Empire (2015) s03e02 Episode Script

1 - Previously on Empire - ANDRE: Rhonda! (sobbing): Andre messed up.
Andre did mess up.
What's your half brother Tariq doing here? I know Lucious married Anika just to keep her from testifying.
If I can prove that the marriage is fake, I can subpoena her.
I know we're still good as long as I see - that fire in your eye.
- What me and you had is dead.
(breathing heavily) COOKIE: Get yourself together.
She is out there taking your song.
LUCIOUS: We're gonna show all these haters how dark hell can get.
(doorbell chimes) (doorbell chimes) (doorbell chimes) Thanks.
(doorbell chimes) Thank you.
PORSHA: Cookie! Cookie, you gotta come see this, Cookie! Would you shut up all that noi Oh, hell no.
Uh-uh.
Out.
Take it out.
All of it.
What? Take it out.
All right, get it, get it out of here.
You sure? All of it? We can't keep the espresso machine, a couple Jimmy Choos or nothing? Out! All of it! That damn Lucious needs to stop.
I'm done with his ass.
- WOMAN: Mm-hmm.
- ANIKA: Um Bella's a preemie, and so she's gonna need some specific attention.
WOMAN: Yes.
How do you handle stressful situations? Well, I assess the baby's needs.
Does she need to be fed, or burped, - or should I pick her up and - LUCIOUS: Wait.
Hold on, hold on.
Who in the hell are all these people in my house? Oh, my God.
Up, up, up, up, up.
Out.
Come on.
I'm sorry, the interview's over.
Out.
Ladies! Ladies! Out! I don't need a nanny.
- (Anika sighs) - LUCIOUS: I said go! - Lucious - Get the hell out of here.
Come on! Who gave you the permission to hire a nanny? I need permission? In my house, you do.
Or have you forgotten that the only reason you in here is because of that damn federal investigation? I don't need people I don't know looking in my life, okay? (Bella crying) Oh, my God, Lucious, I need help.
Okay? I cannot do this by myself! I took care of Dwight all on my own.
I'll get Bella.
No! You keep your crazy hands - off of my baby.
- You know what you're gonna do? You got one job in this house, and that's a mother.
Get in there and do your damn job.
(Bella continues crying) ANGELA YEE: And we are back, peoples.
And today we've got Jamal Lyon and City Councilman Angelo Dubois in the building and we're talking about violence in hip hop.
Now, there's a question that we've all been dancing around, so I gotta ask: Jamal, at the Empire XStream launch party, what happened? - It looked like you froze up onstage.
- JAMAL: No, I didn't freeze up.
- That's not what happened.
- Well, was it something to do with you getting shot? Because PTSD is nothing to be ashamed of, brother.
- I'm sorry? - Posttraumatic stress disorder.
You see, these African-American men, uh, they're the primary victims in gun violence and they come from a culture I-I'm sorry, I'm just gonna jump in right there.
With all due respect, you're not a doctor, Councilman, so please do not diagnose me.
And-and furthermore, as far as "victim" goes, I'm not that.
If anybody's a victim, it's actually Freda Gatz.
ANGELO: All right, well, then who put the gun in her hands? YEE: Well, Councilman Dubois has a point, now.
How is Freda Gatz the victim? Well, then, why don't we all try to grow up where she grew up? See, it's that line of thinking that does a tremendous disservice to black folk.
Wait, I'm sorry.
What-what country are we living in? "Disservice"? It's actually not thinking, it's a fact, Councilman.
Urban, young, black children deal with poverty and racism, oppression from police brutality itself, - mass incarceration, so how - Understandable.
How are we supposed to deal with these circumstances if we marginalize ourselves? - Hmm.
- I'll tell you how.
Education.
Opportunity.
See, this is what we promote in our program WOKE, all right? We Organize for Knowledge and Empowerment.
Well, Councilman, why don't you tell Jamal Lyon how WOKE is taking on racism and oppression? I have a better idea.
