Empire (2015–…): Season 2, Episode 7 - True Love Never - full transcript
Lucious considers a partnership with Jago, the founder of a streaming music company; Andre must achieve a delicate balance between his new values and his career; Hakeem tries to turn Laura into a star.
Previously on Empire...
I wrote a song for you.
♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪
♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang... ♪
This is how playas
play to win!
That's what I'm
talking about.
You and k.d. lang,
y'all best friends now?
That song that you recorded
with your daddy,
think I could make it
sound better.
ANDRE:
Deputy Mayor Alvarez.
ALVAREZ:
Mr. Lyon, the city would love
to help you.
ANDRE:
I put a gun to my head
and I pulled the trigger.
He's testing you.
There's a purpose
to all of it.
You feelin' me?
No!
I'm sorry. I didn't
mean to come on to you.
You forgive me?
MAN: Get your
ass down, man!
Should've taken
the more famous brother.
Now let's talk.
COOKIE: Make me forget
about everything, Laz.
♪ I'm in my 14 carats ♪
♪ I'm 14 carat ♪
♪ Doin' it up like Midas ♪
♪ Mm ♪
♪ Now you say I got a touch... ♪
Oh, my God,
I have to go.
I have to go,
I have to go, I have to go.
I have to...
I have to... go.
The last time
I didn't show up to work,
my son turned my office
into a strip club.
(laughs)
Mmm, I'd like to
see you work it,
just for me.
Mmm.
I would love to dance for you.
But I got to go.
Mm-mm. Listen, babe.
You are a legit mogul.
All right?
You don't have to get out
of bed to run your dynasty.
♪ Let me show you
how proud I am to be yours... ♪
Yeah, and I'm sure Dr. Dre
kicked off Beats
from the comforts
of his king-sized.
Yeah, if life
could be that easy.
But I'm serious,
all right?
Have somebody bring
your laptop, (groans)
and I got you on
breakfast in bed.
Eggs...
You cook?
Yeah. Some eggs,
smoked salmon.
Yes.
Mm?
Some bacon?
Yes, we got bacon.
♪ Good for you, good for you ♪
(laughs)
♪ Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh. ♪
(giggles)
♪ ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Got your uniform ♪
♪ On already ♪
♪ On already, on already ♪
♪ So go and get you
in the shower, no water ♪
♪ Hard to stay dry
with ten thousand ♪
♪ All on your body, it's like
power ♪ (phone vibrating)
♪ Giving you energy to work ♪
♪ Work, work... ♪
COOKIE: Damn, that phone ringing
a little too much
for it to be a side jawn.
You got a wife you
ain't tell me about?
(chuckles)
No.
It's actually some chick
that I was going at
for a while.
And she was ignoring me.
Mm.
Playing it cool and whatnot.
Couple weeks ago, I'd have
been all over that text, but...
not anymore.
I'm down with that.
Yo, check this out.
What do you think of this?
Hmm?
Oh, it's a pretty good lineup.
Right?
That's yours?
Mm-hmm.
Hmm.
Yeah. I was thinking,
maybe we add a few
Lyon Dynasty artists to it.
Mm.
Where's your name?
It's the Heat 103
Summer Jam.
I'm just the promoter.
Right.
See, here's the thing.
I'm not "just" anything.
That's what
Lyon Dynasty needs.
Hmm.
I'm-a have my own summer jam.
Your own?
Yep.
It's gonna be like
a old-school cookout
with all of
Lyon Dynasty's artists,
whose names won't be
in some fine print
on the bottom
of some long-ass list.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
Oh. (chuckles)
And my name will be
in big, giant letters.
(laughs)
"Cookie's Cookout."
(laughs):
I love it.
You see what kind
of magic happens
when you stay in bed
with me for three days? Hmm?
Oh, really? So you just gonna
take all the credit?
No, I'm not gonna
take all the credit.
Mmm.
I'm gonna take
all the Cookie.
(laughs)
♪ Look, from the bottom
I started ♪
♪ So there's nothing
that you could say to me ♪
♪ I prodigal where I grew up ♪
♪ And this the newest slavery ♪
♪ People see you try hard, like
why you want to play with me? ♪
♪ I bring them heaters out,
somebody better pray for me ♪
♪ 'Cause all I know
is this money ♪
♪ I gotta have it ♪
♪ These suicidal thoughts
gettin' bad ♪
♪ I'm gettin' madder ♪
♪ Uh, they say
the good die young ♪
♪ I put the pedal to the metal,
hit the gas ♪
♪ Then I'm gone... ♪
Man, this is wack.
No, no, no,
you were right there!
Damn!
(music stops)
Do it again!
You can't keep running
from this.
I mean, what the hell
your daddy do to you?
What did yours do to you?
(sighs)
Freda...
look, this is your verse.
It's not about me.
And I saw you.
You were face-to-face
with the monster.
You don't run from it,
you embrace
and merge with the pain.
That's how you make
the record soar.
You got to merge
with that pain.
You know Huey Jarvis?
Duh.
Yeah, well,
I'm about to play this for him
later on today.
We might actually do it live
in his little
living room.
Stop playin', Lucious.
Little boys play, not me.
Do it again.
♪ ♪
♪ Look, from the bottom
I started ♪
♪ So there's nothing
that you could say to me ♪
♪ I prodigal where I grew up
and this the newest slavery ♪
♪ People see you try hard, like
why you want to play with me? ♪
♪ I bring them heaters out,
somebody better pray for me ♪
♪ 'Cause all I know is
this money, I gotta have it ♪
♪ These suicidal thoughts
gettin' bad ♪
♪ I'm gettin' madder ♪
♪ Uh, they say
the good die young ♪
♪ I put the pedal to the metal,
hit the gas, then I'm gone ♪
♪ Now I'm front line
at the court ♪
♪ And I'm 'bout to take a shot ♪
♪ I pull it up, cock it back,
let it fly ♪
♪ Now I'm watching
for the backboard ♪
♪ And when they say the world
is yours, I just let 'em know ♪
♪ That I'm just
tryin' to score, oh! ♪
♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom... ♪
Yes!
That's what I'm talking about!
Stick it, stick it!
Get 'em!
Let's double that up.
Do that
one more time.
♪ ♪
♪ They say heavy is the head
that wears a crown ♪
♪ They say heavy is
the head that wears a crown... ♪
(music stops)
(phone vibrating)
(sighs)
(door opens)
(chuckles)
You got a husband you
didn't tell me about?
No, I'm just kidding.
It's none of
my business.
No.
It's Jamal.
He wants my feedback
on a song.
What, and your
ex would have
a problem with that
or something?
A problem with my ex,
a problem with my other son,
a problem because we're
supposed to be in competition.
He's your son, Cookie.
That trumps everything.
You should text him back.
I'm gonna get dressed
and go get a paper.
Okay.
♪ They say heavy is the head
that wears a crown ♪
♪ They say heavy is
the head that wears a crown... ♪
♪ ♪
♪ They say heavy is the head
that wears a crown ♪
♪ Always used to think ♪
♪ That that was just
a damn excuse... ♪
That's real close, baby.
♪ 'Cause they couldn't
hold it down... ♪
You almost there.
Hey, baby boy.
(music stops)
You got something for me?
Yeah, I'm almost done.
No, we got three weeks
to drop this track
if it's gonna be eligible.
Dad, chill out, all right?
It's almost done.
All right, it's in your hands.
The hell you been, bro?
Don't worry about
where I've been.
Is that bitch upstairs?
That means
her little man-baby's
running around somewhere without
his mommy holding him down.
Fall back off the kid,
all right? I'm handling this.
You need to be handling
business, not booty.
We need to get paid.
We're gonna get paid ten times
more than what we asked.
All right?
Cookie's rolling out a big show.
She's gonna need to come to me
to secure the venue,
up the ticket sales, vendor
deposits, all that, right?
We're gonna get paid
on that first,
and then we're gonna hit her
for the protection, too.
Fall back.
You hear me?
Hey. Stop.
Where you going without me?
What's up?
I'm hungry,
that's what's up.
(chuckles)
We ate everything.
You ate everything.
Yeah.
(giggles)
Where's your paper?
Corner guy ran out.
So I'll get one at the diner
on 1st and A.
Okay.
Come on.
Got to feed you. Yeah,
that's right. Yes.
'Cause I know how you get
when you're hungry. (laughs)
Wow.
Sir Huey...
you got enough gold here
to rival
the pharaohs.
That's not
the be-all and end-all.
You're rich
in other ways.
Thank you.
That's easy for you to say.
You done won every award.
