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♪ Here we go ♪
♪ Yo hey yo, hey listen ♪
[rap music in Spanish playing]
♪ But we don't have any compassion We think while making love ♪
♪ We went back to base ♪
[music fades]
[in Hispanic accent] So yeah bro, you feel we're gonna do that tonight?
Yeah, we're going out tonight.
Aw, big thanks. Big thanks.
No trouble, no nothing, right?
- Hey, what you're gonna do? - Hell, yeah.
Well, nothing to stress about it.
- Want a drink? - Of course.
Okay.
[dramatic music plays]
Yeah bro, that shortie at that party was wild, man.
- I wish I had taken her home. - Right.
Yeah, but you should have just...
-[tense music playing] -[chatting continues]
I'm gonna go back tonight, I heard that shit is lit tonight.
Yeah bro, you know how that shit rolls.
[tense music continues]
- Yo, that's him, man. - What's up, man.
Call him.
[phone dialing keypad beeps]
Shit.
Yo bro, [speaks Spanish]
[speaking Spanish]
[tense music playing]
Okay. Mr. Ani, this is your room
assigned to you by the church.
Here are the keys.
Now you have it for about two weeks at least
until you get a job.
There's some food and water in the refridgerator.
Now, don't forget that it is very important
that you meet with your PO first thing tomorrow morning.
Okay?
Have a good night. And good luck, Mr. Ani.
- Thank you. - Hmm.
[tense music escalates]
[male voice] Well, well, well.
If it ain't my buddy, Ani.
So where the hell's my money at, Ani?
Come on, Slice. You know I just got out.
You just got out?
He just got out.
[men laugh]
So what that gotta do with me?
Hmm?
Looking a little nervous there, Ani. Hmm?
What, I ain't gonna hurt you.
You think I'm gonna hurt you or something?
-[thud, dog barking] -[Ani grunts]
- Come on, Slice. Come on, Slice. -[mimicking Ani] Aw, come on, Slice.
[Slice] Come on, man. Come on, Slice, what? Hmm?
[fast-paced music playing]
[Slice] Get him, get him!
[fast-paced music slows]
[dramatic music playing]
[soft piano music playing]
[train rattling past]
[soft piano music playing]
[dramatic music playing]
[rock music playing]
["Eko Lon Pebi" playing]
[in Yoruba] That won't be enough.
It won't be enough, really. Yes.
It's causing trouble.
[woman in Yoruba] Hold on, let me sit down so we can...
You said, what?
The day after tomorrow?
[laughs]
That's not a problem. I'll... yes.
Yes.
What?
You know what? Let me call you back.
I'll call you right back.
Huh? Animasaun!
Animasaun! My goodness!
Yeh! Animasaun? Come, come.
- It is me. - Yeh! [in English] Is this you?
- It is me, auntie. - Animasaun!
[in Yoruba] Hey, stand up.
Ah!
[in Yoruba] I haven't set eyes on you in 30 years!
[in Yoruba] It hasn't been up to 30 years.
- Really? Not that long? - Yes.
[in English] Please don't shout. Let us go inside.
Huh? I won't shout, okay.
- Let us go inside. - Ah.
[in Yoruba] Animasaun, our child...
Stand up, honorable child.
Ah, Animasaun.
[in English] Your mother's room, since she died two years ago,
the door has been locked.
Let me go and open it for you, my dear.
- Auntie. - Huh?
[in Yoruba] Mama is dead?
[in Yoruba] Yes, she's dead.
[wistful music playing]
[in Yoruba] Precious child, enter.
Hmm. Ah.
Honorable child, don't worry.
All right, go on in.
["Eko Lon Pebi" playing]
♪ Davey boy beats ♪
♪ This is Lagos ♪
-[in Yoruba] What's your problem, lady? -[woman in English] Madam, I'm sorry.
-[in Pidgin] Why did you pour water on me? -[woman] I'm sorry!
[in Pidgin] What's all this?!
♪ Johnny come ♪
♪ Johnny go ♪
♪ Johnny hustled ♪
[in Pidgin] ♪ So Johnny prospered ♪
[in Pidgin] ♪ Johnny's friend in the Villa... ♪
- Good evening, ma. - Good evening, ma.
- Ah, how are you? - Good evening, ma.
- Fine. - What do you want to buy?
-Indomie. - We want to buy Indomie.
- Which one? - Hungry Man size. Two.
Hungry Man size.
- For two of you? - Yes ma.
Are you not too small to be eating Hungry Man?
[laughs] All right, take.
- Thank you. - Bring the Indomie! Give me the Indomie!
[hisses]
- These boys...
-[camera clicks] -[tense music playing]
[camera clicks]
- Philip! [laughs] - NG baby.
-[man chuckles] - Oh my God. [laughs]
[sighs] Aw.
When did you get back?
- Just coming back from the airport. - Aw.
I thought I should come and let you know I'm here.
Well, thank God for journey mercies. So, how was Dubai?
I've told you.
Let me take you to Dubai so you can see for yourself.
- Okay, I'll come. I will come. - Hmm?
[giggles]
Come and sit down, I'm almost done locking up.
No, let me go home. I just thought to tell you that I'm back.
Philip, just a few minutes. I'm already--
No. Look, I've told you, let me carry you out of this place
to go and have a nice time. Huh?
-[giggles] -[Philip chuckles]
- Okay. - Okay?
Meanwhile, I have something for you.
What is it again? Philip, you've done enough already.
- Hmm? - Patience. Patience, my darling. Hmm?
It's a surprise. You will like it.
[NG laughs]
-[tense music playing] -[camera clicks]
[camera clicking]
- Let me see you off. - No. Don't worry.
Sure?
- Take care. -[giggles] I will.
[giggles]
[car engine starts]
Mommy!
Clara! My darling girl, how are you?
- I’m good, ma. How are you? - I'm fine.
Anu is still not sleeping, is she? We have work oh.
- No, let me check for you. - Thank you, ma.
Anu! Anu!
Anu! Where are you?
- Anu! - Ma?
Your friend is here o!
-[pants] Oh, okay. I’m coming, I'm ready. - Okay.
Clara, Clara.
[laughing] Yes, mommy.
[in Pidgin] Your make up is interesting.
Seems like it's for you and two other people.
Mommy, please leave it like that. That's how do it these days.
- Everything has to be lit. -[NG] Lit up.
- Lit. -[NG] You see it?
[both laugh]
- See you later. - All right, darling.
Take care of yourself.
You, too. Let's go.
Have you heard from Ayo-Chukwu today?
-[Clara] Meet me in the car! - No, go.
You, wait up!
[basketball court chatter]
[man in Pidgin] Guy, I've come for you.
[man in Pidgin] Guy, stay close to me.
[man jubilates]
I don't like the way you're playing.
- Foul, foul! -[man 2] See what I'm saying?
-[man 2] Can you see it? -[man 1] Foul!
Man, are you a woman? Get out of there!
-[man 2] Can you see it? -[man 3] What? What's your problem?
[in Pidgin] ♪ ...Lagos is the centre ♪
♪ Where everything happens ♪
♪ And doing business is profitable ♪
♪ And the boys make good money ♪
- Man, play the ball! - Play what ball?
- Play the ball! - Don't make me act crazy
[indistinct chatter]
["Eko Lon Pebi" fades into background, gentle music plays]
[inaudible]
[man groaning]
[man 2] What's up? Did it enter?
[man 2] Nice. Nice..
Where's that ball?
-[groans] -[man 4 in Pidgin] Oh God.
[in Pidgin] You won the loot by cheating, right?
No problem. Next time.
Get out of here! You're a sore loser.
No problem.
You want to do something?
You see that hell?
You can't finish eating it
so you have to take it home and eat it with banga soup.
[men laugh]
-[in Pidgin] He's crazy. -[in Pidgin] Let him go.
Let him spend his ill-gotten gains on his prostitute of a mom.
[dramatic drum roll]
[men pleading in Pidgin] Let him go. Please, let's go home.
[man 1] I don't have time for this.
-[in Pidgin] What's his problem? -[men] Let him go, please. Let's go.
[fast-paced music playing]
- You insulted my mom? -[man 1] I'm sorry.
- You insulted my mom? -[man 1] Sorry, don't be offended.
- You insulted my mom? - Sorry, don't be offended.
[man 1] Please, please.
[man 2] Melt through this gate!
- I said, go through this gate! - I didn't mean it.
So you're calling my mom a prostitute?
- Please, please. - You're not...
[man 1 grunts] [groans]
[man 1] Please, please.
[man 1] Please. I didn't mean it.
-[male voice 1] Move! -[male voice 2 in Pidgin] I'm not going!
[male voice 1] Move!
[in Pidgin] I've told you!
You can't, you can't hold me like that.
- Look, tell your boy. - Sir, move!
I'll soon elbow him in the mouth,
- like I didn't warn him. - Third time this week!
[in English] Shut up!
-[in Pidgin] What did he do this time? - Sir, it's the usual crimes.
-[in English] Attempted murder? - Yes.
- Grievous bodily harm? - Yes.
- And battery? - Yes.
[in Pidgin] Put him in the cell!
-[in Pidgin] Do what? Stop that! - Move! Move!
