Markus tells Rayna and Deacon that he is looking forward to working with both of them. Markus goes into the sound booth and puts on the headphones and starts singing the new song. Deacon and Rayna are sitting on the couch outside listening to him. Markus runs through a couple of verses, pulls off the headphones and comes out and asks what they think. Something about it just isn't hitting him right. Deacon suggests that it just doesn't sound country…he needs to drawl it out a little bit….slow it down some. Markus looks at Rayna and asks what she thinks. Rayna defers to Deacon and asks Markus to try it again maybe a bit slower. Markus goes back into the booth, but after another couple of verses, he runs his hand through his hair and takes off the headphones. He comes out again and tells them, he just isn't feeling it today, and he needs to take a break. He will call Rayna when he wants to try it again. Deacon is frustrated at this point, can't believe this guy just took off. Its just so unprofessional. What a diva! Deacon definitely got the feeling he was cramping Markus' style just by showing up today.
Rayna suggests they call Maddie and Daphne and put them into the sound room for a couple of songs and let them get the feel of what recording is like, just so the day isn't a total waste. The girls are pretty excited, maybe Maddie is a little subdued, but Daphne is very happy. Rayna and Deacon smile at each other and he reaches out for her hand. It feels so good sitting here watching their girls, just enjoying this moment and feeling so proud of them. They record a couple of songs and then decide its time to go out for ice cream.
Later when they are back at home, and Daphne says she had a great time today and she can't wait to get back to the studio to record some more and start working on the publicity for their new album, she flips her hair and says, and, you know, sign autographs and pose for selfies with the fans! This brings on an obligatory eye roll from Maddie, which fortunately Daphne misses.
Maddie asks to be excused and goes upstairs to her room. After a few minutes, Deacon decides he is long overdue for a father/daughter talk with Maddie. He knocks on the door and asks if he can come in. Maddie opens the door. Her opinion of her Dad has gone way down. No wonder her mother didn't want him to be her dad (that is what she thinks now, that Rayna found her another dad at the last minute just so she could protect her from Deacon). At first she just idolized him and was so infatuated with his music and the idea that she had inherited both their musical talents, so there was nothing she couldn't accomplish in life with that dna), plus he is pretty handsome and cool compared to Teddy. That was before she saw what he did to the room he had prepared for Beverly in his old house. She was so scared when she saw him that day, and she hasn't shared her feelings with anyone, not Colt and not even Talia. Even though she was angry with Rayna because she was holding her back and treating her like a baby, she could understand now why she tried to protect her from Deacon. It was like a light switch turned on.
Deacon came in and sat down on the bed. Maddie was actually reading a book since all her electronics where taken away… Deacon is uncomfortable but he decides to just come straight to the point. Maddie, I need to know what is wrong. Did I do something? I feel like we were so close, and all of a sudden I feel like you are pulling away from me. Please talk to me. I am so proud of you. You and your sister are so important to me. Tell me what it is that came between us. I want to make it right if I can. Maddie is freaking out. She didn't think he would pick up on the change in her attitude, but she realizes now that he is very emotional and intuitive….and that is part of her legacy too, and, oh god no, she hopes she isn't going to have that angry uncontrollable streak…no she won't let those demons get a hold of her, she is stronger than that, she hopes.