You've had a truckload
of nominations, man,
but you never took one home,
did you?
Is this gonna
be your year?
You tell me.
Maybe an invitation to one of
your Living Room sessions
might help my odds.
That's an old
wives' tale.
Really?
That's why everybody that's
played one of your sessions
in the last five years
have walked onstage
and accepted their award.
Yeah.
Let's see what you got.
Well, being in jail
put a fire in me.
Took me back
to where I came from.
It's still a work in progress.
LUCIOUS: ♪ From the bottom I got
up to the top of the pros ♪
♪ From the gutter to the shutter
trimmed out in gold ♪
♪ Life bless my soul,
God bless my mo ♪
♪ Nothin' less than the best
so the rest is old ♪
♪ It ain't about the pain ♪
♪ Tell 'em what's my name ♪
♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom,
bang, bang, bang, bang ♪
FREDA: ♪ Look,
from the bottom I started ♪
♪ So there's nothing
that you could say to me ♪
♪ I prodigal where I grew up
and this the newest slavery ♪
♪ People see you try hard... ♪
Who's the girl?
Freda Gatz.
One of my new discoveries.
♪ 'Cause all I know is
this money, I gotta have it... ♪
Lucious... you're
onto something.
So it's not there yet.
I'm still wanting to hear more--
feel more--
about that part of you
that you keep
locked up so tight.
You got to dig deeper.
(thunder rumbling)
♪ ♪
Hey, yo.
Make some noise.
Welcome to Lyon Dynasty, y'all.
(crowd cheering)
COOKIE: Welcome,
hip-hop bloggers!
Okay, so today we are
announcing the birth
of a new event that's
about to blow up
into one of hip-hop's
biggest jams.
And to give y'all a little
tasty taste, something small...
A little taste.
(laughs)
...make some noise
for Mirage á Trois.
Yes! Give it up for
the sexy ladies!
(crowd cheering)
♪ ♪
♪ We're sipping
bottomless mimosa ♪
♪ Pour me another dosa ♪
♪ It's 10:00 a.m., we partying ♪
♪ Still going, getting loco ♪
♪ That bottomless mimosa ♪
♪ My champagne supernova ♪
♪ It's 10:00 a.m., we partying ♪
♪ Come on,
let's have a toast to ♪
♪ All them girls
in they yoga pants ♪
♪ When I ain't even
been to bed ♪
♪ Let me go get you
another glass ♪
♪ Bottoms up, bottoms up,
go on, get your bottoms up ♪
♪ Welcome to breakfast,
you can call me Tiffany... ♪
Did you see that?
Carmen just ass-bumped Laura
out her spot.
Yeah, because
it's Carmen's spot.
You need to bump her up
to lead singer.
Carmen ain't got the pipes, Ma.
And Laura doesn't have
the personality.
She ain't a star, Hakeem.
♪ Feel like we're on a yacht ♪
♪ Sailing south of France ♪
♪ Maybe I drank too much... ♪
Make the switch.
♪ Oh, I can't find my friends ♪
♪ But you look good enough ♪
♪ Let's drink ♪
♪ Bottoms up, bottoms up ♪
♪ Go on, get your bottoms up. ♪
I love your
music, Lucious.
I really do, more
than life itself.
But these numbers...
The numbers don't tell
the whole story, Mimi.
Don't sugarcoat, Andre.
Let Mimi do
her song and dance,
and then
tell her what you got planned.
Well, stock
prices are 12%
below our projections
for the quarter.
Wall Street's skittish,
and our shareholders
are pissed.
Over to you.
Sing and dance, Andre.
Apart from the fact
that Empire's share price
has actually risen 12%
since my father's return,
this company's about to make its
biggest move since going public:
music streaming.
With market leaders
in our sites,
this move will make Empire
the dominant player
in the music industry, period.
Uh-huh. I like it so far.
I have a team
working in-house to develop
our own unique platform.
We'll be ready for beta testing
in four to six months.
That's too long.
And that's
a conservative estimate.
Why build when
you can buy?
Swiftstream-- it's number two
in the streaming marketplace.
It's ripe and ready
for a merger.
A merger?
Mm-hmm.
Pop, a merger means, what,
new board,
new corporate structure,
redundancies that lead
to layoffs.
Pop, it's reckless.
Hmm.
Set up a meeting
with Swiftstream.
I'd love to play some new music
for you in my office, Mimi.
Yes.
Meeting's adjourned.
Pop, uh...
I need to do some
due diligence with Swiftstream
before I set up a meeting.
My people already did.
A year ago, Jago Locke-- he's
the founder of Swiftstream--
he was being touted as
the next Zuckerberg.
But he got his
ass handed to him
because the other services
beat him to the punch.
He is a bit cagey, but
he's ready for a partner.
Obviously,
Mimi's got this
one under control.
Why don't you go see
your lady friend
down in the
mayor's office.
Freda Gatz has a small legal
issue we need to take care of.
What kind of legal issue?
Gang injunction.
That's not a small issue, Pop.
And you're not a small man, son.
I'm sure that's why
the deputy mayor
likes doing business with you.
After you.
Look, I need you
to teach her the basics:
makeup, hair,
how to walk, how to dress.
Okay, I'm sure
I could dress better, but...
Um, Laura, can you get me
a green tea
from the fridge, please?
Yeah, sure.
Okay, stop.
Think long legs.
Lead with your hips.
Imagine you're knocking down
everything in your path
and nothing can stop you.
Every move you make,
pretend somebody is
watching you,
trying to take your picture
or something.
That sounds awful.
Well, you better get used to it,
sweetie, 'cause eventually
you'll even want it to be true.
You all cute and stuff.
Thank you.
So... how do I look
from the back?
The same as from the front,
except badonk! (laughs)
I mean, what you
all nervous for?
It ain't like Laz ain't
seen it all before.
I'm not going to see Laz.
Word up, Cook!
Well, in that case, put another
notch of that lipstick on.
Age ain't nothing
but a number, girl!
(laughs)
You crazy.
Yes, my boss is a pimp!
Hi, baby.
Hey, Ma.
(laughs)
Look at you.
Look at you.
Outfit on fleek.
Please. This old thing?
I, um...
I didn't think
you would show up.
I probably shouldn't have,
but...
I have some very exciting news
to tell you.
Do tell.
All right, so you know,
um, Jamieson Hinthrop.
He's kind of been
mentoring me.
Yeah, I heard.
Well, he called
Huey Jarvis,
and Huey invited me to
perform "Heavy" on his next
Living Room session.
(gasps) Oh, my...
(laughs)
Jamal, that is huge!
Hey, waiter!
Get me a bottle of your most
expensive champagne, honey.
We got to celebrate!
I'm so proud of you, Jamal!
Ma, you know
that's all you though.
You completely flipped that song
and made it
ten times better.
You know what,
on second thought,
make it two bottles, honey.
I'm the bomb. (laughs)
You the bomb. You a'ight.
(laughs)
I missed you.
I miss you, too.
PRYCE:
Andre.
What are we doing here?
A reminder.
I wanted to kill myself.
Tried to do it right here,
in this very spot,
to punish my father.
And now he's trying
to bring you back
to that same dark place
where you were at,
when you nearly committed
that terrible sin.
That's why he wants me to see
the deputy mayor.
He wants to see me
fall back on my old ways.
Break my bond with God.
Would fulfilling
your father's venal task
advance your larger task
within Empire?
I'm working real hard, Reverend.
I feel like I-I've finally found
the balance between
my medication and my faith.
But if I stop either one,
Reverend,
I don't know what I'll do.
Andre, God has chosen you.
To be his warrior.
Sometimes,
warriors have to do
things on the battlefield
that would be...
repugnant in any other context.
What are you saying?
That I should sleep with her?
Sin of the flesh... no.
That's sacrosanct
and only for your wife.
But there are many other ways
to accomplish what you need.
♪ ♪
JAMAL (over earphones):
♪ They say heavy is the head ♪
♪ That wears a crown ♪
♪ Wears a crown ♪
♪ They say heavy is the head ♪
♪ That wears a crown ♪
♪ Ay... ♪
That's where
you should drop the bass.
Right there.
(slurring): Hell yeah. Mm-hmm.
And I'll drop it right
before I come back in.
Mm.
Cookie!
(laughs)
You know, um...
Lyon Dynasty's right around
the corner if you want to
lay something down.
Dad would be so pissed.
I don't even care.
Let's go.
Check, please!
(Jamal laughs)
Welcome to the Lyon
Dynasty, honey.
Okay.
Yes. I ain't mad
at you for this.
Wait, wait!
Come on!
