Empire – Without Apology

By: Gladys Luna

Lucious (Terrence Howard) wakes up from a nightmare where he´s been watching his own film about the recent events in his life – from the bomb incident, his kidnapping and all the way until Andre (Trai Byers) confessing he tried to kill him. Later that day at Empire, Lucious asks Thirsty (Andre Royo) to get him as much information as he can from the night his car blew up, specifically witnesses statements – especially Andre´s. Lucious walks into his office followed by Porsha (Ta’Rhonda Jones) and Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) as he is feeling a lot better and happy to come back to his usual duties. He also takes the chance to question Cookie about when she is finally going to be back with him, but she asks for a little more time.

In the other side of town, Gisselle (Nicole Ari Parker) and Eddie (Forest Whitaker) are watching Tiana (Serayah), Jamal (Jussie Smollett) and Hakeem´s (Bryshere Y. Gray) rehearsal while discussing a plan to gain some money out of everything they are pulling through at Empire. Tiana confesses to Hakeem that she has been missing him and he apologizes for the way he acted before towards her when he thought he wouldn´t see his daughter again. They kiss while Eddie watches them from the other side of the stage looking a bit disappointed.

Eddie walks into Empire´s office with Kelly Patel (Pej Vahdat), a high-tech associate from Silicon Valley with whom they are intending to start a business partnership with. Lucious gets excited while explaining to Kelly about the new business and trying to make him interested in it, but Kelly doesn’t seem to be all surprised by it as he makes a statement that he doesn’t quite believe that said business relationship with Empire is a good fit for his company. After having this said, Cookie stands up and makes it clear that if he wasn’t interested in the deal with their company he won’t be there in the first place. This is something that leaves Kelly with no other choice but to admit that it is true. After that, they decide to close the deal and celebrate. When Kelly leaves the office, he asks Eddie if he is sure they can pull the business off without the whole family drama they are used to, something Eddie confirms.

In the meantime, Jamal has picked up Andre from the hospital and taken him to his old department. When he walks in, he sees the place where he “saw” Pamela (Teyonah Parris) for the very last time and recalls how she seemed to be so real back then.

After Kelly is gone, Eddie warns Lucious about being careful and avoiding bad press given the family history. Just right that moment Porsha walks in announcing some bad news she just found out. She shows them a video where three women, Brooke (Tisha Campbell-Martin), Denise (Melanie McCullough) and Tasha (Opal Staples) refer to themselves as “The Three Black Divas” and are giving an interview to TMZ about how they feel disappointed that they didn’t get a call from Empire now they are releasing their “20 for 20 Project.” They throw out a warning about spilling all the dirty details they know about Empire and also confirm that if any label is interested they can join them for the right price. Eddie is a little annoyed by the news since he knows that if that interview sees the light then their deal with Kelly will be lost. Cookie asks them to give her the chance to fix it and takes Porsha and Becky (Gabourey Sidibe) with her.

At the mall The Three Black Divas are attempting to give a decent presentation, but the odds don’t seem to be on their favor. Cookie, Becky and Porsha watch from afar their lame attempt to revamp their performance, but it just doesn’t go right. When they are done, Brooke approaches to Cookie without realizing is her and when she does, she tries to walk away but Cookie stops her. She hands her a folder with a contract for their reunion. Empire is willing to support them but in exchange they have to snatch the interview before it airs. The women agree, but on the condition that Lucious gives them an apology. Cookie leaves the place saying that she´ll be in touch.

Jamal is working excitedly on a new song to present at the showcase Empire will be throwing for Kelly Patel, but that joy is clouded when Eddie suggests Jamal sit out from the show. He lets him know that his involvement in Angelo’s (Taye Diggs) death it won´t look good for the company´s reputation.

