Here’s your recap & discussion post for Nashville‘s Season 2, Episode 16, “Guilty Street.”
Welcome back to Nashville!
Luke Wheeler is making Rayna breakfast, and trying to take care of her in the wake of Lamar’s death. Rayna insists she’s fine and somewhat relieved, but Luke tells her nobody’s fine after the loss of a parent and she has to take time to let the grief do what it will. Bucky walks in as Luke tries to massage the tension out of Rayna’s shoulders. Rayna wants to know if he’s heard from the Cadillac Three (the band that auditioned with “The South” a few episodes ago). They are choosing between Rayna’s Highway 65 and Big Machine (real life spoiler alert: The Cadillac Three signed with Big Machine, which has partnered with Nashville to release the original music and soundtracks from the show). Rayna really wants to sign them. Bucky also mentions that their check for Scarlett’s studio time bounced. Luke snarks that Rayna needs to fire whoever’s watching her books. That would be Tandy.
Meanwhile, Juliette’s being courted by all the major labels out of LA, and they’re sending diamonds and other expensive gifts. She’s enjoying the attention, and banters with Avery about it. Manager Glenn walks in and jokes about the attention too, while Juliette asks if he’s heard from Big Machine. No, says Manager Glenn, the Nashville labels still don’t want to touch Juliette. But Juliette doesn’t want to accept any of the big label offers because her freedom matters more to her, and she’s committed to her next album topping the country charts.
Deacon’s packing up to hit the road for several dates with a band. Megan asks if he’s going to be OK with all the temptation out there. Deacon reassures her that his days of boozing with the groupies are behind him.
Gunnar, Zoe, and Avery are in a cool rehearsal space to work up a set. Gunnar is all gungho about their new band, and has taken the liberty of booking that rehearsal space, a gig for them at the Mercy Lounge, and writing a great song. Avery wants Gunnar to ask them first before making decisions for the band.
Teddy is glumly cleaning out Peggy’s things when he discovers a bottle of pills he didn’t know she was taking. Ruh roh.
Rayna goes over to see Tandy, and informs her that Highway 65 has been bouncing checks all over town. Tandy thought the royalty check was coming and doesn’t have any other explanation for what happened. Rayna lays into her for not doing her job as Tandy tells her she didn’t expect expenses to be so high so fast, that the video was way over-budget. Tandy tells Rayna she hasn’t been in the greatest shape since Lamar died. Rayna tells Tandy this is about her disappearing, again, and that she needs to get it together.
Will is partying with friends at the place he shares with Gunnar when Layla walks back in. Will is surprised, then tells his friends Layla just got back from being on American Hitmakers. Layla tells him to shut up, he’s on the radio. “What If I Was Willing” is the day’s most requested song. Will and his friends are pretty excited, and one of his friends banters with him about celebrating with his girl. Will agrees, and kicks them all out to sleep with a surprised Layla. It happens….quickly and obviously isn’t very satisfying for either of them. Will asks Layla about how it was being back on American Hitmakers. She said it sucked, that instead of having her perform, they had her wave from the crowd with 2 other people. Apparently, since Layla’s latest single “Tell Me” barely charted, she’s having trouble getting Jeff Fordham to answer her calls or get any support from the show that gave her her start.
Deacon completes a successful gig, but his hand is really hurting him afterwards. He’s offered a drink on the house but turns it down and asks for a bucket of ice instead.
Juliette gets another courting gift, this time from Edgehill, the 1st Nashville label to show any interest. Juliette wonders if this represents the turning of the tide in Nashville, and Avery wants to celebrate that by taking Juliette to dinner. That means bailing on his band’s rehearsal that night, which Avery doesn’t seem to think will be a big deal.
But Gunnar’s obviously not happy about that, and complains to Zoe about Avery’s “girlfriend tightening the chain.” Zoe reassures him that they can use the rehearsal space to work on their set, and Avery’s enough of a pro to pick it up when the time comes. Gunnar grouses that Avery better not flake.
