Empire (2015–…): Season 2, Episode 12 - A Rose by Any Other Name - full transcript

Previously on "Empire"...
Rhonda's fine.

but the baby didn't make it.

RHONDA: God doesn't exist.
If He did,

the baby would still be here.

Dwight Walker,
that's my real name.

If you win
an ASA against your father,

you're on your way
to being legendary.

JAMIESON: Jamal's got
a girlfriend and all.

LUCIOUS: He didn't tell you?

I'm still gay. Well, then what
are you screwing Skye for?

As the new chairman
of this board,



I am turning over my proxy

to my wife,
while I'm undergoing

chemo and radiation.

What would you say
if I made you CEO of Empire?

But you need to get rid
of your little

Mexican girlfriend first.

I told you, I think I'm in
love with her. I love you.

I will stop at nothing
to take my company back.

I ain't got to do
what you want.

Cookie has her own
company under Empire

And that's ridiculous.

I want to be head of A&R,
for all of Empire.

Ma, you got yourself a deal.

I'm going to take Camilla
out from the inside.



You got 48 hours.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Empire's new CEO,
Hakeem Lyon.

(applause)

What's up, y'all?

Let me just say,
before we start this meeting,

that I'm very excited to be

the new Chief Executive Officer
of Empire Enterprises.

Thank y'all for coming.

This company was kicked off
by my parents,

and we will keep it
in my family bloodline.

Starting with my mother,
Cookie Lyon,

she will be leading
with her creative direction,

as our new head of A&R
for all of Empire,

and our sub-label,
Lyon Dynasty.

My brother Andre's been doing
a great job

as Chief Financial Officer,

making sure we don't go broke.
(reporters chuckling)

You know, I'm going to keep him
in that position.

And he's going to continue to be

the President
of Gutter Life Records.

And the big news is that
my brother Jamal's

going to step aside
as vice-chairman,

and he's going to focus on his
Black and White album,

and focus on his seven
ASA nominations.

Congratulations, bro.

So, we have some time
for some questions.

REPORTER: Hakeem...
plan to take the company

in a new direction?

Well, I plan to continue
on keeping the company

as the dominant,
most relevant,

most innovative music company

on the face of the planet.

You.

Excuse me,
you never mentioned Lucious.

Who's Lucious?

Um, Lucious is focusing

on his music right now.

In addition to producing

his half of
Jamal's Black and White album,

he's also prepping a video
for his number one hit,

"Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom."

Hakeem, will Empire be
underwriting this video?

Considering everything
that's happened between

you and your father.

Did you just hear what she said?

"Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom"
has been nominated for a ASA.

Okay, now, Lucious has been
a big part of this company,

and Empire will always
support Lucious Lyon.

Thank y'all for coming.

Yes, thank you for coming.
Thanks.

Right this way,
everyone.

Now, Ma, how many times
I got to tell you,

that you got to back off

and you got to let me
do what I need to do.

Boy, you better do
what we discussed,

if you want to stay alive,

let alone stay on as CEO.

(sighs)

♪ ♪

So cut to Madison Square Garden,
the tournament scene.

I'm talking about more than
a thousand extras.

And when Richard banishes
Bolingbroke...

Who's playing the role of
Bolingbroke in the video?

Oh, my girl, Freda Gatz
over there.

Hey, Freda.

Say, "hi" to Harper Scott.

She's from Q&A News.

Oh, Lucious,
you are not subtle,

are you?

Only when I want to be.

Look, what's your angle
on this article, anyway?

Richard II is about
a deposed king,

violently trying to
take back his throne

from a weak usurper.

So should we expect violence?

LUCIOUS:
I mean, stylized violence.

More Jon Woo we were thinking
than, than Tarantino.

In real life, though.

What are you prepared to do
to get your company back

from your son Hakeem?

I won't have to do
a damn thing, sweetheart.

I predict in three months,

they're going to come
crawling back to me,

the same what that Apple

came crawling back
to Steve Jobs, sweetie.

So, Mimi Whiteman

and her wife?

(laughs) Look, we-we
going to get them

a real nice,
uh, wedding present.

You know,
a couple of dildos.

The way Camilla Marks
came for you,

it seemed personal.

Lady, you're just trying
to find a story

where there isn't one.

All right, baby,
our business is done.

You didn't see it
coming, did you?

It's...
You heard the man.

Let's go.

Look, bitch,
I'm from South Philly,

I see everything coming,

from every direction.

Leave that, sweetheart.
Let's go.

