Nashville – Stand Beside Me

By starrymag | February 23, 2017

By: Julie Mante

 

At the Jaymes/Claybourne house things are tense. Carl Hockney (Linds Edwards), a/k/a stalker boy, has been released on bail so he is allowed to roam free in Nashville. Rayna (Connie Britton) and Deacon (Charles Esten) try to assure their daughters that everything will be fine, but they are not convinced. It gets worse for their eldest daughter Maddie (Lennon Stella) when Rayna tells her that every family member will be assigned a bodyguard until the situation is resolved. No teenager wants to have a “creepy guy” following their every move so Maddie complains, but Rayna lets her know that she is getting a bodyguard – like it or not. Maddie walks away in a huff.

 

Juliette (Hayden Panettiere) is serious about her spiritual journey. Not only is she attending church every Sunday, she is now attending a weekly Bible study with her new friend Hallie (Rhiannon Giddens). Hallie is surprised to learn that Juliette wants to make a gospel album. It is more surprising to her that Juliette wants her and other choir members to sing on the album. Hallie does not think it is a good idea, but Juliette assures her that her intentions are good. Since her accident she has felt at peace in the church, with the music. She asks Hallie if she can have the opportunity to ask the choir if they are willing to participate.

 

Scarlett (Clare Bowen) meets Damien George (Christian Coulson) for lunch. Both of them are nervous, but Damien tells her how he feels. He knows that they both feel an attraction to each other yet he does not want to push his feelings on her. He suggests that they use this lunch to get to know each other. Once the lunch is over, Scarlett can decide for herself if she wants to pursue a relationship with him. Later that night, Carl shows up at Rayna’s house and refuses to leave. The security team calls the cops, but there is nothing else they can do. Deacon is outraged that they cannot take a more aggressive approach to remove him off their property. The head of the security team, Dave Winters (Dave MacDonald), tells them that Carl is obeying the protection order because he is standing 317 feet away from the residence while the order says he has to be 300 feet away. Winters understands their frustrations, but assures them that Carl will make a mistake. In the meantime, the security team will make sure to keep the whole family safe.

 

The next morning, Deacon tells Rayna that Carl is gone. It is terrifying to not know when he will show up again. Rayna has a lot on her plate in addition to having a stalker to worry about: CMT rehearsal, CMT award show, Daphne’s (Maisy Stella) school concert, etc. When Rayna goes to wake up Daphne, the young girl tells her mom that her stomach hurts. Rayna suggests that maybe some breakfast will help. Avery (Jonathan Jackson) is recording new music in the studio as Juliette listens outside the booth. At school, Daphne is taking a test and she gets up to tell the teacher if she can be excused to use the restroom. Once in the school bathroom, she calls her older sister. When Maddie answers the phone, she reprimands Daphne for calling her at work. Daphne tells her sister that she got her period and she needs her to bring her some spare clothes and pads. Maddie tells her that she cannot bring Daphne anything right now, but she will find a way to help her younger sister. Daphne tells Maddie not to tell their mother about her situation, but Maddie did not hear her sister say that.

 

Deacon stops by his cabin to de-stress and is surprised to see Scarlett there. He updates her about the Carl situation. She tells her uncle about how complicated her relationship is with Gunnar (Sam Palladio) is right now. On top of that, she tells him about her feelings for Damien. Deacon understands that she is confused, but she has to make a decision. Scarlett realizes she needs time to figure out her feelings and Deacon agrees she should do whatever makes her happy. When Daphne hears Rayna’s voice outside the bathroom stall, she is mortified. She is worried about everyone finding out that she has her period. Rayna tries to assure her that there is nothing to be embarrassed about. She slides a bag filled with spare clothes and pads under the door to give Daphne some privacy and walks out of the bathroom.

 

Later that day, Deacon comes home and hears Daphne yelling at Maddie for telling Rayna about her period. Maddie yells back and tells her sister she did not hear Daphne say not tell their mother. Daphne does not believe her sister and calls her a liar. Maddie tells Daphne that she understands why she is mad, but she refuses to let her younger sister take out her anger on her. As Maddie is headed for the door, Rayna walks in. Maddie tells Rayna to talk to Daphne about her attitude and leaves. Daphne storms off to her room leaving both parents speechless.

 

Hallie tells Juliette to prepare for a frosty reception from some choir members and Juliette says she can handle it. Juliette is excited that she will get Hallie to record on her album. Juliette tells her friend that she will push Highway 65 to sign Hallie. Hallie does not believe her. Hallie introduce Juliette to the choir members and gives Juliette the floor to tell them her pitch. When Juliette tells them her plans, they ask her a lot of questions. Some members wonder how much input will they get in the process. Will they just be backup singers? Juliette tells them that the album will be a mixture of songs she will write as well as traditional gospel songs. She also says that she is open to members writing their own songs as well. Another member asks her how long she has been going to church and listening to gospel music. Juliette admits that it has not been a long time.

 

One of the outspoken members, Vonetta (Jannette Sepwa), points out to Juliette that gospel music is “black music” and asks her if this is just about music for her. She wants to her to know that this is about something bigger than music to them. Juliette tells her that she gets it. She understands the music and the meaning behind it. Juliette is known for being sexy and her songs are about romantic relationships so this is a completely direction for her. Juliette is able to hold her own as the questions continue to pour. She assures them that they will be paid well for their time. Juliette is offended when Vonetta says that their religion should not be made into a business. She tells her that she is not forcing anyone to participate if they are uncomfortable. In all honesty, making a gospel music is not good business for her, but that is not why she is making this album. As the choir members continue to argue among themselves, Juliette and Hallie are quiet.

