SABINA Crossing themselves too and rising

Severino Montano briefly, the mourners look questioningly at

Cast:
Sabina
Mamerto
Rustica
Cleta
Ariston
Ursula
Antero
Mr. George Price
Place: Kawakan - a small farm village near
the sea coast, to the far north of Luzon.
Time: The present, April evening. Ten
o'clock.
SCRIPT:
OLD WOMAN: Death is loneliness! Death is
sadness!
MOURNERS: God have mercy upon us!
OLD WOMAN: We pray, O Lord, for the soul
of our departed sister, Maria!
MOURNERS: My God! My God! Let Thou
not forsake her! In the kingdom of Thy
golden city, in the realm of life eternal,
receive Maria into Thy care!
OLD WOMAN: Dark is the mist that covers
us, and weak indeed is the clay house! Look
upon us, O God, who are living!
MOURNERS: God have mercy upon us!
OLD WOMAN: We also pray, O God, for
Maria’s living and only daughter, Sabina!
She is but a frail jar against the mighty tides!
Spare her, O Lord, from evil!
( The old man rises and turns coldly towards
the big window.)
MOURNERS: (Casting quick glances at the
Old Man, their prayers becoming faster): My
God! Let Thou not forsake her from the rages
of sin and the scorching heat of hell-fire,
deliver Sabina, O Lord, from evil!
OLD WOMAN: Amen! (She makes the sign
of the cross.)
the Old Man.
OLD WOMAN: What made you rise just
now, Mamerto? Is it the crying of the black
turtle that worries you, she that’s grieving
deeply by the river’s mouth?
OLD MAN: No Rustica! I’m getting tired
hearing you pray for Sabina every night. Isn’t
it enough that we mourn for the dead?
OLD WOMAN: It’s also a blessed thing to
pray for the living, Mamerto!
CLETA: Indeed, it’s our duty to look
after Sabina! I passed by the village store
this evening, and the women are laughing.
“How’s Mr. George?” they asked me. “Is it
true your Aunt Maria died because of Mr.
George?”
OLD MAN: Your Aunt Maria didn’t die
of any such thing, Cleta!
CLETA: Didn’t she? Aunt Maria
herself left heavy the day Sabina was fool
enough to go out with Mr. George!
URSULA: The doctor said it was her
weak heart she died of, Mother, not Mr.
George!
CLETA: Keep quiet!
OLD WOMAN: Maria’s heart was heavy that
day, God save her soul! I fear her spirit will
come back if Sabina’s not careful this
evening. Mamerto, what are we to do with
Sabina?
OLD MAN: Nothing, Rustica! It would
be wiser if we leave Sabina alone!
OLD WOMAN: Wiser? Once there was a
strange sailor who came roaming round this
village; a clean chap he looked like. But
soon one of the young girls bore him a child.
The sailor left, and the poor girl died of
sadness!
OLD MAN: Mr. George is not a sailor,
Rustica!
OLD WOMAN: He is a man, nonetheless,
Mamerto!

1
SABINA
CLETA: Do you know what the CLETA: Quiet! She’s coming now! Oh, my
women in the market are saying? This is the God the Lamp! Hide the lamp! Antero.
night Mr. George is coming back!
SABINA: (cheerfully but simply). Good
ARISOTN: It’s gossip such as yours that evening to you all. Your blessing, Grandpa.
brings the devil, Cleta! Stop it! I’m glad to see you Grandpa! Isn’t dark
enough for prayers in this house without
CLETA: Surely, it’s no gossip, closing the windows?
Ariston!
CLETA: The prayer is over Sabina!
ARISTON: Well, what if he is coming
back? ANTERO: Sabina, are you deaf? Don’t you
touch the window!
CLETA: Sabina will want to light
that lamp again in this house, instead of the ( Silence, Sabina leaves the windows
candles. alone)

