If You Wait by the River Long Enough

**If You Wait by the River Long Enough** is the seventh episode of the second season of the original martial arts crime drama *Warrior* and the seventeenth episode overall. It premiered on November 13, 2020. The series has since been acquired by Max.

## Synopsis

Change is afoot for the Hop Wei after Father Jun, Ah Sahm, and Young Jun face off. Ah Toy decides that Nellie may be the answer to her problems and takes matters at a sadistic rival brothel into her own hands. Leary is urged by both Buckley and Sophie to utilize his political influence. Just as his heroics are trumpeted, Bill is faced with another swordsman murder. A fatal clash unfolds at the Blake household.

## Plot

Father Jun confronts Ah Sahm, Young Jun, and Hong for going against the tong. Father Jun refers to Young Jun as the son of a common whore, who he's prepared to burn out of the Hop Wei, a fate that he is prepared to accept, as Young Jun's been Hop Wei his entire life, and a brand doesn't change that. Father Jun then takes a hot sword and holds it over his son's Hop Wei brand. While Ah Sahm may have lost the fight, he argues that it's Father Jun who is bending over for Mai Ling. And now the Long Zii are paying half of what they pay for opium because Father Jun insists on importing it from China. Ah Sahm then throws the money they won from the tournament on the table and insists that they weren't stealing, rather trying to save the tong, because Father Jun's way will be the death of it. Father Jun then gives the command to kill Ah Sahm, but the hatchet men side with Ah Sahm and Young Jun, who takes leadership from his father and forces him into retirement. Young Jun then takes the head chair at the table to cement his leadership.

Li Yong reveals to Mai Ling that in accordance to Fung Hai tradition, the top three guys will fight for power until only one is left to replace Zing. Li Yong believes that they can still make this work in their favor, just not with Zing, who was out of control.

Ah Toy and Nellie have sex in her bed at the brothel. Afterward, they both express how surprised they are to have found themselves in this predicament. In China, Ah Toy's husband was a merchant, who she loved and sold silks to an American trading company. One time, he brought her on a trip to America to make a new deal, but someone on the boat killed him, and the men on board sought to take Ah Toy and have their way with her. But the captain protected her, and she became his concubine. When she finally arrived in America, the trading company refused to make a deal without her husband. Ah Toy had nothing to her name, but she was young and pretty, so she survived. In China, her husband had property, and he 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.

Father Jun questions how long Young Jun has been planning his take-over, but he assures his father that he wasn't planning it at all. Father Jun accuses Ah Sahm of manipulating Young Jun, but he disagrees. Regardless, Young Jun took power and now he has to seal it by killing his father, but Young Jun doesn't believe his father's death is necessary. He'd rather keep his father around to use his wisdom and experience, but Father Jun sees it as a weakness.

Sophie has breakfast prepared for Penny, but she's too consumed by her work. The factory was all the freedom she had from Blake, but now that it's gone, she won't be able to fulfill any meaningful orders. Sophie questions why she doesn't sell it and take the money to paint and travel, but Penny refuses to prove her husband right about her not being smart enough to run a business. Sophie retorts that she doesn't have to prove anything to anyone, but Penny simply wants to be alone.

Zing is taken to arraignment, where Bill explains to the judge that they found a sword and a pocket watch that belonged to one of his victims. Based on that evidence, Bill tells the judge that Zing is in fact the swordsman they've been after.

Young Jun always wanted his father to see him as a worthy successor. He never thought he would take over the tong in the manner he did. Ah Sahm assures Young Jun that he belongs in the seat.

Zing is found guilty of first degree murder and is sentenced to death. His sentence is to be carried out at San Quentin Prison, where he will be hanged. After court is adjourned, Leary approaches Bill after hearing that he was working for Zing, but Bill claims he was simply doing his job.