Why doesn't Jamal come and visit one of our anti-violence summits this week? (mouthing) Come through, we'd love to have you, sir.
I'd love to.
I'm there.
All right, yeah.
Hmm.
Jamal, what the hell is wrong with you? Agreeing to do some stupid summit with that bougie bitch.
He wouldn't know the streets - if it shot him in the ass.
- Lord, I know, Ma.
But you know what? He was making sense and you know it.
You know, what you need to be doing is making new music.
See, doing that radio station was just damage control.
You need to get your ass back onstage and prove to your fans - that that brain fart was a one-time thing.
- Ma Ma, Ma Excuse me, Mrs.
Lyon - Ms.
Lyon.
- Ms.
Lyon.
Are you joining us at the summit? No, I'm busy, and so is Jamal.
I guess he forgot to tell you he's in the studio all week.
That's too bad.
The kids are huge fans of yours.
As a matter of fact, they started Snapchatting already.
- There we go.
- Wow.
ANGELO: That one's Isaiah.
He's a, uh, he's a shining star.
- Mm-hmm.
- Look, you know what? I'm-I'm gonna figure out my schedule.
You know, I'm not gonna let them down.
That would be great.
I appreciate that, - from both of you.
- Yeah, yeah.
Mm-hmm.
We gotta go.
I look forward to seeing you both there.
- Uh-huh, bye-bye.
- Why you gotta be so rude? 'Cause we got a FBI agent up our ass.
We don't need a politician, too.
That man was being so polite.
I don't trust polite people, stupid.
LUCIOUS: My Empire XStream launch might have had some difficulties had you not done what you did.
I mean, nobody's even talking about Jamal.
All anybody can talk about The press and me alike Is this rare talent that just blew everybody away.
SHINE: You shouldn't have cut me off.
We could've been making millions with Nessa a long time ago.
What I want to know is, what do you want to do next? What's your next move? HAKEEM: I tell you what.
Me and Shine already working on something.
You know, I was thinking about coming out with a living album, something like Yeezy with his Life of Pablo situation.
But bigger.
And my homie Nessa, she gonna help me do it, some of the tracks.
Is that what you really want? With all the heat you got going on from being a part of my Empire XStream launch, when the world is your oyster and you can put any name in your bucket list, and these are the only two you want to work with? As far as you and Hakeem working together, that's a whole nother conversation.
He's got an entirely new set of familial responsibilities he's gotta handle.
What's that got to do with it? LUCIOUS: Bella's at home right now with her mother, where you should be, but you've got a convenient case of amnesia.
But we're gonna talk about that in private, 'cause me and Shine we got business to take care of.
You can keep your fancy espresso machine, you can keep your little fancy wine fridge You know what? Lucious, please, keep all of this stuff, okay? In fact, give this to your wife.
What are you trying to do, impress me? You know I can buy all of this stuff myself.
All right, well, why don't you just tell me what it is you need? What I need is for you to respect my boundaries.
Stop it with all of this, Lucious, 'cause it's not working.
You handle the business, I handle the music.
That, and my three sons, that's all we need to discuss.
Fine.
From here on, it's strictly business.
Strictly business.
Well, businesswise, you might want to come by and see me later.
Maybe you can take a look at the artwork for Jamal's Black and White album.
Uh, Jamal doesn't want to release the Black and White album.
- You know that, Lucious.
- Yeah, well, it's not about what Jamal wants.
Empire XStream needs content.
And Jamal needs for his fans to forget about his little fainting, - Justin Bieber moment.
- Look, Tiana has a record that will be ready by the end of the month.
J Poppa's on his way back from his tour, and V's single is about to drop, so, there, content.
See, that's why I love you.
You're just amazing.
Look, I mean that in a strictly business way.
Yeah.
Right.
I see you kept the gun.
Bye, Fuh-Lucious.
