Small Axe (2020) s01e05 Episode Script

1
These are the stars of Andromeda,
our home,
places made familiar
through centuries of galactic travel.
But this is no ordinary journey
because we are heading
out of charted territory,
through vast clouds of hydrogen
to the very limits of our galaxy.
- Whoa!
- Look at that one.
And there, as we emerge,
are the galaxies
of our neighbors beyond.
And now we're out far enough to see
in perspective the place we've just left,
the beautiful spiral formation
of Andromeda.
Goodbye, Andromeda.
We'll be gone a long time,
for our voyage will carry us through
two and a half million light-years
of intergalactic void.
Activating the onboard replay scanner,
we're able to compress time
and watch a stellar birth.
A nuclear heart is beginning to beat.
Twenty-five minutes now to eight,
and I've got four big stars
on the program today,
and first off is Libra.
And Librans are going
they're going to find people
charming to chat to today,
and if you're a Libra,
you'll have no trouble
in collecting followers or admirers.
And I hope that you're
putting your street in
for our new contest which is
called Keep the Capital Clean.
We're not really looking for
a complete facelift of your street,
just some indications that you care
about the street that you live in.
So why don't you enter,
and send your nomination
to Keep Britain Tidy
- You want tea?
- Ah, no.
box 194 in London,
here at Capital Radio.
And the Keep Britain Tidy people
at Capital Radio
are going to be doing the judging,
and the prize is a street party
with Capital's DJs attending
You always take so long. It's not fair!
Blah-dee-blah-dee-blah.
I just need to wash and brush my teeth.
Kingsley, go away!
I'm telling Mum!
Bathroom's free!
- Finally.
to music,
and love is the drug.
It's 21 minutes now before 8:00,
and if you're going off to school, uh,
and maybe you've got a few minutes
before you have to catch the bus,
well, hang on just a moment
because what I'd like to know is
of any special events that’s being
organized at your school this week
that may be open to members
of the public,
such as a school play
or maybe a sports event.
Now, if there is one at your school
and you know about it
and you'd like everybody else
to know about it,
then call me at Capital Radio right now
and we may give you the chance
to tell London about
what's going on at your school.
The number: three-double-eight-
one-two-nine-five, call now
- Eat breakfast!
- No time. Bye-bye!
All right, I'm going.
- See you later, Dad.
- See you.
- I'm late!
- Eat breakfast!
- Morning.
- Morning.
"There is a path through
the willows and among the sycamores,
a path beaten hard by boys
coming down from the highway
in the evening to jungle-up near water.
In front of the low horizontal limb
of a giant sycamore
there is an ash pile made by
many fires;
the limb is worn smooth
by men who have sat on it.
Evening of a hot day started the little
winds to moving among the leaves.
The shade climbed up the hills
towards the top.
On the sand banks the rabbits sat
as quietly as little gray
scup scuptured stones."
"Sculptured," not "scuptured," Sajid.
"sculptured stones."
You big blockhead, Kingsley.
- Blockhead.
It's page page two.
Second paragraph down.
"And then"
- Blockhead.
"And then
And then fr
Then f-fr-fro
- And then"
- Samantha,
please continue.
"And then from the direction
of the state highway
came the sound of footsteps
on crisp sycamore leaves.
The rabbits hurried noiselessly for cover.
A stilted heron labored up
into the air and pounded down river.
For a moment the place was lifeless"
So, guys, what do you want to do
when you grow up?
I dunno. What about you, Kingsley?
I want to be an astronaut.
You can't have a black man in space.
Who told you that?
Calm down.
Lads, all right.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
I mean, I've got
a lot of science homework to do.
Ready. One, two.
London's burning,
London's burning ♪
Fetch the engines,
fetch the engines ♪
Fire, fire! Fire, fire! ♪
Pour on water,
pour on water ♪
My dic-tionary ♪
Will you suck my dic-tionary? ♪
I beg your pardon!
Repeat what you just said.
