04x14 - False Face

Episode transcripts for the 2015 TV show "Empire". Aired January 2015 - April 2020.*
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Hip-hop artist and CEO of Empire Entertainment receives a medical diagnosis predicting he will be incapacitated within three years, prompting the sharks to circle. Without further damaging his family, he must decide which of his three sons will take over...
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04x14 - False Face

Post by bunniefuu »

Previously on Empire...

You had a mild heart att*ck.

Mom heard what happened.
She wants to see you.

Poundcake, I will find your baby girl,

- and I will bring her here.
- You let Eddie into Empire,

and he's about to steal it
from under you.

Eddie saw something in me,

and he promised that
if I just stay focused,


that he'd get me here.

We've been testing some
of our For releases,

and it's not what your fans
expect or want from you.

I want to be your partner,
in business and in life.

- Good morning, beautiful.
- Oh, good morning. What is this?

A little breakfast for my love.

COOKIE (YAWNS): That's good. Yeah.

Excusez-moi. Pardonne-moi.

Are you almost ready to go, boss?

(SIGHS)

- Yeah, I got to grab something.
- Okay.

(COUGHS)

What's up with Poundcake's
daughter? You found anything?

Oh, her name is Maya. She's .

She got adopted by some
white people living upstate.

And she's, uh, currently
studying at NYU.

- Classical ballet.
- Are you sure you got the right girl?

Are you really doubting my
investigating skills? Really?

I mean, I can send someone
around if you want...

No. I'm gonna go myself.

Keep your lips zipped,
do not tell him,

'cause I don't want him
worried about me.

So, what, you're just gonna
roll up on her?

That's a big b*mb to drop, mama.
Not everyone likes surprises.

Poundcake is dying. Okay?

I don't have time to tiptoe
around this ballerina.

Hey. What are you doing
next to my wife's bed?

Come on, boss, I was just
checking out the duvet. -Duvet.

Rest.

Why you walking all through
my house like that, man?

I'm looking for the bathroom, man.

You got rooms here. My bad.

I was just, you know,
looking to get us going.

What we need to be doing
is looking for a way

to get Eddie Barker up out of there.

I mean, I don't care whether
he's bleeding or screaming,

- I want him out.
- We don't want to tell Cookie about...

No. It ain't none of her business.

I'm taking care of this.

I don't want her heart getting
all messed up from it.

You got it, boss.

Your standard exit papers,
Mr. Big sh*t.

Sign on pages two and six
and initial page four.

- Then go away.
- What's this all about?

This is about your betrayal, Eddie.

I mean, if you needed money, why
didn't you just come and ask?

With all due respect, Lu,
what I lost, you don't have.

But the Patel deal would've made
both of us rich.

If you let me move forward
with that, we could fix this.

Listen, the only reason that
I'm letting you walk out of here

on two legs is because
we've got history.

And if I don't sign these?

Well, then, I'll have
a conversation with the SEC

about your insider trading scam.

My insider trading scam?

No, brother, come on.

My ex-wives invested in Empire
on their own.

And nobody, nobody is gonna believe

that I can control those women.

I'd love to sit and chat,

but I have a dinner with my
favorite board member, Edna.

(WHISPERS):
She has a little thing for me.

I hope, uh, you enjoy
the offices while you still can.

Got to find me one like this.

THIRSTY: He's a smug one, ain't he?

Guess we got to handle this
a different way, huh, boss?

(THUMPING)

Eddie Barker is an infidel
inside of our temple.

Dad, but this is Uncle Eddie, man.
That's crazy.

No, it ain't. He brainwashed Tiana.

That's why she turned down
my proposal.

Yeah, man, that's why
she turned you down.

Look, this chubalump
used shell companies

to gobble up Empire stock,
then he tried

to sell Empire right
from underneath your parents.

- Okay, but why would he do that?
- LUCIOUS: Because he lost

all of his money,
then he lost his mind,

and now it's time that he loses
his position here.

- What's the plan?
- Well, the plan

is to get him out
as quietly as possible

without creating a ruckus
with the board.

Don't tell your mama about this.

- She's resting.
- (PHONE VIBRATES)

Lucious, we got to get
to Laviticus. Something's up.

(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)

DIRECTOR: Jeté. Temps levé.

- (CLAPPING)
- No, Ana.

- (MUSIC STOPS)
- Please step aside. Maya.

Come. Show her what I mean.

Five, six, seven, eight, and...

(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)

Okay, okay.

Maya, your birth mother
really wants to meet you,

and her name is Poundcake.

