By Ntlele Eric
NEW CHARACTERS
ISAAC
ITHABELENG
KENEUOE
TIME: Present Day
PLACE: In a village
Hospital (in a ward). Day.
SCENE CHARACTERS: Ithabeleng, Isaac, Keneuoe.
Isaac sleeps on a sick bed, with drips on his hands. Ithabeleng sits besides him, looking at him and smoothly patting Isaac on the head.
ITHABELENG
(speaks as Isaac is sleeping)
Don’t worry, boyza, you’ll be alright.
ISAAC
(slowly opens his eyes)
Mom?
ITHABELENG grins. Isaac tries to sit up, looking around in surprise.
ISAAC
How come I’m here, mom?
ITHABELENG
(brings him back to bed)
You have some rest, we’ll talk about it later. Don’t stress yourself. KENEUOE comes in with a forlorn smile.
KENEUOE
Isaac, are you alright?
ITHABELENG
(glares at KENEUOE sharply)
You wait. My son needs some rest, right now.
KENEUOE (stands still besides her)
But aunt…
ITHABELENG
(interrupts rudely)
Do I need to repeat myself? Just go, I said.
KENEUOE (humbly leaves)
Okay then, I’ll go.
ISAAC
(still on the bed, exhausted)
Please don’t.
KENEUOE turns around with a faint smile.
ITHABELENG
But son, you need to rest…
ISAAC
Mom, please go.
ITHABELENG picks up her hand bag and leaves. Keneuoe sits beside Isaac.
KENEUOE
How are you feeling, right now?
ISAAC grasps KENEUOE’s hands and looks at her forlornly.
ISAAC
Please don’t ever leave me.
ITHABELENG stands still at the door, looking at them aggressively.
KENEUOE
If you say so, I’ll stay.
ITHABELENG
(speaks to herself, snarling)
Not only Lefa along with Max became my rivals towards my son, but also Moeketsi’s dearest daughter is trying me. Let’s just wait and see how they’ll do away with it. If I didn’t spare my own husband for that, then who are they to just escape my snares?
Graveyard. Same moment.
SCENE CHARACTERS: Moeketsi, David, Jeanette.
Moeketsi and David wear se-ana-marena blankets, with bare heads, and Jeanette is on her black traditional mourning attire. They all stand between Lefa and Joseph’s tombs, with their heads bowed down.
JEANETTE
I think we should start praying.
MOEKETSI
(closes his eyes and starts praying)
Hail to you, our saints…
We greet you…
Standing here, we came to ask for deliverance… (he looks to JEANETTE)
It’s your turn, mother…
JEANETTE
(prays softly)
Brother-in-law, we all believe that your power still rules within our family. Please free us from all the curse. (turns to another grave)
Then, to you, my husband…
I believe that your death was a punishment for my bad acts.
I am even ashamed that I stand with head laid high, right before my innocent husband, who died because of me.
Nevertheless, I know you still carry your kind heard with you. Please help your brother in levelling our ways ahead. (to DAVID)
Your turn.
DAVID (bows down)
Ashamed is I, for not listening to both of you, my brothers. Now I miss your advices.
As we are all left alone, we need a clear guidance as to which steps we should take now onwards.
I’m speechless that both, my brothers left me all alone. (looks to MOEKETSI and JEANETTE)
I think I’m done.
MOEKETSI
(takes out a plastic of tried plants within his hands and gives it to DAVID)
Here, burn it right between their beds.
DAVID takes it and burns it between Lefa and Joseph’s heads. JEANETTE starts sobbing and MOEKETSI jacks her. DAVID also sheds tears.