SCENE : 1

INT. POOR FAMILY’S HOUSE - DAY

Poor family lived in a small town on the island of Luzon.

< WHEN WILL MY LIFE BEGIN? >

POOR FAMILY
[ starts the day cleaning ]

(ROOM)

MOTHER - SON 2
Seven AM, Good morning, you should wake up
[ goes out of the room ]

SON 2
[ stand up from bed ]

MOTHER
[ points at daughter 1 ]
Start on the chores and sweep till the floor's all clean

POOR MAN - SON 1

Polish and wax,
[ - SON 2 ] do laundry and mop and shine up

DAUGHTER 1
[ tired ] Sweep again, and by then, it's like seven fifteen

SON 1
And so we are like this, this is our family
We all work together, and it is the best thing

DAUGHTER 1
I always sweep the floor, can you try to help me?

DAUGHTER 2
I’m sorry but I’ll do the laundry

SCENE : 2

EXT. FARM - DAY (1987)

Father’s farm had been destroyed in 1918 by one of sudden Philippine floods

< HEAVY RAINFALL ; THUNDER SOUNDS >

MOTHER
[ hugging the kids ]

POOR CHILDREN
[ scared ]

CONTINUATION : The farm is destroyed

< WHEN WILL MY LIFE BEGIN? [ ENDING ] >

POOR MAN
[ sad ] Tomorrow, how? We will begin?

MOTHER
For our kids, we should fight for this thing
We can do this, everything will be fine

POOR MAN
Now that you say that, I will try to do the best

SCENE : 3

EXT. IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE - DAY

Several years afterwards, poor family lived in the town. Had a next door
neighbour ( a very rich man ) with sons and daughters seldom came out. The
house is tall that rich children could look in the window of the poor
family’s house while doing everything.

POOR FAMILY
[ arranging things for the new house ]

< ALI ABABWA >

MOTHER
Can you do me a favor?

POOR MAN
What is it my love?

MOTHER
Get this and bring it to the corner.

POOR MAN
Where?

MOTHER
Just over there and here’s the other things that we need. For the new
arrangement for our sturdy
house

***
POOR CHILDREN
[ playing ]

< INTO THE UNKNOWN >

SON 1
Hey, I hear you… murmuring [ laughs ]
Seems like you’re struggling… finding this? [ giggles ]

DAUGHTER 1
[ disappointed ]
Hey, it’s mine! Give it back, I just wanna play with all of you

DAUGHTER 2
You’re not being fair. Give it back to her and let’s just play

SONS
Ooohhh [ laughs ]
SON 2
[ smiling ] Oh no, we’re not. You’re it, chase us

RICH CHILDREN
[ looking at them having fun together ]

DAUGHTER 1
Look at them. They are runnin’ round and free

DAUGHTER 2
What are you saying? You’re envious?!

DAUGHTER 1
No, I am just saying!

SON 1
You should not be jealous! Hey we are clean, rich, and very spoiled.
Ignore their whispers and let’s just mind ourselves.

SON 2
Oh yes, you’re correct. We are not on their levels

DAUGHTER 2
I’m glad you know that we are on the top

RICH CHILDREN
We’re the best children
We’re the best children
We’re the best children

SCENE : 4

EXT. RICH MAN’S HOUSE (KITCHEN) - DAY

Rich man’s servants were always frying and cooking something good

POOR FAMILY
[ stand outside the rich man’s window and listen to the sounds of sizzling
thick strips of bacon or ham ]

***

< I’VE GOT A DREAM >

SERVANT 1
Do we need more spices for this?

SERVANT 2
Well certainly, I want the poor unhealthy children (more unhealthy)

SERVANT 1
You mean a children looks like a stick inside a stick?

SERVANT 2
Yet, they are eating the food we’re cooking

RICH MAN
What did you say?

SERVANT 1
Oh no! Sir’s here!
 RICH MAN
What did you say?

SERVANT 2
Please listen first

SERVANTS
We’re talking ‘bout the children down the street

RICH MAN
Make sure you make those food good, or else find another job.
Oh, by the way there’s a cockroach on your shoulder

***

< UNDER THE SEA >

POOR CHILDREN
[ smells the aroma of the foods ]

DAUGHTER 1
Their food is always better

DAUGHTER 2
Yes and I wish we had those

SON 1
I’ve dream about having like them

MOTHER
And I feel so hungry now

POOR MAN
Just look at the place around you. Right here, we have also foods

SON 1
We should not look for others. What more are we lookin’ for?

