Ep 7. The King and I

In Vinyl season 1 episode 7, "The King and I," Richie Finestra (played by Bobby Cannavale) is still reeling from his experience with drugs at a party in the previous episode. His wife, Dev (played by Olivia Wilde), attempts to comfort him, but he is haunted by visions of his past and the death of Buck Rogers.

Meanwhile, Zak (played by Ray Romano) and Scott (played by P.J. Byrne) are trying to sign Elvis Presley to the American Century Records label. They meet with Elvis' manager, Colonel Parker (played by David Proval), who demands a $2 million advance for Elvis to sign with them. Zak and Scott are hesitant to agree, but Richie insists that they make the deal happen.

At the same time, the Nasty Bits are starting to make waves in the music scene. After a successful gig, Kip Stevens (played by James Jagger) is approached by a record executive who offers to sign them to his label. Kip is excited by the offer, but the other members of the band are hesitant.

Meanwhile, Lester (played by Ato Essandoh) is dealing with personal issues. He is struggling with a drug addiction and his relationship with Cece (played by Susan Heyward) is becoming more complicated.

As the episode progresses, tensions rise between Richie and his partners. Zak and Scott are frustrated by Richie's erratic behavior and begin to question his leadership. However, Richie's determination to sign Elvis Presley keeps everyone focused.

Things come to a head when Richie goes to meet with Colonel Parker and Elvis. The meeting does not go as planned, and Richie is forced to make a difficult decision that may affect the future of American Century Records.

Overall, "The King and I" is a tense and compelling episode that explores the personal and professional struggles of the characters in the series. With strong performances from the cast and a well-written script, it is a standout episode in what is already an excellent season of television.