Empire Recap Episode 6 – Out Damned Spot

Tonight’s Empire, “Out Damned Spot” features a guest spot from Courtney Love as a legendary rock star whose fortune and fame diminished as her heroin habit took over. Anika wants to cut her from the Empire roster, but Cookie decides to manage her. It’s personal. Elle’s music got her through hard times during the 17 years she spent in prison. Jamal’s career is about to blow up. Will fame change him? He’s given the opportunity to clear the air about his sexuality. Does he take it? Meanwhile, his relationship with Michael hits a rocky spot. After Lucious comes clean with Vernon about Bunkie, he goes to work to “fix” his problem, despite being horrified that he murdered their childhood friend. Vernon, who has been through some stuff himself, wonders if about a life spent in the service of another’s dream.

I’ll be back with a longer recap of tonight’s Empire. Just a heads up. The first 5 minutes are AMAZING as Cookie attends a dinner, thinking it’s just her and Lucious. Let’s just say she dresses for the occasion. And when she finds out the real reason for the meeting–with the entire family, including Anika–the reaction is PURE COOKIE. That is to say AWESOME.

***

Cookie dresses for a very special occasion. What will she wear? She arrives at the restaurant where Lucious asked her to meet him. She thinks it’s a date. It’s not. It’s a family dinner so Lucious can announce that he and Anika are engaged. As you can imagine, it doesn’t go over well.  While Anika recounts her proposal story, Cookie stews as she pulls the petals off of a rose from a bouquet sitting on the table. She finally erupts, spilling that Lucious came to her house with apulls the petals off a rose sitting on the table.  Cookie spills that Lucious came to her house with a rose “after you proposed to that bitch.”

Lucious claim the rose was only a “friendly reminder of yesterday” while Anika looks warily on. Cookie, however, has had enough.  “You think I came her dressed for a friendly get together,” she says as she rips open her fur coat to reveal a teddy and garters number. Her sons look on, agape.  “Why don’t you all enjoy your friendly little family dinner.” But before she storms out she grabs her bottom and says, “Oh. And Anika. THIS is an ass!”  GO COOKIE GO COOKIE.  Jamal tries to keep from totally cracking up.

A Friendly Dinner

http://youtu.be/X8Jcb-W1Z_A

Back at his crib, Jamal and Cookie listen to his latest song. Boyfriend Michael is like the odd man out.   Lucious hasn’t been paying them any mind, but Cookie is determined to get the song on the charts with or without him.  As she leaves, Michael follows her out. He wonders if she noticed any changes in Jamal. “He’s toughening up! He’s becoming a top. That’s what you gotta do to make it to the top.” she says. But then she gets serious, “Fame changes people, ” Cookie says. She advises Michael not to be “all up in” Jamal’s business. He needs to have his own thing going.  “Jamal,” she warns, “is going to have less and less time for you.” The cooking school Michael is attending is probably not going to keep him busy enough.

At breakfast, Lucious can’t even serve himself, his ALS is causing him to shake uncontrollably.  He accidently clicks the TV remote, switching Hakeem’s new video to a security cam and a cop going through his garbage.. Vernon arrives to discuss the Bunkie situation.  He figures Lucious is already a suspect, and asks him point blank if he’s guilty. Lucious comes clean. “He wanted to shake me down for 3 million dollars!” Vernon says he should have paid Bunkie off.  Lucious blames Bunkie, who he feels HATED him and Vernon for making something of themselves. That he threatened Lucious with ruin meant that he chose his fate.  Vernon is angry that Lucious didn’t come to him first.  Now, it’s up to Vernon to fix. No wonder he’s pissed. The first item is to beef up security.  “We gonna go to work and act as if everything is normal,” says Vernon.

Vernon storms into Andre’s office,  clicks off the call he’s on, and puts him in a choke hold.  Vernon is furious. Andre offering an alibi for Lucious to the police means he knew.  Vernon and Andre are colluding to take over the company. He’s supposed to have Andre’s back.  Still in a hold and gasping for air, Andre pleads, “That’s what I do. I give my father alibis.”  He claims he only stepped in because he understood his father needed him. He had no idea why. This is so sad. The specter of eldest son, Andre, trying so hard to please his father.  Realizing that he just spilled the beans to Andre, Vernon leaves without another word.

Andre calls his wife, who is in the middle of a meeting. “I was right about what happened to Bunkie,” he says. She natters on, with a smile on her face, because she can’t talk.  “I’m really glad to hear the great news!” she chirps. Somehow, I think she actually means that. Andre, however, does not share her enthusiasm.

