All language subtitles for verkiest02

Previously on Empire...

I can't rap, Tee.

I need some space
to get myself together.

- What are you doing here?
- I wanted the family to meet Kai.

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

I can handle two years.

I really needed that.
We make a good team, Kingsley.

Get off me!

We had his ass!

And our deal is just as dead as he is.

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

We started our own label.

That is Treasure,

and we just signed her.

To the Lyons.

You couldn't have known.

_ _

? And I woke up in a panic,
gotta get money ?

? Another day another dollar,
no it ain't runnin' ?

? Won't stop till I'm on top,
they be like, cold ?

- ? Never seen a chick so cold ?
- ? Nuh-uh ?

? Never even a whip so cold

? Tell me have you ever
seen a chick so cold? ?

- ? Yo.
- It's hot.

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

Huh?

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

- I might not.
- Okay, so,

- what is next?
- Uh, what's next

is you and me, tomorrow, back at it,

trying to find your next hit.

Yeah, 'cause the last thing
you want to do

is to have a song on radio

and not have a hit to follow up with.

- You just said on the radio?
- Yeah.

Hey, Tyree, you got us blocked off

for tomorrow like I asked, right?

You want a block, you got a block.

I'll add it to your bill.

I know y'all good for it.

Yeah, you know it.

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

What?

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

There is not a radio station
in the country

that is not dying
to break a new Empire...

...Lyon Family record.

- Good cover.
- Mm-hmm.

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

We just finished this.
And who's gonna be my promo guy?

Well, Treasure,

you are our first artist on the label,

so you get hands-on, one-on-one promo.

Right now you don't need
an army. What you need

is two hit men that's willing

to die for you and kill for you.

We gonna change your life, girl.

Hey, run that hit again.

? Usain gonna bolt,
gotta keep running ?

? Won't stop till I'm on top,
they be like, cold. ?

CEO of Empire.
I am so excited for you.

Be excited for both of us, Becky.

The minute we walk in that room

and Kelly makes that announcement,

I want you to know that I got you.

Girl, I know my work wife got me.

What do we call that?

Black Girl Magic.

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

Already? Before the announcement?

I don't believe in jinxes.
You got to claim what's yours.

Hmm. I thought Kingsley
was in Silicon Valley.

It's very sweet of him.

Probably came for the announcement.

- I like it a lot.
- Mm-hmm.

- Hi.
- Ladies. Just in time.

- Hey. So nice to see you.
- Good morning.

- Nice to see you again.
- Yeah.

- Champagne?
- Thank you.

Thank you.

- Giselle.
- Yes?

I can't thank you enough

for all the work you did
as interim CEO.

You are truly a team player.

On that note...

Everyone,

I'd like to make an announcement.

- It's happening.
- Closer.

Get in tight.

Join me as I toast
the new chief executive officer

of Empire Entertainment...

- My girl.
- ...Jeff Kingsley.

Giselle, can I count on you

to bring our boy up to speed?
All this music stuff is like

- a foreign language to guys like us.
- Well, thank you.

Of course.

Team player, right?

? Got a bad lil' mama,
and she always with the ... ?

? Put a hundred in my pocket,
then a hundred on the rims ?

? That's my lil' ...
that's-that's my lil' ... ?

? That's my lil' ... that's,
that's my lil' ... ?

? Put a red dress on her
and some gas for the trip ?

? Got a hundred in my pocket
and a couple on the tint... ?

Morning.

? That's my lil' ...
that's-that's my lil' ... ?

Am I to assume this is our new normal?

Uh, there's nothing normal about this.

? Tingle when it's fake ...
dreads swinging ?

? Like they did
the Harlem Shake, that's true ?

? West Coast till I D-I-E... ?

Man...

I can't...

Keem!

Get your stupid-ass leg...
Is that your chair?

Get you asses up, and go.

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

Marcel, get your little ass
out of my house.

And you...

- Ooh.
- Ooh.

Don't embarrass your ass right now.

Get your ass up there.

Wash your ass, get sobered up,

tell your stupid friends good-bye.

- We got somewhere to be.
- ? That's, that's my lil' ...

- Hey, let's go in the guest room.
- Get...

- You know better.
- You know better, too.

? That's my lil' ... ?

? That's-that's my lil' ... ?

? That's my lil' ...
that's-that's my lil' ... ?

Okay. I brought booze,

thinking that there'd be tears,

but this is healthy, too, I guess.

