PHILANTHROPIST, THE: HAITI {SERIES FINALE} {4:3 LETTERBOX} (TV)
Summary
The final episode in this drama series inspired by the actions of "hands-on" philanthropist Bobby Sager about a billionaire playboy who transforms himself into an adventurer that travels the globe to do good deeds. In this episode, Maidstone-Rist holds a foundation dinner and Teddy regales the crowd with the story of his recent adventures in Haiti. He explains that the poor in the country must stand in long lines every day to acquire food, and mentions a girl named Clelia whom he met while there and who was a child slave, or “restavec,” forced to get food for her owners or face a beating. He then reveals that Philip was born in Haiti and came to America at age six, and discusses the recent rice shortage, during which shipments coming from America stopped, leading to riots and turmoil on the island.
In Haiti, as the people protest in the streets, Philip and Teddy attend a senate meeting about the food shortage and propose that Maidstone-Rist act as a mediator between the two governments. One of the senators, Jean Beauvais, coldly rebuffs them and states that Haiti needs to handle its own troubles in order to remain independent. It is then revealed that Jean is Philip’s estranged brother, and his personal involvement allows Teddy, for once, to be the “reasonable” one. He then proves this by throwing a party on a yacht to diffuse some of the tension. Philip says that he and his mother left Haiti for America and Jean was left behind, leading to resentment between the two, and they argue about national pride. Elsewhere, Teddy meets a woman named Martine and they seem to have an instant connection, which turns less friendly when she pulls a gun on him and demands $12,500. Teddy calls A.J. and Dax and acquires the money, and she takes him to her village. Dax drops off the money, and Martine admits that her son, Charlie, was sold into slavery by her former husband to fund his drug addiction, and that she needs the money to get him back.
At the dinner, the guests sit at the table and are served, and are rather surprised when they are given only four ounces of white rice. Olivia explains that it is equivalent to what two-thirds of Haiti has to eat every day. Teddy continues his story, in which Martine tells him that she was arrested at a peaceful protest and sentenced to a year in prison, at which time her ex-husband, Luc, sold their son. They go to see Luc, and she gives him the money and demands to know where Charlie is, threatening him with her gun when he refuses to tell her. When he tells her the address and she, Teddy and Dax go to recover the boy, however, the house is empty. Martine panics and they begin to search the town. Teddy meets Clelia, but is quickly shooed away by her owner.
Philip and Jean talk again and agree that they both want to help improve the country’s situation. Philip says he has an idea to share at the next senate meeting, but he later meets with one of Jean’s associates who tells him that most of the senate distrusts Jean and feels that he is making poor decisions. Philip talks to Teddy over the phone and tells him that Martine in fact escaped from prison and is a fugitive, and Teddy realizes that the situation is getting out of control when Luc demands $500,000 and threatens to kill Martine. She and Teddy narrowly escape, and as they run through the streets, pursued by Luc’s men, Teddy runs into Clelia, who drops her bowl of rice, meaning that she will go hungry and also be punished by her owners, which upsets Teddy greatly. Dax appears in a car and rescues Martine and Teddy, and they travel to the city where Charlie is being held. When they find him, Martine has an emotional reunion with her son, but they are quickly separated again when she is rearrested. Teddy vows to return to rescue the boy, and he appeals to Philip to ask Jean for help. Philip is distracted, however, because a large tanker carrying thousands of pounds of rice was destroyed off the coast of Haiti, and he suspects Jean of having committed the act. When he confronts his brother, Jean asserts that the country needs independence in the long run and that it was worth it to destroy the food. Philip, heartbroken, says that he idolized his brother as a child, but now can see his true greedy, egotistical nature. When Philip leaves, Teddy appeals to Jean and says that because his childhood was ruined by losing his family, he should understand why children like Clelia and Charlie need their freedom and innocence. He manages to get Clelia freed, as slavery is illegal in Haiti, and she is able to attend school. Charlie and Martine are also reunited when she is freed from prison.
Teddy then tells the crowd that not every child gets to grow up, clearly thinking of his own son, but that something must be done to give the kids in Haiti a chance. He asks if anyone has ideas of how they can help, and smiles as one man raises his hand. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: August 12, 2009 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:43:09
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 104471
- GENRE: Drama, action/adventure
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, action/adventure
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Teri Weinberg … Executive Producer
- Gareth Neame … Executive Producer
- Peter Horton … Executive Producer
- Barry Levinson … Executive Producer
- Charlie Corwin … Executive Producer, Created by
- Tom Fontana … Executive Producer, Created by
- Jonas Pate … Co-Executive Producer, Director
- Genevieve Hofmeyr … Supervising Producer
- Nigel Marchant … Producer
- Irene Burns … Producer
- Aaron Seliquini … Associate Producer
- Kim Newton … Consulting Producer
- John McNamara … Consulting Producer, Writer
- Dianne Beatty … Line Producer
- Jim Juvonen … Created by
- Jose Villalobos … Music by
- James Purefoy … Cast, Teddy Rist
- Neve Campbell … Cast, Olivia Maidstone
- Michael Kenneth Williams … Cast, Dax
- Lindy Booth … Cast, A.J.
- Jesse L. Martin … Cast, Philip Maidstone
- Enuka Okuma … Cast, Martine Joix
- Reno Wilson … Cast, Luc
- Natalie Mangondo … Cast, Clelia
- Mulweli Muofhe … Cast, Charlie
- Nick Boraine … Cast, Psychiatrist
- Marsha Fitzalan … Cast, Society Matron
- John Herbert … Cast, Fashion Photographer
- Lisa King … Cast, Intern
- Adam Levy … Cast, Symphony Conductor
- Israel Makoe … Cast, Clelia's Father
- Pinky Rapitsi … Cast, Mecour Woman
- Vladimi Versailles … Cast, Uniformed Cop
- Anthony Armatrading … Cast
- Jonathan Adams … Cast