[dramatic piano music]
[dramatic sting]
[ominous music]
[vomiting]
[babies crying]
[dramatic piano music]
- There are my babies, hello!
Hello!
Who is crying?
Come, darling,
Aww, there we go,
What's going on?
- Sorry, sorry,
[laughing]
Good morning, Nkem,
- Good morning, Isioma,
How was your weekend?
- It was nice,
I took my kids to my mom,
[babies crying]
- [Nkem] Oh how loud it is,
- [Isioma] Sorry, sorry,
Here you go,
I took my kids to my mom, so I had
time to sleep, eat, and watch bad TV,
- Lucky you,
You know, once they get older
it's harder to toss them aside,
I spent the weekend with my son doing
some house painting and renovation,
- That hardly sounds like any fun,
- Well,,,
Well,
I will get [mumbles],
It's okay, it's okay, come, come, here we go,
- I wonder how you do it,
- Well it's easy, I just pretend I'm part of their world,
[babies crying]
[phone ringing]
Oh hold on, I think I hear my phone,
Sorry,
Go with Aunty Isioma,
There we go,
- I love you, you love me,
[phone ringing]
- Yes,
This is Chidi Egwuonwu's mom,
[ominous atmosphere music]
No no, sorry sorry, please, can you
say that again, I'm not sure I,,,
[cheering]
- And I'm not just saying this because
it is a thing to say, I am saying
it because I mean it, come on,
I could not have done this without you all, all of you,
Edem, Ralake, Ashake, Quincy, Imfan,
even Milfed, and of course Justin,
Because of all your hard work and tenacity,
we can now sponsor 30 girls to school,
[cheering]
Yes, girls who years ago could never
have imagined this because they were being sold
into marriage by the same people they trusted,
Even when we came up with this noble idea,
it seems like we were reaching them, but no,
you all stood with me through thick and thin,
I am proud of you all,
- [Employees] Thank you,
- Here, cheers,
All the way cheers,
Enjoy,
- Excuse me, madame,
Congratulations again, madame,
- Come on, I did not do this all by myself,
You made this happen,
- Oh did I?
- Come on Justin, you know my watch word,
There is no me, there is only us,
- Then why am I denied my due?
- Is this what this is about?
- But you just said it yourself that
you couldn't have done this without me,
Why am I denied this promotion that
I very much earned and deserve?
- All right, now you listen to me, Justin,
You have a job,
You get paid,
You get incentives and you get perks,
so you're already getting what you deserve,
Now if you are not satisfied with what
we have going here, then you can resign,
and I promise you you will be replaced
even before you shut the door,
[phone ringing]
Here,
Hello!
Nike Bajulaye here,
[ominous atmosphere music]
What?
I'm sorry, can you repeat that?
- You guys will never believe what happened,
- What, Miss Allison postponed the test?
- I wish,
Even better,
- I know what happened,
- What, you heard?
- Heard what?
- Chidi and Tolu were caught in the senior block having sex,
- No way,
- Yes way,
I always thought there was something
suspicious about both of them,
- Chidi?
I can't believe it,
I've always known that guy as a sissy, but Tolu?
How did you guys even hear about this?
- The question we should be asking is how do you not know,
Jessica was talking about it,
- All right guys, break time
is over, get back to your classes,
Back to the classes everyone,
Hey guys, break time's over,
Hurry up,
- No,
I know my son,
Tolu is a good Christian,
A straight A student,
No, this must be a mix-up,
- Miss Wilson was sure of what she saw,
- It was after school hours,
She was tired, she could've made a mistake or something,
- See, I have been the principal
of this school for 15 years now, and I
have never seen anything like this before,
The school board isn't happy about this,
And considering the fact that this could
actually affect other kids with this insane act,
- Excuse me, Mr, Ayome,
You cannot just throw baseless accusations,
My son is innocent until proven guilty,
- Maybe in a court of law, but right here,
we know what is right and what is wrong,
We don't mince words about it,
- I am still trying to make sense out of this,
I don't know where he got this from,
Perhaps he was influenced by the other boy?
- Madame, my son is a good kid,
He's diligent, he's well-behaved, and he's easygoing,
If you knew him, you would never say that,
- You know, you can be a straight A
student and still be a miscreant,
- What?
- I'm just saying,
- There's no need to argue about this,
The kids are at fault here,
[mumbles],
You are lucky that our regular team are not [mumbles],
It would have been worse than that,
- Well you can go ahead and conduct your
investigation, but don't put him on suspension,
We have not even established that
this boy has done anything wrong,
- I agree,
Because the final exams are coming up,
There has to be other ways to do this pending
while we find out what exactly is going on,
- Can I speak to you privately?
- There's nothing I can do at this point,
- I know,
I just want to,,,
Talk to you, that's all,
- That'll be all for now, ma'am,
We'll get in touch with you in full shortly,
- I should go?
[dramatic orchestra music]
- What is going on?
- What do you mean?
- Come on, it's just me and you now,
Hmm?
I am a major donor to this school,
My husband and I, we have been there for
you through the good times and the bad times,
- We appreciate all what you have been doing for us,
And we'll continue to show gratitude, but there's
nothing we can do at this point, Mrs, Bajulaye,
You see, the school board is bent on
making scapegoats out of your kids,
Just to prove to everyone their
strong stance against homosexuality,
- But you know my Tolu,
He could never do a thing like this,
Something is fishy,
- These kids,
There can be a lot to,,,
Look, I know it is very hard for you to imagine
or accept the fact that this is a reality,
The earlier you come to terms with
this reality, the better for everyone,
[dramatic orchestra music]
- Hi, Leslie my darling,
I need your help,
[ominous atmosphere music]
Okay,
I am going to ask you this one last
time, and don't you dare lie to me,
Because it's just you and I here now, Tolu,
Tell me it's a lie,
Tell me it's a big lie, and someone
somewhere is making something up!