I don't cry at work.

A'ight, cool.

So what are you gonna do?

Kelly Patel made a big mistake
passing me up.

So after I take the knife...

out of my back...

I'm gonna nail Jeff Kingsley
to the wall!

Um...

Okay, girl, girl.

Take it easy.

Okay.

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

Yeah, Lucious, good to see you

putting in work again, man.
After all, you are the family

- that brought us Empire Entertainment.
- Exactly.

That's why we trying
to follow this legacy up

with, um, with an amazing artist.

I'll tell you, once you
play this song from her...

Yeah, we are, but before
we get into the future,

man, let's stay in the past
for a minute.

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

All right, real talk, baby.

You know, after doing
something for 20 years,

y-you realize that sometimes,
it's time for a change.

Now that's real talk.

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

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

And according to the streets,

you and Cookie just fell off
the face of the Earth,

because you let your boy Eddie Barker

just gorilla your whole company.

Come here.

You like your heart
being in your chest?

You trying to play me?

This is supposed to be an interview,

not me putting
my personal business on blast

like I'm on a reality show.

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

You and me, we had a deal.

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

I did my part, now play my song

and call your sister stations
up and down the coast.

You tell them to play it as well.

I can't do that, Lucious.

No disrespect. But if you're not
willing to give us some dirt

on what's really happening
with you and Cookie

- and the Lyons...
- What's happening?

This ain't about no damn dirt.

This is supposed
to be about music, man.

You know what's happening?

You had an opportunity to break
the next Whitney Houston.

You lost it.

_ _

- Look at you.
- "Wack ass show."

You giving somebody
a ass-whooping over the phone.

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

They don't want it with me.
That's for sure.

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

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

Lucious, they must have
forgot who we are.

- Baby...
- Let me send this.

- Come on.
- Troll.

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

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

I'll get this on the radio.
I got my boy Bakari,

who's been running
Lincoln University radio station

for 25 years.

I got this, I promise you.

Okay.

What's that for?

I need a reason?

Maybe I don't need one, either.

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

? On top of the world

? Yeah, power,
that's the only thing working ?

? Money and the power... ?

Joe, Joe, you're supposed
to be her manager.

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

Look, I don't mean to
be in your business,

but you an hour behind,
and this is a business.

- I know, I know.
- And I got Hootie and them

show up about 2:00, and if your
girl ain't gonna show, I mean,

we need to...

You know what? A'ight.

- A'ight, Cookie. You fam.
- A'ight.

You fam. I got...
I'll just push him, all right?

Mm.

Your girl need to tell me what's up.

She's not gonna show.

I'll put this on your tab, too.

Yeah, I know you will.

? That's the only thing working ?

? Money and the power, that's
the only thing working... ?

It's a wrap, fellas, she's not coming.

- Damn.
- ? On top of the world. ?

It's fine, everything's cool.

- What's up?
- What's up, B?

Gusto, please, man...

So I told you before, right?
Now crawl.

What you mean, man?

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

Ooh!

Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

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

You know his case, Miles.
He's innocent.

He shouldn't even be here.

You're almost out of here, Dre.

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

Crawl on over here, sister.

Hey, Gusto, who's your girl?

That's right. You better crawl.

? Do you love what you feel? ?

? 'Cause I love ?

? What you do to me ?

? Baby ?

? When you're holding me... ?

You messing with my money, Treasure.

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

Cookie, it's not just a job. Okay?

I'm paying my bills.

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

And my daddy keeps telling me
I cannot run away

from reality for a dream.

You know, my daddy put food
on the table for three girls,

with nothing but his toolbox

and his bare, scarred, rough hands.

And when I told my daddy

I was leaving to pursue my dreams,

he put his face in those
same hands and he cried.

And you know what's unfortunate?

He passed away
before he got to find out

how I took every lesson
he taught me about hard work

and I applied it to something
that woke my soul:

music.

I see greatness in you, sis.

You call me when you see it
in yourself.

Have a good day with your day job.

Yeah, there you go. Let's go.

Aw, hell yeah.

All three of the Lyon brothers
in one room?

This is dope. Now, we The Yard Boys.

Check it out.
Show 'em what we got, fellas.

? Hey, look ?

? Hey, hey, yo, we walk hard
in da yard ?

? 'Cause we talk hard,
plus I know my way ?

? Around dat green like a golf cart ?

