Previously on "Empire"...
Will you marry me? Yes.
(crowd cheers)
If only Cookie knew what you did
while she was away in prison.
Wouldn't be such a Sister Sledge reunion now,
would it?
The Lyon family
will be performing
at this year's ASA awards.
Me and my son are not the only people up
for this award. I'm just saying,
I'm ready to play. You ready to play?
I was born to play.
The board would like you to come on
as co-CEOs.
I think it's a fantastic idea.
I got your back.
Hi, Grandma, it's Andre.
I wish I could have met you.
That woman's name is Leah Walker.
I believe she's
your grandmother.
N-43.
It's right there.
She has a system...
and the system's called cheating.
Well, I haven't noticed her cheating, so...
it's okay.
I-27.
They treat you okay here?
Not Mondays.
I hate meat loaf.
She means Meatloaf Mondays,
which are delicious.
Thank you.
I-29.
So, how about your family?
Does your family come visit you?
B-7. MAN: Oh!
Oh... bingo!
(grunts)
That round was for the watercolor set.
Check his card!
The boy's famous now.
The boy.
Is the boy your son?
I had the voice,
but they never gave me a chance.
They didn't want me to.
Your eyes.
Are you kin to me?
♪ ♪
♪ Everybody wants to shine ♪
♪ But they can keep on wishin' ♪
♪ 'Cause ain't no stars made ♪
♪ Overnight ♪
♪ And ain't no competition ♪
♪ Out here ♪
♪ Petition out here ♪
♪ Ain't no competition ♪
♪ Out here, petition out here ♪
♪ Petition out here ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪
♪ I don't see no competition ♪ ♪ Oh ♪
♪ Where they at? Where they at? ♪
♪ I don't see no one ♪
♪ I'm Ray Charles, I'm Stevie Wonder ♪
♪ With a blindfold on ♪
♪ It's gettin' darker than a bitch out here ♪
♪ Hard as hell to get a pitch out here ♪
♪ Throwing money like I'm rich out here ♪
♪ Drinkin' liquor like a fish out here ♪
♪ Mama, I wanna be famous ♪
♪ Let 'em all know what my name is ♪
♪ I gotta make some arrangements ♪
♪ Money come, go and it changes ♪
♪ Just to be wearin' the latest ♪
♪ I pray every day like a Christian ♪
♪ Mama and Daddy and all of my family ♪
♪ I don't see no competition ♪
♪ No... ♪
Yes, bitch!
Come through, falsetto!
Yo, y'all come out here.
Becky, it was good?
Keem, I'm living for it.
It's a dope song, right? It's dope!
Now, look, all I got to get is this song
on the Ryan Coogler movie
and it instantly gets me famous.
I can't believe that this came about from Ryan
hearing your stripper joint.
Worked for Lil Jon, didn't it?
True. (laughs) That's exactly what
he's looking for, too.
Although he is a little worried about
who's gonna sing the girl part.
I was thinking Tiana.
JAMAL (whispering): Tiana?
Yeah... Tiana could work
'cause she's real hot
off of her tour, but...
But what?
You don't think Laura
would have a problem with that?
Nah, you overthinking it.
It's just business.
Laura totally gets it.
She gets it.
COOKIE: So, we're gonna trace the
Lyon family sound from Lucious in the early Philly days
to Jamal's new album, but I need
seven minutes of stage time, not four.
Seven minutes?
Yeah. You pushing it, Cookie.
Oh, that's what I do.
LUCIOUS: No.
(laughs)
Mr. D-Major.
Oh, the god
of the ASAs, himself.
Oh, what's good, B?
I'm so proud of you.
I knew you had it.
I got something.
You talking about Lucious Lyon, classic monster?
This is what we're gonna do for the ASAs.
Well, actually,
I was thinking we base the Lyon Family Anthem
off of one of Jamal's.
He is Empire's most nominated artist.
COOKIE: And that is a dope idea,
because I can produce a remix to the song and I can add
a verse for you, and then one for Hakeem... Wait, wait, wait, wait,
you're gonna have to slow your flaps on that.
Look, I run the music on this thing.
Hey! We gonna...
Hi, hi, you forgot, I'm co-CEO.
"Co" as in co-pilot,
and I will call you if I need a bathroom break.
