Episode 1 of Black Cake opens with a striking image: Eleanor Bennet, our heroine, leaping into the vast ocean, clad in her wedding dress. Yet, this was not the Eleanor we know. Time shifts to the present, where a mature Eleanor sits solitary on the beach, her surfboard clutched in hand, poised for a duel with the rolling waves. Her son, Byron Bennet, alternates between these scenes, addressing a group of eager college students, urging them to embark on a career as ocean scientists.
However, Eleanor's surfing adventure is abruptly halted by a slip and a tragic accident. At the hospital, Byron uncovers a graver concern for his mother's health: a brain tumor. Shocked and silent, he desperately tries to reach his estranged sister, Benny, but she remains unreachable. Finally, he leaves a voicemail, assuring her that Eleanor is safe.
Months later, Byron sits patiently in Mr. Mitch's office, waiting for Benny's arrival. Eleanor has succumbed to her illness, leaving behind a will that Mitch is to read in the presence of her children. Miraculously, Benny appears, but Byron's greeting is far from welcoming. It is revealed that she has been estranged from the family for nearly eight long years.
Mitch begins to speak, revealing that Eleanor's final wish was for her children to gather in their home and listen to "her story." In the audio recording, Eleanor's voice weaves a tapestry of her life, including her true identity and her roots in the Caribbean Islands. She recalls growing up in the 50s and 60s as a joyous child named Covey, the sole daughter of Chinese immigrant Lin Lyncook and Matilda Lyncook (nee Brown). However, at the age of 11, Covey's mother abandoned the family, driven away by Lin's failing business and gambling addiction. Lin struggled as a single parent, scraping by to make ends meet, while his debt grew and he entangled Covey in a web of trouble by borrowing from the cunning loan shark, Clarence "Little Man" Henry.
Amidst these challenges, Covey found solace in the waters, swimming alongside her best friend, Bunny. Together, they dreamed of competing in the exotic waters of the world. When Covey turned 16, she met Gilbert "Gibbs" Grant, a boy so deeply infatuated with her that their brief romance spanned only a few fleeting months, as the older Gibbs prepared to leave for London to study law.
However, despite the adversity, their friendship flourished, deeply rooted in a mutual understanding beyond the fleeting nature of youthful affection. Tragically, due to his colossal debt, the Henry brothers set Lin's shop, a legacy from his father, ablaze. When Covey heard of Lin's indebtedness to Henry, she erupted in a fiery tirade, reminiscent of her mother's impassioned outbursts. Lin's defense only exacerbated the tension, leaving Pearl, their housekeeper, to step in as a calming presence. More than just a servant, Pearl was a steadfast pillar in Covey's life, a second mother to her.
To Covey's utter dismay, she stumbled upon the shocking revelation that Lin had contemplated 'selling' her to Henry in exchange for the erasure of his debt. Henry, with an ulterior motive, had long had his sights set on Covey and desired to make her his wife. Covey was overwhelmed by Lin's betrayal, feeling both horrified and disgusted by Henry. Yet, despite Gibbs' offer of a fresh start in London, Covey remained steadfast, citing her father's unwavering support and constant presence through challenging times as her reason for staying.
Covey played along with Henry's courtship, but as the wedding day drew near, the realization hit her like a bolt of lightning. It was too late for Lin, Pearl, or Covey to backtrack. Filled with remorse and anger, Covey vowed never to lay eyes on Lin again after the union. Bunny and Pearl tried their best to console and bolster her spirits, but their efforts fell on deaf ears.
Amidst the chaotic wedding afterparty, an unexpected turn of events unfolded. Henry suddenly began choking on his drink, collapsing to the ground, succumbing to what appeared to be a deliberate poisoning. Covey, unaware of the culprit, saw this as a chance to flee.
The scene shifted back to the initial moment when Covey plunged into the ocean, hiding in the caves, evading the police's search. Presumed missing or dead, the police launched an investigation into Henry's murder, with both Covey and Lin as suspects. However, Henry's sole concern was finding Covey. Only Bunny, aware of Covey's swimming prowess, waited patiently by the beach, until late into the night when Covey finally emerged from the depths. The two close friends embraced tightly, and Bunny provided her with the essentials for her journey to London.
Under the alias of Covey Brown, armed with a fake passport, Covey traveled to London, seeking to evade suspicion. There, in a boarding house frequented by immigrants from the islands, she encountered her roommate, Eleanor Dolores. A new chapter awaited her in this bustling city, filled with both challenges and opportunities.
