Original subtitles

[liquid pours]

[clink]

[dramatic electronic music]

[light flickering]

[leaves rustling]

[gasping and panting]

[ominous music]

[haunting voices]

[crying]

[whooshing]

[creature growling] [girl screaming]

[rain spattering] [thunder rumbling]

[wind whistling]

- [Narrator] He is as old as mankind.

[ominous music]

Long before he came into our cities

he waited in dark forests and deep rivers

for the lost, the weak.

Cursed by the Great Father, he is as hateful as he is foul.

He is the Tokoloshe, one that feeds

on children and those left alone.

[booming]

- [Radio Host] No, I agree with you.

This influx of immigrants into Johannesburg

has been unprecedented.

Neighborhoods like Hillbrow changed virtually overnight.

I mean, the issue is they're still coming from all over.

There's no more place for them.

They're sleeping rough, sardines packed

into condemned buildings with no water, no electricity.

It's a health hazard.

[men chattering in foreign language]

[man whistling]

- Busi Zondi,

welcome to the night shift.

- Thank you for the opportunity.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, don't thank me.

If it had been my choice you wouldn't be here.

- Can I ask why, sir?

- [Ruatonim] You're all just trouble.

The last girl that was in here left after two months.

It's a constantly revolving door.

It makes my job difficult.

- No, not me, sir.

I'm more than committed to the work.

- Are you, now?

- Your shift starts at 9 p.m.

You arrive late, they'll deduct pay.

If you leave early they'll deduct pay.

Make sure that you clock in.

And wear your regulation uniform otherwise--

- I must pay.

- Mm.

Take it.

Hello?

- It's very quiet for a hospital.

- Budget cuts, care is rent-free.

[lights clicking off]

- [Busi] What's that?

- [Wilma] Budget cuts.

[lights clicking on]

[machines whirring]

- This is where it all comes.

- [Busi] Do I have to use that?

- No, whatever you do, don't ever go near that.

Sometimes

cats stay in there.

Make sure it's not you.

Get those bags and give it to this beauty.

- Is she the new one?

- Mm-hmm.

- You need to get a receipt for all those.

- Wouldn't want this stuff ending up

in a landfill where kids can find it.

Now, do we?

- What is it?

- [Jakes] Human waste.

- Can you tell me about Mr. Ruatonim?

- Honey, if I can give you some advice,

keep your tits tucked in and legs crossed

and everything will be fine.

[lively jazz music]

[horn honking]

- [Ruatonim] Get in, it's wet.

- My stop's around the corner, sir.

- I wanted to apologize for earlier.

It's been difficult with the layoffs

and people not coming to work.

- Um...

Can I ask why the other girl left, sir?

- Ah, she, um, she said she couldn't

handle the graveyard shift anymore.

It's challenging work.

- I'm not afraid of hard work, sir.

- [Ruatonim] That's good to know.

Let me drive you home.

We can have a proper introduction.

- Um, honestly, sir, my stop's around the corner.

- Okay.

Suit yourself.

Bitch.

[rain splattering]

[sighing heavily]

[television fuzzing]

[speaking foreign language]

[melancholy music]

[girls laughing and chattering]

[dramatic music]

[creature growling]

[Busi gasping]

[cell phone ringing]

- Lindi?

Hello?

[speaking foreign language]

[dial tone buzzing] Lindi?

Shit.

[speaking foreign language]

[time-clock clicking]

[speaking foreign language]

[ominous music]

[faint music] [Busi humming]

[chilling music]

- Hello?

[sinister music]

Hello?

Is there somebody there?

[door closing] [Busi gasping]

[child crying]

Hey.

You're not supposed to be down here.

[whooshing]

[footsteps running]

[whooshing]

[door creaking]

[ominous music]

[dramatic music] [Busi gasping]

[child cackling]

[speaking foreign language]

[Busi gasping]

[child laughing]

- What's going on?

New here?

- I was following the boy down the stairs.

- Oh, Thabang. [laughs]

He's always sneaking off, but we're far

too few to keep an eye on them all.

- [Busi] They are sick?

- Some are, but most are AIDS orphans booked in

for monitoring and just forgotten.

There we go.

Okay, come, let's get into bed.

- [Busi] You are really good with them.

- You learn.

Have any of your own?

Every night it's something else.

I'm Rosie, by the way.

- [Busi] Busi.

- The new cleaner, right!

Have you heard the old stories?

About the Tokoloshe that tricks children

into trusting him before drowning them?

That's why the bricks are here, but, um,

let's just say he isn't small.

[laughs]

They don't know what I mean.

- [Busi] I really must get back to work.

- Ruatonim.

Geez, babe, if there ever was a Tokoloshe, it's Ruatonim.

- [Busi] I must get back to work.

