Smart Casuals (2024)

[bunniefuu]

Look.

I'm not trying to be your boyfriend.

That's not who I am.

Then who are you?

I'm the guy you go home with.

You do know I have a boyfriend?

Oh, I know.

- But this had nothing to do with him.

- Of course it does.

If your boyfriend had a say

in all the decisions you made,

- you wouldn't be here right now.

- Of course I would.

So your boyfriend knows that you're here?

Yeah.

With me?

He knows that I'm out

having dinner with a friend.

But I'm not your friend.

Well, then who are you?

I'm the guy you go home with.

Hi, my name is Mahlatsi

and I've been living in

Johannesburg for over

twenty years now.

And this guy over here is my fianc.

And my friends call me Bheka.

Mmm, and we're really excited that

we finally get to have our Dream Day.

Yeah.

Well, I

I think I'm not nervous anymore.

I just I want this to happen now.

It will, don't worry. Third time lucky.

Okay, Bheka.

Could you say that

line directly into camera?

Um, just the last bit.

Directly into into

Yeah, um, third time lucky.

Okay.

Third time lucky.

Okay, could we do it again?

Uh, but maybe this time a

little bit less performance.

Um, just say your line. Um, don't act it.

I'm not acting.

Um, could you make it

a little bit more natural?

Okay.

Third time lucky.

Brilliant!

- Thanks a lot.

- I'm glad you're happy.

I mean, it looks good here.

And now I need to go back to my job.

But we still have that

one-on-one interview to do.

Which is fine. You you

can do me another day.

But the office kind of

scheduled you guys for today.

Um, you gave us up until 12.

Well, if I stayed here all day,

I wouldn't make my nine o'clock meeting.

But you agreed.

But I didn't.

Yes, you did, Bheka.

Remember last week when I

was confirming the schedule?

You agreed until 12.

Truth has not been

detected in your statement.

I'm not lying.

I never accused you of that.

Yes, you did. Just admit it.

Look, I admit that I forgot about it.

I don't remember.

Can we just please, um

- Can we not do this here?

- We're not doing anything here.

So what are we gonna do?

Well, you're gonna do your one-on-one. Uh

I'm gonna go to my meeting and

They will reschedule.

Love you.

Look, um, if you wanna do

your interview on another day,

- we could always reschedule.

- No, I'm fine.

We can do it.

Hey.

Hey.

Hey, you.

- You sleep well?

- Mmm.

Oh, is that for me?

No, this is mine.

Look I need to get to work.

What time is it?

Nearly nine.

Okay, um, I just need to freshen up.

Sure.

I had an amazing time.

So did I.

So say, for instance, I

no longer had a boyfriend.

I don't date.

You're being serious?

If you wanna hook up again,

you can give me a call, okay?

Don't count on it.

All the way.

From, from, from our villages.

Yes, to dig up, to dig up, to

dig and dig and dig and dig.

To dig up the riches, riches

riches from our motherland.

For the benefit

Benefit, benefit, before

they can scavenge us.

He drilled, he drilled, he drilled.

Are you taking pictures of the women?

Or the performance?

I'm getting audience reactions.

Thanks, Taki, I'll do

your transfer tonight.

Unless you've got a

problem with cash in hand?

I've got nothing against cash in hand.

Cash in hand is great.

If you're a stripper

or you sell weed.

Ah

In other news, have you seen

where that lady went?

What lady?

The nice one.

They're all nice.

The one I was taking pictures of just now.

Oh yes, the one you

were taking pictures of

instead of doing

your job.

That's the one, she disappeared.

Have you seen where she went?

Taki?

I was way too busy

looking after my club.

So you're gonna have to forgive

me if I couldn't do your babysitting.

As usual

it's been a pleasure.

All right.

- Take it easy.

- All right.

Hello?

Hey, love.

No, no, no, they've pushed

my meeting up by two hours.

Yeah, maybe around six, half six, uh

Give or take.

Mmm-hmm.

Right, I'll see you then.

I love you too.

Bye.

Hey, yo, Taks?

Jesus Christ

Whoa! She's gorgeous. Who's that?

- I wish I knew.

- Why you stalking, my guy?

I'm not stalking her.

I I saw her at the

poetry thing at the club.

Wait a minute, so you're telling me that

this person, she

She wasn't with anyone?

Nope.

She came alone.

Alright.

My brother.

Are you sure this person, um

wasn't a prost*tute?

A prost*tute at a poetry session?

Yoh! Who says prostitutes

don't go to poetry sessions?

Listen, if you'd seen half of

the things that they had seen,

I'm telling you, you'd need

some poetry in your life as well.

Can I help you, Donald?

Yes, um, the magazine guy

is waiting for us downstairs.

Okay, I'll be right down.

- Give me five minutes.

- All right, cool.

Just don't take too long because

apparently, he's waiting for us

and he's got a gig of

us taking pictures of girls.

In bikinis.

- Really, Donald?

- Hey, hey.

Don't you really, Donald.

I'm married. You,

you don't know my pain.

This is a blessing and it's

not even in disguise, it's

It's in the bikini, so

- You're stupid.

- Hey yo!

Amandla, let's get going, let's get going.

Linda, you said something about bikinis?

- Yeah.

- She's gonna be launching her debut album.

So we wanted a beach swimwear vibes.

- You know?

- So you want sand?

Not really,

I was thinking more big

balloons, cocktails, umbrellas.