Nobody got time for your mess.
(sighs) They'll all come around.
JAMAL: Uh, over here, these are the recording studios.
We'll go over there in a little bit.
This is where every single Empire artist records.
Um, that's the boardroom.
They look like they working; - they not really working.
- (laughs) Oh, snap! That's Lucious Lyon! Dad! Dad, wait, hold up.
This is Councilman Angelo Dubois.
Mr.
Lyon, it's a pleasure.
Oh, it's all mine.
All right, all right.
Mom and I met him today at Power 105, so I'm kind of helping out with the anti-violence summit with the kids.
I'm Zeah, Mr.
Lyon.
I'm gonna be an MC, just like you.
Want to hear something? Okay, go on ahead, man, sure.
All right, check.
First off, my main purpose is to change the game Before I let you go, bet you all know my name They call me Zey, bet on me, catch a payday See, I'm a leader, my flow cold, so grab a heater Before I let you go, OG, it's great to meet you.
- Ah! - (all cheering) (chuckling): You had me nervous for a second.
Man, I thought you was coming straight for me.
Nah, nah, nah, nah.
But we might have to put you in the studio, seeing that Jamal no longer makes music because he wants to save the world.
My dad likes to come for me a lot, - and it gets very boring.
- (chuckles) Besides, you're missing the point.
I'm now making music - in order to save the world.
- All right.
Zeah here's off to MIT next year.
3.
8 GPA.
Wow, that's impressive.
You say your mama's into this, right? I mean, I'm the one that's on the panel.
So why don't we just hold the summit right here at Empire? - (kids exclaiming) - Oh.
Mr.
Lyon, please No, Lucious.
Please.
ANGELO: I appreciate that, but we're good.
We have a spot secured already, the kids are excited Well, why don't I sweeten the deal and say Empire underwrites the whole thing? Uh Put me in an awkward What do you think, kids? - KIDS: Yes! - Well, okay.
There you have it.
(chuckles) It's a very, very generous offer, Lucious.
- Thank you.
- Extremely generous, Dad.
- What is this about? - Look, why don't we stream this whole thing live on Empire XStream? - (laughing) - I mean, you've read about it and there's no better way of getting your message out.
Oh.
Wow.
You are truly an angel, sir.
Appreciate this.
Keep doing what you're doing with that.
Oh, and by the way, tell your mama about this so that she can facilitate the music, all right? Nice meeting you, Councilman.
All right, sir.
Do well.
It's the real, shawty, I know you gotta feel me I asked them for a deal, said if you could make us a Billie Been running this here, I got a cramp in my Achilles Say you only get one shot, I took nine Fif No that was it, Keem.
- Yeah? - Yes, that was hot.
Oh, so first you hate me, then you love me.
Is that it? First you hate me, then you love me First you hate me First you hate me, then you love me First you hate me, then you love me (snaps fingers) Ooh, I got it.
First they hate you Then they love you Fo' sho', no doubt They love you when they see you got potential When you roll out Hustle till it's all out Bundle when it's cold out And watch your every move Yeah, they plotting when you ball out They see you getting money and you eatin' They want a plate Dog eat dog out here Bring ya kind of bait Gettin' cheese all over I'm kinda great Just got me a Nu-Nu chick, uh, time to skate I asked, if I was to go, would she remember me? Got a lot of class, but we lack A lot of chemistry On to the previous, bye, see ya All said and done, it was a pleasure to meet ya Man, we need something to make this song legendary.
Like, once they hear it, they ain't gonna forget it.
I mean, it has to be something they know.
- You'll remember you, remember me? - You'll remember BOTH: You'll remember my name! Don't count me out I'm here to stay Before you know I've changed the game You'll see You will remember my name Name, name Name Guess I'm on my A.
I.
, put on for the city And I gave 'em all I can, once you fall off - There you go, mama.
