As the second episode of Landman's second season unfolds, we find Cooper deep in the heart of his oil well, elated by the sudden burst of pressure that unleashes a gush of black gold. While Cooper revels in his success, Ariana is caught in a whirlwind of emotions, fearing for his safety as he returns home late, oiled and grimy. Her anxiety boils over when he fails to reach out, and she expresses her reluctance to uproot their life and move into a larger place, her heart yearning for a different kind of fulfillment than the one that comes with wealth.
This leaves Cooper in a precarious position, navigating between his dreams and the expectations of those closest to him. Ariana's ultimatum to leave the house until he makes a decision only exacerbates the situation.
Meanwhile, Tommy shares a bombshell with Boss – the Barlow Brothers have gone bankrupt, making their adjacent property lease a steal. He urges Boss to take a look, but his own journey is interrupted by a radio DJ's taunts on his way to his mother's funeral. Angela's call, though seemingly inconsequential, lays the groundwork for a more pressing concern that awaits Tommy.
Cooper's call soon follows, seeking guidance from his father on his predicament with Ariana. Tommy agrees to meet within the hour, only to be stunned by what he finds. Cooper has struck a deal with an unfamiliar company called Sonrisa, managing to sit on around 7000 barrels without a lawyer's scrutiny. Tommy urges Cooper to heed Ariana's concerns, emphasizing that addressing her insecurities is a simpler fix than the oil well quagmire they're currently in. However, whether Cooper has truly found himself in a bind with this contract remains uncertain.
As the drama unfolds, Cami and M-TEX find themselves embroiled in a legal battle, the root of which stems from a gas well disaster off the coast of Louisiana. M-TEX received a $420 million settlement earmarked for drilling a new well, but the catch is that the funds were allegedly disbursed directly to Monty without anyone in the loop. The clock is ticking, as they must commence drilling and appease their insurance company to avoid a court showdown.
Rebecca attempts to buy time by sitting down with the suits, threatening to cease paying the annual premiums of $14 million and pointing out that the direct payment to Monty constitutes a breach of contract. She lays down the challenge, but to avoid a messy trial and the subsequent PR nightmare, M-TEX decides to hold a press conference, announcing the upcoming drilling project and bracing for the scrutiny that comes with it. With the drill under construction, they demand weekly progress reports to ensure the project's progress.
The agreement buys the company some breathing space, but it's still a precarious situation. It also leaves Rebecca teetering on the edge, tempted by the prospect of joining forces with M-TEX despite her initial claim of being content with her current role. The M-TEX team warns her that Monty has a host of skeletons in his closet that could come back to haunt her.
Meanwhile, Cami struggles to keep her composure, stewing over the revelations she's uncovered. Determined to find where the missing money has gone, she heads over to Monty's office and rummages through his documents. In the morning, Nate returns to Tommy with a lead on Sonrisa. The money appears to have originated from a fund in Dallas, managed by a man named Dan Morrell who formed the LLC. With this information in hand, he confronts Cooper, highlighting his partner's problematic nature.
