Diamond Factory: Johannesburg  South Africa  June 16, 1986.

10 years after the 1976 Soweto Uprising.

8 years before the change of power.

(June is the end of autumn. Apartheid -- (Apart-aid) -- is in full effect. There are 3 racial categories in descending order: White, Coloured, Black.)

1. Downtown Johannesburg. Wentworth Diamond Factory. 6 A.M.

Michael (black, early 20s) is outside, upstage left of lockers. He stands on an empty crate(s) with his face into a factory “window”. He gently taps it in one area to avoid tripping the alarm.

Downstage right center of the window: Ezekiel(50, black) is asleep on the bare floor of the coloured's locker room.

The lockers are in a row upstage separated in the center by the entrance door, with an overhead sign: Coloured’s Locker Room.

MICHAEL

Ezekiel...

(taps window)

Ezekiel..Wake up.

(taps again)

Come on. Wake up, Zeke. Wake up.

Ezekiel awakens.

MICHAEL (cont’d)

Over here, Zeke. Over here.

EZEKIEL

Get away from there, you fool. You want the alarm to go off?

MICHAEL

Please, Zeke...I have a bit of trouble with my arm. Please.

Ezekiel notices the blood.  He goes to the window.

EZEKIEL

You’ll have more trouble if anything happened to my sons.

MICHAEL

They want to know what happened to you.

EZEKIEL

Tell them Baas Charlie locked me in again.

MICHAEL

I will if you get me a clean shirt.

EZEKIEL

You'll get more than a clean shirt

if they came in harm’s way.

MICHAEL

It's only me that harm has come. Now, I need a little help.  So, please; it's all I ask.  Just a little help for an old friend.

EZEKIEL

You're no friend of mine.

MICHAEL

I'm a friend of your boys.

EZEKIEL

That doesn't make us in-laws.

MICHAEL

You're right.  Just outlaws.  Please, Zeke, I need something to stanch the blood. Hurry. Please. I’m in terrible pain.

Ezekiel hesitates.

EZEKIEL

Wait around the corner.  When the factory

opens I'll bring you what you need.

MICHAEL

I can't wait that long.

-- Ezekiel gets a rag and shirt from a locker and takes it to the window. He neutralizes the alarm by putting the end of a pointed instrument into the corner of the window --

EZEKIEL

Here. Tie this around your arm.

MICHAEL

(tying it)

Zeke...Hope you come home tonight. It’s been

10 years, now, since the Soweto Uprising.

EZEKIEL

Yes, and everyone says the government will enforce the State of Emergency law. So, there goes your uprising.

MICHAEL

It'll only make it more fun.

EZEKIEL

If you think dying is fun.

MICHAEL

Now that Clive has joined the Comrades it will be very much fun.

EZEKIEL

Clive...? My son? Has joined the Comrades?

MICHAEL

Now, both your boys are in with the revolution.  Have to get Baas Charlie’s breakfast.  Thanks for the rag.

Michael is gone.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character give him power.

Abraham Lincoln