"UNTITLED" INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS. . . . "Rebel, wife, and children surrender to Catmon 1 councilor". Sun Star Cebu, 11 October 2006 . . . "After 19 years on the run, 2 former rebels surrender". Sun Star Cebu, 13 March 2009.
1. EXT. ORCHARD - DAY. A young woman, MOTHER(24), and her son, BOY(6), hike hand-in-hand through the sun and shade. Boy breaks free from Mother, running like the wind. Mother runs after him but he disappears, playing hide-and-seek. MOTHER David, David, saan ka? Peering slightly from his hiding spot, the boy spots his mother coming close. Mischief in his smile, he flees to find a better hiding spot. The mother chances upon the boy's hiding place but he's no longer there. MOTHER Anak, halika ka na. Pagod si Mama. No response. The mother searches the surroundings. Sees a silhouette, no it's a trick of light and shade. Hears a sound, no it's the wind rustling dry branches. Panic spreads like sweat on her pretty face. MOTHER David, anak, balik na tayo. David, balik ka na. She shouts for her son but the boy continues to run through the orchard, continues to hide and seek until he himself cannot find his mother anymore. MOTHER (OS) (cries) Bumalik ka! DAVID! INT. TARP TENT - NIGHT. KA BIDOY(42), a thin man with a hard-lined face that may have one time been handsome, opens his eyes slowly. In the darkness, he's lying down on a strawmat with his wife, ELSA(28) who sleeps soundly supine, a hand over her swollen, pregnant belly. Two smaller figures curl between Bidoy and Elsa, their eldest daughter JOSEFINA aka “PINAY” (8) and their toddler son MANUEL (4). A sound raises Bidoy on his elbows-- shadows and light approach the flap entrance of the tent. MAN (OS) Guro, guro-- kailangan po kayo. Silent, Bidoy rises to his feet, grabs a bag hanging from the bamboo rafters.
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2. EXT. TARP TENT - NIGHT. Bidoy slips out. Two men, dressed in dirty dungarees and patched scraps of military uniforms and shouldering assault rifles, stand close by with a lantern. Without a word, Bidoy heads out into the darkness flanked by these two men. INT. AMBULANCE TARP TENT – NIGHT. With one of the men, Bidoy slips through the flaps of a larger tent which serves as a makeshift clinic. Brightly lit by lanterns, Bidoy sees a young man, THE PATIENT(1617) lying down on the cot—with a bandana soaked red with caked blood, a bloody mess on his gut. Bidoy immediately walks to a basin of water to wash his hands, scrubbing furiously. A MALE NURSE(20-25) pours alcohol on Bidoy‟s hands. MALE NURSE Natamaan siya ng bala, posible dalawa, sa loob ng kanyang tiyan. BIDOY Umaagos ang buhay niya. Kailangan natin ng dugo, mga Type O—bilis. Bidoy moves to a micro-stove where surgical instruments are immersed in hot water. The male nurse returns with another rebel soldier, instructs him to sit down and prepares him for a bloodletting. The rebel soldier watches as Bidoy fills a syringe with anaesthetic. PATIENT Guro. . . Gu. . . maayos niyo ako „di ba? As a reply, Bidoy injects the Patient‟s vein. BIDOY Makakatulong ito sa sakit. Tibayin mo ang loob mo, Satoy. The patient nods but his face is already deathly pale. Holding a scalpel in hand, Bidoy leans close to the wounded gut and starts the operation. The nurse starts collecting blood from donors into a sterile jar. The blood drops mark time. Using forceps, Bidoy pulls out the lead and places it on the basin. He checks the patient‟s pulse. Something is wrong. Frantic, Bidoy performs CPR on the patient. BIDOY Adrenalin, bilis! Nawawala siya. . .! The nurse quickly rummages into a bag. Property of DIEM JUDILLA © 2010 All Rights Reserved.
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NURSE Guro, ubos na. Cursing under his breath, Bidoy slams his fist onto the patient‟s chest, repeating CPR repeatedly. The nurse calmly walks to the bedside, checks the patient‟s pulse. NURSE Guro, wala na si Satoy. Bidoy stops, looks at the patient‟s listless face. He flops down, overcome by exhaustion, head in his hands. The nurse has a black notebook in his hands and jots details of the death. NURSE Ka Satoy Malilong—Abril 4. Bala sa tiyan. Labing walong taon gulang. BIDOY Labing pito taon gulang. NURSE (corrects) Labing pito taon gulang. The nurse closes his eyes. Several soldiers have stepped in to view the remains of their comrade.
namin.
