Muffler (SCRIPT)

SYNOPSIS

BEA, a plain housewife, religiously attends to the daily needs of her husband, VIKTOR, a businessman, and her daughter, SAM, an engineering freshman. She cooks their food, prepares their clothes, and keeps the house clean and orderly. Every rest period at any time of the day, she sits to knit a red yarn with a crochet hook.

While Sam tends to be closer to her Dad, Bea appears to be more affectionate towards LYKA, Viktor’s niece. Sam is oblivious of this, but she wonders what crocheting the red yarn is about. Bea keeps things to herself. But Viktor knows.

SPEC SCRIPT

ESTABLISHING SHOT: SAPLING’S HOUSE - AFTERNOON

INT. KITCHEN

BEA, with a red apron neatly wrapped around her waist, carefully cuts a kilo of chicken. On the kitchen table, there are a medium-sized plate containing six pieces of boiled eggs, a serving dish full of sliced potatoes, a bowl of chicken liver, a can of pineapple cubes, and a saucer of finely-minced garlic.

CUT TO

INT. SAM’S BEDROOM

SAM, in her worn-out, oversized white shirt and stone-washed denim shorts, comfortably sits on the couch set against the grilled window, picks up her book, and flips through the pages to find Chapter III of Silas Marner. Before she begins to read, her phone rings. She hastily stands up to pick up the call.

SAM

Hi, DAD! Pauwi ka na po?

Yes! Black Forest, of course!

And a box of caramel-filled chocolates, please…

Ok, Dad. Come home fast.

Ingat po.

CUT TO

INT. KITCHEN

Bea, holding a wooden ladle in her right hand, stands akimbo on the left side of the stove. Her eyes throw blank stares towards the window, at the ceiling, and on the kitchen table. Bea comes back to her senses when she hears Sam’s voice.

(O.S.) SAM

Ma, pauwi na raw po si Dad.

BEA

(replies inaudibly)

Okay.

Bea moves to uncover the simmering pot of chicken adobo, stirs it with the wooden ladle, and scoops a teaspoon of sauce to taste. Satisfied, she puts back the pot cover and puts off the flame. She drops the wooden ladle in the sink, unwraps her red apron, hangs it near the refrigerator, and walks towards the dining table. She sits down and picks up the crochet hook and red yarn, and starts looping.

FADE OUT.

EXT. GARAGE AREA – NIGHT

Sam walks towards the gate, opens it and peeps outside. She steps back, closes the gate, and walks towards the outdoor coffee table to pick up her phone. She sits on the doorstep, and types a text message.

CLOSE ON

(TEXT MESSAGE) Dad, wru na po?

Before Sam sends the message, she sees her Dad’s car parking outside the gate. She stands up and runs to open the gate.

SAM

Dad!!!

(hugs her Dad)

Kanina pa kita inaabangan.

DAD

(carries a box of cake and a paper bag)

Sorry, anak. Na-traffic kasi ako.

(closes the gate)

Sam’s Dad hands over the box of cake to his daughter.

DAD

Ang mama mo?

Dad and daughter, holding each other’s hand, walk towards the door.

SAM

She’s inside, probably crocheting again.

CUT TO

INT. DINING AREA/KITCHEN

Bea, aware of VIKTOR’s (her husband’s) arrival, stands up to put away her crochet stuff. She walks towards the kitchen, opens the refrigerator…

VIKTOR

Hi, Ma!

(walks towards Bea)

Ano’ng ulam?

BEA

(closes the refrigerator and faces Victor)

VIKTOR

(kisses Bea’s forehead and sniffs)

Adobo.

(steps back and walks away)

Kain na tayo.

FADE OUT.

INT. LIVING ROOM – LUNCH TIME

Bea switches on the TV, picks up her crochet hook looped with a red yarn from the centre table, and sits on the sofa. She only listens to the TV show because her eyes are focused on looping the red yard. The door bells… (DING-DONG! DING-DONG!)

CUT TO

EXT. GARAGE AREA – CONTINUOUS

Bea opens the gate.

LYKA

(holds a food container)

Hi, Tita! Anjan po si Sam?

BEA

(gleefully)

Lyka, anak.

(hugs and kisses Lyka)

Halika, pasok ka.

(holds Lyka’s hand, leads her inside, and closes the gate)

Buti naman at binisita mo ako.