It should be
♪ They say heav... ♪
Wait, wait, wait, let me
turn this thing on! Hold on.
♪ ♪
♪ It's like
this whole damn kingdom ♪
♪ Sitting on top of me now... ♪
It's almost there, baby.
You know what, do that drop one
more time, just one more time.
♪ Feels like
this whole damn kingdom ♪
♪ Sitting on top
of me now ♪
♪ Sitting on top of... ♪
Hey! Baby! Hi!
Hey, what you doing here
so early?
I'm rehearsing with Laura.
Wh-What are you doing, looking
all walk-of-shame and whatnot?
Ain't none of
your business, boy.
I-I was working.
Speaking of working,
did you promote Carmen
like I told you to?
HAKEEM: Mom, I have
it all under control.
Okay.
I'll show you when we're done.
All right.
Okay?
Okay. Well, listen here.
Them Three Amigas
better have it together.
If not, I'm gonna kick your ass.
I mean it!
Somebody in here?
No.
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Red and black J's ♪
♪ Looking like a ballplayer... ♪
He's going to want to
get you in the ring.
Hesitate like you're
afraid you might hurt him,
then get in there
and let him beat you.
♪ I'm the mayor of it ♪
♪ A young getter gettin',
givin' 'em the flavor lovin' ♪
♪ Every little bit
of that dope, boy... ♪
Jago.
It's Mimi.
I brought Mr. Lyon.
I'm not selling
if that's why you're here.
Well, I'm not buying,
I'm looking for a partner.
You box?
Look, I know I got
a couple years on you, son,
but trust me,
you don't want me in the ring.
They say sparring partners
make the best business partners.
Come on,
strap up.
Strap up.
That's a nice jacket.
Mm-hmm.
(laughs)
Go easy on him.
That's a deal.
All right.
Was that too hard?
I'm fine.
What you should be worried about
is how Beatflow's been
kicking your ass!
Our platform speed
is twice as fast.
They just got
a better marketing campaign.
Imagine what you could do
with Empire in your corner.
Talking about
a true heavyweight.
Now, would I get
the Lucious Lyon catalog?
Exclusively.
(both laugh)
Good. Good.
Those kids, they go
crazy for your music.
(grunting)
Me? I like your beats,
I just find your lyrics
kind of shallow.
(thunder rumbling)
(grunts)
Shallow that, punk ass.
You'll pay for that.
ALVAREZ:
Lifting a gang injunction.
That's no small feat, Mr. Lyon.
I know.
But you'd be serving justice
in this case.
Strictly justice.
I know what
I'd rather serve.
Raquel...
(giggles)
Please don't. Raquel.
Oh, I love that
game, Andre,
but I don't have
a lot of time.
Stop.
Stop.
You're married.
So are you.
Since when has that
been a problem?
Raquel, will you fix
this injunction for me or not?
Why should I?
My wife
and I, we, uh...
(chuckles)
We have enjoyed watching
some of our, uh, closed-door
bartering sessions.
ALVAREZ (over video): Yeah...
That's a good angle.
Bill de Blasio would
like that, wouldn't he?
What the hell?
Hell, indeed.
Unless you want the mayor
to get a full report
on how you conduct
your government business,
have that gang injunction
lifted by tomorrow.
(sighs)
♪ ♪
♪ I'm the real deal... ♪
(panting):
Oh, hey.
What are you doing home?
My father sent me to see
Deputy Mayor Alvarez today.
Oh.
(music stops)
And?
And I prayed.
I prayed for
the strength
to resist going back
to my old ways.
And here I am.
Yeah.
(moans)
(chuckles)
Okay?
Oh, yeah.
Did I hurt you?
No.
No?
Mm-mm.
No, baby, this is
what I've been praying for.
(moans)
♪ ♪
Now the hip.
Can I get some more looks?
Come on, now.
Why, of course.
Over the shoulder.
Remember what
Tiana showed you.
Come on, keep going.
(giggles)
Don't stop.
You was doing good.
Come on, baby,
give it to me.
♪ Make 'em all stop
when I come up in the spot... ♪
Why you stop?
♪ I'm the fire
you cannot extinguish ♪
♪ Like a genius,
yeah, that got a ring to it ♪
♪ They copying
'cause they seeing me do it... ♪
(music stops)
She was doing just fine
until you lurked in.
You are wasting your time.
But, see, you can't see that
because you're blinded
by the ass.
I ain't even
touched the girl.
(chuckles)
She must really
got you sprung then.
She ain't
got it, Keem.
Come on, we got to
get you on point.
(playing
"Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom")
I can't find them.
Can't find them.
I can't find them.
(grunts)
I can't...
I can't find them.
I can't find them.
Dwight, do you know what
Mommy did with her bullets?
(sighs)
(chuckles)
Where you been, man?
I'm dying trying
to find one sound.
Let's hear it.
Oh, hell no.
Ain't nobody hearing
this yet. (chuckles)
I understand, so...
just let me know
when you're ready.
(chuckles)
What's up?
I got some great news.
I'm playing Huey Jarvis's Living
Room session this weekend.
Hell nah.
Yup.
When did this happen?
Just last night.
Wow.
That's the best news
I've heard all day, man.
Right? Thanks, Dad.
(both laugh)
Come on, son.
No, no, it's your world, man.
Your world.
It's our world. Come on.
Yours.
(laughs)
(sighs)
♪ I don't go out much
unless you come through ♪
♪ Oh, I ♪
♪ I'm a tomboy,
put on a dress... ♪
What about Fort Greene?
No, it's too bougie.
Hmm. Huh?
Yeah, Cookie's Cookout
has got to stay hood.
Well, we could
try for Central Park,
but it's usually booked.
Already did Central Park.
Remember, Free Lucious?
Mm.
(whispers):
What you want?
(chuckles)
I'm thinking of somewhere
uptown, old school.
You know, like in Harlem.
Mm.
Yeah.
Yeah?
Ooh, I know
the perfect place.
What?
A spot called Rock Steady Park.
It's on the Upper West Side.
Yeah.
(chuckles)
Used to call it "The Goat."
Really?
Yeah.
Basketball courts there.
Show me.
Ooh, I like that.
It's on my list as available.
But...
But what?
That's in
Big Heavy's territory.
You're gonna have
to sit down with him.
Uh, no!
I'm not doing
business with him,
not after what he did
to my son. No.
There's got to be somebody
else-- it's New York.
Look, not if you want
Rock Steady Park.
Now, all I said was
you got to sit down with him.
Let him think he won.
He'll let his guard down, now,
and you'll get
your revenge later.
♪ You got mines,
but I gotta get yours... ♪
Hmm?
♪ Got my heart
and I'm coming for ya... ♪
Okay.
Yeah.
♪ Got me trapped, I'm in
handcuffs for your love. ♪
This is the last
thing you got to do.
Look, I know
you can do it.
You're gonna make people
stop and listen to you.
Uh-uh. This is crazy.
Look, everybody who
made it to the next level
had to do something
a little crazy.
That's what being a
superstar is all about.
(softly): ♪ Voz puede volar,
puede atravezar... ♪
Make them stop.
♪ Mi voz puede volar,
puede atravezar ♪
♪ Cualquier herida, cualquier
tiempo cualquier soledad ♪
♪ Sin que la pueda controlar ♪
♪ Toma forma de canción ♪
♪ Así es mi voz que sale ♪
♪ De mi corazón... ♪
(up-tempo music playing)
♪ Y volará, sin yo querer ♪
♪ Por los caminos más lejanos
por los sueños que soñé ♪
♪ Será reflejo del amor
de lo que me tocó vivir ♪
♪ Será la música de fondo
de lo mucho que sentí ♪
♪ Oye mi son ♪
♪ Mi viejo son ♪
♪ Tiene la clave ♪
♪ De cualquier generación ♪
♪ En el alma de mi gente ♪
♪ En el cuero del tambor ♪
♪ En las manos del congero,
en los piés del bailador ♪
♪ Yo viviré ♪
♪ Ahí estaré ♪
♪ Mientras pase una cumparsa
con mi rumba cantaré ♪
♪ Seré siempre lo que fuí ♪
♪ Con mi azúcar para tí ♪
♪ Yo viviré, yo viviré ♪
♪ Hey, hey. ♪
(crowd cheering)
(speaks indistinctly)
(cheering continues)
Jago, my love,
got to hear us out.
Nurse! LUCIOUS:
Now, wait a minute.
Now, I told you I didn't
want to get in the ring
with you in the first place,
and now you got
a morphine drip.
Now, what you said to me
about my music today,
that pissed me the hell off.
But only because
it was true.
