Episode 1 Miriam's Big American Adventure

# God bless America

# Land that I love

# Stand beside her

# And guide her... #

The American dream... is dead.

# God bless America... #

I will bring it back,

bigger and better than ever before,

and we will make America great again.

America.

After one of the most roller-coaster years in living memory,

one woman is leaving London on a mission to find out

what exactly is going on.

I like onion.

Fart...

SHE FARTS That's better.

I'm going to America to learn.

I want to learn...

..what life's like there, what is the state of the States.

Very important...

..is Vegemite.

-Really?

-You can't get it in America, I don't think.

I'm just a nosy little Jew...

..and I want to test the waters.

That's my knickers.

I'm just going to go and ask questions,

and I shall go with an open mind,

a warm heart,

and a beady eye!

I lived in America for 16 years.

But things have changed,

and the America I'm going to see now is not one I know.

And I want to know it,

because I think that it is responsible for changing the world.

Passport, boarding pass.

This is a big deal. Why on earth are you going now?

Because...it's to be done.

If I don't use the capabilities I have, I'm dead!

Just because I have a weak bladder doesn't mean I'm dead.

I've got to go on.

I've got to...discover,

and share my discoveries.

That's what I want to do, and I'm bloody well going to do it!

76-year-old actress Miriam Margolyes is embarking on

an epic two-month road trip,

winding her way down the middle of middle America.

This is a journey that will take her from Chicago, in the north,

down through the American heartland,

ending in the Deep South of New Orleans.

Miriam's going to be meeting the people of real America,

the people whose voices and votes

are changing the shape of the country.

I need to go to a taxi.

A taxi? OK.

-Yeah.

-OK, here we go.

What's your name?

-Riali.

-Riali?

-Yeah.

Americans have such weird names! SHE LAUGHS

Hi.

Hello. Are you my driver?

Yes, I am your driver. Welcome to Chicago.

What's your name?

My name is Sammad Khan.

I like to sit in the front, darling.

Oh, yes, that would be my pleasure.

# This is

# My kind of town

# Chicago is... #

Miriam's road trip begins in Illinois,

in the gateway to middle America,

Chicago.

It may have been Frank Sinatra's kind of town,

but that was 50 years ago.

Today, the city that gave birth to the skyscraper

is the third biggest in the States,

and one of the most important business centres in the world.

But this is a divided city.

Many of its residents live in poverty.

And it's become America's murder capital.

It's here that Miriam will try and find out

if the American dream is still alive and well.

Have you heard that phrase "the American dream"?

Oh, yes. That's why I'm here.

I'm from a different country, I'm from Pakistan originally.

One day I told my mum, I dreamed that I'm going to America.

-It brought me here.

-You dreamed the dream, did you?

-I dreamed it.

-What is it for you, the American dream?

What does it mean?

It means, like, it's a land of freedom.

There are some rules, you need to follow the rules.

You need to work hard, and you can get anything you want.

That's why they say God bless America.

Your version of the American dream, you want to be a millionaire?

No, not really.

I want to become a billionaire!

A millionaire isn't enough?!

-LAUGHING:

-It's not enough!

You're in a big country, think big.

How d'you like my car?

-Love it.

-You think you're going to recommend to the people?

-I sure will.

-That's why I give you my card.

Darling, I knew that! LAUGHTER

-I wasn't born yesterday!

-People say that I'm a salesman, too!

You have to be, if you want to get on in business.

-That's true.

-If you've got something to sell, you've got to sell it!

The cabbie was interesting.

-Loves America.

-Yes.

I didn't really warm to him.

-We are here.

-I think he was very smooth,

and I'm not...an admirer of smooth.

Hello!

-Hello.

-How are you?

I'm fine. I'm Miriam, and I'm...

-I'm Larry.

-Nice to meet you, Larry.

Nice to meet you, so happy you're here.

-I'm your guest for a few days.

-You are my Airbnb guest?

-Yep.

-Yes.

-Come on in!

-Thank you very much.

This gentleman is kindly going to put my cases in.

Airbnb don't help with the luggage, huh?!

No, that's your job, mate!

You're not a billionaire yet, you know!

-Here we go.

-Wow! What a lovely house!

Thank you so much.

Miriam has booked herself into an Airbnb.

It's in Wicker Park,

a recently gentrified bohemian suburb.

And it's run by live-in hosts Larry and Jay.

Oh, hi! How are you?

-I'm very well.

-I'm Jay.

-Nice to meet you, Jay.

-Nice to meet you.

So are you married, or just lovers?

-LAUGHTER

-Both!

Well, you're obviously people who care about design.

It's very impressive, I like it very much.

Thank you. Let's give you a tour!

What I'd like to do first is go to the place I'm going to live in.

-OK.

-And have a pee.

-OK!

-And then I'll be able to go and look at the house

-and all the rest of it.

-Totally! OK.

-This way.

-Thank you.

Wow!

That's beautiful.

-Thank you.

-What a lovely room.

Just show me the loo!

The loo, the toilet is right in here.

Let me turn the...

..air on, so you have privacy.

If you know what I mean.

You mean if I fart, nobody's going to hear!

LAUGHTER

IN US ACCENT: Listen, when I fart, everybody hears!

But now I can just have a minute to myself.

Bye!

Can I give you a hug?

-Welcome to Chicago!

-Well, it's a bit early for hugs!