May niluto akong chicken adobo,

samahan mo akong mag-lunch.

LYKA

Naku, Tita…

(shows the food container to Bea)

Chicken adobo rin po ito.

Pinadala ni Mama.

(hands over the food container to Bea)

BEA

(receives the food container)

Luto ng Mama mo?

LYKA

(smiling)

Si Papa po.

(apologetically)

Tita, I need to go,

kakain na po kasi kami.

BEA

Okay, anak.

(opens the gate door)

Pakisabi, salamat ha.

LYKA

Opo, Tita.

(steps out and leaves)

BEA

Ingat ka, anak.

(closes the gate and smells the food container with gusto)

FADE OUT.

INT. BEDROOM OF VIKTOR AND BEA – NIGHT

Bea sits in front of the dresser mirror and combs her hair. Viktor puts on his sleeping shirt, and lies down on the bed.

VIKTOR

Busog na busog pa rin ako.

Nag-order ba naman si Sam ng isang kilong shrimps;

And one big platter of pancit canton!

BEA

(puts down her comb and picks up her crochet hook and red yarn)

Sabay ba kayo ni Sam bukas?

(sits on the bed, beside Viktor, and starts crocheting)

Magbabaon ba kayo?

VIKTOR

(closes his eyes)

Chicken adobo na naman ba?

(turns to his side facing the window)

BEA

(unravels what she finished crocheting, puts off the lamp, and lies down)

Good night.

VIKTOR

(takes a deep breath)

Good night.

FADE OUT.

INT. SCHOOL LABORATORY – MORNING

Sam enters the laboratory and greets Lyka, who is weighing a pan of her experiment sample.

SAM

Hi, Sis!

(puts down her bag on the table)

Kadarating mo lang?

(opens her bag and brings out her book)

May quiz ako mamaya.

(sits down and opens her book)

Review muna ako ha.

LYKA

(faces the analytical balance)

Nagdala ako ng chicken adobo sa inyo kahapon.

SAM

(flips a page of her book)

Know what…

Amoy-chicken adobo ang kitchen namin.

LYKA

(chuckles and moves to prepare another sample)

SAM

(flips another page)

Bilin nga pala ni mama,

dumaan ka mamaya sa house namin.

LYKA

(weighs another sample)

Next time na lang.

Susunduin ako ni Papa at Mama this afternoon.

Flight ni Papa bukas kaya sa labas kami magdi-dinner.

SAM

(throws a glance at Lyka)

Bilis naman ng bakasyon nya.

Wala akong pasok bukas.

Sasama ako sa paghatid kay Tito.

(flips another page and reads)

LYKA

Ok.

FADE OUT.

INT. KITCHEN – AFTERNOON

Bea pours a pot of chicken adobo in a food container and puts it in a paper bag. Sam pops in from the door.

SAM

Hi, Ma.

BEA

(throws a glance at Sam)

Hi.

SAM

Dinner daw po sila Lyka sa labas,

It’s Tito’s flight tomorrow.

(walks away from the kitchen)

Bea remains standing for a while. Then, she dips her right hand into the paper bag, and takes out the food container. She pauses for a while, and then walks towards the refrigerator. She pauses for another while, and then opens the refrigerator. Slowly, she puts the food container inside the refrigerator.

FADE OUT.

INT. LIVING AREA – NIGHT

With a bowl of cheezy popcorn in her right hand, Sam switches on the TV, and sits on the sofa right next to where Bea sits. Sam stares at what Bea is crocheting. She munches a handful of popcorn, her eyes glued on Bea’s crocheting. After some minutes of wondering, she stands up, and heads towards the door.

Bea, in seemingly deep thoughts, stops crocheting, reclines on the sofa, and stares at the ceiling. She remains reclined, looks at what she finished crocheting, and leisurely irons it with the palm of her right hand.

DISSOLVE TO

EXT. GARAGE AREA – NIGHT

Viktor and Sam lean against the newly-wiped car.

VIKTOR

(glances at Sam)

Anak, where do you wanna go this coming term break?

SAM

(glances back at Viktor and asks, reluctantly)

Dad, ano ba yung ginagawa ni Mama?

Parang di matapos-tapos.

VIKTOR

(glances away and crosses his arms, as if to ward off the night’s chilly air)

Why do you ask?

