This is mad, fam.
-And this is all... -Expenses.
Ooh.
I'm gonna need to fuck someone in this bed.
♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS) ♪
(CHUCKLES)
(SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
The best place to go is the basketball court.
♪ (MUSIC INTENSIFIES) ♪
(LAUGHS)
I'll be back.
In Italy, it's rude to interrupt a dance.
-(CHUCKLES) -I'm leaving!
-Where do you live here? -I don't know.
TERRY: Hi, I'm busy--
(LAUGHING)
♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
So, I have your name. "Arabella Essiedu."
Next to that, "Stranger one, seven weeks ago, DFSA,"
which stands for Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault.
So, anything else I come to know will be what you share with me
and is confidential.
Okay.
-Has it started? -The session?
-Mm-hmm. -CARRIE: Yeah.
(SOFTLY) Okay.
♪ ("THESE ARE THE DAYS" BY GUVNA B PLAYING) ♪
(PHONE DINGS)
♪ Head to the sky at least ♪
♪ Gotta give thanks way Too much peace ♪
♪ When I two step to the beat That feels sweet... ♪
(PHONE VIBRATES, DINGS)
♪ Back then things got messy ♪
♪ Way too stressy Now good vibes at the ready... ♪
(PHONE DINGS)
♪ Tell a man grab A little bevvy'... ♪
(PHONE DINGS)
♪ -They ain't taking any -These are the days ♪
♪ We prayed for ♪
♪ The sun still shines on me ♪
♪ (MUSIC STOPS) ♪
-How long does this...? -One hour.
'Kay.
-CARRIE: It's tough. -Yeah.
How are you doing?
I'm great. Great. I'm great as long as I'm around people.
Um, when I'm alone...
Flashbacks?
It's just sometimes it gets a bit much.
CARRIE: Hmm.
What do you do when it gets a bit much?
I just-- I just make sure I'm around someone, anyone.
Um, and if I'm not, I say...
"There are hungry children. There are hungry children.
There's a war in Syria. There's a war in Syria.
There's a war in Syria,"
or, "Not everyone has a smartphone.
Not everyone has a smartphone. Not everyone has a smartphone."
To remind myself of the bigger picture.
Sometimes, when we try our best to see the big picture,
we lose sight of the little one altogether.
The little detail here is you.
♪ ("THESE ARE THE DAYS" BY GUVNA B CONTINUES) ♪
(CLERK CLEARS THROAT)
♪ An' I'm like 6am Wake up change pampers ♪
♪ Son wants food So babe says standard ♪
(ZIPPER UNZIPS)
CLERK: (GRUNTING) Oh, yeah.
♪ (MUSIC STOPS) ♪
Rape Trauma Syndrome has got some common symptoms,
frequent flashbacks,
high irritability in places
or situations that remind you of the assault,
difficulty focusing, emotional numbing,
which can sometimes be a hard one to know you have.
Do you have any advice for focus
'cause I have the first draft of a book due?
I was doing all right before everything, but now...
my head's just sort of...
Yeah, they have given me, um...
a guy to help me.
Have you (SIGHS) asked to take a break?
I don't get paid until I've delivered my first draft,
so a break isn't gonna help me.
The only thing they're paying for is this therapy. (CHUCKLES)
I see. Okay.
I can only remind you to take care of yourself
whenever possible.
(BOTH PANTING)
♪ ("THESE ARE THE DAYS" BY GUVNA B CONTINUES) ♪
♪ These are the days We prayed for ♪
(TOILET FLUSHES)
♪ (MUSIC FADES) ♪
(CASH REGISTER BEEPS)
With family?
ARABELLA ESSIEDU: Family?
Yeah. Yeah. I see-- I see 'em a bit.
You haven't told your mom, I guess.
But I've got friends. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And my friends, they-- You know, they will know what happened.
CARRIE: It's helpful to identify people you trust.
And then from there,
try doing relaxing creative things together.
Like?
CARRIE: Um, you could go for walks, yoga,
jogging, meditation, painting.
-Painting? -Handicrafts.
I don't even think I know what handicrafts is.
Coloring in.
Uh, yeah. My friends aren't really gonna be, uh...
Ben, actually, err, this is his kinda shit.
