Original subtitles

COOKIE: You okay, Andre?

LUCIOUS: Previously onEmpire...

ANDRE: I would never threaten a woman.

KINGSLEY: You wouldn't. I did.

Those blackouts you're having,

I can do that whenever I want.

I'm in control.

GISELLE: This is my little brother Julian.

I told youhe was coming to visit.

How 'bout some diplomacy?

You stay away from my family

and yours will keep breathing.

That's a deal.

You were born for that stage

and that gift that makes you beautiful.

We need a Bossy sound.

That says, "You are listening to Bossy."

Durrell. I will never get over

the coward that took him away from me.

Hey, Teri.It smells good in here.

Did you prepare this meal yourself?

Yes, I did. I love our new kitchen.

COOKIE: What meal, child?

I'm just saying, honey.

Cookie starts talking in third person

when she ain't had nothing to eat

and all you keep filling her up with

is cheese and crackers.

TERI: Dinner will be out shortly.

We had a little issue with the frenching

the rack of lamb, but it has all been resolved.

CAROL: "Frenching"?What, you in there trying to be

fancy or something?

I mean, listen, girl, please.

That mattered, like,two hours ago.

We just need you to throwthat food on a plate

and bring it out.

-Is it cooked? Just bring it. -CAROL: Amen.

Trust me, it'll be worth it.

Teri, you sureyou don't need some help?

Once you've had Juanita

and then you go solo, it's...

ANDRE: You know what?

I think it's time we propose

a new Lyon family dinnertradition.

CANDACE: And what's that?

Teri and I have decidedno business talk

and no what, babe?

Drama.

Our home is all peace, love,

and soulful conversations.

Oh, that is so cute, Donna Cornelius,

but can it also be about some food?

See, that's a family tradition too.

-I'm sorry. -I'll be right back.

-I'm just saying, child. -Oh.

COOKIE: Just bring the lamb.Don't French it.

Well, if it isn't my favorite artist.

So how did the gig go?

It was amazing. The crowd ate it up.

I'm hyped right now.

Mm. Hey.

Make sure y'all are availablefor this week,

'cause I'm having a showcasefor Yana over at the mansion.

All of the major labelsare gonna be there,

and it's gonna be bidding war,so come early.

Pop, please, can you not?

Are you asking for a man who can't keep it in his pants

to have a modicum of couth?

Those two things don't go together, nephew.

-LUCIOUS: I'll call you back. -YANA [over phone]: Bye.

Yeah, I'll drink to that.

LUCIOUS: Yeah, your ass will drink to anything.

I'm sorry--smoke anything.

All right, Lucious, don't be petty.

Why don't we have a toast

to Cookie quitting a jobthat she's hated for years,

AKA divorcing Lucious?

Ooh. Cheers.

Then why am I still stuck with Ursula

and her ugly twins?

CAROL: You know, you about to get your ass beat.

-[all arguing] -Hey, hey.

Okay, okay, Okay, listen.

Can we please not--

tonight, can we please not--

-Please! Damn! -Okay, baby.

Where's Teri with the--

-[screams] -[gunshot]

[gunshot]

[panting]

ANDRE: Teri, I'm so sorry, baby.

Uh...

QUINCY: I'll clean it up, Mom. Don't worry about it.

Are you all right?

[silverware clinking]

Uh, Teri, girl, you trying to give me a heart attack?

Uh, sis, seriously,you just screamed

like somebody was shooting upthe joint.

I'm so sorry. I know you worked so hard.

Thanks a lot, Andre.

I'm so sorry.

Here, baby, take this to the...

-QUINCY: Okay. -I spent hours

preparing this food.

Amen, true story.

We can just--we can just order something.

LUCIOUS: Yeah, I got a friend, um, has

an Italian spotaround the corner.

He'll fix us up real quick.

Teri, I'm so sorry, baby.

I wanted tonightto be perfect for you.

Wait, wait, now, Teri.

We don't haveto let this ruin the evening--

You know, I have stood by

and watched the dysfunction in this family,

the way you all go at each other

like dogs in the street,

and I thought, like a fool,

that it would be different here,

for Andre.

[dramatic music]

I had one--one rule, just one.

