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Billy Dunne is a main character in the Daisy Jones & The Six television series adaptation. He is a lead musician with the 1976 group The Six, later Daisy Jones & The Six.
Appearance
Character overview
"The band’s charismatic frontman whose increasingly complicated feelings for bandmate and songwriting partner Daisy Jones (Keough) threaten to upend every facet of his life."[1]
Plot summary
Billy participates in a documentary about his former band, Daisy Jones & The Six, twenty-years after their legendary breakup. He asks the interview how long this will take, then if Daisy also agreed to this.
The interview starts with them reflecting on his early years in Pittsburgh, 1968. A young Billy practices his guitar in a music shop, then walks home where he exchanges smiles with two local girls. There were two options for kids in his town; the mill or the war. But he always dreamed of something different. He walks home to greet his mother who takes the groceries, adding with annoyance that he's still in the bedroom. Billy walks upstairs to Graham's room, finding the younger sibling laying in bed, morose. He tells “Peaches” that she's just a girl and there will be others. He knows because Graham is 14 years old and can play the guitar. He's going to have plenty of girlfriends one day.
Graham decides to start a band with his brother and three best friends, Eddie Roundtree, Warren Rojas, and Chuck Loving. Billy laughs at the memory, as he never agreed to be in their band. He said he would listen, and maybe give them some pointers. Graham, however, smirks that he knew his brother. Eddie recalls that by the second practice, he was basically in the band. By the third, it was his.
Billy watches the band rehearse and stops them after a few moments. He corrects each of them, though Graham suggests he shows them how it's done. Billy adjusts the microphone and takes his spot at the front of the band. Warren reminisces that they did 10 proms, and 20 graduation parties, and he doesn't even know how many sweet sixteens. Graham calls the band a distraction, an escape, that none of them thought anything more of it - not even Billy. But everything changed one night.
By 1970, the Dunne Brothers band takes the stage at a small outdoor party. They start performing Susie Q, a song they take with them across their performances, which includes a wedding one night. Mid-song, Billy sees an older man dancing with a younger woman and freezes. Graham follows his eye line to the couple who stumble off. Billy leaves the stage and Graham chases after him. Billy, upset, remarks the man is supposed to be in Georgia. Graham bets he never even left. The rest of the band joins them, with Eddie asking what's wrong with them. Warren is happy over the performance and brushes off Graham's remark about the guy in there. He calls him a creepster with the combover and a girl half his age. He's Billy and Graham's father.
Graham was four when he left so he never had a father. But it was different for Billy because he worshiped the guy. Billy wants to say something, but Graham doesn't think it's a good idea. Billy plows past and walks inside, standing inches from the man, asking if he knows who he is. The man wonders if he should. If he should, then of course he does. He'd recognize that guitar anywhere. Graham pulls Billy away but Billy grabs the guitar and jams it at the man, telling him to take it. He shouts for him to fucking take it. The man has no use for it. He gave it to Billy as something to remember him by. Billy smashes the bottom of it on the ground. He calls him an asshole and leaves. Graham looks at the man and then punches him across the face. Eddie and Warren pull Graham away. Once in the parking lot, Eddie asks if Billy is okay.
Graham can still see the look on his face. That's the moment it became real.
Billy calls them into a huddle. They're all his brothers and he loves them. They work hard, stick together, and they're gonna be the biggest fucking band in the world one day. They all trust him and are family, pulling into a group hug.
Billy really believed it too, even before he met Daisy.
Billy is doing laundry when he notices a girl across the room who occasionally glances at him. They make eye contact and she walks over. She starts to ask him a question and he assumes she knows who he is, and introduces himself as Billy Dunne, offering a handshake. She was just going to ask if he was using the basket near him. He's not and passes it over to her. He asks if she doesn't know who he is, and she wonders if she should. He's in a band, a statement she thinks is cool. He mutters to himself then clarifies that some people know him and he saw her looking over. He smiles awkwardly then tells her never mind. Camila asks what a rockstar like him is doing in the local fluff and fold. His mom's washer-dryer broke. She thinks it's sweet of him to help his mom out; he must be a good son. He admits it's his washer-dryer too. She teases him that he still lives with his mother, making him laugh. He asks if he can turn this around but there's not much. He asks for her number and he'll write her a song. She asks if that line ever works. He asks if it has since it's the first time he's using it.