Wow,
Where did you learn this from?
Huh?
I raised you better!
I'm confused, say something!
- I'm sorry, mom,
- Oh no, do not apologize to me,
I want an explanation!
- I don't know,
- You don't know what?
I don't get it,
Boys are supposed to sleep with girls,
Boys are not meant to be sleeping with other boys!
Huh?
There are no girls in your school?
Or you don't like any of them?
How?
How is this even possible?
My own son?
Since when?
- It's not like I chose this,
- I can't hear you!
[knocking]
Thank goodness you're here, Leslie,
- I came as fast as I could,
- I need your help,
- Okay, I--
- Help make this go away!
- I need to talk to him first,
Please,
From the beginning, I need you to tell me exactly,,,
- Is it true?
Tolu?
- Dad, I'm sorry,
- Is it true?
Is it true?
- Mr, Bajulaye!
- Honey, calm down!
- [Leslie] Mr, Bajulaye!
- How could you bring shame onto this family?
- Come on,
- After everything we did for you!
You wanted a car, we bought one for you!
You wanted your silly [mumbles], I gave it to you!
And this is how you pay us back?
It is shameful!
- We know that you're angry, but this is
the time to strategize how to get out of this,
Please,
- Tolu!
- This is not the time for this,
Okay?
He can be expelled from school,
On the verge to final exams,
Not now,
You can scold him later,
Okay?
Just allow me to speak to him, he needs to be open,
Please,
- Tolu!
Tolu!
Leave me!
- Please, let me speak to him,
Do you understand the implications of what's going on?
- Yes,
- I'm not going to judge you,
I'm here to help,
- But how are you going to do that?
She saw us,
- Who's us?
- Chidi and I,
- Okay, Chidi is your girlfriend,
- Chidi is a boy,
[ominous atmosphere music]
- Wait, what were you both doing?
- We had stayed back after school hours to study
together for exams in one of the quiet classrooms,
We sorta kissed, and stuff started happening,
Until we heard someone scream,
Miss Wilson had seen us, it was too late,
- And what exactly were you doing at this point?
- We were,,,
Doing stuff,
- I know,
But I need the full picture, hmm?
Imagine this is a book, and we need to
go through every moment that you went through,
- What?
- I can't help you if I don't know what happened,
How it happened,
In detail,
When your teacher, Miss Wilson, when she found
you out, when she found you both out, did she see you?
- How'd you mean?
Yes she did, and that's why we're here,
- No, that's not what I'm asking you,
Did she see you, could she see your face?
- I don't know,
I guess,
Chidi was covering me, so I don't know if she saw my face,
- Are you absolutely sure?
- Yes,
[dramatic piano music]
- I'm sorry, mom,
I'm so sorry,
- How could you?
How?
- I'm so sorry for putting you through this,
- Did I do something wrong?
Is this teenage rebellion?
- It's just that,,,
I,,,
I really like Tolu,
- That's not right,
It's wrong,
That means,,,
You're,,,
Gay?
But how?
How could that be?
- Mommy, I,,,
- They're talking about an expulsion,
They may not let you write your final exams,
Why didn't you tell me?
- It happened so fast,
One second we're reading and the next
second I heard Mrs, Wilson screaming and
before I knew it it had gone to the principal,
- No, I mean this,
Why didn't I know you had these type of feelings?
When did it start?
- Well you have a lot on your plate and I
just didn't want [mumbles] failed you,
- Chidi baby, I'm your mother,
I'm your mother,
[mumbles],
It's me, Chidi,
[sobbing]
- You know you'll be kissing Yale goodbye
if this expulsion goes through,
- [Nike] No one is getting expelled,
- Well tell that to the school authorities
who found your son pants down with another dude!
My own son!
- Leslie dear, what do we do?
- Okay,
Based on the account of what Tolu has told me,
Miss Wilson saw what looked like sex,
- Mmmhm,
- [Leslie] But what if it wasn't?
- Yeah?
Like they caught them pants down solving Algebra,
Come on, don't kid me,
- What if Tolu was being raped?
- That could actually work,
- That makes it even worse!
Nike!
- I never told anyone this before,
But I was raped,
I was 12,
I tried to fight, I tried to run, but I couldn't,
There's something trauma does to the body,
I was in shock, and my body was limp,
I wanted to fight, but I couldn't,
So I just laid there,
I laid there quietly,
Until he was finished,
- I'm sorry to hear that,
- It was a long time ago,
Tolu did tell me something,
Chidi would smuggle in alcohol to school
and they would drink it together,
What if Chidi lured Tolu with alcohol to make him weaker?
- That is it,
Yes!
- Let me understand something,
So in order to save your son's life,
you're willing to ruin someone else's?
- I am sorry, but that is the best shot we have,
- Come on, this is ridiculous!
- [Nike] We are so doing this,
- [Femi] Nike!
[dramatic piano music]
- Father,
[sobbing]
Lord, Lord,
Where did I go wrong?
- Hey,
So what do you think?
- I think it's a bad idea,
- But it's going to work,
- Mom, I can't do that to Chidi,
He doesn't deserve that,
- And what about you, Tolu?
Do you deserve to lose everything you've worked for?
Everything we have worked for?
