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Everything is going just great for Rayna -- she's relieved that Lamar is dead (thanks, Teddy!) and Luke is making her pancakes. What could possibly go wrong? As it turns out, Tandy has become a rather negligent CFO and Highway 65's checks are bouncing all over town. And I mean, it was probably hard for her to keep track of things in witness protection but, like, pull it together girl. Tandy mostly wants to cry about Lamar together, but Rayna tells her to try being competent at her job instead. I am with Rayna on this one. Because of the bounced checks, the much-wanted band Cadillac Three signs with Big Machine instead (which is the label that releases all the music from Nashville… meta!) and Rayna wants to excommunicate herself from her family.
In the middle of all this, Rayna goes to the studio and catches Scarlett and Liam about to bone. Much like me, she is not happy at this development! Rayna gives Scarlett a talking-to, but Scarlett says that Liam "opened up" something in her. I'll say! And then Rayna gives Liam ten kinds of hell for boning Scarlett when she's too fragile to handle it (…metaphorically), and in turn jeopardizing her label. She instructs him to break Scarlett's heart before she gets in any deeper, and then fires him. Even though she's already paid him! So, maybe she has a hand in her own money problems, then. Liam heads off to Tokyo while telling Scarlett, "Thanks for the fun time!" and then she and Rayna are all like, "MEN!" And despite her newfound policy against lying, Rayna is not exactly forthcoming with Scarlett about the fact that she fired Liam and pre-planned this heartbreak. Just WAIT until she finds out that Scarlett is a pillhead. In other Rayna news, Luke knows how to make homemade buttermilk, offers her money to help out the label (which she doesn't take), feels weird boning her in her bedroom with those giant paintings of Maddie and Daphne looking on and assures her that she can trust him (which probably means she can't trust him).
And then there's Juliette. She's being courted by all sorts of major labels -- but none in Nashville, where the remnants of her burned bridges are still smoking. Soon, though, she gets an offer from… Edgehill! Yes, Jeff Fordham is an even worse label-head than Rayna, and has decided he wants her back. He tries to woo her with $10,000 champagne (which she causes to fizz all over his table at a restaurant), her own imprint and a $250,000 producing deal for Avery. Avery -- who is a bit moody due to emasculated feelings at having a sugar mama -- assures her that he doesn't want to ride on her coattails, and also Jeff is an asshole who will never respect her. Still, Juliette signs the contract (minus the deal for Avery). But then she tears it up! She'd rather have Avery's respect than her own imprint. And then -- FINALLY! -- she goes to Rayna and asks to be signed to Highway 65. You can actually see the dollar signs flashing in Rayna's eyes as she favorably contemplates the possibility. In related news, Avery is moody about Gunnar's outsized enthusiasm at their new band and is kind of a dick about it. They almost punch each other (again!) but then play a gig and seem to be having fun. Can someone please give Rayna the tip that the dude who wrote her latest #1 single may in fact be a good get for her label?
And speaking of dudes who would be good for Rayna's label… Deacon is out on the road, staying at fleabag motels, re-injuring his hand and calling Megan to tell her that he loves her. I know! He runs into an old singer friend at an AA meeting, they have coffee and she totally wants to bone him. Deacon is as full of integrity as ever as he tells her that he's got someone back home. He then dials Megan… WHO IS BONING TEDDY IN THE BACK OF A CAR! I know this has been coming for like a month, but I still found it kind of shocking, mostly because I didn't know car sex could be so boring. But let me back up to the events that preceded this. So, Teddy was packing up Peggy's things and found a prescription bottle in one of her purses. He discovered that the medication was for women who have miscarried, and that Peggy got it BEFORE they were married. Sadly, he does not discover the pork blood leftovers in the back of the fridge. And who does he drunk-dial in his misery? Why, Megan of course. Why can't he just get a regular friend? Anyway, now Teddy hates Peggy and feels extra-guilty about his vengeance-act of letting Lamar die. Megan takes him parking on a hill and talks about her dead fiancé some more, and the thing you know they're boning while she ignores Deacon's calls. They are super awkward about it afterwards, and she's got to feel like shit when Deacon comes home, gives her a trucker hat and whisks her off to bed.
