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CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY BUENA VISTA TELEVISION

Stephen Kumalo: THERE IS A LOVELY ROAD

THAT RUNS FROM IXOPO INTO THE HILLS.

THESE HILLS ARE GRASS-COVERED AND ROLLING,

AND THEY ARE LOVELY BEYOND ANY SINGING OF IT.

THE ROAD CLIMBS 7 MILES INTO THEM, TO CARISBROOKE,

AND FROM THERE, IF THERE IS NO MIST,

YOU LOOK DOWN ON ONE OF THE FAIREST VALLEYS IN AFRICA.

[WOMAN CALLING OUT]

UMFUNDISI!

UMFUNDISI?

UMFUNDISI?

COME IN.

YES?

I BRING A LETTER, UMFUNDISI.

A LETTER?

THANK YOU.

GO WELL, MY CHILD.

ARE YOU HUNGRY, SMALL ONE?

A LITTLE HUNGRY, UMFUNDISI.

GO TO THE MOTHER, THEN.

PERHAPS SHE HAS SOME FOOD.

THANK YOU, UMFUNDISI.

[COW MOOING IN DISTANCE]

STEPHEN?

HAS THE CHILD GONE YET?

SHE'S STILL EATING.

LET HER EAT.

SHE BROUGHT A LETTER.

IT IS FROM JOHANNESBURG.

IT IS NOT FROM ABSALOM, OUR SON,

BUT PERHAPS IT CONCERNS HIM.

PERHAPS, PERHAPS, PERHAPS, IT IS FROM MY BROTHER JOHN.

WE WANT A LETTER FROM JOHANNESBURG,

BUT WHEN IT COMES,

WE'RE AFRAID TO OPEN IT.

WHO'S AFRAID?

OPEN IT!

WELL?

IT'S FROM THE MISSION HOUSE, SOPHIATOWN, JOHANNESBURG,

26 SEPTEMBER, 1946.

"MY DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST,

"I HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF MEETING A YOUNG WOMAN

"HERE IN JOHANNESBURG.

"SHE IS YOUR SISTER, GERTRUDE KUMALO.

"SHE IS VERY SICK,

AND I ASK YOU TO COME QUICKLY TO JOHANNESBURG."

Stephen: THIS IS A JOURNEY I HAVE ALWAYS FEARED,

WHERE MY PEOPLE HAVE GONE, NEVER TO RETURN.

THE YOUNG MEN HAVE GONE TO THE MINES,

SO THE YOUNG WOMEN GO TO FIND THEM,

FOR WHO CAN ENJOY THE LOVELY LAND

AND THE SUN THAT POURS DOWN ON THE EARTH

WHEN WHITE WILL NOT LIVE EQUALLY WITH BLACK?

A LAND WHERE THE WHITE MAN HAS EVERYTHING

AND THE BLACK MAN NOTHING?

£12, 5 AND 6.

TAKE IT ALL, STEPHEN.

AND THE POST OFFICE BOOK.

THERE IS £10 IN IT.

THERE MAY BE DOCTORS, HOSPITALS,

OTHER TROUBLES.

PLEASE TAKE IT.

YOU'LL NEED IT.

[TRAIN WHISTLE]

THEY HAVE BLOWN THE LAST WHISTLE, UMFUNDISI.

THE TRAIN IS NEAR.

I WANT TO ASK A FAVOR, UMFUNDISI.

ASK THE FAVOR.

YOU KNOW SIBEKO?

YES.

WELL, SIBEKO'S DAUGHTER WORKED FOR THIS WHITE MAN, uSMITH,

AND WHEN uSMITH'S DAUGHTER MARRIED

AND MOVED TO JOHANNESBURG,

SIBEKO'S DAUGHTER WENT WITH THEM TO WORK.

UH-HUH...

BUT SIBEKO HAS HAD NO WORD FROM HER

THESE PAST 10, 12 MONTHS.

THIS THE ADDRESS OF uSMITH'S DAUGHTER.

SIBEKO ASKS THAT YOU INQUIRE.

[TRAIN WHISTLE]

Boy: GRANDDAD!

MY BOY.

HELLO.

James Jarvis: LOVELY TO SEE YOU BOTH.

YOU'RE LOOKING MARVELOUS.

AND HOW IS YOUR HUSBAND?

YOUR SON IS IN GOOD HEALTH, THANK YOU.

IS IT TRUE THAT HE OPENED A BOYS' CLUB FOR BLACKS?

YES.

THE CLAREMONT AFRICAN BOYS' CLUB.

WHAT'S HE WANT TO DO THAT FOR?

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND ARTHUR.

I GUESS I NEVER WILL UNDERSTAND HIM.

I WISH HE'D LEAVE THINGS AS THEY ARE.

I WISH HE'D FACE REALITY. HE'S A DREAMER.

BLACKS HAVE THEIR PLACE, WE HAVE OUR PLACE.

BLACKS LIVE THEIR LIVES, WE LIVE OUR LIVES,

BUT SEPARATELY.

YOU KNOW, IAN, THERE'S AN OLD SAYING

THAT BIRDS OF A FEATHER STICK TOGETHER.

PLEASE.

WE'RE HERE FOR A FAMILY HOLIDAY.

WELL, WHY ISN'T HEHERE WITH HIS FAMILY,

INSTEAD OF BACK THERE?

TELL ME, MY FRIEND,

WHY DID SIBEKO NOT COME TO ME HIMSELF?

HE WAS AFRAID, UMFUNDISI.

HE'S NOT OF OUR CHURCH.

IS HE NOT OF OUR PEOPLE?

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

CAN A MAN IN TROUBLE GO ONLY TO THOSE OF HIS CHURCH?

I SHALL TELL HIM, UMFUNDISI.

TELL SIBEKO I SHALL INQUIRE ABOUT HIS DAUGHTER.

STAY WELL, MY FRIEND.

GO WELL, UMFUNDISI.

GO WELL.

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

HEY, LOOK!

THE MINES!

WAKE UP.

IT'S THE MINES!

Man: UMFUNDISI...

THE TRAIN DOES NOT STOP HERE.

IS THIS NOT JOHANNESBURG?

[LAUGHTER] NO, NO, NO.

UMFUNDISI,JOHANNESBURG IS STILL A LONG WAY AWAY.

DON'T GET UP, MAN.

DON'T GET UP.

[MAN BLOWS WHISTLE ON PLATFORM]

Man on P.A.: WELCOME TO JOHANNESBURG STATION.

PASSENGERS ARE ASKED TO HAVE THEIR CLAIM CHECKS IN HAND.

JOHANNESBURG STATION.

NOW WE ARE HERE, UMFUNDISI.

JOHANNESBURG.

[ORCHESTRA PLAYING SWING MUSIC]

[CAR HORN HONKS]

[MEN SHOUTING]

WHERE ARE YOU GOING, FATHER?

SOPHIATOWN.

AHA, SOPHIATOWN.

COME WITH ME AND I SHALL SHOW YOU.

AH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

YOU MUST STAND IN THIS LINE, UMFUNDISI.

SHALL I GET THE TICKET FOR YOU, UMFUNDISI,

SO YOU WON'T LOSE YOUR PLACE IN THE LINE?

AH, THANK YOU. YOU ARE KIND.

FRIEND.

FRIEND.

PLEASE TELL ME, WHERE IS THE TICKET OFFICE?

WHAT TICKET OFFICE, UMFUNDISI?

FOR THE TICKET, FOR THE BUS.

YOU GET THE TICKET IN THE BUS.

THERE IS NO TICKET OFFICE HERE.

BUT A YOUNG MAN SAID...

I GAVE HIM MONEY FOR A TICKET.

YOU'VE BEEN ROBBED, UMFUNDISI.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO?

SOPHIATOWN?

YES, THE MISSION HOUSE.

OH. JUST WAIT A LITTLE. THE BUS IS COMING,

AND THEN I'LL TAKE YOU THERE.

[SWING MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO]

[WOMAN SCREAMING]

[MEN SHOUTING]

YOU'VE BEEN A VERY LONG JOURNEY, UMFUNDISI.

AND I FEAR IT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING.

[KNOCKING]

GOOD EVENING, REVEREND MSIMANGU.

