Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay
Amihan, The Typhoon Spinner
A One-Act Fantasy
by Conrad A. Panganiban
SCENE 1
Lights up on LUALHATI, the royally dressed Queen of Kalangitan. She is looking into mirror while holding a glass of red wine in her hand. LOLA, King MALIC’s aging mother, is sitting in a wheelchair in the corner of the room. The Queen’s handmaid, CLARABELLE, hovers over LUALHATI with tweezers plucking at the Queen’s eyebrows.
CLARABELLE
How is that, My Queen?
LUALHATI
A little more J. Lo and less Angelina.
CLARABELLE
Yes, Mam.
LUALHATI
What is the name of this lip color again?
CLARABELLE
Seductress Red, My Queen.
LUALHATI
Yes, they are.
LUALHATI makes flirty faces into the mirror.
CLARABELLE
Are you excited to see him, My Queen?
LUALHATI
Who?
CLARABELLE
King Kaalam?
LUALHATI
I am. I’m sure that Your King Malic is more excited than I. It’s been ages since he has seen his brother. That’s why everything has to go perfect tonight.
CLARABELLE
Is he as handsome as everyone says?
LUALHATI
He is! But don’t tell my husband I said that. Malik, when he was much younger, looked as handsome as Kaalam. And that’s whom I fell in love with. They are brothers after all. But Kaalam… Kaalam has a certain air about him that can melt a lady with his smile. And his gaze… Those milk chocolate pools of brown eyes makes me want to dive right in and lick the center of those penetrating pupils and ohhhh…
CLARABELLE
My Queen?
LUALHATI
Ohhh…
CLARABELLE
My Queen!
LUALHATI
Yes! Yes!
I mean. Yes, Clarabelle. He is… nothing like my husband.
MALIC, the King of Kalangitan, storms into the room.
MALIC
Where is she?!
LUALHATI
Who?
MALIC
Don’t cover for her, Lualhati.
Amihan! Amihan! Get up here!
Clarabelle, go find her!
CLARABELLE
Yes, My King.
LUALHATI
What did she do this time, Malic?
MALIC
I’m sending her to Hogsworth and you’re not stopping me!
LUALHATI
Whatever she did, it couldn’t have been that bad.
MALIC
Far worse than anything she’s ever done before.
LUALHATI
You know how teenagers are. She’s probably just going through another one of her stages. How many arrived today?
MALIC
Too many.
LUALHATI
We can always accommodate a few hundred–
MALIC
Ten thousand.
LUALHATI
Ten thousand?
Amihan! GET UP HERE!
Enter AMIHAN, the princess of Kalangitan dressed in black with dark makeup. As she enters the scene a trail of leaves carried by a wind follows along and around her.
AMIHAN
What.
MALIC
What did you do?
LUALHATI
She knows what she did. What she doesn’t know is how to control her temper.
AMIHAN
Like you can control your dependency on alcohol, mother dearest.
MALIC
Hey! Don’t talk to your mother like that.
AMIHAN
As you command, My King.
MALIC
Don’t King me.
AMIHAN
I’m not even playing checkers.
LUALHATI
He’s not the King when he’s talking to you!
AMIHAN
If he’s not the King, then… Oh my. What did you do to him?
Nay! I cry foul! Who is this imposter? What have thouest done with My King?
LUALHATI
Enough! Amihan, you speak to your father the way he should be addressed!
AMIHAN
Why should I? It’s not like he, or you, listen to me anyways.
LUALHATI
Amihan!
AMIHAN
Whatevs.
MALIC
You caused the storm on Bayan and now they’re the ones paying for one of your moods.
Amihan twirls her finger and the trail of leaves spin in a circle.
AMIHAN
So?
MALIC
So?! They’re reporting that ten thousand people are feared dead because of one of your tantrums.
AMIHAN
Frankly, I blame their human made media for that number. Classic method of reporting fear instead of using hard facts to–
MALIC
Enough! Do you realize the amount of destruction you’ve left them?
LUALHATI
And not to mention the years of clean up just to put their lives back together.
AMIHAN
And your point is…
LUALHATI
You’ve destroyed a lot of people’s lives!
MALIC
Why is it that whenever you get into one of your moods, you take it out on Bayan?
AMIHAN
I’m not in any “one of my moods.”
LUALHATI
When is she ever not in one of her moods?
MALIC
Lualhati, you’re not helping.
Amihan, did something happen at school today?
AMIHAN
No.
LUALHATI
We can always find out the truth.
AMIHAN
It’s not like you would even do anything about it. You’re always so busy ruling over your Kingdom and you… you’re just always busy trying to look like you’re being busy.
LUALHATI
When was the last time you ever said, “Mom. Dad. I need to talk.”?
AMIHAN
And when was the last time you were sober?
LUALHATI
Get her away from me or I swear–
AMIHAN
My. My. It’s not very Queenly to swear.
LUALHATI
Urgh!
LUALHATI gulps down the rest of her wine.
MALIC
You have to understand the severity of your actions, Amihan.
AMIHAN
And, when are you going take the time to understand me?
MALIC
You want the time? Fine. You have the time. Right now.
Help me understand you. I’m listening.
AMIHAN
You wouldn’t understand.
