Original subtitles

[Noko] Ella!

- [Ella] Oh, my God, Greta! - [Noko] You need to stay calm.

Help!

Ella's been kidnapped.

I don't care what you do. I just want my son home.

[Gundo] It's not small change.

If you want the money, you need to give me time.

[gun cocks]

- Just don't harm the kids. - Shoot her.

- He said kids. - My parents will pay whatever you ask.

- We can make a deal. - [Dianne] She dialed the security code!

- [gas hissing] - [gunshot]

- [gunshot] - [thuds]

Dianne, just tell me the goddamn truth!

Are you using Ella in your investigation?

I am telling you the truth! You just don't wanna hear it.

- I need some air. - Gabe, we are still talking.

[Gabe] I'm not. I'm done.

[Alex] We're following a lead.

I've sent you images of Susuman's safe house.

We're approaching target and should have

him in our custody in the next few hours.

I've decided to tell Gabe everything

if you don't get me back home in the next 48 hours.

[man] Drop your weapons!

- Get down! - Get down!

[thud]

[coughing]

Who are you?

I am Susuman.

I am Susuman.

Target acquired.

It's not him.

Whoa, Chief. Just pump the brakes.

Why would Susuman risk meeting an arms cache in person?

You've got a point.

This man had details on a car bomb in Nairobi down to a tee.

- Right. - He even knew the model of the car.

He's trying too hard to prove that he's Susuman.

There's more to this, and I'm gonna find it.

[theme song] ♪ Who we are is all that matters ♪

♪ We are far from stones and daggers ♪

♪ We are the tip of the spear ♪

♪ The tip of the spear, the tip of the spear ♪

♪ The tip of the... We are the tip of the spear ♪

♪ The tip of the spear, the tip of the spear ♪

♪ The tip of the... We are the tip of the spear ♪

♪ The tip of the spear, the tip of the spear ♪

♪ The tip of the... We are the tip of the spear ♪

♪ The tip of the spear, the tip of the spear ♪

♪ The tip of the... Who we are is all that matters ♪

[Dianne] Can we talk?

[Ella] Maybe later.

Ella, please.

Susuman is almost within our reach.

- You did this. - Yay, me.

We are almost certain

that the Kenyan presidential inauguration was their next target.

Alright.

- It's important for you to know this. - Can I go now?

Yes.

The State Department confirmed this morning.

You can go home, El.

We'll have to confirm the travel arrangements

with Gabe and Nia.

You could have opened with that.

Does Kwame know?

No.

I'll tell him.

And the Gabe thing?

[exhales] Leave that to me.

[funky music]

[phone chimes]

Jeez, friend! When?

[in Setswana] Kwame, your mother said you must eat.

[in English] A growing boy like you needs to eat.

Trouble comes and goes, my boy.

[in Setswana] But you can't let it put you down.

[in Setswana] You know what my mother used to say?

[in Setswana] She would say, "There is nothing prayer cannot fix".

- Really, Aunty? - Mm.

Can it fix divorce?

[in Setswana] Yeah, let me go iron the laundry.

He'll be back. You'll see.

They're getting divorced, El.

Slow down, Kwams. It was just a fight.

Dad's never not slept at home. Unless he's traveling or something.

This is huge.

Married people fight all the time. And then they make up.

And then they fight again. Over and over again.

Until they get old and one of them dies.

I'm not a kid anymore.

Even though you all keep treating me like one.

Sneaking off. Whispering. Like I can't see.

I mean, I've seen how busy mom's been. They don't even hang out anymore.

This is exactly how the end starts.

I mean, you should know. He's left you before.

Fair.

But I think we should at least wait to hear from him.

[Kwame] I get it. These things happen.

Lot of kids in my class have divorced parents.

But for me...

I'll go back to being an orphan.

You're so much better off.

You have a home and people back in Oakland.

There will be no divorce.

I promise.

[driving music]

[Mensah] While some celebrate another year behind us,

some are sad as friends they've come to know and love

leave the country or graduate.

