Empire (2015–…): Season 6, Episode 10 - Cold Cold Man - full transcript

GISELLE: Previously on Empire...

- I wanna buy your shares.
- Why would I sell?

We'll see.

There's almost no downside risk.

I don't need you anymore.

I'm not going anywhere.

You know, you're more
than just an artist.

That's easy to say
from the sidelines, Cookie.

You're a star, Melody.

(DRAMATIC HIP-HOP MUSIC)

I've been carrying these
around for some time now.



LUCIOUS: You want a divorce?

It's time.

You think Lucious is your hero?

Well, he's not.

He owes you everything.

(LUCIOUS' "PAID IN CASH" PLAYING)

LUCIOUS: ♪ Yeah, I need all that ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Run me my money ♪

♪ Cash, dollars, dinero ♪

♪ Who do you think? ♪

♪ Yeah, I got the hood on lock ♪

♪ People whisper my name ♪

Don't nobody tell me when it's time.



- (CELL PHONE RINGING)
- I say when it's time.

♪ Yeah, bosses don't brag ♪

♪ Gangstas don't advertise ♪

- Hey, bitch.
- TRACY (OVER PHONE): Lucious.

Lucious, don't hang up.

Philly... Philly Street,

he's ranting about how
it was you all along,

and he's finally gonna make you pay!

Bitches talk a lot of crap.

No! You have to listen to me.

He is carrying.
He's on his way to kill you!

LUCIOUS: ♪ Money don't sleep,
so I slept at the trap house ♪

♪ Got tired of running out of luck ♪

♪ Trying to make a buck ♪

♪ Just to end up in county ♪

♪ Till my time's up ♪

♪ Counting dollars, yeah ♪

♪ Now I'm big ballin', I'm pay ♪

♪ But I'm still the same
hitter from the old day ♪

- ♪ Yeah, I'm rich ♪
- (SCREEN BEEPING)

♪ But I'm still a gangsta ♪

♪ Run me my money ♪

♪ Hand over the paper ♪

♪ Make sure you pay me in cash ♪

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

♪ ♪

(LUCIOUS' "PAID IN CASH" PLAYING)

LUCIOUS: ♪ Dinero ♪

(GUN COCKING)

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

Go ahead, shoot me in my back.

It's what you do best.

♪ ♪

That's what you came to do to me.

♪ ♪

I feel your anger, brother.

It's deserved...

but it ain't gotta be that way.

♪ ♪

Look at me.

♪ ♪

I served 20 long years,

and every second was because of you.

♪ ♪

You're right.

(CHUCKLES)

So, what,

you gonna tell me another
fairy tale about Bunkie?

(LAUGHS)

Come on, let's hear it, Lucious.

Bunkie, Vernon, Shine...

♪ ♪

All true.

♪ ♪

But each and every one
of those stories

ends in tragedy.

(LIQUID POURS)

(BOTTLE CLATTERS)

When I tried to come up,

I was so desperate to make it

that I let the love of my life

go to jail for 17 years.

♪ ♪

And all I kept running into
was one gatekeeper

after another gatekeeper,

one white man after another white man

who put it in my head
that the only way

that I could make it is for
one of my own not to make it.

So if I had to go through you
or any-damn-body else,

then you damn right
I tried to take your ass out.

♪ ♪

I'm not gonna spend another moment,

I'm not gonna spend another night

thinking about killing the wrong man

over money I didn't even earn.

I guess it's too late, Lucious.

Hmm? It's too late.

Then pull the trigger, man.

♪ ♪

You've been down that road before.

Where'd it get you? 20 years.

(SIGHS)

The funny thing is, man,

I'm the gatekeeper now, and I can...

make you a king

with your own kingdom

where you don't have to use
your violence

for your currency.

Use your talent now.

♪ ♪

I'm not doing this no more,
Lucious...

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

Not for you...
or that crazy white bitch

getting me all riled up.

- White Tracy.
- Yeah.

She was the one that sent me.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

And now we here, Lucious.
We right here.

(SMACKS LIPS)

She called me

and said you were coming.

(LALA'S "ENERGY" PLAYING)

LALA: ♪ You wide open,
better shoot your shot ♪

♪ If I like it,
give it all I've got ♪

♪ I've been giving you
the cheat code ♪

♪ What's it gonna be, boy? ♪

♪ Can you catch my vibe?
Can you match my energy? ♪

- Yeah.
- LALA: ♪ My energy ♪

♪ Are you feeling me? Yeah, yeah ♪

She ain't quiet no more, is she?

- I knew she had it in her.
- No, you did not!

