The midsesaon premiere of Empire picks up where the winter finale left off. Andre's wife Rhonda has just been pushed down the stairs by an unseen attacker and she is shown lying on the floor bruised and bleeding. The last thing she sees are a pair of black shoes with red bottoms walking out the door. Meanwhile, Lucious is distraught after Camilla returns and influences Hakeem to vote him out of Empire. Lucious wants blood but Andre and Lucious' shady attorney Thirsty Rawlings convince him to calm down. Thirsty tells Lucious that the company business charter may be enough to prove that his ousting was illegal and have it overturned. Andre sets out to track down the charter but pleads with Lucious and Thirsty to leave the building before they are arrested. Lucious insists, again, that he isn't going anywhere. The scene then cuts back to Rhonda lying on the floor crying.
Hakeem returns to his apartment where Cookie greets him at the doorway; broom in hand.
Cookie asks Hakeem how he could betray his family by voting Lucious out but Hakeem insists that his vendetta is only about Lucious and the vote was a spur of the moment decision. Cookie demands that Hakeem retract his vote. Hakeem refuses and we are treated to an Empire-pilot throwback as Cookie attacks him with the broom. She then goes after Hakeem with a purse. Hakeem's cries for purse mercy are the last thing heard as the scene fades out.
Jamal is set to perform at a nomination event for the American Sound Awards. Jamal expresses support for his father before singing his song "Heavy." Meanwhile, Rhonda crawls towards her phone to call for help but realizes it's dead. Out of desperation, Rhonda pleads with God to save her baby, even if she dies. She then throws her phone at her door, breaking a glass pane and tripping the house alarm.
The police arrive at Empire's headquarters. Thirsty manages to hide Lucious' gun and insists to the police that Lucious has a right to be in his office. Camilla comes in and orders Lucious out of "her" office. The police threaten to arrest Lucious for trespassing but just before Lucious is about to enter into a standoff with them, Becky runs in to tell Lucious that Rhonda is in the hospital and gravely injured.
Jamal, Cookie and Lucious gather at the hospital before Andre arrives. Although the three are shedding tears, Lucious tells them to be strong for Andre. Hakeem shows up asking about Rhonda but Cookie sends him away, telling him no one wants to see him, further cementing Hakeem's position as the family's Black Sheep du Jour. Andre arrives and his family breaks the news to him that Rhonda is fine, but the baby didn't make it.
Later, Rhonda is laying in a hospital bed with Andre next to her. Rhonda blames herself for their baby's death. She admits to Andre that while she was lying on the ground she prayed that God would save their baby but concludes that because her prayers weren't answered, there is no God.
Cookie goes to Lucious' home to find Lucious in bed, despondent over the day's events. She climbs into his bed and holds him. The next morning, Cookie wakes up to find Lucious in his closet hollowing out bullets. Lucious vows to take his company back, implying that he will kill Hakeem if he tries to become CEO. Cookie convinces Lucious to give her two days to take down Camilla.
The next day Camilla issues Hakeem an ultimatum: she can make him CEO of Empire but first he must get rid of Laura--his girlfriend and the lead singer of his group Mirage a Trois. Cookie barges in and attempts to make Camilla a deal. She offers Lyon Dynasty to be acquired by Empire for $20 million since Hakeem is technically still under contract with her company. Camilla refuses, threatening to sue Lyon Dynasty. The two exchange more unpleasantries and after Camilla refuses again, Cookie leaves, but not before taking a handful of candy and spilling it all over the floor of "Camilla's " office.
Ah Cookie, if only we could all make petty look as good as you do.
Despite his promise to let Cookie handle things, Lucious meets with his henchmen, telling them to strategically convince the other CEO candidates on Empire's board to drop out of the race. He gives them free reign on how to handle the board members but asks that they leave Hakeem to him.
Rhonda is still at the hospital when she gets a visit from Anika, AKA Boo Boo Kitty. Anika asks how Rhonda is doing and what happened. Rhonda admits that she doesn't remember anything before falling down the stairs. Anika hypothesizes cryptically that everything happens for a reason. As Rhonda breaks down, feeling guilty for losing the heir to Empire, Anika assures her that there will be another heir.
Jamal meets Hakeem at a bar. Hakeem breaks the news to Jamal that he is planning to run for CEO. Jamal admits that he hated running Empire, saying it affected him personally and musically. Hakeem expresses his doubts about ditching Laura for Empire. Jamal tells Hakeem that if he is willing to let go of Empire for Laura he didn't really want it.
That day, Hakeem barges into Mirage a Trois' rehearsal and drunkenly accuses Laura of being lazy and not working hard enough. The two argue and, having had enough of the "second rate telenovela," the other two-thirds of Mirage a Trois walk out. Laura leaves as well after Hakeem makes one cruel remark too many to her.
Jamal meets up with his marketing manager Jamieson who chastises him for his fling with Skye Summers. Jamal insists that who he sleeps with is no one's business but Jamieson warns that it could hurt his image.
Lucious' henchmen carry out his wishes against the other board members using car bombs, dead cats and tag team style beatings.
Cookie and Jamal talk while leaving the hospital and Cookie admonishes Jamal for not campaigning hard enough for his ASA awards and also for being wishy-washy with his relationship with Skye. Jamal again reiterates that his sex life is no one's business and says that sexuality is fluid.
At the board meeting Camilla learns that all of the board members have withdrawn their CEO nominations. Hakeem announces his intent to run for CEO of Empire, promising to make Empire "the biggest and baddest company in hip hop culture."
Jamal performs at another ASA event, premiering a new song called "Freedom." The song is essentially a very sexy middle finger to those who are trying to assign a label to Jamal's love life. The crowd loves the new tune and Jamieson approves.
At the hospital Andre is preparing to take Rhonda home. Andre tells Cookie that Rhonda is afraid she won't be able to have children. Cookie then confesses that prior to having her three sons she miscarried a little girl. Andre and Rhonda return home where Andre assures Rhonda that what happened wasn't her fault and promises they'll get through it together. Rhonda attempts to go upstairs but is still too injured, and afraid, to do so.
Camilla and Hakeem are sitting in Hakeem's office when Cookie, Jamal and Andre walk in. Hakeem threatens Jamal's album but Jamal informs him that since the album was a joint effort between Empire and Lyon Dynasty and it wasn't specified who would release the album, Lyon Dynasty could release the album. Camilla threatens to sue, but Jamal takes a page from his little brother's book and says he will leak the album online if she does. Cookie again offers to give Lyon Dynasty to Empire under the condition that she have full autonomy and be over A&R for Empire. Camilla warns Hakeem not to accept but Hakeem, wanting to keep the family together, agrees to Cookie's deal.
If only Cookie had some say over Hakeem's wardrobe ...
Cookie let's Lucious use her offices at Lyon Dynasty. She instructs him to simply make music and:
Andre attempts to pack up the baby's room but breaks down, crying and apologizing to his unborn son. Meanwhile, Hakeem goes to Laura's house to apologize to her. He assures her that now that he has Empire they can be together. Laura forgives him and the two make love.
The final scene shows Hakeem meeting Lucious at the dock's where he murdered Bunkie in the pilot episode. Lucious gives Hakeem a choice, kill Lucious and take Empire from him, or walk away with the knowledge that the next time Lucious sees him, he will do his best to kill him. Hakeem prepares to kill Lucious but cannot bring himself to do so and walks away.
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