"The Grey Area" is the fourth episode of season 4 of Emily in Paris, and the 34th episode overall.
Synopsis[]
"Emily seeks a private spot for a romantic rendezvous, Sylvie calls in a favor for Laurent's club opening, and Mindy's relationship hits an impasse."
— Official Netflix Synopsis
Plot[]
Emily sips wine at the bar of L'Esprit de Gigi while exchanging flirty texts with Gabriel. They burst into her apartment feverishly making out, only stopping when Mindy shouts for them to wait. She gets ready to leave so she can cry in the stairwell, but Emily insists she tell her what's going on. Mindy and Nico had a huge fight, so Gabriel leaves to let the girls talk. After the article about Louis came out, Nicolas's family have been doing PR damage control. He invited Mindy to a charity gala to be photographed together, because she doesn't want to complicit or seen with Louis. She also told Nicolas he was being complicit by taking a photo with Louis. Emily sits next to Mindy to assure her friend that she's doing the right thing. Mindy apologizes for cock blocking, knowing how hard it must be for them to hook-up with Camille and Sofia still living at Gabriel's.
In the morning, Sofia and Camille are having breakfast when Gardienne visits to investigate if three people are living in the apartment, since it's not allowed per their lease. She shrugs off Sofia's caress to appease the woman.
Laurent ends a phone call and Sylvie approaches, learning JVMA is pulling out of their deal. He has to cancel the opening party now. She apologizes, but he doesn't blame her. The deal was tainted from the beginning. He wonders why she didn't tell him about Louis when it happened, as they are married. She isn't a victim and wants to write her own story, not be a part of Louis's. Laurent understands and is proud of her for taking a stand. They kiss before he shares plans to return to St. Tropez.
Sylvie struts into the office as Emily and Luc praise her for being a "shero" who won't be silenced. Sylvie shares that Laurent G a Paris is dead because the deal was contingent on her silence. The shocks her employees, as there are over 500 RSVPs. Emily wants to try and work around this, but Sylvie tells her to drop it then closes her doors.
Sylvie calls her mom to ask for a lunch meeting together.
Luc works at his desk then crosses the office to Emily that several clients have canceled meetings with Agence Grateau as the company is too controversial. Clients want to see themselves in the press, not their marketing firm. They only have one client left today - Augustinus Bader.
Agence Grateau meets with Augustinus Bader, and the rep explains they are a legendary skincare line that is an open secret among celebrities like Victoria Beckham and Margot Robbie. They want to revolutionize beauty with a new shampoo formulated for older women. They need an agency firm to give them a new twist and market the product properly. While Luc recommends "old hair" or "mature hair", Emily brings up Cyndi Lauper and her iconic "let your true colors shine through" lyric. The rep is looking for something deeper to speak to their sophisticated, confident, and wealthy clientele.
Emily goes to the waiting room and encounters a woman who insists Emily speak French. Luc walks by and instantly recognizes her as Sylvie's mother, Héloise aka "The Queen of the Night", and the owner of a famous nightclub. Sylvie greets Héloise with exasperation as they were meant to meet at the cafe, but Héloise is not going to wait on the street. Sylvie ushers her co-workers away.
Luc gossips to Emily about Sylvie's mom, leaving Emily in shock.
Sylvie and Héloise eat at a cafe as Héloise critiques Sylvie for going to a reporter instead of her. Sylvie is now trying to save Laurent's club opening, and Héloise has a space that's been unoccupied for 20 years. Héloise isn't keen on saving Laurent for the second time, having given him money previously to open his club in St. Tropez. Sylvie insists it was the best investment her mother made. Héloise points out that if Laurent can't open his club, he won't stay in Paris. She ultimately agrees to let Sylvie use the space - with a few conditions, of course.
Julien and Nicolas meet with Grégory Elliott Duprée who is relaunching the Pierre Cadault brand. He shows them a runway of models wearing various pants that feature exterior genital accessories. Julien tries to salvage the vision to a confused and upset Nicolas, but it doesn't make much of a difference. Grégory was partly inspired by Louis scandal, seeing as how "men can't keep their dicks in their pants." Nicolas refuses to run the men's collection and even see the women's, which angers Grégory. He storms off and Nicolas tells Julian that Louis wants to speak with him about Sylvie.
Sylvie returns to work to tell Emily the news of saving Laurent's opening, cutting off the American's incessant excitement about having met her mom. Emily now has to be late for another event tonight.
Sylvie takes Laurent and Emily to her Héloise's long-closed nightclub, which Laurent disapproves of as it screams 1970s. Héloise wants to recreate the glory days of disco. Laurent disagrees since Laurent G is a beach club, and Emily is inspired to do an indoor beach club based on the Chanel fashion show from the Spring/Summer collection a few years ago. Laurent sees the vision and it unfolds between the trio. Héloise insists the club can handle water, since Carla Bruni practically drowned in there at a foam part in the 80s.
Emily greets Gabriel, Sofia, and Camille for dinner, unaware the women were joining him. Gabriel wants them to taste pastries made by several pastry chefs who may win him a Michelin star. Camille brings up a past outing they shared together while drunk. They reminisce in French until Emily asks them to speak English. Gabriel asks Emily to help him with another desert in the kitchen. Camille takes Sofia's hand to kiss it.
In the kitchen, Gabriel apologizes to Emily for not telling her the others were coming. They both want to intimate together, but can't figure out the logistics. He tells her that he has a plan.
Gabriel knocks on Emily's door and Mindy tells them to have fun. He takes her up the roof where he's set up a beautiful outdoor picnic and bed. They share a kiss and he promises the situation is temporary. She can put up with it a little while longer if he keeps being this creative. He can be very creative and they kiss again.
