All language subtitles for Black.Cake.S01E02.1080p.WEB.h264-ETHEL

Previously on Black Cake...

Ma is dead.

You didn't even tell me she was sick.

Read the will, please.

Your mother left you a message.

She wanted you
to listen to all seven recordings.

Forgive me for keeping so many secrets.

I must confess
that I was not raised in an orphanage.

Eleanor is not my real name.

Covey! Wait.

I don't have much time left
before I'm off to London.

Little Man and his brothers
will bleed a man dry to settle a debt.

Stop!

Don't do this to me.

The only way I can get us out of debt

is through this marriage.

My father sold his little girl.

I want you to know
that when I am another man's property,

you are dead to me.

I didn't kill your brother.

Then who did?

Your pa came through.

They'll kill him.

You can't worry about him anymore.

There's a ship leaving tonight.

You can get into England
if you travel under your mother's surname.

You'll stay at a boarding house.

You're free.

It would take time to get used to London.

I'm Eleanor, but you can call me Elly.

I didn't realize it then.

But to ensure my safety,

Elly would have to die.

B and B,

sometimes the stories
we don't tell people about ourselves

matter even more
than the stories we do tell.

All your lives,

I told you a story about a girl
with no family and no past.

But of course,

that's not my story.

I'm sorry.

Can we stop, please?

Next chapter
of your mother's life was very difficult.

She had so many unresolved emotions,

so much grief about her time in London.

She needed a break.

I'm sorry, um,

I've said too much.

None of this makes sense.

I mean, did Dad know any of this? Jesus.

Ma didn't kill this Elly person, did she?

Or Little Man?

I know it's very frustrating.

Frustrating!
-But you have to keep listening.

This is insane!

Ma must've lost her mind.

The brain tumor.
That's the only explanation.

You were here. You would've known.

Yeah, I didn't know about him.

I didn't know Ma was pouring her heart out

to one of Dad's old lawyer buddies
in a voice recorder app.

I was here,

and yet I still had no idea, Benny.

By! Stop!

Please, think about what we just learned.

Ma wasn't an orphan. She had a family.

She has a story, our story.

We're Chinese, kind of.

I mean, it's amazing!

I'm sure it is.

I can't go there.

I can't do this.
Yes, you can.

We just have to keep listening.

That's what she wanted us to do.

And to be honest,
I won't be able to go to sleep

until I find out what happened in London.

Look at you, getting off on this
like it's some true-crime podcast.

Wait, I am not!

But the truth is,

learning that your perfect mother
went through some shit

is kind of comforting

when you spent your entire life

feeling like you could
never live up to her standards.

Oh, I see.

Ma was messy, hmm?

So are you, and that gives you comfort?

Okay, now, uh...

Why don't we take a break and regroup?

Wait. Don't leave me with him.

Why not?

You two can chat
about what a beautiful mess Ma was.

Don't be a dick!
-I'm not.

I have a work thing.
My boss asked me to come in.

For fuck's sake! Work can wait.
No, it cannot just wait.

They're about to fill
the new director's position.

I've been waiting almost a decade
for this promotion,

and I need to be there.

Tea?

Can I help you find something?

Tin milk. Ma kept it up here.

Near the end, she had trouble
reaching into the cabinets,

so I moved some things around.

Hmm.

I cannot imagine
Ma needing anybody's help with anything.

Look at this!

Ma gave it to me
when I went off to college

so that I'd always have
a piece of home with me wherever I went.

And I always brought it home
for the holidays

so that we can make
our black cake with it.

It was our tradition.

How did it end up back here?

I left it.

Eight years ago.

On Thanksgiving.

And that was the last time
I saw my family.

There you go.

Oh, thanks.

I wanted to open my own café,

so I could serve tea just like this.

I wanted to surprise Byron and Ma

and show them
that I could do something on my own.

Eleanor was very proud of you.

Oh, she used to go on and on
about your music.

Even got me
to subscribe to your YouTube channel.

YouTube, man.

God! I haven't posted in so long.

Oh, you need to pick it back up.

Don't let that voice go to waste.
People need to hear it.

Thanks.

I'll think about it.

Could you tell me
something else... about Ma?

Mm.

Was she

afraid to die?

Oh, well.

I believe she was afraid to, to die
before she finished telling her story,

before you and your brother could hear it.

And you know, Benny,

watching you perform,
even on the computer,

was like getting a peek at... your diary.

I think you inspired her
to leave her own record.

You are a great listener.

I'm a lawyer.

It's my job.

Is that all this is to you?

A job?

It's getting late. I better go.

Are you sure?
I mean, I've-I really don't mind.