♪ Lie, cheat, steal, fight ♪

♪ Just to get on
for the night ♪

♪ I'll do anything
for the power ♪

♪ La, la, la,
lie, cheat, steal, fight ♪

♪ Just to get on for the night ♪

♪ I'll do anything
for the power ♪

♪ I want everybody
at attention ♪

♪ At attention ♪
♪ You can call me Mr. Lyon ♪

♪ When I visit ♪
♪ When I visit ♪

♪ If money is the root
to all evil ♪

♪ You can see me ball,
you'll never see me fall ♪

♪ 'Cause I got the... ♪

♪ Time of this ♪
♪ Of this ♪

♪ Hot damn,
it keep me focused ♪

♪ Keep me focused,
keep me focused ♪

♪ My mind is a weapon ♪
♪ Pow ♪

♪ I got to keep it loaded ♪

♪ Keep it loaded,
keep it loaded ♪

♪ They all want to see you,
whenever you make it ♪

♪ They all want to come,
when your name in the papers ♪

♪ The more that you give 'em,
the more that they take it ♪

♪ So you gotta remember
to cover the bases for the ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ For the power ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ All for the power ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ For the power ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ All for the power ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ Of the Empire ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ I'll do anything,
for power ♪

♪ Of the Empire ♪

♪ Of-of-of the Empire ♪

♪ If money is the root
to all evil ♪

♪ You can see me bow ♪

♪ People never see me fall ♪

♪ 'Cause I got the power. ♪

(cheering, applause)

Look, y'all, it's the dawn of
a new empire here at Empire,

and I'm so psyched
to have Empire's employees

from day one in the building--
make some noise.

(applause, cheering) I want
y'all to check out something.

This our new logo.

(cheering)

♪ ♪

Hakeem did surprisingly well

at his little
press conference, didn't he?

Wow, I mean,
it's just insane.

There's no way that he can run
a company as big as Empire.

Reverend Pryce says
God has a plan for me.

I need to pay attention
because... (clears throat)

he might want me to lead Empire,

or he might have
something else in mind,

I don't know.

I need to tell you something,

and, and I know you
don't believe in this stuff,

but I, I hope that you
won't dismiss it out of hand.

What?

Baby...

I had a vision.

Oh...

What was your vision, babe?

Your fall down the stairs,
it wasn't an accident.

(sighs): Oh...
Honey, you didn't just fall.

Andre, please,
don't do this, really.

I'm not doing anything, God is.

He's leading me, so I
won't let this go.

He wants us to find out
what or who... Who?

Who caused you
to lose our child.

You're acting paranoid
right now,

and that's a sign of a break.

I promise you I'm
taking care of myself.

Are you?
I am.

I'm taking my medication
every single day, I am.

I'm just really worried
about it, Andre, that's all.

I need you to trust me, okay?
Okay, I trust you.

I need you to have faith.

Okay, well,
I don't need faith.

That's for sure.
Well, what do you need?

I just... I think I need to
just get out of the house.

Honestly, I need to
get back to work.

Okay, you want to go back
to Whitney Lane?

I heard that Camilla
was starting

a high-end fashion department
at Empire, is that true?

Yeah.

"Antony and Cleopatra,"
in honor of her and Hakeem.

You're kidding me.

I wish I was, but...

Wow.

I just feel like I can't
sit around wallowing

and feel sorry for myself.

So do you think that you could
talk to Hakeem and ask him

if she would get me in there?

Sure, absolutely.

Thank you.

If...

Oh, God.

If... you do something for me.

What?

Come to church with me.

See Reverend Pryce
for grief counseling.

I know it'll help
you heal, Rhonda.

It'll help heal us.

Will you come?

THIRSTY: Uh, let's make sure
the neighborhood knows

that we're coming
to shoot a video.

Keep it clean.
You got it.

Ms. Lyon,

Lucious is interviewing
the video directors,

how about I show
you around?

Uh, you don't need
to show me around.

This is my place, punk.

Get your ass out of here.

LUCIOUS: Uh, Ms. Miles,
please see him out.

Thank you for your time.

Why do you even...
MS. MILES: Right this way.

All these new school
directors are all the same,

a bunch of hacks.

Remember when you and I
used to direct our own videos?

Yeah, well, that
was back before

we had the
generous support

of the head of
Empire's A&R Department.

Show me your storyboard.

And you can go back

to being useless.

Stop wearing
your granddaddy's suits.

Okay, so the good thing
(Thirsty chuckling)

is old resting bitch face

is busy with her
fashion company,

so she seems to be staying
out of our business.

Meanwhile, I'm working on our
plan to get her out of Empire.

You need to get rid of this.

Lose it.
You don't need it.

