Monologue From The Crucible

They're lying! Why would I poison them?
Where would I even...

That's not mine.

That's not mine. Hazel put it there.

Admit it, you witch, you did this!

We all saw the results in the WhatsApp group.

Your child failed the last maths test.

Hey, dummy...

stop talking rubbish.
The results are not out yet.

Who's this?

Close your mouth before a fly goes in.

Look here, next time you and your daughter have tea...

remember who the real dummy is. Dummy!

Half a million rand and I'll keep all your secrets.

Who do you think you're dealing with, Rachel?

A very rich man with dirty secrets that I could reveal.

- So you're the one who hacked into my computer?
- Do we have a deal or not?

The only deal you're striking...

is with the cops.

Hello?
Brixton Police?

It's fine. I'll hold.

- You won't tell the cops anything.
- Watch me.

And if you reveal my personal information, you'll be building a case against yourself...

for blackmail and extortion.

Oh, so you're willing to risk people knowing what I know about you?

Listen here, 'blondie'.

Whatever you think you know about me isn't illegal. Every businessman does it.

I doubt a judge would agree with you.

This thing won't even go to court.

My lawyers won't rest until you're locked up.

If not, why did you hang up?

Sir, is everything okay here?

Is she giving you trouble?

Everything's okay, Sifiso.

Thank you.

Okay.

As of today...

you no longer work here.

Your contract's terminated.

How come you're so scared when I'm the one who's being fired?

And they were so good!

You know, Mama, they were right.

I can pull up my socks and work hard at school.

Do you want some tea?

If I work hard...

I'll get into varsity and study what I love.

Pretty, I still haven't received the maths test results you wrote recently.

Why?

I'm also waiting for them.

Maybe Meneer Magongwa hasn't finished marking yet.

They were supposed to be ready the day after you wrote your test.

Are you sure they weren't put on the WhatsApp group?

No, he would've told us.

So, why did you give him the printouts?

He snatched them. But he's not stupid.
I'm sure he knows I have copies.

- What?
- Put it here.

You're a boss.
You confronted him just like that?

I told you I'm not scared of Lehasa.

So does this mean we'll get the 500k?

Yes. What choice does he have?
He has a lot more to lose than we do.

500,000?

I knew we'd get some cash, but 500,000?

You should trust me a bit more.
So sometime this weekend...

I'll have 500k in my bank account.

I'll tell you when I receive the notification on my phone.

You know, I've never seen half a million with my own eyes.

- It'll change our lives.
- Yes.

Our haters won't know what hit them.

Chef Marlene must've been very disappointed...
when those things fell out of Candice's bag.

Koko, we were all disappointed.

Hating someone is one thing, but...

putting Epsom salts in their food?

Candice has lost it.

Kat, are you sure she really did it?

Mma, the Epsom salts fell out of her bag.

What if someone planted them in her bag?

I wish I could say she didn't do it, but the Candice I used to know is gone.

- She's changed.
- People don't just change.

Something must've happened to change her.

Well, I don't know. She even had the nerve to blame everything on Hazel.

Hazel? Why?

That's what we were asking ourselves. Because
Hazel and Esmeralda ate her food and fell sick.

Why would Hazel poison herself?

Are they alright?

Yes, they're alright. When the Epsom salts fell out of Candice's bag...

Chef Marlene was so furious she took her to the dean's office.

I can't believe it.
Why would she put Epsom salts?

Apparently, she was so upset...

she couldn't talk.
So they gave her some time to think...

and come up with a convincing story to explain her actions.

Maphosa, how are you?

- Can we have a word?
- Not now, Cindy.

The month's almost done.

I just want to talk about the books.
It'll be
quick.

Why can't you look at the books by yourself?
I'm busy.

Because we're partners.

And we always discuss the books.

So does that mean I must hold your hand like a baby?

Excuse me?

That was disrespectful.

I'm sorry.

I'm just stressed today.

I need to take this call.

Yes. Hi.

Thanks for calling me back.
I'll be at the bank to make a large withdrawal.

It's very urgent.

Yes. Just write it up in the books.

Morning, Ma.

Are you alright?
You look like you haven't slept.

I'm alright, Pretty.

I couldn't sleep either.
I've made a new study timetable.

You know, I feel so optimistic.
I'm ready...

I checked the WhatsApp group chat this weekend.

Oh.

It's surprising that Mr...

Magongwa hasn't posted your results yet.

Why's it taking him so long?

Who knows?

It's been too long.
So I think I should go to him myself...

to find out what's going on.

No, Mama. For what?

Just give him some time.

They said they'd post them.
Now we don't know what's going on.

They asked us to be involved.

So I, Pretty's mom, want to be involved.

You don't have to go.

I'll ask him for you.
Let me go fetch my blazer.

Bye-bye.

- Enjoy your day.
- Bye.

Bye.

Katlego, wait a minute.

- Mma's waiting outside.
- It won't take long.

Sit down.

Tell me, have you spoken to Candice yet?

For what, Koko?

Just because she made a mistake...

doesn't mean you must abandon her...

when the whole school is judging her. No.

I have nothing to say to her.

You two used to love each other.

She used to brighten up your days.

But that's over.

Katlego Petersen, I didn't raise you to be so heartless.

You should console her.

But...

No buts. I'm serious.

Now...

she needs your support more than ever.

