05x02 - Pay for Their Presumptions

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Empire (COUGHING)

I can't rap, Tee.

I need some space to get myself together.

- What are you doing here?

- I wanted the family to meet Kai.

THIRSTY: Somebody put Andre's spike in Anika's drink.

ANDRE: I can handle two years.

I really needed that.

We make a good team, Kingsley.

Get off me!

(SHOUTING)

We had his ass!

And our deal is just as dead as he is.

I'd like you to step in as Empire's interim CEO.

LUCIOUS: We started our own label.

COOKIE: That is Treasure, and we just signed her.

To the Lyons.

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)

You couldn't have known.

And I woke up in a panic, gotta get money Another day another dollar, no it ain't runnin' Won't stop till I'm on top, they be like, cold - Never seen a chick so cold - Nuh-uh - Never even a whip so cold - (LAUGHS)

Tell me have you ever seen a chick so cold?

- Yo.

- It's hot.

(EXCLAIMS)

Do I know a hit or do I know a hit?

Huh?

Damn, if I say yeah, you gonna stop hitting me?

- I might not.

- Okay, so, - what is next?

- Uh, what's next is you and me, tomorrow, back at it, trying to find your next hit.

Yeah, 'cause the last thing you want to do is to have a song on radio and not have a hit to follow up with.

- You just said on the radio?

- COOKIE: Yeah.

Hey, Tyree, you got us blocked off for tomorrow like I asked, right?

You want a block, you got a block.

I'll add it to your bill.

- (SIGHS)

- I know y'all good for it.

COOKIE: Yeah, you know it.

Y'all really think that we can get some radio play?

What?

(SCOFFS)

Baby girl, getting you on the radio is the easy part.

There is not a radio station in the country that is not dying to break a new Empire Lyon Family record.

- Good cover.

- Mm-hmm.

Wow.

I mean, it's just, like, really fast.

We just finished this.

And who's gonna be my promo guy?

Well, Treasure, you are our first artist on the label, so you get hands-on, one-on-one promo.

Right now you don't need an army.

What you need is two hit men that's willing to die for you and k*ll for you.

COOKIE: We gonna change your life, girl.

(LAUGHS)

Hey, run that hit again.

Usain gonna bolt, gotta keep running Won't stop till I'm on top, they be like, cold.

CEO of Empire.

I am so excited for you.

Be excited for both of us, Becky.

The minute we walk in that room and Kelly makes that announcement, I want you to know that I got you.

Girl, I know my work wife got me.

What do we call that?

Black Girl Magic.

Wait till you see this new couch I got for my office.

Wow.

Already?

Before the announcement?

I don't believe in jinxes.

You got to claim what's yours.

Hmm.

I thought Kingsley was in Silicon Valley.

It's very sweet of him.

Probably came for the announcement.

- KELLY: I like it a lot.

- BECKY: Mm-hmm.

- Hi.

- Ladies.

Just in time.

- Hey.

So nice to see you.

- Good morning.

- Nice to see you again.

- KELLY: Yeah.

- WAITER: Champagne?

- GISELLE: Thank you.

BECKY: Thank you.

- Giselle.

- Yes?

I can't thank you enough for all the work you did as interim CEO.

You are truly a team player.

On that note Everyone, I'd like to make an announcement.

- (QUIETLY)

: It's happening.

- Closer.

Get in tight.

Join me as I toast the new chief executive officer of Empire Entertainment - My girl.

- Jeff Kingsley.

(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)

Giselle, can I count on you to bring our boy up to speed?

All this music stuff is like - a foreign language to guys like us.

- Well, thank you.

Of course.

Team player, right?

Got a bad lil' mama, and she always with the Put a hundred in my pocket, then a hundred on the rims That's my lil' that's-that's my lil' That's my lil' that's, that's my lil' Put a red dress on her and some gas for the trip Got a hundred in my pocket and a couple on the tint KAI: Morning.

That's my lil' that's-that's my lil' JUDGMENT FREE: am I to assume this is our new normal?

(SIGHS)

Uh, there's nothing normal about this.

Tingle when it's fake dreads swinging Like they did the Harlem Shake, that's true West Coast till I D-I-E Man I can't Keem!

