Nellie Davenport

"*I was sitting right here when a constable came and told me that Fred had been found dead in a brothel on Powell. Of course, I had to go and see for myself, and there he was, naked and alone, curled up, dead on this little cot. The police were very concerned with removing the body discreetly, but I found myself more concerned with the girls.*"
—Nellie[src]
**Nellie Davenport** is a well-off widow who owns a vineyard in Sonoma and offers asylum to Chinese migrants, particularly prostitutes she rescues from brothels. During her investigation into Ah Toy's brothel, the two begin to develop a romantic relationship and business partnership, in which Nellie would act as Ah Toy's frontman for property purchase.

## Biography

### Early life

Nellie was married to a wealthy businessman, who unfortunately was found dead in a brothel on Powell, where he had been sodomizing a 14-year-old girl until his heart gave out. And in that moment, she committed her life to helping young girls.

### Raiding brothels

Nellie accompanies the Chinatown Squad as they raid McClean & Son barbershop, which is running a secret prostitution ring. Rather than arresting the men, which Nellie insists, the police simply escort them out. She then heads further inside, where she finds several cowering girls. It's not long before she makes her way to Ah Toy's brothel, where Ah Toy insists that all her girls are very happy and choose the life they live with her, as she gives them a job, food, a bed, and clean clothing. Ah Toy tells Nellie that her girls can leave whenever they want, as she owns no one.

Nellie hosts a dinner at her home, where they discuss her occupational hazards and generous contributions to the city's cultural and political life. Willem would like to see her married again, but Nellie retorts that a woman doesn't need to be married to have purpose, looking to Penny, who confirms that she finds her purpose in her work. Nellie agrees and notes that the city needs more fearless woman like Penny. Blake can't imagine that Nellie's late husband would approve of her going to brothels to rescue woman, to which she replies that he was quite familiar with them himself. She was sitting in the same very seat when the Constable came and told her that Fred had been found dead in a brothel on Powell. The police were very concerned with removing the body discreetly, but she found herself more concerned with the girls. Fred had a choice, and he chose to sodomize a 14-year-old girl until his heart gave out. It was then that Nellie decided to commit herself to saving those young girls.

### Befriending Ah Toy

Nellie returns to Ah Toy's brothel, but this time she was called. One of Ah Toy's girls would like to leave with Nellie for a better life. Nellie asks why Ah Toy had a change of heart, but Ah Toy reminds Nellie that she doesn't force any one of her girls to work for her and that they all can leave when they please. Nellie will take her to some land she has in Sonoma, it's a vineyard. The girls work the land they live on, so they build something of their own. Nellie even offers Ah Toy a tour tomorrow morning. She says in Cantonese that she wants to show Ah Toy that the girls can live a happy life.

As planned, Ah Toy visits Nellie out at her vineyard. Most of the girls are recuses who were kept in atrocious conditions, some even in cages. They were beaten, raped, and starved for months, which is why Nellie helps them in any way possible. The girls even eat dinner together to create a sense of family. There's so many more than Nellie had hoped, forcing her to open a second vineyard soon. She pays for all this with the substantial fortune left behind by her husband, but the wine they make also pays for the land and food. Nellie invites Ah Toy to eat, but she seems overwhelmed by it all and sprints out. Nellie follows her and questions what's the matter. Ah Toy reveals that the vineyard reminds her of her grandmother's garden in China. It was very peaceful and they'd grow tomatoes together. Ah Toy takes care of so many people, but Nellie questions who takes care of her. Ah Toy admits that it's lonely, and Nellie kisses her.

As a favor to Ah Toy, Nellie agrees to take in Chao's daughter, as neither he nor her mother are fit to raise the child. Nellie knows of a couple who are desperate for a child of their own. They're kind and well respected and will be good to her.

