The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency (2008) s01e03 Episode Script

This is a very odd letter.
"Too many smart young men I see getting promoted over me and rising up the salary scale only because he is a male.
" What does she want you to do? I don't know.
It's what happens in the workplace all the time.
The glass ceiling I've read about this.
Exactly right the glass ceiling.
Mmm! It has never stopped you.
That's because my father left me plenty of cattle.
If it weren't for that, I'd be slaving away in an office like anybody else, going nowhere.
I don't mean that you are going nowhere.
What I was trying to say was that I'm going to kill you! Look at my shop! - Stupid boy! - Stop this.
Rre Sesupeng, what is the meaning of this? There have been robbers in my shop! My stock is ruined because this boy this boy forgot to lock the shop last night, huh? L-i-it is true that I forgot one time before, but not last night! Look, here are my keys! The same keys you forgot to put in the lock last night, you idiot! Please let me help.
I am the detective.
Show me the scene of the crime.
Come come come.
Take a look.
- Come! - You don't have to be so harsh.
What was taken? Shoes three shoes.
What else do you think they'll take from a shoe shop? - Three single shoes? - Yes.
Do you think you were invaded by a gang of one-legged burglars? And what makes you think they came in or hopped in - through this door? - How else can they come inside? Huh? Ha.
An unlocked window too small for a grownup person to climb through.
That's my point exactly.
Hmm.
It is clear what has happened.
Rre Sesupeng, you've been robbed by children.
In the future, if you don't want them to come in, put bars on your window.
And stop abusing your assistant.
It's not nice.
I don't know why he had to beat the boy.
Oh my God! Git! Get get off my desk! - Off, get oh! - Out out out! - Aww! - Get out of here! Get out.
Go, chicken! Out out out! Excuse me? Good afternoon.
Are you looking for the detective agency? - Yes.
- Get out! I'll have that letter ready for you in just one moment, mma.
Thank you.
Would you like to sit underneath the tree? It's cool there, Mrs? Curtin.
Andrea Curtin.
That would be a good idea.
Mma Ramotswe.
How did you hear about my business? There was a porter at the hotel who gave me your name.
My embassy was no use at all.
They said there was no such thing as a detective agency here in Gaborone.
We are a new business.
How how may I help you? I'm here to find my son Michael, but I don't think he's alive anymore.
That's very sad.
I lost a child myself a boy.
He was born but he did not live.
We think we'll get over the pain, but it never happens.
Do you have a picture of Michael? That's Michael just after he graduated from Stanford.
Oh, he wanted to change the world.
You know how kids are.
Well, somehow he heard about a project a commune, I guess here in Botswana where they were growing plants and vegetables in very very dry soil.
"The greening of the desert" that's what they called it.
It was at a farm near, um Silongkolele? Silokwolela.
It is very dry in this part of the country, almost desert.
This is Mma Makutsi, my secretary.
Ahh, hello.
Thank you.
- Secretary? - Mmm.
Haven't heard that very much in the United States.
Every secretary is an assistant at least, or an associate executive.
"Associate executive.
" Michael heard about this project Yes, and he wanted to come here and do some good in the world.
His father and I weren't happy about it, but what else could we do? For weeks we heard nothing.
And then he started to write these wonderful letters.
He said he's found his African heart.
What else could we be but happy? Until one day the embassy called and said he'd been reported missing.
Jack, my husband, dropped everything and we came here.
It was miles from anywhere.
It took us two hours to get there.
And the roads well, they weren't roads, just tracks, really.
But when we got to the place, I saw what Michael had meant.
Somehow in the middle of all that dust and heat, they had built a garden.
They all came out to meet us.
There was a guy with a little beard, Oswald Ranta.
The leader of the commune was an older man from Kenya.
I think his name was Peter Ngari.
Oh, and a nurse at the clinic that they started for the local people Rebecca Soloi was her name.
All any of them could tell us was that Michael had gone to bed the night before and had disappeared the next morning.
A total mystery.
The embassy and the local police did their best, but after a while they gave up.
We even hired a tracker a bushman.