Go on, Smith, I dare you.
Nothing, Mr. Hamley.
You lying little bugger.
I heard what you just said,
and it's disgusting,
and it's unacceptable,
and it has no place in this classroom!
Come with me!
Get out!
Go on, get out!
Right! Continue!
From the top.
London's burning,
London's burning ♪
Fetch the engines,
fetch the engines ♪
Father God, thank you for today.
Thank you for blessing us.
Please send your angels to watch
over our bed, doors and windows.
Protect us and keep us safe.
Help us to have sweet dreams.
In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Dear God, I'm sorry I was naughty today,
but if I'm a good boy can I please
be an astronaut like Neil Armstrong?
And also play for Tottenham. Amen.
Dear God, thank you for today.
I thank you that I got good marks
in the test.
Please can you help me
to keep getting good marks
so I can into Chelsea School of Art,
please, please, please?
Then I can work my way up
in the fashion world,
and then I can go to Paris
to one of the fashion houses,
like Yves Saint Laurent,
and travel the world looking for fabrics.
Then I can design my own range
and become world-renowned
and rich and famous,
but not arrogant.
And please can you bless Mummy
and Daddy and Kingsley, too.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Mrs. Smith.
The Headmaster is ready for you now.
Mrs. Smith, don't believe we've met.
Unfortunately, I've met you a great many
more times than I should have,
haven't I, young man?
I came as soon as was possible.
The lady on the phone
spoke of an emergency?
Now, I'm a fair man, Mrs. Smith.
Christian man,
and I'm sure we can understand
each other on that account.
So, whilst we could make this
all about your son's behavior,
the many complaints I receive
about his disruptive influence
on the classroom,
I'm pleased instead
to talk about second chances.
Mrs. Smith, I can see that
Kingsley is not a bad child.
He's, uh a bit lively, perhaps.
But you see, our school participates
in all manner of tests,
including intelligence tests.
Now, Kingsley's IQ results
suggest that his particular needs
are going to be better served by a school
specifically established
to meet his requirements.
Special School.
I don't want to go to a special school.
- I'll work hard, Mummy, I promise.
- Kingsley.
A Special School is called special
for a very good reason.
Smaller classes. More focused teaching.
What was this test you mentioned?
The IQ test is an intelligence test
designed, well, designed to test
the general intelligence
of any age group across the population.
Now, I'm afraid Kingsley, uh,
Kingsley scored well below average.
My son sometimes doesn't
get things right the first time.
Can't he take the test again?
No, it doesn't work like that, no.
It's a it's a one-off exam,
but adjudicated independently,
so we know it's fair.
Now, it's in Kingsley's best interest
that he be transferred to another school.
Fortunately, we can do this straightaway.
Who who decided this?
Can I speak to them?
I am the messenger
of good news here, Mrs. Smith.
I shouldn't have to remind you of that.
Please.
Take a look.
How's he supposed to get
to Barnet and back every day?
Nothing like that to worry about,
Mrs. Smith, no.
A bus leaves from outside the school here,
brings him back at the end of every day.
This is a great opportunity for you,
young man.
I don't know what
they call me down here for.
Emergency for good news?
Don't make no sense.
- You can't let them, Mum.
- Don't even!
When are you going to grow up
and be more like your sister, hmm?
Nothing but a heap of trouble!
- But it wasn't only me.
The teachers just pick on me.
Take this and go straight home.
I ain't got time for any of this.
I got to go to work.
It's true, Mummy.
Give me the ball, man.
Hello, Mrs. Jones.
How are you doing today? Okay?
I'll just check your pulse here.
Stephanie!
Why are you making so much noise?
You're gonna wake Mummy.
Mummy's at work!
I've been kicked out of school!
Be quiet, Kingsley.
That's not funny. Mummy's sleeping.
Mummy's not here!
She had to meet the headmaster,
and it's really shit.
They're sending me to a stupid school.
Stop swearing in the house.
You're gonna get us both killed.