? I'm so dedicated, incarcerated ?

? But educated,
I was restless, reckless ?

? So I made a checklist ?

? Check me and I'm-a wear
your bones as a necklace. ?

All right.

Yeah.

For real.

- Gratitude, gratitude.
- Gentlemen...

- Gratitude.
- ...I'm with my family.

- Oh, my fault, dawg.
- Much respect, baby. - Oh, my-my bad.

So what's up with the visit?

I'm out of here in a few.
What, y'all miss me that much?

- I actually do.
- I don't.

And yet here you are, baby boy.

- First time in a while, too.
- You right.

I don't know why
I'm here seeing somebody

who killed my daughter's mother.

- Would you stop that?
- No.

Seriously.

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

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

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

- No, I'm good.
- Oh, really?

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

You know homeboy
likes to tote a gun now.

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

Lots... lots of guns.

Yeah, you one of them tough guys

who likes to throw rocks
at the prison wall

until they finally let you in.

Coming from an actual convict,
that's deep.

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

'Cause both of us love you, Hakeem.

'Cause you our little brother.

'Cause you all screwed up
and you need help.

You're a knucklehead, Hakeem,

but you can be strong
if you set your mind to it.

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

Oh, you ain't care about my baby
when you killed her mother!

- Stop that right now.
- No, no, no, no.

He's-he's right. I deserve that.

Like Anika deserved what she got.

Are you serious?

Okay.

Let me get this right.

My daughter got no mother
'cause my brother killed her.

And while I'm in the hospital
recovering for months...

you was nowhere to be found.

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

Yeah.

I got one more question.

Why am I here?

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

Thank you for coming.
You are our family.

Um...

well, I know that I haven't
put out that much music

since Eddie shoved me.

- First things first, I'm not Eddie.
- Uh-uh.

Eddie's philosophy was old-school.

So old-school.

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

Your kids, your life experience...

those things differentiate you
in an overcrowded market.

Absolutely.

Why hide what you
should be celebrating?

- Let's celebrate you.
- Right?

Right?

Celebrate how?

Who watches Bella and little Prince

when you're in the studio?

You know my kids' names?

- Duh.
- Of course I do.

Don't worry,

I'll direct HR
to set up on-site day care.

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

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Show me who you really are.

I believe the music
will flow from there.

? I'm just trying to do my own thing ?

? Making somethin' out of nothin' ?

? Yeah ?

? I'm just trying to do
my own thing... ?

Peace, brother.

Peace to you, sister.

Salaam, brother Lucious.

Salaam alaikum, my man.

So, uh, brother Lucious,

about that record you want us to play.

All due respect, we can't do it.

We have a curated set list.

Okay.

You play my record,

and I'll give you an on-air

exclusive interview

as to the meaning behind
"A Child is Born."

The "A Child is Born" song?
You never talked about that.

Nor will I ever talk about it again.

But you got to play my record.

You first.

So, um...

the doctor, he walked out,

and I'm left standing there,

watching, uh,

Cookie sleep on the hospital bed.

And then all these thoughts
kept coming through my head

about what if

I had gotten her to the hospital

in time and our baby girl
had lived, um...

What if my oldest child,

my firstborn,

was that baby girl?

You know, what if she didn't breathe

her first and last breath on that day?

What if I could turn back the time

and see my girl being born?

Hmm.

I remember thinking at the time

that if Cookie and I

could make it through
something like that,

then we could, um...

we can get through anything, you know?

So, our word is bond, Lucious.

Tell us about your new artist.

Well, I could tell you
about a treasure,

but it's so much better
to see it for yourself.

A'ight, so, without

further ado, the Culture Freedom show

brings you the world premiere

of the Lyon family music artist...

Treasure.

? I don't need your attitude ?

? Don't want your goofy-ass man
with the busted shoes ?

? I'm walking in bossed up,
got a lot to prove ?

? I'm breaking necks with
the way that my body moves ?

? I know they asking,
"Who's that chick ?

? With all the confidence?" ?

? Step into the room
like she owning this ?

? I'm coming for your check,
I'm-a garnish it ?

? I don't want a piece,
I want all of this. ?

_ _

- Reservation under Lyon.
- Mm-hmm.

Uh, Treasure's song is already

the most-requested song
at the radio station.

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

Yeah, Sway's been blowing
up my phone all day

begging to be part of her
next exclusive, apologizing...

