The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency (2008) s01e04 Episode Script
Problems With Moral Philosophy
What is going on here? Honey, what is going - Oh, God! Okay.
- Hold up, hold up! - God! - Go go go go! - Out out out! - Oh, no! Go! Ahh! Stop, please stop! My baby's in there! - Wait! Stop! - You took my baby! - Stop! - Oh, my baby! You! What are you doing? Oh.
You! Ha! Mr.
Patel, I think your Out out, out of the way! Look away.
Look away! These thieving types.
Ha! Have they no brains? Don't they see I have the latest electronic devices movement sensors and very soon What? What did they take? My new CCTV camera.
Ahh! It's establishments like yours that are bringing in these burglar types.
Burglars? My salon? Idle fools with time on their hands who don't want to work for their living.
How else can they sit about in your chair full of chit-chat? As for you, why not just put up a sign: "No.
1 Riff-Raff Assembly Point"? Where you get detectives, there you will find crime.
Out.
Out.
Out! The No.
1 Ladies' Detective Agency dedicates itself to the righting of wrongs.
Me too.
Bad hair leads to depression, sometimes to violence.
I think the entire world would benefit from a day off at the hairdresser's.
Nonsense! Call the glass man and wait for him right here.
And you, keep your villainous clients away from this building.
Mma Ramotswe and I are very close to cracking the mystery of the Kgale Hill break-ins.
Is this true? A breakthrough is imminent.
A 500-pula reward if you flush out the felons.
Well? You'd better get cracking.
You raise expectation with no foundation.
That is not what I expect from an assistant detective.
"Assistant detective"? Yes, as of this morning.
Then you need to tell the world.
Huh? A new look.
A waste of time and money.
I'll do it for no charge.
When I say stop, you stop.
A cht cht! Deal.
My husband has done a dreadful thing.
- Men do terrible things.
- No.
All wives worry about their husbands.
But my husband has done a very terrible thing.
Hmm.
What is this terrible thing? He has a stolen car.
He has stolen a car? No, he has a stolen car.
He says a man gave it to him that he had two Mercedes Benzes and only wanted one.
Does he think I'm stupid, eh? He bought the car from this man? The price is far too cheap, mma.
It is a stolen car I know it! L Ke a leboga.
I was brought up honest and upright, in plain view of the Lord Almighty.
Do you want to go to the police? Do you want to inform on your husband? No.
I don't know what to do.
That is why I came to you.
First, we will need more bush tea.
Sat-nav? How can you get lost in Botswana? Botswana? A car like mine with sat-nav? The world will be my oyster.
Open your appointment book and find me a slot.
You know this lady detective, yeah? Mma Ramotswe? Your opinion of her? She's an excellent detective.
Mmm, she says she can crack the burglary problems at Kgale Hill.
Well, if if if that's what she says, then that's how it will be.
Now I detect more than mere acquaintance in your assessment.
It was I can never I have found a space in the diary You are smitten! but first I'll need to order the device.
Have you told her your feelings? She turned me down, Mr.
Patel.
Is there then some other suitor? As far as I know, none.
Before I met her, I was resigned to Ioneliness.
Now I cannot be happy without her.
Press your case.
My wife was very disinclined to marry a shopkeeper.
My campaign was targeted and effective.
Show drive.
Show ambition.
Sat-navs! High-tech equipment.
A white coat instead of a blue overall.
Move into the modern age.
- A white - One step at a time.
First my sat-nav.
Steal it? And return it to its rightful owner.
I realize it is unorthodox, but in these circumstances Then the Lord will know it is back where it belongs.
- Amen.
- He will indeed.
Mma, I'm glad I came to you.
I feel I am in capable hands! Your assistant detective reporting for duty, mma.
People say, " If at first you don't succeed" People say "If at first you don't succeed" - Rra Matekoni? - Mmm? Mma.
- Talking to cars? - Eh! Yeah.
Yes.
As you can see, the engine has refused me has refused to respond - to my, um - Where do stolen cars come from? - Stolen? - No, not this one.
Ahh! From across the border.
They, uh, steal them in South Africa, bring them over here, respray them, file off the original engine serial number, and then sell them or send them up to Zimbabwe.
Payment must be in U.
S.
Dollars of course, with the Zimbabwe economy.
I need to know how to identify the car after all those things have taken place.
Stolen cars always bring trouble.
You cannot help me? There are ways.
It's hard to erase a car's identity.
So? The numbers are concealed in a variety of places.
Places you know? There is one approach you could adopt is It's a high-tech approach.
And you have high-tech equipment.
Rra? Yes.
You have your gadget? So? Here we go.
No time like the present.
I wish I had never bought you! Wretched dog! The worst! You remain very cool under pressure.
Mmm! That's because of my drive to succeed.
Time to scrap this antique thing and replace it with something modern.
Did you get the number? Halt! Halt! Halt! This is flashing.
I don't know.
Back, forward, record.
I'm not convinced these machines increase revenue.
The one you persuaded me to put in my house has never recorded a single call.
Is it switched on? Mma? This is a small agency.
I do not make big profits.
But now there are two of us to tackle the work.
- Things can only get better.
- We must hope so, - but in the meantime - Mma? I cannot afford to employ both a secretary and an assistant detective.
I I am still just a secretary? You are an assistant private detective who does the typing.
I will do all the things I used to do, but I will do more as well.