However,

we shouldn't focus on the sadness that comes with things coming to an end,

but rather be thankful for all the moments that we shared.

The end of year is also a time of reflection.

And we all know that in order to prepare for the future,

we need to look back at where we've come from and ask ourselves,

what can we do better as we move ahead?

Have you seen Noko?

[Mensah] This particular end of year

was also marked by an immense sense of gratitude

for all our students here with us, together safe and sound.

Here at Indwe, we pride ourselves

in standing together and protecting our own

against the worst of adversities.

Go, Greta!

[chanting] Greta! Greta! Greta!

[cheering and applause]

Okay, okay, guys. One at a time. One at a time.

[Dawoud chuckles]

You know, I think Greta also needs a Wynand.

Poor Wynand. I put him through the most.

Yo, I gotta go clear out my locker, but catch up later?

[kiss]

- [Lolo] Guys, okay. Just slow down. - [Greta chuckling]

I gotta get out of here. This is all too much.

[Lolo] Uh-uh. You're not leaving me.

Ella Gardner!

Maybe there as well, yeah.

[marching band playing]

[Ijemma] Ella!

Yo, Ella!

I just want to thank you. Like, the whole suspension thing.

You really came through.

You're pretty cool, Miss America.

Here, quickly.

Go on.

So how are you? You know, since the whole thing with the...

- Oh, would you look at the time? - [chuckles]

If you ever find yourself in Europe this summer, hit me up.

- I'm going on tour with my dad. - [Ella] Really?

And if you ever come to Oakland, you...

[laughs]

Never gonna happen, fam. Forget it.

[Gwyneth] Hey, hey.

Good luck.

[Gwyneth] Will you sign this?

Maybe another time. I have somewhere to go.

Look, I know we got off on a bad note, but...

I was really hoping we could put that all behind us.

Wouldn't you like that too?

Thanks. Yours?

I don't have one.

I get it.

If our paths ever cross again someday, I hope we can do better.

[water running]

[toilet flushes]

[water running]

You know you almost got her killed, right?

We both almost got killed, remember?

[Dawoud] Okay, look,

if you'd stayed away from her to begin with,

she wouldn't have even been in that mess.

She's the one who went after me.

Oh, damn.

You didn't know?

[dryer whirring]

[sighs]

[chill guitar music]

[Ella] Hey.

Where you been? I've been looking for you.

I don't exactly feel like celebrating.

I can't stand all those "poor you" looks.

Yeah, me neither.

Greta is loving it, though.

I'm worried she might try and throw herself in front of another car.

[chuckles]

I'm glad she's feeling better.

How are you doing?

I'm a mess.

I keep having this dream, man.

I'm in a tiny box? I don't know.

But no matter how much I scream and bang...

and bang...

nobody can hear me.

Damn.

I'm doing therapy now, but...

all this other stuff keeps coming up.

So much stuff, Ella.

Stuff that's not kidnapping?

Yeah.

I've been acting all tough.

For so long.

Since I was... ten?

But I'm coming apart.

And you?

Bad dreams.

You seeing anybody?

Man, I just need to get back to Oakland. I'll be alright.

You should go out and have fun.

Life's short.

You know, I thought about not coming today.

But I met some pretty cool people here. I had to say goodbye.

- Where's your yearbook? - [chuckles] I don't have one.

I mean, why would I? I haven't even been here long enough.

You tell me to enjoy the last day when you don't have a yearbook?

I'm getting you one.

[Ella] Okay, fine. I have one.

I knew there was a softie in there somewhere.

Are you trying to make me cry?

I literally...

will never forget this.

For as long as I live.

I really like you, Ella.

Since the day we met.

But I'm with Dawoud, remember?

And I'm leaving.

I don't care about Dawoud. I want you to know the way I feel.

You're right.

Life really is too short.

You just never know what tomorrow holds.

You really just never know, huh?

I'm sorry.

[Ella] I don't know.

I guess it just happened.

We've been through a lot together. The feelings are a bit jumbled.

