Empire (2015–…): Season 4, Episode 5 - The Fool - full transcript
When the secret about Lucious' memory is exposed, Cookie tries to convince the board that he is fine; Eddie Barker helps Lucious in the studio; Detective Pamela Rose reveals information about the explosion; Claudia helps Lucious with a breakthrough.
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- Previously on Empire...
- Lucious, what are you doing?
It relaxes me.
He only ever comes here with Eddie.
- Eddie?
- Eddie Barker.
You don't know the great super producer?
He doesn't remember me, Cook.
He has a traumatic brain injury.
He can't remember anything.
While Lucious continues his sabbatical,
we will produce and release a new album
for every year we
have been in operation.
They work fast.
The final edition will be lethal.
You can choose a
different path right now.
- Would you come with me?
- Yes.
Angelo is here as my attorney.
I am suing for sole custody of Bella.
Listen, we have two
days until your hearing,
so take me through this one more time.
Ms. Calhoun, Bella's mom,
was engaged to your father?
- Yes.
- No. He had already broke it off
with her before they hooked up.
I would like to hear Hakeem tell it.
Oh, you want to hear Hakeem tell you
how he played hisself from jump?
Listen, Skip is the best custody lawyer
in the city... just answer him.
Go ahead, Hakeem. Tell 'em.
All right, look, me and
Anika, we hooked up as payback.
But we both was mad at
my father at the time.
- Right, Mom?
- Yes, boy.
The second time...
- Oh... so there was more than one.
- Oh...
you think I was being
sarcastic for no reason?
I was messed up in the head.
Things wasn't going good.
Then I found out she was
pregnant six months later.
Yeah, too late to do anything about it,
if you know what I mean.
Yo, Thirsty, watch how
you talk about Bella, man.
- Calm down.
- Relax, young Simba, that's not what I meant.
All right, and you and Ms. Brown here
have been raising the child?
Yes. Well, only while
Anika was locked up.
But it's not like I'm trying
to be her mother or anything.
And Bella's now totally
attached to Tiana.
She hardly knows Anika.
Porsha, what? I'm in a meeting.
What?
Okay.
Somebody turn on TMZ.
Years of struggling and straining.
Now we come to the
lowdown on Lucious Lyon,
who is getting ready to
celebrate the 20th anniversary
of Empire. According to reports,
he has been suffering from
post-traumatic amnesia.
Yeah, we're hearing he
doesn't remember his sons
or even his ex-wife, Cookie Lyon,
and he's been lying about it for months.
So he has been defrauding, uh,
all of the Empire shareholders?
Uh, kind of like a black Bernie Madoff.
The guy's already lost a leg.
Uh, if he's playing with people's money,
he is about to lose something else.
Morning, Detective.
Oh...
I did not mean to spend the night.
Yeah, it was a really big imposition.
Mm.
This, we're not doing.
We are not doing sleepovers.
Absolutely right. Get out.
Well, since I'm here...
I was just going to hand it to you.
Now you don't have to.
Something about my father's case?
Now, you know I can't
talk to you about that.
Well, you're doing a lot
of things that you, uh,
shouldn't be doing.
I guess we both just like
to live on the edge, now, don't we?
And I'm not talking to you
about your father's case,
unless, of course, there's
something you want to confess.
Hmm.
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
Dwight, I...
I crossed a line with you.
And I really need to get
a handle on my feelings.
Why?
Because it's... unprofessional.
Some would say unethical.
And if anybody were to find out...
Like who? Cookie?
You're worried she's going
to find out about this?
N-No, I'm not afraid of Cookie.
This...
...it's just, um...
it's my commitment,
it's my responsibility.
My sole purpose for being here
is to help you recover your memory.
I owe that to you. I
owe it to your family.
I want to remember, but...
...then again, I don't want to remember.
I think the reason I'm so conflicted
is I want to help you
recover your memory...
...but I want to help
you to become the man
you want to be.
I want to help you to become Dwight.
Is there...
is there anything about Lucious
you think you could embrace?
His music.
Lucious, we have us a problem.
And I bet you that bitch
Anika leaked the damn story.
Wait a minute, you paid her $25 million.
Well, that's what it got us.
Then, good. Then nobody
has to pretend anymore.
Lucious, yes, it is a big problem, okay,
because the board is up my ass.
Okay, for months, I've
been fighting to protect
the legacy you built,
but I can't do it anymore.
So you're gonna have to come
with me and tell these people
that this is fake news.
Sorry, Claudia.
No problem.
Lucious! Mr. Lyon!
Uh, I may need you to make a
statement about his condition.
As long as you don't expect me to lie.
Hello.
Morning.
Thank you.
Shareholders are bombarding
us with questions.
Investors are threatening to sue.
And if we've been defrauding
our stockholders...
No one's defrauding anyone here.
Can you all just give
us a chance to speak?
I want to hear Lucious speak.
Seem like he been
absent. Like he's hiding.
How you feeling, L?
Been back in the studio?
Moonshine. My dear old friend.
It's not about friendship now.
It's about you losing your marbles,
and my 25% percent right along with it.
Hey, okay, look, you
wouldn't have a percentage
if it wasn't for Lucious,
so if I was you, I'd stay in my lane.
We just need straight answers.
Lucious, what, exactly,
is your medical condition?
I'm sorry, I don't answer to you.
Nor do I answer to you or
anybody else in this room.
Now, the last time I checked,
Empire's stock was worth
more than it's ever been,
Thanks to sale of my catalog,
thanks to the kindness
of someone who wanted to blow me up.
So, I think y'all can skip me
with these questions.
Okay, all right, thank you, Lucious.
So, are we done here?
We'd still like a medical evaluation.
Bitch, I would like a medical
evaluation of everybody
on this board, but I
can't have that, can I?
You know what, we are too
busy running this Empire
to do this with y'all.
Lucious is here to oversee the remixes
for the first 20 For 20...
we don't have time for this.
Mr. Lyon, can you give
a quick statement...?
What are we gonna tell
those reporters, Cookie?
What if I invite the press...
to follow him for 48 hours?
Hmm? The album drops right on time.
Will that be enough for
everyone to calm the hell down?
- I guess so.
- That could be good.
Seems risky.
- Is that good for you, Lucious?
- Damn good.
Looks like we got us a deal.
♪ I think she love me,
'cause I got the check on me ♪
♪ Wan' spend the day and flex on me ♪
♪ Put a curse and hex on me ♪
♪ Scratch out my name,
put the "X" on me... ♪
Sorry I can't get coffee with you,
but the board is freaking out,
my mom's rallying the troops.
So I got to get my ass in the studio.
Ah, don't worry about it.
That's what I love about your family.
Dave, you can drop me right here
and then drop Warren off to his office.
Don't worry about it.
I'll get out with you.
- I'm gonna catch the subway.
- All right.
All right.
Jamal, what luck.
Now I don't have to worry
about talking my way inside.
You dropped that. Ah, got you.
That's actually a subpoena.
So I guess I'll be seeing you
at, uh, Bella's custody hearing.
- Call security.
- Hey, easy. Easy now.
You know you don't need
any more legal problems.
Look, you gave him the
subpoena, so why don't you
just get the hell out of here?
Okay. Who is this,
your latest rent boy?
'Cause he's, uh, he's taller
and dumber than I thought.
Okay, take care.
Oh, shoot, I almost forgot.
Have you ever wondered how the press got
all those dirty little
details about your pops?
Your trick looks thirsty.
- Jamal...
- Just ignore what he said.
He's been salty since my
mom dropped his stupid ass.
Good looking out.
This is so risky, Cookie.
