One Child (2014) s01e02 Episode Script

Ajun: It is another boy who killed the African.
It is not me.
- You were adopted? - 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.
(Speaking Chinese) - She is not my mother.
- She is your mother.
Three weeks, no one speaks for me, I will die.
I'll do everything I can for you.
Thank you, sister.
(Speaking Chinese) Qianyi: He is telling you, that it is a case we cannot win.
Mei: He is his lawyer.
Why? (Speaking Chinese) Quan Phong's connections are too powerful.
So, why did he put in an appeal in the first place? Because there is always an appeal.
And that's it? The only reason? Qianyi: He's paid by the government whatever happens.
So if he is not going to win, he doesn't see the point in doing anything.
So, - he's completely useless.
- Yes.
What about the British consulate? Ask him if I should go there.
(Speaking Chinese) He says it is a good idea, that we should do that.
(Doors clanging) (Sighs) Man: I appreciate your situation, but there really is nothing the consulate can do for you.
- But as he's my brother - And not a British subject, so we have no call to interfere with the local judicial process.
But he was just plucked out of the air to take the place of the killer.
He is completely innocent.
Unfortunately, we do hear of this sort of thing happening from time to time.
But as I say, it's purely an internal matter for the Chinese authorities.
So, you'll have to take it up with them.
But Qianyi says, there is no one in authority who will take it up.
Well, yes, and that is sometimes the reality, I'm afraid.
So I'm sorry.
So you I'm really sorry, but I can't be of any help to you.
You must be able to do something.
- Can't you help unofficially? - Whatever I do here, I'm still a representative of the British government.
- And so - You must have some connections.
- Someone who - The use of connections is always compromising.
And it would be unethical of me, to place myself as a British government official in that kind of position.
I really am sorry.
It's, uh, it's terribly upsetting, I know.
(Indistinct chatter) (Speaking Chinese) (Speaking Chinese) She wants to know how Ajun is.
He asked me to send his love to you.
(Speaking Chinese) She's thanking you for seeing him.
Tell her that I know he's innocent.
(Speaking Chinese) And that when I saw him, I saw him as my brother.
(Speaking Chinese) Mei: And I'll fight for him as my brother.
(Speaking Chinese) She'll come back in a minute.
She just didn't want to You know, in front of us.
Are you okay? (Sobbing) (Speaking Chinese) She wants to show you something.
(Speaking Chinese) She's saying that she came here from Hunan province, to work in the factories.
And she met your father Lin An Shuang.
When they were married, they were given a birth permit.
If you had a permit, you were allowed one child.
(Speaking Chinese) Qianyi: Your father's family decided that this child must be a boy, so when you were born, she knew she would have to give you away.
She remembers the tears, because she knew even the first time she was feeding you, she was having to say goodbye to you.
After two weeks, she said she fed you for the last time.
She wrapped you up so were warm, and took you to the orphanage.
She left you at the entrance and she waited until someone picked you up and took you inside.
(Speaking Chinese) Qianyi: She asks if you understand.
(Speaking Chinese) She says that to leave you, at the orphanage, was the saddest moment in her life.
(Speaking Chinese) Qianyi: She says she made a mark on your body with a candle before she left you, hoping, one day, it would bring you back to her.
She would never ask this, but it would make her happy to see the mark.
(Sobbing) (Speaking Chinese) Qianyi: She says that she has spent every day of your life thinking about you.
I'm just going to go out there for a moment.
No, stay here.
(Softly) Two minutes.
(Speaking Chinese) (Sniffles) I've got to get him released.
There are some people I want you to meet.
Dongping: We are safe out here in the open.
But we have to be careful.
We're always being monitored.
So just act normal.
My name is Dongping.
I am a journalist.
Hua and Da Jen, are lawyers.
Chen is a businessman, and Nguyen is a scientist.
We are members of the Citizen's Justice movement.
It was formed by a man named Jiang Zhen.
- Have you heard of him? - No.
He set it up to campaign against corruption in the courts and in the offices of government.
To create an accountable and Democratic society.
