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Frustrated at being put on a short leash and having to show up at events such as charity fundraisers at the zoo, Juliette regains her super bitchy ways. When Makena sets her up on a date with goody two-shoes quarterback Sean Butler, Juliette quickly moves from criticizing his football abilities to whisking him off to Miami in her private jet. En route they have a little "Black Mascara Tears" singalong, which makes her like him a whole lot more. Once in Miami, Sean remains a teetotaler but dances with Juliette, and also defends her honor to a rather aggressive paparazzo. But in the paparazzo's pictures, Sean comes off looking drunk and violent. Miraculously, Juliette's decent side emerges and she buys the photos before they can be sold, and agrees to go out -- or, because this guy is goody goody for real, "go in" -- with him. I will add that it's awfully nice to see her with someone of her own age.
Meanwhile, Rayna is intent on writing all the material on her new album and pursuing an edgier, more current sound. She seeks out hotshot rock star producer Liam McGuinnis, who first blows her off in the rudest manner possible, but eventually gives her another chance when she calls him out on some of his shit and also impresses him with her thorough Liam McGuinnis knowledge. She's ready to blow up the box, and Liam uses whiskey to get her to a late-night box-blowing point. And…that sounds kind of dirty. It totally wasn't, though! A friend captured some video of Rayna recording "Buried Under" with Liam, and he says it was electric. Basically, Rayna is making her Wrecking Ball. Or at least she's trying to. She plays the McGuinnis-produced track for Marshall, who has personal beef with Liam and tells her the label doesn't work with him. In turn, Rayna tells Marshall that this is where she's going, so he'd better get on board.
In campaign news, Teddy is still down in the polls and reluctantly agrees to a scheme -- dreamt up by Lamar, of course -- in which the police pull Cole over for a traffic violation in route to a "Clean Campaign Pledge" event (irony!), so Teddy can make a big stink about how he never showed up. This bit of trickery goes better/worse than planned (depending on your perspective), when the police find the bottle of Oxycontin surrendered by Deacon (and originally belonging to Jolene) in Cole's car. I would argue that finding a bottle of Oxy is superior to finding a casserole dish of pink macaroni. In any case, a shitshow ensues. Cole defends his honor and his sobriety, and releases blood tests to the public. He also shows some real integrity when he is presented with incriminating-looking photos of Teddy and Peggy, snapped while they were having actually-incriminating conversations about their past embezzlement. While Cole thinks that Rayna would never forgive him for using the photos, his wife says that he owes the Jaymes/Conrad/Wyatt dynasty absolutely nothing.
And then there's the young folk. Avery is approached by manager Marilyn Rhodes, who sees something special in him. Namely, a working penis. Though Avery is wary at first, after his band loses a high-profile gig he does agree to meet with her. At night. In her apartment. Deacon knows a thing or two about Marilyn, who uses a version of the old casting couch to choose her clients. He tells her to stay away from Avery, and then has to tell Scarlett why. When Marilyn puts the moves on Avery, he makes out with her a little, but then leaves because he can't bear to cheat on Scarlett. (And also Marilyn is kind of nasty.) Avery's last-minute virtue does not impress Scarlett, however, and she breaks up with him on the sole principle that he went to a creepy predator's lair in the first place, fully knowing what he was getting into. She leaves him, and then he gets to go and bang Marilyn for real. If he actually gets work out of it, I'd call that a silver lining.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Previously: Juliette stole a bottle of nail polish and a few fans captured it on camera, putting her entire team into a serious PR tailspin. We discovered that Teddy and Peggy's relationship was one of co-embezzlers, though she apparently wanted it to be that of romantically entangled co-embezzlers. And their habit of setting up clandestine meetings in out of the way public settings caught up with them as someone with a serious zoom lens took several incriminating photos. Meanwhile, Rayna tried her hand at solo writing to great success, and Deacon spent a night in jail after a fistfight with a Bluebird heckler. He also surrendered a bottle of Oxy (taken from Juliette's mom, of course) to his sponsor, Cole, without having taken any. It sure sounds like he thought about it, though.
