Mārama

You can walk from here.

- Where are we? - You walk from here.

It's a very steep path.

Just mind how you go.

Dear Mary Stevens.

I hope this letter finds you well.

I hope with all my heart.

You do not know me,

but I've known you all your life.

And now I feel it is vital

you understand the truth of your family's history.

Please make use of the enclosed

and come to me.

I promise to tell you everything.

I owe you that much.

Yours ever faithfully.

Thomas Boyd.

Mr. Boyd.

Hello.

My name's Peggy.

Let's get you up, shall we?

We're here, miss.

Welcome.

Mary Stevens.

Forgive me.

Nathaniel Cole.

Welcome to Hawkesham Manor.

Thank you.

We'd heard you'd arrived at Thomas's cottage.

You must be shattered.

-I'll be on my way tomorrow. -Nonsense.

You'll need time to recover.

Who is it?

Arthur.

Go back to your room.

Show our guest to the west bedroom,

please.

Yes, miss?

May I have a drink of water?

How are you feeling?

Better.

-Thank you, Peggy. -You're welcome.

Ah.

How are you this morning?

Please.

Thank you.

I'll be leaving today.

I need to find Thomas Boyd.

I believe you were a teacher.

I still am.

Then I have a proposal for you.

My granddaughter Anne

is in need of a governess.

She's only nine years old, but she's...

-She's extremely bright. -I'm sorry, I... I can't.

You can live here with us.

I'm afraid I can't.

I salute your independent spirit, Mary.

I really do.

But it's nigh on impossible for a young woman...

such as yourself to find gainful employment

or accommodation in this country.

When Thomas Boyd wrote to me...

I had no idea who he was.

But he promised to tell me

all about my parents and my family.

He sent me the ticket to get here

and I traveled for 73 days from Wellington to Whitby.

So...

-I need to find Thomas Boyd. -Thomas had the pox.

He died earlier this year.

I'm very sorry, Mary.

Was he my father?

No.

We're not so dissimilar, you and I.

I too never knew my father.

When I ran away from the Sydney orphanage that was my home,

Thomas Boyd ran with me.

He worked for me ever since.

I want to help you.

With respect, sir.

I have nothing but respect for the Maori.

Your people are magnificent specimens, both on land and sea.

I made a point of hiring Maori men on my ships.

So, I know your people.

And I feel that I know you too.

Mary.

As I said...

Anne needs the care of a good wahine.

You've seen her so-called father.

He's an embarrassment to my name.

Where is Anne's mother?

She died.

Giving birth to her.

Hello, my name is Anne Cole.

It's my pleasure to meet you.

Hello, Anne Cole.

You said she would.

Are you joining us?

We would all love it,

if you would agree to be Anne's new governess.

-Am I right? -Yes.

Arthur?

Arthur?

-Yes. We would love that. -There we are then.

Welcome aboard.

First Mate Anne,

why don't you take Miss Mary outside

-and show her the grounds? -Aye, aye, Captain.

I've seen you before, you know.

- I doubt that. - I think I have.

-What's in here? -That's my koro's private room.

-Koro? -My grandfather.

You speak French and Maori?

Yes. Koro teaches me, and Uncle Jackie.

Come on.

-Is your uncle Maori? -Maybe a bit.

This is from Uncle Jackie.

For my seventh birthday, he got me the bracelet

and this lucky ship.

Then, when I turned eight, this lucky whale.

And last month, for my ninth birthday, a lucky tiki.

Tiki?

Then you must be a very lucky girl.

I am.

Show me your arm again.

Look.

I've got one too.

They're like shooting stars.

Are shooting stars lucky?

Very.

Good.

This is one of my favorite spots.

Go on.

Take a seat.

Ta-da!

Isn't she amazing?

I say she, because Uncle Jackie says

every Maori house is a representation of an ancestor.

And I decided that this particular house

is a representation of a lady ancestor.

- But how? - Koro had her shipped

all the way from New Zealand.

See, the window is her eye, the door is her mouth,

and the gables are her welcoming arms.

Up at the top, that carving is called the koruru.

It's like the face of the house, or the head.

- What happened? - She was staring at the whare,

and she just fell over.

This is excellent work, Jack.

Thank you.

Took a while to get right.

But a job worth doing is a job worth doing well.

Am I right?

Mary.

Although,

Miss Anne calls me Uncle Jackie.

Pleased to meet you.

You don't sound it.

Jack is a long-time business partner of mine.

In fact, Jack might be able to help us

in your search for information about your parents.

Ah.

I could give it a shot.

Mary.

In two days, it's my birthday.

And I'm having a party.

Jack's providing some of the entertainment,

-aren't you, Jack? -Aye.

That's me.

The entertainment.

I'd like you to be there, Mary.

I should be on my way.

Hmm.

For now...

I bid you adieu, uh...

Miss Mary Stevens.

How are you?

Why do you keep an ancestral house in your garden?

Why shouldn't I?

And I look after her.

How did you know I speak French?

-What? -You told Anne I speak French.

Thomas must have mentioned it.

-But how would he know? -Mary.

It was I...

who provided Thomas the funds

to buy your ticket here.

So you'll forgive me for taking an interest in you.

What were your parents like?

I never met them.

What do you mean?

I was adopted by an Englishman and his French wife.

And they called me Mary.

But my real name...

Was your father a whaler

like my koro ?

No.

He managed a trading post,

serving men like your grandfather.