Oh, what's wrong, Pufnstuf? Look, I...
You mad 'cause you been on that cleanse
for a week and you ain't lost no weight, fat-ass?
Funny.
Would you like to meet Empire's most nominated
artist?
He's looking at him.
No, he ain't-- we talking about the present, not the past.
♪ Uh, my thoughts sickening ♪
♪ All venom, I'm lost in 'em ♪
♪ Ready for war ♪
♪ Better pray that the Lord with him... ♪
Shouldn't your face be up there, too, Cookie?
It'd be obsolete
before they ever finished it.
Hating ass.
Oh, Jamal, come here, baby!
Hey, Ma. You know D-Major,
musical director for the ASAs. Of course.
Congrats, man.
I'm super stoked that you're doing the ASAs.
Well, I'm stoked about the remix.
I wasn't a big fan of the single,
but it's perfect for the Lyon Family Anthem.
Okay...
I'm not sure what we're talking about.
I'm doing one of my new songs.
Oh, no...
your mama traded in your solo.
It's gonna be huge, Jamal.
The whole family on the stage...
Mama, no, I...
I-I can't trade in my solo.
Dude, this is the ASAs.
It's the biggest stage in the world.
Now, if you want to be on it,
I wouldn't be throwing some hissy fit.
Porsha, hold up. Here.
You think I got time to read?
This is the Bible.
It's been handed down from assistant to assistant
since the-- will you take it?
God.
It tells you what to do, what not to do,
who to call... Cookie got a promotion.
That means you got a promotion now, too,
so... read it cover to cover.
Thank you.
No, don't-don't thank me.
You work for a CEO now,
so it's time to step your game up.
MAN: This is the stage layout right here.
(mouths)
Check on those...
Hey, Hakeem. Hakeem!
(whoops) Yeah.
Got a verse for me? Mom,
I'm not singing backup for Lucious at the ASAs.
I got my own thing I'm working on.
Boy, it's not backup...
and you can chew gum and walk at the same time, can't you?
Look...
rehearsal at Laviticus, don't be late.
All right.
Yeah, all right.
CANDACE: Nice place, Loretha.
What'd I tell you about calling me by my government name?
Look, whatever it is you came for,
Candace, we ain't got time.
Hey, is something wrong with my kids?
Yes.
They're not with their mother,
and it's time they should be.
Look, Candace, please
don't start all of that.
You know she just got out of rehab.
She needs to focus.
Just because you weren't
around to raise your kids
doesn't mean we're gonna follow
your example, Cookie.
When the winter break is over,
the kids are coming here.
Hey, wait a minute.
You know I only have a two-bedroom apartment. Oh...
then I suggest you invest in some bunk beds.
I'm serious, Carol.
You know what...
you need to talk to your sister
before I kick her ass.
Candace.
Candace!
D-MAJOR: It's weak.
Now speak your truth.
♪ My last night... ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪
♪ If I take one more shot of this agave, I'll be gone ♪
JAMAL: D...
♪ I'll be lit ♪
Come on, man, seriously, listen to this.
Come on, now, I got seven damn nominations.
I'm just trying to do one new song.
It's fire, but I'm on
the Lyon Family Anthem tip.
♪ For the win, I know... ♪
But I'm tired of singing songs from the past.
This is new stuff.
Son...
there's ways to change my mind,
but ambushing me in the middle of my session is not it.
Excuse me.
Look, man, if it was not for me,
there would be no Lyon Anthem,
so I suggest you talk to me.
You need not to grab me, dude.
Everybody out.
Now!
Wink, shut the door. Yeah, man.
Look, all I'm saying is that...
Yeah, man, I get it, you're a visionary artist,
but I got a hundred artists that I have to juggle,
plus produce the show,
so if you're not happy, I suggest you go
talk to your mother.
I'm not talking to my mother, I'm talking to you.
What...
Yeah.
Been wanting to do that ever since I seen you
in the lobby this morning,
and then you come into my meeting,
take it over.
You go for what you want, and so do I.
