Page 1 of 14 TITLE: DESTINY Writer: CJ Lansang

SEQUENCE 1: INT. CAFE MORNING The bell above the door/security guard's greeting signals the entrance of Girl in the cafe. She searches for someone. A boy raises his hands and waves for the Girl to come over. Girl lets out a sigh before walking over to the table. GIRL Kanina ka pa? BOY Hindi naman. Halos kakarating ko lang din. Order ka na? Girl browses through the menu as Boy calls for a waiter. GIRL (to the waiter) Ill just have a coffee please. Thank you. BOY Uhm... Kamusta ka na? You know... since GIRL Okay naman ako. Naisip ko getting out of the house might be good for me. BOY It is! It should be... uhm, thanks for agreeing to meet with me. GIRL Thanks for asking me out again. (smiles) (time lapse) There are now drinks on their table and they are talking. The conversation ends and there is a pause until Girl starts speaking again. GIRL Can I ask you something? Naniniwala ka ba sa soulmates? BOY Soulmates? GIRL Yeah, soulmates. Naniniwala ka ba? BOY I'd like to believe that someone out there is really meant for me in the end, so, yeah I guess I do. GIRL Hmmm. BOY Bakit? Ikaw? Do you believe in soulmates? GIRL Yeah, I do.

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BOY Why? GIRL Because... I think I've already found mine. Girl looks up at boy and smiles. *for SEQUENCE 1, the identity of both characters will not yet be fully revealed so faces of both BOY and GIRL will not be shown in entirety. SEQUENCE 2: EXT. CORRIDOR LATE MORNING Alex is stepping out of the classroom after class, carrying her bags and several books. On her way out, she bumps into a boy who is on his way inside the classroom for the next class. Alexs books fall to the floor and she gets down and picks them up and boy crouches down to help her. He mutters apologies, stands up straight, and looks into his eyes. As he returns the books, a familiar watch on the boys wrist is focused. SEQUENCE 3: EXT. CORRIDORS/STAIRS Alex is with her friend walking along the corridors and they are just chatting after class. FRIEND San ka na pupunta? ALEX Mamaya pang 1pm next class ko eh. Dadaan muna akong lib, titignan ko mga references para sa report ko sa Philo. Next meeting na pala kasi ako. FRIEND Ah okay. May next class pa ako eh. Mauna na ako! Bye Alex! ALEX Sige, bye Jill! *Alex is Alex from SEQUENCE 1 SEQUENCE 4: INT. LIBRARY NOON Alex is at the library, there are several books scattered in front of her. She is reading the text aloud (but only soft enough for her to hear) to keep her awake. She gets so frustrated and starts doodling and writing on the pages of the book. ALEX Hay naku! Dapat talaga hindi na ako nag-Philo eh. Feeling major naman 'to oh! Ang dami kasing pinapagawa nitong si Ma'am Salvador eh! She writes on the pages of the book: Para ka namang kulangot oh! Youre so hard to get! She scratches her head, closes the book and decides to sleep. (time lapse) Alex wakes up slowly, checks her watch and starts panicking because she's realized she's late for her next class. She hurriedly gathers her things and collects the books she'd borrowed. She goes in between the bookshelves and returns them to the right places, including the book she doodled on. She leaves the library.

Page 3 of 14 SEQUENCE 5: INT. LIBRARY NOON A boy comes in through the same aisle of bookshelves. He pulls out the same book that Alex was studying and writing on. He walks back with the book in hand to a table where his friend is studying. He flips through the pages. BOY Gian, anong page nga pala yung pinapatignan ni Ma'am Salvador? GIAN Ha? Uhh, 143 ata? Boy flips to page 143 and stops, looks closer, reads the doodle and laughs. He clasps a hand to his mouth as soon as he realizes he was probably too loud. BOY Tignan mo 'to oh! Boy is laughing while he lets Gian see what's written on the book. But Gian doesn't even spare him a glance and is so concentrated on his work. Boy is laughing, but softer this time, as he writes a response below the one written on the page.

GIAN Uy, balik tayo dito bukas ah! Ang dami ko pa palang librong kailangan tignan eh. BOY Sige lang bro, sige lang. Boy is writing: Baka naman I just remind you of your exs calls, kasi hindi mo ko masagot sagot eh! Boy smiles as he continues writing on the book, obviously excited at the idea of returning to the library tomorrow.

