- So Arabella, how are you doing? - I'm okay. I'll be fine.
Why don't you care about my book?
- 'Cause you don't. - Oh fuck off, mate.
Really?
Y'all.
Zain?!
It got uncomfortable so, I took it off.
Umm... Umm...
No need to go off. Come to bed.
- Hey babe! - Hey.
You alright?
Morning.
Hmm, no.
Yes.
For Yoga Challenge Day 29,
we explore the back bend.
Back bending is a heart opening...
...uplifting spiritual process
that takes you deep into your center.
- Hmm. - They open the body
to deep breathing,
but also place strong demands
upon the most vulnerable segment of the sp...
...spine.
We're going to start with some breaths.
So put your hands together,
and bring them to your heart center,
just start to try and clear...
You're turning into a computer.
Oh, like AI?
No, like...
an IBM.
- Where is your... - What?
Where's the little hole?
What?
Where are they feeding you the punch-cards?
"Yoga Challenge Day 29."
Now I can almost do a flat backbend.
Gulping down ones and zeroes,
going wherever they tell you to go.
- Where did you find this show? - Where?
On my phone.
So it just appeared on the screen?
Obviously not.
I was... I don't know, I was looking for something
- and it just came up. - Exactly.
One, zero.
You look good in my shirt.
Shower.
I'm about to be Ghana's finest.
Oh! Ghana, yes.
And we have a special guest
- in the building. - Give it to them.
Yas! Y'all heard it last week, but she's back again.
'Cause I'm not gonna sleep with Chris Brown.
Yeah, no, it's true...
Nothing wrong with eating chicken with your hands.
- That's a different ball... - That's the thing.
That's the... that's why not many people have it.
- Males so gross! - Yeah.
Then he secretly took off the condom.
Like, that's so messed up!
There are actual Reddit forums
where men share tips and tricks...
...and even phrases like he said to me,
"I thought you knew. You mean, you didn't feel it?"
I took it off, I thought you...
These are actually on the forum.
Wow.
I mean, it must have been sickening to realize
you'd been played like that...
How did he react?
Yo, shall we get a coffee?
What's the look on their faces?
Like, what is going through their head, do you think?
It ranges anywhere from a look of, I guess,
there's a little bit of shame,
because they don't expect to be called out.
And then some of them just laugh.
They think it's... They think it's funny.
And, I'm, like, "No, this isn't funny
and you can... you can go."
The usual? Deep treatment and rebraiding?
Mm...
What do you think?
- What do I think? - Mm-hmm.
Ooh.
I know what I think.
- Julian! - Hello. Hi.
Hello, how are you doing?
- Okay. You? - Yeah. Yeah, I'm going good.
I'm doing... Look.
Good news is I feel...
I will have something for you, soon.
Okay, well, look, don't worry about that
- because Susy Henny from Henny House, your publisher... - Oh.
...wants to meet you today.
- Yeah? - Can you get here for 2:30?
- What, 2:30? - Yeah.
- Sure. - That's in three hours, yeah?
- See... see ya then. Yes. - Three hours, yeah?
- Yes, I'll be on time. I prom... - Great.
Hello?
Arabella, we've got some results back
from the Sexual Assault Referral Unit.
Semen has been detected on the flannel
forensics collected the night Beth came to your agent's.
Can you remember?
- Yes. - So there is DNA.
What we usually do is put it into our DNA database
to see if we get any hits on anyone
that's been arrested before,
but as the sample's quite weak,
the only thing we can do is a direct comparison.
So if we have a potential suspect,
we can check their DNA against the sample
and that will give us results.
Mm-hmm.
So, we have a potential suspect.
Hmm?
There's no CCTV or witnesses,
but he's on remand for a similar offense.
An arrest has been made.
Hmm.
There's still a lot of work to do.
Yeah, yeah, but, uh, okay.
We've spoken to Simon...
All fine.
He's given us Derae's contact details,
and they've both been fully cooperative with us.