L I will have clients.
But I will decide which ones.
You will perhaps start with small matters and work up! I would not want to run before I could walk.
Many young people want to start at the top with a lot of money and a big German car.
That is not wise.
These cars have not been good for Africa.
If there is a place without these big German cars, that will be a good place.
You will still make the tea? I'm not a man who usually comes to private detectives.
There is no shame in asking for help, rra.
It is the strong ones who ask; the weak are too ashamed.
Every night I wake in the quiet hours and I cannot get this one thought out of my head.
My shop is in the Pordidi Road near the corner with the tack shop.
It does quite well, but I do not have much money to spare.
But my wife does not mind.
She is very good at making ends meet.
And she always looks a million dollars.
We have one child, a boy of 10.
I'm very proud of my son, but he was not doing so well before.
My wife said he needed to go to Thornhill School, that they would push him and make him write neatly.
We could not afford it.
My wife said there was a charity that would pay.
I said, " If there was such a charity, everybody would go to it.
" But every term, his fees are paid.
And my son is flourishing.
You must be wondering what this man has to worry about he has a fashionable wife, a clever son, and a butchery of his own.
I suspect my wife is seeing another man.
Every night I lie awake and it gnaws at my stomach like like a hungry animal.
I cannot find peace until I know if I'm right.
- Dumela.
- Rra.
Every day the same.
- What was that, rra? - Nothing, Florence.
You're not hungry? I'm not hungry.
Please wake me at a quarter to 2:00.
Fish good for thinking.
Thank you, mma.
So our working supposition is that Rra Badule is right his wife is indeed having an affair.
I would very much like to think it wasn't so.
He is a good man.
Very often the client will know the truth.
They simple want it confirmed.
- He deserves better.
- He does.
But remember, mma, for every cheating wife in Botswana, there are 550 cheating husbands.
Oh, shameful statistic.
Hmm.
550-to-one.
Only one way to see if he's right.
You must follow her and see where she goes.
Follow her? Me, mma? Mma Makutsi, case #1.
Forget the fish! This calls for cake.
Oh.
I will ask my uncle to drive me in pursuit of Mma Badule.
He is an experienced chauf Good afternoon.
I would like to speak to Sergeant William Pilani of the South African Police, please.
I will do that.
She wishes me to bear with her.
I will phone my uncle once you have born with her.
Billy! There is something I need you to do.
Hey! Hey! Your hours are 9:00 till 5:00.
And happy hour is from 5:00 until 6:00.
You can't be happy without a beer in your hand, eh? Do you know who we always see, boss, at the Go-Go Handsome Men? The cook from that cafe at Kgale Hill.
And what about it? Uh, if you were to come with us, then she would tell Mma Ramotswe.
She would tell her how she saw you chatting to beautiful girls.
And Mma Ramotswe would be very jealous! Why would I want Mma Ramotswe to be jealous? Go go, handsome man! That's where we're at! Hey! Where have you been? - You boys go ahead.
- Whoa! There she is.
Look happy, boss.
Update on the crime wave, mma? Oh, the pressure of work has been too intense.
Business is booming then? Ee, rra.
And yours? Very much so.
Is there something else? I want you to come to my house tonight 7:15 sharp.
JLB? It is a good name.
Initials are mysterious.
I do not want you ever to tell me what they stand for.
Will you promise never to tell me? Okay.
Okay! More initials! Ha! Ha ha! You are the strong silent type.
That is clear.
There's something ruthless about you, JLB.
Is he ruthless, Charlie, your boss? - He's a killer! - I knew it! I love a ruthless man.
I bet you do not say a dozen words a day.
And then only words like "action," "right now," "do as I say.
" Ha! Not a word wasted.
- Ha! - Dance floor.
Ha.
I am going to dance with my mystery man.
Oh, he's the best! Yes? Mma Ramotswe for Mr Mma Ramotswe! What can I get you? Tea? A cold drink? I am fine, thank you, Mr.
Patel.
I have heard very good things about you from Rra Matekoni.
He's a great admirer.
Please sit down.
Nandira is at her tutor for the next two hours, so we can speak quite freely.
I have reason to believe she is seeing a boy at 16! Mmm.
Have you asked her? When she's 20 and her education is complete, I will arrange a good match for her.
These plans do not include fraternizing with boys of her own choosing while still a schoolgirl.
These are modern times, Mr.
Patel.
Are you sure it's a good idea for a parent to spy on his children? You have no children of your own? A childless woman must take the word of one who knows better.
You want me to find out if she's seeing a boy.
And I want to know who the boy is.
Do you have a picture of Nandira? Those are my twins, both now married to fine men working for me.
My son, an orthodontist in Dublin.
Nandira, my youngest the final piece of the jigsaw.
My first assignment! Surveillance and close pursuit.
What? Drug dealers? Black market weapons? Counterfeiters? A cheating wife a statistical anomaly.
I am waiting for my uncle.
He has volunteered to be my driver for the day.
Well, watch out, all adulterers.
Mma Makutsi and her uncle will track you down.
Whoo ah ah! She will think she is being followed by Robert Mugabe.
How am I supposed to go somewhere in this? - It is my first assignment! - I brought you my best car! surveillance.
I am supposed to be hidden! We are not going to a dinner party! I'm going now.
You might as well have come in an airplane! Where are you going? How am I to go by myself? Donuts and coffee, like real detectives.