-[man 2] You're looking for my trouble. - Move!
-[in Pidgin] Go and put him in the cell! - Move!
[in Pidgin] Move to where?
- Move! -[in Pidgin] Move where? [splutters] Look,
you know I know you well.
You live on Five-one-two Road.
You buy beans from Togo's place.
Don't look for my trouble!
[soft music playing]
[soft music swells]
[faded voices chatting inaudibly]
-[crowd cheering] -[commentator inaudible chatter]
[voices fade away]
I AM THE ANIMAL
Uche, let him be, teach him to be light on his feet.
Move it around, move it around. Yeah.
Take him to the ropes.
Let him box his way out. Yeah.
Ani?
No!
Ani the animal.
- Baba. -[laughs]
Ah. Ani.
- Ha. - It's still your boy, sir.
Same old boy.
Ani the animal!
I'm not sure I'm still the animal though.
[laughs]
When did you come in?
Today. This morning, sir.
[expresses disbelief] [laughs]
Come, come, let's go and talk.
- Um, Jubril, -[Jubril] Yes sir?
Lock up the gym when you're done, huh? Yeah.
Yes. What?!
You still look good, man.
[laughs]
Come. Ani the animal.
Ayo-Chukwu!
Ayo-Chukwu! Hey, come here!
-[in Yoruba] What's up? -[guard in Pidgin] Your bail is paid.
My bail is paid? Free me, then.
[phone rings]
Yeah, NG.
Yeah, I got him out.
He's with me.
In the car.
Yes, we're on our way.
Oh that’s er, don't worry about it. It's okay.
See you soon.
Nice to see you again, man.
[chuckles]
Never thought a day like this would ever come. Ever.
Yeah. It seems weird to be back in Nigeria.
Yeah.
You know, not much has changed
since 1993.
Tell me about it.
[chuckles]
Hmm. [clicks tongue]
So, where are you staying?
Yeah, I couldn’t stay in...
my family house so,
I checked into a small hotel until I'm about to sort out myself.
Yeah. I can imagine.
[Baba clears throat] Um,
have you been to see er...?
Yeah, sort of.
I went to the address
[nostalgic music plays]
and
I saw her. I saw Ngozi.
And she looks great.
Still very beautiful.
You know, I think time has been
kinder to her than most of us.
Hmm. [laughs]
See.
There you go.
[Baba grunts]
[chuckles]
Hey. Who’s the man?
[sighs and clears throat]
Well,
Ngozi is a fabulous woman.
It must have been really hard for her.
It’s been how long now? Twenty five years?
Yeah. Twenty five years.
[sighs]
You see,
I have been dreading this moment...
I also saw my daughter, Anu.
- She is beautiful, just like her mother. - Oh.
And to think that she was just about two when I travelled.
I've completely missed out on her childhood.
-[sighs] -[Ani clicks tongue] [sighs]
Did you see your son?
[sighs]
[knock on door]
[persistent knock on door]
Can...
[Ngozi] Hey.
Philip,
I'm really sorry about this stress.
But I had nobody else to turn to.
It's okay.
No, but you just came back from a trip and then my son decides to trouble you.
Trust me, it’s no trouble. Hmm?
Do you want to eat something?
No. Let me go.
The boy has issues.
But he also has potential.
Philip, I don’t know what to do with him.
I'll call you,
so we can arrange our outing.
-[Ngozi] Okay. - Hmm?
[tense music playing]
[clears throat]
[Ngozi sighs]
I'll see ya.
-[Ayo hisses] - Where do you think you’re going?
Mom, leave me. I'm having a bad day.
And it will get even worse because you cannot continue like this.
Ayo-Chukwu!
- Ayo-Chukwu! - Ma, what is it?!
If you have something to say, say it.
Don’t you have any shame?
- Why can’t you just be like your sister? -[grunts]
- At least she has finished school. - Hmm.
- She has a job. - Oh ho!
- She has something to do with her life. - You see?
You must always come to that.
You know what, mommy? [in Igbo] Let God be the judge!
[in English] All the time, you would always say things that would spite me.
"Why can’t you be like Anu?"
Mama, I am not Anu. I am me.
Ayo-Chukwu.
And if you care so much about having another boy,
your businessman boyfriend can help you out.
What?
Oh, you think we don’t see you?
Mommy, you think we don’t see you acting like a teenager in love
with that creep?
Mommy, I don’t blame him.
I don't blame him at all.
If you hadn’t chased away my father with your constant nagging,
all of this won't be happening.
- Ayo-Chukwu! -[tense music playing]
[sniffs]
Are we done?
[sighs]
You know, I have never seen the boy.
He was born after I traveled.
- I don’t even know what he looks like. -[sighs]
And that's what worries me.
[softly] Yeah.
Growing up in all this madness without a father.
You know, Ani...
I need to let you know
that...
I tried to remain in touch with them,
but I mean, after what happened, I wasn’t too sure
really, how I was supposed to--
Samson, I know.
- I know. -[chuckles softly]
You know...
you gave me...
something to dream about.
You believed in me.
And you were...
you were very sure I could become
the Heavyweight Champion of the world.
But I blew it up.
[sighs]
I blew everything up.
But I'm back now, I'm back.
And I want my family back.
I want my family back.
Are you sure, Ani?
What do you mean, Samson?
You haven’t seen or talked to them in 25 years.
You're not sure what you will meet. Huh?
It's been a very long time, man.
Yeah, I know.
But...
They're all I've got...
and I've returned to take them back.
Okay. Okay.
So, how are you doing for dough?
- Huh? - No, I mean,
how are you doing for money? Do you need money? [hesitates]
- Do you want money? -[sighs]
I haven't got much but
I've got some plans.
That's all right.
But if you do need anything, you will tell me.
Right?
And if you need somewhere to go, the gym is always there.
I can't pay you much, but hey,
it's you and I. Old times. Same one.
[laughs]
Yeah, bro. Thanks, Samson.
- Thank you. I really appreciate this. - Yeah.
The good old gym.
[chuckles] Yeah.
[laughs]
I have.
- To the good old gin. - Good old gin, yeah.
Hey, maybe one of these days,
you will tell me all that happened in New York.
Hmm?
What is it again?
Another fight?
It’s nearly 4 a.m. already. Why are you still here?
It doesn’t matter.
Seems the whole world is against me, sis.
Nobody is against you, knucklehead.
But you don't even make it easy for anybody to be on your side.
Look.
I know you're going through a lot right now
but so is everyone else.
Especially that woman.
She tries.
She raised us all by herself, goes to work everyday,
and yes, what do you do? Just hang around and get into fights.
Sis I, I sat for JAMB three times now.
Or is it my fault that I’m not as smart as you are?
So why don’t you just find something else to do?
Like, something you love.
Most especially, something that will make you some money.
Like what?
[sighs]
I would suggest you...
take up wrestling.
[laughing] Considering how much you love to fight.
Or you ask Big Man Philip to
get you a job as a bodyguard.
Considering he’ll soon be your stepfather.
[sniggers] [hisses] Like, brother-in-law.
-[laughs] [in Pidgin] Oh, please. -[chuckles]
Are you coming?
Coming to where? I'm not going inside. Mommy is still very angry so... [mumbles]
Don't worry, if she's still awake, I’ll beg her.
Beg? [in Pidgin] Do you think you're Robocop?
-[Anu] Let's go. I'm tired, please. - Ah. [hisses]
[Ayo in Pidgin] Okay, go ahead and mess it up. If this woman slaps me...
[Anu] You stress me.
[Ayo] All right, go in and talk to her.
♪ No more talking about it ♪
♪ The way it is, the way it is ♪
♪ It's no mystery ♪
♪ There's no getting around it ♪
♪ When you're here, when you're here ♪
♪ We got chemistry ♪
♪ We light up ♪
♪ When we ignite ♪
♪ We are stars ♪
♪ In a darkened sky ♪
♪ When you leave ♪
♪ Don't forget to remember ♪
♪ Don't forget to remember me ♪
♪ When you leave ♪
♪ Don't forget to remember ♪
♪ Don't forget to remember me ♪
♪ Remember me ♪
Yes sir. It's dated "17th June 1992."
And the reference number is NB...
1992
55 40 75.
Yes, yes. Seated right in front of me, sir.
Exactly what I was thinking, sir.
Thank you, sir.
- Mr. Animasaun. - Yes sir.
Where did you come upon this share certificate?
I won them.
They were my prize for winning the...
National Heavyweight Boxing Championship
in 1991.
And where has it been all this while?
Well, I...
I hid it at my mother's place at Agege.
You see, I...
haven't been around. I've been in New York.
I just returned.
Okay.
I'm just going to make a copy of this,
and I'm going to send it to our brokers for them to authenticate.
And if this is real,
[chuckles]
If it is real,
well, you may be certain...
[urban music playing]
[indistinct male chatter]
-[Ayo] What? That's not... -[friend1 in Pidgin] Forget about it!
- Hey, babe. -[man whistling] Babe.
[in Pidgin] Who is...? Thunder will fire you all.
[in Pidgin] Guys, look away. What's your problem? That's mine.
