Skin (2008) Movie Script
1
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[WOMAN SINGING
IN NATIVE LANGUAGE]
[MID-TEMPO REGIONAL
MUSIC PLAYS]
[WOMAN SINGING
IN NATIVE LANGUAGE]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
- COME ON, MA.
- LET'S DO IT.
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH
YEAH, YEAH
- SANDRA.
SANDRA LAING?
HUGH JOHNSTON,
"WORLD NETWORK NEWS."
UH, COULD WE ASK
SOME QUESTIONS?
Woman: SANDRA.
SANDRA.
CAN I GE YOUR AUTOGRAPH?
- SORRY.
- LOOK, MAMA!
[GASPS]
- I'VE GOT A SECRET.
- IS IT A GOOD SECRET?
- YES, VERY.
- TELL ME.
- I PACKED MELINDA
FOR YOU.
[GIGGLES]
- ARE YOU READY,
MY ANGEL?
- DEAR GOD,
MAKE THIS JOURNEY SAFE.
WE PUT OUR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN,
LEON AND SANDRA,
IN YOUR CARE,
AND KNOW THA YOU WILL BLESS THEM.
Together: AMEN.
- BYE, THEMBI!
- BYE, SANDRA.
[CHICKENS CLUCKING]
- THERE ONCE WAS A GIRL
WHO LIVED IN A SHOP,
WHO'D ONLY EA HER MISMATCHED SOCKS.
[LAUGHS]
UNTIL ONE DAY,
ALONG CAME A LION,
AND GOBBLED HER UP
IN JUST TWO HOPS.
[SANDRA LAUGHS]
WINDOWS UP.
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
[CHILD LAUGHS]
OKAY, SANDRA.
- HAVE A GOOD TIME, LEON.
LOOK AFTER YOUR SISTER.
OFF YOU GO.
COME ON, MY LOVE.
- BYE, SON.
- GOOD AFTERNOON.
HELLO, MRS. JOUBERT.
WHAT A LOVELY DRESS.
[GASPS]
SANDRA LAING.
- WHAT'S THE NAME AGAIN?
- LAING.
I'M LEON'S MOTHER.
THERE.
BED NUMBER 4.
THANK YOU.
- MA?
WHY ARE THEY
ALL STARING?
- YOU'RE NEW HERE,
MY SWEET.
THEY'RE JUST CURIOUS.
- EXCUSE ME.
WHAT IS...
Sannie:
NOW, WHAT SHALL WE DO...
WITH MELINDA?
SANDRA.
DO YOU WANT HER
ON THE BED LIKE HOME,
OR SHALL WE PUT HER
ON THE TABLE?
- BED, PLEASE, MA.
- SO, IT'S DONE.
- ANY PROBLEMS?
- NO.
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
[GIRLS CRYING]
- SANDRA.
I'M ELIZE.
- WHAT DO YOU WANT?
- I'M FROM SWAZILAND.
THAT'S ANOTHER COUNTRY.
- I KNOW THAT.
I'M NOT STUPID.
- ALL MY FRIENDS
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN BLACK.
- I'M NOT BLACK.
Man: ON THAT JESUS
REACHED OUT HIS HAND,
TOUCHED HIM AND SAID,
"I WANT YOU TO BE CLEAN."
AND IMMEDIATELY HE WAS CLEANSED
OF HIS LEPROSY.
CLOSE YOUR EYES.
FOR WHAT WE ARE
ABOUT TO RECEIVE, LORD,
MAKE US TRULY GRATEFUL.
All: AMEN.
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
- WHAT HAPPENED?
TELL ME!
- I TOLD ANNIE
YOU WEREN'T BLACK,
AND SHE HIT ME.
Miss Ludik:
NOW, IN THE EARLY DAYS,
OUR COUNTRY WAS VAST PLAINS.
AND ON THESE PLAINS
WERE WILD ANIMALS
AND SAVAGE NATIVES WHO WERE
ALWAYS TRYING TO TAKE OUR LAND.
THERE WERE MANY WARS
BETWEEN THEM.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WAS,
STUDENTS?
UH, DAWIE, JA?
- BECAUSE THEY WERE KAFFIRS,
MEVROU.
[LAUGHTER]
- THAT'S A BAD WORD,
EH, DAWIE?
WE DON'T USE THAT LANGUAGE
IN THE CLASSROOM.
ANNIE. YES.
- THEY COULDN'T LIVE TOGETHER
BECAUSE THEY WERE DIFFERENT.
- THAT'S RIGHT, ANNIE!
GOOD! GOOD, GOOD.
BECAUSE THEY WERE...
All: DIFFERENT.
Miss Ludik: DIFFERENT.
EVEN TODAY,
WE LEARN THAT EVERYTHING
ABOUT THE BANTU IS...
DIFFERENT.
UH, WHAT SORT OF JOBS
DO THEY DO?
MM-HMM?
- THEY WORK IN
THE MIELIE FIELDS, MEVROU.
- THAT'S RIGHT!
- AND IN THE MINES.
- AND IN THE MINES.
- MY FATHER SAYS HE DOESN' LET THEM DRIVE THE TRACTORS
BECAUSE THEY HAVE MONKEY HANDS
LIKE SANDRA.
[LAUGHTER]
Abraham: LOOK.
WHAT DOES THIS SAY?
- [SIGHS]
MENEER LAING,
A PIECE OF PAPER
IS NOT GOING TO REASSURE
ALL THE PARENTS
WHO CALL ME EVERY DAY
TO COMPLAIN THAT THERE'S
A BLACK CHILD AT THIS SCHOOL.
SANDRA IS A DISRUPTION.
YOU ARE A SERVAN OF THE STATE,
AND THE STATE REQUIRES YOU
TO LOOK AFTER MY CHILD.
YOU MUST SIMPLY
DO YOUR JOB, MENEER.
- MY JOB IS TO LOOK AFTER
ALL THE CHILDREN AT THIS SCHOOL.
SANDRA DOES NO BELONG HERE.
- IT'S TRUE.
SANDRA'S SPECIAL.
A BRAVE, INTELLIGENT,
AND A WONDERFUL CHILD.
TRY GETTING TO KNOW HER.
YOU'LL SEE.
WHAT DO I ALWAYS SAY
TO YOU?
- NEVER GIVE UP.
- MM.
[Deep voice]
- NEVER GIVE UP!
- [CHUCKLES]
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
LOOK AFTER YOUR SISTER,
LEON.
[Normal voice]
- LOVE TO MAMA!
[CHICKEN CLUCKING]
- HELLO, MY CHILD.
- AND HOW ARE YOU, MA'AM?
ANY BARGAINS TODAY?
- SPECIAL OFFER ON BUTTER.
- NEVER A SPECIAL
ON ICE-CREAM.
- ANYTHING ELSE FOR YOU,
JOSEPH?
- THAT'S EVERYTHING I NEED,
MRS. LAING.
- AM I MADE OF MONEY?
- HEY, MRS. LAING.
I NEED A NEW WIFE.
THIS ONE -- SHE'S TOO EXPENSIVE.
[LAUGHS]
- BE PATIENT MY BROTHER,
SHE'S YOUNG.
- IN GOOD TIME.
- WHY DO YOU TALK TO THEM?
JUST SELL TO THEM.
THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE TO DO.
- WHAT DID THEY SAY?
- I MADE SURE THEY HEARD
WHAT IHAD TO SAY.
SHE'LL SETTLE IN.
LEON WAS THE SAME.
IT TAKES TIME.
[TAPS COUNTER]
- AM I SICK?
- SANDRA...
SEVENS, PLEASE.
BEGIN.
- 7 TIMES 1 EQUALS 7.
7 TIMES 2...[SLAM]
- LOUDER.
- 7 TIMES 1 EQUALS 7.
7 TIMES 2 EQUALS--
- LOUDER!
- 7 TIMES 1 EQUALS 7.
7 TIMES 2 EQUALS 14.
- I SAID LOUDER!
NOW BEGIN AGAIN!
- WHY ARE YOU
HITTING ME?!
- GIVE ME THAT!
NOW STAND STILL!
[STRIKING]
THAT'S DISGUSTING.
- WHAT DID I DO WRONG?
-ASK YOUR PARENTS.
- PA, WHAT DID I DO WRONG?
- NOTHING, MY ANGEL.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
SO...
YOU NEED THREE BIG MEN
FOR ONE LITTLE GIRL?
- SANDRA IS BEING
RECLASSIFIED COLORED.
SHE MAY NO LONGER
ATTEND A WHITE SCHOOL.
- ARE YOU MAD?
SHE'S OURCHILD.
WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO NEXT?
RECLASSIFY MY WIFE
AND ME, AS WELL?!
- KEEP QUIET, OR YOU WILL
LOSE YOUR DAUGHTER.
- I'LL TELL YOU WHAT...
- THERE ARE LAWS
IN THIS COUNTRY.
- GET OFF MY PROPERTY.
NOW!
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
[SPEAKING AFRIKAANS]
[CLICKING]
DON'T WORRY, SANNIE.
I WILL FIX THIS.
- HOW, ABRAHAM?
- THE LAWS ARE THERE
TO PROTECT US.
JUST HAVE TO PLAY THESE PEOPLE
AT THEIR OWN GAME,
THAT'S ALL.
- CAN THEY REALLY TAKE HER
AWAY FROM US?
- TRUST ME...
[CARTRIDGE CLICKS]
...JUST AS I HAVE TRUSTED YOU
ALL THESE YEARS.
- HOW MANY TIMES
MUST WE GO THROUGH THIS?
YOU KNOW
THAT SHE IS YOURS.
- YOU'RE ALWAYS SO FRIENDLY
WITH EVERYONE IN THE SHOP.
- WHO ELSE IS THERE
TO TALK TO?
- ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT PEOPLE
TALK IN THE COMMUNITY?
- TALK ABOUT WHAT?
- I HAVE TO LIVE HERE!
- I LIVE HERE, TOO.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
IT'S LIKE FOR ME?
- [SINGING SOFTLY IN ZULU]
- CAN I SLEEP HERE?
- [COOING]
- NORA...
- HMM?
- AM I REALLY BLACK
LIKE YOU?
- [LAUGHS]
NO, CHILD.
YOU ARE NOT BLACK.
LOOK.
HMM?
[CHILDREN SQUEALING]
- WHAT A SHIVER JELLY!
IF YOU STOP SHIVERING,
YOU CAN FEEL IT MOVE.
- WHAT?
- THE BABY.
- [LAUGHS SOFTLY]
I CAN'T FEEL ANYTHING.
- THERE, IT'S MOVING.
- OH! SHE'S STRONG!
- "SHE"?
WHAT IF IT'S A BOY?
HUH?
[GIGGLES]
- OF COURSE, WE'VE ALWAYS
BEEN STAUNCH SUPPORTERS
OF THE NATIONALIS GOVERNMENT.
BUT, YOU KNOW,
TO BE SLAPPED IN THE FACE
BY OUR OWN PEOPLE IS...
INDEED, VERY SORE.
- MR. LAING, DOES SANDRA
HAVE TO BE REGISTERED
AS A DOMESTIC WORKER
TO STAY WITH YOU?
Woman:
WHEN SANDRA'S OF AGE,
WHO WILL SHE BE
ALLOWED TO MARRY?
- WHAT KIND OF FOOD
DOES SANDRA EAT?
- PLEASE...
- SHE EATS HONEST,
HEALTHY FOOD,
MADE FOR HER
BY HER MOTHER.
[REPORTERS SHOUTING
"MRS. LAING!"]
- ARE YOU CONCERNED
THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ARRESTED
UNDER THE IMMORALITY ACT?
- I HAVE NEVER BEEN UNFAITHFUL
TO MY HUSBAND.
Woman: HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
YOUR CHILD'S APPEARANCE?
- I CAN'TEXPLAIN IT.
IF THERE IS BLACK BLOOD
IN OUR VEINS,
WE NEVER KNEW ABOUT IT.
- SANDRA,
COME TO YOUR PA.
- THIS IS SANDRA.
YOU MAY TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH,
BUT, PLEASE, NO QUESTIONS.
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
Woman: SMILE!
- Abraham,
you must stop this.
- I know what I'm doing.
[TALKING CONTINUES]
- FREAK SHOW, ABRAHAM --
THAT'S WHAT THAT WAS.
- I'M GONNA GET HER
RECLASSIFIED TO WHITE.
- HOW WILL THAT CHANGE
THE COLOR OF HER SKIN?
- I'M DOING IT FOR HER.
I'M DOING I FOR ALL OF US.
[BIRD CHIRPING]
LOOK.
I BROUGHT YOU A PRESENT.
MAYBE WE'LL GET I THROUGH THOSE CURLS ONE DAY.
ARE YOU ANGRY?
DO YOU WANT TO HIT ME?
COME ON, HIT ME.
OHH.
[CHUCKLES]
FEEL BETTER?
I BROUGHT YOU
SOMETHING ELSE.
- DID YOU PUT CREAM ON LEON,
TOO, WHEN HE WAS SMALL?
- NO.
- BECAUSE IT BURNS.
- HERE. LET ME BLOW.
[EXHALES]
Woman:
TAKE A SEAT, PLEASE.
[OBJECT BANGS]
NAME?
- SANDRA LAING.
- WHAT'S YOUR RELATION?
- WE'RE HER PARENTS.
- TAKE A SEAT.
EXCUSE ME?
- SANDY.
- THANK YOU.
WE'LL STAND.
Woman #2: "THE DEFINITION
OF A WHITE PERSON
"IS A PERSON WHO IN APPEARANCE
OBVIOUSLY IS A WHITE PERSON
"AND WHO IS NOT GENERALLY
ACCEPTED AS A COLORED PERSON...
"OR WHO IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED
AS A WHITE PERSON
AND IS NOT IN APPEARANCE
OBVIOUSLY NOT A WHITE PERSON."
- IS THAT CLEAR?
COME.
SHAKE YOUR HEAD.
HARDER.
[SIGHS]
Van Niekerk:
TURN AROUND.
STOP.
ALL THE WAY.
OPEN YOUR MOUTH.
SHOW ME YOUR TEETH.
THANK YOU.
YOU MAY GO.
- WAIT. WAIT!