Something of that sort.

I mean, she's gonna be

posing with her friends or her...

Rather the ones we get for her.

As you see here, gentlemen,

she has a very feisty feel to her.

Hmm. Hey, hey. Hold on. Um

She has a very sexy feel to her.

And the things I'd do.

Donald, why don't you do

those things to your wife?

Me? Bro, really?

Gosh, he's quite right, bro.

This girl is a unicorn.

A unicorn, really?

Those rare, mystical creatures of

That's the girl from the club.

Ah, the the prost*tute?

She's not a prost*tute.

I promise you, she's not a prost*tute.

- Okay, I'll be back in a minute.

- Wait. Where are you going?

We're in the middle of a meeting.

Where you going?

Bro, you're looking at a

girl and calling her a unicorn.

This does not qualify as a meeting,

it qualifies as foreplay

to what you're gonna do to yourself

as soon as the universe

allows you alone time.

Yeah, you're an assh*le.

Hi.

Do I know you?

Yeah, you're the lady from the club.

And you are?

I'm the guy who takes the photos.

Um, are you stalking me,

guy who takes the photos?

No, no, um, I was

in a meeting.

And I saw you, so I decided

to come over and ask if you

might wanna see the

photos that I took of you.

Well, I took photos of the

the event but you happened

to be in them, you know?

- Mmm.

- Yeah.

Ah, do you do this with all the guests?

Yes, this is uh, standard procedure.

Yeah.

I'm lying.

So, um, how do I get the photos?

Well, you could give me your number.

I'll send them to you.

So you're asking me for my number?

I mean, I could, could use your, your

- email if

- No, no, no.

You're not answering my question.

I'm saying do you want to have my number?

- Yes.

- Where's your phone?

I saved it as Tumi.

That's your name?

No, my name is George.

Sorry, I'm a bit slow today.

I can see that.

Don't worry about it, I'm

taking pills and injections

and stuff, you know?

Doctor says it should

clear up in a few days or so.

Let's hope so.

Camera guy?

Um, I didn't get your name.

Taki.

Taki with a T?

No, with a Q.

Touche.

Knock-knock.

Knock-knock.

I've got a delivery for you.

Wow, Mrs. Nkosi.

No. No, no, no.

I haven't decided if I'm

taking your surname yet.

So please, don't flirt with me like that.

A delivery for a

possibly soon-to-be Mrs. Nkosi.

I don't want it.

Well, you can't reject it now.

I just did.

- Not until you read the note.

- I don't want to read the note.

Oh, that's perfectly fine

because part of my job description

includes reading the note.

- I don't want to hear it.

- Well, I think she does want to hear it.

Dear

future wife.

These flowers are but a

small symbol of my love for you.

And I'm the luckiest

fool to have found you.

Permission to kiss you.

Go up now. I'm coming.

Okay, okay.

- My love?

- Hmm?

Uh

I was quite embarrassed

by what you did this morning.

What did I do?

Telling the TV crew you won't do

the interview when you agreed to do it.

I'm sorry.

Um, I had forgotten.

So now you remember?

Yes, I do.

Look, I just double booked

and for that, I apologize.

Well, I think you need

to apologize to them.

- No.

- Why not?

Because they are filmmakers, okay?

That's not even a real job.

You know, huh-uh.

Sometimes I can't tell the difference

whether you're being serious or joking.

I don't know.

Well, this is my serious face.

I will not apologize to a group of

people who don't have real jobs.

All they do is sit around

and tell stories all day.

You know who else does that?

People in taverns.

You're being an idiot.

No, they're being idiots.

Spending all of their free time drinking

too much and having unprotected sex.

Who does that?

You know, you

You've really mastered

the art of being hurtful.

I'm just being honest.

In a very hurtful way

Bheka.

Hello?

Um Hi.

Is this the guy who takes photos?

Why would you call me that?

I told you my real name.

You said it was your middle name.

I was just being charming.

Are you good, Taki?

I am.

Why are you calling me?

Well, it's about the photos and um

You're calling me about the photos?

I am.

That's disappointing.

I thought you were calling

to do dinner or something.

- Well, I'd love to do dinner or something.

- Then ask me to do dinner or something.

You want me to ask you?

I wouldn't have told you to ask me

if I didn't want you to ask me, Taki.

I'm a lady, so I would

like to be treated as one.

Okay.

Would you like to do

dinner or something, Tumi?

Hmm Let me think about that.

Excuse me, I'm just

checking my diary quickly.

Wow.

Hmm

I may be able to fit you in.

When would you like to do it?

As soon as humanly possible.

How about now?

It's short notice now, Taki.

Okay. Then tomorrow.

Let's do dinner tomorrow.

Then I will dinner with

you tomorrow, Taki.

I am glad to hear that, Tumi.

Good night, Tumi.

It's still evening, Taki,

so we say good evening.

Well then, good evening to you, too.

I'm not a monster.

I didn't say you were a monster.

Yeah, sometimes I

just feel like you think it.

Do you think it?

Sometimes.

You used to be tougher

than this, remember?

Yes.

What happened?

I met you.

So in your life's movie, I'm the bad guy.

No one said you're a bad guy.

You're just saying that.

Because I want to believe it.

But you don't.

Not when you're being hurtful.

Am I being hurtful now?

No.

And tomorrow?

Tomorrow?

If I don't want to hurt

you tomorrow, what

would I do?

Well, let's see.

You would help me find the cake.

