03x03 - What Remains Is Bestial

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Empire...

Empire XStream...

We are taking over the world!

I do the music, you handle the business, and we stay out of each other's way.

I know you're working on the Black & White album.

I'm shelving it.

African-American men, the primary victims in g*n v*olence.

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

I'm Zeah, Mr. Lyon.

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

Cookie, you should come down to the center sometime.

I can't get onstage.

I can't do it no more.

You got one job in this house and that's a mother.

Tariq, he may be your half brother, but he is not your friend.

Step away from the car.

Sir, I live right there.

(grunting)

Hey, Lucious.

Can we talk?

Lucious: Door is open. Come on in.

Hey.

You still, uh, obsessing over these streaming numbers?

Well, the board has determined that if I don't get to ten million subscribers by Thursday, they want to pull the plug which means I lose $50 million.

What's on your mind?

I'm like a prisoner in this house.

Come on, with nothing to look forward to.

You call looking after my granddaughter nothing?

You ain't gonna get much sympathy from anybody about this shack you calling a prison.

No, that's not what I mean, Lucious.

Look, I know that we have had our differences, but, I know that Cookie's looking for a new head of A&R.

And you know that that is never going to happen, so you need to just...

Lucious?

Are you okay?

Oh, my God, do you need me to call a doctor?

(woman gasps)

Mm.

No, I looked everywhere and I couldn't find my earring under there.

Damn.

Maybe you can look for it later.

Oh, Pia, you remember your old boss, Anika.

I like your assistant.

Pia, will you be a doll and get Cho in here?

I need to see the new Empire XStream artwork.

Keep putting your back into that work of yours.

Ooh.

Look what I found. (laughing)

(chuckles)

Lucious: I mean, Empire XStream is bleeding out.

Our main asset is exclusive content and I don't have it.

I need five new songs by the end of this week.

Man, I cannot get you five new songs by the end of this...

What is that?

Lucious: Incentive.

You are gonna give a car to whoever can deliver a new song that's ready to drop by this Friday.

And while you're at it, tell your son that I'm releasing his Black & White album.

Jamal does not want that album released, Lucious.

He done told you that a million times.

Well, I don't care. He can tell me a million more.

Look, Cookie, if you with me with this business, 50/50, then you're gonna get me those songs.

Okay. Sure.

I'll get on it tomorrow, after my lunch with Angelo.

What are you seeing in that Oreo, anyway?

I'm being proactive in the community.

I'm going to meet some of the WOKE kids from his foundation.

So he can warm your heart with how good he is with these kids.

He might warm something else later. (chuckles)

Everything's under control, Mom.

Man: He's coming out!

Yeah, I-I got... I got Max with me.

(crowd clamoring)

Max Perkins.

Woman: Andre!

Man: Can we get a comment, please?

Woman: Over here, please!

Over here!

Andre Lyon!

Mr. Lyon, can you tell us what happened?

Okay, okay.

Do exactly what we discussed a few minutes ago.

Don't go all "Black Lives Matter" on me here, okay?

We're good. Let's go.

(reporters clamoring)

This was all a simple misunderstanding.

My client has fully cooperated with law enforcement, it will all be cleared up in a matter of days. Thank you.

Your mother and father have a checkered history with law enforcement.

Are you just following in their criminal footsteps?

That's all for now. My client won't be making any statements. Thank you.

So, are you a gangster now, too, Andre?

What happened to me is what's happening all across America, right now.

Woman: And what's that?

Hey, babe.

Answer her. Come on, she's waiting.

We both know that none of this would have happened if I was still here.

Man: I went back to the bar where it went down, like you all told me to.

I took my new lady with me.

As soon as we hit the door, I start shaking.

But you did the breathing?

Yeah.

And?

I'm still here.

You all noticed, we have someone new in group today.

This is Jamal...

Jamal Lyon.

Jamal... we ask new people to tell the group what caused their PTSD.

Woman: Everybody knows what happened to Jamal.

They played it over and over again on the news.

Leader: That doesn't matter.

Your fame just creates another barrier for your recovery because you have to face your trauma in front of the world.

It's still PTSD.

Yeah, I'm good.

