Scene 16 - Peace

Summary

The storm calms. The torrential downpour subsides into a soft, soothing patter. zenzile stands centre stage, peering out – out beyond pink nails and the Home Affairs office, beyond the audience, the theatre.

zenzile: Yah, you will find her there. There at the top of that hill, sitting there laying the final bricks to her house, sitting there on that cursed patch of earth, with the dying stars above and the stinking river below.

And if, Nkulunkulu, you see that she is lonely and you take pity on her, she will offer you one of her ribs – but on one condition … that you send her another woman hayi indoda nje engenamsebenzi.

zenzile slides off her dressing gown and receives it again into her open arms. It's as if her request for a female companion has been granted and she hugs the garment close, breathing in its scent.

zenzile: Then, when that soil is ready, she will plant her gogo's tree back in the earth. [She cradles the monkey apple sapling in her arms before kneeling to place it on the ground centre stage.] She will mix up that special recipe, caring for that young tree until it bears the first fruits so that life may begin again … life may return.

She makes a final offering to Nkulunkulu and the audience by sliding the sapling into the last remaining sliver of light. She then sits on the corner of her bed and smiles serenely.

zenzile: Yah, at last silence will have descended over the hills and valleys and she will be at peace … peace with the wings of the lightning bird burnt into her back … peace with the imfezis and wild dogs of Ipharadesi curled up and snoring on her soft warm lap.

She turns away from the audience, stroking an imaginary serpent. The lightning scar stretches and glows across her back for a final moment, mirrored by the image of the sapling branches centre stage.

The lights fade.

Darkness.

Just the sounds of rain and a lonely distant wind blowing over the ruins of all the earth.

END