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We begin the show with an exhausted Rayna on a press junket, trying to get the various voices that say, alternately, "I'm done talking," and "I want a divorce" out of her ginger head. She's typically pro about the whole thing, saying that she's always fine (even when she's not). Testing that theory is an appearance by Liam, who is apparently "producing a band" in whatever town they're in and not just there because he "still wants to bang Rayna." (There actually is a band, FYI.) Even more of a test is a call from Teddy -- just before she's about to go on stage -- saying that he wants to tell the girls about the divorce the following day. Rayna doesn't understand the hurry and wants to be more deliberate about the reveal, and then has to go open her show. She steps on to the stage in a fog and misses her cue twice. But then she smiles, snaps back into it and sings that song about being fickle, like a pro. So that's the moment that could end a career?
Meanwhile, Teddy and Tandy are doing mayor-adjacent things and she happens to see an incoming call on his phone from Peggy. She's like WTF and he's all, "You're not the boss of me!" because one sexytime with a sycophantic nutjob has given him the delusion that he's actually mayor and not just a lonely goatherd puppet being controlled by Lamar.
Back to the interesting stuff! Liam shows up backstage after Rayna's show and begins to ply her with champagne. But then Deacon pulls her away to talk, because her freeze-up on stage has caused him concern. He wonders if it's due to their hot elevator makeout session. She assures him that it isn't, but can't elaborate further because if she does, she'll lose it. Deacon is understanding and tells her she can talk about it when she's ready, and mostly I wish they would just make out some more.
A call from Tandy puts Rayna over the edge and she heads out to a dive bar with Liam. It's one of those nights where the bottle is on the table and it is perhaps liquid courage that prompts Rayna to steal Liam's fedora. Just like Britney before HER breakdown! And wow, conceptualizing Liam as a country music K-Fed just made him a lot less appealing. Anyway, Rayna teaches him the two-step and finally divulges tales of woe about her hot-mess life, saying she wants to feel anything else -- preferably something good. As you may have suspected, Liam has some ideas for how she can go about doing that. They head back to the hotel and he invites her in for a nightcap, which means all-caps SEX. And then making out happens in the hallway! It's arguably even hotter than the Deacon elevator scene, but then again I'm partial to Liam. She wonders what she's doing, but can't resist the siren call of minibar bourbon. Liam doesn't wait too long before going in for the attack, but Rayna asks for a minute. That minute turns into a really long time crying in a stupendously sad manner in the bathroom. She tries to keep Liam out, but he charms his way in just by being a nice guy. And then they have a heart to heart about all her problems, particularly her sadness about ruining her kids' lives. Liam reprises his role as sage truth-teller, talking about his own parents' divorce and how it was the best thing that could have happened. It's a really great scene and I feel justified in being a Liam apologist, and not even that sad that they never got around to banging each other. Okay, a little sad. But way to make good choices, Rayna!
Meanwhile, Teddy is constitutionally incapable of not being an idiot and as he is talking schmoopily on the phone to Peggy, Maddie walks in. He doesn't notice and basically is like, "I can't wait to have sex with you again, PEGGY," in full earshot. He's truly going to be the worst mayor ever.
In other news, Juliette is basically having a manic episode focused on doing an acoustic set with Deacon as part of her show. She tells her crew that they're revamping the show and Glenn is NOT PLEASED. She screams at him, but he still has a secret meeting with the crew (minus Deacon), telling them to run all of Juliette's orders by him first. This meeting does not include Deacon, but he gets wind of it and confronts Glenn about the need to let Juliette stretch her wings a little. We learn that Glenn is basically Juliette's Lou Pearlman -- he discovered her auditioning for a local Alabama TV show and helped make her into who she is today. He thinks of himself as a father figure and is more than a little threatened when Juliette literally leaves him in the dust in favor of writing with Deacon. When she learns that Glenn has been going behind her back, she has a full-on middle of the night diva tantrum, reminding all of her crew (by screaming) that they work for her and not Glenn. In response, Glenn quits. Deacon also isn't thrilled by this side of Juliette and basically tells her not to alienate all of her people, including him.