LUALHATI puts down her glass and starts toward AMIHAN with her hands outstretched like she’s going to choke her.
LUALHATI
You little!
MALIC quickly moves to stop LUALHATI and holds her back.
LUALHATI
If she doesn’t feel sorry, I’ll make her feel sorry.
MALIC
Tama na, Lualhati. Stop it! Go get some air. I’ll handle things here.
Go!
LUALHATI reluctantly exits, but before doing so, she retrieves the empty wine glass and leaves.
AMIHAN
That woman has a serious problem.
MALIC
And you don’t?
The amount of damage you’ve caused–
AMIHAN
Well, can’t you do something? I mean, you’re the King and all.
MALIC
I can’t unwind time.
Even though your mother is right about them being a resilient people, I can’t… I won’t allow them be the ones to always pay for your fury.
AMIHAN
If you were even paying attention, they’re not the only ones I play around with. Why’d
they give the Typhoon’s I “supposedly” created funny names like Katrina or Sandy, I’ll never understand. But really, Haiyan? And what kind of name is Sendong?
MALIC
This isn’t a game! Humans are losing their lives!
AMIHAN
But then they come straight here.
You’ve seen how a lot of them lived. I’m probably doing them a solid anyways. Shoot, I know that I’d be happier to be living in death in this world than to be trying to live a life in theirs. Besides, they don’t call Bayan a third world country for nothing.
MALIC
And still, life is precious to them.
AMIHAN
If they believed that, then why do they continue to ingest scientifically processed food
instead of the food that you created for them? Why are they forcing harmful chemicals into their land to make a fuel that’s supposed to be released naturally for them to use? That shit–
MALIC
Watch your language.
AMIHAN
Shit is waste, isn’t it? So why are they pumping that toxic shit into the ground only to
have it bubble up to the surface and not only mess with my atmosphere, but to also give me the worst migraines ever! Now I know how Mom’s hangovers feel like.
MALIC
That still doesn’t give you the right to use your gift to destroy their lives.
AMIHAN
Why do you call it a gift? Not being allowed to get a little mad isn’t what I’d call a gift.
So what if my temper causes a little typhoon over the Pacific Ocean?
MALIC
Amihan, there was nothing little about it.
Fact, not media induced fear:
1744 dead… for now.
631,795 people are left with no homes.
2.5 million need food because of the storm you wreaked on them.
And for what?
AMIHAN
…
MALIC
What happened to cause you to make the storm?
AMIHAN
I had to–
MALIC
Had to what?
AMIHAN
Because if I didn’t then…
MALIC
Then…
AMIHAN turns to LOLA.
AMIHAN
Lola?
MALIC
You know she can’t say anything.
Why did you do it, Amihan? Why did you cause the typhoon?
AMIHAN
…
MALIC
That’s it! You’re grounded. Go to your room. You’re not doing anything for a week.
AMIHAN
Some punishment. You’re only giving Bayan a week without me to give them rain for their plants or for their food crops. You know, you’re punishing them too.
MALIC
Using guilt to get out of your punishment, isn’t going to work.
AMIHAN
Not even a little.
MALIC
Off to your room. Let’s go.
AMIHAN
I don’t need an escort.
MALIC
Oh, yes you do!
MALIC and Amihan exit.
END OF SCENE
SCENE 2
LUALHATI and CLARABELLE re-enters the room. And of course, LUALHATI is carrying a re-filled glass of red wine.
LUALHATI
Why couldn’t you have been the one to emerge from my vagina 16 years ago?
CLARABELLE
Yes, My Queen?
LUALHATI
You would, at least, listen to me and do whatever I say.
CLARABELLE
I am thankful to do both for you now, My Queen.
LUALHATI
And that you do. That you do.
What do you think I should do with my darling little brat of a daughter?
CLARABELLE
It’s not my place to–
LUALHATI
Your place is right here, Clarabelle. And I’m asking you, if you were in my position, what would you do to teach her a lesson?
CLARABELLE
Take away her horse riding privileges?
LUALHATI
Then she would make someone drive her everywhere.
CLARABELLE
Remove her access to Wi-Fi?
LUALHATI
We already have a faster connection up here, so that wouldn’t teach her anything. No.
Something more cruel.
CLARABELLE suddenly figures out the perfect punishment and has a wild look on her face.
LUALHATI
What is it?
CLARABELLE
What is what?
LUALHATI
That wild look on your face. You know what I should do!
CLARABELLE
What if you…
LUALHATI
Yes.
CLARABELLE
Take her power…
LUALHATI
Take her power and then…
CLARABELLE
I can’t say.
LUALHATI
Say it!
CLARABELLE
It’s too awful!
LUALHATI
Nothing’s too awful!
CLARABELLE
Even for your own daughter?
LUALHATI
Especially for my daughter. What should we do with her?
CLARABELLE goes to the door to make sure no one is listening.
CLARABELLE
I can’t tell you here.
LUALHATI
Ooo… you are a sneaky one. Maybe I can fit you back into my vagina and I could push you out and voila, our new princess. Come here.
CLARABELLE
Maybe next time. If this plan is going to work we have to do it tonight.
LUALHATI
We? Tonight?