-[laughing] [in Pidgin] Look at that! -[Ayo] Look away. Are you crazy?
[man] Baba, wait.
- Baba, look at her legs. -[in Pidgin] I'll hurt someone here.
- Who's dating her? -[Ayo] I'll stone you!
- Who's dating her? -[Ayo] Get out of here!
[men laughing]
[in Pidgin] And keep moving.
[in Pidgin] What's wrong with you? Haven't you seen beauty before?
[man in English] Play something.
[Ani in Pidgin] Baba Briggs, you've started to...
[man in Pidgin] Play something. Today, you will discover that River Niger
- is in Nigeria. - Hmm.
-[Ayo chatting in distance] -[Baba Briggs] Push.
-[man] Push, push. -[Ani] Ah, Baba Briggs.
[Ayo talking loudly in background]
Boss Briggs!
[teasing] Boss Briggs! Hey!
[Ayo teasing in sing-song voice] Boss Briggs is pregnant!
[in Pidgin] Boss Briggs, when are you giving birth?
[men laughing] Boss Briggs.
What's the matter?
You look so serious. What's the problem?
Because of yesterday's game?
I see. You think you've found an otue-tue you can beat at games, right?
-[in Pidgin] How did you say it? Otue-tue. - Otue-tue.
[men laugh]
Ogbolokoho. [laughs]
Come, aren't you supposed to be in jail?
You should have you come with me to confirm. Come along with me.
[in English] Yep! They cannot keep a good man down.
I have to be back in the hood to run things.
And to mess people like you up.
-[Ayo] Is it possible to hold shit? -[men] It's impossible!
-[Ayo] Is it possible to hold down a fart? -[men] It's impossible!
[men] It's impossible to hold down a fart.
Baba, don't make that move.
Don't play that move. You have a set game right now.
The move you're about to make will make you lose this game.
Sir, play it this way. Play that one over there.
-[Ayo] All right, Boss Briggs, play. - What's your business in this?
Baba, play your move.
Why don't you mind your business!
- Baba, make your move. - Don't try to scare us.
Expose yourself.
-[Ani] Boss Briggs, play. - Baba, go southwest.
-[Ayo] South pole. -[man 1] Baba Briggs.
[Ayo] Clear the game away!
- Ah. I finish you, straight. [laughs] -[Ayo] For sure!
For sure! Didn't I tell you?
Baba Briggs!
- Ahn-ahn. -[Ayo] Don't mind him!
- You play very well. - Baba, I play many games.
-[Ani] That's fantastic. - I play many games.
You see, it's for betting.
It's for betting.
For what I just taught you, I deserve some accolades.
- Accolades! -[Ayo] For real.
[men mimic sound of coins falling]
For real, I should be paid for consultation.
-[friend1] Fantastic! - No problem.
-[Ayo] Baba Briggs. - Baba Briggs, play!
[Ayo] Go ahead.
-[Ani] Baba Briggs. -[Ayo singing] ♪ I'll change the level ♪
[whispers in Pidgin] Seems that thing isn't happening anymore. That guy--
-[Ayo in Pidgin] That guy is back? - He's around.
[men chatting excitedly]
[Briggs] Ha!
[in Pidgin] Ahn-ahn. That boy is intelligent.
[in English] Baba Briggs, who’s the boy?
-[in English] That stupid boy. - Mmh.
Look, that boy thinks he’s a king of the streets.
He's always making trouble and fighting.
[chuckles]
-[Briggs clicks tongue] He's just... - There’s just something about him.
He's a smart chap.
Something? There's a lot about him.
In fact, he has contracts with the devil.
[chuckles]
Baba Briggs! [laughs]
It's only his mother,
that lovely, gentle, kindhearted,
beautiful, yellow woman,
and very hardworking, that I pity.
But she has to cope with the devil.
Honestly, I like that boy. What is his name?
-[chuckles] That is the funny part. - Hmm.
- His name is Ayo-Chukwu. -[tense music plays]
Yoruba and Igbo joined together. Nobody knows the meaning.
- Ayo-Chukwu. - Yes.
[tense music playing]
- Is his mother's name, "Ngozi"? - Yes.
[fast-paced music playing]
Hey, come back. Come!
[in Pidgin] What did I tell you the last time I saw you?
You said I should carry something in my pocket.
- So what happened? -[in Pidgin] I didn't have any money, sir.
[mimics] "I didn't have any money, sir."
- Next time, when I-- -[Ayo in Pidgin] Have you lost your mind?
[in Pidgin] You called me to get money off a little kid. Are you crazy?
- What's wrong with you? -[Ayo] What's wrong with me?
- What's wrong with you? - What?
Forget it! What's wrong with me?
-[in Yoruba] What? -[in Pidgin] What's wrong with me?
-[in Pidgin] What's wrong with you? -[men chatting excitedly]
-[man grunts] -[men] Ayo-Chukwu, let him go.
-[man grunts] -[men pleading]
[Ayo yelling] Guy, let me deal with him. Are you crazy?
[Ayo] I know you will collect... I know you will collect...
[yelling] Guy, let me go.
-[yelling ] Let me go, I'll kill this man. -[Ani] Ayo!
Ayo! Stop.
-[Ayo] I'll kill this man, he's crazy. - Man, get out of here!
[in Pidgin] You see what you've caused. See what you did?
- What? You wanted to kill him? - Look,
[Ayo in Pidgin] It's not your fault. It's not anybody's fault.
[man] Ayo-Chukwu, you don't need all this.
Let me go and deal with him!
[men talking excitedly]
You wanted me to let you kill him?
See, I'm going to tell you this for the very last time.
Stay out of my business, Mr. Americana!
Or what, Ayobamidele?
-[in Pidgin] Baba, you'll get hurt. -[man] That's right!
- You'll get hurt. - Simple!
I'll hurt you three times as much as I hurt that guy.
You think you can take me on?
Baba, I'll hurt you, eat you!
Baba, munch you, chew you, anyhow!
You think you can fight, huh?
[man laughs]
What? You really think you can fight?
[in Pidgin] Baba, I don't give teasers.
I go straight for the kill.
All right, you said you can gamble, right?
You said you like to gamble.
- I bet. - Let's do a bet.
[man laughs]
[in Pidgin] This man wants to give me free money.
I want to bet that I will kick your butt.
If you win, I’ll give you 50,000 naira.
- Fifty thousand? - Yes, fifty thousand naira.
Ayo-Chukwu!
-[man laughs] - Ol' boy,
[in Pidgin] this is a great opportunity!
Let's use this easy money to have fun, this weekend.
What do you think?
If we're going to do it, let's do it well.
- All right? - Where?
Samson's Gym.
You know Samson's Gym, by first gate.
-[in English] Yes, I know Samson's Gym. - Good.
Tomorrow. 9 a.m. sharp. Don’t be late.
[in Pidgin] This guy is acting like a school principal.
He's giving me a time to arrive at the stadium.
- Fifty thousand. -[scoffs] Baba,
[in Pidgin] make sure to come along with your casket.
We don't want trouble.
[men taunting Ani]
[soft music playing]
[inaudible chatter]
SAMSON'S GYM
[slow haunting music playing]
[Ayo's friends cheering]
-[friend 1 in Pidgin] Go on! -[friend 2] Ayo, calculate!
[friend 1 in Pidgin] Go on!
Ayo, upper cut.
[in Pidgin] Yes, one blow has connected.
-[friend 2] You can do it. -[friend 3] Ayo, you can do this.
-[friends express surprise] -[friend 1] Ayo, you can do it.
[slow haunting music playing]
-[Ngozi] All right, take. -[in Pidgin] Where's the plastic bag?
-[Ngozi in Pidgin] I don't have any. - What about my change?
-[Ngozi] Come back later. -[in Pidgin] You have no bags, no change.
[in Igbo, Pidgin] Please, leave me alone.
-[Ngozi in Pidgin] Let me be, woman. -[Anu] Mom, good afternoon.
[Ngozi in Igbo] Anu, come.
What's wrong? [in Igbo] My God!
[Anu winces] [groans]
Anu, what's the matter?
- Nothing, ma. - What do you mean, "nothing"?
Did you get into a fight?
- Were you robbed? - Mommy, I'm tired.
I need to rest.
[in Igbo] What's wrong? [in English] Anu, come back.
[in Igbo, English] What's wrong?
Jesus.
What's wrong with you now? Huh?
These children. [in Igbo] Please.
-[tense music playing] -[gasps in fright]
[in Pidgin] Where's that street boy, that agbero who stays here?
No agbero lives here.
[in Pidgin, Yoruba] Can you hear the rubbish she's saying?
[in Pidgin] Did you see what he did to my brother?
Last week, he put me in the hospital first
but I didn't retaliate because it was the usual street fight.
But now, he's waylaid my brother and bruised his mouth. Can't you see?
- Wait, you mean Ayo-Chukwu did this? - Uh-huh.
- When did this happen? - Yesterday.
[in Pidgin] These questions are getting me all upset! This your Ayo,
[in Yoruba] that stupid Ayo,
[in Pidgin] whenever you see him, do you hear me?
Tell him this Festac town is too small for both of us!
Do you understand? If he sees me coming on the road...
