Scene 2
from Act Two
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 May 2019
Summary
Lights rise on the SELLER OF LAUGHTER and THABISILE. They are playing on the see-saw and singing a child-like song. It is a Sunday and THABISILE is wearing jeans. There is a big birthday cake on the bench.
THABISILE [singing]: We go …
SELLER [singing]: Up …
THABISILE: And down …
SELLER: And up …
THABISILE: And down …
SELLER: Okay! Okay!
He stops the see-saw.
Let's go and eat the cake.
THABISILE: No, we must wait for the others … for Professor.
SELLER: What do you care about him? He's not here.
THABISILE: I baked it for him.
SELLER: For him? What for? I heard he is the guy who treated you so bad. I wouldn't treat you bad if you were my wife.
THABISILE: Thank you. I don't think he meant to treat me badly at all. It was just the place and the times. You wouldn't understand.
SELLER: And so you bake him a cake?
THABISILE: It's his birthday.
SELLER: He never said anything about a birthday.
THABISILE: Maybe he forgot. I just wanted to surprise him, that's all.
SELLER: What about me?
THABISILE: I'll bake you one when it's your birthday too. When is your birthday?
SELLER: Well, I don't know. I think it is today. Yes, today's my birthday too.
THABISILE [humouring him]: Okay, it's your birthday too. We are celebrating two birthdays.
SELLER: So, can I have my share of the birthday before he comes back?
THABISILE: Just a small slice. She cuts him a slice of the cake.
SELLER [singing]: ‘Go Seller, it's a birthday, you gonna party like it's your birthday.’
He dances a clownish jig and THABISILE joins him. They hold each other's hands as they kick their legs in a silly dance. PROFESSOR enters, guiding LORD STEWART. PROFESSOR is carrying newspapers under one arm. THABISILE suddenly stops, obviously embarrassed that she has been caught in such childish jinks.
- Type
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- Information
- Our Lady of Benoni , pp. 82 - 96Publisher: Wits University PressPrint publication year: 2012