We enter with an event at the zoo. The literal zoo. The camera pans down to Juliette who, with a giant fake smile, turns to Makena and says that she doesn't understand how this is supposed to help her public image. I mean, furry critters, duh. Though I suppose if that's all it takes, she could just go hang out with Scarlett and call it community service. Makena notes that there are studies showing that people care about animals more than they do about reality TV starlets or the poor. She says that like it's a bad thing! Juliette hopes this is the last dumb PR thing she has to do, and points out that Makena hasn't let her have any fun in three weeks. Three whole weeks! What a tortured life she leads. Juliette appears not to be so much of an animal enthusiast, and says if any of the adorable baby critters take a crap on her head, she'll be very upset. Maybe it would actually make her hair look better though?
The event announcer welcomes special guest Sean "Tim Tebow" Butler, and Juliette reluctantly claps. Sean, who is a rookie NFL quarterback, talks about how his grandma took him to the zoo every Saturday... or at least every Saturday until Pop Warner football started. Juliette can't believe what a square this guy is, and glares at him like he's a reincarnated Osmond. She thinks he must be doing something to rehabilitate his image, too, but it turns out he's just a nice guy and this it's his fundraiser. Sean comes over to introduce himself to Juliette, and foists a baby marsupial on her while he's at it. As it climbs on her head and flashbulbs start going off, Juliette does not appear to be amused. I do think it's just trying to adjust her weave, though.
Cut to the studio, where Rayna and Bucky are playing her new song for Marshall Evans. He says that it's different but has potential, and Bucky tells Marshall to go on and admit that it's a great song. Rayna says that they're in business together and have one more album to make, and she plans to write it. When Marshall asks if Randy will produce it, Rayna says that she's looking for some different energy on this project. Bucky has the list of the label's approved producers, and Marshall tells her to pick whoever she'd like to work with. That seemed easy, didn't it? After Marshall leaves, Rayna and Bucky fist bump as she notes that the key to success is making the person who approves your project think that everything is their idea. Also, we are to learn from the rest of this episode, intense flattery.
And then it's time to check in on political matters at the Manse of Evildoing. Tandy tells Teddy that, with the election just over a month away, he's still seven points down in the polls. He needs to do better, and Tandy and Lamar have just the scheme for him. The following day, Teddy and Coleman are signing a clean campaign pledge -- meaning that they won't go dirty in their campaigns. It's a big event, and press will be there, and they'll both make a big show over having some integrity. Teddy doesn't understand what they're getting at, since this event has been on the books for weeks. Then Lamar suggests that "a supporter in law enforcement" might delay Coleman on his way to the pledge signing, giving Teddy an opportunity to make a fuss over Coleman's lack of commitment to a clean campaign. And oh, the irony! Lamar says that it will be harmless (as if he ever does anything harmless!) but effective. Teddy promised Rayna early on that he wouldn't do anything to harm Coleman personally, but then again he also told Lamar that he'd do whatever it takes to become mayor. As Tandy points out that campaigns are about "creating opportunities," Teddy twiddles his fingers. Lamar reiterates that it's just a harmless little 'ole traffic stop, but Teddy looks suspicious. If Teddy actually had half of a ball, this is a time when it would come in handy.
Meanwhile, deep in the tree trunk where they live, Scarlett helps Avery to pack up for a gig. Faced with her constant cheerful cheeks, Avery apologizes for being in such a bad mood lately, with work going so terribly and all. He also promises to pay her back for his half of the rent, which adds to the emasculation theme. And if you are getting inadvertently emasculated by a chipmunk/Betty Crocker hybrid, your life really is in the crapper. One of Avery's bandmates comes up excitedly and says that Reed Olsen will be at their show tonight. Reed Olsen is a regional promoter who helps book local opening acts for big tours, and someone's cousin's friend knows him and is hooking the band up. Avery gets a feeling that things are going to turn around for him tonight, which I'm sure they will since all of his instincts have been right on target so far.
