Original subtitles

It's worth having a try, Sir.

It's better than sitting around here

waiting for that savage to make his next move.

We shall build a ship.

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

You'll go alone...

with him.

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

God only knows.

You have deceived me.

He is the future.

Through him your name will live forever.

No, mother.

There can be no future... without Shaka.

Elizabeth.

Do you expect me,

to lend an ear to a bunch of savages?

If you find it hard to speak to savages,

well then I suggest you resign.

You have... killed me.

Save my mother...

or my guilt will become your own.

[theme song playing]

[vocalizing]

[singing in Zulu]

♪ We are growing higher ♪

♪ Growing higher ♪

[ululating]

[heavy breathing]

[Henry] There is nothing more I can do, Baba.

No!

The Ndlovukazi is beyond my medicine.

No!

[sobbing]

[heavy breathing]

No, it can't be.

No.

[voice breaking] No, it can't be.

No.

[bottles clinking]

[women sobbing]

[groaning]

[speaking Zulu]

[sobbing]

[groans]

Save her!

Bring my mother back to life!

Oh, I cannot, Baba.

Your Christ did!

He was the King of kings.

She is the queen of queens.

The Great Female Elephant.

The mother of Shaka.

Resurrect her!

I have told you, Baba, I cannot!

[Henry] Your mother is dead.

And there is nothing that anyone can do to change that.

Is that so, Sitayi?

Yebo, Baba, it is so.

The promises of my people...

are as vain as those of the Swallows.

There is no truth.

There is no truth.

There is no truth except the reality of your death, mother!

[Shaka sobbing]

But you will not die alone, mother.

The promises of life...

promises of youth...

shall die with you, mother.

They shall die with you!

[Henry] With the death of the Great Female Elephant,

it was deemed probable that the heavens and the Earth

would unite in bewailing her death.

And thus the sacrifice for man would also be great.

No cultivation would be allowed for the following year.

No milk would be used.

But as drawn from the cow,

it should all be poured upon the Earth.

All women found with child during the year of wailing

would, with their husbands, be put to death.

All that was a promise of life and youth would be destroyed.

The inhuman edict condemning the whole population to starvation

and unnatural abstinence was through abject fear,

received with acclamation.

And regiments of soldiers were dispersed throughout the empire

to massacre all those who failed to obey.

We were confined to Port Natal

until Shaka, who quite irrationally

was blaming us for his misfortunes

should decide how best to deal with the treachery of the creatures from the sea.

I feared that if Francis didn't return soon...

all would be lost.

So many times the last three years

I thought I'd never see myself like this again.

And do you see yourself now, Francis?

Well, that's an odd remark.

If I think of the minutes, the hours, the days I spent

hoping and praying for your return.

And yet, now that you're here I feel lonelier than ever.

Because I realize that you may never really return.

You've become like this image in the looking glass.

Every detail of Lt. Farewell is there.

Except life.

Who owns that life?

Shaka?

Francis, I've watched you plunge headlong into ventures

that would give cold feet to even the most brazen of men.

Yet you've always survived

because you had the capability of never taking yourself

or the situation too seriously.

You were always above the event

avoiding any real personal involvement.

And it was that tongue in cheek spirit

that justified your apparent recklessness

that made you a winner.

But it's different this time, isn't it, darling?

You've cut loose all your emotional anchors.

Your involvement is complete.

Elizabeth, through no will of my own, I promise you that.

No matter how well you play

you cannot always control the game in its entirety.

Especially if your opponent is...

formidable.

You just keep upping the stake

and then suddenly one day it's...

too late to quit.

But it's never too late. You still have me.

Well...

then I must ask you to wait

until I'm...

ready to return.

[footsteps approaching]

[knock on door]

Hmm. What news do you bring, captain?

The governor's commission have deliberated and reached their decision.

In as much as the Zulu Empire has no

recognized diplomatic status with the crown,

an audience with Sir Charles Somerset has been deemed inadvisable.

[Francis] This is madness.

So was your idea of ever thinking

we could treat these primitives on an equal basis, lieutenant.

You and Mr. Wilkins are requested to board a ship

for Plymouth at your earliest convenience

in order to offer His Majesty and the admiralty

clarifications regarding your involvement in the Zulu affair.

Oh, a court martial, huh?

A clarification, lieutenant.

As to where your true allegiance lies.

Yes, you've just made that very clear for me, captain.

I must warn you, lieutenant--

Save your threats, captain.

I am no longer under your jurisdiction.

I'm Zulu.

And I'm staying here until your government recognizes

our embassy from the Emperor Shaka Zulu.

Most unfortunate, lieutenant.

A promising career.

To toss all that away for some ungrateful savages.

I couldn't agree with you more, captain.

Men like you and Lord Charles aren't worth it.

Excuse me.

Ma'am.

[sighs]

[indistinct chatter]

What the blazes is going on here?

