Serengeti (2019–…): Season 3, Episode 6 - Restoration - full transcript

ANIMALS CALL

ELEPHANT TRUMPETS

Many tales have been
told of Africa...

..but this is our story,

a drama set in the
heart of our world...

..experienced as we
live and breathe it.

Our world is changing.

Our lives are in danger.

But we still have each other...

..and family is something
worth fighting for.

This is the next
chapter in our story



in a place they call Serengeti.

♪ Serengeti

♪ Serengeti

♪ She is speaking

♪ Hear her whisper. ♪

Drought has gripped our land.

The hippos are among
the first to suffer.

Like the rest,

Mafuta and his mother
are clinging on

in what little water remains.

The bull that once
took over their pod

and made them flee has
invaded their only refuge.

And they aren't the
only ones in trouble.

What was once a lifeline
is now a deathtrap.



Those who can, flee.

The elephants could
always dig for water...

..but now even their
wells are running dry.

Kadogo's exhausted, but
staying here means death.

His only hope is to
follow Nalla's lead...

..and leave their last
remaining sanctuary behind...

..escape from a drought
that will come for us all.

Bakari has made his choice -

return to a kopje that
was once their home.

Here, they'll find relief
from the searing heat below.

A coolness on the breeze.

But there's one thing
they're missing.

STONE SPLASHES

As long as it lasts, water
will be their saviour.

Bakari's bought his
troop a little more time,

but they can't wait out
the drought forever.

Through it all, the lions
stayed on their kopje,

feeding on the
desperate passing by.

Now food is far
harder to find...

..but change is in the air...

..and not a moment too soon.

THUNDER RUMBLES

The hippos didn't
hold on in vain.

Mafuta is saved...

..as is Kadogo and his family.

As the lake fills,

Mafuta is freed from
his muddy prison.

He'll join the exodus,

buoyed by the promise
of life reborn.

As the land is restored,
so are our hopes.

The returning herds
bring food for many...

..including a new
family of leopard cubs.

When play is over,
adventure beckons...

BABOONS CHATTER

..but not what they might want.

LEOPARD GROWLS LOUDLY

He should have kept his
feelings to himself.

Bakari can't abide
leopards... LEOPARD GROWLS

..even the tiniest.

Two cubs alone is an
opportunity too good to miss.

How hard can it be?

But wherever a
big baboon can go,

a little cub can go higher...

..and this little
cub is a fighter.

LEOPARD GROWLS

Bakari's tried his best.
Perhaps his son can do better.

And Mtoto has high ambitions...

LEOPARD GROWLS ..until
he sees what he's facing.

LEOPARD GROWLS

And now it's not just
the cubs to worry about.

BABOON BARKS

LEOPARD GROWLS

BABOON SCREECHES

Her cubs are safe.

Bakari's troop are not.

Retreat - the only choice.

For the leopards, a reunion.

Their mother is Mzuri.

She and her sister Dada were
cubs themselves not long ago.

Mzuri is still just as playful
as she was back then...

..but life is now full
of responsibilities, too.

For Bakari's troop, their
kopje still provides sanctuary.

All around, new
life is flourishing,

including among the giraffes.

This is Twiga,

a newborn still getting
to know his mother...

..and his mother
getting to know him.

Like all of us, he's born
not knowing danger...

..but danger soon finds him...

..and there are few more
dangerous than Kali.

Twiga's mother uses
her body as a shield.

She must show she's
ready to take Kali on.

First, a warning.

But Twiga has fallen.

She must join him
in the gully...

..and defend him there.

But help is on the way...

..and a friend lures Kali away.

It's a battle Kali doesn't need.

A reprieve for Twiga.

Kali's days of hunting
alone should really be over,

but old habits die hard.

She now has Askari
to help her...

..and a pride to help
look after her cubs.

Duma has left the cheetah coalition
and is back hunting on his own.

Working alone, he can
choose the food he likes,

knowing it won't
be stolen from him.

DUMA GROWLS

A wildebeest calf is the
perfect meal for one.

A triumph...

..but one seen by others.

Duma may have left
the coalition,

but they're not
ready to leave him.

DUMA HISSES, YELPS

He's the hunter who
keeps providing.

DUMA HISSES

Now they need him far
more than he needs them.

Somehow, they must find
a way to work together.