Ben will be into...
(SOFTLY) I'll just text him.
He's typing.
(PHONE VIBRATES)
Ah. He's not in tonight.
Fuck. Band practice.
I'll sort it. I'm okay. I'll be fine.
I will-- I-- Yeah. I'm good.
Yeah. I know what I'm gonna do. I'll be fine.
♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
KWAME ACHEAMPONG: You are the phoenix
rising from the flames. What are you?
-CLASS: The phoenix. -KWAME: What are you?
-CLASS: The phoenix. -KWAME: All right.
Take flight over the bodies of your dead enemies.
What are you? Are you gonna be the phoenix
or the pigeon, class?
-CLASS: The phoenix. -Right.
No, no, no, no, no. Double time.
What are you saying, huh? Huh?
-(WOMAN SHRIEKS) -KWAME: What are you saying?
Right, yous lot, you don't need to pretend
to be someone you're not. You do that every day.
At work, on the train, at home with your family.
When you're here with me, I give you permission to do you.
Knee pump.
-Four. And three, two, one. -CLASS: Four, three, two, one.
-KWAME: Well done. -CLASS: Whoo!
-KWAME: Well done, my phoenixes. -(ARABELLA EXHALES)
All right. Two minutes, water break.
All right.
-Get your air inside you. Good. -(PANTING)
(CHUCKLES)
-Yo. -Hey.
Uh...(CHUCKLES)
my grandma really liked your class this morning.
-The aqua-aerobics -(CHUCKLES) Oh, I'm glad.
Yeah, I saw you in the, um-- I saw you in the window.
Cool. Um...
Y'know, it's actually my last class, so...
if you wanna grab a coffee or something...
I'll be done in 30.
-Okay, everyone. Back on in one minute. -(BREATHES HEAVILY)
(CONTINUES BREATHING HEAVILY)
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
(SIREN WAILING)
You know what, I actually feel a bit sorry for him.
Yeah?
KWAME: Yeah. He's visiting from Ghana.
Most days, he can't even look me in the eye.
I'm like-- I'm like, "Hey, Dad."
He's scrunching his face, cursing the house.
Ah, it's whatever.
One more day and he gone.
I've never really spoken to a brother who was, uh...
(SCOFFS NERVOUSLY)
What? Gay?
(LAUGHS) Come on. You can say it.
We're in Britain.
No one's gonna throw me off a building...
or chase me with a stick.
You can say it.
Say what I am.
A gay guy.
Are we the same?
(CHUCKLES)
(CHUCKLES) Uh...
Look, even if you never find an answer,
I think it's really cool
that you're asking yourself the question.
This is me.
So, like, uh...
-I would, but... -Your dad's there?
-You live with your nan, right? -Yeah.
If I could find somewhere for us,
would you be interested?
I could be, still.
Even if it involved someone else?
Yeah, I ain't scared.
Why would you be?
(CARS PASSING)
(GLASSES CLINKING)
-Sorry I'm late. -ARABELLA: No. No. Um...
Thank you for...
-You good? -ARABELLA: Yeah. Yeah.
-How you doing? -Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So, um, Francine called...
-to say you need some-- -Yes.
Closing the tills now 'cause we're closing.
Do you want anything?
Great. Thank you.
BOTH: Um...
We could try a bar.
Some hotel ones are pretty quiet.
-A bar? -Okay. Not a bar.
Um, we could use the office.
I can ask Julian if his office is free.
I'm good with a bar.
-Yeah? -ARABELLA: Yeah. Yeah.
"Tina finished her Sprite,
considered leaving but realized she didn't know
the way to the bus stop. She went to the toilet.
You sat there like an African King
in Adidas trackies,
smiling at the bones left on your plates.
You rubbed your lips together, leaving no corner,
crack, or crevice safe from the chicken grease.
-With the skill of a magician--" -Um...
Okay.
Sorry.
No, no, no. Don't say sorry. Don't say sorry.
What, um...
genre is this?
Uh...
It's just like--
It's actually quite hard to really, um...
WAITRESS: Hi there, would you like to order anything?
Just water. Tap for me. And?
No. I'm not-- I'm not drinking anything.
