RAFAEL NGUBANE

13. F' ME UP

SEGO

I DROP THE CARD ON THE FLOOR

MO: (LOUD TONE) SURPRISE

HE TURNS AROUND.

RAF: SHIT.

SCREAMS*
“WHAT THE FUCK”
“WE JUST GOT MARRIED”

I GO SO NUMB, LOOKING AT ORATILE GET OFF THE BED. RAF RUNS TO ME AND KNEELS DOWN

RAF: BABY, BABY... ITS NOT WHAT YOU THINK IT IS.

I GO TO LESEGO AND ROXXY WHO ARE CRYING AND RIO AND RO GET DRESSED. I LOOK AT MO AND PASS HIM WITH L AND ROXXY IN MY ARMS. HE ENTERS WITH US AND THE ELEVATOR CLOSES BEFORE THEY CAN REACH IT.

ROXXY: (CRIES) OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH MASEGO WHAT DID I JUST SEE.
L: (SHAKING)

WE LEAVE AND GO TO THE CAR.

(HITTING GLASS)

RAF: MASEGO. BABY, PLEASE. IT’S A MISTAKE.

A TEAR LEAVES MY EYE.

ME: PLEASE LEAVE.

RAF

I CALL MY MOM, WHO ANSWERS AFTER THE 2ND RING

MOM: HELLO.
ME: MOM, WE FUCKED UP. PLEASE GO HOME AND STOP THEM. CALL THE JALI’S.
MOM: WHATS WRONG.
ME: WE FUCKED UP

I LOOK AT THE GUYS AND NOTICE RIO SHAKING SO MUCH. RO WAS CRYING, RUBBING HIS HEAD.

ME: I’LL FIX THIS.

1 HOUR LATER

SEGO

WE GET HOME AND FIND MY PARENTS AND THEIR PARENTS. I PASS THEM AND GO UPSTAIRS TO PACK MY STUFF. I LEFT THE STUFF HE BOUGHT ME. HIS BITCH CAN WEAR THEM SINCE SHE DOES A BETTER JOB THAN ME.

ME: (SIGHS) (WIPES TEARS)
MA: NANAS.

I NOTICE LESEGO AND ROXXY HEADED DOWNSTAIRS WITH THEIR BAGS.

ME: WHO CALLED YOU HERE.
MO: IT WAS YOUR MAN.
ME: OH.

HE WAS STANDING IN THE CORNER WITH HIS HANDS FOLDED, AND SHADES ON.

MOM: SEGO, NANA LOOK.
ME: (SHAKES HEAD) NO MOM. ITS DONE

THEIR CAR FLIES IN THE YARD.

ME: BYE.

THEY RUN INSIDE, ZIPS DOWN AND SHIRTS UNDONE. RAFAEL SEES ME AND COMES TO ME

ME: DON’T TOUCH ME.
RAF: (TEARS ROLLING DOWN EYES) I FUCKED UP. I KNOW.

I SLAP HIM

ME: (CRIES) YES. YOU GOT ME FUCKED UP. (VOICE BREAKING) HOW LONG ?

HE LOOKS DOWN, CRYING

ME: (YELLS) HOW LONG
RAF: 2 MONTHS

I CRY.

ROXXY: WAS IT YOU ONLY OR ALL OF YOU.
RAF: ME ONLY
MO: (CHUCKLES) DONE LIED AGAIN
RIO: I’VE BEEN CHEATING TOO... FOR MONTHS

LESEGO LOOK UP, TEARS ROLLING DOWN EYES.

RO: ITS MY FIRST TIME.

MO: TRUE. RO IS CIVIL.
ROXXY: HE CHEATED STILL. I’M DONE.

LESEGO TAKES OFF HER RING

L: DIVORCE ME. YOU ARE NOT READY FOR COMMITMENT. NONE OF YOU ARE... AND THEN BLAME DRUGS AND EXCITEMENT LIKE YOU ARE FUCKING 14 YEAR OLDS WHO ARE NEW IN PUBERTY, JUST FINDING OUT THAT THEIR DICKS CAN STAND.
RIO: MAMA...
L: NO. WE ARE DONE

LESEGO WALKS OUT.