SAM

(stares at the night sky, and shrugs her shoulders)

Just wondering.

(remains staring at the night sky)

Wala akong makitang star.

VIKTOR

(closes his eyes)

FLASHBACK (17 years ago)

Bea, Viktor’s fiancée, stands beside the cook for the day, MARKO, Viktor’s twin-brother.     

INT. KITCHEN – HOURS BEFORE LUNCH TIME

Bea tastes the sauce of chicken adobo that Marko is cooking.

BEA

Sarap naman ng timpla mo!

(sniffs the sweet and sour aroma of the simmering pot of chicken adobo)

MARKO

(lightly stirs the chicken adobo)

This is mom’s recipe.

BEA

(seriously)

Ituro mo naman sa akin.

MARKO

(jokingly)

Mahal ang PF ko...

BEA

(in a flash)

Muffler na lang!

May winter sa States, di ba?

MARKO

(switches off the stove and looks intently at Bea’s face)

DEAL!

FADE OUT.

(V.O.) SAM

Dad, are you listening?

(V.O.) VIKTOR

Maghintay tayo, anak.

Maya-maya lang, magpapakita ang star.

Salubong (SCRIPT)

SYNOPSIS

Leny, an unmarried woman in her mid-30’s, lives alone in a small cement-made house in a subdivision atop a mountain, located 30 kilometres south of Metro Manila. She works in an engineering school in Manila, as Secretary from Monday to Friday and as CWTS Facilitator every Sunday. S

On an Easter Sunday, Leny leaves the house before daybreak to participate in a church event called Salubong, a depiction of Mother Mary’s meeting with her arisen child, Jesus, before proceeding to school. After work, she hurries to reach home, knowing that she will be happily greeted by Bamboo, Bianca and Brutus, who are patiently waiting for her, expecting for a tummy-filling pasalubong. The heart-warming salubongs in the church (implied), in Leny’s house, and in her neighbours’ houses stir scenes that are unfortunately not seen and experienced in the male teenager’s house.   

 SPEC SCRIPT

FADE IN

EXT. SA BAKURAN NG BAHAY NI LENY – MADALING ARAW NG EASTER SUNDAY

(POV BAMBOO AT BRUTUS) Inaayos ni LENY ang kanyang puting headband, pati na ang kanyang puting damit. Bubuksan nya ang gate, pero bago lalabas ay lilingon sya sa likuran nya at nakangiting kakaway ng pagpa-paalam. Pagkalabas, isasara nya agad ang gate.

CUT TO

(POV BIANCA) Nakangiting sisilip si Leny sa bakod ng bahay nya, kakaway ng pagpa-paalam, at pagkatapos, siya’y hahakbang papalayo.

   

EXT. SA GATE NG SUBDIVISION – CONTINUOUS

Lalabas ng gate si Leny. Babatiin siya ng SECURITY GUARDS.

SECURITY GUARDS

Good morning po, Ma’am.

LENY

Good morning din po.

Sasakay si Leny sa tricycle. Bago tuluyang makalayo ang tricycle na sinakyan ni Leny, magbubulungan ang dalawang Security Guards.

SECURITY GUARD 1

Pare, napaka-aga naman nya pumasok ngayon?

SECURITY GUARD 2

Baka dadaan ng simbahan, pare.

Di ba may Salubong ngayon?

SECURITY GUARD 1

Ah, siguro nga.

FADE OUT.

EXT. SA LABAS NG BAHAY NI LENY – BUKANG-LIWAYWAY

(POV BIANCA) Sa tapat ng berdeng bahay na kahilera ng malaking bahay, maglalakad palayo ang isang lalaki na nakapulang jacket at naka-backpack.

CUT TO

(POV BRUTUS) Magkahawak-kamay ang mag-ina na lalabas sa gate ng malaking bahay, at sasakay sa pulang kotse… aalis sila.

CUT TO

(POV BAMBOO) Bubukas ang pintuan ng berdeng bahay at magkasunod na lalabas ang nanay at isa sa mga anak nyang lalaki. Bubuksan ng anak ang gate nila, habang ang nanay naman ay sasakay sa itim na kotse at paa-andarin ang makina. Lalabas ng bahay ang iba pa nyang anak at sasakay silang lahat sa kotse… aalis sila. Susundan sila ng tingin ng aso nilang kulay-German Shepherd.

