Empire (2015) s04e16 Episode Script
Fair Terms
1 Previously on Empire Andre is grown, Cookie.
You can't talk to him like he's a child.
(SHRIEKS) A 360-degree sensory experience "House Empire.
" The Empire streaming numbers will rocket into the stratosphere.
The Lyon family coerced Eddie's resignation.
I need Eddie Barker back.
So does Empire.
THIRSTY: It was Shine.
He had Giuliana killed to cover his tracks.
I was always better than you.
(GUNSHOTS) - You do not get to be my mother now.
- Listen.
- I don't ever want to see you again.
- Loretha.
Hey, Mama.
(GASPS) Oh.
(LAUGHING): Just c-come in.
(RENEE SIGHS) Do you need a kidney? This is probably a mistake.
Lolo.
I have missed you, pumpkin.
(SIGHS) - (TEA KETTLE WHISTLING) - Oh.
Want some tea? - Mm-hmm, sure.
- I'll make you some tea.
Okay.
(SIGHS) You got anything stronger? (RENEE LAUGHS) Look, we need to distribute the body parts throughout the four boroughs.
And do me a favor.
Put his head in Staten Island.
(LAUGHS) - Shiny Boots would hate that.
- Yo, this ain't what you promised us when you said you were going legit with Lucious.
Okay, first of all, the only thing I promised you was to get your sister in rehab, remember that? And secondly, Lucious helped keep men like me from ending up men like him.
What other fixers you know with a 401K plan? All right? Shut up and get your ungrateful ass back to work.
- All right.
- (MOCKING): All right.
Come get what you wanted Don't you stop before you start it I'll give you every reason not to stop after we started Come get what you wanted Don't you stop before you start it I'll give you every reason Not to stop after we started, come get What you wanted, don't you stop before you start it Yo, why don't you pass the Cheetos, bro? I got you.
Not to stop after you start it - Here you go.
All right.
- Cheeto police.
Yo, we need to be done, and we're uploading this damn - song right now.
I'm sorry.
Yes.
- Word? - Shut up.
- About time.
- Let's go.
Well, we better do it before - we change our minds.
- Literally.
All right.
- So - Let's go.
Come on.
- Come on - Yo, shut up.
Damn.
- Go.
All right.
No publicity, no money.
- No money.
- Upload, upload, upload, upload.
Upload, and - uh, done.
- Yeah! - (WHOOPS) - Ain't no turning back now, yo.
So Poundcake died, and Maya broke down.
I mean, she was grieving really hard, crying big tears, even though she didn't know her.
When your mama goes, it leaves a hole in your spirit.
Didn't matter that she didn't know her.
Been living with that hole inside of me most of my life.
That hole that hole goes both ways.
I should not be smoking around your heart.
Candace told me.
Yeah.
Just like my daddy.
(LAUGHS) I'm hungry.
You hungry? Okay, let me see.
I've been juicing.
- Oh.
(LAUGHS) - I haven't been to the market.
I don't know what I've got.
RENEE: Hmm.
These pictures are really nice.
Very professional.
Yeah.
I teach, too.
I can make you some toast.
A lot of toast.
You still take it with the with the crust cut off the ends? This is a picture of me, Candace and Carol when we started that new school.
How did you get these pictures? You weren't there.
Uh, I mean, I remember this.
I-I remember this.
I remember when we lived here.
How did you get this? I have seen you all.
After your daddy put his hit out, the only way that I could get close to you was with a Leica telescopic lens.
I didn't make every event, but when when I could, I'd just find a little hidey-hole to shoot from.
It was the best I could do.
Lolo? No one calls me that, you know.
(RENEE SCOFFS) I've been calling you that since you were two.
(SETS PICTURE DOWN) (SIGHS) (LAUGHS) I've been walking around all my life with this idea of who you were in my head, you know? (SIGHS) But I don't know you at all.
I remember every step you took up until second grade.
And what your nosy sisters been telling me recently.
(CHUCKLES) Well (CLEARS THROAT) Carol is a mess, I'm sure you know that by now.
And Candace is well, she's as she's tight as a padlocked Bible.
(BOTH LAUGHING) And I'm on parole.
So do you still think, um, I'm the one that's most like you? I would like to find out, grown girl.
Woman.
Come here.
We cannot fix this quick.
Hell, maybe never.
That's a lot of lost time.
- (SOFTLY): Yeah.
- Loretha, if if there's any chance that we could just have something, anything I want to try.
- Me, too.
- Yeah? Yeah.
(LAUGHS) Oh.
Hmm.
Oh.
- My girl.
- (CHUCKLES) THIRSTY: So they scattered what was left of Little Big Man all over, wider than the A-train can track.
And the murder weapon beyond that.
That sounds like a really good movie, man.
I hope it ends well.
It was fantastic.
I mean, it had everything.
It'd make you laugh, make (THIRSTY CLEARS THROAT) I've been calling you all night.
Yeah, well, unfortunately, I've been a little bit busy tonight.
- (LUCIOUS CHUCKLES) - Anika's been meeting with Empire's most powerful board members.
God, she's like some reoccurring infection that just pops up at the worst time.
She's convincing them to reject Eddie's resignation, and they're listening, Pop.
We need to shore up our support right now, or Eddie will be back, he will be untouchable.
THIRSTY: If he sticks around, he's gonna push the Patel deal through, take Empire.
ANDRE: That's right.
Now, I did a quick tally, and we should be safe, so long as we have Shine's backing.
(CLEARS THROAT) Now, that's gonna be a problem.
Shine has decided to take a permanent vacation.
And I think you know why.
Do me a favor, son.
When you enter into my room, please shut the door.
You didn't have to do that I made sure he wasn't a threat anymore.
Really? Look, Andre, you got one of the best minds around, and I know that Ivy League education got you overconfident about how you plan things out, but the school that me and Shine came from, you don't start nothing unless you plan to finish it otherwise it will come back and it will finish you.
THIRSTY: So ne's vote, are we safe with him abstaining? It's as good as a vote against us.
The board seat will stay within Shine's Nice-T division.
His replacement now controls the swing vote.
Well, in that case, we just have to control that replacement.
We-we can't control anything until Shine is declared dead, Pop.
THIRSTY: Kidding me.
Um Thirst, um about that movie was there any way that they were able to put Humpty Dumpty back together again? No, Ma, I haven't read that one.
Uh, "Black Women and Heart Attacks.
" Okay, why don't you send it to me.
- Car's ready.
- Oh.
Ma, we got to go.
Bye.
I'll see you tomorrow.
What? Why does Candace and Carol have to c Okay.
I'll see you tomorrow at lunch.
Okay, bye-bye.
- Which one? - I already took the ACE inhibitor give me the aspirin.
You know what I find really cute? The fact that you and your mama barely talked in over a quarter of a century, and now y'all are on the phone - every five minutes.
- Mm.
You know, you can call your mother, too.
They have phones in the crazy house.
- That ain't even funny.
- (CHUCKLES) Come on, let's go.
Are we okay, Lucious? The police still have Shine's body.
Look, we're headed to his memorial.
The police, they don't even know where to start, 'cause he had so many doggone enemies.
I mean, I promise you our hands, my hands, are categorically clean.
Hmm.
Well, that last song y'all did together makes you seem like you're buddy-buddy.
That was genius, I'll give you that.
Thank you.
Oh, don't forget, you've got to buddy up with, uh, Tiffany.
That's his baby mama, the one that he married.
Um, that way, we will have a vote against Eddie.
Right.
Then we got enough votes to bury any kind of reinstatement of his ass, - that's right? - Yes, indeed.
Great.
I know the plan, Lucious.
I helped make it.
Good.
Well, come on.
Mm.
Come on, let's go.
NESSA: Oh, oh Oh, oh, oh Yeah, yeah I'm so sorry.
Thank you.
He would have loved this.
Mm, mm, mm, mm I'll keep my head up high Dry off these weeping eyes - 'Cause I know - Nessa was Shine's favorite.
- You're way up high - He loved her voice.
Perfection - Hey, sweetheart.
- Hey.
This is Tiffany, the love of his life.
Oh, hi.
