Shut Up and Sing

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So aside from the fact that her assistant Emily is back, Juliette is having a bad week. Not only is she feeling weird around Avery after her 2:00 a.m. visit, but everywhere she goes there are crowds of people with signs saying, "Whore!" who chant, "No respect for Juliette!" When one protestor yells that she'll end up in hell just like her junkie mom, she tells him that there's no God… who would engage with a crackpot like him. As you probably guessed, video of Juliette saying, "There is no God," shows up on the internet. In my hometown of Pittsburgh, someone goes so far as to throw black paint on her, and she finally gets desperate enough to ask Layla to confirm to the media what she really said. Layla does it, with the understanding that Juliette now owes her one.

Meanwhile, Peggy is dead and Teddy's quite shaken up about it. The guy who shot her (who was aiming for Teddy) is also dead, and apparently was "bitter" about his "unemployment" and "blamed Teddy." (Lamar had to be behind this, right?) Teddy worries that there's a continued threat, and also maybe is going a little crazy.

Rayna has officially split from Edgehill, and while a team of folks starts getting things set up for Highway 65, the topic of market research arises. Bucky wants to do it, but Rayna isn't so enthusiastic. She finally does read the folder that Jeff gave her last episode, which says that there's no single on the album. Liam shows up (woo!) and wants to bone (woo!), but Rayna tells him that she's kind of dating Luke Wheeler (boo!). That Rayna doesn't recognize the fact that Luke Wheeler blew her off in time to bone Liam during one of his rare guest appearances is one of the great tragedies of this show. In any case, Liam wants to throw market research out the window (or over the couch, as the case may be) and go with their gut to release "Better Days" as a single. But Rayna points out that, having risked everything she has including her house, if the new album flops her children will be homeless and stuff. He finally relents, and Bucky tells her to write the single and try to recapture some magic from the old Rayna and Deacon days.

And… quelle coincidence! Deacon meets with the A&R guy who is interested in signing him as a solo artist, and the guy says that his new songs are solid, but skim the surface. He wants Deacon to try to write some new songs that recapture the magic from the old Rayna and Deacon days. Deacon sits at his piano and basically plunks out, "All work and no play makes Deacon a dull boy," until Megan comes home. She tries to be nice to him, but he gets all snippy with her and sends her away and THEN sits outside of a drive-through liquor store for a while. Finally Deacon realizes his problem: he's happy. He's always written songs from pain, chaos, and heartache. Well, except for "A Life That's Good," I guess. I totally thought he was going to break up with Megan to get his writing groove back, but instead he sits her down and says that he has to get used to it. I guess he's finally realized that being happy is a good thing. And then, during a guitar lesson, Deacon and Maddie write a song together. They play it for Rayna and Daphne, and it's totally beautiful and also feelings are happening everywhere.

Meanwhile, Will is MIA. Brent visits Gunnar to ask if he's seen him, which prompts Gunnar to look at the search history on Will's computer and track him down to some woodsy hiking spot. Will is camping and tortured because A) he thinks he's disgusting; B) he wasn't able to kill himself as planned. Gunnar calls him a stupid son of a bitch for pulling this crap, and also reminds him that it's the 21st century. Not for popular country music singers, apparently! Gunnar is a good friend, and eventually Will picks himself up and flies to Pittsburgh to rejoin the Luke Wheeler tour. Once there he is ambivalent to Layla and very mean to Brent.

Scarlett and Gunnar get big news when they learn that Kelly Clarkson wants to record "Fade Into You." They meet with her, and play a song that's all about missing somebody a whole bunch and gaze at each other longingly throughout. Kelly loves it, and asks if they'd write some new material with her in mind. Scarlett declines, saying that she and Gunnar have had their differences and can't write together anymore. She rushes out and Gunnar tells Kelly, "It's complicated." Scarlet goes home and vents to Avery, who wonders if she still has feelings for Gunnar. She in turn wonders why Juliette showed up at his place at 2 a.m. And then I guess they break up. When Gunnar vents to Zoey, things go quite differently as she tells him that she loves him, and he reciprocates. Avery, meanwhile, leaves a message for Juliette saying that he's there for her and wants her to call or come by, anytime, day or night. Sadly for him she's too busy watching TV footage of crowds burning her records to listen to his message.

