PATTERNS: THE DEVOTED, THE DERANGED, AND THE DEPRESSED

Written by: Olaf Son

(OFFICIAL SCRIPT)

PROLOGUE

(BLACKOUT)

(On the stage, three people are in still-position.

On the left, Claire is on her knees with her eyes closed and her hands held together as if in prayer. In front
of her is the Bible.
In the middle, Darius is sitting cross-legged with his head down, holding a gun on his right hand and a
syringe on the other.
On the right, Geneva is standing wearing her school backpack. She is clutching her books tightly in her
arms.)

(LIGHTS)

(Claire opens her eyes.)

CLAIRE: There is no one else who loves me more than the one and only God. Life is all about
faith.

(Darius drops the empty beer bottle.)

DARIUS: Life is nothing but a trap. This is the only reality I know; this is the only reality that
matters.
(Geneva puts her books inside her backpack.)

GENEVA: There are two words that perfectly describe me: happy and content. Life is fun!
(Claire grabs the Bible and stands. Darius picks up the bottle again and stands. Geneva drops her
backpack. All of them look at the audience.)

CLAIRE: Kailan ka huling nanalangin?

DARIUS: Kailan ka huling tumakas sa reyalidad?

GENEVA: Kailan ka huling naging masaya?

CLAIRE: Kailan mo huling naramdaman na may kasama ka?

DARIUS: Kailan mo huling naramdaman na nag-iisa ka?

GENEVA: Kailan mo huling naramdaman na parang lahat ay kaaway?

CLAIRE: Kakampi?

DARIUS: O parehas?

GENEVA: Kailan?

CLAIRE, DARIUS, & GENEVA: Natatandaan mo pa ba?

(Darius and Geneva exit the stage.)

(BLACKOUT)

(End scene.)
ACT I: THE DEVOTED

(LIGHTS)

(Cue: scene. Claire is left alone on the stage.)

(Claire walks to the middle. She faces the audience.)

CLAIRE: Hello! I’m Claire. Nice to meet you all! Maligayang pagdating sa buhay ko. Ah, itong hawak ko?
This is the Bible: the greatest story told to mankind.

CLAIRE: Kung iniisip mong nag-iisa ka, nagkakamali ka, kaibigan. Lagi nating kasama ang Panginoon. Lagi
natin Siyang kasama saan man tayo magpunta.

CLAIRE: For it is written in the book of Matthew, chapter 28 verse 20, “Behold, I am with you always, even
to the end of the age.”. Kaya if you ever feel alone, please know na kasama mo si God, kahit anong
mangyari.

(Claire’s father, Samuel, can be heard shouting angrily.)

SAMUEL: (background) Claire! Punyeta ka talagang bata ka, maglinis ka dito! Kung anu-ano na naman
yang ginagawa mo! Napakabatugan mo talaga!

CLAIRE: (to the audience) Huwag kayong mag-panic, guys. Si Papa Samuel ko yun. Hindi kasi ako
nakapag-linis kagabi dahil sa Youth Ministry namin. Bababa muna ako para mag-linis.
(Claire exits the stage.)

(BLACKOUT)

(LIGHTS)

(Cue: scene. A living room full of trash. On the couch, a drunk Samuel is angrily waiting for Claire. Claire
enters the living room. She is immediately grabbed in the arm by her father.)

SAMUEL: Sabi ko sa’yo mag-linis ka ‘di ba?! Tangina ka talagang bata ka, hindi ka marunong sumunod sa
utos ko! Bakit ang dumi-dumi dito sa bahay?!

CLAIRE: Sorry po, galing po kasi ako sa church kagabi. May inasikaso po kami sa Youth Minis–

SAMUEL: Punyetang simbahan yan! Wala namang naidudulot na maganda! Nagkaka-pera ka ba diyan?
Kumikita ka ba?!

CLAIRE: Hindi po, sorry po talaga.

(Samuel aggressively grabs Claire’s hair, then forcefully yanks it back. Claire whimpers and begins to cry.)