But...thank you for the appreciation.

I usually give all my Airbnb guests a hug, anyway.

-Do you?

-Yeah, I really do.

-Like hello and goodbye.

-You have to remember, I'm English.

-OK.

-So we hug at the end of things.

Oh, wow, OK.

-Not at the beginning.

-Well, we're in America, so there you go, right?

-I have to learn.

-Yeah!

OK, Miriam, we are going to show you the city of Chicago.

That's a gorgeous car!

I've never been in a car like this.

You've never been in a Beetle, convertible?

In a Beetle, but not a convertible.

Oh, my God, you're going to have the best time.

So now we're about to get on Lake Shore Drive.

Don't go too fast!

It's going to get very windy, and it'll be fun.

Isn't it pretty?

It's very rare that you would find

a beach and a lake in a city.

And that's Navy Pier over there,

do you see that, with the Ferris wheel?

Yes, it's amazing.

And look, there's the Trump building. Do you see that?

Urgh.

LAUGHTER

Would you say you're prejudiced?

I am prejudiced, indeed I am.

I'm prejudiced against people who voted for Trump.

I'm prejudiced against the rich.

I'm full of prejudice.

I don't like people who have face-lifts.

But I've got to get over that,

because you have to get through the things that divide you.

And that's the whole point of this.

Look at that beautiful skyline.

Tomorrow, Miriam's going to try to meet some of the people

who've come from nothing and achieved the American dream.

Nearly 2,000 Americans become millionaires every day.

And over half of the country's super-rich are self-made.

Larry and Jay have arranged for Miriam to meet a friend of theirs.

She's a sort of society journalist.

So she's got her finger on the button of Chicago

and says, she's running off with so-and-so,

and this painter is going to be very well-known.

And I don't mix and muddle with people like that.

But I'm going to be learning,

and I believe that she's really shit hot.

Small-town girl made good Candice Jordan

has infiltrated the world of Chicago's wealthy.

Good morning. Thank you very much.

As the city's leading gossip columnist,

she gets into all the best parties.

Thank you.

And she's going to get Miriam in, too.

-Hello.

-Hi, Professor Sprout!

LAUGHTER

How nice to meet you.

So nice to meet you!

Thank you for letting me come and have a chat with you.

-I'm looking forward to it.

-I'm thrilled to talk to you.

-Do you get tired of people calling you Professor Sprout?

-No!

I'm thrilled!

LAUGHTER

Did they take you on a whirlwind tour?

Yes! I've been on the...

..on the railway.

Oh, this is very nice.

-Here, look.

-What is that?

It's called a DOOB,

and it's an exact replica of my husband and my dog and me!

-That's spooky.

-It is spooky!

Oh, and I want you to meet my husband.

-As an afterthought!

-I'm just an extra.

LAUGHTER

Thank you for letting us come into your home.

It's my pleasure to see you in the flesh.

So I want to hear a bit about your history.

Would you call your background upper middle,

lower middle, working class?

Oh, working class, definitely working class.

My dad was a mailman.

So you were not affluent?

Oh!

SHE SPLUTTERS

The word didn't even ever enter our vocabulary, no.

Not at all.

So what was the first job that brought you in some cash?

Oh, Playboy. Definitely Playboy.

-Playboy!

-Oh, my God, yes.

You were... You were...

-..a bunny, as they call it?

-I was a bunny in St Louis.

I started there and there was, like, 16 girls that lived at the mansion.

So you were part of that stable?

Yeah! Well, I wouldn't call it a stable,

that sounds a little like something unsavoury!

But I was an employee that happened to live at the mansion.

-But they weren't whores?

-Oh, no! No!

-LAUGHTER

No, but, you know, because people imagine all kinds of things.

-They do!

-Did you feel in charge of your destiny?

100%. I mean, I chose to be with Playboy,

I was thrilled when they chose me.

As matter of fact, two weeks ago,

they asked me to recreate my cover that I did 38 years ago.

-Oh, here it is.

-Crikey!

How old were you in that one?

In 1979, let's see,

I'm 63 now,

so I was early 20s.

Have you had plastic surgery and done things?

No, no, I haven't.

Do you believe in the American dream?

100%. I think I'm living it.

Was it luck, or was it because you're very beautiful?

Genetics 100% help.

I mean, if I didn't look like this,

I wouldn't have been asked to be a bunny.

But I think the biggest factor was having the will to succeed.

So what do you think of someone like me, who is clearly a bit of a mess?

Well, I think you're not going to be a mess much longer

after I get through with you!

It's hard for other people to understand that

-I want to look like this.

-Oh, I know! You're adorable.

I wouldn't change a thing about you.

This is just a little enhancement.

LAUGHTER

US ACCENT: A little enhancement I could probably do with!

LAUGHTER

Candice is planning to take Miriam

to a charity fundraiser at the Arts Institute.

It will be full of the city's leading entrepreneurs,

people who seem to be living the dream.

And Miriam wants to fit in.

Chicago's Magnificent Mile is home to a string of designer stores.

If you want to mix with the city's high-flyers,

this is where you get your outfit.

Do you like shopping for clothes, jewellery?

No, I loathe it!

Absolutely LOATHE it.

Even jewellery? Look at how pretty the jewellery is!

-This is not my kind of experience.

-No, not your cup of tea?

Funnily enough,

I'm more scared going into a dress shop

than almost anything else.

-Why?

