The Whale Caller (2016) - full transcript
Since childhood, the Whale Caller has been calling the whales to Hermanus Cove. Now he seems more in love with a whale he named Sharisha than with the woman who loves him, Saluni.
[African singing]
*
[African singing]
*
[horn blowing]
[applause]
[horn blowing]
[horn blowing]
*
*
*
[low chatter]
* I'm the woman for you, *
* You're the man for me, *
* Together baby,
* Baby take a chance,
She's going to be a
big international star.
Ah, fuck off, man!
Yeah, you're right,
my baby.
Yeah.
I'm gonna be a star.
Hey, what's a love...
Hey, fuck off, man!
[Indistinct cursing]
Yeah, no man, no man,
I'm not a busman.
I'm a Malay.
[Laughter]
I actually don't even care
what you people think, man.
Me?
I'm gonna be a star.
I'm gonna chase my dream
until I catch it.
The same way you chased
that silly whale caller
that dances with the whales.
[Laughter]
[cursing]
* You're the man for me, *
* I'm the woman for you, *
* You're the man, *
* Being together baby,
* We can be a family...
[urinating]
* I'm the woman *
Oof.
[Horn blowing]
* I'm the woman for you, *
* You're the man for me, *
* Together baby,
* We can be a family,
* Open up your heart,
* Baby give us a chance,
* Together baby,
* We can have
a hot romance, *
[giggling]
Hey! Fuck!
Ah, fuck off, man!
She's a fucking coward,
fuck off!
[Horn blowing]
[horn blowing]
Hey, sexy!
I don't even want you
anymore.
I'm gonna be a star.
[Continues blowing horn]
Hey, fuck off!
Go keep your eyes
on your fish!
[Muttering]
* Did you hear the news
on the radio today? *
* People have agreed to give
their love away, *
* I can't wait to be there
in line, I don't know... *
Angels?
* Politicians have agreed
to honour- *
Where are you?
* Think I'm down to listen
to what the people say, *
* I can't wait to be there
in line, *
* I don't know...
You can come out now, ok?
I'm gonna take you home.
You know?
It's very, very...
even for little angels like you.
Girls? You know, it's not nice
to disrespect your elders,
do you hear me?
Come now, men.
You're hurting my feelings.
[Sobbing]
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, auntie.
We didn't mean to.
[Screams]
[laughing]
What are your names?
I'm Sara and she's Sarki
No, she's Sara
and I'm Sachi.
That's what I said,
didn't I?
No.
You're Sachi and I'm Sara.
No, I know what.
You Ilchi and you Bilchi.
[Laughs]
So, my name is Aunty Saluni.
Ok.
You girls have such
beautiful voices.
Can you sing some more
for me?
Ok.
Ok.
[Humming]
We want to show
you our room.
I'd love to come and see.
[Giggling]
[laughing]
Mama! Papa!
Hello, Sara. Sachi.
Who are you?
What you doing
with my girls?
I found them wandering
in the forest alone
and I thought it was unsafe
so I decided to bring them home
and give them a bath.
[Laughing]
I hope you don't mind.
That's alright.
How kind of you.
Um...
Aunty Saluni.
How kind of you, Saluni.
(Both): Aunty Saluni.
Ah, shush you two.
How kind of you to take so much
interest in our girls.
My pleasure.
[Laughing]
Can I look after the girls
sometimes when I'm not busy?
That'd be very nice.
But we can't afford to pay you.
Maybe the occasional
bottle of wine.
You know, sometimes that's all
they pay us on the vineyards.
It'll be ok.
Yeah?
Ok.
Whoopsie daisy!
I thought today
I should be nice.
What do I do with these?
Well, you can marinate them
overnight and roast them.
It's a peace offering, man.
You can't do this to me!
I'm in love, child.
[Lively music plays]
***
[lively music plays]
***
[lively music plays]
***
You can skulk away
all you want,
but you can't hide
from the Lord.
Amen!
I don't have to hide from you,
Peter LaRou.
Do you think your father
and your mother,
God bless their soul,
would have wanted you
to turn your back away
from the church?
I think they would
not be proud.
Leave my parents alone!
Do you hear me?
Leave my parents alone!
Shame.
The whales have stolen
his soul.
All he has now is blowing
his horn.
For all, instead
of the Lord.
[Crowd cheering]
Yea, Lord some have pity,
man!
And now, who is this woman
who blasphemes
against the messenger
of the word?
Say, it's Saluni...
[cheering]
No God-fearing christian
must attend this play.
So what's this play about,
pastor?
Ah, sis, it is about a sailor
who is secretively in love
with his captain.
It is against the law
to judge... you know.
Yeah, it's against the law!
[Crowd protests]
The movie star is also a lawyer
and a politician.
[Crowd laughs]
God must have mercy
on your soul, my child.
I am not your child.
And there is nothing wrong
with my soul, pastor.
Oh.
Sis, you can walk away all you
want but let me tell you that
no... shall enter the kingdom
of God.
[Cheering]
Ok, woah, woah,
woah, woah, woah.
Wait, wait.
Listen, we gonna be
here tomorrow,
we'll be here the next day,
we're gonna be here
for the next five days.
So just- come on, get here
early, bring your friends,
bring your families,
we'll record your jokes,
your stories,
your songs,
we'll play it to the whole
of Hermanus.
Come back tomorrow.
Come on, bring your friends.
Children like to wander around.
It's dangerous out there.
What can we do?
Children get bored.
The bored twins.
Your girls have
beautiful voices.
Ah, thank you.
As fate would have it,
there's a festival happening
in town.
There's a radio man there,
he's gonna be there for
the next five days recording.
Yeah?
There's this boy called Lunga.
He sings for the tourists.
He makes a lot of money.
Is that what you want,
Saluni?
You want to make money
off my children?
No.
No, I don't want their money.
I just want to record
with them.
You've heard about those
children that become stars
and what they can do
for their parents.
No, Saluni.
I don't want them
to go to town
and I don't want them to record.
But you won't have to work
on the farms anymore.
Don't look at me.
You're not the first one to say
that we must record them.
I tried to reason with her-
I forbid it.
Saluni, I forbid it.
They will steal my
children's voices.
Fuck, aye...
"Those machines are gonna steal
my daughter's voices!"
Saluni?
Hello?
You don't need them.
Why don't you do it yourself?
Come on, Saluni.
Sing for us another song.
[Chattering in agreement]
What, do I look like
a fucking juke box?
Fuckin' hell.
Just a little one, then.
Walter.
[Bang]
Get me another drink.
Sure, it'll make
you feel better.
Come on, girls!
Where are you?
I'm not in the mood for silly
hide-and-seek games today.
Girls?
(Both): Aunty Saluni.
What happened?
Mama won't let us go to the
Whale Call festival with you.
[Giggling]
See? I found you this time.
These are my angels,
Sara and Sachi.
No, I'm Sara.
She's Sachi.
No, she's Sachi.
I'm Sara.
I just call them
the Bored Twins.
Just took them
to the festival.
Did you girls like it?
Yes.
Aunty, we bored.
We bored, Aunty. We bored.
The Bored Twins.
Let's go!
[Yelps]
[hymn singing]
[praying]
[blowing horn]
No. They can't have gone.
They can't have gone.
Saluni.
Sorry.
I thought you were
someone else.
Aye, Saluni.
Fuck off.
Hey.
Why did you disappear?
Fuck man!
Can't a lady take a nap without
being rudely awakened?
Fuck.
Vanilla, please.
Mmm.
So now you found me what
you gonna do about it?
I don't know.
I was off to some place
on some business.
I didn't think I would find
you here.
So what happened to you?
Since when do you care?
Just wondering.
Nothing happened.
I must go now.
You miss them, don't you?
Yeah.
Well, you know, I don't know
what you see in them.
They look stupid to me, man.
They are beautiful.
Beautiful?
They have all those ugly warts
on their faces.
Hey, they're not warts.
They are callosities, and-
and they are beautiful.
Those southern rides are
graceful and they are big.
Now, if it was the blue whale,
that I could respect.
How would you know
about the blue whales?
I'm sure you've never
seen one.
They never come close
to the shore.
I know that it's the largest
mammal on earth.
That I know.
These other whales of yours,
they're just toys, man.
They don't tickle my fanny.
[Laughs]
I mean "fancy"!
[Laughing]
If you could be a whale,
would you be the blue whale?
[Giggling]
Are you going to tell us
a bedtime story,
Aunty Saluni?
Oooh, yeah!
Good idea.
Ok, let's get inside.