REBEL Ka Satoy, tatandaan ka namin. Ipaghihiganti ka At that, Bidoy stands to his feet, glares at the rebel. Looks at the dead patient. We linger on this face as the nurse places a hand over the eyes to close them. WOMAN (VO) (crying in pain) Aaagh. . . aagh! MAN (VO) (calmly) Konti na . Malapit na. Kaya mo iyan. OS: The woman howls out and her cry fades to silence to be immediately followed by a baby‟s redblooded scream. MAN (VO) (ecstatic) Lalaki! Lalaki po ang anak niyo! CUT TO BLACK. FADE IN: INT. TARP TENT – NIGHT. Elsa is awake, crouched. With a damp cloth, she wipes her sleeping son‟s face gently, careful not to wake him. She turns as Bidoy enters their tent. Kamusta siya?
BIDOY ELSA Bumaba na ang kanyang lagnat. Property of DIEM JUDILLA © 2010 All Rights Reserved.
4. Bidoy touches the boy‟s head carefully, feeling his temperature. BIDOY Kailangan natin pa siya bantayan. Maraming posible. . . dengue. . . malaria (under his breath) Peste talaga! Sinong namatay? A beat.
ELSA
BIDOY Wala na si Satoy.
Bidoy stares at his children, there he lingers. Elsa watches him, waiting. BIDOY Pagod na ako, Elsa. Pagod na ako sa pagtitiis. Pagod na ako na makikita ang kamatayan hinahampas ang mga kabataan natin. . para saan? Para sa mga panata at prinsipyo pinapakain sa kanila sa halip na kanin at karne. . . Elsa holds Bidoy‟s hand. ELSA Tama na, asawa ko. Meron tenga ang gabi. BIDOY Hindi ako takot sa kanila, Elsa. Mas natatakot ako sa kinabukasan ng mga anak natin. Noon, lumalaban tayo para magkaroon ng ekwalidad pero mula na kapiling ka, pagkaanak nila Pinay at Manuel at . . . Bidoy holds his wife‟s swollen womb. Feels the growing life within. BIDOY Hindi na makatarungan, Elsa. Peligro at panganib ba ang mapamamana natin sa ating mga anak? ELSA Mga sundalo tayo, Bidoy. Dapat handa tayo isakripisyo anuman alang sa rebolusyon dahil naniniwala tayo sa katarungan ng ating mga prinsipyo. . . Bidoy‟s face falls in disappointment, he pulls away but Elsa reaches for his hands and holds these over with hers on her womb. ELSA . . .ang dapat ko sabihin pero mas nais ko sundin ang puso kong binigay sa iyo at sa mga anak natin. Moved by her words, Bidoy leans close to his wife, heads touching, communing. Their breaths become one. Hands clasped over Elsa‟s round abdomen.
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5. BIDOY (OS) Malalagay tayo sa peligro, Elsa. ELSA (OS) Susundin ka namin, Bidoy, ako at ang mga anak mo. FADE TO BLACK. EXT. CAMP – DAWN. Several rag-tag rebel soldiers gather about, watching Bidoy pack up some produce like bananas, kamote-in-a-sack and a couple of chickens. FADE UP TITLE: “PAGKALIPAS NG ILANG LINGGO. . .” REBEL Sigurado ba kayo Guro na hindi niyo kailangan ng kasama? BIDOY Hindi na. Tatlong araw at babalik na kami, dala ang mga medikal suplays. REBEL Pero paano si Kumander. . .? BIDOY Huwag kang mag-alala kay Kumander. Matagal pa iyon. With Pinay by hand and Manuel on her arm, Elsa waddles to Bidoy as he shoulders most of the „luggage.‟ REBEL Sigurado po kayo hindi kayo dadala ng armas? Nagpupursige ngayon ang mga patrol. ELSA Iiwasan namin ang mga patrol pero kung makasalubong kami ng patrol at i-tsekehan, mas mabuti na walang mahahanap na gamit na makakasira sa pagtatago namin bilang pamilya ng mga magsasaka. The rebel nods his understanding. Bidoy gives the Nurse a casually pat on the shoulder as parting. BIDOY Ikaw muna bahala sa kanila. . . siguraduhin mo malusog silang lahat pag balik ko. NURSE Maaasahan niyo, Guro. Elsa leads the way with their children. Bidoy follows but couldn‟t resist to take one last look at the Camp and at their comrades‟ faces.
