-The Lyons are hitting back on Empire. -(shouts)
-May we rise. -Like we always do.
Catch all-new episodes Wednesdays.
And check out our other Fox programs--
Star, 9-1-1, and The Resident.
That's a win-win.
Only on Fox.
Previously on Empire...
Empire showed me a whole nother world.
And I turned it down. You guys made me feel
-like I was home. -It kills me
not to be able to protect my son in there.
If you want it, it's yours. It's a new song.
I'll record it with you, but it's just for us.
We haven't heard anything from Kai in 48 hours.
-They found his wallet and his cell phone. -No, Ma.
NEWSWOMAN: We continue to track the latest information
regarding missing reporter Kai Givens,
who has now been missing for five days.
I can't even imagine my life without him.
You know, when I had my heart attack,
you know what kept me alive?
Your crazy-ass sons?
(chuckles) Yeah, of course my babies did,
but it was your father's face.
Yeah, knowing I had that kind of love
to come back to kept me fighting,
and that kind of love is gonna keep Kai fighting, too.
Mark my word.
I hope so.
NEWSWOMAN: ...for what has happened to this news team,
-and there have been no demands for ransom. -(phone ringing)
Answer. (scoffs)
Answer the phone, boy. Here.
Hello?
Okay.
Okay, yeah.
Understood.
Thank you.
They found Kai. (chuckles)
(laughs): I told you, boy! Come here.
So they brought him back. They brought him back here.
-Yes. -He's-he's at the hospital.
* Trust in love... *
I'm telling you, Jackson, you ain't heard talent like this
since back in the day when you was still my intern.
(scoffs) That was a long time ago, Lucious.
Back when dripping a Lyon chain around your neck
made you somebody.
-(chuckles) -It's true, though.
Devon's got what I'm looking for,
but a demo ain't enough anymore, Lu.
Wait, since when?
I mean, talent, true talent, that don't change.
This kid?
No. Devon. Remember that.
He lucky you backing him.
-Otherwise he'd get lost in the shuffle. -(music stops)
Hit me up when you got more for me to hear.
You know, actually, um, we're hosting
this listening party this Friday.
Um, thought I'd come by here and give you first crack at him
since you and me go way back, but we can do it your way.
I'm-a have a couple other industry folk there,
and I tell you, this might get real cutthroat
when y'all see him perform live, so bring your best offer, man.
ANDRE: It's been two years, gentlemen.
Fratres, usque in sempiternum.
-Uh. -Ah.
-ALL: Frat brothers forever. -(chuckles)
How you doing, man? It's been a minute.
Yeah, that's what happens when you get locked up.
(chuckles) I'm kidding.
Damn, you'd think you all just got out from serving time.
Come on now, loosen up.
Andre Lyon is in the building with you guys. Come on, now.
Heard you getting back into the family business.
Yeah, you know, it's like a start-up.
Everybody's pitching in and hanging in there
till we get into the black.
Do you need us to throw some consulting cases your way?
With my record, that might be complicated.
Come on, we all know you're not a real criminal.
Yeah, my-my conviction's pretty real.
Yeah, but you're not one of these dangerous animals
they need to just lock up and throw away the key.
(chuckles) Well, uh...
not everybody in there is an animal, you know?
Yeah, yeah, but you are one of us.
-To Andre. -Andre.
Cheers.
-Hi. Uh, Kai Givens. -Right over there.
He's right there, Mom.
-Kai. Hey. You okay? -Hey.
(chuckles)
Come here.
-You okay? -Yeah, I'm all right.
Yeah.
Oh, my God.
(whispers): Thank goodness.
(crying): It's so good to see you.
-Baby. -Can I see that smile?
-Oh, come on. (chuckles) -Can I see that smile, please?
-That's what got me home. -COOKIE: I told you.
-Didn't I tell you that? -She literally did.
-(laughs): She did. -Don't you scare my baby like that again.
-Never. I promise. (chuckles) -Okay.
-(chuckles) Welcome back, sweetheart. -Thank you.
