Sabina by Severino Montano (Complete Script)
Sabina by Severino Montano (Complete Script)
Script)
Characters:
Sabina - a young farm girl
Mamerto - their grandfather
Rustica - their grandmother
Cleta - Sabina's aunt
Ariston - Cleta's husband
Ursula - their young daughter, Sabina's cousin
Antero - Sabina's older brother
Mr. George Price - an American
Place:
Kawakan - a small farm village near the sea coast, to the far north of Luzon.
Time:
The present, April evening. Ten o'clock.
Scene:
The living room of a rather prosperous-looking but old farmhouse in a Kawakan, a small
farm village not far from the sea.
It is a bamboo house with sloping bamboo rafters, sturdy teakwood post and shiny
handsome floors. A spacious platform upstage center. To the right of the platform and above it
is a door leading into Sabina's room. On the right wall is a big window with mother-of-pearl
shellpanes facing the altar table. Below this window is the main door leading to the entrance
porch. On the left wall is the door to the kitchen. Another window, a small one, is above the
altar platform, center. The windows are luxuriant with ferns and air plants, gleaming under the
April moonlight.
The room is almost bare of furniture, for the villagers are used to sitting on these shiny
floors. But a bamboo couch, a heavily carved teakwood chair, a camphor chest, a cupboard and
a cane easy chair are placed about the room.
An old-fashioned oil lamp hangs from the sloping ceiling. Another lamp, a very new one
of the “Aladdin” variety, stands conspicuously on the cupboard. This lamp, however, is not
lighted.
A novena is going on as the curtain rises. The mourners, led by Rustica, and old woman
who is apart from the rest, are kneeling on the platform facing the altar table which is lighted
with several candles. The mourners are Antero, son of the house; Cleta, his aunt; Ariston,
Cleta’s husband; and Mamerto, grandfather of the household. The prayers are said in an
emotional litany like monotone, and more or less chanted. The cry of a turtle is heard faintly
coming from the sea. It is about ten o’clock at night; but for prayers and the voice of the turtle,
the late April evening is still.
(first scene)
OLD WOMAN: Death is loneliness! Death is sadness!
MOURNERS: God have mercy upon us!
OLD WOMAN: We pray, O Lord, for the soul of our departed sister, Maria!
MOURNERS: My God! My God! Let Thou not forsake her! In the kingdom of Thy golden city,
in the realm of life eternal, receive Maria into Thy care!
OLD WOMAN: Dark is the mist that covers us, and weak indeed is the clay house! Look upon
us, O God, who are living!
MOURNERS: God have mercy upon us!
OLD WOMAN: We also pray, O God, for Maria’s living and only daughter, Sabina! She is but a
frail jar against the mighty tides! Spare her, O Lord, from evil!
The old man rises and turns coldly towards the big window.
MOURNERS: (Casting quick glances at the Old Man, their prayers becoming faster): My God!
Let Thou not forsake her from the rages of sin and the scorching heat of hell-fire, deliver Sabina,
O Lord, from evil!
OLD WOMAN: Amen! (She makes the sign of the cross.)
Crossing themselves too and rising briefly, the mourners look questioningly at the old
man.
OLD WOMAN: What made you rise just now, Mamerto? Is it the crying of the black turtle that
worries you, she that’s grieving deeply by the river’s mouth?
OLD MAN: No Rustica! I’m getting tired hearing you pray for Sabina every night. Isn’t it
enough that we mourn for the dead?
OLD WOMAN: It’s also a blessed thing to pray for the living, Mamerto!
CLETA: Indeed, it’s our duty to look after Sabina! I passed by the village store this
evening, and the women are laughing. “How’s Mr. George?” they asked me. “Is it true your
Aunt Maria died because of Mr. George?”
OLD MAN: Your Aunt Maria didn’t die of any such thing, Cleta!
CLETA: Didn’t she? Aunt Maria herself left heavy the day Sabina was fool enough to go
out with Mr. George!
URSULA: The doctor said it was her weak heart she died of, Mother, not Mr. George!
CLETA: Keep quiet!
OLD WOMAN: Maria’s heart was heavy that day, God save her soul! I fear her spirit will come
back if Sabina’s not careful this evening. Mamerto, what are we to do with Sabina?
OLD MAN: Nothing, Rustica! It would be wiser if we leave Sabina alone!
OLD WOMAN: Wiser? Once there was a strange sailor who came roaming round this village; a
clean chap he looked like. But soon one of the young girls bore him a child. The sailor left, and
the poor girl died of sadness!
OLD MAN: Mr. George is not a sailor, Rustica!
OLD WOMAN: He is a man, nonetheless, Mamerto!
(second scene)
CLETA: Do you know what the women in the market are saying? This is the night Mr.
George is coming back!
ARISTON: It’s gossip such as yours that brings the devil, Cleta! Stop it!
CLETA: Surely, it’s no gossip, Ariston!
ARISTON: Well, what if he is coming back?