[to himself] Oh, Femi, calm down.
If he sees me coming on the road,
he'd better pass another road because
[in Yoruba] I swear, if his mother is wise,
[in Pidgin, Yoruba] Oh, you're his mother. If you as his mother were wise,
[in Pidgin] You're not wise.
[in Pidgin] If he sees me on the road, and passes me by,
please warn him,
because if I retaliate, my name will be smeared.
Festac is not big enough for both of us. This is war!
Tope, this is war. You can hear me tell her.
-[in Pidgin] Let's go. - Bloody war.
[in Pidgin] In fact, pass me three packets of Indomie.
-[in Pidgin] Are you afraid? - You want...?
[in Pidgin] You want to take my wares?
Do you have sardines?
- I don't have sardines. Go! - Let's go!
-[in Pidgin] Tell him we're at war! -[Tope] War!
[indistinct chatter]
-[dialing phone] -[inaudible]
[dramatic music playing]
[ringing tone]
MOMMY. ANSWER. IGNORE
[friends] Ayo! You can do it!
Ayo! You can do this, bro!
[friends] All right. Ayo, calculate.
Ayo! You can do this, bro!
[friends clapping and cheering] Ayo! You can do this, bro! Upper cut!
[friends] One blow, seven die, Ayo.
He'll die there, Ayo-Chukwu.
[friend 1 voice escalating] Come on! Come on! Finish him!
-[dramatic drum beat] -[ringing sound]
[wistful music playing]
[friends] Ayo, just stand up. You can do this.
-[wistful music playing] -[inaudible]
[wistful music swelling]
- Ayo, what's the matter? -[friend 1] What's wrong with him?
[friends] Ayo, what's up? He's in trouble.
[Ayo sighs]
[friend] Ayo-Chukwu.
- Why are you taking off your gloves? -[friend 2] Ayo-Chukwu, what's up?
-[friend 3] Ayo, calm down. -[friend 1] Ayo-Chukwu, what's up?
- Ayo-Chukwu! - What happened?
Wow. A small fight and you just knocked the guy down.
Ayo, wait! Don't leave like that.
Ayo. Ayo-Chukwu!
[friends cheering] Ayo, calculate!
FRESHBOY-LASGIDI INSTAGRAM
[Ngozi] How can you stop now?
You're the only one who helps me.
Mom, you don’t understand. You don't...
I can’t go back there.
See, I'll find another job.
And in the meantime?
[Ngozi] You want to become a lay-about like your brother?
For my sake.
For the sake of your long-suffering mother, stay there.
Stay there until you can find another job.
My dear, I know that your salary is small but at least it's something.
I don’t like the job.
You won’t understand.
[wistful music playing]
- Mr. Philip can help us. -[in Igbo] No, Anu!
We are no beggars!
You will not rely on any man, no matter who he is!
I did that with your father and see where it got me!
We will stand on our own two feet.
Okay. But I'm tired!
Just know I told you that I'm tired.
[sighs] [in Igbo] My God.
-[sighs] -[male voice] Mama Anu.
Yes?
[male voice in Pidgin] I want to buy something.
[wistful music escalates]
[lively music playing]
You never know how to handle these things.
[Ani] Excuse me.
So?
So I...
Wow.
Honestly, I didn’t expect you to be back here so soon.
We had a deal.
I’m a man of my word. So I brought your money back.
I don’t need it. It’s yours.
So,
what do you want me to do?
Well, maybe...
you teach me how to play draft. Hmm? [chuckles]
Well, honestly, I...
I didn’t look that far ahead.
There's a possibility...
that you would have won that fight.
Nah, never!
[chuckles]
Not with the way you fight.
I’ve never seen anybody fight like that.
Don't get me wrong, I'm good with my fists.
But look what you did with my lips.
Well, there’s a whole lot more to boxing
than throwing punches.
You need to watch some more boxing.
[scoffs] [in Pidgin] Not possible.
We only watch soccer in this country.
[scoffs, chuckles]
I know.
You know, my father was a boxer.
- Really? - Yeah.
Okay.
So that's why you go around the streets, fighting, beating up people, huh?
[chuckles]
- Where is he now? - Huh?
Your father, where is he now?
I don’t know. He’s not around.
Well, sorry about that.
No. Not that he’s dead, no, he's not.
Well, it's just that as far as I'm concerned,
he left for America before I was born.
So...
do you miss him?
Ha! How can you miss someone that you don’t know?
How? Very senseless stuff.
And I've been moving on with my life without him.
Very crazy human being.
Hmm.
Bro, please can you teach me? Please.
Can you teach me, bro?
[Ani sighs]
Can you teach me how to box?
I don't think that would be a good idea.
Why?
A trained boxer is a lethal weapon.
And I don’t want to be responsible for you killing someone out there.
Bro, no. Please, I won’t.
I promise to stop fighting in the streets, if that is. Please.
Well, I don’t know.
[hisses] Bro, please.
Look, I promise I’ll do anything you say. Anything. Look...
I came, I even came...
I came with my dad’s old boxing gloves.
Where did you get these?
They were my dad's.
My mom kept them and I took them from her room.
She's been hiding them under the bed.
You shouldn’t have taken them.
Why?
They may be very important to your mother.
[scoffs]
My mother hates my father.
I'm seriously dead serious.
And personally, you know what I think?
She even forgot she was hiding these things.
[sighs]
And what about you?
What?
You hate your father too?
I don’t know.
[in Pidgin] I don't care about him.
Bro, I don't. I don't know. I don't have any feelings, I don't have anything...
All I ever heard was that he was a coward that abandoned his family.
It's stupid. Very stupid stuff.
See, bro. [in Pidgin] Forget about it!
[in English] Leave my father out of this equation, please.
Teach me, I want to learn.
Excuse me.
[tense music playing]
[thud]
[gentle music playing]
[Ayo singing]
-[sighs] What is this now? - Ahn-ahn.
You’re up early, again?
Yeah. I know, I know, Anu.
Anu-Chukwu,
-[Anu giggles] - What's going on?
Ayo-Chukwu,
Why are you awake by this time? [in Igbo] Is everything okay?
[laughs] Mommy, don't start now.
- I am a changed man now. Hmm? -[Ngozi laughs]
Where are you going this early, Ayo-Chukwu, changed-man?
- I'm going to the gym. -[laughs] Which gym?
[chuckles] Samson’s Gym.
[dramatic drum beat]
- Samson? -[Ayo] Mm-hmm.
Which Samson?
Samson Da Silva?
Yes, mommy. You know him?
Ah, that man?
Eh, Anu, that man is as hard as nails, really.
What are you doing there?
[sighs]
- Mommy, don't start now. What? - What are you doing at the gym?
[Anu] Uh, boxing.
What else do they do at the boxing gym?
-[roars] -[Anu giggles]
Training of the body,
-[grunts] mama, [grunts] -[Anu giggles]
and the mind.
[in sing-song voice] Mommy, yeah, opportunity.
-[Anu giggles] -[Ayo laughs]
Ngo baby.
-[Anu] Come on, get out of here. - Give me this thing, what's your problem.
- Take the small one. -[Ayo] Which one is small?
- That one is-- - Ha!
[smacks lips] Ngo,
[in Jamaican accent] I'll see you later.
[in Jamaican accent] I'll catch you.
[wistful music playing]
Are you okay?
Did you know he was going to the gym to box?
- Yeah, he told me. - Boxing, Anu!
Boxing! Of all the things that your brother could do, boxing?
[in Igbo] No, no.
He has to stop it immediately.
As soon as he comes back, I'm going to have that conversation with him.
He has to stop.
- Why? - I have my reasons.
[sighs] The gym owner, Samson,
is the same man that misled your father.
And now, he's started with my son.
[in Igbo] Hell, no! God forbid!
I have to go there and stop this.
I am going to go there and tell him to leave my son alone.
Mommy, if there's anything you want to be telling that Mr. Samson guy,
it should be, "thank you."
For transforming Ayo-Chukwu's life.
- Are you serious? - Yes, of course.
Ever since Ayo-Chukwu started boxing, he’s turned a completely new leaf.
He doesn't fight again, he hasn't got into trouble, if you haven't noticed.
He got off his bad friends. He’s reading and he has registered for JAMB.
You can’t do that to him. At least, not now.
I know...
[sighs]
Anu, I just don’t want him to end up like your father.
I'm afraid.
Mom, there’s nothing to be afraid of.
Honestly, I’m on Ayo-Chukwu’s side this time.
You need to make up your mind. Do you want your son to
do something productive with his life,
or do you want him to keep being the king of touts.
[sighs]
Just calm down. Hmm?
Boxing or no boxing, your son is doing good.
You have a lot to be thankful for.
Okay.
[both laugh]
[fondly] [in Igbo] My first daughter.
All right, help me wash this cloth. Hmm?
Sweetheart. [in Igbo] What is, "mm-hmm"?
- Mommy, I'm not feeling fine. -[sarcastically] How would you feel fine?
-[in Igbo] My darling daughter. Please. - I'm not feeling fine.
[expresses exasperation]
-[coach] You're hitting me, you hit right. -[Ayo grunts]
-[coach] Come on, let's go. -[Samson] Andy...