I BRING A FRIEND TO YOU,

THE REVEREND KUMALO FROM NDOTSHENI.

[SPEAKING ZULU LANGUAGE]

I AM GLAD TO GREET YOU.

PLEASE, COME IN. COME IN.

Stephen: THANK YOU.

Father Vincent: LORD GOD, WE THANK YOU

FOR THE FOOD THOU HAST GIVEN US.

WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT SO FORTUNATE,

AND WE PRAY FOR OUR BROTHER STEPHEN KUMALO, OUR VISITOR,

THAT HE MAY DO THY WORK.

IN JESUS CHRIST, AMEN.

AMEN. AMEN.

[YAWNING]

I THINK OUR VISITOR IS IN NEED OF HIS BED.

[MEN LAUGH]

REVEREND MSIMANGU,

WOULD YOU SHOW OUR VISITOR TO HIS ROOM?

THIS WILL BE YOUR ROOM, UMFUNDISI.

Msimangu: THANK YOU, MRS. LITHEBE.

THE FATHER WILL ONLY BE SLEEPING HERE.

HE WILL TAKE HIS MEALS WITH US IN THE MISSION.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING, PLEASE ASK, UMFUNDISI.

I THANK YOU.

SLEEP WELL, UMFUNDISI.

SLEEP WELL, MOTHER.

Stephen: YOU WILL PARDON ME IF I'M HASTY,

BUT I AM ANXIOUS TO HEAR ABOUT MY SISTER.

OH, YES, YES, I AM SURE YOU ARE ANXIOUS,

BUT TELL ME FIRST,

WHY DID SHE COME TO JOHANNESBURG?

TO LOOK FOR HER HUSBAND.

HE WAS RECRUITED FOR THE MINES,

BUT HE DID NOT WRITE,

AND HE DID NOT RETURN.

SHE TOOK HER SMALL CHILD

AND CAME HERE TO LOOK FOR HIM.

IS SHE VERY SICK?

YES, SHE IS VERY SICK,

BUT IT'S NOT THAT KIND OF SICKNESS.

SHE'S A...

PROSTITUTE.

I DO NOT KNOW IF SHE EVER FOUND HER HUSBAND,

BUT SHE HAS NO HUSBAND NOW.

SHE'S IN CLAREMONT.

IT IS THE RUBBISH HEAP OF THE CITY.

I HAVE TWO OTHER GREAT SORROWS--

MY SON ABSALOM, HE CAME HERE ALSO TO LOOK FOR MY SISTER,

BUT...

WE SHALL TRY TO FIND HIM, MY BROTHER.

YOU ARE KIND.

I'M NOT KIND.

I'M A SINFUL AND SELFISH MAN,

BUT GOD PUT HIS HANDS ON ME.

THAT IS ALL.

YOU SAID TWO GREAT SORROWS.

I HAVE A BROTHER ALSO HERE IN JOHANNESBURG.

HE, TOO, DOES NOT WRITE ANYMORE.

JOHN KUMALO, CARPENTER.

AH, JOHN KUMALO.

AH, YES, I KNOW HIM.

HE'S TOO BUSY TO WRITE.

HE'S ONE OF OUR GREAT POLITICIANS.

HE HAS NO USE FOR THE CHURCH ANYMORE.

HE SAYS THAT WHAT GOD HAS NOT DONE FOR SOUTH AFRICA,

MEN MUST DO.

[SIGH]

THIS IS A BITTER JOURNEY.

WE SHALL START TOMORROW AND TRY TO SWEETEN IT.

SLEEP WELL.

GO WELL, MY BROTHER.

[BAND PLAYING JAZZ]

[WOMAN SINGING IN ZULU LANGUAGE]

COME HERE, YOU BITCH!

I TOLD YOU NOT TO COME IN HERE AGAIN!

JUST GET OUT OF HERE,

UNLESS YOU WANT A PICK-UP, UMFUNDISI.

HEY! WHERE YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO, EH?

COME BACK HERE, YOU BASTARD!

HYPOCRITES!

THE LADY IN PINK, WHERE IS SHE?

HAVE YOU SEEN HER?

THE LADY IN PINK.

[MAN IN ROOM SHOUTS]

WHERE IS SHE? HAVE YOU SEEN HER?

WHERE IS SHE?

SHE'S IN HERE.

GO WELL, UMFUNDISI, WELL. HA HA!

GO ON. GO AHEAD.

WHEN YOU'RE READY,

YOU'LL FIND ME IN THE NEXT-DOOR HOUSE.

NUMBER 13.

A MAN AND WOMAN OF OUR CHURCH LIVE THERE.

I'LL WAIT.

[JAZZ PLAYING ON RADIO]

AAH!

AAH!

[SOBBING]

MY SISTER...

YOU HAVE SHAMED US.

WHY, GERTRUDE? WHY?

I HAD TO HAVE MONEY FOR THE CHILD.

WHERE IS THE CHILD?

I WILL SEND FOR HIM.

WHERE'S YOUR HUSBAND?

I HAVE NOT FOUND HIM, MY BROTHER.

I HAVE COME TO TAKE YOU BACK.

DO YOU WISH TO COME BACK?

DO YOU WISH WITH YOUR HEART TO COME BACK?

I DO NOT LIKE JOHANNESBURG.

I'M A BAD WOMAN, MY BROTHER.

I'M NO WOMAN TO GO BACK.

I'VE BEEN IN PRISON.

I'M A BAD WOMAN.

OH, GOD FORGIVE US.

[DOG BARKING]

YOU'RE THIEVES!

YOU'RE STEALING MY PROPERTY.

SHE'S MY PROPERTY!

BITCH! YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T LEAVE ME!

YOU'D SCREW THE POPE!

COME BACK HERE!

COME BACK HERE!

[BRICK BOUNCES OFF CAR]

AND YOU, WHY ARE YOU STANDING HERE?

GET INSIDE! GO ON, GET!

MY SON ABSALOM, HAVE YOU NOT HEARD OF HIM?

I DID HEAR OF HIM.

HE LIVED HERE IN SOPHIATOWN.

WHERE, I'M NOT SURE,

BUT HE WAS OFTEN TOGETHER

WITH THE SON OF OUR BROTHER JOHN.

HE WILL KNOW.

ALL WE ASK FOR IS JUSTICE!

Men in audience: JUSTICE!

JUSTICE!

DIGNITY!

DECENCY!

DECENCY! DECENCY!

HERE IN JOHANNESBURG,

IT IS THE MINES!

THE MINES! THE MINES!

EVERYTHING IS THE MINES!

THE MINES! THE MINES!

EVERYTHING THE WHITE MAN HAS

IS BUILT WITH THE GOLD FROM THE MINES!

THE MINES! THE MINES!

THE HOSPITAL...

FOR EUROPEANS...

THE BIGGEST HOSPITAL SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR

IS BUILT WITH GOLD FROM THE MINES!

THE MINES! THE MINES!

BUT...

GO...

GO TO OUR HOSPITAL...

AND SEE OUR PEOPLE

LYING ON THE FLOORS.

THEY LIE SO CLOSE,

YOU CANNOT STEP OVER THEM.

EVERYTHING IS BUILT FROM OUR LABOR!

AND WE GET POORER,

AND THE WHITE MAN GETS RICHER!

SO NOW THEY WILL PUT UP

OUR BUS FARES.

BUT WE KNOW HOW TO ANSWER THEM!

WE WILL DO WHAT MUST BE DONE!

TALK TO YOUR BROTHERS AND TO YOUR SISTERS.

TELL THEM WHAT IS DECIDED!

UMBUMA!

GO WELL.

STAY WELL.

[SINGING IN ZULU LANGUAGE]

THE MEETING'S OVER. I'M LOCKING UP NOW.

UMFUNDISI.

I'M SURPRISED TO SEE MEN OF THE CLOTH HERE TONIGHT.

GOOD EVENING, MY OWN BROTHER.

WELL, WELL...

WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN JOHANNESBURG?

DO YOU KNOW THE REVEREND MSIMANGU?

OF COURSE.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THE GOOD REVEREND.

YOU DID NOT WRITE TO US, MY BROTHER.

WHY?

YOU PEOPLE IN NDOTSHENI

DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE WAY OF LIFE

IN JOHANNESBURG.

I THOUGHT IT BETTER NOT TO WRITE.

TROUBLE, UNNECESSARY TROUBLE.

I WANT TO ASK YOU SOMETHING, MY BROTHER.

I DO NOT GIVE MONEY TO THE CHURCH.

REVEREND MSIMANGU KNOWS THAT.

NO, NO. IT IS NOT ABOUT MONEY.

WHERE IS MY SON?

WELL, YOU HAVE HEARD, NO DOUBT,

THAT HE WAS FRIENDLY WITH MY SON.

I HAVE HEARD THAT, YES.

WELL, THEN YOU KNOW HOW THESE YOUNG MEN ARE.

I DO NOT BLAME THEM ALTOGETHER.

HE WANTED TO LIVE NEAR HIS WORK.

HE HAD GOOD WORK, SO I DID NOT STOP HIM,

AND YOUR SON WENT WITH HIM.

AND WHERE, MY BROTHER?

I HAVE A LETTER FROM HIM HERE SOMEWHERE. YES.

YES, HERE IT IS.

AH, YES, WITH THE ADDRESS.

MY WORD, IT'S DATED OVER A YEAR AGO.

I REALLY MUST WRITE TO HIM. HEH HEH.

DOORNKOP. WE'LL GO.

MY HANDS ARE YOURS, MY FRIEND.

[MSIMANGU SPEAKING ZULU LANGUAGE]

THANK YOU.

MY BROTHER HAS GREATLY CHANGED.

BUT HE HAS SOME TRUTH ON HIS SIDE.

TRUTH? BUT HOW CAN HE HAVE TRUTH ON HIS SIDE AND NOT GOD?

AT LEAST HE'S GOT SOMETHING.

LOOK AROUND YOU.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

POVERTY, PAIN, SUFFERING.

SOMETIMES IT IS HARD EVEN FOR ME TO KEEP FAITH.

PERHAPS GOD IS ALSO ON HIS SIDE,

ONLY YOUR BROTHER DOES NOT WANT TO KNOW IT ANYMORE.

[THUNDER]

HERE, HOLD THIS.

James: WELL, CAPTAIN,

HAVE YOU BROUGHT US SOME RAIN TODAY?

I DON'T SEE ANY, MR. JARVIS.

WELL, NO.

NO...

NEITHER DO I.

MR. JARVIS...

TOBIAS! TRY THE CARBURETOR!

YES?

I HAVE SOME BAD NEWS FOR YOU, SIR.

IS IT MY SON?

YES, MR. JARVIS.

IS HE DEAD?

I AFRAID SO, SIR.

DEAD?

YES, SIR.

SIR.

I'M FINE.

I'M FINE.

I'M FINE.

HE WAS SHOT DEAD EARLIER TODAY

IN JOHANNESBURG, SIR.

SHOT?

SHOT DEAD?

YES, SIR.

THEY SUSPECT A NATIVE GANG, SIR.

A NATIVE GANG?

YES, SIR.

DID YOU KNOW HIS WIFE WAS AWAY, SIR?

OH, YES, YES.

SHE'S...SHE'S HERE.

SHE'S HERE WITH US,

UM, WITH HER SON, MY...

MY--MY--MY GRANDSON.

I'M SORRY, MR. JARVIS.

I REALLY AM SORRY TO BRING YOU THIS NEWS.

THAT'S VERY KIND OF YOU.

THAT'S VERY KIND OF YOU.

I AM INSTRUCTED TO OFFER YOU

EVERY ASSISTANCE, MR. JARVIS.

IS THERE SOMEWHERE I CAN USE THE TELEPHONE?

SHOT DEAD?

YES, SIR.

HAVE YOU CAUGHT THIS...

GANG OF NATIVES?

NOT YET, SIR.

OH, GOD. SHOT DEAD.

Ian: HELLO, GRANDDAD!

HE WAS OUR ONLY CHILD, YOU KNOW.

I KNOW THAT, MR. JARVIS.

THE TELEPHONE IS IN THE HALL.

IT'S A PARTY LINE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT, DEAR?

I, UH...I, UM...

IAN, MY STUDY,

MY TOBACCO POUCH.

WOULD YOU?

THERE'S A GOOD LAD.

THERE'S BEEN...

THERE'S BEEN AN ACCIDENT.

Mary: NO!

MUM!

AH, YES, CAPTAIN COLLINS.

[CLOCK CHIMING]

THIS IS A TERRIBLE THING THAT'S HAPPENED.

ARTHUR JARVIS WAS A COURAGEOUS YOUNG MAN,

AND HE WAS A GREAT FIGHTER FOR JUSTICE.

MM, IT IS INDEED A TERRIBLE THING.

HE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN BOYS' CLUB

HERE IN CLAREMONT ON GLADIOLA STREET.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE MURDER.

EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE MURDER.

I EXPECT YOU KNEW THIS MAN, ARTHUR JARVIS.

JARVIS?

HE CAME FROM YOUR PART OF THE COUNTRY.

IT SAYS HERE, "MR. ARTHUR JARVIS,

"THE ONLY SON OF MR. AND MRS. JAMES JARVIS,

CARISBROOKE, NATAL."

I KNEW THE FATHER.

I KNEW HIM BY SIGHT AND BY NAME.

WE HAVE NEVER SPOKEN.

HIS FARM IS IN THE HILLS ABOVE NDOTSHENI.

SOMETIMES HE RODE PAST MY CHURCH.

I DID NOT KNOW THE SON.

YET...I REMEMBER...

A SMALL, BRIGHT BOY.

HE, TOO, SOMETIMES RODE HIS HORSE PAST THE CHURCH.

[SHOUTING]

[HORN HONKING]

EXCUSE ME, PLEASE. SORRY.

UMFUNDISI,ARE YOU GOING TO ALEXANDRA?

YES.

WE ARE HERE TO STOP YOU.

YOU SEE, IF YOU TAKE THIS BUS,

YOU ARE WEAKENING THE CAUSE OF THE BLACK PEOPLE.

OUR BUSINESS IS VERY URGENT.

THIS BOYCOTT IS ALSO VERY URGENT.

IS IT A LONG WAY TO WALK?

IT IS A LONG WAY, UMFUNDISI,

PERHAPS 11 MILES.

THAT IS A VERY LONG WAY FOR AN OLD MAN.

MEN AS OLD AS YOU

ARE DOING IT EVERY DAY, UMFUNDISI,

AND WOMEN.

AND SOME ARE SICK, AND SOME ARE CRIPPLED,

AND CHILDREN.

THEY START AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING

AND RETURN AT 8:00 AT NIGHT.

I CANNOT STOP YOU FROM TAKING THIS BUS,

BUT THIS IS A CAUSE WORTH FIGHTING FOR.

VERY WELL. WE SHALL NOT USE THE BUS.

THANK YOU, UMFUNDISI.

GO WELL.

[CHURCH BELL RINGS, CHOIR SINGING]

♪ HALLELUJAH, MAGATU ♪

♪ HALLELUJAH

♪ HALLELUJAH

♪ HALLELUJAH

♪ HALLELUJAH, MAGATU ♪

♪ HALLELUJAH

♪ HALLELUJAH

♪ HALLELUJAH

♪ HALLELUJAH, MAGATU... ♪

SAWUBONA,MRS. MKIZE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

WE ARE HERE ABOUT ABSALOM KUMALO.

[JAZZ PLAYING ON RADIO]

WHEN DID HE GO?

A YEAR, IT MUST BE.

AND HAD HE A FRIEND?

YES. THE SON OF HIS FATHER'S BROTHER,

BUT THEY LEFT TOGETHER.

AND YOU DO NOT KNOW WHERE THEY WENT?

NO. THEY TALKED OF MANY PLACES.

AND HOW DID HE BEHAVE HIMSELF,

THIS ABSALOM KUMALO?

I SAW NOTHING WRONG.

BUT YOU GUESSED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG.

THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG.

THEN WHY ARE YOU AFRAID? I'M NOT AFRAID.

[GASPS]

WHY DO YOU TREMBLE?

BECAUSE I'M COLD.

THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG.