CLETA: Sabina will want to light that lamp again in this house, instead of the candles.
ARISTON: What lamp?
CLETA: (Indicating the lamp on top of cupboard) That new lamp there, brought by Mr.
George the day Aunt Maria died!
ARISTON: And what’s so terrible about lighting that lamp?
CLETA: The village will be noisy with gossip in the morning.
ARISTON: Don’t be foolish!
OLD WOMAN: Where is Sabina?
URSULA: I’ll look into her room, Grandma.
CLETA: Stay in the corner there, and be quiet. You are too young to meddle in such
things! (Peeping into Sabina’s room and turning away quickly, shocked.) Oh! Oh!
ARISTON: What is the matter?
CLETA: Why, she’s taking off her mourning this very minute!
OLD WOMAN: What is it you say?
CLETA: Indeed she is! She is throwing off her black dress and she’s slipping on a
shameful one!
URSULA: Mother, I don’t like my black dress.
CLETA: Close your sinful mouth!
OLD WOMAN: It’s a bad enough for her not to come to prayers these nine nights, and now for
her to cast off mourning so soon!
CLETA: The neighbors will pass any minute now, and they’ll see her in that shameful
dress! Hide that lamp, Antero! And we’d better close the windows.
She closes a window, while Antero closes another. Ursula peeps through the door
behind the camphor chest.
They go, Sabina is left alone with the Old Man. She rushes to him and
cries.
Sadly, Sabina watches him go out slowly by the back door. After a while, she
picks up a little cheerfulness again. Antero enters frozenly from the front door. There is a brief
moment of cold silence between them.
SABINA: (Cheerfully) Is there great need for us to be locking the gate, Antero?
ANTERO: (Sternly) The curfew has rung!
SABINA: Even so, let’s not close the front gate for just this evening. The night itself is
bright enough with the full moon, the streets are looking like day.
ANTERO: Are you so set on waiting?
SABINA: Don’t begin that all over again. Antero! Would you have me growing old, like a
sour old maid?
ANTERO: That’s not the trouble!
SABINA: It is! You should be well pleased I’m happy at last, after doing my goodly share
of hard work these long years since Father Died! Haven’t I helped to make things go on this
farm, sharing gladly with the planting and the harvesting? Am I to be married to the soil
forever, with no happiness coming?
ANTERO: If you should fall into disgrace, what are we to do, your own kin, who’ll bear
the brunt of your chosen shame forever?
SABINA: Shame? Is it a shame to be happy?
ANTERO: Can’t you appreciate what it is to have a name?
SABINA: What care I, if I myself am not happy a little?
ANTERO: Are you saying you won’t listen at all?
SABINA: I love him so, Antero! I love him!
ANTERO: All right, but you know nothing about him whatsoever. It’s only three months
you’ve known him!
SABINA: I don’t care about that!
ANTERO: It’s your duty to care!
SABINA: Mr. George loves me! I know he does! My heart tells me he does!
ANTERO: I don’t care what your wild heart tells you! What I care about is your own good
self, do you hear me?
SABINA: He’s good to me Antero! Mr. George Is a good man. He’s a fine man. And I tell
you he loves me!
ANTERO: I warn you he’ll leave you like thunder!
SABINA: No, no, he won’t. He won’t!
ANTERO: Oh yes he will! I know enough of these sleek and tired and world-wise
merchant men from the city! I’ve seen it happen!
SABINA: (DREAMILY) Mr. George and I will be married someday… soon, Antero! He’ll
build me a fine house in the city, and surely I’ll bring him forth a good child into that house, and
many more if I am able!
ANTERNO: Get married to him then, if you can! But if you don’t I’ll show both of you
where to enjoy your pleasures.
SABINA: You will not! You dare not! Oh, let’s not quarrel! Come, you had better go and
open the gate quickly for he will be here now any minute. I’ll light the lamp, Antero!
ANTERNO: You stay away from the lamp!
SABINA: (Quietly) It’s my own lamp. Surely, I’ll light it!
ANTERNO: Give me that lamp!
SABINA: Let go the lamp, Anterno! Please let it go! You’ll break the lamp.
ANTERNO: I don’t care! It’s this devil of a lamp itself giving you such foolish notions about
love.
SABINA: Give me the lamp! It’s my lamp!
ANTERNO: (Wrestling, he seizes the lamp and smashes it against the floor.) There goes
your devil of a lamp! You fool!
There is another silence broken by the approaching steps of Mr. George. Antero goes
out through the front door. Sabina rises quickly and straightens herself up. Mr. George enters
cheerfully from the back door.
He is kind, cheerful, somewhat tired but romantic-looking, businessman of about thirty
years, prosperous and plump, but not too fleshy; good-looking in a stout American way and
bearing about him an earthly kind of simplicity. There is gentleness in his tired voice. In fact,
there is something romantic and alarmingly disarming about him. He wears a white linen suit,
white shoes, and a white tropical helmet. He carries a week-end bag with him.
SABINA: I’ll place the things you’ll need for your bath here, Mr. George. Rest yourself
now, and I’ll get you some supper.
MR. GOERGE: (Holding her by the hand) Don’t bother, I’m not hungry! Let’s just sit here and
be quiet for a while, shall we, Sabina?
SABINA: Oh, but if you’re tired… Well, then…
MR. GEORGE: Tell me, Sabina, what makes you kind to me?
SABINA: The earth itself is kind when the sun is good, and you’ve been good, Mr.
George!
MR.GEORGE: (Thoughtfully) The women I know are kind, but you’re so much kinder! God
knows how much I’ve missed you.
SABINA: I’ve missed you too, Mr. George.
MR GEORGE: (Embracing her passionately) This whole month I’ve missed you! And I need
you, Sabina! I need you!
SABINA: (Softly) Mr. George?
Mr. GEORGE: Yes, My dearest?
SABINA: Will you always love me?
MR. GEORGE: Always! Forever and always!
SABINA: (After a while, timidly) Will you... let me keep that love?
MR. GEORGE: It’s all yours, sweet! I never knew what love meant until I met you, Sabina!
SABINA: And I never felt so happy before you came, Mr. George!
MR. GEORGE: I’ve never felt so happy myself. Oh, God, what I have missed.
SABINA: (Simply) It’s myself I offer gladly, Mr. George. All that you want of me, my life,
my love, my heart which says: I’ll love you always no matter what or where or when! That’s
how much I love you, Mr. George, for me you’re the bright sun, and I make a pledge to that sun
and promise to love you forever, even when the gods themselves have stopped turning night
into day!
MR.GEORGE: My little brown Sabina! Can’t it be like this always?
SABINA: Forever, Mr. George! Our love will last forever!
They kiss again.
MR. GEORGE: Now I know the traders are wrong! They say you Filipino women are no good as
sweethearts. What do they know about you? What do they know about love?
SABINA: Let’s just love and be contented.
MR. GEORGE: Black, brown, or white, we’re all the same and nothing matters much, save this
gift for loving. Sure, people are all the same, Sabina!
SABINA: Grandfather always tells me, outside love nothing lives. And I believe him, Mr.
George! Do people love much where you came from, Mr. George?
MR. GEORGE: Yes, they do!
SABINA: And are there some who are selfish too?
MR. GEORGE: There are rascals there too, and sometimes they win out in the end.
SABINA: Here, there are selfish misers too, Mr. George. And it’s they, too who win out
in the end.
MR. GEORGE: These Kawakan folks aren’t so bad!
SABINA: Mr. George, I wish to tell you a dream I’ve been dreaming! I want to come to
the city with you.
MR.GEORGE: Cities can be so tiring, Sabina! City folks can be so tiring.
SABINA: Is that true, Mr. George?
MR.GEORGE: Indeed, they do.
SABINA: Then I don’t want to tire you.
MR. GEORGE: We all have dreams! I, too, have a dream, and mine is here in Kawakan. Don’t
you like it here?
SABINA: (Resistantly) As long as you are happy, then nothing at all will matter.
MR. GEORGE: I’m happy here, Sabina! Come… don’t you think it’s time to go to sleep?
SABINA: Just as you wish, Mr. George. I’ll have your room ready in a minute.
She goes into her room, but she comes back quickly with a silver sewing box.
She rises and looks around slowly, then cries and runs to her bedroom. There is a short
silence. Then a gunshot is heard. A brief silence again. Antero comes in excitedly, looks around,
then rushes to the bedroom.
The others, Antero, Cleta, Ariston, Rustica, Mamerto, Ursula, and the two neighbors,
come in hurriedly.
CLETA: What happened? (She suddenly realizes Sabina is dead and cries hysterically.)
Grandma! Grandma! She’s dead!
The others try to quiet her. The old woman approaches Sabina’s body and begins
mourning. The men place the bamboo couch in front of the altar, the women take a white
blanket from the room, and spread it on the couch.
OLD WOMAN: (Praying) It’s an evil night! It’s an evil night, Mr. George!
The men carry Sabina’s body and lay her gently on the couch. They cover half of her
body with another white blanket. The others begin praying and mourning over the body. Mr.
George comes away from the window and joined the mourners.
CLETA: (Calling out to Mr. George) Mr. George! Mr. George! Please leave our Sabina
alone!
The mourners look strangely at Mr. George but he goes to the head of the couch and
kneels sorrowfully by Sabina’s body.
OLD WOMAN: (Lamenting) It is evil night, Mamerto.
OLD MAN: Her death’s but her new life just begun, Rustica! Her life’s bigger than our
petty lives now! Ours will be the sadness now, ours will be the loneliness forever! And we
shan’t be happy till our selfish hearts have learned to love truly forever.
They start to pray again. A brilliant shaft of moonlight falls on Sabina’s body as the men
carry her out, praying as the go.
A bamboo flute is heard far away. Once more we hear the turtle crying.