- 2 days ago
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Short filmTranscript
00:21I have journeyed far for this promise of peace, as have I, Kumalo.
00:26The marriage between your firstborn children, it is a union that will bring a truce to
00:32a century of war.
00:34I hope you speak the truth.
00:36I have heard rumors that your daughter is still out of country.
00:41Tradition dictates that the wedding must take place on the holy day of celebration, one
00:49sunrise after today.
00:51And it will be, according to our agreement.
00:54If I may speak on my behalf, I know your daughter will be true to her word.
01:00I only wish to be a worthy husband.
01:02My fondest wish for my daughter and my people.
01:07We will await her arrival.
01:10Come.
01:22Father, forgive me for being so bold, but I understand Kumalo's concern.
01:27My sister has been gone since she was eight years old.
01:30She's a stranger to our ways.
01:33Perhaps I should offer myself in her place.
01:36I am touched by your noble offer, Tikia.
01:40But remember, Janelle went abroad to learn new ideas.
01:45It is her only hope, if we are to survive in these changing times.
01:50As you wish.
02:07So what did he say?
02:09My father, my father will not be moved.
02:12He insists my sister marry Prince Bakari.
02:15Sister, we know the fool.
02:17You will be queen, Tikia.
02:19And you, the power behind the throne.
02:22I will serve at your command.
02:24You will not be jealous that I will share my wedding bed with another man?
02:28It's the price that we must pay.
02:30What did my stepsister?
02:32By this time tomorrow, you will be an only child.
02:46They are late.
02:48There was Bob this morning.
02:49May he cut her to another route.
02:51He better be here soon.
02:52We still have to get Janelle to her village.
02:55And if this marriage does not take place by tomorrow, I guarantee you there will be a war.
02:59What's an African princess doing in America?
03:02Well, Runeco, her father, believes that her experience will bring a fresh perspective to his people.
03:16I see you have taken to riding in the open back.
03:21It was my only means of escape.
03:24Escape from what?
03:26I need a drink.
03:31What's wrong?
03:33You'll see.
03:39Hey, yo.
03:42Trip!
03:43Trip!
03:44That bug is bigger than a Buick, and it is hotter than Cleveland in July.
03:50Ugh!
03:51And this flame still smells like manure.
03:54The princess is in the house.
03:59Art and the mommy.
04:00Let's go.
04:17Okay.
04:24They're playing for trouble.
04:25Oh, my God.
04:55Oh, my God.
05:27It's too heavy. I can't get it.
05:29I'm fine.
05:29What do you got in here, lead?
05:31My CD collection.
05:33You know, Puffy, Jaybird, that sister.
05:37What unusual names.
05:39They're rappers.
05:41What's a rapper?
05:42Is she for real?
05:43I wouldn't underestimate her if I were you.
05:46Oh, I wouldn't go underestimating me if I were you because if you think I'm down with arranged marriages, you're
05:53tripping.
05:54It is your responsibility, Janelle.
05:57Your father has commanded it.
05:59A little 4-1-1 for you, my sister.
06:01See, I got Big Daddy wrapped around my little finger.
06:08Janelle!
06:13Janelle!
06:17What has happened to your hair?
06:20Dye extensions.
06:22Pretty fat, huh?
06:23Fat?
06:24It's American slang.
06:25She's asking if you like it.
06:27I see.
06:29And what is this?
06:31My nose stud.
06:33I had it done a couple years ago.
06:35I feel I'm getting back to my roots.
06:37This is not our roots.
06:39It is not our custom.
06:42I do not approve.
06:46Approve?
06:47This is Matt Cutter.
06:49He flew Janelle here from Cape Town.
06:51And you know my daughter, Shina.
06:53And as far as this, um, slang business, I find it different, but I rather like it.
07:04You go, girl.
07:05Get down with your bad self.
07:07Excuse me?
07:09Uh, she's agreeing with you.