Mayor Blake extends his gratitude to Bill and the Chinatown Squad for bringing the swordsman to justice. During Blake's speech, Buckley notices Leary, who is starting to make more regular appearances. Leary isn't impressed. They took down one of may, with a lot more to go, but these things take time, Buckley explains. However, Leary and his men don't have time. They need work. Buckley advises Leary to reconsider his methods, as he has amassed a large enough base to have real influence, but arson and brute force will only get him so far. The mayor and president both need votes, which Leary can give, but Leary is no politician.

Ah Toy calls Patterson over and reveals to him that she would like to end their partnership, as there's too much risk to continue. All he has to do is sign the paper, but Patterson needs more time and assures Ah Toy that she can trust him. Patterson intends to be done by the end of the week and get back to Ah Toy, who tells him that there's no need for them not to end on good terms.

Leary remains undefeated after winning yet another boxing match outside the Banshee. After the fight, he joins Sophie inside for the first time since the bombing. Neither we're sure that Sophie would return, but she simply can't walk away. Sophie has regrets for ruining her sister in the way she has and asks if Leary has regrets, which he does. She asks if he ever gets tired of all the violence, to which he replies that it's the only way things get done. Leary recalls Buckley saying he could have political influence, which Sophie agrees, considering he'd be able to swing the entire Irish vote. Leary doesn't trust politicians, to which Sophie replies that he doesn't have to trust them if he owns them.

Ah Sahm approaches Chao with a full order of hatchets and blades for Young Jun and the tong. Chao suspects that the Hop Wei may be going to war and is surprised to hear that Young Jun is running things now. He wasn't sure Ah Sahm would pull it off, but he claims that he simply backed Young Jun's move. Maybe he needed someone in his corner to even consider that move, Chao adds. Either way, he warns Ah Sahm that taking the seat is far easier than keeping it. More importantly, they still have the Fung Hai to worry about. They're leaderless, but not for long, because Chao suspects Mai Ling will step in to absorb them. Chao's knows better than to bet against the Hop Wei, but he wouldn't bet his fortune on them either. The ones who survive in Chinatown are those who operate between the lines, he advises Ah Sahm.

Ah Toy and Lai sneak into the brothel as directed by Nellie and proceed to kill the enslavers, slashing and dashing through the entire brothel until not a single man is left standing, except for one, who Lai tortures and gives a slow, painful death, knocking his teeth out, stabbing him with a pole multiple times, and then ramming her sword through his head.

Bill, Stone, and Harrison are called in by Jackson, who discovered bodies in a brothel who were killed by sword. Bill suspects that they're dealing with another swordsman. However, Jackson doesn't think the press will see it that way and is willing to walk out without saying a word in exchange for Bill's recommendation to Sergeant. Bill accepts the deal and cleans the mess up along with Stone and Harrison.

Mr. Nichols returns from his trip with dirt on Buckley, more specifically a photo. Nichols reveals to Mai Ling that Buckley had a woman. He went to war and returned to her a different man. They lasted a few years, but in the end, he left. She's since gotten married and had a few kids, but she kept the photograph.

While circumstances have changed, Penny is willing to accept Merriweather's deal he previously proposed.

Patterson confesses to a priest that he's been incautious in how he's used money that others have trusted him to invest. He has a partner who's about to leave him badly exposed, and he's been told that the priest could be of some help in these kinds of situations. The priest will help in exchange for a cash offering. When he grabs the money, Patterson discovers that he's missing a finger.

Ah Toy takes the girls she rescued to Nellie's vineyard. More will come tomorrow, she tells Nellie. Ah Toy also assures the girls that they will all be safe on the vineyard. Ah Toy then makes a last minute decision to leave Lai at the vineyard as well. No more killing. She can build a better life, but Lai wants to leave with Ah Toy, who forces her out of the carriage and threatens to turn her into a whore if she returns to the brothel. Lai begins crying and attacks Ah Toy, who hugs her close before leaving her behind.

Lee returns Victor Timmons' watch to his widow. She can't believe that his killer was in her home, which she also told Bill last week. Lee is surprised by this revelation, as he was unaware that Bill had ever spoken to Mrs. Timmons. She claims that he came to her with a possible break in the case and asked if he could look around.