I don't care. Mummy's not here!
Oh, my God.
What's going on?
I'm trying to tell you,
they're sending me to a stupid school.
They gave me this.
Two kids from my school
got sent to a school like this.
What does it say?
What, you want me to read it for you?
I have read it. I want to hear it.
You don't fool me. Um
"There is a school in Durrants catering
for kids with special educational needs,"
like not being able to read, Kingsley,
"since 1922."
I don't have special needs.
I can read when I know the word.
It's a school for idiots, isn't it?
Hmm. There's a swimming pool.
- I hate swimming.
- No, wait, wait.
"After 60 years, suspicion
and ignorance has given way
to enlightenment and acceptance that
Durrants is first and foremost a School."
What does that even mean?
"First and foremost a School."
Why would you only put "School"
in capital letters?
Wh why you not in bed?
I'm tired, tired, tired,
and I have to work to my other job
just to put the shoes on your feet
and pay for this house!
I'm not doing this for you
to make a fool of me! Now
go to bed!
- Go to bed!
Nothin' but a heap of trouble!
Fine.
What do we have first,
maths or English?
- Guess we'll be late.
- Oh.
Hey, look who's here.
Kingsley! Kingsley, over here!
That's so unfair.
You don't have to wear
a school uniform anymore.
- We're here to say good luck.
- Shut up.
- I mean it.
- Yeah.
By the look of your new friends,
- you're gonna need it.
- Young man,
- you going to Durrants?
- Yeah.
See ya!
Shut up.
See ya.
- Ha-ha-ha!
- Shut up.
Good morning everyone,
and welcome to your new school,
Durrants.
Is everyone excited?
My name's Mr. Block,
and I'm in charge of
all you new pupils here,
and we'll be sending you
to your classrooms a bit later.
But now, and this is nothing
for you to worry about,
but we're gonna start the day
with a few exercises
in order to understand you better.
That sound all right?
Let's start then, shall we?
Hands up if you can tell me
what this says.
What does it say?
- "Ambulance."
Very good. Ambulance.
Ambulances take people to hospital
in an emergency.
- Now, what about you, Kingsley
can you tell me what
this one says?
Do you know which letters they are?
Uh what is this first one?
- It says "exit."
Wasn't asking you, Nina.
I was asking Kingsley.
What what's this first letter here?
It says exit. I knew that.
But I want to know
what this first letter is now.
If you knew what it said,
why didn't you say?
"I walked and walked and what did I see?
I saw John, and John saw me.
'Come and play, ' he said.
'Come and play with me.'
I walked and walked and what did I see?
I saw Mother, and Mother saw me.
'Come home, ' she said.
'Come home with me.'
John said, 'I like big trains.
I like little trains.'"
Right, everyone. That's lunch.
I'm starving.
Hey!
Hey! Hey!
I catch anyone climbing that fence,
there'll be hell to pay.
- Do you understand?
- Yes.
When you hear a loud whistle like this
you come back here.
- Got it?
- Yeah. Yep.
Get on with it, then.
But what are we supposed to do?
Do what you want.
Go and swing from the trees
like you're back home in the jungle,
for all I care.
Just don't break any bones.
Kingsley!
Kingsley, we know you're in there!
I hope he's all right.
My brother says once you're
in them schools, that's it.
Your whole life's finished.
What are you talking about?
That you can't get a job or nothin'.
And no one ever takes you seriously
'cause they always know inside
that you're thick.
- You can't get married or nothin'.
Who wants to get married? Shut up!
What are you lot
still hanging about for?
Get lost, the pair of you.
You heard. Scram.
Scram yourself, you fat git.
- Go, go!
- You had to say it.
All right, son, coast is clear.
Go on, off you get. I want to go home.
They'll get bored soon enough.
On Friday,
we didn't do anything all day.
Nothing. The teacher came
into the classroom after assembly
for about ten seconds.
We just sat all morning doing nothing.
Well, come on, it can't be that bad.
What about the other children?