Okay? Yes.

So do that.

Relax, Rachel. Maybe he's been too busy to respond to your messages.

No, Emkay. Something's up.

He can't be that busy.

He's been avoiding my messages since Friday.

- So what do you think is going on?
- I don't know.

Maybe I should've asked for less money.
Or maybe...

Relax. Relax,
Rachel.

Lehasa will pay up.

He can't risk Sonti finding out that he's evil.

Yes, you're right.

He took her for a ride.

Hello, guys.

Emkay, Rachel...

You look like you have great news for me.

What great news?

Have you forgotten?

You promised me money. I want it.
I've been waiting for two weeks.

- I'm tired of waiting.
- The money isn't in yet.

We'll tell you once Lehasa pays us.

Guess what?
We're all getting paid tonight.

Are you ready to be rich?

Thanks for the tea.
It'll help me to calm down.

You sounded stressed on the phone.

Please tell me what's eating away at you.

It's Pretty.

I don't like the path she's chosen.

What's she done?

- Is she chasing after boys?
- No.

Thank God it's not that.

She's doing exactly what Zamo did when he was in matric.

What has she done?

She lied to me about her class test results.

And she thinks I don't know that she failed that test.

No!

- Wasn't she going to tell you later maybe?
- No.

I gave her a chance to come clean, but she just kept lying to me.

But Pretty...

She's not a liar.

Exactly.

Maybe she's been bewitched.

To lie to me with a straight face?

What else...

is she hiding from me?

Chefs, you all know how our class on Friday was disrupted.

Which means we're going to have to revisit...

our olfactory-sense presentations another time.

No, Chef!

- But some of us had already prepared.
- Yes!

I know, Chad, and I'm very sorry.

Trust me, I know how important those exercises are.

We'll just have to start afresh with new dishes.

You're late...

Candice.

I'm sorry, Chef.
It won't happen again.

Hello, Candice.

As I was saying...

your next assignment will need your fullest...

attention.

Hey. Come in.

I hope I'm not disturbing.
I know you've been studying all day.

No.

I could use a break.
What's up?

Here's some food. It's my way of saying
I've been thinking about you the whole day.

Thank you, but you didn't have to.

No. Seriously.

I enjoy spending time with you, Zamo.

Yes. Same here.

I mean, you're special...

and...

your kind...

is hard to find.

Alright.

Class dismissed.

Candice...

I'm sorry I came in late today, Chef.

Forget about it.
Just don't be late this Wednesday.

Mrs Odendaal has called a disciplinary hearing to address your...

recent behaviour.

Okay. I'll be there.

Didn't I warn you...

to focus on your studies?

Yes, you did.

But you didn't listen.

Why?

Why would you do this to yourself...

to your parents, to me?

Petersen?

What do you want?

I wanted to have a word with Candice.

And I told you...

to leave her alone.

Look what you've turned her into.

Me? What did I turn her into?

For your own good...

I need you...

to end this...

'so-called relationship'.

Before it causes any more pain.

Weren't you inspired by last year's matrics?

I mean their motivational talk on Friday.
I know I was.

Me too. I can't believe that I thought it'd be a waste of time.

Yes, but...

it helped to put things into perspective for me.

- Especially the things Nimza spoke about.
- Yoh! Okay, Eunice.

- He was okay. He wasn't that bomb.
- Friend...

Wasn't he cute during his talk? The whole weekend I was thinking about how smart he is.

Oh, please!

He's a thug.
He'll bring you nothing but trouble.

Name one thug who's built an arcade game and passed matric with five distinctions.

I am not going to entertain this with you.
That boy's nothing but trouble.

And you can chase after him at your own peril.

Don't worry about me.

Trust me, I'm fine.

Come on, Candice.
You don't need to act strong around me.

I know that what you're going through is tough.
Even the class thinks that...

Don't stop.

Say what you wanted to say.

No, it wouldn't be fair.

Please. I know you believe it too.

You of all people.

You know me.

At least I thought you did.

- What did you expect me to do?
- You're supposed to believe me!

Look...

I'm not here to fight with you.

I just wanted you to know...

that I'm here for you. Okay?

You don't need to go through this alone.

Hello, Mama.

- Hello, Pretty.
- How are you?

- I'm alright, and you?
- I'm alright too.

I just have a little anxiety...

about the June exams.

- Why are you anxious?
- Those teachers enjoy stressing us out...

before exams.

But I can handle it.
I know I'll pass.

So, did you ask Mr Magongwa about your test results?

No.

Why didn't you ask him?

I wanted to go to the school myself, but you stopped me.

I figured that we all passed, and that's why he didn't post them.

Here are your maths results.

Are you a mute all of a sudden?

- Where did you find them?
- Don't ask me that rubbish!

Mama, I...

Shut up!

I don't want to hear another lie...

coming out of your mouth.

First, your father lied to me.

Then Zamokuhle also lied to me.

And now it's you.
You're lying to me as well.

Hey, boss. How are you?
How's business going?

Here.

I never thought 500k would be so light.
Or is it in R200 notes?

I was expecting a briefcase and an armed security guard to escort me out of here.

What the hell is this?

Some kind of joke?

Lehasa, this isn't what we agreed on.

This is all the money you'll get from me.

R20,000.

Nothing more. So it's either you take it and be grateful...

or you leave it.