Shaka Zulu (1986): Season 1, Episode 2 - Episode #1.2 - full transcript

After being shipwrecked off the coast of Zululand, the British are escorted to Shaka's Capitol, Kwa-Bulawayo, where they meet Shaka and his mother Nandi. Shaka then demonstrates his power ...

[theme song playing]

[vocalizing]

[singing in Zulu]

♪ We are growing higher ♪

♪ Growing higher ♪

[chuckles]

Bring him in.

Ndabezitha.

What do you think, Ngomane?

A scouting party.
That's what it is, Nkosi.

Mm-hmm.



[groans]

What is your tribe?

The Dutch, Nkosi.

What do you do?
Are you a warrior?

I was a farmer.

Now, I am a teacher.

And what do you teach?

I teach children
to read and to write.

What nonsense is that?

May I show you, Nkosi?

[speaking Zulu]

[Vegte] A written word.

That reads, Shaka.

[commands in Zulu]



That is I?

It is the visual
representation of your name.

And this is my name.

Piet.

What is this marking used for?

Witchcraft? Casting spells?

No. No, Nkosi.

It is used to transmit ideas,
feelings over great distances.

I have messengers for that.

But this ensures that
what you say here

is heard there
in exactly your words.

I am already
assured of that, Piet.

[Shaka] If my messengers
misrepresent me, they are dead.

Writing can also be used
to store what you say today,

so that it can be heard
generations from now.

The only way to store ideas,

feelings, is in the mind
and in the heart.

[Shaka] And my future
generations will hear
the voice of the wind

bringing messages

from long ago...

of Shaka.

Yes. And that voice
will speak of tyranny.

Is that what you Whites
think of me? A tyrant?

That is the message
brought to them,

by the wind.

Do you all speak our language?

Not all of them, Nkosi, no.

But they are learning.

Already there are some
who know enough
to be able to speak to you.

You interest me, white man.

[Shaka] Since you know
our language well,
I'll honor you.

From now on,

you are a Zulu.

[Shaka] And you shall
act as my interpreter.

You shall teach my people
your language,

and your people my language.

[Shaka] If you do well,
I'll reward you handsomely.

But if you fail me,

I shall kill each
and every member
of your party.

[Shaka] Is that clear?

[commands in Zulu]

Ngomane, I want
the armies assembled
by the next full moon.

For a handful of men, Nkosi?
Men who come in peace?

Are you my friend, Ngomane?

Yes, Nkosi. I am.

In spite of the fact
that I can take your life
at a moment's notice?

That is the basis
of our friendship, Nkosi.

We share a common life,
my own, Ndabezitha.

And so it will be
with the white man.

When they realize
my capability to destroy

their people
at a moment's notice,

then, I'll discuss friendship.

[birds chirping]

[tribal singing]

[Henry] It was not
without some trepidation

that we embarked upon
what was to be

a ten day journey
to Kwa Bulawayo.

We were led
across breathtakingly
beautiful landscapes,

where the wildlife appeared

to accept our intrusion
without too much concern.

[singing in Zulu]

And then a sight
to gladden the heart
of any fortune hunter.

Farewell had not lied,
when he promised
his men more ivory

than they could possibly
hope to take with them.

But it was made clear to us

that there would be
no hunting without
Shaka's permission.

As we passed many villages

which dotted the landscape,
some of the people would hide,

while others would gather
at a distance and stare
at us in amazement.

It soon became clear to us

that we were being taken
on a somewhat
roundabout route,

so, as to display to us

the wealth, order,
and discipline
of the King's realm.

It was indeed
impressive, especially
the regimental kraals.

They dotted the landscape
at ten to twenty mile intervals

and confirmed our fears

of Shaka being able
to muster

an overwhelmingly
powerful army,

capable of driving
the British forces
into the sea.

But quite unbeknown to us,

our venture had
already turned the tide
of Shaka's advance.

In order to impress us
with a show of power,

he had been recalling
his troops to the capital.

And in so doing,
had taken the pressure
off the Cape frontier.

By the seventh day,
we approached
a small Village,

no different to any other.

But the old saying
of "fools rushing in
where angels fear to tread,"

was to take on
a new meaning for us here.

For I was about to get
involved in a situation
which was...

dangerously to affect
our future relationship
with the King of the Zulus.

Mana!

[tribe crying]

I should imagine
that men whose skins
are the color of spirits

would be welcome at a funeral.

Phansi!

[Henry] Put her down, will you!

Put her down! Down!

[Francis] Fynn, what
the devil do you think
you are doing?