That's what we're doing tomorrow.

Okay. We can do that.

And also, I'd like you to help me

more with the wedding arrangements.

You said you wanted to take the lead.

I was just letting you lead.

Yeah. But I want your input.

Remember, this is a partnership, Bheka.

I know.

And you're my partner.

Okay, I'll be there now.

Uh, I'll see you soon.

Okay.

Hey. Uh, just a quick meeting in and out.

I should be back in an hour.

- I don't believe you.

- An hour and a half latest.

Remember, you still have to

do your one-on-one interview?

Yes, and I will. In an hour and a half.

You promise?

I guarantee it.

Okay, Trevor. Uh, we'll

sh**t it in an hour and a half.

Yes, Sir.

It's Tresor, not Trevor, babe.

Tresor?

Yes.

Really?

Why did you keep

letting me call you Trevor?

It's not a big deal.

No, it is a big deal.

What language is that anyway?

It's French, Sir.

Well, what does it mean?

It means treasure.

Why do you have a French name?

Because I'm half French.

You're French?

See, my father's from South Africa.

So I grew up here but

my mother's from the DRC.

That would make you

half DRC, not half French.

I mean, being colonized by someone

doesn't actually make you them.

Imagine if I went around

saying that I am half Afrikaans

and half British just

because they colonized us.

- Doesn't make sense now, does it?

- Babe?

I am teleporting a message to you

regarding the conversation

we had earlier on.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you.

No offence taken.

You see, love. He's not offended.

Oh. Well, if you keep speaking like

this, the offended will call you woke.

Okay.

An hour and a half, Tresor.

Think about what I just said, right?

And how many people in France

do you think go around claiming

the DRC as their nationality?

And if they don't do it,

then we shouldn't either, right?

African and proud.

The thing is, it was the

Belgian that colonized us.

But um, I hear your point.

Yeah, Belgium, France. Same difference.

They all colonize us.

But we're still African and proud.

- Say it with me. African and proud.

- African and proud.

And you'll still be African and

proud in an hour and a half.

Yeah.

So you don't date?

- I don't.

- What do you do?

- I freelance.

- Between women?

Well, it's not between livestock.

Who hurt you?

Why do you think someone hurt me?

Because you've got an ice

box where your heart used to be.

- We're quoting Omarion now?

- Who hurt you?

We'll quote Boom Shaka if we have to.

Who hurt you?

- You wouldn't know her.

- She cheated on you.

Yep.

She hooked up with another guy?

Guys.

I did a count not so long ago and

the number I reached was around

half of Joburg.

What's her name?

Well, her nickname is Marie.

Marie is a name. It's not a nickname.

Not if it's short for Marie Antoinette.

Marie Antoinette?

Yeah.

Yeah, she never liked

seeing a good man go hungry.

So she let them eat cake.

Marie Antoinette.

So that has hurt your male ego.

That's like saying she

broke my male heart.

Well?

She did.

So how long have you been single for?

About three and a half years.

It's just that

being in a relationship

makes me feel trapped.

You know, I wanna get out.

But when I do that, I hurt someone.

So I figure if I don't date

I won't hurt anyone.

I'm not designed to hurt people.

No one is designed to hurt people.

Then why do we do it so much?

I guess if hurt is all you

know, then hurt is all you'll give.

You know that saying,

hurt people, hurt people?

Yeah, I've heard that once.

I'm trying to help you here.

Sorry.

Help me then.

I don't like to have too

many rules in my life,

especially when it comes to relationships.

But I do have one rule.

And that's never to date

anyone who hates themselves

or doesn't love themselves.

You can only give what you have.

And if hate is all you have inside,

then hate is all you give outside.

Never trust the naked man

who promises to give you a suit.

Because if he can't clothe himself,

then how do you expect him to clothe you?

So you only trust people

who are fully clothed?

The only people who can give

love are those who have love inside.

True love.

Not this thing that

people like to call love but

in reality, is just vanity

in sheep's clothing.

Heart times.

Hard times, indeed.

Oh, no, not hard times.

Heart times.

You know, like the heart that beats.

You down to the ground until

you don't recognize yourself

and build up walls like,

"I don't date anymore."

Ow!

You clap when you laugh.

I clap when I'm happy.

And why are you happy?

Because I'm attracted to you

and I enjoy spending time

with people I'm attracted to.

So

what are your plans?

I have but one plan.

- Is that yours?

- Yeah.

Hey, love.

I'm good and you?

Really, I I didn't hear it.

I was out at lunch.

What time will you be back?

Okay, well wanna do a movie?

Okay. Dinner and a movie and

then we'll make it a real date.

Okay, love.

Love you, too.

Bye.

That was your boyfriend?

Yeah.

You didn't say anything?

You didn't ask anything.

I didn't.

Does it bother you?

It can't.

You have heard of an

open relationship, right?

Yeah. In the movies.

So what? You

You can hook up with anyone you want to?

And he does too. I mean,

we're not prostitutes.

We just don't like to have

unrealistic expectations of ourselves.

Wow.

Okay, that's that's nice.

- But give me a little more attitude.

- Got it? Let's go.

Linda, my guy.

You know, if you ever if you

ever want to give up on the world.

Just just come back to these moments.

- Beautiful.

- What did you say?

I said beautiful.

And I think we're done.

Hey, huh? Tak Taki?

Are you done? Dude, are they finished?

- Is that it?

- Yeah, that's it.