And cuddle up.
Nice and warm?
Right.
Once upon a time-
Wait. We must first put out
the lights.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
We're not going to put out
the light, ok?
But mama says you must save
on electricity.
Ok, well I've got my candle
so get my candle.
Why must we have
the candle on?
The story will be nice.
The story won't be scary.
Because Aunty Saluni is afraid
of the dark, ok?
[Giggling]
What's so funny?
It's not a laughing matter.
Come, get back
to that story now.
Ok.
Once upon a time-
We don't know any adult
who's afraid of the dark.
You know, you girls are
still too young to understand
the world. It's not
what it pretends to be.
In a land far, far away,
there lived a little girl
called Selena,
and she lived in a valley
that was covered with trees
that were made of
pink candy floss.
[Coughing]
You're not doing to badly
at this finding business, eh?
I wasn't looking for you
this time.
No.
I was looking for fronds
to shape into my catapult.
Oh yes, for your big fish
that's coming
from the southern seas.
Sharisha is not a fish.
You gave it a name?
A whale is not a fish.
Ach, man, it's no need to
get your brookies into a knot.
I wouldn't lose any sleep
over it.
I'm not losing any sleep.
[Groans]
What?
I got lice.
[Laughs]
Are you laughing at
my lice?
Listen here.
I'll have you know I don't
go walking around
like this normally.
I am a lady.
I never said a thing.
Just so you know.
I think I can help.
Do you think I'm crazy?
Try me.
Ta-dah!
If you think you can have
your way with me
you can forget it
because I am a lady.
My way?
I didn't invite
you to move in,
I just said bring something
to change
so we can get rid of
your lice.
Yeah, well that's what
they all say, you know.
And then they're all
over you like a rash.
[Laughs]
You're the first person
to come in here, Saluni.
Well, I am most honoured.
It's modest, but...
it's mine.
Who's this?
My mother.
You were cute, hey?
Your parents look lovely.
Where are they?
I don't talk about that.
But they're on your wall.
They deserted me.
Just like that?
Just like that.
People always leave.
Whales don't.
They leave.
They go back to
the southern seas.
But they come back.
Like clockwork.
Whales always come back.
What happened?
Let's deal with the lice.
It stinks!
It's sheep dip.
What?
Sheep dip.
It won't kill you but
it will kill the lice.
I'll also use it to wash
your clothes.
You can get in the bath.
You can help me with my strap
if you want.
No, I think I should leave.
I'm just joking, man.
Fuck! It burns!
It's for the best.
Do you want to come help me
wash my back?
It will kill the vermin feeding
on your body.
You're shy, hey?
I like that in a man.
[Screaming]
What the shit
are you doing, man?!
I'm sorry, I wasn't trying
to do anything.
Never do that again!
Switch on the light!
I don't sleep in the dark.
I don't walk in the dark,
I don't do anything in the dark,
do you understand me?
I'm sorry.
*
*
*
*
*
Look, I'm- I'm not too sure
that we can afford the food
in this place.
Oh, no, baby.
We came to window eat.
That means we eat
with our eyes.
Hey, listen.
I'm gonna teach you how, ok?
Look.
Look, look, look.
Now, you can actually taste
the food with your eyes, ok?
All you have to do is watch
how they chew.
Mmmhmm.
And then see the enjoyment
on their faces.
Now, imagine the spicy flavours
in their mouth.
Mmm.
When you can believe it-
Yeah.
You can taste it.
Should we start with the sushi?
The raw fish?
No, no, no.
That's not my taste.
Fish is only good for me when it
is covered with spicy butter,
and fried with a lot of oil
and served with
nice golden chips.
May I welcome you to the best
restaurant in South Africa?
Oh, yes.
We beat the top restaurants in
Cape Town and Johannesburg.
No thanks.
Ah.
We have meat, pasta,
and sushi.
We are just looking.
You know window shopping, sir?
Now, we're just window eating.
If you don't mind,
we just want to look.
Of course I mind.
You will make my
customers nervous
by watching them like that.
Please, just go and be
spectators somewhere else.
Hey, fuck you very much!
[Laughs]
If I see you here again,
you vagrants,
I will call the police!
Yeah, fuck you!
[Laughing]
Didn't all that dining make you
hungry for something?
I got hungry for real food.
[Laughs]
I mean like when men and women
go out to dine,
it's like foreplay.
[Sighs]
I'm sick of your nonsense,
man.
What have I done now?
It's what you haven't done
that's the problem.
What haven't I done?
Tonight I'm gonna make you
scream for your mother.
You do wanna scream for your
mother, don't you, hey?
Come on.
Take me.
Let me hear you scream
for your mother.
[Whispers]
I can't.
I'm sorry.
[Whale calling]
[singing]
***
[singing]
***
[singing]
***
Look at Lunga.
Who's Lunga?
Well, you would know who he is,
he's here twice a week,
if you weren't so busy
with your fish.
[Yelling angrily]
[clapping]
[yelling angrily]
Come here, Lunga!
Come here, baby.
Come here, come here,
come here.
You know what?
He's not gonna bother you,
ok?
[Yelling angrily]
Are you ok?
Here.
I got this for you.
For me?
That's so sweet.
But you know what?
I don't take a drink anymore.
That man doesn't like it.
Baby, you look
after yourself, ok?
You be good, alright?
It's ok to cry, man.
You really are good with these
children who sing, eh?
First it was the Bored Twins
and now...
this Lunga boy.
Yeah, you know, the twins,
they have voices of angels.
But Lunga, his voice
is of the earth.
The voice of a boy who has
to come twice a week
and on public holidays
to sing for his supper.
[Yelps]
Saluni!
Hey!
[Gasping]
[laughing]
What you laughing for, man?
It's not funny!
You're beautiful.
What?
You said I was beautiful.
You laugh.
You laughed first.
You never laugh.
I always laugh.
You brought the laughter
into my life.
[Laughing]
Ah, come here!
Let's go.
When will you ever forget?
Forget what?
You have that faraway look
in your eyes.
I worry that out there you
imagine your big fish
jumping out of the ocean,
doing all sorts of cool things
for you.
Hey, Sal, you're not searching
my mind. No.
It's the reason we haven't done
anything meaningful for months.
Looks like rain.
Smells like rain.
[Thunder claps]
[screams]
[gasping]
[thunder claps]
Nothing's going to happen
to you, ok?
Tonight.
I'm really gonna make you scream
for your mother.
[Laughs]
No!
[Laughing]
[moaning]
[thunder rolls]
[groaning]
Mmm.
My blue whale.
Oh, we had to wait all that time
for the rain and the thunder.
Oooh.
[Giggles]
I bathed in you.
Your waters of life
and mine mixed.
And our souls were cleansed.
It was a wonderful cleansing
ceremony, Saluni.
[Giggles]
It was sex, man.
It was sex, pure and simple.
You know what?
You make it sound so crude.
It was something sacred.
Well, it's something you
can't do with that fish.
[Laughs]
You don't know that,
Saluni.
You do not know that.
*
*
*
Shew.
You have a lot of energy
after last night.
I have to keep up with you.
I have to be fit.
Ugh.
I'm famished.
Sis!
Saluni, why didn't you cook?
Because I wasn't hungry.
Whenever you come home
there is food.
I don't cook
because I am hungry.
Man, relax. It's only food.
If I cooked only
because I'm hungry
there would be no food
in this house.
Listen, I'm not your mother,
ok?
That's not why you
brought me here.
No, no!
No, no, no!
I didn't bring you here at all,
you brought yourself!
I'm not your mate, ok?
Well, I cook for you
but I'm also not your mate.
[Snorts]
Stop nit-picking, man.
Stressing yourself out.
Saluni, I cook
because I care for you.
And I'm not cooking for you
because I am your servant.
And I would expect you
to return that caring.
[Pots banging]
[whales calling outside]
They're back!
They're back!
They're back!
Saluni.
Saluni!
How could you sleep
through all this?
They're back!
The whales are back!
They're back!
They're back!
[Blowing horn]
[blowing horn]
Yes! Yes!
[Yelling indistinctly]
Yes!
Yeah, woman!
[Singing]
Yes!
[Laughing]
[singing]
Yes!
[Laughing]
Girls?
Aunty Saluni is here!
Girls?
[Knocking]
Hello?
Girls?
Girls?
You're burning up.
Where were you?
You left us.
You don't care about us
anymore, Aunty.
You don't love us anymore.
That's not true.
Aunty Saluni, well, Aunty
Saluni's been a little busy.
It's different now.
One day when you're big
you'll understand.