Get your stupid-ass leg Is that your chair?

Get you asses up, and go.

Come on, man, you know it's real in the field, son.

Marcel, get your little ass out of my house.

And you - Ooh.

- Ooh.

Don't embarrass your ass right now.

Get your ass up there.

Wash your ass, get sobered up, tell your stupid friends good-bye.

- We got somewhere to be.

- That's, that's my lil' - Hey, let's go in the guest room.

- Get - You know better.

- You know better, too.

That's my lil' That's-that's my lil' That's my lil' that's-that's my lil' (GISELLE GRUNTS)

Okay.

I brought booze, thinking that there'd be tears, but this is healthy, too, I guess.

I don't cry at work.

A'ight, cool.

So what are you gonna do?

Kelly Patel made a big mistake passing me up.

So after I take the Kn*fe out of my back I'm gonna nail Jeff Kingsley to the wall!

BECKY: Um Okay, girl, girl.

GISELLE (QUIETLY): Take it easy.

Okay.

Well, that was a birthday present, but all right.

HOST: Yeah, Lucious, good to see you putting in work again, man.

After all, you are the family - that brought us Empire Entertainment.

- LUCIOUS: Exactly.

That's why we trying to follow this legacy up with, um, with an amazing artist.

I'll tell you, once you play this song from her Yeah, we are, but before we get into the future, man, let's stay in the past for a minute.

It's only been two years since you lost Empire.

(EXHALES)

All right, real talk, baby.

You know, after doing something for 20 years, y-you realize that sometimes, it's time for a change.

Now that's real talk.

Well, real talk man, you know how that is.

Real talk ain't real until the streets say so.

And according to the streets, you and Cookie just fell off the face of the Earth, because you let your boy Eddie Barker just gorilla your whole company.

(QUIETLY): Come here.

You like your heart being in your chest?

You trying to play me?

This is supposed to be an interview, not me putting my personal business on blast like I'm on a reality show.

Nothing's on blast if the rumor's aren't true, right?

You and me, we had a deal.

I come in here, I get on the radio with your boy.

I did my part, now play my song and call your sister stations up and down the coast.

You tell them to play it as well.

I can't do that, Lucious.

No disrespect.

But if you're not willing to give us some dirt on what's really happening with you and Cookie - and the Lyons - What's happening?

This ain't about no damn dirt.

This is supposed to be about music, man.

You know what's happening?

You had an opportunity to break the next Whitney Houston.

You lost it.

(TEXTING)

- Look at you.

- "Wack ass show.

" LUCIOUS (CHUCKLES): You giving somebody a ass-whooping over the phone.

I'm letting this radio station have it on Twitter.

They don't want it with me.

That's for sure.

Ain't you supposed to be in the studio with Treasure?

I can chew gum and walk at the same damn time.

Lucious, they must have forgot who we are.

- Baby - Let me send this.

- Come on.

- Troll.

(PHONE WHOOSHES)

Look, I'm telling you, we got this.

You get in the studio, you make another hit with Treasure.

I'll get this on the radio.

I got my boy Bakari, who's been running Lincoln University radio station for 25 years.

I got this, I promise you.

Okay.

(CHUCKLES)

What's that for?

I need a reason?

Maybe I don't need one, either.

No, it's too hot for all of that.

- (LAUGHS)

- On top of the world Yeah, power, that's the only thing working Money and the power Joe, Joe, you're supposed to be her manager.

Do you think you can manage to tell me where the hell she is?

Look, I don't mean to be in your business, but you an hour behind, and this is a business.

- I know, I know.

- And I got Hootie and them show up about 2:00, and if your girl ain't gonna show, I mean, we need to You know what?

A'ight.

- A'ight, Cookie.

You fam.

- A'ight.

You fam.

I got I'll just push him, all right?

Mm.

Your girl need to tell me what's up.

(SIGHS)

She's not gonna show.

I'll put this on your tab, too.

Yeah, I know you will.

That's the only thing working Money and the power, that's the only thing working It's a wrap, fellas, she's not coming.

- Damn.

- On top of the world.

It's fine, everything's cool.

- What's up?

- What's up, B?

