The Six Degrees of Separation

Written by

Nicole Amansec, Rhiannon Cushing, and Rachel Frogoso

 1.

ACT I
_____

Scene 1
_______

MIA and the whole cast of characters and chorus

members are positioned in a scattered manner,
like stars in the sky. As the opening monologue
occurs, the chorus revolves around Mia.

MIA
I had always been interested in the cosmos. Whenever
I feel lonely at night, I’d just go outside and look
upward… and feel even lonelier because of how
insignificant we are on the grand scale of things.
But something our professor taught us made me think:
after the Big Bang, the heavier elements, like
calcium, iron, carbon, and nitrogen were conceived.
But don’t you realize that we, too, have calcium in
our bones, iron in our blood, carbon in our breath,
and nitrogen in our thoughts? Our present bodies are
made of the remains of cosmic bodies that exploded
eons ago. The class was fascinated at this connection
we have with those tiny dots in the vast, dark night…
but it made me sad.

The chorus gradually speeds up in pace.

MIA
I once read that all the people you come across in
life, even the random passerby, are connected to you
in some way. Through an acquaintance, a friend, or a
friend of a friend, so on. All of us are all
connected to each other, the same way that we are all
connected with the stars. Only...

The chorus stops altogether and stands still.

MIA
Why do we invest in recognizing connections we have
with the great and faraway cosmos that make us feel
so small? Why do we keep looking outside, when we
could look within?

The chorus looks around and at each other, as if

they has become aware of who they are and who
they're surrounded by. Slowly, they begin to
move in random directions, towards the first
position of the prologue.

MIA
When seeking for belonging, you don’t have to look

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 2.

far. Just look around you, and, then, you’ll see that
you’re already where you need to be.

The first song, "I SEE MYSELF," begins.

MARIA
I SEE MYSELF IN THE SKY

IT HOLDS ALL THE REASONS

TO ALL OF MY WHYS

DEREK
I SEE MYSELF IN THE SKY

I KNOW I BELONG THERE

IF I ONLY COULD FLY

SIOPAO
I SEE MYSELF IN THE SKY

BUT WHERE SHALL I STAND

AS IT PASSES ME BY?

ZOEY
I SEE MYSELF IN THE SKY

BUT WILL IT STILL BE HERE

THE DAY THAT I DIE?

JUDE
I SEE MYSELF IN THE SKY

TOO FAR OUT OF REACH

TO HEAR WHEN I CRY

MIA
I SEE MYSELF IN THE SKY

BUT DOES IT SEE ME?

WHO WILL SEE ME

THROUGH THIS JOURNEY OUR PATHS

ONLY MEASURED BY TIME?

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 3.

ONE LIFE THAT IS FLEETING

TOO FAST FOR ANY MEANING

ALL RANDOM NO REASON NOR RHYME

CHORUS
THERE'S BUSINESS TO MIND

NO TIME TO BE KIND

THERE ARE PLACES THAT I HAVE TO BE

THIS WORLD WAS DESIGNED

TO BE UNALIGNED TO FIX IT,

IT'S ALL UP TO ME (NOT WE!)

JM
BUT EVERY PERSON THAT WE MEET

HAS A STORY THEY WANT TO SEEK

LIKE ME, THERE'S A THREAD THAT THEY FOLLOW

MARIA
THAT INEVITABLY INTERSECTS

BUT REALIZE HOW THEY'RE ALL CONNECTED

SUDDENLY, THE WORLD'S NOT AS SHALLOW

CHORUS
RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW

SOMEWHERE, SOMEHOW

THE ANSWER'S NOT IN THE SKY

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW

I LOOK AROUND

THEN I SEE MYSELF IN YOUR EYES

CHORUS 1 CHORUS 2 BOTH

I SEE MYSELF IN YOUR EYES

YOU ARE ALL THE REASONS TO ALL OF MY WHYS

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I SEE MYSELF IN YOUR EYES

YOU'RE WHOM I BELONG TO THERE'S NO NEED TO FLY

I SEE MYSELF IN YOUR EYES

YOU'RE THERE WHEN I CRY

YOU AREN'T A LIE

YOU AREN'T JUST SOME FLEETING PASSERBY

I SEE YOU, YOU SEE ME (X4)

CHORUS
WE ALL ARE WITHIN REACH

WE ALL ARE ALIGNED

IN THIS WORLD THAT HAS REASON AND RHYME

IF YOU WANT TO FIND ME

IT WON'T TAKE MUCH TIME

OUR THREADS WILL ONE DAY INTERTWINE

WITH OUR THREADS BOUND TOGETHER

AND YOUR HAND IN MINE

I'LL SEE YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH

A LIFE OF MEANING

A LIFE OF REASON

FOR ME AND YOU

Scene 2
_______

An admissions office. There is a counter upstage

center, and lines of seats with students holding
important documents. The seats on the left are
for students about to submit their documents,
while the seats on the right are for those who
are waiting to claim their permits. A security
guard is posited downstage left. Displayed
onscreen is a number queue, currently at 90.
Amidst the crowd's murmurs, a chime rings,
signaling Mia's entrance to the room. In the

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 5.

background, a song, one that seems like the

typical instrumental to play in public places
comes on that foreshadows the next musical
number.

MIA
(to security guard)
Excuse me? Where does the line start?

GUARD
(giving her a ticket stub)
Dyan po ma'am. Ito po ticket stub nyo. Antayin nyo
nalang po yung number nyo lumabas sa screen.

MIA
(reading the number)
Ninety-nine. Ah, thanks.

Mia sits down on an empty seat at the end of the

line. She looks at the people around her -
they’re just hungry applicants craving to be
accepted. To belong to a place of validation.
Like her. She sighs out of uncertainty.

The door chimes again, and a tall, reasonably

attractive stranger in dark clothes walks in. He
looks a bit exhausted, as told by his heavy
breathing.

