The Promise

Manie’s funeral service occurs four days later, and Simmers’ sermon goes badly. To deflect responsibility for his involvement in Manie’s death, he tries to frame the snake bite as part of God’s plan. To make matters worse, his thoughts trail off to the time he had an incestuous sexual experience with his sister 40 years ago, which neither has mentioned since. Lost in thoughts about this, his sermon becomes rambling and ends awkwardly.

Family and friends gather at the Swart farm after the service while Lukas and Andile fill in the grave. Afterward, Lukas prepares to meet a girlfriend in a nearby town. He runs into Anton on his way off the farm, who offers to give him a ride. Lukas accepts but then leaves when Anton goes inside to find his keys.

Rifling through his father’s things in his study, Anton finds a gun. Just then, a group of baboons emerges and begins to eat the sandwiches set out on the porch for the guests. Anton fires the gun to scare them off. Looking around the house, he notices Salome washing the dishes and reflects on the country’s changing norms; while she was not permitted to join the funeral services for Rachel, she was permitted to join Manie’s.