[calming music playing]
[groans softly]
[sighs]
I just made a fresh pot.
[music ends]
Late night at the office, huh?
Yeah, I was working on the presentation.
And you had nowhere else to sleep?
I'm number 373 on a public housing list of 373.
Oh.
But I'm moving to Colin's couch tonight, and in the meantime,
Bun's with Ting.
This is just till I get my own place.
Wait, you didn't move out of your mom's place because of me, did you?
No, I moved out because of her.
And me.
And then maybe you.
So you're like... a distant third.
Hm.
[Siaja] It'll be nice to have the pitch over with, but...
I'm gonna miss having you here.
Yeah, no emotions till after coffee, please.
Look, Siaja, whatever happens with the presentation today,
make sure it comes from here.
Your dad belly?
Your heart.
I don't have a dad belly.
- It's okay. - [whimsical music playing]
Dad bods are cool now.
Huh.
[music ends]
[door opens and closes]
[woman] Hey, are you coming inside? I'm ready to check out.
Sorry, store's closed.
But you let me walk right past you. I said hello.
Yeah, these things happen. We're closed.
- All right? I'm taking a personal day. - [scoffs]
[downbeat music playing]
[music ends]
- [cheesy dance music playing on speaker] - We'd like to give you a warm welcome
to our beautiful corner of the world.
We're here to show you why the only logical place
for your polar ecosphere research station is right here in...
[both] Ice Cove, Nunavut!
It's surprisingly hard to say the same thing at the same time.
- But... - [both] Practice makes perfect.
- [both laugh] - [music stops]
In the real presentation, are you gonna be high-fiving a lot?
I would at least space them out.
Like, one up top, and then one never again.
Guys, if we get this research station,
it'll bring enough money to fully fund my community programming, so focus.
Ugh, poopski. Some visitor just cut off their own finger with an ulu.
[Siaja] Oh, that sounds bad.
I'm pretty sure it's just part of the finger,
but they're using "I should sue" language.
I gotta go.
Yeah, we got this.
Do we? Siaja, we need this. The feds are coming down with budget cuts.
Yeah, but if we ace this, we have enough money for all of it.
And I'll be able to keep paying you.
And both of you.
Shit, we really need to win this.
["Peace Sells" by Josh Q playing]
♪ What do you mean I don't believe in God? ♪
♪ I talk to him every day ♪
♪ What do you mean I don't support your system? ♪
♪ I go to court when I have to ♪
♪ If there was a new way... ♪
[Neevee] You wanna take me out?
Do it.
You get one last shot.
[song continues]
[exhales sharply]
[scoffs]
That's what I thought.
♪ Peace sells, but who's buying? ♪
I win again.
Chickenshit.
♪ Peace sells... ♪
I wouldn't do that.
[song fades out]
Hey.
- Hey. - Hey.
Today's the big day.
The whole community's coming out too, right?
You excited? You ready?
- Yeah, I feel good. - Good.
Helen insisted that we memorize the entire pitch, including, um,
"insert light chuckle here."
I gotta hear this light chuckle.
Um... [chuckling awkwardly]
- Yeah, that's pretty weird. - [both laughing]
So, where you off to now?
Gonna woo the committee with country food.
Um, are you wrapping up?
Uh, yeah, our flight's... Our flight leaves Monday.
- Oh God. - Yeah.
That's soon. Um, this place won't be the same without you.
And I'm sorry about the other night.
Missing chess.
Yeah, Colin told me about the whole Ting thing, so I'm sorry.
Yeah, I probably wouldn't have been any fun anyway.
[Kuuk] Hm.
I'm a bit of a... wreck.
Oh, yeah? Well, for the record, you don't look like a wreck.
[gentle music playing]
[chuckles softly]
Um...
Well, I'd better get going.
[Elisapee] So, what are you doing in here?
That corny sign?
Thought there'd be more laughs here.
Ah.
You know I don't like you.