- What you're saying we should do is wrong,
- There's no wrong or right, Tolu,
There's only who wins and who doesn't,
Society punishes anyone who violates
its order, and what you did was abominable,
All we're trying to do is to spin it around your favor,
To help you,
You know, one day you will come
to me with a gift of gratitude,
Thanking me for saving your life,
Think of yourself first,
And this bright life you're about
to stupidly going to toss about,
[orchestra music swells]
- This is shocking,
I don't even know what to say,
- Exactly how I felt,
Tolu has been so traumatized by this,
He could not say a word,
- Are you really sure about this?
- Mr, Ayome, are you asking the
victim if he is sure he was raped?
- I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way, please,
Miss Wilson?
Please come to my office immediately,
I'm really sorry this happened to you,
- He's still quite shaken by it,
- Yeah, I can imagine,
- You called for me sir?
- Yes, Miss Wilson,
Tolu just told me that he was molested,
- I don't understand, sir,
- What you actually saw was Tolu being raped,
And he has had problems and troubles telling us,
- I thought I saw the two--
- You assumed that what you saw was consensual sex,
and you did not analyze things properly!
Thus embarrassing myself and my son greatly!
Do you know what I can do with that?
A lawsuit!
Just imagine this getting to the press!
- No, no no no no, it shouldn't get to that, madame,
Don't worry, we will right everything,
I will make it right by you, don't worry,
- Oh you had better, because I have
done everything right by your school!
I've made huge donations, attending all
your functions, supporting you!
My son does not deserve this,
- No he doesn't,
He actually doesn't,
- You need a therapist right away,
- Why?
- If we are going to sell this story to
the very end, we need to give it
all the authenticity it requires,
Seeing a therapist just makes it more credible,
Yeah,
- I'm not sure I understand what's going on here,
- Sounds like your son is a rapist,
[dramatic sting]
- No no no, that's not what happened,
- What?
Miss Wilson said she saw both of them having sex,
- Miss Wilson doesn't have the capability
to determine whether consent was given,
- I can't believe this,
- You can't believe what you are saying,
or you can't believe that we actually
found out what you did to that boy?
- My son is not a rapist,
He always does right by everyone,
Why do you wanna turn this around?
- We're not turning anything around,
We're only telling you what the boy told us,
- And you choose to believe him over us because?
- What do you expect me to believe?
That the boy was lying that he was being raped by your son?
- Maybe!
Instead of trying to make a villain out of this,
I mean look at him, does he look like a rapist to you?
- I don't know how rapists look like,
- Look at him,
He's a good boy,
He respects everyone,
Does right by everyone as well,
He's someone's son,
- Mom, I'm sure there's a mix-up somewhere,
Tolu would never say anything like that,
- Now why is that?
Because you threatened him to silence?
- Oh my god, Mr, Principal, can you even stop?
Is this even ethical?
- I'm only doing my job,
- Your job is to lead and not choose favorites,
- It is not about favorites,
This is about justice,
- I want to speak to Miss Wilson,
I need to speak to Miss Wilson,
- Come right away,
- Sir, I am not a rapist,
- My son didn't rape anybody,
- That's why we're investigating,
- Good, madame, it is good that you're here,
Please, can you tell him what you told us the first day?
- Tell her what you saw,
- I saw the two boys in an empty classroom,
- [Ayome] Doing what?
- It looked like they were having sex,
but there might have been a bit of aggression,
I was too shocked,
I run away before I could get a clear picture,
- Aggression?
What aggression?
It's not true, Miss Wilson is lying,
- Watch your mouth!
- But Miss Wilson, that's not what you said the other day,
- That is what I said, and that
is what I'm still saying now,
- You guys think you can do this and get away with it,
- Do what, Mrs, Egwuonwu?
Do what?
- How much did they pay you?
- That is it,
You have crossed your limit,
I want the security to come in right now
and throw these intruders out of my office,
Now!
- What?
- But sir, Miss Wilson, it's not true--
- Hey you, you better be careful,
Because apart from being expelled from
this school, you might end up in
jail if we take this out of here,
- Over my dead body, Mr, Principal,
Over my dead body!
Chidi, let's go,
[dramatic atmosphere music]
- You're welcome, Tolu,
Please, have a seat,
My name is Adrian Mokalu,
I'll be having this session with you,
Why don't we start with you telling me why you're here,
- Because my mother asked me to,
- I know, but why are you here?
Are you all right?
- Yes,
- Why don't you tell me what you're comfortable telling me?
- I just,,,
It's hard,
I feel like I have to relive this over and over again,
- I understand,
You still need to deal with the shock and the trauma,
And that takes a while,
But I think you're doing a good job so far,
- I don't know how to do this,
- Nobody does, Tolu,
You know what?
You don't have to say anything right now,
We can always do this at your own pace,
Is that okay?
[gentle atmosphere music]
- I can't believe what is happening,
- You have to do something, mom,
- There's nothing I can do,
I'm tired, I don't know what to do,
How did we even get here?
- I'm sorry, mom,
I'm so sorry, but I didn't do what they are saying,
I didn't do this, I did not rape Tolu,
[dramatic atmosphere music]
- Good morning, madame,
I'm Chidi Egwuonwu's mom,
We met at school the other day,
- Oh, I see,
I was on my way to work,
- Yeah, I won't take much of your time, I promise,
- And what do you want to talk about?
Your rapist son?
- Madame, my son is not a rapist,
I'm sure there's a misunderstanding somewhere,
I was hoping to talk to your son
so that we can clear this out,
- No, and you need to clear out
of here before I call the police,
- Madame, I just wanna talk to your son,
I mean you can sit in on the chats,
Honestly, I mean no harm,
[fake sobbing]
- Hello?
I need some officers here right now,
I am being harassed by the mother of my son's rapist,
[fake sobbing]
Tolu, you're back!