ME: THIS IS WHAT I GET FOR LOVING YOU. YOU HEALED ME TO FUCKING BREAK ME EVEN MORE. THANK YOU
RAF: NO (CRIES) PLEASE.
ME: (SHAKES HEAD) YOU DID IT RAF, (CLAPS FOR HIM) YOU GOT ORA AGAIN. HER PUSSY THAT GOOD THAT YOU ARE NOT ANSWERING MY CALLS FOR A MONTH, FUCKIMG HER FOR A MONTH. LIE THAT YOU ARE IN PE WHILE YOU ARE 30 MINUTES AWAY FROM HOME... YOU SHOULD’VE TOLD ME THAT YOU DON’T  WANT ME
RAF: I DO
ME: YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME YOU ARE STILL A 32 YEAR OLD HOE STILL
RRF: PLEASE...

I ATTEMPT TO WALK AWAY AND HE PULLS ME

ME: NGIYEKE
RAF: NO, PLEASE. I NEED YOU
ME: NO. NOT ANY MORE.

I ATTEMPT TO PULL HIS HANDS AWAY FROM ME, WHICH WERE GRIPPING MY DRESS.

ME: (CRIES) DON’T TOUCH

HE WAS ON HIS KNEES, HOLDING ONTO ME, CRYING. ROXXY WALKS OUT AND THE OTHER BROTHERS FOLLOW THEM.

ME: LEAVE ME

MOTSI WAS JUST STANDING THERE, MINDING HIS OWN BUSINESS.

RAF: IT WAS A MISTAKE.
ME: 2 MONTHS IS NOT A MISTAKE, YOU WANTED TO DO THAT SHIT. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO BREAK US UP AND HURT ME

RAF HUGS MY LEGS, CRYING

ME: LEAVE ME
RAF: (SHAKES HEAD)

I PULL HIM OFF AND WALK AWAY

OUTSIDE

...: AND YOU STILL DID IT (CRIES) ARE YOU AWARE OF HOW MUCH I HATE YOU RIGHT NOW ?

I LOOK AND ITS LESEGO, WITH RIO BEGGING HER NOT TO LEAVE. ROXXY WAS JUST IN THE CAR, WITH RO OUTSIDE, MOVING HIS HANDS INSIDE HIS HAIR.

RAF: NO, PLEASE

I OPEN THE BOOT TO PUT MY BAG INSIDE. HE PULLS MY BAG OUT

RAF: AW’HAMBI. YOU CANT LEAVE ME HERE. I NEED YOU.
ME: YOU NEED HELP.

I GRAB MY BAG AND HE MOVES AWAY

RAF: MASEGO I NEED YOU. PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME. KA KUPA ?
ME: NOPE. TSAMAYA KO ORA. AKERE O MONATE ? AKERE YENA O KUPHA KAMNANDI.
RAF: (SHAKES HEAD) I’LL LEAVE THE COKE...

THAT ALONE SENT ME ON SOME WAVE OF RAGE. I TAKE OFF MY SLIPPER AND I HIT HIM. HE STARTS CRYING EVER MORE, TRYING TO STOP ME.

RAF

I FELT MYSELF GET GUILTY IN AN INSTANT. I FUCKED UP SO BAD.

ME: (CRIES)

SHE THROWS THE SHOES AT ME AND CRIES OUT LOUD.

BAE: I BEGGED YOU TO NOT PLAY WITH ME AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME ?

SHE THROWS HER PHONE ON THE FLOOR AND IT BREAKS.

BAE: I WANT NOTHING THAT BELONGS TO YOU, ANYTHING THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME THAT CAME FROM YOU...