Francis, the girl's alive.
I saw her move!

[Henry] Now, will somebody
tell them to put her down!

Put her down!

[commands in Zulu]

[Mgobozi speaking Zulu]

[speaking in Zulu]

He's warning us
not to interfere,

[Popham] or the sangoma,
the diviner,

may accuse us of being
abathakathi, wizards.

And that could mean death.

She's alive!

[Henry] She's burning
with fever, but she's alive.

We need to get her
back to the kraal.

[Popham speaking Zulu]

Wazani

[Mgobozi commanding in Zulu]

Great stuff, Fynn.

Great stuff.

[Henry] Needless to say,

Francis saw the incident
as a means to some kind of end.

But none of us, I think,

realized just how dangerous
the situation was.

I had meddled with the course
of life and death

and now we would
have to succeed bringing
the girl back to health, if...

we, ourselves, were
to survive the whole affair.

[sighs] I'm going to need
some more cold water.

Amanzi.

Amanzi.

[requests in Zulu]

[replies in Zulu]

[Henry] The already
tense atmosphere

created by the presence
of the local witchdoctor

who watched my every move
with cold antagonism

was heightened
by the ominous sounds
of the Royal regiments

as they passed through
the night on their way
to the King's capital.

It made Shaka's army...

omnipresent.

[Henry] Where's that water?

Ah, it's here.

Thank you.

Thank you.

[baby crying]

Any sign?

Everything's over.

Come on.

[baby crying]

Come on, now.

[Henry] Wake up.

[theme song playing]

[speaking Zulu]

[man laughs]

[man speaking Zulu]

I suppose, now,
we're going to get
executed as wizards.

On the contrary,
they believe
you've resurrected her.

[laughing]

Farewell,

that's blasphemous
and preposterous.

And very useful.

Could be our means of survival.

How do you mean?

Well, to all intents
and purposes,
you have resurrected her.

Now we'd be very foolish not
to use that to our advantage.

A man without scruples
could very easily become
a god in this country,

couldn't he,

lieutenant?

But I'll have no part of it.

No, I shan't expect it of you.

But when he learns
of this miracle and
I suggest you that Shaka will,

and that you will be
in no position to refuse.

[Francis] Besides, Fynn,

this fits awfully neatly

into your Faustian notion
of the Zulu king, doesn't it?

-Who better suited
to deal with Mephistopheles
-than you, Dr Fynn, than you?

[laughing]

[Henry] And so began
the eighth day of our journey
to Kwa Bulawayo.

We've been given the name
"Swallows" by our Zulu hosts,

because like those
tenacious little birds

we had apparently, like magic,

come across the sea.

Our journey was unbeknown
to us at the time.

Being watched closely by
the most powerful "isangoma"

or witchdoctor in the realm.

News of our medical exploits
had spread like wildfire,

and we were to learn later

that we had
incurred the wrath
of the witchdoctor fraternity.

[tribal music playing]

That night, as we camped
along the banks of a river

not too far from the capital.

She, Sitayi, of whom we were
to hear a great deal later,

went ahead of us
to Kwa Bulawayo

for a private audience
with the King.

[wind howling]

[Sitayi] You must not meet
with these men, Baba.

It is dangerous.

Why?

Because you fear
their powers exceed your own?

[Shaka] Can you bring
the dead back to life?

Beware, Baba.

Those who wish to
be served by magic,

often became its servants.

[Sitayi] We have no need
of their powers.

You are Zulu.

You possess the heavens.

If what they say is true,

then their isangoma
possesses powers
we cannot ignore.

I want those powers
at my service.

[ominous music playing]

-[men ululating]
-[people panicking]

[Sitayi] Remember
the conditions
of the prophecies.

Do not defy the ancestors
by reaching for powers

that are not of your heritage

or the heavens will destroy you

through your own blood.

[theme song playing]

[vocalizing]

[singing in Zulu]

[tribe singing]

[tribal singing continues]

[tribe ululating]

[exclaiming in Zulu]

[speaking Zulu]

My god.

Is that an exclamation
or a prayer?

[distant tribal singing]

Well, there is your first report
to the colonial office, Tim,

just eight words.

We've not got
a cat's chance in hell.

Now, don't be
downcast, gentlemen.

[Francis] Look at it this way,

we are entering lands
that no white man has ever seen.

[Francis] This moment
is tremendous.

And your names
will go down in history.

Whose history, sir? Ours,

or theirs?

Well, were I a betting man,
Tim, I think I'd probably
have to say theirs.

