Empire (2015–…): Season 2, Episode 3 - Fires of Heaven - full transcript

HAKEEM: Previously on Empire...
LUCIOUS: I'm-a sign your baby girl,

and then I'm-a slip her
my bone.

Kill him.

(Gathers screams)

Me, Andre and Hakeem--

we're starting
our own company.

It's called Lyon Dynasty.

Hakeem wants his album heard,

he's gonna have to come back
to the Empire.

Lucious is trying
to make you like him.

HAKEEM: My album--
I leaked it online tonight.



We'll sue the drawers
off your black ass.

You need to get out!
Good luck.

An all-Latina girl group,
that could be huge, man.

I'm not interested
in being a part of a group.

HAKEEM:
She crazy. I love her.

My heart is not
in this, Mom.

Empire's in my blood.

I'm praying that you'll forgive me.
I don't.

My name is Thurston Rawlings.

Miss Roxanne Ford plays dirty,

but I got no qualms
getting in the mud with her.

Bail is granted at $1 million.

This is a temporary setback
and nothing more.

Lucious Lyon is an arrogant,
manipulative sociopath



who believes he's above the law.

But I assure you,
he will be tried and convicted.

Ms. Ford, does the
state actually have

any concrete evidence?

There's a rumor you're
about to announce

your bid for Attorney General...

(reporters clamoring)
REPORTER: Lucious! Lucious!

Lucious! Lucious, right here.
Lucious!

Did you know
that Roxanne Ford

is running for
Attorney General?

Are you concerned
that she's trying

to build a campaign
on convicting you?

No, I'm absolutely flattered.

Um, let me know where
I can make a donation, Ms. Ford.

THIRSTY: Uh, we'll make
our case in court,

where my client's innocence
will be

proven beyond
a shadow of a doubt.

Now, for the sake of
America's musical entertainment,

Lucious Lyon has to get
back to work.

Ms. Ford made it
a condition of your bail

that you're not allowed
back into Empire.

Will that be
a problem for you?

Well, that's just
a building.

I am the Empire.

(knocking continues)

Hakeem! Get your ass up.

You know you gotta be
on Sway in the morn...

(exhales)

Oh, great. Just great.

You know, the night
before Jamal had to do Sway,

he was in bed by 10:00 p.m.

You know why?

Because that is called
professionalism.

Well, I'm not Jamal.

Hakeem, where my chonies?

Obviously not.

(sighs)
Uh, Hakeem...

hooking up with
the lead singer

in your all-female group?

That is a Unsung episode
waiting to happen,

stupid.
I'm not his lead singer.

I'm my own person, thank you.

I'm not talking to you,
Guadalupe.

You need to find
your drawers.

HAKEEM: I think I seen
'em under the bed.

Anyway, Ma, how do I look?
I'm ready.

You look good, but your album
is out on the street

and your damn father's
out of prison.

Dad is out of jail?

I guess you missed that
while you was

up in here, livin' la vida loca.

Nobody scared of Lucious,

not when we got
this hot-ass album to promote.

Trust me, Ma,

between my album
and Mirage á Trois,

we gonna put Lyon Dynasty
on the map.

Hope so.

You shouldn't have
slept with that girl.

Come on here!
Don't forget.

Valentina Galindo.

I'm only a few hundred away
from 50,000 followers.

I'm-a give you a shout-out, baby.
COOKIE: Hakeem!

LUCIOUS:
No, her making it impossible

for me to enter my house

is more than her trying
to piss me off.

She's up to something.

THIRSTY: Yeah, well,
it's my understanding

Lady Ford claims she might
have to subpoena employees.

She don't want you exerting
any undue influence.

And that freaky judge made it an
additional condition of bail.

So wait a minute.
I go in here, I go to jail.

You walk in there, you
get locked up. Period.

Dad, look.

You can't stop a king
from speaking to his subjects.

Blasphemy. I'm a god.

(crowd cheering)

Today is the beginning of
a new era for the Empire.

A few months ago, we went public
for one very good reason.

That was so that we can
raise enough capital

to take over the music
business worldwide.

Mark this day on your calendar,

because today is the day
that Lucious Lyon told you

that soon the world will not be
able to utter the word "music"

without mentioning the Empire.

To the Empire!

CROWD:
To the Empire!

