Empire (2015–…): Season 2, Episode 15 - More Than Kin - full transcript

Previously on "Empire"...
Will you marry me?

Yes.
I'm pregnant.

So?
It's Hakeem's.

You know, a lot of women,

they don't survive childbirth.

Cookie, this is Harper Scott.
Harper Scott.

You're falling for him again.

COOKIE:
What me and your father got

is very deep.

Hi, Grandma.
I wish I could have met you.

♪ Men have named you... ♪



JAMAL:
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.

ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen,
Empire's new CEO, Hakeem Lyon.

HAKEEM: Nobody thinks
I should have Empire.

JAMAL:
Who cares? You're a natural.

LUCIOUS: You got a room
full of people here,

all waiting to hear your vision,
but instead, they're hearing

delays, mishaps
and mismanagement.

HAKEEM:
They did it.

They voted me out.

I don't want to do it.

Oh, come on, why not?



Why not, baby?

Y'all just trying
to make me turn up.

Hmm, do it for the Gram.

("Got That Work" playing)

♪ Got that work ♪

♪ She got me so good right now ♪

♪ Got that work ♪

♪ I'm feelin'
so good right now ♪

♪ So good right now ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ I'm gonna give you
what you want, baby ♪

♪ I'm gonna even let you ♪

♪ Light it up, baby ♪

♪ Love crazy ♪

♪ Right now, right now ♪

♪ I waited my turn,
I put in that work ♪

♪ Work, work ♪

♪ I buried these haters ♪

♪ Put them in the dirt ♪

♪ I run the Empire,
the power is mine ♪

♪ Mm-hmm, mm-hmm ♪

♪ Take over the game,
I put that on my mom ♪

♪ You a waste of my time ♪
♪ Waste of my time ♪

♪ And wasting my time
is wasting my money ♪

♪ Got back on my grind ♪

♪ Do this on my own ♪

♪ They know I got work,
they know I'm-a shine ♪

♪ I'm hearin'
your hidden agendas ♪

♪ I'm praying this here
will offend ya ♪

♪ They all got their hands
to the ceiling ♪

♪ 'Cause I got that work ♪

♪ Got that work ♪

♪ Get employed ♪

♪ If you want that loud,
I can bring the noise ♪

♪ They need 3-D vision
just to see your boy ♪

♪ Brand-new foreign car ♪

♪ You should see my toy work ♪

♪ Got-got that work, work ♪

♪ Got that work, work ♪

♪ Got that work,
work ♪

♪ She that work, work,
got that work, work ♪

♪ Got that work,
work, got that work, work ♪

♪ She that work ♪

♪ I got this swag
from my mother ♪

♪ I put that on my brothers ♪

♪ Catch me out with your lady...
♪ Hey!

Laura's blowing up
his phone right now.

So what?

♪ It's covered ♪

♪ She just wanna
spend the night ♪

Hey, cut the music.

♪ For the... ♪

Yo, hey, man,
what are you doing?

Hey, Hakeem, Keem.

Chicken, why are you blockin'?

I know, man.

Laura is blowin' up
your phone.

I don't care.

I lost my everything.

DJ, turn it up.

♪ Know I put in work,
know I put in work ♪

♪ Shawty go berserk,
shawty go berserk ♪

♪ Know I put in work,
know I put in work ♪

♪ You mad, bro?
Hatin' don't work ♪

♪ Hatin' don't work ♪
♪ Work, work ♪

♪ I did that ♪
♪ Work, work ♪

♪ Oh, they hate on ♪

♪ Work. ♪

COOKIE:
ASA voting's over in ten days.

Make sure you vote for a Lyon.

Any one, doesn't matter.

You look beautiful.
Nice group of people.

JAMAL: It's not enough to be nominated.
I do want to win.

It's been a crazy year
for my family

and there's been
some doubters.

I feel like to win would
be a big up to my fans.

Talking about the people
who doubted you,

you seemed like you were
poised for a ASA sweep

till your
father's video hit.

That dude's comin'
to take you out.

Nah, man, maybe so, but, uh,
it's-it's not a boxing match.

Well, maybe someone
should tell him that.

Well, maybe someone should tell
the press to leave us alone

with the negative... Uh, you
know what, you know what?

I promise you this,
whatever those rumors

you're hearing
about my family,

they're just that,
baby, media lies.