ARISTON: What lamp? SABINA: I’m sorry, Grandma! Ii only wanted

to let in the light of the moon.
CLETA: (Indicating the lamp on top
of cupboard) That new lamp there, brought CLETA: And what is it you are looking for?
by Mr. George the day Aunt Maria died!
SABINA: The lamp that was brought from the
ARISTON: And what’s so terrible about city….. Oh here it is!
lighting that lamp?
ANTERO: Drop the lamp Sabina!
CLETA: The village will be noisy with
gossip in the morning. OLD MAN: You can’t blame a girl from
wanting things brighter in a dark house, son.
ARISTON: Don’t be foolish!
(Sabina look for a watch)
OLD WOMAN: Where is Sabina?
ANTERO: Why don’t you answer us?
URSULA: I’ll look into her room, Grandma. (Another silence)

CLETA: Stay in the corner there, and be
quiet. You are too young to meddle in in
such things!
ARISTON: What is the matter?
CLETA: Why, she’s taking off her mourning
this very minute!
URSULA: Mother! I don’t like my black dress.
CLETA: We are talking to you, Sabina!
SABINA ( Coldly) : And what if he returning
tonight, Aunt Cleta?
OLD WOMAN: Leave that lamp alone, child.
Its wisdom to be careful.
SABINA: Im tired of sadness in this dark
house, Grandma!

CLETA: Close your sinful mouth
OLD WOMAN: It’s a bad enough for her not
to come to prayers these nine nights.
URSULA: Grandma! Grandma!
ARISTON: What is it now?
URSULA: She’s combing her hair before the
looking glass!
OLD WOMAN: It’s a bad omen to look into
the glass, Cleta. This will be a night of evil.
OLD WOMAN: If you don’t listen to us, you’ll
be lonely.
SABINA: Its your years wont to stand the
brightness of the lamp, Grandma for your
life nearly broken! I’ll light the lamp.
CLETA: its useless to waste breath over a
stubborn girl who won’t listen.
ANTERO (Jumping toward her sister) : For
Gods sake, will you listen or not?