Look, Teri, on behalf of Dino and Marmaduke...

-Lucious, you know what? -Oh.

You know what? Them perms up in yo' head...

[all arguing]

Stop! Stop it!

Just stop!

♪

Well, at least we kept up with tradition,

another messy Lyon family dinner.

Happy?

♪

[dramatic hip-hop music]

♪

Come on in here...sis.

What is going on?

Your nerves are bad.

I think you have PTSD.

Yep, shooting someone is a big deal.

You wouldn't be human if it wasn't still

haunting you in some way.

Yeah, maybe-- maybe I should

talk to my therapist about it.

I mean, it's beenon my mind a lot lately.

[foreboding music]

♪

[indistinct chatter]

♪

-Carol. -[whimpers]

I found you something to wearfor the funeral.

-It's in an hour. -[Carol gasps]

Sis, I can't do it. I don't wanna bury him.

Sis, I can't.

Why'd they have to kill him like that?

Why'd they shoot him like that?

He was my ride or die like Lucious is to you.

Why'd they have to do that to him, sis?

It ain't right! It ain't right.

O-okay, Carol.We--come on.

Let--let's take her Becky,all right?

-We gonna get Becky. -I can't go.

-I can't do it. -CANDACE: We'll be right back.

[sobbing, sniffles]

Wow.

[somber music]

She is way worse than the last time

she was on that stuff.

[Carol groans]

♪

CAROL: You really needto forgive yourself, sis.

You know that bitch Tracydid not give you a choice.

And bottom line, somebody wasgonna die that night,

-and I'm glad it wasn't you.-CANDACE [whispering]: Exactly.

Sis, if you hadn't pulled that trigger when you did...

it might be only two of us standing here right now.

You need to lean on us.

We're here for you, sis.

That's what sisters are for.You hear me?

I don't want you stressed outlike that.

We got you.

[Cookie sighs]

[water running]

[sighs]

-Smack me. -[scoffs]

No, I deserve it for destroying a meal

that I know would have put Juanita's to shame.

Well, I guess we'll never know, right?

This is not the look I wanted

to see on your face tonight,Teri.

I'll make this up to you,I promise.

Okay?

[Gorgeous George's "Shake It Up"]

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry too, babe. Let me get in the shower.

♪

♪ Come close

♪ Baby, come at me

[sighs] Andre.

♪ Oh, and we

Oh, what has gotten into you?

♪

Andre.

You yelling at my familytonight...

was incredibly sexy.

[gasps]

♪ All night long

Andre Lyon, we cannot do this.

Your mother and father are right downstairs...

-I don't care. -[Teri scoffs]

Yes, we can, baby. Yes, we can.

Oh!

And we will.

♪ Shake it up

♪ Shake it, shake it up, shake it, shake it up ♪

♪ Shake it up

Hey, y'all, Valentino's is all backed up,

but they're gonna give us some plates.

Y'all hangry folks try not

to kill each other while I'm out.

CAROL: Nobody cares where your ass is going, Lucious.

LUCIOUS: Ugly mutt.

[ominous music]

[engine turning over]

♪

[siren wailing distantly]

♪

[dramatic music]

♪

[brakes squealing]

[car door clicks open]

♪

[gun cocking]

♪

Damon.

You said we had a deal, Lucious.

You leave mine alone, I leave yours alone.

Yana came to me, man.

No, no, no. We had a deal, Lucious.

Put the damn shotgun down, man.

Yana is a star.

You can knowwhere my son lives

but you can't see thatyour baby girl has got a gift?

She sings like an angel.

I heard her sing.

I heard her sing in the hospital.

She's still singing.

She's singing right nowin the studio.

You come check for yourself.

♪

I swear to you, man...

if it ain't legit, it's a wrap.

She's the brightest star I've ever seen.

♪

-[hip-hop music] -[sirens wailing]

♪

[dramatic music]

Cook, what's up?It's late.

Carol and the babyain't even here right now.

Something wrong?

Yeah, you putting your hands on them.

That's what's wrong.

I know what you up to.

You ain't been nothing but a menace

to my sister and your own damn kids.