AREN'T YOU GOING TO ASK
ABOUT...HER BACKGROUND,
HER EDUCATION,
ABOUT US, HER PARENTS?
- WE'VE SEEN
WHAT WE NEEDED TO SEE.
- SO, YOU SEE
THAT SHE IS WHITE.
- WE'LL NOTIFY YOU
IN A FEW WEEKS
AS TO WHAT WE'VE DETERMINED.
- I'M TELLING YOU
SHE'S WHITE.
I'MHER FATHER.
I'M AS WHITE
AS YOU ARE.
THIS IS HER MOTHER--
UNDENIABLY WHITE.
AND SANDRA
IS OURDAUGHTER--
BLOOD OF OUR BLOOD.
- WE'LL HAVE TO ASK YOU
TO LEAVE NOW.
- OH, NO.
THERE IS NOTHING
TO DETERMINE.
LOOK. WHAT IS THIS?
WHAT IS THIS?
LOOK!
TELL ME--
TELL ME WHAT THIS IS, HMM?
- MENEER LAING, STOP!
- LOOK, MAN!
ARE YOU BLIND?!
- PLEASE, PA.
LET'S GO.
- ABRAHAM, ALSTUBLIEFT.
ENOUGH.
- THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
THANK YOU...
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
COME.
- HEY, SANDY.
WHAT HAPPENS
IF IT LOOKS LIKE SANDRA?
- YOU WON'T LOVE THE BABY
ANY LESS, WILL YOU?
- I LOVE SANDY, BUT...
IT'S HARD, MA.
- I KNOW.
I KNOW IT IS.
[DOOR CLOSES]
SLEEP TIGHT.
[SANDRA COUGHING]
SANDY?
WHAT'S HAPPENED?!
[SOBBING]
- SHOULD I GET PA?
- NO, JUST GET THE CALAMINE
LOTION FROM MY BEDROOM.
[SOBBING]
OH, MY SWEETHEART.
[BIRD CHIRPING]
[CHICKENS CLUCKING]
- THEY SAY SHE'S COLORED.
- ABRAHAM,
WHAT DOES IT MATTER
WHAT A PIECE
OF PAPER SAYS?
LET'S JUST GO ON
WITH OUR LIVES NOW
AND LOOK AFTER SANDRA
THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN.
- YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS
LYING DOWN.
SHE'S OURDAUGHTER.
AND I'LL TAKE ON THE WHOLE
BLOODY GOVERNMENT IF I HAVE TO.
NEVER GIVE UP, SANNIE.
NEVER GIVE UP.
[BELL CHIMING]
- ARE YOU PREPARED TO SWEAR
BEFORE GOD AND ON THE BIBLE
THAT YOU ARE THE PARENTS
OF THIS CHILD?
- I AM,MY LORD.
I MEAN...
WE ARE,MY LORD.
- THANK YOU.
CALL IN THE NEXT WITNESS,
PLEASE.
- DOCTOR... SPARKS,
I BELIEVE YOU HAVE
A STATEMENT TO MAKE.
- YES, MY LORD.
I'VE STUDIED THE LAINGS'
CASE CLOSELY...
- I'M A GREAT ADMIRER
OF BREVITY, DR. SPARKS,
BUT WILL YOU PLEASE GIVE US
YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE
AND A PLACE OF WORK?
- S-SORRY.
GENETICS RESEARCH FELLOW
AT WITS UNIVERSITY.
- THANK YOU.
- I BELIEVE
THERE'S A PLAUSIBLE
GENETIC EXPLANATION
FOR SANDRA'S APPEARANCE.
THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY
IS SUCH THAT MANY--
INDEED, WE BELIEVE MOS AFRIKAANERS CARRY BLACK GENES.
[AUDIENCE MURMURING]
- SILENCE.
[GAVEL BANGS]
PLEASE GO ON.
- SO...
TWO WHITE-LOOKING PARENTS
CAN CONTRIBUTE ENOUGH
BLACK GENES TO PRODUCE
A CHILD QUITE A LOT...
DARKER THAN THEMSELVES.
THIS PHENOMENON IS COMMONLY
KNOWN AS A THROWBACK.
WE PREFER TO USE
THE MORE PRECISE TERM
"POLYGENIC INHERITANCE."
- THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
- [GASPS]
ABRAHAM!
[TIRES SCREECH]
[COWS MOOING]
- WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?
I DIDN'T KILL ANYONE.
Sandra: HURRY UP!
WE'RE HAVING A BABY!
[HORN HONKING]
- HE LOOKS JUST LIKE PA.
[CHUCKLES]
- DO YOU WANT TO HOLD HIM?
JUST...
CRADLE HIS HEAD
IN THE CROOK OF YOUR ARM.
THAT'S RIGHT.
NOW, THE TRICK
TO GETTING HIM TO EA IS TO RUB HIS TUMMY
JUST HERE.
OH?
GOOD.
[CHUCKLES]
[GASPS]
Man:
AND IN PARLIAMENT TODAY,
AN AMENDMENT WAS MADE TO THE
POPULATION REGISTRATION ACT.
DESCENT RATHER THAN
APPEARANCE
WILL BE
THE DETERMINING FACTOR...
- TEA, BOSS?
- ...IN ALL
CLASSIFICATION CASES.
CHILDREN MUST NOW BE CLASSIFIED THE SAME RACE AS THEIR PARENTS.- [SIGHS]
- OUR REPORTER WENT TO
THE STREETS OF PRETORIA...
- THANK GOD.
- ...TO GATHER REACTIONS.
- THANK GOD.
Man: THIS IS A BETRAYAL
OF EVERYTHING
THE WHITE MAN STANDS FOR.
- SHE'S WHITE AGAIN.
- DECLARE THEM ALL BASTARDS--
- SANNIE!
- SANDRA LAING, THE LOT OF THEM.
THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE.
Abraham: SANNIE!
SANNIE!
SHE'S WHITE AGAIN!
SANDRA, YOU'RE WHITE!
[MID-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS]
[LAUGHING]
[HORN HONKS]
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
- SORRY I'M LATE.
THE FAN BELT BROKE.
FIXED IT WITH MY TIGHTS
THE WAY YOUR PA TAUGHT ME.
WHO ARE THE HANDSOMES?
- THEY'RE FROM
THE BOYS' SCHOOL.
THEY COME UP HERE
ONCE A MONTH.
- THAT'S NICE.
- NOT REALLY.
[CHUCKLES]
SHALL I GET MY BAGS?
- [LAUGHS]
PUT YOUR ARMS DOWN
SO I CAN SEE YOU.
HMM! SO GROWN UP!
OH, "MADAM THIS"
AND "MADAM THAT" NOW.
HMM?
- AAH! BOETIE!
[SMOOCHING]
[CHUCKLES]
[CAR DOOR CLOSES]
- COME AND PLAY WITH ME.
- NO, I WANT TO SAY "HELLO"
TO PA.
- TELL HIM NOT TO BE LATE.
IT'S BOEREKOS, YOUR FAVORITE.
COME.
Abraham: NO.
I DON'T WANT ANY MORE CABBAGES.
I HAVEN'T SOLD LAST WEEK'S YET.
AND LOOK AT YOUR LETTUCES.
THEY'RE ALL WILTED.
I'LL TAKE THOSE...
AND THOSE--
THAT'S 25 ALTOGETHER.
[COINS CLINKING]
- YOU CAN PAY ME NEXT WEEK,
MY BOSS.
- THIS SHOP IS NO PLACE
FOR A YOUNG LADY.
LOOK, I GOT YOU
A TYPEWRITER.
MAYBE YOU CAN WORK
IN AN OFFICE ONE DAY.
MUCH NICER.
[PEOPLE MURMURING]
- MA...
I WANT I BELOWTHE KNEES.
- YOU HAVE LOVELY KNEES,
MY SWEETHEART.
AND ALL THE GIRLS
WEAR THEM ABOVE THESE DAYS.
- WHAT DO YOUTHINK, PA?
- HMM?
VERY...
MODERN.
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
- PLEASE GO.
[DOOR OPENS]
- SANDRA, MY SWEET, YOU LOOK
LIKE YOU'VE SEEN A GHOST.
- IT'S ALL TOO LIGH FOR ME, MA.
- YOU DON'T NEED THAT STUFF.
YOUR SKIN IS PERFECT.
HERE.
- I DON'T WANT TO GO OU WITH JOHANN.
- WHO WOULD YOU PREFER?
MARTHINUS,
THE SWARTS' BOY?
- HE'S TOO FAT.
AND HE WEARS THESE...
TINY SHORTS.
[BOTH LAUGH]
- THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CHOICE
AROUND HERE.
BEAUTIFUL.
- BUT THE THING
THAT'S NOT SO NICE IS,
EVERY SUNDAY,
MY FATHER...
CHOPS ONE OF
THE COCK'S HEAD OFF.
BUT THE FLESH
IS VERY TENDER.
THE RED ONES--
THE LEGHORNS--
THEY'RE THE BES LAY HENS.
THE KIDS AT SCHOOL--
THEY ALWAYS SAID
MY MOTHER LAID THE EGGS.
DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN
HYPNOTIZE A CHICKEN?
I PROMISE YOU.
YOU JUST PUT I ON ITS BACK,
AND-- AND THEN YOU DRAW A LINE
FROM ITS BEAK,
AND THEN IT JUST LIES THERE
WITH ITS MOUTH OPEN.
[LAUGHS]
YOU KNOW,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEEL BAD
ABOUT LOOKING LIKE
A COLORED.
IT'S OKAY WITH ME,
REALLY.
[MUSIC PLAYING INDISTINCTLY
ON RADIO]
OOH, I LIKE THIS SONG.
[INDISTINCT SINGING]
- HI.
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
- I THINK SOMEONE'S
COMPLAINING ABOUT YOU.
Woman:
WE DON'T WANT HER KIND HERE.
- PLEASE.
LET'S JUST GO.
- UM...
I PROMISED MY DAD I'D KEEP YOU
OUT UNTIL 6:00.
IT'S JUS ANOTHER HALF-HOUR.
- WILL YOU EXCUSE ME?
[CAR DOOR CLOSES]
I'M STUCK.
- [EXHALES]
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN EASIER
IF YOU PAID YOUR BILL.
- [LAUGHS]
OOH!
THAT HURT.
- THAT'S WHY
I MADE YOU LAUGH.
- OH.
I'VE GOT TO GO.
- JUST WAIT HERE.
I'LL GIVE YOU
A LIFT HOME.
[INSECTS CHIRPING]
YOU CAN'T WALK
ALL THE WAY HOME.
YOU WON'T HAVE
ANY FEET LEFT.
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
MY MOTHER CAN VOUCH
FOR MY GOOD CHARACTER.
WE CAN GO
AND SEE HER NOW.
IT WILL TAKE US TWO DAYS,
BUT IF YOU INSIST.
LIKE MY BAKKIE?
- IT'S YOURS?
- SAVED UP FOR IT.
TWO YEARS AND EIGHT TONS
OF CABBAGES.
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
HAVE YOU EVER DRIVEN AND DANCED
ALL AT THE SAME TIME?
- [CHUCKLES]
- I DIDN'T THINK SO.
PUT ON THE RADIO
FOR ME, PLEASE.
[REGIONAL MUSIC PLAYS]
AHH.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
[LAUGHING]
AAH.
- [LAUGHING]
[BOTH LAUGHING]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
- WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
- DRIEFONTEIN.
JUST OVER THE RAINBOW.
- HUH.
I BETTER GO,
BEFORE PA COMES OUT.
THANK YOU.
[DOOR CLOSES]
Abraham:
WHERE'S JOHANN?
- HE DROPPED ME
AT THE GATE.
HE HAD TO GET HOME.
DID HE TALK ABOUT CHICKENS
ALL AFTERNOON?
[LAUGHS]
- YES.
- NO SECOND DATE?
- YOU CAN'T EXPECT TO FIND
THE RIGHT ONE STRAIGHTAWAY.
IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME
TO FIND YOUR FATHER.
- GOOD NIGHT.
- [CHUCKLES]
[CHILDREN YELLING]
[CHUCKLING]
OHH!
- DIE, DINGAAN, DIE!
[TOY GUN CLICKS]
- OHH. OHH.
- NO. NO. LOOK.
YOU PICK YOUR SQUASHES
TOO EARLY.
I'LL TAKE THOSE
AND THOSE.
16 ALTOGETHER.
HAVE SANDRA PAY YOU
FROM THE TILL.
AND NO MORE
THAN WE AGREED!
- YES, BOSS.
[CASH REGISTER WHIRS, DINGS]
- THANK YOU.
- MY FEET ARE STILL SORE.
- I HAVE A CURE.
- SANDRA.
BRING ME THE BOOKS
FROM LAST NIGHT.
- YES, PA.
- WHAT DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE DOING WITH MY DAUGHTER?
- UH, JUST TALKING,
MY BOSS.
- SIX FEET, PETRUS.
THAT'S THE DISTANCE YOU KEEP
WHEN TALKING TO HER.
SURE, MY BOSS.
- IS YOUR HAIR KROES
ALL OVER?
- PARDON?
- DOWN THERE,
ON YOUR THING.
IS IT KAFFIR HAIR
OR WHITE HAIR?
[DOOR RATTLING]
[BOTH STRAINING]
- AAH!
[EXHALES]
- BITCH!
- [PANTING]
- SO, THAT'S TWOSHE'S DECIDED
AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR HER.
- ABRAHAM,
LEAVE HER ALONE.
- DO YOU LOVE ME?
- THAT'S A STUPID
QUESTION.
- LOOK AT ME.
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
- I SEE MY BEAUTIFUL GIRL.
- PA!
I'M NOTWHITE.
THAT'S WHA THOSE BOYS WANT.
A WHITE GIRL TO MARRY,
TO HAVE CHILDREN WITH!
[SLAMS TABLE]
- THAT IS ENOUGH!
YOU'RE EXCUSED
FROM THE TABLE. GO.
GO!
[DOOR OPENS, SLAMS]
- CAN I HELP
IN THE SHOP TODAY?
- SHUT UP!
- DIDN'T YOU SEE
HER BRUISES?
- LOVE BITES.
THEY'RE KIDS.
- NO, HE WAS HURTING HER.
ABRAHAM, YOU KNOW
THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE EASY.