07:12Excellent.
07:14Then come, Janelle.
07:16I have a surprise that will please you.
07:18Bring it up.
07:32What's that smell?
07:34Some of the finest fertilizer in the land.
07:37And a plow that will greatly increase your farming productivity.
07:41Your dowry.
07:44That's it?
07:46No, we also receive 18 goats, 22 chickens, 15 Watusi cattle, four parrots, and an armadillo.
07:56A dowry fit for a princess.
08:01Sounds like a sizzling menu.
08:04Look, Pops, we got to discuss this whole wedding thing.
08:08See, I realize it's a tradition and all, but...
08:11Look, it is quite natural for you to be nervous, my child.
08:13Your dear mother, may she rest in peace.
08:16I was very nervous when we wed.
08:18I'm not nervous, all right?
08:19It's just that...
08:20All your questions will be answered in time.
08:23You must be fatigued.
08:25Your ceremonial hut is prepared for you.
08:27Go and rest.
08:28We will speak again later.
08:32Let's go.
08:44Good luck.
08:45Where are you going?
08:46Oh, I'd love to stay, but I always cry at weddings.
08:50That's too bad.
08:52Guess the contract will have to go to someone else.
08:55What contract?
08:56There will be new trade agreements when the two tribes merge,
09:00which will require a reliable shipping service to deliver the goods.
09:05Could I ever mention I love weddings?
09:09Carly, can I speak to you for a minute?
09:12Excuse me.
09:13I need a favor of you.
09:15Janelle has questions, female questions.
09:18Normally, the mother would speak to the daughter the night before the wedding.
09:22I would be honored to speak to her on her mother's behalf.
09:26You are kind, as you are wise.
09:32So, when is that big day?
09:35Now, when is she getting married?
09:36One sunrise hence, at the Duract village.
09:40I need a ride.
09:41I've got a jeep waiting.
09:42Got her unlimited?
09:43At your service.
09:43Janelle can't ride.
09:45Well, how is she going to get there?
09:46She walks, alone.
09:48It is custom for the bride to present herself and food to her groom.
09:52That's a sign of respect.
09:53That's an awful lot of respect.
09:55I mean, the Duratu village is 20 miles from here.
09:57Yeah, but the path has already been laid out.
09:59You see, Prince Bakari has left gifts along the way for Janelle.
10:04Well, let's hope one of those gifts is a bottle of aspirin.
10:08It's okay, everybody.
10:09Just music from America.
10:12If you want to call that music.
10:14It's a good tribal beat.
10:16Good rhythm.
10:17I do it all my way.
10:19If not for crisscross, I would wear my pants sideways.
10:22Psychedelic with the flavor like Snapple.
10:24You want to bite me?
10:25I got a bit of apple.
10:27Call me Michelin.
10:28I get maximum traction like Janelle.
10:30You might be the one that I Jackson.
10:31I feel like a...
10:32We must speak.
10:34Don't lift the movement, but my ears ain't grove.
10:46Maybe we can groove better now.
10:50Your father wanted me to have a talk with you.
10:55Look, if you came to drop some science about the facts of life,
10:59you could stow it.
11:00I wrote the book, dig?
11:02I am sure you did.
11:04But your father wanted me to make sure you had missed any chapters.
11:21The ways are barbaric.
11:23No one will serve under her rules.
11:26Marco doesn't look happy.
11:27Perhaps he'll be easier to change his mind than we thought.
11:29My father rarely has a change of heart.
11:31But the day is young.
11:37That music.
11:38What is wrong with my daughter?
11:41For starters, she's been gone for a few years.
11:42She's a stranger to me.
11:45Mine between a father and a daughter.
11:47I'll never be broken.
11:49Holly will talk to her.
11:52That.
11:53That.
11:54What is wrong?
11:55I, she, but I, she told me to speak to her hand.
12:01What?
12:03No.
12:05It means she didn't want to listen.