- I'm so sorry for your loss.
- Thank you.
Those are his baby mamas over there.
He took care of all of 'em.
- He was good like that.
- Hmm.
Lord knows we need Some shine Oh, oh, oh But you've got your Freedom Love was emergency Now, love is eternity But you've got your Freedom Poor Nessa.
But you're just the first to see So how's it feel to be the Lone Ranger? What does that mean? Anonymous my ass.
Becky, you better not snitch.
You know I'm not gonna snitch.
This is a vault, but it's just a matter of time until Cookie and Lucious find out, and you know that.
Yeah, yeah (VOCALIZING) Freedom Ooh I love you, Shine.
This was beautiful.
Uh, are we supposed to clap at a memorial? LUCIOUS: I mean, she was really good.
I don't know.
She better turn her big-head ass around.
I can't stand that heifer.
You made that relatively clear when you rearranged her face.
- Mm.
She deserved it.
- Mm-hmm.
LUCIOUS: I don't know if y'all knew this, but, um, Shine was my oldest living friend.
He was my colleague, a partner at Empire, and a genius at spotting new talent.
- WOMAN: That's right.
- MAN: For real.
To everybody else, Blake was a crazy little white boy with a bad haircut.
But he saw the diamond in the rough, and he polished that diamond with his last drop of blood.
He made his last record with that diamond.
I was proud of his genius, and I'm gonna miss my friend.
- WOMAN: Rest in peace.
- We love you.
ANIKA: And can you imagine just how wonderful Tiana's been doing? Honestly, I was the one that did discover and sign her, but Eddie Wow, he instinctively knew what to do next.
If I had to play God for a day I would open up the gates, let the world see my face I really should've let Shine hit it when I had the chance to.
I should've just let him have it.
A safe place Okay.
I'd let their mamas know that they okay And when y'all pray, I'll respond so that You all can see a sign And answer every prayer one at a time If I'm God, huh All the stabbings, all the war would come to cease Dre, I can't imagine how you feel, man.
I I know you and Shine, y'all worked together.
Y'all were friends.
It was something like that.
Screams of people being smoked No more dope, you don't need it All death is bad news to somebody, somewhere, man, you know? I wondered if Rhonda's death would ever get easier.
Laughed at the picture It doesn't.
We weren't there for you, were we? Who pulls the strings of the world as we struggle today Dre, I miss you.
I don't want to wait, wait, wait till I die Love you, Dre.
Wait, wait, wait for my eyes I love you, too, man.
Smile on your child so he knows I love you, too.
God has a face Just imagine if the devil had a day And God had took a break and walked away - Hey, Keem.
- Another one.
I know that this might be a really hard time, but I actually have some good news for you.
What's up? So, there's this movie, Down By Day, it's shooting downtown.
And Big Fade he had, like, a small but really important role in it.
And, as you know, he got his ass locked up again.
So the producers reached out to me so that I can reach out to you to see if you want to take over the role for him.
Mm'kay.
Did I mention that Haven Wynn is starring in it? The chick from Star Worlds? Yeah, and number three on my girl-crush list.
Tell 'em hell yeah, I'm in.
All right, great.
Uh, just want to make sure, because they need you this week, and you have House Empire, and so it's a lot.
I can do both.
You're in.
All right.
Let me get another one.
Thank you for having Shine's memorial here.
It means a lot.
I know the two of you got into it sometimes, but Yeah, but we were brothers, and like brothers, sometimes we disagreed, but there was nothing I wouldn't do for him or for you and your family.
- How are you all? - We're doing all right.
You know Shine took care of me.
It's these other baby mamas I'm worried about.
Now they all got their hands out, looking to get paid.
I'm really sorry for your loss.
Oh, thank you.
I'm Eddie Barker.
I worked with your husband.
He was a real force of nature around here at Empire.
I appreciate that.
And I think that there's an emergency fund that we can dip into to help calm those ladies down during their hours of grief.
Only one of us represents Empire, and that's me.
I'll take care of that if need be.
I'm offering to help.
WOMAN: Tiffany, we need you.
Jade and Sierra are ramping up about their kids, and it's, it's about to get ugly.
- I'll be right back.
- Mm-hmm.
It's not too late to fix this thing.
Let's just say we take the Kelly Patel deal, and then we can all go off and chill in Turks and Caicos.
My family and I trusted you, and still you're trying to sell our company like it's a slave at an auction.
There's no slave at an auction that's worth hundreds of millions of dollars, my man.
Stay away fr If I see you at House Empire Look, you mean the little show to celebrate the 20 For 20 that you wouldn't have if it wasn't for me? TIFFANY: I'm sorry about that.
Oh, no problem.
I'll talk to you later and see if I can work those things out for you.
Thank you.
Forgive me for this moment, I know it must seem rude, but we got to talk about business.
We need to discuss you filling Shine's seat at the board.
Me? Oh, no, uh, business ain't my thing.
Shine always said that if anything ever happened to him, that his board seat and all of his business be taken over by Nessa.
Nessa? Check it, I'm telling you.
They gave me my own P.
A.
They treatin' me right.
I got my own trailer Uh, this is the director, Mr.
Lyon.
- I got to go.
- Oh, keep it, sir.
It's my job.
Mr.
Lyon, welcome.
I'm Beekman Poser.
I'm the director of this picture, and we're very glad that you are in it.
Thanks so much for responding on such short notice.
Of course, you know our star, Haven? And, oh, listen, Hakeesh - It's Hakeem.
- You two get acquainted.
We're shooting a love scene later today.
It's all about chemistry, right? I seen your last movie.
It was a'ight.
A'ight? Thanks a lot.
Look, I was just trying to Trying to be friendly? (SCOFFS) You're here for one day.
We're not gonna be friends.
Cool.
Oh, and as for the love scene, no tongue whatsoever, and keep your hands in the PG zones.
I'm not one of your video hos.
A'ight? It was lovely to meet you.
(ANDRE SIGHS) All my life, I've-I've had to compartmentalize.
It was the only way to survive the swings in my mind.
When I see Anika when I see her-her face, everything goes out the window.
All I feel is pure hatred.
I want to be well.
I feel like my hate for her is gonna destroy me.
The only thing I know more powerful than hate is the power to forgive.
She doesn't deserve it.
Forgiveness is about the forgiver, Andre.
Your brother forgave you, didn't he? Hmm? Did you deserve it? You have the power to forgive.
It's in you.
You know what, let's just go ahead and run this while the crew sets up.
Hakeem, you enter, gun drawn, to find Haven tied up in the warehouse.
- All right.
- Okay? Start over there.
- Let's do it.
- POSER: Ready? Brandi, we got to get out of here.
Thank God.
There's a bomb.
- Yeah, we got to go.
Come on.
- Cut! I had two more lines.
Yes, yes.
Um Hey, Hakeem, have you ever acted before? Not really.
- Okay.
Well, relax.
- (SCOFFS) Make it sound natural.
You know? Like, say the lines like you would in real life.
Let's try it again.
Damn.
We got to get out of here.
Come on, Brandi.
Let's go! Cut! What, Beekman? You want me more scared or less scared? That just wasn't natural.
The character is a rapper.
I need you to sound like a rapper.
Okay? - I am a rapper.
- Mm, uh, mess up some of the words.
Slur a few of them, like you're probably high on something.
Also, the Glock.
Turn it on its side, pinkie up, like a rapper does, you know? Uh-huh.
Don't nobody do that.
Who cares? Just do what he says.
I don't want to be here all night.
Great.
Let's try it again.
- Can we get this room, please? - Mm-hmm.
Well, this ought to be good.
You know why we're here.
Yes, Anika reached out already.
And, apparently, everybody needs a piece of my vote, and she was very convincing.
And she didn't lay hands on me.
Well, that's because she lacks follow-through, and you should be concerned about that.
Okay.
What-what is it? You need an apology? No, I don't.
So you can save your breath for your concession speech to the board.
Look, N-Nessa, I'm the one that should be apologizing, okay? (WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY) (ANDRE SIGHS) I was a mess while we were together.
I wanted so badly to be ready to move on after Rhonda's death that I never took the time to actually grieve it.