♪ 'Bout to blow, 'bout to blow ♪

♪ I'm 'bout to blow,
blow, blow ♪

♪ I'm 'bout to blow ♪

♪ I'm 'bout to blow,
blow, blow ♪

♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪

♪ Had my eyes on the throne
since I came to this Earth ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Greatness I'm destined for ♪

♪ More than the universe ♪

♪ I'm a king, boss ♪

♪ Rule everything I survey,
know my worth ♪

♪ Put in work ♪

♪ Work, work ♪
♪ Twenty-four, seven ♪

♪ I run the turf
like a running back ♪

♪ Hand me the ball
and I ran it back ♪

♪ Scored every time
like I'm in the sack ♪

♪ I run the team,
call me quarterback ♪

♪ I ain't come from the bottom
but still had to grind for it ♪

♪ Oh ♪
♪ Grind for it, grind for it ♪

♪ Pop plotted on me,
but Mama she ride for me ♪

♪ Tell 'em, Tim ♪
♪ Hey! So we 'bout to blow ♪

♪ We 'bout to blow,
blow, blow, blow, blow ♪

♪ Say we 'bout to blow,
say you 'bout to blow ♪

♪ Blow, blow, blow, blow,
blow, blow ♪

♪ Blow, blow, blow,
blow, blow, blow ♪

♪ We 'bout to blow. ♪
Yes!

(whoops)

Hakeem Lyon.

Bold move,
the way you busted

out of Empire like that.

What did your pops
have to say about it?

Yo, Sway, you gonna
have to ask him, brah.

THIRSTY:
Yeah, hello?

A'ight, just give
me a sec.

Hey, I got Sway on
the phone for you.

He's on air
right now, so...

LUCIOUS:
No, give me the phone.

Wait, but, Dad...
Yo.

My man Sway, what's up?

I guess you got the exclusive
on my first day out, huh?

It's a consolation prize,
Lucious.

Why you didn't give me
the exclusive on "Snitch Bitch"?

No, no, no, it ain't like that.

He won a bet, baby.

SWAY:
Too bad, my man.

So I'm sitting
with your son,

and we're talking about

how he's following
the same footsteps

as Azealia Banks and Lil Wayne

by leaking his album.

You know, I always said

that boy got a lot
of growing up to do.

I guess I was right, huh?

All right, I'll catch you later.

Whoa, man.

It seem like your daddy
don't sound too happy

about you leaking your album.

You know why he ain't stop me?
Why?

'Cause he was in prison.

SWAY (laughing):
Ooh, damn, bro.

That's cold-blooded.

You know, fact is, I'm about
to run circles around him.

From what I heard,

Lyon Dynasty is just
former Empire artists.

I mean, y'all got V,
you got Tiana, you got you,

but we ain't heard
nothing new yet.

Well, I do got this girl group
I'm producing right now.

Mm-hmm.
Called Mirage á Trois.

Mirage á Trois.

HAKEEM:
Mirage á Trois, Sway.

You know, it's three
girls I handpicked.

They're Latina, they're
sexy, they're cute.

You know, you're
not gonna hear

a sound like this
at Empire, so...

Well, you gonna
bring that exclusive

to Sway in the Morning?

You could bring 'em
up this week.

This week?

This week.

(quietly):
No. No.

No.

Fo' sho' and some mo', Sway.
Ah!

That's what I'm talking about.
My man Hakeem.

Hakeem Lyon, y'all.

You must be relieved,
Jamal, that Lucious is out.

Yeah, I'm excited.

I'm excited to get
back in the studio.

We're talking about a tour.

He set me up
with a really good producer.

COOKIE:
Oh.

So Lucious isn't
working with you.

I just assumed

as soon as he got out of prison,

you'd be his top priority.

I am.

But he just got out, so...
Empire business.

So why'd Dad ask us here, Jamal?

So he can kill
us all together,

instead of having to do it
one at a time?

Same reason why we're all here.

To keep our enemies close.

JAMAL:
I actually think

that he just wants to see his
family on the first night back.

Jamal's actually right.

I want you guys to eat,

drink and be merry,
for tomorrow, we war.

Why aren't you eating?

Did you poison us or something?

Nah, that'd be too easy.

I know I was only gone
for a few months, but it gave me

a whole lot of time to think
about a whole lot of things.

Like my wonderful family

and how y'all all
banded together

to try and destroy me.

Dad, I told you, I'm sorry.

Andre, don't apologize.

I'm not sorry.

Not yet, but you will be.

Unless...

Unless what?

You dismantle this little
Lyon Dynasty you got.

And everything will be forgiven.

From the
leaked album to

the hostile takeover...
to your pillow.

So you're just gonna
forget everything?

You and me, we done
been through a whole lot.

But at the end of the day,
we are family.

And I want my family together,

and if I can have that,
I'll let go of everything else.

COOKIE:
Hmm.

No, Lucious.

I doubt if Jesus Christ
himself could save you

without burning his hands,
but I'm gonna save my sons.

I'm gonna
build something

very nice for them.

So... I really don't care
what you do with Empire.

Three of y'all are here
'cause y'all failed.

Miserably.

My ex-wife, my ex-CFO,

my ex-son who wants
to be a rap star,

working with my ex-wannabe-girl

and with some of
my ex-artists?

Ain't nobody scared
of you though.

We working on
a new project, right?

What, that little girl group
y'all cooking up?

Yep. You gonna bet the
whole farm on that?

Tell that to Berry Gordy
and the Supremes.

They wish they were me.

I'm giving y'all
one last chance,

because y'all are my family.

