["Ave Maria" by PIQSIQ playing]
[helicopter approaching]
[crowd exclaiming]
[all gasping]
[all exclaiming]
[all] Whoa!
[exclaiming]
Hey, don't beat yourself up about it.
We all have bad days in the office, right? [chuckles]
-[exclaiming continues] -[Colin] Ooh.
-[crowd gasping] -[song ends]
[Helen] We've been married 20 years.
You know how important this is to me. Oh, right there.
I scraped the gum off 70 chairs. I brewed coffee for the whole office.
-This is your tea, perfectly steeped. -Not now. I'm in a situation.
She found out her Zoom wine club changed to Wednesday nights.
And that's a problem?
Wednesday night is elders' night.
Do you know how hard it is to get a quality Malbec up here?
It's hard. Really hard.
First, Simon had to apply for a liquor permit,
then he had to submit it, I had to approve it,
then he had to order the wine,
find somebody in Ottawa to take the wine to the airport,
have it flown here, and now I have to drink it all by myself.
This is bullshit.
What if I ran elders' night?
[scoffs] Like I could trust you with that responsibility given your track record.
Helen, I can do this. I swear.
Ugh…
-[Siaja] Come on… -I…
[Siaja] Helen…
[Helen groaning]
Uh… [grumbling]
Honey, you always said that elders' night pretty much runs itself.
Yeah. I did design it well.
Okay.
-Oh my God. Really? -Yes. But I run a tight ship.
I love tight ships.
You have to open up, man the coffee station, make sure no one forgets teeth.
Easy peasy.
Clean up, lock up, and Siaja,
no surprises, and no open flames.
Mm-hm.
[Helen] Put that thumb down. She doesn't need encouragement.
I told you, she needs tough love.
Yeah, get that back in there.
[upbeat music playing]
[Alistair whistling]
-[Neevee grumbling] -[music ends]
I maybe was a little mean to you the other day.
And I might take some of it back.
Wow.
You're really bad at apologies.
-[scoffs] -[woman] Next!
I'm not apologizing.
Case in point.
Just stay away from me, and we won't have any problems, 'kay?
Okay, but it's a pretty small town.
Yeah, it's my small town.
Look, I know this whole situation is… pretty weird.
-[scoffs] -We're gonna keep running into each other,
so maybe we could just try and be a little bit more civil.
What, like pretend we don't know each other?
[woman] Next!
If that's what you need to be civil, sure.
Just a couple of strangers, you and me, huh?
Who apparently happen to have a 27-year-old kid together.
She's 26.
You're a terrible father.
Yeah, well, maybe because I never got the chance.
[woman] Next!
[joyful music playing]
[music fades out]
Oh! Hey, Mom, can you watch Bun tonight?
-I have a work thing, and I-- -Nope.
Ting's on an overnight. I'd appreciate if--
Welcome to being a single mother.
Wait, why are you mad at me? I'm… I'm mad at you.
-Nah… -[Bun] Ullaakkut!
-[Siaja] Good morning, love. -Hi, my sweet Tuktu.
[Bun giggling]
[whispering] Is it because I hung out with Alistair?
I have every right to get to know my father.
Don't be such a drama queen.
You're not the only half-breed without a dad.
Can you not say that? It's dehumanizing.
God, your generation is so sensitive. You're a half-breed Eskimo. Get over it.
[Bun] You guys sound like Fluffy and Charlie when you fight.
"You're a half-breed Eskimo. Blah, blah, blah. Gosh. Get over it."
[video game tune playing]
Hey, Bun.
You want to be my assistant tonight?
[gasping] Yeah! I'll go get my glasses.
Okay.
[Bun] Whoo-hoo!
See?
Expert-level parenting.
Bannock's burning.
[scoffing]
-Oh. No, no, no, no! -[laughing]
["Ikersuaq" by Quantum Tangle playing]
Hi, Bun.
[snoring]
[sighing]
-Kuuk? What are you doing here? -[exclaims] I'm here for elders' night.
My auntie Crystal, right there, she said it would help wash off my city boy stink.
-Yeah. -[sniffs]
-Ah, I think that's your cologne. -I'm not wearing any.
-[music ends] -Mm.
-You want a grand tour? -I'm supposed to be doing the coffee.
-So yeah, I do want a tour. Please. -Okay.
All right, well, this is where we play cards.
This is Maata, Josephina. What's up?
Careful. They're sharks.
-This is where we play chess. -I love chess.
-Yeah? -Yeah.
-We should play. -Yeah. If you like losing.
Oh, trash talk. I like.
And this is my number one homie, Kuuk.
-Did you just say "homie"? -Mm-hmm. This is OG Kuuk.
You call me your…
[in Inuktut] "Dear namesake."
-Atikuluk. Atikuluk. -Atikuluk.
-[in English] This is my namesake. -Mm-hm.
And this is my atikuluk's best friend, Lazarus.
He's Elisapee's brother.
-I know everyone in here. Yeah. -Oh.
