(BOTH PRAY IN TOKELAUAN) (DRAMATIC MUSIC) He left to become a priest in Rome. He didn't wanna return home cos he didn't wanna bring shame. Is this a Mafia town? He's very nervous. He's very uncomfortable. TEARFULLY: Please, God, just show me something. (WOMAN SOBS) www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2020 (PLANE ENGINE WHINES) (INSPIRING MUSIC) I'm David Lomas, and I've flown south to Rotorua to meet Malia Sakalia, a community nurse who was born in Tokelau. (INSECTS CHIRP) I'm looking for my brother Filipo. He left the Tokelau islands about 30 years ago to become a priest in Rome, and then he just disappeared. 52-year-old Malia is one of seven brothers and sisters desperate to find Filipo Filipo to reunite the family before their ageing father passes away. We haven't had any luck, and you're our last hope. What do you think happened to him? Our last letter that we received from him stated that he has left the priesthood because he's found a woman. That was the final letter that we got from him. Filipo ` by then 22 ` had completed three years of his training to be a priest. These photos, taken in the early 1990s, when Filipo was ordained a deacon, are the last images he sent back to his family. He just stopped writing. Our grandparents were deacons. My dad tried really hard for one of us, his kids, to become either a nun or a priest. My younger brother Filipo thought that he would take up that challenge. He wanted to make my parents proud and... The main thing that he said in the letter was that he didn't wanna return home cos he didn't wanna bring shame to the family. He didn't wanna put my parents through that. Mm. Family is important to Malia. Keep goin. That's it. You're doing well. (CHILDREN LAUGH) Let go! (CHUCKLES) Nanny? High-five. Nanny? She is a happy grandmother, and her father, 78-year-old Logo Filipo, is a proud great-grandfather. (SPEAKS TOKELAUAN) (SINGS IN TOKELAUAN) As a Tokelauan, Malia is a New Zealand citizen. She attended high school in Whanganui, and with her husband and four children, settled permanently in New Zealand 15 years ago. Her parents and brothers and sisters followed. Having a son travel to Rome to be a priest was a source of great pride for the Filipo family. But despite Filipo's quitting the church and shunning contact, he has not left their hearts. (FAMILY PRAYS IN TOKELAUAN) They pray each day for his safety and his return. I'd love to see my brother again. I told my kids, 'If I ever win Lotto, I'm so gonna go to Rome and look for my brother.' (CHUCKLES) It's... It's just not the same without him. (SNIFFLES) Our family's not complete without one person, unless that person has actually gone from this world, you know? But it's not... He's not. I know he's not. My mum kept saying, 'No. He's still alive. I can feel him. He's still here somewhere.' (SIGHS DEEPLY) I just want him to see my dad before he goes. That's... (CICADAS BUZZ) That's my wish. (FAMILY CONVERSES IN TOKELAUAN) Though they disappointed that Filipo abandoned the priesthood, the family were pleased to read in Filipo's last letter to his father that he'd become a family man. Filipo told Dad that they've got a child ` a girl. You two go sit down, please. And they were planning to come over that Christmas to the Tokelau islands to visit them. But... that never happened, cos not long after that, we got that phone call. (PRAYS IN TOKELAU) That phone call in 1993 was from Filipo. He was calling with devastating news of his wife and child. She was killed in a car accident, together with their baby. In the years since, the family has not heard from Filipo. (POIGNANT MUSIC) They now worry that if Filipo was trying to reconnect with them, he would not know where they live. (BIRDS CHIRP) So, what happened to Filipo? (DRAMATIC MUSIC) From talking to Malia, I believe there's one person who may know the answer. When Filipo set off on his divine quest, he was accompanied by another teenager from Tokelau. And that teenager of 30 years ago now lives on the South Island's West Coast. Karamea is a tiny coastal town surrounded by national park. You must be Ioane. Yes. You must be Dave. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you too. You're a colourful character in this town. Thank you. (LAUGHS) Yeah. Ioane Maiava and Filipo were just 18 and 19 when they arrived at the Missionaries of Faith Seminary in Rome. (UPBEAT MUSIC) The bustling Italian capital was a far cry from the three remote atolls of Tokelau, 500km north of Samoa. Ioane and Filipo came from the atoll of Nukunonu, where back then, the whole population of about 800 was devoutly Catholic. Nukunonu was then a place with no cars, and just one telephone. (BOTH CHUCKLE) And what was it like when you got to Rome? Very, very different to where I come from. Yeah. Very, very different. We didn't understand anyone. We just have to speak our own language to each other and try and make the priest and everyone understand about us, and we're not really talking with anyone else. If Filipo is anywhere else, it's just me. I was a little bit homesick all the time. One night we were talking about something. We were going to run away. We were going to make a run and go and... (SIGHS) look for wives and things like that. And` But... And things went wrong? Everything happened. We had a fight. Not me and him, but I had a fight with someone because he was trying to fight him, so I stood up. And then the priest said to me that I am going back to Tokelau. (BRIGHT PIANO MUSIC) I said, 'Yeah, I really feel like I want to go back.' They just picked me up with the van same day, and I went and said goodbye to Filipo. Filipo was so sad. He wanted to come with me. The priest told him he's not going anywhere. They took me straight from there to the airport. I don't know what happened to him. TEARFULLY: Yeah, he's a good friend. He was just like a brother to me, because we never forget where we come from. I really want him to be found if he's still alive. Yeah. (BIRD SQUAWKS, WAVES RUMBLE IN DISTANCE) Ioane has given me the name of a Samoan priest in Porirua who may have more information. Father Andrew Antonio met Filipo in Rome after the family lost contact. Yes. Somewhere around 1996, '97. While he can't tell me where Filipo is now, Father Andrew says back then, he was living in an area where others who had quit the priesthood resided. Ostia. It's a place right near Rome, not far from Rome. But Father Andrew doubts Filipo will still be there now. He suggests going to the seminary where Filipo trained. Well, look, thank you, Father. His family are very concerned, because he hasn't talked to them for almost 30 years. This is the only thing you can do. You must go to Rome and find some information about Filipo. It's the conclusion I've also reached. I've spoken with other priests, and they too don't know what became of Filipo. And my emails to the seminary have gone unanswered. (MAN SPEAKS TOKELAUAN) Malia and her family have continued to hope that one day Filipo would return to their lives. But they also had to contend with a sad truth. All our mother wanted was to see her son again. She prayed and hoped that she will see him again, which never happened. Filipo's mother, Alofo Filipo, died two years ago, before her prayers were answered. He loved his mum, and she loved him back. It would be devastating for him to know his mother has died. It's going to hurt him. (POIGNANT MUSIC) (BOTH PRAY IN TOKELAUAN) (DOOR CREAKS GENTLY) (BOTH CONTINUE TO PRAY IN TOKELAUAN) Amene. Amene. How are you? Good, thank you. Morning. Morning. (CHUCKLES) Well, since I saw you last, I've been doing a lot of research, trying to find out about what happened to Filipo. I've spoken to priests, and I've spoken to Ioane, who went to Rome with him. They all think he is still in Rome. Oh. So, I was wondering, Malia, whether you'd be happy to come to Rome with me to try and find Filipo? I'd love to. (CHUCKLES) That would be really awesome. I want to be the first to see him. (CHUCKLES) (SPEAKS TOKELAUAN) Yeah. That would be amazing. You know there's a chance that we might find him. Mm. He might not agree to meet us. Yeah, I know that. So, you'd be happy to go? Yes. (CHUCKLES) That would be cool. (DRAMATIC MUSIC BUILDS) I fly to Rome, the Eternal City. (TYRES SCREECH) (BELL TOLLS) This is where Filipo Filipo, the teenager from the remote Tokelau atoll of Nukunonu, arrived 30 years ago with the dream of becoming a priest. However, after three years of training, Filipo quit the church and disappeared. His sister Malia Sakalia is about to head to Rome to join me. I'm hoping that before she arrives, I'll have made progress in tracking down her runaway brother. You must be Justin? I am Justin. Nice to meet you in person. Nice to meet you as well. So, we're going to find Filipo today? I certainly hope so. So, where are we starting? Let's go this way. Justin Boatwright, a Canadian who has lived here for 11 years, works with the city's homeless. Using his knowledge of those who struggle to survive in Rome, he'll help with my research. It's a busy city. We head west to Ponte Galeria, to the Missionaries of Faith, the Catholic Seminary Filipo was training with. They have never been helpful with information to Malia and her family, and I too have been frustrated by the lack of communication from the order. Well, this looks like it, doesn't it? It does look like