By MICHAEL AARON GOMEZ

An excerpt from the full-length play

CAST OF CHARACTERS

ARTURO PELIGROSO, male, late 30s, carpenter/hitman 
GORING PELIGROSO, female, early 30s, housewife, Arturo’s wife 
VALDERAMA, male, late 40s, re-electionist mayor 
ALVARADO, male, mid-40s, mayoralty candidate 
AUTHOR, a young person 
ASIONG, male, late 20s, slacker on the street 
SALONGA, male, late 20s, slacker on the street.

The action occurs sometime 2016 in Tinago, Dumaguete City. 
Mid-March.

ACT 1 SETTING

The first act is set outside the PELIGROSO residence in Tinago. There is a big, rusting maroon gate in the middle of the stage, and a long concrete wall topped with broken bottles crossing same. The action takes place in front of the gate. No house is behind it, only darkness. A tree stands at one side of the gate. Props such as patches of grass or large rocks may be scattered around the stage, empty softdrink or beer bottles may be lined up along the gate. Cigarette butts on the ground, as well. In all, the stage should be made to look like a typical inner-barangay side street. Lighting should suggest early morning.

(Scene opens to ASIONG and SALONGA sitting on a couple large–outside the gate. They are smoking. They are wearing loud-colored T-shirts of politicians, denim shorts, slippers.)

ASIONG

‘Long, are you sure they will give us the jobs this time?

SALONGA

Of course, ‘Siong! I am very sure, do not worry about it.

ASIONG

How are you so sure? We’ve been looking for panday-panday jobs for a long time but no one will give us.

SALONGA

(Gestures towards gate.) Well, why do you think we are here waiting?

ASIONG

(Turns to look.) Here, at Arturo’s house?

SALONGA

Yes, think about it, ‘Siong. Why are we here since early in the morning? Waiting in the heat of the sun?

(ASIONG thinks.)

ASIONG

Because he is the main character and he should not appear in the story right away?

SALONGA

(Puts palm on face.) No, don’t tell anybody that! (Shakes head.) Yes yes, you are correct but I am talking about another something else!

ASIONG

Ah, I don’t know, ‘Long!

SALONGA

(Leans in.) ‘Siong, you heard the news some days ago, right?

ASIONG

I heard Budoy’s grandson turned turtle in his motorcycle. Suddenly, going to Sibulan.

SALONGA

(Thinks.) Ah bitaw no? That happened also. I almost forgot.

ASIONG

Then the police looked at him and saw he did not have any license.

SALONGA

Yes, very sad.

ASIONG

Then the police looked and saw he did not have a side mirror and a helmet.

SALONGA

I feel bad for Budoy.

ASIONG

Then the police could not get him out of his big shell. They could not lift him, he was so heavy. And the wheels.

SALONGA

He was so young.

ASIONG

Yes. It was very sad. Poor Budoy.

(ASIONG and SALONGA think.)

SALONGA

(Starts.) But that’s not what I was talking about, ‘Siong!

ASIONG

Ah! What is it then ‘Long?

SALONGA

Well, first, go and look at Arturo’s house.

(ASIONG stands up from the punso and looks at the gate. He tries to notice what SALONGA is talking about.)

Well, ‘Siong?

ASIONG

(Scratches head, looks back at SALONGA.) I don’t understand, ‘Long. It’s just a house.

SALONGA

You did not notice anything?

ASIONG

(Scratches head.) No.

SALONGA

(Softly smacks back of head.) Oh come on, it’s right there!

ASIONG

(Looks at house.) What? It’s just a house.

(SALONGA stands up and goes to ASIONG. He puts a hand on his shoulder, points to the house.)

SALONGA

Don’t you think that house is a little too big for Arturo?

ASIONG

What do you mean?

SALONGA

Do you think just a carpenter can afford a house like that?

ASIONG

(Thinks.) It depends.

SALONGA

Right. It depends on what?

ASIONG

Uh. Kuan. On who he is carpentering for?