MOTHER / POOR MAN - CHILDREN

We should be grateful, and be thankful
That we still have, some foods to eat, everyday

DAUGHTERS
Yes, we just like that kind of foods
But we never forget what we have
Still it’s enough,
for us this kind of family

SCENE : 5

Rich man appeared at the window and glowered down to the poor family as if
he is condemning them

< INTO THE WOODS >

RICH MAN
[ mad ]
What are you looking at? Don’t you pity yourself?
Your looks are making me barf or throw up
POOR MAN
What are you saying?! Our gaze got loss.
Don’t tell that to my family! I will kick you balls

MOTHER
Both of you! Just stop fighting,
you’re not making any sense, you’re so full of ashame

POOR MAN
My wife is right! Stop making stories, you should have not said that kind
of non sense.

RICH MAN
Are you jealous?

POOR MAN
No!
RICH MAN
You are jealous
MOTHER
No!
RICH MAN
Yes, you are!
POOR MAN
I’m not

MOTHER
Stop it

Other day

POOR CHILDREN
[ wrestled with one another then go outside to play ]
We are always in the best of spirits and our laughter is contagious!

NEIGHBORS
[ pass by ; look at them and laugh with them ]

SCENE : 6

INT. POOR FAMILY’S HOUSE - DAY

Laughter is their only wealth. Their father is a laughing man

FATHER
[ goes to the living room and stand in front of the tall mirror; stretches
mouth into grotesque shapes with fingers and makes faces ]
[ then rush into the kitchen where poor children are ]

POOR CHILDREN
[ shock ; scream ]

POOR FAMILY
[ laughs ]
One of the brothers ( poor )came home and brought a small bundle under his
arm, pretending that he brought something to eat -

< SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE >

SON 2
[ knocks ]

DAUGHTER 2
Brother? What is that?
[ tries to get the bundle ]

SON 2
Don’t, [ keeps away the bundle ] it’s a little bit heavy
I think you’ll really love it [ puts his hands on her shoulder ]
[ rushes to the mother ; throws the bundle into her lap ]

SON 1, DAUGHTERS, AND FATHER

[ stood around ]

DAUGHTER 2
Oh, the inside are moving so, is this something to eat?

MOTHER
[ untying the strings ]

SON 1
Is it a leg of lamb or something?

DAUGHTER 2
Just wait, stop making noise and don’t bother

DAUGHTER 1
That’s why I am curious to see what is inside

/ suddenly a black cat leaped out of the

bundle and ran wildly around the house /

MOTHER
Ahh! [ chases son 2 : running ]
Some things never change!
You still a naughty kid

SON 2
[ laughs ]

SON 1
Some things stay the same
Just how we get a long just fine

FATHER / DAUGHTERS
Like an old stone wall that’ll never fall
Some things are always true
Some things never change
Like this happy family
 SCENE : 8

INT. POOR FAMILY’S HOUSE - DAY

One of the poor sisters suddenly started screaming in the middle of the
night. Mother reached her first and tried to calm her. My sister cried and
groaned. When father lifted the lamp, my sister stared at us with shame in
her eyes.

POOR MAN
What is it?

DAUGHTER 2
I’m pregnant! [ cries ]

POOR MAN
Don’t be a fool!

MOTHER
You’re only a child

DAUGHTER 2
[ sobs ] I’m pregnant, I tell you!

POOR MAN
[ kneels in front of her daughter, puts the hand on her belly and rubbed it
gently ]
How do you know you are pregnant?

DAUGHTER 2
[ cries ] Feel it!

OTHERS
[ put the hands on her belly also ]

/ something’s moving inside /

POOR MAN
[ frighten ]

MOTHER
Who’s the man?

DAUGHTER 2
There’s no man

FATHER
What is it then?

DAUGHTER
[ opens her blouse ]

/ a bullfrog jumps out /

MOTHER
[ faints ]

FATHER
[ drops the lamp ]
 / the oil spilled on the floor and my daughter’s blanket caught fire /

SON 2
[ laughs so hard then rolls on the floor ]

SCENE : 9
CONTINUATION

That night, the fire was extinguished and Mother was revived

POOR FAMILY
[ return to bed and try to sleep ]

POOR MAN
[ keeps on laughing loud ]

OTHERS
[ can’t sleep any more ]

MOTHER
[ gets up again and lighted the oil lamp ]

POOR CHILDREN
[ roll up the mats on the floor ]
[ dance ] [ laugh ]

NEIGHBORS (except the rich family)

[ come into the yard and join ]
[ laugh ]

SCENE : 10

As time went on, the rich man’s children became thin and anaemic, while
poor children grew even more robust and full of life.

POOR CHILDREN : ( BRIGHT AND ROSY )

RICH CHILDREN : ( PALE AND SAD )

The rich man started to cough day and night. Then the children started
to cough, one after the other.

