ANIBERSARYO
D.M JUDILLA © March 2011 Email
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1. A WOMAN SOBS AND CRIES (OS) then fades into silence. A beat. INT. BATHROOM – NIGHT.
FADE IN:
BIRD’S EYE. Running water out of the shower-head falls on the bowed crown of ADA (late 20s, slender). Her shoulders shake with emotion. She raises her face to the shower’s stream. LATER THE BATHROOM MIRROR, covered with steam, is wiped by a wet Ada with her bare hand. She locks eyes with her own reflection. A beat. Water drops from the sides of her face, could be tears. INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT. Covered in a red bathrobe, Ada sits still before her vanity table with a large mirror. She’s like a rag doll, empty of life. Her eyes gaze unblinking to their reflection in the mirror, glass against glass. A beat. Ada’s eyes turn… a sign of life… to THE FRAMED PHOTO on her vanity table. The Photo is her and her husband ALAN (30s, stout) taken during happier, lovelier times. Both smile out loud in the photo. Beside the framed photo is A JEWELRY BOX, prominent is Ada’s golden band and a UNIQUE GOLDEN HEART-SHAPED LOCKET WITH CHAIN. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FRAME PHOTO, a SMALL ANALOG CLOCK declares the time, half past nine. Ada slides her fingers against her smooth cheek, just under her eyes. Did she just wipe off a tear? The woman begins her regiment of beautification. An arduous process of lotions on her every inch of skin: her long legs to her arms, donning A SEXY RED MINI that flatters every curve of her body to her perfection. Then she settle herself down on her chair to dry then style her hair to her satisfaction. Ada puts make-up of her face and eyes, perfecting the color and form of her lips. She does so with much discipline and ritual, like a warrior donning war paint. The result is a much younger, fresher Ada— the Ada in the photo. She’s dabbing perfume on her pulse points. For the last touch, she puts on her wedding band on her ring finger. She holds up her ringed hand, the band catching light and glowing. Her hand squirms, an awkward spasm. Ada closes her fingers into a tight ball. The spasm stops. She takes the heart-locket and places it around her neck, making it settle prominently on her low-neck/chest. OUTSIDE A car’s engine comes (OS), Ada turns at the sound. Fear and excitement makes her eyes wide and glow. THE VANITY TABLE, the face of the clock beside the framed photo declares that it’s a fifteen past eleven in the evening.
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2. INT. DEN – NIGHT. The main door is opened. Beyond the threshold stands ALAN, Ada’s husband, home from work and looking like the exhausted doctor he is. He’s holding his own house-keys, he looks surprised. ALAN Ada, akala ko natulog ka na. Ada leans at the door, her face is blushing, her eyes bat out an invitation. Alan steps inside. Still silent, Ada draws in close and gives him a sweet kiss at the side of his lips, an appetizer. She draws away from Alan, who seems confused. He closes the door. ADA Vino? Ada picks from a convenient table a couple of glasses of wine. She offers one to Alan who takes it and smells the bouquet. ALAN Hmmm...anong okasyon? Ada eyes him steadily and sips. Alan sips too, to settle himself. Hapunan?
ADA
ALAN Wala pa. Sobrang busy sa ospital. ADA Mmmm...mukha ka nga gutom. She turns and leads the way to the dining table. Alan follows her. INT. DINING ROOM – NIGHT. The dining table is simply adorned with candles and fine china. Ada lights the candles. Alan looks remorseful. ALAN Ada honey, Sori talaga. The man approaches his wife and nestles close. ALAN Nalimutan ko naman ang anibersario natin. Not looking the bit angry, Ada smiles ala Mona Lisa, a woman’s mystery. She guides her husband into his chair and caresses his face, a reassuring gesture. She pours more wine into his glass. ADA Gutom ka, nagluto ko ang paborito mo. Kakain tayo tapos mag-uusap tayo.
