"WARDER:" "Come on, you lazy Kaffirs." "Come on." "Keep in line, man." "Keep in line." "What are you looking at me like that for, you fuck?" "What are you looking at?" "I'll fuck you up!" "Move!" "You men make sure that's tied down properly, you hear me?" "Careful, man!" " Pa, why is it taking so long?" " Go back to your mother." "Move your feet, move your feet, come on!" "I said, go back!" "MAN:" "Move!" "Sergeant Gregory, Dannie Bosman, the old skipper for the crossing." " Your first time to Robben Island?" " I hear the fishing is excellent." " You'll get bored with that soon enough." " Ah." "What prison are you from?" "Kroonstad Maximum Security." "Well, Robben Island is a totally different ball game." "All prisoners below deck and secured, Captain." "Ladies and children, all aboard please!" "(CHATTERING)" " Where's your mom?" " Busy putting on her lipstick." "We can board now, sweetie." " How do I look?" " You look great." " As long as I don't get seasick." " It's only an hour." " Will I be able to get my own bedroom, Pa?" " Of course you will." "I don't want to share with Natasha again." "Who said I want to share with you?" "You two stop fighting and behave yourselves." "Remember, first impressions are everything." "Are all the prisoners on the island black, Ma?" " All of them." " But at Kroonstad, they were white." "Now, we don't mix whites and blacks, not even in the prisons." "These are not just criminals, Brent." "These are terrorists." "But what's the difference?" "Terrorists are terrible people." "They want to kill all the whites and take our land away from us." "Which is why we lock them up on the island." "(BARKING)" "Sergeant Gregory." "Captain Devett, the personnel officer on the island." "How do you do, Captain?" "I'm Gloria..." "I have a jeep standing by." "This way." "Your furniture will follow." "JAMES:" "One, two." "All aboard, Captain." "This is it." "You can stand down for today, Sergeant." "This evening you're expected to attend an officer's braai at the OC's residence." "Missus included." "Full dress uniform." "Gloria, I can't find my step-outs." "Ma is visiting next door, Pa." "Why the toilet outside, Pa?" "These houses are old, boet." "They were built during the war." " What war?" " Second World War." " But what happens if I need to go at night?" " Then you'll go." "But there are bad people out there." "Boy, the only bad people on this island are locked up in jail, okay?" "Okay, Pa." "James, are you decent?" "JAMES:" "Yeah, why?" "Excuse all the boxes, but you know how it is." "This is my husband, James." " How do you do?" " How do you do?" " Sannie's kindly offered to baby-sit for us." " Oh, that's very nice." "Well, Sannie's husband is head chef here." "So, if you ever need anything, eggs, flour, sugar, you know who to ask." "Just don't say where it came from." " I can't find my step-outs." " Under the bed." "I polished them." " And you, James, what's your posting?" " He doesn't know yet." "We'll probably find out this evening." "He must be something special, 'cause the NCOs are never invited to the Colonel's house." "Not unless they are in deep trouble." " Serious?" " We don't mix." "Officers here are all bloody snobs." "I've got dinner on the stove." "Give me a shout when you're ready to go, Gloria." "All right." "Thanks, Sannie." "Well, I'm starting to get a bit nervous now." "You get in with the officers and they'll nominate you for a commission." "You have to be a warrant officer first, Gloria." "This is not Worcester, James." "This is not Kroonstad." "This is Robben Island, the number one prison in the country." "You play your cards right and who knows, in five years you could be at head office in Pretoria." "(SCOFFING) Dream on." "I think I'm going to give you a quick little haircut before we go." "Christ, woman, you never stop." " Oh, come on." " Never." "You don't have to wait to go to the mainland." "I'm a fully qualified hairdresser." " Really?" " And I'm good." "Highlights is what you need." "A bit of flair, then you'll see the heads turning." "Well, are we going to keep you busy, or what?" "This is no holiday camp, Sergeant." "You got warders stuck out here for two weeks at a time." "It's a recipe for alcohol abuse, for prostitution..." "Prostitution?" "We've got married NCOs pimping their wives out to single warders to supplementing their shitty salaries." "I hope Captain Devett is not painting too bad a picture of us." " Welcome to the island, Gregory." " It's an honor to be here, sir." "I see our wives are already making friends." "Thank you for inviting us, sir." "There's someone who wants to meet you." "Excuse us, Captain." "This is Major Piet Jordaan, from the Bureau of State Security." "I believe you speak the Kaffir languages, Sergeant." " I speak Xhosa, sir." " Where did you learn the language?" "I grew up on a cattle farm in Transkei." "When you've got no brothers to play with, you end up playing with the Kaffirs, sir." "Shall we take a walk, Sergeant?" "So, what do you think of the judgment handed down in Mandela's trial?" "In my opinion, he should have got the rope, sir." "Oh, then we could have turned him into a martyr." "Perhaps he's more use to us behind bars." "That's a waste of taxpayers' money, is what I say." "They all are." "All blacks?" "Certainly the ones who took up arms against us." "The communists." "Mandela denies he's a communist." "Well, they're all liars, aren't they?" "You know, in the 1800s, this whole island was a leper colony." "Nothing's really changed then." "How do you feel about heading up the censorship office in B-section?" "Excuse my ignorance, sir, but what is B-section?" "That's where we keep Mandela and all his mates." "I need someone on the inside, someone who speaks their language." "I want to know what they think, how they think." "Anything you find odd in their letters or their visits, you report directly back to me." "I want you to be my window into their soul, if they have a soul." "And here I was thinking" "I was going to spend my first year working bloody nightshifts." " You can if you want." " No." "Please, no, sir." "It would be an honor for me to run the censorship office." "I won't let you down." "You let me down, you let your country down." " I would never do such a thing." " Of course not." "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm bloody starving." "Let's go and get something to eat." " They asleep?" " Finally." "Too much bloody excitement." "The Colonel's wife, Joyce, is coming over tomorrow for a cut." "She bakes so she'll pay with a cake." "And Hettie, you know that nice captain's wife?" "Her husband dives for crayfish so that's how she'll pay." "And that woman with the gray hair..." " Gloria." " What?" "They're putting me with Mandela and Sisulu and them." "No." "They want me in charge of the censorship office." "My God, James, why didn't you say something?" "(SHUSHES)" "Wasn't going to blow my trumpet in front of all those bloody officers." "This is big, my boy." "Mandela." "Never mind that, I report directly to Pretoria." "This is fantastic." "Did they say anything about a promotion?" "In due course, I was told." "No more discipline order for me." "From now on, I'm in charge of the worst terrorist this country's ever seen." "Do you know how many bridges he's blown up?" "Do you know how many police stations he and his Umkhonto we Sizwe have bombed?" "Didn't I say this was going to be our island in the sun?" "Didn't I say that, James?" "You sure did, Booky." "(BARKING)" "Put your backs into it, you lazy Kaffirs!" "(KNOCKING)" "Get up, you slack bastards!" "Three days off rations for insubordination." "Attention!" "I'm your new censorship