SALONGA

(Turns to audience.) That’s right! Our friend Arturo is not just a small-time carpenter my friend. He is a carpenter to the big shit in our city. (Points.) Look he has even an easy-ride!

ASIONG

Ah yes, I understand it now, ‘Long!

SALONGA

So now do you know why we are waiting here in the heat of the sun?

ASIONG

(Thinks.) We’re going to borrow money from Arturo? We don’t have drinking money today.

SALONGA

(Shakes head.) No no no, that’s not it! (Looks at left wrist.) It is still 8 o’clock in the morning and you already think about drinking!

ASIONG

We did not drink yesterday, so.

SALONGA

That’s because we lost at the tabo!

ASIONG

That’s because your cock was bad.

SALONGA

No it wasn’t! Its bulang was not sharp enough.

ASIONG

Whatever. We lost money and now we aren’t drinking. The Tanduay is not going to be drinking itself you know!

SALONGA

Ay peste, why are you so complaining so much when you didn’t even help me with my cock?

ASIONG

What do you mean I didn’t help? We used our motorcycle to go to the tabo! You know how far Valencia is? I shouldn’t have bought the gasoline if you are going to act like that to me.

SALONGA

(Shakes head.) Whatever, that’s not what I was talking about!

ASIONG

Well, what is it?

SALONGA

(Moves to ASIONG, leans in, whispers.) I heard something.

ASIONG

Something?

SALONGA

Yes, something.

ASIONG

What is that something?

(SALONGA walks to the gate, leans against the wall, folds his arms. ASIONG exits. He comes back with a monobloc chair. He places it somewhere on the stage and then sits on it.)

SALONGA

Wait a minute, where did you get that chair?

ASIONG

(Points.) Over there.

SALONGA

I didn’t know that. You should have told me they kept chairs over there. My butt hurts sitting on that punso all day.

(SALONGA exits. He comes back with his own monobloc chair. He sets it beside ASIONG, facing the audience, and sits on it. ASIONG does the same.)

(Crossing legs.) Anyway this is what I heard. (Recalls.) Our friend Arturo is carpentering the house of a mayor candidate!

ASIONG

Wow! Who is the one?

SALONGA

The man Valderama is the one!

ASIONG

Wow, the rich guy?

SALONGA

Yes, the guy with a lot of cars! The mestizo guy we see all the time on the TV.

ASIONG

And Arturo is carpentering for the guy! Sosyal!

SALONGA

Of course yes! Now what do you think will happen if we carpenter for a guy like that?

ASIONG

(Thinks.) We can get a lot of money also, like Arturo! We can drink all day every day!

SALONGA

(Sighs.) Yes, ‘Siong, we will have all the money we could want! Think about it.

(ASIONG thinks about it.)

That’s right, think about it.

(ASIONG thinks about it.)

Yes, keep thinking.

(ASIONG thinks about it.)

Yes yes yes, that is enough now.

(ASIONG thinks about it.)

Hoy, come on, I said that’s enough.

(ASIONG thinks about it.)

Hoy!

ASIONG

(Snaps out of it.) Yes!

SALONGA

Now anyway do you understand what I’m saying to you here?

ASIONG

(Raises finger.) Yes, we will stay here and wait for Arturo and we will ask him to let us carpenter for that man Valderama. And then we will drink all day and buy easy-rides.

SALONGA

That’s right!

(A car horn bleats from offstage. It repeats, and then stops. Pause for a beat or two, and then enters VALDERAMA, drinking a Coke and carrying a briefcase. He is dripping with gold. He is dressed in a plaid short-sleeved shirt, brown slacks, and white sneakers. He checks his watch. He sees the two men.)

VALDERAMA

(Hides briefcase behind him.) Who are you? What are you doing here?

ASIONG

Uh, we’re just standbys here.

SALONGA

(Looks VALDERAMA over.) Yes, we’re just standbys here. What do you want?

VALDERAMA

(Ignores him.) What’s your names?