CLARABELLE
Let’s go, My Queen.
LUALHATI
I do love how you say, My Queen.
CLARABELLE and LUALHATI exit.
As lights fade out, a spotlight is on LOLA as she sits in her wheelchair, before…
Blackout.
END OF SCENE.
SCENE 3
Kulintang music breaks through the darkness as figures in shadow dance to the rhythm of the ancient instrument. As the rhythm quickens, the dancers move as if they are caught in a Typhoon: some are holding on to objects, some are carried out with a flood of water, and some lay still as the last ring of the gong being played is carried out by a gust of trailing wind.
Blackout.
END OF SCENE
SCENE 4
Lights up on each of person as they speak.
ROGELIO
Rogelio. Rogelio Mingig. Driver. 48.
I was… you know that sound of palm leaves striking each other in a wind. It sounds like static. Like white noise. You know that sound? And then in the distance we heard the rumbling of the metal roofs of the Barangay down the street. That rumbling began to make a humming… I can’t describe it… but some kind of humming sound… and that’s when I knew that the typhoon was here.
BERNADETTE
Bernadette Tenegra. Teacher. 44.
We were squatting in our house. The four of us. Like every typhoon. The four of us. The wind. The wind kept getting louder and louder. I put my hands over Sarah’s ears and told her not to cry. My husband was doing the same for our other daughter, Kathleen. The four of us.
MILAGROS
Milagros. Mila. Mother. 38.
I found them underneath what was once our roof: a large piece corrugated metal in the shape of an imperfect rectangle with a painted red with the white Coca-Cola logo on it. Last year, my neighbor, Artemio, tied it onto the wood frame above us. Like so many other families, in their own tin huts, we huddled into a corner and waited like so many times before. And when the winds came, each piece of rectangle flew off our shelter as pouring pelts of angry rain began to fall in, on, and around our heads.
BERNADETTE
And then the wind was too much. Everything fell. The tables. The walls. Us. Carried
away with the water through the streets.
Michael held on to Kathleen and I was supposed…
ROGELIO
I’ve heard that sound too many times to count now, but I, all of us know that sound…
that something bad is coming… again. But something told me that this was like no other typhoon. I could just tell from our two story home… one of the ones in my neighborhood with a second story or in fact one that was made out of concrete. A lesson learned from many other storms that hit. I run a taxi company here in Tacloban and I saw some people still out in the street. We were all told to go to St. Mary’s of Immaculate Conception on Buenaventura Street for shelter for those with less fortunate housing that my family. But I saw those people.
MILAGROS
It was pure instinct that I grabbed them and ran towards Mabini Street only to be met
with a rush of water… and that’s when I lost my grip on them: Maricio, Stella, and Ben.
Ben was the baby.
ROGELIO
And I told, Erlinda… “Stay here on the top floor with the kids and I’ll be back. You’ll be
safe here.” I knew they would be safe in our house… but I needed to do something before things got bad, you know… and I got as many people as I could to the church before the flooding got too bad for the Range Rover.
I barely was able to make it to our street when I looked up to find that the top floor of my house was no longer there.
BERNADETTE
From the dry ground we washed on, I kept yelling, “Sarah! Sarah!” I reached out and
grabbed her hand when I saw her floating by. “Hold on,” I kept telling her even though I felt myself slipping.
ROGELIO
I tried to push my car door open, but the water wouldn’t let me out… and then and then
the car started to move with no engine running. So I opened the sunroof, you know and I… and I jumped out and tried to swim back to my home. Terrible things… toys… tires… and even… terrible things floated by in the mud river that surrounded me as I held on to a wooden pole where I was picked up by Nestor and Eugene, my neighbors, in a raft they made.
Erlinda held on to the kids, John Mark… and Jenelyn. She kept them by her side. And that’s how they were found.
BERNADETTE
“Ma, just let go. Save yourself.”
“Hold on! I’m going to bring you up.”
“Save yourself” was the last thing I heard from her….
MILAGROS
It’s been two days now and Maricio is somewhere around here. But for now. I sleep here
on the sidewalk with his brother and sister. Nobody’s here to take them or any of the other bodies yet. So, they’re just here. And they’re here to keep me company until I find Maricio… until I find him.
Lights up on PFC ERIC RASSMUSSEN as he’s holding up and speaking into a tape recorder.
ERIC
PFC Eric Montemayor. United States Marines. 25.
I’ve seen my share of disasters and this by far is the worst. Right now, I’m assisting Filipino civilians with the relief effort that we are lucky enough to bring in. I’m wondering if recording the people I come across is even helping. There’s just so much destruction. I never thought I’d see anything like this again.
I’ll record more information tonight after my shift.
END OF SCENE
SCENE 5
Lights up on temporary relief station as several volunteers enter and exit with boxes of aid.
GRACE has a clipboard and checking off items.
GRACE
Put that over there. Keep all the toiletries separate from the water tablets and the clothes.
Make sure that the blankets go at the end.
ERIC
We have a shipment of bottled water, mam. Where do you want them?
GRACE
About damn time.
ERIC
Sorry, Mam. We needed to wait until the winds subsided for us to safely–
GRACE
And who said that we could afford to wait?
