Empire (2015–…): Season 3, Episode 2 - Sin That Amends - full transcript

- Previously on Empire...
- ANDRE: Rhonda!

(sobbing): Andre messed up.

Andre did mess up.

What's your half
brother Tariq doing here?

I know Lucious married Anika

just to keep her from testifying.

If I can prove that the marriage
is fake, I can subpoena her.

I know we're still good as long as I see

- that fire in your eye.
- What me and you had

is dead.

(breathing heavily)



COOKIE: Get yourself together.

She is out there taking your song.

LUCIOUS: We're gonna
show all these haters

how dark hell can get.

(doorbell chimes)

(doorbell chimes)

(doorbell chimes)

♪ ♪

Thanks.

(doorbell chimes)

Thank you.

PORSHA: Cookie!

Cookie, you gotta come see this, Cookie!

Would you shut up all that noi...



Oh, hell no.

Uh-uh. Out.

Take it out. All of it.

What?

Take it out.

All right, get it, get it out of here.

You sure? All of it?

We can't keep the espresso machine,

a couple Jimmy Choos or nothing?

Out! All of it!

That damn Lucious needs to stop.

I'm done with his ass.

- WOMAN: Mm-hmm.
- ANIKA: Um...

Bella's a preemie, and
so she's gonna need

some specific attention.

WOMAN: Yes.

How do you handle stressful situations?

Well, I assess the baby's needs.

Does she need to be fed, or burped,

- or should I pick her up and...
- LUCIOUS: Wait. Hold on, hold on.

Who in the hell are all
these people in my house?

Oh, my God.

Up, up, up, up, up. Out. Come on.

I'm sorry, the interview's over.

Out. Ladies!

Ladies! Out! I don't need a nanny.

- (Anika sighs)
- LUCIOUS: I said go!

- Lucious...
- Get the hell out of here.

Come on!

Who gave you the
permission to hire a nanny?

I need permission?

In my house, you do.

Or have you forgotten
that the only reason you in here

is because of that
damn federal investigation?

I don't need people I don't know

looking in my life, okay?

(Bella crying)

Oh, my God, Lucious,

I need help.

Okay? I cannot do this by myself!

I took care of Dwight all on my own.

I'll get Bella.

No!

You keep your crazy hands

- off of my baby.
- You know what you're gonna do?

You got one job in this house,

and that's a mother.

Get in there and do your damn job.

(Bella continues crying)

ANGELA YEE: And we are back, peoples.

And today we've got

Jamal Lyon and City Councilman

Angelo Dubois in the building

and we're talking
about violence in hip hop.

Now, there's a
question that we've all been

dancing around, so I gotta ask:

Jamal, at the Empire XStream
launch party, what happened?

- It looked like you froze up onstage.
- JAMAL: No, I didn't freeze up.

- That's not what happened.
- Well, was it something

to do with you getting shot? Because...

PTSD is nothing to
be ashamed of, brother.

- I'm sorry?
- Posttraumatic stress disorder.

You see, these

African-American men, uh,

they're the primary victims

in gun violence and they
come from a culture...

I-I'm sorry, I'm just
gonna jump in right there.

With all due respect,

you're not a doctor, Councilman,

so please do not diagnose me.

And-and furthermore, as far as

"victim" goes, I'm not that.

If anybody's a victim, it's
actually Freda Gatz.

ANGELO: All right, well,

then who put the gun in her hands?

YEE: Well, Councilman
Dubois has a point, now.

How is Freda Gatz the victim?

Well, then, why don't we all try

to grow up where she grew up?

See, it's that line of thinking

that does a tremendous
disservice to black folk.

Wait, I'm sorry.

What-what country are
we living in? "Disservice"?

It's actually not thinking,
it's a fact, Councilman.

Urban, young, black children

deal with poverty and racism,

oppression from police brutality itself,

- mass incarceration, so how...
- Understandable.

How are we supposed to
deal with these circumstances

if we marginalize ourselves?

- Hmm.
- I'll tell you how.

Education.

Opportunity.

See, this is what we promote

in our program WOKE, all right?

We Organize for
Knowledge and Empowerment.

Well, Councilman, why
don't you tell Jamal Lyon

how WOKE is taking on
racism and oppression?

I have a better idea.

Why doesn't Jamal come and visit

one of our anti-violence
summits this week?

(mouthing)

Come through, we'd
love to have you, sir.

I'd love to. I'm there.

All right, yeah.

Hmm.

Jamal, what the hell is wrong with you?