Deacon walks right out of this confrontation with Juliette and into full view of Rayna and Liam canoodling in the hotel lobby. He then totally proceeds to slut shame her without bothering to find out that she was actually just pouring her heart out on the bathroom floor and not having the sexytimes (mostly) at all. She's all, "What do you want from me?" and he's all, "Not a damn thing," and ARGH, THESE TWO! Then poor Rayna goes home and not only has to tell the girls about the divorce, but learns from Maddie that Teddy is totally banging Peggy. D'oh!
Elsewhere, Scarlett and Gunnar's happiness about Rayna wanting to sign them is dampened when Jason shows up at the Bluebird. Scarlett knows a LOT about parole laws in Texas and isn't so into the idea of harboring a fugitive in their house. But Gunnar pleads, so she allows one night and then actually likes Jason a little bit and agrees to a few more nights. But of course, despite Jason's claims that he got rid of his gun, he's still packing. The whole thing is very Bad Idea Jeans, with the only silver lining being that Scarlett or Gunnar might accidentally get shot.
Disaster looms for Avery too, who is unhappy with what Dominic is doing to his music. Marilyn is all, "I told you, you fucking idiot," and then Avery proceeds to ignore her advice AGAIN and sign a publishing deal (with Hailey!!!) that gives him $100,000 in the short term, but could cost him millions down the line. I'd be okay with him getting shot, too, I guess.
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Want more? The full recap starts right below!Previously: Gunnar's jailbird brother, Jason, was all about being in violation of parole and making Gunnar's life miserable. And then to make things worse for himself, Gunnar agreed to be Scarlett's roommate. Liam suddenly became an asshole and Rayna fired him as her producer/guitarist/fellow torturer of Juliette/sexual chemistry vessel. Teddy's banging of Peggy enabled him to grow a testicle and ask Rayna for a divorce, which really took a lot of the joy out of Deacon committing to a life of mute sexiness and surprising her with a hot elevator kiss.
We enter with Rayna getting her makeup touched up during a press junket. She has a bit of a dazed look as "I want a divorce" and "I'm done talking" run through her head in full-on deep cave echo. Finally Bucky gets through to her, asking if she's ready for her final interviews. She sighs in response, and Bucky takes a moment alone with her to say that they can claim she's sick to get out of them. But Rayna didn't make it this far folding up like a tent when things get bad. And...has she ever actually tried to fold up a tent? My experience has been that it's all lumpy and never fits back in the box and then inevitably gets moldy sitting in your basement, which maybe actually works for the analogy. Bucky says that this is a little different, indicating that he knows about Teddy's divorce request. But Rayna says that she's fine, and always is. She's no pop tart tantrum-haver, we are to gather, but a true pro.
Speaking of tantrums waiting to happen, Juliette stands with Glenn on the concert stage and tells him she wants to have a runway into the audience built for the "acoustic set," just wide enough for her and Deacon. Glenn is all, "Acoustic who in the what now?" Juliette tells him to make it happen, and he reminds her that she was not supposed to make any decisions without consulting with him. She's not keen on asking permission, and gets even more pissed when he reminds her that she promised to "behave" after her various scandals. Juliette says this is her damn career, Glenn claims to want to keep her from wrecking it, and Juliette counters that he's trying to run her life. She's taking control of her multi-million dollar industry of an existence, and is going to keep writing the songs the way she wants to while Glenn keeps writing the checks. Also, she got him flowers for manager appreciation day.
Meanwhile, Gunnar is walking around in only a towel and Scarlett reminds him that they have a rule about no nekkidness. He's merely air drying and says he can be nekkid if she wants him to. What about "no nekkidness" makes him think that she wants him to be nekkid? Sometimes I think their whole subplot is really a modern retelling of Like Normal People. She laughs as she reminds him that they're strictly roommates. Until, I'm guessing, episode 15. Scarlett per usual looks like she built a time machine and went back to a dust bowl era Goodwill to find her ensemble. Gunnar has gotten multiple calls on his cell from a mysterious number. I'm surprised a little drawing of a gun and jail bars didn't pop up on the caller ID. Scarlett then gets an actually exciting call from Watty White, letting her know that Rayna wants to talk about signing them to her new label. Scarlett jumps up on Gunnar with excitement, and his penis accidentally falls into one of her orifices, and nine months later a litter of scraggly haired field mice will be born with banjos in their hands. It's the modern rodentine Partridge Family!
