Empire

Previously on Empire...

Happy birthday, Hakeem!

Kennedy!

As of this minute, your channel is shut down.

- (clears throat) - What's that?

You getting that ALS again?

I have myasthenia gravis.

You thinking about doing some business in Vegas?

I hate Vegas,

but we get this anonymous tip.

You sure you don't know nothing about this?

No.

Cookie, I did not snitch on you.

But there's one thing Tariq will take if you let him: me.

I've been trying to get to Lucious Lyon a long time.

And you can't touch him, but I can.

There you go.

- Where is Lucious? - Upstairs.

I've never seen him this bad, Doc.

Let's go.

Now, you let this go untreated

and it can be life-threatening, Lucious.

: I'm not going to no ICU.

Lucious, please.

Please listen to what he's saying.

Whatever you got to do,

you're gonna do it right here.

That is crazy.

- In my house. Listen to me.

He doesn't want to leave the house.

He doesn't want to go to a hospital.

Okay, so... But we got all the equipment

to create an ICU environment here, right?

So, medically speaking,

if you could do it, just do it.

Even with all the right equipment, it's illegal.

Legalities? Doc, relax.

I'm an officer of the court.

I'll make sure you're protected and well-compensated.

Just get it done.

Okay, let's get it done.

We're gonna have to put a tube down your throat

so the machine can breathe for you,

and we're gonna give you your shot

to keep you as comfortable as possible.

Okay.

All right, guys, put the vent over there

and set up portable suction.

Let's get set up to intubate.

- Get them out of here. Listen.

Let's give the doctors some room, okay, Gran?

He's gonna be okay.

I need you to... watch my family.

Watch your family, got it.

There's snakes in my family.

Okay. I got you.

Just try and breathe as normally as possible.

I promise you, I'm gonna keep my eye on the family.

All right? No one's gonna make any moves on you, Lucious.

I got your back.

A'ight, so this is "Dangerous,"

and it's gonna be the first track

on When Cookie Met Lucious.

The reason why we're on it together

is because the album is a narrative

from my parents' relationship

that started off beautiful

and it kind of ended up bad.

But the first video, Negin,

it needs to really give off the idea

of that "do anything, crazy-ass love" situation.

See, no.

I've been there, done that,

and I got the credit score to prove it.

But you see what I'm saying, though?

Like, the fans need to feel that.

They need to feel the passion, or else they won't understand

when the album unravels

and turns tragic.

And you guys know I'm down for whatever you want to do.

I'm into it. And I'm happy it's up-tempo.

Can I dance a bit in it?

Your ass just want to dance. Just get it, get it, get it.

Our concept for the video is idealized young love

with you and Delphine

as Lucious and Cookie,

showing us what that crazy, mad love looks like.

Well, team, we have a new production date.

We gonna shoot this baby tonight.

Tonight? Tonight?

- Cut the music. - (music stops)

Turns out your slimy father caught some nasty virus

and he can't get out of bed.

It's probably the skeevies.

- Ma. - Anyway, if we move fast,

we could release a teaser this week on XStream

before he finds out and blocks it.

While that man is laid up in the bed.

That is unnecessarily shady, Mom.

Come on.

Did he pump the breaks on Inferno

when you were laid up in rehab,

trying to recover, after you took

a bullet for his dirty ass?

Huh?

So now I am the sole healthy CEO,

and I have the power to make this all happen.

All right, well, just a teaser, okay? Just a teaser.

- You know, to get people hyped. - Like "Formation" did

for Lemonade.

And like Frank did with the woodworking loop on Endless.

Hmm.

You know you love it. Go ahead.

Look, boy, I bared my soul for you to tell this story.

It better be good.

Do you hear me?

I got you, Ma.

Okay. Make me proud.

Okay.

I love that Afro, girl.

Hey, come on, y'all.

Sheesh. All right.

My client, Kennedy Marshall, was assaulted inside an Empire club

by a member of an Empire artist's crew at an event

sponsored by Empire's own streaming service.

This suited bitch is trippin'.

Clamp your lips, boy.

Turn it up, Porsha. Let's see what they after.

This isn't about money.

It's about making sure that no other woman

has to go through what I went through.

We are suing Empire Enterprises for $50 million.

We are also demanding that Hakeem Lyon

cancel all upcoming club appearances

and issue a public apology to Kennedy

and to all women for the culture of violence

and misogyny he and his music encourages.

This is way out of control.

Does Dad know about this?

Well, he does now.

- Bring your ass, boy. - (groans)

I didn't do nothing.

Shut up.

Dre, I don't even think I have enough songs for a full set.

And Giuliana wants me to open in Vegas in two months.

I don't want you to worry about this, Nessa.

Look, this is gonna be Empire's top priority.

You got me working for you, you got Shine working for you.

And you're sure Giuliana wants me to headline the show?

I'll handle Giuliana, okay?

- All right. - It's a big deal for her

to be in business with Empire, but she doesn't suffer fools.

Well,

all fools have their place.

May I?

- Please. - Giuliana.

Would you mind getting me a drink?

I'm parched.

Single malt, right?

See? Not a fool in sight.

Oh, that is one fine man you have there.

Thank you.

We're, uh... we're actually moving in together.

Oh. Well, that's cute.

So how does that work, with your hookups?

Do you bring them home together now?

Wh-What do you mean, hookups?

Well, Dre told me about your arrangement.

And, at first, I was a little surprised,

but now I'm actually intrigued.

You know, I was wondering maybe...

I could come and hang out with the two of you.

I don't know. But only if you're comfortable with that.

I'm sorry, Giuliana, I don't... I don't follow.

You know, I remember when I met my husband.

Ugh, I was so in love with him.

I could never imagine sharing him with another woman.

But...

I guess times have changed.

Here you go.

Ah.

Single malt.

Yes, it is.

To new beginnings.

Cheers.

Yes, honey, you are taking me back with that hair.

- Girl, you did that. Thanks, Cookie.

Um, I need to know how you fell in love.

I mean, how do you fall in love with someone like Lucious?

Tell her how you fell in love with that gorgeous scoundrel.

- Oh, stop it, boy. - (chuckles)

Swing around, guys. We'll get this. Film her.

Well, the song isn't just about love at first sight.

It's about... a lifetime, about the risks

two people take when their lives

and their destinies cross.

It was always about the music.

Lucious's music was the very air that I breathed.

It was the blood

pumping through my veins.