- Yes mom,
- Oh come on, sit down,
So how is that [mumbles] daughter,
the one you used to study with?
- Chiamaca,
- [Nike] Yes,
- She's fine I guess,
- She needs to be more than fine,
You need her now,
- What's she got to do with anything?
- Tolu, you're not gay,
I know it, in my heart I know that you are not gay,
Sometimes things happen, but they
don't always stay that way,
- I don't understand, mom,
- Tolu, I'm saying you need a girlfriend,
And this Chiamaca, well she likes you,
- We're just friends,
- Even better,
You know, the best of friends
usually make the best of lovers,
- I don't even think she likes me like that,
- Then we can make her like you like that,
Tolu, this makes your story more credible so
that we can finally put all of this behind us,
- Mom, I think this is a bad idea,
- You have a better idea?
Huh?
Because the way I see it, I'm here trying
to stop you from crashing and
burning and you don't even know it!
- Mom, I know you're trying but--
- How hard can this be, Tolu?
You are smart, you're handsome, you're charming,
I bet she would jump at it,
- Mom, I need to get back to--
- Oh you are such an idiot!
You're going to get yourself
expelled and that means no Yale!
And your father, oh you think he's mean to you now?
Wait until that happens,
This society Tolu, they do not forgive boys like you!
Okay,
Tolu, look at me,
Baby, remember what's at stake, hmm?
This is the fight of your life,
And no one is going to fight it for you,
Okay?
- Hi,
- Hey,
- You look nice, by the way,
- Thank you,
How are you?
- I'm okay, just been trying to study,
- That's not what I meant,
How are you doing?
- I'm getting by,
- You're really strong,
I can't even imagine what you're going through,
- It's okay,
- No it's not, you're brave,
- Thanks, Chi,
- And I'm really proud to be your friend,
You inspire lots of people, myself included,
♪ Boisterous and let the boy stress ♪
♪ I'm love stricken like an adolescent ♪
♪ Got invested, but I need to find out ♪
♪ My progression and the right direction ♪
♪ You know there's no denying the fact ♪
♪ That you're highly contagious ♪
♪ Your smile is like crack and you're body's amazing ♪
♪ God is the greatest
♪ Look at you and wonder how did He make it ♪
♪ Probably with a lot of pieces ♪
♪ But your main problem is patience ♪
♪ Please don't honor the matrix ♪
♪ Believe we were called for greatness ♪
♪ That's why I don't dwell on the past ♪
- The parental sex organs which
produce sex cells, or gametes,
The male gamete is the sperm while
the female gamete is the egg,
So for next week revision, we'll examine
in further details the sex cells,
Read up on this again before then,
Good evening, class,
- [Students] Good evening, [mumbles],
- Is it true what happened to Tolu?
- You thought I was lying,
I heard he was admitted in the
hospital, fighting for his life,
- Oh my god,
- I knew that Chidi was a faggot,
The way he moves makes me uncomfortable all the time,
If I catch that boy,,,
- And the teachers are covering up for it,
Before you know it, Chidi's back like nothing happened,
- That would never happen though,
Never happen,
- We must do something about it,
- I think we should teach him a lesson,
We don't need fags around us,
- And a rapist,
- Well [mumbles] agree,
I'm in,
- I think I have an idea,
[dramatic piano music]
- Hi, Cornell,
- Nkem?
- I was hoping we could talk,
- How did you find me?
- I asked your friends,
- Okay, make it quick,
- It's about our son,
- Look,,,
Look, I am a happily married man,
I do not want you to come here with
your problems, you'll ruin the
good thing that I have already,
- [Wife] Honey!
Are you okay?
- Yes I am, it's the neighbors, they're saying hi!
- [Wife] Okay, I'm waiting!
- Okay,
- This won't take a lot of your time,
- It's already counting,
You don't have too much of it,
- He was caught with his best friend,
They were misbehaving and now they're going to expel him,
- Misbehaving?
Misbehaving how?
- I still don't understand it,
They,,,
- Keep talk!
- They said they had sex,
I don't understand it,
- What, the boy is gay?
- I'm sure it's not that simple,
- Are you even listening to yourself?
- Cornell, I don't know what to do,
I need your help,
Perhaps this is something a father can fix?
- Father,
Okay,
I'm going to try my best to make this
as short and as simple as possible,
and I pray to God almighty that
you leave and never ever return,
We had an agreement that I didn't want
to have anything to do with you or the boy,
He's yours, all yours,
Once I even feared that the boy
might become a president, or even
the scientist who found the cure to cancer,
and I'll be the deadbeat dad that
lost out on a promising child,
But alas, I Cornell, I was right,
That boy is not my son,
- He's your son Cornell, and you know that,
- Nkem, with the same profound shame with
which you walked up the stairs and knocked
on my door, I beg you, leave my
house before you upset my wife,
- Cornell, he's your son,
- Nkem, leave my house,
Now,
- He's your son,
[dramatic atmosphere music]
- I don't think it even bothers you that your son is gay,
You act like it's no big deal,
- How can you even say that?
Do you know how hard it is for me to wake up
every day knowing that he's doing that?
- Then act like it,
'Cause quite frankly, all I see you do is
being more worried about your goddamn reputation,
You are more worried about the damage that
this will cost to your image than
the fact that your son is sick!
- Our son, Femi!
Our son!
And don't you dare tell me about caring about my reputation,
What about you huh, Mr, Macho?
Isn't that what this is about?
Isn't this all about your man card?
- [Femi] Well you can say all it is
you want to say, that's your business,
All I know is that I, Femi Bajulaye, I did not raise no--
- Yeah, well neither did I!
I'm here trying, trying to make this all go away!