12:07This is unacceptable behavior.
12:12The hut.
12:33It was an accident.
12:37Accident or not, this was completely irresponsible.
12:40Well, then maybe I'm too irresponsible.
12:42Take her to the stone heart.
12:44Stone heart.
12:45Appropriate.
12:46I will speak to her when I am not so angry.
12:59Girl can't even sneak a smoke around here.
13:02That fire could have caused her.
13:03A lot of damage.
13:04Yeah, well, I didn't do it on purpose.
13:07Maybe.
13:08Maybe not.
13:09Look, if you got something to say, girlfriend, then say it.
13:14I think you're afraid.
13:16Yeah, a what?
13:18Of all of this?
13:20You came back here to prevent a war.
13:23To stop 50 years of hatred between your tribe and their dratus.
13:28Pretty big responsibility for someone so young.
13:33Yeah, well, I ain't scared of nothing, cave girl.
13:35So why don't you ghost and let me chill?
13:41Ghost.
13:43Jet.
13:46Bounce.
13:47Bag out.
13:48Burn rubber.
13:51Leave.
13:52Well, why didn't you just say so?
14:03Perhaps you should think about postponing the wedding.
14:05I cannot.
14:06To do so would be a direct affront to Kamalu and his people.
14:10Tradition dictates that the two must wait on the holy day of celebration.
14:13No other day.
14:17I know that tradition is important, but does anybody care what these two people want?
14:21There's nothing to talk about.
14:23They both understand about arranged marriages.
14:26They were born into it.
14:27Where the greater good comes before personal happiness.
14:31Even still, she's your daughter.
14:33And she needs to know that you still care.
14:39Maybe I've been a little harsh.
14:41I will go speak to her.
14:43I'll take you.
14:55Janelle!
15:07She's gone.
15:23She's gone.
15:36Janelle!
15:37Janelle!
15:41Janelle!
15:53Janelle!
15:59Janelle!
16:01Janelle!
16:02Oh, my God.
16:39What the hell are you doing?
16:41Trying to save your life.
16:45Well, you don't have to be so up-loose and personal about it.
16:52You were trying to run away.
16:54Nuh-uh. I was just hanging.
16:57I just wanted to see if I still have those tracking skills I had when I was little.
17:01I cannot speak much for your tracking, but you have surely forgotten how to swing.
17:06This wasn't Janelle's doing. Someone dragged her into the river.
17:09How can you be so sure?
17:11Because I found footprints in the mud.
17:13Yeah, well, someone doesn't want this wedding to take place.
17:15Like me.
17:17I say I get the hell out of here before some gangster tries to bust a cap.
17:22What did she say?
17:24Uh, she said that she wants to leave before whoever it is that's trying to kill her decides to shoot
17:29her.
17:31Janelle, you are the firstborn daughter of the Arowana.
17:37You are a princess.
17:39This is your destiny.
17:41Your people need you.
17:44I need you.
17:45But, Father, I don't even know what Bakari looks like.
17:50I've never even met him.
17:53I understand how you feel.
17:55I did not meet your mother before we got married.
17:59But eventually, we fell in love.
18:03Yeah, but no one was trying to kill you.
18:10Perhaps I could convince Sheena to go with her.
18:14And I thought she had walked by herself.
18:16Tradition dictates she cannot be accompanied by tribal gods.
18:20Yeah, that's right.
18:21We're not a part of the tribe.
18:22So we can go with her.
18:24We?
18:26I'm not going.
18:27Yes, you are.
18:28All right.
18:29Give me one good reason.
18:30Because I asked you to.
18:32Okay.
18:33Give me the real reason.
18:36I don't understand a thing she's saying.
18:54I still think leaving my gun behind is a mistake.
18:58Well, these tribes have been fighting for over half a century.
19:01One of the Doratus sees you with a gun.
19:04Break out in war.
19:08May that great protector watch over you in your journey.