Look, uh,

whenever Byron's ready to listen again,

give me a call.

Doesn't matter what time.

I'll be here.

Benedetta, please come home.

Benedetta, please come home.

Benedetta, please come home.

Dale.

Byron. I am so sorry for your loss.

Thank you.

And thank you for the flowers.
I appreciate it.

Sorry, I, uh...

I got stuck in the lab.

Please, sit.

Byron.

I wanted to take this opportunity
to thank you both

for all of your hard work.

It's been a big year for us,

thanks in no small part
to Byron's recruiting efforts.

You brought a lot of attention
to our field.

Thank you.

You know, I have
so many ideas for outreach,

including a scholarship program

that will help so many...
-Well, scholarships are great,

but telling kids that
working in ocean sciences

is gonna put 'em on TV is a little...

It's a little bait and switch,
if you ask me.

It's not bait and switch.

It shows them what is actually possible.

Listen, I brought you both in here
because you were the only two candidates

we seriously considered.

And although
the public-facing work is valuable,

we can't overlook
the day-to-day in-house work

that often doesn't get the same attention.

In light of your contributions
in that regard, Marc,

next week,
the board will formally announce you

as the new director of the institute.

Oh!

Wow. It's...

It's an honor. Thank you.

Byron, it was a tough decision,

but it was unanimous.

You will be reporting to Marc
from this day forward.

Understood.

Congratulations, Marc.

You earned it.

Thanks, Byron.

Hey.

Oh, hey.

I called Mr. Mitch.

He's on his way.

I wanna get this over with.

Okay.

How was your work thing?

Should I start calling you boss?

They haven't made a decision yet.

I need a drink.

Thank you for taking care
of the funeral arrangements for Ma.

And for Dad.

It's all good.

Really.

I wanna help, By.

What can I do?

You're here.

That's enough.

Here's to the past.

May it not blow up our present.

B and B, I'm sorry I had to take a break.

I know this must be a shock,

but I'm telling you this now
because this is your story too.

And hopefully, after hearing it,

you'll share your stories with each other

before it's too late.

As with many stories,

this one revolves around luck.

I was lucky to be settling into London.

But I was so far
from everyone I cared about,

I'm not sure I would ever see them again.

Along with the forged documents
using my mum's maiden name,

Pearl sent a note,
warning me to stay away from crowds

or anywhere I might be recognized.

I could no longer be Covey Lyncook,

the girl with the chiney father
and the runaway mother.

I was Coventina Brown,

a blank slate.

And I would protect my new identity
at any cost.

Ready to go?

You don't want to be late
on your first day.

Almost.

Coventina, your sneakers will fall apart
in this rain!

You better put your wellies on.

These are the only shoes I have.

You're from the mountains.
How could you have left your boots behind?

Oh, I guess
I must've packed in a dash, didn't I?

Don't worry. I'll manage.

Not without proper rain gear.

But we'll deal with that later.

Let's go.

I'll walk you to the bus stop.

From there, you'll catch
any Route 2 bus north. 2, 2A, 2B.

Switch at Victoria Station.

From there, you'll catch a Route 24 bus
headed north towards Hampstead.

Your stop is Chalk Farm Road
near Primrose Hill.

Ooh, and there's
a great sweet shop near there.

This isn't your bus.

You're looking
for a Route 2 bus, remember?

You look nervous.

Don't be nervous. You'll do great.

Good day, ma'am. I'm Coventina Brown,

your new nanny from the boarding house.

I know that I'm two minutes late,
and I apologize.

It won't happen again.

Fresh off the boat, are you?

They usually send us girls
who've been here a bit longer,

but we'll see how things go.

Well, don't just stand there.
Come inside and remove those wet garments.

Your job is to manage
the children's affairs

and make sure they look presentable.

You are to be presentable as well.

That's Jing. She's been with us for years.

Mr. Quintrell and I
are very... forward thinkers.

Theo, Pepper,
this is Ms. Coventina Brown.

She is here to take care of you

but not your toys.

You will put them away yourselves,
won't you?

Yes, Mummy.

Good. Now come greet her.

Pleased to meet you.

Please to meet you too, Theo.

Thank you.

I was learning to play my new part.

And I was lucky
to find comfort in a few places.

Although
every time I thought I could relax,

a new threat would turn up
where I least expected.

New girl, come to the docks with us.

It's Coventina.
And what's at the docks?

A boat from home
arrives every Friday night, silly.

Same boat you come on a few weeks ago.

A new boat arrives every week?

Yeah, and we're the welcome party!
Mm-hmm.

How lovely.

Are you expecting family, friends?

No. That's the fun of it.

There is no passengers list.