And finally, Will's song is most requested on the radio, but Layla isn't so lucky. Her latest single hasn't even charted and Jeff is ready to drop her. Will tries his best to promote her. He also tries his best to have sex with her. Neither effort is particularly successful. And THEN he finds out that he devirginized Layla… a claim of which I am somewhat skeptical, and starts feeling bad about tricking her into being his beard. But really, isn't having your boyfriend come out to you a rite of passage that every girl should experience at some time? Maybe it'll finally give her some songwriting ideas!
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Previously on Nashville: Gunnar, Zoey and Avery maybe kind of formed a band. Lamar's death prompted Rayna to become even more torn up about her lying family. Gunnar told Will to uncomplicate his relationship with Layla. (Meaning, stop letting the girl unwittingly be your beard, fool!) Juliette received accolades from the New York Times, Deacon's Spidey-sense got all tingly when he saw Teddy and Megan together and Scarlett and Liam forged a romantic connection based on pills and loneliness.
It's morning at Rayna's house, and Luke is there making his mama's famous buttermilk pancakes. Since Rayna had no buttermilk, he combined milk and vinegar. Well, isn't he a regular Heloise? Rayna is quite impressed by his culinary skills, but Luke is less impressed with how she's handling her dad's death. Rayna assures him that she's totally fine, and actually relieved that Lamar's not around to cause any more damage. Always sentimental, that one. Luke regrets not being there for her during the whole thing, but she's glad enough that he didn't get to witness all the family drama. Still, like any human being who has a vague sense of how emotions work, Luke feels that Rayna needs some time to process. Nobody is fine after losing a parent, and he says her shoulders prove it. This of course is just an excuse to start giving her a massage. At this moment Bucky walks in (to a sarcastic, "Good timing there, Buck!" from Luke) to tell Rayna that there's been no word from Cadillac Three. Rayna really wants to sign them to Highway 65, but Big Machine (the label that releases the Nashville soundtracks) is in contention as well. As it turns out, there's another issue: the check for Scarlett's studio time bounced. Rayna is puzzled, and Luke notes that she might consider firing whoever's watching her books. That would, of course, be Tandy. Maybe she spent all of Rayna's money on the vending machine at that fleabag motel when she was hiding out from the FBI?
Meanwhile, Juliette is being heavily courted by all sorts of mainstream labels, who are sending her diamonds and fruit baskets and probably indentured servants to get her to sign with them. Glenn comes bearing coffee (see, Juliette doesn't really NEED another indentured servant), and we learn that Juliette's drink of choice is a half-caf soy latte. Fascinating character detail! Juliette wonders if they've heard anything from Big Machine (aside from their relentless promotion in this episode! Drink every time Big Machine is mentioned!), but Glenn says that Nashville labels still won't touch her. This is sad news, since Juliette isn't interested in putting out a big pop album on a major label -- she wants her album to go to the top of the country charts. I thought her whole thing was that she's a pop crossover already? In any case, Glen agrees that the labels that are courting her won't give her the freedom she wants, but notes that their offers are only going to last for a hot minute. She'd better decide how much freedom is worth to her pretty quickly.
We cut to Deacon, who's packing for the road. While he's spending three days in a van with smelly guys, Megan will be in her office writing a legal brief. OH WILL SHE NOW? Um, spoiler. Anyway, Megan asks if Deacon will be okay, noting that there's a lot of temptation on the road. He assures her he won't be boozing it up with groupies. That's history, he says, because he has her. OH DOES HE NOW? Um, sorry.
And then there's Zunvery, who are meeting at their new practice space. A sullen Avery notes that it looks expensive, and Gunnar (who I think has broken into Scarlett's happy pills) first says that it's not bad if you split it three ways, then reconsiders exactly how many ways it will be split when Avery glares at him. Gunnar has a to-do list (including naming themselves -- if Zunvery won't work I'd recommend Little Big Frown or Lady Ante-smell'em), some new songs, and a gig booked for Thursday. A more-sullen-by-the-minute Avery is available, but tells Gunnar to ask them before booking a gig, which is in fact a reasonable request. God, Gunnar is such a tool.
