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The fourth episode of the second season is rife with family drama, starting with a visit to Virginia's (the mother of Rayna and Tandy) grave. Maddie sulks, as she does through about two-thirds of the episode, while Rayna has a solo graveside heart-to-heart, admitting that she has lost her voice and doesn't know who she is without it. There's a big symphony gala hosted by Lamar in honor of Virginia. Tandy has hired a private investigator who puts forth some pretty damning evidence implicating Lamar in Virginia's death, and she struggles to get through all the "let's take a family photo in front of this painting of your beloved mother" moments. Maddie brats about, then gets really pissed when she sees Teddy and Peggy, who is wearing a ring around her neck. Yes, idiot Teddy has proposed to the still not-pregnant Peggy and given her his mother's ring, which Maddie recognizes. And then Maddie runs away! Panic! at the symphony.
Meanwhile, Juliette is delivered a fast car from Charles Wentworth, which does not seem to ease the sting of learning that Rayna wants to cancel the rest of the Red Lips White Lies tour to stay home and take care of her family. Also because she can't sing, but Juliette doesn't know that yet. Juliette can't bear to go back to her tween hits with all the accompanying sparkles and fluff, but also can't bear to play any venue smaller than an arena. Glen suggests that she take an opening slot for new Edgehill artist and hottest country singer of the moment Luke Wheeler, and she is incensed. While she schemes to try to find a solution, she gets a call from runaway Maddie, who has walked a few miles in her symphony gala heels and is lost at a gas station. Juliette picks her up, takes her home and is generally really sweet to her before calling a very worried Rayna. Rayna comes over and she and Juliette actually share a bonding moment or two as an exhausted Maddie sleeps. All of this caring activity has apparently set Juliette's brain to ticking, as she asks Layla Grant to join the tour to give the tweens what they want while still allowing her to move on to a more mature set. Brilliant!
Then there's Deacon, who through a series of events winds up taking the attorney who got him out of jail to a fancy dinner. His busted hand can't cut a steak, but he won't sue the city for improper prison medical care even though she wants him to. The two bond over life tragedies and wind up back at his apartment. They kiss, and I wonder if there isn't some 12-step rule about that. Deacon also mentions that the doctor gave him something for the pain, and I don't know if that means really strong Advil or, like, some Liz Taylor shit. I'm sure we'll find out. In any case, romantic times between Deacon and the lawyer lady are interrupted by Rayna, who comes to see if Maddie is there. This prompts some fatherly concern by Deacon, and the day after Rayna talks to Maddie about how she and Deacon fell in love, he calls to make sure she's okay. Deacon and Maddie talk and after she hangs up the phone she calls him dad. And then the girls sing one of Deacon's old songs, written about Rayna, and Rayna overhears and cries and then I totally cry too. Gah, feelings! The song is so beautiful, though, and sung with pure perfection by the girls. OH, and in other news Tandy gives the U.S. Attorney all the evidence they need to bust Lamar. Hell hath no fury like a daughter/business associate who just found out that her dad killed her mom.
In news of the young 'uns, Scarlett is having a hard time adjusting to life in the spotlight -- particularly the part where stylists hoist up her boobs. We learn that Zoey can sing, and is a slut. The two biffles sing karaoke for no good reason. And finally, Edgehill wants Will to record the song that he sang at last week's showcase. You know, the song that Gunnar wrote and that Will sang without his permission. Gunnar is all sulky about it, but considers the offer before getting some subtle nudging from Avery that the song is going to be a big hit for somebody… it's just a matter of whom. Gunnar eventually tells Will it's a no-go, and they fight. Will calls Gunnar jealous and storms out, but I don't think makeup sex is to follow. At least not until sweeps week.
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Want more? The full recap starts right below!Previously on Nashville: Rayna confessed to Liam that her vocal cords haven't been the same since her car accident; Deacon got a savvy court-appointed attorney and she was hot, of course; 19-year-old Layla Grant got a contract with Edgehill; Will sang one of Gunnar's songs at a big event; Juliette played a schmancy private concert for a rich couple and banged the husband; Maddie found out that Deacon was her father and hated Rayna a whole bunch; and Tandy learned that Lamar may have been involved in her mother's death. Jeez, that's a lot of stuff!
