Episode 2 One Child

It is another boy who killed the African. It is not me.

-You were adopted, yes?

-Yes.

I have a message from your mother here in Guangzhou.

-Your brother is in trouble.

-What brother?

-You want to go and meet her?

-Yes, I do.

These are the statements of the witnesses.

Is this the only reason why I'm here?

-No, it's...

-She's not even looking at me.

-She's not my mother.

-She is your mother.

I know she's not because I don't feel it.

In three weeks, if no-one speaks for me, I will die.

I'll do everything I can for you.

These are the two men who have framed your brother -

Guan Peng and his brother, the chief of police.

If we can persuade one witness to tell the truth...

That one witness to change his evidence...

Then we have something to work on.

Thank you, sister.

Thank you.

May I join you?

Oh, hello.

I received a call last night from your mother and father,

concerned about you.

-Tea or coffee, sir?

-No, thank you.

I've now looked at your brother's case

and I am, of course, aware of the Citizens' Justice Movement.

They are a group of dissidents very much at odds with Beijing

and the authorities here in this city.

I have to advise you most strongly

not to get involved with these people.

You may think their aims are admirable

and, indeed, I might, too.

But as your father has already warned you,

the Chinese authorities are sensitive to criticism

and they don't look kindly on foreigners

interfering in domestic matters.

But my brother is going to be executed in two weeks

for a crime he didn't commit.

If the authorities find out you are with these people -

and they will, because these dissidents are known to them

and are watched - they will be very severe with you.

So I have suggested to your parents, and they have agreed,

that I will assist you in rearranging your ticket home.

I'm not ready to go home.

Well, that is something for you to discuss with your parents.

I have provisionally booked you on the evening flight to London

and I'll be holding that seat for you unless you tell me otherwise.

In the meantime,

don't meet anyone who you think might be a member

of the Citizens' Justice Movement.

And one more word of advice -

if you're thinking of going to the media when you get home,

for your brother's sake, don't.

For anyone here trying to save his life,

it'll make their task that much more difficult.

Call me if you need anything.

Where do I meet you?

CHATTER AND STREET SOUNDS

Speak to Samuel Abulu.

Baiyun Trading, Little Africa.

All the Africans are there.

Chinese don't like them, but they are cool people.

I am DJ assist, so I am like African now.

SHE SPEAKS IN MANDARIN

Baiyun Trading?

SHOUTING

SHOUTING AND GRUNTING

Excuse me.

-Do you know a Samuel Abulu?

-Who?

Samuel Abulu?

No, no, no.

Mr Abulu?

-Yes?

-I'm the sister of Li Jun.

Ajun. He works at the Space nightclub with Eddie, the DJ.

I don't know him.

You made a statement against him.

You told the police that he killed Mr Alozie.

-It wasn't my brother who killed him.

-Go away.

You didn't see my brother kill Mr Alozie.

-You saw another man kill him, didn't you?

-I said what I saw.

Go away from here.

You saw a man called Guan Xiaopeng kill your friend, didn't you?

You identified the wrong man.

Do not cause your trouble here.

Save my brother's life and tell the truth, please.

No-one is wanting to talk about this killing.

You asking your questions here is not welcome.

We are hard-working, innocent people.

Now go.

Get out.

See this man.

Who are you?

My name is Mei Ashley.

I've come here from London.

Are you Mr Ojo?

The president is in his office.

What do you want?

I have a very important personal message for him.

OK.

He is the president. Mr President -

it is how he must be addressed.

What do you want? I'm a very busy man here.

Thank you for agreeing to meet me, Mr President.

My brother, Li Jun, has been convicted of killing Mr Alozie.

-What is her name?

-What is your name?

Mei Ashley.

What?

I'm adopted English.

My brother is Li Jun and I've come here to China

to get him released from prison.

Why come to me?

I've been to the trading centre to look for the Nigerian witnesses,

to ask them to tell the truth.

Are you harassing my community?

Four Nigerians have signed statements saying

that my brother killed Mr Alozie and it is not true.

-My people are not liars

-I've only been asking...

I know what you are asking

and I am telling you now to stop it.