STRANGER
Is this the admissions office?

Mia’s head turns to the sound of a sweet yet

sultry voice behind her. She sees what she
believes is the most beautiful creature. Eyes
bright as the moon when its up at its highest.
Jaw as sharp as the knife her mother uses to cut
the onions of her favorite Sinigang. Hair as
soft as newly changed sheets in a hotel.

To Mia, this is what love at first sight is.

GUARD
Opo sir. Ito po ticket stub nyo. Antayin nyo-

The their conversation continues as the their

voices fade out, and the song in the background,
"FAVORITE FEELING," gets louder and clearer. The
number begins.

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MIA
FROM BUTTERFLIES TO BROKEN HEARTS

THE KINDS THAT WILL TEAR YOU APART

THE IDEA OF LOVE TO ME WAS ALWAYS QUITE ENTHRALLING

Mia stares at the stranger. The spotlight is

solely focusing on him. As the stranger walks
and sits next to her, all the laughter, the loud
conversations of the applicants around her,
freeze. And she’s left agape.
YOU'VE CAUSED EMOTIONS I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD

I'M FLOATING, FLYING, GOING MAD

NOW IT SEEMS THAT I CAN'T HELP MYSELF FALLING

Mia is frozen in her seat. She reaches out in

attempt to start conversation, but loses the
courage to.
WE HAVEN'T MET

YET I CANNOT FORGET

YOU'RE MY NEW FAVORITE FEELING, ONE I WILL NOT REGRET

The number queue suddenly goes up faster. From

92, it quickly goes up to 99. As this happens,
the seven people ahead of her in the line pull
Mia along with them, away from attractive
stranger.
THE VOLUME'S TURNED UP WAY TOO HIGH

I FEEL LIKE I CAN TOUCH THE SKY

YOUR BEING HAS BEWITCHED ME INTO FEELING THINGS

UNREAL

She stumbles as she tries her best to focus on

the forms, documents, and the application she
submits.
TELL ME, WHAT ELSE CAN I NOW DO?

THERE WAS NO WAY OF STOPPING YOU

IT SCARES ME BUT WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT I LIKE THE WAY

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IT FEELS

At this point, attractive stranger is submitting

his documents, too. In her dazed state, she
looks back to the stranger as she approaches the
official whom she will give the papers to.

CLERK
Okay, so if you will just wait in the line over there
to claim your test permit, you’ll be able to watch
that attractive stranger for as long as you want.

MIA
(dumbfounded)
Sorry what?

CLERK
(annoyed, thus sarcastic)
I said, if you could just sit there and wait for you
name to be called, then you’d be on your way and this
whole process will be done. Have a great day!

MIA
(naive)
Oh, thanks. You too!

WE HAVEN'T MET YET

I CANNOT FORGET

YOU'RE MY NEW FAVORITE FEELING, ONE I WILL NOT REGRET

Still, even as she waits and waits for her name

to be called, she lingers and glances back and
forth to the stranger - who is he?

He sits down, waiting for his name to be called,

too, for his test permit. A bit further away
from Mia now, albeit.

MIA
I SEE YOU WHEN I CLOSE MY EYES

NOT DISAPPOINTED BUT SURPRISED

I SOMEHOW AM ON FIRE IN THIS AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM

CHORUS
BUT WHAT'S HIS NAME?

WHAT'S HIS NAME?

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TO LEAVE NOT KNOWING WOULD BE A SHAME

WHAT'S HIS NAME?

WHAT'S HIS NAME?!

CLERK
Paging Mia Isabel Garcia, Mia Isabel Garcia.

A lightbulb goes off in her head. Mia rushes to the

window, still looking back at the stranger.

CLERK
This is your test permit. Please sign here to confirm
that you’ve claimed it and kindly grab one of our
free pencil cases and booklet as a souvenir from our
university. We hope to see you ne--

Mia quickly grabs everything and signs horribly.

MIA
I KNOW I'M TALKING TO MYSELF

BUT RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO ONE ELSE

NO ONE ELSE THAT I WANT TO BE WITH, BUT YOU

CHORUS
WHAT'S HIS NAME?

WHAT'S HIS NAME?

CLERK
Paging Jose Manuel Villanueva, Paging Jose Manuel
Villanueva.

Everything is suddenly in slow motion. Jose

Manuel Villanueva walks to the counter.

MIA
JOSE, JOSE

JOSE MANUEL VILLANUEVA

CHORUS
JOSE, JOSE

JOSE MANUEL VILLANUEVA

MIA
WE HAVEN'T MET

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 9.

YET I CANNOT FORGET

YOU'RE MY NEW FAVORITE FEELING, ONE I WILL NOT REGRET

Jose, the attractive stranger, nonchalantly

leaves the building as everyone is still singing
and dancing.

CHORUS
THEY HAVEN'T MET

YET SHE CANNOT FORGET

HE'S HER NEW FAVORITE FEELING, LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS

NEXT!

Everything goes back to normal. She looks back

and Jose is no longer there. She runs out.

Scene 3
_______

She rushes through the gates, she’s finally

outside. City streets. Cars buzz by, horns honk,
and busy passerbys fill the stage. She tries to
get through every single person, every obstacle,
maybe Jose still might be here. But he is
nowhere to be found.

Mia is left alone on the road, watching as the

jeepney drives away into the busy streets of
Manila.

MIA
Jose, what the hell did you do?

A car honks loudly. She is blocking the road.

MIA
Sorry! Sorry!

Lights out.

Scene 4
_______

A classroom with an ongoing class facing the

audience. Mia sitting in the middle, her
classmates around her, mostly male, looking just
as bored as she is. On her desk is her laptop,
closed.

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 10.

TEACHER
The probability of finding an electron in a certain
region of the atom is proportional to the square of
the wave function at that point, according to the
Born Interpretation. However, Erwin Schrodinger asked
himself, where is the electron? While that is an
interesting question-

The discussion fades out as Mia begins to

fantasize.