(SIGHS) Poundcake.

(CLEARS THROAT)

I was her cellmate.

(TEMPO INCREASES)

- (DOOR BUZZES)
- (KIDS CHATTERING PLAYFULLY)

CAROL:
So how's it going in here, Cook?

- COOKIE: Good.
- I have a surprise for you

and I don't want you
to blow a gasket, okay?

Okay.

How are you?

Mama reached out.

What?

We talked to her, me and Candace.

What the hell for?

She's our mom.

Oh. (CHUCKLES) No. She lost that right

when she cheated on Daddy
and walked out on us.

We were babies.

No, no. That is not how it happened.

He threatened to k*ll her.
You know that, right?

And told her that
she could not even come back

- or reach out to us.
- She's lying. She's lying.

And Daddy is rolling over in his grave

'cause you two simple b*tches
believed it.

Y'all fell for that? Get out of here.

Well, she heard you was locked
up, and she wants to see you.

Eh, not gonna happen.

Well, Mama's here.

C.O.? I'm ready to go.

- GUARD: Requesting escort.
- RENEE: Loretha.

Loretha.

Hey.

Hello.

You were really good up there.

The best one. You should be the lead.

Why aren't you?

Uh, my instructor said they'd have to

redo the lighting for my skin tone,

and that doesn't work
for the other girls, so...

Let me tell you something, sweetheart.

It takes a whole lot of light

to make cheap glass shine
like a diamond.

You're already a diamond, sis,
no matter the light.

Don't you ever forget that.

Oh. (LAUGHS)

I'm Cookie Lyon.

Oh, my God. Right.

(CHUCKLES) From Empire.

Oh, my God. You manage Tiana, right?

- Among others. (CHUCKLES)
- How crazy.

Uh, what-what are you doing here?

I came to see you.

Uh, me? Why-why me?

Well, someone like you.

Uh, we're holding auditions
for dancers.

Uh, for Tiana's video.
For her latest single.

Oh, my God.

- Wh... You want me...?
- Mm-hmm.

Oh, my God.

- That would be so amazing.
- It would be amazing

if you could say more
than "Oh, my God."

- (BOTH LAUGH)
- Sorry.

Don't worry about it, sweetheart.

Just be at Empire tomorrow, : p.m.

(BREATHLESS): Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Did I tell you
you look beautiful tonight?

No. Thank you.



Lucious. Lyon boys.

THIRSTY: Excuse me. Excuse me.
Excuse me a second.

Excuse me. Watch yourself.

Why wasn't Mr. Lyon invited
to wh-whatever this is?

- Oh, wait a second. I'm sorry.
- (PHONE VIBRATES)

- Oh.
- There's a...

- Tiana's here. Everybody!
- (GROANS)

- Everybody. Shh. Tiana's here.
- (CROWD QUIETS)

Shh.

CROWD: Surprise!

(CROWD CHEERING)

EDDIE: As of one hour ago,

Tiana has done what no other
artist in the history

of Empire has ever done before.

Her single simultaneously
went to number one

on both the R&B and Pop charts.

(CROWD CHEERING)

And no offense, not even our Lyon boys

- have achieved that feat.
- (CROWD CHUCKLING)

- (SCOFFS) Not yet.
- Ah.

Another Empire first:

Tory Ash's new album

has hit number one
on the new R&B charts.

- (CROWD CHEERING)
- Here's to

many other record-breaking moments.

(CHUCKLES)

- Cheers.
- CROWD: Cheers.

- Thank you.
- You're amazing.

CROWD (CHANTING): Tiana! Tiana! Tiana!

Tiana! Tiana!

Tiana! (CHEERING)

("SWEAT" PLAYING)

You like the way I move,
and, boy, I know you want it

You got a lot to prove,
you better jump up on it

You know what I can do,
no time for sleeping on it

I'm-a leave it open

And see what you gon' do
right there

You say you want control,
but can you handle me?

We can go fast or slow,
might have you on your knees

I want to see you

Work hard for me, baby

Uh, sweat

Sweat

(RHYTHMIC PANTING)

Sweat

(RHYTHMIC PANTING)

Sweat

Oh, sweat...

Thanks for bringing in Eddie.
He's a genius.

I'm having dinner with him later.

Why don't I float the idea
of him staying?

We don't want him going anywhere.



Now, here's every single artist
on For .

Here's the particular stages

where their albums are right now.

And here's that punk Eddie Barker.

He's got completed albums.
He's got number one hits.

