Nick Hewer: Countdown to Freetown Page #3

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everything is shipped to Dakar

while Nick returns to London.

About to set off

and continue the tough drive south,

when some worrying photos arrive.

What's all these wires

hanging out the front?

I hope we can bloody get there.

Do we know if this vehicle works?

I mean... (BLEEP) ..me off.

'Hello?'

Mike?

'Hiya.'

Yeah, hi, it's Nick.

'Hi, Nick.'

Yeah, hi. Listen,

I've just seen these pictures

that have come in from Dakar

and what I've seen horrifies me.

The rear window's been smashed,

the bonnet is up

and the floor is festooned with

what appear to be ignition cables.

Does this vehicle run at the moment?

What happens if I get down there and

half the bloody engine's missing?

Senegal's capital Dakar.

Nick Hewer returns to Africa

to prove the poorest individual

can become a successful businessman

with the right help.

His half-tonne saw and vehicle

are at the British Embassy,

along with a local guide to help

navigate the treacherous roads

and reconnect with James

when they get to Freetown.

- Mohammed?

- Yes, sir. Nick.

Yeah, Mr Nick.

It's terrible, huh? It's a mess.

Obviously, they broke this

to open the doors,

to take the things.

This is what happened.

I left a bike in there with

clothes and maps and everything.

The bicycle is gone,

two jerry cans for petrol, you know,

this is electrical wiring.

If you want it, I can call the lady

to know if

she keeps something for you.

It's possible,

but I think it's been stolen.

Hello, auntie, hold on.

I pass my boss.

Who is this?

The boss lady.

What's her name? Hello.

'..suitcase.'

A suitcase? You...

You have those?

Ah! She needs to speak to you.

I'm maligning all these people,

thinking they've been stealing

my stuff, and actually, they haven't.

Oh, dear!

Ah, here's my stuff.

Look, my bicycle.

I'm very ashamed.

I like Mohammed.

I think he's an optimist.

Optimists are good,

as long as they're not bullshitters.

Of course I could have sent a cheque!

It's far more fun, I think,

to actually be able to...

..have a little adventure,

and at the end of it, help this kid.

Not just help, but actually

propel him into a new world,

and that's what I'm doing.

Nearly 1,000 miles away in Freetown,

James still has no idea

the giant saw is coming.

He began his life on the streets

like thousands of other kids

when Sierra Leone

descended into a brutal civil war.

To get to Freetown,

Nick is facing some tough driving

through tropical Senegal

and the lush jungles of Guinea

with over 100 miles

of rutted tracks.

Mohammed advises

setting off before sunrise.

Come near to me a little bit.

Take in to me a little bit.

Now what?

Here we are. Quarter to six,

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