-What happened? What happened? -Me and my crew got ambushed.
Th-They were chasing us, and I-I don't know how,
but we escaped and then made it across the border.
-Ooh, look at you, a hero. -(laughter)
Hate to interrupt, but, uh, if you give us the room,
I'll wrap this up and you can have him all to yourself.
-Yeah. -No, no, nah, no, no. Don't worry about it, Doc.
This-this is family.
-Come on. -Your arm laceration is minor.
The stitches should dissolve within the week.
Your labs came back.
Your viral load is slightly elevated.
It's to be expected.
You've been off your HIV meds,
and your immune system was fighting
to keep your wound from getting infected.
We'll have your viral load levels
back to undetectable in no time.
Uh, excuse me. Yeah, hey, Jamal.
Let's give them some privacy.
Yeah, yeah. I love you.
-I love you, too. -I love you.
All right. Okay.
(Jamal chuckles)
(sighs)
Why is that doctor saying all those words in there
like Kai has HIV?
Oh, um...
um, 'cause Kai does have HIV, Mom.
(sighs) What?
Okay, so you just gonna let him get you sick?
-Are you sick, Jamal? -No, Mom.
Kai's undetectable when he's on his meds,
which makes it almost impossible to transmit the virus,
and I'm on PrEP.
PrEP? What the hell is that? Are you prepping to die?
It's for people like me who are HIV-negative
so that we don't get infected.
This ain't something new, Ma.
It ain't like it's just for the gays.
So you acting like ain't no side effects, huh?
What do you know?
Wh-What is this stuff doing to your body?
I do. And, yes, there are.
But I made the decision as a grown man
to do what I have to do to live a healthy life
with the man that I love.
Now, I'm done talking about my sex life.
Kai's home, Mom. That's amazing.
-Please do not ruin this. -Mm-hmm.
Better to ruin one moment than the rest of your life.
He is my life.
Hey. You okay?
Yeah, of course.
*
"Everything you need to know about living with HIV"?
Uh... (sighs) Can you not roll up on me like that?
Well, you invited us over
to help plan Devon's listening party.
Three days ain't much time.
I'm not lifting a finger until you explain...
-why were you googling HIV? -Okay, first of all, zip it.
Can you keep your voice down?
Second of all, I'm just trying
to figure out if I'm gonna sign this artist
who has AIDS, that's all.
CAROL: Oh, wow.
Ooh, ooh.
Really?
Um, w-what's this bruise? What happened?
What bruise? Let me see.
(gasps)
CAROL: We saw you and Kevin fighting the other day.
CANDACE: Oh, please. My husband wouldn't dare.
(sighs) Things just got a little rowdy at spin class, that's all.
Oh, so do you spin with your hands or your feet?
I'm confused.
CANDACE: Back to this artist.
Cook, don't do it. You can't trust those people.
Oh, here she go with her judgmental ass.
Did I tell y'all about the scandal
that happened at my church this past year?
-Uh, no, and I don't have time. -Nope, not interested.
-Ooh, my pastor... -Oh, my God.
...he was caught sleeping with a few good men
and passed on AIDS to the first lady.
God rest her soul.
We black women, we're the ones that are dying from this.
The hell this got to do with the artist?
Those people that catch this disease are reckless
-and just irresponsible. -Please, stop.
CAROL: "Those people" are human.
-Where's your compassion? -All I'm saying is, Cook,
why risk exposing your brand-new company and your family to this?
-(kissing) -(Tiana giggles)
Oh, my gosh.
I have to get up. I have to get up. (chuckles)
Babe. So, you know that thing
with Kai missing, got me thinking
that our time is precious together, every second.
Let me.
Princess.
So, you agree? I can move back in?
Hold on. We're not back together.
But we should be. I'm not drinking or fighting.
I know.
(chuckles) Look, I can't do this right now.
I have to get my pitch ready for Kingsley.
Have to.
Walking around with that gun on your hip
is not gonna bring back what we lost.
You understand that, right?