Look at where you guys are,
Hakeem, Jamal.

Y'all are pumping out zeroes
when right now I need y'all

to be pumping out hits
with the name Lyon on them.

Dad, I'm ready to drop my single
right now. It's fire.

LUCIOUS: Okay, well,
then get with marketing,

let them know that this needs
to debut at number one.

- Okay.
- Where are you?

Dad, you-you do know
that you benched me, right?

Well, consider yourself
back in the game,

and don't tell me you spent

- all this time crying.
- Nah, hell no.

I've been working my ass off.
And the stuff is really good.

Yeah, well as long as
it's not some of that

off-brand Jamal junk.

Oh, so now my stuff is just junk?

Dad, you the one that always said

put your heart and soul
into music, yeah?

Listen, son, I don't have time
to sit here swaddling you.

I need you to get
in the studio and produce

that on-brand Jamal stuff.

Oh, so, the same old stuff?

But that's what I'm talking about.

I can't go backwards.

So just count me out of the For .

ANDRE: Thanks for meeting
with me, Reverend.


Hmm. I'm glad you reached out.

So, how did your confession go?

Father's utterly incapable
of forgiveness.

What's new?

Well, no father is perfect.

Save that for the Father above.

Lucious is messed up,
and he passed it on to me.

In my opinion,
you can't fix your father.

But you can fix yourself.

The difference between you and Lucious

is that you want
to do the right thing.

Encourage that part of yourself.

(SIGHS)

I don't know where to start.

You already started.

You confessed.

You were sincere in your regret,

so be sincere in your apologies
to those you've hurt.

Come on.

You know what's so ridiculous, too,

is that these days, my father
wouldn't know originality

if it kicked him in the damn head.

Well, it's not like
Eddie's any better.

He's trying to turn me into
some R&B diva.

Okay, but nobody cares
about genres anymore.

- They just want good music.
- What about our music?

You really think that Empire's
just not gonna release it?

No, I know that they're not.

But why does that have to stop
us? You know what I'm saying?

Why can't we release it
under a different name?

- What do you mean?
- Meaning don't put our names on it,

don't put our pictures on it,
'cause then that way

it could actually be about the music.

Kind of like a Daft Punk,
Gorillaz vibe?

- See, now you feeling me.
- Okay.

Look, we could even, I don't know,

add some other dope musicians.

- Like, start a band?
- No.

Better than a band. Like, a, um...

like, a collective.
You know what I'm saying?

We bounce off of each other.
We-we feed each other's ideas.

- Yeah, I dig that.
- Look. Watch this artist.

I've been trying to work
with him for a minute.

I was above 'em,
no bluffin', if, ands or buts

And ain't no time for a discussion

The governments can't be trusted

The streets about to erupt

In flames, insanity, sufferin'

♪ Alhamdulillah above me

The only one that can judge me

I'm wonderin' where the love be...

- (LAUGHS)
- (JAMAL CHUCKLES)

See? And Becky tried
to sign him last year,

but because he's smart, he passed.

Because he's a real, raw,
authentic artist.

Imagine what we could create
with someone like that

- on our team.
- Yeah, it would be incredible.

But you know that there's no way

that Empire's gonna let us do that.

Okay, well, you know we don't
have to tell them anything.

Well, I have no problem
with that. (LAUGHS)

sh**t, man, it smells like
someone d*ed in here.

It does.

What the hell is this?

A bangin'-ass basement.

All right, how the hell
is this gonna help me

land a number one single?

Didn't your moms and pops
hook up back in the day

- at a Philly basement party?
- Yeah. So?

It was one of Lucious's
first performances

before he blew up, man;
it was legendary.

If your folks
never hooked up that night,

you might not have been born, bro.

You know you sound high as hell, bro?

- (CHUCKLES)
- Come on, man. Can't you see it?

The year is , all right?

Speakers in every corner.

A big platform stage
with a old-school booth

you can rock, Chicken.

The party of the year, man, hosted by

the one and only
Hakeem "The Dream" Lyon,

launching his new banger.

Keep it a hundred, you do sound
high as hell, Blake.

ANDRE: It's actually not a bad idea.

- Dre, what are you doing here?
- Becky told me where you were.

I'm just here to help.

Listen...

I know you feel
some kind of way about me.

I let everything that was wrong

push everything that was right
out of my head.

And that won't happen again,
I promise you.

I want to be your big brother,
if you'll let me.

All I care about
is being number one right now.

If we put this whole party
up on Empire XStream,

every subscriber that clicks
on it will get a free download.

