May Day Eve By Nick Joaquin Characters Agueda (young & old) Anastasia Badoy Montiya (young & old) Daughter Squirt (akaGrandson) Girls Boys Watchmam NOTE: Pronounce with more emphasis on the italicized words. * Sitch = Situation ACT ONE: AGUEDA Scene One: Party at the Mansion
the West! I'll make sure they'll remember us! (chases a bunch of girls at the other side) Boy 5: He's drunk. Terribly drunk. Shouldn't we stop him? Boy 3: Oh, let him be. The guards will take care of him. Boy 2: I worry for him though. (Anastasia appears in the background, swatting the girls away) Boy 2: Oh, crap. The old witch is here! Anastasia: (waves the boys away) Get out! Leave! Leave! Return to where you ought to be! // (looks at the girls) And you girls, go back to your rooms NOW! At one side:
Sitch: Boys and girls scattered all over, some dancing, some chatting, some drinking, some being random idiots and completely embarrassing. **DANCE… THEN FREEZE (exaggerated poses) Anastasia: (voice in the background) And it was May again. It was the first day of May and witches were abroad in the night. For it was a night of divination, a night of lovers, // and those who cared might peer in a mirror and would there behold the face of whoever it was they were fated to marry. At one side: Boy 1: (like a pervert) Ah, my sweet signora, you do not know how cruel 'tis for us to part without sharing our love! Girl 1: (utterly fell for the pervert) Oh, we'll be able to see each other again, surely? At the other side: Boy 2: Such a wonderful ball for us! Right on May eve as well! Why do they send us away too early? Boy 3: Pity, is it not, that we ought to bid farewell to these pretty lasses before they can even remember us? Boy 4: Nay! They remember us, I tell you. They will remember us, us lads from the great lion of
Girl 2: Being a fair maiden is just too sad! So horrid! Girl 3: Look at how carefree those boisterous young freemen are! Yet here we are, caged by our home, and never we are to--(voice gets overladen with bell tolls) Watchman: Guardia sereno-o-o! Alas doce han dado-o-o! Scene Two: Anastasia's Story Sitch: In the girls' room ala slumber party (with nightgowns), Anastasia is picking up piled crinolines and folding up shawls and raking slippers to a corner. Girl 1: Enough, Anastasia! Enough! We want to sleep! Girl 2: Yes! Go and scare the boys instead, you old witch! Girl 3: (to the other girls) She's not a witch, she's a maga! Born on Christmas eve, the maga! Girl 4: (grabs a shawl and mimics Anastasia look) St. Anastasia, Virgin and Martyr! Girl 5: Are you not jesting? She has conquered seven husbands! (to Anastasia, puzzled)Are you still a virgin, Anastasia? Anastasia: No! But I am seven times a martyr because of you girls! (grabs Girl 4's shawl and hits the girls with it) Now get to sleep! It is late!
