Kouka Hone - Ngā tāngata toa

The wharf at Auckland. T E W AI , wife of returning soldier T ANEATUA, waits on the wharf for her husband. She is dressed in her best. He has been serving with the Pioneer Battalion in Europe and is returning a hero. The ship is approaching down the harbour. The wharf is packed with people. There are large ope waiting to welcome back their boys from war. The ship arrives and there is a karanga to welcome the men to shore. T ANEATUA enters. He is dressed in military garb and carries a duffel bag. T E W AI searches for him amongst the crowds. The other cast members perform haka powhiri and there is much noise and excitement. T E W AI and T ANEATUA weave through the crowds searching for each other. Eventually, the crowds disperse and leave T ANEATUA and T E W AI alone on stage, apparently uneasy with each other.

Ahigh-countrysheepstationintheKaikouraranges,South Island.

R ONGOMAI : I know you havent come all this way because you missed me. Come here, up amongst the clouds and mist. What reason then Rose? Why has my sister-in-law journeyed so far?

R OSE , afteramoment: I have something for you.

R ONGOMAI : Well, give it to me.

R OSE : I think its for you.

R ONGOMAI : Are you being stupid? Is it for me or not? Give it. Ive wasted enough words on you. What is it, Rose?

R OSE : A letter.

R ONGOMAI : For me?

R OSE : No.

R ONGOMAI : Then whose?

R OSE : Mine.

R ONGOMAI : Youre wasting my time.

R OSE , hesitantly: It concerns you, Rongomai, and your father, Whai.

R ONGOMAI : Well?

R OSE , holdinganenvelopeoutto R ONGOMAI : Dont you want to read it?

R ONGOMAI : No, you know whats in it. Tell me.

R OSE : Its a letter from my husband Kahu, just before he was killed. He wrote telling me something he had hidden away since he was a boy. About how your father died.

R ONGOMAI , calmly: Read the letter.

R OSE , pullingouttheletterandbeginningtoread: To my Darling Rosie, How I miss you so. Touch this letter and you touch my heart

R ONGOMAI : Not that! Paikea and my father. What concerns me!

R OSE : Oh um, here, yes, here. I had been playing by the shore, when I saw my father and Uncle Paikea coming down the beach. I ran to one of the hills, to watch them closer. They had been diving. Their bags were full, paua and kina were busting out of the top

R ONGOMAI beginstotakeoverthe story.

R ONGOMAI : the tide was coming in fast. They were moving around the rocks. My father, Whai, had to hurry, then he slipped and hurt his leg. He called to Paikea, but Paikea just stood and watched. My father left the kai moana behind and tried to crawl, but the waves snapped in and pulled him back. Paikea just standing there. Then a wave took my father and smashed him hard against the rocks. Paikea stood and watched. Then he turned and walked away. My father kept calling, then nothing.

R OSE : How did you know? It says he told no one.

R ONGOMAI : I have magic, I dreamed of this long ago. But as a child. So I dismissed it. Pause. I hid it from my memory, now you bring it back. Why?

R OSE : It was a letter from my husband. He was at war.

R ONGOMAI : You didnt have to tell me. Why come here?

R OSE : I thought you should know.

R ONGOMAI : How caring. Youve never thought of me before. So why now? Well, sister-in-law?

R OSE : I had nowhere to go.

R ONGOMAI : Well you have no place here. Get out!

R OSE , quickly: Revenge.

R ONGOMAI : Against who? Me? You come to tell me my father was killed by his brother. There you have your revenge.

R OSE : No, against Paikea.

R ONGOMAI : Paikea?

R OSE : I thought you could help me.

R ONGOMAI : You think a lot, but your thoughts are empty. What has he done to you? Quickly!

R OSE : He threw me out.

R ONGOMAI : Threw you out?

R OSE : After he heard that Kahu had been killed in the war he threw me from the marae. I am the wife of your son! He said I had no right to be there, that I had disgraced his family and the memory of his son. He called me puremu!

R ONGOMAI : Well?

R OSE : I had been with another man. Only once. Kahu had been away for so long, I was lonely. I loved him so much, I ached. I wrote and told him, thats when he sent back this letter. He understood, he knew how hard it was. My love for him. Pause. Paikea had no right!

R ONGOMAI : He has all the right, he is rangatira!

R OSE : Now.

R OSE goesto R ONGOMAI . R ONGOMAI grabsherhairandpullsbackher head.

R ONGOMAI : How do I know this isnt a trick?

R OSE : How can I trick you? You have magic. Paikea treated you badly. You shouldve been treated as royalty, but no, you lived as I lived. You, his daughter.

R ONGOMAI : I am not his daughter!

R ONGOMAI releases R OSE .

R OSE : So why did he take you in? Not because of the love for his brother. It was guilt. I wasnt sure of Kahus letter. But now

R ONGOMAI , fiercely: Be quiet!

Thereisalongpause. R OSE hasnotwiltedunder R ONGO MAI sattack.Shestandsfirm. R ONGOMAI movesaway.

R ONGOMAI , deepinthought: Why does she bring this to me? Nowhere to go, she said. She is right though. I was treated badly. My time there left scars inside my head. She has come so far for her revenge, just for losing her place at the marae! Then what should my revenge be? Tumatauenga, whakarongo o mai ki toku reo Me aha ahau. (WhatshouldIdo?Tumatauenga,hearme.) Pause. You can stay out in the shearers hut.

R OSE leaves.

Yes. Theres only one thing for me to do. I must avenge my fathers death. His brother left him to die. Why? So he could be rangatira. I will do this for you, e Pa.