The Expatriates

Mercy’s mom has begun to work for a friend’s catering business. She tries to get Mercy to help with a job, seeing that Mercy is upset. Mercy finally told Charlie about her pregnancy after he positively commented on her weight gain. He broke up with her immediately, and a devastated Mercy told her mother about the pregnancy. Instead of chiding her, her mom told her she was happy to be having a grandchild.

Mercy emails David about her prenatal care, and he sends her money, telling her to ask for more if she needs it. She attends her first ultrasound at a private clinic, and she is moved by the sight of her child for the first time. The receptionist calls her lucky, and her eyes fill with tears.

Margaret helps her family prepare for Clarke’s birthday party. His parents are in town, and all their friends will be attending. The party planner, realizing who Margaret is, has made the necessary arrangements without expecting Margaret to contribute. Margaret is relieved since she has felt overwhelmed since losing G. Her therapist asks her to make friends, but she struggles to imagine a way to do so.

Hilary convinces Olivia to be her date for Clarke’s birthday. While they get ready, she tells Olivia about moving forward with the adoption. In a moment of vulnerability, she also confesses that she saw unkind comments about it online. Olivia encourages her to live her life and stop worrying what online trolls think.

Mercy agrees to help her mom at the catering business. They go to an expensive grocery store to buy a few ingredients for the boss. While waiting, they chat about people Mercy knew in high school.

The Reades take a family photo and arrive at the party. The warehouse space looks beautiful, and Margaret greets their friends as they begin to arrive.

Hilary introduces Olivia to Margaret and some other guests. She thinks about how Olivia must feel like she is slumming it—as a local, she rarely mingles with the expats and prefers to be with her own social circle.

The kitchen is hot, so Mercy leaves to hand out canapés on a tray. While doing so, she sees Daisy and Philip. She spots a sign saying, “Happy Birthday Clarke” and realizes, to her horror, that it is a party for the Reades. She panics and crouches in a corner.

Daisy and Philip sing a song for their father, arranged by Priscilla. Margaret is grateful but feels guilty that she has not been more present. Clarke makes a toast and thanks everyone for their support, calling the gathered friends their “Hong Kong family.”

Hilary spots David and greets him. They awkwardly exchange pleasantries, and she tells him she wants to move forward with the adoption and will need him to sign the paperwork. He becomes angry and blows up at her, then leaves to get a drink. Olivia comforts her, and Hilary is disturbed to realize that David now feels like a stranger.

Mercy manages to get to her feet and hurries to the kitchen, looking for her mother.

Margaret is chatting and has another round of drinks. She thinks she sees Mercy but assumes it can’t be true.

Outside, Hilary and Olivia smoke and talk about the party. Olivia says she would die by suicide if anything happened to her daughter, Dorothy. She tells Hilary that she will soon feel the same way. Mercy walks by and flags a cab, though neither woman knows who she is.

Mercy apologizes to her mother and leaves. Outside she is disturbed to hear two women discussing G and his disappearance. She flees before she can find out if they will mention her or not.

Margaret is very drunk. She tells Clarke that she saw Mercy and runs into the kitchen shouting for her.

Hilary sees that Margaret making a scene and Clarke trying to calm her down. She and Olivia leave quietly.