A United Kingdom Page #6

'when his Conservative Party

wins the forthcoming general election.'

The honourable gentleman

for Eton and Slough.

We know these actions against Mr Khama

are effectively introducing the principle

of a colour bar to British politics,

separating black from white.

(SHOUTING IN DISSENT)

It is an utter betrayal,

both of myself, as your prime minister,

and of your government.

The betrayal is of the British people,

and anyone who believed the Labour Party

is on the side of what is right and just.

BENN :
The world is watching.

The UN have a petition signed by

every prominent black leader in the US.

America is sending funds to Mr Khama,

so that he can defend himself against us.

It's... I mean, look at these.

Never has a Labour government been

criticised this way by the negro press.

We are on the eve of the election.

I am pleading with you.

Send him home before Churchill does.

It will be an almighty humiliation

if a Tory government

fulfils our responsibility!

I would like nothing more than to say to

hell with Malan and his damned apartheid,

but we need South Africa to protect us

from Stalin and his advance there.

We all do! Including the...

...hypocritical Americans with

their Jim Crow laws lauding this over us!

- They're pointing out the facts.

- These are the facts! There's a Cold War.

If I allow that chief,

or any black chief and his white queen,

to sleep in the same bed on African soil,

Malan will withdraw from the Commonwealth.

He will utilise any favour

we show that couple

to whip up nationalist support

for a separate republic.

- He'll withdraw his uranium...

- This is how we justify our actions?

- An atomic bomb programme?

- And his gold!

If you don't care about the uranium,

think about our economy.

How long can we sustain our currency

without Malan supplying our gold reserves?

Hmm? You count the months!

We have done a deal with the devil.

RADIO :
'Twenty-four hours have passed

since the polling stations closed,

'and the last vote was cast.

'The candidates stood by,

and police oversaw,

'as ballot boxes were removed,

so that counting could begin.

'Anxious crowds have gathered

in Piccadilly Circus,

'as, one by one, results have been

marked out and announced.

'And so it is that the voice of our people

has called upon Winston Churchill...'

(SHOUTING IN SETSWANA)

RUTH :
Shh!

RADIO :
'...much uncertainty,

'the United Kingdom has placed

the responsibility of our future

'in Mr Churchill's hands.

'In this closely fought election

saw the Conservatives

'triumphed by a tiny majority.

'Nevertheless, the majority it was.'

(DOOR OPENS)

Mr Khama. Good morning.

Morning.

Sir Winston Churchill will be

making his announcement

about your return to Bechuanaland

in the House of Commons this afternoon.

He wished for me

to convey it to you first.

I appreciate that.

He's decided that five years' banishment

will cause unrest and uncertainty

in the protectorate,

and he wishes to bring an end

to such insecurity.

Consequently, he will be announcing

that your banishment...

...is for life.

I beg your pardon?

Yes, on the occasion of our previous

meeting I was able to offer you a career

in the administration of Jamaica.

Pity you did not accept. Under current

circumstances, I cannot repeat the offer.

Nor, indeed, a posting to any other land.

(SIGHS)

The prime minister

announced his intentions.

He clearly stated that

he would allow me back home.

Opposition is one thing, Mr Khama.

The realities of government

are quite another. Good day.

(DOOR OPENS)

I want him to come back to me.

Churchill promised. He promised.

I believed him.

Seretse says he'll write to Tshekedi,

and try and reconcile, but...

You have to be strong.

You have a voice. Use it.

Mr Churchill,

10,000 of my husband's people

fought the war for you,

and for the freedom of Britain.

They answered your call

in your darkest hour.

'Mr Churchill,

you have betrayed my husband,

'and each and every one

of those 10,000 men.

'You have caused great hurt.

'You have caused great anger

amongst a peaceful people.

'And Mr Churchill...

'...I'm with them.

'And I will remain with them

'because this is my home.'

(MUSIC INTERLUDE)

ANNOUNCER:

'A great event at Silverstone...'

SERETSE :
'Uncle,

'our country is now completely

under the control of the British.

'You taught me that the colonialist

strategy is to divide and rule,

'and that the only response

is to stand united.

'My exile leaves our country

divided and vulnerable.

'Even as I write the British have

authorised test drilling on our lands.

'You know what it will mean to our country

if diamonds or other minerals are found.

'We must protect that wealth

for our people.

'I need to come home to fulfil the role

for which you raised me.

'To lead. To serve.

'But I cannot do it without you.

'If I can find a way to come back,

'will you agree to hear my plan?'

LANCASTER :
Mr Khama

will never return to Bechuanaland.

(CROWD SHOUTS IN DISSENT)

The decision of my government

is absolute and final.

(SHOUTING IN DISSENT)

Control them, or I'll close the kgotla.

Sir, you have pushed

the patience of the people too far.

You can't close our kgotla

any more than I can close

your Houses of Parliament.

(SHOUTING)

(GASPS)

(SHOUTING CONTINUES)

Hey!

Hey!

(GROANS)

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

(ENGINE REVS)

(GASPS)

(ENGINE STOPS)

(GASPS AND PANTS)

(ENGINE STARTS)

(RUTH YELLS AND GROANS)

(GROANS)

(IMITATES BREATHING)

(MUSIC DROWNS SCREAMING)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)

(BABIES BABBLE)

(BABY COOS)

(BABY CRIES)

Shh, shh.

(BABY STOPS CRYING)

(PHONE RINGS)

Hello?

Here is your daughter.

Can you hear her?

No.

- 'Hang on. Can you hear her?'

- (BABY CRIES)

I-I can. I can hear her.

But... she sounds... Is she all right?

'She's beautiful.'

But she's crying.

Oh, I jabbed her, so she'd make a noise.

Isn't she beautiful?

She's, she's beautiful.

RUTH :
I wish you could see her.

You must come to me.

'Are we giving up?'

No. No, we are not.

'But we've been separated for too long.'

I can't do this alone any more.

And I need you.

- 'I need my family.'

- (BABY CRIES)

'As soon as the baby's strong enough,

we'll come to you.'

RUTH :
My tickets have arrived.

Would it be all right if I joined you?

See, I don't know when I'll be back.

(CHUCKLES)

(SPEAKS SETSWANA)

RUTH :
It's okay. Mmm.

There.

(SINGING IN THE DISTANCE)

(SINGING IN SETSWANA)

Why are they here?

They are thanking you

for walking the road with them.

This song is about you.

They are saying Seretse's wife

is as bright as the morning star.

(SINGING)

(REPORTERS CLAMOURING)

REPORTER :
This way, Mr Khama.

(CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING)

Oh... this is Daddy.

(REPORTERS CLAMOURING)

There's someone else here to see you.

Thank you for coming.

(REPORTERS CLAMOURING)

- Hello, Daddy.

- Ruth.

This is Jacqueline.

(CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING)

(# BILLIE HOLIDAY: "SOMETIMES I'M HAPPY")

# Sometimes I'm happy

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