Ang Bilyonaryo at ang Teenager.

A TAGLISH SCREENPLAY WRITTEN BY PROF. BERNIE V. LOPEZ

AUTHOR’S DEDICATION. This short film being proposed for production is dedicated to Prof. Ricky Abad, multi-awarded Drama Professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, my classmate class 1966, whom I introduced to the Muntinlupa Bilibid Prison to bring his Ateneo drama team to produce a stage play with inmates as actors and stage crew.

The Bilibid Officials were impressed at how the play changed the inmates, who originally could not talk in public, to gain self-conficence and self-esteem, which changed their lives and outlook dramatically.\

Previously, inmates had written and produced original stage plays on their own which impressed the Ateneo drama group and other NGO groups supporting Biliibid inmates. It is hoped that Bililbid can continue staging dramas with inmates as actors and crews with or without outside help.

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Comment of classmate actor–comedian Leo Martinez. = Hi Bernie, Magandang theater script ito. Kung gusto mong maging pelikula, pakita mo ang naging relasyon at buhay nina Tycoon at Teenager na nagsimula sa isang job interview hanggang namatay sila. At present form, it is good as a Short Film or skit (One-Act Stage Play of about 45 to 60 minutes). Consider the option to make it a full length film, if some producers would be intereted.

Author’s note. I am not using standard screenplay format, which keeps on changing. However, it is director-friendly and talent-friendly, based on a few producers I have consulted.

Ito ay isang kuwento tungkol sa sagupaan ng dalawang dominanteng karakter – isang kinatatakutang bilyonaryo, at isang teenager na intellectual rebel na walang takot.

OPENING SCENE.

Title and credits. Music OPM.

For stage, establishing shots can be projected on giant screen(s).

Establishing shots. Extreme long shot of Ayala Avenue tall buildings.Sound of rush hour and traffic Theme music. Cut to full shot of building, office of Tycoon Terence, 82 years old. Cut to penthouse office entrance with a sign “Andromeda Ventures Corporation” and with an eagle as Logo.

Scene. Office of Terence. His glass wall-window overlooks the panorama of Makati below, showing the reddening sunset. His desk is as large as a pool table, glass and chrome (or similar), containing only one folder, his cellphone, and a telephone on top, nothing else. There is a knock at the door.

TERENCE – Pasok, pasok.

SECRETARY– (Pinapasok si Therese, 19 years old, nakamaong). Sir, eto na po si Therese, for interview. (Secretary exits.)

TERENCE – Ah yes, Therese. Welcome. Maupo ka. (Naupo nang walang imik.) Normally ba naka maong ka for an interview?

THERESE – Wag ka nang mainsulto. Di na ata uso yong pustura for first impression. External lang yan.

TERENCE – Ay, sorry ha. Sinabi mo, e. Ok lang. Feel at home. Kelangan malaman mong kilala akong isang mabangis na Hitler. Huwag kang matakot.

THERESE – Hindi naman ako natatakot. Yung logo niyo agila, isang predator. Very appropriate.

TERENCE – Tama ka diyan. Yan ang gusto ko, for a change. Masyadong matakutin ang mga tao dito. Tawagin mo na lang akong ‘sir’.

THERESE – Hindi ka ba napapagod na tawagin kang ‘sir’? Lahat ng tao ay nakaluhod sayo? It’s about time you meet an equal.

TERENCE – Wow. An equal. I could fire you this instant.

THERESE – Go ahead. You want me to go? (Tumayo is Therese.)

TERENCE – Teka. Relax lang. Maupo ka. What is your position in this office?

THERESE – Assistant to the third assistant secretary. Kelangan mo raw ng ‘sunset girl’ to help you relax sa hapon bago umuwi. Magaling akong magpa-relax. Kaya ko kinuha itong sunset girl job. I hate office work.

TERENCE – And you call us equals?

THERESE – Oo naman. Ang kaibahan lang sa atin – ikaw mayaman, ako hindi. Lamang ka doon. Pero matanda ka na, ako bata pa. Lamang ako doon. Well, not really. Isang araw, mamatay tayong dalawa. Baka mauna pa nga ako sayo. Ang IQ natin halos pantay. Lamang ako ng konti.