♪ Everybody ♪
♪ Wants to shine ♪
♪ But they can keep on ♪
♪ Wishing 'cause ain't no ♪
♪ Stars made ♪
♪ Overnight ♪
♪ And ain't no ♪
♪ Competition out here ♪
♪ Petition out here ♪
♪ Ain't no ♪
♪ Competition out here ♪
♪ Petition out here ♪
♪ I don't see no competition ♪
♪ Where they at? Where they at? ♪
♪ I don't see no one ♪
♪ I'm Ray Charles ♪ ♪ Oh ♪
♪ I'm Stevie Wonder ♪
♪ With a blindfold on, it's gettin' darker ♪
♪ Than a bitch out here ♪
♪ Hard as hell to get a pitch out here ♪
♪ Throwing money like I'm rich out here ♪
♪ Drinkin' liquor like a fish out here ♪
♪ Mama, I wanna be famous ♪
♪ Let 'em all know what my name is ♪
♪ I got to make some arrangements ♪
♪ Money come, go and it changes ♪
♪ Just to be wearin' the latest ♪
♪ I pray every day like a Christian ♪
♪ Mama and Daddy and all of my family ♪
♪ I don't see no competition ♪
♪ No ♪
♪ Everybody ♪
♪ Wants to shine ♪
JAMAL: ♪ Whoa, no, whoa, no ♪
TIANA: ♪ But they can keep on wishing ♪
♪ 'Cause ain't no stars made ♪
♪ Overnight ♪ ♪ Oh, no, oh, no ♪
♪ And ain't no competition ♪
♪ Out here, petition out here ♪
♪ Petition out here ♪
♪ Ain't no competition out here ♪
♪ Petition out here ♪
♪ I don't see no ♪
♪ Competition. ♪
You know what I mean?
I can't see Ryan Coogler not putting this
on the soundtrack.
Soundtrack?
I definitely want that on my next album.
It's 1:00?
I thought it was 10:00.
Laura gonna kill me.
Wow... the Hakeem
I knew would want to go to the club
right now...
but I guess you can't, huh?
Since you got a wifey...
and a baby mama.
What, you got jokes?
(laughing): I'm just...
Look, I can go to the club if I want,
but Cookie got me focusing on this ASA thing, so...
Well, we're definitely gonna miss you.
COOKIE: Okay, I need you to put that on table 7, those go on table...
You know, according to the Empire HR bible,
setting out tables and stuff
is not the job of the CEO assistants.
Oh, really? Mm-hmm.
Would you like a demotion?
I can arrange that.
I'll do it today.
Yeah, I know you will.
Sure.
Rough night?
Yeah.
But I ain't complaining, fool.
(chuckles)
Gots to love it.
I don't know who ordered all this stuff,
but I want it all 86ed out of here.
Yo, what's that green mess, anyway?
Dad's on a fast for the ASAs,
'cause Mom let him know that TV puts ten pounds on you.
No, he's doing it for his health.
Um, so I got a rough script.
Andre's gonna start with some narration
to set up the scene;
he should be here in a minute.
(Lucious playing piano)
Dad, that's not it.
You don't think that sounds played out? It honestly
sounds like you're trying to make my song
sound like your old song.
Well, if it sounds played out,
it means you wrote a played out song.
I wrote a played out song?
I'm trying to fix... No, you don't want to change it
and you sound... Listen, I'm not down
with all of this R & B back and forth.
Mom, where's my verse supposed to be?
Okay, pause. I'm supposed to sing on the bridge?
Pause!
I'm running this.
I got this, and of course
we're gonna find somewhere for your verse, Hakeem...
and Lucious, your verse can be
a flip on Jamal's, and Jamal, it's your song.
JAMAL: Thank you, Mom, thank you.
See, it's my song.
You know what? This ain't working.
I want to go back to my original plan.
JAMAL: What original plan, Dad? Where we do the song
where you accuse us of biting the hand
that never really fed us?
Oh, you didn't eat? Nah, he talking about the song
that he wrote back when (Cookie sighing)
he thought Mom was snitch bitch.
(discordant piano note)
Now, y'all sound like a rack of bitches, okay?
Lucious can sit up here
and take y'all's jaw jacking,
but I'm not 'cause I'm running this show.
Excuse me? Yeah, excuse me.
I busted my ass to finally get here
and I'll be damned if I let y'all mess it up.
So put your big girl drawers on,
'cause we gonna come together
and do this as a family.