They make animal noises. It's so boring.
Well, you used to say
your last school was boring.
Yeah, but this isn't even a school.
It's not a school if the teachers
don't teach you anything.
What are you two chatting about?
Why haven't you laid the table?
Kingsley, go upstairs and finish
tidy your room. I tell you before.
Mummy.
I'm really worried
about Kingsley's new school.
What you know about Kingsley's new school?
What you should be worried about
is taking down the hem of that skirt
- and making it the right length.
And before you go to bed tonight,
bring down that skirt, let me see it.
But I decided to do it on fashion.
You know, like, my kind of fashion?
But they said I had to team up with
someone, so I had to do it with Beverley,
even though she's not interested
in fashion design.
But she doesn't argue with me.
Fashion?
Kingsley, I'm arranging for you
to come with me on Thursday,
meet Charlie.
I'm gonna bring you over to him
and he's going to teach you.
Why you twist up your face so?
Carpentry's a good trade.
Good money.
But, Daddy,
don't you think it's good to maybe
stay in school and go to college?
School is very important.
But it's Sunday and we're at the table.
Well, what do you think, Kingsley?
What do you think
about Nathan Matthews?
- Who's Nathan Matthews?
- What did I just say?
I've had enough of
Stephie, go get the Mauby from the fridge.
Get back!
Hello! I'm sorry if I gave you a shock.
I've been waiting here for five minutes
for someone to let me in.
Wait a minute, where are you off to?
I'm not a teacher.
Don't worry, I won't tell anyone,
if you can help me.
What's your name?
Kingsley.
Kingsley, what's your surname?
Why?
I'm interested in names, I suppose.
But you are right to ask.
Shall we go back inside?
What school were you at before?
Bygate Hill.
I know it. That's a long way away.
Yeah, it's rubbish. But I don't mind.
- What's your name again?
- Hazel Lewis.
Now, I better find the headmaster.
He isn't in today.
He wasn't in assembly either.
I see. Can you help me
find the staff room?
- Where you been?
- The toilet. Everybody shut up.
No, you didn't. I checked in the toilet,
and you weren't there.
Where is your teacher?
He never comes to class no more.
Sometimes he does.
Only sometimes.
Dear, oh, dear.
I think everyone should
sit back down now, please.
Are you a teacher?
I was a teacher, yes.
Not here, but back home
in British Guiana, I was.
I'm a psychologist now.
Can anyone tell me
what a psychologist is?
I hate psychologists.
So do I.
I am disappointed.
What about teachers?
Do you hate them too?
- Yeah, they suck.
- They're the worst.
And what is your name?
Nina Edmunds, Miss.
Who are you?
Call me Hazel.
Do I know your mummy?
What's her name?
Jemima.
Jemima Edmunds. Yes.
Are you Black?
Of course I am.
She's definitely Black.
Like I am, and you are as well.
I'm not.
You are.
Nina.
I can't speak for you
but I do know
that I am definitely Black.
I am Black, and I love being Black.
But first I need to know.
I need everybody to tell me your names.
Your full names, and your old schools.
- And
- And
everybody's parents' names.
And, yes,
Kingsley Smith, that too.
- Suspiciously quiet in here.
What are you doing here?
We've been round the houses
looking for you.
You were supposed
to come to the staff room,
not speak to the bloody children.
Excuse me?
Mister?
That's Mr. Baines.
Mr. Baines. Of course it is.
I was looking for the staff room
when I found instead
a room full of unsupervised children.
Shall we go then?
Kingsley? What are you doing?
Excuse me?
- Drawing.
- Drawing what?
Drawing, Mummy.
You can watch television
until Stephanie come home.
I have to go.
Give me the ball.
Give me the ball then.
Give me the ball then.
Mrs. Smith? I'm sorry if I disturbed you.
Do you remember me? Lydia Thomas.
Last time I saw you, I think,
was at my cousin's wedding
in Shepherd's Bush.
- I'm sorry to keep you.
