Stick around after Empire
for the season premiere of Star.
And tune in Wednesdays on Fox.
-Previously on Empire... -This is your scarf.
You were wearing it the night that you killed Shine.
Withdraw your bid for Empire.
-You just gave away Empire! -I did it for that.
-Why you packing? -'Cause I'm leaving, Ma.
I need to be nobody for a minute.
What did you do to me?
-Karma's a bitch. -(screams)
(people screaming)
I'm pregnant, and it's yours.
Cookie, I want you to be my wife.
JUDGE: I now pronounce you husband and wife.
-Hakeem, he's got a gun! -Dad, what are you doing?!
-No! -(gunshot)
*
(sighs)
*
("Ibiza" playing over laptop)
* Top down, feel the breeze
* Chillin' with the homies in Ibiza *
* Pipe down, girl, please
* Don't you see the camera? Say "cheese" *
* Whine down on me
* Shake it like some new car keys *
* 'Cause right now, I might be *
* 'Bout the flyest one that you've ever seen *
* I know you do it for the culture *
* Just come a little closer
* Baby, we can do the most-a
-Hey. -* Right now, right now, right now, right now *
* Real money, I ain't hood rich *
* If you ain't a dummy, go stupid *
* I got the check, baby, you can make it run up, run up *
* Run up, run up
* Oh, what we got now?
* Whole thing shut down
* Flames burn to the ground
* Burn up, burn up, burn up, burn up... *
(music stops)
(music fast-forwards, stops)
(footsteps approaching)
COOKIE: Damn!
It is hot as hell in here!
Can't we get the AC fixed or something?
If you got $50,000.
Bump that. I'll sweat it out.
Well, don't forget, I like you sweaty.
You were supposed to meet me at the network.
We'd like Lucious to be a judge on our musical talent show.
We'll write a catchphrase for Lucious, like, uh,
"Welcome to the dog pound," or, uh, "Not now. Not ever."
No, stupid. (chuckles)
"No, stupid"? Yeah. "No, stupid." I like that.
(executives chuckling)
"No, stupid." You see? He's sitting there.
He's... I like that. That's pretty good.
Had me up there looking stupid.
I'm sorry. I-I just, I can't think about anything
like that until we... until we get Empire back.
Yeah, well, until then, we got to stay afloat.
-Now, I'm out here hustling. -What do you see me doing?
I'm over here trying to edit this thing, look.
We got millions of dollars worth of footage
that nobody in the world has; we can cash in online.
Look at our boy.
You tell me Keem wasn't meant to do this.
Hmm, that's my baby.
Look, Lucious, we don't have time to do all of this, okay?
You know how much stuff we got to do before tomorrow night?
Yeah, I haven't forgotten. We've been planning it for two years.
Eddie won't see it coming either.
-(laptop ringing) -Ooh, Jamal. -Ah.
-What's up, y'all? -Hey, baby.
-LUCIOUS: You looking good, son. -When you coming home, boy?
Ma, London is my home.
-How are you? -I'm good.
-Yeah, we're great, man. -How'd you celebrate?
-Celebrate what? -Are you serious?
Y'all two-year wedding anniversary. Damn.
-What? -Uh, oh, we-we, um,
we gonna celebrate this weekend.
Look, how's your love life, huh?
How's, uh, what's his name?
-Ky-Kyle? Kylie? Kale? -(laughs)
You're so shady. You know good and well that boy's name is Kai.
I'd remember his name if I met the boy.
Look, on another note, um, son, how's your label doing?
Dad, I just signed this rapper out of Dakar.
(laughs): He's so dope.
I ain't making no money or nothing, but whatever.
-I love it. -Really?
Yeah, well, that sounds more like a hobby than a job.
I mean, if we could get Eddie
to let you out of your Empire contract...
Uh-uh. Uh-uh.
Y'all up there taking Eddie to court,
trying to get Empire back; I don't want none of that.
-I'm good. -(doorbell rings)
Y'all expecting company?
Uh, something like that. (chuckles)
JUANITA: Miss Cookie? Those people are here.
(mouths) Boy, we got to go.
It better not be another six weeks
-before I hear from your ass. -All right, I love y'all.
-I love you, too. -(door opens)
Miss Cookie, my pay-- it's already been five weeks.
COOKIE: I know, I know.
I got you, I got you, Juanita, okay?
Friday, I promise. Okay.
(sighs) We forgot our anniversary.
I'm sorry, baby.
I've just been so busy trying to scratch out a living.
Happy anniversary.
-Happy annivers... -(cart rolling)
-Oh, no. Oh, my God. -Wait.
You said to sell it all, Miss Cookie.
I know, I know, I know, but just...
W-Wait, wait, wait. Why don't you...
wrap that up and protect it first?
Okay, hey, it's just things, Lucious. It's just things.
We're better than that. Hey, put that back.
That's-that's my Derrick Adams.
Gift my husband gave me for my wedding.
Come here. Come on, baby.
I'm so sick and tired of people taking things from us.
Now, we tried it the legal way.
I think it's time we-we got to plan.
Let's go get what's ours.
We get Eddie tomorrow night at the awards ceremony,
when his security aren't around.
You talked to Andre? He's gonna get us what we need?
Andre's gonna deliver, don't you worry about that.
GUARD: You got 15 minutes!
(indistinct guard radio chatter)
Better keep walking.
-(inmates chattering) -(weights clanking)
*
LUCIOUS: No, it don't make sense.
I mean, he-he couldn't have possibly known
that she would fall; he didn't mean to kill her.
THIRSTY: Yeah, that's why I got it reduced
to reckless endangerment.
-Two years, man. -You know I did everything I could.
All right? This is the best deal we're gonna get.
Someone caught Andre spiking Anika's drink
-in a cell phone pic. -COOKIE: No.
I can handle two years, Ma.
-No. -You did 17.
And that's why I went, so you wouldn't have to.
Thirsty got me a good deal, Ma.
Hey. I can do this.
You know why they transferred you to this hellhole, Steve?
(chuckles)
It was because of me.
Traded in a lot of favors to get you here.
What do you want?
You were Eddie Barker's money manager.
You ran that Ponzi scheme that brought him down.
I didn't do it.
I hope you did it, Steve.
Because if you did, you have access to what I need,
and then I can get you back to Club Fed.
Home sweet home.
But, Steve, if you didn't, you're no use to me.
And that is no good for you.
*
Up, up, up, up, up. No. Down.
Down. Okay, yes.
Right there. Hold it right there.
(exhales): Whoa.
-That was good. -(exhales)
That was good.
-I like a woman who knows what she wants. -(laughs)
I really needed that. We make a good team, Kingsley.
Great things in business are never done by one person.
Are you really quoting Steve Jobs after sex?
(chuckles) Aren't you even a little concerned
-about Eddie catching us? -No.
He's too busy test-driving hotel mattresses
with his new assistant.
-So why'd you remarry him? -Temporary insanity.
Or temporary "strategery."
Look, when Eddie gets tired of
pretending to do actual work around here, I'm taking over.
You're still singing my praises in Silicon Valley, right?
I've been known to sing a note or two.
Good.
So, Glasses, you could go ahead
and confirm my lunch with Zane's playlist people.
-Thank you so much. -Mm-hmm.
Ponytail, can you set a meeting with Eddie
-about upping our radio budget? -Mm-hmm.
Thank you so much. And, Man Bun...
yesterday's photo shoot looked like some weird, like,
Rugrats porno, and I hated it.
-And you need to do better, and go get it done. -Mm-hmm.
Thank you. Merci beaucoup. Bye.
Listen up, everybody. I just got back the P&L reports.
Empire's profits... are all the way up.
(all cheering)
BECKY: Yes! Okay, okay.
'Cause that is all four quarters;
-that is a clean sweep. -And what do we call that?
BOTH: Black Girl Magic.
-Yes. -Yes.
We have to focus.
We have to make sure that "Ibiza" makes
Best Original Song at the MVP Movie Awards.
Girl, you know I already took care of that.
-I basically stroked everybody involved. -(laughs)
(whispers): I have carpal tunnel in both wrists now.
-You nasty. But I like it... -I am.
