Original subtitles

# Look, Black is beautiful Black is excellent

# Black is pain, Black is joy Black is evident

# It's workin' twice as hard as the People you know you're better than

# Cos you need to do double What they do so you can level them

# Black is so much deeper Than just African-American

# Our heritage been severed You never got to experiment

# With family trees, cos they Teach you 'bout famine and greed

# And show you pictures Of our fam on their knees

# Tell us we used to be barbaric We had actual queens

# Black is watchin' child soldiers Gettin' killed by other children

# Feelin' sick, like, "Oh, shit, this could have happened to me"

# Your mummy watchin' Tellin' stories

# 'Bout your dad... # DOOR OPENS

You're getting better at that.

Not quite good enough, though.

I thought I told you not to leave the house today.

Just going to Lena's. Your bag.

I know where you're going.

You don't need to change into THAT to hang out.

But, Dad, I... Inside.

Apologies.

There's no point. I can't remember the last time

that man changed his mind about anything.

SHE SIGHS

No, I don't want you to miss it. Just go without me.

Dad, I don't understand why we can't just talk about this.

If I remember correctly, we did talk about it...

and I said no.

But why? I told you why, as well.

But it's not just a bunch of kids making trouble in the street.

We're fighting to save lives. No.

No, your mother's saving lives at the hospital.

It's doctors and nurses that are making a difference,

not your internet friends who are running around,

making up noise and spreading sickness.

Someone has to do something about it.

By vandalising and looting the city, yeah...

yeah, good plan (!)

Do you really think the reason I want to go

is to steal a flat-screen TV? Not you, no.

No, because you're too spoilt.

That's why you're always talking back to me.

In my day, I wouldn't have dreamed of it.

In your day? See, that's what I hate about your generation.

You always want things to stay the same.

Watch your tone, Justina.

Maybe the world would be different if you lot actually wanted change.

HE SCOFFS What?

As long as you and yours is OK,

it doesn't matter how many Black men and women are killed?

You're part of the problem.

SOFTLY: How did it get to a point...

...where you think it's OK to talk to me like that?

SLOW PIANO MUSIC

KNOCK ON DOOR

I finished your tea, and... threw in some toast, too.

You didn't have to do that.

I know. I just wanted to say I'm sorry.

An apologY?

Well...

such a rare occurrence - I guess I'll have to entertain it.

All right, Dad. Don't make me regret it.

Look, I know you care about me...

but you can't keep me locked up and safe forever.

Is that a challenge? I don't understand why you're so against it.

We can't even have a conversation...

Because it's not safe.

But it's not just that, though, is it?

Your eyes always go funny like that when something deeper's going on.

Thanks for the toast.

I'll be downstairs.

No sneaking out. Promise.

TV: 'And, once again, hundreds of people gather

'in the centre of the city for what they claim will be

'another peaceful protest.'

Look, I know it looks good... marching and tearing down statues,

but you'll see it's all for nothing

when everything goes back to the way it was.

How do you know things won't change, though?

Because they haven't changed.

Do you think the police have only just started treating us like this?

You think we've just now started complaining?

Don't tell me you were a Black Panther or something?

No, I wasn't, but I had some friends in uni who were politicised.

You know, it happens.

So you went to rallies and stuff too, then?

Mm... just one. Yeah.

What happened?

It was just after graduation.

We, er... we went to an anti-establishment demonstration

outside the Houses of Parliament.

Me and my best friend, Anton.

You never mentioned him before.

It was all going good until...

...we... split away from the group to make our way home.

We came across a bunch of white boys -

EDL, NF, whatever.

They started saying racist stuff at first.

And we held our ground, you know?

And they just attacked.

SOFTLY: I didn't know.

There were so many of 'em.

They were all over us.

I didn't know what to do. But I'd seen a...

...a police car, just a few yards away.

So I fought a couple of them off...

and went to get help.

And when I told them...

...they turned back and...

looked at Anton on the floor getting...

...and they just turned away

and said they don't get involved in petty squabbles...

...and left.

And I went back to help Anton by myself.

The boys, they, erm...

VOICE WAVERING: ..they must've realised that they'd gone too far...

because, all of a sudden, they just stopped.

Every inch of Anton's face was covered in blood.

I watched my best friend die.

Just like that... Anton was gone.

HE EXHALES DEEPLY, SNIFFS

Dad, why have you never told me about this?

You're my child.

And, you know, I always thought it was my fault.

No. Why?

If I wasn't so... stupid...

to believe that they would help us...

I could've stayed, taken a few more blows,

and Anton would still be alive.

You did the right thing.

The police were meant to help YOU.

Did they catch them in the end?

Me and, erm... his family and some friends,

we... we... tried to do everything we could.

It was no use.

We got a little article in a local gazette...

but it disappeared as fast as it came.

So we gave up.

WHISPERS: I gave up.

I'm so sorry, Dad. So when I turn on the news...

...it confirms to me that nothing has changed.

But that's the thing, Dad.

If seeing us march means one more police officer

thinks twice about abusing a Black person...

or even if a member from the public steps in and hel...

...or even if... even if the people who are convinced

that racism doesn't exist any more actually EDUCATES themselves...

...then those men and women haven't died for nothing.

Anton hasn't died for nothing.

SOFTLY: And something has changed.

You're too smart, you know that?

I get it from you.

No, no. You get that from your mother.

SHE CHUCKLES

You get your good looks from me. SHE CHUCKLES

I was meant to finish this off at Lena's.

I still wanna go to the march, Dad.

And I wanna march for Anton.

It will never be enough...

WHISPERS: "but it's something.

Will you come with me?

You know, for protection?

MUSIC: 'My Love's Already There' by Fink

OK, remember the rules:

stay on the outskirts, don't let anyone two metres close...

and we're back in time to cook Mum's dinner.

She needs it. Understood.

Let's go.

So, where are we meeting your internet friends?

Ugh, it's Lena, Dad. Lena.

At the bus stop. OK.

Ready?

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