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Previously on Nashville: Peggy got shot, y'all. And it was nowhere near as satisfying as I thought it was going to be. Juliette was deemed responsible for the Charlivia split, and her fans tried -- in vain -- to successfully paint "home wrecker" on a sheet with Peggy's leftover pork blood. She then showed up at Avery's door to profess her love, only to find Scarlett there. Awkward! Scarlett, meanwhile, puffed her cheeks up with rage when she found out that Zoey and Gunnar were dating. Jeff handed Rayna a folder of market research, which she refused to look at before announcing that she was buying herself out of Edgehill. And finally, Will boned Brent and found himself in yet another shame spiral that ended on railroad tracks. Let's hope that some of these folks have a better 2014.

We begin with Juliette singing a rather maudlin song about being haunted by dreams against a blue sky video backdrop. The tone, apparently, is appropriate as we see Peggy being taken away from the grounds of the Music City Music Festival on a stretcher while Rayna and Teddy look on, and then slowly walk away. We then see the whole Jaymes-Conrad family sitting together on the couch in funeral attire, with Maddie and Daphne snuggling with a pained Teddy. I know I am haunted by dreams of Teddy innocently trying to butter his toast and pulling a tub of leftover pork blood from the fridge.

Juliette finishes the song, and is surprised to see Avery looking on with Glen. As it happens, this is the song that Juliette and Avery wrote together, and Glen invited him to watch rehearsal. Avery thinks the song is beautiful, but Juliette makes an excuse to avoid having to talk to him further, which would possibly entail admitting that she did in fact show up at his door in the middle of the night to profess her love.

Rayna and the girls then watch Teddy give a press conference about Peggy's death. The shooter -- who was, of course, targeting Teddy -- was also found dead, apparently by suicide. Maddie wonders if this means that this whole thing is over and nobody is trying to hurt Teddy anymore. Rayna says that is exactly what it means, but WE know that Lamar was probably behind the whole thing. Teddy continues that the shooter blamed Teddy for his chronic unemployment, which makes absolutely no sense. If the guy was a professional assassin, for example, I'd say he simply needed more skill development. Teddy tears up as he says that because of this man's delusion, the woman that he loved is gone. I thought he kind of hated Peggy? I guess he was coming around at the end. Rayna tells the girls that they can see Teddy soon, and that he's said that the only thing that helps him is having them around (preferably without Deacon in tow, one can assume.)

Then we're back to Avery, who's waited around to talk to Juliette, much to her chagrin. He says that he's left her several messages, and she tells him that she's been swamped. And then Juliette gets saved in the form of assistant Emily, who's back on the job. Her aunt is now alright, so Emily has had time to catch up on the latest in the life of Juliette Barnes: the new head of Edgehill is an ass, Juliette has a 19-year-old twit opening up for her, and everybody thinks she broke up the world's most beloved couple.

Speaking of the twit, she's at a radio station interview with Brent, and they're both wondering where Will is. Layla acknowledges that the last time she talked to Will was at the festival, and Brent asks if she has talked to Gunnar (who is Will's roommate) at all. Layla says that though she and Will are dating, she doesn't really know him that well. Brent gets a faraway look, and Layla heads in to do the interview solo.

Then we're with Deacon and the A&R guy who approached him at the festival. He says that Deacon's new material is solid, which Deacon notes is one step above interesting and two steps below liking it. The guy says that it's all about fit. Deacon is FREAKIN' DEACON CLAYBOURNE and has a story. The songs merely skim the surface. They still can't be as terrible as Luke Wheeler songs, though, which are huge hits. The A&R guy wants Deacon to tap into the magic he had when he wrote with Rayna. HMMM, I WONDER HOW HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT OH I DON'T KNOW MAYBE BY WRITING WITH RAYNA???? Or maybe he has a dead brother whose songs he can steal? Anyway, the guy's partners will be back in a few days, and Deacon confirms that he can dig deep and come up with some gold by them.

