02x02 - Africa, Here I Go

[bunniefuu]

Though this story is based on real events,
its characters are fictionalized

and not intended to resemble or discredit
any actual persons.

Pelé! Pelé!

Poor João.

No one congratulates him.
No one wants a picture with him.

It's unbelievable that we, sports leaders,

who bring these assholes here,
never get any recognition,

you know?

I find it quite unfair.

EL PRESIDENTE: CORRUPTION GAME

FIFA is a country...

FIFA is a stagnant country.

The elections are a scam.

That is why I am officially announcing
my candidacy for president.

My FIFA will be big enough
to fit everyone.

I will answer any of your questions now.

Yes?

Will Pelé stay on the national team?

I've been feeling weird for a while.

It started when João didn't resign.

I must confess,
it is a rejuvenating feeling, you know?

That's what the devil does, my child.

But don't worry.

He needs to get energy from somewhere.

Darn it!

Go, La Calera Sport Club!

What happened?

It's a very strong demon.

I've never seen anything like that before.

You are totally right to be worried.

So João embarked
on an almost impossible mission.

He needed to get the support of a country

to take on the old FIFA.

Who would have thought
that this shitty place in Paraguay

would become
the main business hub of football?

CONMEBOL'S "FIRST HEADQUARTERS"
PARAGUAY

Diplomatic immunity included.

Until FIFA-gate came along
and screwed us all.

You sucked the Europeans' dicks in Zurich.

Right. Are you Brazilian or Belgian?

Make up your mind, buddy.

I believe that our time has come

to act a group,
as if we were twin countries.

Now that you have
this grandeur and crazy idea

of becoming the president of FIFA,
you come to us?

They have a point.

It's not clear which team
you're playing for, João.

You're right.

I apologize if you didn't feel
I supported you in the past,

but now, I see it clearly.

We are Latin Americans.

We have to support each other.

Guys, I suggest we take a vote.

Who supports Havelange
as the president of FIFA?

South America, the great homeland, united.

We never get along though.

Peru supports you, João,

but I don't see how
you could take FIFA from them.

It's always the same ones voting.

And always for the same people.

The truth is that nobody believed in him,

not even his military friends,
who only cared about...

Havelange, I will say one thing.

You must have Pelé play
in the next World Cup.

WEST GERMANY

No.

HERMAN LEHMAN
GERMAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION

ÁLVARO OLIVEIRA
PORTUGUESE FOOTBALL FEDERATION

PACO LOPEZ GIL
ROYAL SPANISH FOOTBALL FEDERATION

He came back from Europe utterly defeated.

Of course, who would bet
on a South American

if they could do it themselves?

How was it, Marie?

I don't like to see you with that face.

Before long, I'll be ashamed
to say I'm your friend.

Do you remember when I started?

I told myself I needed
to make good connections.

I succeeded and then,
I had a lot of people around me.

They all wanted my money.

But no one wants to admit
that they're friends with a bicheiro,

even if you're the best.

A while later, I changed my focus

and started to pay attention to the poor.

I knew I could make more friends there.

Two years of suffering,
and João could not move forward.

Sweetie, which continent
has the most countries?

Africa, right? It's huge.

With these fights for independence,
there will be even more.

I am an idiot.
Why didn't I think about this before?

Those countries love football.

They will not vote for those
who discriminate against them.

That's wonderful!

Now that João knew that Africa
was a possible source of votes,

all he needed was an opportunity.

Africa!

Here I come!

João, like the good swimmer he was,

dove head first
into the murky waters of politics.

If you tell the marginalized
what they want to hear,

just like religions,

you need to make them believe in something

or someone,
and that someone will save them.

Politics is like that, sucker!
From here to China.

Brazil is full of sissies.

I found that African's business card.

Serafin Domingos?

I'm glad to hear from you.
How are you doing?

I've always dreamed of a friendship
between Africa and Brazil.

Did they think Havelange
was a simple sports leader?

No way. At that time,
football didn't generate money.

So João combined his passion

with his career at Wesbra,
a weapons factory,

and COMETA,
a transportation company.

Let's picture the situation, okay?

On one side, we have all these toys,
all these things that I'm showing you.

On the other, we have Africa.

Conflict, famine, w*r, revolution, a mess.

It was just a matter
of putting them together.

You want me to follow you to Africa

to help you solve some issues there,

and, in exchange,
I bring my gambling work there.

It's a good day. Get yourself a soda.

I'll get some brandy.

And when you become FIFA's president,
the Confederation is mine?

Exactly. Do we have a deal?

- We have a deal.
- There you go.

Next round is on the house!

Bangu will win!

We should call The King.

He got in trouble
with some real estate business.

He's broke.
That is why he does so many ads.

Did it go south?

It wasn't a good idea to give your brother
Beto access to your bank account.

Edinho, it was just a trip, brother.

BETO
PELÉ'S BROTHER

If I ever need Pelé, k*ll me.

I'll be damned.

One day, you want a spiritual retreat,
then you want to go to Africa.

I don't know if that's a good place
for you to go right now.

What about you?
One day, you want to quit everything.

