Build

2014, 25 minutes

Drama

Laura is studying for an entry exam so she can get on a veterinary nurse degree course as a mature student. She watches videos of hamster surgery and catʼs giving birth. Her 14 year old daughter Alexia helps her to complete practice papers. Her boyfriend Sami has just been offered a promotion at work and Laura feels the most secure she has in a long time. However, when Sami gets home, he cagily explains that, not only did he not get the promotion, he has actually been fired from the job altogether. That night over dinner things are tense. Laura badgers Sami with questions, he clearly doesnʼt want to answer. Laura doesnʼt want to be selfish, but her main concern right now is her exam and she is worried she wonʼt be able to afford the tuition fees without Samiʼs income. Sami assures her everything will be fine and heʼll get a new job soon. Alexia observes the situation. Laura tries to focus on studying for her exam but struggles to concentrate due to her concerns about Sami. The next day, whilst Alexia is at home on her own, there is a knock on the door. It is the immigration police. She is confused as they ask her questions about Sami that she struggles to answer. Although she insists no one is in, the authorities persuade her to let them in and they look for Sami. Once they are convinced heʼs not there, they leave again. When Laura comes home she is stressed and preoccupied, her exam is the next day. Alexia wants to tell her mum what happened but Laura isnʼt really listening and then Sami comes home. Laura goes to her room to study, so Alexia decides to talk to Sami about the immigration police coming to the door alone. Sami explains how he has been applying for a Visa for years and itʼs an ongoing, complicated process, so technically he isnʼt here illegally, but shouldnʼt really be working. Alexia suggests not to tell Laura until after the exam, because they both know how much it means to her. The next morning Laura is getting ready to leave for her exam. Alexia and Sami exchange looks, feeling guilty about keeping the secret. Just as Laura is about to leave, there is a knock on the door. Itʼs the immigration police again. Laura is shocked as she lets them in and they arrest Sami and take him away. As heʼs leaving, Sami begs Laura to please still go to her exam and that everything will be fine. Laura feels betrayed that he has clearly been dishonest with her. Alexia tries to calm her down and it becomes clear she knew about the situation, which upsets Laura even more. Alexia manages to eventually calm her mother down and convince her to go to her exam. Later that day Laura manages to get a visiting appointment in the detention centre to see Sami. She confronts him about his secrets and he comes clean and explains everything to her. It becomes clear that he isnʼt trying to dodge the system, but has been applying for Visas and trying his best to stay legally in a country he has lived in for over a decade. Laura believes they can appeal and doesnʼt realise how serious it is. However, Sami explains he has already appealed a few times already and actually it is better for his case if he goes back to Algeria and applies for a Visa from there, rather than outstaying here, as this will be more detrimental in the long run. Laura canʼt believe her ears, Sami never even talked about Algeria, he hadnʼt been back for over 16 years and now he is going to leave her. Sami jokes he could come with her. She suggests they could get married. He doesnʼt think thatʼs the right thing to do. He promises everything will be fine and they will see each other soon and he will send her money for her studies. They both silently know this is unlikely. Laura has to leave the detention centre not knowing when she will see him again.

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