TV Documentary: Rape Assault Script INT.ROOM.DAY Interviewer (Zintle): Would you like to start by sharing your story? Interviewee (Diana): It was Christmas Day, I was having a fun time with my family and that was when everything changed. I received a phone call from my friend asking me that we should go out and have fun. At one point I was thinking why not? But I remembered I didn’t have that much money, then I called my friend up and I explained to her that I didn’t have that much money on me to meet up tonight. While I was talking to me I could hear two guys in the background saying, “ don’t worry about it we’ll take care of you, drinks are on us we’ll take you home just get ready and we will pick you up”. After speaking to my friend and getting dressed my friend came down to pick me up, which was the time when I met the two guys. (Arrival at the party) When we got to the party we went up stairs we started drinking and enjoying ourselves really. I decided to get the get to know the guys a bit more one of the guys was really sweet, but the other one acted strange he tried to talk to me rom the other side of the room. He started winking and smiling so I decided to ignore him really. But after a while he decided to join us and sat right next to me and whispered “maybe he can’t take of you but I can”. I said “Okay” and laughed it off I didn’t want it to ruin my night. (30 minutes later) After a while of ignoring him I went to the kitchen to get another drink he followed me to the kitchen and he asked, “Do you want to go downstairs and smoke?” I was thinking, “What’s the worst thing that can happen?” and to smoke anyway. We went outside to smoke and it was really cold so he offered me to go and sit in his car and smoke. While we were smoking in the car he was being really friendly, and trying to move towards my side of the seat. I opened the door and left the car he followed me back to the party. I decided to make an excuse so that I could go home, after seeing what he did to me in the car I really didn’t want to stay. I just wanted to go home, so I found my friend and I explained it to her that I didn’t feel well and I wanted to go home. While we were in the car he decided to drop off my friend and his friend, after dropping them off I was really happy that I was going home. When I was in the car I was keep thinking of what happened inside I was really scared. Interviewer (Zintle): I know it’s hard for you, what happened next? While we were in the car I was keep looking outside because he was really drunk and I was scared that he would pass out on the street then we would have to turn back all the way on the motorway. But he just drove past my house street, and that was the point I was really scared, I was like “why are you passing my house turn the car around ”. He said “don’t worry were just going to get drinks and smoke and were going to have fun and ill drop you off home later”. I was really worried because I was thinking where is going to take me what are we going to do, while we were driving to the petrol station he said, “what would you like to drink” I said nothing because at the time I was really drunk, and I just asked him for a red bull and a cigarette. He said no I’m asking you what would like to drink, and I said nothing I just wanted to go home. He didn’t reply to me and he went to get the drinks. By Sumitra Sundaram K1314885
TV Documentary: Rape Assault Script After coming back from the petrol station, he got inside the car and I asked him “where are we going now you’ve got your drinks!” Then I tried to ask him again and he didn’t reply to me, after driving for a while we came down to his street to his house and he said that “okay get out now” and I said “where are we” “Its house I told you were going to chill don’t worry I can drop you off later”. When we got to his front he said “you look worried, were going to have a couple of drinks and chat for a bit, and I will drop you off home safe. So I was thinking he’s the only one who can drop me off in my house, because I didn’t have the money to call a cab so I did what he wanted me to do. He opened his front door and we went inside he told me to make myself comfortable in his living room. He offered me a drink; he was sitting really close to me and kept drinking and touching me. I felt really scared and I said “okay can you stop touching me” because I feel uncomfortable and you’ve already had you drink and you’ve had your fun now please drop me off at home. He stood in front of me and said “do you want to go home?” and I said yes I’ve been asking you all night. Then he grabbed both my writs and pushed me onto the sofa and I was screaming telling him “I don’t want to do this”. He told me to shut up trying to hold my mouth. He pulled my dress off I started screaming as loudly as I could saying “stop it” but he didn’t pay any attention. He then said “shut up bitch”, I as so terrified and I froze it happened so I really didn’t know what to do. He passed out after a while next to me, I stood up next to the sofa and put my dress on quickly and ran outside. I ran as fats as I could I went to the next-door neighbour for help and knocked on the door and screamed at the top of my voice. “Please help me, open the door” obviously it was late at night I was really shocked, and was frightened that at any minute he could come back again. The neighbour opened the door and said, “what’s wrong” my makeup was all smudged. I couldn’t even speak but eventually I told her to call 911. She was really scared and called 911 right away to make me calm down, soon after the police came I was on the ground shaking I couldn’t move I was in a state of shock and pain. While the police woman came she got me into the car and she said, “tell me everything that happened”. I was frozen I didn’t know how to explain it, but it was just keep going through my head, the police woman was trying to make me calm down but I was in a total state of shock, I didn’t know what to do. So finally I told them that couple of houses down a guy in that house raped me, and my stuff is still there to prove it. I was sitting in the car and a police officer went inside the house and I was hoping that he was still inside the house. After 5 minutes waiting the police officer came out and arrested him, I wasn’t happy but I was glad that he deserved what he got really. Because I trusted him and he misused it. While the officer was dropping me of home I was trying to clean up my face. If I got home like this my parents would be worried and would ask me questions like what happened. I explained to the officer “can you drop me off at the corner of my street?” It was really hard for me because I couldn’t talk to anyone, I got home and went straight to my bed I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I dint know what to say I could just remember what he did over and over trying not to think about it. Interviewer (Zintle): How do you feel now after everything has happened? I was really scared I tried to be a strong person trying to go and live my life again really. I was really paranoid I really didn’t know how to live my life again overtime I looked at people on the street and I would think that maybe they know what By Sumitra Sundaram K1314885
TV Documentary: Rape Assault Script happened to me, they would judge me, I felt like everyone’s looking at me I didn’t know how to get help. Interviewer (Zintle): Why did you decide to talk about your story now? I decided to tell my story now because it was time for me to stop and move forward be a strong person. Be positive about life after what happened something inside of me is dead my soul is gone, but im still trying to live my life and maybe other woman’s can come forward and try to get the help they need because staying silent will only kill yourself more. Nowadays women and me are equal but as a woman we still get judged. It wasn’t my fault I was a victim me stepping forward as a powerless woman its helped me a lot to break my silence and talk about my story. Maybe society thinks that I showed a different reaction because maybe I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, I’ve got a trust issue now it’s affecting my relationship. I cant get close to anyone anytime I fell like going out I just want to stay at home. My mind is always thinking about what happened trying to not think about it. Living my life, as I want it’s easy to say but hard to do. Interviewer (Zintle): Have you ever tried talking to your family members? To tell the truth I really don’t want my family members to know what happened to me, it’s hard to see them disappointed in me. I know in all this im a victim maybe they will support me but id rather not share my story with anyone because they might judge me. I don’t want my family to go through the same pain I had to go through. Interviewer (Zintle): Thank you for sharing your story, hopefully more and more victims will come through and share their experiences and seek help.
By Sumitra Sundaram K1314885