Um, it's my first time, so I'm probably just gonna, you know, lay low and listen.

But thank you.

Okay.

Hey, Jamal. Hey! Hey.

Look, what happened inside, that wasn't cool.

That's not how we do things.

(clears throat) They all know what happened, so it's no sense in frontin' like they don't.

Let me ask you something, man.

Are you still taking any pain meds?

Yeah.

I was hoping to be off of them by now, but, um, I'm not, so...

It's nothing to be ashamed about.

When a soldier gets sh*t...

I'm not a soldier.

You were in the m*llitary, right?

Um, Major Philip Barrett?

You got sh*t.

Your PTSD is no less significant than mine.

If you need treatment, man...

Um, I came here, you know, just to... kind of, test the waters.

And, uh, it actually worked.

A lot, you know? All right.

And at this point, I kind of feel like I know how to manage this. Which is, it's great.

And that's... that's 'cause of y'all, so thank you.

Andre!

Hey. Oh.

Let me guess: it was a white cop.

I should've been smarter about it, okay?

I know this whole thing could've turned out a whole lot differently.

I wouldn't be standing here with you today, I know.

Nothing you could have done different.

You were born black.

What happened, Andre?

I was clearing out me and Rhonda's apartment, a cop shows up and...

Mm-hmm.

Look, I gave him attitude.

No, I don't want to hear that!

That's some B.S.!

Look, I'm-a make Thirsty take care of these cops.

Yeah.

Thirsty?

Let him look into these charges!

Pop, I-I don't need Thirsty, okay?

I got my own lawyer.

With the FBI watching our every move, the last thing we need is Thirsty taking care of anything.

I-I just want to do this the right way.

(scoffs) Andre, the right...

You do realize you're a black man, right, Andre?

And that was a dirty cop that did that to your face.

And since this was not caught on video, it is your word against theirs, all right?

No, see, the police messed up this time.

They done messed with the wrong ones.

So, we gonna fight fire with fire!

Enough!

(sighs)

I'm a Wharton graduate, Mama.

I'm a CFO of a publically traded corporation.

I'm not gonna fight fire with fire.

Andre...

I'm not doing it!

That boy is headed for a world of trouble.

Man: Raymond Lewis, aka Gram. Tiana Brown's new boyfriend... Ran with the Uptown Mafia for a minute, now he's a rapper.

Woman: Can I get a selfie?

Tariq: When you get inside, see if he's still affiliated. Anything we can get on him, we might be able to use against the Lyons.

You want a selfie? No?

I have no idea who that one is.

Porsha Taylor, Cookie Lyon's assistant.

Don't waste your time.

So, don't nobody know who I am?

Nobody knows Porsha?

That's cool. That's cool.

I got a question, sir.

Lucious Lyon was cleared of all charges last year.

What's this really about?

Lyon b*at the case because it was mishandled.

All I have to do now is build a new case based on new charges.

Knowing Lucious Lyon the way I do, I have plenty to choose from.

(crowd cheering)

♪ ♪

Cookie: Yes! Tiana, girl!

♪ Anytime any day, yeah ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ I can put it on you, all you gotta do is say yeah ♪
♪ Oh, you like what you see, yeah? ♪
♪ And I know you know this where you wanna be, yeah ♪
♪ Now, baby, let me love you, love you long time ♪
♪ Long time ♪
♪ No one can do it the way you do, yeah ♪

Gram: ♪ Look ♪
♪ Her fly match mine ♪
♪ She get better with time, like fine wine ♪
♪ Call me any hour ♪

I didn't know Gram was performing with Tiana tonight. Did you?

♪ And no I ain't that clown Hakeem, this Gram work ♪
♪ 10,000 likes on ya pic that gram work ♪
♪ I be taking dudes chicks like the repo ♪
♪ Later we can throw back sh*ts like free throws ♪
♪ Whisper in ya ear, I got some things I wanna tell you ♪
♪ Ya last boyfriend, mm, not on my level ♪
♪ I can love you long time, this the anthem ♪
♪ Hella diamonds on ya body, steady dancing ♪
♪ Cuz I'm the one that's gon put it down, yeah ♪

Cookie: Ooh, Hakeem is not happy.

