Bilanggo By Bianca Rose Dabu

1.

EXT. ROAD - DAY

A team of police officers inspects a car driven by two young men allegedly dealing drugs. SPO4 ALBERT MEDINA interrogates GIO and NICOLO, both restrained and refusing to talk. A few moments later, SPO1 ALEX MERCADO approaches the senior officer to show an evidence of the crime committed by the young men. The police officers look disappointingly at the young men, and proceed to direct them to the police car. CUT TO: 2. INT/EXT. CAR - DAY

SPO1 MERCADO drives the police car, with SPO4 MEDINA on the passengers seat, and GIO and NICOLO on the backseat with two other junior officers. NICOLO moves forward and talks to SPO4 MEDINA. NICOLO Sir, baka naman mapag-usapan pa to. I mean, this is the first time. Right? Wala kaming record sa presinto niyo. GIO motions to move forward but the POLICE OFFICER beside him restrains him. SPO4 Medina does not answer. The police officer beside NICOLO pulls him backward but NICOLO struggles and continues to talk. SPO4 MEDINA Iho, sa presinto na tayo mag-usap. GIO Chief, hindi naman kami ang may-ari nung mga nakita mo-SPO4 MEDINA looks at the backseat. This made the two young men lean backwards, as far away from his stern gaze as possible. SPO4 MEDINA Ano nga ang pangalan niyo? The two were reluctant, but they just cant escape his stare.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: GIO Gio NICOLO Nicolo SPO4 MEDINA goes back to sitting straight. SPO4 MEDINA May anak ako, halos ka-edad niyo lang siguro. Ilang taon na kayo? NICOLO 25. SPO4 MEDINA Ayun, nasa America. Bunso ko yun. Naga-abogado. Alam niyo, buti ngat nakakuha ng scholarship yun. Masipag na bata. Nakakatuwa. Sinusuportahan rin aman namin. agpapadala kami ng pera. Kakatawag niya lang noon na magtatapos na daw siya. Syempre, tuwang-tuwa naman kami ng nanay niya. Kung pwede nga lang, pumunta kami dun eh. Pero syempre, mahirap ang pera, hinintay na lang namin siya dito. Kaso wala namang dumating. Isang taon, dalawang taon. Ang sabi sa amin, hindi naman daw talaga nag-aral. Nasali sa mga gang-gang. Napariwara. Hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin kaming balita. Kaya yung kuya niya, galit na galit. Nanay niya, halos hindi pa rin makapaniwalang hindi na niya makikita ang bunso namin. Eh, ako naman, ewan ko. Napakaraming talagang tarantado kahit saan ka pumunta. Dito. Sa America. Kahit saan. Akala ko pa naman, ang bunso ko na ang mag-aahon sa amin sa hirap. He looks back again. Stern but not sad-looking. Hindi Mukha Bakit niyo, Silence. SPO4 MEDINA naman kayo mukhang mahirap. pa nga kayong mayaman, eh. dito niyo nilalaan ang oras ha? Ang babata niyo pa, oh.

2.

(CONTINUED)

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3.

NICOLO You know what, why dont we compromise? I mean, hindi naman na namin to uulitin. We would stop, you know, just set as free. GIO Oo nga, chief. Bata pa kami, siguro naman may pagkakataon pang bumawi. Right? NICOLO Besides, ano ba naman yung nakita niyo? Tatlong bag lang yun. Wala na. Wala na kaming stock GIO Oo ng-SPO4 MEDINA turns the radio on. SPO4 MEDINA Kahit ano namang sabihin niyo, sa presinto pa rin tayo mag-uusap. Both NICOLO and GIO moved forward. This was taken as aggression by the police officers beside them, and they were restrained. Out of desperation, NICOLO shout. NICOLO We can pay you! SPO4 MEDINAs eyes shifted for a second, and then he is back in his firm character, like he heard nothing. SPO1 MERCADO looks at the senior officer with admiration. Nobody among the group noticed the change, not even SPO1 MERCADO who continues to admire the senior officer beside him. CUT TO: 3. EXT. PUBLIC MARKET - DAY

A POV shot of SPO1 ALEX MERCADO running after MIGUEL, a snatcher. SPO1 MERCADO (Only SPO1 MERCADOs V.O.) Lagi nilang sinasabing wala daw akong mapapala sa pagpupulis. Nagalit pa nga ang tatay ko nung sinabi kong gusto kong magpulis, (MORE) (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

4.

SPO1 MERCADO (contd) eh. Ano raw ang ipapakain ko sa kanila. Anong ipapaaral ko sa mga kapatid ko. Buti raw sana kung nasa America ako. Dito kasi sa Maynila, marumi na ang paligid, marumi pa ang sistema. Eh ang di naman kasi nila maintindihan, di ko naman ginagawa to dahil sa pera. Pero hindi ko rin naman sila pababayaan, ano. Kaso kasi, bata palang ako, gustong-gusto ko nang mag-pulis. Lagi ngang baril-barilan ang pinabibili ko sa nanay ko. Kaya pakiramdam ko nakita niya na rin na ito ang babagsakan ko. Wala naman siyang imik. Pangarap ko to, eh. Marami namang pulis ang maayos mag-trabaho. Lagi lang nilang inii-spotlight yung mga gago, yung mga wala nang ginawang maganda. Pero maraming pulis ang marangal, sinasabi ko sa inyo. Bakit ako papasok dito kung naniniwala akong hindi na kayang linisin ang dumi sa sistema? A tracking shot of the chase showing the face of MIGUEL, and behind him is SPO1 ALEX MERCADO. CUT TO: 4. EXT. ALLEY - LATER

MIGUEL is cornered by SPO1 MERCADO and the rest of the team. SPO1 MERCADO Akin na yang hawak mo. Unarmed, MIGUEL gives the purse to the officer. MIGUEL Pakawalan niyo na po ako. Isosoli ko na, oh. Wala naman akong sinaktan, eh. Parang awa niyo na. SPO1 MERCADO refuses to speak and proceeds to restrain him. Together they walked out of the market to the police car. CUT TO:

5.

5.

INT. POLICE STATION - DAY

SPO1 ALEX MERCADO leads MIGUEL to the front desk for recording of information. DESK OFFICER O, bago na naman? SPO1 MERCADO lets out a sigh and forces a smile. SPO4 ALBERT MEDINA rushes out of his office, followed by a team of officers. SPO4 MEDINA Mercado, may hostage-taking sa recruitment agency sa (insert street name here). Lalaki ang suspect. Sumunod kayo nila Martinez dun. Kailangan pa ng back up. SPO1 MERCADO Yes, sir. (to desk officer, referring to Miguel) Kayo na munang bahala dito, ah. SPO1 MERCADO together with other officers proceed to follow SPO4 Medina and his team to the hostage taking site. CUT TO: 6. EXT. RECRUITMENT AGENCY- DAY

A medium shot of SPO1 MERCADO approaching the recruitment agency, where SPO4 Medina with rest of the team is already inside. 7. INT. RECRUITMENT AGENCY - CONTINUOUS

SPO4 ALBERT MEDINA negotiates with ROLANDO, who has been holding a recruitment agent hostage for a while now. SPO4 MEDINA Hindi naman tayo makakahanap ng solusyon sa ganito, Rolando. Pakawalan mo na siya. ROLANDO Bakit? Ano pa bang solusyon sa pagkamatay ng anak ko? Mabubuhay niyo ba siya? Hindi ko naipagamot (MORE) (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

6.

ROLANDO (contd) ang anak ko dahil sa mga hudas na to! Pinangakuan niyo ako ng trabaho, mga sinungaling! ROLANDO tightens his grip on the hostage. He is very close to tears. SPO4 MEDINA Ginagawa mo to para sa anak mo? Magugustuhan niya bang maging mamamatay tao ang tatay-ROLANDO Sino ang unang pumatay ng tao?! Hindi ba etong mga taong to! Etong mga may kakayahang magbigay ng trabaho pero ipinagdadamot sa mga katulad ko! SPO4 MEDINA Naiintindihan kong hindi mo gusto ang nangyari. Wala namang may gusto nun. Buong buhay mo, inilaan mo sa ikabubuti ng unico hijo mo. Sigurado akong alam niya lahat ng pinagdaanan mo para lang gumaling siya. At sigurado rin akong patuloy siyang magpapasalamat sayo. Pero bakit ganito ang gusto mong hantungan ng lahat? Ito rin ba ang gusto ni Mac? At the sound of his sons name, ROLANDO broke down and release the hostage, who ran to the crowd as fast as possible. A little while later, the police, including SPO1 MERCADO, comes to him and restrains him, to which he dejectedly but peacefully surrenders. SPO1 MERCADO stands watching over the crime scene. He cant help but admire SPO4 MEDINA, who is now trying to comfort the victim and appease the agency. CUT TO: 8. INT. POLICE STATION - DAY

Exhausted, SPO1 ALEX MERCADO enters the police station to report before going home. On the way to the senior polices office, he sees MIGUEL behind bars.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: MIGUEL Parang awa niyo na po, ako lang po ang inaasahan sa amin. Wala na pong makain yung mga kapatid ko. Pakawalan niyo na po ako. Hindi ko na uulitin. Awang-awa lang ako sa mga kapatid ko. Diyos ko. Hindi na mauulit. Pakawalan niyo lang ako. Parang awa niyo na. He continues to plead for freedom every time a police officer passes by.

