eaten anything all day!
that was why I was
The World is An Apple
Written by Alberto Florentino
The Characters
Gloria, Mario, Pablo
An improvised home behind a portion of the
intramuros walls. two boxes flank the door way.
At left is an acacia tree with a wooden bench
under it.
Mario enters from the street at the left. he is in
his late twenties, shabbily and with hair that
seems to have been uncut for weeks. he puts his
lunch bag on the bench, sits down, removes his
shoes and puts them beside his lunch bag.
GLORIA: (calls from inside). Mario! is that you
Mario?MARIO: Yes….
GLORIA: (a small woman about Mario’s age, with
long hair and a scrawny body, comes out wiping
her hands on her dress.) I’m glad you are home
early.
MARIO: Yes…..
GLORIA: (crosses to the bench) don’t wake her
up, Mario. she’s tired, she cried the whole day.
MARIO: (reappears and crosses to the bench and
sits on the end.) has she been eating well?
GLORIA: She would not eat even a mouthful of
lugao. but I’ll buy her some biscuits. maybe she’ll
eat them. ( she slips her fingers into her breast
pocket.) I’ll take some of her money.
MARIO: (rises annoyed). Gloria! cant you wait a
minute?
GLORIA: (taken a back) hey what’s the matter?
why are you suddenly touchy?
MARIO: Who wouldn’t be? I’m taking to you about
the child and you bother me by ransacking my
pockets! I wish you would think more of our
daughter.
GLORIA: (crosses to the center). my GOD! wasn’t
I thinking of her? why do you think I need some
money? to buy me a pretty dress? or see a
movie?
MARIO: tone down your voice. you’ll wake up the
child
GLORIA: (low but intense) all I want is a little
money to buy her something to eat! she hasn’t
bothering you!
MARIO: I’m sorry Gloria……
GLORIA: It’s alright Mario, now may I have some
of the money?
MARIO: Money? I…. I don’t have any…. right now/
GLORIA: Today is pay day Mario.
MARIO: Yes….. but……
Gloria but what? where’s your pay for the week?
MARIO: I don’t …… have it……
GLORIA: What? I waited for you the whole day
and you tell me-----
MARIO: That I have nothing! nothing! what do
you want me to do steal?
GLORIA: I’m not asking you to a thing like that!
all I want to know is what you did with your pay?
MARIO: (sit on the bench) . Nothing is left of it.
GLORIA: Nothing ? What happened?
MARIO: Oh, I had a few drinks with my friends .
Before I new it, I had spent every centavo for it.
GLORIA: (eyeing him intently). Mario, do you
think you can make a fool of me ? Haven`t I seen
you drunk before, crawling home like a wounded
snake & reeking of alcohol like a hospital? You
don`t smell or look drunk
MARIO: All right, so I didn`t go drinking.
GLORIA: But you pay – what happened to it ?
MARIO: IT`s better that you don`t know , Gloria
GLORIA: Look, Mario , I`m your wife. I have the
right to half of everything you get. If I can`t have
my share , I have the right to know at least
where it went!
MARIO: Gloria, you`ll fell better if you don`t
know.
GLORIA: I must know!
MARIO: All right. (rises). I spend it all on another
woman.
GLORIA: Another woman ? I don`t believe it. I
know you wouldn`t do such a thing
MARIO: I didn`t know you had so much faith in
me.
GLORIA : No Mario, what I mean is ---- you
wouldn`t spend all your money when you know
your daughter may need some of it. You love her
too much to do that.
GLORIA:What`s wrong Mario?
MARIO: (turns his face away ) Nothing , Gloria,
nothing.
GLORIA: (sits besides him ). I know something is
wrong , Mario. I can feel it. Tell me what it is.
MARIO: (stares at the ground). Gloria, I`ve lost
my job.
GLORIA- Oh no!
MARIO- its true Gloria.
GLORIA- what about your whole pay for the
week?
MARIO- I lost my job a week ago.
GLORIA- and you never even told me.
MARIO- I thought I could get another without
making you worry.
GLORIA- do you think you can get another with in
five months? It took you that long to get the last
one?MARIO- it wont take me as long as to get
another.
GLORIA- but how did you loose it?
MARIO-what’s the use of talking about it? that
wont bring it back.
GLORIA-MARIO!
MARIO- yes?
GLORIA- have your sinful fingers brought you to
trouble again?
MARIO-now, now Gloria! don’t try to accuse me
as they did.
GLORIA- what they did accuse you off?
MARIO- just what you meant to say? Pilfering,
they call it?GLORIA- what else you would call it?