Does anybody here know what that means?
ANDRE: That's an intriguing question...
and I have someone here with me that might have a point of view.
It's okay, Grandma.
This is your family.
COOKIE: Lucious...
JAMAL: Whose grandmother?
What do you mean Grandma?
Who is this lady?
Lucious.
Dwight?
Andre, what's going on?
This is Leah Walker...
Lucious' mother.
Andre, our grandmother's dead.
(sighs)
ANDRE: What, you got nothing to say?
You want to tell them about how you...
sent her away to a home
for 21 years, never looked back?
Or how about how you
sent Vernon out there once a month to pay out hush money
to anybody who knew who she really was--
how about that one, huh?
Dad, what?
Yeah, that's not true. It's not.
No, Harper Scott gave me her files.
Can't lie your way out of this one, Pop.
(crying)
You have no...
idea what you've done.
I can't believe that just happened.
Yeah, it's deeper than we think, too.
You see the look on his face?
D-MAJOR: What's good, Lyon brothers?
(phone beeping) Here to check out your rehearsal.
Hey, yo, Laura blowing me up.
Meet you up, bro. All right.
Baby...
Yo.
Yo, you might not want to go back there;
Lucious and Cookie are trying to figure
some things out. Yeah, well, maybe I can help.
No, no, it's family stuff.
Besides, you really expect me to believe that you
only came for rehearsal?
Yeah, that's my job,
but if I'm not needed, then I'm out.
COOKIE: Lucious...
Yeah, baby?
Why did you lie?
I didn't lie about anything.
Then what was that video about?
(sighs)
The truth.
My mother did try and drown me.
She did put a gun to her head and pulled the trigger,
and told an eight-year-old boy that it was his fault
she was the way she is.
Just turns out there was no bullets in the gun.
Well, if she didn't die then...
No...
my mother died the day that they locked her up.
And then remember how under Reagan...
...the government took all the mentally ill patients
and dumped them out on the street?
Well, one day in front of 30th Street Station,
I damn near tripped over her.
Now you and me, we were on welfare
and had two and a half kids,
we couldn't take care of her if we wanted to.
You just...
you could have at least told me about her, Lucious.
(whispering): I couldn't.
I needed her to stay dead.
That's why I took Andre to the grave.
He just wouldn't leave it alone, you know.
But he just doesn't understand.
I mean, none of y'all understand how...
dangerous she really is.
Why didn't you tell me? How did you even find out?
What, you were snooping through my computer?
It doesn't matter how I found out.
What matters is, Tiana's doing a duet with you
on a song you yourself told me would go platinum.
The producers wanted her.
It was out of my control, babe.
You could have pushed for me.
I bet you never even brought me up.
Baby...
I love you.
Okay? You know that.
But you can't automatically think
you're gonna be on all my duets.
Trust me, there'll be other opportunities.
I trust you.
I just don't trust Tiana.
She's still feeling you.
So what if she is?
I want you.
♪ ♪
ANDRE: I don't trust him, okay?
I think she needs to stay with us until we find
a permanent situation.
No, Andre, we're staying in a hotel.
We can get her an adjoining room, babe. Oh...
I think we should at least talk to her caregivers.
I mean, do you even know who her doctors are?
Great.
(sighs)
RHONDA: This will be fun.
Come on, Granny Groove.
ANDRE: What the hell?
THIRSTY: Whoopsy daisy.
Hey!
Where the hell you think you're going, man? LUCIOUS: Hey, Andre.
No, where you going? Andre!
Andre, fall back. Fall back?!
What you talking... I don't know what
you think you're gonna get out of this, but that's not
what you want right now. You're the one who hid her
from everybody, you did that. I didn't hide her.
You think she's like you.
She's a completely different kind of person.
Andre...
she needs to be back at the home, baby.
You don't know how miserable she was in that home, Ma.
COOKIE: She needs to be with professionals.
You don't know, you don't know about it.
Grandma, listen...
I got your medicine
and your suitcase with all your things, all right?
I got plenty of room for you.
ANDRE: We're gonna go home, okay? COOKIE: Andre...
I want to go home... Yeah, we're going home, we're going home.
...with my Dwight.
Dwight...
