Nashville – The Night Before (Life Goes On)

By: Nicole Dintelman

This time on “Nashville” Daphne (Maisy Stella) is busy putting on makeup for school and Deacon (Charles Esten) is hurrying her along to give her a ride. Deacon gets a call from Kristi Roberts (Pam Smith) from Foster More regarding a benefit they’re having the following day. She was also responsible for helping Daphne’s friend Liv (Odessa Aldon) find a foster home. Kristi is also hoping to for Deacon to have an auction item from Deacon. It’s an article of clothing of Rayna’s (Connie Britton) that she performed in.

Juliette (Hayden Panettierre) is getting ready for rehearsal and is talking with the choreographer. She tells him not to go too easy on her, she’s ready for anything. Alyssa (Rachel Bilson) calls Scarlett (Clare Bowen) and Gunnar (Sam Palladio)  in about filming a commercial. They don’t feel it’s the right time to film a commercial, but the rep from the company tells them that’s exactly why it’s a perfect time. Dan, the rep from Birchtree Habitat Furniture, lets them know that life is complicated but putting together their furniture doesn’t have to be.

Avery (Jonathan Jackson) stops by to say goodbye to Deacon and apologize for what happened to Deacon. Deacon tells him no problem, they’ve found someone else to produce. He asks Avery if he’s excited about the tour and Avery tells him he should be but he’s sad about leaving Cadence. He asks Deacon how he’s doing and Deacon tells him about the auction and how he’s having a hard time giving them something for the auction. Avery tells Deacon that he can’t imagine what he’s going through but at the end of the day what’s on the walls and what’s in the closet it’s just stuff. No one can take away the time they shared together and the music they shared. That stuff is eternal. Deacon hugs Avery and tells him he’s going to be a good dad.

Maddie (Lennon Stella) asks Deacon what is the benefit he’s playing and he tells her it’s the Foster More and asks her if she wants to go. She tells him that her friend wants her to play a podcast so she can’t but he should bring Daphne. Daphne comes in and says that she’s invited to a friends party and was wondering if she can go. Deacon asks if the parents are going to be there and Daphne says that they are so Deacon tells her that she can go. Deacon then tells the girls that Kristi from Foster More is wanting one of Rayna’s items for the auction and they both instantly throw a fit. Deacon tells them okay he’ll put the jacket back. When they see what it is they tell him it’s okay they both hate that thing and told her to never wear it. Teenagers!

Juliette is doing her stretches and Avery comes in and tells her that their daughter just said: “I love rabbit.” Avery asks Juliette how he’s supposed to leave when Cadence is doing new things every day. Juliette tells him that she’s proud of him and his tour is going to go great. Gunnar tells Scarlett that the commercial could run for months and if it goes well they could be doing another in a few months. Scarlett doesn’t seem thrilled. She tells him great she never thought she’d be writing jingles for a living.

While at rehearsal, Juliette is learning she can’t keep up like she used to. The choreographer can make it easier for her, but Juliette says that she’s got it. Avery arrives in Atlanta and asks the front desk where he can get a drink and she shows him where the bar is. He orders a coke and tells the bartender that he’s opening for Dierks Bentley. She tells him how much she loves him and introduces herself as Nell (Jessica Lu). Nell tells Avery she’ll forgive him for leaving her work while he’s opening for Dierks Bentley if he brings her back a T-Shirt.

Maddie is getting ready to leave for her podcast gig and Daphne (Lennon Stella) comes in and asks her if she can make her eyes look smokey. Maddie tells her no, not for another year or so. Daphne tells her there’s going to be a lot of eighth graders at the party and she’s nervous. Maddie puts blush on Daphne and tells her to be herself and it will be fine.

Gunnar and Scarlett are on set to film their commercial and Alyssa lets them know that Zach sends his regards that he couldn’t be there. Scarlett says that she’s sure they’re going to screw this up. Alyssa tells them that she knows they’re going to do great. When they get to set they see they’re assembling a crib but it was supposed to be a table. This doesn’t sit well with Scarlett. The producer tells them that they thought since she’s pregnant they thought what the hell, why not do a crib.

