Star – May The Best Manager Win

By: Gladys Luna

Alexandra (Ryan Destiny) fights with Derek (Quincy Brown) about the bracelet she stole. He accuses her of being a cheater and knowing that she will never change her ways. He recalls the time she lied about her mother being dead and then being surprised to see the woman alive some time later. Both of them say hurtful things to each other, resulting with the young man asking her to leave out of his house and confessing that he is sorry that he fell in love with her in the first place. Alex confesses that she is tired of taking care of him then walks away and goes to Carlotta´s.

In the other hand, Star (Jude Demorest) and Noah (Luke James) are sharing some time together at the studio where they are making out. Star suddenly stops him and asks him to cover the cameras and the man seems to be disconcerted as to why they have to keep hiding from others. He suggests her to go to his place but the girl refuses saying that what they are having is just sex and nothing else.

A guard (Suehyla El-Attar), shows up at Karen´s (Imani Lewis) dorm and rudely asks her to gather her stuffs and follow her. When Simone (Brittany O’Grady) realizes of what is happening she tries to stop her but the woman doesn´t listen to her.  Later that day, Simone goes to see Carlotta (Queen Latifah) and yells at her about what happened to Karen. She accuses her of being responsible of such decision but the woman says that she had nothing to do with it and that maybe that is one of the consequences of missing the curfew. Simone gets even more pissed off when Star takes Carlotta´s side so she tells them that they don’t know Karen as well as she does. And just as though they need more troubles, Jahil (Benjamin Bratt) comes in the picture claiming he is hungry. The girls and Carlotta discuss about a show they will have the next day. Star shows herself confident about it saying that they can do that show in their sleep. They feel they don’t have to worry anymore about Ayanna (Michael Michele) since they helped her to sign Gigi (Keke Palmer) on the label but Carlotta tells them that this time, is not about Ayanna. This time, the A&R Execs will be there as well and they will be scored so, they have to perform the best they can and if they do get a high score then, they won´t have to worry about Ayanna.

Star suggests they should come up with a new name and seize the opportunity to announce it. Jahil tries to give them some advice but the girls refuse to take it. He tells them that Ayanna liked his music and that she is rooting for him so, he is sure that later, they all would go banging at his door begging him to collaborate with them but all he gets in return is some mockery from the trio.

Charles (Richard Roundtree), Ayanna´s father pays a visit to her at the label. He doesn’t seem to be so impressed by the woman´s achievements. She tries to brag about having convinced Gigi to join the company but the man confesses that he was the one who made that woman so, she doesn’t have to take credit for it. He advises her to find her own Gigi, since he firmly believes that what truly matters in a label, is their artists. Ayanna invites him to the A&R roundup that will take place the next day where all the artists of the label will be performing, earning nothing but just bad comments from her father who still doesn’t believe in her.

Meanwhile, in other side of town, Brody (Stephen Dorff) is speaking to someone on the phone and tells them that he will get the money but is going to take a while so, he asks them to have patience.

Jahil shows up at Ayanna´s office and is welcomed by Andy (Elijah Kelley) who guides him to the woman´s office. Ayanna is surprised at how stubborn and persistent Jahil is still asking her to give a shot to his sound. She asks him to leave her office but then, the man tells her that she is just like him. That he knows this is her last chance to make things different and be worthy of recognition but the woman doesn’t faze a bit about it, asking him to leave again.

Noah meets Star outside the label building. He approaches to her calling her names and she asks him not to talk to her like that in public. She doesn’t want to be on anybody´s mouth unless is because of her music. Suddenly, they are interrupted by a man named “Lucky” (Terayle Hill), who is introduced by Noah as a friend and family. They exchange some bantering and they leave the girl on her own who is suddenly stopped by Brody. Once again, the man attempts to earn her sympathy but the girl just doesn´t give up. Brody wants to make up for the lost time but Star makes him recall everything he missed as, her mother killing herself, Simone suicide attempt and also the girl smoking herself into juvie leaving the man with no choice but surrender. Noah watches the uncomfortable exchange and asks if everything is alright so Star lies saying it is.

Andy shows up at Jahil´s door saying that he saw the way he handled Ayanna and he wants to collaborate with him. As part of the company, he knows the kind of music the label is searching for and is sure that Jahil has just what they need so, even though Jahil is not so convinced at first, he finally agrees to work with him.

Star, Alex, Simone and Carlotta are rehearsing for the label´s show. When Star is questioned about her obvious uncommon behavior, she lets them know that Brody visited her attempted to see Simone but she stopped him from doing it, something which makes her young sister mad since she considers that Star doesn’t have to speak up for her. Simone is no longer in the mood to keep rehearsing so she decides to leave and go to her therapy session instead. Carlotta questions Alex about her and Derek but the girls doesn’t give too much away and decides to go to the studio instead.

At the studio, Noah and Lucky are listening to some tunes and having some fun when Ayanna walks in so, Lucky has to leave. She states that he needs to work better on his music and also gives him some advice on how to do it. Also, she suggests for him to get rid of Lucky but the man refuses completely as he sees the other man as family and that is not an option for him.

