Scene 4
from Somewhere on the Border
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 June 2019
Summary
The bungalow. CAMPBELL is on his bed in the lotus position. There is a timid knock at the door. The BLACK ACTOR, wearing overalls, stands in the doorway. He knocks a second time before CAMPBELL notices him.
BLACK ACTOR: Baas?
CAMPBELL: Yes?
BLACK ACTOR: Sorry, Baas.
CAMPBELL: What?
BLACK ACTOR: I'm bring that drinks, Baas.
He produces a bottle wrapped in brown paper.
CAMPBELL: For me?
BLACK ACTOR: No, Baas. I must bring it for the other baas.
CAMPBELL: Hey, well.
BLACK ACTOR: Where he is, the other baas?
CAMPBELL shrugs.
What I must do?
CAMPBELL: Wait for him. [He crosses to the BLACK ACTOR.]
Sit down and wait.
BLACK ACTOR: I'm better to stand.
CAMPBELL: What's the big deal? Sit down, man.
The BLACK ACTOR sits reluctantly.
Want a smoke?
The BLACK ACTOR gets up again and crosses to CAMPBELL.
BLACK ACTOR: Thank you very much, Baas.
CAMPBELL: Hey man, I'm not a baas. My name's Doug.
BLACK ACTOR: Yes, Baas Doug.
CAMPBELL offers him a light, but the BLACK ACTOR has already put the cigarette in his pocket.
CAMPBELL: Do you work for the army?
BLACK ACTOR: Yes. I'm work some garden jobs. Yes.
CAMPBELL: Do you like the army?
BLACK ACTOR: Yes.
CAMPBELL: You're joking.
BLACK ACTOR: Yes.
CAMPBELL: The army's up to shit.
BLACK ACTOR: Yes.
BADENHORST and MOWBRAY enter. MOWBRAY carries a family-size Coke.
MOWBRAY: Hey houtkop [blockhead], what you fucken doing inside? This is not a bladdy kafferhok this.
BLACK ACTOR: I'm bring that drinks, Baas.
MOWBRAY takes the BLACK ACTOR's hat off and throws it on the floor. CAMPBELL retrieves it.
BADENHORST: Come here, John. Why you take so bloody long, you lazy bastard?
BLACK ACTOR: I'm run there and back, Baas.
BADENHORST: I know you people.
BLACK ACTOR: I'm wait there long, long time by the Off Sales.
BADENHORST: You mean you were having a bhebha [fuck] in the bushes with one of your kaffir girls.
BLACK ACTOR: No, Baas. The baas, he was close the Off Sales for one hour. He is telling me to wait.
BADENHORST: You people always got a excuse. Come on, give here. Where's the change? Hurry up, chop, chop. What's this? Why's this short?
- Type
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- Information
- Somewhere on the Border , pp. 27 - 34Publisher: Wits University PressPrint publication year: 2012