(DULL RINGING)
So, uh, Tina and Terrell in Tinsel Town is just one chapter.
-I go into all these different-- -What's your background?
Ghana.
(CHUCKLES)
Career background? How did you, uh...
-(CHUCKLES) -Oh, right. How did I start?
-Um... -ZAIN SAREEN: Yeah.
Yeah, I was just expressing myself online, and...
yeah, people just seemed to really respond to the stuff
-I was... -Tweeting?
ARABELLA: Yeah. And then everyone on Twitter was like,
"Why haven't you got a book? You should make a book."
So then, I was like, "Yeah. I'm gonna make--"
-Make a book? (CHUCKLES) -Yeah. Exactly. Yeah.
What's it called?
Chronicles of a Fed Up Millennial.
Chronicles of a Fed Up Millennial?
-ARABELLA: Mmm. -(CLICKS TONGUE)
ZAIN: And then this one you're on the way to finishing?
No. I'm not-- I'm not drinking anything.
And you're being published by Henny House.
That's... (CHUCKLES)
Most people who, um, who get a commission from Susy Henny
know about Susy Henny. (CLICKS TONGUE)
Who knew I could sub three years of uni for a Twitter account?
-(DULL RINGING) -ZAIN: I know a lot of people
-with degrees who are good and... -(WOMAN LAUGHING)
ZAIN: No, no, it doesn't have to-- I didn't--
ARABELLA: I'm so sorry, I have to go.
-It's not you, it's just, uh... -That's my bad. I'm sorry about that.
ARABELLA: Sorry.
(PHONE DINGS)
♪ (SOFT MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(PHONE DINGS)
(SIGHS, CHUCKLES)
♪ ("PULL UP' BY BLANCO PLAYING) ♪
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
(NICHOLAS CHUCKLES)
Long time, sis. Long time.
Yeah, man. I was in the area.
You live, like, 10 minutes away. Where is your key, man?
Mom's at work, I'm goin' to church, so...
♪ Step for the kill ♪
♪ Gyal a one sec like Brazil ♪
♪ Thugs in the back They ain't going to field ♪
♪ Caught on the slide They ain't going to drill, loo ♪
♪ Lights on a run, it's a real ♪
♪ Sword out my leg to conceal ♪
♪ Wait for the time to reveal ♪
♪ Shawty, she eat me 'Course I'm a meal ♪
♪ Four bro ride till the E-N-D ♪
♪ Real time, GMT ♪
♪ SA the realest BMT ♪
♪ Lean out the window Then D-A-B ♪
♪ Copper on top, U-A-V ♪
♪ Portable ting this a P-S-P ♪
♪ Caught then I'm rolling With B-A-E ♪
(DULL RINGING)
♪ Sugar ♪
(QUIETLY) There's war in Syria. There's war in Syria.
The children are hungry.
Not everyone has a smartphone. (SHUDDERS)
♪ Two years left, two minus ♪
♪ Step on the peddles, nitrous ♪
♪ Spin go block, Ibis ♪
♪ Lights froze arlianidus ♪
♪ Run only run from sirens ♪
♪ Street shack fighting Bison ♪
♪ Jakes here around here Are rising ♪
♪ Jarns on, let it rip, Tyson ♪
♪ Tropical darlin' ♪
♪ Come round looking For a Spartan... ♪
KWAME: You ready?
♪ (MUSIC STOPS) ♪
I don't have to do anything with the other guy, right?
Nah, you ain't got to do anything at all.
You're very sexy, Kwame.
(DOOR OPENS)
Sup!
-Hey. -What you sayin'?
Yeah. What you sayin'?
It's shoes off.
♪ (HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING FAINTLY) ♪
(BUZZER RINGS)
Yo.
ZAIN: (THROUGH INTERCOM) I'm outside.
(DOOR BUZZES)
ZAIN: Hmm.
This is good.
Good, or good considering?
Considering what?
Uh, what's-- What's your background?
India.
(LAUGHS)
You're such a fucking dick.
Um, I studied creative writing,
and got signed in final year.
Oh, where did you go?
I was with Portland Street Publishers first,
but Julian seemed a little more rough and ready.
-Do you know what I mean? -No. Uh, where did you go uni?
Oh. Um...
Cambridge.