- I did.
- COOKIE: Sisters!

We are looking at a nomination

for Best New Artist, girl!

♪ Temptation ♪

♪ And if you're good,
I'll be waiting ♪

Yes, girl!

We need some champagne, then.

Yeah, I would chill on that

until the announcements come.

But we gotta get busy, though,
all right?

We need to come up with a theme.

I say sexy but smart,
nothing fake, honey.

With my contacts, we will set up

intimate performances
with private dinners

for the judges so they can hear Lala

at close range.

And then we'll set up the interviews

with the big talk shows...

Okay, well, actually, I was thinking

- full media takeover, okay?
- Yes.

Pop-up marketing, FYC billboards.

We need to do pop-ups
at high school football games

and college campuses and...

This is a private ASA vote,
Cookie, not a public one.

And these judges,
they didn't go to high school.

- But their children do.
- BECKY: Uh-huh

See, that... that's
what I'm saying, Giselle.

- (CELL PHONE BUZZES)
- LALA: ♪ Are you feeling me? ♪

Gotta take this.

LALA: ♪ Gotta match my energy ♪

♪ If you're into me ♪

♪ Catch my energy ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

She's coming in here
like she thinks she's the boss.

Okay, but, Giselle, she has
really good ideas, okay?

And hi, all of us are the boss.

That's the point of this
three-way union, right?

LALA: ♪ Can you match my energy? ♪

She's a Lyon, Becky.

LALA: ♪ Are you feeling me? Yeah ♪

LUCIOUS: I hate that damn painting.

COOKIE: You ain't the only one...

- It's a lie.
- Lucious, look,

you the one who bought
this stupid thing

when we couldn't even afford the AC.

Now, does that make sense?

Why don't you just take
the damn thing...

COOKIE: You know what, Lucious...

LUCIOUS: And I told you
they at the lawyer's office.

I don't want nothing from this house

but the clothes on my back.

And I'ma need you to get them
from your lawyer

- and get them to me.
- Well, you're gonna be

walking naked,
'cause I paid for the clothes

- on your back.
- With my pain!

- Get the damn papers!
- (LUCIOUS STAMMERS)

They've been at this for hours.

Oh, they're just warming up.

COOKIE: I don't want none
of this tacky stuff.

- Are we done?
- Hey!

Man, did you sign
the divorce papers or not?

I did... I told... I told you.

They're at my damn lawyer's office.

(STAMMERS MOCKINGLY)
What's wrong with you?

You having a heart attack, stupid?

D... I don't work for you!

I don't need to do a damn thing.

Get them to me. Yes, you do.

You don't tell me
what the hell I'm doing.

- If I may...
- What?

- You're the one trying to...
- LITTMAN: If I may... if I may,

there's one more thing.

I... I recovered it from
a family safety deposit box.

Um, I'm unsure of its value.

Uh, Juanita...

JUANITA: Mr. Littman,

would you please come with me
to the kitchen?

Please.

LITTMAN: (GROANS SOFTLY)

(CLEARS THROAT)

Okay, before we get on other things,

who gets Juanita?

I will flip a coin
for you for Juanita.

I want Mondays and I want Wednesdays.

Yeah, I'll flip you
on your head for her.

Flip you on your big-ass head.

(CHUCKLES)

(LAUGHS)

(MELANCHOLY MUSIC)

It's been a long time
since I've seen this.

♪ ♪

You know, I wore that every day

from the day you got locked up
until they set you free

and didn't need no more luck
after that.

Yeah, I remember putting this
on your neck.

♪ ♪

You said it would
always keep me safe.

♪ ♪

It did.

It was my dad's.

♪ ♪

You know, I'd like to keep it. It...

♪ ♪

Just to keep it safe.

♪ ♪

Okay, Lucious, you can keep it.

♪ ♪

Keep it safe.

♪ ♪

But I'ma need them divorce papers...

ASAP.

Thank you!

(DOOR CLICKS OPEN)

(UPBEAT HIP-HOP MUSIC)

WOMAN: ♪ Santa, forgive me,
I'm naughty ♪

♪ But first on my list is a 'rari ♪

BECKY: Looks good. Oh, wait.

Um, no, no, no, no. No red lights.

White lights only, and please
do not make them blink.

I hate when they blink.

Well, you're a mean one, Mr...

Stop calling me the Grinch.

Also, what are you wearing
to this ASA thing?

(WHISPERING) That's great.

What shoes are you wearing?
Are you gonna go full holiday?

Maybe the pink Louboutins
with the studs.

Close enough.

It's Christmas, not Valentine's Day.

(SCOFFS)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Who huffed in your cornflakes?

