Stolen Daughters: Kidnapped by Boko Haram (2018) Movie Script
1
MAN: It's not about
what you do with your life,
but it's about
the legacy that you leave.
And the most powerful thing
that we can do
is keep fighting for that.
CHILDREN:
One nation, under God...
WOMAN 1: This literally
is a matter of life and death
for so many young people
who are dealing
with these issues
of identity.
WOMAN 2:
We're just going through
our storm right now,
but we're gonna get out of it.
I have faith.
GIRL: Climate change,
our environmental crisis,
all of that
is what our generation's
gonna have to deal with.
WOMAN 3: I tell ya my son
was sitting in French class
in a small college town,
and he got shot four times.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
WOMAN 4: You feel like
you're in the fight of your life
and they leave you
on the battlefield, alone.
You wanna hold me back
Think you can stop me now
Never lose faith.
Keep to faith.
You tried to knock me down
But you can't stop me now
[TV static drones]
[bright tone]
[foreboding music]
[rapid gunfire]
[rapid gunfire]
[all chanting]
- It was the failure
of the state
to have allowed those girls
to stay one day
in the den of the abductors.
The moment Michelle Obama
carried that placard--
boom!
Everyone was talking about
the Chibok girls.
[crying, happy chatter]
[energetic drum music]
[solemn music]
[soft music]
- And these are the...
Teacher, where is--
where is the head teacher?
Hmm? These are--
these are the remaining.
Matrons.
All right. All right.
All right.
So have a nice day.
Enjoy your stay with the girls.
[overlapping chatter]
- Amaranthus is that...
[speaking foreign language]
all: Yes. Yes.
- So I want you to mention
these classes for me.
Yes, you.
Margret.
- Vegetable.
- Vegetables.
Yes, clap for her.
It's okay.
Another one.
[speaking native language]
- Oranges.
- We are talking about
part of speech.
What do we mean
by part of speech?
Part of speech refers
to the classification
of word based on
the function of the word.
[speaking native language]
- Is there any corrections?
- You should clap for yourself.
[bell ringing]
[speaking native language]
[solemn music]
- This is the story
of what happened to us
when Boko Haram took us
to Sambisa Forest.
[solemn music]
We traveled for three days
and arrived on Wednesday
at around 12:00 a.m.
There was very heavy rainfall.
There was no shelter,
no source of food,
no water for us.
We soaked maize in water
and consumed it with salt
and tamarind leaves
the following day.
They constructed
two rooms for us
using tree branches,
grasses, and leaves.
The rooms were small
and could not contain us,
so some of us slept outside.
There were lots of snakes,
scorpions, and ants.
We were not allowed
to light anything at night.
We were told that a jet
would come and take pictures
of anything it saw
and will bomb us.
[solemn music]
[soft vocalization]
[indistinct chatter]
[dog barking]
[speaking native language]
[indistinct chatter]
[solemn music]
[soft music]
[speaking native language]
This food is so sweet too.
- Yes, it's sweet.
[singing together]
[speaking native language]
- Each time your mum calls
and she start crying,
always try and explain to her
that government is doing
something concerning that.
We don't want you to see
yourself as a victim.
We want you to see yourself
as a survivor.
[hopeful music]
[speaking native language]
[speaking native language]
[horns honking]
[speaking English]
No problem.
[clicks tongue]
[somber music]
[indistinct chatter]
[light music]
[camera shutter clicks]
[overlapping chatter]
- My sister is--
my sister is here.
[man speaks indistinctly]
Well, those, because of...
[man speaking indistinctly]
- [yelling excitedly]
[laughing, sobbing]
[all speaking native language]
[somber music]
[all speaking native language]
[excited chatter]
[solemn music]
- Three students
among us ran away,
but some Boko Haram saw,
and captured them.
They gathered us
and told us to observe
how they punished those
who tried to escape.
They flogged them with
33 strokes of the cane each.
They dug a hole
and laid them down near it.
We cried and begged them
not to slaughter them.
They told us whosoever cries
or begs for them
not to be slaughtered
would be slaughtered
along with them.
We kept begging,
and God answered our prayers.
They left us
but made us promise
we would not try
to escape again,
and whosoever tries to escape
would be severely punished.
[Call to Prayer
over megaphone]
[Call to Prayer continues]
[foreboding music]
[solemn music]
[speaking native language]
[hopeful music]
- This program
of rehabilitation
and reintegration
will finish in September
by the grace of God.