Wait, w-wait, wait,
that's my dream sequence.

Yeah, I know.

It's beautiful,
but it's too much, I mean,

you're hiding behind
all that fantasy.

Get rid of it.
You don't need it.

The song's not about hiding.

Boom, boom, boom, boom,
bang, bang, bang, bang.

Drop that. Trust me.

That's dope.
Damn 'em.

You always were good, Cookie.

I know.

Okay...

(muttering) let me try your
ears on something else.

(dramatic piano melody
playing)

Mm!

Just piano.
Yeah. It's hot.

Mm...

(music continues)

(chuckles)

(remote blips,
lowers volume on music)

That's fire, Lucious.

I mean, I can hear
the pain, the passion...

Yeah, you're doing some
pretty decent work right there.

You mean that?
Maybe.

(laughing)
Seriously, that's

probably some of the best work

you've done in a long time.

Maybe that's the silver lining.

Maybe Hakeem
did you a favor.

I can't wait to
return the favor.

(wry laugh)

So how's Jamal doing?
(knocking on door)

I got some bad news.

And not altogether surprising,

but, but, but bad nonetheless.

I should've seen it coming,
I should have been ahead of it.

I'm sorry, I'm, I'm very sorry.

Are you okay, Andre?

I'm not okay, no.

I'm not okay. No.

Hey, wait, wait. Wh...
what's the bad news?

Camilla cut the budget
for your video.

She slashed it.

What?! She can't do that.

Oh, yes, she can.

Any outlay over $750,000

is subject to board approval.

She controls the board...

Well, not for long.

Hey! Thirsty!

No, uh, uh... n...

Thirsty!
Lucious! Lucious.

You got to sit tight till Hakeem
gets enough dirt on Mimi,

then Dre's ready to pounce.

(slaps wall)

(sighs)

Andre?

You okay, babe?

Yeah.

I'm a little worried you
came back to work too soon.

(chuckles) You don't
got to worry, Mama.

I'm good.

BECKY: Look, Crazy Camilla
cannot stay in charge of Empire.

I really think
that Lucious should just...

JAMAL: Becky, no, trust me.

Cookie put the fear
of God in Hakeem.

Soon as he gets Camilla
on tape admitting

that she and Mimi set
Lucious up, we gonna be fine.

Jamal...!

Congratulations on all
your ASA noms, Boo.

Aw, thank you so much.

Absolutely. Will you
please sign these?

Yeah, no doubt.

What is this about?

See, we put you
where you are,

so why did you decide to...

(music intro plays)

♪ You let the team down ♪

♪ She made the gays frown ♪

Come on, we should go. Let's go.
Come on. Wait, wait...

♪ She shamed the wrong crowd ♪

♪ She make that thing go ♪

♪ Flip, flop ♪

♪ Flip, flippity, flop ♪

♪ Flip, flop ♪

♪ Flip, flippity, flop ♪

♪ Flip, flop ♪

♪ Flip, flippity, flop ♪

♪ Flip, flop ♪

♪ Flip, flippity, flop! ♪
BECKY: Come on, now!

That's not even
his song, stupid.

JAMAL: Let's go.

Jamieson, you really
expected me to believe

that you've never been caught,
I don't know, whispering,

or holding hands with some d...

look at the picture of you
and Chrissie Hynde.

Are you saying that you
didn't hook up with Skye?

I'm saying that it's
nobody's business, honestly.

I'm saying that I don't see

how the entire gay community
can turn against me,

based on gossip and innuendo.

I'm sorry, it's not gossip
and innuendo,

when it's your own father

who's out there bragging
about it, Jamal.

My father?

Lucious is the one that told me

what a great thing it was

that you and Skye got busy.

Not just for you,
but for your career.

He still thinks that
being gay is a liability.

Jamieson, he did
that on purpose.

Explain.

My father and I are
nominated against

each other for
the same category.

He's never won an
ASA award before.

He wants it more
than anything.

Even if it means
sabotaging my chances.

I still can't believe
he'd do that to me.

(kissing)

So how do you like being
a girlfriend of a CEO?

Is that my official title?

We made it official
the other night.

At least that's
what I thought.

Me, too.

Check out the view.

Hakeem, I met with your
sister-in-law today.

I'm prepared to hire her,
so long as...

Who's this?

Laura Calleros, my singer
in Mirage á Trois,

meet Camilla Marks.

Marks-Whiteman.

Camilla Marks-Whiteman,

wife of the
Chairman of the Board of Empire.

See, Laura, she's here,

'cause she got a huge meeting
with A&R downstairs.

