["Starry Night" by Peggy Gou playing]
The sit-down went on for hours.
The restaurant had to send people to the market to get more food,
but your dad never ate a bite.
Ba thinks it's a sign of weakness to eat in front of your adversaries.
Finally, they reach an agreement, and we all exhale.
No one has to die.
[sighs]
But then, the waiter drops the check.
- Uh-oh. - What?
It's considered an insult to not let someone pay.
Big Sun and the head of the Shan-shen Hui both have their hands on the check.
Neither let go.
Big Sun slaps the other guy. Everyone pulls their gun out.
Pointing at each other, screaming, cursing, and I'm like, "Oh shit!"
-"We'll die over who pays for dumplings." - What happened?
[in Mandarin] Mrs. Sun.
[in English] She comes storming in.
She starts going off on all of the Shan-shen Hui.
"I know your mother. What would she think of you acting like this?"
Or, "Look at your disrespect."
She undressed every one of them till they backed down and let Big Sun pay.
Now, I don't care how big your gun is.
No one stands a chance against a Taiwanese mama.
[Bruce] Mmm.
Didn't Ba take out the heads of the Shan-shen Hui?
Mmm. A month or so later.
That whole meeting was a setup to ID the players.
But once they let Big Sun pay, he knew they were weak.
I never heard that story before.
Your mother and father were a good team then.
- They built the Jade Dragons together. - That was a long time ago.
[in Mandarin] You weren't so fat then.
[in English] Jeez.
[laughing]
[in Mandarin] Fuck.
How I've missed you.
[in English] Time to talk business.
Bruce, take your plate and go sit by the TV.
I think Bruce should stay.
Bruce is not part of this. Bruce will never be part of this.
Bruce has proven that he's useful. Not typical, but useful.
[sighs]
Uh... If me listening increases my risk of being tortured and-slash-or killed,
then, no, I am super not useful.
See?
And, TK, you go too.
No listening to what we're saying.
[Bruce sighs]
A piece of willow tree wrapped in yellow gauze was sent to Yuan.
That means Sleepy Chan will meet.
He's bringing his son, Drowsy Lee, and his crew along with him.
Sleepy is one of the most powerful Triad ghosts.
A meeting like this is historic. Hasn't happened in over 20 years.
You ripped down his pants when you made a mess of his seafood man in L.A.
Now his naked ass is hanging out for everyone to see.
He has to accept the Square.
Sorry, what's a Square?
- [Mama] I said no listening. - Sorry.
- We're, like, three feet away! - A Square is a Triad meeting.
Like two triangles make a square.
[laughs] Geometry's crazy, dude.
Ow.
How do we know he's not coming to kill us?
- Making a move at a Square is off-limits. - But not unprecedented.
With respect, probably not a good idea for Sun Tai Tai to be there.
Like, what if this was what Sleepy wanted all along?
Get her out in the open and terminate her.
- Why would they wanna take out Mom? - It doesn't matter.
I am going.
Anyone that wants to get to my mother has to go through me. She's going.
Everything has to be very organized, down to the last detail.
Neutral ground. Indoors. Detached building at least 300 feet from the next building.
Multiple exits and an open rooftop.
He's already proven he likes to blow shit up.
[tense music playing]
Um... Ka Spa would work.
- It's this 24-hour Korean spa. - [sighs]
You have to change into these terrible Ka Spa shorts and sandals,
so no one can sneak any weapons in.
And... and fighting in sandals must be impossible.
I hooped in flip-flops once.
- That's it. - Ah, it just tore my feet up.
- Go to your room. - Okay.
[Blood Boots] This is actually perfect.
Full of civilians. It's bright. And the food looks pretty good.
[TK] And...
thank the Lord for Terrence Kang.
Terrence Kang.
TK. It's my real name.
Huh.
This spot is right in the cleavage of K-Town.
Which means all y'all Chinese folks are so damn lucky
to have a friend from the land of the morning calm.
The crew that runs that area are my boys.
I can set up a meeting so that we can make sure it's all good.
I'd feel a lot more comfortable knowing we have their blessing.
Right on. Bruce and I will go talk to them tomorrow.
No, you will go talk to them.
Bruce will go to school.