I know y'all can't
eat without me,

'cause all y'all got
is pride.

And it's chewy
and it's hard to swallow.

Let it go.

I don't know
what happened to you

when you were locked up,

but you got me twisted, O.G.

I'm always gonna eat.

Just not with you.

Oh, my...

♪ Miss boss lady ♪

♪ Like a boss, boss, boss,
boss, boss, boss, boss ♪

♪ Like a boss,
boss, boss, boss ♪

♪ Boss lady run it, run it,
boss lady run it, like a boss. ♪

Surprise, surprise, surprise.

I didn't think
you would show up.

I was curious.

What could you possibly
want from me?

Look, if you wanted
a go at my boy,

you should've asked me.

I'd-a let it happen.

I want the best for him.

Hakeem isn't my type,
but you had it coming, Lucious.

Was it worth it?

Called you here
because I need your help

with Lyon Dynasty.

Wow.

(chuckles)

After all you've done to me,

you actually think that
I would betray them for you?

You showed up.

See, I figured if you
showed up, that meant that

things must be pretty damn
bad for you over there.

I know Cookie, and
she doesn't forgive.

So... it must be
a living hell

every single second
you spend there.

Just like every second
I spend here with you?

Lyon Dynasty is gonna fail.

That's just the reality of it.

You and I, we've seen it
a million times.

So, let me... let me guess.

I do something dirty for you,
and you reward me?

You've always been
a little dirty.

Why not get a
reward for it?

Lyon Dynasty
has a chance, Lucious.

Hakeem is coming into
his own over there.

Hakeem is coming
back here.

Brothers, they already
talked about it.

So that's gonna
leave you and Cookie.

And how do you think
that plays out?

You've never
been stupid.

What'd you have in mind?

♪ Where you at?
Come get it, just do it ♪

♪ Do it, do it, do it, do it ♪
♪ Do it ♪

♪ Do it, do it, do it ♪
♪ Oh, oh ♪

♪ Do it, do it, do it, do it ♪

♪ Where you at... ♪

There's something wrong
with that hook.

I told you we're gonna
tighten up the verses,

then we gonna
come back to the hook.

I know, but I need to hear

the whole song
in my head, Hakeem.

So, please,

can we just do this my way once?

This ain't about your way!
(music stops)

I'm the producer;
let me produce!

I understand that,
but, see,

you went on Sway
and told them we have

a female group
coming out in three days.

And so now you done
put my name on the line.

So... ladies, can we do
the hook again, please?

Thank you.

Hmm.

Uh...

Valentina?

Oh, what? So now
you know my name?

Uh, bitch, sing the song before...
Mom!

I bet you would
show Jamal

a lot more trust than
you giving me right now.

Please?

Pretty?

There you go.

Hey.

(music resumes)

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Can we just be about it? ♪
♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Show me what you're gonna
do about it ♪

♪ Do it, do it, do it, shh ♪

♪ Shut your mouth and listen ♪

♪ Don't you know
what you be missin'? ♪

♪ I don't want to keep talkin' ♪

♪ Where you at?
Come get it, just do it ♪

♪ Know I like that danger ♪

♪ But I need a game changer... ♪

It's good, right?
It's good.

♪ Where you at?
Come get it, just do it... ♪

Now, all they got to do
is get that choreography,

and I'd say we got us
a gold mine.

♪ Where you at?
Come get it, just do it. ♪

(sighs)

WAITRESS:
Here you go, sir.

Thank you, sweetheart.

(chuckles)

So what brings you here?

Well, I, um...

I wanted to talk to you
about Apex Radio.

What about it?
Well, uh, you know,

I was exploring
a merger with them, but...

in truth, their management's
shaky, they're bleeding money.

I think it's the perfect time
to just acquire them wholesale.

And what would that mean
for Empire?

It means
200 urban radio stations.

If you purchase them,
Empire would control

almost all urban content
in broadcast radio.

That's huge, Pop.

And you can deliver this?

Yes, sir.

But I want to talk about
coming back in, Pop.

I'm sorry, Dre.

That's just not even
open for conversation.

I didn't do the hostile takeover
on my own, Pop, okay?

But I'm-I'm here.

I'm trying to take
responsibility like a man.

Nobody else is doing this.

You're a brilliant MBA.

But I could hire 50 other mugs
that can do exactly what you do.

You see, you would have
to bring me something

so unique,
something so incredible,

something that nobody else
could bring me.

Like what?

You name it, Pop. Like what?

Maybe you should pray on it.

(cell phone ringing)

It's your brother.

What's up, Mal?
JAMAL: Just got out of

the studio with this
last producer you sent.

How's that going?
JAMAL: Worse than the last one.

But, look, some girl
just barged in here

talking about
you were gonna sign her.

I don't even know who she is.

I'm on my way now.

I don't know. Security called,
said apparently she showed up

with a bunch of thugs
or something.