SEQUENCE 6: INT. LIBRARY NOON Alex is back at the library realizing she needed more information from the book she was looking at yesterday. She picks out the book from the shelf and turns the pages to 143. She scans the pages, stops and looks closer. She shocked to see her handwriting on the book and even more shocked when she sees someone's reply just below it. She reads and laughs soon after. She's giggling as she goes back to her table, sits down and erases all the writing on the page. GAP 1 SEQUENCE 7: INT. LIBRARY AFTERNOON Boy is wandering through the shelves trying to remember which one of the books was the one he wrote on. He plucks out the book from the shelf when he sees it and excitedly flips through the pages. He stops and sees that what's been written has been erased. He flips through other pages and shakes the book and a piece of paper falls out. He reads the slip of paper that says: "Hoy! Bawal magsulat sa libro! Vandalism! :)) ". Boy is confused but is smiling. He turns the slip of paper over to see more writing: "pero di naman siguro bawal magsulat sa papel 'no? :)". He chuckles and fishes out a pen from his pocket and replies on the paper. He slips the paper back between pages in the book and returns the book to the shelf. He leaves the shelves with a smile on his face. SEQUENCE 8: INT. CAFE TABLE MORNING

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ALEX Hindi ko aakalaing dahil sa isang libro kami magkakakilala. Natakot pa nga siya nung una kasi akala niya baka lalaki pala ako. BOY Oo nga, nakakatawa nga isipin. SEQUENCE 9: INT. LIBRARY AFTERNOON Alex is studying, looking at her book intently, when a piece of paper slips into her view saying: "Miss, para kang basura". Alex is appalled at the message on the piece of paper. She looks up to see her boyfriend smiling and taking the seat in front of her. Alexs face is scandalized. ALEX What?! BOY Kasi I wanna take you out eh! Alex rolls her eyes and her mouth breaks out into a smile. ALEX Ha-ha very funny. Mais ka siguro, kasi ang corny corny mo! BOY Weh, kinilig ka naman. Alex only smiles as she looks back at her book. BOY Hey you didnt answer me. Boy reaches for Alex's hand across the table and laces their fingers together. ALEX I have class til 4pm. BOY No problem! Ill meet you then! Boy smiles and lets Alex continue with studying. SEQUENCE 10: EXT. COLLEGE OF EDUC Boy is waiting outside Alexs college, in hand, two drinks. Alex comes out looking worried. Boy approaches the Alex. BOY Hi ALEX Hey BOY Here you go, one TieGuanyin Tea Mousse for you, and one of for me. Our favorite! Boy hands Alex one drink.

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ALEX Thanks. BOY Okay ka lang. ALEX Yeah. They start walking. Alex looks down. BOY I know that face. And that tone your using. Hindi ka okay. What's wrong? ALEX I just finished talking to my advisers. They said if I dont find an internship soon, baka hindi ako grumaduate on time. BOY Oh, tama na pagmukmok. Makakahanap din tayo. ALEX Thats easy for you to say. Dun ka na sa company niyo mago-OJT. You have it easy. BOY Hey! Pinilit lang naman ako ni dad eh kasi sabi niya ako na rin naman daw magttake over nung company. Pero wala naman talaga akong plano gawin yun. ALEX Talaga? Alam ba niya na ayaw mo magtrabahao dun? BOY Hindi naman sa ayaw ko. But I really want to start a business of my own in the future. I really want to work at General Motors. Nung Job Fair, yung in-charge sa booth, kinausap ako about their offers so I read up on them. Dream job na talaga. Kaso mukhang ang hirap makapasok eh. ALEX Tiwala lang yan! BOY Kaso I heard sobrang dami daw nag-aapply every year, pero mabibilang lang sa daliri mga tinatangap nila. Maybe I'm dreaming too big... ALEX Eh pano naman ako? Kung hindi ako makakuha ng internship, hindi ako mkakagraduate, hindi ako makakapagturo, ano na mangyayari sa Pilipinas niyan?! BOY (laughs) mukhang pareho nating kailangan ng tiwala. ALEX Oo nga! Kaya natin to! SEQUENCE 11: INT. CAFE NOON ALEX Sabi kasi nila soulmate mo daw ang isang tao kapag ang dami niyong things in common.