Agueda: But Anastasia! You still have yet to tell us your story! Anastasia: Bollocks! Enough with your twit-twats! Agueda: Oh, prophesy (read as: pro-phe-SAI) for me, Anastasia. (other girls groan) Let her prophesy! Whom will I marry, old gypsy? Tell me! Come, tell me! Anastasia: (quiet for a while, before breaking into a smile) You may learn in a mirror, if you are not afraid. Agueda: (very excited) Alright! I am not afraid! I will go. (jumps off the bed) Girl 1: Girls, girls! We are making too much noise! My mother will hear and she'll come just to pinch all of us! Agueda, get back here! And you Anastasia, I command you to shut your trap and go away! Anastasia: (completely sarcastic) Your mother told me to stay here all night, my grand lady! Agueda: And I will not go to sleep! Not until I learn about this mirror! Now, stay old woman. Tell me what I have to do. Girl 2-5: Tell her! Tell her! Girl 1: Oh, you have got to be kidding me! Anastasia: (stares at the girls with a grin for awhile, then drops whatever she's holding) You must take a candle, and go into a room that is dark and that has a mirrorin it, and you must be alone in the room. // Go up to the mirror and close your eyes and say:
Agueda: Rubbish! This is the year 1847 already. There is no such thing as devil anymore! // But where could I go, hm... // Yes, I know! Down to the sala! It has that big mirror and no one is there right now. Girl 1: Are you insane, Agueda?! You can't do this! It's a mortal sin! You will see the devil! Agueda: You know very well that's just nonsense! And besides, I am not afraid. I'm going! Anastasia: (mad, evil witch laugh again) Oh, you wicked girl! You mad girl! Girl 1: Agueda, if you don't come back to bed, I will call my mother! Agueda: And if you do, I will tell her who came to visit you at the convent last March. Come, old woman. Give me that candle. It's best for me to go. Girl 1: Agueda! You're insane! Stop her, girls! Quick! Take hold of her! Block the door! (girls too dumb to move, so Agueda got out. Anastasia just shook her head with a wry smile; very witchy)
“mirror, mirror, show to me, him whose woman I will be.” //
Sitch: Agueda runs in from the side then stops at the edge of the 'sala', panting for breath. The mirror (covered, also surrounded by candles) at the other side of the stage. Candles by the edges are alight. Five seconds after the music begins, with a candle on hand, Agueda begins walking very slowly towards the mirror. Exhaust the music as much as possible, but not to the point of it being overbearing.
If all goes right, just above your left shoulder will appear the face of the man you will marry. (← make this very intimidating and convincing; very important) (complete silence) Agueda: (very meek) And what if all does not go right? Anastasia: Then may the Lord have mercy on you! Agueda: Why? Anastasia: Because you may see the devil! (breaks out into a cackle) (girls 1-5 screamed and clutched one another, ala horror movie)
Scene Three: Mirror, Mirror NOTE: Everything relies on the playing background music here as well as the acting. Since the dialogue is only the incantation, Agueda must be very clear and precise with her actions. Must be very convincing as well.
Agueda: (pulls off the cover and stares at it for around 10 seconds) (takes a deep breath then exhale) (raises candle) (closes eyes) Mirror, mirror... (distraction outside) (some candles got blown away) Agueda: Show to me... (another distraction) (half of the candles now off)
Agueda: Him whose woman I will be. (all candles now off, with just those around the mirror and Agueda's alight) (KILLER SILENCE MODE!) (another distraction: Badoy enters inconspicuously, sound of wood creaking) (creepy evil giggle of Chuckie)
Agueda: (lips curled) Yes! That he has! // But alas, / I could not see them at that moment. // All I could see where his fine clothes, his flashing eyes, his curly hair and mustache. Daughter: And did he speak to you, mama? Agueda: (slow, as if recalling)…yes. (firm, as if sure) Yes, he spoke to me. Scene Four: Agueda and the Devil Badoy
Agueda: (scared eyes wide open then a gasp) (← make this very realistic; a very important scene) (all candle lights now gone) Intermission: Mother and Daughter Sitch: At the bed, Mommy Agueda hugging daughter Daughter: (very excited) And what did you see, mama? What did you see? Agueda: I saw the devil. (tulala) Daughter: The devil, mama?! Oh... oh! Agueda: (closed eyes)Yes, the devil.// (open eyes) I open my eyes,/ and there / in the mirror / smiling at me over my left shoulder / was the devil. Daughter: (naiiyak) Oh, my poor little mama! Were you frightened? Agueda: Of course, my child. // You can imagine. // Hence / good little girls do not look into the mirrors / unless their mother tells them to.// You must stop this naughty habit, / darling,/ of admiring yourself in every mirror you pass / lest you see something frightful someday. Daughter: But the devil mama. What did he look like? Agueda: Well, let me see... // I reckon he has curly hair and a scar on his cheek. Daughter: A scar like papa's? Agueda: Well, yes. But this of the devil was the scar of sin / while that of your papa is ascar of honour— or so he says. (from proud to deadpan) Daughter: And? And? What else about the devil, mama? Agueda: He had a moustache... Daughter: Like papa's too? Agueda: Oh, no! Those of your papa are dirty and graying and smell horrible of tobacco! // These of the devil were very black and elegant. // Oh, how elegant they truly were! Daughter: And did he have horns and a tail, mama? Like what the sisters say?