You know,
I don't like you either.
But I see you.
Did you know I went to residential school with your mom?
- Mm-hm. - No, I... I didn't.
It's really hard to know how to be a mom...
when you never got to see yours.
[dark music playing]
They taught us how to keep secrets.
And they get heavier and heavier
the longer you hold them.
[scoffs]
Yeah.
I share mine with God.
Who do you share yours with?
[scoffs]
I didn't like Siaja at first.
Thought she was like you.
Slutty. Godless. Shameless.
Okay, I get it.
But she loves the community.
You're a sinner.
But you raised a good kid.
[dark music rises]
[sniffles]
Don't let the secrets come between you.
[music ends]
Okay, I'm finished.
You can go.
[Neevee laughs]
Thanks.
Thank Him.
- Nah. - [choral music playing]
I don't think I'll be coming back here.
[Elisapee] Good.
Because you're a bad influence.
[chuckles]
[music ends]
[both enthusiastically] Ice cove, Nunavut!
[Helen] Nailed it!
Okay, I'm gonna go to the airport, pick up the selection committee.
- How much time do I have? - Forty-five minutes and counting.
- Okay. Yeah. - You feel good?
Fit as a fiddle, ready to diddle.
- Mm-mm. - Ugh.
That was workplace-inappropriate. I'm nervous.
We're good! Look at us! We're not nervous.
As soon as you said we're not nervous, I got immediately so nervous.
But time is ticking, Helen. 44 minutes and 48 seconds.
- Yep, on it. - Forty-seven, forty-six...
[Helen] I said I'm on it.
We're gonna win this, right, guys?
- It is possible. - Mm. Mm.
[water pouring]
[vibrant music playing]
You vengeful prick.
[Alexis] After Ottawa, I think it's only fair that you pick.
You know, 'cause I narrowed it down to Nepal or California, and I just...
I want you to make the final decision, you know?
[Kuuk] Oh, that's sweet.
Uh, remind me again, why California?
Because... Remember?
Because they wanted me to cover Coachella.
Right. That would be cool. Yeah.
Yeah, right, I think that'll be cool.
That's a big plus for California, actually.
But also, it's good for me, my career. I think it'll be good for you too.
You can clear your head after such a tough year.
You could figure things out again.
I know you struggle to know what you want, but I really want this.
I want us. But, Kuuk, you have to tell me now.
Do you know what you want?
[woman] Hey, Siaja, you weren't answering your phone.
Your mom needs your help.
My mom's problems are not my problem.
[woman] I'm serious, Siaja.
Your mom's store's flooding, and she's not doing anything.
[Colin] But you only have 38 minutes.
So she better hurry.
Siaja, it's like something inside her broke.
She needs you.
[Siaja scoffs] Babysitting Neevee, story of my life.
[music fades out]
[door opens]
[Siaja] Holy shit.
Well, if this isn't a sign, I don't know what is.
It's too bad you don't sell snorkels.
We need to talk.
Well, you're about... 26 years too late.
[Neevee] Just... shut up and listen.
[voice breaking] Before you came along,
I had another baby.
W... What?
She... She was taken from me.
She was
taken by her father,
a white man.
I have a sister?
Yeah.
I was 16.
He was so much older,
and I didn't have any money
or a lawyer or anything, and...
He... [exhales]
I thought that he was taking her to visit his family.
But they never came back.
[sobs softly]
So, uh, when I had you...
I couldn't risk losing you too.
That's why you pushed Alistair away.
And kept me a secret.
Mom.
No...
I love you, Mom.
[sobs] How? I lost your sister.
You didn't lose anyone.
She was stolen.
[dramatic music playing]
[Neevee sobbing]
You're my baby.
[Siaja] It's okay.
I'm here.
I'm not going anywhere.
[music fades out]
[Helen] So then I found this other rock that was more pinkish, and...
Yeah. Those are all experiences that took place right here
in Ice Cove, Nunavut.