ERIC
Mam. We’re just trying to help.
Pause.
GRACE
You’re right. I’m sorry.
Thank you.
You can start by putting the bottles in that corner. Steven, help this Marine!
Enter STEVEN who exits out with ERIC.
Enter DALE who places his hand on Grace’s shoulder causing her to turn around. DALE shakes his head, No, and then they embrace.
GRACE
Where did you look today?
DALE
I went back to the church, then by City Hall, and what’s left of the school. Still no sign of her.
GRACE
It’s been three days, Dale.
DALE
And I’m not going to stop looking. I promise, we’ll find her.
Enter ERIC carrying a 24 pack of water and puts it down in the corner.
ERIC
This good, Mam?
GRACE
That’s fine.
DALE
When did they get here?
GRACE
Just now.
ERIC
Hello, Sir. Would you mind giving us a hand out there?
DALE
Yes, I would.
GRACE
Not now, Dale.
DALE
We got it from here, Cowboy. You can go back to your camp now.
GRACE
Dale, he’s just trying to help.
ERIC
My orders are to assist in any way I can, Sir.
DALE
Are you calling me, Sir?
ERIC
Yes, Sir.
DALE
Then I order you to go back to your camp.
ERIC
Is there a problem?
GRACE
No. There’s no problem here.
DALE
Yeah, I do have a problem. I’m tired of these Cowboys, once again, thinking that they
could ride into another country and rescue the day. Yeehaw! Look outside, the only bodies left to save are out in the back waiting to be buried.
GRACE
No they’re not. There are still people alive waiting to be found out there.
DALE
Where do you think I am all day?
GRACE
Then why did you have to say–
DALE
And said that I’ll find her!
GRACE
Fuck it! You finish this shit! I’m going to look for her!
GRACE exits.
DALE
Gracie!
Shit. Thanks, Cowboy.
ERIC
The name is Private First Class Eric Montemayor, Sir.
DALE
Sir?
ERIC
We realize the severity of the situation, Sir, and I hope you will believe that we will help
everyone who needs it to the full extent of our capabilities.
DALE
You jarheads are really trained good, aren’t ya?
ERIC
Who are you missing?
DALE
Everybody is missing someone around here.
ERIC
I’m truly sorry about that, Sir. Come morning light, there’s a lot more we’ll be able to help with.
DALE
Then I guess we better get the rest of your supplies in here.
As DALE and ERIC begin to exit, KOBE, a small boy of 10 runs on stage carrying an object.
KOBE
Kuya! I found this.
DALE gets the object and reveals it to be very unique Rosary Beads.
DALE
Where did you find this?
KOBE
Where Mang Pedro’s store used to be.
DALE
Kobe, think hard, okay? Did you see your Auntie Lily there?
(KOBE shakes his head, No.)
Take me to the exact spot you found this.
DALE takes KOBE and start to exit.
ERIC
Hey!
(ERIC takes out a flashlight as DALE runs out.)
You’re gonna need…
ERIC runs after them.
Blackout.
END OF SCENE
SCENE 6
Lights up to reveal the sound of rain descending upon LILY, a woman in her 50s, who is on the ground surrounded by muddied debris. As she begins to move, she peels off some of the objects that cover her like pieces of wood and some palm leaves.
She hears a groan from a someone near her. After mostly coming to some of her senses, LILY gets up and lifts up a corrugated piece of metal to reveal AMIHAN lying faced down. After removing the debris around her, LILY checks to see if she’s alive.
LILY
Grace?
LILY turns over AMIHAN onto her back.
AMIHAN
What happened?
LILY
The typhoon happened.
Are you hurt?
AMIHAN
I think I’m (okay)…
Where am I?
LILY
I’m not sure yet. Everything looks so…
AMIHAN
What is it?
Amihan stands and looks in Lily’s direction.
LILY
What happened to the Carnales Mountain? It’s supposed to be…
Where is it? It’s a whole mountain! A whole mountain can’t disappear. Can it? That’s impossible. Unless…
Where are we?
AMIHAN
What happened here?
LILY
All I remember was hearing the creaking of the walls each time a gust would hit it from
the north side… and then we could see the walls bend back the other way like it was hitting us from the other direction. The last thing we heard was a loud clap, everything went dark and now we’re here.
AMIHAN
Who are we?
LILY
Me and… my daughter.
Grace!
GRACE!
(LILY in a rush tries to turn over every thing that can be moved around her.)
GRACIE!?
AMIHAN remembers something and tries to twirl her finger. She’s surprised to see that not even a draft of wind has been called. She begins to wave her entire hand. Nothing. Then her arm. Both arms.
LILY (CONTINUED)
What are you doing?
AMIHAN
She’s gone!
LILY
Who? Who are you talking about?
AMIHAN
The wind—
Something’s very wrong…
Hello! Helllllooooooo!!!!
Are we the only ones left?
Think, Amihan.
Father took me to my room…
I sat down…
(AMIHAN sinks to the ground.)
Lay down…
Ceiling… up…
Staring.
Staring.
Ceiling opened up and…
Stars. Twirl. Cluster. Shoot.
Stars. Twirl. Cluster.
Dark.
LILY
Are you okay?