And matter of fact,
you should go downstairs,

so you won't be late.

Nice to meet you.

You got this.

What's up?

Didn't I tell you
to get rid of her?

I can't, she's a
big part of Empire.

She's pathetically
in love with you.

So, you married--
what do you want from me?

What am I supposed to be,
a side piece or something?

It's only a matter of time
before my dear wife passes.

And did I mention she's going to
leave her Empire shares to me?

And I've always
imagined you and I,

whether we would dismantle this
company or start a new one...

Dismantle it--
are you crazy?

I'm not here to do that.

I'm here to prove to everybody
that I got this legit.

And that it's not just
because of you.

I believe you'll be a
brilliant CEO, Hakeem.

Didn't I tell you that
you'll be king one day?

Yeah, you told me that.

Are you going to
make me happy?

I want to, and I
promise I'll try.

I certainly hope so,

after everything
I've done for you.

You need to
show her what again?

Well, I have a list
of all the hotels

on the tour stops,

where Empire has
special rates.

I think you better give me
that and let me show her.

Well, I'm going
to tell her, bitch.

Cookie, I got some info for you.

She didn't get it, I did.

That's my tablet, Cookie.

Look, you know she fresh
out of rehab

and her brain still
muddled all up.

What is it? You know
this entitled bitch

had a nerve to get
your publicity girl

to take out your
dry cleaning

instead of doing it herself,
like you asked her to.

First of all, who you
calling a bitch?

I'm calling you a bitch. Hello!

Hello! Hello.

Hi... See all these
lovely people here?

We're having
a meeting in here.

Yeah, because we have jobs,
and we're trying to plan

Tiana's 30-city tour.

So we don't have time
to listen to you

cat and claw down the hall.

You need a smart
assistant.

You need a
brain cell.

(guffawing)

What's after St. Louis?

I'm so sorry.

Okay, uh, we got an offer
from Lincoln Hall,

Mom... and I think that
Tiana can continue at

the Chicago Theater if...

It was Lucious.

(sighs) COOKIE: Your
father is a tampon,

we already knew that.

No, Mom, it-it's different
this time-- it's so much,

it's so much deeper than,
than some stupid award.

You know what I'm saying? He's
foul on a, on a whole other level.

And I'm getting him back
this time.

Jamal, what you need
to be focused on

is getting your fans back, okay?

There are a lot of gay
ASA voters, and you need them.

I don't care about the ASAs
or... I care about my music.

That's what... uh... he's not
having anything to do

with the Black and White album.

We'll push it back...

No...
You can produce it.

I don't care.
No, you will not.

Look, I'm meeting with the PR
team to discuss Tiana's tour.

I will have them come up
with a clever way

to get the gays back behind you.

It shouldn't take a PR team.

Just drop
your drawers, brother.

This is what we do now.

Andre, what do you need?

I-I didn't mean it, bro.

I know, man. It's fine.

What is it, Andre?

Camilla won't approve the
budget for Tiana's tour.

She said Hakeem
hasn't provided her

with the items
she requested.

That bitch got to go.

Mom, we're building a case.

Soon as Hakeem gets us
that tape, I plan to

demonstrate poor performance,
malfeasance,

moral turpitude...

Andre, I don't care if
your crazy ass got to

build a rocket to
launch her to the moon.

I'm so sorry.
It's okay.

Andre, honest, I'm sorry--
I didn't mean to say it.

It just came out.

I need to do a better job

of checking myself, okay?

I'm so... sorry.

I need to go tell Tiana.

She can't hear this
from nobody else.

(fast tempo intro playing)

♪ ♪

♪ I just came in here to dance ♪

♪ I'm not looking for a man ♪

♪ Me and my best friend ♪

♪ Goin' in ♪

♪ Boy, you better watch
your hands ♪

♪ 'Bout to get summertime,
playin' for the bad boy ♪

♪ Didn't I, didn't I,
didn't I look good? ♪

♪ Look at my body ♪

♪ Look at my body ♪

♪ Look at my body ♪

♪ Look at my body ♪

♪ Don't I look sexy? ♪

♪ Don't I look sexy? ♪

♪ Look, but don't touch,
don't touch ♪

♪ Don't touch, don't touch ♪

♪ LBDT ♪
♪ Look, but don't touch ♪

♪ Don't touch,
don't touch... ♪

♪ I just came in here to dance ♪

♪ Me and my best friend
goin' in ♪

♪ Boy, you better watch
your hands ♪

♪ 'Bout to get summertime,
playin' for the bad boy ♪

♪ Didn't I, didn't I,
didn't I look good? ♪

♪ Look at my body,
look at my body ♪

♪ Look at my body,
look at my body ♪

♪ Don't I look sexy? ♪

♪ Don't I look sexy? ♪

♪ Don't I look sexy? ♪

♪ Don't I look sexy? Yeah. ♪

MAN: Okay, ladies, that's a cut
on rehearsal. Thank you.