- [Rosie] It was nice to meet you.

[doors banging]

[sinister music]

[Tokoloshe whooshing]

[dramatic music] [door banging]

- Help!

[banging]

Help!

Help!

[ominous music] [machine buzzing]

Help!

Help!

Help!

- What were you doing?

There are rules and I'm here

to make sure people follow them.

- I must get back--

- No.

- Yes, sir.

- Why the sudden rush?

Do you have a boyfriend, Busi Zondi?

- No!

Please, sir, let me go!

- How much do you need this job?

Let me hear it again!

[grunting]

- [Busi] Let me go!

- Shut up!

Shut up!

[ominous music]

[man cackling]

[speaking foreign language]

[Busi grunting] [Ruatonim screaming]

[crashing]

[Busi panting]

- Busi Zondi?

[footsteps tapping]

[tense music]

Hiding isn't going to help.

[metal clattering]

[frantic music]

- Thank you.

- Please give me a moment, sir.

- [Driver] If you don't have the correct fare,

you don't ride.

- I'm sorry.

- [Driver] Come on, come on, you're holding up

the rest of my passengers, please.

[coins jingling]

[muttering]

[speaking foreign language]

- Thank you.

Thank you.

[speaking foreign language]

- There you go, madame.

Ta-da!

[speaking foreign language]

Sleeps at least 20.

[speaking foreign language]

Not once did I ask you for money.

But now, I need to ask peeps.

But, I don't get that money, they break my legs,

Busi, they come for you.

[speaking foreign language]

[Busi crying]

[somber music]

- [TV Host] Tonight we'll be talking about

the shocking levels of child abuse in South Africa.

One in three children is sexually abused.

Virtually murdered his own daughter,

believing she was a Tokoloshe.

[sinister music] [Busi whimpering]

[Busi screaming]

[panting]

[speaking foreign language]

[somber music]

[cane tapping]

[speaking foreign language]

- Ah, my stubborn little daughter.

[laughs]

- My name is Busi.

I'm sorry for yesterday.

I should not have been rude.

[speaking foreign language]

- Wait!

- The offer still stands.

Tea, talk, or both.

- Both.

[speaking foreign language]

[sinister music]

- You make these masks?

[speaking foreign language]

- How?

[speaking foreign language]

- They are...

[speaking foreign language]

[coughing]

- That's like my little Dina used to say.

Don't smoke.

[speaking foreign language]

- [Busi] What?

[speaking foreign language]

- I must go.

[speaking foreign language]

[softly ominous music]

- I will make a trade with you.

You take the mask and take this lighter.

- Lighter must be worth--

[speaking foreign language]

[cell phone dialing]

- [Voicemail] At the tone, record your message.

To end press hash.

[speaking foreign language]

[tense music]

[Busi breathing heavily]

[Busi muttering] [coins jingling]

[speaking foreign language]

[sighing heavily]

[knocking]

- [Ruatonim] You're back.

- I need the job.

- [Ruatonim] You do.

- You need a cleaner.

- [Ruatonim] Why should I take you back?

- Do I have the job or not?

- That depends.

Come here.

I said, come here.

I'm keeping half of this week's wages

to replace the uniform you tore.

They're expensive.

[Busi grunting]

- And where have you been?

Hmm?

- Sick.

- Oh.

[laughs]

So.

That didn't take you long at all.

Wipe that look off your pretty little face.

Did I not tell you to stay away from him?

[lights clicking off]

[door creaking]

[creepy voice whispering]

- Hey.

You should not be down here.

[Tokoloshe breathing heavily]

[speaking foreign language]

[girl breathing heavily]

[girl choking]

[Tokoloshe whispering]

[chilling music]

[Tokoloshe whispering]

[clattering]

[child laughing creepily]

[speaking foreign language]

[sinister music]

[steps creaking]

[Tokoloshe breathing heavily]

[chilling music]

[ball bouncing]

[speaking foreign language]

[ball bouncing]

[girl breathing heavily]

[thudding] [girl screaming]

[crying]

- [Tokoloshe] Gracie.

[screaming] [chilling music]

[door slamming]

[Gracie screaming]

[screams echoing]

[police radio chattering] [siren blaring]

- Who are you, ma'am?

- [Busi] My name is Busi Zondi.

I'm one of the cleaners.

- Can I see your ID, please?

- Yes, sir.

Sir, what's going on?

- There was an accident.

- Warren, please!

Thank you, ma'am.

- Thank you, sir.

- Busi.

[crying]

My baby's, my baby's gone.

- Which one?

- [Rosie] Busi.

- [Busi] Which one?

- [Rosie] I know we don't each other all that well.

Busi, please.

- [Busi] Which one?

- [Rosie] Busi.

- [Busi] Which one?

- Busi.

Please, please.