MY FRIEND, TWO ARE FALSE ALARM TOO MANY.

TURN LEFT AT THAT BIG STREET.

THERE'S A PLACE OF REFRESHMENT.

WAIT FOR ME THERE.

[DOOR CREAKS]

MRS. MKIZE.

MRS. MKIZE?

MRS. MKIZE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

THE OLD MAN WHO WAS WITH ME,

HE'S THE FATHER OF ABSALOM KUMALO.

HE'S SUFFERING BECAUSE HE CANNOT FIND HIS SON.

THAT'S A BAD THING.

YES, IT IS A BAD THING.

TELL ME WHAT YOU WOULD NOT TELL HIM.

I HAVE NOTHING TO TELL.

KNOW THAT IF IT IS NECESSARY I SHALL GO TO THE POLICE

BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NO OTHER PLACE TO GO!

IT IS HARD FOR A WOMAN WHO IS ALONE!

IT IS HARD FOR AN OLD MAN LOOKING FOR HIS SON!

NO, I'M AFRAID.

I SWEAR TO YOU ON THIS BOOK

THAT NO TROUBLE WILL COME TO YOU OF THIS,

FOR WE SEEK ONLY A BOY.

SO HELP ME GOD.

WHAT SORT OF LIFE DID THEY LEAD?

OH, THEY BROUGHT MANY THINGS HERE, UMFUNDISI.

WHAT THINGS?

CLOTHES, WATCHES, MONEY,

FOOD IN BOTTLES AND TINS,

AND MANY OTHER THINGS.

AND WHY DID THEY LEAVE?

I THINK THEY WERE NEAR TO BEING DISCOVERED, UMFUNDISI.

AND THEY LEFT WHEN?

ABOUT A YEAR SINCE.

INDEED AS I TOLD YOU.

BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THEY'VE GONE.

THANK YOU.

UMFUNDISI...

THEY WERE FRIENDLY WITH THE TAXI DRIVER HLABENI.

YOU'LL FIND HIM NEAR THE BUS STOP. EVERYONE KNOWS HIM.

THANK YOU, MRS. MKIZE.

MR. HLABENI...

HOW DID YOU KNOW MY NAME?

A LITTLE BLACK BIRD TOLD ME.

SHE ALSO TOLD ME YOU CAN HELP US FIND A YOUNG MAN--

ABSALOM KUMALO.

I'M NOT HERE TO MAKE TROUBLE FOR YOU,

BUT MY COMPANION IS THE FATHER OF THE YOUNG MAN.

UH, YEAH, UMFUNDISI.

HE HAS COME FROM NATAL TO FIND HIM.

CAN YOU HELP US?

I KNEW THIS YOUNG MAN, UMFUNDISI.

AND WHERE IS HE NOW?

I HEARD HE WAS GOING TO ORLANDO.

BUT ORLANDO IS A BIG PLACE.

WHERE THE SQUATTERS ARE IT'S NOT SO BIG.

NURSE...

MR. MSIMANGU.

[GREETINGS IN ZULU EXCHANGED]

YOU KNOW EVERYONE IN THIS GODFORSAKEN PLACE.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR A YOUNG MAN,

THE SON OF MY BROTHER HERE.

THE BOY'S NAME IS ABSALOM KUMALO.

DID YOU EVER KNOW HIM?

YES.

AND WHERE DOES HE LIVE?

I'M SORRY, UMFUNDISI.

YOUR SON IS NOT HERE.

THEY TOOK HIM AWAY.

THE MAGISTRATE SENT HIM TO THE REFORMATORY.

[ROLL BEING CALLED]

STRANGE.

ABSALOM TOLD US HE HAD NO PEOPLE.

HE WAS NO DOUBT ASHAMED.

YOUR SON DID VERY WELL WITH US, UMFUNDISI.

HE BECAME ONE OF OUR SENIOR BOYS

AND I HAVE GREAT HOPE FOR HIS FUTURE.

YOU MEAN, SIR, THAT HE IS GONE?

YES.

BUT ONLY A MONTH AGO.

WE RELEASED HIM EARLY,

PARTLY BECAUSE OF HIS AGE

AND PARTLY BECAUSE OF HIS GOOD BEHAVIOR.

BUT MAINLY BECAUSE THERE WAS A GIRL

WHO WAS PREGNANT BY HIM.

AND IS HE NOW MARRIED, SIR?

NO, UMFUNDISI.

HE IS NOT MARRIED.

BUT THAT MUST NOT WORRY YOU.

THE REAL QUESTION IS

WHETHER HE WILL CARE FOR THEM

AND LEAD A DECENT LIFE.

WE ARRANGED HOUSING FOR THEM AT PIMVILLE.

SO, IF YOU WILL WAIT UNTIL I'VE FINISHED MY WORK,

I CAN TAKE YOU TO SEE THEM.

WE HAVE COME TO INQUIRE AFTER ABSALOM.

THIS UMFUNDISI IS HIS FATHER.

HE WENT ON SATURDAY TO SPRINGS.

HAS NOT YET RETURNED.

BUT THIS IS TUESDAY.

HAVE YOU HEARD NOTHING FROM HIM?

NOTHING.

WHEN WILL HE RETURN?

I DO NOT KNOW.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

I DO NOT KNOW.

YOU CAN DO NOTHING HERE. LET US GO.

[WHISPERING] My friend...

I TELL YOU, YOU CAN DO NOTHING.

HAVE YOU NOT TROUBLES ENOUGH OF YOUR OWN?

THERE ARE THOUSANDS LIKE HER IN JOHANNESBURG.

YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

THE CHILD WILL BE MY GRANDCHILD.

[SIGHS] OH, GREAT.

EVEN THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW.

THANK YOU.

DO NOT GIVE UP HOPE, UMFUNDISI,

AND I WILL NOT GIVE UP THE SEARCH.

[SPEAKING ZULU LANGUAGE]

Stephen: HE'S A GOOD MAN.

COME, LET US WALK.

WHAT IS IT, MY FRIEND?

I'M ASHAMED TO WALK WITH YOU.

I ASK YOUR FORGIVENESS FOR MY UGLY WORDS.

YOU MEAN ABOUT THE GIRL?

YOU ARE QUICK TO UNDERSTAND.

I'M OLD.

I'VE LEARNED SOMETHING.

YOU ARE FORGIVEN.

I'M SORRY.

WHAT CAN I SAY?

MARY.

I'M SORRY, MARY.

[CLEARS THROAT]

I'VE TAKEN THE LIBERTY

OF CANCELING YOUR HOTEL BOOKING.

I--I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT PREFER TO STAY WITH US.

THAT'S VERY GOOD OF YOU, GLYN.

THESE TWO OFFICERS WANT TO HAVE A WORD WITH YOU.

WHY DON'T YOU GO TO THE CAR?

WE WON'T BE A MOMENT.

COME, MARY. I'M SO SORRY.

PLEASE ACCEPT OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES, MR. JARVIS.

I'M SORRY TO HAVE TO DO THIS TO YOU THE MOMENT YOU ARRIVE,

BUT WE NEED FORMAL IDENTIFICATION OF THE BODY.

MR. HENDERSON HERE OFFERED TO DO IT,

BUT IT NEEDS TO BE NEXT OF KIN.

IN FACT, IT NEEDS TO BE--

NO. I'LL DO IT.

I'LL BE WITH MARY.

HAVE YOU CAUGHT THE KILLERS?

NOT YET.

MY SON WAS THEIR CHAMPION, YOU KNOW.

OH.

BLOODY COWARDS.

WHOEVER DID THIS...

FIND THEM.

HANG THEM.

BASTARDS.

BLOODY BASTARDS.

[INDISTINCT]

♪ AMAZING GRACE

♪ HOW SWEET THE SOUND

♪ THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME

♪ I ONCE WAS LOST

♪ BUT NOW I'M FOUND

♪ WAS BLIND

♪ BUT NOW CAN SEE

Stephen: THERE IS FEAR IN THE LAND

AND FEAR IN THE HEARTS OF ALL WHO LIVE THERE,

AND FEAR PUTS AN END TO UNDERSTANDING

AND THE NEED TO UNDERSTAND.

SO HOW SHALL WE FASHION SUCH A LAND,

WHEN THERE IS FEAR IN THE HEART?

THE WHITE MAN WILL PUT MORE LOCKS ON HIS DOOR

AND GET A FINE, FIERCE DOG.

BUT THE BEAUTY OF THE TREES AND OF THE STARS,

THESE THINGS WE SHALL FOREGO.

CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY,

FOR THE UNBORN CHILD

THAT IS THE INHERITOR OF OUR FEAR.

LET HIM LOVE NOT THE EARTH TOO DEEPLY.

LET HIM NOT BE TOO MOVED

WHEN THE BIRDS OF HIS LAND ARE SINGING,

NOR GIVE TOO MUCH OF HIS HEART

TO A MOUNTAIN OR A VALLEY,

FOR FEAR WILL ROB HIM OF ALL

IF HE GIVES TOO MUCH.

YES, CRY...

CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY.

THE POLICE WERE HERE, MY CHILD?

YES, UMFUNDISI.

AND WHAT DID THEY WANT?

THEY WANTED ABSALOM, UMFUNDISI.

AND WHY DID THEY WANT HIM?

I DO NOT KNOW.

AND WHY DID YOU NOT ASK?

I WAS AFRAID.

DID NO ONE ASK?

THE WOMEN WERE ABOUT.

MAYBE ONE OF THEM ASKED.

[SNIFFLING]

SHH...SHH...

THIS IS EXACTLY AS YOUR SON LEFT IT, MR. JARVIS.

NOTHING'S BEEN TOUCHED.

I'LL BE IN THE CAR IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE.

JAMES, I'LL SORT THESE PAPERS FOR YOU IF YOU LIKE.

NO, NO, NO, NO. THANK YOU, BEN.

THIS IS SOMETHING I WISH TO DO MYSELF.

OH, THIS IS IRONIC.

WHAT IS?

HE MUST HAVE BEEN WRITING THIS WHEN...

WHEN...

"IT IS NOT NATIVE CRIME...

"WHICH IS THE PROBLEM,

BUT WHITE CRIME."

ARTHUR AND I DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE

ON THE NATIVE QUESTION. HE, UH...

HE WAS AN IDEALIST.

YES, YES, YES.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE HARD ON THE NATIVES,

BUT ARTHUR, HE...

HE SAID THAT WHATEVER CRIMES THEY COMMITTED

WERE MORE OR LESS OUR FAULT.

I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HIM.

I DON'T MEAN THAT HE WASN'T SINCERE.

NO, NO, NO, OF COURSE NOT. OF COURSE NOT.

"WHAT SORT OF MEMORIAL DO WE WANT?"

WHAT?

I'M--I'M-- I'M READING WHAT...

HE WROTE...

JUST BEFORE HE...

"WHAT SORT OF MEMORIAL DO WE DESERVE?

"WE CALL OURSELVES A CHRISTIAN PEOPLE.

"WHEN POSTERITY COMES TO JUDGE US,

"IT WILL CONSIGN US

TO THE S..."

"TO THE SEWERS OF HISTORY..."

"AS TYRANTS...

"OPPRESSORS...

CRIMINALS."

[FOOTSTEPS]

SIR. SORRY FOR INTERRUPTING YOU,

BUT I THOUGHT YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW.

WE'VE GOT THEM.

ALL 3 OF THEM.

AND WE KNOW WHICH ONE PULLED THE TRIGGER.

HMM?

I CAME AS SOON AS I HEARD.

THANK YOU.

ONE OF THE OTHER TWO IS THE SON OF YOUR BROTHER.

[KEY TURNING]

ABSALOM KUMALO?

IN THERE.

MATTHEW KUMALO, IN THERE.

AT LAST I HAVE FOUND YOU.

I HAVE SEARCHED IN EVERY PLACE FOR YOU.

WHY DID YOU DO THIS TERRIBLE THING?

ANSWER ME, MY CHILD.

I DO NOT KNOW.

WHY DID YOU CARRY A REVOLVER?

FOR SAFETY, MY FATHER.

THIS JOHANNESBURG IS A DANGEROUS PLACE.

A MAN NEVER KNOWS WHEN HE'S GOING TO BE ATTACKED.

BUT WHY TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE?

HAVE THEY GOT IT, MY CHILD?

THEY HAD NO DOUBT IT WAS YOU?

I TOLD THEM.

WHAT DID YOU TELL THEM?

I TOLD THEM I WAS FRIGHTENED

WHEN THE WHITE MAN CAME,

SO I SHOT HIM.

I DID NOT MEAN TO KILL HIM.

AND YOUR COUSIN AND THE OTHER?

YES.

I TOLD THEM. THEY CAME WITH ME.

BUT IT WAS I WHO SHOT THE WHITE MAN.

ABSALOM.

SIR.

I SHALL DO WHAT I CAN FOR YOU.

YOU'VE GOT ONE MINUTE.

MY CHILD,

DO NOT WRITE TO YOUR MOTHER

UNTIL I SEE YOU AGAIN.

I MUST FIRST WRITE TO HER.

IT IS GOOD, MY FATHER.

COME ON, COME ON, WE HAVEN'T GOT ALL DAY.

STAY WELL, MY CHILD.

GO WELL, MY FATHER.

WE SHOULD GO AT ONCE AND SEE A LAWYER.

WHY SHOULD WE SPEND SUCH MONEY?

THE STORY'S PLAIN.

THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

WHAT IS THE STORY?

THEY BROKE INTO THE HOUSE.

THEY STRUCK DOWN THE SERVANT.

AND MY SON, NOT YOURS,

SHOT THE WHITE MAN.

MY SON WAS AFRAID, HE SAYS.

AND HE TOLD THEM THIS?

WHY NOT, IF THAT WAS THE TRUTH?

PERHAPS YOU DO NOT NEED A LAWYER.

YOU WILL HAVE A LAWYER, THEN?

PERHAPS.

BUT YOU SEE, MY BROTHER,

THERE IS NO PROOF THAT MY SON

OR THIS OTHER YOUNG MAN

WAS THERE AT ALL.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

MY SON SAYS THEY WERE THERE.

YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES.

BUT WHO... WILL BELIEVE YOUR SON?

WATCH IT, WATCH IT. WATCH THAT. WATCH THAT.

WHO ARE YOU?

CAN I HELP YOU, SIR?

MY NAME IS ROBERT NDELA.

I'M THE SECRETARY HERE OF...

I'M A TEACHER.

I'M ARTHUR'S FATHER.

IT'S A FRIEND. CARRY ON.

I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, SIR.

I'M AFRAID I...

I HAVE NO OFFICE, BUT, UH...

WE WERE NEVER ABLE TO THANK HIM PROPERLY.

HE BOUGHT US...

HE BOUGHT US ALL THIS.

THEY WERE SMALL THINGS, SIR.

WHAT YOUR SON TRULY GAVE TO US...

WAS HIMSELF.

HIS TIME...

HIS HEART...

HIS BELIEF IN A BETTER FUTURE.

YES.

I'VE READ SOME OF THE THINGS

HE SAID HE BELIEVED IN.

YES, SIR.

[SIGHS]

TO MY KNOWLEDGE,

YOUR SON NEVER SAID...

HE BELIEVED IN SOMETHING

UNLESS HE BELIEVED IT.

I WOULD LIKE NOTHING BETTER...

THAN TO UNDERSTAND MY BOY.

HE'S THE ONLY MAN I'VE EVER MET,

BLACK OR WHITE,

WHO SAW ME FOR WHAT I AM.

WHAT I REALLY AM.

YES.

HE WAS ON YOUR SIDE.

WHICH MAKES WHAT HAPPENED--

HE WAS ON NO ONE'S SIDE, SIR.

EXCEPT PERHAPS, UH,

YOURS AND MINE.

YOU MUST BE PROUD OF HIM.

HE'S A TRIBUTE TO YOU.

[GASPS]

[GASPS]

IT WAS SOMETHING...

ARTHUR WROTE THAT DAY THAT HE...

HE SAID...

THAT WE TAUGHT HIM NOTHING.

WHAT DID HE MEAN?

HE MEANT THAT WE TAUGHT HIM...

NOTHING...