Back at the studio, Rayna asks Bucky what he thinks of Liam McGuinnis. Bucky thinks that Liam McGuinnis is a non-starter, and a crazy rock star to boot. But he's a recent Nashville transplant, and even though he doesn't know a thing about country music, he's really hot right now. Rayna seems sold by the fact that he has a dog named after June Carter-Cash (country enough!), and asks Bucky to get her a meeting. He looks dubious, but resigned to doing what she says.
Meanwhile, things are looking up for Juliette thanks to her photo with Sean and the head-climbing marsupial. She is not so thrilled that this particular photo has gone viral, given the "large rodent" on her head, but Makena says that it's just what they needed and that Sean Butler is the best thing to happen to Juliette in ages. Juliette disagrees, saying that Sean is boring and sucks at football. Glen defends him as being a rookie, though it seems that Juliette doesn't think he's a rookie at being boring. Makena wants Juliette to go on a date with Sean, and thought Juliette is reluctant Glen thinks it's a small sacrifice to save her career. Plus, what else is she doing aside from hanging around her new house and being a bitch? Whenever Juliette argues with someone, they basically just have to call her a klepto and she agrees to whatever they propose.
And then it's time to check in with Avery and his band as they perform at The 5 Spot. Reed Olsen is there, and so is another lady who seems to take a very keen interest in Avery's performance. And of course Scarlett is in the audience bopping along in her typical haze of cluelessness. The song that Avery is playing is called "Kiss," and the whole performance is great. The song's fantastic, the band sounds good, and Avery seems to have a healthy quantity of charisma and a sweet falsetto. Reed seems relatively impressed by the performance, while the other lady is more keenly interested than ever. Scarlett of course thought the whole thing was superior even to a hot buttered acorn.
Avery walks up and introduces himself to Reed, who is rather complimentary. It turns out that Reed is looking for someone to open for The Lumineers when they come to town, and Avery thinks that the Avery Barkley Band would be the perfect choice. Reed wonders if Avery really thinks they're ready for that, and of course Avery does. Reed shakes his hand, says it was great to hear him play, and leaves. Scarlett and Avery are both confused as to whether Reed actually liked the band, and the Very Interested Lady interrupts to say that he did, but is a coward who never really knows if he likes anything until ten people in town tell him that he does. This lady is Marilyn Rhodes, and she's a manager who is interested in representing Avery and his band. She thinks he could be HUGE. And by "he" she means his penis. Thus, the keen interest. Marilyn gives Avery a card, tells him to call her, and notes that she and Reed go back a long way, and she thinks Avery would make a great opener for The Lumineers. If either Avery or Scarlett had a brain, they might wonder why, if Marilyn and Reed are so friendly, they were sitting five feet away from one another and never exchanged a word.
Meanwhile, Rayna and Bucky go to Liam McGuinness's warehouse studio in what is apparently a rather dicey part of town. Rayna is not wearing the appropriate shoes for this visit. She confirms with Bucky that they have an appointment, but has to knock a whole bunch before anyone answers the door. Liam McGuinnis appears, clearly terrifically unimpressed. When Rayna says that they're looking forward to talking with him about possibly producing her new album, Liam declines even to hear her music. He says he took this consultation as a courtesy, but doesn't think they do the same thing musically -- Rayna is "moms and SUVs," which is a language that Liam doesn't speak. He does seem to be fluent in dick, though, especially when he tells her that there won't be a charge and shuts the door in her face. THAT is his version of a courtesy?
Back in the land of orchestrated romance, Juliette and Sean are having lunch together. He says he really likes her video for "the song with the telescope," and she has to explain to him that this is not an actual date. Sean knows that, but thought they might try having fun anyway and get to know each other a bit. He never should have opened that door, because what Juliette really wants to know is why he's such a terrible football player. We get a little Loretta Lynn thrown in as the scene changes, just to underscore the sass.