Sitch: back to Scene 3 setting, only with lights on and Badoy looking very much like a happy prat. Agueda now ready to kick some arses. Devil/Badoy: Charms like your shave no need for a candle, fair one! (smiles and gives a low mocking bow) Agueda: (whirls around and glares at Badoy) (Badoy bursts into a happy bully laugh) Badoy: But I remember you! // You are Agueda, / whom I left, / nothing but a mere infant / and came home to find a tremendous, / splendid beauty, / and I danced a waltz with you but you wouldn't give me the polka! Agueda: (huffs) I have enough of your foolishness. Let me pass. Badoy: (blocks) But I want to dance the polka with the fair one. (they stood before the mirror; their breaths the only sound in the room) Agueda: I told you, enough with your pranks! Now let me be! // I will retire now, you insolent git! (pushes Badoy aside) Badoy: (grabs Agueda's wrist) No! Not until we have danced! Agueda: Silence, you prat! You'll wake even the dead! Badoy: I don't care about them! All I want is a dance! A dance with you! Agueda: Oh, shut up! Go into the devil! Badoy: (laughs) What a temper has my serrana! Agueda: (lashes out with a yell) Badoy: Ah, ah! Now you'll wake the dead. Agueda: I am not your serrana! Badoy: Whose then? Someone I know? Someone I have offended grievously? Because you treat me and all of my friends as if we're mortal enemies. // Such ill treatment I do not like at all, my fair maiden.
Agueda: And why not? You do not know how I detest you! Oh, I detest you, you pompous young man! You go to your beloved Europe and come back an elegant lord and w-we poor girls too tame to please you! We have no grace like the Parisiennes, no fire like the Sevillians, and we have no salt! No salt, no salt! You wear me! You bore me! You fastidiousyoung men! NOTE: Agueda here sounds really angry. She's basically rambling out her anger, complete with angry gestures. Just go wild with yourself. Be an angry, jealous lady, for once. Badoy: Now you jest, serrana. How do you know about us? How can you even be so sure?(incredulous, demanding) Agueda: I heard about you talking among yourselves, and I despise the pack of you! Badoy: But clearly you do not despise yourself, signora. // You come to admire your charms in the mirror even in the middle of the night! Agueda: I was not admiring myself, sir! Badoy: What then? The moon, perhaps? Agueda: Oh! You! (drops the candle, covers face and sobs like a pitiful damsel) Badoy: (alarmed; gets touchy-touchy with Agueda) Oh, do not cry, little one! Forgive me, I said too much! // Please! // Don't cry! // It pains me too much to see your lovely face / stained by such cruel tears wrought by no one else other than me. // Enough, Agueda! // No more tears! // If you seek to hurt me, then such / you have already accomplished! // Now, / please, / I beg of you, / and no one dares to beg but / I of your forgiveness! // Too drunk of my own folly, I truly was! // I knew not what I said, / and has truly said too much! (Badoy grasped and found her hand and touched it to his lips. She shuddered, looking uptimidly and cautiously) Agueda: (shoves Badoy away again) Let me go! Badoy: No! No, Agueda! Not without your forgiveness! Agueda: In your dreams, you prat! Let me go! Away now! Badoy: Such I cannot do! Say you forgive me, Agueda! (grabs her hands again) Agueda: (ITZ BITCHSLAP TIEMZ—slaps Badoy then runs away; bite knuckles)
Badoy: (musing; monologue) But Judas! What eyes she had, and what a pretty shade she turns when angry! Son of a Turk, but she was truly quite the enchantress! How could she think she had no fine nor grace? And no salt? An arroba she had of it! (singing ala Prince Charming; walk to the window side while singing) No lack or salt in the chrism, at the moment of thy baptism! Badoy: Never shall I forget this night! Never! (one last lightning outside window before lights off) ACT TWO: BADOY Scene One: Grandpa Badoy and the Squirt Sitch: Grandpa Badoy was walking home. Squirt is in the sala, very much like in Scene 3. Grandpa enters the dark sala then opens