- [Bruce] Huh. - [sighs]
[phone chimes]
It's from Sleepy's son, Drowsy Lee.
Sleepy Chan has landed in L.A.
[ominous music playing]
[sighs]
[Bruce] I know my mom told you to be here, but I can look after myself.
[Blood Boots] You're right.
If your mum tells me to watch you, then I'm watching you.
Do you always do whatever my mom says?
Well, between you and me, she was the real brains of the Jade Dragons.
Me? I don't like to think too much.
It was nice for someone smart to tell me what to do, because she's always right.
[woman] Next?
- [clears throat] Hey-- - No. No way.
- Come on! - Mm-mmm.
Please! I have enough to back pay for the whole semester.
You're what we like to call "in arrears."
Do you know what that means?
- No? - It means get out. Next.
You're kicking me out?
That... is...
[scoffs]
...racist.
I'm Korean.
Exactly. You're... you're probably punishing me
for my ancestors' war crimes against your ancestors.
And, hey, if so,
for the record, we are sorry--
Bruce, you've been late on every single payment.
And you'll probably be late next semester. And next semester.
- And the next semester... - We will pay for three semesters up-front.
[suspenseful music playing]
Keep the change.
- [Bruce laughs] - And, uh... we are sorry.
It's water under the bridge.
[in Korean] We are sorry.
[Bruce chuckles] Oh!
[in English] Dude! That was awesome!
Man, look at this place.
- Ah! - All the fresh air, and the learning.
What is that smell?
Churros. There's a guy with a cart.
Ah! Hey.
Can I... can I ask your advice about something?
I think Charles wants me to be at the Ka Spa meeting.
I know he does. You're his brother.
The family needs you.
Yeah, I get that, but
I don't want anything to do with the shady life.
Except for when it pays for your school in cash.
Okay, fair.
But... my mom is pretty adamant about me staying out of it.
A rock and a hard place.
But you said to always listen to my mom, and she's always right.
Yeah, but so is Charles.
[sighs] Okay, well, what if I just wanna do what I want?
We have a word for that in Taiwan.
American.
Either way, gotta choose for yourself, xiao di.
[sighs] It's not really my thing.
What? Being a man?
[clang]
[Grace] Hey, Bruce!
She likes you.
- Have you asked her out yet? - Uh... Oh crap, she's coming our way.
- Please don't do anything embarrassing. - You first.
[both giggle]
- [Grace] Hey, Bruce. - [Bruce] Hey.
Hi. Who's your friend?
Uh... He's my... uncle.
Uncle Blood Boots.
- [chuckles] - [man] Grace!
- Come on. Toss it back! - [Grace laughs]
What are you doing?
He's just pissed 'cause I keep beating his ass.
You wanna walk the course?
- Uh... - Go ahead. I'll follow close behind.
- Okay. It's a little weird, but okay. - [chuckles]
- I'm gonna grab my Frisbee real quick. - Okay.
Huh. Okay!
Did your mom and brother tell you I met them the other day? They're really nice.
- [Bruce] Really? - [Grace] No. [laughs]
But I'm not gonna tell you your family are dicks.
- Oh! - [both laugh]
[clang]
Wow.
Okay. You're, like, really good at this game.
- [chuckles] It's all in the wrists. - [laughs]
[Blood Boots yells]
- [sighing] - [Bruce] Uh...
I... I guess he thinks it's a good time to stretch.
[laughs] My parents do that all the time.
Like lunges at the supermarket, or hip thrusts in parking lots.
- It's actually a great use of idle time. - Do you know that meme account...
- Asians Exercising in Public! Yes! - Ah! In Public!
Yeah.
[upbeat pop music playing]
- Wanna hang out sometime? - Wanna follow each other on Insta...
No! No, no, your thing. Let's do that.
- Okay. - [both laugh]
Uh, I have this improv show tonight at Groundlings if you wanna come.
I'm not on the team yet. Uh, tonight is kind of a tryout.
Yeah.
I like the idea of something totally new created by very talented people
who are risking everything to make this world a happier place.
That is the most sincere description of improv I think I've ever heard.
I also like that there's a potential for total and life-altering humiliation.
- I'll see you tonight. - Yeah. Doors open at 8:00.
- [buzzer sounds] - [door opens]
[door closes]
[ominous music playing]
These were found at that kid's birthday party.
