06x09 - Remember the Music

[bunniefuu]

LUCIOUS: Previously on Empire I went and ahead and committed to eight ASA nomination spots.

I didn't invest the money.

You brought up all these valid concerns!

Now's the time when you chose to listen to me?

(SHRIEKING)

Now?

KINGSLEY: You'll only b*at Lucious if you play dirty.

What you need to do, my man, is put his pompous ass out to pasture.

She's 15!

- What?

- Dad, stop!

(DRAMATIC HIP-HOP MUSIC)

Hi, sweetie.

You think Lucious is your hero?

He owes you everything.

SHINE: Now take this L, took a p*stol to his head Took all of his bread Philly facedown in the street Ain't that sweet?

And he did what I said That's why the brother ain't dead, yeah With my Westside Hustler Can't you hear it?

I don't know what you're talking about.

Westside Hustler is code for Lucious.

Shine and Lucious robbed you and he's bragging about it on this track.

So?

It could be about anybody.

Or nobody.

Lucious is keeping you around for a reason.

- Believe that.

- (LAUGHS)

You're on that old-school joint now, huh?

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Don't let your pride prevent you from seeing the truth.

Hold up.

- Ow, ow, ow!

- Come here.

Come here.

You're hurting me!

Keep your white girl tears for somebody who gives a damn, 'cause I don't.

You wanna rob Lucious?

You pull the trigger yourself.

I got work to do.

No, please!

Just Move out of my way!

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(LUCIOUS LYON'S "WHAT THE DJ SPINS")

LUCIOUS: That's what the DJ spins FEMALE ANNOUNCER: With a career spanning three decades, nine platinum albums, and 15 ASA awards, this year, we are proud to honor the man, the artist, the icon Lucious Lyon with the ASA Lifetime Achievement Award.

ASA sent this over this morning.

The full version will air at your actual awards show.

Congratulations, Pop.

This honor is long overdue.

(CHUCKLES)

Who got the Lifetime Achievement Award last year?

Ah, that's right, Stevie Wonder.

(CHUCKLES)

You know, when we were on that stage I really meant what I said.

I honestly thought that you and I we were gonna do this thing together.

Now I feel like I'm being handed my hat and you making a move on me.

Move?

How?

This is a huge honor, Pop.

Man, you bought this damn raggedy-ass ASA Award to put me out to pasture.

Man, game recognizes game.

I had nothing to do with this.

Scout's honor.

You know, when I grew up, there was no Boy Scouts in my hood.

Okay, look at it as another milestone in your illustrious career, Pop.

You're still the king.

Let me share something with you, Mr.

CEO.

I wouldn't get too comfortable in that throne.

Nobody tells me when it's time to go.

And as far as I'm concerned, I'm just getting started.

(TIANA'S "CHOREO" PLAYING)

Wha-ha-ha-ho, wha-ha-ha-ho Flexible We was so flexible Learning it as we go I love the way we move together Oh, power is all you know BECKY: Okay, after this take, I wanna rework the bridge.

I want you to take up the bass just as she goes into the chorus.

No.

That's the Tiana I know and love, honey.

Yeah, don't you raise a thing.

See, the drums are already overpowering her voice.

Know what you need to do?

Why don't you raise her vocals above the mix?

Trust me.

TIANA: You say it all so well Well, how can you show me, show me, show me BECKY: (CHUCKLES)

You always did have the Midas touch, Cookie.

(CHUCKLES)

You know, Midnight Star wrote that song for me.

Is that your friend?

Becky, why did you call me down here, hmm?

- BECKY: Uh - COOKIE: Tiana sounds amazing, and that song is gonna kick ass at the ASA Awards nominations.

(CHUCKLES)

Uh, speaking of which, I heard about Lucious's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Black Twitter is going off about it now.

Child, please.

(CHUCKLES)

Lucious likes to believe that it was his own blood, sweat, and tears that built his lifetime achievement.

(CHUCKLES)

While he was standing on my back pretending like I wasn't there.

Yeah, I'm the choir and you're preaching to me.

I know.

- You know he bought that?

- Oh, did he?

- Mm-hmm.

- Okay.

I don't wanna talk about his ass.

At least Bossy is getting ASA shine.

- Right, but also - And that promo concert that you are throwing is brilliant.

Okay, there's no concert.

What?

There's not gonna be a concert.

(SIGHS)

Absolutely, my dad was very surprised.