Agreeing to do some stupid summit

with that bougie bitch.

He wouldn't know the streets

- if it shot him in the ass.
- Lord, I know, Ma.

But you know what? He was
making sense and you know it.

You know, what you need to
be doing is making new music.

See, doing that radio
station was just damage control.

You need to get your ass back
onstage and prove to your fans

- that that brain fart was a
one-time thing. - Ma... Ma, Ma...

Excuse me, Mrs. Lyon...

- Ms. Lyon.
- Ms. Lyon.

Are you joining us at the summit?

No, I'm busy, and so is Jamal.

I guess he forgot to tell you

he's in the studio all week.

That's too bad. The kids
are huge fans of yours.

As a matter of fact,

they started Snapchatting already.

- There we go.
- Wow.

ANGELO: That one's Isaiah.

He's a, uh, he's a shining star.

- Mm-hmm.
- Look, you know what?

I'm-I'm gonna figure out my schedule.

You know, I'm not gonna let them down.

That would be great. I appreciate that,

- from both of you.
- Yeah, yeah.

Mm-hmm. We gotta go.

I look forward to
seeing you both there.

- Uh-huh, bye-bye.
- Why you gotta be so rude?

'Cause we got a FBI agent up our ass.

We don't need a politician, too.

That man was being so polite.

I don't trust polite people, stupid.

LUCIOUS: My Empire XStream launch

might have had some difficulties

had you not done what you did.

I mean, nobody's
even talking about Jamal.

All anybody can talk about...

The press and me alike...

Is this rare talent

that just blew everybody away.

SHINE: You shouldn't have cut me off.

We could've been making
millions with Nessa a long time ago.

What I want to know is, what
do you want to do next?

What's your next move?

HAKEEM: I tell you what.

Me and Shine already
working on something.

You know, I was thinking about
coming out with a living album,

something like Yeezy with
his Life of Pablo situation.

But bigger.

And my homie Nessa,

she gonna help me do it,

some of the tracks.

Is that what you really want?

With all the heat

you got going on

from being a part of my
Empire XStream launch,

when the world is your oyster

and you can put any name

in your bucket list,

and these are the only
two you want to work with?

As far as you and Hakeem
working together,

that's a whole nother conversation.

He's got an entirely new set

of familial responsibilities
he's gotta handle.

What's that got to do with it?

LUCIOUS: Bella's at home right now

with her mother, where you should be,

but you've got a
convenient case of amnesia.

But we're gonna talk
about that in private,

'cause me and Shine...

we got business to take care of.

♪ ♪

You can keep your
fancy espresso machine,

you can keep your little fancy

wine fridge...

You know what? Lucious, please,

keep all of this stuff, okay?

In fact, give this to your wife.

What are you trying to do, impress me?

You know I can buy all
of this stuff myself.

All right, well, why
don't you just tell me

what it is you need?

What I need

is for you to respect my boundaries.

Stop it with all of this, Lucious,

'cause it's not working.

You handle the business,

I handle the music.

That, and my three sons,

that's all we need to discuss.

Fine. From here on, it's
strictly business.

Strictly business.

Well, businesswise,

you might want to come
by and see me later.

Maybe you can take a look at the artwork

for Jamal's Black and White album.

Uh, Jamal doesn't want to release

the Black and White album.

- You know that, Lucious.
- Yeah, well,

it's not about what Jamal wants.

Empire XStream needs content.

And Jamal needs for his
fans to forget about

his little fainting,

- Justin Bieber moment.
- Look,

Tiana has a record

that will be ready by
the end of the month.

J Poppa's on his way back from his tour,

and V's single is about to drop,

so, there, content.

See, that's why I love you.

You're just amazing.

Look,

I mean that in a strictly business way.

Yeah. Right.

I see you kept the gun.

Bye, Fuh-Lucious.

Nobody got time for your mess.

(sighs)

They'll all come around.

JAMAL: Uh, over here,

these are the recording studios.

We'll go over there in a little bit.

This is where every
single Empire artist records.

Um, that's the boardroom.

They look like they working;

- they not really working.
- (laughs)

Oh, snap! That's Lucious Lyon!

Dad!

Dad, wait, hold up.

This is Councilman Angelo Dubois.

Mr. Lyon, it's a pleasure.

Oh, it's all mine.

All right, all right.

Mom and I met him today at Power 105,

so I'm kind of helping out

with the anti-violence
summit with the kids.

I'm Zeah, Mr. Lyon.

I'm gonna be an MC, just like you.

Want to hear something?