MIA
JOSE, JOSE JOSE MANUEL VILLANUEVA

She looks at her laptop and gets an idea. The

color of the lighting onstage changes to blue
indicate the metaphorical representation of what
happens next.

Mia opens her laptop and begins to search for

his name in hopes of finding the right person.
Her classmates get up and form a line
behind/beside her, representing the people she
is scrolling past on her feed results. As she
"hovers over a new profile," each person who
represents that profile mimics the profile
picture. But none of them turn out to be the one
Jose she wants.

Towards the end of her search, the chorus

members/classmates go back to their respective
seats.

MIA
No... no... no! Why does his name have to be so
common?!

TEACHER
Yes, Miss Garcia? Is there a problem?

MIA
Nothing po, Miss. Sorry.

TEACHER
Then pay attention. Going back, Heisenberg's
Uncertainty Principle states that locating the
electron in its orbit would require knowing the
velocity and the position all at once, which, until
now, is still impossible because of the miniscule
size of the-

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 11.

Mia ignores the instruction and resumes

hopelessly scrolling through her feed.

MIA
I WOULD FOLLOW ALL ACCOUNTS TO FIND YOU

ALL THE ROADS THAT WIND TO WHERE YOU ARE

I WILL SEARCH FOR THE THREAD THAT ENTWINES YOU

WE'LL INTERTWINE ONE DAY...

Just as she was about to give up, an article

pops up in her timeline. It’s about the Six
Degrees of Separation.

MIA
(to herself)
Six Degrees of Separation? Hey, I've heard of this
before.

She looks at the teacher first to check before

she clicks the article.

MIA
(to herself)
Hello, Wikipedia. Six degrees of separation is the
idea that all people are six, or fewer, social
connections away from each other.

Her expression tells us that she has regained

hope. The reprise music gets louder.
As a result, a chain of "a friend of a friend"
statements can be made to connect any two people in a
maximum of six handshakes.

She stands, basking in the increased potential

of her victory.

MIA
THE THREADS BOUND TOGETHER

WILL SOON INTERTWINE

I'LL SEE YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH

I WILL BE DREAMING

AND BELIEVING IN ME AND YOU

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Scene 5
_______

The classroom setting is pushed offstage. The

chorus talks to Mia, expressing their doubts on
whether this would work.

CHORUS MEMBERS
FINDING THE SIX DEGREES IS THE MOST PROBLEMATIC FIX

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO JUST 'CAUSE YOU

HAVE THE KICKS

YOU NEVER KNOW, WHAT YOU'VE READ MIGHT HAVE BEEN MADE
TO BE FAKE

STOP BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE

THIS MIGHT BE A MISTAKE

AND SIX HANDSHAKES WILL LEAD TO DEVASTATING

HEARTBREAK!

CHORUS
EVERYBODY IN THE BACKGROUND MIGHT JUST BE THE ONE
YOU'RE AFTER

EVERYBODY IN THE BACKGROUND MIGHT JUST BE YOUR NEXT

DISASTER

MIA
WHAT YOU SAY WON'T MATTER NOW THAT I HAVE FOUND A WAY

TO GET TO WHERE I WANT TO BE AND WHERE I WANT TO STAY

IF A LIFETIME WAITS FOR ME THAT'S ONLY SIX DEGREES

AWAY

I'M TAKING THAT ONE CHANCE

ONE CHANCE AT ONE ROMANCE

AND I'LL HOLD ON TO THAT ONE GLANCE WE HAD FROM

YESTERDAY

CHORUS
EVERYBODY IN THE BACKGROUND MIGHT JUST BE THE ONE
YOU'RE AFTER

EVERYBODY IN THE BACKGROUND MIGHT JUST BE YOUR NEXT

DISASTER

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Scene 5.1
_________

MARIA, Mia's best friend, is "pushed" out of the

chorus. She is Mia's first degree. Like all best
friends do, they introduce their friendship in
the silliest yet shameless of ways: a secret
handshake. It is coupled with a strange musical
chant they invented themselves.

MIA
Mar!!

MARIA
Ey!!

MIA
MARIA

MARIA
AND MIA

BOTH
MIA, MARIA

TRY GIVING ME A CLOSER PAIR

THERE'S NONE YOU CAN FIND

MIA
MARIA

MARIA
AND MIA

BOTH
MIA, MARIA

THERE'S NO BETTER IDEA THAN

THE TWO OF US COMBINED

MIA
MARIA

MARIA
AND MIA

MIA
NO STRONGER CONNECTION WITH

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MARIA
TWO FORCES TO BE RECKONED WITH

BOTH
TWO SOULS, THE SAME MIND

WITH YOU, THE WHOLE WORLD IS ALIGNED!

They laugh heartily.

MIA
I have kwento!!

MARIA
Oh, do tell.

MIA
Okay, yesterday, when I was applying, I met this guy-

MARIA
YiieeeEE!

MIA
Well, not technically "met," but we were in the same
room!

MARIA
Ay... so I take you didn't talk, then?

Mia shakes her head shamefully.

MARIA
Tsk, tsk, hay, Mia. You can't keep letting these
people slip through your fingers! How are you ever
going to find the one if you don't talk to anybody?!

MIA
I know, I know... but that's why I called you. I'm
gonna find him.

MARIA
Wait... what? How the hell do you expect that I know
some stranger you saw?

MIA
I'll describe him, then you tell me about anyone who
comes to mind.

MARIA
... All right. Worth a shot.

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 15.

MIA
HE'S TALL

HANDSOME AS WELL

HIS FIRST TWO NAMES ARE JOSE AND MANUEL

HE'S NOT ONLINE, BUT HERE'S MY THEORY

HE APPLIED TO THE SAME COLLEGE

SO HE IS IN OUR VICINITY

Ring any bells yet?

