the rest of my life.
You don't think I know that? You know how much I loved her.
- You keep saying that. - Because it's true.
It was her choice, and it's what she wanted.
And now I'm gonna send her off, as she wanted,
and get her buried before anybody else
finds out that it wasn't the cancer that killed her.
Geeg, please, I really need your help.
I hate that you kept this from me.
I could've been there for her.
And you.
I didn't even get to say goodbye.
I c...
I can't lose my sister
and my mother...
at the same time.
So...
I'll help you,
but on one condition:
no more secrets or lies.
And you swear to me.
On my life.
Say that again.
What Mama said.
She said, "I've done things that can never be forgiven."
I loved her. Really. Truly.
But she knew.
She knew what she did to us.
Yeah, but you didn't make it easy on her.
You never met a rule you didn't break.
So I deserved to be treated like a pariah and sent to fat camp
and then a gay camp
and then, one summer... two birds with one stone...
a fat gay camp?
She did what she did because she loved us.
Come on, Luke.
She pushed you and Dad apart
'cause she wanted you to be all hers.
And you...
she built you up and she tore you down at the same time.
You know what I don't get?
Mama had months left to live.
And y'all saw her last night.
That was not a woman who was just about to die.
Mama...
was sick and she passed away.
Was she flawless? No.
But she was our mama.
And now she's gone.
And, um... I'm really sorry for all of us.
But we have to focus on the funeral.
Well, luckily, Mama arranged it all herself.
She picked all the artists.
She even coordinated with Alec Graham
to livestream the whole thing.
I need to go check on the rehearsal for the funeral.
Do me a favor.
Please pace yourselves on the airing of childhood grievances.
Nicky, wait.
I need to show you something in the press.
Well, there's always something in the press.
You just learn to ignore it.
Well, I wanted you to see it from me first.
Like I said, you learn to ignore it.
Ha.
That sounds familiar.
Hi, Aunt Nellie.
My whole life,
I lived in my older sister's shadow.
And let me tell you, it was big as all Texas.
Me and Nicky aren't in some competition or anything.
Well, you keep telling yourself that.
She may be your big sister, but this ain't show family.
It's show business.
I had the talent, Gigi.
But your mama, she was relentless.
I didn't have the confidence to make my own moves.
Don't you make the same mistake.
Because if Nicky becomes your mama...
guess who that makes you.
# Ain't no sunshine when she's gone #
# It's not warm when she's away #
# Ain't no sunshine when she's gone #
# And she's always gone too long #
# Anytime #
# She goes away #
# And I know, I know, I know, I know #
# I know, I know, I know, I know #
# I know, I know #
# Ain't no sunshine when she's gone #
# And this house just ain't no home #
# Anytime #
# She goes away #
# Anytime she goes away. #
Hey.
I'm so sorry.
Your mama was a legend
and about as close to a perfect woman as I can imagine.
Well, she was far from perfect, but no one is, right?
I just can't believe she wanted me to play at her funeral.
Well, Mama always knew which way the wind was blowing.
Hey, I hope you don't mind me asking, but...
I read that...
you used to suffer from...
you suffered from anxiety that was so bad you couldn't perform.
Is that right?
I had a year out of the business when I was about 21.
- Right. - Why?
It's just that my s-son, Ace,
- he's, um... - I saw he didn't perform at the musicale.
Was that why?
- Mm-hmm. - Look, I wish I could help,
but that was just a little story my team made up
to cover a little, uh, rough patch.
Drinking.
I wasn't ready for all this.
Uh, if you don't mind, I'd rather that stay between us.
No, of course.
It's our secret.
# Girl, it's quick in this town #
# There's a couple things you need... #
Oh, Luke.
Oh.
# For a broken heart, a broken nail... #
I am so sorry, Luke.
Earl...
did you notice anyone hanging around Mama last night?
Notice anything strange?
Nobody strange.
But your poor father.
He must feel awful after that fight they had.
What are you talking about? What fight?
Outside the house.
I mean, I couldn't hear what she was saying, but, whew,
she gave it to him good.