Now, what we need to do quite quickly
is eliminate the DNA of any consensual partners
- from the sample. - Mm-hmm.
I have a Biagio?
- Still in contact? - Yes, yeah.
Um, we talk every day.
Uh, yeah, we're still... we're still...
- So you need his DNA? - Yes.
There's a forensics team over there we can get connected with.
So if you leave us his contact number,
- we can get on with that. - Yeah.
He doesn't know.
- About the assault? - Still?
No, Terry, sparkling.
Is there a reason why you haven't told him?
He's an Italian drug lord.
I'm joking.
Joke?
I suggest you let him know prior to our call. Quickly.
I'll do it. Yup. I will do it.
Thank you.
Well, I'll let you digest all that.
Yeah.
Whoo.
- You all right? - Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
No, uh, yeah, it's amazing. It's am...
I'm just, like, "Wow, who are you guys?
Are you po-po? Or are you the Rape-busters?"
I like Rape-busters, you do too.
Well done on you for reporting it so quickly.
Oh, guys. It's my civic duty, yeah.
Felt like something wasn't right,
who I'm gonna call?
- Rape-busters. - Hey!
So many different types of sexual assault, you know?
Didn't even know you could get raped in the mouth before this.
You have no idea.
Yeah, secret condom removal?
- That's rape. - Hmm.
- Yeah. - Mm-hmm.
- It's very informative. - Yeah, the problem is,
when people don't know what is a crime,
and what isn't a crime, they don't report it.
And then people get away with it.
Thank you.
- Love your hair, by the way. - Yeah. Looks cool.
Thanks.
You okay, Britney?
Yeah.
- You sure? - Yeah.
How you feeling? That was a lot.
It was a lot, not bad for a Monday morning, mi' chaps.
Not bad at all, my chap.
Well, it's bad for him he got arrested.
Whilst being under arrest. - Hmm.
Well, while being arrested, he got arrested again.
That's gotta suck.
But then again, he likes things sucking.
- You're my G. - My G.
- Ooh, I gotta go. - Okay.
- Ooh! - Right. See ya later, babe.
Peace.
'Sup, Kwarms? No one in the area?
He's excited to see you, he's nervous.
Ah, he's fantastic, he shouldn't be.
He really cares.
I'm glad he's reading it himself,
they don't all go for that.
Is... How do you say her name?
- Arabella Essiedu. - Arabella. Is she able to stop by?
Yes, she confirmed. Um, but...
What happened? Why didn't she finish?
Well, I just... I think there was just an underestimation
in, um, quite how much work needed to be... to be done.
On her part or yours?
Mm-hmm. Thanks for sending over what she's done so far.
- No. - I found it rather readable
to the extent.
To the extent.
Oh.
- Hi. Oh, hello. - Your hair.
- Arabella! - Oh. Wow.
- Hi. - It's me, Susy Henny, hi!
You're Susy? Hi, Susy!
You're black!
- Hi! - It's great to meet you.
I've heard so much about you.
Well, if you're saying that to my face,
it means you've only heard the good stuff.
- Sit by me. - Okay.
- This is Sion. - Hi. Hi.
Wow.
- Love the hair by the way. - Oh, yeah, thank you.
It's great.
Now, hair and style aside.
We were hoping you would submit something for the summit.
I've been heartbroken, what happened?
Well, yeah... No, 'cause I... Did... did you tell her?
- Hey. - Oh, welcome, Zain.
Hi, oh, wow, really nice to see you, Susy.
Oh, yeah. Good work, Zain,
it's been a pleasure reading your work.
This is Sion, she works for the International Literary Summit.
Sion? Have we met?
I used to work at the British Library?
Oh, snap.
Um, and Arabella, wow! Hello!
- I didn't know you'd be here. - No, neither did I.
No, I was at the police station.
Oh, why?
Oh, yeah, I was just trying to say earlier.
Um, I was raped.
I... I... I reported it as soon as I found out,
and luckily, I remember his face,
even got traces of his DNA in my house
so the police have come to collect it.
