Donkerbos (2022–2023): Season 1, Episode 4 - The Mother Tree - full transcript

Please tell me why you’re so upset?

Where is he?

- Name, please.
- Kallie van Wyk.

I came as fast as I could.

- I’ll find him--
- We are keeping him for observation.

For an arm?

He suffered minor trauma to the head.

- We can’t rule out a concussion.
- Where’s my husband?

Fanie. Here.

He’s okay.

He’s fine, okay.



Don’t worry.

Kallie...

- My love.
- Son?

How’s your head?

The nurse says he fell very hard.

What were you doing in the treehouse?

In the middle of the night?

I thought you weren’t sleepwalking anymore?

Does anyone want some tea?

Thank you.

What happened?

I don’t know.

He hasn’t said a word since I -
since we got here.

Jaco, I’m asking you
what happened at home.



My child's wearing a fucking cast.

Hey...

Can't you talk?

Leave him. He needs rest.

Dad and Francois

I was... I was in bed.

I thought it was a burglar when
I heard the crash outside. But...

Hey.

Hey, buddy.

You don’t have to say anything
if you don’t want to.

Jaco.

We’ll sort it out later.

The important thing is that you’re fine.
That you're okay.

Jaco, won’t you please go
and help Marietjie?

Woman can’t carry all that tea by herself.

I’m sure she’ll manage.

Mr and Mrs van Wyk.
Please. He needs rest.

We don’t have the equipment
for proper scans.

He’s not vomiting, therefore observation
and rest are our best and only options.

Where does he need to go?

- What?
- The fucking scans-- I’ll take him.

- Where does he need to go?
- Polokwane.

But that is not necessary at this point.

Great. I’ll--

- We’ll be leaving right now.
- Fanie, leave his things.

I’m gonna need someone to come
and sign the paperwork.

- My husband will help you.
- Fanie!

Mr van Wyk.

Kallie...

Talk.

Mom...

Francois.

Look at me.

I don’t know--

It’s okay.

Get dressed. We’re leaving.

Do you really think you should leave now?

Get in.

Has Kallie said something?
I can’t get anything out of my son.

No, sorry.

Take Francois home.

I’ll call you as soon
as I hear something.

I’m sorry about Kallie.

I’m sure he’ll be fine.

You’d tell me if there’s...

something...

I should know?

Right?

Promise me?

I’m sorry.

Fanie?

Ready?

Hell, you’re in a hurry.

I’ll see you at home.

Shall we go together? To Pietersburg.

Sure. I’ll see you at home.

Okay. See you there.

Kallie.

Help me understand.

I don’t want you to--

Yes, even if the case is important
because it’s my job -

there’s nothing,

do you hear me... nothing

more important than you.

Do you understand?

They thought I was sleeping.

In the treehouse...

Dad and Francois.

They thought I was sleeping.

Kallie, you--

You can’t...

You can’t tell anyone.

No one.

It’s our secret.

Only ours.

No one... can know about this. Not--

Not until we know what to do.

Okay.

Okay.

Doesn’t Mommy look pretty?

When I come back,
I’ll show you how to do your lips.

See? Little hearts.

Don’t leave me.

Mommy’s coming back. Of course, man.

Stay inside.

And when your uncle wakes up,
tell him there are steak pies in the freezer.

Okay?

Don’t leave me.

See you tonight.

I’ll bring you something nice, okay?

Morning.

What did you do?

I thought she returned your keys.

Shouldn't you be at school?

Was he with you?

Yes, he was with me.

When?

At two or three this morning?

Okay.

- I know you are adults--
- Braam--

And you can do as you please,

but my brother’s never going
to say no to you.

Do you hear me?

I hear you.

You have a child.

You all right?

The doctor says you’re fine,
but I can’t leave you alone yet.

Where are we going?

One more stop. Then back.

Hey!

Your favourite sandwich.

Francois...

Hey, what happened yesterday?

I've left you alone all morning,
but you're going to have talk to me now.

Hey.

Hey! I thought we understood each other.

What happened?