Just try to remember all the good things Mama gave you.
The lessons she taught you.
She used to tell me,
"Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night,
and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt."
Also, "Never go home with a man in a tank top,
no matter what kind of car he drives."
Mama taught me that instinct is the most powerful thing we have.
And if something don't feel right,
it ain't right.
Dad?
You seem pretty worked up.
What happened? Your bitcoin tank?
What were you and Mama arguing about last night?
- Excuse me? - You and Mama had an argument last night,
and then a woman who had months left to live
just suddenly up and dies.
Something doesn't add up.
What are you implying?
I just want to know what happened.
There's nothing to know.
Your mother died peacefully from the cancer,
and there wasn't a damn thing any of us could do about it.
Well, I just don't believe that.
Watch yourself fore you say something you gonna regret.
Something happened to her.
There is something you are not saying.
You're grieving.
So maybe you don't know what you're saying,
because it sounds a lot like
you're accusing me of killing my wife.
- Something happened and I'm gonna... - Stop right there!
Or what, you gonna hit me?
'Cause it wouldn't be the first time.
Don't turn your back on me...
Keep talking to me like that,
it won't be the last time, either.
Hey, sweetheart.
- How's it look? - It's beautiful.
Hey, honey.
Go get me a shovel.
Daddy,
tell me something good about Mama, something sweet.
First time I ever saw your mama, she was six years old.
Pretty as a picture in a little pink church dress
with ribbons in her hair.
And she kissed me on the cheek
and said, "I'm gonna marry you."
For 43 years, she made me the happiest man in the world.
What's going on, Nicolette?
Mama hated roses.
You can't plant that.
I can and I will.
And you and your brother better stop telling me what to do
or I'm gonna whup his ass again.
I'm gonna tell you something else.
I'm not singing that damn song she chose, either.
I'm gonna say goodbye to my wife the way I want to.
All right.
Yeah, we got to give Mama the send-off she wanted.
We owe her that.
But if you want to sing a song from your heart, then...
you do that.
I'm sure she won't mind.
Boy's upset that Dottie won't hear him perform.
Well, you'd better believe Grandma
will be watching her own funeral,
make sure I don't screw it up.
So if you want to try, no pressure.
I'm sure she'd appreciate it.
Ace, get your mama home. I'll take it from here.
Okay.
And I'm on my way to the will reading.
Are you sure you still don't want me to come?
These things can get, you know, emotional.
Yeah, I'm sure.
I'll be fine.
You and Summer go and have a good day.
Besides, it's not me I'm worried about. It's Luke.
He's always alone.
So, what do you think she's leaving everybody?
Knowing my mother, she's leaving Nicky all her clothes,
Luke her booze
and Daddy her art collection.
Which consists only of portraits of her.
And what about you?
Oh, Mama left me mine a long time ago.
It's that little voice inside my head that says,
- "You're not good enough." - Uh, no, no, no, no.
We're changing all that.
You're right.
I might luck out and get a teapot.
What are you doing,
provoking a grieving old man?
Yeah, he may be old.
Still punches like Tyson Fury.
I wasn't provoking him.
Well, I'm sure you were.
You know that pot-stirring's your love language.
Listen, you don't think it's weird?
They have an argument, then she dies?
Oh, if I listened to everything that Earl said...
Hey.
I know that you're mad and you need someone to blame,
but believe me, it is not him.
Something doesn't make sense.
I don't know.
You know, maybe it's not supposed to.
Sometimes we have questions that just do not have answers.
Hey, we're gonna go into that reading violence-free.
- Yeah. - And no matter what nonsense Mama's put in that will.
Right?
Come on, then.
"Prizewinning Arabian mares
"Total Eclipse and Belle of the Ball
"are bequeathed to my beautiful and talented,
"naturally blonde adopted granddaughter Tatum.
"Finally, the beautification services
"of one Earl Clark are bequeathed
"to my beloved sister Miss Nellie Cantrell,
who, I believe, will benefit greatly."
Well, that's something, I guess.
