A United Kingdom Page #5

And you chose to agree.

Mr Khama, I am the British Government's

representative in your country...

And yet you know nothing of it.

You don't even live there.

You are based somewhere else entirely.

Content with your government

to run our affairs from South Africa,

you move as closely with

Prime Minister Malan and his government,

as you do the British prime minster.

And, yes, Sir Alistair,

I am questioning your motives.

I do not make the decisions.

You advise.

And my advice... is always confidential.

It's six o'clock, Sir Alistair.

Might I suggest a glass of sherry?

Splendid idea.

The government

will release this white paper.

It explains the situation

and your succession.

It sets out in fairly plain English

that were it not for our intervention,

Bechuanaland would have been torn apart

by the rivalry between you and your uncle.

That is an utter fabrication!

We are merely documenting

what your uncle has told us.

Oh, gosh. Thanks very much.

Sherry, Mr Khama?

(ENGINE STOPS)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(GROANS)

Hello, Ruth.

You're in hospital in Serowe.

You have diphtheria,

but it is being treated.

And, Ms Khama, the doctor here

has discovered you are with child.

- But...

- My husband and I are concerned

that you should now get

the very best treatment available.

So he is organising for you to go to

Cape Town and visit a gynaecologist.

Dr Wessels.

Oh, Ruth, you are awake.

MRS CANNING :
This chap I'm talking

about is the top man in Africa.

It wouldn't be right

not to put my faith in the doctors here.

Without wanting to alarm you,

death rates in childbirth,

for both mother and baby, in Serowe

are dangerously high.

To stay here would be a serious risk.

We do urge you to go to Cape Town.

Well, perhaps Dr Wessels could come here.

Dr Wessels does not travel

to his patients.

Look, I know what you're doing.

- And I don't like it.

- Mrs Khama...

I will ask you now both,

will you please leave?

Whatever your opinion of my husband,

I am here only as a woman,

who is also a mother.

I'm thinking only of the survival

of yourself and that of your baby.

You must give yourself

the very best chance.

MRS CANNING :

We know Africa, and you do not.

I appreciate your thoughtfulness,

but I want to decide.

- Mrs Khama, Ruth...

- That's enough!

Please... do as my sister asks.

How dare you, girl.

Who on earth do you think

you're addressing?

And who do you think you're addressing?

I am Naledi Khama,

from the royal family of the Bangwato.

Granddaughter of Khama the Great,

and sister to the present king,

who will never be dethroned.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(PHONE RINGS)

Hello?

(LINE CRACKLES)

- My love?

- 'It's Ruth. Can you hear me?'

My love, I can hear you.

Best news in the world, I am pregnant.

- 'We are having a baby.'

- A baby.

'I've been to the hospital and

Dr Moikangao says everything's good.

'How about that?'

It's wo... it's wonderful news.

'I cannot wait for you to come home.'

When are you coming back?

Ruth, something's...

something has happened.

Uh... I-I had my meeting with Canning.

I have been banished.

'The Harragin report stated

that I am not fit to rule.

I-I cannot come back for five years.

This can't be happening.

They are determined that we will

not be together in Bechuanaland.

And if I return, they'll have

no reason to allow you back.

'We were never supposed to be apart!

You promised me!

'You promised me

that everything would be all right!'

(SIGHS) I know.

I know. I'm sorry, my love. I'm sorry.

(SOBS)

Then find your way back to me, Seretse.

'Find your way back.'

- (SNIFFLES)

- 'I promise you I will.'

- Seretse...

- (LINE CUTS OFF)

Ruth... Ruth? Ruth! Ruth...

Seretse?

Ruth! Ruth!

(WIRELESS) 'In a countermove

to pressure the British Government,

'Seretse Khama, exiled Bechuanaland

chief, today appealed to the British public.

'In a fighting address,

'the chief told the people of Britain

to hold its government to account.'

I do not believe the British public

will tolerate such injustice to me,

and, more importantly,

to my suffering people

who have always remained loyal

to the British crown.

I ask my people now

to remain dignified and law-abiding,

whilst I seek justice for our nation,

and to be returned... to my country...

...and my wife.

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

Mr Khama... Anthony Benn.

SERETSE :
You got my letter.

Seretse, uh, Mr Benn is a friend of Joe's.

We want to help.

Fenner Brockway. May we?

Uh, yes. Please.

It's subterfuge. Propaganda.

It's completely unprincipled.

We are talking about an entire nation

who want their leader.

While your government are concealing

their reasons for keeping me here,

they are allowing our lands

to be explored for minerals.

- For diamonds.

- And you believe the two are connected.

I don't know, but what happens

if they make a find?

Mr Khama, you are a protectorate,

which differentiates you somewhat

from other colonies.

Meaning the mineral rights should be

vested with the people of my country.

Ordinarily, yes, but you have been

placed under direct rule.

Your situation may have become vulnerable.

My grandfather negotiated those rights.

I know they remain with us.

You are vulnerable.

(SIGHS)

What if the government acknowledged

our rights publicly in some way?

Or if I could get them on record

recognising the agreement

they have with us?

Well, that would be a great help,

and a miracle.

I will look into the legalities

of your country's change in status.

And the Harragin report?

We'll get a copy.

You have my word.

BROCKWAY:

Seretse, please hold your people off.

If the election brings new blood,

it could change everything.

How long can we rely on the good nature

of our people to stand by peacefully?

Tomorrow, Sir Alistair Canning

will announce to my people

the appointment of one of his

administration as the new native authority

to govern my people.

Every district was alerted, sir.

We were expecting 10,000 at this meeting.

(APPLAUSE)

The tribe is refusing

to organise a council.

Until their king... is returned.

SERETSE :
When a man tells a lie,

he loses his dignity.

And so it is with a country.

I'm calling

on the British Government today

to release the Harragin report.

What are they hiding?

(BLOWS)

(INDISTINCT WIRELESS)

(WIRELESS) '...they did so

with only the slightest of...

'In a bid to show his support

for the exiled chief of Bechuanaland...'

'The leader of the opposition,

Mr Churchill, addressed Parliament.

'Mr Churchill told the House

of his deeply held belief

'in the virtue of the Christian marriage,

which he described

'as a "scared bond

between a husband and his wife".

'Why are the Labour government keeping

this African chief and his woman apart?

'Putting his opposition

to Khama's banishment on the record,

'Mr Churchill went on to announce

to the House his full intention

'of returning to the chief

and his wife their kingdom,

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