[in Inuktut] Who's your mother?
[in English] He doesn't know you.
[in Inuktut] Um, Neevee's my mother.
Mm.
Ah, yes…
Now I recognize you.
[in English] I can't speak Inuktitut very well.
[in Inuktut] I'm sorry.
[in English] I'm sorry.
It's okay.
Your mother, Anaana,
it was hard at times when you were a little girl.
But now she's sober,
doing better.
Got a store going.
And helping everyone.
[in Inuktut] I'm grateful.
But this bannock…
it's overcooked.
[in English] Too much baking powder.
-Yeah. -And hard.
And a little bit burnt.
-Yeah. -[whimsical music playing]
[Siaja] Sorry.
Next time, I know you can make a better one.
[in Inuktut] Again, okay?
-[in English] Keep trying. -Yeah.
[shop door dinging]
[“Ilangani” by Beatrice Deer playing radio]
[Alistair] Whoa!
[in Southern accent] Well, excuse me, miss.
My sincere apologies.
What the hell are you talking about?
[in normal voice] We're strangers. Remember?
Well, watch where you're going… stranger.
-[Alistair grunts] -[Neevee sighs]
[whistles theatrically]
[Siaja] So, is elders' night always this…
[woman coughs]
…depressing?
[Kuuk] Uh, yeah. It kinda is.
["Move This" by Technotronic playing on headphones]
Bun, taima. You'll knock over an elder.
I can't hear you.
[Bun scatting to beat]
[women chatting happily]
She knows how to party. This is good. She's getting the people going.
Can you braid my hair?
Hup! Don't worry. I don't got lice.
[in Inuktut] Sweet thing wants braids, let's give her braids!
-Kuuk. -[in English] Yeah?
I have an idea.
[music ends]
[Colin on radio] Aingai, welcome to the only radio show in town.
[Siaja stiffly] Hey, good kids of Ice Cove.
The sun isn't the only thing staying up late this time of year.
Um, uh, yeah, you know what else is cool?
Elders' night is on Wednesday.
[mimicking a siren]
Ya feel me? [voice breaking] Be there or be square.
-Ha! What the heck was that? -Why do you sound like a white lady?
I don't know. I panicked.
I still don't get what we're doing here.
I just… I want elders' night to be less… basic.
So you want it to be less Helen without asking Helen.
Well, Helen is up to her eyeballs right now in Malbec,
and this is a perfect opportunity to show that I have initiative.
Do kids even listen to radio, though?
Ouch.
-[Kuuk] Sorry, I just… -But he makes a good point.
You know what? We gotta hit the streets.
[hip hop beat playing]
[kid] Hang on.
Whoa. What's up, kids?
Nice throws.
What are you kids up to on Wednesday?
-[music ends] -Are you a drug dealer?
No. Do I look like one?
Mm-mm.
Um, well, me and this guy over here,
we're trying to get some youth out for elders' night,
and it's going to be so much fun!
Are we getting paid?
You get the sweet gift of spending time with your elders.
-Twenty bucks each. -What?
[kid] Yeah. Twenty bucks.
Well, what about, uh,
free slushies?
Kuuk, you can't just bribe--
Okay, we'll do it.
See? All right.
But you gotta bring your friends.
Maybe.
Two slushies?
[joyful music playing]
Home, please.
[exhales sharply]
[music ends]
[in Southern accent] Well, good evening, miss.
[mimicking accent] Evening, sir.
You're gonna have to take the next cab 'cause this one's taken.
Uh, as we both know, miss, this is the only cab in town,
so I sure as hell am not getting out.
Hotel, driver.
[comedic, tense music playing]
[Alistair grunting]
[music fades out]
[Siaja] Can I get anybody some tea?
Some coffee? Some bannock?
I made fresh stuff.
Um, cards?
-[kid 1] I'm bored. -[kid 2] This sucks.
I don't get it. We brought them kids.
Why aren't they reacting like they did with Bun?
I don't know. Maybe I can bust out the chessboard and make it like…
Oh, yeah. Great. That'll keep two people busy.
I'm just trying… I'm trying to get the…
Yo, this party sucks.
It's so dead. We are so out.
Wait, hold on.
New plan. Colin, tell Naullaq to bring her accordion.
And Millie, just get every speaker you can find.
Yes, Your Majesty.
[Siaja] Please. Thank you.
Kuuk, we need way more sugar in those slushies.
-Done. -Okay.
Let's get this party started!
[in Southern accent] I'm sorry. I didn't quite catch what it is that you do.
[mimicking accent] I'm a forensic scientist.
I investigate mysterious and unusual deaths
in the city of New York.
Well, now, now, now. That is very glamorous to me.
And you?
Me? Well, um, I'm a high-powered defense lawyer, miss.
-Just a coldhearted shark of a man. -[laughing]
[in normal voice] Wh… What?
You're too fucking soft to be a shark.
I like your earrings.