And on some of the bodies at the Sure Sure Club.
Something that differentiates friends and foes once things get hectic.
[Alexis gasps] Shit, it's a QR code.
Could be some entry point into a network.
[sighs] Come on.
There's nothing.
Wait. There was a Huawei phone from the Sure Sure scene. Let me see it.
I'll be super careful. I promise.
[Mark sighs]
[tense music playing]
I'll only give you the phone if you put the bag down.
Okay, now I'm feeling harassed and judged.
Last time you came in eating those, you got powder all over my desk.
I got it on my hands, and when I went to take a leak,
it felt like I was wearing a burning condom.
Ew.
Yeah, and if anyone comes in here and sees processed Korean fire dust everywhere,
they'll know I was the one who let you in to see this stuff when I shouldn't have.
Ugh. This is trash. You...
You're not making any friends doing all of this, you know?
I hear your coworkers
are having to pick up your normal cases while you chase this Triad thing.
Look, we both build cases, right?
We're just having a disagreement about where the starting point is. Come on.
[rustling]
[pinging]
Ah, fuck, it's locked.
No.
Absolutely not.
Mark that I'm taking this.
[suspenseful music playing]
[tense music playing]
[man] We're closed.
Annyeonghaseyo. The boss is expecting us.
[whispers] Come on.
All right, come on.
You sure you got this covered?
In SGV, you may be king.
These motherfuckers here are my boys.
Come on.
[in Korean] Hello, Boss!
I am Terrence Kang.
My brother used to do deliveries for you.
You know Jonathan?
Until he got arrested
selling stolen air conditioners to undercover police.
Fuck! Your brother is a dumbass.
I hear you are a dumbass too?
[in English] I thought you said you got this.
I... I do.
[dramatic music playing]
[in Korean] No... I mean,
I was just saying that you and me... we good, you know? Like, we down.
[boss] Bitch. No, we not down.
I said yes to this meeting to show respect to the Jade Dragons.
[man] Smart play, Boss.
[boss] Long time no see, Drowsy Lee.
We wouldn't want to show disrespect and stir the infamous Chairleg temper.
[in English] I didn't know you spoke Korean, Drowsy.
I took two years when I studied at Oxford.
Mandarin, English, French, and Russian will only get you so far.
Wow.
Your hair looks perfect, Drowsy. Like Ekin Cheng in Young and Dangerous.
You humble me.
You guys gonna suck each other's dicks here,
or you want me to get you a room?
You speak English?
I was born in Pomona, dick face!
Brother of dumbass, who's also a dumbass,
said you want permission to have a meeting at Ka Spa.
We need neutral ground.
- No weapons. - No attention.
[tense music playing]
I don't want any Chinese bullshit.
You can have your Square in my territory,
but I want collateral in case things go bullshit.
We can have cash in an escrow account in half an hour. 200,000.
200,000 is asshole money to you. You won't mind handing it over
if it means you get to fuck each other up at my place.
I want human collateral.
- You can have him. - What?
[stifling laughter]
Yes, perfect.
Dumbass stays with us.
Look, I don't wanna be difficult or nothin',
but I feel my skills are wasted if I'm just a hostage.
People like you, TK.
You'll keep everyone relaxed so I don't have to worry about them at the meeting.
You're the only one I trust with this.
- Aye aye, captain. - You gotta stop doing that.
Oh, right, sorry. Okay. Okay.
[tense music continues]
[Drowsy] Hey.
I'm sorry about your father.
Make sure you remember how to smoke.
[Charles snorts]
One final item.
Sleepy agrees to all of the terms.
Except one.
[Mama humming]
Did they agree to it?
Yes.
Then we need to go over the details again and then again.
Sleepy will ask for more than he deserves. He's always been a piggy.
They agreed to everything...
with one exception.
He said it would be an insult
to have a woman at the center of such a historic meeting.
Maybe Xing was right.
It's too risky to have you there.
If anything was to happen to you,
all the Triads would align to tear us apart.
I will go make dinner.
[crickets chirping]
[Charles, in Mandarin] Seize the day.
Decide your path.
Live in the moment.
- Cheers! - Cheers!
Cheers!
[in English] Oh yeah!
[Charles] Tonight, we live.
- I got us a hookup at a club called Leo. - Wait, Leo?
Wh... It's, like, harder to get in there than to become an astronaut.
I heard some nights, it's empty because no one cool enough to get in shows up.
- I'm coming. - Absolutely not!
You have your show.
You promised me to focus only on school and the improv.
It's just improv. No "the."
Yes, your clown show is so much more important than family business.
Go memorize your lines.
- There are no lines. - What show has no lines? Are you a mime?
It has no lines because they make it up as they go along.
It's silly, but he likes it.
Well, I love silly. If he likes it too, then I wanna be there to support xiao di.
- Really? - I wanna see your show.
- Will it be like Hamilton? - She's obsessed.
No, it's not Hamilton.
♪ Hey, yo, I'm just like my country I'm young, scrappy, and hungry ♪
♪ And I'm not throwin' away my shot ♪
♪ I'mma get a scholarship To King's College... ♪
- What is happening? - ♪ But, dang, I amaze and astonish ♪
[Blood Boots laughs]
Look at us.
All supporting Bruce.
[in Mandarin] Mrs. Sun, get dressed.
[in English] No, the improv isn't for me.
I don't like anything that happens without a plan.
I'm gonna go and play mahjong,
and see if Sleepy's soldiers talk too much.
[chuckles]
- [in Mandarin] Mrs. Sun. - [Mama chuckles]
[in English] Always looking to get the advantage.
Hmm.
[Blood Boots sighs]
You had no choice.
[man] Welcome to the Groundlings Theater.
- [cheering and applause] - Please, silence your cellphones.
Ah! Welcome, everyone, to the Groundlings Theater!
- Thank you! - Woo-hoo!
Thank you so much for coming.
To kick us off, can I get a one-word suggestion from the audience?
- Purple! - Beyoncé!
Monkey! Raccoon!
Raccoon! I like it. Let's see where it goes.
Hey, Mom. Can I keep this pet I found in the forest?
No, you cannot keep another raccoon. We've got ten squirrels...
[sounds fade]
[muffled laughter]
[quiet, ominous music playing]
[clears throat]
Uh...
[music intensifying]
[sounds return]
It's day 700.
We've developed a raccoon potion.
We've exterminated the human population. Long live the raccoons!
- Long live the raccoons! - [somber ambient music playing]
[sounds fade]
[man] Purple!
[all chittering]
[cheering]
- [Blood Boots] You were amazing, xiao di. - Really?
- My man. - Ah! Thanks.
Not enough rapping.
Okay. Noted.
Hey! I'm sorry, can I borrow him?
- Okay, Bruce? - [Bruce] Oh.
- [clears throat] - Hey...
- Hmm? - I, uh...
I don't know how else to tell you this, but, uh...
we want you on the team.
- Are you serious? - Yeah.
- Yes! - Are you sure?
Because improv isn't a hobby. It's a lifestyle. We meet every day.
There's a corporate gig tomorrow morning. Are you free?
Uh... yeah! No, totally! [chuckles]
- I'm, uh... free as a bird! - Okay. Right answer.
We leave at 5:00 a.m. It's three hours away.
- Okay. - Hey. Hi!
- Hey! - Sorry.
- You were hilarious. - Oh, thank you!
I, um... I forgot to get you flowers, so I got you a drink.
Ah! How did you know I love drink?
Um, speaking of drink, we're all headed out to Leo.
You should come with us.
- I'll go. - Yeah?
- Yeah. - Oh my God!
- Okay. - Okay.
- Perfect! - Cool!
- Right now? Okay. - Yeah, I'm parked outside.
Okay! [chuckles]
[in Mandarin] Ah, youth, my brother.
Remember those days?
["Raingurl" by Yaeji playing]
♪ Make it rain, make it rain, girl Make it rain ♪
♪ Make it rain, girl, make it rain Make it rain, girl ♪
♪ Make it rain, make it rain, girl Make it rain ♪
♪ Make it rain, girl, make it rain Make it rain, girl ♪
♪ Make it rain, make it rain, girl Make it rain ♪
♪ Make it rain, girl, make it... ♪
- [woman] Whoo! - ♪ What if it's just me? ♪
[Bruce] Yeah, that's it! Let's dance!
Yes! Yes!
♪ As real as it can be... ♪
Ah!
Hey! Hey, what's the deal with Mom?
And... and everyone trying to protect her like she's the queen on a chessboard?
You need to decide who you are.
You can't enjoy free bottle service and having your tuition paid for
if you're not gonna do your part.
Mom would kill me if I went.
You had no problem lying to Mom about improv because that was for you.
What would I even do at this Square?
Our father may never recover.
That means every burden might eventually be mine.
I'm going to need people I can trust.
Your eyes have been opened,
but you need to open them wider.
Protecting the family is everything.
Okay.
How is me,
a freaking medical student,
at a historically dangerous meeting of skilled criminals,
protecting me?
Like, I'm "the family" too, you know?
I won't let anything happen to you.
I don't want to be a gangster.
I'm just asking you to be my brother.
Hey! Hey, you've been sitting here for way too long. Come on!
["Risky Business" by Zhu playing]
Yeah!
[yelling]
Your double eyelids.
They're deep as hell.
[laughs] Are they real or fake?
- These lids are 100% au naturel, baby. - Oh, man.
- [chuckles] - You're lucky. I use eyelid tape.
What?
That's nuts!
You wanna see it?
Oh wow.
Which version of me do you like better?
I like both!
[laughs]
What's the deal with your family?
Uncle Blood Boots. Comped bottle service at Leo.
You and your brother seem like you grew up in completely different houses.
It's complicated. Would it be okay if we didn't talk about it?
Yeah, of course.
I'm just saying, you seem different from them.
Like you're your own person.
In a good way.
Um...
- My eye-- - What?
My eyelid tape was on your chin.
- Oh! Oh shit. - Sorry.
- Oh. - Yeah.
[both giggling]
[line ringing]
This is Alexis Kong. Leave a message.
- [bleep] - Alexis.
Just saying hi.
Hi.
- [music playing] - [Charles] Just saying hi.
Hi.
[phone vibrates]
[chuckles]
[woman] Ms. Kong, we're ready for you.
- [Bruce] Oh, that smells so good. Ah! - [Blood Boots laughs]
Man, tonight was the best! We should go out like this all the time.
Nah, xiao di.
We only party like this before a big Triad event
in case one of us doesn't survive tomorrow.
If you do come tomorrow, make sure you stand up straight.
- Shoulders back like you give a fuck. - Mmm.
[sighs]
Hey.
Do you think my dad would like me?
You're his son.
Big Sun has no memory.
He has no expectations.
He likes men who take action if that action serves him,
and he hates men who take action if it gets in his way.
Ah.
[in Spanish] Thank you.
[quiet ambient music playing]
[in Mandarin] You have liked to make everything neat
before going to bed since you were a child.
[in English] If you discover
that it's Sleepy Chan who has been behind all this,
if he shot your father, set people after us,
and signaled war on our name...
I know this meeting was made in peace,
but you know exactly what you must do tomorrow.
Take action
and end this.
If Sleepy Chan was responsible,
he won't leave there alive.
- These are all from this week? - There's a whole other room with more.
[sighs] Jesus.
So, um... is this legal? Trying to open someone's phone postmortem?
There's no invasion of privacy for the dead.
- I just need one goddamn match. - [dings]
Tell me about it. [laughs] I'm on Hinge all day.
And Tinder. And Coffee Meets Bagel.
I only match with freaks with Indian fetishes, or worse, coroner fetishes.
Sorry, I don't get to talk to that many people.
Oh, let me get those for you.
All those gross fetish dudes remind me that even if I find the love of my life,
I'll never really know if they like me for me.
It's dehumanizing.
Right. [sighs]
When I match with an Asian fetish freak, I just lean into it.
Just chat with them until their grossest shit comes out,
- then post it online. - [chimes]
Oh my God!
[phone chimes]
What?
You did all this for a chat room?
What? Fuck! No...
Mark, I connected to their network.
- Something happening at Ka Spa at 6:00. - Slow down.
- Get a whole unit there now. - Not based on a guess from a deputy DA.
- It's not a guess. I saw it! - I believe you. I don't have authority.
- I can swing by-- - Oh, for fuck's sakes. I'll do it myself.
[dramatic music playing]
[man grunting in pain]
[keys jangle]
[attacker yells]
[grunting]
[groaning]
[tires squealing]
[phone vibrates]
[sighs]
I don't know if I'm choosing to be here or doing what I think you want me to do.
Doesn't matter.
I don't wanna die, though.
You're not gonna die today.
[Bruce sighs]
[in Mandarin] Brother.
If things go wrong today, you look after Bruce and my mother first.
Don't worry about me or anything else, understood?
The Sun family will always be my family.
[tense music playing]
[in English] Only Charles.
Everyone else can fuck off.
These are the new rules.
Where's my brother?
He'll be fine...
if you do what I say.
If anything funny happens,
kill them all...
but leave this one for me.
[Drowsy] Hmm!
Who is this?
What the shit? What the...
What? Who... who are you?
Who... Wh...
[Charles] Hello? Who's there?
Charles? Is that you?
I'm here. Just...
Are you okay?
What's going on?
[man, in Mandarin] If he doesn't tempt fate,
the god, Guan Yu, will be with him.
[in English] Hey... hey, I think it's Sleepy.
Oh yeah. He does look kinda sleepy.
Uh, and I'm in a room
with a bunch of pits, uh, filled with clay balls.
Oh, uh, no, thanks. I don't... I don't smoke.
No, no. It's an old tradition. They want to use you as a negotiator.
Grab it with your index and middle finger of your right hand only.
Okay. Um...
Then press your knuckles into his thumb. Then put the cigarette into your pocket.
Okay. Uh...
Right. Right.
Oh shit.
Okay. Um...
- [sighs] - Did you do it? Did he nod?
Yep. Yeah, he's got great neck muscles.
[in Mandarin] Know the person, not the heart.
[in English] What is he saying? I can't hear.
[in Mandarin] This idiot is merely a buffer, so listen.
[in English] Something about idiots? And listening... to Dad's...
[in Mandarin] I'm not responsible for your father.
Flies can never infest an egg without cracks.
...eggs!
[in English] Dad... To Dad...
Uh... Dad's eggs.
God damn it, Bruce. Why would it be... [sighs]
When viewed horizontally, Mount Lu looks like a range.
Along the ridge, it is a peak.
When viewed from various angles, Mount Lu looks different.
One can't see the true face of Mount Lu. Because one is in Mount Lu.
[in English] Mountains! Okay, he's talking about mountains.
[Sleepy] But I am not in the mountain.
- He's saying the word mountain a lot. - Bruce, focus.
[in Mandarin] To understand our true enemy is to...
Our true enemies are understanding the...
Luo Luo.
[in English] Uh, wh... Um, sorry... What... what was the last word? LOL?
- LOL? - [Charles] Bruce!
[sighs]
[in Mandarin] I've traveled all this way
to tell you we have a shared enemy, Little Sun.
One that is both old and new
and will put us all at risk if we do not fight together.
- [in English] We must fight to, um... - [rustling]
[screams] Oh! Oh!
[in English] Oh! Help!
[Bruce wailing]
- Bruce? Bruce! - [Bruce] Help! Help! Help!
[suspenseful music playing]
Bruce!
[Bruce] Oh my God! Ah!
Fuck! Fuck!
[yells]
Oh God!
Charles, be careful!
- Bruce, get out of here! - What about you?
Go to Blood Boots now!
Go!
[screaming]
[in Mandarin] Fuck.
[Boccherini's "Minuet" playing]
[Bruce yelling]
We're all gonna die!
- Where's Charles? - He told me to find you and get out!
[Bruce yelping]
[in Mandarin] These are not my guys.
Bring it on, then!
[in English] Oh shit!
How's my hair look?
Like Ekin Cheng.
Good.
- [clang] - [groans]
[Bruce screaming]
Come on!
Leave one alive to question!
[Xing chuckles]
- [Bruce mumbling] - [Xing] Ha! Come on.
[growling]
[suspenseful music playing]
- Charles! - Don't worry about me! Go!
- Who do you work for? - [laughs]
What do the red ribbons mean?
[chuckles]
[in Mandarin] The riddance of evil must be thorough.
[laughs]
[coughing]
[groans]
[in English] Fuck.
[groans]
[sirens approaching]
[moans]
[ominous music playing]
[music ends]