TERENCE – Paano mong nalaman yon?

THERESE – Konting research.

TERENCE – It takes more than IQ to make a billionaire.

THERESE – Alam ko. Mas mababa nga lang ang EQ o Emotional Quotient mo sa akin dahil, gaya ng sabi mo, isa kang Hitler.

TERENCE – At ano naman ang sekreto mo para magpa-relax ng tao.

THERESE – Ewan. I’m just me.

TERENCE – (Leafing through her biodata). Hmmm. 19 years old. Oh, summa cum laude, Ateneo de Manila. Top of the class. Major in Banking and Finance. No work experience.

THERESE – Maliban sa sunset duty, I am a genius in finance. Wanna try me?

TERENCE – Isang dosena ang mga VPs ko sa finance, magaling kahit tulog. Minimum 15 years experience.

THERESE – Sa sunset na lang tayo, kung ganoon.

TERENCE – Number one ka sa aking listahan dahil top of your class ka, summa, at ang personality test mo, sabi extreme intellectual rebel ka raw. Yan ang hinahanap ko. I want a young bright devil-may-care kid I can talk to na walang takot.

THERESE – Tungkol saan?

TERENCE – Anything. Kelangan ko ng out-of-the-box mag-isip, pure of heart and without scars.

THERESE – (Laughing). Terence, marami akong hidden scars. May I call you Terence?

TERENCE – You already did.

THERESE – Sawang-sawa ka na sa mga ‘yes’ people sa paligid mo, your VPs, you’re inner circle, tama?

TERENCE – Tama. Ano ang first impression mo sa akin?

THERESE – Mas positibo kaysa sa first impression mo sa akin. Sa tingin ko hindi ka naman talagang isang Hitler. Nagkukunwari ka lang. Baka insecure ka lang. Cover-up mo yon sa mga kakulangan mo sa employee relationships.

TERENCE – Nakita mo yon?

THERESE – Hindi ako sure. Pinapapayagan mo akong labanan ka. That’s your soft spot. Pero na-threaten kita nung sinabi kong we are equals, pero tinanggap mo. Maybe you’re just lonely.

TERENCE – Teka, teka, masyado kang mabilis. You’re putting me on the defensive. Wala pa tayong 10 minutes mag-usap, mas magaling ka pa sa aking mga shrinks.

THERESE – Di wag kang maging defensive. Hindi ako kamukha ng mga ‘yes’ men mo. Hindi mo ako hawak. That’s a nice feeling para sa ating dalawa, di ba? You want me to defy you, I mean, for a change.

TERENCE – Nararamdaman mo ba ang aking despair?

THERESE – Obvious na obvious buhat nung pumasok ako sa office mo. Hindi ka pa nagsasalita, alam ko na.

TERENCE – Psychic ka ba?

THERESE – Hindi naman. Konti lang.

Therese stands up, goes to the mini-bar, puts brandy on two goblets and gets two glasses of iced water, puts them on a tray, and places it on Terence’s table.

THERESE – May I join you?

TERENCE – Stupid question. Dalawang baso dala mo.

THERESE – Yung secretary mo, napakabait. Sinabi niya kung anong iniinom mo.

Glasses clink. The ice is broken between the tycoon and the teenager. They approach the window and look at less tall buildings silhouetted against the orange sunset.

TERENCE – First time akong makipag inuman sa isang assistant secretary. Ni hindi ako ang nag-offer magpainom. Ikaw ang nag-offer sa akin. Normally, nagpapainom ako sa mga big time clients lang.

THERESE – Normally,  pero importante yon dahil sunset girl mo ako, di ba?

(Opening her cellphone and reading.) Listen. Do not be a lake where you store God’s grace. Rather, be a river and let it flow out to the vast ocean where many yearn for Him.

(Show on giant screen view of sunset and seagull)

TERENCE – Sinong sumulat niyan.

THERESE – Ako.