ABOUT THE COUNTRY IN WHICH HE LIVED.

HE SAID...

THAT WE CALLED OURSELVES CHRISTIANS,

BUT WE WERE INDIFFERENT

TO THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRISTIANS.

HE SAID THAT WHEN WE SAY

WE ARE CHRISTIANS...

WHAT WE MEAN IS...

THAT WE ARE WHITE.

OH, WHY...

WHY, WHY, WHY...

DO WE BRING CHILDREN...

INTO THIS WORLD?

COME.

COME TO BED.

HELLO, UMFUNDISI.

AND HOW ARE YOU, MY CHILD?

I AM WELL, UMFUNDISI.

HAVE YOU HEARD OF ABSALOM?

I HAVE NOT HEARD, UMFUNDISI.

WHAT I HAVE TO SAY IS HEAVY.

HE IS IN PRISON.

IN PRISON?

YES.

AND FOR THE MOST TERRIBLE DEED A MAN CAN DO.

HE HAS KILLED A MAN.

OH...

CHILD, DO YOU WISH TO MARRY MY SON?

IT IS AS UMFUNDISI SAYS IT.

I'M ASKING YOU, MY CHILD.

I WOULD BE WILLING.

IT IS TRULY YOUR WISH TO MARRY HIM?

IT IS TRULY MY WISH, UMFUNDISI.

I MUST BE CERTAIN.

I DO NOT WISH TO TAKE YOU INTO MY FAMILY...

IF YOU ARE UNWILLING.

I'M WILLING.

AH.

MR. CARMICHAEL,

DOES MY SON HAVE ANY CHANCE?

WELL...IT'S A SIMPLE CASE IN MANY WAYS.

YOUR SON SAID THAT HE FIRED BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID.

THAT HE DID NOT MEAN TO KILL.

I SHALL TAKE THE CASE FOR YOU, MR. KUMALO.

I SHALL TAKE IT PRO DEO.

AS WE SAY.

AND IS MY BROTHER, JOHN KUMALO,

ENGAGING A LAWYER ALSO?

OH, YES.

THEY'LL SAY THAT YOUR SON IS LYING

AND THAT THE OTHER TWO BOYS WEREN'T THERE AT ALL.

I...DON'T BELIEVE YOUR SON IS LYING,

AND IT'S MY JOB TO PERSUADE THE COURT

THAT HE'S SPEAKING THE TRUTH.

IS THAT CLEAR, MR. KUMALO?

YES, SIR.

MY BROTHER.

WE SHOULD THANK GOD FOR THE LAWYER.

HE'S A GOOD LAWYER AND A GOOD FRIEND TO OUR PEOPLE.

HOW CAN I THANK GOD FOR THE LAWYER

WHEN I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO PAY HIM?

DID YOU NOT HEAR WHAT HE SAID?

THAT HE WOULD TAKE THE CASE PRO DEO,

WHICH MEANS IT WILL COST YOU NOTHING.

I WISH I DID NOT CRY SO EASILY.

I CRY TOO EASILY IN THESE DAYS.

GO WELL, UMFUNDISI.

Bailiff: SILENCE IN COURT.

WHITES TO THE LEFT,

NON-EUROPEANS TO THE RIGHT.

ALL RISE.

"ABSALOM KUMALO, MATTHEW KUMALO, AND JOHANNES PAFURI,

"YOU ARE CHARGED WITH THE MURDER

"OF ARTHUR TREVALYAN JARVIS,

"IN HIS HOUSE AT PLANTATION ROAD,

"PARKWOLD, JOHANNESBURG,

ON TUESDAY, THE 8th DAY OF OCTOBER, 1946."

ABSALOM KUMALO, HOW DO YOU PLEAD--

GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY?

I PLEAD GUILTY TO THE KILLING.

BUT I DID NOT MEAN TO KILL.

MATTHEW KUMALO, HOW DO YOU PLEAD-- GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY?

UH, I-I'M NOT GUILTY.

JOHANNES PAFURI, HOW DO YOU PLEAD-- GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY?

I'M ALSO NOT GUILTY, SIR.

MILORD,

MY CLIENT ABSALOM KUMALO

WILL PLEAD GUILTY TO CULPABLE HOMICIDE,

FOR HE HAD NO INTENTION TO KILL.

MILORD, THERE IS NO CHARGE OF CULPABLE HOMICIDE.

THIS IS A CASE OF MURDER AND NOTHING LESS THAN MURDER.

AND IT IS WITH MURDER THAT THE ACCUSED,

ABSALOM KUMALO, IS CHARGED.

Carmichael: IN THAT CASE, HE WILL PLEAD NOT GUILTY.

IF IT PLEASE THE COURT,

THE FACTS OF THIS HORRIFYING CRIME

ARE SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD.

3 MEN SET OUT TO ROB.

ONE OF THEM CARRIED A REVOLVER.

AND WHERE WAS THIS?

IN MY HAND.

AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

THE WHITE MAN CAME INTO THE PASSAGE.

YES, YES. AND THEN? HMM?

I WAS FRIGHTENED.

I FIRED THE REVOLVER.

[GUNSHOT REVERBERATES]

AND THEN?

THE WHITE MAN FELL.

THANK YOU.

Judge: YES, MR. CARMICHAEL?

WHY DID YOU CARRY THIS REVOLVER?

IT WAS TO FRIGHTEN THE SERVANT OF THE HOUSE.

BUT WHY DID YOU CARRY ANYREVOLVER?

BECAUSE, SIR, JOHANNESBURG IS DANGEROUS.

SO WAS YOUR ONLY REASON FOR CARRYING THIS REVOLVER

TO FRIGHTEN PEOPLE?

YES, SIR.

AND WHEN YOU FIRED AT THE WHITE MAN,

IT WAS BECAUSE YOU YOURSELF WERE FRIGHTENED?

YES, SIR.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE REVOLVER WAS LOADED?

YES, SIR, I KNEW.

AND IF A REVOLVER IS JUST TO FRIGHTEN PEOPLE,

WHY MUST IT BE LOADED?

WERE YOU PERHAPS PREPARED TO SHOOT IT YOURSELF?

NO. I WOULD NOT HAVE SHOT A DECENT PERSON.

I WOULD HAVE SHOT ONLY IF SOMEONE HAD SHOT AT ME.

WOULD YOU HAVE SHOT AT A POLICEMAN

IF HE HAD SHOT AT YOU IN THE EXECUTION OF HIS DUTY?

NO.

NOT AT A POLICEMAN.

AND THE WHITE MAN YOU DID SHOOT--

WAS HE PERHAPS NOT A DECENT PERSON?

I WILL REPEAT THE QUESTION.

THE WHITE MAN YOU SHOT--

WAS HE PERHAPS NOT A DECENT PERSON?

I WAS AFRAID.

I DID NOT MEAN TO SHOOT HIM.

THIS CASE IS ADJOURNED UNTIL MONDAY MORNING.

[GAVEL BANGS]

ALL RISE!

[SPECTATORS MURMURING]

[WOMEN SPEAKING ZULU LANGUAGE]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[DOG BARKING]

[RINGS BELL]

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

OH.

UMFUNDISI.

GOOD MORNING.

[DROPS CANE]

ARE YOU ILL?

THANK YOU, UMSANA.

ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE NOT ILL, UMFUNDISI?

I'M RECOVERED, UMSANA.

WELL...

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE SEEKING?

[BREATHING HARD]

AH...

I'M SORRY, BURGHER.

I'M SORRY TO DETAIN YOU, UMSANA.

IT IS NO MATTER, UMFUNDISI.

OH, YES, YES. THIS IS THE PLACE.

THERE'S A MAN NAMED SIBEKO OF NDOTSHENI.

NDOTSHENI?

I KNOW IT.

I COME FROM NDOTSHENI.

SIBEKO'S DAUGHTER WORK FOR A MAN,

A WHITE MAN,

uSMITH OF IXOPO.

AND WHEN uSMITH'S DAUGHTER MARRIED

AND CAME HERE TO SPRINGS,

SIBEKO'S DAUGHTER CAME HERE ALSO, TO WORK FOR THEM.

SIBEKO HAS NOT HEARD FROM HER THESE 12 MONTHS.

I SEE.

AND I PROMISED TO INQUIRE ABOUT THIS GIRL.

I SEE.

AH, YES.

WELL...

I AM...

I AM A VISITOR HERE.

I AM ALONE TODAY.

IT IS THE SERVANTS' DAY OFF.

AND THE DAUGHTER OF uSMITH

IS NOT HERE.

BUT SHE WILL SOON BE RETURNING...

IF YOU WISH TO WAIT FOR HER.

PLEASE SIT.

SIT.

THERE IS SOMETHING BETWEEN YOU AND ME,

BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS.

UMSANA.

YOU NEED NOT BE IN FEAR OF ME, UMFUNDISI.

IT IS TRUE, UMSANA.

YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS.

BUT I DESIRE TO KNOW.

IT IS THE HEAVIEST THING OF ALL MY YEARS.

THEN TELL IT.

IT WILL LIGHTEN YOU.

I'M AFRAID, UMSANA.

I CAN SEE.

I CAN SEE THAT YOU ARE AFRAID.

BUT I TELL YOU,

YOU NEED NOT BE IN FEAR OF ME.

I SHALL NOT BE ANGRY.

THIS THING THAT IS THE HEAVIEST OF ALL MY YEARS

IS THE HEAVIEST THING OF ALL YOUR YEARS ALSO.

THAT CAN ONLY MEAN ONE THING.

BUT I...I STILL...

DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

IT WAS MY SON THAT KILLED YOUR SON.

UMFUNDISI.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT I DID NOT UNDERSTAND.

THERE IS NO ANGER IN ME.

UMSANA?

Margaret: JAMES, WE'RE BACK. WHERE ARE YOU?

I'M IN THE GARDEN!

THAT IS MY WIFE.

THE MISTRESS OF THE HOUSE IS WITH HER,

THE DAUGHTER OF uSMITH.

DO YOU STILL WISH TO SEE HER?

ARE YOU RECOVERED?

IT IS WHAT I CAME TO DO, UMSANA.

UMFUNDISI...

HOW DID YOU KNOW ME?

FROM THE COURT.

AND I'VE SEEN YOU RIDING PAST NDOTSHENI,

PAST THE CHURCH WHERE I WORK.

PERHAPS...

YOU ALSO SAW THE BOY.

HE, TOO, USED TO RIDE PAST THE CHURCH.

I REMEMBER.

HE HAD A BRIGHTNESS IN HIM.

YES.

HE HAD A BRIGHTNESS IN HIM.

THERE YOU ARE.

WE WERE WONDERING WHERE--

YES?

BARBARA.

THE UMFUNDISI HAS COME ALL THE WAY

FROM NDOTSHENI.

HE WISHES TO INQUIRE ABOUT SIBEKO'S DAUGHTER.

Barbara: OH.

I HAD TO GET RID OF HER.

SHE DRANK.

SHE WAS ARRESTED AND TAKEN TO JAIL FOR A MONTH.

OF COURSE I COULDN'T TAKE HER BACK.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS NOW?

NO. AND I DON'T CARE.

I THANK YOU.

GO WELL...

UMFUNDISI.

STAY WELL, UMSANA.

Judge: AND SO, UNDER THE LAW,

A MAN IS HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS ACTIONS.

IT IS NOT FOR A JUDGE TO DECIDE

HOW FAR HUMAN BEINGS ARE IN TRUTH RESPONSIBLE,

BUT UNDER THE LAW,

THEY ARE FULLY RESPONSIBLE.

YOU HAVE HEARD LEARNED COUNSEL ARGUE

THAT THE SYSTEM PERTAINING IN SOUTH AFRICA

CONTRIBUTES TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE.

A VIEW, IRONICALLY,

HELD BY THE MURDERED MAN.

BUT, IT IS NOT FOR A JUDGE TO APPORTION BLAME

IN A DEFECTIVE SOCIETY,

NOR IS IT FOR A JUDGE TO SHOW MERCY.

AFTER LONG AND CAREFUL DELIBERATION,

MY ASSESSORS AND I

HAVE DECIDED THAT THE GUILT

OF THE SECOND AND THIRD ACCUSED IN THIS CASE

IS NOT FULLY PROVED,

AND THEY ARE THEREFORE DISCHARGED.

[GAVEL BANGS]

[SPECTATORS MURMURING]

SILENCE! SILENCE IN COURT!

SILENCE IN THIS COURTROOM!

Judge: ABSALOM KUMALO...

THE COURT FINDS YOU GUILTY OF THE MURDER

OF ARTHUR TREVALYAN JARVIS,

AT HIS HOME IN PARKWOLD,

ON THE 8th OF OCTOBER, 1946.

HAVE YOU ANYTHING TO SAY

BEFORE SENTENCE IS PRONOUNCED UPON YOU?

I HAVE ONLY THIS TO SAY.

I KILLED THIS MAN...

BUT I DID NOT MEAN TO KILL HIM.

I WAS AFRAID.

I SENTENCE YOU,

ABSALOM KUMALO...

TO BE RETURNED TO CUSTODY

AND TO BE HANGED BY THE NECK

UNTIL YOU ARE DEAD.

AND MAY THE LORD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOUL.

[GAVEL BANGS AND REVERBERATES]

ALL RISE!

[ABSALOM'S GIRLFRIEND CRYING]

UMFUNDISI,COME.

IT'S TIME TO GO, UMFUNDISI.

Guard: COME, COME.

MY SON,

HERE IS YOUR WIFE THAT IS TO BE.

THOSE WHOM GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER,

LET NO MAN PUT ASUNDER.

FOR AS MUCH AS ABSALOM AND KATHERINE

HAVE CONSENTED TOGETHER IN HOLY WEDLOCK

AND HAVE WITNESSED THE SAME BEFORE GOD IN THIS COMPANY,

AND THERETO HAVE GIVEN AND PLEDGED THEIR TROTH,

EITHER TO OTHER,

AND HAVE DECLARED THE SAME BY GIVING AND RECEIVING OF A RING

AND BY JOINING OF HANDS,

I PRONOUNCE THAT THEY BE MAN AND WIFE TOGETHER,

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER,

AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST.

AMEN.

YOU MAY NOW KISS THE BRIDE.

[CRYING]

I AM GLAD YOU ARE MARRIED, MY SON.

I'M ALSO GLAD, MY FATHER.

I SHALL CARE FOR YOUR CHILD, MY SON,

AS IF IT WERE MY OWN.

WHEN DOES MY FATHER RETURN TO NDOTSHENI?

TOMORROW.

AND YOU WILL TELL MY MOTHER THAT I REMEMBER?

AYE.

[CRYING]

I'M AFRAID OF THE HANGING.

BE OF GOOD COURAGE, MY SON.

I'M AFRAID OF THE HANGING.

I'M AFRAID OF THE HANGING.

Guard: ALL RIGHT, YOU MUST GO NOW.

COME.

COME, LET'S GO.

STAY WELL, MY SON.

I SHALL CARE FOR YOUR WIFE AND YOUR CHILD.

STAY WELL, MY SON.

DON'T LEAVE!

COME. LET'S GO. COME.

Absalom: NO.

UMFUNDISI.

YES, MY CHILD?

I AM NOW YOUR DAUGHTER.

A TAXI WILL BE HERE AT 7:00 TO TAKE YOU TO THE STATION.

THANK YOU, MY BROTHER.

IT IS GOOD YOU'RE AWAKE,

FOR I WISH TO SPEAK TO YOU,

AND WE MAY HAVE NO FURTHER CHANCE.

I HAVE NOT TOLD YOU THIS BEFORE,

BUT I'M, UM...

FORSAKING THE WORLD AND ALL POSSESSIONS.

BUT...WHY?

WHY, MY BROTHER, ARE YOU DOING THIS THING?

TO PRAY...

TO PRAY THAT MY ONE GREAT FEAR

WILL NOT COME TO PASS.

WHAT GREAT FEAR?

I HAVE THIS GREAT FEAR IN MY HEART

THAT ONE DAY,

WHEN THE WHITE MAN TURNS TO LOVING,

HE WILL FIND THAT WE ARE TURNED TO HATING.

I, UH...

