Welcome back to Nashville!
Avery and Juliette have consummated their relationship when Juliette’s phone rings…again. Juliette is determined to ignore P.A. Emily’s calls and the ongoing publicity. Her plan is to stay off the grid. They are interrupted by a knock at the door, and hijinks ensue when it turns out that it’s Deacon. He wants Avery to engineer the recording of his Live At The Bluebird album, and Avery is honored and eager to take on the job as Juliete squirms her way through the bedsheets. Deacon doesn’t appear to notice Juliette, although he does ask Avery if he’s seen Juliette around. Avery reassures Deacon that Juliette is OK, just laying low.
Rayna is decked out in a hot red leather & lace dress and some serious stilettos as she shoots her video for “This Time,” complete with dancers. Tandy surprises her at the shoot, and they catch up. Among other things, they talk about Lamar, who is getting released that day. Rayna insists Tandy show up for Lamar’s welcome home party despite Tandy not wanting to.
To DOWNLOAD “This Time,” written by Allison Moorer and Jeffrey Steele and performed by Connie Britton, click HERE.
BONUS: Check out “Nashville: On The Record,” on “This Time” featuring Jeffrey Steele, Charles Esten, and Nashville music supervisor Frankie Pine.
Check out cowriter Jeffrey Steele’s acoustic version of “This Time”:
Gunnar and Will are at home, and Will tells Gunnar he’s not too happy with the demos Edgehill is sending him to record for the album he will be releasing May 1, against Rayna’s album. He doesn’t think they’re as good as “What If I Was Willing.” Gunnar offers Will a ballad about inner turmoil that he wrote after Will contemplated suicide. Will tells him that’s not his brand. Gunnar reminds Will he doesn’t have to pretend to him at least when Zoe walks through with a new hairdo (straightened hair). Gunnar is impressed, and asks what’s going on. Zoe deflects by saying she has errands, and leaves. Gunnar asks Will if he’s crazy or was that weird, and Will tells him yes…to both.
Meanwhile at Deacon’s, Deacon is going on about how excited he is about his band and how great the album’s going to sound, while a distracted Megan is catching up on case-related headlines. Deacon teases her, and Megan finally gets her nose out of her Ipad. She can’t believe Lamar is being released, and talks about the legal system having so many loopholes, the law can’t keep up. She smiles and tells Deacon he’s going to sound amazing at the Bluebird, and promises she will be there front row for the recording the following evening. In TV-world that’s a sure sign something’s going to come up and get in the way, right? Probably work, because Megan is all wrapped up in the Stoffel case and working with Teddy. Are we headed towards a Deacon-Megan-Teddy triangle? Scarlett walks in all chipper. She has cut 3 more songs with Liam, and promises to attend Deacon’s album recording after her video shoot with Rayna. Deacon also wants her to make sure she gets some rest, but Scarlett says she has songs pouring out of herself and has to keep up with them.
Turns out Zoe is at an audition to be a backup singer. She’s asked for her head shot and demo, and has neither. The receptionist tells her to come back when she has her tools ready.
Back at Rayna’s, everybody’s readying the place for Lamar’s return. Maddie and Daphne run up to hug Lamar, and Rayna greets Lamar with a warm hug too. Tandy, however, can’t look Lamar in the eye when they hug, and runs away. Because that’s not going to set off any suspicions. All seems forgotten though when inside, Maddie & Daphne get an assist from Rayna when they perform the adorable, lovely “The Blues Have Blown Away” for their appreciative audience. They’ve also baked Lamar cookies, and when they go to the kitchen to get them, Lamar talks to Rayna about Tandy’s squeamishness. Rayna says they’ll all need time to heal.
To DOWNLOAD “The Blues Have Blown Away,” cowritten by Jill Andrews and Shawn Camp, and performed by Lennon & Maisy Stella with Connie Britton, click HERE.
Juliette is disappointed to see Avery dressed and ready to head out. She’s made him breakfast…microwaved bread (because he doesn’t have a toaster) and a banana. Avery is touched and they banter cutely about his and her movie tastes before Avery insists he has to go get ready for Deacon.
Layla has bought groceries for the house, and she, Will, and Gunnar are all unpacking when Zoe shows up. Will is headed to the studio to record Gunnar’s song (“What If I Was Willing,” I assume), and Layla is flying out to LA the next day to debut her next single (she wants a congratulatory kiss from Will), and Gunnar has to head down to Music Row. Zoe’s feeling left behind by all this music activity going on around her.
P.A. Emily visits Avery at the Bluebird and asks if he’s seen Juliette. He lies, terribly, that he hasn’t.
Rayna is on the phone with Manager Bucky saying she knows it’s an added expense to feature Scarlett in her video but she thinks it’s good promotion. Teddy surprises Rayna at her home, despite having told Rayna before he needed to keep his distance for their safey. He looks panicked and haggard. He spills to stunned silent and not entirely believing Rayna about his belief that Lamar’s responsible for Peggy’s death, how Lamar wrongly assumed Teddy was the star witness for federal prosecutors, and how Rayna should ask Tandy why she wouldn’t testify on Lamar’s behalf.