See, 'cause the Lyons, baby,

we are closer,
we are tighter than...

The Manson Family.

Right?
Don't listen to this bitch,

She don't know what
she's talking about.

Besides, we're more like
the black Partridge Family,

you know?
(laughs)

I do know what
I'm talking about.

Stop moping, boy.

Lucious is doing exactly
what a big superstar does.

And if you want to be bigger
than him, like you say you do...

I will be bigger than him,
and I'm gonna win.

But it's like
this is just stupid,

and he's so damn thirsty,
Ma, just coming with...

Stop it.

Now, Empire has a lot
riding on these ASAs, Jamal.

We need to get that board to
officially reinstate Lucious,

or I don't know who the hell
is going to run my company.

So is this a
best-man-win situation

or a me-help-him situation?

It's neither one, dummy.

All right, Ma.

Make sure that you don't
get caught up in him again.

(sighs)

It's pretty rare for a man
with your rep,

from your culture,

to admit to having suffered
from childhood abuse.

Well,
one of the wonderful things

that I learned
in making this video,

is the fact that...

the people with real
courage are those

who have suffered
with mental illness.

Oh, really? Well, I
don't think you realize

there are more
people in this room.

Like ASA voters.

Come on.

I will see you soon.

Ten minutes-- I'm sorry.
Yes.

Keep rolling.

Hey, you're gonna have to
get your emotions in check.

Harper happens
to have the hottest blog

in the music business,

and if she could
put me on the cover,

man, that-that raises my odds.

Watch it.

It is disrespectful of you

and quite childish for you

to try to put this
on my emotions.

What you're about to do is ruin

the truce you
got going with Jamal.

What? If he can't handle the heat...
Uh...

the boy should
get out the kitchen.

Shut up.
You get out the kitchen,

son, I got the better song.

Which one?
My song, "Heavy."

Okay, hey, hey, y'all, hey.
Which one? Thank you.

Now that you're all liquored up,

I know y'all have some questions

for the first family of music,

so shoot.

Now, I know he said it's
not a boxing match,

but Jamal was the favorite

on every list, so, I mean,
isn't this kind of like

Balboa-Creed?

Wait, wait.
First and foremost,

um, me and my son are not the
only people up for this award,

but if this was a boxing match,

it would be more like

Foreman in his prime
versus De La Hoya.

I'm just saying,

I'm ready to play,
you ready to play?

I was born to play.

Let's play.

♪ ♪

Oh, here come your goon
in his tacky suit.

Hey, Cookie.
Hey.

Always a pleasure.
Mm-hmm.

Hey, Luc, can we, uh,
chop it up in private?

Anything you need to say to me,
you can say around Skeletor.

All them bones I done buried.

Okeydokey.

Well, Lucious, as you
officially don't know,

I have not been spying
on our board members.

But if I was,
I would tell you that

a few members are
pushing real hard

to bring in a new CEO.

Uh-uh.

An outsider to run my company?

Mmm, our company.

Well, that ain't
gonna happen.

I don't know how many of these
white folks I'm gonna have to...

Ah, Lucious, uh-uh.

Not after two dead lesbos
and a strangled cat.

I mean, listen to her,
she's right.

I mean, as much as
it would bring me joy,

it's not the right time for that.
No.

No.

We got the shareholders
right where we want them,

we just got to push.

The way I see it, we got all
these cameras on us right now.

THIRSTY: Mm-hmm.
Because of these ASAs.

If they see my family's
united behind me,

then it's the next
logical step for the board

to reinstate me, right?

Well, yeah, I'm having
a little flashback--

I think we tried that
a couple times, all right?

I mean, I don't want
to be that guy,

but do you really believe
you can get your three sons

to rally behind
Don Dada here?

I mean, what's the odds?

Well, they all need
a whole lot of hand-holding.

Hey.

Are you trying
to save your company,

or are you trying
to catch a STD?

Morning, Ma.
Sorry I kept you waiting.

Hmm, it's okay, baby.

I've been working
the phones all morning.

The board wants to offer
Brigham Lang the CEO job.

He knows how to
run family brands.

No. Uh-uh, Andre.

We cannot go through that again.

So let me guess.

The family needs
to present a united front,

and you want me to
talk to my brothers

and pretend it's not
coming from you, right?

Exactly.
Especially to Jamal.

