Donkerbos (2022–2023): Season 1, Episode 6 - For The Children - full transcript
The investigation reaches its breaking point as Fanie and Tsedza confront each other. Wolf takes initiative and accidentally makes a crucial discovery.
No!
No!
Why...
Why are you doing this?
I trusted you.
You...
You...
Fuck.
Morning, Sir.
Hey. Did you sleep well?
My head just hurts a little.
That’s what happens when you fall.
There are painkillers in the cupboard.
I’m going to shower.
I don’t think we should go
to school today.
Sir?
Sybrand didn’t come home last night.
And my mom?
Let's not talk about her.
Scrambled or fried?
Fried.
How?
CCTV?
Busted.
That’s not a priority for the department.
But you were still on duty?
There was a fire!
- Protocol says--
- Probably set by whoever did this.
Did you even lock the front door
before you just ran into the woods?
Castoff.
Fanie.
Here.
In our home.
I know, Wolf.
Where’s Sybrand?
Forensics are cleaning up.
Are you going to Sybrand?
Tsedza, leave it!
He has keys to the station, Fanie.
He has a history with the victim. I--
I know you don’t want to hear this.
Why is it always your partner, Fanie?
Three years ago...
your partner, Wim Botha...
was shot and killed by a boy who claims...
that Mr Botha sexually assaulted him.
And that child who shot him
was tried and sent to jail.
Open and shut case.
Except it’s not.
There’s evidence missing.
A video file.
How do you know about this?
I’m not here
to investigate the murders, Fanie.
I’m here to investigate you.
Detective Van Wyk.
Mr Steenkamp placed shards
of mirror around the girl’s head,
like he’d seen or read it
in the newspaper.
A copycat.
And we had him...
in custody without an alibi.
So why?
Why did he do that? Why here?
He’s showing off.
No.
No, he didn’t even want
the children to feel the needle.
It’s euthanasia. It doesn’t make sense.
But what Spook did...
Was just murder?
For what he did to that little girl.
He had to die.
Because his hands...
bring mercy.
Mercy?
The tree will break you.
The tree...
will take revenge
and the birds will take your eyes.
So in the fairytale, the children’s
parents are killed by the tree...
because the parents...
are abusing the children.
Our guy made an example of him.
He dragged him in here...
to blame us.
Okay. Bongani, Wolf,
canvas everyone...
three blocks around the station.
Someone must’ve seen something.
All right, Fanie.
Yes.
So by investigating,
you mean...
IPID.
Yes.
With Wim and Bennie...
I’ll meet you at the lodge.
One hour.
One hour.
Hello.
Hey.
Is everything all right?
Yes.
Have you heard from your dad yet?
No.
Is Sybrand there?
- No.
- That’s why...
Braam’s not at school.
We might have to go look for him.
No, just stay there. Do you hear me?
We’re going to braai this afternoon.
Are you working, or...
I’ll be there.
Please give the phone to Braam.
Sir...
It’s my mom.
Was he with you?
No.
Fuck.
I’ll see you later.
Can I bring anything?
My brother.
Tannie.
Tannie.
I really didn’t want Kallie--
I don’t know what--
Francois?
Please don’t tell my mom.
Is everything all right?
I’m going to lie down for a while.
I'm...
sorry for not calling you sooner.
I know you’re busy.
I’m just wondering about--
Is Sara here?
My child won’t talk to me.
He always talks to me. Now he doesn’t.
What do you know?
You know something.
What did Kallie say?
Marietjie, I really need to talk to Sara.
Sara.
Mies?
Can I come in?
Sit, please.
It’s...
about Mpho.
I need to ask you something first.
Did he perhaps--
Was there something on his body
that you can remember?
A scar?
Any markings or...
or scars only he would have?
If you can remember anything--
He fell...
when he was four.
He has a scar...
on this side of his arm.
And it’s shaped like the moon.
I’m so, so sorry, Sara.
He speaks...
He speaks.
First of all, I’d like to say
thank you for your patience.
Today has been a very difficult day
for all of us.