And I think it's 'cause papa
no longer pays you
in bottles of wine.
That's nonsense.
Aunty Saluni doesn't even take
a drink anymore.
And even when I did,
I didn't come and visit you
for the bottles of wine.
Alright, come girls.
Take a deep breath, ok?
There you go.
Aaah!
Aunty!
It's too hot in here.
It's burning us!
The steam is burning us!
Ok, just relax,
otherwise you're really going
to burn.
Breathe it all in
and then you're gonna sweat
that fever out.
I promise you you're gonna
feel better tomorrow.
Very kind of you.
Ok girls, make some space.
I'm coming in.
[Screams]
What the-?
Here, have a snake,
Aunty.
No, man.
You can't do that to me!
You almost gave me
a heart attack!
Sorry, Aunty.
You can't do that to
a love child, girls.
(Both): What's a love child?
What's a love child?
Me.
It's me.
I was conceived on a windy day
by a beautiful woman.
Yeah.
My mother was the most
beautiful woman ever.
She was in love
with a married man.
That's how I was born.
He was a rich, old,
married man.
He said he loved
my mother
but he wouldn't leave
his ugly wife.
My mother pined
for his love.
Love began to eat at her
until she was only bones.
She became a walking
skeleton.
And troubadours-
you girls know what
troubadours is?
Troubadours used to
write about her love.
Then, one day, those bones just
fell in a heap on the ground.
You know?
My aunties used to tell me
every day to be proud
because I was a love child.
I'm a bloody love child, man.
And whether you want
to listen or not,
you've gotta treat me
with care.
I'm a love child.
And that is what
a love child is.
That is what a
love child is.
[Blowing horn]
That's my girl!
Yes!
[Laughing]
[blowing horn]
[cheering]
[muttering indistinctly]
Yeow!
[Laughing]
Stop this nonsense.
Stop this rubbish
with this fucking fish!
Come home.
You've shamed yourself
and you've shamed me!
You tired from all your
dirty dancing with that fish?
I forbid you to see
her again.
If he wants to go back to
the way things were, please.
Please, promise me.
Promise me you'll leave her.
Please.
Or I'll leave.
I'm waiting.
Waiting for what?
[Sobbing]
[slams door]
I knew I'd find you here.
You're looking for me? Huh?
For what?
Huh?
Why are you looking for me?
Stop drinking.
You're overdoing this, Saluni.
Look at you now.
Fuck off, man.
Go back to your fuckin' fish!
Fuck off!
Get the fuck outta here!
Go dance with your fucking
fish, man!
You got your fish!
I've got my bottle!
Saluni, the radio man is back.
He's at the Windsor Hotel.
He's looking for people
to record.
I'm adding my lines
to the three tenors.
Radio man's back?
Yeah, he's back
to record choirs.
He set up a studio
at the hotel.
Is he gonna record your voice?
Why not?
You know what?
I'm also gonna be a star.
Let's get the fuck outta here.
Aunty, please.
You're walking too fast.
Come.
Please, aunty,
you're walking too fast.
Listen girls, listen to me.
This is for your own good,
ok?
We gonna be stars.
Yeah.
Come.
Ok, just wait.
Hang on a sec.
And... recording.
* Did you hear the news
on the radio today? *
* People have agreed to give
their love away, *
* I can't wait to be there
in line, *
* aye, no, no,
* No, no, no,
* Doo-be-doo-be-doo-be-doo
* Do-do-do-do-do
[giggles]
Ok. Yes.
Whew!
Hoo-ah.
Look at that, look at that.
Woah, that's sensational.
You guys rock.
Whew.
Mmm.
I think I'm gonna cut a demo.
What's a demo?
Um, a demo is a CD,
you see?
Now, I take that CD and maybe
a record producer
will want to sign you up
and give you a contract
and if he gives you
a contract
he might give you
a lucrative deal
and, you see, 'cause I'm hip
and I dig you guys,
I'm gonna be your agent
and your manager.
And we gonna have Saluni and
the Bored Twins: a Magical Trio.
[Squeals]
What did I say?
What did I say, girls?
But please, girls, not a word
to your mother, ok?
Give me a couple of days,
alright?
'Cause I just gotta go in
and I'll come back
with a couple of CDs.
Ok, but when do you think you're
gonna be back with the CD?
Because their mother doesn't
want them to record
and I think that if she hears
their voices
she'll change her mind.
Bookie, it takes you 20 minutes
to sing a song.
It takes me 20 hours to mix and
to master it
so give me a break here.
I'll come as quickly
as I can.
Ok, but just don't
take too long.
Thank you, anyway.
Thank you.
Bye.
[Singing over bar chatter]
[singing over bar chatter]
[singing over jazz music]
[singing over jazz music]
[applause]
[laughing]
I'm gonna be a star, baby!
I am gonna be a mega star!
Oh, I'm gonna get
onto a jet plane
and I'm gonna captivate
audiences all over the world.
And you, you can come
with me if you want.
Even though you've
been betraying me
with that fish of yours.
I am gonna show you that
I've got a forgiving heart.
[Laughs]
I- I- I'll fly with you
in your jet plane just
like we window eat in those
restaurants, you know,
with all those delicacies.
Man, no!
It's not gonna be the same!
No, we only window eat
because we have to.
No, this time, baby,
we're not gonna be flying
on our imagination.
We're gonna be flying
for real!
We gonna get on a plane
from here to Johannesburg
and then from there we're gonna
fly to Dhakkar and-
and to Paris and to London
and- oh, baby,
we're gonna
go to Hollywood!
We're gonna take Hollywood
by storm!
Saluni and the Bored Twins.
And you know what?
The radio man, he's gonna
be our promoter
and he's gonna market us
and you, you...
what do you wanna be
in all of this, hey?
There's no airport
in Hermanus, Saluni.
So?
Well, then- then I'm gonna take
a limousine to Cape Town.
And we can fly from there!
Why do you have to be
so difficult, man?
Are you jealous of my fame?
No.
No, no, Saluni.
I'll wait for you here.
Do remember us little people
when you're up there
in the stars.
Oh, no, baby.
You're not little.
You're big and strong.
You're gonna be my man,
baby.
You'll keep my bed warm
when I come home at night
from Carnegie Hall,
after I've been singing,
I'll climb into a nice,
warm bed.
It's gonna be a good
arrangement.
You'll see.
You know what?
Don't worry with Sara
and Sachi,
the minute I hit the big time
I'm gonna send them
back home, ok?
Because I, baby, I'm gonna
be a solo act.
Me and my big backing band.
Oh.
* I'm the woman for you,
* You're the man for me,
* Together baby,
* We can be a family.
You sure will be something.
You sure will be.
[Laughing]
Take me in your arms
and fuck me!
No, no, no.
It's daylight, Saluni.
Who cares, man?
Who says madness is only
for the night, hey?
[Laughing]
You leave him alone,
you stupid fish!
He's mine!
[Slap]
There!
Fucking fish.
Bitch!
Saluni, the mentholated spirit
I use to clean my clothes
is gone.
Ugh, man.
Don't tell me you drank it.
It's just spirits, man.
So how am I going
to clean my clothes?
I will buy you new clothes.
I'm a star now.
A celebrity.
See? I got myself a whole
new wardrobe.
I'm going to miss you when
you are a big star.
Man, you stress too much.
Stop getting so moody.
I have to go to Hollywood
without you first
to get settled.
You can't just drag a man
to Hollywood
without getting settled first.
And besides, I wouldn't
leave you.
You're my blue whale.
[Laughs]
Saluni.
Mmm?
The coat.
Don't you think you should
give it a rest?
I can imagine how much
you're sweating under it.
You know some poor animal
had to die for you
to look this beautiful.
You know, animals die every day.
We eat them, we wear them
as shoes.
He has returned, Aunt Saluni.
The radio man is back.
Did he bring the CDs?
Yes, he has brought some CDs
and he wants to see you.
Yes!
Wooo!
He's at a hotel
at seventh avenue.
Oh.
What did I tell you, hey?
What did I say?
You thought he wasn't gonna
come back
because you thought
he was a scam.
I never said anything
of the sort.
You didn't say it
but you thought it.
I could see it all
over your face.
And now the radio man wants
to see me at a hotel.
What do you say about that?
Well, I say go for it.
In fact, I'm coming
with you to the hotel.
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
I've got a brilliant idea.
Come, come!
What? What?
You still don't wanna tell me
what the surprise is?
They didn't tell me,
either, man.
They said it'll be good
for us.
We'll find out now
at the hotel.