ASIONG

Asiong.

SALONGA

Salonga.

VALDERAMA

Huh, interesting.

ASIONG

(Raises voice a little.) You’re making fun of us?

VALDERAMA

No. (Looks the two men over.) You watch a lot of TV?

SALONGA

Of course yes, what do you think?

VALDERAMA

(Pauses.) Wait, no, I meant what kind of TV do you watch?

SALONGA

We have a flat-screen.

ASIONG

Yes, that’s right. The one that looks like a movie theater!

VALDERAMA

Interesting, even though that’s not what I meant. Well, Asiong and Salonga, do you know what’s going to happen here in two weeks?

ASIONG

Uh—the fight of Pacquiao? I have 1000 on him.

SALONGA

No, the 12-cock derby?

VALDERAMA

(Smirks.) No. The election. Are you registered?

ASIONG

(Thinks.) Yes. I think so.

SALONGA

Yes, I registered many years ago.

VALDERAMA

Very good. Wait here then, I have something for you.

(VALDERAMA exits. He comes back with a big, full plastic bag. The bag is filled with yellow shirts.)

Here you are, boys.

(ASIONG and SALONGA stand from their chairs and go to VALDERAMA. He gives them a couple of shirts. The shirts have VALDERAMA’s grinning face and his name on the front, and IBOTO MAYOR 2016 on the back.)

SALONGA

(Tries a shirt on.) Do you have any medium?

ASIONG

(Looks at his shirt.) Mine is large, do you have any large?

VALDERAMA

(Smirks.) Don’t worry boys, I have everything. Take all you want, that’s free.

(ASIONG and SALONGA look at each other, shit-eating grins on their faces. They rummage through the plastic bag and really do take all they want. The bag is emptied. VALDERAMA tosses it to the audience.)

ASIONG

(Tries to speak through all the shirts.) Hey, can we keep all of this?

SALONGA

Yeah, this is free, right?

VALDERAMA

Sure, take all you want. (Smirks at them.) And as a matter of fact, you can also look inside those shirts. Go ahead. There’s a surprise in there for you.

(ASIONG and SALONGA drop their shirts. Once again they look at each other, shit-eating grins and all that. They take a shirt each and look. They see envelopes stapled on them. They rip them off, open them, and see cash. Cash to the tune of Php1000.)

ASIONG

(Lifts his money to the light.) Wow! Is this real?

SALONGA

(Starts ripping more envelopes open.) Wow, there’s still a lot of them over here!

VALDERAMA

That’s all yours.

(ASIONG and SALONGA open all the envelopes. They pocket all the bills. ASIONG and SALONGA rush to shake VALDERAMA’s hand. VALDERAMA is visibly reluctant, but accepts them anyway. They shake his hand so hard they almost wrench his arm off his shoulder.)

SALONGA

Thanks a lot for this gift very much, Mr. Valderama! You’re a very nice man!

ASIONG

Yes, you are a very nice man!

(They let go of his hand. VALDERAMA massages his shoulder and wrist.)

VALDERAMA

(Rubs his arm.) That is no problem, boys. Just don’t forget who gave you those gifts today.

ASIONG

Yes sir of course sir we won’t forget sir!

VALDERAMA

Bitaw, don’t forget: May 9, number 5 on the ballot.

SALONGA

Wait sir mayor, there are five of you?

VALDERAMA

(Piqued.) Yes, five, why?

SALONGA

Oh, nothing. I just did not know. Thank you so very much, Mayor Valderama, we won’t forget this!

ASIONG

Yeah, you helped us a lot!

VALDERAMA

That’s no problem, boys. (Checks watch.) Now, you do have something else to do today, right?

ASIONG

No, we’re just standbys here. We can be here all day. Today, tomorrow, and the day after that…

(SALONGA thinks about it. VALDERAMA purses his lips.)

SALONGA

(Nudges ASIONG.) No, actually, sir, we have something to ask you.

