Empire (2015–…): Season 6, Episode 6 - Heart of Stone - full transcript

MAN: Previously, on Empire...

- I'm my own artist.
- Well, you can do with the song

what Tiana couldn't.

TREASURE: I'm not feeling
this whack-ass track.

We're gonna need you to stay
in the throne,

but remember, you know I'm back now.

Yes, sir.

A bunch of men wanted me
to come up here tonight

and tell you that I misspoke
when I said

that all life is precious.

I said what I said, and I meant it.



It really challenges your manhood

that I'm 100% that bitch
behind your legacy.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(DOOR CLOSES) _

COOKIE: They say before you die,

your whole life flashes
in front of you.

(KEYS THUD)

That explains all you
pissed off bitches I see.

I figured you'd come for me one day.

(TENSE MUSIC)

(EXPLOSION BOOMING)

♪

COOKIE (ON TV): Oh, cat
got your tongue? _

- (LIZZIE SOBS)
- Oh, God.



COOKIE (ON TV):
You know what the means

when your husband doesn't want to see

pictures of your lumpy ass any more.

(AUDIENCE ON TV GROANS)

Laugh it up all you want, Miss Cookie.

I know you convinced my son
to lock me up in this place.

Well, that's all right,

because I'll be the last one laughing.

(SCREAMING)

(LAUGHS)

(DOORBELL RINGING)

COOKIE: Uh.

Bravo, stupendous. You win.

You win. You win.

You win. The movers came.

Have you got it out your system yet?

You spent enough damn money.

You can come home now, 'cause I'm...

what do you want me to say, I'm sorry?

I'm sorry. You win.

Are you gonna come home now?

'Cause you get off
for treating me like crap?

You don't feel right

unless someone there for you
to punish.

Nah, I'm cool, Lucious.

You don't have carte blanche
over my house anymore, honey.

Them days are over,
so you might as well

walk right on back out.

Look, man, you said some stuff.
I said some stuff.

But that's what we do,
and then we... we work it out.

I mean, I'm trying to get us back

on the same damn page, baby.

It's been two weeks.
Are you coming home or not?

Oh! Coming home!

Ha-ha.

You want me to come home, now,
Lucious?

After what you said about
my measly $400,000.

No, sir.

I'm tired.

I'm tired of getting crumbs

and begging
for what's rightfully mine.

So you win.

You win, Lucious. You win.

Okay, bravo!

Bravo to you, Lucious,
'cause I'm tired.

I'm tired. I'm done.

I'm done talking. I'm done walking.

I'm done preaching, crying, praying.

My knees are tired, Lucious!

I'm tired.

Plus, you did this
all by yourself, right?

You built all this
by yourself, no help.

My 17 years meant nothing!

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

You enjoy your life.

Live your biggest life, baby,

'cause that's what I'm about to do.

(DRAMATIC HIP-HOP MUSIC)

COOKIE: Oh, damn.

You know, I need to tell
these people stop letting

riffraff up on my floor.

♪

Oh, help yourself
to the rest of that champagne.

To the empire.

You better get your ass back here!

Girl, you have been dumped, boycotted,

and branded "socially irredeemable."

Even black tour to U.K.
has cancelled you.

The Tiana hate has jumped
the damn pond.

People suck. So what?

I'm pro-life.

(GROANS) Anti-choice.

Look, it has nothing to do
with my music.

Okay, well, I'm sure R. Kelly
didn't find anything wrong

with his love of little girls either.

It is not the same, Becky.

No, but like him, you need a miracle.

- (GROANS)
- Ask and you shall receive.

Becky, Tiana meet Pastor Carol Clark.

I'm sure you've heard of her
megachurch Tower of Hope.

- It's so nice to meet you both.
- Nice to meet you.

Giselle, what are we doing?

Well, I was just so tired
of all the negative press,

especially when I knew
there were still

Tiana supporters out there.

And it turns out, all I had
to do was check my DMs,

because Pastor Clark had
the same idea.

PASTOR CLARK: Tiana,
on behalf of myself

and my entire congregation...

Which is huge and predominately
made up of millennials,

which is our demographic.

I'm sorry, go ahead, Pastor.

But we're big fans,
and we'd love to see you

headline our annual
Hope Festival this year.

- (LAUGHS)
- (GISELLE LAUGHS)

I'd hate to turn down a miracle,

but is the church familiar
with Tiana's music?

Familiar with her shaking her a...

- Uh.
- Mm, booty in her videos?

Because lightning will strike.

I'm flattered, but I'm not sure
my songs are appropriate

for the church crowd.

Oh, we know your music.

We know who you are,
and we've all fallen short

of the glory of God.