I'm telling you,

Durrell, if you don't stop

treating 'em like that-- my hand to God--

this is gonna be bad for you.

Yo, you need to be careful

who you roll up on,making threats--

[gun cocking]

♪

[Cookie breathing shakily]

I didn't come here to do this, Durrell.

Don't make me.

Bitch, if you dumb enough to pull a gun on me,

you better be smart enough to use it.

See, them threats and that talk,

it don't work with me.

I'm not my sister.

And I'm not gonna come over here one more time

to pick her up off the floor after you drop-kicked her.

Just leave her, okay?

Do everybody a favor and just leave.

Oh, you Holloway sistersgot a lot of mouth on you.

It's any wonder how y'allgot any teeth left at all.

-[Durrell grunts] -[Cookie screams]

[gunshot]

[wheezing]

♪

[breathing shakily]

[whimpers]

I t-told you to leave, Durrell!

♪

[breathing heavily]

[solemn music]

♪

[exhales deeply]

♪

All right, Quincy, you're not only gonna earn extra cash

these two weeks you're temping.

You're gonna go back to school knowing the art of the woo.

So is that, like, schmoozingor ass-kissing or something?

It's way more sexy, brother.

Wooing is customized to the individual.

It requires strategy.

So...we're startingwith this guy?

Paul Bennett?

He's an ASA voter.

You're gonna escort his daughter Piper

to Laviticus to see Treasure and Devon

perform their ASA-nominated duet.

That's work, taking her out?

You're taking her for the Empire experience,

pictures backstage with the artists, all that.

She'll run back to Daddy and tell him

how awesome it was and, more importantly,

how incredible Devon and Treasure are.

Oh, so he votesfor whoever his kids like.

-That's right. -Yeah, okay.

-These old dudes are corny. -Ah, corny and influential.

But if you woo her right,

Empire won't be the only ones who get lucky.

You feel me?

-I feel you. -[Andre chuckles]

[soft guitar music playing]

YANA: ♪ You burned a hole

♪ Right through my brain

♪ Yeah, mm

♪ And the games you played

♪ Drove me insane

♪ Oh, yeah

♪ So we should leave this

♪ And not look back

♪ I'm trying heal, but you ain't helping that ♪

♪ Looking me in my face

♪ Like it was nothing

♪ So tell me, who do you

♪ Think you are?

♪ Tell me, who do you

♪ Think you are?

♪ I know this wound's gonna heal ♪

♪ But there'll always be

♪ A scar

♪ Yeah

[Lucious clapping]

What the hellare you doing here?

Lucious, what's going on?

LUCIOUS:Look, I wanted your father

to come by and see what kind of talent you are.

DAMON: I came hereto make sure my baby girl

wasn't gettingtaken advantage of.

You can be pissed off at meif you want,

but I'm still gonna beyour father.

You-- [laughs]

So, what, you're protecting me now?

Is that what you're doing?

So who's gonna protect me from you?

LUCIOUS: I just thought that it would be best

if your father got involved early on.

Then we could avoid obstacles that may occur in the future.

I'm sorry, am I all of a suddenin a different country

or something, where I need a man's permission

to make moves?

Lucious, I don't know what's going on with you,

but whenever you get back to your senses,

let me know so we can get back to business, okay?

My apologies.

[dramatic music]

♪

You heard that.

So you're using herfor your comeback.

But what happens to herwhen you're done?

This ain't about no comeback.

Your daughter's the real thing, man.

Just keep it business, Lucious.

'Cause if I find windthat you're trying to screw me

or screw her, I'll end you.

♪

[Run-D.M.C.'s "My Adidas" playing over speakers]

♪ I stepped onstage at Live Aid ♪

♪ All the people gave, and the poor got paid ♪

♪ And out of speakers, I did speak ♪

♪ I wore my sneakers

Yes, I'd like a drink.Thank you very much.

You ain't gonna be here that long,

and this ain't a date.

We both agree on that.

Why am I here?

Need you to do me a favor.

I'm already launderingyour dirty money.

What could you possibly wantfrom me now?

Sign Yana to your record label.

-[scoffs] -If she gonna be

working with shady-ass Lucious,

I'ma need some eyes and ears on the inside.

