1

Wilfredo Ma. Guerrero

Condemned
To the Memory of Fernando Poe Sr.

FR. LIM: The execution is set?

WARDEN: Within an hour. Exactly at six.

First Performance: Capitol Theater, under the direction of

Fernando Poe Sr. November 27, 1943 to January 20, 1944.

FR. LIM: May I see him now?

CHARACTERS:

WARDEN: Certainly. Ill bring him out.

PABLO GONZALEZ
ANGELA GONZALEZ (his mother)
CRISTINA (his fiance)
TIA CHEDENG (his aunt)
ANDRES GOROSPE (an old friend)
SIMEON SERENO (another friend)
FATHER LIM (prison chaplain)
WARDEN

FR. LIM: Here?

TIME: An hour before the execution.

(WARDEN opens cell, leads PABLO out into the waiting-room, closing
rear door.)

SCENE: The prison waiting-room. A door at the rear which, when

opened, reveals the bars of the death cell. Another door on right
side of stage. Two high, small windows with bars on rear walls,
through which the sky can be seen.

WARDEN: Yes, its permissible. One moment.

(WARDEN goes to rear door, opens it. PABLO is seen through the
bars, seated on a bench, his bead in his bands.)
WARDEN: Father Lim is here.

FR. LIM: Pablo!

PABLO: Father!

When the curtain rises, the stage is completely dark, except for the
lighted candle. The metal rustling of heavy keys is heard. Presently,
the right door opens. FATHER LIM and the WARDEN appear. FATHER
LIM is about forty, brisk-mannered but soft-voiced. He carries a
breviary in one hand, and a small bag in another.

(PABLO GONZALEZ is twenty-four. Hes tall, well-built. His

sufferings can be seen in his tense manly features, in his dark
piercing eyes, and in the tight expression of his mouth. His
movements are quick and nervous. He wears the orange uniform
with a large cross at the back. His hair is cropped.)

WARDEN: Come right in, Father. The prisoner has been waiting for
you.

PABLO: Ive been expecting you! Any news, Father?

FR. LIM: How is he?

WARDEN: Hes calm and quiet, Father. He slept well.

(FR. LIM shakes his head.)

FR. LIM: None, my son. Ive triedGod knows how much

PABLO: I understand, Father.

WARDEN: Not yet. But theres a young girl
(Right door opens, WARDEN appears.)

PABLO: A young girl?

WARDEN: Mr. Gonzalezany last request you wish to make? I mean,

any kind of food or drink you might want?

WARDEN: Dressed in black.

PABLO: Can I ask anything?

PABLO: (to himself) Cristina.

WARDEN: Anythingwithin reason.

FR. LIM: Your?

PABLO: A bottle of whiskeycould I ask for a bottle of whiskey?

(PABLO nods, bitterly.)

FR. LIM: (smiling) Whiskey?

WARDEN: Shall I let her in?

PABLO: You see, Father, I could not afford to drink it beforeI got
used to the cheap ginebra and tuba. Ive always dreamt of being
able somedayto drink whiskey, a whole bottle.

PABLO: Nonot yet. Ill let you know.

WARDEN: Anything more?

WARDEN: If you want anything, Father, I shall be just outside the

door.

PABLO: Yes. Two glasses.

(WARDEN proceeds to the door.)

WARDEN: Isnt there anything you want with the whiskey?

(WARDEN goes out. FR. LIM sits on bench beside the table; PABLO
remains standing, staring in front of him.)

PABLO: Yes. Make it three glasses. Well all drink.

FR. LIM: Pablo(He doesnt answer.) Pablo!

(WARDEN and FR. LIM look at each other comprehendingly.)

PABLO: (as if waking up) Forgive me, Father, I was thinking

WARDEN: What I mean, Mr. Gonzalezis there any food you might
want?

FR. LIM: Take a seat. (PABLO sits down.) What were you thinking of,
my son?

PABLO: Food? No, nothing more.

WARDEN: Very well. (He is about to go.)

PABLO: I was thinkingI cant believe itthat I should be here

condemned to be hung in an hourat the age of twenty-four. (He
covers his face.)

PABLO: Warden, has my aunt arrived?