- OF COURSE
IT WON'T BE EASY,
BUT WHAT MUST SHE DO,
STAY OUT HERE WITH US...
FOREVER?
- THERE ARE BOYS AT HER SCHOOL,
FOREIGN BOYS...
- OH. FOREIGN BOYS.
- THEY HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS.
THEY COULD TAKE HER AWAY.
- "TAKE HER AWAY."
WHEN SHE WAS BORN,
YOUWANTED TO HIDE OUT HERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
AND NOW YOU WANT SOMEONE
TO TAKE HER AWAY.
- NO, I WANT HER
TO HAVE A LIFE.
A GOODLIFE.
- SHE WILL MARRY
AN AFRIKAANER,
BECAUSE THAT'S WHA SHE IS --
AFRIKAANS!
Abraham:
GOOD MORNING.
Together:
GOOD MORNING, BOSS.
[WATER SPLASHING]
[WATER SPLASHES]
- UH...
- DON'T GO.
[ROOSTER CROWS IN DISTANCE]
- SO, IS IT A GOOD SECRET,
THE ONE THAT YOU'RE KEEPING?
- VERY.
Abraham:
CAR NEEDS A NEW CARBURETOR!
DON'T WAIT.
TELL NORA TO KEEP
SOME DINNER WARM FOR ME.
- HE'S STILL CROSS
WITH ME.
- YOU COULDTRY HARDER.
YOU ARE JUST AS STUBBORN
AS HE IS.
- HE IGNORES
EVERYTHING I SAY.
[SCOFFS LIGHTLY]
- IT'S NOT PERSONAL.
YOUR PA THINKS TWO WORDS STRUNG
TOGETHER IS A CONVERSATION.
SO, ARE YOU GOING TO TELL ME
ABOUT IT?
- IT'S NOTHING.
DOESN'T MATTER.
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
[SHEEP BLEATS]
AH!
[SHRIEKS HAPPILY]
- THOSE SCARS--
THEY'RE FROM INYANGA,
A TRADITIONAL HEALER.
THEY'RE TO PROTECT ME
FROM EVIL.
THEY MAKE ME STRONG
AND LUCKY.
THAT'S HOW I GOT YOU.
- WHAT ABOUT THATONE?
- [EXHALES]
FROM MY GOGO.
MY GRANDMOTHER.
SHE HIT ME
WITH A FRYING PAN.
- [LAUGHS]
[CHUCKLES]
- AH. HERE.
SHE'S A TOUGH WOMAN.
- [LAUGHING]
HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
MAKE ME FEEL BETTER.
- I TRY HARD.
[DOOR OPENS]
Sannie:
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
- FOR A WALK.
TO SEE NORA.
[SLAMS DESK]
- TRY AGAIN.
- WHAT ARE YOU DOING
WITH THAT KAFFIR?!
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
TELL ME!
- NO.
- I SAW WITH MY OWN EYES.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
THIS IS YOURFAULT.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[GUN COCKS]
- BACK TO BED, SWEETHEART.
- MOVE YOUR HAND,
OR I WILL PUT A NAIL THROUGH IT.
- LET'S HEAR WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY
BEFORE YOU IMPRISON HER.
[DOOR OPENS]
NO MORE SMART TALK, SANDY.
THIS IS SERIOUS.
- I LIKE HIM.
PETRUS.
- PETRUS?
YOU LIKE HIM,
LIKE -- LIKE A...
LIKE A FRIEND,
LIKE A BROTHER?
- A BOYFRIEND.
[GASPS]
[SOBS]
- PETRUS IS A BLACK MAN,
DIRT IN THIS COUNTRY.
- HE UNDERSTANDS ME, MA.
- YOU CAN'T HELP
WHAT YOU ARE BORN WITH,
BUT YOU CAN HELP
WHAT YOU BECOME.
NOW, GO AND WASH
YOUR FACE.
YOU HAVE PUNISHED
YOUR FATHER ENOUGH.
- MA...
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
[CRYING]
[SNIFFLES]
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS
IN DISTANCE]
Abraham:
WELCOME HOME, SON.
GOOD BOY.
[ROOSTER CROWING]
- NORA.
- CHEER UP.
- Petrus. Petrus...
- GO, MY BOSS
IS ANGRY WITH YOU.
- ANGRY WITH ME?
- YOU'D BETTER GO.
- HEY!
DEAD AND BURIED.
THAT'S HOW YOU'LL BE
IF YOU COME NEAR MY PROPERTY
OR MY FAMILY AGAIN.
YOU UNDERSTAND?
- SURE, BOSS LAING.
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
BOSS LAING.
- YOU CAN'T BE
A BRAVE KAFFIR,
SO YOU MUST BE
A STUPID ONE.
- I DON'T THINK YOU UNDERSTAND,
BOSS LAING.
- YOU HAVE TILL THREE--
- BOSS LAING.
- THREE!
- NO.
MA!
HE'S CRAZY!
DO SOMETHING!
- ABRAHAM, STOP!
THERE ARE CHILDREN!
[BIRD CHIRPING]
ABRAHAM?
REMEMBER,
SHE'S YOUR DAUGHTER.
- WHY DO YOU THINK
I'M DOING THIS?
I DIDN'T LET THE STATE
TAKE HER AWAY.
I'M NOT GONNA LET SOME BLOODY
KAFFIR TEAR MY FAMILY APART.
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
[KNOCK ON GLASS]
- CAN I HELP YOU, BOSS?
- PETRUS ZWANE.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE HE STAYS?
[SPEAKING ZULU]
[MAN SPEAKING ZULU]
OH, OKAY.
THEY SAY HE WENT TO SWAZILAND
TO A COUSIN'S FOR A WHILE.
IN MBABANE.
[BANGING]
- WHERE'S THE WHITE GIRL
YOU'VE STOLEN?
- I DIDN'T SEAL ANYONE.
[SHOUTS]
- AND WHO ARE YOU?
- SANDRA.
- LOUDER!
- SANDRA LAING.
- THAT'S THE WHITE GIRL?
- THEY MUST BE JOKING!
- GET DRESSED.
BOTH OF YOU. NOW!
GO. [SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
HURRY UP!
- THAT'S IT.
IN YOU GO.
[VOMITING]
- HOW LONG
MUST SHE BE PUNISHED?
- THAT'S FOR THE MAGISTRATE
TO DECIDE.
SHE'S COMMITTED A CRIME.
SHE NEEDS TIME TO THINK.
REPENT.
Bailiff: ALL RISE.
- BE SEATED.
SANDRA LAING...
YOU'VE BEEN DETAINED
FOR THREE MONTHS
FOR ENTERING THE KINGDOM
OF SWAZILAND ILLEGALLY.
I'M PREPARED
TO RELEASE YOU NOW
ON CONDITION THAT YOU RETURN
TO YOUR PARENTS' HOME
UNTIL YOU'RE OF AGE.
- SANDRA, COME.
YOU HEARD
WHAT THE MAGISTRATE SAID.
- YOU PUT ME IN THERE.
I'M NOT GOING WITH YOU.
- OH, MY BABY,
PLEASE COME HOME.
YOUR FATHER KNOWS
THAT HE WAS WRONG.
ABRAHAM?
- WE WANT YOU HOME,
SANDRA.
YOUR MOTHER, ADRIAAN,
LEON...
AND ME, TOO.
I-I WANT YOU HOME.
- IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
- PLEASE.
WE MADE A MISTAKE.
BOTH OF US.
- SANDRA...
IF YOU DON'T COME NOW,
YOU WILL NEVER
SEE YOUR FAMILY AGAIN.
I PROMISE YOU.
- NO, ABRAHAM.
- HE DOESN'T MEAN IT.
- I'M PREGNANT.
DO YOU STILL
WANT ME HOME?
- SANDY...
[SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
- YOU TWO ARE THE ONLY FAMILY
YOUR MOTHER AND I HAVE NOW.
YOU UNDERSTAND?
SHE LEFT YOU, TOO,
YOU KNOW!
[SCREAMING]
Jenny: IT'S COMING!
- MAMA!
[SCREAMING]
- PUSH, PUSH!
SANDRA...
[SCREAMING]
OHH. AHH.
[CRYING]
SANDRA.
OHH.
[CRYING]
UHH.
OKAY. YEAH.
HERE'S YOUR BABY.
YES. YES.
[BABY CRYING]
[WATER SPLASHING SOFTLY]
[LAUGHS]
YEAH.
- HERE'S YOUR MAMA.
HERE'S YOUR MAMA.
[CHILDREN PLAYING]
- IS IT A GIRL?
YOU SEE MAMMA, I TOLD YOU
SHE BRINGS ME LUCK.
[SHOUTING HAPPILY]
[LAUGHING]
[SHOUTS HAPPILY]
[SNEEZES]
[SNEEZES]
[SPEAKING ZULU]
[CLAPPING,
SPEAKING ZULU]
[SPEAKING ZULU]
[BABY CRYING]
[SPEAKING ZULU]
[HAMMERING]
[GOAT BLEATING]
- WHERE'S YOUR BAKKIE?
- SOLD IT.
INVESTMEN FOR THE FUTURE.
AND WITH THIS SHOP,
WE CAN BUY TWO MORE.
MAYBE 100 MORE.
[LAUGHS]
- PETRUS, ARE YOU GOING
TO SELL THINGS
MORE CHEAPLY
THAN IN THE CITY?
- HE'S TRULY A BUSINESSMAN.
- YES, HE'S SERIOUS
ABOUT THIS.
[UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
[LAUGHS]
- NOW, THIS IS ONE THING
THEY'LL NEVER TAKE AWAY FROM US.
CAN YOU IMAGINE
BETSIE VERWOERD DOING THAT?
[LAUGHS]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
- CONGRATULATIONS, PETRUS.
- HEY.
[LAUGHS]
- WAS PETRUS ALWAYS
SUCH A SHOW-OFF?
- ALWAYS.
BUT WITH YOU NOW,
HE HAS SOMETHING
TO SHOW OFF ABOUT.
[BOTH LAUGH]
- BABY, COME, LET'S DANCE.
HEY, PETRUS!
- PLEASE.
HE MEANT NO HARM.
Woman: PETRUS!
WHERE'S THE BEER?
I'M NOT DRUNK ENOUGH.
- COME ON.
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
- [LAUGHS]
[DOOR OPENS]
- I THOUGH YOU WERE HAPPY HERE.
- I AM.
- THEN WHY ARE YOU WRITING
LETTERS TO YOUR MOTHER?
- I MISS HER.
IT DOESN'T MEAN
I DON'T LOVE YOU.
[ENVELOPES THUD]
- SANDRA SAID YOU'D BE SWEEPING
THE PORCH IN THE AFTERNOON.
SHE SENT A LETTER.
SHE ALSO SENDS HER LOVE.
- NORA.
WHAT DID SHE
JUST GIVE YOU?
- NOTHING, BOSS.
- GIVE IT TO ME.
[GROANS SOFTLY]
HEY!
TELL SANDRA HER MOTHER
WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH HER.
OFF YOU GO.
SHESHA!
- HE'S AN ANGRY MAN.
ANGRY. ANGRY.
- SHESHA!
IF YOU EVER LIE TO ME AGAIN,
I'LL KICK YOU OUT OF HERE.
- DON'T.
CAN'T WE GO TO THEM?
- SANNIE...
- I'M BEGGING YOU.
PLEASE.
- YOU REALIZE HOW THESE PEOPLE
ARE LIVING?
- SHE'S YOUR DAUGHTER.
- OKAY. SO WE GO AND SEE THEM.
THEN WHAT?
WE BRING THEM HERE?
MAKE A HOME FOR HER AND THE BABY
OUT THE BACK WITH NORA?
- WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?
SANDRA HAS ALWAYS LIVED HERE
WITH US.
- AND PETRUS?
MUST WE INVITE HIM TO LIVE
IN THE HOUSE WITH US, AS WELL?
- ALL I AM ASKING
IS THAT WE SEE SANDRA
AND HER BABY.
- NO.
SHE MADE HER CHOICE.
LEAVE IT.
[ENGINE REVS]
GET OUT.
GET OUT!!
- YOU KNOW WHAT KEEPS ME AWAKE
AT NIGHT?
MAYBE SHE MADE
THE RIGHT CHOICE.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
- AH, PUT THAT AWAY.
I DON'T LIKE THINGS
THAT MAKE YOU SAD.
[SIGHS]
- I WANT TO BE
YOUR WIFE.
- YOU ARE.
- I MEAN YOUR REALWIFE.
LEGAL WIFE.
- YOU KNOW
WHAT THAT INVOLVES.
TOO MUCH OF YOUR FATHER
IN YOU.
- LEAVE THE PERSON BESIDE YOU
ALONE, SHE NEEDS TO REST.
[CHUCKLES]
- YOU TOO MAMMA, GO TO SLEEP.
WE'RE FINE HERE.
- SURE.
[BABY FUSSES]
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
[CHANTING AND SHOUTING]
[CHANTING AND SHOUTING
CONTINUE]
- SO, YOU WANT TO BE
RECLASSIFIED COLORED.
- YES.
MY SON IS COLORED,
AND I WANT TO MARRY HIS FATHER,
WHO IS BLACK.
- AND YOU ARE...?
- WHITE...
ACCORDING
TO THE GOVERNMENT.
- IS THIS A JOKE?
- I'M AFRAID NOT.
- ARE YOU THE FATHER?
- YES, MY BOSS.
- JUST A MINUTE.
I'M SORRY.
I CAN'T HELP YOU.
I NEED YOUR
BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
NEXT!
- WAIT.
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO
IN THE MEANTIME?
- AS LONG AS YOU DON'T HAVE
AN I.D. CARD, YOU DON'T EXIST.
- WELL, IF I DON'T EXIST,
CAN I STILL LIVE
WITH MY COLORED CHILD
AND HIS BLACK FATHER?
- NO.
YOU'RE BREAKING THE LAW.
[BIRD CHIRPING]
- COME.
[SANNIE SPEAKING ZULU]
- WE'RE LOW ON VEGETABLES,
BUT IF...
[MOANS SOFTLY]
Sandra:
THIS IS HENRY.
[Chuckling]
- BEAUTIFUL BOY!
[GASPS]
DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?