You're forgetting that I'm notthe sole owner of Bossy.

I have partnerswho don't like it

when I makeunilateral decisions,

one of them being Cookie.

This isn't a request, Giselle.

This is what you will do, or Bossy Media will be

several million in the hole.

You feel me?

Now, get everybody on board.

You owe me.

[tense music]

Ah.

♪

I am loving what the newmarketing and press team

is doing for our new song.

Cookie was pretty genius

for putting us all on ittogether.

BECKY: And she's about to find our new Bossy sound.

-TIANA: Mm-hmm. -LALA: Okay.

So we need to talkabout how my song

that I wrote for methat Cookie made us sing

like a girl group is somehowbenefitting everybody but me.

All right, I get no love

but these hos get to shineon Twitter?

"These hos"? I'm right here, Lala.

Okay, um, I don't know what's happening

on social media, but this is the loudest

and clearest I've heard you

since you landed at JFK a few months ago.

[scoffs]

They're sayingI can't hold my own

next to Tiana and Melody.

But you should know there areplenty of other labels

that are saying they could havealready made me a star.

So you need to come with it.

Wow, okay. So I'm loving this passion.

What I'm not loving is the tone and the delivery

or the implication that we somehow wronged you.

TIANA: Exactly.

The song is an instant hit. Why are you tripping?

BECKY: We're doing everything that we can

to ensure your success.

TIANA: I know what you're going through.

I've been there before.

It just takes time, Lala.

[laughs]All right.

All due respect,

when you arrived at Bossy,you were already famous.

So real talk, what have theyreally done for you?

BECKY: I'll tell you what I haven't done.

I haven't snatched up

ungrateful artists that I signed, okay?

And you should go before that changes.

Yeah, she ain't playing with you.

Ugh!

[funky music]

She seemed smarter when she was quiet.

-Yep. -♪ Na, na, na, na

-Yes! Yes. -♪ Na, na, na

I know we've been at this all night, okay,

but I think we onto something.

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na, na

Ooh, Kev, whatever you doing with them drums,

stay right there.

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na, na

Z, you better be taking us

back to Africa up in here!

♪

♪ Na, na, na, na

Come on, harmony. Come on.

♪ Na, na, na, na

♪ Na, na, na

Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!

Yes, y'all better sing. Sing, bitches.

Uch--sing! Yes!

SINGERS: ♪ Na, na, na

All right, stay with it. I'll be right back, okay?

SINGERS: ♪ Na, na, na, na

BECKY: Hey, they sound good. Yeah.

Uh, this better be important.

Oh, yeah, so Giselle just had a really great idea

that I loved, and we wanted your blessing.

Uh, look, Bossy really needsto be at the Yana showcase.

That chick can blow, and she isperfect for our roster.

You two heifers come in here and disrupt my flow for this?

Yana belongs to Lucious. That's his artist.

Don't you know I just divorced him?

Why would I wanna work with her?

Well, I thought maybeyou could put

your personal feelings asideand realize

what a great business movethis is for Bossy.

Yeah, look, we both want it. Are you in, Cookie?

SINGERS: ♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na, na ♪

Look, you guys like her, you sign her, okay?

I'm not leaving here until I find my magic.

-All right. -"Heifers"?

-SINGERS: ♪ Na, na, na -COOKIE: Yes!

♪ Na, na, na, na

Whoo! Y'all gonna get me

the Holy Spirit up in here!

Come on!

[footsteps approaching]

ANDRE: Baby.

What a nice surprise.Everything okay?

We need to talk, Andre.

[door clicks shut, lock clicks]

What's wrong?

[playful music]

♪

Sexy.

I want more fun.

What do you mean?

Like in the bathroom, during dinner.

What else would I be talking about, Andre?

♪

Teri...

♪

Three people areabout to walk through that door

for a meeting, Teri.

♪

Seriously? You can't push it back?

Listen--

I can't.

I can't.I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.I can't.

[tense music]

But I can give you a rain check for tonight.

♪

Okay?

You are beinga very...bad boy.

[chuckles] I'm the worst.

Mm.

Tonight?

Tonight.

Okay.

♪

Tonight.