Okay, go on ahead, man, sure.

All right, check.

♪ First off, my main
purpose is to change the game ♪

♪ Before I let you go, bet
you all know my name ♪

♪ They call me Zey, bet
on me, catch a payday ♪

♪ See, I'm a leader, my
flow cold, so grab a heater ♪

♪ Before I let you go,
OG, it's great to meet you. ♪

- Ah!
- (all cheering)

(chuckling): You had
me nervous for a second.

Man, I thought you was
coming straight for me.

Nah, nah, nah, nah.

But we might have to
put you in the studio,

seeing that Jamal no longer makes music

because he wants to save the world.

My dad likes to come for me a lot,

- and it gets very boring.
- (chuckles)

Besides, you're missing the point.

I'm now making music

- in order to save the world.
- All right.

Zeah here's off to MIT next year.

3.8 GPA.

Wow, that's impressive.

You say your mama's into this, right?

I mean, I'm the one that's on the panel.

So why don't we just hold the summit

right here at Empire?

- (kids exclaiming)
- Oh.

Mr. Lyon, please...

No, Lucious. Please.

ANGELO: I appreciate that,

but we're good.

We have a spot secured
already, the kids are excited...

Well, why don't I sweeten the deal

and say Empire
underwrites the whole thing?

Uh...

Put me in an awkward...

What do you think, kids?

- KIDS: Yes!
- Well, okay.

There you have it.

(chuckles) It's a very,

very generous offer, Lucious.

- Thank you.
- Extremely generous, Dad.

- What is this about?
- Look, why don't we

stream this whole thing
live on Empire XStream?

- (laughing)
- I mean, you've read about it

and there's no better way of
getting your message out.

Oh. Wow. You are truly an angel, sir.

Appreciate this.

Keep doing what you're doing with that.

Oh, and by the way, tell
your mama about this

so that she can
facilitate the music, all right?

Nice meeting you, Councilman.

All right, sir. Do well.

♪ ♪

♪ It's the real, shawty,
I know you gotta feel me ♪

♪ I asked them for a deal,
said if you could make us a Billie ♪

♪ Been running this here, I
got a cramp in my Achilles ♪

♪ Say you only get
one shot, I took nine ♪

♪ Fif... ♪

No... that was it, Keem.

- Yeah?
- Yes,

that was hot.

Oh, so...

first you hate me, then you love me.

Is that it?

♪ First you hate
me, then you love me ♪

♪ First you hate me ♪

♪ First you hate
me, then you love me ♪

♪ First you hate
me, then you love me ♪

(snaps fingers) Ooh, I got it.

♪ First they hate you
Then they love you ♪

♪ Fo' sho', no doubt ♪

♪ They love you when
they see you got potential ♪

♪ When you roll out ♪

♪ Hustle till it's all out ♪

♪ Bundle when it's cold out ♪

♪ And watch your every move ♪

♪ Yeah, they plotting when you ball out ♪

♪ They see you getting
money and you eatin' ♪

♪ They want a plate ♪

♪ Dog eat dog out here ♪

♪ Bring ya kind of bait ♪

♪ Gettin' cheese all over ♪

♪ I'm kinda great ♪

♪ Just got me a Nu-Nu
chick, uh, time to skate ♪

♪ I asked, if I was to go,
would she remember me? ♪

♪ Got a lot of class, but we lack ♪

♪ A lot of chemistry ♪

♪ On to the previous, bye, see ya ♪

♪ All said and done, it
was a pleasure to meet ya ♪

Man, we need something to
make this song legendary.

Like, once they hear it, they
ain't gonna forget it.

I mean, it has to
be something they know.

- You'll remember you, remember me?
- You'll remember...

BOTH: You'll remember my name!

♪ Don't count me out ♪

♪ I'm here to stay ♪

♪ Before you know I've
changed the game ♪

♪ You'll see ♪

♪ You will remember my name ♪

♪ Name, name Name ♪

♪ Guess I'm on my
A.I., put on for the city ♪

♪ And I gave 'em all I
can, once you fall off ♪

- There you go, mama.
- ♪ They say bye, you know I'm-a baller ♪

- ♪ Overseeing all the downers ♪
- Uh!

♪ Looking through the game,
all I see is real around us ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, how to
deal with all this tension ♪

♪ When they quick to switch up on ya ♪

- Ah!
- ♪ When it's all said and done ♪

♪ I will be ♪

♪ Number one ♪

♪ You'll see ♪

♪ You will remember my name ♪

♪ Name, name, name ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. ♪

- What else?
- Uh,

Jamal is back in the studio this week.