So let me get this straight. Kidnappings make people kiss?

Well...

research says that people who've shared trauma

tend to bond in all sorts of weird ways.

- Sex comes up a lot. - Whoa! Noko and I are not having sex.

And there's no need to tell anyone. It didn't mean anything.

Don't worry, Ella. Your secret's safe with me.

I promise!

- This was a strange year. - [Lolo] Mm-hmm.

The strangest thing being Gwyneth sucking up to Ella.

- Yeah, that was hella weird. - [Lolo] Mm-hmm.

Well, she doesn't have much of a choice. She doesn't have any friends left.

Friends. No friends.

I still don't trust her.

Well, you guys are great friends.

Thank you, Ella.

Thank you, Lolo.

Ella, do you really have to leave Lolo and The Mahotella Queens?

As much as I love you both, I have to go back to my natural habitat.

I love you too, friend.

I love you, hoes.

Okay, enough with the drama.

We're still gonna meet at the mall later, right?

[all chuckling]

[Catherine] I'm sorry.

I know how much Nazli and Amina meant to you.

Friends come and go. I'll find new ones.

It's a pity this whole thing with you and Noko's dad.

Now Noko is being all distant.

Gundo is being ridiculous.

What does your friendship have to do with any of it?

This Ella is quite something, isn't she?

Noko actually said something quite strange about how they were rescued.

- Strange? - [Gwyneth] Yes.

He said that Ella alerted some sort of diplomatic police.

Perhaps my good friend Marsha Brock can provide some clarity.

[groovy music]

[Dawoud] Come sit.

Um. I don't think it's legal for children to marry.

[chuckles] Just open it.

It's beautiful.

[Dawoud] It's a... it's a mixture of Zulu and Maasai beading.

My mom taught me.

[sniffles]

You know, I hate...

I hate the fact that I couldn't protect you, El.

I...

It's just... I just felt so...

I felt so helpless, you know.

What could you have done?

Those people are thugs.

You know, Ella...

I just want you to know that I'm always there for you.

Always looking out for you no matter where you are in the world.

- You'll come visit? - Do you want me to?

What do you mean? Of course I do.

I'll try.

I do have to have some of that Kenyan rat stew again before I go.

[chuckles]

Yeah, you know, Amina is definitely gonna miss you the most. [chuckles]

You have a cool family, D. Thanks for letting me hang out with them.

Yeah, of course.

You know, my uncle, he really took a liking to you.

There's something about him. He just gets it, you know?

He's not checked out of the world like all the other adults I know.

Yeah, but he's-he's leaving again.

He's all worked up, you know.

Making hundreds of phone calls, as usual.

It was nice to have him around, you know.

As short as it was.

I'm sorry. You guys had a cool thing going on.

Yeah, but the one thing about Uncle Zu is that, you know,

you can always count on him to come back, no matter when that is.

Didn't I tell you you're gonna fall in love with this place?

[chuckles]

Um, it's alright.

[both chuckling]

I really am gonna miss it.

[news reporter] The nation is on alert after the Minister of Intelligence

announced this morning that the terrorist known only as Susuman

has finally been apprehended.

His group, known as Susuman's Army,

have threatened to retaliate violently.

But the government urges all citizens...

Um, is he back?

[news reporter] Security has been

increased across all National Key Points.

- Is she back? - Now crossing over to Mpelelo Khoza,

who's on location at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

[Dianne] I'm looking at it right now. Yes, I see. What the...

- [sighs] - Have you spoken to Gabe yet?

I need you to send me every single thing you find.

Everything.

If this Patrao was close to Susuman, there's evidence of it somewhere.

Yeah, how-how quickly can you send it to me?

- Wait. It's coming in. - [printer whirs]

Yeah, it's coming in.

Mm-hmm.

Okay. The one on the left is definitely Patrao.

Those eyes haven't changed.

[ominous music]

The one in the middle is Ugandan Army General Salvado.

He died in a raid about five years ago or so.

