A United Kingdom Page #2

He's clever than him and he's black.

- Oh!

- Yes, yes, yes!

(RUTH CHUCKLES)

Have you ever been in love?

No.

And then Ruth Williams came along.

PASSER-BY :
Look, it's a coon.

Out of the zoo for a night.

- Scum!

- Ignore him.

PASSER-BY :
Look who's talking! Cheap slut!

- That's enough.

- Yeah?

- Seretse...

- Don't!

- Ruth...

- Oi! Get your black hands off what's ours!

I'm not yours!

(GRUNTING)

Stop it! Get off him.

Seretse...

Black bastard!

- Move back!

- (THEY LAUGH MOCKINGLY)

Savage!

Oh, Ruth.

MURIEL :
They're yobs.

You can't let them get to you.

RUTH :
No, I'm not even giving them

a second thought.

Then what is it?

It scares me a bit.

The way he makes me feel.

Ruth, he has to go back

to his own country.

I know.

Just let me enjoy it while it lasts.

- Am I late?

- No. No, not at all.

Is something the matter?

I have been... thinking

about my responsibilities

back home in Bechuanaland.

There is so much that I need to do there.

But I know that I will never

achieve anything worthwhile...

...if I leave my heart here.

Uh, I'm not asking for an answer

this, this very second.

All I, all I ask of you is that you...

...go away and, and think about it,

because, uh, there...

there is a lot to think about.

And...

I don't need to think about it.

I know I love you.

And I know what you're asking.

What it means.

And yes.

Yes.

Yes, Seretse, I will marry you.

White? British? Oh, God.

And she's a salesman's daughter!

I don't care if her mother sells fish

in the market! I love her!

Aren't you supposed

to ask for your uncle's consent

before you ask for her hand?

And your people?

(CLICKS TONGUE)

SERETSE :
'Dear Uncle...

'...I realise this won't please you.

'You and the tribe won't like it.

'I have asked an Englishwoman to marry me.

'A white woman.'

(CREAKING)

It will not happen.

It will.

What in God's name is wrong with you?

At least Muriel

only wants to convert them!

I've said yes.

- She might change her mind, George.

- She won't!

Mum, I've met the man

I want to spend my life with.

And how many other wives

do you think he's already got, eh?

- You disgust me.

- George, don't.

You think about this, Ruth.

You marry a black,

you make it impossible for us.

For your mother, for Muriel.

You may choose

a life of insults and shame...

...but what about us?

We've only ever loved you.

Father...

I can't see you again.

Not if you choose him.

(SERETSE PANTS)

This... is not how I wanted it to be.

You separated from your family.

I have fears, Ruth.

Not just about this, but... my uncle.

You can't take us all this way

to tell me you have fears!

Not for me, for you!

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