officer!" "If you want to post a letter, you do it through me!" "One letter every six months, no longer than 500 words." "No reference to other prisoners, no mention of prison conditions." "And no bloody politics." "If you fail to adhere to these regulations, your letters will not be posted." "If you receive a letter, it comes through me." "Same story." "One every six months." "Any mention of politics and that letter will be censored." "Is that clear?" "You fuck with me and I'll make your life a lot more miserable than it already is." "And I'll enjoy doing so." "Which one is Mandela?" "He's in solitary." "Five days for talking in the passage." "Right!" "Back to work!" "Let's see you breaking some rocks!" "Last one on the right." "It's nice and damp in there." "Hey, you." "I'm talking to you, man." "Look at me!" "I'll see you, Mandela" "(BARKING)" "Mrs. Mandela, Sergeant Gregory." "I'll be monitoring your visit." " How do you do, Sergeant?" " Follow me." "Vosloo, let's call prisoner 466l64 to Booth 3." "Here, please." "You speak only in English." "And only about family matters." "Prisoner ready." "You have 30 minutes, starting now." "(SOBBING)" " How are you, Madiba?" " Compose yourself." "We don't have much time." "How are our daughters?" "They can't sleep at night." "Terrified the security will come and bash down our door." "That is political, Mrs. Mandela." "It is not." "It is about our family." "There is too much harassment from all sides all the time." "It is upsetting the girls." "George Bizos suggests we send them to a boarding school in Swaziland." "They'll come home on holidays." "Will you cope being alone?" "When I married you, I knew I was marrying the struggle." "Have you heard from Evelyn?" "She has a job at the mines, typing." "Thembi came to visit." "How is my son?" "He's a man now." "He has his driver's license and his own car." "Tell him I'm allowed another visit in six months' time." "He has to put in an application." "I will tell him." "(IN XHOSA) How are our friends in Lusaka?" "Oliver has been appointed President General of the ANC." "English only." "(IN XHOSA) Tell Oliver that all of us in here agree he should escalate the armed struggle." "The people must make this country ungovernable." "That's it." "Vosloo, this visit is terminated." "This way, please." "No, please, we were talking about family matters." "Do you think I'm stupid?" "Vosloo, escort the prisoner back to his cell." "Follow me." "On your feet, Mandela, move!" "Gregory!" "(FERRY HORN BLOWING)" " That was quick." " They started talking in Xhosa." "About what?" "Mandela told her to instruct Oliver Tambo to escalate the armed struggle." "He said they must make the country ungovernable." " Anything else?" " Family stuff." "Kids going off to boarding school, that sort of thing." "When Winnie gets back to Joburg, she's going to be detained indefinitely." "It's going to be front-page news." "I'll send you a clipping." "Make sure Mandela gets it." "No problem." "Oh, one small thing." "She mentioned his son Thembi, the one from his first marriage." "He's got his driver's license." "He even has his own car." "(CHUCKLES)" " He probably stole the bloody thing." " Right." "WOMAN:" "Highlights really look fantastic on you." " Hello, sweetie." " Ladies." " How was your day?" " Good." "Where are the kids?" "Switch on the kettle, won't you?" "Make us all a nice cup of tea." " What do you think, James?" " About what?" "Her hair." "Oh, it's nice." "Nice?" "Please, it's stunning." "Wait till Jan sees it." "You're in for a busy night, my girl." "I believe Mama Africa paid us a visit today, James." "JAMES:" "You girls seem to know everything." "Nothing happens on this island without me finding out about it." "Usually before it happens." "So what's she like?" "She was only there five minutes." "They started talking Xhosa so I sent her packing." "James speaks fluent Xhosa." " Really?" " GLORIA:" "He grew up with them on a farm." "He had a friend called..." "What was his name?" "Man, who cares?" " No, man, tell us." " Please tell us, James." "Bafana." "James has got a photo of the two of them." "I'll get it." "Gloria, no." "Gloria!" " No, I want to see it." " Me, too." "Didn't know you were a farm boy, James." " I'm not a farm boy." " Here it is." "Look." "Oh, cute." "Look at the little Kaffir lover." "I'm not a Kaffir lover!" "SANNIE:" "He's even got his arm around the little nigger." "(WOMEN LAUGHING)" " JAMES: (SCOFFING) That's it." " Looks like a Kaffir-lover to me!" "I'm going fishing." "Brent, get your rod!" "Look, Pa, a starfish." " That's nice, Natasha." " Pa, I've got one." "Hey, bring him through the rocks there." "Nice and slow, that's it." "(DOGS BARKING)" "WARDER:" "Hey, don't look at me, man." "Don't look at me." "I'm not your bloody mother, man." " Give me that, Brent." "Come here." " WARDER:" "Move it!" "Bastard!" "Natasha, come here, girl." "Stay down." "Stay there." " Pa, what about my fish?" " Never mind your fish." " Faster, faster, faster!" " Come, come, come!" "Are you trying to piss me off?" " Get down, boy!" " But, Pa... (SHUSHING)" "(WHIP LASHING)" "Move it, you lazy bastards." "All right then, we can go back now." "Come on." "Okay?" "WARDER:" "Move it!" "But what about my fish?" "I'm sorry, boy, but if those warders had seen you, I'd be in big trouble." " Why?" " Prisoners aren't allowed to see children." " Why not?" " Because they are here for punishment." "Okay?" "NATASHA:" "Huh." "VOSLOO:" "This is from Motsadi's wife." ""We have decided to boycott the bus service as they have increased the fare by 80 cents."" "Cut it out." "JAMES:" "The following, please collect your letters." "Sisulu." "Mhlaba." "Kathadra, hurry up." "Do you think I've got all day?" "Motsadi!" "Jonas Motsadi!" "Where's Motsadi?" "The rest of you are dismissed." "Mr. Gregory, I found this in my cell." "According to regulations, no prisoner may be in possession of any newspaper or part thereof." "Therefore, I am handing it over to you, the proper authority." "I am surprised that you did not look at the article, Mr. Gregory." "(ALL GRUNTING)" "(EXCLAIMING)" " Come on!" "Come on!" " That's it." "Yes, go, Robben Island." "(WHOOPS)" "Yes!" "(EXCLAIMING)" "Yes!" "Yes!" "(WHISTLE BLOWING)" "(LAUGHING)" "(CHEERING)" "Ah!" " He's really got something, hey, darling?" " Very good." "Gregory, for a postman, you play a damn good game of rugby." "(LAUGHING)" " Robben Island!" " WARDERS:" "Robben Island." "I think it's time I had a word with Piet about James." "He's officer material, there's no question about it." "Oh, Joyce." "I'll do your hair for free for the rest of your life." "Then I'm definitely going to talk with Piet." " Off to Cape Town for the weekend?" " Yeah, my mom's been dying to see the kids." "It's been ages." "Then I'm going to give you a little shopping list with a good mayonnaise at the top." "I can't stand this prison issue stuff." " Granny!" " Granny!" "Hello, my darlings!" "These are for you." "I found them on the beach." " Oh, they're beautiful." " Hi, Mom." " How was the ferry?" " Fine." "The sea was flat for a change." " Oh, good." " I got you some fresh crayfish, Barbara." "Oh!" "(CHUCKLING) Never mind fresh, they're alive!" "Well, seeing as you didn't get seasick, we can go shopping." " Nelson Mandela." "That's awful." " Yeah, it's a big responsibility." "James gets to check their mail and monitors all their visits." "That's restricted information, Gloria." "Oh, for goodness sake, Mom's not going to tell anyone." "Gloria, come help me choose some salad stuff quickly." "I'll wait outside with the kids." "Come here." "The two of you, stand still." "Passport." "Where's your passport?" "Let me