Season 1, Episode 15: The Power of Madonna

Guest Star: Jonathan Groff as Jesse St. James

Ownership of Glee: FOX, Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk

= = =

Sue has the Cheerios sitting in the bleachers in the gym. "Santana. What does your bracelet say?"

Santana holds up a bracelet she's wearing. "W.W.M.D."

"'What would Madonna do?' Well, the answer to that question is usually: Date a younger man. So, let's see some arm candy, girls. Sorry, freshmen. You're going to have to start trolling the middle schools. And you know why? 'Cause if you want to be as riveting a performer as Madonna - a skill that will nab us Nationals this year - you're going to have to start thinking like her, acting like her. Also, á la Madonna, I will no longer acknowledge that any of you have last names. Becky Jackson. From now on, you're just Becky." Sue says and Becky claps cheerfully.

"You know, it's like Madonna once said, "I'm tough, I'm ambitious, and I know what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay." I'm pretty sure she stole that line from one Sue Sylvester. No, really, she stole it from me. I said it first. Palladium. '87." Sue says, making most of her Cheerios look around in confusion.

Violet stares at her Madonna bracelet thoughtfully.

= = =

Rachel and the rest of the New Directions girls are sitting in the choir room. "Can I ask you guys something private?"

"Yes, you should move to Israel." Santana says.

Rachel continues as Will enters the room. "It's about dating. Not that I'm dating anyone. We all know that Finn and I are no longer an item, and for the sake of the team, I broke up with Jesse. But let's just say I was dating someone. Let's just say, hypothetically, we went to a Wiggles concert last Friday night, and then because my dads weren't home, we went up to my room and started making out. It was erotic and romantic. And then he said..."

Flashes back to Rachel's bedroom where she and Jesse are making out on her bed.

Jesse looks at Rachel. "We should do it."

Rachel looks a bit frightened. "'It?'"

Jesse continues to make out with her. "Totally. Haven't you done it before?"

Rachel answers honestly. "No. Have you?"

Jesse smirks at her. "What do you think? It's no big deal." He says and goes to kiss her neck.

"For a girl, it is." Rachel says.

Flash to the choir room

"What if then he got really crabby and left, and didn't even take home the Care Bear I won him playing Skee Ball?" Rachel asks.

Quinn looks bored. "Would you please stop talking? You're grossing out my baby."

Rachel sighs. "I just want to be ready; I know I'm getting older, and these things are going to happen someday, but how do I stop a guy from getting mad at me for saying 'no?'"

Santana smirks. "Just do what I do. Never say 'no.'"

"Oh, totally. I mean, what's the worst that can happen? Sorry, Quinn." Brittany says when she sees Quinn.

Mercedes looks at Rachel. "Look, girl, don't ask me. The last guy I liked had feelings for someone else. And I can't wait to get a guy mad at me for saying 'no.'"

Tina nods. "We just have to accept that guys don't care about our feelings. Like, the other day, I was walking with Artie..."

Flashback to Tina pushing Artie down the hallway

Artie's talking to Tina. "I've thought a lot about it, and I forgive you for lying about your stutter. However, if you're planning on getting all up on this, I'm going to need you to make some changes. The goth thing was two years ago, so maybe lose the vampire makeup and consider some tighter-fitting clothing. You've got the pow, and I believe you should work it more if we're going to be an item." He says.

Flash to the choir room

Violet winces. "That's got to sting."

Will walks up. "Hey, guys. I'm sorry to interrupt your little sorority, but I couldn't help but overhearing. Are you really having that much boy trouble?" He asks.

Quinn sighs. "You wouldn't understand, Mr. Shue."

Violet nods. "Yeah. You're a guy." She adds on.

"Well, then maybe you should talk to someone else about it. Like Ms. Pillsbury." Will said.

Rachel grimaces. "I tried that."

The bell rings and the girls leave the choir room.

Quinn looks at Will. "The fact is is that women still earn 70 cents to every dollar that a man does for doing the same job. That attitude starts in high school." She says before leaving.