Hey, dude, why am I
still standing here?

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

changed the reservation to her name.

- Mrs. Barker?
- Uh-huh.

Oh, hell no.

Cooks.

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

- What are you doing here?
- Oh, don't blame Treasure.

I made an offer she couldn't refuse

and she's an Empire artist now.

You thieving bitch.
And you fell for this, Treasure?

All money is not good money, okay?

You are worth more than some advance

this snake could offer you.

All they are going to do is pair you

with half-assed producers
with no beats

who don't know who you are.

Look, guys,
I'm not signing with Empire

because of the sales pitch.

You told me yourself, Cookie,

you said, "Don't be afraid
of real success."

And, look, I'm sorry.

Making music in your living room
was really cute,

but Empire just has
the resources to make me a star.

That company is being run
by a tech dude

who knows nothing about music,

and neither does this dried-up bird.

Don't forget,
we're the ones that built

Empire from the ground up.

We know how to make stars,

and we also know how
to tear 'em out of the sky.

Remember that little contract
you signed with us?

We're gonna sue your ass.

If you do that I'm gonna
pull you into years of litigation,

legal fees... both of which
we know you don't have the time

or the resources to handle.
Do you really want to do that?

Look, I will write you
a check for all...

Keep your check, bitch.

Come on, baby.

? Oh, oh, heh ?

? Oh ?

? I'm usually impatient ?

? Don't like to waste my time ?

? I can tell the first night ?

? If it's right ?

? I don't usually say this ?

? But I think that I might ?

? I think you got me for life ?

? It feels right ?

? 'Cause loving you is easy ?

? Like a summer day ?

? Fun without the games ?

? You're good for me, oh, baby ?

? Loving you is easy ?

? We do it every night ?

? It's like paradise
that just you and I ?

? Oh, baby ?

? No, no ?

? No, no, no, no, no, no ?

- ? Yeah, mm. ? - Mm.

Sounding good, babe.

Kai, my family needs me.

They do, I know.

I know.

I just... I need to stay in New York

for a few months.

- Months.
- Yeah, but listen.

You know, I would, I would expect...

or I would hope...

you know, that you'd
stay here with me.

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

We do, we do.

London's home, you know?

I'm not trying to mess with that.

I don't want you to, either.

So while you're helping
your family here,

what do you propose I do?

Babe, what do you always do? Work.

Come on, you got, like,
a million and one

journalist friends here in New York.

Invite them to brunch or drinks.

You know, just...

A few months?

That means three.

- Not four.
- Not four.

- Maybe two.
- Three.

- All right.
- Thank you.

Laboratory edition,
signature series torque wrench,

the kind used by Caltech
high-energy physicists

and NASA engineers.

Well, in that case,

how could you be sure that's accurate?

Because a split-second before...

What did I say about popping
off without permission?

- Hmm?!
- Yo, Gusto. Gusto.

- Mind your damn business.
- Okay, let's talk business then.

Okay? Leave Quincy alone and-and

when I'm out of here,
you got everything in my locker.

Everything?

Even my burner phone.

Okay. Okay.

Here's my counteroffer.

I take everything in your locker,

including your phone.

I take princess here
until I'm done with him

and I do it while you still in here.

That work for you? Huh?

Hey, no. Hey, move.

- Now.
- Let's go.

Keep it moving.

Dead-on balls accurate?

Somebody's

- listening to my calls.
- Uh-uh, uh-uh.

I have to tell Juanita
about running up

this damn electricity bill.

I wanted to slap the yellow

off of Giselle's ass.

Knock them green eyes

right to the back of her head.

You probably would've,

if your feet wasn't killing you.

Give them to me.

So now what, Cook?

It's just you and me, kid.
Back to square one.

Baby.

It's my old office.

Answer it.

Yeah, who this?

It's Kingsley.

- What?
- Kingsley. He wants to meet.

Hey, well, hold on. Slow down, man.

First, why?

Cookie.

Lucious.

So glad you came.

Took the liberty of ordering for you.

Well, you left out the watermelon.

Probably wondering why
I asked you to meet me here.

It better not be to gloat

because Empire stole Treasure
from up under our noses, Jeff.

My apologies.

Giselle acted unilaterally.

And please, call me Kingsley.

My friends do.

I'm not your friend.

Why should we believe you, Jeff?

Because I respect you both,
which is why we're here,

a place that's symbolic
of my plans for Empire.