- That's all right.
I don't have any biscuits.
Oh, biscuits don't last a minute
in my home.
I don't know if you remember
but I used to be involved in politics.
Oh, I remember.
Yes, well, now,
because of my children,
more than anything,
I've become more and more
concerned with matters educational.
I'm sorry to have to tell you
that some schools in London
are saying that their academic standards
are being eroded by
the West Indian children in their classes.
You see? The system
is already stacked against them.
I always tell my children they have to
work harder to overcome such things.
Hm. But when the system is designed
to go against them
sometimes it doesn't matter
how hard they try.
The system wants them to fail.
The organization I work for
is trying to do something about
these extra challenges
that our children face.
That's very good for you, Mrs. Thomas,
but I don't see what
that's got to do with me.
Oh. Beg your pardon.
Um, it's just that we understand
that your son, Kingsley,
now attends Durrants school.
How do you know that?
We we've set up a small organization
to try and find out the names
of the children who've been sent
to these schools.
Sometimes,
some of us go into the schools
to try and get this information,
Mrs. Smith,
so that we can come and speak
directly to the parents.
Like my colleague, Hazel Lewis,
who met Kingsley.
Kingsley has settled in just fine.
I don't remember the last time
I hear him complain about school.
Well, that can be quite common
in Kingsley's age group.
Especially under such
difficult circumstances.
Kingsley don't know about difficult.
He's a child. He's just at school.
But that's just it.
It's not a school.
Well, or at least not one
any of us would recognize.
As this book by Bernard Coard,
a Grenadian,
will explain better than me.
The Inner London Education Authority
has a policy
of targeting our children.
What is this all about?
Why are you here?
We are here to try and get Kingsley
back into the regular school system.
- Now, you might be able to appeal
- This is what I am trying to tell you.
Kingsley do have some issue,
but is a special school.
I don't mean to upset you, Agnes
but there's nothing special
about his school.
I can take a look at this
after you've left.
But if you'll excuse me, Mrs. Thomas,
I have to get ready for work.
Please know my intentions are not to
Look, I'll leave this here for you,
and also a note about a meeting
at the town hall
for parents of children
sent to Educationally Sub-Normal schools.
Educationally what?
That's what they're called, Agnes.
Schools
for the educationally sub-normal.
If you'll excuse me, Mrs. Thomas.
I'm running late.
We have a network of Saturday schools
all over the borough
which your son could attend.
I've written down my details.
- Thank you.
There is a house ♪
In New Orleans ♪
They call the Rising Sun ♪
And it's been the ruin ♪
Of many a poor boy ♪
And God, I know, I'm one ♪
Oh, mo my mother was a tailor ♪
She sewed my ♪
She sewed my new blue jeans ♪
My father was a gambling man ♪
Down in New Orleans ♪
Now the only thing ♪
A gambler needs ♪
Is a suitcase ♪
And a trunk ♪
And the only time ♪
He's satisfied ♪
Is when ♪
He's on a drunk ♪
Now mother ♪
Tell your children ♪
Not to do ♪
What I have done ♪
Spend your lives in sin ♪
And misery ♪
In the House of the Rising Sun ♪
I got one foot on the platform ♪
The other foot on the train ♪
'Cause I'm going back ♪
To New Orleans ♪
To wear that ball and chain ♪
Well, there is a house ♪
In New Orleans ♪
They call the Rising Sun ♪
And it's been the ruin ♪
Of many a poor boy ♪
And God, I know, I'm one ♪
There is a house ♪
In New Orleans ♪
They call the Rising Sun ♪
And it's been the ruin ♪
Of many a poor boy ♪
And God, I know ♪
I'm one ♪
Okay, who wrote that?
It's the Animals, boys and girls.
The Animals.
Kingsley.
Tell me what's really going on
at that school.
You learnin' anything? You like it?
Did you meet a woman called Hazel
at your school?
- Did you meet her?
- Yes, Mummy.