The least you can do is support me,
Not laying blames!
- I don't want any part of this, all right?
And please do not bring Veronica into it,
I don't want her embroiled in any of this,
- Veronica deserves to know what
is going on with her brother,
- She deserves to serve her nation without
a fiasco of a family disaster distracting her,
She's all I have,
- Femi, Tolu is your son,
- Is he?
Because we don't have any trace of gay in my family,
So I wonder where he got that from,
- Go ahead, Femi,
Go on, say it,
It's all Nike's fault isn't it?
- Well I didn't say so, you did,
- Do you know what you are, huh Femi?
Do you know what you are?
You're a coward,
Yes!
At least I am owning up to my failure as a parent,
You should try it sometime, Femi,
Instead of in there [mumbles] like a little sissy,
And you wonder where he got it from huh?
- Mom?
Mom, are you okay?
- My dear, I'm fine,
What are you up to?
I just wanted to check up on you,
- Just took a shower,
About to go to bed,
- Well come, let's pray then,
- Okay,
- Dear Lord,
When our hearts are heavy, and we
lack the words, we come to You,
Father Lord, right the wrong in Your son,
Deliver him, deliver us from evil spirits,
Give us peace, dear Lord, and send us help when we need it,
Amen,
- Amen,
[dramatic orchestra music]
Night, mom,
[humming]
[phone rings]
- Hello?
- [Ayome] Good morning, Mrs, Bajulaye,
- Good morning, Mr, Ayome,
- The school has finally come to
a conclusion with the investigation,
- [Nike] Okay,
- Your boy can come back to school now,
- And what about the other child?
- We will be expelling him, and that
we'll also [mumbles] that this school
is no place to practice such evil act,
I would apologize again for what trauma
this situation has brought you and your family,
- Thank you,
Thank you so much, Mr, Ayome,
- Oh this is ridiculous!
Two kids were involved in this!
How do you punish one and alienate the other?
- The school board made a decision,
It was a collective one after a thorough assessment,
- What exactly did you assess?
You just heard from one person and based a conclusion,
- I don't know if you know,
We do take rape allegations seriously here,
- I'm sure you do,
You just said it yourself, allegations,
Where is the proof?
- That boy is in shambles,
He will never recover from what your son did to him,
- My son did with him nothing he didn't want,
- That's our final decision,
- No,
This is not going to happen,
I will sue you, I'll sue every member of
this institution, and it will not be pretty,
How's that for your image?
- I think you should be more worried about what
a tough life your son is going to go through,
This society doesn't treat rapists kindly,
- My son is not a rapist!
Is there anybody else here I can speak to
who hasn't yet sold his soul to the devil?
Do you have superiors?
- I think you're very lucky that
the family is not pressing charges,
If it were me, you would never be this lucky,
- Are you even listening to yourself?
My son is innocent,
- And how do you know?
Because he told you that?
- Because he's my son!
Because I know him,
- So you knew he was gay too,
[dramatic orchestra music]
- We can sue them and we'll win,
I know of a lawyer we can afford,
Then we'll leak the story to the press,
They can't get away with it,
- I don't think that's a good idea,
- Why?
Don't you want justice?
Or are you just gonna let them get away with it?
- Can't you see what we are up against?
It's my word against theirs,
Plus the [mumbles],
- Don't give up!
We can win this!
- I just want my life back, mom,
I just want to put all this behind me,
- Look, we will get your life back,
but we have to fight for it,
- Mom, you are not listening,
You're not listening!
- You don't have to back down every time someone pushes you,
Sometimes you have to fight back!
- And sometimes you have to pick your battles,
If you sue the school, more people will
hear about this and my life would
get harder than it already is,
- So what are you saying to me?
We should just sit back and do nothing?
- Yes,
- [scoffs] Yeah,
[dramatic atmosphere music]
[phone rings]
Hello Vivian,
- Hi sis, how are you?
- Not good, my sister, not good at all,
- Talk to me,
- I need you to do a story,
My son is being punished for having
consensual sex with his mate,
Somehow they've spun the story around
and they're calling it a rape case,
And it is not,
So someone has to call out this
school because they are way out of line,
- Wow, that's sad,
How is Chidi?
Can I talk to him?
- He's not interested in doing this,
Honestly, the truth is if he knew
I was doing this he wouldn't let me,
- But we need his testimony, his word,
He is the only one that can give a different
account from what his colleague's having us believe,
- I know, but I'm sure you can do a story somehow,
At least something to give consciousness to this injustice,
- Yes I can do a story, but without
your son's testimony the reader can
spin the story however they want,
And naturally they would go for what
the school is saying because they
have nothing to compare it to,
Yes, I know you want to get to the bottom
of this, but we need to do it the right way,
Writing the story as it is may even
be more dangerous to your son,
I'm sorry,
[dramatic piano music]
[phone rings]
- Hello?
Oh yes, let her in,
- Good morning, Mrs, Bajulaye,
- Vivian!
Oh hi Vivian, good morning, please please please sit,
- Thank you,
- Vivian, thanks for coming,
Can I get you something?
Tea, coffee?
- Oh no, thank you, I'm fine,
So I'm not sure, I was wondering why you called for me,
- I'm aware that you're investigating a
sexual assault story at Prominence High School,
- Wow,
You do have your ears to the ground,
- It's a small town, Vivian,
What do you know?
- So do you have something to tell me?
- Vivian, you've known me for how long now?
- 10 years,
- You, my dear, you have attended all my functions,
From the awards to the scholarships,
You covered for me,
You see the good I've been trying to do with the community,
With all these kids,
- You're doing an amazing job,
And I always told you that these kids, you have no
idea how much they will thank you in the future,
Are you okay?