They start from the top at rehearsal and Juliette still can’t keep up and this time she falls. The choreographer, Anton (Terrence ‘T.C.’ Carson), comes over to her and she finally confesses that she’s having trouble keeping up. Anton tells her that she probably injured herself in rehab because she was working so hard. He tells her that she can still dance, she just has to do it the way she can do it now, not the way she could do it a year ago.

Deacon arrives at the FosterMore event and finds out that he’s performing alongside Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride and Jessie Caine. No pressure. Daphne arrives at the party at the same time as Flynn (Ben Taylor) to find everyone just sitting around the living room. Flynn goes to get them a drink, comes back and Rebecca (Abby Rhyne) says that her parents finally left. Rebecca passes out drinks and all of the kids, with the exception of Daphne and Flynn, start making out.

Avery is hanging at the hotel bar with his band and is drunk when Juliette calls. She’s having a hard time hearing him when Nell grabs his phone and smarts off. Avery takes it back and Juliette asks who it was and he tells her it was the bartender. We think Avery needs to watch Nell, she has her sights set on him and if he’s not careful he’s going to get himself in trouble. Daphne also has herself in an uncomfortable situation. She likes Flynn, but she’s not ready to be at a makeout party with him.

Scarlett and Gunnar’s commercial is going well until the crib is fully put together. When they’re standing there looking at the crib, Scarlett has a breakdown and can’t stop crying. Alyssa comes over and asks if she’s okay. Scarlett tells her that it was supposed to be a table and Alyssa says she will ask the director if they can change it. The director says that they only have an hour left so they can’t change it, they have to stick to the crib. Scarlett says fine it can be the crib, just get it over with. Alyssa tells the director that this has never happened to her before.

Jessie (Kaitlin Doubleday) and Deacon seem to be having an awkward time at the benefit when Jesse’s ex-husband Brad (Jeffrey Nordling) comes up and starts essentially manhandling her. He’s bragging about how he discovered her and made her what she is. He’s a real winner if you’re looking for a slimeball that is. Daphne is out on the swings and Flynn comes out to ask her if she’s okay. She tells him she is, but she just thought the whole night was going to be something totally different. Flynn tells her that he’s sorry about tonight and he didn’t want her to think that he only invited her because he wanted to makeout with her. He didn’t realize that’s what the party was.

Avery is ready to head to his room and asks Nell who he calls if his TV isn’t working. Obviously, he’s really drunk if he doesn’t know the answer to this. Nell tells him the front desk and Avery gets a message from Juliette telling him to call her. Nell asks him if it’s his wife or girlfriend and Avery tells her it’s complicated. Avery tells her it’s a hurricane and he’s the calm in the middle. Nell then tells Avery in a very flirty way that she’s pretty sure she can fix his TV.

When Daphne gets home Maddie asks her how the party was and she tells her it was weird and gross. She tells her it was a weird makeout party and Maddie asks her if she made out with Flynn. Daphne tells her no that she just went outside. Maddie asks what Flynn did and Daphne tells her that he went outside, too. Daphne tells Maddie that they just talked about everything and Maddie says and then you kissed? Daphne tells Maddie no, it wasn’t like that! Maddie tells her it’s ok, she’s just not ready yet. Daphne asks Maddie how you know when you’re ready. Maddie tells Daphne that their mom says you just kind of know and that’s what happened for her. It’s so good to see Rayna here even though we can’t physically see her.

It’s auction time at the benefit and they’ve saved Rayna’s jacket for last. Deacon kind of starts to check out during the bidding. He knows that Rayna is never going to wear the jacket again, but it’s hard to let go. Jessie can see Deacon struggling and knows what he’s feeling. Deacon finally leaves the room and Jessie gets a text from Brad that says: “Stepdad Material?” He really is a monster.

On the way home from the commercial shoot Scarlett feels really bad that she freaked out at the commercial. Gunnar tells her not to feel bad, things happen. Scarlett sees a store and tells him to stop because they are out of milk. Jessie comes outside at the benefit and Deacon is already outside. He starts to tell her that he doesn’t feel like talking, but she starts kicking and throwing the trash cans. She then asks him if he said something and he tells her no. Deacon says a good time was had by all.