DID YOUR MAMA TELL YOU
ABOUT ME?
- WHY DIDN'T YOU WRITE?
- I DID. YOUR-- YOUR PA
BURNED ALL MY LETTERS.
I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME.
YOUR PA'S GONNA BE BACK
ANY MINUTE.
- MA, I NEED
MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
I WANT TO BE
RECLASSIFIED COLORED.
MAMA...
THEY COULD TAKE MY BABY
AWAY FROM ME.
- OH, SANDY.
ARE YOU SURE?
- YES.
I'M HAPPY.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
[SMOOCHES]
- OH.
I'LL FIND A WAY TO GET I TO YOU. I PROMISE.
CAN I KEEP THIS...
UNTIL NEXT TIME?
- YEAH.
WAIT!
COME AGAIN.
OR I'LL...
[ENGINE IDLING]
- STAY IN THE CAR.
[CHICKEN CLUCKING]
- YOUR GRANDSON
HAS YOUR EYES.
- IF I EVER FIND THEM HERE,
I WILL KILL THEM...
AND THEN MYSELF.
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
[SHOUTING CONTINUES]
Man: YOU WERE GIVEN
MORE THAN ENOUGH WARNING!
KROMKRANS IS NOW
A WHITES-ONLY AREA!
[SHOUTING CONTINUES]
PLEASE PROCEED
IN AN ORDERLY MANNER!
- PLEASE DON'T DO THIS,
MY BROTHER.
IT'S MY LIVING,
YOU UNDERSTAND?
[SHOUTING CONTINUES]
- PETRUS!
[SHOUTING CONTINUES]
- MOVE!
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
[SHOUTING CONTINUES]
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE
TO BRING.
YOU DON'T NEED THAT,
OR YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE!
IN YOUR HEAD,
YOU'RE STILL WHITE!
[SHOUTING CONTINUES]
- I LEFT MY FAMILY
FOR YOU, PETRUS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE
TO GIVE YOU.
- YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I HAVE NOTHING.
MY SON HAS NOTHING.
AND YOU CAN
ALWAYS GO HOME.
- THIS IS MY HOME!
- TO HELL WITH THE WHITE MAN.
- THEY TAKE OUR HOMES,
OUR FAMILIES...
THEY MOVE US LIKE COWS.
...FROM ONE PLACE
TO THE NEXT.
AND WE ARE SUPPOSED
TO BELIEVE WE'RE HUMAN.
HOW CAN WE BELIEVE THAT?
YOU KNOW WHAT?
MY WIFE IS WHITE.
[LAUGHS]
SHE'S BROUGHT ME NOTHING
BUT BAD LUCK AND MISERY.
HER SKIN IS A CURSE.
- MA JENNY...
I'M PREGNANT AGAIN.
- IT'S A BLESSING.
[BRAKES SQUEAL]
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
[PEOPLE SINGING AND CLAPPING]
[SINGING AND CLAPPING
CONTINUE]
[SINGING AND CLAPPING
CONTINUE]
- IT DOESN'T LIKE IT,
HENRY.
- LEAVE ME ALONE.
Sandra: HE SAYS HIS LEG
IS MUCH BETTER.
THE MINE DOCTOR SAYS
IT'S FRACTURED, NOT BROKEN.
HE SHOULD BE ABLE
TO SEND MONEY HOME SOON,
AND HE MISSES YOU.
[LAUGHS]
NOT NOW, ELSIE.
MA'S BUSY.
- HENRY HIT ME.
- BYE-BYE.
- BYE.
LET'S HOPE
IT BITES HIM, EH?
HE'S SORRY HE HASN'T WRITTEN
IN SO LONG,
BUT HE WAS ARRESTED.
I CAN'T MAKE OU THE NEXT BIT.
BREAK IT UP.
BREAK IT.
AH, THAT'S IT.
- "MY DEAREST MA,
I THINK OF YOU AND PA
EVERY DAY."
- YOU CAN'T READ
MY LETTERS.
- IS THE WHITE MADAM
TELLING THE KAFFIR
WHAT HE CAN
AND WHAT HE CANNOT DO?
- NOW, WATCH CAREFULLY.
THIS IS HOW MY MOTHER
TAUGHT ME HOW TO MAKE--
- HEY.
I'M SICK OF HEARING
ABOUT YOUR MOTHER.
YOU WANT TO MAKE
THINGS GROW?
YOU NEED WATER.
DIDN'T YOUR MOTHER
TELL YOU THAT?
AAH!
SANDRA...
- AAH!
[THUNDER CRASHES]
[HINGES CREAKING]
I'LL KEEP IN TOUCH.
I PROMISE.
YOU'VE BEEN LIKE A MOTHER
TO ME.
- A GOGO MAYBE.
WE ALL HAVE TWO GOGOS,
BUT ONLY ONEMOTHER.
- THANK YOU.
- HELLO, SISTER.
- HELLO TO YOU.
- DOES MRS. SANNIE LAING
STILL LIVE HERE?
- I KNOW YOU.
U-THEMBI.
[LAUGHS]
WE PLAYED TOGETHER
AS CHILDREN.
YOU TAUGHT ME TO SWIM!
[BOTH LAUGH]
HER FATHER --
"SHESHA! SHESHA!"
[BOTH LAUGH]
- WHERE DID MY PARENTS GO?
- UH... SHESHA
WENT TO PONGOLA.
THERE WERE
RELATIVES THERE.
A COUSIN.
YES, I-I THINK SO.
- HEY.
DO YOU, UH,
WANT A LIFT?
[LAUGHS]
- LIFT YOUR FEET, KAFFIRS.
[HINGES SQUEAK]
[DOORBELL RINGS]
- MM.
WHITE.
LET ME EXPLAIN.
- GO AWAY
OR I'LL CALL THE POLICE.
- I'M SANDRA.
MA.
SANNIE: Sandy.
- IT'S ME, MAMA.
- SANDRA.
- PLEASE, MAMA.
I NEED TO SEE YOU.
I LEFT PETRUS.
TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE.
Abraham: SANNIE.
WHO IS IT?
- [BREATHES DEEPLY]
I'M SORRY, SANDRA.
YOUR FATHER'S VERY SICK.
[Voice breaking]
- I MISS YOU SO MUCH.
I LOVE YOU, MAMA.
- SANNIE.
- [GASPS]
I HAVE TO GO
TO HIM NOW.
I LOVE YOU, TOO.
[SOBS]
[HINGES CREAKING]
[Click]
[Dial tone]
[REPLACES RECEIVER]
[CHILDREN LAUGHING
IN DISTANCE]
- HOLD WITH BOTH HANDS.
HOLD WITH BOTH HANDS.
- WHERE IS SHE?
- WITH ANNA IN PONGOLA.
- TAKE ME TO HER.
- NO, ABRAHAM.
IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
I'M TELLING YOU.
YOU'RE TOO SICK.
I'M GOING TO GET YOUR LUNCH
AND YOUR TABLETS NOW.
[ABRAHAM GROANS]
WHAT THE HELL
ARE YOU DOING?
[GROANS]
- I'M GOING TO PONGOLA.
[Weakly]
I'M GOING TO SEE HER.
- YOU ARE GOING NOWHERE.
NOW GET BACK TO BED.
DOCTOR'S ORDERS.
- SANNIE...
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
- ALL THESE YEARS,
YOU'VE KEPT US APART.
YOU DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO SEE
THE PICTURES OF HER CHILDREN.
WHAT HAS CHANGED?
WHY IS IT OKAY TO GO NOW?
- PLEASE.
I NEED TO SEE HER.
- YOUNEED TO SEE HER?
I HAVE NEEDED TO SEE HER
EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.
- I'M SORRY.
I'M SO SORRY.
I WAS WRONG.
I NEED...
I HAVE TO TELL HER...
AAH.
- COME ON.
- AAH.
- YOU WANT HER FORGIVENESS.
YOU DON'T DESERVE IT.
NEITHER DO I.
- SANNIE...
I'M BEGGING YOU.
- NO.
YOU MADE YOUR CHOICE.
[MAN VOCALIZING]
Elsie: COME ON, MA.
- LET'S DO IT.
[MAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]
[UP-TEMPO REGIONAL MUSIC
PLAYING]
[MAN SPEAKING
IN NATIVE LANGUAGE]
- UH, COULD WE ASK
SOME QUESTIONS?
UH, OKAY,
DON'T LOOK AT THE CAMERA.
AND...
DID YOU VOTE TODAY?
- YES.
- SHE NEEDS
TO SPEAK UP, HUGH.
- YES. LITTLE BIT LOUDER
THIS TIME, SANDRA.
MOST PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER
YOUR STORY.
HOW DO YOU FEEL
ABOUT THE CHANGES HAPPENING
IN SOUTH AFRICA?
- I'M...HAPPY
FOR THE COUNTRY...
BUT IT'S TOO LATE FOR ME.
I HAVEN'T SEEN MY PARENTS
IN NEARLY 20 YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.
- SPECIAL DELIVERY.
Woman: SANDRA.
SANDRA.
CAN I GE YOUR AUTOGRAPH?
- THE BITCH!
SHE THINKS
SHE'S TOO FAMOUS FOR US!
Elsie: HENRY!
COME AND HELP ME,
PLEASE!
Henry: HI, MUM.
- HI.
- HELLO, MUM.
- HI.
- IS IT A SECRET ADMIRER?
- IT'S FROM MY MOTHER.
MY FATHER DIED OF CANCER.
TWO YEARS AGO.
- I CAN READ I FOR YOU, MA.
- THE MONEY'S FROM MY FATHER.
THE SAME AMOUNT HE LEF MY BROTHERS.
YEAH.
- IS THAT IT?
- ARE YOU GOING
TO WRITE BACK, MA?
- THERE'S NO
RETURN ADDRESS.
Man: WE CANNOT RELEASE
THAT INFORMATION.
Sandra: I THOUGHT THIS WAS
THE NEWSOUTH AFRICA.
HAVEN'T YOU HEARD OF THE FREEDOM
OF INFORMATION ACT?
- TOO MANY TIMES.
- I'M NOT LEAVING
TILL YOU GIVE ME MY FILE.
[SLAPS DESK]
- SIR, THERE'S A LADY HERE
BY THE NAME OF SANDRA LAING.
SHE DOESN'T WAN TO GO AWAY...
- SANDRA LAING?
YOU, UH,
WON'T REMEMBER ME.
- UH-HUH.
I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
- I HEARD YOU GOT YOURSELF
CLASSIFIED COLORED AGAIN.
- IT WAS NECESSARY.
- AFTER ALL THE TROUBLE
YOUR FATHER WENT TO.
- MY FATHER IS DEAD,
MENEER.
- I'M SORRY.
- PLEASE.
I NEED YOU TO HELP ME FIND
MY MOTHER BEFORE SHE ALSO DIES.
- AH, SANDRA.
WE DON'T KEEP
THOSE RECORDS HERE.
- WHERE ELSE CAN I GO?
- THIS IS A PENSIONS OFFICE,
NOT A DETECTIVE AGENCY.
- IF SHE'S ALIVE,
YOU MUST PAY HER A PENSION.
SURELY YOU HAVE
HER DETAILS.
- MM.
- THIS ONE'S LOST HER MOTHER.
THERE'S 70 OTHER CLERKS HERE,
AND IT'S ALWAYS ME.
- YOU'VE GOT A KIND FACE.
- NO, I DON'T.
I HAVE A FAT FACE.
PEOPLE CAN'T TELL
THE DIFFERENCE.
[PRINTER WHIRRING]
[HORN HONKS]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
- HELLO, MA'AM.
- HELLO TO YOU, SISTER.
- DOES MRS. LAING LIVE HERE?
- OHH, SORRY, SISI.
THE OLD LADY
LEFT MONTHS AGO.
I HEARD SHE HAD A STROKE.
- THANK YOU.
Elsie: IS IT REALLY
WORTH IT, MA?
- I THOUGHT YOU UNDERSTOOD.
- I THOUGHT SO, TOO.
BUT WHAT'S WRONG
WITH US?
AREN'T WE ENOUGH
FOR YOU?
- OF COURSE YOU ARE.
YOU NEVER STOP NEEDING
YOUR PARENTS.
THEY'RE A PAR OF WHO YOU ARE.
[DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE]
[LOUD KNOCKING ON DOOR]
[KNOCKING CONTINUES]
OH, HELLO, GOGO.
- PHONE FOR YOU, SANDRA.
- IT BETTER BE SERIOUS.
- THANK YOU.
HELLO?
- LISTEN, SANDRA...
I, UH, SPOKE
TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
HE MADE SOME INQUIRIES.
- SANNIE?
YOUR DAUGHTER'S HERE
TO SEE YOU.
- MY DAUGHTER?
[DOOR CLOSES]
WELL...
AREN'T YOU GOING
TO SAY SOMETHING?
YOU HAD PLENTY TO SAY
TO THAT TV REPORTER.
- I JUST TOLD THE TRUTH.
- YOU WEREN'T THE ONLY ONE
WHO SUFFERED, YOU KNOW.
- I SHOULDN'T HAVE COME.
- SANDRA...
THERE'S A KEY
IN THE DRESSER.
NO, NOT THERE.
THE - THE DRAWER.
NO. THE...
THE OTHER ONE.
[STRAINING]
- LET ME HELP YOU.
- NO, I CAN GET IT MYSELF.
- DON'T BE SO STUBBORN, MA.
COME.
- OHH.
UNLOCK THAT CUPBOARD.
THAT ONE.
THE BOX.
I PUT IT IN STORAGE
SO YOUR PA COULDN'T GET IT.
- OHH.
[DOVE COOING]
- DOVES SHIT A LOT.
- [LAUGHS]
MA!
- IT'S TRUE.
- [CHUCKLING]
- YOUR PA DIDN'T LIKE ME
SWEARING, BUT I ENJOY IT NOW.
- HM.
- HE WASN'T A BAD MAN.
HE DID THE BES HE COULD.
- "NEVER GIVE UP."
- I WISH THAT I HAD NEVER
HEARD THOSE WORDS.
- NO, MA.