What was his name? I think we called him Jo Jo.
But he searched and couldn't find anything, so we had no alternative but to go back home.
That must have been hard fearing the worst but not knowing.
Yes, it was hard.
My only consolation was that as the years went by, Jack and I had each other, till last September when he passed away.
Seems like I had a choice of going to Florida and retiring and watch TV, or to make a life for myself, and that's what I've chosen.
But l I can't do it until I find out what happened to my son, for better or for worse.
Does that make sense? It makes very good sense.
I think we should start by going back to that farm together.
But it's deserted.
Nobody lives there.
Places have echoes.
If we are sensitive enough, we might pick up a feeling of what happened there.
Right.
Okay.
Zebras sunsets, irrigation schemes these letters are beautifully written, but there isn't one single clue.
We must trace the witnesses.
I have made a note of all their names.
Except they didn't witness anything, so they said.
I have a bad feeling about this case.
10 years is a long time.
"A stale enquiry is unrewarding for all concerned.
" Nnyaa, mma.
It's about a prize he's won.
"The client is given false hopes and the detective feels committed to come up with something" Yes, thank you.
"but at the end of the day" "nothing is likely to be achieved.
" Mma Makutsi? What are you doing? I have found a witness! You've done what? Oswald Ranta is now Dr.
Ranta.
He is a head of studies in the Department of Rural Economics at the university right here in Gaborone.
How did you find him? That was very clever of you.
How about witness #2, Rebecca Soloi? A nurse should be easy to find.
You should call Dr.
Gulubane.
There is no need to trouble Dr.
Gulubane.
She works in a clinic in Moshupa.
Was she in the telephone directory as well? Nnyaa, mma.
I happen to know her.
How? Coincidence.
Welcome to the Grand Palm, madame.
Thank you.
- Sorry I'm late.
- Sure this thing is going to make it? - Of course! - Okay.
We had 10 outlets in Washington, D.
C.
For the last year of his life, I was effectively running the whole show.
Will you go on running the show now that you are on your own? No, I'm going to sell everything off.
Don't laugh too loud, but I'm planning on going to college to do African Studies.
Like your son.
Yeah, you could say that.
We should offer this man a lift.
Haa! Yeah! Do you think this is safe? I'm sure it's safe.
If he was a criminal, he would have stolen his own car by now.
Besides, he's not very big.
Thank you! Botswana music! There you are! Do you like music, mma? No, it's okay.
Thank you.
Could you do something about the volume? Do you want it louder? I make it much louder.
Rebecca Soloi? This is Grace Makutsi.
Do you remember me? Ee, mma.
He is.
He he is not so strong as he was.
No, not yet, but he will.
Mma, I'm calling to make an appointment with you for the lady that I work with, but I must ask you a favor first: When you see her, can you please not mention Richard? If you want to see that old farm, you must ask Mma Potsane.
She worked there once upon a time.
- Straight down this road? - Yes, down this road.
You will see where the donkeys are, right? Okay.
Thank you.
Sorry.
Well, he was right about the donkeys.
Let me speak with her first.
She knows the farm well and she remembers Michael.
Oh.
I'm Andrea Curtin.
Michael was my son.
Oh, I'm sorry, my sister.
Come.
Come inside.
Thank you.
Is this okay? She seems to have so little.
It's what she wants.
I was married once.
- You must marry again! - Oh.
You must marry a policeman or a motor mechanic or a minister of religion.
All those are very good men to marry.
You must not marry a politician or a man who works in a bar.
Mmm, my husband was a trumpeter.
He was not a good husband.
I will add trumpeters to my list.
Is she gonna join us? She'll wait until we're finished.
Well, how do I do this? Watch me.
Oh my God.
This used to be beautiful before.
I'm glad Jack can't see this.
It's like everything our son was trying to do was just a joke.
I think the bush has eaten it up.
What went wrong? They were trying to grow lettuces and tomatoes in a place that is only good for thorn bushes.
It would be easier to grow grass on your own head.
What do you think happened to Michael? I think he was sucked up.
Sucked up? Big whirlwinds come from the Kalahari and suck things up.