Rayna then heads to Tandy's place, asking if she quit without mentioning it and instructing her to answer her damn phone. It turns out that Highway 65 is bouncing checks all over town, and Rayna is not pleased. Tandy says she thought a royalty check was coming in, and then notes that she didn't think the costs would get out of hand. The video production was way over budget, and there have also been attorney's fees. And… shouldn't Rayna be inheriting some of Lamar's money soon? Since he was released from jail, I would think it would be available again. Anyway, Tandy should be thinking of all these things, but she says that she hasn't exactly been in tip-top shape since Lamar died. Rayna sure has noticed, but says that this isn't about Lamar dying -- it's about Tandy disappearing… again. Her final words are, "Get it together." And I have to say… I'm Team Rayna on this one. Do your job or find someone else to do it! No one has time for incompetence!
Meanwhile, Will is having a party at his place when Layla comes rushing in, freshly back from L.A. She tells him to shut up and turn on the radio -- because he's on it! It turns out that "What If I Was Willing" is the most requested song of the day on whichever station this is, which is cause for great celebration. One of Will's bro-buddies speculates that he might want to celebrate alone with his girl. After a moment of looking like that idea never would have occurred to him organically (because it never would have), Will tells everyone to get out. And then he mauls Layla, because there's nothing that enables Will to pretend he's attracted to girls like his own career success. Hearing himself on the radio turns him straight in six minute intervals, so he's got to move quick.
We then see Deacon wrapping up a set in a bar to much applause. The promoter comes on stage and grabs Deacon's hand, which causes a notable wince. I'm glad the writers remembered that Deacon's hand is busted! The bartender pours Deacon a shot, which he refuses. He does ask for a bucket of ice, though, for the hand. Glamorous life on the road!
And then we cut to Layla and Will in bed, post-coital and looking awkward. Layla says, "Will… that was… uh… fast." Will looks sad and ashamed for a minute, but then changes the subject by asking Layla about her trip to L.A. She tells him that it sucked. As opposed to performing her new single, as she had intended, the American Hitmaker producers just had her wave from the audience with two other former contestants. It seems that they changed their mind about the performance because her new single barely cracked the charts. I guess that means technically she's not a hitmaker. What's worse, she's left Jeff three messages and he won't return her calls.
This might be because Jeff has been busy gift-shopping for Juliette. Yes, believe it: Edgehill wants her back. Juliette thinks that maybe this is an indication that Nashville is getting over itself, and to celebrate Avery wants to take her out to dinner. She asks if he has rehearsal, and he says he'll just tell Gunnar and Zoey that he can't make it. When it comes to an overzealous bandmate or beautiful girlfriend, he says, it's an easy choice.
Cut to Gunnar, furious that Avery has bailed on rehearsal. Avery didn't say why, but Gunnar thinks it might be Juliette tightening the chain. He's mad that he'll be losing money on rehearsal space. When Zoey notes that he said it wasn't too expensive, Gunnar admits that it's not exactly cheap. She proposes that the two of them can go over the stuff, and Avery is a pro so will be fine. Gunnar says that Avery had better not flake, since the booker at Mercy Lounge is doing him a favor by getting them the gig. This is why you check peoples' schedules first! Send them a calendar invite! God!
Oh Lord, and then we're in a dark studio with Liam and Scarlett. He's playing keyboard, and they're sitting together and Scarlett is singing, and they're looking all intimate and schmoopy. Liam stops and says that they're ready to record this one. She replies that she doesn't quite feel like it and they kiss. Like an ice pick to my heart! Gah.
Oh boy and THEN. Teddy is packing up some of Peggy's things, and digs through a series of purses before packing them in a box. In one, he finds a prescription bottle. Let me guess… it's filled with… PORK BLOOD!!!!!!