Zoey and Gunnar then get a visit from Brent, and Gunnar wants to know if Brent has come for another one of his songs. In fact, Brent is looking for Will. Scarlett's tour is on a break, and nobody's seen him since the festival. Gunnar and Zoey haven't seen him, and Gunnar says that they don't cross paths much anymore and he has no info. Brent says that he's probably overreacting, but that if they hear from Will that he should return Brent's calls. And if he doesn't show up when the tour starts up again in two days, he'll be dropped. (Or, worst case scenario, peeled like Wile E. Coyote from the train tracks.)

Avery returns home to find Scarlett in his apartment, complete in her poufy skirt. He tells her about sitting in for Juliette's rehearsal, and that their co-written song sounds great. Scarlett wonders if that's why Juliette came by at 2 a.m. the other week. Avery says he guesses, but also who knows why stars do what they do. Scarlett points out that she could have called. I point out that Scarlett could have asked him about this, like, when it happened. This line of interrogation is interrupted by a call from Scarlett's publisher. As it happens, Kelly Clarkson wants to record, "Fade Into You," and meet up really soon with Scarlett…and Gunnar. For now, Scarlett is thrilled and jumping up and down, but don't you worry, she will soon go back to her usual stance of ruining everything!

Back at the Jaymes manse, Rayna talks to Tandy on the phone, to remind us that Tandy took the girls home before they could witness Peggy getting shot. Now, Tandy is away at a relaxing spa weekend, and/or in witness protection. Bucky is there, and a group of folks are working at Rayna's dining room table. Apparently the Highway 65 website is almost ready, and news of Rayna's split with Edgehill has made it to Country Junction online. In case you're wondering, the Country Junction logo involves old-timey lettering. Edgehill put out a blurb and spun it like they dropped Rayna, but she says that nobody's going to believe that now that her near-death experience has made her the hottest commodity in country music.

Anyway, Rayna plans on meeting with Liam (YAY!) to sequence the album, and then all they'll have to do is set a release date and figure out which single to use. Then Bucky suggests getting MARKET RESEARCH (!) to help figure out which single has the potential to pop. Rayna tells him that Jeff gave her his market research, which she of course has not read. She'll be damned if she's going to let Highway 65 use the Edgehill model, because if there are two things she hates they are words and numbers. Who needs 'em when you have artistic integrity?

Then we have our first scene of a protest denouncing Juliette as a whore. And I mean, this all seems a little much, but then you remember how everyone lost their freaking flag-flying minds over The Dixie Chicks. If I were Juliette, however, I would have a difficult time taking seriously a group who couldn't come up with a better slogan than, "No respect 4 Juliette." She seems in agreement with my assessment, as she tells Emily that they're just exercising their first amendment right. She will do the same by flipping them the bird out of her car window. We hear someone yell, "Burn in hell!" and then the credits roll.

After a break, Gunnar and Zoey go into Will's room and find his cowboy hat on the bed. Gunnar says this means he wasn't thinking straight when he left, since everybody knows leaving a hat on the bed is bad luck. Maybe that's Juliette's problem, too? She does have a habit of wearing kicky fedoras from time to time. Zoey heads to Will's laptop, thinking his search history might give some clues. Gunnar grabs it from her with haste, saying there might be some "guy stuff" (and how!) on it that might scar poor girl-code-breaking Zoey's retinas. They find that Will has been researching Echo Ridge trail in the Smokey Mountains, and Zoey wonders what there is to do in Echo Ridge at this time of year. What time of year is it, exactly? Zoey's short shorts and tank top make it hard to surmise.

With a scarf wrapped like a giant halo around his neck, Liam enters, looking hot as ever. He meets Rayna in some giant warehouse/garage type space, which I guess is the new home of Highway 65? There's a tour bus there and a couch, in any case. Liam was supposed to meet Rayna at the studio but couldn't wait, given that the news of her Edgehill buyout has made him excessively horny. Rayna giggles as Liam tries to kiss her neck, but then pulls away saying, "I'm kind of seeing somebody." And…girl, we need to talk. First of all, if memory serves, the last time we (or you) saw Luke Wheeler, he heard about the buyout and I think actually literally said, "See you around." His tour is on a break now. Has he CALLED? Second, Liam is in, like, one episode every three months. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SITUATION!!! Horrors. This scene is horrors. But I must summon up the strength to continue to describe it to you, so here goes.