I know that Dwight's
gonna want to do this
because he cares about his family...
Wait, you go by Dwight now?
Never mind, child.
But he hasn't even reconnected
with his musicality.
I don't even know if you know
your way around a recording studio.
That's why Becky is
here. She can help him.
- Becky?!
- Yeah, Becky.
You want me to teach Lucious Lyon
how to produce music? How?
- You are being so dramatic.
- Well,
you don't really have to
teach me anything, Becky.
I just need you to navigate the room.
Like a Sherpa.
And the studio is our mountain.
And what if I'm afraid of heights?
You've spent more time with him
in the studio than anyone, Becky, okay?
Just give him a few
tips about how he rolls,
and let us know it's safe
to bring the press in here.
- Press?
- Exactly. Yes.
Yes! You can do, you can do.
Okay, then, I think that I need
to stick close by him this time.
Okay, look, you may not know how to lie,
but Lucious is good at it.
I don't care... long as those
reporters buy it, I'm good.
So, Bella's mother,
your one-time stepmother,
was charged with the murder
of your father's brother?
- Half brother. okay?
- Look, FYI.
Anika's lawyer, Angelo Dubois,
he used to kick it with Hakeem's mom.
Pretty.
I can't make this up. Just to add
a little, you know,
gasoline to the fire.
Look, man, I need your
word they're not gonna try
to take my baby away from me again.
Well, any more twisted relationships
between your two families?
Anything you're leaving out?
I need to know everything.
That's it.
Then you have my word.
That's great, Bella.
Y'all been granted
access behind the scenes
to get a sneak peak into
the mind of a musical genius.
Oh, excuse me, Cookie.
Uh, these are Lucious' top ten
choices for the album cover.
Uh, narrow it down to three,
and make sure you get
him to sign off on it.
Copy.
Oh, and you did have him sign off
on Titan and Delphine's remix?
You mean the one you d...
Hey.
Yes.
- Yes, I did.
- Okay, so...
our first 20 For 20 is a compilation
of Lucious's number one hits.
Who's ready to see history be remade?
- Oh, yeah.
- Follow me.
♪ It's so hard to believe ♪
♪ That you're not here with me ♪
♪ I really missed my chance ♪
♪ It's so hard to understand ♪
♪ But now I'm wondering, would you ♪
♪ Let me try again? ♪
Wow.
- Are you okay?
- ♪ Do you remember me? ♪
I just realized something.
♪ Do you still think of me? ♪
It's like a door opened up. Hmm.
Okay. But do you
remember what we planned?
♪ At night ♪
♪ Every time you dream... ♪
Veronica, stop. Stop, stop, stop.
That little part right
there, that deserves...
that deserves all of your power.
Not just some of it.
Now, I need you to imagine
that if, after all these years,
if everything you've ever sacrificed,
of being able to sing
in front of the world,
if this moment was going
to be taken away from you,
because you didn't give
it everything you've got.
And I need you to sing
like you're gonna lose it
at this moment.
Knows his stuff.
- It's incredible.
- Wow.
That's his genius.
Take her back to the beginning.
Take her back.
♪ Here I sit ♪
♪ All alone ♪
♪ Wondering what went wrong ♪
♪ It's so hard ♪
♪ To believe ♪
♪ That you're not here ♪
♪ With me. ♪
Getting greedy, aren't we?
Not so fast, big boy.
I'm here on business.
Ah, what kind of business?
Your boy, Shine Johnson.
- He's not my boy.
- Vegas Metro's
got video cam footage
of him near the garage
where your father was getting
his car detailed the night of.
So?
My father and Shine are friends.
They go way back.
Our investigation says
they're more like rivals.
You know, they've had
their ups and downs.
I highly doubt Shine had anything to do
with my father's car bombing.
Well, that's what he said
when we questioned him today.
I asked you about my dad's case,
and you got all tight-lipped.
Why the sudden change?
- He threw shade your way, Andre.
- Shade?
I'm just giving you an opportunity
to get in front of it.
Get in front of it?
Look, I already told Vegas
Metro everything I know.
Okay.
You're in front of it, then.
- I got to get back to work.
- So soon?
Yeah.
Hey.
Tony and Jamal are remaking "You Won't,"
which was made famous in the '90s
by Lucious and Schoolly D.
Uh, interesting choice for Jamal.
Uh, Lucious, do you still
stand by those lyrics?
A lot of people find
them pretty offensive.
I stand behind everything
I've ever done, lady.
Yeah, you know what? We're
actually still working on it.
So, Dad, maybe everybody could
come back a little bit later?
Good idea. Okay.
Oh, yeah, and you know what?
Shine actually needs
your ear in studio three,
- so why don't we all just go...
- Uh, Cookie,
- I don't, um...
- What is the pr...?
Uh, no problem. Just
Shine, maybe we can wait.
- It's fine.
- Seems a little tense in here.
Is there any truth to the
rumors about Lucious's memory?
Oh, no, no. There's no
truth about any rumors.
And if that's what y'all
are snooping around for,
you're in the wrong
place. You know what?
- Let's go. Let's go...
- Everyone,
just follow me.
Mm-hmm, don't be
cutting your eyes at me,
little Annie.
Come on.
As we were.
Hey.
Remember, you would say,
"What you got for me, Shine?"
Not "Moonshine." Shine. Okay?
You better not play me
in front of the press
like you did in the boardroom.
Only thing I'm playing
is the music, Cookie.
Yeah, and it'd better be good, Shine.
Welcome.
- What you got for me, Shine?
- You guys ready for this?
Yes, we're on a deadline.
Ant, turn me up.
Let's go.
♪ Black mask, red eyes,
green case, no face ♪
♪ Cold heart, tribe on my mind ♪
♪ Got to take it back, it's go time ♪
♪ Black mask, red eyes,
green case, no face ♪
♪ Cold heart, tribe on my
mind, got to take it back ♪
♪ It's go time, black mask, red eyes ♪
♪ Green case, no face ♪
- ♪ Cold heart, tribe on my mind... ♪
- CLAUDIA: Hey.
I saw that.
Tell me what you're seeing.
♪ No face, cold heart, tribe on
my mind, got to take it back ♪
- ♪ It's go time... ♪
- Red.
Crimson red.
Like blood.
♪ These pigs done really
got beside they self... ♪
Come on, L. Let's turn up!
Just ignore him.
Are you seeing any other colors?
♪ But they's counterfeit... ♪
Come on, turn it off.
Turn it off!
♪ From the last young
brother that they... ♪
It's just anger with no purpose.
Keep working on it,
Shine, and do better.
I know what I'm doing, okay? I'm
going to get one of my people.
Okay, Lucious, why don't
you work with Veronica, huh?
You seem to be comfortable with that.
I-If I can just have
a little bit of time alone with him,
I think I could really help.
I-I know what I need to do, okay?
Uh, Lucious, you can't just...
Okay, I said I would stick close.
I'm gonna bring him back.
Uh, that's-that's-that's
off the record.
Yeah, off the record. Delete.
You heard him. He's
bringing in one of his O.G.s.
Go get coffee, take a break.
- Yeah, I say we send them home.
- No.
Claudia promised she
would bring him back.
Just give them a couple of minutes.
- All right? Patience.
- Look, I don't like
to be the bearer of bad news,
but the board is saying that...
Look, I don't give a
damn what the board says.
Okay, what is the board saying?
If the album doesn't drop as scheduled,
and Empire takes another
hit in the press...
...they're gonna ask you to step down.
Damn.
Oh, if Lucious was here, he
could finesse those fools,
and lace them tracks if he
could remember a damn thing.
