Lucious is still trying to win Cookie back. He started by sending her lavish gifts, which she returned to him (except for the gold gun). Then he started playing on the day they first met. First by playing her a track for Jamal that was a play off of the Biz Markie hit "Just a Friend," the beat he was rapping over when they met. And when that didn't work, he surprised her by waking her up with Biz Markie performing "Just a Friend" in her living room! But Cookie is standing her ground. And Lucious further attempt at playing off the day they met by telling her he saw her earlier that day getting out Barry's car and knew he wanted to make her his despite it being a long shot, may actually lead Cookie into the arms of Angelo Dubois (Taye Diggs).
While doing a radio interview with Angelo Dubois about gun violence, Jamal found himself agreeing to attend Dubois' summit despite Cookie being against it. Cookie was not a fan of Dubois, who she felt was bougie and was not in the position to speak on the lives of underprivileged youth. But Jamal stuck with the commitment, even inviting Dubois and his youth group to Empire. As Lucious was walking out, Jamal stopped him to introduce him to Dubois and the youth (one of which had a 3.8 GPA, was heading to MIT, and freestyled for Lucious). Lucious offered to host the summit at Empire, and when Dubois declined (noting they already had a venue), Lucious sweetened the deal by offering to have Empire be the underwriter of the entire summit. Dubois agreed, and Jamal whispered in Lucious ear inquiring why he was being so generous. Lucious revealed why when he told Dubois and the youth how great it would be to spread the word by showing the summit on Xstream!! Mystery solved!
At the Summit, the youth performed, and Dubois spoke. He even told everyone how Cookie made him realize they weren't victims of their circumstances but survivors! When Lucious got up to speak, to prove his point to Cookie, he called Jamal up to come sing (he hadn't sung since the Xstream event). Jamal walked out and had another panic attack. He eventually told Cookie and Lucious that Lucious wanted him to admit he's scared and he is. He said he can't perform anymore, proving Lucious right.
As Barry continued to talk, Cookie softened on Dubois ( a nice change from her going off on him at the rehearsal). Cookie reflected on the guy she was dating the day Lucious saw her for the first time, Barry. Lucious called him a nerd when he recounted to Cookie earlier in the episode how he had seen her getting out of Barry's car hours before they actually met. Cookie recalled Barry being someone who wanted to change the world, someone more like Dubois and less like Lucious. So when they spoke after the summit, she was much nicer and even agreed to come speak to the youth. This of course led to Lucious being less friendly with Dubois. We will see where this goes.
Meanwhile, Hakeem and Nessa are working together in the studio and vibing very well off of each other. Something may be there, but when Shine knocks a dude out in the studio for eyeing his sister, Hakeem looks shooked. Which means he probably was starting to feel Nessa, but now he's probably scared to pursue anything with her.
Back at Lucious' home Anika is struggling with being a mother and begins interviewing nannies, until Lucious shuts that down and tells her being a mother is her only job! Leah, who had been standing there looking on at the interviewing, took the opportunity to throw a jab by saying she took care of Lucious on her own. And when she offered to go get Bella who was crying, Anika yelled for her to stay away from Bella.
Later, in yet another flashback scene, we see a young Tariq was also there the day Lucious and Cookie met. But his mother came and snatched him away, warning him not to talk about Lucious being his half-brother and to stay away from him. She also said Lucious and his crazy mother coming into their lives was the worst thing that happened to them. And what was Tariq doing while reminiscing, watching Lucious on the nanny cam he planted. But Anika comes into the nursery, and after laying Bella in her crib, goes to put the monitor up under the stuff animals. But she hears static, and some moving around helped her pinpoint the source of the static, the planted teddy bear. The static wakes up Lucious who quickly realizes what has happened. He walks over and acts loving towards Anika, who is holding the teddy bear, and says their daughter deserves stuff animals fitting of a princess not this teddy bear. He then grabs the eyes and pulls the wire out of the bear's head!!
Meanwhile, Andre is still struggling with Rhonda being gone. When Jamal walks in on him trying to speak to Rhonda, he admits to Jamal he was talking to Rhonda. But when Jamal asks him if Rhonda is there, he tells him no she's not. He then tells Jamal Rhonda handled his ever changing medication regimen, and he can't handle it. So Jamal offers to help him by creating a chart like he created for his pain meds (which he says he is struggling with himself). Later, Andre asks Cookie how she's survived so much loss in her life, noting how she's a fighter. She tells him he's a fighter like her! Andre takes that and pours it into his brothers, as they reflect on their issues together. Andre tells Jamal he will beat it and perform again, and he tells Hakeem he will be a good father to Bella. When they ask what about him, he says he will start by going to his and Rhonda's old place and packing up his stuff.
Unfortunately, when he was putting a box into his truck, a White woman had called the police and they asked him if he knew anything about recent break-ins. He tried to explain multiple times he used to live there, but to no avail. Being frustrated with the questioning he turns to continue to put the box in the truck, and the police tackle him down to the ground. The episode ends with them pointing a gun to his head as he lays there!! Reminds me of the young man who was recently arrested while sitting on his mother's porch!! SMH!