Don't worrabout Jamal. I got him.

- What about your y J Poppa?
- He's ready to get back

in the booth, so I lined up

a buh of brand-new producers for him...

Right, but isn't his
contract up with Empire?

- Is he nna re-up?
- Obviously.

He ain't going nowhere.
He's very happy here.

But, uh, you know, y-you said

that you wanted to talk to me about

the A&R position, and I actually
have a lot of ideas,

- and if lould...
- Wow, Becky,

you look beautiful.

Thank you.

Hey, um, I got a gift.

Don't worry, it's not for you.

It's for Jamal.

- Uh...
- Five minutes,

that's it. Please.

- Okay. I'll be back.
- Mm-hmm.

I was thinking about, um...

our son's little probl. And so I thought

maybe if I got him a n
track... Sometimes a new track

can make you feel
different about where you are.

But I knew he wouldn't take it from me.

But I thought you might
say it was from you.

♪ ♪

(beat kicks in)

- (music stops)
- Jamal doesn't have a problem.

- And I know what you're doing, Lucious.
- What am I doing?

That's when we first met.

BOY: ♪ I started throwing
bass, she started... ♪

- ♪ She said, "No, I don't ♪
- He is kind of cute.

- No, he's not cute.
- ♪ I only have a friend" ♪

♪ Come on, I'm not even goin' for it ♪

- Don't-don't do it.
- Wh-Where you going?

♪ You ♪

♪ You got what I need ♪

♪ And you say he's just a friend ♪

♪ And you say he's just ♪

♪ A friend, oh, baby ♪

♪ You ♪

♪ You got what I need ♪

♪ And you say he's just a friend ♪

♪ And you say he's just a friend ♪

- Boy...
- ♪ Oh, baby, you ♪

- ♪ Got what I need ♪
- Yeah.

♪ And you say he's just a friend ♪

♪ And you say he's just a friend ♪

- ♪ Oh, baby, you ♪
- (chuckles)

♪ You got what I need ♪

♪ And you say he's just a friend ♪

♪ And you say he's just a friend ♪

♪ Oh, baby ♪

♪ You... ♪

When I first saw you rap...

changed my life.

I knew right then
and there that I was...

That you and I were
meant to be together.

- See, that...
- That I...

was meant to do music.

No, we... you and I...

Were meant to be making music together.

Lucious, I need you to understand

that I am done.

- Okay?
- Oh, Cook, this is nothing.

I mean, look at
everything we done been through.

(chuckling): I mean, think about it.

You remember the first
time I tried to out-dance you?

No one could out-dance me back then.

(laughs)

I will give Jamal the track

and see if he's inspired.

Thank you.

(music starts playing)

You're not gonna wear me down, man.

It's not gonna happen. Done.

♪ ♪

Where are you?

Talk to me.

I need your help.

RHONDA: Sorry.

Can't help you with those anymore.

Where are you?

Please.

I-I need to see you.

Where are you?!

Where are you?

Who you talking to?

Rhonda.

She's here?

No.

Oh, I just...

(crying): I'm not gonna make it, Jamal.

Oh, she-she managed all
of this. It's like this...

It-it changes, it changes all the time.

It changes all the
time. And she-she's...

she kept track of it, you
know? She's-she took care of it

for me, she's the one that did it all.

- All right, well, I'll help
you with that. - No, she... I...

It's all right, no, no, no.

- I got...
- Hey, listen, Dre...

I can help you with this.

I-I can't ask you to do that, Jamal.

- I'm not gonna...
- No, you can, actually. It's cool.

Shoot, I'm trying to wean myself

off these stupid pain meds anyway.

I keep this chart.

It just helps me keep
track of it, you know?

I'm gonna keep your
chart, too, all right?

Okay.

(crying)

♪ ♪

Lucious!

What's up, Cook?

What are you doing?

What do you mean?

You know who that is?

Yeah, that's Angelo Dubois, some

petty government bureaucrat

from some bougie-ass
Jack and Jill family.

- What about it?
- What is wrong with you, Lucious?

Last week you had a
FBI agent at the house,

now you opening doors for
government officials?

- Really?
- What are you talking about?

I mean, Thirsty ran a
check on this dude. He had a DUI

some 20 years ago.

His family pulled
some strings and got him

out of that. Other than that,

he's as about as
square as a damn checkerboard.

Now, I was under the impression

that you wanted to do this summit thing.

Mm. Is that what Jamal told you?