He thinks I'm
sprung on Lucious.

Are you?

Never mind, doesn't matter.

If you ask Jamal,

he'll think you're letting
Lucious manipulate you.

Exactly.
I'll make it happen.

And I'll put something together.

Really big. I mean, a blowout.

They're seeing
all of us up there.

We'll remind that board
what they get

when the Lyons run the Empire.

I have an idea that could
make the event even bigger.

Hmm?

Tie in a fund-raiser

with the National Alliance
for Bipolar Disorder.

And make me the spokesperson.

You mean, like, you, uh,
going public about your...

I think it's time.

It's a good cause,

and it would really show
the board family values.

That's brilliant, Dre.

Yeah, going public
about his bipolar son.

That makes your father even more
of a hero for doing that video.

Lucious will love it.

And the board will love him.

I'll tell him
it's all your idea.

HAKEEM:
I was good at being the boss,

but my family didn't
believe in me.

CHICKEN: Yeah, but with all
this ass here, though,

why are you worried?

Marcel,
pass me another bottle, man.

Come on.

Another thousand-dollar bottle,
man, give me that.

♪ I keep my money
in the rubber bands ♪

♪ I got some customers--
they waitin' on me ♪

♪ I got some chicks--
they be waitin' on me... ♪

MARCEL:
Yo.

Guess who showed up.

Who?
It's Laura, bro.

♪ I got that cook up
from the kitchen, man ♪

♪ I got that cook up from
the kitchen, man ♪

♪ I got that... ♪

Laura, what you doing here?

Remember that stupid app you
and your high-ass friends

have been working on?

The one that lets your fans
know about the pop-up shows?

Well, you left it on.

You're all over Instagram,

and now a million trolls
are blowing me up.

Babe, listen,

I thought I lost everything.

If you take an "L," you're
supposed to come to me,

not this thirst trap.

Excuse you?

Look, I thought that you
had bailed on me

like everybody else.

Hakeem, we're engaged.

As long as you
keep it real with me,

I'm here for you,
regardless what you lose.

You don't care I'm not CEO?

No, that's not why I'm with you.

You don't care I'm not up

for Rapper of the Year?
No.

You don't care
I got Anika pregnant?

♪ I got that paper
from the paper bands... ♪

What?

Anika got pregnant
before we got together.

♪ I got some customers--
they waitin' on me ♪

♪ I got some customers-- they
waitin' on me ♪

♪ I got some chicks--
they be waitin' on me ♪

♪ I got some haters--
they be waitin' on me ♪

♪ I'm never on time
so they're waitin' on me. ♪

Bro, let me get some coffee.

You smell like
stripper ass.

Stripper ass smells good.

Take them.

Champagne hangovers
are the worst, man.

You need to get
your head straight

so we can help Mom
pull off her event.

Why do you keep trying to talk
to me about Mom's ASA thing?

When my girl just
broke up our engagement.

Did she actually
break it off, though?

Did she actually say it's over?

She slapped me
at the strip club.

I don't get it, every
time I do everything right,

everything go wrong.

You think you did
everything right?

Bro, if you're trying
to lecture me right now, don't.

You don't know what it's like.

I got this kid coming.
Hey.

ANDRE: Yeah, you got it
pretty rough, Hakeem.

I guess I just had it easy, man.
Dre, you know...

No, no, no, let's just
baby the baby boy, okay?

You know, I mean,
I lost my kid, right?

But let's just
pamper Hakeem again.

Bro, that's not what
I'm trying to say.

It's just right now I just suck
at every point of life.

He really does.

Seriously.

(laughter)
I'm sorry.

I guess in your own
ass-backwards way,

you had a sort of
impressive run.

Mm-hmm.

That's true, man, you was a wild
CEO, but you were making moves.

Yeah, a mash-up
between DMX and Bill Gates.

(laughter)

Mom needs us, guys.

All right,
ASAs are important to her,

and that's enough to
make me want to help.

Dre, this is weird to me,
though.

You, of all people, doing
a bipolar event for Lucious.

Look, it's not for him,
it's for Mom.

I'm starting to feel like that's
the same thing these days.

Wait, are you saying Mom
is falling for Lucious?

Hell no.

I ain't getting King Kong
and Godzilla back together.

Look at it like this, Hakeem,

if you think that you deserve
a shot at getting Laura back,

shouldn't, shouldn't
Lucious get a shot

at getting Cookie back?