I want to go to bed now.
I'll have the nurse take you to your room.
Juanita.
Yes, sir.
I want you to make sure
she takes each and every one of her pills.
Watch her put them in her mouth.
Check to make sure she swallowed them.
Remove the phone out of her room,
and nobody comes to see her without my permission.
And no matter what, you don't take your eyes off of her, okay?
Yes, sir.
♪ I came for blood ♪
♪ Your days are done ♪
♪ I came to win, you came to run... ♪
I thought we were going to Lucious'?
You said he wanted to make a statement.
Can I ask you something, Ms. Scott?
Why did you become a journalist?
Because I believe in the truth.
Hmm, see, that's why I became an attorney.
The truth is nowhere near as important
as what you can persuade people to believe.
THIRSTY: Case in point...
Do you believe running your mouth
about Leah Walker can get you hurt?
Lucious should know that
I can't be threatened or bought.
Mm-hmm.
That's what he thought.
What are you gonna do?
Kill me and leave me by the side of the road?
I resent that-- I'm a gentleman.
I wouldn't touch a hair on your head.
♪ Something's coming alive now ♪ (unlocks)
Bye-bye.
♪ All the fears just died out ♪
♪ Now I'm comin' to conquer ♪
♪ You've awakened a monster ♪
Thanks, Thirsty, appreciate... ♪ I can feel it inside now ♪
(screaming) ♪ I came for blood ♪
♪ Your days are done, I came to win ♪
(muffled screaming) ♪ You came to run ♪
(tires screeching) ♪ It's all or nothing ♪
♪ I paid enough, I've waited up ♪
♪ I may erupt, my way or none ♪
♪ It's all or nothing. ♪
Hey, J.
This ain't necessary.
I got the message loud and clear, so...
What about this message?
Come on, man, stop playing with me.
I thought you ain't feeling me.
I'm feeling you.
Why would I not be feeling you?
Hmm? 'Cause you blew me off like it was nothing.
We were in a work situation.
I try to keep things professional, man.
And because you're not out.
Hmm?
I don't think
it's anybody's business, man.
But it is when you're in a club with a hot girl,
then it's all of the paparazzi's business.
Look, you're making a big deal out of this.
It is a big deal...
to me, it's important.
You know, I worked damn hard
to walk in my truth.
That's why I thought you would understand
where I'm coming from, man.
It's hard, man.
You know that thing you did with Skye Summers,
man, I thought that was so cool...
Derek, that was completely different.
Yo, man, you should understand where I'm coming from.
Listen to me, man. No, stop!
Stop.
Now, I like you a lot, I do...
but this whole thing...
it's not for me,
so, please...
(jazz playing)
I don't think that whiskey
is a part of your juicing cleanse.
What are you afraid of, huh?
She's just a...
feeble, fragile, little old lady.
So that's what you think, huh?
That's what she wants everybody to think.
Hmm...
You're afraid...
that if this gets out, it'll be a scandal.
Yeah, you're afraid you're gonna lose all that love
you got for "Boom Boom Boom Boom."
Trust me, this gets out, it's not good for nobody.
It ain't gonna get out, Lucious.
Just as long as you do right by your sons.
So that's what this is about?
Damn ASA performance?
You trying to get me to do the song
Jamal's way, huh?
This is not about the ASAs, stupid.
This is about you.
You sitting up here, acting like you still
in those Philly projects,
when you the king.
You the king of the world,
and there is nothing to fear.
Especially not from your own mama.
Get yourself together.
I'm the one that should be drinking around here.
CAROL: Thank you for coming, Candace.
You're welcome.
Uh, Candace, listen, I really need for you
to keep my kids just a little while longer.
They need their mother.
Well, you know, I'm about to get my 90-day chip and...
And?
I just need a little more time
to make things right with everyone.
What do you mean by that?
I want to tell Cookie...
about what Lucious and I did...
Hell to the no!
No, but come on, I'm not
like y'all; I can't live with secrets.
It's not a secret.
It's an atomic bomb.
What you gonna say, huh?
"Cookie...
"here's your morning papers,
"and by the way,
"I helped Lucious murder a few people
while you were locked up"? Wait a second.
I promised Cookie I would help
Lucious stay out of trouble.
