01x02 - Silence

[bunniefuu]

Nicky! We didn't want to
wake you up yet. Come on.

What is all this?

Your welcome home breakfast,
of course.

Golden child's back, baby. Eat up.

Where's Mama?

Whipping up your favorite jeok.

She's been cooking
since the cr*ck of dawn.

You know how she likes
to take her time with it.

Simmer, never boil.

Jeok cannot be rushed.

I'm glad you got some sleep.

I know you've got
a million things to catch up on,

but I really need your help.

- Bridesmaid dresses.
- Mm!

Stand in line.

Nicky owns me at least 96 pickup games,
if I'm doing my math right.

Not before she goes fishing with me.

Lake Merced wasn't the same without you.

The trout weren't biting.

First things first,
I was speaking to Mrs. Lee's son,

he is a partner at a big firm downtown.

He said you are welcome
to intern in his office.

Mama,

actually, I don't think I'm going
to go to law school anymore.

I see.

I respect your decision.

You should follow your heart.

Thank God you came to your senses.

Law school would have been boring.

Mama! Mama, the jeok is burning.

The sword is not meant for you.

Shifu!

No!

Poor, scared girl.

You'll never be strong
enough to wield the sword.

No!

Nicky? How did you...

You always did the Marina loop
on clear days,

and the Park loop on foggy days.
So I took a chance.

And if I didn't find you at the park,

I was gonna swing by Bluestone Coffee.

Where you would have also found me.
Wow, am I totally boring?

I swear I'm not creepy,
stalker ex-girlfriend,

just lurking around corners
waiting to talk to you.

As long as you don't break
into my apartment again.

I used a key so technically...

Technically still unlawful entry.

So, what's going on?

I'm just having a hard time focusing.

I had a nightmare about Zhilan again.

I wanted to see if you had any leads.

Well, it's 6:00 a.m.

I haven't checked my emails,

and not to mention all you gave me
was a first name and some sketches.

Some very detailed sketches.

I know it's important, but without more
to go on, it's going to take some time.

I wish I remembered more.

When I think about Zhilan,
all I see is the horrible stuff.

My shifu.

Is that what your nightmare was about?

Yeah, I was back at the monastery,

but this time Zhilan took me down.

And before that,
it was all about my family.

But this bizarro version,
where no one is mad at me.

I thought things were looking up
at home, now that Tony Kang is gone?

I guess so.

I mean, I don't really know.

I haven't spent much time with anyone
since I moved back in.

Well, maybe that's the problem.

They might not admit it,
but they miss you.

We all did.

Look.

Go talk to them, Nicky, all right?

I'll keep you posted with any updates.

Oh, hi, Mama.

I thought you were still sleeping.

I went for a walk.

Jin, Jin! We're late.

One second. I think I know where it is.

You said that 30 minutes ago.

I'm fine, Ryan, I never felt better.

Good, so it won't take long.

You haven't had a checkup
since you left the hospital.

Hey Nicky, you're up.
We wanted you to sleep in.

I'll be in the car.

We'll catch up tonight, okay?

Talk some sense into Dad, will you?

He needs a checkup,
and he's been saying he's too busy.

I'll try.

You need to do
a little better than try.

I've been doing it alone
for three years.

Ryan, we gotta go.

Mom needs the minivan back by noon,

and I have to pick up
the centerpieces from Marin.

I thought you were still sleeping.

This saves me a reminder text.

Dress shopping at 10:00,
cake tasting at 2:00.

Don't be late!

Good morning.

You must stop.

Zhilan.

Middle.

That's class, everybody.

Thank you very much.
See you next time.

Zhilan's pendant.

Hi. How did you...

I had a dream. Well, actually a memory.
Kind of both.

I know Zhilan was wearing this.

Maybe if we can track it,
it'll give us a clue about who she is.

It looks like some kind of crane.

Does that mean something?

Cranes represent wisdom
in about a thousand

different Chinese legends.

Based on symbolism alone,

kind of hard to narrow it down
to something useful.

How accurate is this sketch?

You mean, am I a good artist?

Well, this pictograph looks consistent
with Shang era art styles.

If we can find an exact match,
that could tell us something.

Should we hit the library?

Sure, but I've got TA duty in an hour.

Later?

Yeah, okay.

You been training since you got back?

Does fighting gangsters count?

