Warrior (2019–…): Season 2, Episode 1 - Learn to Endure, or Hire a Bodyguard - full transcript
♪ (MUSIC PLAYS) ♪
(MEN YELL)
You think you can take me on?
AH SAHM: The right question,
is do you really wanna find out?
Do you really think father would
have wanted you
to cross us all
just to get yourself killed?
You just got here, and already
you joined my enemies,
gotten yourself arrested.
Not only are you with
a white lady,
it's the mayor's wife.
What are you going to do next?
It's good to see you too.
PENELOPE: Ah Sahm, the Irish
have resorted to violence.
We need protection.
(GRUNTING)
‐I'm gonna find you. ‐I hope so.
MAI LING: There is going to be
a war between the tongs,
and if you're on
the wrong side...
I won't hesitate.
This is not China,
it's China Town.
You can't stop what's happening.
Mai Ling, she's my sister.
WOMAN: She was your sister.
Here, she's your enemy.
MAYOR BLAKE:
They're getting bolder,
coming into our neighborhoods
now, killing on our streets.
The mayor has asked me
to start a new China Town squad.
MAN: The mayor now has to show
he's hard on China Town crime.
He couldn't care less
where the handle falls.
But luckily I have you
to aim the hammer.
I'll need to see
blood in the streets.
You'll have your blood.
MAN 2: They want a war,
let's give them one.
(MEN YELL)
MAN 3: Things have gotten
out of hand.
Two fighters, the best from
each of your tongs.
A duel?
MAI LING: You can't fight.
LI Yong will kill you.
I think if I win
your little power play is over.
You killed Long Zii.
(LONG ZII GROANS)
Who the hell are you?
Good bye, Ah Sahm.
MAN 3: You ready for this?
LI YONG: Only one of us is going
to walk out of there.
MAN 4: This is a means
for the tongs to settle
their disputes.
MAI LING:
This game is inevitable.
(CROWD CHEERS)
(WOMAN SCREAMS)
(GUN FIRES)
(CROWD YELLS)
MAN 5: This was a victory
for your tong,
but as you can imagine,
I'm not happy about it.
If you take one step
out of line,
I won't stop until I have
your pretty little head
on this table.
MAN 5: What about Ah Sahm?
MAN 6: He's of
no use to us anymore.
MAN 7: This is
what it's come to.
AH SAHM: I'm not different than
anyone else here.
Come on.
We both know that's not true.
The king is dead,
long live the queen.
YOUNG JUN: You don't need to
do this anymore.
I want you to come back.
AH TOY: You're alive.
It's starting to feel that way.
It's gonna get messy.
Probably.
MAN 8: Warriors have
only two paths.
Get killed, or get better.
♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
[engine revs]
[man breathing heavily]
‐ [spits]
[rousing
spaghetti western music]
♪ ♪
[crowd shouting and cheering]
♪ ♪
[growls]
[crowd exclaims]
[shouting and cheering continue]
[crowd exclaims]
♪ ♪
‐ [chokes]
♪ ♪
‐ [breathing heavily]
‐ Ready? How do you want it?
How do you want it? ‐ Yeah!
‐ Stomp on his head!
[crowd shouting, laughter]
[overlapping shouting]
‐ You are fucking dead, chink!
‐ [growls]
[shouts]
[rock music]
♪ ♪
[both roar]
[shouts]
‐ [shouts]
[crowd jeering] ‐ Fuck!
[crowd booing]
‐ Give us our money back!
[jeering continues]
♪ ♪
‐ You had me worried there
for a second.
‐ Well, uh, he's a big guy.
‐ Not big enough.
‐ Not today, anyway.
Thank you.
‐ You never count it.
‐ I trust you.
‐ I could make a mistake.
‐ I get the feeling
you're not someone
who makes a lot of mistakes.
‐ I could tell you stories.
‐ Bet you could.
Well...
‐ What about you?
What are you doing here,
Ah Sahm?
‐ Same as everyone else.
‐ Everyone else
needs the money‐‐you don't.
The tongs take care
of their own.
So the question is,
what's a Chinatown
hatchet man doing
in a Barbary Coast fight pit?
Hmm? What are you looking for?
‐ Just staying sharp.
‐ Whenever you're ready
to change your answer,
I'm your girl.
Whatever it is,
I'm betting I can help.
‐ Thanks.
I don't need any help.
‐ See you soon.
[dramatic
spaghetti western music]
[fighter shouts, punch lands]
♪ ♪
[solemn piano music]
♪ ♪
‐ Was that your wife?
‐ Yes.
And my two boys.
‐ Oh.
Ian and Daniel.
I‐I'm so sorry.
How did it happen?
‐ Smallpox.
Eight years ago.
We just moved out here
from New York when it spread.
‐ How awful.
‐ They'd be young men now.
[wind whistles softly]
What are you doing?
‐ My father's buried
just up the hill,
and they refresh his
flowers twice a week,
and that's too many flowers
for any man,
don't you think?
I like to spread them out
around the other graves.
‐ I'm sure your father
would appreciate that.
‐ Well, I'm working
under the general assumption
that he would've
fucking hated it.
‐ [chuckles]
‐ You find that funny?
‐ I just didn't know proper
women like you swore like that.
‐ Huh.
You don't strike me as a man
who spends a lot of time
among proper women.
‐ You're quick to judge,
aren't you?
‐ You're the one
who immediately decided
that I was proper.
‐ So I did.
My apologies.
‐ Apologies accepted.
Well, uh, I'll let you
get back to your visit.
‐ [clears throat]
[intimidating western music]
♪ ♪
‐ What?
Thanks, kid.
♪ ♪
‐ I thought you were done
with the Barbary Coast.
‐ Ah...
I guess not.
‐ You're not gonna find
what you're looking for there.
‐ You don't know
what I'm looking for.
‐ You're looking for weakness,
the flaw in your technique that
allowed Li Yong to beat you.
Like I said,
you're not gonna find it.
‐ Well, sometimes
it's more about the searching
and less about what you find.
‐ What does that mean?
‐ I don't know.
I thought we were
just trading clichés.
‐ Okay.
No more clichés. ‐ Okay.
I saw these guys at the fight.
They wore cut‐off queues
on their jackets.
‐ They call themselves
teddy boys.
I've seen them.
Those queues they wear are
part of their initiation.
You want to join,
a Chinese scalp is your way in.
‐ I was thinking
we should pay them a visit.
‐ Not now.
We've been too active lately.
‐ We leave 'em alone,
tomorrow they take
another Chinese scalp.
‐ And if we keep leaving
a trail of dead white people,
we'll become the threat
to ourselves and Chinatown.
‐ [grunts]
You asked for my help.
‐ This isn't help.
This is just you looking
for another fight.
Fight pits, teddy boys‐‐
you're looking to win
a fight that's already over.
‐ And we're back to clichés.
‐ [sighs]
‐ You can come or not,
but I'm going back.
[tense music]
Tonight.
‐ [sighs]
‐ I'm going back tonight.
And if I tell them
you didn't have the money,
it'll be very bad for you.
‐ They're fucking chinks, Bill.
They don't even belong here.
They got no fucking right.
‐ You gambled, and you lost.
‐ They rigged it!
There's not an honest table
in all of Chinatown.
‐ But that didn't stop you,
though, did it?
‐ So what you gonna do?
Break my leg?
You're a fucking highbinder now?
‐ Whatever I do...
won't be as bad
as what they'll do to you.
‐ I got no money, Bill.
Not a red fucking cent.
‐ What about that ring?
‐ This was my father's. ‐ Yeah?
And what would he say now?
[tense music]
♪ ♪
‐ Listen...
I understand how close you were
with your father.
‐ Thank you.
‐ So, when you decided
to run his factory yourself,
I did my best to be supportive.
‐ And I appreciate that.
‐ But now the mayor's wife has
a hundred coolies
working for her.
Do you understand the position
you're putting me in?
‐ A very good one
with the industrialists,
I should think.
They're very passionate
about Chinese labor.
‐ I'm trying
to remain impartial.
‐ And I'm trying to save
my business.
‐ I know Lymon Merriweather
has made a generous offer
to buy you out.
‐ Mercer Steel
is my father's legacy.
‐ So sell the damn thing!
Use the proceeds to start a‐‐
[pleasantly]
Charity in his memory.
‐ I'm sorry. Am I interrupting?
‐ Sophie. Yes.
And not a moment too soon.
‐ Good morning, Mr. Mayor.
‐ Sophie.
I've asked you repeatedly
to call me Samuel.
‐ Oh, I know.
It just feels so wrong.
‐ Sophie.
‐ Fine. Samuel.
Will you please pass
the berries, Samuel?
‐ If you'll excuse me.
‐ Oh, we will, Samuel.
