Cry Freedom Page #4

- I'm on a whisky myself.

That'll be fine. I want to thank you

for seeing me at the weekend.

Ach, it's nothing, man.

I always like to help

the press if I can.

Now, what is it you wanted

to see me about? Cheers.

Cheers.

Sit down.

Thank you. It's a matter

concerning Steve Biko.

Biko? My God, man,

I know all about Steve Biko.

Minister, I don't understand

why he's banned.

You need a black

leader you can talk to.

Look... I don't need to tell you this

country has a special kind of problem.

Sh*t, man, do you think I like banning

and detaining people without trial?

I'm a lawyer.

It goes against the grain.

Come. Come, I want to show

you something, Mr. Woods.

We Afrikaners

came here in 1652.

200 years before there was

any such thing as a camera.

And yet look at this.

The trek across the wilderness.

The homesteading.

The concentration camps the English

put our families in during the Boer War.

The working of the land.

The building of the cities.

And any Afrikaner family could

show you the same thing.

We didn't colonise this country,

Mr. Woods, we built it.

Grandfather Johannes,

a formidable drinker.

Do you think we're

going to give that all up?

That's what Mr. Biko wants.

This is a black country, he says.

God...

...what's here was

built as much by

Afrikaner blood and

toil as by the blacks,...

...who came to us

for work, remember.

We didn't force

anyone to labour.

They had very little alternative,

since you'd taken over most of the land.

Wouldn't you say their cheap labour had

an effect on the success of our economy?

I know what you're saying. Don't think

I don't understand their argument. I do.

We know there has to be a way to

work together and live together,

and we're trying to find one. Maybe

a little too slow to suit some of them.

But it's no use your Mr. Biko filling

them with false expectations.

We're not just going to roll

over and give all this away.

Listen, trust me.

Let's sit in the shade.

I know a lot more about Mr. Biko

than you do, Mr. Woods.

Is that what you wanted

to see me about?

- Well, no. Actually, it's...

- But if that's your recommendation,...

...if you think it's worth it,

I'll certainly consider meeting him.

- How's your drink?

- I'm fine. I really think you should.

I know you'll find him more moderate

and more intelligent than you believe.

But what I've come about is an incident

that occurred at a community centre,

Biko was trying

to put together.

The place was smashed

up the other night.

Yes, I know about that.

My police are investigating it.

Your police are the

ones who did it.

What makes you say that?

An eyewitness saw

a security-police captain,

and some of his men

smashing the place up.

Will he testify?

He's afraid to.

But I felt it would be more effective

if you took some action internally.

You've always stated you were

against any illegality by your officers.

My God, I am.

I appreciate your attitude,

Mr. Woods.

I assure you this is

something I'll pursue.

I want no thugs in

my department.

Don't be surprised.

Ach, we're not really the monsters

we're sometimes made out to be.

It's all right, Evalina,

I'll get it.

Get back, Charlie.

- Mr. Donald Woods?

- Charlie.

I'm Donald Woods.

You made a complaint

to the minister of police.

Yes.

It's all right.

- Come on, Charlie.

- That's prompt. I saw him yesterday.

You had a witness

to the alleged crime?

That's right. I explained to Mr. Kruger that

I couldn't name him, but there definitely...

You reported a crime, Mr. Woods, and the

law states you must name the witness.

- No, you don't understand.

- You must name the witness,

or you will go to

prison until you do.

That is the law.

I don't want to go back to Mr. Kruger

and report that two...

You report to

whoever you like.

Our orders, Mr. Woods,

come from the very top.

Kruger.

I didn't say Mr. Kruger.

I said from the top.

Next time he sends you,

you'd better have a warrant.

- The law is on our side.

- Yes, well, justice is on mine.

We'll see how we

make out in court.

And tell Mr. Kruger he must come

to my house for a whisky one day.

Steve!

- Stay still. - Stay in the

middle and we'll cover you.

No, it's ok. It's ok, boys.

It's ok.

You're a dirty player, Biko.

I was taught by

a Catholic priest.

What do you expect?

- Are you alone?

- Yes.

- Who told you I was here?

- Your wife.

She didn't tell me where

the police thought you were.

Well, we planted a phone call saying

I was going to spend the afternoon,

going over the books

at the clinic.

Got my summons today.

They're actually

going to prosecute.

Six months for withholding

the name of a witness.

I think they want to

break up our friendship.

A few months in jail might

be just what you need...

...to prove your credibility

as a budding activist.

Yeah, well, I got my old law professor,

Harold Levy, to defend me.

- He's the best.

- You want one?

Oh, yeah, thanks. But I'm not going to

name Dilima, whatever happens.

- But Kruger obviously means business.

- They always mean business against us.

Some day we'll be the damn

system in this country.

A lot of us are going

to die for nothing...

...if our system turns us into nothing

but black versions of theirs.

I could accept that.

A bent policeman is a

bent policeman, Soga.

He breaks the same heads

for the same reasons.

To substitute a black

one for a white one,...

...it's not worth the

price of one child.

Never mind the six months

in jail for Mr. Woods.

- Are you sure this is the right house?

- Yes, it is.

We have reason to believe you are in

possession of subversive documents.

We have orders to

search these premises.

Do you have a warrant?

Good.

Well, bring it to the window

over there and I'll read it.

Psst.

Put Mapetla's

article with them.

Ok.

Could you hold it up, please?

Fine.

Just turn the page, please.

Could you read a little faster?

Well, it appears to be in order, but you

won't find any such papers in my house.

We'll see.

All right, as soon as my wife is

properly dressed, I'll let you in.

In there.

Stoffle!

Let's go.

I told you you wouldn't

find anything.

We'll be back.

I think we should

rescue them now.

- Dadu.

- Dadu.

Finally the prosecution finished,...

...and the whole courtroom thought

that I was as good as in jail.

Does that mean that you're

going to prison, Dad?

You'd like that,

wouldn't you?

No, you see, then Uncle Harold

began his cross-examination.

He began by pointing out that the wording

of the charge itself was not proper,...

...that the dates were

all inaccurate,...

...that the precedents they'd cited

applied to totally different situations.

Quiet, Charlie.

We're here to check your pass.

Just leave your door open.

Donald! Donald,

they're after Evalina.

Donald, it's the police.

They're after Evalina.

- Donald, what are you doing?

- Jane, go up to Mary.

Yeah, right, Dad.

Charlie!

Donald...

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