And you suffered for that.
You didn't deserve it.
I'm sorry.
Don't make my family suffer for what I did.
Please.
Because you need me now.
Don't you think you're a little too late for this speech? Huh, Dre? All right, all right.
Nessa, listen.
We didn't do right by you, none of us did.
But I can fix that, right now.
We'll extend your contract for two more albums, plus a huge signing bonus.
All you have to say is yes.
And how do I know you all are gonna put anything behind me this time? - Tell her.
- Because we're going to offer you the final spot in our House Empire showcase.
Wait, that's Jamal's spot.
Yeah, well, Jamal is not here right now.
I mean, is that enough of a commitment for you? I-It's something that'll make the entire industry sit up and take notice.
Nessa, I've known Shine my entire life.
But when I watched him walk inside that booth, and release all those years of emotion and pent up anger, it was like meeting him for the very first time, and it was beautiful.
And what devastated me was the thought that maybe I'm I'm never gonna see that again.
But I know I can, with you.
Do you know who killed Shine, Lucious? LUCIOUS: My brother had a whole lot of enemies.
But I promise you, I will use every resource I have to find out who hurt him, and I will make them pay, the way Shine would.
I hope so.
All right, I will help you, because I feel like that's what Shine would want me to do.
Thank you.
We're gonna make this right, I promise you.
I'm gonna make this right.
- Thanks, Regina.
- Mm-hmm.
May I help you? Hi.
Can I have moo shu chicken fried rice? They got the best egg rolls in town.
I can't believe she listened to his lying ass.
We are screwed without Nessa.
A coup is not a coup without a majority.
Why are we plotting a bloodless coup under cover of darkness? The key is to wage war out in the daylight.
Yeah, but see, there's so much dirt out in public on the Lyons already, that the press doesn't get shocked anymore.
Not with the artists.
I want you to find me the sins committed by every single 20 For 20 artist.
The Lyons' House Empire? I'm gonna destroy that.
(SIREN WAILING) HAKEEM: Hey, yo.
I told you I'd be back.
- POSER: Cut! Cut.
- (BELL RINGS) What I do wrong? It's-it's not, uh, about doing, it's about acting.
And being bold enough to share that ugly essence with the world.
Let's see your walk.
Can we see your walk? Just back up, right there.
Let's see your walk.
Great.
Mm-hmm.
And yes, yeah.
Right.
But more.
More, more passion, more rage.
Bring all your black into it.
Let your guard down, H.
Look, I know you've been taught to keep the beast in check, but on my set, Black Lives Matter.
- What? - Do what I do, okay? You know, hang a hand down low, just slide right in there, knees bent, and just bounce like you got Snoop Dogg playing in your head.
- Snoop Dogg? - Mm-hmm.
- Cut.
- You cut? No.
You don't cut.
I'm the director.
I don't care who you are, I'm not doing that.
Don't no black man act like that except for inside your head.
Well, there's no need to get hostile, Hakkum.
It's Hakeem.
Get it right.
Um, would you please escort Mr.
Lyon to his trailer? HAKEEM: I know where it is.
Uh, Hikkeem Lyon? You are fired.
Let's see if we can get Jaden Smith.
(SCOFFS) These rappers.
RENEE: I just want to make sure that you girls know you got to be in charge of your own money - Mm-hmm.
- and your own orgasms.
- Ooh! Oh! - (LAUGHTER) You bad, you bad.
- Mom, you are crazy.
- You are.
Ah, this is heaven.
This is heaven, being here with with my girls.
You pretty girls, together again.
- Amen.
- CAROL: Ah.
Amen, Mama.
- And this food is so delicious.
- Mmm! And healthy.
Yeah, Juanita wasn't having it when Lucious brought all those chefs up in here, cooking all these vegan meals all up in her kitchen.
- (LAUGHTER) - And you know it.
You know, this food reminds me of that restaurant that we went to, in Charleston? - Lowcountry.
- When you had your photo exhibit.
Oh, those photos of the Gullah islands, amazing.
- Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
You-you had an exhibit? - Mm-hmm.
- And y'all went? - Yeah.
- CAROL: Yeah.
Next time, we'll all go, - since we're all talking.
- Yes, we will.
However, now I am focused mainly on my teaching.
Oh.
But you'll still travel, won't you, Mom? I wouldn't give that part up.
Right.
How many more countries you got on your list, Mama? I don't know, but I'm-I'm pretty well into my second passport.
CANDACE (FADING): Ooh, well, la-dee-da.
I tried to see you.
I tried to stay in your lives.
You tried? You tried really hard.
Your daddy, your daddy wouldn't - let me see you.
- You tried? You chose high yellow trash over your boys.
Shut up! So you think what you did was hard, and you think this is easy? - (LAUGHTER) - I guess being away from us gave you a lot of freedom, huh? Being kept from the three of you gave me a lot of alone time.
Mm-hmm.
I discovered life should be lived.
Apparently.
I remember when you were six I don't know if you do you had this big map of the world on the wall, above your bed, and she used to stick pins in it to all the places that she was gonna go, when you got a bike.
- Oh.
- I remember that.
(LAUGHS) And I guess, the only places I went was from cell block to cell block.
Huh? Is that your point? No.
That's not the point.
That's not what she meant, Loretha.
CAROL: Why don't you hush up, Cook? Ease up a little bit.
- All right? - Why do you have to? Hey.
You and Lucious should take a grand tour.
- I could help you plan something.
- That's an excellent idea, Mom.
COOKIE: Excellent idea.
And I think you should come along as the in-house photographer.
Yeah? I have real work to do.
Why don't y'all finish up? Mom, I'm sorry.
That's okay.
Don't worry.
- I'll be back, I'll be back.
- I'm sorry, Mom.
RENEE: Hey.
Hey, hussy.
You getting hot for nothing, Lolo.
Stop calling me that.
And since when did you know or care about what I get mad about? Huh? All you care about is Carol, Candace, - taking pictures and traveling.
- (LAUGHS) The hell is so funny? You been on a tear since you were five years old.
My dear, jealous heart.
You said, that day in prison, that you wouldn't give up on me.
Well, you lied.
I did not.
That was your choice.
I was in prison.
Okay? Daddy was dead, Carol was on drugs and Candace, well, Candace is just a bitch! A-And you, you just took off globetrotting.
I came to you.
You said no.
You left a hole in my heart.
I found something to fill it.
You don't get to blame me for that.
(SIGHS) I'm here.
I'm here right now, Loretha, wanting to know you.
I-I'm willing to step on a few landmines, if that's what it takes.
But I need to know that you are in this with me.
Maybe I'm tired of stepping on landmines.
(KNOCKS) I just told y'all to back off, man.
- I need some time.
- Can I come up? Why? So you can laugh at me up close? Steal my snacks? Here, take them.
You know, it was brave, what you did back there.
- Yeah, whatever.
- No, seriously.
I meet directors like Poser all of the time.
They're just whitesplaining this and that, and after a point, I just tune them out, get the job done, get paid.
But you didn't sell out.
And I admire that.
I've been fired a lot lately.
Fired by Poser, fired by my girl.
I wouldn't fire you.
Well, if you like what you've seen today, come see what I really do.
I might like that.
COOKIE: When I first announced 20 For 20, a lot people, uh, doubted the possibility.
Yeah, it was a big risk, but I had to.
And, um, I did it without Lucious standing beside me.
- To the Empire.
- ALL: To the Empire.
I believed then, just like I believe now, that Empire's legacy is-is worth that kind of celebration.
- (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) - You know, it's a legacy that could have only been built by the blood, sweat and a hell of a lot of tears of a strong family.
Hmm.
So how did we do? Well, you've got to keep in mind that Empire has managed to avoid all of the downward industry trends.
- You know, over 20 albums? - Hmm.
And, uh, to celebrate it all under one roof, we are launching one huge, spectacular event.
It's the culmination of our 20 For 20, and it's a signature Lyon creation: House Empire.
INTERVIEWER: So you're tying this event specifically to the Lyon family? Well well, I mean, without the Lyon family, there is no Empire.
INTERVIEWER: But Jamal's not listed as having a room.