- They say bye, you know I'm-a baller - Overseeing all the downers - Uh! Looking through the game, all I see is real around us Yeah, yeah, how to deal with all this tension When they quick to switch up on ya - Ah! - When it's all said and done I will be Number one You'll see You will remember my name Name, name, name Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
- What else? - Uh, Jamal is back in the studio this week.
Don't worrabout Jamal.
I got him.
- What about your y J Poppa? - He's ready to get back in the booth, so I lined up a buh of brand-new producers for him Right, but isn't his contract up with Empire? - Is he nna re-up? - Obviously.
He ain't going nowhere.
He's very happy here.
But, uh, you know, y-you said that you wanted to talk to me about the A&R position, and I actually have a lot of ideas, - and if lould - Wow, Becky, you look beautiful.
Thank you.
Hey, um, I got a gift.
Don't worry, it's not for you.
It's for Jamal.
- Uh - Five minutes, that's it.
Please.
- Okay.
I'll be back.
- Mm-hmm.
I was thinking about, um our son's little probl.
And so I thought maybe if I got him a n track Sometimes a new track can make you feel different about where you are.
But I knew he wouldn't take it from me.
But I thought you might say it was from you.
(beat kicks in) - (music stops) - Jamal doesn't have a problem.
- And I know what you're doing, Lucious.
- What am I doing? That's when we first met.
BOY: I started throwing bass, she started - She said, "No, I don't - He is kind of cute.
- No, he's not cute.
- I only have a friend" Come on, I'm not even goin' for it - Don't-don't do it.
- Wh-Where you going? You You got what I need And you say he's just a friend And you say he's just A friend, oh, baby You You got what I need And you say he's just a friend And you say he's just a friend - Boy - Oh, baby, you - Got what I need - Yeah.
And you say he's just a friend And you say he's just a friend - Oh, baby, you - (chuckles) You got what I need And you say he's just a friend And you say he's just a friend Oh, baby You When I first saw you rap changed my life.
I knew right then and there that I was That you and I were meant to be together.
- See, that - That I was meant to do music.
No, we you and I Were meant to be making music together.
Lucious, I need you to understand that I am done.
- Okay? - Oh, Cook, this is nothing.
I mean, look at everything we done been through.
(chuckling): I mean, think about it.
You remember the first time I tried to out-dance you? No one could out-dance me back then.
(laughs) I will give Jamal the track and see if he's inspired.
Thank you.
(music starts playing) You're not gonna wear me down, man.
It's not gonna happen.
Done.
Where are you? Talk to me.
I need your help.
RHONDA: Sorry.
Can't help you with those anymore.
Where are you? Please.
I-I need to see you.
Where are you?! Where are you? Who you talking to? Rhonda.
She's here? No.
Oh, I just (crying): I'm not gonna make it, Jamal.
Oh, she-she managed all of this.
It's like this It-it changes, it changes all the time.
It changes all the time.
And she-she's she kept track of it, you know? She's-she took care of it for me, she's the one that did it all.
- All right, well, I'll help you with that.
- No, she I It's all right, no, no, no.
- I got - Hey, listen, Dre I can help you with this.
I-I can't ask you to do that, Jamal.
- I'm not gonna - No, you can, actually.
It's cool.
Shoot, I'm trying to wean myself off these stupid pain meds anyway.
I keep this chart.
It just helps me keep track of it, you know? I'm gonna keep your chart, too, all right? Okay.
(crying) Lucious! What's up, Cook? What are you doing? What do you mean? You know who that is? Yeah, that's Angelo Dubois, some petty government bureaucrat from some bougie-ass Jack and Jill family.
- What about it? - What is wrong with you, Lucious? Last week you had a FBI agent at the house, now you opening doors for government officials? - Really? - What are you talking about? I mean, Thirsty ran a check on this dude.
He had a DUI some 20 years ago.
His family pulled some strings and got him out of that.
Other than that, he's as about as square as a damn checkerboard.