You held up your end.

That's right, okay.

So listen, the rest of the money should hit your Caymans account by end of day.

No, you have my word.

Okay, uh, thank you.

Excellent, okay.

Bye.

(CHUCKLES)

Uh, can I have some?

Of what, Kingsley?

Of whatever the hell it is you're smoking.

Come on.

Buying that award to nudge Lucious into retirement?

Ah, it was brilliant.

- Thank you.

- You're welcome.

But you seem awfully calm, considering he just threatened to take the throne out from under you again.

We gotta put an end to this game of musical chairs once and for all.

- What do you propose?

- I'm glad you asked.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Kelly Patel's shares are ripe for the picking.

Kelly doesn't wanna sell.

Who said anything about buying?

You and I are the Dynamic Duo, brother.

We just pulled one over on Prophetic the Poet.

- Ah, that was beautiful.

- Mm.

I've got a little #MeToo idea that'll have Kelly begging you to take his shares.

All you have to do is invite him over to dinner at your lovely home with your lovely wife and I'll take it from there.

This is my company.

I'll take it from there.

You're the boss.

You're in control.

Whatever you say.

LUCIOUS (ON TAPE): Pay me in cash, yeah Oh, yeah Make sure you pay me in cash, yeah Oh, yeah Make sure you pay me in cash, yeah Oh, yeah Make sure you pay me in cash What else?

Cash.

Whoo!

Ooh, that was amazing, Lucious.

You are going down in history as one of the greatest rappers of all time.

Man, cut.

This is some bull!

Uh, here we go.

What's the problem now?

The same problem it's been all week, homie.

Y'all keep changing the script at the last minute and I keep telling you it's wrong.

According to Lucious, this is how it happened.

My ma would never cosign my dad that way.

She got a lot of opinions, but she makes the music great!

And this chick ain't got no swag like my ma.

Excuse you?

Look, Hakeem, say what's in the script and let me, the director, direct.

What I say goes.

All right, everybody.

Back to one!

MAN: Back to one.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

ERIC: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!

This is a Casio CZ-3000.

It's irreplaceable.

I don't care what it is.

I'm not working on this script until you get it right.

I'm a Lyon, so what I say goes.

Okay, so (CLEARS THROAT)

Giselle didn't tell you that she decided not to invest in ol' girl's stocks?

She didn't not not tell me.

It's just that she changed her mind and then all the ASA promo stuff started happening and I thought we had the money, so (DOOR CLICKS OPEN)

Whoo, thank you.

Um, that track is done.

I've gotta go pick up Bella now.

Oh, yeah.

Cool, cool, cool.

Kiss my grandbabies for me.

I will.

Bye.

COOKIE: You sound amazing, girl.

Uh, please do not tell Tiana about Bossy's money woes, because she doesn't know.

(SIGHS)

This is a big mess you got yourself in, Becky.

Well, this is how my mentor, you, can help me out.

Uh, that's why I'm here?

(STAMMERS)

Well, yeah.

Could you, um (STAMMERS)

Mm, don't judge it.

- Spit it out, Becky.

- Would you I just Will you consider joining Bossy as a (WHISPERING)

silent partner?

Oh, no, ma'am.

No, ma'am.

See, where I am in my life, I am not interested in being anybody's silent anything.

- Okay, we can discuss volume.

- I said no, Becky.

We could Okay.

But you know what Bossy should do?

You should make a deal with a distributor.

They will front the money, cash flow, the debt - (CELL PHONE BUZZES)

- Oh, okay, so can you I gotta go.

I gotta go.

I gotta go.

I will call you later.

We could, like, vote on rosé or something.

Keep your head up, girl.

I ain't gonna be silent about nothing, girl.

- Bye!

- Well, we can discuss degrees of silence!

It's (CELL PHONE CHIMES)

(YOUNG EMPIRE RAPPER'S "LIVE BIG" PLAYING)

YOUNG EMPIRE RAPPER: Live big Lemme show you what is, huh Live big, lemme show you what it is, huh Live big, lemme show you what it is, yeah If you really want it, I can show you how to get it, yeah - What up, hitmaker?

- Mm, what's happening?

YOUNG EMPIRE RAPPER: I'm a dog like a Hoya Dustin' off my shoulder Tell the haters that I told ya Ain't no cappin' when I'm rappin' b*at the b*at up like it owe us - Congratulations on the award.