BOY: Gusto, please, man So I told you before, right?

Now crawl.

What you mean, man?

Now, see, yours is not to question, bitch.

Yours is to crawl.

- (GRUNTS)

- Ooh!

Whoa.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Nothing good's gonna come from what you about to do.

You know his case, Miles.

He's innocent.

He shouldn't even be here.

You're almost out of here, Dre.

You gonna blow a release for some kid you don't owe?

MAN: Crawl on over here, sister.

(WHISTLING)

MAN 2: Hey, Gusto, who's your girl?

(LAUGHING)

That's right.

You better crawl.

(GRUNTS)

Do you love what you feel?

'Cause I love What you do to me Baby When you're holding me You messing with my money, Treasure.

What's this, one setback and you run back back to your day job?

Cookie, it's not just a job.

Okay?

I'm paying my bills.

(SHORT CHUCKLE)

It's a pension, it's health care.

And my daddy keeps telling me I cannot run away from reality for a dream.

You know, my daddy put food on the table for three girls, with nothing but his toolbox and his bare, scarred, rough hands.

And when I told my daddy I was leaving to pursue my dreams, he put his face in those same hands and he cried.

And you know what's unfortunate?

He passed away before he got to find out how I took every lesson he taught me about hard work and I applied it to something that woke my soul: music.

I see greatness in you, sis.

You call me when you see it in yourself.

Have a good day with your day job.

(SIGHS)

- (LYONS LAUGHING)

- Yeah, there you go.

Let's go.

Aw, hell yeah.

All three of the Lyon brothers in one room?

This is dope.

Now, we The Yard Boys.

Check it out.

Show 'em what we got, fellas.

(BEATBOXING)

Hey, look Hey, hey, yo, we walk hard in da yard 'Cause we talk hard, plus I know my way Around dat green like a golf cart I'm so dedicated, incarcerated But educated, I was restless, reckless So I made a checklist Check me and I'm-a wear your bones as a necklace.

- (WHOOPS)

- All right.

Yeah.

For real.

- MAN: Gratitude, gratitude.

- Gentlemen - Gratitude.

- I'm with my family.

- Oh, my fault, dawg.

- Much respect, baby.

- Oh, my-my bad.

ANDRE: So what's up with the visit?

I'm out of here in a few.

What, y'all miss me that much?

- I actually do.

- I don't.

And yet here you are, baby boy.

- First time in a while, too.

- You right.

I don't know why I'm here seeing somebody who k*lled my daughter's mother.

- Would you stop that?

- No.

Seriously.

Y'all gonna have to dead all of this, whatever this is.

I'm going back to London, y'all, I am.

And Mom and Dad gonna need both of y'all, both of y'all.

- No, I'm good.

- Oh, really?

You running like-like hip-hop G. I. Joe, but you good.

You know homeboy likes to tote a g*n now.

I'm sorry, let me-let me rephrase that.

Lots lots of g*ns.

Yeah, you one of them tough guys who likes to throw rocks at the prison wall until they finally let you in.

Coming from an actual convict, that's deep.

But why am I here having advice from this goon ass?

JAMAL: 'Cause both of us love you, Hakeem.

'Cause you our little brother.

'Cause you all screwed up and you need help.

You're a knucklehead, Hakeem, but you can be strong if you set your mind to it.

Look, you ain't got to do it for me, do it for your babies.

Oh, you ain't care about my baby when you k*lled her mother!

- Stop that right now.

- ANDRE: No, no, no, no.

He's-he's right.

I deserve that.

Like Anika deserved what she got.

Are you serious?

Okay.

Let me get this right.

My daughter got no mother 'cause my brother k*lled her.

And while I'm in the hospital recovering for months you was nowhere to be found.

You in London having a good-ass time, right?

Yeah.

I got one more question.

Why am I here?

Uh, thank you so much for setting up this meeting, Becky.

Thank you for coming.

You are our family.

(EXHALES)

Um well, I know that I haven't put out that much music since Eddie shoved me.

- First things first, I'm not Eddie.

- Uh-uh.

Eddie's philosophy was old-school.

So old-school.

Decide an artist's image and set it in stone?