-(Tiana laughing) -(Hakeem grunting playfully)
-(R&B music playing) -Oh. -Ah.
TIANA: Guys are so silly.
HAKEEM: The Realtor's still waiting for us
-to put our offer in. -Do you think that this is
the right time?
Eddie practically sidelined me.
HAKEEM: We need a big enough space for our babies,
somewhere we could be together and be safe.
(gasps softly) You want to come feel, Bella?
-Okay, ooh. You feel it? -HAKEEM: Love you.
(kissing)
*
Babe. Babe.
I think my water just broke.
TIANA: You understand that, right?
Yeah, I know that, babe,
but I'm not gonna be caught up like that again, for nobody.
I'm-a prove to you I'm ready to come home to my family.
Okay.
But be serious this time.
All right, I need to get back to work.
DEVON: * I'll just leave these cards on the table *
* Just so we can be in the same boat. *
That's promising.
Um, the delivery's kind of slick.
Smooth. I'm all about smooth.
No. Smooth is something you got to earn, brother.
I mean slick like... I don't feel it.
You-you barely let me get through the first verse.
-Oh. -I got an idea for the bridge. Check this out.
* It's more than enough for me *
* I love making love to your mind *
* But we can't do it all in one night, girl. *
You're holding back.
I mean, a higher love don't mean a damn thing
if it's not coming from a higher place...
* It's more than enough for me *
* I love making love to your mind *
-* But we can't do it all in one night... * -No. Stop, stop, stop.
Getting louder doesn't mean I'm gonna feel it more.
BLAKE: * If they ain't breathing, I ain't living *
* Can't express this feeling, praying... *
TIANA: Okay, here comes the hook.
* Lost all control in the blink of an eye *
* Just a single thought went across my mind *
* I'm asking, I'm begging, I'm pleading *
* Just for one more minute, one more minute *
BLAKE: * Yeah, just take me back so I can... *
Stop it.
-(music stops) -What is this?
Okay, it's rough, but I wanted y'all to hear it first.
Sonically, it's... it's what I want for my comeback album.
KINGSLEY: You want to hinge your whole comeback
on a glorified feature for an unsigned artist?
Um, no, but this track really speaks my truth.
About your barely-literate baby daddy, Hakeem Lyon?
Why are you conjuring up this fool
instead of the agreed upon buzzwords of "family"
and "growing up" that we discussed?
Analytics is not artistry.
Nor is it real life, Kingsley.
(laughs)
Scrap it, all of it.
-You serious? -TIANA: What?
Start over.
Start ov... over?
BECKY: I'm gonna round up some new producers.
I'm sorry. Managing artistic temperament
really isn't his forte.
-You mean talking to humans? -Exactly.
Just sit tight. I got you. Just let me work on him, all right?
Let me see who else I can drum up.
HAKEEM: All you got to do is lay back.
-(panting) -Here you go.
(groans) I don't feel right. Can you get my doctor?
Oh, it's okay, sweetie. That's just the contractions.
You're not dilated enough yet, so sit tight.
I know what I felt. Hakeem, make them do something.
Nurse, she's high-risk.
NURSE: There's nothing abnormal here.
(mumbling indistinctly)
-(monitor beeping rapidly) -Oh! Nurse!
Tee!
OBSTETRICIAN: Prep the OR, stat! Page Dr. Green!
HAKEEM: She told everybody!
I'm so tired of people telling me what's best for me.
Okay, I'm actually the reason
that you're back on Empire's radar in the first place.
-Take that down some. -No.
I have kids to provide for.
And you would understand if you had your own.
(pen clatters on table)
Having children is no excuse for ignoring label protocol.
Well, look, I didn't make the rules around here,
so why do I have to follow them?
I'm done sitting tight, Becky.
I'm done.
Hey, baby! Why don't you get in here
and have some of my world famous
Philly cheesesteak sandwiches?
Uh-oh. (chuckles)
You only make those when you're frustrated,
so what's going on, huh?
(Lucious sighs)
Devon.