We begin this episode at the cemetery where Rayna, Tandy, and the girls have come to honor Rayna's mother Virginia on her birthday. Maddie is distracted, listening to one of Deacon's songs on headphones. The song is called "A Life That's Good," and Maddie asks Rayna if Deacon wrote it about her. She admits that he did and looks a twinge uncomfortable as she asks Maddie to take off the headphones and pay tribute to Mamaw with the rest of them. Maddie says in a bratty manner that she didn't even know her grandmother. Rayna comes up with the brilliant idea to take this teenage nightmare (along with Daphne, who is just perfect, always) to the Symphony Gala, where they'll get to listen to beautiful music and dress up like princesses. Daphne is all for it, but Maddie's reaction is, "Big whoop." Maybe it's time to send her off to boarding school?
We then cut to Juliette pulling into her driveway in one fancy car, and finding Glen there standing by yet another fancy car. She says in a deadpan way that she's definitely paying him too much, but it turns out the car is for Juliette and is a thank you gift from Charlie Wentworth. Nothing like getting an elaborate present from the guy you boned on his fifth anniversary to make you feel awesome about yourself! Juliette wonders if Rayna's people have been in touch about when they can start the Red Lips White Lies tour back up, but there has been no word. Glen wonders if Rayna's not up for it, but Juliette points that she's been well enough to plug her label all over town. Glen notes that she didn't sing at the stockholders showcase, and Juliette rather meanly points out that her throat might still be sore from the intubation, but that's what lip syncing is for. Glen doesn't want to push too hard, but Juliette wants to push both Rayna AND sales of her album. And I mean, we never really thought Juliette would be a sympathetic friend, much less a sympathetic frenemy, did we?
Meanwhile, Rayna is sitting alone by her mother's grave, having a little chat. It's been quite a year, she says, and starts talking about what a hard time Maddie is having. She gets it, but doesn't know how to talk to her. Rayna gets teary as she says that she's not really sure who she is at the moment, because she thinks she's lost her voice. And who is she without it? I mean, she's still got the great hair. And that's what lip syncing is for!
We check in with newly rekindled lovebirds Teddy and Peggy, the latter of whom is in the bathroom with "first trimester queasiness" -- e.g., an ovulation test that says in big, bold letters: "NO." So, I'm assuming that first she's going to become a nurse, and then she's going to steal a baby. You have to become a nurse first if Lifetime movies are to be believed. Things are going better for Teddy, who was talking to the head of the congressional exploratory committee. Someone's retiring year, and Teddy may throw his hat in the ring. Dude, I just got a hive thinking about yet another political election plot. Sigh. Teddy's poll numbers are apparently up and he's gotten the city back on track fiscally (despite -- or maybe because of his -- not having gone into the office for the past eight months), and he thinks he may be able to bring dignity back to the Conrad name after his awful senator father trashed it. OH NO, and then Teddy gives Peggy a ring that belonged to his mother. She asks if he's doing this a) to avoid a scandal; or b) so they can be together as a family. The answer is actually, c) because he's an idiot. And that's cool with her! She takes the ring and he asks her to keep it between them at least until he can tell the girls. I'm sure she'll be great at doing that totally reasonable and sensible but non-attention-getting thing.
All of Edgehill's young guns are at a photo shoot, and Will is gamely hamming it up for the cameras. When he's done, Brent tells him that the song he did at the stockholders' showcase -- that would be Gunnar's song, if you'll recall -- is a hit waiting to happen and Jeff wants him to get into the studio and record it ASAP. Will notes that he has to get Gunnar's okay. Jeff tells him to do it, and Will looks juuuuuust a little nervous. Layla also is a photo shoot pro, and the photographer tells her that she reminds him of a young Juliette Barnes. Scarlett watches from the sidelines looking sad and scared until it's her turn. When she gets in front of the camera with her new big hair things don't go so well, and then a stylist comes over to "perk the twins up." Scarlett is even more thrown off by the fact that a lady just hoisted her boobs, and gets very confused when the photographer tells her to be hot and sensuous and sexy. Maybe they should try photographing her to a turnip truck? Layla watches with interest, and the frustrated photographer asks Scarlett if she could just try to have fun with this. Shouldn't Rayna be involved here, telling people to let Scarlett be her Little House on the Prairie self?