Well... All right, he made me his line-up girl.
I did not do anything to hurt anybody...
but it...
it is weighing on me,
and I got to get this off me.
You need to suck it up,
'cause the last thing we need is Hurricane Cookie
going Category Five on our asses.
Oh, no... mm-mm.
Food...
Thank you. (chuckles)
Yo, Anika, where do you want us to put this?
You guys can put it right over there.
Thank you.
Whoa!
(laughs) I can't believe this.
Hakeem's really serious, huh? I know.
He even baby-proofed the Jacuzzi.
(laughing): I know, I know, right?
I am impressed.
Rhonda, thank you.
Thank you for all this
amazing stuff and...
you and Andre, y-you're so generous.
Honestly, you did not have to do this.
It's nothing, really. I feel like...
if...
when we try again, I...
I just...
want a fresh start. I don't want to be reminded...
Watch out! Oh, my God!
(gasps)
Are you okay?
MAN: I am so sorry.
Hell! Are you all right?
Yeah.
That was so weird.
I didn't mean to...
What's wrong?
I just...
I don't know, I felt like I was
at the top of my stairs and...
and felt hands on my back...
and-and I went crashing down the stairs.
Wait, wait, hold on, hold on...
(hyperventilating)
Are you saying that you think that someone pushed you?
I really don't know.
Oh, my God, I-I-I thought you said you fell.
I thought it was an accident.
(heavy breathing)
I thought I did, too.
(calm piano playing)
(humming)
♪ Where do I go ♪
♪ When I can't go ♪
♪ Home...? ♪
Do you remember that song, Dwight?
My name is Lucious.
Lucious.
Yeah, I remember it.
(chuckles)
(clears throat)
(piano playing)
(both humming)
♪ Where do I go ♪
♪ Where do I go from here? ♪
♪ When I can't ♪
♪ Go home? ♪
♪ Hmm... hmm... hmm... ♪
♪ Home ♪
♪ Where do I go ♪
♪ From here? ♪
You were always so good at the piano.
(chuckles)
You told your family bad things about me.
I was just honest with them.
I was sick.
I'm better now, Dwight.
You believe me, don't you?
My name is Lucious.
(sighs)
Mom, I don't think he's coming,
so what are we doing?
Uh, well, we need to tell D-Major
we need a little bit more time?
No, no, just let me figure it out.
There he is.
Jamal...
I made some changes to the song.
Dad, you can't do that... HAKEEM: Mom...
LUCIOUS: Hear me out.
I told y'all how this is going down.
(piano playing)
What's that?
Something my mama gave me.
It's actually pretty.
This is where your okeydoke verse is gonna go.
You got to be 100% honest,
the way we really are with each other.
Honest?
That's what you really want?
Unless you're scared.
Here we go.
♪ Blood is supposed to be thicker than water is ♪
♪ Nowadays we can't even stomach the thought of it ♪
♪ It's like we can't even get along ♪
♪ Who right and who in the wrong? ♪
♪ Too busy pointin' fingers ♪
♪ Like it's politics, I tell you ♪
♪ Shut up, you tell me be quiet ♪
♪ Too much dysfunction ♪
♪ Cut up like we at a riot ♪
♪ Kickin' and punchin' ♪ ♪ Mm, mm ♪
♪ Ain't nobody here to mediate it ♪ ♪ Mediate it ♪
♪ And you would think that we wasn't even related ♪
♪ Oh, oh ♪ ♪ Why we even throwin' blows ♪
♪ in the first place? ♪ ♪ Oh ♪
♪ We fight at cookouts, picnics and birthdays ♪
♪ I try to give the benefit ♪ ♪ Oh ♪
♪ But in the worst case ♪
♪ You keep on talkin' smack, you end up with a hurt face ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ And we tried everything ♪
♪ Now it's time for plan "B" ♪
♪ If Bloods and Crips can reconcile ♪
♪ Why can't we? ♪ ♪ Why can't we? ♪
♪ I guess I'm ratchet like my mama ♪
♪ And my papa, I'm chasin' the sky ♪
♪ And I ain't talkin' 'bout the vodka, let's fly ♪
♪ Come on ♪
That is good.
That is so...
good.
(chuckling): I know it is, I wrote it.