No, not since I came home.

I haven't even stretched.

Why?

I keep hearing my Shifu's voice
telling me to

"Find the quiet within."

But I can't.

You're dealing with a lot.

And reentry's always hard.

When I got back from Beijing,
took me months to get my routine back.

You trained in China?

Wushu Academy. Two years.

You know, the studio is free
for another hour if you want to train.

Come on, Nicky, I want to see it.

Just a minute. The zipper's tricky.

I told you to stop calling me.

This conversation is over.

Look at you.

What was up with that phone call?

Oh, wedding vendor.
This guy's trying to gouge me on favors.

Oh.

Do you love it?

It's beautiful.

I'm sensing a "but."

No. I'm just getting
used to dressing up.

Basically wore the same thing
for three years.

Well, you rocked the dress
at my date-picking ceremony

and absolutely slayed in it.

Oh...

Maybe too much.

I totally forgot, you have k*ller legs.

You can't pull Pipp on me
at the wedding.

Kate Middleton's sister.

She wore this super tight
bridesmaid's dress...

I was only gone for three years,
I know who you're talking about.

Marisa, I think we go full length.

And can you work your magic
on the neckline,

off the shoulder?

- No, I like the one shoulder like this.
- Let her do it.

- Stop it.
- No. I think it looks good.

- What is that?
- Nothing.

I just don't want to talk
about it right now.

You said it was a fire at the monastery.

You didn't say anything
about being att*cked.

I may have left some parts out.

I should have known
that there was more to the story.

Sorry. Today was supposed to be
about you,

picking out dresses.

If anything had happened to you...

Why didn't you tell us?

I couldn't.

How do you think
Mom would have taken it?

Really bad.

Mama? Sorry I've been gone
for three years, but I'm back now.

Oh, by the way,
I'm not going to law school.

Kind of busy tracking down Zhilan.

Hold on. What?
You're trying to track her?

The crazy, sword-wielding psychopath

who shish-kebabbed you,

threw you over a cliff,
and torched the monastery.

She k*lled my shifu.

And she almost k*lled you.

What, you want to give her
another cr*ck at it?

I don't know.

This is why I didn't tell anyone.

Not all of us get to live
in some bridal fairytale.

You couldn't possibly understand.

You have no idea what I've been through.

A lot has happened
since you've been gone.

Believe or not,
my life is no fairy tale.

Althea.

I didn't need mean...
Do you still want me at the tasting?

Yes.

Jin, customers are starting to arrive.

I knew it was here.

That game.

You are so quick to forgive.

She's our daughter.

I know you're hurt,
but we got Nicky back.

That's what we wanted for three years.

She abandoned us.

What if she does it again?

I don't want you to get your hopes up.

We don't even know why she's back.

She told us, there was a fire.

We should be grateful

that the first place she'd think of
was to come home.

Shifu!

Hey, you can't do this.

Shut up.

Please. Please.

- Please.
- No.

Stop! Get your hands off me.

Stop.

Get out of here.

Hey, wait! Are you okay?

Shifu.

Fear is the death of mindfulness.

You acted from fear,
and right action can't flow from fear.

Hmm?

Do not be afraid.
Help her.

Heard you have a standing
takeout order here every Friday.

You didn't tell me about
your peace treaty with my mom.

Once we stopped dating,

- it was surprisingly easy.
- Ah...

If you've tracked me down
for a Zhilan update...

Actually, it's not about Zhilan.

There's a girl, she's in trouble.

I saw her arguing with this guy,

he had a g*n, so I stepped in.

Stepped in?

Well, more like punched and kicked.

But after that,
the girl ran off with the g*n.

I think I broke up some kind of deal.

Jeez, Nicky.

I feel like I need to help her.

Why?

It's what I've been doing
the last three years.

We'd see a sister in need, we'd help.

These sisters you speak of,
were any of them packing heat?

I know how it sounds, Evan.

But she's just a kid,
and I could tell she's afraid.

All right, I'll call my buddy, Josh,
with the SFPD.

We can trust him.

He'll contact you, take your statement.

They might be able to locate her.

And if they do?

Well...

She may be in illegal possession
of a firearm.

She'll probably go into the system.

It's not pretty, but it beats her
hurting someone or herself.

Hello, Nicky.

Evan, I've put some spicy pickle for
your boss, 'cause I know he likes them.

