Welcome back to Nashville! Well, Charlotte for now, where Rayna’s wrapped up her set in the last show of this leg of her tour with Juliette. Manager Bucky congratulates her, and they banter about the need for Rayna to sign a couple acts to launch her label before Rayna heads off to make out with Deacon. She invites him over to the house to have dinner with her and the girls (Teddy’s going to take this well!).
Juliette is done with her set, and Avery is taking care of her ear monitors when he notices she is still humming the same song she has been humming for days. He tells her that she should get the song down on paper. Juliette asks him why he didn’t come home with her the other night, and Avery tells her it’s because she was “overserved.” Juliette retorts that that’s a ballsy thing to be saying to his boss, but invites him to help her get the new song down on paper.
Gunnar arrives back to the place he shares with Scarlett after an all night recording session. Scarlett teases him a little about how his producer Jack Nelson wants to promote the “outlaw” image. Gunnar takes it in stride and asks why Scarlett has so many dresses out. She’ll be debuting at the Opry tonight, silly! Gunnar pretends he didn’t forget and starts talking about what a big deal it is when Jack calls him telling him that the Vanderbilt college radio station wants to interview him. Gunnar heads off again as Will arrives home. Another cold greeting between those two, then Will asks Scarlett if she’s excited about her Opry debut. Scarlett confides in him that she’s nervous, and after Will asks if Rayna is just introducing her tonight, Scarlett tells him Rayna is having a “secret session” with the hopes of finding a 2nd act that’ll allow her to introduce her label that night at the Opry. Oh, the wheels inside Will’s head, they turn!
Meanwhile Tandy is meeting with Henchman Albert discussing what to do with Lamar’s land now that Teddy is moving forward with the stadium site elsewhere. Henchman Albert is thinking retail while Tandy is thinking mixed use highrise. Lamar has zoned out, and when Tandy gets his attention, he appears to forget that he has already talked to his zoning commissioner friend and gotten turned down on the stadium front. Tandy asks again if Lamar is sure he’s up for this.
Meanwhile at Juliette’s new home, she is watching clips of the sex tape Dante is trying to blackmail her with. Dante has agreed to turn over the SD card to the security firm Juliette has hired for $2 million. Security guy still thinks Juliette should turn this matter over to authorities so Dante can be arrested and jailed, but Juliette doesn’t want any scandal. Jolene wants to know if there is anything she can do to help, and Juliette tells her to just leave her alone.
Deacon arrives for dinner with Rayna and the girls, and banter ensues. Deacon joins the girls for their adorable version of “Ho Hey,” when Teddy walks in to drop off the soccer gear Maddie left behind. He is not a happy camper to see Deacon, as expected, and when he takes Rayna aside, they argue about territory. Rayna tells Teddy that the girls will always be his daughters but he can’t dictate what she will do.
Avery is over at Juliette’s for a songwriting session. Juliette gives him the lyrics she has, and asks if he remembers the melody she’s been humming. He says he does, and that it had a “love song vibe,” which leads to a conversation in which Juliette rejects the idea of love, saying everybody in her life who’s ever told her they’ve loved her has lied.
Meanwhile Rayna and Manager Bucky have seen the last of their 10 scheduled guys for the day and not feeling the starpower from any of them. Suddenly Will busts in and charms them into letting him have an unscheduled audition.
Over at Vanderbilt, Gunnar is doing his radio interview and pretending to be a sullen outlaw who does what he wants in life and in love. Scarlett is in her car, listening to the interview and turns it off, disgusted.
Back at auditions, Will wows Rayna and Bucky with his verison of “A Showman’s Life.” Rayna tells Bucky to find Will’s demo and make sure Marshall Evans listens to it.
- To DOWNLOAD “A Showman’s Life,” written by Jesse Winchester and performed by Chris Carmack, click HERE.
BONUS: Check out George Strait’s version of “A Showman’s Life” with Faith Hill on background vocals:
Here is Gary Allan’s version of “A Showman’s Life” with Willie Nelson:
Here is Buddy Miller performing “A Showman’s Life” live:
Over at the security firm’s offices, Juliette’s security guy reports Dante failed to show up for the money-SD card exchange. Jolene asks if they can call him but Juliette snaps at her that Dante has been using a different disposable phone every day. Conveniently, Dante calls right that second, and informs Juliette that the price for the SD card has gone up to $10 million. Dante is talking awfully fast, which suggests that he’s relapsed. Juliette snaps at her mother again that it would’ve been cheaper if Jolene had just gone to AA.
Tandy is leading a board meeting as CFO of Wyatt Industries, and suggests that “if” Lamar should decide to transition to “chairman emeritus,” the board should be prepared. Board members call Tandy out on her attempted coup but agree that for practical purposes, it is smart to be ready for a transition.