Where's his 20 For 20 album? COOKIE: Well, Jamal had one hell of a year - (GUNSHOT) - so, he's, uh taking a break.
You know, at Empire, the artist's and certainly, my child's health comes first.
Yep.
But in his absence and with his blessing, we are using this opportunity to, uh, introduce the next generation of talent into the world.
- (CHEERING) - Well, at House Empire, you're going to be able to experience that in a way that no one's ever experienced music before.
That's great.
Give me a minute.
- We just need to change the battery.
- Okay.
(WHISPERS): This is gonna work, right? Yeah.
You're doing great, babe.
HAKEEM: Empire, we came from the bottom on to the top! (ROARS) You can call me Mr.
Great It's on a whole 'nother level Uh, no.
Your entrance is that way.
Beat it.
Bye.
Are you serious? We're supposed to be on the list.
MAN: Look, it's Cookie and Lucious! COOKIE: Hey, everybody.
Don't worry.
You will get pictures on the inside.
- (LIVELY CHATTER) - WOMAN: Love you, Lucious! (LAUGHS) Y'all, this is amazing.
- I'm so proud of you.
- What would be amazing is if you were participating in this thing.
Look, we ain't got time for that drama in here.
- It's all right.
- Hello.
Welcome to House Empire.
(ROARING) Uh, little advice: be careful of those lions.
You know, they bite.
- Really hard.
- MAN: All right, y'all, Tiana's room is about to go live.
(PERCUSSIVE BEAT PLAYING) (CHEERING) Ah, ah Can't you look at me and see that I love ya Ah And I'll do anything for ya Jump into the mouth of a volcano Race into the wind beside an eagle - MAN: You the man, Hakeem! - Yeah! You already know! WOMAN: We love you, Haven! MAN: Hey, Haven Wynn! What's up, girl? Without a rope, dive into the Bermuda - (ROARING) - Without a boat Welcome to my world, baby.
It looks a lot like mine.
Is that the girlfriend who fired you? Can't you see that I love ya Look at me and see that I love ya Maybe.
And lightning We were meant to be "Maybe" my ass.
Look at the way you're watching her.
Where I belong You're hooked.
Lightning You're a part of me Wrapped up inside your arms That's right where I belong And I ain't goin' nowhere Said I ain't goin' nowhere - 'Cause I'm-a be right here - Right here Right here, right here, right here Right here, right here, right here, hey Can't you look at me and see that I love ya - What is this? - Oh! The king of the jungle Anything for my baby, that's how I roll Can't you see that I need ya Ooh, do anything to please ya Don't worry about them, boo.
Show him what he missing, girl.
Show him what he missing.
Yes, give me Janet, honey, give me Janet.
No, oh, oh, oh No joke, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh Can't you see that I love ya Look at me and see that I love ya Like thunder and lightning We were meant to be RENEE: But what you're wearing is better.
It's very Peter Max - and kind of Pucci.
- Who is that? - What's your name? - Who? Porsha, I'm Porsha.
- (ROARING) - (SCREAMS) It's okay.
It's fake.
Now, what you need to be worried about is the people around here.
Speaking of, hey, girl, here's Cookie now.
Good luck.
COOKIE: I need you to go get those papers for me.
Okay.
You, with me.
RENEE: Hey.
Thanks for inviting me.
Well, I figured if you wanted to get to know me, this would be a good place to start.
Oh, that'd be wonderful.
Okay, follow me.
You see this? You hear this? You feel this? This is all me every note, every song is Cookie Lyon.
You always had fire, Lolo.
Yeah, well, Lolo put the pins in the map, but it was Cookie's blood, sweat and tears that built this.
Yeah, me and Lucious.
I just want you to You know, I always thought I was who I was in spite of the fact that you weren't there, but now I think it's the opposite.
I'm strong smart, successful, fierce.
I love hard, and I'm hungry.
And that hunger came from not having a mother.
But that hunger kept me alive.
So I should thank you, because this (SIGHS): this is how I fill the hole you left in my heart.
Why do I even bother Oh.
Boys.
Come here and meet your G-ma.
You call yourself I am so proud of you Cookie.
Well, why y'all standing there looking stupid? Come over here, introduce yourselves.
(CHUCKLES) I got work to do.
(SOBBING): My name is Renee.
(STAMMERS, KISSES) You're so Thank you for being here.
What you all need to understand is, after the attack on my life, I thought that I would never be able to appreciate or no, no, no, let them through, please appreciate music again.
Keem will be performing later.
And then we have Tiana.
LUCIOUS: It all disappeared, and it was just a cornucopia of chaos to me.
- Oh, my gosh, this is really gorgeous.
- Yeah, it's kind of amazing.
I had no idea that synesthesia It's amazing, right? would open up an opportunity for me to create a world brand-new, and that's what I want to show everybody.
I mean, for everyone, for everything So, we've been trending ever since we launched.
LEONARD: This is very impressive, Cookie.
Okay, look, I know why you were caught up with Eddie.
You know, he's a charmer, and he can speechify with the best of them, but, see, the core of Empire comes from the artists.
That's where the soul lies.
And that's what we're gonna show you tonight.
That's the company I love.
MAN: Oh, snap, look! (PEOPLE JEERING) - MAN 2: Blake a Nazi?! For real? - Look! - What's that? - Uh, they must be piggybacking off the hashtag.
It'll disappear soon.
Don't-don't worry.
(JEERING CONTINUES) Do you know about this? - (JEERING CONTINUES) - Is that Blake? I have no idea, that's who.
Is this some kind of sick joke? That's the future of Empire? Wait, wait.
No, no.
I have never seen this before - in my life.
- It's a computer glitch.
(BOOING, JEERING) That photo is not what you think.
You telling me that's not your face on the screen? - Nah, man, it is me, but - Look, can you just - chill.
- Thank you.
- Thank you for hearing me out.
- I don't hear nothin' but banjo music, colonizer.
I'm just trying to make sure that you don't make my A&R nightmare worse.
(SIGHS) Listen, man my father forced me to take that photo.
And I hardly ever saw him in my whole life, so I just did what he asked, man.
I was, like, ten years old.
I didn't know what I was doing.
Trust me, bro, you're like a brother to me.
HAKEEM: Don't "brother" me! Get out.
- You serious? - Get out! Yeah, you should go.
(GRUNTS) - Look, this is Eddie's doing.
- There's always an excuse.
How could you allow this to happen? You assured us that everything in this event - would go off without a hitch.
- "Always an excuse"? Who do you think you're talking to? Y'all need to calm down.
You think I meant for that to happen over there? Look, Blake is history for now.
I'm gonna talk to him and work this thing out.
But the rest of this glorious night can go on without a hitch.
COOKIE: All we have to do is get the rest of our artists to distract the press, and we can get through - the rest of this opening.
- You're not gonna use this artist.
Excuse me? I can't afford to get caught up in all of this mess.
Word is out that Empire is making bank off of a racist artist.
Listen, little lady, I don't know what kind of big ideas Eddie's been filling up in your little-biddy head, but ain't nobody here that's not replaceable.
Well, you can't replace us all, Lucious.
- (CHUCKLES) - Your artists are united.
And we're not performing until y'all fix this.
Can I help? Help? You did this.
You know, I'm sure you got it all under control.
Eddie, please don't go.
In my opinion We don't want your opinion.
Actually, Cookie, we do.
EDDIE: Everyone.
Everyone, we're about to get started.
WOMAN: Where's Lucious? And what is he gonna do about Blake? I'm gonna be speaking for all of Empire.
The views captured in that image are highly offensive, in direct opposition to the principles of inclusion and respect which Empire embraces.
So effective immediately, I am banning Blake Sterling from any association with Empire Entertainment.
His contract is now null and void.
And I'm grateful to Empire's board for granting me the the the power to be able to make sure that that this never happens again.
(PEOPLE GASPING) (GRUNTING) (WHISPERS): This is who you are.
This is all you will ever be.
Lucious Lyon, everybody.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER) REPORTER: Lucious, did you approve this? REPORTER 2: Lucious, is Blake officially off the roster? REPORTER 3: Comment over here! Care to comment, sir? Yo, what's going on at Empire?