Will and Gunnar are listening to Will’s recording of “What If I Was Willing” and pleased but not totally satisfied with how it sounds. Brent walks in on the session and asks about the demos he sent over. Will coldly says he’s not into the songs. Gunnar tells Will he’s kidding himself if he thinks he has things under control and that anybody within a 10 foot radius can tell there’s something going on between Will and Brent.
P.A. Emily shows up at Avery’s, knocking and telling Juliette she knows she’s there. Juliette opens the door and tells Emily this is her life now that she’s quit. Emily starts telling her about country radio dropping her from its playlists, and Juliette says she doesn’t want to hear it. She offers to be a reference for Emily, but Emily says she’s not looking for a new job. Juliette says there is one thing Emily can help her with.
Tandy returns to Rayna’s with shorter hair. Rayna comments sarcastically on how that was a great reason not to hang out with Lamar, and Tandy lays out a bunch of paperwork making the incorporation of Highway 65 official. Rayna tells Tandy that Teddy showed up saying some strange things about Tandy, that she was responsible for Lamar’s prosecution. Tandy admits that she gave the feds information after they were already onto Lamar. Rayna is furious and wonders if the feds had something on her. Tandy spills that she wanted Lamar punished because he was responsible for their mother’s death. She tells Rayna he wasn’t in Louisville that night as he had claimed, and that she found this out before the feds got to her. Now Rayna is furious Tandy didn’t tell her.
Will is in studio cutting “Can’t Say No To You” when Jeff Fordham walks in. Will thanks him for coming down, and tells Jeff he & Brent just aren’t connecting. Jeff asks if Brent has been inappropriate and Will says he makes him uncomfortable, and that Brent is sending over all the wrong demos and doesn’t get who he is or who he wants to be. Jeff agrees to oversee a relieved Will personally.
Back at Rayna’s, Tandy says she’ll move back to her own place. Rayna is cold. Tandy gives her the file the private investigator she had hired dug up on their mother’s death.
A frustrated Teddy is at Megan’s office, venting about Lamar living the high life and how Peggy deserves better. Megan tells him federal prosecutors think he’s onto something about the link between Lamar and Stoffel. Teddy is skeptical the feds can do any better at nailing Lamar for ordering a hit than they have at nailing him for corruption. Megan tries to comfort him and tells him not to lose hope, and naturally, Deacon walks in with lunch just as Megan is holding Teddy’s hand. Deacon is livid to find Teddy there and to learn he’s involved with the big case Megan’s been working on. He accuses Megan of being a “tragedy junkie” who helps people with major problems just to feel better about herself. Megan is offended and tells him to leave her office.
Avery returns to his apartment to find Juliette’s totally redecorated it and ordered him dinner. He tells Juliette she doesn’t need to buy him things and that he liked his old stuff. Juliette is about to lose her temper when Avery embraces her and tells her he totally understands the instinct to hide out but she doesn’t need to be afraid of these people. Juliette says she’s not afraid but she thinks the only thing she has left is Avery. Avery says she is the only person who can change the conversation, and she can’t do that cooped up in his place. Juliette says there is no conversation.
Rayna is morosely examining the file of evidnece (which is labeled “Nashville Police Department”?) at her home.
Meanwhile, Jeff meets with Brent and cuts him loose because the talent isn’t comfortable around him. Brent is understandably offended that after 5 years and uprooting his life in LA, all he gets is severance after a non-disclosure agreement (not even a transfer?). Maybe he can go work for Rayna now?
Scarlett is asleep when her cell phone alarm goes off reminding her that her video shoot with Rayna. She panics.
Megan goes to see Teddy and says she has handed off the Stoffel case to a partner. Teddy asks if it is because of Deacon, and Megan says it’s because he’s tied to Maddy, who’s tied to Lamar, and it’s not appropriate. Teddy says he feels like she was the only person he could talk to about all this. Megan is sympathetic, and the chemistry is palpable, but she says he’ll find someone new if he’s just open to it. So…..is this really over? If so, is Megan going to get her own storyline or not?
Brent shows up to Gunnar and Will’s as Layla is headed out the door. He informs them he’s been fired because he wasn’t a good fit. Layla is shocked and promises to call Jeff. After Layla leaves, Brent warns that he)Brent) will be fine but Will he just lost his biggest ally at Edgehill. Will says he’ll have to find a way to look after himself. After Brent leaves, Gunnar asks Will if he got Brent fired. Will says he didn’t mean to, and reminds Gunnar what he said about it being obvious there was something going on. Gunnar asks Will if getting rid of Brent will really solve the problem, after all, Will tried to kiss Gunnar too. Will tells Gunnar he knows things have been weird lately but he knows what he wants and won’t let anybody get in his way.
Scarlett is getting makeup done at her video shoot, and she’s looking like a bloodshot-eyed wreck. Manager Bucky is a little concerned. Scarlett says she’ll be fine, and asks for a moment. Left alone, she pops another pill. *sigh*
Juliette and Avery are watching a movie at home, and Avery is still humorously griping about the “foofy” pillows on his couch. He invites Juliette to Deacon’s show that night, and of course Juliette wants to continue hiding out at his place. Avery tells her he’ll miss her, and that just because she closes her eyes, doesn’t mean she’s invisible.