But we also know your stance
on abortion, and we respect it.

But most important,

our youth are listening.

Thank you for voicing
what so many of us

in the black church have been feeling.

Ladies, black conservatives
are an untapped market.

Wow, but they're not our market,

Well, they've made a generous offer

for a Tiana performance.

Well, all money ain't good money.

I have heard of the Hope Festival.

It draws as big as a
crowd as Coachella.

(LAUGHS UNCOMFORTABLY)

I mean, never say never.

(LAUGHS) Never.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Tiana, you may have been
rejected by your fans,

but you've been chosen by the Lord.

Don't miss your call, sister.

- Amen.
- (PASTOR CLARK LAUGHS)

♪

TREASURE: ♪ When you're down
on motivation ♪

♪ That is your ammo ♪

♪ Don't believe what they say ♪

You should smile, Treasure.

You're at your listening party,
not a funeral, dear.

I'm sorry. I'm just a little nervous.

I can't believe this is all
actually happening.

You've got what every artist wants:

a hot album.

Enjoy your ride to the top.

(GLASSES CLINK)

Who needs Tiana when a newer model

just hit the showroom floor?

LUCIOUS: Amen.

Okay.

Why does Treasure look like
her favorite auntie just died?

Oh, you mean Tiana 2.0?
Yeah, she's pissed.

I mean, wouldn't you be if your label

basically made you be somebody else?

- So it's not just me.
- Nope.

I mean, the music is solid.

Radios will play it
and the clubs will love it.

Lucious definitely took
the easy road on this one.

Something's missing.

Um, she's the missing,

the artist formerly known as Treasure.

I'll talk to him.

Don't go over there quoting your girl,

'cause I like being able
to pay my rent.

- Pop, you got a sec?
- Hey.

I gotta handle this right now.

TREASURE: ♪ 'Cause we should
be thinking ♪

♪ 'Bout what we got ♪

Yeah?

She did what?

Then handle it.

No, I don't understand
why you're calling me.

She is your problem.

I'll be there in an hour.

TREASURE: ♪ Smile on your face ♪

♪ Just leave a trace
all over the place ♪

♪ If you wanna feel good ♪

Well, Doc,
I came to tell you in person

that I won't be needing
any more sessions,

because I left Lucious, child.

So I got rid of my 99 problems.

So I'm good now.

Is that what you think:

Lucious is the reason
you needed therapy?

Oh, first of all,
I never said I needed therapy,

my job did.

And plus, you know
how toxic and unhealthy he was.

You heard my stories.

Yeah, I heard you say... was
you left your father's house

for Lucious' when you were a teenager

and your lives have been
intertwined ever since.

Those codependent bonds
are hard to break.

I spent a lot of money
on that comfy couch.

Would you like to sit down?

Well, technically,
it is still my hour, right?

- DR. WICK: Mm-hmm.
- Okay.

Um...

(CLEARS THROAT)

Wh... wh...

what does it say about me
that for all these years,

I allowed myself to take him back?

Why would I do that to myself?

And now, I'm finally
getting rid of him,

and it... it feels like
I can't breathe.

Attachment trauma.

To give up on Lucious,

you'll be giving up
on your father again.

So you held on tight
no matter how bad you felt

until you were strong enough
to let go.

And now that you have,

the real work begins on you.

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

(SNIFFLES)

So I guess this isn't
our last session, huh?

You tell me.

The hell are y'all doing here?

Cookie Lyon, you're under arrest.

For what, huh? Where's your warrant?

What's the damn charge?

Ten counts of being a very bad girl.

- A what?
- (UPBEAT MUSIC)

CAROL: Hey, gotcha!

CANDACE: Hey, Cookie!

- (CANDACE LAUGHS)
- CAROL: Guess what, baby.

Your bags are packed,

and you're going to Miami with us...

- Where?
- Miami, bitch.

- CAROL: Miami.
- What?

CANDACE: No excuses.
We're flying private.

- Yes!
- Sisters trip, sisters trip!

- Whoo!
- CANDACE: Sisters trip, hey!

It's only a sisters burial.

I ain't messing with y'all hos.

Show me what you're working with.

Come on, yeah! Yeah.

Yeah.

Wait, don't get that oil on me.
This is expensive!

CAROL: Yeah! She'll be all right.

Work it. Oh, oh, oh, come on, Vic.

CANDACE: Yes, yes, honey, work it!

Yes, right there. Ah!

Your mother's episodes have
become more frequent

and more violent,
but we're trying to find

the right balance with her meds
to help stabilize her.

Well, if she stabbed her nurse,

apparently, the meds aren't working.