But where that whirlwind would have put him down, I do not know.
It could be thousands of miles away.
That is where I lived with my husband.
Aye, sister.
I'm sad to see it.
Sad to see it.
It breaks my heart every time she calls me sister.
This was the clinic where Rebecca Soloi worked.
She was one of the first to realize how quickly HIV was spreading beyond the towns into the countryside.
Look, there's a photograph.
That's Michael in the middle.
- Who's that? - I don't know.
It says "Clara Sidibe.
" Michael never mentioned her in any of his letters.
Mma? Excuse me.
Somebody has made a fire over there.
It was after the last rains.
It was probably hunters.
Oh.
There is a wind, eh? What do you think it's saying, this wind? It's saying that on this farm there's a spirit that can't get away.
I think so too.
- Look.
- Oh, wow.
Can we get out? - If we are quiet.
- Okay.
They're so primitive.
God, this is God.
Why do you think they're fighting? - They're male.
- Oh, that reason.
It's always that reason.
They're just children.
Yeah.
The whole world was young in Africa once.
Ee, mma.
What do you think? - I don't like this guy with the beard.
- No, neither do I.
Is there anything else? There is a closeness between the boy and the girl.
- Yes, I saw that too.
- Did you tell the mother? I think she suspects it already.
I feel worse about something else I didn't tell her.
What's that? There was a wind that spoke of a restless spirit, and that only means one thing: There is a body there that has not been properly buried.
Do you have proof? No, just my instincts.
Well, until you know for certain, best not to say anything.
Americans are very clever people they can send rockets into space.
But science isn't the only thing.
There are other things that make the world what it is things of the spirit.
Americans never notice them, even though they're right under their noses.
Uh, please leave the water.
You should change your maid.
- She's just jealous.
- Jealous of who? Of you.
She has no reason to be jealous.
I know.
Bye bye, thank you.
Oh, good morning, Mma Ramotswe.
What can we do for you? - I just have a question.
- Uh-huh? Do you send Barsawa trackers on your safari tours? What sort of territory do you want to explore? Do you know a tracker called Jo Jo? If you come across anyone who might know where he is, please let me know.
It's very urgent.
I want to speak with him.
Ho, mma! Ho, mma.
What's in it for us? - Maybe - Mm-hmm? just maybe - Uh-huh? I'll try to find a couple of girls desperate enough to deal with your crazy chatter.
We don't need two girls! Just one who is big enough for two.
Don't go in there.
Whew.
I've been thinking about the possibility of my promotion.
There need not be any rise in pay, but if my title recognized my powers of detection rather than just my typing, I'd be very grateful.
Well, I don't think " associate executive detective" sounds quite right.
Mmm.
That would be going too far.
May I make the suggestion of the wording "assistant detective"? Koko! Darling lady, please come help.
There's an emergency.
Quick quick! How did that happen? I came out of the car and suddenly, pah! - My pants are broken.
- It won't take a moment.
I'll get a needle.
Take them off.
We were right in the middle of a business conversation! I'm a serial interrupter.
You'll have to get used to it.
Gah! Not in here! What if a client were to come in? What would they think? They will think that my beautiful legs was only matched by these extraordinary underpants.
Mma Makutsi, please! Come in.
I've seen a man with no trousers on before.
Thank you so, darling lady.
They should last for the rest of the day.
I can't answer for them after that.
I'll try and get my own sewing kit next time.
Wait, mma! Mma! Mma Ramotswe! Hey, Mma Ramotswe! Mma Ramotswe! Whoo! The hair-dryer is gone; box of eyelashes they were next to oh, no.
They are gone too.
Who steals a box of fake nails? Don't touch anything.
I must inspect the scene of the crime.
Oh, how do you know what to inspect? B.
K.
, I will very soon be an assistant detective.
I would be that already had you not come bursting in here with emergencies and what what.
Question #1: Where were the keys to this beauty salon? I pulled the keys out of my pocket.
So the door was locked.
No, I pulled the keys out of my pocket to scratch my bottom.
Of course the door was locked! The door was locked.