= = =

In the gym, the Cheerios are performing a number to Madonna's 'Ray of Light'.

[Ray of Light by Madonna]

Stilts are involved. Sue looks on. Will comes in behind Sue and watches. When the number is finished, Sue speaks into her bullhorn.

"Sloppy freak show babies! Somewhere in the English countryside, in a stately manor home, Madonna is weeping! Hit the showers!" Sue shouts.

The Cheerios leave dejectedly.

After talking with Will, Sue shouts at her Cheerios into her bullhorn again.

"You think this is hard?! I'm passing a gallstone as we speak! That's hard!"

= = =

Now in the choir room where the kids are assembled. Will writes 'Madonna' on the white board.

Will smiles. "What comes to mind when you see that name?"

"Genius." Rachel answers.

Kurt smiles. "Icon."

Puck smirks. "Hall of Fame MILF." Violet rolls her eyes.

"So, we're all aware of Madonna's musical and cultural significance, which is why this week, your assignment is to come up with a Madonna number." Will announces.

The girls gasp and squeal with delight. Rachel applauds. Mercedes and Tina high-five. Violet hugs Kurt out of sheer excitement.

Puck raises his hand. "Uh, Mr. Shue? As a dude, Madonna makes me kind of uncomfortable."

"Yeah, she's smokin' and everything, but can't some of us do something else? Like the guy version of Madonna? Like, you know, Pantera?" Finn asks.

Will looks incredulous. "Guys! You know, it's come to my attention that many of you haven't been treating the young ladies of our group very nicely lately. You're disrespectful, bullying, sexist, and I hate to say it, misogynistic."

"I have no idea what that means." Finn claims.

"When I pulled my hamstring, I went to a misogynist." Brittany says suddenly.

Will continues. "What it means is, put yourself in their shoes for a change. Culturally,  Madonna's legacy transcends her music, because by and large, the subtext of her songs are about being strong, independent and-and confident, no matter what your sex. But more than anything, Madonna's musical message is about equality. And that is something I ink you guys need to work on."

"Mr. Shue, I don't think we can have an honest conversation about Ms. Ciccone without acknowledging that her images are as indelible as her songs. I would like to honor her contributions by tackling a multi-media project. With Mercedes." Kurt says. Violet feels her heart breaking when Kurt picks Mercedes over her for a Madonna project.

Will smiles. "Great. Go for it, Kurt." Violet quickly scoots over towards Brittana, which makes Kurt frown in disappointment.

Puck is still not satisfied. "I'm still not down. And no chick intimidates Puckzilla. I just don't think her music translates to show choir."

Rachel looks smug. "Really? Well I, for one, couldn't disagree more." She says and stands up. She whispers something in the ears of the band. She walks to the middle of the room and starts singing Madonna's 'Express Yourself'. When the song starts, the girls excitedly stand up and join her. "Come on girls, do you believe in love? 'Cause I got something to say about it. And it goes something like this."

The New Directions are now in the auditorium, with Will and the boys watching as the girls perform Madonna's 'Express Yourself.' The boys sit in the audience and look bored and/or confused, except for Kurt, who encourages them.

[Express Yourself by New Directions girls]

At the end of the number, Will and Kurt applaud.

Will smiles at the girls. "That's what I'm talking about. All right!"

= = =

The next day, Violet is taking with Santana and Brittany while Santana and Brittany are at their lockers. Santana applies lipstick.

Santana smirks. "I look smokin' hot."

Violet smirks. "Hell yeah you do."

Brittany smiles. "Guess who I'm dating. Wes Brody. He's super cute. He plays soccer with my sister. He's seven."

Violet raises an eyebrow. "That's definitely young."

Santana sighs in exasperation. "Oh!" She exclaims as she slams her locker shut. "Crap. I need a younger, inferior man. If I don't find one, Coach Sylvester will kick me off the Cheerios, for sure."

Brittany has an idea. "Hello? Finn! His birthday's like three days before yours, and he's super dumb." She says.

