(light music)
(sighs)
- I just made a fresh pot.
- Late night at the office, huh?
- Yeah, I was working on the presentation.
- And you had nowhere else to sleep?
- I'm, uh, number 373
On a public housing list of...
373. - Oh.
- But I'm moving to colin's couch tonight,
And, in the meantime, bun's with ting.
This is just 'til I get my own place.
- Wait, you didn't move out of your mom's place
Because of me, did you?
- No, I moved out because of her.
And me. And then, maybe you.
So you're, like, a distant third.
It'll be nice to have the pitch over with, but...
I'm gonna miss having you here.
- Yeah, no emotions 'til after coffee, please.
(crow cawing)
Look, siaja, whatever happens
With the presentation today,
Make sure it comes from here.
- Your dad belly?
- Your heart!
I don't have a dad belly.
- It's ok.
Dad bods are cool now.
- Oh.
(playful music)
(wind gusting)
(door bell jingles) (door shuts)
- Hey, are you coming inside? I'm ready to check out.
- Sorry, store's closed.
- But you let me walk right past you.
I said hello. - Yeah, these things happen.
We're closed. All right? (woman sighs)
I'm taking a personal day.
(crow cawing)
(pensive music)
- We'd like to give you a warm welcome
To our beautiful corner of the world.
- We're here to show you why the only logical place
For your polar ecosphere research station
Is right here in... - (together) ice cove, nunavut!
- It's surprisingly hard to say the same thing at the same time.
- But... - Practice makes perfect!
- Uh, in the real presentation, are you gonna be
High-fiving a lot?
- I would at least space them out, like, one up top
And then... One never again. - Yeah, no. Uh-huh.
- Guys, if we get this research station,
It'll bring enough money to fully fund
My community programming, so focus.
- Ah, poopski.
Some visitor just cut off their own finger with an ulu.
- (siaja) oh, that sounds bad.
- Well, I'm pretty sure it's just part of the finger,
But they're using "I should sue" language.
I gotta go. - Yeah, we got this.
- Do we? Siaja, we need this.
The feds are coming down with budget cuts.
- Yeah, but if we ace this presentation,
We have enough money for all of it.
- And I'll be able to keep paying you.
And both of you.
- Shit, we really need to win this.
- ♪ what do you mean, I don't believe in god? ♪
♪ I talk to him every day ♪
♪ what do you mean, I don't support your system? ♪
♪ I go to court when I have to ♪
(rock music)
♪ there's a new way ♪
- You wanna take me out?
Do it.
You get one last shot.
(scoffs)
That's what I thought.
I win again. (sighs)
Chicken shit.
- I wouldn't do that.
- Hey. Hey. - Hey.
- Today's the big day.
The whole community is coming out too, right?
You, uh, excited? You ready?
- Yeah, I feel good. - Good.
- Helen insisted that we memorize the entire pitch,
Including, um, insert light chuckle here.
- Oh, I gotta hear this light chuckle.
- Uh... (unnatural chuckle)
- Yeah, that's pretty weird. (both laugh)
So, where are you off to now?
- Gonna woo the committee with country food.
Um... Are you wrapping up?
- Uh, yeah, our flight's... Our flight leaves Monday.
- Oh, god. - Yeah.
That's soon. Um...
This place won't be the same without you.
I'm sorry about the other night, missing chess.
- Yeah, colin told me about the whole ting thing.
So I'm sorry. - Yeah, I probably wouldn't
Have been any fun anyway.
I'm a bit of a... Wreck.
- Oh, yeah? Well...
For the record, you, uh, you don't look like a wreck.
(siaja chuckles)
- Um... Well, I'd better get going.
- So what are you doing in here?
- That corny sign?
I thought there would be more laughs in here.
- Ha-ha.
You know I don't like you.
- You know...
I don't like you either.
- But I see you.
Did you know
I went to residential school with your mom?
Mmhm. - No, I...
I didn't.
- It's really hard to know how to be a mom...
...When you never got to see yours.
They taught us how to keep secrets.
And they get heavier and heavier the longer you hold them.
- Yeah.
- I share mine with god.
Who do you share yours with?
(scoffs)
I didn't like siaja at first.
Thought she was like you.
Slutty, godless, shameless.
- Ok, I--I get it.
- But she loves the community.
You're a sinner,
But you raised a good kid.
(fast-paced music)
Don't let the secrets come between you.
Ok, I'm finished.
You can go. - Hmph.
Thanks.
- Thank him.
- Nah. (neevee sniffles)
I don't think I'll be coming back here.
- Good...
'cause you're a bad influence.
(chuckles)
(choral music)
- (helen and siaja) ice cove, nunavut!
- (helen) nailed it!
Ok, I'm going to go to the airport,
Pick up the selection committee.
How much time do I have? - 45 minutes and counting.
- (helen) ok. - You feel good?
- Fit as a fiddle, ready to diddle.
- Mm-mm. - Ugh.
