- [Announcer] Previously on "Arctic Air."
- You and Tommy have been hanging out a lot lately.
- I'll send another plane with supplies.
Just make sure you're out of sight when they make the drop.
- Okay, thanks, Mel.
- Are you okay?
You can't just talk to people, it's not safe.
- You're really not gonna tell me who called before?
- A cousin from back home.
- [Bobby] I'm not going anywhere.
- Good.
- Sezha deijie, kind of means my brave son.
- She hated the whole world for a couple of years there.
Of course, she had pretty good reason.
Her mom took off, left her feeling
like there was something wrong with her.
(crowd cheers)
- Yeah, happy birthday!
- Happy birthday.
(crowd swoons)
- So, how did Mel react to you mom coming to town?
- Yeah, surprisingly well.
- You didn't tell him. - Nope.
He's on a hunting trip with Cece.
By the time he gets back, Irene will be gone.
Trust me, it is better this way.
- It's gonna be okay.
- Yeah, I know.
It's just, it's so stressful.
I mean, what are we gonna talk about?
- I think you're gonna have a lot to talk about.
- Thank God you're gonna be here.
And I'm sorry to make you play buffer.
- I'll buff anyone for you.
- Look, I swear, Lester said it was this weekend.
- Yeah well, next weekend you can drive.
(brakes squeal) (horn blares)
Judas Priest, I almost ran over my ex-wife.
- It's too bad you missed.
(dramatic music)
- Irene. - Nice try, Mel.
I always knew you wanted to kill me.
- What are you doing here?
- I'm here to see my daughter.
- I got this little ditty running through my head,
the bitch is back (spits).
- Irene!
Mel.
- Krista, my darling girl!
- Okay, we need to get you inside, it's freezing.
- Krista's mom, what do we know about her?
- Almost nothing, Mel never talks about her.
- Well, I could see why Mel fell for her, she is hot.
What, look at her.
- Yeah well, don't let her looks fool ya.
She is a devil in disguise.
- I can hear you, Cecil.
- That was my intent, Irene.
- No doubt.
- She got in touch a couple weeks ago
and said she wanted to come for a visit, reconnect.
- And you suggested this weekend...
- Because I thought you'd be away.
- When were you gonna tell me?
- Monday. - [Mel] Hm.
- Look, I know things ended badly between you,
but you shouldn't have stopped me from seeing my mother.
- Yeah, yeah, gotta go.
Hey, guys, what's up?
- Alice Troy has mono.
- Alice Troy.
- Winner of the ONI spelling bee.
- Right, I'm, I'm sorry to hear about that.
- The territorial championships are
in Fort Simpson this weekend, and since she's sick
and Connor's first runner up,
they've asked him to take her place.
- That's great, congratulations!
- But all the flights to Fort Simpson are booked,
so he was wondering if...
- Maybe you could fly us.
- (sighs) Look, I'm sorry, buddy, I'd love to,
but I kind of made plans this weekend.
- Oh, okay.
- But tell you what, I'll make some calls
and I'll find you a charter.
- Whatever, it's not a big deal.
- Oh, you're joking.
- If you saw the look on Connor's face-
- Well, look at my face, Bobby.
You can't leave me alone with Irene.
- I know, I'm sorry, really.
This is a big thing for Connor.
- Yeah, I know, you're right.
- Look, you'll be fine, okay?
You got this.
I'll be back in a couple of days.
- There you are.
So, why don't you show me what you've been up to?
- For the past 20 years?
- Pick the highlights.
I had one more failed marriage
before I realized I wasn't the marrying kind.
Many wonderful flings.
A booming business in sex toys.
- Wait, what, sex toys?
- I think I left out the word sex in my letters to you.
- This whole time I pictured you selling dolls
and games and costumes.
- Oh, I sold plenty of those.
I did house parties, kind of like Tupperware, only...
- The plastic vibrated? - Yeah.
Last month a big company bought me out,
and now I'm going to see the world.
Take art classes in Italy, explore Machu Picchu,
and climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
- Sounds great.
- I'm starting in Bali.
Already signed up for a scuba diving lesson.
Come with me.
I'm serious, we'll go together.
- I can't just leave. - Why not?
