this was your best race.
you did son. come on, shower.
i'll be expecting you. there isn't much to do, only weeding the marigolds and watering the lawn and flowers.
and how's the algebra? still giving you trouble?
see you both later. gordon returns to his work a little distance further. a group of students are laughing and pushing each other boisterously. as they near jonathan, two nudge each other and giggle. then, one of them trips jonathan. he falls to the ground and jumps up aggressively, about to attack the boy. gordon shouts "jonathan." the headmaster, mrs. cloete, aged 65 years, has observed the incident, but takes no action.
i wondered why he wasn't at school. would it help if i came to see him? he's always seemed a good kid to me.
of course. i'll phone and we can fix a time.
she's having trouble with her boy. he won't come to school.
yes! she smiles and walks him to the car affectionately.
gordon! what are you doing here?
i'm sorry, gordon. but there must be a reason.
what about the court? didn't he state his case?
i don't think there is anything we can do about it now. outside, peering through the half-opened door, is johan, shocked at what he sees. ben tapes jonathan on the head, he pulls up his shorts painfully, yet fiercely, anxious to cover himself up again.
a lawyer? that won't heal jonathan's buttocks. susan appears at the door.
i'll be out in a minute.
don't worry, gordon. i'm sure there'll be no record, it's such a minor case. please don't worry. ben calls johan from the outside.
johan, get some iodine from the cupboard.
rub it on the wounds and it will help.
jonathan has been caned, by the police. she places the boerwors and the beer before him.
hold it, champ. he crosses the yard to gordon, fluffing his hair dry, johan follows behind.
gordon, you okay? no response again. gordon continues to work. ben and johan exchange puzzled looks.
how is he, recovering?
again?
disappeared? he's a child -- why didn't you tell me? gordon just looks at him, sadly, patiently.
okay! i'll see what i can find out.
our gardener, yes. probably nothing, but he's worried.
hello, dan.  no.  it's all right.
thanks a lot, dan.  i'll tell gordon. 'bye. ben hangs up and stays there.  thinking.  until the bell snaps him out of his thoughts.
what can we do, gordon? you or i.  we can't change it.
it's a terrible thing, gordon -- god knows i'm sorry. but you have other children to live for.  i'll help them too with their schooling.
i told you, gordon.  he died on the day of the riots.
gordon. the police -- if they've said.
don't worry! i'm no crusader. i've known gordon a long time, that's all.
something like that -- yes.
and he was such a nice boy, well- mannered.
looks quite attractive to me.
'.  is only the latest in scores of black youths who have disappeared whilst in police custody.'
my god, one hundred shot! they didn't have to kill them.
jeezus -- jeezus -- jeezus christ.
yes, son. go and get some sleep. the boy nods and leaves.
i don't know. i'm just tired, i suppose.
i will, in a minute. i'll just put the thoughts of standar six away. they mustn't be lost to posterity.
all right, time up! hand in your test. moans from the students.
what's happened, emily?
don't worry too much, emily, i'm sure gordon will be home in a few days.
nice to meet you, colonel viljoen.
long time ago.
well.  to put it simply, colonel.
i thought there might have been some kind of misunderstanding i could help straighten out.
i know him, colonel. he works at my school. he's done work for me too.
yes, after so many years.  10 years. gordon's not the type to get himself in trouble. he's an honest, hard-working, church- going man.
i appreciate that -- but gordon would never.
colonel -- believe me, i'm with you all the way. but in this case -- i'm sure that in your worthy pursuit of the guilty you have, unwittingly, involved the innocent. after all, we're all human. we all make mistakes sometimes. viljoen laughs again.
colonel, i'd welcome it.
jonathan.
yes. he died some time ago. viljoen doesn't react.
nothing, colonel.
of course he did -- he was upset. the colonel pauses.
he is a religious man.  in the end he would have resigned himself to it.
come on, colonel! if one of your kids died.  .  and nobody would tell you how it happened or where his body is buried, wouldn't you be upset?
i've never doubted it, colonel. it's you who appear to be doubting me. these questions. you're making me feel like a criminal. there's a moment's pause -- then a burst of laughter.
one last favor, colonel?
gordon's wife -- she's very worried. may she bring him some food and a change of clothes while he's still here?
thank you. i'll rely on you, then.
i think so. and thanks. i feel much happier now.
i will. goodbye.
i talked to them. gordon will be released soon. the colonel was very understanding.
no.
no, but.  johan, he is dead. we can't do anything for him. don't mention this visit to your mother. okay?
that's right, suzette. but, only one detainee: 'gordon!'
that's right.
of course it is. i went down there, told them. they're looking into it.