FR. LIM: Be calm, Pablo. I went to see the governor for a reprieve

a few days more at leastbut he said he couldnt do anything.

PABLO: Is she tall?
PABLO: Father(Suddenly he breaks down and puts his head on
edge of table. FR. LIM goes back to his seat.) Fatherdo you think
-?

FR. LIM: Yes, rather. And wearing a colored dress.

PABLO: Curly hair?

FR. LIM: Yes

PABLO: What you said last nightthat God could forgive meforgive
me after all Ive done?
FR. LIM: My son, Christ has said that if your sins are as scarlet they
shall be as white as snowif you ask his forgiveness.
(PABLO impulsively kneels in front of FR. LIM. PABLO hesitates, and
stands up.)
FR. LIM: Gods mercy is infinite, my son.
PABLO: No, I cant. Not yet.
FR. LIM: As you wish, Pablo.
PABLO: If my mother had only taught me to believe and to pray. But
she never didthats why Im here now.
FR. LIM: Your mother still living?
PABLO: Yes, but I hope I dont see her again!
FR. LIM: Why?
PABLO: Whats the use, Father? Its a long story.
FR. LIM: While entering the prison gate, I noticed a woman standing
on the sidewalk and looking toward the cells. It could be a mere
coincidence, but a certain resemblance

FR. LIM: (wondering) Now that I come to think of ityes. Her face
wasor
PABLO: Covered with too much paint?
(FR. LIM nods gravely.)
FR. LIM: Wearing earrings and bracelets.
PABLO: Thats her all right. I wonder why shes here.
FR. LIM: Dont you expect a mother to see her son?
PABLO: I dont want to see her!
FR. LIM: Pablowhat you told me a moment agothat your mother
never taught you to believe and to prayis that the reason you
dont want to see her?
PABLO: (looking at him) That, Fatherand more. But lets not talk
about it. I want to rest a little. Im tiredand a little nervous. I
hope you dont mind.
FR. LIM: No, no, of course you should he down for a while. You
want me to go?
PABLO: No, not yet, Father. Will you read me something? My heart
is so weary. Perhaps your books could give me some comfort.
FR. LIM: Ive two books here. The Confessions of St. Augustine and

Kempis The Following of Christ.

ANDRES: No, dont bother him just yet. Can I ask a few questions?

PABLO: The second bookyes.

(WARDEN nods.)

(FR. LIM opens the book at random and starts reading.)

ANDRES: Ive just arrived from the province. All I know is from the
morning papers. I can hardly believe its true. Can you tell me why
he murdered that man?

FR. LIM: (reading aloudfrom Book One, Chapter 12) It is good for
us now and then to have some troubles and adversities; for
oftentimes they make a man enter unto himself, that he may know
that he is an exile, and place not his hopes in anything of the
world... Therefore, ought a man so firmly to establish himself in
God, as to have no need of seeking many human consolations...
Then is he weary of longer fife; and wisheth death to come, that he
may be dissolved, and be with Christ. Then also he well perceiveth,
that perfect security and full peace cannot be realized in this
world.
PABLO: That is good, Father. But my eyesthey are weary.
FR. LIM: I shall continue reading it for you, if you wish.
PABLO: Yes, yes. In my cell.
(Both exit. WARDEN enters, carrying a bottle and several glasses on
a tray which he places on a table. ANDRES GOROSPE, a childhood
friend of PABLO, also enters.)
WARDEN: The chaplain is in with him now.
ANDRES: I shall wait.
(ANDRES GOROSPE is twenty-six. He has settled down early in life.
A childhood friend of PABLO, ANDRES has never asked much from
life, his ambitions are few and modest. ANDRES has quiet manners
and speaks rather slowly. He is attired in a simple suit and wears a
tie. WARDEN is about to open the rear door.)

WARDEN: It seems this fellowthe victimannoyed the prisoners

girl once. During the trial the prisoner testified that he was not a
jealous person by temperament, but that when this other fellow
went to the extreme of laying his hands on herhe vowed revenge
and killed him.
ANDRES: Was that sufficient reason to give him the death penalty?
WARDEN: Many other circumstances aggravated his case. For one
thing the murder was deliberateit was done in the eveningand
he purposely got drunk
ANDRES: What weapon did he use?
WARDEN: A knife. About a foot long. It pierced the mans heart.
ANDRES: Pablo used to be so afraid of a knife!
WARDEN: The prisoner afraid of a knife?
ANDRES: Oh, Im talking of the time we were children.
WARDEN: He pleaded guilty.
ANDRES: How strange. If I could only help him
WARDEN: Too late now. In less than an hour
ANDRES: Erthis girl

(WARDEN goes out.)