what, according to them did you steal?
MARIO- it was nothing much, nothing really at all.
GLORIA-what was it.
MARIO- is was an apple.
GLORIA- an apple, you mean
MARIO- yes they kicked me out for it. for taking
one single apple, not a dozen not a crate.
GLORIA-that’s what you get nothing stopping to
think before you do something.
MARIO-could I have guessed they would do that
for one apple? When there were millions of them?
We were hauling them to the warehouse. I saw
one role out of a broken plat. It was that big. It
looked so delicious. Suddenly I found my self
putting in my lunch bag.
GLORIA: That’s the trouble with you: when you
think of your own stomach, you think of nothing
else!
MARIO: (Rises). I was not thinking of myself!
GLORIA: Who were you thinking of me? Did I
ever ask you to bring home an apple? I am not as
crazy as that.
MARIO: I was thinking of our child.
GLORIA: Tita? Why? Did she ever ask for apples?
MARIO: Yes, she did. (Pause). Do you remember
the day I took her out for a walk? On our way
home we passed a grocery store that sold
“delicious” apples at seventy centavos each. She
wanted me to buy one for her but I did not have
seventy centavos. I bought her one of those small
green apples they sell on the sidewalk, but she
just threw it away, saying is was not a real apple.
Then she tried. (Pause). So when I saw the apple
roll out of the broken crate, I thought that Tita
would love to have it.
GLORIA: You should have tried to bring home
pan-de-sal, or rice, or milk--- not those
“delicious” apples. We’re not rich. We can live
without apples.
MARIO: Why? Did God create apple trees to bear
fruit for the rich alone? Didn’t He create the whole
world for everyone? That’s why I tried to bring
the apple home for Tita. When we brought her
into this world, we sort of promised her
everything she had a right to have in life.
GLORIA: So, for a measly apple, you lost a job
you need so much-----
MARIO: I wouldn’t mind losing a thousand jobs
for an apple for my daughter!
GLORIA: Where is this apple you prize so much?
Were you able to give it to Tita?
MARIO: No. They kept it--- as evidence. (Sits
down).
GLORIA: See? You lost your job trying to filch an
apple and you even lost the apple for which you
lost your job. (Gloria puts away the shoes and
lunch bag. She sits on the steps and they remain
silent for a time).
GLORIA: (rising). Filching an apple--- that’s too
small a reason to kick a poor man out of work.
You should ask them to give you a second
chance, Mario.
MARIO: They won’t do that.
GLORIA: Why not?
MARIO: (rises). Can’t you see they had been
waiting for me to make a slip like that? They’ve
wanted to throw me out for any reason so that
they may bring their own men in.
GLORIA: You should complain.
MARIO: Suppose I did? What would they do?
They would dig up my police record.
GLORIA: (crosses to him). But, Mario, that was so
long ago! Why would they try to dig that thing
up?
MARIO: They’ll do anything to keep me out.
(Holds her arm). But don’t worry. I’ll find another
job. It isn’t really so hard to look for a job now a
days. (From this point he avoids his eyes). You
know, I’ve been job-hunting for a week now. And
I think I have found a good job.
GLORIA: There you go lying again.
MARIO: Believe me. I’m not lying this time.
GLORIA: (crosses to the center). You’re always
lying I can’t tell when you’re telling the truth.
MARIO: In fact I’ll see someone tonight who
knows a company that needs a night watchman.
GLORIA: (holds his arm). Aren’t you only trying
to make me feel better, Mario?
MARIO: No Gloria.
GLORIA: Honest?
MARIO: (avoids her eyes). Honest! (Sits down).
GLORIA: (sighs happily, looks up). I knew God
wouldn’t let us down. He never lets anybody
down. I’ll pray tonight and ask him to let you
have that job. (Looks at Mario). But, Mario, would
it mean that you’d have to stay out all night/
Mario: that would be all right. I can always sleep
by the day.
GLORIA: (brushes against him like a cat). What I
mean is it will be different when you aren’t by my
side at night. (Walks away from him). But, oh, I
think I’ll get used to it. (Crosses to the center and
turns around). Why don’t you go and see this
friend of yours right now? Anyway you don’t have
anything to do tonight. Don’t you think it’s wise to
see him as early as you can?