- Thank you.

That's big coming from somebody that's been in the grind.

Yeah.

But, um what you know about this?

LUCIOUS: Are these Shine's lyrics?

PHILLY STREET: Yeah.

Where'd you get 'em?

Tracy.

Hey, give us a minute.

YOUNG EMPIRE RAPPER: Talk crazy Drop you like a bad habit Yo, bruh, let's take five.

(DOOR CLICKS OPEN AND SHUT)

Tracy seems to think I'm some kind of charity case.

And after hearing Shine's lyrics on the song talking about jacking some dude, makes me think that he may be talking about my money.

You think me and Shine robbed you?

Just so we understand each other I don't explain myself to any man, but because I consider us to be friends, I'll let you in on a little secret.

You remember Bunkie?

Cookie's cousin?

What about him?

Shine and Bunkie went in on something and Bunkie owed Shine a mint.

And since I underwrote the whole damn thing, when it came time for Bunkie to pay, even though he paid Shine back, Shine always felt he was dissed, and when he decided to foreclose on Bunkie, I had to look the other way.

So that's what the song's about?

Maybe.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

Maybe I'm wrong.

Yeah, maybe I'm wrong.

Just so you know, the only reason you are here inside of this studio is because of your talent.

And if you keep knocking out these bangers, you gon' have all the hardware and the whole nine.

- (CLEARS THROAT)

Yeah.

- (CELL PHONE CHIMES)

All right guys, come on back in.

(CHUCKLES)

- Mmm!

- (LAUGHS)

Mmm!

(CHUCKLES)

Yeah.

(LAUGHS)

That's the lemon sponge cake drizzled with a little elderflower syrup the one Meghan used for her and Harry's reception.

TERI: That's delicious.

I'll be right back.

Thank you.

Hey.

(CHUCKLES)

- Something wrong?

- No, it's just Well, listen, if all of this is stressing you out, you know, we can hire a second wedding planner.

There's something that's been rattling around in my mind.

What is it?

That young girl from the club who was at the house the other night?

Who was she?

That was just one of Pop's messes I had to clean up, that's all.

At the house?

Pop promised her a record deal.

I disagreed, so I took care of it.

Wait, you don't think that she and I were doing anything, right?

All I know is that Lucious ran Empire like he was John Gotti.

I don't want that for you.

I don't want that for us.

And that is exactly why I'm clearing out all of Pop's shady business.

In fact I called Kelly Patel over for dinner so I can make sure that my father's way is a thing of the past.

Okay?

- (SMOOCHING)

- Okay?

Okay.

Oh, and I am so down for that lemon cake.

Mm.

I'm gonna go tell "the Cake Master.

" (LAUGHTER)

(SOFT MUSIC)

KINGSLEY: I don't know what she's talking about.

(TENSE MUSIC)

Chocolate.

Definitely chocolate.

Andre, you can't ignore me.

And you can't ignore the fact that Teri's onto us.

She gonna be a problem?

Keep her name out of your mouth.

(CELL PHONE CHIMES)

LUCIOUS: Now, what the hell is the damn emergency?

I got your text.

What it look like?

I'm not gonna be disrespected like that.

Wait, whoa, hold on.

Who the hell is disrespecting you?

The director?

'Cause I'll talk to his ass.

- No you, Pop.

- Me?

This ain't the script we decided on, Man.

Look something you gotta understand in the movie business.

Scripts change.

They evolve.

We gotta grow with 'em.

Yeah, but the writer didn't change it; you did.

It's not his movie.

It's Empire's movie.

- And the script is locked.

- Well, smarty-pants, Pop unlocked it, so now it's trash.

You better watch your damn mouth, 'cause you're gonna memorize every syllable.

I didn't approve this script, Pop.

And I didn't approve a damn thing either.

(HEELS CLICKING)

Oh, but at least they got the costume right.

Hey, girl!

Hi, girl, hey.

- You young Cookie?

- Uh-huh.

Well, I hope you got the attitude to match them jeans, 'cause you look soft.

- Ma.

- COOKIE: What?

That's right, girl.

Leave that good wig.

- Get outta here.

- YOUNG COOKIE: I didn't go - to Juilliard for this.

- COOKIE: Bye-bye, girl.

That's the problem.

You went to Juilliard, honey.

Bye-bye.

I'm sorry.

Now my fans gon' think I'm a ass 'cause this is just fake.