BIRD CALLS

Like the land,

the river is being restored
to its former glory.

Having left the lake,
the hippos have returned.

Mafuta and his
mother are with them.

At last, they can enjoy the
space the river provides.

A time of hardship gives
way to a time of play.

HIPPOS GRUNT

It's not just other hippos
that provide the entertainment.

DUCKS QUACK

MAFUTA GRUNTS

But the river's rebirth
also attracts the unwelcome.

For the feared, a chance
to reassert their power.

The crocodiles are
commandeering the hippos' beach.

MAFUTA SCREECHES

One by one, they come...

..until there's no space
left for the hippos.

On the plains,
there's space aplenty,

but it's filling up fast.

Everyone's struggling to keep
themselves to themselves.

For the mongoose, the herds
bring fresh opportunities.

Their dung attracts insects

looking for a place
to lay their eggs -

a good meal if you're
willing to dig for it.

FLIES BUZZ

The pup that Utani looks
after stays close by...

..still learning from
her teacher's example.

There are plenty of new
delicacies to try...

..as well as some
old favourites.

This time, the warthogs
have their own young in tow.

It's not the warm welcome
the mongoose are used to.

The hoglets aren't ready
to be groomed by the mob.

They have far
better things to do.

For Utani, now is the moment
he's been waiting for.

The mother warthog is alone.

When it all gets too much,

they still have the
dung to return to.

And even when the food's gone,

it provides other
pleasures, too.

The hippos' indulgence
is sunbathing...

..but the crocodiles
have put an end to that.

They've taken over the bank,

and no-one is willing
to challenge them...

..except perhaps one.

Mafuta's mother has
never been afraid

to take on crocodiles...

..and crocodiles aren't
used to not being feared.

CROCODILE GROWLS

Even so, it's best to
start with a nibble...

..and then another.

With his mother setting the example,
Mafuta is growing in confidence.

Perhaps too much confidence.

CROCODILE GROWLS

CROCODILE HISSES

Working together, they've
cleared the beach...

..and Mafuta can
enjoy the rewards.

Duma is back hunting again.

This time, he's
after a bigger meal.

Like it or not, he's
hunting for all.

As the best hunter,
they let him go first.

When the topi
looks, Duma freezes.

But has he been seen?

He holds his nerve
and picks his moment.

DUMA GROWLS

DUMA GROWLS

Once again, the
victory is Duma's.

The others just
join for the spoils.

Duma still takes the risks,

while the others
reap the rewards.

Something has to change.

Nearby, Twiga is learning
with each new day.

He awaits instruction.

Today's lesson is
about eating leaves...

..but acacia trees
are armed with thorns.

They need careful handling.

Twiga is wise to be cautious.

He starts on the
more tender shoots.

Next up are those with thorns.

But having fun is all
he really wants to do.

BIRDS CHIRP

Here, there is
plenty to entertain.

BIRD CHIRPS

Suddenly, excitement
fades to fear.

Twiga is on his own...

..or so he thought.

He's found a friend.

The world's not so scary
with a playmate by your side.

But now they're even
further from their mothers.

Tonight, they'll only have
each other to rely on.

A big ask for one so little.

LEOPARDS GROWL

Dawn is playtime for
Mzuri and her cubs.

They're growing fast
and are full of energy.

But energy needs feeding.

Mzuri must bring
them back a meal.

A newly replenished watering
hole should draw in the herds.

Already, their traces
are all around.

Her senses haven't failed her.

There's always one
slower than the rest.

It took strength
to bring it down.

It will need even more to
drag it back to her cubs.

Twiga and his friend
survived the night,

but the morning
brings new urgency.

They need to find their mothers.

Then, when they least
expect it, hope.

A stranger. But
will she help them?

Older giraffes, past
the prime of life,

care for the young of others.

She'll act as their guardian
and lead them back home.

She knows exactly where
their mothers can be found.

They arrive just in time.

Twiga's mother has
been searching, too.

Twiga is first to be reunited.

His new-found friend will soon
have his own reunion, too.

LEOPARDS GROWL

Entertained by each other,

the leopard cubs have hardly
noticed their mother's absence.

There's plenty still
to distract them.

LEOPARD GROWLS

It takes an adventurous
spirit to conquer the world...

..but a cautious
nature to survive it.

These future hunters are learning
the fine balance they must strike.

