ANG TOKSO ("The Inquiry")
Screenplay by DIEM JUDILLA
[email protected] Cebu City, Cebu © 2013
·· SCREENWRITER NOTES ·· CHARACTERS NOEL, 20s y.o. adult with a toddler's mind, heart and tongue. Dressed like a pastor, he looks meek and harmless. Spasms jerk his body from time to time. GARDO, an ex-cop in his mid-to-late 40s but looks older. A tough man borne of tougher living. His own burden of sins and crimes shows in his hunched posture and bloated body. HOMER gets only heard by his voice and seen as a body in the end. Cut from the same cloth as Gardo, they're mutts from the same breed. MARCUS/MARK, seen via PHOTOS at least a decade old. A good-looking young man, bright with a sunny smiles, he's a hero to Noel. SETTINGS There are only three interior settings: Gardo's bedroom, the den or sala 1and a store-room or bodega. Ideally, all these settings should be found at one location for convenience and no need for transportation. The last scene requires an exterior setting of an empty lot with an open hole or pit. Locations such as quarries can be used, or a small dirt hill or mound or beach dunes or river banks can be made to appear as the ledge leading into a hole, or a shallow pit can be made to look deeper via forced perspective: i.e. get the actor kneel down in a shallow pit and use forced perspective to make it appear he's standing in a deep pit.
1.
INT. ROOM – DAY. Bright morning heats up this box of a bedroom like an oven. THE DOOR, forceful knocks makes the knob shiver. LANDLADY (O.S.) Gardo, buhi pa ka diha? Naa kay bisita! GARDO; a mutt-faced fighter hardened by 40-odd years of dog-eat-scraps struggles, rises from his rag of a cot, half-naked with sweat as a shirt. LANDLADY (O.S., CONT'D) Basin kliyente, makabayad ka na sa imung abang! He swigs up AN EMPTY BEER BOTTLE, realizes it doesn't have a drop. Lets it fall on the floor. INT. DEN – DAY. A TV SET blares out TV shows, switches channel to channel. NOEL; a toddler in a twenty-plus old pastor's body that jerks at the joints like a string puppet, whose own face spasms into clownish emoticons, sticks out his tongue with impatient bitterness then squints into a toothful grin. He finds A SINGING SHOW/MUSIC VIDEO on T.V. Noel squats low and sings out the song, matches the singer's voice identically. GARDO stands in the room. He coughs. The cough catches Noel off-guard. He gets up straight. He's dressed formal; polished shoes belted slacks, collared shirt with long sleeves, all too tight on his skinny frame. NOEL Police Inspector Ricardo Bonin? Ako si De Guzman, Noel de Guzman po. Mr. Yap garecomendar nimo.
2.
Noel's slurs every word with an underdeveloped, toddler's tongue and tone. Her offers his hand and pumps Gardo's in a clumsy, energetic handshake. Noel does not let go of Gardo, who pulls out his hand to show Noel to a chair. GARDO Dii nako inspektor, retirado na. Unsay tuyo nimo nako? Noel nods several times before sitting down. NOEL Mangayo ko og tabang pangita sa akong maguwang. Si Noy Marco. Pu'u gatuig na siya di'makit-an. Noel places A BRIEFCASE on his knees and struggles through his body's spasms to opens its clasp. Gardo helps by not letting the case fall off. NOEL Salamat. Tabangi ko pangita sa akong Noy Marco. Noel gives A DECADE-OLD photo of A YOUNG MAN in casual clothes, stands in a garden, poses to show off THE PRICEY WATCH on his wrist. Gardo takes the photo, studies it. GARDO Kanus'a ang kinatapusan nyong pagkita? NOEL Hmmm... hmmm... ingon ni mama gidaaa si noy Mark sa presingto para pangutan-on bahin sa usa ga rally sa iyang kampus. Human di na siya gauli. Giingnan mi na niapil na siya Manoy sa Eeen, Peee, Aaay.
3.
Noel shakes his head. His speech slurs with haste. NOEL Di na mahimo ni manoy. Di niya mi mabiyaan. Pangitaa siya inspektor. Naa koy kwarta. From the briefcase, Noel takes A COLORFUL CYLINDRICAL COIN BANK. Pulls off the lid, pours the open end on the table. Some coins fall out, followed by FOUR THICK ROLLS OF FIVEHUNDRED BILLS before a surprised Gardo. NOEL Sakto na downpayment na? Sakto na? Gardo looks hungry at the money. He nods, gets a FOLDER. NOEL Kini impormasyon ni manoy. Naa pud akoang selfon. Tawgi ko kun naay notisya. INT. ROOM – DAY. GARDO smokes a cigarette. He looks at Mark's photo then places it inside THE FOLDER full of reports. He picks up his phone. Dials. Presses to his ear and waits. HOMER (O.S.) (filtered) Gardo. Gatawag ka bai? Mangutang napud ka? GARDO Di. Kabahin ni Marco de Guzman. A solid pause, Gardo drags long on his cigarette. HOMER (O.S.) (filtered) Dugay-dugay pud nako gadungog bahin niya.