(BECKY SCOFFS)

Your kids, your life experience those things differentiate you in an overcrowded market.

Absolutely.

Why hide what you should be celebrating?

- Let's celebrate you.

- Right?

- (CHUCKLES)

- Right?

Celebrate how?

Who watches Bella and little Prince when you're in the studio?

You know my kids' names?

- Duh.

(LAUGHS)

- Of course I do.

- (CHUCKLES)

- Don't worry, I'll direct HR to set up on-site day care.

In fact, let's get you in the studio right away.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Show me who you really are.

I believe the music will flow from there.

I'm just trying to do my own thing Making somethin' out of nothin' Yeah I'm just trying to do my own thing Peace, brother.

Peace to you, sister.

Salaam, brother Lucious.

(CHUCKLES)

Salaam alaikum, my man.

So, uh, brother Lucious, about that record you want us to play.

WOMAN: All due respect, we can't do it.

We have a curated set list.

Okay.

HOW ABOUT THIS: you play my record, and I'll give you an on-air exclusive interview as to the meaning behind "A Child is Born.

" The "A Child is Born" song?

You never talked about that.

Nor will I ever talk about it again.

But you got to play my record.

You first.

So, um the doctor, he walked out, and I'm left standing there, watching, uh, Cookie sleep on the hospital bed.

And then all these thoughts kept coming through my head about what if I had gotten her to the hospital in time and our baby girl had lived, um What if my oldest child, my firstborn, was that baby girl?

You know, what if she didn't breathe her first and last breath on that day?

What if I could turn back the time and see my girl being born?

Hmm.

I remember thinking at the time that if Cookie and I could make it through something like that, then we could, um we can get through anything, you know?

So, our word is bond, Lucious.

Tell us about your new artist.

Well, I could tell you about a treasure, but it's so much better to see it for yourself.

A'ight, so, without further ado, the Culture Freedom show brings you the world premiere of the Lyon family music artist Treasure.

I don't need your attitude Don't want your goofy-ass man with the busted shoes I'm walking in bossed up, got a lot to prove I'm breaking necks with the way that my body moves I know they asking, "Who's that chick With all the confidence?" Step into the room like she owning this I'm coming for your check, I'm-a garnish it I don't want a piece, I want all of this.

- Reservation under Lyon.

- Mm-hmm.

Uh, Treasure's song is already the most-requested song at the radio station.

She will be out of those social worker digs in no time.

Yeah, Sway's been blowing up my phone all day begging to be part of her next exclusive, apologizing Hey, dude, why am I still standing here?

I-I'm so sorry for the delay, sir.

Mrs.

Barker changed the reservation to her name.

- Mrs.

Barker?

- Uh-huh.

Oh, hell no.

Cooks.

Lucious, hi, I'm so glad you could make it.

- What are you doing here?

- Oh, don't blame Treasure.

I made an offer she couldn't refuse - and she's an Empire artist now.

- (COOKIE SIGHS)

You thieving bitch.

And you fell for this, Treasure?

All money is not good money, okay?

You are worth more than some advance this snake could offer you.

All they are going to do is pair you with half-assed producers with no beats who don't know who you are.

Look, guys, I'm not signing with Empire because of the sales pitch.

You told me yourself, Cookie, you said, "Don't be afraid of real success.

" And, look, I'm sorry.

Making music in your living room was really cute, but Empire just has the resources to make me a star.

That company is being run by a tech dude who knows nothing about music, and neither does this dried-up bird.

LUCIOUS: Don't forget, we're the ones that built Empire from the ground up.

We know how to make stars, and we also know how to tear 'em out of the sky.

Remember that little contract you signed with us?

We're gonna sue your ass.

GISELLE: If you do that I'm gonna pull you into years of litigation, legal fees both of which we know you don't have the time or the resources to handle.

Do you really want to do that?

Look, I will write you a check for all Keep your check, bitch.

Come on, baby.

Oh, oh, heh Oh I'm usually impatient Don't like to waste my time I can tell the first night If it's right I don't usually say this But I think that I might I think you got me for life It feels right 'Cause loving you is easy Like a summer day Fun without the games You're good for me, oh, baby Loving you is easy We do it every night It's like paradise that just you and I Oh, baby No, no No, no, no, no, no, no - Yeah, mm.

