Restless Soul

Restless Soul continued...

Scene 5

Fani is waiting for Zenzo at the restaurant.

Waitress : "Can I take your order sir?"

Fani : "No. I'm waiting for someone, she should be here anytime now. Just give me few more minutes please."

Waitress : "Ok, please let me know whenever you're ready to place an order." (Walks away)

Fani : "Will do."

(Zenzo walks in 30 minutes late, and sits opposite Fani)

Zenzo : "Hey.."

Fani : "I thought I told you not to be late."

Zenzo : "I'm sorry I was stuck in traffic."

Fani : "And you didn't bother to pick up the phone and call me?"

Zenzo : "I thought about it but then again I didn't think it'll be such a big deal. Why are you so worked up anyway?"

Fani : (snaps) "My wife is coming home today incase you've forgotten and I'm picking her up at 12:00."

Zenzo : "Ohhh."

Fani : "So you really not even gonna say sorry?"

Zenzo : "Sorry."

Fani : (clicks tongue) (calls a waitress)

Zenzo : "Do you love me?"

Fani : "What's that got to do with anything?"

Zenzo : "I'm just asking."

(They both order drinks. Zenzo ordered water and Fani ordered an orange juice)

Fani : "Is that what was bothering you last night when you called? Are we really here to discuss whether I love you or not?"

Zenzo : "No, never mind. I already know the answer."

Fani : "Please don't complicate things between us. You clearly know what we agreed on, so…"

Zenzo : (interrupts) "I'm pregnant."

Fani : (chokes)

Zenzo : (proceeds) "Four weeks."

Fani : (thinks carefully) "Why are you only telling me now?"

Zenzo : "I couldn't find a better way or time to tell you. Forgive me."

Fani : (cover his face with his hands, sighs)

Zenzo : "please say something."

Fani : "Get rid of it."

Zenzo : "What?"

Fani : "It's the only way. I love my family and I can't let anything or anyone jeopardize that."

Zenzo : "I understand that, but to make me have an abortion….(shakes head) I don't agree with you on that. I can't kill an innocent child."

Fani : "It's either it or you."

Zenzo: "Please Fani, let's talk about this. How am I supposed to do this?"

Fani : "I don't care. But make sure you do it before the end of today."

Zenzo : (crying) "Fani..."

Fani : "My word is final. (Rises from his seat) I'm going to pick up my wife from the airport."

Zenzo : (sobbing, holding her bumpy tummy)

Zenzo has no other option but to terminate the pregnancy. She goes to Mam Nodumo who specialises in illegal abortions. But sadly she ends up in hospital due to heavy bleeding and unbearable pains. Zenzo and her baby couldn't last another day and they will never rest in peace until Fani answers some questions.

Scene 6

Khwezi and Zuzu are finishing up the preparations on their mother's homecoming dinner.

Khwezi : "They should be here anytime from now. I can't wait to see Mama, I've missed her."

Zuzu : "Ja same here. We've got a lot to catch up on."

Khwezi : "Hey, What happened to you last night? We're you sick or what?"

Zuzu : (clears throat) "No it was nothing. I guess I just had a stomach bug."

Khwezi : (suspicious) "Ohh ok. Are you ok now?"

Zuzu : "Yes I'm ok."

Khwezi : "Are you sure? ‘Cause we don't want the repeats of what happened last night."

Zuzu : "Yes I'm sure."

Khwezi : "I hope so. But you still need to go see a doctor neh."

(A car pulls up the driveway)

Zuzu : (Runs to the door) "They're here."

Khwezi : (follows Zuzu to the door)

As soon as Sintu enters the house, she senses that something is not right. She stands in the doorway for a moment.

Fani : "Are you ok?"

Sintu : "Something's not right. I can feel it."

Khwezi : "let's take her to the lounge."

(Sintu is carefully taken to the lounge)

Sintu : "Thanks. Can I have some water please."

(Khwezi rushes to the kitchen to get a glass of water)

Sintu : "I just need some rest, can you please excuse me." (her arrival home is nothing like they'd imagined and anticipated)

Fani : "ok my love."

Zuzu : (receives a call from Sanny) "Hello."

Zuzu : "...ok I'll be there in an instant."