WARDEN: What girl?
ANDRES: The girl you mentionedthe one Pablo killed the man for
WARDEN: Shes the one out there (pointing to right door) wearing a
black dress.
ANDRES: I cant understand how PabloAnd then the death penalty

WARDEN: But you see, he had had previous convictionsestafa,

disorderly conduct, assault against constituted authority
ANDRES: Estafa, too?
WARDEN: A year ago he forged a check for two hundred thousand
pesos. He was an inveterate gambler, you know.
ANDRES: I didnt know.
WARDEN: You wish to see him now? Youre allowed five minutes.
ANDRES: Yes. Thank you.
(WARDEN opens rear door. We see the chaplain reading to PABLO
whos sitting on a bench with his face buried in his hands. He looks
up.)
WARDEN: A visitor, Mr. Gonzalez.
(PABLO stands, goes out, WARDEN closing door.)
WARDEN: The whiskey is here, Mr. Gonzalez.
PABLO: Thank you.

ANDRES: Pablo.
PABLO: (trying to remember) I dont
ANDRES: Dont you remember me, Pablo? Andreswe were
childhood friends. We used to play escondite, remember?
PABLO: (recognizing him and shaking hands) Ah, yes, I remember
now.
ANDRES: (both sit down) You used to push me into the river,
remember?whenever we played near the bridge. Have you
forgotten?
PABLO: No, Andres. I havent forgotten. I only wish we were
children again. We were happy then, werent we? (ANDRES nods
sadly, evading his gaze.) Youre the only friend who has come to see
me. The othersmy so-called friendsI havent seen them since
the trial.
ANDRES: They are probably busy.
PABLO: (laughing grimly) Yes, too busy evading me. But your
coming, Andres, is a complete surprise to me. I meanI didnt
expect you -ANDRES: I arrived from Isabela yesterdayI came to Manila on
business. I knew nothing aboutabout thisuntil I read the papers
last night.
PABLO: Im glad you came, Andres.
ANDRES: Theres a young lady outside. She should have come in
first, but when she was near the door she turned to me and told me
to go ahead. Is sheyour wife?

ANDRES: Why not?

PABLO: (shaking his head) No. We were to be married when this
happened.

PABLO: And destroy her future?

ANDRES: Is there anything I can do, Pablo? Anything?

ANDRES: If you love her

PABLO: Thank you, Andres. No, theres nothing you can do now.

PABLO: I doNo, I cant marry her now!

ANDRES: But I cant understandwhen I saw you lastwe were in

the sixth grademy father was appointed provincial treasurer of
Batangas, so we had to move there.

ANDRES: Does she love you? (PABLO stares at him and nods bitterly.)

PABLO: I chose the wrong path, thats all. Tell me, are you married?

ANDRES: She wouldnt care

ANDRES: Yes, and with two children. I should like you to meet my
wife. (Suddenly they stare at each other, at the ironic impossibility
of the wish.)

PABLO: Maybe not nowbut latershell regret it. Why make her
the widow of a murderer?

PABLO: Thats just it. She does. Ive been very selfish all my life

PABLO: What are you doing now?

ANDRES: Tell me, Pabloyour father died when we were still in

school?

ANDRES: Im a doctor. Im assistant head of the Isabela Provincial

Hospital.

PABLO: Yes, and after his death I lived with an old aunt, Tia
Chedeng but when I was fourteen I ran away.

PABLO: Are you happy?

ANDRES: Youyou used a knife, they say. You were so afraidof a

knife when you were a kid.

ANDRES: I have no complaints. Ive a little house of my own.

PABLO: Youve gone far, Andres. And where am I now?

PABLO: Yes, I was afraid of many other things besides. I didnt

gamble, I didnt drink.

ANDRES: Pablojust a suggestionwhy dont youthe girl outside

ANDRES: What happened?