We then cut to Rayna, who is in a rush to get to the concert arena, mostly because she needs to get out of her head and focus on her actual job. Not helping in this goal is a sighting of none other than Liam McGuinniss in the hotel lobby. Much to Bucky's chagrin, Rayna fails to ignore Liam and in fact goes to say hello, ostensibly to remind him to fuck off. He first asks if she's stalking him, and she's like WHO IS STALKING WHO HERE before reiterating that he's fired. Liam says that he's producing a band based out of wherever they are and Rayna is all, "Quelle coincidence!" but then the band shows up. So, it's unclear if he's there legitimately or if he's indeed stalking her. My opinion is that it's probably a little of both. Bucky tells Rayna not to let Liam get under her skin, and she says that "that person" is the least of her worries. Everyone fails to mention how adept Liam is at being a man who can wear a scarf as a fashion accessory.
Back in Nashville, Teddy and Tandy walk into what I guess is City Hall, and she says that his inauguration plans look good, if subdued. Are they scheduled to take place in the back of divorce court? Will berets bearing a "Conrad 2013" logo be given out as party favors? Tandy mentions that Lamar has a few ideas for Teddy's deputy mayor (some sort of forked-tongue being, perhaps?) before noticing that Teddy's phone has an incoming call from Peggy Kenter. At least he shows some restraint by not having a picture of beret-wearing boobs pop up when she calls. Tandy wants Teddy to tell her that Teddy is not still in contact with (and, I'm guessing, having sexual relations with) "that woman," and Teddy takes this moment to drop his other testicle and tell her that none of this -- neither his appointees nor his fuck buddies -- are hers or Lamar's business. DUDE. Do you guys think Lamar is going to murder Teddy? All I'll say is that I wouldn't be 100% against it.
We then go to some fleabag motel, which is apparently Avery's new home. He's called Marilyn there for an urgent meeting about how he's not "feeling" the direction in which Dominic is taking his music. Marilyn is like, "I TOLD you not to sign that contract, Goofus." Dominic isn't taking his calls, but merely sending texts with his fixes to Avery's cuts, and furthermore, Avery hasn't seen a dollar since he started. He has that really nice car though! Way to negotiate your signing bonus without your manager! Marilyn tells him to be patient and it will pay off, and offers to spot him some cash even though he's not defeated enough to go back to banging her. Avery really looks like he could use a shower and some leafy greens. It turns out that things are suddenly not going too well for Gunnar, either, as Jason shows up at The Bluebird. Because going to visit the brother who picked you up from jail is an extremely logical move when you've violated your parole and are on the lam.
We head back to Red Lips White Lies, where Rayna gets a call from Teddy backstage before the show. He's "checking in" to let her know that the girls are fine, so tomorrow will be the perfect time to tell them about the divorce. Rayna is NOT happy, saying that she'd like to at least have a conversation first about how they're going to do it, and also not spend her first day home ruining their lives. Teddy gets a little stern as he says that the longer they wait, the more likely something is to leak. She wonders why anything would leak, because she's not aware of how Teddy has been making out with Peggy in a car with the windows down in the middle of town. She also wonders why he would call her and tell her this just before she's about to go on stage. Maybe he has a third testicle that's poking out? The girls come home and are cute on the phone for a minute, which only seems to make things worse.
Rayna heads out on stage in tight leather pants and a sparkly top, but looks panicked and in a daze, not fully hearing either the crowd's applause or the band. Looking on from the audience, Deacon notes that something's wrong. From backstage, Juliette also notices that Rayna has missed her cue -- twice. The band members give each other glances and Rayna has another foggy moment before snapping out of it, smiling, and starting that song about being fickle and also not fickle. And THAT, ladies and gentleman, was apparently the moment that could end a career. Thanks, previews, for not blowing anything completely out of proportion! From the audience, Deacon says that he hasn't seen Rayna miss a cue in 20 years. So, though it's not career-ending, this moment does show that her "always fine" claim is being put to the test.