[“Sila (ft. Tanya Tagaq)” by The Halluci Nation playing]
[both grunting]
[both panting]
[Neevee] So many… layers.
Seriously?
[people cheering]
["Wake Me Up" by Avicii accordion cover playing]
Yeah, just… everything.
-All right, you're good? -Yep, I'm good.
-Party! -Yeah!
Lazarus, come on.
Never mind.
Who wants to play dice games? I got prizes!
[all cheering]
["Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish accordion cover playing]
-[man 1] Here we go. -[man 2] Oh no! No way!
[man 3] Go!
[all cheering, laughing]
Take a slushie, talk to an elder.
Take a slushie, go talk to an elder.
Take a slushie and go talk to an elder.
Everybody having fun?
["Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish accordion cover continues playing]
[in Inuktut] Whoever drains it first wins!
[Kuuk in English] This'll be an elders' night to remember.
-[laughing] -[groaning]
We make a good team.
Yeah, we do.
[both laughing]
[all chanting] Chug! Chug! Chug!
-[screaming] -[all cheering]
What on earth is going on here?
Siaja, I can hear you all the way from wine club.
Isn't it amazing, though?
This is so much better, right?
What are all these kids doing here?
I brought them in for the elders.
-Elder Kuuk is having a blast. -[Elder Kuuk groaning]
-[loud thud] -[woman] Oh my God.
[all exclaiming]
What happened?
I'm sure he's just kidding. He's such a jokester.
He's dead!
[all gasping]
[kid] As in dead-dead?
[Helen] Oh, Siaja.
-[helicopter whirring] -[gentle music playing]
[music fades out]
Why is the casket being brought over by helicopter?
Okay, so 23 years ago,
Helen came here as the new town planner
and picked this site as the new graveyard her first winter.
Little did she know, it's surrounded by a frozen river.
And now she hates it every time someone dies after ice melt.
Speaking of which, how pissed is she at you?
She says she needs time to process her emotions.
[whimsical music playing]
Hey, you threw one hell of a party.
[music fades out]
[Helen] Siaja, I don't know what to say.
In a matter of weeks, you have managed to
flip off the entire town,
set the dump on fire,
and kill a beloved elder.
I was just trying to--
All you had to do was set up the coffee and clean up the chairs.
Which I technically did.
Well, I don't know if you know what comes next,
but some people call it "the Helen Hammer."
Not me.
I didn't make up that name.
[knocking]
My brother's coming in.
He's probably gonna curse ya.
["Time" by Anno Domini Nation playing]
[exasperated sigh]
Lazarus, I'm so sorry.
-I should have known Siaja wasn't ready-- -Nah.
Ata!
[in Inuktut] Millie, come translate for me.
My sister always changes what I say into what she wants to say.
[speaking Inuktut]
[in English] Do you know how
we Inuit survived for thousands of years in the Arctic?
No, I'd probably freeze to death in two hours out there by myself.
[translating]
[in Inuktut] Yes, practical skills are important.
But also important are the little joys in life.
Like games, beautiful sewing, tattoos, raising children…
These joys keep us going during the dark times.
I came here to say thank you, Siaja.
I really appreciated Elder Kuuk in our youth.
He really helped me through life's heaviest times.
He had so much fun the other night.
He died happy.
[Millie in English] He died happy.
[in Inuktut] There's no doubt you brought him joy.
-[Millie translating] -[heartwarming music playing]
[speaking Inuktut]
[in English] He said every community needs a special person like you
to bring the generations together.
I'll see you next week.
Yes, you will.
[music fades out]
[Lazarus] Maybe no more slushies, okay?
[Siaja] Okay. Fair enough.
[Millie] Yeah, I think he's right.
-[Neevee sighing] This… was the last time. -[whimsical music playing]
Neevee…
Oh, I'm serious.
[Alistair] Yeah, you said that yesterday.
I don't want Siaja to find out.
Find out what?
That adults have sex?
We're back to strangers, 'kay?
Yeah.
And this…
has been a fun week.
Have a good life.
[door slams]
[sighs]
[music ends]
Anyone up for a drink?
I want to celebrate still having a job.
Hey, I'm down. Yeah.
Sure. It's not like I have anything better going on.
[Colin] Yeah, me neither.
Well, I got a bottle.
I mean, we could go back to my hotel, or…
What about Alistair?
Nah, he's chill. Yeah.
But only if you're… Only if you're okay with that. If you're chill with it too.
-Yeah, I'm chill. -All right.
Perfect. After-party at Kuuk's.
-All right. -Yeah.
[upbeat music playing]
[Kuuk] Wait until you try this bourbon.
It's a small batch with prevalent notes of vanilla and tobacco.
-Prevalent notes? -Shh, he's elevating us.
Oh, here we are.
Let me get it.
Welcome to the chill zone.
-[Neevee gasping] -Oh!
[Kuuk and Colin] Oh!
[Neevee] Siaja?
Hi, guys.
["QAARDULU (raven)" by VAARNA GL playing]
[song fades out]