-Because it humiliates me.

-Because I'm fat.

-So now we're going to go right up here.

-OK.

-And we're going to see my favourite stylist.

This is Miriam Margolyes. This is Cynthia.

-Hello.

-Hello, thank you very much...

-Oh, my pleasure.

-..for being here this afternoon.

-My pleasure.

-She's the best there is.

-Oh!

OK.

I think that Americans judge people very much

by their outward appearance.

I shop in a shop called Marks & Spencer's.

Mm-hm.

Have you ever heard of Marks & Spencer's?

-No.

-Look at that, that's a beautiful colour on you.

And I think that if I turn up looking like I do now,

it'll put people off,

and they'll just think that I'm slightly mad or...

..disadvantaged in some way.

This is 1,195.

But it doesn't have any pockets!

And how can they charge that much when there's no...?

It's hardly there! I don't get it.

You cannot make clothes without pockets.

What, do you put pencils and things in them?

-No, but you put hankies and hotel room tickets.

-Oh, that's true,

-yeah, that's true.

-I could see you wearing something like this.

Oh, my God, I love that. I'll take that. Let me look at that.

-Can you see me...?

-Yeah.

-See, it's got little lipsticks!

But look at my tits! They're hanging out!

But they have lips now.

Lips!

Tits with lips!

LAUGHTER

Now I want to know how much it costs.

-Give it to me.

-About 8,000.

-Oh, I've got to sit down!

-8,000!

8,000? Somebody's made a mistake!

-It's gorgeous.

-Yeah, that's nice. It's just for another person.

It's not for me because of my tits.

Rich people don't have breasts.

It's one of those funny things.

-They've evolved...

-I must be very poor!

Look, you haven't got breasts!

LAUGHTER

I would like to think I do have some!

Tits just, you know...

I can see that it's going to be very difficult for me

to find anything in America that's going to go round my body.

Oh, no, no, no. That's not true. There's other areas in this store.

That's nice.

It is nice.

-I wonder if I could get into that.

-Let's try it. I think you should.

I love this. And this is dressy.

LAUGHTER

They don't like unconventional things in America.

I really make that judgment.

It fits you!

-Is it nice?

-That's beautiful!

They feel threatened by,

or disapprove of somebody standing out...

Well?

So I liked those.

..unless it's the conventional, beautiful way.

-Well, this is 298.

-And 278.

OK. Please may I buy the two black outfits?

-With pleasure.

-You did it!

High five! Whoop whoop!

LAUGHTER

Miriam's transformation is not yet complete.

-This is Charles Ifergan.

-What a pleasure to meet you.

-What are we going to do today?

-Well, we're going to enhance Miriam.

Yeah.

Candice has booked Miriam an appointment with Charles,

her own French hairdresser.

I think all women like having their hair done.

It's just a...thing we like.

But I haven't been straddled by a man for a very long time!

LAUGHTER

I've forgotten what it's like.

LAUGHTER

Thank you so much. Thank you.

Charles came to America in 1969.

He started off with just 7,

and now runs a multi-million-dollar hairdressing empire.

How old were you when you came to America?

I was 19 years old.

And why did you come?

Adventure. America is fabulous, if you come here.

Why is it fabulous?

It's the freest country in the world.

-You believe that?

-Oh, my God!

What country in the world allows you to burn your own flag

and not go to prison?

What country in the world allows you to say

what we say about our president?

I think people view America in a very negative way.

This is an incredible country.

It's time now for make-up.

OK.

Looks fabulous.

-What is your name?

-Halina.

-Halina.

You're doing my moustache!

We call it upper lip on a woman, not a moustache!

LAUGHTER

Are you from Czechoslovakia?

No, I'm from Poland.

Oh, Poland, OK.

So, are you an American citizen?

Yes, I am. I got married.

-To an American?

-Yes.

Did you love him, or was it just to get the citizenship?

I loved him. I loved him. Just it didn't work, seriously!

I was very romantic, maybe too romantic.

Now we are going to highlighter,

so you're going to look a little bit like Melania Trump.

Don't you make me look like her!

LAUGHTER

If you look nice, it gives you confidence.

I mean, that's why rich people look different.

-How do you mean?

-They look confident.

Cos they've spent a fortune on their appearance.

Like Marilyn Monroe.

This is my favourite red.

Well, it's the best.

If you're going to wear a lipstick, don't pussyfoot around with pink,

you know? Get on with it!

LAUGHTER

Miriam, you look so beautiful.

I feel strange.

-Really?

-Because it's too elegant.

You look like a Hollywood movie star.

I know, that's what worries me!

LAUGHTER

-How do you feel?

-Rather disturbed!

I liked them so much,

but I don't really like looking like this.

This is not...me.

Now I'd just like to go home and wipe it all off.

Really? Why?

Because it's not me!

Invitations to tonight's fundraiser have gone out to

nearly a thousand of Chicago's elite.

People who like to support the arts,

and dress up.

Candice!

I'm so pleased to see you.

I'm so pleased to see you, too.

And look at you, all dressed up, ready for the party.

Yeah, well, I didn't want to embarrass you, did I?

You would never embarrass me.

I can see some canapes wafting about.

What is that?

Vegetarian pot stickers.

Vegetarian pot stickers?

-Yes.

-I think I'm just going to have one of those.

-Yup.

Can I barge in on your conversation?

-Sure.

-Would that be acceptable?