see your passports." " Where's your passport?" " Your pass." "You have no pass." "Come, come, come." "What's going on, Pa?" "POLICEMAN:" "Passports." "Where is your pass?" "They are checking for passes." " Come back here." "Where's your pass?" " No!" "No!" "(GASPS)" "POLICEMAN:" "Come back, come back." "(SCREAMING)" "Hey, freeze, Kaffir." "I need some help over here." "(MEN SHOUTING)" "Get in the van!" "(BABY CRYING)" " POLICEMAN:" "Where's your pass?" " I don't have it!" "You can't just leave the baby here!" "POLICEMAN:" "Hey, shut up!" "It's none of your business." "I'll take him." "He's my daughter's child." "(SOBBING)" "It's all right." "It's all right." "It's all right." "It's okay." "Maybe you should go talk to her." "Another minute and these'll be done, okay?" "Feeling better?" " Dinner's almost ready." " Why didn't you stop that policeman?" "Because that's his job." "To take the mommy away from the baby?" "No, but if the mommy doesn't have a pass, then she's not allowed to be there." "So they had to arrest her." "Do we have a pass?" " We don't need one." " Why not?" "Because we're white." " But is that fair, Pa?" " That's apartheid." "It's the way we live, Natasha." "Whites on one side, blacks on the other." "GLORIA:" "It's God's way, darling." "Just like he doesn't put a sparrow with a swallow." "Or a goose with a duck or a cow with a buck." "It's just not natural." "And we don't question God." "Hmm?" "(DIALING)" "OPERATOR:" "Switchboard." "Pretoria 39001." "(PHONE RINGS)" "Jordaan." "JAMES ON PHONE:" "Gregory here." "A telegram just arrived for Mandela." "I know, the boy smashed head on into a bridge." " Was it..." " What?" "You know." "Is it an accident?" "Of course." "You'll tell him personally, won't you?" "Yeah." "Let me know his reaction." "What's up?" "Mandela's older son was killed in a car crash." "Good riddance." "Do you have kids?" "OFFICER:" "Dig." "Hey, work, you Kaffir!" "Who the fuck is Madiba?" " Madiba is Mandela's clan name." " Clan?" "Go tell him." "Mandela, I'm sorry." "(WARDER SHOUTING)" "Hey, what are you trying to do, man?" "Get back to work." " Vann Niekerk, can I have a word?" " What?" "Regulation 16-A of the Prison Act states that if a prisoner loses a family member they are entitled to two days off work on compassionate grounds." " Compassionate grounds?" " Mandela's a lawyer." "He knows these things." "You don't want him laying a charge against you, do you?" "I can escort him back to his cell, if you like." "NEWS REPORTER:" "Earlier today, South African forces intercepted a large group of SWAPO insurgents in South West Africa, killing 12..." " Would you like some more?" " Yes, please." "...and arresting five." "There were no reports..." "Thank you." "...of casualties on the South African side." "Dr. Christian..." "Your food's getting cold." " What if it was murder?" " Not in front of the children." "James!" "They'd never do such a thing." "I called the police in the Transkei." "I spoke to the duty officer." "The more questions I asked, the more he clammed up." "Eventually he hung up on me." " That doesn't mean..." " Can I serve the jelly, Ma?" "Go ahead, darling." "I was the one who told Jordaan that Thembi had a license, that he had a car." "You're doing your job." "This country is at war, James." "These people are savages." "They don't want to share this country with us." "They hate us." "If they had their way, they'd drive every single white person into the sea." "They'd leave us with nothing, not even the clothes on our back." "Yeah." "I know." "Come and have pudding." "(SIGHING)" "(IN XHOSA) All right, you win this time." "(HORN HONKS)" "There won't be a next time." "I'll come back and visit." "I promise I will, Bafana." "My father says you are going too far to ever return." "I have to go." "This tail will protect you the rest of your days." "I will wear this forever." "(BOTH SPEAKING XHOSA)" " I see you, Madiba." " I see you, Mr. Gregory." "I want you to know that I am very sorry about the death of your son." "(IN ENGLISH) Many times I tried to explain to my son why I was always away from home, that I fight for a better world, for my people and my family." "I'm not sure he ever understood." "Where did you learn to speak Xhosa, Mr. Gregory?" "(IN XHOSA) I grew up near where you were born." "Then you understand." "I need to bury my son." " You know they'll never allow it." " I'm an honorable man." "I give you my word I will not try to escape." "It's not you." "(CLATTERING)" "It's your communist friends, what if they try to rescue you?" "What communist friends are you referring to, Mr. Gregory?" "The whole of the bloody African National Congress." "Obviously, you have not read the Freedom Charter." " I have." " You have not." "It is a banned document." "Where would a sergeant in the Prison Services get his hands on such a document?" "Well, I know about it." "Then you would know that all we want is equal rights for all, a world where people like you and I can live peacefully side by side." "That is what I wanted for my child." "Surely, you want the same for your children." "I wish to be alone now." " Motsadi, Mandela must eat." " When our leader is ready to eat, he will eat." "You tell him his son was buried yesterday, that the boy's mother was at the funeral." " Have you read the Freedom Charter?" " What?" " The Freedom Charter, have you read it?" " No." "Do you know what it's about?" "It's about the extermination of the whites." " Stuff like that, isn't it?" " How must I know?" "Pa, can we go watch Province play against Natal on Saturday?" " Maybe." " Yes!" "I just need to quickly pop into Roeland Street Prison." " But my mom's got lunch waiting for us." " You go ahead." "I'll be on the next train." "But Roeland Street is not..." "Go, kids!" "Go." "Excuse me, I understand there's a section here containing banned literature." " Downstairs." " Thank you." " Yes?" " I'm with the Prison Services." "I'd like to take a look at the Freedom Charter." "Wait here." " You got authorization?" " What?" "This is a restricted area." "You need authorization to be here." "Sergeant Gregory." "I'm a warder at Robben Island prison." "So?" "You need authorization from the security police if you want to look at banned material." "Listen here, Major Jordaan of the Bureau of State Security personally instructed me to take a look at the Freedom Charter." "Call him." "It's Pretoria 39001." "Give him what he wants." "Sit there." " You'll find it in there." " Thank you." "(READING) "We, the People of South Africa," ""declare for all our country and the world to know" ""that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white," ""and that no government can justly claim authority" ""unless it is based on the will of the people. "" " What are you doing here, James?" " What are you doing here?" "I can't believe you did that." "How can you lie to me?" "Gloria, I'm working with them." "I need to know how they tick." "I'll tell you how they tick, James." "They tick like a time bomb." "And then they blow up, boom!" "Sit up straight." "Afternoon." "Can you imagine what would happen if Piet found out about this?" "You could kiss your promotion goodbye, that's for sure." "(SCOFFS) Please, man, what promotion?" " I promised Joyce I wouldn't say anything." " About what?" "Come on, Gloria, you can't keep a secret." "Piet put a recommendation into Pretoria that you be promoted to warrant officer." "He even told Joyce if you carry on the way you are, you'll be lieutenant at the end of the year." "Well, that's very nice." "Not if you throw it all away by doing something stupid." "I'm not going to do anything stupid." "With the salary you get and the little