We can now confirm that a body
of a seventh child has
been found this morning.
Captain, is the victim from Donkerbos?
I cannot disclose his name,
only that he's a male child.
And that we can confirm,
beyond a reasonable doubt,
that he died by the hand
of the same individual
responsible for the others.
Where are the detectives?
Doing their job.
Is it true that you have
someone in custody?
A local man?
A man was apprehended this morning
in connection with the death
of a young girl.
Spook Steenkamp?
I cannot disclose any information
as the case is ongoing--
Hey, cowboy.
You can’t be here.
Your Captain is lying about something.
About what?
It doesn’t matter--
It doesn’t matter. You...
I can’t talk to you.
You--
You’re only after stories.
Quid pro quo.
No wonder they had to send detectives
from the city to save your asses.
Cheers.
I submitted that story ages ago.
And my pictures?
I’ll call you back.
Mrs Steenkamp...
Your child... I'm--
I am so sorry. It’s terrible--
Shut the fuck up.
Not as brave without your cameras, right?
Pattie!
Wait--
You’re a snake!
He killed her.
There you go.
Let it out.
Let it all out.
Hey.
Francois.
Are you mad at me?
Don’t be mad, please.
Hey.
Say something.
I miss you.
Sir.
I told you, you didn't have to do that.
I don’t mind.
Would you like another beer?
Yes. Thank you, Kallie.
This is what you’re looking for.
Is that--
Wim...
and Bennie.
He had many problems.
Bennie.
A lot. He was in and out of reform school.
It was a fuck up.
But Wim wanted to help him.
Wim wanted to help everyone.
But Wim was a sick person
and I couldn’t see it.
And then the child...
shot him.
Everything happened so quickly.
I felt like a fucking wild animal.
And I wanted to punish Bennie.
But I only found that video
after the child died in prison. I swear.
What difference would it make?
Would it even help?
Fanie...
You’re going to take my badge away. Right?
Can I ask you a favour?
Tsedza...
can you--
Just wait until Kallie turns eighteen.
Okay?
Then you can do with me as you please.
Are you ready for take two?
Action.
We're standing in front of the house...
where your own brother...
killed...
Zellie.
Your own daughter.
That's correct. Yes.
And why are we here?
So that every mother...
So that...
every mother should know that
the moster could live in her own house.
Pattie?
Sorry, I--
I can't do this.
Cut.
There you go.
Aren’t you going to tell us
where you were?
Boeta!
Anything else?
No, thank you, Sir.
- Braam.
- Sir?
Hey. Braam.
Sir.
Don’t teenagers drink sneaky anymore?
Your mom will probably be here soon.
Have you heard anything yet?
I don’t interfere too much.
What?
What the fuck’s going on with you?
What happened?
At least pretend you're okay.
Kallie...
I assume this is Sybrand’s.
We can use the garage.
They're at church.
Mom?
Hey, my love.
Are you okay?
Yes.
I'm going to shower quickly.
I smell like death.
Hey.
Hey.
Sorry.
Where were you?
Where were you?
Spook was--
Was it you?
What are you talking about?
Why are you shaking like that?
What happened?
Fanie?
Spook is dead.
How?
In his cell.
But that’s not--
That’s not what’s--
Jaco.
Yes?
Jaco...
He...
Jaco and the Coetzer child.
Jaco and Francois.
He--
He and the child--
Where is he?
I don’t know.
Kallie saw them.
- Kallie fucking saw them.
- Okay, Fanie listen to me.
- Look at me.
- Yes?
Everything will be all right.
Okay?
We’ll sort it out.
I’ll sort Jaco out.
I’m just...
so fucking tired.
I was right!
Mr Pieterse?
I was fucking right,
but you weren’t listening.
Thank you, Danie.
- Sybrand.
- I was fucking right!
And you and this whole system were wrong.
I should’ve fucking killed him!
- Who?
- Spook!
Pills aren’t always the answer, Doc.
Sometimes you have to break things.
Put a stop to it.
That child’s death is on your conscience.