You keep talking like that, I'm gonna strangle your ass with that do-rag.

This is my life.

Your life?

HAKEEM: It's not even a real story.

COOKIE: No, it's not.

See, I read this on the way here, and this is about as fake as that Lifetime Achievement Award you bought and paid for.

Every minute we stand here and hold up sh**ting is cutting into our bottom line.

Andre, boy, I know this is important to you, but this ain't me in them pages.

And you lie to me, Lucious.

Now you gon' run around and lie to the world with this wack mess?

Ah, you show me where I'm lying.

All up in through here, man.

This is wack juice!

HAKEEM: You know, Mom right.

I'm not doing another line until you get the script right.

I don't blame you, son.

Go have a lobster and caviar on your father.

HAKEEM: I'm outta here.

All right, then.

Fix it.

- Who?

- ANDRE: Both of you.

You lived it.

We'll shut down for the rest of the day.

You know, your mouth We are bleeding money, Ma!

Empire money, our money.

Fix it, please!

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(SIGHS)

GISELLE: Okay, so this looks really promising.

TOMMY: Yeah, we've worked with all the major labels.

With this, we can sail right through to the ASAs.

Wait a minute.

Am I reading this right?

It says this deal requires you taking partial ownership of Bossy.

A percentage, uh (CHUCKLES)

For a company this small, recouping costs through record sales wouldn't make sense.

Well, it looks like we would only own 7% of what we built.

No, 7% each.

Oh.

BOTH: Each.

That's more than fair, considering the risk KSM would be taking on.

Well, technically You ladies have really done an outstanding job with these offices.

- Yeah.

- Thank you.

PAUL: I like the way the light falls in that office at the front of the hallway.

- That's my office.

- PAUL: Great.

I think your furniture will fit well in that smaller one down the hall.

- Excuse me?

- Wow.

I like the light and the furniture just the way it is.

(CHUCKLES DISMISSIVELY)

Paul is actually gonna need an office.

He'll be KSM's overseer for Bossy.

(STAMMERS)

That's a very poor choice of words.

Yes, correct.

Poor.

Yes.

(STAMMERS)

But will need to take a supervisory role.

GISELLE: You know what, Tommy?

We're gonna discuss our options internally.

Thank you so much.

(SIGHS)

Ladies considering that you're up to your edges in debt, we are your only option.

You have 24 hours to decide.

Why is he talking about our edges?

COOKIE: (SIGHS)

Real talk, this script is wack.

But whoever built this set deserves a damn Oscar.

(CHUCKLES)

Remember those little mismatched dishes we had with the flowers on 'em?

Where the hell they find these?

What's really blowing my mind is this Casio.

It's like they pulled it straight out of a time capsule.

Seriously, Lucious, you was gonna pass this off to our fans as true?

- It is true.

- (SCOFFS)

Look, you and me, we ain't been on the same page for a while, but that script just needs a couple tweaks.

Couple tweaks?

This this here took me out.

"Cookie looks up from the sink as she dries a dish and stares adoringly at her man.

" (CHUCKLES)

"'Lucious, you ain't even put out an album and you're already the best there ever was!'" - Seriously?

- (LAUGHING)

Look, I was just trying to make her a little softer, you know?

Nice.

Oh.

(CHUCKLES SARCASTICALLY)

Well, it didn't work.

All right, if your memory's so damn great, you tell me what you remember.

(LUCIOUS LYON'S "PAID IN CASH" PLAYING)

COOKIE: I can feel the baby doing the cabbage patch.

(LAUGHS)

Yeah, that's it.

That's it, Lucious.

That's your first single, "Paid In Cash.

" Trust me.

Yeah but we wasting time, Lucious.

We gotta get the dupes out on the street, like, yesterday.

Mm-hmm.

Lucious, are you listening to me?

I'm trying to come up with a company name.

You know, we're gonna need a logo and a name on these damn tapes.

I was thinking, like, Domination or Dominion.

Like, God gave us dominion over this entire wild kingdom.

All I know is, there ain't gonna be no damn kingdom, Lucious, if we don't get the 5K to make the tapes and the artwork.

We gotta get this music out on the damn street.

Come on, what?

I got it.

I got it.

I'm supposed to meet with the Colombians in a half hour.

I don't trust those those fake-ass Tony They too flashy.

They hot, Lucious.

LUCIOUS: Yeah, I know.

But that's why I got Bunkie.