♪

Hey, guys, it's your girl Lala,

and I'm herewith my boy Julian.

What's up? What's up?

We are about to set it off.

So if you guys didn't know,

I was told to domore self-promotion.

Apparently, even when you havea record deal,

you have to fend for yourself.

So here I go.

[squeals]

[engine turning over]

[upbeat hip-hop music]

♪

♪ Bet your girl can't do it like I do ♪

♪ Can't do it like I do

♪ Bet she trying to walk all in my shoes ♪

♪ All in my shoes

♪ I bet she wish she had my every move ♪

-♪ Every move -Huh.

♪ Bet you wishing

♪ That she had 'em too

♪ 'Cause anything she doing, that's mine ♪

♪ Anything she wearing, that's mine, yeah ♪

♪ Way she do her hair, that's mine ♪

♪ Everybody see it, they ain't blind, yeah ♪

♪ The bag that she be flexing, that's mine ♪

♪ And I can't really help that I'm a dime, yeah ♪

♪ You act like you don't love me, but you're lying ♪

-♪ You're lying -♪ Oh

♪ Your shawty wanna be me, and that's fine ♪

♪ Your shawty wanna be me

-♪ And that's why -[both grunt]

♪ I give these girls motivation ♪

♪ Look at me for inspiration

Damn, Julian.

Julian?

♪ You know that it's true

Oh, my God, Julian.

Wake up!

Julian, wake up.

-[car crashes] -[gasps]

Oh, man.

[suspenseful music]

Hey.

Hey, Julian, can you hear me?

Julian, wake up.

♪ Your shawty wanna be me

♪ And that's why

[both grunt]

He's not even answering my texts, Becky.

Well, just calm down.I'm sure he's okay.

WOMAN [over phone]: Emergency room.

Hello. Yes.

Do you have a Julian Sims admitted?

There was an accident wi-with a car.

Can you hold, please?

Yes, I'll hold.

He had no business being there in the first place.

This your girl. Your girl, Becky.

You signed her. You can un-sign her.

Well, okay,you're overreacting.

She gotta go.

We already spent a lotof money on her, Giselle.

I don't care how much money we spent.

Becky, you need to checkLala's IG.

Thank you.

LALA [over phone]: Hey, guys, it's Lala.

I'm sorry if I let you all down,

but Bossy hasn't been giving me the support

-that I need, and... -Wow.

LALA [over phone]: Becky and Giselle just keep

pressuring me.

So I had to do something.

I for real, though, feel like

Bossy is burying me...

Burying you? Wow.

-Are you freaking kidding me? -Okay, burying her.

I'm sorry.She's got to go!

-Okay, Giselle. -Correction, I'm not sorry.

I just need a minute with her. Let me talk to her.

-WOMAN [over phone]: Hello? -Yes, hello?

-We do have a Julian Sims... -Oh, you do?

But no one's listed on his emergency contact.

[stammers] Emergency contact?

I'm his mother.

[dramatic music]

-Hello? -Yes.

[stammering]I'll be there right away.

-Thank you. Okay. -Wait.

Um, do--do you want meto go with you?

-No. -'Cause I can go with you.

You know what I want.

I want you to get a handleon this little princess.

I want you to goto the showcase,

and I want you to sign Yana.

-Okay. -At least she can sing.

♪

"Mother"?

Uh...

[upbeat hip-hop music]

♪

♪ Let's skip the conversation ♪

BOTH: ♪ Don't keep me waiting

♪ You say you want me

♪ Baby, show me you mean it

♪ No hesitation, I'm losing patience ♪

♪ You better walk that walk, you better talk that talk ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, hold me the way ♪

♪ You say I'm always on your mind ♪

♪ Show me I'm special

♪ Like you tell me all the time ♪

♪ Tell you all the time

♪ Trust me, I want you just as bad ♪

♪ As you want me, boy

♪ But I ain't gonna make it

♪ I ain't gonna make it easy

DEVON: ♪ Oh

♪ You want my love

♪ You better work for it

♪ Yeah

♪ I want your love, so I'ma work for it ♪

BOTH: ♪ Yeah

♪

TREASURE: ♪ Work for it

♪ Too much

♪ I don't wanna do too much

♪ Girl, you make my blood rush ♪

♪ But you need to know that I want you ♪

Empire really knowshow to throw a show, huh?