Backstage after the show, Adria mouths "Are you okay?" from across the room, while Bucky brings Rayna flowers and tells her that no one noticed the hiccup at the beginning. And then who is there hovering in the door like the Big Bad Wolf but Liam. Rayna greets him by saying, "Well, well, well -- look who shows up when I don't have my rifle." He hands her a glass of champagne, claiming that he has no agenda. Except to test how difficult it is to get those leather pants off, methinks.
Meanwhile, Juliette meets with her band, dancers and crew, whom she says are "like family." So she wants to share with them the news that the fan reaction to the new material has been outstanding. So much so, that she's going to revamp the tour to get away from some of the more juvenile aspects of the show. This is news to Glenn and, I think, Deacon. Also probably the gyrating dancers who might be out of a job.
Back at The Bluebird, Gunnar is giving Jason a little bit of hell for being a guitar-hawing gun-toting parole-violating fugitive on the lam who should be at a halfway house in Texas. But Jason had too much bad blood with people there, and claims to have gotten rid of the gun and just want a second chance with his baby brother. Gunnar is skeptical, as he should be.
Back on tour, Deacon motions for Rayna to quit talking to Liam and have a little private chat. He wonders what was up with the missed cues. She says she's fine, but he knows when she's not fine. He wonders if the hot steamy elevator kiss has something to do all this, and apologizes. She assures him that that's not it, saying that there's a lot going on and she wants to talk to him about it, but if she even thinks about it now she'll lose it. And she very much doesn't want to lose it. He says, "When you're ready," and she walks off without them even making out or ANYTHING. But also...like, try using some context clues, Deacon. Then Rayna gets a call of doom from Tandy, asking what the hell is up. She claims to just want to make sure that Rayna is fine. Rayna is FINE, everybody. JUST FINE. She hangs up on Tandy in haste, which seems like a good general policy.
Juliette, meanwhile, is on a high from her amazing show and the acoustic-loving loyalty of her fans. Emily reminds her that Jolene is getting out of rehab week, and asks if Juliette has made any decisions about where she should live. Juliette has been so busy going unplugged that she forgot about MethMom, and also kind of doesn't care. She tells Emily to find her somewhere with a nice view and a doorman, at least ten miles from her. Glenn then enters, pissed about Juliette's impromptu meeting with the crew. He asks if she wants him to say he's fine with all this craziness. Juliette then grabs his head and kisses him like he's fucking Fredo, adding that she wants him to say "Yes, ma'am." Rayna maybe should start being nicer to Juliette if she doesn't want to add a horse head on her pillow to her litany of problems.
We cut back to Rayna who, sick of people worrying about her, is getting ready to head out. Liam assures her he knows how tough she actually is before stating that he doesn't really need to hear what her problems are, but might have the solution. That three-pronged solution (which is pulled out of his ass) is: drink more, dance, and get away for your life if only for a night. I think "bang your young, hot ex-producer" is implied in the third. A call from Tandy comes in, and Rayna gets just a hint of a devilish look as she says, "Sold," and takes off with Liam. Bucky gets one of his trademarked looks of concern that happen every time Rayna is within three feet of Liam.
Back in Nashville, Rayna's girls have prepared a cake for her that says "Welcomehome MOM." Teddy sees it and says that chocolate is his favorite. Well it doesn't matter because it's NOT YOUR CAKE, ass. Maddie gives Daphne grief for spelling "Welcomehome" as one word, because apparently Daphne is developmentally delayed as well. Maybe she's secretly Scarlett's child? How much further can this house of lies crumble? As the girls talk about how to fix the cake (and the whole thing seems like Daphne's ploy to get to eat more frosting), Teddy appears to get at least a half pang of guilt.
Meanwhile, a frustrated Avery is in the studio recording, while Dominic listens via phone. That's one way to do it, I guess. With Dominic on speaker phone, Avery complains that he's reaching for a sound that just isn't his. Dominic notes that Avery is just out of his comfort zone, before ordering him to just do what he says. Avery takes a break to cool off, and who should be skulking around outside of the studio but Gunnar's ex-girlfriend Hailey. Wow, who ever thought that she'd show up again? Does this mean we're eventually going to have to deal with the return of Carmen, too? And the ghost of Vince? Hailey has apparently been in touch with Avery about a publishing deal. He says he's in no position to give up control of his publishing rights, but she says that they're offering him a co-pub deal, which is 50/50, and there would be a good chance of a six figure signing bonus. He says he has to run it by Marilyn, and Hailey in turn wants to talk more over drinks. And you know how much Avery 1) listens to Marilyn; 2) could use a free drink right now.
