Episode 11: The Rockstar
Sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll populate this week’s theme, The Rockstar. The cast find themselves ringside at a white-collar boxing night, soaking up the fever, glitz, glam and testosterone laced atmosphere as episode 11 opens. What drives this persona, and why do we harbour aspirations of living that lifestyle?
Henri believes people seek out publicity to fulfill their need to be recognised and loved, and Maurice, part of a community that respects celebrities sees himself as part of the problem. Trevor identifies people’s attraction to that which we are not as the driving force behind rockstardom, Kaizer’s just attracted to the sex and alcohol.
Kaizer jokingly comments, “women already throw themselves at me,” though he has no idea how many women he’s been with. Trevor notes that Kaizer is looking for fame, he’s “always posing.” Henri’s association with a social clique that deals in VIP access and extravagance has resulted in a sense of inherent fame, “famous before I was famous.”
This week’s pickup takes place at the extravagant Madame Zagaras, a venue renowned for its eccentricity. Henri proceeds to get hammered, an intoxicating mix of champagne, glamour and exuberance culminate in an older female patron throwing her drink in his face. Henri’s attempt to salvage matters further exacerbates the situation even though he was, “behaving like the humble Buddha.” Maurice stands behind Henri’s demeanor, “no publicity is bad publicity, I’m all for the infamy.”
Kaizer first met Bianca 10 years ago at a dinner party, she was 15 and after some lascivious looks and ten years, Kaizer and Bianca meet for an early morning power yacht cruise. Bianca acknowledges Kaizer’s Cape Town celebrity status, and even though he’s attractive, a socialite and parties a lot, his warm, friendly demeanor precludes him from falling under the definition of player. Kaizer candidly admits he’s mainly interested in looks, “no man has ever reached up a women’s skirt looking for a library card.” Despite Bianca finding Kaizer’s comments superficial and lame, the mutual physical attraction results in the couple kissing at the end of the date.
Henri invites Gillian, and Maurice takes Robyn out a second time as the guys team up for a double date. The date boards a train from Cape Town to Kalk Bay, Maurice feeling initial inhibition on his second outing with Robyn. Reminiscent chat about childhood train rides settles the nerves, Henri observes that generally, Maurice is a klutz around women, and on cue, Maurice confides to the lunch table that he has just come out of a 5 month relationship because he’s not ready to commit as he, “hasn’t sown his wild oats enough.” Robyn reckons Maurice is an attention seeker, be that attention positive or negative. He needs to make more of an effort to show his interest in a girl. Maurice on the other hand is feeling despondent over his attractiveness to the opposite sex. He doesn’t, “need another girl to knock him, as he’ll put himself down”, and this is “reinforcing a cycle whereby he’s not making himself attractive to a girl.”
Trevor takes his ex-boyfriend Craig on an Atlantic seaboard scooter ride, stopping at for lunch in Camps Bay. The ex-couple haven’t seen each other for an extended period, in which time Craig’s been through rehab. The guys are keen to catch up, Craig wanting to see where things stand now he has a clean, focused mind. Craig feels the two are still very much connected and this connection has prevented him from opening himself up to anyone else, he doesn’t entertain thoughts of seeing anyone else. Trevor admits to having sexual relations since their relationship. Craig’s irritation with Trevor is tangible, he wants to know why Trevor was sleeping around as they hadn’t officially broken up. No definite communication to that effect left Craig believing they were still trying to salvage their relationship. Trevor assumes the split was implied, while Craig sites a fundamental lack of communication between them as an impassable obstacle in the way of any type of relationship. An honest and forthright conversation takes some weight off Craig’s chest and crystallises Trevor’s understanding of where the ex-couple stand.
An evening summation at the Sea Point Pool finds Maurice receive advice from all angles about his dating etiquette, he needs to consider his date, he doesn’t listen, but instead hogs all the conversation. Steering the conversation to settling down, Maurice believes the requirements of marriage are beyond him at present, “men are not wired to sleep with the same women for forty years.” Society has changed and with it people’s interaction as couples. Kaizer concurs that we are animals, and settling down causes us to suppress our true nature. Trevor and Henri see settling down and marriage as far greater concepts than jus sex, it’s about a life together. The conversation diverts to missing front teeth and if this is a fashion trend or something done to enhance blow-jobs, Trevor dispels the blow-job concept, though his insights into toothless partners are pretty graphic.
