Scene 2
from Act One
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 May 2019
Summary
The park. Lights come up on LORD STEWART. He is searching for something among the flowers. He finds it and we see that it is a mushroom. He titters and skips joyfully to the swing. As the swing sways he chews on the mushroom. His expression shows that he is not enjoying it. There are some pieces of greasy paper strewn on the grass in front of the bench. MADLOMO enters from the opposite side. She has on an orange overall and wears a plastic bag on her head as she would a headdress. She is holding an open black garbage bag with one hand and collects pieces of litter with the other, using a long wire rod with a sharp point – poker-like. LORD STEWART is looking in her direction. He giggles. Then he breaks into silly laughter.
MADLOMO: Yho! Wangihlek'umlungu!
LORD STEWART, looking dazed, is staring at her. His laughter has frozen on his face and now looks like a snarl.What are you looking at?
STEWART: I don't know what I was doing eating this crap. It lifts my spirits for a while and then leaves me in the dumps. I'm in the dumps, lady, so don't you pick on me.
MADLOMO: You were staring at me.
STEWART: Because you're a beautiful princess with colours of the rainbow all over your sexy body.
MADLOMO: Pervert!
STEWART: And the sun reflects so gloriously on your plastic headdress. It is like a halo.
MADLOMO: You've made this place dirty. You people, aniz'thandi nix. You dump litter all over the place. What do you think those dustbins are made for?
STEWART: If we keep the place clean you lose your job. I, His Royal Highness Lord Stewart, keep you employed. You should thank me.
MADLOMO [picking up the papers]: Ngabelungu abanjani laba?
STEWART: Here, try these. They will brighten your day. They'll make you see the colours of the rainbow. [He hands her a piece of mushroom, but she ignores it.] Suit yourself. Maybe I didn't eat enough of these things for them to give me a happy and lasting high as they do with the Seller of Laughter.
He stuffs the mushroom into his mouth, chews and then swallows quite ostentatiously.
MADLOMO: Angizidli izinkowankowane namakhowe mina. I am not a mad animal that eats mushrooms.
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- Information
- Our Lady of Benoni , pp. 17 - 34Publisher: Wits University PressPrint publication year: 2012