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6. At a distant edge of the camp, there are grave markers, many old and only one new marker WITH SATOY‟S BANDANA, standing over a fresh mound. Bidoy gives his back to the camp and disappears down into the jungle. EXT. THE JUNGLE - DAY. The family pass through the verdant jungle that blankets the mountainside. Their feet stamp through hidden tracks. When the sun reaches noon, the family take shade to rest and eat a leaf-packed lunch of boiled bananas and cold roast chicken. Manuel playfully tries to offer a drumstick to one of the live chickens. The family packs up and treks on until evening falls over the mountains. EXT. THE JUNGLE – NIGHT. Bidoy kindles a small fire laid deep in a hole as Elsa coaxes their children to sleep singing them a lullaby. Eyes on the flickeing flames, Bidoy tries to keep himself awake and stand guard but slowly falls asleep. EXT. ORCHARD - DAY. The boy plays hide-and-seek with his frantic mother. He watches her from a distance, smiling mischievously at her distress. He hides then looks. The mother is gone. Now it‟s the boy‟s turn to seek her. BOY Mama. . . Mama. . . Mama. . .? EXT. THE JUNGLE - DAY. Bidoy opens his eyes. Wisps of smoke from the dying embers mix with the mists of morning. MANUEL (OS) Mama. . . Mama. . . Bidoy sees his son shaking Elsa awake but she frowns, still wanting to sleep. BIDOY Manuel. . . The boy turns at his name and Bidoy sees a growing wet spot on the child‟s groin. At one spot, Bidoy pulls down his son‟s shorts. Holds him from behind, coaching the little boy. BIDOY Sige na anak, wee wee na, wee wee. Property of DIEM JUDILLA © 2010 All Rights Reserved.
7. The boy looks down as a little spout of piss erupts from him and splashes down on the ground, ON THE TOE OF A LARGE BLACK BOOT. BACK TO ELSA AND PINAY, INSTINCT forces Elsa awake and sitting up as much as she‟s able to, to find a SQUAD OF SOLDIERS, faces dark with camouflage paint, surrounding her and her daughter, the muzzles of their firearms aimed at them. Manuel runs to Elsa for shelter. Bidoy is pushed down to his knees, with his hands raised behind him. The motions are done gently, the commands spoken softly and politely. One SOLDIER: BENYAMIN inspects their belongings with care. The SQUAD LEADER: SAIF looks down at Bidoy whose eyes are wide, nervous. SAIF (OS) David Gutierrez? Elsa recognizes the name, turns to Bidoy. SAIF Kayo po ba si Doctor David Gutierrez? Bidoy looks up at the man‟s words, surprise on his face. LATER--Bidoy now sits beside his family, surrounded by the squad of soldiers. Squad Leader Saif consults a map with Soldier Benyamin then moves in front of the Doctor. SAIF Doctor, Ma‟am. Ako po si Tinyente Saif Abd asSalam. Ako at ang aking squad ay tinakdang bantayan kayo para maabot niyo ang rendezvous sa Mobile Command. Inutusan kami na subaybayan kayo pero meron nagaganap na naglalagay sa inyo sa peligro. Ayon sa aming mga scouts-- meron dalawang platoon, isa galing sa bataylon niyo at isa galing naman sa bataylon ni Heneral Primo, ang sumusunod sa inyo. Bidoy and Elsa look at each other, shocked at the news. Saif kneels down and with his finger marks the layout of their situation. SAIF Nandito po tayo. (marks X) Ang isang platoon ay nandito pababa mula sa kampo niyo at isa naman ay galing dito (marks with arrows). Ang plano ay ihihiwalay ko ang squad ko sa dalawang fireteams, Alpha at Bravo (draws A & B). Team Alpha ay maghahanda ng distraksyon para sa dalawang platoon habang kayo sasama kayo ng Team Bravo pababa. Saif looks at Bidoy and Elsa squarely.
