Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Foreword
- Introduction
- Glossary and translation
- Images from production
- Ulwembu: the play script
- Prologue: Our story
- Scene 1 Behind the police station
- Scene 2 The police station, captain's office
- Scene 3 The school yard
- Scene 4 Portia's house
- Scene 5 Behind Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 6 Behind Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 7 The police station
- Scene 8 Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 9 Outside Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 10 Outside Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 11 Portia's house
- Scene 12 Bongani's house
- Scene 13 Outside Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 14 Outside Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 15 Bongani's house
- Scene 16 Outside Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 17 Sipho's room
- Scene 18 Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 19 Captain's office
- Scene 20 Behind the police station
- Scene 21 Bongani's house
- Scene 22 Portia's house
- Scene 23 Captain's office
- Scene 24 Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 25 On the street
- Epilogue: Our story
- Notes
- The Authors
Scene 9 - Outside Emmanuel's sphaza shop
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 May 2019
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Foreword
- Introduction
- Glossary and translation
- Images from production
- Ulwembu: the play script
- Prologue: Our story
- Scene 1 Behind the police station
- Scene 2 The police station, captain's office
- Scene 3 The school yard
- Scene 4 Portia's house
- Scene 5 Behind Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 6 Behind Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 7 The police station
- Scene 8 Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 9 Outside Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 10 Outside Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 11 Portia's house
- Scene 12 Bongani's house
- Scene 13 Outside Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 14 Outside Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 15 Bongani's house
- Scene 16 Outside Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 17 Sipho's room
- Scene 18 Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 19 Captain's office
- Scene 20 Behind the police station
- Scene 21 Bongani's house
- Scene 22 Portia's house
- Scene 23 Captain's office
- Scene 24 Emmanuel's sphaza shop
- Scene 25 On the street
- Epilogue: Our story
- Notes
- The Authors
Summary
PORTIA turns to leave and collides with BONGANI, who is entering the store. Her groceries scatter on the ground.
BONGANI apologises profusely and crouches down to help her pick them up.
BONGANI: I'm sorry, Ma.
PORTIA: That's okay.
A moment of recognition as they scan each other's faces.
PORTIA: I know you …
BONGANI: Bongani.
PORTIA: Mseleku … Bongani Mseleku.
BONGANI [bitterly]: You have a good memory.
PORTIA: How could I forget? It's been a while?
BONGANI: Four years.
PORTIA: I trust you're enjoying your new-found freedom.
BONGANI: Four years.
PORTIA: That's a long time.
BONGANI: You stole four years of my life.
PORTIA: You brought it upon yourself.
BONGANI: Left me with a criminal record.
PORTIA: You and your friends destroyed a young girl's life.
BONGANI: I didn't lay a hand on her, Officer.
PORTIA [a little smugly]: I'm a lieutenant now.
They stare at each other for a moment.
BONGANI: Do you know how hard it is to find a job with a criminal record? To run a household, feeding three children, when you can't find a job?
PORTIA: The court made the decision in the end.
BONGANI: I was innocent!
PORTIA: That's not what they found, Bongani.
BONGANI: You ruined my life, Lieutenant.
PORTIA: You reap what you sow. [Beat.] Uvuna okutshalile.
PORTIA exits.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- UlwembuEmpatheatre and the Big Brotherhood, pp. 23 - 24Publisher: Wits University PressPrint publication year: 2018