EXT. ISLAND MANSION BALCONY - CONTINUOUS

Father and son were talking on the balcony. Morning skies
were balmy.

ENZO
Dad, I know what you’re thinking.
Hindi po ganoong babae si Lena.

ALFONSO
I didn’t say anything, son...

ENZO
But, I know what you’re thinking!

ALFONSO
If you do, then what is it?

ENZO
Alam ko sasabihin niyo na masamang
babae si Lena...na dahil nagkasama
kami ng buong gabi na kami lang eh
automatic nang may nangyaring
masama sa aming dalawa.

ALFONSO
Meron nga ba?

ENZO
Dad, hindi po ganoong babae si Lena!
I respect her. I wouldn't do that
to her.

ALFONSO
Then, good...

ENZO
Dad, are you being sarcastic?

ALFONSO
No, I’m not. I actually believe you.

ENZO
Talaga, dad?

ALFONSO
OO naman. Alam mo, Enzo, I may
have not been the best dad for you
through the years, pero it doesn’t
mean na sa mga oras na kailangan ko
ng matinong sagot sa iyo, eh hindi
na kita paniniwalaan kaagad...

ENZO
Had I been that bad, Dad?

ALFONSO
No, son. You’ll be surprised, but
I do understand why you act that
way. You know why?

ENZO
Bakit po?

ALFONSO
Because I went through the same
phase when I was your age...

ENZO
Talaga dad? Did you go on allnighter
dates with mom too?

ALFONSO
More...Tinatakas ko pa nga siya sa
gabi para lang magkita kami. Ahhh,
those days were precious...

ENZO
Ang tinik niyo pala, dad.

ALFONSO
Hindi naman...unlike you, I’ve only
loved one woman, and that was your mom.

ENZO
One woman man pala kayo dad.

ALFONSO
(sighing)
Too bad, faithfulness doesn’t run
in this family.

ENZO
Faithful naman ako, dad! If I’m in
a relationship, I only love one
person...hindi ako nag-sasabay.

ALFONSO
That’s not what I heard.

ENZO
Okay, maybe once or twice before...pero
now I’ve changed...

Dad and son laughs. They then take a minute to enjoy the view.

ALFONSO
Ang ganda talaga dito...I really
missed this place.

ENZO
Dad, thanks for understanding...akala
ko papagalitan niyo na naman ako.
Akala ko hindi niyo man lang ako bibigyan ng
chance to explain myself...

Alfonso turns to face his son.

ALFONSO
Ako naman ang magtatanong sa iyo,
anak. Had I been that bad of a
father to you, son?

ENZO
You know what, dad. Nowadays,
parang naiintindihan ko na kung
bakit naging ganoon kayo ka strict
sa akin. Alam ko na kung bakit
niyo kailangang gawin ang ginawa
ninyo...I deserved to be punished
back in those days...

ALFONSO
We only did what we thought
was best for you, son. You are a
very smart kid, we wanted you to
fulfill all your potentials.

ENZO
I know, dad. Alam ko na ngayon.
Believe me...I really know now why
you’re so concerned for me. I
didn’t even make it easy for you to
trust me back in those days...I was
both rebellious and stupid.

ALFONSO
I’m proud of you son...

ENZO
Proud? For what?

ALFONSO
You’re thinking like a man now and
I am proud of the man you have become.

ENZO
Dad...

ALFONSO
I’m so surprised to really hear
this from you, son. It seems like
something happened to you...this
summer...you’ve changed.

ENZO
I don’t know, dad. I can’t explain
it. Parang bigla na lang, I
realized na I’m no longer a kid and
I shouldn’t act like one...It’s
really strange...

ALFONSO
It’s called growing up, son...But,
Enzo, don’t ever forget how to be a kid
sometimes. You’re still allowed to
do that. You’re only 19. You still have
your whole life ahead of you. Bata ka pa,
you will have a lot of growing up to do in your
lifetime...but take small steps at a
time...don’t be in a hurry...take
your time..especially with Lena.