Teddy then pays a visit to the hot court-appointed attorney who got him out of jail. He apologizes for being rude and self-flagellating in the face of all of her efforts. He's also delivering a check, which got sent back in the mail. She doesn't accept payment for her court-appointed cases, but Deacon appreciates that she didn't give up on him and wants her to be fairly compensated. She goes, "Okay fine, dinner." It's like the self-hatred and misery is a special type of pheromone that makes ladies fall all over themselves. Okay, fine, in Deacon's case it works on me too. (Though, I think that Liam has some sort of blocking effect, like a superpower). In any case, Deacon agrees, and she makes the stipulation that it be a nice dinner since she's a "big fancy lawyer." She's being cute with him, but also is probably legitimately afraid that he'll take her to get a meat and three.
Tandy then has a covert meeting in some sort of park with a private investigator that she's hired to look into Lamar's past. It took some digging, but the investigator has the original police report from Virginia's death. In the moments prior to Virginia's crash, a witness saw her car being followed by a Cadillac. Do NOT tell me that Lamar was stupid enough to follow her in his own car. Sigh. Tandy says that Lamar did have a Cadillac, but was in Louisville that night. OR WAS HE? Actually, yes he was, BUT he checked into a hotel four hours after Virginia was killed, and Louisville is a three-hour drive from Nashville. That's not proof, but an interview given by one of the Wyatt housekeepers placed Lamar in Nashville that night. She had heard Lamar and Virginia fighting, and Virginia saying that she was leaving him. The housekeeper later recanted and died shortly thereafter. So did the investigation. So, probably he murdered a second lady, too. Tandy wonders if the police ever questioned her father, and the investigator says that Lamar Wyatt wasn't ever the sort of man to be questioned. Tandy tears up, since she was hoping that the US Attorney was bluffing. And really, they couldn't have just axed Powers Booth during the heart attack last season?
In other problems, Rayna goes to Juliette's door late at night, saying she really wanted to talk in person. Juliette offers to have Rayna close their first concert, but Rayna cuts her short, saying that she has to cancel the tour. With everything that's happened, she needs to stay at home a little while. Juliette is shocked, and Rayna says that the insurance will cover it. But Juliette notes that insurance money won't help her chart. She doesn't have a near-death experience to help boost record sales, and yells that she needs this. Rayna yells back that she needs to be at home with her family. She tells Juliette that she's a smart girl and can figure it out, and Juliette in turn pounds her fists and yells that this sucks. Indeed!
Oh no, and then we're with Zoey, who is singing "Wayfaring Stranger" alone in church. Maybe it's me, but I just thought to myself that the last thing we need on this show is another singer. More tone deaf characters, I vote! Scarlett walks in and hears her, saying that it's beautiful and reminds her of being back in Zoey's daddy's church. She misses singing with Zoey back at home, saying that now singing seems like work. Zoey is basically like, "You got a record contract. Shut the eff up." Co-signed. Scarlett is grateful for her fabulous new career, but isn't feeling the weird things she's being made to do, like having a photo shoot where other ladies touch her boobs. She feels like she's letting Rayna down by not being able to have fun when people tell her to. Zoey points out that if she isn't having fun on a big glamorous photo shoot, she's doing something wrong. They need to fix that, says Zoey, with a scheming look in her eye.
Then we're at the Bluebird, where Gunnar is setting up. Will stops by, noting that Gunnar has been making himself scarce around the house. This is of course because Will performed Gunnar's song WITHOUT permission at the stockholders' showcase. Will knows it was wrong and pretends to care. But really, he is only quasi-apologizing because the folks at Edgehill want him to cut it and make it his first single. While this conversation happens, Avery is skulking about and listening with interest. Gunnar seems reluctant, saying that a hit single would be a big deal…for Will. Will points out that it's a big deal for him too, since he'll make major bank. And he makes a good point -- a hit song would be a huge deal for Gunnar as a writer. Gunnar says he'll think about it, but still looks pissed. And then he finally sees Avery and asks what he's doing there. It turns out Avery is the new bar back at the Bluebird. So now if you're Gunnar, it sucks to be at home AND it sucks to be at work. And if you're Avery it sucks to see how people react to your presence anywhere you go.