CLAIRE: Papa, nasasaktan na po ako!

SAMUEL: Huwag ko lang malaman-laman na lumalandi kang bata ka! Papatayin ko kayong dalawa!

CLAIRE: Opo, bitawan nyo na po ako! Nasasaktan na po talaga ako!

(Instead of letting go, Samuel pulls Claire’s hair back harder. He whispers into his daughter’s ear.)
SAMUEL: Kapag inabutan ko pa rin na madumi ‘tong bahay, hindi mo magugustuhan ang mangyayari.
Naiintindihan mo ba o kailangan ko pang ulitin dahil tanga-tanga ka?!
CLAIRE: Naiintindihan ko po, sorry po talaga.

(Samuel lets go of Claire’s hair with an aggressive push. He laughs devilishly. He then grabs another bottle
of beer, then exits the stage. Claire dusts herself off and fixes her hair. She turns to the audience.)

CLAIRE: Huwag kayong mag-alala guys, ganun lang talaga si papa. Wala na kasing naga-asikaso dito sa
bahay mula nung mamatay si Mama, kaya ako na lang kumikilos. Natatakot lang talaga ako sa kanya kasi
lagi siyang lasing, pero naiintindihan ko naman na hindi niya pa rin matanggap na wala na si mama.

(Claire begins to clean the living room.)

CLAIRE: Alam niyo ba, lagi kong pinag-dadasal na sana maging okay na si papa. Kahit lagi niya akong
sinasaktan at minumura, mahal ko pa din siya, at alam kong mahal din siya ni Lord. Ipagpe-pray ko na
lang siya.

CLAIRE: Mahal ko pa rin si papa, at alam kong hindi siya pababayaan ni Lord. Maglilinis muna ako dito ah?
A-attend pa ako sa church mamaya eh. See you later, guys!

(BLACKOUT)

(LIGHTS)

(Cue: scene. Claire’s living room, evening of the same day. Samuel is seen unconsciously lying on the floor
with several bottles of alcohol scattered on the table and on the couch. Claire can be heard knocking on
the door.)

CLAIRE: Papa? Pabukas po ng pinto, nandito na po ako.

(Claire notices that the door is unlocked. She enters the living room and sees her father unconscious on
the floor. She rushes to him.)

CLAIRE: Papa?! (She checks her father for a pulse. Nothing.) Papa!

(Claire begins to cry, clutching her father in her arms. After a few seconds, she looks up and begins to
shout angrily.)

CLAIRE: Bakit Mo hinayaang mamatay ang tatay ko?! Bakit Mo kami pinabayaan?! Akala ko ba mahal Mo
kami?!

CLAIRE: I’ve devoted my whole life to Your teachings, to Your word, to You! Tapos ito lang ang ibabalik Mo
sa akin?! Kinuha Mo na si mama, pati ba naman si papa?! Wala kang kwentang Diyos!

(Claire bows her head and continues to cry. After a while, she looks at the audience with a blank stare.)

CLAIRE: There is no one else who loves me more than the one and only God. Life is all about
faith.

(BLACKOUT)

(End scene.)
 ACT II: THE DERANGED

(LIGHTS)

(Cue: scene. A dirty-looking house with several pieces of trash, drug paraphernalia, and bottles are
scattered around. In the middle of the room is a table and a chair with Darius sitting on it. On the table, a
gun, lighter, several pockets of heroin, and a syringe can be seen. Darius looks at the audience.)

DARIUS: What the fuck are you looking at? Huwag niyo akong pakialaman. Buhay ko ‘to.

DARIUS: Alam ko na kung anong iniisip niyo: na si Darius ay walang maayos na buhay, puro droga at alak,
pariwara. Eh ano ngayon? Ito ang reyalidad ko. Mas masaya ako dito.

(Darius grabs a packet of heroin and melts its contents with a lighter. He loads the syringe with the melted
heroin, then injects it into his arm. He breathes a sigh of relief.)

DARIUS: Good shit. Good shit. Good shit.