"Two dos a week,
and one of either nails or makeup, but not both."
To conclude, she also left behind letters for her children,
to be delivered after her death.
Lilacs.
That's Mama.
My dearest Luke, I want to apologize
for not living long enough
to see you get married and meet your babies.
Life may not be fair, but I can't complain,
given everything I got.
I'll always watch over you, my gorgeous boy.
With all the love in my heart, Mama.
Hey.
I'm sorry for being such an ass.
We don't have to investigate.
I just loved her so much.
- She was the only one who... - No, no, no.
She was just better at letting you know.
Geeg, where are you going?
Geeg, hold up.
These are not the words of the woman that raised me.
"Darling daughter"? "I'm so proud"?
Well, of course they are. It's how she felt.
Like a cheap drugstore greeting card?
You're just upset, Geeg.
It's all just come too soon.
And as usual, he's one step behind.
What's she talking about?
She's not talking about anything.
I know that you didn't get to say goodbye,
but those letters, that's her goodbye.
That's all we're gonna get.
Now, can the three of us come together
and get through this funeral, please?
We have to shine so that Mama's legacy can shine.
You mean so that you can shine.
Hey, that's not fair. She's just trying to be...
To be Mama.
To be the queen.
Oh, really? And I thought that was your role.
Or isn't that what RadarOnline said?
Hey, Nick. Come on...
Look, what Geeg is doing is good for Monarch.
Hey, Luke, pick a side.
Yeah, Luke, whose side are you on?
Damn it, I'm on Mama's side!
Anyone else sell 40 million records or win eight Grammys?
Spoken like a real CEO instead of a son.
- Nice. - And the sad part is
you weren't even her favorite.
'Cause I don't know what she wrote in your letter,
but Nicky's the one who got handed the crown.
Excuse me?
I have worked so hard for anything
that has come to me.
You think this has been easy?
I have never thought about my own career, ever.
Now I think that it's time
that we call it a truce, we get through this funeral.
From beginning to end, it has to be flawless.
Control everything, lie about everything.
That's Mama's real legacy.
Gigi, a funeral is not the time or the place for honesty.
Enough!
Mama's not even cold.
Show some damn respect.
- Here you go. - Earl, do we have to do this?
I'm not really in the mood
after the fight I had with Luke and Nicky.
Well, you only bury your mama once, honey.
You got to do it in style. It's what she'd want.
Besides, grieving and fighting
go together like mojitos and bad decisions.
Hmm. Look at those two.
They're probably thinking,
"What's a girl looking like that doing
shopping in a place like this?"
Can we help you, ladies?
We're huge fans.
Yeah, my mama was an icon.
Oh, my God. No, she's hilarious.
We are fans of yours.
Yeah, that performance at the musicale was slamming.
Do you think we could get a selfie?
- Sure. Yeah. - Allow me. Allow me.
- Between you guys? - There you go. - Yeah, that's perfect.
- Tilt your head down, Gigi. - Okay?
- A little to the right. - Like that?
Lord, help me, I'm gonna have to teach you your angles.
Smile.
My God, what did you do, Mama?
What'd you do?
# Can lead you #
# To #
# Life is a long road #
# It's full of dust and gravel #
# It can lead you to a pot of gold #
# Or it can come unraveled #
# Love is a sweet high #
# That can leave you cold as ice #
# It makes you want to put your heart back in the fire #
# Back in the fire for one more try #
# Life is a long road #
# Full of dust and gravel #
# It can lead you to a pot of gold #
# Or it can come unraveled #
# Love is a sweet high #
# That can leave you cold as ice #
# And make you want to put your heart back in the fire #
# Back in the fire for one more try, yeah #
# Sometimes you get diamonds #
# Sometimes you get coal #
# There ain't no way of knowing #
# Which way it's gonna go #
# It can make you feel like you're on top of the world #
# Or leave you all in shambles #
# Depending on how the dice is rolled #
# Your heart is the card #
# You gamble #
# The card you gamble #
# Ah #
# Card you gamble. #
- Look, y'all, I'm so sorry. - Hey, no.