Meanwhile at Empire, Denise, Brooke and Tasha are getting some food from the table that was set for them when Lucious walks in all charming and holding three gift boxes which are delivered to each one of the ladies. He starts to apologize for his past behavior and in case he had done something that offended them, but the women are seeking for an apology for allowing Cookie to leave them out of the “20 for 20 Project.” As the meeting unravels, things get heated between the four of them ending up in disagreement and more fighting. Later that night, Cookie scolds Lucious for not having been able to do the only task she entrusted him with, but he calmly assures her that he will get things done at Empire´s old fashioned way.

Jamal is at the studio playing a song on the piano when Becky accidentally walks in. She is about to leave when Jamal asks her to stay. She tells him how she is aware that he has decided to drop himself out of the showcase and she confesses him that she is pregnant. She also tells him that she doesn’t want to have the baby and that is the main reason she hadn’t told the father. They hug each other when she tells him that she´s been missing him and he is the only one she feels confident to talk to.

Tiana and Eddie are listening to her new song. She is excited and content with the results. He promises how she is going to be booked for a worldwide tour but asks her for commitment and she agrees. That is when Eddie takes advantage of the situation and sort of scolds her for having seen her lip locked with Hakeem earlier at the rehearsals. He tells her that he doesn’t want her to be distracted and if there is a man for whom she´ll have a room with, that´ll be him.

Lucious and Cookie ask Denise, Tasha and Brooke to meet them at Empire’s office. When they arrive, they are surprised to see that Phil Weiss (Sean Bradley) from Righteous Records, the label they just signed a contract with is also there. Lucious informs them that since that moment on Empire has bought Righteous Records. Hence, The Three Black Divas belong to them. He hands them the contract and as a special request, he tells them to apologize to Cookie since she is the reason Empire is still on. The three of them give her an apology and are sent to start their rehearsal. When Cookie is about to leave, she almost faints which leaves Lucious worried about it.

Andre is sitting at a bench at the church when Reverend L.C. Pryce (Charles Malik Whitfield) sees him and takes a sit next to him. Andre expresses his feelings but doesn’t give a full confession when asked about it. He says that his family is having a welcome dinner for him when all he´s done is to hurt them. The reverend suggests him to confess all his sins to God, but if he doesn’t want to then he can come clean to the people he harmed in order to be whole again. Unfortunately, Andre just feels like he doesn’t deserve it.

At Empires showcase, Cookie shows up as the presenter and announces The Three Black Divas take the stage looking and sounding better than ever. Andre is watching the whole presentation when Shine (Alvin ‘Xzibit’ Joiner) shows up next to him and expresses how surprised he is that he was released from the hospital that soon. He also asks Andre to not to mention his name about the accident, which he agrees to.

Hakeem and Tiana are spending some time alone and suddenly he gets on his knees and asks her to marry him. She is excited and happy, but still asks him some time to think about it. On the other hand, Becky talks to her boyfriend J Poppa (Mo McRae) and breaks up with him.

Somewhere in the city Eddie, Giselle and Kelly are celebrating the partnership they have created at the Lyons’ expense. Back to the Lyon mansion Andre, Hakeem, Jamal, Cookie and Lucious are having the welcome dinner for Andre, but the mood in the room seems like anything other than a celebration. Cookie decides to ask them individually about the reason for their long faces so one by one explains what happened during their day. Hakeem tells them about his failed marriage proposal, Jamal confesses he felt disappointed about been benched in the showcase and when is Andre´s turn he asks Lucious to talk to him in private. When they are finally alone, he confesses that he was the one responsible for the bomb and hands him a gun to do as he pleases with it. Lucious starts to punch him until the rest of the family comes in and stops them from fighting. When Cookie asks Lucious about what happened, he says what Andre did to him. Everyone in the family can´t believe what just happened and how they ended up like this. Jamal and Hakeem talk to Andre about it and he expresses his regret, but is not enough to make Jamal understand so he just leaves. While Cookie is trying to justify Andre´s actions, suddenly she begins to feel bad and gets frozen in place as she can´t catch her breath. Lucious calls for Juanita (Audrey Morgan) and 911 in desperation.

Drama never seems to stop for the Lyon family!