And, Jamal, you know,
you-you wanted an ASA

since you were in diapers.

You gonna let Lucious
knock you off your game?

Whatever, Dre.

(laughter)

You know there
was a time when Dad

would have
called you a sissy,

and you would
have gone running

and crying
to Aunt Carol.

I don't think that's
who you are anymore.

♪ ♪

JAMAL: Look at this,

Mom and Andre got me ho'ing
for Lucious and this charity.

(scoffs) As usual.

Some things never change.

Hey, Becky.
Oh...

Hey, Michael.
Jamal.

I, uh, I work
for the event caterer.

But, I mean,
if that's not cool with you...

Nah, nah, nah, it's cool.

It's-it's a good gig.

Wouldn't want you to lose out.

So, are we going to discuss

this whole Chase One thing?
Becky.

'Cause I never got...

Okay.
I'll see you later, Michael.

See you, Becky.

I saw a clip of that press event
you did a couple nights ago.

Yeah.

Lucious looked like
he was getting ready

to punch your lights out.

It's so twisted,
and all the politics

got me wanting to snap.

Um, I have a break
in a couple minutes,

if you want to talk.

But if you don't, it's fine.
I want to.

Michael.

("Better Man" by Leon Bridges
playing)

♪ I don't want much... ♪

Look at this place.

It hasn't changed one bit,

since that night we met.

I remember that night.

It's one of my first,
like, real performances.

Mm-hmm. And you didn't tell
anyone in your family.

Hell no. (laughs)

(band playing slow ballad)

I mean, look at them.
I miss that, man.

You see how
they're not concerned

with show business politics?

It's just about real music.

And they don't care whether this
was a stadium or a coffeehouse.

They'd probably sing on
the street if they had to.

Jamal Lyon is in the house.

Why don't you come
up here and join us?

Come sit in.

Nah, man, I love y'all.

I'm gonna...
I'm-a just watch.

It's all good.

♪ Hmm hmm hmm hmm ♪

♪ Hmm hmm
hmm hmm ♪

♪ Lost in a crowd ♪

♪ You feel your
thoughts out loud ♪

♪ Lost in the wilderness
of the sound ♪

♪ Get through the day,
don't drown ♪

♪ Life, it goes fast ♪

♪ Youth is gone ♪

♪ Feelings of loss, come on ♪

♪ Grieve, move on ♪

♪ Stuck in the shadows ♪

♪ Of a lie ♪

♪ That you tried ♪

♪ To leave behind... ♪

Come on, Jamal!

Come on, man,
get up onstage here.

Jamal Lyon.

♪ Sounds so good,
don't you agree? ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ No, no ♪

♪ Well, we travel ♪

♪ And we travel ♪

♪ Trying to find it ♪

♪ I know that
neither one of us ♪

♪ Oh, neither one of us ♪

♪ Can survive it ♪

♪ We're just people ♪

♪ Lonely people ♪

♪ You and I ♪

♪ Come on ♪

♪ Get yo self ♪

♪ Get yo self ♪

♪ Get yo self ♪

♪ Get yo self ♪

♪ Get yo self ♪

♪ Get yo self together ♪

♪ No, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no! ♪

Hi. Come on in.

Welcome to
baby wonderland.

Yeah.

Look, I hired
the bossest baby-proofers.

No edges,
no corners, no sockets.

It's like a baby wonderland now.

I even got something
for the nursery.

(growls)

(sighs)
What are you doing, Hakeem?

I'm the father.

I know it's more
than buying stuff,

but it's to show you
that I'm in.

What about your fiancée?

What about her?

I love her.

She loves me.

And I know
she'll love the baby, too.

But before I step to her,

I got to make sure
we straight first.

(sighs) Well, what makes you
think that I want you involved

in raising our child?

Anika,

the one good thing
about being a Lyon--

other than being
kicked up to the fullest--

is that I've seen every
wrong move in raising a family,

and I know what I shouldn't do.

But there's a problem.

Your father threatened my life
the day the baby is born.

What?

So forgive me if I'm not feeling

the whole concept
of being a Lyon.

WAITRESS: Next we have
the chocolate ganache gâteau

with fresh raspberries.

Enjoy.
Thank you.