MARIO: (after a pause). Yes, I think I’ll do that.
(Gloria crosses to the steps to get his shoes,
followed by Mario).
GLORIA: (bands him the shoes). Here, Mario, put
these on and go. I’ll stay up and wait for you.
(Sits on the steps and watches him).
MARIO: (putting on the shoes). No. Gloria, you
must not wait for me. I may be back quite late.
GLORIA: All right. But I doubt if I can sleep a
wink until you return.
MARIO: (Gloria comes up to him after he finishes
and tries to hug him, but he pushes her away.
Suddenly confused, he sits on the steps. Gloria
sits beside him and plays with his hands).
GLORIA: Mother was wrong. You know, before we
got married, she used to tell me: “Gloria, you’ll
commit the greatest mistake of your life if you
marry that good-for-nothing loafer! You can’t
make him any straighter that you could a crooked
wire with your bare hands.” Oh, I wish she were
living now. She would have seen how much
you’ve changed. (She sees someone behind the
tree: Pablo, he has been watching them foe a
time. He is older than Mario, sinister looking, and
well dressed.)
PABLO: (sarcastic). Hmmmmmm. How romantic!
MARIO: Pablo! (Suddenly unnerved, Mario starts
to fidget. There is an uncomfortable silence as
Gloria rises and walks to the center, her eyes
burning with hate. Pablo lights a cigarette, never
taking his eyes off her).
PABLO: You’re not glad to see me, are you? (Puts
a foot on the bench)
GLORIA: (angry). What are you doing here? What
do you want?
PABLO: Saaaay! Is that the right way to receive a
friend who has come a-visiting?
GLORIA: We don’t care for your visits!
PABLO: you haven’t changed a bit, Gloria…. Not a
bit
GLORIA: Neither have you, I can see!
PABLO: You’re still that same woman who cursed
me to hell because I happened to be Mario’s
friend long before you met him. Time has not
made you any kinder to me. You still hate me,
don’t you?
GLORIA: Yes! And I wish you’d stay away from us
for the rest of our lives!
PABLO: Am I not staying away from you?
GLORIA: Then why are you here?
PABLO: God! May I not even drop in now and
then to see if life has been kind to you? How are
you getting along?
Gloria (scornfully) we were doing well
Until you showed up!
Pablo your daughter- she was only that high
When I saw her last-how is she?
Gloria (currently) . she’s all right !
Pablo oh, and I thought she had not been very
Well.
Gloria (suspicious) how did you know?
(to Mario). Did you tell him?
Mario (stammering).I….no….how could I?
I haven’t seen him in a long, long time ..
(sits down) . until now of course.
Pablo what is she sick with ?
Gloria (currently) . we don’t know!
Pablo don’t you think you should take her to a
Doctor?(puts his foot down and pulls out
His wallet) . here, I’ll lend you a few pesos
It may help your daughter to get well
Gloria (scornfully) . we need it all right- but no,
Thank you!
Pablo why don’t you take it?
Gloria paying you back will only mean seeing
Your face again.
Pablo well, if you hate my face so much , you
don’t
Have to pay me back. take it as a gift.
Gloria the more reason I should refuse it!
Pablo all right, if that’s how you want it.
(sits down and plays with the wallet)
Gloria Mario has stopped depending on you since
The day, I took him away from your clutches!
Pablo haven’t you realize by now that it was a
terrible
Mistake-your talking him away from my
“clutches”?
Gloria I have no regrets.
Pablo how about Mario? Has he no regrets either?
Gloria he has none.
Pablo how can you be so sure? When he and I
were
Pals, we could go to first class air-conditioned
Movie houses every other day. I’ll bet all the
money. I have here mow(brandishing j\his wallet)
that he has not been to one since you “liberated”
him from me. And that was almost four years
ago.
Gloria one cannot expect too much from honest
money-
And we don’t.
Pablo (rises and walks about). What is honest
money? Does it buy more? Or honesty? What is
it? Dressing like that? Staying in this dungeon you
call a house? Is that what you so beautifully call
“honesty”?
Marion (rises). Pablo
Pablo (derisively). See what happened to your
daughter. That is what honesty has done to her
.and how can honesty help her now? She’s not
sick and needs no medicine. You know that- you
know very well what she needs: food, good food.
She’s undernourished, isn’t she?