- I have a full flying schedule.
I'm co-owner of the company.
- They'll survive without you.
- And I have mortgage payments.
- Screw the mortgage, come see the world.
- Why didn't you take me with you?
When you left, why didn't you take me?
- Honey, we have plenty of time to talk.
Let's just enjoy the day, okay?
Can I take the controls?
Come on.
(woman laughs)
- I have a birthday present for you.
- So, where is it?
- I'm saving it for tomorrow.
- My birthday is today.
- One present at a time.
(man clears his throat)
- Cece, what are you doing here?
- Working, and you?
- We were just...
- Looking for snakes on a plane?
- Cece, you're not gonna tell Loreen, right?
(Cece chuckles)
He won't say anything.
- Are you kidding?
He'll tell everyone.
- You sure you don't have two rooms?
No, we're full up for the spelling bee, go figure.
But I do have you in a room with two double beds.
One for junior here, one for mom and dad.
- He's not my dad, he's a sperm donor.
- Connor! - Uh...
- Can you send up a cot, please?
- Yes.
(snowmobiles drone past)
- He's cute, I saw him at the office.
- He's one of our pilots.
- Are you and he...?
- Actually, I'm with Bobby.
- Bobby Martin?
Wow.
- Okay, I'm trying to interpret the "wow."
- Oh, nothing, nothing.
It's just, uh, you've known him since you were in diapers,
which could be a good thing or a bad thing.
- It's a good thing. - Well, where is he?
I would love to see him.
- He, uh, he had to go away at the last minute with his son.
And the boy's mother.
He's got a lot on his plate.
- Well, just as long as you're not the brussels sprouts.
The thing on his plate that gets pushed aside.
- Um, so, about what I asked you earlier...
- Well, well, Irene Ivarson.
- Marie, what a pleasant surprise.
- I always said if I ever saw you again, I'd slug you.
- (chuckles) Goodness, you're still holding a grudge
after all these years? (gasps of shock)
(upbeat rock music)
(women grunting)
- That is my daughter!
- It's okay, it's okay, you are-
(crowd gasps)
- That's enough!
- So help me!
Come on!
- I'm fine, honestly, honey.
You got the worst of it.
- I beg to differ.
- What the hell did you do to piss off Marie?
- Uh, we were in business together, years ago.
With Nellie Sanderson.
- Let me guess, boxing promoters.
- Things didn't go as well as we'd hoped.
- The business venture-
- Darling, I'm wiped, time to hit the hay.
What's on for tomorrow?
- Uh, ice-fishing.
- Oh, fun.
Goodnight. - Goodnight.
I always thought your ferocity came from Mel,
but now I am not so sure.
- Well, she was married to Mel for 12 years.
What does that tell you?
- Mel is a courageous fellow.
(cell phone chimes)
- Where's Connor?
- He left for orientation.
- Oh, well, what do you want to do?
- I think I'm gonna go check out the town.
- Are you sure you don't want to stay inside?
It's supposed to drop to minus 40.
- I've got my toque.
I'll see you guys later.
- [Dev] You seem to have had an amazing life.
- Hey, are you ready to go?
- I'm sorry, sweetie, I'm gonna have to meet you there.
I have a few things to do first.
- Like what?
- I promised to have a quick cup of coffee
with an old friend.
- Well, I'll just wait.
- Oh, no, no, no, no, you go ahead.
- We only have the weekend.
- I'll be there by 10:00, promise.
- Okay, uh, it's the, um,
eighth hut from the dock with the red roof.
- Okay.
- All right, so talk.
- Why are you here?
- To see my daughter and have some fun.
- If you hurt her again-
- What, you're gonna sic your faithful mutt, Cece,
and his rabid wife on me?
- I'm serious, Irene, you have no idea-
- Don't lay it all on me, Mel.
It takes two to tango.
- I'm not the one who left.
- You knew I wanted to travel the world.
You could have been a pilot anywhere.
- Our life was here. - Your life was here.
I begged you to move so that I could have a chance
at happiness, so that we could be happy together.
- We were never gonna be happy together.
- At least I can say I tried.
- It's none of Cece's business.
- No, but it is mine. - I'm 18!
- Then act like it.
What the hell were you thinking, having sex at work?