Now, those count as sales, Hakeem.

Your numbers will go up.

You're practically guaranteed
to knock Tiana

out of the number one spot.

I guess we throwing
a basement party, then, y'all.

(WHOOPING, EXCITED CHATTER)

EDNA: I hope you'll extend
your stay at Empire.

I have such an affinity
for you, Edward.

Please, Edna. It's-it's Eddie.

- Of course.
- Giselle?

- Oh.
- What are you doing here?

Your receptionist
said to meet you here.

Uh, must be a scheduling mix-up.

- Oh.
- (BOTH CHUCKLE)

Edna, this is my ex-wife, Giselle.

Giselle, this is Edna.

- Hello.
- Nice to meet you. (CHUCKLES)

See you later.

- Talk soon? Okay.
- Talk later.

Edward Cornelius Damn Barker.

Expensive champagne
won't make up for what you did.

I want my money.

Celeste, not now, all right? Not now.

And what's this slut doing here?

Oh, that's real classy, Celeste.

You want to know about class?

Why are both y'all thirsty sluts here?

Oh, hell no!

- Monique?
- Eddie Barker.

- Mm-hmm.
- Unless we're all here

to discuss why you lost all our money,

I am not trying to be in the company

of your past, present
or future foolishness.

(CHUCKLES): Oh, n-no.

We're not in a relationship.

Unless...

- Eddie?
- CELESTE: Obviously you're not together.

Look around you, sweetie.

One of these ladies doesn't belong

- with the others.
- Really?

I'll just see myself out.

Uh, Edna. Edna. Uh...

I'd like you to stay.

This is just a big misunderstanding.

(LAUGHS) Yes, a colossal
misunderstanding, Mr. Barker.

Now that Lucious is back,
you should take this opportunity

to focus on your personal affairs.

(SIGHS)

Good night.

- I'll call you later.
- You can try.

It's just something
you gon' learn, too

It's your turn for me to be
the one you turn to...

Compliments of the boss.

Boss?

(SCOFFS) Wow.

It's on.



Those b*tches ruined everything.

Edna was a key ally.
Now that pasty heifer

won't even return my phone calls.

It was hard enough
for you to pull off a coup

behind Lucious's back;
how are you gonna do it

when he's looking right at you?

- By making a new ally.
- What are you talking about?

Over there.

(SHORT CHUCKLE)

All right.

No, no.

Handle your business,
and I'll be right over there.

What? Nothing for good luck?

Back in the day,
I never would've pegged you

as someone who'd have a seat
at the table.

You were always so impulsive,
quick to pull the trigger

without even being sure that
the g*n was loaded. (CHUCKLES)

Is that why you convinced
Lucious to drop me

all those years ago?

And I'd like to right that wrong.

I gave Lucious the tools
to be able to create an empire.

I'd like to do the same for you.

(CHUCKLES) And my, uh, % stake

has nothing to do
with your generous offer?

We're too big to be hustling
somebody else's dream.

I'm listening.

Lucious always wanted to roll solo.

He's never gonna value anybody else

more than he values himself.

But I value what you do.

I'm gonna make a pitch to the board

to expand my role here.

You want to be on top?

Back me up.

- (SNAPS FINGERS)
- Come on, man.

Where's that impulse?

Is the g*n loaded?

Always, my brother.

- Okay.
- All right, then.

We got a lot of things
we're gonna be doing together.

- We'll have some fun.
- I'll tell you what.

Come by the studio later.

- Mm-hmm?
- I got this new white boy.

I think you can help
make us both rich.

- (TATTOO NEEDLE BUZZING)
- AZAL: Don't worry.

Gonna have your tattoos.
Just try not to move.

- MAN: All right.
- (BELL CHIMES)

AZAL: Design book's on the table, sir.

Pick a tattoo. Be with you in a sec.

Oh, no, no.
We just, uh, we actually want

- a bit of your time to talk.
- Time's money.

Which one's talking,
which one's getting a tattoo?

I mean...

JAMAL: It's about the collective.

You know what I'm saying?

Look, I... do not
play well with others.

(CHUCKLES) See, that's the thing is

the band that we're
creating is not about egos.

Yeah, it's just about the music.

And with you on the mic
with your raw, visceral,

conscious lyrics,
I really do think that we could

make music history.

Let me tell you something
about history, bruh.

It's written by the victors.

And I don't see no victory by signing

with a privileged cat
from hip-hop royalty

trying to be down with the people.