- Mm.

(CLINKING GLASS)

- Sounding good, babe.

- (CHUCKLES)

(SIGHS)

Kai, my family needs me.

They do, I know.

I know.

I just I need to stay in New York for a few months.

- Months.

- Yeah, but listen.

You know, I would, I would expect or I would hope you know, that you'd stay here with me.

I thought we both had a-a life and careers in London?

We do, we do.

London's home, you know?

I'm not trying to mess with that.

I don't want you to, either.

So while you're helping your family here, what do you propose I do?

Babe, what do you always do?

Work.

Come on, you got, like, a million and one journalist friends here in New York.

Invite them to brunch or drinks.

You know, just A few months?

That means three.

(CHUCKLES)

- Not four.

- Not four.

- Maybe two.

- Three.

- All right.

- Thank you.

Laboratory edition, signature series torque wrench, the kind used by Caltech high-energy physicists and NASA engineers.

- VINNY (ON TV): Well, in that case, - (MUTTERS)

how could you be sure that's accurate?

MONA LISA (ON TELEVISION): Because a split-second before What did I say about popping off without permission?

- Hmm?!

- Yo, Gusto.

Gusto.

- Mind your damn business.

- Okay, let's talk business then.

Okay?

Leave Quincy alone and-and when I'm out of here, you got everything in my locker.

Everything?

Even my burner phone.

Okay.

Okay.

Here's my counteroffer.

I take everything in your locker, including your phone.

I take princess here until I'm done with him and I do it while you still in here.

That work for you?

Huh?

Hey, no.

Hey, move.

- Now.

- Let's go.

Keep it moving.

VINNY: Dead-on balls accurate?

LUCIOUS: Somebody's - listening to my calls.

- Uh-uh, uh-uh.

I have to tell Juanita about running up this damn electricity bill.

(SIGHS)

I wanted to slap the yellow off of Giselle's ass.

- (SIGHS)

- Knock them green eyes right to the back of her head.

(CHUCKLES)

You probably would've, if your feet wasn't k*lling you.

Give them to me.

So now what, Cook?

It's just you and me, kid.

Back to square one.

(PHONE RINGS)

(EXHALES)

Baby.

It's my old office.

Answer it.

(SIGHS)

Yeah, who this?

(WHISPERING): It's Kingsley.

- What?

- Kingsley.

He wants to meet.

(MOUTHING)

Hey, well, hold on.

Slow down, man.

First, why?

Cookie.

- Lucious.

- (SCOFFS)

So glad you came.

Took the liberty of ordering for you.

Well, you left out the watermelon.

Probably wondering why I asked you to meet me here.

COOKIE: It better not be to gloat because Empire stole Treasure from up under our noses, Jeff.

My apologies.

Giselle acted unilaterally.

And please, call me Kingsley.

My friends do.

I'm not your friend.

Why should we believe you, Jeff?

Because I respect you both, which is why we're here, a place that's symbolic of my plans for Empire.

LUCIOUS: Hey, you know, based on your background I mean, a Boy Scout, prep schools, sold your first app while you were still at Stanford.

And then you became Kelly Patel's Littlefinger.

Nothing in that resume suggests that you have a hint of what it takes to make plans for my Empire.

I want to take Empire back to its roots.

- Oh.

- Eddie Barker rest in peace he messed up when he cut you out.

COOKIE: Look, as long as an outsider has the keys, hell could freeze over.

We ain't never coming back.

Home.

That's what it is, your home.

You built the place.

A couple of hard-knock kids from North Philly start a little label and conquer the music business?

But that's not what's most important to you.

And you think you know what's important to us.

Family.

Every family needs a matriarch and a patriarch.

I'm offering you chairman and chairwoman emeritus.

COOKIE: What do you mean, a figurehead?

- Oh.

- I'll cut you a check to come to a few key events, - (CHUCKLES)

- shake a few shareholder hands.

Best of all, your face back on the Empire logo, Lucious, where it belongs.

Cookie Lucious please come home.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

I swear I take a drink every single time Bryson has to remind me that he's Kai's ex.