FADE OUT.

INT. SA LOOB NG BUS – ALAS-6 NG UMAGA

Habang kumakain ng baon na sandwich, ilalabas ni Leny ang kanyang cellphone at magte-text.

CLOSE ON

(TEXT MESSAGE) Happy Easter po! Pls in4m my CWTS students dat I’ll be l8. Tnx.

FADE OUT.

EXT. SA LABAS NG BAHAY NI LENY - TANGHALI

(POV BIANCA) Dadaan ang isang tricycle at didiretso sa pababang kalsada.

CUT TO

(POV BAMBOO) Sa loob ng gate ng berdeng bahay, tulog na tulog ang kulay-German Shepherd na aso.

CUT TO

(POV BRUTUS) Magpa-park ang kadarating na pulang kotse. Lalabas ng kotse ang mag-ina, at papasok sa malaking bahay nila, bitbit ang pinamili nilang groceries.

FADE OUT.

(Bundy clock rings, 430 PM)

MONTAGE:

EXT. SA EXIT GATE NG SCHOOL – HAPON

Magmamadaling lalabas ng exit gate si Leny, at lalagpasan nya ang mga estudyanteng nagku-kwentuhan sa daan.

EXT. SA LABAS NG BAHAY NI LENY – HAPON

(POV BIANCA AT BRUTUS) Dadaan ang tricycle at magpa-park sa tapat ng malaking bahay; maririnig ang malakas na tugtog mula sa radyo ng tricycle. Bababa ang driver at makikipag-kwentuhan sa matandang lalaki na nakatayo sa gate ng kapit-bahay.

INT. SA LOOB NG 711 - HAPON

Magbabayad si Leny sa cashier at pagkatapos ay magmamadaling lalabas ng 711, hawak-hawak ang isang plastic bag.

EXT. SA LABAS NG BAHAY NI LENY – HAPON

(POV BAMBOO) Kapa-park ng itim na kotse sa garahe ng berdeng bahay at lalabas ang mag-iinang may dala-dalang mga pinamili. Papasok ang nanay sa loob ng bahay; maiiwan sa labas ang mga anak at maglalaro ng tennis.

FADE OUT.

INT. SA LOOB NG BUS - HAPON

Aayusin ni Leny ang kanyang bag. Uupo sa tabi niya ang lalaking nakaputing-shirt. Ilalabas ng lalaki ang kanyang netbook at magta-type. Manonood ng TV si Leny. Ilalabas ng lalaki ang cellphone nya at tatawag sa kaibigan.

LALAKI

Uy bro, san ka? Haus ka na?

Bilis naman! Iba talaga pag may sundo e, bilis makauwi.

Bus pa lang ako.

LENY

(Patingin-tingin sa watch nya.)

LALAKI

Syanga pala, ka-facebuk ko si Sid ngayon.

Game daw tayo mamaya.

LENY

(Titingin sa watch nya at lilingon sa labas ng bus.

Bubuntong-hininga at manonood ng TV.)

LALAKI

(May tumatawag sa isang cellphone nya.)

Teka lang bro ha…

Hello kuya. Pauwi na ako, kaso nagpu-puno pa itong bus.

Gagabihin ka?

Gagabihin din si mommy, may pupuntahan sila ng amiga nya.

Ok po kuya.

LENY

(Mukhang di mapakali)

Haiz!!!

(Titingin sa watch nya, at itutuloy ang panonood ng TV.)

LALAKI

Bro, sama ka na sa amin ni Sid…game tayo.

Pwede ako. Wala naman si daddy e;

matagal pa siya uuwi para magbakasyon.

Si mommy at kuya, gagabihin na naman.

Sige na, game tayo mamaya. Susunduin ka namin.

Hahah! Tumakas ka na lang.

Ok, pumunta ka na lang dun kung papayagan ka ng mommy mo.

O sige bro. Bye!

CLOSE ON

(FB MESSAGE NG LALAKI KAY SID) W8 ka jan, sunod ako.

Ibu-bulsa ng lalaki ang dalawang cellphone, at ililigpit ang netbook sa backpack nya. Ilalabas nya ang headset at PSP, at maglalaro habang nakikinig ng music.