You never know who's going to be there.

Could be your soulmate.

Or your worst enemy.
Mm-hmm.

Go clean up.

Put on something
with a little... personality.

You look like a drowned rat.

Thank you for inviting me,

but... I've had a long day.

Maybe next time.

I told you she weren't gonna come.
Mm.

I wanted to see the big city.

I wanted to gossip about boys and clothes.

But it was too dangerous.

The thought of Little Man's brothers
showing up on one of those boats

was too much for me to bear.

Why push my luck?

I kept my head down

and tried to do what I was told.

I tried to focus on each day as it came

and not let myself dwell on the past.

But as the months wore on,

the loneliness became unbearable.

It was getting harder and harder
to remain invisible.

I needed to be seen,

and I thought maybe,

just maybe,

there was a way.

If I wanted to be seen,

to be held, to be me,

I could skip my stop

and ride up to the university

where I thought Gibbs might be studying.

But if I saw him,

what would I say?

It was too dangerous.

And yet,

I had to do something.

And so I remembered Bunny's advice,

and I let my mind drift back
to the tastes and flavors of home.

What this?

You're supposed to make
fish and chips today.

I thought I'd make something special.

A recipe from home.

This is Chinese soup.

How did you learn to make it?

My grandmother had a Chinese neighbor.

I should finish cooking.

Children will turn if they don't eat soon.

I was determined
to keep my memories of home alive.

And although it was a risk,
it was one I was willing to take.

What is it?

Fish soup.

I know it's not fish and chips,

but I think you're going to love
how it just melts in your mouth.

Blegh! Yuck! Gross!

But the truth was finally sinking in:

I could never go back again.

I wanted fish and chips, you know?

Coventina.

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

Just pretend I'm not here, all right?

I will do no such thing.

Please, I've had a bad day, is all.

I really don't want to talk about it.

Would it make you feel better

if I told you
I had a pretty dreadful day myself?

It might.

Well...

I hate to say it,

but this nursing program
isn't what I had hoped.

I'm spending my days
cleaning bedpans and commodes

instead of treating patients.

And I'm having a hard time seeing myself
doing that for the rest of my life.

That's dreadful, Elly.

You work so hard.

If your laundry pile didn't grow,
I would've thought you never came home.

I know how lonely it can be
when you first arrive from the islands.

I miss the colors of the fruit trees,

the people,

and the sea.

I wouldn't go a day
without swimming in it back home.

Your grandmother would drive you
down the mountain to the beach every day?

Yes. She knew how much it meant to me,

especially after my mum passed.

She sounds wonderful.

When I'm homesick,

I turn to these.

Cockleshells.

From home.

The orphanage where I grew up.

The orphanage?

My parents died when I was quite young.

Elly... I'm so sorry. I didn't know.

It's not something I like to share.

People hear you're an orphan,
they pity you.

They make judgments.

Being the new girl is hard enough
without all of that.

It took me months
to settle into my life at the orphanage,

and it will take you time
to settle in here.

You have to find ways to cope.

How did you... cope?

By distracting myself.

I would dig in the garden for hours.

It's where I found these shells.

It was the most curious thing,

because the orphanage
was nowhere near the sea,

and yet there they were.

How you think they got there?

Time.

Millions of years ago,
the island was underwater,

and as the earth erupted and shifted,

Jamaica rose up with the shells.

I fell in love with geology
after reading about that,

and the idea that everything
is connected to everything else

if you only go back far enough.

You lit up just now,
speaking about geology.

If nursing doesn't excite you,
why not study that?

They were recruiting
girls from the islands

into this nursing program.

It was my way out.

And I didn't know until recently

that there's a university in Edinburgh
that specializes in geology,

but it's too late now.

It's never too late to pursue your dreams.

So you say.

But is nannying yours?

No.

Swimming was.

Is.

I think.

I don't know anymore.

Well then,

look at us.

Aren't we pathetic?

My mum left this to me.

The stone reminds me of the sea so much,

it hurts to even look at it.

It's beautiful.

And rare.

Don't hide it away.

If it comforts you, wear it.

Here, let me.

See? Maybe remembering
doesn't have to hurt.

Elly gave me hope.

She gave me permission to be me,

permission to find ways
to feel connected to home

without jeopardizing my safety.

Congratulations. You did it.

I am officially Nurse Elly.

Why do I feel like
I'm celebrating the death of a dream?

Stop it.

We're celebrating the fact
that you're done living in a library,

and you finally have time
for a little fun.

I can certainly drink to that.

Ooh, Coventina!
I didn't know you could bake.

Careful, she put so much rum in there,
you'll surely get drunk off the fumes.

Ooh!