Or at least bush tea and mopane worms.
That must be the boy off to Thornhill.
"07:05 boy in uniform, probably going to school.
" "07:06 school bus arrives.
" I've seen this in so many films.
At first nothing happens, and then suddenly all hell breaks loose shooting, shouting, bangs and crashing.
That is Rra Badule.
Boiling over with anger and resentment.
"07:07 Butcher Badule goes to work!" "09:34 customers enter shop, then leave carrying parcels.
" Probably meat.
You have missed nothing.
- Am I getting on your nerves? - Yes.
Good, mismatched partners is a must all movies have it.
It is only the lady we are interested in, not the customers or or the traffic or the mealie stalls - That lady? or That's it.
Follow her! Ahh! Hey, that is my old teacher.
- Don't let her see you.
- She's still alive! She will want to talk.
Bakang goatmeat! Ooh! Goatmeat? Dumela, mma.
Is this your wife? - Ehh - Not yet! - We are late for our wedding.
- Ooh! - Go! - Goatmeat getting married! Now she's going to tell everyone that I'm getting married.
This never would have happened with my uncle.
And you'd have never told your uncle's teacher you were getting married to your uncle.
There she is! - Now what? - We wait.
"We wait.
" Precious Ramotswe! Billy Pilani! Oh, you haven't changed.
Ah, but now if you eat my cake, I can arrest you.
Mmm! You're very kind.
Very nice.
I don't have much time.
Did you trace the car? - I did.
- And was it stolen? Carjacked, so I'm glad that you bring me a lead.
There is no arrest for you in this, Billy, only the satisfaction of seeing something back in its rightful place.
You wonder why carjacking is so rife here in South Africa.
My client is the wife of the man who bought the car.
I promised her anonymity.
Conspiracy of silence that is what breeds crime.
But I cannot go back on my word.
Pity.
It is a bad case.
The thieves drove off with the owners' child still in the backseat - Stop! - Please! too terrified to make a sound.
- Oh! And how much does she want for the car? Nothing.
Well, the insurance company have already paid out, but they would like very much to have their vehicle back.
That is where they will find it.
Tell them to bring the original number plates.
And the child? Dumped in the road.
Alive? Alive.
Way back in school days, I always knew that you would be someone, but you didn't think the same of me.
I do now.
Ahh! "13:02 Agent Makutsi makes a move.
" Wait here.
I will talk to the maids and find out what is going on.
Be careful.
It might be dangerous.
Maids are seldom dangerous.
There's always the first time.
I'll keep the engine running.
"13:03 prepare vehicle for quick getaway.
" Koko? Dumelang, bo mma.
Dumela, mma.
Are you looking for work? Because it is all taken.
I want to find out about the woman who came to this house an hour ago.
You want to find out what? She scratched my car with hers, but drove away when I tried to talk to her.
- Is this where she lives? - No, mma, she does not live here.
This is where she comes to rest.
This is where she comes to lie down.
She must work very hard because she's always needing a lie-down.
Whose house is this? It is the house of a man who is also very often tired and always in need of a lie-down.
A man with a wife in the country and a wife in the city will always be tired.
Does the country wife know about the town wife? This man pays us high wages to be discreet.
Why do you want to know? L I was just curious.
You have asked a lot of questions.
She bumped my car.
I just wanted Bumped it or scratched it? Before you said she scratched it.
Sh-sh-she bumped it and it made a scratch.
Where is this car? I don't see a car.
Well, it it is just around the corner there You must swear that you will say nothing I mean nothing about what we told you! We will lose our jobs.
Who is that? Who are you looking at? She's going to betray us.
I can feel it.
Ahh! Ahh, ehh! Stop! Go! Go! What a team! Did you get everything you needed? Chapter and verse! And left them in the dust.
Imagine if that was your mother! Thank you.
Throw that one away.
Remember to remove the sat-nav from the vehicle when you park in a public place.
Otherwise, you will have it stolen.
My car alarm is very loud.
And Africa is very big.
Please enter your destination.
Ahh, quite a sexy voice.
By the way, have you reasserted your case with Mma Ramotswe? Has she seen the modernizations you have instituted? - Hello? - Mma Ramotswe! We are in here! Mr.
Matekoni is just putting the finishing touches to a very complex piece of modern technology.
Drive west along Tlokweng Road Excuse me.
I must just use the little boys' room.
I'm sorry to bother you when you are busy, rra, but my van has expired.
It got me to Mafikeng and back but then - You were across the border? - The car you helped me with was stolen in a carjacking over there.
Stolen cars, mma? Eh? Rra Matekoni, just because a case has awkward aspects is not always a reason to steer clear of it.
Her van has expired.
Then I will drive you home with a little help from my sat-nav.
Now what is the news on my daughter? She was in school all day and then she walked home with friends.
Maybe she will slip out again tonight.
Tonight I'm not working.
I'm very tired and my van is broken down.
- But tonight may be the night - Mr.
Patel, my daddy trusted me.
He did not feel the need to follow me And you ended up married to Note Mokote.
Please enter your destination.
Perhaps you should fit your daughter with one of these machines.
Then you would always know where she's going.
If I did that, I would have no need of you.
You will stick with the case after your night off? I will.
And I will make no mention of the Kgale Hill break-ins.
JLB was right there Mma, I must talk to you.
