-The Lyons are hitting back on Empire. -(shouts)
-May we rise. -Like we always do.
Catch all-new episodes Wednesdays.
And check out our other Fox programs--
Star, 9-1-1, and The Resident.
That's a win-win.
Only on Fox.
-Previously on Empire... -Do y'all remember the three
-black divas? They are back! -(applause and cheering)
-Please marry me. I love you. -(crying): I love you.
-How do you know I'm adopted? -I know your real mom.
I was in prison with her.
-You're all screwed up, and you need help. -You can be strong.
Look, you ain't got to do it for me. Do it for your babies.
Oh, you ain't care about my baby when you killed their mother.
Yo, when I heard that Blake wrote...
Blake wrote? So you told her you wrote my song, brah?
-(groans) -(gasping)
(intro to "Moment of Silence" plays)
* Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah *
* Yeah
-* Uh-huh -* Yeah, yeah, yeah *
* When they fire that shot, then the body drop *
* Drop, drop
* We need a moment of silence
* Silence, silence, silence *
-* Yeah, yeah * -* Silence, silence
* Yeah, when you sitting on top and they want ya spot *
-(gunshot) -* Then the music stop
* We need a moment of silence
* Silence, silence, silence *
* Yeah, yeah, yeah, silence, silence, silence *
* I get up from the dust, it's no love, it's no trust *
* If you wait, come with us, it's just me and my blood... *
Yeah, you want a midnight snack? Huh?
I'll bring the Cookie, you bring the milk.
-Are you serious? -(laughs)
-Mm-hmm. -(laughs)
Uh-oh. Wait a minute. Why it smell like a barn in here?
And why does that boy look like his ass stink?
-How long y'all been down here? -No, no. We've been
at it long enough for our boy to realize
that monster that lives in him is back.
* Messed around and survived, don't wanna... *
He has found himself. I mean, do you remember
when I stayed in the studio,
-it was, like, 72 hours, right? -Mm-hmm.
Trying to do two albums.
What I was doing is what he's doing.
I was exorcising my demons.
He's getting it out of him now.
You know? Let him stay in there
and you can save me a little bit of that for later.
No. What he needs
to exercise, Lucious, is a washcloth,
-and he needs some sleep, Lucious. -Baby...
Don't "baby" me.
This is a family business,
so I expect you to take care of our son.
-Hey... -Forget that,
then you can forget about these,
and you can forget about this for sure.
-Can't forget that. -No.
-It's unforgettable. -Clean this place up.
* When you sitting on top and they want ya spot *
-* Stop, stop * -* Then the music stop
* We need a moment of silence
* I do... *
*
COOKIE: Did you know that, with new medical advances,
somebody with HIV will probably
live longer than someone with type 2 diabetes?
Isn't that interesting?
You know something else you didn't know?
If Jamal thought Kai needed your help,
I think he would ask you.
Our son loves this man,
for real, okay,
and I don't want to be ignorant
to what Kai might be going through,
so I'm educating myself, okay?
So why don't you just trust him?
You know, maybe then you don't have to worry so much.
That's all I'm saying.
Well, what about all the artists we should have signed,
like, yesterday? Can I worry about that?
Well, we just signed Devon to Def Jam, and...
And we're about to lose everything
if we don't get any more cash flowing
through this brand-new company, Lucious.
Baby, will you please relax?
Your man is doing his part.
Thirsty's on his way over here right now,
and we're finalizing our plans to get Carlito
-under Lyon Family Management. -Mm.
That's real cash right away.
I will still probably sign someone faster than you.
Hmm?
Mmm.
Is that a challenge?
Whoever brings in the first artist
gets on top tonight.
(laughs)
(door opening)
Carlito's manager plays in a high-stake poker game
every Wednesday, and he's damn good.
But word on the street-- he's on the tilt.
How does that help me?
He's got a bit of a gambling problem.
Cleaned out his bank account, mortgaged his home, everything.
-Everything except... -Carlito.
Exactly.
You got to get me a seat at that table, man.
Already done.
Thurston Rawlings.