Emily tells Mindy about her escapade the night before with Gabriel. Mindy is very shocked to hear that Emily was adventurous, gushing over her best friends new attitude. Emily is finally realizing that things don't have to be black-and-white all the time, with Mindy remarking she has on rose colored glasses. This gives Emily inspiration for the Augustinus Bader account.
Emily pitches her idea to Luc, Sylvie, and the Augustinus Bader rep. The campaign has a new slogan - "Embrace the gray area" - and is about attitude and not age. Sylvie wonders what the ad looks like, and Emily explains it's about a woman who is done dying her hair - and is dying to live. She takes a man up to the rooftop of her apartment and they make love on the roof. As Emily explains the romantic situation, Luc and Sylvie begin to realize it's about Emily. Emily continues to pitch the ideas to the rep, who thinks Emily has nailed her customers.
After the pitch, Sylvie visits Emily to share her surprise about Emily finally embracing ambiguity. The simple girl from Chicago could have never conceived the pitch that was just delivered. Sylvie's been living in the gray area all her life, and is happy to see Emily embracing it too. Luc interrupts, remarking on the copious amounts of sand being poured into the club basement. Luc jokes to Emily about the club being a giant litter box.
Over at the club, Sylvie helps Laurent get things ready and oversees the event. Julien visits to warn her that Louis trying to retaliate for the article by asking for dirt about her from Julien. Instead of giving information, Julien quit the company, so Sylvie hands him a shovel to help them get the place ready for a party Paris will never forget.
Mindy is at band rehearsals while trying to soothe Nicolas over the phone. She wants him to come to Laurent's club opening, but he can't be seen there and doesn't want her to perform in a club associated with Sylvie because of the PR implications. She's asking to choose her instead of a side.
Emily walks the steps to her apartment and spots Sofia and Camille outside Gabriel's. They've been apartment hunting all day, but Camille had a problem with all of them. Sofia likes the artist studio, which is 45 minutes outside the city and the city isn't something Camille wants to sacrifice. Sofia brings up living Athens, but Camille can never leave Paris because her life is there. The women head inside, but Sofia's disappointment is clear. Emily runs back down the stairwell to tell Gardienne three people are living in Gabriel's apartment. Gardienne thanks her and vows to take care of it.
Laurent's club opening is massive success as people are having a blast. Sylvie talks to Emily about the club opening and how Laurent is happy. Emily points out that Sylvie's mother is happy, too. Luc runs over to show her who has just arrived - Grégory Elliott Duprée and his couture fashion penis collection. Julien brings them together for a photo-op in front of Laurent's sign, gleefully telling Sylvie this is Pierre Cadault by Grégory Elliott Duprée. JVMA tried to cancel the line, and now these pictures will be in every tabloid in Paris. Sylvie knows Louis is going to be furious, making her and Julien smile.
Mindy, Benoît, and Étienne take the stage to perform a set. Luc thinks Mindy and Benoît are a hot couple, though Emily corrects him. Luc doesn't think they can fake that kind of chemistry on stage. Laurent and Sylvie dance together as he's thrilled over the club opening. She's happy he can stay in Paris now, but he didn't need a club to stay. Héloise pops a bottle of champagne, happy to finally see them so happy together. Héloise is happy to give the club over to Laurent for a cut at the door and a reserved cabana.
Mindy and Benoît's performance becomes more intimate as they sing into the same microphone. The cheers from the crowd bring Mindy back to reality.
Mindy heads to the bar for shots and Nico surprises her. She brushes off her happiness over him missing the performance as it not being their best. Nico told the board that as long as his dad is CEO, he won't work there, so they've asked his father to step down. He's not sure what this means, and she kisses him out of pride. Benoît watches them kiss from the crowd.
Emily is taking videos of herself at the party when Gabriel arrives. He suggests going to the cabana to have sex, which forces Emily to admit the roof-sex was a one time thing. There are too many people in their relationship but the more she thinks about it, the situation isn't her. She needs boundaries, order, and a ceiling over her bed. She told the gardienne there were three people living in his apartment, and he told her the same thing. He doesn't want to lose Emily or his apartment over the situation. He kisses her on the forehead and leaves to get them drinks. Camille rushes over to give her a hug. She apologizes for being late, blaming it on the gardienne cornering her since someone ratted out their living situation. Camille and Sofia have to move out tomorrow, so Emily feigns shock. It turns out for the best, since there's a vacant apartment right next door to Gabriel. Camille is excited and happy about the news, though Emily isn't pleased. She watches Camille and Gabriel talk by the bar. Sofia talks to Emily about being neighbors with Gabriel. Sofia knew Camille wouldn't move away from Gabriel - she's having his baby, after all. Emily can only watch from afar as Camille and Gabriel hug.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Lily Collins as Emily Cooper
- Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu as Sylvie Grateau
- Ashley Park as Mindy Chen
- Lucas Bravo as Gabriel
- Camille Razat as Camille
- Samuel Arnold as Julien
- Bruno Gouery as Luc
- William Abadie as Antoine Lambert (Credit only)
Guest Starring[]
Co-Starring[]
- Paul Forman as Nicolas de Leon
- Arnaud Binard as Laurent Grateau
- Liliane Rovere as Héloise
- Édith Le Merdy as Gardienne
- Mademoiselle Agnés as Delphine
Quotes[]
Trivia[]
- Emily's French seems to get worse in this episode, despite the third season largely focusing on her improvements in French through classes.
Gallery[]
References[]