It seems that the soldiers have invited

their friends and relations to come and stare at us.

Well, do we leave now?

No, Tim. We stay here.

If need be, until we rot.

[indistinct chatter]

[women weeping]

♪ All I want from life ♪

♪ Is more than just a life ♪

♪ For it was spoken in the prophecy ♪

♪ My son will rule through me ♪

♪ Through him I rule this land ♪

♪ Nandi, my name is Nandi ♪

[indistinct chatter]

Did you ever see anything like it?

Bloody vultures.

What are we trying to prove, Francis?

Yes, they've seen us for what we really are.

As a race, as people.

And even if Lord Charles agreed to sign the treaty this very afternoon,

I'm afraid it would be far too late.

Our credibility has been...

somewhat tainted.

Feeling helpless, aren't you?

Simpson. Harlow Simpson.

South African Commercial Advertiser?

Have you come to report on a circus, Mr. Simpson?

Not exactly, Mrs. Farewell.

I'll leave that inclement task to my less ambitious colleagues.

The only story I'm interested in is yours.

The confessions of a hero's wife.

Don't you find that rather seedy?

Madam, when you stop feeling sorry

for yourself and your husband, perhaps you'll come and see me.

He needs you, you know.

Being a hero's no fun if nobody knows about it.

Mr. Simpson!

"So we would be excused

for thinking that some heinous crime

or some dastardly act had been committed,

or that these people have been used in the perpetration of treason

or an act of war against the colony.”

[clears throat] But not so.

Well, "The party under the gallant command

of Lt. Francis George Farewell

has come to offer lasting peace

between the Cape and Shaka's Empire."

Hmm.

"A peace we so desperately need for ourselves and our children."

Hmm.

"This reporter begs to know

why Sir Charles Somerset wishes to remain so obstinate."

[clears throat]

Err, bring him here at once.

Sir.

Come in.

[speaking Zulu]

[speaking Zulu]

Baba.

[speaking Zulu]

Is there a problem, Mr. Farewell?

Would it bother you very much Lord Charles, if we sat on the floor?

Under the circumstances,

I suppose that would be acceptable.

Yes.

Well, now, Mr. Farewell,

would you state precisely and concisely

just what it is you expect from me,

as the governor of the Cape?

The gentlemen of the press are waiting.

As you know, Lord Charles,

I and my men have been serving His Majesty in Natal.

In the course of the three years

in which we've been amongst Zulu people,

I have endeavoured to concile Zulu interests

with those of the British government.

Now there have been many difficulties, of course.

Most of them related to questions of custom

such as you've just witnessed with regard to the seating arrangements.

Um, basic misunderstandings which affect communications.

But more recently,

I have had the good fortune,

uh, to win the confidence and the trust of the Zulu king.

The result of which is the King's strong desire

to show his goodwill

by proposing an alliance with Britain.

And for that purpose, he has sent Ngomane Kamqobolo.

Kamqobolo.

He has sent his prime minister to represent him.

You spoke of questions related to customs.

How did Shaka communicate to you the word "alliance"?

I don't follow you, Sir.

Did Shaka instruct you to go to the governor of the Cape

to seek an alliance

between the Zulu tribe and the British empire?

Were those his exact words, Mr. Farewell?

"Alliance", he did say "alliance",

not concurrence or cooperation?

Does Shaka wish to join the British Empire

or does he wish to maintain his sovereignty?

In which case,

does he wish to establish ties with embassies?

Or does he merely wish to meet Georgie and enjoy some kaffir beer?

Surely, it is not a question of semantics.

What difference does it make...

[Aithison] Excuse me, Sir.

What is it, captain?

[whispering] Shaka...

Dismissed.

You were saying, Mr. Farewell?

What difference does it make

if the word is alliance or agreement.

The sentiment is one.

The Zulu people are reaching out the hand of friendship.

Friendship?

Mr. Farewell, will you please convey to your prime minister

that we have just received word

that his king is marching on the Cape

with his full military force.

Mr. Farewell,

your native friends have 24 hours

to board their ship and leave the Cape.

Failing which, I shall be obliged

to consider their presence here as an act of war.

That will be all, gentlemen.

Mr. Farewell.

A word of warning. Off the record.

Men like you are invariably caught between two fires

and rejected by both sides.

You cannot trust these people.

I think today's news proved that.

Let them go. Save yourself.

Too late, Lord Charles.

I've sacrificed three years of my life.

And now, I must stop him.

I have an investment to protect.

[sighs]

Hmm.

[clamouring]

Francis, what are you going to do now?

You know what's happened?

Well, the minute those reporters ran out of there,

the news went through the crowd like wildfire.

You can't play this game anymore, Francis.

Shaka is not abiding by the rules.

I've no option, Elizabeth. He makes the rules.

No. Francis, no.

I can't stay here.

There's so many people relying on me.

I-I have to go back. I have to.

