CENTURION By Paul Smith A SMITH SCRIPT This script is protected by copyright laws. No performance of this script – IN ANY MEDIA – may be undertaken without payment of the appropriate fee and obtaining a licence. For further information, please contact SMITH SCRIPTS at [email protected] CENTURION A PLAY OF CRICKET BY PAUL SMITH CHARACTERS AGES GIVEN ARE THOSE AT THE TIME OF THE CENTURION TEST MATCH IN 2000 WESSEL JOHANNES ‘HANSIE’ CRONJE SOUTH AFRICAN CRICKET CAPTAIN – AGED 30 NASSER HUSSAIN ENGLAND CRICKET CAPTAIN – AGED 31 MARLON ARONSTAM SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESSMAN, OWNER OF NATIONAL SPORTING INDEX – AGED MID 30’S ALEC STEWART ENGLAND WICKETKEEPER AND FORMER CAPTAIN – AGED 36 DUNCAN FLETCHER ZIMBABWE-BORN ENGLAND CRICKET COACH – AGED 51 PHIL TUFNELL ENGLAND SPIN BOWLER – AGED 33 JACQUES KALLIS SOUTH AFRICAN ALL-ROUNDER – AGED 24 DARRYL CULLINAN SOUTH AFRICAN BATSMAN – AGED 32 MARK BOUCHER SOUTH AFRICAN WICKETKEEPER – AGED 23 ENGLISH COMMENTATOR SOUTH AFRICAN COMMENTATOR TV REPORTER INTERVIEWER 2 A Note on the Production The play should be presented with as much fluidity as possible and as little set as possible. There should be though, some symbolic representations of the game of cricket, pertinent to the story. Throughout there should be a screen in use which does not interfere with the action, when stills or moving footage should be used. This should never interrupt or impact on the dialogue and can be most effective at scene changes. The Commentators, Interviewer and Reporter could either be live on stage or as voice overs. The Commentators do not need to have actual footage from the game on the screen as this may be difficult to acquire. Sound effects throughout are not overly mentioned but will play an important aspect of the production. Music can be used carefully – but please avoid ‘Soul Limbo’. The dates should be highlighted throughout – this is important to allow the audience to follow the timeline of events. 3 CENTURION SCENE ONE – Centurion Park, Centurion, Pretoria, South Africa – 18 January 2000 The sounds of a cricket match, of crowds cheering, footage or still photos on a screen. ENG COMMENTATOR What seems so incredible is that the whole game appeared to be petering out to a draw even by the end of the first day with the wretched weather forecast. Then suddenly after three days lost to the rain, we reach this situation. If anyone is just tuning in and haven’t been glued to their radio, England need just two runs to win in the last over in a game which has turned from the dull to the spectacular. Hayward to bowl, Gough on strike. It’s short and Gough pulls it. They won’t stop that. England have won an extraordinary game of cricket. One which none of those playing or are here watching at Centurion Park will ever forget. This is what Test Cricket is about and although it is something of a consolation win for England, it will give those who return home tomorrow a rather more pleasant journey than they might have otherwise expected. All credit to the South African Captain, Hansie Cronje for displaying a level of sportsmanship which we have rarely seen before. SA COMMENTATOR The England players are exuberant which is hardly to be surprised at. By contrast the South African boys look rather downcast. If you didn’t know the result of the series, looking at the scenes here you would assume that England had just completed a very comprehensive whitewash over South Africa. Let’s see what the two captains have to say. Lights come up on a TV REPORTER and the England Cricket Captain, NASSER HUSSAIN REPORTER Nasser, congratulations on the win. Your thoughts please. HUSSAIN It’s been a remarkable day. A result seemed impossible, so I have to hand it to Hansie, his early declaration and the forfeiting of the innings meant the inevitable draw became a really fantastic and exciting match. Up until the last over it could have been anyone’s. I 4 just want to thank my team. It’s a young team and getting a win in South Africa is such an achievement and will give us all a real boost. After a disappointing tour, we hope that we have been able to reward our many supporters who have travelled with us for their patience. REPORTER Thank you Nasser HUSSAIN leaves, shaking hands with HANSIE CRONJE who comes towards the REPORTER REPORTER Hansie, I am sure you and the boys will be disappointed at losing the