Damn, son, you look worse than I did when I was dying from ALS.

Thanks, Dad.

I thought you went to the doctors today.

I went to a, um, PTSD group.

PTSD?

It was stupid. Don't worry about it.

Yeah, I could have saved you the time if you had asked me.

Look, the only thing that's gonna fix your problem is get your ass back on that stage.

Jamal: I'm going into the studio next week.

I'm gonna record some new stuff.

Being in the studio ain't the same as being on the stage.

If you don't give these fans something to look at, you're gonna lose 'em.

You gonna be all right, Jamal.

Shut up.

♪ See yeah ♪
♪ What I see ♪
♪ And I know you know this where you wanna be, yeah ♪
♪ Now, baby, let me love you, love you long time ♪
♪ Long time ♪
♪ I can, I can love you ♪
♪ Love you long time ♪
♪ Long time ♪
♪ Imma put it on you, on you on time ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
♪ No one can do it ♪
♪ The way you do it, yeah. ♪

(crowd cheering)

Man: Yeah!

(grunts) Man!

Listen, I know that he's foul, or whatever, but you need to just forget about it.

I'm-a b*at his ass, man. That's my girl, man!

Had me an affair one.

That ain't your girl.

That's my girl!

Since when is it your girl, Hakeem.

Now, calm your ass down, 'cause fighting ain't never helped nothing.

Your brother's absolutely right.

It's pointless to clap back at Gram cr*cker unless you're gonna finish him.

You're the Lyon, he's not.

Why don't you spit some napalm on a diss track, and bury him and everything he cares about?

Y'all go ahead and do that.

See, if you've got something you want to say to someone, let the world hear you say it.

Woman: So, Randal, what I'm gonna need from you is...

Mom, no. I...

Cookie (laughing): Get your ass in here.

Wait. Seriously, Kitty? How did you do this?

Look, boy, don't you question how I make my black girl magic happen.

I'm gonna cure you of this PTSD.

Okay, you ready? All right.

Okay.

Kitty!

Baby, come on down with your fabulous self... Look at you!

Come on, come on, come on, come on.

These shoes.

(laughs)

Girl, ain't nothing changed. Look at you!

You look gorgeous, as always.

And look at this.

Nah...

Oh, stop.

I... don't even know what to say right now.

Un, well, I think you should say yes, right, Kitty?

Yes. Yes, yes.

Yes.

Uh... Hell... yes.

What did... (chuckles)

(laughing)

What did I just say yes to?

I don't care, but...

Uh, well, Kitty, why don't you tell him.

Okay. So this beautiful lady, your mom, had an idea... I'm here rehearsing.

Getting ready to go on a South American tour, and I want you with me, because we found a song that's perfect for us.

I just want to sing with you, and I think it would be amazing.

It's hot, Jamal. It's hot!

I...

I'm not really performing right now... just yet.

Um... okay.

I'm gonna go back to rehearsal.

Yeah, just let me talk to him for a second.

Just call me when... Yeah.

No, no, no, let me talk to him for a second. Come here!

Get your stupid ass...

Well...

Watch your step.

Boy, your father was right.

The number of performance requests I'm getting for you has dropped to half.

I ain't ready yet, all right?

I'm not.

(sighs) Look...

Kitty even said we have the live rights to Empire XStream, okay?

And I thought that would keep your father off of releasing that Black & White album of yours.

All right. Kitty...

I have a proposition for you.

Okay.

Wait... you want me to record for Empire?

You didn't think I brought you here to have tea, did you?

Look, I caught your performance at the summit.

It's about the only thing that kept me awake during them boring-ass speeches.

So unless you think Angelo's gonna mind...

I don't think so.

Good, son.

Let's go make some music.

(door closes)

Dad... now, I specifically said that the Black & White album is not to be released.

Yeah, well, Empire spent a whole lot of money on that joint, and we need to recoup.

Besides that, Empire XStream needs it.

Oh, God, do you ever not mention Empire XStream?

It happens to be a ravenous beast that is the lifeblood of this company.

So if we don't feed it some content, it's gonna consume each and every one of us.

Jamal: Okay, we get it.

You are a vampire.

(chuckles)

So let me bring you a freshly slit vein for your liking... Kitty.