Mario Pablo!
Gloria-o know you have come to lead him back to
you’re dishonest ways but you cant. He wont
listen to you know!
Pablo- you call this living? This Gloria, is what you
call dying.
Mario- please sotp!
Pablo- I got tired waiting for you
Gloria-so you have been seing for each other I
was afraid for you!
MARIO: Pablo, I told you she would not know!
PABLO: It’s all right, Mario you would better tell
her everything. she’s bound to now later. Tell her
what you told me: that you no longer believe in
the way she wanted to live. Tell her.
GLORIA: Mario…. is this what you meant by
another job? oh Mario… you promised me you
were through with him. you said you would go
straight…. and never go back to that kind of life….
MARIO: Gloria …… you ….. you must try to
understand.. I tried… I tried long and hard….. but
I could not lift us out of this kind of life……
GLORIA: You’re to blame for this, you son of the
devil! you’ve come to him when you know when
his down.
PABLO: He came to me first…
GLORIA: When you know he’ll cling to anything
and do anything! even to return to the life that he
hates? get out of our sight! get OUT!
PABLO: All right all right, I’ll leave – just as soon
as Mario is ready to go!
GLORIA: He’s not going with you!
PABLO: Is that so? why don’t you ask him?
GLORIA: I said he’s not going
PABLO: Go on, ask him
GLORIA; You’re not going with him, are you,
Mario? tell that crook you’re not going with him
anywhere! tell him to leave us and never come
back! tell him t go please Mario please…..
MARIO: Gloria, I …..
GLORIA: Mario, I know he has talked to you and
tried to poison you’re mind again,… but don’t go
with him. this is still the better way of life, if
things have not been turning out well, you must
know that God is not letting us down.
MARIO: Gloria… I …..
GLORIA: You’re going I can’t see that you want to
go with him. oh! you’ll leave me here again?
wondering whether you’ll be shot in the head or
put into the jail……..
PABLO: Don’t worry about him, Gloria. he’s safe
with me. we wont come anywhere near jail. I’ve
got connections.
GLORIA: You hideous beast! you! you! you! get
out! get out!
MARIO: I’m going with him.
GLORIA: Don’t Mario! don’t!
MARIO: You cant make me stop now. I’ve thought
about this last week.
GLORIA: No! no! Mario! no!
MARIO: You take good care of your self and your
child. I’ll take of good care of my self. don’t wait
up for me. I’ll come home very late
GLORIA:
Marioooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooo!
New Yorker in Tondo - The Script
Scene 1:
Mrs. M: Visitors, always visitors, nothing but
visitors all day long. I’m beginning to feel like a
society matron.
Mrs. M: Tony! I thought you were on the
province.
Tony: Is that you aling Atang?
Mrs. M: of course. It’s I, foolish boy. Why?
Tony: You don' look like Aling Atang.
Mrs. M: I had a hair cut. Think it's horrible?
Tony: Oh, no, no.. You look just wonderful. Aling
Atang for a moment, I thought you were Kikay.
Mrs. M: Oh, you are so palikero as ever, Tony.
But come in. Here, sit down. How is your
mother?
Tony: Poor mother. She is homesick for Tondo.
She wants to come back here at once.
Mrs. M: How long have you been away?
Tony: Only 3 months..
Mrs. M: Only 3 months!!! It's too long for a
Tondo native to be away from Tondo. My poor
kumara. She must be bored out there.
Tony: Well, you know, we engineers are always
on call. But as soon as I finish the bridge in
Bulacan, we’ll be going here in Tondo.
Mrs. M: Yes, must bring her back as soon as
possible. We miss her when we play mahjong..
Tony: That is what she misses most of all.
Mrs. M: I understand. Once a Tondo girl always
a Tondo girl. I wonder if that’s fit my Kikay
because after a year in America , she says she’s
not homesick at all..
Tony: When did Kikay arrive Aling Atang?
Mrs. M: Last Monday.
Tony: I didn’t know it ‘till I read it in the
newspaper.
Mrs. M: That girl only arrived last Monday and
look what happened to me! She dragged me to
the parlor. My hair was cut, eyebrows shaved,
nails manicured. And when I’m going to the
market, I used lipstick! All my kumara are
laughing. People think I’m a loose woman.
Because of my age, but I can’t do anything
because it's hard to argue with Kikay. And she
insists that I should look like an Americana .. Tony: Why not?

