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 22 - Portia's house
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
The bed is placed centre stage and SIPHO lies down on it. PORTIA turns to address the audience. Repetitive music plays under the next sequence, suggesting a sort of delirium.
PORTIA: I should have seen the signs. I was so busy pursuing the problem in the back alleys of KwaMashu that I didn't notice it creep into my own home. How could I have been so blind? And now where to? What must a mother do? They say there is no end to this nightmare … that once a child is addicted you might as well consider them dead … But I won't surrender, Sipho. [PORTIA removes the handcuffs from her belt.] I won't leave your side until we have driven these demons away. All I have is patience and love … that's all I can give.
PORTIA gently takes SIPHO's left hand and handcuffs it to the bedpost.
SIPHO [clutching his belly with his right hand]: It's painful, Ma … It's sore.
PORTIA: I know my boy … I know.
SIPHO: Let me free, Ma. [He rattles the handcuffs against the metal frame.]
PORTIA: I can't.
SIPHO [yelling]: Let me go!
PORTIA: Not until the poison has left your system.
SIPHO: Let me go!
PORTIA: It's only been two days. Eat some porridge … here.
PORTIA holds out a bowl of porridge.
SIPHO [crying]: Let me go, Ma!
PORTIA: Those people in the community will kill you if they catch you stealing from them again. This is for your own safety my boy. [Pause.] Try and eat.
SIPHO strikes the bowl from out of her hands and the contents scatter across the stage. He writhes in pain.
PORTIA goes on her hands and knees to clean up the spilt porridge.
SIPHO, still delirious with arosta, tosses and turns. ANDILE enters and hovers over the bed … a hallucination perhaps? Only SIPHO appears to sense his presence and calls out.
SIPHO: Andile … Andile …
PORTIA: Andile isn't here.
SIPHO: Get me Andile.
SIPHO grasps at the air frantically with his free hand.
PORTIA [adamantly]: That isigebengu won't put a foot in this house.
SIPHO: I need Andile.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- UlwembuEmpatheatre and the Big Brotherhood, pp. 52 - 56Publisher: Wits University PressPrint publication year: 2018