THE

FLATLINE
A radioplay by
Group 4

August 21, 2021

CHARACTER AND SETTING
CHARACTERS
ELLA GOMEZ (DAUGHTER), 17
RON GOMEZ (FATHER), 38
MARIA GOMEZ (DAUGHTER), 37
RANZEL (LILY GOMEZ), 10
CONTEST HOST, 17
UNKNOWN MAN , 40
POLICE OFFICER
REPORTER

TIME
January 1st: The New Year’s Eve
PLACE
Snowflakes rushing down the cold window. A breeze navigating the
chilling essence greeting a cold wooden floor in Gomez's
Residence. A mother, two daughters, and a visitor. Who could it
be, will they be the purpose for a new beginning or the beginning
of an end?
 Act 1: Reunion

Scene 1

(Ambulance Siren)

(Hospital Noises)

ELLA:
(voice recording)

(Flatline)

Scene 2

VOICE RECORD STARTS

ELLA:
January 1st,

It’s a new year for me, and my family. My mom,

SISTER:
(opens the door to Maureen’s Room)
Mom’s literally gonna kill you.

MAUREEN:
What-- Why?

MAUREEN:
A visitor, who?

(door closes)

MAUREEN:
 Hey, who is i- (sighs)

(Maureen finally opens the door)

(family laughing)

MOTHER:
Food is ready. Maureen, finally. Let's eat?

MAUREEN:
(devastated)
What’s this?

MOTHER:
What do you mean? Aren’t you gonna welcome your father?

MAUREEN:
I’m not welcoming someone who made us suffer for years.

MOTHER:
Maureen, you watch your words.

MAUREEN:
How about you watch our
lives, Mom? Look at us, we’re suffering, every single day, we’re
Suffering, And it’s because of this man.

FATHER:
Maureen—

MAUREEN:
Don't you dare call me by my name! How dare you show your face
after everything you've done to us.

MOTHER:
Maureen, stop! He's still your father no matter what. And there's
no way for you to ever change that. He's trying to change for us,
to help us.
 MAUREEN:
When will you ever learn, Mom? When will you realize that all
these problems we're facing right now, was all because of him!

MOTHER:
Maureen, please. We all deserve a chance, right?

MAUREEN:
(laughs)
A chance... A chance, huh? For what? For us to suffer all over
again? No. No way. And I’m so sick of this.
(walks away)

Scene 3
LOCATION: The Street
SOUND: Footsteps
STRANGER:
Young lady...
(Ella didn’t answer)

Scene 5
(Maureen’s voice record)

January 2nd,
Father came back. Didn’t expect it. We suffered so
much because of him. My sister’s oblivious about it. And then
there’s mom, accepting him like he did nothing wrong.

“Help us”? I doubt it. But, when he was there -- it

was different. For years, I get to see mom’s genuine smile
again, a smile with love behind it. My sister’s laughter while
she’s playing with him, strangely, brings me comfort. And for
years, I get to see my family being complete again. For the
first time, I get to hear the sound of a happy home.

Maureen.
 Act 2: Contest

Scene 1
1 year later
(Phone rings)
MAN 1:
You’ve got a family now, huh?

MAN 2:
Who is this?

MAN 1:
A close friend of yours. Forgotten me already?

MAN 2:
S-sir?

MAN 1:
There you go. (laughs) How about our deal? It's been months since
we’ve talked. How about we celebrate with a reunion?

MAN 2:
Sir, please, we’re done. I don’t want any connections with you
anymore. I’ve already got a decent job, and a family. Please,
let’s end it here.

MAN 1:
 Careful on what you wish for. There’s always a payment for
cancellation.

FEMALE VOICE IN THE BACKGROUND:

Dad!

MAN 1:
A daughter, I see.

MAN 2:
Stop bothering us!
(Phonecall ends)

Scene 2
MAUREEN:
Dad, mom’s looking for you. How’s my dress?

FATHER:
(uneasy)
You look beautiful, honey. Are you ready for your competition?

MAUREEN:
Y-yes. Dad, are you okay? You look... anxious.

FATHER:
Of course. I’m just excited for you... Let’s eat, you shouldn’t
sing with an empty stomach.
 Scene 3

(In the venue)

MAUREEN:
Dad, I’m scared. What if I lose?

FATHER:
Don’t worry about it, honey. Just enjoy the competition,
alright?

MOTHER:
We’re always here for you, honey. Me, your father, and your
sister.

SISTER:
Goodluck!

ANNOUNCER:
Next up, Contestant #4, Maureen Cuenca.
(crowd cheering)

UNKNOWN VOICE:
It’s her.

(footsteps)
 (Maureen starts singing)
-SONG LYRICS-

FATHER:
I have to go to the bathroom.
(sees a suspicious man, with a smug face, holding a gun watching
her daughter sing)

UNKNOWN MAN:
We met again, my dear friend.
(last phone call echoes in his head)
FATHER:
(whispers)
No.

(heart beats start to build up)

(gun clicks)

FATHER:
(running towards Maureen)
Maureen!

MAUREEN:
Dad?

(gunshots)

(mic falls off)

(ringing)
(crowd noises start fade in)
 MOTHER:
(shouting)
NOOO!

MAUREEN:
(sobbing)
Blood. There’s blood everywhere... Dad, wake up, you're
bleeding!

FATHER:
Be s-strong for your mother and sister. I l-love you, forever and
always. T-thank you... for accepting me again as your father.
(noise starts to fade out)
(Ambulance siren)
(Heartbeat)
(HRM sound)

(flatline)
...
 ACT 3: You Should’ve

Scene 1
A week later after the incident

MAUREEN:
Mom, please, eat your food. You’ve been li--

MOTHER:
(Throws the food)
Shut up! You’re the reason why he died. You should’ve died
instead of him. Get out!

(silence)

MAUREEN:
Mom--

MOTHER:
Get out!

MAUREEN:
Such words.