Gay Discount

"**Gay Discount**" is the first episode in the first season of *Kim's Convenience*. It first premiered on CBC on October 11, 2016.

## Synopsis

After being accused of homophobia, Appa creates a gay discount during Pride Month. Meanwhile, Umma tries to find a "cool Christian Korean boyfriend" for Janet.

## Plot

The episode begins with Kevin and Roger, a gay couple, presenting their poster for pride week to Appa in hopes of getting it up on the window. Appa denies them, and Roger assumes that it was because they are gay. Appa explains that it is because parades are loud, and Roger calls him homophobic and threatens to report him. Appa panics and offers a 15% "gay discount" for pride month, but still refuses to put up the poster.

While the Kim family is getting ready for the day, Janet asks Appa if she can borrow the van, but he leaves without answering. Umma asks Janet when she is going to church in the prospect of looking for a "cool Christian Korean boyfriend," which Janet denies the existence of. Umma reminds Janet that Jung is cool, Christian, and Korean which Janet rebuffs as he is her brother. Umma then reminds Janet that if she didn't meet Appa, she wouldn't have been born. Janet leaves for university.

Enrique asks Appa if it is true that the store was having a 50% discount in a stereotypical imitation of a gay voice and stature. Unamused, Appa informs him that there is a 15% discount, and it is not for him. Enrique protests this, insisting that he is gay. Appa guarantees that he is 100% not gay, and Enrique informs him that it is not over.

At Handy, Jung and Kimchee are standing over a dead animal in one of the rental cars, telling each other to pick it up. Janet invites them to lunch, only on the condition that Jung lets her use his family employee discount card. He asks her what is wrong with Appa's van, and she replies with Appa himself, who refused to let her drive the van at age 20. Jung replies that he drove the van at 13, and Janet replies that it was more like *stole* the van. Kimchee adds that they both stole it together. Janet protests that she is overparented by Appa. Shannon, the Handy manager, walks in and sees Janet, and is displeased, assuming that she is Jung's girlfriend. When she learns that Janet is Jung's sister, she is relieved, but regrettably informs them that it is employees only back there. Shannon asks them if they have seen a woman's pet ferret, to which Jung replies with no, stepping sideways to cover the body of the dead animal in the car.

Fellow businessman Mr. Chin tells Appa that business has never been better because of pride week. They observe that there are more outed gay people in today's age than back when they first immigrated to Canada, and that all the cross dressing and new sexualities are confusing. A customer asks Appa if it is true that there is a 15% discount, and Appa replies that it is, but only for gay individuals. Mr. Chin remarks that that is illegal because it's discriminatory. The customer asks when she is getting a discount, and Appa says February (black history month) as the customer is black. She protests that it is the shortest month of the year, and Mr. Chin says that it is longer during leap years so she should take full advantage.

Two Asian males give their job resumes to Janet, who is confused because the store isn't hiring. Umma tells them that there is a job opening, and asks them if they go to church. They say yes, since that is where they saw the ad. Umma checks off cool, Christian, and Korean on her clipboard. Janet realizes what Umma is doing, and storms off. Umma follows her, and tells her that she should be grateful that she is doing this. Appa enters and tells Umma that Janet doesn't need a boyfriend because she will be busy taking over the store, which Umma protests because she says that Janet will be busy having many babies. Janet says she doesn't want to take over the store and she is not having many babies. She tells the two Korean males that the opening is now closed. Appa offers the gentleman on the right a gay discount, but he insists that he is not gay, and Appa replies that sometimes, it takes time to be gay, and sips his tea knowingly.

Enrique enters the shop with a stereotypically flamboyant male, and announces that he has come for his gay discount, the gay man being his proof. Appa asks Enrique what his favourite movie is and Enrique says *Caddyshack*, which Appa replies to isn't gay because Bill Murray stars in it. Enrique's fake boyfriend outs him as straight by mentioning an ex-girlfriend of Enrique's from college named Raquel.

Umma visits Jung at work, leading him into Shannon's office. She urges Jung to talk to Janet about her being single. Shannon opens the door to retrieve her insulin and Umma pushes her back out. Shannon leaves to get an orange.

While Appa is counting money from the register, Therese, a drag queen, asks Appa the price of an item. Appa asks Therese why she cross dresses, and she replies that it felt like her and like home, and Appa kisses her hand. Umma comes back from Handy (although she tells Appa that she came back from church) and Appa informs her that there is money missing. Janet comes back to the store with her new rental car. Appa, suspicious, asks her when she got the car, and Janet tells him she got it when he didn't let her take the van. Appa asks her where she got the money for the rental, and Janet tells him that she got a discount from a friend. Appa asks which friend, and Janet hesitates, not wanting to reveal Jung because he is still at odds with Appa. Appa says that there is money missing from the store, insinuating that Janet stole some to get a rental car. Janet is offended at the accusation and storms off. Appa turns back to Therese, and finishes selling her items with the gay discount. Umma thwacks Appa, and tells him that the gay discount is the missing money, and tells him to apologize. Appa protests and Umma says that they were pushing her away like they pushed Jung away. Appa responds that they didn't wonder if he stole something, they knew he stole something, and Umma screams in frustration.

Umma and Appa knock on Janet's door to apologize, and she says that she isn't Jung, and she didn't steal anything but is the one being punished. Appa says that he isn't punishing her, just talking, and Janet says that he is talking to the wrong person, and grabs the rental car keys. Umma says that she is sorry and who Janet hooks around with is up to her. Janet thanks Umma and hands the car keys to Appa, saying that returning the car is how he can apologize. When he leaves, Janet tells Umma that she sent Appa to return the car so he would have to talk to Jung.

Shannon is on the phone, trying to upgrade her from call to unlimited texting in North America. Jung sees Appa standing at the front desk during his coffee break, and asks Shannon to deal with him. Shannon hands him the phone, and Jung takes over trying to get her cellphone plan upgraded. Shannon tells Appa about her uncle who disappeared to Mexico, and how family is tricky. Appa returns the car keys, and spots Jung on one of the Handy posters.

Umma and Janet ask Appa if he saw anyone important, and Appa replies with Shannon. Umma and Janet turn away, disappointed. The door opens and another young Asian male steps through. Appa stops him and tells him that even if he is cool, Christian, and Korean, Janet has to like him. Janet ignores Appa and discusses dinner plans with the man, and they leave to go on a date. Appa stops them and asks Janet's date what the Korean day of independence is, and lets them go when he replies with the correct answer. Outside the store, Janet says that she told him that Appa would ask.

## Cast

### Starring

* Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Appa
* Jean Yoon as Umma
* Andrea Bang as Janet Kim
* Simu Liu as Jung Kim
* Andrew Phung as Arnold "Kimchee" Han
* Nicole Power as Shannon Ross

### Recurring

* John Ng as Mr. Chin
* Paolo Santalucia as Kevin
* Kevin Vidal as Roger
* Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll as Enrique
* Jamillah Ross as Jamaican Customer
* Andy Yu as Job Applicant
* Jaemoon Lee as Another Job Applicant
* Alexander Nunez as Boytoy
* Thom Allison as Therese