And THEN. Teddy continues his trajectory of being an idiot by giving Peggy a call from inside his house, while the girls are also there. She's in bed with a lit candle, and probably a bottle each of pills and vodka in the nightstand. Teddy apologizes for not being in touch since they did it in the shadow of her beret, and Peggy is totally expecting him to say they can't see each other again. Instead, he shocks her by telling her that he asked Rayna for a divorce. Peggy manages to sit up for probably the first time in weeks, stops sawing at her wrist with a butter knife, and says, "That must have been hard." Yes, for us, the viewers, who were looking forward to finally seeing Rayna have hot sexytimes with Deacon! Peggy wants to know what she can do to help, after Teddy tells her that they're planning on telling the kids about the divorce the day. He just wants her to talk to him, especially since they probably won't be able to see each other for a while, unless she's giving him a beej in the car right under a sign that says "Paparazzi Parking Lot." Maddie walks in to tell Teddy about a broken bowl, and gets quiet once she realizes he's on the phone. She overhears him telling Peggy that it just feels right being with her, with Teddy being stupid enough to say Peggy's name. Maddie closes the door and looks sad. Well, this experience should toughen her up for the moment when she has to go on Maury and learn about her true paternity.
In other potentially child-traumatizing things, Rayna and Liam are having shots and peanuts at a country line dancing dive bar. See, now that looks like fun. Liam asks if they're just going to drink all night or if Rayna's going to tell him what's up, and she reminds him that he said he didn't care to hear about her problems. He admits that he lied, which is apparently charming enough for Rayna to steal his fedora. I personally feel that this move is beneath her, and so choose blame it on the bourbon. Rayna says that what she likes most about Liam is that he doesn't know a damn thing about her. Oh, sure he does! They were BFFs in bean dip for a hot minute, after all. Liam also knows that Rayna is getting drunk. She denies it, but then knocks over his shot and giggles, which is a sure sign of drunkenness. But who cares about wasted shots and wasted ladies! It's time for some line dancing. Rayna pulls Liam onto the floor over some mild objection, telling him that he should have kept the cowboy boots she gave him. Nice recall. Probably better than bringing up whatever dirty deal he was doing behind her back, though I would like to have just a little resolution to that particular plot point. Rayna puts Liam's arm around her and prepares to teach him the two-step, which she claims is the easiest dance in the world. It involves a quick-quick-slow step pattern, and also apparently lots of eye fucking. This is EXACTLY how it went down with Jack White and Loretta Lynn, you will be interested to know.
Back at tour HQ, Glenn is calling his own little on-stage meeting with Juliette's crew. He's looked at Juliette's "suggestions" for the remainder of the tour. While he's not outright saying to disregard them, he wants everyone to come to him first before actually implementing them. Everyone looks very nervous, which is exactly the right instinct. Maybe HIS head is going to end up on Rayna's pillow.
Meanwhile, Scarlett has figured out that Jason is Gunnar's criminal-on-the-lam brother. She knows a lot about parole laws, apparently, and is very aware that Jason should not be crossing state lines. Gunnar then gets a pleading look, saying that Jason just needs a couple days and a couch to crash on to figure things out. Showing both spine and smarts that are quite pleasant, Scarlett replies, "And that's called harboring a fugitive, nope!" Gunnar insists that Jason isn't a fugitive, before admitting that of course he actually is a fugitive. He starts to tell her that the situation is complicated, but Scarlett shuts him right down and basically says that Jason can send them a postcard from Texas.