We're not gonna do that today. We're just not.
I know, but with Mama gone, she never let us stay this mad.
Well, that's why we need to be together today more than ever.
Luke's right.
Romans always did fight as hard as they love.
God, that song you wrote
really is fire.
We need to put that down as soon as possible.
That's tomorrow's problem, 'cause today,
we have bigger ones.
- Mama's service. - Mm-hmm.
Yeah, have you seen the rundown for that, by the way?
She's got everything from celebrities to performers.
Only thing she doesn't have is a mariachi band.
- Crazy, wild and over-the-top. - Just like Mama.
I was gonna say damned near impossible to pull off.
Well, that's why the three of us are gonna make it happen,
down to the last detail, without a hitch.
To a send-off that's big, bold and outrageous.
And unforgettable.
Just like Mama.
Mom, look at this.
You belong here, sweetie.
Don't you forget that.
Hi. My name is Catt Phoenix,
and my daughter Ana and I have an appointment with Luke Roman.
This is her.
Oh, my God, I saw this.
What a fresh take on Albie's old song.
- That's why we're here. - Um...
I am so sorry.
We must have double-booked y'all.
It's been so crazy, with Dottie's memorial.
Right.
Thank you.
No, no, no, no.
Don't worry, honey. Nobody's blowing us off.
Especially not them.
Luke, what is going on?
It may be her funeral,
but she planned it, which means you know it's gonna be chaos.
We got a stage-four diva alert.
There's no way I'm doing "Dixie Kitten."
It's Dottie's song, and, I mean,
- what do I look like, an impersonator? - No.
No, come on. Nobody thinks that. You... You're an icon.
You sold a hundred million albums.
Y-You're Shania Twain.
You're gonna make it your own.
And I got to tell you, you are looking fantastic.
Well, I don't even know what I'm doing here.
Your mother was never nice to me.
Bitch stole my song back in the day.
"Man! I Feel Like a Woman!"
I-It could've been a big hit for me.
Shania, she wants you to perform her favorite number.
She even told me she'd be honored if you recorded it.
Now, as CEO, I can grant you the rights.
You could make millions.
I have millions.
All right, I'll do it.
Now get out of here, you adorable green-eyed stud.
Thank you. You have a good show.
Wow, Mama really stuck it to her making her sing
that B side flop.
- You adorable green-eyed stud. - Shut up.
Ladies and gentlemen,
we're here to bid farewell to a star,
a legend gone too soon:
Queen of Country, Dottie Cantrell Roman.
Thank y'all for sharing this day with my family.
I'd like to introduce someone so special:
my sister Nellie Cantrell.
# I'd gladly walk across the desert #
# With no shoes upon my feet... #
That's a hologram.
Only Mama.
# Of bread I had to eat #
# I would swim out to save you #
# In your sea of broken dreams... #
Trust Mama to find a way to make an appearance
at her own funeral, though.
# Let me show you what love means #
# Love can build a bridge... #
Dottie Roman's dying wish:
to upstage her only sister using virtual reality.
Oh, my Lord, what now?
Hey, hey, did you persuade Daddy to sing "Sunset Goodbye"?
No. Why?
- We're in real trouble, Nicky. He's on in 60 seconds. - What? What?
# Don't you think it's time? #
You can't play "Love of My Life."
There's an issue with the rights.
The hell I can't. We own the whole damn catalog.
- 15 seconds, Mr. Roman. - Thank you.
Dad, you have got to get out there and play your song.
This is my wife's funeral, and I'm gonna play what I want
or I'm not playing at all.
Please, play "Sunset Goodbye." We could get sued.
Is that what this family cares about now?
Lawsuits?
Letting other people tell us what to do?
I'm not going on.
Please welcome the love of my life, Albie Roman.
You're gonna have to get out there and sing, kid.
I don't think I can.
I-I just had another panic attack.
I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm like this, Grandpa.
Well...
all of us come with a few design flaws.
I can't sing, Grandpa.
- But you have to. - Ain't gonna happen.