ENZO
Thanks, dad. I’ll remember that.

ALFONSO
Alam kong mahal ninyo ang isa’t isa.
I can see it in your eyes. Alam
kong your heart is searing with
love for her now. Napakadaling
mag-give-in sa mga feelings ninyo
sa isa’t isa...all I can say is,
take your time, son.

ENZO
I know what you mean, dad.

ALFONSO
I hope you do. Don’t make the
same mistakes most kids do these days.
They go into relationships with so
much passion. Akala mo, they can’t
live without seeing each other for
one day. Then, in the end, passion
dies....and before they know it,
they have a 2 year old son who they
have no means of taking care of.

ENZO
I’ll never be like them, dad.

ALFONSO
Sana nga hindi ka matulad sa kanila,
anak. I see these kids everyday
coming into my clinic. Some... even
much younger than you are now...

ENZO
Hindi ko po kayo dadalhan ng babaeng
buntis, dad. Promise...

ALFONSO
I'm serious, son. Treasure your youth. It will
only come to you once.

ENZO
I didn’t know you were so poetic, dad.

ALFONSO
You must have thought siguro na ang
Alvarez’ writer’s genes skipped one
generation through me...pero
nagkakamali ka, Enzo. However, my
strength was in writing love
letters. Dun ako magaling.

ENZO
Siguro dun niyo napasagot si Mommy ano?

ALFONSO
Alam mo, anak, napakahirap
pasagutin ng mommy mo. It took me
three years para mapasagot siya. I
wrote her everyday those entire
three years...

ENZO
Talaga dad?

ALFONSO
Yes! Your mom was something else.
Ang reason pala na ayaw niya akong
sagutin, eh dahil ayaw niyang
matigil ang pagsusulat ko sa kanya.
Natakot siya na baka pag kami na,
hindi ko na siya susulatan ng mga
ganyan...

ENZO
So, natigil nga nung naging kayo na?

ALFONSO
Hindi kaya...I still write her
little notes everyday...even to
this day, I make it a point to tell
her how much I love her and how
much I am thankful for her being in
my life. Kaya lang, these days, sa
prescription pad ko na lang
sinusulat. Hindi na special stationery.

ENZO
Ha ha ha...ang galing niyo, Dad.

ALFONSO
It’s called commitment, son.

ENZO
Pero thanks talaga, dad. I’m really
thankful we had this conversation.

ALFONSO
(putting his arm
around his son)
I really wish we had done this
sooner...

ENZO
(responds by giving
his dad a hug)
Me too...

ALFONSO
(surprised by the hug)
Thanks son...it’s been a while
since we’ve done this.

Few seconds passed, they finally let go.

ENZO
Pero, dad,just thinking, can I take
a page out of your book?

ALFONSO
Tungkol saan?

ENZO
Basta dad...I like your style...

ALFONSO
Sa panliligaw?

ENZO
No, in keeping relationships! Dad,
baka naman may nakasulat kayong
manual diyan hidden somewhere on
how to make relationships exciting?
Kokopyahin ko lang sana ang style
niyo...

ALFONSO
Ha ha. Wala akong sinulat na
manual, Enzo. Sorry! I just follow
my heart. Besides, you’re not
allowed to copy my style.
Playgiarism na iyan, Enzo.

ENZO
Wala naman kayong copyright dun...

ALFONSO
You’re right...

The father and son happily enters the main living room once
more.

EXT. MANSION’S GARDENS - SAME TIME

Lena sits tensely across Evelyn.

EVELYN
Lena, I think you know why I wanted
to talk to you...

LENA
Tungkol ho ba ito kay Enzo?

EVELYN
Oo...

LENA
Maam...sana huwag niyo pong isipin
na may ginagawa po kaming masama ng
anak niyo...

EVELYN
I’d like to think na wala nga...

LENA
I can assure you ho, Tita...wala
hong masamang nangyari sa amin ni
Enzo...

EVELYN
Sige...I’ll take your word for it...

LENA
Salamat po...

