"The Long Road"

## Plot

In this episode flashback, showcases we are introduced to Alexandre Moon, a 18-year-old boy who works at a pizza place to earn money. Alexandre lives with his mother, Miyayoung, in a low-income household where she often entertains male clients in her sexual encounters. One day, as Alexandre returns home from work, he catches Miyayoung with a police officer in the bathroom. Feeling uncomfortable and unsafe, he goes to his room and hides his $596 money from his pizza job in the ceiling.

Despite his difficult living situation, Alexandre is thinking of leaving Quebec and believes that learning to drive is the first step towards achieving his goals. He saves up all his money to pay for driving lessons, knowing that driving would provide him with the freedom to explore new places and save more money for his future plans.

On the day of his driver's exam, Alexandre took an Uber and was surprised to see an Asian woman with red hair in the car. He recognized her as the same woman who had offered him onigiris on his second attempt at the exam, which had also been the day he was kicked out by his mother. The woman introduced herself as Emica Forsyth and remembered Alexandre as the homeless stranger she used to give leftover onigiris to when she visited her uncle in Quebec two years prior.

Despite the unexpected encounter, Alexandre and Emica struck up a conversation and caught up on each other's lives. To Alexandre's surprise, Emica revealed that she would be his driving instructor for the next two months. Over the course of their lessons, they developed a close relationship, with Emica becoming a mentor and confidante to Alexandre.

During a five-minute drive, Alexandre realized he was heading in the wrong direction and asked Emica about road signs and directions. He quickly adjusted his route and continued on his way. However, Emica suddenly experienced menstrual cramps and asked Alexandre to stop at a public bathroom, which he found confusing and weird. Despite this, he pulled over and waited for Emica to return.

As they continued their journey, they chatted about various topics. Alexandre frequently asked Emica about her unique red hair, which she inherited from her Japanese grandmother who shared that she inherited her red hair from her Japanese grandmother, who was half-Mammal-Japanese Hare (Lepus brachyurus). She shared that she and her grandmother were very close and that Emica became a mentor and confidante to Alexandre. They also shared funny stories, such as Alexandre's experience of receiving all F's in math and English class during elementary school and Emica's experience of learning French while working in Quebec and Louisiana.

At a traffic light, Alexandre's attention was drawn to a family strolling by, evoking memories of his childhood visits to the zoo with his father. He confided in Emica that his childhood had been wonderful, but then confessed to being a drug dealer during that period. Emica was taken aback by this revelation, and Alexandre attempted to change the subject.

Despite the emotional moment, Alexandre appreciated Emica's care for his well-being and guidance as they continued on their journey. Alexandre inquired about Emica's family, and she hinted at having a son and being a single mother since her husband left when their son was young. Emica had once dreamed of becoming an astronaut as a child, but ended up being a homemaker originality, now she was drive instructor.

She hoped to lighten the mood by listening to rock and roll music, with Alexandre preferring alternative rock metal as they drove.

At the gas station, Alexandre pumped gas while Emica went inside to buy some snacks. A man in a red truck pulled up to the station to fill up his tank, and as he smoked a cigarette, he gave Alexandre the middle finger. Alexandre responded by sticking out his tongue, flashing his piercings and tattoos, which scared the man enough to finish gassing up and drive off, realizing Alexandre had gang connections.

After Emica had purchased her snacks, she headed to the public bathroom, where she was accosted by a robber who attempted to steal from her. Emica managed to break free, but the robber chased after her. Alexandre intervened and brutally beat up the robber, threatening him with his butterfly knife. Alexandre then told Emica to stay in the car while he dealt with the robber, but she begged him not to harm the robber, and he reluctantly agreed to let the robber go.

As they drove away, Emica looked at Alexandre in shock, having witnessed the violent altercation. Alexandre apologized to Emica for scaring her with his lifestyle, but she assured him that she was just grateful to be safe and thanked him for his protection. She expressed her dislike of violence and didn't want to see it happen in front of her.