-Yeah.

-What's your business, what do you do?

I actually own my own business.

I'm in the salt business. The rock salt business.

So, when it snows and you put rock salt on the ground

so that people don't slip, and cars can drive, that's...

-I sell that product.

-Well, I would never have guessed that.

LAUGHTER

Corporate America allowed me to... be an entrepreneur.

And that wasn't the family business?

No.

Isn't she brilliant?

SHE LAUGHS

So, you're living the dream, aren't you?

You're living the American dream.

You said, "I want to do this," and you did it.

I guess you could say that. I wouldn't go that far, though!

But it is, you know...

Chicago inspires people.

-Clearly.

-Living in Chicago is kind of like a bubble.

I rarely see elderly people.

It's very rare that I'm out of the element of 25-45,

it's just like this bubble of adults in a very similar...

-You know, in a way, we all live in our own little bubble.

-Yes.

-What was that like?

-Well, I always want to talk to the women.

And it was interesting.

They were successful, they were thoughtful.

And very secure in their world.

One of them's actually said, you know, I live in a bubble.

And I think that's...

..probably true of almost everybody here.

They live in their own bubble.

When they're all very confident,

and they are the sort of people who really want to be here,

this is, for them, a really nice time.

What's it like for you?

Not quite such a nice time.

I'm not totally at home with very wealthy people.

I think I want to go home now!

Money is the great divider in America.

This is a sunny world.

This is a relaxed and cheerful, slightly tipsy world.

I think I need to see... a grittier, grimier part of Chicago.

A place of the have-nots.

What do you mean?

These are the haves.

Now we need to see the have-nots.

The city is on pace to have its deadliest year in decades.

Since 2001, more people have been killed in Chicago

than the number of Americans who were killed in the wars

in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Chicago PD is blaming street gangs for the rise in homicide cases...

It's estimated that in Chicago a person is shot every two hours.

The majority of these shootings happen

on the south side of the city.

Miriam wants to leave Larry and Jay's,

and head there to investigate.

What's going to happen in the south?

-South side, is it rough?

-Well...

Nice knowing you!

Just kidding, just kidding, just kidding.

No, but, it's tough?

Are you really, you're really going there?

Yeah. We're going to church there.

OK. And how are you getting there?

Well, I hope you're going to take me in your nice car.

JAY LAUGHS

You're a bit uncertain about that!

Of course I'm going to take you.

Are you off?

Yeah, I'm off.

-OK.

-OK.

Thanks for everything.

My goodness, Miriam.

Do you think you'll keep the roof down?

You know Miriam, it doesn't matter whether the roof is up or down,

if they want us, they're going to get us.

Oh! That's encouraging!

Do you think the feeling about this part of Chicago

is a bit...over the top?

I mean, is it really dangerous?

Unfortunately, we are going to the highest crime area in Chicago.

So...

..realistically, anything can happen.

Most Chicagoans and Americans never see Inglewood except on the news.

I've never been in this area before.

And I've lived here all my life.

Well, I think that's a pity.

Oh, this is the church.

OK, Miriam, be safe.

I'll do my best!

Thanks for the ride.

Of course, my pleasure.

New Beginnings Church is attempting to bring a sense of community

to one of the city's most dangerous neighbourhoods.

How are you? Lovely to meet you at New Beginnings.

-We give love here. We don't shake hands.

-You don't mess around!

We don't shake hands, we give the real stuff in the beginning.

God bless you, welcome to New Beginnings.

And this is some of the things that we give out.

I'm just going to give you a handful of these,

you just say God bless you and welcome to New Beginnings,

with a smile!

-I will do it.

-Can you do that?

LAUGHTER

Welcome to the New Beginnings Church.

Give her a hug.

-Can we have a hug?

-Yes.

Thank you.

-How are you?

-I'm very happy to be with you.

Have you ever had so many hugs?

Never in my life!

My name is Miriam. May I give you one of these?

-Yes, thank you.

-As part of the welcome to the church.

Well, I'm this guy.

-I haven't got my glasses on.

-Ha-ha!

-What does it say?

-Corey Brooks.

Oh, you're the pastor?

-I'm the pastor.

-Thank you for letting me come.

-Thank you!

-Now give her a hug, Pastor.

-Oh, yes. Thank you.

You know I'm a Jewish girl?

-Oh, really?

-Yup.

-It's definitely not like the synagogue,

-so you're going to...

-Oh, no, I know. You have joy here!

And in the synagogue, we have gloom. It's very gloomy.

It's just a different type of joy, you know?

-We're a lot more vibrant.

-Yeah.

# I'm free!

# Free from insecurities

# Free!

# The Lord helped me to be

# Free!

# Ain't no stopping me

# I'm free!

# Freedom... #

-Are you religious?

-I am not religious.

It's complicated, because I don't believe in Jesus.

I believe that he was a superb political leader...

..but was he the son of God?

For me, no.

But he did have a message of inclusiveness.

And I think that's... a wonderful message.

# Freedom! #

And I think that it's a comfort.

And we need comfort in our lives.

When I found out that it was kids...

..who live in this neighbourhood...

Yep, tell em, Pastor.

..but they scared to walk two blocks...

Yes, come on!

Come on, Pastor!

That's right!

..tears swelled up in my eyes.

And I thought, what a prison!

-CHEERS OF:

-Yeah!

APPLAUSE

You know this phrase "the American dream"?

