ACT 1 (In the sala of Don Pedros Home. Don Pedro is seated reading the paper.

Doa Mameng is standing, nagging her husband.)

TIME: 8pm
Doa M: I told you so. I told you so. This son-in-law of yours will never be a real
somebody. Why, he is just beginning to have a descent law practice and now he is
trying to go into politics. And he will be dragging all these low-class people into the
house these leaders, these voters, these leeches! My, my, what is going to
happen to our social standing? And here you are sitting complacently without even
lifting ypur little finger to prevent your son-in-law from disgracing the family. I tell
you, if I were a man, I..
Don P: (Slowly rasing his eyes from the paper) Are you talking to me?
Doa M: What do you think I am doing, talking to myself?
Don P: Oh, well, I thought you were practicing a monologue or something.
Doa M: Dont get funny. I want to talk to you about the son-in-law of yours.
Don P: My son-in-law! Where do you get that stuff? My son-in-law! He is my son-inlaw when you get sore with him, and he is your son-in-law when you like him.
Doa M: Well, you were the one who consented to their marriage, weren;t you?
Don P: And you consented to have me consent, didnt you? (Stands.) And what is
wrong with Rodolfo, anyway? (Walks to table down left). Rodolfo is a good boy.
(Removes glasses). Beside me, he is the only one with brains in the family.
Doa M: You hate yourself, dont you? (Sits.) if Rodolfo has brains, he is afraidto
wear them out, or he wouldnt be going into politics.
Don P: Let tehm talk their head off! This society stuff is making me sick! High
society! Huh! Where wealth is the price of admission! Where adulterers, embezzlers,
and other criminals, undercover of golds, brush elbows with good men. High
society! High society that takes off its hat to an ex-convict riding in a packard, but
would not even give an encouraging look to a poor, honest neighbor! (During this
and his next speech, Don Ps anger carries him about the room. He pauses here and
there to emphasixze some point.)
Dona M: Not all of them are bad.
Don P: I know that, but do the good ones have enoughn courage to set a standard
of decency that would ostracize ex-convicts, deprived husbands and faithful wives?
High society! And look atv their offspring! All they do is organize all kinds of crazy
societies with no serious purpose. All they know is a good time, and jazz and jazz
and more jazz, a bunch of thrill-hunting good-for-nothings. (Sits down, right). The
woment are pampered by a group of swooning. Bing Crosbys who moon around
trying to imitate sick cats.

Don P: (Standing) Well, thats a part of a game. Success is 50% luck. The whole of
life is a gamble. We are gamblers in one form or another. I gambled when I married
you.
Doa M: Dont be insulting. You forget that you were only a clerk twenty years ago.
Don P: (Sitting on sofa beside Doa M) No offense intended my dear, no offense. All
I wanted to say is that when a wife takes a husband, or a husband takes a wife, it is
just like buying a car. You never know what you are getting until youve got it. And
you speak of Rodolfos spoiling your social standing. Why, think of being the mothein-law of the Honorable Rodolfo Cruz, Congressman from the Fourth District og
Manila. Here is your chance to be invited in Malacaang.
ACT 2 ( A month late in the sala of Rodolfos house . Clara is seated in a chair
mending socks, Rodolfo on the arm of the chair.
TIME 7pm
R: Well, Clara dear, one week more of the campaign.
C: Yes, darling, one week more.
R: Yes, one week more and Ill be with you again in the evenings.
C: Living what we only see now in dreams
R: A week from now you will have more than one boy to help you clean the housse.
C: And you liveries chauffeur to drive the car for you.
R: And you a regular cook to do the cooking for you.
C: And you a private secretary to do the typing for you.
R: And you a maid to mend socks for you and save these little fingers from the
neeedle.
(Takes her hand and kisses finger one by one.)
R: I anybody wants to see me, look at him closely. If he wears smoked glasses,
carries a leather ba, and has a pair of badly worn shoes, tell him I am out.
Juan: Yes, sir. (Door bell rings. Juan goes and returns in half a minute. While he is
gone, Clara picks up a sock and put her hands in it. Her fingers comes out through a
hole.Somebody wants to see you sir.
R: Does he wear smoked glasses?
J: Yes, sir.
R: Worn-out shoes?
J: Yes, sir.
R: Well, why didnt you tell him I am out?
J: I did sir, but he insisted on entering. He said he would sleep here.

R: (Tunring to Clara) Can you beat that? He is going to sleep here, that pest! (To
Juan) Take a seat. Sir. As I todl you, Don Rodolfo is out. (Mang Cario puts down his
leather satchel.)
MC: Thats all right. I have the whole night to wait. How are things going with your
master?
J: Well, sir, I dont know. I am afraid they are not going.
MC: What do you mean?
J: They act rather queer sometimes, sir, he and his wife.
MC: Act queer? Explain yourself,
J: They dont seem to be very well, sir.
MC: I still dont understand.
J: Here they come, sir; you can judge fior yourself.
(Enter Rodolfo and Clara with brooms and mops, dressed like servants; they do not
look at Mang Cario. It is their scheme for evading bill collectors. Mang Cario follows
their movements, appearinf much perplexed.)
R: Well, Juana. This tiresome housework has got to be done before the boss comes,
thats all there is to it.
C: Its all right. It wont be long before well have an army of helpers in this house.
On boy! When the boss gets elected! Receptions, parties and banquets galore!
C: Yes, and work galore!
(They sweep against Mang Cario, driving him toward the door)
MC: Son, what do you suppose you are doing?
R: Oh, cleaning the house and driving the pests away.
MC: Pests? What pests?
C: The pests that give our boss a pain in the neck.
R: And what do you suppose you are doing?
MC: I want to see Rodolfo. I want to see you.
(Door bell rings. Rodolfo turns with Bruo.)

R: Well, sir, this is most unusual. Avisit form my opponent at this time. May I ask to
what I owe the pleasure of this call?
B: I came here to do you a favor.
R: Did you come here to insult me, Mr. Bruo?
B: No, indeed. Kindly listen for a moment. I kniw also that my election is assured,
and your efforts wasted.
R: I am not looking for sympathy, but go ahead with your story.
B: Just a moment, please. I am giving you a chance to cut down your losses. Ten
thousand pesos if you withdraw from this fight.
R: Mr, Bruo, you dont understand me. I entered this fight to support certain
principles. And those principles are not for sale! If this is the purpose of your
(sarcastically) kind vist, (standing) I wish you goodnight.
(Door bell rings, enter Sheriff)
S: Good evening, MR. Cruz.
R: Good evening.
S: (Showing badge) I am sorry I have to perform a
R: I suppose youve come to arrest me, Im ready.
C: (Excited) Rodolfo, can it go this far?
R: Thats all right, my dear. This charge is only a big lie. They cant do me any harm.
C: (Turns to the Sheriff) Officer, wait just a moment, please. (Runs to the telephone)
Give me 3-46-56. Yes. Let me talk to father, quick; this is Clara. Hello! Father!
Father! Please come here at once. Rodolfo is under arrest. Yes! Hurry up! (Hangs up
to the receiver) Officer, wait for my father, will you?
S: Yes, Mrs. Cruz, I will.
R: Officer? Have you any warrant for arrest?
S: Yes, sir. Here it is. (Rodolfo returns warrant to Sheriff)
C: Officer, please wait a while, my father will be here in a few seconds.
S: Yes, Mrs. Cruz, I will.
C: Oh, Rodolfo! (Goes to Rodolfo, much upset.)

R: Dont take it so seriously. You know it is false. (Pats her on the shoulder, trying to
comfort her. Enter Don Pedro)