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8. SAIF Ang seguridad at kaligtasan niyo at inyong mga anak ay nakasalalay sa inyong kooperasyon. Kailangan natin magmadali kaya‟t iiwanan niyo ang mga bagahe niyo. The squad is already dividing into fireteams Alpha and Bravo. Bravo members are handing over spare ammo to Alpha members who are double-checking their arms. Saif offers a pistol to Bidoy. SAIF Maruno po kayo gumamit nito. Bidoy shakes his head. ELSA Doktor ang asawa ko. Ang mga kamay niya ay para sa pagligtas hindi sa pagkitil ng buhay. Akin na iyan. Elsa offers her hand for the weapon, catching the men by surprise. BIDOY Ibigay niyo sa kanya. Si Elsa ang pinakamatalas sa pagbabaril sa aming kampo. The pistol is given to Elsa who automatically checks its clip, barrel and sight—impressing the soldiers. She takes two more clips for the pistol. Bidoy bears Manuel bundled in a wrapped sling and carries Pinay in his arms. He moves forward with some of Team Bravo followed by Elsa flanked by two more soldiers. Saif and Benyamin stand side by side as the two teams part ways. SAIF Ikaw bahala sa kanila. Seguraduhin mo ligtas sila. BENYAMIN Maaasahan niyo po. Mag ingat rin kayo. The two men clasp hands in parting. BENYAMIN Fi Amunallah, Kuya. Benyamin follows Bravo team down into the jungle. Bravo Team with Bidoy‟s family make haste through the trail. Their footsteps are like the frantic heart of a prey knowing a predator is closing in. Fleet-footed, young Pinay is close to the heels of the front guard while Bidoy with Manuel lags behind with Elsa who struggles as if every fast step is a pouch of pain. Even Benyamin moves to Elsa‟s side to assist her. Property of DIEM JUDILLA © 2010 All Rights Reserved.
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BENYAMIN (concerned) Doktor, ang asawa niyo ay nanganganak na? BIDOY (shakes his head) Pero ang pagdadali natin ay nagpapahirap sa kanyang kalagayan. ELSA Meron isang daan rebelde na nakabuntot sa atin, na inutusan pagbabarilan tayong lahat. Hindi tayo titigil, hindi tayo titigil! Benyamin and Bidoy share a look. BENYAMIN & BIDOY Yes, Ma‟m! They move on but a bird call catches Elsa‟s attention. ELSA Hintay…! Hinto muna. The whole troop pauses. Elsa strains her ears against the jungle‟s silence. Shadows dance with sunlight. Another bird call(OS). Elsa turns, her eyes scanning the rear quickly. She raises her gun, fires once. A rebel falls out from his hiding spot, tumbling down. TAKBO! TAKBO!
ELSA
Gunfire erupts from the jungle as Bidoy, his family and Team Bravo seek cover. Soldiers return fire at their assailants, moving back in formation. THE REBELS, as shadowy figures, step forward in pursuit. Tongues of flame spit out of their firearms‟ muzzles. The soldiers make a slow retreat, providing cover fire for Bidoy and his family to safely escape. Bidoy pulls at Pinay‟s hand and clutches on Manuel when he discovers Elsa is missing, maybe lagging behind. Safely behind a large tree, he dares to glance behind him. Several yards back, he finds Elsa crouched behind a tree, she looks in pain. Benyamin is beside her, firing at the coming rebels. Quickly Bidoy frees himself of Manuel and he uses the cloth wrap as a blanket to hide his children, piling on dead leaves. BIDOY Anak, dito kayo magtago. Huwag kayong magpakita hanggang marinig niyo ako o mama niyo. Property of DIEM JUDILLA © 2010 All Rights Reserved.