I make, we can't even afford to buy the kids new school shoes." "Come on, Gloria." "Come on." " It's not that bad, Gloria." " James." "The Prison Service is all we've got." "Christ, they even own the house we live in." "I'm not going to mess things up." "Okay?" "Look at me." "Okay?" "Plumstead is up next." "I don't want your mom seeing you like this." " Hey, man." "How was your weekend?" " Good." " Did you go watch the Province match?" " No, but they nailed them good." "VAN NIEKERK:" "Are you looking at me?" "Don't you look at me." "Move it!" "Come, come, come." "You slack bastards!" "Move it!" "Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up!" "(WIND WHISTLING)" " The post will have arrived by now." " Not with this southeaster blowing." " That ferry will be an hour late, at least." " Go check anyway." "(READING) "The national wealth of our country, the heritage of South Africans," ""shall be restored to the people." "(CREAKING)" ""The mineral wealth, the banks, industry shall be transferred... "" "(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)" "(DOOR OPENS)" "The ferry hasn't even left Cape Town harbor." " It must be pretty rough out there." " You can say that again." "Mandela, I have a question for you." "You claim the ANC is not communist, but the Freedom Charter says that the mineral wealth, the banks and industry shall be transferred to the people." "That is communism, and don't try to bullshit me otherwise." "It is not." "It is in fact true nationalism, where all the people, white, black, colored, Indian, all benefit from the accumulated wealth of the land." "Our land and your land, Mr. Gregory." " These are ideals you'd kill for?" " These are ideals I would die for." "It's not justification for murder and you know it." "You people should never have taken up arms against us." "You white people were deaf to our pleas, blind to our suffering." "You left us no choice but to take up arms." " BARNARD:" "Sergeant!" " Sir!" "What are you doing cavorting with a prisoner?" "I was just telling Mandela his lawyer is coming on Monday for a consultation, sir." " Get your arse up here." " On my way, sir." "Raise your arms." " Sir, I can..." " Raise your bloody arms, Sergeant!" "Congratulations, Warrant Officer." "I'll see you in the clubhouse." "Thank you, sir." "(SINGING) For he's a jolly good fellow For he's a jolly good fellow" "For he's a jolly good fellow" "And so say all of us" "To James!" "And may his promotion not go to his head and cause us a lot of heartache!" "Cheers, James." "(MUSIC PLAYING)" "Officer Gregory, may I have the pleasure of dancing with you?" "Didn't I say this would happen?" "Didn't I?" "You sure did, Booky." "(TYPEWRITER CLACKING)" "(TYPING STOPS)" "What you going to do about it?" "(DIALING)" "OPERATOR:" "Switchboard." "Pretoria 39001." "(PHONE RINGING)" "Jordaan." "I've got a postcard here for Jonas Motsadi." "Motsadi." "Isn't he due for release next week?" "Yes." "There's a message written inside it in Xhosa." "What does it say?" "It says he must go to an ANC safe house in Gaborone and from there, he'll receive instructions." "Is there an address?" "36 Moroka Street, Gaborone, Botswana." "Put the message back just how you found it and make sure that Jonas Motsadi gets his little postcard." "NEWS REPORTER ON RADIO:" "...of local cricket supporters." "Included in the team are such esteemed players as Bob Willis, Tony Greig..." "Watch your queen." "...and Trevor Chappell." "In the early hours of this morning, the South African Defense Force launched a pre-emptive strike on a known ANC safe house in Gaborone, Botswana, killing four terrorists." "One of the men, Jonas Motsadi, was recently released from Robben Island Prison where he was serving five years for sabotage." "That's us, Pa." "Robben Island." "Did you know him?" "The weather forecast for the Western Cape tomorrow is cloudy with occasional fog patches, clearing later with moderate to fresh westerly winds..." "It's your move, Pa." "Go, move it!" "Yes, yes, yes!" "Faster." "MANDELA:" "Are you sure my wife is on the ferry?" "I called ahead." " MANDELA:" "It will be Christmas soon." " My kids are already counting the days." "How are they doing in school here?" "My son struggles a bit, but my daughter is sharp as nails." "You must encourage them to do well in school so they can go to university and make something of their lives." "University is expensive, man." "Although you bloody people think it should be" ""free, compulsory, universal and equal for all children," isn't it?" "That is a direct quote from the Freedom Charter." "I am most impressed, Mr. Gregory." "(IN XHOSA) Mr. Gregory, I have a favor to ask." "I have a small Christmas present for Winnie and I was hoping you could give it to her." "No, man, Mandela." "Now you're going too far." "It's just a small chocolate." "Where the hell did you get a chocolate from?" "That is of no consequence." "I could have you in solitary right this bloody minute!" "I have not seen my wife for two years." "For God's sake, man, where is your humanity?" "Where is it?" "(COUGHING)" "Drop it and walk on." " I'll escort Mrs. Mandela from here." " My orders are to remain with her..." "I am in charge of visits on this island, and you will remain on this bloody ferry until it leaves!" "Please." "(IN XHOSA) I see you, Madiba." "What have they done to you, Namzamu?" "They dragged me from our daughters." "They beat me." "English only." "Please, Mrs. Mandela, you have very little time." "Don't waste it." "Mr. Gregory is right." "(MRS. MANDELA CRYING)" "From Nelson." "He says it's your Christmas present." "Have a safe journey, Mrs. Mandela." "Warrant Officer!" "(FERRY HORN BLOWING)" "You recognize this?" "That's Govan Mbeki's writing." "It was intercepted by Security Branch at the Soweto post office." "Since when are prisoners allowed to discuss other prisoners in their letters?" "I would never have allowed this through." "Vosloo must have missed it." "You're in charge of the Censor Office, not Vosloo." " Make sure this doesn't happen again." " Yes, sir." " Nice work with Jonas Motsadi." " Thank you, sir." "(PHONE RINGING)" " Warrant Officer Gregory." " BARNARD:" "Gregory, get your arse over here!" "I'm on my way, sir." "BARNARD:" "Enter!" "What is the meaning of this?" "It says here, they sat under a tree, ate bread and cheese and finished it up with a dessert of chocolate." "You know the media, they always exaggerate." "Are you telling me there's some truth in this?" "Mandela gave me a little chocolate to give to Winnie." " That's all that happened, sir." " A little chocolate?" " That was her Christmas present." " Are you completely mad?" "We are trying to demoralize this terrorist, trying to isolate him from his family, and here you are playing Santa Claus." "How do you know there wasn't a message in that chocolate?" "I checked it before I gave it to her." "And if it had been poisoned?" " Nelson would never do such a thing." " Since when was he "Nelson"?" "Next thing, you'll be wiping his fucking arse!" "I apologize, sir." "It was my mistake." "Let me tell you how you are going to pay for this." "For the next four months, you will spend every off weekend doing night duty in B-section." "Are you happy with this?" "Or would you rather I stripped you of your rank, Warrant Officer?" " I'm happy with night duty, sir." " Get out of here!" "(PHONE RINGING)" " Yes?" " MAN:" "Colonel, the Minister of Prisons..." "James Gregory, you swine." "Do you know what trouble you've caused?" "Sorry?" "They should be transferring you off the island, not us!" "What's going on?" "Pretoria just called." "They told Piet to pack his bags!" "They are transferring