Jessie says that it’s times like these that she wishes she still smoked or had a gun. Deacon tells her that her ex sure is a charming fellow and she tells him that he doesn’t have to feel obligated to talk to her. Deacon tells her that some days he can barely stand to be seen and Jessie welcomes him to her life for the last four years. Deacon tells her that at least she’s free of him now and Jessie tells Deacon that this isn’t about Brad. It’s about their son. Brad is mistreating their son and there’s nothing she can do about it because of the things that he’s said about her. Brad has had his employee’s back him up. Jessie says that she’d never presume to know Deacon’s pain because she’s never had a love like that.

Someone from the show calls Deacon in, it’s his turn to perform. Deacon tells Jessie that he thinks she’s tough and she’ll prevail. She asks him: “You think I’m tough?” Deacon tells her to ask the trash cans. There’s a little humor to break up a very heavy situation. Avery is back in his hotel room but he’s not alone. Please tell us he didn’t go to his room with Nell. The phone rings and it’s Juliette. He has to go to the bathroom to talk to her. She realizes he’s not alone and asks him who he’s with. He fesses up and comes out of the bathroom and hands the phone to Yuri (Thomas K. Belgrey) who’s trying to fix the TV. We have expected her to ask him what he was wearing and for him to say khakis!

Once back on the phone with Avery, Juliette tells Avery she’s going to kill him. Avery tells her that he loves her and he misses her. Juliette tells him that she misses him too and asks him why he had to leave. Avery tells her that he thought he missed the old him and once he was there he realized that he likes the new him and he wants to come home. Juliette tells him that he can’t. He has to stay on tour so he doesn’t resent her and Cadence. Finally, Juliette is acting like a rational adult.

Deacon was going to sing a different song, but decides to sing one for Rayna. It’s Waylon Jenning’s song “Dreaming my Dreams with you.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Leaving the store Gunnar and Scarlett get into an argument when Gunnar tells Scarlett that she just needs to finally say how she feels. Scarlett tells him that she doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Gunnar says that she just needs to admit that she doesn’t want to raise this baby with him and she doesn’t want him period. Whoa, where is this coming from? The whole crib thing?

Mid-argument three male individuals approach Gunnar and Scarlett and ask Gunnar to buy them beer. Gunnar tells them no and the ringleader of the group persists and offers ten bucks to buy it for them. Gunnar tells him that his friend looks old enough and the boy say that the people in the store are so mean. Gunnar says that they have plenty of time to drink, go play video games or something. One of the boys tells Gunnar that he knows he drank when he was their age. Gunnar says that he did a lot of stupid things when he was their age and they look smarter. Gunnar tells them not tonight, they have to go, they have to be somewhere. The ringleader asks him where he has to be that’s so important.

Gunnar tells the boys to get out of there. The ringleader tells him he doesn’t have to be so mean and pulls out a gun. Scarlett instantly freaks out. Gunnar asks him what he’s doing and the boy says that he wanted him to buy them some beer. Gunnar tells him that he’ll buy them some beer. The boy says it’s too late for that and now he wants his wallet. Gunnar gives him his wallet. Then, he tells Scarlett he wants her wallet and she’s trying to get it out but drops the grocery bag and the milk carton breaks. When it does, it gets milk on the boys’ shoe and he pushes Scarlett up against the car and she falls.

Instantly Gunnar starts to go after the boy, but he stops him with his gun. Scarlett is yelling, but the boy tells her: “Shut-up bitch.” One of the other boys with him are now getting nervous, while the other one laughs. Jimmy, as we learned the boy’s name is, tells Gunnar to get down on his knees and puts the gun to his head. Jimmy tells Gunnar he’s nobody then hits him in the head with the butt of the gun. Scarlett is crying and Gunnar rushes over to her side to comfort her. We are left wondering if Scarlett’s baby girl is going to escape this unscathed.