Nashville

- Previously on "Nashville"... - No pictures tonight.

Gabriella: Country is not ready for a gay star.

- Rayna: Beautiful. I'm so excited. - You killed it!

- You exhaust me. - Son, tell me what you do need.

I need a dad who gives a crap about telling the truth.

- Can you talk? - Now is not... not a real good time.

It might be time for y'all to sign at Highway 65, as a team.

Daphne: Why aren't you excited?

The only reason she signed us at all

is to keep me under her control.

This one was written by a friend of mine.

There was a publisher in the audience tonight...

Said whoever wrote that song should give him a call.

Uh, just letting you know we're about to roll into Charlotte.

Oh, thanks.

Working on some new material?

Yeah. I got a lot of time on my hands.

I figured I'd try and be productive.

Oh. Cool. Can't wait to hear it.

Them. There's seven of them so far.

- S-seven songs? - Mm-hmm.

Wow. That's, uh, that's great.

Thanks.

Shep: Okay, everybody! Listen up.

There was a kitchen fire at the venue.

The show tonight is canceled.

- Oh. - Man: Dang.

It should be back up and running by tomorrow night's show,

but you guys have some time off.

Free day in Charlotte... that's cool.

Yeah, great.

Would you mind dropping me at the airport?

If I got 24 hours, I'd really like to spend them in Nashville.

Kind of early for a crisis, isn't it?

Not when you're working with Markus Keen.

He just decided to scrap a song that he loved yesterday.

Wait, on the album that you're releasing next week?

Yes. I mean, the record was done.

Now we've got to find a new song and get it recorded.

Of course he's at the studio already waiting for me.

Well, you go on ahead, all right?

I will bring the girls to school.

Thank you, baby. I appreciate it.

Mm.

When am I gonna get to see you now?

I don't know, you know?

I mean, knowing this guy, it's gonna be a long day.

- - Yeah.

Good lord.

Hey, Markus.

Yeah. I know. I'm on my way.

How's that bacon, son?

It's bacon.

Well, you need to eat.

I haven't seen you have a full meal in days.

I just don't have much of an appetite.

For food or conversation, turns out.

So, Colt, your dad tells me

that you're pretty big into hip hop.

You know that's where I got my start in branding.

Still can't get used to that word.

Where I'm from, uh,

- branding meant taking a hot poker to a cow. -

Hey, bud.

No phone at the table, please.

Fine. I won't be at the table.

Hey. What are you doing?

I'm just getting ready for school.

You know, not everyone gets to go on tour like you.

Well, it's more like being held hostage

by my dad and his consultant girlfriend.

I'm just happy I finally get to come home.

- What have you been up to? - Nothing.

Mom signed us to her label,

yet the only thing she has planned

is some dumb photo shoot.

Yeah. Hypocrite parents suck.

Is something wrong?

No, why?

I don't know.

You just seem different since I saw you last.

What, you think I don't love you?

Hey, you're the only thing that matters to me anymore.

And if I sound like I'm mad,

trust me, it's got nothing to do with you.

Then what is it?

I need to call Ford back later today.

It's nothing I can really talk about.

Look at him chirping away on that phone

when all I get are short answers and cold stares.

Luke, it was a terrible thing that happened in Atlanta,

but we're all coming out of the other side of it.

Juliette's in treatment,

we finally found a new C.E.O.,

all of our investors are locked in for the brand launch,

and you are gonna be on the cover of Forbes magazine.

We scheduled a photo shoot for it out by the ranch, by the way.

Luke.

Fine, just, uh, don't fill up the whole break with business.

I think me and him need some serious one-on-one time.

- Hey, hi. - Hi.

- You're here. - Yeah!

Ohh. Mm.

I came right from the airport.

I know you said you were busy today,

but I thought we could have lunch together

in the cafeteria or something.

Oh. Um...

I got 24 hours with you.

- I want to make 'em count. - Yeah, me too.

I... but I-I'm working through lunch today.

- I got a patient due any minute. - Oh. O-okay. Yeah.

Sorry, I... when you said you were coming,

I arranged everything so that I could be home earlier.

I was trying to be spontaneous.

- I got all night with you. - Yeah.

All right, so, see you tonight, then?

- Can't wait. - All right.

Uh, Ms. Appleby, hi.

Sorry.

Bye.

Come on in.

Take a seat. Thanks.

Wow, you guys really go all out here.

That's how thrilled we are

to have you in our stable of songwriters.

One song at the Bluebird could land me a publishing deal.

It's a hell of a song.

In fact, we took the liberty

of sending it out to a few select artists.

One of them's already put a hold on it.

- Seriously? - Mm-hmm.

Wants to meet, hear your other demos,

see if you two can write together.

Listen, I'm telling you... one hit with this guy,

the Brads, the Keiths, and the Carries

will all come running,

and you'll have yourself

one very successful songwriting career.

Thank you.

Now, are you gonna tell me who it is,

or are you gonna make me guess?

It's the legend himself... Mr. Wade Cole.

Hey, Cagney.

Avery Barkley.

Long time no see.

Heard you popped up onstage at the Bluebird last week.

I did. Yeah, reminded me of how much I love playing.

I was hoping to make my next appearance here,

turn it up a notch.

I don't know, Avery.

You've been out of the game a while.

I need to count on a big draw.

But if you were to be playing with Scarlett and Gunnar,

or maybe your wife?

No. No, it'd just be me...

the same guy who helped you get this job

a couple of years ago when you were hard up.

How about returning the favor?

Come on, man.

5:00 P.M. tomorrow.

First act up when the bar opens,

but no more than a three-song set.

That's great. Thank you.

What about "Smoke and Mirrors"?

- Mm, pass. - Okay.

"A Father's Son" isn't on hold anymore.

Yeah, and there's a reason for that.

- I thought you loved that song. - Yeah, I used to.

Okay, well, we've been through 40 songs and not chosen one...

These things take time. You know that.

- - I mean, what?

You just hate working with me so much

you're trying to get me out of here?

- No, of course not. I love working with you. - Uh-huh.

It's just that we have got an album to launch.

- I know, I know. -

- Hey! - Hey!

Oh, my goodness. I didn't expect to see you.

Well, I was in the neighborhood.

Thought I'd bring you some coffee.

Thanks, babe.

Um, Markus Keen, Deacon Claybourne.

Freaking Deacon Claybourne.

Dude, it's so good to finally meet you.

Likewise.

I got an idea.

What if your man here has the perfect song

to finish my album, you know?

Give me a little country cred?

- I never even thought about that. - Right?

Probably 'cause we have, I don't know,

maybe a little different sensibilities.

You wrote a bunch of Rayna's songs,