Tony: You look just wonderful, and where is she Mrs. M: Kikay says that it's more civilized to call
now? me Mrs. Mendoza.

Mrs. M: Who? Tony: Yes aling… I mean, Yes, Mrs. Mendoza..

Tony: Kikay? Is she at home? Mrs. M: Wait a minute and I’ll call Kikay.

Mrs. M: She’s still sleeping! Tony: Huh!!

Tony: Still sleeping?! Mrs. M: Oh! And Tony..

Mrs. M: She says, in New York , people don’t Tony: Yes, Aling…. I mean, Mrs. Mendoza?
wake up until 12:00 noon.
Mrs. M: You must not call her Kikay.
Tony: It's only 10:00 now.
Tony: And what shall I call her?
Mrs. M: Besides, she's busy. Since she came
home. Welcome parties here and there. Visitors Mrs. M: You must call her Francesca..
all day long. She's spinning like a top.
Tony: Francisca?
Tony: Well, will you tell her I called to welcome
her. And kindly give her these flowers. Mrs. M: Not Francisca.. Fran-CES-ca..

Mrs. M: But surely you’re not going yet? Tony: But why Francesca?

Tony: I did want to see Kikay. But if she doesn’t Mrs. M: Because in New York , she says that’s
get up at 12 noon the way they pronounce he name, it sounds like
“chi-chi” so Italian, be sure to call her Francesca
Mrs. M: Wait a minute. I’ll go and wake her up. and not Kikay.

Tony: Please don’t bother Aling Atang. I can Tony: Yes, Mrs. Mendoza .
come back some other time.
Mrs. M: Now, wait right here while I call
Mrs. M: Wait right here. She’ll simply be Francesca…. AIE DIOSMIO!!!
delighted to see her childhood friend. The
flowers are beautiful, how expensive they must Tony: Never mind Mrs. Mendoza, I’ll answer it.
be.
Mrs. M: Just tell them to wait, Tony.
Tony: Oh, they’re nothing at all Aling Atang.
Scene 2:
Mrs. M: Oh, Tony..
Totoy: Tony!
Tony: Yes Aling Atang?
Tony: Totoy!
Mrs. M: You mustn’t call me “Aling Atang”
Totoy: You old son of your father!
Tony: You big carabao!
Totoy: Mayroon ba tayo dyan?
Tony: You ask me that… and you look like a
walking goldmine! How many depots have you
been looting, huh!!??
Totoy: Hey hey!! More slowly there.. It is you
the police are looking for.
Tony: Impossible! I’m a reformed character!
Come in Totoy
Totoy: Okay Tony.
Tony: Good to see you old pal.. Here, have a
smoke.
Totoy: I thought you were in the province,
partner.
Tony: I am. I just came to say hello to Kikay.
Totoy: Tony. I’ve been hearing the most
frightful things about that girl.
Tony: So have I.
Totoy: People say she has gone crazy.
Tony: No, she has only gone New York .
Totoy: What was she doing in New York
anyway?
Tony: Oh, studying.
Totoy: Studying what?
Tony: Hair culture and Beauty Science. She got a
diploma.
Totoy: Imagine that! Our dear old Kikay!
Tony: Pardon me, she's not Kikay anymore,..
She's Fran-CeS-ca..
Totoy: Fran-CeS-ca??
Tony: Our dear Kikay is now an American.
Totoy: Don’t make me laugh! Why I knew that
girl when she’s still selling rice cakes.. Puto kayo
dyan!! Bili na kayo ng puto mga suki!!
Tony: Remember when we pushed her into the
canal?
Totoy: She chased us around the streets.
Tony: She was dripping with mud!
Totoy: Naku! How that girl could fight!
Scene 3:
Nena: Why, Totoy?!
Totoy: Nena, my own.
Nena: And Tony, too.. What’s all this? A Canto
Boy Reunion ?
Totoy: We have come to greet the Lady from
New York .
Nena: So have I. Is she at home?
Tony: Aling Atang is trying to wake her up.
Nana: To wake her up?! Is she still sleeping??
Mrs. M: No, she’s awake already. She's
dressing. Good morning Nena and Totoy.
Mrs. M: Well, Totoy? Nena? Why are you
staring me like that?
Nena: Is that you Aling Atang?
Totoy: Good God, it is Aling Atang!
Mrs. M: It's Kikay who prefers it.
Nena: How you used to pinch and pinch me
Aling Atang, when I was a li’l girl.
Mrs. M: Because you were all naughty,
especially you! Always sneaking into our
backyard for mangoes
Totoy: Do you still have that mango tree?
Mrs. M: Yes. Come and help me carry
something in the kitchen.
Nena: Aling Atang, don’t you prepare anything
for us. We’re not visitors
Mrs. M: It's only orange juice. I was preparing
some for Kikay.
Nena: Well. Tony.
Tony: You shouldn’t have come today, Nena.
Nena: Oh, why not?
Tony: I haven’t talked with Kikay yet.
Nena: Not yet! I thought you said it last night.
Tony: I lost my nerve.
Nena: Oh Tony, Tony!
Tony: Use your head. Nena it's not easy
breaking off his engagement with Kikay or with
the girl for God sake!!
Nena: Are you in love with Kikay or with me?
Tony: Of course with you!! I’m engage with you.
Nena: Yes, and with Kikay. Too!
Tony: That was a year ago! Nena, you know
how much I love you.
Nena: How could you ask me if you’re still
engage with Kikay!
Tony: This is what I get from being honest!
Nena: Honest? Making me fall for you when
you’re inlove and engaged with Kikay!
Tony: I thought I didn’t belong to Kikay
anymore. It's only a secret engagement anyway.
I proposed to her before she left for America .
But when she stopped answering my letters, I
considered myself a freeman again.
Nena: And so you proposed to me..
Tony: Yes..
Nena: Then, you tell me to keep it a secret!
Tony: Because I found out that Kikay was
coming back.
Nena: I’m tired of being secretly engaged to
you!
Tony: Just give me a chance to explain to Kikay.
Then we’ll tell them.
Nena: Well, you better hurry. I’m getting
impatient.
Tony: How can I talk to Kikay?
Nena: Why not?
Tony: Because you’re here and also Totoy. I
don’t wanna jilt Kikay infront of everybody.
Nena: You want Totoy and me to clear out?
Tony: No.. just give me a chance to be alone
with Kikay for a moment..
Nena: I’ll take care of Totoy..