Patterson is sent to a local butcher by Father Herlihy, and he hires two men named Cleaver and Hammer to go after Ah Toy.

Mai Ling and Li Yong have sex. She grabs a rope from underneath the pillow and ties it around Li Yong's neck. He's cautious, but she tells him to let go of her arm and trust her, or don't and leave. Li Yong chooses to trust Mai Ling and releases his grip as she tightens the rope around his neck.

Merriweather questions how exactly are they supposed to pay the salaries of working American men, but Mayor Blake is sure they'll find a way. Merriweather isn't convinced. American has been teetering ever since the panic of '73. And now, just as they're seeing light at the end of the tunnel, Blake wants to turn it off. Merriweather then reveals that Mayor Blake's wife will be forging steel for his buildings, using Chinese labor, which is the only thing that keeps their city afloat. And any mayor who doesn't grasp that, is going to be out of a job. Merriweather then tells Blake to go home and seek counsel from his wife, as she should be the one running the city.

Leary walks Sophie half of the way home, but he will only go so far. Unfortunately for Sophie, Penny catches wind of her relationship with Leary and confronts her once she's inside. Penny tells Sophie to pack her things and get out, realizing her betrayal.

Mayor Blake returns home and confronts Penny about her deal with Merriweather. When Blake pulled his order, she had no choice but to look elsewhere for help. All she cares about is a company that should've died with her father, a drunk Blake remarks. Crestwood offers a direct line to the presidency and can send Blake to governorship, but he can't do that so long as Penny continues to employ Chinese labor. He demands that she call off her deal with Merriweather and sell her company, as he's through indulging her fantasy. Penny pushes him to divorce her in order to solve both their problems. He tries to comfort her, as he doesn't wish to have a divorce, but she pushes his hand away, and he strikes her in retaliation. Penny then punches Blake in the face and tries to run, but he continues his assault of her, punching Penny in the gut, pulling her by her hair and pinning her to a wall. Sophie comes to her defense and jumps on Blake's back, but he knocks her into a wall and turns his attention back to Penny. He gets on top of her and nearly strangled the life from Penny until Jacob intervenes and bashes him over the back of the head with a iron poker, killing Blake almost instantly.

## Cast

* Olivia Cheng as Ah Toy
* Jason Tobin as Young Jun
* Dianne Doan as Mai Ling
* Kieran Bew as Bill O'Hara
* Dean Jagger as Dylan Leary
* Joanna Vanderham as Penelope Blake
* Tom Weston-Jones as Richard Lee
* Hoon Lee as Wang Chao
* Langley Kirkwood as Walter Buckley
* Christian McKay as Samuel Blake
* Perry Yung as Father Jun
* Dustin Nguyen as Zing
* Céline Buckens as Sophie Mercer
* Miranda Raison as Nellie Davenport
* Chen Tang as Hong
* Maria-Elena Laas as Rosalita Vega
* Joe Taslim as Li Yong
* Robert Hobbs as Stone
* Nicholas Pauling as Harrison
* Kenneth Fok as Jacob
* Jenny Umbhau as Lai
* André Jacobs as Merriweather
* Frank Rautenbach as Patterson
* Emmanuel Castis as Clyde Nichols
* Lawrence Joffe as Priest
* Jefferson Lan as Shan
* Michelle Douglas as Timmons' Widow
* Martin Munro as Leonard Raice
* Aubrey Shelton as Judge
* Garth Breytenbach as Constable Jackson
* Chris Fisher as Crib Pimp
* Brad Kelly as Cleaver
* Jason William Day as Hammer
* Stuart Williamson as Brawler

## Trivia

* The episode title was spoken by Chao to Ah Sahm in reference to the raid on the Fung Hai.

## Gallery

### Videos

Warrior - Season 2 Episode 7 Preview - CinemaxWarrior - Inside Episode S2 Episode 7 - Cinemax