And then it's time for a little Deacon-on-Glenn action. Always fun! Deacon follows Glenn out of the arena and asks if there was a meeting he missed. He was, of course, deliberately left out of Glenn's little tete-a-tete with the rest of the crew, given that he's Juliette's unofficial advisor and also something of an earpiece. Glenn says that Juliette has had some very serious lapses in judgment, and he's just trying to keep her from having another. As a friend...or whatever he is...he wants Deacon to do the same. Deacon is all about people growing and making mistakes and whatever other wizened philosophical things that come with being so craggy. We then get a little backstory on Glenn and Juliette, and learn that he discovered her as a scraggly headed kid in Alabama trying out for a local TV show. She had nothing and nobody -- just Glenn. He says he helped make her and has been like a father to her, albeit kind of a weird controlling father with a bad wig and serious self-esteem issues who often hates his kid a little. Deacon says that fathers let their kids grow up. At that moment, Juliette comes screaming across the parking lot in her SUV, saying that she wants to run some song ideas by Deacon. Deacon doesn't seem particularly up for it, and Glenn reminds her that they have an early flight the day. She in turn reminds him that it's her jet, and his job to make sure it waits. Deacon gets in the car and Juliette screams off again, yelling, "So long, sucker!" as Glenn is literally left in the dust. I know she's made him a lot of money, but he does seem to have one of the worst jobs in the world.
Speaking of thankless managing jobs, Avery meets with Marilyn and tells her about the publishing offer. She quite strongly thinks it's a bad idea, saying that by selling out for $50,000 now, Avery could lose millions later. He wonders if she's wrong about later, but she seems certain that she isn't. Just then, Marilyn's new boy toy shows up and heads into her house. Avery points out that if he doesn't hit, Marilyn has a number of others who could. But all he's got is himself, and he is a little fella after all. Small in stature, giant in toolishness!
Back at the dive bar, Liam and Rayna slow dance. He says they've done a lot of moving but don't seem to be going anywhere, which she says is the story of her life right now. They stop dancing, pour another drink, and she finally tells him her deal: Teddy asked for a divorce, she's about to ruin her kids' lives by telling them, Deacon kissed her in an elevator (THAT one gets a little bit of a reaction), and she's on tour with Juliette Barnes. They cheers to her hot mess of a life as she says she wants to feel anything but what she's feeling, preferably something good. Liam is quick with an offer to help with that, and the first phase of help seems to be more eye fucking. Just then Rayna is recognized by an older couple in the corner. If this were Teddy and Peggy they'd just go ahead and suck on each others' fingers, but Liam and Rayna are a bit more discrete and head back to the hotel.
By the time they get there, they're arm in arm, and she drunkenly wonders why she fired him before realizing that it was, "Business, business. It's just business." Liam replies that he doesn't know that it's always been JUST business with them, and she says, "Oh right, there was that too, wasn't there?" YES, THERE WAS. And still is apparently. They get to Liam's room, and Rayna does that thing where she kind of lingers and looks around, then thanks Liam for running away from her life with her. But there is more running to do, and so he offers her a nightcap. And then he progressively leeeeeeeeeeeeans closer to her until he is within proximity to make the move. And then there's hot hotel hallway making out! Hotter than Deacon in an elevator by at least 33%. Five chili peppers! Sorry, Raycon superfans, but you know it's true. Rayna backs up for a minute and wonders what she's doing, pulling Liam's fedora down over her eyes in the process. Liam reminds her about the life-vacation, and she follows him into his room. If I ever have a nervous breakdown, I want it to go exactly like this. Where do you book this particular variety of life vacation? Priceline?
After a break, Liam has busted into the hotel mini-bar and makes Rayna feel incredibly special by saying that he doesn't spring for a $12 bourbon for everyone. She paces and looks kind of nervous, and then they sit and look at each other for a few seconds. And then Liam pounces. Like, an actual pounce. Rayna's not quite feeling it, though, and asks for a minute. She heads into the bathroom, applies lip gloss, looks in the mirror and starts crying. Oh GIRL, I've been there. Probably not in a hotel room as nice as that, but still.
Back at the Bluebird, Gunnar explains to Scarlett that he was an accessory to the armed robbery that got Jason put in the clink. It was Jason's idea, of course, and Gunnar was scared out of his mind and didn't realize that Jason would use a gun to rob the store. Gunnar panicked and left Jason there, and Jason didn't give him away, which as we know has left Gunnar with lingering guilt. Scarlett, who has really been incredibly sensible in this episode, says it was awful for Jason to put his kid brother in that position. She then puts that good sense aside to say that Jason can stay with them for one night. Slippery slope alert!
