FADE IN:
INT. POLICE STATION - NOON
REPORTER (V.O.)
Mahigit dalawang buwan na ang nakalipas mula noong ianunsyo ng presidente ang General Community Quarantine. Nagtipon ang mga tao rito sa Grandstand bitbit ang kanilang mga karatula upang ipamahagi ang kanilang mga saloobin hinggil sa paghahanap ng solusyon sa…
An officer is seated at the reception desk listening to the radio as he sips his afternoon coffee. He scowls at the news but turns the volume up. Not far from where he sits is a young man in a red shirt, JO, nestled in the corner of a crowded cell; his knees hugged tightly towards his chest. He scans its four corners only to see a few men laughing boisterously.
JO
(to himself)
Ba’t ba ako nadamay dito? Wala naman akong ginawang mali! Tama, lahat ito ay isang kaguluhan lang. Makakalaya ako rito.
REPORTER (V.O.)
Alas-otso ng umaga nang magsimulang magtipon ang mga tao habang inoobserbahan ang patakarang social distancing, at ang pagsuot ng face mask at face shield.
Jo adjusts his face mask and listens carefully.
REPORTER (CONT.)
Nahati sa dalawang grupo ang mga raliyista: mga naka-pula na suportado ang aksyon ng gobyerno at mga naka-itim na kontra sa pamahalaan.
Jo tugs at his red shirt, wiping away the sweat from his forehead. He soon hears shouts from the radio, people yelling at one another.
RALLY GOER 1 (V.O.)
Ginagawa ng gobyerno ang lahat para matulungan ang bawat mamamayan sa Pilipinas. Kailangan lang natin ng mahabang pasensya para rito!
RALLY GOER 2 (V.O.)
Ginagawa?! Marami pa rin hindi nabibigyan ng ayuda! Pinagtabuyan at pinagpasa-pasahan lang kami kung kani-kanino!
REPORTER (V.O.)
Ngunit bandang alas-diyes ng umaga, nagsidatingan ang mga pulis upang hulihin ang mga taong naroroon.
The shouts reach a crescendo, now accompanied by police car sirens.
REPORTER (V.O.)
Nagkaguluhan ang mga tao sa Grandstand nang magsimula nang manghuli ang mga pulis ngunit marami rin ang nakatakas.
Jo covers his ears, refusing to hear more. Feeling his head aching at the thought of the rally earlier that day.
JO
Siguradong nag-aalala sila mama… Kailangan ko nang umalis dito.
Seconds later, shouting can be heard. Two officers drag a handcuffed man in front of the cell. Jo looks up, his eyes widening when they land on the man’s black shirt.
ANGRY MAN
Pakawalan niyo ako!
One officer opens the cell and pushes the man in. JUN stumbles forward before hearing the metal gate close behind him. He whips around and grabs at the bars.
JUN (ANGRY MAN)
Wala akong ginawang mali!
JO
Easy, easy. Saglit lang tayo dito.
Jun turns, letting out a loud sigh seeing Jo’s tattered red shirt. He quickly searches for a space to sit, realizing the only free space is beside Jo. He hesitates but sits down. Succumbing to silence, Jo gives in after 30 minutes.
JO
Jo, nga pala.
JUN
...Jun.
JO
Alam mo na ba kung ba’t ka nandito?
JUN
Malay ko. Sinabi sa ‘kin pero sa sobrang galit ko ‘di ko narinig.
JO
Pareho lang pala tayo. Ba’t kaya tayo hinuli?
JUN
Nag-social distancing ka ba?
JO
(laughing) Oo naman. Kung ‘di lang sobrang init, baka naka-PPE ako habang nagpo-protesta.
JUN
(jokingly) Baka ‘yun nga ang dahilan. Wala akong PPE eh. Dapat supot ng basura na lang sinuot ko.
JO
Sakto. Para sa mga taong kagaya mo na walang tiwala sa gobyerno natin.
JUN
(clenching fists) Onga. Yung gobyerno mong nagmamarunong.
Another painful silence between them, the radio now playing music. Jo gives in again.
JO
(facing Jun) Toss coin na lang tayo kung sino mali sa ‘tin.
JUN
Wala akong barya.
JO
...Ako rin.
JUN
Galing.
Jun holds out his fist.
JUN
Jack en poy.
Jo bumps his fist against his adversary, only to gain Jun a point with rock to scissors. The second round ends with Jo defeating Jun, scissors to paper. A tie.
JUN
Tsk!
JO
Last na.
They bump fists for a final round, throwing their hands down with their chosen attacks, to settle the debate once and for all—
OFFICER
Salvador, J.
JO & JUN
(turning to the officer) Po?
The other cellmates burst in laughter as Jo and Jun face each other in confusion. The officer jabs a finger at one of the two men.
OFFICER
Ikaw. Laya ka na.
END.
This article is also published in The Benildean Volume 7 Issue No. 1: Confined