Hey, you know,
based on your background...

I mean, a Boy Scout, prep schools,

sold your first app while
you were still at Stanford.

And then you became
Kelly Patel's Littlefinger.

Nothing in that resume suggests

that you have a hint
of what it takes to make plans

for my Empire.

I want to take Empire
back to its roots.

- Oh.
- Eddie Barker... rest in peace...

he messed up when he cut you out.

Look, as long as
an outsider has the keys,

hell could freeze over.
We ain't never coming back.

Home. That's what it is, your home.

You built the place.

A couple of hard-knock kids
from North Philly

start a little label
and conquer the music business?

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

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

Family.

Every family

needs a matriarch and a patriarch.

I'm offering you

chairman and chairwoman emeritus.

What do you mean, a figurehead?

- Oh.
- I'll cut you a check

to come to a few key events,

shake a few shareholder hands.

Best of all, your face back
on the Empire logo, Lucious,

where it belongs.

Cookie...

Lucious...

please come home.

_ _

I swear I take a drink
every single time

Bryson has to remind me
that he's Kai's ex.

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

Just remember you're here
to get your man a job

in New York City so we can
keep having brunch like this.

- You're right.
- Also, didn't you say

that you was gonna let me listen
to some new music?

'Cause I feel like you said that.

- I ain't never said that. No Empire talk.
- You said...

Leave me alone.

You've changed since you
came back from London.

It's not like you've taken
any real assignments

- since Jamal domesticated you.
- Oh, man.

Okay, there you go.
That's not true. Right, babe?

My new life with you is my choice.

I'm happy.

Yeah, but it's a pity, though.

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

Some child trafficking in Mogadishu.

Babe, that's amazing.

That's a chance to get to do
some great work with kids

- in third world countries.
- "Third world" is a...

colonialist term.

- A colonizer would know.
- Yeah, man,

is there an issue that we're not...

I-I think he means cut the crap

and don't speak to my man
like that again.

- Yeah, come on.
- Sorry.

- Thank you.
- Maybe I was being a little extra.

I'll stand down.

But I know you, Kai.

You're tempted.

I suppose it depends
on who's shooting.

Me.

Just like old times.

You sure?

Are you gonna help me out or not?

I got you, Dre.

And then I'm looking like,
how come when I said

about staying in New York,
you had to think about it...

which I understand...
but then, the second that old

what's-his-bitch-ass Bryson
mentions a job or whatever,

then all of a sudden you're intrigued.

Wait, what are you trying to say?

I'm saying I want to make
sure that you're intrigued

with staying in New York with
me and not with his ass.

Wait, wait, hang on.
Are you kidding right now?

Let's remember, Jamal,
this whole scenario

was your idea, not mine.

I know your history.

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

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

Either you trust me or you don't.

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

Yo, my parents birthed
this place, man!

- Sir...
- Y'all gonna let me in.

Up out of here, man. What's up?

- Hakeem.
- Peanut head.

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

Gun!

Oh, my... What's going on? Stop!

- Get off me, little man!
- Let him go!

What y'all looking at?

Are you drunk?

Come on, you with the preaching, too?

I miss you. I'm here to see my kids!

- You're not gonna see your kids.
- Yeah, where my kids at?!

Touch me one more time
and I'll have them

All right, little girl.

- Carry your drunk ass up out of here.
- Okay.

Go, now.

- All right, little girl.
- Leave.

- ? What?
- ? Say it's for Mikey ?

? I just took it like a man

? And I ain't worried
what you wasn't ?

? I just took it like a man

? Forever grinding
'cause it doesn't ever stop ?

? I just took it like a man.

I'm a genius!

From now
on, they'll have to refer to me

as Sid, Lord of the Flame.

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

You scared you gonna miss me?

Down! Back up! Back up!
Against the wall!

Let's go.

Keem, Tiana called us.

Boy, let us help you.

- I'm a'ight.
- No, you're not all right,

walking around toting guns and
drinking like they paying you.

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

Boy, I will take
this bottle and bust you...

Honey, honey, baby, baby.

Listen, man.

I see you, Hakeem.

I know you think that I don't,

but I see you.

And I know exactly what this is about.

- You're afraid right now.
- I ain't scared.

You are. You're afraid that you're not

gonna be as good as you were before.

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

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

Afraid that everybody
was gonna think that,

"Hey, Lucious is some washed-up rapper

that had his little 15 minutes
of fame and now it's gone."