Come, let's dance.

Coventina!

Here's an early Christmas gift.

This is Delroy.

He's from Moorton,

right by where you're from
in the mountains.

We probably know
some of the same people back home.

It's a small world, isn't it?

When did you get into town?

Just last week.

But I have a job
lined up already in the new year.

So he can afford
to take a girl out on a proper date.

Coventina,
which school did you go to in Maryville?

My aunt's a teacher over at Stanton.

Oh, that's where I went, Stanton.

I didn't realize it was co-ed.

Just since the last few years, yes.

Oh, hm. Well, you must know my aunt.

She goes by Mrs. B at the school.

Sure. Of course. She was wonderful.

I was always terrified of her.

She was so strict with us.

Mm. Maybe she was nice around the girls.

You know what? I need a drink.

Can I get you one?

Sure. Whatever you're having.

Why you lying?

Uh-Um...

And I know you don't drink.

You're so nervous around boys.

It's kinda cute, actually.

You're right.
I just never know what to say.

Doesn't matter what you say.

They just wanna hear themselves talk.

But Delroy is sweet,

and he might make you less homesick,
if you catch my drift.

I don't know.
He's not the kinda guy I usually go for.

Well, if you don't like him,
maybe you'll like one of his friends.

He said he knows a few boys
coming in next week,

and they're from the same town as him.

What is it?

What aren't you telling us, Coventina?

Oh, stop trying to pawn
that boy off on her, Edwina!

You're a bad influence on us all.

Edwina is a fast girl.
Don't let her pressure you.

Come on, let's dance.

My luck
was not going to hold out much longer.

I had to take fate into my own hands.

Oh!

You're awake?

I couldn't sleep.

I've been thinking and...

Before you're stuck in a job you hate,

what if you rolled the dice

and studied geology
at that university in Edinburgh?

Oh, you can't be serious.

I start nursing after Christmas!

You need to follow your passion.

And-And you won't be alone.
I'll go with you.

Why would you want to go to Scotland?

You'd have to find a new job,
a new place to live.

We've saved enough money
to get by for a while.

You owe it to that little girl
who spent hours digging in a garden.

The girl who found those cockleshells.

If she had the opportunity
to pursue her dreams,

what would she do, Elly?

Almost there.

We'll ring in the new year
with our new lives.

Coventina,

when I told you about my past,

I was afraid that you might judge me,

but you listened.

Thank you for making me feel
safe enough to share

and for encouraging me to leave.

I should be thanking you.

When you opened up to me
about your childhood,

I was at my lowest.

It was my 18th birthday,
and... I'd never felt so alone.

Coventina! If I'd known,
we would've celebrated proper!

Don't be sorry.
You gave me the best gift.

You gave me permission to be me.

I wouldn't want you to be anything else.

Elly...

I'm not from the mountains.

I grew up by the sea in Portland Parish.

That explains the lack of rain gear.

And the swimming.

I swam so that one day
I could compete around the world.

And now...

Well, it's-it's hard to explain.

It's okay.

Whatever it is,
you don't need to tell me today.

Or ever.

But... when you're ready,

I'll be here.

Tea. Here we are, dear.

Thank you.

I wish they served tea with tin milk
like they do back home.

Edwina and the girls will never notice.

To Scotland.

As I waited to die,

I wondered what stories
Pa had been telling himself

to get through the day

since I died the first time,

and what stories would he have
to tell everyone else

when news of the train crash
reached the island,

when my death was no longer speculation.

We are a community in mourning,

to have lost not one
but two of our very own this past year.

While we may have
many unanswered questions,

we must take comfort

that God will see to it
that Sister Covey Lyncook

and Brother Clarence Henry
did not die in vain.

We must honor their legacies,

and that is how we can honor God.

Let us pray.

Losing your best friend
can feel like losing a limb.

That's how I felt when Matilda left.

But at least we know
where Covey is now, Bunny.

You don't have to wonder anymore.

I'm not wondering anything, Pearl.

It's over.

You've been
following me around for months.

My daughter, your prime suspect, is dead.

Case closed.

That's where you're wrong.
This case is still open.

She was never the only suspect.

She couldn't have acted alone,

and the fact that she turned up overseas
using her mother's maiden name

makes it pretty clear to me
that someone helped her escape.

But don't worry, Lyncook.
You're not the only one we're looking at.

You okay?

I'm fine.

That is what you've been saying
since we get the news about Covey.

Your behavior says otherwise.

I'm tired of all the questions
and the pitiful looks and the gossip.

I said I'm fine, and I meant it!

Leonard.

You've not come by my ways
since the wedding.

