She leaves, and suddenly he feels like hes being choked by his mother, Leah.
His mind switches from flashbacks (hi again, Kelly Rowland!)
to the present day, where…oh, wow.
Credit: Chuck Hodes/FOX
Leah actuallyischoking him under the water, screaming about evilness in him.
Claudia rushes in just in time, but still that was terrifying.
And its just the shock Cookie needs to move herself into the mansion permanently.
Hes also planning his next venture: An album of love songs.
Hmm… inspired by his new DuBois beau?
Meanwhile, Andre is working on the finances and has found a buyer for Empire X Stream.
Only problem is, once they actually get down to it, Andre cant exactly… perform.
Too bad, she says, because she would have been the best he ever had.
Another person whos having trouble with performance?
Anika well, Anikas lawyer.
Shes on trial for murdering Tariq (which is the murder shedidntcommit), and its not going well.
She hisses to Hakeem in the audience: Tell Cookie I remember January 7, 2015!
Next time we see her, Cookie and Thirsty are visiting her in jail.
I managed to crack your code, James Bond, Cookie snarks.
Thats the day Bunky died.
Basically, Anika wants to get out of jail.
(I would dobasically anythingfor that much money, so give me a call, Cookie!)
Back at Empire, Jamals Oscar-bait song isnt exactly what the producer wants.
Becky is also working with Hakeem.
Lucious thanks him for coming and leaves, and Eddie takes the moment to have a heart-to-heart with Cookie.
He doesnt remember me, he says.
He doesnt remember anything.
She relents: He has a traumatic brain injury.
He cant remember anything…Can you keep this between us?
Upstairs, Cookie finds Leah rifling through her drawers for a gun.
Im hoping it means shereallybelieves it.
Over at Empire, Becky sits in a conference room with Tory and the movie producer.
Theyre playing Jamals song, but theres one issue its not Jamals voice.
Becky replaced his vocals with Torys when Jamal wouldnt make the required changes.
The producer loves it…Jamal is another story.
Look, I understand how you must feel, Becky says, but Jamal isnt buying it.
Pull this s again, and you wont have a job at my label, he says.
Elsewhere in a different part of the office, the NYPD is questioning Andre about Giuliana once again.
He maintains that he doesnt know where shes hiding and doesnt know if she had any associates.
Andre tries to do his old blackmail tricks Do you often have sex with strangers in bars?
but Pamela isnt falling for them.
We didnt have sex, she says.
Because you couldnt get it up.Ouch.
On the way to make a big announcement, Cookie and Becky have a walk-and-talk.
They sing a duet together…I forgot he could sing.
This is not going to end well.
And Claudia tells Lucious shes going to leave but ends up staying after her tearfully begs her not to.
I know if you leave, I wont be safe again.
He snuggles into her, and she decides to stay.