She didn't get it.

Who didn't get what?

The nomination.

Tiana or Lala,
they didn't get nominations.

Nobody from Bossy
got ASA nominations.

We were shut out?

We didn't have enough
grease for the right palm?

The ASA voters are the establishment.

They are the white, old,
edge-free establishment,

and they were never gonna vote
for anybody from Bossy, honey.

See, they hate when we win.

Our success proves their irrelevance.

Child, that's a tale as old as time.

Question is,
what we gonna do about it?

♪ ♪

(SIGHS) Is it too late just to pull

all of our artists
from consideration?

Stop asking! You know it's no.

Well, then what do you
suggest, Rebecca?

You're the one who overcommitted us

to buying all the booze

for a party that we're
not even invited to.

Uh-uh. Uh-uh.

(CHUCKLES) "We are not falling apart"

is my first piece of Bossy business.

Lest we forget it is all about you.

- Wow.
- It is about what I learned

sitting in between two catty bitches

at the Tea Talk:

the power of segue.

Let's change the narrative, mm,
from Lala to Melody.

Melody takes Lala's slot

at the ASA's nominating ceremony.

Let's make this
Melody's emotional out

and very loud reintroduction
to music.

GISELLE: Melody.

Isn't that the artist who gave

one performance to an empty venue?

Um...

She's given plenty of performances,

just as, uh...

(SOFTLY) Melvin.

Huh? What?

Melvin.

Are you trying to say Melvin?

Hey! Hey! See, that name is dead.

- Why can't I say Melvin?
- No.

Hey! That name is very offensive.

You know, you are proof

as to why we need
our first trans artist

to take an ASA stage.

We could get some praise.
We'll also get backlash.

- Exactly.
- But then that backlash will

get backlash, and that'll give
Bossy more promotion

than any nomination ever could.

GISELLE: Now, listen.

- (MOUTHING WORDS)
- GISELLE: I think shifting

the resources away from Lala

might be a good idea.

But why are we gonna make
the same exact mistake

and pour a whole bunch of money
into breaking a new artist

when we already have Tiana on deck

to give us something
professional and respectable?

Because professional and respectable,

that gets me going.

I can see that
on a vibrator package now.

Okay, vulgar, nasty...

You need to unwind
that tightness, okay?

Just bring it down a little bit.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!

Why don't we go back
to our respective places?

We've got some good plans.
Let's consider it.

You go back to your office.
We'll stay right here.

WOMAN: ♪ Mm ♪

♪ Mm-hmm ♪

("THE CHRISTMAS SONG" PLAYING)

♪ Chestnuts roasting
on an open fire ♪

ANDRE: Oh.

Look at that.

It's coming along, babe.

♪ ♪

Well, it's the baby's
first Christmas.

Feeling naughty or nice?

How'd you sign Prophetic?

WOMAN: ♪ Dressed up like Eskimos ♪

(SIGHS)

I showed him Empire's
holistic approach

to his ambitions beyond music.

(CHUCKLES)

You know, the thing
about young girls is that

they love to hear the sound
of their own voice.

Chastity couldn't wait
for me to hear hers.

What did she say?

Oh, you want me to say it out loud?

Whatever she said,
I guarantee it's extreme.

Okay, look, this is my business.

It's my world.

It's not how I choose
to operate, Teri.

Or is it?

We got married so quickly.

Do... do I even know
who you really are?

I'm the man who won Kelly Patel over

on the basis of his work.

WOMAN: ♪ And every mother's child ♪

Teri, that's the man...

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

That's the man that you showed me

I had inside, Teri,

and it's the only man
I'm interested in being.

Well, I hope that man
is more powerful

than the man who lied
straight to my face

like it was nothing.

♪ ♪

I will not let that happen again.

♪ ♪

(DRAMATIC PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)

♪ ♪

Mr. Lucious, you have a guest.

♪ ♪

Tell whoever it is to get lost.

Well, I was lost, but now I'm found.

(CHUCKLES)

Come in. Come in. I'm...

Come here, please.

- (BOTH LAUGH)
- Come here.

♪ ♪

Mm.

Mm-mm-mm.

I didn't expect you
to be here this soon.

I know.

I was trying to surprise you,
but, um,

should I go?

No, it's... just me, you know.

Cookie and I spent half the day

dividing up the assets
for the divorce, and it's...

Oh, wait, you filed?

Cookie filed.

Okay.

♪ ♪

But that doesn't make you
believe in us any less,

does it?

I am very well aware
of where you are, Lucious.

I could never take Cookie's place,

can only be myself
and see where I fit in,

if I fit in.

♪ ♪

(UPBEAT HIP-HOP MUSIC)

WOMAN: ♪ Bad girl,
and I mean business ♪

COOKIE: Over here, fellas.

WOMAN: ♪ I only hustle
with the queen, sis ♪

COOKIE: Right here.

WOMAN: ♪ We run these streets ♪

- ♪ Rock vintage, designer ♪
- COOKIE: And I need you

to put it right here

for all to see.

That's a fabulous piece.

I told you we couldn't trust her.

WOMAN: ♪ We do ♪

♪ Who run it? ♪

There you go. Easy.

Yes, thank you. (LAUGHS)

They in Cookie's hands now, baby.

Get the rest of my stuff.
Thank y'all.

GISELLE: Mm-hmm.

So you went behind my back,
Becky's back,

and moved on with
your little plan for Melody

without us agreeing to it.

I sure did, you're absolutely right.

But Melody isn't ready.

And if you are so determined to put

somebody shiny in Lala's place,

at least pick somebody
who's camera-ready,

like Tiana.

We cannot promote Bossy

using Empire's leftovers.

Oh, we got you, didn't we?

Ooh, well, look at you,

learning how to fight.

Why don't you fight for Bossy
instead of fighting me?

Okay? We need to launch Bossy

in the most bold,
outrageous way, okay?

Giselle, look,
we only got one shot, okay?

And that bullet has
Melody's name all over it.

You gotta trust me.

I don't agree.

This is a three-way partnership.

I'm voting no,

and Becky will vote no.

Well, I'm sorry, but Becky's
already voted yes, honey.

Uh, yeah, Giselle, I did.

So if my math serves me right,

that means we're doing it
Cookie's way, baby.

(LAUGHS) Ooh, lookee here.

("JINGLE BELLS")

Merry Christmas, bitch. (SMOOCHES)

MAN: ♪ Ho, ho, ho ♪

Okay, so you need to keep
your core tight on that.

- I got you.
- Good.

Is she gonna be behind me
right... um,

in front of me right here?

- Yes, she's gonna be center.
- In the center?

Instead, can I go around...

(SOFT MUSIC)

Hey.

♪ ♪

Okay, I got some exciting news, baby.

Okay, I'm available to be
your ASA partner.

Yes. (SNAPS FINGERS)

Now we can add some new moves
without having Treasure

looking like your drunk auntie
at a wedding.

You know the event
is tomorrow, right?

Yeah.

We've been working on this song
and this routine

for a month, baby.

There's no way that Empire's
gonna let me deviate this late.

Empire works for you.

Uh...

unless you're not interested.

Come here.

You are queen of the ASAs, Tiana.

You don't need to be performing
with no newbie.

Yeah, well, somebody
should have gave Bossy

the royal protocol, okay?

Because they mismanaged

all their resources at the ASAs.

Then they put everything into Lala,

and now nobody at the label
is even getting nominated.

Ah.

So that's why
you're suddenly available?

Look, babe, I'm not trying to be

all up under your shadow,
as curvy as it may be.

Listen, I can't let Bossy
cost me my crown,

not them or none of those
pro-choice haters.

I can't keep up with you.

Whose fault is your shutout now?

What are you trying to say?

I'm saying that I'm hearing

a lot of excuses
and not enough music.

Maybe this is a wake-up call for you

to get your head back in the game.

(SCOFFS) My head back in...

Okay, um, I was trying
to do you a favor.

But hey, if you wanna go have fun

with my knockoff instead, go ahead.

Just try not to say my name

when you're looking into her eyes.

Good luck.

T.

- Tiana!
- Hey, you on a discounted rate.

We have to keep going.

(MELODY'S "BROKEN HOME" PLAYING)

From the top, here we go.

♪ Now shattered are glasses
we stained with our lips ♪

♪ Set off the matches
to burn every brick ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Burn every brick ♪

♪ Please, oh, please ♪

♪ I know that sticks and stones ♪

♪ Can't build our broken home ♪

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

(SCOFFS) Okay, what's wrong now?

My notes were perfect.

(OVER INTERCOM)
People don't want perfection.

They want passion.

Whatever.

Uh...

The only reason why you getting
frustrated is because

I'm pushing you
beyond your comfort zone.

I don't have a comfort zone, okay?

I jump between trying to make
new worlds with my music

and hiding from people
in the old world

who wanna beat me up or kill me
just for being who I am.

I understand that, honey.

My son Jamal went through
the same thing.

Okay.

I'm black, trans, and broke.

Jamal was black, male, and rich.

