At Stake

Scene 1
INT. CHIARAS HOUSE DAY
Yaya and Bay enter the living the living room
Yaya: Maam Chiara, you have a visitor.
Chiara: Okay, Ill be there.
Yaya: Ms. Bay, would you like something to drink?
Bay: Its okay. Im fine.
Chiara: Oh Bay! Its you what a lovely surprise.
Bay: Hi Chiar! Um.. Ill go directly to the point. Will you lend me 100,000 Pesos? Its an emergency. My
fathers in the hospital. I need the money to pay for his surgery.
Chiara: Why didnt you tell me earlier?
Bay: I was embarrassed to borrow from you.
Chiara: What are friends for?
Yaya sings the chorus of That's What Friends Are For by Dionne Warwick
Keep smiling and keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for
In good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for
Chiara: Yaya? Please get 100,000 pesos from my drawer.
Yaya: Yes, maam
Bay: Chiara, thank you very much.
Yaya: Maam, heres the money.
Chiara: This is my tuition fee for the next semester. Im going to lend it to you since, you are my dearest
friend. I hope your father will get getter. You can pay me a week before the second semester.
Bay: I will pay you back. Im really grateful for this. Thank you my friend.
Chiara: You are welcome. Now, go and stay beside your father. He needs you now more than ever.
Scene 2
EXT. ROAD DAY
Bay waits for a jeepney to come when her phone starts to ring.
Bay: Hello, Im on my way. Ive got the money. Okay, see you soon. Ill buy some apples for you. Love
you, father.
Suddenly, a jeepney stops and she boards it. Also, a man in his twenties follows her and
boards the jeepney.
Scene 3
INT. JEEPNEY DAY
Jeepney Driver: For those who are getting off on Echavez, Ramos, Colon, please pay the designated fare.

For those who are getting off on Echavez, Ramos, Colon, please pay the designated fare.
A conversation between 3 female passengers starts.
Passenger 1: Shaila and Lea, have you heard about the hold-upping incident that happened last Monday?
Passenger 2 and 3: No, we havent. Could you tell us what happened?
Passenger 1: The incident happened around 7 pm. A girl in her twenties was withdrawing money from an
atm near the USC Main. After withdrawing, she rode a jeepney headed for Ayala. She didnt notice that a
suspicious man in his twenties was following her. The man sat beside her. After a few minutes, the man
took out a knife and asks everyone for their cellphones and money.
Passenger 2: Thank goodness, I went home early that day. I would have been a victim.
Passenger 3: So, did they catch the hold-upper?
Passenger 1: No, the hold-upper is still on the loose. He was wearing a cap and the lights were too dim to
accurately describe his physical features.
Passenger 2: Lets stop talking about that. Can you see that guy at the end? Isnt he handsome?
Passenger 3: Oh! That guy is cute. I wonder if hes single.
Then, the 3 female passengers start to talk indistinctly. Meanwhile, Bay, whos tired and
hungry, has fallen asleep.
Snatcher/Christian: She has fallen asleep. I think its my chance and nobody seems to be looking at her.
He quickly grabs Bays bag and jumps out of the jeepney. Bay is awakened by the sudden
loss of her bag and finds that the guy sitting beside her was gone. The passengers told Bay that the guy
next to her was a snatcher. Bay starts to sob and the passengers pitied her so, they gave her some money.
Passenger 3: You can never judge someone by their looks. He was handsome but, hes not a good guy.
Passenger 2: Miss, here is some money. We dont have much but, wed like to give it to you.
Bay: Thank you. Manong, can you please drop me off the police station?
Jeepney Driver: Okay, miss.
Bay continues to sob. She goes to the police station to report the incident.
Scene 3
INT. HOSPITAL DAY
Kiesha paces back and forth. She is anxiously waiting for her brother-in-law to arrive.
Christian sees Kiesha and runs towards her.
Christian: Kiesha, how is Lady? (breathing deeply)
Kiesha: Kuya, shes fine for now but the doctor told me that if we prolong this, she could die.
Christian: Thats not going to happen. I have the money right now.
Kiesha: Where did you get the money? Werent you fired?
Christian: I.. I.. I borrowed it from someone.
Christian looks away.
Kiesha: You stole it, didnt you? Kuya, how could you do it? What would happen if ate knew about this?

Christian: Shed be mad but, what can I do? Its the only thing I could think of. I have no one else but you
and her. I just cant watch her die without doing anything.
Kiesha: Okay, I understand. Im sorry if I cant help out.
Christian: Lets go see my wife.
Together, they went and visited Lady.
Lady: Hi Christian! How are you?
Christian: Im fine. Hows our baby?
Lady: Hes fine and hes kicking a lot today.
They continue the conversation..
Scene 4
INT. WARD - DAY
On the other hand, Bay arrives in the hospital. She is gloomy and angry at herself. She
visits her father.
Kieron: Bay, what took you so long? I thought that something bad happened to you.
Kieron sees her daughters gloomy face.
Kieron: Did something really happen?
Bay starts crying again.
Bay: Pa, Im sorry. I lost the money I borrowed. It was stolen when I had fallen asleep in the jeepney.
Kieron: Its okay Bay. You should stop crying about it. I think God has greater plans for us. That man
probably needed the money more than we do.
Bay: Pa, how could you say that? We needed that money for your surgery and I had to embarrass myself
by borrowing from Chiara.
Kieron: You should calm down. You might faint.
Bay: Pa, how can I be calm? The thought of losing you is painful and I cant bear it.
Suddenly, Kierons doctor arrives.
Doctor Cianza: Good morning! Mr. Alquizalas. I have scheduled your operation tonight since, you told
me you were going to pay for the remaining balance.
Kieron: Doc, Im sorry. The surgerys not going to happen. We do not have the money now.
Bay: Doc, can you please perform the surgery? Ill pay you later.
Doctor Cianza: Im sorry but we have rules to follow.
Bay: Can you bend those rules for now? Doesnt the system have a heart?
Doctor Cianza: No, it doesnt. Im sorry but, I really cant. I have to go and see other patients.
The doctor leaves the room.
Bay: Pa, Im going to the Patient Financial Services. Im going to ask for a promissory note.
Bay leaves the room.
Scene 5
INT. Patient Financial Services DAY
Bay heads to the Patient Financial Services to talk to the person in charge. On the other
hand, Christian heads to the same place.
Bay: Miss, cant I ask for a promissory note? My father needs to be operated.

Accountant: Im sorry but the hospital doesnt give promissory notes.

Christian intervenes the conversation between the two women.
Christian: Excuse me, I am here to pay for Lady Mae Bordens fees.
Accountant: Okay, sir. Excuse me, maam would you please step aside?
Christian keeps on talking with the doctor when Bay realizes that this man was the one
who stole her money.
Bay: Excuse me, arent you the man who stole my money? Please give me back my money I need it for
my fathers surgery.
Christian: Im sorry but I think youve got the wrong man.
Bay: No, its you. I desperately need that money so, give it back.
Christian: Yes, it was me. Also, I desperately need that money. My wife needs to have a c-section or else
shell die along with my son.
Bay couldnt muster anything but, she couldnt let the money be taken from her. She
grabs the bag. Suddenly, screams filled the hospital. Kiesha runs to Christian while Doctor Cianza runs to
Bay.
Lady: CHRISTIAN!
Kiesha: Kuya! Kuya! Ates bleeding so much blood.
Doctor Cianza: Miss Alquizalas, your fathers just had a cardiac arrest. Miss Alquizalas
Bay and Christian could only look at each other and grasp the bag of money tightly. Both of them
unsure of what to do. Two lives are at stake. Who will live? Who will die?

THE END.