We cut to the symphony gala, where Maddie complains that her dress itches and that there are only old people in attendance. I mean, she's got a point there. Rayna looks amazing in a blue printed strapless dress that gives a different meaning to the term "m'girls." Maddie and Daphne rush over to hug Lamar, while Rayna compliments him on how fabulous the event is. Tandy lays the ground for lots of guilt-laden digs by saying it seems that Lamar loves the symphony even more than Virginia did. Lamar heads off to work the room as Rayna begins to regret bringing Maddie, who can't even appreciate caviar passed on a tray. Tandy then spots Teddy, who is talking with Peggy. She wonders if Rayna knew that Teddy was coming, and Rayna says it bothers her less that Teddy is there than…someone else. Yes, Peggy ruins everything. Again. Always.
Meanwhile, Juliette is at the rehearsal space complaining to Glen about the nightmare that is the Rayna-free Red Lips White Lies tour. She hands him a new set list composed of all the songs from her new album. Glen tells her that she has to open up to her tween stuff and promote the tour accordingly, and she says she'll throw a couple in the middle and maybe one for the encore. But she doesn't want the show to be filled with fluff -- she's looking for artistry. This is a problem, says Glen, because her rapidly deteriorating fan base really LIKES sparkle and flash. The plan that she has only works for theaters and smaller venues, not arenas. Juliette says that she ONLY plays arenas, but Glen tells her that she can't sell them out unless she caters to the young fans that got her there in the first place. Juliette would rather sacrifice her dignity than an arena stage, and asks how soon they can get the old material up and running.
Back at the Symphony Gala, Lamar makes an address where he's talking about how he and Virginia used to listen to symphony sonatas. Maybe she was even listening to one in the car when he cut her brakes or whatever! He dedicates the evening to Virginia, saying that he loves and misses her. Tandy looks like she might smash her champagne glass over his head.
Meanwhile, Deacon is having dinner with the lady lawyer, whose name I don't think we ever learn. He's having difficulty cutting his steak with his busted hand, and says that though the doctor gave him pills for the pain it doesn't seem to help with his meat cutting skills. WAIT. Pills for the pain? Is that, like, the double strength Advil that you get sometimes? Or is Deacon now getting wacky on the junk? Is that why he's so mellow? And isn't he supposed to be 12-step celibate? Gah. Anyway, lady lawyer wonders if he was provided with adequate medical care while he was in custody, given that his bail amount indicated he was being targeted unfairly. You know, with Teddy being the mayor and all. Deacon says it's all ancient history, but lady lawyer notes he might have a case for a civil suit against the city. Lady lawyer doesn't get why someone would not be litigious, while Deacon wonders why a beautiful and successful lady lawyer would put herself out for the likes of him. She says it's a long story. Ugh, do we really have to hear it?
At the Symphony Gala, Lamar wants to take a family picture in front of Virginia's portrait. Tandy seems like she might tear her own hair out at any minute, while Maddie brats and storms off to find Teddy. Rayna asks if she can hang in there for a little while longer, and Maddie tells her that the party's not fun, and she doesn't feel like a princess, and nothing is the way that Rayna says it will be. Just then Teddy pops over, followed quickly by Peggy. Peggy is a gross psycho, per usual, and Maddie wastes little time in spotting Teddy's mother's ring hanging on Peggy's neck. Peggy looks at Teddy, while Rayna looks like she wants to kill them both. That is an appropriate reaction. Maddie wonders why Teddy is marrying Peggy when he doesn't even like her anymore, which is a question we can all get behind. Teddy wants Maddie to settle down, and Rayna balks that she need not settle down given how upsetting it is to have a baby-stealing psychopath as your future stepmother. Now Maddie hates both of them and storms off. Rayna wonders WTF Teddy was thinking, and he spills that Peggy is pregnant and he's trying to do right by her. Rayna looks at him open-mouthed and says, "Unbelievable." Then she stomps off too. Though things are bad for Teddy right now, they're going to get worse in ten months when he realizes his nurse wife is, in fact, a baby snatcher.