(Darius suddenly loses consciousness and passes out on the table.)

(Later, a woman wearing corporate attire is seen entering the room. She is Olivia, a criminal defense
lawyer and Darius' sister. She approaches Darius and shakes him awake.)

OLIVIA: Kuya? Gumising ka.

(Darius groans and wakes up. He sees Olivia, and instantly frowns.)

DARIUS: Anong ginagawa mo dito? ‘Di ba sabi ko sa’yo, huwag mo na akong puntahan?

OLIVIA: Kuya naman, bakit ayaw mo pa tigilan ‘to? Ilang beses na kitang inaalok ng tulong. Marami akong
kakilala, pwede kitang ipasok ‘dun sa kakila–

(Darius abruptly stands up and slams his hands on the table, much to Olivia’s surprise. He begins to shout
at his sister.)

DARIUS: Ayoko nga! Tangina naman Olivia, hindi mo ba ako maintindihan?! Ayoko na bumalik sa mundo
niyo dahil hindi ako masaya! Pare-pareho kayong lahat: puro kayo mapanghusga! Ito na ang reyalidad ko!
Ito na ang mundo ko! Hindi ko kailangan ng tulong niyo!

OLIVIA: Pero kuya, kailangan mo ng tul–

DARIUS: …ng ano? Ng tulong? Kailangan ko ng tulong?! Hindi ko kailangan ng tulong mo o ng tulong ng
kahit na sino! Umalis ka na!

(Olivia tries to reach for her brother’s arm to calm him down.)

OLIVIA: Kuya, please, umuwi ka na. Please…

(Darius pushes Olivia away, causing his sister to stumble and fall on the floor. Olivia begins to cry silently.)

DARIUS: For the last time, hindi ko kailangan ng tulong niyo. Umalis ka na dito.
(Darius sits on his chair and prepares another shot of heroin. Olivia stands and begins to walk away.
Halfway through the door, she stops and turns to her brother.)

OLIVIA: Kung darating man ang araw na gusto mo ng bumalik sa dati, nandito lang ako, kuya.

(Olivia leaves. Darius continues to prepare the heroin. He looks at the audience.)

DARIUS: Tama yung narinig niyo. Hindi ako ganito dati. Pero patay na yung taong yun. Yung nakikita niyo
ngayon? Ito yung totoong Darius. Masaya akong ganito: bagong buhay, bagong mundo, bagong ako.

(Darius injects the heroin to his arm once again. He looks at the audience with a blank stare on his face.)

DARIUS: Life is nothing but a trap. This is the only reality I know, this is the only reality that
matters.

(In the background, police sirens can be heard. Darius instantly panics, and rushes out of the room.)

(BLACKOUT)

(End scene.)
 ACT III: THE DEPRESSED

(LIGHTS)

(Cue: scene. Geneva’s house, kitchen. She and her family, which consists of her parents Marcus & Giselle
and her older brother Matthew, are having breakfast together.)

MARCUS: Kamusta ang trabaho mo, Matthew?

MATTHEW: Okay lang po, Dad. Medyo nakaka-stress sa office kasi ang daming paperworks, pero
matatapos na po ako.

GENEVA: Ano nga ulit trabaho mo, kuya? Business… business ano nga ulit?

MATTHEW: Business administration, Gen. Tadtad ng paperworks, pero mahal ko naman trabaho ko kaya
nae-enjoy ko. Kaya ikaw, siguraduhin mo yung course na kukunin mo sa college para hindi ka magsisi.

GISELLE: Tama ang Kuya Matthew mo, Geneva. Laging nasa huli ang pagsisisi.

MARCUS: Oo nga, tingnan mo, pinakasalan ko ang Mommy niyo. Kaya ngayo–
(Marcus was not able to finish his sentence because Giselle was already choking him. Matthew and
Geneva were laughing at their parents’ antics.)

GISELLE: (still choking Marcus) May sinasabi ka ba, Pa? Paki-ulit nga, hindi ko marinig eh!