Freda-- that's the one
I've been telling you about.

She means everything to me,
musically.

No, you keep her there.

Sign her, Mal,
whatever it takes.

Yeah, a'ight.

Empire wants to
sign you, Freda.

And we're gonna hook you up
and make sure you have

a whole new
level of people.

Where's Lucious?

He's on his way,
but in the meantime,

he wanted you
to sign these.

BECKY:
For an unknown artist, girl,

this is really big.

It's gonna
change your life.

You don't know nothing
about my life.

Huh.

Where you from?

Brownsville?
So?

So, I grew up in Tilden Houses.

Lucious gave me a shot to
get out, and I took it.

When Lucious Lyon
believes in you....

So why he ain't here then?

Man, I can't even read
half these words.

He playing you, sis.

We are not.

This some bull, man.

Lucious Lyon ain't coming
to sign my ass outta no ghetto.

My daddy told me
don't trust him anyway.

Let's get it, yo.

(quietly):
Wow.

You see her evil little ass that
just walked up out of here?

My dad says musically
she's his everything.

The hell's that
supposed to leave me?

♪ If you really want it that
bad, you go on and get it ♪

♪ So I prolly
sing this song forever ♪

♪ Since a youngin,
I've been on, but never ♪

♪ Had the time to shine,
manipulated my grind ♪

♪ Told these haters I would
do it, like how I move it ♪

♪ They love the focus
and love the way I pursue it ♪

♪ Had to do my own thing... ♪

LUCIOUS:
See that?

(music stops)

How could you
let her go?

All right, look, she's dope,
but I didn't have a choice.

Keem would've signed her.

I-I swear, Mal,
don't make me regret

putting you in the
position I did.

You put me in this position
because I'm an artist--

a real one--
because of my music.

And I held everything down
when you were inside.

I kept everything afloat.
I didn't say anything.

Now you gonna
jump down my throat

because I couldn't sign
some random hood rat.

"Hood rat"?

(chuckles softly)

I was gonna revive an entire
label off of that hood rat.

Yeah, well,
you didn't tell me that.

Which one?

Gutter Life Records.

It's a defunct label,

but they got that raw sound
that I've been looking for.

They wanted to take
Lucious Lyon to the gutter?

Well, I'm gonna show them
what the streets is about.

Lucious, I know where
the girl's at.

I mean, as counselor,

I would advise you not to go,

but you gonna do
what you want to do anyway.

It's that raggedy-ass park
off Dumont Avenue.

See? That's how we get
things done around here.

Look, son, I mean, if you
can't handle the streets,

it's okay, just work harder
at getting your brother back.

Can't handle these streets.
You know what?

With you sweating me
over Hakeem and Freda Gatz

and whoever else you want,
you're forgetting what I need,

both as your artist
and your son.

Dad, say what you want
about Cookie,

but she was always there
when I needed her.

Look, son, you want
some attention from me?

Accomplish what I set out
for you to accomplish, okay?

Come on, man.

(chuckles)

Let me guess.

Those five job offers
never happened?

Are your knees sore?
Did you run out of lubricant?

I get it, I get it.

You are the baddest
bitch ever.

You are badder than
all the animals

whose prints populate
your wardrobe, okay?

Girl, what do you want?

Lucious.

He still thinks
I work here.

At least that's what he said
when I met him this morning.

Oh, you spoke to Lucious?

He reached out to me
about a proposition.

I'm unemployed, so I figured,

why not?

Yeah, but Lucious
is not allowed at Empire,

so...

did you meet him at his house?

I met him at Laviticus,

where he is throwing
a very snazzy,

very large party
in honor of himself.

Mm-hmm.

Of course he is.

But what did he tell you
to make you slither your ass

all the way back to the ghetto?

He wants your music, Cookie.

He wants everything.

Every track
that Hakeem has done.

Tiana, Mirage à Trois, V.

Yeah, yeah, it's an old trick
called "jack your track."

He takes my music,
changes a couple of notes,

puts it out so that I can't
do anything with it.

(chuckles)

Speaking of tricks,
why are you telling me this?

Look.

I understand
how ugly this sounds,

but it is very important to me
to hurt Lucious.

I need it.

So I was hoping
that maybe you might...

if I...

(laughs)

All right.

Anika.

Tell me more about this party

Lucious is
throwing himself tonight.