Well, she has had
some breakthrough moments

of lucidity, but also suffered

some rather unpredictable mood swings.

Now, the nurse she stabbed is
gonna require

extensive hand surgeries,
rehabilitation...

It's a damn shame, man.

But I'm sure this should
more than suffice.

Mm.

Mr. Lyon, if you expect us
to risk our lives

and our health daily,

your check's gonna need to be
much, much larger than that,

or your mother will be
going home with you today.

My mother loves this place,

and I expect her to spend
the rest of her life here

and that's nonnegotiable.

I think this should
more than take care of that.

(CHECK RIPS)

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

♪

Dwight.

I mean, Lucious.

You prefer Lucious, right?

What are you up to?

What's all of this about?

I was just thinking about you, son.

Come sit down and talk a little.

(AIRPLANE WHOOSHES)

(UPBEAT HIP-HOP MUSIC)

SINGER: ♪ Mm ♪

♪ Boss bitches in Miami ♪

♪ Bitches in Miami,
boss bitches in Miami ♪

♪ Bitches in Miami ♪

That stripper had one more
time to rub up on me.

He kept touching me.
I don't like that.

CANDACE: He was doing extra.
That's why I didn't tip him.

CAROL: No, you didn't tip him
'cause your ass is cheap.

But guess what, I tipped him,
'cause baby had body.

Yeah, well, baby had corny lines

and bad tooth,
but he had a cute booty, honey,

and some nice abs.

That's why we brought you
to Miami, you know.

We know you're going through it.

We wanna take your mind off
of Lucious.

And Damon and that
little blowup at Tea Talk

and the fact that you got
just as many grandkids

as you got kids.

Carol, you want me to cut your ass?

We are here to relax and have fun

and get your mind off
of all that drama.

And besides,
we did use your credit card

to pay for everything,
so it's only right

you get to enjoy it.

(LAUGHS)

You know, me finally being out
of that mansion

does deserve a little celebration.

- Yes, to a celebration.
- CAROL: Mm-hmm.

And I say,
I would hate to have to cancel

our bikini wax at 3:30.

Carol, why the hell do I need
a bikini wax?

'Cause you're single again,
sis, and plus,

you need to clean her up.

(BOTH LAUGH)

She's such a ho.

And listen here, that don't
sound like less stress.

That sounds like more stress.

Ooh... oh, we're next.

Well, how 'bout some shopping?
A little retail therapy.

- (SQUEALS)
- Now you're talking.

- Ooh, let's spend some money.
- CANDACE: Hello there.

Last week, Andre brought
Walker by so I could meet

my precious great-grandson.

I see you in that little spirit.

Why did you stab that nurse?

I'm so sorry.

Sometimes, well, you know, I get lost.

It's been like that most of my life,

but I'm here now.

Are you doing okay, son?

I don't know what game it is
you think you're playing,

but I assure you if you don't stop it,

you'll end up in a place
much worse than this place.

Something's happened to you.

There's a certain look in a man's eye

when he loses a woman
dear to his heart.

You had that look
when you lost me as a child.

You have that look right now.

Did Cookie leave you?

Is that your game?

You just wanted to gloat,
ask me questions

so I can open up,
so you could stab me as well?

It's not your fault, son.

What's not my fault?

People will always leave you,

because you don't know how to love.

I was supposed to teach you how,

but I wasn't there for you.

I convinced you to believe

that you were incapable of love,

because your heart was naturally evil.

But, baby,
you were never the evil one.

Never. I was.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

And I'm so sorry.

♪

You never believed that I was evil?

I was so far gone,
and I treated you so badly,

I knew you would never forgive me.

I was ashamed of myself,
so I blamed you

for everything wrong with me.

Deep down, I hoped
you wouldn't believe me...

but you did.

I was a child.

You're my mother.

I was born to believe you.

Why were you so weak?

You let my words become your reality.

My sweet little boy grew up

to be a diabolical son of a bitch,

and you deserve every awful
thing coming your way.

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

♪

(SIREN WAILS DISTANTLY)

It's okay, Mommy.

♪

Thank you.

♪

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

SINGER: ♪ That's a lot of senoritas ♪

♪ On the dance floor ♪

Okay, ladies. So what do you think?

Nice, that outfit has everything.

- CAROL: Yes.
- Boom, bam, pow.

- Yes.
- I love you, sis.

Yes, now we just have
to figure out what store

we're gonna hit up first.

Uh, the only choices
we're making this weekend

is cash or charge.

We hitting the mall up.

I think I stayed with
Lucious for so long

because I didn't wanna feel like

I wasted all of those years,
you know...

Come here. Stop.

Look. Look at you.

You are beautiful.