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3. Ada leaves Alan then returns promptly with a large steaming dish of RED-SAUCED PASTA. Alan laughs, touched. She serves him first then moves to a chair beside him and watches him eat with hunger and zest. She sips her wine, hardly eating her own plate, just content watching Alan eat. When Alan’s plate is empty, Ada fills it up again. Alan doesn’t complain and eats, making appreciative sounds. ALAN Honey, mmm! Ang sarap mo talaga magluto. Nasa langit ako, mmm! Binago mo ang meat sauce? ADA Tinulungan ako ni Noemi, totoo, sa kanyang timpla iyan. Alan spoons more pasta into his mouth, breaks bread to smear with the more meat sauce. ALAN Meron pala silbi iyun maid natin sa kusina. A la Mona Lisa smiles Ada. ADA Tungkol sa kanya, sa maid natin Alan, hindi natin siya kailangan dito sa bahay. Alan stops, confused. ALAN Pinaalis mo si Noemi? Ada pours wine into Alan’s glass then pours more for her. ADA Tinangkaan nakawan ako, Alan. Totoo… nagulat ako ng nawala ang kuwintas ko, eto iyong binigay mo sa akin noong unang anibersaryo ng ating paging kasintahan. Ada raises her heart-lock necklace, looking at it as precious. ADA Laking gulat ko na makita ko ang kuwintas ko suot ni Noemi. Alan chokes on the wine he sips. Quickly regains his composure. Ada ignores him. ADA Tinanong ko siya saan niya nakuha ang kuwintas suot niya. Sabi niya regalo raw... Naisip ko imposible, dinesenyo ito na maging tanging isa sa buong mundo. Ada clutches tight at her heart locket. Her fist shakes. ADA Sa tindi ng galit malapit ko na siya nasaktan. Sinesante ko siya at pinaalis sa bahay... pero pag-tingin ko sa bag
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4. A beat. Ada looks at Alan. ADA Alan hon, meron pang pasta, ubusan mo na. With some reluctance Alan spoons all the pasta on his plate and starts eating. Ada continues. ADA Tiningnan ko aking bag, nandoon ang kuwintas ko. Ang kuwintas ni Noemi ay bago...at dili peke. Ada turns at Alan who pauses eating, he frowns. Tries to swallow but can’t. He starts to look uncomfortable, he chokes. His face blushes red in panic. He struggles for release, for air. He panics. A beat. Ada watches her husband choking on his food, with calm. With a painful, powerful spasm Alan spits out what was blocking his throat on the floor. The white of his eyes grow wide in horror. ON THE FLOOR, among the mucus, saliva and blood-colored meat sauce is A HEART-LOCKET NECKLACE identical to what Ada has. He looks at Ada, who smiles at him, calm and contented. ADA Gutom ka pa, Alan? Marami pa sa kusina. Alan stumbles back out of his chair; he rises and quickly rushes into the kitchen. Ada sips her wine. Then forks some pasta in her mouth. Her face shows appreciation for the taste. INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT. Alan rushes inside the kitchen, looking sick beyond words. He ntic, He moves towards the door of the maid’s quarters only to slip down on the floor. Lying down, Alan winces on the floor then turns to see the bloodycovered wrist and hand of a woman. Alan recognizes whose hand it is. ALAN No...no...Noe... ADA (OS) Alan...hon... Alan turns at the voice, up. ALAN’s P.O.V. Ada looks down at him with her Mona Lisa smile and her eyes bright with love and madness. The large meat-cleaver in both her hands is raised to strike. ADA Maligayang...
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5. Alan’s cry is stop short as Ada strikes with the meat cleaver and doesn’t stop. ADA ...anibersyo! She continues to chop down, shouting “Happy anniversary, Love!”, “Alan!” “I love you!” Blood spray splatters her face. Ada continues to strike until the raw edges of exhaustion appears on her actions. INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT. Heavy steps. Ada comes inside in heavy steps. She takes her seat before her vanity mirror/table and becomes the human ragdoll once more, stained with blood this time. Her eyes lock with that of their reflection—glass against glass. A WOMAN SOBS AND CRIES (OS) INTO THE NIGHT. CUT TO BLACK ROLL CREDITS FADE IN: EXT. HOUSE – DAY. People line up along tables for snacks. At one table is Ada serving dinuguan in bowls, accompanied with soft-white puto. A GIRL FRIEND(24) stands beside her, dipping her puto into the brown stew and eating with gusto. FRIEND Sarap! Turuan mo ako sa resipe ng dinuguan mo. ADA Lutong Alan ito, kanya ang resipe. FRIEND Talaga? Marunong magluto si Alan mo? Sana sinama mo siya dito. Ada ladles the blood stew into a bowl and gives it to a waiting diner. ADA Malaki ang tulong ni Alan sa paghanda dito. Binigay niya ang buong loob niya. Ada notices her girl friend’s bowl is almost empty. She offers up a ladle more, which the girl friend accepts eagerly. Ada pours out the ladle into the bowl. She beams at her friend, just blissfully free. ADA Kain pa, marami pa diyan. Hold on Ada’s bright eyes and Mona Lisa smile. CUT TO BLACK. THE END
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