Well, we both know why he's doing it,

so let's just end the damn
cycle and get it over with.

Hey...

Off of me.

Jamal's got a problem.
You know that, right?

- What are you talking about, man?
- This whole "I want to end the cycle"

is some BS to cover the fact that

- that boy can't sing no more.
- JAMAL: Mom.

You remember Angelo?

Mr. Dubois, I really

don't appreciate you exploiting
my son's situation

- for your political tricknology.
- Oh, Lord.

So we gonna do your
little summit, and then you're

gonna stay the hell out of
our business, is that clear?

I'm hoping you'll feel a
little, little differently

once-once you get to know me.

Oh, I know... I know you plenty.

I know plenty of you.

Yeah, with your with your

high seditty talking ass

with your little
summits and town hall meetings

when you ain't doing
nothing but prching to the choir.

What are you really teaching those kids?

Oh, oh, those "victims,"

like you keep calling 'em?

- I think I'm being misunderst...
- Mr. Dubois,

what you don't understand

is those kids carry a pain
that people like you

can't even begin to imagine.

See, you ain't never

had to overcome nothing, have you?

Now, what do you think happens
to one of those kids

if they get into some nonsense?

You know, kids get into nonsense,

but unlike you, they
don't have family connections

to get them off a DUI scot-free.

So who is going to give
them a second chance, huh? You?

(chuckles)

With your clean-shaven,

slick-talking ass,

acting all holier-than-thou,
could've killed somebody

but didn't, got a slap on the wrist

for drunk driving ass?

Get out of here.

You a joke!

Well, damn. Only other person

I ever seen her go
off on like that is you.

Angelo...

- I'm sorry, man.
- That's all right.

She's something else.

(muffled): ♪ I said, "How
do you like the show?" ♪

- ♪ She said, "I was very amused" ♪
- Is that a radio?

- Porsha!
- ♪ She acted kind of strange ♪

♪ Then when I asked,
"Do ya have a man?" ♪

What is that?

- ♪ I only have a friend" ♪
- Boys left the damn radio on.

♪ Come on! ♪

- ♪ You! ♪
- Aah!

- Biz!
- ♪ You got what I need ♪

Who did this?

♪ But you say he's just a friend ♪

- Oh...
- ♪ And you say he's just a friend ♪

BOTH: ♪ Oh, baby, you ♪

♪ You got what I need ♪

♪ But you say he's just a friend ♪

♪ And you say he's just a friend ♪

♪ So I took blah-blah's word
for it at this time ♪

♪ I thought just havin' a
friend couldn't be no crime ♪

♪ 'Cause I have friends ♪

♪ And that's a fact, like ♪

♪ Agnes, Agatha, Germaine and Jack ♪

♪ Forget about that, let's
go into the story ♪

♪ About a girl named
blah-blah-blah that adored me ♪

♪ So we started
talkin', gettin' familiar ♪

♪ Spendin' a lot of
time so we can build up ♪

♪ A relationship ♪

♪ I called every day to
see how she was doin' ♪

♪ Every time that I called
her it seemed ♪

♪ Somethin' was brewin',
I called her room ♪

♪ A guy picked up, and
then I called again ♪

BOTH: ♪ I said, "Yo, who was
that?" "Oh, he's just a friend" ♪

♪ Man, don't gimme that. ♪

(laughs)

- (music stops)
- Yay!

Thank you so much.

- That was great.
- My pleasure.

Anything for my man Lucious.

- You're righteous, boss. I owe you.
- Not even my birthday.

- Thanks, fellas.
- Thanks, y'all.

- All right.
- (laughs) Thank y'all, brothers.

Now, you got to
admit that-that had to have

gotten you a little bit, right?

The music got me. Yeah, the music.

Now, I know we have a lot
of history together,

but you can't keep hitting
me over the head

with this "when we first saw each other"

- sentimental crap.
- Nah.

Come here, come here.

I got a little confession
I need to make to you.

Now, that might've been

the first time that you saw me, but...

that wasn't the first time I saw you.

♪ Sucker duck, now
that's clue number three ♪

♪ You wrong 'cause it was EPMD ♪

♪ MCs, get off the bandwagon ♪

♪ I'm not bragging but tagging... ♪

So can I see you later?

I got homework, Barry.

But me and my sisters
are gonna get some water ice

right after, so... maybe then.

- A'ight?
- A'ight, bet.

♪ That if he pulls my card ♪

♪ I'm good to flow, toe to toe ♪

♪ Blow to blow, without no H2O ♪

♪ Hey, yo... ♪

That jawn got a nice ass, don't she?