Now, I'm coming up with a rule.

The first person that uses the I word

is getting bopped in the
head black mama style.

And it ain't gonna be me,

'cause I ain't gonna say his name.

And guess what, sis.

This trip was designed for you
to not think about all this.

It's called a damn escape.

Exactly.

Now, appreciate the breakthrough, sis,

but how 'bout we go break
the limit on that black card?

Let's go shopping.

All right, you ladies win.

The only I words I'll be saying
this weekend are Louboutin...

- Aye.
- Uh-huh.

- I. Perla.
- I. Perla.

- Louis.
- BOTH: Louis.

- Laman.
- BOTH: Laman!

TREASURE: ♪ If you just let it ♪

♪ Just say forget it ♪

♪ If you wanna feel good ♪

♪ And if you're feeling low,
just say forget it ♪

♪ You won't regret it ♪

♪ If you wanna feel good ♪

♪ Don't break from the pressure ♪

Babe, that song has been
on repeat for three hours.

What is going on?

I just have to figure out
a way to fix it, Teri.

I'm sorry.

You have lived and breathed
music your entire life.

You've got a good ear.
You've got great instincts.

- Trust them.
- No, I can't... I can't trust...

Teri, it's not that simple, okay?

If I make waves now,
it's gonna look like

I'm challenging Pop, okay?

And... and that's not
what this is about.

So what is this about?

This is about making Empire better.

It's about changing things.
Something has to change.

So go make that change.

Make it better,
'cause what's stopping you?

TREASURE: ♪ If you wanna feel good ♪

♪ And if you're feeling ♪

I love you.

I love you more.

TREASURE: ♪ And I just wanna be good

And if you play that song
one more time,

we're gonna have a problem,
'cause I'm not that big

a Tiana fan.

Hon, that's Treasure.

Oh.

Well, obviously,
that's problem number one.

TREASURE: ♪ You won't regret it ♪

♪ If you just let it ♪

♪ Just say forget it ♪

♪ If you wanna feel good ♪

GISELLE: Well, ladies, I am so happy

that you could make this time

so we could get the ball rolling.

Now, I just have a few
queries regarding the...

WOMAN: Tiana, I've been trying
real hard

to maintain my chill
for the last hour,

but I am just your biggest fan.

(TIANA LAUGHS)

Whenever I get down,

there's only one thing
that does the trick.

- Praying?
- (LAUGHS)

Bumping "Keep it Moving" on repeat.

I'm so overjoyed you're
headlining our little festival.

Thank you. I mean, look.

I used to go to church with
my grandmother every Sunday.

I mean, I would have stuck with it

if those ladies were

half as welcoming or fly
as all of you.

GISELLE: Okay, I don't wanna
break up the divine lovefest,

but we still have a few questions

about the performance specs,
the logistics...

Well, we wanted through some
teeny, tiny concerns first,

before we locked all of that down.

Mm, wardrobe-wise:

just some extra coverage
on the sleeves and legs

will be preferable.

Hmm, your wardrobe.

It's understandable.

Showing less skin, got it.

And we've taken the liberty
of updating

some of your more provocative
lyrics for you,

out of respect for your time.

- And now your lyrics.
- Naturally.

(TIANA CLEARS THROAT)

Oh.

Uh, "Don't look or lust"?

(LAUGHS)

Who doesn't love biblical humor, huh?

I'm just not sure
how these lyrics are gonna

go with my choreography.

Well, I'm sure that's out too.

WOMAN: Well, that shimmy,
twerking thing that you do

may fluster some
of the older congregation.

But girl, promise me

you'll teach me how to do it later.

(WHEEZES)

Look, you'll have it down
in no time, okay?

(WHISPERS) It's... it's all in the back.

- Oh.
- WOMAN: Ooh-hoo.

(TIANA LAUGHS)

Hmm, hmm. Praise his name.

Twerk that back for Jesus.

(LAUGHS)

Morning.

ALL: Morning.

I know you're all
wondering why I called

this emergency meeting,
so I'll get right to it.

I'm stopping the upcoming
release of Treasure's album.

(ALL MUTTERING INDISTINCTLY)

Bottom line, it's not ready yet.

It's not moving the needle.

It doesn't speak to her as an artist,

because it wasn't developed

for her particular style of artistry.

So myself and a team
of producers will begin

reworking her songs starting today.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Once the album is ready,
new dates, targets,

and strategies will be devised.

I realize that change
isn't always easy.

I'm asking everyone to trust me.

- I trust you, Andre.
- Thank you.

(MISCHIEVOUS MUSIC)

All right, I'm gonna need everybody

to please clear the room.

Me and my son need a moment to talk.