2
SABINA
ARISTONI ( Holding antero back) : Antero!
Take it easy!
ANTERO (Insistely) : What was happened, we
are asking you!
OLD MAN: You have no need to raise a
hand against your sister, son!
ANTERO: My only sister! God what a shame!
SABINA ( Resentfully) : I’ve no call but to be
happy, Antero!
ANTERO: Happy? Its you’re doings that
drove Mother to her grave?
OLD WOMAN ( Kindly) : Sabina, what is it
that has happened between you and Mr,
George ?
CLETA: Whatever it was, the whole village is
jeering and laughing!
SABINA ( breaking down helplessly): Stop it,
all of you! Stop it! You’ll drive me crazy with
your wailing.
ANTERO: For God sake, will you listen or not.
SABINa: No! No I wont listen! You cant
destroy my little share of happiness now.
ANTERO: ( shocked) Do you realize what are
you saying.
CLETA: Since it your wish, we shall go. Come,
Ursula! But whatever happens to you from
now on, don’t you ever call upon us! Are
you coming, Ariston?
ARISTON: Don’t be so hard on the poor girl,
Cleta!
CLETA: Don’t come if you don’t want to!
You can stay! You’d best be coming along,
Grandma!
ANTERO: Sabina, You’re a heartless fool!
OLD WOMAN : Come the cool night will
calm your anger, son!
SABINA: Oh Grandpa! Grandpa!
OLD MAN: Don’t cry.
SABINA: Am I wrong, Grandpa? Am I very
much mistaken?
SABINA
OLD MAN: Outside love, nothing lives,
Sabina! That’s what a wise man said long
ago. Surely, whatever the heart feels richly
must be right!
SABINA: I’m trying to build me a nest, trying
to weave threads of laughter through it,
OLD MAN: Well, don’t cry!
SABINA: I mustn’t cry, for Mr. George is
coming back tonight. Mr. George is coming
back!
OLD MAN: Mr. George promised you that?
SABINA: Many times, Grandpa!
OLD MAN: Are you happy now?
SABINA: Yes, again and again he has told
me!
SABINA (Confidingly, Softly): We were there
still when the twilight was coming . . . he
lying happily on the warm sand, and me
very happy beside him!
OLD MAN: (Answering her reverie with his):
Yes child. What else can be more beautiful
than that?
SABINA: Then I haven’t done wrong? People
like me haven’t done wrong?
OLD MAN (very Kindly): When you’re happy
at last? . . . No, Sabina! Surely, its wrong to
know happiness when the glorious
beginnings come! Or if it is, perhaps love
itself is a mistake, and maybe. . . Man
couldn’t be forgiven.
SABINA: But the people. . . They’re so selfish,
Grandpa!
OLD MAN: Yes, indeed, men can be funny
sometimes.
SABINA: And miserly with their loves,
Grandpa!
OLD MAN: Look to your heart, for it is your
own best counsel! It’s the best safest way to
be happy! (Rising) Good night, my child!
SABINA: They say it’s ill omen to go by the
back door at night!
3
OLD MAN: I don’t believe in omens! . . . Well,
goodnight again!
SABINA (Cheerfully): Is there great need for
us to be locking the gate , Antero?
ANTERO: Are you so set on waiting?
SABINA: Don’t begin that all over again.
Antero! Would you have me growing old,
like a sour old maid?
ANTERO: That’s not the trouble!
SABINA: It is! You should be well pleased I’m
happy at last, after doing my goodly share
of hard work these long years since Father
Died!
ANTERO: If you should fall into disgrace,
what are we to do, your own kin, who’ll bear
the brunt of your chosen shame forever?
SABINA: Shame? Is it a shame to be happy?
ANTERO: Can’t you appreciate what it is to
have a name?
SABINA: I love him so, Antero! I love him!
ANTERO: All right, but you know nothing
about him whatsoever. Its only three months
you’ve known him!
SABINA: I don’t care about that!
ANTERO: It’s your duty to care!
SABINA: Mr. George loves me! I know he
does!
ANTERO: I don’t care what your wild heart
tells you! What I care about is your own
good self, do you hear me?
SABINA: He’s good to me Antero! Mr.
George Is a good man.
ANTERO: I warn you he’ll leave you like
thunder!
SABINA: No, no, he won’t. He won’t!
ANTERO: Oh yes he will!
SABINA: (DREAMILY) Mr. George and I will
be married someday.
SABINA
ANTERNO: Get married to him then, if you
can! But if you know I’ll show both of you
where to enjoy your pleasures.
SABINA: You will not! You dare not! Oh let’s
not quarrel!
ANTERNO: You stay away from the lamp!
SABINA: (Quietly) It’s my own lamp. Surely I’ll
light it!
ANTERNO: Give me that lamp!
SABINA: Let go the lamp, Anterno! Please let
it go! You’ll break the lamp.
ANTERNO: I don’t care! It’s this devil of a
lamp itself giving you such foolish notions
about love.
SABINA: Give the lamp! It’s my lamp!
ANTERNO: (Wrestling he seizes the lamp and
smashes it against the floor) There goes your
devil of a lamp! You fool!
SABINA: I’ll open the gate.
ANTERNO: Think of the scandal you fool.
Mr. George: (at the gate) Sa-bi-na! open
the gate! Sabina are you there?
SABINA: Yes, Mr. George, I’ve been waiting!
(Then to Anterno, wildly) He’s coming
around the backyard through the garden.
He is coming now. Can you hear me? Mr.
George himself is coming up!
(Anterno slaps her fiercely, throwing her
to the floor. She utters Stifled cry.)
SABINA: It’s alright now. You can have the
front gate to yourself. It doesn’t matter now!
He is here! He is coming himself.
ANTERNO: Go ahead, wallow in the mud
with him you reckless little fool
(Mr. George enters cheerfully from the
back door.)
Mr. George: Well, well, How’s little Sabina
this evening?
SABINA (Running too him) : Mr. Geoge! Mr.
Geoge! I’ve been waiting!
Mr George (Embracing her warmly) : I sure
feel grand to see you, Sabina!
SABINA: I’m so glad you’re back, just as you
promised me!
MR.GEORGE: I thought about you an awful
lot myself.
4
SABINA: I was afraid you wouldn’t return to
kawakan.
MR.GEORGE: I can’t forget Kawakan . It’s
the place for me.
SABINA: You must now and be comfortable,
Mr. George.
MR.GEORGE: You’re very thoughtful, Sabina.
I like you, and I like this farm.