I'll tell you one thing, his instrument is amazing.
Technically, his voice is spot-on, but...
-But? -He ain't the cure for nothing.
He don't believe in nothing.
You don't believe a thing coming out of his mouth.
He got no soul.
Okay, well, you better get his ass all the way together.
Because without him, the Lyon Family Management
is gonna be dead before it even started.
You know who could help.
Jamal. You need to get him over here.
Kai just got home.
-That boy ain't coming out for days. -Okay.
That boy need to get his ass back to work.
You know it and I know it.
Yeah, I know that voice. What's wrong?
Kai has HIV.
I know.
I almost passed out when I heard the doctors last night.
-So Jamal... -No, no, no, no. Jamal is fine right now.
-(exhales) -What the hell are we gonna do?
We mind our own damn business.
-What? -Kai is a grown-ass man
that managed to climb his way out of a hostile foreign country
without a passport, without a cell phone...
That's very heroic, but that ain't got nothing to do
with a disease that can kill your ass.
What I'm saying is he's a very determined man.
If he wants to be with Jamal and Jamal wants to be with him,
there ain't nothing we can do about it.
I mean, if it's wrong, they'll pay for it in the next life.
(laughs) Well, look at... Who am I talking to right now?
Is this, is this Lucious or is this Dwight?
Hello! Who is this?
It's me.
Well, I'm not gonna sit by
and watch my son risk his life
because he thinks he's in love again.
-(scoffs) -Okay, try and stop him.
You can't tell him who he gonna be in love with
or who's gonna be in love with him
or what he gonna do with his damn life.
I tried it. It don't work.
It's none of our business...
I'm telling you, baby, leave it alone.
Okay. Silence in the studio.
We doing that good? (chuckles) What's up, man? I'm Jamal.
-What's up, man? Nice to meet you. -Hey. You, too, man.
Trust me, we'll get there. If he lets us.
(sighs)
Your mom tells me that they let Kai out of the hospital.
She did, did she?
You taking care of yourself?
(sighs)
Yeah, Dad, I am.
Good. You know, you're a grown-ass man.
I don't want have to have a safe sex conversation with you.
Well, I'm a grown-ass man,
and I don't want you to have a safe sex conversation with me.
(both laugh)
It's just your mama, you know.
She loves you and she gets worried.
I know.
You know your ass does, too.
(chuckles)
LUCIOUS: Look, maybe you can help me get this young boy
-where he needs to be. -(chuckles)
He's got all the talent in the world,
but he knows too much.
I'm afraid his preview might end up being his funeral.
(chuckles): So dramatic, Dad.
There-there has to be some money we can move around, man.
Something shielded from the Calhoun wrongful death suit.
Any-Anything will help.
(sighs) I heard you. I said I heard you!
What, y-you can't understand English? Thanks for nothing!
Uh, hello? What did those CDs do to you?
I'm sorry, Ma.
Okay. I'm-a need y'all to go to lunch.
Take them and go somewhere and get something to eat.
-We had lunch already. -Then you know what? Bye-bye.
Y'all go grab a doughnut and some soda, I don't know.
PORSHA: Come on, y'all. Let's go.
-Lunch. -Bye-bye!
I wanted to put money on the books
for some of the people that I-I left behind.
-Inside. -Yeah, okay.
You can't help but feel guilty for leaving folk behind, baby.
My college friends,
they called them-- called us-- animals.
Well, did you tell those ignorant asses
that just because someone makes a mistake,
doesn't make them less than human?
And what about the people inside that didn't do a damn thing
but be born black or brown?
You know what? I'm not... I'm not doing this today.
Can I talk to you, Ma?
I owe you an apology.
Before I went inside, I didn't get it, either.
When my friends would ask about you, when you were away, I...
I would change the subject.
And then eventually I just told people that you were dead.
Now, I told myself that that was easier for them to accept.
Really, it was just easier for me.
I'm just glad it was easier for someone.
I'm sorry, Ma, but I-I love you. You know I love you...
Look, boy, hey, it's not about that.