the light, he cried out when he saw his grandson (in a frilly pink nightgown) standing before the mirror. NOTE: Grandpa Badoy sounds very much like an old man who needs to get into a nursing home. Capisci? Badoy: You foolish boy! What are you doing / standing there like a—like a--(struggles to find the right word) Squirt: Oh, grandpa! You frightened me, grandpa! Badoy: Oh, you! So it was you all along, you young bandit! And what is all this? Oi! What are you doing down here at this hour?! Squit: (adorably innocent) Nothing, grandpa. I was only.. I was only... Badoy: (very sarcastic) Yes you are. Yes, you are the great Signor Only, / and how delighted I am to make your acquaintance,/ great Signor Only. // But if I break this cane on your head, / you may wish you were someone else, sir! Squirt: But it was just foolishness, grandpa. They told me I would see my wife if I look into the mirror! Badoy: Wife? What wife? You got duped again, you little brat. Squirt: But grandpa! The boys at school said I would see her if I looked into a mirror tonight and say: “Mirror, mirror, show to me, her whose lover I will be.” (Badoy takes Squirt and pulled him along to sit down on a chair) Badoy: Why don't you put that candle down the floor, squirt, and let us talk over this.// So you want your
wife already, eh? // You want to see her in advance. // But do you know that there are wicked games / and that wicked boys who play them are in danger of horrors? Squirt: Well, the boys did warn me I might see a witch instead. Badoy: Exactly! A witch so horrible you may die of fright! And she will bewitch you, she willtorture you, she will eat your heart and drink your blood! Squirt: Oh, come on now, grandpa. It's 1890 already. There are no witches anymore. Grow up, grandpa! Badoy: Oh, no, my young Voltaire! And what if I tell you that I myself have seen a witch? (in whisper) Squirt: (surprised, piqued) You? Really, grandpa? Where? Badoy: Right in this room... right in that mirror. (points at mirror) Squirt: When is this, grandpa? Badoy: Not so long ago. // When I was a bit older than you, / oh, I was a vain fellow and though I was feeling very sick that night, / I merely wanted to lie down somewhere and die. // I could not pass the doorway of course, / without stopping to see in the mirror what I looked like when dying. // But when I poke my head in, / what I should see in the mirror is not me but... but... Squirt: (whisper) the witch? Badoy: Exactly! Squirt: And did she bewitch you, grandpa? Badoy: Bewitched me? Hah! She did more than just that, my young child! She bewitched me and tortured me! She ate my heart and drank my blood! Squirt: Oh, my poor little grandpa! Why have you never told me so! Was she horrible? Oh, please tell me no! Badoy: Horrible? By the gods, no! // She was beautiful. // She was the most beautiful creature I have ever seen! // Her eyes were somewhat like yours, / but her hair was like black waters / and her golden shoulders were bare. // My God, / she was enchanting! // But I should have known--// I should have known even then—the dark fatal creature she was! (another round of silence as squirt continues looking up at grandpa in awe) Squirt: (glances at the mirror) What a horrid mirror this is, grandpa.
Badoy: What makes you say that, ei? Squirt: Well, you saw this witch in it. And mama once told me that Grandma once told her that Grandma saw the devil in this mirror. Was it of fright that Grandma died? If so, then it truly is such a horrid mirror. Don't you think we should be rid of it, grandpa? Badoy: (only stares at the mirror with a wry smile, as if reckoning Agueda fondly) Who knows, kid. Who knows... (another silence, broken by Badoy who carries his grandson off the chair) Badoy: Well, that's enough story telling for today, squirt. Now get back to bed. Squirt: Okay, grandpa. G'nite! (left alone, Badoy sits down again, shaking his head as well) Badoy: Who knows indeed... ****young couples meet(mirror); old couples meet( bed)*** Watchman: Guardia Sereno-o-o! Alas doce han dado-o-o-o (LIGHTS OFF!)