Please tell them for me.

They run around on their own.

Please, I beg you.

- Gracie.

- My baby's gone. [crying]

- Gracie.

[somber music]

Gracie?

Gracie?

Gracie?

[speaking foreign language]

[Gracie crying]

[tense music]

- Okay, alright.

[speaking foreign language]

Okay.

- Okay.

[police radio chattering]

- Yes, sir.

All in order, sir.

Copy.

[speaking foreign language]

[sighing]

[somber music]

[Busi groaning]

- [Busi] Okay.

Alright.

Okay.

Okay.

Yes.

Okay.

[ball bouncing]

[Tokoloshe whispering] Huh?

[cell phone ringing]

- Hello?

- [Rosie] Where are you?

[Tokoloshe whispering]

- I couldn't take the work anymore.

- It's gone crazy here.

Thabang's accident.

They were speaking about some money.

Do you know anything about it?

- Maybe. [chilling music]

- [Rosie] Busi.

- The work was too hard.

- [Rosie] Be honest with me.

Do you know what happened to Thabang?

- Why are you asking?

- [Rosie] The cops are asking questions.

- [Busi] About Thabang or the money?

- [Rosie] Thabang, I don't care about that idiot's money!

- [Busi] Look, I know nothing about Thabang, Rosie.

[Tokoloshe whispering]

I took Ruatonim's money.

- [Rosie] You what?

- I had to take it!

He's a thief!

I have to save my sister, Rosie.

She needs me, she's alone.

I can feel it.

So what did you say to them?

- Jesus, girl, nothing!

- [Busi] Have they asked about Gracie?

- Gracie, who's Gracie?

- [Busi] Hello?

Rosie?

Hello?

[sinister music]

[Tokoloshe breathing heavily]

[Gracie screaming]

- Gracie!

Gracie?

[Gracie choking]

[crying]

[screaming] [chilling music]

- [Gracie] Busi!

Busi!

Busi! - Gracie!

[clattering]

[Busi screaming]

[Tokoloshe breathing heavily]

[sinister music]

Gracie.

[speaking foreign language]

[lively jazz music]

[speaking foreign language]

[chilling music]

[humming]

[ominous music]

[man groaning]

[dramatic music]

[Busi screaming]

[Busi whimpering]

[crying]

[ominous music]

[door creaking]

[ominous music]

[gasping] [knocking]

[cracking]

[banging]

[speaking foreign language]

[thudding] [dramatic music]

- What did I say the first time we met, hmm?

What did I say?

Trouble, that's what I said you were.

Trouble.

Where's my money?

[gasping]

- What money?

Please, please.

Please, sir.

Please.

[groaning]

- [Ruatonim] Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Where are you going?

[dramatic music]

[glass shattering]

Busi?

Busi?

[thudding] [Ruatomin yelling]

[hacking] [yelling]

[Ruatonim groaning]

[panting]

- [Busi] Gracie?

[speaking foreign language]

- Hey!

[dramatic music]

[thudding] [tires screeching]

[crowd chattering]

[cell phone ringing]

- Lindi?

Lindi?

[speaking foreign language]

[chanting music]

[Ma sobbing]

[phone clattering]

[crowd chattering]

[somber music]

[speaking foreign language]

[sighing]

[clattering]

[ominous music]

[child laughing hauntingly]

[child screaming]

[breathing heavily]

[speaking foreign language]

[singing in foreign language]

[sinister music]

[speaking foreign language]

- Now I lay me down to sleep.

- May God guide me through the night

and wake me up in the morning light, amen.

[ominous music]

[thunder cracking]

[Tokoloshe whispering]

- [Lindi] Busi!

[Ma sobbing]

[thunder cracking]

[haunting music]

- [Lindi] Busi!

- Lindi!

Lindi?

Lindi?

[Tokoloshe growling]

Gracie!

Gracie.

Gracie.

Gracie!

[ominous music]

Gracie?

Gracie?

[speaking foreign language]

[dramatic ominous music]

- [Gracie] Busi!

- [Busi] Lindi.

[speaking foreign language]

[thunder crashing]

- Shh.

- Busi.

- [Busi] Lindi.

- Busi!

[Tokoloshe growling]

[ominous music]

[dramatic music]

[Busi screaming]

[Tokoloshe growling]

- [Gracie] Busi!

[screaming and crying]

[dramatic music]

[both panting]

[wind whistling]

- [Ruatonim Voiceover] Busi Zondi.

[chilling music]

[man speaking in foreign language]

[man cackling]

[dramatic ominous music]

[panting]

[flame roaring]

[Tokoloshe groaning]

[Tokoloshe howling]

[melancholy music]

[fire crackling]

[haunting music]

[dramatic ominous music]

[somber haunting music]

[soft guitar music]