Donkerbos (2022–2023): Season 1, Episode 2 - Didinngwe - full transcript

Oh, I thought I heard you.

- Morning, Mies.
- Morning, Sara.

There’s bacon you can grill for the boss.

You have some of it too.

Yes, Mies.

Nwana?

Hello?

- Hello, my love.
- Hey.

Are you okay? Where’s your dad?

He isn't here.

What do you mean he's not there?



I don’t know. He just isn’t.

Did you find something?

It’s on TV.

Yes, love. I found something.

Detective--

I have to get back to work.

Ask your dad to call me.

I will.

Don’t be late and make yourself
something decent to eat.

Froot Loops isn't food.

- Love you.
- Love you.

Wolf?

Rather look away.

It’s okay.



It’s okay to feel this way.

Things like these--

Fuck knows we’re not supposed
to be able to cope with this.

So it’s a good thing.

It’s good...
you're shaken because you care.

Fanie.

Fuck.

Captain.

- Fanie.
- You can’t be here.

Let me see her.

She’s still in the ground.

Okay.

- Wolf!
- Bettie!

Not here.

Okay? Not here.

Let's not do this here.

Come on.

Captain, did you find the children?

Is what we are hearing true?
Are the children here?

Can you give us space, please?

Back, back, back. Please.

Please, please. Come.

How many?

Six.

Thus far.

Six?

All children, yes.

Put on the whole armour of God,

that you can stand
against the schemes of the devil.

You’ll need help.

Until Sybrand’s back on duty,
I’ll be fine.

I’ll send for someone from Gauteng.

Captain, I--

I don’t need to be handled.

I’m not asking, Fanie.

This is bigger than any of us.

- Hey, Sara.
- Hi, Kallie.

Francois!

- Good and you?
- Morning, Tannie.

Come on! You’re going to be late.

Hey.

Don't bother.

He’s been in a mood all morning.

Bye, Tannie. Bye, Sara.

Sorry. Fuck.

What did I tell you would happen
if you’re late again?

What happened to your face?
Did you try to fuck a caracal?

I'm less late than last time.

Are you going to start working
or am I firing you? It’s your choice.

So...

What did she find in the forest?

Come on, spill the beans.

- What are you talking about?
- Fuck it, man.

The town is crawling with cops
and you know fuck all?

You and your old lady...
trouble in paradise?

Take the shovel and fucking do something.

You won't speak to me like you speak to them.
Do you hear me?

Doctor?

Okay, let’s begin.

At this stage, we can confirm that the
six bodies discovered this morning

in Donkerbos, Limpopo, are all minors.

At this point,
the cause of death is still unknown.

However, the investigation is
at a sensitive stage.

In your headlines -

Six bodies are found earlier this morning
in a mass grave

- right outside Donkerbos, Limpopo.
- And this?

All victims were minors.

More on this story to follow
in our next bulletin.

In your--

Have they called you yet?

- Fanie will call me if she needs me.
- You don’t have a badge.

I'm just trying to protect you.

Are you on your way to school?

It’s Monday.

Maybe I can save a few kids
before they're also in the ground.

We have to do it today.

At five. It’s the only time they have.

It’s for the best.

Yes, okay. Thank you.

You know where everything is.

Boeta...

Yes. Five o’clock.

Five o’clock.

Coming!

I’m coming!

Sorry.

Sorry.

- Hi.
- Afternoon.

- How can I help you?
- A room, please.

Far from others.

Okay.

- How many people?
- Just me.

Cool.

Sorry about the outfit.

The reception lady has the cold.

I’m actually in charge
of the Adventure Tours.

Abseil. Down the Groenkloof.

It’s amazing.

I’m actually taking another group
this afternoon if you’re interested.

Have you been to Donkerbos before?

Just the room. Thank you.

Sure.

How long?

One week for now.

Two.

Cool.

We’ve got a chalet open by the dam.

Let me just check if I have
something smaller available.

I’ll take it.

Are you sure?

It’s seven thousand four hundred for--

Thanks.

And I need to make a copy of your ID.

Okay! Tomorrow then--

Captain.

Captain, have you been able to establish a
timeline of when the murders took place?

Captain, are the rumours true that
several of the bodies were decapitated?