Liam is all over Scarlett as she works on a new song called “Come Find Me,” which is actually cowritten by Sarah Buxton and John Scott Sherrill. Rayna and Luke arrive at the studio to hand over a check for Scarlett’s studio time, and naturally, walk in on them making out. Later, back at Rayna’s, Scarlett says she doesn’t see what the problem is, being involved with her producer. Rayna says her job is to protect Scarlett and make sure she can make the best album possible. She asks Scarlett if she’s falling in love with Liam. Scarlett hedges, saying she loves the way it feels when they work together, that he’s opened up something in her. Rayna is concerned.
Check out “Nashville On The Record: ‘Come Find Me'” featuring cowriter John Scott Sherrill, Clare Bowen, and Nashville music supervisor Frankie Pine.
Check out an acoustic performance of “Come Find Me” by Clare Bowen with John Scott Sherrill:
Layla leaves yet another message for Jeff Fordham. She’s so frustrated that she isn’t getting a push now that Edgehill has lost Juliette that she’s ready to call Brent to see if he knows anything about Edgehill’s plan. Will doesn’t want Brent anywhere near them, obviously, and tells Layla all she needs is some promotion, and that he’s the guy for that job.
Zoe finds Avery at the Bluebird, where he’s picking up his paycheck. He’s momentarily forgotten about their gig, but says he’ll be there. He’s just not sure about anything beyond that now that Gunnar is trying to make it a full time job. Zoe says you can’t blame Gunnar for being excited about what they’ve got. Avery tells her he’ll be at the gig tomorrow.
Deacon finds a party in his motel room, so he steps out and calls Megan, who is busy at work. She picks up the phone but clearly distracted. She offers to call him later but he says he just wanted to call and whine a little bit. His wrist is bothering him.
Rayna and Luke are having drinks while Rayna vents to him about Tandy. He tells her you have to choose your family. They also chat about Liam and Scarlett. Rayna says she really needs The Cadillac Three to work out because right now she’s got everything riding on Scarlett. Luke reminds her she also has “Rayna James” signed to her label. Rayna laughs and said she never wanted Highway 65 to just be a vanity label, she wanted it to be a place to nurture young artists, and that’s proving expensive.
Avery and Juliette are at dinner. He chose the place because their gumbo is well-reviewed and Juliette loves gumbo. Juliette also orders oysters and crab legs and asks to look at the wine list. Avery squirms a little, and Juliette tells him not to worry about it, she’s paying. But he wants to be the guy to pay tonight, that that’s part of having an equal relationship. Just then, Jeff Fordham sends over a $10k bottle of champagne. Juliette smirks and walks it back over to him and lets it foam all over his table when she tells him to enjoy it.
Teddy is slumped over, weeping & drinking in his office as he toys with his wedding ring. Megan has come over after he asked, and he tells her that Peggy actually miscarried before they got married. He said she could have just told him at the time, and he still would’ve married her. He loved the woman he thought she was, but not this. Megan offers to take Teddy…somewhere out of the office.
Deacon is at an AA meeting talking about how touring in a van and playing for dozens of people is fun when you’re young and drinking, but he’s older and sober now. Also at the meeting is a pretty blonde played by actress Charlotte Ross. She greets Deacon after the meeting – her name on the show is Ruth Bennett, and it turns out she and Deacon go way back. She was Rayna’s backup singer during Rayna’s Red Velvet tour, and actually dueted with Rayna on that tour. Ruth is flattered that Deacon remembered, and he says you don’t forget a voice like that. Ruth says she moved to that small town in Virginia after the business left her, and she owns a bakery shop. She offers to show Deacon around. Well, the show is clearly going to separate Megan and Deacon, the only question is whether they will both cheat, or if only one of them will.
Jeff Fordham has come to visit Juliette. Jeff wants to be back in business with her, and even goes on about what a mistake it was to drop Juliette. Touching except of course it’s just part of his sales pitch. He says he thinks Juliette needs a label to mend fences in Nashville and wants Edgehill to be it. He promises he will make sure everybody knows that he courted and begged her to come back. But the most diabolical/clever part of his sales pitch is of course his offer to give Avery a 250k deal to produce for Juliette’s imprint. He tells Juliette to think about it.