it. Yeah. How do we get in, though? That's the question. It looks like there's buzzer right here on the gate. Filipo was here for three years. After being ordained a deacon, he should have been placed with a local priest, who would assist him to complete his training. But it was at this stage that Filipo vanished. (BARKS) Where did he go? Salve. Siamo cercando per un prete dalla` Which country is he from? Tokelau. Tokelau. A car pulls up. It's a chance to talk to someone face-to-face. Si. Salve. Siamo cercando per un sacerdote dalla 1990. Il nome? Si chiama Filipo Filipo. (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) The best person to talk to is not here right now. And when will he return? I've sent emails from New Zealand, but no one ever answered me. Do you have records here at all? OK. OK. Thank you. Not very helpful, are they? Not very helpful at all, but that's part of the Catholic bureaucracy. The person we spoke to said he'd pass on our message to the head of the order. But I'm not overly optimistic that an organisation that has ignored all queries so far will be different this time. So I decide to try another way to find Filipo. If he remained in Rome, there must surely be record of him somewhere. He told his family he was married, so is there a marriage certificate? This is the Records Office of Rome. If his name is going to be anywhere, it's going to be here. Siamo cercando per un signore si chiama Filipo Filipo. (MAN SPEAKS ITALIAN) No. Per un residente di Roma. (MAN SPEAKS ITALIAN) But in Rome, such records are closed to the public without an order from a judge. And that would take a long time. A lot of bureaucracy, yeah. Perhaps newspaper archives will have some mention of the accident that killed Filipo's wife and child. (SPEAKS ITALIAN) Ah, OK. Grazie mille. The old papers we are looking for are held elsewhere. But he's given me the phone number of the librarian who's going to do research for us. All I have to do is give her a call. She'll have all the information for us. She'll have everything. Oh, that's good. To date, this city has not been very forthcoming with information. It makes me wonder how Filipo, a foreigner with no friends outside the seminary, would have got on in Rome when he left the security of the Church. (TENSE MUSIC) As an overstayer, what job could he get and who could he turn to for support? I wonder, could he have linked up with other Polynesians in Rome? Searching online, I find an article about a Samoan woman who often helps people from the Pacific Islands when they come to Italy. I call an old journalist colleague back in New Zealand, seeking his help to find her. Hi, John. David here. Hey look, can you do us a favour? I'm still not finding this chap Filipo. But I found an article which talks to a woman who lives in Rome ` a Samoan lady. I'll flick you the article. If you could try and track down the lady who wrote the article, and just see if we can get a contact for her. I'm hoping she might be able to tell me if Filipo, who was born in Samoa and also has Samoan citizenship, has had any contact with the Samoan community. Si. Un incidente mortale. The next morning, we hear back from the researcher at the newspaper archives. Disappointingly, she can find no reference to a Filipo Filipo or any car crash involving anyone with the surname Filipo. But later that day, I get a breakthrough. My colleague in New Zealand has sent a number for Margie Caffarelli, the Italian Samoan mentioned in the online article. Margie has agreed to meet me. So, do you get back to Samoa very often? Yep. I try to go back once a year. Margie's father was an Italian doctor, who fell in love with Samoa, married there, and was for many years the sole GP on the island of Savai'i. Margie was raised on Savai'i but now lives here, helping run the family property business. So, what I'm trying to do is track down a Samoan man who disappeared in Rome about 30 years ago. I was wondering ` are there many Samoans here in Rome? Uh, yeah, there are a few. A few priests and nuns mostly, and some rugby players. So, the man I'm trying to track down is called Filipo Filipo. You don't by chance know him, do you? I think I know the name. The guy you've met, would he by chance look like that? Oh. (SIGHS) I don't know. This looks very old. (CHUCKLES) That was taken about 30 years ago. Yeah, I wouldn't recognise him just by looking at the photo. I think he was a priest, but then he left. The last I heard, he was working as a bouncer in some nightclub. Do you have any idea if he's married? No. No, I don't know. My brother would probably know more about him. Your brother? Yeah. Giovanni, he's the Honorary Consul for Samoa here in