Well, seriously,

your-your staff was telling me

that this series I'm doing
on you keeps getting bigger.

Well, if you move me
to your front page,

maybe I'll give you
an exclusive.

You'd make it exclusive for me,
Lucious?

Exclusively yours.

Hmm.

Okay, well, I guess
we'll have to go front page.

Mmm, my God.

This woman has
a tracking device

in your sack
or something.

This woman got
a lot of things, honey.

Ooh, it smell
fishy in here.

We were eating lobster
for lunch.

Mmm, I'm sure.

I'm free tonight.

How about I have
my dessert later?

(chuckles) I'll send the car.
All right.

You might want to send
some vinegar and water.

I'll see you
tonight, Lucious.

Why you got
to be so nasty?

COOKIE:
You the one nasty.

You need to
disinfect this seat.

(laughs)
What?

Your boy got something
really important

to say to you, Lucious.

So you threatened
to kill her.

The mother of my child?

I don't know what
you're talking about.

The last I heard, you didn't
care what happened to her.

Her mom's telling her
to leave New York

and to get as far away
from me as possible.

Oh, well,
she can't do that, Hakeem.

You have rights as a father,
and we have lawyers.

Hell, Thirsty's shady ass
can get that baby.

Mom, stop.

I'm the father.

The baby's mine, okay?

I want Anika to feel
safe and happy.

So here's the deal:

if Anika leaves,

you won't see
the baby or me again.

Uh, Hakeem.

Hakeem.

Ooh, he's upset.

(chuckles)
You think it's funny, don't you?

You know we need the boy
to show up to our event.

Or you can get used
to answering to whitey.

You know I'm sick and tired
of the way they do business.

I know, so maybe
you should back off

and let me handle boo boo kitty.

You worry about
that-that scallop

you got coming
to see you later.

(sighs)

I should have never went public.

ANDRE:
Being here today

wasn't an easy thing for me.

In fact, it was terrifying.

And that's exactly
why I'm doing it.

Mental health is such
a shameful subject,

especially for
African-American families.

For years, my father
hid from that shame,

because the thought
of his own mother being bipolar

was more than he could bear.

I feel like maybe Lucious

should actually
say that second part,

you know?

"I hid from the shame,"

therefore, it's more
of a back and forth

between father and son,
you know?

Got you.

That's why you're here, baby.

(laughter)

If this gets him
reinstated as CEO,

you know what that means, right?
Yes.

With Jamal and Hakeem
out of the running,

that leaves you solidly
in place for his number two.

Mmm, just a heartbeat
away from the throne, baby.

Where you always belonged.

Yeah, that's right.

And what about those other two
board members, the holdouts?

Oh, they'll be there.
I made sure of that.

Okay, good. Cookie's
arranged for a ton of press.

Everything's in position.

Okay?

(distant shouting, horn honking)

Anika?

Uh, Anika, we need to talk
about what you're doing

with your baby. (gasps)

Oh, no. What happened?

Step aside, ma'am.

Wait, is she okay?

Ma'am, you need to step aside.

You need to stop
telling me what to do.

Is she gonna be all right?

Hold up. Is she okay?
(gasps)

Look, ma'am, you can follow us to
the hospital. I'm not following.

I'm riding.
That's my son's baby.

(gasping)

(siren wailing)

Bleeding is dark red,

approximately 100 to 150 cc's.

No visible wounds.
BP is 104/66.

Pulse, 140 beats per minute.

Is she gonna be okay?

Oh, my God, it hurts so bad.

Ma'am, I need you to stay calm.

Can you tell me
how bad the pain is?

She's having
a damn panic attack.

Can't you give
her something?

I can give her oxygen,
that's it.

Pain meds might effect the baby.

No, I'm not... Anika, no,
no, no, no, no, no, no.

Anika, listen.

Listen, listen.

Anika, I need you
to relax, okay?

You're stressing the baby.

I can't.

Look, uh, I know you're scared.

I need you to trust me
right now, okay?

Forget everything.
Forget everything.

And just listen to
the sound of my voice.

Breathe.

Breathe with me.

Like this:
(breathing steadily)

Come on.

There you go.

Come on, keep going.

Okay, let him put that on.

Keep breathing.

That a girl.

Yes, you're gonna
be all right.

And that baby's gonna be
just fine, believe that.

Thank you.

Besides, Hakeem would kill me if
something happens to his baby.