Okay, go ahead, send them home.
That's the best you
can do at this point...
Just...
Hey, guys, look.
Is that Eddie Barker?
- I'm-a go check on Hakeem
and the lawyer. - Okay. Bye.
That's Eddie Barker.
- Hey.
- Eddie.
Hey.
Lucious told me we were
going to make some music.
Yes!
- I pushed off my trip to Barbados.
- Thank you.
And then meet me in the conference room.
He may not remember this place,
but he knows you care about it, so...
I told y'all I was bringing an O.G.
See? I told you.
I told you Lucious was pulling together
some of the most incredible producers
to finish this album.
And only he could get Eddie Barker
back in the booth.
I told Lu that I might need
him to nudge me a little bit
'cause it's been a while since I've been
back in the studio.
I love you so much for this.
I love you, too. Come on.
Let's go make some music.
Tiana, baby.
I would like for you
to meet Eddie Barker.
He's gonna produce
your track with Lucious.
Yo, Lucious Lyon and Eddie Barker?
All right, now, sit your ass
down, babe. That's enough.
- Wow.
- I love your stuff, Tiana.
I'm honored to be working with you.
Oh, my God. Um, seriously.
Y-You're a legend.
No, sweetheart, tonight, it's all about
this legend right here.
What's the megahit that
we're gonna be remixing
for this lovely, amazing woman?
Um, actually, Lucious is insistent
on having Tiana and
Hakeem do "Hate the Game"
from Paid in Cash, right?
Great, so where's Hakeem?
Um, he needs a minute.
He had, like, 136, though,
so what's the problem?
Uh, how about we hear your
part while we wait for Hakeem?
You okay with that, Lu?
Yeah, I mean, if you're good, I'm good.
- Jump in the booth?
- Cool.
♪ When you out here in the
cold, you can't trust a soul ♪
♪ Got to play your cards,
you can never fold ♪
♪ If you call yourself a man,
you got to hold your ground ♪
♪ Make a plan and don't let
nobody hold you down... ♪
Quiet as it's kept, this, uh,
is one of Cookie's favorites.
Ain't that right, Cook?
Don't do that. Don't do that.
♪ That gon' getcha killed... ♪
Look, don't be modest.
Look, you've shared so
much with these fine people.
Why not share why this is your favorite?
Well, because y'all always like
to give Lucious all the credit.
I guess 'cause he's a man.
But I pimped this bitch. All of it.
♪ Because a pimp gon' be a pimp ♪
♪ A player gonna play the game ♪
♪ A pimp gon' be a pimp ♪
♪ Don't hate the
player, hate the game ♪
♪ Don't hate the
player, hate the game ♪
♪ Don't hate the
player, hate the game ♪
♪ Don't hate the
player, hate the game ♪
♪ Don't hate the player,
hate the game... ♪
I'm starting to understand
what's happening when I hear music.
Yes, I know, I know,
I know, you said that.
All right, let me call you back.
A prostitute just wandered in.
All right. What do you want?
Just what was you trying
to do out there, Angelo?
- Blow my cover in front of Jamal?
- I was just making sure
you were keeping your
eyes on the prize, cuz.
Well, I don't need you to do that, cuz.
You know, you were
looking really passionate
for a brother who's supposed
to pretend he's in love.
Well, if I'm convincing
you, then I'm doing my job.
You're sprung. I'm telling Mama
and then you're gonna kick rocks.
Ain't nobody afraid of your mama
but your bitch ass.
You're Mama's boy.
You got the whole
family messed up, anyway.
And you should be helping me help...
Diana! It's Hakeem Lyon.
- We need to talk.
- Go.
- It ain't over.
- Go.
Can I help you?
No. I need to talk to your mother.
Ah, she's unavailable.
Uh, does this drive-by
have anything to do with
your custody hearing?
Look, Hakeem, do yourself a favor.
Just grant Anika full custody.
To hell with you.
I'm a way better parent than Anika.
All right, well, I guess
you can blame your ego
when you hear, uh, little Bella
calling some other dude "Daddy."
Oh.
Okay.
Did you know that judges frown
upon fathers that can't
really control their temper?
Yeah, so,
I'll see your dumb ass in court.
I'll be home when I get ready.
All right.
Stop blowing up my phone, woman.
All right, I love you.
Don't blow up my...
You talking to the cops?!
You trying to get shot?
I'm not going down for
what you did, Shine.
- What I did?
- Yeah, what you did.
What we did!
You the only one running
around, talking to the cops
when they hemmed your
ass up a few weeks ago.
You didn't talk to the police today?
Not today. Not yesterday. Not ever!
You confusing me with somebody
who talks to the police.
Now boss up.
And stop running around here,
scared like a little bitch.
You're right.
You're not pitting me
against my family anymore.
You want to tell 'em what we did?
Tell 'em.
Yo, Andre.
Yo, Keem. Uh, according to my dude,
these passports right here,
they'll take care of you and baby girl,
all right, man?
And we got a jet on standby?
- Yeah, gassed and ready.
- This card right here,
that's the number for the dude in Cuba.
Call him when you get there.
He'll take care of you guys.
Look, man, once you flex,
they can't bring you
back. No extradition.
You're gonna be good.
You and Bella.
There she is.
What's up?
"What's up?"
Why you been ignoring my texts?
Hmm? What's going on?
I'm going to Cuba with Bella, T.
Cuba? Hakeem... is this a joke?
'Cause I don't have time for this.
Look, if I don't leave now,
they'll take Bella for good.
I want you to come with us.
- Come inside, this sounds crazy.
- No, what's crazy
was letting her get away with
taking Bella in the first place.
She did it before,
she'll do it again, T.
She who? Anika?
Look, T, I know it's a lot to ask for,
but I can't be without Bella or you.
Please. We'll leave in the morning.
They need me back in the studio.
Look, um, let me wrap this
up and I'll cover for you.
And I'll meet you at the airport.
You for real?
Promise.
I promise.
- Don't leave without me, okay?
- All right, babe.
♪ Baby, do you remember me? ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ I'll do anything ♪
♪ To make you ♪
♪ Understand ♪
♪ Oh, that I'll... ♪
- You good, Lu?
- Yeah.
I remember when you wrote this song.
Was right after Cookie went away.
♪ Again... ♪
You built this empire to show
Cookie how much you loved her.
Listen to this.
♪ Oh... ♪
Feel the love
just pouring out of every, every note.
♪ The same... ♪
I feel it.
♪ Do you remember me? ♪
Was that good for you, Lucious?
It's so beautiful, V.
I felt every single note.
Hey. Why don't you take a break?
Grab yourself something to eat.
I got to get these fools out of here.
They've heard enough already.
Okay, well, that is that.
Thank you for coming. Write
something good. All right.
- Thank you.
- I got to get back to work.
Thank you.
That was good, V. That was beautiful.
- Thanks.
- We're gonna do it one more time.
Just-just fall into
it, trust your power.
It's all right, it's coming. It's there.
- Let's do it.
- Just relax into it. Yeah.
Why is it when I hear
music, I see color?
Have you ever heard of synesthesia?
I want you to listen to this
and tell me what color you see.
Key of "G."
Blue.
This is my song.
I'm holding my music in my hand.
Yes, you are.
I remember this feeling.
Can you describe what it is?
Shh, shh, shh, shh.
And what the hell is going on in here?
He has synesthesia.
I already know about his amnesia.
No, no, synesthesia.
It's where he listens
to music and sees colors.
His brain's been rewired.
Yeah, but he ain't
listening to no music.
No, he asked me to turn it off.
