Guyana: Cult of the Damned (1979) - full transcript
This horrific dramatization of the Guyana tragedy traces the steps of Reverend Jim Jones, a highly charismatic, but profoundly paranoid clergyman, who after years of evangelism and good deeds, begins his own church in the mid-western United States. When Jim Jones becomes increasingly obsessed with the belief that the CIA is "a wicked enemy" who is out to get him, he emigrates with his congregation to Guyana, where he plans to create a utopia. But Jim Jones' utopia consists of a society where he demands his followers turn their minds, bodies and possessions over to him, one that is rife with orgies, physical violence, mental torture, and sexual abuse of children and adults. Ultimately, Jim Jones' paranoia reaches a fevered pitch that culminates in him taking savage action against his own congregation.
[heart beating]
[gun fires]
[gentle music]
- My children, my brothers.
Judgment day is upon us.
Wickedness and hardship
threaten the paths
of righteousness at every turn.
It is the will of the
Lord that we prepare
to render our souls
and bodies on to him.
That we may be worthy
of his divine grace.
So that we may pass through
the gates of heaven unashamed.
I will lead you first to refuge.
We will go to Eden where
we would be cleansed
of all our sins.
Our trials will be over
and our spirits ready
for the final day.
Our children will be delivered.
The world wallows
in a swamp of sin.
Yes, my brothers, evil has
pierced the hearts of men
and alienated him from
the ways of truth.
A society of corruption
and lust has become
the temple of men.
Tragedy, murder, drugs and
fornication are his islands.
The great men of our
nation are murdered.
Lincoln, Caufield, McKinley.
John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy,
Reverend Martin Luther King.
Our transgressions
and our crimes have
numbed our hearts.
Here in this very
state of California,
a house maid placed a
new born babe in the oven
and served it to its
parents at the dinner table.
Our young people, our children,
grovel in wantonness.
their souls laid to waste
in orgies of drugs, lust
and fornication as in
the days of [mumbles].
This is not the way of the Lord.
No, my brothers, for he
in his infamous mercy
will lead us to salvation.
For he said, I am
the resurrection
and the light
and in him we
shall live forever.
Can we consider a
society that condones
the existence of
soldiers of evil
like the Klu Klux Klan?
No.
We are stricken, stricken
by a disease of the spirit
that turns us away from
God and brotherhood
and leads us down
the holes of racism.
These are societies of Satan,
that will not allow
us to live peacefully
and lovingly with our brothers.
Black or white and of all races.
For we are all his
children and we were born
in his grace.
Are we in God's favor,
when our people
respect institutions
of organized crime.
You may call [speaks
foreign language] mafia
whichever name you choose.
And they hold in
their ranks the vilest
of men and women who
shamelessly have strayed
away from the words of God.
They become the heroes we
and our children worship.
They have infiltrated
our media, television,
movies, and literature.
They have set a horrible example
for our people to follow.
What do we worship,
we worship hate.
Our angels?
Violence and lewdness.
Our ways?
The ways of inequity.
I ask you, God asks you,
do we continue?
Will our children be born
and raised in this country?
- [Group] No!
- Is this the country
you want your children
to live in, to raise their
families in and die in?
- [Group] No!
- Is the promised land?
The land of milk and honey?
- [Group] No!
- Is this the land chosen
by the Lord, our God,
for his children?
- [Group] No!
- No, brothers and sisters.
This is not the holy land.
It is a dwelling
for immoral acts,
of contemptible
values, of abuses
and drug addiction.
20 million of our children,
of God's children,
are addicted to drugs.
This is the devil's land.
God has forsaken this country
of contaminated spirits,
of souls and decay
and putrefaction.
This hand, God's hand,
is my hand and it will guide you
and you will be
free and shall be
delivered into paradise
and the wicked shall
be cast at sun down.
[triumphant music]
The Lord has instructed me
to lead you to this land.
Where we shall erect a
settlement in his name.
And it shall be
called Johnsontown
and it shall never,
never be destroyed!
[cheering and clapping]
The Prime Minister of this
fine socialist country
has given us 27,000
acres of land
for our settlement
and our development.
In turn,
we shall help their
economy through our labor.
Our dream has come
true because of you,
my brothers and my children.
Your donations have helped
made this moment possible.
I know that for some of
you it has been difficult.
It is not an easy
task to rid yourself
of your wealth and your
earthly possessions
but that is the way
of righteousness.
Because you have
given with your hearts
to Johnston's Temple,
you will be rewarded
with happiness and peace.
Not only in the here after
you will have these gifts
of love but also on this
earth for God is love
and I am love and I shall
guide you to the land
where we will reap of
these wondrous gifts
Our new home.
We must also thank our
brothers and sisters
in prominent government
positions who in many ways
have contributed
significantly to our cause.
We are grateful to our First
Lady and Vice President,
for their letters of
support, as well as the
Secretary of the
Department of Health,
Education and Welfare.
We have also to thank some
of the top representatives
of the state.
The Lieutenant Governor of
the state of California,
the mayor and the
former mayor of the city
of San Francisco.
Among other whom
we all know well.
Our friends in the
Senate and our brothers
and sisters in Congress
must also be thanked
for their unselfish
dedication to our cause.
And now, let us pray.
[eerie organ music]
[grand orchestral music]
- I'm terribly sorry
about your son.
You have my deepest
sympathies, William.
- I'm positive it
wasn't an accident, Lee.
Bill quit the sant
headed by James Johnson
just the day before.
They did it, I'm sure of it.
- I've received many
complaints about some
of Johnson's people.
I find it difficult to accept
they're capable of murder.
There are more
than 30,000 members
in Johnson's congregation
and keep this in mind,
you are accusing a
reverend who is preaching
the word of God.