♪

What in the hell do you
think you're doing?

I'm trying to help.

Look, Andre, I know
you got up this morning

and you put on your big boy drawers

and walked into this room
thinking you're gonna make

some grown man decisions,

but what you did made Empire
look weak and indecisive.

No weaker than the response
to Treasure's album

would have been, Pop.

You don't have the authority
to make a decision

of this magnitude
without consulting me!

You push pencils.

You've gotta leave
the creative components

to the people that are
professional at it.

Well, what about Treasure, Pop?

She doesn't have say
about her own content?

Treasure wouldn't know a hit

if it smacked her in the damn ass.

Oh, is that what happened?

- Did she offer you some ass?
- I'm not you, Pop.

No, that's becoming
painfully obvious, son.

I placed you on that throne as CEO,

but do not forget this is my company.

These are my employees, my artists.

I make the calls. I set the schedule.

All due respect, Pop,

just because your face is on that logo

does not mean you're always right.

Or are you too caught up in
this narcissistic behavior

to see that, Pop?

You forget who you talking to?

How can I possibly forget
who I'm talking to, Pop?

You proclaim it every
second of every day.

You're Lucious Lyon. I get it.

I'm asking you to listen to me
for once.

I'm asking you to trust me.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

♪

Okay, fine. Fine.

You wanna trust your instincts,
go ahead.

Want me to fall back,
I will fall back.

And we will see where this leads you,

and we will see where this takes us.

All right?

♪

Yes, sir.

(UPBEAT POP MUSIC)

SINGER: ♪ I got the style,
she got the style ♪

♪ Uptown, downtown, got that swagger ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Uptown, downtown, got that swagger ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Uptown, downtown, got that swagger ♪

There's our evangelist star
extraordinaire.

Pastor Clark, you caught me
without my armor.

Oh, don't let us interrupt
your process.

I know the ladies already
expressed their excitement

over tomorrow's performance.

TIANA: Yeah.

But as far as I'm concerned,
this is just the beginning

of what you can accomplish
through your faith.

Here's the direction
we're thinking of going.

Oh, okay.

"Renouncing"...

What am I renouncing?

Oh, why limit your platform by being

only anti-murderous abortion,

when you could also atone
for your past mistakes?

Sex out of wedlock,
same-sex relationships:

The hits, you know.

Who said those were mistakes?

You're already well
on the road to salvation

since taking in
your ex's bastard child

to raise as your own.

Bastard? Excuse me.

Um, Bella is my own.

See? The good just jumps off of you.

Ooh.

Maybe we shouldn't go
too big too soon.

You know, this is a lot.

Oh, no, no, don't get bogged
down by the details, honey.

The most important takeaway
is that you're helping

a new generation of women
avoid a wayward path.

Mm.

Right. Yeah, I guess so.

Oh, thank you.

I'm gonna head back to rehearsal.

Nice to see you, Pastor Clark.

(CHURCH BELL RINGING)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

♪

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

TREASURE: ♪ When you're down
on motivation ♪

♪ That is your ammo ♪

♪ Don't believe what they say ♪

♪ 'Cause you know better ♪

♪ Keep moving your own row ♪

♪ Don't focus on what you're not ♪

♪ 'Cause we should be thinking
'bout what we got ♪

♪ Let's be trying
to make ourself better ♪

♪ And we ♪

♪ We keeping all the good energy ♪

♪ We got today, oh ♪

♪ We'll be okay ♪

♪ We'll make a way, look to the sky ♪

♪ Smile on your face ♪

♪ Just leave a trace
all over the place ♪

♪ If you wanna feel good ♪

(SOMBER MUSIC)

♪

(GUNSHOT CRACKS)

Daddy! Dad, Dad, Dad!

I'm sorry! Mom, it's me!

Mama!

I gave you half of the company.

But all I really wanted was
all of you.

Just get on the damn helicopter.

No, I'm not.

♪

LUCIOUS: You know, when I asked you

to marry me again, Cookie,

I took our vows to heart.

I did everything within my power

to become the man that you
said you needed me to be.

I was being good.
I did everything right!

The truth, you can't face it.

♪

(DOORBELL RINGS)

♪

- Thank you.
- To the good ol' days.

(GLASSES CLINK)

Mm.

(GLASS THUDS)

Ugh.

It was good. Thank you.

So what kind of advice
you come looking for?

Okay, it's not like
I'm asking you to help me build

a bigger, better Empire, but...

also, that's exactly what
I'm asking...

of you.

You got some nerve, Becky.

You steal Tiana and then you come here

and ask me to help you
tear down my business.

You are funny.

Every single instinct
I've had at Bossy

has been wrong.