I want the twins to go
with us.
What kind of surprise
is that?
I don't know.
You know I don't like surprises.
Hi.
Hallelujah.
Hi!
Ta-dah!
Come, come.
Wait, uh... uh, Saluni, uh...
where are the twins?
Oh, I brought their parents.
I thought that maybe
you could tell us
about how we're gonna be
big stars.
No!
I need the twins, now!
Chillax.
Just play us the CD.
Don't tell me to relax.
Oh, fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.
Mind your language, there.
There are ladies in here.
It doesn't work.
I don't understand it,
I don't get it,
but it doesn't work.
[Plays jumbled recording]
Ok.
Did you know about this?
Uh-uh.
I only know this today.
These people,
they deceived us.
No.
I- I- when I first heard it,
it was psychedelic.
And, uh, then this happened.
But the thing is I came
here today
so that I could take Saluni
and the Bored Twins
to a state of the art recording
studio down in Cape Town.
My goodness.
Yeah.
They're not going
to Cape Town.
And they're not recording
their voices again, ever.
Please don't do this
to your girls.
I don't want to have anything
to do with you.
You- you don't talk to me
and you leave my girls alone!
Fine.
Fine!
Keep them then,
I don't need them.
I'm going to Cape Town, and
I'm going to be a solo act.
No, you're not, darling.
The thing was, it was Saluni
and the Bored Twins.
No Bored Twins, no deal.
I really don't know
what happened.
Please, I need
those girls today.
The machine stole
their voices.
You nearly ruined my girls.
Come.
Go!
Go!
Huh?
She can sing, Mr. Radio Man.
She's got a wonderful voice.
I can.
Please, I can be a solo act.
Who's the little person?
No, you can't be a solo act.
Let me tell you something.
You've got the kind of voice
that I can find in any bar
or shebeen anywhere
in this country.
I can sing with her.
I also have a good voice.
Let me make this clear.
It was Saluni and
the Bored Twins,
but I was going to dump you,
anyway,
because the Bored Twins
have a chance
at an international career
but you have a shit voice.
And I don't want your shit voice
messing up their angelic sound.
Is that clear?
Who's this guy?
[Thud]
Let's go! Let's go!
I'm sorry, I had to do it.
I hate violence.
I'm not the fighting type.
Arrogant bastard.
He can't talk to you like that.
No.
No.
Come- come, let's go.
Let's keep going.
Come, let's keep-
Don't touch me!
Stay with me.
Don't leave.
Now that your fish is back
you treat me like rubbish.
No, no, no, Saluni.
I'm not treating you
like rubbish, it's just...
I hope something bad happens
to that fish.
One day she's gonna
end up
on someone's dinner plate
in Japan
and the world's gonna be
a better place.
[Whale calling]
Sharisha!
No.
No.
They're raping her.
They're raping her,
the bastards.
Get away from her!
Get away from her!
You rapists!
[Yelling indistinctly]
Oh, baby.
Sharisha!
Sharisha!
[Yelling]
[whale calling]
*
*
Don't do that.
Those glasses are meant to
protect us from going blind.
Woah.
You're in a war-like mood today.
Why are you challenging-
Don't touch me.
You will go blind, Saluni.
[Laughing]
I am blind.
I'm blind.
Why did you do that?
Why did you do that, Saluni?
Because there's nothing left
to see anymore.
Because the sun, the moon,
and the stars betrayed me.
It's hot, Saluni.
You don't need that coat.
I've told you before, man.
I know how to prepare.
You're leaving.
You don't need a candle,
you are blind, Saluni.
Saluni, you don't have
to go.
This- this is your home.
This is your home.
There's nothing left
for me in Hermanus.
Everyone has abused me.
The whales, the Bored Twins'
mother.
Even you.
We- we've- we've had our good
times, too, haven't we?
I'm going.
You'll be better off without me.
On a journey?
She's gone blind,
and I'm going to be helping her
on the road.
Where to?
On a journey of no destination.
[Sighs]
So you are helping
people now?
What happened to the whales?
Saluni, this is madness.
A journey without a destination?
Come, let's go.
We must sleep.
We have a long way to go.
Like I was saying... in
blindness one is able to reach
into the depths of one's soul
to recover
all of the beautiful things
that one once knew
in past existences.
How would you know?
You have never been blind.
Well, now that I've met
the beautiful Saluni,
I'm considering blindness
for myself and all of my sheep.
Did you switch off the light?
I can feel the darkness.
If the beautiful lady needs
the light,
the beautiful lady
will have the light.
She's blind, for crying
out loud.
I will read for you,
beautiful lady.
I will read for you
from the holy book.
The song of Solomon.
The song of songs.
"Behold, my love.
You are fair, my love.
Behold, you are fair.
You have dove's eyes
behind your veil.
Your hair is like a flock of
goats coming down mount Gilead.
No. No.
No.
This walking backwards of yours
is slowing us down.
It breaks up the monotony
of the road.
You haven't brushed
your teeth.
Why must I brush my teeth?
I'm not gonna see anybody.
You will be seeing me.
Did you brush your teeth
when you were dirty dancing
with the fish?
Hey, man.
Hey, son!
Son!
Son, man!
Where were you?
I brought you something
to drink.
Every time you leave
I think you're going
to return to your fish.
Saluni, I am not with Sharisha.
I am here taking care of you.
[Scoffs]
Doesn't matter.
That fish is always here getting
in the way of our love.
I'm tired of your insecurities.
Read me something
from the song of songs?
Oh please, not again.
You're just jealous because
that shepherd saw something
beautiful in me.
Jealous of the country bumpkin?
Well, he read to me.
Ok, fine.
How beautiful are your feet
in sandals,
oh princess's daughter?
The curves of your thighs
are like jewels.
The work of the hands
of a master craftsman.
Your navel is like a goblet.
It lacks no blended beverage.
Your waist is like a heap
of wheat, suckled with lilies.
Your two breasts
are like two fawns.
Twins.
Of a gazelle.
Your neck is
like an ivory tower.
Your eyes are like pools of-
That's really beautiful.
Did you steal his bible
from him?
I didn't his bible.
Then how do you know it
word for word?
I know the bible, Saluni.
I grew up in the Church
of the Sacred Kelp Horn.
I never knew you were
so romantic.
There's a lot you don't know
about me.
[Gasps]
You put out the light?
No, Saluni.
It's just your imagination.
I thought, in blindness,
I could travel the world
without fear of darkness.
In blindness, I thought
there's no light,
and if there's no light
there's no darkness.
But I was wrong.
My body still feels
the darkness.
There's a car.
How do you know, Saluni?
I can see the light.
But the sky is dark.
Where have the stars gone?
We're back in Hermanus?
Fucking liar.
You knew all along you
were leading me back here.
Your fish.
You lied to me.
You lied to me
about my candle.
You lied to me!
I trusted you
and you lied to me!
You're a fucking liar!
You're a dirty fucking
bloody liar!
All for your fucking fish!
I gave up my shit for you!
For you!
And for what, huh?
For what?
So you can turn your fucking
back on me?
Talk to me!
Fine.
Don't talk to me for the rest
of your fucking life.
I don't care.
Suits me.
Oh, suits me!
Suits you, yeah.
Suits you, because
you know what?
You don't care.
You never did.
Oh, I cared, Saluni.
I care, Saluni.
All you care for
is your fucking fish.
Your fucking Sharisha!
Oh, I care!
Why do you think I've-
I've spent fucking months
on the road with you!
Why didn't you ever say
you love me anymore?
Why don't you ever tell me
I'm beautiful?
How can I say you're beautiful
when you are so ugly?
To me!
No man has ever told me
that before.
No man!
[Sobbing]
[blowing horn]
Come on.
Come. Come, Sharisha.
Sharisha! Sharisha!
[Blowing horn]
Sharisha! Sharisha!
Sharisha!
Sharisha!
[Singing together]
Aunty Saluni!
Aunty Saluni, are you ok?
Babies.
We missed you, Aunty Saluni.
Where were you?
[Blowing horn]
Ah, you're here,
my love.
You're here, my love.
[Whale groaning]
Help! Help! Help!
Help! Help!
Please!
Please, people, help!
Please, help!
Help!
Please!
The whale has beached!
Please, help!
Help!
[Giggling]
We have done everything
we can...
[chatter]
Please, do something!
Do something!
Please, help us!
Please!
I told you.
Look. The tide.
The tide's coming in.
It's going to save him.
It wasn't the tide, daddy.
It was that man over there.
