Critical Assignment

- Well, it seems certain that the militia will eventually

gain the upper hand in these hostilities.

The Federal Militia have taken over

the main road leading into town

and are gradually pushing through barricades

set up by (gunshots drown out speech).

Shows no sign of abating.

Reporting from the frontline, this Ed Johnson, GSN.

Come on, go!

Get to the warehouse, take cover!

Come on, come on.

You've got to move.

I've been hit.

- There's a bomb. - Go, go, go!

Get out of here!

- The recipient has gone beyond the realms of journalism

by showing that there is more to our sense of purpose

than just getting the scoop.

Ladies and gentlemen, fellow journalists,

the Special Journalist of Merit Award goes to

Africa's own Michael Power.

Congratulations. - Thank you.

Thank you. - You're welcome.

Well-deserved.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Most of us, not just journalists,

everyone, we look but we do not see.

We listen but we do not hear.

We talk, wow, how we talk,

but we do not always communicate.

To communicate what is true,

what is valuable, and right,

to believe in that, that is the challenge we all share.

I'm very proud to be a journalist.

To be rewarded for it?

Well, that's a wonderful and unexpected bonus.

I thank you all so very much.

Yeah!

Again, sir, thank you.

- Laura and I were hoping you'd stick around long enough

to come over for dinner.

I'd love to, but.

- Another story. - Always.

You gonna tell me what?

Global water crisis, Time Magazine.

That's some story, huh?

- Hm, you know half the world's populations affected by it.

The other half ought to do something about it.

So where do you start?

- Hm, a wonderful land, a place with a future.

My own backyard, Africa.

("The Sound of the Drums" by Angelique Kidjo)

- Now, we come to the final matter

on the agenda, the defense budget contract,

worth a total of 500 million U.S. dollars.

Minister for Defense, Honorable Patrick Lembe.

(clears throat) Mr. President,

after carefully assessing the tenders submitted,

the most competitive are from the companies

DeFactor and Arms Link.

However, as I explained to Secretary Ojuka,

I favor Arms Link due to their additional

seven year post-sale service agreement.

I do endorse the view of the Minister.

(scoffs) What a travesty.

$500 million to spend on stockpiling arms

and weapons of destruction,

when 60% of our population lacks clean water?

I have with my own eyes seen the suffering of our people.

The lack of basic amenities, such as drinking water,

causing illness, death, and untold hardship.

At any one time, half of our people are suffering

from illnesses that come from a basic lack of clean water

and proper sanitation.

Minister, do you want to elaborate?

We simply haven't enough funds

to meet their medical demands.

This is preventable.

Do you realize that for every 10 armored tanks that we have,

we can buy 50 bulldozers?

Every fighter plane, we can lay 10,000 miles of pipework.

And for all the thousands of rifles that we have,

we can provide 10,000 water pumps.

In the absence of any threat to this country's stability,

I refuse to waste millions of dollars on arms.

As of now, the defense budget is shelved.

We will reallocate the funds towards

the commissioning of the Water For All project.

Ladies and gentlemen,

we can fill our own glasses of water whenever we want.

Let's not take that for granted, ever.

Africa Airlines

Flight 342 from Chicago has landed.

- Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome.

It is a great honor for me to address you this afternoon.

My corporation, Rhinestone, is bringing you all together

by making technology available that will bridge the gap

between cultures, people, and languages.

I'm launching my scheme, Log-On Africa,

by trying to piece together.

Michael (chuckles).

How are you doing?

- Great, how was Chicago? - It was good.

Ed sends his love. - Awe.

I noticed Thomas Rhines has managed

to slip quietly into the country.

Well, quietly doesn't get you ahead,

now, does it?

The shortest distance between people.

- Where's Jomo? - One guess.

- Football. - Mm-hmm.

- Listen, I'll catch ya later. - See ya, baby.

- Will be the national primary school here in the capital.

I've always loved Mother Africa.

She's always given me so much pleasure.

And, indeed, it feels good to give back.

I often say that in my heart,

I am an African in a European's skin.

Michael, you're back!

Jomo, you're late.

Sorry, the match went into extra time.

And you know what? - Hm?

- It was still a draw. - Oh, come on.

You're trying to tell me I had to stay here

and listen to Thomas Rhines for the sake of a draw?

No, no, no, you had to stay here

and listen to Thomas Rhines in expectation

of victory, my friend.

Think about tonight.

You, me, and Anita, 6:00 o'clock.

Okay? - Cool.

Oh, no (chuckles).

Welcome home.

Surprise!

- You and Jomo set this up? - Yeah.

- You have no idea how much trouble you're in.

- You didn't expect to get away without a celebration,

did you? - Come on down here.

- No, but did you guys ever stop and wonder

what the hell you were doing when all these bullets

were zipping around, huh?

- Were bullets zipping around? - Yes.

You should've told me this.

No, come on, seriously.

The danger, you don't really feel it

when you're in the middle of it.

- Hey, Michael, you know I know the feeling.

It's just like being an accountant.

Please, Jomo.

When our time is up, it's up.

Accidents do happen.

And you never see them coming.

Madam Baka.

I'm so pleased you're here.

Oh, Anita.

You know Jomo.

Nice to see you again, Madam.

- How do you do? - Fine, Madam.

Guys, excuse us just a second, huh?

And how is my favorite prodigy?

I'm fine.

I even brought you something back.

Chocolates?

- This is for you. - Oh, no.

Michael, I can't.

You earned it. - I insist.

- Anita, you know I sometimes worry that you guys,

you don't come back. - We'll always come back.