us to Barberton." "Do you know how hot it is in Barberton?" "I don't understand." "They said that Piet is running a holiday camp here instead of a prison," " and all because of you, James Gregory!" " Joyce, don't shout like that at James." " If you've got something to say come inside." " Oh, I will not step foot inside that house!" "After everything we've done for you." "(BANGS JEEP DOOR)" "What on earth was that all about?" " I gave Winnie Mandela a chocolate from..." " James." "I don't know what all the fuss is about." "Well, we can forget about you making lieutenant now." "Maybe there are more important things to think about than making lieutenant." "Do you have a home to go to, Sannie?" "My name is Stander, and you will remember my name until the day you die!" "Most of you bastards joined the prison service because you were too cowardly to join the police or the army." "The army that is right now defending our borders against the communist masses trying to infiltrate our beloved fatherland." "And the police, who are fighting in the townships so that your wives and mothers and daughters and sisters can sleep safely in their beds at night and not get raped by fucking Kaffirs while you sit comfortably on your arses on paradise fucking island." "Well, that all changes as from today, because this island is now my island." "And the war will be fought on my island the same way that it is fought against SWAPO on the borders and the ANC and the PAC in the townships." "Your enemy is behind these walls, and you are at war with them." "Is that clear?" " Yes, sir." " Yes, sir." "Is that fucking clear?" " Yes, sir!" " Yes, sir!" "(DOGS BARKING)" "Move you, Kaffir dogs!" "Stand in line!" "Come on!" "Welcome to hell, you heathen bastards." "We're freedom fighters." "We are not heathens." "Thank you, Boytjie." "I don't want that animal bleeding in my prison." "Chain him to the flag post, so he remembers forever what flag flies above this land." "(WARDERS SHOUTING)" "Strip search." "(MEN CHATTERING)" "Beer, please." "How you doing, Dannie?" "Not bad." "So, they're finally going to let us have television, 20 years after the rest of the world." "Suit yourself, Dannie." "Yes, two triple brandies, please." "Is this him?" "You don't have a chocolate for me, too, do you?" "Very funny." "So, tell us about Mandela." "What does he write in those letters to his fat, black, bitch wife, huh?" "I'm trying to have a quiet drink here." "Go on Gregory, tell us, man." "Vann Niekerk, do you have any idea why the prisoners call you Mbukane?" "I don't speak Kaffir, so how would I know?" "(LAUGHING)" "Let me tell you." "It means one of those great big green flies that feasts on human shit." " Really?" " Really." "So, tell me, is it true what they say about Gloria, your wife?" "What?" "That at night you take her up to the prison so your darky friends can snack on some white pussy." "(GLASS SHATTERING)" "(GRUNTING)" "Fucking Kaffir lover!" "That's enough!" "That's enough!" "James, James, go home to Gloria, James." "Here's his coat." "Jesus!" "What happened to you?" "Nothing." "I fell off my bike." "It's the rain." "I'll get some ice." "Lynette's having a tea party tomorrow to welcome Colonel Stander's wife to the island." "That's very nice." "(SIGHING)" "I haven't been invited." "She probably forgot to call you." "According to Anne, Lynette doesn't want Kaffir-lover wives at the party." "Fuck them!" "All of them!" "Don't swear like that." "What can I say?" "Not much, James." "Even the officers' wives have stopped coming to have their hair done." "I'm sorry, Gloria." "(SNIFFLES)" "How could you let things get to this point, James?" "I think if you met Mandela, you'd understand better." "I heard of a really nice, small prison near East London called Fort Glamorgan." "They say it's very pretty on the east coast." "You want me to put in for a transfer?" "How would you feel about that?" "I'd love to get off this island, the sooner, the bloody better." "I was hoping you would say that." "And I thought you wanted to stay." "So much for our island in the sun, eh?" "Your man on the inside, does he know why we're coming?" "Not yet." "I keep him in the dark most of the time." "You think Mandela will go for it?" "In my opinion, no." "Then why in God's name are we doing this?" "Public relations." "(IN XHOSA) You've got a visitor." "This is Mr. Kruger, Minister of Prisons." "So, how are you enjoying living on this island, Mandela?" "Our cells are damp, the food is not fit for human consumption, we are treated worse than common criminals, and you ask me how am I enjoying it?" "I have a proposition for you that could change all that." "What?" "One man, one vote?" "Free and fair elections for all?" "If you and the African National Congress agree to discontinue the armed struggle, you can leave this island." "We will let you and your family go live in Transkei." "Then I would rather remain here on this island." "Then you are more stupid than I even thought you were." "We are finished here, Major." "Major." "I put in for a transfer to Glamorgan, but it was turned down by someone in Pretoria." "Yeah, I turned it down." "Why?" "You got a problem with the job here?" "The school here only goes up to standard 5." "My son goes to high school next year." "Well, send him to boarding school." "I was at boarding school, and no son of mine will ever go to a boarding school." "We need you here, Gregory." "These are difficult times." "You must put your country first." "My family comes first." "I'll put in another application." "If it's rejected again, I'll resign." "You're gonna throw away your pension?" "Don't be stupid, man." "I'm telling you now, I will resign." "Nobody wants an ex-prison warder." "If you resign, you will be out on the street." "Then where will your family be?" "You think about that." "Hey, darling." "Rejected again." "We'll manage, James." "We can stay with my mom." "I'll find a job at a salon." "We'll get by." "It's not just our future that worries me." "Every time I switch on the radio, all I hear is another riot, another car bomb, another suspect who's been chucked out of the window by the police." "Another landmine." "Is this the country our kids are growing up in, Gloria?" "God help us." "Colonel, my letter of resignation." "I'm giving you two weeks' notice." " I don't have a problem with this." " I didn't expect you to." "But Pretoria might have a problem with it." "Well, fuck Pretoria." "Gregory!" "Haven't you forgotten something?" "What?" "You salute an officer." "What are you going to do, fire me?" "(CAR APPROACHES)" "Morning, Mrs. Gregory." "Is James here?" "Wait here." "What are you doing here?" "To be honest, I didn't think you'd call my bluff." "Really?" "I got an offer for you." "Let's call it a compromise." "We both want something from each other." "You want to get off the island, and I want you to keep working with Mandela and them." "You understand them and you speak their language." "Get to the point." "I can arrange for all the mail from B-section to be routed through Roeland Street Prison." "You can do everything from there, without ever setting foot on the island." " What about visits?" " Vosloo can handle them." "Accommodation?" "It so happens that the Prison Service has a house standing vacant in Plumstead, quite near to where your mother lives, Mrs. Gregory." "You've thought of everything." "This is a one-time offer." "I want an answer now." "Yes or no." "Give us a minute." "What do you think?" "I think you just won a major battle for the Gregory family." "Gregory." "You've been rather quiet, lately." "There's been nothing to report." "What, they're finally behaving themselves?" "You