You made me dig deeper.
And as a result of you,
I wrote a beautiful song.
Mm-hmm.
Good. I look forward
to my royalty checks.
LUCIOUS:
We're in this together.
You need this deal
as badly as I do.
And you and me,
we're gonna make great partners.
I mean, great partners.
The greatest of all time.
You and me, partners?
Empire, Swiftstream,
merged.
We will dominate the industry.
(slurring):
Dominate.
(chuckles)
Now, with
your permission,
Mimi's going to call
your attorney,
and you're gonna tell him
to draft an agreement
for a merger between
Swiftstream and Empire.
Yeah.
(line ringing)
Hey, Max.
Max, I need you
to draw up a...
(whispers):
Contract.
Contract.
♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪
♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang. ♪
So, you run
Rock Steady Park, too, huh?
Yeah, figures.
You gonna get my money
one way or the other, huh?
(Big Heavy laughs)
I don't want
nothing from you, bitch.
You're the one
wants something from me.
Yo, you better relax.
I told you
on the phone,
the only reason
we're here in peace
is to make a deal.
I'll pay for your protection.
But I'm only gonna
give you a small
percentage of
my vendors costs.
Say, what?
LAZ:
Hey, yo, easy. Easy!
You need to get your boys.
Yo, ease up.
COOKIE:
Hakeem, come here.
Let me tell you
what's going on.
You ain't explaining anything,
'cause you ain't giving it
to this bald-headed ass.
I'm an equal partner
in Lyon Dynasty.
Anything needs
to be negotiated...
I'm the one to negotiate it.
And you're in
my negotiating chair.
(chuckles)
It's okay.
Okay.
So... what percentage
we talking about?
As I see it, we only need
to start with the perimeter.
Bump that.
We do all or nothing.
LAZ: No, the kid's right.
City ordinance states
we must have bonded security
on the inside.
What he said.
He's right.
(sighs)
A'ight.
That'll be reflected in my fee.
But I still take 15
off the top.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Is that all right with you?
(clicks tongue, sighs)
You did good.
I'm proud of you, boy.
So maybe you'll stop forgetting
I'm your partner, Mom,
and let me make
my own decisions.
What you talking about?
What, little
Carmen Miranda, huh?
Yeah, you better be making
decisions with your head
and not with
your you-know-what.
What, like you?
I know about you
and pretty boy.
Shut up, boy.
I know what I'm doing.
I've been doing it
longer than you.
Well, I don't trust him.
You don't know him.
I'm just saying, Ma.
Just be careful.
♪ ♪
All hail the king.
♪ They say heavy is the head
that wears a crown ♪
♪ Wears a crown ♪
♪ They say heavy is the head
that wears a crown ♪
♪ Hey, they say heavy is
the head that wears a crown ♪
♪ Always used to think that
that was just a damn excuse ♪
♪ Something that the weak say ♪
♪ 'Cause they couldn't
hold it down ♪
♪ But now that I wear it,
I know that to be true ♪
♪ No complaining, no ♪
♪ Daddy raised a soldier
whether he knew it or not ♪
♪ He supplied the pain, I put it
in the music, made it hot ♪
♪ Strong back,
strong shoulders ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm holding up a lot ♪
♪ I'm underneath this
supporting ♪
♪ Same time I'm at the top ♪
♪ And I refuse to let
my people down... ♪
Man, that is a song.
That's better
than "Uproar."
Yeah, I've been
working with him.
Man, you elevated
his sound
to another level.
♪ Not just the crown ♪
♪ Feeling like this
whole damn kingdom's sitting ♪
♪ On top of me, yeah ♪
♪ Sitting on top of me ♪
♪ Sitting on top of me ♪
♪ S-Sitting on top of me ♪
♪ Sitting on top of me ♪
♪ Feeling like
this whole damn kingdom's ♪
♪ Sitting on top of me. ♪
(objects clattering)
(bullet clinks on floor)
Let's go, ladies!
♪ Bottoms up, bottoms up ♪
♪ Go on, get your bottoms up ♪
♪ We're sipping
bottomless mimosa ♪
♪ Pour me another dosa ♪
♪ It's 10:00 a.m., we partying ♪
♪ Still going, getting loca ♪
♪ That bottomless mimosa ♪
♪ My champagne supernova ♪
♪ It's 10:00 a.m., we partying ♪
♪ Come on,
let's have a toast to ♪
♪ All them girls
in they yoga pants ♪
♪ When I ain't even
been to bed ♪
♪ Let me go get you
another glass ♪
♪ Bottoms up, bottoms up ♪
♪ Go on, get your bottoms up. ♪
♪ Girl, you know you bad,
huh, huh ♪
♪ I wanna be next to you... ♪
I brought you a present.
Is it my birthday?
Oh, damn, it's Christmas.
(chuckles) You got
a little freak in you.
(chuckles)
I love you, too.
And so does Jago Locke.
He wants to be in
business with you.
Get the hell out of here.
It's done.
Ooh.
I love Mimi.
Come on.
Oh, where we going?
(Mimi laughing,
Lucious chattering)
♪ I know you've been
waiting for me... ♪
I... would like
baby girl in the green.
MIMI:
Mm-hmm. That's April.
Spring is in the air.
Mm-hmm. (chuckles)
Well, I'm gonna
fight you for her.
Oh, no, we don't fight.
We are partners.
We share.
♪ ♪
LUCIOUS:
Time to make the donuts.
(both laugh)
I like doing business
with you.
(laughs)
You're just saying that so
that I let you go first, huh?
LUCIOUS:
Mmm.
(phone vibrating)
(sighs)
(groans)
I got to take it.
I'm sorry, I
got to take it.
MIMI:
Please don't say that to me.
It's just all taking
a little longer than expected.
How can you say that?
Have you...?
(whispering): Is that the wifey
or the girlfriend?
Baby... Hey, no, no, gimme,
gimme-gimme-gimme, gimme that.
Hey. Hey, whoever
the hell this is,
you need to know that if
you gonna deal with Mimi,
you gonna treat her
with the love and respect
that she deserve, or you gonna
have to deal with me,
and I'm Lucious
Lyon, you got that?
Huh?!
Hello?
Babe...
Look, Mimi, Mimi,
I'm sorry.
But I promise you,
whatever's going on,
it's gonna be all right.
And whoever she is,
she needs to know
that she's lucky
to have you.
But right now, baby,
we got the springtime.
Come on, let's not
lose it, okay?
♪ ♪
(both laugh)
♪ Call me by my name, oh ♪
♪ Tell me that it's my game ♪
♪ Roll me out your dice back ♪
♪ Back into my favor... ♪
Baby.
Mm-hmm.
Y'all might want to
get started without me.
I'm gonna be a while.
(chuckling)
♪ Let me see your valor, hey ♪
♪ Left turn,
no right turn, you ♪
♪ You could be my U-turn. ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
Boom.
Boom.
No!
Boom.
Boom.
It's 4:00 in the morning.
I got it. I figured out
what the song was missing.
You're about to become
a part of my life story.
♪ ♪
♪ Boom ♪
(gun clicking rhythmically)
(grunts)
♪ Boom, boom ♪
♪ Boom ♪
♪ Boom, boom, boom... ♪
♪ Y'all want some ♪
♪ Come get some ♪
♪ Y'all want some ♪
♪ Come get some ♪
♪ Y'all want some ♪
♪ Come get some ♪
♪ Y'all want some! ♪
♪ If you ever been through it ♪
♪ Then I'm knowing
you got a feelin' ♪
♪ You witness in the struggle ♪
♪ From the realest,
what the deal is ♪
♪ They tried to lock me down,
but they created a monster ♪
♪ I'm beating down your block
and nobody can stop us ♪
♪ You was over there
talking all kinds of tough ♪
♪ While you sipping on
your little bitty pick-me-up ♪
♪ Well, you say you like
to play a little fisticuffs ♪
♪ So when the whistle puffs,
I'm gonna call your bluff ♪
♪ Words from a wise man,
never let 'em see your hand ♪
♪ In the end, I bet
they all gon' understand ♪
♪ You can't stop
what you can't see ♪
♪ Standing here is only me ♪
♪ So place your bet
and go prepare for your defeat ♪
♪ I told the new jack to set,
kid, guard your check ♪
♪ There's a brother over there
wanna bounce your neck ♪
♪ Ain't you 'fraid of that? ♪
♪ 'Fraid of that ♪
♪ Watch you fade to black ♪
♪ Fade to black ♪
♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪
(gun clicking rhythmically)
♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang ♪
(rhythmic gunshots)
And he goes...
♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪
♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang ♪
♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom... ♪
History in the making, Freda.
History.
Captioned by
Media Access Group at WGBH
Yeah.
I wrote a song for you.
♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪
♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang... ♪
This is how playas
play to win!
That's what I'm
talking about.
You and k.d. lang,
y'all best friends now?
That song that you recorded
with your daddy,
think I could make it
sound better.
ANDRE:
Deputy Mayor Alvarez.
ALVAREZ:
Mr. Lyon, the city would love
to help you.
ANDRE:
I put a gun to my head
and I pulled the trigger.
He's testing you.
There's a purpose
to all of it.
You feelin' me?
No!
I'm sorry. I didn't
mean to come on to you.
You forgive me?
MAN: Get your
ass down, man!
Should've taken
the more famous brother.
Now let's talk.
COOKIE: Make me forget
about everything, Laz.
♪ I'm in my 14 carats ♪
♪ I'm 14 carat ♪
♪ Doin' it up like Midas ♪
♪ Mm ♪
♪ Now you say I got a touch... ♪
Oh, my God,
I have to go.
I have to go,
I have to go, I have to go.
I have to...
I have to... go.
The last time
I didn't show up to work,
my son turned my office
into a strip club.
(laughs)
Mmm, I'd like to
see you work it,
just for me.
Mmm.
I would love to dance for you.
But I got to go.
Mm-mm. Listen, babe.
You are a legit mogul.
All right?
You don't have to get out
of bed to run your dynasty.
♪ Let me show you
how proud I am to be yours... ♪
Yeah, and I'm sure Dr. Dre
kicked off Beats
from the comforts
of his king-sized.
Yeah, if life
could be that easy.
But I'm serious,
all right?
Have somebody bring
your laptop, (groans)
and I got you on
breakfast in bed.
Eggs...
You cook?
Yeah. Some eggs,
smoked salmon.
Yes.
Mm?
Some bacon?
Yes, we got bacon.
♪ Good for you, good for you ♪
(laughs)
♪ Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh. ♪
(giggles)
♪ ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Got your uniform ♪
♪ On already ♪
♪ On already, on already ♪
♪ So go and get you
in the shower, no water ♪
♪ Hard to stay dry
with ten thousand ♪
♪ All on your body, it's like
power ♪ (phone vibrating)
♪ Giving you energy to work ♪
♪ Work, work... ♪
COOKIE: Damn, that phone ringing
a little too much
for it to be a side jawn.
You got a wife you
ain't tell me about?
(chuckles)
No.
It's actually some chick
that I was going at
for a while.
And she was ignoring me.
Mm.
Playing it cool and whatnot.
Couple weeks ago, I'd have
been all over that text, but...
not anymore.
I'm down with that.
Yo, check this out.
What do you think of this?
Hmm?
Oh, it's a pretty good lineup.
Right?
That's yours?
Mm-hmm.
Hmm.
Yeah. I was thinking,
maybe we add a few
Lyon Dynasty artists to it.
Mm.
Where's your name?
It's the Heat 103
Summer Jam.
I'm just the promoter.
Right.
See, here's the thing.
I'm not "just" anything.
That's what
Lyon Dynasty needs.
Hmm.
I'm-a have my own summer jam.
Your own?
Yep.
It's gonna be like
a old-school cookout
with all of
Lyon Dynasty's artists,
whose names won't be
in some fine print
on the bottom
of some long-ass list.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
Oh. (chuckles)
And my name will be
in big, giant letters.
(laughs)
"Cookie's Cookout."
(laughs):
I love it.
You see what kind
of magic happens
when you stay in bed
with me for three days? Hmm?
Oh, really? So you just gonna
take all the credit?
No, I'm not gonna
take all the credit.
Mmm.
I'm gonna take
all the Cookie.
(laughs)
♪ Look, from the bottom
I started ♪
♪ So there's nothing
that you could say to me ♪
♪ I prodigal where I grew up ♪
♪ And this the newest slavery ♪
♪ People see you try hard, like
why you want to play with me? ♪
♪ I bring them heaters out,
somebody better pray for me ♪
♪ 'Cause all I know
is this money ♪
♪ I gotta have it ♪
♪ These suicidal thoughts
gettin' bad ♪
♪ I'm gettin' madder ♪
♪ Uh, they say
the good die young ♪
♪ I put the pedal to the metal,
hit the gas ♪
♪ Then I'm gone... ♪
Man, this is wack.
No, no, no,
you were right there!
Damn!
(music stops)
Do it again!
You can't keep running
from this.
I mean, what the hell
your daddy do to you?
What did yours do to you?
(sighs)
Freda...
look, this is your verse.
It's not about me.
And I saw you.
You were face-to-face
with the monster.
You don't run from it,
you embrace
and merge with the pain.
That's how you make
the record soar.
You got to merge
with that pain.
You know Huey Jarvis?
Duh.
Yeah, well,
I'm about to play this for him
later on today.
We might actually do it live
in his little
living room.
Stop playin', Lucious.
Little boys play, not me.
Do it again.
♪ ♪
♪ Look, from the bottom
I started ♪
♪ So there's nothing
that you could say to me ♪
♪ I prodigal where I grew up
and this the newest slavery ♪
♪ People see you try hard, like
why you want to play with me? ♪
♪ I bring them heaters out,
somebody better pray for me ♪
♪ 'Cause all I know is
this money, I gotta have it ♪
♪ These suicidal thoughts
gettin' bad ♪
♪ I'm gettin' madder ♪
♪ Uh, they say
the good die young ♪
♪ I put the pedal to the metal,
hit the gas, then I'm gone ♪
♪ Now I'm front line
at the court ♪
♪ And I'm 'bout to take a shot ♪
♪ I pull it up, cock it back,
let it fly ♪
♪ Now I'm watching
for the backboard ♪
♪ And when they say the world
is yours, I just let 'em know ♪
♪ That I'm just
tryin' to score, oh! ♪
♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom... ♪
Yes!
That's what I'm talking about!
Stick it, stick it!
Get 'em!
Let's double that up.
Do that
one more time.
♪ ♪
♪ They say heavy is the head
that wears a crown ♪
♪ They say heavy is
the head that wears a crown... ♪
(music stops)
(phone vibrating)
(sighs)
(door opens)
(chuckles)
You got a husband you
didn't tell me about?
No, I'm just kidding.
It's none of
my business.
No.
It's Jamal.
He wants my feedback
on a song.
What, and your
ex would have
a problem with that
or something?
A problem with my ex,
a problem with my other son,
a problem because we're
supposed to be in competition.
He's your son, Cookie.
That trumps everything.
You should text him back.
I'm gonna get dressed
and go get a paper.
Okay.
♪ They say heavy is the head
that wears a crown ♪
♪ They say heavy is
the head that wears a crown... ♪
♪ ♪
♪ They say heavy is the head
that wears a crown ♪
♪ Always used to think ♪
♪ That that was just
a damn excuse... ♪
That's real close, baby.
♪ 'Cause they couldn't
hold it down... ♪
You almost there.
Hey, baby boy.
(music stops)
You got something for me?
Yeah, I'm almost done.
No, we got three weeks
to drop this track
if it's gonna be eligible.
Dad, chill out, all right?
It's almost done.
All right, it's in your hands.
The hell you been, bro?
Don't worry about
where I've been.
Is that bitch upstairs?
That means
her little man-baby's
running around somewhere without
his mommy holding him down.
Fall back off the kid,
all right? I'm handling this.
You need to be handling
business, not booty.
We need to get paid.
We're gonna get paid ten times
more than what we asked.
All right?
Cookie's rolling out a big show.
She's gonna need to come to me
to secure the venue,
up the ticket sales, vendor
deposits, all that, right?
We're gonna get paid
on that first,
and then we're gonna hit her
for the protection, too.
Fall back.
You hear me?
Hey. Stop.
Where you going without me?
What's up?
I'm hungry,
that's what's up.
(chuckles)
We ate everything.
You ate everything.
Yeah.
(giggles)
Where's your paper?
Corner guy ran out.
So I'll get one at the diner
on 1st and A.
Okay.
Come on.
Got to feed you. Yeah,
that's right. Yes.
'Cause I know how you get
when you're hungry. (laughs)
Wow.
Sir Huey...
you got enough gold here
to rival
the pharaohs.
That's not
the be-all and end-all.
You're rich
in other ways.
Thank you.
That's easy for you to say.
You done won every award.
You've had a truckload
of nominations, man,
but you never took one home,
did you?
Is this gonna
be your year?
You tell me.
Maybe an invitation to one of
your Living Room sessions
might help my odds.
That's an old
wives' tale.
Really?
That's why everybody that's
played one of your sessions
in the last five years
have walked onstage
and accepted their award.
Yeah.
Let's see what you got.
Well, being in jail
put a fire in me.
Took me back
to where I came from.
It's still a work in progress.
LUCIOUS: ♪ From the bottom I got
up to the top of the pros ♪
♪ From the gutter to the shutter
trimmed out in gold ♪
♪ Life bless my soul,
God bless my mo ♪
♪ Nothin' less than the best
so the rest is old ♪
♪ It ain't about the pain ♪
♪ Tell 'em what's my name ♪
♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom,
bang, bang, bang, bang ♪
FREDA: ♪ Look,
from the bottom I started ♪
♪ So there's nothing
that you could say to me ♪
♪ I prodigal where I grew up
and this the newest slavery ♪
♪ People see you try hard... ♪
Who's the girl?
Freda Gatz.
One of my new discoveries.
♪ 'Cause all I know is
this money, I gotta have it... ♪
Lucious... you're
onto something.
So it's not there yet.
I'm still wanting to hear more--
feel more--
about that part of you
that you keep
locked up so tight.
You got to dig deeper.
(thunder rumbling)
♪ ♪
Hey, yo.
Make some noise.
Welcome to Lyon Dynasty, y'all.
(crowd cheering)
COOKIE: Welcome,
hip-hop bloggers!
Okay, so today we are
announcing the birth
of a new event that's
about to blow up
into one of hip-hop's
biggest jams.
And to give y'all a little
tasty taste, something small...
A little taste.
(laughs)
...make some noise
for Mirage á Trois.
Yes! Give it up for
the sexy ladies!
(crowd cheering)
♪ ♪
♪ We're sipping
bottomless mimosa ♪
♪ Pour me another dosa ♪
♪ It's 10:00 a.m., we partying ♪
♪ Still going, getting loco ♪
♪ That bottomless mimosa ♪
♪ My champagne supernova ♪
♪ It's 10:00 a.m., we partying ♪
♪ Come on,
let's have a toast to ♪
♪ All them girls
in they yoga pants ♪
♪ When I ain't even
been to bed ♪
♪ Let me go get you
another glass ♪
♪ Bottoms up, bottoms up,
go on, get your bottoms up ♪
♪ Welcome to breakfast,
you can call me Tiffany... ♪
Did you see that?
Carmen just ass-bumped Laura
out her spot.
Yeah, because
it's Carmen's spot.
You need to bump her up
to lead singer.
Carmen ain't got the pipes, Ma.
And Laura doesn't have
the personality.
She ain't a star, Hakeem.
♪ Feel like we're on a yacht ♪
♪ Sailing south of France ♪
♪ Maybe I drank too much... ♪
Make the switch.
♪ Oh, I can't find my friends ♪
♪ But you look good enough ♪
♪ Let's drink ♪
♪ Bottoms up, bottoms up ♪
♪ Go on, get your bottoms up. ♪
I love your
music, Lucious.
I really do, more
than life itself.
But these numbers...
The numbers don't tell
the whole story, Mimi.
Don't sugarcoat, Andre.
Let Mimi do
her song and dance,
and then
tell her what you got planned.
Well, stock
prices are 12%
below our projections
for the quarter.
Wall Street's skittish,
and our shareholders
are pissed.
Over to you.
Sing and dance, Andre.
Apart from the fact
that Empire's share price
has actually risen 12%
since my father's return,
this company's about to make its
biggest move since going public:
music streaming.
With market leaders
in our sites,
this move will make Empire
the dominant player
in the music industry, period.
Uh-huh. I like it so far.
I have a team
working in-house to develop
our own unique platform.
We'll be ready for beta testing
in four to six months.
That's too long.
And that's
a conservative estimate.
Why build when
you can buy?
Swiftstream-- it's number two
in the streaming marketplace.
It's ripe and ready
for a merger.
A merger?
Mm-hmm.
Pop, a merger means, what,
new board,
new corporate structure,
redundancies that lead
to layoffs.
Pop, it's reckless.
Hmm.
Set up a meeting
with Swiftstream.
I'd love to play some new music
for you in my office, Mimi.
Yes.
Meeting's adjourned.
Pop, uh...
I need to do some
due diligence with Swiftstream
before I set up a meeting.
My people already did.
A year ago, Jago Locke-- he's
the founder of Swiftstream--
he was being touted as
the next Zuckerberg.
But he got his
ass handed to him
because the other services
beat him to the punch.
He is a bit cagey, but
he's ready for a partner.
Obviously,
Mimi's got this
one under control.
Why don't you go see
your lady friend
down in the
mayor's office.
Freda Gatz has a small legal
issue we need to take care of.
What kind of legal issue?
Gang injunction.
That's not a small issue, Pop.
And you're not a small man, son.
I'm sure that's why
the deputy mayor
likes doing business with you.
After you.
Look, I need you
to teach her the basics:
makeup, hair,
how to walk, how to dress.
Okay, I'm sure
I could dress better, but...
Um, Laura, can you get me
a green tea
from the fridge, please?
Yeah, sure.
Okay, stop.
Think long legs.
Lead with your hips.
Imagine you're knocking down
everything in your path
and nothing can stop you.
Every move you make,
pretend somebody is
watching you,
trying to take your picture
or something.
That sounds awful.
Well, you better get used to it,
sweetie, 'cause eventually
you'll even want it to be true.
You all cute and stuff.
Thank you.
So... how do I look
from the back?
The same as from the front,
except badonk! (laughs)
I mean, what you
all nervous for?
It ain't like Laz ain't
seen it all before.
I'm not going to see Laz.
Word up, Cook!
Well, in that case, put another
notch of that lipstick on.
Age ain't nothing
but a number, girl!
(laughs)
You crazy.
Yes, my boss is a pimp!
Hi, baby.
Hey, Ma.
(laughs)
Look at you.
Look at you.
Outfit on fleek.
Please. This old thing?
I, um...
I didn't think
you would show up.
I probably shouldn't have,
but...
I have some very exciting news
to tell you.
Do tell.
All right, so you know,
um, Jamieson Hinthrop.
He's kind of been
mentoring me.
Yeah, I heard.
Well, he called
Huey Jarvis,
and Huey invited me to
perform "Heavy" on his next
Living Room session.
(gasps) Oh, my...
(laughs)
Jamal, that is huge!
Hey, waiter!
Get me a bottle of your most
expensive champagne, honey.
We got to celebrate!
I'm so proud of you, Jamal!
Ma, you know
that's all you though.
You completely flipped that song
and made it
ten times better.
You know what,
on second thought,
make it two bottles, honey.
I'm the bomb. (laughs)
You the bomb. You a'ight.
(laughs)
I missed you.
I miss you, too.
PRYCE:
Andre.
What are we doing here?
A reminder.
I wanted to kill myself.
Tried to do it right here,
in this very spot,
to punish my father.
And now he's trying
to bring you back
to that same dark place
where you were at,
when you nearly committed
that terrible sin.
That's why he wants me to see
the deputy mayor.
He wants to see me
fall back on my old ways.
Break my bond with God.
Would fulfilling
your father's venal task
advance your larger task
within Empire?
I'm working real hard, Reverend.
I feel like I-I've finally found
the balance between
my medication and my faith.
But if I stop either one,
Reverend,
I don't know what I'll do.
Andre, God has chosen you.
To be his warrior.
Sometimes,
warriors have to do
things on the battlefield
that would be...
repugnant in any other context.
What are you saying?
That I should sleep with her?
Sin of the flesh... no.
That's sacrosanct
and only for your wife.
But there are many other ways
to accomplish what you need.
♪ ♪
JAMAL (over earphones):
♪ They say heavy is the head ♪
♪ That wears a crown ♪
♪ Wears a crown ♪
♪ They say heavy is the head ♪
♪ That wears a crown ♪
♪ Ay... ♪
That's where
you should drop the bass.
Right there.
(slurring): Hell yeah. Mm-hmm.
And I'll drop it right
before I come back in.
Mm.
Cookie!
(laughs)
You know, um...
Lyon Dynasty's right around
the corner if you want to
lay something down.
Dad would be so pissed.
I don't even care.
Let's go.
Check, please!
(Jamal laughs)
Welcome to the Lyon
Dynasty, honey.
Okay.
Yes. I ain't mad
at you for this.
Wait, wait!
Come on!
It should be
♪ They say heav... ♪
Wait, wait, wait, let me
turn this thing on! Hold on.