Captain, my sources tell me
that all the children were black.

Is it true that they're all black?

Is it true, Captain?

We need some answers, Captain!

- Captain, the people have a right to know!
- No comment.

Claire’s busy with the children.

I want all the details. Regardless.

Yes, Captain.

All of it.

Fanie.

Shoot.

The old age home says the Tannie
passed away a long time ago.

Mahlberg?

The son is somewhere in Canada.

He wasn't even here for the funeral.

Do you have a photo?

Of?

Keep looking, Wolf.
See if you can find him.

Hey.

Isn’t this your mom?

Come on, guys. Let’s focus, please.

- Sir?
- Yes, Raabiya?

Is it true, Sir?
That they found something in the woods?

Yes, the police have uncovered
something in the forest.

Dead kids?

We need to let the officers handle this
as best as they can, and trust in them.

I promise you they know
what they are doing.

There is nothing to be afraid of. Okay?

Okay.

All right. Where was I?

The square of the hypotenuse side
is equal to--

That’s right!

So... the hypothenuse side is
equal to the sum of--

See you outside.

Hey.

You’ll understand, right?

Buddy...

You’ll understand.

Sara.

Hello.

Marietjie.

Sara!

Are you okay?

Is everything-- Is it true?

On TV - Six children?

- Yes.
- Are you okay?

While I have you on the phone -
can Francois sleep over?

Koos and I have to go to church.
Council meeting... shoot me now.

Is it fine?

Yes, of course.

Thank you.

Have you ID’d any of the children?

We don’t know yet. Listen...

I’m actually calling about Sara.

When did her son go missing?

I can’t find the case.

She was at the station in Thohoyandou.

What’s his name again?

Mpho Masipa.

Mpho Masipa.

Thanks.

I’ll call you later.

I’ll make us some tea.

I’m not done, Fanie.

Tell me whatever you can, okay?

Female.

African. Nine or ten years old.

No signs of severe physical trauma.

The same strange markings on the neck,
the wrists and the ankles.

Again, added post-mortem.

Over here...

Puncture wound in the
right external carotid.

It’s on all of them.

Thin, sharp object - possibly a needle.

Also post-mortem.

The formaldehyde was administered here.

Cause of death is still undetermined.

What do you mean?

It’s only been a few hours.
Fanie, I need time.

But none of the boys or girls have any
signs of trauma or excessive haemorrhage.

- Not on the surface.
- Okay. How long will it take?

This kind of thing deserves careful--

Detective van Wyk.

Excuse me.

Tsedza Tshivenga.

Detective.

I’ll wait for you at the station.

Didinngwe.

- What did you call him?
- Didinngwe.

What does that mean?

The Leopard.

Hey!

Hey.

What the fuck, man?

Sorry.

Hey.

I’m fine.

Are there any chips?

There are always chips.

Hey, it’s okay.

It’s okay.

Looks like your dad’s not coming along.

Sorry, buddy.

Hey, look at me.

It’s okay.

Tsedza...

Tshivenga.

Am I saying it right?

Stephanie Van Wyk.

Like that?

Killers don’t sleep, right?

I think they sleep very well.

I understand your reluctance to...

We don’t know each other.

You’re from IPS?

Yes.

- Jozi?
- Pretoria.

Your old office, actually.

You are...

quite the legend.

They took my name off the door
while I was still there.

So I don’t think so.

Right!

Where’s Wolf?

I think he's--

Bogani, leave it. It’s fine.

Van Wyk, Tshivenga will
lead the investigation.

You’ll be available to them at all hours.
In any capacity.

You’ll be reporting directly to them.

Now, we will not talk.

We will keep this quiet.

The media loves a monster.

We will not give them
any more satisfaction.

Yes, Captain.

Six years old.

Eight.

Eleven.

Or close to.

Ages are approximate.

I want you to look at them.

Three of the children...

Mishumo. Palesa...

and Bettie...

were reported missing.

And the other three...

don’t have any records.

The grave site doesn’t match
any recognisable ritual

or religious persuasion
that we are aware of.

And the words on their bodies
is in German.

And the cause of death
is still undetermined.

So what we don’t know,
but want to know is...

Why? Why like this?

Why these six?

And what do we know?

We know that there are six dead children.

Maybe more.

