I am from a big city and apartment homes.

I am from loud speakers and great music.

I am the main character of my own personal novel.

I am the girl singing her heart out to her favorite songs.

I am also a girl from a broken family.

I am the girl whose struggles can't be seen.

I am the girl who couldn't make a lot of friends 'cause I was shy.

I am the girl whose voice is silenced by those who don't care enough to listen.

I am the girl who has pain and both soul and heart, but it will never show.

I am the girl you never got to know.

I'm tired of living in a world that's discriminant one that protects thieves, liars, and kills the innocent, so this is in remembrance of my ancestors that died in messed-up predicaments because they were forced to build a land then told they were immigrants.

So now we sit around looking for deliverance.

The struggle has me belligerent and crooked ICE is making me vigilant.

How can you force people into imprisonment and then ask why they are militant?

People on this planet need to use love like insulin, until we heal our minds bodies and souls our failure is imminent, and I am the girl that chooses to be magnificent because I am the girl who is tapped into omnipotence.

(offscreen) I liked your poem!

- What?

- I said I liked your poem.

- Oh Thanks.

- Have you ever read your poems aloud before?

- You really liked it?

- Yeah, you did a really good job.

I swear I got shivers... See?

- Uh huh.

I see.

Thanks.

- Have you ever read Sandra Cisneros?

You should check her stuff out.

It reminded me a lot of your poem, but you know... ...better.

I mean, don't get me wrong, it gets its ideas across in a more clear fashion but same general idea as what you wrote, just executed in a way...yeah, anyways... Poetry isn't supposed to be clear.

Sometimes it's how I felt while writing it.

Well yeah, but it's not going to do anything if no one can understand it.

People need a message that they can really rally behind.

That's what I was trying to say.

You need to be more deliberate.

Say things specifically to get a reaction.

Don't get me wrong, it was good for a new writer... - I'm not a new writer.. - Oh no no of course not... but everyone tries to improve, you know?

- Oh, well, there's my bus.

- I'll see you next time.

Okay, I'll make sure to work on my craft.

(in Spanish) That goes there?

Do you have your phone?

- Yeah.

- Does anyone know who the third President was?

(in Spanish) Yeah?

And why didn't you call me?

I'm sorry.

I was busy, I forgot...I had a lot of things to do today.

I have Washington, then Adams.

(in Spanish) Why did you forget?

Was what you were doing more important... ...than calling me and telling me you were okay?

You act like I forget these things on purpose!

- Was it Madison?

- (in Spanish) Yeah?

And how am I supposed to know?

What if they take you?

How would I find out?

It's not like ICE is roaming around in the library.

(in Spanish) They were at Dailey Middle School the other day.

You need to be more careful.

Yes, Mama.

(in Spanish) Don't tell me, 'yes Mama.'

Show me that you can do it.

- Who was the third president?

- Shut up, stupid!

(in Spanish) Hey, don't talk to your sister like that.

And you, Angelica, stop bugging everyone.

This is due tomorrow.

(in Spanish) eat your fideo.

- Are there tortillas?

- No.

White bread.

I didn't have time to make tortillas.

I was really tired.

- How'd you do on your Math?

- 96.

Nice!

(in Spanish) I need you tomorrow to take me to my class.

- Class?

- Mm-hmm.

I got invited to a Zumba class!

- I had plans with Ashley.

- And who is more important?

Ashley or me?

Thomas Jefferson!

Mr.

Richardson was so annoying.

He assigned us four chapters today!

And the quizzes?

They're so specific!

it's like he wants us to get a bad grade.

Hey?

What's wrong?

Nothing... Kids are mean.

What did they do?

Who do I need to kill?

It was just some boys... They said I should pluck my eyebrows.

They made fun of how I talk.

They said my eyes are boring and ugly and they called me a gorilla.

I hate them.

I'm sorry boys were so mean.

Listen to me, hermana.

There's nothing wrong with the way you look, or how your voice sounds.

Green eyes are beautiful, and yours are the most beautiful.

And plus, you're my sister, so I contractually have to love you forever.

Come here!

It's just me and you against the world, kid.

Okay, now go over there so I can fix your hair.

No, I don't know when I'm gonna be home.

Dad... Dad... Stop... Stop... Stop for a second!

Calm down, I'm fine.

I'm in a well lit area, no one's gonna capture me.

Dad, I'm a grown ass adul- "Yet?"

what do you mean, "yet?"

I don't know, I just gotta wait for these sweaty b-----s to get out of their dumb workout class... Yeah... Okay... Bye... - You have any idea when this class ends?

- I don't know, like five minutes?

I mean, that's what my sweaty b---- mom told me anyways.