Over the next year, it felt like all they did was practice. If his hands were red and raw by the time he went to bed, he knew it was a good day. They had a lot of good days back then. Camila takes pictures and videos of the band as they practice. Billy tells the band to go again. One night, Billy goes to Camila's house with a bouquet of flowers. She hopes he brought the tie she picked out, and he has it in his pocket. She helps him put it on, teasing that he's a mess, and he kisses her. Once inside having dinner with Camila's family, Billy compliments Mr. Alvarez on his home, earning a sigh. Mrs. Alvarez brings up that Billy works in the steel mine, which he assures her is just temporary. He's a musician, in a band called the Dunne Brothers. They're working hard at it and playing gigs every night. It doesn't exactly pay the bills, but Camila is sure it will.
Graham, Billy, Eddie, and Warren pull up to Chuck's house where they practiced every day. The garage doors are down and Chuck sits on the steps. He tells the band that he got into college, but the guys didn't know he applied. Warren asks if this was before or after he spent all his money on the van. Chuck knows, but they have a great dental program. He guesses he's going to be a dentist now. Billy asks him not to do this when things are starting to happen. They're opening for The Winters on Thursday and that's just the beginning. This is a real opportunity for Chuck. He knows this is Billy's dream, but just because he wants something to happen doesn't mean it will. Billy really does think there's a future with the band. Chuck thinks he's out of his fucking mind and goes inside. Eddie wants to cancel the gig, but Billy refuses, even though they don't have their bassist. After a moment, Billy tells Eddie to switch over to bass. He refuses at first then asks for how long. Billy thanks him and pats his chest on the way into the van. Eddie throws his cigarette on the ground.
The band and Camila arrive at their gig for The Winters. Camila clings to Eddie's arm happily then hugs Billy, remarking that it's unbelievable. Graham stares at The Winters keyboardist, Karen and Warren laughs at him to keep dreaming. The bands pass at the steps and the Dunne Brothers compliment The Winters. Karen is the last to come down, and Graham compliments her. After introductions, she asks if he knows a good place to eat around there. He asks if she's going to stick around as it'll be a good show. She thinks maybe next time and he suggests the best burger place in town. The Dunne brothers take the stage and Karen sits down next to a man with a reserved seat - Rod Reyes.
Rod Reyes, a tour manager, mentions that in a lineup people can still point to Jagger and say that's the rockstar. Billy Dunne had that in spades.
Rod sits with the band outside and suggests they write their own songs. Billy has written some but they aren't good enough yet. He wrote one called “Never More” about the Catonsville Nine. Rod vehemently tells him no, groaning about him being Bob Dylan. Enough with the political shit. No one needs reminding that the world is a mess. They want to feel good again, and feel hope and suggest he write a love song. He tells Graham to cool it with the solos. Nobody cares about his technical guitar skills. They want to sing and dance.
Billy rebuffs that Rod had a lot of ideas.
The last thing Rod imparts is for the band to get out of Pittsburgh if they want to sign with a label and work with producers such as Teddy Price, which piques Billy's interest. Rod knows everyone and they're all in LA now. Not London or New York, but California. The group talks outside the gig and is all in. Warren better gas up the van and laughs if she'll make it. Camila walks over to ask what they're talking about.
Billy and Camila sit on her front steps. He wants her to come with them, but she wonders what she'll do. She can't just follow him around. She has a job and is going to school. She can't just fall for some boy across the country. He takes offense to her calling him “some boy” as he's not “some boy”. She asks what this is then and he tries to hold her but she pulls away, heading back up the steps. He asks if that's it then if it's over. She turns to face him as he still owes her that song. She goes inside while he cries on the steps.
Billy tells the interviewer that it's not enough to meet the right person, you have to meet them at the right time as well.