- Vivian,
My son was raped,
Vivian, you,,,
You know Tolu,
He's a good boy,
Naive, ever-trusting,
- Oh my god,
I'm so sorry,
- That boy, Chidi Egwuonwu, he did it,
And now they're trying to cover it up,
They are more concerned with the image of the
school than what that bastard did to my boy!
As a parent,,,
[sobs]
As parents we try to give the very best to our children,
You know, teach them what they need
to know to excel in the future,
But when things like this happen, what do you do?
There is no manual in dealing with things like this,
- What do you want me to do?
- You are a truth-teller, just do your job,
- Yes, but I would need extra sources to be
able to publish this with conviction in my heart,
- I do understand, Vivian,
This is why you're so good at what
you do, I admire your work ethic,
- Thank you,
- I can get you two students and a teacher,
They will back up the story, I mean
the entire school knows anyway,
Please,
I beg you, Vivian,
Do not allow them to sweep this under the rug,
- Oh no, that won't happen, not when I'm here,
I'm so sorry,
- Thank you,
- I'm so sorry, I had no idea,
- Thank you Vivian, thank you,
- So sorry,
I will make this go away first,
[ominous atmosphere music]
- Is this true?
- Evening, sir,
[dramatic atmosphere music]
I can't believe she did this,
I mean how could she write this story?
- She's a journalist just like the rest of them,
- My god,
They even put your name and your picture
and just used an alias for the other boy,
I mean who does that?
- We have to move out of here,
We have to leave this town,
- To where?
- I don't know,
But this [mumbles] today, this could get even worse,
- So we just up and go?
Where do we go?
My dear, these things need planning,
- We can always figure that out, but we just have to leave,
We have to leave this town, mommy,
- It's not that easy, Chidi,
It's not that easy,
- Why not?
- Because we have to figure out
where the hell we are moving to,
Do you think I don't feel like telling
you we should get up and go this minute?
Do you think I actually enjoy
the evil stares and the gossip?
- I didn't mean it that way,
- Look, I have to strategize,
Ever since this thing happened, I've been
trying to do everything, nothing is working,
No matter what I do, no matter how hard I try,
nothing is working Chidi, nothing is working,
- I'm sorry, mom,
I'm sorry,
- How did we get here?
- I'm so sorry,
[sobbing]
- Baby, I'm sorry,
I'm sorry, I'm sorry about all those
things that I said, I didn't mean them,
Say something, I don't know what
you're thinking when you go silent,
- Nike, I didn't prepare for this,
- Neither did I,
We were good, we were smooth sailing,
What happened to us?
I'm sorry,
- You won't do it again?
- No,
No,
- You okay?
[dramatic piano music]
[muttering prayer]
- Morning, sir,
- Good morning, Nkem,
I checked for you about 15 minutes ago and you weren't here,
- Sorry sir, I just had a few delays,
I've been going through a very rough time,
- I know,
We all heard,
- You did?
- Yes, of course,
Unfortunately that puts us in an uncomfortable situation,
- What do you mean?
- We're letting you go, Mrs, Egwuonwu,
- No, you can't do that,
- I'm sorry,
- Sir, my son is innocent,
- Well maybe he is, but that's not something
we would like to involve ourselves with,
- I've been a good employee, the kids love me,
You can't just let me go because of this,
- Nkem, I got a few complaint from the
kids' parents and apparently they don't
think you're a good influence to have around,
Not around their children,
- Good influence?
You are joking,
- I'm sorry,
[dramatic atmosphere music]
- Chidi, hello, where are you?
Start coming back, start coming back, start coming back,
Just be coming, come home straight,
When you come I'll explain to you, come home,
[mumbles] yes,
- [School Boy] Faggot!
[ominous atmosphere music]
- Rapist,
We should cut your dick right here, right now,
- Yes,
[rap music]
[pained groaning]
- [Chidi] Please, please!
[dramatic atmosphere music]
[gasps]
- Sorry, sorry, sorry,
Sorry,
Honestly, I don't know what gave them the right to do this,
I don't understand,
- [Chidi] I thought I was going to die,
- Over my dead body will that happen,
- [Chidi] I'm sorry, mom,
- I just wish,,,
I just wish,,,
I just wish you tried harder to fight this,
- You think I didn't?
You think I chose this?
- I'm trying so hard to understand, but I can't,
- So many times I pray to God
to make me be like other boys,
So many nights I slept hoping to wake up changed,
- And then you gave in?
- No,
I just accepted it,
No matter how much I try to wash
it off, it just never goes away,
Maybe this is who I am,
- Then you should have told me,
I mean I don't know how I would have reacted
or behaved, but you could have told me,
Somehow we would have done something,
prayed, fasted, even fought it,
Before coming down to this,
You should have told me then,
Sorry,
[dramatic piano music]
- Okay class, who can tell us the square root of 36?
- I!
I!
- Chidi?
Can you tell the class?
[laughter]
[laughs]
See who wants to play?
Look at him,
[laughter]
[pained groaning]
- [Chidi] Please, please!
[heart beating]
[dramatic atmosphere music]
- [Nike Voiceover] This society Tolu,
they do not forgive boys like you!
- [Femi Voiceover] Is it true?
Tolu, is it true?
- [Nike Voiceover] Honey, no!
Honey!
Honey calm down!
- [Femi Voiceover] How could you
bring shame onto this family?
- [Nike] How hard can this be Tolu?
[doorbell rings]
- Hi,
I didn't see you in school today,
- Are your parents at work?
- I'm home alone,
- Can I come in?
I'm ready to do it this time,
Let's do it,
- No,
I don't think that's a good idea,
- Why?