4.
GARDO Gipangita gihapon siya sa iyang pamilya. Gi abangan ko mobestigar kun asa siya ron. HOMER (O.S.) (filtered) Kini kinabuhi gyud. Unsay buhaton nimo? GARDO Muikyas gyud ko. Sa lain nasod. HOMER (O.S.) (filtered) O naa kay kwarta? GARDO Mm way sapayan. Tawgon tika. Gardo ends the call. He leans down under his cot and brings out A TRAVELLING BAG. He zips the bag open and takes out a LOCKED CASH-BOX. Gardo inserts A SMALL KEY into the lock, opens the lid. INSIDE THE CASH BOX, several old I.D.s, some jewelry, a small pistol, and from these Gardo pulls OUT A WRISTWATCH. A FAMILIAR WRISTWATCH. Gardo holds it up, turns it over to its back... ON THE COT, THE PHOTO OF MARCUS PREVIOUSLY SHOWN. INT. DEN – AFTERNOON. NOEL tears up as he reads the watch's inscription. He breaks out a happy smile and laugh. NOEL “For Marcus, we are proud of you! Love, Nanay, Tatay and Noel.” Kini kang manoy ni! Noel yells with joy! He eagerly embraces Gardo, pumps the man tightly. Then releases Gardo.
5.
GARDO Gikan ni sa prenderyan duol sa bordinghaws kun asa gapuyo imong manoy sa una. NOEL embraces Gardo again. Gardo looks uncomfortable, forces Noel off him and steady the man's excitement. GARDO (CONT'D) Ser Noel! Base sa tiket sa pawnshop ang gaprenda ay usa sa amigo ni noy Marco nimo, gapuyo ron sa Biliran. Kinahanglan ko muadto didto. Kinahanglan ko ug ekstra. Para sa biyahe. NOEL Sige, mowithdraw ko sa ATM po. Mubalik ko. With Marcus' wristwatch, he leaves, then comes back. NOEL Tagpila ang kinahanglan niyo? GARDO hands him A SLIP OF PAPER for Noel to read. Noel nods and leaves. Gardo turns to the windows, watches and waits. THE WINDOWS the daylight dims quickly into dark night. GARDO looks at his watch, impatient. He grabs his travel bag and heads towards the front door. He opens it and bumps into Noel. NOEL lifts up A FEW PLASTIC BAGS of takeout food, liquor. INT. DEN - NIGHT ON THE DEN'S TABLE Roast chicken, barbecue and pancit Canton are spread out. Noel pours liquor in a glass. GARDO Katung kwarta Ser Noel?
6.
Noel slaps his pant's pocket, on a bulge, several times. NOEL Magpaparti sa ta. Disbidida! NOEL raises a glass to Gardo. GARDO clinks his glass to Noel's and sips. NOEL drinks in one gulp. Burps loud. Giggles. Pours himself another glass. Offers the bottle to Gardo. GARDO drinks in one gulp. Grabs the bottle, pours. He takes A DRUMSTICK to bite but Noel interrupts him. NOEL Naa moy igsoon? Pamilya? GARDO (shrugs) Nidako ko inusura ra, usa ka ilo. Ampon sa nasod. NOEL Ampon. Ampon pud si noy Marco. Nitugot kasi sina mama og papa na di makapanganok sila. NOEL pauses, nostalgic then grins. NOEL Human niabot ko. Tiguwang na si mama, usa ra ko na milagros. Pero lahi ko, di normal. Pats his clothes, searching. Pulls out A THICK WALLET from his pocket, full of PHOTOS OF TWO BOYS, the older bearing the younger with pride. NOEL Ingon ni manoy pamilya mi. Way kalahian. Igsoon mi. Manghod niya ko.
7.
Tears fall out of Noel's eyes. He touches them with surprise, without realization of their source. He smiles at Gardo. GARDO drinks his glass empty. MORE LIQUOR is poured and SWIRLS INTO Gardo's empty glass filling it full. INT. BODEGA – NIGHT. ROPE-BOUND TO A CHAIR, BACK AGAINST THE BARE, CONCRETE WALL GARDO wakes up with a start. Half-drunk and confused he stares around. THE BODEGA is large, well-lit and quiet. A TABLE pins Gardo and his chair against the bodega wall. GARDO struggles against the tight ropes. He can't free himself. A NOISE (O.S.) of a heavy metal drag on the ground alarms him. Few feet away, NOEL drags A LARGE SHOVEL and A HEAVY SACK towards Gardo. He stops and places the rusty, mud-crusted shovel on the table, then opens the sack, takes out items such as tarnished garden blades, screwdrivers, hammers, saws with rusted blades... GARDO Unsa ni? Unsay nahitabo?! NOEL Mostorya ta Ser Gards. Way tinonto. Asa si manoy? GARDO sweats for a pause. NOEL pushes the tabletop against Gardo, his eyes and skin flare crimson rage. NOEL ASA SI MANOY?! ASA? ASA! GARDO pales with fright.
