Lost Hearts

“When life wearies you, rest then get up.”

[ Narrator ]

Metaphorically, humans happened to be the most vulnerable

species in the world. We all stumble upon pain, suffering, and
heartbreak. We all want to be loved, to be seen, to be heard, to
be appreciated, and to know that we are worthy. But how can
you love and how can you be loved when you don't know what
exactly is love? In the complexity of abyssal tomb we call life,
we come across with a girl named Augustine. She is sensitive,
and just like most of the material things, easily torn and not
easily mended. She lost her mother and is now living with her
drunk father. She longs for a safe space guarded by a man, and
she falls in love with a person that only makes her live for the
chance if everything turns out right. Augustine lives for the
hope of it all and this is her story.

SCENE 1.

[ Music fades in: illicit affairs. ]

[ Augustine is lying on James' lap and they are both staring at
each other. ]
[ Music fades out. ]
Augustine: Are you for real?
James: What do you mean?
Augustine: I don't know. I just feel like I am dreaming and that I
made you up.
James: (Smiles at Augustine and caresses her cheek.)
Augustine: I thought after I lost my mother and father lost his
way, I thought all I deserve was pain. I never imagined to be
worthy of your love. I'm not cool like the other girls. I'm not
pretty enough to match you.
James: I like you. That's it.
Augustine: So do I. You're the only person who love me right.
You comfort me because of who I am. You appreciate every
piece of me. I can never ask for a better safe space because I
already have you.
[ Augustine gets up faces James. ]
Augustine: What did you see in me, James?
James: [ James goes silent but still looking at Augustine. He is
processing. ] You make me smile. You make me happy.
Augustine: [ She smiles genuinely. ] So are you also a believer?
James: Of what?
Augustine: That at the end of the day it's all about what makes
your heart truly happy.
James: [ He feels overwhelmed and enlightened at the same
time. ] I guess it is the sole point of living.
Augustine: [ Augustine moves closer to James. They are
exchanging passionate and intimate glances to build up the
chemistry. ] I wish I met you earlier. I wish you are mine alone.
I wish I am the only one who can touch you. [ Her hand flies up
to James' cheek. ] I wish I can make you focus in me exclusively.
I wish you will remember the happy times we spend when all of
this is over. [ Augustine kisses James' cheek. James hugs first
and Augustine returns it. She closes her eyes as she feel James'
presence. ] I love your smell. It will linger it my mind forever. [
She separates from the hug. ] Can you be my escort at the
coming ball?
James: I'll see.
Augustine: [ nods ] Will you call me when you get home?
James: [ nods ]

[ Narrator ]

Who are we to judge and dictate the life decisions of a girl

who's been lonely in her life until he met the boy who made
her feel that she doesn't have to be perfect to deserve love?
Who are we to talk against people who just want to have
someone to tap them in the back when they're down? We love
who we love for the heart wants what it wants. Augustine
knows what she has with James can't last but she's holding on
to that ounce of hope. She's living for the "maybe" of him
changing his mind.
On that night, she goes home wondering what James' decision
might be. She is sitting on her bed when she hears a noise. She
goes to see what it is, and finds her father drunk again.
SCENE 2.
Augustine: Dad… what are you doing? Are you thinking clearly?
Father: (groans) Isn’t it obvious? Living my best life.
Augustine: Stop it. You’re getting worse.
Father: (chuckles sarcastically) Worse is better than worst.
Augustine: Dad, please. It’s becoming a habit of yours.
Father: You are smart. You think I don’t know that?
Augustine: (breathes deeply and slowly shakes her head) Until
when are you gonna be like this? I can’t stand watching you
becoming this different person. Mom's gone but that doesn’t
mean that you have to. Please, dad.
Father: (closes her eyes) Hush, Augustine. Just let me do my
thing.
Augustine: No. This is not your thing. You are my father. And
this is not supposed to be your thing.
Father: Am I? Because I don’t feel being a father and I don’t feel
like I have a daughter. Everything is pointless. So just go out
and go anywhere. I don’t give a care.
Augustine: [ Silence eats her while she is trying to stop her tears
from falling down, she wants to speak but she can’t. So she just
walks out. ]

[ Narrator ]

After that encounter, Augustine is feeling heavy. She is waiting

for James to call but little did she know, James is with Betty, his
girlfriend and his first love. She waits and waits until she calls
him first.

[ SET-UP: Dinner date of James and Betty ]

Betty: Thank you.

James: Of course. For you.
Betty: So… what are your plans for college?
James: If we will be talking about life plans Betty, we have to
ask my parents.
Betty: James… you have to learn to make decisions and own up
to it. Sooner or later, you need to free yourself from their
control.
James: Excuse me for a while. I'll have to go to the comfort
room.
[ James' phone rings. Betty ignores it. For the third time the
phone rings, Betty finally answers it. ]
Betty: Hello. Who is this?
Augustine: [ Silence. Then she ends the call immediately. ]
[ James returns. ]
Betty: Somebody called you.
James: Really? Who was it?
Betty: I don't know. It was unregistered.
[ James checks his phone then realizes it's Augustine. She looks
at Betty nervously and suspiciously. ]
Betty: Who was it?
James: [ Shakes his head/denies. ] No idea. It was nothing. [
James sits down. ]
Betty: I have something to ask.
James: What is it?
Betty: Can you be my escort for the upcoming ball?

[ Narrator ]

From that moment, James stops. Augustine's words and

request come back to his mind. He is contemplating what to say
to Betty. She cares for Augustine, that's a fact. But she loves
Betty, that's undeniable. At the end, the heart chooses what it
chooses.
James: Sure. Yeah. I'd be so honored.

SCENE 3.
[ Narrator ]

The next morning, James and Augustine meet up. Augustine is

excited to see him. James is smiling but deep inside, a bit of
irritation is building up.
She tries to grab James' hand but he avoids first.
Augustine: Hi.
James: Why did you call last night?
Augustine: I'm sorry. I didn't know you were with her.
James: You shouldn't be calling me like that.
Augustine: I needed to talk to you. You promised to call me.
James: You shouldn't do that. You know how complicated it is. I
promised to call you but I didn't because I got caught up.
Augustine: I know. I'm sorry. [ Grips James' hand and he lets
her. ] So, have you decided about being my escort?
James: Sorry Augustine. I won’t be attending the ball.

[ Inez, a friend of Betty witnesses the interaction between

Augustine and James. She confronts James about it and tells
Betty what has happened. ]

Inez: What did I just see? Are you thinking straight?

James: That was none of your business. Stay out of it.
Inez: None of my business? Are you out of your mind?
James: That's my problem Inez. I'll fix it.

[ Inez meets with Betty to tell her what she's seen. Betty is
reading a book when Inez approaches her. ]

Inez: Did you know?

Betty: [Shocked and confused, she stares at Inez.] Know what?
Inez: James!
Betty: What about James?
Inez: So you don't know. I think he's lying to you. He is hiding
something.
Betty: [ Still confused. ]
SCENE 4.
[ Narrator ]
The next day, James and Augustine are hanging around with his
friends. Augustine cannot fathom why James is ignoring her.
She thought they are okay. He is dropping her hand. He is
ashamed of her. And for the first time, James raises his voice on
her.
[ While bonding with his friends, bridge of illicit affairs fades in.]
Augustine: Why are you ignoring me?
James: What?
Augustine: You're ignoring me!
James: No, I'm not.
Augustine: No, you're ignoring me. It's so clear. Are you
ashamed with your friends?
James: I'm not ignoring you, Augustine! For Pete's sake. Oh my
God, you are so dramatic!

[ Narrator ]

[ Augustine is acting at this moment. Actions with no dialogue. ]

Life, beautiful to few, cruel to many. Nobody in this broken
world is not searching for purpose and meaning. As Augustine
walks home, she can't seem to erase in her head James'
response to her request. And his gestures toward her lately. As
sensitive as she is, she can't hide her pain and disappointment.
She is having a bad feeling. She knows that this day would
come. She knows that what she is feeling isn't something
unusual. The moment she steps her feet on their house, that
bad feeling is changed to a weird one. The house is so quiet and
the atmosphere is strange. Augustine spots a paper lying on the
chair. She comes to see and read it. In utter shock, she drops
the paper. What she just read shattered her soul. It is a farewell
letter. She lost her mother. Now, her father abandons her
without her knowing. Her only parent is gone. She was told
before by her father that it isn't an ordinary task to be a parent
with an extraordinary child. Still, Augustine wants him to be
around. Augustine's feet are slowly becoming weak until she
falls on the floor. No matter how hard we struggle to try to
show that we are strong, life will still knock you down. It is full
of surprises, and the worst part is you never know what side of
its cruelty will be thrown to you at times you are not expecting
it. Pieces to pieces, bits to bits, life can drain you slowly or
drastically.
Augustine gets her phone to try and call James but it's to no
avail. It's no longer available. In time that she needs him the
most, he's not there to uplift her. Augustine does nothing but
cry. What people say is true. To live is to die. To be present is to
be gone. To love is to get hurt. To laugh is to cry.

SCENE 5.
[ Narrator ]
Two days later, Augustine is still feeling down, lost, and
wounded. Today is the night of the ball and she decides to still
go even without James as a partner. What she is about to see is
not something she is ready for.
[ When Augustine arrives, music fades in: Lover. All is dancing
and she is just standing there. She sees James dancing with
Betty, and it cuts deep and hits hard. She walks out, James
drops Betty's hands to follow Augustine, Betty follows James,
but Augustine is nowhere to be found. ]

SCENE 6.
[ Narrator ]
Years after what seemed like insurmountable trials, years after
the defeats and weariness, a renewed Augustine comes back to
her town where she almost lost her heart completely. The place
that challenged her and taught her the hardest lesson. Without
the painful bygones, she wouldn't find her path, she wouldn't
be awakened, she would still be lost. Now, she is different but
still the same Augustine. She has realized her worth. She is a
gem that can't be wasted with some shallow man. She has
realized that her happiness is not dependent on other people.
She is now a brave, independent woman. She has realized that
love is nothing when you don't know how to love yourself.

[ Music fades in: august. ]

THE END.