When Rayna tells Liam that she's seeing Luke Wheeler he misses exactly no beats (because he's ALSO a great producer) before saying, "No wonder you looked so miserable when I walked in." Rayna is not surprised that Liam doesn't like Luke, because nobody REALLY likes Luke. Furthermore, she looked miserable because she was finally looking at Jeff's market research. (FYI, "market research" is definitely the new "Cumberland deal.") Liam tells her to burn it, but Rayna insists on telling him that it says "Better Days" is not the single to launch the new album. Liam takes the folder, throws it over the back of the couch, and then they bone. NO, that was just a dream I had. Rather, he tells her that "Better Days" IS the single, she's the artist, and she shouldn't second guess herself. "Trust the vision", he says. Unfortunately, that vision has nothing to do with the two of them making out.

Then we're with Deacon, alone in his house and seemingly plunking out the notes to, "All work and no play makes Deacon a dull boy" on his piano. It would appear that he has writer's block. When Maddie takes up with Scatman Crothers, we will none of us be surprised. Megan comes straight in from Dayton and gets an enthusiastic greeting. She gives him a blank book of sheet music, because she thinks he's a classical composer. Deacon says he would have preferred a snow globe, and I think he's actually being serious. He missed the hell out of Megan and she missed the hell out of him, but she doesn't want to be a distraction by boning him straight out of the gate. Instead, she will just drive him nuts by offering legitimately helpful things later in the episode.

Maddie and Daphne then come upon Teddy, looking longingly at Peggy's wedding dress. They tell him that he doesn't have to hide how sad he is around them, and offer up a big hug. Teddy says he's not nearly as sad when they're with him, and learns that they're planning on cooking him mac and cheese and hot dogs for dinner. As Daphne bounds off to start cooking, Maddie says to Teddy, "She was nice." She actually wasn't, but good try, kid.

Gunnar then drives up to Echo Ridge, where he spots Will's motorcycle. We quickly transition to Juliette, who has arrived in Pittsburgh (woo!) only to find the same crazy protestors waiting for her. Layla is there already, giving an autograph to someone who thinks Juliette is a home wrecking whore. Well played, Miss Grant. Juliette grabs her and starts giving her the business when an older protestor dude calls her a sinner, and asks what she's teaching their children with her evil ways. She seems committed to ignoring it until the guy asks if this is what her mother taught her, adding, "You know she's in hell, just like you'll be, because God punishes the wicked, and you're just as wicked as your junkie whore mother." Are these people supposed to be Westboro Baptist Church fruitcakes or just run-of-the-mill fruitcakes? In any case, this bit about her mom sets Juliette off and she rushes up to the man and says, while being recorded by someone's phone, "There is no God…that would listen to a crackpot like you." And you just knew those ellipses were going to be problematic. Glen pulls her away and wonders why she would engage with these weirdos, who continue to chant, "No respect for Juliette!" as she walks off.

Meanwhile, after a frustrating search of the mountain, Gunnar has found Will, who's parked to a little tent and crying. Gunnar yells, wondering what the hell he's doing, and reminding Will that when people disappear in his life they tend to end up in the morgue. When Gunnar sees Will's face, he subdues himself a bit and asks if he's all right. Will, as it happens, is NOT all right. He says that he's disgusting and runs off, telling Gunnar to leave him alone. So, that went about as well as could be expected.

Scarlett then knocks on the door of Gunnar's apartment. He is, of course, off at Echo Ridge, and so Zoey answers the door. Awkward! Scarlett would like Zoey to ask Gunnar to return her calls. She would NOT like to come in and chat, as Zoey proposes. Now that Scarlett's weave is nominally less scraggly, the force of her righteous indignation is even more acute. Zoey is over it, though, and tells Scarlett that she's done feeling guilty. She's apologized profusely, but says that she fell for Gunnar for the same reasons Scarlett did, and doesn't know what else to do if Scarlett doesn't understand that. In response, Scarlett just walks away. Also, bad tactical move to remind Scarlett that there were reasons that she fell for Gunnar in the first place.