She's saying that the school
is not treating you children right.
Is that true?
Yes, Mummy.
You know what?
I'll cook you some roti tonight.
You like that?
Yes, Mummy.
Recently,
Roobarb was sitting in the garden,
thinking how nice it was
not having Custard grinning
over the fence for once
and the birds scratching noises
into the summer air
with their silly beaks.
And how nice it was
having nothing happening
apart from wondering
what would happen next
- when it did.
"Oh!" cringed Roobarb.
One minute all's well,
the very next minute all's
There it is again!
"What are you rambling on
about now?" inquired Custard
without even bothering
to look over the fence.
- Earthquakes!
- announced Roobarb.
That's what I'm rambling about.
Earthquakes, and lots of them.
- Whatever you do, don't panic!
- shouted Roobarb
as he careered round the garden
warning everyone
about the dangers of earthquakes.
And in the event of one,
the dangers of wearing damp socks.
- Whatever that meant.
Custard dragged
One of the ways
in which the school system thinks
they can treat us,
is that they genuinely believe
we are all a bunch of
I don't know.
Cowhands.
They never assumed that the same spread
of intelligence, professional careers,
white-collar jobs,
blue-collar jobs.
That you have in this country,
we would have had where we came from.
I feel nothing
but let down by the system.
And not just the school system,
this whole
blasted country system!
I came here with a dream for my family.
And I am ashamed to admit it
but when my children bring it home
I find myself hating them for it.
My own children.
And that just make me
hate this place all the more.
I don't have no dream to pass on.
I feel the sacrifice
that you have made, Mrs. Morrison.
But I have to believe
that it is never, ever,
too late for a child.
We know there are far
too many of our children
trapped in these schools
for the educationally sub-normal!
I refuse to call them special.
Don't make me laugh.
They say our children are there
because they are too loud.
Too slow.
Too unmanageable.
Or too lively.
What a complete and utter nonsense.
Low expectations from primary
and secondary school teachers,
which I have seen with my own eyes
in regards to my own children,
are part of the problem.
But as the Doulton Report,
a confidential government paper
which has been leaked, proves
there is a deeply rooted
cultural bias
in these IQ tests.
As individuals,
we face an impossible battle.
But we have strength in numbers.
As a collective, we stand a chance.
So we need your help!
Without the support of the parents,
our campaign will fail.
I am the mother of three boys,
growing them up in London.
I was horrified to learn
them call my eldest,
who have a strong West Indian accent,
them call him, "slow as a slowcoach"
when him first arrive at the school.
That what them call him.
Now this boy could read
and write and do some basic arithmetic
when him three year old
because I make sure him could.
If a teacher think a child's stupid,
him start fe act stupid.
That a bare fact.
I give up hope for him, my eldest.
But I won't make it happen
to my other two.
Will give up my job if I have to.
So tell me, what me can do for them.
Send them to one of our
supplementary Saturday schools.
That's the first thing you can do now.
And they are free for all your children,
for a £1 membership fee.
I make no lie about this.
But I can't read, nor write.
Not more than me name.
It's too late for me, now,
but hear an old man out.
I am very concerned with these
educationally sub-normal schools.
But I'm concerned more with the truth
that a majority of our youngsters
going to these so-called "normal" schools
are coming out achieving as little
as the children
going to these ESN schools.
Me grandchild, he just turned 16.
And I discovered
the boy can't read or write good.
Now I did never go to school.
Not fe a single day.
But this pickney spent
12 damn years in one!
That's why we're here today.
To bring awareness to this.
And hear your voices and concerns.
We are here to solve this.
Our future depends on it.
Yes. Yes.
Next we're taking names
of people that you know
are at these ESN schools.
The world will shrink for a new
Excuse me, we were watching that.
I want you to be quiet.
I need to talk to Kingsley.
- Oh, what's he done now?
- Stephanie, please!
He's done nothing wrong.
What's the matter then, Mummy?
I just want to
I just want to hear you read.
That's all.
