Empire: The Series: Episode 1.01 -- Home Sweet Home

Welcome to Oak Harbor, a town like any other. There are townies and locals and tourists who come for the annual regattas each summer. The haves live in mansions in the hills, while the middle class populate the town and the rest take refuge in the surrounding bogs. Employment opportunities abound, whether it be for Damian Blanche’s film production company, Xavier Deveraux’s corporation or Vittorio Serdahl’s “vineyard,” and everyone appreciates the usually mild winters.

But, there are secrets buried in the sparkling blue waters of the harbor and throughout the town that lies beyond it – and I know all about them, because I’m one of those secrets. But, while I’m a secret no one has discovered yet, I’m going to tell you all of theirs. The stories of Oak Harbor are as ugly and twisted as the townsfolk are beautiful…

And, this story begins as all the best stories begin – with a girl and a grudge.

FBI Headquarters

Washington, D.C..

They say when life gives you lemons to make lemonade. Giada Serdahl, however, believed in a different philosophy. When life gave her lemons, she shot them. Repeatedly. With her service weapon. That was probably why she was now standing in her supervisor’s office, because the government had enough problems without unstable federal agents giving them a worse rap.

Giada: Loman said you wanted to see me?

Donaldson: Sit down, Giada.

Giada: I don’t like that tone. Is this about the McMillan thing?

Donaldson: Yes.

Giada: It was a clean shoot.

Donaldson: The therapist disagrees. She seems to believe that your resentment towards your father and his organization is beginning to impair your work.

Giada: That’s ridiculous.

Donaldson: I’m inclined to agree.

Giada: Are you firing me?

Donaldson: No. You’re one of the best agents we’ve got. I am, however, putting you on suspension for four weeks.

Giada: What!?

Donaldson: I want you to go home,

Giada. Confront your demons. Bury them. Then, you come back here and you be that star pupil I saw in the academy, the bright young woman I fought to have on my team.

Giada: I don’t want to go back there.

Donaldson: And, I don’t want to have to make your suspension permanent, but I’ve got bosses who read these reports, too. I know, it’s scary. Your father is what we spend every day trying to put behind bars. Don’t let him be the reason we lose one of our best weapons in the fight to keep our streets clean.

Giada: Four weeks?

Donaldson: Four weeks.

Poor Giada. Home might have been where the heart was for most people, but for Giada, home was the place where the nightmares lived. She barely escaped once. Could she be so lucky a second time?

Giada’s luck might have been running low, but Nora Deveraux’s was running hot, for on that very day that Giada was sentenced to four weeks of soul searching in purgatory, Nora’s six month coma finally ended. She jerked awake just as Amber Dawkins, a new CNA, was about to update her vitals on the computer.

Amber: Oh, my God! Mrs. Deveraux. Don’t move, just stay where you are. I’ll get the doctor.

Outside, Lara Dawkins filled out her daily internship report at the nurse’s station. She’d just finished rounds and was ready to go home and sleep for an hour before her second job began. She was an acrobat for the circus (hey, med school didn’t pay for itself). As she was sending the report, her twin sister, Amber, came running up to the desk.

Amber: Lara –

Lara: What did I tell you about addressing me at work, sis?

Amber: Ugh, fine, Dr. Dawkins. Your patient in 301 is awake.

Lara: That’s great.

Amber: Why don’t you sound surprised?

Lara went to check on her patient. When she returned, Amber was waiting on her by the nurse's station desk.

Lara: I’m sending her for an MRI.

Amber: Should I contact her family?

Lara: Yes. I’m sure a lot of people are going to be very happy about her recovery.

One person wouldn’t be too pleased with Nora’s miraculous turn for the better – Jessica Lindsey. Three weeks ago she’d finally convinced Nora’s ex-husband, Xavier Deveraux, to put a ring on it. For months she battled Xavier’s family and his lingering commitments to his former wife and only now had a marriage license and a checking account with her name on it to show for her efforts. Such was the plight of the social climber – her work was never done.

Jessica: I feel naked without my ring.

Xavier: I know, but I wanted to have the engraving redone.

Jessica: I liked it fine the way it was.

Xavier: They spelled your name wrong.

Jessica: Sometimes the most beautiful things are imperfect.

Xavier: You’re far too easy to please, my dear.

Jessica: You know what would really please me?

Xavier: Name it and it’s yours.

Jessica: If you would let me come work at Deveraux.

Xavier: Darling, we’ve been over this. Deveraux business is nothing for you to worry about.

