02x01 - Episode 1

[bunniefuu]

My name is Siaja,
and I live in the most

beautiful place on Earth.

Seven months ago,
I blew up my life,

and a lot has shifted since then.

[♪ Free ♪ by Florence
+ the Machine playing]

♪ Sometimes I wonder
if I should be medicated ♪

[revving]

My ex, Ting, transferred
to another airline.

And it turns out,

Bun loves to travel
back and forth.

♪ Puts me down ♪

♪ Picks me up ♪

My father, Alistair,
moved to Ice Cove

and built a cabin
at the edge of town.

He didn't realize it's my mom's
favourite hunting spot.

Kuuk stuck around to continue
working with Alastair.

And his girlfriend, Alexis
stayed too.

Hey.

[Siaja]: Everyone
is moving forward.

Me, on the other hand...

Don't put it on my face, Siaja!

[Siaja]: My daughter and I still
live with my mom, Neevee.

Don't call me Siaja,
I'm your mother!

It's been, uh... cozy.

I still work
at the community centre

as an assistant.

Hey, guys!

Whoever loses
has to lick the floor!

[Siaja]: And my boss, Helen...

I made it myself!

[Siaja]: Is a true visionary.

Her words.

And then there's dear,
sweet Elisapee.

I've been pushing hard
to find my sister.

Mom says she hasn't
thought about her in years.

I asked her to take
a DNA test anyways.

I told you, I'm over it.

[Siaja]: I'm still
working on that.

In the meantime, I can't wait
around for my life to start.

It's time to level up.

Which is why I asked
to show you guys around.

And that's me!
Welcome to my community.

-[camera snaps]
-Where are the penguins?

-That's Antarctica.
-We're the other one.

-Aw...
-Anybody else?

Sorry, who are you again?

I'm Siaja.

And I'm levelling up my life.
Welcome to Ice Cove!

[theme music]

-Handmade Arctic souvenirs!
-[overlapping chatter]

[revving]

-Morning!
-Ullaakkut.

Spatial awareness, people!
Beep-beep!

[tourist]: I miss the gift shop
in the other town.

-I hate tourists.
-Guys, come on.

At least Ice Cove
is getting some action.

It's exciting!

It's boring.

That's the word
being bandied about

by our cruise line visitors.

In fact, when asked
if they would recommend Ice Cove

to a friend,
four out of five circled,

"Not likely."
Listen to this,

"Went on a hike, saw rocks."

"Nothing special,
no penguins."

"sh*t town." That's a good one.

"Ice Cove is not worth
the stop over." Mother fudger!

We're really suffering
from the no penguins thing.

I don't know what else
I can do about that.

Wait, how is this possible?

I don't know, Siaja,
you're the one that's been

touring them around all season.

This cruise ship will never
come back.

This is what happens
when I let myself dream.

A few cranky tourists
can't mean we're doomed, right?

Ugh! Even my fan is giving up
on us.

The government funding
has been getting trickier

every year!
This was my hail Mary,

the cruise ship!
If we don't figure

something else out,
our programming

is dead in the water.
So long, Elders Night.

The youth program, all of it!

No! I don't accept this.

Ice Cove isn't boring.

Maybe what's boring is the way
that we've been showing it.

The same as every
other community.

Did you have a suggestion?
Or...

We give them something
that they won't

stop talking about.
Not a tour, an experience.

We're coming into deep winter.
The last ship of the season

leaves in the morning.

So we give them something
unforgettable tonight.

Ice Cove isn't just
rocks and ice,

it's more than that!

It's people, energy, culture.

Let's dazzle them!

I do love to dazzle...

Okay, if we do this,

we've got to bring out
the big g*ns.

[indistinct chatter]

-Alexis!
-Hi!

Gorgeous, viral Alexis.

How would you like to be
the face of saving Ice Cove?

-Oh, my God!
-Yeah, one second, one second.

Okay. One, two, and pop!

[♪ UH HUH! ♪
[By Lockyer Boys playing]

♪ I don't do this type
of thing usually ♪

♪ Uh-huh uh-huh ♪

Ice Cove, Nunavut.
Not a vegetable in sight.

So today we are trying
some muktuk. Mmm!

I'm also learning the language.
Anaq!

That means hello.

This is who Helen picked
to represent our community?