That means the one on the right has to be Susuman.

Do not put this on any list.

If he's alerted, he'll run. And we'll never find him.

We have to move fast.

The inauguration is still going ahead.

Yes.

Yes, I'm sure.

[pensive music]

[Wynand] The end, huh?

[Ella] I bet you're relieved.

You were definitely not an easy detail.

It wasn't personal.

Ever.

Good.

[phone chimes]

- [door slams] - Ella!

Ella! Sorry, sorry. So...

Ella! Sorry.

Ella!

[suspenseful music]

Ella!

Ella!

Fuck!

Ella!

Is this for Gugu Mazibuko?

Good day to you too.

[in Setswana] Greetings, sister.

It's Mama to you.

Fuck.

Fuck!

How you doing?

Kwams, I know you and I have always been able to talk about anything,

but lately, I haven't been doing a very good job at that.

Are you guys getting divorced?

What? No. [chuckles]

- No, absolutely not. - Well, then, when is he coming back?

We just need to give him some time to think.

But one thing I know for sure is that he will always come back to you.

Promise.

Hug?

Hug?

[sighs]

[ominous music]

[clears throat]

How about we make some of your famous carrot cake?

We haven't made that since I was nine.

What? Have you lost your magic touch?

Oh, never that!

[laughs] Alright. Well, let's see what you got.

Let's see what's in the kitchen.

Bring that magic touch back.

[intriguing music]

[Dianne] Ella, Gabe and Kwame are waiting in the car.

[Zuri] Run along.

- [Dianne] Who was that? - [Ella] Just a friend's uncle.

[shakily] No, right... It was right... It was right there.

Oh, shit!

[kiss]

[Dorothy] I'm glad the kids caught you before you left.

Believe me, it's harder this way.

Argh!

Oh, come on. Give your uncle a smile.

Bye, Uncle Zu.

Child, come here.

[kiss]

Don't forget you're a Kamau.

Kamaus are badass, okay?

We are badass, friends or no friends.

Okay.

Later kid, huh?

- I'll be back before you know it. - I'm sorry about Dad.

He's more stubborn than I am. So that should tell you something.

- Be good, okay? - Yeah.

Ah.

[Zuri] Bye, dear.

[Ella] Could you please follow that car?

[in Setswana] No, little girl.

Please, Ma. I'll pay.

[in Setswana] We are not in a movie here.

[in English] Out! Out! I don't want trouble.

- Ma, my dad is in that car. - What?

He met my mom in America when he went there with a theater production.

He's been running away from me all my life.

I just want to know why he left me. I just need him to tell me to my face.

[driver in Setswana] Men are dogs, you know.

[Dawoud] What could it be? Hm?

You can't even say goodbye to your own brother.

I mean, it's not like you don't already treat him badly enough.

[Dorothy] Dawoud.

I just hope that Amina and I never get like this.

[smacks lips]

Look, I don't know what the two of you keep fighting about,

but what I do know is that you love each other.

There's a lot you don't know about him.

And quite frankly, I'd like to keep it that way.

[Dorothy] Seriously? Is this how you want to leave this?

[trowel stabbing earth]

[suspenseful music]

Wynand? Find her!

[phone vibrates]

[sighs] What have you done now, Ella Gardner?

Hey, Kwams, I am going to run to the store to get some fresh cream, okay?

I'll be right back.

- I can go, madam. - [Dianne] I'll be back.

[Alex] Let's start at the Kamau house since we can't track her phone.

Are we sure this is really Susuman?

Alex, that man is Susuman.

[Alex] I can't believe he's been right under our noses the whole time.

Is his brother in on it?

[Dianne] Well, his brother Peter seems like a respectable family man.

But his younger brother... wasn't too keen on suburban success.

He dropped out and went underground around the Second Congo War.

Susuman is the Russian town he lived in for a year.

I bet it was there that he got militarized.

That war started in, what, the late ‘90s? He must've been a kid.

Welcome to Africa.

[chatter]

It's not safe here.

[in Setswana] Jeez.