Rome. Margie's news is stunning. Finally, I've found a link to Filipo in Rome. Now it all depends on what her brother might know. from Domino's. I'm in Rome trying to find out why Filipo Filipo, a teenager from Tokelau who went to Rome to become a priest, vanished about 26 years ago. His sister Malia Sakalia has just arrived in Rome, hoping I'll find her brother. While she explores the city, I head to an address in the posher part of town and up to a penthouse suite, where Giovanni Caffarelli, the Honorary Samoan Consul to Italy, resides. Great day in Rome. Yeah. Beautiful sunshine. Yes, beautiful weather. Please... Thank you. Well, welcome, David. Crikey. Is that your family tree? Yes, that's the Caffarelli family tree, and it goes back to the year 1223. That's your Italian family? Yes, that's the Italian family. You're a Duke? Yes, I'm a Duke. I am also a Samoan Matai, Papali'i from the village of Sapapali'i in Savai'i. Oh, OK, thank you. Well, as Margie mentioned to you, I'm trying to track down Filipo Filipo. Do you know him? Well, I didn't have any idea that you were looking for Filipo. I knew him. I met him when he was here for his missionary school. But then three years ago, he rang me up and asked me to get him a new Samoan passport, because his passport was expired. Do you know what he's been doing in Italy for the last almost 30 year? He dropped out of the missionary school and, uh, decided to go live an ordinary civil life. Now, obviously it wasn't easy because if you don't have proper papers to stay in a country, finding proper work won't be easy. Do you have a contact number or do you know where he lives? I know for sure that he lives in the Ostia area, in the Quartiere Trentaquattro, which is an area in Ostia. You don't know his address? The specific address, no. So, if I went to Ostia and asked there, do you think I'd be able to find him? Yes. Once you get to Ostia, the only issue could be the language issue. But, obviously, I can ask Margie to help you out and see if she can overcome the language barrier. OK, yeah. You're happy to do that? Yep. I will. Great. And Filipo is there. Immediately, we set out for Ostia, on the coast, an hour's train ride from central Rome. Giovanni believes Filipo lives near the train station, and that a Tokelauan would stand out in this part of town. I'm hoping that's true. Ostia is a pretty seaside city, popular for weekend getaways from Rome. But it also has a dark reputation. (TENSE MUSIC) In 2011 two mobsters were gunned down in broad daylight in front of a crowded restaurant, earning Ostia the title of Rome's Mafia capital. In a recent anti-Mafia crackdown, dozens of members of crime families were arrested in Ostia for drug trafficking and extortion. There's a lot of apartment blocks here, aren't there? Yeah. Here, we discover people have learned not to talk. Scusi. (SPEAKS ITALIAN) No? No hai visto? No. OK. Grazie. The locals are nervous about our camera. A few do not want to be filmed. E poi` No. No. What does he`? He's very nervous. He's very uncomfortable. But off camera, a stunning piece of good news. (MAN SPEAKS ITALIAN) Va bene. Grazie. Ciao. A man tells us he knows Filipo and gives us an address. It's a breathtaking breakthrough. For 26 years, the Filipo family has searched for their son. Now, we are about to knock on his door. Well, this is it. (DRAMATIC MUSIC BUILDS) Margie calls on the intercom. (INTERCOM BUZZES) (CAR HORN BLARES) Filipo doesn't answer, but a woman does. Grazie. How did it go? It's the right place. I left a phone number with them, and they will call back. So, he definitely lives here? Yeah, yeah, he does. Well, that's fantastic, but when's he going to ring? Any idea? When he finishes work. So... So, an hour or two to wait? Yeah. With no other option, we wait, hoping Filipo calls. Oh. Fantastic, thank you. Margie said it was regarding his Tokelau family, but she made no mention that his sister Malia is in Rome looking for him. (GENTLE MUSIC) Such a big place. I can see him getting lost. It's been a long time. I don't know if he still has that feeling, that bond. I just want to tell him that I love him,... and his family loves him,... and we've been looking for him. Please, God, just show me something. (PHONE RINGS) (FRENETIC MUSIC) Pronto. Si. Pronto. Ciao. Filipo, ciao. Come stai? Si. It's... It's him. Samoan-born Tokelauan Filipo Filipo has been missing in Rome for almost three decades. But after days of searching,... Pronto. Si. Pronto. Ciao. Filipo, ciao. Come stai? ...and with the help of Italian-Samoan Margie Caffarelli, we have just made contact with Filipo, and he's guardedly agreed to meet us. In a town that is notoriously home to nine of Italy's