[Samson] What am I looking at?
Your new student.
Is he drunk?
Possibly.
[sniggers]
Well, I told him no alcohol around the gym when we train.
What does he think he’s doing?
[laughs]
He’s throwing punches like, like an overfed cow.
And I’ve seen better stance in pregnant women.
Well, he's willing to learn.
He wants to do anything.
Isn’t that the boy you schooled here the other night?
Mm-hmm. Same boy.
And he came back?
At least he has that going for him, he came back.
[laughs]
Huh?
What’s his name?
Ayo-Chukwu.
[soft music plays]
[silently] Ani.
Ayo-Chukwu.
Don’t tell me he doesn’t know who you are.
No idea yet.
Ani!
You know what you're doing?
It just happened. I didn't plan it that way.
Anyway,
I’m going to make it work.
I'm back to take my family. I'll take my family back.
[Ani] Keep moving! Just keep moving.
Make yourself a moving target.
Come on, three minutes more. Go, go!
[Samson] Boy! Hey! Come.
[Samson] Come over.
Let's do some work here.
- One, two. One, two. -[tense music playing]
[Samson] One, two. One, two.
[tense music continues]
[Samson] Yep!
[rap music playing]
♪ Go hey go, go, go ♪
♪ Go hey go, go, go, go hey go ♪
♪ Today I'm a wake up a new man ♪
♪ Driving a new road, develop a new plan ♪
♪ I'll never be blue man Whatever the view man ♪
♪ Go to a new beach, get me a new tent ♪
♪ I'm a write down every single thought ♪
♪ That goes on my wall I would now never fall ♪
♪ I was gone for a minute Yeah I had to be free ♪
♪ You want it, I got it So tell me what you need ♪
♪ I'm unchanged, on faith and on women It's a new day ♪
♪ New world, we are winning I'm up late, up early, I gotta get it ♪
♪ Feet working Now we gotta make a million ♪
♪ Come get it, you got it I see ya ♪
♪ Don't hate it, you got it I see ya ♪
♪ I know you can do it ♪
♪ All you got to do is Put your mind to it ♪
♪ Wake up one morning to the next ♪
♪ New day, I gotta do my best ♪
♪ Everyday I put the work in, the grime Never stop, you ain't never seen me rest ♪
♪ See me on top, I never fall I speak my truth and turn it to law ♪
♪ I do it for the drive You know it's really my passion ♪
♪ Never going to stop me Really I make it happen ♪
♪ I gotta get up and grab it ♪
♪ The money wants me to have it ♪
♪ Well what can I say, I'm top villain ♪
♪ I grew from the dirt Because I had to make a million ♪
♪ I grew up I swear I rose from the valley ♪
♪ Everyday I put the work in I gotta keep the talent on B ♪
♪ Pockets stay heavy, when you see me ♪
♪ Don't list former days in the street My homie's indestructible ♪
♪ Come get it, you got it I see ya ♪
♪ Don't hate it, you got it I see ya ♪
Hey!
-[gasps in fright] -[laughing] Sorry. I'm sorry.
- You scared the hell out of [panting]. - I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
[panting] You’re stalking me, you know.
Huh? No, I’m not stalking you.
You just happened to be running in the same direction that I am. Yeah.
So you jog.
Well, I jog at this time
so that you and your friends won't disturb me
as you do almost every time I step out.
Oh no, don't mind my friends.
They're crazy, they don’t know the difference between a classy girl
and a bread-seller.
- And you do? - Of course.
I do know a good woman when I see one.
[panting] I hear!
What are you doing, anyway? I’ve never seen you jogging before.
Oh, I’ve only been jogging for a couple of days now.
Because of my boxing training.
Ah, that makes sense.
The local champion, always fighting.
At least now, when you beat someone up, it's legal.
Oh yeah? Is that what people really think of me?
Yes... most people. Well, like my father.
So what about you? What do you think of me?
What I think doesn't matter.
Anyway, you’re slowing me down. I have to go.
- Nice talking to you. - Zainab, let me get your number, at least.
Catch me and you can have it.
[in Pidgin] If I don't collect this number, I'll die!
Hey! [grunts] Zee baby!
[lounge music playing]
[Ngozi] Hmm, darling. [laughs]
[Ngozi] Oh, wow! [laughs]
[Ngozi sighs]
[Ngozi giggles]
-[waiter] Bon appétit! - Thank you.
Go ahead. Eat your desert.
Philip, I'm full.
[Ngozi] Okay.
[giggles]
[tense music playing]
WILL YOU MARRY ME?
NG,
will you marry me?
Yes. [inhales]
[laughs] Yes, I'll marry you, Philip. God. [laughs]
-[soft music playing] -[people applauding]
[giggles]
[upbeat music playing]
- Um, welcome. Please have your seat. -[Ani] Thank you.
Glad you could make it.
So the brokers have looked into your share certificate.
And first of all before we start, I'd like to say congratulations.
- Thank you. - The certificate is authentic.
- Congratulations, sir. - Thank you.
Now, in terms of value...
when you got your shares,
NBL had just floated on the stock exchange
- and the shares were worth ten kobo each. - Yes.
Which means that your 200,000 shares
were worth 20,000 naira at the time of the LPO.
Okay.
But as of today, in the market, it's 150 naira.
A hundred and fifty per share?
Yes.
Which means
your shares are worth 30 million naira [laughs].
Congratulations, sir.
[laughing] Congratulations.
Now if you want to sell it, I can...
I can help you speak to the brokers and...
Or maybe you don’t have to sell it.
I can just still speak to the brokers
and they will help you recover a backlog of dividends
dating back to 1992.
And that, I promise you
will mount up to something substantial.
Congratulations again [laughs].
Mr. Animasaun, are you okay?
Sir?
[laughing] Congratulations!
Yes. Yes, I'm okay.
[sobbing] I'm all right.
[soft music playing]
I'm all right.
[sobs]
[inaudible]
-[Ani] Ah, come. Let's do it. -[coach 2] One, two.
[Ani] Remember to guard. As soon as you point, guard.
-[Ani] Good. Let's go, let's go. -[coach 2] One, two.
[Ani] Good, good.
-[Ani] Remember your ribs, too. -[yells] Animasaun!
[dramatic music playing]
[Samson] Hey! Ani! Ani!
[Anu] Mom!
-[Ani] [fearfully] Ngozi! -[coach 2] Go, go.
[in Pidgin] Let's make it happen.
What happened?
[Ani] Ngozi! Ngozi!
Wait, wait. Wait, please.
- Huh? -[Ngozi] Wait?
[Ngozi] Did you say, "wait"?
No, did you just say, "wait"?
Ngozi, let me... Please, let me...
No, don’t touch me!
[Ayo] Mommy, what is this?
What's the meaning of all these things you're doing?
Ayo-Chukwu.
[emotionally] Thank you.
Ayo-Chukwu, thank you! Congratulations!
So, after everything that I put myself through for you,
this is how you repay me, Ayo-Chukwu?!
[in Igbo] What did I do to you? [in English] Did I do anything to you?
- Ayo-Chukwu? - Mom, what are you talking about?
Mom, what is the problem?
- You don’t know? - Know what?
You didn’t tell him, did you?
[tense music playing]
Ayo-Chukwu, meet your father.
[dramatic music playing]
[chuckling in disbelief]
You knew who I was all this time?
I...
[laughs sarcastically]
- Ayo, I... - Huh?
- What? - I didn't... I didn’t know how to tell you.
[Samson] Ani!
Hey, stop! Stop, Ani!
- What was I thinking? - Get a hold of yourself!
What was I thinking about?
-[sobbing] - Listen.
Ngozi was bound to react like that, it's been 25 years, man!
She can do better than me.
She can do better than me, so why did I come back?
I should have wasted my whole life rotting away in New York.
- It's okay. - Why did I come back?
You came back because you loved your family.
- Which family? What family? - You, you told me you want them.
- You told me you want them back! - Did you see,
Did you see the way they looked at me?
- Hey, it's okay. -[sobbing]
- Did you see the way they looked at me? - Easy. Easy, Ani.
Like I was some bloody piece of crap.
It's okay. It's okay, Ani.
- You know. - But isn’t that what I am?
- No! You're a good man. - Am I not a piece of crap?
- No! You're a good man. Ani! - Am I not a worthless coward?
- Ani! You are none of those things! - That's what I am!
-[sobbing] - Easy. Easy, Ani.
[Samson] Hey.
[sobbing harshly]
- It's me. It's me, Sam. -[panting]
You're a good man. Huh? You're none of those things!
You came back because you love your family.
So life gave you a sucker punch, so what?
You'll come back!
- You will come back! You always do. -[sobbing]
Easy, bro. Hey.
Easy. Easy, bro.
- All right? -[pants] [sighs]
It's over. Easy. Just take a deep breath, man.
- Just take a deep breath. -[inhales deeply]
- Yeah. Let it out. -[breathes deeply]
- Yeah. Right. -[sobbing]
Right. Hey.
Easy, bro. Okay.
Mommy... [sighs] did he really tell you
why he abandoned us?
What reason could he possibly have?
Twenty-five whole years.