Before we get the accolades going, there is a catch.
The game got a half-a-million-dollar buy-in.
Blinds are 250 and 500.
(exhales)
I'm gonna assume you ain't got that kind of money lying around?
Yeah. Damn.
What good is a little poker...
without a little bluffing?
* I'm not awake *
-* I'm not alone... * -(snoring)
You're snoring... again.
Pretty sure I wasn't.
-(sighs) -Heavy breathing, however, guaranteed.
Uh-uh, come on.
(laughing): Hey, get up.
We've been loved up in this damn apartment for three days.
(sighs)
"So when you asking him?" (laughs)
I told you your mom was gonna Meghan Markle our wedding plans.
-(phone chimes) -No, this is Becky.
She's just... confirming tonight.
(Jamal sighs)
Sure you don't want to cancel?
Uh, no. Even when I was in London,
I didn't cancel our FaceTime dates.
Cannot start now.
You're engaged.
Might be time for some new rules?
New rule-- don't be looking at me
-like that when I'm trying to explain something. -Fine.
One hour. If she's still here,
when I get back, I'm getting buck-ass naked,
-Hey. -getting my man and we are going
back to bed.
-All right, you put it like that... -Yeah.
-(applause and cheering) -COOKIE: All right, here we go.
Hey, everybody. Yes!
Good job putting this together, Porsha.
I see you! I'm gonna see what you got, too.
Girl, this turnout is everything. I see you!
Yes, we're gonna sign somebody in here.
They're ready to perform. Let's get this over with.
Okay. Got your speech for the crowd.
Child, I know how to talk to the people.
-All right, y'all, listen up. -(applause and cheering)
Here we go.
Five boroughs in five days, and we gonna start right here--
that's right-- in Harlem's Riverside Park.
Why? Because Lyon Family Management is looking
for artists that got something to say.
And we know we can find it right here in these streets.
-(applause and cheering) -That's right.
So I want you to hear me when I say this.
You don't need everybody to believe in you.
All you need is one somebody.
And she's standing right here in front of you.
(applause and cheering)
Cookie, I love you!
So bring it!
* Addicted to ballin' *
* I have to get my cash
* The money is callin', got bands, got bands, got bands *
* I'm addicted to ballin' *
* I, I, I, I, I, I, I... *
All right, the money's all there and window clean.
Y'all don't have to secure it to the back first?
-No, we're good. -It's all there.
-Nathan... -Yes.
-Thank you, baby. -You got it, man.
MOVER: All the way.
All right, look, not for nothing,
but can you really play?
I mean, if I remember correctly,
that Derrick Adams was a wedding gift to Cookie.
Man, this cat's been handling art transactions for years.
He... He'll... He's gonna keep it on the shelf.
Get this back before Cookie even knows it's gone.
Tell me about this poker game, man.
THIRSTY: At the old Hampton estate,
each guest shall be met by Miss Shelby. She runs the game.
The evening guests shall be...
the easiest mark in the room, Dr. Dave Smith,
Maureen Lowenstein,
revolutionized hedge-funding in the late eighties.
Then we got Vincent Green, Hollywood heartthrob
turned world-class poker player.
Nikolay Stanislaski,
father of the New York Chechen Mafia. Enough said.
Karl Binyan, Carlito's manager. We get Binyan in the red,
he'll be forced to put Carlito in the pot.
-Any questions? -Yeah.
Think I need a new suit?
-Thank you. Thank you. -You can go. -Oh.
We'll-we'll call you.
Only if this next one got a blip of talent.
Oh, trust. He's got mad flow.
Uh, well, how in the hell would you know?
'Cause it runs in the family. This my play cousin.
Oh, Porsha, look, ain't nobody got time
for your play nepotism.
Really, Cookie Lyon, mother of Andre,
Jamal and Hakeem Lyon?
Eh. What is your name, young man?
-I go by Big City. -Mm-hmm.
Why so nervous, Big Town?
It's Big City, and you'd be nervous, too,
if Cookie Lyon is staring you down. Now give us a chance.