And by September,
these our girls,
all of them will be going
back to school,
and they're very anxious.
Are you not, children?
[applause]
They are very anxious
to go back to school.
So anybody that has
any insinuation
or says that these children
are not worth taking care of,
is a very, very big liar.
[speaking native language]
Can you please stand up
so that people can see you?
Mr. Braggs of the American
University of Nigeria.
- Come on!
[laughter, applause]
- The Minister and I
had a very, very great
discussion yesterday,
uh, concerning the plight of
the girls that are here today.
We love you all.
We love
you all.
[cheers and applause]
First of all, I want
all of you ladies to stand up.
Okay, if you ladies
do come to AUN,
there's a little thing
we always do at AUN.
If I say "AU," you say "N."
AU.
all: N.
- Oh, you can do
better than that.
If I say "A-U," you say "N."
A-U.
all: N!
- A-U!
all: N!
- Oh, that's getting
a little bit better.
Let me give you a little
something to work with.
[beat-boxing]
[rapping] If I say A-U,
you say N.
A-U!
all: N!
- A-U!
all: N!
[beat-boxing]
If I say "A-U," you say "N."
A-U!
all: N!
- A-U!
all: N!
- All right, give yourselves
a round of applause.
Okay, have a seat.
Have a seat.
So...
you have to know
that if you come to the
American University of Nigeria,
you are coming
to an American university
that is in Nigeria.
You understand.
You will be close
to your families.
We're very, very proud of you.
Thank you all very much.
[cheers and applause]
- Yes, I've been seeing them.
- Yes.
You mean this information--
- Oh, oh. Oh.
You know?
[overlapping chatter]
[energetic drumming]
[ululating, singing]
[playful music]
[playful music]
[dark music]
- One day, they asked us
to write down our names.
We didn't know why
they needed the list.
They continued to bring
different people
to talk to us about why
it was important for us
to get married.
And they could force us
to do so.
We remained adamant about
not getting married.
They said to us that since you
have refused to get married
with the luxurious life
we can offer you,
we are definitely going
to show you our true colors
and give you the real
Boko Haram treatment.
[soft singing]
[speaking native language]
[singing in native language]
[soft music]
[both speaking native language]
[stirring music]
[speaking native language]
[all speaking native language]
[rain pattering]
- [sniffling]
[baby babbling]
[indistinct chatter]
- Um, Fatima Tabji.
Fatima Tabji!
[indistinct chatter]
[uplifting music]
- [speaking indistinctly]
[excited chatter]
[speaking native language]
[indistinct chatter]
[cheers and applause]
all: Today
Has come!
[singing in native language]
[cheers and applause]
[excited chatter]
- We're just standing here.
[soft singing]
[laughing, shouting]
[solemn music]
- [speaking native language]
Hello. Hello.
Okay.
- Three months...
- Okay.
[solemn music]
- Can he draw anything
about those things
he can remember?
- [speaking native language]
- His father, his mother,
the house, the compound?
Can he just draw anything,
anything he can remember--
he can put a picture
of what he remember.
Just try.
Try.
How big the house is...
Was this--was this how big
your house was?
[[speaking native language]
- Okay.
Um, did they burn the house?
Was the house burnt?
- [speaking native language]
- They burnt everything?
- [speaking native language]
- [speaking native language]
- [speaking native language]
- He always remember
his mom and his dad.
[solemn music]
- Okay.
- [speaking native language]
- No?
So why? What is the problem?
- How is he...
- Good.
- He visits his friends.
- Good.
- [speaking native language]
- All right.
So how do you feel now?
After our--
after our talk
how do you feel?
- [speaking native language]
- Okay.
[soft music]
[speaking native language]
[sniffling]
[stirring music]
[all ululating]
- [speaking native language]
[woman ululating]
- [speaking native language]
[all cheering]
[overlapping chatter]
[overlapping chatter]
[group response]
[speaking native language]
[group response]
- [crying]
[all chattering]
- I'm dead, man.
- Azra!
[speaking native language]
[overlapping chatter]
- Ah, ah! Margret.
[indistinct chatter]
- [sobbing]
[overlapping chatter]
Mama...
[soft music]
Very good.
[soft music]
[uplifting music]
- This is...
- Happen.
H-A-P-P-E-N.
F-R-E-E-D-O-M.