TERENCE – May dugo ka palang makata. Sa tingin mo dapat kong bilhin ang Daily Globe? Tingnan natin ano ang galing ng utak mong summa cum laude.

THERESE – Para que? Nasa iyo na ang lahat. Yan ay para lang mahimas mo ang iyong ego, at makahakot ka nang konti pa. Sorry ha, kung medyo pranka ako. Bakit mo bibilhin ang Daily Globe? To project your over-projected image? Power? Fame? Nasa cover ka ng Time Magazine three months ago, at Fortune Magazine seven months. Sawa na ang mga readers ng business magazine sa mukha mo. Six times na sa cover ka ng Fortune. Sobra na.

TERENCE – Seven times. Nag-research ka nang todo tungkol sa akin, ano? So, anong gagawin ko?

THERESE – Simple lang yan. Stop acquiring. Stop merging. Stop your greed, na addict ka na. Kelangan mong mag-detox.

TERENCE – Alam mo, nag-uusap tayo dito nang wala pang twenty minutes at, for the first time, you’re changing me, my life.

THERESE – Yan ang gawain ng sunset girls. I can see through you. Hubad ka sa aking mata, Terence. Lahat itong ginto sa iyong paanan ay walang kwenta sa iyo. Hind nakikita ng mga tauhan mo ang iyong takot. Nirerespeto ka nila dahil sa takot sila sayo. Bulag silang lahat. Ako, walang takot sayo.

TERENCE – I have seen four shrinks in the last two months.

Hindi nahiya si Terence lumuha. For the first time in a long while. Kinuha ni Therese ang bote ng brandy at pinuno hanggang umapaw.

THERESE – Yup, yan ang unang hakbang. Ang luha mo ang gamot sa problema mo.

TERENCE – Hindi ganito ang pag-inom ng brandy, Therese.

THERESE – Oops. Sorry.

Therese goes to the bar and pours tequila into two goblets. They gulp it instantly.

THERESE – Mga shrinks mo hindi ka matutulungan, Terence. They just want your money.

TERENCE – So anong gagawin ko? C’mon sunset girl. (Pause) Teka. More tequila.

She takes the bottle of tequila and fills the goblets. They are emptied instantly. She pours again. But just as Terence is about to have a second gulp, Therese pulls the glass away.

THERESE – Teka, teka. Tingan mo ako. (Tumingin si Terence.) Get rid of your empire. Give it away. Yan lang ang solusyon to get out of your rut.

TERENCE – My empire a rut? You’re kidding.

THERESE – Yes, your empire a rut at ikaw ay nalulunod na sa iyong kayamanan.

There is silence. Terence yanks the glass from Therese and both down the tequila.

THERESE – I mean, nasa pre-departure area ka na. Hindi mo ba naiisip yon? Death is at your doorstep.

TERENCE – Sobra ka naman.

THERESE – Ilan taon na lang ang buhay mo? Ten, twenty years?

TERENCE – Shut up. Sa totoo, apat na taon ko nang iniisip yang kamatayan. Yan ang sinasabi ko sa apat kong shrinks. Gusto lang nilang mawala ang worry ko, at mabayaran, mga hipocritong sipsip. Ikaw, iba. Sobrang derecho. Walang pagkukunwari. Matalas. Madiin. Malupit.

THERESE – Ganyan ang sunset girl para makatulong. Sabi ni Steve Jobs bago siya namatay, “Almost everything–all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure, these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.” Lahat ng bagay, lahat ng ating ambisyon, lahat ng ating yabang, ng takot mapahiya o mabigo, lahat ito ay bale wala na kapag kaharap na natin ang kamatayan. Ang natitira na lamang ay kung ano ang tunay na katotohanan. Yan ang sabi ni Steve Jobs habang minamasid niya ang kanyang sobrang kayamanan. Sabi niya, para que ang iyong kayamanan kung hindi mo naman madadala sa langit.

TERENCE – O sa impiyerno.

THERESE – Ah, ikaw na ang nagsabi niyan, hindi ako.