But they've signed statements that my brother has...

If an African lies to the Chinese police,

we are all in big trouble.

Do you think we are going to lie to them and get into trouble on purpose?

But four people from your country have signed statements...

If you come into my community again,

harassing my people,

asking them questions,

I will report you to the Chinese authorities and they will stop you.

OK?

-Please, Mr President...

-Mr Solomon Obihorra

will escort you from my office.

GUARD SPEAKS IN MANDARIN

GUARD SPEAKS IN MANDARIN

Speak to Tao. He will tell you what happened.

He's my best friend.

I know him all my life.

I was standing next to him when the African was killed.

He will tell the truth.

QIANYI:

HUANG SHEN:

QIANYI:

HUANG SHEN:

QIANYI:

Eddie?

My name's Mei.

OK.

I'm Ajun's sister.

His sister?

I was adopted to the UK and I've come here to help him.

Can we talk for a moment?

I have to do this.

I wanted to meet you because Ajun never stops talking about you.

He's very grateful, the way you help him,

letting him DJ with you,

teaching him English, hanging out with him.

He just thinks you're great.

So will you tell the truth for him?

-There's nothing I can do.

-He's going to be executed in two weeks.

-Lady, I can't even talk about it.

-Please. We can free him

if just one person changes his statement to tell the truth.

One person.

The African -

he doesn't have a choice how he lives here.

We go to church,

we pray, "God protect us."

But in this place, this city...

..our destiny is not in God's power.

-You understand me?

-But unless someone tells the truth,

my brother will be executed for something he didn't do.

You are not hearing me.

We also have brothers and sisters who will die

if we do not send money home to them,

pay for their medicines and everything,

so we don't mess with the police here.

When they tell you to do something, just do it.

FAINT MUSIC PLAYS

What we do now?

There's one man who might be able to help us.

But he's a private detective,

which in China is a very dangerous way to go.

QIANYI:

DONGPING:

QIANYI:

And if we could speak English now, for Mei's benefit.

Chang Hua is the lawyer who will be representing Ajun in court.

-How many witnesses?

-15.

Four of those are Xiaopeng and his friends.

Ah.

So, 11 witnesses.

Yes.

-How many Africans?

-Four.

So you are asking for seven Chinese and four Africans

to sign new statements?

-How many not signed?

-We don't know.

We know there is at least one member of staff,

Li Jun's friend Tao,

who has not been asked to make a statement.

You will need to change the evidence of all the witnesses.

Eventually we will have to, yes, we realise that.

But we thought that, if we could get just one witness

to change his statement first,

-I will then write the story...

-No. No time.

The court will need all the witnesses.

-But to change all the witnesses at once...

-It is your only option.

The only chance of success is to be more ruthless than Guan Peng.

He and his brother, the chief of police,

are the most powerful men in the province.

Five million yuan.

-We do not have anything like that money.

-£500,000?

The agency sets the charges.

But that is to commercial companies.

We're just private citizens.

To change the evidence of witnesses

when you're up against powerful men - difficult.

-I understand that, but you...

-Requires considerable investigation

-and pressure.

-Mr Lin...

I have just met my brother for the first time in my life

and I've been told that you're the only person who can now save him.

I can get some money from England,

as much as I can, everything I can.

I can borrow £5,000.

Can I pay you £5,000?

I know it's not much, but...

I beg you.

Can you do something for that?

The company will not negotiate.

What if you work outside your company,

in your spare time?

I'd pay you directly.

How much will you take?

10,000?

I'll pay you 10,000 to do just whatever you can.

Please.

50,000.

I don't have that money.

Please.

50,000.

SKYPE RINGTONE

It's Mei!

It's Mei.

-Mei!

-Hi, Mum.

-How are you?

-Hello, Mei!

Hi, Dad. There's a new plan.

-Oh, dear.

-You've been ignoring the advice

from the man at the consulate.

Because I've met a private investigator

who can get my brother off the charge and freed from jail.

This man will save his life.

-Just...

-This is all happening really fast for us, Mei.

Just hold on a minute. Just take us back to the beginning, will you?