You've changed your hair I see.
There are people after me.
- I have altered my appearance.
- And your glasses? I can touch-type.
I don't need them Mma, I am in a terrible dilemma.
It is the Badule case.
If I tell the client what I have discovered "1, Rra Badule will be heartbroken.
- 1b" - Mma? Can we not discuss this over a cup of bush tea? I cannot make tea without my glasses.
- And where are your glasses? - I cannot find them.
Now "1b, his son's education will be disrupted and probably terminated once the truth is out.
And 2, the maids will lose their jobs and their families will be made destitute.
" I don't know what to do for the best.
Tell him a lie or honor the contract and tell him the facts, whatever the consequences.
My 97% did not prepare me for these sorts of questions, mma.
First it is unethical for a detective to lie to a client.
- But what if the client - Dumela, mma.
Oh.
Dumela, mma.
- Thank you for coming.
- Ee, mma.
- Everything is arranged.
- Cha! I just need the keys.
I will leave them in the pot with the pink flower under the ficus tree.
I'll make sure my husband - has drunk some beer.
- I will be there at 7:00.
Oh, Mma Ramotswe? You think I'm foolish to worry about this thing this stolen car when there's so many stolen cars? Not at all.
I think you're right.
I think it's a very important thing you are doing.
Okay, tell me the whole story from start to finish.
I was so excited to start my first undercover case! I called my foolish uncle Robert Mugabe, as if he were riding around with a banana on his head! BK offered to give me a ride.
A very annoying notebook the man has hot the woman has come out of he is always laying down What would Mma Ramotswe do walk up to her suspicious she pounced and grabbed he screeched away like an action movie and and I don't know what to do.
It is the boy.
The boy is the nub of the problem.
The adults can take care of themselves.
Take a look at these photos.
What do you notice? The boy has the rich man's nose.
When he is older and his education is complete, he can wonder about who is who and who has whose nose, but for now, he needs protecting.
Ee, mma.
You are right.
We must be very careful how we present our findings to Rra Badule.
I may have to convince him to be happy with his lot.
That will not be easy.
JLB! Is it that time already? Uh, it is.
I have your van to We were just discussing a case.
A very difficult case.
No.
1 Ladies Rra Badule.
Ee, rra.
Ee, rra! We have been looking into Yes.
It's him, the butcher man.
Tell him to come in tomorrow.
Can you come in tomorrow to talk with Mma Ramotswe? That would be best.
Thank you.
I heard you were out drinking the other night at the Go-Go Handsome Men's bar having a very good time is what I heard.
It just so happened that I didn't have any favors to do for you that evening.
I hope you don't mind me taking the night off.
I will deduct it from your pay.
I would prefer if you let me do this.
Thank you, rra, but it is my job, not yours.
Hurry up with that food! You know I need to go out.
Hey! At least bring me another beer! - Come and get it! - That's your job.
I can't keep a dog and then bark myself.
What is the problem with that dog? It's just barking at the children in the street.
Bikes, children! One more bark, I'm going to come out and kick him Quiet, dog, quiet.
Quiet.
Hush, doggie, hush.
Good boy, good boy.
Good boy.
Lie down.
Good boy.
Good boy.
It is not often we get one back.
It was teamwork, not just me.
- Ke a leboga.
- Ee, rra.
I cannot wait until tomorrow.
I cannot go through another night of not knowing.
You must tell me what you know right now! Mma Ramotswe is not here.
She cannot speak to you until tomorrow.
Then you must tell me! I will not move till you tell me.
I will not move from here.
Who has taken it? Huh? Who has taken it? Who has taken my beautiful car? Rra, call the police! They're getting away.
I know! It is one of these lowlife neighbors, huh? Come out and show your face! Come out! Now! My baby! Have you changed your mind about scrapping it? If it can be fixed, I'll fix it.
Did you bring your high-tech machine? I cannot think of anyone else who could have done this.
And I cannot think of anyone else who would have done this.
Mma, you said before - you said that just because something is difficult, that does not mean that you should not Forgive me, rra, what did you say? I asked you once before and I would like to ask you one more time Mma, you must tell me what I need to know.
Mmm.
You were right.
Your wife is having an affair.
Tell me who! I'll take my cleaver to him! - There is no need for - I'll be the judge of that! She is not doing it for herself.
She she is doing it for the boy.
Your wife has no feelings for this rich man.
She thinks he's a fool.
She is thinking only of the boy's prospects, of his future.
Yes, she she's putting him first, my son.
Like a mother should.
She loves him so much that she would do that.
Yes.
Then then after, we will be together again like before.
That may well be.
Every day, our work bring us marriages of deception and compromise and convenience.
Perhaps now I've added to that.
I'm sorry, mma.
I could not think of what to say.
It was a difficult case.
Mma, you said it was unethical to lie to a client.
I did not lie to Rra Badule, mma.
I interpreted the evidence for him.
He is a man.
Yes, best to keep it simple.
The No.
1 Ladies' Detective Agency is not a court of law, it is a forum for moral arbitration.
Rra Badule knew the truth before he came to us.
What he was looking for was a way to live with it.
And you were preventing murder and heartbreak.
It would be cruel to take away all hope at such a difficult time in a man's life.
Mma Makutsi, would you like a lift home? Ee, rra.
I will get my jacket.
You were going to say something, rra, before all the commotion? It's not important.