19:13Amen to that.
19:16And may she provide you with much peace and understanding.
19:20Amen to that.
19:24This map will guide you.
19:41The princess should have been dead by now.
19:43We can't afford to fail again.
19:45You're a skilled marksman.
19:47Do you think you can get a clear shot at the first clearing?
19:49Good.
19:49Thank God.
19:54I still don't see why we have to do it this way.
19:56It is customary for the bride to make her journey on foot.
20:00That is how she demonstrates respect for her future husband.
20:04Fine.
20:05And I will show my respect by meeting her halfway.
20:08Do you dare defy tradition?
20:10I'm not defying anything, father.
20:12There's nothing about tradition that says I cannot walk too.
20:14Ever since you were a boy, you have been rebellious.
20:18This is not about being rebellious.
20:20I am worried for Princess Janelle.
20:22You have feelings for this woman, yet you have never met her?
20:25She is going to be my wife.
20:27Rebellious and stubborn.
20:28Some say I am just like my father.
20:34Then go to her.
20:35You have my blessing.
20:37Thank you, father.
20:43Usually, the wedding spear is presented at the time of the vows.
20:47But since you are taking it upon yourself to ensure your wife's safe arrival,
20:52that is like a vow in itself.
20:54I think you should present her with this when you find her.
20:58I will.
20:59Bakari.
21:02I'm proud of you, my son.
21:26Yo, yo, yo.
21:28Could you two chill?
21:29Oh, my dogs are biting me.
21:31Her feet hurt.
21:33My feet hurt.
21:33We can't slow down.
21:34We'll never make it to Trenco Falls by the evening.
21:37We have to or we won't get to the village.
21:39Hey, how come a Marilyn like you knows so much about the jungle?
21:43My name isn't Marilyn.
21:45Uh, Marilyn as in Monroe.
21:47What I'm saying is you don't look like no native to me.
21:50My parents were explorers.
21:52My parents were explorers.
21:53The jungle's my home.
21:57Whoa, wow.
21:58You two take a hawk over here.
22:02Check out gift number one.
22:05Looks like a cloak.
22:06Look.
22:10Ooh, and my favorite color.
22:17Sheena?
22:19That's a hawk over here.
22:41I just knew you were mad.
22:57Let's go.
23:23Are you okay?
23:26Oh, my...
23:27I was almost killed.
23:30Take a couple of deep breaths. Try to relax.
23:33Is she okay?
23:34Just a little rattled.
23:35Rattled? I am so far past rattled.
23:40My man is trying to kill me.
23:42I mean, if he doesn't want to get married,
23:44I wish he would have just paged me,
23:46because this crap ain't happening.
23:48Oh, God.
23:50It wasn't even my idea.
23:52He changed his mind, and...
23:54He didn't change his mind.
23:56This is from Bakari.
23:59To my darling Janelle,
24:00I've started to count the hours until I see you.
24:03Do I dare hope that
24:04you feel the same sense of anticipation
24:06now that the waiting is almost over?
24:08I hope you feel the same way.
24:13Yo, bro, this is private.
24:15Oh, I'm jiggy with that.
24:18So, who do you think would like to take out
24:20a perfectly nice young woman like this?
24:23I don't know.
24:24It's almost noon.
24:25We have to get a move on.
24:26I think you can convince the princess of hip-hop
24:28to stay with the program.
24:30I think Bakari already has.
24:36Come on.
24:37Let's go.
24:43Come on.
24:44Let's go.
24:46Let's go.
24:49Let's go.
25:20What happened to Toro is unfortunate, but we cannot let it stop us.
25:25I received word from one of the lawyers for the Duratu village.
25:29And we still have one more opportunity if you were still with me.
25:54Janelle, is that you?
26:04We'll camp here for the night.
26:06Right.
26:10I got a fire started.
26:12Why don't you rustle up some fruit from that tree over there?
26:15Are you talking to me, young boy?