Don't you have, like

an another sh*t or so?

Thank you so much, ladies.

Huh?

Thanks.

Thank you. You did well.

Baby.

Baby.

Hmm?

I love you.

- Baby?

- Hmm?

I said I love you.

- Babe.

- Hmm?

I said I love you. Did you not hear me?

I did both times.

Okay, so

what do you have to say about it?

I have to say thank you.

Thank you and?

- Babe.

- Yeah.

Well, I have to say thank you

and I love you more than you know.

Really?

Are you sure?

Yeah.

I love you.

Bheka, I feel like you

don't really love me.

Of course I do.

No, you don't because now you're

running off to your little fianc.

I have to finish the sh**t.

You don't have to do anything.

You want to.

I've been telling you this so many times.

You never listen to me.

Look, baby, I'm not

fighting with you, okay?

You know I don't like to fight with you.

Are you angry at me now?

No.

Could never be angry at you.

Hmm.

So are you finally going

to send me that data

that I've been asking

for that you promised

so long ago.

But obviously, you always forget about me.

I'm sorry.

Look I, I had so much on my mind.

- Really?

- Yeah.

Okay. So you'll send it today?

I'll send it before I get to the sh**t.

Okay.

Look he's cheated on me before.

So this wouldn't be the first time.

Boo-hoo.

You got cheated on.

What a historic moment.

Tell me about one woman

who has never been cheated on.

Oh, where's my phone

so I can tell the press.

- I'm glad that you find this as a joke.

- I don't think it's a joke.

I think it's a trend. Everybody does it.

So Thabo also cheats on you?

No. I just like being

drunk every day at 2 PM.

Geez, why didn't you tell me?

Because it's a trend.

Everybody does it.

Show me a man who doesn't cheat

and I'll show you a historic moment.

So what, are we just

supposed to accept it?

No, we're supposed to adapt.

Adapt? What do you mean, adapt?

I mean, we adapt.

How?

By adapting.

Okay. Let me put it like this.

When your man leaves to do dodgy business

you must also go do your dodgy business.

Are you?

Please don't ask me questions

you don't have the guts to...

No. I do.

You are so innocent.

I feel like I'm talking too much.

You're crazy.

I'm not crazy.

The world we live in is crazy.

Me? I'm adapting.

So how long have you been

Well?

Ever since he started doing it.

You're lying.

I wasn't doing anything.

Until I found out that he is

busy hooking up with everyone.

Like who?

Like secretaries.

Like PA's.

Anyone wearing a skirt.

Men don't have standards.

What separates a man from a woman

is the clothes they're wearing.

But Sindi why don't you just leave him?

Leave him for what?

For another man who's

going to cheat as well.

Girl, we live in a city of gold.

Not a city of golden men.

No, well, I I don't believe

that all men are the same.

Okay. You're living in Lalaland.

Where they open doors for you,

give you back massages

without any ulterior motives. Here?

Trusting a man is like trusting that a

guy who drives a BMW won't speed.

You're such a pessimist.

- I'm a realist.

- No, you're a pessimist.

Because the only time your glasses

are full is when there's Pinot in it.

Open your eyes, friend.

Look around you.

We live in a city where broken

people come in and their droves

because this is the only place

where they can truly feel at home.

Come on.

Ah, you're back.

Yeah, you're still here.

What are you doing?

Oh

I was supposed to have

been gone by now, right?

No. Come on.

- They're usually gone by now, aren't they?

- I mean, on average, yes.

No worries. Um, I will just finish

up here and get out of your way.

I'm not kicking you out.

So

you want me to stay and eat with you?

Yes, I do.

Hey! Hey.

You've been so slow.

So much so, that being a

doctor is not about healing

but about prescribing the right

If life was reduced to a single moment

I choose to remain in this one.

Hello?

Hey, love.

You have puppy dog eyes.

Puppy dog?

Labrador.

The happiest dog in the world.

Yet sometimes it looks so sad.

Well, I'm not sad.

You're lying to me.

I don't lie.

Liar.

Time flies when you're

When you're having fun.

Yeah. It does.

What's worse than leaving?

Being left behind.

Hello?

You know, I've been in Joburg for

over three years now and honestly,

if it wasn't for this last

year and this record label thing,

- I swear I would have left.

- So you don't like Joburg?

I mean, it's not

that I don't like it. It's just

It's It's hectic, you know?

It's not a place that you

wanna be in if you're broke.

Yeah, I mean

I hated this place.

Why?

Because I was broke the

first two years I was here.

Yoh, Joburg is more

intense than New York, hey?

Oh, you've been?

I mean, no.

But I'm sure it is.

Yeah.

- I have a theory about Joburg.

- Hmm?

Ask me what it is.

What's your theory about Joburg?

Why, that's a very good question, Ma'am.

Did you come up with that all by yourself?

You think you're clever, hey?

I think.

Therefore I am.

Ugh, what's your theory?

Okay. Think of every

megacity in the world.

They're all connected to a body

of water in one way or another.

Joburg is the only mega city in the world

that is not connected to a body of water.

Ask me why not.

Why not?

Because when we came here

we weren't looking for life.

We were looking for gold.

- So, when will it be done?

- Oh, they said in a day or two.

Okay.

I was hoping you'd drop

me off at the sh**t tomorrow.

I need to look for a wedding dress.

You already have a wedding dress.

You have two.

But those were for the

weddings that did not happen.