Okay, well, we'll get you a second glass.

Just remember you're here to get your man a job in New York City so we can keep having brunch like this.

- You're right.

- Also, didn't you say that you was gonna let me listen to some new music?

'Cause I feel like you said that.

- I ain't never said that.

No Empire talk.

- You said Leave me alone.

You've changed since you came back from London.

It's not like you've taken any real assignments - since Jamal domesticated you.

- Oh, man.

Okay, there you go.

That's not true.

Right, babe?

My new life with you is my choice.

I'm happy.

WOMAN: Yeah, but it's a pity, though.

There's a new assignment out of the New York Bureau.

Some child trafficking in Mogadishu.

Babe, that's amazing.

That's a chance to get to do some great work with kids - in third world countries.

- "Third world" is a colonialist term.

- A colonizer would know.

- Yeah, man, is there an issue that we're not I-I think he means cut the crap and don't speak to my man like that again.

- Yeah, come on.

- Sorry.

- Thank you.

- Maybe I was being a little extra.

I'll stand down.

- (CHUCKLES)

- But I know you, Kai.

You're tempted.

I suppose it depends on who's sh**ting.

Me.

Just like old times.

(WHISPERING)

You sure?

Are you gonna help me out or not?

I got you, Dre.

And then I'm looking like, how come when I said about staying in New York, you had to think about it which I understand but then, the second that old what's-his-bitch-ass Bryson mentions a job or whatever, then all of a sudden you're intrigued.

Wait, what are you trying to say?

I'm saying I want to make sure that you're intrigued with staying in New York with me and not with his ass.

Wait, wait, hang on.

Are you kidding right now?

Let's remember, Jamal, this whole scenario was your idea, not mine.

I know your history.

You've been hurt many times and I'm sorry about that.

But do not let your past leak into our present, my man.

Either you trust me or you don't.

GUARD: Sir.

Sir, you're not gonna be able to come in.

Yo, my parents birthed this place, man!

- Sir - Y'all gonna let me in.

Up out of here, man.

What's up?

- TIANA: Hakeem.

- Peanut head.

Hey, babe, tell these rent-a-cops to let me upstairs.

g*n!

Oh, my What's going on?

Stop!

- Get off me, little man!

- Let him go!

HAKEEM: What y'all looking at?

- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)

- Are you drunk?

Come on, you with the preaching, too?

I miss you.

I'm here to see my kids!

- You're not gonna see your kids.

- Yeah, where my kids at?!

Touch me one more time and I'll have them All right, little girl.

- Carry your drunk ass up out of here.

- Okay.

Go, now.

- All right, little girl.

- Leave.

(DOOR OPENS)

- What?

- Say it's for Mikey I just took it like a man And I ain't worried what you wasn't I just took it like a man Forever grinding 'cause it doesn't ever stop I just took it like a man.

I'm a genius!

(LAUGHING)

SID (ON TELEVISION): From now on, they'll have to refer to me as Sid, Lord of the Flame.

Yo, why you got so much to say to me lately?

You scared you gonna miss me?

(ALARM BLARING)

(GRUNTS)

Down!

Back up!

Back up!

Against the wall!

Let's go.

(BELL RINGS)

COOKIE: Keem, Tiana called us.

Boy, let us help you.

- I'm a'ight.

- No, you're not all right, walking around toting g*ns and drinking like they paying you.

Ain't nobody trying to hear your lecture, man.

Boy, I will take this bottle and bust you Honey, honey, baby, baby.

Listen, man.

I see you, Hakeem.

I know you think that I don't, but I see you.

And I know exactly what this is about.

- You're afraid right now.

- I ain't scared.

You are.

You're afraid that you're not gonna be as good as you were before.

You think I wasn't scared every album that I made?

Afraid that it wasn't gonna be as good as the last album?

Afraid that everybody was gonna think that, "Hey, Lucious is some washed-up rapper that had his little 15 minutes of fame and now it's gone.

" (LUCIOUS SIGHS)

You think me and your mama don't know about loss, heartache, disappointment and pain?

Music is all I know.

Come home.

Okay?

Co Just come home.

We'll work it all out.