Meanwhile, Hailey is talking up Avery over drinks. She pshaws his contention that it might be awkward for him to be at the same publisher as Scarlett and Gunnar, and assures him that she wants to be in the Avery Barkley business. And maybe all up in the Avery Barkley business? She then starts talking about giving him the financial freedom that will allow him to be himself creatively, which is clearly hitting him where he lives. Which is in a fleabag motel. Where does he sign?
Back in the hotel, Rayna is all legs as she sits on the toilet seat and tries to keep Liam from entering. She claims that it's not pretty in there, but he says there's nothing he hasn't seen. I think he's thinking he might have to hold her hair or something. Little does he know! She finally lets him in, blinks at him with black mascara tears, and says she warned him that she doesn't cry pretty.
While Rayna is wallowing in hotel bathroom depression, Juliette is in the middle of a manic episode. She rattles on to Deacon about the glitter-free acoustic set they're going to have after their short break in Nashville. He likes it, about as much as he likes anything, but says that Glenn probably won't. Though Juliette claims to appreciate Glenn and says she owes him a lot, she's not going to be his know-nothing little puppet forever. Deacon thinks she should just tell him that, adding that the two of them spend too much time talking around each other. And that's rich coming from him, non? Juliette then gets the idea that Glenn's talking about her behind her back. Deacon says it's "loose conversation." You know, the kind of loose conversation that you find in a big ole' can of worms. Before we know it, Juliette is storming down the hotel hallway and pounding on doors. Deacon tries to stop her, but she screams at her crew to wake up and get out in the hallway, because it's time for some reckoning. With everyone, including Glenn, unceremoniously awoken, Juliette screams at her people that they work for her, and not Glenn. Whatever she says gets done, and if anyone goes behind her back -- and here she turns to Glenn -- they'll be right back at the county fair looking for the teen queen. I mean, you were at the county fair too, bitch! Glenn quits -- like, quits his JOB -- and everybody else scurries into their rooms before Juliette can cane them. Deacon leans on the balcony, likely reminiscing about the good old days when all he had to worry about was his destructive, all-consuming, unrequited love for Rayna.
We then cut back to Rayna and Liam, sitting on the bathroom floor with their backs against the tub. Rayna cries as she talks about breaking her daughters' hearts with news of the divorce. She's thinking that maybe she should suck it up and just stay in it. Um, is that even an option for her anymore? Liam talks about his own parents' marriage, and how they stuck it out for a while in private misery but with public smiles. The best day of his childhood, he says, was the day his mom said she was finally leaving. Rayna wonders if he's saying that to make her feel better, and he makes the correction that it was the best day of his childhood in retrospect. Tomorrow, he tells her, is going to suck. Rayna sees a road of pain and tears and anger. And she doesn't even know about Peggy and her homewrecking beret! Liam asks why she came out with him, and she says she's sick of the drama - Teddy and Deacon and Tandy. Liam is the guy with no strings attached. Except for guitar strings, as he points out that they've made half an album and are thus practically married. She replies that they should probably finish that album. YES! And then they laugh and kind of push one another playfully and DO NOT have sex, but that's okay. I know Deacon is the long game here, and blah blah soul mates and all that, but I really do love Rayna and Liam together. They're so much less brooding and fraught, and also have mad chemistry.
Back in Nashville, Scarlett gives Jason wicked side eye as she returns home with him and Gunnar. She makes sure he knows he isn't REALLY welcome, maybe giving a little feral hiss in the process just to indicate she's serious.
And then we see Deacon getting into an elevator with Juliette. Let's hope he's not done talking with her, too. She's wearing sunglasses and looking tough, and he asks if her middle of the night tantrum is part of her strategy to be seen as a more mature artist. BURN. She simply wanted to remind her "family" who's boss. Deacon does not care for this side of Juliette and tells her so, even though he was the one who told her the fine distinction between thinking about doing something and just doing it. She asks if he's going to quit on her too, and he says that if she talks to him like that, she's damn right he will. He adds that the time might come when she needs good people around her, and they might just have something better to do. Like be Rayna's lead guitarist again? Well, probably not. Deacon exits the elevator and happens to see Liam and Rayna canoodling in the lobby. Their actions aren't totally incriminating, but there's a grab back of the hat, a stroke of the hair, a hand squeeze, some laughing and the general impression of some kind of intimacy. Also she might be wearing yesterday's clothes.