The pathology report

estimates the earliest victim’s
time of death at around two years.

And the most recent at about seven weeks.

Which means...

Which means...

the killer is active.

And he lives among us.

Bongani and Wolf will lead
the door-to-door canvassing.

Every house in the gorge.

Who saw what?

Any suspicious activity. Anything.

Of course, we will establish
a tip-off line the moment--

- You overlooked something.
- Detective Pieterse!

- Captain.
- My office. Now.

Sybrand? What is it?

Underneath... buried by the trunk.

Radio in your progress
on the hour, every hour.

Dismissed.

Sit.

Are you out of your fucking mind?

I suspended you. Indefinitely.

- It’s not signed.
- You told me to get help.

I did. Six months. And now I’m back.

The form is not signed.

Yes. The doctor was fucking ancient.

A fossil. A fucking coffin dodger.
Two hundred years old.

What does he know about our world?

It’s out of my control, boy.

Boy?

Bettie?

I’m sorry.

Detective van Wyk.

I...

I found this in Bettie’s bedroom.

- But--
- It’s always been there.

Since...

I thought she had made it.

But... I don’t know.

We’ll need all the help we can get.

And my gun?

I’ll brief Detective Tshivenga.

Show him all the sights.

- Congrats.
- Thank you.

It’s okay.

Are we ready?

Yes.

I don’t think he’s going to come.

That’s a shame.

Now...

I just want to warn you.
Don’t be frightened.

He will lose all function.

It’s perfectly normal.

You won't even feel it.

Only the needle.

And then everything will be better.

Hey.

Hello.

You’re back.

Hello.

Are you done braaing?

I’m going to start now.
We’ve waited for you.

Who’s fetching me a beer?

- The city sounds like fun.
- It's nice here as well.

It's nice and quiet.

I’m just tired of having
to walk three kilometres

just to get to the nearest Spar.

And then there might be a DVD shop.

Still. You don't want to live in the city.

The city's too busy.
It's more quiet here.

- The people are great.
- The city's nice.

There are many old movies
you can't find here.

You can't find it anywhere else--

- Francois, isn’t it almost your birthday?
- Yes, Tannie.

Oh, yes...

You’re older than Kallie.

Only two months.

Do you have any plans?

Probably going to have a braai.

Surprise.

Your mom must have some new ideas?

Tannie, it’s a bit difficult... with my dad.

What would you like to do?

- Oom?
- Movies--

I can take you to do something.

You, me and Kallie.

Maybe... we could go fishing?

Yes, we could go fishing.

We could make a weekend of it.
Something like that.

Oh wow, that sounds great. Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes. We could go to Albasini Dam again.

OK?

You haven't been present all evening.

He’s from Pretoria.

My new partner.

Tsedza.

Okay.

IPS.

Do you think he knows about Wim?

He works with Muller and Piston.

He knows.

That case is closed.

Did he say something about the child?

Bennie.

No.

Just be careful.

Fanie.

- Fanie...
- We’ll be quick.

I’m tired.

Okay.

Like a bit of poverty porn, huh?

You know this road?

Our friends’ domestic--

- The woman who works for them.
- Their maid.

You can say it.

She lived nearby. Sara.

So, yes. I know this road.

Hello, little girl.

How are you?

Is your mother home?

Police.

Little girl!

Hello, sister.

What are you doing?

Ma’am?

We’re not going to get anything out of her.

Call it in. Child services.

I’ll get the kid.

We found him.

We found your son, Mishumo.

Detective!

I’m fine!

You’d better come see this.

Zellie, come!

You’re in Mommy’s valley now.

Fuck.

Memories.

I’m coming!

Pattie.

What are you doing here?

Brother dearest.

As I live and breathe.

- Hey.
- What?

It’s my house too.

When did you get out?

Five years...

Fuck it. And you didn’t call me?

Where’s her father?

If I knew that I probably would
have gone looking for him?

Listen...

Is it okay if we stay here
for a few months?

Just until... I’m fine again.

The old home town.

Fuck me.

Is Debbie still next door?

Here are two bedrooms.
We’ll stay out of your way.

Zellie, come.

Meet your uncle. Spook.

You don’t have to be scared of him.

Hello.

Didn’t you have a boy as well?