Grandma was your soul mate.
She was your best friend. You have to honor her.
Yeah, I ought to be able to sing the song
my heart tells me to sing.
Not have some pencil-neck lawyer tell me I can't.
We are livestreaming an empty stage
- to millions of fans right now. - Yes, I know.
It's everything Mama wouldn't want it to be.
Every second those fans see an empty stage,
they are thinking one thing.
We're nothing without Mama.
Hey, hey, go and get the stage manager now.
We need someone to move up and fill in.
All right. Hey, we need the stage manager right now.
- No Daddy? - No. Why would he break tradition
and show up when we need him?
Grandpa, remember when I was little and that kid at school
called me a half-breed flip and chased me all the way home?
Yeah.
And what did you tell me?
I told you to beat his ignorant ass.
I'll be damned if that ain't exactly what you did.
You told me that if someone wants
to pick a fight with one Roman...
Better be ready to take on the whole family.
I was the adopted kid, Grandpa.
I wasn't your blood.
You are as much a Roman as any one of us.
I know.
Because the day you taught me how to fight
was the day I knew I'd never be alone again.
'Cause we were in it together.
You and me.
Grandpa?
Where you going?
What is she doing?
Mama...
I thought that I could hold it all together without you,
but maybe...
maybe I can't.
You taught us all so much
and you left behind a legacy that will...
that will never be tarnished.
You taught us all how to care for each other, and...
how to always keep on singing.
And we will.
And I...
I love you, Mama.
# Loving can hurt #
# Loving can hurt sometimes #
# But it's the only thing #
# That I know #
# When it gets hard #
# You know it can get hard sometimes #
# It is the only thing #
# That makes us feel alive #
# We keep this love in a photograph #
# We make these memories for ourselves #
# Where our eyes are never closing #
# Hearts are never broken #
# Time's forever frozen still #
# So you can keep me #
# Inside the pocket of your ripped jeans #
# Holding me closer till our eyes meet #
# You won't ever be alone #
# And if you hurt me #
# That's okay, baby, there'll be worse things #
# Inside these pages, you just hold me #
# I won't ever let you go #
# Wait for me to come home #
As hard as this is, we need to move on
and make a legacy that's stronger than ever.
That's what Mama would've wanted.
This is not goodbye.
No, Nick.
Most certainly is not.
# When I'm away #
# I will remember how you kissed me #
# Under the lamppost back on Sixth Street #
# Hearing you whisper through the phone #
# "Wait for me to come home." #
What are you doing?
We came here to meet with Monarch.
We can't afford to live in a hotel forever
and just wait around for them to call.
Is this how I raised you?
To give up when you hear your first "no"?
There are millions of people
trying to be country singers, Mom.
- Yes, but they're not you. - Every mother says that.
But...
yours is right.
Look, there are other labels.
It-it doesn't have to be Monarch.
Yes, it does.
Monarch is the home of the first family of country music.
And that's where you belong.
It's your destiny, Anastasia.
And we didn't choose it.
It chose you.
- Hey. - Where's Gigi?
She went home. It was a long day.
You guys pulled it off.
A funeral befitting a legend.
Yeah, she was that.
She was a lot of things.
I know what she saw in you.
'Cause I see it, too.
But it doesn't matter what I feel about you because...
this is wrong, Luke.
I love Gigi.
And I made a promise to her.
- I know. I know. Hey, hey. - And I...
I know.
I feel guilty, too.
We have to stop this.
Life's short.
Don't we owe it to ourselves, if we're happy, to just...
seize the moment?
She can never know.
Never.
You're my sweet boy.
And I am so proud of you.
You can do anything. Anything.
Nicky wrote these letters.
What the hell's my sister hiding?
Daddy?
Don't ask me any questions, Nicolette.
Oh, my God, did you do it?
Did you?
It had to be done.
And you don't need to know anything else,
except that everything's gonna be all right now.
I promise.
Who the hell is that?
Evening, Ms. Roman.
- Evening. - Hate to bother you this late.
Think I could ask your father a few questions?