Thank you.

You like?
I love!

Thank you.

Come here, let me talk
to you for a minute.

Okay, um, this is
just temporary, okay?

So I don't want
you to get upset,

but we might have to
put your tour on hold.

I'm not upset.

Good.

I'm out.
No, no, no.

Tiana, I said temporary.

It's just temporary, baby.

Would it make a difference
if I started

sleeping with him again?
Who? Hakeem?

And please, don't tell me

he's putting her on
my tour instead.

Mirage á Trois couldn't even
fill up a coffee house.

You are right about that.

That's, that's not what this is about.
You know what?

They're barely good enough
to even open for me.

That's it.

I'm surprised you wanted
to come back to work so soon.

Especially for her.

I had to, honestly.

I've been trying to
explain that to Andre,

but he just
doesn't get it.

He's not good, is he?

He just needs to
recalibrate his meds.

It's happened before,

and major stress is
the worst thing for it.

So...
Like losing your baby.

What do you do
when he gets like that?

I mean, I don't want to see
my baby in that hospital again.

Neither do I.

And I have tried
and tried and tried

to get him to see
a doctor, but he...

We are going to his pastor
for counseling, so...

Well, I hope that works.

Me, too.
Milla's at her

drafting table,
so we probably shouldn't

gab in front of her.

Well, you take care
of yourself, okay?

I will, I will.

Wow, Camilla girl, you are

really working these designs.

Very chic.

As if you would know.

The reason I'm here,

I would like to talk to you
about Tiana's tour.

You know, we've been
working on this for months.

Well, that's before you had to
answer to a board of directors.

Right.

But if artists don't tour,
they don't eat.

Yes, but the board feels
that it's too expensive

for a single artist,
who isn't a stadium act.

Glad you brought that up.

That's why I'm thinking of
sending Mirage á Trois

out on a tour with her,
as the opening act.

(wry chuckling)

Mirage á Trois?

Yes, we get two tours
for the price of one.

I already got them
on a 360 deal,

so we can afford to keep
them out on the road

for months.

Okay, so I'll push it through,

and that way you'll keep her
away for a very long time.

Mm-hmm.

Bingo.

Mom, you can't
be making decisions

without consulting me first.

Boy, I'm trying to protect
your stupid ass, Mr. CEO.

You let that psycho-bitch in the
house in the first place.

I seen a chance
and I went for it.

And I think I deserve my props.

You wanted Lucious out
and I got him out.

You wanted Empire,
and I got Empire.

I am trying to save Empire.

That bitch can burn it down
any time she wants to.

Do you not understand that,
Hakeem?

So until you get me
what I need to get rid of her...

I'm not sending you on tour,
so don't worry.

It's okay, Hakeem.

I actually think it's
a really great idea.

Uh, don't worry about it,
I can handle Camilla.

Are you not listening
to what she's saying?

Laura, please tell him.

It's a huge opportunity.

I talked to the girls.

Mirage á Trois is excited to go
on tour with Tiana. Really?

Get your stuff, hon.

Hakeem,
you brought this on yourself.

You're not only
going to lose Laura,

but you're going to lose
your entire family

if you don't fix this.

So for the shoot,
you guys are going to be

holding up a girl who weighs
roughly 110 pounds

for maybe, I don't know,
five or ten minutes.

Is that going
to be a problem?

(laughing):
Oh, okay.

I guess not.

(whispering): I can't.
I just can't right now.

Would you guys, actually,
excuse me for one second?

You can go ahead and grab their
shoe sizes for me, thanks.

It's not that, it's just
that I don't want you

to travel if you're
not well enough.

Of course, I'm excited
to see you.

But I'm not. Mimi.

You keep accusing me
and it's just so insulting.

Okay.

(sighs) I look forward
to seeing you, too.

Love you.

(angry shout)

♪ I know you know we're wrong ♪

♪ We can make
a good thing... ♪

Hello.
Hi.

Thank you so much helping
get his people out tonight.

I got played by Lucious.

I should have known better.

But I'll do
everything I can

to help repair
the damage.

Thank you.

Your ex-husband
is a bastard.

♪ ...good thing,
keep happening. ♪

ANNOUNCER: Please welcome
multiple ASA nominee, Jamal Lyon.