MARCUS: (while being choked) Wala po, Ma! Wala naman akong pinagsisisihan, alam mo namang love na
love kita eh.

(Cue still-position for Marcus, Giselle, & Matthew. Geneva looks at the audience.)

GENEVA: Hi! I’m Geneva, and they are my family. Si Daddy Marcus, si Mommy Giselle, at si Kuya
Matthew. Huwag kayo mag-alala, normal lang yung mga ganyang biruan dito. Sobrang close kami at
sobrang love namin ang isa’t-isa. Sobrang perfect ng family namin para sa akin.

GENEVA: Hindi lang sila ang perfect. Syempre pati friends ko perfect din!

(Cue: movements. The sound of their doorbell can be heard.)

GENEVA: Sakto, tapos na ako kumain. Mom, Dad, Kuya, alis na po ako. Andyan na po mga classmates ko.

GISELLE: Sige bunso. Mag-ingat ka ah?

GENEVA: Opo.

(Geneva grabbed her backpack and bid goodbye to her family. Marcus, Giselle, & Matthew exit.)

(BLACKOUT)

(LIGHTS)
(Cue: scene. School. Geneva and her classmates are inside their classroom, waiting for class to start.)

REBECCA: Akalain mo yun, ilang linggo na lang, graduation na. Tapos na tayo sa Grade 10!

JULIA: Parang kahapon lang, first day natin as Grade 7. Tapos ngayon, matatanda na tayo.

GENEVA: I know. Parang kahapon lang hindi pa uso yung jowa-jowa sa atin.

REBECCA: Tapos tingnan mo ngayon, yung dalawa diyan, grabe mag-bebe time.

JULIA: (to Sabrina) Oo nga eh. Magi-ilang months na tayo?

SABRINA: Babe, magfo-four years na tayo. Are you kidding me?

JULIA: (holds Sabrina’s hands) Eto naman, joke lang eh.

REBECCA: (looks at Sabrina and Julia with fake disgust) Kakain na sana ako ng lunch kaso naumay na ako
sa inyong dalawa.

SABRINA: Tara mag-lunch! Sa labas na tayo ng school kumain.

GENEVA: Mauna na kayo, maga-ayos lang ako ng gamit. Susunod ako.

JULIA: Sige bhie, we’ll save you a seat.

(Rebecca, Julia, and Sabrina exit. Geneva is packing her things when suddenly, loud bangs of what seemed
to be gunshots can be heard from outside. Geneva was startled. Just when she was about to stand, Darius
suddenly burst through the room and instantly locked the door, panting and sweating all over.)
DARIUS: Bwisit! Bwisit! Bwisit talaga!

(With his back on Geneva, Darius didn’t notice that someone was with him. Geneva wasn’t breathing. She
tried to move carefully but accidentally knocked a chair over. Darius immediately whipped back and aimed
the gun in Geneva's direction.)

DARIUS: Sino ka?! Huwag kang lalapit!

(Geneva instantly put her arms up as if to surrender.)

GENEVA: ‘Wag po! Estudyante lang ako dito! Please don’t shoot!

DARIUS: Huwag kang kikilos ng masama. Kailangan ko lang magtago sa mga pulis.

GENEVA: Okay, okay! Wala akong gagawing masama basta alisin mo yung pagkakatutok ng baril mo
sakin. Kalma lang tayo, okay?

(Geneva began to slowly lower her hands. Darius, still panting, lowered the gun as well. He sat on the floor
and placed the gun beside him. Geneva slowly walked to his direction. Darius noticed this, and began to
reach once again for his gun.)

GENEVA: Hindi ako naghahanap ng gulo. Let’s talk, okay? I will listen. Ako si Geneva. Anong pangalan
mo?

DARIUS: …Darius.

GENEVA: Nice to meet you, Darius. Anong nangyari? Bakit ka hinahabol ng pulis?
DARIUS: Wala kang pakialam. Manahimik ka na lang diyan.