I've only just met him and I've only just come back to my hotel.

But to get Ajun free,

it is going to cost me £50,000.

-To get him...free... What?

-What did you say?

It is going to cost me £50,000.

£50,000.

Well, who's going to pay for that?

Are you sure this detective isn't buying himself a Lamborghini?

It's not a scam, Dad.

Why do you keep thinking everything's a scam when it's not?

£50,000 - that's not a scam?

No, it's not.

And I'm going to pay for this. I am.

With what, your student loan?

Can I borrow it from you?

£50,000?!

That's our entire life savings, Mei, sad as it seems.

I will pay it all back when I'm working -

every penny of it.

£50,000, Mei, is all that's left out of 50 years of work...

-times two.

-Well, not 50 years.

-No, not 50 for Mum, but...

It's all we have.

Have you spoken to Mr Anderson about this?

No, because he's a useless git who's perfectly content to see

my brother go to his execution for a crime he did not commit!

I will pay every penny of it, but I need you to lend me the money.

This private detective will save his life.

£50,000 to save his life!

Please don't say you're not going to help me.

Please don't tell me that. Tell me anything else,

but don't tell me that. Mum, Dad, please.

-Mei, that's not realistic.

-But it IS real.

I didn't ask to be put in this situation here,

but I'm in it now. And if I don't do everything I can

to try and save him, then how can I live with myself after that?

Wouldn't you do the same if it was me, or each other?

Please, just do this for me.

-Darling...

-If you won't help me,

then how can I ever come back home to you?

SHE SOBS

This is...

This is a very intense and exciting time for her.

And the more she spends with her mother and her brother,

the more she's going to feel this is...

..her great moment in life.

So...

..if we're not going to support her now...

But to give her all we have...

SHE SIGHS

I think we should go over there,

whatever we decide about the money.

SHE SIGHS

There it is - our savings.

Look, that's all it is - a figure in a bank book. So, really...

..what else do we have but Mei?

Always the solution is to find the weakness.

These are the names of the Chinese witnesses

and these are the Africans.

Chocolate City.

Mr Tunde Adeola.

He trades T-shirts into Nigeria.

He also trades cocaine into Guangzhou.

He brings it through Hong Kong in the stomachs

and vaginas of Asian girls.

This man is half the solution.

All the Africans on this list will make statements

in favour of your brother

once we have convinced him to change his statement.

The other half of the solution - Chen Jin.

Manager of the Space Club.

All the Chinese on that list will also make statements

in favour of your brother once he has changed his statement.

Mr Chen and Mr Adeola together.

Why?

Because Mr Chen buys Mr Adeola's cocaine.

The penalty for smuggling drugs is death,

so we have the weakness.

Every month, in this apartment,

an exclusive party is given to businessmen who like to take drugs -

drugs which are provided by Mr Adeola.

Mr Chen owns this apartment.

A connection of mine provides the hostesses.

In that apartment, we have our evidence

and this is how we get it...

..with a hidden camera.

I can provide one hostess for the party.

One of you will be the hostess.

One of us?

Can you not provide a girl to do that?

Yes, but can I trust her

with your only opportunity to save your brother's life?

There is no girl I would trust for this.

They are not smart enough.

They will not take the risk.

They are only interested in themselves.

What does it mean to be a hostess, exactly?

These men pay 1,000 each

for one night and for that they get whatever they want -

whatever drug, whatever drink, whatever girl.

That is not answering my question, Mr Lin.

Are you saying Mei should be a prostitute?

Mr Chen employs migrant girls for sex and smart girls to charm.

Miss Ashley should go as hostess to charm.

You are asking Mei to do this?

She is from England. They will like her.

I do not have anyone else I can trust.

-Even so, the consequences for her if the party is raided...

-Raided?

Impossible.

There are too many men with good connections

for this place to be raided.

Once you have the evidence,

you can make your excuse and then leave.

This is not acceptable.

You are paying me to be successful, not acceptable.

Get this evidence and I will make everything else possible.

We will have your brother free.

No, Mr Lin. There has to be another way.