Thanks, Mrs. Shen.

You'll get used to it.

You and my mom being friends? Never.

Nicky, wait up.

Look familiar?

Is that...

Our last match. We were four days in.

I remember. I was definitely gonna win.

If you're so sure, prove it.

Pick up where we left off,
eight o'clock, tonight.

Game on. Get ready to lose.

Bye, Baba.

Nothing in this.

One down.

Hundreds to go.

Waiting for a call?

Yeah, actually.

I had a run in with a girl today.

I think she's in trouble.

A detective is supposed
to call me about her.

You don't sound excited about it.

Cops find her,

maybe that's good.

Maybe that makes things worse.

I feel like I should be doing more.

Do you know her?

Not at all.

Don't know her address.
Don't know her name.

All I have is this.

But there's nothing useful in it.

No ID.

Well, there's this.

Either she's hitting the clubs
or she's staying at Montgomery House.

I recognize the band. It's a homeless
shelter in the Tenderloin.

That the detective?

Think so.

You gonna answer it?

Wait!

Wait!

Hey!

I just want to help.

Leave me alone.

I know you're afraid.
You don't want to sh**t me.

I don't think you want to sh**t anyone.

My name's Nicky.

Ronda.

Why did you follow me here?

Why'd you pull a g*n on me?

I thought you were a cop. I panicked.

Ronda, why did you need the g*n?

Who was it for?

Derek.

My mom's boyfriend.

I wasn't going to hurt him.

The g*n wasn't even loaded.

I didn't know how else to stop him.

Stop him from what?

My mom was injured at work
a couple years ago.

She got a small settlement
that we lived on.

And then she met Derek.

Our landlord jacked the rent way up,

so we moved in with him.

As soon as we did, though,

he took over everything,

my mom's bank account,
her medical treatments.

My mom started missing appointments,

getting behind on meds,

getting sicker.

I started to do the math.

Things didn't add up.

He was stealing from her.

A few weeks ago, I called him out on it.

He threw me out.

I've been living on the streets since,

and my mother's too scared
to stand up to him.

So you decided to take things
into your own hands?

I thought I could scare Derek,

get him to admit it,

get my mom to see.

It was a crazy, stupid plan.

You acted from fear.

And right action can't flow from fear.

Right action can't flow from fear.

When you're going through a lot,

it's hard to see things clearly.

You just have to find a way
to move forward without fear.

Are you hungry?

One bite per person.

Score each slice on a one-in-ten scale,

- and absolutely no talking.
- Huh?

Why?

It's a blind ranking.

I want your unbiased assessment,
each of you.

- Sorry.
- Nicky,

we're trying to hold to a schedule.

I know, I know. Just a sec.

Screw it. I'm starting.

- Ryan!
- What? I'm hungry,

and I have to be back
at the clinic in 30 minutes.

- Do you know who that is?
- I have no idea. Eat.

- Yuck.
- "Yuck"

is not a one-through-ten score. Mark it.

Who's your new friend?

Long story.

What? I'm here now, ready to roll.

Come on, cake me.

That one's yucky.

What did I say?

- It tastes like...
- Deodorant?

- Almost, but more like...
- Dad's aftershave!

Please! Just stick to the scores.

Speaking of Dad,
he hasn't shown at the clinic.

You seen him?

I did, but I forgot.

I'm sorry, Ryan.

- Next time, I promise.
- Uh-huh.

I know you're very busy...

hunting an international assassin.

- You told him?
- Ryan.

It's nuts, Nicky.

You're being nuts.

Respectfully, as your sister,
I had to tell Ryan. He's a...

Doctor.

- This one's pretty good.
- Mm-hm. Red velvet.

I just can't believe
you would violate my trust like that.

Is that cake?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Here.

Tell me what you think.

One-to-ten, please.

Who is she?

Ronda. She's homeless.

I'm trying to help her.

Her mom's boyfriend,

a real emotionally
abusive piece of trash,

has been stealing from her mom.

When Ronda spoke up, he threw her out.

Ronda's has been trying
to get her mom to leave him,

but she's dependent on him for housing,

and they don't have enough money
to sign a new lease.

There are programs,

transitional housing
for in-need families.

It's not completely free,

and it'll take some time
and money to arrange,

but Ronda and her mom could qualify

if you could get her out of there.

Yeah.