Delicious. Keep bleeding.

She agreed to record a duet with me, and live-stream the session as exclusive content to Empire XStream.

Wow, a collaboration like that would bring in a whole lot of subscriptions.

Jamal: Yes, it would.

So... the Black & White album.

Dead.

Thank you, sir.

(chuckles) Thank you.

And you're welcome.

Very nice.

Is that all you think about?

Crunching numbers and bottom lines?

What else is left for me, Cookie?

(chuckles)

Jamal was right. You are a vampire.

Then why don't you let me suck on some of your blood?

Drop dead, Lucious.

I can't.

I'm a vampire.

♪ Ha, you-you be blowing up her line cuz ♪
♪ She be throwing me that ♪
♪ She be throwing me that ♪

Yeah, he embodying her.

Shine: Tiana gonna trip out on this... come on.

♪ Yeah, that's-that's ya new thing ♪
♪ Boy, that's old work ♪
♪ Old work ♪
♪ And you ain't know ♪
♪ Shoulda did ya homework ♪
♪ And I ain't even mad at ♪
♪ 'Cause I could still hit that ♪

You beastin', Hakeem. That's it.

Now we just need the hook.

It's legendary.

Nessa, you ready?

Not really, Shine.

I mean, are we really about to do this?

Yeah, what are you talking about?

I'm really about to go in here and talk about this girl?

What's the matter?

(sighs) I get it.

You mad at your ex, Keem.

But disrespecting her is not my jam.

No, your jam is in that booth.

Now, get your ass in there and sing.

Who you looking at crazy!

Yo, man, chill!

(gasping)

Nessa, come here.

(door slams)

Wow, really?

Lucious: So Shine laid hands on Nessa 'cause she didn't want to do the hook?

And?

Dad, he just put his hands on her for no reason.

Are you sleeping with her?

What?

No, I ain't sleeping with her.

Then it ain't your fight.

Look... the way I see it, Shine was trying to get me something that I need, which is a hot song.

So instead of you running in here ratting him out like a little bitch, you need to be taking notes.

I mean, what in the hell happened to that monster who tried to take his father out and rule his throne?

Hmm? Where he at?

I ain't choking no girl.

That's bitch tendencies.

Where he at?

He never left.

'Cause that's who I want to see raising Bella.

Your song don't work without a female voice for the hook.

So I don't know what the hell you're doing standing here.

You need to get me that song.

I just saw Juanita holding Bella.

Aren't you supposed to be looking after her?

Aren't you supposed to be sedated... or dead?

My mama used to stick pins in a voodoo doll that looked just like you.

(doorbell rings)

Excuse me.

I will go get it. (sighs)

Hi.

Hi.

Delivery for Mrs. Lucious Lyon.

Oh, yeah, that's me. Thanks.

Thank you.

Thank you.

God...

Mr. Dubois?

Oh, there you are.

Hey!

Hey.

So, what, a black kid's life is worth a couple of bucks and a car?

What?

This young man barely escapes with his life.

He's on his way to MIT, full scholarship.

And you want him to throw all that out for a contract to be a rapper?

The world doesn't need another rapper.

Lucious...

Lucious did that so that you could be pissed at me.

Are you for real?

Yeah. That's how he plays, dirty.

All right, well, I don't care about all that.

This kid's future is bright.

So whatever y'all did to tempt him, you need to undo it.

Oh, I do, do I?

Yeah.

Undo it.

Do you know how many kids would k*ll to have a recording contract with Empire?

Yes, I know, because I see it every day.

That's what I'm trying to change.

These kids need to know that they can aspire to be more than a rapper or an athlete or a... a hustler.

(chuckles)

Boy, bye.

All right, wait. I'm sorry, wait!

I'm sorry.

That wasn't...

Just, can you...

I need you to see what I'm trying to do with these kids.

Please.

This is the Black Girls Code seminar.

Zeah's a mentor.

Cookie: Black Girls Code?

Angelo: Yeah.

In computing alone, there are over a million jobs in the U.S.

People don't know that.

So all these girls here, they live in Zeah's neighborhood, they look up to him.

Good.

All right, see, this is the future.