I'm proud of you.
For trying to help.
-It's good stuff. -Oh, I-I didn't help anybody.
That's the problem. I... I don't have any money to help anybody.
Oh, Andre.
(chuckles): Andre. Andre.
If you think all we have to offer
is money...
then I have truly failed you.
(scoffs softly)
(sighs)
LUCIOUS: Working with Jamal helped,
but you're still holding back.
Hey, can I get with this for a minute, bruh?
You good.
Thank you, man.
It's crazy, uh, this where my girl--
the only one I ever loved-- she broke my heart.
Really?
-My sister told you, didn't she? -Maybe.
You sneaky, man, and so is she. I'm-a...
Nah, I'm just trying to figure out
what the hell happened to you, man.
If you holding back, you holding back for a reason.
With a voice like yours,
you should be a household name, right?
But you're not. You know, maybe you need to play,
or get off the court.
Either sing or go back to the junkyard.
All right.
(clears throat) You want to know what happened?
Look, I made a decision that she didn't go for.
All right?
To be celibate. Yeah.
I needed to focus my energy and time
on making my music and taking care of my family.
I didn't do drugs.
I wasn't out in these streets partying or wildin' out.
Honestly, if I was, she'd probably still be here.
It would've made more sense.
That's a bunch of BS, man. Celibate?
(chuckles) I knew you was gonna clown me.
-I ain't clowning you, man. -Nah, you are.
It's just the last thing I expected to hear from you.
I mean, if you can put that commitment and discipline
and combine that with your heart,
that's what makes the difference between a singer
and a great artist.
I can work with that.
All right. Listen, old man.
I ain't taking it easy on you, all right?
Yo, talk is cheap, man.
*
If you had the chance to do it all over again,
would you make the same choices,
or would you do it different?
I would... (sighs)
do it all over again.
I wouldn't change a thing.
(Lucious chuckles softly)
Okay.
I want you to show me how you would make her stay.
-* We've got time * -(guitar playing gentle music)
* On our side *
* We don't need to rush anything tonight *
* I'll just leave these cards on the table *
* Just so we can be in the same boat *
* I'll put some respect right between your legs *
* You got a mind that I wanna feel *
* And I wanna know how it makes you feel *
* Can we just love the pace *
* While the whole world's running *
* So afraid *
* To wait. *
(claps hands)
(laughs)
-I felt that. -Thank you.
HAKEEM: * Lion in the jungle, lion in the jungle *
* Rumble, young man, rumble, young man, rumble *
* I'm a mix of my daddy and my mama *
* Tryin' to save my baby from my vices and my karma *
* If you don't respect my come up *
* Eat you up like Jeffrey Dahmer *
-Yeah. -* I'm-a grind to get my life together *
* Be the greatest, shine my light forever *
* They wonder where I get my focus from *
* Well, you ain't never face a smoking gun *
* I can still see it in my nightmares, it's endless *
* They want my legacy *
* But what's a prince without his princess? *
* I'm waking up in cold sweats, shivering *
* As they coming for the throne I'm sitting in *
* Blood gushing, rushing my adrenaline *
* Are these the last seconds that I'm living in? *
-(music stops) -Hey! -Bro.
-That's it right there. -Bro.
-Drop that joint ASAP. -(phones vibrating)
Hey, but for real though, why your boy Blake
blowing up my line like he one of my side chicks?
He hittin' me up, too.
Apparently, him and Tiana are about to drop some fire.
-What? -Uh, Complex is saying
that Tiana surprise-dropped a new track with Blake.
BLAKE (over speakers): * Oozing, my body can barely react... *
Wait a minute, those are my lyrics.
Man, that's the best homey's ever sounded.
-Watch this. -(volume increases)
* If they ain't breathing, I ain't living *
* Can't express this feeling, praying *
* Give me one more minute, yeah *
TIANA: * Lost all control in the blink of an eye... *
I don't know what to tell you, bro,
but with Tiana on the hook, it sounds kinda good.
Maybe even too good.