Rayna walks out to see Lamar, who is getting some air outside. She asks him if he killed her mother. Lamar explains that he and her mother were fighting about Watty White. She had her bags packed, and Lamar assumed she’d turn around when halfway down the driveway. But this time, she didn’t. He gave chase because he just had to convince her to change her mind. He thinks she must have seen him in her rearview, because she sped up, then lost control of her car. Rayna takes him to task for not getting help, but Lamar says he went down to the scene and claims she was already gone, that there was nothing he could do (yea, but how about emergency personnel?). He went to Louisville in a panic move. Lamar is shaking with sobs over the memory of leaving his wife like that on the side of the road.
Zoe is laying out glumly on a couch. Gunnar is trying to write but notices her mood and asks her what’s up. She finally admits she feels like she’s doing nothing in Nashville, especially seeing Gunnar, Will, Scarlett, and Avery all active in the music scene. Gunnar says she’s not doing nothing, she’s got a waitress job hundreds of people would love to love and she’s his girlfriend. But he promises to be there when she’s ready for something new.
At the Bluebird, Deacon strikes the 1st song from his set. Avery asks why, because it’s a killer love song. Deacon says he’s not feeling it. Avery tells Deacon he (Deacon) is staking a lot on this EP, and to either fix what’s bothering him or get over it by the time it’s time to record.
Scarlett vamps her way through Rayna’s video shoot, pleasing Manager Bucky and the director.
Juliette shows up at the Bluebird after all, and endures a few stares from people. Avery though is very happy to see her and gives her a kiss. Juliette isn’t sure about the public display, but Avery is unashamed. Scarlett shows up, and her pill-induced perkiness results in her being super-nice to everybody, from Juliette to Avery to Zoe, whom she asks for a drink and sweet potato fries after complimenting her new hairstyle. Everybody thinks this is weird.
Megan shows up at the Bluebird. Turns out Deacon left her a message. He apologizes, and Megan says he was right. She does like to save people, she admits, but that’s not why she fell in love with him. As Deacon is introduced, Megan tells him she dropped Teddy’s case. Deacon tells her she didn’t have to, but she assures him she wants more time for them. Deacon takes the stage and talks about how he’s been through some rough patches, and how during his last one, an angel appeared. He dedicates his first song to her, and sings “Keep Coming Back” for Megan, who is really moved.
To DOWNLOAD “Keep Coming Back,” written by Jeffrey Steele and performed by Charles Esten, click HERE.
Check out an extended performance of “Keep Coming Back,” written by Gareth Dunlop & Kim Richey and performed by Charles Esten as Deacon Claybourne:
Back at Rayna’s, her talk with Lamar continues, and Lamar says there’s a lot he would do differently now. Rayna says he lied about this for so long, and brings up Tandy. Lamar asks if she also blames him for the death of their mother. This escalates into Rayna asking Lamar if he had anything to do with Peggy’s death. Lamar asks why she would ask that. Rayna asks if he wanted revenge on Teddy because he thinks Teddy was involved with the federal prosecution, and Lamar says he has no doubts on that. Rayna asks if he ordered a hit on Teddy and Lamar says he didn’t hire anybody because he was in jail. Rayna asks if he had an associate like Albert the Henchman do it. Lamar says the shooter needed no encouragement, but doesn’t deny his involvement. Rayna is furious, and tells Lamar she doesn’t want him near her or her daughters ever again. As far as she’s concerned, both of her parents are dead.
Will is singing Gunnar’s other song, “Who I Am,” at home on his guitar. It fits him to a T, and Gunnar loves his version of it. Will tells Gunnar that Gunnar’s the only person who’ll ever hear him sing it.
Deacon is accepting congratulations from the crowd at the Bluebird after a successful show, and Megan is especially giddy. Juliette congratulates him and says she’s glad she didn’t miss it. Deacon tells her not to let anybody shut down her voice. After Avery tells him how great the record will sound, Deacon asks if Avery and Juliette are a thing. Before they can answer, he says he likes it. Juliette tells Avery they need to get back in the studio and write some more. She think he’s great as a producer too. Avery agrees, but he wants his old furniture back.
Scarlett’s on her way out, and Zoe asks if she’s OK. Scarlett rattles off how much she’s got going on and how it’s all perfect. She tells Zoe to give her best to Gunnar. Zoe is still unconvinced. She goes back for that audition, and gives the receptionist her church solo, looking her in the eye and saying she *can* sing.
Lamar strolls into Teddy’s office and asks why Teddy is so hellbent on taking Lamar down. Teddy lays into Lamar for assuming that being the most powerful businessman meant that nobody in his own business would ever betray him. Teddy tells Lamar he couldn’t have brought Lamar down if he had wanted to, that it was somebody who’d worked with Lamar for 15 years, his own flesh & blood, who knew where the bodies were buried. Lamar can’t believe it’s Tandy, but the news gets him, and he appears to have another heart attack. Teddy is shocked, and doesn’t immediately move for the phone or to call help. It’s not clear whether he will or not, and that’s where Nashville leaves us until February 26th.