- You won't let him come over, and Tommy has five roommates.
Where are we supposed to go?
- Um, maybe nowhere
until you know each other a little better.
- We're in a serious relationship.
(Loreen scoffs)
- All I'm saying is maybe just slow it down a little.
- My shift's over.
(approaching footsteps)
- Hey.
- What the hell are you doing here?
- Well, I own half of this fishing shack.
- Well, you can't stay
because Irene's gonna be here any minute.
- Good, I got a few things I want to say to that woman.
- Marie threw the first punch.
- She's got a good right hook.
- Are you this pissed about a business deal
that didn't work out?
- She tell you why it didn't work out?
Well, apparently, it was supposed to be some kind
of fancy-arse clothing store, and Irene convinced Marie
and Nellie to sink five grand each into it.
Then Irene skipped town with her cash.
- Her cash, so she took her money?
- Yeah, after they'd signed a lease
and completely gutted the place.
Marie and Nellie lost all their money.
The wife fed us on mac and cheese
for about a year after that.
Every once in a while, we got a hot dog chopped up into it.
- It was 20 years ago.
- That woman's like a leopard.
She's never gonna change her spots.
The only decent thing she ever did was
bring you into this world.
But you be careful, Krista.
The woman is a thief and a liar.
(cell phone rings)
- Irene, where the hell are you?
- It's Blake, weren't you and your mom supposed
to go ice fishing today?
- [Krista] I'm at the hut right now.
- Yeah, something tells me she's not gonna show.
(Irene squealing) (upbeat rock music)
- Drop safely!
Go! (upbeat rock music)
(Irene screaming)
(people chatting quietly)
- Let me see what my schedule is.
Krista, hi, this is Even.
We met in Pilates this morning.
He is a skydiving instructor. - Hi.
- You were supposed to be ice fishing with me.
- I hate ice fishing.
- Why didn't you just tell me that last night?
- I didn't want to hurt your feelings.
- Making me wait for over two hours was better?
- Two hours, has it been that long?
Oh, my gosh, I'm so sorry, really.
I'm just terrible with time.
- Okay, uh, I was just really hoping
that we could get a chance to talk.
- Well, we can talk, and have fun, right?
How about dog sledding?
Perfect, do you want to come?
- I should probably be getting back.
- Oh, too bad.
Let me walk you to your truck.
I will be right back.
Thank you.
- Blake, you knew my mom was supposed
to be ice fishing with me. - Yeah.
- So why did you take her skydiving?
- I just took the call, I didn't even know it was your mom.
- Yeah, but when you saw her-
- Why are you yelling at me?
- I'm not yelling. - Okay, I get it.
It's not easy seeing your mom after all these years,
but I'm just doing my job.
You know what else I get?
Why you never really let me in.
- Am I interrupting?
- Uh, no.
- Let's go dog sledding. - [Krista] Mm-hmm.
- [Petra] How'd it go? - Really good.
We did a bunch of practice words,
and I got every single one right.
I think I actually have a chance.
- That's awesome, buddy!
- Excuse me, hello, I am Parvana's father.
You are Connor's mother and father?
- She's my mom, he's just a-
- Special friend.
- Uh, this is, uh, fun for Connor and Parvana.
Spelling championships?
- Fun for Connor, perhaps.
Parvana is here to win.
We study word lists every night.
It is all Parvana does outside of school.
- Well, we like to leave room for other things.
You know, sports, video games, friends.
We think it's important for Connor to have fun growing up.
- If you'll excuse me.
- Bobby, did you just say "we"?
- Yeah.
- Okay, I'm really glad you're back in Connor's life now,
but you haven't earned the right to say "we."
- I'm sorry it came out that way.
- Okay, but I'm the one who raised him.
I'm the one who's been there for the past 12 years.
- You wanted me to come on this trip.
- Well, yeah, we needed a ride.
- Hey, can we eat? - Yeah, sure.
(upbeat music)
- (laughs) That was excellent!
Well, who knows when I'm gonna get a chance
to do that again.
I mean, why leave anything in the tank?
- Okay, before we get distracted, or interrupted again,
why didn't you take me with you?
- (sighs) I was 18 when I had you, 18.
- So, what, I ruined your life?
- No, no, no, no, you were amazing.
I loved you to pieces.
- Uh-huh, that's why you left?
- Do you remember when you were baton twirling
in that, um, in that school talent show?
It was just before you turned 12.
- I remember, I was so scared I was gonna drop it.
- Right?
But the day of the show, you were great.
I watched you, confident, poised, perfect,
and I realized that you didn't need me anymore.
- That's bullshit.
I missed you every day.
- I had no idea that it was going to be so long
before we saw each other again.
- I know, I'm sorry, it shouldn't have been,
I was really excited when you invited me
to spend the summer with you in Toronto.
- And then Yves invited me to his vineyard
in the South of France.
- You were the one who canceled that trip?
- I didn't want to, but...
- And what about my 16th birthday?
- Well, I was really looking forward to that.
- But?
- I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
to go white-water rafting in New Zealand.
- You, you didn't want to take me with you.
- Honey, you were settled here.
You had your school, your friends.
- And you didn't see me for the next 20 years
because something better always came along.
- Honey, I sacrificed my 20s for you.
I knew that you wouldn't want me to resent you.
It was my turn.
(Krista chuckles in disbelief)
(door shuts firmly)
- Let me guess, Cece talked.
- It's not funny.
- Loreen knows?
What did she say?
- She's pissed. - That sucks.
- She'll get over it.
So, you said something about a birthday present?
- Oh, I almost forgot.
Happy birthday.
- Thank you, they're beautiful.
- You're beautiful.
So, you think Cece is working late again?
- I don't know, but Loreen is.
Do you want to come over?
- Yes, I've just gotta give Wes a ride home.
- I'll walk, meet me there.
- No, no, no, it's cold.
- It's two blocks.
Besides, I think I need to cool off a little.
- Wes, let's go.
- Loreen? (suspenseful music)
- Happy Birthday. (dramatic music)
- What are you doing here?
- Can't a guy wish his sister happy birthday?
- Not if he's supposed to be dead!
- Well, the last supply drop was missing my barbecue chips.
- Right, you know this is insane.
What if someone sees you?
- I've been careful, I waited to make sure you were alone.
- It's really sweet you came.
But you have to go, someone's coming over.
- Who? - Tommy.
- Right, the boyfriend.
I don't like what I hear about this guy.
- Oh, my God, you sound like Loreen.
He hung out with a couple of wannabe gangsters
in grade nine. (knock on door)
You have to hide, now!
- Hey. - [Caitlin] Hey.
- Is Loreen here? - No.
- I heard noises. - TV, I just turned it off.
- Ah, so it's just us.
- Hey, where is Loreen?
- She went home.
What are you doing here, where's Irene?
- Don't know, don't care.
Every time I was supposed to see her,
you made me think it was you who pulled the plug.
- You had your bag packed for two weeks the first time.
She canceled the night before you were supposed to leave.
- Why'd you tell me it was your decision?
- I got a tough hide.
I thought it'd be better if I was the bad guy.
- I hated you for it.
- Anger I can deal with, but tears?
- How could she do that?
- She probably meant for those visits to happen.
- If you'd told me the truth,
I wouldn't have been so hard on you.
- Yes, you would.
- Thanks. - For what?
- Oh, for being a better dad
than I ever gave you credit for.
- [Tommy] What's wrong?
It's way nicer here than on the plane.
- I'm just too nervous here.
(door opens)
- Tommy, what a surprise.
- I just came to give Caitlin her birthday present.
- Hmm, does she have it?
Good, then you can go. - Loreen-
- It's okay, goodnight.
- No, not tonight, I'm going to bed.
- Wait, okay, so what happened on the plane?
- Nothing, we have to get you out of here.
- [Nelson] Look, I trust Loreen,
if she doesn't like the guy- - She likes him,
she's just taking this guardian thing too far.
- Yeah, I'm glad.
I worry about you, okay?
- You didn't come down here for my birthday.
You came here to check up on me and Tommy.
- I had to see for myself if you were okay.
- I'm fine.
- Connor's refusing to go on stage.
- Why?
- He says he can't remember how to spell anything.
He wants to go back to the hotel.
- Could I go talk to him?
- Oh, would you, please?
- Hey, buddy, you nervous?
You know, you get a lot more people than this
at your hockey games.
- [Connor] It's different.
- How? - I don't notice them.
- It's because when the ref drops the puck,
you're focused on the game.
It's the same as here.
- But I'll be on stage, in front of everyone.
- Then don't look at them.
Just find a spot in the back of the room above them.
Focus on that.
- [Man] Could we have all contestants to the stage, please?
- Hey, you can do this, buddy.
- Thank you.
- Hey, is Irene awake?
- She left early, she said she was going snowmobiling.
- Were you using my computer?
- I would not do that. - Was Astrid?
- I just noticed Astrid did not come home last night, so no.
Would you like some oatmeal?
- Did she say where she'd be snowmobiling?
- Long Lake.
I made enough for two.
- A-p-h-a-r-e-t-i-c, apharetic.
(buzzer sounds)
- [Moderator] Sorry, that is incorrect.
(crowd applauds lightly)
Connor.
- Aphaeretic, a-p-h-a-e-r-e-t-i-c, aphaeretic.
- Correct. - Yeah!
- It's a spelling bee, not a hockey game.
- [Irene] Krista!
- [Krista] Why were you looking at my bank page
on my computer?
- [Irene] I don't know what you're talking about?
- [Krista] Are you broke, is that why you're here?
You're going to steal from me the same way you stole
from Nellie and Marie?
- [Irene] I didn't steal anything from them.
I took back what was mine.
- [Krista] And they went bankrupt.
Cece is right, you only care about yourself.
You're a thief and a shitty mother.
- [Irene] I deserve that,
but forgive me if I don't stick around for more.
- [Krista] No, you're gonna tell me why you're really here.
- Loggorrhea, L-o-g-g-o-r-r-h-e-a, loggorrhea.
- Yes! (buzzer sounds)
- What? - What?
- Sorry, that is incorrect.
(crowd applauds lightly)
Parvana.
- Logorrhea, l-o-g-o-r-r-h-e-a, logorrhea.
- Correct. - [Dad] Yes!
- Parvana Gupta is the territorial champion!
(crowd cheers and applauds)
- He came in second. - He did.
- Yeah! - Way to go, Connor!
(upbeat rock music)
- [Krista] Mom!
- Hey, buddy, I'm so proud of you.
- Why, I lost.
- No, you didn't, you came in second.
- I sort of lost.
- Come on, you practically spelled the word for her.
- I guess.
- Um, they are handing out some cake, want to come?
- Sure.
- It's nice that both your parents could come.
- Yeah.
- Uh, excuse me, where's my mother?
- She's been discharged.
- She was really hurt.
- We advised her to stay.
- So she came here because she's dying?
- Yeah, she left this.
- You haven't opened it?
Open it.
- It's a ticket to Bali.
And a deposit slip.
- 25,000? - Into my bank account.
And a bucket list.
Skydiving and Bali, just...
- Number one, reconnect with my daughter.
She has her good side, I see it in you.
- Don't tell me that.
She's selfish and self-centered.
- I think she did the best she could.
Just be grateful you got her looks.
(cell phone rings)
Yeah.
Okay, thanks.
She's booked on the last flight out.
- Irene.
- Don't suppose you're coming to Bali with me?
- You could've mentioned the cancer.
- And make the weekend all maudlin and boo-hoo?
No way.
- Thanks for the money.
I was gonna give it back, but then I thought,
nah, you owe me.
- I know you don't think much of me.
But what kind of mother would I have been
if I had just kept on squashing my own dreams?
- To a 12-year-old girl, a good one.
- [Announcer] All passengers on Flight 832
to Edmonton should be through security.
- I'm proud of you.
And I love you.
- Mom?
It was just really good to see you.
- Ticket's good for a year.
In case you change your mind.
- A check for five grand, certified!
Just sitting there in the mailbox, from Irene.
Then Nellie calls and says that she got one, too.
I tell you, my eyeballs nearly fell out of my head.
We're eating steak tonight!
- Okay, take your best shot, I deserve it.
- You did the right thing, going to Connor's spelling bee.
Kids have to come first.
- How was it, with your mom?
- Where do I even start?
(upbeat music)