MARIA
Heh. This situation reminds me of a short-lived crush
from a few years back...

MIA
Oh, you mean that "lost love" you never elaborate on-

Maria cuts her off by shushing her.

MARIA
I DO NOT KNOW HIM

BUT HERE'S A FACT

I MIGHT JUST KNOW SOMEONE

WHO KNOWS SOMEONE WHO'S JUST LIKE THAT

MIA
Really?!

MARIA
(she gives Mia a small calling card)
YEAH, HERE'S THEIR NUMBER

TRY CALLING UP

I PRAY YOU FIND YOUR GUY, AND HEY,

GOOD LUCK

CHORUS
EVERYBODY IN THE BACKGROUND MIGHT JUST BE THE ONE
YOU'RE AFTER
EVERYBODY IN THE BACKGROUND MIGHT JUST BE YOUR NEXT

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 16.

DISASTER

Scene 5.2
_________

Maria exits. Mia stands alone onstage, calling

card in hand. After one more glance at the
number, she fishes for her phone in her pocket
and dials the numbers into the keypad. She puts
the phone to her ear, and it rings only once
before the other end of the line picks up.

MIA
Hello?

The chorus, dressed in Greek theatre-esque robes

and masks, enters very theatrically. A play-
within-the-play moment occurs as they perform an
excerpt of Sophocles' Antigone. They overwhelm
Mia with a very tragic atmosphere. She becomes
distressed.

CHORUS
DON'T BE NAÏVE

DON'T BE DECEIVED

IT'S BETTER TO LEAVE THAN TO GRIEVE HERE IN THEBES

MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN MAN AND THE ALMIGHTY

DON'T BE NAÏVE

DON'T BE DECEIVED

IT'S BETTER TO LEAVE THAN TO GRIEVE HERE IN THEBES

WORSHIPS IN DAYLIGHT TO HIDE AWAY NIGHTLY

MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN MAN AND THE ALMIGHTY

MAKE A CHOICE

The performance ends. DEREK, the director, cuts

in to give some notes as the chorus takes off
their masks.

DEREK
Cut! Cut! Okay, that was great, moving, nearly scared
me away... but it was a bit rough towards the end.
Remember, power, but control.

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 17.

The chorus ahs and nods in agreement to his

note.

DEREK
(looks at his watch)
All right, we'll be having a half-hour break now. I
want you all back here by 5:34 sharp.

CHORUS
Yes, direk.

The chorus goes in different directions except

for Mia, who approaches Derek, who is sitting
down, reviewing his script.

MIA
Um, excuse me. Direk? Hi, I'm-

DEREK
(startled)
How did you know my name?

MIA
... Uh-

DEREK
Wait, don't answer. Didn't you hear? I'm on break.
Nobody approaches me on break!
(realizes who she is)
Wait, you're not from here. Who the hell are you?

MIA
Oh, um, I'm Mia.
(beat)
Friend of Maria's...?

DEREK
Ah, Maria! Yes, I know her. Well, since you know my
name, an introduction from me would be rather
redundant.

MIA
But... I don't know your name?

DEREK
But... you already said it?

MIA
(confused)
Direk?

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 18.

DEREK
(flamboyantly)
Bingo! I'm Derek, directeur de la troupe.

The pun dawns on Mia. Derek and Mia shake hands.

DEREK
What brings you here, Mia friend of Maria?

MIA
I'm looking for somebody, and Maria told me you might
know him...?

DEREK
Well, heh, I know a lot of guys. Try me.

MIA
HE'S TALL

HANDSOME AS WELL

HIS FIRST TWO NAMES ARE JOSE AND MANUEL

HE'S NOT ONLINE, TRUST ME, I'VE TRIED

BUT I'LL GO PLACES FAR AND WIDE

UNTIL I'M SATISFIED

A bit of awkward silence follows her valiant

number.

DEREK
... Ooh, love the vigor.

MIA
So? Do you know a Jose Manuel?

DEREK
Jose Manuel... I've heard that name, hmm.

Mia's face lights up. The chorus rounds back in

to sing a reprise of a part of the song
"Favorite Feeling"

CHORUS
JOSE, JOSE

JOSE MANUEL VILLANUEVA

JOSE, JOSE

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 19.

JOSE MANUEL VILLANUEVA

The chorus reverts back to their reality selves.

DEREK
I KNOW THE NAME

BUT NOT THE FACE

BUT I MIGHT KNOW SOMEONE

WHO CAN LEAD YOU TO A HELPFUL PLACE

Siopao!

SIOPAO
Yes, Direk?

DEREK
Help this lost puppy out. You know a Jose Manuel,
right?

SIOPAO
I-

DEREK SIOPAO
Great. Mia, this is I told you to stop
Siopao, my musical calling me that.
director and virtually
the whole orchestra.
I'll leave you two at
it.

The chorus rushes around them as if to denote

the "scene" change.

CHORUS
EVERYBODY IN THE BACKGROUND MIGHT JUST BE THE ONE
YOU'RE AFTER

EVERYBODY IN THE BACKGROUND MIGHT JUST BE YOUR NEXT

DISASTER

Scene 5.3
_________

SIOPAO
I was just- What? What's this for?

MIA
Derek told me you knew someone named Jose Manuel?

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 20.

SIOPAO
Jose Manuel? No! Is he from the 1800's or something?
What kind of name is that?

MIA
I could ask you the same thing about your name, 7-
Eleven commodity. But okay, whatever, sorry to even
bother.

Mia begins to walk away until-

SIOPAO
Wait, I'm sorry. Let's start over.

Siopao extends his hand.

I'm... Paolo.

Mia accepts his hand and shakes it.

MIA
Mia. But, didn't Derek call you-

SIOPAO
Siopao, I know. I told him to stop calling me that.

MIA
May I ask why?

SIOPAO
It's a long story.

MIA
I've got all day.

SIOPAO
... All right, I'll tell you why.

