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EXT. BAHAY NI NARDA - NIGHT
WE SEE a sleek black car pull in. REGINA's car. The door
opens and ALI steps out. He opens the passenger door, and a
tipsy REGINA stumbles out. ALI catches her, steadies her.
She waves him off.
REGINA
(slurring)
I'm fine, I'm fine. Wait in the
car.
ALI
Regina-
REGINA pushes him off.
REGINA
Sabi ko, I'm fine.
She doesn't wait for an answer, gets on her feet and starts
to walk towards the house. ALI watches in concern as she
fumbles with the lock of the gate. It creaks, pops open.
REGINA almost FALLS at the sudden movement. She pushes it
open, and heads straight for the house.
INT. SALA - NIGHT
LOLA BERTA is sweeping the floor. We hear SUDDEN LOUD
KNOCKING from the front door. LOLA BERTA glances at the
clock. Focus on CLOCK. 11:45 the hands tell. She goes to
open the door.
REGINA is standing at the front step. Eyes puffy and clothes
rumpled. LOLA BERTA startles at the sight.
LOLA BERTA
Attorney! Ay! Good evening po!
Pasok po kayo!
LOLA BERTA shuffles to take her in, REGINA seems to trip
over her own feet, LOLA BERTA notices, reaches out.
LOLA BERTA
Attorney? Okay lang po kayo?
REGINA looks fragile, she stares into LOLA BERTA's eyes and
LOLA BERTA can feel her heart break at the sight staring
back at her. This is not the attorney she was expecting to
meet. REGINA starts to speak, voice shaky.
REGINA
Pasensya na po sa abala ha, pero
s-si Narda po?
Realization dawns on LOLA BERTA's face.
LOLA BERTA
Ay! Si Narda! Anjajan sa kwarto,
saglet tawagin ko ha. Upo po muna
kayo, Attorney?
------------------------------ 2. --------------------------
REGINA refuses to appear weak, remains stubborn.
REGINA
No, 'wag na po, it's okay I'm fine.
LOLA BERTA nods softly at her, then hurries to call for
NARDA.
LOLA BERTA
Narda! Apo! May bisita ka! Andito
si Attorney Regina!
We hear shuffling from the other side of the door, before it
bursts open to reveal a harried-looking NARDA. Her eyes
sweep across the room and land on REGINA. Their eyes meet.
LOLA BERTA forgotten, the world seems to slow as they focus
on each other. Close up on REGINA's face, her expression
passive but her eyes remorseful. She bridges the gap, takes
a step.
REGINA
Narda. Can we-(hesitating) Pwede ba
tayo mag-usap?
NARDA hesitates to speak. Opens her mouth, then closes, then
nods once.
NARDA
Dito na lang tayo sa kwarto
mag-usap?
NARDA gestures to the open door. At the other side of the
living room, DING appears, surveys the scene before him.
NARDA meets her brother's eyes and a silent conversation
seems to transpire. We focus back on REGINA, she sends a
grateful nod to LOLA BERTA before following after NARDA.
CUT TO:
INT. NARDA'S ROOM - NIGHT
The second the door closes, REGINA surges forward, engulfs
NARDA in a sudden hug. NARDA, once again, freezes in shock.
Her arms going slack for a moment before returning the
embrace and tightening her grip. REGINA falls apart.
REGINA
(sobbing)
Narda, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, I'm
sorry about kanina. Hindi ako dapat
sumigaw, I never should've yelled
at you. I shouldn't have ye- I-
REGINA's words break apart as sobs wrack her frame. NARDA
eases her grip on her, pulls away, grabs REGINA's hands.
NARDA
Halaaaa, huyy, ano ka ba? Shh, 'wag
ka umiyak. 'Di ako galit.
------------------------------ 3. --------------------------
NARDA cups her face. They look into each other's eyes.
REGINA sniffles, and NARDA softens, wipes a tear away with
her thumb.
NARDA
(sincere)
Makinig ka sa 'kin. Di ako galit,
okay? 'Wag ka na umiyak. I'm sorry
din, kung inisip mong galit ako
sa'yo.
REGINA
(shaky)
B-but, you didn't- 'Di mo sinasagot
yung calls ko. I thought you were
angry at me.
NARDA's eyes widen.
NARDA
Calls? Ay, hindi ko napansin na
tumawag ka! I'm sorry, tinutulungan
ko kasi si Ding kanina. Hindi ko pa
nahahawakan ulit phone ko.
REGINA seems hesitant to believe, she nods slowly.
REGINA
Oh. Okay.
NARDA sees the hesitance on her face, determined to make
REGINA believe her, she raises up on her tip-toes,
and...presses a gentle kiss on REGINA's forehead.
The gesture seems to placate REGINA.