It's pouring down rain as the Dunne Brothers prepare to leave for California. Eddie secures the luggage on the roof when Camila walks up holding an umbrella and a cooler. She asks if there's room for one more and Warren cheers over her presence. She gets into the back of the van and Billy asks if she's sure about this, about coming. She nods and he kisses her. On the road, Graham brings up how the keyboardist Karen brought something to the mix, and Camila agrees with him. On the drive down, they smoke and laugh in their van. The Dunne Brothers arrive in LA mid-jam session. Billy gazes out the window at the street performers, Warren waves to the girls, Camila takes photos, and Billy makes eye contact with Daisy Jones for a split second before turning his attention back to the group.[2]
After arriving in LA, the group heads to Rod Reyes's mansion in the hills. Billy presses the buzzer until he answers. He introduces himself and the band, reminding Rod that he said he could call. Rod looks them over. They didn't call, they're just here. Billy asks for ten minutes of his time. They sit outside by the pool and list the things they need. They need a place to stay, money since they rallied all their savings but don't have much left, and Teddy Price. Rod asks if they're fucking idiots. If they really think they can just show up in LA and be handed a key to the city and sit down with Teddy Price. Rod's a tour manager, not a band manager, so unless they're planning a world tour he's not their guy. Billy insists they aren't looking for a handout. Rod tries to recall their sound and their set was kind of tight. He'll make one call over to his guy at Filthy's, a bar on the Strip. Everyone is grateful and thanks him profusely. They start to leave when Graham asks for one more favor.
They head to a diner and use the payphone to call Karen, though Graham's bumbling goes on too long. Billy takes the phone and asks her to be in the band. She yells at her bandmates that a pan is burning in the kitchen. She apologizes for the minor kitchen emergency. He was just saying that the Dunne Brothers would like her to join their band. She questions if it's in Pittsburgh, but they're actually in LA now. They have a couple gigs lined up on the Strip and are renting a house. Graham whispers to Billy to tell her it's in Laurel Canyon, prompting Camila and Warren to swat Graham away. Billy asks Karen if she wants to be in the best band in the world. She wants to speak to that girlfriend of hers. Camila gets on the phone and Karen tells her to be honest, if they're worth it. Camila wouldn't be there if they weren't. Karen looks over to The Winters who are passed out on the couch.
Camila tells the interviewer that it takes two to make a home, and sometimes things are just that simple. So that first house wasn't perfect but they made it work. Didn't matter to them that it smelled like wet clothes or that an old woman died in it the week before. They got it cheap, they got it fast, and they got to live in Laurel Canyon.
Billy strums his guitar as Camila films him on her camcorder. He asks to see the recorder to have a look, pointing it at her. She giggles and covers herself with a blanket. He remarks that she can record him all she wants but he can't shoot just one second. She allows one second and lowers the blanket, smiling. He loves her and she crawls up to him, noses the camera, and then they kiss.
A few nights later, they all arrive Filthy McNasty's for their first gig. As everyone walks in, Billy pauses at the door to take in Whisky a Go Go next door, which reflects in his sunglasses. The band does a huddle with Billy reminding them that the smaller the gig, the bigger they play. They put their hands in a circle and yell “Pittsburgh” on three. They take the stage as Camila records them performing "Look Me In The Eye".
Billy tells the interviewer that for those first eight or nine months of playing at McNasty's, sure, hardly anyone saw them play. But it was when they really fell in love as a band. The only problem is that they didn't get paid at all. Even when people started coming to their gigs they still weren't the people they needed.
The band performs "Flip The Switch" one night while Camila watches from the front row, mouthing along to the lyrics. Billy looks over at the unreserved booth for Teddy Price and takes a drink of his beer.
Camila counts out the money as the group sits at a booth in a diner. Eddie asks what happened to the parrot guy she talked to, but the parrot guy passed on them. He calls that bleak, and she suggests he keep half of that toast for the next day because what they have barely covers rent. Warren snuffs out his cigarette, wondering if old Chucky was right. Maybe this was all a big mistake and they should have just stayed at home with their moms, saved money on rent, and become a dentist. Camila has sent hundreds of photographs out but not a single paper has responded. She wonders if she should just quit, but no one ever said it would be easy. Billy pours liquor into his coffee mug and drinks it. While they're talking about stuff, Warren asks why he's the only one without a bed in the house. Billy reminds him that he could have taken Karen's room, but he couldn't because it's haunted. Camila and Graham mumble that it's not haunted. Eddie holds up the “pocket toast” that he's eating. Karen asks why they're still called the Dunne Brothers. Three of the members aren't Dunne's and she's no one's brother. Billy asks if she wants to change the name, and Eddie personally thinks that's a great idea. Billy glares at him and then refuses to change the name since that's what people know them. Eddie argues it's not doing them much good. Warren and Graham exchange terrible band name ideas like "Immaculate Reception" and "Hercules". Eddie offers up "Deliverance", "Espionage", and "Poison". All of which are met with overwhelming disapproval. Billy, with finality, believes the six of them will never agree on a name so they should just stop it. Karen perks up and asks about "The Six". Eddie disagrees as there are only five of them, but Karen nods to Camila as the sixth member. Eddie thinks people will get confused. Warren knows they can't be The Five because of bands like The Dave Clark Five, and the Jackson 5, everybody's the five. Graham kind of likes The Six, which Warren jabs is better than Hercules. Daisy walks past their booth and her manager Dave yells after her that she still has ten more minutes. She apologizes and tosses her apron on her way out. Billy turns to look at the noise and Camila wraps her arm around his, pulling his attention back to the table.
