The Leftover Woman

Jasmine wonders if Wen could have been behind Fifi’s accident. She also wonders about Wen and Brandon’s possible involvement. The two were old friends, and their parents had been close. Anthony continues to call Jasmine, but she ignores him.

Rebecca wants to fire Lucy, and Brandon hesitantly agrees with her. He tells Rebecca that he has invited Wen for dinner the following night. She does not want to entertain their old friend, but she acquiesces. Mason calls Rebecca, and she assumes it is to gloat about the auction; she is sure that she lost the book contract. She is surprised to learn that Isabel chose her over Mason. He does, however, ask her to give up the contract and threatens to expose her one-night stand if she does not.

Rebecca learns that Mason has exposed her relationship with Carey Madison, the author whose plagiarized memoir caused the scandal that derailed her career. There is an article in the paper with a damning photo of Rebecca and Carey together. She and Carey only kissed once, and at this point, she realizes that he must have orchestrated the flirtation to detract from the obvious issues with his work. She does not think that Brandon will believe her. She is still suspicious of his relationship with Lucy, so she searches Lucy’s room in hopes of finding clues. She finds Lucy’s work leotard from Opium, which she recognizes from having researched the club after finding Brandon’s charges on their credit card. She then goes to search Brandon’s office and finds out that their official adoption application was denied because of Brandon’s drug charges in China. This is news to her, and she wonders what else she doesn’t know about her husband. She also wonders how Wen managed to push their adoption through.

Jasmine plans to take Fifi and leave, but Fifi expresses hesitation at the idea of going somewhere without her parents. As the two talk, Rebecca interrupts them. Rebecca accuses Jasmine of betraying their trust, but before she can say more, Brandon walks in with Wen. Wen apologizes to Jasmine and tells her that the two of them can leave with Fifi. His friend, Lone Wolf Jack from Opium, is a talented document forger, and he now has a Chinese passport for Fifi.

Rebecca and Brandon begin to put the pieces of Wen’s story together, and Rebecca cries out that she had no idea who “Lucy” really was. Now that she knows, she is sorry for her behavior. She realizes how difficult it must have been for Jasmine to spend each day with Fifi without revealing their true relationship. The atmosphere is charged, and Jasmine knows not to trust Wen. She is not surprised when he threatens to expose Brandon’s drug conviction and accuse him of child trafficking (the adoption, after all, was not legal). Jasmine remains resolute and tells Wen that she will not leave with him. Brandon and Rebecca, too, refuse to comply. Brandon and Wen exchange blows, but then Wen pulls out a gun. No one moves.

Rebecca reflects on her attitude toward Lucy and feels a deep sense of regret. She wonders how much her own racism and classism impacted her opinions about Lucy and wishes she had treated her nanny better.

Wen interrupts her reverie by telling her to handcuff Brandon to the radiator. He then instructs her to go and get Fifi. When she refuses, he makes a move to shoot Lucy. Rebecca tries to block him and gets shot in the process. There is a scuffle and a loud bang. When Rebecca looks up, she finds that Lucy has fatally shot Wen. Lucy explains that she took Rebecca’s gun earlier, just in case. Lucy is afraid that the police will not believe that she shot Wen in self-defense, and Rebecca decides to tell the police that she fired the fatal shot. She and Brandon advise Lucy to disappear for a while. Lucy gives them her jade hairpin to give to Fifi and explains that she wants them to give Fifi a good life. She says she will return when the time is right.

Jasmine meets Anthony one last time before she leaves. The two confess their love for each other, and he gives her a red bracelet that matches the one she made for him so long ago.

Fifi, who now uses her given name, Fiona, is 21. She is in college, majoring in East Asian studies and visual art. She knows the truth about her parentage and feels grateful that she shares so many qualities with her birth mother. She did not always find it easy to grow up with white adoptive parents, but they did try their best. Now, at long last, she will be reunited with Jasmine. As she walks up to Jasmine’s house, she sees her birth mother inside with her husband and a baby. Fiona is ready to resume their relationship.