‐ We'll pick this up
another time.
Ladies. ‐ Samuel.
[chuckles softly]
[laughs]
Your husband has
the shape of a potato.
‐ You should be more respectful.
You're living in his house.
‐ Mm, I prefer to think of it
as your house.
Luckily, you can't ship me off
to boarding school
like you did Nadine.
‐ For the last time,
I didn't ship her off.
She chose to go.
‐ I know.
Sorry.
I just‐‐I miss her.
‐ I do, too. ‐ [chuckles]
‐ You know, I heard from
Mrs. Thornhill the other day.
Her son, Spencer,
would like to call on you.
‐ Oh, really?
‐ Yes. ‐ [chuckling] No.
‐ Apparently, he caught
sight of you somewhere
and hasn't stopped
talking about you.
‐ He caught sight of me
at our father's funeral.
And a man who becomes infatuated
with a grieving woman
has issues that...
[laughing] I'm not interested
in unraveling.
‐ You're impossible.
You manage to disqualify
every man that comes your way.
‐ I'm discerning.
You should try it sometime.
I'm sorry.
That was a mean thing to say.
I love you,
but I wish you'd stop
trying to take care of me
all the time.
‐ Someone has to.
‐ [scoffs, laughs]
[indistinct chatter]
[mysterious music]
♪ ♪
‐ Mai Ling, we're honored.
‐ Thank you.
‐ What can I get you?
‐ I see you have
a new batch of lemons.
‐ Yes.
Just arrived this morning
from Los Angeles.
‐ [coughing heavily]
‐ Your wife looks ill.
She needs to see a doctor.
‐ I told her that, but...
she insists it takes two of us
to run the store.
I'll take her after we close.
‐ [wheezing]
[hacking]
‐ I'll take it all.
‐ What?
‐ All of it.
Everything in the stand.
You take her to see a doctor.
‐ So you just show up
whenever you feel like it,
they put you against
some other onion,
and you scrap?
‐ You should try it sometime.
‐ [chuckles]
I'll leave that kung fu shit
to you.
Fighting without knives doesn't
sound like a lot of fun.
‐ Ah, it's not meant to be fun.
‐ Well, then why even bother?
‐ Ah...
‐ Can you believe this shit?
I can't believe
Father Jun just agreed to this.
Walking around like
she owns the fucking place.
[spits]
[tense music]
‐ Come on. Let's go.
♪ ♪
‐ It's a delicate situation,
what with her father's passing.
But the mayor's wife hiring
coolie labor is problematic.
‐ Really, Buckley?
You think so?
What a brilliant summation.
Why don't you go negotiate
with my obstinate wife,
and I'll stand around
thinking up
new and exciting ways
to state the painfully obvious.
‐ If pressure
at home won't work,
perhaps the way through is
to take a more powerful
public position.
Come down hard on Chinese labor.
Let no one doubt
where you stand.
‐ Won't that just make me look
like even more of a hypocrite?
‐ At the risk
of stating the obvious,
I'm afraid that ship has sailed.
Thanks to your wife, I mean.
In the meantime,
maybe I can bring pressure
to bear on Mrs. Blake
from other fronts.
‐ You mean the workingmen?
‐ I'll continue
to stoke that fire.
‐ Or we could just adjust
her pricing
so that she can afford
to hire Irish labor
and be done with it.
‐ And if the press got wind
that you were giving
your wife favorable pricing?
The last thing
you want to do now
is to invite more scrutiny.
‐ Might I remind you
that it was you
who pressured Mercer into hiring
coolie labor to begin with?
‐ Yes, to protect you,
which I am still trying to do.
You must know
that people are whispering.
‐ Don't say it.
‐ A man who can't
control his wife‐‐
‐ [quietly] I said don't.
[footsteps retreat and fade]
‐ Very well, sir.
‐ Mai Ling's walking around
like the motherfucking
queen of Chinatown.
The Fung Hai are all over us,
which never would've happened
if we hadn't bent over for them!
‐ You're worried too much
about public perception.
Don't concern yourself
with how things look.
Concern yourself
with how things are.
‐ "How things are"
is we look weak!
And the other tongs
are gonna start getting ideas.
‐ The Hop Wei were around
before Mai Ling got here.
It would take a lot more
than her childish posturing
to damage our reputation.
The Long Zii's alliance
with the Fung Hai
will be her undoing.
If she doesn't break
the treaty, they will.
And then...
we can strike with the full
support of the Six Companies.
‐ Fuck the Six Companies.
They're not the ones
going to war with us.
‐ Don't be an idiot.
You lose the Six Companies,
you lose Chinatown.
Get me?
‐ No! I don't get you!
At least
she was fucking Long Zii.
What's your excuse?
[tense music]
♪ ♪
‐ Something else
you want to say?
♪ ♪
‐ Solid gold‐‐
a family heirloom.
‐ You cold motherfucker, Bill.
‐ Listen...
I've done this thing
for you long enough.
‐ Long enough? For what?
‐ I paid my debt.
‐ [sighing] Oh.
This not debt. This your job.
‐ NO, it's not.
I am a police officer,
for fuck's sake!
♪ ♪
‐ The mouth pray to Buddha,
but the heart...
[clicks tongue]
The heart, Bill,
say something else.
‐ What the fuck does that mean?
‐ It mean you work for me.
No?
♪ ♪
‐ [sighs]
[indistinct chatter
and laughter]
‐ I had a feeling
I'd find you here.
The fruit.
‐ It's Tomb‐Sweeping Day.
I'm paying my respects
to our parents.
‐ Oh.
[scoffs]
If they could see us now.
‐ Ah Sahm.
‐ You tried to have me diced.
‐ I tried to save you.
I did everything I could
to keep you
out of that tournament.
‐ And then you ordered my death.
Hmm?
It's okay. You made your choice.
Now I've made mine.
‐ Oh, come on.
Father Jun's not gonna
live forever.
And Young Jun's no boss.
So who's gonna lead the Hop Wei?
♪ ♪
What, you?
[music darkens]
‐ If I have to.
♪ ♪
‐ I just hope you realize
you're backing a losing side
before it's too late.
‐ You know, you should
hear yourself talk sometime.
You're always so...
[breathes deeply]
[quietly] You're always
so damn superior.
Even when we were kids,
you were always so sure
you were right.
Everyone else was wrong.
‐ Not everyone.
Just you. ‐ [sighs]
‐ If you really think I'm wrong,
why are you here right now?
They tossed you out
like you were nothing.
Left you to rot,
and now you're wearing
their colors again.
Just think about it.
We could be on the same side.
‐ Hmm. [chuckles]
You mean your side.
♪ ♪
Xiaojing?
♪ ♪
You're gonna wish
you had killed me.
♪ ♪
‐ There's always tomorrow.
♪ ♪
‐ [breathes deeply]
[sighs]
‐ Sorry.
I didn't mean to interrupt.
I was just admiring your focus.
‐ [sighs] Thank you.
‐ Mm.
Young Jun can use
a bit of that focus.
He's too easily riled up.
‐ Ah, he's just looking out
for the tong.
[clears throat]
‐ I don't doubt it.
I've been trying to teach him
patience for years.
The teacher can open the door,
but the student
must walk through it.
We haven't really talked
since you returned to the tong.
‐ [sighs] I know it wasn't
your idea to bring me back.
‐ Are you and I going
to have a problem?
‐ No.
‐ Good.
Keep an eye on Young Jun for me.
As you know,
he can get a bit too itchy
for his own good.
[building percussive music]
♪ ♪
‐ [grunting and shouting]
[shouts angrily]
[indistinct chatter]
[door creaks]
‐ You're home early.
‐ Well...
I wanted to give you enough
time to cook this.
‐ Steak? Again?
‐ And why not? [smooches]
‐ It's expensive is why not.
‐ Oh.
Why shouldn't
my family have the best?
And I have not been
to the tables,
if that's what that look means.
‐ What look?
‐ You know damn well what look.
Bet you came out
of the womb with that look.
‐ No. I hadn't met you
yet then, had I?
‐ [chuckles] Nice.
[liquid pouring]
I got rid of
a couple of hooligans
who were loitering around
Quinn's slaughterhouse
last week.
Ever since, the old man,
he likes to...
have me swing by
and check on him.
So... steak.
‐ Okay, then.
[pan sizzling]
‐ She knew I was lying
through my goddamn teeth.
I could tell.
She gets this look,
this fucking crazed look,
when she knows
I'm talking out my ass.
‐ Evening, boys.
‐ Evening, Mr. Leary.
‐ Looks like that lumber job's
working out
for the lot of yous.
‐ Yes, it is.
Thank you.
Would you like to join us?
‐ Thanks for the offer,
but I have a prior engagement.