Oh boy and THEN! Rayna and Luke stop by the studio so she can drop off a check that won't bounce. She says her bookkeeper had a bad day and tells the manager that she appreciates her discretion. The manager says it ain't no thing, then tells Luke and Rayna how great it is that they're dating. Rayna confirms that Liam and Scarlett are in the studio now, and heads off to say hi. And then of course she catches them making out. Their spit-swapping session is interrupted by Rayna standing in the doorway, asking, "How's it going?" like she's Scarlett's mom. Which, let's be honest, she kind of is.
thing you know, Scarlett is at Rayna's house saying that she doesn't see why banging Liam is a bad idea. Rayna is very mom-like as she says her job is to protect Scarlett and her work. From what, asks Scarlett. From anything that prevents her from making a great album, says Rayna. And, I mean, putting my own horror at this coupling aside, you could argue that they are, in fact, making a great album and just let them bone through the remaining nine tracks. The issue is, I think, that Scarlett has the emotional capacity of a turnip and so is bound to have yet another breakdown before this scarf-and weave-filled journey is through. Rayna asks if Scarlett might be falling in love with Liam, and Scarlett says she loves how it feels when they work together. And then she actually says, "He kinda opened something up in me and made it flow." I'LL SAY! And it's perfect that she's too much of a bumpkin to realize she's made a double entendre. Scarlett adds that Liam sees her and helped her see herself. All it took was stealing her diary and asking her a couple of questions. If only Gunnar had known.
Meanwhile, Layla is once again trying to get in touch with Jeff to no avail. Will mentions that Edgehill did just lose Juliette, and Layla notes that this is extra reason why Edgehill should be pushing her to Juliette's fanbase. She says that ever since Brent left, it's like she doesn't exist at Edgehill. Will tells her to give it time, but knowing how quickly she could fade into nothing, Layla decides to call Brent for advice. Will stops her from making that call, obviously, and says that all she needs is a little promotion -- and after all, she IS the beard of the guy with the number one most requested song!
Zoey heads to the Bluebird and runs into Avery, who's only there to pick up his "giant" paycheck. He acts like he doesn't know what she's talking about when she says, "See you tomorrow," and she clarifies that she's talking about the Zunvery gig. He gives a look, and she asks if he's going to bail. He's not, but says he doesn't know if he's up for much more after the gig, given that Gunnar's turning it into a full-time job. Zoey says that he's just excited about the band and performing, and you can't be too mad at a guy for being enthusiastic. If you're Avery, apparently you can!
And then we're with Deacon, who approaches his motel room. It's filled with a big party -- I guess that's the doing of his smelly bandmates? He calls Megan and heads to the ice machine, telling her that he blew his wrist out a little playing guitar. She's all, "Mmmmhmmm," because she's so completely engrossed in her legal brief. time he calls she's going to be completely engrossed in Teddy's briefs, if you get my drift… which I think you do. Deacon says that he cut his hand off, just to see if Megan's paying attention and she asks if she can call when she gets home. And then he tells her that he loves her! Great timing, man. She reciprocates, though seems a little stunned by the whole exchange.
Meanwhile, Rayna sits at a bar with Luke and wonders why she went into business with any of her lying, incompetent family members. Luke says he learned long ago that you have to choose your family, and Rayna gives a cheers to that. And beyond the family situation, Rayna wonders WTF is up with Liam and Scarlett. Luke says something about foxes being in charge of the henhouse, and she points out that Scarlett is her only damn hen and she told the fox to keep his paws off her. Before the metaphor is belabored further, Rayna hopes that the deal with Cadillac Three works out, because she has everything riding on Scarlett. And so does Liam. Ba-dump-dump. Luke points out that she has Rayna Jaymes on her label, but her album isn't dropping until May 1. Rayna never wanted Highway 65 to be a vanity label, but rather a place that would nurture young artists. And that's an expensive thing to do. She might have considered this in greater detail before mortgaging her house. Anyway, Luke would be more than happy to be her sugar daddy, but Rayna wouldn't want their relationship to be entangled with those particular kinds of strings. But, says Luke, if there's something she needs, he'd love to be the one to give it to her. What is WITH these people and their double entendres in this episode? There are almost as many double entendres as mentions of Big Machine!