Juliette and Emily hang out with champagne, and Emily gets a Google alert for Juliette Barnes press. As expected, it's an article accompanied by a video of Juliette saying, "There is no God." Emily can't believe that someone could put this fabricated footage together and have it look so real. Juliette is forced to acknowledge that it is real; it's just out of context. Emily says it's just one gossip site, and maybe they can get it pulled down before anyone takes it seriously. Not likely!

Then we're with Rayna and Bucky, who are auditioning a band called the Cadillac Three, a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band who fell into a Louisiana trailer park swamp sometime in the 1970s and remained perfectly preserved until archaeologists dug them out in 2013. Anyway, nice ad for The Cadillac Three, Big Machine Records (which is also the label that releases the music from this show.) Rayna thinks that the Cadillac Three are amazing, and could see them on Highway 65. Bucky has other good news: Rayna's duet with Luke is at No. 6 on iTunes and still climbing. I'm sure her phone is burning up in anticipation of that celebratory call from Luke. Bucky asks if "Better Days" is still going to be the single from the new album, and Rayna is forced to admit that she looked at the market research, which said that there's NO single on the record. Liam of course is pro-artistry and anti-market research. But now that Rayna has her own label, she says, she's got to think about what sells.

Back at Echo Ridge, Gunnar has waited for will to return to his campsite. He's also guessing that Will's self-imposed exile has something to do with Brent. Will remains silent, and Gunnar says he knows how he's feeling. Will, in fact, is feeling like he wants to die. He says that he stood on the train tracks and watched the train coming at him, which reminds me of that song that goes, "A peanut sat on the railroad track, his heart was all aflutter. Along came the choo-choo train…toot toot! Peanut butter." But Will is not peanut butter! He's alive, because even though the train light looked like relief to him, and he hates "living this" and "being this," he couldn't do it. Gunnar pushes him on the ground and calls him a stupid son of a bitch. The time Will can't take it anymore, instead of trying to off himself he might try reaching out to Gunnar, who IS his friend even though he hasn't been acting like it lately. Gunnar makes Will look him in the eye and promise that he'll call him if such a situation arises again. Will promises, and says, "It's not what I hoped." Gunnar, now wise beyond his years, asks, "Is it ever?" As evidence by the chaste scene between Rayna and Liam above, it is not.

Then we're back at Deacon's, where Megan is trying to be nice by bringing him dinner. She does say, "Sustenance for the artiste," which is annoying, but not so bad that Deacon has to be a total dick to her. Which he is. He wants Megan to stop bothering him with her stupid niceness. She says that she gets that he's under a lot of pressure, which he says she doesn't because she's a LAWYER and not an ARTISTE which if you didn't catch it the first time is a word that he HATES. She leaves in a huff, because one of Megan's good qualities is that she's not pathetic.

At Echo Ridge, Gunnar is now telling Will that it's the 21st century and it's okay to…"Be whatever." Well, that's a start, I guess. Will takes a pause and says, "Not if I'm going to keep doing what I do for a living." And, I mean, he has a point. That Bible thumper was telling Juliette she'd go to hell just for having heterosexual sex! Will says that if he hasn't killed himself yet he probably won't, and since that's the case something else has to happen. I hope it doesn't involve praying the gay away. In any case, Will wants some sleep and tells Gunnar to go home. Gunnar in turn walks off, instead of making out with Will like God actually intended.

Meanwhile, Teddy is in his office and telling a detective that he's been going over the evidence of the case to try to understand the shooter's motives. The dude lost his job five years ago, and Teddy has only been mayor for a year. It doesn't make sense, says Teddy. He wonders what he's done to that guy or anyone to justify what happened, and if there isn't something more to it, and/or a continued threat. The detective, who has been very much like, "Stop looking at this shit, please," tells Teddy that they can offer him more security, and Teddy says it's not himself that he's worried about. And if Daphne gets shot before Scarlett does, I swear I am quitting this show.