Tony: That’s good..
Nena: Just leave it to me..
Scene 4:
Totoy: Puto kayo dyan.. Bili na kayo..
Mrs. M: Here comes Kikay, But she wants to call
her Francesca.
Kikay: Oh hello darling people!! Nena my
dear…… But how but you’ve become.. and Tony,
my little pal… how are you? And Totoy… my
raishing! You look goodness,, you look like a
Tondo Super Production in Technicolor!! But sit-
down everybody and let me look at you.. Oh
mumsy!!!
Mrs. M: What’s the matter now?
Kikay: How many times I must tell you, never to
serve fruit juices in water glasses?
Mrs. M: I couldn’t find those tall glasses you
brought home.
Kikay: Oh, poor li’l mumsy.. she is so clumsy
noh? But never mind, don’t break your heart
about it. Here sit down.
Mrs. M: No, I must be going to the market.
Kikay: Oh, don’t forget my celery. I can’t live
without it. I’ like a rabbit, munch all day.
Mrs. M: Well, if you people will excuse me.
Tony, remember me to your mother.
Kikay: And remember, a little bloom on the lips,
a little bloom on the cheeks. Say mwah, mwah..
Mrs. M: Do I have to, Kikay?
Kikay: Again mumsy?
Mrs. M: Do I have to paint this old face of mine?
Rancesca, what am I going to do with you?
Kikay: But how dreadfully you put it. Oh mumsy,
what am I going to do with you?
Mrs. M: I give up!
Kikay: Poor mumsy. How pathetic!
Nena: Tell us about New York .
Tony: How long did you stay there?
Kikay: 10 months, 4 days, 7 hours and 21
minutes.
Totoy: And she’s still there…. In her dreams…
Kikay: Yes, I feel as if I was still there, as though
I had never left it, as though I lived there all my
life. But I look around me and I realized that no,
no, I’m not there. I’m not in New York , I’m at
home. But which is home for me, this cannot be
home because here, my heart aches with
homesickness..
Nena: I don’t think we ought to be here at all.
Tony: Yes, we shouldn’t disturb her.
Totoy: Let’s all just walk out very, very quietly.
Nena: And leave her alone with her memories.
Tony: Is that girl we used to go swimming with
the mud puddles?
Kikay: Ah, New York , my own dear New York ..
Nena: Totoy, will you come with me..
Totoy: To the ends of the earth!
Nena: No darling, just out to our dear little
backyard.
Totoy: Oh, the backyards of Tondo, the barong
barongs of Mypaho, the streets of Sibakong..
Nena: Listen Idiot! Are you coming with me or
not??
Totoy: Anywhere dream girl, anywhere at all!!
Scene 5:
Kikay: Apparently, out Totoy still has a most
terrific crush on Nena. Do wake up, Tony. What
are you looking so miserable about?
Tony: Kikay, I don’t know how to begin.
Kikay: Just call me Francesca… that’s a good
beginning.
Tony: There is something I must tell you…
something very important.
Kikay: Oh, Tony, can’t we just forget all about
it?
Tony: Forget??
Kikay: That’s the New York way, Tony. Forget,
nothing must ever too serious; nothing must
drag on too long. Tonight, give all your heart,
tomorrow, forget. And when you meet again,
smile, shake hands… just good sports..
Tony: What are you talking about?
Kikay: Tony, I was only a child at that time.
Tony: When?
Kikay: When you and I got engaged. I’ve
changed so much since then, Tony.
Tony: That was only a year ago.
Kikay: To me, it seems a century. So much had
happened to me. More can happen to you in
just one year in New York .
Tony: Listen, I don’t want to talk about New
York … I want to talk about our engagement.
Kikay: And that’s what we cannot do Tony. Not
anymore.
Tony: Why not?
Kikay: Tony, you got engaged to a girl named
Kikay. Well, that girl doesn’t exist anymore.
She's dead. The person you see before you is
Francesca. Don’t you see, Tony, I’m a stranger
to you. I hate to hurt you, but surely you see
that there can be no more talk of an
engagement between us. Imagine, a New York
Girl, marrying a Tondo Boy!!! It's so insane!!
Tony: Now look here..
Kikay: I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you, Tony.
Tony: I’m not going to sit here and be insulted.
Kikay: Hush! Tony! Hush! Don’t shout, don’t
lose your temper. It's so uncivilized. People in
New York don’t lose their temper.
Tony: What do you want me to do? Smile, say
thank you for slapping my face?
Kikay: Yes, Tony. Be a sport, let’s smile and
shake hands, and be just friends, huh?
Tony: If you weren’t a woman, I’d I’d…
Scene 6:
Totoy: Hold it Tony. You must never, never hit a
woman.
Nena: What’s all this?
Kikay: Nothing,,, nothing at all..
Totoy: What were you two quarrelling about?
Kikay: We were not quarrelling. Tony and I just
decided to be good friends and nothing more
Nena: Tony, is it true?
Tony: Yes!
Nena: Now, we can tell them!
Kikay: Tell us what?
Totoy: What’s going on here?
Nena: Tony and I are engaged!!
Kikay: Engaged!!
Totoy: Engaged! Engaged!!
Nena: Yes! We’ve been secretly engaged for a
month!
Kikay: A month!? Why you….you…
Tony: I did try to tell you Kikay, I was trying to
tell you…
Kikay: You unspeakable cad!!
Nena: Hey, carefully there!! You’re speaking top
of my fiancé..
Kikay: He’s not your fiancé!
Nena: Oh No!! And why not, huh!!??
Kikay: Because he was still engaged to me when
he got engaged to you!
Nena: Well, he's not engaged to you anymore,
you just said it yourself.
Kikay: Ah, but I didn’t know about all this..
Tony: Now remember, Kikay… it's so uncivilized
to lose one’s temper, People in New York don’t
lose their temper.
Kikay: I’ve never felt so humiliated in all my
life!! You beast, I’ll teach you!!
Nena: I told you to leave him alone. He’s my
fiancé!!
Kikay: And I tell you he's not!! He's engaged to
me until I release him… and I haven’t release
him yet.
Nena: You ought to be ashamed of yourself!
You’re just being a dog in the manger!
Kikay: You ought to be ashamed of yourself!
Stealing my man behind my back!
Nena: What? What did you say!!??
Tony: Totoy, pull them apart!
Kikay: You keep out of this or I’ll knock your
head off!
Totoy: Naku lumabas din ang pagka Tondo!
Nena: Shameless hussy!!
Kikay: Man eater!!
Tony: How dare you suck her??!!
Nena: She hit me first!
Tony: Look what you’ve done to her!
Nena: Are you trying to defend her? You never
defended me!
Tony: Shut up!!
Nena: I hate you! I hate you
Tony: Shut up or I’ll bash your mouth off!!
Totoy: Hey, don’t you talk to Nena that way.
Tony: You keep out of this!
Nena: He’s more of a gentleman than you are.
He defends me!