Whether he came out of the closet

or stayed in there
for the rest of his life,

he would still be a rich black man,

making choices only rich people make.

You are missing the point.

We are throwing you
the biggest, most outrageous

coming-out party
on an ASA stage, honey.

I don't wanna be your trans act
butterfly, Cookie.

Jamal's music had to come out
one way or the other.

He chose for it to come out in truth.

What are you choosing?

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

♪ ♪

(HEELS CLICKING)

Lucious?

Thank you for coming down here,
Tracy.

I just wanted to tell you
face-to-face.

Thank you for saving my life.

(EXHALES SHARPLY)

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

Philly Street threatened to kill me,

but I had to warn you.

♪ ♪

That was so brave of you.

♪ ♪

Why would you do something
like that for me?

Why would you risk yourself

to save me?

(EXHALES SHARPLY)

You know.

You never even said the words.

Say the words.

You and I are
the real love story, Lucious.

And all those other women
with their... their hair

and their eyes and their insults,

they were just a way to
lead you back to your Tracy.

♪ ♪

My Tracy.

(GASPING)

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

♪ ♪

You know what?

You are not gonna ever have
to worry about

no keys like this again.

♪ ♪

Because at this very moment,

security is moving your stuff
out of your office.

You are done.

Why do you wanna hurt me, Lucious?

I've only ever tried to help you.

I never needed your help!

You do need me.

Andre is stealing Empire
out from under you.

And without me, there is no one
to stop him and Patel from...

Do you think I don't know
about Andre and Kelly Patel?

I knew that from the start!

Now you're done!

- No!
- Get out!

- Lucious, no, please...
- Out of my...

- Lucious, please, no. No!
- Out!

- Lucious, no!
- Hell up out of here.

- Lucious, you will regret this!
- Good-bye!

TRACY: Lucious!

LUCIOUS: Take her ass out of here.

No!

The only damn thing I regret

is not putting on a condom
37 damn years ago.

TRACY: Lucious!

Crackhead.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

Mm, no.

That's cute, but no.

Oh, purple.

Now, this is what the ASA
Lifetime Achievement Award

recipient should wear.

Look at that. That's perfect.

And then look,
you put some bling with it,

and you're ready for the world.
Look at that.

Isn't this from
the "Paid in Cash" album cover?

- No, no, no, no. No.
- This is great.

You should wear that one.
It's, like, full circle.

I don't... I don't...
I don't need your help

for any of this stuff.

I don't even know
what the hell I'm doing.

I don't wanna do this stupid
thing in the first place.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

You don't wanna do it
in the first place.

♪ ♪

What's up with you?

Talk to me. What's going on?

It's my own son, man.

♪ ♪

He's giving me this ASA thing

to try and force me out to pasture.

♪ ♪

I feel you giggling back there.

"Pasture."

Okay, nothing is funny.
Just calm down.

No, no, no.
He's trying to replace me.

And there's nothing weaker
than acquiescing

to somebody replacing you.

It... it's cowardice.

There's nothing weak or cowardly

about choosing your freedom.

It's not weak.

You built Empire, Lucious.

Nobody can take that from you.

And you taught Andre
everything he knows.

So he'd be replacing you with you.

So stop being so grumpy.

Stop it.

I like being grumpy.

(LIZZO'S "TEMPO")

LIZZO: ♪ ...it up to the tempo ♪

- MAN: ♪ Tempo ♪
- LIZZO: ♪ Cut it up ♪

♪ Cut it up, boyfriend watching ♪

♪ Oh, now he wanna knuckle up ♪

♪ Get on this ride, baby ♪

♪ You gonna have to buckle up ♪

♪ Thick thighs save lives ♪

♪ Call me little buttercup ♪

MAN: Over here, Lucious!

(PHOTOGRAPHERS CLAMORING)

LIZZO: ♪ Is not an "accessorary" ♪

♪ Yeah, I said it, accessorary ♪

♪ Twerk skills up on legendary ♪

♪ Slow songs, they for skinny girls ♪

♪ Can't move all of this here
to one of those ♪

♪ I'm a thick chick, I need tempo ♪

♪ ...it up to the tempo ♪

♪ ...it up to the tempo ♪

Ah!

Oh! There you are.

Hey, you got a little...

- Songs and...
- TRACY: Hey! Whoo!

Oh! Shh!

(LAUGHS) Oh, no, wait.

This is my best side.

Best side. There.

Don't I look pretty? (LAUGHS) Whoo!

I need to see your credentials.

Tracy Kingsley.

Sometimes it's under "White."

(LAUGHS) Whoo!

Ma'am, you've been stricken
from the invite list.

