Lifetime

Written by

Yzza Hyacinth

Members:

Prince Damaso as Priel Torres

Jonabelle Bandiola as Milani Torres

Maica Francisco as Misha Torres

Gabriel Juayno as Galen De Leon

Jessa Bajar as Elira De Leon

Irene Orendain as Zaniyah De Leon

Gerianne Bagasina as Zaina De Leon

Marnelle Pacete as Anika Hernandez

Vince Galleros as Venezio Hernandez

Nico Puno as Ñell Robles

Liezel Villaruz as Lillian Ruiz

Kim Dava as Amaris Cueves

Dexcel Agting as Neō Sandoval

Yzza Eligan as Zuri Costa

 FADE IN:

EXT. - AFTERNOON

WE SEE a (house description) home. We see a silhouette two women shouting at

each other.

FADE IN:

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY 1

And we see a silhouette through the window pane of a GIRL and an OLDER
WOMEN arguing. Panning in closer to the home, we see

ELIRA

(clutching a letter)

This is the fifth time you rejected a good marriage, Zaina!

Do you think you have a choice in this?!

Your worth means nothing.

ZAINA

I choose who to marry!

This is not a matter of my worth in this family.

 ELIRA

How arrogant!

The audacity of you to act as if you bring honor in this family!

Tú (heaves angrily)

Tú bastarda!

Zaina looks stricken, she was used to being called that, but it doesn't mean it
didn't hurt one less bit. Her fist shakes as she gathers seams of dress and went out
of the door of the mansion. Angry tears dropping down her doll face.

ELIRA

Vuelve aqui! (Come back here)

We're not done talking!

CUT TO:

EXT. FOREST CLEARING - EARLY AFTERNOON 2

Zaina ran away far from the house she'd been hurt to. She had never felt the
warmth there since her father had died. She ran and ran away 'till the sole of her
feet was sore. Catching her breath, she looks around the place she always used to
seek solace to. Lined trees and bushes surrounds the opening of the place.

ZAINA

(breathing deeply while wiping her tears away)

(walks to the clearing but gradually stops as she hears a foreign sound)
A soft tune and beat resounds over the high trees, the grass sways in beat as does
the bushes. Zaina walks ever so slowly, approaching where the songs was coming
from. There she saw, a beautfil vibrant woman, dancing and singing to the pretty
tune from a musical compartment. She stopped walking, mesmerized by the way
the other woman dances, her worries and hurt forgotten. Then suddenly, the
woman senses someone looking at her, glancing back. Misha was faced with
pretty eyes that looked like she had just finished crying, nose red, and eyes teary.

MISHA

(stops dancing and faces the other)

Kumusta?

That seemed to snap Zaina out of her reverie.

ZAINA

(flustered)

H-hola. I didn't mean to bother your... Dancing.

MISHA

Uh.. Di ko maintindihan ang pinagsasabi mo.

ZAINA

Lo siento. Ah! I mean, pasensya na.

Hindi ko balak na istorbohin ang iyong ginagawa.

 MISHA

(Shrugs)

Anong ginagawa mo dito?

ZAINA

Hindi ko din alam. Nais kong mapag-isa.

MISHA

Ahh...

(Misha turns back to stop and gather the music compartment)

ZAINA

Ah! Hindi ko nais na umalis ka. Pasensiya.

MISHA

(stops what she's doing and places down what she's carrying)

Oh, akala ko naman.

(turns on the music box again)

 ZAINA

(heaves a deep sigh and sits down on a stump)

MISHA

(goes to Zaina's spot and sits on the dirt)

Parang problemado ka ngayon. Gusto mo bang may mapag-usapan?

ZAINA

(looks at Misha)

Hindi naman sa ganoon...

Misha nods, both of them listens to the soft tune and beat of the music box
provides them, watching the sun rays fade through the leaves of the high trees,
the breeze of the windy and peaceful late afternoon. Misha then stands up and
dust her clothes off and faces Zania with hand extended out.

MISHA

(smiling)

Gusto mo sumayaw kasama ko?

ZAINA

(hesistant)

Supongo que sí.

Zania took Misha's offering, the hurt she felt of having no choice from earlier
turned sweeter as she swayed in beat in the arms of a stranger that had offered.

EXT. MANSION - EARLY AFTERNOON 3

Zaina walks home from school together with her cousin and best friend, Alleya
Seerano. They were chatting idly when both of them stops walking when they
saw an unfamiliar car parked outside the De Leon's Mansion.

ZAINA

(clutching hard at the books she's holding)

Why can't mom just stop matchmaking?

I'm getting tired of the people smiling out of pretense when they look my way.

Marriage. Is that what's good to make of a woman?

A product of their societal expectations for a woman to end up nothing but a

wife?

Ridiculous.

ALLEYA

Then what are you going to do?

ZAINA

Run away. For a while, perhaps.

 CUT TO:

EXT. FOREST CLEARING - LATE AFTERNOON 4

Zaina sighs loudly while walking through the clearing, oddly want to meet the
stranger she had dance off to last meeting.

ZAINA

How can I just dance to a person and went off not knowing of their name?

I may have been off in the head yesterday.

Zaina sees the strange woman from the clearing the day before humming again,
this time strumming on a guitar alongside the music compartment.

ZAINA

(walk slowly to Misha's spot)

Hey.

MISHA

(looks up at Zaina and stops what she's doing)

Oh, kumusta? Ba't andito ka ulit?

ZAINA

Ayaw ko pa umuwi, naiirita ako don.

(sits next to Zaina)

 MISHA

(nods)

Naiintindihan ko narin yan, ang ingay nga samen.