YING SPEAKS IN MANDARIN

This is the first time she has been to the orphanage

since the day she left you here.

YING SPEAKS IN MANDARIN

She's saying that she wrapped you warm in a basket.

She ran to the gates and then she hid,

and she waited outside until someone had picked you up and taken you in.

YING SPEAKS IN MANDARIN

Her heart was pounding, but it was only about five minutes waiting.

A nurse came out and she picked you up very carefully.

YING SPEAKS IN MANDARIN

But now you are here again.

To live this day today with you here, to live this day,

never did I dare to dream this.

CHATTER AND BUSTLE

YING SPEAKS IN MANDARIN

I'll do it.

I'll do it.

We will stay right here until you come out.

As soon as you get the shots, you must leave.

CHATTER

Is this Paula?

Yes.

You are from London?

Yes.

Customers like their girls from London.

Are you a virgin?

No.

OK. Come.

Only one rule.

Anything they want, you give, OK?

Take off your clothes.

Your clothes, go.

I'm a hostess, not a prostitute.

We only have hostesses here.

Do you want to go, huh? You want to go?

-No.

-OK.

So take off your clothes.

And the rest. Go.

Hurry up.

Turn around.

Put this on.

Bathroom is next door.

What are you doing here?

I was looking for the bathroom.

You know where the bathroom is. This is not your area.

GIRL CRIES OUT IN THE DISTANCE

PHONE BUZZES

QIANYI:

MR LIN:

GIRL SPEAKS IN MANDARIN

HE PANTS

HE GRUNTS AND PANTS

HE MOANS

DOOR OPENS

DOOR OPENS

DOOR CLOSES

PHONE BUZZES

CHEN JIN AND HOSTESS SPEAK IN MANDARIN

I need cocaine.

It's only for the clients.

I'll pay for it.

If you want.

You must have it here.

I've done it.

You got them on camera?

Both of them?

Yes. I got everything.

Mr Lin, you lied to me.

Would you have gone if I told you the truth?

Did you not ask me to do whatever it takes?

You'd better deliver for me.

PHONE BUZZES

PHONE DIAL TONE

Still nothing?

No.

Perhaps we should call Anderson.

We haven't done the right thing, have we?

She's discovering something really huge in her life,

something that will sweep her away from us.

I'm not blaming her for it.

But the moment she came home and mentioned her birth mother,

I just saw this whole scenario opening up.

And we've just been holding her for a little while.

Children do go.

Parents can lose their meaning.

I'd better call Anderson.

What does it take for her to send a text?

I'll call him know. It'll be early, but...

You can ask him how long that visa is going to take.

We can't just wait here and do nothing.

-Hey, what are you doing?

-Who is this man?

You again.

-FROM COMPUTER:

-It is only for the clients.

If you want, you must have it here.

-This is not me, eh?

-Of course it is you. Anybody can see it is you.

-This is not cocaine.

-Then what is it?

-I have nothing to do with cocaine.

-This recording is going

to the Ministry Of Public Security in Beijing.

Look, these are lies. They're trying to set me up.

You cannot show this to the ministry.

My cousin will be executed.

My office will be shut down.

My whole community will be punished.

There are four Nigerian witnesses to the murder of Chike Alozie.

Tell them to change their statements

and I will destroy this.

Mr Lin, I have been living in Guangzhou for eight years.

I have a very important position in this city.

As the president of the China-Nigeria Commerce Association,

I was approached by Mr Guan Xin

and he told me to change the evidence to protect his nephew.

Mr Guan Xin is the head of the security division in Guangdong.

He threatened all of our lives here.

He said the witnesses would be deported,

incarcerated, everything, if they did not sign.

He even threatened ME with deportation.

You may be deported,

but Mr Adeola will be executed

if you do not do what I tell you.

Please. I am trying to protect my people here.

I am trying to protect them from Guan Xin.

Now you'll have to protect them from this.

There are 25,000 Africans in my community.

He will punish us all if you ask me to do this. I can't do this.

That is very bad news for your cousin.

Joseph, they will execute me.

Tell the truth

and tell the others to do the same.

Why did you get caught in this stupid way?