Outside at her tour bus, Rayna tells her crew that she'll see them in a month. So this is a bit of a long break in Nashville. Deacon approaches her and accusingly asks if she had a good night. She's like, "Um, it was okay?" He notes that she and Liam sure made up quickly, and Rayna, knowing what he's getting at, says that Liam is a friend. And then Deacon is SUCH as asshole as he smirks and goes, "I bet." God, no wonder she wanted to escape her life for a night. As he walks away, Rayna asks what he wants from her. He says, "Nothing, Rayna. Not a damn thing." Except to slut shame her, apparently. Calm down and try a little tenderness, you two! GOD.
And then we're in Nashville with Jason, who's making eggs in a hole -- Gunnar's favorite breakfast from childhood. He talks about their tough childhood, saying that he taught Gunnar guitar so he wouldn't just mope in his room. Gunnar appears and mopes that he was never a moper. Jason notes that he used to be a guitar player, and stopped because he gave his guitar to Gunnar. They couldn't share the guitar? Nice try, gunslinger. Gunnar thanks him for the eggs, and does look just like a little kid who's worried about his big brother.
And then it's time for Teddy and Rayna to talk to the girls. He says he doesn't know where to start. Maybe he should have tried more than 30 seconds of planning? Rayna still doesn't want to rush into it, but obviously has been vetoed by the mayor-elect. The girls come home and are adorably excited to see Rayna, and Teddy feels the other half of that guilt pang from earlier in the episode.
Juliette also returns home. Emily offers to stick around and make her breakfast, but Juliette tells her to go home. Not in a mean way, either, for once.
Gunnar noodles on his guitar as Scarlett asks if Jason could try to come to Nashville and do music. Not while he's on the lam he can't, even though Gunnar claims that he's the one with real talent. Jason gave up his chance because he was raising Gunnar, which Scarlett notes was his choice. She wants Gunnar to work so hard as a musician because he loves it, not because he feels guilty. Woodsy wisdom strikes again! Don't tell anyone, but I kind of like her in this episode. It's frightening and confusing, and I'm counting on the fact that it won't last. They practice the song they're going to play for Rayna, and Jason grabs a spare guitar and plays lead, and the whole thing is lovely. We then flash to Rayna and Teddy telling the girls, in the shadow of their own happy family portrait. Maddie grabs Daphne's hand, and there are tears. It's so sad! And then Avery gets a knock on his door and is handed a check for $100,000 from South Circle publishing, which is Hailey's company. Something tells me he shouldn't have done that! Though that's true of pretty much every move Avery makes. Juliette paces in her living room and fluffs the pillows, and finally calls her mom and invites her to move in for a bit when she gets out of rehab. I'm sure that will go well, too.
The song ends, and Jason asks if he can borrow Gunnar's room so he can change and get out of their hair. Charmed by his pretty leads and the eggs-in-the-hole, Scarlett says that Jason can stay for a couple more days if Gunnar wants. And then of course we flash to the gun in Jason's bag. Did anyone really think he got rid of the gun? Even Gunnar, whose name prominently features the word "gun"?
And then as Rayna unpacks, Maddie approaches her. They hug, and Rayna says she knows this is hard. In response, Maddie says, "He's still with that woman." D'oh! She continues, "The one from the campaign. Peggy." Maddie just thought that Rayna should know. They hug again, and all the hot kisses and not banging of the past few days flash before Rayna's eyes as she wonders if you can strangle two people with a single beret.
In two weeks (And WHY do they skip weeks between episodes so much? Gah.): Juliette throws Deacon a surprise party even though he hates parties, the tabloids get wind of Teddy and Rayna's separation, and Jolene falls off the wagon! Also, probably someone gets shot with Jason's gun.
Potes encourages the ladies of the world to just say no to fedoras. She can be tweeted @traciepotes, or emailed at potesypotes@gmail.com.