- Bill told me he had quit.
They threatened him.
Those people are mad, possessed.
You've got to do
something, Lee, please.
- I'll do whatever
is possible, William.
If they've committed a
crime, I promise you,
they'll be punished.
[orchestral music]
[gentle music]
[animals shrieking]
[siren blaring]
- There.
The next time you wanna
go down to the river,
don't take your shoes off.
- Jenny, come on, gotta
take you to the pavilion.
- Why is he gathering us
at this time of the day?
- [Man] Isn't that what he
usually does, Doc, come on.
- For the past several months
since our arrival here,
we have toiled and
sacrificed together
in love and in faith.
To build this colony, we
have created Johnsontown.
A true paradise,
a land of promise
through faith and me.
We have cleared the
jungle and built roads.
In brotherhood, we
have built our homes,
dining in recreational
facilities.
Medical center, schools and
playgrounds for our children.
We have electricity and
a communication network
throughout the colony
and radio contact
with the outside world.
We have, here, proof
of my endless love.
Everything I promised you,
but despite this great
deed, there are still those
who oppose us.
Who speak falsely of our church,
there are still those
who would be enemies
to Johnson's Temple.
Mimes, we've had defectors,
deserters from the ways
of love and truth.
They will wander the
earth in retribute
and in disfavor with God.
Those who oppose Johnson's
Temple, oppose me.
And those who
oppose me oppose God
and they shall die
in shame and sin
and feel the mighty
pull of God's smite.
And on Judgment Day,
I shall make them pay.
- Christ is God!
- [Group] Christ is Johnson!
Christ is Johnson!
Christ is Johnson!
Christ is Johnson!
Christ is Johnson!
Christ is Johnson!
Christ is Johnson!
- There is no
power on this earth
that can sway from
our claim to glory.
We have enemies, enemies
throughout the world,
enemies in the United
States of America
who want to destroy
us, but before they do,
I shall be a shield
and your light
in a holy mission,
a true and pure
revolutionary moment.
Where we will lay
to rest our bodies
by our own hand,
just as we agreed
to do in California
and we will teach them.
We will be an
example to the world.
[ominous music]
- [Woman] Joey
finally fell asleep.
- If he shows up late
again for our community
meeting I will have him
punished for disobedience.
He must learn.
- Oh, John Paul is just a child.
- All of them, each
and every one of them
must obey my word.
I will not be defied.
- Don't you think that
all this punishment
will only increase
their disillusionment?
A lot of people are
very unhappy, Jim.
They're talking about
going back to the States.
- No, they won't.
I will not allow
infiltrators to betray those
who believe in me.
I gave them all of this, I can
also take it away from them.
They're weak, without my
guidance and protection,
they are lost.
If I should fall,
woman, you, my children
all of them will fall with me.
- Jim, you're hurting me.
[animal howling]
[rumbling]
[rumbling]
- I was expecting you.
- How did it go?
Did you talk to Petrulia?
- Yes, he told me to
pass the application
over to Moscow.
The entire community
can make an exodus
towards the Soviet
Union, but he hasn't
received an answer yet.
[sighs heavily]
- Well, I wanna save them,
I wanna save every one of them.
Stupid idiots,
they don't answer.
- Petrulia thinks there's
no problem getting visas
for a delegation to go
to the Soviet Union,
analyze situation.
- You're going with me, Anna.
And you're gonna make
whatever money transfers
are required for the exodus.
- I'll do anything you say.
Please, give me some.
- We found it, Anna.
We found nature to nature.
Without sin, corruption...
Without promises. [laughs]
Of joy and heaven, we
found it right here,
right here on earth, Anna.
- Those who do not
remember the past
are condemned to repeat it.
- Mm, my Anna.
My sweet Anna.
- [Anna] Will you
stay with me tonight?
- Yes.
Because only I can love you.
You know that, Anna?
My wife knows that and
the women and the men
they know that because
I was meant for them.
[thunder rumbling]
[rain pouring]
- [Voiceover] This way.
[ominous music]
[siren blaring]
- Your son, Fred.
Your son, Lida.
And your son, Thomas,
are also my sons, but
they have failed me.
They have defied my laws,
the laws of this Temple.
They have stolen that
which is most precious
to all of us and
belongs to all of us.
Food.
Tell me, Fred, what shall
I do with your son Mark?
- Punish him.
[ominous music]
- And you, Lida?
What shall I do with
your son, Samuel?
- Punish him.
[ominous music]
- Thomas Gees, what shall
I do with your son, Tommy?
- Punish him.
[ominous music]
- [Reverend] All of
you, what shall I do
with these children?
- [Group] Punish them!
- So be it.
Those who do not
remember the past,
they are condemned to repeat it.
[child whimpering]
[screaming]
[screaming]
[screaming]
I forgive you
because I love you.
And I will show you my
true expression of love.
[speaks foreign language]
- [Voiceover] I
am a free citizen.
[speaks foreign language]
I am a free citizen.
[speaks foreign language]
A brother who depend.
- Come on, get to work, hey!
You already had your 10 minutes.
- [Voiceover] Yes, sir.
[speaks foreign language]
- [Voiceover] A
brotherhood of man.
- Hey, that bastard's
running away!
[speaks foreign language]
- [Voiceover] A better man.
[speaks foreign language]
I love you.
[speaks foreign language]
I love you.
[speaks foreign language]
With love.
[group shouting]
[man grunting]
- Please, don't hurt him!
[woman shouting]
- San Francisco, do you have it?
- [Voiceover] Roger.
- It is urgent to
solve the Jeremy case.
Weston, are you there?