Back in Pittsburgh (woo!) crazy protestors continue to chant their lack of respect for Juliette. Then some dude runs up and throws a Big Gulp cup full of what appears to be black paint but may just be flat Dr. Pepper at Juliette, and the rest of the loonies cheer wildly. Including two grandma types! Not cool, Pittsburgh grandmas. Juliette looks stunned, because her hat is NOT on her bed but on her head, and still this happened.

So, in case you're wondering if Gunnar just rode off and left Will to wrestle with his own demons in his tent, he didn't. He spent the night in his truck, and now finally has enough of a cell signal to see that three messages from Scarlett are waiting. It is, of course, the good news about Kelly Clarkson. Will sees him, and notes that he looked pretty happy on the phone. When he hears that Kelly Clarkson wants to record one of Gunnar's songs, he gets a smile and says that's what matters -- making it happen. Will throws his stuff in Gunnar's truck before getting on his motorcycle, saying that he'll see him back at the house since he has to pack up and catch a plane to Pittsburgh. What a stunning victory for emotional health. But, hey, at least he's not dead.

Then we're with Deacon, who is sitting in his truck when he takes a call from the A&R guy. There will be a meeting with the label partners in two days, which Deacon says is perfect. It sure doesn't look perfect, though, particularly when the shot pans out and we realize he's sitting in the parking lot of a drive-in liquor store. D'oh!

Emily then checks in on Juliette, who has just finished wiping paint and/or Dr. Pepper off of her face. Juliette is thrown by how much the protesters hated her, but Emily assures her that they are in the minority since millions love her. A call comes in from Avery, which Juliette ignores. Emily laments that they don't have the full footage of Juliette's remarks to the protestor, which prove that she's not a godless home wrecker whore (just a regular home wrecker whore.) Juliette says that she could stand in the middle of the stage and scream the truth, but still nobody would believe her. Emily wonders if they would believe Layla, since she was right there. Eh, I'd try getting some paint-repellent moisturizer before I went down that road.

Rayna visits Teddy at his office, where he asks her to take the girls even though it's his week. He's concerned that the man who tried to kill him may not have acted alone. So, Teddy's kind of losing it, but not undeservedly. How many episodes is it going to take him to connect the dots back to Lamar, though? Anyway, he doesn't want to take a chance with the girls' safety or Rayna's, and think it's best to keep his distance for a while. Rayna agrees, saying that the girls have been through enough this year.

Then Juliette invites Layla over to her suite to ask if she'll tell the media what she really said to the lunatic protestors. She was, after all, standing right there, and Juliette is sure that she heard every word. She just wants Layla to repeat it publicly. Layla balks, and wonders why anyone would believe her. Juliette says that, as far as anyone who DOESN'T know her is concerned, she's pure as the driven snow. Juliette still hasn't learned the lesson of catching more flies with honey. Layla wonders why she'd put her reputation on the line for Layla. Juliette says that it's the truth, and also if this scandal doesn't go away, their tour will. And, says Juliette reluctantly, she'll owe Layla one. Well THAT has a foreboding feel to it.

Then we're with Scarlett and Gunnar, who are singing their song "Lately" for Kelly Clarkson. It's all about, like, missing or needing somebody, or perhaps both. It's very Scarlett-and-Gunnar-esque, and they have some mournful eye sex pretty much throughout the whole thing. Kelly of course loves it, and asks if they have any other new material. Scarlett, who is wearing a dumpy plaid coat over a Little House on the Prairie dress, per her custom, says that they haven't been writing together recently. Kelly wonders if they'd consider writing with her in mind. Gunnar, who seems way more enthused than Scarlett about this whole situation, says that it would be amazing. Scarlett squeaks that it would be an honor, and Kelly talks about their emotional honesty and special connection. She's in need of some songs pretty quickly, and hopes that they'll agree to lock themselves away for a few days and see what happens. And then freaking Scarlett says that she's thrilled that Kelly wants to record their song, but…she thought she could make it work but can't. She continues that she and Gunnar are not in a place where they can write together anymore. I guess when people just offer you publishing deals and tour-opener slots left and right, you can afford to blow off a chance to write for the original Idol. Gunnar tries to save the situation, to no avail, but Scarlett cuts him off to say that they've had their differences, and the songs that Kelly would want wouldn't be the ones she'd get. She rushes off and Kelly looks at Gunnar who says, "It's complicated." Some days I think we're all bound to wind up as a played-out Facebook cliché.