That's the part I'm stuck on.

Seriously, Nicky?

Weren't you pre-law?

This guy's an abuser and a thief.

Surely you learned something in school
you can use to force him out?

- You're right.
- Mm-hm.

Mom?

Mom, are you home?

Ronda, baby.

You came back.

Who's this?

It's Nicky.

She's my friend.

She's here to help.

Help? What?

Help us get out of here.

I know what Derek said,
I'll talk sense into him.

- You just came back.
- Mom, you know I can't stay here.

Not with him around.
And you can't either.

You don't have to live like this.

I need him. I can't make it without him.

No.

You don't need him.

We never needed him.

We don't have to be afraid anymore.

We have a plan,

and Nicky will help us.

Help us?

What do I do?

First, you need to revoke
Derek's power of attorney

to keep your money safe.

He's home early.

He switched shifts.
He gets Fridays off now.

Well, look who came crawling back.

I told you,
that was a lot of crying over nothing.

But don't tell me,

this is another one
of your social workers.

My name's Nicky.

I know everything that's going on here.

Oh, yeah? And what's that?

You've been using Carmen,
and she's ready for it to end.

Carmen? Are you hearing this crap?

- Carmen!
- Mom, please. Do it for us.

I want to be with Rondie, Derek.

She's my daughter.

And where are you gonna go, huh?

You're gonna leave here,
join your brat down at the shelter?

Actually, until we can find them
a new place,

- you're leaving.
- This is my apartment.

- Just a few days.
- Like hell.

This is your doing, isn't it?

You've been trying
to split us up since day one.

It's over, Derek.

Stay away long enough
for Ronda and Carmen to sort things out

and for us to get
a restraining order in place,

or you can make things difficult.

The theft, the abuse,

my friend at the DA's office
is already aware of the situation,

and he's just a phone call away.

Don't even think about
stepping a foot back in here

until I say so.

Forget this.

Baba.

Baba?

He waited for you.

I know, Mama.

I just forgot, that's all.

I didn't just mean tonight.

When you left for China,

he kept that board out for you
for months.

Even when I gave up hope,

told him you weren't coming back,

he didn't believe me.

He just waved me off and said,
"She will be back soon."

We fought over that board.

One day he just packed it up.

He didn't say a word.

Maybe it hurt too much.

When you came back,
I told him not to get his hopes up.

But he just can't help it with you.

Mama, I'm trying my best.

I know I left you, but I came back.

You may be back,
but do you really want to be here?

I think you just had nowhere else to go.

Am I wrong?

No.

Aren't you going to answer that?

- Hello?
- He took it!

- Nicky, he took it all.
- He took what?

Before my mom could sign the POA,

Derek went to the bank
and drained everything.

Her savings,
her safety deposit box, everything.

Nicky, we have nothing.

I'll be right there.

Go.

He's not answering Mom's calls,
but he texted back.

Says we have 24 hours before he comes
and kicks us out himself.

I started packing us up,

but we don't even
have enough money for a motel room.

My friend at the DA's office.
He can help,

maybe start an investigation,
get your money back.

The money will be gone before daybreak.

What do you mean?

Derek plays cards,

and he plays badly,

but he lives for it.

With all that's left
of my money in his pocket?

He's taking it straight to a table.

- Nicky! What's the latest?
- Long story.

Short version,
I need you to hack Derek's phone.

- Derek?
- The mom's boyfriend.

Sure thing. After you finish your form.

- My... what?
- Your taste test.

You left it blank.

Fine. Red velvet.

- That's my favorite.
- Great, so we agree.

Nicky, I did not go
through all that trouble

- just to be placated.
- Okay. Lemon cream!

Simple, elegant, delicious.

And I'm sorry, but I was in a monastery
for three years

and even I know red velvet's played out.

Thank you.

Do you have this creep's phone?

- No.
- Then I can't hack it.

I'm not a magician.

What about his computer?

Is that his?

It needs a password.

Not a problem.

If there's one thing I learned
about working in cybersecurity,

it's that 90% of people
are complete dumbasses about passwords.

Was this guy a dumbass?

Yeah.

Put me on speaker.

Hi, there.

May I get this gentleman's
first and last name,

last two digits of his birth year

and his most common nickname.

Derek Willmot, '71 and...

"The D-Man."

Okay.

Nicky, try "Willmot71."

