A United Kingdom Page #4

of your position as tribal chief.

Your uncle is questioning your legitimacy.

There is nothing to be questioned

in the decision of the kgotla.

The approval of the kgotla

was for your position as chief,

not the suitability of your wife.

SERETSE :
I made it quite clear that

a vote for me was also a vote for my wife.

They knew what they were voting for.

Did they?

Mr Khama, Sir Alistair Canning

wants to be fair about this.

It should reassure you to know

that he has appointed

the Chief Justice of the High Commission

Territory, Sir Walter Harragin,

to conduct an enquiry.

Into what? My wife?

An enquiry that will prove that

our marriage has riled South Africa?

South Africa is not the issue.

Sir Alistair looked me square in the eye

in London and said that it was.

Well, then you clearly misunderstood.

Seretse, do I look like a fool to you?

Not in the slightest.

Commissioner,

to keep up this false pretence

that this is not about Great Britain's

fears of South Africa's discontent

and what that might mean for you

and your government...

...is very distasteful.

Mr Khama, neither you or I are privy

to discussions of the British Cabinet.

But one thing you can be sure of

are the conversations

that I am having with your uncle.

And it is he who demanded this enquiry.

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)

Hey. Ooh.

Did I ever tell you I didn't

just marry you for your good looks?

Liar.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

(RUTH EXHALES)

(IN SETSWANA)

(WOMEN MURMUR IN DISSENT)

(WAILS)

WOMAN :
Malaria.

(SERETSE SIGHS)

(CHAIR CREAKS)

(CHUCKLES)

(IN SETSWANA)

(RAUCOUS CHATTER)

Six cattle died here ten days ago.

Then three white men came,

and started drilling with a machine.

We thought they had come here to

help us find water, but they ignored us.

(ENGINE STOPS)

(MUTTERING)

I need help with some shopping.

Can you come?

It's okay.

(IN SETSWANA)

(THEY SPEAK SETSWANA)

NALEDI :
Let's get you the things you need.

Um...

Cornflour.

Cornflour, mma.

SERETSE :
I missed you.

Kwashiorkor, malnutrition, malaria.

The hospitals can't cope with the demands.

So what can we do?

We depend on the reports the district

commissioner sends to London.

And they do nothing.

There's no money left after the war.

NALEDI :
They never gave us money

before the war.

We pay the taxes they demand,

and we get nothing.

Mr Nash.

What is keeping you here so long?

- It's a beautiful country.

- (CHUCKLES)

I should be flattered,

but I don't believe you.

- The story?

- Oh, is that what I am? A story?

It's okay. I'm not offended.

I thought I'd catch the film.

Only whites allowed I hear.

And kings.

- Even black ones.

- Why do you come?

To something like this?

There's not a black face in sight

outside of the waiters and maids.

Defiance.

The knowledge that one day

things will change because they have to.

And it has to start somewhere.

Mrs Khama... how nice to see you again.

You too.

Thank you, my love.

I read something of yours

in "World Reporter".

An old copy.

About the Chinese civil war.

Was impressive.

Hmm, it's true,

I'm just a burnt-out war correspondent

trying to find another story.

Well, there's one, right there.

Drilling in the Naledi Valley.

Mineral testing.

What? Copper? Diamonds?

I don't know,

but I imagine it wouldn't be difficult

for someone like you to find out.

The valley stretches across

into South Africa.

It's been lucrative that side.

Now they've started exploring our side.

Without our permission.

But with the British Government's?

Presumably.

You know what a discovery

would mean to this country, to my people.

It would change everything.

But only if our interests are secured.

I can do that if I'm ahead of the game.

And if I have enough information.

Enjoy the film.

(FILM BLASTS)

I have some rather good news for you.

A word after the film.

Mr Khama, don't you want

to hear the good news?

We have tickets for you.

Tickets?

For what?

The government want to rectify the matter

of your chieftainship face to face.

In London.

Dealing with such matters long distance,

it slows the process down,

which isn't good for you, and your people.

So we thought a month would suffice.

Oh.

It would give you, Mrs Khama,

an opportunity

to see your friends, see your family.

You shouldn't come.

They want me here and you in London.

That is why you must be here,

and me in London.

I have to go back to resolve this.

We don't have a choice in that.

But if you come with me,

they won't allow you back.

Why else would they purchase you

a trip to visit your family?

You can't just go.

Why would I be here by myself?

Seretse, I gave up everything

to be with you, but I can't do this alone.

I promise as long as I live

you will never be alone.

But if you leave with me...

...then I can never return because

they will force you to stay in England,

and I will not return without you.

What the devil is this?

My people have decided

that my wife should stay.

Tell your people to remove themselves

from this gate immediately.

SERETSE :
Unfortunately,

in the absence of your decision

on my appointment as the king,

I don't have any power over them.

Mrs Khama, I strongly urge you

to reconsider and come with us.

My husband has told you. He's...

It's not within his power

to order these people to do anything,

and as a woman...

...well, I have no say

in the matter whatsoever.

So, alas, I'm powerless to help you.

(SCOFFS)

- (WHISPERS) That was very good.

- Thank you.

I'm ready, Commissioner.

(CROWD MUTTERS)

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

CANNING :
Enter.

Ah, Mr Khama. Good afternoon.

I'm grateful to you for returning

to London. Do please take a seat.

I'm intrigued to know

why you've brought me all this way.

The government summoned me here last week

upon receipt of the Harragin report.

They have reviewed it and considered

the conflict between you and your uncle.

And after taking all things into account,

we have concluded

that you should be exiled

from Bechuanaland

for a period of five years.

Call it a period of reflection.

After five years, we will, of course,

review the situation.

But in the meantime,

we are able to offer you a position

in the administration of Jamaica.

And we will, of course, make sure

we accommodate your dear wife.

Jamaica is not my country.

There are some similarities.

I belong with my people.

We will be imposing direct rule,

with the district commissioner, Rufus

Lancaster, acting as native authority.

There will, of course,

be a tribal council,

so your people will have some sort of say

in our running of your affairs.

I do understand

this is an awful lot to digest.

I want to see the Harragin report.

Not possible.

It was an advisory paper, so

the government's not obliged to publish,

but I can tell you this:

The conclusion was

you are not

a fit and proper person to rule.

Upon what basis?

That's confidential to the government.

I have a right to know.

Sir Walter has weighed the evidence.

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