SHE TAKES OFF HER BRACELET AND BREAKS IT. SHE TAKES OFF HER EARRINGS AND THROWS THEM AT ME. SHE TAKES OFF THE DOLCE AND GABBANA SHADES I GOT HER AND THROWS THEM AT ME

BAE: KEEP IT ALL. KEEP YOUR SHIT. BURN THOSE CLOTHES OR GIVE THEM TO YOUR BITCH, AKERE O MONATE ORATILE. SEEMS LIKE I AM THE PROBLEM HERE. I NEED TO GO GET TESTED NOW, I NEED TO CLEAN MYSELF, CLEANSE ALL BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO FUCKED HOES THAT TERMINATE PREGNANCIES AND SELL IT FOR A SOFT LIFE. YOU FUCKED UP (SOBBING) YOUR ONLY CHANCE AT GETTING LOVED RIGHT, YOUR ONLY CHANCE AT STABILITY... HAPPINESS. I WAS WILLING TO RISK IT ALL FOR YOU, KNOWING THAT MOTSI HATES YOU, I STILL STAYED, I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO BE HAPPY, FOR ONCE IN MY (TAKES OFF PROMISE RING) FUCKED UP LIFE... I (THROWS RING AT ME) GAVE LOVE A CHANCE. I DID NOT TURN DOWN POTENTIAL MARRIAGES IN MY PAST DUE TO TRAUMA AND PAIN, FOR ME TO HEAL AND GIVE LOVE A CHANCE, TO BE MADE A FOOL OFF AGAIN. NADA... NO.

SHE LOOKS ME IN MY EYES.

BAE: GOODLUCK TO YOU AND YOUR FUCKED UP BROTHERS. SEEK HELP AND GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME AND MY FAMILY. I CRIED ENOUGH AS CHILD, I CAN’T HAVE A MAN THAT CAN’T KEEP HIS DICK INSIDE HIS PANTS HURTING ME, LET ALONE GETTING SICK. (CLICKS TONGUE)

I STARE AT HER, AS TEARS ROLLS DOWN HER EYES. I REALLY HURT THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. SHE TURNS AROUND AND WALKS TOWARDS THE CAR

BAE: (TO RIO) GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM MY SISTER, MONTHS... MONTHS...

SHE PUSHES HIM AWAY FROM THE CAR.

BAE: (LOOKS AT RO) STOP CRYING, YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE DOING.

SHE LOOKS AT ME, SHAKES HER HEAD AND GETS INSIDE THE CAR.

FOOTSTEPS.

I LOOK UP AND ITS MOTSI

MO: MHHH... YOU WILL NEVER CHANGE.
ME: (SIGH) YOU WIN MO...

I GET UP, I WAS SO HEARTBROKEN. I HAD SCARS ALL OVER MY BODY AND SHOE MARKS ALL OVER. MY FACE WAS NUMB AND MY CHEEKS HURT FROM THE SLAPS.

MO: I KNEW YOU WERE STILL UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF COKE. HOW COULD YOU LIE TO HER ABOUT SOMETHING YOU STILL DO AND ARE ADDICTED TO.
ME: THAT’S BECAUSE YOU BETRAYED ME. I HAD NO ONE TO RUN TO. YOU WERE MY CLOSEST BEST FRIEND. YOU KNEW I CONFIDED IN YOU. I WAS CLEAN WAYY BEFORE YOU BETRAYED ME. NOW I DONE FUCKED UP.
MO: THE ONLY THING YOU CAN BLAME ME ABOUT IS THAT I SHOT YOU FOR ALMOST RUINING MY NAME.
ME: YOU ARE AN ABUSIVE MOTHERFUCKER AND YOU WERE WORKING AGAINST US MO. YOU ARE PART OF THE CREW. YOU CANT STEAL FROM THE US WHEN WE WORK WITH YOU
MO: I CHANGED.
ME: PITY, THEY KNOW.
MO: I KNOW. I HAD TO GET MY REVENGE FOR THE LAST TIME
ME: PLEASE...
MO: (SIGH)
ME: MO PLEASE. I WILL GET CLEAN. I’LL GO TO REHAB AND START AFRESH IN THERAPY.
MO: (LOOKS AT CAR)
ME: PLEASE

RO WALKS TOWARDS US AND TURNS AROUND.

ME: N...

HE PUNCHES MO AND MO FALLS DOWN

ME: FUCK, RO.
RO: IF I LOOSE THE LOVE OFY LIFE, I AM GOING TO FORGET YOU ARE RELATED TO HER.
MO: (LAUGHS)(TOUCHES BLOODY MOUTH) BUT YOU WERE RECEIVING HEAD THOUGH. SHE CAUGHT YOU CHEATING. I NEVER SAID CHEAT. THIS PLAN WAS FOR RAFAEL. I DIDN’T KNOW YOU WERE CHEATING.
RO: (VOICE CRACKING) I MESSED UP.

ROXXY GETS OUT OF THE CAR AND GRABS MO

ROXXY: GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME AND MY FAMILY. FUCKING CHEATERS.

RO LOOKS AT HER AND LOOKS DOWN.

MO: (YELLS) I’LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO

HE ENTERS THE CAR WITH ROXXY AND IT LEAVES. I STARE AT IT, LOOKING WHERE SEGO WAS SITTING, WAITING FOR HER TO LOOK AT ME, UNFORTUNATELY SHE DID NOT EVEN LOOK MY DIRECTION.

RIO: I NEED MY WIFE BACK
ME: YAH, NO SHIT

I PASS THEM AMD ENTER THE HOUSE.

SEGO’S MOM: WE’LL SEE EACH OTHER WHEN THEY... (LOOKS AT US) FIX THE MESS

SHE WALKS OUT.

SEGO’S DAD: (SIGHS) SOMAHASHI

HE WALKS OUT

ME: (SIGHS)
MOM: THIS WHAT YOU WANTED ?

WE ALL LOOK AT HER

MOM: AN EMPTY HOUSE ? NO WIVES. JUST HOES ?
ME: MOM I CA...
MOM: SHUT UP.

SHE THROWS A BOTTLE AT US AND WATER SPLASHES US

ME: (WIPES FACE)
MOM: (DEMANDING TONE) I BEGGED YOU. ALL THREE OF YOU, ONE BY ONE TO BE LOYAL AND LOVE YOUR WIVES ? AND THEN WHAT ?

SHE ATTEMPTS THROW HER PURSE AND MY DAD STOPS HER.

MOM: (TEARS IN EYES) I BEGGED YOU (CRYING) WHY ? WHY ??

MY DAD HUGS MY MOM.

MOM: (WIPES TEARS) THOSE POOR GIRLS SAT HERE. COOKED MEALS EVERYDAY, WAITING FOR THE THREE OF YOU FUCKED UP IDIOTS. FOR A MONTH...

SHE STOPS HUGGING MY DAD

MOM: I’M DONE BABYSITTING YOU. INSTEAD OF BABYSITTING YOUR KIDS? I AM BUSY TALKING TO THE 3 OF YOU LIKE YOU ARE FUCKING 7 YEAR OLDS. YOU ARE FUCKING 32. TRIPLETS

WE ALL LOOK UP

MOM: THIRTY... FUCKING TWO.

SHE WALKS OUT, PULLING MY DAD, WHO SHAKES HIS HEAD IN DISAPPOINTMENT AND WALKS OUT.

RIO: FUCK

HE COVERS HIS FACE, CRYING. RO RUNS UPSTAIRS AND I HELP RIO UP. THE HOUSE WAS CLEAN AND EMPTY.

RIO: (CRIES) SHE’S GONE. JUST LIKE THAT.
ME: I’M SORRY BRO

I HUG HIM AND HE GRABS A BOTTLE OF WATER WHILE I MOP THE FLOOR.

BANG

I LOOK UPSTAIRS AND ITS RO

ME: YINI ?
RO: I CAN’T LIVE MY LIFE WITHOUT HER. I’M SORRY. I NEED TO GET MY WIFE BACK

HE WALKS DOWNSTAIRS WITH BRIEFCASES.

RO: I NEED ROXXY MAN. I FUCKED UP AND I WANNA DO BETTER. YOU TWO NEED ALL THE OTHER MILLION GALAXIES TO CONVINCE YOUR WOMEN YOU FUCKED UP

HE LOOKS AT ME

RO: YOU NEED TO ACCEPT THAT SHE’S GONE.

I LOOK AWAY, MOPPING.