Yeah.

Is that available to people on the south side?

There are a lot of people who are not experiencing the American dream,

unfortunately.

So it's racism and...money?

I think it's more... economics than anything.

I think that the colour's not black or white

but it's green - green, money.

I remember that, it's not black or white, it's green.

There are a lot of individuals who don't have the resources,

they don't have a job,

they don't have the means to take care of a family,

and that drives the crime.

You can't create businesses,

it causes educational systems to be failing

cos we can't have proper schools.

And so we need a better economy.

Until almost 1950,

strict housing policies effectively meant segregation.

Black Americans coming to Chicago in search of their fortune

were only able to live on the south side.

Many have been unable to make it out.

Miriam wants to find out if the American dream can still be dreamt,

south side.

I'm looking at a place called O Block,

which is a housing development in Chicago on the south side.

It once was the home of Michelle Obama,

who has certainly lived the American dream, because...

..she's not there any more.

It's considered the most dangerous block in Chicago.

But I'm going to go there today.

There is a certain amount of danger in going here.

You know, I was told, don't go south side.

Why not? Because it's dangerous.

Why is it dangerous?

"Because poor people live there,

"and they'll shoot you."

Well, I don't believe that.

So I'm... I'm here.

Throughout the south side are social housing developments

known as projects.

Each one tends to be home to a different gang.

Violence between the gangs means it's unsafe for Miriam

to be filmed there without security.

Pastor Corey from the church has put her in touch with AZ.

We're in a fairly dodgy area, I understand.

Yes, a very high-intense area.

-Very high-intense.

-Are you my security?

Yes, I am, I'm your personal executive protection officer.

Have you had to deal with incidents?

On many occasions.

Hmm.

I noticed that there were some guys in there

-who had bulletproof vests on.

-Yes, ma'am.

Do I need one?

No.

I'm your vest.

Wow.

Security man AZ has told Miriam to wait in the car.

He's arranging a meeting with SP.

SP lives on O Block

and was a member of one of Chicago's most dangerous street gangs,

the Black Disciples.

Fearing he's on a rival gang hit list,

SP will only agree to meet Miriam next to O Block

in an abandoned supermarket parking lot.

Who is this?

Oh, that's SP.

-Hey.

-Did you not want to meet outside of here?

Not directly on the street.

That's too open, a little bit, for me.

Someone riding past, see us, they'd probably try to take a shot.

It's just a probability, so I don't want to risk that.

-Hi.

-Hi, how are you doing? Oh, yeah, I recognise you.

-You do?

I'm a fan, of Harry Potter, like, I'm a huge fan.

You just have to see me as a little old fat lady come to visit.

Just coming to visit.

What's your life been?

I grew up probably different than what people'd be used to.

I didn't have, I always had to go get.

So you were sort of fending for yourself from when you were how old?

Yeah, fending, basically...

I started selling drugs, I was, like, 12 years old.

-You were selling drugs?!

-Yeah, that's how I got my money.

My hair should go up on end!

Yeah, that's how I got my money, so, like...

Well, you were making a lot of money, then?

Yeah, I was making a lot of money.

And what did you do with the money?

I lived.

I thought I was living, so...

But I... You know. Party, drunk, women.

Like, now I've got seven kids, I'm 29.

Well, you're a handsome young man.

-I try to be.

-Even I, I'm a gay woman...

HE LAUGHS I can see you're handsome!

You're making me blush, don't make me blush.

But like, I had to open my eyes because...

..I recently here got stabbed up real bad.

Yeah.

-Tell me about that.

-Yeah, uh...

one of my baby mothers,

we got into it, and she just inked me up.

32 staples from here on down.

So then a thought came, like, well, you almost died.

Like, all that stuff I come from,

all the money I've seen, I don't care about none of that.

I wants to be here to raise my kids.

Where we're standing now, it's like a car park or something.

Yeah, it's a parking lot.

-What happens if we go out onto the street?

-Well...

-Well...

-Are you safe there?

It feels like you're trapped here.

Right here, at this light, that's where the opposite gangs come from.

Walking up there, it's just like,

you basically playing...

..the bullet with the one gun.

-Just crossing into their territory...

-A few steps away.

-..means that they have the right to shoot you?

-No, they don't...

You know... Nah, it's not legal.

But I just don't trust people.

You don't trust people. Why?

Cos they... I see what they've done.

The guy came from right in this alley and just started shooting.

My friend, he actually got killed right here on the side

-of this walk-through, right here.

-In the middle of the day?

Middle of the day, morning... Ain't no set schedule for this.

I'm not going to lie to you, I've seen probably...

30 of my friends literally lying...dead.

I've seen my little brother take his last breath.

-Your own brother?

-Yeah, he got killed.

I can't say that I'm not depressed...

-Oh, I don't want you to be depressed.

-..by what you've told me.

-Yeah.

-Imagine what my life has been.

-So sheltered.

-To tell you the truth, I feel like I lived a normal life.

Because it became normal to me.

When you wake up, like,

before the end of the summer, am I going to lose another friend?

-You just accepted it.

-I accept it.

This is a violent neighbourhood and there are people with guns,

and they're used to using them and shooting people, who are...

..in their territory.

I think it's a vicious circle of crime and violence and poverty.

That is their life.

It's not a life I want.

50% of people on the south side are living in poverty.

Unemployment is rife.