Will is performing “What I Was Willing” acoustically for Shawn Parr of NASH Nights, Cumulus’s big syndicated show. In the interview that follows, he dutifully name-checks Layla Grant and promotes her new single “Tell Me.”
Juliette greets Avery with news of Edgehill’s offer. He says no matter what Jeff Fordham will never respect her. Then she drops the news about Jeff including 250k for Avery to produce. Avery doesn’t want a deal riding on Juliette’s coattails, and is pretty snippy about the whole thing. Juliette says he can say no. And he does.
Deacon and Ruth are catching up at the Fountain bakery. She tells him she got a solo contract but then drank it away. Deacon says he was 14 years sober, but fell off the wagon when he found out he has a daughter. He doesn’t tell Ruth his daughter’s mother is Rayna James. Ruth says that’s her big regret – she loves kids. She jokes about them trying, and they laugh it off.
Meanwhile, Megan has taken Teddy to a lookout point, the only place, she says, she could find any peace when her husband John was killed. They talk about anger and letting go. Megan tells Teddy he has to find his place where he can find peace. She caresses his hand and they exchange many meaningful glances. Well, we know where this is headed. The show wants to paint Megan as that “tragedy junkie” Deacon once called her during a fight.
Rayna goes to see Liam in studio. Liam tries to play his hookup with Scarlett as something that naturally just happened, and he thinks Scarlett is strong enough to handle it. Rayna says she’s just a kid, that Scarlett’s fragile, and Liam has to break her heart now instead of down the road. Liam asks Rayna if she’s firing him, and she says she is, despite the fact that she already paid him.
Jeff Fordham calls Will, who’s at home with Layla. He tells Will his radio show spot was fine until he turned it into a Layla Grant promotion fest. Will says he doesn’t see the harm. Jeff says they gave Layla a chance to break out but she’s not going to, and they’ve done all the promotion for “Tell Me” that they’re going to. With Layla listening, Jeff says they haven’t decided whether they’ll drop Layla, but says he will put his full focus on Will (and Juliette if she signs, but he doesn’t mention that part). Layla thanks Will for being there for her. He assures her it’s going to be OK.
Manager Glenn arrives triumphant with a lawyer-approved deal with Edgehill. He says it’s a little less money than the other offers but this gets her back in country music. The lawyers have redlined everything about Avery as requested. Manager Glenn says it’s the best thing for Juliette’s career. Juliette is excited, but when it comes time to actually sign, she hesitates. Manager Glenn says if there’s something holding her back, she doesn’t have to do this. But she signs.
Liam has packed up and is on his way to Tokyo. He hasn’t returned Scarlett’s calls so she has come to see him. Liam gives her the brush off, saying these hookups happen all the time, and it’s just life. Scarlett says this isn’t how she wants to live her life, and he tells her to live the life she wants. After telling Scarlett her album will get done, he says he’ll see her “down the road.” So if Liam’s no longer producing Scarlett, it’s pretty inevitable that Nashville’s hottest new producing talent Avery’s going to wind up stepping in for a Juliette-Avery-Scarlett triangle, right?
Tandy goes to see Rayna in studio. She seems to have gotten their books back in order, but says they have more money going out than coming in and they need a strategy. Just then, Manager Bucky delivers the bad news that the Cadillac Three signed with Big Machine. Rayna asks if it had anything to do with Highway 65’s checks bouncing, and Manager Bucky says bad news travels fast. Rayna is angry at Tandy, and tries to end their partnership. Tandy begs for another chance, saying she can’t change without Rayna.
Avery arrives for his band gig with Gunnar and Zoe, and he and Gunnar get into it over Avery’s lack of commitment as against Gunnar’s overbearing enthusiasm. Zoe asks if they can at least get through one band gig without having a big fight and breaking up. Ha!