VALDERAMA

What is it? If it’s anything I can do.

SALONGA

Well, sir, uh, we were wanting to know, you know, Asiong and me, we were wanting to know if you were needing carpenters for your house. You know, panday-panday. But if not if not if not that, then we can also be plumbers. We can clean your cars for you. I mean if you like.

VALDERAMA

You want to work for me?

SALONGA

Yes sir! (Nods.) Isn’t that true, ‘Siong?

ASIONG

(Remembers.) Yes, that’s true! We want to be your panday, Mayor!

(VALDERAMA thinks about it.)

VALDERAMA

(Sighs.) Sorry boys, but no. I already finished renovating the house last month. I also already have people who clean my cars and my house.

SALONGA

Ay nge, how are we supposed to vote for you if you don’t give us work?

VALDERAMA

Hoy, don’t talk like that to me, I gave you money! And free T-shirts!

ASIONG

He’s right, ‘Long, we already have drinking money. Leave him alone.

SALONGA

OK fine, we will still vote for you but you promise that you will give us jobs when you win.

VALDERAMA

(Makes a face.) All right, all right. Give me your résumés and I will give you jobs.

ASIONG

Résumé? What is that?

SALONGA

(To ASIONG.) It’s like a bio-data.

VALDERAMA

Close enough. (Gestures.) Give them to me and I will see what I can do.

SALONGA

Don’t just see.

VALDERAMA

(Makes a face.) Fine, give your résumés to me and I’ll place them on top of the pile.

SALONGA

That’s better.

VALDERAMA

Now, do I have your vote?

SALONGA

Sure.

(VALDERAMA smiles at them, and then he goes to shake their hands.)

VALDERAMA

Do you have anything else you want?

ASIONG

Yes, we want a car—no, two cars, a motorbike, and a—

SALONGA

(Elbows ASIONG.) No, that’s all, Mr. Valderama, that’s all. We are also going now.

ASIONG

Where are we going?

SALONGA

(To ASIONG.) To Manang Soling’s!

ASIONG

Oh yes, that’s right! I think I need a cold beer right about now!

SALONGA

Yes, yes, so. Thank you very much, Mr. Valderama. We’re going now.

VALDERAMA

(Waves.) Take care of yourselves, boys.

(ASIONG and SALONGA bow to VALDERAMA, and then exit. They bring their monobloc chairs offstage with them. VALDERAMA walks to the gate, ponders. Then enters ARTURO. He is wearing a faded Dutch Boy T-shirt and carrying plastic bags of fish and vegetables. There is also a Good Morning towel draped around ARTURO’s neck.)

ARTURO

Good morning! You have any business?

(ARTURO talks as though he wants other people to hear him. VALDERAMA follows suit.)

VALDERAMA

Yes, is Art at home?

ARTURO

(Thinks.) Hmmm, he just went marketing. Hours ago, to buy fish and vegetables. What do you want?

VALDERAMA

Well, nothing really. I just wanted to talk to him. We have something to talk about.

ARTURO

Oh OK—well it is very hot outside today, so do you like to come inside?

VALDERAMA

(Wipes face.) Oh no no, I’m fine here. I think I’ll just wait for him here. I won’t be long anyway. Do you know what time he’ll be back?

ARTURO

(Turns to audience.) I think he will be back soon. He is the one cooking the lunch of his family, you know.

VALDERAMA

Really? He is married, isn’t he?

ARTURO

Yes, but you know women. Talk too much about Arturo not helping with the house, you know.

VALDERAMA

(Thinks.) Well, I’ll just wait here for him then.

ARTURO

You sure you don’t like to come inside?

VALDERAMA

I’m fine, I’m fine. Thank you.

ARTURO

OK, your life. (Raises groceries.) I’ll just put this down in the house and then I’ll give you juice. For your trouble.

VALDERAMA

(Chuckles, wipes face.) I guess I can’t refuse that.

ARTURO

Oh sir you don’t know this but the wife of Arturo makes the greatest juice in the world! Like the juice up in heaven you know?