- Feel me?
- (CHUCKLES)

Let me tell you something, bruh.

You obviously don't know
where my family comes from,

and you probably don't even listen

- to my music, so...
- Okay, yeah.

Real talk. I don't need a collective

or a Lyon to get my message across.

May I focus?

Ow.

That'll be $ .

Pay cash or card?

("SWEAT" PLAYING)

You been craving my touch

Ain't no use tryin' to hide it

Wantin' me like a drug

I promise you gon' like it

I'm-a leave it open

And see what you gon' do
right there

You say you want control,
but can you handle me?

We can go fast or slow,
might have you on your knees

I want to see you work hard

For me, baby

Uh, sweat

- ♪ Sweat
- (RHYTHMIC PANTING)

Sweat

- ♪ Sweat, uh
- ♪ Sweat

Sweat, till it's
drippin' off your body


Like a faucet, uh, sweat till...

(MUSIC STOPS)

(MAYA GASPING)

Oh, my God. I-I...

I am, like, your biggest fan.

My name's Maya.

Is this the new choreographer
that Eddie just approved?

How old are you, ?

COOKIE: Uh, Eddie's not the CEO.

I invited Maya here
from NYU to audition.

NYU? Cookie, I'm number one

on the Pop and the R&B charts.

And the best that you can offer me is

- some amateur from...
- Uh, hey, hey, uh!

Mm-mmm. Hold your tongue.

Maya, why don't you take
a break, sweetheart?

Very impressive.
You like a little Misty, girl.

(CHUCKLES): Yes!

Now, I know Eddie
has you feeling like a big star.

I get it, and I'm very proud
of you, Tiana.

But that doesn't give you
the right to walk around

and act like a big bitch.

I'm the only big bitch
around here, sweetie.

And let's not forget who made you.

'Cause I would hate
to have to unmake you.

Now, you come in here
and you disrupt something

I got going on again, and I will
wipe your ass off the charts!

Give a damn what number you are.

Maya.

- Maya, slow down.
- I must've had "fool"

written across my forehead
to think I was good enough

- to work with Tiana.
- Listen to me.

You are nobody's fool, okay?

You are a gifted, talented woman

who's gonna make her mother
very proud.

My mom is proud of me. She's the
one that encouraged me to dance.

I mean your birth mother.

How do you know I'm adopted?

I know your real mom.

My real m... mom?

- I was in prison with her.
- You mean the crackhead k*ller?

She's not a k*ller.
She... That was self-defense.

And she didn't...
she didn't do dr*gs, okay?

She-she may have dealt dr*gs

to get money so that she can try

and find you, because you
were stolen from her, Maya.

She really wants to meet you.

Okay? And I promised her
that I would find you.

She loves you so much.

No.

She's dying.

No, she's dead.
She was dead to me the moment

- that she decided to give me up.
- You don't...

No, please just stay away from me.

'Cause I don't want to hear from you

or that woman in lockup ever.

- (DOOR BUZZES)
- So, you got to get locked up

before I can see you, huh?

I don't have nothing
to say to you, lady.

Okay. I'll do the talking.

(EXHALES)

- Can I smoke in here?
- Yeah, sure.

Why don't you go out by the pool
or the tennis courts? (CHUCKLES)

The hell you think you are?

I'm in a place where
I never expected to see you.

Of my three girls,

you most remind me of myself.

Please don't insult me.

Why are you even here?

Because if I was there with you girls,

you would not be in here.

Uh, please don't
flatter yourself. (MUTTERS)

Loretha, sit your narrow ass down!

I'm not finished.

Plus, we getting money round here

And they love the way
them Lambo doors in the air

Them baddies leaving with us

Leave them haters over there...

Where's this new white boy?

Let's see if he lives up to your hype.

Plus, we getting money
around here...

- (MUSIC STOPS)
- (DOOR OPENS)

(WHISTLES)

You didn't think twice
about chucking your man here.

Ain't no telling how fast
you'd get rid of my ass.

Me and L ain't white on rice.

But like my Hillary vote,

I'm just siding with the devil I know.

You know she lost, right?

Well, in that case, Eddie,

you and Hillary
got a whole lot in common.

Knowing that the lesser man
thinks he won?

(CHUCKLES) Maybe so.

That wasn't about loyalty, you know?

That was self-interest.

Eddie, you wouldn't know loyalty

if it smacked you right
in the middle of your face.

Brother, we have...

very distinct definitions
of that word.

You may be loyal to your own,
but what you really are

is lethal.

Poison.