Ruth has driven Deacon back to his gig. They share more laughs. Deacon invites her to the show that night but Ruth says she tries to avoid bars. She asks him what he’s doing after the gig, and asks him if he wants to stay with her. Deacon gently turns her down, saying he has someone at home and it’s pretty serious. Ruth drives off, and Deacon calls Megan. Cut to Megan and Teddy having sex in her car. Ugh.
Zoe, Gunnar, and Avery have the crowd digging their set as they perform “Hennessee,” cowritten by Taylor Burns, Chris Hennesee, Joel King, Leroy Wulfmeier, and Richard Young, with a cool guitar solo by Avery and a cool harmonica solo by Gunnar. All is well!
To DOWNLOAD “Hennessee” cowritten by Taylor Burns, Chris Hennesee, Joel King, Leroy Wulfmeier, and Richard Young and performed by Jonathan Jackson, Sam Palladio, and Chaley Rose, click HERE.
A very guilty looking Megan drops off a very guilty looking Teddy, and neither says a word.
Luke is in bed at Rayna’s looking at the large portraits for Daphne and Maddie hanging on the wall when Rayna joins him. He admits he’s a little creeped out by these giant paintings of Rayna’s daughters watching him make out with their mother. He and Rayna wind up having a chat about trust, and he asks Rayna if firing Liam had anything to do with their romantic history. Rayna admits maybe a little, but mostly because she’s determined in the wake of Lamar’s death to cut out all people she can’t trust. Luke tells her he hopes she knows she can trust him, which obviously means something is going to happen to interfere with that, right? He asks again how bad things are at her label, and Rayna laughs as she tells him. With all this talk of Rayna needing to sign a new act and Juliette needing a label, seems like it’s a matter of time before Juliette signs with Highway 65, right?
Will and Layla have slept together again, and once again it’s not very fulfilling for either of them. Layla blames herself, and says he has a lot more experience than her. It turns out she had been planning to save herself for marriage. Will wishes she would have told him that. She asks if that would’ve made a difference, and he says he doesn’t know. Layla asks Will what he likes, but he deflects and says he wants a beer and the remote while cuddling with her.
Scarlett has come to see Rayna, and she feels like an idiot. Rayna tells her she’s not an idiot, and promises she’ll find Scarlett a new producer (once again, Avery, duh). Rayna reassures Scarlett that all of what Liam was able to pull out of Scarlett was there in Scarlett in the first place. She tells Scarlett she has to own who she is as an artist and not let somebody else control it.
Juliette comes to see Avery at the Bluebird. He was going to call her, he says. Juliette says she got her lawyers to drop Avery from her deal and then signed. Then she remembered what Avery said about Jeff not respecting her, and she realized Avery would never respect her if she went back to Edgehill. Really? Avery would lose respect for Juliette without understanding why she signed with Edgehill? Anyway, Juliette says she tore up the deal because Avery’s opinion of her is the one that matters. Hm. Avery asks what she’ll do, and she says she’ll figure something out but as far as she’s concerned, he’s her best offer. Avery is touched. Juliette wants to celebrate with dinner. She tells Avery she’s asking him to ask her out. OK.
Deacon arrives back home to a glum, tired Megan. They banter a little but Megan’s heart isn’t in it. She apologizes for being distracted, but Deacon is eager to *ahem* distract her himself.
Rayna is going through other possible new acts to sign with Manager Bucky, including Painted Ponies and Evan Wright. And sure enough, Juliette is actually there in person, waiting for Rayna. Ohhhh, we know where this is headed. Juliette and Rayna share a pretty amusing conversation about respect. Juliette to Rayna, “Do you respect me?” Rayna to Juliette, “In what context?” LOL. Juliette says to Rayna that she remembers Rayna telling Juliette that she (Juliette) was brave for doing what she did at the Opry, and Juliette is wondering if Rayna is brave enough to help Juliette rebuild those bridges she burned in country music. Juliette says she needs a label that will let her be herself, and asks if there’s any chance that label could be Rayna’s. Rayna says she thinks she could help Juliette with that. And…scene! So yes, Rayna & Juliette, together again! Are you excited?