Jahil and Andy are working on some of the producer´s songs. When Andy compliments him about his music, another voice is heard at the door and it is revealed that Angel (Evan Ross), Jahil´s nephew, has been standing there and now knows that his uncle stole his music and is promoting it as though it was his. Angels walks away looking disappointed and Jahil follows him. Alex is at the studio when Noah walks in and when he sees her sitting there, alone in the dark, he tries to make some conversation and help her with whatever she is going through but the girl won´t let him. She believes he is trying to hit on her but he confesses that is not his intention at all. He keeps trying to make the girl talk but she decides to leave instead saying everything is alright.

Simone goes against all of the warnings from her sister and visits Brody. She gives him some food and questions him why he left. She believes she is the reason why he did but he makes sure to let her know that she didn’t have anything to do with it and that he was an idiot for leaving them on their own but he has come back and she can count on him. Star keeps calling Simone but she doesn’t pick up the phone. Noah sees her and asks her about what happened with her father earlier, he attempts to help the girl but she tells him that Brody is not her father and that she doesn’t have time to have a heart to heart chat with him at the moment. She also confesses that when she said that she had issues, it was because of Brody.

Alex returns to the store where she stole the bracelet from. She is trying some new outfits and realizes that Angela her regular sales woman is not there, she questions about the reason but the boutique manager (Kaye Singleton) tells her that she has decided to take care of her, herself. Alex asks for some jewelry that may fit with the outfit she currently has but the woman tells her that maybe the bracelet that she stole the other day, may be a good fit. She also confesses that they have cameras all over the place and she was caught.

Jahil goes to see Angel and apologizes for stealing his music. He presents to him the chances they may have if he lets him produce his music. After a while, Angel seems to be convinced and excited by his uncle´s proposition and asks him to let Andy join the project since he considers the other man is very talented.

Carlotta helps Alex to get her way out of jail since she has been doing the hair of the store manager where the young girl stole the bracelet from and as a favor, the other woman let her go. Carlotta has taken Alex to church, the girl tells her she doesn’t believe in God but Carlotta just asks her to listen and let herself break. Right in that moment, Alex bursts in tears, Carlotta asks her to let it all out and she does. She confesses that she lied to Derek, she didn’t have a miscarriage she had an abortion. Since she knew Derek won’t be able to walk again, she didn’t want to put such a burden on him. Carlotta shares her experience about what happened to her when she was in jail and wanted to have an abortion as well but she couldn’t and now, she has Cotton (Amiyah Scott). She asks the young girl to speak with the truth. She may not believe in God but God believes in her.

Simone meets Karen and she tells her that she will be transferred to another facility. Simone can´t believe that just because she missed curfew, she will be punished like that but the girl assures her that is more than that. Simone gathers her courage and kisses her right before she is taking away from her.

The girls are getting ready for her night performance. When they hit the stage, they announce themselves as “Take Three” taking everything by surprise. They start with their performance and as they are approaching to the end, Star sees Brody among the audience. Brody approaches to them and Star confronts him but then, Simone tell her that she was the one who invited him. Star faces Simone and asks her why she is allowing for him to do that to her and Simone confesses that she doesn’t want to lose anyone else. Alex attempts to defend her but Star gets mad at her for doing it. Star questions Simone about why she isn’t enough for her and her sister tells her that not everything is about her and as she can’t forgive anyone, she would end up alone.

A little while later, Andy and Angel hit the stage and everyone is surprise at their performance and that Jahil is now their producer.

In the meantime, outside the place, Lucky is having troubles with an officer that has pulled him up with no reason. Noah and Star join the man and the discussion gets heated by the minute. Suddenly, Lucky makes a move that it suggest as though he is trying to take something out of his back pocket and the officer shoots at him, leaving him there, bleeding on the sidewalk. Ayana and Maurice (Lance Gross) had joined and everyone look astonished at the scene before them.

Back at the event, everyone has been caught up inside, until the cops finish interviewing the witnesses of Lucas’ murder. Carlotta and Jahil meet inside and as always, they share a very heated conversation that ends up with them arguing.

A while later, Star meets Noah at the studio and comforts him, he shares his feelings about Lucky with her and cries in her arms. Simone meets Brody in his car and questions him about how he and her mother meet. Alex is sharing some time with Derek, they are discussing about the earlier events and suddenly, she starts to cry and confesses to Derek that she wants to pray. Star goes looking for Brody and when he opens the door, she tells him to stay away from Simone, even though her sister was too young to remember, she can´t say the same about herself. When Brody returns to his room, Arlene (Nealla Gordon) is waiting there for him. Ayana meets with Jahil at her office and tells him that she needs to feel something so, she starts kissing him. While they are making out, Carlotta sees them and then, walks away.

What a way to return! Another day, another twists and turns to sort it out. Keep watching Star, every Wednesday at 9/8c on Fox. ¡Hasta la próxima!