- What happened to you?
- Nothing, I'm okay,
- No you're not,
Why are you doing this?
You don't have to prove anything to yourself,
- You don't believe me,
- No no, please, just stop,
Please stop,
- I thought you wanted this,
- I don't know what I was thinking,
I thought there was something there,
- But there is,
- Go home, you look a mess,
- Please, Chiamaca, I need you,
Please,
- What you want is to convince yourself that you like me,
And then what next?
You're going to suddenly stop liking boys?
I know,
I'm not as stupid as I look,
Please leave my house,
My parents don't need to see you here,
- Mr, Man, will you come back here,
You just walk past me like I'm not even here, Tolu?
What has come over you?
- Nothing,
- How was school today?
- School was fine,
- Son, are you okay?
- I'm fine mom,
- When last did you see your therapist?
Answer me,
- I stopped going there,
- You stopped?
Why?
- Look mom, I tried,
I can't keep going there pretending I'm a victim,
Do you know the torture I feel
every time I have to do that?
- I know baby, but you need help
in getting through all of this,
After what we have been through,
you need to talk to someone,
- I'm fine mom, I don't need a shrink,
- Let someone help you, Tolu,
You can't do this all by yourself,
- I'm fine!
What part of that don't you understand?
- Don't you dare talk to me like that!
- [Adrian] Whenever you're ready,
- Something is wrong,
With me,
[ominous atmosphere music]
- Tell me about it,
- I can't sleep at night,
I get these weird, painful moments sometimes,
It starts with a shortness of breath,
and then I feel numbness in my arms and hands,
Some dizziness,
Then I just feel like I'm going to lose control of myself,
- What do you think makes you feel this way?
- I don't know,
- Have you noticed any pattern in your
thinking right before the panic attack sets in?
- I don't know, it just happens,
I can't control these moments when they come,
- It's all right,
Acknowledging them and wanting to get
rid of them, that's a very good place to start,
- Please help me,
Please,
I don't want to feel this way anymore, please,
- Tolu, Tolu, Tolu, calm down,
- I don't feel normal,
- Calm down,
Take a long deep breath,
Okay?
Everything is going to be fine,
Now release it, let it out,
Release yourself, come on,
That's it, that's it,
That's it,
There you go,
It's okay,
[serene atmosphere music]
[rap music]
- Are you okay?
Okay, I'm sorry,
- No, it's okay,
I'm okay,
- I've been watching you, you're not okay,
- What do you mean?
I just don't think I'm ready for these exams,
- [mumbles], you are not fooling anybody,
I know what you did,
- I have no idea what you're talking about,
- You know more or less what they're doing to Chidi,
At our school, as long as you guys [mumbles],
I had no idea that you could get down this way,
- What do you mean?
- I know you made it up,
[dramatic sting]
You can't even recognize yourself,
- Step out of my way,
[soft R&B music]
♪ I don't know the words that I should give to you ♪
♪ This is all I have, hoping it will have to do ♪
♪ 'Till I can give you all
♪ It is you, it is you I adore
♪ Maybe then we could go on private trips ♪
♪ Private thrills, go on us a [mumbles] and hold our pills ♪
♪ Shopping sprees, real expensive jewelry ♪
♪ Pair the dots for you and me
♪ Think our problems through
♪ Be there, I will, I won't delay ♪
- Faggot, [mumbles],
- You rapist,
[rap music]
- Yeah, run like a girl, you sissy!
Look at him run like a chicken,
[laughter]
- I thought we discussed this,
Why the sudden hurry?
- Tomorrow, we have to move tomorrow,
Tomorrow, mom,
- I said we will,
Grandma says we can live with her,
but I need to find a job first in her
area so that we will not be a burden to her,
- Okay, can we go there first,
then look for the job [mumbles]?
- Chidi, I said we will,
Can't you just trust me?
- I'm sorry, mom,
I'm sorry for making everyone's life miserable,
Yours and maybe grandma's too,
- You're not making grandma's life miserable,
- I just can't do that to her,
I promise all this will end,
You won't have to suffer because of me,
I'm so sorry, mom,
I love you,
- It's okay darling, it'll be okay,
- I love you mom,
- We'll be just fine, it's okay, it's okay,
It's okay,
[ominous atmosphere music]
[gasps]
[knocking]
- [Nike] Baby are you okay?
- Yes,
I'm fine,
- Will you open the door?
You didn't come down for dinner yesterday,
- I didn't have an appetite,
- Will you at least have some juice or something?
- I'm okay,
- I insist, Tolu,
- I don't want anything!
I'm sorry,
- Tolu, let me help you,
- How do you do it, mom?
- How do I do what?
- Act like everything is fine,
After all we've done,
- We did what we had to do, Tolu,
We're not bad people,
- Is that what you tell yourself?
- How dare you,
After all I've done for you?
I am the reason you're able to hold onto any sanity at all,
You think you can handle what would
have happened if you got expelled?
Yet you're here, having the audacity to question me,
You should have thought about all that before
getting caught pants down with another boy,
- And that's all you care about,
Me getting caught,
Do you even care about me?
- Of course I care about you, you're my son!
At this point what can a mother do?
God knows I tried,
I tried to stop all this,
When I noticed the horrible signs,
as early as when you were eight years old,
But,,,
But sometimes,,,
A mother just accepts what she cannot change,
[ominous atmosphere music]
- He's still not back home,
The last time I saw him was three
nights ago when I tucked him into bed,
The next morning he wasn't in the bed,
The last three days,
Yes, I've already told the police,
they said they'd get back to me,
Please, will you let me know if you hear anything?