john vorster square.
no. and you're not going to tell her.
more wine? viviers?
mrs. cloete?
it's all right. viviers returns to his seat as ben shuts the door behind him.
oh, it's you.  hum.  stanley, isn't it? that's all right, darling.
dan! i'm standing here with gordon's clothing in my hand. it's bloodstained.
there are broken teeth in the pocket. monday may be too late! the lawyer has been banned.
i'm just trying to help gordon. .  you represented many cases, tell me, does this happen often? but gordon's not political. okay, dan, i'm sorry for disturbing your weekend. ben replaces the phone. turns to emily and stanley.
he agrees to see you tomorrow and will apply to the supreme court for an interdict to stop any assaults on gordon. and, we'll find out what's going on.
they could make a mistake.
we're not concerned with 'blacks.' we're talking about gordon. a good man and very loyal.
what?
what do you mean 'good riddance'?
gordon's not subversive and definitely not a communist.
i'm not talking about the government! i believe in our government, damn it.  his sharp tone surprises everybody. he quiets.
 look, i know the police often know more than we do. i'm not questioning that. i'm as loyal as the next man. but i do know gordon ngubene.  there is something wrong.
dominee? bester shakes his hand.
what difference would it have made?
i didn't want to upset you.
now what?
 if i'd been more ambitious.
what's happening -- it's something i've never had to face -- deal with -- before.
be patient with me.  when gordon is free you'll have me all to yourself again.  promise.
nonsense. one's as old as he feels. i feel young and very attractive. i can still do my duty. she smiles up at him, chuckles, and then they kiss.
what? the news leaves ben speechless. stanley continues in flat, emotionless tones.
suicide.  is that what they told emily -- poor woman.
god! i never thought gordon could commit suicide.
how do we know?
yes, but.
anything i can do to help?
brothers?
stanley, i'd like to see gordon.
don't you understand? i've got to go.
how can you talk like that!?
you mean you had no hope, you didn't believe he'd be released?
well, thank god emily has you to lean on, stanley.
do you belong to the xhosa tribe too?
i am an african too! stanley turns abruptly.
i was fourteen before i wore shoes -- except for church.  i grew up on a plaas miles from any town.  watching sheep and.
so this is soweto.
please, take me to emily.
i really have to see her, stanley. stanley drives off.
what do you mean?
i.  i cannot think. i'm confused.
for christ sake, just get off my back, stanley.
what?
who's he?
he would have testified. bloody hell!
his report has to be important. we can only use what we have. therefore, lewinson must get a very good advocate. if only we could get hold of this hassiem's report.
it's not a question of being spectators. the courts are impartial, the law is what matters.
who?
now tomorrow at ten.
good night. stanley drives vigorously away.
i went to soweto and saw gordon's body. they have lied to me, my own people -- they killed him! i saw the body.
facts? there's a doctor who participated at the autopsy. a doctor hassiem and he.
that's him, he represented emily at the autopsy.
can i have a drink?
you always know what i need. johan hurries into the house.
how are you, emily?
i didn't mean to disturb you. i've come to talk to you.
i'm sure. robert walks in, looks at ben and walks into his bedroom to fetch something, then as he's about to go out:
emily, i have really come to assure you that i will do all i can to help you find out what really happened to jonathan and your husband -- we cannot bring them back to life, but we can make sure that this sort of thing won't ever happen again.
the air must be cleared. so we can breathe again.
gordon wasn't a coward and we'll prove that. we have a very good advocate for the inquest. his name is de villiers. i have confidence in him and the truth will come out.
emily, stanley and i will do all we can. as i said we have a good advocate. everyone involved with gordon's death will be questioned and all that's known regarding what happened in john vorster square will come out.
lawyers ask questions.
i'm pleased i came.
do i.
are we still in soweto?
what the hell are you playing at?
don't call me lanie! what does that mean anyway?
i think i am without awareness. i have always cared about people, call it a social conscience. but my visit to gordon's house made me experience another dimension of human conditions.
no, i expected that. but listening to them talk made me realize that i did not know the blacks. now i question my attitudes, my concerns as ben, and complacence as a white person.
de villiers is making mincemeat of them.
it's obvious to anybody! the evidence is clear! did you see archibal's back? he didn't have to tell the truth.
totally depressed, walking up to emily.
i'm sorry, emily.
my car is over there.
obviously of the rand daily mail. i read your article about jonathan.
you do? melanie smiles.
i remember. the mortuary in soweto.  .  the ambiguous stanley.
he couldn't have given you a glowing report of me. i'm sorry, but where are we going?
mrs. bruwer, i'm not.
i really must go home.