Meanwhile, lady lawyer is telling Deacon about back in the day her husband of two years was shot and killed by a teenager who was then sentenced to life in prison. Lady lawyer visits the killer periodically, because eventually she realized that hating him wasn't going to bring back her husband. She chose life, just like Wham told her to do. And to stop the hatred she had to get to know this kid to forgive him. And they only had a conjugal visit once. So now lady lawyer takes court-appointed cases when she can, to save the children or something. I don't know. Deacon calls her the world's best person ever, and she says she has shortcomings. And then Deacon grossly says that he'll show his if she shows hers, before noting that she's already seen his. All this talk makes them want to go back to his place and…talk about their troubles.
Scarlett and Zoey watch a movie and reminisce about old times, like when they snuck out to see some kid's boat and he tried to kiss Zoey and she freaked. Zoey says that after high school she slept with him, and Scarlett looks shocked. Furthermore, Zoey has slept with OTHER guys too! WHOA. Scarlett wonders why Zoey kept all this from her, and it turns out that Zoey thought Scarlett had an image of her like she was some pure preacher's daughter. But surprise, she's a slut! And way more fun than Scarlett. Thus, she isn't so into hanging around and watching movies. Instead they're going to…go to karaoke! Wild.
At the Symphony Gala, Tandy really starts to twist the dead mother knife into Lamar's side, saying it's hard to believe that Virginia's been gone thirty years, and also wasn't he away on business on the night she died? And does he remember Virginia's last words to him? He says it was something like "pass the salt," and also this evening is about remembering Virginia's life and not her death. OR IS IT?
We cut back to Juliette rehearsing "I'm a Girl" with her dance crew and looking quite unhappy despite the fact that this song is awesome. She stops them and tells Glen that she can't go back to this. It feels wrong, and she's moved past stupid overproduced numbers. Furthermore, she was never a damn tween, coming from the womb of Meth Mom and all. This is her chance to move forward, and that's what she's going to do. And also she's not going to play to half an arena. She tells Glen to figure something else out. Meanwhile, what's so bad about playing a theater?
Then there's panic at the Symphony Gala! Just as Tandy is about to confess Lamar's role in Virginia's death, Rayna can't find the girls. Daphne comes running down the stairs to tell her that Maddie's run away. Oh noes! So, everyone is in a tizzy and they've called everywhere and also Teddy has all of the Nashville PD on the case. Lamar of course blames Teddy and Peggy, but Rayna cares less about whose fault it is than about finding Maddie. Eh, she's been such a pain in the ass I'd maybe wait a few days before searching in earnest.
Back at Juliette's place, Glen's got some good news. Edgehill just signed Luke Wheeler, huge country superstar, who's about to launch a tour. Juliette is thrilled, saying that she'll definitely co-headline with Luke. Glen is all HAHA, because Luke's the biggest act in country music now and doesn't co-headline. But Juliette is NOT feeling taking an opening gig, and she's NOT feeling accepting cut downs, and she's NOT feeling cancelling the tour until they can come up with something better. Her phone rings and she takes the call, looking concerned and saying that she'll be there soon.
Meanwhile, Gunnar is playing his new potential hit song at the empty Bluebird. Or at least he thinks it's empty, but it turns out that Avery is skulking around yet again. Maybe for his career move he should try being a burglar. Avery confirms that the song Gunnar's playing is the song Will wants to record, then says it's damn good. He suggests adding steel or piano to it, then apologizes for giving unsolicited recording tips…especially if Gunnar is giving away the song. Gunnar asks if Avery really thinks it could be big. Avery says that, "Yes indeedy, it's going to be big for somebody"…it's just a matter of whom. Whoa, look at Avery doing Gunnar a good turn! Do not tell me that these two are going to form a band together.
