SCENE (MEDING’S LIE)

Meding is sitting the chair under the tree in front of the

house. With her is Lita, her neighbor who used to be know as
"chismosa".
LITA:
Meding, I am your closest friend
here in the barrio. Tell me what
really happened to Mona.
Meding sits properly and faces Lita. She looks Lita in the
eyes.
MEDING:
Lita, there are things that we
cannot explain especially when we
don’t have proof or evidences that
would justify the situation.
Meding turns away.
It is painful but all I have to do
is to accept the fact about Mona’s
situation. Mona is my only daughter
and I will give her all the best in
the world. She is just a victim of
a young, puppy love.

Lita becomes curious and more interested of what she heard.

Lita, my Mona is a beautiful
teenage lady. Every teenage boy in
the barrio is liking her. And I
cannot blame her for that.
Remember the day when Familia
Zapata had a vacation in the
barrio?

Lita nods.
Their son, Rafael, used to be
Mona’s playmate when they were
little. Familia Zapata invited me
to have a dinner in their house so
I brought Mona with me. Rafael and
Mona meet again.
Meding holds Lita’s hands.
Lita, this is the truth. Rafael is
the father of Mona’s child. He is
the legit father. It is not true
that my daughter was impregnated by
some mysterious creature tht lives
in the tree. Oray is not true,
Lita. It is not true.
 2.

I and Rafael’s parents will talk

tonight about their son’s
responsibilities to my grandchild.
And I feel happy because at last
all the gossips and scandals
brought against my family and
especially to Mona will be ended
soon.
Meding stands up and looks Lita seriously. She holds Lita’s
shoulder.
Lita, there is no rape because my
daughter is with me. There is no
oray because it’s just a nonsense
superstitious belief. My daughter
was just in love and became a
mother in a wrong time. When
everything is settled, Rafael and
Mona will get married.
Lita hugs Meding.
Lita, promise me to tell everyone
the truth. It could happen to your
daughter too and as a mother, we
really have to do for the goodness
of our children.
Meding looks at the house.
Many mysterious things happened in
our barrio. Sometimes we cannot
explain why. Sometimes bad becomes
good, and sometimes good turns to
be bad.

My Mona is like any other teenage

lady who wants to be herself and
live normally.
Lita scratches her head.

LITA:
But I have never seen Mona and
Rafael together. I saw Rafael twice
but not with Mona. Rafael was with
Shiela, our Mayor’s daughter. I saw
them eating banana cue in front of
the church. I even saw them holding
hands when they left.
Lita moves distantly from Meding.
Are you sure? We all know that
Familia Zapata is "mata pobre".
They will never like us. We are are
(MORE)
 3.

LITA: (cont’d)
poor. And it’s impossible that
Rafael will fall in love to Mona.
Impossible!
Meding is shaking with irritation. Meding takes a photo from
her pocket.
MEDING:
Look!
Meding shows the photo to Lita.
This is Rafael and Mona when they
were young. This is enough that I
am telling you the truth.

LITA:
Meding, don’t get me wrong. I know
that you worked at Familia Zapata
before as their "labandera". And
this picture was taken long time
ago.
Meding is determined.
MEDING:
Believe me or not, all the things
I’ve told you is really what
happened.
LITA:
Okay! If Rafael is really the
father of Mona’s child, then how
did it happened? Don’t tell me
Rafael and Mona "nag-iyot" at the
bush.
Lita giggles maliciously.

MEDING:
Watch your mouth Lita. You are such
a "bigaon".
LITA:
"Bigaon", me? Coming from you with
a daughter who had been impregnated
by whoever and whatever. Whatever
you say, Mona is a disgrace.
MEDING:
How dare you Lita!
Meding is almost to slap Lita. Meding stops herself.
 4.

LITA:
Go on, Meding! Go on! So that you
will regret at the end.
Meding points her finger to Lita.

MEDING:
Don’t you dare to say that again to
my daughter, Lita. My daughter is
innocent and she don’t deserve this
kind of maltreatment and
humiliation. Leave!
Lita leaves. Meding sits down and looks at the part of the
house where Mona’s room is. She sobs and cries silently.