Jessica: I’m just eager to prove I am an asset to this family and not just the hot twenty-five-year old you married.

Xavier: Don’t let my sons get to you, they’re just protective of me. I’m sure soon Alec and Joshua will love you as much as I do.

She really did love him, deep down. Maybe she had entered into the relationship with selfish intentions, half-hoping his heart would give out during lovemaking and she would inherit the bulk of his estate. But, now that she was truly Mrs. Xavier Deveraux, she found herself liking being around him almost as much as she liked the perks of being a trophy wife.

Next to him, the phone rang and Jessica got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, though she had no idea why. Her instincts we sharp and they told her no good could come of Xavier answering the phone.

Jessica: No, don’t answer it.

Xavier: It could be business.

Jessica: Let Alec handle it.

Xavier: But, we have those contracts –

Jessica: Didn’t you say to name anything that would please me and it’s mine?

Xavier: I did.

Jessica: Well, I’m naming something. It would please me for you to stay in this bed all day, ignoring the phone and ignoring the work and focusing on your new bride.

Xavier: You drive a hard bargain, Mrs. Deveraux.

Jessica: You have no idea, Mr. Deveraux.

Downstairs, in the parlor of Deveraux Manor, stood Rose O’Meara. She spoke with her mother on the phone. Sometimes, she felt so out of place in a house like Alec’s. She’d met him purely by chance. She’d just come from yet another failed audition, this one for a symphony in nearby Bridgeport, when she encountered Alec in a diner. She had only two quarters left to her name, and though she could have used them to buy herself a hot cup of coffee, she was saving them for a phone call home to her family.

Alec had seen her, cold and wet and shivering as she huddled up in the phone booth. He’d insisted on buying her dinner and, as they ate, she told him about her dreams of making it big, though her degree in music was proving useless. Before either of them knew it, the sun was coming up and they’d spent all night listening to Rose’s favorite jazz albums.

And, now, she was here, in Deveraux Manor, waiting on him to come downstairs. She had a satisfying job teaching at a local school and he was to escort her to the first recital, if he ever got his tuxedo on.

Jenny: You sound surprised to hear from me.

Rose: No, I’m not, I’m just glad…it’s Thursday. You don’t usually call on Thursdays.

Jenny: I read an interesting article in the paper today. Why didn’t you tell me you were engaged?

Rose: I was going to tell you about the engagement.

Jenny: When?

Rose: Soon. It's all very new and --

Jenny: I would think you would be shouting it from the rooftops. Alec Deveraux is one of the wealthiest men in this country.

Rose: I'm going to sign a prenup.

Jenny: Why?

Rose: Because, I didn't come here for his money, and beyond what he's putting into my music program, I don't want any. I'm in love with him.

Jenny: But, the question is, would he still love you if he knew the truth about you?

Rose: I love you and I miss you and I know we're going through some hard times right now, but please...don't ruin this for me, Mother.

Jenny: Don't sign that prenup, Rosie, and I'll keep my mouth shut.

When Rose looked up, Alec was standing in the doorway. He looked so handsome and she caught herself falling even more in love with him, something she hadn’t thought possible. She snapped her phone shut, silencing her mother … for now.

Rose: Alec, I didn’t hear you come in.

Alec: I was stalling.

Rose: You’re so stubborn. It’s one recital and I want you to see how amazing my kids are.

Alec: I know they’re amazing. They have you as a music teacher. I just hate recitals. I even hated my recitals.

Rose: But, how will you know if investing in the after school music program is a solid investment unless you see where the money is going?

Alec: I trust your judgment. Besides, it’s important to you and you’re important to me. The money’s yours, no questions asked.

Rose: I love you.

Rose kissed Alec, savoring the feeling he inspired of butterflies fluttering through her body. And, in that moment, she wondered if maybe, just maybe, she could tell him the truth about herself and her family? She loved them dearly, but some secrets were best kept hidden forever.

But, before she could tell him anything, a visitor arrived.

Rose: Dr. Dawkins?

Lara: I’m sorry to interrupt, but I haven’t been able to reach anyone by phone.

Alec: What is it? Is it my mother?

Lara: Yes.

Alec: She’s gone, isn’t she? She looked so pale when I last visited, I knew it wouldn’t be long, but –

Lara: No, Alec, you misunderstand. Nora is awake.

Rose: Oh, my gosh! That’s incredible!

Lara: I tried reaching your father, but he isn’t answering.