This right here.

This is how we rise.

Max: This is a misdemeanor, and you own the home you were coming out of.

We should be out of here in five minutes at the most.

Out in five?

Damn...

I came ready to bust you out of this joint, man.

What y'all doing here?

I told you this was nothing.

Shut up, Dre.

We're gonna take your jailbird ass out out to eat after this.

Bailiff: All rise!

The Honorable Judge Barbara Reid presiding.

Court is now in session.

(bangs gavel)

Be seated.

Max: Let's go, that's us.

Judge: Andre Lyon... the charges against you are one count criminal trespassing.

My client pleads not guilty, Your Honor.

I'm not finished, Counselor.

The defendant is also charged with felony battery, aggravated as*ault, and as*ault against a police officer.

Your Honor, I...

Step back!

Your Honor, I didn't as*ault anybody.

That's what a trial is for, Mr. Lyon, to determine your guilt or innocence.

Yo, so what do all this mean, man?

It means we might just need to plead out and cut a deal.

I could probably swing probation if it's your first offense, Wait. Wait.

And eventually, this all goes away...

No, hold the hell up.

What do you mean, "eventually" and "probation"?

Max, you've known me for a decade. You were in my wedding.

Yo, Dre, this dude's an ass.

Max: Listen.

It... It's your word against a cop's.

But we'll be fine, we just need to cut a deal.

No.

Hell no. I'm not gonna lie about being guilty when I didn't do anything, except go into my own damn home, Max.

Andre: This is insane.

Get in.

♪ ♪

Told you that you needed to let Thirsty handle it, but you didn't want to listen to me.

So now, congratulations. You're in the system.

Hey, um, make a right at the next corner, and then come to a stop.

Hakeem: Yo, where you taking us?

Our old neighborhood.

This is where we grew up.

We ain't never lived here.

Yeah, we did.

You were a baby. You wouldn't remember.

(coughing, car alarm sounding)

Lucious: Take a good look around.

I did everything I could to shield y'all from this.

Yeah. Straight, all right?

I'm cool.

After your mama went away, I... got us up and out of here as fast as humanly possible, but I coddled y'all.

Let y'all breathe rarified air and live behind giant gates and drive in limos.

Biggest mistake of my life.

'Cause it made y'all soft.

Now my sons walk these streets like food.

Here endeth the lesson.

This lesson's only begun, son.

You see, self-preservation has the very first rule of nature: it's k*ll or be k*lled in these streets.

Driver.

Open this damn door.

Why, so you can get out and get b*at up by the cops or thrown back in jail again?

Or you get sh*t, and go running and crying with your little girlfriends in your... therapy club.

Or you let some closet lady-boy punk you in my club.

I mean, this whole time, I thought the problem was, that you were bipolar and you were gay and you were just spoiled.

But now I'm realizing...

...y'all don't know you're black.

(sighs)

Open... the door.

When you step outside of this high wall of privilege that I've built around you, your name might as well be Trayvon or Philando or Freddie.

And the fault lies in me.

'Cause I didn't prepare you.

And it's something you got to live with.

But you better get woke, and quick.

Because you are one moment away from becoming a hashtag, and I don't care how many white wives or white lawyers you get...

Open this door!

Open it!

♪ ♪

You dare talk about my wife after what happened?

I don't know what it means to be a black man in America?

I know what it means to be a Lyon.

And I'd rather be in jail... Hell, I'd rather be dead...

Than end up like you.

Open this damn door before I break it off its hinges.

You heard the Lyon.

Open the door. Let the Lyon out.

Man: Hey, that's my couch!

Hey, you got to get yo feet off my couch...

Man 2: Hey, yo, can I get a light?

Jamal: Dre!

Man: Oh, that's him! It's Jamal!

Ain't you gonna follow your sisters?

Hell, nah, old man.

Hey, yo.

Take me and Original Black Man to the studio.

I'm-a let 'em eat these words.

(door closes)

You gonna like this.

Let's see what you got. Run that.

♪ You ain't know, uh, that-that's ya new thing ♪
♪ Boy, that's old work, oh, you ain't know ♪
♪ Shoulda did ya homework, ha, damn boy, that's ya chick ♪
♪ I been hittin' that ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Yeah, she ain't gon ♪
♪ Love you love you long time ♪
♪ I bet that freak won't ♪

Shine: Yo, that's why Tiana's bunkin'!