-Us? -Yes. He needs an introduction, okay?
* Let me go ahead and introduce the kid *
* Now that he's in the game, I know the future's lit *
* The man don't even like to jaywalk, he too legit *
* Now do it Big City, boy, now everyone know who it is *
* He gifted, it ain't even his birthday *
* Shakin' up the flow, it's a lyrical earthquake *
* Kit full of tools, he ain't bringing no first aid *
-* He married to the game -* Hey *
-* And he changing its surname -* Hey *
-* Ki -* All these lemonheads sour
* 'Cause I'm red hot *
* Know I got 'em in my sights like a red dot *
* Paid in full while they leasing out the Redbox *
* You think you winning that's a comedy *
* Redd Foxx.
-Yeah. -Wow. Yeah. Just... wow.
-Yeah. -Hey, all right.
Well, Porsha, first of all, I didn't know
you had it in you, girl. (chuckles)
Well, not me. I'm just reppin' for my boy Big City.
I'm talking about him.
Yeah, see, that's why I don't give your ass compliments,
'cause you don't know how to just shut up and say thank you.
Okay, thank you. And my boy-- what you think?
You got the skills. You just don't have the confidence
to go with it, but you... you on your way.
I'm gonna need you to drop some mix tapes, hit a couple clubs.
-Respect, queen, respect. -Yes, you do that, baby.
You come back and see me.
-Keep plugging. -You did good. You got this. -Okay.
-Hello. -Are you...?
Uh, no cutsies.
You sure you're in the right place?
If you're Cookie Lyon, I am.
I'm Elizabeth Landry.
Maya's mom.
*
-* You ready? -* Looking for somebody
* That's single for the night *
* We don't need nobody *
-* Just you by my side -* Just you *
* 'Cause you got that body *
* It brings me to life
* Look what you started
* It's cool, I don't mind *
-* Can you shake it le-e-eft? * -* Can you?
-* And I'll do you ri-i-ight * -* And I'll do you right *
-* Let's dip in the whi-i-ip * -* Your whip
* 'Cause I brought my ri-i-ide *
-* And I brought my ride -* Come bring me *
-* That good, good love * -* Your love
-* And I'll do the same * -* The same
* Just drop that duh-duh-duh-duh *
-* Duh-duh-duh-duh-duh -* You know why I came... *
Becky, I'm telling you, this is going to be a hit.
I'm taking it to Essence Fest this summer.
Now, I know that I got us kicked out of Essence Fest,
but I did not get us banned for life.
GISELLE: You tried to take your tube top off.
Come in here.
-* That's just how we live * -* Yeah, yeah *
GISELLE: You hear this?
-* I'll kiss all your wounds * -So dope.
* Make you feel invincible tonight *
* Take off that wardrobe
* Take off all those fancy...
-Oh, hey. -(vocalizing melody)
Let's take five, guys.
So, the Three Bland Decrepits
-are a thing of the past. -(scoffs)
Please stop chasing yesterday.
I'm sorry, are you serious?
Are you not hearing what we hear?
What Becky is trying to say, Jeff...
You know what? Uh-uh, sis.
Becky just said exactly what Becky was trying to say.
-I'm gonna go cool down. -Okay.
Take a minute, Becky.
-Jeff... -Giselle, I feel like a broken record.
The data shows that TBD can never make as much as they cost.
Well, they would if they had
a record label that supported them.
-Have the hard conversation. -They...
I am dropping them.
HAKEEM (on recording): * I know where you sleep, I know where you eat *
* I can't have you playing with my fam *
* Got you counting sheep, friends turned into enemies *
* You a wannabe rap version of Kenny G, bow to the king *
-* listen, B... -Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Ooh, this song goes hard, man.
Blake ain't gonna be ready for this diss track.
* Six feet under
* You ain't gon' see me coming like you Stevie Wonder *
* I'm Arenas with the shot, we ain't talking jumpers *
* Yeah, messing with my girl, then you deal with me *
-* I can have your hashtag ready * -Upload it.
A'ight. That's ballgame.