Goods are scattered around the floor.
And there is no sign of forced entry.
I am familiar with this modus operandi! Modus what? We are investigating a similar crime in another commercial establishment.
Oh oh oh! I hope you're not comparing this catastrophe with Sesupeng losing a couple of his horrible-Iooking shoes.
In fact, I think this crime is identical! You have been robbed by children! How do you know? Because at the back of the shop there is a small window with a broken a broken a brok Perhaps I spoke too soon.
I will of course personally pay for the damage.
Mma Ramotswe.
- Dumela, mma.
- Dumela, mma.
Ahh.
Nurse Soloi, thank you for seeing me.
Oh, this is a good time.
Most of our patients are resting.
Come, let us sit in the shade.
So Grace Makutsi tells me that you are a detective.
- That's right.
- It must be exciting work! Sometimes it is.
Do you know her well Grace? Not well, but I know that she is a fine woman - with a big heart.
- She is.
So you want to talk about Michael? Ee, mma.
Were you close? Well, we worked together for six months, so I suppose I was, but not like Clara.
Clara Sidibe? She was his girlfriend, yes? There were not supposed to be boyfriends or girlfriends on the farm.
Peter Ngari thought it against the spirit of the commune.
- Mmm.
- So nothing was said, but Michael was not a good actor.
- Sit.
- Thank you.
There is water for us and two iced buns.
I have heard that you are a woman who likes to eat.
Now that I have met you, I can see it's true.
Eat, please.
Thank you.
Do you know where Clara is now? No.
No, I don't.
I was in Gaborone buying supplies on the night that Michael disappeared.
By the time I got back, Clara had already left.
- And you've heard nothing from her? - No, not a word.
Perhaps I need to look for two people Michael and Clara.
- Perhaps.
- What about Oswald Ranta? Oh, he is now a lecturer at the university.
Do you think he had something to do with Michael's disappearance? You know, at the time I would have said if there's anyone to suspect, then yes, it would be him.
But now something has happened to make me change my mind.
Every year I drive past that farm on my way to see relatives.
This year I saw that someone else had been there.
- They had built a fire.
- Yes, I saw that too.
Lying beside the fire I found this.
"Michael Curtin.
" I think that Michael is still alive.
Jo Jo is here.
I offered them food but they didn't want any.
- Thank you.
- Mma.
This is Doris, Jo Jo's granddaughter.
- Dumela, mma.
- Dumela, mma.
I'm going to talk and translate for you.
Thank you, Doris.
Please tell your grandfather I'm very happy to have him as my guest.
10 years ago, your grandfather searched a farm near Silokwolela.
He was looking for a boy that was missing.
Recently I went to the same farm.
I felt that there was something there.
I thought it might be the body of the missing young man, Michael Curtin.
Now I think I was wrong.
I think Michael may be alive.
My grandfather says that he wants to speak the truth.
Ee.
He knows where the body was hidden.
He saw an anthill.
He believes that the the the body of the body is in the anthill.
It was as clear to him as the sun in the sky, but he could not tell the mother what he had found.
A man have small beard said that if he told anyone, he would do harm to both him and his family.
Doris, I have just one last question: Does he know if the body was a man or a woman? My grandfather says that if you want to know the answer, you must dig it up.
Thank you.
I still don't understand.
Why did you ask that? Because it's not just Michael who is missing.
No one has seen Clara Sidibe since Michael vanished.
And if he's still alive, as this suggests, then we have to consider that the body might be Clara's.
Michael Curtin may not be the victim in this crime.
- Thank you.
- My pleasure, ma'am.
That trip really took it out of me emotionally, I mean.
I thought I had ended grieving years ago.
But now it feels as if I'm just at the beginning.
So how are we doing? Well, I'm afraid I don't have anything to report at the present.
No developments whatsoever? I've been working on some ideas, but nothing definite yet.
Is there is there some bad news you're trying to protect me from? It's too soon to say, but there is something I need to know.
If I discovered someone did something wrong, whoever it is, could you could you find it in your heart to forgive that person? No, I would want them brought to justice.