♪ She on the bandwagon, walk around lit pants sag ♪
♪ Pockets too deep, he give you a gram ♪
♪ Not the whole thing, he too cheap ♪
♪ I can put it on you ♪
♪ Nah, you can stay there, you washed up ♪
♪ Get that boy mopped up ♪
♪ This the clap boy for that whack boy ♪
♪ You ain't hot, you just a rebound tryin' ta get ♪
♪ The King spot, put some ♪
♪ Respect on it ♪
♪ This verse pop, don't it ♪
♪ If you put a ring on it ♪
♪ Bet I still own it ♪
♪ Just got a new MAC-11 ♪
♪ I'm finna use it on gram playa ♪
♪ I do what I want, you lame, you do what you can ♪
♪ We talking money I be blowing bags all night ♪
♪ Just know that she gon do a dance for me all night ♪
♪ Don't let me catch you round here, boy ♪
♪ It's on sight, next day ♪
♪ I'm outta town, I be on flight ♪

Huh! What was that?

♪ 'Cause she be throwingme that ♪
♪ Cake cake cake, she be throwing me that ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, as soon as ♪
♪ You leave, she be sending me a text ♪
♪ Like boy ♪
♪ Get over here ♪
♪ Yeah that's-that's ya new thing ♪
♪ Boy, that's old work, and you ain't know ♪
♪ Shoulda did ya homework ♪
♪ And I ain't even mad at ya ♪
♪ 'Cause I can still hit that ♪
♪ Every day Every day. ♪

Charlie, open it up, open it up, open it up.

Damn!

(chuckles)

You took that off of Tiana from two nights ago.

Yeah. 100% owned by Empire.

See now, that's that monster I'm talking about.

(phone ringing)

Why are you calling me?

Wait-wait, hell no.

I'll be right there.

Look.

I want to see that on your Channel tonight.

Bring him home, Shine.

Got it.

♪ ♪

Where is she?

What are you doing in my office?

Almost...

A little higher...

Almost...

Yes!

Yes!

Yes! (hits table)

(yelling): Lucious!

(sighs)

You sound more excited than me.

I am, Lucious.

Oh! I am.

(chuckles)

Mm.

Anika: Don't worry.

He was... (opens box) just looking... for my earring.

Oh, no, no!

(laughs)

Nah, why you running out?

Uh-uh. Come on.

Yes.

I only wanted to remind you that when you push me, I push back harder.

Then I'll remind you that you are my wife, in my house, and you're gonna act like it.

And the only men that's gonna be touching you in here is gonna be the coroner, when he carries your dead-ass body away after my crazy-ass mama kills you.

No.

Excuse me?

That's not how this is gonna go, Lucious.

See, I married you to save... yo ass.

And then I saved your ass again when I found that camera in the teddy bear, so let's be clear.

I am not the one who needs this marriage.

No, you married me because you always wanted to be Mrs. Lucious Lyon.

Not anymore.

I am here, in this haunted house of horrors, because I knew that if I did cooperate with Tariq, my baby would grow up without a mother.

Very, very smart girl.

And now you're cornered.

And so are you.

I'm just making a point here, Lucious.

I'm gonna do... what I want, when I want... or we both go down in flames.

I like to call it mutually assured destruction.

(buzzer sounds)

(man speaks indistinctly over P.A.)

Guard: All clear!

Guard 2: All right, let's go.

Jamal. You finally came.

No, no, no... stop, stop, stop!

No, stop!

(screams)

Now, hold on...

Look, we good.

Yeah. Everything's okay.

They got 15, right?

That's right.

I'll walk you back.

Sorry I didn't come see you sooner. Aww.

At least you're here.

Yeah, I hate seeing you like this.

Such a waste of your talent and everything.

It is what it is. But... What's up with you, though?

I've been waiting to hear the latest Jamal Lyon smash.

Just laying low, you know?

Yeah, I'm messed to come out.

Ah, forget that album. I ain't done with that anyway.