Back at Jamal’s, he tries to reassure Michael that he’s still a priority. He reluctantly promises a romantic getaway weekend–but NOT to the Berkshires as Michael suggests–where cell phone and internet is spotty.  They settle on FIre Island.  Jamal seems unsettled. There’s definitely trouble in paradise.

Vernon, a recovering alcoholic strolls through Central Park with his sponsor.  Vernon questions his life of serving other men’s visions–aka Lucious. The sponsor suggests that it may be time to move on.

Back at Empire, a boardroom full of people, including Anika and Cookie,  listen to Jamal’s “Keep Your Money.”   The room is impressed.  Anika wonders when she can hear a finished version. “The song is already finished, Ms. Calhoun,” Cookie spits back.  “I assumed it was a demo,” Anika says coolly. “You would because YOU’RE A HATER,” says Cookie, calling it exactly as it is.

Unfortunately, Andre interrupts the imminent smack down to remind the group to trim the budget in  light of the coming IPO. That means paring down the artist roster.  When Anika mentions that she’s cutting  Elle Dallas (played by Courtney Love)  Cookie calls it the “dumbest thing I ever heard.”   Elle Dallas is Empire royalty and CAN’T be cut, she insists.  But the truth is, the faded star isn’t delivering anymore. She hasn’t made money for Empire in years.  Besides she’s “difficult” says Andre.  Cookie can relate, “Ya’ll like to toss us to the side when you can’t control us anymore, because you’re lazy.”   Anika won’t budge.

Cut to Leviticus where Cookie shares a drink with Lucious.  He’s agreed to introduce her to L Elle. But Cookie gets in a little push for Jamal, which totally annoys Lucious.  Actually, it’s the song that annoys him. “Is that the name of the song? Keep your money? I’m going to keep my money,” he says.  Lucious warns Cookie that she’ll have her hands full with Elle.  It’s personal for Cookie. Elle’s music gave her a reason to stay alive while she was in prison. “She got that anger that just make you want to fight,” she says.

They meet and Cookie is totally star struck. When Lucious informs Elle that Cookie has agreed to manage her, she’s not pleased.  Cookie tries to sweet talk her,  promises not to stop until she’s back on top.  Elle wants an A list manager. She reminds Lucious that she kept the lights on at Empire when the company first started.  “What do I get?” says Elle, “My career handed over to an ex con?” NO she says before storming out. Yep. Difficult.

Vernon meets a man named Lamont whose business it is to help clients with a murder rap they can’t beat.  He promises Lamont “a pot of gold” if he comes through.  The wheels are in motion for Operation Save Lucious’ Ass.

Meanwhile, Cookie pulls up to some horrible motel where Elle is living.  When Elle tries to close the door in Cookie’s face, she pushes her way in. After kicking out the junkie lounging in Elle’s bed, she spots and grabs her drugs. “You need to get clean Elle,” Cookie tells her.  “I’ve been clean for years,” insists Elle, who practically has “I’m a Junkie” written on her forehead.  It’s ludicrous, so Cookie breaks it down for her. Drugs are the first thing Elle thinks about when she gets up in the morning, and if her dealer ain’t holding, she’ll get high off of anything. TRUTH BOMB FROM COOKIE.  She reminds Elle how much her music meant to her.  Elle begs for her stuff back. No. Cookie wants to help her.  She pushes past Elle to the bathroom, where she flushes the drugs down the toilet.  Elle sobs. Cookie holds her.  “I know,” she says as she comforts her.  Cookie to the rescue. Courtney Love, playing the squalid rock star she would have turned into if she didn’t have Kurt’s millions, is pretty effective here.

Cut to Hakeem who is scrolling through the pap photos of Tiana and her girlfriend.  Tiana buzzes his phone. He shuts it off. He’s still pissed.  REMEMBER THE TRIGONOMETRY HAKEEM! He dials his older lover, Camilla, and leaves a message.  “Pick up the phone, Ma.” EEP.  He lights up a bong.

Cookie, Jamal and Michael meet at Leviticus. Jamal pulls Cookie aside to say his personal life is off limits. Cookie claims she didn’t say one thing to Michael that wasn’t true. She hopes Jamal one day finds a partner that’s on his level.  Meanwhile, Cookie has a plan. She signals the DJ to play “Keep Your Money.”  Everybody in the club is grooving. An embarrassed Jamal eventually grins. But he’s not sharing the moment with Michael, who is on the other side of the club looking lost.