And now...
you can’t stop talking.
Where’s Tobias?
I need to get him out of this shithole.
Tobias passed away this morning.
We found him in his room.
He kept saying you were coming to get him.
And where did he learn
to tie a sheet like that?
Are you sure they're at church?
YES.
Francois?
Are you here?
Hello.
Where are the owners?
Donkerbos police, you say?
Yes.
Yes.
That case, you mean?
Where’s your husband?
Oh... Frank?
He’s dead.
Mrs Archer--
I know why you’re here.
A person doesn’t just disappear.
That’s what I told Frank.
The police stopped phoning after a year
and we stopped calling after two.
So...
Where did you find him?
We haven’t.
We haven’t found anything.
I’m sorry.
That’s not why I’m here.
Mrs Archer, I would like
to talk to you about Thomas.
Maybe there’s detail that we’ve missed, or...
He ran away.
But that’s not in the report.
Because I didn’t report it.
He ran away because my husband--
Well...
People should believe their children more.
No one will inherit this.
It will all go to ruin.
I’m sorry, Mrs Archer.
There is someone else you should speak to.
About Thomas.
My husband didn’t trust him.
He said that it wasn’t normal
for a grown man to be friends with a boy.
Gave him books to read...
German fairytales...
Trees covered in eyes...
he doted on Thomas...
Lots of attention. That sort of thing.
Do you...
Do you remember his name?
Hey, Mom.
Hey.
You look happy.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Did you get some sleep?
Yes.
Listen... when we’re done eating,
we’ll sort Jaco out.
Okay.
Hey, watch out for his arm.
Okay, come on. The meat’s ready.
The meat's ready.
Come.
Don’t be shy.
There we go.
Dig in.
- Braabroodjie?
- Yes, please.
- Take one.
- Thank you, Sir.
Fanie?
- Come.
- Dish up.
- Dig in, dig in.
- There you go.
Answer it.
Would you like some sauce?
Wolf.
What’s wrong?
- He always burns the meat.
- Leave the salt.
It doesn’t need more salt.
Leave it. Don’t listen to him.
What’s the matter?
Is the meat overcooked?
No!
Why...
Why are you doing this?
I trusted you.
You...
You...
Fuck.
Morning, Sir.
Hey. Did you sleep well?
My head just hurts a little.
That’s what happens when you fall.
There are painkillers in the cupboard.
I’m going to shower.
I don’t think we should go
to school today.
Sir?
Sybrand didn’t come home last night.
And my mom?
Let's not talk about her.
Scrambled or fried?
Fried.
How?
CCTV?
Busted.
That’s not a priority for the department.
But you were still on duty?
There was a fire!
- Protocol says--
- Probably set by whoever did this.
Did you even lock the front door
before you just ran into the woods?
Castoff.
Fanie.
Here.
In our home.
I know, Wolf.
Where’s Sybrand?
Forensics are cleaning up.
Are you going to Sybrand?
Tsedza, leave it!
He has keys to the station, Fanie.
He has a history with the victim. I--
I know you don’t want to hear this.
Why is it always your partner, Fanie?
Three years ago...
your partner, Wim Botha...
was shot and killed by a boy who claims...
that Mr Botha sexually assaulted him.
And that child who shot him
was tried and sent to jail.
Open and shut case.
Except it’s not.
There’s evidence missing.
A video file.
How do you know about this?
I’m not here
to investigate the murders, Fanie.
I’m here to investigate you.
Detective Van Wyk.
Mr Steenkamp placed shards
of mirror around the girl’s head,
like he’d seen or read it
in the newspaper.
A copycat.
And we had him...
in custody without an alibi.
So why?
Why did he do that? Why here?
He’s showing off.
No.
No, he didn’t even want
the children to feel the needle.
It’s euthanasia. It doesn’t make sense.
But what Spook did...
Was just murder?
For what he did to that little girl.
He had to die.
Because his hands...
bring mercy.
Mercy?
The tree will break you.
The tree...
will take revenge
and the birds will take your eyes.