* One more minute *
* Eyes open now, no, it's not the time *
-* Need to make a choice... * -(music fades)
QUINCY: I never thought I'd see you back here, Dre.
ANDRE: Hmm. (chuckles) Yeah, me neither.
(sighs)
I'm gonna help you get out of here, Quincy.
-What, you breaking me out? -Uh, no, nope.
Nothing doing. Absolutely...
(chuckles) I'm gonna help exonerate you, boy.
Where is this coming from?
-Quincy... -(door opens)
...you're a good kid.
You deserve to be free and have a future.
More than I do.
I got to get him back, Andre. It's late.
-Hey. -(buzzer blares)
Stay safe. Okay?
-I love you. -I love you, too, Mom.
Trust Andre. If he says he can help, he will.
Stay strong, little brother.
TERI: Well...
can't hurt to have a Lyon on our side.
And the fact that you were wrongly convicted, too,
maybe that'll get these lawyers to finally listen.
Teri, I never claimed to be innocent.
You killed that woman?
She took everything from me.
She took my-my wife, she took my child.
You don't, you... you don't have any regrets,
any-any remorse?
You want me to lie?
Uh, my shift's about to start at the hospital.
-Teri... -So I should, um, hmm...
I need to go. I-I need to go.
* And then you act like you're doing me a favor *
* I want you to know *
* If you gon' come and go whenever you want *
* I'd rather be single *
* If I'm-a raise these kids all on my own... *
That's one of my tracks.
Been reassigned to an artist who knows how to listen
and doesn't release songs I killed.
You just said numbers don't lie. Isn't that your "motto"?
Right now, the numbers say
that you cost my Empire a pretty penny.
The negotiations for Blake's rights alone, that's...
Hold on. The free PR she's generating is gonna offset that.
Okay, get into that with Blake.
Include fees and publishing,
it's coming out of your overhead.
Which we would have recouped on your record sales,
but someone decided to give it away for free.
Kingsley, you've made your point.
Lucious Lyon may have tolerated your disrespect.
I will not.
-You're free to go. -(Tiana scoffs)
I have a priority artist to tend to.
-Wow. -* I'd rather be single... *
She'll never be Tiana. "Priority artist." Hey.
Becky, I'm so over this.
* All on my own, I'd rather be single. *
-ANDRE: Teri. -What are you doing here?
You need my help.
Look, Andre, I appreciate you taking care of my son,
-I do, but... -But what?
You know what happened to Quincy in there, how things got better?
You found a way to make those men stop bothering him.
I didn't just find a way, Teri.
(Teri groans)
When I saw the danger that he was in,
what they would do to him...
I didn't decide to kill Anika Calhoun, okay?
I did make a decision to kill the man
who would've murdered your son.
Now, I may not be the good man you thought I was.
Teri, I'm the man you need.
I need my son home.
Okay.
Okay. Get...
You're getting wet. Come on.
Can I walk you?
To the end of the block.
DEVON: * We got time *
* On our side *
* We don't need to rush anything tonight *
* We got time, we got time *
* We don't need to rush anything tonight *
* It's more than enough for me *
-* I love making love to your mind * -(woman squeals, laughs)
* We can't spend it all in one night *
* We got time on our side... *
Ain't that your boy up there?
* Anything tonight *
* Can we just love the pace *
-I'll be back. -Okay.
* While the whole world's running *
* So afraid to wait. *
-(song ends) -(crowd cheering)
Let's give it up one more time for my man, Devon!
-(crowd cheering) -My man, Devon!
(crowd shouting excitedly)
Now, we know that we're looking at a future legend
right here on this stage, it's Devon.
(crowd cheering)
And now I want to welcome another great songwriter
to this stage, Jamal Lyon!
(crowd cheering)
(whooping)
So, look, thank you. Love y'all, too. Thanks so much.
Um, over the last week, I've been reminded a lot
of just how precious love is, yeah?
-(crowd murmurs in agreement) -Um, so, brother Devon,
if you don't mind, I'd like to join you on this song.