Weston, we're on the air
again at the same time.
- [Voiceover] Yes,
Reverend Johnson.
- San Franciso, I'm
cutting off, over and out.
Weston, I'm staying with you.
How's your photography?
- [Voiceover] Fine, Reverend,
I'm learning more everyday.
- Well, then, you should
accept my invitation
to Johnsontown.
You'd learn a lot
of things here.
Some very interesting
things you should see.
I assure you, my friend.
Johnsontown is a paradise.
- [Voiceover] I'll do
whatever I can to visit
and meet your personally,
Reverend Johnson.
- Fine, when you make up
your mind, let me know,
so I can send someone
to pick you up
at the airport in Georgetown.
Oh, and don't forget
to bring your camera.
There are many things
to photograph here.
What's going on, Gary?
- [Gary] Susan Ames is here,
she just got into Georgetown.
- [Voiceover] Reverend Johnson,
are you there?
- [Reverend] Let her in.
Okay, Weston, we'll be
in touch again tomorrow.
Same channel at the
usual time, over and out.
- [Voiceover] Roger,
Johnsontown, UF
028, over and out.
- I sent for you a couple
of days ago, Susan.
What held you up?
- I'm sorry, Reverend
Johnson, but things
in Georgetown have become
a little complicated.
- [Reverend] What's wrong?
- It's about John Paul
Stern's legal custody.
The California courts
have decided in favor
of the Stern's.
You see the case has
reached the US Embassy.
That might mean trouble
for you and the community.
Reverend, let me take
the child to the embassy.
They'll send him
back to the States.
In the meantime, I advise
you not to go to Georgetown.
- Imbeciles, how dare they,
how dare they threaten me?
This is my land, my town,
I drove it, it's mine,
it belongs to me.
And these people here,
they're mine too.
I made them and the
authority and the law
and they owe me justice.
1,000 cut wounds
aren't going to take
that child away from me.
John Paul is my own
flesh and blood.
That traitor, Glenda
Stern, she can bear witness
to that fact.
Damn her soul.
If I wanna go to Georgetown,
then by God, I'll
go to Georgetown!
Gary.
This case is being used
against me by my enemies
in the States.
It's the CIA, they need
an excuse to come here
to Johnsontown to wipe us out.
And Johnny is that excuse.
- Yes, it does look as
if they're closing in.
[bell ringing]
[group chattering]
- No meat?
Rice and gravy again.
After working 13 hours
under the burning sun.
Don't you think it's fair
that we get a little meat, Sam?
- Carl, I do what I can
with what they give us,
so if you wanna complain,
go and see Father Johnson.
- It's the same stuff again.
- It's okay, Tina.
- We will have to cut expenses
in food rices to a minimum,
if we're going to finance
our journey to safety.
- Debbie Moore should've
never been involved
in our money affairs.
She defected and betrayed us.
She spread lies and
smeared the reputation
of our Temple all
over the states.
Even the social
security checks we get
from our old people
are in jeopardy
because of her statements.
We're talking about
$65,000 a month.
- That's why so
many of them left
and stopped their contributions.
- Oh, Debbie isn't the
only enemy we've got.
There are a lot of
our members' relatives
who are an absolute
opposition to us.
You ought to know that, Anna.
Your father's one of them.
- That's right, Albert
Kazan's name is in the report
our lawyer Dave Cole sent us.
Do you realize in May,
75 relatives sent letters
to the Secretary of
State accusing us
of making a concentration
camp out of--
- That's enough, Susan.
Don't you ever repeat that
word around here again.
Now you're in
charge of Georgetown
and part of your job
is to prevent lies
from getting in or
out of Johnsontown.
We must not be contaminated.
Now I want you and every
other capable member
of our community to
write letters home.
To our relatives
and to our friends
and tell them how
well we're doing
and we're happy here.
We must stop those filthy lies.
I personally will inspect
every one of those letters.
And also, we will
include pictures.
All right, children,
smile, smile, that's it.
- [Anna] You look
beautiful, Mrs. Russell.
- [Reverend] Smile, come on.
[children giggling]
All right, smile, come
on, let's see some teeth.
Say Johnson.
This is a nice one.
Okay.
- Smile, Billy, you look
worse than a monkey.
[laughing]
- Okay, okay.
- Come on, cheer up.
- There you go.
Smile.
I want you to make sure
that the cook doubles
the dosage of stimulants
in the sandwiches
and the soft drinks.
Each one of our members
has to be in condition.
By the time we call rehearsal
for the white night again.
[somber music]
- Don.
How did we allow
this to happen to us?
- Just trust James Johnson.
[ominous music]
[breathes heavily]
[moaning]
[dramatic music]
- Father Johnson,
please, I love Rebecca.
- Lazarus.
[ominous music]
You will perform the
sex act with a man.
The entire community
will be your witness.
- Mr. Gable.
Several former sect
members have stated
that the Reverend James
Johnson used arm guards
to repress his people?
- There are no bodyguards
in Johnsontown, Mr. Harvey.
- And there are no
guns in Johnsontown?
- I didn't see any guns.
- Well they say
there's an armed squad
that patrols in and
around Johnsontown.
Do you claim this is not true?
- You should go then.
See for yourself sometime.
Johnsontown is a,
gem, Mr. Harvey,
a gem that the whole
world should see.
[siren blaring]
- Alert, hello.
Everybody to the pavilion.
Alert, alert.
We have enemies in the
United States, the CIA,
the human freedom movement.
There are mercenaries
have us surrounded
and they're waiting
for the right moment
to destroy us because
we have achieved
true interracial
love and freedom.
Just like the Nazis
did with the Jews,
they slaughtered them.
That's what the United
States is preparing.