Everything you touch
corrupts and dies around you.

And if you needed any more proof

of just how toxic you really are,

look no further than Cookie.


The woman nearly d*ed because of you.

You're pushing me, Eddie.

And you of all people know...

how lethal I can be.

Of course I do.

I taught you.

But...

it's just as dangerous
to push me around.

We ain't done.

Come on.

Not even close.

Hey, Dirty...

It's a basement, but there's
a lot of things to sh**t.

Some colors and those cups right here.

- Got it.
- Take advantage of that.

Film Hakeem.
It's his single release party.

What up? Stay tuned, baby.

WOMAN: Hakeem, I love you!

Thank you all for coming.

Chicken.

Jamal said he would be here.

- He late.
- I haven't seen him.

Meanwhile, Sir-Talk-A-Lot right here

hasn't paid the venue owners,
so now they're threatening

- to pull the plug on this whole thing.
- What?

Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Don't worry about it, Hakeem.

I'll handle it.

- Why don't you show me who to pay.
- All right.

- Yeah, show him who to pay.
- All right. It's okay.

- Jamal Lyon!
- (REPORTERS CLAMORING)

Jamal Lyon, over here!

Jamal Lyon!

I'm sorry. I got you.
All right? I'm sorry.

Can we get a photo
with the three brothers?

- Uh, sure.
- All three of you.

Listen, after this,
can we, uh, can we talk?

- Nah.
- ♪ Hey, Dirty

Sing it

- ♪ Baby, I got your money
- ♪ Sing it, girls

- ♪ Don't you worry, I said hey
- ♪ Just shake it right...

Y'all, please give it up
for my little brother,

Hakeem Lyon, performing his first

For single, "Rock the Party"!

(CROWD CHEERING)

("ROCK THE PARTY" PLAYING)

Uh, you know what's up
when I pull up

Everybody watching,
all the girls running back

I'm picking through my options

Gettin' cake

Like I'm playin' Shopkins

Green faces like I'm The Mask

Somebody stop me,
fresh fade, black shades

I'm kind of a big deal

In the club
looking for a third piece

Big wheel, all this liquor in me

Kinda hard for me to sit still

D'Angelo wit' the flow

Tell me, how does it feel?
How it feel?

You know Hakeem, I rock the party

You know Hakeem

CROWD: ♪ Rock the party!

You know Hakeem, I rock the party

Girl, back it up,
work your body...

Girl, you said this was
a ' s basement jam,

not no Hakeem release party.

I'm not here for him.
I'm here to have fun.

Plus, all of my people are here,
so why shouldn't I be here?

Okay, the turn up is real,
party in the hills...

b*tches.

Done deal, ride through the city

Sun glisten off the wheels,
top off, sun roofin'

Like I'm Dr. Phil,
straight gorilla my flowin'

Like you know I'm a animal

Wordplay, intangible,
a*t*matic, mechanical

Lyrically I'm a cannibal

Don't make me split
your cantaloupe

Leave here wit' a centerfold,
bet I give her the antidote

You know Hakeem, I rock the party

You know Hakeem, I rock the party

(CROWD CHEERING)

CROWD: ♪ Rock the party!

Girl, back it up

Work your body

That's how it be when I'm out

Wit' my peeps and I got

What it takes to rock the party

Yeah, girl,
come back it up in my face...

CHICKEN: Hey, man, what you doing?

- ♪ Take it back to my place
- ♪ Uh, yeah, uh

It's the mythical,
analytical, not the typical

Ice form in the physical,
rare biblical

I don't play to lose,
no pity, y'all pitiful

Get money, I don't snooze,
think rich, that's a ritual

Cold wit' it,
yeah, I'm cold wit' it

No control wit' it,
copper rims on the coupe

Like I'm rollin' four pennies

No, I'm not from Harlem,
but I'm tryin' to trot

Around the globe wit' it,
jacket on

This a cold business, uh.

(CROWD CHEERING)

So, you know you're not slick

bringing me up to your set like that.

Babe, I didn't even know
you'd be here.

- But I'm glad you came.
- Mm-hmm.

Don't you got a press
tour in the morning?

Look, Eddie's not here, so...

tonight I'm off the hook.

(CHUCKLES)

I often tell myself

That we could be
more than just friends

I know you think
that if we move too soon

It would all end

I live in misery

When you're not around

There'll be some lovemaking

Heartbreaking, soul shaking

Oh

Lovemaking, heartbreaking,
soul shaking

What's it gonna be?

