“Mir-i-nisa”

Geronimo D. Sican and Jesus Casino

A. MOTIVATION
1. Have you ever cheated during exams? Tell the class what you feel when you get good
grades because of cheating. Do you believe that you are also “losers if you cheat”?
Explain.
2. Read and explain the lesson’s kicker-
“Gain above honor or honor above gain.”
Does discipline make a difference in the outcome of the test given the two characters
in the play?

Characters:
Tasmi Achmed
Mir-i-nisa Datu Ulka

Curtain
(On center stage is the interior of Muslim datu’s house). A window overlooks the deep sea
where a number of vintas are sailing. The walls are decorated with spears and an assortment of
Muslim handicrafts. Gongs are in evidence. At center stage, covered with a carpet, is a platform, on a
corner of which is a brass bowl filled with cinders and incense. Smoke rises from the mouth of the
bowl to the ceiling. From offstage comes a voice.)
VOICE: South of the Mindanao Sea and bordering Macajalar is Tawi-Tawi. The land, which slopes
gently into the sea, is inhabited by pearl divers and fishermen.
The air is fair and cool in the morning and evening. But fairer still are the women of
Tawi-Tawi, for they are beloved by their men. And the men of Tawi-Tawi, being fisher and
pearl divers, are strong in love. Yes, strong in love and strong in limb are Tasmi and
Achmed, who both love the same woman, the beautiful Mir-i-nisa, daughter of Datu Ulka.
Achmed and Tasmi, brought up together as the best of friends, set aside their friendship
now that a woman comes between them.
(Curtains open briskly. Achmed and Tasmi are arguing. Each draws a dagger and quarrel
begins. Enter Datu Ulka with Mir-i-nisa.)
DATU: Stop! What is the meaning of all this?
MIR: Achmed! Achmed!
TASMI: It is this, O Your Highness, Achmed says he is better than I am.
ACHMED: I only speak the truth, unworthy rival
TASMI: The truth? Am I not better fitted to marry the fair Mir-i-nisa?
ACHMED: Aleeee! You speak like a dumb ox, O useless Son-of-Your-Mother.
TASMI: And you…like a brainless toad. O Hated one.
DATU: Quiet, my sons. To fight among brothers is not good. It can only bring discord and bad
luck---but come, I understand, for when a woman comes between two men such as
you, there must of necessity grow hatred. Let us settle the matter in peace and let the
best man win the hand of my daughter.
TASMI: Yes, Respecred Datu, we hear and obey.
MIR: Tasmi! Achmed! Listen to me--- the two of you cannot marry me. I can have but one
husband. Let my father submit the two of you to a test. He who passes the test… only
he shall I marry.
TASMI: A test/. That is fair; therefore agreed, O beautiful One.
ACHMED: I too, agree, O Mir-i-nisa, Divine Being!
MIR; Then it shall be as I said. (Turns to Datu).O my father, Achmed and Tasmi wish to
submit themselves to a test, a test to determine who between the two of them I shall
wed.
DATU: And what test is this you wish me to submit you to?
TASMI: We leave it in your hands, O Wise Father of the Fair Mir-i-nisa.
ACHMED: Yes, in your hands, O Venerable Datu, we leave ourselves, for we have eternal faith in
your wisdom.
DATU: The test, O Achmed and Tasmi, must be fair, for I like you two equally well but he
who will marry my daughter must be worthy of her hand. Let virtue be the principal
loadstone of your affection, for love without virtue will have an end. Wait here,
Achmed and Tasmi, I have something to show you. (Exits; comes back with a pearl
cupped in his hand.) Behold, O worthy Suitors! Here is a pearl that belonged to Mir-i-
nisa’s mother. She gave it to me when I was young like you.
I will use this one because it is Mir-i-nisa’s only legacy from her mother. We go to the
sea. There where the dagat becomes deep I shall drop this pearl. Be ready to dive for
it. He that finds it will wed Mir-i-nisa. It will not be easy to look for. The currents are
swift, the ocean deep---ah, but you are young and have good eyes. We leave you, Mir-
i-nisa (To Tasmi and Achmed.) To the sea! (Turns to Mir-i-nisa.) Wait for me. I shall
return soon.
MIR: Yes, my father.
DATU: Come. We go. (Exits Datu, Tasmi, and Achmed)
MIR: It is hard to choose between the two of them. I love Achmed, yes, I love his boldness,
his gaiety, the sweet words he whispers into a woman’s ears, but I love Tasmi, too! I
love his reserve. Of Achmed’s boldness I am afraid. They say that love like his will
cool as quickly as it burns---like the burning of the cogon grass that is dry. Oh, Allah,
favor me now with thy wisdom. Give strength to him who is true and faithful. Make
