Where Do Broken Men Go? – Act 1, Scene 1

At a public park.

KEVIN: So let me get this right, my son was crying to some teacher because some kid took his lunch?

SAMANTHA: (nervous) Babe, you know that Andy is not a fighter?

KEVIN: (watching his son play in the distance) He’s too damn soft is what he is. If you had let me toughen him up years ago such things wouldn’t happen.

SAMANTHA: Oh, so this is my fault?

KEVIN: (splutters) Damn right! The minute you started this nonsense of buying him pink shirts and allowing him to play with girls from a young age, you planted a seed. Now that seed has taken root, thanks to you.

SAMANTHA: (voice rising) He liked the colour, what was I supposed to do?

KEVIN: You should have put a stop to it there and then! (glares at her) Andy! Come here! Now! (waves his son over)

(Andy comes running.)

SAMANTHA: (looking nervous) Babe, please don’t.

KEVIN: Shut up! (He hisses at her.) You’ve done enough damage to the boy.

ANDY: Yes, Dad?

KEVIN: What’s this nonsense I hear about you running around crying to a teacher because some kid took your lunchbox?

(Andy looks nervously at his mother.)

KEVIN: Don’t look at your mother. Answer me, boy!

ANDY: (with tears in his eyes as he turns to his mother) Mom, you promised…

KEVIN: (jumps up and pulls his belt from his jeans) I’ll give you something to cry about!

(Andy runs.)

SAMANTHA: Kevin, no!

KEVIN: (running after Andy, yelling) No son of mine is going to be someone else’s punching bag! Time to man up, my boy!

(Andy tries to run away but trips and falls.)

SAMANTHA: (sobbing) But he’s only a boy!

KEVIN: (grabbing Andy’s arm and preparing to strike him) Come here, you little… (he grunts)

(A large man runs towards Kevin from a nearby park bench.)

KOBUS: (grabs Kevin’s raised arm) That’s enough!

KEVIN: (glaring at Kobus) Who the hell are you? Get your bloody hands off me before I…

KOBUS: (tightens his grip) Before you what?

(Having taken in Kobus’s full imposing presence, Kevin lets go of a terrified Andy who runs back to his mother. She hugs him to her.)

KEVIN: Sorry I… (looks down at his shoes) I don’t know what’s got into me.

KOBUS: Look, give me a call and let me try and help you. (Hands him a card.)

KEVIN: (sounding unconvinced) Sure — sure. (Kevin shoves the card in his pocket without looking at it and walks back to his wife and son.)

Tell us: Why do you think Kevin is so angry about Andy? Do you think you should intervene when you witness violence?

33 Responses

I think his anger that he thinks he failed his own son him being soft isn't what he wished for and maybe yess no the way his doing just not too tough but enough to remind him he has no one to cry to😅😅

Qinisile Ndlovu · 9 months ago

He thinks that the boy can change over time and become gay

Moyahabo Thoka · a year ago

He thinks that his child might be gay and he can't even stand for himself while he is bullied at school. Yes I would intervene when I witness violence under my site.

Zamani Masiteng · a year ago

Because Andy can't stand up for himself. No just pass and mind your own business.

Mamahlola Rasakanya · a year ago

He want Andy to be violent

Segomotso Benjamin Molekane · a year ago

Because Andy is weak.nope if doesn't involve you step back

Siphekonke Msomi · a year ago

That his son ,he is so weak and can't even stands for himself. It's a good idea to intervene when I witness a violence .

Yes!Of course! one should intervene when you know you are capable of handling the situation and have got the gut feeling to do so

Faith Samou · a year ago

He thinks that he is a weak boy and yes it's important to intervene when witnesses voilence

Andisiwe Gulwa · a year ago

I suspect that it's because his might be gay and he knows it but does not want to admit the fact

Abulele Dyantyi · a year ago

Yes, but only when I'm sure I'll be able to.

Zanele Mantame · a year ago

He must always choose violence way

Mmametja lina Kekana · a year ago

Because Andy want's to be someone's punching bag Yes I think it's a good idea to stop violence before it becomes something big

Thato Motlhabane · a year ago

Intervene only when you are sure you can stop the violence qnd and its safe but create a scene so that people can help

Donald Magatsela · a year ago

My father used to beat me and my mother

Lindy Theledi · a year ago

Interesting prospective, he is so hard on his son to be man enough that he doesn't realises he is losing control over the matter and himself.

Alton Rooi · a year ago

He thinks Andy is a 'softie' , especially when He hears that he plays with girls and wear girls colours...Yah sometimes they may be a need to intervene when there's fight , especially when You see it's out of anger

Ruth Loungo Tongwane · a year ago

He must always choose violence, violence is the way.

Mad dog Madison · a year ago

Mad dog Madison ☯️ · a year ago

He's not a man enough plus he's already Spoting signs that the son is playing for the other team, he's soft he wears pink so there's no man power there just a boy child trapped in a daughters body

Zanele Mathonsi · a year ago

No Kevin is seeing that his son is not full male version of being a male😂 plus the pink already we know that the son is going to become gay so he's avoiding that coz it's the boy boys need to be tough etc

He thinks that his son is too soft

Elizabeth Nyama · a year ago

I think it is because he feels that other children at school are taking advantage of Andy because he is soft and not "manly enough". So the anger is actually directed at himself for having not toughened Andy enough to be a man that will fight and stand up for himself, as he feels. So by heating Andy he attempts to eradicate the softness and lack of violence evident in Andy's character. Yes, I certainly believe that it is good to intervene when one sees violence. As by doing nothing, you are actually condoning the violence,plus violence has never been an answer to anything.

Sandile · a year ago

Step 1: "you must always choose violence. " " Violence is the way!!!!!!"

He doesn't want his child to be soft

Kedibone Montsho · a year ago

cause he wants him to man up but the abuse was wrong...every child deserves love...Violence is never an option

Nombuso Blose · a year ago

He was probably abused or bullied at a young age. So he doesn't want his son to go through that so he is trying to toughen him up. Although he is going about it the wrong way

Kekeletso Seetsi · a year ago

Violence never solve anything .he thinks that her son is too soft

precious Kunene · a year ago

I think he thinks that Andy is to softly ,i don't think so.

Evah Ngobeni · a year ago

He Thinks His Son Is Gay , Yes I Should Intervene!

Elenah Masombuka · a year ago

Violence is never the solution

Mandi.sa Mbatha · a year ago

He wants his son to be aggressive like him.

Phumza Funo · a year ago

Maybe he thinks his son is gay, you know nowadays people are judgemental instead of understanding. It will depend on which type of violence.

Letlhogonolo Kotsedi · a year ago

Where Do Broken Men Go? - Act 1, Scene 1