Empire (2015–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Pilot - full transcript

♪ I would tell you
that I love you tonight ♪

♪ But I know that
I've got time on my side ♪

♪ Where you going? ♪

♪ Why you leaving so soon? ♪

♪ Is there somewhere else
that's better for you...? ♪

That's not balanced.
♪ What is love ♪

♪ If you're not here with me? ♪

♪ What is love
if it's not guaranteed? ♪

♪ What is love ♪

♪ If it just ups and lea... ♪

I need you to sing like
you are going to die tomorrow.



Like this is the last song
you will ever sing.

You hear me?

Show me your soul in this music.

Hit it again.

♪ I would tell you
that I love you tonight ♪

♪ But I know that ♪

♪ I've got time on my side ♪

♪ Where you going? ♪

♪ Why you leaving so soon? ♪

♪ Is there somewhere else
that's better for you...? ♪

♪ What is love ♪

♪ If you're not here with me? ♪

♪ What is love
if it's not guaranteed? ♪

♪ What is love
if it just loves...? ♪



You okay, boss man?

It's not there yet.

Still?

Bunkie, wake up.
(snoring)

Wake your ass up!

Go back in your mind
to a year ago.

When you just found out
your brother had been shot.

How did it feel?

How did it feel when you had
to go and identify his body?

Hit it again.

♪ Is there somewhere else
that's better for you...? ♪

♪ What is love
if you're not here with me? ♪

♪ What is love
if it's not guaranteed? ♪

♪ What is love ♪

♪ If it just ups and leaves... ♪

♪ What is love...? ♪

♪ What is love ♪

♪ If you're not really sure? ♪

♪ What is love ♪

♪ If it just loves? ♪

Baby.

You are a bad, bad girl.

Now, let's go up on deck
and see my sons.

Somebody get me some shrimp!

(muffled):
Will you wipe my face for me?

♪ Empire state of mind ♪

♪ Let's go! ♪

♪ Things are looking up ♪

♪ I'm ready for tonight ♪

♪ I feel good, real good ♪

♪ Can't nobody hold me down ♪

♪ I'm gonna take advantage of ♪

♪ All these flashing lights ♪

♪ 'Cause it's the best time,
the best time for it... ♪

♪ We can do it ♪

♪ All right now ♪

♪ Can't nobody ♪
♪ Tie me down ♪

♪ If you want it I got it ♪

♪ Tomorrow's not promised ♪

♪ So live inside
the mo... ment ♪

♪ Oh, no ♪

♪ Tell me,
what are we waiting for? ♪

♪ Oh, what the hell are
we waiting for? ♪

(sighs)

Look at 'em.

Your brothers are
showing off again.

That's what
they do, babe.

♪ I wanna live inside
the moment ♪ ♪ Yo, Ma ♪

♪ Yo, when I was
five years old ♪

♪ I realized there was
a road at the end ♪

♪ Pretty girls, cars
and bank rolls ♪

♪ Gold and platinum plaques... ♪

Surprised Hakeem is
performing now.

He likes to save it
for when Dad's around.

Let's go find Dad.

♪ Gotta believe in yourself
and gotta know your worth ♪

♪ I did it clean as a whistle,
stayed away from dirt ♪

♪ Ah, I told you I'mma get it ♪

♪ Everybody, they talkin' ♪

♪ I dreamt about
how I'm livin' ♪

♪ Reality was written,
I put effort in my vision ♪

♪ That's why I hustle so hard ♪

♪ To be the best
that ever did it, oh! ♪

I hope you're ready to make
your big announcement.

Here we go.

(clamoring)

Hey, Becky.

Hey, Anika.

And Becky. Hey,
these are for today.

Thanks.

Okay, the designs for the jacket
line need approval by noon,

and The Tonight Show
wants you to sing for...

Pass.
Okay.

Uh, the president
wants...

Excuse you.

I'm back here.

Today is not
the day, Becky.

Hear me?

Everything go okay
at the doctor?

Yeah, good. Come on.

Okay. Well,
the president is asking

that you'll attend
the China state dinner.