We then see Avery and Juliette at a fancy restaurant. He notes that the reviews said their gumbo is excellent, and orders two when the waiter comes by. Juliette adds that they'll also take the oysters and crab legs, and a wine list to boot. Avery looks nervous, and Juliette tells him not to worry because she's got it. He says that he asked her out to dinner, so he's paying -- that's how an equal relationship works. My cheap ass would probably propose going dutch, especially when someone went all-in with the oysters. Before they get further down the road of Avery's emasculation, the waiter brings a very fancy bottle of champagne to the table. They didn't order it, and the waiter says that it's from the gentleman at the neighboring table -- Jeff Fordham. Avery wants to send it back, but Juliette says they'll keep it. She confirms to Avery that she has no intention of drinking it, then approaches Jeff's table with the bottle. She compliments Jeff on the fine choice, and notes that it must have cost about $10,000. She slams it on the table and tells him to enjoy every penny as the champagne fizzes out everywhere. Foiled again!
Oh God, and then we're back with Teddy. He's in his office now, a bottle of bourbon placed artfully to Peggy's prescription bottle on his desk. He reclines and toys with his wedding ring as one single tear slides down his cheek. And… HAHAHAHAH! Sorry, but that shit just cracked me straight up. The single tear! Come on! Megan enters, and Teddy thanks her for coming over. Seriously, can't this guy just call the suicide hotline or something? Or get a friend! Or a well-paid assistant! Gah. Megan wonders if Teddy has had enough to drink (YES), but he doesn't want to engage in such matters. Instead, he says that it's amazing the things you learn about a person when they're dead. (Just like all the things we'll learn about Teddy when Deacon EFFING MURDERS HIM episode.) For example, Peggy sent money to her sister every month and had three different charge accounts with florists. Oh, ALSO she pretended to have a miscarriage using pork blood. And I mean, he doesn't actually know about the pork blood, but I sure wish he did.
What he does know is that the prescription is something for women to take after they miscarry, and she got it BEFORE the two of them got married. He thinks it's pretty retro to fake a pregnancy to get a man to marry you. And then Teddy says that if he'd known she'd lost the baby he still would have… WHAT? He doesn't finish that sentence, because we all know he would have thrown her ass (and beret) to the curb. And deservedly so! Megan assumes that Teddy would have married her, because he really loved her. Teddy in turn says he loved the woman he thought he knew… but he never would have married "this." OR done what he did, which is let Lamar die. As Megan says that they should get out of there, Teddy drops his ring into his bourbon glass. Not for nothing, but he's kind of a drama queen.
And then we're at a fun-times AA meeting with Deacon. He's talking about how he never figured he'd be 45, touring out of a van and playing to audiences numbering in the dozens. That's a lot of fun when you're young and drinking, but he's sober now and grateful. He's also grateful to see an old friend named Ruth, who waits for him outside of the meeting. She notes that they haven't seen each other since Rayna's "Red Velvet" tour in 1999. Rayna was a real cheeseball in the 90s, eh? But no matter. It turns out that Ruth was a backup singer, and Deacon says you don't forget a voice like that. She moved to Nowheresville, Virginia (their current location) when she left the business… or when it left her. She owns a bakery now, and offers to show Deacon where he can get a decent cup of coffee.
Cut to Juliette's home, where she's meeting with Jeff. She hopes that he got to enjoy a few hundred dollars-worth of his champagne last night, and he chuckles. He admits that it was over the top, but thinks a fruit basket wouldn't convey how much he wants to be back in business with her. Juliette asks him to imagine what dropping her from his label conveyed. Fair point! Jeff says that he's been paying for that mistake, but also he believes that Edgehill can help her mend fences in Nashville. He's offering her own imprint, including a $250,000 producing deal for Avery. And… how does Jeff Fordham still have a job? Seriously? In any case, the producing deal piques Juliette's interest, but she calls Jeff unbelievable, noting that everyone in town knows that he dropped her. He promises to make sure that everyone will also know that he brought her back, realizing the error of his ways. His final word on the matter is to tell her to think about it… quickly.
Meanwhile, Will performs "What If I Was Willing" live on the radio, then fields some listener calls. Of course, the first one is some bimbo asking if he's free on Friday night. Will takes the opportunity to say he has a girlfriend… Layla Grant. Another asks him what he's listening to lately, and he promotes Layla's new single. Layla watches, pleased, as Will winks at her.