26:18Oh, I forgot.
26:19You're a princess.
26:22I'll start the fire.
26:24You get the fruit.
26:32Now, look, you got it all wrong, cave girl.
26:36You stack the wood like this.
26:38It leaves room for the wind to blow through when you light it.
26:41We don't have a lighter, do we?
26:49My father tried to teach me to do that when I was little.
26:53I can never pull it off.
26:57Did your father teach you to do that?
27:00No.
27:01He and my mom were killed when I was little.
27:05What happened to them?
27:06They were in a cave.
27:08They were in a cave.
27:08And I collapsed.
27:09Oh, man.
27:12That ain't right.
27:14Well, sometimes I wonder how different my life would have been if they were still alive.
27:21Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like if I wasn't Princess of Arowana.
27:27Do you miss your life back in America?
27:29Hell, yeah.
27:33Except, you know, you can't see the stars.
27:38You can't hear the birds.
27:42You can't smell the night-blooming flowers.
27:45Sounds like you thought about this place a lot while you were gone.
27:49But that doesn't mean I'm down with all this arranged marriage jive.
27:55So why are you so reluctant to, uh, meet him?
28:00Is it that he might not live up to his prose?
28:04What if I'm not what he expects?
28:07Well, you were pretty taken with Bakari's letter.
28:14Janelle, you inspired this man to write.
28:17You have nothing to worry about.
28:21Well, damn, the boy has improved.
28:24When we first started writing, everything he wrote was so uptight and stiff.
28:40Yeah, I need some time to chill.
28:42I'm gonna play.
28:52I'm gonna play.
28:55No, no, no.
28:56I'm gonna play.
28:56I'm gonna play.
28:56I'm gonna play.
28:58I'm gonna play.
29:10Let's play.
29:27please don't hurt me what happened he was trying to sneak up on us good thing you got him
29:36wait that's a wedding spear it's been in my family for generations lakari
29:46is it you
29:47better see me more beautiful than i imagined
30:05takia what what are you doing here don't try to get up you must have tripped and hit your head
30:10against the stone no it was someone i heard something and then everything went dark
30:18the heat sometimes plays tricks on our eyes no doubt your memory will become clear once you rest
30:24no i cannot rest i must find janelle
30:29i shouldn't tell you this not in your condition but i fear i must tell me what
30:35janelle my sister there was an accident a horrible accident you must tell me
30:42she was attacked we heard there was a rogue lion roaming the area no it can't be a hunter from
30:50the village found her remain this is my fault i should have gone for her sooner you cannot blame
30:56yourself it is tradition that the bride walk alone janelle is dead
31:02and this is the price we pay for tradition i know how hard it must be for you i've cried
31:09a thousand
31:10tears i can't believe this after all the waiting i'll never get to meet her see her smile or hear
31:23her laugh
31:26my father is inconsolable but he still wishes for our families to unite
31:32how
31:33he asked that i should offer myself to you i know that i am beneath you in rank and
31:38my father would never agree to that
31:40but there's no harm in asking him would there for the good of our people
31:49i am so sorry to hear about all the trouble you've had my queen not as sorry as i am
31:54is there anyone
31:55from your village that doesn't want you two married no one but when i find out who's responsible
32:02they will die with my hand i swear it whatever
32:12i greatly appreciate everything that you've done but i will escort my bride from here you sure that's
32:18such a good idea i insist the two of us need time to get to know one another but you
32:23better talk fast
32:24because we only got an hour as witty as she is beautiful i am indeed a lucky man my queen
32:34yo word up sister we gotta talk
32:40excuse us
32:45what's wrong i don't like him well it's because you don't know him yet
32:54i know him better than you think
33:08this is what you were talking about you've been writing letters all along
33:15notes against the rules but we wrote to each other every month for the last year
33:21janelle taught me how to write to a woman with letters she wrote to me this woman truly loved you
33:28not as much as i loved her