- That was workplace inappropriate. I'm nervous.
- We're good. Look at us. We're not nervous.
- As soon as you said we're not nervous, I got
Immediately so nervous.
But time is ticking, helen.
44 minutes and 48 seconds.
Yep, I'm on it. - 47, 46.
- I said I'm on it!
- We're gonna win this, right guys?
- It is possible. - Mm. Mm.
(water rushing)
- You vengeful prick!
(pensive music)
- (alexis) after ottawa, I think it's only fair that you pick.
You know, because I narrowed it down to nepal or california.
And I just--I just--I want you to make the final decision.
You know? - Oh, that's sweet.
Remind me again, why california?
- Because, remember?
Because they--they wanted me to cover coachella.
- Oh, right, yeah, that'd be cool. Yeah.
- Yeah, right? I think that'll be cool.
I think that's a really big plus for california, actually.
But also, it's good for me, for my career,
And I think it'll be good for you, too, you know?
To clear your head after such a tough year,
Figure things out again.
I know you struggle to know what you want, but...
I really want this, and I want us.
But kuuk, you have to tell me now.
Do you know what you want?
- Hey, siaja, you weren't answering your phone!
Your mom needs your help! - My mom's problems
Are not my problem. - I'm serious, siaja.
Your mom's store's flooding and she's not doing
Anything about it! - But you only have 38 minutes.
- So she better hurry! - Siaja, it's like
Something inside her broke. She needs you!
(siaja sighs)
- Babysitting neevee. Story of my life.
(door bell jingles)
(siaja) holy shit.
Well, if this isn't a sign, I don't know what is.
It's too bad you don't sell snorkels.
- We need to talk.
- Well, you're about...
26 years too late.
- Just... Shut up and listen.
Before you came along,
I had another baby.
- What? (siaja hesitates)
- She was taken from me.
She was...
Taken by her father,
A white man.
- I have a sister?
- Yeah.
I was 16.
He was so much older.
And I didn't have any money
Or a lawyer or anything.
And... He...
Said that he was taking her to visit his family.
But they never came back.
So, uh, when I had you...
...I couldn't risk losing you too.
- That's why you pushed alistair away.
And kept me a secret.
Mom...
No...
I love you, mom. - How?
I lost your sister! - You didn't lose anyone.
She was stolen.
(neevee weeping)
(synth music)
- You're my baby.
(softly) siaja.
- I'm here. (siaja sniffles)
I'm not going anywhere.
- (helen) so then I found this other rock that was more...
Pinkish and, um, yeah,
Those are all experiences that took place
Right here in ice cove, nunavut.
Now, we go to the video. How we doing on that?
- Almost got it. - Not even close.
Uh... - Call siaja again!
I--I can't do this without her. I...
Do me a favour. Close your eyes
And imagine a snowy, snowy fjord.
(cell phone vibrating)
(neevee sighs)
- You gonna get that? - It's nothing.
It's just helen. - Oh, wait.
Was your presentation today?
- I'm not leaving.
- I'm not gonna let you piss this away because of me.
- But we're a mess. - What else is new?
(door bell jingles) (door opens)
- (helen) above...
A couple of ptarmigans flying in the sky
Like jazz hands. (inaudible)
There is a lot of wildlife here
That's small, close to the ground.
- Oh, thank god. - Yes, helen, I know.
I'm here now. I'm sorry. - Don't apologize now.
Save that for when we're alone. - Yes, of course, of course.
Hi. Welcome.
New faces. Familiar faces. Thanks for coming.
- We don't have the password. - Ahem. Right.
Hi, sorry, sorry, my password is password123, capital p.
- Yeah. - Ok. Did you already--
- Oh yeah, about four or five times.
- Um...
Is it ok if I just jump in?
- Oh, please, go ahead.
- Ok.
Hit it.
(rhythmic music playing)
Ice cove, nunavut.
Population 2,200.
From our quaint but fully functional airport
To our many outfitters, we have so much to offer
Your research centre.
Um... Due to our location in the central arctic,
We are a travel hub to all three regions of nunavut.
Operational costs are an important factor
For you to... To consider.
Uh...
You know what, can we pause the video, please?
Look, I'm new to this job, but I'm not new to this town.
This place is amazing.
I mean, tuktutalik has good people too, I guess.
And it's for sure a much shinier place than this.
You see that hole in the wall?
- (helen) or not! You don't-- you don't have to look.
- My predecessor had a bad day and we could have papered
Over it, but why?
It's part of this place's story.
What's that saying?
Cracks are to let the light shine in.
I think it's the opposite.
Sometimes the cracks are there to let the light shine out.
So if you want to study the real arctic,
You need to be here.
For too long, people have been coming to the arctic
To try and change us.
But I'm asking you to let this place change you.
Because we've been doing our own research
For the past 20,000 years.
So on that note, I would like to pass it on to helen
For budget, timeline, and recommendations.
(siaja speaking inuktut)
- Tough act to follow. Uh...
If I knew we were going to improvise,
I would have prepared something. Ok!
- What do you think they're talking about?
They couldn't have made a decision already, could they?
That's not how it works, is it?
- (neevee) it doesn't matter what the suits think.
- That's the only thing that matters is
What the suits think.
Here they come. Be cool.
- Thank you. Take care. Bye.
Safe flight. (door opens)
(door shuts) - well, you did great.
And they--they wanted me to tell you that.
- But, uh, apparently, tuktutalik has
Better infrastructure and, uh, internet.
- And they just opened a new sushi place.
- Wait, but... That--
- That slippery bitch ellen bought the contract.
- But... That's-- that's not fair!
- Yeah, fair schmair. In this job,
I've learned that failure is like a new pair of shoes
That really hurt your feet
Until you get used to the pain.
- Ok, well there was some...
Some good news, too.
They loved the plan b idea.
- There was a plan b?
- They have agreed to put
A satellite office here in ice cove.
I know it's not going to be the research station money
We all wanted, but it's still not nothing.
And, well, I, uh,
I kind of put my hand up to run the place.
- You're staying? - Mmhm.
- Yay! - Wow!
- Well, all right. We had a celebration planned,
So I'm going to put my dancing pants on
And get this party started, right?
- Well, I'm staying, so yeah.
- Ah, come on! Come on! - All right, helen!
- ♪ strawberries and then somethin' more ♪
♪ lipstick on my guitar ♪
♪ ooh, fill up the engine, we can drive real far ♪
♪ mmm, you got me feeling like ♪
♪ ooh, I love it when you do it like that ♪
♪ and when you're close up, give me the shivers ♪
♪ oh, baby, you wanna dance 'til the sunlight cracks ♪
♪ and when they say the party's over ♪
♪ then we'll bring it right back ♪
♪ and I'll say, ooh, I love it when you do it like that ♪
♪ and when you're close up, give me the shivers ♪
- So you're staying.
- Yeah, looks like it.
But for them.
Not for us.
Hey, party animal!
Can we dance? - Grandpa! Oh, yeah!
- Ahem! (soft tapping)
This is so quiet. - Clink, clink, clink!
- Appreciate it. - It's a speech!
Clink, clink, clink! - Don't tell them what it is.
That's a spoiler. Um...
I just wanted to make a toast
To the second-best town in nunavut, to ice cove!
(cheering)
- Wait, wait, wait. One more thing! Hello!
I'd like to thank everybody for recognizing
All my hard work today.
I'm so proud of the presentation.
I could not have done it alone quite so well.
I have a gift for my trusty assistant, siaja.
Come on up here. - Ok!
- For you. - Woo!
- Oh! - Try it on!
Oh, it really brings out your eyes.
- Oh, wow! - Oh, yes!
- (millie) there you go! (camera clicking)
This is a forever moment. Look, they're twins!
- So beautiful. - That is really special.
- Beautiful! - (millie) gonna frame this.
So, so thoughtful! - Let's dance!
- ♪ ooh, I love it when you do it like that ♪
♪ and when you're close up, give me the shivers ♪
- No rest for the wicked, eh? - Oh, hey!
- But, more importantly, you killed it in there.
- Yeah. I did kind of kill it. - Yeah.
- Pretty cool that alistair's staying.
- Mmhm, yeah. On that note, um,
Ahem, you know, alistair's gonna need some help.
So it turns out I'm
Also gonna be sticking around a little longer.
- Really? - Yeah.
This is the first place I've ever lived
That actually just, you know, felt like home.
I don't know, I'm just not ready to leave yet, so.
Yeah. - Yeah, no. Totally.
- But look, uh... I need to give you a heads up--
- Siaja! Hi! Did... Did kuukie tell you already?
I asked him to wait so that we could tell you together.
We're staying! Isn't that awesome?
Yeah! Besties! - Yeah... Cool.
- There's so much we can do to reorganize this community.
It's, like, the perfect blank slate.
I've already been sharing some ideas with helen.
And I think between my contacts and her experience
That we can really optimize how things run around here,
You know what I mean?
So we might get to be co-workers!
Amazing!
- ♪ ooh, I love it when you do it like that ♪
(scoffs)
♪ give me the shivers ♪
♪ oh, baby, you want to dance 'til the sunlight cracks ♪
♪ and when they say the party's over ♪
♪ then, we'll bring it right back ♪
♪ and I say ooh, I love it when you do it like that ♪
♪ and when you're close up, give me the shivers ♪
(cheering)
- Are we the problem?
- Probably. (both laugh)
- (siaja) any motherly advice?
- Hmm...
Rent is due on the first Friday of every month.
And don't piss off the landlady.
(siaja chuckles)
("anirniq" by silla and rise playing)
(helen grunts rhythmically)
- Yeah, come over here, cousin.
- (siaja) hey, mom? - (neevee) yeah?
We don't have any shamans in our bloodline, do we?
(electronic music with throat singing)