Well, how long this time?

A few months, a year, two, three?

What about us, Francis? What's happened to our game?

I have to finish this one.

I have to go.

Just like that?

Just like that.

[seagulls squawking]

[speaking Zulu]

It's the Shaka. They're back.

Hey, lads, they're back. They're bleeding well back!

Mr. Farewell, welcome back, Sir!

[indistinct chatter]

[indistinct chatter]

[laughing]

Well...

I just don't understand.

He said he'd wait until the harvest.

No. There'll be no harvest this year, Francis.

Nandi's dead.

He's gone mad. Quite mad.

Well, I must find him.

Where is he?

Well, the army is marching southward.

We should be able to catch them up on horseback.

No, no, no, no, no.

You've all risked quite enough in this business.

I must go alone.

[scoffs] Not on your life.

I'm going with you. I'm as responsible as you are.

Now, Henry, you know that that's not true.

You know and everyone here knows

that from the very first day that we arrived here

you have opposed my ideas.

But let me tell you now...

that your ideas and your principles

were very often far better than mine.

This matter is between Shaka and me.

Mkabayi, the whites have nothing to offer.

Now, we must end this madness.

Tell Mbopha to get his men to clean up the city

and clear away all the dead,

and let dignity be restored to the people.

They've suffered enough.

[singing in Zulu]

Ndabezitha.

Ndabezitha.

It is I, Febana.

Tell me,

Febana.

How do you trap a monkey?

Well, a gourd is used with a narrow neck,

bait is dropped into the gourd,

a piece of fruit or...

or something shiny.

The monkey puts his hand down into the neck of the gourd...

and then he grabs the bait.

And, uh...

then he's trapped

because he can't get his fist out.

Once he realizes...

he is trapped,

why doesn't the monkey let go of the bait?

Because his greed

makes him blind.

And what is he greedy for, Febana?

I don't know.

I suppose...

for what he thinks he cannot have.

And what new bait have you brought, Febana?

Bring it here for this monkey to see.

Something shiny?

Like the freshness of youth, of life, of the past.

Bait your gourd again, Febana.

My heart yearns...

for something shiny.

Nkosi...

that yearning...

which has brought about everything that has happened

was as much your fault as it is mine.

But hating my people...

is not the solution.

We must search for another...

together.

Together?

[scoffs]

No, Febana.

You've proved that you were never with me.

You're a man with no nation.

You're a shadow.

Go!

I have no need for you anymore.

Go?

Go?

Where?

Where...

can I go?

Where I have been.

Phuma!

Bayete.

Ndabezitha.

What happened? What's going on?

The Swallows have defeated the Great Elephant, Mkabayi.

What are you talking about?

On the day when our armies were ready to attack

when we shouted "Sigidi", there was no answer.

The king was gone.

Where?

Does it matter now?

No, it doesn't matter anymore.

[crow cawing]

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

It is dangerous.

[Mgobozi] The whites are magicians, Shaka.

They work with illusion.

You have taught us to live in reality.

[Shaka] If what they say is true

then their isangoma possesses powers we cannot ignore.

[Sitayi] Beware, Baba. Those who wish to be served by magic

often become its servants.

If the whites offer you wings

it is because they wish to make you their victim.

[Ngomane] How can the conqueror of nations

be bewitched by a handful of jackals?

You have given them land, wealth, and the status of generals and chieftains.

All I ask is what is the Great Elephant getting in return

for his generosity?

[Shaka] The power of their knowledge.

The spirit of the blade speaks.

No, the spirit of Shaka speaks.

So be it, son of Zulu.

Take this spear and with it

like the sun cast your powers

to the ends of this Earth.

[singing in Zulu]

[Sitayi] You are Zulu. You possess the heavens.

[Shaka] Heavens belong to Zulu.

And Shaka is their son.

Shaka is their son. Their son.

[speaking Zulu]

[Nandi] I love you, Shaka.

[Shaka] Love? Love?

We are incapable of that emotion, mother.

All that we feel...

All we ever felt is vengeance and hate.

Hate!

Hate!

[Nandi] No, he is the future.

[Shaka] No. There is no future without Shaka.

[Pampata sobbing]

And now, Mkabayi? What now?

"For the good of the nation", you always said.

Ngomane?

Mbopha?

You too, my brothers?

I never thought you capable of such decisiveness.

And so now, after all these years, Mkabayi...

I am once again in your hands.

- [grunting] - [shrieking]

[groaning]

[singing in Zulu]

The Swallows have won, Dingane.

Mbopha, burn everything.

Let nothing remain that reminds us of Shaka.

[speaking Zulu]

Ndabezitha.

Shaka!

[Pampata screaming]

[Pampata crying] Shaka!

[Pampata screaming]

Shaka!

Shaka!

[Pampata screeching]

[Pampata screaming]

[Pampata screaming] Shaka!

[vocalizing]