"Uh Brittany? Finn's actually older than Santana, not younger." Violet says but is ignored.

Santana sighs. "We already tried with Finn, and he hates us."

"Trust me, the way to get a man to follow you forever... take his virginity. Madonna, like, wrote a song about it." Brittany says.

Violet looks at Santana. "If you're gonna take his virginity, be nice when you do... it."

= = =

Kurt and Mercedes are talking at Kurt's locker. "I'm going to Kabbalah, is that too much?"

Will approaches them. "Hey guys. How's the assignment coming along?" He asks.

Mercedes smiles. "Oh, amazing. You know how Madonna kind of reinvented the video,  right? Well, we got Artie and the A/V Club to help out. We're gonna make a Madonna video of our own." She announces.

Kurt chuckles. "It's going to be 'Madge-ical.'" He says. Mercedes is unresponsive. "Madge– you know, Madonna's nickname? Okay, you really got to get up to speed here." He says.

Sue appears. "Schuester! I heard a juicy little rumor that your Up With People rejects were doing some Madonna songs. Is that true?" She asks.

Will smiles. "Yeah, well, to be honest, Sue, I got inspired watching your Cheerios."

Sue sneers. "Well, I have been waiting years to pay tribute to her, and you are not swooping in at the last minute to snatch her from my talons. Madonna belongs to me, and I will not be copied. It's in my contract. I want you to listen very closely. You can have your Barbras and your Chers and your Christinas... and wow, I just lost my train of thought. You have so much margarine in your hair."

Will is annoyed. "Okay, first of all, my kids are doing Madonna. She's public domain, and there's nothing you can do about it. Secondly, enough with the hair jokes! Oh, by the way, how's the Florence Henderson look working out for you?" He asks and turns to walk away but he turns back around to add salt to the wound. "Oh, maybe you should try a new setting on your Flowbee. Oh, snap!"

Sue looks hurt. Kurtcedes watches her as she goes on a mini rampage down the hall.

"Who else wants a piece of this, huh?!" She screams.

After that disaster, Violet walks up to Kurt after Mercedes leaves. "You chose her over me?" Violet asks, a little heartbroken that Kurt would do something like this to her.

Kurt feels bad now. "I'm sorry Violet. I just wanted to work with Mercedes." He says.

"Well you could've included me too. Did you even think about how I'd feel?" Violet asks, getting a little angry.

Kurt looks at her and gently puts a hand on her shoulder. "I'll make it up to you. We'll hit up the mall after school. Just us. And no glee talk, I swear." He says.

Violet calms down a little.

"If you stand me up, I'll kill you."

= = =

As promised, Kurt takes Violet to the mall after school. Though Violet couldn't wait to get out of Cheerios practice sooner, and had to wait a few minutes for Kurt to finish his Madonna project with Mercedes. The Lima Mall is big, but Violet and Kurt are spending time together. That's the only thing that matters.

Kurt is having Violet try on three different outfits he picks out while they're in 'Old Navy.' When she comes out in the third one, he can't help but stare. She looks gorgeous. It sends his heart aflutter.

"I think I could do without the skirt." Violet says.

Kurt chuckles. "No, keep the skirt. It brings out your eyes." He says.

Violet blushes. "Okay." She says and goes back into the changing room to change back into her Cheerios uniform. "They were all nice, but I could never wear these." She says.

Kurt looks at her. "Why?" He asks.

Violet shrugs. "I don't think I deserve to have nice clothes is all."

Kurt places his hands on her shoulders. "Violet Dorothy Berry do not say such things about yourself. You deserve the world and so much more. Every time I look in your eyes, I see a girl that's lost everything but comes back stronger than ever. You are so strong Violet. You don't deserve what's happened to you in the past. But you deserve an even better future that I want to be a part of." He says. His hands have now cupped her face.

Violet's eyes never tear away from his. Their faces are mere inches away from each other. Kurt gazes at her lips and then licks his own. "Will you close your eyes please?" Kurt asks. Violet does as she's told, anxiously waiting for what will happen.