33:31i will marry takia for the good of our people but she will never have my heart
33:41each word becomes more and more beautiful
33:45yeah they did i think it's because his handwriting improved because at first i could not make out
33:51one sentence but then i found out he was left-handed here it talks about a dream catcher
33:58what is that it's part of the native american culture i wrote him about
34:03sort of became our secret you know catching each other's dreams so we could always be close
34:09sounds romantic no kidding
34:14you know after listening to the brothers back in the states i cannot wait to get procari's letters
34:20they're the reason i came back here but he don't sound nothing like these he was never this formal he
34:28never called me his queen and what is with all this bowing maybe he's trying to show you respect
34:37or maybe he doesn't feel comfortable talking to you in person
34:43what would you do if you were me i'm not you
34:49you're gonna have to make your own decision
34:57we need to begin the ceremony soon i have already told you
35:01i will not start until sheena returns no one's grief is greater than mine kali
35:06but we cannot risk a tribal war over this where is the evidence have you seen proof that jane
35:13is dead that sheena and cutter are dead no but neither have i
35:19kali what are you doing i will not move from this spot until they return
35:34i will not move from this spot until they return to this spot
35:35the cuda should have been back by now there must be trouble go and find him
35:45what have they been talking about for so long
35:47you know how women are with weddings something's probably wrong with the bridesmaids dresses
35:54yeah there comes your bride now
36:03all right groom boy let's jet jet
36:08ah she's ready to leave oh yes of course come
36:18something's wrong
36:20oh prince meets princess sounds like happily ever after to me
36:26i hope you're right
36:36whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa this ain't the way to your village no but it is the way to
36:41my own diamond mine
36:43you got a diamond mine i wanted to blend my culture with the one you've been living in
36:47and i believe in that culture it is a tradition for the groom to give his bride a diamond
36:53you got me jewelry an engagement ring actually i'm going to let you choose it yourself
37:03women have a way of fantasizing about the perfect man there's no way reality is going to measure up
37:09to the image janelle's concocted from these letters measure up yeah you know meet the standards
37:15being equal to being as tall as okay that's taking measure literally but no see i was reading
37:24through some of bakari's letters he described himself to janelle as being small in stature but
37:29as big-hearted as a giant yeah the guy's my size and i'm six one yeah she also said that
37:35he was left-handed this guy held his spear with his right that's not bakari
37:41i think you're right
38:01so where's my rock
38:05you don't expect me to dig it up myself
38:10if you don't want to get married i'm down with that
38:14firstly that's not how it works in order for your sister to be queen you have to be dead
38:19what do you care if my sister's queen because then i will be the power behind the throne
38:35oh
38:35oh
38:36oh
38:36oh
38:36oh
38:36Oh, my God.
39:08Oh, my God.
39:51Oh, my God.
40:01Oh, my God.
40:02Oh, my God.
40:03Oh, my God.
40:06Oh, my God.
40:21Oh, my God.
40:22Oh, my God.
40:43I confess to everything.
40:45She and Nakuda did not care who got hurt as long as she could marry Bukari.
40:50Crab pup?
40:52Oh, don't tell me you cater this reception.
40:55I'm a man of many talents.
41:00What's up, homies?
41:02Here are the newlyweds.
41:04How is married life?
41:06Well, it's only been three hours, but so far, it's pretty dope.
41:12Dope.
41:13Yeah, dope is, uh, it's a good thing, right?
41:17Yes, in this context, it's a good thing.
41:21Slap me five, sister.
41:23Okay.
41:25Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, not like that.
41:28Like this.
41:33Allow me.
41:36Allow me.
41:38May I?
41:42That's nice to see you.
41:44They put aside their differences.
41:45Oh, Africa will never be the same.
42:29Oh, yeah.
42:32Yeah.
42:33Oh, yeah.
42:35Oh, yeah.
42:36Oh, yeah.
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