have time for a beer?" "Gloria will be expecting me." "Come on, just a quick one." "So, I believe your son's following in your footsteps." "Not for long." "He just started his first year at university." "Doing it through correspondence." "Once he gets his degree, he'll be out of the Prison Services in a flash." "A warder's son at university, that's a turn up for the books, huh?" "He's got Mandela to thank for that." "(IMITATING MANDELA) "Make sure your children go to university, Mr. Gregory." ""South Africa needs well-educated young people." ""They will be our future leaders."" " How is he?" " He always asks after you." "Yeah, he's getting on a bit, but then I suppose we all are." "What do you think of this Free Mandela campaign?" "That's the least of our worries." "Big problem is the international sanctions." "It's crippling us economically." "Yeah, you know something's wrong when petrol costs more than beer." "Why, do you think we should let him out?" "You mad?" "With Botha in power, you'll never have him." "Yeah, I suppose you're right there." " Well, thanks for the beer." " My pleasure." "I'll see you around, Major." "(PHONE RINGING)" "BECKER:" "We clear?" "Yeah, I think we can trust Gregory." " You ready?" " Yeah." " See you later." "Bye." " Bye." "Hey, sweetie." "How was your day?" "Same." "Yours?" "Brent, you should be studying, not working on that stupid car." "Didn't I send for some plugs, Pa?" "(PHONE RINGING)" "Check in the shed for new ones." " Pa, there's a call for you." " I'll be right there." " Hello." " Brigadier Morkel, James." "We need you at Pollsmoor tonight." " Tonight?" " Yes, it's very important." "Make sure to be there at 2000." "I understand, Brigadier." "I'll be there." "Do I smell curry?" "It's just a chicken curry." " How did the exam go?" " Not bad." " Mmm!" "Not bad or good?" " NATASHA:" "Good." "Would you like a GT?" "Yeah, just a little one." "You go wash your hands before dinner." "NEWS REPORTER:" "Authorities believe that ANC terrorists were responsible for the blasts." "According to the report, there were no casualties, and damage to the facility was superficial." "And now, for a look at tomorrow's weather..." "That was Brigadier Morkel." "I have to report at the Pollsmoor at 2000 hours." "What for?" "He wouldn't say." "Is it Mandela?" "Can't be, not if it's Pollsmoor." "Good evening." "Turn left, first road." " Captain." " Gregory, follow me." "Evening, James." "Sorry to spring this on you at such short notice, sir." " This is..." " General Voster." "Of the National Intelligence Service." "Previously known as the Bureau of State Security." "Things in this country seem to be changing so quickly, it almost astounds me." "I don't understand." "Tomorrow we'll be transferring you here to take charge of Mandela and four of his fellow prisoners." "You will be working with Brigadier Morkel, directly under my command." "(PHONE RINGING)" "Yes?" "They've just passed through the main gate." "We're going to be easing up restrictions on visits, mail, study time, newspapers, the lot." "Sir, I have a home in Plumstead." "My wife has a job there, my daughter's busy with..." "You have nothing to worry about, James." "We have lots of accommodation for you here and your family." "Everything's sorted." "Why me?" "You were the only warden from Robben Island they never laid a charge against." "Not that that's a recommendation in my book." "Go that way." "(BOTH SPEAKING XHOSA)" " It's been a long time, Nelson." " Where are we, Mr. Gregory?" "At Pollsmoor Maximum Security." "(MAN SINGING ON TV)" " You still up?" " Yeah, Villages is on." "What's happening?" "You want some tea?" "I was going to ask you the same question." "Or would you prefer coffee?" " James!" " What?" " What happened at Pollsmoor?" " You won't believe it." "Well, maybe if you tell me, I will." "They've moved Mandela and four of his comrades there." "I want tea, not coffee." "After 18 years on that bloody island." "So, what did they need you there for?" " They want to transfer me." " (SIGHS) Not again." "You'll be in the bloody car three hours a day." "They want me on 24-hour notice at the prison." "They've asked me to head up the Mandela detail." "Brent will be in it." "It'll be a whole new unit under my command." "You can't decide something like this without discussing it with me first." "They gave me no option." "Who's they?" "General Voster, National Intelligence." "(SIGHS)" "What about Natasha?" "Did you think of her?" "She can take the train." "The train's a great place for her to study." "Gives her lots of time." " Why did they move him?" " Because they're scared." "Can you imagine what would happen if he died on that island?" "There'd be a bloodbath." " He could easily die in Pollsmoor." " I don't know." "Maybe they're ready to start negotiating." "(SCOFFS)" "Don't be naive." "They don't negotiate with terrorists." "What?" "You think this can go on?" "The country's going up in flames, man." "They bombed Joburg yesterday." "Next thing they'll blow up parliament, then they'll start blowing up schools, the railway stations." "But you think it's all right for Natasha to catch the train every day?" "Jesus, James." "Listen to me." "These last five years have probably been the most boring of my life." "I go to that little office in Roeland Street, and I open letters, and I read them, then I fold them, put them back and send them off." "I need a change." "These could be extraordinary times." "I don't want to look back on my life and say I stood on the sidelines." "This could be history in the making, and I want to be a part of it." "It better be a house with a garden." "Thank you." "Chris, where does this lead?" "It connects D-section with E." " Secure it, I want it sealed off." " I'll see to it." "Why is this man alone?" "From now on, we work in pairs." "Two guards on each post." "Yes, sir." "Morning, gentlemen." "Mr. Gregory." "We are still waiting for an explanation." " Well, I hear rumors." " Rumors?" "What rumors?" "They say you had too much influence over the other prisoners on the island." "This is my son, Brent." "He'll be assisting me." " All in order?" " Yes, sir." "Chris." " How far away is that mountain?" " About two miles." "Is it state owned or private?" "I think it belongs to National Parks Board." "Find out." "How's it, Raymond?" " What's all the stuff doing outside?" " I'm putting it in storage." "How are you going to cut hair without your table?" "I've had a sign up outside for a week and not one person's come." "They go to the mall for that kind of thing." "Besides, this place is too small." "You can hardly move in here." "It's a roof over our heads, Gloria." "You call this a roof?" "I can hear the people bonking next door." "Where's Natasha?" "She's sick of spending half the day on the train." "She's going to stay over at my mom's and visit on weekends." "Help me with the TV." "I want it in the corner." "Wait." "Mind your back." "Brent met Mandela for the first time this morning." "And?" "Yeah, I know, he said it was like meeting an old uncle." "NEWS REPORTER:" "...have been deployed in Soweto to quell widespread violence and unrest sparked by demonstrators calling for the unconditional release of Nelson Mandela." "The spokesperson for the South African police force said many arrests have been made, and the situation had been brought under control." "(PROTESTERS SHOUTING)" "Switch it off." " For your tomato plants." " Thank you, Mr. Gregory." " And how are you, Brent?" " I'm fine, Mr. Mandela." "That's good." "(IN XHOSA) Show me what you're made of, Mr. Gregory." "Defend yourself for I am a young ox." "You are talking to a bull." "Pa, what are you