She feels something soft against her lips. It's another pair of lips. But not just any lips. Kurt's lips.

Kurt Hummel was kissing her.

Violet didn't know what to do, but she started kissing back. The butterflies in her stomach went wild and her heart was beating so hard that when they pulled away, she was breathing as if she'd ran a marathon.

Kurt was panting, a smile playing on his lips. "I've wanted to do that since 7th grade." He admits.

Violet blushes. "I've wanted you to do that since 7th grade too."

Kurt smiles. "Violet Berry, I promise to care for you always and never make you feel anything less than the queen I know you are. Will you be my girlfriend?" Kurt asks.

Violet puts the clothes aside and grabs Kurt by the collar of his shirt, bringing his lips onto hers for another kiss.

"Kurt Hummel... I'd love nothing more than to be your girlfriend."

= = =

Kurt smiles at his locker the next day. He's still experiencing euphoria from the previous day. He not only got his first kiss with the girl of his dreams, but she also became his girlfriend!

"Our project was a triumph." Kurt states happily.

Mercedes smiles as well. "I know, I wonder which look she's gonna rock."

Kurt chuckles. "Doesn't matter. They were all fantastic." He says and then sees Sue walking down the hallway. "Oh, dear."

Sue walks past, sporting her usual hairdo.

Mercedes is shocked. "Miss Sylvester."

Sue smiles. "Oh, hey, there, Whoopi, Don Knotts."

"What happened?" Mercedes asks.

Sue smiles a little more. "Well, I'll tell you what. All those costumes and the hairstyles, I'm gonna leave constant reinvention to Madonna. Know why? Had a revelation. See, kids, Sue Sylvester realized she didn't need to reinvent herself. She needs to reinvent everybody else, starting with you two." She says.

Kurtcedes shares a concerned look.

= = =

That afternoon, everyone is gathered in the choir room. They're all shocked to see that Jesse St. James is in their choir room.

"What the hell?! It seems like now everybody's doing things just to hurt my feelings." Finn states.

Jesse looks annoyed. "I thought you all would take this news a little better. I'm a star. You can learn from me." He says.

"We were already fighting for second leads. And now that you've shown up, I've lost all hope at ever getting a solo." Kurt says sadly. Violet holds his hand, and Kurt kisses her knuckles.

Mercedes nods. "Yeah, that's right. And y'all just trot me out at the end of every number so I can wail on the last note. How is that okay?"

"He's a spy, Mr. Shue. I would know."
Santana says as if it's obvious.

Will stops everyone in their tracks. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, guys. I saw all the paperwork, I spoke with his parents... "

Jesse interrupts. "They winter in Bali. It's a very expensive phone call."

"Jesse just moved in with his uncle, which is in our school district. It's all above board, guys. He goes to this school now." Will says.

"But this isn't fair." Artie says.

Will is frustrated. "Guys! Everyone who's ever auditioned for this group has gotten in. That's how we do things here. Okay, to suddenly change the rules now, that would be unfair."

Brittany raises her hand.

"Brittany." Will says.

"Mr. Shue, is he your son?" Brittany asks.

Will makes a 'WTF' face and Jesse smiles.

Rachel is most confused. "I don't understand why you're doing this."

Jesse smiles. "Because when you love something, you got to go for it. You would never be with me completely if I were on the opposing team. And I care about you more than winning another national title. So I left Vocal Adrenaline. For you."

Violet smiles as she stands up walking over to Jesse and Will. She gives the senior a hug, causing Kurt to glare at their newest member.

"Welcome to New Directions, Jesse. I think you'll fit right in." Violet says.

Jesse kisses Violet's head brotherly, and now Kurt is glaring daggers into this guy's soul. "Thanks Violet."

Will smiles. "All right, guys, we have got a lot of work to do. Jesse, great to have you here. Welcome aboard. Okay! from the top."