[Mgobozi speaking Zulu]

We have to wait here
until he sends for us.

Who's moving?

[tribe singing]

Bayete,

Ndabezitha.

The Whites have
arrived, Sigidi.

So I see.

[Shaka] That girl, Mgobozi.
The one they say
came back to life.

Was she really dead?

Yes, Ndabezitha.
In my opinion she was.

Inform their chief and
the isangoma that they
may enter the Royal Kraal.

Ndabezitha.

The Whites are magicians, Shaka.

[Mgobozi] They work
with illusion.

You have taught us
to live in reality.

[Mgobozi] Even if the Whites
had a hundred lives each,

those lives would be not
worth a single dedicated life
of one Zulu,

[Mgobozi] because
we are superior.

The Leopard is
also superior, Mgobozi.

He is a sovereign
among the masters.

Each proud day of his life
is worth a hundred days
in the life of a raven.

[Shaka] Yet, if the Leopard
were offered wings to fly,

he would be foolish
to refuse them.

No, Shaka.

The Leopard's kingdom
is the Earth.

On the earth,
he is the master.

[Mgobozi] In the skies,
he becomes a victim.

If the Whites offer you wings,

it is because they wish
to make you their victim.

Did you hear that, Ngomane?

[Shaka] He has been with
the Whites for a few days

and already he fears
for the security of the State.

[Shaka] Their powers
must be great indeed.

Phuma.

Ndabezitha.

And Mgobozi,

never abuse
our friendship again.

Ndabezitha.

[people ululating]

[triumphant music playing]

Well, chin up!

Shoulders back,
pretend we rule the world!

A little late for masquerading,
isn't it, Francis?

On the contrary,
the comedy's only beginning.

[Francis] And I suggest
we give the public
its money's worth.

[Henry] I never was
very good at play acting.

Well, have a shot at it anyway,

because the minute we reach
those gates I have a feeling
that we are in

for a carefully planned
theatrical display.

[Henry] What do you have
in mind, Othello?

More like Macbeth,
I fancy.

[both laughing]

There's an awful lot
of them, isn't there?

[crowd cheering]

Relieved to see you, Mr. Vegte.

Not as relieved as I am
to see you, Mr. Farewell,
Mr. Fynn.

Well, what do we do?

Well, right now,
he is intrigued
by your horses.

He wants to learn more
about them, especially
their speed and endurance.

And where is he?

He is back there, watching.

[men ululating]

Oh... I see.

It's as I thought, Mr. Fynn.

Curtain up, act one.
Off we go!

[crowd cheering]

What the hell's going on?

Hambani!

Francis, I think we have
a race on our hands.

Well, lets show them
a thing or two.

What do you think?

I don't know,
but I hope to God we win.

[crowd cheering]

[commands in Zulu]

[men ululating]

How are you feeling,
Mr. Wilkins?

Nervous.

Yes.

I think we might have
made a mistake, Francis.

Oh, why?

Do you think we should
have lost on purpose?

It might have been
more diplomatic.

No,

the most diplomatic thing

that we could do
is to show this Shaka
that we're not clowns.

[chanting in Zulu]

[speaking Zulu]

[men ululating]

[singing in Zulu]

Your colonial office has
no idea what it's up against.

[vocalizing]

[men ululating]

[crowd cheering]

[Shaka commands in Zulu]

That's broken the ice,
hasn't it?

Breaking the ice,
is that what you'd call it?

By proving that he can
tame that animal,

he's trying to prove
to himself that he can tame us.

I fear our position is
more precarious
than ever, Francis.

[men ululating]

[exclaiming triumphantly]

[tribe singing]

[Henry] There was no doubt
as to Shaka's thoroughness.

He had deliberately delayed
our arrival, so as to prepare
his capital to receive us.

And in so doing, he had
made use of the time
to ensure that

we were fully aware
of his power before
we met with him.

Now, our gifts also
showed our miscalculation
of the man's intelligence.

He was unimpressed and
mostly dismissed the items,

passing them over
to the Royal Ladies.

But as would always be
the case with our Royal Host,

he would never fail
to surprise us with
the unexpected.

Indeed, our introduction
to the black Emperor

would prove to be the first
of many harrowing experiences.

Tell him, these gifts come
with the compliments
of his brother, King George.

[Vegte repeating in Zulu]

[dog barking]

[speaking Zulu]

He wants to see those things
on your face, Mr. Fynn.
Your glasses.

Ndabezitha.

Ndabezitha

[Shaka speaking Zulu]

[Shaka laughing]

[speaking Zulu]

"This man does not want
to see the world
as it truly is."