### Developing a relationship with Ah Toy

Nellie and Ah Toy have sex at her brothel. They both express how surprised they are to have found themselves in this predicament. Ah Toy then tells Nellie the story about her husband and how she ended up in America. Her husband taught her that owning land is best, so she began buying property outside Chinatown with a business partner. They have a total of 200 hectares of land. But her business partner isn't strong, and she worries what may happen. And so, Nellie offers to become Ah Toy's new partner. Ah Toy then asks about another brothel, from where Nellie managed to save some of the girls, but she couldn't save them all, and the other girl were moved somewhere new. Nellie would help them too, but the police are protecting it. So, Ah Toy tells Nellie to show her where on the map. And the next time Nellie sees Ah Toy, she's brought several more girls with her, including Lai.

Nellie comes by to check on Ah Toy after hearing about the curfew following Mayor Blake's death. She intends to head back out to the vineyard and was hoping Ah Toy would join her for a few days. Unfortunately, they are interrupted by Cleaver and Hammer, two hired hit men. One of the men backhand Nellie, knocking her to the ground, before going after Ah Toy, who is outnumbered and out-powered, and takes a beating but manages to defend herself. Nellie comes to her aid again, stabbing one of her attackers in the back with a shard of glass, but he then throws her to the ground. After killing both men, Ah Toy tells Nellie that she must leave, as she doesn't belong here and that her brothel is no place for a white woman.

Following the riot, Nellie returns to check up on Ah Toy and bring her to her estate, but Ah Toy refuses. She's pretty certain she'll survive, but if she doesn't, she'll die in her own home. Nellie relents and decides to stay at Ah Toy's side, even as she tells Nellie she doesn't belong there. Admittedly, Ah Toy has done many bad things, but Nellie won't be intimidated.

### Losing the vineyard

Nellie receives a surprise visit from Douglas Strickland, an old friend, who reveals that the federal government wishes to build a railroad up the coast of California through her valley. He would at least like to see her profit from this inevitability by paying her fair market value before the state declares eminent domain and forces her to take pennies on the dollar. She encourages him to find another route, as her land is not for sale, and she has a room full of lawyers who will make that clear to any challengers.

Douglas eventually returns, and this time he's much less friendly, claiming that some folks nearby might surmise her place is a brothel. And while she may have a dozen San Francisco police who will testify on her behalf, Douglas questions what people would think when they found out about her relationship with Ah Toy, as he has, which he makes known in an attempt to strong-arm Nellie into accepting his offer, but instead, she orders him off her land. Unfortunately, this results in him sending his men to burn down her vineyard, which results in the death of some of her girls, even as she, Ah Toy, and Lai fend off the attackers.

## Appearances

* The Chinese Connection
* Not How We Do Business
* If You Don't See Blood, You Didn't Come to Play
* Not for a Drink, a F\*ck, or a G\*\*damn Prayer
* To a Man with a Hammer, Everything Looks Like a Nail (credit only)
* If You Wait by the River Long Enough
* All Enemies, Foreign and Domestic
* Enter the Dragon (credit only)
* Man on the Wall
* Anything Short of a Blow to the Head
* No Time for F\*cking Chemistry

## Behind the scenes

* Nellie is portrayed by Miranda Raison.
* The character of Nellie Davenport is based on the real life historical figure, Donaldina Cameron, a San Francisco heroine born during the late 1860s, who dedicated her life to rescuing Chinese immigrant women who were forced into prostitution and indentured servitude.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Season 2, episode 3: ***Not How We Do Business***
2. ↑ Season 2, episode 2: ***The Chinese Connection***
3. ↑ Season 2, episode 4: ***If You Don't See Blood, You Didn't Come to Play***
4. ↑ Season 2, episode 5: ***Not for a Drink, a F\*ck, or a G\*\*damn Prayer***
5. ↑ Season 2, episode 7: ***If You Wait by the River Long Enough***
6. ↑ Season 2, episode 8: ***All Enemies, Foreign and Domestic***
7. ↑ Season 2, episode 10: ***Man on the Wall***
8. ↑ Season 3, episode 2: ***Anything Short of a Blow to the Head***
9. ↑ Season 3, episode 3: ***No Time for F\*cking Chemistry***