The Good Lie

Step up. Please.

Don't forget us in America.

Now we can finally find out

what this means.

This is the story

of my brothers and sisters.

When we were little,

we did not know many things.

We did not know the world was big,

or that it was different from us.

We only knew our villages in Sudan...

which had been there

for thousands of years.

I should say Southern Sudan...

for we were soon to learn

that was an important distinction.

Papa? Papa! Papa!

Mama?

Our elders told us we would be

safe in Ethiopia, should anything happen.

We had to walk towards the rising sun.

We remembered their teaching

to survive the dangers of nature...

but also to take

advantage of its offering.

- Kwol.

- Mading.

- Majok.

- Agong.

Theo!

Gabriel!

Theo!

Theo!

Shh.

That's yours!

Here you go!

Um... There's no containers left

for you guys to put food in.

So you guys will have to wait.

Yeah. That will work.

Hi.

Hello. Can I...?

We need to take him to the medical tent

so he can see a doctor.

Uh, the medical tent?

Amen.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Excellent.

She has a respiratory infection.

Very good, Mamere. Moving on.

Doctor Monyang?

Be back.

- Yes?

- I believe she has guinea worm.

We're gonna make you feel better, okay?

Someday when you become a doctor

and someone comes along...

as smart as you,

don't be afraid to listen to them.

I won't.

Paul, where have you been?

Where is your shirt?

I traded it to get these.

It's called barter trade.

Very good.

The food is ready.

- Good?

- It's very good.

James.

The promise of a better life in the camp...

had long come and gone

since our arrival.

Weeks became months,

and months became years.

We found strength in sticking together.

But our hope of ever leaving was fading.

A new list is up.

Come on, come on!

Is there news?

Yes, there is news.

Our names are on that list!

- All of us?

- Yes.

We are going to Kansas City, Missouri!

- Are you sure?

- I am sure.

Really? We are going to America!

Blessing be from God

who has to take us to this Kansas City!

Not me. Not me.

It's all right.

It's all right.

So this is what winter

in America feels like.

This is frozen water. It's called ice.

As all of you know,

there are four seasons in America.

Yes, Jacob?

Where are you going again?

Ooh. Yes. You will have such cold.

Mamere?

What about education? I want to go

to college and then medical school.

I know education is important to all of you,

and we're gonna talk about that tomorrow.

But right now, we gotta focus on work.

You're gonna have just a few months

to find a job.

You're also gonna have to pay back

the government for your plane fare.

- Your date of birth is unknown?

- Yes.

Like a lot of the others,

you will be assigned January 1st.

Why on this date?

There will always be a party.

- Next.

- Thank you.

Relax.

Goodbye, my brothers.

Welcome to America!

We are so excited to have you with us.

Did you have a good flight?

It was okay.

Uh-huh. And what are your names?

My name is Mamere Deng.

- Okay. Mamere.

- This is Paul.

- Paul.

- Jeremiah.

- Jeremiah.

- My sister, Abital.

Abital. Okay.

No... Abital Deng?

- Abital Deng.

- I'm sorry. She's not on this list.

Please, you must look again, please.

- No, see...

- Abital Deng!

- Abital Deng?

- She's here!

- She's not on my list.

- She's on mine.

Yes, but she belongs

on the Kansas City list.

Right, but not anymore. INS rules are that

females have to be placed with families.

A family in Boston wants to take her.

But this is her family.

You cannot take her from us.

Those are the rules.

I want to speak to another official.

Why can't we put her up in a YWCA

for a few weeks while we find her a family?

All right.

I'm sorry. It's not gonna happen.

Please, there must be something you can do.

Guys, we have to go.

I will find a way for us

to be together again.

- Okay.

- Come.

We'll be together again.

All of you, promise to go to school

and work very hard.

Be strong, my brother.

Abital!

How could you let that happen?

Whoops. Heh-heh-heh.

We are to look for a man named Mr. Pamela

Lowi from Faith Based Charities...

at baggage claim. He will guide us.

Yes? Hello, this is Carrie.

Pick up who?

I am sorry. That is not my problem.

I'm not the Welcome Wagon.

Can't they take a cab?

Isn't there anybody else that can do this?

Right now?

All right. What airline?

Okay, I'll be there.

- I gotta go.

- God, I feel so cheap.

Hey. I think you're forgetting something.

They're from Africa.

I'm sure they're not gonna care.

- Next week?

- Yeah. Next week.

Hi!

Hey-

You must be the guys from, uh...

Somalia?

Senegal...?

- I'm sorry. I... Help me out here.

- Sudan.

Sudan! Yes, exactly.

- Hello.

- My name is Mamere Deng.

These are my brothers,

Jeremiah and Paul.

You must be Pamela Lowi

from Faith Based Charities?

No. I'm from the Forrester Employment

Agency. I'm gonna help you find jobs.

I wasn't supposed to meet you

till tomorrow...

but the gal who

from your resettlement agency...

got stuck in a car...

Anyway...

Okay, uh...

Did your luggage come down the chute?

Great.

Okay, let's go.

Where is your village?

My village?

Uh, my village is...

Elmwood Street close to the university,

I guess.

May I ask you, let me say,

where is your darling?

- My darling?

- Your husband.

Oh, no, no. I'm not married.

If you do not have a husband, then it

is your children who provide for you?

No. I don't have any children.

I'm not married.

I provide for myself.

Your survival skills are very impressive.

- Thanks.

- Mm...

- My brother's going to be sick.

- Uh-oh. Oh, no.

There's no way I can do that by Friday.

No. I'm just not a miracle worker, Tom.

I'll call him when I get

back in the office.

- She's talking alone.

- I gotta go.

- He all right?

- He has a weak stomach.

Excuse me. What is that?

That's McDonald's.

It's a place to eat.

When was the last time

you guys ate anything?

Okay. Here it is.

I'll call you tomorrow.

Are you guys just gonna stand there?

- Hello?

- Yeah!

- Hi.

- Hello! Hello! You got here.

Thank heavens. So sorry about the mix-up.

Well, I'm Pamela Lowi, your volunteer with Faith

Based Charities, your resettlement agency.

I'm gonna take it from here,

but thank you so, so much.

- No problem. I'll see you later.

- All right.

- Excuse me?

- Yeah.

You make our hearts throb

for your many kind assists today.

- Would you be so kind to tell us your name?

- Oh, sorry. Didn't I?

My name's Carrie Davis.

I'll call you tomorrow morning

and we'll start the job hunt.

May you find a husband

to fill your empty house.

I'll work on that.

We have a lot to cover.

This is your fridge.

You got your cabinets up here,

your stove top.

And I made you this.

Okey-doke. Follow me.

This is your bedroom.

Cozy, huh? These bunk beds

were just donated to my church...

so I snagged them for you.

They should do the trick.

See this?

If you flip it up, the light comes on.

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