ICE CREAM TRUCK JINGLES

It makes it difficult for anyone to leave.

Just down the road is Merrill Park.

After a string of gang-related killings,

it's now known as Murder Park.

MUSIC: On Something by Jmac

AZ is taking Miriam to meet two people who dream of getting rich

and getting out of Chicago.

Local rapping brothers Jmac and Tray Tray.

I don't know what young people think anywhere in the world.

Hi.

I just get so irritated because they use the word "like" all the time.

If you say, it was, like, Tuesday.

It wasn't "like" Tuesday.

It was either Monday or Wednesday, or it was Tuesday.

There is nothing like Tuesday.

There is only Tuesday.

Hi.

And that's what I want to hear from young people.

Precision of thought.

And you don't get that unless they are rapping.

And when they're rapping, they're using words, and it's thrilling.

-RAPPING:

-I come from the trenches.

I'm just trying to make it out.

Mum's eating steak now, hadn't made her out.

I ain't going to talk about the feel,

cos I'm ready in the field,

it's kill or be killed.

I ain't got a record deal, but I'm a go and get them Ms.

By any means necessary, and they don't understand me.

No, they don't understand me,

knock his ass down if the boy can't stand me.

-That's cool.

-Wow.

-That's a lil' freestyle.

-Thank you.

-Yeah. Like it?

-Yes, more than like.

-More than like?

-Admire.

-Admire.

Do you want to... to get out of Chicago?

The plan is to get out of Chicago, but, you know what I'm saying,

it ain't going be right away.

One way or another, you got to get out.

Because if you don't, they gon... it's going to drag us down.

They can put us right here. Under the ground.

Some people don't make it out to survive, you feel me?

But why would you want to kill someone?

It's not like you want to kill, it's kill or be killed.

Like I said in the rap, it's kill or be killed.

If you don't kill, you going to get killed.

-And I ain't going to let my mother see me...

-Kill or be killed?

It doesn't make sense.

It's all about revenge. If you take one of mine,

we got to take two of yours.

That's the same way they thinking. They gon take...

If we take one of theirs, they've got to take two of ours.

Well, somebody should stop that.

That's why you try to get rich. That's why you've got to move away.

Are you carrying guns now?

Yeah.

Well...

I hope the safety catch is on.

-Because...

-Yeah.

That's scary.

Hey, hold off, man, hold up.

I haven't been in a place with so many men in my life.

-Miriam, this is Wax right here.

-Hi.

Hiya, how you doing, ma'am?

Chicago has always been violent.

And there's always been inequality in Chicago.

You know, unfortunately,

blacks has always been like the proletariats,

the downtrodden, those people...

At the bottom of the pile.

Absolutely. They're just, we're going give them the leftovers.

How do we break it?

Good question. How do we break the cycle?

-Yeah.

-Of ignorance and poverty and destruction.

-Yeah.

-And crime.

Treat us equal.

-Treat us as equals.

-We need more programmes.

But, you know, after doing 18 years and three months in prison...

Oh, Jesus, you must have killed someone.

I... I was convicted, I was convicted,

and I want to say this,

I want to say this, because,

my homie, he was just exonerated,

and he always say you've got to always emphasise

that you were innocent.

-Which I was.

-But 18 years, is that a waste of your life?

Well, it's kind of like a gift and a curse.

Did you learn anything in jail?

-I learnt a massive amount in prison.

-Yeah?

Yeah, I was able to really...

You know, in prison, education is free.

Right?

So I got my GED, I got two college certificates, I got my degree.

And I did all of this because I said to myself,

when I come out of here, my education is going to be my guide.

So do you believe in the American dream, this phrase that we all hear?

Is it true, is there such a thing?

To a lot of us, it's an American nightmare, because we start...

We've got to pay for our education.

It's not an equal race, you understand what I'm saying?

If it was an equal race, like we all start...

..you know, at the beginning line.

No, we start, like, ten miles in the back.

-NARRATOR:

-One of the rappers' associates has been filming Miriam

and posting it on social media.

AZ is worried that rival gangs now know where they are,

and Miriam could get caught in an attack.

Oh, we've got... I've got to go, I've got to go.

He insists that she leaves.

It puts them in danger and their family members in danger.

-And us in danger.

-Oh, my goodness.

-So we're gonna leave.

See y'all.

Well, I feel full of admiration for the young men that I spoke to,

who were remarkably articulate.

Not just in their rap, which was thrilling.

But I felt angry at the end,

to think that I was having to move fast

because of some tacky little gang somewhere...

..who thinks they can throw their weight around.

I mean, I have no doubt that if I lived in this place,

I would be murdered,

because I can't keep my bloody mouth shut.

But, you know, they're just contemptible people

who think they can push you around like that.

I'm not used to it, and I don't like it.

With Miriam safe,

AZ returns to pick up the crew car from where she met SP.

It's cordoned off.

In the last ten minutes, there's been a shooting.

Is this unusual?

No, sir.

What do you know? What's happened?

Three people were shot, two females and a male.

On average, one child is killed in Chicago every week.

First response charity workers try to support the victims' families.

Would it be fair to say that everybody in this area

-knows somebody who's been shot?

-Absolutely.

Every one.

EVERYONE.

This is no big deal.

Do they look upset?

Do the people...?

Did the kids stop bouncing the basketball at any point?

Did any parents pull the kids in?

