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EQUIDISTANCE Film Screenplay
EQUIDISTANCE Film Screenplay
EQUIDISTANCE
FADE IN:
RANDOM STUDENT:
Huy! Matuklap ‘yang balat ng kamay mo. Ayos ka
lang ba?
RUGIE (V.O.):
In the beginning, I was in the middle.
RUGIE (V.O.):
Palaging nasa gitna, patuloy na tinatahak ang
daan patungo sa bagay na walang kalayaan. I was
still breathing, so rather than be a prisoner of
one cage, I chose to go on.
Mauupo si Rugie.
DEAN BALTAZAR:
You probably have an idea about why you are all
here. Siguro naman may mga access kayong lahat sa
student manual ng university. You know that
unapproved mass actions are major offenses in
this university. Even vandalism. Halos lahat na
nilabag nyo. This is already your 3rd offense and
you know where this can lead you? Dismissal from
the university.
RANDOM MEMBER:
Ma’am, bakit pati kami? Eh, nasali lang naman po
kami rito. Si Rugie lang naman po talaga ang may
gusto nito.
4.
RUGIE:
(disappointed) Wow. Really.
DEAN BALTAZAR:
Lahat kayong involved, may prior punishment. Even
you, Miss Custorio, for not disclosing the
members of this secret organization immediately.
Lalo na’t halos lahat ng members ay galing sa
college natin. But since you’re one of the top-
performing students and with your approaching
international endeavors, the Board of Regents
decided to just let this serve as your warning.
And for the other members, it’s either suspension
or dismissal from the university. As for you,
Miss Lopez, the Board of Regents demands your
dismissal effective immediately.
RAUNA:
Ma’am, isn’t it unfair for Rugie’s part?
DEAN BALTAZAR:
This kind of incident require a due compensation,
Miss Custorio.
RAUNA:
Due compensation without due process?
DEAN BALTAZAR:
Do you think they deserve due process when what
they did is the exact opposite of it?
Silence
DEAN BALTAZAR:
You know that I’m also a woman. I understand
where you are coming from. But let’s face it.
It’s hard to be heard when the powerful is deaf.
5.
RUGIE(V.O.):
Kaya kung bibigyan ako ng pagkakataong maging
bingi, hindi ako magdadalawang-isip na kuhanin
ang pagkakataong iyon. Baka sakaling maintindihan
ko sila…
RAUNA:
Ruj…
RAUNA:
Ruj, talk to me. Please.
RUGIE:
Paano nalaman ni Dean ang mga pangalan namin?
RAUNA:
Ruj, please…
RUGIE:
Nireport mo ba?
RAUNA:
Ruj, listen to me first please…
RUGIE:
Answer me first!
Matatahimik si Rauna.
RUGIE:
Ano?!
RAUNA:
I had to do it!
RUGIE:
What happened to always having each other’s back,
huh? Ni hindi mo man lang ako sinabihan. Tangina
girlfriend ba talaga kita?
RAUNA:
Ruj, please understand… naipit lang ako. Future
ko ang apektado rito.
RUGIE:
Future mo? How about me, Rau? Where do I stand in
your future?
RAUNA:
Ruj, alam mo naman, ‘di ba? Walang ibang aasahan
ang pamilya ko.
RUGIE:
Oh, bakit? Sa’kin ba, meron?
7.
RAUNA:
A-Atleast, you still have art. May fallback ka.
Eh, ako? Finishing my studies is my only hope.
Kasi rito lang ako magaling.
RUGIE:
Ah, kaya okay lang na nilaglag mo ako. You know
what, Rau? I completely understand why we need to
keep our relationship a secret. I’ve just
recently been outed, at ikaw, hindi pa. I
understand that I am not your priority. Kaya
kahit gusto kitang makasabay sa pagkain sa
school, kinailangan kong kumain mag-isa habang
kumakain ka kasama ng council. And you not
supporting my cause? I understand. But I only
asked you of one thing, Rau. Isa lang. Kasi ro’n
ka magaling, ‘di ba? Sa pagtatago.
RAUNA:
Wow. So I’m at fault for doing my job as your
college governor? Hindi naman ako nagkulang sa
pagpapaalala sa’yo, ‘di ba? I told you this won’t
gonna end up good.
RUGIE:
Hindi talaga kasi sinabotahe mo! Rauna… malapit
na kami sa dulo, eh. Ilang hakbang na lang. Pero
sa ginawa mo, mananatili na lang kaming nasa
gitna.
RAUNA:
Rugie, naiintindihan kita. Pero sana maintindihan
mo ring hindi ko kayang mawalan ng scholarship.
RUGIE:
Bullshit, Rau! Alam mong hindi ka madadamay rito
dahil kailangan ka ng school. At hindi naman kita
pababayaan!
RAUNA:
Eh, pa’no nga kung madamay ako sa consequences ng
actions nyo? Pa’no ‘pag malaman ng pamilya kong
nakikipagbahay-bahayan ako sa isang babae? Kaya
mo na ba akong paaralin ‘pag tinakwil nila ako?
Kaya mo na ba akong buhayin? Eh, ultimo renta nga
rito sa boarding, hirap ka pang bayaran.
8.
RUGIE:
‘Yan! Lumabas din ang totoo. Kaya pala wala ako
sa plano mo. Because you see me as a failure.
RAUNA:
(iiling) You know that’s not true. Ruj, babae
tayo pareho. The path with you requires
sacrifice. At sa ngayon, hindi ko pa kayang
magsakrispiyo.
RUGIE:
Kaya ako na lang ang isasakripisyo mo, gano’n?
RUGIE (V.O.):
I was not directionless, but always in the
middle. It felt like I always belonged there.
RUGIE (V.O.):
There was no use to get used to something if I
had plans to leave. A strong will was a must, but
their power makes it lose direction. I was a
wanderer, and wanderers were not meant to stay…
RUGIE (V.O.):
So I bid goodbye to the place that caged me, to
the breathing demons, to my blood…
RUGIE (V.O.):
I knew the freedom that I chose may cost my
eternal salvation, but salvation be damned if I
had to be with people who were killing my hope.
RAUNA:
(muted) Good afternoon po. I am Rauna Custorio,
the CHSS governor…
(not muted) and I’m here to talk on behalf of
Rugie Lopez.
RAUNA (V.O.):
What we wear speaks for our soul. It speaks for
our right… and fighting for our right does not
have to be a secret. I still have a long way to
go, but if I don’t begin, I will always be in the
middle.
THE END
11.