(Geneva sat on the floor, in front of Darius. She removed her backpack and laid it beside her.)

DARIUS: Anong ginagawa mo? ‘Di ba sabi ko huwag mo akong lapitan?

GENEVA: Mahirap ba?

DARIUS: Ang alin…?

GENEVA: Buhay. Yung buhay mo. Mahirap ba?

DARIUS: Wala kang pakialam.

GENEVA: Siguro nga wala akong karapatang makialam. Pero at least sabihin mo kung anong problema.
Makikinig ako.

(Darius looked at her for a few seconds.)

DARIUS: Hindi na dapat umabot pa sa ganito eh. Maayos naman buhay ko dati. Mabuti akong estudyante,
mahal ako ng pamilya ko…

GENEVA: So, anong nangyari?

DARIUS: Isang pagkakamali. Isang pagkakamali lang tapos nagbago na ang tingin nilang lahat sa akin.
Isang maliit na pagkakamali lang ang sumira sa buhay ko. Pagkatapos nun, wala na. Nagkanda-letse-letse
na lahat. Hanggang sa umabot na ako sa puntong ganito.

GENEVA: Hindi ka ba nag-aalala na baka hinahanap ka na ng pamilya mo?

DARIUS: Para saan pa? Sila ang dahilan bakit ako nagkaganito.

GENEVA: Mukhang ikaw ang gumawa nyan sa sarili mo, Darius.

DARIUS: Sino ka para husgahan ako?!

GENEVA: Okay, alam kong hindi natin kilala ang isa’t-isa. Pero hindi mo ba naisip na ikaw lang din ang
nahihirapan sa ginagawa mo?

DARIUS: Ano bang alam mo? Hindi mo ako maiintindihan. Ikumpara mo sarili mo sakin: nag-aaral ka,
mukhang may maayos kang pamilya at pamumuhay. Madali lang sa’yo na magsabi ng ganyan kasi hindi
mo naman naranasan yung mga nangyari sakin.

GENEVA: Pero parehas lang tayo may pinagdadaanan sa buhay. Ang pinagkaiba lang, mas pinili kong
lumaban ng patas. Tuloy lang ang buhay. Laban lang nang laban.

(Darius looked at Geneva, then looked away. He sighed after a few seconds.)

DARIUS: Anong na nangyayari sakin? Hindi ako ganito. Gusto kong bumalik sa dati.

GENEVA: At hindi pa huli ang lahat.

(Darius and Geneva heard police sirens outside the school. Darius grabbed his gun and stood.)

DARIUS: Siguro nga hindi pa huli ang lahat. Thank you, Geneva. May panahon pa para magbago.

GENEVA: It’s never too late para magbago. How about a hug?
(Geneva stood from the floor, but as she was approaching Darius, a police officer burst through the
classroom door.)

SPO2 DIAZ: Bitawan mo ang armas mo!

GENEVA: Sir, huwag! Susuko na po siya!

(But Geneva was too late. Darius raised his hand to surrender, but the police officers mistook it as a sign
of aggression and opened fire. Before she was able to react, Geneva was staring at the dead body of
Darius.)

SPO2 DIAZ: (on his radio) Control, this is SPO2 Diaz. Suspect is dead, isang civilian. Student. Ma’am, okay
lang po ba kayo?

(Geneva wasn't t able to speak as she was still in shock. SPO2 Santiago escorted her outside the room,
exiting the stage.)

(BLACKOUT)

(End scene.)
 EPILOGUE

(Cue: scene. Cemetery, two weeks later. Two gravestones can be seen beside each other: Darius &
Samuel. In front of Darius’ gravestone is Geneva, staring silently.)

(A few moments later, Claire enters the scene holding a bouquet of flowers. She puts the flower down
gently on her father’s gravestone. She then talks to Geneva.)

CLAIRE: Claire. Boyfriend?

GENEVA: Geneva. Kaibigan lang. Kuya?

CLAIRE: Father ko. Sorry for your loss.

GENEVA: Sa’yo din.

