Episode 1: BULLYING (Secondary)

Synopsis

This episode centres on Vince and Mia, two Year 11 students in the same class at a suburban secondary school. For some time Vince has been bullied by Luke but Luke is starting to lose interest. However Luke’s mates encourage him, so the intimidation continues. Mia, on the other hand, appears to have a good relationship with Alison, Madison and Nadia, although it soon emerges that she is relatively new to the group and occasionally sidelined.

Trouble for Vince gradually escalates from being hassled in the corridor and having his padlock stolen, to physical confrontation in the school yard. Meanwhile, when his friend Jason asks Mia to the school formal, Alison turns on Mia (Alison had secretly hoped that she would be invited by Jason). Then with distorted truth and outright lies, Alison turns the other girls against Mia – who rapidly falls victim to their bullying.

When Vince finds his uniform dumped in the urinal after a sports lesson, he decides to talk to the teacher. Unfortunately the teacher is hurrying to her next class. She suggests they talk later but Vince is discouraged and backs away from seeking her help.

Then one day, for no apparent reason, Alison invites Mia to join the girls for a movie. After some resistance Mia agrees but on the night the girls stand her up. Hiding nearby and laughing, they rub salt in the wound by sending Mia a nasty SMS. The next day Mia stays in bed. Upset, she tells her mother what happened but refuses to let her intervene.

When Vince misguidedly stands up to Luke and embarrasses him in class, Luke and his mates plan revenge and ambush Vince as he walks home alone. By coincidence the attack is witnessed by his friend Jason – who watches from a safe distance but does nothing to help.

In the Segmented Version of the video's concluding interviews we learn that Jason came forward to support Vince, insisting that they together talk to the teacher. As a result Luke and his mates were expelled. Mia again spoke to her mother. Realising how badly she had been consistently treated by Alison and the girls, Mia gained strength from the experience and found a new group of friends.

> View Online Previews.

> Main Bullying (Secondary) page.