[stirring music]
[TV static drones]
MAN: It's not about
what you do with your life,
but it's about
the legacy that you leave.
And the most powerful thing
that we can do
is keep fighting for that.
CHILDREN:
One nation, under God...
WOMAN 1: This literally
is a matter of life and death
for so many young people
who are dealing
with these issues
of identity.
WOMAN 2:
We're just going through
our storm right now,
but we're gonna get out of it.
I have faith.
GIRL: Climate change,
our environmental crisis,
all of that
is what our generation's
gonna have to deal with.
WOMAN 3: I tell ya my son
was sitting in French class
in a small college town,
and he got shot four times.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
WOMAN 4: You feel like
you're in the fight of your life
and they leave you
on the battlefield, alone.
You wanna hold me back
Think you can stop me now
Never lose faith.
Keep to faith.
You tried to knock me down
But you can't stop me now
[TV static drones]
[bright tone]
[foreboding music]
[rapid gunfire]
[rapid gunfire]
[all chanting]
- It was the failure
of the state
to have allowed those girls
to stay one day
in the den of the abductors.
The moment Michelle Obama
carried that placard--
boom!
Everyone was talking about
the Chibok girls.
[crying, happy chatter]
[energetic drum music]
[solemn music]
[soft music]
- And these are the...
Teacher, where is--
where is the head teacher?
Hmm? These are--
these are the remaining.
Matrons.
All right. All right.
All right.
So have a nice day.
Enjoy your stay with the girls.
[overlapping chatter]
- Amaranthus is that...
[speaking foreign language]
all: Yes. Yes.
- So I want you to mention
these classes for me.
Yes, you.
Margret.
- Vegetable.
- Vegetables.
Yes, clap for her.
It's okay.
Another one.
[speaking native language]
- Oranges.
- We are talking about
part of speech.
What do we mean
by part of speech?
Part of speech refers
to the classification
of word based on
the function of the word.
[speaking native language]
- Is there any corrections?
- You should clap for yourself.
[bell ringing]
[speaking native language]
[solemn music]
- This is the story
of what happened to us
when Boko Haram took us
to Sambisa Forest.
[solemn music]
We traveled for three days
and arrived on Wednesday
at around 12:00 a.m.
There was very heavy rainfall.
There was no shelter,
no source of food,
no water for us.
We soaked maize in water
and consumed it with salt
and tamarind leaves
the following day.
They constructed
two rooms for us
using tree branches,
grasses, and leaves.
The rooms were small
and could not contain us,
so some of us slept outside.
There were lots of snakes,
scorpions, and ants.
We were not allowed
to light anything at night.
We were told that a jet
would come and take pictures
of anything it saw
and will bomb us.
[solemn music]
[soft vocalization]
[indistinct chatter]
[dog barking]
[speaking native language]
[indistinct chatter]
[solemn music]
[soft music]
[speaking native language]
This food is so sweet too.
- Yes, it's sweet.
[singing together]
[speaking native language]
- Each time your mum calls
and she start crying,
always try and explain to her
that government is doing
something concerning that.
We don't want you to see
yourself as a victim.
We want you to see yourself
as a survivor.
[hopeful music]
[speaking native language]
[speaking native language]
[horns honking]
[speaking English]
No problem.
[clicks tongue]
[somber music]
[indistinct chatter]
[light music]
[camera shutter clicks]
[overlapping chatter]
- My sister is--
my sister is here.
[man speaks indistinctly]
Well, those, because of...
[man speaking indistinctly]
- [yelling excitedly]
[laughing, sobbing]
[all speaking native language]
[somber music]
[all speaking native language]
[excited chatter]
[solemn music]
- Three students
among us ran away,
but some Boko Haram saw,
and captured them.
They gathered us
and told us to observe
how they punished those
who tried to escape.
They flogged them with
33 strokes of the cane each.
They dug a hole
and laid them down near it.
We cried and begged them
not to slaughter them.
They told us whosoever cries
or begs for them
not to be slaughtered
would be slaughtered
along with them.
We kept begging,
and God answered our prayers.
They left us
but made us promise
we would not try
to escape again,
and whosoever tries to escape
would be severely punished.
[Call to Prayer
over megaphone]
[Call to Prayer continues]
[foreboding music]
[solemn music]
[speaking native language]
[hopeful music]
- This program
of rehabilitation
and reintegration
will finish in September
by the grace of God.