MR.GEORGE (THOUGHTFULLY) : The women
I know are kind, but you’re so much kinder!
God knows how much I’ve missed you.
SABINA: I’ve missed you too, Mr. George.
SABINA: Mr. George?
Mr. GEORGE: Yes, My dearest?
SABINA: Will you always love me?
MR. GEORGE: Always! Forever and always!
SABINA (After a while, timidly) : Will you. . .
let me keep that love?
MR. GEORGE: It’s all yours, sweet! I never
knew what that love meant until I met you,
Sabina!
SABINA (SIMPLY) : It’s myself I offer gladly,
Mr. George.
MR.GEORGE: My little brown Sabina! Can’t it
be like this always?
SABINA : Forever, Mr. George ! Our love will
last forever!
SABINA: Mr. George, I wish to tell you a
dream I’ve been dreaming! I want to come
to the City with you.
MR.GEORGE: Cities can be tiring, Sabina!
City folks can be so tiring!
SABINA: Is that true, Mr. George?
MR.GEORGE: Very true, dear.
SABINA: Do they tire you, Mr. George?
MR. GEORGE: Indeed they do.
SABINA: Then I don’t want to tire you.
SABINA
MR. GEORGE: I’m happy here Sabina!
Come… don’t you think it’s time to go to
sleep?
SABINA: Just as you wish, Mr. George. I’ll
have your room ready in a minute.
She goes into her room, but she comes back
quickly with a silver sewing box.
SABINA: Before we say goodnight, there’s
something I want to show you.
MR.GEORGE: Yes, dear, what is it?
SABINA (As she takes out several
embroidered handkerchiefs from the box);
I’ve work them all myself, Mr. George, every
night while you were away.
MR. GEORGE (Taking the handkerchief):
Sabina, they’re lovely. “To Mr. George” Well!
Well!
SABINA: I’m glad you like them. They are for
you Mr. George. There’s a little thought I
wove into each letter, Mr. George!
MR.GEORGE: Darling, I cannot thank you!
You’re the sweetest thing.
SABINA: I kept thinking about you and I will
be married some day. And I’ll bring a child
into that house and many more if I am able.
MR.GEORGE: Sweetheart.
SABINA: There’s just one thing I want to show
you. (She shows him a baby’s lace bonnet.)
For the gift itself I’ll bring you into that house.
MR.GEORGE: (Trying not to show confusion):
Sabina! Do you mean… are you…
SABINA: Oh! I’m glad I told you!
MR.GEORGE: That’s wonderful darling!
(Silence) Sabina, have you told anyone?
SABINA: I’ve told no one, Mr. George!
MR. GEORGE: Are you sure, Sabina?
SABINA: I’m very sure, Mr. George!
MR.GEORGE: Then don’t tell anyone… not
yet… not for just a while yet… will you dear?
5
SABINA: If you wish it, I shall tell no one…
Aren’t you happy, Mr. George!
MR. GEORGE (Distractedly): Yes, yes, of
course, my dearest!
SABINA (Thoughtfully): I’m so glad you’re
happy. And I am so happy were to be
married.
MR.GEORGE: Come close to me, darling,
there’s something awful difficult I want to tell
you. We cannot get married.
SABINA: (Looking at him in consternation):
What? Why?... You don’t mean what you’re
saying!
MR. GEORGE: I do. I’m already married,
Sabina!
SABINA (Stupified): You’re telling me a lie!
MR.GEORGE: I’m telling you the honest truth,
dear.
SABINA: Then, it’s…
MR.GEORGE: Yes, it’s true.
SABINA (Brokenly): Oh!... Oh!... It’s true then?
What Antero said is true then!... There
something else?... Someone else between
us!
MR.GEORGE: She can’t come between us! I
promise you! Somehow, I’ve never known
her, my wife.
SABINA (Turning-away defeatedly) You’ve
cheated me! You’ve lied to me..
MR.GEORGE: I didn’t want to lose you, that’s
why! Honest, I didn’t…
SABINA: You lied!... You lied!... Oh, you’ve
cheated me!
MR.GEORGE: Dearest I couldn’t help it!
SABINA (Softly intensely): You’ll never know
what it is to love!
MR.GEORGE: I never knew love until I met
you!
SABINA (Remorsefully): Oh, I can’t believe
anything you say now! (She sobs bitterly, but
softly)
SABINA
MR.GEORGE: Dearest, you must listen to me!
You’ve got to believe me!
SABINA: I can’t be happy now. There’s an
emptiness lying between us now, a wide,
black, silent darkness!
MR. GEORGE: Others can’t come between
our love!
SABINA: Perhaps they’re not misers after all!
Yes I can hear them shouting! Outside love,
all is death!
MR. GEORGE: Sabina, for God’s sake listen to
me!
SABINA (Moving away): No! No!. It’s all so
strange!
MR GEORGE: What are you saying to me?
Think only of our love! Think of our love!
SABINA: And what of me? What is to
become of me? What shall I ever tell them
now?
MR GEORGE: Yes Sabina! Our love! Our love!
SABINA: I’m scared of them, Mr George! I’m
afraid of the dark-ness!
MR GEORGE: I’m here, don’t be afraid! You
must get a little rest now.
SABINA: I’m all right, to promise to come
back!
MR GEORGE: That’s good, That’s the girl. ( He
Goes)
( But It is Antero who appears. She
recoils fearfully from him )
SABINA: Oh, it’s only you, Antero. I thought it
was Mother.
ANTERO (Coldly): A nice time for you to think
of Mother! There’s no use now! I don’t care
if your conscience bothers you now!
SABINA (Blankly): YES! Antero, yes! ( Antero
starts for the kitchen door) Antero, listen to
me!
ANTERO: Don’t you tell me anything! Get
married if you can quickly. The sooner you
6
leave this house, the better. Go to the city
with him, if you can! I don’t care!
SABINA (Holding on to him): No. no Antero.! I
know now that I was wrong!. Listen to me!
(She clings to him.
ANTERO: So it’s no, is it? ( He pushes her
abruptly away; she falls.) MY God, don’t
come to me! Don’t talk to me! Don’t you
dare tell any of us anything! ( He goes to the
kitchen leaving her on the floor.)
(The others try to quiet her. The old
woman approaches Sabina’s body and
begins mourning, The men place the
bamboo couch in front of the altar, the
women take a white blanket from the room,
and spread it on the couch.)
OLD WOMAN (Praying) : It’s an evil night! It’s
an evil night, Mr. George!
CLETA (Calling out to Mr George) : Mr
George! Please leave our Sabina alone!