- ♪ 'Cause I can't pretend
- ♪ I can't pretend

No

- ♪ Don't you want to be
- ♪ Don't you want to be

More than friends

- (VOCALIZING)
- ♪ Hold me tight

And don't let go

Don't let go.

- ♪ I'm the lyrical gangster
- ♪ m*rder*r

- ♪ Big up di crew ina di area
- ♪ m*rder*r

- ♪ Still love you like that
- ♪ m*rder*r...

Becky.

- Yeah?
- You seen, um, Tory?

Uh, she's in the bathroom.
Have you seen Tiana?

She has a : a.m. call time.

I mean, you know
she bounced with Hakeem.

- (GROANS)
- (CHUCKLES)

Act like you know, Rico...

Oh, word?

What's up, you coming to take sh*ts

at another member of hip-hop royalty?

Nah. I listened to your music.

I was moved, brother.

Seems like you have something to say.

I want to hear your message. For real.

This time without prejudice.

Thank you, man.

Tory also threatened to blast my shop

on her social media
if I didn't show up tonight.

I see. So she blackmailed
your ass. Okay.

- I ain't mad at her.
- Good move. (CHUCKLES)

Welcome to the band, man.

Cash rules everything around me...

MAN: A'ight, baby. There you go.

Dollar, dollar bill, y'all...

Tory.

- What the hell are you doing?
- Nothing.

I'm just taking something
to take the edge off.

How long you been using again?
What-what are you on?

Eddie just gave me
something the other day

- so I could get through the show.
- Eddie gave you s...

- Hey.
- Yeah. It's fine.

- It's not a big deal.
- Listen,

tomorrow we're going
to a meeting, Tory.

Jamal, I'm a big girl. I don't
need you to be my sponsor, okay?

Rollin' with this one and that one

Pullin' out gats for fun

But it was just a dream

For the teen, who was a fiend

Started smokin' woolas at ...

I really needed this tonight.

And doin' hits for high stakes

Makin' my way on fire escapes

No question I would speed
for cracks and weed...

Anybody thinking you need
a makeover to be number one,

they don't know
how amazing you already are.

Always will be in my eyes.

I love you.

Figured out I went the wrong route

So I got with a sick, tight clique

And went all out

Catchin' keys from 'cross
seas, rollin' in MPVs...

But I'm not gonna let Eddie
control you like some puppet.

I'm nobody's puppet, okay?

That's not what I meant.

Look, you don't get to decide
or control who I work with.

Eddie has done more for me
in six months

than Empire's done for me
in three years.

This was a mistake.

No. This is real.

Eddie told me
that you wasn't gonna be happy

unless I was right up under you.

- And you know what?
- (CLICKS TONGUE)

He was right.

Tiana!

(SIGHS)

'Sup?

(HUMS, SIGHS)

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

Whoa.

Back at work.
How's the orphan hunting going?

If you want to keep your balls intact,

you didn't see me tonight, okay?

So now you're threatening
my man parts over Orphan Black?

You know, between you and
Lucious wanting to k*ll Eddie,

y'all are just gonna give me a stroke.

Hey, hey, hey, hey. k*ll Eddie?

The hell are you talking about?

Thirsty told me about Eddie.

So all that talk about us
being equal partners

and you respecting me was just bull.

Well, you lied about
your whereabouts all day.

No, no, no.
I didn't lie to you, Lucious.

I just didn't tell your nosy ass.

Well, there's a distinction
without a difference

if I've ever heard one.

Well, you lied about everything
being okay with Eddie. Why?

And don't give me
that heart att*ck bull.

Are you mad 'cause I brought him in?

No, and don't you ever think that.

Everything that's gone wrong,
every bad thing that's happened,

from Eddie to Claudia to Andre...

All of that's my fault. I accept that.

And some things
you-you can't change, but...

I know how to fix Eddie.

No. There's got to be
another way to get rid of Eddie.

- Yeah, how?
- I don't know, Lucious.

But we're gonna figure it out,
together.

- Morning, Mr. Barker.
- Morning, Juanita.

Cookie.

Lu. What is this?

f*ring squad?

It was going to be.
But we're family, right?

- Have a seat.
- Family.

Yeah, see, all that plotting

and scheming you were doing,
I had to remind Lucious that,

uh, you guys were like brothers
back in the day.

I said have a seat.

All right.

LUCIOUS: Speaking of family,

um, Hakeem's single just hit
number one on the charts.

Wow. Hmm.

Chalk one up for the Lyons,
against my two.

