Tell Me A Story – The Curse

By: Ujjyani Banerjee

Maddie (Odette Annable) is jogging when her fiancé, Tucker (Paul Wesley), chases her and playfully trips her on the grass. They make out and plan the evening ahead. It turns out that Tucker, who writes for a living, cannot make it to Maddie’s superstar sister, Ashley’s (Natalie Alyn Lind), album debut party as his deadline is due. Just then Maddie gets a call from her brother, Jackson (Matt Lauria) who ended up in a cell after a rough night and now needs bailing out. While she fills out the paperwork, the cop in-charge tells Maddie how much his daughters adore Ashley.

Ashley’s party has begun. Being the lead guitarist, Jackson goes backstage. He learns that Rebecca (Carrie-Anne Moss), his mom and also Ashley’s momager, replaced him in the band as he missed rehearsals and sound check. Maddie arrives backstage and spots Ashley who’s swarmed by interviewers. The sisters hug it out. Ashley irritatingly complains about her over-controlling momager who replaced Jackson without her consent. Maddie asks her to not overthink. After one last interview about her showbiz journey, Ashley gives a stellar performance amidst cheering crowds. Rebecca feels proud of the bonafide success. After the gig Ashley is escorted to her car. She takes the keys from the valet (David Vaughn) to drive herself home. As soon as she gets inside the car explodes. The valet pulls her out of the car in time. She sustains injuries on her face and hand.

Three months later the Nashville country star is finally ready to be discharged. The media is doing heavy coverage and is camped outside the hospital. Beau (Eka Darville) is checking the news whilst getting ready. His dad, Ken (Evan Parke), pays him a visit. After teasing Beau’s monk-like lifestyle, Ken helps his son wear the microphone. It turns out that they’ve been appointed as Ashley’s security. Beau, who was laid off from the Nashville police force, is grateful that Ken got him this job. Elsewhere, a sleep-deprived Tucker is having hot coffee on the rocks! It’s evident that he’s addicted to caffeine. He goes to wake Maddie up and hands her a cup of coffee, too. Just up, Maddie gets worried about Tucker’s insomnia. She wants him to resume his medications, but he hates the side effects. After pondering over his missed deadline, Tucker walks out of his house and starts following a schoolgirl named Olivia (Danielle Campbell). She’s on a call with her mom and gets into her car completely oblivious about the stalker hiding a block away. Meanwhile, Jackson too gets up early to see Ashley. He spent the night with a woman named Sherry (Erin Schaut). Upon learning that she’s married, Jackson feels bad about the wronged husband.

Ashley stares down at the frenzied media outside her hospital and feels overwhelmed. She has skin grafts on her face and arm which have been covered with a nude protective mask. The doctor asks her to seek therapy in case the emotional burden feels too much in the coming weeks. Rebecca is more concerned about Ashley’s voice and gets worried upon learning that the vocal cord damage done by the accident might have cost Ashley her career. Soon Ken arrives at the suite. After a brief introduction, they walk out of the room. Beau, who’s outside, gets introduced by Ken. As they all walk through the tense corridors Beau incapacitates a doctor who was trying to get Ashley’s photo. It turns out that the “fake” doctor is a guy named Kyle (Casey Thomas Brown) who is obsessed with the country star. After clearing out the corridor, the team approaches the main exit but upon seeing the frenzied paparazzi Beau decides to send a scarfed Rebecca out the main door while getting Ashley out from the back exit. The team successfully drives out of the hospital premises and Ashley is impressed with Beau.

Tucker is suffering from writer’s block. He shuts his laptop and starts staring at Olivia’s Instagram photos. Back at Ashley’s place Damien (Phillip Rhys), a record label executive, asks Rebecca if Ashley still has the ability to sing. Rebecca, who’s also worried about the contract, asks him to give them some space. Jackson arrives bearing a bouquet and hugs Maddie who’s also in the house. Rebecca is shocked to see him there. Jackson clarifies that he visited the hospital, too; just when she wasn’t around. Rebecca gets water and a vase for the flowers. Both siblings go to Ashley’s room. She’s there with her friend, Susie (Kathryn Prescott). Depressed at the extent of the burn and grafting, which is roughly 27% of her body, Ashley receives warmth and compassion from Susie, Jackson and Maddie. Meanwhile, Tucker breaks into Olivia’s place. He starts petting her cat named Reba and soon crashes into Olivia’s bed to catch some sleep. Just as he’s about to doze off, Olivia arrives at her home. Tucker tiptoes out of the house. Olivia, who just heard the floor creaking, thinks it’s Reba.

Jackson is at a gig where he spots a pretty lady at the bar counter. Her name is Simone (Ashley Madekwe). They have a date. Jackson wants her to accompany him to his place, but she’s not interested. As they walk out of the bar a drunk Jackson gets beaten up by Sherry’s husband, Dane (James Devoti). Just before things get out of hand, Simone snatches his gun, throws it afar and shoos Dane away. Simone walks a brutally hurt and drunk Jackson home. She puts him to bed and despite his repeated pleas, she refuses to spend the night with him. Beau checks up on Ashley. She is curious about his name and learns that his mom was French. When asked about his police background, Beau calls himself a Nashville cop currently on leave. He offers to help her lift something and their hands brush. Ashley gets conscious. Maddie and Tucker are having dinner. Sensing the weird animonsity that’s been growing between them lately, Maddie wonders if he’s getting cold feet prior to their wedding. To her relief, Tucker gushes about the day and starts making love to her. However, he doesn’t get aroused and promises that things will get better. Later that night he goes to Olivia’s and breaks into her place again. Lurking behind the shadows, he stares at the girl sleeping peacefully.

Beau checks up on Ashley and knocks at her door. She doesn’t answer. He walks inside the empty room and goes to the balcony. Just then Ashley walks back in from the restroom and strums her guitar trying to sing a note, but to her dismay she cannot; not without painfully straining her voice. She spots Beau outside, freaks out and starts screaming at him, ordering him to leave immediately. Beau follows her orders while Ashley herself stares horridly at her scars on the mirror and then smashes it with her guitar. Finally, we see Kyle at his apartment. He is naked, playing Ashley’s videos on his computer and crooning to it whilst burning his arms on a beautifully lit candelabrum!