RICH MAN
[ coughs ] [ gets up from bed ]

WIFE
[ enter the room] [ coughs ]
You are not also feeling well, my dear? Here, take some
medicines [ gets the container of medicines ]

RICH CHILDREN
[ enter their parents’ room ] [ cough ]

DAUGHTER (1)
[ coughs ]
Mom, we can’t sleep

WIFE
 [ worried ]
Come here, sit beside us

RIGHT SIDE : Poor family trying to sleep but the sound cough of the rich
family

SCENE : 11

One day the rich man appeared at a window and stood there a long time.
He looked at my sisters, who had grown fat with laughing, then at my
brothers, whose arms and legs were like the molave, which is the sturdiest
tree in the Philippines. He banged down the window and ran through the
house, shutting all the windows.

From that day on, the windows of our neighbor’s house were closed. The
children did not come outdoors anymore. We could still hear the servants
cooking in the kitchen, and no matter how tight the windows were shut, the
aroma of the food came to us in the wind and drifted gratuitously into our
house.

SCENE : 12

One morning a policeman from the presidencia came to our house with a
sealed paper. The rich
man had filled a complaint against us. Father took me with him when he went
to the town clerk and asked him what it was all about. He told Father the
man claimed that for years we had been stealing the spirit of his wealth
and food.

I’m a policeman. Sir, come with me

Wait but what did I do wrong?

There’s someone who filled a complaint against you

That’s why I am here to take you

SCENE : 13

When the day came for us to appear in court, Father brushed his old army
uniform and borrowed a pair of shoes from one of my brothers. We were the
first to arrive.

Father sat on a chair in the center of the courtroom.

Mother occupied a chair by the door. We children sat on a long bench by

the wall.

Father kept jumping up his chair and stabbing the air with his arms, as
though he were defending himself before an imaginary jury.

The rich man arrived.

 He had grown old and feeble; his face was scarred with deep lines. With
him was his young lawyer.
Spectators came in and almost filled the chairs.

The judge entered the room and sat on a high chair. We stood up in a
hurry and sat down again.

After the courtroom preliminaries, the judge took at father.

JUDGE
Do you have a lawyer?

POOR MAN
I don’t need a lawyer judge

JUDGE
Proceed

RICH MAN’S LAWYER

[ points finger at the poor man ]
Do you or do you not agree that you have been stealing the spirit of the
complainant’s wealth and food?

POOR MAN
I do not!

RICH MAN’S LAWYER

Do you or do you not agree that while the complainant’s servants cooked and
fried fat legs of lambs and young chicken breasts, you and your family hung
outside your windows and inhaled the heavenly spirit of the food?

POOR MAN
I agree

RICH MAN’S LAWYER

How do you account for that?

POOR MAN
[ gets up and pace around ; scratching head thoughtfully ]
I would like to see the children of the complainant, Judge

JUDGE
Bring the children of the complainant

RICH CHILDRENS
[ shy ]

SPECTATORS
[ cover their mouths with their hands ]

They were so amazed to see the children so thin and pale.

The children walked silently to a bench and sat down without looking up.

They stared at the floor and moved their hands uneasily.

POOR MAN
[ stand by his chair and look at the rich children ]
I should like to cross-examine the complainant
 JUDGE
Proceed

POOR MAN
Do you claim that we stole the spirit of your wealth and became a laughing
family while yours became morose and sad?

RICH MAN
Yes

POOR MAN
Then we are going to pay you right now
[ walks over to where his children sitting on the bench and takes the straw
hat off his son’s (1) lap and began filling it up with centavo pieces that
he took out his pockets ]
[ went to Mother, who added a fistful of silver coins. My brothers threw in
their small change ]
May I walk to the room across the hall and stay there for a minutes, Judge?

JUDGE
As you wish

POOR MAN
Thank you
[ strode into the other room with the hat in his hands full of coins ]

/ doors of both rooms were wide open /

POOR MAN
Are you ready?

JUDGE
Proceed

The sweet tinkle of coins carried beautifully into the room. The
spectators turned their faces toward the sound with wonder. Father came
back and stood before the complainant.

POOR MAN
Did you hear it?

RICH MAN
Hear what?

POOR MAN
The spirit of the money when I shook this hat?

RICH MAN
Yes

POOR MAN
Then you are paid

RICH MAN
[ opened his mouth to speak and fell to the floor without a sound ]

RICH MAN’S LAWYER

 [ rushed to his aid ]

JUDGE
[ pounds his gravel ]
Case dismissed

POOR MAN
[ struts around the courtroom ]

JUDGE
[ comes down to his high chair ; shake hands with the poor man ]
[ whispering ] By the way, I had an uncle who died laughing

POOR MAN
You like to hear my family laugh, judge?

JUDGE
Why not?

POOR MAN
Did you hear that children?

DAUGHTER 1
[ laughs ]

/ the rest of the poor family follow /

SPECTATORS
[ laugh ]
[ holding their bellies and bending over the chair ]

/ And the laughter of the judge was the loudest of all /