Ayo-Chukwu, I don’t want you anywhere near that man.
- But what if he trying to-- -[Anu] What if, what?
Didn’t you hear what mommy just said?
If this man is my father, I--
He's not fit to be called anyone’s father!
Did you hear what I just said?
[yelling] I said stay away from him!
I've heard, mom.
Mommy, I've heard. [hesitating] But you've not told me why.
The only thing you have said to me about this man is that he abandoned us.
But don’t I have the right to ask,
man to man, what really happened?
Who cares what happened?
Listen, that man is a useless, deadbeat father.
He left his family to be with another woman!
Is that what really happened, mom?
Did he leave us for another woman?
Mommy, I am a grown man. I need to know exactly what happened.
[wistful music playing]
[Ani excitedly] Ngozi, Coach Samson came through. I'm finally going to America.
He was only supposed to go for nine months.
The plan was that he would come back,
just after you were born.
The first couple of months,
he called like, every Sunday.
But then, I didn't hear from him for about
four months.
[Ani] I'm not coming back, just forget about me.
I'm not coming back.
That was the last time I heard from him.
Until today.
He left me to suffer with two children
for 25 years!
And when I finally find some happiness in my life,
he shows up with his sorry self.
I won't let him ruin it for me! No.
Uh-uh.
Mommy...
Mommy, there must be a reason.
That man would not do all these things without a good reason.
A good reason?
Ayo-Chukwu?
- What reason could be good enough?! - That's what I'm trying to explain to her.
You're trying to take that man’s side over your family’s?
That's not what I'm doing.
- So what are you trying to do?! - Anu, calm down!
Don't tell me to calm down!
Can’t you hear what this ingrate is saying?
I think what he’s trying to--
I don’t care what he’s trying to say!
- What is the problem? - My problem is you!
- Me? How? - Yes, you!
You barely knew anything. You weren’t old enough.
And you were?
[Ayo] Huh?
No, talk.
Yes, I was.
I was old enough to watch us move from one apartment to another.
I was old enough to see her cry herself to sleep every night,
because she couldn't think of what we would feed on the next day.
And I... I had to grow up really quickly,
and experience things that young girls shouldn't have experienced
only to put food in your belly and a roof over your stupid head!
All because of that man.
That wretch, that...
And you stand there
And you stand there to defend him.
I am not defending him.
So what are you doing? Why am I even surprised?
You’re two of a kind.
You’re both boxers.
And you’re both losers.
-[gentle music playing] -[gasps in surprise]
[Anu sniffles]
Anu!
- Clara, Clara! Not my child. - Anu!
[indistinct chatter]
[friend 1 in Pidgin] Bro, is this you?
[friend 2 in Pidgin] Wow, Ayo.
Ever since you took up boxing, you abandoned your friends.
[in Pidgin] Guys, I'm sorry. I'm dealing with some family issues.
-"I am dealing with some family issues." - Can you hear him?
[mimicking Ayo's words mockingly]
-[in Pidgin] Dude, forget this man. -[in Pidgin] Let's go.
- Why are you guys acting this way? -[friend 2] Please, let's go.
Ayo-Chukwu! Ayo-Chukwu!
Where do you think you’re going?
[yelling] Where do you think you’re going?
Oh, you want to go and meet him, right?
Fine! Go on. Go and meet your daddy.
And ignore the family that has cared for you this whole time.
But I want you to know something. That man doesn’t care about you!
- What’s your problem, Anu? - He doesn’t care about anybody!
What’s your problem? Why are you this angry?
What's all this vexing for?
Look, if there's anyone who should be mad at anything,
it should be mom and not you!
Yeah, I understand.
You see all these things that you're trying to do,
I get it. You are jealous.
You are very jealous because ever since our father came back to this country,
he chose me, and not you.
-[Anu grunts] -[Ngozi] Anu!
You bastard!
Leave me alone, mommy! You bastard!
You’re just like your father. A worthless bastard.
Get out my sight and go meet your father!
[Ngozi crying] Anu! [in Igbo] Ah, my child.
[Ngozi] [softly] Ayo-Chukwu.
[Ngozi sobbing] Ayo-Chukwu!
Do you see, Ayo-Chukwu?
[sobs, yells] Ayo-Chukwu!
[Ngozi sobbing]
[melancholic music playing]
Did he tell you where he has been all this time?
- I don’t know. - Did he say why
it took so long for him to come back?
[hesitating] I... No.
- Did he tell you exactly what he wanted? - I don’t know!
I’m sorry, my love.
I didn’t mean to upset you.
[crying]
I was too shocked to stay and listen to anything Ani had to say.
I mean, who leaves his family
and returns after all these years,
expecting an embrace?
What's there to talk about? What's there to explain?
I love you, Ngozi.
You are the one my heart has chosen...
and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
I would give up everything, everything.
The cars, the house, even the wealth,
just to spend the rest of my life with you.
But I need you
to bring closure to this chapter of your life.
You can’t run away from it.
You can be angry now. By all means, be angry.
But you have to deal with it.
I'll be with you every step of the way.
You're the one my heart has chosen.
And I promise you, I'm not going anywhere.
We'll get though this together.
[melancholic music playing]
[sighs] Babe,
please just calm down. Everything will be okay.
How?
Did you not hear what that stupid boy said to me?
I know.
But I've never seen you like this.
I didn't even know you felt so strongly about your dad.
He's not my dad.
That man is not fit to be called anyone's dad.
But I still think you need to hear him out.
Clara you, you don't understand.
You don't know what it feels like.
[whispers] Sorry.
That man left me when I was a baby.
Gosh, the inhumane things that we had to go through.
The things that I had to do for us to survive.
I'm so sorry.
I needed him but
he was in the arms of another woman.
Who does that?
[sobbing]
-[melancholic music playing] -[Clara] Sorry.
-[Clara whispers] I'm so sorry. -[sniffles]
[Clara whispers] It's okay.
[Anu sniffles]
[lively music playing]
-[woman] Okwe. - Hmm?
[Okwe in Igbo] All right.
-[Okwe in Igbo] Thank you very much. -[grunts]
[gate closes, car engine running]
[woman in Igbo] What's going on?
[Okwe in Igbo] I don't know.
What's really going on?
[Ani] Papa.
Mama.
I'm sorry.
Please, forgive me.
No. Okwe, please.
Take it easy. No.
-[Okwe spluttering] Let me go. -[Ani] Please.
[in Igbo] What is he doing here? [splutters]
No, no. Take it easy.
He's come to wipe away our tears.
[mama] Please.
[mama] It's enough. It's all right.
[in Igbo] Animal!
It's enough. It's all right.
[Ayo] Zay!
[Ayo panting] Zainab.
[Zainab] If my dad sees you around me, he'll kill you.
[Ayo] I don't care.
[Ayo] Men have died for lesser things. Yes.
[Zainab laughs]
[Zainab] You know, you're really surprising me.
I thought you were just a street bully without reins
but not bad.
-[Ayo] Really? - Not bad at all. Mm-hmm.
I'm not a street thug, Zainab. So...
So you don't even know all these things about me.
Look, in this neighborhood, everybody knows everybody and as it is,
they can't forget your past mistakes.
-[Zainab] Really? - Yes, really.
And most of the fights I get into, it's because of my mother.
See, I cannot allow anybody talk to my mother anyhow. That's why.
[Zainab] That's noble but...
you're going to have to stop getting into trouble
if you want to keep talking to me or seeing me.
[Ayo] Okay, ma.
Congratulations!
Your dad is back.
Who told you?
So, it's a small area.
I'm sure everyone knows about the fight with your sister as well.
Oh, okay. Wow.
Are you okay?
[hisses] Yeah. I'm just
trying to figure out what to do.
About your dad?
No. It's about me.
It's about my future, you know.
I have this JAMB thing coming up and
Anu is still fighting with me.
Anu and mommy would think I'm abandoning them.
Have you spoken to your mom?
No, I haven't.
Talk to your mom.
Talk to her and then...
let everything sort itself out.
Everything will be fine.
- You think so? - I know so.
And then,
when you've figured out plans for the future,
let me know.
Of course. I will let you know
because I know you're going to be part of the future.
[tense music playing]
Guys, guys.
[in Pidgin] Not here.
Not here, not here.
[in Pidgin] Let's go that way.
[Ayo] Zainab see, I've been wanting to tell you this thing since.
I... [indistinct]
[knock on door]
Ngo, please. Please.
What do you want?
I know you don’t want to see me.
Well, if you know that, then why did you come?
[hesitating] Just give me five minutes, okay?
I need to talk to you.
If that’s not what you want to hear, then I'll just go away and I won't come back.
Please.
So, what do you want?
Um...
I wanted to see you.
Well, if that’s all, you’ve seen me. You can go.
Okay, Ngo. Please, please.
I really wanted to apologize.
Oh, it’s too late for that.
Oh, let me tell you,
going to see my father with that little charade? It doesn't mean anything at all.
- Oh, you already know about that? - Yes.
By the way, Ani,
[sacarstically] we have mobile phones in Nigeria now, and they work!
So it’s interesting to think that you did not call
all these decades that you were away.
You see, you can't imagine
how hard it was for me.