[Alexis calling out excitedly]

For real, can't get enough
of her content.

It's one cliché after another.

-Well, exactly.
-It's cringe gold.

-Ugh.
-In fairness, her videos

did kind of alert
the cruise lines to Ice Cove

in the first place.
You sure this isn't about...

No! Alexis doesn't know
what makes Ice Cove special.

Like, what's she going to do?
Build an inukshuk?

[Alexis]: Come build
an inukshuk with me!

-[groans]
-She doesn't even work here!

-Don't let her get to you.
-I know, but I can see Helen

turning to her for big ideas,

and I have big ideas too,
you know?

Look, Alexis is sweet.

But she's sweet and culturally
problematic.

[Millie]: Uh, Siaja...

Title of my biography!

You might want to mute
the radio mic next time.

sh*t...

[wind howling]

[animal trilling]

I know what you're up to.

We're here to hunt ptarmigan,

not a silver fox,
you thirsty b*tch!

[grunts]

[g*nsh*t]
Whoa, expert!

You're welcome.

Free dinner.

You can eat the hell out of that.

Give me that!

Just what I thought.

I'd eat the hell out of that.

[chuckling]

Who's thirsty?
[laughing]

Not bad, boss. Not bad at all.

Look at this. I can't believe
we built this thing

in our off hours.
Hey, maybe we ditch science

and start
a construction business, huh?

Working with our hands.
Get back to the land!

Men being men!
[barking]

Or we become the North's
first spa-based

research system, huh?
Dry heat, cold air,

snow plunges?

Way more fun than counting

char in the lake. Hmm?

Yeah, stupid idea. Or we'll just
keep doing our job, you know?

[panting]

-Kuuk.
-Yeah.

I've got to let you go, buddy.

They cut my budget
for support staff.

I tried to spin the numbers
all night,

but I just, I can't.

Are you kidding me?

Man, I quit law school, man.

I came up here
to figure out my life.

Maybe this is an opportunity
for you to actually figure out

what it is that you want to do.

A door closes, a window opens?

Look, you were the best
research assistant,

I just can't afford one.
Kuuk, I...

Ah, it's fine. Look,
I'll see you later, man.

Buddy, I...

It's out of my hands!

[rhythmic music]

Hey. Alexis called.

Said she needed help
with her snowmobile.

Oh. That's sweet.

I can see the future
of Ice Cove is in good hands.

Thank you. If only Helen
had the same confidence.

I'm sure she does, you know.

Hi, babe. You're the best.

I just can't get the hang
of this snowmobile.

-Yeah, yeah.
-No worries. Let's go.

Siaja. A word, please.

Helen, I can explain.

I left the office
for exactly one hour

to mainline estrogen
and regulate my internal climate

and I come back to this disaster?

Alexis just recused herself

from organizing
the event tonight.

Did she say why?

Something about it being
culturally problematic.

I mean, I suppose
there is a quiet nobility

to that decision.

And then she nominated you
to take her place.

-Me?
-I know. You would've been

my fourth choice.
I mean, fifth, actually.

If we're going to move
the needle on this thing,

-it's got to sparkle.
-I can make it sparkle!

I wish your confidence
gave me confidence.

Trust me. Tonight,

we are putting Ice Cove
on the map.

I know exactly what to do.

Where are you going?

Fixing tourism before
this place turns into

Bingo nights and sad bake sales.

Do you even have a plan?

Greenlandic Mask Dancing
with Auntie Vicky.

I'm thinking lights and music
and a fog machine!

Since when are you doing
level ten cultural programming

for tourists with equipment
we don't even have?

Since I realized
I've been doing the same

small things for months now.

I need to go bigger
if I want to be bigger.

I blew up my whole life,
and I'm still just an assistant

handing out pamphlets.

And a souped-up mask dance
fixes that how?

Because it's unexpected.

And if I pull this off,
maybe Helen will finally see

that I'm more than just a girl
that manages her calendar.

Your plan might be a bit much.

Maybe.

But it'll make people notice.

Just got to go convince
Auntie Vicky now.

[Eva]: Just admit it.
You miss him!

I'm not missing anything.

I just want my hunting spot back.

Besides, I am a deeply
fulfilled business woman

who doesn't obsess
over mediocre men.

Ooh, can I get that on a T-shirt?

-He is not mediocre.
-He's like an Italian sculpture

-but with a bigger...
-Don't listen to her.

[chuckling]

Are you here with the cruise?

Uh, that's my cover story,
but I'm actually hoping

to do some research.
I need a new best-seller.

My daughter reads these.

Aren't they all about
some woman chasing after

some guy so that they could live
happily ever after?

Mm, they're about women who think

they're looking for love
and realize

they're actually looking
for themselves.

And then bang the guy
one more time, for fun.

[laughing]

I wanted to be Ernest Hemingway,
but then I realized

women were being
wildly under-entertained

and under-served.

Speaking of which,
do you have sewing kits?

Because my lucky bra
is on her last legs.

Sorry, no. Wrong store.

We don't really carry
much in the way of...

-Lady stuff.
-Right. Well, thanks.

[door opens]

You know, women have wallets too.

[rhythmic music]

Picture this:
Inuk Cirque du Soleil.

Lights, music, mist,
and then, bam!

You, going as hard as you can,
as big as you can.

Why don't we just keep it simple

since there's so little time?

Auntie Vicky, I grew up
watching you perform

and I'll never forget
how it made me feel.

Like I was capable of anything.

And I just want to share it
with the world.

You could've just told me
that you were going to pay me.

[chuckling]

Okay. So we'll have
Nuliajuq here,

we'll have your...

[man]: Calling all tourists!
You want culture?

Well, we got it.

Community centre, six o'clock,
be there!

I've been saving this up
for years!

I mean, I'm bound
to get married one day, right?

This one is missing a leg,
but it still works.

Do not plug in this one
next to that one.

And whatever you do,

do not turn this up past six.

Jeffrey, this stuff is like
one step away

from actual garbage.

Siaja, you're shopping
at the dump.

I'll take whatever works.

And don't worry, Siaja.

Only some of this
is from a grow op!

[door shutting]

[Siaja]: We're doing a thing
at the community centre.

And I'm going to need
to borrow this, and these...

You better be
bringing that stuff back.

I will.

Why are you hovering?

-It came in.
-No.

-Mom.
-I said no.

This could actually work.

Look, I put this behind me
a long time ago.

I don't understand
what you're so afraid of.

Meeting your first-born child

could change all our lives
for the better!

My life is fine!

You need to just give up on this.

[Bun]: You guys are weird.

I have to go meet Auntie Vicky.

Both of you, come to the show,
okay?

[door opening]

[indistinct chatter]

Tunngasugitsi!

Welcome!

Tonight, we are going
to blow your sweet,

Floridian minds.

[rhythmic music]

So, Siaja, the fog machine.

Jeffrey happen to say anything
about this situation?

Uh, don't turn
the dial up past six?

-Action!
-[Siaja]: Or was it nine?

-Inuit culture is beautiful.
-Powerful.

But the missionaries
banned this dance

because it's everything
God hates!

Alexis, we're about to start.

Uh, honey, this sticker says,
"Outdoor use only."

-Uh...
-[Siaja]: Thanks, Jason!

Appreciate the help.

Helen! What do you think?

I'm just praying
your weird little vision

actually works!

[crowd gasps]
Oh! Let's go!

Tunngasugitsi. Welcome.

We are so excited to share
a slice of Inuit culture

to take home with you,

and maybe tell
your friends about.

Enjoy the show.

[audience cheering, clapping]

[dramatic music]

[Auntie Vicky]:
Uaajeerneq is not a dance.

It's a ritual, a rebellion,

and a return.

[overlapping voices whispering]

A remembering of the parts
of ourselves

that the world shamed
into silence.

[whispering voices continue]

Fear...

Humour...

Sexuality...

are all necessary
for human survival.

[soft raspy vocalizing]

Oh!

[audience members laugh
uncomfortably]

[Auntie Vicky]: Can you
confront fear

without panicking?

[audience members gasping]

Are you capable of laughing
at yourself?

[breathing heavily]

[raspy vocalizing]

Can you face what it is to be

human in this vast universe?

[groaning]

[Millie]: More sparkle!
More sparkle!

What was the magic number? Nine?

[coughing, gasping]

[cord snapping]

[woman]: Siaja,
what's happening?

[audience members shouting]

[performers vocalizing]

Ah!

[water sloshing]

[giggling]

[ethereal music]

-So this is levelling up?
-[laughing]

[disembodied raspy vocalizing]

[disembodied yelling]

[alarm beeping]

Experiential! Are you likely
to recommend it to a friend?

I think so! I think very likely,
probably.

[tense music]

[people coughing]

-Hey. Kati, right?
-[Kati]: Hi! Alistair?

So is your ship
leaving tonight? Or...

You know, I was actually
thinking I might

-stay here a little bit longer.
-Wow, what a sl*t!

-Auntie!
-We don't say that word.

Maybe the sl*t is right, though.

Why don't I sell more
stuff to women?

I'm leaving half the g*dd*mn
money on the g*dd*mn table.

-Alright let me show you.
-[laughing]

[wheezing]

Multiple complaints
of smoke inhalation,

strobe-induced migraines,

we're as good as dropped
from the cruise line itinerary.

[phone chimes]
Oh, that sweet angel Alexis

posted about the event.

Valiant last-ditch effort

to salvage
your spectacular failure.

[Siaja]: Ice Cove is one
of the most beautiful places

on Earth. Our landscape,

our culture, our community.

We and this place
are worth knowing.

Inuit culture is beautiful,
powerful.

Siaja, did you have any idea...

-No, no.
-That was all Alexis.

How fabulous my skin looks?

That's without a filter!



"Authentic and entertaining."

The cruise line has reposted it

on their socials, too.

-That's good, right?
-Yeah.

She just saved our asses.

I want to see if anyone
commented on my skin.

Maybe I don't need as much Botox.

[rhythmic music]

-Alexis!
-You didn't have to do that.

-Do what?
-Your video, it saved my a*s,

after what I said.

Oh, I could have never
pulled that off,

not in a million years.
And the words in the video

were yours, I just did
a little creative editing.

Don't tell Elisapee.

Well, I appreciate it.

No worries. Um...

Siaja, what you said
was hard to hear,

but you weren't wrong.

Hey. You alright?

-Uh, sure, just traumatized.
-No dignity left.

Praying for some memory loss.

Well, it was beautiful.

Seriously. You gave them
a night to remember.

Well, babe, we should
head out, yeah?

-You've got to work early, right?
-Yup, yes, you betcha.

Bright and early.
Okay, bye. See you later.

[soft music]

-That was something.
-You were amazing.

Me, on the other hand...

Maybe I overdid it.

Can I ask,

why did you focus
in on me earlier?

I just respond to energy.

Okay, but... What kind?

For you, restlessness.

Like you're halfway
into becoming someone.

I thought that I'd be
further along by now.

Everyone keeps moving forward,
my ex, my mom, Kuuk.

And I'm still here.
In the same spot.

Trying to prove I'm ready.

You know what
Pilimmaksarniq is, right?

Something about learning?

That's part of it.

It's like forging yourself
into what you want to become.

You can learn from people.
You can listen to them.

But do the thing that feels
true to you.

Even if no one claps right away.

Trust your gut.

Not the noise.

And whatever
you're searching for,

don't give up!

[♪ Native Tongue ♪
[by Mo'Ju playing]

[low vocalizing]

♪♪ I don't speak my father's
native tongue ♪

♪ I was born under
the southern sun ♪

♪ I don't know where I belong ♪

♪ I don't know where I belong ♪

♪ I don't speak my father's
native tongue ♪

♪ I was born under
the southern sun ♪

♪ I don't know where I belong ♪

[Neevee]: Hey, kid.
It's your birthday.

Seven months
since I last held you.

You were getting so heavy.

Hey, kid.
You have a sister now.

Her name is Siaja.

She's quiet, but I can tell
she thinks a lot.

Happy 30th birthday, kid.
Love, your Anaana.

♪ I don't speak my father's
native tongue ♪

♪ I was born under
the southern sun ♪

♪ I don't know where I belong ♪

♪ I don't know where I belong ♪

I said, we're closed.

♪ I don't speak my father's
native tongue ♪

♪ It's easy enough
for you to say ♪

♪ It ain't no thing ♪

♪ But I'm the one
You ain't the one ♪

♪ Been living in this skin ♪

♪ If you want
to call me something ♪

♪ Call it to my face ♪

♪ But I will not apologize
for taking up this space ♪

♪ Every time
you cut me down... ♪