Shaka Zulu (1986): Season 1, Episode 8 - Episode #1.8 - full transcript

[theme song playing]

[vocalizing]

[singing in Zulu]

♪ We are growing higher ♪

♪ Growing higher ♪

I have been giving a great deal
of thought

to the mistakes made by your...

King of Kings.

He obviously didn't have the
foresight of a great leader.

And that's why his people
betrayed him.

And why... Mr. Abrahams wisely
doesn't follow him.



This man Christ... had
the multitudes in his own hands,

yet he was afraid to
govern them.

Hanging from a tree...
was easier.

How'd you get
us into this one?

Unintentionally, I assure you.

Joji and I mustn't make
that mistake.

We must have more courage.

Perhaps a nation could be built,

where the Whites and the Zulus
would live together in harmony.

A Council of Elders
would be formed

with the wisest men of
each kingdom.

And these men must be
given eternal youth

so that the heart
of the nation would be immortal.

Do you think this
could be possible?



Yes, nothing is impossible...

if two kingdoms truly wish
to live in harmony.

You're starting to sound
like Gulliver.

I am glad that you are so
open minded.

That is why you should not
object if I ask you

to join in me the campaign
against the Ndwandwes.

[speaking Zulu]

Nkosi... I must tell you

that it is not King George's
policy that his subjects

should be involved in
the internal Affairs

of other nations.

The Great Elephant wishes to
remind you, Febana,

that we have an agreement.

As my chieftain, you owe
your allegiance to Shaka,

as well as to Joji.

Or does Febana wish to go back
on his word?

Can a man... serve two kings?

Nothing is impossible...

if two kingdoms truly want
to live in harmony.

It's quite startling what he has
been able to do with a Bible

and a drop of Macassar oil.

He's far too clever for us,
Francis,

it's time you realized that.

[Francis laughing]

I fear that despite
my flippancy
over his whole affair,

our situation was ridiculous,

for our contribution
to this battle

would have to be superfluous.

Zwide was, in past years,

one of Shaka's
most formidable adversaries,

and it was apparent, from the
ever increasing movement

of troops towards the capital
that, for Shaka,

he remained a dangerous enemy.

Shaka had begun to realize
the importance of the diary,

and that for him it
could represent a form
of immortality.

And so the king would
summon me to his hut

And with apparent relish,

relate the violent episode
of his conflict with Zwide.

who soon would be
our misfortune to confront.

The enmity between Shaka
and Zwide began years ago.

In the north, Zwide was
consolidating his paramountcy.

He fought bloody battles,
defeating all in his path

and ruthlessly crushing
any resistance
to his authority.

I cannot believe all I'm told
of this history,

for so much of it, once again,
hinges on witchcraft

and tales of the supernatural.

But recount it I will,
for it's a story worth knowing.

Zwide had achieved
another major victory

and as armies returned
victorious with their prisoners

Zwide and his feared mother,
the witchdoctor, Ntombazi,

began to set their sights on

Dingiswayo's empire
in the south.

And so, my son... Soshangane
has returned victorious.

All the northern tribes are now
firmly under your control.

And Dingiswayo controls
the south.

All we have to do now
is step in and take it over.

[chanting]

[speaking in Zulu]

[music playing]

The old witch had her own plans
for getting rid of Dingiswayo.

Mzilikazi, a prince
of the newly defeated tribe

was to be part of her plan.

What they had not reckoned
with was that Shaka
was at that stage

one of Dingiswayo's generals.

The battle against the south
would not be such a pushover

as they expected.

The entire region
was now in turmoil.

While Zwide and his demented
witchdoctor mother

were ravaging the north,
Shaka was in the south,

himself carrying out
a desperate war of attrition,

using it to avenge
himself an those

who had victimized his family
years before,

while at the same time
incorporating

the subjugated tribes into
Dingiwaya's Paramountcy.

It was a bloody episode

in this part of
Africa's extraordinary history.

[music playing]

When I spoke of that nation,
I wanted the name 'Mtetwa'

to stand for peace!
Not total war!

I wanted my armies to bring
subjugation, not destruction!

To subdue another tribe... you
must strike it once and for all.