-That's-- -Treasure and Devon.

This song's kind of hot.

-SERVER: Tequila? -So hot.

Look at you, trying to get me drunk.

Hey, it's a party. Come on.

-SERVER: On the house. -Cheers.

DEVON: ♪ I just wanna love you better ♪

♪ Better than he could

BOTH: ♪ Yeah

DEVON: ♪ You know just how I feel ♪

♪

No, I-I can't find my...

What are you looking for?

[scoffs] My stuff.

TREASURE: ♪ You want my love, you better work for it ♪

You party?

TREASURE: ♪ Yeah

DEVON: ♪ I want your love, so I'ma work for it ♪

Perfect. You are a lifesaver.

You know, I wasn't even planning

on coming out tonight.

Well, I'm glad you did.

That's what's up.

[sniffing]

Your turn.

TREASURE: ♪ Yeah

What?

Your nose.

DEVON: ♪ I want your love

-♪ So I'ma work for it -Oh.

BOTH: ♪ Yeah

You got a lot of nerve.

Hey.

I just wanna say--

No, no, no.You are done talking.

Now's your time to listen.

First of all, you will beissuing a public apology.

You are not my mother.

Correct, I'm your boss.

Yeah, the same boss that has been giving all the promotions

to Tiana as soon as she came to Bossy

and then to Melody.

And now I hear you're trying to sign some Yana bitch.

I came to Bossy with 5 million followers,

and you and Giselle have done nothing to push my projects.

It's a process, Lala.

Look, I know you worked with Lucious for years,

but to me, it looks like you don't have

a damn clue what you're doing...

boss.

Well, if it's promotionyou want, then I got you.

Say no more.

Effective immediately,

you will be going on tour

for the remainderof your contract.

Tour? I only have one song.

Mm-hmm, and you will besinging that one song

on a white linen tourwith 112 and Brownstone.

You can try to get out of itif you want to.

We'll just sue you.

I got places to be.

[dramatic music]

[Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway's

"Back Together Again"]

♪

♪ You, you, and I

♪ Back together again

♪ Got the world in a spin

♪ You, you

LUCIOUS: Welcome, everyone.

Now, all of you have known...

of my involvement over the last three decades

in developing some of the hottest acts

that's ever graced the music industry.

But this young woman right here,

she made me believe in music again.

She made me rediscover in myself

why I dedicated my life to music,

and she's gonna make each and every one of you

feel the same.

So without further ado...Yana.

[applause]

Thank you.

Thank you.

[bluesy music playing]

♪ Ooh, yeah, yeah

♪ No one gets out with a clean slate ♪

♪ Do they?

♪ No

♪ It's the price of war in love that we pay ♪

♪ Yeah

♪ Tell me, who do you

♪ Think you are?

♪ Tell me, who do you

♪ Think you are?

♪ I know this wound's gonna heal ♪

♪ But there'll always be a scar ♪

♪ Ooh, oh, ooh

♪ You burned a hole right through my brain ♪

♪ Yeah

♪ Yes, you did

♪ And the games you played

♪ Drove me insane, oh, yeah ♪

Uh, hey, Cookie.

♪ Not look back

♪ I'm trying to heal

♪ But you ain't helping that

Giselle had a family emergency,

so I'm at this Yana thing by myself.

And, uh, she is killing it, but there are

a lot of really important execs here,

and so I could use some backup.

♪ Think you are?

♪ Tell me, who do you think you are? ♪

-Pop. -Hey.

Nice show.

Thank you.

I wanna let you knowI appreciate you.

Yeah, I appreciate the hell out of you too, son.

♪ But there'll always be a scar ♪

♪ Be a scar, be a scar

I already shot a noteto the studio manager

to block out a studiofor Yana's sessions.

I'm thinking Metro Boominfor starters, you know,

maybe see if Dev Hynesis interested.

No, I'm--I'm confused.

I mean, all these other cats are here to bid for Yana.

The only people not bidding is Empire.

♪

What?

You kicked me out of my own company,

the company I built

before I taught you how to walk.