Cookie and her assistant, Porsha, approach a pro football player who is sitting in VIP.  After complimenting his football skillz, Cookie asks him what he thinks of the song.  He thinks it’s dope!  She suggests he tweet something to his followers. He resists.  She points out the young girls dancing and putting on a show next to the table. Porsha is all “THAT’S NASTY” to which Cookie replies “Shut yo ass up.”  Porsha protests. “SHUT UP!”warns Cookie. Totally amused by the pair, football player finally relents. He tweets the song to his millions of followers.  “I’m only doing this because YOU TWO ARE HILARIOUS.”  They ARE.

Lucious meets with the security guy Vernon recommended. He was decorated after coming under fire while stationed in Iraq, Twelve years experience as a Navy Seal experienced in hostage rescue and recovery. He’s overseen security for corporate heads, religious leaders etc. Dude is fierce. And right away, he’s got suggestions after doing a thorough review of Empire’s corporate headquarters. Can you say ONE GIANT BREECH. He advises starting from scratch. Lucious hires him.

Back at the club, Jamal and Michael watch their phones as “Keep Your Money” continues to trend after football player dude’s tweet.  Hakeem is in the house, but he’s drunk, swigging champaine out of a bottle.  Hakeem begs Jamal to come over and help him with another hook.  When Cookie volunteers to come along, Hakeem screams, ‘I DIDN’T INVITE YOU.”  Disgusted, with the way he treats Cookie, Jamal refuses.

Huddled together in the night, at a remote location, Vernon, the fixer guy and a man desperate for money rehearse the Bunkie murder story. In exchange for cash for his family, the man will take the rap for Lucious. He will tell the cops that he robbed Bunkie, shot him in the head, and then rolled him into the river.

Back at chez Jamal, Michael is keeping track. “Keep Your Money is still trending! Seven hours and counting!”  Jamal smiles. “Cookie really hooked that up. I swear that woman is the ultimate hustler.  Ooh. People are also tweeting about a satellite radio interview Jamal is having that weekend. So much for Fire Island. “What happened to not caring about fame and money?” asks Michael.  “Weren’t you all about the music?” Jamal is annoyed, “Your really don’t get it. This is about the music.”

Hakeem, in the studio with Lucious, is cut off mid song. “It’s really nice for some girl scouts,” Lucious says, “BUT THIS AIN’T ABOUT BEING NICE!” Lucious demands, “COME HARDER.”  He angrily spits a song that’s obviously about the cheating Tiana. And maybe his mother? Lucious loves it.

Cookie drops in on Elle’s studio session. She’s covering “Take Me to the River” and it’s terrible.  The producer offers to make it work by splicing together a bunch of different vocal takes.  Meanwhile, Anika steps into the elevator with Porsha. Always looking to undermine Cookie she offers Porsha double what Cookie is paying her. And nobody will call her “stupid.” Anika exits the elevator. Porsha is left with that thought.

The Offer

http://youtu.be/mYjlDGzo5zw

Lucious sees a new doctor willing to hook him up with alternative treatments for ALS.  He’s a “concierge” Doc, paid to see Lucious exclusively.  Sort of like Michael Jackson’s doctor, the one who administered him a lethal dose of propofol.  There are treatments in Russia, where medicine isn’t so regulated, that has resulted in a sixty percent reduction in symptoms. It’s keeping people alive, too.  As long as Lucious is willing to pay some crooked Russian docs enormous sums, he’ll have no trouble getting in on the treatment.

Back at Elle’s session things aren’t going well.  Elle stops the take, blaming the backup singers for throwing her off. There’s no coddling from Cookie. It’s not them. It’s you. You’re not bringing it.  “This song isn’t for you,” says Cookie “You need to be raw.” Elle flips out and tosses her purse at the producer’s booth.  Cookie throws everybody out, except for the folks handling the controls. She marches into the recording booth. She tells Elle that she has to stop pretending to be who she once was and become the person she is now.  She accuses her of hiding and forces Elle to literally strip down. Off with the fur coat, the jewelry the make up, the fake eyelashes.  “You need to sing about your pain,” Cookie insists. Elle pulls the “do you know who you’re talking to” card. Cookie says she’s fighting for a comeback too. But they have to do it together, do it right. “I’m all you got,” says Cookie.  Defiantly, Elle strips it all off.  She goes back into the booth and finally delivers a bold and heartfelt vocal.