* Apples never fall far from the tree... *
BECKY: Yo.
Okay, you are not gonna believe
what Kingsley said to me today. He was talk...
Um, I'm so confused. Where is your onesie?
(chuckles): Oh. Right, the onesie.
I just... I haven't even had a second to get it together.
Why, 'cause you been all up underneath your new man?
Can we not do that today?
I might have to cut it a little short, though,
'cause I did promise Kai that I...
You promised Kai. You know, give me my damn snacks.
Where are you going? Becky.
Siri, find me a new best friend who will watch Insecure
and not flake on me every time he's got a new boyfriend.
-I'm out of here. -I'm... Becky, look, I'm trippin'.
Okay? I'm being a complete ass.
-Agreed. -I am.
So just stay.
And you'll wear the onesie?
(sighs)
Yes, girl, I'll wear the damn onesie.
Good evening, Mr. Lyon.
Aren't we short a player?
Dr. Smith has been detained at the hospital,
but the next gentleman on our wait list
should be here shortly.
Welcome.
MAN: You a regular here, Mr. Lyon?
I intend to be.
And you are?
I'm Damon Cross.
I hope you're ready.
'Cause I'm a game changer.
-(excited chatter on recording) -WOMAN: Maya, pass the bong. -MAYA: Here.
So you see why your mom is upset, right?
She knows you're smoking up.
You done snitched on yourself.
She's just angry that I'm not letting her control me.
-I didn't post that. -I knew
there was something up when you stopped returning my calls.
I should've... I should've tried harder.
Look, how do we fix this, hmm?
-MAYA: Hey, babe. -Hey.
Hey, you all right?
Yeah, I'm good.
Oh, um, this is Cookie.
-My mom sent her to spy on me. -Ah.
-Hi. Evan. -Evan.
-Uh... -Don't you have somewhere to go, Cookie?
Where you from, Evan?
(chuckles) Fairfield.
Mm. Family?
Cookie.
EVAN: Father died when I was five.
Raised by my mother.
And my dad's significant trust fund.
-Oh. NYU, right? -Yeah.
Okay, so, you have any plans when you graduate?
Uh... I open up clubs all over the globe.
With a bit of help of the trust fund.
I mean, obviously.
-(chuckles) One last thing. -Yeah.
Stop posting your videos on Snapchat
because it's stupid, obviously.
I'll call you later, okay?
Sorry.
Come on, where's y'all competitive spirit,
ladies and gentlemen?
This is only money. You can't take it with you.
It can't buy you happiness. Right, Lucious?
Oh, I'm sorry, I...
You and me are on a first-name basis now... Damon.
(laughs) All right.
I'm all in.
Quarter mil, please.
I'm afraid this is your final borrow.
DAMON: Hmm.
-Shall we? -Mm-hmm.
Ah, yes!
There we go.
My apologies, but, um...
what is it that you do?
Oh, man, no apologies.
Unlike you, I avoid the limelight.
I'm a money guy.
VC? Investment banking? Hedge fund?
Mm, I don't like labels.
But people who need my services--
they know I'm the best at what I do.
I don't even know why he wants
to run a music label in the first place.
He clearly hates music.
(Jamal laughing)
BECKY: Hello?
What's so funny? My pain?
I'm sorry, boo. I'm so sorry.
No, no, no.
These are mine. Have you been eating these?
Yeah, my bad.
I got hungry.
No, hon, these are...
these are my edibles.
-Your what? -My edibles.
What? Becky, I can't eat no damn edibles.
I'm in recovery. I don't even celebrate 420 anymore.
Well, why you eating them?
Why the hell you bring them over here?
For my anxiety.
I just like to get high.
Why the hell would...
Are you okay?
-Becky, I... -(whistling)
It's your phone.
Oh, you gonna have to just breathe through this, okay?
What?
-Are you...? -Kai's coming home.
So?
-Hide. Hide. -What is your...?
Hide from what?
From who? Kai?
-(laughs) Why are you hiding? -Becky!