[Blowing horn]
[applause and cheering]
[gasping]
[screaming]
*
*
*
* Freedom from my mind,
* Is freedom from my soul
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
[African singing]
*
[horn blowing]
[applause]
[horn blowing]
[horn blowing]
*
*
*
[low chatter]
* I'm the woman for you, *
* You're the man for me, *
* Together baby,
* Baby take a chance,
She's going to be a
big international star.
Ah, fuck off, man!
Yeah, you're right,
my baby.
Yeah.
I'm gonna be a star.
Hey, what's a love...
Hey, fuck off, man!
[Indistinct cursing]
Yeah, no man, no man,
I'm not a busman.
I'm a Malay.
[Laughter]
I actually don't even care
what you people think, man.
Me?
I'm gonna be a star.
I'm gonna chase my dream
until I catch it.
The same way you chased
that silly whale caller
that dances with the whales.
[Laughter]
[cursing]
* You're the man for me, *
* I'm the woman for you, *
* You're the man, *
* Being together baby,
* We can be a family...
[urinating]
* I'm the woman *
Oof.
[Horn blowing]
* I'm the woman for you, *
* You're the man for me, *
* Together baby,
* We can be a family,
* Open up your heart,
* Baby give us a chance,
* Together baby,
* We can have
a hot romance, *
[giggling]
Hey! Fuck!
Ah, fuck off, man!
She's a fucking coward,
fuck off!
[Horn blowing]
[horn blowing]
Hey, sexy!
I don't even want you
anymore.
I'm gonna be a star.
[Continues blowing horn]
Hey, fuck off!
Go keep your eyes
on your fish!
[Muttering]
* Did you hear the news
on the radio today? *
* People have agreed to give
their love away, *
* I can't wait to be there
in line, I don't know... *
Angels?
* Politicians have agreed
to honour- *
Where are you?
* Think I'm down to listen
to what the people say, *
* I can't wait to be there
in line, *
* I don't know...
You can come out now, ok?
I'm gonna take you home.
You know?
It's very, very...
even for little angels like you.
Girls? You know, it's not nice
to disrespect your elders,
do you hear me?
Come now, men.
You're hurting my feelings.
[Sobbing]
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, auntie.
We didn't mean to.
[Screams]
[laughing]
What are your names?
I'm Sara and she's Sarki
No, she's Sara
and I'm Sachi.
That's what I said,
didn't I?
No.
You're Sachi and I'm Sara.
No, I know what.
You Ilchi and you Bilchi.
[Laughs]
So, my name is Aunty Saluni.
Ok.
You girls have such
beautiful voices.
Can you sing some more
for me?
Ok.
Ok.
[Humming]
We want to show
you our room.
I'd love to come and see.
[Giggling]
[laughing]
Mama! Papa!
Hello, Sara. Sachi.
Who are you?
What you doing
with my girls?
I found them wandering
in the forest alone
and I thought it was unsafe
so I decided to bring them home
and give them a bath.
[Laughing]
I hope you don't mind.
That's alright.
How kind of you.
Um...
Aunty Saluni.
How kind of you, Saluni.
(Both): Aunty Saluni.
Ah, shush you two.
How kind of you to take so much
interest in our girls.
My pleasure.
[Laughing]
Can I look after the girls
sometimes when I'm not busy?
That'd be very nice.
But we can't afford to pay you.
Maybe the occasional
bottle of wine.
You know, sometimes that's all
they pay us on the vineyards.
It'll be ok.
Yeah?
Ok.
Whoopsie daisy!
I thought today
I should be nice.
What do I do with these?
Well, you can marinate them
overnight and roast them.
It's a peace offering, man.
You can't do this to me!
I'm in love, child.
[Lively music plays]
***
[lively music plays]
***
[lively music plays]
***
You can skulk away
all you want,
but you can't hide
from the Lord.
Amen!
I don't have to hide from you,
Peter LaRou.
Do you think your father
and your mother,
God bless their soul,
would have wanted you
to turn your back away
from the church?
I think they would
not be proud.
Leave my parents alone!
Do you hear me?
Leave my parents alone!
Shame.
The whales have stolen
his soul.
All he has now is blowing
his horn.
For all, instead
of the Lord.
[Crowd cheering]
Yea, Lord some have pity,
man!
And now, who is this woman
who blasphemes
against the messenger
of the word?
Say, it's Saluni...
[cheering]
No God-fearing christian
must attend this play.
So what's this play about,
pastor?
Ah, sis, it is about a sailor
who is secretively in love
with his captain.
It is against the law
to judge... you know.
Yeah, it's against the law!
[Crowd protests]
The movie star is also a lawyer
and a politician.
[Crowd laughs]
God must have mercy
on your soul, my child.
I am not your child.
And there is nothing wrong
with my soul, pastor.
Oh.
Sis, you can walk away all you
want but let me tell you that
no... shall enter the kingdom
of God.
[Cheering]
Ok, woah, woah,
woah, woah, woah.
Wait, wait.
Listen, we gonna be
here tomorrow,
we'll be here the next day,
we're gonna be here
for the next five days.
So just- come on, get here
early, bring your friends,
bring your families,
we'll record your jokes,
your stories,
your songs,
we'll play it to the whole
of Hermanus.
Come back tomorrow.
Come on, bring your friends.
Children like to wander around.
It's dangerous out there.
What can we do?
Children get bored.
The bored twins.
Your girls have
beautiful voices.
Ah, thank you.
As fate would have it,
there's a festival happening
in town.
There's a radio man there,
he's gonna be there for
the next five days recording.
Yeah?
There's this boy called Lunga.
He sings for the tourists.
He makes a lot of money.
Is that what you want,
Saluni?
You want to make money
off my children?
No.
No, I don't want their money.
I just want to record
with them.
You've heard about those
children that become stars
and what they can do
for their parents.
No, Saluni.
I don't want them
to go to town
and I don't want them to record.
But you won't have to work
on the farms anymore.
Don't look at me.
You're not the first one to say
that we must record them.
I tried to reason with her-
I forbid it.
Saluni, I forbid it.
They will steal my
children's voices.
Fuck, aye...
"Those machines are gonna steal
my daughter's voices!"
Saluni?
Hello?
You don't need them.
Why don't you do it yourself?
Come on, Saluni.
Sing for us another song.
[Chattering in agreement]
What, do I look like
a fucking juke box?
Fuckin' hell.
Just a little one, then.
Walter.
[Bang]
Get me another drink.
Sure, it'll make
you feel better.
Come on, girls!
Where are you?
I'm not in the mood for silly
hide-and-seek games today.
Girls?
(Both): Aunty Saluni.
What happened?
Mama won't let us go to the
Whale Call festival with you.
[Giggling]
See? I found you this time.
These are my angels,
Sara and Sachi.
No, I'm Sara.
She's Sachi.
No, she's Sachi.
I'm Sara.
I just call them
the Bored Twins.
Just took them
to the festival.
Did you girls like it?
Yes.
Aunty, we bored.
We bored, Aunty. We bored.
The Bored Twins.
Let's go!
[Yelps]
[hymn singing]
[praying]
[blowing horn]
No. They can't have gone.
They can't have gone.
Saluni.
Sorry.
I thought you were
someone else.
Aye, Saluni.
Fuck off.
Hey.
Why did you disappear?
Fuck man!
Can't a lady take a nap without
being rudely awakened?
Fuck.
Vanilla, please.
Mmm.
So now you found me what
you gonna do about it?
I don't know.
I was off to some place
on some business.
I didn't think I would find
you here.
So what happened to you?
Since when do you care?
Just wondering.
Nothing happened.
I must go now.
You miss them, don't you?
Yeah.
Well, you know, I don't know
what you see in them.
They look stupid to me, man.
They are beautiful.
Beautiful?
They have all those ugly warts
on their faces.
Hey, they're not warts.
They are callosities, and-
and they are beautiful.
Those southern rides are
graceful and they are big.
Now, if it was the blue whale,
that I could respect.
How would you know
about the blue whales?
I'm sure you've never
seen one.
They never come close
to the shore.
I know that it's the largest
mammal on earth.
That I know.
These other whales of yours,
they're just toys, man.
They don't tickle my fanny.
[Laughs]
I mean "fancy"!
[Laughing]
If you could be a whale,
would you be the blue whale?
[Giggling]
Are you going to tell us
a bedtime story,
Aunty Saluni?
Oooh, yeah!
Good idea.
Ok, let's get inside.
And cuddle up.
Nice and warm?
Right.
Once upon a time-
Wait. We must first put out
the lights.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
We're not going to put out
the light, ok?