It was a heroic feat
to drag it back,

but Mzuri's cubs
need meat to grow.

The more cautious
cub spots it first...

..while the adventurous
one is missing out.

But not for long.

Those who like adventure can
turn everything into a game...

..while the cautious
types take life seriously.

Mzuri will teach them to
learn from each other...

..just as Mzuri's
mother taught her.

Wisdom is passed on from
generation to generation...

..and lives on
through the young...

..never more so than
with the elephants.

Kadogo was the youngest
member of his family...

..but not any more.

His playmate-to-be is still
struggling to stand...

..but has all the help he needs

from more experienced mothers...

..as they pass on their wisdom

to his mother.

Kadogo is keen to
meet the new baby.

He can't wait to have
someone new to play with...

..but he must be patient.

The baby is still
finding his feet.

Kadogo's not the
only one celebrating.

ELEPHANT TRUMPETS

From afar, many great
tuskers have journeyed here

to share this special moment.

Leading the way is the father.

Our world connects
in mysterious ways.

Somehow, he knew
this was the time.

A baby born, destined
to roam the plains,

as his father does, and as
his father did before him.

For now, a brief moment

to meet his newborn son...

..witnessed by a gathering

of the greatest and
wisest in the land.

As mysteriously as
he came, he leaves.

A moment to share before
they vanish and are gone.

For the newborn, a
lifetime of discovery

has only just begun.

After his scare, Twiga
stays close to his mother.

But one taste of
adventure is never enough.

He'll make more
friends if he can.

It's never as hard as
you think it might be.

But when he's older,
it will be different.

He'll meet rivals and
have to defend himself.

It's a glimpse into the future.

But for now, future
rivals are friends...

..someone to practise with.

Play fighting prepares them
for the real battles ahead.

For now, though,
it's just a game.

Even so, his mother
keeps an eye on him.

The fighting goes
on into the night...

..while everyone else
heads out to the plains.

Twiga's journey as a young
giraffe is only just beginning...

..but he has all the
support he'll ever need.

The sun rises again
for the cheetahs...

..but for Duma, the new day
means more of the same -

hunting bigger prey for others.

Eland - the greatest
antelope of all.

A huge risk for Duma.

Again, he boldly takes the lead.

And, again, it's Duma
who makes the running.

No cheetah should
tackle an eland alone.

Their kicks are deadly.

DUMA YELPS

DUMA YELPS

He is lucky to survive...

..but this time, the
others take over.

Has Duma inspired them
to take the same risk?

CHEETAH YELPS

The last one follows to
secure their triumph...

..while Duma is cautious.

For once, this
wasn't his kill...

..and for once, they
treat Duma with respect.

Finally, they are
working as a team...

..and Duma has been accepted,
not just as a hunter,

but as a fully valued
member of the coalition.

The hippos' peace, once
again, has been broken.

The bull who once took
over the pod is back.

But is he still a
danger to Mafuta...

..or has the bull found
a way to be accepted?

Maybe they are
starting to get along.

The bull now has
no reason to fight.

And, besides,
Mafuta is older now.

He'll be fine if he
just shows respect.

Mafuta's mother is now
accepting the bull as leader.

Here, grudges can't
be held forever.

With acceptance, Mafuta
gains a powerful protector...

..and his mother gains
a potential mate.

Mafuta is growing in
confidence, too...

..and Magamba isn't the
threat she used to be.

Is this another chance to
forget old rivalries...

..as his mother has
with the new bull?

In this land,
anything is possible.

Rivalries can become
friendships, too.

Duma and his new best friends have
returned to the lake as equals.

After drought and struggle,

our land is entering
a time of change...

..and the best is yet to come.

The flamingos are returning,
back from lands beyond.

A sign of life renewed.

The lake restored
as all life returns.

For once, Bakari
doesn't have to fight

for his troop's survival.

His duty is done... for now.

Kali, too, has triumphed
against the odds.

She's found a pride
where her young are safe,

with food aplenty.

For Zalika, fresh
opportunities, too.

And there are yet
more signs of renewal.

The flamingos dance.

A courtship ritual
that heralds new life.

From the hardest times
come the richest times,

and so the cycle goes on.

And in an ever-changing world,
so our stories continue.

♪ Serengeti

♪ Hear her whisper. ♪