He gonna meet me over there.

Look at me.

Look at me, Lucious.

If anything look like it's going sideways, you step.

And you tell Bunkie, lumpy-head-ass Bunkie, to keep his head on a swivel Look, baby, I got this.

- Okay.

- Good about this one.

- All right.

- Wait, wait, wait.

And please bring the baby back some pizza, okay?

- Yeah, okay.

- All right.

All right, love you, baby.

Wait, no, no.

That is not what happened.

No, I left to go and do a deal, but I left with Bunkie.

No, you did not.

You left by yourself.

I remember because it was right after we chose your single.

Wait, no, no.

I picked "Paid In Cash.

" Here we go with the "I, I, I, I," Lucious.

I mean, you have told yourself over and over the same tired story about how you did every damn thing by yourself that you believe in it, huh?

Look, if we can't agree on what we know to be facts I picked that song then how we gonna fix this mess?

We don't have to fix this mess.

Then what about this money we losing?

Oh, it's "we" now that money's involved, huh?

(LAUGHS)

No, this is your movie, baby.

This is all you.

Now write me out.

Write my ass all the way out.

Happily.

I don't need you here to say what happened in my life.

- Of course you don't.

- This ain't the Cookie movie.

Oh.

This is the Lucious Lyon story.

That's what they care about.

Okay, well, you tell that fictional crap but without me, okay?

And you might as well let that little thing out there that likes snatching her wig off that she ain't got no job no more!

You are not in charge of casting!

You know what, Lucious?

Come to think of it, when you were getting contracts signed for this movie, did you get one for me?

No.

But I-I-I-I-I didn't need to get one from you.

Oh!

Well, turns out, you can't use my life rights or my likeness without my consent.

So put this in your script: no Cookie, no movie, all right?

Now I'ma shut this bitch down the only way Cookie knows how.

And that's a cut and a wrap or whatever the hell they say on movie sets, baby.

You might as well pack on up.

The movie is over, baby.

Wait, where's my driver?

Where the hell is Uh, excuse me, can you go get my driver instead of running your damn mouth?

Can we get Cookie's car?

Wasting money around here anyway.

What do you mean by remove her?

Look, look, we're having some contractual issues.

Okay, well, what about the scenes we've already sh*t with the actress playing Cookie?

We just gotta call the character something else.

- I don't know, man.

- Call her something It's a historic biopic.

The public knows there was and is a Cookie Lyon.

That's like saying we're gonna take the music out the movie.

WOMAN: Cookie, your driver's here.

COOKIE: Finally!

Where your ass been?

You got any of my music cued up?

- Uh, no.

(STAMMERS)

- No.

LUCIOUS: Don't let that car leave.

(STAMMERING)

Just tell me what you No, just make sure she stays.

("PAID IN CASH" PLAYING)

HAKEEM: Yeah - Hey!

- What?

You remember this?

HAKEEM: Run me my money Cash, dollars, dinero Who do you think?

Yeah, I got the hood on lock People whisper my name down on every block Talk less, I take you out with an unmarked Glock Make a hit list and put your homie name on top, yeah Bosses don't brag, gangstas don't advertise What's your next move when death Stares you in the eyes?

It's a standoff game Yeah, it's do or die One day, I'ma pay with my life And like the king - Uh.

- (RING CLICKING ON GLASS)

The whole thing.

Nuh-uh, every bit.

Thank you.

This office does look good.

Decorating: the one thing we didn't fail at.

(LAUGHS)

We are not gonna be better off if we take this deal.

Mm.

Who's gonna tell Tiana?

Not it!

Ugh, damn.

Bossy was supposed to be a beacon of black girl magic.

The sun felt real good out from under Eddie's shadow.

Bossy wasn't supposed to be for just a moment.

No, it was supposed to be a movement.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Oh.

What Where are you going?

We ain't signing nothing yet.

Don't drink my wine.

I see you!

I see you!

I'm not even drinking it.

(LAUGHTER)

TERI: And I bet nobody told you about the altitude.

KELLY: No, and I was so dizzy that I had to crawl all the way back down the slope.

(LAUGHTER)

Well, this has truly been an enjoyable evening, Kelly, but thank you as I said when we spoke, with dinner comes a business proposal.

Ah, this close to a clean getaway.

ANDRE: (CHUCKLES)

I want to buy your shares.

(CHUCKLES)

Empire's making too much money.