Now, I was under the impression that you wanted to do this summit thing.
Mm.
Is that what Jamal told you? Well, we both know why he's doing it, so let's just end the damn cycle and get it over with.
Hey Off of me.
Jamal's got a problem.
You know that, right? - What are you talking about, man? - This whole "I want to end the cycle" is some BS to cover the fact that - that boy can't sing no more.
- JAMAL: Mom.
You remember Angelo? Mr.
Dubois, I really don't appreciate you exploiting my son's situation - for your political tricknology.
- Oh, Lord.
So we gonna do your little summit, and then you're gonna stay the hell out of our business, is that clear? I'm hoping you'll feel a little, little differently once-once you get to know me.
Oh, I know I know you plenty.
I know plenty of you.
Yeah, with your with your high seditty talking ass with your little summits and town hall meetings when you ain't doing nothing but prching to the choir.
What are you really teaching those kids? Oh, oh, those "victims," like you keep calling 'em? - I think I'm being misunderst - Mr.
Dubois, what you don't understand is those kids carry a pain that people like you can't even begin to imagine.
See, you ain't never had to overcome nothing, have you? Now, what do you think happens to one of those kids if they get into some nonsense? You know, kids get into nonsense, but unlike you, they don't have family connections to get them off a DUI scot-free.
So who is going to give them a second chance, huh? You? (chuckles) With your clean-shaven, slick-talking ass, acting all holier-than-thou, could've killed somebody but didn't, got a slap on the wrist for drunk driving ass? Get out of here.
You a joke! Well, damn.
Only other person I ever seen her go off on like that is you.
Angelo - I'm sorry, man.
- That's all right.
She's something else.
(muffled): I said, "How do you like the show?" - She said, "I was very amused" - Is that a radio? - Porsha! - She acted kind of strange Then when I asked, "Do ya have a man?" What is that? - I only have a friend" - Boys left the damn radio on.
Come on! - You! - Aah! - Biz! - You got what I need Who did this? But you say he's just a friend - Oh - And you say he's just a friend BOTH: Oh, baby, you You got what I need But you say he's just a friend And you say he's just a friend So I took blah-blah's word for it at this time I thought just havin' a friend couldn't be no crime 'Cause I have friends And that's a fact, like Agnes, Agatha, Germaine and Jack Forget about that, let's go into the story About a girl named blah-blah-blah that adored me So we started talkin', gettin' familiar Spendin' a lot of time so we can build up A relationship I called every day to see how she was doin' Every time that I called her it seemed Somethin' was brewin', I called her room A guy picked up, and then I called again BOTH: I said, "Yo, who was that?" "Oh, he's just a friend" Man, don't gimme that.
(laughs) - (music stops) - Yay! Thank you so much.
- That was great.
- My pleasure.
Anything for my man Lucious.
- You're righteous, boss.
I owe you.
- Not even my birthday.
- Thanks, fellas.
- Thanks, y'all.
- All right.
- (laughs) Thank y'all, brothers.
Now, you got to admit that-that had to have gotten you a little bit, right? The music got me.
Yeah, the music.
Now, I know we have a lot of history together, but you can't keep hitting me over the head with this "when we first saw each other" - sentimental crap.
- Nah.
Come here, come here.
I got a little confession I need to make to you.
Now, that might've been the first time that you saw me, but that wasn't the first time I saw you.
Sucker duck, now that's clue number three You wrong 'cause it was EPMD MCs, get off the bandwagon I'm not bragging but tagging So can I see you later? I got homework, Barry.
But me and my sisters are gonna get some water ice right after, so maybe then.
- A'ight? - A'ight, bet.
That if he pulls my card I'm good to flow, toe to toe Blow to blow, without no H2O Hey, yo That jawn got a nice ass, don't she? Do you know her? Nah.
Good.
'Cause I'm about to make her mine.
So watch your mouth.