JAMAL: Y'all know I ain't
never been one to put

my family business out there,

but even my loyalty
has its breaking point.

(slow intro playing)

♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪

♪ Ah, ah ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Guess what? ♪

♪ People tell me I'm
just like my daddy ♪

♪ People tell me
I'm just like my daddy ♪

♪ People tell me I'm
just like my daddy ♪

♪ My daddy ♪

♪ 'Cause I lie like
I'm lying on a rug ♪

♪ Get my hands a little dirty ♪

♪ No glove ♪

♪ Everybody welcome
to the gun show ♪

♪ Let it go ♪

(gunshots)

♪ Everybody duck down ♪

♪ It's hard to love ♪

♪ The devil ♪

♪ He's a hater ♪

♪ A dirty hypocrite
manipulator ♪

♪ Made a mama lose her kids ♪

♪ Let her go away for 17 years ♪

♪ Not allowed to shed a tear ♪

♪ Growing up
with all your phobic fears ♪

♪ But people tell me
I'm just like my daddy ♪

♪ People tell me I'm just
like my daddy ♪

♪ People tell me
I'm just like my daddy ♪

♪ Oh, really? Hell, no ♪

♪ 'Cause I lie like I'm
lying on a rug ♪

♪ Did some crime,
even wore some black gloves ♪

♪ Everybody welcome
to the gun show ♪

♪ And we go Daddy? ♪

(gunshot)

♪ Everybody duck down ♪

♪ You reek of royalty ♪

♪ A dangerous mix ♪

♪ You sing of loyalty ♪

♪ But you
the snitching ass bitch ♪

♪ I tried to play it cool ♪

♪ Funny what people
do for money ♪

♪ Power and fame ♪

♪ I'd call you Mr. Lyon,
if I did ♪

♪ I would be lyin' ♪

♪ 'Cause that even your name ♪

♪ But people tell me
I'm just like my daddy ♪

♪ People tell me I'm just
like my daddy ♪

♪ They all say that you
look just like your daddy ♪

♪ Nah, bruh... ♪

(whooping, applause)

Jamal, are you saying
Lucious is inauthentic?

I'm saying Lucious Lyon
ain't even his real name.

(feedback squeals,
audience murmurs and gasps)

THIRSTY:
You're a lucky lady.

He wants to give you
an exclusive.

Thank you so much
for coming back.

Sorry about the other day.

I was a bit out of sorts.

And today?

Well, it's a new day.

Hm. I thought you
and Jamal were close.

Has your family turned on you?

What, that little bit
of flexing Jamal did?

He called you "inauthentic."

That seems a little bit
more than flexing.

You gonna retaliate?

Against my own boy.

No.

I'm going to thank him.

Thank him.

That little family jewel
that he dropped,

was something very personal
and private

that I entrusted to him.

But once he did it,
I realized I don't

have to keep it private no more.

So now I'm actually changing
my whole concept of my video

and I thought you might be
interested in that story.

Well, that depends.
What's your story?

Everybody knows the
Lucious Lyon story.

How I started off poor,

sold drugs to finance
my first album--

I mean, damn near taught as
part of the school curriculum.

But I've never shared
with anybody

how I became Lucious Lyon.

That's the exclusive
I'm offering you.

It's the Dwight Walker story.

How a homeless orphan,

became Lucious Lyon.

Rhonda, what you've gone
through can be traumatizing.

It can fester in a marriage,

but in the presence of God,

you can unburden yourself.

Oh, really?

How about, uh,
I go first, Reverend?

All right, Andre.

(exhales) Okay.

Rhonda,

have you been cheating on me?

What?!

No.

Rhonda,
if you're being truthful,

let's try and understand why
Andre's doubting you.

I do understand why
Andre's doubting me.

It's because he's paranoid,

which always precedes
a bipolar break.

Has he told you about
his mental health?

Paranoid how?

He just accused me
of cheating on him,

which is ridiculous.

And also, he's been
having visions.

Babe, have been telling him
about your visions?

I told the reverend that
God's been speaking to me

about what happened
to our child-- yes, I did.

And that doesn't
alarm you at all.

I believe that God speaks
to us in different ways.

It's not my place
to doubt Andre.

Where were you
last night, Rhonda?

I was at work.

I went to see you at work,
you weren't there.

This isn't a
counseling session.

This is a setup.

Isn't it? Is that,
is that what this is?

Wow, okay.

Well, look, if you really
want to help my marriage,

what you need to do is get Andre
to go get some medical help.

He needs to see a doctor
to recalibrate his meds.

That's the only thing that's
going to help my marriage.