Page 6 of 14 Eh para siyang lalaking version ko eh! BOY Oo nga eh! Lagi pareho ng order, parehong may dalawang kapatid, pareho pang panganay! Parang iisang tao lang. ALEX Pero nafeel ko talaga na soulmates kami kasi he made love feel so easy. He was always concerned like a boyfriend and always there for me like a best friend. He always made me feel important and loved. SEQUENCE 12: INT. FAST FOOD PLACE/ OR KAHIT SAANG KAINAN Alex and Boy ordered food at the counter and brought back to the table one chocolate sundae, one caramel sundae and one large French fries. As if rehearsed, both take a spoonful of ice cream into their mouth, swallow, get a fry, dip it in the ice cream and take a bite. BOY How was work? ALEX Hm, nakakapagod, as always. Sobrang kulit ng mga bata. Para kaming naghahabulan ng co-teacher ko, si Paul, sa mga bata kasi takbo ng takbo. When its time for their nap, I always feel like joining them. (laughs) How about you? BOY Oh mine was ALEX Oh hey! Alex looks past Boy to meet the face someone familiar who she waves to come over. ALEX Paul! Alex stands up to give him a hug. ALEX Dapat pala sumabay ka na sa amin paalis kung dito ka rin naman pupunta. Ay, oo nga pala. This Paul, my co-worker, the one I was just telling you about. Alex points Paul to Boy. PAUL Hello. ALEX Paul, this is Paolo, my boyfriend. PAOLO Hi. PAUL Ikaw pala si Paolo. She (points to Alex) tells me a lot about you. PAOLO Talaga? (laughs)

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Paul and Paolo shake hands. Paolo looks down and sees a familiar watch. They let go. PAOLO Hey I used to have a watch like that back in college. GIRL Oh yeah! I didnt notice! Thats why it looked familiar the first time I was it. They laugh at the coincidence, and just smile. Paolo invites Paul to sit down with them. SEQUENCE 13: INT. CAFE *Boy-at-the-cafes face is finally revealed to be Pauls GAP 2 PAUL Medyo awkward yung first meeting na yun. ALEX (smiles) Bakit naman? PAUL Matagal na talaga kitang gusto yayain lumabas. I got the chance nung naassign tayo to the same class. But you turned me down and told me all those stories about your boyfriend and you were always so happy kaya I backed off. ALEX What made you ask me out this time? PAUL Nakita kong hindi ka na masaya eh. Tapos sinabi mo nga sa akin na wala na kayo ni Paolo. You didnt come to class for a while and the kids missed you. When you came back, you were different and I wanted to make you happy again. ALEX Thank you. That break-up really wasnt a happy memory SEQUENCE 14: EXT. RESTAURANT NIGHT OR INT. PAOLOS HOUSE DINING ROOM NIGHT Alex, Jill and Gian are seating around the dining table apparently waiting for Paolo who invited them out for dinner. They are chatting away. JILL Bakit ba tayo nandito? Yan talagang boyfriend mo, siya na mangyayaya, siya pa ang late! GIAN Oo nga! Dapat libre na niya! ALEX Tama! Oh, ayan na pala siya eh, sabihin natin sa kanya! Paolo comes through the doors and Alex waves for him to come over to where they are. When he reaches the table, he greets both girl, giving his girlfriend a kiss on the cheek and bro-hugs Gian. GIAN

Page 8 of 14 Whats up, bro? Bakit ba tayo nandito? Ano meron? PAOLO I have news! Everyone is listening intently, waiting what Paolos news is. PAOLO Youre looking at General Motors new (Experience) Business Analyst!! Commotion erupts as the news is received. Everybody starts congratulating Paolo. ALEX Congratulations, hon! But how? And when did you find out? PAOLO Kaninang umaga lang! I checked my email and there it was! After a year of sending resumes, pinansin din nila ako. ALEX Im so proud of you! JILL Yikee! O siya, lets get the celebration started! (time lapse) GIAN Akala ko ba mahirap matanggap sa GM? PAOLO Ang hirap talaga, bro! Isang taon din ako padala ng padala ng resume. Buti pinasin nila ako. Hindi ko inexpect na ang hirap ng exam nila. Akala ko bumagsak ako. Nagulat talaga ako. GIAN Pero nakuha mo, naks! So when do you start? PAOLO In two months. Ive already told mom and dad. Sobrang excited nila, sila na nga nagaayos ng papers ko or my vis. (laughs) ALEX HA?! Visa? What do you need a visa for? PAOLO Im assigned at the Headquarters in Detroit Michigan. GIAN Woah! Big time ka na talaga bro! Congrats! ALEX SO how long are you going to be staying there for? PAOLO Three years, thats what the starting contract says. ALEX Oh. Ang tagal pala.