Just for a couple days, man.

All right, I'm-a grab my stuff.

Okay.

Our family needs us.

We gon' take that Kingsley deal.

(LUCIOUS SIGHS)

- Hey, Miss Juanita.

- Hello.

How you doing, sweetie pie?

I'm good.

How you doing?

- Ugh.

- See it didn't take much for your raggedy ass to settle in.

I see it didn't take for you to come here - and get some free breakfast.

- Uh your mother and your father invited me, stupid.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Look, in other news, I'm-a stay a little while.

Might give me a chance to, you know, get you back on track with your music.

If you down.

Let me think about it.

- Think about it.

- (LAUGHS)

Ma!

It's good to see my boys laughing and you snitching.

- That mean you feeling better.

- Mm-hmm.

Listen, y'all, um, your mother and I have made a decision.

We decided we're gonna go back to Empire.

Y'all, why?

- It don't make no sense.

- Okay, - look, look, look, boys.

- You already know what I think.

This is the best choice for this family, okay?

Yeah, now, they're throwing a little "welcome home" get-together in the lobby of Empire later on tonight.

- Thank you, Juanita.

- Thank you.

Me and your mother thought it would be good if we go down there as a family and just - do it together, as a family.

- Yes.

- Okay?

- Oh, we got choices now?

- No, you do not.

- We don't never get no choice.

- No, you do not.

- Okay.

So it's Okay.

- Good.

- I guess it is.

Boy, don't you talk back.

(LAUGHING)

I never reply when you hit me I'm off the grid, you can't get me - (INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

- Secure the bag like Gucci Ya see me racked up, can't miss me I never go down with my hands up The rounds, we pour another cup I have something really incredible I want to show you.

Jet Black - There's a lot of new faces.

- HAKEEM: Yeah.

I think I'm about to go make a drink.

- A what?

- I mean a glass of cranberry juice.

- Oh, okay.

- Stack it up, Jet Black Mm.

I got him.

Uh, y'all do your thing.

I put this thing here for everybody to see.

Wow, so this is home now, huh?

It's our tribute to the old days.

The original Lyon throne.

Oh, my God, look at us we're just some old relics.

As long as he signs the checks, Lucious we're fine.

Gone - Thank you.

- Thank you.

Now you want to blow up my life Running out of luck Running out of everything we need this time Do what you want to do - I'm sorry.

- No.

- (CHUCKLES)

- No, me too.

Um I'm staying in New York, but You're taking the job with Bryson.

Yeah.

'Cause I'm the same as you Keep going on and on Enjoying your homecoming?

To be honest with you, uh, it's strange, it Just, something feels different around here.

You've outgrown it.

You and Cookie can focus on your boys while I take care of the babysitting here.

- Babysitting?

- Of course.

You and me both know these artists these so-called artists don't understand that their true purpose is to contribute to our bottom line.

They're spoiled.

You're done with all that.

You know, when I created this place, I did it because I loved the music, and-and - I loved those babies.

- Yeah?

They are the bottom line of this place.

They're the purpose behind it.

Now, if you don't understand that, how in the world can you and me be working together?

All these people and press are here so that we can announce your return.

Okay, here's what's gonna happen.

Not only are you and sweet Cookie going to accept my terms, but you're going to do it with big-ass smiles on your faces.

And if I don't?

I'm gonna walk out there and announce that the Lyons the big, scary Lyons are broke.

They're old.

And they're done.

Choice is yours.

EMCEE: Ladies and gentlemen, tonight, we are introducing to you Empire's latest musical discovery, Treasure!

(SINGERS VOCALIZING)

Never seen a girl like me They'll never put a hold on me No, I I'll do it alone I'll do it on my own Nothing ever comes easy They told me it was just a dream But I I'm-a prove 'em wrong Are you talking to me?

Girl, please.

(LAUGHING)

Scree, I don't need your attitude Don't want your goofy-ass man with the busted shoes I'm walkin' in bossed up, got a lot to prove I'm breakin' necks with the way that my body moves I know they askin', "Who's that chick With all the confidence?" Step into the room like she owning this I'm coming for your check, I'm-a garnish it I don't want a piece, I want all of this And I woke up in a panic, gotta get money Another day, another dollar, no, it ain't funny Usain gonna bolt, gotta keep runnin' Won't stop till I'm on top, they be like Cold Never seen a chick so cold Never seen a whip so cold Tell me, have you ever seen a chick so cold?