Why would I sell?

We'll see.

KELLY: P&L reports?

We're not supposed to get this till next month.

These are the numbers since I took the helm.

The success of Treasure and Devon's albums has catapulted earnings into the double digits.

I have to admit, I was impressed when you signed Prophetic the Poet.

The numbers don't lie.

You're doing an amazing job.

Maybe even better than Lucious.

Turn the page.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

There's a financial deal to buy some of your shares but not all.

Enough for me to gain controlling interest while you retain enough to reap the benefits of Empire's success.

There's almost no downside risk.

I own less but I make more.

And putting me firmly in the driver's seat at Empire is not only smart business.

It's a marketable narrative that Wall Street will eat up with a spoon.

Congratulations, Teri.

You've married a very smart man.

TERI: (CHUCKLES)

Cheers to that.

(GLASSES CLINK)

LUCIOUS: Look, I promise you, if there's anything in it that you don't like, you don't have to sign the release.

Okay, but only because it's important to Andre.

Cool.

You talk.

I'll write.

I remember it like it was yesterday.

After you left the house by your damn self, I sat right here and I listened to that track over and over and over, and the more I listened, the more I knew that was our ticket.

(CHUCKLES)

Keep going.

Well, since the first day I met you and after almost three babies, I was never so sure about anything in my life.

But then things changed.

("PAID IN CASH" PLAYING)

Y'all hear that?

That's your daddy's beats.

(GIGGLES)

He gon' be a star.

(PHONE RINGS)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

Hey, Bunkie.

No, Lucious already left.

He waitin' for you.

What you mean, you in New York?

Bunkie.

ANDRE: Mommy, why did Bunkie do that?

Andre, baby, Mama's gotta go out for a minute, okay?

You watch out after your baby brother, you understand me?

And don't you touch nothing and don't burn nothing, okay?

ANDRE: Okay.

I'll be right back.

And don't open the door for nobody.

Wait a minute.

So you're you were only ride or die because the music was good?

Don't be stupid, Lucious.

You know I loved your dirty drawers no matter what.

Look, anyway, we were on the rise and I wasn't gonna let anything get in the way.

I wanted to be there for the father of my children.

Why you put the pen down?

I'm not finished.

Keep writing.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

COOKIE: And then your dumb ass decides to go and meet the Colombians with no backup.

(CHUCKLES)

Well, yeah, you laughing now.

Wasn't funny then, because that was a big-ass mistake.

'Cause the cops had the Colombians staked out and your dumb ass didn't even know it.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

(YELLS)

Lady, get back!

No!

I'm going into labor!

Help me, please!

We'll call rescue.

Sit tight!

No!

This baby's coming now, damn it!

- Please!

- Call for backup.

Let them know where the deal's going down.

Come on, man, we've been following these dudes - for a week!

- You think I don't know that?

Lady, we're gonna get you to the hospital fast.

Lights and sirens, okay?

- Let's go!

- All right, I'll get the car.

(CHUCKLES)

I had to fake the whole thing for two hours until the doctor told the cop that it was false labor.

- (LAUGHS)

- Did you make the deal?

Damn right I did.

And flipped it already.

That was too damn close this time, Lucious.

Man, we was in and out of there before the cops even thought about showing up.

- I got this.

- No, I'm not fooling, Lucious.

No, I know what I'm doing.

No, we got to concentrate on the music now.

- That's a - No.

Shut up, Lucious.

Here.

Put this on.

Wait, wasn't this your daddy's?

Yes.

He said it was to always protect me, and it has.

Oh, come on, Cook.

Come on.

Mm, no, bec no, because if I'm not there the next time, it'll protect you.

No, there ain't gonna be no next time because you ain't gonna go showing up in places that you ain't got no business showing up.

I got this.

And what if I didn't show up, huh?

I saved your black ass, and you know it.

No, we got two babies at home and one on the way.

Come on.

Man, you don't risk all of that for me.

For you?

For us.

For everything we've done and for everything we about to do.

You know I'm ride or die.

(CHUCKLES)

You know what you got.

I'll be damned if we ain't the king and queen of West Philly.

West Philly?

Why you thinking so small?

Man, we're kingpins, then.

We gon' take this worldwide.

That's right.

We gon' build an empire.

Mm-hmm, now you talkin'.

I'm hungry, Lucious.

You promised the boys some pizza.

Oh, pizza?