Gunnar arrives home and Scarlett sarcastically congratulates him on a “nice” radio interview. Gunnar says he’s just trying to build a following. Scarlett reminds him that he rejected his brother’s life because Gunnar knew it would only lead to grief. Taking on the trappings of his brother’s life by taking his song, his wardrobe, and attitude is a dangerous road. Scarlett tells Gunnar that he doesn’t have to come to the Opry if it isn’t outlaw enough for him. Gunnar promises her that he wouldn’t miss it.
Over at Edgehill Republic offices, Rayna and Bucky are excited about Will, and believe he’s going to be the 2nd act that Rayna signs. Bucky’s not sure about his last name “Lexington,” though Rayna thinks it’s a strong Southern name. Their discussion is interrupted when Rayna is served with a restraining order meant to prevent Deacon from coming with 100 feet of Maddie and Daphne. A furious Rayna storms into Teddy’s office, and they argue, again. Rayna says this is about Teddy’s ego and fear, and he says this is about not trusting her when he’s not around. Rayna says this will never stick, but Teddy reminds her that he is mayor, and that he has finally taken her father’s advice to grow a pair.
Jolene is in a seedy part of town, and buys some Oxycontin from an old contact. She tells him that there is something else she needs.
Meanwhile Rayna calls Deacon, and tells him about the restraining order. Deacon is glad he can still see Rayna, like at CMA rehearsals later that day. Maddie walks in just as Rayna is telling Deacon that she loves him. Maddie wants to know who Rayna is talking to, which results in Rayna telling Maddie that she is in fact seeing Deacon. Maddie remembers that Rayna dated Deacon right before she got together with Teddy, and Rayna tells her that all that stuff is very grown up and private, and that she will tell Maddie all about it when Maddie is grown up enough to handle it.
Back at Scarlett’s, Will strides in and tells Scarlett that he snuck in to audition for Rayna, and he is pretty sure she liked him. Scarlett is amused and impressed by his moxie, and sighs about him being able to impress just by being himself. She asks Will to talk to Gunnar because Gunnar will listen to Will. Will hesitates, but Scarlett teases Will that he owes her after using her name to see Rayna James.
At CMA Awards rehearsals, Juliette and Rayna are up to rehearse their presentation of the CMA for Vocal Group Of The Year. The scripted banter is lame, and Juliette says so, many times. They get through their rehearsal, and as they’re walking off stage, Juliette sees Deacon waiting for Rayna. She realizes that they’re together now, and then snaps at an assistant for handing her a bottle of water that isn’t too warm. Rayna lays into Juliette for her lack of respect, prompting Juliette to say that she’ll give respect when she gets respect, whether from the P.A. or the CMA. Rayna jabs her that even if Juliette wins the CMA, it doesn’t mean she’s earned it.
Gunnar is performing “If Momma Coulda Seen Me,” and the performance goes over great. He invites the crowd to buy him a shot during intermission, before he picks things back up. Will joins him at the bar, and Gunnar immediately bristles, saying this scene isn’t the place for a guy in a cowboy hat. Will tells Gunnar this isn’t really Gunnar’s scene either, and right on cue, a heckler starts in on Gunnar about not really having done any time. Will steps in on Gunnar’s behalf, the heckler throws the first punch, and a bar fight ensues.
- To DOWNLOAD “If Momma Coulda Seen Me,” written by Steve Earle and performed by Sam Palladio, click HERE.
Juliette, P.A. Emily, and the security firm are discussing the assets Juliette would have to liquidate for $10 million in cash. It’s doable, but Juliette realizes that Dante will never be satisfied. She decides she’ll give The View an exclusive, and reveal the news of the sex tape herself. Jolene is upset, and wonders about the possible effect on CMA voting. Juliette tells Jolene that votes have already been counted, and this way, Dante will make less money. Juliette heads off to take a bath, but leaves her phone behind. Jolene secretly looks through Juliette’s call log and writes down Dante’s current cell phone number, before heading off somewhere.
Rayna visits Lamar and after a friendly conversation, Rayna tells Lamar about the temporary restraining order Teddy’s taken out against Deacon. Lamar assures her he’ll take care of it, and says the problem with people who rise up too fast is they get too big for their britches.
Backstage at the Opry, Deacon and Scarlett are walking the halls, and meet up with Steve Buchanan, President of the Grand Ole Opry Group and also executive producer of Nashville. He shows her the Into The Circle dressing room, which is reserved for acts making their Opry debut. Scarlett is a bag of nerves and Deacon apologizes that her mother couldn’t be there that night. Scarlett says she needs her job and her boss wouldn’t let her off work. Deacon heads off to get Scarlett some peppermint tea, and Scarlett calls Gunnar, hoping he’s nearby so she can bring him backstage and lean on him a little. A messenger delivers a gift from somebody in the audience: turns out it’s a whisk from Avery, in memory of the time he told her to sing into one, before she started performing. The gesture makes Scarlett laugh in appreciation. Unfortunately Gunnar and Will are in jail, ruing the fact that Scarlett is probably just about to go on stage.