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JILL, GIAN (in unison) Aaawwwwww PAOLO Why? Are you going to miss me? GIAN Hindi hindi, kinkabahan yun siguro na makahanap ka ng magandang Amerikana dun. Haha! ALEX Hindi no! Pero kung gawin niya yun,ako mismo ang lilipad papunta dun para tirisin (to PAOLO) yang pagmukuha mo. JILL Wooshoo~ eh bakit hindi ka na lang kaya sumama? Yiieeee ALEX (laughs) Bakit naman ako sasama? Wala akong gagawin dun no! JILL Hoy! Mahirap kaya ang Long Distance Relationship. A lot of them end because they cant keep contact. PAOLO Im sure kakayanin namin. Theres always the internet! JILL Eeehhh, kung magpakasal na lang kaya kayo? GIAN Woooaaahhh (sings Wedding March) ALEX WHAT?! JILL Ano, bakit? Hello! You guys are of perfectly acceptable marrying age. And youve been together for years! (to PAOLO) Im surprise you havent proposed yet. ALEX Shut up! Ano ka ba! Kung anu-anong iniisip mo, baka kung anong ideya ibigay mo (looks at Paolo) dito. I personally think were still too young, Kung magpropose man yan, hindi ko yan sasagutin no! PAOLO You wouldnt? ALEX No! Well not yet. I dont know. Basta hindi pa kao ready! I mean, theres still a lot I want to accomplish in my life. And I dont think I can do them if Im married or even just engaged. Grabe, I cant imagine! GIAN Woo! Thats what they all say. But as soon as my Paolo here (slings arm over Paolo) pops out a ring, Im sure you cant say no. JILL Oo nga!

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ALEX Eeeehhh, hindi talaga eh. Wala pa talaga siya sa mga plano ko, so No for now. (to Paolo) Sorry, hon. GIAN Oh siya siya! Tama na nga to! Lets bring out the drinks!! (cheering) PAOLO Ill go get them. Paolo walks over to the counter, stops and sighs. The sadness is evident in his face. He leans on the counter with one hand, and he fishes out something from his pocket with the other. He takes out a small box. He opens the small box, revealing whats inside: a ring. SEQUENCE 15: INT. PAOLOS ROOM DAY Alex is sitting on Paolos bed examining his luggage o f clothing, while Paolo is facing his closet rummaging through his stuff. ALEX One month na lang! Are you excited? PAOLO Sobra! You know Ive always always wanted to work at GM. I just hope they think Im good enough. ALEX Of course they think youre good enough, kaya ka nga natanggap eh! Alex looks through the clothes inside the luggage. ALEX Hey, nasan na iba mong scarves? We should buy you new ones! These are too thin, I think. Paolo looks through his closet for the scarves and sees the small box with a ring inside. PAOLO Yeah, we should. Hey, you like the cold, right? ALEX Yeah, I like it a lot better than being too hot. And I like wearing thick jackets. (smiles) PAOLO You know, I hear it gets real cold in Detroit during the winter. ALEX Kaya nga we should get you new scarves eh. PAOLO Dont you want to experience winter? ALEX Gusto ko siyempre, pero wala pa akong gear, my jackets arent thick enough, haha!

Page 11 of 14 PAOLO Lets get you new ones, isabay natin sa pagbili ko ng scarf! ALEX Wait lang ah, wala namang winter dito. Hindi ko kailangan nun. PAOLO Pero may winter sa Detroit! ALEX Huh? PAOLO Sama ka sakin? Alex hits Paolos face with the pillow from his bed. ALEX Ayan, ayan! Yan ang napapala kakainig kela Jill at Gian. PAOLO Bakit?! ALEX Naririnig mo ba sarili mo? PAOLO Oo. ALEX At seryoso ka? (laughs) PAOLO Oo. ALEX Weh? PAOLO Oo nga. (face becomes serious and slightly annoyed) ALEX Eto na naman tayo eh. PAOLO Bakit? Ayaw mo ba akong makasama? (pouts) ALEX Hindi sa ganun, pero do you really understand what youre asking from me? You want me to fly off with you to Detroit for three years? PAOLO Yes. ALEX Did you hear how crazy that just sounded? PAOLO But it didnt sound crazy