Um, and yeah. I even know his name, so...
Hmm, Zain Sareen.
Thank you so much. You've been so helpful,
- Zain's been helping me finish my writing. - Oh.
Well, Arabella, you better get to work, Missy.
I wanna see that story. Hmm?
Ah! Yeah.
Yes.
Now, Arabella, we would love you to read a segment
of your current project at the writing summit tonight.
Uh...
What? Really?
Yeah.
Yes.
No need for nerves at all now, you have a little buddy.
Oh, um, can... can a... can a friend read it?
- Good friend? - Yeah.
Same education, thick and thin, friends forever?
- Y... Yeah. - And is she white?
- No, sh... she's... - Great!
This is mad!
Oh, you ain't told him!
- No. - Good.
I like it when we have secrets he doesn't know about,
'cause we're running out.
Hold on. Wait.
They're probably gonna film this, innit?
- Um, yeah. - Babe, my birth is your birth.
- My death is your death. - My death is your death, G.
This is really happening, you know?
And what am I gonna wear?
Oh, T, don't worry about that now.
All you have to do...
is breathe.
Assess the situation, assess the crowd,
look 'em in the eye,
gather that strength,
and when you do...
smile.
Yeah.
Smile sweetly always, and let it all...
flow.
Y'know?
What happened this morning?
- When? - I was in the shower
and you fell off the face of the earth?
My hair. Yeah, I had an appointment, I forgot.
Oh... You don't like it?
- I do, it's hot. - Cool.
- Why didn't you tell me? - I forgot I had the appointment.
- I didn't wanna be late. - No, no.
Um... about, uh, what you told Susy?
Susy's black first of all,
- which is like... - What?
Susy's black, that's like... wow!
- Big boss is black. - Yeah. She's cool.
She's not just cool, she's Obama.
Great about having your draft read,
she clearly believes in you.
It's mad, I ain't even near finishing it.
Why didn't you tell me about that?
Well, you knew I hadn't finished,
you were supposed to be helping me.
- No. No, about... - Remember?
What?
Oh, my raper?
I don't know. I guess...
I thought if we both knew you were a rapist,
- it might change us. - What?
- What did you say?
I thought if we both knew about the rapist, it might change us.
I can't tell you how helpful what we do is.
- Really? - Yeah.
Yeah, my therapist said it's really important to do things
like painting, yoga,
cuddling with people I trust...
self-care.
It hurts to know that you were...
- I'm sorry. - You've been really helpful.
Thank you.
May I help you?
Uh... Yeah, I wanted...
to report something.
I wanted to report a crime.
Okay. Yeah, just a moment.
I'll get someone to speak to you.
They're gonna listen to your book, huh?
Yeah, yeah. Well not now, but later.
Yeah, it's all a bit, fancy,
and there's, uh, waiters walking around
- with little bits and all that. - Mm-hmm.
If you're gonna read, make sure you don't take too much wine.
Yeah, I'm... I'm not reading, Terry's reading.
Ah! Okay. But still, be careful.
Uh...
I have to tell you something.
I went out one time,
and a stranger put something in my drink.
In your drink?
Um, yeah, like a drug to ma... to make me sleepy?
Shit. Bella, you gotta watch your drink in the club.
Excuse me?
You got to watch your drink, you can get hurt.
- You understand? - Gonna call you later.
Did you tell him?
I told him some.
- Some? - Yeah, like, 30 percent.
- What did you tell him? - I told him I was spiked.
Does he know you were raped?
No.
Does he know that he has to give his DNA?
- No. - Okay.
So, yes, that is, like, 30 percent.
- Hello. - Hi.
- How you doing? Petrified? - Ah.
I don't know what the fuck's going on, mate.
You must be Terry Pratchard?
- Yes. - I'm Sion, nice to meet you.
- I'm Susy's assistant. - Hi.
May I ask? Are there gonna be many more people here?
- Yeah, quite a few. - Ooh, good,
'cause I likes me an audience! Yas.
Ooh, I'll be back.