I'm sorry, Lin,
for your loss, for everything,

but I need to go after Bunny.

She's not the same without Covey.

Yeah, I understand.

I could've used a friend myself
these past few months.

I wanted to reach out,
but people are so desperate for gossip.

Quick to accuse anyone
who was close to Covey.

Yeah, I'm well aware.

And are you aware

that people have been saying
Bunny was too close to Covey?

I don't need to tell you
how dangerous that is.

I'm sorry, Leonard...
You should be.

You invited danger into all of our lives
when you married Covey off,

but I won't let you ruin Bunny's life too.

Bunny, what is it?

You can't keep it all inside.

I haven't been able
to swim since she left.

I need to swim in the harbor race, Daddy.

It was our dream. I...

I can't give up on it.

Okay.

Okay.

How can I help you?

I don't know.

Covey pushed me. She made me better. I...

I need her.

Do you remember Jimmy Paterson?

He's a coach now and a fine young man.

He ask about you all the time.

I think he'd be good for you.

Are you setting me up with a coach
or on a date?

I won't be around forever to protect you.

Please think about it.

My marriage to Little Man
changed the course of all our lives.

And although I'd always hoped
that by going along with his plan

I was protecting Pa,

I wonder whether it was all for nothing,

and whether his choices
ever caught up to him.

You dipping your cock at the fights again?

Business has been slow.

Ah. You thought
you were smart sending her off

with her runaway mother maiden name.

But now your Black head,
chiney daughter dead.

And we're not going to let you
run our brother's shop into the ground,

just like how you run
all the women out your life.

So get out.

No.

This is my family's shop.

Not anymore.

I never forgave Pa for what he'd done.

But I was starting to understand

how each of our choices,
not luck, leads us to the next,

until, little by little,

we wake up one day
wondering how we ever got here.

Coolies, go home!
Chiney not welcome!

Mm.

That'll be...
one pound and four shillings.

How much for the rice and peas alone?

My mother's sick, so she can't keep down.

Silly me.

Everything half off today
to make room for new goods.

Don't pity me.

Pity a pretty thing like you?
No, no, no, no.

It's just your lucky day today, is all.

That'll be...

12 shillings.

You have flour in your hair.

Come, come.
Hmm?

Wow. Me never feel hair like this.

And what kinda hair is that?

Black and straight.

And coarse as a brush.

Thank you.

For as long as I can remember,

the story Pa told everyone was that

he learned
how to weigh risk against reward,

and his willingness to take a chance
put food on his parents' table

and ours.

But the story Pa wasn't telling anyone

was that there's no real formula to luck.

He just thought his would never run out.

Where's my money?

I'll get it to you soon.

The business will pick up again.
I'm sure of it.

I have a way
that you can... erase all your debts.

Now.

Without money.

She only 16!

No better age for a wife.

Eh-Covey's got a mouth on her.

Trust me, Clarence.
You don't want the trouble.

Nothing worse than a girl
who doesn't know when to shut her mouth.

You will get your money, with interest.

I better.

And if you try to make a fool of me,

well, I'll arrange the marriage myself.

To my wife!

Here he is, the proud pa of the bride...

Excuse me, sir, can we help you? You good?

I thought that was you.

What have I done, Pearl?

How did I let this happen?

Now you're asking this?

All I ever wanted to do
was help my family.

Someone needs to do something.

Maybe it's not too late.

Enough!

Get back out there
before someone sees you.

Let go of me!

We have to stop this!

We have to find a way.

The last thing
that poor girl needs right now

is for her father to make a scene
on top of everything else.

What is it?

That Gibbs Grant boy.

He was here.

You're drunk.

That boy left for London weeks ago.

Clarence?

Clarence!

Looks like someone found a way.

Call an ambulance!
Call for somebody!

Give me a tissue.

Water. Water.

My brother, he needs help.
Call an ambulance. My brother!

When I think of my pa now,

I imagine that hope
was really all he had left in the end.

Hope that if he couldn't rescue me
from a marriage to Little Man,

someone else would.

And someone else did.

For a while, everyone thought it was Pa.

Even Bunny sent me away thinking that,

but she was wrong.

Pa didn't come through.

His luck had run out.

Elly!

Elly!

Eleanor?

Happy new year, Eleanor.

Coventina.

Coventina Brown?

Was she your friend?

I'm so sorry.

She didn't make it.

Elly?

No.

God.

Elly...
Elly? Is that short for...

Would you rather I called you Elly, dear?

No.
Sorry?

Pa's lucky streak may have ended.

Not mine.

I had been given a second chance.

And a new story to tell.

B and B,

this is how I really became your ma,

the woman you know as...

Eleanor.