The crematoriums,
they want to
exterminate the blacks.
Oh, no.
We will not let them.
Because before they do,
we will give the world
a moment to remember.
A true revolution
act for the salvation
of humanity.
We shall have our white night,
our night of liberation
in which we will,
we will gain forgiveness, peace,
and eternal, eternal joy.
First, the truth.
And then ourselves.
We have rehearsed this
night many times before.
We must prepare for
the final night!
I bleed for you.
I will die for you.
Raise your hands
those who will die for me.
[ominous music]
[dramatic chord]
[grand orchestral music]
- Aren't you one of the
lawyers who challenged
the commission with your reports
on the Kennedy assassination?
- That's right and
other conspiracies.
Right now I'm being
retained by Reverend Johnson
to check in on possible
CIA infiltrations
under Johnsontown.
As a matter of
fact, Congressman,
your interest in Reverend
Johnson seems to me
to be turning into a
political witch hunt.
I'm afraid if you
continue to investigate,
you might cause
considerable embarrassment
to the United States government.
- Nevertheless, we
intend to proceed.
No persecution or
witch hunt intended.
And also your
reference to creating
an embarrassing
political situation
for the United States government
does not impress me at
all, good bye, Mister?
- Cole.
- Mr. Cole, we have
some more work to do.
- Of course, I thought
I just thought perhaps
I could...
Thanks for your
time, Congressman.
- Now we're accused
of witch hunts.
- I'm worried about the content
of that lawyer's letter.
The one in answer to that
telegram you sent Johnson.
- I liked that bit
about Johnson ridiculing
the States by taking its people
to one of the other of
two communist countries
that have granted him asylum.
- That's right,
usual nasy threats.
Soviet Union or Cuba.
- Oh, come on.
If a congressman
would pay attention
to all the threats
and pressure he got,
he wouldn't have time
to be a congressman.
- You know, sir, the
state department people
are totally opposed to
us taking this trip.
They say they don't have
enough background on the sect.
Besides, our Embassy
in Guyana is claiming
it knows nothing about
what is happening there
in Johnsontown and
they have reservations
about our visit.
- I'm obligated to
go ahead with it.
I cannot ignore
all the complaints
from worried parents.
Who state that their
children are being held
by force in Johnsontown.
Oh, come on, you two.
Relax, will ya, this is
just another mission.
Meanwhile, let us
be nice to the...
Gentlemen of the press.
- What do you think, Leslie?
- I don't know.
- Good morning.
- [Group] Good morning.
- How are ya?
I'm very happy that
you're all here.
Well, gentlemen,
please sit down.
- [Group] Thank you, sir.
- [Lee] What can I do for you?
- Mr. Congressman,
my name is Ron Harvey
from Indiana News.
My associate Albert
Brook and I have been
chosen to go to Guyana with you.
- I'm please to meet you.
- I'm Bert Powers, sir, from
the San Francisco World.
- How do you do?
- I'm George Karn, sir,
Washington reporter.
- Hello, George.
- Ted Rutherford, Congressman,
from the San Francisco Post.
- [Lee] It's my pleasure, Ted.
- Cliff Robinson, sir.
I'm assigned to Ted to
make this trip with you.
- Well, I'm thankful
for all your company.
- Sir, is this going to
be a dangerous assignment?
- I don't know, but if it is,
I've got all of you around.
[laughing]
- Sir, we are all very
glad to be taking this trip
with you but we
would like to know,
is it true that
Johnsontown is a kind
of concentration camp?
- Gentlemen, I've been
getting all kinds of reports
about torture,
extortion, violation
of human rights,
child abuse and what not,
but we have absolutely
no evidence and that is
precisely what we're going
down there to find out.
- I have heard reports,
sir, that they confiscate
everyone's passports
and valuables,
so that they can't leave.
That it's the birth
of a new Hitler.
You know, all this, Mr. O'Brien,
isn't there some sort of
political speculation?
- In what sense, Mr. Rutherford?
- A man able to convince
thousands of people
that he's the Messiah
but also tell them
both to so and so.
- I beg your pardon,
Mr. Rutherford,
but I do not believe
that James Johnson
is the Messiah.
- I agree, but how would you
explain all those letters
James Johnson received
from the First Lady,
the Vice President, and
other government officials?
- Well, if Johnson
received letters of thanks
from various
political contenders
thanking him for his
cooperation in their campaigns,
it doesn't necessarily mean that
those political figures
support Johnson's Temple.
- Sir, we've been told
that Mr. Johnson used
those letters to gain
entrance into Guyana.
- Well, if the Minister
of State of Guyana
chose to use these letters
as high level references,
then it is his and his
country's business.
- Have you been in
touch with the leader
of Johnson's Temple?
- Yes, I have.
I have sent him a
friendly letter stating
that I have heard
all kinds of reports
about his commune
and that I would like
to pay him a visit to
ascertain for myself
if United States citizens
are being held there
against their will.
- Mm-hm.
- Now, gentlemen, I know you
have many questions to ask,
as do I, I've got a ton of them
and I'm sure we'll
get the answers
when we leave Johnsontown.
Thank you very much for coming.
- [Group] Thank you.
- Tony Thompson's mother says
her son has served his time
and should be released.
He was the boy
caught stealing dope.
- Mm-hm.
Has he had enough?
- Oh, yes, everyday.
Until he became
completely intoxicated.
- All right, tell
them to let him go.
- Okay.
- [James] Is Stuart here?
- Oh?
What do you want him for?
- It's minor things,
just go get him.
Nothing you have
given me has helped.
Pain keeps growing more intense.
- Your illness has
gotten worse, James.
There's nothing I can do.
- Funny how...