- Oh, I'm sorry, I was just- - It's fine.

No no no, seriously, I didn't mean it.

I just- I just got worked up when I'm on the phone with my dad... - I said it's fine.

- Listen I don't use that language... My bad "The impact of my actions and my words matters more than my intent."

I read it on Jezebel?

Is that what you do in the library?

Read?

Yes...?

*Yesenia scoffs* I read about this film movement in the 60s called the French New Wave, have you heard about it?

Well it was these French filmmakers they were... You know what, never mind it-it's boring.

Yeah, well... - Okay.

- Rocky!

Oh, thank god!

- What was today's read?

- Film studies; got to get to NYU somehow.

You're going to NYU?

That's the plan!

How's school?

It was dumb!

Ms.

Klain got mad at me because I told her I was sick of Ernest Hemingway!

What's wrong with Ernest Hemingway?

I don't know, what's wrong with all these white misogynist clowns?

Would it kill her to add some color up in there?

See, that's why I left.

you're expecting all these old fuddy-duddies to educate you and they won't even educate themselves.

Oh hey!

Poet!

Poet?

Sorta... - Do you write poetry?

- Yeah.

Then you're a poet; take credit for your art.

You know, you should let them read something sometime.

Yes!

I love poetry.

Mmmaybe... *Horn honks* Oh, there's the sweaty b-----s. Gotta go.

- Be here next week, with poetry.

- Maybe.

sweaty b-----s?

*inhales sharply* - Yesenia, where are you going?

- To the movies.

- With who?

- Friends.

They're good people, Mami.

They invited me to see a French movie.

- Are you crazy?

With everything that's happening with ICE?

They grabbed another person today in H.E.B.!

Well it's a good thing I'm not going to H.E.B.

They're waiting for me, Mommy.

(in French) Natasha... - Yes?

- Lower your head.

Red Vines?

(in French) We live in the oblivion of our metamorphoses... ...but that echo that runs all through the day, keeps asking... ...are we near to, or far from our conscience?

There are words that I do not understand.

The dystopia, man!

The dystopia is what makes it!

And he did it with no money.

Shot it just like "Breathless."

And I'm just like, 'Why are they so trapped?

Why can't they just leave the city?'

Because that's how systems work.

They trap you... You just can't leave.

Your role is to be the oppressed.

I'm not sure Godard was trying to say that though... I mean, but who cares what some Frenchman sixty years ago was trying to do?

All I care about is how I saw the movie, and how I saw it: this system just like every other system.

Huh... I mean whatever, you guys know more about this stuff than I do.

Hey, shut up about that!

That was smart what you said.

It's just... It doesn't matter the fact that it's a computer, or the fact that you have to take care of your sister everyday, or how you can't go to college, or how you can't get a good job- - What?

you can go to college!

- No, I can't.

My mom needs me at home, and I wouldn't be able to afford it.

There are scholarships... I don't even have a Social Security number.

How am I supposed to get a scholarship?

There's this thing my friend applied to called "The Patterson Fellowship".

It's for artists, and they give you money to go to a conservatory in Oregon.

- I'm not an artist- - You're a poet; you could apply.

Then you can do a DACA app, get yourself set up so that way you can't get deported.

Come on, how long is that going to last?

- Let me at least show you the app.

- That's real sweet, but I just can't.

Fine!

Don't.

Go get some dumb job at a restaurant picking up people's food.

- There's nothing wrong with an honest job- - Hey!

Check it out!

- Feels pretty free, doesn't it?

- Yep.

Come on!

I'm sorry I don't climb trees.

You're the most pessimistic person I've ever met!

Now get your ass up here and taste sweet freedom.

*Phone vibrates* *Phone vibrates* Oh crap!

I gotta go!

*Phone vibrates* Oh what?

Come on!

I really have to go.

Bye!

Any idea how to get down from here?

- Mama, I... - (in Spanish) Your sister was crying today.

You didn't answer your phone.

I was out.

(In Spanish) Your sister and I thought something might have happened to you.

You could have been dead and I wouldn't know.

I'm sorry!

(in Spanish) I wouldn't have known if ICE had picked you up.

You could have disappeared and I never would have seen you again.

From now on, you answer your cellphone.

Every single time.

It doesn't matter where you are.

I need to know that you're safe.

Yes, Mama.

Mama, have you ever thought about me going to college?

(in Spanish) College?

Just that some friends said that I could apply for this scholarship.

Well, they're looking for poets to go to Oregon.

(in Spanish) What's wrong with ACC?

It's not for ACC.

(in Spanish) I need you here.

Angelica needs you here.

If something happens to me, I need you here.