I wrote this for my heart, who's in the crowd.
(crowd awwing)
-I don't need all of that. -(laughter)
All right?
-So, yeah, let's go. -(R&B music begins)
(crowd cheering)
* I feel it to my core *
-* Now I know you got me * -* Yeah *
* A sensation that I know I can't control *
-* And it's all over my body * -* Mm, yeah *
* Breathe the fever that burns in your kiss *
-* And I won't let go * -* Ooh, yeah *
* No, I won't, I won't let you go *
(crowd cheering)
* Let the levees break and flood your love *
* I just wanna heal my pain with this good *
* Love, love, love, love, love, love *
* Love, love, love, love *
* Love, love, love, love, love, love, love *
* Can't you feel it, love? *
* Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love *
* Love, love, love, love, love, love, love *
* Love is on the brain *
* And that's why I'm going crazy *
* I feel like I'm going crazy... *
Can I talk to you?
* Every time that you touch me slow, so slow *
* Heal the pain of the past and you don't even know *
* Don't even know *
* Ooh, yeah *
* Let the levees break and flood your love *
* Let it flood your love *
* Let the water rush in and carry us *
* I just wanna heal my pain with this good *
* Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love *
* Love, love, love, love, love, love, love *
* I need your love, love, love *
* Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love *
* Love, love, love, love, love, love, love *
* All I need is love, baby *
-* This ain't about you * -* This ain't about you *
-* This ain't about me * -* This ain't about me *
* But it's about us and this L-O-V-E... *
You know, I've never actually seen him
perform before an audience.
-Mm-hmm. -(chuckles)
Does-does he always come alive like this?
(sighs) Look, I know you say you love my son,
but I can't have him getting sick.
Cookie, I promise you I won't ever let that happen to him.
Okay, see, that's a promise you can't make.
I know what I saw around me all those years I was locked up.
AIDS making women fade into a version of themselves
no one could even recognize.
(sighs) I can't let that happen to my baby.
I'm sorry that that happened to you, truly.
But I have HIV, Cookie, not AIDS.
There's a difference.
I am a black, gay man who's HIV positive.
It took me a long time to gain the confidence
to say that out loud.
More importantly, I love Jamal.
Almost as much as you do.
And I would never do anything to jeopardize his health.
(sighs)
I also know that I can't have my baby destroyed
the way he was these past few days
just at the thought...
of losing you.
* Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love *
-* I'm in love * -* Love, love, love... *
Cookie, I promise,
it's gonna take a hell of a lot more than some stupid virus
for me to leave Jamal.
Trust.
You really do love him, don't you?
I do.
(sighs) Come here.
Oh, you're so brave.
-Thank you. -* L-O-V-E, L-O-V-E. *
-JACKSON: I heard a hit. -I told you, man.
Lucious, I got to admit,
I almost forgot how much of a force you and Cookie are.
Ah. Did I hear my name?
LUCIOUS: Yes, you did, baby. Come on in here.
I was just telling Lucious that not only do you two create hits,
you literally create stars.
COOKIE: Yeah, well, we're just getting started with Devon.
I believe that. I want to sign him.
Wow, well, isn't this lovely?
Very generous of you.
-Yeah. -But unfortunately, Jackson,
Devon's price just doubled.
Who you trying to play, Lucious?
Well, if you wait any longer, that number's gonna triple.
I'll have my people draw up the paperwork,
and send it right over.
(laughs)
Man, I love doing business with you.
-Hmm. -Knew you'd be king.
Let's build.
Smart man.
(quietly): We're really doing this.
It's done.
* Oh, yes, you do *
-(laughs) -* You took this heart of mine *
* You know you did *
* You'll be my valentine... *
* Said you gave me all you got, well, it's not enough... *
-Yo, Tiana. -Oh, hey. What's up?
-What are you doing here? -I've been trying to reach you and Keem for days.
How could you drop "One More Minute" without telling me?
You mean your biggest song ever?
-You're welcome. -No, that's not the point.
That was supposed to be just for us.