Okay, tell Barack that...

yes, but this is the last one
for the next few months.

And after this press conference,

I want you to cancel
all my meetings.

All of them?

Yes. And tell my sons

to meet me at my house.

I started selling drugs
when I was nine years old

in Philadelphia.

I did it to feed myself.

But it was the music...

that played in my head
that kept me alive

when I thought
I was gonna get shot.

And it was the melodies that...

I dreamt about
that kept me warm

while I was sleeping
in the streets.

♪ Lyrically, I'm on point,
flowing double joint ♪

♪ You just a little boy,
you a boy ♪

♪ I'm a man, you
should be playing ♪

(faint whooping)
♪ With your toys! ♪

You see, music saved my life.

Times have changed, though.

The Internet has destroyed

the musician's ability
to make money,

because our work is downloaded
for free online.

And now it's impossible
for the disenfranchised kids

growing up
in the projects

to overcome poverty
the way that I did.

We are gonna change all of that.

I am proud
to announce

that Empire Entertainment
has filed to become

a publicly traded company
on the New York Stock Exchange.

Rita, did you bring the hummus?

Hey, y'all.

ANDRE: Jamal,
how's that friend of yours?

Good. Why you flake on dinner
last Tuesday?

Schedule was crazy.

I mean, but you could've called
or something.

Like, we cooked and everything.
That's so rude.

I forgot.

I'm glad you're all here.

And get your big-ass feet
off my $40,000 table!

I eat there!

Your brother and I
have been working hard

to turn Empire
into a publicly traded company.

Now, part of us going public

means ensuring a legacy
for this company,

and right now it seems
none of you are prepared

to take over after I'm gone.

Now, it won't happen today,
nor tomorrow...

but I will start
grooming someone soon.

And it can only be
one of you.

JAMAL: What is this,
we... we King Lear now?

LUCIOUS: Call it what
you want, smart-ass,

but over the next
several months...

Wait, wait, wait.
What are you saying?

We're all in competition to be
the future head of the company?

In order for it to survive,
I need one of you Negroes

to man up and lead it.

And nothing or no one is going
to tear it down, hear me?

COOKIE:
Thought I'd never see this day.

Ink. Roll it.

Last time I'm gonna be doing this.
(chuckles)

(gate creaks)

(laughs)

(gate buzzes)

(buzzing)

Cookie's coming home.

(distorted grunt)

(grunting)

You know how much money

we're gonna make
off this boy?

You sound like Don King, Dad.

Don't say nothin' bad
about Dr. King.

(laughing nearby)

(continues laughing)

Hey, Bunkie, give us a minute.

What, right now?
Yeah, right now.

I need to talk family business
with my son.

♪ ♪

You remember when
you were 11, sonny?

(laughs): Dressing up
in a little suit,

trying to run into the office,

helping everybody,
answering phones.

Even during my finals
at Penn, I was still

coming back, doing
your accounting.

Put your heart and guts
into this company.

I mean, your
whole life is Empire.

You went on
to grad school.

Taught me a few things, too.

Which makes me
the most qualified

to run the company, Dad.

And don't you think,

since this is a
celebrity-driven brand,

it should be run by a celebrity?
No, I don't.

We're going public, Dre--
I got to think

about all of this stuff.

This successor talk have
anything to do with Cookie?

What you talking about, Cookie? I haven't
spoken to her since she got out.

I figured you had.
Cookie's out?

It's your job to know.

Slipped by me.
Slipped by you?

Look, Money, you knew she
was gonna get out eventually.

Why you starting
with Cookie?

She ain't nothin'.

From this moment forward,

I want to know
everything she's doing.

I mean everything.

All right.

Oh, hey, Money, I need 25.

Oh, that's the last time, I swear.
I told you,

if you ain't got the money,
don't make the bet.

I want to know everything.

♪ ♪

He'd never pick me
anyway.

Why?

Way too much homophobia
in the black community.

It's 2015.

Nobody cares.

There's football players
coming out.

(sighs)

Well, I don't want it
anyway-- so whatever.

Then what do you want?