Look, I know we've, um...
...thrown a lot of blows at each other over the years,
and because of being Lyons,
we'll probably throw a whole lot more,
but no matter what happens, I'm still y'all father...
and you're still my first love.
And y'all are still our kids.
Punk asses.
(Lucious and Cookie chuckle)
("Genghis Khan" by Miike Snow playing)
Carol?
♪ I know there's no form ♪
♪ And no labels to put on ♪
Tariq?
What the hell?
I thought that was you.
I was just in here this morning.
Was that Candace with you?
Yeah, yeah.
What are you doing in New York?
Well, I live in New York now.
So, what, you working for the NYPD or what?
No, I quit the force a long time ago.
It's hard being a beat cop these days,
especially in the old neighborhood.
Yeah, I hear you.
What's that you're drinking?
♪ To get it on with nobody else but me ♪
Wild Turkey on the rocks.
Is something wrong with it?
♪ I get a little bit Genghis Khan ♪
What do you mean?
Ice is all melted.
Looks like you haven't even touched it.
I guess I was just waiting to toast.
♪ ♪
Freshen her up. Will do.
And I'll have the same. Okay.
You know what?
I'll just have a cranberry juice.
Oh, come on, you gonna let me drink alone?
The Carol I knew
would have been on her second drink now.
♪ And the scene slips away... ♪
Actually, I, um...
I got to get up early in the morning, that's all.
Put this on my tab. I got hers.
No, you don't have to do that, no.
I'm happy to.
To old friends.
(sighs)
To old friends.
ANDRE: People say you can't choose your family.
That's not true.
Time and again, we're confronted with the truth
about what a mess we all are,
and time and again...
we choose one another.
That is family.
We're not perfect...
but we're all we got.
JAMAL: ♪ Open your eyes ♪
♪ To what you love to hate ♪
♪ You're up in the sky, mm, yeah ♪
♪ But you ain't flying ♪
♪ Straight ♪
♪ Where do I go ♪
♪ When I can't go ♪
♪ Home, 'cause you sold it ♪
♪ And you lost yourself and you are ♪
♪ Just no more ♪
♪ Take every piece ♪
♪ Every piece of me ♪
♪ Whatever you need ♪
♪ My mind is changing ♪
♪ And I can't hide ♪
♪ But you know where I'll be ♪
♪ Mother ♪
♪ And I know ♪
♪ I said I didn't need it ♪
♪ I said I wasn't built ♪
♪ For it ♪
♪ But now that I can see it ♪
♪ Damn right, I'm really made ♪
♪ For this ♪
♪ Chasing the sky ♪
♪ Trying to fly ♪
♪ And now I see ♪
♪ Now I see ♪ ♪ Just why it had ♪
♪ To be so hard for me ♪
♪ You'll hear my roar ♪
♪ They'll feel your legacy ♪
♪ Fear of the sky ♪
♪ No choice but to fly ♪
♪ So high, so high ♪
♪ So high ♪
♪ Blood is supposed to be thicker than water is ♪
♪ Nowadays we can't even stomach the thought of it ♪
♪ It's like we can't even get along ♪
♪ Who right and who in the wrong? ♪
♪ Too busy pointin' fingers ♪
♪ Like it's politics ♪ ♪ Politics ♪
♪ I tell you shut up ♪
♪ You tell me be quiet ♪
♪ Too much dysfunction ♪
♪ Cut up like we at a riot ♪
♪ Kickin' and punchin' ♪ ♪ Mm-hmm ♪
♪ Ain't nobody here to mediate it ♪ ♪ Mediate it ♪
♪ And you would think that we wasn't even related ♪
♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Why we even ♪
♪ Throwin' blows in the first place? ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ We fight at cookouts, picnics and birthdays ♪
♪ I try to give the benefit ♪
♪ But in the worst case ♪
♪ You keep on talkin' smack ♪
♪ You end up with a hurt face ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ And we tried everything, now it's time for plan "B" ♪
♪ If Bloods and Crips can reconcile ♪
♪ Why can't we? ♪ ♪ Why can't we? ♪
♪ I guess I'm ratchet like my mama and my papa ♪
♪ I'm chasing the sky ♪
♪ And I ain't talkin' 'bout the vodka, let's fly ♪