ZANIA

(smiles)

Nga pala, di ako nagpakilala kahapon.

Ako pala si Zania De Leon.

MISHA

Ako si Misha. Misha Torres.

ZAINA

(nods)

Ano pala ginagawa mo rito? Trying to run away from your family?

MISHA

Sabi nga't di kita maiintindihan kapag nag e-English ka eh.

Para masagutan ang katanungan mo, andito ako para makapag-isipng mas klaro.
Gumagawa ako ng isang kanta, humahanap ng inspirasyon.
 ZAINA

Ah, aalis ba ako?

MISHA

Hindi ah, hindi ka naman nag-iistorbo.

The two stayed silent, the comfortable silence befell on them, Misha Torres
strumming and singing while Zaina listens with her eyes close, things set aside.

MISHA

Hey, gusto mo marinig yung (draft) nung ginawa kong musika?

ZAINA

Sige.

(Music Background starts)

Third Scene: Lovey-Dovey

Fourth Scene: Confrontation

INT. FOREST - LATE AFTERNOON 5

FADE IN:

INT. THE PARISH HALL - DAY 6

A YELLOW TULIP FLOWER lies on a table. Careful hands reach down to caress its
petal softly. It was the day for both families, Hernandez and De Leon, to join
together. Both the eldest and the only heir of their family wealth.

CUT TO:

INT. BRIDE'S ROOM - AFTERNOON 7

Zaina watches her reflection in the mirror... she hated was she'd seen. Pretty face
adored with powder and lipstick, wearing a beautiful WHITE DRESS. Today was
her marriage day, bethroted to the only heir of the Hernadez family, Venezio
Hernandez.

ALLEYA

(fixing the bride's hair)

Are you sure you want this? The wedding, I mean.

I thought you called it off to reconcile

with Mi--

ZAINA

(Staring at the mirror. Shakes her head slowly while looking down)

I... I don't think— (looks at Alleya)

I don't think she would want to see me. After all I...

ALLEYA

But this is not what you want.

ZAINA

(Thinks to herself. Looks back at the mirror)

Alleya's hands stops fixing Zaina's hair as Zaina makes a move to stands up. She
walks over a cabinet then opens a drawer full of many things. It was full of
intricate necklaces and flower crowns (things given by Misha). She caresses a
particular flower ring. Wearing it on her fourth finger on her right hand.
Suddenly, there was a KNOCK on the door of the room.

LILLIAN ( O.S )

Ms. De Leon? Are you done preparing?

Mrs. De Leon is requesting for both you and Alleya

to be on your way outside. The ceremony will start soon.

ZAINA

Yes, we'll be there in a minute.

CUT TO:

EXT. CHURCH - MOMENTS LATER

A LOT of people had gathered around the gates of the church, awaiting the
ceremony for both of the family to join together, in their hands were invitation
cards. All of them were wearing beautiful white suits and dresses.

CUT TO:

INT. ALTAR - MOMENTS LATER 8

Venezio Hernandez (19), a handsome man and the only heir to inherit the wealth
of the Hernandez conglomerate. He stood straight on the altar, wearing a . His
mother was besides him, speaking softly.

ANIKA

Venezio, are your nervous darling?

It is your big day today.

 VENEZIO

No, mother, I'm feeling fine.

It's just a bit of a bizarre that I'm marrying

at a very young age. Though it is welcomed.

ANIKA

(fixing the groom's cuffs and placing boutonnière)

Your father and I had married off when I was at the age of 16.

He was 19 at that time too, just like you.

Standing so handsomely at the altar.

Your bride will love you after seeing you in this altar.

VENEZIO

(Smiling)

I hope so, mother.

CUT TO:

EXT. CHURCH - MOMENTS LATER 9

As the gate opens, guests, professional photographers, and the musicians enters
the church. Misha sat down by the piano set, readying herself to play the music
and to meet her lover once again.

NEŌ

(whispering besides Misha)

 Hey, Misha.

Misha!

MISHA

(whispers back to Neō)

What is it, Neō? Can't you see I'm busy preparing?

NEŌ

Yes, I can see that, but don't be so nervous.

Your hands are literally shaking while clutching

the music sheets. Now, take a deep breath and exhale.

MISHA

(takes a deep breath and exhales)

Okay, I'm alright now. Thanks.

Hey, Neō.

NEŌ

Hm?

MISHA

Do you think... (Sigh) it's nothing.

Misha straightened her dress, settling down the music sheet and readying to play
the piece to welcome the bride-to-be. The guests then stood up as the guards near
the door makes a move to open it. The bride looks breathtaking, walking down
the aisle with her uncle, Galen De Leon, on her left, and on her right is her
mother, Elira De Leon.

MISHA

(Takes a deep breath. Cue to playing the inexistent piano)

(Peeks at Zaina from time to time)

ZAINA

(Staring straight ahead. Slowly looks at her side to see Misha looking at her)

(Steps faltering)

(Looking at Misha as Misha is staring at her)

ELIRA

(Whisper)

Zaina.

ZAINA

(Startled. Looks at her mother.)

ELIRA

(Gestures to Zaina to walk forward.)

 ZAINA

(Looks at Misha and looks away)

Misha couldn't do anything but watch helplessly as her lover walks down the
aisle, the song choice was that of their own song they used to dance to.

MISHA

(whispering to her ownself)

Would it ever be me waiting down the aisle in the next life?

Would there be a lifetime that it would be us?

That I would wait for her as she walks down the aisle?

Or it could be her who waits for me?

Would the next lifetime be kinder than this one?

End.