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Pinays nods her understand, her arms wraped around her little brother, protective. Bidoys kisses his children and dashes back. He ducks, changes direction, anything to make him an impossible moving target. He finally reaches where Elsa and Benyamin are. Benyamin gets hit. Crying, he sprawls back, a steaming wound on his shoulder. Bidoy quickly reaches for the soldier, pulling him out of the bullets‟ way. Overcoming fatigue and strain, Elsa takes Benyamin‟s rifle and fires bursts, hitting some targets, some cry then die. Fast, Bidoy rips a rag into strips and fashions an emergency tourniquet for Benyamin. BENYAMIN Salamat dok, pwede mo sabihin sa asawa mo na ibalik ang armas ko? Elsa hands over the rifle back to the soldier. ELSA Huling clip na ito. Pale-faced Benyamin nods, taking a few deep breaths to override the pain. BENYAMIN Ang Mobile Command ay mga ilang yarda pagkatapos sa gulod. Dok, Missis, itakbo niyo ang pamilya niyo sa kaligtasan. Bidoy and Elsa watches as Benyamin raises rifle gun with his one good arm. He becomes still and calm. TAKBO!
BENYAMIN Benyamin slides out of cover, firing. Bidoy and Elsa rush forward. They reach their children hiding place. Holding them by the hand, Elsa runs with the children ahead and disappears into deep foliage. Armed with a fallen branch, Bidoy remains checking that no one follows. The coast clear, Bidoy runs for the foliage only to have a spray of bullets kick up the earth before his teeth. He stops, cold. Stepping out of the woods is THE REBEL that Bidoy bid goodbye yesterday. His rifle held by his waist, aimed at Bidoy who holds up his empty hands. Pure hate is in the Rebel‟s face. The rebel pulls the trigger, shots fire out.
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11. Bidoy steps back, shivering in shock. Then his hands pad his wounds. There are none. He looks up. The Rebel stands still as a red stain flowers in the middle of his chest. Blood spills out his lips. He crumbles face down. REVEAL Elsa yards behind the fallen rebel, smoke curls out of her raised gun. Relief spreads across Bidoy‟s face. On shaky legs he steps towards Elsa. A GURGLE(OS) stops him. Barely alive, the Rebel rolls onto his back, his hands pulling at a GRENADE‟S PIN setting it to explode with Bidoy in close proximity. Benyamin rushes down the dying rebel, pushing him back on his stomach over the grenade and lies over him without a second thought. GO GO!
BENYAMIN
Bidoy takes two steps when the grenade explodes raising dirt, fire and smoke. The force of the blast knocks the doctor down to the ground. He lies almost coming to blacking out as singed earth rains down on him. BIDOY‟S EARS RING (OS). The gun battle becomes muffled, distant. A FAMILIAR VOICE (OS) echoes in the muffled silence, calling out his name: David, David. . . Bidoy opens his eyes. Aching, he lifts his face forward. He sees Elsa being pulled back by some soldiers but she resists, concerned for her husband. BIDOY‟S EARS RINGING CONTINUES (OS). He raises himself on his elbows, looks back to see Saif kneeling down beside the charred remains of Benyamin. His face a mask, Saif places a hand over the fallen‟s chest and clutches at it pulling out a sooty, bloody dogtag free. Two soldiers arrive at Bidoy‟s side, helping him up and drag him to safety. Saif cocks his rifle and starts firing, the report of his gun growing louder and clearer like rising rage. EXT. MOBILE COMMAND CAMP – DAY. A military jeep rolls into the camp grounds. Out of the back Bidoy jumps out, worse for wear, assisted by a medic. He looks around, searching. He finds his children running toward him, Elsa close behind. Relieved, he falls to his knees and opens his arms to welcome them. When Elsa reaches them. He struggles to stand and leans close to her to hold her. A family together in the midst of battle. Bidoy looks happy and revived. He holds up Manuel who points to him out all the activities going around them. The man‟s eyes follow his son‟s moving finger until something catches his eyes. Property of DIEM JUDILLA © 2010 All Rights Reserved.
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A WOMAN(64) emerges out a military truck, dressed down in a pristine white shirt and jeans. Clearly, she doesn‟t belong here. She and Bidoy lock eyes. Putting down Manuel, Bidoy gets pulled to her. She meets him half-way. INTERCUT this scene of the Woman and Bidoy‟s Walk with the Mother and Child hide-and-seek in the Orchard scene. WOMAN (VO) David, anong nangyari sa iyo?! Sumali ka naman sa rally! Bakit mo ito ginagawa? Bakit mo ito ginagawa sa atin? DAVID (VO) Pinaglalaban ko ang mga karapatan ng bawat tao. Pinapa-alam namin ang mga abuso at pabayaan. . . WOMAN (VO) Huwag mo akong sermonan na meron pasa at sugat ang mukha mo! Inaabuso mo ako, sinasaktan mo ako sa pinaggagawa mo. . . tama na ito, ipapadala kita sa Amerika, malayo sa gulong pinasukan mo. . . DAVID (VO) Hindi na ako bata na puwede mong ipagawa ang gusto mo. Buhay ko ito, pipiliin ko mamatay para sa totoong katarungan kaysa mamuhay sa loob ng ilusyon. . . WOMAN (VO) David! Huwag mo akong talikuran! Saan ka pupunta, bumalik ka rito. . .! David, saan ka pupunta?! Mother and her wayward child stand before each other. INTERPOSE Bidoy and the Woman stand only a pace apart. The Woman stares at Bidoy, searching for some familiarity, some connection from the man before her. Bidoy cannot meet her eyes, only hang his head, ashamed. David. . .?
WOMAN Bidoy exhales, he raises himself to face her. Mama. . .
BIDOY The Mother embraces Bidoy completely. Years of separation, regret gets washed by the burst of tears streaming down their faces. LATER, Bidoy quietly introduces his Mother to his family. Mother embraces her grandchildren. Elsa politely extends an open hand to her mother-in-law who clasps it then bestows a motherly kiss on her. From a distance, SAIF watches this family reunion while being dressed and attended on by a couple of medics. The squad leader Property of DIEM JUDILLA © 2010 All Rights Reserved.
13. looks like he‟s been through Hell, his uniform caked with sweat and dirt. Blood bleeds out one ear. He looks down on his calloused palm, on the bloodstained dog tag of Benyamin. BIDOY (OS) Tinyente. . . Saif looks up and finds Bidoy and Elsa before him. He rises to his feet. BIDOY Gusto ko pasalamatan sa lahat ng ginawa niyo para sa aking pamilya. SAIF (nods) Ito‟y tungkulin namin. . . Elsa eyes Saif‟s hand, holding Benyamin‟s dogtag. ELSA Iyun sundalo. . .Kapamilya mo ba siya? SAIF Nakababatang kong kapatid. ELSA Ano po ang pangalan niya? Benyamin. . .
SAIF
ELSA Benyamin...Hindi po namin siya malilimutan. Elsa places a hand over her womb. ELSA At kayo rin, Tinyente Saif Abd as-Salam. Saif can only nod his appreciation. SAIF Doktor, Ma‟m. . . Accompanied by two armed soliders, The COMMANDING OFFICER approaches them. Saif stiffs up in attention and raises a hand in a salute. OFFICER Handa na tayo umalis balik sa HQ. Marami pa tayong pag-uusapan tungkol sa inyong mga aktibidades bago magsisimula ang inyong rehabilitasyon, Doktor (then he registers Elsa, grim) Kumander Crimson. . The Officer hands over the couple to the two soldiers to be escorted back. Once alone, the Officer turns to Saif.
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14. OFFICER Saif, narinig ko ang nangyari kay Benyamin. Isa siyang mahusay na sundalo. . . SAIF Ginanap niya ang tungkulin niya, sir. Hihingi ako ng pahintulot sir manatili dito. Gusto ko bumalik sa bundok, kunin at iuwi ang mga labi ng kapatid ko. The Officer nods his understanding. Saif salutes and receives his dismissal, turns and walks back, his general direction to the mountains behind him. . . where gunfire erupts in the far distance. MEANWHILE, Bidoy raises Manuel into the back of a military truck just as Elsa is assisted up short stairs. Bidoy looks back on the mountains where for the past 16 years have been his home, his way of life. MOTHER (OS) David. . . Bidoy looks back inside the truck where his mother holds Manuel sleeping in her lap, where his daughter Pinay leans close to her mother. Uwi na tayo.
MOTHER Bidoy nods and climbs up into the truck. EXT. MOBILE BASE – DAY. The truck rolls away towards on a road where a clear blue horizon waits.
THE END
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