You can't talk to him like he's a child.
(SHRIEKS) A 360-degree sensory experience "House Empire.
" The Empire streaming numbers will rocket into the stratosphere.
The Lyon family coerced Eddie's resignation.
I need Eddie Barker back.
So does Empire.
THIRSTY: It was Shine.
He had Giuliana killed to cover his tracks.
I was always better than you.
(GUNSHOTS) - You do not get to be my mother now.
- Listen.
- I don't ever want to see you again.
- Loretha.
Hey, Mama.
(GASPS) Oh.
(LAUGHING): Just c-come in.
(RENEE SIGHS) Do you need a kidney? This is probably a mistake.
Lolo.
I have missed you, pumpkin.
(SIGHS) - (TEA KETTLE WHISTLING) - Oh.
Want some tea? - Mm-hmm, sure.
- I'll make you some tea.
Okay.
(SIGHS) You got anything stronger? (RENEE LAUGHS) Look, we need to distribute the body parts throughout the four boroughs.
And do me a favor.
Put his head in Staten Island.
(LAUGHS) - Shiny Boots would hate that.
- Yo, this ain't what you promised us when you said you were going legit with Lucious.
Okay, first of all, the only thing I promised you was to get your sister in rehab, remember that? And secondly, Lucious helped keep men like me from ending up men like him.
What other fixers you know with a 401K plan? All right? Shut up and get your ungrateful ass back to work.
- All right.
- (MOCKING): All right.
Come get what you wanted Don't you stop before you start it I'll give you every reason not to stop after we started Come get what you wanted Don't you stop before you start it I'll give you every reason Not to stop after we started, come get What you wanted, don't you stop before you start it Yo, why don't you pass the Cheetos, bro? I got you.
Not to stop after you start it - Here you go.
All right.
- Cheeto police.
Yo, we need to be done, and we're uploading this damn - song right now.
I'm sorry.
Yes.
- Word? - Shut up.
- About time.
- Let's go.
Well, we better do it before - we change our minds.
- Literally.
All right.
- So - Let's go.
Come on.
- Come on - Yo, shut up.
Damn.
- Go.
All right.
No publicity, no money.
- No money.
- Upload, upload, upload, upload.
Upload, and - uh, done.
- Yeah! - (WHOOPS) - Ain't no turning back now, yo.
So Poundcake died, and Maya broke down.
I mean, she was grieving really hard, crying big tears, even though she didn't know her.
When your mama goes, it leaves a hole in your spirit.
Didn't matter that she didn't know her.
Been living with that hole inside of me most of my life.
That hole that hole goes both ways.
I should not be smoking around your heart.
Candace told me.
Yeah.
Just like my daddy.
(LAUGHS) I'm hungry.
You hungry? Okay, let me see.
I've been juicing.
- Oh.
(LAUGHS) - I haven't been to the market.
I don't know what I've got.
RENEE: Hmm.
These pictures are really nice.
Very professional.
Yeah.
I teach, too.
I can make you some toast.
A lot of toast.
You still take it with the with the crust cut off the ends? This is a picture of me, Candace and Carol when we started that new school.
How did you get these pictures? You weren't there.
Uh, I mean, I remember this.
I-I remember this.
I remember when we lived here.
How did you get this? I have seen you all.
After your daddy put his hit out, the only way that I could get close to you was with a Leica telescopic lens.
I didn't make every event, but when when I could, I'd just find a little hidey-hole to shoot from.
It was the best I could do.
Lolo? No one calls me that, you know.
(RENEE SCOFFS) I've been calling you that since you were two.
(SETS PICTURE DOWN) (SIGHS) (LAUGHS) I've been walking around all my life with this idea of who you were in my head, you know? (SIGHS) But I don't know you at all.
I remember every step you took up until second grade.
And what your nosy sisters been telling me recently.
(CHUCKLES) Well (CLEARS THROAT) Carol is a mess, I'm sure you know that by now.
And Candace is well, she's as she's tight as a padlocked Bible.
(BOTH LAUGHING) And I'm on parole.
So do you still think, um, I'm the one that's most like you? I would like to find out, grown girl.
Woman.
Come here.
We cannot fix this quick.
Hell, maybe never.
That's a lot of lost time.
- (SOFTLY): Yeah.
- Loretha, if if there's any chance that we could just have something, anything I want to try.
- Me, too.
- Yeah? Yeah.
(LAUGHS) Oh.
Hmm.
Oh.
- My girl.
- (CHUCKLES) THIRSTY: So they scattered what was left of Little Big Man all over, wider than the A-train can track.
And the murder weapon beyond that.
That sounds like a really good movie, man.
I hope it ends well.
It was fantastic.
I mean, it had everything.
It'd make you laugh, make (THIRSTY CLEARS THROAT) I've been calling you all night.
Yeah, well, unfortunately, I've been a little bit busy tonight.
- (LUCIOUS CHUCKLES) - Anika's been meeting with Empire's most powerful board members.
God, she's like some reoccurring infection that just pops up at the worst time.
She's convincing them to reject Eddie's resignation, and they're listening, Pop.
We need to shore up our support right now, or Eddie will be back, he will be untouchable.
THIRSTY: If he sticks around, he's gonna push the Patel deal through, take Empire.
ANDRE: That's right.
Now, I did a quick tally, and we should be safe, so long as we have Shine's backing.
(CLEARS THROAT) Now, that's gonna be a problem.
Shine has decided to take a permanent vacation.
And I think you know why.
Do me a favor, son.
When you enter into my room, please shut the door.
You didn't have to do that I made sure he wasn't a threat anymore.
Really? Look, Andre, you got one of the best minds around, and I know that Ivy League education got you overconfident about how you plan things out, but the school that me and Shine came from, you don't start nothing unless you plan to finish it otherwise it will come back and it will finish you.
THIRSTY: So ne's vote, are we safe with him abstaining? It's as good as a vote against us.
The board seat will stay within Shine's Nice-T division.
His replacement now controls the swing vote.
Well, in that case, we just have to control that replacement.
We-we can't control anything until Shine is declared dead, Pop.
THIRSTY: Kidding me.
Um Thirst, um about that movie was there any way that they were able to put Humpty Dumpty back together again? No, Ma, I haven't read that one.
Uh, "Black Women and Heart Attacks.
" Okay, why don't you send it to me.
- Car's ready.
- Oh.
Ma, we got to go.
Bye.
I'll see you tomorrow.
What? Why does Candace and Carol have to c Okay.
I'll see you tomorrow at lunch.
Okay, bye-bye.
- Which one? - I already took the ACE inhibitor give me the aspirin.
You know what I find really cute? The fact that you and your mama barely talked in over a quarter of a century, and now y'all are on the phone - every five minutes.
- Mm.
You know, you can call your mother, too.
They have phones in the crazy house.
- That ain't even funny.
- (CHUCKLES) Come on, let's go.
Are we okay, Lucious? The police still have Shine's body.
Look, we're headed to his memorial.
The police, they don't even know where to start, 'cause he had so many doggone enemies.
I mean, I promise you our hands, my hands, are categorically clean.
Hmm.
Well, that last song y'all did together makes you seem like you're buddy-buddy.
That was genius, I'll give you that.
Thank you.
Oh, don't forget, you've got to buddy up with, uh, Tiffany.
That's his baby mama, the one that he married.
Um, that way, we will have a vote against Eddie.
Right.
Then we got enough votes to bury any kind of reinstatement of his ass, - that's right? - Yes, indeed.
Great.
I know the plan, Lucious.
I helped make it.
Good.
Well, come on.
Mm.
Come on, let's go.
NESSA: Oh, oh Oh, oh, oh Yeah, yeah I'm so sorry.
Thank you.
He would have loved this.
Mm, mm, mm, mm I'll keep my head up high Dry off these weeping eyes - 'Cause I know - Nessa was Shine's favorite.
- You're way up high - He loved her voice.
Perfection - Hey, sweetheart.
- Hey.
This is Tiffany, the love of his life.
Oh, hi.
- I'm so sorry for your loss.
- Thank you.
Those are his baby mamas over there.
He took care of all of 'em.
- He was good like that.
- Hmm.
Lord knows we need Some shine Oh, oh, oh But you've got your Freedom Love was emergency Now, love is eternity But you've got your Freedom Poor Nessa.
But you're just the first to see So how's it feel to be the Lone Ranger? What does that mean? Anonymous my ass.
Becky, you better not snitch.
You know I'm not gonna snitch.
This is a vault, but it's just a matter of time until Cookie and Lucious find out, and you know that.
Yeah, yeah (VOCALIZING) Freedom Ooh I love you, Shine.
This was beautiful.
Uh, are we supposed to clap at a memorial? LUCIOUS: I mean, she was really good.
I don't know.
She better turn her big-head ass around.
I can't stand that heifer.
You made that relatively clear when you rearranged her face.
- Mm.
She deserved it.
- Mm-hmm.
LUCIOUS: I don't know if y'all knew this, but, um, Shine was my oldest living friend.
He was my colleague, a partner at Empire, and a genius at spotting new talent.
- WOMAN: That's right.
- MAN: For real.
To everybody else, Blake was a crazy little white boy with a bad haircut.
But he saw the diamond in the rough, and he polished that diamond with his last drop of blood.
He made his last record with that diamond.
I was proud of his genius, and I'm gonna miss my friend.
- WOMAN: Rest in peace.
- We love you.
ANIKA: And can you imagine just how wonderful Tiana's been doing? Honestly, I was the one that did discover and sign her, but Eddie Wow, he instinctively knew what to do next.
If I had to play God for a day I would open up the gates, let the world see my face I really should've let Shine hit it when I had the chance to.
I should've just let him have it.
A safe place Okay.
I'd let their mamas know that they okay And when y'all pray, I'll respond so that You all can see a sign And answer every prayer one at a time If I'm God, huh All the stabbings, all the war would come to cease Dre, I can't imagine how you feel, man.
I I know you and Shine, y'all worked together.
Y'all were friends.
It was something like that.
Screams of people being smoked No more dope, you don't need it All death is bad news to somebody, somewhere, man, you know? I wondered if Rhonda's death would ever get easier.
Laughed at the picture It doesn't.
We weren't there for you, were we? Who pulls the strings of the world as we struggle today Dre, I miss you.
I don't want to wait, wait, wait till I die Love you, Dre.
Wait, wait, wait for my eyes I love you, too, man.
Smile on your child so he knows I love you, too.
God has a face Just imagine if the devil had a day And God had took a break and walked away - Hey, Keem.
- Another one.
I know that this might be a really hard time, but I actually have some good news for you.
What's up? So, there's this movie, Down By Day, it's shooting downtown.
And Big Fade he had, like, a small but really important role in it.
And, as you know, he got his ass locked up again.
So the producers reached out to me so that I can reach out to you to see if you want to take over the role for him.
Mm'kay.
Did I mention that Haven Wynn is starring in it? The chick from Star Worlds? Yeah, and number three on my girl-crush list.
Tell 'em hell yeah, I'm in.
All right, great.
Uh, just want to make sure, because they need you this week, and you have House Empire, and so it's a lot.
I can do both.
You're in.
All right.
Let me get another one.
Thank you for having Shine's memorial here.
It means a lot.
I know the two of you got into it sometimes, but Yeah, but we were brothers, and like brothers, sometimes we disagreed, but there was nothing I wouldn't do for him or for you and your family.
- How are you all? - We're doing all right.
You know Shine took care of me.
It's these other baby mamas I'm worried about.
Now they all got their hands out, looking to get paid.
I'm really sorry for your loss.
Oh, thank you.
I'm Eddie Barker.
I worked with your husband.
He was a real force of nature around here at Empire.
I appreciate that.
And I think that there's an emergency fund that we can dip into to help calm those ladies down during their hours of grief.
Only one of us represents Empire, and that's me.
I'll take care of that if need be.
I'm offering to help.
WOMAN: Tiffany, we need you.
Jade and Sierra are ramping up about their kids, and it's, it's about to get ugly.
- I'll be right back.
- Mm-hmm.
It's not too late to fix this thing.
Let's just say we take the Kelly Patel deal, and then we can all go off and chill in Turks and Caicos.
My family and I trusted you, and still you're trying to sell our company like it's a slave at an auction.
There's no slave at an auction that's worth hundreds of millions of dollars, my man.
Stay away fr If I see you at House Empire Look, you mean the little show to celebrate the 20 For 20 that you wouldn't have if it wasn't for me? TIFFANY: I'm sorry about that.
Oh, no problem.
I'll talk to you later and see if I can work those things out for you.
Thank you.
Forgive me for this moment, I know it must seem rude, but we got to talk about business.
We need to discuss you filling Shine's seat at the board.
Me? Oh, no, uh, business ain't my thing.
Shine always said that if anything ever happened to him, that his board seat and all of his business be taken over by Nessa.
Nessa? Check it, I'm telling you.
They gave me my own P.
A.
They treatin' me right.
I got my own trailer Uh, this is the director, Mr.
Lyon.
- I got to go.
- Oh, keep it, sir.
It's my job.
Mr.
Lyon, welcome.
I'm Beekman Poser.
I'm the director of this picture, and we're very glad that you are in it.
Thanks so much for responding on such short notice.
Of course, you know our star, Haven? And, oh, listen, Hakeesh - It's Hakeem.
- You two get acquainted.
We're shooting a love scene later today.
It's all about chemistry, right? I seen your last movie.
It was a'ight.
A'ight? Thanks a lot.
Look, I was just trying to Trying to be friendly? (SCOFFS) You're here for one day.
We're not gonna be friends.
Cool.
Oh, and as for the love scene, no tongue whatsoever, and keep your hands in the PG zones.
I'm not one of your video hos.
A'ight? It was lovely to meet you.
(ANDRE SIGHS) All my life, I've-I've had to compartmentalize.
It was the only way to survive the swings in my mind.
When I see Anika when I see her-her face, everything goes out the window.
All I feel is pure hatred.
I want to be well.
I feel like my hate for her is gonna destroy me.
The only thing I know more powerful than hate is the power to forgive.
She doesn't deserve it.
Forgiveness is about the forgiver, Andre.
Your brother forgave you, didn't he? Hmm? Did you deserve it? You have the power to forgive.
It's in you.
You know what, let's just go ahead and run this while the crew sets up.
Hakeem, you enter, gun drawn, to find Haven tied up in the warehouse.
- All right.
- Okay? Start over there.
- Let's do it.
- POSER: Ready? Brandi, we got to get out of here.
Thank God.
There's a bomb.
- Yeah, we got to go.
Come on.
- Cut! I had two more lines.
Yes, yes.
Um Hey, Hakeem, have you ever acted before? Not really.
- Okay.
Well, relax.
- (SCOFFS) Make it sound natural.
You know? Like, say the lines like you would in real life.
Let's try it again.
Damn.
We got to get out of here.
Come on, Brandi.
Let's go! Cut! What, Beekman? You want me more scared or less scared? That just wasn't natural.
The character is a rapper.
I need you to sound like a rapper.
Okay? - I am a rapper.
- Mm, uh, mess up some of the words.
Slur a few of them, like you're probably high on something.
Also, the Glock.
Turn it on its side, pinkie up, like a rapper does, you know? Uh-huh.
Don't nobody do that.
Who cares? Just do what he says.
I don't want to be here all night.
Great.
Let's try it again.
- Can we get this room, please? - Mm-hmm.
Well, this ought to be good.
You know why we're here.
Yes, Anika reached out already.
And, apparently, everybody needs a piece of my vote, and she was very convincing.
And she didn't lay hands on me.
Well, that's because she lacks follow-through, and you should be concerned about that.
Okay.
What-what is it? You need an apology? No, I don't.
So you can save your breath for your concession speech to the board.
Look, N-Nessa, I'm the one that should be apologizing, okay? (WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY) (ANDRE SIGHS) I was a mess while we were together.
I wanted so badly to be ready to move on after Rhonda's death that I never took the time to actually grieve it.
And you suffered for that.
You didn't deserve it.
I'm sorry.
Don't make my family suffer for what I did.
Please.
Because you need me now.
Don't you think you're a little too late for this speech? Huh, Dre? All right, all right.
Nessa, listen.
We didn't do right by you, none of us did.
But I can fix that, right now.
We'll extend your contract for two more albums, plus a huge signing bonus.
All you have to say is yes.
And how do I know you all are gonna put anything behind me this time? - Tell her.
- Because we're going to offer you the final spot in our House Empire showcase.
Wait, that's Jamal's spot.
Yeah, well, Jamal is not here right now.
I mean, is that enough of a commitment for you? I-It's something that'll make the entire industry sit up and take notice.
Nessa, I've known Shine my entire life.
But when I watched him walk inside that booth, and release all those years of emotion and pent up anger, it was like meeting him for the very first time, and it was beautiful.
And what devastated me was the thought that maybe I'm I'm never gonna see that again.
But I know I can, with you.
Do you know who killed Shine, Lucious? LUCIOUS: My brother had a whole lot of enemies.
But I promise you, I will use every resource I have to find out who hurt him, and I will make them pay, the way Shine would.
I hope so.
All right, I will help you, because I feel like that's what Shine would want me to do.
Thank you.
We're gonna make this right, I promise you.
I'm gonna make this right.
- Thanks, Regina.
- Mm-hmm.
May I help you? Hi.
Can I have moo shu chicken fried rice? They got the best egg rolls in town.
I can't believe she listened to his lying ass.
We are screwed without Nessa.
A coup is not a coup without a majority.
Why are we plotting a bloodless coup under cover of darkness? The key is to wage war out in the daylight.
Yeah, but see, there's so much dirt out in public on the Lyons already, that the press doesn't get shocked anymore.
Not with the artists.
I want you to find me the sins committed by every single 20 For 20 artist.
The Lyons' House Empire? I'm gonna destroy that.
(SIREN WAILING) HAKEEM: Hey, yo.
I told you I'd be back.
- POSER: Cut! Cut.
- (BELL RINGS) What I do wrong? It's-it's not, uh, about doing, it's about acting.
And being bold enough to share that ugly essence with the world.
Let's see your walk.
Can we see your walk? Just back up, right there.
Let's see your walk.
Great.
Mm-hmm.
And yes, yeah.
Right.
But more.
More, more passion, more rage.
Bring all your black into it.
Let your guard down, H.
Look, I know you've been taught to keep the beast in check, but on my set, Black Lives Matter.
- What? - Do what I do, okay? You know, hang a hand down low, just slide right in there, knees bent, and just bounce like you got Snoop Dogg playing in your head.
- Snoop Dogg? - Mm-hmm.
- Cut.
- You cut? No.
You don't cut.
I'm the director.
I don't care who you are, I'm not doing that.
Don't no black man act like that except for inside your head.
Well, there's no need to get hostile, Hakkum.
It's Hakeem.
Get it right.
Um, would you please escort Mr.
Lyon to his trailer? HAKEEM: I know where it is.
Uh, Hikkeem Lyon? You are fired.
Let's see if we can get Jaden Smith.
(SCOFFS) These rappers.
RENEE: I just want to make sure that you girls know you got to be in charge of your own money - Mm-hmm.
- and your own orgasms.
- Ooh! Oh! - (LAUGHTER) You bad, you bad.
- Mom, you are crazy.
- You are.
Ah, this is heaven.
This is heaven, being here with with my girls.
You pretty girls, together again.
- Amen.
- CAROL: Ah.
Amen, Mama.
- And this food is so delicious.
- Mmm! And healthy.
Yeah, Juanita wasn't having it when Lucious brought all those chefs up in here, cooking all these vegan meals all up in her kitchen.
- (LAUGHTER) - And you know it.
You know, this food reminds me of that restaurant that we went to, in Charleston? - Lowcountry.
- When you had your photo exhibit.
Oh, those photos of the Gullah islands, amazing.
- Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
You-you had an exhibit? - Mm-hmm.
- And y'all went? - Yeah.
- CAROL: Yeah.
Next time, we'll all go, - since we're all talking.
- Yes, we will.
However, now I am focused mainly on my teaching.
Oh.
But you'll still travel, won't you, Mom? I wouldn't give that part up.
Right.
How many more countries you got on your list, Mama? I don't know, but I'm-I'm pretty well into my second passport.
CANDACE (FADING): Ooh, well, la-dee-da.
I tried to see you.
I tried to stay in your lives.
You tried? You tried really hard.
Your daddy, your daddy wouldn't - let me see you.
- You tried? You chose high yellow trash over your boys.
Shut up! So you think what you did was hard, and you think this is easy? - (LAUGHTER) - I guess being away from us gave you a lot of freedom, huh? Being kept from the three of you gave me a lot of alone time.
Mm-hmm.
I discovered life should be lived.
Apparently.
I remember when you were six I don't know if you do you had this big map of the world on the wall, above your bed, and she used to stick pins in it to all the places that she was gonna go, when you got a bike.
- Oh.
- I remember that.
(LAUGHS) And I guess, the only places I went was from cell block to cell block.
Huh? Is that your point? No.
That's not the point.
That's not what she meant, Loretha.
CAROL: Why don't you hush up, Cook? Ease up a little bit.
- All right? - Why do you have to? Hey.
You and Lucious should take a grand tour.
- I could help you plan something.
- That's an excellent idea, Mom.
COOKIE: Excellent idea.
And I think you should come along as the in-house photographer.
Yeah? I have real work to do.
Why don't y'all finish up? Mom, I'm sorry.
That's okay.
Don't worry.
- I'll be back, I'll be back.
- I'm sorry, Mom.
RENEE: Hey.
Hey, hussy.
You getting hot for nothing, Lolo.
Stop calling me that.
And since when did you know or care about what I get mad about? Huh? All you care about is Carol, Candace, - taking pictures and traveling.
- (LAUGHS) The hell is so funny? You been on a tear since you were five years old.
My dear, jealous heart.
You said, that day in prison, that you wouldn't give up on me.
Well, you lied.
I did not.
That was your choice.
I was in prison.
Okay? Daddy was dead, Carol was on drugs and Candace, well, Candace is just a bitch! A-And you, you just took off globetrotting.
I came to you.
You said no.
You left a hole in my heart.
I found something to fill it.
You don't get to blame me for that.
(SIGHS) I'm here.
I'm here right now, Loretha, wanting to know you.
I-I'm willing to step on a few landmines, if that's what it takes.
But I need to know that you are in this with me.
Maybe I'm tired of stepping on landmines.
(KNOCKS) I just told y'all to back off, man.
- I need some time.
- Can I come up? Why? So you can laugh at me up close? Steal my snacks? Here, take them.
You know, it was brave, what you did back there.
- Yeah, whatever.
- No, seriously.
I meet directors like Poser all of the time.
They're just whitesplaining this and that, and after a point, I just tune them out, get the job done, get paid.
But you didn't sell out.
And I admire that.
I've been fired a lot lately.
Fired by Poser, fired by my girl.
I wouldn't fire you.
Well, if you like what you've seen today, come see what I really do.
I might like that.
COOKIE: When I first announced 20 For 20, a lot people, uh, doubted the possibility.
Yeah, it was a big risk, but I had to.
And, um, I did it without Lucious standing beside me.
- To the Empire.
- ALL: To the Empire.
I believed then, just like I believe now, that Empire's legacy is-is worth that kind of celebration.
- (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) - You know, it's a legacy that could have only been built by the blood, sweat and a hell of a lot of tears of a strong family.
Hmm.
So how did we do? Well, you've got to keep in mind that Empire has managed to avoid all of the downward industry trends.
- You know, over 20 albums? - Hmm.
And, uh, to celebrate it all under one roof, we are launching one huge, spectacular event.
It's the culmination of our 20 For 20, and it's a signature Lyon creation: House Empire.
INTERVIEWER: So you're tying this event specifically to the Lyon family? Well well, I mean, without the Lyon family, there is no Empire.
INTERVIEWER: But Jamal's not listed as having a room.