Back in Nowheresville, Ruth tells Deacon how she got a solo contract, but blew it due to her drinking. He talks about his relapse after fourteen years, and when she asks what happened, tells her that he discovered he had a daughter. Without saying who her mother is, he beams when he talks about Maddie. Among her other regrets, Ruth is sad that she never had a family. When Deacon tells her it's not too late, she asks if he wants to try. Way to reel him in slowly!
Hoo boy, and then stupid freaking Megan literally takes Teddy parking on a hill. They're PARKING, people! She says it was the only place she could find peace after her fiancé, John, died. I guess she finds the steamy windows and gentle rocking of other cars soothing? Megan talks about the multiple layers of her anger after John's death, and how it can torture you. And then she's all blah blah blah, armchair therapy, but who cares? The whole point of that boring dialogue is to get them to hold hands, which happens at Megan's instigation. And then they lock eyes and a booming "Ruh-roh!" echoes throughout the hills.
And then Avery enters as Juliette filters through her various offers. He picks up an envelope from Edgehill and wonders if they've sent cold, hard cash this time. Juliette tells him that Jeff offered her an imprint, and he says, "You're not considering it, are you?" She says she's considering everything, and he wonders if there's a "respect clause" in the contract, given that no amount of expensive champagne will lead to Jeff respecting her. She knows that, but brings up the producing deal for Avery. He's not thrilled, and asks if she'd accept it without even talking to him. She didn't think he'd have a problem with it, but he doesn't want to ride on her coattails. She assures him that Edgehill would never have offered that if he wasn't good enough, but Avery's emasculation runs true and deep. Juliette tells him that he can say no. And so he does. And I have to say, he could be a little less moody about this whole thing!
Rayna then goes to see Liam at the studio. His first words are, "Listen, I wasn't trying to make you jealous or anything." Okay, fine, Liam is kind of a dick sometimes. I admit! So fine, though. So very, very fine. Rayna assures him that she's not jealous, and Liam tells her that she knows how it goes: Scarlett is a cool chick and crazy talented. They're working nights, and "on top of each other all the time." Literally! Rayna's all, "YEAH, I KNOW HOW IT GOES." But the difference, she says, is that she's a grown-up, while Scarlett is a very fragile kid. I mean, technically she's an irritatingly child-like grown-up. Liam wonders if Rayna is giving Scarlett enough credit, and she says that she actually thinks she gave Liam too much credit. Scarlett is her one and only artist, and Rayna asked Liam to handle her with kid gloves. And she doesn't even KNOW about the uppers yet.
Speaking of, I feel like that storyline has kind of faded into obscurity too, but I'm hoping that we get to see Scarlett all wacky on the junk again before too long. Rayna says that now Scarlett is falling in love with Liam and he says, "Can you blame her?" That joke does not land the way he had hoped. Rayna tells him that he doesn't know what he's dealing with -- Scarlett can't handle it, and now Liam has jeopardized Rayna's artist and her label. She adds, "And you're gonna break her heart." Liam starts to say that he won't, necessarily, but Rayna soon clarifies that this is an order -- he's going to break Scarlett's heart now before she gets in any deeper and he screws it up any more. An incredulous Liam asks if Rayna is firing him. Indeed, she is. He notes that she already paid him. Indeed, she did. So, okay, maybe Tandy's job is harder than I originally thought. With a hint of a glimmer in her eyes (probably because of the money lost), Rayna tells Liam that she'll see him on down the road. They both look so attractive in this moment, it kills me that they don't at least just make out a little for old time's sake.
Meanwhile, Will fields a call from Jeff. Layla is there and asks him to put it on speaker (without indicating that she's there), because they are both actually thirteen year old girls. Jeff is not thrilled that Will turned his radio appearance into a Layla Grant promotion. He says that Layla's career isn't Will's business, and what's more, Layla's fifteen minutes are up. Will takes the phone off of speaker as he says that the single just launched. Jeff can count the number of spins it's had on one hand, and says that American Hitmaker will have another runner-up. Layla runs toward the phone and shouts, "Is he dropping me?" Jeff isn't sure yet, but says the whole thing's a shame since he really thought she'd break out. Will wants Jeff to give Layla another opportunity, but Jeff says that she had one -- now their focus will be on Will. After they hang up, Layla thanks Will for trying to support her, and he tells her that she's great and he believes in her. Layla doesn't know what's going to happen, but says the fact that he's there means everything. Methinks Will didn't realize a beard could get itchy so quickly.
