EMPIRE: DEATH WILL HAVE HIS DAY (TV)
Summary
One in this musical drama series about the members of the morally-grey Lyon family and their struggles for control of the prestigious Empire Entertainment company in New York. In this episode, a newly-ousted Lucious refuses to leave his Empire office and Thirsty offers to handle the matter with violence, though Andre promises to obtain proof that the vote was unlawful. Cookie furiously confronts Hakeem for voting against his father, though Hakeem stands his ground, feeling that Lucious "had it coming." At an American Sound Awards midnight bash, Jamal declares that he supports his father – and rival – "one thousand percent" before performing "Heavy," while elsewhere a badly-injured Rhonda prays for her baby's safety and manages to set off her security alarm to call for help. Lucious' showdown with Camilla and the police is interrupted by the news of Rhonda's fall, and the family gathers at the hospital and learns that the baby did not survive. Devastated, Andre attempts to comfort Rhonda, though she declares that she has lost her faith in God because of the tragedy.
An enraged Lucious informs Cookie that their youngest son is irredeemably "rotten," but she demands two days to take Camilla out of the running before he takes drastic action. Elsewhere, Camilla offers to make Hakeem CEO in exchange for his breaking up with Laura, though Cookie then bursts in and offers to allow Camilla to acquire Lyon Dynasty for $2 million, reminding them both that she still contractually "owns" Hakeem and that she alone can get rid of Jago Ross. At the same time, however, Lucious and Thirsty send Guy and his minions after Ross and the other board members, with Lucious vowing to handle "Fredo" on his own. Anika visits Rhonda in the hospital and, seemingly comforting her, assures her that there will soon be another "heir" to the Empire throne. Jamal questions Hakeem about his coup against their father and his conflicted feelings about Laura, suggesting that they cannot truly "have it all." A drunken Hakeem then embarrasses and insults Laura during a rehearsal, prompting her to end things with him in disgust.
Henthrop confronts Jamal about his relationship with Skye, accusing him of perpetuating a harmful stereotype about gay people "choosing" to be straight. Guy and his henchmen then threaten the board members in a variety of disturbing ways, and Cookie too questions Jamal about his "girlfriend," though he declares that while human sexuality is fluid, he still identifies as gay. She cautions him against alienating Henthrop, reminding him that he needs to win the ASA for political gain. Camilla announces that the other board members have withdrawn their nominations for Lucious' replacement for "personal reasons," and Hakeem proudly nominates himself, boasting that Empire is his "birthright." At another ASA event, Jamal performs a new song, "Freedom," with pointed lyrics about his right to choose his own romantic partners regardless of labels, and Henthrop seems mollified. Cookie reveals that she too had a miscarriage before having three healthy children, and Rhonda returns home with Andre and seems to experience a frightening memory about her fall. On Jamal's suggestion, Cookie and her two sons threaten to create bad press for Empire by releasing Jamal's new album under the Lyon Dynasty label unless Camilla gives in to their demands, including making Cookie head of artists and repertoire for Empire, and Hakeem hastily agrees. Satisfied, Cookie instructs Lucious to focus on music and leave the business to her, and as Andre privately grieves for his lost child, Hakeem and Laura reunite and make love for the first time. Later, Lucious summons Hakeem to the spot where he murdered Bunkie and orders his son to kill him or face death himself at their next encounter, but Hakeem defiantly walks away. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: Fox
- DATE: November 30, 1999 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:43:02
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 125587
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; African-American Collection - Drama; Women's Collection - Drama
- SERIES RUN: Fox - TV series, 2015-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Francie Calfo … Executive Producer
- Brian Grazer … Executive Producer
- Ilene Chaiken … Executive Producer
- Sanaa Hamri … Executive Producer
- Lee Daniels … Executive Producer, Created by
- Danny Strong … Executive Producer, Created by, Director, Writer
- Robert Munic … Co-Executive Producer
- Ayanna Floyd Davis … Co-Executive Producer
- Ingrid Escajeda … Co-Executive Producer
- Loucas George … Producer
- Malcolm Spellman … Producer
- Attica Locke … Producer
- Jessica Badenoch … Associate Producer
- Eric Haywood … Co-Producer
- Timbaland … Executive Music Producer
- Terrence Howard … Music Producer
- Ne-Yo … Music Producer
- Petey Pablo … Music Producer
- JR Rotem … Music Producer
- Fil Eisler … Music by
- Terrence Howard … Cast, Lucious Lyon
- Bryshere Y. Gray … Cast, Hakeem Lyon
- Jussie Smollett … Cast, Jamal Lyon
- Trai Byers … Cast, Andre Lyon
- Grace Gealey … Cast, Anika Calhoun
- Kaitlin Doubleday … Cast, Rhonda Lyon
- Gabourey Sidibe … Cast, Becky
- Ta'Rhonda Jones … Cast, Porsha
- Serayah … Cast, Tiana Brown
- Taraji P. Henson … Cast, Cookie Lyon
- William Fichtner … Cast, Jameson Henthrop
- Naomi Campbell … Cast, Camilla Marks
- Andre Royo … Cast, Thirsty Rawlings
- Jamila Velazquez … Cast, Laura Calleros
- Yani Marin … Cast, Carmen
- Raquel Castro … Cast, Marisol
- Max Beesley … Cast, Guy
- Patrick Mulvey … Cast, Jago Locke
- Reggie Baker … Cast, Ralph Anderson
- Sara Sevigny … Cast, Edna
- Michael Issac … Cast, Emcee
- Keith Kupferer … Cast, Lead Cop
- Emjoy Gavino … Cast, Tiny Desk A.D.