You don't want to
release an album,

you won't tour.

Seen it my whole life.

Hey, look at, look at my dad.

That's a real artist.

Well, he was.

Now he's more concerned with
selling T-shirts and watches

and whatever.

(phone rings)

Hello.

COOKIE:
Let me in.

Who's this?

Let me in.

Y'all better have
a elevator up in here.

My feet hurt.

Go in there
and tell your mama I love her,

and don't come
back here crying.

(indistinct,
overlapping chatter)

When you coming home, Mama?

I told you to stop
asking me that.

Where's your father?

He's not coming
to see you today.

Yeah, okay.

How you doing in school,
little man?

My friends are picking on me.

Bashir stole my lunch.

I'm afraid to tell Dad.

He'll tell me to fight.

Listen to me.

You different.

Okay?

It's only something
Mama knows, but

it's gonna make life hard
for you sometimes.

But I want you to always
remember I got you.

You hear me?

Come here.

I got you.

Okay?

Hey, she's coming.

Oh, my God. How?

I don't know.

Did you tell her
about us?

Um...
And this.

Take that.

(doors clack open)

Oh.

(sighs)

Mmm.

For a queen, you sure
do keep a messy place.

What you need is a
good maid up in here.

You cooking chicken?

Oh, yeah, yeah. Um...
Did you fry it?

No, it's stewed, but it's
here this way. Stewed?

Might be a little spicy for you.
Stewed chicken.

It's the way
we like it, so, you know.

Uh, who is this?
Hi.

Oh. That's Michael.
Michael.

Uh, we're sort of
living together.

Uh, look, Mommy,
I know you're hungry.

Oh. Oh, honey,
you didn't tell me

you was dating
a little Mexican.

Look at her.
She's adorable.

Yeah, I said "a little
Mexican." (Michael laughs)

You need to get La Cucaracha
to clean up around here a bit.

Uh, what are
you wearing?

(sighs)
What I got locked up in.

Well, we gonna
change that real quick.

And why didn't you call me?
I would have picked you up.

I just got out.

Good behavior.

All right, so,

what are you gonna do now?

I'm here to get what's mine.

BECKY:
You can't just go in there.

Get your ass
out of the way.

(door opens)

Ladies and gentlemen,
the queen has returned.

Wow.

17 years later, and
you are still beautiful.

So, when did you get out?

Two days ago.

You really, uh...

It was your sacrifice that made
a lot of this possible.

I can't imagine what
you've been through, Cookie.

But you've got to know

you're not the only one
that suffered in this.

You forgot about me the second
you divorced me in there.

You still owe me what's mine.

What are you talking about?

Half of this company.

It was my $400,000
that started this bitch.

You know it,

and I know it.

Did 17 hard years
for that money,

and I want half my company back.

(laughing): I'm sorry, Cookie,
but it don't work like that.

It don't work like what, honey?

This company isn't the company
that we started 17 years ago.

As a matter of fact,

I control maybe ten percent
of this damn thing.

I've got a board of directors,
quarterly reports, SEC filings.

And on top of it,

we're about to go public,
which is a whole nother monster

in itself. Public? What
the hell is public?

Baby, I can give you

a huge salary,

but I can't give you
half of my company.

Your? Your company? I
can't give you any of it.

This is my company, Lucious.

I s...! I started this.

You need to stop
playing with me.

I promise you, anything
you want, you can get.

$5 million... a year,

and I want to be head of A&R.

The board will never
approve $5 million.

You talk to your board.

I can get you close
to $3 million.

Yeah, figure it out.
You the boss.

I can't do A&R.
Why?

I have someone.

Is it little Halle Berry
over here?

(sighs)

You're not sweeping me
under the carpet, Lucious.

(door opens) ANIKA: Baby,

we got to make sure we take care...
Mm. (laughs)

Boo Boo Kitty. BIG CYNTHIA: ♪
Hey, Tyree, what's going on? ♪

TYREE:
♪ What's up, Big Cynthia? ♪

♪ Me and Big Time just lurkin' ♪

BIG CYNTHIA:
♪ You know it's ladies' night ♪

♪ Here at the club tonight ♪

TYREE: ♪ I heard ♪
♪ Well, we got ♪

♪ That nookie thang contest
going on ♪ ♪ Come on now ♪

♪ And the girls got it going
strong ♪ ♪ I see that ♪

BIG CYNTHIA: ♪ No, Tyree,
you can't get in on this... ♪

(growling)

Hey, baby.

All right, go in there.

You go.

♪ Walked up in the club and all
the ladies got it going on ♪

Get out of here. ♪ She ain't
worried about nobody ♪

♪ 'Cause she's all up
in her own zone ♪

♪ The way she move her hips... ♪

What's up?

I'm not competing
with that sound.

♪ And she give that man
a pony ride... ♪

Turn it off.

♪ As she backed him up
against the wall ♪

♪ He can't explain this ♪

♪ He's full of that juice
and alcohol ♪

♪ There she go... ♪

What?

I just wanted to see you.

All right. You done?

Why haven't you accepted

any of my calls
in all these years?

Return a letter?

I just want you to know

everything I did was for you
and your brothers.

I ended up where I ended up
for you and your brothers.

Do you want a medal, bitch?

What I want

is some respect, you
little ungrateful...

opportunist!

(indistinct shouting)

♪ She workin'
that nookie thang ♪

♪ She workin' that thing on up ♪

♪ She turned it around
like a silver cup ♪

♪ She workin'
that nookie thang... ♪

You wanted to see me?

How you like
our new club?

It's all right.

♪ She workin'
that nookie thang... ♪

I see you've met your mama.

Now I see why
you kept me from her.

She a psychotic animal, Dad.

I don't know that woman.

You're just like her.

You know, when, uh,

Cookie got sent away,
the judge told us 30 years.

Now, I was devastated.
Thank you, baby.

I didn't know nothing
about raising y'all.

Cookie did all of that.

Give me that tissue.

Thank you.

Anyway, Dottie came along,
fell for me hard,

said she wanted
to raise y'all.

You weren't even one yet.

And Cookie didn't want y'all
visiting her in jail,

and that was fine
with Dottie.

What I'm saying is...

your mama wasn't
a bad person.

We just was in a real bad
situation, you know.

Whatever happened
to Miss Dottie?

She got shot
on 42nd and Walnut.

You need to get your act together.
(sighs)

You gonna pull out a phone
when I'm talking to you?

But you're wasting your
talents on bitches and booze.

I'm working on new stuff now,
and you know that.

You ain't worked a day
in your life,

and you know that.
You're spoiled.

But I got some new heat for you,
some stuff that I wrote.

We gonna go in
and record it,

and we gonna put some candy
on this thing.

You feel me?

Candy.

(snoring)

What you doing here?

You look a mess.

You been drinking again,
ain't you, Bunkie?

Now look at you.

Get that mess off your face.

What's going on, Bunkie?

I'll tell you
what's going on.

Lucious keeping me down.

And we used to be
like brothers.

You know what I'm saying?

Now he treats me
like I'm the butler.

Practically raised the
kids while you was inside.

Yeah. You're right.

I appreciate you
for that, too, Bunkie.

Lucious got you
following me, don't he?

Don't he?

What you gonna tell him?

I didn't see you.

My dawg.

Hey, something's going on.

I don't know what it is.

Got... it's got him scared.

Well, you best be careful,
'cause he's on a warpath.

Liable to do anything.

I got his war.

Give me that sandwich.

I can't finish that?

Man, hop on the treadmill.
(laughs)

First of all, who goes to
bathhouses anymore, and... Me.

No, but how'd you
even get into it?

I told 'em I was pre-op,
and they didn't want to check.

LUCIOUS: Them papers on
my desk I need to sign?

Mm-hmm. Your son's here.

Hey, Mal.
Hey.

How's that roommate

of yours, the one
with the dreads?

Uh,

I'm seeing Michael now, Dad.

You met him twice.
I'm sorry.

All right, what's up? Was, uh,
surprised to get your call.

Look, Mal, this
is the last time

I'm gonna have
this talk with you.

Your sexuality--
that's a choice, son.

You can choose to sleep
with women if you want.

I'm saying this to help you,
'cause I know eventually,

you're gonna release another album.
Yeah, I know, Dad.

And there's people out in this
country that don't appreciate

people like you.
Yeah, I...I-I get it.

'Cause a sissy
can't sell records

to the black community.
I get it.

Or the white kids

that make up 75% of our sales.

And you really need to stop
calling yourself that.

Well, that's what I am, Dad.

I'm trying to help you, son.
Then why don't

you get to know me? Why don't
you spend some time with me?

Get to know you? I know you
better than you know you.

Look, you want to spend
some time with me?

Release another album.

Why is everything always about
business with you? Take that damn

bass out of your voice
when you're talking to me!

He be growling like a little
silverback, I know, I know.

my little man, there.

COOKIE: Lucious, I don't
like the way your voice sound

in the mix.

Your voice should be
above the mix.

And right now it sounds
like you hiding behind it.

What difference it make, anyway?
They all passed.

They don't want to hear
nothing about Philly streets,

they want Color Me Badd.

Well, they all gonna love
your gangsta ass soon enough,

you hear me?
I love

your gangsta ass.
(laughs)

The album
is great.

All that's missing is that
single to take it over the top.

Yeah, well, why don't you take
main man right now?

Okay. I'm gonna get
at some of this food.

Are you listening to me?
Yes, I'm listening.

Give me a kiss.
Grumpy.

You gonna let me
have some tonight?

(laughs)
Shut up.

COOKIE:
Lucious.

Are you out of your damn mind?

Walking in here
looking like a little bitch?

Get over here.
Lucious, no!

Lucious!

Lucious!

(baby crying)

♪ ♪

Take your pills.

(sighs)

Ow!

He's always loved them
more than me.

Even Jamal,
who he hates.

You know he's gonna leave it
all to Hakeem, don't you?

And Jamal won't object,
because he's too passive.

But what if he did?

What if Jamal made a
play for the company

and your two brothers
went to war?

They just may
kill each other.

And I'm the last man standing.

And you...

are the last man standing.

It could be a tricky play,
though. You know they're tight.

Do you really want
this company?

(banging)

Who is it?

It's Andre.

Oh. Okay.

Hey, Mama.

Hey, Andre.

So, Dad
set you up, huh?

I'm proud of you.

You really
made something of yourself.

Thank you, Mama.

I'm sorry I never
came to visit.

Too ashamed of your
dope-dealing ma?

I'm sorry, I truly am.

I'm sorry.

Why you marry
that white girl?

We met at school.
She's brilliant.

Pretty white girls always
are, even when they ain't.

Thanks for helping me
with my apartment, baby.

Have you ever thought
about managing Jamal?

Yes. I told Lucious

I wanted to be head of A&R.

But he's shutting me out.
He doesn't want

Jamal to be a star
because that would position him

to be the head
of the company.

Is that what that
white girl's telling you?

I want Empire.

I've worked hard
for this company.

But I'm not an artist,
and Dad's not gonna pick me.

What do you want from me?
I want you to manage Jamal.

You can make him a star
just like you made Dad a star.

I've got no leverage to
make Lucious give me Jamal.

You have more than you realize.

What's that?

You really love me, Ma?

Okay.

Here's what we got to do. ...that
we've reached this historic moment.

No other music company

has ever accomplished...
Don't forget to thank me, baby.

Don't forget
to thank your Cookie

on this historic occasion.
Hello.

Good to see you, Cookie.
Vernon, kiss my black ass.

Andre.

Now...

let's talk business,
shall we?

Hey, sistergirl.

Will you guys excuse us for a
moment, please? Yes, excuse us

for a moment, please.
Cookie,

can I talk to you? Lucious.
Don't touch me like that.

Have some cupcakes on us.
We'll be right back.

Page three,
ladies and gentlemen.

Are you out of your damn mind?

I told you I was
gonna hook you up.

And I'm telling you
that's not enough.

I want Jamal, too.

You can't have him.

You messing with
the wrong bitch, Lucious.

I know things.

What do you know?

What if I were
to disclose to the SEC

that I was the original investor
with $400,000 in drug money?

Yeah. Your application
for an IPO

would be effectively denied.

Shut your mouth.
You know how stupid you sound?

Tell me to shut up again, bitch.

(chuckles)

You know it's true.

Baby...

...why are you doing this?
(scoffs)

Don't you "baby" me,
you two-faced bastard.

I've been living like a dog
for 17 years

and now I want what's mine.

I want Jamal.

And you would sink
this whole empire over that?

Give me Jamal.

You got him.

It's nice to see you again,
Vernon.

Good to see you, Cookie.

I never wanted him
anyway.

I know.

♪ ♪

♪ I give you all of me ♪

♪ But it still ain't enough
to make you happy ♪

♪ I give you everything ♪

♪ And still don't measure up ♪

♪ Feel like I walked
5,000 miles ♪

♪ And didn't even come close ♪

♪ Feels ♪

♪ Like I tried
to make you smile ♪

♪ But you don't even care ♪

♪ No ♪

♪ I'll never be big enough
to pay your dues ♪

♪ But I keep trying ♪

♪ And you just keep making me ♪

♪ Jump through hoops ♪

♪ What do I got to do? ♪

♪ I just want you
to look at me ♪

♪ And see that I can be
worth your love ♪

♪ I just want you
to look at me ♪

♪ And see that I can be ♪

♪ Good enough ♪

♪ Good enough, good enough ♪

♪ Good enough ♪
♪ Oh! ♪

Daddy, please don't, please!
(distorted): ♪ I can be good enough ♪

Daddy, I'm sorry. Please, don't!
♪ Good enough, I can be ♪

No, Daddy, please don't...
♪ That I ♪

♪ Can be ♪
♪ Good enough ♪

COOKIE:
Lucious!

Daddy! Daddy, please.
Lucious!

♪ Good enough,
I can be good enough ♪

♪ I try to show you that I'm strong
♪ COOKIE: Are you out of your damn

mind?!
♪ Why do I even bother? ♪

I wish you would.

♪ 'Cause it's the same
old damn song ♪

It ain't right.
♪ You call ♪

♪ Yourself a father, whoa ♪

It's okay.

♪ Feel like I'm reaching
for the stars ♪

♪ But Heaven isn't ♪

♪ Letting me ♪ You're crazy,
Lucious, you're crazy!

♪ I wish that I had
longer arms ♪

♪ But I know that
that will never be ♪

(door slams)
♪ Never be ♪

♪ I'll never be big enough
to pay your dues ♪

♪ But I keep trying ♪

♪ And you just keep making me ♪

♪ Jump through hoops ♪

♪ What do I got to do? ♪

♪ I just want you
to look at me ♪

♪ And see that I can be
worth your love ♪

♪ I just want you
to look at me ♪

♪ I just want to be, yeah ♪

♪ Good enough ♪

♪ Good enough, good enough ♪

♪ Good enough. ♪
(cheering)

You got it, Mal.
You got all of it.

Now we just got
to show the world.

I mean, I am showing people.
I-I showed a whole room tonight.

You shouldn't be selling donuts
and cookies with your music,

you should be
selling out stadiums.

And you will.

BECKY: What do you
know about her?

Think she's real.
And genuine.

She just got out of jail.

I just want to play.

All that touring
and albums, it...

messes up the purity
of the sound.

Yeah, you're so pure,
only a couple hundred

white kids in Brooklyn and San
Francisco even know your stuff.

Mal, you got to share what
God gave you with the world.

Ma, I'm not that guy.

But I love you.

Yeah, I love you, too.

Go on over there
with your friends.

Stupid sissy.

♪ ♪

What's wrong with you?

You seen her yet?

Who, Cookie? Mm-hmm.

She crazy. She beat me
with a broom, bro.

(short laugh)

Oh, you think it's funny?

Hakeem, they both crazy.

Shoot, I read Dad was
in the Illuminati.

What's she gonna do now?
Dad don't want her around.

She's trying to
manage my career.

What'd you tell her?

What you think I told her?

You know I ain't ready
to release no album.

Yeah, well, if you do end up
working with her, and Pop's

handling me, best believe they
try to make us kill each other.

That ain't gonna happen.

Let's go.

I got to talk to a
friend of mine first.

Really?

You got studio tomorrow.
Come home and get some sleep.

It's all a part
of my artistic process.

♪ All bottles on me ♪

♪ What you want, girl,
what you see? ♪

♪ You want juice,
you want Jimmy ♪

♪ You want this ♪

♪ I give you... ♪
(groans)

Yo, run that back.
I got to do that again.

(music stops) All
right, this is take 37.

So what? Do it again.

♪ All bottles on me ♪

♪ What you want, girl... ♪

He's hungover again, Dad.

♪ You want juice ♪

♪ You want Jimmy,
you want this ♪

♪ I give you f... ♪

What's the damn word again?

The word is you're a mess.

The word is
you are a disappointment.

The word is
you are wasting my time.

You're wasting my time!

The song's wack, Dad!

Shut up, you little punk.
It's your fault!

Shut up.

Yo.

I need your help.

♪ All bottles on me ♪

♪ What you want, girl,
what you see? ♪

♪ You want Goose,
you want Jimmy? ♪

Yo, your rap is hot.

But what's up with Dad?

This music is wack.

Man, forget Dad.

Ever since he wanted me
to cut an album,

I feel like
I lost my confidence.

Is this what you really want?

Like, for real,
you really want to be Dad?

(chuckles):
All right.

Something like this.

That's hot.

(quietly):
♪ What's that over there? ♪

♪ That that ish
right there... ♪

Okay.

Come on.

♪ What's that over there? ♪

♪ That that ish right there ♪

♪ What's that over there? ♪

♪ That that ish right there ♪

♪ Look, what's that
on the right side? ♪

♪ That that ish right there ♪

♪ What's that
on the left side? ♪

♪ That that ish right there ♪
(laughing)

Yo, that's crazy.
I love that.

Lay that down for Dad,
you're gonna be fine.

I'll get the band to hook us up.

Yes!

(pounding on door)

Okay.

The last time you
called me this late,

your brother
had been murdered.

You forgot me.

You left me behind.

I've been with you
since the beginning,

and you can't even give
me a measly 25 large.

That's 'cause
you would lose it.

If I gave you a million dollars,
you'd give it away

to some bookie.

(panting):
A million ain't enough.

I need $3 million.

(chuckles): I wouldn't
give you three nickels.

Them four dealers you killed
back in the day.

You was a murderer, too.

I'll light a match,
and I will burn

this bitch down
to the ground.

You come to my house...

and pull a gun on me?

I want what's mine.

♪ Lights, camera, action,
tonight gonna be a movie ♪

♪ I just ordered 50 bottles
of Cîroc, rosé and Goose ♪

♪ I got bad women everywhere ♪

♪ At least three of 'em
choosing red ♪

♪ Bottoms on the sofas
up in VIP, sue me ♪

♪ For being young and reckless,
wild and imperfections ♪

♪ Threw a hundred, hundred ♪

♪ On a stripper named Vanessa ♪

♪ But I don't give a ♪
♪ What? ♪

♪ I'm just doing what I want ♪

♪ See, I'm young
and I got money ♪

♪ Light it up
just like a blunt! ♪

♪ Higher state of mind ♪

♪ This is our year,
prince of America ♪

♪ I'm that ... right there. ♪

(music stops)

(panting)

You are beautiful.

Jamal helped me with most of it.

Did he?

♪ ♪

No...

that was that monster
in you that did it.

That was that genius.
You did that.

(knocking)

What do you want?

You win.
I'm doing this for you,

but I want to
do it as me.

I love it.

Not only is
Lucious' son a genius,

but he's a gay, too.

Yeah, we'll make the gay
angle all about Lucious

not accepting you,
and the talent

all about you--
that'll drive Lucious crazy.

I'm gonna come out.

What's up, Doc?
I got some bad news.