You mean your grandchild.

(siren wailing)

(R&B song playing softly)

♪ La, la, la, la ♪

♪ La, la,
la, la ♪

Mmm.

(chuckles)

You like that?
Uh...

The Whitney's been
trying to get me

to part with that
for a decade.

You should donate it.

Art is supposed
to be shared.

Well, I share my music
and my words.

Oh, I like this.

(laughs)

You really shut the
whole club down for me?

You sure Cookie's not
gonna bust in on us?

Nah.

This is a place
for demons tonight.

Mm-hmm.
Oh, you like it.

Just show me.

Gettin' rough with me?

But I'm on top.

You like that?

Yeah, what do you think?

There you are.

Do you like that?

Only if you mean it.

Come here.

Do you feel that?

I see you like
to be in charge, huh?

Mm-hmm.

I got a job for you.

(chuckles)

You are blowing my mind.

(laughs)

(both moan)

(phone ringing)

Hold on.
Uh-uh.

Come on, not now, Cookie.
Come on, not now.

No, Cookie, damn it.

I'm so sorry.

(scoffs)
It's okay, Lucious, I get it.

(sighs)

You two have a thing.

Cookie says jump,
you ask how high.

Oh, it's not like that.

(sighs)
It's a family emergency.

I will make it up to you.

We'll rain check, you know.

You know,

why don't I do my profile
on Cookie, instead?

"Meet the Manipulative Bitch

"That Has
the Mighty Lucious Lyon

Wrapped around
Her Little Finger."

What do you think?

I think...

you'd do really good

not to say nothing bad
about her ever again.

I'll have Thirsty send a car.

HAKEEM: I get it
if you want to give it back,

but I wish you wouldn't.

I don't know what
my options are.

I mean, at this point.

My options are bad, too,

but you want me to
turn my back on my baby?

It's not fair
to ask me that, Hakeem.

I didn't create the situation.

(phone ringing)
I know you didn't,

but, babe, I got to step up
or I'm gonna look less of a man.

And I wouldn't be worthy
of marrying you.

(ringing continues)

Do you think you
should get that?

Nothing else matters
when I'm with you.

If you're gonna raise
a child with Anika,

where does that leave us?

It'd be my kid.

She'd be the mother,

and you'll be my wife.

We'll be a family.

I think you and me

have very different ideas
of what family means.

Don't do that.

It's done.

(phone ringing)

(elevator bell dings)
COOKIE: Hakeem.

Where is she at?
Is she okay, Mom?

Her mother's right there.

Hi, Mrs. Calhoun,
I'm Hakeem.

It's about time you showed up.

Look, I came as soon as I heard.

My daughter has been pregnant
for almost five months.

Look, I did... I'm sorry.
Can I just go please see her?

(sighs)

Uh, look, he's trying
to do the right thing.

Give him a chance.

Your family isn't exactly known
for doing the right thing.

HAKEEM: Look, Mrs. Calhoun,
I can promise you,

whatever happened in the past,

I'm gonna take care
of Anika and our baby.

Room 348.

She wants to see you.

NURSE: And if you need anything,
hit that button.

Thank you, Linda.

Look at the
grandmas over there.

Boy, shut your damn mouth.

Didn't you hear the nurse?
You got to be quiet.

The baby can't have
all that noise.

It is kind of ironic, though.

(phone chirps)

Uh, Lucious is on his way.

I didn't know

if he'd show up.

Lucious Lyon
is not welcome here.

Not after what he did.

Mom.

What'd he do? Ma?

What, boy?

It's your father.

What hasn't he done?

Look, I'm hungry.

What'd he do?

(elevator bell dings)

Hey, I'm looking
for Anika Calhoun's room.

(clears throat)

How is she?

We need to talk.

Look, son, I'm sorry.

I'm calling off the dogs, okay?

That's my little grandchild
in there.

What you did to Anika's father.

Having him sign those papers
so I can take my company public?

Having him commit fraud?

Oh, so now
you the moral compass.

Just a couple months ago,

you tried to take
my company from me.

People do a whole
lot of stuff

to gain their wealth.

But you know what?

I forgive you for that.

I actually respect you for that.

I thought you was gonna kill me.

A couple times
I thought about it.

If you had been
somebody else's kid, I would.