8.
NOEL takes a hammer and hits the tabletop hard several times, a rattling riot while he screams the question again. GARDO Di ko kahibaw! Gi abang nimo ko upan pangitaon siya! NOEL pulls away, paces like a furious tiger. NOEL Gatugot ka na maililong ko? Dugay na niagi ang mga tuig pero gihuna huna nako. Gipangita nako.. gikaplag nako. Imong gipamakak. GARDO Di ko kibaw sa imong gipakusar. NOEL Si noy Mark, gidaa sa presingto. Naa ka didto. Usa sa ga-duty. Naa ka ato. Naa ka, gatan-aw sa ginabuhatan ni kang manoy! NOEL slams the hammer-head against Gardo (O.S.) CUT TO BLACK! FADE IN: UNCONSCIOUS, GARDO lies on his cheek on the table-top, blood and mucus flows out his nose and mouth. LITERS OF WATER splashes down on his head, chokes Gardo awake. He sits up. NOEL presses his face close to Gardo. NOEL Asa siya? Mm asa? GARDO ...wa wa ko kibaw.
9.
NOEL grips Gardo's temples and forces the bound man's face on the table-top, against the tools. NOEL Ayaw pamakak! Asa si noy? Asa?! GARDO ...wa koy kahibalo. Motuo ka. NOEL Di na giingon ni Homer. Ingon ni Homer, kabao ka sa tanan. GARDO gets aware and astounded at the mention of Homer. GARDO Homer? Di na tinuod. HOMER (O.S.) Kibaw si Gardo sa tanan. Si Gardo ang galuyong sa lawas. GARDO freezes. He turns slowly, afraid to look up, to see... NOEL sits across the table, now calm, but he speaks out in Homer's voice identically(!) NOEL/HOMER (O.S.) Gipugsan namo katung batan-on para maniguro way gyud siya labot sa rally. Gapalabi mi sa paghadlok. Naa diay sakit sa kasing-kasing katung si Marco. GARDO leans forward, can't believe what he sees and hear.
NOEL/HOMER (O.S.) Si Gardo, ingon si Gardo siya'y bahala. Siya'y nangita og paagi. Giluyong ang lawas human gipa ingon nagawas na ang batan-on. NOEL glares.
10.
NOEL/HOMER (O.S., CONT'D) Di namo to gituyo. (pauses) GARDO. Gardo. Gatawag ka bai? Mangutang napud ka? Naa kay kwarta? GARDO tenses up in a seizure of anxiety. His face falls to his chest, broken in spirit and sanity. NOEL Pakit-a ko kun asa si noy Marc. Ipaluwas-on tika, tagaan pud tika og kwarta. GARDO looks up at Noel, who aims Gardo's own gun at him. NOEL Asa si noy? EXT. EMPTY LOT – MIDNIGHT-TO-NEAR DAWN. THE SHOVEL'S BLADE digs deep into the ground. GARDO digs deep in a six-feet hole. He stops. NOEL squats on the hole's edge, gun aimed at Gardo. A LARGE LUGGAGE BAG, stained with dirt, gets lifted out. NOEL kneels down, takes a moment and opens the zipper awkwardly with spastic, shaking fingers. NOEL pulls open the zipper down and looks inside the bag. He melts into a crying smile then into a happy grin. NOEL Noy... Marco! Noy! He turns at A SOUND(O.S.); feet scrape loose dirt. GARDO stands over Noel(!) Holds up the shovel high to strike down with a shout. Noel kicks Gardo's ankle, makes the man lose balance and falls backward hard into the pit. A SHOUT OF PAIN (O.S!)
11.
NOEL stands, leans over the pit's edge and looks down. GARDO lay on the ground, one leg twist at a broken angle. Blood frothes out his mouth. GARDO (gasps) Tabangi ko... akong luyo... NOEL nods. He disappears and returns with A LARGE HEAVY SACK, throws A PLASTIC BAG down. THE PLASTIC BAG lands on Gardo's chest. He looks into it, he sees THICK STACKS OF MONEY... his money(!) NOEL pushes the heavy sack over the edge the hole, lets SOMETHING large slide out. ON GARDO, A MAN'S CORPSE lands beside him. NOEL Imung kwarta... og amigo nimo. NOEL holds the shovel, throws dirt down into the pit. GARDO Ayaw, palihug. Ayaw! ON GARDO, as dirt rains down on him, he cries then screams. GARDO'S SCREAM is muffled (O.S.) as if buried. The shovel pats down the dirt on the now-covered hole. Dirty and sweaty, Noel drags the shovel to the bag. He looks down into the open bag. He turns his head, listening. He breaks into a wide smile.
THE END.