top Mafia bosses, Filipo will only meet in a secluded location. He's concerned that if he's seen being filmed, he may be perceived as a Mafia informer. Hello, Filipo. Hello. Hi, Filipo. I'm David. Oh, nice to meet you. How are you? I'm very good. So, you speak English? A little bit. (STIRRING MUSIC) Well, your family is looking for you. My family. Wow. What happened? I mean, you came to Rome to be a priest? Yeah, that's right. What happened? Non lo piu vocazione. He didn't feel the calling any more to be a priest. E ho visto una maria di cose che io non... non accepto. Do you ever wonder about your family? Si. Della mia famiglia? Si, penso sempre della mia famiglia. You wrote to them that you'd got married and that you'd had a child, but your wife and your child had died. (STIRRING MUSIC CONTINUES) Purtroppo, si. E una historia della mia vita che io non voglio piu parlare. You haven't contacted your family. Why is that? Mi sono perso, e ho diciso di no senti piu nessuno. Have you seen anything of your family? Do you know what's happened to them? Non piu sentii no nessuno. You have no idea that they have moved to New Zealand? No idea. Your family approached me to try and find you, and I've been filming a bit with them. Would you like to see a little bit of what they're like now? Why not? (GENTLE MUSIC) (BOTH PRAY IN TOKELAUAN) It's... It's just not the same without him. (SNIFFLES) Whee! (SPEAKS TOKELAUAN) Our family's not complete without one person, unless that person has actually gone from this world, you know? But he's not. I know he's not. My mum kept saying, 'No, he's still alive, I can feel him. He's still here somewhere.' (GENTLE MUSIC CONTINUES) (EXHALES SOFTLY) Mi dispiace. Che la mia famiglia stanno male... per colpa mia. I'm very sorry to tell you that your mother, as you might gather from that,... she has died. (SNIFFLES) (INHALES) Quando? Two years ago. (INDISTINCT CONVERSATION) (BIRDS TWEET) (EERIE MUSIC) That's my fault. Tutta colpa mia. (TENSE MUSIC) (INHALES SHARPLY) E non posso perdonami per questo. E morta. (SMACKS LIPS) (SIGHS) (SNIFFLES) Filipo tells me he took a long time to recover from the grief of losing his wife and daughter. After that, I lose my faith. I lose my head. It's very hard. He was homeless for several years, living rough. Seven years ago, he met Maria, the woman he credits with saving his life. They were recently engaged. Filipo's right to be in Italy ran out years ago. He's now an overstayer with no passport and can only get jobs working or cash. I did not tell Filipo that his sister Malia is here. But back in Rome, I meet her to tell her what I have discovered. When you went to the Vatican, did you pray for him? Yes. Oh! Every tabernacle that I went through, I just had to kneel and pray. (POIGNANT PIANO MUSIC) I was just hoping that we will find him. Just praying for his safety, praying that we will have some sort of... connection. Being in Rome, being so close to where he might be, how does that feel for you? When I was sitting up on those steps yesterday, I was just dreaming that, like, I would see somebody, you know, very familiar, or just see somebody that looks like him. That's why I was sitting up there. I was looking down at the people. I was going, 'Oh, please, God, just show me something, at least. 'Some sign.' (AMBIENT MUSIC) (BELL TOLLS) Well,... those prayers you've been saying have worked. What? (BRIGHT MUSIC) (WEEPS) (CRIES, SNIFFLES) Thank you, God. Thank you. (SOBS) I knew you were there for us. I knew. Oh my goodness. I can't believe we found you. (CRIES) He doesn't know you're in Rome. Oh, he doesn't know? (GASPS) (SLOW PIANO MUSIC) (SIGHS) I am so looking forward to seeing him. I can't wait to tell my dad. I'm excited. And my family. Oh! Thank you, thank you, thank you. Can I give you a hug? I need a hug. (CHUCKLES) Give us a hug. Thank you. It's good, isn't it? Thanks a lot. I'm so excited. We leave Rome for Ostia, and later that evening at our new hotel, I send Filipo a message. I want to meet him again in the morning. But I get no response, and subsequent calls go unanswered. I'm beginning to worry that I have spooked Filipo and that after all my searching, he may once again have gone to ground. But in the morning, I do get a reply ` not from Filipo, but from his partner, Maria, who has his cell phone. She promises to get Filipo to meet me at my hotel. (TENSE MUSIC BUILDS) (CHUCKLES) You're a hard man to find. (LAUGHS) I've been worried. I thought you'd disappeared again. No, I'm just... Filipo is confused about why I want to talk to him again. But in a few moments, it will all become clear. What we're here today to talk about is your New Zealand family. It was a