Master Harold ... And the Boys Page #6

about my homework!

H urry up now and

finish your work.

I want to lock up

and get out

of here.

And go where?

Home-sweet-freaking-home.

Jesus, I hate that word.

[Footsteps]

[Growl]

Do you want to know

what's really wrong

with your lovely

little dream, Sam?

It's not just that

we're all bad dancers

there's more

to it than that.

'Cause you left

out the cripples.

Hally.

Jal Ja, they're also

out there dancing...

like a bunch

of broken spiders

trying to do the quickstep.

I mean It's bad

enough on two legs

but one and a

pair of crutches!

That's guaranteed to turn

that dance floor into

a shambles.

For once this afternoon let's

use our imaginations

sensibly, right?

There's no music,

nobody knows

the steps

and the cripples are always

out there tripping

everyone else up

and It's called

the All-Comers-

How-To-Make-a-Fickup-

of-Life Championship.

And guess who I think

is going to be this

year's winner?

(Sam)

Now, Hally, stop!

That's your father

you're talking about.

So?

Take back those words

and ask for forgiveness!

It's a terrible sin

for a son

to mock his father

with jokes like that.

Hally, I understand

how you are feeling,

but even so...

No, you don't!

I think I do.

And I'm telling

you, you don't!

Nobody does!

It's your turn to

be careful, Sam.

Very careful!

Just leave me and

my father alone!

I'm not the one saying

terrible things

about him.

What goes on between me

and my dad Is none of

your business!

Okay, then don't

tell me about it.

All that concerns

you in here, Sam

is to try and do what

you get paid for.

[Sniff]

Keep the place clean

and serve the customers.

My mother's

always warned me

about allowing you

to get too familiar.

[Sniff]

You're only

a servant In here

and don't forget it.

And as far as my

father's concerned

all you need to remember

is that he is your boss.

No, he isn't. I get

paid by your mother.

He's a white man and

that's good enough

for you.

I'll try to forget

you said that.

Don't.

Look, Hally...

You're right.

If we're not careful,

somebody is going

to get hurt.

I don't know what

you're talking about.

Yes, you do.

Jesus!

I wish you'd stop

trying to tell me

what I do and

what I don't know.

Come, Willie,

let's finish up.

Don't turn your

back on me!

Don't do that!

All right.

I'm listening. What

do you want to say

to me?

Well, to start with

why don't you start

calling me Master Harold

like Willie.

Do you mean that?

Why the hell do you

think I said it?

If I don't?

You might just

lose your job.

If you make me

say it once

I'll never call you

anything else again.

So? Is that meant

to be a threat?

Just telling you

what will happen.

You must decide

what it means to you.

Well, I have.

It's good news.

Because that's exactly

what Master Harold

wants from now on.

Think of It as

a little lesson

In respect, Sam

that's long overdue.

My dad agrees with

my mom, you know.

[Sniff]

"You must teach

the boys to show you

more respect, my son."

So now you can stop

complaining about

going home.

Everybody is going

to be happy tonight.

That's perfectly correct.

You see

[sniff]

You mustn't

get the wrong idea

about me and my dad, Sam.

We also have our

good times together.

Some bloody

good laughs.

Want to know what

our favorite joke is?

He gives out

this big groan,

you see, and says

"Oh, it's not fair,

is it, Hally?"

Then I have to ask,

"What chum?"

And then he says,

"A kaffir's ass."

We both have

a good laugh.

Oh, what's... what's

the matter, Willie?

Don't you catch

the joke?

It's what's

called a pun.

You see, fair means

both light in color

and to be just

and decent.

I thought you

would catch it, Sam.

I catch it all right.

But it doesn't appeal

to your sense of humor?

Do you really laugh?

Of course.

To please him? To

make him feel good?

No, for heaven's sake!

I laugh because I think

it's a bloody good joke.

You're really trying

hard to be ugly,

aren't you?

And why drag

poor Willie

into it?

He's done nothing but

show you the respect

that you want so badly.

And that also Is not "fair"

and this time I mean

just or decent.

Sam, It's all right.

Leave it now.

Why didn't you just

say "Sam's ass"?

That's the ass you're

trying to kick.

Anyway, how do you

know it's not fair?

You've never seen it.

Do you want to?

[Rustle of fabric]

[Gasps]

There. Have

a good look.

A real Basuto ass.

Look at my ass!

Satisfied?

Now you can make

your dad even happier.

Tell him I showed

you my ass and yes,

he is right.

It's not fair.

Come, Willie,

let's finish up.

Sam...

(Willie)

Leave it, Boet Sam.

[Wind blowing outside]

It's all right, Willie.

Well, you've done it...

Master... Harold.

I'll start calling

you that from now on.

It won't be

difficult anymore.

You just hurt yourself.

I saw it coming

I tried to warn you,

but you wouldn't listen.

So now you just

hurt yourself bad.

And you're a coward,

Master Harold.

The face you should

be spitting in is

your father's

but you used mine,

because you think

you are safe

Inside your fair skin I

[shout]

[Grunt]

No, Boet Sam.

You don't know all

of what you've

just done...

Master Harold.

Not only have you made

me feel dirtier

than ever I've ever

been in my life.

But how do I wash

off yours and your

father's filth?

A long time ago

I made a promise

to myself

but you've

just shown me,

Master Harold...

I've failed.

I've also got

a memory...

of a little white boy

in short trousers

and a black man

but they were

not flying a kite.

It was the old

Jubilee days

after dinner one night.

You came Into my room

and stood against

the wall

looking down

at the ground.

[Soft music

over radio]

[Tum-tum-tum]

Ahh.

What is it, Hally?

And only after

I'd asked you

I don't know how

many times, "What

do you want?"...

Hally, what's wrong?

... did you finally speak

and so soft I could

barely hear you.

Come now.

"Sam, please help

me fetch my Dad. "

Do you remember?

He was dead drunk

on the floor of the

Central Hotel Bar.

They phoned your mother,

but you were the only

one home.

You went in first

and asked

permission for

me to go In.

[Female laughter]

[Music and

light chatter]

Wat soek jyhler?

(bartender)

You better take him home,

he's pissed himself.

[Male voice snickers]

You mean, pissed again.

Come, M r. Ballard.

(Sam, off)

I loaded your

dad on my back

and I carried

him like a baby.

(woman in blue)

Poor thing.

(female voice)

What a disgrace.

[Groaning]

[Heavy breathing]

Get me some water

from the basement.

[Gagging]

We have to

clean him up.

Don't let them take

my other leg, Hally.

Promise, you won't

let them take my

other leg?

I won't.

[Heavy breathing]

[Water trickling in basin]

(Sam, off)

I felt for

that little boy...

[deliberate tone]

Master Harold.

I felt for him.

I love him, Sam.

I know you do.

That's why I tried to stop

you from saying those things.

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