doing?" "Stand back, Brent." "(CHEERING)" "Come on, Warrant Officer." "(GROANS)" "(PRISONERS LAUGHING)" "It seems you know more than just our language, Mr. Gregory." "Pa, where did you learn that?" "Pa?" "You should put some ice on it." "(PEOPLE SCREAMING)" "It's not right." "Most of these people were civilians, ordinary people going about their daily business!" "That's it, have a good look, man." "Have a good look!" "(IN XHOSA) For goodness sake." "Hey man, hey man." "In 1976, when the police opened fire on Soweto school children, how many were left dead in the streets?" "Thousands and thousands!" "Huh, what about those injured?" "And now you want to cry about 17 people?" "What is that, hey, get lost man!" "Wait, you knew me in '76, Raymond." "Did I celebrate the death of those children with the rest of the warders at Robben Island?" "Did I?" "I was horrified by it, horrified!" "This is also wrong!" "You could stop this." "You could put an end to this violence." "How?" "Tell your people in Lusaka to end the armed struggle." "Mr. Gregory, do you honestly think that if we laid down arms today, the apartheid regime would cease their acts of violence against our people?" "It's a vicious circle." "I have waited 20 years for your people to come and talk to me about peace, but they are not interested in peace." "They are only interested in power." "So are you." "When those in power deny your freedom, the only path to freedom is power." "Turn the TV, Pa." "Botha's giving a speech." " Where's your mother?" " She took the car." "She's got an interview at a new salon opening up in Cape Town." "She said she can't sit around waiting for her life to restart." "Good for her." "BOTHA ON TV:...people who put pressure on South Africa, from outside and from within." "I stated in Parliament that if Mr. Mandela gives a commitment that he will not make himself guilty of planning..." "The guy can talk a lot of shit, eh, Pa?" "They're all the same." "...I will, in principle, be prepared to consider his release." "The choice is his." "All that is required of him now is that he should unconditionally reject violence as a political instrument." "This is, after all, a norm which is expected in all civilized countries of the world." "The presumption being that South Africa is civilized." "Here, James." "This..." "No, sit down." "This just came from Pretoria." "Would you believe it?" "You know, I think it's just some public relations gesture." "That won't be necessary." "Where are we going today?" "You're meeting your family in the room where you normally meet your lawyer." "I do not understand." "There'll be no more glass between you and your visitors." "I will be able to touch?" "Yes." "Mr. Gregory," "I have not touched my wife in 21 years." "You'll be fine, Nelson." "(EXCLAIMS)" "(SOBBING)" "(CHUCKLES)" "My father says," ""What freedom am I being offered" ""while the organization of the people remains banned?" ""What freedom am I being offered" ""when I may be arrested on a pass offense?" ""What freedom am I being offered" ""to live my life as a family" ""with my dear wife, who remains in banishment in Brandfort?" " ZINDZI: "What freedom am I being offered... "" " She speaks very well, huh?" ""...when I must ask for permission" " "to live in an urban area?"" " Not quite your regular terrorist, eh?" ""What freedom am I being offered" ""when I need a stamp on my pass to seek work?" ""What freedom am I being offered" ""when my very South African citizenship is not respected?" ""Only free men can negotiate." "Prisoners cannot enter into contracts. "" "My father says," ""I cannot and will not give any undertaking" ""at a time when you, the people, and I are not free." ""Your freedom and mine cannot be separated." ""I will return."" "(IN XHOSA) Power to the people!" "(CHEERING)" "(SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM)" "Warrant Officer Gregory?" "My name is Groenewald." "I'd like you to consider me for the Mandela detail." "I'll get Personnel to send your file over." "My wife's nephew lost his legs in the Pretoria car bomb." "It would be my pleasure to return this kindness to Mandela." "You must be joking." "I'm not joking." "I promise you, I'm not joking." "Gloria!" "(SHOUTING) James!" "Oh, James, where have you been?" "We had to isolate Mandela from the others." "What's wrong?" "A man phoned." "He said they were going to kill Brent and Natasha." "He said we're Kaffir lovers and we're all going to die." "(SHUSHING)" "Do you recognize his voice?" "No, he said I was a fucking bitch, and he said I was dead." " It's all right." "It's okay." " It's not okay, James!" "It's not okay." "They want to kill my babies." "Nothing is going to happen to you or our family, okay?" "Brigadier Morkel, now." "Brigadier, listen." "Somebody phoned Gloria and threatened to kill her and the kids." "I want 24-hour protection on my family or I'm off the job." "We'll take care of it." " Major." " Sir." "Gregory's making noises about resigning again." "Give him what he wants." "Just keep him happy." "It's a joke." "Guarding the guard who's guarding Mandela." "We've got bigger problems." "The international community are crying for Mandela's release." "They're putting more and more pressure on us." " Are we going to bend?" " No." "We're not going to give power to the blacks ever." "Besides, imagine if a right-wing bullet takes him out." "There'd be bloodshed like this country's never seen." "No, we'll have to make it look like we're negotiating and give him access to his people." "Maybe if we moved him to someplace more comfortable, it would look better." "Like where?" "The farm prison outside Paarl, Victor Verster." "It's got mountains, vineyards." "There's a farmhouse on the one side which is isolated, secure." "Mr. Mandela's expecting you." "Mr. Maharaj is a vegetarian, so I'm not sure he'll appreciate the lamb." "Well, I've baked a quiche for him." "Don't serve wine to Mr. Ayob." "He's a Muslim." "Christ, it's like the bloody United Nations in there." "The message from P.W. Botha is simple." "It's power sharing or nothing at all." "We will not enter into any discussions unless all parties agree to the principle of free and fair elections." "Sorry to interrupt, sir." "(IN XHOSA) I'm taking the afternoon off." "If you need me, just speak to Chris." "Very good, Mr. Gregory." "Good day to you, gentlemen." "This country's full of surprises." "(MEN LAUGHING)" "(HONKING)" "James, it's beautiful!" "What did I tell you?" "Look at the mountains." "Come, let me show you inside." "How's my girl?" "This is so cool, Pa." "Bring in the suitcases, Brent." " Wait." " What?" "(EXCLAIMS)" "(LAUGHING) James!" "It's got a dishwasher, washing machine, a spin dryer, the works." "The kids have each got their own bedrooms with study desks, and there's an extra TV in the main bedroom." "No!" "You don't believe me, go look for yourself." "I promise you, we will not move from here unless you decide to." "(GLORIA CRYING)" "Gloria, Gloria, you should be happy." "This is a new beginning, a new start." "I'm happy." "I'm happy." "Thank you." "Jeez, do you guys have to do that in front of us?" "Come." " What do you think?" "In about an hour?" " You're not chilly?" "(LAUGHING)" "GLORIA:" "Oh, that's sweet." "Damn it, I left my smokes in the car." "You go on." "I'll catch you up in a minute." "That's typically Pa." " Why you following me?" " Please, don't shoot." " Who are you?" " National Intelligence, top left jacket pocket." " Why?" " My orders are to look out for you and your family whenever you leave the prison." "Tell Jordaan next time send a professional." "(PHONE RINGING)" "NATASHA:" "Gregory's residence." "Hi, Natasha, it's me." "Is Pa there?" "No, he just left." "How did the exam go?" "I cruised it, thanks to Mr. Mandela." "Everything he covered in commercial law came up." "He's amazing." " No, you must tell Ma." " No, no, I will." "Brent, drive carefully, okay?" "I will, I will." "I'll see you later." "Cheers, bye." "(WOMAN CHATTERING ON TV)" " What time is it?" " Past 10:00." "I must have drifted off." " Should I close up?" " Please." "Is your family happy" " with their new accommodation?" " Extremely." "I saw on the television that President Botha suffered a minor stroke." "Do you know what hospital he's in?" " I could find out." " I would like to send him a bowl of fruit." "And a card." "Do you think he'd do the same for you?" "That is not relevant." "I'll get Brent to find out." "How is the young man?" "He finished his last exam." "He should be driving back from Cape Town as we speak." "I am sure he will do very well." "Good night, Mr. Gregory." "Good night, Madiba." "This house is too big for one person." "It needs a family, the sound of children." "(PHONE RINGING)" "Hello?" " MAN:" "Warrant Officer Gregory?" " Yes." "This is Klapmuts Police Station." "Are you Warrant Officer Gregory?" "I just told you I am." "Well, your son is dead." "What?" "Listen, this is no time for sick jokes." "MAN:" "Was your son driving a Ford back from Cape Town this evening?" "Yes." "Then he's dead." "He was killed in a car crash." "What's wrong?" " Brent is dead." "He was killed in a car crash." " What?" "What?" "(GLORIA SCREAMING)" "(CRYING)" "(INAUDIBLE)" "(JAMES CRYING)" "It's because of everything I've done, Gloria." "It's because of Thembi Mandela, Oscar Ngidi, Jonas Motsadi, Diliza Mje," "I sent those men to their deaths, and now God is paying me back." " No, James, no." "It's not your fault." " I'm so sorry." "It is." "I sent those men to their deaths." "God forgive me!" "Please forgive me!" "We didn't know better, James." "We didn't know better." " Forgive me, please forgive me." " It's not your fault, it's not your fault." "Shh." "MANDELA:" "I was deeply shocked to hear of the tragic death of your beloved son Brent." "And on behalf of myself and my family, I send you our sincerest sympathy." "Few things are as painful as an invisible wound." "But I hope you and your family will be comforted by the knowledge that Brent was loved and respected by almost all those who came in contact with him." "Once again, our deepest condolences." "GLORIA:" "James, you've got a visitor." "James." "General Voster called on a number of occasions to offer his condolences, but you don't come to the phone." "I tell you, James, if you don't go back to work, you will wither away." "The results of his final exams." "He passed everything, with distinction." "First person in both our families to get a university degree." "Life goes on." "It has to." "You heard Botha resigned." "This new man, de Klerk, he's cut from different cloth." "Please, man." "We've been hearing talk of change for years and nothing ever happens." "This man is different." "He's a listener." "He's going to want to meet Mandela face to face." "And we're going to need you there, James, to set it up." "Do you remember once telling me you didn't want to be on the sidelines, that you wanted to be part of history?" "We need to be strong, James, for each other, for Natasha, for whatever the future holds for us in this bloody country." "It's nice to see you back again, sir." "I've got tea on the stove, if you want." "I'm fine." "(BUZZING)" "Come, my friend." "Let us take a walk in the garden." "Time will heal physical wounds, but time will not heal invisible wounds." "Sometimes, even now, I think of Thembi." "In some ways, I don't think I have ever stopped thinking about him." "Madiba..." "What is it, Mr. Gregory?" "I told the security police that Thembi had a license to get a car." "I told them." "Because I heard Winnie telling you." "Do you honestly believe that the security police did not know that before you did?" "There are other names, other people that I..." "Mr. Gregory, we all have our jobs to do in this life." "You cannot allow guilt or bitterness to cloud your way forward." "Come, I have something for you to give to Gloria, from me." "That was given to him by his mother." "He says winter is coming and you need to keep warm." "That's very kind of him." "Can you believe that in all these years, I have never once laid eyes on him?" "I don't even know what he looks like." "Merry Christmas." "Happy Christmas, Gloria." "No moping, you two." "Please." "Make a toast, Pa." "To a new South Africa." " To South Africa." " To South Africa." "How do I look?" "You cannot visit the President with a tie that looks like a hangman's noose." "Here." "You will appreciate it has been 20 years since I've worn a tie." "You're looking very elegant, Mr. Mandela." " Thank you." " Please follow me." "VORSTER:" "The President is waiting for you." "Stay here, Chris." "Why is it I am not surprised to see you here?" "It's over." "I could have told you that long ago." "They're releasing him on Sunday." "You will be in charge of his personal safety until he walks out of the gates of Victor Verster." "You've done a good job, Gregory." "Well done." "Tell me the truth." "Thembi's accident, was it murder?" "No, not even I know that." "(HELICOPTER CHUGGING)" "Take a seat in the lounge, Brigadier." "Mr. Mandela won't be long." " Is Warrant Officer Gregory here?" " He's helping Mr. Mandela pack, sir." "REPORTER ON TV:" "There is a clear sign of movement over beyond the higher trees, the helicopters..." "Quite a number of helicopters circling above the Victor Verster Prison." "Excitement in the crowd, movement..." "Good morning, Brigadier." "What brings you out here?" "I'm here to officially release you." "Sign here." "Mr. Mandela, I'm giving you a copy of this release form in case someone wants to arrest you for escaping." "Warrant Officer Gregory, your insignia." "Take them off." "What?" "Your insignia, off." "Congratulations, Lieutenant Gregory." "Thank you, sir." "I guess I will now have to show you some respect." "It's a bit late for that, Madiba." " So how does it feel?" " What?" "Being a free man, after 27 years." "It will take some time to sink in." "I understand." "I've been wanting to give you something, but I couldn't think what." "This was given to me by a friend, the one who taught me to stick fight better than you." "Are you challenging me, Mr. Gregory?" "Because if you are, we can step outside." "No, no." "It has protected me for many years." "I hope it does the same for you." "Thank you, Mr. Gregory." "REPORTER ON TV:" "You join us at the Victor Verster Prison, where the excitement is running high." "The helicopters circling above." "The first cars coming out." "And Mr. Nelson Mandela will, within seconds..." "Within seconds appear and that will be the moment the world has been waiting for." "Mr. Mandela who has grayed, a man who has been in prison for nearly three decades," "would be appearing in public, for the first time, any moment now." "There's Mr. Mandela, Mr. Nelson Mandela, a free man, taking his first steps into a new South Africa." "(PEOPLE CHEERING)" "Mr. Mandela!" "Mr. Mandela!" "REPORTER ON TV:" "Mrs. Winnie Mandela next to him, waving to the crowds, hand in hand." ""There shall be peace and friendship." ""Let all who love their people and their country now say, as we say here," ""these freedoms we will fight for, side by side," ""throughout our lives, until we have won our liberty."" "REPORTER:" "That is the man who the world has been waiting to see, walking strongly, step by step, further into freedom." "Goodbye, Bafana." "Subtitles by LeapinLar"