Alec: She probably convinced him not to answer the phone. I’m going to go see if he’s upstairs. Will you wait here, in case he needs to talk to you?

Lara: Of course.

Alec: Dad, why aren’t you answering – oh.

Xavier: Can’t you knock?

Alec: I’m sorry, this is an emergency.

Xavier: Is it Deveraux?

Alec: It’s Mom.

Jessica: Nora? What’s wrong? Did she die? I’m very sorry…

Alec: No, she’s awake.

Jessica: WHAT?! I mean…that’s great!

Xavier: How long has she been awake?

Alec: Since this morning. Lara Dawkins is downstairs right now.

Xavier: I’m going to go talk to her, then we’ll go see your mother.

Xavier: I'll make this up to you.

Jessica: Nothing to make up. Go on.

Xavier left Alec and Jessica alone. Silly old man…didn’t he know it was like leaving starving lions in a pit together? They might satisfy themselves with shallow cuts now, but eventually only one of them would come out of this alive. The other would be nothing but tufts of fur and shredded remains, crumpled in the corner.

Jessica: I should get dressed if we’re going to the hospital.

Alec: This is a family thing, Jess.

Jessica: I’m part of this family.

Alec: No, you’re the leech that’s attached herself to my father. If I were you, I’d be contacting your lawyer and seeing how much you’ll get when Dad inevitably dumps you.

Meanwhile, Madienne Gunnay approached the boarding house on Oleander Avenue. She typically disapproved of living with other people, especially people she did not know, but she was new to Oak Harbor and the price was right. Besides, she had a very specific motive for coming here, and the owner of this charming boarding house offering a room now seemed almost kismet, given Madienne’s reasons for coming to Oak Harbor.

Ree: You must be Madienne?

Madienne: I am. I spoke with you earlier about viewing the room you have for rent?

Ree: Right, of course. Come inside.

Madienne: You have a lovely home, Miss –

Ree: Bennet. Ree Bennet. Follow me upstairs, I’ll show you the room.

Madienne: And, this is thirty-five per week?

Ree: Yes. Plus, you’ll have to pay a share of the utilities and groceries. You’ll have all the privacy you need, a private balcony overlooking the pool, there’s an en suite bathroom, all yours, and if you’re worried about noise, I can assure you, the other tenant and I are both very quiet and very respectful.

Madienne: Yes, you mentioned there was another tenant. What can you tell me about him?

Ree: His name is Damian. Filmmaker, very charming young man.

Madienne: I look forward to meeting him.

Ree: Then, you’ll take it?

Madienne: I will.

Ree: Excellent. Do you have any questions or concerns?

Madienne: What’s upstairs?

Ree: The attic. It’s off-limits. You can come and go as you please, but if you go upstairs, I’ll have to ask you to leave.

Madienne: Understood.

Barred from the hospital, Jessica went to the docks following lunch with her friend, Damian. It beat sitting at home, fretting about what Nora’s recovery might mean for her marriage.

Jessica: Thanks for lunch.

Damian: Least I could do, seeing as how I’m about to segue into blackmail.

Jessica: Seriously? Why not be blackmailed by my best-slash-only friend? Cherry on top of the sundae of my day.

Damian: What’s wrong?

Jessica: Xavier’s ex-wife decided to come out of her coma.

Damian: That’s fantastic.

Damian: That’s not fantastic?

Jessica: My life would be much easier if she would have just died.

Damian: You’re so charming. I don’t know why you don’t have more friends. Which leads to our regularly scheduled blackmailing, already in progress…I need money.

Jessica: For what? You’re founder and CEO of one of the nation’s most successful film production companies. They call you “Thunder

God” in the blogs because you’re so loaded.

Damian: Let’s just say it’s a side project I’m keeping off the books.

Jessica: Sounds shady.

Damian: You have no idea. But, since I know several nuggets of damning information about you and you have a rich husband you want to keep in the dark, I thought we could scratch each other’s backs.

Jessica: With what? Chainsaws? How much?

Damian: $5 million, to start.

Jessica: Are you insane?!

Damian: Look, I can’t have a paper trail connecting my production company to this project. And, it’s not like you’ve never blackmailed me before. I vaguely recall you being nineteen and you threatening to out me to my family if I didn’t help you reinvent yourself as Jessica Lindsey, college student. Get me the money or Xavier finds out who you were before you were Jessica Lindsey.

Jessica: I liked you better when you were a junkie gangster.