I'm gonna need you to leave.

No! I belong here.

I belong here. Lucious.

Lucious, you son of a bitch!

Lucious!

Get off me.

Lucious, you son of a bitch!

Get off me! Get off me!

- (CAMERAS SHUTTERS SNAPPING)
- Get off me!

Lucious, look, I don't have no love

for that girl, Lucious,

but no one deserves
to be treated like that,

and no one deserves
to be jerked around.

Have you managed to locate
our divorce papers?

I'll get to it when I get to it.

You're not my only priority, Cookie.

(CAMERAS SHUTTERS SNAPPING,
PHOTOGRAPHERS CLAMORING)

(APPLAUSE)

- SINGERS: ♪ Ooh ♪
- MELODY: ♪ Ooh ♪

(MELODY'S "BROKEN HOME" PLAYING)

♪ One, two, three ♪

♪ And I'm staring at the rubble ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Settle dust at the footsteps
of our castle ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Set in stone
the words that went unspoken ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Put my hand on my chest ♪

♪ The chain on my neck is broken ♪

♪ These holy walls
are laying at our feet ♪

♪ ♪

♪ I guess they had to fall ♪

♪ Eventually ♪

♪ Now shattered are glasses ♪

♪ We stained with our lips ♪

♪ Set off the matches
to burn every brick ♪

♪ Please, oh, please ♪

♪ I know that sticks and stones ♪

♪ Can't build our broken home ♪

- (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
- ♪Ooh ♪

Excuse me.

Where's the restroom?

You're not supposed to leave
your seat while we're live.

Look, I had a baby three months ago.

I don't make the rules.
My bladder does.

(SIGHS)

There.

You told him, didn't you?

Where have you been?

I've been looking for you everywhere.

Chastity, what are you doing here?

Ask your husband.

Let him tell you how he showed up

at my apartment and threatened me

for telling you how he paid me
to set up Prophetic.

Did he put a hand on you?

Not yet.

But he made it very clear
that he could get to me

anytime, anyplace.

You're married to a damn monster.

MELODY: ♪ Oh, no, no ♪

♪ I guess they had to fall ♪

♪ Eventually ♪

♪ Now shattered are glasses ♪

♪ We stained with our lips ♪

♪ Set off the matches
to burn every brick ♪

♪ Please, oh, please ♪

♪ I know that sticks and stones ♪

♪ Can't build our broken home ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ ♪

- (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
- ♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Oh, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ ♪

(CHUCKLES)

♪ ♪

- (CAMERAS SHUTTERS SNAPPING)
- (PHOTOGRAPHERS CLAMORING)

Melody, as you can see,
everyone here loves you.

That was simply amazing.

But can you please tell us
something about yourself?

WOMAN: Melody, who are you
working with?

MAN: Inspiration for your music?

All I ever wanted was to sing.

For most of my life,
I was a stranger,

not just to the world but to myself.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

I was known as Melvin Austin then.

(CROWD GASPS)

(CROWD MURMURING)

Melvin was a lie,

because he had me trapped inside.

I was told the world wasn't
ready for who I really was.

So I hid.

I hid until I had the courage
to become my true self.

And I thought I was done...

until Cookie Lyon...

dared me to sing.

Cookie dared me to share
the best part of myself

as myself,

and tonight is the first time
I've ever done that.

So if my journey helps
just one other person

be true to who they are,
then it's worth it.

It's worth it.

♪ ♪

Thank you, Cookie.

Oh, so beautiful.

(APPLAUSE)

That's right, girl!

MAN: Yeah, Cookie.

Cookie Lyon.

Way to go, Cookie.

- I'm out.
- Wait... wait, Giselle.

♪ ♪

(CAMERA SHUTTERS SNAPPING)

♪ ♪

Hi, Cookie. My name is Yana.

Yeah, Damon's daughter.
How did you get that medallion?

This, uh, belongs to Lucious.

Oh, I know whose it is.

How did you get it?

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

Um...

♪ ♪

- YANA: (CLEARS THROAT)
- COOKIE: Uh...

oh. (BREATHES DEEPLY)

Oh, I guess you're the one that, um,

Lucious is screwing, huh?

I'm sorry.

It's okay.

Lucious loves you, and he loved you

for as long as he could.

Sweet baby, I feel sorry for you,

because you don't
even know that Lucious

and everything
that he said to you is a lie.

Okay, you don't even know him.

- I know his heart.
- Oh.

Is that what he called it
when he used it

to get back at your daddy?

My daddy?

What does my dad have to do
with any of this?

You have no idea, do you?

All of this is about your father.