I'm an American and that's what we believe in, Mrs.
Ramotswe.
Most people in this country would agree with you.
But we have an older tradition: If a wrongdoer is truly sorry for what he has done, the person he has harmed will try to forgive him.
I think that's what your son would want.
The African heart.
Ee, mma.
Well I may just be beginning to understand what Michael meant by that.
Dumela, mma.
I'm looking for a Dr.
Ranta.
Dr.
Ranta! Dr.
Ranta! One moment he's here; the next moment he's run off.
Do you know where he is now? You could try his office it's two doors down.
I'm afraid I'm busy as you can see.
Knock loudly before you go in if you don't want a surprise.
May I sit for a moment? I've been on my feet all day.
You look run off your feet as well.
It's my last day.
I'm leaving.
About Dr.
Ranta, - what sort of surprise? - Forget what I said.
My tongue ran away with me.
Oh, I understand.
It's very good you don't gossip about your boss.
Male teachers whoo are always getting into trouble for things that perfectly normal men would do.
I understand a little about human nature.
You see, I run a small detective agency.
Perhaps I could leave some leaflets with you? "Sexual harassment"? You'd be a very busy lady if you came to work for this department.
Ahh.
I don't know about that.
I find a lot of accusations boil down to not very much.
Is that so? What if a teacher says to a young girl, "Come into bed with me and I'll give you an advanced peep - at the examination paper"? - Oh! I can't believe Dr.
Ranta does that.
You just try working here.
Now that I think about it I heard about that.
The girl's name was Kitumetsi, wasn't it? Kitumetsi? No! It was my cousin's daughter Tsolo.
Yes, Tsolo.
But it happened to nobody else.
Well, she's the only one I know of for sure, but I see plenty of other girl students creeping into his office after hours.
Nobody lifts a finger to stop his going-ons.
He gets away with it every time.
He doesn't have to.
You know, it only takes one person to tell the truth just one.
Ah, yes, I remember now.
Michael's mother came nosing around asking questions.
And now I suppose she's paying you to do it for her.
Well, I have nothing to add.
He must have wandered off into the Kalahari and lost his way.
It is easy to get lost out there one thorn bush looks just like another.
Dr.
Ranta, it is so obvious that you are not telling the truth.
You may as well have a neon sign around your neck saying "liar.
" Please don't think your comic-book job gives you any right to come into my office and threaten me.
Our talk is now finished and I must ask you to leave.
I have papers to mark.
Oh, but I have something in my bag that might interest you.
It is a written statement from one of your students.
You might know her.
Her name is Tsolo.
I don't know what you are talking about.
Get out now or I will call security.
You do know who I mean.
I can prove you slept with her and that you showed her the examination papers in exchange.
I also know another girl who is willing to swear that you offered her the exact same thing if she slept with you.
That's two statements.
It's called corroboration.
We detectives like corroboration.
So tell me, Dr.
Ranta, what will you do as an unemployed university lecturer? Will you go back to your village? Will you help with the cattle? What do you really want? I want to know the truth about Michael Curtin.
- I don't tell the truth, I lose my job.
- Correct.
But if I do tell the truth, you'll forget about the statements? As if they never existed.
Very well.
It was Clara's fault as much as mine.
Until Michael turned up at the farm, she and I were doing fine just fine.
So you were in love with her too? Let's tone down the violins, shall we? We would slip out at night to an old hut by a dried-up riverbed.
Then Michael turned up on the scene with his half-thought-out political ideals.
Clara, of course, was impressed.
I would see the two of them sitting together or going off for walks.
Then they took a trip up to the North together.
When they came back, I asked her, "What is going on?" She said she had something important to tell me.
I said to her straight out, had she been sleeping with him? She admitted it.
I felt so betrayed.
- And angry? - Of course! - And you fought? - I may have slapped her a little, - but nothing serious.
- Then what happened? Michael burst in.
He had followed her.
There was a struggle and I ran.
He came after me but it was pitch dark and it was not difficult to lose him.
Then everything went quiet.
I felt completely alone.
Then I heard Clara screaming.