AMIHAN
When I was younger, the same dream would visit me, through my window, right over… well, it used to be right over there. And each night, every night, at that window, I would be sitting, just like this, and I had my eyes closed… alone. Waiting for that… that sound in the universe. I would be waiting for a long time when all of a sudden… WHOOSH! She arrived.
She was someone I, nor you, could see, but you would know when she was there. Running past me. Diving beneath me. Hitting my shoulder with a frost to turn me around. And in that silence, she knew how to run her fingers through my hair until every strand would fly in every direction and twirl around the stars. She would take me everywhere.
LILY
Who?
AMIHAN
My gift.
LILY
You’re not making any sense.
AMIHAN
This doesn’t make any sense. I shouldn’t be here right now.
LILY
None of us should.
AMIHAN
You don’t understand, I’m a…
LILY
Yes?
AMIHAN
I’m alone.
LILY
No, you’re not.
We can’t stay here. Another storm might hit.
AMIHAN twirls her fingers with no effect.
AMIHAN
No, there won’t.
LILY
Regardless, we have to find shelter.
Blackout.
END OF SCENE
SCENE 7
Lights up on MALIC and LUALHATI as they make their way towards the outside of the temporary relief station.
MALIC
How could you let her talk you into doing that to Amihan?
LUALHATI
Clarabelle was right. Amihan’s not going to learn anything by being grounded. Really?
That’s exactly like giving her a time out. Did you tell her to sit and stare into a corner?
MALIC
That’s where she’ll have time to think about what she did.
LUALHATI
She’s not going to think. She’s going to sleep.
You know that this was the only option left.
MALIC
You better hope nothing bad happens to her.
LUALHATI
Maybe it’ll help.
GRACE enters with a clipboard in her hands.
GRACE
Kumusta po.
MALIC
Oh… hello.
LUALHATI sticks out her hand to Grace as if she’s expecting her to kiss a ring. Without missing a beat, GRACE takes her hand and gives it a shake.
GRACE
Good morning, Mam. Sir. We won’t start handing out tickets for another hour. So, if you want to wait in line over there–
MALIC
Tickets?
GRACE
Yes, sir. The tickets are to make sure that each family gets a bag with some food, detergent, canned goods, and some soap. I don’t imagine you’ll need slippers, but just in case, they’re inside the bag as well. We’re asking that you ration what you use until we get more in, which is still hard because you can image some of the roads are no longer there. So, if you can wait over there with the other–
MALIC
We didn’t come here for the bags?
We were looking for–
GRACE
Oh, shoot. I’m so sorry.
Um… the ones we’ve been able to recover are in the… A lot of families don’t want to come here. This is actually the last place they want to ask.
(Takes out her clipboard and looks at the sheet on it.)
May I have his or her name and how old was she or he?
MALIC
I’m sorry?
GRACE
The person you are looking for.
MALIC
Oh.
LUALHATI
Amihan was her–
MALIC
–Is. Amihan de la Luna is her name.
LUALHATI
That’s what I intended to say.
GRACE
And how old is Amihan?
MALIC
16
GRACE
What was the last thing you can remember Amihan wearing when you last saw her?
MALIC
She was wearing-
LUALHATI
Black. Everything she wore was black. Black dress. Black boots. Black eye liner. And black fingernail polish.
MALIC
She was a complicated person.
LUALHATI
To say the least.
GRACE
Hmm… we haven’t recovered anyone wearing all black yet.
MALIC
Yet?
GRACE
I meant, not yet as in… Nobody fits that description here.
MALIC
So then she’s still out there.
GRACE
Most likely. The latest count is that 679 people are still missing.
MALIC
I’m sorry.
GRACE
Natural disasters are nothing to be sorry for. They happen and we deal with it.
LUALHATI
You make it sound so easy.
GRACE
Easy. No. Never easy.
It’s never easy when I can remember seeing a white shirt with red sleeves and Mickey Mouse on the front. Or a yellow dress with white flowers sewn at the bottom. Or a baby blue sweatshirt with a Smurf on it. I’ve been told that having this kind of photographic memory is a gift. Maybe it is. The people wandering around trying to look for their loved ones need closure, and I’m the only one who could… But I feel like a part of me dies every time I close my eyes because that’s when each of those images become as clear as day. And it takes every bit of…
LUALHATI
I can help you.
MALIC
Lualhati. No.
GRACE
Help me with what?
LUALHATI
I’m a faith healer of sorts. I might be able to alleviate you from that gift you speak of.
MALIC
You’ve already used enough of your powers for the day.
GRACE
Could you?
MALIC
Then how will she be able to help the ones that come here?
LUALHATI
Have you heard of a camera?
GRACE
No. He’s right.
It’s the only thing I can use to help everyone right now.
MALIC
Where are the search parties? Perhaps I can be of some help.
LUALHATI
Malic, there are humans here to do that sort of thing. Besides, you’re too old to help here.
MALIC
All of the search parties are done individually.
Mothers looking for sons.
And Sons looking for their mothers.
END OF SCENE
SCENE 8
Lights cross fade to another part of the stage where DALE and ERIC rummage through more debris.
Every time ERIC removes a piece of debris from what he’s looking for underneath, DALE throws another piece of whatever he is holding on top of that newly empty space.