They be like, "No, we never seen a chick so cold" - Never seen a chain so gold - Bling Never seen a wrist so froze Diamonds on my neck all glow Ice like I'm from the North Pole Never seen a chick so cold, yo Treasure is about to be the jewel in Empire's crown Patel's gonna know he made a mistake, and that I can do something that you can't do.

He also knows that you went behind my back to sign her - just to one-up me.

- One-up you?

Jeff, I work my ass off.

I deserve the CEO job that you stole from me.

You can't even spell A&R, let alone explain what it means.

- A-R - You know what, smarty pants?

You're nothing but a Backstreet Boy with a laptop.

- That's what you think of me?

- Oh, that's what I know.

I'm not going anywhere, Giselle.

There is a place for you here at Empire if you want it.

Please.

What, as your groupie?

As my right hand.

They be like, no I won't beg.

Take some time.

Think about if you want to stay or go.

Diamonds on my neck all glow Ice like I'm from the North Pole Never seen a chick so cold I'm so cold So cold So Shining my light, I'm the best Never seen nobody like me.

(CHEERING)

Treasure, ladies and gentlemen!

Treasure!

Let's hear it!

Fantastic.

Congratulations.

Well done.

A new voice that we are very proud to welcome to the Empire family.

Speaking of family let's welcome the Lyons.

Welcome them home!

(CHEERING)

Bang, bang, bang, bang Boom, boom, boom, boom Lucious Lyon, come on up.

Boom, boom, boom, boom Bang, bang, bang, bang.

(CROWD MURMURING)

WOMAN: Where is he?

MAN: Oh, there he go!

JEFF: There's the man.

Boom, boom, boom, boom - Boom, boom, boom, boom - (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

Boom, boom, boom, boom Bang, bang, bang, bang.

Wow.

How y'all doing?

Um Hey, you know what, let-let me get my family up on this stage.

Um, I'm Lucious, but I'm nothing without Cookie and Jamal and Hakeem, and even though Andre can't be with us here tonight on this joyous occasion Come on up, y'all.

Give 'em a round of applause.

(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)

Cookie you trust me, baby?

Yes.

No, honestly.

I said do you trust me, baby?

- What's this about?

- Do you trust me?

- Yes.

Yes.

- Okay.

Y'all trust me?

- (GUESTS ASSENTING)

- All right, I'm gonna ask everybody, let-let's sit down and get comfortable and have a family conversation, if that's okay.

Please.

Baby, sit down.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Thank you so much.

Now, I know that you guys have heard rumors that the Lyons are broke.

Well, I'm here to tell you that those aren't rumors.

It's the gospel truth.

We are broke as hell.

We spent every penny we had fighting to get Empire back.

But that's over.

Like the Bible said, there's a time to seek, and there's a time to give up as lost.

So we have to think about moving into the future.

And, unfortunately, this place ain't it.

- WOMAN: What?

- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)

You see, record labels like this one are nothing but dinosaurs.

And Jeff Kingsley is nothing but a number cruncher who have no respect for the musicians or the music that they produce.

What did you call them?

Um, you called them spoiled babies.

All he wants to do is take you for whatever he can for as long as he can.

But I know that the real power lies in the artist, because you have the ability to create.

So I'm going to offer you anyone signed at Empire who don't want some tech nerd dancing in their video, who wants to know their real value in this market and their real power I'm gonna ask you to come and step up with us, the Lyons, and let us walk you into the future with our brand-new management company and production company, where we're going to put you first and you first and you first, and your music first.

We're out of here.

- (CHEERING)

- Come on, baby.

We good?

We're better than good.

LUCIOUS: Amen.

You're making a mistake, Lucious.

But it feels so right.

Um the limo's out front.

Who you want to ride with?

I'm riding alone, man.

Okay.

Are you kidding me?

This is a funeral.

The man's grieving.

We understand that, but we need to talk to him.

Now.