KA TULONG
written by Tobie Abad

JOCELYN, female dressed to look like a household helper. Hair not kept well. Clothes obviously not ironed. Simple looking, but can look very beautiful if hair is fixed.
MRS FELICIANO, Never onstage. Always yells offstage. Has a loud and tension causing voice.
S.P.O. CHIEF 1, Never onstage. Always speaks from offstage. Has a voice that exemplifies control and order.
NURSE, Never onstage. Has a calm professional sounding voice.
ROMMEL, Son of MRS FELICIANO. Never onstage. Has young macho voice. College age.
HUKUMAN, Never onstage. Female voice. Voice must have a powerful presence.

Lights fade in to reveal JOCELYN standing at the center of the stage. She has a rag in one hand and a small portable radio in another. She is surrounded with pieces of upturned furniture, dirty clothes, and other things. The place looks like a pigsty.

JOCELYN
Kamukha ko raw si Amanda Page. Oo na, alam kong natatawa kayo. Pero hindi nga, tingnan ninyo ako ng mabuti sa ilalim ng buwan at makikita ninyo kung bakit yung ang sabi sa akin ni ROMMEL. Amanda Page daw. Kamukha ko raw si Amanda.

MRS FELICIANO (off stage, see CAST notes)
Pambihira, JOCELYN! Ano na namang kalokohan itong na pansin ko? Halika nga dito nang makausap kita ng mabuti. JOCELYN!

JOCELYN
(Unaffected by MRS FELICIANO's screaming) Naririnig ninyo yon? Si MRS FELICIANO yon. Grabe kung magalit ang babaeng iyan. Minsan pa nga, nambabato ng baso't pinggan. Nakakatakot nga eh. Noon isang beses, nagalit sa akin si MRS FELICIANO, sinampal niya ako sa pisngi. Tapos, sinampal na naman niya ako sa pisngi. Pagkatapos, tinulak pa naman ako pababa sa hagdan. Siyempre, sabi ko sa amo ko, "Its awlrayt, I am okay."

MRS FELCIANO
Punyeta, JOCELYN! Nasaan ka! JOCELYN!

JOCELYN
Oh sige, excuse me na muna. Usap tayo mamaya.

JOCELYN hurries offstage, not bothering to fix the mess around her. LIGHTS FADE OUT as tense building music begins to play. After a few seconds, RED LIGHTS FADE IN to reveal JOCELYN kneeling at the center of the mess. She looks as if she was raped and beaten; face bruised, arm and hands with cuts, lip bleeding, etc..

S.P.O. CHIEF 1 (voice over, see CAST notes)
Pangalan?

JOCELYN
(sobbbing) Sabi nila kamuka ko raw si Amanda Page.

S.P.O. CHIEF 1
Ah.. miss, alam po namin na hindi kayo si-

JOCELYN
Amanda Page daw. Kasing ganda ko si Amanda Page. Kaya siguro ako... kaya siguro (begins to break away into hysterical tears)

S.P.O. CHIEF 1
Missis baka naman makakatulong ho kayo dito. Alam ba ho ninyo ang pangalan ng babae?

MRS FELICIANO
Ako ba ang kinakausap ninyo? Wala akong alam sa nangyari sa babaeng iyan!

S.P.O. CHIEF 1
Missis, wala akong sinasabing may alam kayo sa-

JOCELYN
(screaming, overpowering the others) Haaah! Haaah... pinagsamantalahan ako! Inaabuso ako! Wala silang awa! Mga hayop! HAYOP! Hayop silang lahat!

S.P.O. CHIEF 1
Miss! (tries to calm JOCELYN but fails) Miss!!!

JOCELYN
Santa Maria, Ina ng Diyos... Patawarin ninyo kaming mga makasalanan...

S.P.O. CHIEF 1
Ka-ano ano ninyo po ba ang babaeng ito?

MRS FELICIANO
Katulong sa amin iyan. Ang pangalan niya ay JOCELYN Dumuhol. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari sa kanya. Nakita ko na lamang siya-

JOCELYN
(interrupting) SINUNGALENG! AMININ MO ANG TOTOO!

MRS FELCIANO
(remaining calm) Mamang Pulis, Hindi ko alam kung ano ang problema ng babaeng ito. Narinig ko na lamang siyang nagwalala sa kanyang kuwarto nang madaling araw ng umaga. Hindi ko-

JOCELYN
(voice rising, trying to drown out MRS FELICIANO) WALA KANG AWA! TAO RIN AKO! HINDI AKO ANG HAYOP! KAYO ANG HAYOP!