Totoy: You take your hands off her!
Tony: I told you to keep out of this!
Nena: Oh, Totoy, you’ve save my life
Kikay: Tony! Tony, open you eyes!
Tony: Oh, get away from her!
Nena: Take me away from her!
Totoy: Are you still engaged to him?
Nena: I hate him! I never want to see him again
in my life!
Totoy: Good! Come on, and let’s go!
Tony: Hey!
Nena: Don’t you speak to me, you brute!
Tony: I wasn’t talking to you!
Totoy: Don’t you speak to me either! You have
insulted the woman I love!
Nena: Oh, Totoy, why have you never told me?
Totoy: Well, now you know.
Tony: Congratulations!!!
Nena: Let’s go darling; I don’t want the smell
around here.
Scene 7:
Tony: Now, you’ve ruined my life! I hope you’re
satisfied.
Kikay: I…. have ruined your life??? You…. Ruined
mine!!
Tony: What you need is a good spanking!
Kikay: Don’t you come near me, you,,, you
Canto Boy..
Tony: Don’t worry, I wouldn’t touch you with
my ten foot pole.
Kikay: And I wouldn’t touch you with my twenty
foot pole.
Tony: Just one year in New York and you forgot
your old friends.
Kikay: Just one year that I’m in New York … and
what did you do? But when we got engaged,
you swore to be true, you promised to wait for
me. And I believe you!! Oh, you’re a fickle,
fickle..
Tony: What are you crying about? Be
brave…..forget….. That’s the New York way..
Nothing must ever be too serious, nothing must
ever drag on too long..
Kikay: Oh Tony Please, please!
Tony: Besides, there could be no more talk of
an engagement between us. Imagine a New
York Girl, marrying a Tondo boy!!
Kikay: Oh Tony, I’ve been such a fool.. I’m sorry,
Tony..
Tony: Well, I’m not! I’m glad I found out what
kind of a person you are!
Kikay: Oh Tony, you’re wrong, you’re wrong!
I’m not that kind of person at all..
Tony: Oh. “person” is just a relative name,
huh!?
Kikay: Yes Tony, that was Francesca saying all
that. But Francesca exist no more, Tony, the girl
standing before you now, is Kikay.
Tony: In that silly dress?
Kikay: Oh this is just a gift wrapping, Tony.
Tony: Well, well, well.. Tony: uh-uh..