Now we go to the video. How we doing on that?
- Almost got it. - Not even close.
[Helen] Call Siaja again. I can't do this without her.
Do me a favor.
Close your eyes and imagine a snowy, snowy fjord.
[both sniffling]
[phone buzzing]
[chuckles softly]
Gonna get that?
It's nothing.
It's just Helen.
Oh, wait.
Was your presentation today?
I'm not leaving.
I'm not gonna let you piss this away because of me.
- [uplifting music playing] - But we're a mess.
What else is new?
Above, a couple of ptarmigans,
flying in the sky like jazz hands.
- There is a lot of wildlife here. - [door opens]
It's small.
- Close to the ground. - [Alistair] Oh, thank God.
[Siaja] Yes, Helen, I know. I'm here now. I'm sorry.
Don't apologize now. Save that for when we're alone.
Yes, of course. Of course.
Hi. Welcome.
New faces, familiar faces. Thanks for coming.
- [Colin] We don't have the password. - [clears throat] Right.
Hi. Sorry, sorry. My password is Password123, capital P.
- [Millie] Yeah. - Okay.
Did you already...
Oh, yeah. About four or five times.
Um...
- Is it okay if I just jump in? - Oh, please. Go ahead.
Okay.
Hit it.
["Tusaqpaktavut" by Joshua Haulli playing on computer]
Ice Cove, Nunavut. Population 2,200.
From our quaint but fully functional airport
to our many outfitters, we have so much to offer your research center.
Um, due to our location in the Central Arctic,
we are a travel hub to all three regions of Nunavut.
Operational costs are an important factor for you to... to consider.
Uh...
You know what? Can we pause the video, please?
[music cuts off]
Look, I'm new to this job, but I'm not new to this town.
This place is amazing.
I mean, Tuktuktalik has good people too.
I guess.
And it's for sure a much shinier place than this.
You see that hole in the wall?
Or not. You don't have to look.
My predecessor had a bad day. We could have papered over it, but why?
It's part of this place's story.
What's that saying?
- "Cracks are to let the light shine in"? - [uplifting music playing]
I think it's the opposite.
Sometimes the cracks are there to let the light shine out.
So, if you want to study the real Arctic,
you need to be here.
For too long, people have been coming to the Arctic to try and change us.
But I'm asking you to let this place change you.
Because we've been doing our own research for the past 20,000 years.
So on that note,
I would like to pass it on to Helen
for budget, timeline, and recommendations.
- [Siaja] Nakurmiik. - [Helen] Um...
Tough act to follow.
Uh...
If I knew we were gonna improvise, I would have prepared something.
- Okay. - [Millie chuckles]
[Colin exhales]
What you think they're talking about?
They couldn't have made a decision.
That's not how it works, is it?
[Neevee] It doesn't matter what the suits think.
That's the only thing that matters, is what the suits think.
Here they come. Here they come. Be cool.
Thank you. Take care. Bye. Safe flight.
[door opens]
- [door closes] - Well, you did great.
And they wanted me to tell you that.
But, uh, apparently, Tuktuktalik has better infrastructure and, uh, internet.
And they just opened a new sushi place.
Wait, but that...
That slippery bitch Ellen bought the contract.
But that... that's not fair.
[Helen] Yeah, fair schmair.
In this job, I've learned that failure is like a new pair of shoes
that really hurt your feet until you get used to the pain.
Okay, well, there was some good news too.
They loved the plan B idea.
There was a plan B?
They have agreed to put a satellite office here in Ice Cove.
I know it's not gonna be the research station money we all wanted,
but it's still not nothing.
And, well, I, uh...
I kind of put my hand up to run the place.
You're staying?
- Mm-hm. - [joyful music playing]
Yay.
[Helen] Well, all right.
We had a celebration planned, so I'm gonna put my dancing pants on
and get this party started. Right?
Well, I'm staying, so yeah.
