Fugard - Blood Knot and Other Plays

BLOOD
KNOTandOTHER PLAYSBOOKS BY ATHOL FUGARDAVAILABLE FROM TCGThe Captains Tiger: A Memoir for the StageCousins: A MemoirExits and EntrancesA Lesson from AloesMarigolds in August and The GuestMy Children! My Africa!Notebooks: 19601977Playland and A Place With The PigsThe Road to MeccaSorrows and RejoicingsStatementsValley Song

Set design was by John Bury, costume design by Martha Gould and lighting design by Harold Baldridge. The cast was as follows:

Fugard and Mr. Mokae recreated their original roles.CHARACTERSMORRISZACHARIAHZachariah is dark-skinned and Morris is light-skinned.All the action takes place in a one-room shack in the non-white location of Korsten, Port Elizabeth. The walls are a patchwork of scraps of corrugated iron, packing-case wood, flattened cardboard boxes, and old hessian bags. One door, one window (no curtains), two beds, a table and two chairs. Also in evidence is a cupboard of sorts with an oil-stove, a kettle and a few pots. The shack is tidy and swept, but this only enhances the poverty of its furnishings.

Over one of the beds is a shelf on which are a few books (including a Bible) and an alarm-clock.SCENE ONELate afternoon.Lying on his bed, the one with the shelf, and staring up at the ceiling, is Morris. After a few seconds he stands up on the bed, looks at the alarm clock, and then lies down again in the same position. Time passes. The alarm rings and Morris jumps purposefully to his feet. He knows exactly what he is going to do. First, he winds and resets the clock, then lights the oil stove and puts on a kettle of water.

Next, he places an enamel washbasin on the floor in front of the other bed and lays out a towel. He feels the kettle on the stove and then goes to the door and looks out. Nothing. He wanders aimlessly around the room for a few more seconds, pausing at the window for a long look at whatever lies beyond. Eventually he is back at the door again and, after a short wait, he sees someone coming. A second burst of activity.

He places a packet of footsalts beside the basin and finally replaces the kettle.Zachariah comes in through the door. Their meeting is without words. Morris nods and Zachariah grunts on his way to the bed, where he sits down, drags off his shoes, and rolls up his trousers. While he does this, Morris sprinkles footsalts into the basin and then sits back on his haunches and waits. Zachariah dips his feet into the basin, sighs with satisfaction, but stops abruptly when he sees Morris smile. He frowns, pretends to think, and makes a great business of testing the water with his foot.ZACHARIAH.

Not as hot as last night, hey?MORRIS. Last night you said it was too hot.ZACHARIAH [thinks about this]. Thats what I mean.MORRIS. So what is it? Too hot or too cold?ZACHARIAH. When?MORRIS. Luke-ish. [Bends forward and smells.] New stuff?MORRIS. [Bends forward and smells.] New stuff?MORRIS.

Yes.ZACHARIAH. Lets see.[Morris hands him the packet. Zachariah first smells it, then takes out a pinch between thumb and forefinger.]Its also white.MORRIS. Yes, but it is different stuff.ZACHARIAH. The other lot was also white, but it didnt help, hey?