The only music he's listening to is
the music in his head right now.
Lucious.
Lucious?
No, that's not what he's doing at all.
♪ Truth or dare, never
tell you a lie... ♪
Lucious.
Y'all need to be quiet.
Dad.
He don't even hear you.
I know that look in his eyes.
He's not listening to music.
He's making music.
♪ 'Cause you won't bring me down ♪
♪ I won't be pulled down ♪
♪ You won't push me out ♪
♪ You won't, you won't ♪
♪ Your words can't kill my joy ♪
♪ My light won't be destroyed ♪
♪ My love won't be ignored ♪
♪ And if there's an eye for an eye ♪
♪ It'll leave both men blind ♪
♪ Dr. King said it clearly ♪
♪ I know it's hard, but believe me ♪
♪ If we let go our faith ♪
♪ Love will never win the race, no ♪
♪ Peace and truth is the healing ♪
♪ Shed your light on your enemy. ♪
Well, there he is.
- Here I am.
- How you doing?
- What's up, Uncle Eddie?
- All right. Ah.
- How you doing, man?
- Good.
So, that was almost a complete reverse
of Lucious's arrangement, right?
Yes, sir. You like it?
The track's cool.
The lyrics, not so much.
There's a difference
between a remix and a remake.
I broke that song on the radio
for your dad 20 years ago.
Yeah, but Uncle Eddie,
what am I supposed to do?
I'm supposed to sing lyrics like,
uh, "Won't catch me with no fairy"
or "Shoot 'em down like a sniper"?
You youngsters still take
everything so literally.
Your father wrote that song in
response to a political assault
on hip-hop at that time.
I know. I know.
Tipper Gore was snatching rappers' wigs
in a congressional hearing. Still...
And Lu responded with
that song, using his voice
as a declaration of his
right to free speech.
Yeah, and free speech does
not have to be hateful.
So with all due respect,
I'm not buying it.
You were always too smart
for your own damn good.
All right, what about this?
You make that
the intention behind
your singing on that song.
We lay in some of the
tracks from the hearing.
And we make it clear that
you're commenting on free speech.
I mean, that could be dope.
Yeah.
All right. Damn you, Uncle Eddie.
- Be waiting on that.
- All right, I got you.
All right.
We got work to do.
Lucious stayed up all night
so that we could complete this album.
He went home exhausted.
But as promised, I present to you:
Lucious Lyon, Memory.
It's incredible.
And with this painting
as the cover art for the first
of Empire's 20 For 20 albums
produced by my father,
we have been exclusively launched
on Empire XStream this morning.
A whole 24 hours early.
And based on our early
tracking, it's already set
to break several records.
Without spending one dime on promotion,
thanks to the nosy media.
You're welcome.
Well, according to one of the bloggers
you had up in here,
and I quote, "Lucious is
not right in the head."
Getting tired, Shine.
Um...
I'm gonna be honest with you.
Lucious is suffering from a TBI,
a traumatic brain injury.
But he has made tremendous progress.
Uh... This album is
proof of that progress.
And he will be back to 100% very soon.
You have my word.
We hope so, Cookie.
And we appreciate your honesty, finally.
But we must protect this company
from stockholder liability.
Given everything that's
happened, it's imperative
that we bring in
someone from the outside.
I knew you bitches were gonna say that.
I'm sure you all know who
the great Eddie Barker is.
I don't need to run down his résumé.
He's one of the most revered
executives in the history
- of the music business.
- Yes.
Mm-hmm. Your mouth is
dropped. Pick it up.
Since you don't want
me to do this alone,
you got to have a man
standing over me or beside me,
how about Eddie Barker? He's family.
'Cause, see, what you're not gonna do
is bring somebody from the
outside who's not family
and force them on us.
Are you saying Mr. Barker
would come on board at Empire?
Eddie?
I don't think there's a person alive
who could refuse this woman.
In what capacity?
Special advisor to your CEO,
Cookie Lyon.
- That makes me very happy.
- That I can get on board with.
- Yes.
- Amazing.
I need yellow.
- I need yellow.
- Here.
Here's some yellow.
Bring this in.
Give me the red.
Give me drums and give me bass.
Do you hear that? Do you see that?
I want the strings to
come in just like that.
Make sure it's strong.
Let me just swirl it
around a bit. Yellow.
Yeah, it's... I'm in a
room. It's familiar, it's...
Is the yellow bringing up
any particular memory?
- I remember...
- To the Empire.
To the Empire!
I remember this... feeling.
I remember.
I remember what this is.
All the memories.
I remember.
Andre.
They took her away.
Do you understand what's happening?
Your synapses are reawakening
because your connection
between the music
and the color. This is amazing.
I fought for them.
I remember you.
I remember...
You're my muse.
- It's you.
- Lucious.
It's me.
I love you.
Hakeem?
- Baby, hey.
- Thanks for coming, baby.
Where's Bella?
She's okay. She's in the
carriage. She's asleep.
- Okay.
- T, I love you.
- Let's go.
- Yeah, I love you, too. And that's why
- we can't go...
- Boy!
- Where are you going?
- Mom.
Don't you see what's happening?
They're trying to take
Bella, and I can't let that
- happen again.
- Come here. Come here.
- Uh-uh.
- Mom, let go!
I can't lose Bella, Mom.
And I can't lose you.
Look.
We are Lyons.
We don't run, okay?
We stick together and we fight.
And when we do that, nobody can beat us.
I did some things.
I don't care what you did, Hakeem.
You are my son.
You are my blood, and I love you.
I will ride with you
until the end of time.
Don't you know that?
Come here.
Good morning to you.
Don't look at my scars.
Why you covering up the scars?
You ashamed of them?
You shouldn't be.
Well, they're not very pretty.
Well, that's what you say.
They're beautiful to me.
Thank you.
For really seeing me.
I was so surprised
when you said it before.
But I love you, too.
- Really?
- I love what we're creating.
I mean, this... breakthrough,
the excitement of it, I-I mean...
What do you think
about me writing a book?
I think you misunderstood.
I mean, I... don't mean like
I'm gonna take ownership.
You're the artist.
And I'm... just so
happy to be your muse.
Claudia...
You're not my muse.
Cookie's my muse.
That's what I remembered
last night in the painting.
I mean, it... it all came back to me.
I don't think you can trust
all of your memories yet.
I mean, we... we were at the lion.
And you said,
would I come with you.
Dwight, remember? You...
I love Cookie.
You and me. Dwight, remember?
Stop calling me Dwight.
My name is Lucious.
No. No, there is no Lucious.
Lucious is gone.
It's Dwight.
No, my name is Lucious.
Uh, what the hell is going on here?
I think you should go and
I need to be alone with him.
I think he's a little
bit confused right now.
I think the only one
confused here is you.
You don't give orders in my house.
Now, you did a wonderful job.
I feel great.
My office will send you a
check. You may leave now.
Uh, well, you heard the man.
Is there anyone you would
like for me to call for you?
Hello?
Webb! Juanita?
Can you take Claudia
up to her room so she
can pull it together?
Yes, ma'am.
Uh, girl, you better get.
- Let's go.
- Uh, Juanita, find out where it is
she needs to go, and help her pack
all her things and get
her on up out of here.
Okay, Miss Cookie. Don't
worry. I'll take care of it.
I know you will.
I knew that bitch was crazy.
I should've followed my gut.
Cookie.
I want to tell you something.
It's gonna have to wait,
Lucious. We can't be late
for Bella's court hearing.
And-and you got to clean yourself up.
Cookie, I want to tell
you what I remembered.