Look at what trouble you have caused me!

Mr Lin.

It is a very difficult life for us all here.

We try to do the best we can.

-Your life here is not my problem.

-We are all very poor men,

doing the best for our families back home in Nigeria.

Your families in Nigeria are not my problem.

-I should let him take this to the police.

-Joseph, they will execute me.

And I should let them do it! You are destroying my life here!

Mr Lin,

if I ask these boys to sign,

we will be signing away our lives here.

We will be forsaking our families.

They will not do it.

Make them do it.

Mr Lin, I am begging you, please.

OK.

I will agree.

I will do this.

Leave it with me.

I will wait.

-But two of the men are not here.

-Call the others.

-They may not be able to come.

-Not my problem.

This is making me happy.

It's making me at peace with my God.

Thank you.

Boy deserves the truth.

Everyone deserves the truth.

They are all saying I did not kill Chike?

Yes, they've changed their statements.

-Did Tao say this thing too?

-Oh, Tao, Tao, Tao!

-And Eddie?

-Eddie said the same.

Yes! Eddie, my good friend.

All the Africans and everyone working in the club

are now supporting you.

I will be free.

Is it really true?

The judges will have no choice but to accept the new statements.

And you have a new lawyer for the appeal - her name is Chang Hua.

She'll be at the Higher Court for you.

Everyone is supporting me now.

She's so happy that we're all together at last.

Now we can really start to dream. Man!

I tell her about London.

Man, I'll rock the city.

She doesn't know what I do when I say I DJ with Eddie.

I want you both to come to London. Tell her.

I'm so happy we're all together.

I'm going to take her away from this life.

Now she can rest

because I will look after her.

We'll do that together.

Yes.

We'll look after her together.

THEY LAUGH

SKYPE RINGTONE

Mei. Mei!

It IS Mei!

-Hi, Mum.

-Hi!

-Hey.

-Hi, Dad.

-Hi, sweetheart.

-How are you?

-How are YOU?

-I'm great.

What's happening?

I just want to say thank you.

Thank you, thank you for lending me the money.

I'll pay it back, all of it,

but I'm so grateful to you.

Well, we're pleased to hear that, honey, but what is happening?

What is not happening?

You telling us anything that is happening.

The detective we hired has now got all the witnesses

to make new statements in support of Ajun.

Really? Well, that's wonderful!

And we're ready for the court, for the appeal.

It's amazing.

-It's amazing.

-Does that mean he's going to be released?

That's what the lawyers have told me, yes.

-Oh, that is wonderful.

-That is wonderful.

So thank you. Thank you.

Have you spoken to Mr Anderson?

I don't want to speak to him.

-We think that you should call him.

-Why?

Why? Because none of us know where you are.

Where are you, Mei?

I'm at Qianyi's. I've been staying with her for a couple of days.

-But you're not answering your phone.

-I'm sorry.

It's just been...

crazy.

Are you all right?

You're not, you?

Have you seen your mother again?

Yes.

Yes, I have. I have.

It's not that.

-Mei, what's going on?

-I'm OK.

I'm OK.

I went to the orphanage with her.

Right.

It was...

She cried and...

I held her and...

it was lovely.

It was like a pain in me all these years, gone.

That's what it was like.

I can understand that.

And now if I can get Ajun out of prison,

and free for her,

it would be the best thing I could ever do in my life.

The best thing ever.

Well, it sounds like you're going to achieve that.

Yes, I am.

I couldn't have abandoned her and come home. I had to do this.

Mei, we're coming out to see you.

We're going to London now to pick up our visas.

Why?

-Because...

-You don't have to do that.

Well, we are. We're doing it. And the flight's all booked,

-and we'll be coming out, and...

-Mum, Dad, you don't have to do this.

By the time you get here, I'll be coming home.

-No, it's already booked. It's... We're ready to go.

-No!

I'm OK.

Please, let me do this on my own.

It looks very positive.

-JIM:

-You don't understand the trouble you're in.

-KATHERINE:

-There's nothing anyone can do, least of all you!

The Chinese authorities will come for you

if you do not leave the country!