You think I want Yana at a place like that?

♪

So why'd you invite me?

'Cause I wanted you to see what you're gonna miss.

YANA: ♪ Oh

Enjoy.

YANA: ♪ Oh

♪ Oh, oh, oh

[cell phone buzzes]

♪ I know this wound's gonna

Quincy, what's wrong?

What?

Okay, don't-- No, no, don't move.

-I'm on my way. -YANA: ♪ Yeah

-[applause] -Thank you. Thank you.

LUCIOUS: Isn't she something?

Now you see what I saw in her,

and now I know that eachand every one of you

is going to want to have Yanaon your label.

So this is howwe're gonna do this.

We've assigned individual roomsfor each label,

where you can write down your bid, make it your best,

and maybe one of youwill be lucky enough

to sign Yana this evening.

Y'all better get at it. [laughs]

[dramatic music]

♪

Well, if it isn't the man

who took down Def Jam.

Lucious.

So happy to have a chance at one of your artists.

She's amazing.

I call her extraordinary.

Hey, I hope you gotsomething good for me.

I do.

♪

Are you serious?

Yeah.

♪

We believe this is more than generous.

♪

Well, that all depends upon

your idea of generosity.

We do have one caveat.

It's kind of a major point.

♪

LUCIOUS: There she is...

the queen of Epic Records herself.

[chuckles]

How long have we known each other, Lucious?

Too many years for meto reveal our age.

-[chuckles] -Have a seat, dear.

I'm comfortable with my years.

Are you comfortable with yours?

Murders, money laundering,

public spats, and negative press?

Perhaps you have me confusedwith Suge Knight.

[laughs]

I've watched you run through this music industry

like a bull in a china shop.

Then you sweep up the pieces, put it back together

to deliver a hit.

There's a bit of methodto this madness, I assure you.

Of course.

It's called chaos.

Here's my offer.

[unsettling music]

♪

And that comes with...

Epic is prepared to give Yana the world,

but we're not prepared to do business with you.

We'll take her and only her.

♪

So what are they saying?

Well, the general consensus is,everybody's in love with you.

Okay, but...

They want me out.

What do you me--all of them?

All of them.

But...

This ain't about me.

This is about you, Yana.

You're at the beginning of your career,

and if I were you...

I would choose Epic.

She'll do right by you.

♪

[upbeat hip-hop music playing over speakers]

♪

[crowd cheering]

Where's the coke?Hurry up.

That hers?

-Yeah.-Put it in her purse, hurry up.

-What? -Do it now, hurry up.

♪

Make sure that goes outwith her.

♪

What the hell were youthinking, man, cocaine?

-What, you're blaming me? -Who else, Quincy?

Andre, you gave me the coke!

That's impossible.

[suspenseful music]

♪

What am I supposed to dowith this?

Show her a good time.

♪

Trust me, she likes to party.

I mean, she doesn't go in and out of rehab

for the avocado toast.

♪

You're gonna do fine.

♪

What's my mom gonna say, man?

You don't say a thing about this to anybody.

It never happened,you understand me?

-But, Andre, she-- -Do you understand me?

Yes.

Good, come on.

There's a back exit.Let's go.

[melancholy music]

♪

So...

Lucious, I don't know what to do.

Well, well, well, somebody scrounge me up a drink.

I'm parched.

No, you're actually late, Cook.

You missed her performance.

Well, it's better late than never.

Ah, Becky tells me

you having the bigwigs up in here.

Well, I didn't wanna miss the party.

So I'm here to support my sisters.

-Go, Team Bossy. -Hey.

Yana, you're a very special talent.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We--we--we know that.

We know that. So, uh, Yana...

you belong at Bossy.

Well, um, all the other execs are in private rooms,

working out their final offer.

Maybe you shouldwrite something down.

That's really sweet, but they ain't here

to offer what I am.

Why don't you go collect them losers

and let's get this over with?

Excuse me. [sighs]

Yana, I may not be able to offer you

all the money thesemulti-conglomerates can,

but I'm hereto offer you something

that's worth more than money,honey, and that's control.

Wait a minute. What are you saying?