Lucious...

Lucious wanted to hurt Damon

because Damon lied to Lucious
and he sicced the Feds on him.

And so what better way,
then, to screw over Damon

than to literally screw his daughter?

He's a lying son of a bitch.

He uses people.

That, sweetheart, is what he does.

It took me half my life
to understand that.

I'm saving you from a bullet, Yana.

You should thank me.

Run while you can.

♪ ♪

EMCEE: And now
please welcome to the stage

two first-time ASA nominees,

Empire's Devon and Treasure.

♪ I've seen way too many stars ♪

♪ Die out before their time ♪

♪ Hey ♪

♪ But I want this
to last forever, yeah ♪

("SLOW BURN" PLAYING)

♪ Been out to way too many bars ♪

- ♪ Wasting all my nights ♪
- HAKEEM: Hey, yo, what's good?

TREASURE: ♪ Hanging round ♪

Come on, man, we better than that.

♪ Or nevers ♪

Aren't you supposed to be on set?

Hey, Cookie just thought

that it'd be too much
for you tonight.

TREASURE: ♪ We could do it ♪

BOTH: ♪ Don't wanna look back ♪

♪ And say we blew it ♪

♪ We blew it ♪

♪ I want a slow burn ♪

What should we do?
Should we make out?

TREASURE: ♪ A little longer ♪

(LAUGHS) No.

God, it's... it's not about them.

It's me.

It's been a crazy couple months,

and I just don't know what's next.

Hey, man, don't worry about that.

You'll figure it out. You always do.

BOTH: ♪ I want a slow burn ♪

♪ It may take a little longer, but ♪

♪ I want a blow burn ♪

I missed you.

TREASURE: ♪ It's only gonna ♪

♪ Make us stronger ♪

Come on, let's get out of here.

BOTH: ♪ Slow burn ♪

♪ Slow burn ♪

- SINGERS: ♪ Slow burn ♪
- BOTH: ♪ Slow burn ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

(APPLAUSE)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

I wish Teri were here
to see Lucious' swan song.

Where is she?

Eh. I'm sure she'll turn up.

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

EMCEE: Ladies and gentlemen,

to announce the nominations
for Artist of the Year...

Here we go.

EMCEE: Please welcome
this year's recipient

of the Lifetime Achievement
Award, Lucious Lyon.

MAN: Lucious!

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

- MAN 1: Yeah, Lucious!
- MAN 2: You're the king!

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE CONTINUE)

Thank you.

Thank you, thank you.

(APPLAUSE CONTINUES)

Let's all be seated
while we celebrate

the nominees for this year's
Artist of the Year Award.

And the nominees are:

Justin Bieber,

Miley Cyrus,

Billie Eilish,

Ed Sheeran,

Taylor Swift, and...

wait, not a single damn
Empire artist.

(CROWD MURMURING)

Which I find strange, because...

because over the last few months,

Empire has spent
all of their time and resources

trying to get this one nomination.

I'm talking entire departments

instead of spending time making music

that's going to be voted on,
they're spending all their time

courting the voters.

But damn, if this
is what Empire has become,

I won't have a damn thing
to do with it.

(CROWD MURMURING)

And effective immediately...

I am leaving Empire

to the suits and the servants

that can still do this kind of dance.

As far as my retirement,

well, y'all can start by taking

that Lifetime Achievement Award

and shoving it up your ass.

(CROWD MURMURING)

Because I am just getting warmed up.

And maybe one day, maybe you might

run into somebody...

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

That reminds you
to set yourself free.

♪ ♪

WOMAN: We love you, Lucious!

(LIGHT APPLAUSE)

♪ ♪

- Hey.
- Hey.

Met your ex-wife.

(TENSE MUSIC)

She's charming.

♪ ♪

Maybe you should just screw my dad.

♪ ♪

(SIGHS)

♪ ♪

Baby girl.

- (DOOR CLICKS SHUT)
- Everything all right?

What you doing in town?

What happened?

Somebody hurt you?

You're still in remission, right?

Daddy...

I made a very, very big mistake,

and I need you to help me
make it right.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Of course, baby, of course.

Oh, man.

♪ ♪

(FOOTSTEPS THUDDING)

(GLASS CLATTERS)

(DECANTER CLINKS)

No ice?

You're going deep, huh?

What in the hell did you say to Yana?

You mean Damon's daughter?

You are foul, Lucious.

No, you're just jealous
'cause somebody sees me.

Man, ain't nobody come
down here to talk about

your little new piece of ass, okay?

But I heard your spiel about freedom,

and I'm just wondering, where's mine?

Screw you.