Now I need a dress for a

wedding that is going to happen.

Bheka, please drop me off.

Why don't you order a ride?

Because my soon-to-be husband has a car.

And he also has a job that he

needs to get to in the morning.

So you're saying no?

I am saying why don't you

order a ride in the morning

and I will pick you up

at the end of the day.

I really love both the dresses

but I haven't decided on

which one I'm gonna go for.

So I will sleep on it.

- Do you want me to say anything else?

- No, I think I think we're good.

I think we're good.

Okay, cool.

Wait.

What if we did a little sign-out where

you say this is the end of the day?

You're waiting for Bheka

and when he comes through,

you jump into the

car and you guys drive off?

- Okay, fine.

- Awesome.

Camera's rolling.

Sound.

And action!

So we've just finished off the

day and I've selected two dresses,

which I still need to sleep on before

I decide which one I'm gonna go for.

But at least we have our finalists and

right now, I'm just waiting for Bheka to

come and fetch me so we can go home.

Just keep walking until

where the car gets here.

Okay.

We'll play with transitions and jump cuts

just to make the wait a little shorter.

- But just keep waiting.

- Okay.

Bheka, you said you'd

be here 30 minutes ago.

Call me back.

Hey.

He's um, probably in a meeting.

Yeah. No, it's it's fine.

I'll just I'll just call the cab.

No, don't worry about that.

I'll drop you off.

No, really, it's fine.

I'll call a ride. It's cool.

That would be fine if I didn't have a car.

Alright.

Here we go.

- Thanks for dropping me off.

- No, not a problem at all.

I don't know what I would

have done without you.

You would have called a ride.

Yeah.

- Alright, good night, yeah.

- Good night.

I was thinking, babe.

What were you thinking?

That

You know, we could

re-look this baby issue.

Is this the talk you wanted to have?

Yeah.

I thought this was gonna be a good talk.

Wait, how is talking

about a baby not good?

When I'm not ready to have one?

Don't you remember,

you were the one that said that,

you know, we'd revisit this issue.

No, you were the one who said

you wanted to revisit this issue.

You're being selfish.

So what's the alternative?

Me being selfless and having

a baby I don't want to have

so that you and your family can go

around saying, "She's such a bad mother."

- It's not gonna happen.

- Yes, it will.

Baby, look.

People have children

they don't want all the time.

And that's why there's so many

messed up individuals in this world.

Do you honestly think if people chose to

have babies when they're good and ready

that it'll at least solve half

of the world's problems?

But you're ready, we both...

Are you honestly telling

me that you're ready

for a child to mimic

who you are right now? Because I'm not.

So you're waiting to be perfect?

No.

I am waiting to be ready.

Babe, I've been calling out to you.

You didn't answer.

You are angry at me.

It's understandable.

I made a commitment to come

and pick you up and I didn't.

Look

I broke a promise and for that I'm

I'm sorry. I apologize.

Do you forgive me?

My love, I'm talking to you.

Sit down.

Can I get something to eat first,

I'm famished.

I'm sure she gave you

more than enough to eat.

So I'm going to need you

to sit down.

Oh.

So it's about that?

Sit down.

Do you love me?

How can you even ask me that?

Yeah, cause I mean you walk

in here with lousy flowers

to compensate for the fact that

you were inside another woman.

Do you love me?

Proof.

My proof is your lies.

Your lies, Bheka.

And your stupid meetings

that run into the night.

It's the nature of my job.

As what?

Hmm?

As a qualified architect?

Or a qualified whore?

The Carlton Centre is the

second tallest building in town.

Do us a favor.

Go take a leap of faith.

Why would you

do something like this to me?

Because you have done nothing.

Why?

You're not listening to me.

You

have

done

nothing.

When I met you,

you were this beautiful, radiant girl.

Your body looked like it was engineered

by an Eastern Cape car manufacturer.

Your hair, your nails, your skin.

You were polished like a rare diamond.

Then you got too comfortable.

Put a ring on your finger.

And you took that as

permission to let yourself go.

Oh, please.

Says the man who used to run track.

But the closest you've gotten

to a six-pack in the last decade

is in a bottle store.

This is my issue.

You just don't get it.

- It's like I'm talking to a two-year-old.

- Oh, well then enlighten me, my love.

Because I I can't seem to understand.

I'm struggling with your double standards

as your hypocrisy washes over me.

It is not hypocrisy.

These are the rules of the game.

The rules? What rules?

When I don't take care of myself

I must get thrown out and when you

don't take care of yourself it's all good.

Because I'm a man!

You...

You didn't just say that.

Because you are the man.

Because you are the man, Bheka.

I'm sorry, I'm not

trying to be an ass here but

That ship has long sailed.

You know what?

What I'm trying to say

is that I worked hard.

Okay? I come from poverty

and I worked hard.

Okay? I went to university.

I got a good job.

I made money.

I started my own company.

Okay? I made even more money.

So as a man, I did my part.

I provided.

And you, what do you do?

Stuff yourself with hamburgers.

- It's a chicken burger.

- It's still a burger.

I didn't say you must throw it away.

Oh, f*ck you and your lame attempts

at being a considerate assh*le.

f*ck you!

Hey.

Hey.

Hey.

You've changed?

Yeah. Um

I need to get to work.

Emergency sh**t.

It's 10 p.m.

Are you sh**ting paramedics or something?