Of course I'm concerned
about Andre's health.

Good, 'cause you should be.

But the difference
between now and the past,

is that he's also in God's care,

which is far more powerful
than any doctor's medicine.

Thank you, Reverend.

Ma, where are they?

They went to Andre's pastor

for some marriage
counseling, child.

Don't you think that
Dre needs more than

a pastor?

Dre needs more
than just meds.

Know what I'm saying?

What he really needs...
Hey.

Cookie, would you do me a favor

and tell Andre where I was

last night at 8:00?

Uh, she was in my office
snitching on Camilla.

Did you hear that?
Cookie's office.

So I was not in my office.

I was spying on Camilla
for your family.

That's right.

Dre, this was your plan.

Prove that the way Mimi

and Camilla stole our
company is illegal, right?

Thanks to Rhonda, here,

we know that Mimi's in New York

this weekend.

And now all we got
to do is get Hakeem

to get them to incriminate
themselves on tape.

You know Hakeem will never
do it, okay? He's not with us.

He's paranoid.

COOKIE: Maybe,

but Hakeem ain't here,

and I told him to be.

Yo, chill out, like, uh,
he's at a marketing meeting.

He's going to be here.

Yeah, well,
he better get this done

'cause Lucious got
a itchy trigger finger...

Oh, my goodness, y'all.

I'll talk to Hakeem, come on.

COOKIE:
You better.

This one right here,
we can change the material.

Yes, sir.
Make these gold right here.

Be on time today.

Yes, sir.

Look y'all,
let me talk to my brother.

Man, get out of here, please?

Sure.

Just go.

If we get rid of Camilla...

who gets Empire?

I don't know, man, but...

look, the board got rid of
Lucious and it got nasty,

so it's not like they're
going to reinstate him.

Yeah, but nobody thinks
I should have it.

Who cares?

I'm looking at your right now,
and you're a natural.

You know, but it's not
going to be easy.

You know, with everything
that you did.

You got to really prove yourself
to the rest of the family.

I will.

Watch me.

So babe...

I'm sorry for being
a little extra.

I'm not used to
this type of stuff.

Just got a lot
on my mind right now.

But it's what you always wanted.

It is,
but I'm going to be honest,

I couldn't be in this
position without you.

You took on my family.

You took out Lucious.

And you did it all for me.

You're my queen.

♪ Right back
where I started... ♪

Cheers.
Cheers.

Come here.

Am I still your mama?

You'll always be my mama.

♪ ♪
(moaning passionately)

Yep, come on, baby.

So why you make me
so crazy?

Mmm, I know.

I can't see you
this weekend.

Mimi.

I thought she was sick.

Not sick enough.

I'm sorry,
is that awful?

Why won't you just come clean
to her about me and you?

Just be real.

She's so possessive, darling.

We'll lose everything--

Empire, Antony and Cleopatra.

I've worked very
hard for this.

Try to be patient.

♪ Run, run, run, run, ♪

♪ Run ♪
♪ Hate, hate ♪

♪ Hate, hate, hate... ♪

JD, looks good.

Takesha.

Yo, what up, Hakeem?
What's up?

My man.

Y'all, our plan was iffy.

Mimi's too sharp to get
caught by us saying stuff,

so I changed tactics.

Now look, I can't save
you from your father

if go around changing...

Mom, it's cool; just wait.

What's your plan,
oh, grand master of espionage?

I made a tape and sent it to Mimi's hotel.
What kind of tape?

Look, Mimi is
overprotective and jealous,

so I made a tape of me
and Camilla doing the nasty.

Oh!

So you, you made

a sex tape, huh, Ray-jay?

Mom, she basically admitted
that she was using her

to get back with me.

And she said some
pretty rank things

like she was hoping Mimi dies,
so I figure Mimi...

Mimi is dumping all
of her Empire stock.

Now, I don't know why,
but she's divesting.

What are you doing, Dre?

I'm calling the estate brokers.

Tell them to buy up as many
shares as we can legally own.

We need to move fast, brother.

Damn, Hakeem.

You did it.

We're free.

So now you believe in me, Ma?

Boy, I always believed in you.

I made you my partner, didn't I?

You don't believe
that I can run Empire.

You put your family first--

that's a step
in the right direction.

Buy it all.

I don't care.
Buy it all.

Drop everything,
put it all in Empire.

Well, then,
buy it in Rhonda's name.

Man.

Listen, I, I, uh...

I created a, a, a trust
in my son's name.

Just buy, buy it in his name.

Okay, mm-hmm.

Good.

Dre!

Oh, my God.

Hey!