THEY KEPT ME GOING.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[WOMAN SINGING IN ZULU]
[LAUGHS]
[SINGING CONTINUES]
[SOFT REGIONAL MUSIC]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[WOMAN SINGING
IN NATIVE LANGUAGE]
[MID-TEMPO REGIONAL
MUSIC PLAYS]
[WOMAN SINGING
IN NATIVE LANGUAGE]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
- COME ON, MA.
- LET'S DO IT.
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH
YEAH, YEAH
- SANDRA.
SANDRA LAING?
HUGH JOHNSTON,
"WORLD NETWORK NEWS."
UH, COULD WE ASK
SOME QUESTIONS?
Woman: SANDRA.
SANDRA.
CAN I GE YOUR AUTOGRAPH?
- SORRY.
- LOOK, MAMA!
[GASPS]
- I'VE GOT A SECRET.
- IS IT A GOOD SECRET?
- YES, VERY.
- TELL ME.
- I PACKED MELINDA
FOR YOU.
[GIGGLES]
- ARE YOU READY,
MY ANGEL?
- DEAR GOD,
MAKE THIS JOURNEY SAFE.
WE PUT OUR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN,
LEON AND SANDRA,
IN YOUR CARE,
AND KNOW THA YOU WILL BLESS THEM.
Together: AMEN.
- BYE, THEMBI!
- BYE, SANDRA.
[CHICKENS CLUCKING]
- THERE ONCE WAS A GIRL
WHO LIVED IN A SHOP,
WHO'D ONLY EA HER MISMATCHED SOCKS.
[LAUGHS]
UNTIL ONE DAY,
ALONG CAME A LION,
AND GOBBLED HER UP
IN JUST TWO HOPS.
[SANDRA LAUGHS]
WINDOWS UP.
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
[CHILD LAUGHS]
OKAY, SANDRA.
- HAVE A GOOD TIME, LEON.
LOOK AFTER YOUR SISTER.
OFF YOU GO.
COME ON, MY LOVE.
- BYE, SON.
- GOOD AFTERNOON.
HELLO, MRS. JOUBERT.
WHAT A LOVELY DRESS.
[GASPS]
SANDRA LAING.
- WHAT'S THE NAME AGAIN?
- LAING.
I'M LEON'S MOTHER.
THERE.
BED NUMBER 4.
THANK YOU.
- MA?
WHY ARE THEY
ALL STARING?
- YOU'RE NEW HERE,
MY SWEET.
THEY'RE JUST CURIOUS.
- EXCUSE ME.
WHAT IS...
Sannie:
NOW, WHAT SHALL WE DO...
WITH MELINDA?
SANDRA.
DO YOU WANT HER
ON THE BED LIKE HOME,
OR SHALL WE PUT HER
ON THE TABLE?
- BED, PLEASE, MA.
- SO, IT'S DONE.
- ANY PROBLEMS?
- NO.
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
[GIRLS CRYING]
- SANDRA.
I'M ELIZE.
- WHAT DO YOU WANT?
- I'M FROM SWAZILAND.
THAT'S ANOTHER COUNTRY.
- I KNOW THAT.
I'M NOT STUPID.
- ALL MY FRIENDS
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN BLACK.
- I'M NOT BLACK.
Man: ON THAT JESUS
REACHED OUT HIS HAND,
TOUCHED HIM AND SAID,
"I WANT YOU TO BE CLEAN."
AND IMMEDIATELY HE WAS CLEANSED
OF HIS LEPROSY.
CLOSE YOUR EYES.
FOR WHAT WE ARE
ABOUT TO RECEIVE, LORD,
MAKE US TRULY GRATEFUL.
All: AMEN.
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
- WHAT HAPPENED?
TELL ME!
- I TOLD ANNIE
YOU WEREN'T BLACK,
AND SHE HIT ME.
Miss Ludik:
NOW, IN THE EARLY DAYS,
OUR COUNTRY WAS VAST PLAINS.
AND ON THESE PLAINS
WERE WILD ANIMALS
AND SAVAGE NATIVES WHO WERE
ALWAYS TRYING TO TAKE OUR LAND.
THERE WERE MANY WARS
BETWEEN THEM.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WAS,
STUDENTS?
UH, DAWIE, JA?
- BECAUSE THEY WERE KAFFIRS,
MEVROU.
[LAUGHTER]
- THAT'S A BAD WORD,
EH, DAWIE?
WE DON'T USE THAT LANGUAGE
IN THE CLASSROOM.
ANNIE. YES.
- THEY COULDN'T LIVE TOGETHER
BECAUSE THEY WERE DIFFERENT.
- THAT'S RIGHT, ANNIE!
GOOD! GOOD, GOOD.
BECAUSE THEY WERE...
All: DIFFERENT.
Miss Ludik: DIFFERENT.
EVEN TODAY,
WE LEARN THAT EVERYTHING
ABOUT THE BANTU IS...
DIFFERENT.
UH, WHAT SORT OF JOBS
DO THEY DO?
MM-HMM?
- THEY WORK IN
THE MIELIE FIELDS, MEVROU.
- THAT'S RIGHT!
- AND IN THE MINES.
- AND IN THE MINES.
- MY FATHER SAYS HE DOESN' LET THEM DRIVE THE TRACTORS
BECAUSE THEY HAVE MONKEY HANDS
LIKE SANDRA.
[LAUGHTER]
Abraham: LOOK.
WHAT DOES THIS SAY?
- [SIGHS]
MENEER LAING,
A PIECE OF PAPER
IS NOT GOING TO REASSURE
ALL THE PARENTS
WHO CALL ME EVERY DAY
TO COMPLAIN THAT THERE'S
A BLACK CHILD AT THIS SCHOOL.
SANDRA IS A DISRUPTION.
YOU ARE A SERVAN OF THE STATE,
AND THE STATE REQUIRES YOU
TO LOOK AFTER MY CHILD.
YOU MUST SIMPLY
DO YOUR JOB, MENEER.
- MY JOB IS TO LOOK AFTER
ALL THE CHILDREN AT THIS SCHOOL.
SANDRA DOES NO BELONG HERE.
- IT'S TRUE.
SANDRA'S SPECIAL.
A BRAVE, INTELLIGENT,
AND A WONDERFUL CHILD.
TRY GETTING TO KNOW HER.
YOU'LL SEE.
WHAT DO I ALWAYS SAY
TO YOU?
- NEVER GIVE UP.
- MM.
[Deep voice]
- NEVER GIVE UP!
- [CHUCKLES]
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
LOOK AFTER YOUR SISTER,
LEON.
[Normal voice]
- LOVE TO MAMA!
[CHICKEN CLUCKING]
- HELLO, MY CHILD.
- AND HOW ARE YOU, MA'AM?
ANY BARGAINS TODAY?
- SPECIAL OFFER ON BUTTER.
- NEVER A SPECIAL
ON ICE-CREAM.
- ANYTHING ELSE FOR YOU,
JOSEPH?
- THAT'S EVERYTHING I NEED,
MRS. LAING.
- AM I MADE OF MONEY?
- HEY, MRS. LAING.
I NEED A NEW WIFE.
THIS ONE -- SHE'S TOO EXPENSIVE.
[LAUGHS]
- BE PATIENT MY BROTHER,
SHE'S YOUNG.
- IN GOOD TIME.
- WHY DO YOU TALK TO THEM?
JUST SELL TO THEM.
THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE TO DO.
- WHAT DID THEY SAY?
- I MADE SURE THEY HEARD
WHAT IHAD TO SAY.
SHE'LL SETTLE IN.
LEON WAS THE SAME.
IT TAKES TIME.
[TAPS COUNTER]
- AM I SICK?
- SANDRA...
SEVENS, PLEASE.
BEGIN.
- 7 TIMES 1 EQUALS 7.
7 TIMES 2...[SLAM]
- LOUDER.
- 7 TIMES 1 EQUALS 7.
7 TIMES 2 EQUALS--
- LOUDER!
- 7 TIMES 1 EQUALS 7.
7 TIMES 2 EQUALS 14.
- I SAID LOUDER!
NOW BEGIN AGAIN!
- WHY ARE YOU
HITTING ME?!
- GIVE ME THAT!
NOW STAND STILL!
[STRIKING]
THAT'S DISGUSTING.
- WHAT DID I DO WRONG?
-ASK YOUR PARENTS.
- PA, WHAT DID I DO WRONG?
- NOTHING, MY ANGEL.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
SO...
YOU NEED THREE BIG MEN
FOR ONE LITTLE GIRL?
- SANDRA IS BEING
RECLASSIFIED COLORED.
SHE MAY NO LONGER
ATTEND A WHITE SCHOOL.
- ARE YOU MAD?
SHE'S OURCHILD.
WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO NEXT?
RECLASSIFY MY WIFE
AND ME, AS WELL?!
- KEEP QUIET, OR YOU WILL
LOSE YOUR DAUGHTER.
- I'LL TELL YOU WHAT...
- THERE ARE LAWS
IN THIS COUNTRY.
- GET OFF MY PROPERTY.
NOW!
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
[SPEAKING AFRIKAANS]
[CLICKING]
DON'T WORRY, SANNIE.
I WILL FIX THIS.
- HOW, ABRAHAM?
- THE LAWS ARE THERE
TO PROTECT US.
JUST HAVE TO PLAY THESE PEOPLE
AT THEIR OWN GAME,
THAT'S ALL.
- CAN THEY REALLY TAKE HER
AWAY FROM US?
- TRUST ME...
[CARTRIDGE CLICKS]
...JUST AS I HAVE TRUSTED YOU
ALL THESE YEARS.
- HOW MANY TIMES
MUST WE GO THROUGH THIS?
YOU KNOW
THAT SHE IS YOURS.
- YOU'RE ALWAYS SO FRIENDLY
WITH EVERYONE IN THE SHOP.
- WHO ELSE IS THERE
TO TALK TO?
- ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT PEOPLE
TALK IN THE COMMUNITY?
- TALK ABOUT WHAT?
- I HAVE TO LIVE HERE!
- I LIVE HERE, TOO.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
IT'S LIKE FOR ME?
- [SINGING SOFTLY IN ZULU]
- CAN I SLEEP HERE?
- [COOING]
- NORA...
- HMM?
- AM I REALLY BLACK
LIKE YOU?
- [LAUGHS]
NO, CHILD.
YOU ARE NOT BLACK.
LOOK.
HMM?
[CHILDREN SQUEALING]
- WHAT A SHIVER JELLY!
IF YOU STOP SHIVERING,
YOU CAN FEEL IT MOVE.
- WHAT?
- THE BABY.
- [LAUGHS SOFTLY]
I CAN'T FEEL ANYTHING.
- THERE, IT'S MOVING.
- OH! SHE'S STRONG!
- "SHE"?
WHAT IF IT'S A BOY?
HUH?
[GIGGLES]
- OF COURSE, WE'VE ALWAYS
BEEN STAUNCH SUPPORTERS
OF THE NATIONALIS GOVERNMENT.
BUT, YOU KNOW,
TO BE SLAPPED IN THE FACE
BY OUR OWN PEOPLE IS...
INDEED, VERY SORE.
- MR. LAING, DOES SANDRA
HAVE TO BE REGISTERED
AS A DOMESTIC WORKER
TO STAY WITH YOU?
Woman:
WHEN SANDRA'S OF AGE,
WHO WILL SHE BE
ALLOWED TO MARRY?
- WHAT KIND OF FOOD
DOES SANDRA EAT?
- PLEASE...
- SHE EATS HONEST,
HEALTHY FOOD,
MADE FOR HER
BY HER MOTHER.
[REPORTERS SHOUTING
"MRS. LAING!"]
- ARE YOU CONCERNED
THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ARRESTED
UNDER THE IMMORALITY ACT?
- I HAVE NEVER BEEN UNFAITHFUL
TO MY HUSBAND.
Woman: HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
YOUR CHILD'S APPEARANCE?
- I CAN'TEXPLAIN IT.
IF THERE IS BLACK BLOOD
IN OUR VEINS,
WE NEVER KNEW ABOUT IT.
- SANDRA,
COME TO YOUR PA.
- THIS IS SANDRA.
YOU MAY TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH,
BUT, PLEASE, NO QUESTIONS.
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
Woman: SMILE!
- Abraham,
you must stop this.
- I know what I'm doing.
[TALKING CONTINUES]
- FREAK SHOW, ABRAHAM --
THAT'S WHAT THAT WAS.
- I'M GONNA GET HER
RECLASSIFIED TO WHITE.
- HOW WILL THAT CHANGE
THE COLOR OF HER SKIN?
- I'M DOING IT FOR HER.
I'M DOING I FOR ALL OF US.
[BIRD CHIRPING]
LOOK.
I BROUGHT YOU A PRESENT.
MAYBE WE'LL GET I THROUGH THOSE CURLS ONE DAY.
ARE YOU ANGRY?
DO YOU WANT TO HIT ME?
COME ON, HIT ME.
OHH.
[CHUCKLES]
FEEL BETTER?
I BROUGHT YOU
SOMETHING ELSE.
- DID YOU PUT CREAM ON LEON,
TOO, WHEN HE WAS SMALL?
- NO.
- BECAUSE IT BURNS.
- HERE. LET ME BLOW.
[EXHALES]
Woman:
TAKE A SEAT, PLEASE.
[OBJECT BANGS]
NAME?
- SANDRA LAING.
- WHAT'S YOUR RELATION?
- WE'RE HER PARENTS.
- TAKE A SEAT.
EXCUSE ME?
- SANDY.
- THANK YOU.
WE'LL STAND.
Woman #2: "THE DEFINITION
OF A WHITE PERSON
"IS A PERSON WHO IN APPEARANCE
OBVIOUSLY IS A WHITE PERSON
"AND WHO IS NOT GENERALLY
ACCEPTED AS A COLORED PERSON...
"OR WHO IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED
AS A WHITE PERSON
AND IS NOT IN APPEARANCE
OBVIOUSLY NOT A WHITE PERSON."
- IS THAT CLEAR?
COME.
SHAKE YOUR HEAD.
HARDER.
[SIGHS]
Van Niekerk:
TURN AROUND.
STOP.
ALL THE WAY.
OPEN YOUR MOUTH.
SHOW ME YOUR TEETH.
THANK YOU.
YOU MAY GO.
- WAIT. WAIT!