No, I'm

There's an artist in

town who's performing,

And his photographer bailed on him so

- Yeah, I've gotta step in.

- Is it?

Yeah.

And what's the artist's name?

His name?

Mmm.

Nark something?

- I don't know, something like that.

- Nark something?

Yeah.

I've never heard of him.

- Must be an up-and-coming artist, right?

- He must be, yeah.

Probably is.

Okay, just give me a few minutes.

Okay.

Sorry.

I'm gonna go clear my head a little bit.

Because things were said last night

that I need to marinate on.

I will be back later.

I don't think she'll ever change.

I know, baby.

But I could change for you.

No.

You don't have to change.

I don't want you to change a single thing.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

'Cause I'm perfect?

I won't say this has come

as a complete surprise.

But women in your position

have been known to do things

even more dramatic

than this to keep a man.

Granted, it's a bit desperate.

Unoriginal in my opinion but

well played.

So

we'll get married,

we'll have this child and

we'll make lemonade.

Okay. So I'm gonna

be in edit most of today.

I'll give you a call when I'm almost done.

- Okay.

- Okay.

I think congratulations are in order.

You

are expecting a baby.

Um that's, that's not possible.

That's not possible.

I've been taking these pills for like

I don't even know how many

years and I've never skipped a day

and they've never given

me a problem before.

You do understand that close to

10% of women who are on the pill

fall pregnant every year, right?

I know. I'm just saying like,

I've taken it every single day.

And

it's like

why wouldn't they work?

What's important is that

we look at our options now.

I can schedule another

appointment for later in the week.

Hi.

- Hey.

- Hey.

What's wrong?

You said you wanted to

speak to me about something.

What I wanted to

speak to you about can wait.

First, tell me what's wrong.

I am.

Taki, come here.

Talk to me.

I ignored your calls.

What do you mean?

When you called

earlier on

just now this morning,

I didn't miss the calls, I ignored them.

Why would you do that?

Because there's something

seriously damaged about this guy.

The moment I feel remotely

- in lo...

- Vulnerable?

In Vulnerable, I

Are you falling in love with me?

Please don't look at me

when you ask me that.

Does that make you feel vulnerable?

A bit.

And does that make you wanna run?

Not from you.

So what do you wanna do?

I wanna stop jeopardizing

my own happiness.

It's exhausting.

So why do you do it?

Fear.

Fear of another Marie

Antoinette situation?

Yeah.

That was really painful for me.

I don't like pain because

pain hurts.

So you still need to get over it?

I'm over her

and that chapter.

I I've closed that entire book now.

I'm not concerned

that you're not over her.

It's recovering from the emotional damage,

from the heartbreak

that I'm concerned about.

But I am over the damage.

Well, then why did you just call

yourself damaged 20 seconds ago?

Because

Because

the level of fear you

have towards anything

that compromises this image

that you've built of yourself,

is frankly a phobia.

Yet here I am

facing my fear.

You're facing your fear of losing me.

You're not facing your fear of commitment.

Being here

is me facing my fear of commitment.

And how's that fair on me?

Expecting me to fully commit to someone

who's still facing their fear of it?

But I am committed to you.

You say that now.

But wait until you're triggered.

I'll miss a call and

you'll think I'm cheating.

I'll be out of town and you'll

think it's because of another man.

You have to heal

the damage that you've

carried for all of these years.

Or else you'll just carry it into

the next relationship you're in.

And that to me is like the textbook

definition of emotional baggage.

But what if

What if by the time I've healed

you've married him or something?

You were the first person

I called after I left the doctor's office.

You were the only one I called.

Well, so far.

When did you go to the doctor's office?

Before I called you.

What's going on?

I'm having his child.

So you stopped using protection with him?

That's the thing, um

protection doesn't always protect.

Well, that's true.

So like, how do you feel

about what I've just said?

I'm happy for you.

Honestly?

Um

I know.

I mean, I think uh I

think I read it somewhere.

I think I read like the

stats somewhere that said

nine out of a hundred

women who are on the pill

still fall pregnant.

But it's not like they all have it.

And And I'm not saying

that you should have it.

I mean, him or her,

I'm just saying I get it.

I get it.

I mean, I I'm not stupid

and I understand that

medicine is a science but

it's not an exact science.

Nothing that is man-made

can ever be exact.

It's not perfect.

Because how can an imperfect human being

create something that is perfect?

I mean, that would be

Th Th That would be defying science.

Wouldn't it?

Is

Is there anything that you wanna ask me?

Are you gonna marry him now?

You were the first person I told, Taki.

You were the only one I told so far.

But what does that mean, Tumi?

What does it mean?

It means

you'll take all the time that

you need to process everything.

And I concurrently will be doing the same.

And um

once we've processed everything,

we can

you know, connect once we've found

some sort of semblance of lucidity and

pick this up again.

Well then

thank you

for the elephant in the room

of a conversation.

Did we have an elephant in the room?

A big one.

And it's African too so

it's the biggest of its kind.

Alright. Okay Sorry

to cut you off there, Doc.

So wait, so

So the meditations are guided?

Keep focusing on your

breath as you inhale, exhale.

And on your next exhale, allow yourself

to let go of anything that no

longer serves your mind, your body.

I was on a date the other night.

Okay.

Does that make you jealous?

Not necessarily.

So

you don't care about me?

You went on a date, which is okay

because you and me are not dating.

Okay, so

So now that you've used me,

you don't care what happens.

- Wait. You feel used?

