The next morning, early. Thuli ambles into the living room absent mindedly, staring blankly into space. She sits on one end of the couch playing with her phone. A few minutes later Lebo walks in, dressed in an oversized sweater and sweat pants, a mug of coffee in her hands. She at the other end, morose and silent, and sips her coffee. Agnes walks in moments later. She notices her friends with the weight of the world on their shoulders.

AGNES: Morning! Are you two okay?

THULI: I have no idea … uhm …

LEBO: I don’t think so … (sighs) I don’t know.

AGNES: Okay, let’s start with you Thuli. What’s the matter?

THULI: (sighs heavily) My husband has been cheating on me … I caught him red handed. (Looking at her hands in her lap.)

LEBO: (Shocked and quickly pulling Thuli’s hands in hers.) That bastard! Who is the bitch that you caught him with?

AGNES: Oh my goodness Thuli! Are you okay? What am I asking – of course you’re not okay! What did Eric have to say for himself?

THULI: I’m not sure if it’s the fact that he was cheating on me, or the fact that he was cheating on me with a man, that makes me so very angry.

AGNES & LEBO: A man?!

THULI: If I hadn’t seen my husband making out with a guy in that very doorway I don’t think I’d have believed it. He was actually right there, kissing him. I don’t know if I’d prefer it to be another woman, but at least I could understand him cheating with another women. I … I just don’t know what to think.

AGNES: (taking Thuli’s hand) Have you spoken to Eric? Has he explained anything?

THULI: Well yes, I spoke to him. He didn’t give me any clarity. He seems to be just as confused as me, which makes things worse. About his sexuality. He did say that it was a huge mistake for our relationship.

LEBO: When did this all happen?

THULI: Thami had to bring me some paperwork yesterday. Well, he arrived when Eric was in the living room, and they had some kind of ‘moment’ and I walked in on them making out.

LEBO & AGNES: No! Thami!

THULI: Yes. It seems that Eric has been seeing Thami behind my back, after they hooked up at some gay bar. A gay bar can you believe it? I have no clue how to deal with my feelings. I am so hurt and so angry. I feel betrayed. This is just what I need: a husband who plays for the other team … no … for both sides … whatever! (Burying her face in her hands.)

LEBO: (With a distant look in her eyes.) At least your husband didn’t physically attack you. You can leave your marriage with just emotional scars … (Noticing that her friends have now turned their attention on her) Oh no! I don’t mean to take the spotlight or anything. I am so sorry Thuli … please continue.

THULI: No, what do you mean? Did Dumi hurt you?

LEBO: Really Thuli, it’s nothing. I … I don’t want to talk about it.

AGNES: Lebo, we can tell that something is very wrong.

LEBO: It’s just that … well … I don’t know where to start. I still can’t believe that it happened.

THULI: Wait – you’re scaring me. What did Dumi do to you?

LEBO: He … he … (Tears pool in her eyes, she speaks softly.) Dumi forced himself on me …

Gasps. Thuli is shocked and can’t speak. Agnes gets up and kneels in front of Lebo, taking her hands.

AGNES: Oh my goodness Lebo! He raped you?

THULI: (Finally finding her voice.) Where? When? How did this happen? Oh my word, that bastard. Are you going to go to the police?

AGNES: Thuli, relax. Let’s focus on Lebo. What happened sweetheart?

LEBO: I woke up this morning thinking it had all been a horrible dream. Then I saw the bruises and I knew it all really happened.

She walks over to the dining room table, leans on it and takes a steadying breath, trying to hold back her tears. Agnes and Thuli quietly gasp, eyes wide in shock, then wait for Lebo to continue.

LEBO: Dumi came home really drunk. I remember the cold look in his eyes. He was mad about how all his friends had families and were happy fathers and he was the odd one out. (Tears streaming down her face.) He grabbed me and even though I told him he was hurting me he didn’t stop. He shoved me onto the floor behind the couch and … raped me. It felt like it went on forever. It was painful and humiliating. He is supposed to be the one I am safe with … but he hurt me.

THULI: (Wraps her arms around Lebo, holding her tightly.) I am so sorry. Just know that we are here if you need anything.

Noticing that Agnes is now sobbing into her hands, both Lebo and Thuli walk over to Agnes.

LEBO: (Wiping her eyes.) Oh Agnes, don’t worry. I am fine really. Dumi and I will–

AGNES: (Cutting her off.) Don’t you dare say you will ‘work things out’! This isn’t something you work out. It’s something you walk away from. Believe me – you don’t want to stay. He will do it again. Ask me! I know all about an abusive relationship – I live one every single day!

LEBO: James? We all know he has a bad temper but …what do you mean?

AGNES: I have spent most of my marriage in fear of the one man who is supposed to love and protect me. I don’t even remember where it all went wrong. All I know is that I am miserable with a man I love. It started with a little shove, then a smack across the face, and now he hits me so hard I’m bloody and bruised. Where no-one can see.

She kneels on the floor in front of the dining room table, and places her hand on the floor. She is lost in thought. James appears in the doorway without them noticing and stops, listens to Agnes.

AGNES: I spent hours scrubbing my blood out from the cracks between these tiles. He punched me so hard that two of my back teeth came loose. All because I asked why he had been coming home late.

She walks over to the living room, pointing at the floor, tears streaming down her face.

AGNES: I have bled on this floor too. Sometimes it feels like wants to kill me. He cheats on me and doesn’t hide it. I don’t even know why he stays with me, when it seems like I anger him more than I make him happy. I–

James claps his hands as he now slowly walks towards her. Agnes is frozen to the spot. Lebo and Thuli jump to their feet in fear, silent. James makes his way to his wife.

JAMES: What a performance! Now tell me Agnes, why do you continue to infuriate me? Humiliate me to your friends? (Grabs her, making her face him.)

THULI: James – don’t hurt her!

JAMES: (In a rage now) How about you stay the fuck out of this! Agnes, come with me. (Grabbing her by her hair and dragging her to their room.)

LEBO: Please James, don’t do this I beg you.

JAMES: (Shouting.) I said stay the fuck out of this or I will do something all of you will regret, and I mean it. So back the hell off!

Thuli and Lebo watch helplessly. The moment the bedroom door closes there is a loud scream. The screams, shouting and sounds of Agnes being beaten repeatedly fill the house. Lebo and Thuli are panicked.

THULI: That’s it! I am not waiting for him to kill her. I am calling the police.

While Thuli is hysterically explaining the situation to the police over the phone, everything suddenly goes silent – Agnes stops screaming. Thuli’s attention is taken off the call. There is a long silence.

JAMES: (From the bedroom; his voice full of fear) Agnes! Agnes! (More silence.)

James walks out of the bedroom with a frightened look on his face. His hands are covered in blood. He walks to the front of the room and stands there shaking. Thuli and Lebo are drenched in tears.

Eric and Dumi appear in the room and look on, shocked silent.

JAMES: (Falling to his knees.) I … I just couldn’t stop … she … she stopped moving. I tried to wake her … (Looking at his blood-stained hands) I think I killed my wife … (weeping) What have I done?

*****

Tell us: How do you like the climactic ending to this play? What will happen regarding each of these men now? Should Thuli and Lebo stay in their marriages and try to make things work out?