One night while getting groceries at the local corner store, Graham, who is waiting in the car for Billy, sees Teddy Price enter the store. Moments later, Billy walks out. Graham tells Billy that Teddy just walked in and Billy tosses the groceries in the car and then runs into the store after him. He watches Teddy buy a bottle of liquor and follows him out front. It's then that he stops Teddy and admits he's a big fan. He doesn't give up when Teddy tries to walk away, mentioning after some poor attempts to further compliment him that he has a band. He convinces a very skeptical and slightly uncomfortable Teddy to hear his band "The Six" play one song for him. Before giving over his card, Teddy reminds that he only gets one chance at this. He asks if he's ready and Billy, without missing a beat, says "absolutely". They get into their respective cars. Billy tells Graham the news and they give a restrained celebration in the car.
Once home, Billy tries to figure out the perfect song to play for their audition. Camila suggests "Daybreak" but it's a Bowie rip-off and he doesn't think "Blind Alley" is good enough. He downs his drink and gets up to get more. She tells him no and holds out her hands, asking him to come here. He sits back down and she asks if there's anything he doesn't think is horrible. There's one he's been knocking around but it's not like the others. It's also not ready, but she cuts him off. He strums the guitar to sing “Silver Nail”. She knows it's the one when he's done singing it.
Once at the audition, Eddie isn't pleased to be playing a ballad for Teddy and Graham is still shaky on the chorus. Billy squashes their worries about only getting to play one song because this will be the one. Teddy comes in and sits on the couch, checking his watch. Billy thanks him for the opportunity on behalf of the band, The Six, naming the song Silver Nail. Teddy loves them. The Six leave Sound City while celebrating and hugging tightly.
Graham smiles to the interviewer that finally, they were on their way. Billy mentions that people thought they played one song for Teddy Price and he gave them a deal, but that's not true. For months he put them through the wringer. But it was worth it.
The Six perform at Whisky A Go Go and file outside, sweaty. Teddy tells Billy they sounded good in there. Billy shakes his head as if they were good but not great. His voice during Flip The Switch and Eddie's chasing Warren on time every damn song. Teddy chuckles at him - he booked them into a studio for next week and if the label agrees, it's high time the kids cut an album. Billy, elated, tries to hug Teddy who pushes him off as he's wet. He turns to share the news with his band who are overjoyed. They hug one another and then an off-put Teddy, who tries to fend off the sweaty musicians.
The Six start their recording sessions in 1974 with Look Me In The Eye. Camila snaps photos of them performing as Teddy listens from the other side of the glass. She records some of the moments, focusing on each member. Billy sings while Warren is drumming, Eddie and Graham on guitars, and Karen on the keyboards.
Billy looks back on everything having gone so slowly, and then suddenly it was happening so fast. They recorded their album in six days, had two weeks off, and then it was time to hit the road for their first tour.
He talks to Camila at their home while packing for the tour, hoping to have enough money to buy their own place when they get back. Maybe further up the hill, or on the beach. Camila tells Billy that she's pregnant and he stops to look at her. She's been wanting to tell him but there was never really a great time for this stuff. Between the rehearsals and the album, she tearfully says he's going on a tour now. He starts to talk but she cuts him off. She doesn't even know what he wants. They never once talked about this. She asks what the hell they're going to do and he smiles at her that he knows what they're going to do.
Camila tells the interviewer they got married that night. She holds up a picture of them from their wedding, with their heads cut off. This is the only photo of them from their wedding.