I know. I would love to
hear what you remembered,
but it's been a long morning,
and we cannot be late for court, okay?
Hurry up. Tell me in the car.
I'm back.
Yeah.
I'm back.
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
---
- Previously on Empire...
- Lucious, what are you doing?
It relaxes me.
He only ever comes here with Eddie.
- Eddie?
- Eddie Barker.
You don't know the great super producer?
He doesn't remember me, Cook.
He has a traumatic brain injury.
He can't remember anything.
While Lucious continues his sabbatical,
we will produce and release a new album
for every year we
have been in operation.
They work fast.
The final edition will be lethal.
You can choose a
different path right now.
- Would you come with me?
- Yes.
Angelo is here as my attorney.
I am suing for sole custody of Bella.
Listen, we have two
days until your hearing,
so take me through this one more time.
Ms. Calhoun, Bella's mom,
was engaged to your father?
- Yes.
- No. He had already broke it off
with her before they hooked up.
I would like to hear Hakeem tell it.
Oh, you want to hear Hakeem tell you
how he played hisself from jump?
Listen, Skip is the best custody lawyer
in the city... just answer him.
Go ahead, Hakeem. Tell 'em.
All right, look, me and
Anika, we hooked up as payback.
But we both was mad at
my father at the time.
- Right, Mom?
- Yes, boy.
The second time...
- Oh... so there was more than one.
- Oh...
you think I was being
sarcastic for no reason?
I was messed up in the head.
Things wasn't going good.
Then I found out she was
pregnant six months later.
Yeah, too late to do anything about it,
if you know what I mean.
Yo, Thirsty, watch how
you talk about Bella, man.
- Calm down.
- Relax, young Simba, that's not what I meant.
All right, and you and Ms. Brown here
have been raising the child?
Yes. Well, only while
Anika was locked up.
But it's not like I'm trying
to be her mother or anything.
And Bella's now totally
attached to Tiana.
She hardly knows Anika.
Porsha, what? I'm in a meeting.
What?
Okay.
Somebody turn on TMZ.
Years of struggling and straining.
Now we come to the
lowdown on Lucious Lyon,
who is getting ready to
celebrate the 20th anniversary
of Empire. According to reports,
he has been suffering from
post-traumatic amnesia.
Yeah, we're hearing he
doesn't remember his sons
or even his ex-wife, Cookie Lyon,
and he's been lying about it for months.
So he has been defrauding, uh,
all of the Empire shareholders?
Uh, kind of like a black Bernie Madoff.
The guy's already lost a leg.
Uh, if he's playing with people's money,
he is about to lose something else.
Morning, Detective.
Oh...
I did not mean to spend the night.
Yeah, it was a really big imposition.
Mm.
This, we're not doing.
We are not doing sleepovers.
Absolutely right. Get out.
Well, since I'm here...
I was just going to hand it to you.
Now you don't have to.
Something about my father's case?
Now, you know I can't
talk to you about that.
Well, you're doing a lot
of things that you, uh,
shouldn't be doing.
I guess we both just like
to live on the edge, now, don't we?
And I'm not talking to you
about your father's case,
unless, of course, there's
something you want to confess.
Hmm.
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
Dwight, I...
I crossed a line with you.
And I really need to get
a handle on my feelings.
Why?
Because it's... unprofessional.
Some would say unethical.
And if anybody were to find out...
Like who? Cookie?
You're worried she's going
to find out about this?
N-No, I'm not afraid of Cookie.
This...
...it's just, um...
it's my commitment,
it's my responsibility.
My sole purpose for being here
is to help you recover your memory.
I owe that to you. I
owe it to your family.
I want to remember, but...
...then again, I don't want to remember.
I think the reason I'm so conflicted
is I want to help you
recover your memory...
...but I want to help
you to become the man
you want to be.
I want to help you to become Dwight.
Is there...
is there anything about Lucious
you think you could embrace?
His music.
Lucious, we have us a problem.
And I bet you that bitch
Anika leaked the damn story.
Wait a minute, you paid her $25 million.
Well, that's what it got us.
Then, good. Then nobody
has to pretend anymore.
Lucious, yes, it is a big problem, okay,
because the board is up my ass.
Okay, for months, I've
been fighting to protect
the legacy you built,
but I can't do it anymore.
So you're gonna have to come
with me and tell these people
that this is fake news.
Sorry, Claudia.
No problem.
Lucious! Mr. Lyon!
Uh, I may need you to make a
statement about his condition.
As long as you don't expect me to lie.
Hello.
Morning.
Thank you.
Shareholders are bombarding
us with questions.
Investors are threatening to sue.
And if we've been defrauding
our stockholders...
No one's defrauding anyone here.
Can you all just give
us a chance to speak?
I want to hear Lucious speak.
Seem like he been
absent. Like he's hiding.
How you feeling, L?
Been back in the studio?
Moonshine. My dear old friend.
It's not about friendship now.
It's about you losing your marbles,
and my 25% percent right along with it.
Hey, okay, look, you
wouldn't have a percentage
if it wasn't for Lucious,
so if I was you, I'd stay in my lane.
We just need straight answers.
Lucious, what, exactly,
is your medical condition?
I'm sorry, I don't answer to you.
Nor do I answer to you or
anybody else in this room.
Now, the last time I checked,
Empire's stock was worth
more than it's ever been,
Thanks to sale of my catalog,
thanks to the kindness
of someone who wanted to blow me up.
So, I think y'all can skip me
with these questions.
Okay, all right, thank you, Lucious.
So, are we done here?
We'd still like a medical evaluation.
Bitch, I would like a medical
evaluation of everybody
on this board, but I
can't have that, can I?
You know what, we are too
busy running this Empire
to do this with y'all.
Lucious is here to oversee the remixes
for the first 20 For 20...
we don't have time for this.
Mr. Lyon, can you give
a quick statement...?
What are we gonna tell
those reporters, Cookie?
What if I invite the press...
to follow him for 48 hours?
Hmm? The album drops right on time.
Will that be enough for
everyone to calm the hell down?
- I guess so.
- That could be good.
Seems risky.
- Is that good for you, Lucious?
- Damn good.
Looks like we got us a deal.
♪ I think she love me,
'cause I got the check on me ♪
♪ Wan' spend the day and flex on me ♪
♪ Put a curse and hex on me ♪
♪ Scratch out my name,
put the "X" on me... ♪
Sorry I can't get coffee with you,
but the board is freaking out,
my mom's rallying the troops.
So I got to get my ass in the studio.
Ah, don't worry about it.
That's what I love about your family.
Dave, you can drop me right here
and then drop Warren off to his office.
Don't worry about it.
I'll get out with you.
- I'm gonna catch the subway.
- All right.
All right.
Jamal, what luck.
Now I don't have to worry
about talking my way inside.
You dropped that. Ah, got you.
That's actually a subpoena.
So I guess I'll be seeing you
at, uh, Bella's custody hearing.
- Call security.
- Hey, easy. Easy now.
You know you don't need
any more legal problems.
Look, you gave him the
subpoena, so why don't you
just get the hell out of here?
Okay. Who is this,
your latest rent boy?
'Cause he's, uh, he's taller
and dumber than I thought.
Okay, take care.
Oh, shoot, I almost forgot.
Have you ever wondered how the press got
all those dirty little
details about your pops?
Your trick looks thirsty.
- Jamal...
- Just ignore what he said.
He's been salty since my
mom dropped his stupid ass.
Good looking out.
This is so risky, Cookie.
I know that Dwight's
gonna want to do this
because he cares about his family...
Wait, you go by Dwight now?
Never mind, child.