how long have you lived here?
i have nothing against them.
please. a.
no thanks, a beer will be fine.
i thought they were german? melanie sits, her legs propped up on the settee, hugging her knees.
please, call me ben.
why do you ask? can you understand it?
tell me, miss bruwer.
tell me, do you believe in the notion of justice?
what use is a system if justice does not apply to all situations?
that's a tall order: 'know injustice.  know the enemy.' it seems i have a long haul ahead of me.
thank you, darling.
they killed gordon -- first they kill jonathan, and then him. how can they get away with it?
i'm not so sure about that, susan!
soweto! then shuts the door behind him.
more meneer van de merwe.
our boys gave the eastern province a thrashing.
is anything wrong?
and a packet of tobacco and pipe cleaners. the man gets them and takes a note from ben and gives him his change. by then a man is waiting.
see you tomorrow.
how's that, suzette?
now listen.
do you really think i specially arranged for the photographers to take that picture? and what's more it's distorted.
suzette, pull yourself together!
suzette!
that goes without saying.
who?.  i don't know you and have nothing to say to you.  no thank you for your advice! he puts the phone down. the phone rings again. ben picks it up and waits.
it's you, viviers.  i appreciate it.  of course.  not yet.  any thank you. tot siens.
morning, mr. cloete.  i'd like to say.  .  mr. cloete, may i ask what on earth has the picture to do with politics?.  i'm sorry mr. cloete, i have to go.
did you read the papers, dominee? were you happy with what came to light? and is it the magistrate's work to pretend that the facts which came to light didn't exist?
i know, gordon. what they said about him, that he was plotting against the government -- is a downright lie. he was only doing what i would have done as a father; searching for his son.
have you no faith in your fellow men, dominee? don't you love your neighbor?
what's the use of reaching a court when a handful of people have all the power to decide what is going to be said in that court and by whom? the one man they allowed to speak for himself, that young archibald chigorimbo, didn't he immediately deny everything they forced him to say in his statement? and the girl who spoke of her own torture?
that did not refer to our situation in this south africa. do you know what i believe in, dominee, that once in one's life, just once, one should have enough faith in something to risk everything for it.
i don't mind, mr. cloete.
the woman lost her husband, she was shattered with grief.
i can't see that it makes any difference.
viviers.
good afternoon, professor.
ben du toit. you have a nice vegetable garden.
both. what plants are these?
not really. i've read a few books.
what about jesus?
it's quite nice.
i feel i have no choice.
that's encouraging.
what you say is very interesting and important.
we afrikaners have to stop to turn a blind eye and look around us and at ourselves.
professor bruwer, may i say i have needed to hear somebody say some of the things you said. i still have hope for our country.
thank you.
there is absolutely no doubt that they were killed in custody. those responsible must be punished, whoever they are, or whatever their rank.
tell me, dan, we lost at the inquest, what next?
what does that entail?
i know what i have to do.
why? you didn't write it.
no.
a distorted photograph and a few poisoned words and meneer du toit is a leper. that's why i called on you the other day, i needed to talk to somebody rational.
you are an afrikaner too, and your articles, in a liberal english paper?
what kind of loyalty? blind loyalty. until the deaths of jonathan and gordon, i gave all the loyalty i could give, laager loyalty. you know, melanie, we afrikaners have always lived in our laager, we have not seen what's beyond the mountains.
we carry on. there has to be justice.
we lost at the inquest, so we pursue them in a civil action. i consulted the attorney dan lewinson.
however you go about it.
i wasn't thinking about myself.
my thoughts, captain, i'm sure, are an open book to you.
not on your list of banned books, captain?
why don't you go upstairs?
sorry. didn't hear you arrive.
fine. he goes to mother-in-law. he kisses her on the cheek.
and how are you, ma?
why doesn't everyone sit down?
i thought you'd prefer cape town; the sea and table mountain.
what about?
are you blaming me for trying to help those people?
i am glad you mentioned it, father. because i'd like to discuss the whole thing with you. first, there's the matter of gordon ngubene himself.
the inquest didn't clear up half of what happened.
we have no irrefutable evidence yet, but we have enough to indicate that something serious is being covered up.
i know what i'm talking about. the black waiter places the drinks on the table.
if they have really nothing to hide, why is the special branch going out of its way to intimidate me.
they raided the house; they are tapping my phone, and i have been threatened by one of the officers.
why?
it's exactly what i said, father, when jonathan first got into trouble. of course, they have good reasons: hushing up how gordon died and how his son died!
you mean you're prepared to sit back and allow an injustice to be done.
now we're free to do to others what they used to do to us. what will you do if you were a black man in this country today, father?
we don't? i'm not sure we're going to survive.
i'm sorry. they drive off towards soweto.
the special branch searched my house four days ago.
a few journals, letters -- nothing much. just wanted to scare me, that's all.
they're not that stupid.
what?
no. they tried too hard. stanley laughs again.
what's happening? what's the singing?
i understand.
stanley has told me about you. i appreciate the risk you are taking by coming here to meet me. i was reading the notes gordon smuggled out of john vorster square.
but, emily, why didn't you tell me long ago?
emily, i have to meet the man.
he has to be persuaded. he is very important to us.
i know, with luck they may release him.
but, emily, this man is important, please try to tell him we will protect his identity. no one will know. nothing will be done without his approval. i only want to talk to him.
may i call you julius, i'm not very good with some african names.
this case must be reopened and we must win. we have to dig up everything. we need your cooperation, julius.
you could help with the affidavits. lewinson the lawyer has stressed their importance.
i'm glad.
i wouldn't worry. i have a secure place.
johan. was it because of me? he doesn't answer for a moment. then he nods.
are you sure you know?
does it worry you?
it's okay, son.  we're all right. everything's okay!
it's okay, stay there, please!! gently, he leads susan who is sobbing now, out of the room.
they were trying to scare us, that's all.
my house has been searched. my phone is tapped. my mail is opened. and last night three shots were fired through my window -- close to killing my wife. viljoen reacts.
all i want to know, colonel, is why don't you leave me in peace?
tell me, colonel, why is it so important to you people to stop my enquiries about gordon ngubene?
is that a threat, colonel?
by the communists, i suppose.
goodbye, colonel. i'm sure. he leaves. the colonel immediately picks up the phone.
johnson.
a beer would be nice.
i've driven through here many times.
ja.
alright, let's get on with it. stanley tells me, you work at john vorster square.
yet you smuggled out letters to emily?
i know that. tell me, what do you know about gordon?
you did talk to him from time to time?
when was the last time you saw him?
did you attend any of the interrogations?
how were they interrogating him?
what?
the pole, what's that?
i see. who were in that room? stolz.
you are sure?
it's very interesting. when was the last time you saw him?
you did! johnson, why do you stay with the police? you don't really belong there.
i understand. i promise.
no, thank you. you know, stanley, after what happened the other night i was about to give this whole thing up.
my wife nearly got killed. three shots were fired into the house. what right have i to expose my family to harassment and actual physical danger? that's what i asked myself.
i didn't say i'm giving up.
johnson has revived my determination.
you think we may still win in the end, stanley?
why are you going there?
what?
a year in jail just for visiting his sister?
don't you think the real reason for this arrest was that they found out he was helping us?
how can we shrug off a man we've been working with?
what about you?
i mean not married.
being a professor and bringing up a child, how did he manage that?
and this little girl grew up to be a tough journalist. why a journalist?
about what?
oh. he must have been young.
go on. melanie pours him another mug of coffee and starts to wipe up.
and then you became a journalist?
did it work? she returns to the kitchen with a cigarette.
how did you manage that on a south african passport? we south africans are white devils in africa.
you really are your father's daughter!
how often does he go on these trips to the veldt?
zululand! the whole thing smells of being an excuse to send her hundreds of miles from the case. and how will they live there?.
so, that's why you went to botswana for.
couldn't you stop him? he's a little boy, stanley!
it's impossible to stop now, susan. i believe i'm right in what i'm doing. if i stop now i'll go mad.
i have got to.
without simple justice we don't deserve a future.
that last remark was slanderous -- i'm simply being faithful to the truth.
it won't be necessary, mr. cloete. i'll send you my resignation.
are you serious?
later, viviers.
i'm sorry, viviers. i never wanted you to get involved. i have just resigned.
about the same size.
i don't remember that, suzette.
i think he deserves the parson's nose for that remark. they laugh. susan laughs. she does her best to compose. suddenly.  a knock at the outside kitchen door. as ben turns towards the door it opens and.
stanley. what are you doing here? before stanley answers, the father-in-law gets up from his chair and goes to the kitchen.
shut up, stanley. that's all right. i'll.
please, go to the table. stanley, wait outside.
stanley, this is still my house.
please leave me with him. i'll explain everything later.
maybe you think it's funny, stanley, but i don't. do you realize what you've done? come into the dining room. stanley follows ben slowly, swaying.
my father-in-law.
now pull yourself together, stanley. it's not funny at all! what's the matter with you today? you're drunk and making an idiot of yourself. say what you've come to say. otherwise, go to hell! stanley's laughter changes into a broad grin. he sur- veys the table and takes a bit of turkey from a plate and starts to eat it quietly.