...because Eddie hates to lose.
Uh, speaking of Eddie,
he knows that his fellow nominated producers,
Cookie and Lucious, will be there that night, too, right?
Please. He knows. Besides, we doubled up on security.
Perfect. That is exactly what I was getting after.
And you know what, I'm just really glad
that "Ibiza's" getting this kind of attention,
because it was Hakeem and Tiana's last song
-before the shooting. -Yeah.
-I just really miss them. -I know.
*
-(Hakeem grunts) -BLAKE: No!
-(car alarm wailing) -(Hakeem coughs)
(Bella crying)
(gunshot)
TIANA: Oh, my God. Look at me, look at me.
Hakeem, Hakeem.
-Keem! Keem! -Help! Help!
-Help!
Keem! Someone call an ambulance!
(Hakeem coughing)
(clears throat)
-Oh, come on, now. -(exhales)
Put your mind to it.
Take a deep breath in.
(coughing)
I can't. It hurt, lady.
Hey, losing part of your lung is tough,
but getting your wind back isn't impossible.
Don't let some crazy guy's bullet beat you.
Leave me the hell alone!
(Hakeem coughing)
I think he needs a second. Please, just give us a minute.
(coughing)
Come here, Bella.
Can you take Bella and Prince down to the park,
and I'll be there in a few minutes.
-Okay. Come on, Prince. -Thank you. (kisses)
-Be good. See you in a second. -Come on, Bella, let's go.
Mommy will be down soon.
(door closes)
I know that this is hard...
but you can do this.
I thought that getting back onstage
would be good motivation for you.
I can't rap, Tee. I can't hold it.
You'll have a backing track.
You mean lip sync? My fans would drag me for life.
No, your fans want to see you back onstage.
They're happy that you're alive.
And you know I need to do this
to get back on Eddie's good side.
Man, to hell with him and his Steve Harvey-looking suits.
-Okay? -Mm-hmm.
Look, Eddie full-on sidelined me
when he found out that I was pregnant.
I need to be back on that stage, in front of the world.
So all this mess can stop.
But I need you to do it with me.
(sighs)
Okay.
Okay. For you.
Yes, yes, Andre came through like a champ.
And we got everything we need.
Mm-hmm. I'm on my way back from the prison now.
Okay, take care. I'll talk to you soon, babe.
WOMAN: * They be like, no
* We never seen a chick so cold *
* Never seen a chain so gold
* Never seen a wrist so froze
* Diamonds on my neck all glow
* So cold
* So
* Shining my light, I'm the best *
* Never seen nobody like me.
PORSHA: Cook. Come on, we got to go
-if you want to get to the awards on time. -Okay.
And you better not turn on that driving app.
I'm not paying all them damn high surging prices.
No, I'm not getting up there.
Porsha, you're doing too much.
This damn car look like a circus. And fluffy.
-I... -Come on! I don't wanna hear it!
("Mi Gente" by J Balvin and Willy William playing)
*
(lively chatter)
(growls playfully)
-Hey, Lucious! -Cookie, right here!
Who are you wearing?
*
Hi.
REPORTER: You two look fabulous.
Seems like retirement is treating you well.
Yeah, well, you know, we were, uh, docking our yacht
when we got the info about the nomination.
(laughs) I love it.
Now, Lucious, we know you and Eddie Barker
have had some legal tussles over Empire.
Where do you stand now?
Oh, you know, um, people squabble,
but at the end of the day, blood is thicker than water.
He's always gonna be my brother.
Okay. All right, then, thanks.
And you heard it from the Lyon's mouth.
-Look at how scared of us he is. -He should be.
(chuckles) Punk bitch.
-WOMAN: Cookie! Hey, girl! -Hi.
-Here you are. -Thank you.
That dress is beautiful.
Who makes it, Balmain?
*
Listen, Cookie, I just want you to know
that I would have handled things differently than Eddie.
(chuckles)
Do you think I care
what Eddie's ho would have done differently?
Girl...
(scoffs)
You know, you should be careful with the pit stains.
H&M won't take that back.
Too bad you can't get your money back
for that botched face job.
I can think of somewhere else you could've used the money.
Can I get champagne?
ANNOUNCER: And now, performing "Ibiza," Tiana,
and for the first time in two years, Hakeem Lyon!
(crowd cheering)
("Ibiza" playing)
* Ah, top down, feel the breeze *
* Chillin' with the homies in Ibiza *
* Right now, catch me
* Linen shorts with the sandals on my feet *
* Calm down, it's just me *
* Ain't my fault that I make it look easy *
* Oh, wow, I might be
* 'Bout the flyest one that you ever seen *
* I know you do it for the culture *
* Just come a little closer
* Baby, we can do the most-a
* Right now, right now, right now, right now *
* Real money, I ain't hood rich *
* If you ain't a dummy, go stupid *
* I got the check, baby, you can make it run up, run up *
* Run up, run up
-* Top down, feel the breeze -(coughing)
* Chillin' with the homies in Ibiza *
-* Right now, catch me -(coughing continues)
* Linen shorts with the sandals on my feet... *
He's using a backing track.
* Ain't my fault that I make it look easy *
-* Oh, wow, I might be -(coughing continues)
* 'Bout the flyest one that you ever seen... *
-What's up? Uh-huh. -He lip syncing. I told you.
-(music continues) -(coughing)
(crowd murmuring)
-* Top down, feel the breeze -(crowd cheering)
* Chillin' with the homies overseas *
* I might move, I don't ever wanna leave from the beach *
* Watch the wind through the palm trees *
-* Going wild in Ibiza -* Uh-huh
* Only come around if you can keep up *
* Turn this up loud in your speaker *
* Temp ain't never going down, might catch a fever *
* Trying to be a participant in anything that we dealing with *
* Ain't no point in concealing it *
* Girl, I know that you feeling it *
* Say it loud, scream it loud, every night we going out *
* It's going down, yeah. *
-(song ends) -(crowd cheering)
MAN (over P.A.): We're back in two minutes.
-(Cookie sighs) -Two minutes until Best Original Song.
What happened? How's our boy?
Uh... (chuckles)
Well, his ego is bruised, but the doctor said he'll be okay.
If we could just have the nominees, please, no security.
-No, I need them. -Oh, um...
Oh.
-This won't work. -Oh, God.
Sir, your category's coming up after the commercial break.
We need all the nominees together for the camera shot.
Your escorts can wait just off camera.
Look, we're all gonna be on camera.
They're not gonna act a fool in front of the whole world.
Okay? We got this.
-All right. -Let's do it.
-Hello again. Lucious. -Evening.
-Well, hello! -What the-- -(gasps) Ooh!
-Oh. Oh, that's all you got? -Can you help her, please?
-Yes. Right this way, ma'am. -That's all you got?
-You want some more? -Whoa, whoa, whoa. Stop!
-So sorry. Can you take this? -Right this way.
-Thank you. -Oh, okay, take that...
-Oh, oh! -Ooh, girl! -Right this way.
-Get her out of here. -Okay.
Accident. Happens.
Excuse me. I'm so sorry, guys.
-LUCIOUS: Apologize, Eddie. -What's this?
COOKIE: This was an accident.
EDDIE: A cheap shot in front of the whole place here?
COOKIE: It was an accident. Have a seat.
Come on. We're okay.
COOKIE: Relax. You look nice.
Have a seat.
Take your hand off me, all right?
Oh.
I just wanted to know why you betrayed Empire.
-Betrayed by raising revenues? -(scoffs)
I'm talking about skimming off the books.
MTA Bank of Panama. That ring a bell?
-(crowd cheering) -(rap music playing)
Welcome back, folks.
And next up we have the award for
Best Original Song in a Film.
(applause)
And the nominees are Coldplay for "Mai Tai..."
Yeah, your money guy told us that's where you keep
your secret shell company accounts.
Yeah, money disappears from Empire,
and then, poof, it ends up in your Panama account.
-Can't prove it, right? -Oh, yeah.
-We have all the receipts, baby. -We were brothers,
and you just flushed that all down the toilet, didn't you?
EMCEE: Pasek and Paul, "Marvin's Song."
All right, I ain't gonna deal with this. It's about time...
COOKIE and LUCIOUS: Sit your ass down.
What is it you want? What do you want?
Same thing you wanted.
I want Empire, or your ass will go to jail.
Yeah, you always had a problem keeping your paws
out of the cookie jar.
Now look at you, caught, sticky fingers.
And the big surprise is now, when we win,
you're gonna go up there and announce to the world
that you're stepping down from Empire.
-What, now? -COOKIE: Yeah, now.
And nominated for "Ibiza,"
Lucious Lyon, Cookie Lyon and Eddie Barker.
-(applause) -* Oh, what we got now
* Whole thing shut down...
We'll expect a call from Kelly Patel tomorrow.
And the winner is...
"Ibiza"!
Lucious Lyon, Cookie Lyon and Eddie Barker.
-(crowd cheering) -("Ibiza" playing)
Showtime, baby.
* Flames burn to the ground
* Burn up, burn up, burn up, burn up. *
(shredder whirring)
So, why'd you just leave me backstage at the awards?
(slurring): As you can see,
I had some urgent business to take care of.
What are you, drunk?
(sighs) A little.
(laughs) Maybe a little more than a little.
So you're stepping down now?
Not gonna give me any warning?
What's going on, Eddie?
(whispers): We lost.
We lost what?
Everything.
The Lyons discovered my little indiscretion.
(chuckles) They want to give me the option
of, like, going to prison or...
...letting them take over Empire.
Eddie, what did you do?
-How unoriginal is that? -What did you do?
Seriously? Think about it.
What did you do?
It's okay. Doesn't matter.
What do you mean it doesn't matter?
-We lost. -No, no. We didn't lose.
Not "we," "you." You lost.
Tomato, tomahto.
Potato, potahto.
(scoffs): You really...
Let me tell you something; I didn't work this hard
to lose everything again.
-Not everything. -I'm not playing...
You been, like, uh, putting away a little stash of money.
Couple million, at least. Use that to stay afloat.
Look, you're not gonna take all this away from me.
They're not gonna take it from me.
-I'm the one that's been running Empire. -(laughs)
While you just walk around here like you've been running it.
-I made it a success. -Come on. Are you serious?
You-- really?
You wasn't running any a damn well thing.
You should be happy that you still... half of your looks,
-so you can still ride on my coattails. -Okay.
Hold on.
You're right. I'm sorry. You were running it, baby.
No. Just get off me.
-Come here. Come here. -Hey.
-Just... -Hey, whoa, whoa. Stop.
-No, don't you touch me. -No, like, come on.
-Don't touch me, Eddie. -Like, you look so pretty.
-I said get off me! -What's going on?
-What are you doing? -Get off me!
-(loud thud) -(gasps)
Eddie.
Okay. Drunk ass.
Help me. I need help.
Help. Help me.
I'm sorry.
I can't help you anymore, Eddie.
*
(shouting)
Lucious! Lucious!
Stop it, Lucious! Stop!
We had his ass!
We had his ass, and then he gonna turn around and croak?
I know, I know, and he's in hell right now laughing at us
in that yellow suit.
My God.
And our deal is just as dead as he is. I know.
What are we gonna do, huh?
We should've never gave up Empire.
You should've never gave it away.
I did that to save your ass from prison.
You think they could've kept me in there?
What are you, Houdini, huh?
-You was gonna magically disappear? Escape? -No.
You're supposed to trust me. You should've had faith in me!
But you always walking around here like you got balls
that's bigger than every-damn-body else.
-You don't! -Oh. So I'm supposed to bow down
behind you 'cause you the man, huh?
Lucious, is your ego that fragile?
You think this is about ego? This is about my dream.
Empire was my destiny, Cookie. It was my legacy!
You, you, you! Everything is you!
-Yeah, 'cause this is about me! -Oh, okay.
-So I didn't help? -Empire was mine!
-I didn't help? I didn't help? -Yeah. What did you do?
I mean, where were you most of the damn time?
-(chuckles) -You weren't there when I built the damn thing.
By the time you got back,
Empire was a multibillion-dollar business!
You have a very short memory,
Mr. Dwight I Can't Do Music, Please See My Colors!
You gonna go there...
-Yeah, I'm-a go there! I'm going there! -Okay.
All right, Cookie, so maybe you helped me one time.
-One time, Negro? One time?! -One time.
-Negro, please. One time? -One time you helped me! One time!
-One time?! -Hello?
(screams) Jamal? What are you doing here?!
(both laugh)
-Yay. -You look amazing.
-Uh, stunning. -COOKIE: Hi.
-Oh, this is, this is Kai. -Yeah.
-Yes. Hi, Kai. How are you? -(Kai chuckles)
Thrilled to meet you. Jamal talks about you every day.
-He better. Shoot, he don't know how to pick up the phone. -Ow.
Hey, Dad.
Hey, son. I'm-I'm sorry I'm sweaty.
-You are. What you got...? -Forgive me.
-Mr. Lyon, it's a pleasure, sir. -Uh, no, pleasure's mine.
You're a remarkable reporter, I mean, impressive stuff.
You go to dangerous places, man.
-You're the one who's been watching? -(laughter)
It's nice to know I'm not risking my life for nothing.
Well, look, I... I wanted the family to meet Kai.
-Yes. -Figured, you know, since Dre is getting out soon,
it was the perfect time. Why is it so damn hot in here?
Uh, 'cause we conserving energy, child. (laughs)
-So y'all gonna stay with us? -Uh, nah, nah, nah, we gonna,
um, chill at my place, 'cause I didn't know that y'all were,
-um, renovating and stuff. -Mm-hmm.
-We're not. -We are.
I need to step out and make a call.
-Excuse me. -Okay.
(door opens)
(door closes)
The hell is going on, y'all?
What happened to the house?
So Empire's gone?
It's just no more? That's it?
Well, praise the Lord.
Praise Jehovah.
Praise Allah. Praise Oshun.
Shoot, praise Zeus, praise all of the gods.
-Really, Jamal? -Yes, Ma, I'm serious.
You know what? The evil king is dead.
So long live the new king and queen.
-I don't want to hear none of this. -No, Dad, listen, man. Come on.
Y'all spent 20 years
building something that literally ate y'all alive.
Then you lose it,
and you spend two more years trying to get it back.
You hocking silverware, you...
selling the art that you love off of your walls.
You're in this hot-ass house.
That's not a dream, that's a drug.
You can't hold on to what hurts you.
Let it go.
I don't know two people that are more dynamic and creative,
so if anybody's gonna build magic from scratch,
it's gonna be y'all.
-(door closes) -(sighs)
Oh.
So you finally decided to bring your ass back up in here, huh?
Hey, Hakeem, how you feeling?
Your lungs still coughing up blood
from trying to do my song last night?
Hmm. You got your trophy.
Ain't like you care about anything else.
(scoffs)
I need another drink.
Hakeem, staying out late and getting drunk
and getting into fights is not gonna solve your problems, okay?
-Who you yelling at, Tee?! -You!
Daddy? Tata? Why are you shouting?
Hey, babe. High-five.
Look.
Daddy and Tata are just having a big person talk.
I want you to go back in the playroom
and play with your toys.
I love you.
Listen.
I need some space to get myself together.
-(sighs heavily) -(fan buzzing)
You gonna get a big fat gut, all that stress eating.
Who cares? It's good.
Well, what about what Jamal said?
What about what he said? I mean, look, baby, you...
you can't just make something happen
just 'cause you want it to happen.
-It just don't work like that. -Well, what do you want, huh?
Do you want something new to happen?
I worked...
We worked...
...so hard and scarified so much trying to build Empire.
Last I checked, we ain't dead.
But we can't start no label unless you got some money.
(chuckles softly) Broke?
Broke ain't ever stopped us before.
Don't you remember?
For the longest, you were the only artist at the label,
and look what we've become.
-Chocolate or vanilla? -(sighs) Chocolate. Look.
All my life, all I wanted to do was music, Lucious,
and I want to do it with you, okay?
I mean, if we gonna fly, then we golden.
But if we gonna fail, we gonna fall to our own song.
(drawer opens, closes)
What we need is a new sound, something unexpected, like...
when people heard N.W.A., Whitney or Prince
for the first time, you know?