So in the fairytale, the children’s
parents are killed by the tree...
because the parents...
are abusing the children.
Our guy made an example of him.
He dragged him in here...
to blame us.
Okay. Bongani, Wolf,
canvas everyone...
three blocks around the station.
Someone must’ve seen something.
All right, Fanie.
Yes.
So by investigating,
you mean...
IPID.
Yes.
With Wim and Bennie...
I’ll meet you at the lodge.
One hour.
One hour.
Hello.
Hey.
Is everything all right?
Yes.
Have you heard from your dad yet?
No.
Is Sybrand there?
- No.
- That’s why...
Braam’s not at school.
We might have to go look for him.
No, just stay there. Do you hear me?
We’re going to braai this afternoon.
Are you working, or...
I’ll be there.
Please give the phone to Braam.
Sir...
It’s my mom.
Was he with you?
No.
Fuck.
I’ll see you later.
Can I bring anything?
My brother.
Tannie.
Tannie.
I really didn’t want Kallie--
I don’t know what--
Francois?
Please don’t tell my mom.
Is everything all right?
I’m going to lie down for a while.
I'm...
sorry for not calling you sooner.
I know you’re busy.
I’m just wondering about--
Is Sara here?
My child won’t talk to me.
He always talks to me. Now he doesn’t.
What do you know?
You know something.
What did Kallie say?
Marietjie, I really need to talk to Sara.
Sara.
Mies?
Can I come in?
Sit, please.
It’s...
about Mpho.
I need to ask you something first.
Did he perhaps--
Was there something on his body
that you can remember?
A scar?
Any markings or...
or scars only he would have?
If you can remember anything--
He fell...
when he was four.
He has a scar...
on this side of his arm.
And it’s shaped like the moon.
I’m so, so sorry, Sara.
He speaks...
He speaks.
First of all, I’d like to say
thank you for your patience.
Today has been a very difficult day
for all of us.
We can now confirm that a body
of a seventh child has
been found this morning.
Captain, is the victim from Donkerbos?
I cannot disclose his name,
only that he's a male child.
And that we can confirm,
beyond a reasonable doubt,
that he died by the hand
of the same individual
responsible for the others.
Where are the detectives?
Doing their job.
Is it true that you have
someone in custody?
A local man?
A man was apprehended this morning
in connection with the death
of a young girl.
Spook Steenkamp?
I cannot disclose any information
as the case is ongoing--
Hey, cowboy.
You can’t be here.
Your Captain is lying about something.
About what?
It doesn’t matter--
It doesn’t matter. You...
I can’t talk to you.
You--
You’re only after stories.
Quid pro quo.
No wonder they had to send detectives
from the city to save your asses.
Cheers.
I submitted that story ages ago.
And my pictures?
I’ll call you back.
Mrs Steenkamp...
Your child... I'm--
I am so sorry. It’s terrible--
Shut the fuck up.
Not as brave without your cameras, right?
Pattie!
Wait--
You’re a snake!
He killed her.
There you go.
Let it out.
Let it all out.
Hey.
Francois.
Are you mad at me?
Don’t be mad, please.
Hey.
Say something.
I miss you.
Sir.
I told you, you didn't have to do that.
I don’t mind.
Would you like another beer?
Yes. Thank you, Kallie.
This is what you’re looking for.
Is that--
Wim...
and Bennie.
He had many problems.
Bennie.
A lot. He was in and out of reform school.
It was a fuck up.
But Wim wanted to help him.
Wim wanted to help everyone.
But Wim was a sick person
and I couldn’t see it.
And then the child...
shot him.
Everything happened so quickly.
I felt like a fucking wild animal.
And I wanted to punish Bennie.
But I only found that video
after the child died in prison. I swear.
What difference would it make?
Would it even help?
Fanie...
You’re going to take my badge away. Right?
Can I ask you a favour?
Tsedza...
can you--
Just wait until Kallie turns eighteen.
Okay?
Then you can do with me as you please.
Are you ready for take two?
Action.