If there was a shooting outside your house and you were a kid,

would your mum let you stand out there and hang out and watch it?

It's almost no big deal.

Somebody was killed in the place where I'd been standing

a few hours before.

I don't have any...

..anything clever to say about it,

I just think it's awful.

Kill or be killed.

The American dream

has become the American nightmare.

That's what they said.

The American nightmare.

Well, it is. It is a nightmare.

The American dream is not available to everybody.

And it'll be a long time before the dream can come to the projects.

But until it does,

I don't think anybody else has a right to a dream.

If I were American,

I couldn't sleep easily knowing that children were being slaughtered...

..in the second-biggest city in this country.

Maybe third biggest.

It is not acceptable.

What does that tell you?

It tells me the journey's not done yet,

and I need to go to bed.

Miriam's getting back on the road,

continuing her thousand-mile journey down to New Orleans.

I think I'll have a radish.

To just perk myself up.

I'm onto the next leg of my exploration.

Through the heartland.

It's exciting. I had a good time in Chicago

but I want to see more of this extraordinary country.

It is...completely baffling to me, this country.

At this moment, I'm baffled by it.

Miriam's leaving the inner city behind

and covering the 180 miles south,

to the rural plains of the neighbouring state Indiana.

As she heads deeper into middle America,

she wants to find out why people from all over the world

are desperate to become Americans.

What's for lunch?

I'm going to have some sushi.

Well, I got a big onion...

..in Chicago, so...

..that'll last me for a bit.

-Hello.

-Hello.

Come on.

I'm just being nosy, wondering what you guys are doing.

Well, come and sit down and be nosy!

Don't talk to them, talk to me!

-Oh, my God.

-Talk to me!

Yes, ma'am.

How does it feel now...

..for you to be an American?

Are you proud of being an American citizen?

Well, first of all, my name is Antono Ricardo Rabon,

I'm classified as a minority,

so if it wasn't for Martin Luther King, I wouldn't be shit.

I'd just be another hillbilly from Kentucky, making liquor.

-Let's be real.

-What was the difference that he made?

Martin Luther King was for everybody.

Opportunity for everybody, not just the well-to-do and the connected.

Do you think that's part of the American dream, that anybody can...?

Absolutely.

And is it alive and well, now?

Yes. Yes.

When you go north, go north about two miles,

and go to the little gas stations with the little convenience stores,

and there are people from Jordan, Syria...

..Pakistan, Palestine. They run those businesses.

They work hard. Indians, they work their asses off.

Because it's a better life than what they had.

-Have a blessed day. Thank you.

-You, too.

Every year, around a million people are issued the green card

that gives them the opportunity to live and work in America.

To ensure diversity,

50,000 green cards are given out in a government lottery.

But after recent terror attacks,

Trump is trying to change things.

We must immediately suspend immigration

from any nation that has been compromised by terrorism.

I am, today,

starting the process of terminating the diversity lottery programme.

Diversity lottery.

Sounds nice. It's not nice. It's not good.

Confusion as to what the future holds

has led to a startling increase

in the number of people already in the country

rushing to become permanently naturalized US citizens.

I'm going to meet someone who is...

..becoming an American.

He's from the Congo, I understand.

So he's African.

And he's choosing to become American.

And it's coming up towards Independence Day,

and it's rather nice to be in America for that.

They really care about it.

I mean, I don't really care about St George's Day.

I think it's nice, but I don't really...

..go a bundle on it.

Miriam's arrived in a small suburb of the state capital Indianapolis,

called Geist.

It's almost like a gated community, this.

It's too neat, too tidy.

I've never been anybody who's liked lots of flags.

I don't like the Olympic Games

because it's all about flags.

What's wrong with flags?

They separate people.

-SAT NAV:

-You have reached your destination.

It is on your left.

26 years ago,

Jose Lucende escaped the brutal dictatorship in the Congo

for a better life in America.

It might be the one where the flag's flying, do you think?

He's now a university fundraiser.

This week, Jose's American dream will be completed

as he becomes an official US citizen.

He's celebrating with his neighbours.

Oh, you are here! The BBC team is here!

-Yes.

-Welcome!

Yes, you're going to join us to eat, eh?

-You bet!

-Yes!

Did you notice the flag?

It's hard to miss it.

Yes. It's like landing on the moon.

When the man landed on the moon.

So it's like, OK, Jose landed in America.

Everything is symbolic.

I've got you a globe here.

This is where I was born, the Congo.

In the midst of the jungle.

If you look at it on Google Earth,

you can see nothing but jungle.

For a kid who was born in the jungle,

to live here and to live my American dream,

it's amazing.

My story will never happen in any other place in the world

but here.

This is me as a teenager.

Handsome boy!

This is when I first came to America.

It says, "Everything started 1974,

"when Muhammad Ali and George Foreman

"fought The Rumble In The Jungle,

"and I used to look a little bit like Ali, as you can see."

-Oh, you think so?

-I have some features of Ali.

He is my hero.

-Look.

-Yes.

Well, he was a person worthy of being a hero.

-He was.

-I bought a lot of flags.

LAUGHTER

And I'm giving to everybody.

When you see this flag or any other flag,

I want you to remember these seven words.

Never ever take this country for granted.

I know it's not perfect,

but the United States of America is still the best country

on the face of the Earth.

Brenda's a singer.

-ALL:

-# God bless America

# Land that I love

# Stand beside her... #

Jose seems quite excited.

