Guilt is a powerful emotion. Max and Toe cannot live with what they have done. Later that day they alert Denver’s parents about what happened but leave out the part that implicates them. They say they saw Denver throwing himself off the cliff.  A large search party goes out looking for Denver. The police, and most parents of the area head to the Salt River.

DONNIE: (looking at the river and wiping away tears) I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe I drove Denver to do this.

JANE: (looking at the river) Let’s hope for the best, Donnie. Let’s focus on finding my boy. 

DONNIE: You know this morning Denver said some words that took me back to who I am. Who I used to be and what I should be. With a few questions he reminded me of who I’m supposed to be.

JANE: And who are you supposed to be?

DONNIE: A good father, and a good husband. I have not appreciated you and Denver. Everything I have been doing, treating you and Denver badly, it’s just wrong. I have turned into my own father. I’m so ashamed of what I have become. I have driven such a good boy to lose all hope. I’m a monster!

Donnie crouches on the river bank and weeps.

JANE: (brushing Donnie’s shoulder) Oh Donnie. 

DONNIE: I can’t stand this! My boy is in the water. I can’t just stand around doing nothing.

Donnie wades into the water. A few men and Jane pull him out of the water. As the scene unravels, police divers arrive, followed by more residents of Salt River. Also in the crowd is the local sangoma, Prophet Jaman. Prophet Jaman chats with Constable Mhlongo for a few seconds and they both approach Donnie and Jane.

 

CONSTABLE MHLONGO: Mr and Mrs Sithole, can I have a word with you?

DONNIE: What is it? 

JANE: Have you found Denver? Have you found my boy?

CONSTABLE MHLONGO: (looking at Prophet Jaman)  Not yet. This gentleman has some information about what happened.

PROPHET JAMAN: Mam, sir. I don’t believe your boy committed suicide. I was on the opposite cliff chopping trees for muthi and I saw everything. 

JANE: What happened?

DONNIE: What did you see?

PROPHET JAMAN: The boy didn’t throw himself in the river. Your boy was running away, chased by two boys. One hit him with a stone. Your boy slipped and fell into the river.  

DONNIE: Which boys?

PROPHET JAMAN: I know the one. His name is Max. But that is not the most important part of what I want to tell you. I wanted to make a suggestion about the search.

DONNIE: I going to kill those-

JANE: Donnie please! Let the man finish!

PROPHET JAMAN: I’m not saying the divers are wrong for searching this part of the river because it is deep and that is where your boy fell. But I know this river. It has a strong under current, especially after the heavy rains that we have had lately. I believe that we also need to look further down the river. While the divers are looking here we need to be also looking further down. 

 

Donnie, Jane, Prophet Jaman  and a few people head down the river.