PABLO: Yes

PABLO: I dont know. I grew up without discipline. I was allowed to

steal small sums of moneyto gamble on street comersto smoke
under the bridge. And when I grew olderthe wrong friendsthe
lack of faith in anyone or anythingthe bitterness

ANDRES: Have you thought of marrying her?

PABLO: Now?

ANDRES: Your mother still alive?

(WARDEN goes out.)

PABLO: Yes.
ANDRES: Is she here?
PABLO: I hope not!
ANDRES: (not understanding him) I understand. Its best, I suppose.
PABLO: You are mistaken, Andres. I hope never to see her again!

ANDRES: Pablo(Both shake hands warmly.)

PABLO: Thanks for coming, Andres. Im happy to die knowing that
at least I have a friend.
ANDRES: Goodbye(He breaks down momentarily, but quickly pulls
himself together.) Goodbye. (Hastily he goes out, WARDEN enters.)
WARDEN: Half an hour left, Mr. Gonzalez. You wish to rest a little?

ANDRES: Your own mother? But

(WARDEN enters.)
WARDEN: Theres a man who insists on seeing you, but he has no
pass.
PABLO: Did he give his name?
WARDEN: Yes. Simeon Sereno. (PABLO, from the expression on his
face, recognizes the visitor, and his smile has a tinge of bitter
contempt.)
PABLO: No, I dont want to see him.
(WARDEN nods, goes out.)
ANDRES: Somebody you know?
PABLO: Hes one of my companions from the past who dragged me
to the gutter.
(WARDEN comes in.)
WARDEN: Time is up, Mr. Gorospe.

PABLO: (with a brief, grim laugh) Rest now? Ive all eternity to rest
in, Warden.
(SIMEON enters. Hes about twenty-five, in drab trousers and pants,
his hair is tousled. He is smoking a cigarette. PABLO doesnt see
him at first.)
SIMEON: (to WARDEN) Do you mind leaving us alone? (PABLO glares
at SIMEON resentfully.)
WARDEN: (to PABLO) You wish to see him? (PABLO doesnt answer,
but his silence is taken for consent. WARDEN leaves quietly.)
SIMEON: I read in the papers
PABLO: I didnt want to see you. Youre partly to blame for my
being here.
SIMEON: Dont be too hard on me, Pablo.
PABLO: You taught me many of the evil things I learned.
SIMEON: I regret it deeply.
PABLO: Yourregretwill it save me from the chair?

SIMEON: If I could do something

(PABLO has gone near him and has gently put his band on his
shoulder.)

PABLO: What can you donow?

PABLO: (gently) You never told me this.

SIMEON: You say I taught you many evil things. Thats true. But I too
had been taught in my younger years by other friends.

SIMEON: (bitterly) Each one of us carries a secret in his heart which

he cant reveal to anyone.

PABLO: You pretended to be my friend.

PABLO: To have a motherhow sweet and beautifully consoling it

must be. Yes, how wonderful it must be.

SIMEON: Ive always been your friend, Pablo.

(SIMEON stares at him.)

PABLO: Thats why, I suppose, you never came to see me during the
trial.
SIMEON: How should I have known you wanted to see me? I didnt
dare.
PABLO: You were my closest friendthe one I trusted most. We
were partners in drinking, gambling, and womenand that doesnt
merit the word friendship?
SIMEON: True, Pabloand yetI think youre being unfair to me.
PABLO: Unfair?
SIMEON: (sitting) You have a mother. You are luckyto have one. My
mother died when I was five, my father a year before that. I was
raised in an orphanage, but I escaped when I was twelveand since
thenIve been alone in this world! To have a motherhow sweet
and beautiful it must be. When I was a kid, Id sometimes have
fights with other kidswhenever I got licked, Id crybut I had no
one to dry my tears. I still remember the garden in the orphanage
how often Id run to a comer of that gardenthere was a bench
behind some thick bushesand there I would weep quietly. Thats
why I grew up to be bitter.

SIMEON: Shes still alive? (PABLO nods.) Then?