[in Setswana] Such little money? My sister?

[intriguing music]

If Ella also saw the picture,

why didn't she tell you she recognized Susuman?

Is it her plan to warn them? I mean, she is dating this Kamau boy.

Does he know?

Ella is just a kid, Alex.

This "kid" burned a cop car, Chief.

A hero, trying to save his people...

- Perfect fodder for Ella types. - And what types are those?

I'm just saying, this girl obviously cares enough for the man

to immortalize him on canvas.

[Dianne] Oh, I see.

Gunning for a promotion already, huh?

Like this, though? I thought you were smarter than that.

I'm not throwing my career away to protect this kid, Dianne.

If she's a double agent, Langley needs to know.

Impressionable kids make great recruits for terrorist groups.

[Ella] Uncle Zuri.

Ella. What are you doing here?

How did you find me?

My parents and I came here to drop off our domestic worker.

Her bus just left.

- You should go home. It's not safe. - So I keep hearing.

I just wanted to say thank you

for being so cool to me when I really needed it the most.

It's no sweat.

It's what friends do for each other.

Just don't let your surroundings define you.

How can I not?

What do you believe in?

In freedom.

You see?

That's it.

Use your belief in freedom to define you.

Is freedom even possible when the world is so messed up?

Someone once told me freedom isn't free.

Of course. Sometimes, it even means death.

Even the deaths of innocent people?

What did you feel when that cop car was burning?

Hm? Like deep inside?

What did you really feel

when the cops were scrambling and screaming?

In that moment between shock and before they took you away?

Um...

- I... - It felt good. Didn't it?

You thought about all those people that those cops hurt.

And deep inside...

it gave you some form of justice.

You see, for freedom,

people like you and me,

we must do whatever it takes.

We really must.

Mm-hmm. [chuckles]

[Dianne] She's activated her emergency code.

Ella is in trouble.

The signal's coming from the CBD. I'm going there with or without you.

[Alex sighs] Change of plans.

We got new coordinates. I repeat, there are new coordinates.

Start scanning the city street cameras in the CBD.

Send backup ASAP.

[Dianne] It's not far from here.

Run along now. It's dangerous for little girls like you.

[Peter] Zuri! Zuri!

Zuri.

- Please, man. - What's happening?

Please, man, um... Please stay.

[in Setswana] Hey, you!

[man] Get on the ground!

Get on the ground!

[man] Get on the ground!

[man] Get on the ground!

- [Zuri] Whoa, whoa, whoa. - [Peter] Whoa, whoa, whoa.

- [man] Keep your hands in the air! - [Peter] No, no, no!

[Peter] Please, put the guns down. There's been a misunderstanding.

There's been a misunderstanding.

Peter!

Dad, what's going on?

Dawoud, stay still. We're okay!

I'm a working man. I've got a good job.

- This is my child. My son. - [Zuri] Peter!

He is a child! We've come to say goodbye to my brother.

[man] Get on the ground!

We just came here to say goodbye to my brother.

- [man] Hands in the air! - Okay!

- [man] Get on the ground! - [Zuri] Peter, don't!

- [Zuri] Peter, don't do anything! - [man] Get down!

Okay! Okay!

- I'll show you. - [man] Keep your hands up!

- [Peter] No, no, listen. I'll show you. - [gunshot]

[screaming]

No!

[in Swahili] Brother, no!

[ammo clatters]

- [Zuri crying] - [Alex] Somebody call an ambulance!

- Don't touch him! Don't touch him! - [Dawoud crying]

- [Zuri] Don't touch him! - Baba.

- [Zuri] You give me my bag! - [man] Shut up!

[in Swahili] You killed my brother!

[in English] Hey, who are you?

[man] Cuff him.

[Zuri panting]

[Zuri grunts, moans]

[crying]

Ella? Are you okay?

- [sobbing] No! - I'm so sorry. It's okay. It's okay.

It's all my fault!

- [Dianne] It's not your fault. - It's all my fault!