Go ahead.

Well, you know all those tests
that we've been... doing?

Kind of confirms it.
You got ALS.

There's no cure for that.

It's such a rare
autoimmune disease,

there's no cure in sight.

(groans)

How long I got?

Three years.

Mm-hmm.
Maybe more.

Most likely less.

This everything?

Yeah, ten large.

You okay?

Something felt off.

I'm sure it was nothing. No.

Panther was acting
all funny and stuff, like...

like something was going down.

Something just felt
different about the drop.

(chuckles) Baby, I'm telling
you, it was nothing.

♪ ♪

Lucious, listen to me.

If I were to go down... You're not...
What are you talking about?

...promise me
you'll keep playing.

Look, ain't nothing
gonna happen to you.

Baby, this album
is gonna be big.

I can feel it.

Why don't you
stop worrying?

I promise, ain't nothing
gonna happen to you.

Nothing's gonna tear
my family apart.

MAN:
In exchange for the salary

and control
over Jamal Lyon's career,

you are signing away your rights
to ever disclose

you were the initial investor
in Empire Enterprises.

Furthermore, I would like
to draw your attention

to subsection number eight.

This disclosure...

Now, you're the only one

that could truly
run this company.

I'll do everything I can
to help you.

Just don't forget me

when you're in
that pilot seat.

How could I forget
about you, Uncle Vernon?

Looks like Bunkie

is getting real tight
with Shyne Johnson.

And he owes him
$150K.

Now, you know Shyne runs
everything from...

Hunts Point all the way up
to damn near New Rochelle.

Drugs, cards, girls.

He's dangerous.

It's not gonna be so easy
to make him go away.

(train passing)

Boo.

Damn, man, come on, man.
(chuckling)

Did I get you?

'Cause this got me.

So?

So?
So what?

You been a sellout for years.

You can fool
this country you legit,

but I know you ain't nothing
but a punk-ass gangsta.

You gonna give me
my money?

Shyne ain't gonna stop
till he gets it.

We've been friends
since we were 14 years old.

I never let anything come
between a friendship...

except a bullet.

(gunshot)

(body thuds)

♪ ♪

So, what horse did
you steal this from?

(laughing)

Jamal got me
wearing this mess.

You know I was never into
wearing all them damn weaves.

Girls walking around with their
scalps smelling like goat ass.

You know, I miss
your honesty.

I'm so sorry I didn't
visit you in jail.

Save that pimp talk for Anika.

Or one of them other young girls
you messin' around with.

You want to know what
I'm messing with?

Listen.

♪ ♪

♪ What's that over there? ♪

♪ That that ... right there... ♪
Hmm. That's hot.

You know what Uncle James
would call that, don't you?

A big fat hit.

And you need to chill
with all that Uncle James crap,

because you are not
related to James Brown.

I am so.

You are a pathological liar.

And no matter what
you do with Jamal,

he's never gonna be
as big as Hakeem.

The boy ain't got it.

He's your son, Lucious.

You really aren't
ashamed of him.

No.
Really?

I'm not.

I'm gonna
make him a star.

And I will take anything down
that gets in my way.

I ain't got time for this.

Yeah, well...
you better make time, Lucious.

We fittin' to
go to war.

Oh. I'm sorry.

Well, this is war.

Come on, Cookie,
why are you doing this?

I want to show you a faggot
really can run this company.

(cheering, whooping)

Clap.

Ladies and gentlemen...

it is my great honor
to welcome back

the heart and soul
of Empire Enterprises,

Ms. Cookie Lyon.

To Cookie.

(whooping, clapping)

This year my two sons,

Hakeem and Jamal Lyon,

both are releasing new albums!

(whooping, cheering)

♪ Armani, Armani,
I keep a crease ♪

♪ On my hip like I'm Ronnie ♪

♪ Raised up in Philly,
I'm M.I.A. ♪

♪ So be surprised
if you spot me ♪

♪ You just made a splash
in the game ♪

♪ Well, guess what,
I just made a tsunami... ♪

To the Empire!
OTHERS: To the Empire!