♪ ♪
♪ It's like
this whole damn kingdom ♪
♪ Sitting on top of me now... ♪
It's almost there, baby.
You know what, do that drop one
more time, just one more time.
♪ Feels like
this whole damn kingdom ♪
♪ Sitting on top
of me now ♪
♪ Sitting on top of... ♪
Hey! Baby! Hi!
Hey, what you doing here
so early?
I'm rehearsing with Laura.
Wh-What are you doing, looking
all walk-of-shame and whatnot?
Ain't none of
your business, boy.
I-I was working.
Speaking of working,
did you promote Carmen
like I told you to?
HAKEEM: Mom, I have
it all under control.
Okay.
I'll show you when we're done.
All right.
Okay?
Okay. Well, listen here.
Them Three Amigas
better have it together.
If not, I'm gonna kick your ass.
I mean it!
Somebody in here?
No.
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Red and black J's ♪
♪ Looking like a ballplayer... ♪
He's going to want to
get you in the ring.
Hesitate like you're
afraid you might hurt him,
then get in there
and let him beat you.
♪ I'm the mayor of it ♪
♪ A young getter gettin',
givin' 'em the flavor lovin' ♪
♪ Every little bit
of that dope, boy... ♪
Jago.
It's Mimi.
I brought Mr. Lyon.
I'm not selling
if that's why you're here.
Well, I'm not buying,
I'm looking for a partner.
You box?
Look, I know I got
a couple years on you, son,
but trust me,
you don't want me in the ring.
They say sparring partners
make the best business partners.
Come on,
strap up.
Strap up.
That's a nice jacket.
Mm-hmm.
(laughs)
Go easy on him.
That's a deal.
All right.
Was that too hard?
I'm fine.
What you should be worried about
is how Beatflow's been
kicking your ass!
Our platform speed
is twice as fast.
They just got
a better marketing campaign.
Imagine what you could do
with Empire in your corner.
Talking about
a true heavyweight.
Now, would I get
the Lucious Lyon catalog?
Exclusively.
(both laugh)
Good. Good.
Those kids, they go
crazy for your music.
(grunting)
Me? I like your beats,
I just find your lyrics
kind of shallow.
(thunder rumbling)
(grunts)
Shallow that, punk ass.
You'll pay for that.
ALVAREZ:
Lifting a gang injunction.
That's no small feat, Mr. Lyon.
I know.
But you'd be serving justice
in this case.
Strictly justice.
I know what
I'd rather serve.
Raquel...
(giggles)
Please don't. Raquel.
Oh, I love that
game, Andre,
but I don't have
a lot of time.
Stop.
Stop.
You're married.
So are you.
Since when has that
been a problem?
Raquel, will you fix
this injunction for me or not?
Why should I?
My wife
and I, we, uh...
(chuckles)
We have enjoyed watching
some of our, uh, closed-door
bartering sessions.
ALVAREZ (over video): Yeah...
That's a good angle.
Bill de Blasio would
like that, wouldn't he?
What the hell?
Hell, indeed.
Unless you want the mayor
to get a full report
on how you conduct
your government business,
have that gang injunction
lifted by tomorrow.
(sighs)
♪ ♪
♪ I'm the real deal... ♪
(panting):
Oh, hey.
What are you doing home?
My father sent me to see
Deputy Mayor Alvarez today.
Oh.
(music stops)
And?
And I prayed.
I prayed for
the strength
to resist going back
to my old ways.
And here I am.
Yeah.
(moans)
(chuckles)
Okay?
Oh, yeah.
Did I hurt you?
No.
No?
Mm-mm.
No, baby, this is
what I've been praying for.
(moans)
♪ ♪
Now the hip.
Can I get some more looks?
Come on, now.
Why, of course.
Over the shoulder.
Remember what
Tiana showed you.
Come on, keep going.
(giggles)
Don't stop.
You was doing good.
Come on, baby,
give it to me.
♪ Make 'em all stop
when I come up in the spot... ♪
Why you stop?
♪ I'm the fire
you cannot extinguish ♪
♪ Like a genius,
yeah, that got a ring to it ♪
♪ They copying
'cause they seeing me do it... ♪
(music stops)
She was doing just fine
until you lurked in.
You are wasting your time.
But, see, you can't see that
because you're blinded
by the ass.
I ain't even
touched the girl.
(chuckles)
She must really
got you sprung then.
She ain't
got it, Keem.
Come on, we got to
get you on point.
(playing
"Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom")
I can't find them.
Can't find them.
I can't find them.
(grunts)
I can't...
I can't find them.
I can't find them.
Dwight, do you know what
Mommy did with her bullets?
(sighs)
(chuckles)
Where you been, man?
I'm dying trying
to find one sound.
Let's hear it.
Oh, hell no.
Ain't nobody hearing
this yet. (chuckles)
I understand, so...
just let me know
when you're ready.
(chuckles)
What's up?
I got some great news.
I'm playing Huey Jarvis's Living
Room session this weekend.
Hell nah.
Yup.
When did this happen?
Just last night.
Wow.
That's the best news
I've heard all day, man.
Right? Thanks, Dad.
(both laugh)
Come on, son.
No, no, it's your world, man.
Your world.
It's our world. Come on.
Yours.
(laughs)
(sighs)
♪ I don't go out much
unless you come through ♪
♪ Oh, I ♪
♪ I'm a tomboy,
put on a dress... ♪
What about Fort Greene?
No, it's too bougie.
Hmm. Huh?
Yeah, Cookie's Cookout
has got to stay hood.
Well, we could
try for Central Park,
but it's usually booked.
Already did Central Park.
Remember, Free Lucious?
Mm.
(whispers):
What you want?
(chuckles)
I'm thinking of somewhere
uptown, old school.
You know, like in Harlem.
Mm.
Yeah.
Yeah?
Ooh, I know
the perfect place.
What?
A spot called Rock Steady Park.
It's on the Upper West Side.
Yeah.
(chuckles)
Used to call it "The Goat."
Really?
Yeah.
Basketball courts there.
Show me.
Ooh, I like that.
It's on my list as available.
But...
But what?
That's in
Big Heavy's territory.
You're gonna have
to sit down with him.
Uh, no!
I'm not doing
business with him,
not after what he did
to my son. No.
There's got to be somebody
else-- it's New York.
Look, not if you want
Rock Steady Park.
Now, all I said was
you got to sit down with him.
Let him think he won.
He'll let his guard down, now,
and you'll get
your revenge later.
♪ You got mines,
but I gotta get yours... ♪
Hmm?
♪ Got my heart
and I'm coming for ya... ♪
Okay.
Yeah.
♪ Got me trapped, I'm in
handcuffs for your love. ♪
This is the last
thing you got to do.
Look, I know
you can do it.
You're gonna make people
stop and listen to you.
Uh-uh. This is crazy.
Look, everybody who
made it to the next level
had to do something
a little crazy.
That's what being a
superstar is all about.
(softly): ♪ Voz puede volar,
puede atravezar... ♪
Make them stop.
♪ Mi voz puede volar,
puede atravezar ♪
♪ Cualquier herida, cualquier
tiempo cualquier soledad ♪
♪ Sin que la pueda controlar ♪
♪ Toma forma de canción ♪
♪ Así es mi voz que sale ♪
♪ De mi corazón... ♪
(up-tempo music playing)
♪ Y volará, sin yo querer ♪
♪ Por los caminos más lejanos
por los sueños que soñé ♪
♪ Será reflejo del amor
de lo que me tocó vivir ♪
♪ Será la música de fondo
de lo mucho que sentí ♪
♪ Oye mi son ♪
♪ Mi viejo son ♪
♪ Tiene la clave ♪
♪ De cualquier generación ♪
♪ En el alma de mi gente ♪
♪ En el cuero del tambor ♪
♪ En las manos del congero,
en los piés del bailador ♪
♪ Yo viviré ♪
♪ Ahí estaré ♪
♪ Mientras pase una cumparsa
con mi rumba cantaré ♪
♪ Seré siempre lo que fuí ♪
♪ Con mi azúcar para tí ♪
♪ Yo viviré, yo viviré ♪
♪ Hey, hey. ♪
(crowd cheering)
(speaks indistinctly)
(cheering continues)
Jago, my love,
got to hear us out.
Nurse! LUCIOUS:
Now, wait a minute.
Now, I told you I didn't
want to get in the ring
with you in the first place,
and now you got
a morphine drip.
Now, what you said to me
about my music today,
that pissed me the hell off.
But only because
it was true.
You made me dig deeper.
And as a result of you,
I wrote a beautiful song.
Mm-hmm.
Good. I look forward
to my royalty checks.