We're standing in front of the house...
where your own brother...
killed...
Zellie.
Your own daughter.
That's correct. Yes.
And why are we here?
So that every mother...
So that...
every mother should know that
the moster could live in her own house.
Pattie?
Sorry, I--
I can't do this.
Cut.
There you go.
Aren’t you going to tell us
where you were?
Boeta!
Anything else?
No, thank you, Sir.
- Braam.
- Sir?
Hey. Braam.
Sir.
Don’t teenagers drink sneaky anymore?
Your mom will probably be here soon.
Have you heard anything yet?
I don’t interfere too much.
What?
What the fuck’s going on with you?
What happened?
At least pretend you're okay.
Kallie...
I assume this is Sybrand’s.
We can use the garage.
They're at church.
Mom?
Hey, my love.
Are you okay?
Yes.
I'm going to shower quickly.
I smell like death.
Hey.
Hey.
Sorry.
Where were you?
Where were you?
Spook was--
Was it you?
What are you talking about?
Why are you shaking like that?
What happened?
Fanie?
Spook is dead.
How?
In his cell.
But that’s not--
That’s not what’s--
Jaco.
Yes?
Jaco...
He...
Jaco and the Coetzer child.
Jaco and Francois.
He--
He and the child--
Where is he?
I don’t know.
Kallie saw them.
- Kallie fucking saw them.
- Okay, Fanie listen to me.
- Look at me.
- Yes?
Everything will be all right.
Okay?
We’ll sort it out.
I’ll sort Jaco out.
I’m just...
so fucking tired.
I was right!
Mr Pieterse?
I was fucking right,
but you weren’t listening.
Thank you, Danie.
- Sybrand.
- I was fucking right!
And you and this whole system were wrong.
I should’ve fucking killed him!
- Who?
- Spook!
Pills aren’t always the answer, Doc.
Sometimes you have to break things.
Put a stop to it.
That child’s death is on your conscience.
And now...
you can’t stop talking.
Where’s Tobias?
I need to get him out of this shithole.
Tobias passed away this morning.
We found him in his room.
He kept saying you were coming to get him.
And where did he learn
to tie a sheet like that?
Are you sure they're at church?
YES.
Francois?
Are you here?
Hello.
Where are the owners?
Donkerbos police, you say?
Yes.
Yes.
That case, you mean?
Where’s your husband?
Oh... Frank?
He’s dead.
Mrs Archer--
I know why you’re here.
A person doesn’t just disappear.
That’s what I told Frank.
The police stopped phoning after a year
and we stopped calling after two.
So...
Where did you find him?
We haven’t.
We haven’t found anything.
I’m sorry.
That’s not why I’m here.
Mrs Archer, I would like
to talk to you about Thomas.
Maybe there’s detail that we’ve missed, or...
He ran away.
But that’s not in the report.
Because I didn’t report it.
He ran away because my husband--
Well...
People should believe their children more.
No one will inherit this.
It will all go to ruin.
I’m sorry, Mrs Archer.
There is someone else you should speak to.
About Thomas.
My husband didn’t trust him.
He said that it wasn’t normal
for a grown man to be friends with a boy.
Gave him books to read...
German fairytales...
Trees covered in eyes...
he doted on Thomas...
Lots of attention. That sort of thing.
Do you...
Do you remember his name?
Hey, Mom.
Hey.
You look happy.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Did you get some sleep?
Yes.
Listen... when we’re done eating,
we’ll sort Jaco out.
Okay.
Hey, watch out for his arm.
Okay, come on. The meat’s ready.
The meat's ready.
Come.
Don’t be shy.
There we go.
Dig in.
- Braabroodjie?
- Yes, please.
- Take one.
- Thank you, Sir.
Fanie?
- Come.
- Dish up.
- Dig in, dig in.
- There you go.
Answer it.
Would you like some sauce?
Wolf.
What’s wrong?
- He always burns the meat.
- Leave the salt.
It doesn’t need more salt.
Leave it. Don’t listen to him.
What’s the matter?
Is the meat overcooked?