PABLO: I, too, have my secrets, Simeon.
(SIMEON stands up.)
SIMEON: Im leaving for Palawan tomorrow.
PABLO: Palawan?
SIMEON: I have a job at the Leper Colony.
PABLO: Amongthe lepers?
SIMEON: Among the lepersI met a nice and fine girl two months
ago.
PABLO: Shes working there?
SIMEON: Shes going to live there.
PABLO: Live there? But why?
SIMEON: She hasleprosy.

PABLO: Leprosy!
SIMEON: I am going with herthats why Ive decided to work
there, too.

PABLO: Tia Chedeng! (Leads her to a chair, be sitting beside her and
holding her bands.) I am so happy you came.
TIA CHEDENG: I did not want to come todayI told you yesterday,
but

PABLO: You love her, Simeon?

SIMEON: Yes. And I want to expiate my past.

PABLO: I wouldnt have forgiven you if you didnt come today, Tia.

PABLO: But why go to that extreme?

TIA CHEDENG: I tried, Pablo, I tried to see the presidentbut I

couldnt find him in his office nor in his house. I have failed.

SIMEON: Great crimes, Pablo, demand great expiations.

PABLO: No matter, Tia, no matter now.

PABLO: (suddenly shaking Simeons hand) Forgive me, Simeon! I see

youre a better man than I am.

TIA CHEDENG: Yesterday you asked me to get you some mangoes. I

promised I would get you some, butOctober is not the season for
mangoes.

SIMEON: No, Pablo, Im no better than you areIm worse. But to

this girl I owe the change. I was spiritually and morally deadand
she brought me back to life.

PABLO: How silly of me, Tia.

PABLO: Weve never been so close to each other as we are now.

TIA CHEDENG: Pablo, I failed you in everything. If only I had not let
you go years agobut then you ran away

SIMEON: Now we can partnot with bitter reproaches and

resentmentbut with complete understanding.

PABLO: Why blame yourself, Tia? It was my fault. If only I had

stayed with youhow different things would have been.

(Hastily SIMEON breaks away and rushes out. PABLO, shaken, sits
and buries his face in his hands. WARDEN enters.)

(Suddenly TIA CHEDENG bows her bead, bites her lips, as tears roll
down her cheeks. PABLO caresses her hands. Presently she takes
something from her handkerchief.)

WARDEN: Chedeng Gonzalez to see you.

PABLO: Tia Chedeng! Let her in.
(WARDEN goes out. CHEDENG enters. She is an old woman of sixty.
White-haired, with a wrinkled but kindly face. She stoops a little.
She wears saya and camisa, her shoulders covered with a panwelo.
PABLO kisses her hand.)

TIA CHEDENG: Wear this. (Gives him a small crucifix with a chain.
She puts it around his neck.)
PABLO: Thank you, Tia. How can I repay you for all your kindness?
TIA CHEDENG: Only one thing, Pablo, my dear, will make me happy.
What Ive been asking you these last few days.

10

PABLO: Father Lim read me The Following of Christ a while ago.

WARDEN: Very little time left, Mr. Gonzalez. The girl wants to see
you. (WARDEN goes out.)

TIA CHEDENG: I dont mean that, Pablo.

PABLO: Tiaforgive me for all the pains Ive given you.

PABLO: You mean, confession? (She nods.) I dont know, Tia. Its too
early yet

TIA CHEDENG: I shall wait outside. And I shall be praying. (She

kisses him on the brow.)

TIA CHEDENG: It might be too late, Pablo! (WARDEN enters.)

PABLO: Farewell, Tia, and pray for me!

WARDEN: Sorry. Time is up.

TIA CHEDENG: All my life, son, all my life.

TIA CHEDENG: (rising) Thank you, I was just going. (WARDEN goes
out.)

(WARDEN opens door, as TIA CHEDENG runs out without looking

back. PABLO sits down, very tired. CRISTINA enters. WARDEN closes
door. CRISTINA is about twenty-one, dressed in black. She is pale,
but pretty; shy and quiet; her voice soft. With her hands clasped on
her breast, she stands beside the door, staring at PABLO. Presently
he notices her presence.)

PABLO: (holding her hands) Tiadid you see somebody waiting

outside?
TIA CHEDENG: Have you seen Cristina?
PABLO: I dont mean her.
TIA CHEDENG: Yourmother? (He nods.) I saw her waiting on the
sidewalk. But you know we have not been on speaking terms all
these years. Has she seen you?