LUCIOUS:
We're in this together.
You need this deal
as badly as I do.
And you and me,
we're gonna make great partners.
I mean, great partners.
The greatest of all time.
You and me, partners?
Empire, Swiftstream,
merged.
We will dominate the industry.
(slurring):
Dominate.
(chuckles)
Now, with
your permission,
Mimi's going to call
your attorney,
and you're gonna tell him
to draft an agreement
for a merger between
Swiftstream and Empire.
Yeah.
(line ringing)
Hey, Max.
Max, I need you
to draw up a...
(whispers):
Contract.
Contract.
♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪
♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang. ♪
So, you run
Rock Steady Park, too, huh?
Yeah, figures.
You gonna get my money
one way or the other, huh?
(Big Heavy laughs)
I don't want
nothing from you, bitch.
You're the one
wants something from me.
Yo, you better relax.
I told you
on the phone,
the only reason
we're here in peace
is to make a deal.
I'll pay for your protection.
But I'm only gonna
give you a small
percentage of
my vendors costs.
Say, what?
LAZ:
Hey, yo, easy. Easy!
You need to get your boys.
Yo, ease up.
COOKIE:
Hakeem, come here.
Let me tell you
what's going on.
You ain't explaining anything,
'cause you ain't giving it
to this bald-headed ass.
I'm an equal partner
in Lyon Dynasty.
Anything needs
to be negotiated...
I'm the one to negotiate it.
And you're in
my negotiating chair.
(chuckles)
It's okay.
Okay.
So... what percentage
we talking about?
As I see it, we only need
to start with the perimeter.
Bump that.
We do all or nothing.
LAZ: No, the kid's right.
City ordinance states
we must have bonded security
on the inside.
What he said.
He's right.
(sighs)
A'ight.
That'll be reflected in my fee.
But I still take 15
off the top.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Is that all right with you?
(clicks tongue, sighs)
You did good.
I'm proud of you, boy.
So maybe you'll stop forgetting
I'm your partner, Mom,
and let me make
my own decisions.
What you talking about?
What, little
Carmen Miranda, huh?
Yeah, you better be making
decisions with your head
and not with
your you-know-what.
What, like you?
I know about you
and pretty boy.
Shut up, boy.
I know what I'm doing.
I've been doing it
longer than you.
Well, I don't trust him.
You don't know him.
I'm just saying, Ma.
Just be careful.
♪ ♪
All hail the king.
♪ They say heavy is the head
that wears a crown ♪
♪ Wears a crown ♪
♪ They say heavy is the head
that wears a crown ♪
♪ Hey, they say heavy is
the head that wears a crown ♪
♪ Always used to think that
that was just a damn excuse ♪
♪ Something that the weak say ♪
♪ 'Cause they couldn't
hold it down ♪
♪ But now that I wear it,
I know that to be true ♪
♪ No complaining, no ♪
♪ Daddy raised a soldier
whether he knew it or not ♪
♪ He supplied the pain, I put it
in the music, made it hot ♪
♪ Strong back,
strong shoulders ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm holding up a lot ♪
♪ I'm underneath this
supporting ♪
♪ Same time I'm at the top ♪
♪ And I refuse to let
my people down... ♪
Man, that is a song.
That's better
than "Uproar."
Yeah, I've been
working with him.
Man, you elevated
his sound
to another level.
♪ Not just the crown ♪
♪ Feeling like this
whole damn kingdom's sitting ♪
♪ On top of me, yeah ♪
♪ Sitting on top of me ♪
♪ Sitting on top of me ♪
♪ S-Sitting on top of me ♪
♪ Sitting on top of me ♪
♪ Feeling like
this whole damn kingdom's ♪
♪ Sitting on top of me. ♪
(objects clattering)
(bullet clinks on floor)
Let's go, ladies!
♪ Bottoms up, bottoms up ♪
♪ Go on, get your bottoms up ♪
♪ We're sipping
bottomless mimosa ♪
♪ Pour me another dosa ♪
♪ It's 10:00 a.m., we partying ♪
♪ Still going, getting loca ♪
♪ That bottomless mimosa ♪
♪ My champagne supernova ♪
♪ It's 10:00 a.m., we partying ♪
♪ Come on,
let's have a toast to ♪
♪ All them girls
in they yoga pants ♪
♪ When I ain't even
been to bed ♪
♪ Let me go get you
another glass ♪
♪ Bottoms up, bottoms up ♪
♪ Go on, get your bottoms up. ♪
♪ Girl, you know you bad,
huh, huh ♪
♪ I wanna be next to you... ♪
I brought you a present.
Is it my birthday?
Oh, damn, it's Christmas.
(chuckles) You got
a little freak in you.
(chuckles)
I love you, too.
And so does Jago Locke.
He wants to be in
business with you.
Get the hell out of here.
It's done.
Ooh.
I love Mimi.
Come on.
Oh, where we going?
(Mimi laughing,
Lucious chattering)
♪ I know you've been
waiting for me... ♪
I... would like
baby girl in the green.
MIMI:
Mm-hmm. That's April.
Spring is in the air.
Mm-hmm. (chuckles)
Well, I'm gonna
fight you for her.
Oh, no, we don't fight.
We are partners.
We share.
♪ ♪
LUCIOUS:
Time to make the donuts.
(both laugh)
I like doing business
with you.
(laughs)
You're just saying that so
that I let you go first, huh?
LUCIOUS:
Mmm.
(phone vibrating)
(sighs)
(groans)
I got to take it.
I'm sorry, I
got to take it.
MIMI:
Please don't say that to me.
It's just all taking
a little longer than expected.
How can you say that?
Have you...?
(whispering): Is that the wifey
or the girlfriend?
Baby... Hey, no, no, gimme,
gimme-gimme-gimme, gimme that.
Hey. Hey, whoever
the hell this is,
you need to know that if
you gonna deal with Mimi,
you gonna treat her
with the love and respect
that she deserve, or you gonna
have to deal with me,
and I'm Lucious
Lyon, you got that?
Huh?!
Hello?
Babe...
Look, Mimi, Mimi,
I'm sorry.
But I promise you,
whatever's going on,
it's gonna be all right.
And whoever she is,
she needs to know
that she's lucky
to have you.
But right now, baby,
we got the springtime.
Come on, let's not
lose it, okay?
♪ ♪
(both laugh)
♪ Call me by my name, oh ♪
♪ Tell me that it's my game ♪
♪ Roll me out your dice back ♪
♪ Back into my favor... ♪
Baby.
Mm-hmm.
Y'all might want to
get started without me.
I'm gonna be a while.
(chuckling)
♪ Let me see your valor, hey ♪
♪ Left turn,
no right turn, you ♪
♪ You could be my U-turn. ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
Boom.
Boom.
No!
Boom.
Boom.
It's 4:00 in the morning.
I got it. I figured out
what the song was missing.
You're about to become
a part of my life story.
♪ ♪
♪ Boom ♪
(gun clicking rhythmically)
(grunts)
♪ Boom, boom ♪
♪ Boom ♪
♪ Boom, boom, boom... ♪
♪ Y'all want some ♪
♪ Come get some ♪
♪ Y'all want some ♪
♪ Come get some ♪
♪ Y'all want some ♪
♪ Come get some ♪
♪ Y'all want some! ♪
♪ If you ever been through it ♪
♪ Then I'm knowing
you got a feelin' ♪
♪ You witness in the struggle ♪
♪ From the realest,
what the deal is ♪
♪ They tried to lock me down,
but they created a monster ♪
♪ I'm beating down your block
and nobody can stop us ♪
♪ You was over there
talking all kinds of tough ♪
♪ While you sipping on
your little bitty pick-me-up ♪
♪ Well, you say you like
to play a little fisticuffs ♪
♪ So when the whistle puffs,
I'm gonna call your bluff ♪
♪ Words from a wise man,
never let 'em see your hand ♪
♪ In the end, I bet
they all gon' understand ♪
♪ You can't stop
what you can't see ♪
♪ Standing here is only me ♪
♪ So place your bet
and go prepare for your defeat ♪
♪ I told the new jack to set,
kid, guard your check ♪
♪ There's a brother over there
wanna bounce your neck ♪
♪ Ain't you 'fraid of that? ♪
♪ 'Fraid of that ♪
♪ Watch you fade to black ♪
♪ Fade to black ♪
♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪
(gun clicking rhythmically)
♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang ♪
(rhythmic gunshots)
And he goes...
♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪
♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang ♪
♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom... ♪
History in the making, Freda.
History.
Captioned by
Media Access Group at WGBH
Yeah.