Faith can help people.
I used to help the people
with just words alone.
I'd pretend to extract
cancer from their bodies
and they would be healed.
I can't help myself.
My enemies have
weakened my own faith.
It's my children,
it's my children that
that's all as me.
They're helpless and monster.
They would really
be lost without me
and you know how
much I love them.
[solemn music]
- [cries] Oh, Tony.
Tony, Tony, what
has he done to you?
Tony, what have
they done to you?
What have you done to my boy?
You killed him.
[muffled speaking
drowned out by crying]
Tony.
[crying]
- I know things are
difficult in Georgetown,
but I'd rather have you
there with the congregation
than here.
You stick to your basketball.
- Father, is there anything
I don't know about?
- No, son.
No, you know anything and
if anything should happen,
you know what to do.
[dramatic music]
- Dad, are you gonna
be long in Guyana?
- Guyana, darling.
- I don't know, Lin.
For the first time in my life,
I'm not that eager to
take on an assignment.
- Is something
bothering you, Ron?
- I've had some
nightmares, Rommy.
- Well then don't go.
Let them send somebody else.
- I suppose I'm the
best in the business.
That's why they're sending me.
- [Child] Come back soon, Dad.
We're gonna miss
you an awful lot.
- So you want me to
pack your jacket, Dad?
- No, thanks.
Guyana is a hot country.
- Yes, its capital
city is Georgetown,
below sea level.
Its area is
214,945 square kilometers
and its population
is 800,000 people.
- [laughs] How did
you know about that?
- Well every time
you go on a trip,
Mom and I do a little research.
- You're forgetting it's
a socialist country.
- Well, well, well.
You seem to know more
about it than I do,
maybe you should be
going instead of me.
- [Son] Dad, can I go with you?
- No, you're the oldest,
you're gonna have
to look out after
everybody while I'm gone.
I won't be gone long.
I'll come back, we'll take
a long vacation, okay?
- Okay.
- [Voiceover] Hello, Al.
- [Al] I was so afraid I
wouldn't get here on time.
- What's wrong, Dad?
I've already said good bye.
- I just wanted to see
you once more, Cliff.
- Come on, Dad.
It's just a job.
- Yes, I know, I
know, but each time
I see you leave, I'm afraid
I won't see you anymore.
- I've gotta go now, I
don't wanna miss the plane.
- [Al] Take good care
of yourself, Cliff.
[dramatic music]
- Congressman O'Brien,
I'm Alex Dtressler
from the embassy.
- [Lee] How do you do?
- I wasn't expecting such
a large group of people.
- Well, they're
reporters and relatives
of Johnsontown commune members.
We're all here for
the same reasons.
- I see.
- I'd like you to meet my
secretary Leslie Stevens
and my aid Mike Lile.
- Hello, how are you?
I think I have
enough transportation
to accomodate you all.
- Thank you.
- Good, this way.
[upbeat music]
- Christ, Cliff, I hope all
those cameras are wielded.
- Of course, I'm a professional.
My camera.
[laughing]
You're a rat.
Very funny.
- Mr. Kazan, I'm Ron
Harvey of MDM News,
I wanted to talk to
you on the plane.
- Good to meet you.
This is my son Peter.
- [Ron] Hi.
- Hi.
- [Ron] Mr. Kazan, you're
Anna Kazan's father.
She's a very close friend
of the Reverend Johnson.
Can you give me
any idea about her,
her personality?
Why did she join this sect?
- Mr. Harvey, I beg you,
wait a couple of days.
I'm in no condition
right now to make
any statements.
- I understand, sir.
- Mr. O'Brien, I don't
think you or your team
have taken the necessary
precautions for this mission.
And those reporters,
you shouldn't
have brought them.
- Mr. Dressler,
I don't care what you
think, we're here.
- Forgive me if I insist,
but the ambassador and I
consider your mission
down here very dangerous
especially with
all those reporters
and the others joining you.
They won't let you
into Johnsontown.
- Dressler, you
don't give a damn
whether I go in or
out of Johnsontown,
you're just worried about
diplomatic relations.
I'm taking everyone who
wants to come back with me
to the States.
[upbeat music]
- Congressman O'Brien.
As you can see, over
100 of our members
have signed this
paper stating that
they do not want you or
your people in Johnsontown.
- I understand there are
more than 1,000 people there.
- We've been
visited occasionally
by friends and relatives,
but we've never invited
them to come and we're not
interested in their concern.
- Are you speaking for
yourself, Mrs. Ames
or are you speaking
for the Reverend too?
- Congressman, Reverend
Johnson is unable
to authorize your
visit to Johnsontown
because he's ill and
unable to meet with you.
- I must go in.
Mrs. Ames if I discover
that the testimonial reports
by the relatives
about conditions here,
the bad conditions are untrue,
then there's no basis
for the charges.
However, if you refuse
me and my party entrance,
then I must assume
that Johnsontown
is a prison.
Never has anybody
from the Temple
in all of the
letters and testimony
that I have received,
ever mention anything
about God.
Now if this is not a
religious institution,
why are you tax exempt?
Laws maybe being
broken right now.
Income tax laws,
social security laws,
passport irregularities
and I intend to bring this
to every arm of the
United States government
and you can tell
Johnson that I am going
into Johnsontown with or
without his authorization.
[triumphant orchestral music]
Mr. Ambassador, after
what we've heard here
in Georgetown, the reason
for my mission is confirmed.
We know now what can
happen in Johnsontown.
We must prevent it.
- Congressman, at first
I wasn't in agreement
with your mission but
I have changed my mind.
We've definitely had reports
that rehearsals for mass
suicide are under way.
- Those people down
there are dangerous,
they're fanatics.