* 'Cause I'm the big dog, all my homies call me Clifford... *
-Sorry, Juanita. -(music stops)
(snoring)
Hakeem.
-Wake up. -(grunts)
Come on, man. Come on, get up.
Take a shower, man.
Where Chicken and Marcel at?
They went home.
Now prove to me I don't need to be worried about you.
Take a shower and let's get something to eat.
(crunching)
-BECKY: Oh, shh, shh. -JAMAL: Shh.
BECKY (whispering): Just freeze. I'm gonna tell you something.
-Shush. That's what I got to tell you. Shush. -No.
Uh, you two are aware that I can see and hear you, right?
That's why I told you shush.
-Hey, Kai. -Hi.
Babe, Becky messed me up.
And now all of my...
all sobriety chips are gone.
BECKY: Wow. Okay, first of all,
I didn't even offer it to you. You just went through my bag,
and now you throwing me under the bus for your man tonight?
-But you don't even understand, B. -Sure don't.
That's what I'm saying. Babe, she don't understand.
-Okay, okay, then explain it to us, then, Jamal. -Oh, I don't.
I will.
Sometimes... sometimes I feel like...
even you two don't know what it's like to be me.
Exactly, and you can't talk to anybody about it,
'cause everybody's like, "Oh, don't nobody want to hear
about some good-looking, sexy as hell R&B god."
-Or whatever. I know that that sounds ridiculous. -Oh, my God. R&B god?
-Is that what you think my inner...? Okay. -Back. Back, back, back.
Do you know what it's like to be me? It ain't been easy.
All alone, like a loser.
KAI: Mm-hmm.
Huh?
We're all in this together.
-Psycho. -But you like that.
-I like that. (laughs) -Hmm? Okay. (laughs)
-Wow. -(Cookie exhales)
Cookie, say hey.
-Girl, get that out of my face. -You on live.
It's dinnertime, y'all,
and even Cookie Lyon gets hungry.
But she never gives up.
Uh, we will be back in Riverside Park
to finish out Manhattan Day in a couple of hours.
Um, hey, we gon' find that star.
Tonight. (laughs)
All right, see you after the break.
We did find a star, you know.
Oh, I hope you're not talking
about your fake cousin, Lil Town.
-Uh, Big City. -Right.
And I'm talking about you.
Your followers and your impressions are way up.
People are saying if Simon Cowell and Iyanla
had a baby, it would be you.
-(chuckles) What? -(phone ringing)
-Hello? -RECORDED MALE VOICE: You have a collect call
from the Manhattan Police Department.
To accept the call, please press one.
Who is this calling me from jail?
(beep)
Who is this?
(on phone): It's Maya.
-Something ain't right with your story, Maya. -I told you everything.
Yeah, you told me everything to keep me
from asking you the million-dollar question.
-What are you talking about? -Why were you carrying stuff
for a supposed club promoter, huh?
Tell me that.
Well, because he, uh...
Okay. So, I went to the laundromat,
-Mm-hmm. -and-and a guy named Sh...
Hey.
(sighs)
Go ahead.
A guy named Ship identified himself,
just like Evan said he would,
and, um, I gave him the bag and then he gave me
the money, and it was like, as soon as I took the bag fr...
Yeah, he flashed his badge, and all of a sudden
cops were everywhere, right?
How di-how did you know that?
Because I'm from these damn streets, Maya, okay?
You are just a middle-class black-white girl who knows
how to tell a fake Balenciaga bag from the real one,
'cause that's what you do. I can tell the difference
from a real drug dealer and a undercover cop,
'cause that's what I do.
Damn.
I feel really stupid.
Come here.
You're not stupid, sweetheart,
you're just dumb in love.
Cookie, I can't... I can't be with him.
I know that.
So will you come help me get my stuff?
I sure as hell will.
Taxi!
You got a minute, boy genius?
What's up?
I believe in analytics just... w... almost as much as you do.
I just want to make sure
that you're inputting the proper values
before we dump a potential cash cow.
Three Black Divas sold out every date on their east coast tour.
That success piqued the interest
of Andy Cohen and Steve Wynn.