And when I was at Empire,
I was on fire,

but I lost my magic,
and I just don't know how

to get it back.

Look, every head of a label
is gonna screw up.

But the good ones figure out a way

to spin those losses into wins.

I've missed my mark countless times,

but Empire became a giant,

because I kept trying until
I got the damn thing right.

So, Becky, you can't be
afraid to make a mistake,

but you better damn sure
learn from the things.

You hear me?

(MELANCHOLY MUSIC)

Is that it? Fake it till I make it?

Is that all?

I was expecting something genius

or something useful.

Is that everything?

You didn't hear anything
I told you, then.

♪

You've gotta take whatever pain...

You gotta allow it to destroy you,

let it rip you apart,

get drug all the way to
the very bottom of your nature,

'cause only from the
bottom can you see

every possible pathway to the top.

You've probably spent your whole life

running from your dark side.

Surrender to that darkness,

'cause only from that dark place

can you really see the light.

♪

(VOCALIST SINGING IN SPANISH)

♪

Hey, let's get drinks.

♪

Whoo! All right, y'all.

- Come on, let's get some shots.
- Uh, oh, okay.

- To Miami.
- To Miami.

- Ah! Whoo!
- To Miami, baby.

- Mmm.
- Ooh.

- Ah.
- Ow.

Mm, mm.

Here they come.

Keep it clean, ladies.

The only thing we wanna
take home is our luggage.

Hey.

- CANDACE: Hey.
- How are you?

- CAROL: Oh, oh.
- MAN: How we doing?

You know, you look like
you wanna dance.

And you are observant and cute.
(LAUGHS)

You guys wanna party with us?

- Yeah, absolutely.
- Definitely.

- What are y'all drinking?
- Well, what you buying?

Whoo! (LAUGHTER)

Make mine sweet.

MAN: Well, you know what?

My boys Mateo and Luis are
gonna handle that

while I take you pretty ladies
to the dance floor.

Oh, I like that.

CAROL: Come with it, baby.

(UPBEAT LATIN DANCE MUSIC)

♪

- GISELLE: Hey.
- BECKY: What's going on?

GISELLE: What is going on?

Look, I wanna pull out
of the show, okay?

No.

These church ladies are
taking this way too far,

and I need you two to back me up.

Okay, normally, I would,

but they just offered a 40-city tour.

So this is gonna be a very hard no.

But yeah, look, we know
that this whole thing is

a little out there,
but it's already paying off.

Okay, a tour, it's gonna turn
your whole career around.

You gotta remember,

there are no mistakes
in this business, right,

only opportunities.

- BECKY: Am I right?
- Seize them.

BECKY: And how will you see the light

if you don't get dark first?

You gotta get dark.
You gotta get dark.

Oh, you don't know... y'all
didn't hear it.

Okay, it's... I promise you,
it's genius.

Either way, it's too late
to say no now.

Your career is riding on this.

Please.

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

Okay, I'ma do this one.

- Okay, good.
- Great.

But I'm not committing to 40 more.

Oh, girl, you don't have
to commit to 40 more.

Just commit to the one
and then 39 after that.

That's easy. You can do that.

GISELLE: Just a little math.

All right, get some rest, okay?

- GISELLE: It's a blessing.
- Yeah, it's a blessing.

- Okay?
- It's a blessing.

Look, the eye is on the sparrow

and you are the sparrow.

- GISELLE: Yes.
- He's watching.

BECKY: He's watching.

JT: ♪ I'ma bounce this [...]

♪ For a rich [...] [...]

♪ I'ma get a bag,
old, old [...] digger ♪

♪ You can't [...] me,
if you ain't got that cash ♪

Whoo!

JT: ♪ I'll wiggle it, wiggle it ♪

♪ Wiggle it, you gotta spend [...] ♪

Ooh. Ooh.

(MUSIC MUFFLED)

Hey, something ain't right.

(SINGER'S VOICE DISTORTED)

FRENCH MONTANA:
♪ If you gonna backflip it

♪ I ain't tripping, I got that cash ♪

♪ Baby, go and bounce that [...] ♪

JT: ♪ Wiggle it, wiggle it ♪

Did you drug us, bitch?

Hell yeah.

What? Get up, get up, get up.

Okay, so you tried to hit us
with a okie-doke.

I'ma kick your ass.

Wait, wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait.

You Cosby'd us?

- COOKIE: Yes!
- CAROL: I'm not mad.

He feels so soft. Feel him.

- CAROL: Like a poodle.
- Oh, yeah.

You said you wanted to party,
and to us, that means molly.

- Wait.
- I put it in our drinks.