- And how I tried not to... - How hard it was?
It was hard for you to call.
Wait, hold on.
Let's see how difficult it is to dial a number.
Zero...
Eight...
Zero...
[grunts]
Three...
See how difficult it is to make a bloody phone call.
Ngozi, please.
Ani, what did you think was going to happen?
That you would finally perform my traditional marriage rites
and waltz back in here and we would be husband and wife again?
Is that how it played out in your head?
Twenty five years, Ani.
Twenty five years!
[tearfully] You left me with a baby and an unborn child
with no money.
Nothing to feed or do anything else.
Ani, do you know how we survived?
How we lived?
All the things that I had to go through to keep my children,
no, our children off the streets.
And make sure they had a roof over their heads at night.
You have no idea.
Through it all, staying faithful to a husband who had vanished into thin air.
I didn’t even know if the father of my children was dead or alive.
Against all odds, Ani,
I chose you.
Over wealth, [sobs] over my education,
over even my family, I chose you.
Why?
[sobbing]
Because I loved you, Ani,
[wistful music playing]
with every drop of blood flowing within my veins.
I supported you. I believed in you.
I loved you, Ani!
[sobbing] Ani, I had plans for my life, too.
I had dreams, I had hopes and aspirations.
But I tossed it all aside to support the man that my heart chose.
And what did you do?
You pissed all over my dreams and you spat in my face.
You made me an object of ridicule. A joke!
A reference for parents,
warning their daughters never to be as foolish as that stupid Ngozi.
I’m sure that my face would be the image right next to the words, "foolish"
or "stupid" or "ignorant" in the dictionary.
But not anymore, Ani. Not anymore!
[breathes deeply]
I'm sorry.
Ngo, I am deeply sorry.
And I want to right all the wrongs. Okay?
I know... I know I deeply hurt you and the children.
And that’s why we have moved on.
I have moved on.
I'm getting married, Ani. To a good man.
And as far as I'm concerned, you died 25 years ago.
I am marrying Philip.
And I will not let you ruin my shot at true love again.
Your five minutes are up, Ani. Please just...
Just go.
[inhales shakily]
Don’t come back, Ani. Please just go.
Ngo, I'm sorry.
Don’t, don't touch me, Ani.
- I love you. - Just stop... [splutters]
Ngo...
Ngozi. Please wait. Ngozi!
- Mommy! Mommy! -[Ngozi sobbing]
- Why are you here? - Please Anu, can you just let me explain.
No! You leave!
[Ayo] Mommy! Mommy!
Oh, I should have known you brought him here.
What's wrong with you, Anu, I just got here.
Ayo-Chukwu has nothing to do with this. I came here on my own.
Fine! Then leave how you came; on your own.
Anu. Please, calm down.
What? Why are you even here?
You’re no longer part of this family!
You left us just like, this man.
Anu! I am your father.
You have no right to call yourself that!
- I said I'm sorry. - That's all you have to say, "sorry."
So what do you want me to do? Jump off a cliff?
Look, I didn't run away with any woman, just like you think. Okay?
I was in prison!
[dramatic drum beat]
In New York, for 24 years. I was in prison!
Why did you go to jail for that long?
Did you kill somebody?
I didn’t kill anybody.
The fight promoter in 1993 told me that
I was good enough to be a professional boxer.
But I couldn't...
work as a professional boxer because I didn't have a license.
So I needed a green card.
After three months in America,
he introduced me to a girl, Nancy.
[melancholic music playing]
It was supposed to be some kind of arrangement.
I'll pay her and then she pretends to be my wife.
I couldn’t raise the money so he raised the money for me.
And I was supposed to pay back
from my fights.
I swear, it was...
[melancholic music continues]
It was a simple arrangement.
But Nancy wanted more.
And I was desperate to get a green card.
So I got stuck.
So why didn’t you tell me all this over the phone?
How would I have told you that?
I was frolicking with some white girl in New York,
in the name of getting a green card?
Ngozi, I love you. I couldn't have told you that!
Listen, I thought all this would just go away
and I’d put it down as "experience."
But...
I guess it didn't work out like that. I should have been more careful.
I was young, I was stupid.
And the next thing,
I found myself in court for a rape charge.
Rape?
So you raped her? Argh! You disgust me even more!
I did not rape her, Anu!
Listen. Just hear me out.
I'm not proud of what I did but...
[emphatically] I did not rape her.
I did not.
I did not rape her.
[sirens blaring]
[police radio chatter]
Rape and aggravated assault.
[laughs] That’s what they called it.
[melancholic music playing]
I was innocent, but it didn’t matter.
They wanted me to plead guilty
and that
the judge would be lenient with me.
Plead guilty,
for a crime I did not commit? How?
The next thing I found myself
in prison. Forty-year sentence.
Forty years.
[sighs] [sniffles]
I thought my life was over.
The day I was sentenced to prison
was the day I called you, Ngozi.
I thought my life was over.
That was why I called
and asked you to forget about me.
[sighs] I was done with my boxing career...
my life, my family...
the love of my life.
My...
my attorney said...
I needed to spend about 25 years in jail before I could be given parole.
Twenty five years!
[laughs] [sniffles]
That's why I called and said,
"Just forget about me." I was...
[sound]
Twenty five years!
How could I have asked you to wait for me for 25 years?
But in all those long years,
I never stopped to think about you.
How you would manage with the children,
how hard it must have been for you,
and how very angry you would be with me.
[melancholic music continues]
You know,
the day I decided to spend my life with you,
I made up my mind to take care of you.
To protect you, to fight for you.
I didn't plan this to be so.
Anu,
I'm really sorry I was not there for you.
And all of you, too.
I'm sorry.
Please just...
find a way in your hearts to forgive me, Anu.
Just forgive me.
-[melancholic music escalates] -[sobbing]
[Ngozi sobbing]
Mr. Ani! Mr. Ani!
[melancholic music playing]
Mr. Ani!
[tense music plays]
Daddy! Mr. Ani!
[in Pidgin] So you're calling your daddy now?
You're calling your daddy to come help you, right?
[chuckles] No problem.
But when a bastard calls for his daddy, who will answer him?
[all] Nobody!
[Ani in Pidgin] What's going on?
Femi, calm down, I'm not interested in fighting anymore. Look, I'm sorry.
Please let me go, I'm looking for my dad.
What are you talking about? Who's interested in your apologies?
After you landed me in the hospital,
collected my girl, hurt my brother,
you're telling me you're a changed man? It's payback time.
Femi, are you even listening?
It seems your ears are dead. You never listen.
I said I'm a changed man! Let me go.
Okay, I'm sorry for anything I've done to you in the past and future.
So let the matter die.
-[Femi] Are you... - Is he mad?
-[Ayo] Femi! - He's telling me he's sorry.
You're sorry, right?
Tope, you remember how he beat you that day?
-[Tope] Of course. -[Femi] All right, beat him back.
- I should beat him? -[male voice] You heard the man.
I said beat him, then I'll finish him off!
[yelps]
[fast-paced music playing]
[Femi] Are you mad? Are you crazy?
[Femi] I will fuck you up! Come back here!
[Ayo grunts]
[Femi] You're mad! I will fuck you up today.
[shouting]
[yelling]
- Daddy! - You'll die today.
- Daddy! - You'll die. I will kill you today.
-[Ayo] Daddy! -[Femi] Come back here!
- Daddy, they're coming for me! -[Femi] You will die today!
- Hey, hey! Hold on. Listen, listen.
- Get out of the way, let me kill this guy! - Hey, hey. Just hold on.
Take it easy.
Don't tell me to take it easy. This is between me and him.
Ayo-Chukwu, come outside! You've been acting like a tough guy, right?
Oh, your muscles can't protect you.
-[gunshot] - Hey, hey.
- Son, put the gun down! -[Femi] You think I'm playing?
- Get out of the way, sir. - Put the gun down!
Who are these guys, Ayo-Chukwu?
Daddy, they're boys from the area.
I've told them I don’t want to get into trouble.
- Hey son, put the gun down. -[in Pidgin] Get out of the way, sir.
[in Pidgin] Okay, I've heard you. Go away, let me kill this guy.
Then, you'll have to shoot me first.
[expresses surprise] You want to waste your life for this piece of shit?
I will do that. That is my son there.
- His son? Get out of the way, sir. - Put the gun down!
-[yelling] Get out of the way, sir! - Put the gun down!
-[yelling] Get out of the way, sir! -[Ani] Hey, hey.
- Sir, get out of-- - Hey!
[gunshot]
[windchime music playing]
- Mommy? - Ayo-Chukwu.
[sighs] It is well.
[groaning] Where am I?
[groans]
[Ayo] Mommy, what happened?
- Ayo. - Mommy, calm down.
Zainab,
you’re here?
Where is my father?
I’m here, son.
I'm here.
You know, you’re much braver and stronger than your father.
And that hooligan who did this to you
is already in police custody.
And I'll make sure he rots in jail, even if it’s the last thing I do.
[Ayo sighs]
Dad, this is Zainab.
She's my...
- Yeah. [laughs] -[Zainab laughs]
Yeah, I know.
Zainab and I already got introduced.
And you know what, boy?