This ain't a blast from the past (chuckles) I swear, I must have sat out in front of that water ice shop for, like, two and a half hours just hoping and waiting for to get my little rap right, so by the time you decided to come out, I would be able to spit something - that you might like.
- So you knew I had a boyfriend - and you still tried to get at me? - No.
I knew that it was a long shot.
I knew that you was this Catholic, studious girl hanging out with some nerd.
And why would a girl like you - want to talk to somebody like me? - Barry - was not a nerd.
- No, but he wasn't a gangster.
That was me, all day long.
And that's what I was, and you knew that.
You knew that was what I was about, but instead of running, you stuck around.
Yeah, well, I was young and simple.
I should've stayed with Barry.
I'm serious, Cookie.
You saw me in those streets and you knew that that wasn't my destiny.
You knew that my destiny was music and my destiny was you.
How'd you do it? How'd I do what? I don't know anybody who lost more than you.
And you survived it, and you're-you're still here, you're still fighting.
You're a fighter, too, Andre.
I mean, after I met your grandmother, everything makes sense now.
And I admire you even more.
I mean, Andre, look at what all you've accomplished.
Yeah, look where that got me, Mama.
You sure you don't want to go back to church, baby? - Oh.
- Huh? Yeah.
And, um clear your mind, heal your soul.
- So much is - What soul? Don't say that, And What soul? Look, come here.
Sit down.
I'm proud of you.
No, no, no, no, no I'm proud of you, Andre.
Didn't nobody have no summits for you when I got locked away.
You figured it out all on your own.
You fought your way out of the hood, baby, you got yourself into Wharton.
You did that.
Against all obstacles.
Against everything this world throws at black people, you fought your way out.
Keep fighting.
Please, okay? 'Cause I got you.
I got you, no matter what.
No matter what? No matter what, baby.
(shuddering breath) You gonna be all right, baby.
Okay.
Yes.
Okay.
Okay.
See, on the trill I was thinking I come back right here, drop some ad-libs for a bar, man.
Okay, yeah.
I say do it for two bars It's gonna build the anticipation for the hook, and that's gonna make it hard.
Yeah, I agree.
- It needs to come harder.
- Yeah.
- (music stops) - Or maybe we drop everything and keep the bass line.
- Yeah? - SHINE: Yeah.
Yeah, I think you're on to something.
All right, then.
Hey, stand up for me, homie.
Where'd you put that bass channel I (grunts) You must be out your rabbit-ass mind, lookin' at my sister like that.
Think I'm playing? He'll be all right.
Okay what was you saying, Hakeem? - They don't wanna see us make it - But we still gonna make it That's why they always hatin' Why they always hating They don't really want to see us win They rather see us dead or in the pen Watch out, watch out - They don't wanna see us make it - But we still gonna make it - That's why we gonna make it - Why they always hatin' Don't you know that you was born to win? All you gotta do is stay up Out the pen, stay awake and watch out I'm tired of seeing people dying - On the news all I see is crying - I swear I can't take it I need to see my people trying In the jungle just roll with the lions 'Cause it's a jungle out there, boy, it's a jungle And they don't want you to grow, they want to stunt you - They wanna leave you back - We need to start raising the bar Dream big and just reach for the stars - They don't wanna see us make it - But we still gonna make it - That's why we gonna make it - Why they always hatin'? Don't you know that you was born to win? All you gotta do is stay up out the pen Stay awake and watch out.
(cheering and applause) ANGELO: Yes.
Yes, yes.
Thank you, young Zeah.
And now let me introduce to you our guest of honor.
Jamal Lyon.
(cheering and applause) He himself a victim (clears throat) Excuse me.
I'm going to replace the word "victim" - with "survivor.
" - Yes.
- (applause) - Yes, survivor.
Jamal Lyon, he himself a survivor of gun violence.
You see, these young men Look, I know he get on your nerves, but he is fine.