Warren insists on taking a photo of the happy couple since she's always behind the lens. He snaps the photo. Billy talks to his mom on the phone and turns back to Graham, who laughs over him not telling her that she's going to be a grandma. He's going to be a dad, the son of a bitch. He ruffles Billy's hair and then runs off, leaving Billy perplexed. He goes to the bar and pours a glass.
The interviewer asks each member of the group what they remember about the tour. Each band member's face falls slightly as they avert their eyes from the camera. Billy says it was a long time ago, letting his voice trails off. An emotional Camila remembers everything.
Camila, a few months pregnant, rushes to the phone to answer when Billy calls from Phoenix. Everyone's still asleep around him. The more they talk, the less he remembers calling the night before. She reassures him that he did call her and he apologizes for not knowing what's going on. She smiles that “we just miss you” and he questions her usage of “we”. She smiles that she means her and the baby. He goes quiet on the other end. After their record came out, she tries to call them but can't get a hold of anyone. This trend continues until Karen answers, admitting she doesn't know where Billy is but has to go, dodging her question of if everything is okay.
Camila decides to surprise everyone by showing up at their closest gig. She knocks on their motel door but no one answers. She walks into the parking lot, tearful when she sees Graham and Eddie walking back. They glance at the tour bus and she notices. Graham tries to stop her from opening the door but she pushes him off her. She pulls open the door and gasps at the sight of Billy making out with a girl while another is between his legs. After a moment, she turns back to the boys and questions if they've been covering for him this whole time. She shoves Eddie twice, telling him “fuck you” as she storms away. Billy stumbles out of the bus with his pants barely buttoned. He asks what the guys did, then stumbles after Cami.
Billy showers while Camila sits on the bed crying. He gets out and stands in the doorway for a moment. He takes a baggie out of his jacket and snorts the contents. Camila looks at him in disgust and jacks him against the wall, demanding to know what the fuck he thinks he's doing and what is wrong with him. She slaps him across the face while keeping one hand on his jacket. If he thinks she's going to let him ruin her life, their life, letting her voice trail off. She doesn't care what he does until this baby comes, but when it does he is going to show up for her. He looks away but she jerks him back to look at her. He's going to show up for her, this child, and he's going to keep showing up for the rest of his goddamn life. He nods slightly in understanding and she swats his face, telling him to clean himself up. She leaves the room shortly after while he leans against the wall. He walks out of the motel room as Graham is strumming the guitar. He takes a drink from a bottle of liquor.
Billy reflects that he thought he could handle it. Get it out of his system. Graham shakes his head, as his brother was always great at lying to himself.
One night, The Six are performing while Billy, drunk and barely able to stand up straight, slurring the words to Look Me In The Eye. Graham and Karen exchange a worried look and Billy hits a series of bad notes followed by a scream that makes Eddie wince. Teddy watches them perform backstage. The song ends so Billy thanks San Diego and compliments the crowd. Graham tries to coax him off the stage but he pulls away abruptly. He staggers off the stage as the crowd boos them for leaving early. Billy staggers off stage and sees Teddy. He accuses Graham of calling him, but Graham swears he didn't. Billy hugs Teddy and asks what he's doing there.
He was just coming to check on him, but plans have changed. Camila's had the baby, a little girl, which stuns him to his core. It's time for him to go meet his daughter.
Billy looks at the camera emotionally.
Teddy loads Billy into his car and tells Eddie, Karren, Warren, and Graham that they'll see them in Seattle. He drives off as the rest of the band watches, morose, then heads back inside. Billy tells Teddy to pull over and he does. He hangs out the door and vomits as Teddy grips the wheel. They arrive later that night at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, where Teddy tells him the girls are waiting for him, but he can't do it. Teddy tells him he's got to but Belly is firm that he can't. He can't have her meet him like this. Teddy reminds him there won't be a second chance at this, but Billy looks away crying. Teddy yells at him to get the fuck out of his car. Billy does but leans on the door while sobbing.
Billy apologizes to Teddy as he can't do it, stammering his words through emotions. Teddy tells him it's alright and that he can come back inside, coaxing him all the while. He sits down in the car as he just can't do it, apologizing again. Teddy nods and starts the car, as there's someplace else they've got to go then.
