“MY AFRICAN DREAM”
Written by: Deeshan Moodley
Story by: Deeshan Moodley and Priya Pamela Naidoo
Email: Dmoodley@tailspin.co.za; Priya@tailspin.co.za;
“SYNOPSIS”
This is a story of a young black woman living in today’s
world in the homelands of KwaZulu Natal; striving to
achieve what many in her position perceive as impossible.
Her name is Zanele (age 18). She is the oldest of three
children: brother Senzo (age 16) and little sister Zama
(age 8) with their grandmother as their caregiver. The
children’s mother lives in the city and sends money every
month for their basic survival.
Zanele is a confident, intelligent and courageous girl who
sets her goals high and aims to achieve them. Beautifying
these characteristics is her ability to give and help.
Although her granny guides the three of them she does
almost everything by looking after her two siblings
ensuring that they have eaten and are always neat and tidy
for school. She completes all household chores and will
never see her crippled grandmother do any strenuous work.
Her dream in life is to become a doctor. The three children
attend a school several km away from their village and
although tough Zanele tries never to miss a day. Education
is one of her top priorities and she tries to enforce this
on to her siblings.
Sipho is a young boy; Zanele's best friend, same age and
they attend the same school. A young, tender and pure love
is exuded between these two, however at first all we
physically see is the powerful innocence and simplicity
that exists through their ’friendship’
We are also introduced to a young boy who is Senzo’s friend
(Thoko) who heads a household nearby. He looks after his
two little sisters and in these scenes we are exposed to
Zanele's generosity and outlook on her culture/traditional
ways of life vs. conventional standards of science.
Through hard work and perseverance she manages to
successfully attain a bursary to study medicine. Suddenly,
there is a twist and we find Zanele's mother returning
home. She is no longer fit enough to work as we now
discover that she is dying from AIDS. No income to survive,
Zanele makes the choice to go and find work in the city.
Upon arriving in the city she is referred to people by her
mothers previous employer. They offer her the job as
Domestic worker and she accepts. Her first day is nerve
wrecking; the lady of the house is sarcastic and verbally
abusive. Being treated as an “illiterate monkey” was one
the most frustrating things she had to endure. Her first
night she takes to rest on a foam mattress provided for
her. Her body aches but her dignity throbs. Her sleep is
abruptly broken by a heavy weight. Her boss. A big built
man, middle aged. He is lying on top of her and blocks her
mouth ensuring that her family’s lives will be at stake if
she screams or utters a word out to anybody after the night
is through. After his threat he begins to rape her
continuously.
Broken and stripped of her innocence she runs away. She has
nowhere to go and finds refuge in a shelter. She becomes
cold and unaware and is no longer focused on anything
besides the survival of her family. She has word that her
mother has passed away. She is crushed even more but has to
carry on. Through many regrets she finally finds a job as
a tea lady in a blue chip company. A few years have passed
and she is still in the same position.
While working one day she is called to serve tea in a
meeting where the New Top Executive was being introduced to
the Board. She does a double take and then nervously yet
perfectly carries out her task before leaving. Upon exiting
the boardroom she holds heart as if it was going to beat
through her chest. The New guy was none other than Sipho,
her best friend and the love of her life.
The story goes on until Sipho recognises her and chases her
down the corridor. He hugs her and tears well up in his
eyes. Its not long until Zanele finds her life ‘rescued’.
Sipho wants to put her through medical school and soon make
her his wife.
In a company outing Sipho introduces her to his colleagues
and potential clients one of which catches her eye. In a
sudden burst of shock Zanele runs away. Sipho runs after
her but is stopped and included into a conversation that
his ‘client to-be’. Not knowing who she is they jokingly
pass remarks about how he ‘had’ his first virgin.
Unknowingly he confronts Zanele, for that moment it’s as if
his perception of her is changed immediately, she then
proceeds to tell him what happened that night. They cry and
he asks for her forgiveness. She is pure to him now more
than ever.
In the boardroom the next day, his client is present, in a
defensive battle he crushes the guys reputations banishes
him from all associations. He defends her honour.
They return to their village, reunited with everyone and
the story ends with their marriage and union of love.