Siopao whips out an acoustic guitar, surprising

Mia. His strangely passionate monologue,
"SIOPAO," ensues.

SIOPAO
SO I WALKED INTO 7-ELEVEN

BLINDED BY THE FLUORESCENT LIGHT

IN CONTRAST TO THE SHELVES OF VIBRANT GOODS

I STUMBLED TOWARDS THE SIOPAO

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 21.

LIKE I DO ALMOST EVERY NIGHT

BUT IT TURNED OUT NOT HOW I THOUGHT IT WOULD

/ BEHIND THE GLASS WAS A WOMAN

OF UNPRECEDENTED GRACE

I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I HAD TO DO

I ASKED IF SHE WANTED SIOPAO

AND IN MIDST OF MY OWN DAZE

I THINK I HEARD, "YES, I WOULD LOVE TO."

/ SHE TOLD ME A SIOPAO

IS WHAT MY BEING IMPLIED

A PLAIN AND BLAND SURFACE

HIDES A SWEETNESS INSIDE

FROM THEN ON, IT'S SIOPAO

THAT I DECIDED TO GO BY

/ AND SO LIFE HUMS ALONG AS NORMAL

BUT IT'S ALL PERFECT SINCE SHE'S HERE

IT SEEMED LIKE NOTHING IN THE WORLD CAN GO AWRY

BUT A COUPLE OF BLUNDERS LATER

THE PERFECT WORLD JUST DISAPPEARS

SHE'S GONE AWOL WITH OUT SAYING A GOODBYE

/ AND SHE LEFT ME A SIOPAO

TELL ME, WHAT'D SHE IMPLY?

MAYBE I'M JUST AS SOFT-HEARTED

AND I SHOULD JUST GO CRY?

I'M JUST LIKE A SIOPAO

WHO REALLY WOULD RATHER JUST DIE

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 22.

MIA
Hold on, what-

SIOPAO
I'VE CHECKED HER IG STORY

AND IT SEEMS I'VE MET THE END OF FOREVAHH

SHE'S HANGING OUT WITH SOME VILLANUEVA

Mia perks up at the name.

/ I'M NO LONGER "SIOPAO"

PAOLO IS MY NAME

NOW I THINK THOSE STEAMED BUNS

ARE ACTUALLY QUITE LAME

I'M NO LONGER "SIOPAO"

'CAUSE THINGS ARE NO LONGER THE SAME

MIA
I'm so sorry.

SIOPAO
Yeah, it's fine. I wrote that just this morning. The
words just rolled out of me-

MIA
Tell me more about this Villanueva guy.

SIOPAO
(offended, on the verge of tears)
Seriously? I thought you were my friend. You were
just here listening to me and my melancholy about a
girl who left me for some guy, and here you are, also
interested in the same guy! You're just like Zoey.

Siopao, downcast, attempts to exit when-

MIA
Wait, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. But
that's not what I meant.

SIOPAO
Then what did you mean?

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 23.

MIA
Villanueva's the surname of the guy I'm looking for.
Jose Manuel Villanueva.

SIOPAO
That's a pretty common name, but... congrats, I
guess. You've got yourself a lead.

MIA
Take me to Zoey.

This catches Siopao off-guard.

SIOPAO
What?

MIA
I won't be meeting this Villanueva guy if you don't
introduce me to your girlfriend first.

SIOPAO
You really weren't listening to that whole ballad I
busted out, were you? She's no longer my girlfriend.
Stop rubbing it in.

Mia is now fed up with his emotional episode.

MIA
Did you guys break up?

SIOPAO
What-

MIA
Did you and Zoey break up?

SIOPAO
No.

MIA
When did this happen?

SIOPAO
Just yesterday, but I-

MIA
Have you tried talking to her yet?

SIOPAO
... No.

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 24.

MIA
Then how do you know there's a problem?

SIOPAO
I don't know! I just feel there is one.

MIA
(exasperated)
Oh my God, okay. How about we make a deal? You take
me to meet Zoey, and take this as your one chance to
clear things up with her.

SIOPAO
(hesitant, sighs)
I still don't-

MIA
I'll be there with you.

SIOPAO
Fine. But we have to go now if we want to catch her
at the park.

MIA
Why would Zoey be at a park?

SIOPAO
She's a dancer, and she's part of a flash mob for
charity.
(Mia looks at him suspiciously)
You hear about everything on social media.
(Mia nods as she received the answer she
was looking for)

CHORUS
EVERYBODY IN THE BACKGROUND MIGHT JUST BE THE ONE
YOU'RE AFTER

EVERYBODY IN THE BACKGROUND MIGHT JUST BE YOUR NEXT

DISASTER

Scene 5.4
_________

As the chorus rushes around again, the scene is

set up to look like a park. Benches, lamp posts,
plants, trees, picnic blankets, and Christmas
lights appear to create the ambiance of one.

CHORUS
EVERYBODY IN THE BACKGROUND MIGHT JUST BE THE ONE
YOU'RE AFTER

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 25.

EVERYBODY IN THE BACKGROUND MIGHT JUST BE YOUR NEXT

DISASTER

Mia and Siopao enter. It's already dusk. They

find a spot on the grounds to sit on. Mia looks
curious, while Siopao looks apprehensive.

MIA
When does it start?

SIOPAO
Shh... Now, I think.

He thinks right. The lights go down as the crowd

at the park settles to watch the dancers as they
begin their number, ZOEY being a part of them as
the lead dancer. This whole part is a dance
number, in which its choreography somehow
reflects the main message of the plot of the
whole play through physical movement. It lasts
approximately two to three minutes.

After the number finishes, everybody applauds.

All dancers either exit or blend with the
regular crowd.

MIA
Go Zoey!! Even though I don't know who you are!

SIOPAO
She was the lead.

MIA
Oh. She's good.

SIOPAO
I know-

ZOEY
Pao? What are you doing here?