But he hasn't even reconnected
with his musicality.
I don't even know if you know
your way around a recording studio.
That's why Becky is
here. She can help him.
- Becky?!
- Yeah, Becky.
You want me to teach Lucious Lyon
how to produce music? How?
- You are being so dramatic.
- Well,
you don't really have to
teach me anything, Becky.
I just need you to navigate the room.
Like a Sherpa.
And the studio is our mountain.
And what if I'm afraid of heights?
You've spent more time with him
in the studio than anyone, Becky, okay?
Just give him a few
tips about how he rolls,
and let us know it's safe
to bring the press in here.
- Press?
- Exactly. Yes.
Yes! You can do, you can do.
Okay, then, I think that I need
to stick close by him this time.
Okay, look, you may not know how to lie,
but Lucious is good at it.
I don't care... long as those
reporters buy it, I'm good.
So, Bella's mother,
your one-time stepmother,
was charged with the murder
of your father's brother?
- Half brother. okay?
- Look, FYI.
Anika's lawyer, Angelo Dubois,
he used to kick it with Hakeem's mom.
Pretty.
I can't make this up. Just to add
a little, you know,
gasoline to the fire.
Look, man, I need your
word they're not gonna try
to take my baby away from me again.
Well, any more twisted relationships
between your two families?
Anything you're leaving out?
I need to know everything.
That's it.
Then you have my word.
That's great, Bella.
Y'all been granted
access behind the scenes
to get a sneak peak into
the mind of a musical genius.
Oh, excuse me, Cookie.
Uh, these are Lucious' top ten
choices for the album cover.
Uh, narrow it down to three,
and make sure you get
him to sign off on it.
Copy.
Oh, and you did have him sign off
on Titan and Delphine's remix?
You mean the one you d...
Hey.
Yes.
- Yes, I did.
- Okay, so...
our first 20 For 20 is a compilation
of Lucious's number one hits.
Who's ready to see history be remade?
- Oh, yeah.
- Follow me.
♪ It's so hard to believe ♪
♪ That you're not here with me ♪
♪ I really missed my chance ♪
♪ It's so hard to understand ♪
♪ But now I'm wondering, would you ♪
♪ Let me try again? ♪
Wow.
- Are you okay?
- ♪ Do you remember me? ♪
I just realized something.
♪ Do you still think of me? ♪
It's like a door opened up. Hmm.
Okay. But do you
remember what we planned?
♪ At night ♪
♪ Every time you dream... ♪
Veronica, stop. Stop, stop, stop.
That little part right
there, that deserves...
that deserves all of your power.
Not just some of it.
Now, I need you to imagine
that if, after all these years,
if everything you've ever sacrificed,
of being able to sing
in front of the world,
if this moment was going
to be taken away from you,
because you didn't give
it everything you've got.
And I need you to sing
like you're gonna lose it
at this moment.
Knows his stuff.
- It's incredible.
- Wow.
That's his genius.
Take her back to the beginning.
Take her back.
♪ Here I sit ♪
♪ All alone ♪
♪ Wondering what went wrong ♪
♪ It's so hard ♪
♪ To believe ♪
♪ That you're not here ♪
♪ With me. ♪
Getting greedy, aren't we?
Not so fast, big boy.
I'm here on business.
Ah, what kind of business?
Your boy, Shine Johnson.
- He's not my boy.
- Vegas Metro's
got video cam footage
of him near the garage
where your father was getting
his car detailed the night of.
So?
My father and Shine are friends.
They go way back.
Our investigation says
they're more like rivals.
You know, they've had
their ups and downs.
I highly doubt Shine had anything to do
with my father's car bombing.
Well, that's what he said
when we questioned him today.
I asked you about my dad's case,
and you got all tight-lipped.
Why the sudden change?
- He threw shade your way, Andre.
- Shade?
I'm just giving you an opportunity
to get in front of it.
Get in front of it?
Look, I already told Vegas
Metro everything I know.
Okay.
You're in front of it, then.
- I got to get back to work.
- So soon?
Yeah.
Hey.
Tony and Jamal are remaking "You Won't,"
which was made famous in the '90s
by Lucious and Schoolly D.
Uh, interesting choice for Jamal.
Uh, Lucious, do you still
stand by those lyrics?
A lot of people find
them pretty offensive.
I stand behind everything
I've ever done, lady.
Yeah, you know what? We're
actually still working on it.
So, Dad, maybe everybody could
come back a little bit later?
Good idea. Okay.
Oh, yeah, and you know what?
Shine actually needs
your ear in studio three,
- so why don't we all just go...
- Uh, Cookie,
- I don't, um...
- What is the pr...?
Uh, no problem. Just
Shine, maybe we can wait.
- It's fine.
- Seems a little tense in here.
Is there any truth to the
rumors about Lucious's memory?
Oh, no, no. There's no
truth about any rumors.
And if that's what y'all
are snooping around for,
you're in the wrong
place. You know what?
- Let's go. Let's go...
- Everyone,
just follow me.
Mm-hmm, don't be
cutting your eyes at me,
little Annie.
Come on.
As we were.
Hey.
Remember, you would say,
"What you got for me, Shine?"
Not "Moonshine." Shine. Okay?
You better not play me
in front of the press
like you did in the boardroom.
Only thing I'm playing
is the music, Cookie.
Yeah, and it'd better be good, Shine.
Welcome.
- What you got for me, Shine?
- You guys ready for this?
Yes, we're on a deadline.
Ant, turn me up.
Let's go.
♪ Black mask, red eyes,
green case, no face ♪
♪ Cold heart, tribe on my mind ♪
♪ Got to take it back, it's go time ♪
♪ Black mask, red eyes,
green case, no face ♪
♪ Cold heart, tribe on my
mind, got to take it back ♪
♪ It's go time, black mask, red eyes ♪
♪ Green case, no face ♪
- ♪ Cold heart, tribe on my mind... ♪
- CLAUDIA: Hey.
I saw that.
Tell me what you're seeing.
♪ No face, cold heart, tribe on
my mind, got to take it back ♪
- ♪ It's go time... ♪
- Red.
Crimson red.
Like blood.
♪ These pigs done really
got beside they self... ♪
Come on, L. Let's turn up!
Just ignore him.
Are you seeing any other colors?
♪ But they's counterfeit... ♪
Come on, turn it off.
Turn it off!
♪ From the last young
brother that they... ♪
It's just anger with no purpose.
Keep working on it,
Shine, and do better.
I know what I'm doing, okay? I'm
going to get one of my people.
Okay, Lucious, why don't
you work with Veronica, huh?
You seem to be comfortable with that.
I-If I can just have
a little bit of time alone with him,
I think I could really help.
I-I know what I need to do, okay?
Uh, Lucious, you can't just...
Okay, I said I would stick close.
I'm gonna bring him back.
Uh, that's-that's-that's
off the record.
Yeah, off the record. Delete.
You heard him. He's
bringing in one of his O.G.s.
Go get coffee, take a break.
- Yeah, I say we send them home.
- No.
Claudia promised she
would bring him back.
Just give them a couple of minutes.
- All right? Patience.
- Look, I don't like
to be the bearer of bad news,
but the board is saying that...
Look, I don't give a
damn what the board says.
Okay, what is the board saying?
If the album doesn't drop as scheduled,
and Empire takes another
hit in the press...
...they're gonna ask you to step down.
Damn.
Oh, if Lucious was here, he
could finesse those fools,
and lace them tracks if he
could remember a damn thing.
Okay, go ahead, send them home.
That's the best you
can do at this point...
Just...
Hey, guys, look.
Is that Eddie Barker?