You think me and your mama
don't know about loss,

heartache,

disappointment and pain?

Music is all I know.

Come home.

Okay?

Co... Just come home.

We'll work it all out.

Just for a couple days, man.

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

Okay.

Our family needs us.

We gon' take that Kingsley deal.

_ _

- Hey, Miss Juanita.
- Hello. How you doing, sweetie pie?

I'm good. How you doing?

- Ugh.
- See it didn't take much

for your raggedy ass to settle in.

I see it didn't take
for you to come here

- and get some free breakfast.
- Uh...

your mother and your father
invited me, stupid.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Look, in other news,

I'm-a stay a little while.

Might give me a chance to, you know,

get you back on track with your music.

If you down.

Let me think about it.

Think about it.

Ma!

It's good to see my boys laughing

and you snitching.

- That mean you feeling better.
- Mm-hmm.

Listen, y'all,

um, your mother and I
have made a decision.

We decided we're gonna
go back to Empire.

Y'all, why?

- It don't make no sense.
- Okay,

- look, look, look, boys.
- You already know what I think.

This is the best choice
for this family, okay?

Yeah, now, they're throwing
a little "welcome home"

get-together in the lobby
of Empire later on tonight.

- Thank you, Juanita.
- Thank you.

Me and your mother
thought it would be good

if we go down there
as a family and just

- do it together, as a family.
- Yes.

- Okay?
- Oh, we got choices now?

- No, you do not.
- We don't never get no choice.

- No, you do not.
- Okay. So it's... Okay.

- Good.
- I guess it is.

Boy, don't you talk back.

? I never reply when you hit me ?

? I'm off the grid, you can't get me ?

? Secure the bag like Gucci

? Ya see me racked up, can't miss me ?

? I never go down with my hands up ?

? ... The rounds,
we pour another cup... ?

I have something really
incredible I want to show you.

? Jet Black... ?

- There's a lot of new faces.
- Yeah.

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

- A what?
- I mean a glass of cranberry juice.

- Oh, okay.
- ? Stack it up, Jet Black... ?

Mm.

I got him. Uh, y'all do your thing.

I put this thing here
for everybody to see.

Wow, so this is home now, huh?

It's our tribute to the old days.

The original Lyon throne.

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

As long as he
signs the checks, Lucious...

we're fine.

? ... Gone... ?

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

? Now you want to blow up my life ?

? Running out of luck ?

? Running out of everything
we need this time ?

? Do what you want to do... ?

- I'm sorry.
- No.

No, me too.

Um...

I'm staying in New York, but...

You're taking the job with Bryson.

Yeah.

? 'Cause I'm the same as you ?

? Keep going on and on... ?

?

Enjoying your homecoming?

To be honest with you, uh,

it's strange, it...

Just, something
feels different around here.

You've outgrown it.

You and Cookie can focus on your boys

while I take care
of the babysitting here.

- Babysitting?
- Of course.

You and me both know these artists...

these so-called artists...

don't understand
that their true purpose

is to contribute to our bottom line.

They're spoiled.

You're done with all that.

You know, when I created this place,

I did it because...

I loved the music, and-and...

- I loved those babies.
- Yeah?

They are the bottom line
of this place.

They're the purpose behind it.

Now, if you don't understand that,

how in the world can you and me
be working together?

All these people and press are here

so that we can announce your return.

Okay, here's what's gonna happen.

Not only are you and sweet Cookie

going to accept my terms,

but you're going to do it with
big-ass smiles on your faces.

And if I don't?

I'm gonna walk out there

and announce that the Lyons...

the big, scary Lyons...

are broke.

They're old.

And they're done.

Choice is yours.

Ladies and gentlemen,

tonight, we are introducing to you

Empire's latest musical discovery,

Treasure!

_ _

? Never seen a girl like me ?

? They'll never put a hold on me ?

? No, I ?

? I'll do it alone ?

? I'll do it on my own ?

? Nothing ever comes easy ?

? They told me it was just a dream ?

? But I ?

? I'm-a prove 'em wrong ?

Are you talking to me?

Girl, please.

? Scree, I don't need your attitude ?

? Don't want your goofy-ass man
with the busted shoes ?

? I'm walkin' in bossed up,
got a lot to prove ?

? I'm breakin' necks with
the way that my body moves ?

? I know they askin',
"Who's that chick ?