But mama says you must save
on electricity.
Ok, well I've got my candle
so get my candle.
Why must we have
the candle on?
The story will be nice.
The story won't be scary.
Because Aunty Saluni is afraid
of the dark, ok?
[Giggling]
What's so funny?
It's not a laughing matter.
Come, get back
to that story now.
Ok.
Once upon a time-
We don't know any adult
who's afraid of the dark.
You know, you girls are
still too young to understand
the world. It's not
what it pretends to be.
In a land far, far away,
there lived a little girl
called Selena,
and she lived in a valley
that was covered with trees
that were made of
pink candy floss.
[Coughing]
You're not doing to badly
at this finding business, eh?
I wasn't looking for you
this time.
No.
I was looking for fronds
to shape into my catapult.
Oh yes, for your big fish
that's coming
from the southern seas.
Sharisha is not a fish.
You gave it a name?
A whale is not a fish.
Ach, man, it's no need to
get your brookies into a knot.
I wouldn't lose any sleep
over it.
I'm not losing any sleep.
[Groans]
What?
I got lice.
[Laughs]
Are you laughing at
my lice?
Listen here.
I'll have you know I don't
go walking around
like this normally.
I am a lady.
I never said a thing.
Just so you know.
I think I can help.
Do you think I'm crazy?
Try me.
Ta-dah!
If you think you can have
your way with me
you can forget it
because I am a lady.
My way?
I didn't invite
you to move in,
I just said bring something
to change
so we can get rid of
your lice.
Yeah, well that's what
they all say, you know.
And then they're all
over you like a rash.
[Laughs]
You're the first person
to come in here, Saluni.
Well, I am most honoured.
It's modest, but...
it's mine.
Who's this?
My mother.
You were cute, hey?
Your parents look lovely.
Where are they?
I don't talk about that.
But they're on your wall.
They deserted me.
Just like that?
Just like that.
People always leave.
Whales don't.
They leave.
They go back to
the southern seas.
But they come back.
Like clockwork.
Whales always come back.
What happened?
Let's deal with the lice.
It stinks!
It's sheep dip.
What?
Sheep dip.
It won't kill you but
it will kill the lice.
I'll also use it to wash
your clothes.
You can get in the bath.
You can help me with my strap
if you want.
No, I think I should leave.
I'm just joking, man.
Fuck! It burns!
It's for the best.
Do you want to come help me
wash my back?
It will kill the vermin feeding
on your body.
You're shy, hey?
I like that in a man.
[Screaming]
What the shit
are you doing, man?!
I'm sorry, I wasn't trying
to do anything.
Never do that again!
Switch on the light!
I don't sleep in the dark.
I don't walk in the dark,
I don't do anything in the dark,
do you understand me?
I'm sorry.
*
*
*
*
*
Look, I'm- I'm not too sure
that we can afford the food
in this place.
Oh, no, baby.
We came to window eat.
That means we eat
with our eyes.
Hey, listen.
I'm gonna teach you how, ok?
Look.
Look, look, look.
Now, you can actually taste
the food with your eyes, ok?
All you have to do is watch
how they chew.
Mmmhmm.
And then see the enjoyment
on their faces.
Now, imagine the spicy flavours
in their mouth.
Mmm.
When you can believe it-
Yeah.
You can taste it.
Should we start with the sushi?
The raw fish?
No, no, no.
That's not my taste.
Fish is only good for me when it
is covered with spicy butter,
and fried with a lot of oil
and served with
nice golden chips.
May I welcome you to the best
restaurant in South Africa?
Oh, yes.
We beat the top restaurants in
Cape Town and Johannesburg.
No thanks.
Ah.
We have meat, pasta,
and sushi.
We are just looking.
You know window shopping, sir?
Now, we're just window eating.
If you don't mind,
we just want to look.
Of course I mind.
You will make my
customers nervous
by watching them like that.
Please, just go and be
spectators somewhere else.
Hey, fuck you very much!
[Laughs]
If I see you here again,
you vagrants,
I will call the police!
Yeah, fuck you!
[Laughing]
Didn't all that dining make you
hungry for something?
I got hungry for real food.
[Laughs]
I mean like when men and women
go out to dine,
it's like foreplay.
[Sighs]
I'm sick of your nonsense,
man.
What have I done now?
It's what you haven't done
that's the problem.
What haven't I done?
Tonight I'm gonna make you
scream for your mother.
You do wanna scream for your
mother, don't you, hey?
Come on.
Take me.
Let me hear you scream
for your mother.
[Whispers]
I can't.
I'm sorry.
[Whale calling]
[singing]
***
[singing]
***
[singing]
***
Look at Lunga.
Who's Lunga?
Well, you would know who he is,
he's here twice a week,
if you weren't so busy
with your fish.
[Yelling angrily]
[clapping]
[yelling angrily]
Come here, Lunga!
Come here, baby.
Come here, come here,
come here.
You know what?
He's not gonna bother you,
ok?
[Yelling angrily]
Are you ok?
Here.
I got this for you.
For me?
That's so sweet.
But you know what?
I don't take a drink anymore.
That man doesn't like it.
Baby, you look
after yourself, ok?
You be good, alright?
It's ok to cry, man.
You really are good with these
children who sing, eh?
First it was the Bored Twins
and now...
this Lunga boy.
Yeah, you know, the twins,
they have voices of angels.
But Lunga, his voice
is of the earth.
The voice of a boy who has
to come twice a week
and on public holidays
to sing for his supper.
[Yelps]
Saluni!
Hey!
[Gasping]
[laughing]
What you laughing for, man?
It's not funny!
You're beautiful.
What?
You said I was beautiful.
You laugh.
You laughed first.
You never laugh.
I always laugh.
You brought the laughter
into my life.
[Laughing]
Ah, come here!
Let's go.
When will you ever forget?
Forget what?
You have that faraway look
in your eyes.
I worry that out there you
imagine your big fish
jumping out of the ocean,
doing all sorts of cool things
for you.
Hey, Sal, you're not searching
my mind. No.
It's the reason we haven't done
anything meaningful for months.
Looks like rain.
Smells like rain.
[Thunder claps]
[screams]
[gasping]
[thunder claps]
Nothing's going to happen
to you, ok?
Tonight.
I'm really gonna make you scream
for your mother.
[Laughs]
No!
[Laughing]
[moaning]
[thunder rolls]
[groaning]
Mmm.
My blue whale.
Oh, we had to wait all that time
for the rain and the thunder.
Oooh.
[Giggles]
I bathed in you.
Your waters of life
and mine mixed.
And our souls were cleansed.
It was a wonderful cleansing
ceremony, Saluni.
[Giggles]
It was sex, man.
It was sex, pure and simple.
You know what?
You make it sound so crude.
It was something sacred.
Well, it's something you
can't do with that fish.
[Laughs]
You don't know that,
Saluni.
You do not know that.
*
*
*
Shew.
You have a lot of energy
after last night.
I have to keep up with you.
I have to be fit.
Ugh.
I'm famished.
Sis!
Saluni, why didn't you cook?
Because I wasn't hungry.
Whenever you come home
there is food.
I don't cook
because I am hungry.
Man, relax. It's only food.
If I cooked only
because I'm hungry
there would be no food
in this house.
Listen, I'm not your mother,
ok?
That's not why you
brought me here.
No, no!
No, no, no!
I didn't bring you here at all,
you brought yourself!
I'm not your mate, ok?
Well, I cook for you
but I'm also not your mate.
[Snorts]
Stop nit-picking, man.
Stressing yourself out.
Saluni, I cook
because I care for you.
And I'm not cooking for you
because I am your servant.
And I would expect you
to return that caring.
[Pots banging]
[whales calling outside]
They're back!
They're back!
They're back!
Saluni.
Saluni!
How could you sleep
through all this?
They're back!
The whales are back!
They're back!
They're back!
[Blowing horn]
[blowing horn]
Yes! Yes!
[Yelling indistinctly]
Yes!
Yeah, woman!
[Singing]
Yes!
[Laughing]
[singing]
Yes!
[Laughing]
Girls?
Aunty Saluni is here!
Girls?
[Knocking]
Hello?
Girls?
Girls?
You're burning up.
Where were you?
You left us.
You don't care about us
anymore, Aunty.
You don't love us anymore.
That's not true.
Aunty Saluni, well, Aunty
Saluni's been a little busy.
It's different now.
One day when you're big
you'll understand.
And I think it's 'cause papa
no longer pays you
in bottles of wine.
That's nonsense.