bloody hell! stanley, what's wrong with you?
emily dead? how? when? stanley doesn't answer - he cries.
what happened, stanley? oh, my god. please tell me.
god. through the window, he sees suzette and chris carrying suitcases, back down the path to his in-laws' car; father-in-law shepherding his wife and an ashen, dazed susan, helping them into the car.
that's the main reason for coming here tonight. melanie, i need your help. without emily, we can't pursue our civil suit. the only thing left open to us is to expose them through the press, and the media here and abroad.
you know, melanie, i'm discovering that the enemy is not in soweto. the enemy is ourselves. our bigotry, our laws, our system. we have our own fight and it's just beginning.
now, before going to the press, i have to have all the documents. i must have two vital affidavits; dr. hassiem's, he's detained and jonathan's friend, wellington has fled to zambia.
could you?
that would be very useful.
please. as melanie walks away, ben looks at her with admiration and tenderness.  her dress swinging around her legs.  her bare feet soundless on the floor.  the quiet grace of her movement. on the way to the kitchen to get the drinks, melanie goes to the record player. there's a record already on the turntable.
melanie. be careful.
do be careful. i wouldn't want you hurt. she reaches for his hand.
and hurry back. a new track starts on the record.
i can't dance.
listen, you.  just then a lady and her daughter hurry to the man, push- ing a trolley. man turns to look at ben.
i'm sorry, my mistake.
-- how's she doing?
i doubt it.
then don't.
suzette.
thanks. i'm glad you understand.
you don't have to worry. they'll never find them.
dr. hassiem? i'm ben du toit. i'm a friend of gordon ngubene's.
not for me, doctor. i've got to know what happened to gordon.
i know it may be painful to you, doctor, but i need to talk to you.
ask emily. doctor, we are in the process of filing a civil claim. and your help is vital.
thank you for inviting me in.
just one thing, doctor. why did you sign the state pathologist's report on the autopsy if you drew up your own report as well?
the report produced in court had both your signatures on it.
what did you write in your report?
what was it?
and then?
doctor, we've already got the african attendant's affidavit. he testified that capt. stolz ordered him to burn the clothes. did you mention what you said in your report?
doctor hassiem would you be prepared to put that in writing?
you have a copy of the report?
i think so.
we have it, stanley!
hassiem's report. you know what that means, stanley? melanie arrives in two days. we'll have all the evidence. everything is in place. we'll get them yet, especially stolz.
god! it's johnson seroke.
'a police spokesman when questioned said: "it's not the first time that a black member of the police has lost his life in the service of his country, fighting terrorism." bloody bastards! they killed him. stolz must have thought he knew too much.
who's next on their secret list, i wonder? how much longer must the list grow of those who pay the price of our efforts to clear gordon's name.
i know. if i can no longer believe that right is on my side, if i can no longer believe in imperative to go on, what will become of me, stanley? ben looks at johnson's picture again and shakes his head.
you mean, if i cooperate, if i stop digging, embarrassing you, threatening you.  these photographs will disappear.
suppose i refuse? stolz looks past ben.
johan, leave us alone, please.
that's for you people to decide. isn't it? i won't be blackmailed, captain -- not even by you.
yes, i think so and there's more to come. a pause.
it's not possible, captain. not between you and me.
you mean my very last chance?
if we can only survive through murder and torture, then we have forfeited our right to exist.
before you go. i'll tell this, captain. i have a pretty good idea of what i will eventually uncover. i mean the truth. and i won't allow anyone or anything to come between me and that truth.
goodbye, captain, and don't forgt the photograph. stolz picks up the photograph and puts it into his briefcase.
they are wasting their time. they just can't hurt me anymore. i trust you'll give them the message, captain.
a gin and tonic would be fine.
excuse me, i'm waiting for a lady with a red dress. are there still, many people to come?
thank you. just then an official walks out of the door. ben hurries to him.
excuse me.
i'm waiting for a passenger, miss bruwer. she's taking a rather long time to be cleared.
melanie bruwer.
no. they have to collect their luggage and pass through customs.
that's possble.
what now, captain?
let's go home, johan.
i'll explain later.
thank you, son. you did a man's job. cut to:
thank you.
wellington's affidavit!
good old melanie!
it's you. it was a bomb.
don't worry. safe. thanks to johan. incidentally, i have wellington's affidavit. melanie found him. she's being deported. the official reason is that she possessed a british passport. i don't know how she managed to smuggle the envelope to me.
no, thanks.
what's so funny?
how are you, suzette?
would you like a drink?
i know.
look after them.
	151: