Face the music
Meikie demands answers from her “do no wrong” husband John about his affair with Charity.
Things aren’t adding up and if there is one thing Turfloop’s know-it-all Meikie (Harriet Manamela) does well, it’s hear about juicy gossip. And while she has a weird feeling about her “perfect” hubby John’s (Africa Tsoai) explanation for being away so much, “Meikie can’t put her finger on it though,” says Harriet. John is secretly having an affair with Charity (Makgofe Moagi) but his lies are blown out the water on Wednesday 16 August. Meikie gets a phonecall that John has been in a car crash… and he wasn’t alone. “It’s confusing to her. She wants answers,” says the actress. Although she has never confronted John about his close bond with Charity, Meikie suspects that they’re more than just business associates. “Meikie knows that Charity and John are both out of town and she wants answers – now more than ever,” adds Harriet.
TORN TRUST
While Meikie’s always found a way to get involved in everyone else’s personal problems, she’s trying to hide her suspicions from her own family on Friday 18 August. Her son Leeto (Eric Macheru) and his wife Mokgadi (Pebetsi Matlaila) found out about John’s affair in early August and they consider telling Meikie that day. “The atmosphere in the Maputla house is very tense,” says Harriet, and with Meikie in total denial about John and Charity’s relationship, Leeto and Mokgadi aren’t sure if they can tell her. But it’s difficult to keep a lid on scandal this juicy and by Tuesday 22 August, Charity’s shady ex-boyfriend Marothi (Macks Papo) is spreading the gossip about the car crash to Meikie’s neighbours and anyone who’ll listen. “Meikie is trying to keep her head high,” says Harriet. “She’s a proud woman and laughs it off as a rumour doing the rounds.”
HARD TRUTH
Meikie doesn’t want to see her “perfect” marriage in flames. She’s always been admired for “having it all”, but she realises that “it” could all be a lie. “Meikie finds more damning evidence [on Thursday 24 August] that shocks her. Her suspicions about John and Charity were right. This is possibly the worst thing that could’ve happened to her,” says Harriet. A furious Meikie confronts John on Friday 25 August and Harriet says that “there’s a lot to consider before deciding on her next move, including their kids”.
LEGAL ADVICE
Rather than lash out, Meikie invites her lawyer pal Advocate Bopape (Patrick Bokaba) over on Monday 28 August to discuss her options. She wants John and Charity to pay for causing her pain and “Bopape is the best in the game. Meikie needs clarity and Bopape is known for taking no prisoners,” laughs Harriet. With her advocate friend’s help, Meikie begins planning her rise as Turfloop’s “most courageous woman, who has put a lying, cheating no-good husband behind her in her quest for justice”.