AREN'T YOU GOING TO ASK
ABOUT...HER BACKGROUND,
HER EDUCATION,
ABOUT US, HER PARENTS?
- WE'VE SEEN
WHAT WE NEEDED TO SEE.
- SO, YOU SEE
THAT SHE IS WHITE.
- WE'LL NOTIFY YOU
IN A FEW WEEKS
AS TO WHAT WE'VE DETERMINED.
- I'M TELLING YOU
SHE'S WHITE.
I'MHER FATHER.
I'M AS WHITE
AS YOU ARE.
THIS IS HER MOTHER--
UNDENIABLY WHITE.
AND SANDRA
IS OURDAUGHTER--
BLOOD OF OUR BLOOD.
- WE'LL HAVE TO ASK YOU
TO LEAVE NOW.
- OH, NO.
THERE IS NOTHING
TO DETERMINE.
LOOK. WHAT IS THIS?
WHAT IS THIS?
LOOK!
TELL ME--
TELL ME WHAT THIS IS, HMM?
- MENEER LAING, STOP!
- LOOK, MAN!
ARE YOU BLIND?!
- PLEASE, PA.
LET'S GO.
- ABRAHAM, ALSTUBLIEFT.
ENOUGH.
- THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
THANK YOU...
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
COME.
- HEY, SANDY.
WHAT HAPPENS
IF IT LOOKS LIKE SANDRA?
- YOU WON'T LOVE THE BABY
ANY LESS, WILL YOU?
- I LOVE SANDY, BUT...
IT'S HARD, MA.
- I KNOW.
I KNOW IT IS.
[DOOR CLOSES]
SLEEP TIGHT.
[SANDRA COUGHING]
SANDY?
WHAT'S HAPPENED?!
[SOBBING]
- SHOULD I GET PA?
- NO, JUST GET THE CALAMINE
LOTION FROM MY BEDROOM.
[SOBBING]
OH, MY SWEETHEART.
[BIRD CHIRPING]
[CHICKENS CLUCKING]
- THEY SAY SHE'S COLORED.
- ABRAHAM,
WHAT DOES IT MATTER
WHAT A PIECE
OF PAPER SAYS?
LET'S JUST GO ON
WITH OUR LIVES NOW
AND LOOK AFTER SANDRA
THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN.
- YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS
LYING DOWN.
SHE'S OURDAUGHTER.
AND I'LL TAKE ON THE WHOLE
BLOODY GOVERNMENT IF I HAVE TO.
NEVER GIVE UP, SANNIE.
NEVER GIVE UP.
[BELL CHIMING]
- ARE YOU PREPARED TO SWEAR
BEFORE GOD AND ON THE BIBLE
THAT YOU ARE THE PARENTS
OF THIS CHILD?
- I AM,MY LORD.
I MEAN...
WE ARE,MY LORD.
- THANK YOU.
CALL IN THE NEXT WITNESS,
PLEASE.
- DOCTOR... SPARKS,
I BELIEVE YOU HAVE
A STATEMENT TO MAKE.
- YES, MY LORD.
I'VE STUDIED THE LAINGS'
CASE CLOSELY...
- I'M A GREAT ADMIRER
OF BREVITY, DR. SPARKS,
BUT WILL YOU PLEASE GIVE US
YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE
AND A PLACE OF WORK?
- S-SORRY.
GENETICS RESEARCH FELLOW
AT WITS UNIVERSITY.
- THANK YOU.
- I BELIEVE
THERE'S A PLAUSIBLE
GENETIC EXPLANATION
FOR SANDRA'S APPEARANCE.
THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY
IS SUCH THAT MANY--
INDEED, WE BELIEVE MOS AFRIKAANERS CARRY BLACK GENES.
[AUDIENCE MURMURING]
- SILENCE.
[GAVEL BANGS]
PLEASE GO ON.
- SO...
TWO WHITE-LOOKING PARENTS
CAN CONTRIBUTE ENOUGH
BLACK GENES TO PRODUCE
A CHILD QUITE A LOT...
DARKER THAN THEMSELVES.
THIS PHENOMENON IS COMMONLY
KNOWN AS A THROWBACK.
WE PREFER TO USE
THE MORE PRECISE TERM
"POLYGENIC INHERITANCE."
- THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
- [GASPS]
ABRAHAM!
[TIRES SCREECH]
[COWS MOOING]
- WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?
I DIDN'T KILL ANYONE.
Sandra: HURRY UP!
WE'RE HAVING A BABY!
[HORN HONKING]
- HE LOOKS JUST LIKE PA.
[CHUCKLES]
- DO YOU WANT TO HOLD HIM?
JUST...
CRADLE HIS HEAD
IN THE CROOK OF YOUR ARM.
THAT'S RIGHT.
NOW, THE TRICK
TO GETTING HIM TO EA IS TO RUB HIS TUMMY
JUST HERE.
OH?
GOOD.
[CHUCKLES]
[GASPS]
Man:
AND IN PARLIAMENT TODAY,
AN AMENDMENT WAS MADE TO THE
POPULATION REGISTRATION ACT.
DESCENT RATHER THAN
APPEARANCE
WILL BE
THE DETERMINING FACTOR...
- TEA, BOSS?
- ...IN ALL
CLASSIFICATION CASES.
CHILDREN MUST NOW BE CLASSIFIED THE SAME RACE AS THEIR PARENTS.- [SIGHS]
- OUR REPORTER WENT TO
THE STREETS OF PRETORIA...
- THANK GOD.
- ...TO GATHER REACTIONS.
- THANK GOD.
Man: THIS IS A BETRAYAL
OF EVERYTHING
THE WHITE MAN STANDS FOR.
- SHE'S WHITE AGAIN.
- DECLARE THEM ALL BASTARDS--
- SANNIE!
- SANDRA LAING, THE LOT OF THEM.
THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE.
Abraham: SANNIE!
SANNIE!
SHE'S WHITE AGAIN!
SANDRA, YOU'RE WHITE!
[MID-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS]
[LAUGHING]
[HORN HONKS]
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
- SORRY I'M LATE.
THE FAN BELT BROKE.
FIXED IT WITH MY TIGHTS
THE WAY YOUR PA TAUGHT ME.
WHO ARE THE HANDSOMES?
- THEY'RE FROM
THE BOYS' SCHOOL.
THEY COME UP HERE
ONCE A MONTH.
- THAT'S NICE.
- NOT REALLY.
[CHUCKLES]
SHALL I GET MY BAGS?
- [LAUGHS]
PUT YOUR ARMS DOWN
SO I CAN SEE YOU.
HMM! SO GROWN UP!
OH, "MADAM THIS"
AND "MADAM THAT" NOW.
HMM?
- AAH! BOETIE!
[SMOOCHING]
[CHUCKLES]
[CAR DOOR CLOSES]
- COME AND PLAY WITH ME.
- NO, I WANT TO SAY "HELLO"
TO PA.
- TELL HIM NOT TO BE LATE.
IT'S BOEREKOS, YOUR FAVORITE.
COME.
Abraham: NO.
I DON'T WANT ANY MORE CABBAGES.
I HAVEN'T SOLD LAST WEEK'S YET.
AND LOOK AT YOUR LETTUCES.
THEY'RE ALL WILTED.
I'LL TAKE THOSE...
AND THOSE--
THAT'S 25 ALTOGETHER.
[COINS CLINKING]
- YOU CAN PAY ME NEXT WEEK,
MY BOSS.
- THIS SHOP IS NO PLACE
FOR A YOUNG LADY.
LOOK, I GOT YOU
A TYPEWRITER.
MAYBE YOU CAN WORK
IN AN OFFICE ONE DAY.
MUCH NICER.
[PEOPLE MURMURING]
- MA...
I WANT I BELOWTHE KNEES.
- YOU HAVE LOVELY KNEES,
MY SWEETHEART.
AND ALL THE GIRLS
WEAR THEM ABOVE THESE DAYS.
- WHAT DO YOUTHINK, PA?
- HMM?
VERY...
MODERN.
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
- PLEASE GO.
[DOOR OPENS]
- SANDRA, MY SWEET, YOU LOOK
LIKE YOU'VE SEEN A GHOST.
- IT'S ALL TOO LIGH FOR ME, MA.
- YOU DON'T NEED THAT STUFF.
YOUR SKIN IS PERFECT.
HERE.
- I DON'T WANT TO GO OU WITH JOHANN.
- WHO WOULD YOU PREFER?
MARTHINUS,
THE SWARTS' BOY?
- HE'S TOO FAT.
AND HE WEARS THESE...
TINY SHORTS.
[BOTH LAUGH]
- THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CHOICE
AROUND HERE.
BEAUTIFUL.
- BUT THE THING
THAT'S NOT SO NICE IS,
EVERY SUNDAY,
MY FATHER...
CHOPS ONE OF
THE COCK'S HEAD OFF.
BUT THE FLESH
IS VERY TENDER.
THE RED ONES--
THE LEGHORNS--
THEY'RE THE BES LAY HENS.
THE KIDS AT SCHOOL--
THEY ALWAYS SAID
MY MOTHER LAID THE EGGS.
DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN
HYPNOTIZE A CHICKEN?
I PROMISE YOU.
YOU JUST PUT I ON ITS BACK,
AND-- AND THEN YOU DRAW A LINE
FROM ITS BEAK,
AND THEN IT JUST LIES THERE
WITH ITS MOUTH OPEN.
[LAUGHS]
YOU KNOW,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEEL BAD
ABOUT LOOKING LIKE
A COLORED.
IT'S OKAY WITH ME,
REALLY.
[MUSIC PLAYING INDISTINCTLY
ON RADIO]
OOH, I LIKE THIS SONG.
[INDISTINCT SINGING]
- HI.
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
- I THINK SOMEONE'S
COMPLAINING ABOUT YOU.
Woman:
WE DON'T WANT HER KIND HERE.
- PLEASE.
LET'S JUST GO.
- UM...
I PROMISED MY DAD I'D KEEP YOU
OUT UNTIL 6:00.
IT'S JUS ANOTHER HALF-HOUR.
- WILL YOU EXCUSE ME?
[CAR DOOR CLOSES]
I'M STUCK.
- [EXHALES]
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN EASIER
IF YOU PAID YOUR BILL.
- [LAUGHS]
OOH!
THAT HURT.
- THAT'S WHY
I MADE YOU LAUGH.
- OH.
I'VE GOT TO GO.
- JUST WAIT HERE.
I'LL GIVE YOU
A LIFT HOME.
[INSECTS CHIRPING]
YOU CAN'T WALK
ALL THE WAY HOME.
YOU WON'T HAVE
ANY FEET LEFT.
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
MY MOTHER CAN VOUCH
FOR MY GOOD CHARACTER.
WE CAN GO
AND SEE HER NOW.
IT WILL TAKE US TWO DAYS,
BUT IF YOU INSIST.
LIKE MY BAKKIE?
- IT'S YOURS?
- SAVED UP FOR IT.
TWO YEARS AND EIGHT TONS
OF CABBAGES.
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
HAVE YOU EVER DRIVEN AND DANCED
ALL AT THE SAME TIME?
- [CHUCKLES]
- I DIDN'T THINK SO.
PUT ON THE RADIO
FOR ME, PLEASE.
[REGIONAL MUSIC PLAYS]
AHH.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
[LAUGHING]
AAH.
- [LAUGHING]
[BOTH LAUGHING]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
- WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
- DRIEFONTEIN.
JUST OVER THE RAINBOW.
- HUH.
I BETTER GO,
BEFORE PA COMES OUT.
THANK YOU.
[DOOR CLOSES]
Abraham:
WHERE'S JOHANN?
- HE DROPPED ME
AT THE GATE.
HE HAD TO GET HOME.
DID HE TALK ABOUT CHICKENS
ALL AFTERNOON?
[LAUGHS]
- YES.
- NO SECOND DATE?
- YOU CAN'T EXPECT TO FIND
THE RIGHT ONE STRAIGHTAWAY.
IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME
TO FIND YOUR FATHER.
- GOOD NIGHT.
- [CHUCKLES]
[CHILDREN YELLING]
[CHUCKLING]
OHH!
- DIE, DINGAAN, DIE!
[TOY GUN CLICKS]
- OHH. OHH.
- NO. NO. LOOK.
YOU PICK YOUR SQUASHES
TOO EARLY.
I'LL TAKE THOSE
AND THOSE.
16 ALTOGETHER.
HAVE SANDRA PAY YOU
FROM THE TILL.
AND NO MORE
THAN WE AGREED!
- YES, BOSS.
[CASH REGISTER WHIRS, DINGS]
- THANK YOU.
- MY FEET ARE STILL SORE.
- I HAVE A CURE.
- SANDRA.
BRING ME THE BOOKS
FROM LAST NIGHT.
- YES, PA.
- WHAT DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE DOING WITH MY DAUGHTER?
- UH, JUST TALKING,
MY BOSS.
- SIX FEET, PETRUS.
THAT'S THE DISTANCE YOU KEEP
WHEN TALKING TO HER.
SURE, MY BOSS.
- IS YOUR HAIR KROES
ALL OVER?
- PARDON?
- DOWN THERE,
ON YOUR THING.
IS IT KAFFIR HAIR
OR WHITE HAIR?
[DOOR RATTLING]
[BOTH STRAINING]
- AAH!
[EXHALES]
- BITCH!
- [PANTING]
- SO, THAT'S TWOSHE'S DECIDED
AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR HER.
- ABRAHAM,
LEAVE HER ALONE.
- DO YOU LOVE ME?
- THAT'S A STUPID
QUESTION.
- LOOK AT ME.
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
- I SEE MY BEAUTIFUL GIRL.
- PA!
I'M NOTWHITE.
THAT'S WHA THOSE BOYS WANT.
A WHITE GIRL TO MARRY,
TO HAVE CHILDREN WITH!
[SLAMS TABLE]
- THAT IS ENOUGH!
YOU'RE EXCUSED
FROM THE TABLE. GO.
GO!
[DOOR OPENS, SLAMS]
- CAN I HELP
IN THE SHOP TODAY?
- SHUT UP!
- DIDN'T YOU SEE
HER BRUISES?
- LOVE BITES.
THEY'RE KIDS.
- NO, HE WAS HURTING HER.
ABRAHAM, YOU KNOW
THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE EASY.
