Family Plots

In the new season's premiere, we catch up with the mortuary gang, who are still dealing with the painful aftermath of Rick and Melissa's break-up. Rick refuses to be around Melissa, and the stress is driving everyone nuts. Meanwhile, other mortuary staffers have their own emotional problems - Emily is separating from her husband, and John is separating from his wife.

Emily doesn't want her split with her husband to interfere with her son's seventh birthday. Everyone's invited to the party except boss Rick, who's still taking his break-up with Melissa out on everyone. The mortuary staff tries to keep the party a secret from Rick and it looks like they'll be able to pull it off - until Emily and dad Chuck have a blow-out that threatens to ruin everything.

Tensions at the mortuary over Rick's break-up with Melissa comes to an explosive head when he takes his frustrations out on the staff. John, already on edge over his divorce, threatens to quit, much to Shonna's dismay. In a screaming rage, Shonna tells Rick he's got to change his ways. And everyone waits to see if he will.

A kinder, gentler Rick brings a new Funeral arranger on to the team to help out when new business is too much for everyone to handle. Matt Nikoley, who doubles as an assistant pastor, has a style very different from his new co-workers - especially when it comes to swearing under pressure and taking the Lord's name in vain. Matt starts training and soon faces the challenge of his first funeral arrangement, the patriarch of a family who has also been in the funeral biz - added pressure for Shonna to make him look perfect for his final viewing. Meanwhile under stress the gang tries to check their profanity, and it isn't easy.

It's the big Western weekend in Poway, and it looks like Rick may be finally moving on after Melissa. He goes on a horse riding and roping trip and lines up a date for the local rodeo. With Rick out of the way, the mortuary staff finally gets to have some fun, and Chuck and John even head out to see if they can rustle up some women of their own.

It's an unhappy time for Chuck. Ex-wife Sue has plans an ""un-anniversary"" celebration on the night that would have marked their 42nd anniversary, and a big fight with John leaves Chuck on the outs with his daughters. But the gang is reminded of the importance of family when they arrange the funeral of man who was a devoted husband and father. Will Shonna forgive Chuck for everything past and present?

A couple who met in grief counseling after losing their spouses writes in to ask if they can be married at the mortuary! Despite their own cynicism towards marriage the gang agrees, hoping to lighten things up around the place. Rick will perform the ceremony, Chuck will give the bride away, and the girls will all be bridesmaids. But, as the big day approaches, everyone's on edge because Rick will have to deal with ex-fiancée Missy at the ceremony. Will celebrating the new love of others help bring the love back to the mortuary?

Recently separated from his wife and living on his own, funeral director John Greeney has a lot on his mind. Now he must handle the arrangements for a family's much beloved father on the anniversary of his own father's early demise. The love shown by the deceased's family makes him reflect on his dad and his new solo life away from his children. Meanwhile, Shonna and Emily have their own plans to help him get back on track. They think adding a woman's touch will spruce up his new bachelor pad.

When a young couple loses their 3 month old son, it's new arranger Matt's job to help them and his first time handling a baby case. Though John, who lost his own baby boy, lends a hand, he must do so while trying not to relive his own tragedy. Everyone at the mortuary is touched by the family's loss as Shonna works to prepare the child for the viewing where his parents will see him for the last time.

It's boss Rick's birthday - a time for him to ponder love and life. To celebrate he's invited everyone (except ex-fiancée Melissa) to a swim party, but only Chuck wants to wear a bathing suit. While a big fight between Chuck and Emily threatens to dominate the party, Rick can't shake off the ghosts of his own recent losses.

Funeral Director David Moravee helps a family plan the funeral of their much loved father to be buried next to their late mother. As the gang at the mortuary all contemplate losing their own parents, David, whose mother's birthday is upcoming, realizes that he's never told her how much she means to him.  Meanwhile, Chuck takes the hearse for a ride, leaving John and David stranded on their way to a funeral.

The gang brings in a woman to set up the mortuary's first website, to attract new business. She gets to know each of them personally as they help a family deal with the death of their beloved father. While she may have eyes for Rick, It's Chuck who really wants to make an impression on her.