If we cut them now
we're just leaving money on the table.
Going backwards to pick up pennies from the past
is not going to help Empire get to its very bright future.
Please do what I said.
This isn't about TBD.
It's about the Lyons.
The success of TBD would be a victory
for Cookie and Lucious.
And you'd rather destroy the careers
of these talented singers than risk Lucious
getting the credit for their success, right?
Do you hear yourself right now, Giselle?
You sound crazy.
(chuckles softly)
It does sound crazy, doesn't it?
(whispering): Focus. Focus.
Focus, focus, focus, focus.
* Think that I'm done trippin' *
* I'm trip-trippin', I've been... *
Y'all, I have an idea.
Yo, what's your idea?
No, I ain't got no idea, I was just being supportive of you.
I was just, like, trying to give back to my community,
-you know what I mean? -Jamal. Baby...
-I love you! -I love you.
-(laughs) -(laughs) I'm...
I'm begging... What's-what's your idea?
BECKY: Oh, my God.
A'ight-- we should play truth or dare.
Oh, snap. True...
-Truth! -Hey... No one asked a question yet.
Truth: Jamal is scared of clowns, right?
-True. -That's true, that's true.
Jamal got hella smelly feet.
-Ooh. True, true. -Like, gross, bee-ba soo-rah,
-trash. -True, true.
Oh, that's true-true. Also, also, um, all of Jamal's,
like, ex-boyfriends-- and he's got a lot, 'cause, like, he's
low-key ho-key, you know what I mean? You know-you know what,
-Michael's my favorite. -But who said that, though?
That's true, true, true.
Okay, this is not how you play, but, truth:
Kai... put himself through law school
as an exotic dancer named
Chocolate and Dynamite.
-Pow! Pow! -(both clamoring)
If Michael was so special,
why do I have a ring on my finger?
* To be true, baby boy, your love... *
Oh, hell.
You proposed to him and you didn't tell me?
* Yeah, it's big enough, got me trippin' on you. *
-(all laughing) -Yo! Hey, yo, listen,
listen, listen, listen. To Giselle and Becky.
-Cheers. -TASHA: Hell yeah. (laughs) -BROOKE: Get that!
TASHA: And Jeff Kingsley's
new vision for Empire.
-DENISE: Okay, yeah! -BROOKE: Get a little more on that.
-(laughs) -GISELLE: Jeff, my ass.
I think you need to give yourself
-a little more credit, ladies. -BROOKE: Hmm.
(chuckling)
Because what Jeff Kingsley
doesn't realize is that...
-you pulled yourself up from nothing. -TASHA: Well...
Hey. Got that right.
-You put in your time. -DENISE: Yeah.
-You paid your dues. -DENISE: Mm-hmm. -TASHA: Yes.
-And your moment is right now. -DENISE: All right. (chuckles)
And Jeff Kingsley
doesn't have a vision...
...he's got a computer.
Okay, well, what's wrong with that?
BROOKE: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa--
why was he really in the studio today?
He was... minding my business.
The real reason.
He's a chump.
And a bitch.
And he wants to drop you from the label.
-What? -Wh-What... the hell you...?
-(stammers) -I don't-I don't unders...
We just killed in there.
-DENISE: What? -He don't know.
-Wow. -DENISE: I don't unders... I don't understand. What?
GISELLE: It's because he don't know nothing about nothing.
-DENISE: Wait a minute... -Don't you worry, though.
I got this.
He's a digital...
-scumbag. -No, no, no, no. No, we-we...
we been working really hard.
This, right here-- this is what makes you miss the Lyons.
-(sighs) -'Cause at least they knew what we were worth.
Hakeem.
I thought we agreed, man-- shower and dinner.
No time.
I listened to your diss track.
-It's lit, right? -I heard a lot of pain.
I think you should talk to somebody. A therapist.
That ain't me. You holding the crazy spot in the family.
Then I should know when somebody needs help, right?
Rapping is my therapy.
Look at you.
It's not working. Don't you want to be
the best father you can be? Do it for your kids.