- You know what I mean.

But I told you this in the beginning.

It's not some big surprise that I'm

throwing at you at this very moment.

I told you I don't date.

You agreed to us not dating.

I don't understand why

you're using guilt as a w*apon.

That's not okay.

You know

You think you deserve no

responsibility for the damage you cause.

Just because you make this big

announcement in the beginning saying,

"Ah, I don't date."

Which makes you think

that your hands are clean

of all the blood you're about to shed.

The blood I'm about to shed?

Yoh.

You know what your problem is?

Well, I have a lot of those.

Do you want to hear something specific?

You're a fake.

A con.

You'd like to talk this deep talk about,

"Ooh, Joburg is so materialistic"

and "Ooh, there's no life here."

But what you fail to understand

is that the reason

why you can't find life

is because

there's no life in you.

So when you seek and do not find

it is only because

one cannot locate that

which they do not recognize.

You're Geppetto.

As you take advantage

of the fact that Joburg is a wilderness

filled with dying people

who will crawl with their manicured

fingernails to the first oasis they see.

You're okay with entering my body.

But it's entering my heart

that you have a problem with.

But I told you this in the beginning,

- Katlego.

- Yes.

Yes, you did, Taki.

Because that's your game.

And you play your game

well.

I just hope that one day

you realize

that human beings were

not created to be played with.

Especially by you.

Baby, I'm telling you,

Taki is into this one.

He said he was going to go celibate,

grow his hair and be vegan for this girl.

I'm telling you no lie.

- You're an idiot.

- You said that.

- He's an idiot.

- He said that

No wait now. Wait.

So what are the rules?

There are no rules.

But he said you guys aren't

allowed to talk to each other.

No, we're just giving each other space.

So you guys can talk to each other?

Babs, listen. That wouldn't be giving

each other space, now, would it?

I just want to know how long this

is actually going to go on for, babe.

When it feels right.

Um, I don't know.

Doesn't it feel right now?

It does but I don't think I'm there yet.

But Taki

do we ever truly know when we're there?

Listen. Don't listen to her.

You do your thing and take your time.

- Thank you, my friend.

- There we go.

Oh. Like you took your time with me?

Hey.

That's different.

Look, you were all over me.

- Is that how you choose to remember it?

- Yes, that's how

Look, whether it is true or not

Look, I have decided that is how

I'm going to remember our courtship.

And actually, under our constitution,

I enjoyed the right to freedom of choice.

Yeah.

Even if that choice is to lie to yourself.

Per Per Actually

Anyway, everybody

lies to themselves and I

Tumi's my freedom of choice.

And I choose her.

That's that esoteric thing

I was telling you about.

When I'm faced with my freedom of choice.

Whether it's next year, the

year after that or in a decade.

I'm always going to choose her.

You're not wrong.

Um Uh, bro, look.

You go make the phone call.

- Yeah, I think I should make the call.

- Yeah.

- You don't mind if I use it?

- As long as you need.

- All right, cool. Thank you.

- You go, girl!

Oh, stop it. You're going to

make him lose focus, man.

Lose focus?

Do you see that guy? He That guy is here.

- He's here. I'm telling you.

- Donald, you're ridiculous, man.

- Oh yeah, that's why you love me, right?

- Did you get dessert?

Uh, was I supposed to be making dessert?

No. Weren't

Weren't you making dessert?

I thought you were making it

because I'm understanding

how it's been done.

Hey.

Yo.

My number's blocked.

- What?

- What do you mean?

She blocked my number.

sh*t, bro.

I'm sorry.

Okay. I got you.

- Yeah, okay.

- Alright?

- Yeah. Oh my God.

- It's okay.

I'm so sorry.

It's okay, it's okay.

Ugh.

- You okay?

- I'm sorry.

It's okay. There's no need to apologize.

Okay.

I got you. Take off your shoes.

I'm okay.

Yeah.

It's alright.

I I'm so I woke you up

- It's okay, Taki.

- Okay.

You don't have to apologize.

Okay.

- Okay.

- Okay.

Okay, let me Let me get this for you.

Cool.

Alright. Yeah, I think we're good.

- Okay. We're good?

- Yeah.

All right, cool.

All right. Uh, the big

day is finally here.

I think I'm a little bit nervous.

Since we've been trying to tie

the knot forever but never could.

But uh

we've been through our ups

and downs, like every relationship.

And I've supported her,

she's supported me.

And now we're going to support

each other as husband and wife.

Come in.

Hey. You're in your wedding dress.

I'm not supposed to see

you in your wedding dress.

It's bad luck.

Oh well, that's not a

South African superstition.

So you can relax.

Can I please speak to you?

- Can you give us the room?

- Yeah.

I tried. I gave you chances.

Over and over and over

and over again, Bheka.

- Just once. Just...

- You still don't see me...

- No.

- Just...

- So give us a chance.

- And now I'm done.

- Come on. Why aren't you listening to me?

- When I woke up this morning

- I knew I couldn't.

- Give us a f*cking chance!

I tried to push through the doubt

but the closer we got to the ceremony,

the harder it became for me to

justify why I would marry this man.

You know, there are so many times that a

woman can be told that she's not beautiful

before she starts to believe it herself.

And when you believe it,

you start to think that the person

you're with is doing you a favor

by being with you.

But what you need to realize

is that no one who is

secure within themselves

will make anyone else feel

insecure about themselves.