What I'm saying is thatI am here to offer you

what these snakes in the grass

could never grow the balls and offer you,

and that is 50-50.

And with Luciousproducing your project,

you also get100% creative control.

-Now, top that, bitches! -That's nonsense.

Cookie, you're out of your mind.

I just might be, but you're outof the Yana business, honey.

And--you so cute-- take the rest of them losers,

and y'all kick rocks.

I got this.Bye-bye.

Thank y'all for coming.

Yeah, thank youbut no, thank you.

Yana, you are special.

Thanks.

A talent like yours only comes

every once in a while...

and I know what to do with it.

So what you gonna do, Yana?

[uneasy music]

Ever since I met you, Cookie,

you've only spoken truth to me,and I appreciate that.

You're welcome.

And you definitely have your things going on

with Bossy and with Tea Talk...

and, um, you clearly get things done.

♪

-I believe in you. -You better.

[laughs] And I believe in Lucious too.

So with that said...

I would like to work with both of you.

But let's just get this understood now.

I will not be in the middle of your relationship, okay?

-There's no relationship. -It's kind of too late.

But hey...[muttering]

I just wanna keep it business, just music.

Can we agree to that?

Hey, that's what I'm hereto talk about, baby.

-Agreed. -Mm-hmm, cool.

-Welcome to Bossy, Yana. -[Yana squeals]

Thank you.

Mr. Lucious, you don't have to help.

Baby, I know that,but sometimes

everybody needsa little bit of help.

-JUANITA: Now, that is true. -[dishes clatter]

You know, Juanita, why don't you take

the rest of the night off?

-JUANITA: Are you sure? -LUCIOUS: Absolutely.

All right, thank you, sir.

You better finish them dishesfirst, you know?

-[laughter] -Thank you.

-Hi, Miss. -How you doing?

Okay.

You surprised me.

Oh, come on, Lucious.

You know damn well you're not surprised.

I know you're a big person,but the thing with Yana,

that was really, really big.

Hey, look, I said what I said, and I meant it.

I-I didn't have a problem with you

or your music or your talent.

I was just starting to doubt...us.

There is a difference.

Then that deserves a drink.

No, Lucious, I'm good.

No, the fact that we can get to a place

where we can just be grown folks like this,

that's worth drinking to.

-[cork pops] -[screams]

-[gunshot] -[Cookie panting]

Cook, what in the hell is wrong with you?

[dramatic music]

The thing that happened with Tracy,

you're gonna have to put that body behind you,

'cause she deserved that.

It's not Tracy.It's not...White Tracy.

♪

Then what is it?

♪

It's the White Tracy incident.

It's bringing somethingback to me

that--that I thoughtI buried a long time ago,

and it is killing me...

to keep it inside.

Whatever it is,

you know you can talk to me about it.

I don't care if it's about the boys or whatever.

It's not about the boys.

♪

Um...

it's about my sister Carol.

[ominous music]

[door clicks shut]

♪

Where the hell are you?

♪

Come out!

Show yourself!

No need to yell,little brother.

♪

[grunts]

[panting]

It's you, isn't it? Answer me!

Calm down, Andre.

♪

In regards to your question,yes, it's me,

your loving brother.

I'm doing the workthat you're too soft to do.

I'm not soft.

♪

Quincy could have gotten in serious trouble.

♪

Had to be done.

It's my show now, Andre.

Do you still not understand that?

This, all of this,

you in that chair,

I did that for you...

For us.

You don't appreciate my handiwork...

♪

But I'm pretty sure Teri does.

♪

[both moaning]

♪

[dramatic music]

♪

She said it was the best lay of her life.

You had no right.

Come on, Andre, when has Teri ever showed up

in the middle of the dayfor a little afternoon delight?

Shut up.

Got a beautiful woman on your hands, Andre.

-Shut up. -That little garter getup.

-What do you even do with that?-Enough!

♪

Why are you doing this?

♪

It's a simple concept...

that all Lyons understand: revenge.

Revenge for what?

See, you don't even think about her.

You pretend like she never existed.

Who?

My mother...

the woman you and your family killed.

♪

[dramatic hip-hop music]

♪

See the final episodes of Empire.

Tuesdays on Fox.