Black Burns Fast

Now more than ever…

we hold strongly to the foundations

that have grounded the AGC for the past 149 years.

We are proud to host a diverse set of girls…

…supporting them no matter where they come from.

Please!

Take me away.

Let me introduce you to one of our many success stories…

from our scholarship cohort.

No running in the halls!

Okay.

-That's enough. -Hmm-mmm.

-Hand sanitiser. -Check.

- Pen. - Check.

- Asthma pump. - Check.

-Lucky pen. -Check.

-Calculator. -Check.

-Stress ball. -Check.

Friendship.

Check.

Oh, my face still hurts from all the smiling.

I don't know why you let them talk you into that.

I don't know, it's just what I'm expected to do now.

Your community must be so proud of you.

Absolutely.

It's ones like you who are the future of our country.

A diamond in the rough.

We'll see you in Parliament one day, hey?

Is that how you got such a big room?

That means you got something out of…

This school is a big pond.

and in that pond, we are the sharks

and you are food that the scum eats.

So glad we're not Grade 8s anymore.

Don't remind me.

My mom was in tears last night

because her little baby is growing up so fast.

How's Ma Phumi?

Someone's daughter, niece, cousin got pregnant at school,

so now I'm also at risk.

So you know, the usual.

May Satan go to bed hungry

today and every day, God.

Take the plate,

you are the waiter and chef in this restaurant of life.

Jesus, let her not be led astray, my God,

not be led astray by the others,

the internet, cellphones sin and the Illuminati.

Amen!

You know, a lot of rich people are part of the Illuminati.

Which is like… most of the school.

Watch out!

They're everywhere.

Haha, Jo, very funny.

Can we please go to class now?

Let's go.

I missed you.

Lazola, Anele…

Meet Ayanda.

Hey guys.

From St Trinian's, right?

St Augustine's.

Right.

So, Ayanda…

What brings a girl from St August's to here?

St Augustine's…

Whatever.

So?

Does it matter?

Shouldn't we be getting on with some tour or something?

Babes… we'll have the whole year to clock this school.

Come on. Sit down. Take a seat.

Let's get to know each other.

Okay fine.

I'm Zenande Mahlati and I'll be your guide for the day.

The AGC produces girls of distinction,

discipline and beauty.

Raised in the Christian ethos of our school.

Allegedly.

Let's go, guys.

Come with me.

So let's start with the basics,

but I'm sure you know them already.

No bunking, smoking or night jams.

Or just don't get caught.

No wigs, no weaves, no sew-ins,

no fashion styles and no unnatural colours.

Don't be too loud or too extra,

and keep vernac to a minimum in the houses.

Travel in small groups,

otherwise it makes the reds nervous.

Oh, and don't bring up politics, it's a waste of time.

My mom hated apartheid.

My dad was a freedom fighter, hey.

Amandala!

You can't talk about white privilege,

you literally have an iPhone.

Oh, and please, please…

- (in Xhosa) I'm begging you. - What?

That's so dirty. Someone needs to pick it up.

My brother said that it's made of horsehair.

Nope, it's plastic.

I bet it'll float if we throw it in the pool.

Yeah, do you see your friends?

Hey!

Let's go.

Damn, she's such a ten.

She still with Devon?

He's out of the picture.

I thought this was an all-girls school.

Technically, it is.

We just have some of the classes with

the boys' school from across the road.

So there's no need for experimenting in the houses.

What do you mean by experimenting?

You know…

Zenande.

Apparently, it makes some of the huns start wiling.

Dude, stop.

Sorry, but it's Shakespeare again.

Hamlet, this time.

Great.

Coz Macbeth was such a stellar representation of mental health.

Hey, don't get snippy with me. I don't make the syllabus.

I'm just saying, if we all stood together

maybe we could finally have some change around here?

Or at least something written by a woman.

Settle down, please.

This is our matric year, we'll take things more seriously.

Happy new year!

Settle down, please.

Ah, there you are.

Come stand next to me.

I'd like to introduce you to our newest student.

This is Ayanda Khumalo…

Ayanda Khumalo.

Ayanda, tell us what kind of literary books

do you love reading?

Oh, I'm not into reading like that.

I like manga, though.

Death Note.

Anime?

So she's a coconut.

Zen!

I mean, we basically, all are though.

And I'm here because my previous school kicked me out

because they didn't like space muffins.

Space muffins? What does she mean by space muffins?

Luthando!

- Okay settle. -Hello?

Settle down.

Right, this is our matric year.

We're starting off our English lesson with our literary genres.

Who is excited to start this?

Guys, it's always good

to start the year with the goal you want to achieve.

Luthando?

Sir?

I was just asking what your goals for the year ahead are.

Oh, uh, yes, uh…

Same as every year, Mr. Horak.

I'm just aiming to pass.

Please, we all know you want to be top of the class.

Well, that is a noble goal, Luthando,

and I'm sure the others will all be looking to you as an example.

Especially the other students from, you know…

rural areas.

Now, guys, this is a very

important year in your lives, okay?

Your marks will define

whether you're studying business science,

or working in a fast food chain.

So is it going to be big bucks or Big Macs?

Please can everyone congratulate Faye Herman

for hooking up with James Malherbe.

Does that happen all the time?

Every time someone hooks up.

And how do they know?

Her friends. His friends. Witnesses.

It happens on the boys' side, too.

There are eyes everywhere.

It's giving Big Brother AGC.

Shame.

Pretty.

Of course, she's joining The Galz.

You don't know that. Maybe they've co-opted her.

But she is pretty.

Is that why you were staring at her throughout English?

I wasn't.

I told you, I thought I could help her settle in.

You've never done that before.

Well, maybe I want to start.

Is this a New Year's resolution you haven't told me about?

Next, you're gonna say you want to join them.

Look, they're actually not that bad.

I mean, Lazola and I hang out sometimes.

When she needs help with her math homework, Lu…

you're smart.

But you can be gullible when it comes to people.

Okay, whatever, Jodie.