(chuckles)

But seein' the way

you came into my office
and you stood up for your baby

and your baby's mama...

(sighs)

...I realized I raised
you right.

You understand it's about

family first,
then it's kingdom.

That's the thing,
the family stuff

is a little messed up right now.
Let me guess,

she's really
not feeling this whole

addition to
the nuclear family, huh?

I bet you if you and
I talked to her together,

she would see things
a whole different way.

All right, I'm gonna
go check on Anika.

Make sure she cool.

But you still can't come in.

Respect that.

I'll just sit back here
and make a couple phone calls.

See about making sure
my grandchild and the baby mama

got the best care possible.

There's benefits
to being Lucious Lyon's son.

Mm-mm, you sure are
a snake charmer.

Speaking of which,
your little snake

must have been doing
some slithering.

I smell cheap perfume.

That's said by a woman
that apparently

has no
emotional attachment to me.

Just for your information,

nothing happened
between me and Harper.

You know,
they got blue pills for that.

Nothing to be ashamed of.

The day I need one
of them blue pills

is the day I'm gonna
buy the damn company.

I really don't care
what did or did not happen

between you and mop head.

You know, truth is,

she just didn't do it for me.

I like a smart woman,

but I like a woman
that got some hood in her.

Yeah, well,
she's too skinny to be hood.

You know I like a woman
that's got some curves to her.

Oh, yeah?

You had her.

Should've kept her.

Uh, if you roll your way
over here...

Uh...

What if I could get you

an exclusive profile
in the trades?

Something that could go online
as early as tomorrow morning?

That would be
a really good look.

Are you really talking
about scooping Harper?

I mean, you got
a problem with that?

I don't owe her anything,

and she ain't got nothing on me.

LUCIOUS:
I mean, the truth is,

I wanted to put a human face
to mental illness.

That's what
"Boom Boom Boom Boom"

was all about for me, you know?

You're gonna win
that ASA, Lucious.

And that'll be great
for Empire's share price.

I'm sorry for being
so bottom line about it.

Uh-uh, no, you can't
apologize for that.

I mean, that's the difference

between me
and my other son, Jamal.

I'm an artist,
but I actually care

about our shareholders.

Now, I'm not saying

that he is any less
deserving of an ASA

just because me and his mama

picked all his songs
for his album.

No, he's just, uh, an artist
that's still developing,

which is a good thing.

A really good thing.
Nice.

Jamal, we was just
talking about you. Yeah.

So this is what
we're gonna do, Dad?

For an award?

I came here to support
you and Dre.

Relax, man, I'm just doing
a little business here.

I don't like the way
that you do business.

It's not right.

Jamal.

No, it's cool.

I wouldn't perform here
if you paid me.

I'm out.
Jamal.

You bastard.

Letting another publication
scoop me?

And you knew that
that would make

my big Lucious Lyon
exclusive useless.

I didn't know anything,
sweetheart, but...

(chuckles)
I like to share my stories.

Mm-hmm.

I'll see you later.

No love?

Andre, just the man
I was looking for.

I have something I think

that might interest you.

Um, it's not really a good time.

I'm about to go onstage
with my father.

What is this?

It's a group home
outside of Philadelphia.

This couple

collects money from the state

to take care
of ten mentally ill adults.

Keep going.

That woman's name
is Leah Walker.

I believe
she's your grandmother.

You can keep the pictures.

Hey.

What's going on?
You okay?

Um...

I have to go.

Go?

Go where, babe?

LAURA: Hi.

Laura, what are
you doing here?

Your dad called me.

He said he had Anika moved
to a nicer room

and that you're really
taking care of her.

He said you're becoming
a man he respects.

My dad said that?

Is she gonna be okay?

Yeah, she's doing better.

They say she should be
able to leave tomorrow.

I've been carrying this ring
ever since you took it off.

I was hoping

maybe you could see things
the way I see them.

(indistinct conversation)

(crowd cheering)

Freda, what you doing here?

What up? What you do...
What you doing here?

I seen your post on Hakeem's
app, thought I'd come through.

That's so dope, come on.
Yeah, yeah, come on, come on.

What's up, y'all?
How y'all doin'?

That is so dope,
you came through?

Yeah, man, had to, man.

(chuckles)

Amen. That's-that's right.

You see, Empire

is a family brand.

And together,

we're taking that brand
into the future.