I know we made this promise, but, look...
HAKEEM: What's up, bro? I heard the track.
Yo, about that, about that.
-What? It's dope. -Told you.
Yo, when I heard what Blake wrote on that track,
it was just so real, I had to get on it.
"Blake wrote"? So you told her you wrote my song, bro?
(sighs) We were just playing around the studio.
I wasn't even gonna release it.
Look, Keem, you gave me the track...
-(crowd groans) -(Hakeem shouts)
Chill out! Blake, you need to go.
You need some help? Out of here, man.
Stop! Somebody, do something!
GUARD: That's enough!
Get off! Hey, man, what'd I just say?
-Get off! -Whoa, whoa, whoa. -All right, all right.
It's my house! It's my house!
-Get off me, man. -GUARD: Get out. Get him out.
-Man, you got to go. -Hakeem!
-Hakeem. -What?
-Aren't you tired of this? -Yes, I am tired of this.
People coming for me.
Everything and everyone taking from me, yes.
I'm tired, Tiana.
(fusses quietly)
She's supposed to be here right next to her brother.
My sincerest apologies for your loss.
LUCIOUS: That boy was not supposed to
enter this world by himself, Doctor.
OBSTETRICIAN: I know, Mr. Lyon.
And now for the difficult task.
-Would you like to see your daughter? -TIANA: No. (sobs softly)
I don't know if I... if we-if we can...
COOKIE: Listen, here, sweetheart.
You have to do this, trust me.
You want your last moment with her.
Okay.
-I'll go with you. -Okay.
-You did a great job, baby. -COOKIE: Yes, she did.
(crying softly)
*
(Prince coughs)
(crying softly)
I know it feels like
you're not gonna make it through this,
but I promise you, son, you will.
You have to be strong and protect your family.
You know...
You know, I finally found the words to express how I felt,
to lose our daughter,
for that punk to take that from me, too, huh?
-You gave him the song! -I gave him the song,
but I didn't give him my girl, did I?
-He obviously wants you, Tee. -What?
And him copping the pain from my baby girl like that?
I lost her, too.
Damn it, she was my baby, too.
And not a minute goes by that I don't think about her.
But I have to be there for Bella and Prince.
What you've been doing and how you've been acting
since we lost her is not fair, to them or to me.
-Come on... -I love you,
but I... I won't do this anymore.
-I can't. -Tee.
I'm done.
Tiana!
Tee.
(crying softly)
Why'd you bounce?
Uh...
your mother and I were discussing my status.
Kai, babe, um, please charge any ignorant stuff
that my mom said to her head, not her heart, you know?
I have never met a mother so fiercely protective
about her middle child. (laughs)
-You know what? -I'm just saying.
Cookie's not to be trifled with when it comes to you.
And, uh, it, uh,
it got me thinking about how protective I feel about you.
I don't want to lose you, Jamal.
You won't. Ever.
I hope so.
(exhales)
Jamal Joseph Lyon,
will you do me the honor of becoming my husband?
(chuckles)
When'd you have time to get a ring?
The moment I got out of the hospital.
You stole my move.
(sighs)
*
(laughs)
-All right, let me get... -No, no, you stay down.
-You just, you... -Okay, my bad. Okay, okay.
(laughing): I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
(sniffles)
Kai Eugene Givens,
you're my lover and you're my best friend.
You're my only reason why.
So now I'm begging you from the bottom of my heart
to please marry me.
Uh, well...
it-it depends if...
that's a yes or no for my proposal.
(both laugh)
Hell yeah.
Of course I'll marry you.
-Wait. -(laughs)
-I love you. -I love you.
(chuckles)
*
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH
Now that Empire has you all fired up,
here are a few more shows to check out from Fox.
Buckle up, buttercup.
It's real, and it pulls people together.
-* We're breaking waves shooting star * -(siren wailing)
* We live for glory not forever *
MAN: Touchdown!
* Reach out *
* Make this right here right now *
* Stand up *
* Here right now *
That sounds like fun.