We're all on it. We thought you knew.

No, no, no, dummy.
We meant party, like, dance.

Now I'm higher than a giraffe coochie.

No harm intended. We're nice guys.

We're not trying to take
advantage of you.

Well, I am, but I wouldn't
drug you to do it.

I like a challenge.

- Hmm.
- MAN: Now come on.

Did you do your hair
and prop up the twins

just to be mad,
or did you ladies come out

to Miami to have a good time?

You better be glad
they playing my song,

'cause otherwise, I'd kick your ass.

I got my right eye on you.

FRENCH MONTANA:
♪ Got a hundred racks ♪

♪ If you gonna backflip it ♪

♪ I ain't tripping, I got that cash ♪

♪ Baby, go and bounce [...]

JT: ♪ I wiggle it, wiggle it ♪

♪ Wiggle it, you gotta [...]

♪

♪ I wiggle it, wiggle it, wiggle it ♪

("YOU'RE SO BEAUTIFUL" PLAYS)

Whoo-hoo!

LUCIOUS: ♪ Beautiful ♪

♪ You got me watching you
like a camera do ♪

♪ I still wait for you ♪

Baby, you know I can't
give up on us that easy,

and it was wrong of me to
minimize your contribution.

I was ego-tripping
'cause I couldn't have built

any of this without you.

I see you came to your senses.

I could have the whole damn world,

I don't care.

It doesn't matter I have
an empire if I don't have you.

I'm... I'm sorry.

No, Lucious. Mm-mm.

No, you're lying, Lucious.
You're lying.

'Cause as soon... as soon
as I let my guard down,

pull me in and turn your back on me,

like you always do.

- I hate...
- I promise.

I hate you, Lucious. I hate you!

- (GRUNTS)
- MAN: Whoa.

- (MAN GROANS)
- MAN: Whoa!

(WOMAN SCREAMS)

(SHRIEKS)

♪

(SCREAMS)

(GLASS SHATTERS, LAUGHS)

(WOMEN SCREAMING, GRUNTING)

Take this, bitch!

♪

(WOMAN GRUNTING)

LUCIOUS: ♪ You're so beautiful ♪

COOKIE: I got used to the smell,

you know, and the women screaming

and crying constantly.

But I could never get used to the fact

that I felt like I was in
a time capsule, you know,

no clocks, no windows,

you ain't got no sense of time.

And that'll drive you crazy
if you let it.

Hello?

I'm speak... sir, speaking to you.

All those years in a cell
smaller than this.

I'm sure you would have killed
for all this leg room

up in here.

I almost did a couple times.
You know I go crazy.

CANDACE: Excuse me. Um, sir.

Sir, I need the ladies' room
and a phone,

'cause I'm gonna call Al Sharpton.

Oh, yeah, I'ma call Al Sharpton.

Oh, yeah, you better leave.

You deprived the wrong woman, tonight,

of her right to pee
in a clean facility.

- COOKIE: Come, come...
- No, I know my rights!

Oh, come on, "I know my rights."

- "I know my rights."
- CANDACE: I know my rights.

Listen here. You ain't got no rights.

You in jail, stupid.
Sit your ass down.

This ain't no Four Seasons.
"Clean facility."

(LAUGHS)

(CELL DOOR SQUEAKS SHUT)

(SIGHS)

You know the irony of this?

I did 17 years in prison

for Lucious,

and here I am again,
behind bars because of him.

I guess we all doing time
for his ass, huh?

Y'all know I did a lot of time
in solitary, right?

'Cause you know I'm a crazy bitch.

(LAUGHTER)

So to get myself through,
I would... um...

I would remember those... those
routines we used to do, right?

- COOKIE: Remember as a kid?
- Yeah.

I used to make 'em up,

and I used to force y'all
to perform it with me.

Yes. I remember that.

Daddy, he would laugh so hard,

and Grandma would make us do it
over and over and over...

Over and over.

Klymaxx... that Klymaxx song,
that was... that was my favorite.

- Which one was that?
- "Men All Pause."

Oh, oh, wait, wait, wait.
I think I remember this.

Um, uh, uh, uh.

"I know I was looking good.

"I had on my Kenneth Cole shoes

and my blue Versace... leather suit."

"My nails were done
and my hair was fierce."

Yes.

"And I was riding
in a Cooper's limousine."

ALL: ♪ Don't you want to ride ♪

♪ I woke up feeling real sleazy ♪

♪ And so I went down
to the speakeasy ♪

♪ As soon as my feet ♪

- ♪ Hey ♪ - ALL: ♪ Hit the floor ♪

♪ I had all the 'ttention ♪

♪ On the dance floor ♪

♪ Don't you know the men all pause ♪

♪ When we walked into the room ♪

ALL: ♪ The men all pause ♪

- (LAUGHTER)
- That was the jam.