Are you sure? Yeah.
Perhaps another time? Perhaps.
- Hold up, hold up! - God! - Go go go go! - Out out out! - Oh, no! Go! Ahh! Stop, please stop! My baby's in there! - Wait! Stop! - You took my baby! - Stop! - Oh, my baby! You! What are you doing? Oh.
You! Ha! Mr.
Patel, I think your Out out, out of the way! Look away.
Look away! These thieving types.
Ha! Have they no brains? Don't they see I have the latest electronic devices movement sensors and very soon What? What did they take? My new CCTV camera.
Ahh! It's establishments like yours that are bringing in these burglar types.
Burglars? My salon? Idle fools with time on their hands who don't want to work for their living.
How else can they sit about in your chair full of chit-chat? As for you, why not just put up a sign: "No.
1 Riff-Raff Assembly Point"? Where you get detectives, there you will find crime.
Out.
Out.
Out! The No.
1 Ladies' Detective Agency dedicates itself to the righting of wrongs.
Me too.
Bad hair leads to depression, sometimes to violence.
I think the entire world would benefit from a day off at the hairdresser's.
Nonsense! Call the glass man and wait for him right here.
And you, keep your villainous clients away from this building.
Mma Ramotswe and I are very close to cracking the mystery of the Kgale Hill break-ins.
Is this true? A breakthrough is imminent.
A 500-pula reward if you flush out the felons.
Well? You'd better get cracking.
You raise expectation with no foundation.
That is not what I expect from an assistant detective.
"Assistant detective"? Yes, as of this morning.
Then you need to tell the world.
Huh? A new look.
A waste of time and money.
I'll do it for no charge.
When I say stop, you stop.
A cht cht! Deal.
My husband has done a dreadful thing.
- Men do terrible things.
- No.
All wives worry about their husbands.
But my husband has done a very terrible thing.
Hmm.
What is this terrible thing? He has a stolen car.
He has stolen a car? No, he has a stolen car.
He says a man gave it to him that he had two Mercedes Benzes and only wanted one.
Does he think I'm stupid, eh? He bought the car from this man? The price is far too cheap, mma.
It is a stolen car I know it! L Ke a leboga.
I was brought up honest and upright, in plain view of the Lord Almighty.
Do you want to go to the police? Do you want to inform on your husband? No.
I don't know what to do.
That is why I came to you.
First, we will need more bush tea.
Sat-nav? How can you get lost in Botswana? Botswana? A car like mine with sat-nav? The world will be my oyster.
Open your appointment book and find me a slot.
You know this lady detective, yeah? Mma Ramotswe? Your opinion of her? She's an excellent detective.
Mmm, she says she can crack the burglary problems at Kgale Hill.
Well, if if if that's what she says, then that's how it will be.
Now I detect more than mere acquaintance in your assessment.
It was I can never I have found a space in the diary You are smitten! but first I'll need to order the device.
Have you told her your feelings? She turned me down, Mr.
Patel.
Is there then some other suitor? As far as I know, none.
Before I met her, I was resigned to Ioneliness.
Now I cannot be happy without her.
Press your case.
My wife was very disinclined to marry a shopkeeper.
My campaign was targeted and effective.
Show drive.
Show ambition.
Sat-navs! High-tech equipment.
A white coat instead of a blue overall.
Move into the modern age.
- A white - One step at a time.
First my sat-nav.
Steal it? And return it to its rightful owner.
I realize it is unorthodox, but in these circumstances Then the Lord will know it is back where it belongs.
- Amen.
- He will indeed.
Mma, I'm glad I came to you.
I feel I am in capable hands! Your assistant detective reporting for duty, mma.
People say, " If at first you don't succeed" People say "If at first you don't succeed" - Rra Matekoni? - Mmm? Mma.
- Talking to cars? - Eh! Yeah.
Yes.
As you can see, the engine has refused me has refused to respond - to my, um - Where do stolen cars come from? - Stolen? - No, not this one.
Ahh! From across the border.
They, uh, steal them in South Africa, bring them over here, respray them, file off the original engine serial number, and then sell them or send them up to Zimbabwe.
Payment must be in U.
S.
Dollars of course, with the Zimbabwe economy.
I need to know how to identify the car after all those things have taken place.
Stolen cars always bring trouble.
You cannot help me? There are ways.
It's hard to erase a car's identity.
So? The numbers are concealed in a variety of places.
Places you know? There is one approach you could adopt is It's a high-tech approach.
And you have high-tech equipment.
Rra? Yes.
You have your gadget? So? Here we go.
No time like the present.
I wish I had never bought you! Wretched dog! The worst! You remain very cool under pressure.
Mmm! That's because of my drive to succeed.
Time to scrap this antique thing and replace it with something modern.
Did you get the number? Halt! Halt! Halt! This is flashing.
I don't know.
Back, forward, record.
I'm not convinced these machines increase revenue.
The one you persuaded me to put in my house has never recorded a single call.
Is it switched on? Mma? This is a small agency.
I do not make big profits.
But now there are two of us to tackle the work.
- Things can only get better.
- We must hope so, - but in the meantime - Mma? I cannot afford to employ both a secretary and an assistant detective.
I I am still just a secretary? You are an assistant private detective who does the typing.
I will do all the things I used to do, but I will do more as well.
L I will have clients.
But I will decide which ones.