Come on, talk to me.
I can’t help you if you won’t talk to me.

Maybe you should lie down for a bit.

Simon Kloppers. 38 Salie street--

Yes. Simon Kloppers.

I had to leave him.

Captain Baleka, you know the system.

I had no choice.

- Detective Tshivenga...
- Captain?

Please look into Mrs Ndlovu’s case.

And take Detective Pieterse with you.

Why?

It’s an order.

Mrs Ndlovu.

- The boy’s mother--
- No, this woman is lying. I know she is.

I’m here to see the Captain.

Sir?

Mrs Ndlovu. Simon Kloppers--

The Captain.

Bongani, please get Fanie on the phone.

Captain.

- Abel Roodt. I’m the new--
- I know who you are.

How can I help?

These are dark days, Captain.

Dark days.

I’ve organised a special service
at church.

A special service?

You mean a vigil for the children.

It would mean a lot for morale,
and the community as a whole

if you and some of the
other officers could attend.

And what would this
special sermon be about?

We all know...

how to spot the Devil’s work.

Captain.

Those pictures were not meant
for the public.

Don’t start a fire where there’s none.

For the good of this community,

your community.

I hope you can join us.

It’s for the children, Captain.

It’s all for the children.

Where’s your mom?

Have you eaten yet?

Look how dirty you are.

Are you a little piggy?

Little piggy needs to take a bath
before Mommy gets back.

Hey?

Can I see the most
senior person here, please?

Every year, the Department wants us
to throw it away.

Or burn it.

Every year I fight back.

Why are you looking
for this specific publication?

You’re the woman who found those children.

Near Tzaneen.

In Donkerbos.

That’s right.

Donkerbos...

A name that summons evil.

What do you mean?

Many people die in this country.

Many children... but all of them at once?

- Got her!
- Wait--

"The Mother Tree."

Or the tale of the lost children
of the forest.

My German is a little rusty.

The children of the village was...

were always crying,
and were always afraid...

There were no monsters in the closet,
no monsters under the bed.

The children feared their parents.

The tears of the children
fell to the ground...

and went into the ground.

Until they've reached the roots
of the Mother Tree.

And the Mother Tree was furious.

What is it?

Got you.

It’s part of our archive. A precious--

I want a list of everyone who
handled the book in the last ten years.

- You can’t just take the publication.
- Ma'am...

This is part of a murder investigation.

I’ll personally ensure
it’s returned to the library.

- I’ve heard that many times before.
- Goodbye, Ma'am.

I know how policemen treat literature!

Kallie!

Bye, Tannie.

You know the family?

How big do you think this town is?

Fair enough.

And this street...

let’s just say these people think of
the law more of a set of suggestions.

Sybrand.

Brenda.

You’ve come all this way for nothing.
He's...

He’s running around with the Mollers again.
Just watch.

I told that woman at the Office...
the boy just ran away.

Has he done this before?

Run away?

Only when...

- When what?
- When Divan is drinking.

How old is Simon?

Ten. Next month.

How sure are you that he
climbed through the window?

The door was locked.

So why were you suspended?

Fuck it. You hit hard.

It’s a long story.

But I suppose we have time.

Complaints at the local drinking hole
that a white man and a black girl--

That he touched her. A young girl.
Fourteen, fifteen years old.

I caught the fucker.

Spook Steenkamp. Just down the road.

What happened?

The evidence was circumstantial.

We couldn’t--

Anyway, it was difficult.

And when we arrested him
and I handcuffed him,

the cunt smiled at me,
and said - so that only I could hear him--

He whispered to me and said...

“She’s just a meidjie.”

Then I broke my hand on his face.

Captain took my badge
and the case was thrown out.

And Spook?

Forget about him.

He’s an evil fucker,
but he hasn't got the style of our guy.

Hey.

Bingo.

Kallie.

Are you okay?

Don’t be worried if your head hurts.
It’s normal.

- Tsedza.
- He’s taken another one.

What?

He’s taken another kid, Fanie.

Fuck.

That fucker. That fucking fucker...

Yes?