Take Me To The River

http://youtu.be/lw3m9eUM7Xs

Cut to Jamal’s satellite interview, where he’s performing a new jam, “I Wanna Love You.” (penned by Jussie Smollett!) Michael watches a stream on his computer from home. The performance is really good and REALLY SEXY. The DJ, Sway (in a cameo), is grooving along.  “Soon Jamal Lyon is going to be a contender,” declares the DJ. “So how does your LADY feel about that?”  Ohhh. Will Jamal come out? He glances over at Cookie who is giving him a “go ahead, baby” look.

And then. “Who says I have a lady?” He looks at Cookie who is all “What are you doing?”  He turns back and says, “Honestly, no. I’m just in love with my music right now.” Michael is devastated. He closes his computer. “You head it here first ladies!” says the DJ.

Lucious meets with the city commissioner as desperate dude signs a confession to Bunkie’s murder. “I know it doesn’t bring your friend back,” the commissioner soothes. “At least I know justice is being served,” fakes Lucious.  After, Lucious turns to Vernon, “I owe you,” he says. “How do I pay you back?”  Vernon, with a total look of disgust on his face, just turns away.

Later, Vernon walks and talks with his AA sponsor, who is checking in with him, wondering if he’s still thinking about quitting. “Hell no,” Vernon says, “things are going to be a lot different.”  Vernon has Lucious right where he wants him. Who will be serving whom now?

The doctor treats Lucious with the new medication in his bedroom. Anika is by his side, worrying about safety.  “It’s already been approved for phase 2 trials in Moscow” doesn’t exactly instill 100% confidence.  The doctor can’t make any guarantees.  Lucious doesn’t care, because he’s dead without it.

When Cookie enters Empire, the runs straight into the new security guard, who won’t let her through without ID.  UH OH. “DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?” She demands.  He does, but is under orders. And just then, new security dude strolls up. He introduces himself. Malcolm Devoe, new head of security.  Cookie looks him up and down and likes what she sees. She instantly turns sweet.  “Oh please call me Cookie!” She digs into her purse to get her ID. Malcolm stops and swipes her in.  He likes what he sees too.  “I feel safer already Mr Devoe,” Cookie teases. This could get VERY interesting.

For Your Safety

http://youtu.be/UZsIPA9pQi4

Andre walks into the mens room as Vernon is taking a leak. He wants to make it clear that he had NO idea why his father needed an alibi. He just supplied one because that’s what he always does.  “You and me both always putting ourselves on the line for that man,” says Vernon.  “My father has lied to you. That is something I’ve never done,” Andre responds.  Vernon apologizes for choking him.  Andre won’t shake his hand until he washes them first. “I know it’s a lot for you to deal with,” says Vernon, “It just means we’re going to have to move faster with our plan.” Oh. The PLAN. “One more thing,” says Andre. “If you ever put your hands on me again, I will slit your throat.” As Vernon leaves the restroom he says, “You just make sure you keep taking those meds, boy.”

Cookie is planning planning planning Jamal’s next steps, “You hot right now boy….YOU HOT.”  She hears music coming out of the conference room. Anika, Lucious and Hakeem are listening to his new song. Lucious wants to put it out immediately ahead of the album. “I’m not doing no soccer mom version, either,” insists Hakeem. “You do you!” enthuses Anika, excited that the inevitable controversy surrounding the misogynist lyrics will save money on promotion.

“You forgot one thing though,” says Jamal, entering the conference room with Cookie, “You write a song about how much you hate women, it makes you look like a little bitch.” Hakeem explains that he don’t “hate no women who don’t do me wrong first.” Lucious adds, “When this song drops, the majority of people on the dance floor are going to be women.” Anika sniffs, “Anybody with common sense can see that the lyrics are just metaphors.”  Cookie gets right up into Hakeem’s face, “I hope that when you’re finally a star you can let go of all this childish anger.”  See how they did that? Jamal and Hakeem working out their parent issues in music. “Become? I’m already a star, Cookie.” He can’t even call her mom. Oh right, that’s what he calls his mommy-lover, Camilla. Yikes.

As the group leaves the conference room, Andre and Rhonda stroll up. “How sweet! Just one big happy family!” she snarks. Security has stopped a woman with a small child (Raven-Simone). She admits that nobody is expecting her, but she’s known the Lyons forever. They spot her and she pushes past  security with her little girl, who is obviously a Lyon. Or the family wouldn’t be so stunned. “Hey Jamal!” says Olivia. JAMAL OMG. She heard him on the radio. And little Lola, who knows all the words, wants to meet her daddy.  A shot of the family, looking a mixture of horrified and shocked, ends the episode.

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