ANGELO: they all come from a place where violence is a natural go-to.
But our goal is not to save the world.
Our goal is to pull them upwards from violence and move them onward to success.
(applause) That was good, though, wasn't it? - Look, you look full, don't you? - (laughs) Hey, man, here you go.
Thank you, thank you, man! Uh-uh, I'm keeping mine.
Candace would kill me if I didn't save her some crab legs.
Most of 'em are crackheads anyway.
Well, maybe they wouldn't be if someone had shared their crab legs a little sooner.
What are you, Mr.
Save-the-World now? With you by my side.
By the time you finish up at Howard, I'll be getting out of med school and I can set up a practice in King of Prussia.
All right, forget King of Prussia Look, Barry, stop.
I'm-a be honest, a'ight? At some point, I want the house and the kids and all that stuff that you say, but right now? I don't know what I want except I know it's got something to do with music.
And I don't want to feel locked down before I even give it a shot.
Ya'mean? I understand, Loretha.
It's your life.
You won't get a second chance to live it the way you want.
ANGELO: Now, yesterday I got chin-checked by a remarkable woman who taught me the difference between being a victim of circumstance and a survivor of immeasurable pain.
I have a feeling I'll be thanking her over and over and over for that insight.
Now I'd like to bring up here onstage a man who is a new friend of WOKE.
The incredible Lucious Lyon.
(cheering and applause) Thank you, Angelo.
I'm very proud of these young men and women here.
You guys represent our future.
And we are looking to you to be great leaders.
I have my son here.
And as you all know, he almost lost his life trying to save my own.
(applause) Now I know we all want to get to the talking part of this summit, but before we do that, why don't we take a moment and have Jamal Lyon come up here and do a song, 'cause he has not performed since that event at the ASAs.
And I think this would be a most fitting moment for him.
(cheering and applause) Jamal.
Jamal.
Jamal.
Jamal.
Jamal.
Jamal.
ALL (chanting): Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! (heavy breathing) (exhales heavily) (breathing heavily) (exhales shakily) (breathing heavily) Jamal.
What are you doing? Huh? What's going on? (gasping) What the hell is wrong with you? What he need to do is get his ass on that stage.
'Cause the only way to deal with a problem, boy, is to deal with a problem.
- It keeps happening.
- Shh, all right.
It keeps happening.
You really starting to bore me, boy.
I'm scared, all right?! That's what you want, right? (gasping) Well, yeah, I got a, I got a pro I got a problem and I can't get onstage.
I can't I can't do it no more.
Yeah! (indistinct chatter) You were right.
Jamal has a problem.
So, what we gonna do to fix? I don't think this is something you need to be smiling about.
Well, you said the magic word.
It's "we.
" I mean, that's how it's always be, Luous and Cookie, you know? You and me against is crazy-ass world and us versus everyby else.
Excusey interruption.
I'm sorry.
I just wanted to tnk you bot for today.
We couldn't have done without both of your support.
You kn, a lot of these kids, they come from broken homes.
You know, uh, divorce, separation Some parts never even (chuckles) were together in the first place.
So it just means a lot toave these kids see you two together, gettg along even though you're not marri anymore.
It's truly amazing.
Black love.
It's beautiful.
"Bck love" Tell me something, Councilman.
Sir.
- Are you from a "broken family"? - No.
No, not at all.
My parents been together 50 years.
- 50 yea.
Wow, that - Yeah.
- that isomething.
- It's a blessing.
Lucious and I ain't together.
- ANGELO: Oh.
- Mm-mm, no.
But we've been ride or die for Well, I tell you that, I'be telling you my age.
- (both chuckle) - Ms.
Lyon Oh, no, Cookie.
(giggles) Well, Cookie uh, you should come down to the center sometime and speak to the young women.
I think they'd, uh, they'd get a kick out of that.
- Well, you should invite me over.
- I will.
I will, then, Cookie.
- Yes.