The Jamal Lyon I know is a beast in the studio.

No, the Jamal Lyon that you knew went missing when you sh*t him.

Jamal, I didn't mean to hurt you.

No!

(g*nsh*t, screams)

Yeah, but you did.

Freda.

And now I'm sitting here, I'm just...

I'm... man, I'm ruined.

Oh, and that's your fault. You the one that did it.

Oh, Jamal, please...

Yo, somebody get her please?

Jamal!

I did not mean to hurt you!

Back up, prisoner.

I didn't! You got...

Get off of me, man!

Come on!

Jamal! Jamal!

Cookie: Andre, go see where Jamal's at.

I got it.

They're waiting on you, brother.

Let's do this.

♪ ♪
♪ It's too.. ♪

(clears throat) Sorry. Sorry.

Hold up, hold up.

(music stops)

Sorry.

This is not my day.

Hold up.

No, it's good.

(sighs)

Um...

You good?

Yeah, I'm okay.

Hey, Jamal.

If you ain't really feeling this, we can reschedule this thing.

Is that what you want to do?

No, no.

Kitty: Personally, I think we're good.

Jamal: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Just give me a second because, just, can we turn the lights down or something?

That's good... let's get the mood right in the studio.

I got it.

I think we're about to be front row and center for another Jamal flameout.

Andre.

They got you doing everything around here.

Just, uh, trying to help out, Kitty.

Kitty: Very nice.

What a waste of time.

So, um, I was thinking at the bridge, we'd treat it like... kind of like a rap session.

Man (on intercom): He might need it.

Throw Auto-Tunes on the bridge.

Y'all ready?

I'm ready.

(piano intro plays)

♪ ♪
♪ Tonight all things are possible ♪
♪ Come drink, my cup it overflows ♪
♪ Right now we face ♪
♪ The sunrise of love ♪
♪ Ah ah ah ♪
♪ Mmm ♪
♪ You're bound to close this little mind ♪
♪ Wishes break in and justify ♪
♪ A sweet hurricane ♪
♪ Of love flowing with the tide ♪
♪ Now say you mean the world to me ♪
♪ See what you are ♪
♪ It's infamous... ♪
♪ It's infamous... ♪

So how does that crow taste?

I mean, I'm surprised... but happy.

♪ ♪
♪ I know it's dangerous ♪
♪ But I believe a greater love... ♪

Man, that boy's high as a kite, but, damn, they sound good.

Cookie: Shut up. He is not.

Kitty: ♪ So turn to me ♪
♪ Carry on and on and rap with me ♪
♪ Long as it's real in the rhythm ♪
♪ Okay, you got quite a reputation ♪

Cookie: Yes, baby, that's it!

♪ Been around since day one baby, my A-one ♪
♪ Knowing we have a little past ♪
♪ But yeah, ain't nothin' like that creation ♪
♪ Carry on and on and rap with me ♪
♪ Long as we're rolling we're safe ♪
♪ I'm going to say so you know what that means ♪
♪ It ain't my last temptation ♪
♪ I know that my feelings is clouded ♪
♪ But baby we can't live without it ♪
♪ Love's no game ♪
♪ Oh, carry on and on and rap with me ♪
♪ Long as we're rolling it's safe... ♪
♪ Now say you're me ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ But I believe ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ A greater love there'll never be ♪
♪ Never never ♪
♪ I'm up there boy ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ So try to see ♪
♪ Carry on and on and rap with me ♪
♪ As long as it's growing as long as it's moving ♪
♪ Real for love ♪
♪ Ah. ♪

Yes.

(applause)

(chuckles)

Y'all are some bad, bad, bad people up in there.

I can't believe this is real.

Lucious: Oh, it's very real.

That and much more, anything you want.

Even the keys to a brand-new car.

All you got to do is sign on the dotted line.

(sighs) I'm a little nervous.

Yeah, I'd be nervous, too, if I was signing my life over to the devil.

(chuckles) Look, Zeah, baby, I know this is hard, so I'm gonna do this for you.

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

Sending him to college, where he belongs.

Such a shame.

You could have been huge.

Did Mr. Wonderful put you up to this?

I put me up to this.