This back and forth exchange happens a few more times before…
ERIC
Would you mind?
DALE
You can leave now.
ERIC
I told you that I would help until we find her.
DALE
And I’m saying that you can help by going back to your camp.
ERIC
What is it that you have against people wanting to help you?
DALE
Did I say that that I have anything against you?
ERIC
You didn’t have to say anything.
ERIC throws a piece of debris at DALE’s feet and DALE steps up to Eric.
DALE
Go away. This isn’t your disaster.
ERIC
I’m here to help.
DALE
Who asked you to?
ERIC
My Country. Our President ordered us here to help you to the best of our abilities–
DALE
Great! You were ordered to be here. That’s so humanitarian of you.
ERIC
It is!
DALE
We’re not your charity case!
ERIC
Looking through these piles of broken homes for people who may be still alive isn’t about charity, Buddy! It’s about saving lives. And I’m getting tired of your pride getting in the way of helping them.
DALE
And I’m tired of everyone trying to use this disaster for their own benefit. I’ve seen it so many times. Sure you’ll be here for a couple of days for the international news cameras to see you helping us poor people, but then by next week, you’ll be gone. Leaving the people who live here having to pick up the pieces. Our government doesn’t give a crap about us. Did you see some of the items that the relief shelter is handing out to the families: care packages with a big sticker saying “Gladly provided by Representative Martin Romualdez!” There’s even slippers with politicians’ names printed on them hoping they won’t forget who helped them come election time.
ERIC
That doesn’t have anything to do with why I’m here.
DALE
If your government didn’t turn a blind eye to what’s really happening to the people here, then maybe we would have real people work for all the people instead of having to depend on the kindness of strangers like poor beggars on the street.
ERIC
Then I’m sorry you feel that way about yourself.
DALE shoves ERIC. ERIC backs off and continues the search around him.
DALE
Some U.S. Marine you are. I thought you’re trained to never back down from a fight.
ERIC
And I thought that you were supposed to be a son who would never stop for anything until he found his mom.
DALE
Then let me do that!
ERIC
I’m not the enemy here! The fuckin’ typhoon was and the only way we can fight back is to do this together. So, is your pride worth more than anyone who might be stuck under this rubble? You’re up here trying to have a pissing contest with a Cowboy when someone could be fighting for their life with the hope that someone is up here isn’t giving up on them.
Now help me dig!
ERIC continues to pull more debris off a pile.
DALE stands near him and holds out his hand for Eric to place something into. DALE takes that piece and drops it into a clearing.
DALE
Are you always this dramatic?
ERIC
When someone else’s life is at stake, yes I am.
DALE
You are a Cowboy.
ERIC
No. I’m just a guy who’s been here before.
You ever hear of Hurricane Katrina?
DALE
I might be hard headed, but that doesn’t mean I’m stupid.
ERIC
Well, my mother lived in Biloxi Mississippi when Katrina hit. Almost exactly what this place looks like. Not a building left standing. Luckily, she and her neighbors got out of there okay without a scratch. I wish I could say the same thing about the house I grew up in.
DALE
At least you still have a mother.
ERIC
She passed from a heart attack last year.
DALE
Sorry to hear that.
ERIC
Thanks.
But at least I had more time with her before she left.
Something you deserve to have.
ERIC and DALE continue to pull piece after piece out and tossing it aside.
Blackout.
END OF SCENE
SCENE 9
Lights up on LILY and AMIHAN walking amongst the destruction.
AMIHAN
We need to stop.
LILY
Again?
AMIHAN
Is that a stable?
LILY
There’s nothing stable here. Look around you.
AMIHAN
No. I mean, a stable for horses. We can ride them into town.
LILY
Like Cowboys?
AMIHAN
Well, we’d be technically Cowgirls.
LILY
You’re talking crazy again.
AMIHAN finds somewhere to sit and does.
LILY
How can you complain? Look at your boots. Those were made for marching.
AMIHAN
The boots, maybe, but not the girl.
Can we eat those little bananas you found?
LILY
Here.
AMIHAN
It’s not yellow.
LILY
Are you hungry or not?
AMIHAN takes a banana.
LILY
Do you always have to complain?
AMIHAN
I’ve been told that’s what I do best.
LILY
I feel sorry for your parents.
AMIHAN
Hey!!! I’m sure that your kids complain about everything too.
LILY
No. Not Grace. Gracie is a good girl. Smart too. She can memorize things so fast. I wish I had her photographic memory. It’s a talent.
Dale on the other hand… Dale is… well, he’s an individual. Like his father, God rest his soul. It’s like his complaints are like a match that, when struck, turns into a big fireball of action. Protests in the street. Banging drums. Waving banners. He takes after his father, that boy.
AMIHAN
What happened to his father?
LILY
That’s personal.
AMIHAN
You started talking personal with your genius daughter and protester son.
LILY
What are you? 15? 14?
AMIHAN
16.
LILY
Didn’t your parents teach you any manners? You shouldn’t go around asking people such personal questions? It’s not polite.
AMIHAN
I’ve been called a lot of things, but Polite was never one of those. Actually, I’d be more ashamed of myself if I never spoke my mind.