I'll just collect your dues
and be on my way.
‐ Dues?
We just started working
last week.
‐ And you've been paid,
which is more than we can say
about a lot of other people
around here.
Today you're the fortunate ones.
Tomorrow you might be back
on the lot with everyone else.
Point is, we're all
in this together.
Aren't we?
[plates clatter]
[dark music]
Aren't we?
♪ ♪
‐ Yes.
We are.
♪ ♪
‐ Thank you.
Enjoy your dinner.
[indistinct chatter]
♪ ♪
Sorry to keep you waiting.
‐ I have what you asked for.
‐ This is stable enough to move?
‐ As long as you don't mess
with the blasting caps.
‐ You were never here.
[echoing percussion]
[laughter]
‐ [grunts, groans]
[indistinct chatter]
‐ You come into our country.
You take our jobs.
You rape our women and children.
You bring all
these fucking diseases.
‐ Yeah.
‐ You got
those sneaky fucking eyes.
So, as a loyal American,
I sentence you
to death by hanging.
♪ ♪
‐ [shouts in Cantonese]
‐ Shut the fuck up!
‐ [chokes, sobs]
‐ Go, Petey. Get him up there.
[teddy boys jeering,
man choking]
‐ God damn. ‐ Make him fly.
[laughter and coking continue]
[blade swishes, man grunts]
‐ What the fuck?
[man coughs]
A girl?
[splutters]
[body thuds]
‐ Who the fuck are you?
‐ She's with me.
‐ Who the fuck are you?
‐ That's not important
right now.
[all shout]
[exciting music]
♪ ♪
‐ [whimpers]
♪ ♪
‐ Lai.
♪ ♪
[bone snaps] ‐ [shrieking]
‐ [roars]
[panting]
♪ ♪
[sustained guitar chord]
♪ ♪
[body thuds]
What?
‐ [grunts]
[panting]
[groans]
[grunts]
[panting]
[person whistles]
‐ [whimpers]
[screams]
[spaghetti western music]
♪ ♪
‐ Hey, man. What's up?
‐ You didn't make it home
last night.
Fighting at that boat again?
‐ Yeah. ‐ You win?
‐ You have to ask? Really?
‐ [chuckles]
I'll have to come see it
sometime.
I paid a few onions to go
into one of the Long Zii dens.
This is what they're using.
‐ [sniffs] It's molasses.
So what?
‐ I'm not worried
about what it is.
I'm worried about what it isn't.
And it isn't from China,
which means the Long Zii
are paying less for it,
which explains
how they can charge less,
which explains
why we're losing customers.
‐ You take this to Father Jun?
‐ Father Jun will never stop
ordering from China.
He's too afraid of pissing off
the Six Companies.
‐ Well, that was when
we didn't have to compete.
[sighs]
Now we do.
‐ No shit.
‐ Would he know?
‐ What?
‐ You're the one
who places the orders, right?
We could set up a local source.
Father Jun doesn't have
to know about it.
‐ He'll eventually find out.
‐ Well, you know
what I always say.
Better to ask for forgiveness
than ask for permission.
We lost a lot of chop
by cutting Mai Ling in.
We could offset some of that
if we stopped importing.
‐ [exhales deeply]
We'd need a local source
we can trust.
‐ [grunts]
[sniffs] So we'll find one.
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
‐ Okay.
‐ Okay.
♪ ♪
‐ Let's get some breakfast.
I'm fucking starving.
Got some blood on your face.
‐ Oh.
Here? ‐ Yeah.
‐ Huh? ‐ Yep.
There.
‐ I don't think it's mine.
[insects buzzing]
[gun clatters]
‐ It just keeps getting better
and better, doesn't it?
This is the fifth time
in as many months,
and we've got fuck all
to show for it.
No wonder he feels
he can keep doing it.
‐ It's not one person...
at least not this time.
These two here were killed
by their own knives
and, by the looks of it,
put up quite a fight.
These other three
and the man back there
were killed by a sword.
There was more
than one attacker here.
‐ For fuck's sake!
You're the one who's been
telling me all this time
that we were looking
for one man.
‐ Yeah, and now I'm the one
who's telling you we're not!
‐ What the hell was that?
‐ I have no idea.
‐ I don't need to remind you
about all the shit
I'm getting from on high.
And believe me,
there's a lot of it.
And it all rolls downhill.
If you and your squad
can't find me
at least one fucking swordsman,
I'll get someone who can.
‐ We're doing everything we can.
‐ Well, do more of it.
And you get
your boy Lee in line!
The only thing he had going for
him was his fucking manners,
and without those,
I can't think
of a single goddamn reason
to keep him around!
‐ Go and sort that cunt out,
will you?
‐ Right you are, Bill.
[indistinct chatter]
‐ You want to tell me what
the hell that was in there?
‐ Multiple homicides?
‐ Don't get cute.
Listen, you can't go mouthing
off to Flannagan like that.
‐ [sighing] Yeah, I know.
I'm sorry.
‐ You don't have
to apologize to me.
To be honest, I enjoyed it.
‐ [chuckles]
‐ You still getting
the headaches?
‐ Yeah.
‐ And the laudanum's
not helping?
‐ Uh, no.
‐ It's been what, two months?
What does the doctor say?
‐ He says there's a lot
we don't understand
about head injuries.
‐ You think maybe
you should take some time off?
‐ I think maybe
we should go talk to Chao.
‐ We've talked to Chao plenty!
‐ And he's still
holding out on us.
The man is slicker
than a slop jar.
‐ If he doesn't want to talk,
he's not gonna talk.
‐ Well, then I guess the trick
is to make him want to.
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
‐ Fellas, please.
Don't do this! No!
[blows landing, men screaming]
[insects buzzing]
‐ Hey!
Hey! You can't do that!
Hey!
This bullshit, Bill.
How many time Chao help you?
Now you wreck my business?
‐ Warned you, Chao.
I need a swordsman.
‐ I told you I don't have one.
‐ People are dying, Chao! ‐ Hey!
Just give me
something I can use.
I'm under
a lot of pressure here.
‐ [sighs]
Yes.
Yes, you under a lot of pressure
from many places, hmm?
‐ What the fuck
are you talking about?
♪ ♪
‐ I hear things.
‐ What things?
‐ If I was you,
I wouldn't worry about me.
Looks to me like you have
enough problems of your own.
♪ ♪
You let me know
when you're ready to talk.
[retreating footsteps]
[grunts] Lee!
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[indistinct chatter,
machinery whirring]
‐ Mr. Merriweather.
These visits are starting
to become
something of a bad habit.
‐ Byron was a close friend.
The least I can do
is check up on his daughter.
‐ Mm.
You'd be more convincing
if you didn't have
an ulterior motive.
‐ Oh, on the contrary.
I wouldn't be offering
to buy your company
if I didn't think
it was in your best interests.
‐ Ah, so you're
a philanthropist.
‐ [chuckles] Of course not.
I'm every bit as interested
in profits as you are.
And with
a moderate cash infusion
and a few modifications,
this place could be fabricating
steel girders
for my building projects, hmm?
‐ Yes. Well, thank you.
But as you can see,
I'm just a little
too busy right now,
so if you'll excuse me‐‐
‐ Mrs. Blake,
how long do you think
your husband will continue
to indulge you here?
‐ This isn't
my husband's business.
It's mine.
‐ You misunderstand me.
‐ No, you misunderstand me.
So I'm going to speak
very slowly and clearly.
Mercer Steel is not for sale.
‐ It appears
to me that together‐‐
[door opens] ‐ That's it.
One step at a time.
‐ What happened?
‐ It was those damn workingmen.
Five injured.
And a bunch ran away.
We're gonna be ten men short
for the day.
‐ Find Claudia‐‐have her see
to the men's injuries.
‐ Yes, ma'am.
‐ You okay?
‐ [breathes shakily]
‐ No doubt, you've hired
a good security firm.
[laughter, indistinct chatter]
‐ Hey, Chao.
‐ The itchy onion.
You drinking? ‐ No, no.
I, uh‐‐I went by your place.
‐ Well, I closed early.
What can I do for you?
‐ I need some information.
I'll pay for it.
‐ That much chop, you're not
paying for information.
You're paying for discretion.
‐ Young Jun and I are looking
for a local molasses source.
‐ You mean Father Jun,
don't you?
'Cause changing sources
has political ramifications.
Only Father Jun can do that.
‐ I mean Young Jun.
‐ What the fuck are you doing?
‐ Simple question, Chao.
‐ Listen...
I know Young Jun has
his daddy issues,
but you should know better.
What's this about, hmm?
Whatever it is, let me
give you a piece of advice.
And this one is free.
‐ Okay. Yeah.
‐ Get the fuck over it
before you bring the whole
damn tong down with you.
‐ [chuckles]
Thanks.
‐ I'm keeping this to forget
we ever had this conversation.
‐ Of course you are.
[women giggling]
‐ Hello, Chao. ‐ Got a minute?
‐ [raps table, sighs]
[indistinct chatter]
♪ ♪
‐ Someone's in a mood.
‐ This little hobby of yours,
it's starting to cause
me some real headaches.
‐ My hobby?
♪ ♪
One of these days,
you'll have to tell me
how it is you seem
to know everyone's business.
‐ I'm in the business
of everyone's business.
‐ Well, it's annoying.
‐ You know what else
is annoying?
‐ Hmm?
‐ Having the bulls
cart away my inventory
and shut down my fucking shop.
‐ Really? ‐ That's annoying.
‐ I'm sorry, Chao.
‐ "Sorry" isn't gonna cover
my losses, is it?
‐ You always seem to find
a way to land on your feet.
‐ Maybe this time,
I'll land on my feet
by turning in
this mysterious swordsman
the bulls are so eager to find.
‐ [chuckles]
They'd never believe it.
♪ ♪
You'd never do that.
‐ Don't overestimate
how much I'll suffer
to keep your secret.
♪ ♪
‐ I was thinking
I might need to lay low
for a little while anyway.
‐ I think that'd be
a stellar idea.
‐ Some tea? ‐ Thank you.
[inhales deeply]
‐ Speaking of secrets...
have you gone to see yours?
‐ [sighs gruffly]
Tomorrow.
[burlesque piano music playing]
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
[indistinct chatter]
[fiddle music playing]
[glass shatters,
music continues]
[patrons whistling]
[jaunty ragtime music playing]
♪ ♪
‐ Oysters! Oysters!
Fresh oysters!
[kids shouting]
[indistinct chatter]
[dogs barking]
[dramatic rock music building]
♪ ♪
‐ Good evening.
♪ ♪
[crowd jeering]
‐ [shouts]
‐ [panting]
[both shout]
‐ [panting]
[crowd shouting]
‐ Good fight.
‐ No, it was sloppy.
Should've finished him sooner.
‐ You finished him
in under three minutes.
No one here
has come close to that.
‐ [grumbles softly]
‐ Well, if this is how
you celebrate your wins,
I'd hate to see what happens
when you lose.
‐ [scoffs]
I, uh...
I did lose.
Badly.
‐ I had a feeling.
No one fights here because
things are going great, right?
See you around.
‐ Hey, Vega?
You said you might be able
to help me find
what I'm looking for.
‐ I did say that, didn't I?
[mysterious rock music]
♪ ♪
‐ What can I do you for?
♪ ♪
He wants you, honey.
[horse chuffs]
‐ Good evening.
‐ Hyah!
♪ ♪
‐ You're worried about Ah Sahm.
‐ You didn't see
the way he looked at me...
the hate in his eyes.
‐ The Hop Wei
won't break the treaty.
‐ Father Jun won't.
But what if he loses
his grip on the tong?
‐ Ah Sahm can fight.
But he's not like you.
He's not a leader.
‐ When he first got here,
I was so furious with him
for thinking I was still
the sister he remembered...
For thinking
he actually knew me.
I just never thought...
‐ What?
‐ Maybe I don't know him either.
[solemn music]
♪ ♪
We have to be very careful.
♪ ♪
[horse neighs in the distance]
[distant shouting]
[building electronic music]
♪ ♪
[man rapping in Cantonese]
♪ ♪
And I am made in China!
[engine revs]
Send them, all of them,
back to China!
(CROWD CHEERS)
MAN: If the people of
San Francisco were truly aware
of what goes on in Chinatown...
ninth circle of hell...
Michael!
MAN: ...we wouldn't be able
to contain them.
ALL: Send them back!
We have an opportunity here
to send a message.
‐We had a deal.
‐That's not how it works.
I need chaos... and quickly.
(GRUNTING)
♪ (INTENSE MUSIC OUTRO) ♪
‐(YELLING)
‐♪ (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(CLAMORING)
(GRUNTING)
JONATHAN TROPPER: When we see
Ah Sahm in the opening
of this season,
he's fighting in this
Barbary Coast fight pit.
We were really excited to build
the Barbary Coast.
It just seemed like this great,
lawless place,
and it gave us a chance
to really expand our world.
(CLAMORING)
He just kept going back
to the fight pit,
'cause he was trying to relive
the moment with Li Yong,
or to vent his emotions
because of what happened
with his sister.
I couldn't quite figure out
the exact reason.
ROSALITA VEGA:
What's a China Town
hatchet man doing
in a Barbary Coast fight pit?
What are you looking for?
Just staying sharp.
Rosalita Vega has been running
this fight club in the bottom
of a landlocked boat.
She's tough, she's crafty,
and she's got her eye
on Ah Sahm,
for reasons we don't quite know
yet.
When she first sees Ah Sahm,
she's not sure what to expect.
There's a curiosity of,
"Who is this guy?"
(YELLING, GRUNTING)
MARIA‐ELENA LAAS:
"And what does he have
to show?"
He sees Vega as somewhat
of a kindred spirit.
We're from similar backgrounds,
and we've got similar stories,
so there's attraction.
JOANNA VANDERHAM:
When we meet Penny
in season two,
she's very much in the thick
of running the family business
for Mercer Steel.
I did my best to be supportive,
but now the mayor's wife
has a hundred coolies
working for her.
Do you understand
the position you're putting
me in?
The thorn in the side of that
is the Irish thugs.
They resent the fact
that she's hiring Chinese labor.
Mercer Steel
is my father's legacy.
Just sell the damn thing!
I'm sorry, am I interrupting?
We meet Sophie in the first
episode of season two.
She's moved in with me
and Blake.
So, Sophie is Penny Blake's
younger sister.
She's got a rebellious streak,
and she's very outgoing.
So I think when she first sees
Leary in the cemetery,
she is genuinely curious.
You don't strike me as a man
who spends a lot of time
among proper women.
You're quick to judge,
aren't ya?
It isn't until he starts
making assumptions about her
that it becomes a bit more
playful and flirtatious
between them. She's intrigued,
because she's never met anyone
like Leary before.
As a loyal American,
I sentence you to death.
‐Who the fuck are you?
‐That's not important right now.
(ALL YELLING, GRUNTING)
So, at the beginning
of season two,
we see Ah Toy and Ah Sahm
team up to fight the Teddy Boys.
So we see what ruthless
vigilantes they make.
Ah Toy has always sort of
picked her moments
to really strike on behalf
of the Chinese people.
She's been a quiet vigilante
for years.
We've been too active lately.
Leave them alone, tomorrow
they take another Chinese scalp.
And if we keep leaving a trail
of dead white people,
we'll become a threat
to ourselves and China Town.
Unlike Ah Toy, Ah Sahm
isn't as wise
about knowing when to lay low
and when to strike.
He sort of becomes addicted
to the vengeance of it.
Now that Ah Sahm
is doing it with her,
the stakes have
kind of gotten bigger
because it's bringing more heat
onto China Town,
and it's bringing more
police attention.
If you and your squad
can't find me
at least one fucking swordsman,
I'll get someone who can.
We pick up Bill, and he's still
got the pressure from Flanagan
to find the swordsman.
Lee's become so obsessed
with this pursuit
of the swordsman,
he's trying to get
any information he can,
in a very dogged way.
And outside of that, he's using
laudanum to dull the pain
and the anxiety
from his head injury.
A lot of Lee's negative
qualities
have kind of been dialed up
to 11.
The introduction of Mai Ling
in season two
was me walking down the China
Town streets like the new queen.
‐I'll take it all. ‐What?
All of it.
Everything in the stand.
DIANNE DOAN: It's important
for me to interact with my people.
I want to be accepted and loved,
and throughout the season
you'll see Mai Ling
establishing her power
even more.
Mai Ling's walking around like
the motherfucking queen
of China Town.
The Fung Hai are all over us,
which never would have happened
if we hadn't bent over for them.
Father Jun and Young Jun,
they're kind of like yin
and yang. Oil and water.
Young Jun's saying Father Jun's
getting old.
He's not able to make good
decisions for the Hop Wei.
Young Jun clearly feels
that the Hop Wei
have the power and the numbers
to solve
the territorial dispute,
whereas Father Jun
is older, wiser, and wants
a much more nuanced approach.
The Hop Wei are going through
some growing pains right now.
Young Jun and Ah Sam
are really upset with Father Jun
for giving Mai Ling entrée
into the opium trade
and they feel they've shown
real weakness.
They're full of vim and vigor.
They wanna take over.
We lost a lot of chop
by cutting Mai Ling in.
We could offset some of that
if we stopped importing.
Father Jun
doesn't have to know about it.
We need to locate a source
we can trust.
So we'll find one.
♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
(MEN YELL)
You think you can take me on?
AH SAHM: The right question,
is do you really wanna find out?
Do you really think father would
have wanted you
to cross us all
just to get yourself killed?
You just got here, and already
you joined my enemies,
gotten yourself arrested.
Not only are you with
a white lady,
it's the mayor's wife.
What are you going to do next?
It's good to see you too.
PENELOPE: Ah Sahm, the Irish
have resorted to violence.
We need protection.
(GRUNTING)
‐I'm gonna find you. ‐I hope so.
MAI LING: There is going to be
a war between the tongs,
and if you're on
the wrong side...
I won't hesitate.
This is not China,
it's China Town.
You can't stop what's happening.
Mai Ling, she's my sister.
WOMAN: She was your sister.
Here, she's your enemy.
MAYOR BLAKE:
They're getting bolder,
coming into our neighborhoods
now, killing on our streets.
The mayor has asked me
to start a new China Town squad.
MAN: The mayor now has to show
he's hard on China Town crime.
He couldn't care less
where the handle falls.
But luckily I have you
to aim the hammer.
I'll need to see
blood in the streets.
You'll have your blood.
MAN 2: They want a war,
let's give them one.
(MEN YELL)
MAN 3: Things have gotten
out of hand.
Two fighters, the best from
each of your tongs.
A duel?
MAI LING: You can't fight.
LI Yong will kill you.
I think if I win
your little power play is over.
You killed Long Zii.
(LONG ZII GROANS)
Who the hell are you?
Good bye, Ah Sahm.
MAN 3: You ready for this?
LI YONG: Only one of us is going
to walk out of there.
MAN 4: This is a means
for the tongs to settle
their disputes.
MAI LING:
This game is inevitable.
(CROWD CHEERS)
(WOMAN SCREAMS)
(GUN FIRES)
(CROWD YELLS)
MAN 5: This was a victory
for your tong,
but as you can imagine,
I'm not happy about it.
If you take one step
out of line,
I won't stop until I have
your pretty little head
on this table.
MAN 5: What about Ah Sahm?
MAN 6: He's of
no use to us anymore.
MAN 7: This is
what it's come to.
AH SAHM: I'm not different than
anyone else here.
Come on.
We both know that's not true.
The king is dead,
long live the queen.
YOUNG JUN: You don't need to
do this anymore.
I want you to come back.
AH TOY: You're alive.
It's starting to feel that way.
It's gonna get messy.
Probably.
MAN 8: Warriors have
only two paths.
Get killed, or get better.
♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
[engine revs]
[man breathing heavily]
‐ [spits]
[rousing
spaghetti western music]
♪ ♪
[crowd shouting and cheering]
♪ ♪
[growls]
[crowd exclaims]
[shouting and cheering continue]
[crowd exclaims]
♪ ♪
‐ [chokes]
♪ ♪
‐ [breathing heavily]
‐ Ready? How do you want it?
How do you want it? ‐ Yeah!
‐ Stomp on his head!
[crowd shouting, laughter]
[overlapping shouting]
‐ You are fucking dead, chink!
‐ [growls]
[shouts]
[rock music]
♪ ♪
[both roar]
[shouts]
‐ [shouts]
[crowd jeering] ‐ Fuck!
[crowd booing]
‐ Give us our money back!
[jeering continues]
♪ ♪
‐ You had me worried there
for a second.
‐ Well, uh, he's a big guy.
‐ Not big enough.
‐ Not today, anyway.
Thank you.
‐ You never count it.
‐ I trust you.
‐ I could make a mistake.
‐ I get the feeling
you're not someone
who makes a lot of mistakes.
‐ I could tell you stories.
‐ Bet you could.
Well...
‐ What about you?
What are you doing here,
Ah Sahm?
‐ Same as everyone else.
‐ Everyone else
needs the money‐‐you don't.
The tongs take care
of their own.
So the question is,
what's a Chinatown
hatchet man doing
in a Barbary Coast fight pit?
Hmm? What are you looking for?
‐ Just staying sharp.
‐ Whenever you're ready
to change your answer,
I'm your girl.
Whatever it is,
I'm betting I can help.
‐ Thanks.
I don't need any help.
‐ See you soon.
[dramatic
spaghetti western music]
[fighter shouts, punch lands]
♪ ♪
[solemn piano music]
♪ ♪
‐ Was that your wife?
‐ Yes.
And my two boys.
‐ Oh.
Ian and Daniel.
I‐I'm so sorry.
How did it happen?
‐ Smallpox.
Eight years ago.
We just moved out here
from New York when it spread.
‐ How awful.
‐ They'd be young men now.
[wind whistles softly]
What are you doing?
‐ My father's buried
just up the hill,
and they refresh his
flowers twice a week,
and that's too many flowers
for any man,
don't you think?
I like to spread them out
around the other graves.
‐ I'm sure your father
would appreciate that.
‐ Well, I'm working
under the general assumption
that he would've
fucking hated it.
‐ [chuckles]
‐ You find that funny?
‐ I just didn't know proper
women like you swore like that.
‐ Huh.
You don't strike me as a man
who spends a lot of time
among proper women.
‐ You're quick to judge,
aren't you?
‐ You're the one
who immediately decided
that I was proper.
‐ So I did.
My apologies.
‐ Apologies accepted.
Well, uh, I'll let you
get back to your visit.
‐ [clears throat]
[intimidating western music]
♪ ♪
‐ What?
Thanks, kid.
♪ ♪
‐ I thought you were done
with the Barbary Coast.
‐ Ah...
I guess not.
‐ You're not gonna find
what you're looking for there.
‐ You don't know
what I'm looking for.
‐ You're looking for weakness,
the flaw in your technique that
allowed Li Yong to beat you.
Like I said,
you're not gonna find it.
‐ Well, sometimes
it's more about the searching
and less about what you find.
‐ What does that mean?
‐ I don't know.
I thought we were
just trading clichés.
‐ Okay.
No more clichés. ‐ Okay.
I saw these guys at the fight.
They wore cut‐off queues
on their jackets.
‐ They call themselves
teddy boys.
I've seen them.
Those queues they wear are
part of their initiation.
You want to join,
a Chinese scalp is your way in.
‐ I was thinking
we should pay them a visit.
‐ Not now.
We've been too active lately.
‐ We leave 'em alone,
tomorrow they take
another Chinese scalp.
‐ And if we keep leaving
a trail of dead white people,
we'll become the threat
to ourselves and Chinatown.
‐ [grunts]
You asked for my help.
‐ This isn't help.
This is just you looking
for another fight.
Fight pits, teddy boys‐‐
you're looking to win
a fight that's already over.
‐ And we're back to clichés.
‐ [sighs]
‐ You can come or not,
but I'm going back.
[tense music]
Tonight.
‐ [sighs]
‐ I'm going back tonight.
And if I tell them
you didn't have the money,
it'll be very bad for you.
‐ They're fucking chinks, Bill.
They don't even belong here.
They got no fucking right.
‐ You gambled, and you lost.
‐ They rigged it!
There's not an honest table
in all of Chinatown.
‐ But that didn't stop you,
though, did it?
‐ So what you gonna do?
Break my leg?
You're a fucking highbinder now?
‐ Whatever I do...
won't be as bad
as what they'll do to you.
‐ I got no money, Bill.
Not a red fucking cent.
‐ What about that ring?
‐ This was my father's. ‐ Yeah?
And what would he say now?
[tense music]
♪ ♪
‐ Listen...
I understand how close you were
with your father.
‐ Thank you.
‐ So, when you decided
to run his factory yourself,
I did my best to be supportive.
‐ And I appreciate that.
‐ But now the mayor's wife has
a hundred coolies
working for her.
Do you understand the position
you're putting me in?
‐ A very good one
with the industrialists,
I should think.
They're very passionate
about Chinese labor.
‐ I'm trying
to remain impartial.
‐ And I'm trying to save
my business.
‐ I know Lymon Merriweather
has made a generous offer
to buy you out.
‐ Mercer Steel
is my father's legacy.
‐ So sell the damn thing!
Use the proceeds to start a‐‐
[pleasantly]
Charity in his memory.
‐ I'm sorry. Am I interrupting?
‐ Sophie. Yes.
And not a moment too soon.
‐ Good morning, Mr. Mayor.
‐ Sophie.
I've asked you repeatedly
to call me Samuel.
‐ Oh, I know.
It just feels so wrong.
‐ Sophie.
‐ Fine. Samuel.
Will you please pass
the berries, Samuel?
‐ If you'll excuse me.
‐ Oh, we will, Samuel.
‐ We'll pick this up
another time.
Ladies. ‐ Samuel.
[chuckles softly]
[laughs]
Your husband has
the shape of a potato.
‐ You should be more respectful.
You're living in his house.
‐ Mm, I prefer to think of it
as your house.
Luckily, you can't ship me off
to boarding school
like you did Nadine.
‐ For the last time,
I didn't ship her off.
She chose to go.
‐ I know.
Sorry.
I just‐‐I miss her.
‐ I do, too. ‐ [chuckles]
‐ You know, I heard from
Mrs. Thornhill the other day.
Her son, Spencer,
would like to call on you.
‐ Oh, really?
‐ Yes. ‐ [chuckling] No.
‐ Apparently, he caught
sight of you somewhere
and hasn't stopped
talking about you.
‐ He caught sight of me
at our father's funeral.
And a man who becomes infatuated
with a grieving woman
has issues that...
[laughing] I'm not interested
in unraveling.
‐ You're impossible.
You manage to disqualify
every man that comes your way.
‐ I'm discerning.
You should try it sometime.
I'm sorry.
That was a mean thing to say.
I love you,
but I wish you'd stop
trying to take care of me
all the time.
‐ Someone has to.
‐ [scoffs, laughs]
[indistinct chatter]
[mysterious music]
♪ ♪
‐ Mai Ling, we're honored.
‐ Thank you.
‐ What can I get you?
‐ I see you have
a new batch of lemons.
‐ Yes.
Just arrived this morning
from Los Angeles.
‐ [coughing heavily]
‐ Your wife looks ill.
She needs to see a doctor.
‐ I told her that, but...
she insists it takes two of us
to run the store.
I'll take her after we close.
‐ [wheezing]
[hacking]
‐ I'll take it all.
‐ What?
‐ All of it.
Everything in the stand.
You take her to see a doctor.
‐ So you just show up
whenever you feel like it,
they put you against
some other onion,
and you scrap?
‐ You should try it sometime.
‐ [chuckles]
I'll leave that kung fu shit
to you.
Fighting without knives doesn't
sound like a lot of fun.
‐ Ah, it's not meant to be fun.
‐ Well, then why even bother?
‐ Ah...
‐ Can you believe this shit?
I can't believe
Father Jun just agreed to this.
Walking around like
she owns the fucking place.
[spits]
[tense music]
‐ Come on. Let's go.
♪ ♪
‐ It's a delicate situation,
what with her father's passing.
But the mayor's wife hiring
coolie labor is problematic.
‐ Really, Buckley?
You think so?
What a brilliant summation.
Why don't you go negotiate
with my obstinate wife,
and I'll stand around
thinking up
new and exciting ways
to state the painfully obvious.
‐ If pressure
at home won't work,
perhaps the way through is
to take a more powerful
public position.
Come down hard on Chinese labor.
Let no one doubt
where you stand.
‐ Won't that just make me look
like even more of a hypocrite?
‐ At the risk
of stating the obvious,
I'm afraid that ship has sailed.
Thanks to your wife, I mean.
In the meantime,
maybe I can bring pressure
to bear on Mrs. Blake
from other fronts.
‐ You mean the workingmen?
‐ I'll continue
to stoke that fire.
‐ Or we could just adjust
her pricing
so that she can afford
to hire Irish labor
and be done with it.
‐ And if the press got wind
that you were giving
your wife favorable pricing?
The last thing
you want to do now
is to invite more scrutiny.
‐ Might I remind you
that it was you
who pressured Mercer into hiring
coolie labor to begin with?
‐ Yes, to protect you,
which I am still trying to do.
You must know
that people are whispering.
‐ Don't say it.
‐ A man who can't
control his wife‐‐
‐ [quietly] I said don't.
[footsteps retreat and fade]
‐ Very well, sir.
‐ Mai Ling's walking around
like the motherfucking
queen of Chinatown.
The Fung Hai are all over us,
which never would've happened
if we hadn't bent over for them!
‐ You're worried too much
about public perception.
Don't concern yourself
with how things look.
Concern yourself
with how things are.
‐ "How things are"
is we look weak!
And the other tongs
are gonna start getting ideas.
‐ The Hop Wei were around
before Mai Ling got here.
It would take a lot more
than her childish posturing
to damage our reputation.
The Long Zii's alliance
with the Fung Hai
will be her undoing.
If she doesn't break
the treaty, they will.
And then...
we can strike with the full
support of the Six Companies.
‐ Fuck the Six Companies.
They're not the ones
going to war with us.
‐ Don't be an idiot.
You lose the Six Companies,
you lose Chinatown.
Get me?
‐ No! I don't get you!
At least
she was fucking Long Zii.
What's your excuse?
[tense music]
♪ ♪
‐ Something else
you want to say?
♪ ♪
‐ Solid gold‐‐
a family heirloom.
‐ You cold motherfucker, Bill.
‐ Listen...
I've done this thing
for you long enough.
‐ Long enough? For what?
‐ I paid my debt.
‐ [sighing] Oh.
This not debt. This your job.
‐ NO, it's not.
I am a police officer,
for fuck's sake!
♪ ♪
‐ The mouth pray to Buddha,
but the heart...
[clicks tongue]
The heart, Bill,
say something else.
‐ What the fuck does that mean?
‐ It mean you work for me.
No?
♪ ♪
‐ [sighs]
[indistinct chatter
and laughter]
‐ I had a feeling
I'd find you here.
The fruit.
‐ It's Tomb‐Sweeping Day.
I'm paying my respects
to our parents.
‐ Oh.
[scoffs]
If they could see us now.
‐ Ah Sahm.
‐ You tried to have me diced.
‐ I tried to save you.
I did everything I could
to keep you
out of that tournament.
‐ And then you ordered my death.
Hmm?
It's okay. You made your choice.
Now I've made mine.
‐ Oh, come on.
Father Jun's not gonna
live forever.
And Young Jun's no boss.
So who's gonna lead the Hop Wei?
♪ ♪
What, you?
[music darkens]
‐ If I have to.
♪ ♪
‐ I just hope you realize
you're backing a losing side
before it's too late.
‐ You know, you should
hear yourself talk sometime.
You're always so...
[breathes deeply]
[quietly] You're always
so damn superior.
Even when we were kids,
you were always so sure
you were right.
Everyone else was wrong.
‐ Not everyone.
Just you. ‐ [sighs]
‐ If you really think I'm wrong,
why are you here right now?
They tossed you out
like you were nothing.
Left you to rot,
and now you're wearing
their colors again.
Just think about it.
We could be on the same side.
‐ Hmm. [chuckles]
You mean your side.
♪ ♪
Xiaojing?
♪ ♪
You're gonna wish
you had killed me.
♪ ♪
‐ There's always tomorrow.
♪ ♪
‐ [breathes deeply]
[sighs]
‐ Sorry.
I didn't mean to interrupt.
I was just admiring your focus.
‐ [sighs] Thank you.
‐ Mm.
Young Jun can use
a bit of that focus.
He's too easily riled up.
‐ Ah, he's just looking out
for the tong.
[clears throat]
‐ I don't doubt it.
I've been trying to teach him
patience for years.
The teacher can open the door,
but the student
must walk through it.
We haven't really talked
since you returned to the tong.
‐ [sighs] I know it wasn't
your idea to bring me back.
‐ Are you and I going
to have a problem?
‐ No.
‐ Good.
Keep an eye on Young Jun for me.
As you know,
he can get a bit too itchy
for his own good.
[building percussive music]
♪ ♪
‐ [grunting and shouting]
[shouts angrily]
[indistinct chatter]
[door creaks]
‐ You're home early.
‐ Well...
I wanted to give you enough
time to cook this.
‐ Steak? Again?
‐ And why not? [smooches]
‐ It's expensive is why not.
‐ Oh.
Why shouldn't
my family have the best?
And I have not been
to the tables,
if that's what that look means.
‐ What look?
‐ You know damn well what look.
Bet you came out
of the womb with that look.
‐ No. I hadn't met you
yet then, had I?
‐ [chuckles] Nice.
[liquid pouring]
I got rid of
a couple of hooligans
who were loitering around
Quinn's slaughterhouse
last week.
Ever since, the old man,
he likes to...
have me swing by
and check on him.
So... steak.
‐ Okay, then.
[pan sizzling]
‐ She knew I was lying
through my goddamn teeth.
I could tell.
She gets this look,
this fucking crazed look,
when she knows
I'm talking out my ass.
‐ Evening, boys.
‐ Evening, Mr. Leary.
‐ Looks like that lumber job's
working out
for the lot of yous.
‐ Yes, it is.
Thank you.
Would you like to join us?
‐ Thanks for the offer,
but I have a prior engagement.
I'll just collect your dues
and be on my way.
‐ Dues?
We just started working
last week.
‐ And you've been paid,
which is more than we can say
about a lot of other people
around here.
Today you're the fortunate ones.
Tomorrow you might be back
on the lot with everyone else.
Point is, we're all
in this together.
Aren't we?
[plates clatter]
[dark music]
Aren't we?
♪ ♪
‐ Yes.
We are.
♪ ♪
‐ Thank you.
Enjoy your dinner.
[indistinct chatter]
♪ ♪
Sorry to keep you waiting.
‐ I have what you asked for.
‐ This is stable enough to move?
‐ As long as you don't mess
with the blasting caps.
‐ You were never here.
[echoing percussion]
[laughter]
‐ [grunts, groans]
[indistinct chatter]
‐ You come into our country.
You take our jobs.
You rape our women and children.
You bring all
these fucking diseases.
‐ Yeah.
‐ You got
those sneaky fucking eyes.
So, as a loyal American,
I sentence you
to death by hanging.
♪ ♪
‐ [shouts in Cantonese]
‐ Shut the fuck up!
‐ [chokes, sobs]
‐ Go, Petey. Get him up there.
[teddy boys jeering,
man choking]
‐ God damn. ‐ Make him fly.
[laughter and coking continue]
[blade swishes, man grunts]
‐ What the fuck?
[man coughs]
A girl?
[splutters]
[body thuds]
‐ Who the fuck are you?
‐ She's with me.
‐ Who the fuck are you?
‐ That's not important
right now.
[all shout]
[exciting music]
♪ ♪
‐ [whimpers]
♪ ♪
‐ Lai.
♪ ♪
[bone snaps] ‐ [shrieking]
‐ [roars]
[panting]
♪ ♪
[sustained guitar chord]
♪ ♪
[body thuds]
What?
‐ [grunts]
[panting]
[groans]
[grunts]
[panting]
[person whistles]
‐ [whimpers]
[screams]
[spaghetti western music]
♪ ♪
‐ Hey, man. What's up?
‐ You didn't make it home
last night.
Fighting at that boat again?
‐ Yeah. ‐ You win?
‐ You have to ask? Really?
‐ [chuckles]
I'll have to come see it
sometime.
I paid a few onions to go
into one of the Long Zii dens.
This is what they're using.
‐ [sniffs] It's molasses.
So what?
‐ I'm not worried
about what it is.
I'm worried about what it isn't.
And it isn't from China,
which means the Long Zii
are paying less for it,
which explains
how they can charge less,
which explains
why we're losing customers.
‐ You take this to Father Jun?
‐ Father Jun will never stop
ordering from China.
He's too afraid of pissing off
the Six Companies.
‐ Well, that was when
we didn't have to compete.
[sighs]
Now we do.
‐ No shit.
‐ Would he know?
‐ What?
‐ You're the one
who places the orders, right?
We could set up a local source.
Father Jun doesn't have
to know about it.
‐ He'll eventually find out.
‐ Well, you know
what I always say.
Better to ask for forgiveness
than ask for permission.
We lost a lot of chop
by cutting Mai Ling in.
We could offset some of that
if we stopped importing.
‐ [exhales deeply]
We'd need a local source
we can trust.
‐ [grunts]
[sniffs] So we'll find one.
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
‐ Okay.
‐ Okay.
♪ ♪
‐ Let's get some breakfast.
I'm fucking starving.
Got some blood on your face.
‐ Oh.
Here? ‐ Yeah.
‐ Huh? ‐ Yep.
There.
‐ I don't think it's mine.
[insects buzzing]
[gun clatters]
‐ It just keeps getting better
and better, doesn't it?
This is the fifth time
in as many months,
and we've got fuck all
to show for it.
No wonder he feels
he can keep doing it.
‐ It's not one person...
at least not this time.
These two here were killed
by their own knives
and, by the looks of it,
put up quite a fight.
These other three
and the man back there
were killed by a sword.
There was more
than one attacker here.
‐ For fuck's sake!
You're the one who's been
telling me all this time
that we were looking
for one man.
‐ Yeah, and now I'm the one
who's telling you we're not!
‐ What the hell was that?
‐ I have no idea.
‐ I don't need to remind you
about all the shit
I'm getting from on high.
And believe me,
there's a lot of it.
And it all rolls downhill.
If you and your squad
can't find me
at least one fucking swordsman,
I'll get someone who can.
‐ We're doing everything we can.
‐ Well, do more of it.
And you get
your boy Lee in line!
The only thing he had going for
him was his fucking manners,
and without those,
I can't think
of a single goddamn reason
to keep him around!
‐ Go and sort that cunt out,
will you?
‐ Right you are, Bill.
[indistinct chatter]
‐ You want to tell me what
the hell that was in there?
‐ Multiple homicides?
‐ Don't get cute.
Listen, you can't go mouthing
off to Flannagan like that.
‐ [sighing] Yeah, I know.
I'm sorry.
‐ You don't have
to apologize to me.
To be honest, I enjoyed it.
‐ [chuckles]
‐ You still getting
the headaches?
‐ Yeah.
‐ And the laudanum's
not helping?
‐ Uh, no.
‐ It's been what, two months?
What does the doctor say?
‐ He says there's a lot
we don't understand
about head injuries.
‐ You think maybe
you should take some time off?
‐ I think maybe
we should go talk to Chao.
‐ We've talked to Chao plenty!
‐ And he's still
holding out on us.
The man is slicker
than a slop jar.
‐ If he doesn't want to talk,
he's not gonna talk.
‐ Well, then I guess the trick
is to make him want to.
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
‐ Fellas, please.
Don't do this! No!
[blows landing, men screaming]
[insects buzzing]
‐ Hey!
Hey! You can't do that!
Hey!
This bullshit, Bill.
How many time Chao help you?
Now you wreck my business?
‐ Warned you, Chao.
I need a swordsman.
‐ I told you I don't have one.
‐ People are dying, Chao! ‐ Hey!
Just give me
something I can use.
I'm under
a lot of pressure here.
‐ [sighs]
Yes.
Yes, you under a lot of pressure
from many places, hmm?
‐ What the fuck
are you talking about?
♪ ♪
‐ I hear things.
‐ What things?
‐ If I was you,
I wouldn't worry about me.
Looks to me like you have
enough problems of your own.
♪ ♪
You let me know
when you're ready to talk.
[retreating footsteps]
[grunts] Lee!
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[indistinct chatter,
machinery whirring]
‐ Mr. Merriweather.
These visits are starting
to become
something of a bad habit.
‐ Byron was a close friend.
The least I can do
is check up on his daughter.
‐ Mm.
You'd be more convincing
if you didn't have
an ulterior motive.
‐ Oh, on the contrary.
I wouldn't be offering
to buy your company
if I didn't think
it was in your best interests.
‐ Ah, so you're
a philanthropist.
‐ [chuckles] Of course not.
I'm every bit as interested
in profits as you are.
And with
a moderate cash infusion
and a few modifications,
this place could be fabricating
steel girders
for my building projects, hmm?
‐ Yes. Well, thank you.
But as you can see,
I'm just a little
too busy right now,
so if you'll excuse me‐‐
‐ Mrs. Blake,
how long do you think
your husband will continue
to indulge you here?
‐ This isn't
my husband's business.
It's mine.
‐ You misunderstand me.
‐ No, you misunderstand me.
So I'm going to speak
very slowly and clearly.
Mercer Steel is not for sale.
‐ It appears
to me that together‐‐
[door opens] ‐ That's it.
One step at a time.
‐ What happened?
‐ It was those damn workingmen.
Five injured.
And a bunch ran away.
We're gonna be ten men short
for the day.
‐ Find Claudia‐‐have her see
to the men's injuries.
‐ Yes, ma'am.
‐ You okay?
‐ [breathes shakily]
‐ No doubt, you've hired
a good security firm.
[laughter, indistinct chatter]
‐ Hey, Chao.
‐ The itchy onion.
You drinking? ‐ No, no.
I, uh‐‐I went by your place.
‐ Well, I closed early.
What can I do for you?
‐ I need some information.
I'll pay for it.
‐ That much chop, you're not
paying for information.
You're paying for discretion.
‐ Young Jun and I are looking
for a local molasses source.
‐ You mean Father Jun,
don't you?
'Cause changing sources
has political ramifications.
Only Father Jun can do that.
‐ I mean Young Jun.
‐ What the fuck are you doing?
‐ Simple question, Chao.
‐ Listen...
I know Young Jun has
his daddy issues,
but you should know better.
What's this about, hmm?
Whatever it is, let me
give you a piece of advice.
And this one is free.
‐ Okay. Yeah.
‐ Get the fuck over it
before you bring the whole
damn tong down with you.
‐ [chuckles]
Thanks.
‐ I'm keeping this to forget
we ever had this conversation.
‐ Of course you are.
[women giggling]
‐ Hello, Chao. ‐ Got a minute?
‐ [raps table, sighs]
[indistinct chatter]
♪ ♪
‐ Someone's in a mood.
‐ This little hobby of yours,
it's starting to cause
me some real headaches.
‐ My hobby?
♪ ♪
One of these days,
you'll have to tell me
how it is you seem
to know everyone's business.
‐ I'm in the business
of everyone's business.
‐ Well, it's annoying.
‐ You know what else
is annoying?
‐ Hmm?
‐ Having the bulls
cart away my inventory
and shut down my fucking shop.
‐ Really? ‐ That's annoying.
‐ I'm sorry, Chao.
‐ "Sorry" isn't gonna cover
my losses, is it?
‐ You always seem to find
a way to land on your feet.
‐ Maybe this time,
I'll land on my feet
by turning in
this mysterious swordsman
the bulls are so eager to find.
‐ [chuckles]
They'd never believe it.
♪ ♪
You'd never do that.
‐ Don't overestimate
how much I'll suffer
to keep your secret.
♪ ♪
‐ I was thinking
I might need to lay low
for a little while anyway.
‐ I think that'd be
a stellar idea.
‐ Some tea? ‐ Thank you.
[inhales deeply]
‐ Speaking of secrets...
have you gone to see yours?
‐ [sighs gruffly]
Tomorrow.
[burlesque piano music playing]
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
[indistinct chatter]
[fiddle music playing]
[glass shatters,
music continues]
[patrons whistling]
[jaunty ragtime music playing]
♪ ♪
‐ Oysters! Oysters!
Fresh oysters!
[kids shouting]
[indistinct chatter]
[dogs barking]
[dramatic rock music building]
♪ ♪
‐ Good evening.
♪ ♪
[crowd jeering]
‐ [shouts]
‐ [panting]
[both shout]
‐ [panting]
[crowd shouting]
‐ Good fight.
‐ No, it was sloppy.
Should've finished him sooner.
‐ You finished him
in under three minutes.
No one here
has come close to that.
‐ [grumbles softly]
‐ Well, if this is how
you celebrate your wins,
I'd hate to see what happens
when you lose.
‐ [scoffs]
I, uh...
I did lose.
Badly.
‐ I had a feeling.
No one fights here because
things are going great, right?
See you around.
‐ Hey, Vega?
You said you might be able
to help me find
what I'm looking for.
‐ I did say that, didn't I?
[mysterious rock music]
♪ ♪
‐ What can I do you for?
♪ ♪
He wants you, honey.
[horse chuffs]
‐ Good evening.
‐ Hyah!
♪ ♪
‐ You're worried about Ah Sahm.
‐ You didn't see
the way he looked at me...
the hate in his eyes.
‐ The Hop Wei
won't break the treaty.
‐ Father Jun won't.
But what if he loses
his grip on the tong?
‐ Ah Sahm can fight.
But he's not like you.
He's not a leader.
‐ When he first got here,
I was so furious with him
for thinking I was still
the sister he remembered...
For thinking
he actually knew me.
I just never thought...
‐ What?
‐ Maybe I don't know him either.
[solemn music]
♪ ♪
We have to be very careful.
♪ ♪
[horse neighs in the distance]
[distant shouting]
[building electronic music]
♪ ♪
[man rapping in Cantonese]
♪ ♪
And I am made in China!
[engine revs]
Send them, all of them,
back to China!
(CROWD CHEERS)
MAN: If the people of
San Francisco were truly aware
of what goes on in Chinatown...
ninth circle of hell...
Michael!
MAN: ...we wouldn't be able
to contain them.
ALL: Send them back!
We have an opportunity here
to send a message.
‐We had a deal.
‐That's not how it works.
I need chaos... and quickly.
(GRUNTING)
♪ (INTENSE MUSIC OUTRO) ♪
‐(YELLING)
‐♪ (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(CLAMORING)
(GRUNTING)
JONATHAN TROPPER: When we see
Ah Sahm in the opening
of this season,
he's fighting in this
Barbary Coast fight pit.
We were really excited to build
the Barbary Coast.
It just seemed like this great,
lawless place,
and it gave us a chance
to really expand our world.
(CLAMORING)
He just kept going back
to the fight pit,
'cause he was trying to relive
the moment with Li Yong,
or to vent his emotions
because of what happened
with his sister.
I couldn't quite figure out
the exact reason.
ROSALITA VEGA:
What's a China Town
hatchet man doing
in a Barbary Coast fight pit?
What are you looking for?
Just staying sharp.
Rosalita Vega has been running
this fight club in the bottom
of a landlocked boat.
She's tough, she's crafty,
and she's got her eye
on Ah Sahm,
for reasons we don't quite know
yet.
When she first sees Ah Sahm,
she's not sure what to expect.
There's a curiosity of,
"Who is this guy?"
(YELLING, GRUNTING)
MARIA‐ELENA LAAS:
"And what does he have
to show?"
He sees Vega as somewhat
of a kindred spirit.
We're from similar backgrounds,
and we've got similar stories,
so there's attraction.
JOANNA VANDERHAM:
When we meet Penny
in season two,
she's very much in the thick
of running the family business
for Mercer Steel.
I did my best to be supportive,
but now the mayor's wife
has a hundred coolies
working for her.
Do you understand
the position you're putting
me in?
The thorn in the side of that
is the Irish thugs.
They resent the fact
that she's hiring Chinese labor.
Mercer Steel
is my father's legacy.
Just sell the damn thing!
I'm sorry, am I interrupting?
We meet Sophie in the first
episode of season two.
She's moved in with me
and Blake.
So, Sophie is Penny Blake's
younger sister.
She's got a rebellious streak,
and she's very outgoing.
So I think when she first sees
Leary in the cemetery,
she is genuinely curious.
You don't strike me as a man
who spends a lot of time
among proper women.
You're quick to judge,
aren't ya?
It isn't until he starts
making assumptions about her
that it becomes a bit more
playful and flirtatious
between them. She's intrigued,
because she's never met anyone
like Leary before.
As a loyal American,
I sentence you to death.
‐Who the fuck are you?
‐That's not important right now.
(ALL YELLING, GRUNTING)
So, at the beginning
of season two,
we see Ah Toy and Ah Sahm
team up to fight the Teddy Boys.
So we see what ruthless
vigilantes they make.
Ah Toy has always sort of
picked her moments
to really strike on behalf
of the Chinese people.
She's been a quiet vigilante
for years.
We've been too active lately.
Leave them alone, tomorrow
they take another Chinese scalp.
And if we keep leaving a trail
of dead white people,
we'll become a threat
to ourselves and China Town.
Unlike Ah Toy, Ah Sahm
isn't as wise
about knowing when to lay low
and when to strike.
He sort of becomes addicted
to the vengeance of it.
Now that Ah Sahm
is doing it with her,
the stakes have
kind of gotten bigger
because it's bringing more heat
onto China Town,
and it's bringing more
police attention.
If you and your squad
can't find me
at least one fucking swordsman,
I'll get someone who can.
We pick up Bill, and he's still
got the pressure from Flanagan
to find the swordsman.
Lee's become so obsessed
with this pursuit
of the swordsman,
he's trying to get
any information he can,
in a very dogged way.
And outside of that, he's using
laudanum to dull the pain
and the anxiety
from his head injury.
A lot of Lee's negative
qualities
have kind of been dialed up
to 11.
The introduction of Mai Ling
in season two
was me walking down the China
Town streets like the new queen.
‐I'll take it all. ‐What?
All of it.
Everything in the stand.
DIANNE DOAN: It's important
for me to interact with my people.
I want to be accepted and loved,
and throughout the season
you'll see Mai Ling
establishing her power
even more.
Mai Ling's walking around like
the motherfucking queen
of China Town.
The Fung Hai are all over us,
which never would have happened
if we hadn't bent over for them.
Father Jun and Young Jun,
they're kind of like yin
and yang. Oil and water.
Young Jun's saying Father Jun's
getting old.
He's not able to make good
decisions for the Hop Wei.
Young Jun clearly feels
that the Hop Wei
have the power and the numbers
to solve
the territorial dispute,
whereas Father Jun
is older, wiser, and wants
a much more nuanced approach.
The Hop Wei are going through
some growing pains right now.
Young Jun and Ah Sam
are really upset with Father Jun
for giving Mai Ling entrée
into the opium trade
and they feel they've shown
real weakness.
They're full of vim and vigor.
They wanna take over.
We lost a lot of chop
by cutting Mai Ling in.
We could offset some of that
if we stopped importing.
Father Jun
doesn't have to know about it.
We need to locate a source
we can trust.
So we'll find one.
♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