All language subtitles for Black.Cake.2023.S01E02.WEB.h264-ETHEL.en[cc]

[Eleanor]
Previously on Black Cake...

[Benny] Ma is dead.

You didn't even tell
me she was sick.

Read the will, please.

[Mr. Mitch] Your mother left you
a message.

She wanted you to listen to all
seven recordings.

[Eleanor on recording]
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.

[Eleanor]
My father sold his little girl.

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

you are dead to me.

[choking]

[body thuds]

[people clamoring]

I didn't kill your brother.

-[kicks]
-[Lin grunts]

[Winston] Then who did?

[Bunny] 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.

[Eleanor] It would take time to
get used to London.

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

[Eleanor]
I didn't realize it then.

But to ensure my safety,

Elly would have to die.

[Eleanor on recording]
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.

[sighs deeply] I'm sorry.

Can we stop, please?

[clicks]

[Mr. Mitch] 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.

[insects chirring outside]

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!

[Mr. Mitch] 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.
-[sighs]

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?
-[Benny scoffs]

[Mr. Mitch] 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!
-[Byron] 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.

-[Benny sighs]
-[Byron] I've been waiting

almost a decade
for this promotion,

and I need to be there.

-[phone vibrating]
-[Benny scoffs]

[sighs]

[phone continues vibrating]

[Benny sighs]

Tea?

[kettle whistling]

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.

[Benny chuckles]

I cannot imagine Ma

needing anybody's
help with anything.

[Mr. Mitch chuckling]

[Benny] 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.

[Benny] Oh, thanks.

I wanted to open my own café,

so I could serve tea
just like this.

-[chuckles]
-Hm.

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.

[chuckling] Even got me to subscribe to
your YouTube channel.

[Benny laughs]

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. [sighs]

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.

[♪ poignant music playing]

You are a great listener.

-[Mr. Mitch scoffs]
-[Benny laughs]

I'm a lawyer. [chuckles]

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.

[door opens]

[door closes]

[♪ somber music playing]

[sighs]

[sharp exhale]

♪♪

♪♪

[sniffles]

♪♪

[deep inhale]

[sharp exhale]

[sniffles]

♪♪

[keypad clacking]

[sniffles]

[Eleanor on voicemail]
Benedetta, please come home.

[clicks play again]

[Eleanor]
Benedetta, please come home.

[clicks play again]

-[Benny sobbing]
-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...
-[door closes]

I got stuck in the lab.

Please, sit.

-Byron.
-Hey.

[Dale] 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...
-[Marc] 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.

[♪ somber music playing]

[Marc] 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.

[door closes]

[♪ melancholic music playing]

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.

[Byron] 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.

[Benny sighs]

[glasses clink]

[Byron chuckles]

[clicks]

[Eleanor on recording] 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.

[rain falling, thunderclaps]

[Eleanor]
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.

[rain falling]

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.

[knocking at door]

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.

-[child hooting]
-[Mrs. Quintrell clapping]

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?

[Children] Yes, Mummy.

Good. Now come greet her.

Pleased to meet you.

Please to meet you too, Theo.

Thank you.

[Eleanor] 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.

[indistinct chatter]

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.

[girls laughing]

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.

[girls laughing]

[Edwina] Go clean up.

Put on something
with a little... personality.

You look like
a drowned rat. [chuckles]

Thank you for inviting me, but...

[exhales]
I've had a long day.

Maybe next time.

[Lorna scoffs]

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

[Eleanor]
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?

[sighs]

♪♪

[knocker clangs]

[women chatting indistinctly]

[Eleanor] 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.

[♪ "Easy Come Easy Go"
by The Pioneers playing]

♪ Bum-bum, bum-ba-dum-da-dum,
bum-bum ♪

[people chattering]

[Eleanor]
But as the months wore on,

the loneliness became
unbearable.

[♪ distant music, chattering]

[♪ melancholic music playing]

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
andflavors of home.

[stove sizzling]

What this?

You're supposed to make
fish and chips today.

I thought I'd make
something special.

A recipe from home.

[slurps]

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.

[Eleanor] I was determined to keep my
memories of home alive.

And although it was a risk,

it was one I was
willing to take.

♪♪

[rain falling]

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!

[Eleanor] But the truth was
finally sinking in,

I could never go back again.

I wanted fish and
chips, you know?

[door opening]

[Covey sniffling]

[Covey continues sniffling]

Coventina.

Are you okay?

[crying] 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.

[shells rattling]

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.

[slight chuckle]

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?

[both laugh]

[♪ poignant music playing]

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.

♪♪

[thunder rumbling]

[♪ light music playing]

♪♪

[Eleanor] Elly gave me hope.

She gave me permission
to be me,

permission to find ways
to feel connected to home

-[♪ "Ride Away" by The Revlons playing]
-without jeopardizing my safety.

♪ Oh, no, no, ride away ♪

♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh ♪

♪ Ride away ♪

♪ Oh... ♪

Congratulations. You did it.
[chuckles]

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.