LILY
You sound like, Dale. You would get along perfect with him. I’m going to introduce you to him when we get home. He’s single too.
AMIHAN
What makes you think that I don’t have a boyfriend?
LILY
…
AMIHAN
I chose to take a break from relationships.
LILY
That’s what he says. Are you an activist too?
AMIHAN
Anarchist suits me better.
LILY
I guess that explains the black.
(LILY takes out a yellow handkerchief from her
pocket.)
Come here.
AMIHAN
Why? What’s that?
LILY
It’s a magical fabric that melts the skin off of self-proclaimed anarchists. Come here.
Hmmm… your skin’s not melting yet. There. Pretty.
AMIHAN
I’ve never been called that before, either.
LILY
I was talking about the handkerchief, not you.
I’m kidding. But you are. See what some color can do for you?
AMIHAN
I can’t take this.
LILY
Put it back on! It’s getting hot out here. Use it to wipe yourself off.
I don’t understand this weather. All of this was caused by so much wind and now we can’t even catch a breeze.
AMIHAN
I’m trying.
LILY
How? By doing that odd Wind Dance earlier?
AMIHAN
Why are you being so nice to me?
LILY
Why not?
AMIHAN
Cuz, it’s really freaking me out.
LILY
We only have one life. Why be mad at other people?
AMIHAN
Because it feels good.
LILY
So much to learn.
I was thirteen years old when my father, my little sister, and two older brothers were killed. I was helping my Lola, my grandmother, in the kitchen when I heard these loud firecracker sounds followed by this rumbling sound coming from what felt like many motorcycles near our house. And then… more firecrackers. My Lola pushed me down and laid on top of me until the popping stopped and the roar of engines started up again and faded into the distance.
I had to push with all my might to get her to roll off of me. I will never forget the look on my neighbors’ faces when they climbed over our fence and rushed into the kitchen. There was just so much… And I could barely make out my father’s muffled name I heard the shouting outside our gate. They found my sister down the hill from where my brothers and father lay.
I was taken into hiding by all of my father’s friends. Even though I lost my family, I gained many Uncles and Aunties of journalists I never knew about, who like my father, fought for the truth with their words against this government. And some of them disappeared or even lost their own lives fighting for it too. There was no more evidence on how much hate can destroy a family than what happened on that day.
From that day on, I chose love over anger in everything I do. To live everyday like it was my last, because it could be. Like the many people who lost their lives because of the typhoon.
AMIHAN
You do know that when someone dies from this world, they don’t really die.
LILY
I stopped being religious after my family was murdered. I’m not trying to disrespect you
or your beliefs, but if a person is no longer breathing, then that person is dead.
AMIHAN
But only in this world.
LILY
Is there another world you know of?
Pause as AMIHAN stays silent.
LILY
If I remember right, the city is in that… No. In that direction.
Let’s go before it gets too dark.
AMIHAN and LILY exit.
END OF SCENE
SCENE 10
Lights up outside the Relief Shelter. MALIC and LUALHATI are looking at the items in the relief bag.
LUALHATI
What is this?
MALIC
SPAM.
(Reading the ingredients on the can.)
Pork with Ham, mechanically separated chicken, water, salt, modified potato starch, sugar, sodium phosphates, potassium chloride, sodium…
LUALHATI
Please stop.
MALIC
Pork with Ham?
Enter DALE and ERIC.
LUALHATI
Is there a war here too?
ERIC
No, Mam. I’m just here–
DALE
He’s here to help us.
Where’s the woman who was working here?
MALIC
Grace?
We told her to get some sleep.
LUALHATI
She looked like she hasn’t slept for days, so we told her to go inside for some rest.
MALIC
We want to help too.
DALE
Thank you. It’s been a long time since any of us has gotten any sleep.
MALIC
Then you should get some sleep too, Dale.
DALE
How did you…?
LUALHATI
Grace told us about you and your mother.
DALE
Thank you for taking care of her.
MALIC
We’re trying to find our daughter too, so we understand what you, and so many people here, are going through.
ERIC
I better get some rest too. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.
DALE extends his hand to ERIC.
DALE
Thank you.
GRACE rushes in.
GRACE
Let’s go!
DALE
Where you going?
GRACE
I know where she is!
I know where they both are!
DALE
How did you know–?
GRACE
I had a dream. An old woman in a wheelchair showed me.
MALIC
Lola.
LUALHATI
Lola.
GRACE
They’re in danger.
DALE
What are you–?
GRACE
There’s no time! We have to go. Now!
ALL exit.
Blackout.
END OF SCENE
SCENE 11
Dim lights up on LILY and AMIHAN. LILY is sleeping on the ground. AMIHAN is in standing alone in her thoughts.
AMIHAN
I can’t believe I did this. You’re so stupid, Amihan!
CLARABELLE enters.
CLARABELLE
Princess, your presence is requested.
AMIHAN
I know. I could hear my father yelling from here.
Why’d you have to tell me?
CLARABELLE
Tell you what, your highness?
AMIHAN
Don’t you, your highness me. What you said about my mother and King Kaalam.
CLARABELLE
All I said were my observations.
AMIHAN
So they are having an affair.
CLARABELLE
She looks to be in love, yes.