MIA
(taking Zoey's hand to shake it)
Hi, I'm Mia.

As Mia shakes Zoey's hand, Siopao rises from his

seat and goes for the exit door.

ZOEY
Siopao! Where are you going?

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 26.

Zoey stops her handshake with Mia and runs

towards Siopao. She grabs his hand as soon as
she reaches him. On the other side of the stage,
Mia grunts in frustration and stomps towards
them. She watches the couple from behind.

ZOEY
Why didn't you tell me that you were coming? I'm so
happy that you're here!

Siapao looks at Zoe and forces a smile.

SIOPAO
I'm glad you're happy but I really need to go so--

As Siopao was about to go, Zoey once again

clutches onto his arm.

ZOEY
Hey, are you okay? Why do you look sad?

SIOPAO
(avoiding eye contact)
I'm okay, I'm busy. I just need to, I dunno, feed my
dogs or something.

ZOEY
You don't have a dog! Pao, tell me what's wrong, now.

Zoey grabs Siopao and blocks him from the exit.

Mia stays there, contemplating whether she
should just interject and tell them what she
needs.

MIA
So, like, um.... I really need to find this person-

SIOPAO
There's nothing wrong!

ZOEY
I know you! There's something bothering you and you
need to tell me what it is!

SIOPAO

I dunno! Why don't you ask yourself what's wrong!

ZOEY
Huh? I wouldn't know what's wrong if you don't tell
me!

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 27.

MIA
Um, guys?

SIOPAO
Why don't you ask that Villanueva then?!

A beat. Both of them stare at each other. Siopao

looks at Zoey with his eyes almost staring up.
Zoey tilts her head in confusion. She is
visually seen to be thinking about what Siopao
meant. It took her a while to get it but it
finally clicked.

ZOEY
Oh... is that why you're upset?

SIOPAO
(sarcastic)
No, I'm not upset. I don't care if you prefer
Villanueva over me. Pshh, I'm fine. It's fine. If
you're happy, I'm happy.

Before Siopao could leave, Zoey stops him.

ZOEY
You know, Pao, you're really cute.

SIOPAO
Okay, just ignore all of my feelings and patronize me
by saying that I’m cute! That absolutely won’t piss
me off!

ZOEY
Don’t worry about Villanueva, Pao. You’re the only
one for me.

SIOPAO
I- What?

Zoey just looks at him in amusement.

SIOPAO
Are you sure?

ZOEY
Yeah, we're just friends. That's all.

SIOPAO
You love me?

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 28.

ZOEY
I love you.

Everybody in the crew, as it turns out, were

watching the fight and ended up saying “aww”.
Lively music starts and both of them started
dancing around, along with the rest of the crew.
All the while, Mia just stood there,
dumbfounded. And irritated.

CHORUS MIA
EVERYBODY IN THE Now that I got
BACKGROUND MIGHT JUST diabetes from this
BE THE ONE YOU'RE love fiasco, can
AFTER somebody finally
PLEASE just
EVERYBODY IN THE accommodate me?!
BACKGROUND MIGHT JUST Hello!! Does anyone
BE YOUR NEXT DISASTER even hear me?

Scene 5.5
_________

While still clinging on to her boyfriend, Zoey

finally takes notice of Mia. They shake hands,
albeit Mia does not reciprocate Zoey's
enthusiasm.

ZOEY
Oh, hi! Mia, right? I’m so sorry you had to sit
through that.

MIA
Ha ha, yeah. I was told you knew a guy named
Villanueva?

ZOEY
Everybody needs that guy these days, huh? Well, he
was supposed to watch the flash mob earlier, but as
it seems, he's a little late.
(gasp)
How about this, while Siopao and I talk things over,
why don't you wait for him here? He's gonna turn up
soon.
(to Siopao, already walking away from Mia)
Where's the nearest 7-Eleven here?

SIOPAO
(a bit quieter, trailing off as they go
offstage)
Wait, so you invited him but not...

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 29.

MIA
(shouting, taken aback)
So you're not telling me what he looks like? Or at
least his full name!!
(exasperated sigh)
Love does make you blind. In this case, deaf!

She looks around her. There still are people

around her who are going about their own lives,
yet, somehow, she feels alone. She despises this
feeling of loneliness. She sits down on a nearby
bench and turns to the dark night sky above her
in hopes of soothing her anxiety. Tears brim her
eyes as she softly sings a reprise of the
opening number.

MIA
I SEE MYSELF IN THE SKY

BUT WHERE SHALL I STAND

AS IT PASSES ME BY?

I SEE MYSELF IN THE SKY

BUT WILL IT STILL BE HERE

THE DAY THAT I DIE?

I SEE MYSELF IN THE SKY

TOO FAR OUT OF REACH

TO HEAR WHEN I CRY

I SEE MYSELF IN THE SKY

BUT DOES IT SEE ME?

Mia jumps at the sudden ringing her cellphone.

She goes to answer it - it's Maria.

MIA
Hello?

MARIA
Mia! Where are you? It's already dark and your
parents are worried.

MIA
W-what?

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 30.

MARIA
Where are you? I'll come and get you.

MIA
I'm at the park.

MARIA
Have you been crying? Wait, you don't need to answer
that. You're at the park... Just stay put, okay?

The other end of the line puts down the call

before Mia could respond. Mia sniffles. All hope
is lost. As if things felt like they couldn't
get any worse from then on, when Mia decides to
get up, JUDE, holding a cup of cold brew, bumps
straight into Mia. The drink spills all over,
soaking Mia in coffee.

JUDE
I-I'm so, so sorry.

MIA
(angrily)
Do you really have to do this? Bump into people and
spilling half your drink just to talk to them?
Because that’s not very cash money of you.

JUDE
I was rushing to be somewhere, but that coupled with
clumsiness... not the best pair.

Mia glares at him. Jude starts to scratch his

head, unsure how to respond knowing whatever he
says next would most likely just upset Mia even
more. He removes his jacket.