Do you know her?

Nah.

Good.

'Cause I'm about to make her mine.

So watch your mouth.

♪ This ain't a blast from the past... ♪

(chuckles)

I swear, I must have sat out

in front of that water ice shop

for, like, two and a half hours

just hoping and waiting for...

to get my little rap
right, so by the time

you decided to come out, I
would be able to spit something

- that you might like.
- So you knew I had a boyfriend

- and you still tried to get at me?
- No.

I knew that it was a long shot.

I knew that you was this

Catholic, studious girl...

hanging out with some nerd.

And why would a girl like you

- want to talk to somebody like me?
- Barry

- was not a nerd.
- No, but he wasn't a gangster.

That was me, all day long.

And that's what I
was, and you knew that.

You knew that was what I was about,

but instead of
running, you stuck around.

Yeah, well, I was young and simple.

I should've stayed with Barry.

I'm serious, Cookie.

You saw me in those
streets and you knew...

that that wasn't my destiny.

You knew that my destiny was music

and my destiny was you.

How'd you do it?

How'd I do what?

I don't know anybody who
lost more than you.

And you survived it,

and you're-you're still
here, you're still fighting.

You're a fighter, too, Andre.

I mean, after I met your grandmother,

everything makes sense now.
And I admire you even more.

I mean, Andre, look at what
all you've accomplished.

Yeah, look where that got me, Mama.

You sure you don't want to
go back to church, baby?

- Oh.
- Huh? Yeah. And, um...

clear your mind, heal your soul.

- So much is...
- What soul?

Don't say that, And...

What soul?

Look, come here. Sit down.

I'm proud of you.

No, no, no, no, no...

I'm proud of you, Andre.

Didn't nobody have no summits
for you when I got locked away.

You figured it out all on your own.

You fought your way out
of the hood, baby,

you got yourself into
Wharton. You did that.

Against all obstacles.

Against everything this
world throws at black people,

you fought your way out.

Keep fighting.

Please, okay?

'Cause I got you.

I got you, no matter what.

No matter what?

No matter what, baby.

(shuddering breath)

You gonna be all right, baby.

Okay. Yes.

Okay. Okay.

♪ ♪

See, on the trill I was
thinking I come back right here,

drop some ad-libs for a bar, man.

Okay, yeah. I say do it for two bars...

It's gonna build the anticipation
for the hook,

and that's gonna make it hard.

Yeah, I agree.

- It needs to come harder.
- Yeah.

- (music stops)
- Or maybe we drop everything

and keep the bass line.

- Yeah?
- SHINE: Yeah.

Yeah, I think you're on to something.

All right, then.

Hey, stand up for me, homie.

Where'd you put that bass channel I...

(grunts)

You must be out your rabbit-ass mind,

lookin' at my sister like that.

Think I'm playing?

He'll be all right.

Okay...

what was you saying, Hakeem?

- ♪ They don't wanna see us make it ♪
- ♪ But we still gonna make it ♪

♪ That's why they always hatin' ♪

♪ Why they always hating ♪

♪ They don't really want to see us win ♪

♪ They rather see us
dead or in the pen ♪

♪ Watch out, watch out ♪

- ♪ They don't wanna see us make it ♪
- ♪ But we still gonna make it ♪

- ♪ That's why we gonna make it ♪
- ♪ Why they always hatin' ♪

♪ Don't you know that
you was born to win? ♪

♪ All you gotta do is stay up ♪

♪ Out the pen, stay
awake and watch out ♪

♪ I'm tired of seeing people dying ♪

- ♪ On the news all I see is crying ♪
- ♪ I swear I can't take it ♪

♪ I need to see my people trying ♪

♪ In the jungle just
roll with the lions ♪

♪ 'Cause it's a jungle out
there, boy, it's a jungle ♪

♪ And they don't want you to
grow, they want to stunt you ♪

- ♪ They wanna leave you back ♪
- ♪ We need to start raising the bar ♪

♪ Dream big and just
reach for the stars ♪

- ♪ They don't wanna see us make it ♪
- ♪ But we still gonna make it ♪

- ♪ That's why we gonna make it ♪
- ♪ Why they always hatin'? ♪

♪ Don't you know that
you was born to win? ♪

♪ All you gotta do is
stay up out the pen ♪

♪ Stay awake and watch out. ♪

(cheering and applause)

ANGELO: Yes.

Yes, yes.

Thank you, young Zeah.