We're watching TV.
Kingsley. Read this for me.
Just read it.
That's all I'm asking you do.
We were in the middle of something,
Mummy. Can you not do it later?
Kingsley, read what it says.
- Read it.
- Just leave him alone, Mummy. He's
Excuse me?
No, not anymore.
Kingsley, you're going to stay here
until you try, you understand me?
No more hiding. Not me, not you.
I won't hide in my own home.
Mmm.
A a
a a a
a at
All right.
All right, baby.
All right.
All right, baby, okay.
Shh.
Okay, baby. All right. All right.
All right, baby. All right, baby.
Okay. It's all right, okay?
Hey, you all right? You okay, baby?
- Esmond.
- Mmm?
- We need to talk.
- I'm doing some sleeping.
It's Kingsley. His school.
A lady come round the other day,
her name is Lydia Thomas.
- You know her, from Grenville?
- Mmm.
She said she know all about
Kingsley's new school.
There's nothing special about this school.
It's a school for children
they call sub-normal.
Is what you mean?
She left me a book
that explains all of that.
Kingsley is not stupid, Esmond,
but he cannot read.
The boy needs to learn a trade.
Let him alone till then.
I went to a meeting at the Town Hall
for children like Kingsley.
- I said let him alone, woman.
- Listen to me, Esmond.
They are failing our son.
The room was full of people
I said let it alone, woman!
I won't let nothing alone!
Nothing!
My boy. My
I want answers first,
before you take action.
Why did you send him there?
I'm very sorry, Mrs. Smith
Sorry?
What are you sorry for?
Well, I'm sorry you've missed
the deadline for an appeal.
Deadline? You never told me we had
a right of appeal in the first place.
It's in your son's interests.
Don't lie to me!
You call yourself a Christian man?
You never told me the school was for
the educationally sub-normal nonsense.
- It's an official term.
- Official term?
Kingsley may have trouble reading,
but make no mistake,
he's a darn sight
more intelligent than you.
This will not be the last time we meet,
let me tell you now.
Read me the thing.
I don't know if I trust
this fellow, Coard.
Make all sort of noise back home.
Daddy. Just listen, all right.
"The implications for a large number
of West Indian children
who get placed in ESN schools and who can
never escape back to normal schools
are far-reaching and permanent.
As demonstrated above,
the West Indian child's educational level
on leaving school will be very low.
He will be eligible, by reason
of his lack of qualifications,
and his assessment as being ESN
only for the jobs which really
ESN pupils are able to perform,
namely simple,
repetitive jobs of a menial kind
which involve little use of intelligence."
Kingsley can come and work with me,
can learn him a trade and
Daddy, Kingsley is very bright.
Just listen, all right.
"This is what he or she
can look forward to as a career.
In turn, through getting his poor wages,
poor housing and having
no motivation to better himself,
his children can look forward
to a similar educational experience
and similar career prospects."
Read me the rest.
Are you some sort of undercover spy?
I couldn't do what she does.
I think at Durrants
I was pretending to be a journalist,
interested in the good work
of the school for a newspaper article.
I wanted to meet the Headmaster
and trick him
into giving me the names of the students.
Unfortunately, he wasn't so forthcoming.
But I was lucky to meet Kingsley,
Who, I must say,
I was very taken with.
He's very tenacious.
I have to say thank you.
To you both.
I am forever grateful.
I've read this book now,
cover to cover, at least twice
because the first time I was very upset.
But, as I told Lydia, his old school
say I have no right of appeal left,
that too much time has passed, but
this book mentioned
that I now have to write
to the Secretary of State
for Education or something?
That's correct, yes.
A woman, named Margaret Thatcher.
She's only just been appointed,
so maybe we will have a chance.
I have to write to the Secretary of State.
Goodness me.
We will advise you what to write.
I must say, Mrs. Smith,
I wish more parents were like you.
If we do nothing, nothing will change.
I am prepared to fight this
with every breath in my body.