You’ve got eyes for very good things,
like your father. [chuckles]
Anu, you're here.
- Yes. -[Ayo] Wow.
How’re you doing, knucklehead?
I’ve been better.
Being shot,
isn't as much fun as I thought it would be.
- Really? -[Ayo laughs]
But now I'm a legend. [chuckles]
Well, better to be a living legend than a dead one.
Anyway, now that I can see that you’re alive, I gotta go to work.
- Bye, mom. - Bye, darling.
[softly] Ayo-Chukwu.
[grunts, groans]
[melancholic music playing]
[Philip] What room number is he in?
[Philip] What room is he in?
Philip Ude.
I know. Ani.
I heard what happened to Ayo-Chukwu.
I've been trying to call Ngozi and she’s not picking up her phone.
Well, um, Ayo-Chukwu is fine.
The bullet hit him in the shoulder but
he’s a strong boy. He’ll survive it.
- I'll just, I'll just get her for you. - Thank you.
[Ngozi laughing]
Ngo.
Can I see you for a moment?
There’s somebody here to see you.
[mouths] Me? [aloud] I'm coming.
-[Philip] Hey. - Hi.
Let's... talk?
It’s not his fault.
Then whose fault is it?
Who left you and your daughter with an unborn child?
- He did! - With my consent.
Who was it that got mixed up with a loan shark in America?
With the mob?
Frolicking with different women?
- He did! - Philip!
He... he was just trying to do right by us.
He did what he thought was best for his family.
What's best for his family?
And the only way he could prove that
was to have affairs with several women.
After 25 whole years,
he now comes back and expects to see you in one spot?
Ngo, I have never
loved a woman the way I've love you.
And I honestly can't begin to think of living the rest of my life without you.
Philip,
my life has no meaning without my family.
You have shown me
what it means to be truly loved
and nurtured by someone.
[tearfully] I mean,
everyday,
you make me feel like a queen.
Your queen.
And what I feel for you, Philip,
is so real and it's true.
[sobs] But I just need time.
Philip, he's... [sighs]
He's the father of my children.
I need time to sort this all out.
[sighs]
- Ngozi... - Philip, please.
If you truly love me,
you will do this for me.
I...
I... I need to sort this out.
-[Philip sighs] - But in the meantime, just...
just hold on to this for now.
Just for now. Please.
[wistful music playing]
-[in Pidgin] Proud girl. [laughs] -[laughs] How am I a proud girl?
You know you've been acting proud towards me.
-[laughs] -[Ayo chuckles]
- You're welcome, ma. - Thank you.
- Hello, ma. -[nervously] Where's your father?
He left just now. Said he had something urgent to attend to.
Okay. Okay.
You okay?
I'm fine.
[sobs]
Zainab, thank you.
♪ Yes sir. Okay, bad girl ♪
♪ Me I know You're a professional lip reader ♪
♪ And you know I'm a professional dandada ♪
♪ Read my lips and follow instructions Oh baby, read my lips ♪
♪ Read my lips ♪
♪ Oh baby, read my lips, oh ♪
♪ Read my lips ♪
♪ I don't want your boyfriend to know That I'm talking to you ♪
♪ I don't want your girlfriend to know That I'm speaking to you ♪
♪ Oh baby, read my lips ♪
♪ Read my lips ♪
♪ Oh baby, read my lips, oh ♪
♪ Read my lips ♪
♪ I don't want your neighbor to know That I'm talking to you ♪
♪ I don't want your brother to know That I'm speaking to you ♪
♪ Okay, same girl That I saw at Labadi Beach ♪
♪ Okay, same girl That I saw at Junction Mouth ♪
♪ Now she's eyeing me and my John Thomas ♪
♪ She wants to come To my house at Bode Thomas
♪ What I will do to you Will be really bad ♪
[in Yoruba] ♪ Please tell that lady What I will do to you will be really bad ♪
♪ If I give you dragon, you'll go crazy When I show you dragon, you'll go crazy ♪
♪ I said What I will do to you will be really bad ♪
♪ Oh baby, read my lips ♪
♪ Read my lips ♪ ♪ Oh baby, read my lips, oh ♪
♪ Read my lips ♪
♪ I don't want your boyfriend to know That I'm talking to you ♪
♪ I don't want your girlfriend to know That I'm speaking to you ♪
♪ Oh baby, read my lips ♪
♪ Read my lips ♪ ♪ Oh baby, read my lips, oh ♪
♪ Read my lips ♪
♪ I don't want your neighbor to know That I'm talking to you ♪
♪ I don't want your brother to know That I'm speaking to you ♪
♪ All right, silence ♪
♪ Baddo! ♪
[club music fades, soft music playing]
It's all my fault, Anu.
It's my fault.
I'm really sorry. I'm sorry, please forgive me.
I...
I know I failed your mother.
I failed my family.
I'm just better off being dead.
Don’t say that, dad.
Please.
You're here now. Everything is going to be okay.
Dad?
Yes?
Please promise me that no one will hear about this.
[tearfully] I won't do it again, I swear.
I just don't want mommy to suffer...
-[sobbing] - I know.
I know, I know. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. Nobody is going to hear about this.
- It's a secret I will take to my grave. -[sobbing]
- Okay. [sobs] - Okay.
Now, you have to promise me too. Okay?
Promise me you will forgive me.
Well, that's after you celebrate all my birthdays that you missed.
I will.
Easily done.
-[Anu laughs] -[chuckles]
I'm sorry, my baby. I'm sorry.
I'm here now. Everything will be all right. Okay?
-[whispers] I'm sorry. -[sniffles]
[gentle music playing]
[Ani] This is where...
I came to 25 years ago,
with the dream of becoming
Heavyweight Champion of the world.
And you know,
something inside me kept tell me I could make it.
I knew I could wear that same belt that Muhammed Ali wore, you know.
But...
you never get everything you want, do you?
[Ngozi] Hmm.
Yeah but...
I promised to bring you to America.
You are here in America.
- Yes. [chuckles] - New York City.
As they say, "better late than never."
Yeah. [laughs]
And you know what?
I've decided I'm going to give ten percent of the 200,000 shares
to Ayo-Chukwu.
[soft music swells]
And another ten percent to Anu.
And
- for my wife, -[laughs]
because she's the best wife in the world.
I'm going to give you thirty percent of the shares.
[mouths] Ani.
You would do that?
For all the years that you waited for me.
For all the years that you agonized.
You're a good woman, Ngozi.
You're a good woman.
Well, I may not be
Heavyweight Champion of the world but
I'm the heavyweight champion of this family.
Yes, yes. [laughs]
- Yes you are. - Yeah.
Imagine Ayo-Chukwu on the streets of New York.
- Ah! [laughs]
-[laughs] - We have to beg him. [laughs]
- You know what I want to do? - What?
I'm going to set up a gym.
Even if I can't be World Champion,
I can train a world champion.
Ani,
train who?
- Ayo-Chukwu is as good as me. -[laughs] Oh my goodness.
[both laugh]
- You have to put him in chains for that. -[Ani] I know.
[Ani] And you know what? I think...
Ayo-Chukwu can be a very good boxer.
[Ngozi] I know.
- One step at a time. [laughs] -[Ani laughs]
♪ When you leave ♪
♪ Don't forget to remember ♪
♪ Don't forget to remember me ♪
♪ Remember me ♪
[suspense music playing]
[dramatic drum beat]
[male voice] Hey.
[Ani] What, you want to sign up?
[male voice] How much?
You see, boxing is not a sport for everyone.
- For someone like you... - Ngozi.
How much?
- What? - How much for your wife, Ngozi?
I think you should leave now.
I really love your wife.
And I want her.
So, how much?
[dramatic drum beats]
[pop music playing]
♪ We met around your father's floor ♪
♪ My eyes on you and I'm in awe ♪
♪ She got a pretty smile I'm in love with ♪
♪ I wanna make a move but I'm chary ♪
♪ This is how you make me feel ♪
♪ Like a little kid without a will ♪
♪ Oh shit, I'm a grown man With a tight lip ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ And this is how you make me feel ♪
♪ Chilling with the guys at the bar ♪
♪ Still feeling her from afar ♪
♪ She's seated with her friends At the corner ♪
♪ Trying to make this move But I'm chary, hey ♪
♪ This is how you make me feel ♪
♪ Like a little kid without a will ♪
♪ Oh shit, I'm a grown man With a tight lip ♪
♪ This is how you make me feel ♪
♪ Like the little kid without a will ♪
♪ Oh shit, I'm a grown man With a tight lip ♪
♪ This is how you make me feel ♪
♪ It's time to face my fears ♪
♪ And make this move ♪
♪ Girl I feel like I'm losing you ♪
♪ As the days go by ♪
♪ Just gotta tell you now ♪
♪ Just how I feel ♪
♪ I'm sure that you're the one for me ♪
♪ And I just can't help it This is how you make me feel ♪
♪ This is how you make me feel ♪
♪ Yeah, hey, oh baby ♪
♪ This is how you make me feel ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ This is how you make me feel ♪
♪ Like a little kid without a will ♪
♪ This is how you make me feel ♪
[soft music plays]
Translation by: Ayo Koiki