As Emica and Alexandre continued their drive, Emica offered him a Martian chocolate bar to snack on. As they approached a traffic light, Emica took the opportunity to help Alexandre become more familiar with the vehicle's handle and how to monitor their speed on the road by reading the signs that indicate distance left or right. They agreed to turn left and head towards a rural area, but unfortunately, they hit a flat tire on the way.

They pulled over at a nearby farm, and Emica quickly jumped into action, helping Alexandre fix the tire before the sun went down. Despite the setback, they both remained calm and worked together to get back on the road as soon as possible.

Alexandre often told Emica He used to be Martian chocolate bar when he was a kid he rather used to be Oceoko bar kid but he never eating Nutty Peanut better bar for his life, even to do the smell and tasted made his saliva malting out, even he thought Nutty Peant bar made him a allergic to peanut better, but he wasn't he had four family members from mother side he knew who most peant allergic, he wasn't Peanut fan, Emica impales fan of Oceoko Bar but  she prefer Nutty Peanut butter as no offense to Alexandre who wasn't fan of Nutty Peanut butter and peanut butter person, as they laugh.

As they continued on their journey, a heavy rainstorm began. Alexandre struggled to control the car in the pouring rain, and they ended up crashing into a cornfield. Emica tried to remain calm and patient, but Alexandre was visibly upset and frustrated with himself.

As the rain continued to fall, Emica and Alexandre talked more about their lives and their dreams for the future. They both shared their desire to leave their pasts behind and start fresh. Despite the difficult circumstances they found themselves in, they began to bond over their shared experiences and hopes for the future.

Finally, the storm began to subside, and they were able to get the car back on the road. Although they were both shaken up from the accident, they continued on their journey towards Quebec, with a newfound sense of camaraderie and understanding between them.

Emica clam down and patient decided to waiting until the storm stop to staying positively while trapped in the storm, as she abled losing her patients as Alexandre decided to told the story about his tattoos that tattoos he often gaved it from gang activities since he was 10, that his mother who often throwing him away who often lived around with devils, angels, privileges, and tragedies of underground world.

When he frist man a guy named Wonk who often showed his own tattoos to often one day if he get older he will had tattoos like a fallen god, caused he was fallen god of city, he often grew, He began to share more about his life, including his involvement with gangs and the tattoos that covered his body. Emica listened attentively, trying to understand his past and what had led him to where he was now.

Emica shared with Alexandre that she too had been involved in gang life due to her husband's involvement. However, she did not have tattoos like him. Emica's husband had eventually left her because he wanted to make a better life for himself, as the gang lifestyle was too risky.

At the time of their separation, Emica was pregnant with their son. She and her son had moved in with her three aunts, as she wanted to provide a safer environment for her child. Emica also revealed that her uncle and father were ex-Japanese gang members of Yakuza, who she did not have a good relationship with and often hated. All Emica wanted was to find some light in the darkness of her past.

They were stuck in the cornfield, with the rain still pouring down on them. Emica tried to reassure Alexandre that everything was going to be okay, but he was not convinced.

After patiently waiting for the storm to pass, Emica and Alexandre were able to continue their journey to Québec. Alexandre successfully drove them to their destination, and Emica was impressed with his driving skills. The rain had finally stopped, and they both returned home safely.

The following day, Emica met with Alexandre again for their next driving lesson. She was eager to continue learning and improving her skills behind the wheel. As they drove, Emica felt confident and happy with her progress.

Later that night, as Alexandre thanking Emica to abled to introduce herself so much, he couldn't help but feel proud of Emica's determination and progress. He knew that with each lesson, she was becoming a better driver and gaining more confidence on the road.

The episode ends with Alexandre taking an Uber to driving school, where he meets his driving instructor, Emica Forsyth. The audience is left wondering what will happen next and how Emica will impact Alexandre.