I am a great father.
And I grew up without Moms.
And I damn sure don't need no therapist
to tell me how much that hurt.
I never wanted Bella to go through that.
But you did that to her.
Does November 25 mean anything to you?
It's Rhonda's due date.
I was going to be a father.
My son would have been five years old now.
Anika killed him, Hakeem.
And I'm not trying to go tit for tat with you on this.
I am sorry for the pain I caused you.
But you ain't, though.
I am.
You're my baby brother, Hakeem.
I never meant to hurt you or Bella.
And I swear to you...
I'm gonna spend the rest of my life
making up for that.
Hakeem, I need us both to understand
what we've been through.
Can you do that?
You know what?
I'm leaving.
-Becky, come on, man, I told you that I was going to, -Let me get my stuff.
-so just chill, it's all love. -Let me just get my stuff.
Yeller! You heard it, Potato Chip?
(deep voice): I definitely heard it.
Tell him to kiss your ass.
You guys are both right.
-Kiss my ass! -Becky...
-Bye! -Wait, wait, wait. Becky, Becky...
Just let her go, just let her go.
You really don't want me here, do you?
Of course he does. Becky, we both do.
Jamal's just being an ass right now.
Well, then I'm waiting for my apology.
Damn.
Becky, please stay.
Do you promise he's the last one?
Literally, yes.
For the rest of my life.
Good, because I'm sick of it.
And, truth...
when you went missing, I didn't even really feel nothing.
-JAMAL: Oh, wow. Okay. -Oh. That's rude.
-I wasn't sad, hurt-- none of that. -Okay, I mean,
-that's important information for him to hear. -Yeah, that's just my truth.
-That... This... -But-- but-- let me finish my truth.
Like, if you died right this second--
you know, like, right this... (grunts) this second?
I would feel, um... I would be sad
-if you died right now. -Thanks.
I would be sad if I died too.
Um, you got to come... you got to come hug me now,
since we-we in the family. We-we family now.
Go under, though, 'cause I like to be up.
-Come on, come on. Go un... -Oh, okay, okay, got that. I'm glad you said something. Okay.
BECKY: I'm-a caress you.
Uh, Mal? Mal?
KAI: Try to get in on this?
-'Cause we... we're family now, -Baby?
-so we got to... -There you go.
Mmm.
(knocking continues)
-What the hell is taking you so lo... -Hey. Cookie.
It's.. Uh, Cookie, I changed my mind.
You changed your mind?
Or that bastard smirking
in the corner over there changed your mind?
The reason that he couldn't bail me out, Cookie,
is because the way his trust fund...
Sweetie, listen to me.
That boy don't care about you, okay?
He cares about somebody like you,
someone foolish enough
to carry his packages around and not snitch
on his narrow ass if you get caught.
He doesn't love you, Maya. That's not love.
And you do?
Cookie, you introduced me to my convict birth mother.
You turned my world upside down.
(sighs) That's not fair,
'cause Poundcake really loved you, Maya.
And I-I thought you should know.
Yeah, but for one second, Cookie, did you think
that maybe me finding out that I'm a product
of a jailhouse rape might mess me up?
(short chuckle) I'm sorry.
I guess Queen Cookie doesn't know everything,
does she?
'Cause you surely don't know anything about love,
because if you did, you wouldn't be with a man
who let you rot in jail for 17 years,
and-and with Hakeem,
on stage playing "drop the mic" with a gun?
Cookie, you have your own family to fix.
No. Honestly, what are you doing here?
Exactly.
(scoffs)
-(sighs) -(lock clicks)
Look at all those people waiting for you to change their lives.
How do you feel about that, Cookie?
I think...
(indistinct chatter)
(sighs)
(sighs) I think...
I don't have all the answers.
And the answers I do have,
they ain't the right ones.
Listen to me, sounding all shocked.
Who the hell do I think I am?
Thinking I can fix every-damn-body
and save everything.
I... I can't even fix my own family.
You know what, Cookie?
I'm-a just gonna go ahead and stop this.
No.