Scene 7

Sanny is standing nex to his car on a driveway when Zuzu arrived.

Zuzu :"Hey babe. You sounded serious on the phone. What's up?"

Sanny: "There's something I need to tell you."

Zuzu : "Sounds serious. I'm listening."

Sanny : (holds her hands) "You do know how much I love you right?"

Zuzu : "Well you always tell me that you love me to the moon and back. and I've seen you proving it so many times. But babey you're scaring me."

Sanny : "And that will never change, no matter what happens between us."

Zuzu : (nods) "Sanny, what's going on?"

Sanny : (heavy sigh)

Zuzu : "please just tell me already."

Sanny : "Ok, but please promise you won't get mad." (he says holding both her hands)

Zuzu : "Ok, ja I promise."

Sanny : "My parents sold the house."

Zuzu : "Ok. Uhm which house?"

Sanny : (Turns to look at the house)

Zuzu : "And where are you gonna stay?"

Sanny : "I'm going to move in with them until I find my own place to stay."

Zuzu : "How long will that be?"

Sanny : "I'm not sure. Until I get a good paying job maybe. But I think I'll stay with them for quite some time."

Zuzu : "But why? I mean , why did they sell the house?"

Sanny : "I don't know. They didn't say. And I also didn't ask. You know how my parents are."

Zuzu : (disappointed) "and where does that leave us?"

Sanny : "What do you mean?"

Zuzu : "I mean, you gonna be very far from me and we can't be in a long distance relationship."

Sanny : "So what are you saying?"

Zuzu : (silent)

Sanny : (let go of her hands) "Are you suggesting that we break up?"

Zuzu : "If there are no other options, then we might as well just…"

Sanny : (interrupts) "And what about the baby?"

Zuzu : "we'll keep in touch. Goodbye Sanny." (Gets in the car and drove off)

Sanny : "Zuzu please. Let's talk about this." (Zuzu went to her car and drove off)

Sanny : "Zuzu! Zuzu!"

Back to Fani’s house

The tension in the house is getting stronger. Sintu is sensing that Fani has done something dreadful which is bound to put her family into great danger.

Sintu is in the kitchen making tea when the telephone rings.

Sintu : "Hello."

Sintu : "...Yes this is she..

Sintu : "...What? Where?"

Sintu : "...Ok we'll be there in an hour."

Sintu rushes to the bedroom where Fani is taking a nap.

Sintu : (shouting) "Fani! Fani!"

Fani : (grumbles) "Mmmhhh."

Sintu : (enters the bedroom) "Fani wake up. I just got a call from the hospital." (changes into her casual clothes).

Fani : "Okay." (still sleepy)

Sintu : "Zuzu is in hospital. It is said that she's in a critical condition. She got into a car accident."

Fani : (startled) "What? When?"

Sintu : "I don't know all the details. We have to get to the hospital now."

Fani : (jumps out of bed) "Ok I'll catch up. Wait for me in the car."

Sintu : (runs to the door) "Hurry up!"

In the meantime, Khwezi is in her room . She has no idea of what has just happened and where her parents are rushing off to. But whatever it was, it gave her a chance to get ready to disappear. Her mind is occupied with her mid year results.

Khwezi is staring at her laptop, looking at her academic results. Knowing that her mother will be disappointed and her dad will be furious when she tells them about the results, she decides to leave a short, sincere and apologetic letter.

'My beloved parents.

As I'm writing this letter my heart is in pain and I'm feeling miserable. But the pain that I'm feeling right now is nothing compared to what I've done to you. I know that you are expecting nothing but the best from me and I've let you down. All I wanna say is that it really wasn't my intention to disappoint you, I'm not proud of myself either for what I've done; I'm really sorry.

I'm sorry for being a failure and I'm sorry for just leaving you like this. I want you to know that I love you sincerely and unconditionally and I will forever love you.

Much love

Khwezi.'

She leaves her letter on her bed then she starts packing.

Her eyes are filled with tears. She doesn't know where the road will lead her but she wanted to be far away from home. Away where no one knows her.

Khwezi : (whispers to herself or to the characters on the letter) "I'm sorry."

Closing her bedroom door behind her, she heads to the dining room and out the back door she went.