- OF COURSE
IT WON'T BE EASY,
BUT WHAT MUST SHE DO,
STAY OUT HERE WITH US...
FOREVER?
- THERE ARE BOYS AT HER SCHOOL,
FOREIGN BOYS...
- OH. FOREIGN BOYS.
- THEY HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS.
THEY COULD TAKE HER AWAY.
- "TAKE HER AWAY."
WHEN SHE WAS BORN,
YOUWANTED TO HIDE OUT HERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
AND NOW YOU WANT SOMEONE
TO TAKE HER AWAY.
- NO, I WANT HER
TO HAVE A LIFE.
A GOODLIFE.
- SHE WILL MARRY
AN AFRIKAANER,
BECAUSE THAT'S WHA SHE IS --
AFRIKAANS!
Abraham:
GOOD MORNING.
Together:
GOOD MORNING, BOSS.
[WATER SPLASHING]
[WATER SPLASHES]
- UH...
- DON'T GO.
[ROOSTER CROWS IN DISTANCE]
- SO, IS IT A GOOD SECRET,
THE ONE THAT YOU'RE KEEPING?
- VERY.
Abraham:
CAR NEEDS A NEW CARBURETOR!
DON'T WAIT.
TELL NORA TO KEEP
SOME DINNER WARM FOR ME.
- HE'S STILL CROSS
WITH ME.
- YOU COULDTRY HARDER.
YOU ARE JUST AS STUBBORN
AS HE IS.
- HE IGNORES
EVERYTHING I SAY.
[SCOFFS LIGHTLY]
- IT'S NOT PERSONAL.
YOUR PA THINKS TWO WORDS STRUNG
TOGETHER IS A CONVERSATION.
SO, ARE YOU GOING TO TELL ME
ABOUT IT?
- IT'S NOTHING.
DOESN'T MATTER.
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
[SHEEP BLEATS]
AH!
[SHRIEKS HAPPILY]
- THOSE SCARS--
THEY'RE FROM INYANGA,
A TRADITIONAL HEALER.
THEY'RE TO PROTECT ME
FROM EVIL.
THEY MAKE ME STRONG
AND LUCKY.
THAT'S HOW I GOT YOU.
- WHAT ABOUT THATONE?
- [EXHALES]
FROM MY GOGO.
MY GRANDMOTHER.
SHE HIT ME
WITH A FRYING PAN.
- [LAUGHS]
[CHUCKLES]
- AH. HERE.
SHE'S A TOUGH WOMAN.
- [LAUGHING]
HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
MAKE ME FEEL BETTER.
- I TRY HARD.
[DOOR OPENS]
Sannie:
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
- FOR A WALK.
TO SEE NORA.
[SLAMS DESK]
- TRY AGAIN.
- WHAT ARE YOU DOING
WITH THAT KAFFIR?!
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
TELL ME!
- NO.
- I SAW WITH MY OWN EYES.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
THIS IS YOURFAULT.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[GUN COCKS]
- BACK TO BED, SWEETHEART.
- MOVE YOUR HAND,
OR I WILL PUT A NAIL THROUGH IT.
- LET'S HEAR WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY
BEFORE YOU IMPRISON HER.
[DOOR OPENS]
NO MORE SMART TALK, SANDY.
THIS IS SERIOUS.
- I LIKE HIM.
PETRUS.
- PETRUS?
YOU LIKE HIM,
LIKE -- LIKE A...
LIKE A FRIEND,
LIKE A BROTHER?
- A BOYFRIEND.
[GASPS]
[SOBS]
- PETRUS IS A BLACK MAN,
DIRT IN THIS COUNTRY.
- HE UNDERSTANDS ME, MA.
- YOU CAN'T HELP
WHAT YOU ARE BORN WITH,
BUT YOU CAN HELP
WHAT YOU BECOME.
NOW, GO AND WASH
YOUR FACE.
YOU HAVE PUNISHED
YOUR FATHER ENOUGH.
- MA...
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
[CRYING]
[SNIFFLES]
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS
IN DISTANCE]
Abraham:
WELCOME HOME, SON.
GOOD BOY.
[ROOSTER CROWING]
- NORA.
- CHEER UP.
- Petrus. Petrus...
- GO, MY BOSS
IS ANGRY WITH YOU.
- ANGRY WITH ME?
- YOU'D BETTER GO.
- HEY!
DEAD AND BURIED.
THAT'S HOW YOU'LL BE
IF YOU COME NEAR MY PROPERTY
OR MY FAMILY AGAIN.
YOU UNDERSTAND?
- SURE, BOSS LAING.
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
BOSS LAING.
- YOU CAN'T BE
A BRAVE KAFFIR,
SO YOU MUST BE
A STUPID ONE.
- I DON'T THINK YOU UNDERSTAND,
BOSS LAING.
- YOU HAVE TILL THREE--
- BOSS LAING.
- THREE!
- NO.
MA!
HE'S CRAZY!
DO SOMETHING!
- ABRAHAM, STOP!
THERE ARE CHILDREN!
[BIRD CHIRPING]
ABRAHAM?
REMEMBER,
SHE'S YOUR DAUGHTER.
- WHY DO YOU THINK
I'M DOING THIS?
I DIDN'T LET THE STATE
TAKE HER AWAY.
I'M NOT GONNA LET SOME BLOODY
KAFFIR TEAR MY FAMILY APART.
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
[KNOCK ON GLASS]
- CAN I HELP YOU, BOSS?
- PETRUS ZWANE.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE HE STAYS?
[SPEAKING ZULU]
[MAN SPEAKING ZULU]
OH, OKAY.
THEY SAY HE WENT TO SWAZILAND
TO A COUSIN'S FOR A WHILE.
IN MBABANE.
[BANGING]
- WHERE'S THE WHITE GIRL
YOU'VE STOLEN?
- I DIDN'T SEAL ANYONE.
[SHOUTS]
- AND WHO ARE YOU?
- SANDRA.
- LOUDER!
- SANDRA LAING.
- THAT'S THE WHITE GIRL?
- THEY MUST BE JOKING!
- GET DRESSED.
BOTH OF YOU. NOW!
GO. [SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
HURRY UP!
- THAT'S IT.
IN YOU GO.
[VOMITING]
- HOW LONG
MUST SHE BE PUNISHED?
- THAT'S FOR THE MAGISTRATE
TO DECIDE.
SHE'S COMMITTED A CRIME.
SHE NEEDS TIME TO THINK.
REPENT.
Bailiff: ALL RISE.
- BE SEATED.
SANDRA LAING...
YOU'VE BEEN DETAINED
FOR THREE MONTHS
FOR ENTERING THE KINGDOM
OF SWAZILAND ILLEGALLY.
I'M PREPARED
TO RELEASE YOU NOW
ON CONDITION THAT YOU RETURN
TO YOUR PARENTS' HOME
UNTIL YOU'RE OF AGE.
- SANDRA, COME.
YOU HEARD
WHAT THE MAGISTRATE SAID.
- YOU PUT ME IN THERE.
I'M NOT GOING WITH YOU.
- OH, MY BABY,
PLEASE COME HOME.
YOUR FATHER KNOWS
THAT HE WAS WRONG.
ABRAHAM?
- WE WANT YOU HOME,
SANDRA.
YOUR MOTHER, ADRIAAN,
LEON...
AND ME, TOO.
I-I WANT YOU HOME.
- IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
- PLEASE.
WE MADE A MISTAKE.
BOTH OF US.
- SANDRA...
IF YOU DON'T COME NOW,
YOU WILL NEVER
SEE YOUR FAMILY AGAIN.
I PROMISE YOU.
- NO, ABRAHAM.
- HE DOESN'T MEAN IT.
- I'M PREGNANT.
DO YOU STILL
WANT ME HOME?
- SANDY...
[SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
- YOU TWO ARE THE ONLY FAMILY
YOUR MOTHER AND I HAVE NOW.
YOU UNDERSTAND?
SHE LEFT YOU, TOO,
YOU KNOW!
[SCREAMING]
Jenny: IT'S COMING!
- MAMA!
[SCREAMING]
- PUSH, PUSH!
SANDRA...
[SCREAMING]
OHH. AHH.
[CRYING]
SANDRA.
OHH.
[CRYING]
UHH.
OKAY. YEAH.
HERE'S YOUR BABY.
YES. YES.
[BABY CRYING]
[WATER SPLASHING SOFTLY]
[LAUGHS]
YEAH.
- HERE'S YOUR MAMA.
HERE'S YOUR MAMA.
[CHILDREN PLAYING]
- IS IT A GIRL?
YOU SEE MAMMA, I TOLD YOU
SHE BRINGS ME LUCK.
[SHOUTING HAPPILY]
[LAUGHING]
[SHOUTS HAPPILY]
[SNEEZES]
[SNEEZES]
[SPEAKING ZULU]
[CLAPPING,
SPEAKING ZULU]
[SPEAKING ZULU]
[BABY CRYING]
[SPEAKING ZULU]
[HAMMERING]
[GOAT BLEATING]
- WHERE'S YOUR BAKKIE?
- SOLD IT.
INVESTMEN FOR THE FUTURE.
AND WITH THIS SHOP,
WE CAN BUY TWO MORE.
MAYBE 100 MORE.
[LAUGHS]
- PETRUS, ARE YOU GOING
TO SELL THINGS
MORE CHEAPLY
THAN IN THE CITY?
- HE'S TRULY A BUSINESSMAN.
- YES, HE'S SERIOUS
ABOUT THIS.
[UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
[LAUGHS]
- NOW, THIS IS ONE THING
THEY'LL NEVER TAKE AWAY FROM US.
CAN YOU IMAGINE
BETSIE VERWOERD DOING THAT?
[LAUGHS]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
- CONGRATULATIONS, PETRUS.
- HEY.
[LAUGHS]
- WAS PETRUS ALWAYS
SUCH A SHOW-OFF?
- ALWAYS.
BUT WITH YOU NOW,
HE HAS SOMETHING
TO SHOW OFF ABOUT.
[BOTH LAUGH]
- BABY, COME, LET'S DANCE.
HEY, PETRUS!
- PLEASE.
HE MEANT NO HARM.
Woman: PETRUS!
WHERE'S THE BEER?
I'M NOT DRUNK ENOUGH.
- COME ON.
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
- [LAUGHS]
[DOOR OPENS]
- I THOUGH YOU WERE HAPPY HERE.
- I AM.
- THEN WHY ARE YOU WRITING
LETTERS TO YOUR MOTHER?
- I MISS HER.
IT DOESN'T MEAN
I DON'T LOVE YOU.
[ENVELOPES THUD]
- SANDRA SAID YOU'D BE SWEEPING
THE PORCH IN THE AFTERNOON.
SHE SENT A LETTER.
SHE ALSO SENDS HER LOVE.
- NORA.
WHAT DID SHE
JUST GIVE YOU?
- NOTHING, BOSS.
- GIVE IT TO ME.
[GROANS SOFTLY]
HEY!
TELL SANDRA HER MOTHER
WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH HER.
OFF YOU GO.
SHESHA!
- HE'S AN ANGRY MAN.
ANGRY. ANGRY.
- SHESHA!
IF YOU EVER LIE TO ME AGAIN,
I'LL KICK YOU OUT OF HERE.
- DON'T.
CAN'T WE GO TO THEM?
- SANNIE...
- I'M BEGGING YOU.
PLEASE.
- YOU REALIZE HOW THESE PEOPLE
ARE LIVING?
- SHE'S YOUR DAUGHTER.
- OKAY. SO WE GO AND SEE THEM.
THEN WHAT?
WE BRING THEM HERE?
MAKE A HOME FOR HER AND THE BABY
OUT THE BACK WITH NORA?
- WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?
SANDRA HAS ALWAYS LIVED HERE
WITH US.
- AND PETRUS?
MUST WE INVITE HIM TO LIVE
IN THE HOUSE WITH US, AS WELL?
- ALL I AM ASKING
IS THAT WE SEE SANDRA
AND HER BABY.
- NO.
SHE MADE HER CHOICE.
LEAVE IT.
[ENGINE REVS]
GET OUT.
GET OUT!!
- YOU KNOW WHAT KEEPS ME AWAKE
AT NIGHT?
MAYBE SHE MADE
THE RIGHT CHOICE.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
- AH, PUT THAT AWAY.
I DON'T LIKE THINGS
THAT MAKE YOU SAD.
[SIGHS]
- I WANT TO BE
YOUR WIFE.
- YOU ARE.
- I MEAN YOUR REALWIFE.
LEGAL WIFE.
- YOU KNOW
WHAT THAT INVOLVES.
TOO MUCH OF YOUR FATHER
IN YOU.
- LEAVE THE PERSON BESIDE YOU
ALONE, SHE NEEDS TO REST.
[CHUCKLES]
- YOU TOO MAMMA, GO TO SLEEP.
WE'RE FINE HERE.
- SURE.
[BABY FUSSES]
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
[CHANTING AND SHOUTING]
[CHANTING AND SHOUTING
CONTINUE]
- SO, YOU WANT TO BE
RECLASSIFIED COLORED.
- YES.
MY SON IS COLORED,
AND I WANT TO MARRY HIS FATHER,
WHO IS BLACK.
- AND YOU ARE...?
- WHITE...
ACCORDING
TO THE GOVERNMENT.
- IS THIS A JOKE?
- I'M AFRAID NOT.
- ARE YOU THE FATHER?
- YES, MY BOSS.
- JUST A MINUTE.
I'M SORRY.
I CAN'T HELP YOU.
I NEED YOUR
BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
NEXT!
- WAIT.
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO
IN THE MEANTIME?
- AS LONG AS YOU DON'T HAVE
AN I.D. CARD, YOU DON'T EXIST.
- WELL, IF I DON'T EXIST,
CAN I STILL LIVE
WITH MY COLORED CHILD
AND HIS BLACK FATHER?
- NO.
YOU'RE BREAKING THE LAW.
[BIRD CHIRPING]
- COME.
[SANNIE SPEAKING ZULU]
- WE'RE LOW ON VEGETABLES,
BUT IF...
[MOANS SOFTLY]
Sandra:
THIS IS HENRY.
[Chuckling]
- BEAUTIFUL BOY!
[GASPS]
DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?