- Nope.
- Try "DerekWillmot71."

Wrong.

Try "TheDMan71."

It worked. I'm in.

What are you seeing?

Let's see.

I see a conversation
with a guy named Harris,

two hours ago.

They're talking about a game tonight.

He's telling him to check his texts.

I got it! An address
and a security code.

Nicky? What you gonna do?

Go bust up some high rollers game night?

Althea, you are a beautiful,
brilliant genius

and I hope we never fight ever again.

Thank you.

I'm gonna get your money back.

I promise.

Players only.

I'm a player.

Yeah? Buy-in's a grand.

- I'm sorry. I have to...
- Not a chance.

Stop!

Excuse me?

That money, it's stolen.

Pardon the interruption.
We'll be escorting her out now.

No, that money's not his to play!

You say it's stolen?

Sir, I didn't catch your name
when you joined the table.

It's Derek.

Is what she saying true?

No. I never seen this girl in my life.

- He's lying.
- Well, he says you're lying.

And, as the host of this game,
I say the hand plays.

House rules, darling. Sorry.

Wait! No! That money's not his!
It's stolen!

Ronda and Carmen
are filing that Restraining Order.

If you ever mess with them again,
you'll be arrested.

And if the cops don't get you...

Got it?

Got it.

Now, like I said.

That money is stolen
and I'm taking it back.

My rules, darling.

All right,

we'll cancel this hand.

Give her the money.

I miss you.

It's been so hard
finding the quiet within,

because I've been too scared.

Scared of what, my child?

Of feeling it.

My grief for you.

Are you scared now?

Not of that, not anymore.

Helping Ronda,
practicing what you taught me,

it made me less afraid.

Past fear,

I can feel my grief as joy.

I feel clearer now.

Closer to you.

But I still don't know
how to honor you, Shifu.

How to stop Zhilan
and reclaim the sword.

I don't know
how to do all that without you.

Practice, Nicky.

Always practice.

Mindfulness will bring you
the clarity you seek.

The clarity to truly see
what's right in front of you.

Look at the stars

See how they move up in the sky

Good morning.

- No, Nicky.
- What?

You don't have to
make this up to me. It's okay.

No, Baba. It wasn't okay.

You sure?

It's Saturday morning, no brunch plans?

Mimosas at Althea's?

Nope. Just this.

Come on, play with me.

I will find the photo.

Actually, I was thinking a new match.

New board. A fresh start.

That game's nearly finished.

We start a new game
it could stretch out for days.

I'm not going anywhere.

I was thinking,
we'd play a few hours today

a few tomorrow,

then on Monday we swing by the clinic
so Ryan can check you out.

- I'm fine, Nicky.
- Baba.

Okay.

Good.

Now, let's... play.

Ah...

- How are they doing?
- Way better.

We're getting them into bridge housing,

and they feel so much safer
since the restraining order took effect.

Nicky, what you did for Ronda
was pretty amazing.

I couldn't have done it without you.

Glad I could help.

Hey. So I've got an update for you.

There was a ping on Zhilan.

She flew out of Beijing last night
headed to Singapore.

It's not all I got.

I had a couple of other contacts
do some off the record digging.

Pei-Ling and Zhilan were sisters.

My contact at the embassy
helped me dig up birth records.

You believe you are
the only one with a difficult family.

Zhilan k*lled her own sister?

Wow, um...

Evan, thank you so much, for everything.

You got it.

Henry?

Hey. Where've you been?

Finding the quiet within.

Glad to hear it.

So, your crane?

I found the pattern.
It's a symbol. One of eight.

According to this,

these symbols represent the bloodlines

of the eight mythical protectors
of these weapons.

The guardian families.

I just found out Zhilan
and Pei-Ling were sisters.

That means they were part of
the sword's guardian family?

The eight weapons,
the eight guardian families.

Most of lit treats it as pure myth,

but there's a professor
who takes it seriously.

He wrote this book,

and he's dedicated his life to

unraveling the mysteries
of these weapons.

Winston Chau. Turns out
he's a visiting professor at Berkeley.

- Seriously?
- I called his office.

He's giving a guest lecture
out of the country.

- His TA says he'll be back next week.
- We need to call him now.

Do you know where he is?

Yeah. Singapore.

Oh, my God,
that's where Zhilan's headed.

Oh.