Speaking of complicated, Will arrives in Pittsburgh (woo!) and Layla practically tackles him in the hotel lobby with a huge hug. She was worried sick, and Will apologizes for not leaving her a note. He says he had to get away from everything for a while and she says, "You mean me, don't you." Who doesn't need to get away from Layla for a while? He says that they're fine, but he needs to focus on his music too. He hits the elevator "up" button and asks if she's coming. She looks steely in response.

Then we're back with Liam and Rayna, who wants to talk about "Better Days." She sent it out to some friends, family, and programmers who she trusts. The consensus across the board is that it's a great song, but not an album-launcher. Liam wonders when she started caring so much what other people think, and eschewed her own instinct and gut to play it safe. Rayna is all, "Play it safe? HA!" and explains that she's leveraged her house, stocks, and the actual hair on her head (her most valuable asset of all!) for the label. Liam says this is what you do as an artist, and Rayna notes that's easy to say when you only have yourself to answer to. She's got the girls, who have been through so much, and she would not like them to be homeless in 2014. So for that, Rayna says bullocks to artistic integrity. Liam takes a moment, then tells her she's right, and THEN tells her that she's sexy when she's right. And then they STILL don't bone. Sigh.

Meanwhile, Scarlett is ranting to Avery about how she can't pretend that she can work with Gunnar OR doesn't want to punch his stupid face. Avery is all, "REALLY?" and points out that she broke up with Gunnar, and now they're both seeing other people. He wonders if she still has feelings for him, and instead of answering she asks if he has feelings for Juliette. She saw the way he looked at her, then similes that they're like old slippers -- trying to step back in and pick up where they left off. But, says Scarlett, they're not the same. Avery agrees that they're not. Well, that was an efficient breakup.

Meanwhile, Gunnar is ranting to Zoey about Scarlett tanking a meeting with Kelly Clarkson. He thought that if they could work together again, they could put all this behind them and maybe even be friends. Zoey notes that that's not happening. Gunnar apologizes to her, and she says that she's not sorry. She's not sorry at all, because she loves Gunnar. And then Gunnar takes a long pause, and looks away a little shifty-eyed, and then says that he loves her too. It's sort of hard to care if he does actually love her or not, except that I find the idea of lonely, despondent Scarlett vaguely appealing.

On to more adorable things, Maddie and Deacon have written a song together, and Rayna and Daphne arrive just in time to hear it. Rayna's hair is looking more luminous than ever, because it just curls itself and gets extra shiny when it knows a visit to Deacon's house is impending. They start, and then Rayna looks at Deacon and smiles, and he smiles back, and then Maddie starts singing about her rose-colored glasses disappearing. They look at each other again, and the song is about feeling like your prayers have hit the ceiling, but in this room it's just feelings bouncing around all the walls. We then see Scarlett sadly boarding her tour bus, and for fuck's sake can someone get that girl a roller bag? Then we're back at Deacon's, where Rayna listens with tears in her eyes and gets a big smile. Then we see Teddy, losing his mind in his office and weeping about the loss of his shotgun wife. I'm sorry to tell him that things are MUCH cozier back at Deacon's, where Daphne adds a little part to the song. Then we're with Avery, who is watching footage of "No respect 4 Juliette" protests on TV. He leaves her a message to let her know that he's there for her, and she can call him back or come by anytime day or night. Juliette, who is watching the same footage with tears streaming down her face, ignores his call. As a headshot of Juliette burns, the episode ends.

week: Rascall Flatts wants to write with Gunnar! Zac Brown sings with Scarlett! Rayna and Deacon write together! And then Jeff calls Juliette trailer trash and soon enough she's passed out on her bed. Now who has no respect 4 Juliette?

Potes is an artiste who lives in Providence, Rhode Island. You can listen/download/buy her music at traciepotochnik.bandcamp.com.