Total war! Total subjugation to
the paramount king.

And total destruction

to anyone who raises
even a whisper against him.

Never leave an enemy behind,

or it will rise again...
to fly at your throat.

There 'it no other way!

Yes, Shaka. There is.
Faith!

In what?

The human being... Reason.

In each man's desire...
to believe in himself,

and his fellow man.

Zwide of the Ndwandwes is
preparing an attack.

His army is as large, if not
larger, than yours.

He has heard of our
battle tactics.

and has devised others which
I fear are just as effective.

He has only one wish, Baba.

To crush you and your
paramountcy into oblivion.

And, believe me, Baba, he won't
do it with faith and reason.

But if you say I have abused
my freedom,

I'll ask you to accept
my resignation...

as commander of your regiments.

Bayete!

He knows we can't accept.

Our survival is now dependent
on his method.

Ngomane!

Nyambose!

Shaka!

You've played your hand well.
Now what is it you want, Shaka?

Complete control
of the armed forces,

without interference from
the King or the Council.

But that would
virtually give you

complete control of the State!

If Zwide defeats us, Ngomane,
there will be no state!

Winning the campaign against
the Ndwandwe confederacy

is a matter of life...
and death!

For me... For you...
For Dingiswayo.

Ngomane, Zwide wants our blood,
not our humanity!

[music playing]

[witch doctor chanting]

Do I have it?

Yes, Shaka. You have it...
Complete control.

[witchdoctor chanting]

[woman screaming]

I cannot bring myself
to believe
the hocus-pocus

surrounding the events
which supposedly followed,

and explanations more practical
must be responsible.

But so vivid
is the myth recounted

that once again I feel
obliged to set it down,

for if you can believe
in the concept of power
of thought,

then undoubtedly this episode
will make chilling reading.

[woman wailing]

[slow dramatic music playing]

[witchdoctor laughing]

[woman screams]

[wolves howling]

[gasps]

[slow dramatic music playing]

[song playing]

[woman singing in Zulu]

[men chanting in Zulu]

Bayete!

And what have we here?

I bring you news of Zwide.

Take him out.

[man choking]

25,000 troops?

Why are you telling me this?

They killed my father!

And you were close to him?

Very.

[melancholic howling]

[witch doctor laughing]

What will your people
do Aow, Dingiswaya?

How will their minds explain...
that which a mind cannot grasp?

[witch doctor laughing]

[woman screaming]

[crowd cheering]

[crowd cheering]

[buffaloes bellowing]

Wena weZu.

Mzilikazi.

The Ndwandwes.
Queen Ntombazi.

Ngomane.

A mystery Shaka.

As usual, guards were posted
at the gates of the kraal,

and at the entrance
to the king's hut.

They swear that no one
was anywhere

near the king last night,

apart from his private...
maidservant,

and I don't think a woman could
have the strength to inflict--

The guards are lying, Ngomane!

I doubt that Shaka.

They are your men.
You trained them!

No one could have slipped
past them unnoticed.

What are you saying, Ngamane?
That it didn't happen?

I am merely suggesting...
that the way it happened

may have nothing to do
with human error.

-Nonsense!
-[spits]

What we think, Shaka...
is of little importance.

What matters now... is what
the people are thinking!

And what is their reaction,
Ngomane?

Fear.

They won't even enter the hut

to prepare the body for burial.

It's true, Shaka.

They feel that whoever
had the power to kill Dingiswayo

under the noses of
our best guards,

has the power to put a curse
on all our armies!

Ngomane!

Assemble the people, Ngomane.

We will not be defeated
by witch doctor's illusions.

[clicking sounds]

[chanting in Zulu]

[chanting in Zulu]

[crowd chanting]

We must avenge his death!

Wipe the Ndwandwes from
the face of the earth!

Zwide would like us to believe

that witchcraft was involved
in the death of Dingiswayo.

Yet the truth lies elsewhere.

Our beloved paramount chief
met his death in treachery,

not witchcraft.

[crowd murmuring]

His royal guards and
the maidservant

have confessed
to their betrayal.

And for that crime, they'll
suffer the maximum punishment,

Impalement!