 

Scarlett tells Gunnar that she cannot be in a committed relationship right now. She admits that she does not have any feelings for him right now and it scares her. Gunnar seems obsessed with the fact that Scarlett might sleep with Damien. As Scarlett shares her feelings with Gunnar, all he can focus on is Scarlett sleeping with Damien. Scarlett knows that she still has wounds from their past. She still has trust issues, but she is not going to let fear or worrying about Gunnar’s feelings stop her from living her life the way she wants to. Juliette tells Avery what happened at the church, but she believes it will work itself out. When Avery wants her opinion on his new track Juliette says that she is happy that he is returning to his country rock roots, but does not offer more feedback. When he pushes her for some more she says the song is good, but she wonders why he is not maturing his sound. “Just you’re not this angry kid anymore,” she says. Avery is taken aback by this, but thanks her for the feedback anyway.

 

Rayna wants to do something nice for Daphne. She tells Deacon that she got her period the week after her mom died and it was tough trying to figure it all out on her own so she wants to make things easier for Daphne. When Deacon suggests a period party, they both laugh and she tells him that she will take care of it. Deacon asks her if she has time for them to record tomorrow and she says that she will be there. Flynn (Ben Taylor) calls Daphne to check on her because she never came back to class after she left. She tells him that she is fine. He invites her to hang out at a friend’s house and she says she might stop by after band rehearsal. Rayna goes to Daphne’s room to talk and give her a “moon gift” for getting her period. When Rayna asks why Daphne did not want her to know about getting her period Daphne admits she did not want her mom to make it a big deal. Rayna tells her daughter that no matter how big or how small, she will always want to celebrate every milestone in Daphne’s life. This makes the young girl smile as she leaves to go to school. Maddie tells her mother she is going to Clay’s (Joseph David-Jones) show and she does not want a bodyguard to go with her. As Rayna gets ready to protest, Maddie walks away.

 

Juliette meets with the choir members again to apologize. She tells them her life story and how destructive she lived her life. She feels that God gave her a second chance when she discovered this church and no matter if they agree to participate or not, she will continue coming to the church to learn and grow. The choir agrees to sing on Juliette’s album. Rayna pays her daughter a visit at Clay’s show and she brings some security friends with her, which annoys Maddie. It turns out that Gunnar was right, Scarlett did sleep with Damien. He wants her to stay to hangout and she is ready to leave. He is able to convince her to stay for a bit longer. After Clay’s performance, Rayna has nothing but praise for Clay. She invites him to come to Highway 65 to give him some advice about his future. When Clay offers to take Maddie home, Maddie agrees to allow one of the bodyguards come with them so Rayna will be sure of her safety.

 

Rayna goes back to Highway 65 to get some work done when she gets an unexpected visitor: Carl. Even though he is carrying a knife, Carl tries to assure a petrified Rayna that he will not harm her. He tells her that he knows that her security guard is outside and that he has no intentions of hurting him or Rayna. To show her that he is serious, he puts the knife inside his jacket. He tells her that all he wants to do is talk. He tells her that he prefers using his middle name Wayne over his given name of Carl. He tells Rayna that he came into the building yesterday and hid in the broom closet. He says this whole thing blew out of proportion and he never meant to scare her. Rayna tells him that she does not feel safe right now. Wayne tells her that he felt connection with her since he heard her sing for the first time. He says, “You spoke to me in a way that I couldn’t speak to myself. You changed my life. You’ve known me for a very long time. And all I’ve ever wanted was to meet you.” When Rayna moves toward the door, he turns on her. He gets angry and accuses her of pretending like she cares about what he is saying.

 

She tries to calm him down. He starts telling her about his troubled childhood. He had an alcoholic father who beat him and his mother. When she offers her sympathies, he lashes out and says that she is talking down to him again. She yells right back at him that she is not doing that, but she feels threatened by him. He tells her that he has never been violent toward women. He felt like Rayna would accept him and not make fun of him like other women have treated him. Rayna tells him that he is not only one with a terrible life. She may be Rayna Jaymes, but she has a difficult life. She tells him about her father killing her mother and covering it up. That pain does not go away and she tries to replace it her husband, her business and her family but she has found a way to manage it. Writing and performing music has been her way of dealing with that pain. She tells him that he cannot give in to the pain. If he does, his father wins.

 

While she talking to Wayne, Rayna secretly calls the police. When Wayne hears the operator, he tells Rayna to show her hands so she drops the phone. He grabs the knife and asks her why she called the police and says she did it for her children. She knows what is like growing up without a mother and she does not want her daughters to go through what she went through. When he says he should kill her, she tells him that killing her will not lessen his pain. As he turns away in despair, Rayna takes the opportunity to run out of her office and he chases after her. Meanwhile, Rayna’s bodyguard gets a call from the police alerting him that Rayna called 911. He races into the building to save Rayna. Rayna tells Wayne not to stab her and tells him the police are coming. The bodyguard points his weapon at Wayne and tells him to drop the knife. Quickly, more police officers come into the office and echo commands for Wayne to drop his knife. By this point, he has grabbed Rayna and is holding the knife to her throat. Rayna tells Wayne she will not let the officers shoot him, but he has to listen to their orders. She pleads him not to give in to the darkness. “You need to decide who you really are Wayne,” she says. He apologizes and lets her go. The officers pounce on him and arrest him. Rayna is overwhelmed and traumatized by the whole ordeal.

 

Rayna is in a fog. She tells the officers at the scene that she wants to go home. As she rides in a police car, Rayna calls Deacon. She can barely talk. She is crying as she tells him that something bad happened. She tells him that she is okay and she is headed home. As she is talking, another car slams into the police car and hits Rayna’s side of the car.