Together, we've faced
many obstacles

and overcome many challenges;

that's made us
stronger than ever.

Yes.

Where are your sons tonight?

This doesn't really seem
like much of a family.

COOKIE: Uh, you want
to hear about family?

Well, I will tell you
about family.

Ladies and gentleman,

I have an amazing announcement

for you tonight.

For the first time ever,

the Lyon family
will be performing

at this year's ASA awards.

The Empire presents

the first
family of music.

Hakeem, Jamal, and Lucious Lyon,

all on the same stage

at the same damn time.

How about that?

Ain't that something?
Yes.

Is that really gonna happen?
Yes, even if I have

to get a strap

and strangle
you all to behave.

MAN:
The ASAs wanted him,

but we got him.

Ladies and gentleman,

let's give a warm
round of applause

for Jamal Lyon.

(applause and cheering)

BECKY:
Get 'em, Mal!

Okay, Mal!

That's right, Jamal!

Hey!

(funk song begins)

♪ I just wanna be good enough ♪

♪ I just wanna
be good enough for ya ♪

♪ 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 ♪

♪ No ♪

♪ Feels like
I walked 5,000 miles ♪

♪ Didn't even come close ♪

♪ No, no ♪

♪ Feels like I try
to make you smile ♪

♪ You don't even care, no, no ♪

♪ I'll never be big enough ♪

♪ To pay your dues ♪

♪ But I keep trying ♪

♪ You just keep making me
jump through hoops ♪

♪ What do I got to do, oh ♪

♪ I just want you
to look at me ♪

♪ To 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 ♪

♪ I just want to be
good enough for you, baby ♪

♪ Good enough ♪

♪ Good enough, yeah ♪

♪ I try to be good enough ♪

♪ I try to be
good enough ♪

♪ For you, baby ♪

♪ Try, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ I try to show you
that I'm strong ♪

♪ Why do I even bother? ♪

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

♪ You call yourself
a father, whoa ♪

♪ Feels like I'm reaching
for the stars ♪

♪ But heaven isn't letting me ♪

♪ I wish that
I had longer arms ♪

♪ But I know
that I will never be ♪

♪ Never be... ♪

REPORTER:
With a spectacular,

unscheduled pre-ASA
performance underway,

Jamal Lyon is proving
beyond a shadow of a doubt,

that he's a contender.

And if you can see
behind me here,

these people have been
waiting to get inside.

♪ Said it doesn't matter what
you think, I'm still a man ♪

♪ Open up your eyes ♪

♪ Can't you see
that I'm good enough... ♪

♪ I just want you
to look at me ♪

♪ To see that I could
be worth your love ♪

♪ I just want you
to look at me ♪

♪ To see that I can be,
yeah, so good ♪

♪ Good enou-no-no-nough ♪

♪ Oh, good enough ♪

♪ Oh, no. ♪

(applause)

Fantastic Negrito.

♪ ♪

Congratulations, you two.

We just heard
you've raised a record

amount of money
tonight for NABD.

And, Cookie,

that vision you laid out

of the Lyon family presenting

and performing at the ASAs...
Oh, genius.

Thank you.
It's just what we need

to reposition Empire

and get Wall Street re-excited
about the company.

Yeah. Well, that's
exactly why we did it.

You know, Lucious,

the board had been looking

at an outside candidate for CEO,

but we're now unanimous

in our thinking
that it should be...

Well, before you go any further,
I just want to say,

without the help of Cookie Lyon,
my number one,

this would not
have been possible.

That's just what
we were getting to.

Considering
the fact the two of you

co-founded Empire

and now continue
to work together so well,

the board would
like you to come on

as co-CEOs.

Co-CEO? (laughs)

Control of Empire

would be split
down the middle,

between the two of you.

Uh, that-that-that-that's
a great proposition,

but I think, um,

Lucious and I,

we would have
to discuss the details.

Nah, no, no,
there's nothing to discuss.

Um...

Um...

I think it's a fantastic idea.

I'm so glad to hear you say that.
Congratulations.

Thank you.

That's wonderful.

Take care.

Congratulations.
Take care.

You do?

I mean, you and me finally

working together, side by side.

I wouldn't have
it any other way.

Congratulations, baby.

Thank you.

(laughs)

(laughs)

I got your back.

Yeah.

Captioned by
Media Access Group at WGBH