Next, you want to be the football king.
No difference.

You know, I'm feeling much better.

The continent is in chaos.
Every country has its own rules.

Let me go with you. Just once.

It will be good for me.

Fine.

It is not a vacation. It is business.

Castor is going with us.
It's not negotiable.

Castor...

At least we won't share
the same room, right?

By the way,
how can a man run for president

without his wife by his side?

FIFA'S HEADQUARTERS
ZURICH

FIFA represents football.

The CAF wants to get us involved
in political matters.

Mr. Boher came to talk
to us about football and nothing else.

HENDRICK BOHER
SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

I swear
I don't have that much imagination.

This is how it happened.
Sort of... But it happened.

GUINEA-BISSAU

Welcome to Africa,

a continent looted and enslaved by Europe

in full swing.

In terms of sports, things were rough.

Because of apartheid,

South Africa,
a country of great black players,

only accepted whites
on their national team.

João was whiter than the Queen of England,

so he would have a really hard time.

This is the most important man
in Congress.

I know Tessema.

He spoke at the World Cup in Mexico.

But Tessema is a celebrity.

It's hard to meet him.

It's harder for a white guy
with a European name.

r*cist
FIFA

And the anger of some was
a golden opportunity for others.

No rooms available.

How come?

I thought they'd be flexible,
since it's an international meeting,

but they're kicking white Europeans out.
Too many years of oppression.

Just a minute.

They said we have no reservation.

- He said we have no reservation.
- João.

TESSEMA - PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN
FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION - CAF

We'll have to share this room.

I'll get another one tomorrow. Single.

João.

Act a little more humbly.

I must get in. Damn it!

- Calm down!
- What am I here for?

Look! That's Alberto.

Mr. Tessema's right hand.

ALBERT
TESSEMA'S RIGHT HAND

Pelé's national team jersey.

Please let him in. João.

MENTAL DISORDERS?
NIGHTMARES? CONFUSION?

OLUWASHINA MOTHER
SHE HEALS EVERYTHING

FAYE BOSSARD
LONG-TIME FIFA ASSISTANT

Hey, have you ever heard
that the world is a small place?

Well, see if it isn't.

Hey, Serafin. Tell me. Any news?

It's not possible.

We came here to talk to Tessema.

Guess who I made a deal with.
You won't believe it.

Who was it? Tell me.

- Tessema's secretary.
- Are you nuts?

Did you sell weapons
to Tessema's secretary?

- Are you nuts?
- Calm down.

You can't do that!

He doesn't know and never will.

- Are you sure?
- Don't you trust me? Relax.

You are too stressed out.

Let's take advantage of this.

Sure. Right.

- Go and talk to him.
- All right.

And yes, the world is a small place.

But it takes guys with business brains

to make the world luxurious,

not an ordinary small place.

It's time.

You will speak at the Congress.

And we're all on the list.

Hello?

Hi, Dorinha.

Wait! What happened?

The executives or the organization
should be reacting in such a situation.

Don't worry, my love.
It's going to be all right, okay?

I thought that traveling
so far away would be nice.

I am reckless.

I need to go back, please.

I'm about to make a very important speech
that might change everything, okay?

Your father always scares us like this.

Look. Go back to the hotel
and get some rest, okay?

Something else.

There's a c*ck party.

I'll be back late.

Suckers, what else do you want him to do?

The man gave his all.

He came here, spent his money,

he gave a great speech,
even spoke to them in English,

and yet it was not enough.

The African Confederation
decided to leave FIFA,

and João did not get any support.

We're going back tomorrow.

Or you give me my passport, and I'll go.

It's over!

CAF is no longer part of FIFA.
Let's go back!

If anything happens
to my father and I'm not there...

Bebel, my future is your future.

I can't leave before speaking to Tessema.

I would lose everything.

The military's trust. CONMEBOL's support.

I'll lose everything.

Do you understand?

Finally, Havelange and Tessema met.

Do you think they agreed on the spot?

Quite the opposite.

Face to face,
things got even more complicated.

Sweetheart!

What was that? Thank you!

Can we go back now?

We can do anything you want, honey.

Your boyfriend hasn't visited me
for a while.

We're married, Dad.

But he has been too busy lately.

You got married already?

I get it now.

I bet he won't let you graduate.

We're not going just with Pelé,
but with the whole team.

João, Serafin called.

It seems they are paying


If they support me, it's fine.
They will come to our side, Salinas.

They will call my name.

I need a reservation for 20 people.

Yes, that's right.

Salinas, CONMEBOL's President,
that's right.

A match between Uganda and Brazil, please.

Call this one.

João finally managed to convince everyone,

Tessema, the players, even the military.

But, the most important thing was missing.

Pelé called. He is not coming.

I need your help with Pelé.

He doesn't want to come.

Find a way to convince him.

What do you know about his brother?

- Zoca? He's a great kid.
- No, Beto.

He acts as if he were Pelé's agent.

Right, Beto.

Beto, you know...

Beto is in jail, man. He loves to party.

- In jail?
- Yes.

This woman is crazy! What the f*ck, man!

If you want to dress like a king...

dress like Pelé.