- I'm-a go check on Hakeem
and the lawyer. - Okay. Bye.
That's Eddie Barker.
- Hey.
- Eddie.
Hey.
Lucious told me we were
going to make some music.
Yes!
- I pushed off my trip to Barbados.
- Thank you.
And then meet me in the conference room.
He may not remember this place,
but he knows you care about it, so...
I told y'all I was bringing an O.G.
See? I told you.
I told you Lucious was pulling together
some of the most incredible producers
to finish this album.
And only he could get Eddie Barker
back in the booth.
I told Lu that I might need
him to nudge me a little bit
'cause it's been a while since I've been
back in the studio.
I love you so much for this.
I love you, too. Come on.
Let's go make some music.
Tiana, baby.
I would like for you
to meet Eddie Barker.
He's gonna produce
your track with Lucious.
Yo, Lucious Lyon and Eddie Barker?
All right, now, sit your ass
down, babe. That's enough.
- Wow.
- I love your stuff, Tiana.
I'm honored to be working with you.
Oh, my God. Um, seriously.
Y-You're a legend.
No, sweetheart, tonight, it's all about
this legend right here.
What's the megahit that
we're gonna be remixing
for this lovely, amazing woman?
Um, actually, Lucious is insistent
on having Tiana and
Hakeem do "Hate the Game"
from Paid in Cash, right?
Great, so where's Hakeem?
Um, he needs a minute.
He had, like, 136, though,
so what's the problem?
Uh, how about we hear your
part while we wait for Hakeem?
You okay with that, Lu?
Yeah, I mean, if you're good, I'm good.
- Jump in the booth?
- Cool.
♪ When you out here in the
cold, you can't trust a soul ♪
♪ Got to play your cards,
you can never fold ♪
♪ If you call yourself a man,
you got to hold your ground ♪
♪ Make a plan and don't let
nobody hold you down... ♪
Quiet as it's kept, this, uh,
is one of Cookie's favorites.
Ain't that right, Cook?
Don't do that. Don't do that.
♪ That gon' getcha killed... ♪
Look, don't be modest.
Look, you've shared so
much with these fine people.
Why not share why this is your favorite?
Well, because y'all always like
to give Lucious all the credit.
I guess 'cause he's a man.
But I pimped this bitch. All of it.
♪ Because a pimp gon' be a pimp ♪
♪ A player gonna play the game ♪
♪ A pimp gon' be a pimp ♪
♪ Don't hate the
player, hate the game ♪
♪ Don't hate the
player, hate the game ♪
♪ Don't hate the
player, hate the game ♪
♪ Don't hate the
player, hate the game ♪
♪ Don't hate the player,
hate the game... ♪
I'm starting to understand
what's happening when I hear music.
Yes, I know, I know,
I know, you said that.
All right, let me call you back.
A prostitute just wandered in.
All right. What do you want?
Just what was you trying
to do out there, Angelo?
- Blow my cover in front of Jamal?
- I was just making sure
you were keeping your
eyes on the prize, cuz.
Well, I don't need you to do that, cuz.
You know, you were
looking really passionate
for a brother who's supposed
to pretend he's in love.
Well, if I'm convincing
you, then I'm doing my job.
You're sprung. I'm telling Mama
and then you're gonna kick rocks.
Ain't nobody afraid of your mama
but your bitch ass.
You're Mama's boy.
You got the whole
family messed up, anyway.
And you should be helping me help...
Diana! It's Hakeem Lyon.
- We need to talk.
- Go.
- It ain't over.
- Go.
Can I help you?
No. I need to talk to your mother.
Ah, she's unavailable.
Uh, does this drive-by
have anything to do with
your custody hearing?
Look, Hakeem, do yourself a favor.
Just grant Anika full custody.
To hell with you.
I'm a way better parent than Anika.
All right, well, I guess
you can blame your ego
when you hear, uh, little Bella
calling some other dude "Daddy."
Oh.
Okay.
Did you know that judges frown
upon fathers that can't
really control their temper?
Yeah, so,
I'll see your dumb ass in court.
I'll be home when I get ready.
All right.
Stop blowing up my phone, woman.
All right, I love you.
Don't blow up my...
You talking to the cops?!
You trying to get shot?
I'm not going down for
what you did, Shine.
- What I did?
- Yeah, what you did.
What we did!
You the only one running
around, talking to the cops
when they hemmed your
ass up a few weeks ago.
You didn't talk to the police today?
Not today. Not yesterday. Not ever!
You confusing me with somebody
who talks to the police.
Now boss up.
And stop running around here,
scared like a little bitch.
You're right.
You're not pitting me
against my family anymore.
You want to tell 'em what we did?
Tell 'em.
Yo, Andre.
Yo, Keem. Uh, according to my dude,
these passports right here,
they'll take care of you and baby girl,
all right, man?
And we got a jet on standby?
- Yeah, gassed and ready.
- This card right here,
that's the number for the dude in Cuba.
Call him when you get there.
He'll take care of you guys.
Look, man, once you flex,
they can't bring you
back. No extradition.
You're gonna be good.
You and Bella.
There she is.
What's up?
"What's up?"
Why you been ignoring my texts?
Hmm? What's going on?
I'm going to Cuba with Bella, T.
Cuba? Hakeem... is this a joke?
'Cause I don't have time for this.
Look, if I don't leave now,
they'll take Bella for good.
I want you to come with us.
- Come inside, this sounds crazy.
- No, what's crazy
was letting her get away with
taking Bella in the first place.
She did it before,
she'll do it again, T.
She who? Anika?
Look, T, I know it's a lot to ask for,
but I can't be without Bella or you.
Please. We'll leave in the morning.
They need me back in the studio.
Look, um, let me wrap this
up and I'll cover for you.
And I'll meet you at the airport.
You for real?
Promise.
I promise.
- Don't leave without me, okay?
- All right, babe.
♪ Baby, do you remember me? ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ I'll do anything ♪
♪ To make you ♪
♪ Understand ♪
♪ Oh, that I'll... ♪
- You good, Lu?
- Yeah.
I remember when you wrote this song.
Was right after Cookie went away.
♪ Again... ♪
You built this empire to show
Cookie how much you loved her.
Listen to this.
♪ Oh... ♪
Feel the love
just pouring out of every, every note.
♪ The same... ♪
I feel it.
♪ Do you remember me? ♪
Was that good for you, Lucious?
It's so beautiful, V.
I felt every single note.
Hey. Why don't you take a break?
Grab yourself something to eat.
I got to get these fools out of here.
They've heard enough already.
Okay, well, that is that.
Thank you for coming. Write
something good. All right.
- Thank you.
- I got to get back to work.
Thank you.
That was good, V. That was beautiful.
- Thanks.
- We're gonna do it one more time.
Just-just fall into
it, trust your power.
It's all right, it's coming. It's there.
- Let's do it.
- Just relax into it. Yeah.
Why is it when I hear
music, I see color?
Have you ever heard of synesthesia?
I want you to listen to this
and tell me what color you see.
Key of "G."
Blue.
This is my song.
I'm holding my music in my hand.
Yes, you are.
I remember this feeling.
Can you describe what it is?
Shh, shh, shh, shh.
And what the hell is going on in here?
He has synesthesia.
I already know about his amnesia.
No, no, synesthesia.
It's where he listens
to music and sees colors.
His brain's been rewired.
Yeah, but he ain't
listening to no music.
No, he asked me to turn it off.
The only music he's listening to is
the music in his head right now.
Lucious.
Lucious?
No, that's not what he's doing at all.
♪ Truth or dare, never
tell you a lie... ♪
Lucious.