Back at Deacon's place, where he and lady lawyer are flirting on the couch about all their worst traits. She's like, "I work all the time!" He's like, "I proposed to the love of my life then didn't even remember that happened and also smashed all my record albums in rage RAWR!" And then they kiss. Just as they are about to kiss again, there's a knock on the door. It's surprising, since it's midnight. And it's even more surprising since it's Rayna at the door, in her ball gown. She wonders if Maddie's there, and says that she's been calling. Deacon of course had his phone off because he wanted to grossly flirt uninterrupted. Rayna walks in and sees lady lawyer, then apologizes before saying that Maddie has been playing Deacon's album nonstop. Lady lawyer offers to leave, but Rayna tells her she should stay, and then explains the situation to Deacon. He's ready to grab his keys and help in the search, but Rayna asks him to stay at his place since Maddie really might come there. She asks him to be in touch if Maddie shows up, and then heads off. Meanwhile, this encounter was so hasty that he didn't even have time to notice her bangin' figure and super shiny hair. Sigh.
We then cut to Maddie, looking scared at a gas station. Juliette pulls up and Maddie starts crying, saying she was walking and walking and then didn't know where she was. Juliette hugs her, telling her it's okay.
Meanwhile, Scarlett and Zoey are at a bar, and Scarlett is taken aback that a dude is trying to take a picture of her with his cell phone. It turns out he's a fan who saw her perform at the Opy, and also would like her autograph. She obliges, looking rather confused in the process, and then does a shot with Zoey. And then the two take the stage and sing "Come See About Me" karaoke. And then everyone dances and I'm surprised that Scarlett isn't offered another record deal and/or MacArthur Genius Grant on the spot.
Juliette has taken Maddie back to her place, where Maddie looks at all of the platinum albums on her wall. She spots "Gonna Get Even" and says that her friends were all obsessed with Layla Grant's cover, but she still likes Juliette's best. Juliette notes that Rayna's probably worried, but Maddie can't deal with her family right now. She just wants to be grown up and on her own -- writing songs all day and playing the Bluebird at night. Having a job to make ends meet isn't part of the equation, I guess, given the trust fund she's inherited from the rich parents she hates. Maddie says that nothing would matter but the music, and Juliette gets a dreamy look in her eyes and says that that sounds like somebody else she knows. She of course means herself, but Maddie goes, "Deacon? Yeah." Then she goes on about how she wants to know more about Deacon, but only the true parts. She doesn't think that Rayna cares about her feelings, but Juliette assures Maddie that she does, and in fact quit the tour to be there for her kids. The girls mean more to Rayna than money or fans or incurring Juliette's wrath. And Juliette thinks that Rayna is probably going crazy wondering where Maddie is. Maddie asks if Juliette's going to call her, and Juliette just says, "…Yes." See, she's responsible when it counts, sometimes.
Lady lawyer has, meanwhile, deduced that Maddie is Deacon's daughter and also the reason why he fell off the wagon. He's waiting for things to get back to normal, which gives lady lawyer an opportunity to talk about her dead husband some more. YAWN. Deacon doesn't know the first thing about being a father, but lady lawyer tells him that he'll figure it out. Great advice, o' wise one.
We're back at Juliette's, where Rayna has just arrived. Maddie is asleep on the couch, and Juliette explains to Rayna what happened. She says that she understands why Rayna needs to be at home with her family. Rayna apologizes for getting Juliette involved, but Juliette doesn't mind given that she said Maddie could call her anytime. But she thinks that Maddie really wants to talk to Rayna about her father. She clarifies that she means Deacon, even though who would ever want to talk about Teddy? Juliette promises Rayna that her paternity secret is safe, and Rayna says that the situation has been hard on Maddie. This isn't what Rayna wanted or planned, and Juliette tells her that it's not about what she wants anymore. You've just gotta do what you gotta do. Both of the women are sorry about the tour situation, but Juliette says that she'll figure something out -- she always does.