Man, we about to be an empire.

We're goin' over to that little Chinese spot, get some kung pao chicken.

Yes!

Egg foo yong!

(LAUGHTER)

And make sure you take the part out about me being pregnant.

Let's just say, um, say I faked getting my purse snatched.

No, that's the stuff that makes this perfect, because it's honest; it's real.

I get that, Lucious, but do you know if somebody tried that this day and age, CPS would come snatch those babies out the house so fast?

Mm-mm.

Okay, then Cookie is no longer pregnant.

Oh, and just slip on in there that(CHUCKLES)

I didn't leave the boys by theirself.

I waited until I got a proper babysitter.

(LAUGHS SOFTLY)

Now you see how easy facts can be changed.

I mean, it doesn't stop this from being an epic love story.

Yes, because the truth is better than the damn legend.

(CHUCKLES)

So from here on out, you and me, we're are gonna be 100, then, right?

That's right.

And just like Andre said, we burning up money in here.

You need to get somebody to type that up.

You can't write that fast.

Damn arthritic fingers.

(LAUGHS)

Thank you, Cookie.

ANDRE: All right.

(OMELET SIZZLING)

I hope you are ready for the best omelet you've ever had.

(LAUGHS)

TERI: I'm ready, baby.

- ANDRE: Come on.

(SMOOCHES)

- TERI: Mm.

- TERI: Uh-huh.

- ANDRE: (CHUCKLES)

- ANDRE: All right.

- TERI: All right.

To new beginnings.

To a fresh start at Empire.

(GLASSES CLINK)

(SIGHS)

Kelly assures me that the details will be worked out by next week.

Oh, I knew you'd win him over.

By the way, how did you get Prophetic the Poet to sign to Empire?

What's the difference?

He signed.

I'm just wondering, babe.

Well, maybe you should stop wondering.

(TENSE MUSIC)

(WALKER CRYING OVER MONITOR)

I got this one.

Eat, babe.

(BABY FUSSING)

Put my son down.

It's a shame this boy looks so much like Lucious.

Now.

(WALKER GRUNTS)

- Come here.

- (WALKER SNORTS AND FUSSES)

Oh, yeah.

Now, you got you got lucky back there with Kelly.

But this goody-goody act isn't fooling anybody.

Especially not me.

Now that I have controlling interest, I'm free of Lucious.

Hi.

Which means I don't need you anymore.

Lucious isn't the only demon you'll face as the captain of this ship.

These waters are dark, and you'll need me when the dead of night falls.

I'm not going anywhere.

No.

I'm your North Star, bruh.

And you know that.

(WALKER GRUNTS)

Mm.

HAKEEM: Realness.

That's what I'm talking about.

That's right, baby.

Now go put your Daddy costume back on.

All right, Ma.

All right, y'all, we got ourselves a script to sh**t.

Come on, y'all!

Get them cameras rolling, now!

- MAN: All right, guys.

- Hey, Cook.

I gotta be honest with you about something.

I knew when I wrote you out of our history that that was gonna hurt you.

But I still did it.

Oh, why is it so important for you that I hurt, Lucious?

You know, I was mad at you, because you was the one that always believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself, and then then that Damon thing happened.

Mm-hmm.

And that made me think that you didn't believe in us anymore.

And you should.

You should.

We got a house filled with pictures and memories.

Some of them are so light that it felt like we could walk on water, and then there's other times when we drug each other down to the bottom of the ocean in our pain.

But we're still here, man.

- Lucious - We are still here, stronger.

Little richer, you know, a little a little wiser, maybe.

But we're here.

And I hate to think that all our memories are something that happened in the past like we ain't got no new memories that we could make, you know?

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Hmm.

I realized something today too, Lucious.

I love you.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

I will always love you.

There's no doubt about that.

(CHUCKLES)

But I want to remember the good times just the way they were.

But the hurt I can't turn that off.

It's just too much.

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

- You want a divorce?

- (SIGHS)

It's time.

It's time, Lucious.

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

- Number four.

- WOMAN: Yes.

Thank you.

Ah, you're late.

Damn, can't a man take his time in the morning?

Y'all women do.

Bossy Media is looking for a loan from a silent partner in exchange for a percentage of the company.

You interested?

I'm not a bank.

That's where you go when you have good credit.

You must be desperate as hell.

You know how hard it is for me to be here coming to see you like this.

Yeah.

Just wanna see how bad you want it.