EVELYN
Lena, gusto ko sanang ikwento sa
iyo kung gaano kahalaga si Enzo sa
buhay namin...

LENA
Sige po...

EVELYN
Alam mo Lena, matagal naming
inantay si Enzo. Pitong taon na
kaming kasal ng daddyy ni Enzo,
hindi pa rin kami
nagkakaanak.
Meron kasi akong
retroverted cervix. Mas mahirap ang
chances kong magbuntis kesa sa ibang babae.
Ilang taon akong
nagdasal ng mataimtim na sana magkaanak man lang ako.
Then, isang
araw nalaman kong na lang buntis
na pala ako. Sobrang tuwang-tuwa kami
ng asawa ko. It was like a miracle!

Lena feels Evelyn’s every word.

EVELYN
Parang anghel talaga yang si Enzo
sa buhay namin. Simula ng dumating
ang batang iyan, parang nawala ang
lahat ng paghihirap namin sa buhay
ng asawa ko. Oo, Lena. Nagsimula
kami sa wala.
(MORE)

EVELYN (CONT’D)
Ayaw naming umasa sa mga magulang
namin kaya nagsikap kaming magasawa
ng husto. Lahat ng kung ano
mang meron kami, bunga iyon ng
pagsisikap naming bigyan si Enzo ng
magandang buhay.

Lena looks surprised at Evelyn’s admission.

EVELYN
Sa sobrang pagmamahal naming mag-asawa
sa kanya, hindi maiwasang
naging spoiled yang si Enzo.
Siguro na rin dala sa pagiging
likas na malikot at listo ng batang
iyan...napakaraming kaguluhang
pinasok niyan...

LENA
Talaga po?

EVELYN
Oo Lena. Sobrang bibo niyang si
Enzo nung bata pa siya. Magaling
sa lahat ng bagay. Napakataas ng
IQ, mabilis matuto, mataas din ang
inclination niyan sa arts. Kaya
habang lumalaki iyan, ganoon na
lamang ang concern naming mag-asawa
nung nakikita na naming nagiging out
of hand na ang pagiging naughty
niya. Dahil na rin siguro sa mga
maling kaibigan, natutong
magpariwara ang batang iyan.

Evelyn starts to tear up from her recollection.

EVELYN
Siguro, dahil na rin sa pagiging
sheltered niya all his life, he
found rebelling seductive. Oo,
Lena, naging pasaway at rebelde
iyang batang iyan. Doon kami gumawa
ng desisyon ng asawa ko.
Kinailangan naming higpitan siya.
We were really hard on him, Lena.
Nanlulumo din ako minsan thinking
back sa mga ginawa namin sa kanya.
But we had to do it, Lena. Ayaw
naming makitang hindi niya marating
ang mga dapat niyang marating...

LENA
Bakit niyo po sinasabi sa akin ang
lahat ng ito?

EVELYN
Gusto kong maintindihan mo Lena
kung gaano na lang ang hirap na
dinaanan namin para protektahan
iyang si Enzo sa mga masasamang
elemento sa buhay niya...

LENA
Teka lang ho, mawalang galang lang
ho. Ibig niyo bang sabihin, masama
akong impluwensiya sa anak niyo?

EVELYN
It may be an unfair assessment Lena,
pero oo. Nagbabadya ka...

LENA
Hindi ho ako dapat pagbawalan
niyo...ang anak niyo po ang
pagsabihan niyo.

EVELYN
I want you to know Lena na hindi
ako nagmamaldita. I’m just being a
parent...

LENA
Gusto ko rin hong malaman ninyo na hindi
ko ho dinadala sa masama iyang anak
ninyo...kasintahan lang ho ako.

EVELYN
Do you really love him, Lena?

LENA
Ha? Oo naman ho...sobra...

EVELYN
That’s what I’m afraid of...

LENA
Kelan ho naging maging masama ang
magmahal?

EVELYN
Pag-sobra...

Lena is tongue-tied.

EVELYN
You are a threat to his potentials
Lena. Matalinong bata si Enzo...he
wants to be a doctor.