- That's why I've been
cautious, waiting now
for instructions from
the State Department.
I advise that you wait.
- We can't wait any longer.
I can't wait, I'll
take the risk.
- Well I can't stop
you, but I warn you,
we're in a socialist
country and we have reliable
reports that Johnson has
been in close contact
with the Russian embassy
and he has a very
efficient army of his own.
I can't guarantee your safety
or the safety of the people
that are traveling with you.
- You and Dave Cole
must persuade their men
not to come.
I have no guarantee that
there isn't a CIA agent
among all those newspaper men.
- Cole and I have done our best
to dissuade him.
But he's as stubborn
about coming down there
as you are about not
letting him come.
He's probably on
his way there now.
- Oh, for God's sake, what
kind of lawyers are you?
I told you to come
directly to Guyana
to prevent this.
- You have two options.
One, you can tell the
media and the United States
congressman to go to hell.
I assure you if you do that,
you'll find it very difficult
to explain to the US government
and two, Mr. Johnson,
you can allow
the media and anyone
else who's interested
to come down there and
take a look for themselves.
- Okay, Gabe, let him come,
but under no circumstances
is Albert Kazan
to come with them.
That man is CIA and I
don't want him here.
You and Dave come
along with him.
We've got a lot to talk
about, over and out.
Well let's get to the airport.
- You've done the right thing.
[honking]
- Well, Congressman.
You finally got permission
to visit Johnsontown.
We're going along to
help with the interviews.
- [Lee] Good, good.
- Mr. Kazan, I'm
afraid you cannot go.
- Why, why can't I go?
My daughter's there.
- Frankly, Mr. Johnson
doesn't want you there.
- Now, now, Gable,
just a minute.
We don't want anymore
trouble, do we?
Better do as he says.
I'm sorry, I'm very sorry.
- It's gonna be all
right, don't worry.
- Come on, let's go.
Take this.
[dramatic music]
[group shouting]
- [Lee] What the hell is this?
- I never thought you
reporters had such
a bad reputation.
- We'll see.
♪ Everyone is ready
♪ To feel
♪ To feel
- [Voiceover]
Congressman O'Brien,
this is Mrs. Johnson.
- Welcome to Johnsontown.
- How do you do?
- Congressman O'Brien, [mumbles]
would you like to follow
me to meet Father?
- Yes, thank you,
thank you very much.
♪ That's the reason
♪ Has to be love
♪ That's the reason
♪ Has to be love
♪ That's the reason
♪ Has to be love
♪ That's the reason
- [Mrs. Johnson] Father.
- Mr. O'Brien
You wanted to see the
truth about Johnsontown.
- Yes, the truth
about Johnsontown.
- Here it is.
Welcome.
- Thank you.
- Follow me.
- Anna.
Anna, wait.
Anna?
- Why the hell
did you come here?
I don't need you, my father,
or anybody.
Don't you understand
I'm very happy here?
- But Anna, Dad and all
of us, we all love you.
I've come to get
you out of here.
Dad is waiting for
you in Georgetown.
- You wasted your time.
I like it here and I'm happy.
I'll never desert.
♪ That's the reason
♪ Has to be love
- I'm very happy to be here.
I've got to tell you,
I've received a lot
of negative
criticism and charges
against Johnsontown.
However, I can tell you this,
by looking at your faces,
I can see that there are
some people here today
who feel this is
the greatest thing
that ever happened to them.
[cheering and clapping]
[whistles]
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
I didn't realize
I'd be such a hit.
[laughing]
Look, I am your friend.
I come here to meet you,
I wanna talk to you.
Is there anybody here
who has something
to say to me?
Say it!
Well, I've got to
level with you.
I don't want to
deceive any of you.
This is a congressional inquiry.
- [James] I
understand [mumbles],
they're very closely related.
- What can you
tell us concerning
the punishment practice
on your commune members?
- I reject violence.
I reject corporal and
physical punishment.
- [Ron] What about this picture?
She's been whipped pretty badly.
- We don't practice
physical punishment anymore.
We stopped that a couple of
months ago, maybe a year.
- What do you do?
People are willing to
turn over total control
of their lives to you.
- I'm a socialist, I believe
in absolute democracy.
I hate power, I
don't want money.
The only thing I want is
to have never been born.
I realize that more
and more everyday.
I'm not concerned
about my image anymore.
- Mr. Johnson, what
do you have to say
about Glenda Stern's case?
She states you're
holding her son here
against his will.
- Glenda had no
interest in that child,
none until she saw it in print.
Have Helen bring
John Paul to me.
- Okay.
- You know, she's
quite an actress.
She's a very seductive,
terrible lady.
You know, she wanted
me to marry her.
I said how can I, I've
been married to Marilyn
for 27 years now.
She's a terrible lady.
I feel very guilty
about our relationship.
Oh, John Paul, come.
Open your mouth and
show your teeth.
You see?
See that?
Doesn't he look exactly like me?
Mm-hm.
John, tell me, would you
like to live with Glenda?
- No.
- You see, you can't play
with the lives of children.
Okay, John.
- [Ron] We've heard that
sex is only your particular
privilege here in Johnsontown.
- Oh, that's bullshit.
How can you have
babies without sex?
Do you know that we've
had 30 babies born here
since the summer of '77?
Unfortunate for they are,
they would be the
victims of our enemies.
Enemies who have
formed a conspiracy.
Do you know that
they have shot at me?
- Who is behind this conspiracy?
- Well the same
people who conspired
to kill Martin Luther
King, the Kennedy,
Malcom X.
I have tried to build
a community here.
An alternative
culture to the one
in the United States.
All I want for my people
is peace and tranquility.