Y'all need to be quiet.
Dad.
He don't even hear you.
I know that look in his eyes.
He's not listening to music.
He's making music.
♪ 'Cause you won't bring me down ♪
♪ I won't be pulled down ♪
♪ You won't push me out ♪
♪ You won't, you won't ♪
♪ Your words can't kill my joy ♪
♪ My light won't be destroyed ♪
♪ My love won't be ignored ♪
♪ And if there's an eye for an eye ♪
♪ It'll leave both men blind ♪
♪ Dr. King said it clearly ♪
♪ I know it's hard, but believe me ♪
♪ If we let go our faith ♪
♪ Love will never win the race, no ♪
♪ Peace and truth is the healing ♪
♪ Shed your light on your enemy. ♪
Well, there he is.
- Here I am.
- How you doing?
- What's up, Uncle Eddie?
- All right. Ah.
- How you doing, man?
- Good.
So, that was almost a complete reverse
of Lucious's arrangement, right?
Yes, sir. You like it?
The track's cool.
The lyrics, not so much.
There's a difference
between a remix and a remake.
I broke that song on the radio
for your dad 20 years ago.
Yeah, but Uncle Eddie,
what am I supposed to do?
I'm supposed to sing lyrics like,
uh, "Won't catch me with no fairy"
or "Shoot 'em down like a sniper"?
You youngsters still take
everything so literally.
Your father wrote that song in
response to a political assault
on hip-hop at that time.
I know. I know.
Tipper Gore was snatching rappers' wigs
in a congressional hearing. Still...
And Lu responded with
that song, using his voice
as a declaration of his
right to free speech.
Yeah, and free speech does
not have to be hateful.
So with all due respect,
I'm not buying it.
You were always too smart
for your own damn good.
All right, what about this?
You make that
the intention behind
your singing on that song.
We lay in some of the
tracks from the hearing.
And we make it clear that
you're commenting on free speech.
I mean, that could be dope.
Yeah.
All right. Damn you, Uncle Eddie.
- Be waiting on that.
- All right, I got you.
All right.
We got work to do.
Lucious stayed up all night
so that we could complete this album.
He went home exhausted.
But as promised, I present to you:
Lucious Lyon, Memory.
It's incredible.
And with this painting
as the cover art for the first
of Empire's 20 For 20 albums
produced by my father,
we have been exclusively launched
on Empire XStream this morning.
A whole 24 hours early.
And based on our early
tracking, it's already set
to break several records.
Without spending one dime on promotion,
thanks to the nosy media.
You're welcome.
Well, according to one of the bloggers
you had up in here,
and I quote, "Lucious is
not right in the head."
Getting tired, Shine.
Um...
I'm gonna be honest with you.
Lucious is suffering from a TBI,
a traumatic brain injury.
But he has made tremendous progress.
Uh... This album is
proof of that progress.
And he will be back to 100% very soon.
You have my word.
We hope so, Cookie.
And we appreciate your honesty, finally.
But we must protect this company
from stockholder liability.
Given everything that's
happened, it's imperative
that we bring in
someone from the outside.
I knew you bitches were gonna say that.
I'm sure you all know who
the great Eddie Barker is.
I don't need to run down his résumé.
He's one of the most revered
executives in the history
- of the music business.
- Yes.
Mm-hmm. Your mouth is
dropped. Pick it up.
Since you don't want
me to do this alone,
you got to have a man
standing over me or beside me,
how about Eddie Barker? He's family.
'Cause, see, what you're not gonna do
is bring somebody from the
outside who's not family
and force them on us.
Are you saying Mr. Barker
would come on board at Empire?
Eddie?
I don't think there's a person alive
who could refuse this woman.
In what capacity?
Special advisor to your CEO,
Cookie Lyon.
- That makes me very happy.
- That I can get on board with.
- Yes.
- Amazing.
I need yellow.
- I need yellow.
- Here.
Here's some yellow.
Bring this in.
Give me the red.
Give me drums and give me bass.
Do you hear that? Do you see that?
I want the strings to
come in just like that.
Make sure it's strong.
Let me just swirl it
around a bit. Yellow.
Yeah, it's... I'm in a
room. It's familiar, it's...
Is the yellow bringing up
any particular memory?
- I remember...
- To the Empire.
To the Empire!
I remember this... feeling.
I remember.
I remember what this is.
All the memories.
I remember.
Andre.
They took her away.
Do you understand what's happening?
Your synapses are reawakening
because your connection
between the music
and the color. This is amazing.
I fought for them.
I remember you.
I remember...
You're my muse.
- It's you.
- Lucious.
It's me.
I love you.
Hakeem?
- Baby, hey.
- Thanks for coming, baby.
Where's Bella?
She's okay. She's in the
carriage. She's asleep.
- Okay.
- T, I love you.
- Let's go.
- Yeah, I love you, too. And that's why
- we can't go...
- Boy!
- Where are you going?
- Mom.
Don't you see what's happening?
They're trying to take
Bella, and I can't let that
- happen again.
- Come here. Come here.
- Uh-uh.
- Mom, let go!
I can't lose Bella, Mom.
And I can't lose you.
Look.
We are Lyons.
We don't run, okay?
We stick together and we fight.
And when we do that, nobody can beat us.
I did some things.
I don't care what you did, Hakeem.
You are my son.
You are my blood, and I love you.
I will ride with you
until the end of time.
Don't you know that?
Come here.
Good morning to you.
Don't look at my scars.
Why you covering up the scars?
You ashamed of them?
You shouldn't be.
Well, they're not very pretty.
Well, that's what you say.
They're beautiful to me.
Thank you.
For really seeing me.
I was so surprised
when you said it before.
But I love you, too.
- Really?
- I love what we're creating.
I mean, this... breakthrough,
the excitement of it, I-I mean...
What do you think
about me writing a book?
I think you misunderstood.
I mean, I... don't mean like
I'm gonna take ownership.
You're the artist.
And I'm... just so
happy to be your muse.
Claudia...
You're not my muse.
Cookie's my muse.
That's what I remembered
last night in the painting.
I mean, it... it all came back to me.
I don't think you can trust
all of your memories yet.
I mean, we... we were at the lion.
And you said,
would I come with you.
Dwight, remember? You...
I love Cookie.
You and me. Dwight, remember?
Stop calling me Dwight.
My name is Lucious.
No. No, there is no Lucious.
Lucious is gone.
It's Dwight.
No, my name is Lucious.
Uh, what the hell is going on here?
I think you should go and
I need to be alone with him.
I think he's a little
bit confused right now.
I think the only one
confused here is you.
You don't give orders in my house.
Now, you did a wonderful job.
I feel great.
My office will send you a
check. You may leave now.
Uh, well, you heard the man.
Is there anyone you would
like for me to call for you?
Hello?
Webb! Juanita?
Can you take Claudia
up to her room so she
can pull it together?
Yes, ma'am.
Uh, girl, you better get.
- Let's go.
- Uh, Juanita, find out where it is
she needs to go, and help her pack
all her things and get
her on up out of here.
Okay, Miss Cookie. Don't
worry. I'll take care of it.
I know you will.
I knew that bitch was crazy.
I should've followed my gut.
Cookie.
I want to tell you something.
It's gonna have to wait,
Lucious. We can't be late
for Bella's court hearing.
And-and you got to clean yourself up.
Cookie, I want to tell
you what I remembered.
I know. I would love to
hear what you remembered,
but it's been a long morning,
and we cannot be late for court, okay?
Hurry up. Tell me in the car.
I'm back.
Yeah.
I'm back.
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.