When they pull away, REGINA's cheeks are red. NARDA doesn't
go far, presses their forehead together still. Her hands
loosen their grip on her face and reaches for her hands
instead.
With REGINA in heels and her barefoot, the height
difference makes it so REGINA is leaning against her. They
stay like that for a few moments. Just breathing.
NARDA
Sorry. 'Di ako galit pramis.
REGINA
(whispering)
I'm sorry, too.
NARDA finally pulls away again, smiles softly at REGINA.
NARDA
Apology accepted na po, ma'am.
The moment finally broken, NARDA tugs on their
interconnected hands. Pulls REGINA towards the direction of
------------------------------ 4. --------------------------
her bed.
NARDA
Lika. Tanggalin mo na muna yang
heels mo, dito ka na mag-pahinga.
REGINA doesn't move. A conflicted look falls on her face.
REGINA
No, no. Narda, no need. Naghihintay
si Ali, sa kotse. I should go.
REGINA moves to go, NARDA also refuses to budge, closes in
on REGINA again.
NARDA
Regina, mukhang lasing ka na, mas
mabuting 'wag ka na munang
bumiyahe. Asan ba si Ali? Lalabas
ako, sasabihin ko na lang sa kanya
dito ka matutulog. Pwede ka naman
nyang sunduin sa umaga.
And well, REGINA doesn't seem to have any fight left in her.
NARDA sees the moment REGINA gives in.
REGINA
No, 'wag ka na lumabas, it's okay.
I'll just text him.
REGINA pulls her phone from her pocket, and NARDA watches as
she texts. When REGINA looks up again, NARDA is smiling at
her.
NARDA
Gusto mo magpalit ka muna ng damit?
Kasya naman siguro t-shirt ko sayo
noh?
REGINA doesn't seem to know what to say. She came here for
an apology, fully expecting NARDA to reject her. The
complete dissonance of her current reality and her imagined
scenario confusing her alcohol-adled brain.
NARDA flits about the room, grabbing a shirt, a pair of
pajamas and thrusting them towards REGINA.
NARDA
Eto, magbihis ka na muna, sabihan
ko lang saglit si Lola na dito ka
na matulog. Tama na iyak, ha?
REGINA nods, NARDA exits.
CUT TO:
------------------------------ 5. --------------------------
INT. SALA - NIGHT
NARDA finds LOLA BERTA and DING at the table, whispering in
hushed voices. She rolls her eyes to herself. Already aware
what the two are gossiping about. DING sees her and his eyes
sparkle.
DING
Ate!
NARDA walks towards them.
DING
Ate, ang ganda pala talaga ni
Attorney noh?
LOLA BERTA
Ano apo? Okay lang ba si Attorney?
Mukhang nakainom ata.
NARDA chooses not to respond to DING's comment, settles for
ruffling his hair as her brother protests. She answers LOLA
BERTA's question instead.
NARDA
Okay naman na po sya, La. Dito ko
na po muna sya patutulugin, ayoko
na syang pabiyahiin pa eh.
LOLA BERTA
Ah, mabuti naman kung ganun. Mag
hahatinggabi na rin. Iisa lang
kumot mo dun, baka ginawin si
Attorney, kuha kita ng isa pa. May
bagong laba ako dyan.
NARDA
Ay 'di na po, La. Bagong palit
naman po mga punda't kumot sa
kwarto. So, okay lang. Iniwan ko
lang po sya saglit para magbihis.
LOLA BERTA nods her approval.
LOLA BERTA
Oh, diba, sabi ko naman sayo, apo.
Ma-aayos din yan. Sadyang minsan
talaga nagkakaron ng maliliit na
away sa magkakaibigan.
NARDA
Onga po, La. Sige, La balik na ako
dun, matulog na rin po kayo.
LOLA BERTA
O sya sige, goodnight apo. Good
night na rin kay Attorney.
------------------------------ 6. --------------------------
DING
Good night Ate!
CUT TO:
INT. NARDA'S ROOM - NIGHT
NARDA enters, and sees REGINA sitting stiffly at the edge of
the bed. REGINA wearing her clothes is a different kind of
sight. The pajama pants are kind of short on her ankles, and
of course, Regina Vanguardia would also paint her toes
black.
REGINA finally notices her staring, startled and caught in
the act, NARDA clears her throat.
NARDA
Okay ka na?
REGINA just nods again, remains silent.
NARDA
(shy and hesitant)
Uhm, so pano? Uhm tabi tayo okay
lang sa'yo? Sorry maliit lang yung
kama, baka 'di ka sanay. Pwede
naman ako sa sahig?
REGINA also seems to turn shy at this realization. Looks at
the bed then looks at NARDA.
REGINA
It's okay, you don't have to sleep
on the floor. I can share.
NARDA
(lauhing nervously)
Ah, hehe, sige okay,mhmm tabi tayo.