He's just thrilled to bits with the reality of his dream.

His dream was to come to America and be an American,

and tomorrow it's coming true.

He's lucky that he's got money, clearly,

and he's educated, and he's happily married,

and he's got lovely children.

But I just feel that they're missing a lot here,

and that disturbs me.

# ..Sweet...

-# ..home! #

-CHEERING

They believe America's the greatest country in the world.

I do not believe that.

-Why?

-Because it isn't!

Because there is horrible crime and deprivation here.

America cherish their liberty,

but it's also the spirit of yes, we can do this.

We can handle it.

When there is a fire here,

before the fire truck comes,

the neighbours will come.

That's America. That's how this country was built.

I hope that it's everywhere.

I don't think it's just America.

More here than anywhere else in the world.

You see this world where there's natural disasters

happening around the world. Who goes there first?

Well, you're going to tell me the Americans.

The Americans.

There is no other place in the world, again,

-because of the historical uniqueness...

-No, I challenge you.

-I challenge you.

-Please do!

The most generous nation in the world,

per head of population,

are the Northern Irish.

This is not to say that Americans are not generous,

because we know that they are.

But it's not just an American...

..trait to care about people in trouble.

You don't have a monopoly of generosity,

and you want to remember that.

Because one of the things that we don't like

is when Americans tell us that...

..they're the best country in the world

and they're better than any other country. You don't know that.

I would never say that Britain was the best country in the world,

because I don't know!

I think they're a bit shocked.

-Good.

-Why?

Because...

it riles me, this certainty.

I can't have it.

This morning, at a ceremony in Indianapolis,

Jose will become one of 97 new Americans.

They've all passed a ten-step naturalization exam

proving they're English speakers

with a good knowledge of American history and government.

I've been talking about the American dream.

And this ceremony is... the American dream come true.

How are you doing, sir? I need the letter and the permit register.

Jose, he's a very sweet man,

but he's so uncritical of America.

All righty.

I just don't see how you can be.

I'm critical of everything.

That's my nature.

Please silence your cellphones.

We are getting ready to start.

If everyone could please have a seat.

-Miriam! How are you?

-Hi! Good. How are you feeling?

Excited. And mixed emotions, too, eh?

-Yes.

-With giving up the Congolese nationality today...

I'm not a Congolese citizen any more. In 20 minutes.

-In 20 minutes!

-Well, you're the same, the same man you always were.

-Yes.

-But with something extra.

The Honourable Sarah Evans Barker, Judge, presiding.

This is a very happy day...

..and we are gathered here to usher into citizenship,

as members of the national family,

97 new Americans.

You've made it!

# Oh, beautiful

# For spacious skies... #

We all see clearly, all of us here, don't we,

that the rewards of living in our country have to be earned?

The promises of success and happiness

that brought you here from far away are achievable,

but they won't be free

and they won't come easily.

What you are receiving in becoming a citizen

is the opportunity to flourish.

Not the guarantee.

# America

# America... #

Out of many birthplaces, we are one.

Anyone here from Argentina?

Oh, right away!

Shake hands. You forgot the handshake.

-The handshake!

-Out of many ancestors...

..we are one.

-Burma? Burma!

-APPLAUSE

Did you leave anyone behind in Burma?

LAUGHTER

# Oh, beautiful... #

Out of many relationships, likes, dislikes,

personalities, out of many...

we are one.

Congo, Kinshasa.

-Oh, here, good. Oh!

-APPLAUSE

# America, America

# God shed her grace on thee... #

What a wonderful tie you have on.

# And crown thy good with sisterhood... #

APPLAUSE

You are America.

-# From sea to shining sea... #

-And no-one...

..no-one can take that away from you.

May God bless you,

and make God forever bless the United States of America.

-I thank you.

-CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

-I, state your name...

-Jose Lucende.

..hereby declare on oath...

..hereby declare on oath...

-Do you know now what it means to be an American?

-Oh, yes.

Oh, yes. I get it. I get it.

-Congratulations.

-Congratulations,

you're now citizens of the United States.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

I've been slightly bogged down by the negative aspects

that come through the news.

But when you see the people,

and when you hear educated people, with a sense of responsibility,

talking about their country,

and the obligation that each citizen owes to the country,

I get a sense of the pride and the reason for the pride in America.

I didn't get it before.

Now I do.

-Wow.

-You left the Congo behind today.

Yes. So now I can say I'm a native of the Congo,

but I'm a citizen of the United States because I pledge allegiance.

I took oath.

-Legally.

-Yes, you did.

In front of a federal judge.

I said this is my country now.

I could see that it meant something to you.

Thank you so very much.

It meant something to me, too.

-Thank you.

-I was, I was...

It was moving. I was in tears.

Me, too! It had a power.

It did, it did.

In fact I will ask my family, the day I die,

to bury me with this flag.

It has to go in my coffin.

-Well, we won't talk about dying.

-Ha!

He's thrilled.

He's buzzing.

He's ten foot tall.

This is the biggest moment of his life and it's wonderful!

To celebrate him becoming American, Jose's invited Miriam

to the neighbourhood's Fourth of July Independence Day party.

My first Fourth of July, you know...

-As an American.

-..as a US citizen.

-Yes.

-And it's big.

Bigger than big.

I know. HE LAUGHS

That's why we got the flag.

Exactly, exactly!