♪ Ooh, no doubt about it ♪

♪ Mr. Worldwide ♪

♪ Ooh, no doubt about it ♪

♪ Reporting live ♪

♪ From the Empire,
Jamal, let's show 'em ♪

♪ How to get off the chain,
off the glass ♪

♪ Off the flip,
off the rip, let's ride ♪

♪ All we want is a party ♪

♪ Have some shots
with somebody ♪

♪ Take the music and turn it
all the way up ♪

♪ If you came here to party ♪

♪ And ain't no doubt about it ♪

♪ Say no doubt about it ♪

♪ Say ain't no doubt
about it ♪

♪ No, no, no, no, no,
no doubt about it ♪

♪ Hey ♪
♪ Ain't no doubt about it ♪

♪ Ooh, there ain't
no doubt about it ♪

♪ Goin' to the party,
goin' to the party ♪

♪ Who they gonna see?
Who they gonna see? ♪

♪ It's P-I-T
and your boy Jamal ♪

♪ Here we are in the heezy,
everybody say ♪

♪ Hey, oh, all right? ♪

♪ Everybody say,
hey, oh, all right? ♪

♪ Baby, if you ain't
on the dance floor ♪

♪ Then, baby, what you got
all that for? ♪

♪ Let me show you how we do it ♪

♪ Show her to the club
where the bad ones do it ♪

♪ Line up those shots,
throw 'em back, do it ♪

♪ Light it, throw it
in the air, do it ♪

♪ You want to take it off,
baby, do it ♪

♪ In this party,
ain't no social media ♪

♪ No camera phones,
so let's get it on ♪

♪ Ella dice que
no esta enamorada de mi ♪

♪ Pero le gusta
como yo le doy-- si ♪

♪ Mami, esta noche fiesta mañana
puedes ser honesta, Dale ♪

♪ Don't mean no harm ♪

♪ Please forgive me
if I'm causing you alarm ♪

♪ But the deejay, he just played
my favorite song ♪

♪ And you look like
you're ready, so come on ♪

♪ Baby, come on, hey ♪

♪ All we want is a party ♪

♪ Have some shots
with somebody ♪

♪ Take the music and turn it
all the way up ♪

♪ If you came here to party ♪

♪ And ain't no doubt about it ♪

♪ Say no doubt about it,
say ain't no doubt about it ♪

♪ Ain't no, no, no, no, no,
no doubt about it ♪

♪ Hey. ♪

(music stops)

MAN:
Yo, where the music at?

(music playing)

Yeah, that's right.

Welcome home, Lucious.

I wouldn't miss
this celebration

for the world.

Welcome home

from your loving family,

and especially from
your loving ex-wife Cookie.

Oh, and welcome to my very own

"Welcome to the World" party.

Oh, you know this next artist.

Yeah, see, he used to be
one of Empire's top rappers,

but he's coming
out of his father's shadow

to develop his own sound.

Give it up for the new label,
Lyon Dynasty,

and our number one artist,
Hakeem Lyon.

(crowd cheering)

(music playing)
♪ Bounce ♪

♪ I'm yelling "Empire's over" ♪

♪ Dynasty taking over ♪

♪ Got the game in my palms ♪

♪ 'Bout to shut down
the Carter ♪

♪ No more sitting on benches ♪

♪ Watching time keep ticking ♪

♪ Now I'm calling the plays ♪

♪ You can sit down and listen ♪

♪ Earned it all, nothing given ♪

♪ Though I grew up with riches ♪

♪ Tell little Mally I'm coming ♪

♪ You number one
on my hit list ♪

♪ I'm so ready for war ♪

♪ Brought my soldiers and all ♪

♪ You should call on the Lord ♪

♪ 'Cause you taking the fall ♪

♪ Now tell me what you gonna
do about that ♪

♪ I'm taking everything you own,
lay you on your back ♪

♪ Ready for whatever you coming
with, no sneak attack ♪

♪ I'm-a bury you so deep,
it ain't no coming back ♪

♪ You over like the Mack ♪

♪ I told you time and time again
that we the ones to beat ♪

♪ We uncontrollable,
you tamer than a dog on leash ♪

♪ Dynasty, we number one,
and we control the streets ♪

♪ Don't play no games
round here ♪

♪ We cookin' the beef ♪

♪ Don't talk about it,
we be about it ♪

♪ Got it on lock, we run it ♪

♪ On top while y'all flop ♪

♪ All know that we run it ♪

♪ Took your top spot ♪

♪ Don't be mad
'cause we run it ♪

♪ You had your time,
now it's my time to run it ♪

♪ Run it, run it ♪
♪ Run it, run it ♪

♪ Run it, run it,
run it, run it, run it ♪

♪ Yo ♪

♪ I just shut down the building
with that gold on my arm ♪

♪ I know she used to be yours,
but I took her to Mars ♪

♪ Yeah, I gave her
that feeling ♪

♪ I'm the youngest in charge ♪

♪ You couldn't stand up right ♪

♪ I'm the stand-up type ♪

♪ It is the Dynasty,
we take your roster ♪

♪ And we did it like a robbery ♪

♪ That new money, got it
stacking to the balcony ♪

♪ I'm the lion, you the cub,
ain't no topping me ♪

♪ Pause ♪
(imitates tires screeching)

♪ Don't talk about it,
we be about it ♪

♪ Got it on lock, we run it ♪
♪ Turn up ♪

♪ On top while y'all flop ♪

♪ All know that we run it ♪

♪ Took your top spot,
don't be mad 'cause we run it ♪

♪ You had your turn,
now it's my turn to run it ♪

♪ Run it, run it, run it ♪
♪ Run it, run it, run it... ♪

Hurry up, hurry
up, get the chip.