He knows it's the same old tired rock and roll tale. Drinking, drugs, loneliness. The interviewer agrees, but that's usually the end of the story. But for him, that's just the beginning. Billy looks up at the camera.[3]
Billy steps outside of his rehab facility in 1974 and Graham picks him up. The brothers hug and then start driving home as Graham fills Billy in on what he's missed. Eddie built his own bass, they tried a new backing session on "Look Me In The Eye" that he thinks he'll like, but Billy cuts him off. He just needs to meet his daughter. Graham smiles as he's gonna love her. The other day they were hanging in the yard and she looked up at him with those big eyes, and she smiled, not a smile from gas but a real, full human smile. Billy sobs in the passenger seat.
In the documentary, Graham admits that he and the band didn't really understand addiction back then. He thought Billy would just dry out. Things would go back to the way they used to be.
Billy arrives at the Laurel Canyon house and hugs Warren, who has a mustache now. Karen embraces him and notes that he looks good. Warren tries to do a "Pittsburgh on three" but no one follows his lead. Eddie wants to show off his new bass, but Graham stops him as Billy's got to meet his daughter. Billy nods that it's good to see them and walks inside while the band waits in the garage.
Camila is on the bed with Julia while Lucia folds laundry. Billy comes in and they timidly greet each other. Julia starts to cry so Billy doesn't walk over right away. He stands over his daughter and smiles, apologizing for being late. Camila offers to let Billy hold her, but he doesn't want to make her mad. Lucia, in Spanish, offers to take her for a walk, but Camila insists they're fine - Julia just needs a nap. He offers to help with that or pick something up from the store but they're fine. She sets Julia in her crib and leans against it. Billy awkwardly approaches and rests his forehead on hers; he missed her. Her mom has been staying there to help with the nightly feedings so he should stay in one of the other rooms for the first few nights.
In the documentary, Eddie, Warren, and Graham recount what happened while Billy was away. The label dropped the band a week after the tour was canceled. They made them pack their advance and everything. Graham kept them practicing as much as he could and got a job at a body shop. Warren got a job down at Malibu Harbor cleaning boats which he loved and doing a lot of mushrooms. Which he also loved. Eddie believes they were back where they started, worse, even. The interviewer asks if he's still upset about it, but he quickly insists he's not. Holding onto that shit will be the death of someone. But Billy really fucked them over.
Graham checks up on Billy, who he's sharing a room with. He strums the guitar and then offers it to Billy, who doesn't want to right now. He understands, offering maybe tomorrow or whenever he's ready. Billy can't do it - he's out, done. Graham tells him to get rest but Billy can't be like dad. He has to look after his family. Graham reminds him they're his family and he's his family. Everybody down there has been waiting for him. Billy wants Graham to tell them for him, but Graham refuses to. They were so, so close. He leaves the room upset.
In the morning, ,Billy gathers everyone in the living room to tell them he's leaving the band. Graham tries to keep everyone calm, but Eddie lashes out at Billy as he's pissed. Billy's not sure why they're upset as they don't even need him; they've got the songs and the fan base. Before he can offer up a solution, Eddie shouts at him and then tells him that if he's going, to go. Billy walks out of the room and Warren asks what they do now.
He wakes up in the morning with Camila by his side. He starts fixing things around the house and going for runs. Teddy drops by to see Billy and they sit outside. Billy correctly guesses they asked him to come to change his mind, but Teddy isn't going to. He thinks he's doing the right thing. He came because he missed him. Billy looks away - he knows he never said thank you for what he did. Teddy stops him. He's just glad that it seems to have taken because it doesn't always. It's never ever gonna get easier, which Billy knows.
Camila plays with Julia on the floor of their bedroom when Billy comes in. He thinks they should go home to Pittsburgh. They'd be closer to her parents, to his mom. He'll get a construction job as he likes building things, and she could get a job at the paper, taking pictures. She sits up and asks if he thinks she moved here for him. Because she didn't, she moved here with him. For them and the life they wanted. He's just trying to be practical because if they stay here, he doesn't know if he can handle it here anymore. She doesn't think that's the problem but he doesn't feel that she's listening to him, admitting that he's weak. She snaps at him to pick up his kid. When he doesn't, she asks what he's so afraid of. She was scared when she held Julia for the first time and he wasn't even there. She was so hurt when he left. But she stayed. She faced it and she didn't leave. She asks again what he's afraid of. He thinks he's afraid that she's going to love him and he's going to fuck it all up. She welcomes him to the club. He slowly gets off the bed and picks her up from the floor for the first time, holding her in his arms and offering her a rattle.
