By Derek Wenmoth
The need for a proper grieving process.
Note: A ' tangi' is the Maori (New Zealand) word for a funeral wake.
The changing room after a Rugby game.
Dave (loud, opinionated)
Al (follows the leader, keen to be one of the 'boys')
Sam (distant, proccupied)
Scene
Three players enter and sit together on a low bench, discussing the game together as they 'cool down' before a shower. Their expressions indicate the game was tough and close, but their team has lost.
Dave:
(Throws towel down on the bench and then sits on it - aggressively) What a game - two points - all we needed was another lousy two points!
Al :
(Attempting to calm Dave down) Yeah - but at least it was close! We nearly had them!
Dave:
(Irritated) Close is not good enough! We should have wasted those guys! We .... ...…creamed them in the last round, eh Sam?
Sam:
(Distant) uh - oh yeah - creamed them..
Al:
Get with it Sam - you've been on another planet all day!
Sam:
(Grunts in agreement)
Dave:
What happened to you Sam? You passed the ball forward three times today - three. times! And the last one was a certain try! (Thumps the seat beside him)
Al:
(Attempting to keep the peace again) It wasn't just Sam - the ref didn't help us at all!
Dave:
Don't mention the ref. to me - one-eyed ...! (thumps seat again)
Al :
Be fair, Dave, you didn't exactly help matters either!
Dave:
(defensively) What do you mean?
Al:
You missed three of the kicks today - that would have given us the points we needed!
Dave:
Don't blame me - I'm not the kicker - I only filled in today because Tane didn't turn up! Hasn't been at work all week either! Just up and off up to Gisborne for a hangi something!
Sam:
(quietly) A tangi.
Dave:
What?
Al :
A Tangi. You know - a funeral.
Dave:
Well why didn't you say a funeral?
Al:
Because it's called a tangi - Tane's a Maori, and they call it a tangi.
Dave:
I know - I know - how could I forget? Last time he went off to one of those things he was gone for two weeks! He even missed the final game against suburbs! The team's key goal kicker and he's just up and off to a 'tangi' (said with emphasis) for a couple of weeks! Shows where his priorities are - I mean, the dead guy wasn't even one of his family!
Al:
Well - he was in a way.
Dave:
What do you mean 'in a way'?
Al:
Well, the guy was a respected elder, and a member of Tane's whanau - you know, his extended family.
Dave:
Here we go - more of this Maori lingo! I don't care what you call it - I don't see why any funeral should take two weeks. If you ask me, Tane just used it as an excuse to do some surfing on the East Cape.
Al:
Be fair Dave - that's the way it is with the Maori people - they believe in taking time to get all their grief out of their system.
Dave:
Here we go again - one rule for them, and another one for us - the sooner we just get on and live together under one set of rules the better!
Al:
But what about their customs and traditions?
Dave:
I reckon it's about time we stop dredging up the past - let's just get on with life! After all - we've got this year's final in three weeks! (Grins to himself, then says as an aside:) Get real - two weeks? No funeral takes two weeks!
Al:
But the Maoris reckon it's a way of showing their respect for the dead person. They need that time to remember what they've done with their lives and support each other (falters)... or something...
Dave:
I still don't see why they should take two weeks - surely they haven't got that much grief (laughs at his own wit) - heck - it only takes us Pakehas a couple of hours and a few beers and we've gotten rid of ours! (laughs again at his own joke - Al smiles a bit, Sam looks increasingly unhappy) Let's forget all this superstitious stuff and just get a life - that's what I say.
(Al and Dave continue to work at untying their boots - after a few seconds Sam stands, slams his towel down on the bench and walks out, head down)
Dave:
What's wrong with him?
Al:
Maybe you've touched a nerve?
Dave:
(Indignantly) Me - what have I done?
Al:
Remember last month when we had that big order going through at work and we had all the overtime to do?
Dave:
I remember - but surely overtime pay is nothing to get all up tight about?
Al:
No - you don't understand - Sam's Dad died then, and he could only get half a day to go to the funeral..
Dave:
(As if sobered by the thought) Oh yeah...(Both guys bury themselves in the task of removing their boots, heads lowered and not speaking... Lights fade to black.)
© Derek Wenmoth 1995
All rights reserved
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies are not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged.
In exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate being notified of when and for what purpose the play is performed.
He may be contacted at: dwenmoth@xtra.co.nz