Endgame Page #2

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Eugne Terre'Blanche's AWB party...

held a recruitment rally,

four people were detained.

If they want to take this country

by force and violence...

they'll meet us

over the barrel of a gun.

A! W! B!

Michael Young.

I cannot stand by and do nothing

while my country is reduced to ashes.

I'll come to your meeting.

Let me know where and when.

Doctor Barnard, Mr President.

- Did he take the bait?

- And deny his moment of destiny?

- He took it alright.

- Vanity... vanity.

Tambo's waiting to see you.

Oliver, maybe these talks are the

opportunity we've been waiting for.

Yes, but not everyone is going

to like it.

Many will see this as a betrayal.

So, we need to keep this between us,

and report back only to me.

Be careful, Thabo.

We're in.

Some housekeeping notes.

No telephone communication

with the ANC either...

in Lusaka or here in London.

South African Intelligence have our

phones tapped. Yours too, by now.

Don't think because you're back

in London you're not vulnerable.

Car and letter bombs are the weapons

of choice of the security agents.

Welcome to our world.

The board get wind we're jumping into

bed...

with a bunch of Kalashnikov

carrying terrorists...

we'll both be out on our ears.

You realise that?

They can't ignore reality.

Every day Botha gets more isolated,

the country more ungovernable.

Something doesn't give, and soon

the company will go down with it.

You see your role in this as what?

To create a neutral arena

and step aside.

Hope that they can see each other

as men, rather than as enemies.

A risky strategy.

Others are risking more than that.

Heroics don't cut much ice with

shareholders.

A 'need to know' basis. Only.

Trust no-one. Confide in no-one.

I'll bury the costs under Research

and Development, or some such.

Arrangements for my personal affairs

should anything happen to me.

- You think that's likely?

- A precaution.

Michael?

If this ever gets out...

I shall have to deny all knowledge

of it and, disown you.

And, I'll be nothing,

if not convincing.

Passport? Ticket?

Taxi.

It's okay.

Professor.

In the nick of time.

May I come in?

In public, Botha's still holding

the party line...

that you must defeat terrorists before

you can negotiate with them.

Privately, he wants you to continue

the dialogue for as long as possible.

The more we know about the ANC's

fault lines in their power structure...

the better we are equipped

to control the end game.

So, I am to act as your spy?

A go between is more what

we had in mind.

Have you thought why you were chosen

to lead these talks, Professor?

You're a soft target.

They think your reputation as an

advocate for social justice...

gives them a way in.

Play along.

Mbeki must think you are just a...

respected academic on

a fact-finding mission.

A soft target is not

a soft touch, Doctor.

I'm going to that meeting to hear

what they have to say.

As importantly for them to hear

what I have to say.

The whole process

is futile otherwise.

Ja, but the thing is,

you see, Professor.

You don't co-operate...

your participation in

the process will be terminated.

My direct line. Call me.

You need to be vigilant

about incendiary devices now.

Always check under your

car before using it.

I'll send my people over

to show you how.

And your ticket?

Don't forget to ring Albi Sachs.

Hello?

This is Thabo Mbeki.

I need a quick word.

He's just left for the airport.

I'll try and catch him, hold on.

Albi!

Albi!

- Get another line.

- Another line, please!

Background checks on staff. And

they know that security is an issue?

I briefed them this morning.

Brief them every morning.

Just keep hammering it home.

- This is Mr Mambenki's room.

- Mbeki.

- All the rooms are ensuite.

- It's nice.

- And, next door?

- His colleague. Mr... Pahad.

Put Professor Esterhuyse

next to Mbeki.

We need to mix them up. Maximise

the opportunity for chance meetings.

- Right.

- Good. Thank you.

'Welcome' seems a meagre word

for such an occasion.

But, it is no less sincere,

all the same.

Now, as you can see from

the agenda I drew up...

we have a lot of ground to cover.

So, if we're to get through it

I think it is essential that...

With respect, Mr Young.

Since you are not South African,

it's not your agenda.

It's ours.

And, with respect, Mr Mbeki...

I must remind you that the agenda

was agreed by both sides in advance.

Item one.

The ANC perspective.

We know that you Afrikaners have

paid in blood for your country.

As, we have.

We know too, that it was from your

suffering...

that a system of apartheid

was incubated.

The need to dominate is often

a consequence of survival.

Our problem is, as exiles, we are...

outside the political system.

So, we are not in a position to offer

any concessions or compromises...

in any potential negotiations with

the government.

If you can't offer concessions,

what can you offer?

All we can do is set out our

stall of demands.

The release of Nelson Mandela

and all political prisoners.

The unbanning of all proscribed

political organisations.

Only then can a negotiated transition

to majority rule take place.

So, then, we can take it that there

is no truth in the rumour...

that the ANC hopes Mandela will

die in prison?

Thus elevating him to the status

of martyr.

You don't think he's achieved

that status already?

That rumour, along with most

information about us...

is based on disinformation.

And, the riots and bloodshed

if he does get released?

Can you guarantee you can control

your guerrilla extremists?

Controlling Mrs Mandela and her

necklacing would be a start.

As would controlling the brutality

of your security police.

Can you guarantee that?

There's talk in Pretoria that Botha

is considering...

forming a new body to be

affiliated to Parliament...

where black representatives can join

the coloured and Indian delegates...

as a prelude to power sharing.

Can we ask your opinion on such

a proposal?

What is yours?

I'm just here on a fact-finding

mission, Mr Mbeki.

Your opinion is the issue.

My understanding is we are not here

to discuss reforming Apartheid.

Or, disguising it under some new

administrative structure.

We're here to talk about how

to abolish it.

What we are seeking, is a prelude

to majority rule.

Power sharing, is not an option.

Ah, Professor.

Okay. Good, good.

Gentlemen, please. Good.

Perhaps, if you outline the specific

nature of your fears...

relating to majority rule.

It's not bloody rocket science.

The blacks come after our blood,

and our children get slaughtered

in their beds. That, is the reality.

A communist leaning administration

will destroy our economic stability.

They'll end up in the same post

colonial chaos...

as the other African states.

Professor?

You'll obliterate not only our language

and our culture, but our human rights.

Fear is the first weapon

of the oppressor.

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