And by September,
these our girls,
all of them will be going
back to school,
and they're very anxious.
Are you not, children?
[applause]
They are very anxious
to go back to school.
So anybody that has
any insinuation
or says that these children
are not worth taking care of,
is a very, very big liar.
[speaking native language]
Can you please stand up
so that people can see you?
Mr. Braggs of the American
University of Nigeria.
- Come on!
[laughter, applause]
- The Minister and I
had a very, very great
discussion yesterday,
uh, concerning the plight of
the girls that are here today.
We love you all.
We love
you all.
[cheers and applause]
First of all, I want
all of you ladies to stand up.
Okay, if you ladies
do come to AUN,
there's a little thing
we always do at AUN.
If I say "AU," you say "N."
AU.
all: N.
- Oh, you can do
better than that.
If I say "A-U," you say "N."
A-U.
all: N!
- A-U!
all: N!
- Oh, that's getting
a little bit better.
Let me give you a little
something to work with.
[beat-boxing]
[rapping] If I say A-U,
you say N.
A-U!
all: N!
- A-U!
all: N!
[beat-boxing]
If I say "A-U," you say "N."
A-U!
all: N!
- A-U!
all: N!
- All right, give yourselves
a round of applause.
Okay, have a seat.
Have a seat.
So...
you have to know
that if you come to the
American University of Nigeria,
you are coming
to an American university
that is in Nigeria.
You understand.
You will be close
to your families.
We're very, very proud of you.
Thank you all very much.
[cheers and applause]
- Yes, I've been seeing them.
- Yes.
You mean this information--
- Oh, oh. Oh.
You know?
[overlapping chatter]
[energetic drumming]
[ululating, singing]
[playful music]
[playful music]
[dark music]
- One day, they asked us
to write down our names.
We didn't know why
they needed the list.
They continued to bring
different people
to talk to us about why
it was important for us
to get married.
And they could force us
to do so.
We remained adamant about
not getting married.
They said to us that since you
have refused to get married
with the luxurious life
we can offer you,
we are definitely going
to show you our true colors
and give you the real
Boko Haram treatment.
[soft singing]
[speaking native language]
[singing in native language]
[soft music]
[both speaking native language]
[stirring music]
[speaking native language]
[all speaking native language]
[rain pattering]
- [sniffling]
[baby babbling]
[indistinct chatter]
- Um, Fatima Tabji.
Fatima Tabji!
[indistinct chatter]
[uplifting music]
- [speaking indistinctly]
[excited chatter]
[speaking native language]
[indistinct chatter]
[cheers and applause]
all: Today
Has come!
[singing in native language]
[cheers and applause]
[excited chatter]
- We're just standing here.
[soft singing]
[laughing, shouting]
[solemn music]
- [speaking native language]
Hello. Hello.
Okay.
- Three months...
- Okay.
[solemn music]
- Can he draw anything
about those things
he can remember?
- [speaking native language]
- His father, his mother,
the house, the compound?
Can he just draw anything,
anything he can remember--
he can put a picture
of what he remember.
Just try.
Try.
How big the house is...
Was this--was this how big
your house was?
[[speaking native language]
- Okay.
Um, did they burn the house?
Was the house burnt?
- [speaking native language]
- They burnt everything?
- [speaking native language]
- [speaking native language]
- [speaking native language]
- He always remember
his mom and his dad.
[solemn music]
- Okay.
- [speaking native language]
- No?
So why? What is the problem?
- How is he...
- Good.
- He visits his friends.
- Good.
- [speaking native language]
- All right.
So how do you feel now?
After our--
after our talk
how do you feel?
- [speaking native language]
- Okay.
[soft music]
[speaking native language]
[sniffling]
[stirring music]
[all ululating]
- [speaking native language]
[woman ululating]
- [speaking native language]
[all cheering]
[overlapping chatter]
[overlapping chatter]
[group response]
[speaking native language]
[group response]
- [crying]
[all chattering]
- I'm dead, man.
- Azra!
[speaking native language]
[overlapping chatter]
- Ah, ah! Margret.
[indistinct chatter]
- [sobbing]
[overlapping chatter]
Mama...
[soft music]
Very good.
[soft music]
[uplifting music]
- This is...
- Happen.
H-A-P-P-E-N.
F-R-E-E-D-O-M.
[stirring music]
[TV static drones]