Avery then shows up at Deacon's house to deliver a casserole from Scarlett. Pink macaroni, perhaps? When Avery says that Scarlett worries, Deacon -- who is cleaning out his gutters -- says that he spent a few hours in jail, not a month on his deathbed. He adds that he's fine, and wasn't drinking either. Avery asks if Deacon knows Marilyn Rhodes, and Deacon responds with, "Marilyn coming after y'all?" That's a bit of predatory language, isn't it? Avery explains about the opening gig, and of course Deacon knows Reed and says that he'll put in a good word. Deacon then tells Avery not to waste his time or money on a manager, and continues to throw crap from his gutter in Avery's general direction. When Avery says he's always had the impression that Deacon didn't like him very much, Deacon throws gutter crap slightly further away and says he has no idea why Avery would think such a thing. Didn't he also talk about using Avery's demo as a coaster?
And then we cut back to Liam's studio, to which Rayna has returned the following morning. This time she's wearing shit-kicking boots instead of stilettos, which is our first indication that she's going to fare a bit better. When Liam opens his door and sees Rayna, he's relatively more polite but says that he's not sure what else they have to talk about. She points out that they never had the chance to talk in the first place, since he shut the door in her face. In the dark he probably didn't have the opportunity to get seduced by her beautiful, beautiful hair. Rayna tells Liam that he made a snap judgment about her and her music and, quite respectfully, it was a load of crap. The "load of crap" accusation piques Liam's interest, and he takes a few steps closer to her, thus allowing her to reveal her secret weapon -- an actual appreciation of his music. She's familiar with a live show he did in Belfast, which she listened to in her SUV, while driving her daughters to school. It must have taken all of her restraint not to actually snap while saying that. She hands him a CD and asks him to listen to it before making a decision. He invites her in so they can talk for real. Fingers crossed that the conversation doesn't veer into Rayna/Deacon inscrutable territory!
Oh Lord, and then we see Coleman Carlisle getting pulled over by the cops in his Lamar-orchestrated traffic distraction. An officer says that he failed to signal a turn, and asks for his license and registration. Cole tries to pull the, "I'm Coleman Carlisle" method of getting out of it, but it's obviously not working in this case, even when Cole says he's en route to an important engagement. He promises that he'll be very careful, and they can treat this as a warning, and he'll go. And that, my friends, was the wrong tactic. The cop thinks that Cole is getting belligerent, and asks him to step out of the vehicle. At the Clean Campaign Pledge, Teddy makes a big deal about Cole's absence, and only wavers momentarily when he sees Peggy coming in and taking a seat. He signs the pledge with a really big pen, because he has SO much honestly and integrity, obviously!
Back at the lunch date, Juliette asks Sean if he's as much of a goody-two-shoes as he seems, and he in turn asks if she's as much of a klepto as she seems. Touché, sir! No fumbling there! Juliette is intrigued by the fact that Sean never goes out -- he does, after all, want to keep his position as starting quarterback even if he's doing a terrible job. She's got an idea. They're young, hot, and she has a private jet, and so they can go anywhere. He has practice in the morning, and she promises to get him back by his curfew. Sean has a flicker of doubt, but Juliette's final, "Let's go, choirboy," and also probably her boobs, convince him to tag along on her joyride.
Back at the Clean Campaign Pledge, Teddy is shaking hands. When Peggy comes up to him, he asks what she's doing there. Trying to get in his pants, obviously. And also volunteering for his campaign -- a fact of which he had no prior knowledge. She says that she has a light workload right now, and her husband is in Hong Kong starting a new business. So, she thought, why not pursue one more bad idea with the person who already could get you sent to federal prison? As she kisses him on the cheek, a camera snaps a whole bunch of photos. Dun dunnnnnnnn! And speaking of ominous moments, we cut back to Cole and the cops, who are searching his car. He says that this is straight up harassment, which it is! But at that moment, one of the cops makes a discovery -- the bottle of Oxy that Deacon surrendered to him. The cop asks if he has a prescription. I think we all know the answer to that. And so Cole is placed under arrest pending a preliminary narcotics investigation. Harmless traffic stop, indeed!