REGINA
You okay?
NARDA
(nodding
enthusiastically)
MMmmhhm. Mmhmm. Yes. Oo, okay lang
'ko Uhm- higa na tayo?
REGINA lets it pass, too drunk and spent to care. NARDA
makes to climb for the bed, and REGINA follows suit.
Scooting towards the center of the bed, till they're sat in
the middle face to face.
REGINA
So, where's your side of the bed?
Left or right?
NARDA
Uhm, right.
------------------------------ 7. --------------------------
REGINA
Okay.
They settle themselves on the mattress, NARDA tugging the
covers up over the both of them, her hands nervously playing
with the edges of the blanket.
REGINA turns to face her.
REGINA (WHISPERING)
I'm sorry, ulit. Pa rin. It's just-
I can't seem to control my temper
sometimes, and masyado lang talaga
akong nadala kanina. You have to
understand, I care about Brian.
NARDA seems transfixed.
REGINA
I know you care about him, too.
He's a friend, I just-(sighs) I
just don't want him to get involved
in this. Alam kong, he can't
exactly do whatever I want him to
do. Kailangan rin nyang gawin ang
trabaho nya, sa paraan na alam nya.
I guess, I just have a hard time
dealing with things out of my
control. Lalo na if I know na may
chance for danger. I'm sorry Narda
if nadamay ka sa galit ko. I'm
sorry if I implied that you'd both
be foolish enough to believe Mayor.
I just-(pauses) I hope you know, I
just really care about you, too.
NARDA
Naiintindihan ko naman, Regina,
madadala rin siguro ako, if ikaw
yung mapapahamak. Pero, palagay ko
kailangan na lang din natin
magtiwala kay Brian na alam nya
yung ginagawa nya. Tsaka, kung may
balak man na masama si Mayor, I'm
sure masusugpo rin yun. Andyan ka
naman diba?(playful)SuperRegina?
NARDA sees REGINA blush at this and laughs.
REGINA
Oh my goddd, Narda, stop. I'm
trying to apologize here.
NARDA
(soft)
At sinabi ko na sayo, na
naiintindihan ko, apology accepted.
Ako nga tong, dapat rin mag sorry
dahil 'di ko nasagot yung-
------------------------------ 8. --------------------------
NARDA shuffles around and REGINA is confused for a moment,
before NARDA leans over and reaches for her phone. The
screen lights up both of their faces and NARDA exclaims when
she sees whats on the screen-
FOCUS ON PHONE SCREEN, 14 MISSED CALLS FROM SUPERREGINA
NARDA
14 missed calls?! (shocked but
apologetic) I'm sorry for missing
your 14 calls po ma'am.
REGINA groans in embarrasment, pulls the blanket over her
head and hides.
REGINA
Oh my god, I'm never drinking
again.
NARDA laughs at her antics. Rises to lean on her elbows. She
pulls off the blanket to reveal REGINA, and looks down at
her face.
NARDA
Mhm, mukhang mas healthy yan. What
if, 'wag ka na uminom, pag-usapan
na lang natin, deal?
NARDA's fingers sweep the hair that's fallen over REGINA's
face.
REGINA
Deal.
They look at each other, the room is dim. There is nothing
but REGINA's eyes, in this darkness it seems to call out to
NARDA even brighter than the sparkling stone she swallows.
REGINA
(whispering softly)
I think...you're my favorite
person.
NARDA smiles, beams at her.
NARDA
Favorite din kita.
We see NARDA eye REGINA'S lips for a split-second, just a
split-second. A blink and you miss it glance, but it's
there. Then, she kisses her on the forehead instead,
lightning quick. Just as fast, NARDA burrows under the
covers, turns her back to REGINA.
NARDA
Tulog na tayo.
REGINA seems to still be reeling in the whiplash of events,
we see her trying to look over at NARDA.
------------------------------ 9. --------------------------
REGINA
Okay.
We see them lay in silence for a few moments. FOCUS on
NARDA, clearly not asleep and trying to calm her breathing.
While, REGINA occassionally glances at her companion's prone
form every five seconds.
Finally, NARDA seems to come to her senses and turns over,
opens her arms. REGINA tries to hide her surprise, fails.
NARDA
Lika nga dito, 'di ako makatulog e.
REGINA jumps at the chance, doesn't say anything and just
settles in NARDA's arms.
REGINA
Better?
NARDA
Mhmm.
They both seem content at the silence, REGINA slowly
starting to drift off. REGINA'S head is tucked under NARDA's
chin, we see NARDA tighten her hold, nose buried in REGINA's
hair.
REGINA
Good night, Narda.
NARDA
(pressing a kiss to her
hair)
Good night, Regina.
We pan out to the full view of the bed, the window open and
the moonlight shining softly on the two women.
FADE TO BLACK