Aunty Saluni doesn't even take
a drink anymore.
And even when I did,
I didn't come and visit you
for the bottles of wine.
Alright, come girls.
Take a deep breath, ok?
There you go.
Aaah!
Aunty!
It's too hot in here.
It's burning us!
The steam is burning us!
Ok, just relax,
otherwise you're really going
to burn.
Breathe it all in
and then you're gonna sweat
that fever out.
I promise you you're gonna
feel better tomorrow.
Very kind of you.
Ok girls, make some space.
I'm coming in.
[Screams]
What the-?
Here, have a snake,
Aunty.
No, man.
You can't do that to me!
You almost gave me
a heart attack!
Sorry, Aunty.
You can't do that to
a love child, girls.
(Both): What's a love child?
What's a love child?
Me.
It's me.
I was conceived on a windy day
by a beautiful woman.
Yeah.
My mother was the most
beautiful woman ever.
She was in love
with a married man.
That's how I was born.
He was a rich, old,
married man.
He said he loved
my mother
but he wouldn't leave
his ugly wife.
My mother pined
for his love.
Love began to eat at her
until she was only bones.
She became a walking
skeleton.
And troubadours-
you girls know what
troubadours is?
Troubadours used to
write about her love.
Then, one day, those bones just
fell in a heap on the ground.
You know?
My aunties used to tell me
every day to be proud
because I was a love child.
I'm a bloody love child, man.
And whether you want
to listen or not,
you've gotta treat me
with care.
I'm a love child.
And that is what
a love child is.
That is what a
love child is.
[Blowing horn]
That's my girl!
Yes!
[Laughing]
[blowing horn]
[cheering]
[muttering indistinctly]
Yeow!
[Laughing]
Stop this nonsense.
Stop this rubbish
with this fucking fish!
Come home.
You've shamed yourself
and you've shamed me!
You tired from all your
dirty dancing with that fish?
I forbid you to see
her again.
If he wants to go back to
the way things were, please.
Please, promise me.
Promise me you'll leave her.
Please.
Or I'll leave.
I'm waiting.
Waiting for what?
[Sobbing]
[slams door]
I knew I'd find you here.
You're looking for me? Huh?
For what?
Huh?
Why are you looking for me?
Stop drinking.
You're overdoing this, Saluni.
Look at you now.
Fuck off, man.
Go back to your fuckin' fish!
Fuck off!
Get the fuck outta here!
Go dance with your fucking
fish, man!
You got your fish!
I've got my bottle!
Saluni, the radio man is back.
He's at the Windsor Hotel.
He's looking for people
to record.
I'm adding my lines
to the three tenors.
Radio man's back?
Yeah, he's back
to record choirs.
He set up a studio
at the hotel.
Is he gonna record your voice?
Why not?
You know what?
I'm also gonna be a star.
Let's get the fuck outta here.
Aunty, please.
You're walking too fast.
Come.
Please, aunty,
you're walking too fast.
Listen girls, listen to me.
This is for your own good,
ok?
We gonna be stars.
Yeah.
Come.
Ok, just wait.
Hang on a sec.
And... recording.
* Did you hear the news
on the radio today? *
* People have agreed to give
their love away, *
* I can't wait to be there
in line, *
* aye, no, no,
* No, no, no,
* Doo-be-doo-be-doo-be-doo
* Do-do-do-do-do
[giggles]
Ok. Yes.
Whew!
Hoo-ah.
Look at that, look at that.
Woah, that's sensational.
You guys rock.
Whew.
Mmm.
I think I'm gonna cut a demo.
What's a demo?
Um, a demo is a CD,
you see?
Now, I take that CD and maybe
a record producer
will want to sign you up
and give you a contract
and if he gives you
a contract
he might give you
a lucrative deal
and, you see, 'cause I'm hip
and I dig you guys,
I'm gonna be your agent
and your manager.
And we gonna have Saluni and
the Bored Twins: a Magical Trio.
[Squeals]
What did I say?
What did I say, girls?
But please, girls, not a word
to your mother, ok?
Give me a couple of days,
alright?
'Cause I just gotta go in
and I'll come back
with a couple of CDs.
Ok, but when do you think you're
gonna be back with the CD?
Because their mother doesn't
want them to record
and I think that if she hears
their voices
she'll change her mind.
Bookie, it takes you 20 minutes
to sing a song.
It takes me 20 hours to mix and
to master it
so give me a break here.
I'll come as quickly
as I can.
Ok, but just don't
take too long.
Thank you, anyway.
Thank you.
Bye.
[Singing over bar chatter]
[singing over bar chatter]
[singing over jazz music]
[singing over jazz music]
[applause]
[laughing]
I'm gonna be a star, baby!
I am gonna be a mega star!
Oh, I'm gonna get
onto a jet plane
and I'm gonna captivate
audiences all over the world.
And you, you can come
with me if you want.
Even though you've
been betraying me
with that fish of yours.
I am gonna show you that
I've got a forgiving heart.
[Laughs]
I- I- I'll fly with you
in your jet plane just
like we window eat in those
restaurants, you know,
with all those delicacies.
Man, no!
It's not gonna be the same!
No, we only window eat
because we have to.
No, this time, baby,
we're not gonna be flying
on our imagination.
We're gonna be flying
for real!
We gonna get on a plane
from here to Johannesburg
and then from there we're gonna
fly to Dhakkar and-
and to Paris and to London
and- oh, baby,
we're gonna
go to Hollywood!
We're gonna take Hollywood
by storm!
Saluni and the Bored Twins.
And you know what?
The radio man, he's gonna
be our promoter
and he's gonna market us
and you, you...
what do you wanna be
in all of this, hey?
There's no airport
in Hermanus, Saluni.
So?
Well, then- then I'm gonna take
a limousine to Cape Town.
And we can fly from there!
Why do you have to be
so difficult, man?
Are you jealous of my fame?
No.
No, no, Saluni.
I'll wait for you here.
Do remember us little people
when you're up there
in the stars.
Oh, no, baby.
You're not little.
You're big and strong.
You're gonna be my man,
baby.
You'll keep my bed warm
when I come home at night
from Carnegie Hall,
after I've been singing,
I'll climb into a nice,
warm bed.
It's gonna be a good
arrangement.
You'll see.
You know what?
Don't worry with Sara
and Sachi,
the minute I hit the big time
I'm gonna send them
back home, ok?
Because I, baby, I'm gonna
be a solo act.
Me and my big backing band.
Oh.
* I'm the woman for you,
* You're the man for me,
* Together baby,
* We can be a family.
You sure will be something.
You sure will be.
[Laughing]
Take me in your arms
and fuck me!
No, no, no.
It's daylight, Saluni.
Who cares, man?
Who says madness is only
for the night, hey?
[Laughing]
You leave him alone,
you stupid fish!
He's mine!
[Slap]
There!
Fucking fish.
Bitch!
Saluni, the mentholated spirit
I use to clean my clothes
is gone.
Ugh, man.
Don't tell me you drank it.
It's just spirits, man.
So how am I going
to clean my clothes?
I will buy you new clothes.
I'm a star now.
A celebrity.
See? I got myself a whole
new wardrobe.
I'm going to miss you when
you are a big star.
Man, you stress too much.
Stop getting so moody.
I have to go to Hollywood
without you first
to get settled.
You can't just drag a man
to Hollywood
without getting settled first.
And besides, I wouldn't
leave you.
You're my blue whale.
[Laughs]
Saluni.
Mmm?
The coat.
Don't you think you should
give it a rest?
I can imagine how much
you're sweating under it.
You know some poor animal
had to die for you
to look this beautiful.
You know, animals die every day.
We eat them, we wear them
as shoes.
He has returned, Aunt Saluni.
The radio man is back.
Did he bring the CDs?
Yes, he has brought some CDs
and he wants to see you.
Yes!
Wooo!
He's at a hotel
at seventh avenue.
Oh.
What did I tell you, hey?
What did I say?
You thought he wasn't gonna
come back
because you thought
he was a scam.
I never said anything
of the sort.
You didn't say it
but you thought it.
I could see it all
over your face.
And now the radio man wants
to see me at a hotel.
What do you say about that?
Well, I say go for it.
In fact, I'm coming
with you to the hotel.
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
I've got a brilliant idea.
Come, come!
What? What?
You still don't wanna tell me
what the surprise is?
They didn't tell me,
either, man.
They said it'll be good
for us.
We'll find out now
at the hotel.
I want the twins to go
with us.
What kind of surprise
is that?
I don't know.
You know I don't like surprises.