(CHUCKLES) I wonder
how the board would feel

if they found out
that your two was acquired

by doping up a recovering addict.

Tory? She was a wild card
way before I walked into Empire.

But what about Tiana?

I've seen single-handedly
how you bamboozled her.

Once Lucious and I figured out

what you were doing
with Tory and Tiana,

well, we figured... (CHUCKLES)

there had to be others.

So we did a little digging.
Ivy Montgomery.

A promising young starlet,
before she signed with you.

She couldn't keep up
with your pressures,

and you pumped her full of dr*gs.

Next thing you know,
she commits su1c1de,

and she thought
you was family as well.

EDDIE: These, uh...

There was a settlement,
and these files were sealed.

Oh. Well, your seal
just sprung a leak.

That's the exact thing
that will sour your reputation

with Empire's board.

Oh, hell, any board.

Remember these?

Those are those same papers
I offered you the other day,

just the severance package
was carved out of it.

COOKIE: If you don't want the
truth to come out about this,

then I suggest you sign this contract,

and then stay the hell away
from Empire.

Like I said...

can't say no to Cookie.

Can I get my jacket, please?

Thank you.

(DOOR BUZZES)

(CELL DOOR CLANKING)

(SCOFFS) You ain't even got a ring.

(LAUGHS)

So you walked out on us for some zero

that was eventually
gonna dump your ass anyway.

Yeah. I guess it beats
being a mother and a wife.

So, how are your boys holding up
through all of this?

Uh... you never worried about us,

so don't worry about my babies.

I have to, given the devil
you left them with.

Any man that would... that would
sacrifice his woman...

- No, no, no, no, no, no.
- ...to save his own ass ain't.

- Don't come up in...
- nothing but a son of a bitch.

Don't come up in here
talking trash about my husband.

Your husband?
(SCOFFS) Your sisters told me

that weak ass served you
divorce papers.

You know what a weak ass is?

The weakest person you can be
is a mother who abandons

- her three daughters.
- You...

You chose to protect

that high yellow trash over your boys.

- What?
- You know what? You are right.

- We are not the same.
- Yeah, we are not.

- We're not the same. I tried.
- We are nothing alike.

I'm more like my father.

You know what? You're k*lling Jamal,

- Hakeem, you're k*lling Andre.
- I need you to shut up.

- Why are you doing it? Why?
- I need you to shut...

Shut up! Shut your ass up!

So you think what you did was hard,

and you think this is easy?! Huh?!

I know what it's like
not to have your kids.

It's a hole in your life, Loretha.

And you know what it's like
to grow up without a mother.

You don't want that for your boys.

If there is anything,
anything you can do,

or some deal you can cut
to get home, just do it.

Don't let some man
keep you from your children

- the way your daddy did to me.
- You don't get

- to try to be my mother now.
- Listen.

It's too late. You know what?

Ju... Don't come back here.

I don't ever want to see you again.

Wait, wait. Don't you give up.
Don't give up, Loretha.

I never did. I never will!

You remember!

(DOOR CLOSES)

POUNDCAKE: Hey, you.

I didn't mean to wake you.

Nah, it's okay.

Did you find her?

I'm sorry.

(CRYING SOFTLY)

I knew it.

I'm gonna keep looking for her, okay?

- Poundcake, I promise.
- I'm never gonna be able

- to tell her that I love her.
- No, no, no. Hush.

What would you like
to say to her? Huh?

Cookie, no, I don't... I don't know.

Cook, I don't talk well.

- I don't got...
- Okay. All right, all right.

Okay, well...

Tell me what you want to say.
I'll write it down.

I'll help you, okay?

So that you can
read it to her yourself.

POUNDCAKE: Mm.

To my baby girl.

I want you to know some things,

so I'm gonna make a list.

I invited you here
because we both know

what it's like to be pulled
into the Lyon family,

only to realize too late

that they devour their own.

Cigar?

(CHUCKLES) Cut the big speech, Eddie.

I'm here because there's
a clause in my custody agreement

that gives me control over
Bella's stake in the Empire.

And you are here
because you want my help

stealing the company from the Lyons.

Well, I'm happy to join you,

but I have one condition.

Once we do...

I'm gonna be CEO.

I'm starting to get
what all the fuss is about you.

(LAUGHS): Oh.

Don't look at me like that, Eddie.

This is just business.

And I'm not interested in being
Mrs. Barker Number Four.

You dig?

Of course.

So let's order my favorite rosé

and, uh, talk strategy.

Shall we?

Let's.
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