7.

ROLANDO, on the other hand, sits quietly in the front desk, giving short answers, if not a nod or an incoherent movement. ROLANDO (to the desk officer) Nawalan na kami ng anak. Wag niyo na akong kunin sa asawa ko. Parang awa niyo na. SPO1 MERCADO is sad for these people, but he os frim in his belief that he upheld justice today, just as hes supposed to do. He turns his back and proceeds to SPO4 Albert Medinas office. CUT TO: 9. INT. MEDINAS OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

SPO1 ALEX MERCADO is greeted by SPO4 ALBERT MEDINA, who sits cozily behind his desk. In front of him, unrestrained and sitting just as cozily, is GIO and NICOLO. The junior police officer is confused, but he proceeds to approach SPO4 MEDINA. SPO4 MEDINA Oh, Mercado. Aalis ka na? Maupo ka muna. SPO1 MERCADO Sir, hindi ba dapat naka-detain na tong dalawang to? SPO4 MEDINA Maupo ka muna. SPO1 MERCADO did what he was asked to do, although his confusion and suspicion is growing by the minute. (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

8.

SPO4 MEDINA Alam mo kasi, Alex, madali nang kausap ang mga kabataan ngayon. At kagaya nga ng sabi nila kanina, first time lang naman. (to Gio and Nicolo) Hindi niyo na uulitin, diba? GIO and NICOLO smirk but did not answer. SPO4 MEDINA looks amused and quite entertained, especially by the growing recognition on SPO1 MERCADOs face. SPO4 MEDINA nods at the two young men. On cue, GIO and NICOLO put out a large bag filled with money. SPO4 MEDINA Madali rin naman akong kausap. SPO1 MERCADO cant help but ogle at the large amount of money in front of him, but more importantly, SPO1 MERCADO is shocked because this was the man he looks up to. SPO1 MERCADO Sir-SPO4 MEDINA Mercado, hindi ka na naman pwedeng umayaw dito. Kargo na to ng konsenya mo. Kaya kung ako sayo kunin mo na ang gusto mo. Anong mapapala mo? Pera. Ano bang mawawala sayo? Wala. Silence. SPO4 MEDINA Halika nga dito. SPO1 MERCADO goes beside the senior officer. SPO4 MEDINA Ngayon ka lang ba nakakita ng ganito? SPO1 MERCADO shakes his head. SPO4 MEDINA Ngayon mo lang ba gagawin to? SPO1 MERCADO nods. SPO4 MEDINA lets out a hearty laugh.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

9.

SPO4 MEDINA Kaya naman pala! First timer! Halika dito! Halika! SPO1 MERCADO opens his hand, and on it, SPO4 MEDINA places one thick wad of cash. SPO1 MERCADOs face is a display of confusion and giving in. SPO4 MEDINA (V.O. only) Ginagawa na ng lahat yan, Mercado! Anong akala mo sa trabaho natin, malinis? Silence. SPO1 MERCADO, looks at the wad of cash on his hand. And then at SPO4 MEDINA and at the two young suspects. He recalls everything that happened that day-- from Gio and Nicolo, to Miguel, to Rolando, and this. SPO1 MERCADO (V.O. only) Kaya ko yata gustong linisin ang dumi ng sistema, eh dahil takot ako dito. Takot ako sa pwedeng gawin nito sa pamilya ko, sa bayan, sa akin. Natatakot akong baka maging maruming tao rin ako. Natatakot akong mahulog sa bitag ng maruming sistema. Pero pagtingin ko sa paligid, wala namang nakakaalam kung sino ang madumi. Aakalain mo bang dumi pala ang hatid ng taong mukhang malinis? Walang makakakilala sayo, wala ka ring makikilala. Kaya hindi na ako natatakot sa maruming sistema. Hinding-hindi naman na ako pu-puwedeng mahulog sa bitag nito... kasi noon pa man, nakayakap na sa akin ang sistema, hinihintay na lang yata akong yumakap pabalik.