You will perhaps start with small matters and work up! I would not want to run before I could walk.
Many young people want to start at the top with a lot of money and a big German car.
That is not wise.
These cars have not been good for Africa.
If there is a place without these big German cars, that will be a good place.
You will still make the tea? I'm not a man who usually comes to private detectives.
There is no shame in asking for help, rra.
It is the strong ones who ask; the weak are too ashamed.
Every night I wake in the quiet hours and I cannot get this one thought out of my head.
My shop is in the Pordidi Road near the corner with the tack shop.
It does quite well, but I do not have much money to spare.
But my wife does not mind.
She is very good at making ends meet.
And she always looks a million dollars.
We have one child, a boy of 10.
I'm very proud of my son, but he was not doing so well before.
My wife said he needed to go to Thornhill School, that they would push him and make him write neatly.
We could not afford it.
My wife said there was a charity that would pay.
I said, " If there was such a charity, everybody would go to it.
" But every term, his fees are paid.
And my son is flourishing.
You must be wondering what this man has to worry about he has a fashionable wife, a clever son, and a butchery of his own.
I suspect my wife is seeing another man.
Every night I lie awake and it gnaws at my stomach like like a hungry animal.
I cannot find peace until I know if I'm right.
- Dumela.
- Rra.
Every day the same.
- What was that, rra? - Nothing, Florence.
You're not hungry? I'm not hungry.
Please wake me at a quarter to 2:00.
Fish good for thinking.
Thank you, mma.
So our working supposition is that Rra Badule is right his wife is indeed having an affair.
I would very much like to think it wasn't so.
He is a good man.
Very often the client will know the truth.
They simple want it confirmed.
- He deserves better.
- He does.
But remember, mma, for every cheating wife in Botswana, there are 550 cheating husbands.
Oh, shameful statistic.
Hmm.
550-to-one.
Only one way to see if he's right.
You must follow her and see where she goes.
Follow her? Me, mma? Mma Makutsi, case #1.
Forget the fish! This calls for cake.
Oh.
I will ask my uncle to drive me in pursuit of Mma Badule.
He is an experienced chauf Good afternoon.
I would like to speak to Sergeant William Pilani of the South African Police, please.
I will do that.
She wishes me to bear with her.
I will phone my uncle once you have born with her.
Billy! There is something I need you to do.
Hey! Hey! Your hours are 9:00 till 5:00.
And happy hour is from 5:00 until 6:00.
You can't be happy without a beer in your hand, eh? Do you know who we always see, boss, at the Go-Go Handsome Men? The cook from that cafe at Kgale Hill.
And what about it? Uh, if you were to come with us, then she would tell Mma Ramotswe.
She would tell her how she saw you chatting to beautiful girls.
And Mma Ramotswe would be very jealous! Why would I want Mma Ramotswe to be jealous? Go go, handsome man! That's where we're at! Hey! Where have you been? - You boys go ahead.
- Whoa! There she is.
Look happy, boss.
Update on the crime wave, mma? Oh, the pressure of work has been too intense.
Business is booming then? Ee, rra.
And yours? Very much so.
Is there something else? I want you to come to my house tonight 7:15 sharp.
JLB? It is a good name.
Initials are mysterious.
I do not want you ever to tell me what they stand for.
Will you promise never to tell me? Okay.
Okay! More initials! Ha! Ha ha! You are the strong silent type.
That is clear.
There's something ruthless about you, JLB.
Is he ruthless, Charlie, your boss? - He's a killer! - I knew it! I love a ruthless man.
I bet you do not say a dozen words a day.
And then only words like "action," "right now," "do as I say.
" Ha! Not a word wasted.
- Ha! - Dance floor.
Ha.
I am going to dance with my mystery man.
Oh, he's the best! Yes? Mma Ramotswe for Mr Mma Ramotswe! What can I get you? Tea? A cold drink? I am fine, thank you, Mr.
Patel.
I have heard very good things about you from Rra Matekoni.
He's a great admirer.
Please sit down.
Nandira is at her tutor for the next two hours, so we can speak quite freely.
I have reason to believe she is seeing a boy at 16! Mmm.
Have you asked her? When she's 20 and her education is complete, I will arrange a good match for her.
These plans do not include fraternizing with boys of her own choosing while still a schoolgirl.
These are modern times, Mr.
Patel.
Are you sure it's a good idea for a parent to spy on his children? You have no children of your own? A childless woman must take the word of one who knows better.
You want me to find out if she's seeing a boy.
And I want to know who the boy is.
Do you have a picture of Nandira? Those are my twins, both now married to fine men working for me.
My son, an orthodontist in Dublin.
Nandira, my youngest the final piece of the jigsaw.
My first assignment! Surveillance and close pursuit.
What? Drug dealers? Black market weapons? Counterfeiters? A cheating wife a statistical anomaly.
I am waiting for my uncle.
He has volunteered to be my driver for the day.
Well, watch out, all adulterers.
Mma Makutsi and her uncle will track you down.
Whoo ah ah! She will think she is being followed by Robert Mugabe.
How am I supposed to go somewhere in this? - It is my first assignment! - I brought you my best car! surveillance.
I am supposed to be hidden! We are not going to a dinner party! I'm going now.
You might as well have come in an airplane! Where are you going? How am I to go by myself? Donuts and coffee, like real detectives.
Or at least bush tea and mopane worms.