School on a weekend, it's so unfair.
Yeah, life is unfair.
Stop.
Good morning!
Morning. Hi, this is
my brother, Kingsley.
Hello, Kingsley.
You're just in time for breakfast.
Mmm. Go on, then.
- Bye.
- Mwah. See you later.
Ah, what about you, big sister?
- What's your name?
- Stephanie.
- So you don't want to come in?
- Oh, no, I don't
You don't want to learn
about Claudia Jones?
- Who's Claudia Jones?
- I don't believe you.
It is for young people like you
why we have our
Black history discussion group.
Come and have some breakfast, man.
Come in. You can leave anytime.
Right, I am Mrs. Bartholomew,
but you can call me Tabitha.
Now, I can promise you both
you have never been
to a school anything like mine.
- Sixty.
- Seventy-two.
- Eighty-four.
- Ninety-six.
- A hundred and eight.
- A hundred and twenty.
- A hundred and thirty-two.
- A hundred and forty-four.
It's a draw.
You're both excellent
at your times tables.
Good for you.
I know my thirteens.
Do you know thirteens?
Yes. Thirteen.
- Twenty-six.
- Thirty-se
No, thirty-nine. Huh, I win.
Thirty-nine, fifty-two, sixty-five.
But times tables only goes up to twelve.
Isn't it, Mrs. Bartholomew?
No, it don't. It goes
all the way up to twenty.
Actually, Baz
thank you
it goes up and up and up
and just keeps going
until only the finest brains
in the land can keep up.
Like a rocket out of our solar system.
All the way to infinity.
Now there's a clever young man.
Hey? To infinity.
Imagine that.
I'm very impressed, Kingsley.
And, Ashley, the school syllabus
only goes up to twelve,
which is what we concentrate on here,
so that you can do well in school
and come out
with the best grades you can.
Right, before we start,
I have three sausages left.
Who's still hungry?
Eh eh!
I'll have to get more sausages next week.
Now if I cut them in half,
how many will that make?
- Six.
- Good. Into quarters?
- Twelve.
- Correct.
But who wants a quarter of a sausage?
I don't think so.
Is everybody ready?
Yes.
Good.
Well, I want to start
with a little story before we begin.
Now, I went to school in Grenada,
but I didn't learn very much
about Africa or its history.
What do you all know about our ancestors?
- Yes.
- That we were slaves.
That is what
they want us to know.
Did they teach you anything else?
What about the Nubians?
The Masai? The kingdom of Kush?
Mnh-mnh.
So you know nothing about the people,
or the richness of the cultures,
or the fact that we existed
long before anybody else.
Well
this is where we begin.
Stephanie, read for me, please.
Open your book.
"Queen Amina of Zaria.
Amina lived over 400 years ago
in a place called Zaria,
which we now know as Nigeria.
Mm-hmm.
Although she was a princess,
she was brought up to be a warrior
because her tribe were always
at war with their neighbors.
She was born in the 16th century,
and her parents were king and queen.
She had brothers
and a younger sister, Zariya.
Amina was the favorite child
of their grandfather,
who was a very wise and powerful king.
And when she was little,
he would talk to her
about how to be
a strong military leader."
"Sh she never ex
expected to be Queen
but her
older brother died
une une une"
Unexpectedly.
- Unexpectedly.
"And so she became queen
and had to lead her tribe into war.
A war which la
lasted nearly 35 years.
And
during which
stories
about this wonderf
won wonderful girl,
who was a leader of men,
were told far and wide.
All the young men
in the surrounding tribes
wanted to marry her,
but she turned them and all their
fine offers of wedding gifts down,
as she did not need them.
Amina built walls around the territories.
She owned a map of ancient Africa.
1685.
These walls,
which were intended to protect
all that she won in battle
territories, places, and people
were made of earth,
and it took slaves
many years to build them.
Some of these walls still survive
in modern-days Nigeria
are known as Amina's Walls.
They are a lasting legacy
of a queen who was feared."