(VALDERAMA smiles at ARTURO. He exits. He passes by his own house as he does so, and even peers into his own gate. VALDERAMA sits down at a punso and wipes his face. He lights a cigarette.)

VALDERAMA

(Fans himself.) Should have brought an umbrella…

(ARTURO reenters stage. He has a cigarette hanging from his lips. He sits down beside VALDERAMA.)

ARTURO

Sorry about that. (Shrugs.) You know what it is.

VALDERAMA

Don’t worry. I had a wife once too.

ARTURO

Very hard life, marrying.

VALDERAMA

(Tosses cigarette.) Even now?

ARTURO

(Smiles.) Well, not so hard anymore.

VALDERAMA

(Pats ARTURO’s shoulder.) You know me, Art, I always pay back those who do good for me.

(Pause from ARTURO.)

ARTURO

But sometimes, the news, they worry me.

VALDERAMA

Don’t worry about it. Let the press talk. Let them do their jobs. (Pause.) Everybody has a price. The police chief here, in this city? I knew his a very long time ago.

ARTURO

There were a lot of them.

VALDERAMA

And was there ever any investigation?

ARTURO

(Shrugs.) Very hard life. (Pauses.) But I guess it’s the only thing I can do.

VALDERAMA

It’s useless to let great talent go to waste. It’s what I always say when people ask about my education platform.

ARTURO

(Drops cigarette.) How is your campaign?

VALDERAMA

(Winks at ARTURO.) Sureball.

ARTURO

How much do you give?

VALDERAMA

Oh, not so much, you know, a little 500 here, a little 500 there—drinking money. Keep the boys happy. T-shirts for the wives. Ballers for the kids. All party money.

ARTURO

Alvarado’s giving away 1000 though. My wife received her money yesterday morning. White envelope.

(VALDERAMA falls silent. Something comes over him.)

VALDERAMA

(Clears throat.) Well, Art, about that.

(ARTURO looks at him. There is a pause. Then he stands up, goes to stage-middle, then he starts warming up, stretching his limbs.)

ARTURO

(Snickers.) You’re a very busy man, Valderama. I just had a job two days ago.

VALDERAMA

(Grins.) Patience, Art. You know it’s the only time people like us actually work.

ARTURO

Well who do you want?

VALDERAMA

That thorn in my side, pricking me day after day after day. Always talking bad nonsense about me on the radio every morning. Calling me names on the newspaper. Says I haven’t done anything for this city. (Shakes head.) You see that new restaurant complex at the Boulevard? Who do you think built that? Who do you think talked to the contractors of that? (Pause.)

(ARTURO starts doing jumping jacks.)

And that bastard goes on the radio talking about how I never give jobs to people. What do you call the construction workers renovating city hall? Renovating my house? Cleaning my cars?

ARTURO

(Stops, huffs.) This is Alvarado?

VALDERAMA

He thinks just because he’s under a much bigger party and he has a lot more money than me he can buy everybody else in this city. He is very proud of himself.

(ARTURO starts doing pushups.)

Doesn’t he know I bought those radio DJs first? He just paid them more money, that’s all. That bastard DJ Jhonz, he should be next.

ARTURO

(Stops, huffs.) I don’t know, boss, I did a lot of people before, but I never did someone like this.

(ARTURO starts doing cool-down exercises.)

VALDERAMA

I’m still the mayor. He’s still just running.

ARTURO

They’ll come back after me.

VALDERAMA

(Gestures.) No, Art, believe me, their party couldn’t give any less of a damn about him. They just want to remove me, they’ll pick anybody. (Snickers.) The bastards think they can spend more money than me.

ARTURO

So spend more money. Give us 2000 and you win.

VALDERAMA

No, Art, it’s not really the amount you spend. It’s what you do with it.

ARTURO

So go on the radio, boss, talk about him. Challenge him to a fight. Or I could just do his boys on the radio or newspaper. Alvarado’s too big, boss.