Make sure you
get that chip.

(clamoring)

Hurry up.
(music stops)

(microphone squeals, thumps)

Damn, Cookie, now
that's a move.

Yeah, you know, we need
to talk about Lyon Dynasty

doing a huge set at your New
Year's Eve special. Hmm. Yeah?

Hey, if you put it down
like you did tonight,

you can have your
own stage in Miami.

Bet.

(phones ringing)
Lyon Dynasty, please hold.

Lyon Dynasty,
please hold.

You know a girl had to
make a grand entrance.

Can I get you
to sign this please?

Everybody, shut up!

Cookie can't have
everybody talking at once!

Say that again, Sway.
It's crazy here, baby.

I said Lyon Dynasty
came out the gates

blazin' last night,

bum-rushing the stage
like KRS did PM Dawn.

The Bridge is over.

The Bridge is over.
(scats, laughs)

Yeah, you see, we bringing
that real hip-hop back.

See, that's what
the Lyon Dynasty's all about.

I don't know what to tell you guys.
(girls arguing)

Listen. No, no, no, listen.
We already spoke about it!

MALA: You can't just take
my solo without talking to me.

Who said they're
your solos?

Ugh, I'm so sick of
your mouth, girl!

VALENTINA:
You couldn't find a C major

if it was right in between
your legs, which it ain't.

CARMEN:
Oh, my God.

(arguing continues)

Wow.
What do you want?

I'm just here to see Mom.

How's it going?

We're on Sway in two days.
You sure you want to risk that?

With Dad coming for you the
way that he is? Bring it.

COOKIE: Well, you can always
come back here with us, Dre.

Empire's where I belong, Mom.

That company's part of me.

But more importantly,

I have a vision for Empire.

Now, I want it to be something
that I would be proud...

to leave my own... child.

That's what I was
trying to do here, Dre.

You and Rhonda?

Yeah.

(gasps)

(laughs)

Oh, my God!

Oh, Dre.
Thank you.

So, um...

Did you tell Lucious?

No.

Why would I do that, Mom?

Uh, Dre, you just
answered your own wish.

Lucious wants the
same thing you do.

That's why he's
so hell-bent

about getting Hakeem
back over there.

He wants his own legacy.

And nothing says legacy
like a grandchild.

You saw how he
acted with Lola.

He about melted
with that little girl.

I can't.

And I won't use my unborn child

as leverage with him
or anybody else.

I won't do it. No.

Listen to me, boy.

All I'm saying is,
sometimes,

you got to pull at those
heartstrings to get paid.

Ain't nothing
wrong with that.

(chuckles)

Think about it.

Okay.

(footsteps approaching)

I'll tell you one thing, son,
you sure are persistent.

I hope you got something
better than last time.

(sighs)

I do have news.

And I wanted to share it
with you face-to-face.

Rhonda's pregnant.

You're gonna be a grandfather.

For real?

(chuckles):
Yeah.

Aren't you worried?

About what?

The child's mental health.

Bipolar doesn't run
in our family, Dad.

There's nothing
to worry about.

LEAH: Dwight, baby,
did you really think

I'd forget your birthday?

DWIGHT: But my birthday's
not till next month.

LEAH: We're gonna
celebrate it now.

Look at all this stuff.

(plays note, laughs)

(chuckles softly)

A heir? A grandson?

Yes, sir, that's right.
That's right, Pop.

(laughs)
And with this child,

everything, a new path
is becoming clear.

I got feeling about
a second phase for Empire.

(laughs)

Always wanted a grandson.

(laughs)

That's good, 'cause
you're gonna get one.

Congratulations.

But I swear to you,
you are breaking my heart,

the fact that you are
using this right now...

to get what you want from me.

I'm not using this, Pop.

I'm just letting you know

that there's more at
stake than just me now.

Pop, there's more at stake
than just me, you hear me?

I need this. There's more
at stake than just me.

Yeah.

You give Rhonda my love, okay?

(playing slow, haunting tune)

DWIGHT:
We need to eat, Mama.

We need to eat.

And we can't eat until
we take all this stuff back.