Sybrand.

Who’s this?

- It’s Tobias.
- Tobias, hey.

Listen...

I’m out of cigarettes.

But there’s a tuck shop?

Tobias?

Listen, this isn’t a good time.
I'll call you later, and we'll talk then?

Tobias?

I’m out of cigarettes.

Detective!

Captain.

Can you send a team to
the Kloppers House in Salie street?

We found a footprint.

I did my make-up.

Is this going to take a while?

You said it wouldn't take long.

A little bit to the left.

Yes, yes. That’s nice.

Mrs Steenkamp.

- Pattie.
- Pattie.

Are you ready to start?

Thank you for being willing
to talk to us.

The other moms...

It’s been difficult.

This is going to be on TV, right?

Yes, tonight. On the news. Primetime.

Everyone's going to hear your story.

Pro tip... People love tears.

So... don’t hold back.

Action.

Pattie Steenkamp.

Woman. Sister. Mother.

Native. Resident of Donkerbos, Limpopo.

The eyes of the country are on your town.

Thank you.

Yes, it...

It was shocking what they found.

The children.

My heart breaks for their mothers.

It’s the Devil's work. That’s what it is.

Satanism.

Witchcraft.

They sacrificed those children.

And your own son...

Abrie.

He's been missing for two years.

All this time...
the police haven't done anything.

How does it feel to know
your child might still be out there?

It’s hard.

I can imagine.

Your own child.

A mother never forgets.

Abrie was a good boy.

He still is.

Your Abrie.

I just need to know.

A mother just needs to know...

It’s okay, Pattie.

You’re safe.

Thanks.

Talk to him.

Talk to Abrie.

He might be able to hear you.

Baby...

Wherever you are, Mommy loves you.
Do you hear me?

Don’t be scared.

Because you will come home.

Mommy Pattie loves you.

Leave it.

I’m just taking some coffee.

Hello?

Come in.

Marietjie.

Some coffee?

Yes. Thank you.

Has he said anything?

What’s going on with him?

Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.

We’re still talking. We’ll be down soon.

Braam!

Is Sybrand here?
He’s not answering his phone.

Kallie... And this?
What happened to your arm?

Hey, should I invite you in
like a vampire?

Kallie.

He fell out of the treehouse.

I think you need to shower.

Can he take a shower?

Just watch out for your cast.

You know where it is.
Get some clothes from my closet.

What’s going on?

We--

We can’t go home.

Can we stay here for a few days?

Yes, of course.

I’ll make us some tea.

Try to get some sleep, okay?

I’m sorry.

About what happened.

That you had to see that.

I--

Answer.

Marietjie, I’m--

Sorry I haven't called you yet.

No, don’t worry. It’s okay.
I understand it now.

What do you mean?

Jaco was here.

He explained everything.

Jaco was there?

Yes, he came to talk
to Francois about the fight.

He told us what happened yesterday.
Oh, well...

Boys will be boys.

Jaco talked to Francois?

Was he alone with him?

Is everything all right?

Yes, it’s fine.

How long ago did he leave?

Probably an hour ago.

I should've called sooner.

No, it’s fine.

Listen... we’ll talk later.

Okay. Give my love to Kallie.

Go.

It’s fine. I’ll ask Sybrand to call you
when he gets back.

Bye.

- Tsedza, I can’t--
- Get in your car. Now.

What?

I’m at the Steenkamp house.

Just get here as soon as you can.
I can’t--

I can’t do this one alone, Fanie.

- Wait, Fanie...
- Is it Sybrand? What the fuck did he do?

He’s in the bakkie.

Just, Fanie--

Fanie.

Just brace yourself.

Detective.

Our man is on foot.

He won’t go far unless he hitches a ride.

I want roadblocks here, here and here.
Two cars per road.

We don’t have the manpower.

Call everyone. From every station.

- Fanie!
- No. Sybrand, no.

- Fanie--
- No!

They knew!

And they did nothing! Do you hear me?

They did fucking nothing!

Fanie! Leave me alone!

Let me go!

Fanie!