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

ACT 3 Scene 2 -back fire-

Meng walks with Lola Poleng around the garden, holding a parasol for her, looking around for Coleng or Michael, while Lola Poleng was busy admiring the foliage, fanning herself with an abaniko.

Lola Poleng: (smells the flowers) Hmm...the garden is well-maintained. I'm impressed. The flowers are so fragrant, the pond and fountains clean, the lawn well-manicured...(notices Meng pre-occupied) Meng, are you listening to a word I've been saying?

Meng: (surprised) Huh? Ah, there's an on-call masseuse at the resort who could also do mani-pedis. Would you like me to book an appointment for you?

Lola Poleng: (closes her abaniko sharply while turning to Meng) What in the world are you talking about? I was pertaining to the well-kept lawn, iha. Where has your mind run off to in the last 30 minutes?

Meng: (blushes at being caught) I'm sorry Mamita. I was...uh...thinking about the dance routine I will be teaching the wedding entourage. Yeah, that's it.

Lola Poleng: (looks at Meng carefully) Sometimes, I worry about you...Anyway, where is Coleng and that "Labidabs" of hers? They said they'd like to speak to me about something.

Meng: (cranes neck to look for them) Oh I'm sure they'll be here any minute. (turns to Lola Poleng) Mamita...are you still mad that Coleng didn't inform us beforehand when she got married two years ago? You've got to admit, even if she did, you wouldn't have flown back to the Philippines. You always had an excuse not to come back. Even when I graduated with honors, you just sent me your graduation gift via a courier! Back then I thought you just hated long plane rides, but now I know why.

Lola Poleng: (sighs and sits on a garden bench) Meng, iha...I'm not really mad that your sister didn't inform us about her enggagement. It's just I felt sad that I am no longer a significant part of your lives. (Meng closes the parasol, sits down beside her and takes her hand) I used to be the first person both of you would inform whenever you reach a milestone. But now, you both have your own lives... Si Coleng, meron nang Michael. Ikaw, it won't be long before you find your own "labidabs" (sighs and wipes eyes) Don't worry about me. This is just empty nest syndrome talking.

Meng: Mamita...(hugs her, then faces her) Kahit na magkaroon pa kami ng sarili naming pamilya, you will always, always, be the most integral person in our lives.

Their sweet moment is interrupted when Coleng and Michael join them in the group hug all of a sudden.

Meng: (surprised) Coleng, Michael! What are you doing?

Coleng: Siyempre sasali ako sa family huddle no, ako pa? (hugs them both) Thank you, Mamita. (sits beside her and takes her hand) I'm sorry for not realizing that you felt that way. Don't worry, now that we're financially stable, we'll visit you and Meng in LA. Dadalhin namin si Junior, tapos papasyal tayo ng Universal Studios, maglalakad sa Sta Monica Pier, kakain ng cotton candy, caramel apples, french fries, hotdogs...(pauses, covers her mouth, about to hurl)

Lola Poleng: (holds her hair away from her face) Iha, what's wrong?

Michael: (immediately crouches beside her, rubs her back) Labidabs, okay ka lang?

Coleng suddenly stands up and leaves hurriedly, still covering her mouth. Lola Poleng walks away with her.

Michael: Meng, ikaw na bahala dito ha! (grabs Lola Poleng's abaniko, runs to follow Coleng and Lola Poleng)

Meng: (watches the trio as they leave, chuckles) Ayan kasi. Kain nang kain! Ayan tuloy, nagrerebolusyon ang sikmura mo!

Tisoy enters the scene with Lolo Vic.

Tisoy: Uy, Meng. Bakit tawa ka nang tawa?

Meng abruptly stops, turns to look at Tisoy and Lolo Vic. Stands up to take Lolo Vic's hand.

Meng: Ay, mano po Lolo Victor. Pasensya na po, hindi po naging maayos yung introduction natin kahapon. Ako po si Meng, kapatid po ni Coleng.

Lolo Vic: Kaawaan ka ng Diyos, iha. Naku, Lolo Rock na lang itawag mo sa kin. Siguro, naikwento na sa'yo ng Lola Poleng mo bakit Rock ang palayaw ko. (looks around) Teka, nasaan na nga ba sila Coleng at Michael? Akala ko ba magkokonsulta sila para sa set-up sa garden?

Meng: Ay 'Lolo Rock, may konting something-something lang kay Coleng. Pero, ako na lang po magkokonsult sa inyo, since inexplain na sa kin ni Coleng ano gusto niyang set-up. (takes a folder from her bag) Eto po yung design. (hands him the folder)

Lolo Vic: Ah, ganun ba iha. (Tisoy helps him sit down the bench with much effort, Lolo Vic puts on his glasses as he studies the sketch)

Tisoy: (standing beside Meng behind Lolo Vic, whispers) Meng, nasaan na si Lola Poleng? Akala ko pagkikitain natin sila dito?

Meng: (whispers back) Eh kasi nga, biglang napatakbo sa banyo si Coleng. Sinamahan na nila Lola Poleng at Michael. We need to shift to plan B.

Lolo Vic: (turns back to Meng) Ah, Meng, okay naman yung plano ni Coleng para sa set-up ng wedding ceremony sa garden. Kaso, hindi pa open sa public ang parte ng garden na 'to (points to sketch), kaya kailangan mag-adjust ng konti.

Meng and Tisoy lean over the sketch at the same time and bump their heads. Meng looks annoyed while Tisoy hides his kilig while rubbing his head.

Meng: (looks at the corner of the garden that had off-limits signs around it) Ay ganun po ba? Sayang naman po. It's the perfect place pa naman to see the sunset...

Lolo Vic: Pasensya na iha. Pero may iba pa namang lugar dito sa garden na magandang tayuan ng altar. Halika kayo dito oh. (walks to that corner)

Tisoy: (places his hand on her lower back, gently guiding her) Halika ka na Meng.

Meng: (takes his hand from her back) Oh oh oh...yang kamay mo.

After giving Tisoy a warning look, Meng briskly walks to follow Lolo Vic. Tisoy gently shakes his head, smiling.

Tisoy: Hay...wala ka pa ring pinagbago. You never make things easy.

Grabs the parasol and leaves to follow Meng. The center stage goes black.