(The two sat in silence for a moment. After a little while, Claire reached inside her bag and grabbed two
bottles of beer. Geneva looked at her.)

CLAIRE: I don’t know about you, pero nakaka uhaw yung nakaupo lang tayo dito.

GENEVA: Hindi pa ako legal uminom.

CLAIRE: Ako, mabilis malasing. Pareho lang tayong hindi pwede sa alak.
(Geneva smiled, and she grabbed the other bottle. They both began to drink.)

GENEVA: Ang unfair ng buhay, ‘no? One moment, sobrang perfect ng mga nangyayari tapos hindi mo
namamalayan, sasampalin ka na pala ng tadhana sa mukha.

CLAIRE: I know. Anong nangyari sa kanya?

GENEVA: Nagtago sa classroom namin kasi hinahabol siya ng pulis. Drug addict. Nakumbinsi ko siya na
magbagong-buhay, pero nung susuko na siya, nabaril siya ng pulis. Sa’yo?

CLAIRE: Naging alcoholic si Papa mula nung namatay si Mama. Ayun, sumobra, ‘di na kinaya ng katawan
niya. Lagi niya akong minamaltrato, sinasaktan, sinasabihan ng masasakit na salita, pero tatay ko pa rin
siya.

(Geneva noticed a Bible inside Claire’s bag.)

GENEVA: Kasama mo pa rin naman si Lord. Hindi Niya tayo pababayaan.

(Claire laughed sarcastically.)

CLAIRE: “Hindi pababayaan”? Tangina, kung meron talagang Diyos, wala sanang kamalasan sa mundo.
Akala ko ba mahal Niya tayo? Bakit Niya hinayaang mamatay si Papa?

GENEVA: Sa totoo lang, hindi ko din alam.

CLAIRE: ‘Di ba? Hindi mo alam. Hindi ko alam. Walang nakakaalam. Bulag tayong sumusunod sa isang
konsepto na wala namang kasiguraduhan.
(Claire grabbed the Bible from her bag.)

CLAIRE: Buong buhay ko, inalay ko para sa kinilala kong Diyos sa pag aakala na hindi Niya ako
pababayaan, pati mga mahal ko sa buhay. Wala na ‘tong silbi ngayong wala naman Siyang nagawa para
iligtas si Papa.

GENEVA: Bakit mo Siya sinisisi? Siya ba may kasalanan kung bakit naging lasinggero ang tatay mo?

CLAIRE: Wala kasi Siyang ginawa.

(Silence.)

CLAIRE: Nakakita ang bulag, nakarinig ang bingi, nakapagsalita ang pipi, nakalakad ang pilay, nabuhay
ang patay. Pero hindi Niya mailigtas ang mga mahal sa buhay ng mga tagasunod Niya. Ano pang saysay
nito?

GENEVA: Ilang linggo na akong depressed dahil sa nangyari sa kanya. Hindi pumapasok, hindi nakaka-
kain, hindi nakakatulog. Adik siya, oo, pero hindi man lang siya binigyan ng second chance.

CLAIRE: Gets mo na pala eh.

(Claire gave the Bible to Geneva.)

CLAIRE: Oh, sa’yo na ‘to. Kung makakatulong man sa’yo.

(Geneva accepted the Bible from Claire.)

GENEVA: Sana maibalik mo ang faith mo.

CLAIRE: Kahit ‘wag na.

(Geneva started to walk away. Cue: still-position.)

(Claire remained sitting in front of her father’s grave, a little while later, she brought out a blade from her
bag, then proceeded to cut her wrists. She bled to death. Cue: still-position.)

(Cue: movements. Geneva, on the other side of the stage, is staring at the Bible in her hands. She began
tearing the book into pieces. Then, she grabbed a gun from her bag, aimed it at her head, then pulled the
trigger.)

(BLACKOUT)

(Cue: voiceover.)

CLAIRE: Life is all about faith.

DARIUS: Life is nothing but a trap.

GENEVA: Life is fun!

~END~