TERENCE – Ang galing talaga ng aking sunset girl. Eto na nga ang sunset ng buhay ko.

THERESE – Kita mo na. Pamigay mo na lang ang iyong kayamanan. ‘What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but suffers the loss of his immortal soul,’ Mark Chapter 8 Verse 6. Aanhin mo ang ma-angkin ang buong mundo kung impiyerno lang ang tungo mo. Two key words, Terence – ‘profit’ and ‘immortal’. Corporate jargon yan – profit. Immortal – how can you compare your puny empire to the infinity of your soul?

Long silence as they view the dying reddening sunset.

TERENCE – Okay. I have just made a decision. Magtatayo ako ng isang foundation para tumulong sa mga homeless at mga seniors. Magtatayo ako ng isang malaking free hospital for the poor, how about that?

Therese pours more tequila. They down it in two seconds.

THERESE – Basta hindi para sa sarili mo. Kelangan para sa kapwa. That’s the secret – love.

TERENCE – Aha, love is the secret.

THERESE – Well, not really a secret. Magdasal tayo, Terence. (Terence falls to his knees.) Teka. Hindi na kelangan lumuhod. Relax at maupo ka at masdan natin ang napakagandang sunset bago ito maglaho. (Both face the sunset.) Follow after me. (Terence follows.) Lord, turuan mo po kami (pause) ako at si Terence (pause) kung papaanong pong magsilbi sa inyo at magbigay sa kapwa. (Pause) Especially Terence po, dahil napakarami niyang ma-ibibigay. Amen.

TERENCE – Amen. That’s it? Tapos na?.

THERESE – Done. Hindi na kailangan ipaliwanag pa. Alam na yan ng Lord.

TERENCE – Salamat, Lord at binigay mo ko ng isang anghel in my sunset years.

THERESE – Oops, teka pala. Another thing, Terence. Ilan ang dinaya mo at niloko mo upang yumaman?

TERENCE – Are you accusing me of being a cheat?

THERESE – Oo.

TERENCE – Wala namang gaano. Mukhang ikaw na ngayon ang Hitler, hindi ako.

THERESE – Aminin, aminin, Terence.

TERENCE – Okay, okay, may kaunti.

THERESE – Gut feel ko lang. Sa tingin ko marami.

TERENCE – Marami-rami.

THERESE – Sabi na nga ba, e. Ilista mo ang mga pangalan ng mga niloko mo – pangalan, kelan, magkano kahit estimate lang, hanggang sa kaya mong maalala.

TERENCE – I can’t remember.

THERESE – You mean you won’t remember.

TERENCE – Okay, I will do it. My accountants will do it.

THERESE – Yan ang tiket mo papuntang langit. Not a stone will be left unturned. Kelangan isoli mo lahat. Every penny.

TERENCE – Plus interest? Sobra ka naman.

THERESE – Yes, plus interest. Kaya yan ng mga accountants mo. Hanapin mo lahat sila. Kung hindi mo sila makita o patay na, ibigay mo sa mahihirap. I have to go. It’s late. Lasing na ako.

TERENCE – Hahatid na kita.

THERESE – No. Malapit lang ang bahay ko. (She pours more tequila.) Meron akong terminal cancer of the pancreas, stage 2, incurable. Sunset guy din kita, di mo lang alam.

TERENCE – Binanggit mo ang kamatayan ko. Yun pala kamatayan mo rin. Papatayin ka ng tequila bago ng cancer.

THERESE – Sana nga. Binigyan ako ng doctor ko ng one year to live. Gusto kong gawing six months. By the way, napalapit ka sa akin in one stormy afternoon. Nakikita ko ang aking sarili sayo. Ikaw ang salamin ko.

TERENCE – Ganoon din ang pakiramdam ko. Love at first sight. (Tawanan ang dalawa.)

THERESE – For the road, Terence. Cheers. Down the hatch. (Nilagok nila ang tequila.) Hindi na ako babalik. Napakita ko na sa iyo ang sunset mo. I enjoyed it terribly. (Nagyakapan ang dalawa at parehong lumuha.)