And now let me introduce to you

our guest of honor.

Jamal Lyon.

(cheering and applause)

He himself a victim...

(clears throat)

Excuse me.

I'm going to replace the word "victim"

- with "survivor."
- Yes.

- (applause)
- Yes, survivor.

Jamal Lyon,

he himself a survivor of gun violence.

You see, these young men...

Look, I know he get on your nerves,

but he is fine.

ANGELO: ...they all come
from a place where violence

is a natural go-to.

But our goal is not to save the world.

Our goal is to pull
them upwards from violence

and move them onward to success.

(applause)

That was good, though, wasn't it?

- Look, you look full, don't you?
- (laughs)

Hey, man, here you go.

Thank you, thank you, man!

Uh-uh, I'm keeping mine.

Candace would kill me if I didn't
save her some crab legs.

Most of 'em are crackheads anyway.

Well, maybe they wouldn't be if someone

had shared their
crab legs a little sooner.

What are you, Mr. Save-the-World now?

With you by my side.

By the time you finish up at Howard,

I'll be getting out of med school

and I can set up a practice

in King of Prussia.

All right, forget King of Prussia...

Look, Barry, stop.

I'm-a be honest, a'ight?

At some point, I want
the house and the kids

and all that stuff
that you say, but right now?

I don't know what I want

except I know it's got something
to do with music.

And I don't want to feel locked down

before I even give it a shot.

Ya'mean?

I understand, Loretha.

It's your life.

You won't get a second
chance to live it the way you want.

ANGELO: Now, yesterday

I got chin-checked by
a remarkable woman

who taught me the difference

between being a victim of circumstance

and a survivor of immeasurable pain.

I have a feeling

I'll be thanking her over and over

and over for that insight.

Now I'd like to bring up here onstage

a man who is a new friend of WOKE.

The incredible Lucious Lyon.

(cheering and applause)

Thank you, Angelo.

I'm very proud of these
young men and women here.

You guys represent our future.

And we are looking to
you to be great leaders.

I have my son here.

And as you all know,

he almost lost his life

trying to save my own.

(applause)

Now I know we all want to get
to the talking part of this summit,

but before we do that,

why don't we take a moment

and have Jamal Lyon

come up here and do a song,

'cause he has not performed
since that event at the ASAs.

And I think this would be

a most fitting moment for him.

(cheering and applause)

Jamal. Jamal.

Jamal.

Jamal. Jamal. Jamal.

ALL (chanting): Jamal! Jamal!

Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal!

Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal!

Jamal! Jamal! Jamal!

Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal!

Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal!

Jamal! Jamal! Jamal! Jamal!

(heavy breathing)

(exhales heavily)

(breathing heavily)

(exhales shakily)

(breathing heavily)

Jamal.

What are you doing?

Huh?

What's going on?

(gasping)

What the hell is wrong with you?

What he need to do

is get his ass on that stage.

'Cause the only way

to deal with a problem, boy,

is to deal with a problem.

- It keeps happening.
- Shh, all right.

It keeps happening.

You really starting to bore me, boy.

I'm scared, all right?!

That's what you want, right?

(gasping)

Well, yeah, I got a, I got
a pro... I got a problem

and I...

can't get onstage.

I can't... I can't do it no more.

Yeah!

(indistinct chatter)

You were right.

Jamal has a problem.

So, what we gonna do to fix?

I don't think

this is something you need
to be smiling about.

Well, you said the magic word.

It's "we."

I mean, that's how it's always be,

Luous and Cookie, you know?

You and me against

is crazy-ass world and...

us versus everyby else.

Excusey interruption.

I'm sorry.

I just wanted to tnk you bot for today.

We couldn't have done without
both of your support.

You kn, a lot of these kids,
they come from broken homes.

You know, uh, divorce, separation...

Some parts never even... (chuckles)

...were together in the first place.

So it just means a lot

toave these kids see you two

together, gettg along even though

you're not marri anymore.

It's truly amazing.

Black love. It's beautiful.

"Bck love..."

Tell me something, Councilman.

Sir.

- Are you from a "broken family"?
- No.

No, not at all.

My parents been together 50 years.

- 50 yea. Wow, that...
- Yeah.

- ...that isomething.
- It's a blessing.

Lucious and I ain't together.

- ANGELO: Oh.
- Mm-mm, no.

But we've been ride or die for...

Well, I tell you that,
I'be telling you my age.

- (both chuckle)
- Ms. Lyon...