DID YOUR MAMA TELL YOU
ABOUT ME?
- WHY DIDN'T YOU WRITE?
- I DID. YOUR-- YOUR PA
BURNED ALL MY LETTERS.
I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME.
YOUR PA'S GONNA BE BACK
ANY MINUTE.
- MA, I NEED
MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
I WANT TO BE
RECLASSIFIED COLORED.
MAMA...
THEY COULD TAKE MY BABY
AWAY FROM ME.
- OH, SANDY.
ARE YOU SURE?
- YES.
I'M HAPPY.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
[SMOOCHES]
- OH.
I'LL FIND A WAY TO GET I TO YOU. I PROMISE.
CAN I KEEP THIS...
UNTIL NEXT TIME?
- YEAH.
WAIT!
COME AGAIN.
OR I'LL...
[ENGINE IDLING]
- STAY IN THE CAR.
[CHICKEN CLUCKING]
- YOUR GRANDSON
HAS YOUR EYES.
- IF I EVER FIND THEM HERE,
I WILL KILL THEM...
AND THEN MYSELF.
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
[SHOUTING CONTINUES]
Man: YOU WERE GIVEN
MORE THAN ENOUGH WARNING!
KROMKRANS IS NOW
A WHITES-ONLY AREA!
[SHOUTING CONTINUES]
PLEASE PROCEED
IN AN ORDERLY MANNER!
- PLEASE DON'T DO THIS,
MY BROTHER.
IT'S MY LIVING,
YOU UNDERSTAND?
[SHOUTING CONTINUES]
- PETRUS!
[SHOUTING CONTINUES]
- MOVE!
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
[SHOUTING CONTINUES]
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE
TO BRING.
YOU DON'T NEED THAT,
OR YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE!
IN YOUR HEAD,
YOU'RE STILL WHITE!
[SHOUTING CONTINUES]
- I LEFT MY FAMILY
FOR YOU, PETRUS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE
TO GIVE YOU.
- YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I HAVE NOTHING.
MY SON HAS NOTHING.
AND YOU CAN
ALWAYS GO HOME.
- THIS IS MY HOME!
- TO HELL WITH THE WHITE MAN.
- THEY TAKE OUR HOMES,
OUR FAMILIES...
THEY MOVE US LIKE COWS.
...FROM ONE PLACE
TO THE NEXT.
AND WE ARE SUPPOSED
TO BELIEVE WE'RE HUMAN.
HOW CAN WE BELIEVE THAT?
YOU KNOW WHAT?
MY WIFE IS WHITE.
[LAUGHS]
SHE'S BROUGHT ME NOTHING
BUT BAD LUCK AND MISERY.
HER SKIN IS A CURSE.
- MA JENNY...
I'M PREGNANT AGAIN.
- IT'S A BLESSING.
[BRAKES SQUEAL]
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
[PEOPLE SINGING AND CLAPPING]
[SINGING AND CLAPPING
CONTINUE]
[SINGING AND CLAPPING
CONTINUE]
- IT DOESN'T LIKE IT,
HENRY.
- LEAVE ME ALONE.
Sandra: HE SAYS HIS LEG
IS MUCH BETTER.
THE MINE DOCTOR SAYS
IT'S FRACTURED, NOT BROKEN.
HE SHOULD BE ABLE
TO SEND MONEY HOME SOON,
AND HE MISSES YOU.
[LAUGHS]
NOT NOW, ELSIE.
MA'S BUSY.
- HENRY HIT ME.
- BYE-BYE.
- BYE.
LET'S HOPE
IT BITES HIM, EH?
HE'S SORRY HE HASN'T WRITTEN
IN SO LONG,
BUT HE WAS ARRESTED.
I CAN'T MAKE OU THE NEXT BIT.
BREAK IT UP.
BREAK IT.
AH, THAT'S IT.
- "MY DEAREST MA,
I THINK OF YOU AND PA
EVERY DAY."
- YOU CAN'T READ
MY LETTERS.
- IS THE WHITE MADAM
TELLING THE KAFFIR
WHAT HE CAN
AND WHAT HE CANNOT DO?
- NOW, WATCH CAREFULLY.
THIS IS HOW MY MOTHER
TAUGHT ME HOW TO MAKE--
- HEY.
I'M SICK OF HEARING
ABOUT YOUR MOTHER.
YOU WANT TO MAKE
THINGS GROW?
YOU NEED WATER.
DIDN'T YOUR MOTHER
TELL YOU THAT?
AAH!
SANDRA...
- AAH!
[THUNDER CRASHES]
[HINGES CREAKING]
I'LL KEEP IN TOUCH.
I PROMISE.
YOU'VE BEEN LIKE A MOTHER
TO ME.
- A GOGO MAYBE.
WE ALL HAVE TWO GOGOS,
BUT ONLY ONEMOTHER.
- THANK YOU.
- HELLO, SISTER.
- HELLO TO YOU.
- DOES MRS. SANNIE LAING
STILL LIVE HERE?
- I KNOW YOU.
U-THEMBI.
[LAUGHS]
WE PLAYED TOGETHER
AS CHILDREN.
YOU TAUGHT ME TO SWIM!
[BOTH LAUGH]
HER FATHER --
"SHESHA! SHESHA!"
[BOTH LAUGH]
- WHERE DID MY PARENTS GO?
- UH... SHESHA
WENT TO PONGOLA.
THERE WERE
RELATIVES THERE.
A COUSIN.
YES, I-I THINK SO.
- HEY.
DO YOU, UH,
WANT A LIFT?
[LAUGHS]
- LIFT YOUR FEET, KAFFIRS.
[HINGES SQUEAK]
[DOORBELL RINGS]
- MM.
WHITE.
LET ME EXPLAIN.
- GO AWAY
OR I'LL CALL THE POLICE.
- I'M SANDRA.
MA.
SANNIE: Sandy.
- IT'S ME, MAMA.
- SANDRA.
- PLEASE, MAMA.
I NEED TO SEE YOU.
I LEFT PETRUS.
TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE.
Abraham: SANNIE.
WHO IS IT?
- [BREATHES DEEPLY]
I'M SORRY, SANDRA.
YOUR FATHER'S VERY SICK.
[Voice breaking]
- I MISS YOU SO MUCH.
I LOVE YOU, MAMA.
- SANNIE.
- [GASPS]
I HAVE TO GO
TO HIM NOW.
I LOVE YOU, TOO.
[SOBS]
[HINGES CREAKING]
[Click]
[Dial tone]
[REPLACES RECEIVER]
[CHILDREN LAUGHING
IN DISTANCE]
- HOLD WITH BOTH HANDS.
HOLD WITH BOTH HANDS.
- WHERE IS SHE?
- WITH ANNA IN PONGOLA.
- TAKE ME TO HER.
- NO, ABRAHAM.
IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
I'M TELLING YOU.
YOU'RE TOO SICK.
I'M GOING TO GET YOUR LUNCH
AND YOUR TABLETS NOW.
[ABRAHAM GROANS]
WHAT THE HELL
ARE YOU DOING?
[GROANS]
- I'M GOING TO PONGOLA.
[Weakly]
I'M GOING TO SEE HER.
- YOU ARE GOING NOWHERE.
NOW GET BACK TO BED.
DOCTOR'S ORDERS.
- SANNIE...
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
- ALL THESE YEARS,
YOU'VE KEPT US APART.
YOU DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO SEE
THE PICTURES OF HER CHILDREN.
WHAT HAS CHANGED?
WHY IS IT OKAY TO GO NOW?
- PLEASE.
I NEED TO SEE HER.
- YOUNEED TO SEE HER?
I HAVE NEEDED TO SEE HER
EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.
- I'M SORRY.
I'M SO SORRY.
I WAS WRONG.
I NEED...
I HAVE TO TELL HER...
AAH.
- COME ON.
- AAH.
- YOU WANT HER FORGIVENESS.
YOU DON'T DESERVE IT.
NEITHER DO I.
- SANNIE...
I'M BEGGING YOU.
- NO.
YOU MADE YOUR CHOICE.
[MAN VOCALIZING]
Elsie: COME ON, MA.
- LET'S DO IT.
[MAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]
[UP-TEMPO REGIONAL MUSIC
PLAYING]
[MAN SPEAKING
IN NATIVE LANGUAGE]
- UH, COULD WE ASK
SOME QUESTIONS?
UH, OKAY,
DON'T LOOK AT THE CAMERA.
AND...
DID YOU VOTE TODAY?
- YES.
- SHE NEEDS
TO SPEAK UP, HUGH.
- YES. LITTLE BIT LOUDER
THIS TIME, SANDRA.
MOST PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER
YOUR STORY.
HOW DO YOU FEEL
ABOUT THE CHANGES HAPPENING
IN SOUTH AFRICA?
- I'M...HAPPY
FOR THE COUNTRY...
BUT IT'S TOO LATE FOR ME.
I HAVEN'T SEEN MY PARENTS
IN NEARLY 20 YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.
- SPECIAL DELIVERY.
Woman: SANDRA.
SANDRA.
CAN I GE YOUR AUTOGRAPH?
- THE BITCH!
SHE THINKS
SHE'S TOO FAMOUS FOR US!
Elsie: HENRY!
COME AND HELP ME,
PLEASE!
Henry: HI, MUM.
- HI.
- HELLO, MUM.
- HI.
- IS IT A SECRET ADMIRER?
- IT'S FROM MY MOTHER.
MY FATHER DIED OF CANCER.
TWO YEARS AGO.
- I CAN READ I FOR YOU, MA.
- THE MONEY'S FROM MY FATHER.
THE SAME AMOUNT HE LEF MY BROTHERS.
YEAH.
- IS THAT IT?
- ARE YOU GOING
TO WRITE BACK, MA?
- THERE'S NO
RETURN ADDRESS.
Man: WE CANNOT RELEASE
THAT INFORMATION.
Sandra: I THOUGHT THIS WAS
THE NEWSOUTH AFRICA.
HAVEN'T YOU HEARD OF THE FREEDOM
OF INFORMATION ACT?
- TOO MANY TIMES.
- I'M NOT LEAVING
TILL YOU GIVE ME MY FILE.
[SLAPS DESK]
- SIR, THERE'S A LADY HERE
BY THE NAME OF SANDRA LAING.
SHE DOESN'T WAN TO GO AWAY...
- SANDRA LAING?
YOU, UH,
WON'T REMEMBER ME.
- UH-HUH.
I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
- I HEARD YOU GOT YOURSELF
CLASSIFIED COLORED AGAIN.
- IT WAS NECESSARY.
- AFTER ALL THE TROUBLE
YOUR FATHER WENT TO.
- MY FATHER IS DEAD,
MENEER.
- I'M SORRY.
- PLEASE.
I NEED YOU TO HELP ME FIND
MY MOTHER BEFORE SHE ALSO DIES.
- AH, SANDRA.
WE DON'T KEEP
THOSE RECORDS HERE.
- WHERE ELSE CAN I GO?
- THIS IS A PENSIONS OFFICE,
NOT A DETECTIVE AGENCY.
- IF SHE'S ALIVE,
YOU MUST PAY HER A PENSION.
SURELY YOU HAVE
HER DETAILS.
- MM.
- THIS ONE'S LOST HER MOTHER.
THERE'S 70 OTHER CLERKS HERE,
AND IT'S ALWAYS ME.
- YOU'VE GOT A KIND FACE.
- NO, I DON'T.
I HAVE A FAT FACE.
PEOPLE CAN'T TELL
THE DIFFERENCE.
[PRINTER WHIRRING]
[HORN HONKS]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
- HELLO, MA'AM.
- HELLO TO YOU, SISTER.
- DOES MRS. LAING LIVE HERE?
- OHH, SORRY, SISI.
THE OLD LADY
LEFT MONTHS AGO.
I HEARD SHE HAD A STROKE.
- THANK YOU.
Elsie: IS IT REALLY
WORTH IT, MA?
- I THOUGHT YOU UNDERSTOOD.
- I THOUGHT SO, TOO.
BUT WHAT'S WRONG
WITH US?
AREN'T WE ENOUGH
FOR YOU?
- OF COURSE YOU ARE.
YOU NEVER STOP NEEDING
YOUR PARENTS.
THEY'RE A PAR OF WHO YOU ARE.
[DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE]
[LOUD KNOCKING ON DOOR]
[KNOCKING CONTINUES]
OH, HELLO, GOGO.
- PHONE FOR YOU, SANDRA.
- IT BETTER BE SERIOUS.
- THANK YOU.
HELLO?
- LISTEN, SANDRA...
I, UH, SPOKE
TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
HE MADE SOME INQUIRIES.
- SANNIE?
YOUR DAUGHTER'S HERE
TO SEE YOU.
- MY DAUGHTER?
[DOOR CLOSES]
WELL...
AREN'T YOU GOING
TO SAY SOMETHING?
YOU HAD PLENTY TO SAY
TO THAT TV REPORTER.
- I JUST TOLD THE TRUTH.
- YOU WEREN'T THE ONLY ONE
WHO SUFFERED, YOU KNOW.
- I SHOULDN'T HAVE COME.
- SANDRA...
THERE'S A KEY
IN THE DRESSER.
NO, NOT THERE.
THE - THE DRAWER.
NO. THE...
THE OTHER ONE.
[STRAINING]
- LET ME HELP YOU.
- NO, I CAN GET IT MYSELF.
- DON'T BE SO STUBBORN, MA.
COME.
- OHH.
UNLOCK THAT CUPBOARD.
THAT ONE.
THE BOX.
I PUT IT IN STORAGE
SO YOUR PA COULDN'T GET IT.
- OHH.
[DOVE COOING]
- DOVES SHIT A LOT.
- [LAUGHS]
MA!
- IT'S TRUE.
- [CHUCKLING]
- YOUR PA DIDN'T LIKE ME
SWEARING, BUT I ENJOY IT NOW.
- HM.
- HE WASN'T A BAD MAN.
HE DID THE BES HE COULD.
- "NEVER GIVE UP."
- I WISH THAT I HAD NEVER
HEARD THOSE WORDS.
- NO, MA.
THEY KEPT ME GOING.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[WOMAN SINGING IN ZULU]
[LAUGHS]
[SINGING CONTINUES]
[SOFT REGIONAL MUSIC]