(sighs)
(laughs)
I mean, what do I know, huh?
What do I know except music?
I know a hit when I hear one.
So, five boroughs in five days.
And like I said: bring it.
You never game me my shoes, Porsha.
Put up or shut up, man.
Come on, you Al B. Sure! lookin'...
(laughing)
You ain't nothin', Lyon.
Yeah, that's a lot coming from your broke ass.
What you got?
Hey, spot me 250.
I got this.
This is my turn. I got this.
You're on the tilt, Mr. Binyan.
I've already cut you off.
I'm sorry, but you'll have to fold the hand
if you cannot meet Mr. Lyon's bet.
I will tell you what, sexy.
If you're so certain about them
pretty little cards in your hand, why don't you
just put Carlito right there on top of the pile?
We can toss the cards over and winner take all.
You're bluffing.
Maybe.
Or maybe not.
(Lucious chuckles)
Deal.
(chuckles)
Three tens.
But, oops. (laughs)
(grunts) Okay.
I look forward to Carlito coming by the house
and meeting his new mommy and daddy
with Lyon Family Management.
-Nobody move! -(woman shrieks)
Put your hands up! Don't...
-Get all that money. -(screams)
-Man! -Get your hands up!
-Let's go. -Get your hands up!
I wouldn't do that if I was you.
Get your hands up!
-Oh, my God. -ROBBER: All right.
Get all that money.
Everybody be cool.
Nobody move, nobody get hurt.
Man with a plan, man.
My idea is never enter a building...
if you don't have an exit strategy.
I owe you.
I'm looking forward to seeing what you're gonna do
with Lyon Family Management.
Word on the street, you coming strong.
Well, you know Lyons,
that's all we do is come strong.
All right.
I'm telling you, your... our plan was perfect.
Automatic weapons, masks...
We got four million dollars.
And you won Carlito, right?
-Yeah. -The plan...
was damn near perfect.
Near perfect?
I went to pick up the Derrick Adams.
Your boy sold it.
(clears throat)
I know.
I mean, some corporate buyer
made him a deal he couldn't refuse.
I am tracking it down now.
I'm getting a copy printed until we get the original back.
Cookie won't even notice it.
Get me that damn painting.
I was wondering where you were.
Thought you'd be upstairs in bed,
waiting for me to come and climb up on top.
You know what? You are not sexy
when you're feeling yourself like this.
Damn. What's wrong with you?
I thought I'd get a chuckle or something.
-What's wrong? -(chuckles) It's just,
I feel like we're moving too fast, you know?
Like, we're making all of these decisions,
and we're not thinking them through.
Mm... Baby,
I've found that you and me, we make our very best decisions
when we come from our gut and then we move.
That's how and why...
we get...
what we want and need from this life.
Well, isn't this special?
You know I love you, right?
Why you being all extra?
I wouldn't be extra
if you weren't writing lyrics
that sound like you want to kill somebody.
Ma, I had to get it out.
But I'm good.
(doorbell rings)
This ought to be interesting.
We have a proposition for you.
We?
Hey, Lucious.
(sighs)
If you want to make some money, you'll invite us in.
Honey, we've got guests.
Can we get on with this, please?
Now, Mr. Lyon still needs to pay his respects at the gravesite.
Please.
Last time we talked, you said that you did not know this man.
Please tell me you're not interrupting
my client's grieving
to repeat back to him what he already told you.
This is a total waste of time. This is a waste of time
-and FB... -No, Thirst, wait.
He wouldn't have driven all the way up here
unless he thought he had something...
worth showing me.
Go ahead.
Well, you might not know Damon Cross.
But your wife certainly does.
In fact, they look downright friendly.
Care to explain?
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH
Now that Empire has you all fired up,
here are a few more shows to check out from Fox.
Buckle up, buttercup.
It's real, and it pulls people together.
-* We're breaking waves shooting star * -(siren wailing)
* We live for glory not forever *
MAN: Touchdown!
* Reach out *
* Make this right here right now *
* Stand up *
* Here right now *
That sounds like fun.