Would you like a drink? - Oh, yes.
- Bella? - Hmm?
Have you checked the weather?
Because it's glow season.
Got my notes, so, um, this was about three weeks ago, yeah?
Yeah.
Okay.
What was the name of the suspect?
I... I don't know.
Oh, you don't know?
Uh, we met on Grindr.
- So I have his address. - What was his name on that?
Uh, no... Uh, no one uses their real name.
You... you... you put in a username,
and you can change that whenever you want.
So, what was the fake name?
I... I think he's changed it, and he's blocked me anyway, so,
but I have his address.
See, 'cause I've got... I've got to put a name so... What was the name he used?
You... you never know, 'cause someone...
else might've reported the same name.
- So... - Um, hornyman808.
Hornyman... 808?
Um, I... I have his address...
So when you went to his address, you didn't say,
"Hello, my name is... whatever?" Nothing?
No, when you're listed as discreet,
you don't... you don't really do that.
"Listed as discreet," what's that?
Uh, discreet, secretive, private.
And the list is the thing that you scroll through your finger.
On the phone.
I know how to use a phone.
I mean, so what shall we call him?
How would you describe him? He's got to have a description.
We can't name him "black," because, I mean,
all these guys here are black.
I'm not sure what you want me to say.
No, it is probably a case for special unit.
So I'm gonna speak to a senior officer,
and get him to, um...
Just to clarify, did they, um, penetrate you or...
Because there's a big difference between sexual assault and rape.
- Yeah, yeah, I would imagine so. - So I'd have to clarify.
Um, my trousers came very low at one point,
so, uh, so he might've penetrated me
without putting it all the way in.
I'd have to check what that feels like.
- How would you... how would you do that? - Um, I'd... I'd...
I'd put my finger in my anus.
Right.
You know, there are other ways you could've reported this.
We got machines out there to make it easier for people...
...to report this kind of thing without having to...
So, I'm... I'm gonna...
- Do you want anything? Water or... - Uh, nothing.
No?
Susy, hi, sorry to interrupt, this is my mom.
- Are you two dating? - Hmm? Oh, no, no.
Just wondered if there was subtext.
Subtext? Yeah, yeah, I guess.
I... I thought you two might have...
Uh... subtext.
- Lovely guy though. - Oh, yeah, yeah.
It's impossible to protect yourself from his nature.
- I know quite a few women, who just... - Couldn't...
Good luck, I'll be rooting for you.
Will there be many more people here?
'Cause I'm already feeling a bit like...
Whoa, is stage fright a real thing?
'Cause this is all a bit mad right now.
No, it's not a real thing, is it? No, no, no, it's not.
- Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention? - Cool, cool.
- Please start making your way to the main hall. - What?
- Are you all right? - Yeah, I'm...
Just checking.
And when we read, habitually,
we learn to see between the lines.
We learn to search for the innermost layer
of a story, its symbols, its intentional parallels,
its true meaning.
We learn about characters,
and therefore, of humans,
as language evolves and communication develops,
it improves and corrupts.
The writer is left
in a position of great responsibility,
to ensure there is intention...
...in every word...
if they can manage it.
Thought you'd like that one.
This is my favorite part of the summit,
where our readers get to hear work in progress.
That guy's trash for that fam.
Allen Akanbi...
You ain't even tell me you was fucking again.
...who writes powerfully
- on life... - Bella, if I had stage fright,
do you think it'd hit now?
Or when I step on the stage itself?
Zain Sareen.
Winner of the Berkley First Book Award in 2017.
I wouldn't have that dick raw if it came on a sushi platter.
Fucking prick. Yo, I'm nervous as fuck.
And also, a little snippet of a work in progress
- from Arabella Essiedu. - Bells.
- Bella? I can't go on that stage. - Huh?
- What? - I can't... I can't do it. - Arabella's words
will be read by emerging black British actress,
- Terry Pratchard. - I can't do it, Bells.
- What? - Can't go on that stage.
I'd first like to say thanks...
to my agents,
to Susy Henny and Henny House.