I ran back and Michael had run headfirst into a deep ditch.
He had broken his stupid bloody neck.
It was obvious no one was going to believe it was an accident so You saw an anthill.
- How do you know that? - It doesn't matter.
You said she was going to tell you something important.
What was it? That time they went away together, she and Michael got married.
Perhaps you can understand why I felt so betrayed.
I understand more than that.
Where is she now? I believe she is running a small hotel up north near Maun.
Thank you.
That's what I wanted to know.
I want Tsolo's statement.
I don't have a statement.
Dr.
Ranta, for a clever man, you are remarkably easy to fool.
Well, you said someone ought to stop it.
- Good luck on your new job! - Thank you.
Excuse me? Yes? I'm looking for Michael Curtin.
I am Michael Curtin.
I know.
Can I help you? Clara Curtin? Who are you? I couldn't tell Ranta I was carrying Michael's child.
- Of course not.
- He was crazy enough as it was.
So? Afterwards, he tried to make me help him hide Michael's body, but I couldn't.
It was too much.
He told me if I said anything to anyone, he would make sure I went to prison.
I was frightened for myself and my child.
So I just I ran.
I moved around at first, afraid to tell anyone where I was.
Then I ended up here.
When the baby was born, I named him after his father and I brought him up on my own.
Recently, he started to want to know about his daddy.
That's why I took him to the farm.
We made a fire and talked and laughed just like his father and I used to do.
Hmm.
He's a beautiful boy.
If I had a son, I would want him to be like that.
I'm proud that I have been a good mother, but what I did on that farm has haunted me ever since.
I don't know if I can ever make up for it.
Tell Michael's mother what happened the truth.
She cannot stop grieving until you do.
What will you do when you grow up? I'm going to study agriculture.
That's a very good thing to do.
It's what your father would have wanted.
It reminds me I have something of yours.
I did that.
I know.
Take it with you.
Never lose it.
It's what brought us all together.
And this is a gift for your new grandmother.
I bought this basket from an old lady on the side of the road on the very day I met you.
You see the pattern on the side? - Yes.
- Do you know what it means? No.
- Do you want me to tell you? - Yes.
Okay.
Now you know what a giraffe is, right? You see the small marks? Those are tears.
Good.
Michael? Your father's mother wants to meet you.
Okay? She's a very nice lady.
I want you to be on your best behavior.
Okay? Hello.
This is for you, Grandmother.
Ahh, it's lovely.
Thank you.
Let me have a look at it.
There's a meaning in it.
There is? These little marks are tears.
Tears? The giraffe gives its tear to the ladies to weave into the basket.
It means that everyone in the world has something to give, but the giraffe only has his tears.
They're all he's got.
Thank you, Michael.
If you had not found Oswald Ranta, I never would have solved this case.
It was nothing.
I just used my head.
Use of one's head is the primary qualification of a good detective.
As of tomorrow, you will be promoted to assistant detective.
I wish you many congratulations on your breaking of the glass ceiling.
Nnyaa, mma.
I cannot accept.
I do not have the true qualities necessary for this work.
- Mma? - I must say this.
I have watched you all this time, and I see that you are not afraid to tell the truth, whatever the risk to yourself.
There is something I have to say to you, something I have not said because I am a coward.
I have a brother.
He is sick.
He is very sick.
He attended Nurse Soloi's clinic for a few weeks.
He was one of her patients.
That is how I know her.
He did not stay.
He would not take the drugs.
He would not even talk about it.
I do everything for him.
It is difficult for some people to accept they have the sickness.
Ee, mma.
That is right.
And that is me.
I know it is nothing to be ashamed of, but I still cannot say that he has it.
I am sorry but I definitely cannot accept your kind offer.
Grace Makutsi.
It is good that you love your brother.
What is his name? Richard.
Richard.
It is a wonderful thing that you take care of Richard.
There is no other person on the face of this great continent that I would be more proud to have as an assistant detective.
At no extra pay.
Please do me the honor of accepting.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you, my sister.
Excuse me for a moment.
There is something I need to do.
I held him in my arms for six hours.