DWIGHT: ♪ La, la, la,
la, la, la, la, la, la, la ♪

♪ La, la, la, la, la,
la-la, la-la, la ♪

(indistinct singing echoes)

FREDA: ♪ School days, free
lunch line, you behind you ♪

♪ Some of the wackest dudes,
I spy, too ♪

♪ I'm the realest here,
the trillest, yeah ♪

♪ I heard the street say
you a ghost ♪

♪ 'Cause your heart
we know was never there ♪

♪ You got me feeling like ♪

♪ I done had enough now ♪

♪ No time to cluck round ♪

♪ I make these chickens
duck down, one up ♪

♪ You say you a shooter,
then pick your gun up ♪

♪ I'm here, boy,
20/20, I'm clear, boy ♪

♪ More chicken
than magic Monday ♪

♪ Make a hater disappear, boy ♪

♪ I swear, boy, you ain't
nowhere in my vertical ♪

♪ Serving who?
Hell, you mean, boy? ♪

She's good.
♪ We never heard of you ♪

♪ Freda been about that ♪

♪ Ask your chick about that. ♪

(crowd cheering)

♪ Yo, came from the projects,
wanting more ♪

♪ All-nighters trappin'
in front of the corner store ♪

♪ Bitch, you's irrelevant,
you don't even matter ♪

♪ I splatter your brains like
them cats did "Stank" Gathers. ♪

(crowd cheering)

That's how these females get,
man-- weak.

What, you gonna cry now?

Hold up! Baby!

(gunfire, crowd screaming)

Let me go!

Stop! Come on.

Your father didn't
want this for you.

You've got something, and it
don't come around every day.

But, baby, you got it. Let me
help you do something with it.

Mr. Lyons, now, unless
you like prison, we got to go.

FREDA:
My daddy was a crazy man,

and you don't know a damn thing about that.
I promise you I do.

No. You know we gonna run
on these fools, Fre!

Baby, don't do something that
you can't come back from.

MAN:
Come on, Fre.

Let me help you.

MAN: Come on, Fre.
(sirens wailing in distance)

We out!

(sirens approaching) THIRSTY:
Got to get you out of here.

I have to get you
out of here. Come on.

JAMAL:
I'm telling you,

it's this war
between my mom and dad.

It's killing everything,
especially the music.

I don't care.
Like hell.

After last night, I definitely
need a producer that fits me.

What was wrong
with this last producer, huh?

What's wrong with the guy
that crafted club bangers

for Ri-Ri, Nicki and Usher?

Too damn arrogant.
Arrogant?

Wasn't the last one
too nice though?

The one before that was...
too quirky.

The one before that
was too short,

and the one before that
was too tall.

Don't smirk at me like I don't
know what I'm talking about.

Lucious has been sending you
the top producers in the game,

and you are not even...

Ooh! (sighs) Forget it.

Why don't you just call her, yo?

I don't know
who "her" is.

"Her" is Cookie,
and you know it.

She's the only one that knows
how to deal with your moody ass.

I know that Cookie and Lucious
got beef right now,

but that ain't got nothing
to do with you.

Don't let that
be the reason,

'cause you need her.

And more importantly,
she loves you.

I want you to get some people

over to her house,
get her to me.

What the hell is...
What is this?

Why am I not surprised

to find you down here among the
bottom-feeders and criminals?

Have I broken any laws? No.

Not yet,
but the night is young.

Miss Ford,
this is borderline harassment

and a bit desperate
if you ask me.

Look, don't say another word.

No, I'm starting to think

Miss Ford is a little sweet
on Lucious.

Look, why don't you
come by and, uh,

we'll take care of all this
tension we've been building up.

Your client is
on very thin ice, Counselor.

Then I imagine
you are, too,

seeing as you're standing
right next to him.

(Lucious laughs)

You're never gonna find
Vernon Turner.

We've got him hidden far away.

Then why are you here?

Apparently, he must
not be cooperating.

Your case is stalled.

I want you to know this.

As long as this case is open,
I have a license to dig.

A murder rap...

is only the beginning
of what I have planned for you.

(scoffs)

Let's go.

Wait till you see what I got
planned for you, Miss Ford.

You're gonna like it.

(music playing)
COOKIE: Five, six,

seven, eight
and walk, walk.

Walk! I need attitude!

Uh-uh, uh-uh!
She off.

Stop. Do it again.
Do you want to be here?!

More attitude, more attitude!

Do we know
what we doing here?!

Five, six, seven, eight!

Come on, let's go, ladies.

Oh, oh. Okay.

Put your back into it.

Up, up, ladies. Knees up.

Up! Yes, that's right, ladies.
Up, up, up.

Higher! High...
Porsha, stop with all of that!

I'm just making sure
you ain't going soft.

Well, wait!
Somebody's off.

Stop. Stop.
Drop, give me 20.

(whistle blows,
cane tapping on floor)

No, not those push-ups.

Knees up, ladies.

I want push-ups
with your knees up!

You ain't no punk.

Yes. Y'all...

Y-You're not in sync.

I'm not doing
this right now.

I'm a singer.
I'm not a soldier.

(chuckles)

You think just 'cause
you slept with my son

that you don't have
to work for it?

It's not like
that with Hakeem.

I worked my ass
off to get here,

and I don't need to
sleep with anybody

to get to where
I want to be.

Prove it, because that's not
what the rest of the world

is gonna say about you

if you don't knock this thing
out the park tomorrow.

Yes!

Less lip, more work.

See, y'all want fame,

but you don't want
to put in the work.