PABLO: (without rising) Cristina! (She advances toward him.)

CRISTINA: We have so little time left, Pablo. (He makes her sit
down, sitting beside her.)
PABLO: What can we say to each other?

PABLO: I dont want to see her!

CRISTINA: I just want to sayIll always love you.

TIA CHEDENG: Forgive her, Pablo. A mother remains a mother,

whatever her faults.

PABLO: Im not worthy of you, Cristina.

PABLO: If she had been a true mother, I wouldnt be here!

TIA CHEDENG: Your fathers death left her embittered and lonely.
PABLO: No, I cant forgive her! (WARDEN enters again.)

CRISTINA: If you really love me dont goawaywithout

PABLO: Without marrying you? Cant you see it would be unfair to
you? I should like to marry you now, even if Im about to(CRISTINA
puts her band on his mouth.)
CRISTINA: Lets not think what the next few moments will bring. (A

11

long pause during which they dare not look at each other.)
PABLO: (talking almost to himself) For the first time in my life I
know what real love isthe deep silent affection, the quiet
understanding, the feeling of gentle gratitude, the sense of being
alive(bitterly) yes, alive. Neither a mothers nor a womans love I
have known. Early in life I soiled my mind with unworthy thoughts
my mouth with drink and dirty languagemy heart polluted with
petty desires my hands with stealing, gamblingand now, murder!
And then you came. Cristina, you came into my sordid, lonely life
and cleansed my mind and soul and brightened my world. Until that
night

you a better futureyoull be glad you didnt marry me, that you
were free.
(She weeps quietly on his shoulders. FR. LIM appears.)
FR. LIM: Its nearly time, my son. (PABLO and CRISTINA look at each
other.)
PABLO: Fatherthis is Cristina. (FR. LIM nods to her.) Fathercould
we
FR. LIM: Yes?

CRISTINA: Why, oh God, why? If only I hadnt been walking alone

that night

PABLO: Could you marry usnow? (FR. LIM looks from one to the
other.) Its the last favor I ask of you, Father! Could you?

PABLO: When you told me the next morning how that fellow had
tried to rape you! I forgot myselfI forgot youI forgot everything!
I only knew I had to wipe away the insult

FR. LIM: But

CRISTINA: But why with blood, Pablo? You shouldnt have

CRISTINA: We love each other, Father.

PABLO: With blood, yesbecause it was the only way. That insult
had to be wiped away with blood! If we get married nowwhat can
I offer you? Nothing. Premature widowhoodthe name of a
murderera few memories of what might have been.

FR. LIM: Have you known each other long?

CRISTINA: What do I get? Widowhoodyes, but also the assurance

of your heart and mine faithful unto the end and for always. A few
memoriesI wish there had been more!but still memories I shall
cherish all through eternity.
PABLO: After I amafter this is overyoull forget me
CRISTINA: I shant be able to forget, Pablo!
PABLO: If someday you should meet a better fellowwho can offer

PABLO: Yes, I know Im going to die in a few minutes.

PABLO: Seven months

FR. LIM: But at this moment
CRISTINA: I want to marry himeven at this moment.
FR. LIM: Time is short. We shall need two witnesses.
PABLO: My Tia Chedeng is outside. (FR. LIM goes out, right door.)
Are you sure, Cristina, you want this?
CRISTINA: Surer than ever. (FR. LIM. returns with TIA CHEDENG and
ANDRES, followed by the WARDEN. The following scene is all

12

pantomime with musical background. FR. LIM puts on surplice,

opens breviary. PABLO and CRISTINA are ordered to kneel down,
ANDRES and TIA CHEDENG standing beside them. The WARDEN
stands near the right door. The mumbling of prayers by the priest is
indistinctly heard. As the ceremony progresses, CRISTINA little by
little loses poise, covers her face as PABLO holds her by the
shoulders. The ceremony over, TIA CHEDENG kisses CRISTINA who is
weeping silently.)

(ANGELA enters, stands near door.)

PABLO: (seeing the bottle of whiskey) I almost forgot! The bottle of

whiskey! Lets all celebrate! (He looks at the others who remain
glum. He stares at CRISTINA who has her eyes down.)