? With all the confidence?" ?

? Step into the room
like she owning this ?

? I'm coming for your check,
I'm-a garnish it ?

? I don't want a piece,
I want all of this ?

? And I woke up in a panic,
gotta get money ?

? Another day, another dollar,
no, it ain't funny ?

? Usain gonna bolt,
gotta keep runnin' ?

? Won't stop till I'm on top,
they be like ?

? Cold ?

? Never seen a chick so cold ?

? Never seen a whip so cold ?

? Tell me, have you ever seen
a chick so cold? ?

? They be like, "No, we never
seen a chick so cold" ?

- ? Never seen a chain so gold
- ? Bling ?

? Never seen a wrist so froze ?

? Diamonds on my neck all glow ?

? Ice like I'm from the North Pole ?

? Never seen a chick so cold, yo ?

Treasure is about to be
the jewel in Empire's crown ?

Patel's gonna know he made a mistake,

and that I can do something
that you can't do.

He also knows that you went
behind my back to sign her

- just to one-up me.
- One-up you?

Jeff, I work my ass off.

I deserve the CEO job
that you stole from me.

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

You know what, smarty pants?

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

- That's what you think of me?
- Oh, that's what I know.

I'm not going anywhere, Giselle.

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

Please. What, as your groupie?

As my right hand.

? They be like, no... ?

I won't beg.

Take some time.

Think about if you want to stay or go.

? Diamonds on my neck all glow ?

? Ice like I'm from the North Pole ?

? Never seen a chick so cold ?

? I'm so cold ?

? So cold ?

? So ?

? Shining my light, I'm the best ?

? Never seen nobody like me. ?

Treasure, ladies and gentlemen!

Treasure! Let's hear it!

Fantastic.

Congratulations. Well done.

A new voice that we are
very proud to welcome

to the Empire family.

Speaking of family...

let's welcome the Lyons.

Welcome them home!

?

? Bang, bang, bang, bang ?

? Boom, boom, boom, boom ?

Lucious Lyon,

come on up.

? Boom, boom, boom, boom ?

? Bang, bang, bang, bang. ?

Where is he?

Oh, there he go!

There's the man.

? Boom, boom, boom, boom ?

? Boom, boom, boom, boom ?

? Boom, boom, boom, boom ?

? Bang, bang, bang, bang. ?

Wow. How y'all doing? Um...

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

Um, I'm Lucious,
but I'm nothing without Cookie

and Jamal and Hakeem,
and even though Andre

can't be with us here tonight
on this joyous occasion...

Come on up, y'all.
Give 'em a round of applause.

Cookie... you trust me, baby?

Yes.

No, honestly.

I said do you trust me, baby?

- What's this about?
- Do you trust me?

- Yes. Yes.
- Okay.

Y'all trust me?

All right, I'm gonna ask everybody,

let-let's sit down and get comfortable

and have a family conversation,

if that's okay.

Please. Baby, sit down.

Thank you so much.

Now, I know that you guys

have heard rumors that

the Lyons are broke.

Well, I'm here to tell you

that those aren't rumors.

It's the gospel truth.

We are broke as hell.

We spent every penny we had

fighting to get Empire back.

But that's over.

Like the Bible said,
there's a time to seek,

and there's a time to give up as lost.

So we have to think about
moving into the future.

And, unfortunately,
this place ain't it.

What?

You see, record labels like this one

are nothing but dinosaurs.

And Jeff Kingsley is nothing
but a number cruncher

who have no respect for the musicians

or the music that they produce.

What did you call them?
Um, you called them

spoiled babies.

All he wants to do

is take you for whatever he can

for as long as he can.

But I know that the real power
lies in the artist,

because you have
the ability to create.

So I'm going to offer you...
anyone signed at Empire

who don't want some tech nerd

dancing in their video,

who wants to know
their real value in this market

and their real power...

I'm gonna ask you to come
and step up with us,

the Lyons,

and let us walk you into the future

with our brand-new management
company and production company,

where we're going to put you first

and you first and you first,

and your music first.
We're out of here.

Come on, baby.

We good?

We're better than good.

Amen.

You're making a mistake, Lucious.

But it feels so right.

Um... the limo's out front.

Who you want to ride with?

I'm riding alone, man.

Okay.

Are you kidding me?

This is a funeral. The man's grieving.

We understand that,

but we need to talk to him.

Now.

_ _