TERENCE – Kelangan kita. Tulungan mo akong ipamigay ang aking empire. I will see you tomorrow at sunset.

THERESE –Wala akong alam dyan. Tanong mo kay Lord. Magaling siya dyan. Peanuts yan para sa kanya. (She heads for the door.)

TERENCE – Napamahal ka na rin sa akin, Therese. Ngayon lang nangyari ito sa akin, sa dami ng taon at taong pinagdaanan ko. Teka, teka.

Terence is frantic writing a cheque with trembling hands. He folds a crumpled cheque and slips it into her cleavage, almost stumbling into her.

THERESE – Watch it!

TERENCE – (Raising both hands.) Oops. No touch, Therese.

THERESE – (Pulling out the cheque, and reading it.) This is too much. I can’t take this. (She gives it back to Terence, but as he heads for her cleavage again, she backs away and grabs the check.)

TERENCE – Take the damn cheque. You’re doing me a favor.

THERESE – Okay, I’ll take it. Salamat. Wow, it’s been a long time since I met an equal. (They laugh.) Salamat uli.

TERENCE – Ako ang dapat magpasalamat.

THERESE – Hindi na ako babalik.

TERENCE – Hell, drop in sometime?

Terence puts off the lights as Therese leaves. Only the glow of the now-red sunset is seen through the glass window. Terence sits in his chair in the semi-dark.

NARRATION BY TERENCE. (Off camera. With related visuals on a giant screen of a beach house, and speed boat rides, etc.) Bumili ng isang first-class beach house si Therese sa Honda Bay sa Palawan, at isang second-hand speed boat. Nainggit ako, kaya bumili rin ako ng katabing beach house, mas malaki, at isang brand-new 500-horsepower Volvo Penta. Binigay niya ang kalahati ng income niya sa sister niya upang alagaan ang nanay nilang may sakit.

Therese and Terence are seated on the beach in front of Therese’s beach house, facing the red sunset.

THERESE – Ang OA mo naman. Aanhin mo ang Volvo Penta. Sinusundan mo ba ako?

TERENCE – Hindi naman. Sinusundan ko Siya. (Pointing to the sky).

THERESE – Oh. How nice. So, tayong dalawa nagbibiyahe papunta sa Kanya.

NARRATION NI TERENCE. (Off camera. With related visuals.) Isang libong sunsets ang dinaanan namin, itong tycoon na galit sa kwarta at itong teenager na manhid sa kamatayan. Cabernet, not Tequila ang iniinom namin. Red wine na lang ang kaya niya. We brainstormed regularly on how to give more love to the chaotic world. Excited kami – hospitals, senior homes, an open-air theater for concerts, whose income goes to the poor.

Tumagal si Therese ng seven years, hindi one year na sabi ng mga doctor. Ang saya saya niyang mapaligiran ng mga bata sa isang malaking orphanage niya. Mahal niya silang lahat, at mahal siya ng lahat. Happiness has a way of healing people. The spirit can heal the body somehow.

Binayaran ko ang chemo ni Therese three times a week for seven years, a small fortune. Noong pumanaw na siya, nahirapan akong ipamigay ang aking empire para sa Panginoon, kasi sobrang laki at ang dami kong dinaya. Ngayong nag-iisa na ako sa beach sunset ko, sumsulat ako ng librong ang pamagat ay “Sunset Girl”, mga gabay sa akin ni Therese na itinuro niya sa isang maghapong pagsasama, one frenzied stormy afternoon in my office.

Ang tingin ng lahat sa akin, based on many business articles, ay isang super-tycoon na may sayad na, hibang at lukaret na ipinamudmod sa mundo ang natitirang kong kayamanan. They all thought I was deranged …. except the Lord, of course.

SUGGESTED MUSIC – 1) theme song Stay with Me from the movie The Cardinal – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdZQEAxGcVQ 2). A Pilipino version would be fantastic, sung by the likes of Leo Salonga or Basil Valdez, or someone. Use it freely at appropriate places in the entire play.