PABLO: Wait for me, dearest. I shall call you. (PABLO kisses TIA
CHEDENGs hand.) Tia, will you take care of Cristina for me? (TIA
CHEDENG nods. PABLO shakes ANDRES hand.) Stand by them, will
you, Andres? (CRISTINA supports TIA CHEDENG, and all go out,
closing door behind them. ANGELA GONZALEZ takes a few steps
forward, extreme front stage, right. PABLO stands an extreme left,
front. ANGELA is over forty-five, but is trying to retain her faded
youth and beauty by the overuse of cosmetics. There is an air of
bad taste and vulgarity about her, accentuated by her gaudy
colored dress and the use of big bracelets and earrings. Her voice is
husky.)

(PABLO gulps down his share, but suddenly throws the glass on the
floor, breaking it. He sits down and leaning on the table, breaks
down. CRISTINA goes near him and he puts his arm around her waist
briefly. WARDEN, after an awkward pause, touches PABLO on the
shoulder.)
WARDEN: Five minutes left. (Suddenly voices are beard outside.
WARDEN runs to the door. His voice is heard off stage). You cant
get in without a pass!
ANGELA: (outside) Let me in! Let me in! (Everybody looks towards
the door.)
WARDEN: (outside) Who are you?
ANGELA: (outside) I am his mother! (PABLOs reaction is to be
imagined.)
WARDEN: (outside) But you dont have a pass!
ANGELA: (outside) Hes my sonand I have the right
PABLO: (quietly) Warden, will you let her in?

WARDEN: Is she your mother?

PABLO: She used to be. (They all look at him.)
FR. LIM: (going to rear door) I shall wait in here. (He goes out.
PABLO embraces CRISTINA briefly.)

PABLO: (without looking at her) What do you want?

ANGELA: I wanted to see you.
PABLO: What for? To offer me your sympathy? Thanks. I dont need
it. You didnt try to see me during the trial.
ANGELA. I couldnt. I wasashamed.
PABLO: Ashamed? And arent you ashamed to be here now?
ANGELA: I am your mother, Pablo.
PABLO: The woman I used to call mother died whenafter Fathers
death, she lived with Marcos Nable.

13

ANGELA: You hate me so.

PABLO: I dont hate you. My feelings for you are what I would feel
for a stranger.
ANGELA: I have left himI left Marcos for good.

taught me a few prayers which I quickly forgot because I ran away.

My faults became habitsand my bad habits enslaved me.
ANGELA: I wasnt to blametry to understand, my son

PABLO: And so you came hereto feel pride in your work.

PABLO: Son! You dare call me your son! And a few months after
Fathers deathI was ten thenyou fell in love with Marcos Nable
lived with himpueh! my own mother!

ANGELA: I dont understand

ANGELA: I left him.

PABLO: If Im here nowif Im condemned to the chairits because

of you!

PABLO: And may I know why? Not that it matters.

ANGELA: Me!
PABLO: Yes, you! Have you ever been a mother to me? Did you ever
give me any care or attention? Isnt it true that you spent all your
time gambling while you left me with Tia Chedeng? When Father
was sick and dyingwerent you out gambling?
ANGELA: I fed you, clothed you
PABLO: And you thought you had done your duty! You thought that
in bringing me into this world your work was finished! It had only
begun!
ANGELA: What did you want me to do?
PABLO: Did you ever correct my faults? Did you care who my
companions and playmates were? Did you ever check me from
committing petty theftscorrect my bad languagemy bad
tendencies?
ANGELA: I really tried, I
PABLO: And did you ever teach me to fear God? (Pause) Tia Chedeng

ANGELA: When I read about your sentence a few weeks agoII

realized thatI had done wrong-PABLO: In the meantime what had you done to me? You broke my
idealstore away my faithyou filled me with bitterness -- the
bitterness of a son whos ashamed of his own mother!
ANGELA: (going near him) Pablo! Have pity!
PABLO: Pity! You never had any for me! You sent me out into the
world without faithwithout anchorwithout dreams! I wandered
aloneand lonelywithout a homeuntil I met Cristinathe girl
Ive just married.
ANGELA: Married! (Looking back towards right door remembering
CRISTINA.)
PABLO: And now that Im about to diehow I wish to have my own
mother at my sideto be able to tell her how sorry I amto be able
to part from this life with a mothers kiss. But no! Its my own
mother who has sent me here!
ANGELA: Pablo! Pablo, my son!