[Elly] Careful, she put
so much rum in there,

you'll surely get drunk
off the fumes.

-Ooh!
-[Elly and Lorna laugh]

Come, let's dance.

[Edwina] 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.

[Delroy] Coventina, which school did you
go to in Maryville?

My aunt's a teacher
over at Stanton.

Oh, that's where
I went, Stanton.

[chuckles]
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.

[Delroy laughs]

I was always terrified of her.

She was so strict with us.

Mm. Maybe she was nice
around the girls.

[chuckles]

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.

[chuckles] 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.

[♪ "Have a Good Time"
by The Skatalites playing]

♪ Goodbye, I hate
to see you go... ♪

[Eleanor] My luck was not going
to hold out much longer.

I had to take fate
into my own hands.

[heavy breaths]

[door opens]

[Elly chuckles]

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?

[chuckling] 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?

♪♪

[train horn blaring]

[indistinct chatter]

Almost there. [chuckles]

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

[both giggle]

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.

[Waiter] Tea. Here we are, dear.

Thank you.

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

[Elly] Edwina and the girls
will never notice.

[both laughing]

To Scotland.

[train horn blaring]

[wheels screeching]

[thudding in slow-motion]

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[people screaming]

[♪ tense music playing]

[people screaming, groaning]

[winces]

[indistinct shouting]

[Eleanor] 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.

[congregation quietly murmurs]

[Pastor Dennis] Let us pray.

[♪ mournful choral
music playing]

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.

[indistinct chatter]

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 panting]

-[waves crashing]
-[birds squawking]

[♪ somber music playing]

[softly weeping]

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...

[voice breaking]
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.

[Eleanor]
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.

[Winston/Percival singing]
♪ You done stole my belongings ♪

♪ And give to your China man ♪

[in Patois]
Hm. Hello.

[in English] You dipping
your cock at the fights again?

-Business has been slow.
-[cash register dings]

Ah. You thought you were smart
sending her off

with her runaway mother
maiden name.

[Percival chuckles]

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. [laughs]

-So get out.
-No.

This is my family's shop.

Not anymore.

[♪ ominous music playing]

[cash register drawer shuts]

[Lin thuds]

[Lin grunting in pain]

[Percival kicking]

[Lin groans]

[Eleanor] 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.

[glass shattering]

[Bystander] Coolies, go home!
Chiney not welcome!

[speaking Hakka]

[in Hakka]
It will all be over soon.

Lin, no!

Go to Mr. Wong's.

Tell him you need
a fish head for soup.

[Young Lin] Mm.

[indistinct chatter]

[people clamoring]

[roosters clucking]

[fence rattling]

[indistinct shouting]

[frenzied squawking
and clucking]

[excited chattering]

[fence rattling]

Ma Ma! Ba Ba!
Look what I have won!

Where did you get that from?

At the Cockfights!

Now we can eat
like an Emperor...

And we can replace
the goods, too!

My prince gets the best pieces.

[♪ poignant music playing]

[in English] 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...

[Lin quietly muttering]

12 shillings.

♪♪

[Mathilda chuckles]

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.

[in Hakka]
I saw that.

Don't go flirting with
no Hak Gwai girls.

You need a girl
who knows how to prepare

the Fung Bow for the children
on Chinese New Year.

A girl who brings you
and our family good luck.

You hear me?

[♪ "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"
by The Shirelles playing]

[in English]
♪ Tonight,you're mine completely ♪

♪ You give your love
so sweetly... ♪

[Eleanor]
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.

♪ Is this a lasting
treasure? ♪

[spectators cheering]

♪ Or just a moment's
pleasure? ♪

♪ Can I believe the magic
of your sighs? ♪

♪ Will you still love me
tomorrow? ♪

[squawking]

[indistinct shouting and cheers]

[Eleanor] But the story Pa wasn't
telling anyone

was that there's no real
formula to luck.

He just thought
his wouldnever run out.

♪ Will you still love
me tomorrow? ♪

♪ Will you still love
me tomorrow? ♪

♪ Will you still love
me tomorrow? ♪

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.

[♪ ominous music playing]

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.

[Little Man chuckling]

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.

[♪ ominous music continues playing]

[Little Man] To my wife!

[guests cheering]

[Indistinct chatter]

[camera shutter snaps]

[♪ lively music playing]

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

[Bystander] Excuse me, sir,
can we help you? You good?

[Lin exhales sharply]

[heavy breaths]

[Pearl] 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.

[♪ upbeat calypso music playing]

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.

[thud]

[guests gasp and scream]

Clarence?

Clarence!

Looks like someone
found a way.

[Percival] Call an ambulance!
Call for somebody!

Give me a tissue.

Water. Water.

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

[Eleanor]
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.

[heavy breaths]

[people screaming, coughing]

[Woman] Help me!

Elly!

Elly!

[grunting]

[groaning]

[grunting]

[♪ solemn music playing]

[Nurse echoing] 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?

[Eleanor] 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.

[♪ poignant music playing]

Captioned by Point.360