And then we are in the marginally friendly skies with Juliette and Sean, who are heading to Miami. It turns out Sean was there last week, for yet another disastrous football game. Juliette sure does know a lot about football, which helps to facilitate a connection between the two of them -- albeit a mean, spiteful one. She tells Sean that she has a friend in Miami who can get them into The Balcony. Sean wonders which balcony, which leads Juliette to note that he really doesn't get out much. She asks if he's ever been drunk, and he says that he doesn't drink. She shows a whole lot of restraint in not asking if he's a virgin. Sean gives a full-body reach over Juliette after she calls him a choirboy, and she totally thinks he's going to put the moves on her. However, he's just grabbing her guitar, much to her chagrin. She gets considerably more positive about the situation when he starts playing the chords to the black mascara tears song, and they have an impromptu sing-along. Apparently the way to a musician's heart is constant flattery. Sean points out that everyone is inadvertently having a good time, as Juliette trades in her plastered-on flirtatious smile for a look of mild intrigue.
Elsewhere in musical endeavors, Rayna is telling Liam how much she loves his sound, and that she's looking for a sound that's going to snap people's heads around and grab them by their ears and hold them down until she lets them go. Apparently she wants to get arrested for assault, now? Liam points out that she can't just put mandolins through distortion and call it rock, and she tells him that she's not putting her career and record deal on the line just to do some half-assed midlife crisis record. With all of her hits and fame, she says, she's gotten further and further away from why she became a musician in the first place -- to share her truth with people. The truth about how she wants to bone Deacon and/or is an American beauty? And now she's trying to find her voice with Liam's help. She says sometimes you have to blow up the box, and he offers her a drink. But it's getting late, and Rayna has to go home to her kids and husband and whatnot. Liam says that you can't make music on a schedule, because he's That Guy. Rayna talks about the constant buzz in her head from trying to manage a deadbeat husband, two kids, a Mephistophelian father, and inscrutable conversations with her ex-love, and Liam proposes drowning it out with some shots. And really, Rayna deserves a good night out.
We then cut to the Bluebird, where Marilyn quite coincidentally happens to be sitting at the bar. Deacon offers to buy her a drink, and she says it's been a long time. Not one for small talk, Deacon gets to the point quickly -- he wants her to stay away from Avery, whom he notes is his niece's boyfriend. He doesn't want Scarlett to get hurt by... shenanigans. Marilyn wonders why Deacon is talking to her about it, and he says that Avery is ambitious, and sometimes a drowning man will grab on to just about anything. In this moment a drag queen would just reference her nasty snatch and be done with it, but Deacon has a bit more restraint. Marilyn tells him that he should have signed with her when he had the chance, because she would have made him more than just the man in Rayna's sideshow. But to him, it wasn't worth the price of getting all up in her cootified business. The two part with some insincere niceties, and we confirm that Gunnar has been eavesdropping this whole time. Add an extra patina of goofiness, and he's not all that different from 30 Rock's Kenneth Parcell.
Back at the Manse of Evildoing, Teddy charges into Lamar's office, quite upset about Cole's arrest for narcotic possession. Lamar tells him that it really was a routine traffic stop, and pure luck that Cole had a bottle of unprescribed Oxy on him. Teddy asks if Lamar is sure that he had nothing to do with the drugs, and Lamar is offended by the accusation. You know, because he typically follows a strict "do no harm" code. He's pissed, and acts if there's anything else Teddy thinks he's entitled to know. And I mean, prooooooobably not a good idea to get on the bad side of the guy who just covered up your embezzlement scandal, even if he is kind of a tool.
Meanwhile, Avery gets the news that his band didn't get the Lumineers opener slot -- it went to Lindi Ortega, who this show seems to really be pushing. Avery kicks a thing, likely ruminating on exactly how much of a deep-dive he's willing to take in Cougar Holler.
We then cut to better times in Miami, where The Balcony is hopping. Juliette looks thrilled to be at a place where she might get into trouble. Her counterpoint is Sean, who orders a club soda. He's got practice, after all. After being called a choirboy for the umpteenth time, Sean finally tells Juliette that he was never actually in the choir. I'm sure he went to Vacation Bible School a lot, though. Juliette asks him to dance, and doesn't seem to mind the fact that they both look like total dorks. It's an unexpectedly fun time all around! If Makena ever gets out of the PR game, she should try her hand at matchmaking.
Back at The 5 Spot, Lindi Ortega is playing as Avery sits at the bar and scowls. Who should slither up behind him but Marilyn Rhodes, who says she was told to stay away from him. She declines to say who gave her this directive, and Avery tells her that whoever it was was wrong. Marilyn says she's sorry that Avery didn't get the opening spot for The Lumineers, but she had to sell Reed on her band. So she represents Lindi Ortega? I thought she only managed hot, bangable dudes. In any case, Marilyn has a plan for taking Avery to the top -- starting with a residency, then pressing his demo as an EP that's marketed to college radio. With her contacts, he'll be on his way in a month, tops. Marilyn puts her hand on Avery's and says that she's busy all day tomorrow, but if he comes to her house in the evening they can talk about his career and "get to know each other a little better." He thanks her, but says that he can't. After a few moments of wearing a tortured face and a quick chat with his bandmate about getting back to the rehearsal grind, Avery reconsiders. He reapproaches Marilyn and tells her that they're on for tomorrow night. I feel like her vagina dentata should roar right now, for a bit of really effective foreshadowing.
In Miami, Juliette takes Sean out of the back entrance of the club, which a lone paparazzo has managed to infiltrate. Sean tries to come between the flashing camera and Juliette, who asks the paparazzo to leave them alone. As they walk she tells Sean to keep his head down and not look at the photographer, but Sean can't help it, especially when the paparazzo references Juliette's druggie mom and klepto tendencies. Sean stands straight in front of the camera, and tells the photographer that that was unnecessary, and that he should apologize. Of course the camera is flashing all the while, and soon Sean grabs the guy and pushes him to the ground. He realizes this was a bad move, but I guess he doesn't curse either since a mild, "Oh, crap," is all that escapes his lips. He and Juliette get into a waiting car and drive off, while the paparazzo checks to see that his film is undamaged.
We then cut to Rayna, sleeping in bed. Teddy brings her a cup of coffee, and we learn that Rayna has a not-insignificant hangover. He asks (in a completely good natured fashion) what happened to, "I'm sure I'll be home by 10:00." They were working, and lost track of time, and she didn't get back until well after 2:00. Rayna tells Teddy that the second whiskey shot was what made the third and the fourth one seem like such a good idea. The rest of the evening was a little hazy. Teddy already took the girls to school, which prompts Rayna to remember that today is the fall festival and she needs to make (or now, buy) cupcakes and shit. She is distracted by Coleman on TV, and asks Teddy to turn up the volume. Ruh-roh! Of course it's a report about his arrest, and we see a press conference where Coleman says he quit drinking 19 years ago, and his sobriety saved him from losing his wife. He's proud of it. He adds that part of his recovery is to sponsor addicts, and the drugs in his car were surrendered to him. Cole is releasing drug test results to prove that he's drug free, and hopes that they can get back to talking about some real issues. Rayna can't believe it, and notes that Coleman has been sober for ages. Teddy, who might think about instituting the Clean Campaign Pledge in his own freaking home, tells her that people fall off the wagon. Rayna insists that Coleman wouldn't, and asks where it happened. When Teddy admits that the arrest took place in Belle Meade, Rayna asks what Lamar and his little evil beady brain are up to. Teddy tries to act like that's not feasible, but she knows better.
Juliette returns home to find Makena in her house, asking if she had a good time in Miami. She knows about this little excursion thanks to Juliette's tweets about it. Also, the paparazzo is threatening to go public with a very unflattering photo of Sean that makes him look drunk and violent. Of course he wasn't even drinking, but it doesn't matter since he looks absolutely wasted. The tweets are bad enough, says Makena, but Juliette should know that it's the pictures that kill a career. Juliette looks at the photo of Sean, and actually seems to be feeling a smattering of remorse.