Oh, no, Cookie. (giggles)

Well, Cookie...

uh, you should come
down to the center sometime

and speak to the young women.

I think they'd, uh,

they'd get a kick out of that.

- Well, you should invite me over.
- I will. I will, then, Cookie.

- Yes.
- Lucious...

Thanks again, man.

I think you had it right the first time.

It's Mr. Lyon.

♪ ♪

- Mmm...
- (gasps)

(laughs)

You scare me!

I got good news.

Good news?

I love good news. Tell me.

I'm leaving Empire.

How is that good news?

'Cause I got a offer from Vaughn.

(scoffs)

Hell, Lucious just had him at the house.

He's a snake. What's the offer?

Yo, it's a hell of an offer, Beck.

And the best part about it...

I negotiated for you to come with me.

Who asked you to do that?

Lucious and Cookie make
you head of A&R yet?

We are talking about it.

The word on the street...

is that they're looking r somebody new.

It's time for you to bail, mama.

You need to be
somewhere where you appreciated.

And we make a dope-ass
team, Becky with the Good Hair.

That's real talk.

You know, Lucious gave me a job

when no one else would even talk to me.

That's real talk. I'm
not doing this thing.

Come on, this place is
going down in flames,

- you know that.
- What are you talking about?

We got hits across the
board. You sound stupid right now.

I'm not talking about music!

The feds is gonna come

and they're gonna
start knocking the doors

all down and around this place.

I love you, okay?

I love you.

But I'm not letting my career

go down with this building.

And you shouldn't either.

♪ ♪

Not sure you should be mixing
those with Scotch.

I sure am doing it tonight, though.

(chuckles)

Been lying to myself, y'all, 'cause...

Walking around, acting
like everything's cool,

just managing a little pain,

but...

When I was up on the stage
at the Empire XStream event,

I could see the lights
just flashing, flashing...

And then Freda.

It was wack.

PTSD.

Man...

everybody messed up.

Ain't nobody as messed up as
the Lyon brothers, I'm sorry.

(all chuckling)

But you know what we
got that nobody else does?

We got each other.

So heris how we win.

Jamal... you gonna beat this.

Say it.

I'm gonna beat this.

Say it like you mean it. Come on, man.

I'm gonna beat this.

You're back on stage in no time.

Hakeem...

...you're a father.

First of the Lyon sons.

If you're ready to step up,

we got your back.

You ready?

I'm ready.

ANDRE: Say it again.

I'm ready.

Say it like a man, son. You ready?

- I'm ready.
- Yeah, my man.

To Baby Bella.

To Bella.

To my daughter.

To Ma.

Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Ah...

HAKEEM: What about you, Dre?

Rhonda.

I gotta get her out of my head.

(inhales)

So tomorrow,

I'm gonna go to our old place

and I'm grabbing the last of my stuff.

♪ ♪

(distant siren wailing,
neighbors shoutingaintly)

♪ And you said he's just a friend ♪

♪ And you said he's just a friend ♪

- ♪ Oh, baby... ♪
- How many times I got to tell you

to stay away from that boy?

But, Ma, you said he's my brother.

Tariq, you listen to me.

You do not ever, ever

say that out loud again, not to anybody.

Least of all to him.

He may be your half brother,

but he is not your friend.

Him and his crazy-ass mama

are the worst thing that
ever happened to us.

(Bella fusses)

(static crackles)

(static crackles)

(static crackles)

(static crackles)

(static crackles)

(static crackles)

(static crackles)

You know what I was thinking?

We got all these beautiful
stuffed animals

for our little girl.

What in the world are we doing with

this thirsty-looking bear?

Let's get Bella something
more befitting a princess.

(static crackles)

(exhales)

♪ ♪

(tires screech, siren whoops)

Hey, Officer.

Step away from the car.

Oh, no. No, sir, I live right there.

I mean I, uh,

I used to live right there.

Lot of break-ins in this neighborhood.

You know anything about that?

No, Officer, I don't
know anything about that.

Why would I know anything about that?

What are you doing around
here? Like I told you,

I used to live right there.

Got any ID on you, yo?

My wallet's in my car...

yo.

Oh, so you're a smartass, then.

Huh. Smartass, okay.

- I'm moving, okay? I'm moving.
- Hands on the vehicle.

- I don't have time for this.
- Hey... would you listen to me?

Get your hands off me, man!

(grunting)

- Hands behind your back!
- Ah!

Stop resisting!

You have the right to
remain silent. Anything you say...

(Andre screaming)

You're resisting, boy.

Anything you say can and
will be used against you.