match, but at the start of the day, there was really only likely to be one outcome. CRONJE Look the series was done and dusted as far as we were concerned. There were 22 players sitting about for 3 days not being able to play the game they love. It seemed to me only sensible to give them and the supporters a match rather than something unexciting and, ultimately, pointless. I think we have used the rules for the good of the game. Cricket is the real winner here. REPORTER Well, that’s as may be, but you made the gesture which can only be regarded as incredibly sporting. CRONJE It’s been a good series for us and losing today does nothing to reduce the impact of our overall win. I should like to thank my team for the spirited way in which they have played to ensure the public who paid money to see good cricket, did just that. REPORTER Thank you Hansie CRONJE leaves REPORTER I think we can only re-iterate the words of Hansie Cronje, when we say that following such an act of pure sportsmanship, the real winner today, is the game of cricket. 5 SCENE TWO – A Hotel Room – 17 January 2000 CRONJE is lying on a couch in a hotel room. A cell phone rings. CRONJE looks at the number and then answers it. MARLON ARONSTAM could just be a voice at this point or be seen on his phone elsewhere on stage. CRONJE Hello? ARONSTAM Mr Cronje? CRONJE Yes ARONSTAM Hansie Cronje? CRONJE Who is this? ARONSTAM My name is Marlon Aronstam CRONJE Where did you get my cellphone number? ARONSTAM Mr Cronje, or do you mind me calling you Hansie? I am involved with a company called NSI and I am a very keen cricket lover. I follow it all over the world. It is a shame that the Centurion Test Match looks like reaching a stalemate. CRONJE Yes, well, we cannot control the weather. Look what do you want? ARONSTAM Indeed we might not be able to control the weather Hansie, but we do have a certain influence on the game. We might even have some influence on the outcome. CRONJE What do you mean? ARONSTAM Come on Hansie. I just want to see a result to the game, it would make the series reach a really exciting conclusion. You’ve still won it. England cannot win the series. You have that in the bag. You might be able to win even more convincingly. As it is at the moment, it is destined for a boring draw which nobody wants. CRONJE What are you suggesting? ARONSTAM I won’t beat about the bush Hansie. I am a betting man, and I think the odds on there being a positive result at the moment would be very favourable to even the smallest wager. A silence 6 A strategic declaration maybe. Forfeit an innings each side. Could be exciting. A silence Hansie, let’s make it a little bit more worthwhile. If we can set this up, how about I make a donation of R500 000 to a charity of your choice? A silence And a little present for you as well. A silence Come on Hansie, a gesture such as this could only enhance your reputation. South African cricket isn’t known for taking risks, all very safe and, dare I say it dull. I know that is a motif which has often been attached to you, and I for one don’t believe it. Put a bit of zest into South African cricket and see the applause you get for it. CRONJE I will think about it. ARONSTAM How about we have a quick talk about this face to face? I can be at your hotel in a couple of hours. CRONJE Well… ARONSTAM I won’t take up too much of your time and I really would like to meet you! CRONJE I’m at the…. ARONSTAM I know where you are. I’ll call you when I am in reception. See you later. CRONJE turns off his phone 7 SCENE THREE CRONJE in a light CRONJE We had been playing a match in Durban and in order to get home well in time for a special Christening the next day, I decided to drive back to Bloemfontein myself. I was joined by Roger Brown. We left Durban about 4.30pm and after about an hour and a half and with the light beginning to fade, we found ourselves passing a taxi. In that moment a little girl ran into the road. We hit her. By the time we reached her body, she was dead. At the Christening the next day I wept throughout the service. Here was I celebrating a new young life when the night before I had extinguished one. I couldn’t cope with anything. Soon after the terrible events, Bertha found that she had a re- awakening of her religious beliefs. Through her I realised that having a personal relationship with Christ was so important and necessary to me.