only with me now, if thou couldst but rise from the grave, thou couldst teach me how
best to choose.
(Enter Datu)
MIR: Have they begun the test, my father?
DATU: Yes, my child.
MIR: And what is the test Father?
DATU: The same one, my child that your mother’s father gave my rival and me when once we
were young like you and I was after your mother’s hand.
MIR: Is it fair, my father?
DATU: Yes, my child.
MIR: But it is cruel. Out in the deep waters of the blue Sulu, diving into the fathomless
depths of the vast pacific… there are sharks… man-eating fish; they will surely perish!
DATU: No, my child. He who comes to you will be worthy of your hand. A man, if he is man,
loves with strength, and strong honest love goes beyond all barriers. Not even the sea
can stop it. the worthy man will win your hand, Mir-i-nisa.
(Mir-i-nisa paces the floor restlessly. The Datu watches his daughter in silence.)
MIR: It is a long time. Father.
DATU: Yes, seven hours have passed.
(Exit Datu. After another lapse of time, Tasmi comes in. he looks haggard, exhausted. He is
drenched, water dripping from his hair and bare torso. His eyes are bloodshot.)
TASMI: Mir-i-nisa!
MIR: Tasmi! (eagerly) The pearl! You have found the pearl? Speak!
(Tasmi slowly advances with clenched fists.)
MIR: Speak! You have found the pearl?
(Tasmi continues advancing. Mir-i-nisa withdraws downstage, her hand on her throat.
Tasmi collapses at her feet. Mir-i-nisa claps her hands for attendant. Enter attendant.)
MIR: Bring me a glass of water from the crystal spring of Allah.
(Exit attendant. Mir-i-nisa kneels beside Tasmi.)
MIR: Tasmi, speak! Now I know it is you whom I love… you and no other. My heart speaks
truly, Tasmi, Tasmi.
(She shakes him, then opens his fists one by one. There is no pearl. Enter attendant. Mir-i-
nisa gives Tasmi water. He regains consciousness. He rises lowly, still dazed.)
TASMI (facing her): I… I have failed you, Mir-i-nisa. I combed the depths of the sea, but I did not
find your pearl.
MIR: You were long in coming. Tasmi… you might have perished.
TASMI: Twice I fought the sharks. Once the devil fish, the mighty octopus. I killed them all
with my kris. I saved my life, but I lost you forever, Mir-i-nisa!
(Kneel, Mir-i-nisa strokes his hair.)
TASMI (standing violently): I want your love, not your pity.
(Enter Datu.)
MIR: Father, O my father, it is Tasmi whom I love. Him I wed and no other.
DATU (sternly): Tasmi has found the pearl?
TASMI: I did not find the pearl, O respected Datu. I am not worthy of the hand of your
daughter.
MIR: But I love him, Father! I love Tasmi, Father, do you hear? I love Tasmi and no other!
DATU: Patience, my child patience! The test is fair.
TASMI: The test is fair. I accept my fate like a man. Forgive me, Mir-i-nisa. I have failed you.
Farewell, my beloved. My love for you will be eternal as the hills, strong as the tide,
enduring as the rocks that defy the sun, the rain, and the waves forever. Mir-i-nisa,
adieu.
DATU: Stay a while, my son, Achmed has not yet retured.
(Tasmi satys. After a short while Achmed arrives, tired but triumphant. He is drenched like Tasmi)
ACHMED: The pearl! The pearl! I have found the pearl! Now, I demand my right. Archmed the
winner! Tasmi, my rival, Achmed wins the hand of the fair Mir-i-nisa. O pity of all
pities that the thousand and one scarifies of that scoundrel should come to naught!
DATU: Now shall you know who will have the hand of my daughter. The teat is fair. While
one of you is clever, the other is honest. (sternly) Achmed where did you get the pearl?
ACHMED: Why.. Why, I found it in the dagat where you dropped it. respected Datu.
DATU: You do not speak the truth!
ACHMED: But it is the truth, O Worthy Father-in-law!
DATU (exploding): Liar! When a young one attempts to lie to his elders, the lie will stink as it does
now. It is better that the truth be told, for it will always shine out. Achmed, you did not
find Mir-i-nisa’s pearl. For when we went forth to the dagat, it was not the pearl that I
dropped but a white lump of salt which dissolved before it touched the sea bottom.
Here is Mir-i-nisa’s pearl. (Shows pearl.) Begone! You liar! Son of Untruth! You do
not deserve the hand of my daughter!
ACHMED: Forgive me, O Beautiful Mir-i-nisa. But I love you so much that I placed you above
everything else, even above honor itself. I am lost.
DATU: Begone! Out of my sight! (Exit Achmed)
DATU: Tasmi, my son, Mir-i-nisa is yours. You shall she wed, and you will reign wisely and
well in my stead when I am gone.
TASMI (incredulously): Mir-i-nisa is mine?
MIR: Yes, my beloved…yours.