Back at Juliette's, Glenn comes over with a contract from Edgehill. The lawyers have worked on it, and though it's a bit less money than some of the offers, she's back in country music with her own imprint. And the best part, according to Juliette -- Jeff has to publicly dine on a big fat plate of chicken-fried crow. Juliette goes to sign and hesitates, asking Glenn if he's positive that they've redlined everything that has to do with Avery. They have. She still hesitates and Glenn tells her that though he thinks it's the best move, she doesn't have to do it if she doesn't want to. After a moment she says it's the best move for her career, and signs.
And then in sad times, Liam has his suitcases packed into the trunk of a car. Scarlett pulls up looking absolutely insane, as if resembling an orphan from war-torn 1980's Soviet Union is going to convince Liam to stay in Nashville. In Soviet Russia, beret wears you! He hasn't returned her calls, apparently, and also isn't sure when he's coming back. She asks about the album, and he says it will get done. Liam then tells her not to look so sad -- they had "fun," and "it happens all the time, proximity and all that stuff. He says that it's not tragic, it's just living life. Scarlett musters up her righteous indignation of yore and says that it's not how she wants to live her life. Great! Go set up shop under a toadstool, then! We couldn't be happier for you! Liam tells her to live the life she wants, gets in the car, and hollers back, "See you on down the road," just like Rayna said to him. I'm not sure what the significance of that is, exactly.
Tandy shows up to see Rayna, saying that she looked at accounts and moved money around and stuff and Highway 65 is OK for now. But with more money going out than coming in, they're going to need a strategy so as not to bleed the company dry. Firing producers all willy-nilly probably is not the hoped-for strategy, I'm guessing. Bucky comes with bad news -- Cadillac Three went with Big Machine. Rayna asks if it's because of the checks bouncing all over town, and Bucky says that bad news travels fast. Rayna glares at Tandy, and then asks for time alone to talk to her. Tandy apologizes, and wonders if they can go get a drink and figure out how to get past this. Rayna says that there's no getting past it -- she's out. Of the family! She's earned the freedom from their family and the mountain of crap that they've built, and is going to start fresh without Tandy. Tandy enters a final plea, and Rayna just glares at her.
Avery shows up for the Zunvery gig with a chip on his shoulder, and to make matters worse Gunnar is all, "Look who decided to grace us with his presence!" They have some words, and then Gunnar makes some noise about those of us with rich girlfriends not needing to fight for our dreams, and then there are fisticuffs. And, like, Gunnar is at least a foot and a half taller than Avery. Zoey shows up, asking if they can get through one gig without having a huge band fight and breaking up.
In Virginia, it's night and Ruth drops Deacon off to get ready for his show. She'd come, but says she tries to avoid bars now. But, before he can get out of the car, she asks what he's doing after the show, and basically if he'd like to bone her. She grabs his hand, saying that she really likes him. He puts his hand on hers, and says that he has someone waiting for him at home and they're serious. Awkward! Ruth says that if things don't work out, he knows where to find her. Will she be at Rayna's place? Because with any luck that's exactly where he'll go after he finds out about some shenanigans that are just about to occur. Deacon exits and calls Megan.
And then we see Megan, back in Nashville, waiting for Deacon just like he said. Where exactly is she waiting? UNDER TEDDY! In the backseat of the car! That is like the most passionless car-banging in history. Even the dramatic music doesn't spice it up!
After a break, Zunvery is on stage. They sound great, though Gunnar is never more insufferable than while playing harmonica in a fedora. Zoey holds it down on the tambourine, though.
HAHA! And then we're in the car with post-coital Teddy and Megan. So, that's awkward. She drops him off at his office, and he exits without a word. She should go get that car detailed pretty quick.
