Rock Baby Rock - A musical featuring the music of VST and Company

ACT 2 Scene 10 *gasp*

Spotlight on Lolo Vic, Tisoy and Michael. Junior is now peacefully sleeping on the bed. Lolo Vic is downing another shot of liquor. As he pours another shot, Tisoy stops his hand.

Tisoy: Lo, tama na ho. Masama po sa inyo ang sobrang alak. (gets the bottle from him and drinks the shot himself, staggers because he has had too much to drink as well)

Michael: (steadies Tisoy) Oh, pare easy lang.

Lolo Vic: (bitterly chuckles) Kahit ilang dekada na ang lumipas, kahit ilang bote ng alak na ang tinungga ko para maging manhid...di mabawasan ang sakit. (rubs chest) Kahit na ako ang nagdesisyong lumayo. (shakes head)

Michael: (looks at Lolo Vic) Eh, 'Lo, hindi na ba talaga kayo nagka-ayos? Mahal niyo pa rin naman ang isa't isa. Hindi na kayo nagka-usap ulit?

Lolo Vic: (stand up, walks forward) Nagkaroon ako ng huling pagkakataon para maka-usap siya, para makita siya sa huling pagkakataon...pero huli na ang lahat...

Their light dims. Spotlight on center stage. Vic is prepping for another race. He was about ride his race car when Stacy and Joana, together with their boyfriends, enter the scene, running towards him.

Stacy and Joana: Rock! (reaches him. They are doubled over, catching their beath)

Vic: (shocked to see them) Stacy? Joana? Anong ginagawa niyo dito? Dis-oras na ng gabi!

Stacy: What are WE doing here? What are YOU doing here?! We've been looking all over for you!

Joana: Yeah. You're not in your apartment. No one in the auto shop knows where you are since you resigned. Good thing our boyfriends knew people in this drag racing circuit and they were able to recognize you.

Vic: Bakit nyo ako hinahanap? (suddenly pauses and becomes slightly panicked) May nangyari ba kay Poleng?!

Stacy: No, at least not yet.

Vic: (really panicking, holds Stacy's shoulders) Ha? Bakit? Anong nangyari sa kanya?

Joana: (takes Vic's hands off Stacy carefully) What Stacy means is that you need to meet up with Polly ASAP. Here. (hands Vic the letter) We'll let her explain it herself. (Vic takes the letter and opens it)

Stacy: We have to leave Rock. (touches Vic's arm. Vic looks up from the letter) We've always been rooting for you. We know you have your own reasons for doing what you did. But I hope you won't let us down. I hope you won't let her down...

Joana and Stacy leave with their boyfriends. Vic is left alone, seated on the hood of his car, reading Poleng's letter. A spotlight shines on him. Another spotlight is on Poleng on the opposite end of the stage, as she is writing the letter on a desk. Her voice is heard as she writes and Vic reads.

Poleng's voice over: Mahal kong Rock, alam kong nagdesisyon ka nang lumayo muna habang pinapatunayan mo ang sarili mo sa lahat. Sinusubukan kong intindihin kahit na mahirap. Handa akong hintayin ka, pero sa pagkakataong ito, tila ubos na ang panahon natin. Ililipad na ako nila Mamá patungong Amerika, at wala na silang planong bumalik pa. Ibebenta na nila ang mansyon at ibang negosyo namin dahil delikado na raw manatili dito sa Pilipinas. (Poleng is seen wiping her tears as Vic suddenly stands up from the hood of his car)

Rock, kung gusto mo pa akong makasama, puntahan mo ako sa dati nating tagpuan. Hihintayin kita hanggang mag-ala una ng hatinggabi. Sasama ako saan mo man ako dalhin. Handa ako sa ano mang buhay ang haharapin natin, kahit mahirap, basta kasama kita. Kapag hindi ka dumating, tatanggapin ko na wala na talaga tayo.

Hihintayin kita mahal ko. Ang iyong minamahal, Poleng.

Center stage blacks out. Spot light on Lola Poleng, Meng, and Coleng. Both granddaughters are flanking the seated Lola Poleng.