Yep.

You know what I just realized?

What?

Back when you was Loretha,

long before Lucious came along,

your heart belonged to music.

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

♪

I guess I kind of forgot that.

Yep.

Lucious, Empire,

and the music just
kind of got mixed up.

CAROL: Sis, I know that Lucious
was your first love,

but music, that's your true love.

And now that you have
finally left Lucious...

Yes.

CANDACE: Music don't have to be
your side piece anymore.

Put a ring on that mug

and get yourself back into
a clean, healthy relationship.

That's what you deserve.

With music, though, right?

Because I'm sick of men right now.

Come here.

♪

I love y'all, but we needs
to brush our teeth.

- (LAUGHS)
- Shut up.

Seriously. Just don't laugh.

Just hold it in.

I want everyone to hear a song
from Treasure's new album.

We're very proud of the
changes we've made so far.

I hope you like it,

and I wanna make one thing
abundantly clear.

This is the new Empire,

where we'll embrace
and collaborate with the artist

to find their authentic sound,

not dictate what their
sound should be.

Treasure.

(APPLAUSE)

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS)

TREASURE: ♪ When you're down
on motivation ♪

♪ That is your ammo ♪

♪ Don't believe what they say,
'cause you know better ♪

♪ Keep moving your own row ♪

♪ Don't focus on what you're not ♪

♪ 'Cause we should be
thinking 'bout what we got ♪

♪ Let's be trying
to make ourself better ♪

♪ And we ♪

♪ We keeping all the good energy ♪

Cut. Turn the music off.

Sorry, Treasure,
it was a valiant effort,

but...

my original version
of Treasure's album is better,

and that is the one
that will be released.

Andre's little experiment
was cute, but has failed.

Meeting's over.

Everybody get back to work
on the original plan.

And, boy, you're damn
right I'm a narcissist.

That's what's built the
mansion that you live in.

It's what built Empire.

My narcissism saved my life,
changed music and the world.

It's my power.

If you don't like it,

I suggest you find
someplace else to be.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

♪

(APPLAUSE)

TIANA: ♪ Oh ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Tell me what you mad for? ♪

♪ Why you gotta be so particular ♪

♪ Why you care about what I think? ♪

♪ You might need a drink ♪

♪ 'Cause you upset ♪

♪ And I'm out here living my life ♪

♪ With no regrets ♪

♪ Reason number one ♪

♪ I ain't trying to be told
what I'm supposed to be like ♪

♪ Two ♪

♪ I'm gonna live the way I want ♪

♪ 'Cause it's my life ♪

♪ Three ♪

♪ You can say what you want ♪

♪ Ain't losing my focus ♪

It all looks good.

I know, like Sister Act 2.

♪ I'm gonna make you mad
in the worst way ♪

No! No!

TIANA: ♪ Then I'ma act like
it's my birthday ♪

♪ Oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah ♪

♪ All about my business
while you're thirsty ♪

♪ Oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah ♪

- (WOMAN GASPS)
- TIANA: ♪ Gonna take ♪

♪ A lot more just to hurt me ♪

♪ Oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah ♪

♪ Coins or chips ♪

♪ Gonna be mad ♪

- What is going...
- We didn't...

What's this?

♪ I'ma make you mad in the worst way ♪

♪ Oh, yeah ♪

♪ 'Cause you gonna hang on ♪

♪ Every single word I say ♪

♪ I don't wanna have no bad vibes ♪

I did not plan this.
Did you put her up to this?

- No!
- Did you know about this?

No, I'm just as surprised as you are.

Even though I really love
that she had the stones

to pull it... oh, my God.

Wait, so do her fans.

She is trending like crazy,
but in a good way.

They think that she is
"denouncing the church

and its Christian values."

Does this mean that...

Tiana's back!

- (SCREAMS)
- Oh, my God!

♪ 'Cause you gonna hang on
every single word I say ♪

ANDRE: Yeah.
(WALKER COOS)

ANDRE: You talking?

Yeah. (LAUGHS)

Yeah, Daddy loves you. You know that?

(TENDER MUSIC)

Daddy's gonna always love
and respect you,

even when we disagree.

You won't ever have
to worry about that.

No, your life is gonna be different.

♪

Because I'll be different, yeah.

♪

I'm gonna break this Lyon cycle, son.

♪

I promise.

(GURGLES)

Yeah? (CHUCKLES)

Yeah, I promise.

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

Hey, Yana.

"Hey"?

Is that all you can think to say to me

after what you did?