In Rayna's bedroom, Luke stares at those creepy paintings of Maddie and Daphne. Rayna bounds into bed and kisses him, but he again looks at the paintings, asking if she always has those in there. Rayna says that she does. He thinks that they're great, but notes that they make a fella feel a little… watched. If Luke gets her to take down those paintings, he may officially become a friend of mine. Rayna assures him that the paintings are just paintings, and the girls are gone so he can relax. Meanwhile, who is watching the girls while both her parents are banging people? Rayna can tell that the paintings are really bothering him, but he says he's fine. And it turns out something else is bothering him, too. He asks if she fired Liam because the two of them were an item. She says, "Maybe a little bit," but not how he might think. Ever since Lamar died, she says, she doesn't have time for anybody who breaks her trust. He assures her that she can trust him, and tell him anything good bad or otherwise, past or present. Hmmm. That totally makes me not trust him again. He then asks how bad things are at her label. Aside from firing her producer and her sister-CFO, and only having one artist who is a complete mess, things are great. Luke gets over the paintings quickly enough to take her mind off of all label-related horrors.
Also in bed are Layla and Will. She apologizes, saying that maybe she's doing something wrong. Will tells her that it wasn't her, and Layla notes that he's had a lot more "experience," and can maybe teach her. And then she confesses that Will devirginized her! No freaking way. That girl was all over him like strawberry jam on a biscuit. He says that she should have told him that, and she wonders if it would have changed things. Will doesn't know. Layla asks him to tell him what he likes. He says right now he'd like a beer, probably so he can get drunk enough to bone her. Oy.
Cut to Scarlett, telling Rayna that she's an idiot. Yes, you are! Rayna tells her not to be too hard on herself, but Scarlett laments thinking that she was in an honest, adult relationship when Liam bailed. Rayna says that Liam is good at such things, not mentioning that this was really an enforced bailing. She tells Scarlett that she'll be fine and they'll get her a new producer. But Scarlett isn't sure how to get "all that" out with a new producer, saying that what she had with Liam was special. Rayna says that everything Liam brought out in Scarlett was already there, and she can't let anyone else control who she is as an artist. Scarlett asks if they can keep recording. They can, says Rayna, and it's going to be amazing.
Juliette comes to see Avery at the Bluebird, telling him that she got Edgehill to drop him from her deal. She signed the paperwork last night, as we saw. But then she remembered what Avery said about Jeff not respecting her, and realized that Avery would never respect her if she went back to Edgehill. And so she tore the contract up! Jeff's opinion of her never will change, and Avery's matters to her a whole lot more. And then she asks him to ask her to dinner. Cute!
Meanwhile, Deacon returns home to Megan. He's brought her a trucker hat from a grain and feed store, which he puts on her head. She apologizes for being distracted when they spoke. Her head was in her work, she says. Oh is THAT what your head was in? Deacon picks her up and takes her into the bedroom, which means that now everyone is going to have Teddy's particular strain of HPV.
And then, the moment we've all been waiting for! Juliette has come to see Rayna. She first asks if Rayna respects her. Rayna asks, "…in what context?" which is probably not a good sign. Juliette says, "As someone who has something to say and guts to say it?" Rayna thinks that Juliette has always been true to who she is, which Juliette takes as a yes, even though Rayna never actually says the word "yes." Juliette says that she greatly respects Rayna and remembers how Rayna said what she did at the Opry was very brave. Juliette now wonders if Rayna is brave enough to help her rebuild the bridges she's burned in Nashville. Rayna notes that it's a lot of bridges she's talking about, and Juliette says that they can leave Jeff Fordham out there scratching his head ("Scratching something," says Rayna). Then Juliette gets to it -- she needs a label that will let her be herself. She asks if there's any chance that Highway 65 could be it. Rayna pulls her chin off of the floor, and then says, "I think I might be able to help you with that." HOORAY!
week: Cue the fireworks! Or so says the trailer.
Potes could totally handle any inappropriate artist/producer shenanigans that Liam might throw at her. Listen to her music at www.traciepotochnik.com, and say hi by tweeting @traciepotes, or emailing potesypotes@gmail.com.