Where's his 20 For 20 album? COOKIE: Well, Jamal had one hell of a year - (GUNSHOT) - so, he's, uh taking a break.
You know, at Empire, the artist's and certainly, my child's health comes first.
Yep.
But in his absence and with his blessing, we are using this opportunity to, uh, introduce the next generation of talent into the world.
- (CHEERING) - Well, at House Empire, you're going to be able to experience that in a way that no one's ever experienced music before.
That's great.
Give me a minute.
- We just need to change the battery.
- Okay.
(WHISPERS): This is gonna work, right? Yeah.
You're doing great, babe.
HAKEEM: Empire, we came from the bottom on to the top! (ROARS) You can call me Mr.
Great It's on a whole 'nother level Uh, no.
Your entrance is that way.
Beat it.
Bye.
Are you serious? We're supposed to be on the list.
MAN: Look, it's Cookie and Lucious! COOKIE: Hey, everybody.
Don't worry.
You will get pictures on the inside.
- (LIVELY CHATTER) - WOMAN: Love you, Lucious! (LAUGHS) Y'all, this is amazing.
- I'm so proud of you.
- What would be amazing is if you were participating in this thing.
Look, we ain't got time for that drama in here.
- It's all right.
- Hello.
Welcome to House Empire.
(ROARING) Uh, little advice: be careful of those lions.
You know, they bite.
- Really hard.
- MAN: All right, y'all, Tiana's room is about to go live.
(PERCUSSIVE BEAT PLAYING) (CHEERING) Ah, ah Can't you look at me and see that I love ya Ah And I'll do anything for ya Jump into the mouth of a volcano Race into the wind beside an eagle - MAN: You the man, Hakeem! - Yeah! You already know! WOMAN: We love you, Haven! MAN: Hey, Haven Wynn! What's up, girl? Without a rope, dive into the Bermuda - (ROARING) - Without a boat Welcome to my world, baby.
It looks a lot like mine.
Is that the girlfriend who fired you? Can't you see that I love ya Look at me and see that I love ya Maybe.
And lightning We were meant to be "Maybe" my ass.
Look at the way you're watching her.
Where I belong You're hooked.
Lightning You're a part of me Wrapped up inside your arms That's right where I belong And I ain't goin' nowhere Said I ain't goin' nowhere - 'Cause I'm-a be right here - Right here Right here, right here, right here Right here, right here, right here, hey Can't you look at me and see that I love ya - What is this? - Oh! The king of the jungle Anything for my baby, that's how I roll Can't you see that I need ya Ooh, do anything to please ya Don't worry about them, boo.
Show him what he missing, girl.
Show him what he missing.
Yes, give me Janet, honey, give me Janet.
No, oh, oh, oh No joke, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh Can't you see that I love ya Look at me and see that I love ya Like thunder and lightning We were meant to be RENEE: But what you're wearing is better.
It's very Peter Max - and kind of Pucci.
- Who is that? - What's your name? - Who? Porsha, I'm Porsha.
- (ROARING) - (SCREAMS) It's okay.
It's fake.
Now, what you need to be worried about is the people around here.
Speaking of, hey, girl, here's Cookie now.
Good luck.
COOKIE: I need you to go get those papers for me.
Okay.
You, with me.
RENEE: Hey.
Thanks for inviting me.
Well, I figured if you wanted to get to know me, this would be a good place to start.
Oh, that'd be wonderful.
Okay, follow me.
You see this? You hear this? You feel this? This is all me every note, every song is Cookie Lyon.
You always had fire, Lolo.
Yeah, well, Lolo put the pins in the map, but it was Cookie's blood, sweat and tears that built this.
Yeah, me and Lucious.
I just want you to You know, I always thought I was who I was in spite of the fact that you weren't there, but now I think it's the opposite.
I'm strong smart, successful, fierce.
I love hard, and I'm hungry.
And that hunger came from not having a mother.
But that hunger kept me alive.
So I should thank you, because this (SIGHS): this is how I fill the hole you left in my heart.
Why do I even bother Oh.
Boys.
Come here and meet your G-ma.
You call yourself I am so proud of you Cookie.
Well, why y'all standing there looking stupid? Come over here, introduce yourselves.
(CHUCKLES) I got work to do.
(SOBBING): My name is Renee.
(STAMMERS, KISSES) You're so Thank you for being here.
What you all need to understand is, after the attack on my life, I thought that I would never be able to appreciate or no, no, no, let them through, please appreciate music again.
Keem will be performing later.
And then we have Tiana.
LUCIOUS: It all disappeared, and it was just a cornucopia of chaos to me.
- Oh, my gosh, this is really gorgeous.
- Yeah, it's kind of amazing.
I had no idea that synesthesia It's amazing, right? would open up an opportunity for me to create a world brand-new, and that's what I want to show everybody.
I mean, for everyone, for everything So, we've been trending ever since we launched.
LEONARD: This is very impressive, Cookie.
Okay, look, I know why you were caught up with Eddie.
You know, he's a charmer, and he can speechify with the best of them, but, see, the core of Empire comes from the artists.
That's where the soul lies.
And that's what we're gonna show you tonight.
That's the company I love.
MAN: Oh, snap, look! (PEOPLE JEERING) - MAN 2: Blake a Nazi?! For real? - Look! - What's that? - Uh, they must be piggybacking off the hashtag.
It'll disappear soon.
Don't-don't worry.
(JEERING CONTINUES) Do you know about this? - (JEERING CONTINUES) - Is that Blake? I have no idea, that's who.
Is this some kind of sick joke? That's the future of Empire? Wait, wait.
No, no.
I have never seen this before - in my life.
- It's a computer glitch.
(BOOING, JEERING) That photo is not what you think.
You telling me that's not your face on the screen? - Nah, man, it is me, but - Look, can you just - chill.
- Thank you.
- Thank you for hearing me out.
- I don't hear nothin' but banjo music, colonizer.
I'm just trying to make sure that you don't make my A&R nightmare worse.
(SIGHS) Listen, man my father forced me to take that photo.
And I hardly ever saw him in my whole life, so I just did what he asked, man.
I was, like, ten years old.
I didn't know what I was doing.
Trust me, bro, you're like a brother to me.
HAKEEM: Don't "brother" me! Get out.
- You serious? - Get out! Yeah, you should go.
(GRUNTS) - Look, this is Eddie's doing.
- There's always an excuse.
How could you allow this to happen? You assured us that everything in this event - would go off without a hitch.
- "Always an excuse"? Who do you think you're talking to? Y'all need to calm down.
You think I meant for that to happen over there? Look, Blake is history for now.
I'm gonna talk to him and work this thing out.
But the rest of this glorious night can go on without a hitch.
COOKIE: All we have to do is get the rest of our artists to distract the press, and we can get through - the rest of this opening.
- You're not gonna use this artist.
Excuse me? I can't afford to get caught up in all of this mess.
Word is out that Empire is making bank off of a racist artist.
Listen, little lady, I don't know what kind of big ideas Eddie's been filling up in your little-biddy head, but ain't nobody here that's not replaceable.
Well, you can't replace us all, Lucious.
- (CHUCKLES) - Your artists are united.
And we're not performing until y'all fix this.
Can I help? Help? You did this.
You know, I'm sure you got it all under control.
Eddie, please don't go.
In my opinion We don't want your opinion.
Actually, Cookie, we do.
EDDIE: Everyone.
Everyone, we're about to get started.
WOMAN: Where's Lucious? And what is he gonna do about Blake? I'm gonna be speaking for all of Empire.
The views captured in that image are highly offensive, in direct opposition to the principles of inclusion and respect which Empire embraces.
So effective immediately, I am banning Blake Sterling from any association with Empire Entertainment.
His contract is now null and void.
And I'm grateful to Empire's board for granting me the the the power to be able to make sure that that this never happens again.
(PEOPLE GASPING) (GRUNTING) (WHISPERS): This is who you are.
This is all you will ever be.
Lucious Lyon, everybody.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER) REPORTER: Lucious, did you approve this? REPORTER 2: Lucious, is Blake officially off the roster? REPORTER 3: Comment over here! Care to comment, sir? Yo, what's going on at Empire?