Them them old school heads, man.
Yes, old school with a new sound.
But that's like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
You need somebody that just drops you dead in your tracks.
(laughs softly)
Lucious.
I think I found someone.
-(door buzzes) -COOKIE: She must've been in here
visiting her boyfriend or her brother or something.
Look, you got to help me find this girl, okay?
Ask a brother in here about his woman?
You trying to get me killed?
Don't even play like that, Andre.
Look...
the closer it comes to you getting out of here,
haters gonna come out the woodwork.
-Ma... -Don't you let nothing or nobody
get in the way of you coming home, 'cause I need you.
I hear you, Mom. Okay?
-Okay. -Don't worry.
All right.
But while you in here, keep an eye out for me for this girl.
I need to find out who she is.
Uh, who-who is that?
Social worker.
Can I help you, ma'am?
What's your name?
-Um, Treasure. -Treasure.
I'm Cookie Lyon.
I'm gonna change your life.
KELLY: It was a beautiful service.
-I hate to talk business right now... -It's okay.
...but I can't afford to let a ship as big as Empire
float along without a captain.
Yeah.
I'd like you to step in as Empire's interim CEO.
Wow.
I can't think of a better way to honor Eddie's legacy.
(sniffles)
Perfect. We'll talk tomorrow.
-Yes. -Okay.
Thank you.
Take Mrs. Barker home, please.
("I Like That" by Janelle Monáe playing)
-Excuse me, sir. -DRIVER: Yes, ma'am.
In the next block, can you just pull over
-for a moment, please? -No problem.
Thank you.
*
* I don't really give a ... *
* If I was just the only one who likes that... *
Okay.
* The chase is on
* Oh, me, oh, me, oh, me, oh, my... *
Wow. (chuckles)
* Oh, me, oh, me, oh, me, oh, my *
(sighs)
* I like that.
COOKIE: Okay, here we go.
Right this way. (chuckles)
Hey, hey.
And who's this?
Manager.
COOKIE: (chuckles) Well, you know, have a seat, honey.
Um, don't mind the mess. We are renovating.
Oh, no, it's beautiful.
I like how you like to keep it toasty in here...
Yeah, it's for the throat, child. Sit down.
Uh, do you want anything to drink?
I'll have a vodka tonic, two cubes.
You know, you people are lucky
that you found my client when you did.
LUCIOUS: Wow. I mean...
"us people," we weren't even aware
that Treasure had representation.
Oh, Treasure's been one of my girls for a long time.
-One of your girls? -Yeah, I put a lot of time
and money into this one's career.
Now, look here. Cookie said that, uh, she heard you
-freestyling in the car. -Yeah.
So we wondered what you would sound like
in front of a microphone.
Yeah. Uh, did you write that song in the car?
-Yeah. -Why don't you sing that.
Okay.
LUCIOUS: You ever, um,
-sang into a mic before? -No, I...
Hey, hey, uh... do some scales first.
And-and the breathing exercises I taught you, okay?
(breathing rhythmically)
Joe, no, I-I don't need to do that. It's okay.
Hey, do what I say, Treasure. And no back talk. (chuckles)
Yeah, I mean, she's hopeless if she can't find her breath.
You know? These ghetto kids with no training.
-(laughs): I tell ya. -Uh...
LUCIOUS: You know what?
Um, why don't you and Cookie,
y'all just get comfortable and get acclimated in there.
You and me, we go, um, out back, talk about some business?
Oh, I like the sound of that. (chuckles)
Yes.
Come on, man.
-After you. -COOKIE: Yeah, we gonna vocalize
and we'll have your drink ready when you get back,
with the two ice cubes.
-(Treasure sighs) -(door opens)
-(elevator bell dings) -But you're not mad that you came, though?
No, of course not.
Look, I'm not gonna let anything interfere with us,
not even my crazy-ass family.
I know. Besides, before you know it, we'll be back in London.
-You damn right we will. -All right, where do you want me to put these at?
Who the hell are you and why you here?!
-JAMAL: What the hell are you doing, Keem?! Put that down! -I'm calling the police.