That must be the boy off to Thornhill.
"07:05 boy in uniform, probably going to school.
" "07:06 school bus arrives.
" I've seen this in so many films.
At first nothing happens, and then suddenly all hell breaks loose shooting, shouting, bangs and crashing.
That is Rra Badule.
Boiling over with anger and resentment.
"07:07 Butcher Badule goes to work!" "09:34 customers enter shop, then leave carrying parcels.
" Probably meat.
You have missed nothing.
- Am I getting on your nerves? - Yes.
Good, mismatched partners is a must all movies have it.
It is only the lady we are interested in, not the customers or or the traffic or the mealie stalls - That lady? or That's it.
Follow her! Ahh! Hey, that is my old teacher.
- Don't let her see you.
- She's still alive! She will want to talk.
Bakang goatmeat! Ooh! Goatmeat? Dumela, mma.
Is this your wife? - Ehh - Not yet! - We are late for our wedding.
- Ooh! - Go! - Goatmeat getting married! Now she's going to tell everyone that I'm getting married.
This never would have happened with my uncle.
And you'd have never told your uncle's teacher you were getting married to your uncle.
There she is! - Now what? - We wait.
"We wait.
" Precious Ramotswe! Billy Pilani! Oh, you haven't changed.
Ah, but now if you eat my cake, I can arrest you.
Mmm! You're very kind.
Very nice.
I don't have much time.
Did you trace the car? - I did.
- And was it stolen? Carjacked, so I'm glad that you bring me a lead.
There is no arrest for you in this, Billy, only the satisfaction of seeing something back in its rightful place.
You wonder why carjacking is so rife here in South Africa.
My client is the wife of the man who bought the car.
I promised her anonymity.
Conspiracy of silence that is what breeds crime.
But I cannot go back on my word.
Pity.
It is a bad case.
The thieves drove off with the owners' child still in the backseat - Stop! - Please! too terrified to make a sound.
- Oh! And how much does she want for the car? Nothing.
Well, the insurance company have already paid out, but they would like very much to have their vehicle back.
That is where they will find it.
Tell them to bring the original number plates.
And the child? Dumped in the road.
Alive? Alive.
Way back in school days, I always knew that you would be someone, but you didn't think the same of me.
I do now.
Ahh! "13:02 Agent Makutsi makes a move.
" Wait here.
I will talk to the maids and find out what is going on.
Be careful.
It might be dangerous.
Maids are seldom dangerous.
There's always the first time.
I'll keep the engine running.
"13:03 prepare vehicle for quick getaway.
" Koko? Dumelang, bo mma.
Dumela, mma.
Are you looking for work? Because it is all taken.
I want to find out about the woman who came to this house an hour ago.
You want to find out what? She scratched my car with hers, but drove away when I tried to talk to her.
- Is this where she lives? - No, mma, she does not live here.
This is where she comes to rest.
This is where she comes to lie down.
She must work very hard because she's always needing a lie-down.
Whose house is this? It is the house of a man who is also very often tired and always in need of a lie-down.
A man with a wife in the country and a wife in the city will always be tired.
Does the country wife know about the town wife? This man pays us high wages to be discreet.
Why do you want to know? L I was just curious.
You have asked a lot of questions.
She bumped my car.
I just wanted Bumped it or scratched it? Before you said she scratched it.
Sh-sh-she bumped it and it made a scratch.
Where is this car? I don't see a car.
Well, it it is just around the corner there You must swear that you will say nothing I mean nothing about what we told you! We will lose our jobs.
Who is that? Who are you looking at? She's going to betray us.
I can feel it.
Ahh! Ahh, ehh! Stop! Go! Go! What a team! Did you get everything you needed? Chapter and verse! And left them in the dust.
Imagine if that was your mother! Thank you.
Throw that one away.
Remember to remove the sat-nav from the vehicle when you park in a public place.
Otherwise, you will have it stolen.
My car alarm is very loud.
And Africa is very big.
Please enter your destination.
Ahh, quite a sexy voice.
By the way, have you reasserted your case with Mma Ramotswe? Has she seen the modernizations you have instituted? - Hello? - Mma Ramotswe! We are in here! Mr.
Matekoni is just putting the finishing touches to a very complex piece of modern technology.
Drive west along Tlokweng Road Excuse me.
I must just use the little boys' room.
I'm sorry to bother you when you are busy, rra, but my van has expired.
It got me to Mafikeng and back but then - You were across the border? - The car you helped me with was stolen in a carjacking over there.
Stolen cars, mma? Eh? Rra Matekoni, just because a case has awkward aspects is not always a reason to steer clear of it.
Her van has expired.
Then I will drive you home with a little help from my sat-nav.
Now what is the news on my daughter? She was in school all day and then she walked home with friends.
Maybe she will slip out again tonight.
Tonight I'm not working.
I'm very tired and my van is broken down.
- But tonight may be the night - Mr.
Patel, my daddy trusted me.
He did not feel the need to follow me And you ended up married to Note Mokote.
Please enter your destination.
Perhaps you should fit your daughter with one of these machines.
Then you would always know where she's going.
If I did that, I would have no need of you.
You will stick with the case after your night off? I will.
And I will make no mention of the Kgale Hill break-ins.
JLB was right there Mma, I must talk to you.
You've changed your hair I see.
There are people after me.
- I have altered my appearance.
- And your glasses? I can touch-type.
I don't need them Mma, I am in a terrible dilemma.
It is the Badule case.
If I tell the client what I have discovered "1, Rra Badule will be heartbroken.
- 1b" - Mma? Can we not discuss this over a cup of bush tea? I cannot make tea without my glasses.
- And where are your glasses? - I cannot find them.
Now "1b, his son's education will be disrupted and probably terminated once the truth is out.
And 2, the maids will lose their jobs and their families will be made destitute.
" I don't know what to do for the best.
Tell him a lie or honor the contract and tell him the facts, whatever the consequences.
My 97% did not prepare me for these sorts of questions, mma.
First it is unethical for a detective to lie to a client.
- But what if the client - Dumela, mma.
Oh.
Dumela, mma.
- Thank you for coming.
- Ee, mma.
- Everything is arranged.
- Cha! I just need the keys.
I will leave them in the pot with the pink flower under the ficus tree.
I'll make sure my husband - has drunk some beer.
- I will be there at 7:00.
Oh, Mma Ramotswe? You think I'm foolish to worry about this thing this stolen car when there's so many stolen cars? Not at all.
I think you're right.
I think it's a very important thing you are doing.
Okay, tell me the whole story from start to finish.
I was so excited to start my first undercover case! I called my foolish uncle Robert Mugabe, as if he were riding around with a banana on his head! BK offered to give me a ride.
A very annoying notebook the man has hot the woman has come out of he is always laying down What would Mma Ramotswe do walk up to her suspicious she pounced and grabbed he screeched away like an action movie and and I don't know what to do.
It is the boy.
The boy is the nub of the problem.
The adults can take care of themselves.
Take a look at these photos.
What do you notice? The boy has the rich man's nose.
When he is older and his education is complete, he can wonder about who is who and who has whose nose, but for now, he needs protecting.
Ee, mma.
You are right.
We must be very careful how we present our findings to Rra Badule.
I may have to convince him to be happy with his lot.
That will not be easy.
JLB! Is it that time already? Uh, it is.
I have your van to We were just discussing a case.
A very difficult case.
No.
1 Ladies Rra Badule.
Ee, rra.
Ee, rra! We have been looking into Yes.
It's him, the butcher man.
Tell him to come in tomorrow.
Can you come in tomorrow to talk with Mma Ramotswe? That would be best.
Thank you.
I heard you were out drinking the other night at the Go-Go Handsome Men's bar having a very good time is what I heard.
It just so happened that I didn't have any favors to do for you that evening.
I hope you don't mind me taking the night off.
I will deduct it from your pay.
I would prefer if you let me do this.
Thank you, rra, but it is my job, not yours.
Hurry up with that food! You know I need to go out.
Hey! At least bring me another beer! - Come and get it! - That's your job.
I can't keep a dog and then bark myself.
What is the problem with that dog? It's just barking at the children in the street.
Bikes, children! One more bark, I'm going to come out and kick him Quiet, dog, quiet.
Quiet.
Hush, doggie, hush.
Good boy, good boy.
Good boy.
Lie down.
Good boy.
Good boy.
It is not often we get one back.
It was teamwork, not just me.
- Ke a leboga.
- Ee, rra.
I cannot wait until tomorrow.
I cannot go through another night of not knowing.
You must tell me what you know right now! Mma Ramotswe is not here.
She cannot speak to you until tomorrow.
Then you must tell me! I will not move till you tell me.
I will not move from here.
Who has taken it? Huh? Who has taken it? Who has taken my beautiful car? Rra, call the police! They're getting away.
I know! It is one of these lowlife neighbors, huh? Come out and show your face! Come out! Now! My baby! Have you changed your mind about scrapping it? If it can be fixed, I'll fix it.
Did you bring your high-tech machine? I cannot think of anyone else who could have done this.
And I cannot think of anyone else who would have done this.
Mma, you said before - you said that just because something is difficult, that does not mean that you should not Forgive me, rra, what did you say? I asked you once before and I would like to ask you one more time Mma, you must tell me what I need to know.
Mmm.
You were right.
Your wife is having an affair.
Tell me who! I'll take my cleaver to him! - There is no need for - I'll be the judge of that! She is not doing it for herself.
She she is doing it for the boy.
Your wife has no feelings for this rich man.
She thinks he's a fool.
She is thinking only of the boy's prospects, of his future.
Yes, she she's putting him first, my son.
Like a mother should.
She loves him so much that she would do that.
Yes.
Then then after, we will be together again like before.
That may well be.
Every day, our work bring us marriages of deception and compromise and convenience.
Perhaps now I've added to that.
I'm sorry, mma.
I could not think of what to say.
It was a difficult case.
Mma, you said it was unethical to lie to a client.
I did not lie to Rra Badule, mma.
I interpreted the evidence for him.
He is a man.
Yes, best to keep it simple.
The No.
1 Ladies' Detective Agency is not a court of law, it is a forum for moral arbitration.
Rra Badule knew the truth before he came to us.
What he was looking for was a way to live with it.
And you were preventing murder and heartbreak.
It would be cruel to take away all hope at such a difficult time in a man's life.
Mma Makutsi, would you like a lift home? Ee, rra.
I will get my jacket.
You were going to say something, rra, before all the commotion? It's not important.
Are you sure? Yeah.
Perhaps another time? Perhaps.