Their bodies will hang over
there as a testimony to all,

of what awaits those
who betray us.

Now, return to your training

and let there be no more talk
of witchcraft! Niyangizwa!

[speaking Zulu]

Congratulations, Shaka.
You won the day.

Hah! Even with our new recruits
we still number 9,000,

so it's nine against 25!

[speaking Zulu]

[music playing]

[woman screaming in Zulu]

What good is your magic now?

Mzilikazi.

[dramatic music playing]

[witch doctor screaming]

Shaka had won the day,

Zwide's power had been broken
and his territory gained,

but Zwide himself had escaped.

Now more than ever Shaka's
philosophy would prove correct.

Never leave an enemy behind

or it will rise again...
to fly at your throat!

Indeed, for once I wished
with all my heart that Shaka

had at that time been able to
exercise that cruel philosophy.

For the next day
we were to march out

as Zulu warriors to face
an even stronger Zwide.

I prayed that God would
be merciful

and that the 12th of April 1827

would not be the last entry
in my diary.

[chanting]

[army marching]

Zwide has chosen
his battlefield well.

Whoever moves first...
will fall into a trap.

You and your men will march
against them.

Alone.

We will cover you... if and when
you need assistance.

[Shaka] Your aim,
will be to draw the enemy...
into his own trap.

Nkosi.

If you send us into that gully,
alone... we're dead men.

Why? Why are you doing this?

Do you not have Christ
in your heart, Febana?

Mbuyazi had told me that a man
with Christ in his heart...

is stronger than all
the regiments on earth.

Did you say that?

I'm afraid so.

Is that not true?

Yes, Nkosi. Of course it's true.

Absolutely true.
It's... it's true.

But the meaning
in Mbuyazi's words...

the meaning...
must be taken differently.

-Differently?
-Yes, Nkosi.

Mbuyazi... did not mean...

real... regiments.
Real regiments!

Mbuyazi... meant...

he...

he meant,
well... he--

You will march against them.
Alone.

We will see who
is the true King of Kings.

Who is Power!

If your Christ... wants
to be the Lord of the Zulus,

he must deserve it...

as I have.

Who taught you
your scripture?

Dr. Patrick Mulligan.
Holy Trinity Church, Dublin.

Oh.

Well, blast him!

[army chanting]

All right. Mr. Wilkins.
Mordechai.

You both get down here.
Cover our advance from above.

Soon as you see us move off, you
give them everything you've got.

You know, create as much
confusion as you can.

Could we not just perhaps
surrender Sir?

It has been done before,
you know. Honorably, of course.

Well, yes, Tim.
I suppose we could.

and as you say,
it's been before.

But I have the slightest
suspicion that

these gentlemen
don't take prisoners.

All right! Move off!

[army marching]

[chanting]

D'you think he really
means it, Sir?
Us fighting them alone.

Yes, it would appear so, Henry.

We saved his bleedin' hide?

Where's his sense
of appreciation?

Ask Mr. Fynn.

Hasn't it become
a matter of faith?

Well, next time that the emperor
requires you prove your faith,

you would do well to refrain
from mentioning the Colosseum.

If there is a bleeding
next time.

What absurd strategy is this?

Send down a handful
of warriors...

Let's see if their blood
is the same color as ours.

Ayihlasele!

And I think they have, Sir!

Good grief!

Thomson. Tonino.

Ridge halfway up. Move!

Mr. Ogle advance
your cannon 40 paces.

Rifle party forward! Vegte!
Hotcliffe! Popham! Zach!

Rifle party, halt!

Here we go, Wilkins!

[army chanting]

Have her ready to fire, Sir!

Hold your fire!

The Ndwandwes are too scared
to advance.

Hold your Fire. Steady...

Steady.

It would appear that Somerset
was right, wouldn't it.

It all comes down to
blowing their heads off.

Fire!

[shots firing]

Reload!
Reload!

Send in more men.

Ayihlasele!

Aim!

Fire!

-Reload! Fire!
-Reload!

[shots firing]

I don't think I'm
hitting anything.

-Then keep firing, man!
-I'm doing my best!

Oooh, I got one!

-Reload!
-Reload!

[shots fired]

Hold your fire!

Hold your fire.

Should we attack, Baba?

Not yet, Mgobozi.

They'll be massacred.
Was that your intention?

Or do you still believe
in their magic?

Steady...

Fire!

[cannon fired]

-Reload!
-Yes Sir!

Their magic
is working, Mgobozi.

Send in more regiments!

[speaking foreign language]

Not so, Ndabezitha.

Again they are advancing...
and in greater numbers!

All right, Mr. Ogle. We may be
in a packet of trouble.

Now, withdraw your cannon
to our first position.

Yes, Sir!

Tonino!

Pull out there!

Thamson. Pull back!

Look at them, Ndabezitha.

Those who would give wings
to the Great Leopard

are running like
scared monkeys.

Rifle party! Pull back! No!

Get back you savages! Get back!

[shouting in pain]

Bastards!

-Mr. Ogle!
-Thank you, Sir!

Send in more men.

We've only got enough powder
left for four more blasts, Sir.

-Tilt the barrel 60 degrees.
-Yes, Sir!

That will do it.

Ready, Sir!

Well, that singed
their feathers for them.

What was that?

What sort of magic is this
that can kill people

at such long distances?

Ready, Sir!

All regiments attack!

Ayihlasel, madoda.

We've got them an the run.
We're winning.

Give the order to attack,
Mgobozi.

It's too late, Ndabezitha.
They have made the kill.

We march only as scavengers.

I said attack!

Ayihlasele!

[opening theme playing]

Amazing, isn't it, Sir? What a
bit of gunpowder does to 'em.

Yes, Mr. Ogle, quite amazing,
isn't it!

As I once had occasion to note,
a man without scruples could

very easily become a God
in this country.

Well, what did you
expect me to do?

Oh. I applaud the effectiveness
Of our ingenuity.

What was worrying me
just a little was

how much you were enjoying it.

[drums playing]

[chanting in Zulu]

[chanting in Zulu]

[speaking in Zulu]

Give it fire!

We'll not be
your executioners, Baba.

And those dead?

In whose name did they fall?

Were you my executioners
or your own?

And which king guided
you in your killing?

Was it I...

or your Christ?

Francis.

[cannon fires]

[chanting]

[celebratory music playing]

[celebratory music
playing distantly]

What is it, Ngomane?

You subjects await their king.

Tell them the Great Elephant
is indisposed.

That may not be wise, Nkosi.

Already... the people are
thinking the white 'creatures'

deserve glory for Zwide's
ultimate defeat.

By being indisposed...
you would confirm that.

And what else
are they thinking?

They find it hard...

to understand the behavior
of the Great Elephant.

They are asking... how
can the Conqueror of Nations

be bewitched by
a handful of jackals?

My subjects have become
very daring, Ngomane.

Or could it be that
it is your own question

that echoes in their hearts?

You have given them land...
wealth,

and the status of
generals and chieftains.

All I am asking...
is what is the Great Elephant

receiving in return for
his generosity?

The power... of their knowledge.

Then I can only hope

that their knowledge is not
a fabrication of lies,

or all that you have built...
will become theirs.

Phuma!

Ndabezitha.

[celebratory music plays]

Has Ngamane sent you
to persuade the king?

No. I long only to remain here
alone with my king.

Let me love you, Shaka.
Let me help you find love.

For what purpose,
my little one?

Perhaps through that love

you will show me how to
better rule my people?

No, your people have nothing
to do with it.

I merely want to help
take away the loneliness.

A man who builds a road to the
heavens... must travel alone.

No... no.

[music playing]

[celebratory music plays]

[thunder rumbling]

You know, the longer
we stay here

the more appealing these...
girls become.

One could end up
getting quite involved

with this country
and it's people.

[both laughing]

Or dead.

[singing in Zulu]

♪ You may not know
Of my existence ♪

♪ And if you do
You'll show no sign ♪

[singing in Zulu]

♪ ...of my existence ♪

♪ And if you do
You'll show no sign ♪

♪ I'll take you for worse
I'll take you better ♪

♪ I just want for you
to be loved ♪

[singing in Zulu]

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