Summary
As the lights fade SDUDLA crosses to MAMPOMPO, who is sitting on her drum. Both play DOMESTIC WORKERs on their way to work early in the morning. SDUDLA plays COMMUTER 1 and MAMPOMPO COMMUTER 2.
COMMUTER 1 [standing behind MAMPOMPO and pointing to
COMMUTER 2's watch]: What time is it?
COMMUTER 2: Heyi mfazi, we are late. We must run, otherwise we will miss the train.
They begin to run upstage. MAMBHELE remains downstage centre.
COMMUTER 1: Late, late, something to six.
MAMBHELE: Where is my ticket? I haven't got extra money to buy another one.
COMMUTER 2: Which platform is the next train?
COMMUTER 1: Platform 4.
MAMBHELE: Where is my ticket? In my jersey?
COMMUTER 2 [stops to catch her breath]: Yhu! Running like this while master and MADAM are still playing hide and seek in bed.
COMMUTER 1: You mean you didn't finish yours?
COMMUTER 2: There is no time for that, man, I’m too tired. Him too.
They stand waiting for the train and then make the sound of the train stopping.
MAMBHELE: Thank God, I found it.
The women rush into the train, bumping and pushing one another, searching for a seat. COMMUTER 1 sits down. MAMBHELE brushes past her.
COMMUTER 1: Don't stick your stinking bum in my face.
MAMPOMPO stands as though holding onto a rail and almost falls as the train pulls out of the station. The women mime the motion of the train.
COMMUTER 2: I am worried because I am leaving my children alone and I don't know what I’m going to find when I get back from work.
COMMUTER 1: My eldest is giving me trouble. He doesn’t want to go to school; makes trouble with the other children while I am at work.
COMMUTER 2: These days I can't go to work and leave my children at home and feel peace.
MAMBHELE: Women, let us take our troubles to Jesus the Saviour, he is always with us. Let us praise the Lord this morning for saving us.
COMMUTER 2: Jesus!
MAMBHELE: And for being with us up to now. Let us pray and ask God to keep His eyes on our homes.
COMMUTER 1: Glory to God.
MAMBHELE: Oh Jesus, look after our children …
COMMUTER 2: Jesus!
MAMBHELE: While some of us are going to look after our madams’ homes and children …
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- Information
- You Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock / Wathint' Abafazi, Wathint' ImbokothoA play, pp. 30 - 32Publisher: Wits University PressPrint publication year: 2021