Okay.

(in Spanish) Good night.

- Good night.

- (in Spanish) I love you.

- I know.

I love you too.

*Paper smacks on table* What the hell is this?

- Oh... That... - You put my name in for that interview?

Maybe.

- Where did you even get it from?

- I might have snuck into your bag during the movie.

- You stole my poem, what the hell's wrong with you?!

- Shhh!

This is good for you, girl.

This place, they'll pay for your tuition and room and board.

It's a residency.

- I can't leave Austin, B.

- Yes you can, you just have to have courage.

- No like, I can't at all like my mom my sister- - Your mom loves you and is gonna be proud of you.

Oh, you don't know my mom.

You don't know what she's gonna think!

Yeah?

Call her, right now.

I'll wait.

You stole my poem.

I'm sorry.

- They really liked it though.

- Heck yeah they did, and you deserve this interview.

- You're gonna go in there and do something amazing.

- Thank you.

*Dial tone* *Dial tone "Your call has been forwarded to an automatic voice-" *Dial tone* *Dial tone* "Your call has been forwarded to an automatic voice-" *Dial tone* *Dial tone* Mom?

Momma?

Ma?

Mom?

Ma?

Momma?

Mom?

Mom?

Ma?

Ma?

Mommy?

Where is she?

I don't know... Usually when they take people, the government doesn't tell us.

They don't tell you?

No.

Even if we try to go visit her, they're just going to try and grab us and it wouldn't matter.

Is she going to be okay?

She's going to be fine.

- What are we going to do?

- Well for tonight, it's just going to be you and me.

Then tomorrow, Tia Mariquita is coming from Houston, but after that I don't really know.

I don't want to move to Houston.

Listen...no matter what, we're going to stick together.

Even if we have to go to Houston, you're not going alone.

- Remember what I said the other night?

- It's you and me against the world.

- That's right.

- But what if you have to leave?

I'm not leaving.

(in French) So what is love?

(in French) Your voice...your eyes... (in French) Our silence...our words... (in French) Oh beloved of all and beloved of one... (in French) "Move away, move away," says hatred.

"Come closer, come closer," says love.

- Yesenia, can you help me tie my shoes?

- You know how to tie your shoes.

Yeah, but can you do it?

Are you gonna eat your applesauce today?

Okay.

*door knock* - Go upstairs, go to your room, and close the doors.

- Okay.

- Oh, Jesus Christ.

- Hey, girl!

- What are you doing here?

- We're here to pick you up... ...you know, like your own personal Uber.

- What?

- The interview's in an hour.

- Oh, that I'm not going.

- Come on you said it yourself... ...who knows how long it's gonna last?

Take the opportunity you have.

(offscreen) I have to take care of my sister.

- She has a sister?

- Oh my God, that's why we're here.

Angelica!

You're not ICE.

- Angelica, I told you to stay in your room!

- I need a double knot.

I got this.

She knows how to tie her shoes.

The rabbit goes around the tree, and then into the hole, and comes out the other side.

There we go.

Feel good?

Feel ready to face the world?

Give me your game face.

Go 'Ahhh' Ahh!

No no no, you can't be Queen of the Schoolyard with that.

You gotta be louder!

Ahhh!

(louder) Ahhh!

Perfect.

Now let's go to school.

Is that what you're wearing?

Okay, let's see...um, tell us about a challenge you have faced and how you've overcome it and how it might affect your art and your collegiate career.

What?

It can be anything.

Any struggle or challenge you might have overcome?

Anything at all.

We want to know your story.

My story?

You don't care.

- I'm sorry?

- You sit here and hear the same boring answers to your boring question hoping to put someone like me on a pedestal, so you can have it for your admissions process.

- What do you mean, "Someone like you?"

- What do you think I mean?

My story is the story of a family ripped apart by ICE-cold hands.

A 16-year-old left to battle her monsters alone.

Monsters that instead of living under her bed colonized her mind.

The monsters that took hold of her life and refused to let go.

No matter how hard she fought, the monsters fought back harder... ...because they were everywhere.

But this girl's deciding that if she loses this battle, she won't lose the war.

She's grabbing her chains and banging them against her cell, fighting for her liberation.

Because I am the girl who struggles can't be seen.

Because I am here.

I am the girl who you never got to know.

I am the girl who chose to be magnificent.

I am the girl who will win.

It will not be instant.

It will take years... ...but I will win.

I will make it.

I will make it.

Even if I have to make it without you.

So you can ask me about challenges I've overcome.

You can let me into your club.

Put me on your brochure.

Whatever you want.

Or don't.

Because the truth is... ...I don't give a s--- Does that answer your question?