That's how it was in the '70s.

Even The King, Pelé, had to do publicity
and sell clothes, you know?

If it was different time, Pelé would go.
But Pelé is too tired now.

And there's more. They are paying
very little money, Havelange.

It's not enough money.

Look.

I'm going to be FIFA's President.

You can be the ambassador
of world football

and make money without playing.

The next step is to turn you into a brand.

King Pelé must think about his future.

- I'm not coming.
- Edson, look.

I'll say this as a father.

Don't let this opportunity get away.

We are family.

- Haven't I proven that to you?
- But there's Beto.

Beto is part of our family.

We will help him.

What's up, Beto?

Castor wants to talk to you.

Thank you, Castor.

It's not me you should be thanking.
Your debt is with Havelange. Get in.

Get in.

Sit over there, man.

After a long journey,
Havelange was back in Africa.

These nations
were fighting against colonialism,

but there was only one king
they had no intention of overthrowing.

That was João's one trick up his sleeve,

King Pelé. Pelé, Pelé, Pelé.

It's a pleasure. Thank you.

Pelé! Pelé! Pelé!

Hello, Zaire!

Hello, dear Africa.
Pelé is very happy to be here.

MOZAMBIQUE

I love you!

I love you, Pelé!

Havelange!

You said there were just
five matches. No way.

- No way.
- Edson, listen.

Two more matches, I swear.

I got a problem, too.
They want me back home.

My friend. Thank you.

Thank you.

João, Tessema wants eight more matches.

Eight?

That's crazy, Havelange? No way.

Too much football. Too little money.
Edinho will get hurt.

Beto, relax.
We can let him play less time.

João,

something terrible has happened.

Albert was m*rder*d. Tessema's right hand.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Tessema is devastated.

It's very complicated here, honey.
Too many things. Tessema, Pelé, Beto...

I understand what is going on with you.

But there is a lot happening here, too.

Your father will be fine.

- No, João.
- Your father is tough.

I want to know when you're coming back.

I never ask for anything.

I need you with me.

- I'm coming, honey.
- No, João.

"I'm coming" isn't an answer.

Havelange, the fans
in our rooms don't work.

The shower is a trickle.
We can't get clean.

And this hotel is terrible.
It's falling apart.

Don't worry, Pelé.

You have a boss who knows
how to take care of you, okay?

Here's the key to my room.

Go check the room.
You can enjoy some fresh air.

Go and relax. All right?

Don't worry. I'll get another room for me.

Let's go, Pelé. Come, Edinho.

Really, this is undignified.
This place is too hot.

You can't keep
sending me to work like this.

If you don't mind, we are going to Chile,

where it is much cooler

and where the Soviet Union refused
to play the playoffs against Chile,

claiming that the Chilean government
tortured prisoners in the stadium.

HELP

NIGERIA

Pelé! Pelé! Pelé!

What's up, Edson!

How are you doing?

I'm not playing, Havelange.

Too many matches. I told you. I can't.

I told you.

João.

- We can ask to postpone it.
- No, they will eat us alive.

We have to play a match in each country.

- But...
- Each match is a vote.

Beto!

You're playing.

What?

Havelange, this is crazy.

Everybody knows Pelé.

- Is Beto playing?
- Edinho...

I've always wanted to play
in a stadium, bro.

I'm ready.

And so he would have to return.

Tired, hopeless...

However, Havelange
would not give up so easily.

He was willing to do anything
to chase his dream.

This sucks, man! We were this close
to getting the f*cking votes!

That's just bullshit.

The Brazilians were retreating,

and King Pelé was returning
to his homeland as exhausted as I was.

However...

Edson!

I got great news! I just got a call.

Mandela wants to meet you.

Is it true or is it just another lie?

It's true.

We're going to South Africa
in a few hours.

Pelé is coming.

But he will go for Mandela.

Edson...

Thank you.

Those are not fireworks.

They are bombs.

We are in the middle
of the Nigerian Civil w*r.

Yes, Pelé.

Could there be a more peaceful match
than one played without opponents?

Here begins the only match
in history played by just one team.

On the other side of the ocean, in Africa,
another one began. The match for peace.

And they say football
has nothing to do with politics.

You know what? Football is life or death.

There are times
when losing seems inevitable.

Games are played everywhere.

It's an emergency!

f*ck!

But all of a sudden,
a goal can be more powerful than a b*mb...

than any m*ssile.

It can also be a white flag,
capable of curbing the most profound hate.

He's like a son to me.

He's between life and death.

My father, too.

The only problem is
that it can be a can of worms,

and scoring an own goal
is always a possibility.

SOUTH AFRICA

Whites on one side, blacks on the other.

Sadly, this was
South Africa during apartheid

which was causing so much pain and strife.

The source of the discord
is the reason why Havelange

has a chance of making it to FIFA.

Edson,

I'll ask you to come in.

We'll take a photo, the three of us.
Then you leave me alone with him.

I need this photo alone with him.

Sometimes to win a game,
you have to let the best kicker kick.

I want to thank you, Havelange.

This trip changed my life forever.

How so?

I don't know yet.