I beg,
Thank you,
[dramatic sting]
- [Chidi Voiceover] I just couldn't put my
dear grandma in this precarious situation,
Put her through the shame and ridicule my
mom was already suffering, all because of me,
Seeing as this is who I know to be,
seeing as I can't be anyone else as
much as I tried, and prayed, and fasted,
Best to end this miserable existence
of mine and not put my loved ones
through more pain and embarrassment and danger,
This place does not accept people like us,
That's why we lie, and we will
lie, but we still are victims,
- No!
Chidi, no!
No, you can't leave me, Chidi!
Chidi!
Chidi, no, my god!
[sobbing]
[harmonious choir music]
- I'm sorry class, but I have bad news,
We just lost one of our former students,
Chidi Egwuonwu,
Whatever you think about him, now is
the time to put all that aside,
And put him in your prayers,
- No!
No!
- Very proud of you, hun,
- Thank you,
You see, there's nothing we cannot
achieve once we stick together,
- My managing director,
[laughter]
That sounds good,
- It doesn't sound bad at all,
- You know what we're going to do?
You, me, Tolu and Veronica,
We're going to go somewhere,
I don't know where, but anywhere,
We're gonna put this whole thing behind us, and then
we're gonna come back as one big happy family,
- Oh yes, I would love that,
- I know,
There's something I don't say to you often,
I'd like to say it now,
I wanna tell you thank you very much
for everything that you have done,
- Damn!
You!
- Hey!
Calm down!
- You sit here, sipping on wine,
and the poor boy you framed is dead,
Chidi is dead!
You pushed him to suicide,
- Calm down, Tolu,
- No!
She's evil!
What did you make me do?
- I saved your life!
- Hey!
Calm down, Tolu!
If you don't, I'll make you!
- You do it,
If you have anything left of your soul,
- What is wrong with you?
What is wrong with you?
I am still your father!
All right?
And I won't have you walking in
here or run in here like an idiot!
Come on!
So the young man is dead,
Sorry about that,
But your mother and I had nothing to do with it, okay?
And if that's what you think,
then you're more stupid than I thought!
[screams]
- Don't go, Tolu,
- It's all right,
[sobbing]
He'll come around,
- Mommy help me!
[ominous atmosphere music]
- I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming!
I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry,
I'm so sorry, I could have done more,
I could have prayed more,
[sobbing]
I could have saved you,
I could have stayed with your father, anything,
- I wouldn't be too worried if I were you,
I mean teenagers do this all the time,
We've seen such cases of parents panicking,
Your son will return if he's tired,
Anyway, we will address you during our findings,
- I can come here tomorrow from work,
just to know if you have found him,
- Madame, don't worry yourself,
We'll get back to you as soon as we have any updates,
Have a nice day,
- Thank you very much, officers, thank you,
[mumbles] okay?
- Femi, what do we do now?
- Wait,
I mean he's gonna come home anyway,
as soon as our son is exhausted,
- It has been two weeks, Femi!
No one knows his whereabouts,
Even the police have nothing to offer us,
Maybe something bad has happened to Tolu,
- Nothing bad has happened to him,
and nothing bad is gonna happen to him,
Just relax,
That young man is 18 years old for crying out loud okay?
Let's give him a couple of days,
Like the police said, they're gonna try and broaden
their horizon for the search, so don't worry,
- So we just wait and do nothing?
- We wait,
Let the police do their work all right?
And then try and calm down,
Relax your mind, all right?
Let's go home, I'm hungry,
Come on, let's go,
[dramatic atmosphere music]
Let's go home,
[phone rings]
- Good afternoon, madame,
- Good afternoon,
Madame, we can't find him,
- Rest assured, we're doing our
best to make sure we find him,
[music swells]
- Tulu, where are you?
Where are you?
I'm sorry,
I'm so sorry,
[dramatic atmosphere music]
[slurred singing]
Honey, where have you been?
- Someone been looking for me?
- Have you been drinking?
- I'm a grown man,
- Are you sure you don't need me to help you upstairs?
- And then do what?
Take off my clothes?
Lay me in bed?
Sing me sweet lullabies, and then
bring my wife back from the zombie
"I have lost my son, I'm a miserable woman"-land?
Look around you,
Look at the house,
Every night I come home,
The house feels empty,
Dreary,
It's like someone swapped the house and put us in there,
- You can just go to bed, go on,
- Look at you,
Look at you,
What happened to my beautiful wife, hmm?
What happened to my wonderful Nike?
You are a mess and you don't even know--
- Stop it!
Stop!
I am trying to hold it together just so I don't lose it,
My son has been missing for three months,
So don't you dare take me on that guilt trip,
- [mumbles] mother,
[sobbing]
[serene atmosphere music]
[doorbell rings]
- Good morning, Mrs, Bajulaye,
- Good morning, Vivian,
Vivian, I,,,
I invited you here today, not as
a journalist, but as my friend,
- Okay,
Is something wrong?
- Everything is wrong,
- How do you mean?
- I did a bad thing,
I did a terrible thing,
- Okay,
Do you wanna talk about it?
- Vivian, I'm not a bad person,
Please don't judge me,
- No, I won't,
- I just wanted to protect my son,
Protect my image,
I'm so sorry,
- So the,,,
The rape?
- There was no rape,
No rape,
Every day I just wish, I wish I could have,,,
I wish I could have done things different,
I wish I could wish it all away,
Go back in time and do things
differently, completely differently,
I hope I can somehow forgive myself,
Because my family, my family is everything to me,
But I give them nothing,
I hope that the darkness does not consume me,
The darkness of the people whose lives I have destroyed,
[sobbing]
[dramatic atmosphere music]
[dramatic acoustic guitar music]