SABINA: Antero, listen to me! Antero, come
back! ( She’s cries pitifully.) It’s all right now! I
was wrong, Antero! I only wanted to tell you
were right. I was wrong.
ANTERO: Sabina! Sabina, where are you?
MR GEORGE: I heard a shot, Antero! What is
it?
MR GEORGE: For God’s Sake where’s
Sabina? (He rushes to the bedroom.)
Sabina! Why?
MR GEORGE: Call the doctor, Quick Antero!
ANTERO: There’s no Doctor in the village!
SABINA: I’m not afraid any more, Mr
George!
OLD WOMAN (Lamenting) : It’s evil night,
Mamerto.
OLD MAN : Her death but her new life just
begun Rustica! Her life’s bigger than our
pretty lives now! Ours will be the sadness
now ours will be the loneliness forever! And
we shan’t be happy. Till our selfish hearts
have learned to love truly forever.
They start to pray again. A brilliant shaft of
moonlight falls on Sabina’s body as the men
carry her out, praying as the go.
(A bamboo flute is heard far
away. Once more we hear the turtle crying.
)

MR GEORGE: Don’t Talk!

SABINA: Mr. George!

MR GEORGE: Darling, forgive me.

SABINA: Will you think of me. Always?

SABINA ( With an effort) : Tell the traders..

you knew of a dark woman.. who was
faithful, Mr. George!

MR GEORGE: Sabina, don’t leave me! Don’t

Leave me!

SABINA: I shall be waiting, Mr. George.. on

a sand hill by the sea… I shall be waiting
forever… (She dies.)

MR GEORGE (Sobbing) : Sabina!... It’s all my

fault!

CLETA: What Happened? (She suddenly

realizes Sabina is dead and cries
hysterically.) Grandma! She’s dead!

7
SABINA