Episode 2 of "We Were the Lucky Ones" kicks off with Halina and Bella standing at the threshold of Radom, ready to embark on their perilous journey. Sol, Halina's father, has meticulously orchestrated a clandestine agreement with a mysterious individual to facilitate their covert passage into Soviet territory, situated just beyond the rippling river. As they prepare to depart, Nechuma, their mother, slips Halina a bundle of cash, a crucial asset for navigating the treacherous German checkpoints. Bella reveals that her sister resides in Lvov, adding an extra layer of urgency to their voyage.
The duo sets forth on their arduous trek, their hearts pounding with anticipation and fear. They cleverly navigate the first checkpoint, greasing the palms of an officer with a well-crafted tale of Bella's supposed pregnancy and their urgent need to visit kin in Lvov. However, their fortunes take a grim turn at the second checkpoint, where the officer, stone-faced and unyielding, orders them to turn back. Halina, desperation etched on her face, attempts to reason with him and offers him a bribe, but he responds by pointing a gun directly at her. Shockwave ripples through her, and they are reluctantly compelled to retrace their steps.
Bella's eyes widen with terror as the man, tasked with their smuggling, veers towards the shadowy forest. Instinctively, they leap from the wagon. He sprints after them, trying to assure them that his actions were not meant to frighten. But Bella, her resolve hardened, refuses to budge and decides to forge ahead on foot towards Lvov, now a mere kilometer away. Halina, torn between fear and loyalty, reluctantly accompanies her. The man, recognizing their plight, sketches out a clandestine route for their perilous journey.
As Halina ventures forth, the following day unfolds with a sinister twist for Sol, Nechuma, Mila, and Felicia. The Germans descend upon their home like a storm, issuing eviction orders. Mila and Felicia are swiftly dispatched to the safety of a trusted friend's home, whereas Sol and Nechuma are granted a mere thirty minutes to gather their belongings and flee. Their once-friendly neighbor now remains a stranger in the face of adversity. Sol scavenges a wagon to cart their possessions, while Mila arrives at her friend's residence—already bursting at the seams with refugees, including the friend's own family.
Meanwhile, Addy, serving valiantly in the French military, pens a heartfelt letter to his parents. His vow echoes through the ink, a solemn pledge to find them and reunite their fractured family under the same roof once again.
Elsewhere, Halina and Bella trudged along the path towards Lvov, keeping a vigilant proximity to the river's edge. Their journey was interrupted when soldiers suddenly appeared, and despite their desperate attempts to flee, they were swiftly apprehended. In a moment of quick thinking, Halina assumed the role of a simpleton, feigning ignorance and lost direction, expressing a desire to return to her family in Lvov. Her gamble paid off; the soldiers, recognizing their Russian accents, offered them refuge for the night.
Meanwhile, in a different part of the city, a lengthy queue for accommodation stretched out, and Sol resorted to bribery, targeting a Polish government official now serving under German authority. Their efforts were rewarded, and the remnants of the Kurk family finally secured a residence within the old Polish quarters.
Elsewhere, Addy attempted to forge his demobilization papers using the Captain's typewriter, in a daring bid to secure his freedom. The narrative then shifts to Jakub, who returned to his Lvov home to find Halina and Bella anxiously awaiting his arrival. Halina recounted their week-long ordeal of peeling potatoes at the army camp, until Bella's newfound friendship paved the way for their escape to Lvov.
In a tender moment, Jakub and Bella shared an intimate bath, culminating in Jakub's proposal of marriage. The Kurk family embarked on preparations for Jakub and Bella's wedding ceremony, with Jakub successfully securing the presence of a Rabbi to bless their union. They celebrated their evening in a relative haven of peace.
Concurrently, Adam encountered Halina, but her demeanor conveyed a shift in her affections. She gently proposed a platonic friendship, emphasizing her resolve to aid the Polish underground forces that Adam secretly belonged to.
October 1940 marked ten months since these events unfolded. Addy, now free from military service, sought refuge beyond Europe's borders to reunite with his family. He stood in endless lines at various embassies, each filled with individuals desperate to escape. Rumors circulated about a Brazilian ambassador who harbored sympathy for the Jews, despite his country's Nazi-leaning president. Determined, Addy sought out the ambassador, presenting his skills and pleading for a means of escape. The ambassador revealed a last-resort option: a ship bound for Rio de Janeiro.
As the episode drew to a close, Genec faced an unforeseen ordeal, arrested by the Soviets for declaring his citizenship as Polish on Soviet soil, occupied Poland.