He holds her in a rocking chair outside, humming softly. He then stands up and vocalizes as he bounces her. During the day, Camila bounces Julia on her lap. He kisses Julia's feet on the couch and holds her as he plays with her, vocalizing softly. By night, Camila wakes Billy by holding his face, then leaning against him. She kisses him and they make out.
In the morning, Eddie sits outside with Camila and Julia. She tells him he doesn't have to stay out here, he can go back inside if he wants. He wants to stay as he loves hanging out with the little troublemaker. Camila smiles that she's the best and they play for a moment. Billy walks by and stops to look at the trio, and Camila smiles up at him, and he walks past. Eddie asks if things are just back to normal with them, just like that. He's sorry but he just doesn't know how she can do it. She asks if he's ever been in love and he looks at her, then looks away. She doesn't stop being in love with someone because things get hard. At least she doesn't.
Christmas, 1974. Camila rushes to get her camera and records Warren hanging stockings and Billy holding Julia while Graham and Karen entertain her with tinsel. Billy turns to the camera and has Julia wave to her mama. Camila records the evening as everyone laughs and has fun, hugging each other over gifts being exchanged. At the end of the night, Billy puts Julia to sleep and everyone cheers for him. He wants to play something for them if they're open to it. He understands if they're not and Eddie scoffs they're not, then asks the band if he's right. He doesn't think Billy can just walk back in as if nothing happened. He apologizes and leaves to check on Julia. Eddie calls the asshole back to play the damn song.
Billy plays his new song Honeycomb for Teddy in his office. He turns it off mid-song. Billy knows it's a new direction but still thinks it's a good song, and Teddy agrees. But he burned a lot of bridges and a lot of money when he canceled that tour. Money that wasn't his and yeah, the song is good, but there are a lot more people with his sound now. Talking to the label won't help, and neither will Teddy talking to them because Billy's fuckup is his fuckup. He thought Billy's record would be the one to fix things but it didn't. He'll play it for them and they'll see what they say. Billy thanks him.
In the documentary, the next thing Karen knew, they were booked in the studio. Warren remembers Teddy thought a vocal vocalist might give them an edge. Karen knew it was someone he was working with. Eddie had never heard of her then, no one had. Graham smirks since Billy wasn't thrilled with the idea.
Billy argues with Teddy in the studio over adding a female vocalist to the mix. It's not a duet. Daisy arrives and Teddy introduces Daisy Jones to Billy Dunne. She smiles at him - she likes his song.
Billy chuckles and looks down. Daisy merely smiles and looks around the room then back to the camera.
Daisy gets set up in the booth, asking for a glass of milk and whiskey. Or one if they don't have the other. The band talks in the booth while Billy, on the other side of the glass, asks Teddy why he's smiling. He's just generally delighted. Billy enters the recording studio as Eddie, Warren, Karen, and Graham leave. He picks up his headset and Daisy mimics his movements. He offers to talk through the song first but he's fine unless he had something that he wanted to talk about, but he's fine. Tobias shows Daisy where her volume is and that Billy is on channel two. She tests the volume a few times. Graham wonders if she's never recorded before, and Warren smirks that she's about to. Eddie asks where her pants are, but Eddie doesn't care. Karen tells them to shut up. Teddy has Billy and Daisy test their levels. They do the first take of "Honeycomb".