I want the fighting to stop,
otherwise I don't
know what will happen
to the 1,200 lives
that are living here.
[upbeat music]
- I want you to meet
with them, talk to them,
I gotta know how
they really feel.
- Mm-hm.
- [Child] Hello.
- Hi.
Will you come here, I'd
like to talk to you.
You like it here?
- [Child] Yes.
- You do, huh?
- Yes.
- And you?
- Yes.
- What don't you like about it?
- The food.
- Oh, the food, huh?
And you, what don't you like?
- School.
- Well no little girl
your age likes school.
Where's your mommy?
- She's over there.
- And yours?
- Over there.
- Over there, I see.
And who's your father?
- Father Johnson.
- Father Johnson, and yours?
- [Girl] Dad.
- Oh, Reverend Johnson.
Would you like to come
back with me to the States?
- [Child] No.
- And you?
- [Girl] No.
- Why not?
- [Girl] 'Cause I'm very
happy here, because I'm happy.
- [Child] 'Cause I'm happy.
- I'm glad they're happy here.
Would you look at
that man's face?
- Get him out of here.
I will not have them
staying over night.
[ominous music]
- Ma'am, we wanna
stay over night,
simply to get a
better perspective
of the commune.
- I'm sorry, that is impossible.
Father Johnson is
unable to assist you
and we don't have any
place for you to stay here.
You'll just have to go to
a hotel in Port Kaltuma.
- But we have no
reservations there.
- Oh, yes, you do.
We made them for you.
Only Congressman
O'Brien and his staff
are allowed to stay here.
- Well, it'd be better to do
what Johnson wants, fellas.
I'll be waiting for you
here early in the morning.
You better go.
- [Reporter] See you later.
- Yep.
- Congressman O'Brien,
would you like to come
with me to your room, please.
- [Lee] Thank you.
- [Woman] Sir.
[solemn music]
Here.
- What do you think of
all of this, Harvey?
- I think this whole
thing is falling apart.
Take a look at this.
- That's pretty heavy.
- Your fever's disappeared,
I think you're all right.
- I feel better,
thank you, Gary.
- Well, I'm going to bed,
it's been a hard day.
- [David] Yeah, me too,
I'm gonna get some sleep.
- [James] Good night.
- [David] Good night.
- I think we made it.
The congressman
seems very impressed.
- Hm, I won't feel at ease
until they leave the
commune, all of them.
[ominous music]
[gentle music]
[rooster crowing]
- Over there.
- Gentlemen, good morning.
- [Ron] Congressman,
how are you?
- Pretty good, how
about some breakfast?
- Hi.
- [Man] Hello.
- Hey, where do you
think you're going, man?
Nobody goes in there.
- [Man] I'm a reporter
and I wanna see
what's inside.
- Yeah, well you can't go in.
Once more and I'm
gonna blow you away.
- [David] Hey, wait
a minute, hold it,
what's the problem here?
- This man won't let
us inside that place.
I think I heard some moaning.
- You've got to
let us take a look.
That's why we're here.
- I can't let them in,
you know I got orders.
- If you don't
wanna get in trouble
with Reverend Johnson,
you better let them in.
He said they could look at
whatever they wanted to.
Okay?
Okay.
- [Bearded Man] All right.
- [David] Come on.
[ominous music]
[coughing]
- My Lord, what is this?
- My God, it looks
like a slave galley.
- I'm determined to leave.
I've already notified
the newspaper men.
- I'm leaving too, I
can't stay here anymore.
I've been deceived.
I see everything clearly now.
- You've got to come
with us, Mrs. Millard.
- Yes, Catherine, that
man is our only hope.
If we don't try for it now,
we might never have
another chance.
- I don't know, I'd like to,
but I still have faith
in Father Johnson.
[ominous music]
- Well, suit yourself but
we're leaving with Mr. O'Brien.
- Let's go.
- We hear that
you're always armed.
- That's a bold face lie,
just look around you.
- What can you say about that?
- People play games, friend.
It's a lie, what can
I do about liars?
Look, would you people
please leave us?
Please, I beg you,
just leave us.
- Would you allow some
of your members to leave?
- Anybody is free to go.
They come and go all the time.
- Reverend Johnson,
those seven people wanna leave.
- I've been betrayed,
it never stops.
Go away, get out of my village.
I don't wanna hear
you anymore, see you,
you're traitors, liars.
You're all traitors and liars.
- Let them go, who cares
if seven or 71 will leave.
You can't change what
you've accomplished here.
- I feel like I've been
stabbed in the back.
- Sir, I wanna get out of
here with my daughter, please.
- No, you're not going
to take away my daughter.
- [David] Please, folks,
please, this argument
will get you nowhere.
Only a court of law
can decide who will
get custody of the child.
- Sir, help me get her
out of here, please.
- All American citizens
who wish to leave with me,
are welcome to do so!
- It's a plot.
They want to destroy us.
- Don't you worry,
Reverend, nobody wants
to hurt you, I assure you.
This does not have to
develop into a full scale
congressional investigation.
I only want to take
with me those people
who want to come back
to the United States.
- Congressman O'Brien.
- [Lee] Yes?
- You are a pig.
[dramatic music]
[shouting]
- Mr. O'Brien.
Does this change everything?
- It doesn't change everything
but it changes things.
[dramatic music]
All right, let's go, hurry.
Get these people to the plane.
- [Voiceover] Mr. O'Brien.
- Mr. O'Brien.
The number of families
that are wanting to leave
is increasing.
- I'll wait for the next load.
Tell them at the
airport, I [mumbles].
All right, get going.
Leslie, go on, go.
- [Leslie] Lee.
- That one is not
really leaving.