It's a new day at the Jaymes mansion, where Rayna is sitting at the kitchen table with a much happier Maddie and talking about how Deacon wrote "A Life That's Good" on a napkin at the Bluebird, where Rayna was singing on open mic night. Deacon came in and said he was inspired to write it just by looking at her, and it took Rayna all of ten minutes to fall in love with him. Maddie smiles, because there's nothing like being the daughter of a great romance. They both agree that "A Life That's Good" is a great song. And then Rayna says that this is all a big change for both of them, but she's Maddie's mama and is there for her, and wants them to be able to talk about all this. She wants them to move toward each other and not away, since "we're all we've got." What about poor Daphne? Speaking of, Daphne yells from upstairs and Rayna runs up, leaving her phone in the kitchen. A call comes in. Maddie sees that it's from Deacon and answers it. He of course is checking in to see how Maddie's doing, and she says she's grounded but other than that is fundamentally ok. He tells her that Rayna was worried sick, as were a lot of people. He asks her not to run off like that again, and she agrees. And then he awkwardly but sweetly tells her to be safe, and they get off the phone. After she's hung up, Maddie says, "…Dad."
Then we're with Tandy, who is talking about how when you're a kid you think your parents can do no wrong. And then you grow up and see the flaws. LIKE MURDER. Deep down you want to believe that there's a good person there. But in Lamar's case, there's not. She holds up a flash drive with evidence of kickbacks, payoffs and illegal contributions. It turns out she's talking to the US District Attorney, and changed her mind about cooperating because, you know, mother murder.
Gunnar returns home to find Will working on an arrangement for the infamous song in question. Both of them want to do the song justice, and in Gunnar's case this means that he's not going to let Will cut it. Will can have any other song of Gunnar's he wants, though. As it happens, Will doesn't want another song. He wants THIS ONE, which is THE HIT. And so does Gunnar. And since he's the writer, he gets first dibs. Gunnar says that he's a songwriter, but he's a performer too. He may not get as far as Will, but he sure can try. Will is pissed, saying that Jeff is going to have his nuts in a vise. And…that kind of sounds like something that Will might enjoy, right? And then hate himself for it? He thinks that Gunnar is being shortsighted, but Gunnar thinks that Will should have asked before promising something that he couldn't deliver, and then Will thinks that Gunnar is jealous, which he totally is.
And then we're back at Juliette's, where she has weighed her sucky options and chosen the one that makes the most business sense. Her doorbell rings and it's Layla Grant. Juliette has summoned her there to ask if Layla would like to be her opener on the Red Lips White Lies tour. Layla will appeal to Juliette's old fan base (given that she is quite literally singing Juliette's sloppy seconds), so Juliette can move on with her new material. Layla gets very serious as she says she wants Juliette to know how much this means to her. And then Juliette shuts the door in her face. Layla delivers a little satisfied look of a yet to be determined nature. Glen says that Layla reminds him of a young Juliette, and Juliette tells him to shut it and also send the car back to Charles Wentworth since Juliette Barnes can pay for her own damn cars. Glen is proud of her, and I think happy to be back in this job.
We cut to Maddie, strumming her guitar in her room. Daphne barges in and asks why Maddie would run away and leave her. Maddie points out that Teddy is getting re-married, and probably starting a whole new family that she won't be a part of. And trust me, you're better off that way, kid. Daphne stands with arms crossed and says, "You're still my sister." Maddie agrees, and then invites Daphne to sing "A Life That's Good" with her. Oh man, and every time these two sing I get the chills and start to cry at once. NOT FAIR, SHOW! (Meanwhile: watch this and die). Rayna sneaks up and listens outside the door, and has tears in her eyes too. She starts to sing along, and then brings her perfectly manicured hand up to her throat, looking troubled. Oh my God will she just get back together with Deacon and then they can heal their busted musical parts together and also have the cutest nuclear family of all time as long as he never gets drunk and rage-y and destructive again? Gah, feelings! I need another Liam episode to snap me out of it!
week: It's all about Rayna's voice! Will she sing? CAN she sing? Will she maybe even sound a little better than she did last season? All will be revealed!
Potes just released her own country-ish album, and did not steal any songs from Gunnar. You can listen/download/buy at traciepotochnik.bandcamp.com.