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ALEX Yes it did! How do you plan for me to leave ng biglaan? First of all, it's a month til you leave, am I even going to get a visa? PAOLO We can work something out, maybe call a few people ALEX Second, what about my family? Sino mag-aalaga kela mama at papa? I cant just leave them with nothing. And third, I have a job here, I cant just quit and fly off with you, and when I get there, I do nothing. I really love my job, you know that. PAOLO We could find you another teaching job there. ALEX And what about all the other reasons I told you? Pano nga sila mama at papa? Ako na lang ang nag-aalaga sa kanila. PAOLO Isama natin sila! ALEX Ohmygod. Listen to yourself! Why are you saying this? Where is this coming from? PAOLO Gusto lang naman kita makasama eh! ALEX But we are together. We dont need to be physically next to each other to say that. PAOLO But I do. I need you there with me. ALEX No you dont. I know you and alam kong kakayanin mo kahit wala ako physically sa tabi mo. Three years isnt very long. PAOLO Youre just saying that, but you dont really know. ALEX But I do know we can keep in touch. Kahit nandito ako at nandun ka, magkasama pa rin tayo, magtutulungan pa rin tayo. Ha? But for now, nothing is going to change my mind. Okay? (smiles) Alex hugs Paolo and Paolo hugs her back, although his face still seems sad. ALEX Halika na, let get you new scarves! Alex exits the room and Paolo just sits there, clutching the small box in his hand. SEQUENCE 16: INT. CAFE ALEX Akala ko tapos na yung usapang yun nun, kaso

Page 13 of 14 SEQUENCE 17: EXT. SUNKEN GARDEN Alex and Paolo are out on a date, theyre strolling on the side walk and talking. They decide to sit down on a bench. ALEX Last time, sabi mo excited ka umalis. Youre leaving in a week. Excited ka pa ba? PAOLO No (laughs). Kinakabahan na ako. ALEX Bakit? PAOLO Ive never lived alone for very long. Hindi ko alam kung kakayanin ko ba. Sigurado madalas akong malulungkot doon. ALEX You dont have to be. Pasalamat tayo ang galing na ng internet. PAOLO So you really not want to come with me? ALEX Babalik na naman ba tayo sa usapan na to? PAOLO Kahit humabol ka lang ALEX No. Listen to me. We both have dreams but theyre far away from each other. The only way we can reach them is if you leave and I stay. Sandali lang tayo magkakahiwalay. PAOLO Babalik ka naman eh! Why dont you come with me first? Alex is shocked at the suggestion. ALEX I am not going to put my dreams on hold. Thats not going to work. PAOLO Sabi mo dati, nothing is going to change your mind. Not even this? Paolo kneels down in front of Alex takes out a small box from his pocket, reveals a ring and asks: PAOLO Will you marry me? Alexs face is stunned. She had never expected the gesture. She opens her mouth to say something. (CUT)

SEQUENCE 18: INT. CAFE AFTERNOON GIRL I told him I would think about it, and I did. Matagal kong pinag-isipan kung anong

Page 14 of 14 mangayayari saming dalawa, kung sumama ako, kung hindi ako sumama. He wanted me to answer in a week, before he left. So I gave him one. SEQUENCE 19: EXT. FRONT OF PAOLOS HOUSE Paolo is getting ready to leave. Hes transferring his luggage into the car. He looks back at the house, smiles and sighs. But the smile leaves his face when he looks down at his pocket and takes out a small box with ring still inside it. SEQUENCE 20: INT. CAFE ALEX I just couldnt do it, kahit tatlong taon lang yun. I couldnt leave everything for him. Well, he couldnt stay behind for me either. We still tried though, but my friend was right, mahirap ang lost distance relationship. Napagod lang kami pareho. I guess you can say we both just didnt love each other enough to sacrifice our dreams for the other. None of us wanted to give anything up. So we broke up. Alex is sad, but tries to smile when she starts talking again. ALEX Pero alam mo, sa tagal namin na magkasama, sa lahat ng sakit, I still believe were soulmates. But ending up with my soulmate just wasnt in my destiny I guess. Paul nods but stops and looks confused. PAUL Wait, so, soulmates and destiny... magkaiba pa yun? ALEX (Giggles) Siguro. Tayo magkasama ngayon, di ba? Alex looks at Paul in the eyes. Paul just nods, understanding what she means and smiles at her. ALEX Ang late na pala. Lika, lipat tayo. Uhh... mahilig ka ba sa TieGuanyin Tea Mousse? Alex smiles and Paul just laughs in response.

THE END