Everybody wants to be Beyoncé,

but you don't want
to put in the work!

♪ Do it, do it, do it, shh ♪
Let's go!

♪ Shut your mouth and listen ♪

Better. Better. ♪ Don't you
know what you be missin' ♪

♪ I don't want to keep talkin' ♪

♪ Where you at?
Come get it, just do it ♪

♪ Know I like that danger ♪

Uh-oh.
♪ But I need a game changer ♪

♪ Want it sooner than later ♪

♪ Where you at?
Come get it, just do it ♪

♪ Do it, do it, do it, do it ♪
♪ Do it ♪

♪ Do it, do it, do ♪
♪ Oh-oh ♪

♪ Do it, do it, do it, do it ♪

♪ Where you at? Come get
it, just do it ♪ Finally!

Finally! Yes!
♪ Do it, do it, do it, do it ♪

♪ Do it, do it, do, do
it, do it ♪ ♪ Oh-oh ♪

♪ Do it, do it, where you at?
Come get it, just do it... ♪

Damn, Mom. You really
whipped them in shape.

Where you learn this from?

Prison.
♪ Where you at, boy? ♪

♪ Where you at? Come get it, just do it.
♪ (whoops)

(faintly):
♪ Do it, do it, do it, do it ♪

♪ Do it, do it, do ♪
♪ Oh-oh ♪

♪ Do it, do it... ♪

How'd you know?

Don't get all paranoid.

I talked to Becky this morning.

I know.

I don't get why you
can forgive Hakeem,

but I can't have a
truce with Cookie.

Have you forgotten what your
mother's trying to do to me?

She's building a company
to deliberately hurt me.

She tried to take
Empire from me.

She tried to take it from you.

Yeah, but none of
that matters anymore.

It don't. You said it--
the music matters.

And it's got
to come out.

I'm telling you,
I'm on one, Dad,

but those producers that
you sent me, they...

I'm way past them.
Way past them.

But I do need someone.

I need... I need a Cookie.

No, that's where you're wrong.

You don't need nobody.

You're past Cookie.

Tell me how that is.

Look at where you've been, man.

You've gone through
dark corridors of humanity.

What woman's gonna
understand that

and relate it in your music?

What man can understand that?

You need a god
to produce you.

I'm gonna produce you.

Yo, I'm serious.
I'm on one.

You think I'm playing?

I'm talking about
straight to the top.

(laughs)

And I ain't playing second
fiddle to no Freda Gatz

or no Shucky Ducky,
quack, quack,

or whoever else you want
to bring on board. (laughs)

I'm serious, Dad.

Superstar status.

I think I know
something about that.

You're the one.

Thank you for pushing me.

♪ Drop that kitty down low,
pop that kitty down low ♪

♪ Drop that kitty down low ♪

♪ Hey, I know
you want it all... ♪

Where is this bitch?

Where the hell is Valentina?
They can't go on without her.

I'm checking on
her car right now.

She better get
her ass up here.

♪ I know you want it all ♪

♪ I'm giving you enough... ♪

What are you doing here?

Oh, the same thing
you were doing at my party.

Except when I
crash a venue,

I own it.

What are you talking
about, Lucious?

I bought Apex Radio.

Empire now has

a controlling interest in

every urban outlet

and in every major market
in the country.

Wait. Mom...
Hakeem.

Well, see, y'all keep acting
like y'all don't know me,

so y'all gonna have
to learn the hard way.

Now your artists
got to suffer.

COOKIE:
Lucious,

you can't do this.
No, I already did it.

And don't forget,
I invited your ungrateful ass

back into my Empire,
and you spit in my face.

Sorry I'm late. HAKEEM:
Forget it, girl.

My dad took hating to
a whole nother level.

He gonna cancel your performance
to get back at us.

LUCIOUS: (chuckles)
See how little he knows?

She's our next guest. What
do you mean, your next guest?

Oh, I signed her this morning.

I'm sorry, Hakeem.

LUCIOUS:
No. Baby, come here.

Don't you ever apologize
for making the right move.

You want be star, you need
a real label behind you.

Why don't you get in there

and shine, baby.

I'm gonna make your ass
pay for this.

Y'all know about this? SWAY: You
rockin' with Sway live on the radio,

and Valentina is here,
just like I promised y'all.

Hi.
All right, beautiful.

LUCIOUS:
Now, without radio,

your little label
dries up and dies.

So rest in peace, baby.

You keep forgetting, Lucious.

You can't keep Cookie down.

♪ I know that
when I step up in the room ♪

♪ All eyes is on me ♪

♪ I got that heat, that fire...
♪ Come on, Hakeem.

Huh, little baby lion cub?

♪ Round of applause
lead to standing ovations... ♪

Oh, well.

♪ Standing ovations lead
to selling out the stadiums ♪

♪ Radios on, now I'm heard
on every station ♪

♪ I'm what you waiting for,
now watch me take the nation. ♪