Hi.
Hallelujah.
Hi!
Ta-dah!
Come, come.
Wait, uh... uh, Saluni, uh...
where are the twins?
Oh, I brought their parents.
I thought that maybe
you could tell us
about how we're gonna be
big stars.
No!
I need the twins, now!
Chillax.
Just play us the CD.
Don't tell me to relax.
Oh, fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.
Mind your language, there.
There are ladies in here.
It doesn't work.
I don't understand it,
I don't get it,
but it doesn't work.
[Plays jumbled recording]
Ok.
Did you know about this?
Uh-uh.
I only know this today.
These people,
they deceived us.
No.
I- I- when I first heard it,
it was psychedelic.
And, uh, then this happened.
But the thing is I came
here today
so that I could take Saluni
and the Bored Twins
to a state of the art recording
studio down in Cape Town.
My goodness.
Yeah.
They're not going
to Cape Town.
And they're not recording
their voices again, ever.
Please don't do this
to your girls.
I don't want to have anything
to do with you.
You- you don't talk to me
and you leave my girls alone!
Fine.
Fine!
Keep them then,
I don't need them.
I'm going to Cape Town, and
I'm going to be a solo act.
No, you're not, darling.
The thing was, it was Saluni
and the Bored Twins.
No Bored Twins, no deal.
I really don't know
what happened.
Please, I need
those girls today.
The machine stole
their voices.
You nearly ruined my girls.
Come.
Go!
Go!
Huh?
She can sing, Mr. Radio Man.
She's got a wonderful voice.
I can.
Please, I can be a solo act.
Who's the little person?
No, you can't be a solo act.
Let me tell you something.
You've got the kind of voice
that I can find in any bar
or shebeen anywhere
in this country.
I can sing with her.
I also have a good voice.
Let me make this clear.
It was Saluni and
the Bored Twins,
but I was going to dump you,
anyway,
because the Bored Twins
have a chance
at an international career
but you have a shit voice.
And I don't want your shit voice
messing up their angelic sound.
Is that clear?
Who's this guy?
[Thud]
Let's go! Let's go!
I'm sorry, I had to do it.
I hate violence.
I'm not the fighting type.
Arrogant bastard.
He can't talk to you like that.
No.
No.
Come- come, let's go.
Let's keep going.
Come, let's keep-
Don't touch me!
Stay with me.
Don't leave.
Now that your fish is back
you treat me like rubbish.
No, no, no, Saluni.
I'm not treating you
like rubbish, it's just...
I hope something bad happens
to that fish.
One day she's gonna
end up
on someone's dinner plate
in Japan
and the world's gonna be
a better place.
[Whale calling]
Sharisha!
No.
No.
They're raping her.
They're raping her,
the bastards.
Get away from her!
Get away from her!
You rapists!
[Yelling indistinctly]
Oh, baby.
Sharisha!
Sharisha!
[Yelling]
[whale calling]
*
*
Don't do that.
Those glasses are meant to
protect us from going blind.
Woah.
You're in a war-like mood today.
Why are you challenging-
Don't touch me.
You will go blind, Saluni.
[Laughing]
I am blind.
I'm blind.
Why did you do that?
Why did you do that, Saluni?
Because there's nothing left
to see anymore.
Because the sun, the moon,
and the stars betrayed me.
It's hot, Saluni.
You don't need that coat.
I've told you before, man.
I know how to prepare.
You're leaving.
You don't need a candle,
you are blind, Saluni.
Saluni, you don't have
to go.
This- this is your home.
This is your home.
There's nothing left
for me in Hermanus.
Everyone has abused me.
The whales, the Bored Twins'
mother.
Even you.
We- we've- we've had our good
times, too, haven't we?
I'm going.
You'll be better off without me.
On a journey?
She's gone blind,
and I'm going to be helping her
on the road.
Where to?
On a journey of no destination.
[Sighs]
So you are helping
people now?
What happened to the whales?
Saluni, this is madness.
A journey without a destination?
Come, let's go.
We must sleep.
We have a long way to go.
Like I was saying... in
blindness one is able to reach
into the depths of one's soul
to recover
all of the beautiful things
that one once knew
in past existences.
How would you know?
You have never been blind.
Well, now that I've met
the beautiful Saluni,
I'm considering blindness
for myself and all of my sheep.
Did you switch off the light?
I can feel the darkness.
If the beautiful lady needs
the light,
the beautiful lady
will have the light.
She's blind, for crying
out loud.
I will read for you,
beautiful lady.
I will read for you
from the holy book.
The song of Solomon.
The song of songs.
"Behold, my love.
You are fair, my love.
Behold, you are fair.
You have dove's eyes
behind your veil.
Your hair is like a flock of
goats coming down mount Gilead.
No. No.
No.
This walking backwards of yours
is slowing us down.
It breaks up the monotony
of the road.
You haven't brushed
your teeth.
Why must I brush my teeth?
I'm not gonna see anybody.
You will be seeing me.
Did you brush your teeth
when you were dirty dancing
with the fish?
Hey, man.
Hey, son!
Son!
Son, man!
Where were you?
I brought you something
to drink.
Every time you leave
I think you're going
to return to your fish.
Saluni, I am not with Sharisha.
I am here taking care of you.
[Scoffs]
Doesn't matter.
That fish is always here getting
in the way of our love.
I'm tired of your insecurities.
Read me something
from the song of songs?
Oh please, not again.
You're just jealous because
that shepherd saw something
beautiful in me.
Jealous of the country bumpkin?
Well, he read to me.
Ok, fine.
How beautiful are your feet
in sandals,
oh princess's daughter?
The curves of your thighs
are like jewels.
The work of the hands
of a master craftsman.
Your navel is like a goblet.
It lacks no blended beverage.
Your waist is like a heap
of wheat, suckled with lilies.
Your two breasts
are like two fawns.
Twins.
Of a gazelle.
Your neck is
like an ivory tower.
Your eyes are like pools of-
That's really beautiful.
Did you steal his bible
from him?
I didn't his bible.
Then how do you know it
word for word?
I know the bible, Saluni.
I grew up in the Church
of the Sacred Kelp Horn.
I never knew you were
so romantic.
There's a lot you don't know
about me.
[Gasps]
You put out the light?
No, Saluni.
It's just your imagination.
I thought, in blindness,
I could travel the world
without fear of darkness.
In blindness, I thought
there's no light,
and if there's no light
there's no darkness.
But I was wrong.
My body still feels
the darkness.
There's a car.
How do you know, Saluni?
I can see the light.
But the sky is dark.
Where have the stars gone?
We're back in Hermanus?
Fucking liar.
You knew all along you
were leading me back here.
Your fish.
You lied to me.
You lied to me
about my candle.
You lied to me!
I trusted you
and you lied to me!
You're a fucking liar!
You're a dirty fucking
bloody liar!
All for your fucking fish!
I gave up my shit for you!
For you!
And for what, huh?
For what?
So you can turn your fucking
back on me?
Talk to me!
Fine.
Don't talk to me for the rest
of your fucking life.
I don't care.
Suits me.
Oh, suits me!
Suits you, yeah.
Suits you, because
you know what?
You don't care.
You never did.
Oh, I cared, Saluni.
I care, Saluni.
All you care for
is your fucking fish.
Your fucking Sharisha!
Oh, I care!
Why do you think I've-
I've spent fucking months
on the road with you!
Why didn't you ever say
you love me anymore?
Why don't you ever tell me
I'm beautiful?
How can I say you're beautiful
when you are so ugly?
To me!
No man has ever told me
that before.
No man!
[Sobbing]
[blowing horn]
Come on.
Come. Come, Sharisha.
Sharisha! Sharisha!
[Blowing horn]
Sharisha! Sharisha!
Sharisha!
Sharisha!
[Singing together]
Aunty Saluni!
Aunty Saluni, are you ok?
Babies.
We missed you, Aunty Saluni.
Where were you?
[Blowing horn]
Ah, you're here,
my love.
You're here, my love.
[Whale groaning]
Help! Help! Help!
Help! Help!
Please!
Please, people, help!
Please, help!
Help!
Please!
The whale has beached!
Please, help!
Help!
[Giggling]
We have done everything
we can...
[chatter]
Please, do something!
Do something!
Please, help us!
Please!
I told you.
Look. The tide.
The tide's coming in.
It's going to save him.
It wasn't the tide, daddy.
It was that man over there.
[Blowing horn]
[applause and cheering]
[gasping]
[screaming]
*
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* Freedom from my mind,
* Is freedom from my soul
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