No, it is. It is.

It's okay. It's okay.

It's okay. It's okay.

I'm so sorry.

- We gotta get you home. - No, no.

- We gotta get you home. Come on. - No, no, no, no.

[Dianne] It's done. You're going home.

- Look, I just wanted to tell... - Do you think he knew?

That Uncle Zuri is...

It's not clear.

- Will they know about me? - They'll never know.

I'll make sure of that.

So many lies.

Wait. Ella, get back here. Ella!

[gentle piano music]

I'm here. Daddy's here.

[chuckles]

Wow.

Hey.

Dianne, can we have a moment?

Um, Kwams, how about we, uh... finish icing that cake?

- Do you have the fresh cream? - No, they were out, but it's okay.

- You know you and I always have a plan. - Yeah, let's do this.

[Dianne] Yes.

- Gabe, I... - El, um...

Can we sit?

[Gabe sighs]

Okay. Um, first off...

I should not have taken off like that.

Okay? I-I just... I needed some time to think.

Time away from Dianne.

Kwame was freaked out.

If you ever leave him like you left me, I'll never forgive you.

I know. I won't.

El...

All I've ever wanted to do was protect you from harm.

And I regret every single day that I wasn't able to do that for you

all those years that we were apart.

I see now...

how selfish I was.

[Gabe huffs]

You know, back then, I...

I thought, hey, I deserve a second chance at love too, you know?

At a brand-new life.

And I thought I'd never be that guy

that would leave their child behind and... [sniffs]

I thought I could come right back and strike the perfect balance and...

But the truth of the matter was... [inhales]

[chuckles, sniffs]

I was free.

You know, I didn't have to look after Nia.

I didn't have to be stuck in Oakland. I-I was...

I was somebody again, you know? I could... I could write.

And it felt so good.

[sniffs]

But in the back of my mind, I kept thinking, you know, I should...

I should go back for you.

I guess the more time passed...

the harder it got, and...

the more shame I felt.

I felt so much shame.

Not that that's fair to you, you know. It

wasn't your fault. You were just a kid.

But... [sniffs]

I see now how hard that must have been for you and...

I am sorry.

Hey.

I am so sorry.

[chuckles] You know, even if you never forgive me,

it's...

I am determined to make it right...

and be the father that you deserve.

I don't care who was trying to cause you harm.

You know, I'm willing to take them on.

No matter what the cost.

Wow. [scoffs]

[clears throat]

[sighs]

[Gabe] El?

Is Dianne using you for her work?

- What do you mean? - I mean, are you spying for Dianne?

[ominous drum beat]

[laughs]

That is the craziest thing I've ever heard you say.

Like, ever.

New Wife definitely isn't my favorite, but she's not doing any of that at all.

It's a great idea for a book, though.

- "My Daughter, the Teenage Spy." - You wouldn't lie to me, would you?

Seriously, Dad?

I mean, I know I haven't been the easiest.

Coming here was tough.

It was really tough.

You guys tried to make it cool for me...

and I know I didn't act like it, but...

it was actually alright.

Despite everything else.

I made new friends.

I got to know Kwame...

and even you a little bit.

- [Gabe sniffs] - Dianne? She tried.

And I gave her a hell of a hard time.

That's all you saw.

Okay.

[sighs, sniffs]

Okay. [chuckles]

Listen, um...

- Can we just forget this ever happened? - [both laughing]

- It's forgotten. - [sniffs]

Thank you. [laughs]

[exhales]

You know, I've really loved...

every second of having you here. Yep.

Hm?

- It's been a'ight. - [both chuckle]

[poignant music]

You know I love you, right?

[exhales] Come on.

Come on. How about we go see about that cake, huh?

- Yeah. - [Gabe chuckles]

Oof. [sighs]

What a year, huh?

[both laughing]

[metallic clanging]

- [heavy footsteps] - [plate thuds]

[grunts]

[door creaks, thuds]

[footsteps recede]

[slurps]

[ominous bass]

[intriguing guitar riff]