-(LAUGHS) -(CHUCKLES)
You went to Cambridge?
Of course, you did. Yes.
Now I get it. Oh, Zain, I'm so sorry,
No, I'm actually really sorry.
-(CHUCKLES) You done? You... -ARABELLA: Oh. No.
-Nope? -You went to Cambridge.
You must be hugging your certificate at night.
(LAUGHTER)
(GIGGLES)
Hmm.
Do you like coloring pencils?
No.
Fuck.
Shall I go? I've got no idea what's going on.
No, no. I'm just-- I'm just like,
"Did I know this was gonna happen?
Is this a good idea?"
Dunno.
What?
Well, we're probably gonna be having sex soon, innit?
-Shall we do that now? -Yeah.
Why don't you care about my book?
-'Cause you don't. -Oh, fuck off, mate.
-Ben? Ben? -Hello, mate.
This is Zain.
-Hi. Hi. -Hello, mate.
I didn't know that you were here.
BEN: Yeah, same. Didn't hear a thing.
I was just listening to the band sesh,
-kinda sounding pretty good. -That's fantastic.
-See you in the morning. -Great.
Oh, uh, I do like the idea of painting though,
-so we should do that one day. -Yeah.
(DOOR CREAKS)
So, um...
-this is my room. -Can I just kiss you?
I've been thinking about it for a few hours.
Hmm.
-Whoa. -Sorry.
Um...
ZAIN: Uh... (CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY)
You-- Yeah. You okay?
Yeah. Yeah. Just, uh...
Yeah.
-I can go or-- If you're not... -No. Uh...
Please, stay.
-What about you? -What about me?
-Where you from? -Depends who's asking.
If it's a black person, I'm gonna tell them
I'm from Nigeria.
If they're English asking me where I'm from,
-they're getting Barking and Dagenham, bruv. -(LAUGHTER)
If they ask me a second time, they're getting sparked.
-(CHUCKLING) -As if.
♪ ("NO VACANCY" BY KAVAZION PLAYING) ♪
♪ Why all these batty boys Act like they mothers? ♪
♪ Fucked in the ass ♪
♪ Putting shame On your brothers... ♪
Yo, bruv, I beg you play something else.
♪ Don't get me wrong... ♪
Oh, for real?
♪ But kissing my niggas Is not really for me... ♪
What you into?
♪ And you the reporter I kept it a buck... ♪
I'm into everything.
Is that right? (CHUCKLES) Tell me that again.
I said I'm into everything.
Ah. (LAUGHS)
He's into me.
I ain't trying to fuck him.
Some bruddas like the quiet ting.
Some bruddas just watch.
You're fucking sexy, you know that?
Come here.
♪ Where my real niggas at? ♪
♪ Never wearing tight pants Leave that shit for a fag ♪
♪ All I see is a rat ♪
♪ If niggas acting Like a queen... ♪
♪ (MUSIC STOPS) ♪
Have you got a condom?
Oh, uh, yeah. In my bag, but it's in the-- Whoa.
-(BREATHES HEAVILY) -(DRAWER RATTLES)
(DRAWER CLOSES)
(MOANS)
-(MOANS) -(BED CREAKING)
Uh, wait, wait, wait. Turn over.
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(BED CREAKING)
(ZAIN GROANS)
(MOANING)
Bro, you want some of this?
Get on the bed. I wanna fuck you bareback.
Uh, no, no. I don't do that.
MALIK: I thought you were into everything?
Yeah. Not that.
♪ (SONG PLAYS OVER RADIO) ♪
(BOTH MOAN)
KWAME: Boy, is that all you got for me?
(CHUCKLING)
(BOTH MOAN)
Yeah, I'm bouncing still.
What? Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
One sec.
(MOANS)
Can I do anything for you?
Um...
(STAMMERS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
Fuck him. You're amazing.
Come here.
♪ (MUSIC STOPS) ♪
-(BED CREAKING) -I'm gonna come.
(GASPING)
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
(BOTH SIGH)
(ZAIN CHUCKLES)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
-Better-- Better use the... -Yeah, it's first on the left.