BUS CONDUCTOR INTO FRAME

LENY

Kuya, di pa ba tayo aalis?

BUS CONDUCTOR

Sandali na lang po…

LENY

Naka-30 minutes na po kasi tayo e.

(Iritang titingin sa watch nya, saka bubuntong-hininga.)

Gagabihin na ako e!

FADE OUT.

EXT. SA LABAS NG BAHAY NI LENY – GABI

(POV BIANCA) Masayang magku-kwentuhan ang mag-ina sa balkon ng malaking bahay. Dadaan ang tricycle pero di-diretso ng takbo sa pababang-kalsada.

CUT TO

(POV BRUTUS) Sa terrace ng berdeng bahay, mag-uusap ang mag-iina habang isinasara ng nanay ang mga bintana.

CUT TO

(POV BAMBOO) Lalabas ng kusina ang batang lalaki at pakakainin ang aso nilang kulay-German Shepherd. Uupo siya at panunuorin ang asong kumakain. Pagkatapos kumain, lalapit ang aso sa batang lalaki; hahaplos-haplusin ng batang lalaki ang ulo ng aso nya.

DISSOLVE TO

EXT. SA TAPAT NG BERDENG BAHAY NA KAHILERA NG MALAKING BAHAY - GABI

(POV BIANCA AT BRUTUS) Titigil ang tricycle, bababa ang sakay nitong lalaki na naka-pulang jacket, at saka ito aandar paalis. Maiiwang nakatayo and lalaki sa harap ng berdeng bahay. Mananatili siyang nakatayo at pagmamasdan ang madilim na loob at labas ng bahay. Ang lamp-post sa kalsada ang tanging nagbibigay-liwanag sa paligid ng bahay. Pagkaraan ng ilang saglit, tatalikuran ng lalaki ang gate, lilingon-lingon sa mga kapit-bahay, at saka lalakad palayo, bitbit pa rin ang dalang backpack.

CUT TO

EXT. SA TAPAT NG BAHAY NI LENY - GABI

(POV BIANCA, BAMBOO AT BRUTUS) Titigil ang tricycle at magmamadaling bababa si Leny. Aandar paalis ang tricycle.

CUT TO

EXT. SA BAKURAN NG BAHAY NI LENY – CONTINUOUS

Pagkasara ni Leny ng gate, sasalubungin siya ng tumatakbo at tumatalon na sina Bamboo, Brutus at Bianca.

LENY

Hello kidzzzzzz!

(Ipapakita ang plastic bag.) …ubong!!!!!

Hug muna...

(hugs and kisses Bamboo, Brutus at Bianca

na buong araw nag-abang sa kanyang pagdating)

ZOOM OUT

Ilalabas ni Leny ang tinapay na laman ng plastic bag at pakakainin nya sila Bamboo, Brutus at Bianca. Isa-isang susubuan ni Leny ang tatlong Labradors bago siya susubo ng tinapay. Masaya silang kumakain ng tinapay, hanggang maubos ang laman ng plastic.

CUT TO

INT. SA LOOB NG COMPUTER SHOP – GABI

Katabi ng lalaking naka-pulang jacket ang kaibigan nyang si Sid. Tutok na tutok sila sa computer.

FADE OUT.

SPLIT SCREEN SHOT

(Upper Right Screen) Maglalaro ng bola sila Leny, Bamboo, Brutus at Bianca sa damuhan.

(Lower Right Screen) Tahimik na maglalaro ang lalaking naka-pulang jacket at ang kaibigan nyang si Sid.

(Left Screen) Running credits.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN

(Title) “SALUBONG”

FREEZE FRAME.

     

EXPOSITIONS

1. Leny’s unquestionably affectionate relationship with her three Labrador Retrievers is juxtaposed with the un-idyllic family set-up of the male teenager who goes home from school to an empty, unwelcoming house.
2. The apparent absence of family companionship in the male teenager’s house is brought to attention through the eyes of Bamboo, Bianca and Brutus who, throughout the day, witnessed the mother-children companionship present in the mansion- and medium-sized houses across Leny’s house.
3. Leny weathers being alone in her house because of the devotion and companionship that Bamboo, Brutus and Bianca relentlessly give, which she reciprocates with unerring care and commitment. In contrast, the male teenager is pushed to seek companionship and the bliss it brings outside his house.