- Lucious Thanks again, man.
I think you had it right the first time.
It's Mr.
Lyon.
- Mmm - (gasps) (laughs) You scare me! I got good news.
Good news? I love good news.
Tell me.
I'm leaving Empire.
How is that good news? 'Cause I got a offer from Vaughn.
(scoffs) Hell, Lucious just had him at the house.
He's a snake.
What's the offer? Yo, it's a hell of an offer, Beck.
And the best part about it I negotiated for you to come with me.
Who asked you to do that? Lucious and Cookie make you head of A&R yet? We are talking about it.
The word on the street is that they're looking r somebody new.
It's time for you to bail, mama.
You need to be somewhere where you appreciated.
And we make a dope-ass team, Becky with the Good Hair.
That's real talk.
You know, Lucious gave me a job when no one else would even talk to me.
That's real talk.
I'm not doing this thing.
Come on, this place is going down in flames, - you know that.
- What are you talking about? We got hits across the board.
You sound stupid right now.
I'm not talking about music! The feds is gonna come and they're gonna start knocking the doors all down and around this place.
I love you, okay? I love you.
But I'm not letting my career go down with this building.
And you shouldn't either.
Not sure you should be mixing those with Scotch.
I sure am doing it tonight, though.
(chuckles) Been lying to myself, y'all, 'cause Walking around, acting like everything's cool, just managing a little pain, but When I was up on the stage at the Empire XStream event, I could see the lights just flashing, flashing And then Freda.
It was wack.
PTSD.
Man everybody messed up.
Ain't nobody as messed up as the Lyon brothers, I'm sorry.
(all chuckling) But you know what we got that nobody else does? We got each other.
So heris how we win.
Jamal you gonna beat this.
Say it.
I'm gonna beat this.
Say it like you mean it.
Come on, man.
I'm gonna beat this.
You're back on stage in no time.
Hakeem you're a father.
First of the Lyon sons.
If you're ready to step up, we got your back.
You ready? I'm ready.
ANDRE: Say it again.
I'm ready.
Say it like a man, son.
You ready? - I'm ready.
- Yeah, my man.
To Baby Bella.
To Bella.
To my daughter.
To Ma.
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Ah HAKEEM: What about you, Dre? Rhonda.
I gotta get her out of my head.
(inhales) So tomorrow, I'm gonna go to our old place and I'm grabbing the last of my stuff.
(distant siren wailing, neighbors shoutingaintly) And you said he's just a friend And you said he's just a friend - Oh, baby - How many times I got to tell you to stay away from that boy? But, Ma, you said he's my brother.
Tariq, you listen to me.
You do not ever, ever say that out loud again, not to anybody.
Least of all to him.
He may be your half brother, but he is not your friend.
Him and his crazy-ass mama are the worst thing that ever happened to us.
(Bella fusses) (static crackles) (static crackles) (static crackles) (static crackles) (static crackles) (static crackles) (static crackles) You know what I was thinking? We got all these beautiful stuffed animals for our little girl.
What in the world are we doing with this thirsty-looking bear? Let's get Bella something more befitting a princess.
(static crackles) (exhales) (tires screech, siren whoops) Hey, Officer.
Step away from the car.
Oh, no.
No, sir, I live right there.
I mean I, uh, I used to live right there.
Lot of break-ins in this neighborhood.
You know anything about that? No, Officer, I don't know anything about that.
Why would I know anything about that? What are you doing around here? Like I told you, I used to live right there.
Got any ID on you, yo? My wallet's in my car yo.
Oh, so you're a smartass, then.
Huh.
Smartass, okay.
- I'm moving, okay? I'm moving.
- Hands on the vehicle.
- I don't have time for this.
- Hey would you listen to me? Get your hands off me, man! (grunting) - Hands behind your back! - Ah! Stop resisting! You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say (Andre screaming) You're resisting, boy.
Anything you say can and will be used against you.