What we failed to achieve at the Tiananmen Square, we can achieve through campaigning on cases, like your brother's.
If we expose the truth in society in the courts, case by case, we may see the beginning of a profound change in civic society.
And in freeing your brother, we can bring down the two most corrupt men in our city.
These are the two men who have framed your brother.
Quan Phong and his brother Quan Shin, the chief of police.
Cheng Hua: If any one of us as individuals, tries to take them on, they will imprison us, remove us from our jobs and have our license to practice law revoked.
They can destroy our livelihoods, just like that.
But acting together in the Citizen's Justice movement, we can bring them down.
If we can persuade one witness to tell the truth That one witness to change his evidence.
Then we have something to work on.
What we are asking you to do, and our best chance is to use you, as the sister of Ajun, go with Qianyi, find that one witness for us.
And if you succeed, we will use all our influence to get your brother freed.
(Keyboard keys clattering) (Cellphone ringing) Katherine: Hi, Mei.
Jim: Hello, Mei, dad here.
Hi, mum.
Hi, dad.
Katherine: What is happening? Nothing at the moment.
What do you mean "nothing"? Mei: I'm just in my hotel room.
Jim: When are you coming home? Have you changed your flight yet? - Mei: No.
- Why not? I've been doing other things.
Katherine: Anything you want to tell us about? Well, it's difficult.
I met my birth mother again.
- Katherine: How was that? - It was okay.
Katherine: What do you mean "okay"? Why was it difficult? I said it was okay, not difficult.
- Other things are difficult.
- What things? Mei: Nothing.
I just got back into my hotel, and I need time to think.
Okay, and we appreciate that, Mei, but you have to give us more information than this.
I can't really talk about it on the phone.
Katherine: Well, why don't you try? Because I don't feel I can, at the moment.
I don't know what to think.
And as I've said, I've only just come back into my hotel.
Who else have you been meeting? No one.
Why? Because we're both extremely anxious here.
You don't have to be.
Katherine: So what else have you been doing, that you haven't had time to plan when you're coming back? - Nothing else.
- You must be doing something.
Mum, I'm not.
What about the situation with your brother, what's happening with that? - I don't know.
- Mei, any foreigner trying to interfere with domestic affairs will just bring trouble upon themselves.
Serious trouble.
We've looked up cases on the Internet, Mei.
And if your friend out there thinks that you can make any difference I don't need this advice.
I know what is happening here, and I know how to look after myself.
- But if you don't - Oh, God, please! (Dial tone) Jim: Oh.
We need to do something here.
Did you find a name at the consulate? I'll do that right now.
(Sighs) (Sighing) (Indistinct chatter) Man: May I join you? Oh, hello.
I received a call last night from your mother and father, concerned about you.
- Waitress: Tea or coffee, sir? - Uh, no, thank you.
I've now looked at your brother's case.
And I am, of course, aware of the Citizen's 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's 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 that you're 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 your parents and they've agreed, that I will assist you in re-arranging you 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 Citizen's Justice movement.
And one more word of advice, if you are 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? (Indistinct chatter) Qianyi: We'll find Ajun's friend, Samuel Abulu here.
The local people call it, "Chocolate City.
" All the African traders live here, many of them illegally.
(Speaking Chinese) (Panting) (Yelling) (Grunting) Excuse me, do you know a Samuel Abulu? - Hmm? - Samuel Abulu.
No, no, no.
Mei: 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.
Olosi.
It wasn't my brother who killed him.
Go away.
You didn't see my brother kill Mr.
Olosi.
- You saw another man kill him, didn't you? - I said what I saw.
- Go away from here.
- You saw a man called Quan Chau Phong 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 hardworking, innocent people.
Now, go.
Get out.
See this man.
(Indistinct chatter) (Machine beeping) (Door closes) 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.
(Door closes) Okay.
He is the president, Mr.
President, it is how he must be addressed.
(Indistinct chatter) 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.
Olosi.
- What is her name? Solomon: 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 center to look for 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.
Olosi and it is not true.
My people are not liars.
- I've only been asking - I know what you are asking.
And I'm 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.
Okay? - Please, Mr.
President - Mr.
Solomon Ibori, will escort you from my office.
(Speaking Chinese) (Lock clicks) Ajun: 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.
Eddie? My name's Mei.
Okay.
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, 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? Look, 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 the 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're 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.
What do 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.
And if we could speak English now, for Mei's benefit.
Cheng Hua is the lawyer, who will be representing Ajun in court.
- How many are witnesses? - Fifteen.
Four of those are Chau Phong and his friends.
Ah.
So, 11 witnesses.
Cheng Hua: Yes.
- How many Africans? - Four.
So you're asking for seven Chinese and four Africans, to sign new statements.
How many not sign? Qianyi: We don't know.
We know there's 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 realize 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.
Your only chance of success is to be more ruthless than Quan Phong 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.
Five hundred thousand pounds.
The agency sets the charges.
But that is to commercial companies.
We're just private citizens.
To change the evidence of witnesses when you are up against powerful men, difficult.
- I understand that.
But - Require considerable investigation.
And pressure.
Mr.
Lin, I have just met my brother for the first time in my life.
I have been told that you are 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 5000 pounds.
Can I pay you 5000 pounds? 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'll pay you directly.
How much will you take? Ten thousand? I'll pay you ten thousand to do just whatever you can, please.
Fifty thousand.
I don't have that money.
Please.
Fifty thousand.
(Phone ringing) (Loudly) It's Mei, it's Mei.
- Katherine: Mei.
- Hi, mom.
- Katherine: How are you? - Jim: Hello, Mei.
Hi dad, there's a new plan.
Jim: 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.
- Katherine: Mei, this is - Jim: This is - All happening really fast for us, Mei.
- Just, just hold on for a minute, Mei, just take us back to the beginning, will you? I've only just met him and I've only just come back to the hotel.
But to get Ajun free, it is going to cost me 50,000 pounds.
- To get him free, what? - What, what, what did you say? It is going to cost me 50,000 pounds.
Fifty thousand pounds.
Well, who's, who's gonna 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 is a scam when it's not? Fifty thousand pounds, that's not a scam? No, it's not and I'm going to pay for this, I am.
Katherine: With what? Your student loan? Can I borrow it from you? Fifty thousand pounds? That's our entire life savings, Mei, sad as that seems.
I will pay it all back when I'm working.
Every penny of it.
Fifty thousand pounds, Mei, is all that's left out of 50 years of work, - times two.
- Well, not fifty Jim: Not for mum, but - It's all we have.
- Fifty 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.
Fifty thousand pounds 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? For each other? Please, just do this for me.
- Darling - If you don't help me then how can I ever come back home to you? (Beeps) (Crying) (Sobs) This is Uh, this 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 Got to give her all we have.
(Sighs) I think we should go over there.
Whatever we decide about the money.
(Exhales loudly) Here it is.
Our savings.
Well, that's all it is, it's a figure in a bank book.
It's really What else do we have, but Mei? (Doorbell rings) Always the solution is to find a weakness.
These are the names of the Chinese witnesses.
And these are the Africans.
Chocolate City.
Mr.
Tunde Adiola, 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 favor 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 favor of your brother, once he has changed his statement.
Mr.
Chen and Mr.
Adiola together.
Why? Because Mr.
Chen buys Mr.
Adiola'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.
Adiola.
Now, 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're only interested in themselves.
What does it mean to be a hostess, exactly? These men, pay 1000 dollars 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.
Ms.
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.
(Speaking Chinese) Qianyi: This is the first time she has been to the orphanage, since the day she left you here.
(Speaking Chinese) Qianyi: She's saying that she wrapped you warm in a basket, she ran to the gate and then she hid.
And she waited outside until someone had picked you up and taken you in.
(Speaking Chinese) Qianyi: Her heart was pounding, but it was only about five minutes waiting.
A nurse came out and she picked you up very carefully.
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.
(Indistinct chatter) (Speaking Chinese) I'll do it.
I'll do it.
Katherine: 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, just saw this whole scenario opening up.
Mei: 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.
I will be free.
Is it really true?