Never again, and I know
it was good for you.

(CHUCKLES) Just sign the papers, man.

They're right here on your desk.

Just sign 'em.

Oh, you think you gonna take away

my last hope of having
somebody love me for me

and you go off and be free
and live a happy life?

Nah.

You're stuck with me
for life... Mrs. Lyon.

(BOX CLATTERS)

- (GUN COCKING)
- Is that right?

Hmm?

(TENSE MUSIC)

♪ ♪

What you gonna do with that?

I don't wanna be married to you
for one more second, Lucious.

And I swear to God, Lucious,

if I'm not gonna be your ex-wife,

I will be your widow.

♪ ♪

Where were you?

I needed you.

♪ ♪

Are you listening to me?

♪ ♪

(WHIMPERS SOFTLY)

Teri, are you okay? Talk to me.

You threatened her.

You made her...
afraid in her own home.

What? Who?

Chastity.

You threatened her
because she told me the truth.

I haven't seen Chastity since
Prophetic signed with Empire.

Teri, you're not making
any sense, bae.

This woman must be playing you.

- She didn't ask for anything.
- Yet, Teri.

I saw the fear in her eyes, Andre.

I know she wasn't lying.

And I am?

Hmm?

All I've done for you
since the moment we met

is risk my body,
my livelihood, my autonomy

to make you happy and safe.

And how'd you do that? Huh?

How did you keep Quincy safe?

God.

The truth of who you are,

it's been right in front of me
this whole time.

- No, Teri. Teri, come on.
- No.

- (TERI GASPS)
- What are you...

Teri, come on. Stop, babe.

- Teri!
- (DOOR SLAMS)

Come on. Listen to me!

- (TERI SHOUTS)
- Teri, come on!

I would never do something like that.

She's lying, babe. Open the door!

Teri!

KINGSLEY: You should stop
pounding, Andre.

She's already scared.

(MENACING MUSIC)

(EXHALES HEAVILY)

♪ ♪

I would never threaten a woman
like that.

Oh. Oh, no, you wouldn't.

But I would.

Matter of fact... I did.

♪ ♪

(MUFFLED, DISTORTED ARGUING)

♪ ♪

(SOBS)

- Little bitch scared easy.
- You're a liar.

I love it when you call me names.

No, you can't control me.

You can't make me do things.

Oh, really?

Look at your hands, Andre.

♪ ♪

No.

♪ ♪

No.

Teri's right to be scared.

If she causes us any more problems,

we're cutting her loose.

♪ ♪

Then pull the damn trigger, man.

- (GUNSHOT)
- (LAUGHS)

Oh, I missed.

What should I aim for now?

Which head, Lucious, huh?

Cookie!

Get your ass over here
and sign these papers, Lucious.

Get over here!

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

So you wanna be divorced
from me that bad?

Yup.

You gonna pull a gun on me?

I did.

You're out of your damn mind.

I might be.

(GLASS CLATTERS)

Look, I'ma reach for the pen.

Just sign it.

I'm... I need the damn pen.

Here, get the damn pen.

♪ ♪

I'm doing this under duress.

- You know this don't...
- Shut up.

Hold up in court.

You know what's so sad
about this, Lucious?

That little Yana...

she seems like a real smart
little girl.

(CHUCKLES)

But that's how you like 'em,

huh, Lucious?

Like another Loretha Holloway, huh?

Smart, young...

and dead-ass in love with you.

♪ ♪

And then what do you do?

You use them, you lie to them,

and you cheat.

- You manipulated...
- I never used you for anything

that you didn't volunteer for.

You volunteered
for every damn thing we...

Negro, please, I should pop you...

(GUNSHOT)

Stop!

- Let me go, you son of a...
- Stop!

Let me go and sign the papers!

No, I'm not signing them!

Lucious, why? Why?

What else do you want from me, huh?

You took... you took my freedom.

You took my babies!

- You took my life.
- Baby, baby, baby.

- You took my dreams!
- I can't...

Sign the papers!

I can't sign the papers, baby.
I can't.

But you have Yana, Lucious.
She sees you, remember?

She's not you.

(SOBBING) Lucious, please.

I'm still in love with you.

- Let me go!
- Don't you get that, Cookie?

I love you!

And you still love me. I know you do.

I know you do. You love me.

You love me. We ain't done yet.

Oh, Lucious. (SOBBING)

- (FOOTSTEPS TAPPING)
- Oh, please, get a room.

Or better yet...

(GUN COCKING)

- A coffin.
- (COOKIE GASPS)

Eeny, meeny, miney, mo.

(TENSE MUSIC)