Lights rise on the SELLER OF LAUGHTER and THABISILE. They are playing on the see-saw and singing a child-like song. It is a Sunday and THABISILE is wearing jeans. There is a big birthday cake on the bench.

THABISILE [singing]: We go …

SELLER [singing]: Up …

THABISILE: And down …

SELLER: And up …

THABISILE: And down …

SELLER: Okay! Okay!

He stops the see-saw.

Let's go and eat the cake.

THABISILE: No, we must wait for the others … for Professor.

SELLER: What do you care about him? He's not here.

THABISILE: I baked it for him.

SELLER: For him? What for? I heard he is the guy who treated you so bad. I wouldn't treat you bad if you were my wife.

THABISILE: Thank you. I don't think he meant to treat me badly at all. It was just the place and the times. You wouldn't understand.

SELLER: And so you bake him a cake?

THABISILE: It's his birthday.

SELLER: He never said anything about a birthday.

THABISILE: Maybe he forgot. I just wanted to surprise him, that's all.

SELLER: What about me?

THABISILE: I'll bake you one when it's your birthday too. When is your birthday?

SELLER: Well, I don't know. I think it is today. Yes, today's my birthday too.

THABISILE [humouring him]: Okay, it's your birthday too. We are celebrating two birthdays.

SELLER: So, can I have my share of the birthday before he comes back?

THABISILE: Just a small slice. She cuts him a slice of the cake.

SELLER [singing]: ‘Go Seller, it's a birthday, you gonna party like it's your birthday.’

He dances a clownish jig and THABISILE joins him. They hold each other's hands as they kick their legs in a silly dance. PROFESSOR enters, guiding LORD STEWART. PROFESSOR is carrying newspapers under one arm. THABISILE suddenly stops, obviously embarrassed that she has been caught in such childish jinks.