SAVED A LITTLE MONEY.

I HAVE NO MOTHER OR FATHER TO DEPEND ON ME.

I HAVE THE PERMISSION OF THE CHURCH

TO GIVE THIS TO YOU, MY FRIEND,

TO HELP YOU WITH ALL THE MONEY YOU'VE SPENT IN JOHANNESBURG.

DO NOT CRY.

DO NOT SPOIL THIS PLEASURE FOR ME,

FOR I'VE NEVER HAD A PLEASURE LIKE THIS ONE.

AS FOR YOUR SON,

THEY MAY STILL DECIDE THAT THERE WILL BE MERCY FOR HIM.

IF THERE IS NO MERCY,

I WILL GO UP INTO THE MOUNTAIN ON THAT DAY.

TWICE BEFORE I HAVE DONE THIS.

ONCE WHEN ABSALOM WAS VERY SMALL

AND SICK UNTO DEATH.

THE SECOND TIME...

WAS WHEN I WAS SORELY TEMPTED TO COMMIT ADULTERY.

I HAVE NEVER CONFESSED THAT BEFORE.

I WISH TO ASK A KINDNESS.

ASK ALL THAT I HAVE, MY FRIEND.

I ASK THAT YOU WILL PRAY FOR ME

IN THIS NEW THING I'M ABOUT TO DO.

I SHALL PRAY FOR YOU MORNING AND EVENING

ALL THE DAYS THAT ARE LEFT, MSIMANGU,

FRIEND OF FRIENDS.

THANK YOU.

WHAT IS IT?

I'M SORRY, UMFUNDISI,

BUT YOUR SISTER GERTRUDE IS GONE.

SHE MUST HAVE GONE IN THE NIGHT.

[CAR HORN HONKS]

HE IS, I THINK,

THE ONLY TRULY GOOD MAN I'VE EVER MET.

THEN WHY, I WONDER,

DOES GOD NOT SHOW HIM ANY MERCY?

[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS]

[WOMEN TALKING EXCITEDLY]

[YELLING AND CHEERING]

UMFUNDISI.

[YELLING]

WHAT ARE THOSE CRIES, JAMES?

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?

[WOMAN SHOUTS]

THEY'RE SAYING...

THAT HE HAS COME BACK.

O LORD GOD,

WE THANK THEE FOR THY UNBENDING MERCY.

O GOD, GIVE US RAIN, WE BESEECH THEE.

GIVE US RAIN THAT WE MAY PLOW AND SOW OUR SEED.

AND IF THERE IS NO RAIN,

PROTECT US AGAINST HUNGER AND STARVATION,

WE PRAY THEE.

AND O LORD GOD,

FOR MY SON ABSALOM,

FORGIVE HIM HIS TRESPASSES.

AMEN.

All: AMEN.

LET ME READ IT BACK TO YOU NOW.

"MY DEAR MOTHER AND FATHER,

"THEY TOLD ME THIS MORNING THERE WOULD BE NO MERCY,

"SO I SHALL NOT SEE YOU OR NDOTSHENI AGAIN.

"I'M DICTATING THIS TO A PRIEST,

"A BLACK PRIEST FROM PRETORIA.

"THIS IS A GOOD PLACE.

"I AM LOCKED IN, AND NO ONE MAY COME AND TALK TO ME,

"BUT I MAY SMOKE...

"AND THE WHITE MEN DO NOT SPEAK BADLY TO ME.

"I THINK OF YOU ALL IN NDOTSHENI,

"AND IF I WERE BACK THERE,

"I SHOULD NOT LEAVE IT AGAIN.

YOUR LOVING SON, ABSALOM."

[CRASH OF THUNDER]

[RAIN FALLING]

[THUNDER]

UMFUNDISI!

MAY I TAKE SHELTER IN YOUR CHURCH?

INDEED. INDEED, UMSANA.

[HORSE WHINNIES]

IT WILL SOON PASS.

THE ROOF LEAKS.

SO I HAVE NOTICED.

THE ROOF LEAKS IN MANY PLACES.

I HAVE NOTICED THAT ALSO.

[THUNDER]

[THUNDER]

[RAIN SUBSIDING]

IT IS PASSING.

YOUR SON...

HAVE YOU HEARD?

IS THERE... MERCY FOR YOUR SON?

WHEN IS IT TO BE?

IN 15 DAYS FROM NOW...

AT DAWN.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE DAWN OF THE 15th DAY,

I SHALL REMEMBER.

STAY WELL, UMFUNDISI.

[DOOR CLOSES]

TOMORROW, THE THING WILL HAPPEN.

IT IS THE 15th DAY.

I'M GOING UP INTO THE MOUNTAIN.

PERHAPS I COULD HAVE FOOD.

IT IS ALREADY MADE.

I THANK YOU.

IS THAT YOU, UMFUNDISI?

IT IS I, UMSANA.

THEN WE ARE... WELL MET.

FOR I KNEW THAT YOU WOULD GO UP INTO THE MOUNTAIN

ON THE 15th DAY.

I, UH...

I HAVE HERE A LETTER FOR THE PEOPLE OF YOUR CHURCH.

THE LETTER ASKS IF YOU DESIRE A NEW CHURCH.

DO YOU, UMFUNDISI?

DO YOU DESIRE A NEW CHURCH?

THE PLANS WILL SHORTLY COME TO YOU,

AND YOU MUST SAY IF THEY ARE WHAT YOU DESIRE.

I SHALL SEND THEM TO THE BISHOP, UMSANA.

YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO.

PERHAPS, THERE COULD BE A STONE...

WITH THE NAME OF MY SON...

WHO HAD THE BRIGHTNESS IN HIM.

IT SHALL BE DONE, UMSANA.

GO WELL, UMFUNDISI.

Stephen: WHO KNOWS FOR WHAT WE LIVE AND STRUGGLE AND DIE?

WHO KNOWS WHAT KEEPS US LIVING AND STRUGGLING

WHILE ALL THINGS BREAK ABOUT US?

WHO KNOWS WHY THE WARM FLESH OF A CHILD IS SUCH COMFORT

WHEN ONE'S OWN CHILD IS LOST AND CANNOT BE RECOVERED?

WISE MEN WRITE MANY BOOKS

IN WORDS TOO HARD TO UNDERSTAND,

BUT THIS, THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES,

THE END OF ALL OUR STRUGGLE,

IS BEYOND ALL HUMAN WISDOM.

O GOD, MY GOD, DO NOT NOW FORSAKE ME.

YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH,

I SHALL FEAR NO EVIL IF THOU ART WITH ME.

UHH! UHH!

WHAT IS IT, MY DAUGHTER?

YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH...

[WIND BLOWING]

[EXILEPLAYING]

♪ COLD AS THE NORTHERN WINDS ♪

♪ IN DECEMBER MORNINGS

♪ COLD IS THE CRY THAT RINGS ♪

♪ FROM THIS FAR DISTANT SHORE ♪

♪ WINTER HAS COME TOO LATE

♪ TOO CLOSE BESIDE ME

♪ HOW CAN I CHASE AWAY

♪ ALL THESE FEARS DEEP INSIDE? ♪

♪ I'LL WAIT THE SIGNS TO COME ♪

♪ I'LL FIND A WAY

♪ I WILL WAIT THE TIME TO COME ♪

♪ I'LL FIND A WAY HOME

♪ MY LIGHT SHALL BE THE MOON ♪

♪ AND MY PATH, THE OCEAN

♪ MY GUIDE, THE MORNING STAR ♪

♪ AS I SAIL HOME TO YOU

♪ WINTER HAS COME TOO LATE

♪ TOO CLOSE BESIDE ME

♪ HOW CAN I CHASE AWAY

♪ ALL THESE FEARS DEEP INSIDE? ♪

♪ I'LL WAIT THE SIGNS TO COME ♪

♪ I'LL FIND A WAY

♪ I WILL WAIT THE TIME TO COME ♪

♪ I'LL FIND A WAY HOME

♪ WHO, THEN, CAN WARM MY SOUL? ♪

♪ WHO CAN QUELL MY PASSION? ♪

♪ OUT OF THESE DREAMS

♪ A BOAT I WILL SAIL HOME TO YOU ♪

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