JUDE
(handing over his jacket)
Here.

MIA
(hesitant)
You just expect me to take some stranger’s sweater
and wear it as my own? Because that’s... exactly what
I’m gonna do.

Silence.

MIA
I thought you were rushing to be somewhere?

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 31.

JUDE
(stressed)
I was rushing to be here for some flash mob... Though
it looks like it's already finished.

While Jude rubs his face in distress, Mia's face

lights up.

MIA
Are you... Villanueva?

JUDE
How'd you know my last name?

MIA
(looking to the sky)
Hah. The universe works in mysterious ways. It's a
long story.

JUDE
I've got all night.

MIA
Okay so, thing is, I met this boy once…well, twice
actually… I have no idea who he is or what he’s like
but I think I’ve fallen in love with him. I know it’s
stupid, don’t judge.

Anyway, surprisingly, the next day, I discovered this

study on a phenomena called "The Six Degrees of
Separation." Basically, we are all connected to each
other — it’s written in the cosmos! And we are, at
most, six handshakes away from everybody. So, I
thought, “Hey, perhaps I should test this little
theory to find the attractive stranger I saw
yesterday.” Hence, my Six Degrees of Separation
journey…

First handshake, my best friend, Maria. Obviously,

she's the first person I tell. Not missing out one
single detail about him. How he looked, what he wore,
how he stood, how he spoke — EVERYTHING! So she told
me she might know this guy, who might know this other
guy, who might know my guy… you following so far?

My second handshake was Derek, a director that Maria

led me to. Third, Siopao, a problematic musician whom
Derek introduced me to. Fourth was a dancer named
Zoey, Siopao's girlfriend.

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 32.

JUDE
Oh! I know Zoey.

MIA
... Yeah, I figured.

JUDE MIA
Which means I'm... Which makes you...
The fifth handshake.
The fifth handshake.

MIA
Anyway, setting aside the whole six degrees thing…
I'm not okay. I’m not okay because I’m in love with
an ideal I’ve created in my head. I’m not okay
because I believed that fate will lead me back to
him. I’m not okay because what Siopao and Zoey have
is something real and I can’t understand why can’t I
have that too...

... And I’m definitely not okay because I’m covered

in coffee, talking to a stranger and my feelings.

JUDE
... Wanna hear my theory?

MIA
Fine. Bring it on.

JUDE
You believe in love-at-first-sight. The fact that you
believe in the cosmos as well indicates that you are
a believer… of bull-crap. Can I bet that you also
believe in those terribly vague but accurate
newspaper horoscopes too?

Have you ever heard of the Placebo Effect? Well I’m

going to explain it to you.

It’s known as this fake treatment given to patients,

people, with no medicinal effect. It’s like self-
treatment: you tell yourself you’ll get better, and
so you do; you tell yourself you’re in love,and so
you are.

You believe the treatment will work. So you become

this effect. For your case, you tell yourself you do
like him. You say you love him. So you do. And
although you believe this is working out for you and
that you eventually will find him and be with him, it
just won’t work…

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 33.

And you want to know why? because this Six Degrees of

Separation you believe in is your treatment. And your
trust in it,is the effect —- in the end, it’s not as
pretty as you imagined.

You believe you’ll get better, like the self-

treatment, but you’re just fooling yourself because
there is no cure, or should I say, the boy you’ve
fallen greatly for to begin with was never the cure
to your treatment.

Your idealism has led you to this belief that he is

the one. But sweetie, you don’t even know who he is
really. You’re a hopeless romantic going head over
heels over some fantasy boy you’ve created in your
head who most likely won’t be who you want him to be
or imagine him to be…

Awkward silence.

MIA
... You're good.

JUDE
(extending his hand)
I'm Jude, by the way. Alias, the clumsy, Feudian
coffee-spiller.

MIA
(accepting the handshake)
Mia. Alias, the girl with problems revolving around a
boy she doesn't know.

They laugh. Suddenly, Jude's phone notifies him

of a text.

JUDE
Well, I guess your day couldn't get any worse. My
brother's coming over.

MIA
Is he gonna spill coffee on me too?

JUDE
Unlike me, JM's pretty charming. I got the bad end of
the genes.

JM
Jude!

A voice calls for Jude from offstage.

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 34.

JUDE
Oh, here he is now.

Mia turns around to look for the source of the

voice. Enter JM, the attractive stranger from
the admissions office! The appropriate dreamy
background instrumental version of "Everybody in
the Background" plays.

MIA
Oh my goodness.

JUDE
Mia, this is JM, the one who got the better end of
the Villanueva gene pool. And JM, this is Mia, the...
girl I spilled coffee on?

Mia stands, keeping her eyes focused on Jose. It

was him. And just when she wasn’t looking for
him, the universe works in funny, funny ways.

JM
(offering his hand)
Hey, how are you?

MIA
(accepting his hand)
I-I've never been better.

Jude's phone begins to ring.

JUDE
Sorry, gotta take this.

Jude's conversation becomes inaudible. Mia and

Jose continue to look at each other deeply, but
it isn't awkward. They look lost in each other's
eyes.

JM
Are you sure you're okay?

MIA
Yes. I'm okay now.

Jude returns after his quick phone call ends.

JUDE
Well, I'd love to stay but I gotta fly. Errands to
run.

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 35.

MIA
You're leaving?

JUDE
Indeed I am, Mia. Keep the jacket so that I don't
feel too bad.
(about to leave)
... JM, you coming?

JM
Um, I think I'll follow.

JUDE
Suit yourself, man.
(to Mia)
Don't forget what I said. Bye.

Jude exits (as does everyone else in the scene,

but gradually). But JM's still here. Mia,
awkward, glances at her phone.

MIA
I'm gonna leave soon, too. A friend of mine'll pick
me up.

JM
I'll wait with you, then.

MIA
Sure... that would be nice.

Scene 5.6
_________

"Sixth Degree (The Final Duet)" begins. JM is

convinced Mia is really not okay.

JM
HOW ARE YOU?

MIA
I'M OKAY

JM
WEREN'T YOU WHOM I SAW YESTERDAY?

THE ONE WHO STARED

BUT TOO SCARED

TO START A CONVERSATION

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 36.

MIA
YES, THAT'S ME

I'M SORRY

IF I CAME OFF A TAD BIT CREEPY

BUT THAT'S NOT

WHAT I MEANT

IT WAS JUST FASCINATION

/ HOW A PERSON LIKE YOU

AND A PERSON LIKE ME

COULD MEET IN MIDST OF ALL SPACE AND TIME

IN THIS CHAOTIC MESS

OF A WORLD

YOU ARE THE RHYME

/ DON'T YOU SEE?

YOU AND ME

WE WERE DESTINED AND FATED TO BE

YOU ARE MY SIXTH DEGREE

I'M NOT ALONE WHO SEES YOU

YOU FINALLY SEE ME

JM simply smiles sweetly at her. Mia realizes

all that she's said and becomes embarrassed. An
instrumental break plays as they speak.

MIA
Oh! Sorry I just went off like that-

JM
No, it's okay! It's just that I believe in those
stuff too.

MIA
You do? Huh, not much like your realist brother then,
are you?

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 37.

JM
Yup, I'm a bit of a romantic myself.

Mia giggles.

JM
EVERYONE

MIA
EVERYONE

JM
ON THE STREET

MIA
ON THE STREET

JM
THERE'S A REASON TO WHY WE ALL MEET

WE INTERTWINE

MIA
AND HELP DEFINE

BOTH
ONE ANOTHER'S STORIES

JM
/ ONE, TWO, THREE

MIA
FOUR, FIVE, SIX

BOTH
THE UNIVERSE DOES HAVE ITS LITTLE TRICKS

TO CONNECT THOSE

YOU DON'T EXPECT

YET END UP LIVING FOR THESE

/ THERE WAS SOMETHING IN ME

THAT LED ME TOWARDS YOU

IN SOME WAY, YOU WERE SOMEONE I KNOW

JM MIA
WHO COULD LEAD ME BACK WHO COULD LOVE-

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 38.

TO HER
Enter, Maria.

MARIA
Mia, there you are! I've been looking for you- Wait,
JM?

JM
I KNEW YOU'D SHOW!

They hug while Mia is completely confused. An

instrumental break plays as they speak.

MIA
Wait, you two know each other?

JM
I've been looking for
you everywhere. I
thought I'd never find
you again. I promise
this time I won't ever
let you go.
MARIA
You've changed so
much. Have the years
really gone that fast?
It feels like
yesterday I moved out
from my old house in
Santa Fe.

Mia, yet again, catches herself third-wheeling.

The instrumental break pauses abruptly.

MIA
Hey!

JM and Maria's reunion pauses as they turn to

face Mia.

MIA
Can somebody please explain to me what's going-

MARIA
Mia, this is JM. Before I moved to our street, I
lived next to him in my old neighborhood. He's-

MIA
The "lost love."

Awkward silence.

JM
Thank you, Mia. If it weren't for you, we would never
have found each other again.

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 39.

JM and Maria giggle as they return into their

little bubble of happiness. The music comes back
on.

JM & MARIA MIA

DON'T YOU SEE CAN IT BE?
IRONY
YOU AND ME I WAS DESTINED AND
FATED TO BE
WE WERE DESTINED AND I WAS HIS FIFTH DEGREE
FATED TO BE

YOU ARE MY SIXTH

DEGREE

JM & MARIA
I'M NOT ALONE WHO SEES YOU

YOU FINALLY SEE ME

The lights dim throughout the whole stage except

for one spotlight focused on Mia.

MIA
NOW THAT WE'VE MET

I WILL NOT FORGET

THE REGRET THAT I FEEL

HOW DOES ONE HEAL?

IS LOVE EVEN REAL?

Mia breaks down. It is quiet for a few seconds,

and all that can be head is Mia's crying. This
time, hope really has been drained out of
everything. Suddenly, out of the darkness that
surrounds her, her six degrees enter. "The
Finale" begins.

JM
YOU MAY FEEL ABANDONED

MARIA
YOU MAY FEEL ALONE

ZOEY
BUT LOVE WILL NOT FORSAKE YOU

DEREK
IT SURROUNDS YOU

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 40.

AND IT MAKES YOU

SIOPAO
IN YOUR HAZY JOURNEY

YOU FOUND US ON YOUR WAY

JUDE
SO DON'T YOU DARE BE SORRY

FOR BEING PART OF

OUR STORIES

From here, the music picks up pace and rhythm.

CHORUS 1 CHORUS 2 BOTH

I SEE MYSELF IN YOUR EYES

YOU ARE ALL THE REASONS TO ALL OF MY WHYS

I SEE MYSELF IN YOUR EYES

YOU'RE WHOM I BELONG TO THERE'S NO NEED TO FLY

I SEE MYSELF IN YOUR EYES

YOU'RE THERE WHEN I CRY

YOU AREN'T A LIE

YOU AREN'T JUST SOME FLEETING PASSERBY

I SEE YOU, YOU SEE ME (X4)

CHORUS
WE ALL ARE WITHIN REACH

WE ALL ARE ALIGNED

IN THIS WORLD THAT HAS REASON AND RHYME

IF YOU WANT TO FIND ME

IT WON'T TAKE MUCH TIME

OUR THREADS WILL ONE DAY INTERTWINE

WITH OUR THREADS BOUND TOGETHER

AND YOUR HAND IN MINE

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 41.

I'LL SEE YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH

A LIFE OF MEANING

A LIFE OF REASON

FOR ME AND YOU

_____
-END-

Created using Celtx