LENA
He wants to be a doctor? Or kayo
ang may gusto nun?

EVELYN
Sige, aaminin ko. We pushed him to
take up medicine. But he deserves
to be a doctor...

LENA
Paano ho kung hindi iyon ang gusto
niya...

EVELYN
Hindi niya alam ang gusto niya,
Lena. He has always been like that!
I don't think you do either. How long
have you known him? Three months? I've
known him all his life. If there is
anybody na nakakaalam ng gusto ni
Enzo, ako iyon...

LENA
Hindi ko po kinu-kwestiyon ang pagkaka-
kilala niyo sa anak ninyo.
Ang alam ko lang po...hindi iyon ang
gusto niya...

EVELYN
I think I know what’s best for him...

Lena is once again silent.

LENA
Hindi ko ho kasalanang mahalin ako
ng anak niyo...at hindi ko ho siya
inaagaw sa inyo.

EVELYN
Alam ko iyon, Lena. I never said na
inaagaw mo siya sa akin and I'm not stopping the
both of you from exploring your feelings
for one another. Hindi ako against sa inyong
relationship.
I am just telling
you my honest concerns about your friendship
and where it can lead to.
Sana naiintindihan mo ako.

LENA
Naiintidihan ko po kayo.

EVELYN
Alam mo, Lena, I'm actually even
more concerned for you than Enzo.

LENA
Sa akin po?

EVELYN
Kasi babae ka and I feel for you.
Kilala ko ang anak ko, Lena, more
than you do, right now. Alam ko
how fickle minded he is...

LENA
Baka naman nagbago na ho siya...

EVELYN
You can’t call a horse a sheep, Lena...

LENA
Kaya ko ho siyang baguhin...

EVELYN
How admirable of you, Lena. Bata ka
pa nga. You think this world is
filled with roses and rainbows...lahat maganda,
lahat tama...

LENA
Hindi ho ganyan ang
pananaw ko sa mundo.
Hindi niyo ho alam ang hirap na
pinagdaanan ko sa buhay ko.

EVELYN
It has nothing to do with your economic
background Lena. Hindi ko minamaliit yang
pinangalingan mo. It’s all about your
youth...your being young...
You young ones are often filled with
dangerous levels of youthful idealism.

LENA
Hindi ko ho kayo maintindihan...

EVELYN
Don’t worry, soon enough you will, iha.
Pero ngayon, gusto lang sana kitang
balaan...

LENA
Balaan...from your son?

EVELYN
Yes, Lena. Pilyo si Enzo...hindi
magbabago iyan. I just want you to
take care of your self too...before
you realize that it’s too late...for you
and for everybody.

LENA
Kaya ko hong pangalagaan ang sarili ko.

EVELYN
Sana nga, Lena.

Evelyn finally gives Lena a smile. Lena smiles
back tersely.

EVELYN
I can see you
have a strong character. Gusto
kita. Alam mo, Lena. Nakikita ko
ang sarili ko sa iyo. We have that
same defiant nature these Alvarez
men like.

LENA
Minahal niyo rin ba ang tatay ni
Enzo ng ganito?

EVELYN
Oo...but kinaya kong kontrolin ang
sarili ko. Yun ang gusto kong
gawin mo.

LENA
Ginagawa ko naman po...

EVELYN
Kung gayon wala na akong sasabihin
pang iba...remember, Lena, ina ako.
In times na nakikita kong nasasaktan
ang anak ko...I fight back,
naiintindihan mo?

LENA
Naiintindihan ko po...

EVELYN
Good...promise me that, Lena.

LENA
Opo. Ipinapangako ko po.

.
.
.
.
.

(The scenes above were written to provide insights to Enzo's parent's characters. Alfonso is a self made doctor. He is very emotionless at times. He doesn't know how to care for his son. Evelyn is slightly maldita...pero may reason. She is the exact opposite of Alfonso, very outspoken siya. She is a doctor too. Hope you guys enjoy it!)