-He just put a gun to my head. -Okay.
And we in the States, and they use us for target practice.
Who he?
He is my boyfriend Kai.
I told you about him.
'Sup?
'Sup? I don't much appreciate guns being pulled on me.
Relax, it ain't even loaded.
It's a beauty.
May I see it?
You missed the one in the chamber.
Common, deadly mistake.
JAMAL: Yeah.
What is this, Hakeem?
(sighs) Going through a rough patch.
I ain't even know you was gonna be here.
Maybe you would if you actually would've answered my texts.
HAKEEM: Look, my bad. I got a new number.
-I really need a place to crash. -You know that
you can stay here any time that you want.
But what the hell is all of this?
What the hell are these guns, man? What are you going through?
-What are you even thinking? -Who you screaming at, bruh?!
I'm screaming at you.
You my little brother and I'm worried about you.
Then why you run off to London?
(sighs)
I came back the second that I heard that you were shot,
and you know that.
Two days and you were gone.
When you got shot, I stayed by you.
When you shot Angelo, who was there with you?
Who was there?
You were.
Nah, man, come here.
You were.
-(door closes) -(exhales)
-We good? -LUCIOUS: Unfortunately,
your manager, he's...
He ran into something.
Now, what do you know about singing?
I... just sing.
Well, keep in mind that singing is not about
trying to hit some particular note,
it's about taking what you feel inside
and sharing that with everybody around.
Okay, okay, but I...
I don't know if I can do all that. I'll try.
Well, do you like your job?
No, sir, I don't. I mean, being in there,
as soon as I walk in, I feel like I'm a prisoner, too.
I see those men suffering
and being treated like less than human all the time.
Yeah, well, we want to hear that in your voice.
Share that with us.
You know, everybody said I wasn't gonna be good enough...
Okay, okay. You know what? Girl, we lost Empire.
We lost it. Gone.
But we are still here,
so don't you ever let nobody stop you
from doing what you were born to do. Okay?
Now sing the song, child.
LUCIOUS: I want to feel that.
* Never seen a girl like me
* They'll never put a hold on me *
* No, I...
* I'll do it all alone *
* I'll do it on my own *
* Nothing ever comes easy
* They told me it was just a dream *
* But I...
* I'm-a prove 'em wrong *
(heavy R&B track begins)
* Scree, I don't need your attitude *
* Don't want your goofy-ass man with the busted shoes *
* I'm walking in bossed up, got a lot to prove *
* I'm breaking necks with the way that my body move *
* I know they asking who's that chick with all the confidence *
* Step into the room like she owning this *
* I'm coming for your check, I'm-a garnish it *
* I don't want a piece, I want all of-- cold *
* Never seen a chick so cold, never seen a whip so cold *
* Tell me, have you ever seen a chick so cold? *
* They be like, no, we never seen a chick so cold *
* Shining my light, I'm the best *
* Never seen nobody like me
* So cold
* So...
* Shining my light, I'm the best *
* Never seen nobody like me.
-She's kinda dope, y'all, seriously. -Mm-hmm.
-She's really dope. -Hey, Ma, who the hell is this?
That is Treasure, and we just signed her.
What you mean, "signed her"?
-Yeah, we started our own label. Hakeem. -COOKIE: Yes.
-There you go. -Thank you.
It's going to be our new family label.
And we're gonna give Hakeem time to heal,
and Andre is joining us when he gets home.
Yeah, and we're getting you out of
that wack-ass contract with Empire.
-Mm-hmm. -JAMAL: Wait, hold up.
(chuckles) I'm proud of y'all,
I really am, but I got my own label I'm starting.
I... got my own man.
I got a life in London to get back to.
Boy, that's a hobby. You ain't got no check.
You gonna stay here until at least we launch it, okay?
-Ma... -Baby. -LUCIOUS: No, look, Mal, this is
-about the family. -COOKIE: Yes.
LUCIOUS: It's for us and about us.
That's right.
And London ain't going nowhere, and neither is that boy.
Come on. To the Lyons.
May we rise.
Like always.
Come on, clink, clink!
(laughter)
*
(whispers): I'm sorry.
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH