The Season

When I was a girl,

my father told me the myth

of the fish and the dragon.

How we were all born lowly fish,

but if you worked hard enough,

you could transform into a dragon.

But that...

was a lie.

Because Hong Kong is a city of bloodlines.

Your family,

your standing,

your status is set.

And if you threaten their empire...

they'll destroy you.

Hi.

Cola, it's Carrie.

Hope you've settled in and not too jetlagged.

Today's gonna be fun.

Come by my house and we'll leave from here.

I can't wait for you to meet all the Hong Kong players.

But today's about the Hexts.

Impress them and you'll have made it in Hong Kong.

Ah, Cola! Thanks for coming over.

Uh... two green juices.

Carrie, I'm so excited to be in Hong Kong.

This is the biggest opportunity of my life

and it's all thanks to you--

So sorry. Two Qs are coming in

and we're rebalancing our clients' portfolios.

Uh, meeting you in Chicago was so great.

So great!

Like, you knew about my firm and me.

I'll do whatever it takes to get the full-time offer.

Darling, survive The Season

and you'll have offers from everyone.

The Season?

Short for the boating season.

Where Hong Kong royalty decides who of us ascends

and who is stuck here.

I'll be your sponsor for the best party of them all.

You have one chance to make an impression.

I brought some options.

Beautiful.

Beautiful, beautiful.

They won't do.

I like your earrings, though. Vintage Dior?

Oh, nothing that fancy,

they're just the nicest thing my dad ever gave me.

You can't put a price on sentiment.

As for the rest...

Vonnie, bring me something appropriate in a size two,

four, and a...

six just in case.

Oh, no, no, Carrie. It's too much, I--

I'm happy to.

Okay, let's get ready.

Can't be late or we'll end up on some second tier banker's boat.

Barclays is someone's name, not an institution.

Anything else I need to change?

Just be yourself. They're going to love you.

With a few upgrades.

Um... thank you.

We demand perfection.

Everything must be clean, polished, spotless.

Go easy on them, Gloria. They should be having fun.

-Yes, ma'am. -Hello, Jon.

Excited for our maiden voyage?

Bring on the Bacchanalia.

And what scintillating information, will you be regaling to our guests?

Diversify your risk.

Great small talk, Dad.

See? Someone is in the right spirit...

and outfit.

I love The Season.

And the fact you dragged me back from holiday for it.

-I'll go change. Is that what you want? -Mmhmm.

Everything set for today?

Sir.

Christopher?

I need this summer to work.

Everything will be fine.

Come along, then.

Now, watch and learn.

One false move and you're out.

I thought you were in Saint-Tropez.

Europe's a sauna. Global warming is so inconvenient.

Yeah, tell me about it.

AC bill's killing my bottom line.

And, you know, the environment. Whatever.

-Hi. -Ah, Andrew Fung, Cola Pierce.

Top of our class in Economics and tacked on a maths degree

because she's a masochist.

Oh...

So, like the hotter and younger version of you?

A pig as always.

Andrew's family's in the hotel business.

Motels... in the mainland.

So how'd you end up working for Hong Kong's

tenth-best wealth manager?

I'm a summer associate, but hoping for a full-time position.

Well, caveat emptor,

this one is a very fickle mistress.

Andrew, here comes your manners.

Oh, my God. Who is this beautiful lady?

Nikita.

Niki, my lovely wife.

This is Cola. Carrie's, um, summer associate.

Well, we should probably throw her a few mil, though,

before, uh, Fiona does this no work embargo.

I like the rule. A day off from business.

Darling.

Every day is a day off from business.

Nikita's family owns the harbor club.

The most exclusive membership in the city.

They're almost as wealthy as the Hexts, who they've been rivals with forever.

Yet they all still hang out?

Of course. This is Hong Kong.

Ahoy! Is that Andrew Fung?

-Jay and Sara Byford. -From Melbourne.

-We met at the Tatler Ball. -You were wearing a Tom Ford jacket.

Yeah, I was.

Yeah, good to see you.

This is Christopher and Fiona Hext's boat? We come bearing gifts.

Eyxium Vodka, our own brand.

A crystal in every bottle--

You know what? I love that for you. Excuse me.

Yeah, yeah, no, we'll link up.

Ladies and gentlemen, if it isn't Hong Kong's most eligible bachelor, David Ho.

Yet, you didn't even hire me a real band.

No, come on. I'll leave the theatrics to the, uh, hostess.

Welcome to The Season!

-Hello. -G'day.

Ahoy there.

All aboard.

Yeah!

-Hello, Carrie. -Hi.

Ahoy!

I wonder what Fiona will surprise us with this year.

Oh, Carrie, it's so great to see you.

You too.

Hello, Carrie. Good to see you.

Oh, a fresh face. How wonderful.

Thank you so much for having me.

The more the merrier...

if you're on the list, that is.

You're American, I take it?

How can you tell?

Oh, just your industrious spirit?

Oh, David.

How are you?

I'm so sorry.

Who are all these people?

Bankers, lawyers, socialites.

-Good to see you. -The rich and the beautiful.

Speaking of...

Oh, God, no. That's Matthias.

Ignore. He's just a personal trainer.

And, uh, what about our hosts?

Christopher's family practically invented colonialism

and Fiona's old Hong Kong money that bolstered the empire.

They look nice.

They'll judge you on every look, comment, and interaction.

One slip up and you'll be excommunicated forever.

Sounds like a lot of work.

This is not work, this is war.

And I'm here to get more of their business.

So, not to spend time with Hong Kong's most eligible bachelor.

David is, um, Christopher's lawyer.

His family's firm.

Advises all the blue chippers.

And he's single.

Just got divorced.

-So he's back on the market. -I'm gonna get a drink.

Miss Pierce?

This is a private event.

Sorry.

You seem to know my name, but I haven't caught yours.

I hope you enjoy the party.

You looking to get your pilot's license?

You know I can barely drive my own car.

Shame.

Well, if you're not gonna drive, how about a drink?

I think I'll hold off for now.

No need for small talk then.

How are things since the divorce?

Couldn't be better.