Sweet, Sweet Country

(title whooshes) (title cracks) (film beeps) (people chatter) - [Karen] We have a few forms for you to fill out, and there are a few specific classes for those seeking asylum here in Clarkston, Georgia.

Now, you will receive a bill for your IMO travel here to the states, and this will help in establishing credit.

Now, we can also help finding temporary housing for a few months, funds willing.

- No housing, we have a daughter.

- [Karen] Do you have a telephone number for her?

- [Danai] It no longer works.

She lives here.

She came to America, she made a home for us.

We have a home.

(twangy music) (singing in foreign language) Ooh, I cry, sing the blues Oh, she laughed at you (sings in foreign language) (drawer rustles) - [Ernesto] Damn, girl, slow down.

(drawer squeaks) (creaking) I missed you.

(creaking) So you gonna act like you mad?

(creaking) - What's wrong?

(laughs) Never bothered you before.

(clattering) (sultry music) - I'm not going anywhere.

I'm just telling you.

(sultry music) (creaking) Be nice.

I knew you missed me.

(scoffs) I ain't got room to miss nobody else, man.

(creaking) - You miss em.

- Yeah.

- You wanna talk on it?

- I keep thinking about when I was small, before the camps, before we left Somalia.

There was a garden in the back of our house.

Mother would work in the garden.

I sat with Baba, and he would tell, (speaks in foreign language) - Uh ... - Um, once upon a time.

- [Ernesto] Fairy tale.

- Moral tales.

- Fables.

- Yes, fables.

He told fables.

- When was the last time you talked with them?

- I don't remember the last time I talked with them.

A year, maybe?

(children yelling) There was an explosion at the Dadaab camp a few weeks ago.

They were on an asylum list, but it is a long list.

I don't know if they're still there, or another camp, or ... (shushing) (creaking) - Same arrangement?

- You are the man with the money.

(creaking) (body thumps) - Just me.

- You can have whatever you want.

- Mm.

- I can afford it.

(Ernesto scoffs) (bills flick) (apple crunches) (papers rustle) (keys jangle) (energetic music) (singing in foreign language) (Ndizeye gasps) Sabera, look at you!

(laughs) - [Fakhta] A woman.

- (speaks in foreign language) - (speaks in foreign language) - Hey, hey.

(door creaks) (door thumps) (cabinet thumps) - Too thin.

- What?

- How will you ever find the husband?

(Ndizeye scoffs) (twangy music) - A little pepper.

Worth every penny, every penny.

Enjoy, eh?

(lock clicks) (children scream) - Who are you?

- [Ernesto] Uh ... - He's my friend.

- He has a key.

Why does he have a key?

- Your family.

- Yes.

Ndizeye's told me a lot about you.

It's an honor to meet you, sir.

All of you.

- Who are you to know about us?

- Right, um ... - I know.

(door creaks) - I left my ring.

(Ndizeye grunts) - In the camps, they say the Devil comes dressed as a respectable man.

It happens here as well.

- Look, I'm just a friend, alright?

I just came to ... - To use my daughter?

(Ernesto and Danai shuffle) - Hey.

- Here.

(speaks in foreign language) - Men at your door?

Men?

- No, not men!

- Liar!

You come into this country ...

I'd rather you were dead!

It's been wasted on you.

- Wasted?

You really think this is the (speaks foreign language).

This is how it works.

I know who I am, and I know what I have.

How do you think you were able to live a little bit better than most?

He's paid for our lives for years.

(skin slaps) (door creaks and slams) (twangy music) (Ndizeye sobs) ("EX-itrance" by Blitz the Ambassador)