VALDERAMA

No, too messy. My way is better. Just arrange him and everything will be handled.

ARTURO

Arrange?

VALDERAMA

Iligpit. Hipuson.

ARTURO

Ah.

(ARTURO sits down beside VALDERAMA. Wipes his face with his Good Morning towel. He lights another cigarette. VALDERAMA slouches toward him.)

He can pay people to catch me. It’s not like those small-time fools you can just drive by on your motorcycle and you can shoot in the head.

VALDERAMA

I’ll pay the people who’d catch you not to.

ARTURO

(Thinks.) 25 and I’ll think about it.

VALDERAMA

How much to make you do it?

ARTURO

50?

VALDERAMA

Oh, you’re really not joking, Art. You are really scared?

ARTURO

Scared of jail, yes. What will happen to my wife and children if they bring me to prison?

VALDERAMA

(Pauses.) 50 and you’ll do it?

ARTURO

50 and I’ll think about thinking about doing it.

VALDERAMA

Fine, make that 100.

ARTURO

(Perks up.) We can talk about that.

VALDERAMA

All right, all right, great. Absolutely great. (Pauses.) How much time do I give you?

ARTURO

I will need maybe a week. I still have to look around, check where the man is weak. And he may not be.

VALDERAMA

My spies in his camp can help you.

ARTURO

(Shakes head.) I can do it myself, Valderama. If you do anything you can be traced.

VALDERAMA

I’ll be careful.

ARTURO

(Tosses cigarette.) Don’t trust on your money so much.

VALDERAMA

(Pauses.) So I just check the news next week?

ARTURO

Yes, just look for a person with a bullet in the head.

(VALDERAMA chuckles, and then rises, dusting himself off. ARTURO follows him up. VALDERAMA offers a hand.)

VALDERAMA

It is always nice to do business with you, Art.

ARTURO

And also with you.

VALDERAMA

Payment is the same. Expect me here same time next week.

ARTURO

(Nods.) Don’t worry. The sun will not rise on Alvarado anymore.

(VALDERAMA nods back, and then he exits. ARTURO watches him leave. And then he goes toward the opposite exit. Once he reaches stage-middle, though, GORING enters behind him. She is carrying a gun. She is wearing a batik duster and a pair of bakya.)

GORING

Arturo!

ARTURO

Yes! (Turns.) Oh it’s just you, my wife! What’s going on?

(ARTURO notices the gun in her hands. He steps back. He wipes his forehead.)

(Smiles.) Darling, what is that? In your hand?

GORING

(Points gun.) What do you mean what is this? What do you think is this?

ARTURO

Uh, a pellet gun? I remember we bought our son Sonoy a pellet gun for Christmas last year—

GORING

Shut up, Arturo! Your secret is revealed now so stop lying!

(VALDERAMA’s voice is heard from offstage.)

VALDERAMA

Oh my God!

(GORING flings her slipper at the voice’s direction. She turns to her husband. He is avoiding looking at her, and is doing things with his fingers.)

GORING

(Points gun.) You, Arturo, I already know your secret!

ARTURO

(Sings.) Listen, do you want to know a secret…

(ASIONG and SALONGA’s voices are heard from offstage.)

ASIONG AND SALONGA

(Singing.) Ooh—ah—ooh…

(GORING slaps ARTURO in the face. He comes awake. He straightens up.)

ARTURO

Ah, well, darling, you know how it is with men sometimes…sometimes they own a gun, sometimes they don’t. You know? That’s just life, you know?

GORING

What are you talking about?

ARTURO

I mean sometimes they own a gun, even if it’s not real, because they just sometimes they own a gun. You know?

GORING

Shut up, Arturo, this gun is real! Look how heavy it is!

ARTURO

So why can you carry it in one hand only?

GORING

Are you calling me fat?

ARTURO

(Raises hands in front of him.) Oh no no no darling, I did not mean like that at all!