I'm very happy to be there with you guys
among very talented writers.
Zain Sareen is a rapist.
He took a condom off
in the middle of having sex with me.
He placated my shock
and gaslighted me with such intention
that I didn't have a second to understand
the heinous crime that had occurred.
I believe he is a predator,
one woman has come forward and informed me
of the same experience, so I'm not the first.
And if I don't take this opportunity to say this now,
I certainly won't be the last.
He is a rapist, not rape-adjacent,
or a bit rapey, he's a rapist under UK law.
If you're in the States, he's rape-adjacent.
If you're in Australia, he's a bit rapey.
Oh, no, you don't.
Nah, you're gonna feel it.
You're gonna feel it.
Sorry about the wait.
Um, so, I've spoken to a senior officer
and, um, there's no point in us doing a DNA sample.
You'd just had, um, consensual sex with him,
so it wouldn't really prove anything other than that.
But what's gonna happen is we're gonna get the Special Unit
- to give you a call, and they... - Am I... am I free to go?
Well, I can't keep you here, but if you wanna go, you can.
Just... a second. I'm just gonna...
- Oh, no, it's fine. No worries. - No, no, no. I've got to...
I've got to get someone to show you out.
...to understand the heinous crime that had occurred.
Insane.
You've literally broken the internet.
I am dead. Bella.
I am a GIF, Bella.
I'm a GIF!
- Yeah, Terry, I saw it. I died. - Into a dance!
Twitter is going to kill me tonight.
Dying.
They've made a meme of him running away.
- Where's that? I haven't seen that. - I just DM'd it.
Sion, I just saw it. I'm dead.
Ah, you lit it the fuck up.
A journalist has just posted an article about it.
Where'd you find the article?
Must've been looking for something and it came up.
# Right flow in the world I chose #
# Trick to space with my folks, I just mind, oh #
# In and out... #
I care. I care about you, okay?
But you can't walk around taking drinks from strangers...
You didn't have a problem when I took a drink from you
- and you're a drug dealer. So, what? - You're fucking up my life!
Don't accept drinks from anybody
apart from drug dealers? That's smart.
Why are you talking about me? Why are you talking about me?
You're the one that just said I was fucking up your life.
Yes, Bella, because I have to go to the station and do this shit.
- And I can't... - I've already told you
- I'm sorry. - I can't deal with this shit.
Yeah, well how the fuck do you think I feel with you
telling me I've done something wrong,
telling me there's something wrong with me,
- telling me what? - Bella,
- If you'd watched your drink... - If I... what...
If you'd watched your drink, you wouldn't have been raped.
I don't wanna talk to you again.
# Pink like the inside of your #
# Baby #
# Pink behind all of the doors #
# Crazy #
# Pink like the tongue That goes down #
# Maybe #
# Pink like the paradise found #
# Pink when you're blushing Inside #
# Baby #
# Pink is the truth You can't hide #
# Maybe #
# Pink like the folds Of your brain #
# Crazy #
# Pink as we all go insane #
# So, here we are in the car #
# Leaving traces of us Down the boulevard #
# I wanna fall Through the stars #
# Getting lost in the dark Is my favorite part #
# Let's count the ways we could Make this last forever #
# Sunny, money, keep it funky #
# Touch your top And let it down #
# Ah, yeah #
# Somethin' like that #
# Ah, ah #
# Somethin' like that #
# Ah, yeah Somethin' like that #
# 'Cause boy, it's cool If you got blue #
# We got the pink #
- We're here for Arabella. - She seems fine to me.
She's vacant, she's empty.
You know how when your laptop shuts down
to like basic function and mode?
So you need to borrow my laptop?
What are you doing?
Survivors support group thing. It's Theo's group.
Theodora from school?
You're wild, man, I love it.
- Miss! - Yes, Terry?
Theo, what's happened?
My name is Theo Daniels,
I made this support group
because I hate abusers. I know that I sound
like a real icy bitch, but I'm lovely, I promise.