[Henry] Does anybody?

[woman chuckles]

Thank you.

-[woman laughing]
-Pampata!

Ndabezitha.

Ndabezitha.

[Henry] How very poignant.

Centuries of poets,
and not one of them

has thought of giving
a fallen angel a mirror.

[Shaka speaking Zulu]

[woman chuckles]

He wants to know
what does George look like?

Tell him tall
and powerful. Not unlike
the Great Elephant himself.

[Vegte speaking Zulu]

[speaking Zulu]

He asks to see the wood
that makes music.

How the hell does he know?

Because a man who is
as powerful as he is,
has eyes and ears everywhere.

Now, get going.

Yes, sir.

[Henry] If Francis thought
he was playing a game
of outmaneuver,

then he could not have chosen
a more formidable adversary.

[woman screaming]

[Shaka speaking Zulu]

"In your country," he asks,

"to whom does life belong?

[Vegte] To the king
or to his subjects?"

In our country, each man
is lord of his own life
and only his own life.

The king included. Tell him!

[Vegte repeating in Zulu]

[Vegte repeating in Zulu]

[speaking Zulu]

"Can your King make
you go to war?", he asks.

Yes.

[questioning in Zulu]

"And can you die in war?"

Yes!

[Vegte replies in Zulu]

[speaking Zulu]

[Vegte] "Then you are wrong,"
he says. "Your King owns life."

[speaking Zulu]

[Shaka continues in Zulu]

[Vegte] "Here,
life belongs to Shaka."

[Vegte] "Her life belongs
to Shaka

and you had no right
to give her life

without the Great
Elephant's permission."

[woman sobbing]

He's going to kill her!

What the hell do you think
you're doing?

In God's name,
we've got to stop him!

We're in no position
to stop anything!

What would you have me do?
Just sit here and watch?

Yes, Fynn, That's exactly
what we must do!

[commands in Zulu]

[woman screaming]

[speaking Zulu]

He says,

"That in the future,

you will use your powers
for the benefit
of the Great Elephant."

[Ngomane speaking Zulu]

[Vegte] He says, "if we Whites
truly possess these powers,

let them prove it.

Let them...

resurrect her again."

Tell the King...

that we have
disobeyed him once

and that we will not
make the same mistake again.

From now on, our powers
will be used...

solely for his benefit.

Tell him.

[Vegte repeating in Zulu]

[Vegte continues in Zulu]

[Shaka speaking Zulu]

He says, "It is
exactly for the benefit
of the Great Elephant,

that the Swallows
must prove their powers."

Fynn?

Resurrect her.

Are you mad?

No...

I'm not mad.

But you were,
when you jumped
into that grave.

[Henry] Now, you do something,
or you'll be digging ours.

[Mgobozi] The Whites are
magicians, Shaka.
They work with illusion.

You have taught us
to live in reality.

[commands in Zulu]

Give him the box, Mr. Ogle.

[music plays from the box]

[Henry] If we were going
to win this game,

we would have to play it
a lot better than this.

For the pieces had been set

and checkmate could mean
death for all of us.

[vocalizing]

[singing in Zulu]

♪ Be a man of greatness now ♪

♪ A men so tall
A men so kind ♪

♪ Be a man of wisdom now ♪

♪ A man of mind
A man of light ♪

♪ Be a man of kindness now ♪

♪ A man so big
And strong in mind ♪

♪ Be a man so humble now ♪

♪ A man of man
Now let it shine ♪

♪ This is what you are ♪

♪ This is how
It was planned now ♪

♪ This is what to be ♪

♪ Every kind of man now ♪

♪ This is what to say ♪

♪ With the kind of meaning ♪

♪ This is what to feel ♪

♪ With the kind of feeling ♪

♪ We are growing ♪

♪ Growing higher and higher ♪

♪ We are growing ♪

♪ Growing higher and higher ♪

♪ We are growing ♪

♪ Growing higher and higher ♪

♪ We are growing ♪

♪ Growing higher and higher ♪

♪ Hear the children
Hear the children ♪

♪ They are talking to you ♪

♪ Hear the wind blow
Hear the wind blow ♪

♪ It is blowing for you ♪

♪ See the grass grow
See the grass grow ♪

♪ It whispers his name ♪

♪ See the fire blow
See the fire blow ♪

♪ His heart in the flame ♪

[singing in Zulu]

[vocalizing]

Subtitles downloaded with "Netflix subtitle downloader" UserScript by Tithen-Firion.