surprise to you that your family was looking. Have you thought about what it means to you? I'm very happy to know that my family want to see me, and I think about them every day. Well, I would like to, if I can organise it, take you to New Zealand to see your family. Wow. To go to New Zealand. Yes. Would you be happy to do that? Yeah. I'm very happy. I'm very surprised. I'm very glad to go there and to see my family. Do you know what you would say to them? I'm very sorry for those long time that I stayed far away from them. Filipo? Filipo. (CHUCKLES) (BRIGHT MUSIC) Because of your efforts we've moved to a new normal. If possible, avoid shopping in groups Remember to research your project, make a list and focus on getting what you need. As always, keep 2 metres physical distance in-store and while waiting in queues. And cashless is our preferred method of payment. Thank you, New Zealand for your patience. # BUNNINGS WAREHOUSE # Your new normal is ours too. (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) Malia Sakalia is in Rome, trying to find her brother Filipo Filipo. He's regretful for having cut contact with his family. I'm very sorry for those long time that I stayed far away from them. Filipo? Filipo. (CHUCKLES) (BRIGHT MUSIC) (CHUCKLES) Hey. WHISPERS: Oh my God. (SMOOCHES) (HEART-WARMING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC) (WEEPS, SNIFFLES) She still loved you. She prayed for you every day. Yeah, I know. She said, 'I hope one day he just walks through that door.' (INHALES SHARPLY) She called you her baby. (CHUCKLES) But we prayed. We prayed, and we prayed. WHISPERS: Yeah, OK. You still look the same. Wow. (LAUGHS) (MALIA CHUCKLES) Thank you very much. You want to kill like this? (CHUCKLES) You like to kill me? Mm. Thanks very much. Brother and sister spend the day together, taking in the sights of Rome. (FUN MUSIC) (SPEAKS ITALIAN) Thank you. Perfect. The next morning, Malia is on a Skype call. Hi, family. I'm in Rome, baby. What are you doing in Rome, Nana? (WOMAN CHUCKLES) Back in New Zealand, the family has gathered at a sister's house. (WOMAN SPEAKS TOKELAUAN) They're expectant but uncertain. I've just, um, got some news for you guys. What? Is it good news? (CHEERS, APPLAUSE) (CHUCKLES) Thank you for all the prayers. Come on, brother. (FAMILY EXCLAIMS) Say hello. ALL: Hi. Hi, guys. E a mai koe, Filipo? (SPEAKS TOKELAUAN) (FAMILY EXCLAIMS) Malo. Thank you, Lord, we find you. Fakafetai, Iehu. Yeah. Uh... (SORROWFUL MUSIC) I'm very sorry that Mum not there. (SNIFFLES) (SPEAKS TOKELAUAN) Hey, Dad. (CHUCKLES) Papa... (SPEAKS TOKELAUAN) (INSPIRING MUSIC) Um... (TENSE MUSIC) (SPEAKS TOKELAUAN) But I miss you all. I miss my family. (CHUCKLES) (SPEAKS TOKELAUAN) Bye. Love youse. (SNIFFLES) I love you all. Love you. Bye, Filipo. Tofa. For Filipo, discovering the full depth of love for him from his New Zealand family is overwhelming. He desperately wants to see them. But currently he is stateless, and he knows if he leaves Italy, he may not be able to return. I think of them every day. But I live here in Italy. Mm. (SIGHS) (CURIOUS MUSIC) I'm so excited. Ever since we found him, we've been video calling him, like, practically every day. He's just been annoying us. (CHUCKLES) (PLAYFUL MUSIC) He's actually here. Hey, brother. Whoo! (CHUCKLES) (POIGNANT PIANO MUSIC) (INDISTINCT CONVERSATION) A-ba-ba-ba-ba! Mwah! (BABY GIGGLES) (ORCHESTRAL MUSIC) Hey, Papa. Good. (CHUCKLES) Thank you. E a mai koe? (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY, CHUCKLES) 'Very excited. Yes, yes.' (BOTH CHUCKLE) Big brother. (BOTH CHUCKLE) How are you? Oh, fine. Tea or coffee? Oh, no, cappuccino. (CHUCKLES) MALIA: Take what you get. (CHUCKLES) Coffee, coffee. Coffee? Yeah. You're not special. (ALL LAUGH) I'm over the moon, happy. The brother that we lost 27 years ago has been found. Amene. Even though our mum has passed,... Papa... Mm? Pizza. (CHUCKLES) ...it's completed our family. (CHUCKLES) I don't know. It's very hard. It's very hard for me. (EXHALES) Despite 30 years apart, the family is now as close as if Filipo never left. Filipo, traveling on a Samoan passport, stayed in New Zealand for eight weeks, before going to Samoa, where he's arranging a legal return to Italy. For 30 years I've been trying, and just doors keep getting shut. Vanessa's mom told her her father had died,... There's actually more to the story. ...while Gus only heard one story of who his father was. I think he's in Australia under Witness Protection. Two stories of secrecy and betrayal. Does that make sense to you? No. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2020 Supporting local content so you can see more of New Zealand on air.