At the Bluebird, Gunnar asks Scarlett if she and Avery would like to come along with him and Hailey to check out a new bar tonight. She tells him that Avery has a meeting with the manager lady, and Gunnar starts acting weird. He acts if Scarlett is sure that Avery should be meeting with Marilyn, since Deacon didn't seem too hot on the idea the other night. Scarlett wonders what Deacon has to do with anything, and upon prompting Gunnar has to admit that Deacon did tell Marilyn to stay away from Avery. Scarlett's chipmunk cheeks get very red, and she angrily spits out the sunflower seeds she's been storing in there and rushes out.
Later on, Rayna goes back to Liam's studio to ask exactly what happened the night. He doesn't hesitate before saying that it was magical. She looks a teeny bit concerned as she asks, "What kind of magical?" But she's safe, because it was musical magical! And it's a good thing, because there's video. We see Rayna in front of a microphone, whiskey in hand, clearly feeling it as she sings "Buried Under." As she watches the video she sort of starts to laugh it off, but Liam says it was electric, and this is the kind of magic you can't teach. This is Rayna, he says, and she needs to stop worrying about fall festivals and shit. She's digging it, and we all know she's no good at making cupcakes anyway.
We cut to Deacon's house, where Scarlett is throwing acorns at the door. And I know I make a lot of Scarlett woodland creature jokes, but she is never more critter-esque than when she gets really mad and confrontational. It turns out she has squirrel-rage about Deacon telling Marilyn not to work with Avery, which she sees as a dick move even if he doesn't like Avery all that much. Deacon wonders why everyone thinks he dislikes Avery. The answer to that is: because of the way you act. Deacon likes Avery just fine, though not enough to give him a balloon every time he shows up looking for help. Scarlett asks why he'd tell Marilyn not to sign Avery, and Deacon is basically like, "She just wants to bang him." Or: "Marilyn only reps good looking guys under 30. She only signs them after a certain closeness has been established." Scarlett argues that Marilyn can't sleep with everyone she signs, but Deacon assures her that she does. Scarlett's cheeks droop with sadness and she gets very, very quiet.
Meanwhile, Avery is enjoying a glass of wine by candlelight at Marilyn's house. He says that he's been at this ("this" being music, and not trying to get it up to land a manager) for a while, and thinks that his music speaks for itself. Marilyn asks what, in that case, he's doing at her apartment late at night. Being sexually harassed, I'd say! And then she kisses him. He begrudgingly moves his lips in response. And honestly, if they really wanted to up the ante on the creepy sexual predator casting couch scenario, they needed, like, Bea Arthur to play this role. THEN what are you going to do, Avery? (And yes, Bea Arthur should be cast FROM THE GRAVE.) Marilyn and Avery continue to make out and finally get horizontal (with her on top, of course), but as she starts to undo his pants, he gets up and says he can't do it. See, he does have a conscience! Avery leaves, and Marilyn settles back to finish her wine like it ain't no thing. What a weirdo.
And then Deacon shows up at Cole's campaign headquarters to apologize for the whole pill situation. He offers to call the paper and tell them what happened, and that Cole is his sponsor. Cole points out that the second "A" is for "Anonymous," and the program doesn't work otherwise. He knows he should have thrown out the pills, and probably didn't because it is actually really complicated to throw out medicine now! Cole assures Deacon that this is not his fault, and they shake hands. Neither of these two can catch a break eh?
Back at the tree trunk, Avery returns home to extra crittered-out mad Scarlett, who immediately asks, "Did you sleep with that woman?" Avery acts surprised, and Scarlett asks if he knew that's what Marilyn wanted. He says, truthfully, that he did not sleep with her, and not quite truthfully that if he knew she was trying to bone him he wouldn't have gone over there in the first place. He goes on about how he'd never put himself in that situation, and Scarlett points out that he tends to overexplain when he's lying. She tries to rush out and Avery grabs her. He says that he didn't do anything, which is all that matters, but she is quite a bit less than thrilled that he was planning to cheat on her to get a job. Well, despite her experience, a publishing deal doesn't magically fall down from the sky for everyone! Avery wonders why he's being punished for doing the right thing, and she screams that nothing about this was the right thing. Scarlett storms out, likely heading to find something to nibble on for comfort.
