Episode 1 of "Joan" unfolds with a captivating prologue, introducing us to a woman, later identified as Joan, meticulously preparing for a journey in the bustling metropolis of London, circa 1985. As she attires herself, the scars etched across her back serve as haunting whispers of a tumultuous past, piquing our curiosity.
The narrative then rewinds to a pivotal moment four months prior, where Joan shared a home with her beloved daughter and Gary, her partner. However, their idyllic life took a precipitous turn when Gary abruptly vanished in the dead of night, fleeing their sanctuary. The aftermath brought forth a sinister revelation—Gary had entangled himself with dangerous gangsters, and soon thereafter, Joan's world was shattered by the intrusion of two menacing men, brandishing guns and threatening her very existence. With her daughter's safety paramount, Joan's maternal instinct kicked into overdrive, and they fled in a desperate bid for survival.
Determined to shield her child from further harm, Joan sought refuge in the arms of social services, arranging for her daughter's temporary placement in a foster home. In the interim, she sought solace with Nancy, her sister, a hairdresser by profession, who transformed Joan's appearance with a rejuvenating makeover. For several weeks, Joan found solace in working alongside Nancy at her salon, but tensions simmered when Joan's longing to visit her daughter clashed with Nancy's reluctance to grant her leave.
Driven by an unyielding love, Joan resorted to drastic measures, leaving a hasty note, pilfering a vehicle, and embarking on a perilous journey to see her daughter. Yet, her return journey was marred by an unfortunate encounter with the law, leaving her incarcerated.
Amidst her darkest hour, a ray of hope emerged in the form of Tom, a chance acquaintance from a club night, who revealed himself to be an undercover operative in pursuit of Gary. Tom's intervention proved pivotal, as he coached Joan on pleading for redemption, and with heartfelt sincerity, Joan vowed before the magistrate to turn her life around.
Freed from confinement, Joan returned to Nancy's salon, where despite Nancy's concerns, she urged Joan to embark on a fresh start with a more fitting vocation. Embracing this advice, Joan stumbled upon a job opening at a prestigious jewelry boutique. To secure this opportunity, Joan embarked on a cunning plan, infiltrating the store as a customer, absorbing every nuance of the diamond trade, and ultimately dazzling her potential employer with her newly acquired expertise. Her perseverance paid off, and Joan not only landed the job but also swiftly established herself as an invaluable asset.
Later that fateful night, Gary storms into Nancy's serene salon, his demeanor a menacing blend of aggression and volatility. Despite Joan's valiant efforts, he eventually relents and departs, yet not without casting ominous threats in her direction. Fearful for her well-being, Joan flees Nancy's sanctuary, finding refuge amidst the unforgiving night on the desolate streets.
Dawn breaks, and Joan's resolve is unbroken as she heads straight to her freshly embarked employment. With a heavy heart, she approaches Bernard, the proprietor, beseeching him for an advance. However, he dismisses her plea with a nonchalant suggestion to first complete the tedious inventory. As they delve into their task, Bernard's proximity becomes increasingly uneasy, his unwelcome advances looming large. Joan, quick-witted, deflects him with a deft lie about her monthly cycle, escaping with a promise to resume the following week, her heart pounding.
Secluded in the bathroom's confines, Joan embarks on a daring feat, swallowing several glistening diamonds from the stock with steely determination. That evening, chance encounters lead her to a pub where a stranger offers her a drink, unknowingly igniting a peculiar bond. With a boldness born of desperation, Joan introduces herself as a "thief," vowing to repay him for his generosity. The morning after, she awakens in his abode, a note by her bedside, a chilling reminder of her debt and an invitation to his antique haven.
Returning to her makeshift abode, Joan employs a sieve in the toilet, a crude yet effective tool, to retrieve the diamonds she had swallowed with such audacity. As she prepares to depart, her gaze falls upon a gun lurking in a drawer, a silent testament to the dangers that lurk in the shadows.
Later, Joan confronts the man from the pub, now known as Boisie, at his antique shop. With a mixture of vulnerability and defiance, she asks if he could aid in disposing of the diamonds. To her surprise, she realizes she had unwittingly poured her heart out to him under the influence of alcohol. Initially hesitant, Boisie eventually agrees to facilitate the sale, albeit with a warning of a protracted process.
In a twist of fate, he offers Joan a job, which she accepts, albeit with a chilling ultimatum: betrayal would seal his doom. Thus, the stage is set for a precarious partnership, bound by secrets, diamonds, and the thin line between trust and betrayal.