♪ Far from a perfect man ♪
♪ The fights and the lies ♪
♪ I guess you'll never understand ♪
♪ A mother ♪
♪ And father who wanted for you ♪
♪ Much more than ♪ ♪ Much more than ♪
♪ Life is a slight of hand ♪
♪ So you hate it today ♪
♪ But my love for you ♪
♪ Is the one thing that is true ♪
♪ Going all alone ♪
♪ And I can't even trust ♪
♪ All the people here inside my home ♪
♪ Here inside my home ♪
♪ But if you were my brother ♪
♪ Then never let it get so wrong ♪
♪ That you ♪
♪ Turn your back on what we were ♪
♪ Turn your back on me ♪
♪ On your family ♪
♪ No ♪
♪ Said I know ♪
♪ Said I didn't need it ♪
♪ I said I wasn't built ♪
♪ For it ♪
♪ I wasn't built for this ♪ HAKEEM: ♪ Yeah ♪
♪ But now that I can see it ♪
♪ Damn right, I'm really made ♪
♪ For this ♪ ♪ I'm really made for this ♪
♪ Chasing the sky ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ Trying to fly ♪
♪ So high ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪
♪ Trying to fly ♪ ♪ So high ♪
♪ And now ♪
♪ I see ♪ ♪ Now I see ♪
♪ Just why ♪
♪ You had to be so hard on me ♪
♪ So hard for me ♪
♪ You'll hear my roar ♪
♪ They'll feel your legacy ♪
♪ Your legacy ♪
♪ Fear of the sky ♪
♪ To the sky ♪
♪ No choice but to fly ♪
♪ So high ♪ ♪ Hands up ♪
♪ So high, so high. ♪
(piano playing main melody)
(whoops)
(people cheering)
So, do we get our primetime spot at the ASAs?
Fire, fire...
and more fire.
You did it.
Mama's a beast.
Yeah, bro.
COOKIE: I'm a beast!
Proud of her, right?
Yes, I am.
♪ ♪
If it was me, I'd be jealous
that my sister had everything
and I had nothing...
but I guess you ain't that petty.
Congratulations, y'all! Thank you, baby.
Y'all did it!
JAMAL: Derek, Derek.
Yo, I'll catch up with you.
Look, you-you want to come by tonight?
I thought you wasn't cool with my deal.
You know I don't want to make you
do anything you don't feel comfortable with.
I can handle it, okay?
Okay.
Later.
♪ ♪
♪ Yeah. ♪
Mm, my God, that wine looks so good.
Mmm, it is.
(chuckles)
You should just have a glass.
One won't do anything.
I know, I know.
I'm just a little paranoid,
especially after coming back from the hospital, you know.
Yeah.
Plus, Mom would freak.
She's obsessed. If she had her way,
I would completely be on bed rest...
which, actually, does not sound so bad
because, oh, my God, my feet are killing me.
I keep hearing about some
burst of energy during the second trimester.
Still waiting.
(groaning)
Oh...
Are you okay?
Oh. (clears throat)
Yeah, I just feel like this glass of wine
is getting me light-headed or something.
Oh, good, good.
Drink up for the two of us.
(sighs)
(chuckles)
LUCIOUS: Mom, what are you doing?
It's 3:00 in the morning.
(wind blowing)
What is all of this?
Sit down.
Where's Juanita?
I sent her away.
You know I don't like anyone else
cooking in my kitchen.
You can't send her away.
She lives here.
She works for me.
Not anymore.
Sit down.
Eat it.
I'm not hungry.
I won't ask again.
I slaved
for hours in that kitchen,
baking these cakes for you.
And what do you do to repay me?
You leave me all by myself.
All alone.
All day.
Look, I have to work.
Everybody leaves.
First your father...
No, my father didn't leave.
He was murdered. I saw it.
Who brought all this wickedness into our lives?
You.
I was fine until you were born.
All my troubles came with you.
Who told you to stop eating?
Well?
It's good.
Do you love me?
Liar.
If you loved me, you wouldn't have
put me away for 21 years.
You were sick.
You said so yourself.
I was sick.
Now I'm sorry.
Sorry I was too weak
to kill you when I had the chance.
Yeah.
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH