Original subtitles

Yes, nothing is impossible...

if two kingdoms truly wish to live in harmony.

I'm glad that you are so open-minded.

That's why you shouldn't object if I ask you

to join in me the campaign against the Ndwandwes.

You and your men will march against them.

Alone.

We will see who is the true King of Kings.

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

It all comes down to blowing their heads off.

Fire!

[shots firing]

We're winning!

Already the people are thinking that the white "creatures"

deserve the glory for Zwide's ultimate defeat.

Phuma!

Let me love you, Shaka.

Let me help you find love.

One could end up getting quite involved

with this country and its people.

[both laughing]

Or dead.

[theme song playing]

[vocalizing]

[singing in Zulu]

♪ We are growing higher ♪

♪ Growing higher ♪

[Henry] "The Lord is my shepherd,

I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures,

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul,

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness

for his name's sake, though I walk

in the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, Lord.”

Amen.

[birds cawing]

May you rest in peace.

'Cause we sure as hell won't.

Permission to speak, Sir?

Now I think it's about time we all faced the facts.

We're landlocked, Sir.

Makes a sailor like myself feel lost at sea.

Especially at a funeral.

[Lt. Farewell] Landlocked?

Mr. Ogle, we've been over all this before.

This land is ours.

With a proper concession. Signed and sealed.

Given to us by a man who almost had us all killed, Sir.

The only concession is ours here.

Is a concession to our graveyard.

Signed and sealed.

Steady on, Mr. Ogle.

That's all right, Tim.

[Lt. Farewell] Now how do you other men feel?

- Mr. Cane? - Well,

the fact is, Sir, I feel we do need a ship pretty bad.

Something to sail us out of here quick.

In case Shaka should

start trying to... test our skills again, Sir.

Plenty of trees about here, Sir.

With a bit of sweat, we can soon knock a ship together of sorts.

Gentlemen, you surprise me very much.

Do you really think that we alone could build anything

worth navigating without assistance?

It would take us the remainder of the year.

And how do you suppose that work would go unnoticed?

No, without Shaka's approval,

the thing is out of the question.

I wasn't thinking about anything fancy, Sir.

Couple of logs, and a sail.

If we make sail at night, Shaka will be none the wiser.

Mr. Ogle, there are 400 miles of coastline

between here and Port Elizabeth, with 30 foot waves

and razor sharp reefs.

Now you are not telling me, as a sailor, Mr Ogle,

that you really think that we could make

that journey on a raft?

It's worth having a try, Sir.

It's better than sitting around here

waiting for that savage to make his next move.

[Ogle] Look, Sir, we've got through one battle.

I... don't think we'll be so lucky the next time.

I think that statement is quite unworthy

of one of his Majesty's subjects, Mr. Ogle.

We have made excellent progress.

Progress?

What? Eight men against 20,000?

[Abrahams] You call that progress?

Yes, Mr. Abrahams. I do.

[Lt. Farewell] Any good card player

will tell you that the least advisable time to fold

is when you've called your opponent's bluff.

[Lt. Farewell] Now Shaka's dared us to do the impossible.

To all intents and purposes we've proved we can.

And I would suggest to you all

that our position is now stronger than ever.

But democracy prevails here. Francis, don't you agree?

Certainly.

Every man here is entitled to his own point of view.

Quite.

Zach. Pete. You've got anything

to say for yourselves?

My opinion is that we must...

should remain independent of Shaka whatever the...

problems or risks.

Whatever we do, Mr. Farewell,

there will be risks.

Very good, Mr. Abrahams. I understand you.

[Lt. Farewell] Gentlemen, we will in due course establish the manner

and the timing of our departure.

Now, let us give thought to our dead comrades,

and to their proper burial.

Yes, Sir.

[theme song playing]

The Lt. Farewell I know, would've been on that raft

within a week, just to see if it was possible.

But not Febana.

You don't really want to go, do you?

Febana Kamjoji may have a greater future

than Lt. Francis George Farewell ever dreamt of.

Don't be ridiculous.

Don't be ridiculous, am I?

Yeah well, maybe I am.

But then so much of what's happened here is ridiculous, isn't it?

You've called not only Shaka's bluff,

but the bluff of the past ten millennia of civilization.

Life... Death... Youth...

Resurrection... Friendship.

We've even turned the sanctity of Christ

into a political device.

Shaka is becoming the victim of our sophistry

and so are you!

We may be dressed up to play the part

but we could never be Zulu.

And that has little or nothing

to do with the colour of our skins.

You need that boat more than they do.

They may have lost their courage, but you...

you're losing yourself.

Granted, we're gonna need a good reason for going, right?

I mean a reason he'll believe, and I suggest that he's far too

cunning to believe anything but the truth.

Well, you came here to make an alliance, didn't you?

I mean, at the outset, that was the unvarnished truth

of your mission, right?

Well, the time has now come

for the two sovereigns to seal the pact.

We'll escort Shaka's emissaries down to Cape Town,

where a proper peace treaty can be drawn up

between his Majesty's government and the Zulu empire.

And therein lies our need of a ship.

You're making it sound rather easy.

Well, it can be easy.

If you remember which of those two sovereigns

you truly represent.

It's not a bad idea at all.

[seagulls cawing]

[Lt. Farewell] Well, the journey over land would be extremely dangerous.

As of course you know, Nkosi?

We think it...

more practicable to go by sea.

And, ah, how do you plan to cross the waters?

We shall build a ship.

With your help, Nkosi.

And who will accompany you?

Well, my men...

and those that have been elected to speak in your place.

Your Prime Minister,

even perhaps, certain of your Chief indunas.

To make the embassy... credible.

Very clever, Febana.

And what makes you think I'm so willing

to send my emissaries to your kingdom?

[Shaka] Did you really think that I would let you go as you came?

Returning home with my Prime Minister

and my chief induna,

as a proof that your hunt was successful?

That was not my intention, Nkosi.

Nor is it mine.

We'll do as you suggest, Febana.

With one minor change.

You'll go alone...

with him,

and all the required help.

But Mbuyazi... and the rest will stay behind.

Yes, I see.

Hostages?

Mm-hmm, we could call it that,

though I'd prefer to consider it an indication

of your... good will.

Have you finished, Mbuyazi?

Mm-hmm, Nkosi.

[seagulls cawing]

And, Febana,

My need for you and your people

will be endured until next harvest.

If you are not back by then...

they shall die.

[Pampata sobbing]

Does he suspect?

No, Ndlovukazi.

Good. So it must remain.

If he were to suspect, it could spell death for both of you.

You must leave Bulawayo at once.

I'll take you to Mkindini. Women there will look after you.

[sobbing] For how long must I stay away?

Perhaps...

for as long as he lives.

[sobbing]

[theme song playing]

[vocalizing]

♪ We are growing higher ♪

♪ Growing higher ♪

♪ We are growing higher ♪

♪ Growing higher ♪

[singing in Zulu]

[vocalizing]

All right! Let's put her in the pond.

- [commanding in Zulu] - Asambe!

[chanting in Zulu]

[theme song playing]

[Pampata singing in Zulu]

...and that?

A powder of love.

The moon is full.

And I want it to shine my love down on Shaka.

Don't place too much faith in the moon.

It comes and goes,

and is too far away to give you what you want.

[wind howling]

[birds cawing]

Ah!

Oh, it's no use! I... I'll never get used to this kind of food.

I can't believe that this is going to stay edible

all the way to the Cape, even if it is smoked.

[chanting in Zulu]

Mana!

Lieutenant.

Francis!

[men groaning]

[Shaka commands in Zulu] Phansi!

[men groaning]

They tried to escape.

I trust that from now on you will find it easier

to enforce discipline amongst your men.

That was always your weakness.

Port Natal is mine!

As agreed! I am its king!

You have no right to murder my people!

They were never your people.

Your people are there...

safe and sound.

And so they'll remain until next year's harvest.

As agreed.

[Shaka commands in Zulu]

Wozani!

[chanting in Zulu]

Take them down.

[birds cawing]

- [dramatic music playing] - [thunder rumbling]

[Pampata screaming]

[witchdoctor chanting]

It's hurting me, Mother.

The more you and the baby struggle

the greater your love will be. Now push!

Push!

[Pampata screaming]

- [witchdoctor chanting] - [Pampata screaming]

It's killing me, mother.

It won't be long now. Push!

Just once more.

Push!

It's fighting me, mother.

The more you and the baby struggle

the greater your love will be.

Now push!

The greater... your love will be.

The greater... your love will be.

- Push! - It's fighting me, Mother.

...the head here.

It's a boy, Nandi! It's a boy!

It's a boy!

The son of the chief.

No. No.

He's much more, mother. Much more.

[theme song playing]

[indistinct chatter]

[all cheering]

Do you think we'll ever see 'em again, Sir?

God only knows.

Let's hope we haven't tried His patience too far!

[waves crashing]

[birds cawing]

Ndabezitha.

Have you found her?

Yes, Ndabezitha.

She's been in hiding at the Great Queen's Kraal, my King.

[Nandi] You cannot live forever, Shaka.

You must have an heir to ensure that the house of Shaka

lives on after you.

[Shaka] No, Mother.

There will be no heirs to do what I did to my father.

Heirs stab you in the back

as they climb your road to the heavens.

Besides, the Whites have made me immortal.

[Nandi] Do not place so much trust in the Whites, Shaka. I beg you.

[woman humming]

[baby crying]

[Shaka] Wait here.

[Ngomane] Ndabezitha.

[Pampata quivering with fear]

[Pampata whimpering] Shaka.

[baby crying]

So... you have deceived me.

Just as you deceived my father.

Shaka.

I have made you Queen of Queens,

the most powerful woman in this land,

in the world!

But that was not enough for you, mother.

You wanted more!

I love you, Shaka!

Love?

Love?

We are incapable of that emotion, Mother.

All that we feel...

all we ever felt

is vengeance... and hate,

hate.

Hate!

[Pampata whimpering] Shaka.

And I am the product of your hatred!

Just as he... is the product of my hatred.

No. No. He is the future.

Through him your name will... will live forever.

Thula!

[Nandi and baby crying]

No, mother.

There can be no future... without Shaka.

[Nandi and baby crying]

[speaking in Zulu]

[Pampata wailing]

No!

I'm sorry.

[Shaka] All that we feel is vengeance and hate.

Hey, Shaka.

[boy laughing]

Shaka. Come back, Shaka!

You must stop him!

It's time he learned, Mother.

Sooner or later, we must strike back.

[boy screaming]

Shaka!

Stop it! Come here!

It looks as if I arrived not a minute too soon, Mphepha.

[speaking in Zulu]

Never again will he leave an enemy behind.

[Dingiswayo] 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.

Never leave an enemy behind or it will rise again

to fly at your throat.

[crowd chattering]

In charge is a European, you say?

Yes, Sir.

Some eccentric who calls himself Farewell

Lieutenant R.N. He asked me to give you this report, Sir.

Farewell?

Well, don't be a damned idiot. Fetch him here at once!

Go.

[crowd chattering]

[officer] Go on, get back.

Quite a spectacle, Farewell.

You'll have Cape Town all abuzz with anticipation

of what your little circus can do.

Can I offer you some rum?

You do remember what that is?

It's the Colonists' greatest weapon.

Next to Bible hawkers and guns.

It's all part of the Crown's unofficial policy when extending

its boundaries amongst the so called "natives".

First it sends in the Bible hawkers to delude

their simple hearts and then...

the rum seller captures their stomachs and then

finally the armies take rightful possession.

Yes, Sir. I remember what it is.

I once considered you merely as an idealist.

One of the many harmless visionaries

who pollute this century.

But now I see you are far more dangerous.

You're a manipulator.

As much of a hypocrite as you say we are.

I cannot deny that the Crown's colonial policy

is far from unblemished.

But who are you to criticize our tactics

when your own have been so outrageous!

Your report makes interesting reading.

Macassar Oil, did you say?

Indeed.

It was a means to an end.

So is the rum!

None of us are playing by the book!

I can see no reason why you should be so righteous.

I've done my job, Lord Charles, I've done it well.

The Cape has enjoyed three years of grace

and we are now standing on the threshold

of a lasting peace with the Zulus.

Waiting in your cells across that courtyard

is a group of proud men.

They're waiting for a proper audience with you.

Peace is the gift they bring.

But you treat them like animals

and you refuse to meet with them.

There may be nothing standing between this colony

and 60,000 warriors.

And believe me, Sir, I've seen them in action.

That has the distinct flavour of a threat.

And since you are making it in the name of someone

who is officially dead,

I must assume that you do not represent

some self-styled savage chief,

but that you yourself are that chief.

What are you saying?

Our reports indicate that Shaka died

over two years ago, Lieutenant.

Well, I also am officially dead,

but you can see that's a fallacy!

No, no. Shaka's alive. Very much alive, I might add.

We have only your word for that, Lieutenant.

Are you actually insinuating that I have

made myself the King of the Zulus?

It wouldn't be the first time.

These natives think we were born to lead.

And the road from fiction to fact could often be very short

especially when untold power lies at the end of the journey.

Ah!

That's preposterous.

But in point of fact, it makes no difference,

it makes no great difference at all,

whether you're dealing with Shaka or Febana Kamjoji,

because the Zulus' requests remain the same,

permission to have audience with His Majesty's representative.

Which side of the fence are you on?

That, Lord Charles, I'll leave for you to determine.

Good day, Gentlemen, I shall await your decision.

Do you expect me, as Governor of the Cape,

to lend an ear to a bunch of savages?

Yes, Lord Charles, I do, because that's your job.

Because you are a governor of the Colonies.

If you find it hard to speak to savages,

well, I suggest you resign.

I shall await your decision.

Elizabeth!

Francis?

- Elizabeth! - Francis!

At last!

[both laughing]

Oh!

Do you think we could find somewhere a little more private?

Major! Where?

Mrs. Farewell!

You, you look wonderful!

And so do you, Mr. Wilkins.

It seems this Shaka has even the power to turn the most

conservative of Englishman into

subjects of the Zulu empire.

Oh, uh, allow me to introduce you to King Shaka's... er...

well, I suppose you'd say, Prime Minister

and his... Councillors.

Oh.

Well... do we...

they... do we meet... Lord Charles?

Er, no, Tim. No.

We'll have to wait!

Ngomane.

Febana.

Major! Lead on!

Thank you, Major!

There's no reason to stay here, you know.

I have comfortable lodgings, more fitting

an Emissary of King Shaka.

No, no.

I must stay here.

It's a point of principle. I must.

I have to stay here with those men until those...

idiots...

take us seriously.

Well, then let's forget the problems of Empires and Kings.

I have missed you, Francis.

I have missed you desperately.

[birds chirping]

[crows cawing]

[crowd singing in Zulu]

"He who believes in me and is baptized will be saved.

He who does not believe in me will be condemned.

He who is not with Him... is against Him."

The prophecy of love...

the prophecy of hate.

Surprisingly alike.

"With me or against me."

I'm beginning to realize that Joji himself

has little to do with my embassy to your kingdom.

If your people truly believe in Christ,

it is with Him that I must ultimately negotiate.

And I understand Him well.

We are both tyrants in our own ways.

So either your King of Kings serves me... or I Him.

I see no room for compromise.

Well...

perhaps...

by serving Christ,

you are indeed serving yourself.

By being true to...

Him,

you may be safeguarding the truth of your own nature.

Hmm.

Aah the way of peace, Nkosi,

greatly to be preferred.

You and your people believe that?

Oh, yes, Baba. We do.

Then why did you hang Him from a tree?

There are many things not easily explained.

That's why tyrants are necessary, Mbuyazi.

Mmh...

[speaking in Zulu]

[Ngomane] The Queen is not well, Nkosi.

She has suffered great pains

since the death of the child.

[Shaka] The great female Elephant must suffer the burdens

of her deceit, Ngomane.

Thula!

[Ngomane] But, Nkosi, the witchdoctors fear that

the great Queen is very ill.

[Shaka] The matter is closed.

[Queen crying]

[Ngomane] The Queen needs you, Nkosi.

[Ngomane] The Queen needs you, Nkosi.

[Shaka] The matter is closed, Ngomane.

[Ngomane] The Queen needs you, Nkosi.

[Shaka] The great female elephant must suffer the burdens

of her deceit, Ngomane.

The matter is closed, Ngomane.

[witchdoctor chanting]

- [horse galloping] - [woman screams]

Bayete! Bayete! Bayete!

[witchdoctor chanting in Zulu]

Come closer.

You...

you have... killed me.

No...

No, Mother... no...

It's too late.

It's too... late.

[speaking in Zulu]

Look, will you get them out of here!

She can't breathe, she needs air!

[commands in Zulu]

Save her.

Or my guilt will become your own.

May take a miracle, Baba.

Search for one in the book.

There are many there to choose from.

Oh, merciful God, forgive us!

♪ Nandi, my name is Nandi ♪

♪ See me, and then just think of me ♪

♪ I'm Nandi ♪

♪ All I want from life ♪

♪ Is more than just a lie ♪

♪ For it was spoken in the prophecy ♪

♪ My son will rule through me ♪

♪ Laughter, I hear the laughter ♪

♪ It haunts me but then the path I walk is lonely ♪

♪ All I want from life ♪

♪ Is more than just a lie ♪

♪ For it was spoken in the prophecy ♪

♪ My son will rule through me ♪

♪ Hear me, for I am Nandi ♪

♪ One day, one day for he must rule ♪

♪ It was meant to be ♪

[singing in Zulu]