AMIHAN
That bitch!
CLARABELLE
Your temper, princess. You don’t want to cause another storm. Your father didn’t seem pleased with your outburst.
AMIHAN
I should tell him.
CLARABELLE
You can’t! You almost destroyed a country with that typhoon. So, think of what he would do if he found out?
AMIHAN
But she can’t get away–
Lights are brought up from dim to full on all of them.
CLARABELLE
Amihan. They’re here.
AMIHAN
Clarabelle?
(AMIHAN gives Clarabelle a hug.)
Is this a dream?
CLARABELLE
No. You’re on Bayan.
AMIHAN
Then all this is real. All of this was caused by me. What did I do?
CLARABELLE
You can ask yourself that later. Right now, your parents are on their way. And you’ll be in so much trouble if they catch you. Let’s go.
AMIHAN
I’m not going anywhere. And I’m done listening to you!
LILY wakes up.
LILY
Amihan, who are you yelling–?
AMIHAN
It’s no one, Lily.
CLARABELLE
No one? I’m the one who has been loyal to you and your family from the very beginning.
AMIHAN
How were you being loyal to us by telling me about my mother’s affair?
CLARABELLE
I was trying to protect you!
Enter MALIC, LUALHATI, GRACE, and DALE.
MALIC
Protect her from what?
GRACE
Mom!
LILY
Grace!
GRACE and DALE run to their mother where they embrace.
CLARABELLE grabs Amihan from behind and pulls out a knife, which she holds to Amihan’s neck.
LUALHATI
What are you doing, Clarabelle?
CLARABELLE
Claiming what should be mine. You said it yourself. I should have been your daughter.
MALIC
You told her that?
LUALHATI
I might have been a little drunk.
AMIHAN
And she told me that you were having an affair with King Kaalam.
LUALHATI
What?!
CLARABELLE
You can’t stop thinking about his chocolate brown eyes! You told me that!
LUALHATI
I really have got to stop drinking!
MALIC
Is that true, Lualhati?
LUALHATI
His eyes are… okay, fine. But you have the same brown eyes as he does, and I fell in love with you, and those eyes, first. But there’s nothing going on with him or I.
But I do know that something is going to happen with our former handmaid.
CLARABELLE
I’ll kill her.
AMIHAN
I’m immortal.
CLARABELLE
In Kalangitan. But on Bayan, you have no power here. How’s your wind power working for you?
If I can’t be Princess, then no one will.
MALIC
No!
A gunshot is heard as CLARABELLE draws back the knife. She drops the knife and clutches her hand.
Enter ERIC as AMIHAN runs to MALIC and LUALHATI.
DALE
What took you so long, Cowboy?
ERIC
There was a puppy I had to dig out.
Come here, Duke.
DUKE, the puppy, runs into ERIC’s arms and feverishly licks his face.
GRACE
Are you okay?
LILY
Okay now.
AMIHAN
What are you going to do with her?
MALIC
There’s a lot of help still needed here. I’m sure she could be of assistance.
AMIHAN
That’s it!?
LILY
Remember what I said about anger?
AMIHAN
Do I really have to make a choice?
LILY
…
AMIHAN
Fine.
GRACE
Don’t worry, we’ll make sure that she has a lot of work to do.
DALE
We all do.
ERIC
Then we better get to it.
(ERIC goes over to Clarabelle.)
Sorry about the bullet, but I made sure to only graze your hand. We’ll have it patched up at the camp.
Everyone exits except for the Family.
AMIHAN
I’m sorry. I’m sorry for all of this.
And I’m sorry for being a crummy daughter.
LUALHATI
Did you really believe her? About me and your uncle?
AMIHAN
I don’t know what to believe.
LUALHATI
And it made you that angry to do all of this?
AMIHAN
I didn’t want to lose this family. I didn’t want to believe that you could do that to dad.
Even though it makes me a little queasy when you give each other googly eyes, it makes me wish I had someone to look at me like that.
LUALHATI
And you will. Trust me.
MALIC
Well, we’ll discuss this when we get back to Kalangitan.
AMIHAN
Can I stay here? Just until things get a better.
LUALHATI
It will be a long time before things get better here.
AMIHAN
Then I better get started.
MALIC
Then you’re going to need this.
(MALIC places his hand on her head.)
Try it.
AMIHAN twirls her finger and a trail of leaves enter the stage and cycles around them.
AMIHAN
I thought we weren’t allowed to–
LUALHATI
Don’t forget who he is.
AMIHAN
(She gives them each a kiss.)
My father. And mother.
Enter DALE.
DALE
Hi.
AMIHAN
Hi.
DALE
Um. My mother said to make sure you didn’t get lost on your way back home. Shall we?
MALIC
We’ll see you there.
AMIHAN and DALE exit.
MALIC and LUALHATI pause to look around.
LUALHATI
Isn’t there anything you can do for them?
MALIC
Nothing more than I have already given them: determination and the love for each other has already started the rebuilding process. And it’s not only here. People all over this planet are starting to come together for them.
LUALHATI
You know it won’t last though.
MALIC
That’s for them to decide.
LUALHATI
You give them too much power.
MALIC
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Blackout.
END OF PLAY