Billy starts them off but Daisy notices the band staring at her. She taps on his shoulder, interrupting him. She asks if they need the audience, and he asks if she means the band. Eddie scoffs over her talking about them, and Warren agrees as it's their song. Karen thinks they should give her some space, offering to talk to Deb instead. The boys hurry out of the room to talk to her. Karen closes the door behind them and stays to watch. Teddy starts off with "Honeycomb", takes two. Billy sings the first few lines as Daisy watches him, then joins him in singing. Their voices meld together perfectly and Karen leans on the table with a fixed look on her face, before looking incredulously at Teddy, who just stares at the singers. It isn't long until Billy stops her as those aren't the lyrics. He calls for someone to bring him a pen so he can write down the lyrics, but she knows the words. She's singing them. She offers her journal as proof. He asks what the hell this is, and she's annoyed he didn't get the revised version. Teddy wants to give her a version a go and just see how it sings. Billy argues with him as her version's like a completely different song. Daisy interrupts to ask what he thinks his song is about. Taken aback, he repeats the question - what does he think the song that he wrote is about. It's about starting a new life, it's about redemptions from letting people down. She surmises it's about guilt, but he rebuffs that. She apologizes as she's not trying to pry or anything, she's just trying to get them on the same page and understand the story better so she can help, which is why she's there. She assumes it's about him letting somebody down. Now he's saying everything's fine, look at us now, everything's in the past. The problem with that is she doesn't believe it, it doesn't sound honest. It sounds simple. She doesn't know him very well but he doesn't seem simple. She asks why he called it Honeycomb when that's a Ricky Nelson song.
Karen asks Teddy if she's always like this, while the leads continue to bicker. Daisy insists she loves the song and that it's beautiful. But he wrote a speech when, at the very least, she thinks it can be a conversation. He takes off his headset and storms out of the session.
Eddie, Deb, Warren, and Graham watch TV when Billy storms into the room. Karen and Teddy enter shortly after, and Billy demands answers from Teddy. Billy's either going to kill her, Teddy or himself, asking where he should start. Daisy walks over and Billy dismisses her as they need a minute. He asks Teddy to come and talk to him. Daisy asks Teddy if this is the part where the men figure out the solution, but he highly doubts it.
Billy walks into a closet and Teddy comes in, turning on the light and closing the door. He asks why they're in a closet, but Billy, pacing, thought it was just another room. He's mad Teddy had her rewrite the song. Teddy asks what he thought of the sound, and it sounded to him like she ruined the great song he wrote. Teddy disagrees as he wrote a good song, not a great song. She's right - his version is simple, he's holding back and he gets it. He wouldn't want to go to those places either if he were Billy. Billy is confused because if the label loved the song then why is she here. But the label didn't love it, they said no, which confuses Billy, who asks who's paying for the session. Teddy is quiet for a moment. He loves Billy and asks if he knows that. Billy leans against the wall and Teddy leaves the room, closing the door behind him. Billy stays inside to think.
He walks into the sound booth and Graham asks if he's okay and he is. Daisy picks up her headset and asks if they want to record something or fight more because she's fine either way. Teddy tells her to hold on as they'll be right in. Billy smokes a cigarette and Daisy talks into her mic to greet Tobias, testing out her mic. Billy asks what the fuck is a Tobias, and the sound technician looks up; he's Tobias. Billy trusts Teddy but he doesn't think he's right about this. Teddy thinks they'll just have to wait and find out. Daisy speaks German to Tobias and vocalizes until Billy arrives. Tobias looks at Teddy; she has a perverse sense of humor, which makes him chuckle. He then tells Billy there's a rattle in his mic so they're just going to put the two of them together. Tobias, only to Teddy, tells him there's no rattle, but he knows. Tobias smirks - he has a perverse sense of humor too.
illy and Daisy stand by the mic. She wants to tell him something but he cuts her off. They'll try her version and then they'll get the original. There's no need to argue. She simply smiles. She was just going to say that she loves the sound of his voice. Teddy clears the room for Honeycomb take three.
Billy chuckles as, come to think of it, they never did record his version. He smiles off to the side.
Daisy and Billy start singing Honeycomb and lock eyes the entire time. Their movements are in sync as they sing through the verses. Teddy stares at them, mouth open, a cigarette in his hand.
Afterward, he calls Camila to tell her about the session. She asks how it went. He remembers sitting in the studio listening back to Daisy's voice. He tells Camila it was a nightmare. The whole thing was a total wash. He turns up Daisy's vocals and closes his eyes, listening.[4]
Quotes
Trivia
Appearances
Billy Dunne appears in the following episodes of the TV series:
| Daisy Jones & The Six | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode appearances | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | m | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Gallery
| Characters in Daisy Jones & The Six |
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References
- ↑ Deadline: ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ Casts Sam Claflin; ‘The 100’s Lindsey Morgan Joins ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ Reboot. Denise Petski. February 7, 2020.
- ↑ "Track 1: Come and Get It"
- ↑ "Track 2: I'll Take You There"
- ↑ "Track 3: Someone Saved My Life Tonight"