Coleng: Ano pong nangyari? Dumating po ba siya? (the licorice stick forgotten, still in her hand)

Lola Poleng: (sighs, stands up, moves closer the audience) On the day of my scheduled flight, I made a detour to our secret place. My new driver and our trusted Mayordoma accompanied me, their last favor to their senyorita. Mother had already flown earlier, with the rest of my luggage. Stacy and Joana were already out of the country with their respective families. They assured me that they personally handed the letter to Rock and saw him read it. So I waited...

Their light dims. Spotlight on center stage. Poleng is pacing back and forth. The mayordoma approaches her, places a shawl on her shoulders. Poleng looks back at her gratefully, squeezing her hands.

Mayordoma: Senyorita Poleng, mahahamugan ka na. Bakit hindi ka na lang sa kotse maghintay?

Poleng: Okay lang po ako Manang. Mas hindi po ako mapapakali kung nakaupo lang ako. (turns to face her, takes both her hands) Manang, maraming pong salamat sa pagdala sa akin dito. Kahit na mapapahamak kayo kapag nalaman ni Mamá na tinulungan niyo ako.

Mayordoma: Senyorita, maliit pa lang kayo ni Victor, alam ko nang mahal na mahal niyo ang isa't isa. Wala man akong magawa para ipagtanggol kayo sa Mamá niyo, hayaan mo akong bumawi sa pamamagitan nito. Kilala ko si Victor. Alam kong hindi niya hahayaang mawala ka sa kanya. (rubs Poleng's arms) Mahaba ang kailangan niyong lakarin at takbuhin kapag nagtanan kayo. Umupo ka muna nang hindi maubos ang lakas mo. Halika dito. (leads her to sit down against the hood of the car)

Poleng: (leans against the mayordoma) Marami pong salamat Manang. (takes out her crucifix and prays)

Center stage goes black. Spotlight on Lolo Vic, Tisoy and Michael.

Tisoy: (puts hand on Lolo Vic's shoulder, who was still standing on his cane) Lo, ano hong nangyari? Naabutan niyo po ba siya?

Lolo Vic: (turns to him, smiles weakly, says nothing, only looking wistfully at the audience)

Their light dims. Two spotlights on center stage. One on Poleng, who was still praying, the other on Vic on the other end, who was in his car driving. Poleng stops, looks up, and covers head with her hands, as the sound of thunder and heavy rain is heard. The mayordoma approaches her and leads her to the car.

Mayordoma: Ay, jusmiyo! Umuulan na! Halika na senyorita dito sa kotse nang di ka mabasa!

Poleng: Pero Manang...

Mayordoma: Parating na si Victor, Senyorita. Halika na sa loob. Makikita niya tayo. Lumalakas na ang ulan oh.

As the Mayordoma asssits Poleng in her seat, Victor is in his car, driving as fast as he can.

Vic: (holding the crucifix on his neck, quickly kissing it as he drives, the sound of heavy rain in the background) Panginoon, alam niyo kung gaano ko kamahal si Paulina. Kung mamarapatin niyo, wag Niyong hayaang mawala siya sa akin. Alam kong pagsuway ito sa Inyong ika-limang utos, pero di ko po kayang mawala siya sa buhay ko. Hindi ko po kaya—(he suddenly swerves his car as his spotlight goes out, the sound of a car crash with heavy rain the only sound heard)

Poleng immediately runs out the car, with the Mayordoma running after her with an opened umbrella.

Mayordoma: Senyorita, senyorita!

Poleng: (turns to her) Parang awa mo na manang, ilang minuto pa! Sigurado akong parating na yun. Baka naligaw lang siya dahil masukal ang daan. O di kaya...(wrings her fingers) di kaya...nasiraan siya at naglalakad lang siya papunta dito. O di kaya...

Mayordoma: (stops her by lightly shaking her shoulders) Senyorita. Alam kong mahirap pero nakaka sampung minuto na ang binigay mong palugit. (wipes her tears). Kailangan na nating umalis.

Poleng: (breaks down and cry) Bakit di sya dumating Manang? Hindi niya na ba ko mahal? Hindi na ba ako mahalaga sa kanya? Balewala na ba ako sa kanya? (leans into the mayordoma and weeps bitterly)

The mayordoma rubs her back, gently rocking her, as the sad arrangement of the chorus of You just don't care is played. The mayordoma slowly leads her back to the car. The  stage goes black.