- Huh? Come on. There you go. - [Alistair] All right, Helen.
["Shivers (Ofenbach remix)" by Ed Sheeran playing]
♪ Lipstick on my guitar, ooh ♪
♪ Fill up the engine We can drive real far ♪
♪ Mm, you got me feelin' like ♪
♪ Ooh, I love it When you do it like that ♪
♪ And when you're close up Give me the shivers ♪
♪ Oh, baby, you wanna dance Till the sunlight cracks ♪
♪ And when they say the party's over Then we'll bring it right back ♪
♪ And we'll say Ooh, I love it when you do it like that ♪
♪ And when you're close up Give me the shivers ♪
So, you're staying?
Yeah, looks like it.
♪ When they say the party's over Then we'll bring it right back ♪
But for them.
♪ On the backseat in the moonlit dark ♪
Not for us.
♪ Ooh, I can't get enough ♪
[Alistair] Hey!
- Party animal! - [Bun] Grandpa!
- Shall we dance? - Oh yeah!
- [clears throat] - [plastic tapping softly]
- This is so quiet. - [Millie] Clink, clink, clink!
- I appreciate it. - It's a speech. Clink! Clink!
[Colin] Don't tell them. That's a spoiler.
- [music cuts off] - Uh, I just wanted to make a toast.
To the second-best town in Nunavut... to Ice Cove!
[all cheering]
[Helen] Wait. One more thing.
Hello. I'd like to thank everybody for recognizing all my hard work today.
I'm so proud of the presentation.
I could not have done it alone
quite so well.
I have a gift for my trusty assistant, Siaja.
- Come on up here. - Okay.
It's for you.
Oh!
Try it on.
It really brings out your eyes.
Oh, yes!
[woman] It's Helen Junior!
[Millie] There you go.
This is a forever moment.
- They're twins. - [woman] So beautiful.
[Colin] Really special.
- Beautiful! - [Millie] Definitely look great.
[Siaja] So thoughtful.
[Colin] Let's dance!
["Shivers" resumes]
[all chattering]
[Kuuk] No rest for the wicked, eh?
[Siaja] Oh, hey.
But more importantly, you killed it in there.
Yeah.
- I did kinda kill it. - [chuckles]
Pretty cool that Alistair's staying.
[Kuuk] Mm-hm, yup.
On that note, um... [clears throat]
Alistair's gonna need some help.
So, turns out I'm also gonna be sticking around a little longer.
- Really? - Yeah.
This is the first place I've ever lived that's actually just felt like home.
I don't know. I'm not ready to leave yet, so...
Yeah, no, totally.
But look, I need to give you a heads-up that--
[Alexis] Siaja, hi!
Did Kuukie tell you already?
I asked him to wait so that we could tell you together.
We're staying! Isn't that awesome?
- Yeah! Besties! - [Siaja awkwardly] Oh, yeah. Cool.
There's so much we can do to reorganize this community.
It's like the perfect blank slate.
I've already been sharing some ideas with Helen.
And I think, between my contacts and her experience,
that we can really optimize how things run around here, you know what I mean?
So we might get to be coworkers!
- Amazing! - [Kuuk chuckles awkwardly]
[scoffs]
♪ Give me the shivers ♪
♪ Oh, baby, you wanna dance Till the sunlight cracks ♪
♪ And when they say the party's over Then we'll bring it right back ♪
♪ And we'll say, ooh I love it when you do it like that ♪
[Alistair] Let's dance!
[woman] Let's dance!
[all whooping]
Are we the problem?
- Probably. - [both laughing]
[Siaja] Any motherly advice?
Rent is due on the first Friday of every month.
And don't piss off the landlady.
["Anirniq" by Silla & Rise playing]
- [Siaja] Hey, Mom? - [Neevee] Yeah?
[Siaja] We don't have any shamans in our bloodline, do we?
["Anirniq" continues]
[music fades out]