We then cut to a random dark alley, where Juliette and Makena are waiting in the backseat of a car. See, THIS is how you do a clandestine meeting! Makena doesn't entirely understand why they're there. Soon the Miami paparazzo, Steve, enters, and Juliette tells him that instead of selling the photos of Sean to someone else, he's going to sell them to her along with the memory card. She hands him a check and says that she'll also make him her first call the ten times she goes out. Steve looks googly-eyed at the check, says they have a deal, and hands the memory card to her. He points out that she wasn't in the photos at all, and she guesses that he's getting the better end of this deal. Aw, she did a nice thing for a person! Character evolution, right before our eyes.
Elsewhere in shady photographer news, the guy who has been tailing Teddy and Peggy presents his incriminating photos to Cole. Cole asks if this is as bad as it looks, and the photographer says he knows an affair when he sees one. Apparently not, and he doesn't know an embezzlement scandal when he sees one, either. Cole shakes his head as he mutters, "Teddy Conrad a cheater?"
So, it turns out Juliette has some decent karma coming to her. Sean shows up at her door, and says that no one has spent $25,000 on photos of him before. She says in turn that no one has ever fought a paparazzo to defend her honor before. Sean has determined that he's going to go back to his usual tradition of staying in on Friday nights. And he would like Juliette to join him. Yes, he is asking her out! Or rather, because he's such a dork, he's asking her in. The real question is, does that mean they'll have continuous hot sexytimes or just play Parcheesi? Maybe sing Sunday school hymns in two-part harmony? Either way, I don't think she minds it so much.
Meanwhile, Rayna is playing her newly-produced version of "Buried Under" for Marshall. He appears to love it, until he learns that Liam produced it. His smile turns upside down and he says it's too bad, because the label doesn't work with Liam. Rayna would like to make an exception, but Marshall declines. It appears that five years ago at the VMAs, Liam told Marshall to go screw himself. But that's not going to make Rayna change her mind about what she wants. Marshall asks why she has to fight him on everything, and she says she's not fighting him -- she's fighting for what she believes in. This is her guy, and this is her sound, and if Marshall doesn't like it another label might. He thinks she's playing dirty, but she tells him that she's just playing her music -- this is where she's going, so he might as well get on board. And really, wouldn't it benefit him if she had a record that actually sold? People love the indie/rock producer with the country stars! If Rayna were an octogenarian, it would be a surefire success.
Awww, and then we see Scarlett show up with a suitcase at Deacon's house. She's quite sad, but says it's better to find out that Avery chooses his ambition over her now rather than later. Deacon tells her that she can stay as long as she needs to, then goes back to strumming on his front porch and ruminating upon their family curse.
Elsewhere, Teddy sits in the dark and learns that his poll numbers and donations are all up. The paper has called to ask if he wants to make a comment about Cole's run-in with the law. Teddy says "no comment," which at first I read as being above the fray. Upon reflection, though, a comment in support of Cole might have been an upstanding, conscious-clearing move. Speaking of Cole, he's talking to his wife about the photos of Teddy and Peggy. Apparently Teddy and Peggy dated for years before he met Rayna. If the photos leak out, Cole says, it will ruin Teddy and Rayna's marriage, and Rayna will never forgive him. His wife points out that Cole doesn't owe Rayna or her family a damn thing, and Teddy doesn't deserve to be the mayor of Nashville. It feels wrong to Cole, but his wife says that sometimes you have to do a little wrong to do a greater good.
In that spirit, Avery shows up at Marilyn's door. She doesn't seem all that surprised to see him. It was awfully nice of Scarlett to break up with him so he could lay on the casting couch with a clear conscience!
time: Rayna and Juliette duet! Yes!
Potes never thought of going into the predatory manager business! Tweet her @traciepotes or email potesypotes@gmail.com.