(TENSE MUSIC)

WOMAN: Number four?

Ahh.

Sí, sí.

- DAMON: Thank you.

- WOMAN: Enjoy.

The money, I mean.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I might be interested in investing in a laundromat.

That could be cool.

My clients always need clean cash.

Okay.

In that case, we could make those quarters turn into crisp, clean dollars for the right price.

Okay.

I'ma front you the money, but I'm only putting up half.

Let's see if Bossy is the bad bitch that she's claiming to be.

Then we can talk about the rest.

Mm, I never could resist a pretty smile.

Ain't nobody smiling at you.

SHINE: Wait for the right time Hit you and it's all mine Let me see your g*ng sign Bang, bang Let me see your g*ng sign Bang, bang Let me see your g*ng sign, huh With my Westside Hustler And that's how we hustle up That's not what we've been working on.

Just a old-school joint.

Nothing special.

This is hot.

Yo, the rap game used to be straight-up gangster.

He rolls up in somebody else's crib, puts a g*n to his head, and then takes the money that dude already stole.

The Westside Hustler's a G.

SHINE: Now take this L, took a p*stol to his head Took all of his bread What happened to this dude?

They both got put down.

SHINE: That's why the brother ain't dead, yeah With my Westside Hustler And that's how we hustle up Damn.

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

SHINE: Let me see your g*ng sign Can I help you?

You were at my house the other night.

And I want I need to know what happened between you and my husband, Andre Lyon.

Nothing.

I don't even know him.

I I know he paid you.

(SIGHS)

And I'm willing to pay you double for the truth.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

GISELLE: Now that we have 50% of the funding, your ownership stake needs to be reduced accordingly.

- BECKY: Mm-hmm.

- (SCOFFS)

Where'd the money come from?

Oh, uh that was a preexisting asset that I didn't have access to before.

Boop.

You can see all that in the counteroffer, though.

The counteroffer?

No, the deal's done.

No, listen.

We're not playing games here.

Oh, we're not playing games either, are we?

- GISELLE: No games played.

- Mm-mm.

You see, this company is very important to us, and with this sudden infusion of cash, the financial dynamics have changed.

You see, we only need you half as much now.

Okay, I don't know what you're trying to pull here You tell yourself that.

All you do is raise your voice.

The offer stands.

You can either take it, or you can leave it.

They will leave it!

Or shall I say we will leave it?

(CHUCKLES)

Hey, girl, hey!

(CHUCKLES)

TOMMY: Uh, Cookie, I-I-I didn't realize COOKIE: (STAMMERS MOCKINGLY)

Shh, shh.

Honey, hush up.

Look, I have been thinking about my future, and although Bossy's a little under the water, you guys have a very strong foundation, and I like that.

(GIGGLES)

So if your offer still stands, honey, I have all the money you need if you want a real partner.

And you know I'm not gonna be quiet or silent, right?

(CHUCKLES)

Welcome to Bossy.

Yes!

- Partner.

- COOKIE: Yes!

That's what I like to hear.

Look at us, ladies!

Three bad boss b*tches.

(CHUCKLES)

Oh, and you two non-boss b*tches can kick rocks.

That means get up and get out.

- Yeah.

- Bye.

- Bye-bye.

- Keep it moving.

Don't validate their parking!

Fred and Barney.

Kick it on back to Bedrock!

Where's the champagne?

- It's over there.

- Uh, in the kitchen.

All right, we gotta celebrate!

We have one yeah.

I just want you to (MIMICKING DESI ARNAZ)

You have some explaining to do.

Yes.

First of all, we saved the company.

I think we just need to celebrate that for now, right?

- No, I think we're good.

- Can we just celebrate?

- No, I'm good.

- Okay, well, you're not good.

- You're just - I don't drink anymore.

LUCIOUS: Ya, I made it out the hood, I survived Mama prayed to God, thanks for keeping me alive Got a show my son a man that he can respect, yeah You can run me my check, yeah Yeah, I'm rich, but I'm still a gangsta Run me my money, hand over the paper Yeah, I'm rich, but I'm still a gangsta Run me my money, hand over the paper Make sure you pay me in cash, yeah Oh, yeah Make sure you pay me in cash, yeah Oh, yeah (CELL PHONE BUZZING)

You were right.

It was Lucious.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

(g*n COCKING)

(DRAMATIC HIP-HOP MUSIC)