14

PABLO: Tears! How can your tears move me now when I drowned
my own tears in drink?

call you Mother! (Desperately.) God in heaven, why, cant I call you
Mother? (Right door opens, WARDEN comes in.)

(ANGELA slowly raises herself up. PABLO covers his face with his
hands. There is an expression of determination on ANGELAs face.
Slowly and quietly, she takes off her earrings, bracelets, rings, and
gently puts them on the table. She also tries to wipe off the
cosmetics on her face. When she speaks, her voice is low and soft.)

WARDEN: Times up! The officials await you in your cell.

ANGELA: Listen to what I have to say. I was forced to marry your

father against my will. I didnt love him and he knew it. It wasnt
my fault! My family shouldnt have opposed my marriage to the
man I really loved. To forget my unhappiness I turned to gambling
and to pleasure. That kept me away from your father. I didnt want
a baby, you might as well know, so when you camewell, I just left
you to the care of servants. (Her voice rising.) But few knew that
our married life was unhappy. And when your father died, I sought
an outlet for my lonely years

(PABLO stares at the WARDEN and FR. LIM as if in a trance.)

PABLO: Tia Chedeng wanted to make me believe Fathers death had

made you lonely and bitteryes, but for different reasons.

PABLO: Fatherwill you hear my confession? (FR. LIM nods, as

PABLO kneels in front of him. Music. Stage becomes dark. FR. LIM
gives the absolution.) Lets go!

ANGELA: I left you in Tia Chedengs care, then. She wanted you.
When you were eleventhat was the time I met Marcos. Tia
Chedeng knew about my unhappy marriage with your father.
PABLO: She knew and never told me.
ANGELA: Ive told you everything! Now condemn me if you dare!
PABLO: If I could believe youI would ask youto take care of
Cristina for mebut no, its impossible! Too late!
ANGELA: Yes, son, let me take care of her! Ill be a real mother to
herwhat I havent been to you!
PABLO: If I could die with the word Mother on my lipsif I could

ANGELA: Not yetnot yet! (FR. LIM appears.)

FR. LIM: We must start, Pablo.

WARDEN: If you wish to see your wife

PABLO: My wife? Oh, Cristina. Yesnonever mind. Why hurt her
more? (Turning to FR. LIM) FatherI amafraidto die.
FR. LIM: Dont doubt Gods mercy. His mercy is as wide and as deep
as the ocean.

ANGELA: My son!
(PABLO looks at her with compassion in his eyes, makes a gesture of
bending towards her, but turns abruptly, and goes out through rear
door with WARDEN, closing door behind them. Bells begin to toll
outside. The door opens. CRISTINA, TIA CHEDENG, and ANDRES rush
in.)
CRISTINA: (rushing to rear door and banging it repeatedly) Pablo!
Wait! (Stage is darkened as bell continue tolling. CRISTINA breaks
down and collapses in front of rear door, a figure of utter
dejection. TIA CHEDENG sits on chair, with ANDRES behind her.
Music continues. ANGELA stands, front right, with hands folded
tightly and bead down, as if praying. TIA CHEDENG prays with a

15

rosary in her hands. The pause continues for twenty seconds,

interrupted only by CRISTINAs sobs. Suddenly the bells cease
tolling. Another pause of fifteen seconds. Steps are heard. All raise
their eyes toward rear door in an attitude of expectation. Rear
door opens, FR. LIM appears, closes door. CRISTINA and ANGELA
come nearer with a gesture of supplication.)
FR. LIM: Its all over. His last words werehis last words
CRISTINA and ANGELA. Yes?
FR. LIM: Cristina(Here CRISTINA sobs.)Tia
ANGELA: Was thatall?
FR. LIM: (staring at her)and Mother. He whispered, like a
prayer, the word Mothertwice.
ANGELA: Mothertwice.
(As CRISTINA breaks into sobs, ANGELA bends over and enfolds her
in her arms. TIA CHEDENG makes the sign of the cross.)
CURTAIN