(EXHALES)
(SIGHS)
♪ ("MR. SUN" BY GREENTEA PENG PLAYING) ♪
♪ Mr. Sun ♪
♪ Where have you been? ♪
♪ He told me, "Sorry, dear, I had to go away ♪
♪ But never have no fear, I'm always back again ♪
♪ I got to show you the dark ♪
♪ So you can really feel The light, you know?" ♪
♪ I can't lie I need you, Mr. Sun ♪
♪ I can't lie ♪
(PHONE VIBRATES)
♪ I need you, Mr. Sun ♪
♪ Chasin' after you I'm on the-- ♪
-♪ (MUSIC STOPS) ♪ -(TOILET FLUSHES)
(DOOR OPENS)
Uh, there is a bin in the one across the hallway. Sorry.
ZAIN: What?
-A bin for the condom. -ZAIN: Oh.
-There's a-- -Oh. Uh...
-Where did you put the condom? -ZAIN: I...
I took it off. I thought you...
-Oh, shit. Um... -Uh...
Yeah. It got uncomfortable, so...
-You're joking. -No. No. Look, here, see...
There.
Um...
I thought you knew. Uh, couldn't you feel it?
-No, I couldn't fucking feel it. -I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
Um, Zain...
Um, I, uh--
I-- I didn't wanna stop, 'cause it was...
-Um... -I don't know. Maybe that's normal for you,
-but that was pretty insane for me. -Yeah, no. But, Zain,
-I have-- I have to get the pill, for fuck's sake. -I know, I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry. Um...
(SIGHS)
-Uh... -It was really fucking good though.
Yes, it was. You are paying for it.
KWAME: Right.
I'm gonna wait outside.
♪ ("RUN THE ROADS" FT. PROTON PLAYING) ♪
That was fun.
Stay.
-(DOOR SLAMS) -(GROANS) Fuck.
-MALIK: What happened? -(WINCES)
It's fine. It's fine. It's just my nail.
It's fine.
Good. Come here.
-No, look, I have to go. -Playing. I'm just playing.
-Just go on the bed. -Why?
Go on the bed.
♪ Got the block jumping Like geronimo ♪
♪ Yeah we run the roads We run the roads♪
♪ Yeah we run the roads... ♪
Yo, yo, no. We're not having sex again.
It's not sex.
♪ Putting my clique On the map... ♪
What the fuck, man?
(MOANING)
Can you-- Can you--
Can you stop that?
(MALIK MOANS)
(KWAME GROANS)
Can you just get off me?
-Get-- Get the fuck off me! -(MOANING)
(GASPING, MOANING)
(MOANS)
(CHUCKLES)
What can I say, I'm a bad boy.
(KWAME SHUDDERS)
See ya.
♪ (MUSIC STOPS) ♪
Done.
(ZAIN CHUCKLES)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
(PHONE RINGS)
(PHONE VIBRATES)
ARABELLA: Hey, bae.
KWAME: Hey.
You all right?
Uh, yeah, yeah, yeah. You?
(GULPS) I'm good, bae. What you on?
Uh, I'm just going-- going to bed.
I just thought I'd say goodnight, bae.
Aw. Love you, bae.
Night, bae.
(CHUCKLING)
♪ ("MR. SUN" BY GREENTEA PENG PLAYING) ♪
♪ I said, "Mr. Sun ♪
♪ Where have you been?" ♪
♪ He told me "Sorry, dear, I had to go away ♪
♪ But never have no fear I'm always back again ♪
♪ I got to show you the dark ♪
♪ So you can really feel The light, you know?" ♪
♪ I can't lie I need you Mr. Sun ♪
♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
♪ (SOUND WAVE) ♪
ARABELLA: He secretly took off the condom.
There are actuak forums where men share tips
and phrases like, "I thought you knew."
Couldn't you feel it?
ARABELLA: What is going though their heads?
♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS) ♪
We've got some results back, and we have a potential suspect.
Hmm.
-Ooh. You ain't told him? -I have to tell you something.
I wanted to report something. I'm here to report a crime.
-Arabella! Susie, honey. -You're Susie?
We would love for you to read at The Writing Summit.
It's impossible to protect yourself from his nature.
Hmm?
(AUDIO FEEDBACK)
Assess the crowd, gather their strength,
and look him in the eye.
♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