The scene opens with Lucille and Kgosi sitting on a couch in the living room, anxiously waiting. The doorbell rings and Kgosi gets up to answer the door. He returns with a woman carrying a briefcase. Lucille springs to her feet when she sees them enter.

KGOSI: Thank you for coming Dr Bosman. My wife and I really appreciate it.

DR BOSMAN: Of course Mr Mojanaga. I am happy to help. Mrs Mojanaga, how are you feeling today?

LUCILLE: It’s Ms Davidson! And I would feel a lot better if you could get to the point. I just want to know what the test results say.

KGOSI: (Clearing his throat.) Please take a seat Doctor. Would you like anything to drink?

DR BOSMAN: (Sitting and taking a deep breath.) No, thank you. (Turning to Lucille.) Ma’am, I have your test results from our last consultation. The results are … are …

LUCILLE: (Anxious.) What do the results say Doctor?

BOSMAN: Mrs Moja … I mean Davidson. The news is not good. I’m so sorry. The tests revealed that you have Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. This means the cancer has spread to your diaphragm, lungs and liver.

Lucille looks extremely shocked, rises, paces, then takes a seat at the dining table and attempts to gather her thoughts.

KGOSI: (Gasps, also shocked) Wait – she has cancer?! Stage 4 cancer!

LUCILLE: (Sits up straight, composes her face, but her voice shakes) So I’m … dying?

KGOSI: Oh my God Lucille! And you are 100% sure about this Doctor? How … how long does she have?

DR BOSMAN: Yes I am sure Mr Mojanaga. Mrs Davidson, I’m so sorry but I would estimate that, depending on treatment to slow the cancer, you have six months … a year at most.

KGOSI: (Speaking to himself) Pancreatic cancer? That’s incurable! (Walking over to his wife) Honey … don’t worry. We’ll get a second opinion, get you on an experimental drug trial, any and everything. We will beat this! In fact I think it’s best to immediately take time off work, go to Cape Town for a few weeks and see your father.

LUCILLE: No! I don’t want a second opinion. I trust Dr Bosman. And don’t you dare try tell me what to do. Doctor, I would like to start treatment as soon as possible; I have a short amount of time and tons of things to do. I want anything that can extend my time and keep me in as little pain as possible, so I can achieve things in these next months. My legacy is important to me.

DR BOSMAN: (Face changing from extreme concern to relief at Lucille’s brave acceptance of her diagnosis.) Yes, of course! I’ll have my PA correspond with yours and we can set up your first round of chemotherapy. I must warn you though, that at this stage of your illness treatment is only to improve your quality of life and maybe gain some more time. I think slowing down at work may be a good idea … you’ll feel rather ill for a bit after each chemo–.

LUCILLE: (Interrupting) I think your main focus should be my medical care and not how I handle my personal affairs. I’ll have my assistant contact yours. How’s that?

DR BOSMAN: Yes of course … (Looking at her watch) I have another appointment to get to so my practice will get back to you with all the details. Goodbye!

They all stand and politely shake hands. Dr Bosman leaves and the couple is left alone. Lucille sits down and puts her face in her hands and sighs deeply. Kgosi stares at his wife furiously.

KGOSI: Oh so your disrespect for me is not confined to our private life anymore? Now you disrespect me in front of your doctor?

LUCILLE: Listen here! If I could raise some slut’s son as my own I’m sure you can deal with my lack of respect for you. I don’t owe you a damn thing, so stop expecting more than you deserve.

KGOSI: (Anxiously looking around. Hisses.) Keep your voice down! Are you bloody insane? This is not just about me and you, Lucille. He loves you, would you seriously hurt our … (Clears throat) my son, just to spite me?

LUCILLE: I honestly don’t have time for this. I am going to get ready for work.

She gets up to leave but stops suddenly, clutching her abdomen. Kgosi rushes to help but she pushes him away.

LUCILLE: I am fine. You can stop pretending to care. Dr Bosman is gone.

She leaves the room leaving Kgosi stunned and fuming. Moments later Tebogo and Clayton walk in, talking loudly about a soccer match. They notice their father and greet him.

KGOSI: Morning. Tebogo, I need you to sit in on a meeting tomorrow with some possible investors. I’ll get Nkuli to send you a brief later today. It’s imperative that they invest.

TEBOGO: I have a rugby match this weekend, Dad. We’re practising all week. I told you about it last week, remember? And I have an assignment due in three days. Can’t you rather take Clayton along?

KGOSI: (Irritated) No! Look, this rugby nonsense of yours has to stop at some point. It’s time that I start grooming a successor for Davidson Media. And besides, your brother is (looking in Clayton’s direction) … unstable.

CLAYTON: Uhm … I have to go. I have an audition to get to.

KGOSI: It’s quite sad that you’re still running away from your responsibilities Clayton. One of these days it won’t be so easy to just walk away, especially knowing that Davidson Media may be yours one day.

CLAYTON: Dad, I don’t want to … can’t … do this right now. Tebogo, I’ll see you later. Let me know if you still need help with that assignment you’ve been battling with.

TEBOGO: Of course. Wait, I’ll walk out with you. Bye Dad. I am going to go run a couple of laps before practice.

As the two brothers turn to leave, a woman in a domestic worker’s uniform and apron walks in, with a tray of food.

THANDI: Haibo? You boys are leaving so early? What should I do with all this food? Tebogo, you are aware that people north of us in Africa are dying of hunger, neh? So why are you wasting it?

TEBOGO: Mam’ Thandi, that’s a very offensive thing to say. And also, why are you always yelling at me? What about Clayton?

THANDI: (Laughs uncomfortably) I’m only joking. Good luck with practice.

The brothers leave.

THANDI: Eh. Sir, I want to know if I can leave early on Friday. I would like to go to Tebogo’s rugby match.

KGOSI: (Annoyed) Under no circumstances will you do such a thing. Lucille is under a lot of pressure. You are needed here. This hobby of his will eventually come to an end. Don’t waste your time encouraging–

THANDI: Kgosi, please.

KGOSI: (Gets up from his seat) That is Mr Mojanaga to you! Don’t get too comfortable in my house, sisi. Always remember your place.

He leaves for work. Thandi looks upset and takes the tray of food back to the kitchen while mumbling to herself.

***

Tell us: What do you think of parents pressuring their children to follow in their footsteps and take over a family business? Should children follow their dreams, rather?