As the sun sank down behind the hospital, Lara knew it wouldn’t be long until it was dark in town. Lara had returned to the hospital after her circus training because she wanted to check on Nora again…and carefully review her lab work. Nora’s awakening wasn’t as much of a miracle as everyone thought, but she didn’t want them to know otherwise. If they knew the truth about what she’d done, it would cost her everything she’d worked so hard for.

Lara: I thought I told you to never contact me again?

Vittorio: I was hoping perhaps you’ve been in contact with Stefanie?

Lara: No, I haven’t seen Stefanie and, even if I had, I wouldn’t tell you. My debt to you is paid.

Vittorio: Your debt to me is paid when I say it is and not a second sooner, Doctor. If she contacts you, I’m to know immediately.

Downstairs, Xavier Deveraux sat by his ex-wife’s bedside.

Xavier: Look at you, beautiful as the day I married you.

Nora: You’re a horrible liar, Xavier.

Xavier: I can’t believe you’re awake, Nora. The boys and I have prayed that you would come back to us. Do you know what happened?

Nora: I don’t remember anything before the regatta.

Xavier: There was an accident on your boat. You sustained a head injury.

Nora: I’ve pieced bits and pieces together, but I don’t really remember. I suppose that’s a good thing.

Xavier: A lot has changed.

Nora: I know. Alec is engaged. I met Rose, lovely young woman. And, I hear you have a new bride as well?

Xavier: Whatever Alec told you about her –

Nora: He didn’t. One of the nurses said she came by to visit me a few weeks ago.

Jessica watched as her husband visited with his ex-wife. She wished she could hear what they were saying. Nora was probably using her medical issues to worm her way back into his life and telling him awful things about her and he would leave her and –

Alec: This must be your worst day ever.

Jessica: I’m not bothered by this. In fact, I’m glad your mother is awake so she can give Xavier and I her blessing.

Alec: Right. How long do you think it’s going to take my father to divorce you? The family has something of a pool going. I had fifty bucks on three weeks, but my brother was more generous with six months. But, now that my mother,

my father’s true love, is awake…well, that three weeks isn’t looking so far-fetched.

Jessica: Xavier loves me.

Alec: He loves you like most boys love their toys – intriguing when they’re new and shiny, but after a while, you’ll get discarded to the unwanted charity bin like all the others.

Jessica: Why do you hate me so much?

Alec: Because, I know what you are and it’s my job as one of the heirs to the Deveraux fortune to protect it from women like you. I couldn’t convince my father before he vowed to love you forever or the next ten minutes, whichever comes first, so you’ll probably end this with a small chunk of change to show for your efforts. But, it’s only a matter of time before you’re an embarrassing anecdote he’s telling to his grandchildren, if he even remembers you.

Jessica: You’re wrong. We’re going to be fine. He and your mother were over a long time before her accident –

Alec: That’s the thing about tragedies, Jess. Makes people face feelings they don’t want to admit still linger underneath the surface. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go visit with my family. Why don’t you busy yourself with something productive, like packing your bags? I hear Ree Bennet’s got a cheap room available at her boarding house.

Jessica: No, no I have worked too damn hard to get to where I am. I won’t let Nora ruin this for me and I sure as hell won’t let you, Alec.

When Damian went home, Ree told him about the new tenant, Madienne someone or another. She also told him his girlfriend was back. Of course, she was being facetious. The only person in Damian’s heart was a man … a man who wanted nothing to do with him right now.

He met Stefanie by the pool.

Damian: Will you relax?

Stefanie: How am I supposed to relax? What did she say?

Damian: She didn’t say anything, but, trust me, she’s going to get the money.

Stefanie: But, what if she doesn’t?

Damian: She will. There are skeletons in her closet that would destroy her marriage. She would do anything to keep them buried under the Fendi where they belong.

Stefanie: I’m scared.

Damian: I know.

Stefanie: I hate that I dragged you into my drama with my father.

Damian: You didn’t. Jason asked me to keep you safe until he could be here, and that’s what I’m going to do. Giada got out and you will, too.

But, Giada wasn’t as out as Stefanie thought. In fact she’d just finished unpacking in the rental house she acquired down by the harbor for which Oak Harbor took its name. She organized her closet, contacted the cable company, even swept the deck. She did everything she could do to avoid making an inevitable phone call, but now, she had no other choice.

Giada: Hi, Mom, it’s me. I’m back in town. I – I don’t even know if you want to see me, I just thought I’d call and see how you’re doing and … you know what? Just forget I called. I’m sure it’s weird and…there’s someone at the door. I have to go. Bye.