You see, insecurity is a contagion

that has no known vaccine.

And those who suffer from it

will always try to infect

others with their virus.

So if the only way your Prince

Charming can be with you

is by convincing you

that you're not a princess,

then pause and ask yourself this question,

"Is he really a prince?"

"Or is he something much less?"

I've got great news.

I thought you would've called, babe.

No, you don't call with great news.

You say it face to face.

Okay, what is it?

I left her.

- Wow, Babe.

- Yeah.

And now I can marry you.

Oh my gosh.

I'm so happy.

I'm so happy, baby.

Finally, just me and you,

like we've always wanted.

Baby?

Where is he?

Where is who?

The guy you're f*cking, where is he?

What?

Baby, come on.

There's nobody here,

it's just me and you...

Whoever is in this flat

I want you to come out of

where you are hiding right now!

Baby, what are you doing?

- Where is he?

- There's nobody here.

- In the bathroom? Where?

- Bheka.

In the wardrobe?

Under this bed? Where the f*ck is he!?

Okay. Please

Please, listen to me.

You're scaring me, baby.

I'm going to give you five seconds!

And if you don't come out of

where you are, I will look for you

and I will find you!

And when I do, I will f*cking k*ll you!

Bheka.

- There's nobody here, babe.

- Five!

- Calm down, please.

- Four!

Please don't do this, baby.

- Three!

- Okay.

I didn't know.

No disrespect, my man.

I am not your f*cking man.

Get the f*ck out of here.

- This is my flat, Bheka.

- Sorry, sir.

Who pays the rent?

Look, baby, I

I'm so sorry.

Really, I

Baby?

Baby?

Listen to me, okay?

Let's talk about this.

Look at me. I don't love him.

Okay? I don't love him.

I love you. I want to be with you, okay?

I met him at the gym and we

just work out together sometimes.

I've been begging you to come

to the gym with me but you

Shut the f*ck up!

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry, please.

Bheka.

Please don't leave.

Please don't.

Okay, will you will you call

me at least so we can talk?

- We need to talk, babe.

- No, I will not call you.

Okay. You can send me

some airtime and I can I can call you.

So So

Bheka.

f*ck!

f*ck!

I moved out.

He said that I should stay but

the spirit kept reminding

me that this house

will never be a home.

Thank you for coming, Taki.

This is where I first

fell in love with art.

Art was the place I felt safe.

The place I felt peace.

It was then that I also realized that

I'm incapable of falling in love

without first feeling

safe.

You know

I dated this girl half a year

post the human apocalypse.

And one of the reasons we

ended up dating was because

she was my friend during the Marie era.

It felt like every time I was

sharing the sh*t that

Marie put me through, she was just

taking notes and

marking down all my weak points.

I say this because

you know how I feel for you.

I've made that abundantly clear.

You know my relationship with pain.

I did this because at no

point did I think you'd use

this information as intel to

conduct a f*cking strike on me.

I didn't f*cking strike you.

You said that we needed

to process everything

and once we had processed

everything, we would reconvene.

I did my processes and when

I came back to reconvene,

there was no one to reconvene with.

Because you blocked me.

I didn't block you to block you.

Then you blocked me for what, Tumi?

I blocked you because I needed time.

But why didn't you just say that?

I would have understood.

Would you, though?

Isn't "let's not talk indefinitely"

a concept that you're a

little too stubborn to grasp?

Why wouldn't you

want to talk indefinitely?

Other than your response

illustrating my previous point,

it illustrates another one.

You get to make your side of this decision

based on the criteria of me as a partner.

And I get to do the same of you.

However, and more importantly,

I have to consider the

criteria of that of a mother.

So if that process of considering

what's best for my child

takes an indefinite

amount of time then so be it.

I'm prepared to lose a partner over it.

But you didn't even give me a chance.

Taki

the chances that we

get in life are a testament

to the lives that we live.

You cannot spend the majority

of your adult life being a playboy

and then suddenly expect that I'm

going to take a chance on you on what?

The hope that suddenly

overnight change is an actual thing.

It's been a little over three months now.

I'm not going to lie and say

that it's been smooth sailing.

Change is difficult.

Even positive change.

But it's always important to remember

that during those sleepless nights,

when it feels like there's something

pressing down on your soul.

It's always important

to remember that this

this is good pain.

And do you see how this

you and me thing might

not be a good idea anymore?

I do.

Because once you let go

of something destructive

the pain that you have left over

is called recovery.

I had to apologize to the um

our Dream Day people. I mean, production.

However, as bad as I felt

It

It was a wake-up call.

I was caught up in trying to have this

perfect wedding

not realizing that I was about to

walk into a nightmare of a marriage.

See a wedding is

that's a one-day event.

You can't build your life around one day.

But a marriage on the other hand.

Now that's that's a commitment you make.

Using your life as collateral.

And I'm so tired of

seeing marriage as this

race.

You get engaged in 9.58 seconds and

then you get a cash prize that comes with

getting a ring on it.

That's imagination.

See in life... In real life

you get called to be real.

So

I don't know. I

I don't know when I'll get married.

I know I do want to get married.

One day.

I just don't know the details of it.

And what he'll look like or

where he'll be from.

I just know that he will be kind.

Because kindness is the only

thing I'm willing to accept now.

I think it was

Paolo Coelho who said...

No, it was Khalil.

One of them said this.

"And God said"

"Love your enemy."

"And so I obeyed."

"And loved myself."