Kikay: It's true Tony. I’m Kikay….remember Kikay: Sorry darling. May I have this dance with
me?? you partner?

Tony: If I remember it right, I was right, I was Tony: Delighted, madame..

engaged to a girl named Kikay.

Kikay: Yes, and you’re still engaged to her Tony!

Tony: Welcome home Kikay!!! How was the

trip?

Kikay: Horrible!! I couldn’t wait to get back.

Tony: Like it in New York ?

Kikay: Uh-uh! Give me a Tondo anytime!

Tony: Why didn’t you answer my letters?

Kikay: Francesca wouldn’t let me write, Tony.

Tony: That nasty girl. I’m glad she's dead!

Mrs. M: Frances ……. Oh, Tony, are you still

here? Francesca, don’t be angry but I couldn’t
find any celery..

Kikay: Oh, never mind, Inay, I hate celery!

Mrs. M: Hate celery? Why? You said, you

couldn’t live without it!

Tony: That was Francesca. Aling Atang and

Francesca is dead. The girl standing before you
is Kikay!

Mrs. M: But Kikay is Francesca..

Kikay: Oh, no, Inay, I’m not Francesca……I’m

Kikay!

Mrs. M: I give up!!

Kikay: That tune! What memories it brings back!

I first heard it in New York , at Eddie Candon’s..