After mixing drugs with alcohol, Jolene calls Dante, telling him that Juliette isn’t going to give him anything. She says she still has the original $2 million, and sells him on the idea that she’s angry at Juliette for triggering Dante’s relapse and for shutting her out. She also tells Dante that she wants the SD card because she loves Dante and the thought of him being with Juliette makes her sick. Convincing! Dante buys it, and asks where Jolene is.
Meanwhile Juliette is rehearsing what she will say about the sex tape while Emily records her rehearsal. Juliette is straightforward in admitting that she fell for and trusted the wrong person. Emily applauds her bravery.
Over at the Opry, with Steve Buchanan and Opry General Manager Pete Fisher watching side stage, Rayna happily announces her new label Highway 65 Records, and introduces Scarlett in her Opry debut. Scarlett, backed by Deacon and by bluegrass great Jim Lauderdale on banjo, performs “Lookin For A Place To Shine.” She is thrilled to be performing, and smiles at Avery in the audience as she sings. The crowd gives her a standing ovation after her performance.
Dante and Jolene have their meeting in Jolene’s apartment. Dante instructs Jolene to get the money before he’ll turn over the SD card. Jolene pulls out a gun and shoots him. Oh my my!
Rayna and Teddy appear before a judge, where Teddy needles Rayna for having her father arrange such a quick hearing and reminds the judge of Deacon’s history with alcohol, using Carmela’s magazine profile as proof that Deacon’s issues may not all be a matter of the past. The judge vacates all temporary arrangements and schedules a custody hearing in 2 weeks.
Tandy is leading a Wyatt Industries board meeting when Lamar strolls in and asserts himself. Tellingly, he kicks Tandy out of his seat at the head of the table.
Juliette is 5 minutes from going on air on The View when Jolene calls her. Sobbing, she tells Juliette not to go on the TV show, and, with SD card in hand, she tells Juliette that when Juliette was young, she always had such a beautiful light about her. Juliette is concerned, and wants to know if Jolene is using again. Jolene hangs up, and destroys the SD card in the garbage disposal. Juliette cancels her TV appearance and runs to find her mother.
Back in jail, Gunnar thanks Will for having his back and apologizes for landing him in jail. Will says it’s not his 1st time, but it’s probably Gunnar’s. Will apologizes to Gunnar to trying to kiss him, and Gunnar admits he overreacted out of surprise. Will says that when he was 17, his father caught him and kicked him out of the house. Will hitched a ride to Abilene, got a job, bought a guitar, and has never been back home. He confesses to Gunnar that he hasn’t figured himself out but the only time he’s happy is when he’s on stage performing, being a country star. He says he’ll do whatever it takes to get there. Gunnar says he will too. You know, if Nashville is going to explore the idea of a closeted male country star next season, it could be interesting. If it doesn’t get too soapy that is.
Juliette, her security guard, and Emily have rushed over to Jolene’s apartment, where they discover Dante shot and killed, and Jolene dead from an overdose. Juliette is devastated over her mother’s death.
Over at Casa James/Conrad, Maddie is doing some snooping in her mom’s closet, and just happens to hone in on a particular box, for no reason that the show has explained.
Scarlett bails Will & Gunnar out of jail. Will promises to pay her back. Gunnar tries to apologize but Scarlett tells him that she can’t be with him when he’s like this. She says she knows Gunnar loved his brother and misses his brother, but she fell in love with Gunnar, not his brother. Scarlett cries as she walks away.
Juliette watches the local nightly news, which reports Jolene and Dante’s death as a relapse-motivated murder-suicide. She quietly cries and turns off the TV.
Teddy is packing up after a night at the office, when Rayna walks in. She asks him to trust her like he has all this time not to compromise his relationship with Maddy. Rayna tells him that he will always be Maddie’s father, and he says she’s “damn right” about that. She promises him she will not harm Teddy’s relationship with Maddy, and a teary Teddy agrees to trust her. But back at Casa James/Conrad, Maddie has discovered records of a paternity test (which just happened to be hanging around in the box that Maddie just happened to find) indicating that Teddy isn’t her biological father, and is crying as she confides in a friend over the phone. Cliffhanger until next week’s season finale!
Also featured in this episode is a song called “Nothing In This World,” cowritten by Sarah Buxton and Kate York, who were recently seen supporting Kree Harrison at the t3 American Idol performance show.
To DOWNLOAD “It’s My Life,” written by Sarah Buxton and Bob DiPiero and performed by Connie Britton, click HERE.
BONUS: Check out VIDEO of Sam Palladio performing his original song “Wake Me Up In Nashville” at the Grand Ole Opry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd7DYAG27TQ