Zeah, look, when I look at you, I see more than a future multi-platinum-selling artist.

What I see is a brilliant mind.

Yeah, the world has enough rappers.

We don't need another one... yet.

But I tell you what.

If you're serious about music, you come see us after you graduate in four years.

Empire ain't going nowhere.

You really think this business is gonna wait for your ass?

You have Cookie's word, baby.

And that means a lot out here on these streets.

Thank you for what you did for Zeah.

You're welcome.

Angelo... you're not better than me.

I'm not ashamed of who I am, I'm not ashamed of where I come from, or the fact that Lucious and I started from the bottom with nothing.

And now we're here.

I'm not ashamed of the music I make, so...

I understand that.

I respect you.

I respect your music, and I respect everything that you do.

Thank you.

I mean that for real, Cookie.

Empire is an American triumph.

That it is.

Mm-hmm.

(chuckles) Whoa...

Oh...

(laughs)

Let's get some lunch first.

Yes. I'll get at you.

Okay. Nice try, though.

I'll get it next time.

(Cookie laughs)

Well, your father should be happy.

We got over ten million subscribers, and we spiked another 150,000 just in the hour after streaming you and Kitty's duet.

Why are you standing here looking stupid?

Wait for it.

Uh, wait for what?

Cookie (gasps): The Black Album?

What is that?

Yeah.

Good thing I took a b*llet for him.

Now I can k*ll him myself.

Wait, wait, wait, Jamal.

Lucious: It's beautiful, ain't it?

Uh... Jamal!

So what the hell is the damn Black Album?

The Black Album?

Just a little something that came up in a marketing brainstorm.

You see, half the songs on that album, which Jamal likes to call "the black side," is produced by me.

Yeah, I know, I know.

So all I had to do was get rid of the songs that you produced, and it became this whole new concept.

I mean, his fans are gonna love it, it'll probably... double subscription overnight.

This ain't got nothing to do with Empire XStream, does it?

Yeah, this is personal.

Yeah, it's personal.

But it's also business.

'Cause, see that's what we do, right?

No, that's what you do, Lucious.

I like how y'all are judging me, like y'all are walking around with these haloes.

I'm a human being, Cook.

Good, you should try acting like one.

I did, until you hurt my feelings.

Oh, I kept hurting your feelings, Lucious?

Like you're the only one walking around here with feelings, really?

Well, you're walking around here demonizing me for how I run my company.

But I haven't seen ne'er one of y'all quit.

Yeah, because half of this company belongs to me.

And that's the piece you like to forget, Lucious.

Half of this company?

Half, that's right.

This whole separation of responsibility that you keep talking about, that's never gonna happen.

I'm retaking control of Empire Music because, at the end of the day, it's all business.

Oh, you are, are you?

Well, don't forget I have the board on my side.

So if you try to kick me out, that means w*r.

Is that what you want, Lucious?

Oh... (chuckles)

Well, all right... baby.

You wanna play?

Let's play.

Let the games begin, Cook.

Let's play.

Out walking while black.

Isn't that what got you in trouble in the first place?

(sighs)

What do you want?

Just seeing how you're doing under the weight of some nasty charges.

Assaulting a police officer?

Mm, mm, mm!

I read Officer Horowitz's amended report.

He makes you sound positively unhinged.

You gonna see some time after that... believe that.

You're behind this.

Some twisted way of getting back at my father.

You got that officer to lie and up my charges.

Oh, I just sat back and let the man talk.

By the time he finished, he remembered all kinds of mess about you.

That's how they do.

I just made sure I took advantage of the situation.

Mm.

You think I'm scared... of some trumped-up charges from a trumped-up Fed?

Is that what you think I am?

Maybe I'm just a black sheep just like you.

Hmm? Nah, hear me out, nephew.

We ain't so far apart.

Maybe you should do yourself a favor... before we get you, too. Hmm?

I get it. You think you can make me inform on my father in exchange for dropping some charges, right?

Let me help you out, Uncle.

That ain't gonna happen.

You are your father's son after all.

Well, we shall see.

It doesn't take much to put the screws on a black man, once he's part of the system.

And you ain't no ordinary black man.

You're a Lyon. Prize game.

Have a good night, nephew.