Dre! Dre!

It's okay.

No.

Dre, come on, man...

Hey, man, come down
to the studio.

Me and Hakeem got
something for you to hear.

Yeah, come on, let's go
to the studio. Okay.

Yeah.

What is this?

Well, um, Hakeem and
I wrote you a song,

'cause we know that you're going
through a seriously hard time,

and it's all that we know
how to do, so...

we're here for you.

It's going to be okay.

Sit down.

(slow rhythmic intro begins)

♪ Sometimes it's hard to pray ♪

♪ Sometimes, it's hard to stay ♪

♪ Grateful ♪

♪ It's painful ♪

♪ Hurts so bad ♪

♪ Sometimes it's hard to be ♪

Mm...

♪ It's hard to keep going ♪

♪ But we keep holding ♪

♪ On to what could have been ♪

♪ But we'll get by ♪

♪ We'll see the light ♪

♪ In the morning, it's going
to be all right ♪

♪ Circumstance ♪

♪ Is in the plan ♪

♪ Even if we don't
fully understand ♪

♪ Why the bad things ♪

♪ Happen to the good people ♪

♪ So much pain ♪

♪ It's still a lesson ♪

♪ Sometimes it rains ♪

♪ It's still a blessing ♪

♪ You never see the silver
lining in the cloud ♪

♪ And so you doubt it ♪

♪ You never know how much ♪

♪ You truly have until
you go without it ♪

♪ One day it's going to turn
into another season ♪

♪ Gonna change ♪

♪ You're going to see that ♪

♪ All your tragedy you had ♪

♪ Was for another reason ♪

♪ It's just
a temporary good-bye ♪

♪ So you got to keep
your head high ♪

♪ The rain is coming down
and it's pouring ♪

♪ But joy is going to come ♪

♪ Inside the morning ♪

♪ Whoo! ♪

♪ We'll get by ♪

♪ By ♪

♪ We'll see the light ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ In the morning ♪

♪ It's gonna be all right ♪

♪ It's gonna be okay, baby ♪

♪ Circumstance ♪

♪ The Lord gotcha ♪

♪ Is in the plan ♪

HAKEEM:
♪ And I gotcha ♪

JAMAL: ♪ Even if we don't
fully understand why ♪

♪ Understand why ♪

♪ Understand why ♪

♪ The bad things ♪

♪ Happen to the good people. ♪

(sighs)

LUCIOUS: So I hear Hakeem's
cleaning up that mess he created.

Yeah, just call your lawyers.

They'll tell you--

Mimi's getting rid
of all of her stock.

She's probably getting rid
of that bitch, Camilla,

right about now.
Really?

Mm-hmm.

I think I'd like to see that.

Ugh, Lucious,
everything is done.

You don't need to do anything.

Where are you going?

I'm going home
and celebrate by myself.

Good work, Cook.

You pulled it together.

I know. (chuckles)

I always do.

You know, nobody's going to
believe that she killed herself.

I mean, they might have,

had I not watched you pour

that stuff in her drink.

Get out.

What was that stuff
you poured in her drink?

Was that cyanide or arsenic?

Hakeem's going to kill you
when he finds out what you did.

What'd you say?

I'll go, but first
I got to stop over

at the police
and make sure they get the video

of you and Mimi's
last few precious moments.

Not to mention a video
of you and Hakeem.

He'll never forgive you.

What are you talking about?

It was Hakeem that sent
the videos to Mimi.

How's that feel?

Knowing it was your Hakeem.

Your little prince,

that did all of that to you.

He used you and got what
he wanted from you,

and now don't want nothing more
to do with you than I do.

I mean, if I was you,

just FYI, I would think
about maybe offing myself.

I mean the police
are probably going to think

it's a double suicide
or a murder-suicide.

It don't matter.

You're going to be dead.

That feeling you got right now?

That's prison.

But a million times worse.

And don't forget you got to
constantly be aware of the fact

that somebody's going
to try and rape you,

or murder you, or just

the general unsanitary
conditions of the place.

(sobbing):
What have I done?

You committed murder, Camilla.

Now, I got to tell
Mimi's family.

That means you're going to have
to face them in court.

Come on...

it'd be a whole lot easier
and a whole lot less mess,

if you just take a swig
of whatever that was

that you made Mimi drink.

Why don't you shoot me, please?

After all the pain
you caused my family,

I don't owe you any favors.

Nah, you're going to have
to off yourself.

Go ahead.

(bottle clatters across floor)

(sobs, sniffles)

Rot in Hell.

Yeah.

Captioned by
Media Access Group at WGBH