Scene 3 - The Bus

Summary

MAMPOMPO: Nkqonkqoza.

Lights come up slowly as MAMBHELE enters.

MAMBHELE: Nkqo, Nkqo, Nkqo … Yintoni mntase.

MAMPOMPO: I decided to go to Cape Town. I took my four children to my mother.

MAMBHELE: Where did you get the money from?

MAMPOMPO: I got R50 from cutting and selling bundles of grass. From that money I bought a bus ticket, my dear.

General noise as the actors pick up drums and put them on their heads. They move downstage right and mime leaning out of the windows of a bus. They are in a pool of light. The rest of the stage is dimly lit.

DOMESTIC WORKER [played by SDUDLA]: Lungiswa, Lungiswa, come quickly, the bus is going to move.

YOUNG MOTHER [played by MAMBHELE]: Nomathamsanqa, bring that bag with the nappies.

MAMPOMPO: Nomqondiso, hurry up! Bring my coolbag. Yiza naloo my coolbag. Where are the other children? Sqosho, move, the bus is leaving.

DOMESTIC WORKER: Sapha, my blanket, maan, my blanket.

YOUNG MOTHER: Sapha loo bhotile yomntwana. Bring that bottle.

MAMPOMPO: Sapha lo coolbag. Nomqondiso, help your granny fetch some water before you go to school and when you come from school, my child.

DOMESTIC WORKER: Yha Lungiswa, I’ll go and see your brother in Pollsmoor prison and give him the message about your mother. Ah! Don't worry, I’ll ask permission for him to attend the funeral.

YOUNG MOTHER: You’ve got the new address and the phone number. You must come and visit us.

MAMPOMPO: Sqosho, please don't forget to count the sheep every evening. They must be the same number my son.

YOUNG MOTHER: I know the life in Transkei is very bad. When is your husband's contract finished on the gold mine?

DOMESTIC WORKER: Lungiswa, I’ll write. Don't forget to answer.

YOUNG MOTHER: Save money and come to us.

MAMPOMPO: Sqosho, don't forget to milk the cow every morning, otherwise you’ll starve. Uyakudliwa yindlala mntan’ am.

YOUNG MOTHER: She looks like her FATHER, unguyise esinya when he is shitting on the toilet.

MAMPOMPO: Nomqondiso, please bantwana bam, don't fight over nothing. Attend school every day. Your mother is going to work in Cape Town for you. I’ll send you clothing.

YOUNG MOTHER: You mean the FATHER of this child? I don’t know where he is. I’ve been looking for him everywhere – the prisons, hospitals. His comrade said he was taken away.