GORING

No, you are calling me fat! In a not obvious way!

(GORING starts chasing ARTURO all around the stage. They circle the stage until GORING stops, out of breath. She bends down. She clutches her chest. ARTURO approaches.)

ARTURO

(Helps her up.) Now darling look at you, I told you not to be excited so much! You have a bad heart!

GORING

Shut up you…

ARTURO

(Sighs.) Well OK, why don’t we just sit down over there and we talk about this?

(GORING is quiet. ARTURO leads her toward the punso. He helps her sit down. He sits down beside her. He waits for her to recover.)

Where did you find that?

GORING

In your drawer. While I was cleaning our room.

ARTURO

(Looks away, scratches head.) Did you find anything else?

GORING

No, nothing.

ARTURO

That’s funny. I remember I kept money in that drawer. Not a gun.

GORING

(Looks away.) I did not see any money.

(ARTURO leans forward and squints at her. She flinches, bends. He relents. He lights another cigarette.)

ARTURO

(Points to gun.) Did Sonoy see that? Any of the others?

GORING

No, of course not. I hid it under my duster and I looked for you right away. (Points.) You—you’re always keeping secrets from me. Like I’m not your wife.

(ARTURO stands up.)

ARTURO

Listen, darling.

GORING

What?

ARTURO

Don’t let anybody see that. Don’t also tell anybody.

GORING

Are you a criminal?

ARTURO

You want to know how we afforded a flat-screen TV? An oven for you, toys for the kids, cementing the house? That easyride?

GORING

(Puts hand on mouth.) Oh my God, don’t tell me—

ARTURO

(Addresses audience.) Yes, darling, you are right, I am. I never told you about this because I was scared. But I had to do it. What can I, a mere carpenter, do to support you and the children? This country is poor. We are poor. What can I do?

GORING

Jesus ko Maria!

ARTURO

(Gestures.) I am just a simple man. I am just a humble man. I did not finish school because I was poor. I was pushed by society to do wrong. This society does not give the humble man anything. This government does not care about me, about us. They only want our vote. Who will put food on our table? What do you want me to do, get a job? You’re going to give me a job?

GORING

(Clasps hands before face.) Santisima! Arturo, what did you do?

ARTURO

(Turns.) I am a hold-upper, Goring!

(GORING gasps. She bursts into tears. ARTURO tosses his cigarette. He stays where he is.)

GORING

Oh, Hesus ko, Ginoo ko! You are really a criminal, Arturo!

ARTURO

Yes, but the crime I was doing was helping you buy food and all the things you like! Send the kids to school!

GORING

(Cries.) I did not need a hair-dryer, Arturo!

ARTURO

No, don’t lie, Goring! You kept bothering me about getting a hair-dryer so I held up a college student to buy you one!

GORING

Ginoo ko!

ARTURO

I grabbed his cell phone, his laptop, and his money! I sold his cell phone and laptop and also bought you an oven toaster!

(GORING hunches up, her face in her hands. She drops the gun. ARTURO picks up the gun. He tucks it in his waistband.)

GORING

(Raises face slightly.) I trusted you Arturo!

ARTURO

I’m sorry darling.

GORING

You snake!

ARTURO

I was just not careful enough.

GORING

This is terrible! (Stomps.) Go away, Arturo! Leave this house and never come back!

(ARTURO lights another cigarette.)

ARTURO

OK fine, but you say that like I have another woman.

GORING

(Sobs.) You have another woman?

ARTURO

Just kidding.

(ARTURO drops his cigarette, stamps it out. He takes one last look at his crying wife, and then he exits.)

END OF ACT I

Michael Aaron Gomez is from Dauin, Negros Oriental. He graduated with a degree in creative writing from Silliman University in 2017. He was a fellow at the Silliman University National Writers Workshop in 2012, and the IYAS Creative Writing Workshop in 2013. He won a Palanca for the play "Tirador ng Tinago" in 2016. He is currently a lecturer at the University of the Philippines in Davao.