Kurt raises his hand. "Mr. Shue? If I may?" He asks. Will moves out of the way to let Kurt have the floor. Kurt smiles giddily.

"As some of you may know, I've had my eye on someone for quite a while now. I finally found enough confidence within me to confess my feelings, and now we're dating." Kurt announces.

The news of Kurt dating someone has the glee club in a frenzy. Finn, Quinn, and Mercedes all smile knowingly, hoping that they're right.

Will smiles. "Congratulations Kurt. So who's your partner?" He asks.

Kurt smiles as he looks directly at his girlfriend. "Violet." He answers.

Violet smiles as Kurt kisses her cheek, making the glee club 'aww' seeing the sheer cuteness being displayed.

"Hummel's gettin' some!" Santana shouts, making both Violet and Kurt blush.

They couldn't be happier than in this moment.

= = =

The entire school is in the gym for an assembly.

Sue is using her bullhorn. "Five, six, seven, eight!"

The Cheerios, with Kurt and Mercedes , perform Madonna's and Justin Timberlake's '4 Minutes' in front of the school. Violet also takes to vocals with Kurt and Mercedes, creating awesome harmonies.

[4 Minutes by Kurt, Mercedes, Violet and Cheerios]

Will looks displeased to see them there. At the end of the performance, they receive a standing ovation.

Will approaches Sue. "Sue, what the hell is going on here?" He demands.

Sue smiles. "Oh, what's the matter, buddy? Did you miss the show? You probably had to run to the powder room. Let me fill you in. Future center square Kurt Hummel there and his brassy hag Mercedes just tore that Madonna song a new one. And Kurt's new girlfriend Violet gave the song extra harmonies that made the performance perfect!" Sue says.

Will is confused. "Wait, you two are Cheerios now?"

"Yeah, I've decided to add vocals to my already wildly overproduced Cheerios numbers. It'll give us the edge at Nationals." Sue says.

Will looks displeased. "You guys could've at least given me the heads-up."

Mercedes looks at him. "You mean, the same way you gave us a heads-up before not giving us a solo almost every week?"

Kurt looks at his teacher. "Mr. Shue, Mercedes and I talked it over, and we love being in Glee, but being in the Cheerios will give us more opportunities to shine. So we're doing both." He says and walks off, his arm around Violet's waist as they walk together.

= = =

After school, Violet and Kurt were cuddling together on the couch in the living room of the house. They were watching Say Yes to the Dress.

Kurt smiles as he sees Violet's fallen asleep. He presses a tender kiss to her head as he cuddles her closer.

The door opens to reveal Burt Hummel, who's home early from work. He sees the two cuddling on the couch. "Have you two finally gotten together?" He asks his son quietly after seeing Violet was asleep.

Kurt looks up at his dad. "Yeah. We're official. We have been since yesterday. I'll tell you about it later; for now, she's going to sleep." He says softly. Burt nods and quietly walks upstairs to his own room.

An hour later, Burt comes downstairs to see that the TV is playing, but both Kurt and Violet are asleep. He smiles as he quietly turns the TV off, and pulls a blanket over Violet and Kurt so they wouldn't get cold.

= = =

The next day, the New Directions are in the auditorium, performing Madonna's 'Like A Prayer' with new member Jesse. Finn, Rachel, Violet, Mercedes and Kurt all have solo lines.

[Like a Prayer by New Directions plus Jesse]

Towards the end of the song, a screen onstage is removed to reveal a gospel choir onstage with New Directions. After the performance, everyone cheers.

= = =

3619 words

Songs Mentioned/Performed
1. Ray of Light - Madonna
2. Express Yourself - New Directions girls
3. 4 Minutes - Kurt, Mercedes, Violet and Cheerios
4. Like a Prayer - New Directions plus Jesse

GUYS I GOT TO MY FAVORITE EPISODE IN ALL OF SEASON 1. I'M SO HAPPY I COULD UPDATE TODAY. I HIT A RECORD OF 5 CHAPTERS IN 1 DAY!

Also, we're now 7 episodes away from the end of the first season.