He's one of them, it's a plot.
Something is going to happen.
Come on, we've got to get going.
- There's a great deal of
resentment against you two.
I don't know what will happen.
Get one of the guest houses.
There's no doubt in my mind
that it's better
to choose to die
than to be harassed from
one continent to another.
Congressman O'Brien's plane
will fall from the sky.
- Come on.
Line up over here.
Open your bags.
That's fine.
Get them loaded.
- It's gonna be
tight, look at that.
Hold it.
- Congressman O'Brien
said I could go
on the first plane.
- All right, but hurry up.
- Thanks.
- [Man] Look out,
he's got a gun.
[screaming]
[guns firing]
- [Voiceover] Shoot,
shoot them, kill them!
[guns firing]
[screaming]
- Do something!
Somebody help!
Help us, help us!
Someone, please do something!
[guns firing]
[gun firing]
[gun firing]
[guns firing]
[crying]
[crying]
- [Man] All of them were killed.
[ominous music]
[James whispering]
- Congressman O'Brien is
dead and all the churchlings.
Guyanese defense force
will be here in 45 minutes.
Now we must die with dignity.
This is our time.
My time.
We can't live in peace
then we must die in peace.
My sisters, bring me my babies.
- [Doctor] Get the other back.
- [James] They go
first, then my children.
- [Doctor] Is everything there?
Keep stirring.
- [James] And you my brothers
and sisters, we will
die with dignity.
There is no other choice.
They'll pay for it,
they'll pay for it.
It's the revolutionists.
- [Man] We're going to die.
This is a great moment,
we're going to die.
- [James] They'll pay for this.
- Why, what's
going on out there?
- James Johnson has ordered
a revolutionary suicide.
It's a protest against
facism and racism.
- Isn't there any
other alternative?
- [Man] No, there is not.
We're all going to
die for our cause.
- Richard and I are going
to write about this,
the world has to know
about this great moment.
You will be in history.
Johnson was right to tell
us to write about this.
- Yeah.
- It will be a great
historical moment.
We better get out of here
before the troops arrive.
So they won't keep us
from writing the truth.
Which is the fastest
way out of here?
- [James] And we will be free.
We are ready now, now
to die with dignity.
- [Voiceover] Hey,
kids, I'm home.
Where are you?
[dramatic music]
[screaming]
- I've got the right to choose
and I choose not to die.
Who made this decision
for the children?
They have a right to
life and happiness.
- When I die,
no one else will be happy.
- You ungrateful
bitch, when we all die,
you'll go first,
you'll die for sure.
- Without James Johnson,
you have no life.
- Come.
[ominous music]
Gary, administer the potion.
The troops are coming,
they're gonna torture
the children and kill us all,
but we must die with dignity.
[baby crying]
Hurry, hurry, children first.
Dying today now is better
than 20 years later
lying in somewhere rotten.
They take us.
- No, no, no!
[baby crying]
- They robbed us of our land.
They've taken us and
driven us 'til we're tired.
[baby crying]
But it's too late, you
can't separate yourself
from your brothers
and your sisters.
No way, no way am
I going to do it,
I refuse, I refuse.
I don't know who fired
the shot that killed
the Congressman, but as
far as I'm concerned,
I killed him.
You understand what I'm saying?
I killed him.
Children, it's definitely--
- Don't!
No, don't!
- [James] Oh, God, Mother.
Mother, Mother, please,
please don't do this.
Don't do this, lay down
your life for your child,
but don't do this.
- [Nurse] Lay it all down.
[coughing]
- [James] I call on you
to stop this nonsense.
I call on you to quit
exciting your children,
when all they're doing is--
[crying]
[screaming]
If you have any respect
at all, it's all over now.
It's good.
Don't carry on this way anymore.
You're exciting your
children, don't carry on
this way anymore.
I never lied to you,
you think I lied to you?
[screaming and crying]
It's all over.
Hurry, hurry, hurry,
my children, hurry.
All I ask is don't fall
into the hands of the enemy.
Keep your emotions down,
children, it will not hurt.
If you will be quiet, it's
never been done before.
It's been done by
every tribe in history.
Every tribe facing annihilation.
All the Indians of the Amazon
are doing it right now.
They kill every child
that comes into the world
because they don't want to
live in this kind of a world.
Be patient, be
patient, my children.
We're trying.
Quit crying, buddy, relax.
The best thing you
can do is relax.
You'll have no problem.
You'll have no
problems with the thing
if you just relax.
There's not to be
feared, not be feared.
It's a friend, it's a friend.
Calm, just keep calm, we've
got nothing we can do.
We can't separate ourselves
from our own people.
Embrace death as a friend.
- I don't wanna die!
I don't wanna die!
- [James] Stop these hysterics.
- I don't wanna die!
I don't wanna die!
I don't wanna die!
[shouting]
- [Woman] There she'll
be all right, Norma.
- I don't wanna die.
[shouting]
[ominous music]
- [James] Kiss each other.
Embrace your last
earthly embrace.
We'll all go together.
We will meet again
in the next life.
Be quiet, be quiet, be quiet.
Lie to me, lie to me.
Stop crying, stop crying.
Because noone's
going to [mumbles].
Faster, faster, faster,
faster, faster, faster.
Get them good, get them good.
It's good to die,
it's good to die.
This is a good cause,
this is a good cause.
[baby crying]
When I rest, when I rest.
[mumbles]
- [Voiceover] I
need a stethoscope.
- [Man] I'll get it, Doc.
Yeah, yeah, I'll get it.
- Take this, hurry.
[dramatic music]
[gun fires]
[ominous music]
- [Marilyn] Here.
[guns firing]
[gentle music]