RIO: CAN I COME WITH ?
RO: HURRY UP.I NEED TO GET TO HER BEFORE SHE SKIPS TOWN OR WORSE... (SHAKES HEAD LOOKING DOWN)
RIO: NO. THAT’S THE LAST THING WE NEED  WE CAN FIX THIS.

I LOOK AT BOTH OF THEM AS THEY TALK.

ME: (SIGH)

I REACH FOR MY POCKET AND TAKE OUT THE PACKET OF COKE.

ME: ITS OVER.

THEY LOOK AT ME AS I WALK ROWARDS THE COUNTER.

RO: I KNOW YOU ARE FUCKING JOKING.

I OPEN THE PACK AND POUR SOME COKE ON THE TABLE AND TAKE OUT MY CARD

RIO: BRO...

HE WALKS TOWARDS ME AND PUSHES ME

ME: WHAT ? MH ?
RIO: ARE YOU SERIOUS ? MASEGO JUST LEFT AND YOURE FALLING BACK ONTO THE STUFF THAT GOT US IN THIS POSITION IN THE FIRST PLACE
ME: I DID THIS, NOT THE DRUGS. LET ME GO.
RIO: RAF
ME: LET ME DO MY THING DUDE.
...: AND THEN ?

WE TURN AROUND

REA: WHAT DID YOU DO ?

SHE WALKS TOWARDS US AND SEES THE COKE ON THE TABLE

REA: ARE YOU 2 SERIOUS ?
RIO: ME ? I DIDN’T DO THIS. ITS HIS
REA: STOP LYING

RIO WALK AWAY, CLICKING HIS TONGUE

ME: (SIGH)
RO: ITS NOT RIO’S ITS RAFAELS

SHE LOOKS AT ME

REA: ARE YOU SERIOUS ?
ME: LEAVE ME ALONE TUU
REA: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU ? HUH ? THE 3 OF YOU ? ARE YOU EVEN AWARE OF WHAT YOU JUST DID OR IT HASN’T CLOCKED YET THAT YOU JUST FUMBLED 3 GOOD WOMEN ?
ME: (ROLLS EYES)
REA: OH... THAT’S A NICE REACTION RAF.

SHE LOOKS AT RO.

REA: LETS GO. PACK YOUR STUFF. DAD IS SELLING THE HOUSE.

REA

RO: I’M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
ME: YOUR CARDS ARE FROZEN. ALL OF OUR CARDS. DAD THINKS YOU’LL COME ASKING FOR HELP FROM ME.

SNIFFS

WE TURN AROUND AND HE LOOKS AT ME

ME: FUCK YOU (MIDDLE FINGER)

I WALK UPSTAIRS TO RIO. I FIND HIM SITTING DOWN ON THE BED, LOOKING AT HIS PICTURE WITH HIS WIFE.

ME: WHERE DID IT ALL GO WRONG RIO ?
RIO: (SHAKES HEAD WITH TEARS ROLLING DOWN EYES) I DON’T KNOW (SOBBING) I WAS GENUINELY HAPPY. I WISH (SNIFFS) I DID RIGHT BY HER.
ME: (RUBS HIS BACK) O TLOBA SHARP JHO

HE LOOKS AT ME

RIO: CAN WE GO.
ME: SURE

I GET UP AND WE HEAD DOWNSTAIRS. WE FIND RAF SITTING ON THE FLOOR, BLOWING HIS PHONE UP.

RAF: HELLO, PLEASE CALL ME.

I LOOK AT HIM AS HE PLACES HIS PHONE ON HIS EAR

RAF: BABY, PLEASE. IM SORRY

HE RESTS HIS HEAD IN BETWEEN HIS LEGS

ME: (SIGH) LETS GO.
RAF: GO WHERE ?
ME: HOME. SORT THIS MESS OUT.
RAF: (SIGHS)

HE GETS UP AND WALKS UPSTAIRS. RO WAS JUST LOOKING AT EVERYONE. HE WAS ALSO QUIET. THEY FUMBLED AND THEY WERE WELL AWARE THEY FUMBLED.