MRS FELICIANO
Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari. Basta't pagbukas ko ng pinto nakita ko na lamang siya.

JOCELYN stands as the next voice reads the lines. She acts out the flashback when she was in the Hospital.

NURSE (voice over, see CAST notes)
JOCELYN DUMUHOL was brought to the Paranaque Medical Hospital Emergency Room at 1:48 in the morning, with her was MRS AUDOR FELICINAO and her driver BERTON. Upon initial observation, it was noted that she had many scratches and cuts near her wrists and arms. Her lip was bleeding and there were stains of blood on the clothing at her public area. She was hysterical, in a state of confusion and extreme agitation. She was repeating mumbling, "Ni rape ako..." although never clearly stated who had done so. Still awaiting results from presiding doctor for results on any possible seminal smears or adhensions.

JOCELYN
Alam ninyo ba na mahigit sa isang daang babae ang pinagsasamantalahan sa buong Pilipinas sa loob ng isang taon?

JOCELYN falls back to her knees, her hands are holding her face. She looks up from time to time, as if to try and face those talking to her.. S.P.O. CHIEF 1
(soothing voice, as if to calm her down) JOCELYN? JOCELYN? Naririnig mo ba ako?

MRS FELICIANO
Sinasabi ko sa inyo, ang babaeng iyan, wala nang inatupag kundi bigyan ako ng panibagong problema.

S.P.O. CHIEF 1
MRS FELICIANO, Maraming Salamat ho sa tulong ninyo.

MRS FELICIANO
Aba.. ba't... anong.. ha?

Sound of door slamming closed as MRS FELCIANO was taken away from the room. JOCELYN peeks up, giving a slight giggle. Almost as if she wanted that to happen.

S.P.O. CHIEF 1
Puwede na ba tayong mag-usap ng maayos, JOCELYN?

JOCELYN
Opo. Ano ho ang gusto ninyong malaman.

S.P.O. CHIEF 1
Lahat. Gusto kong malaman kung ano talaga ang nangyari.

JOCELYN closes her eyes and nods. She walks to one side and begins again to act out everything as she narrates it.

JOCELYN
Sampung buwan na ho akong nagtratrabaho sa pamamahay ni MRS. FELICIANO.

Ako ang nag-I-isang katulong sa bahay nila ho. Nabalitaan ko ho sa mga katulong ng mga kapitbahay na dati rati, tatlo ang nagtratrabaho sa kanila. Lahat daw ay nag-layas. Lumayas na raw ako bago huli na ang lahat. Hindi ako nakinig sa kanila. Mahirap makahanap ng trabaho, lalo na ngayong panahon ng krisis. Lahat ng tao ay naghahanap ng paraan para makapag-tipid. Konti lamang ang may kakayahang mag-aksaya ng sobra.

JOCELYN walks up to the stage, begins to assume an alert and excited posture. She smiles and rests both hands on her stomach.

JOCELYN
Tuwing alas-kuwatro ng umaga, ako'y magigising upang maghanda ng breykfast. Kung minsan, may kailangang ihabol na damit; mag-pla-plantsa ako matapos magluto. Pag-sapit ng alas-dose, dapat handa na yung pananghalian para sa anak ni MRS FELICIANO. (as if daydreaming) Hapdey lang kasi yung pasok niya.

JOCELYN walks away from the audience and assumes a more tired posture.

JOCELYN
Siyempre, mula umaga hanggang dapithapon, kailangan kong linisin ang bakay, mag dilig sa bakuran, maglaba ng damit para sa susunod na araw, magluto ng hapunan... kung su-suwertehin, makakahanap ako ng panahon mag pahinga o kaya'at manood ng pabirito kong palabas sa teebee. (a pause) Kahapon.. nagkagulo lahat eh.

Lights change to reflect reenactment of an event.

MRS FELICIANO
Punyeta, JOCELYN! Anong ginagawa mo diyang nanonood ka lamang ng T.V.? Binabayaran kita para magayos ng gamit! Mag laba! Mag plantsa!

JOCELYN
(on the verge of crying) Nagpapahinga lang po! Minsan lang naman...

MRS FELICIANO
Anong minsan? Araw araw na lang wala ka nang ginawang mabuti. Wala ka nang inatupag kundi manood ng T.V. at makipagdakdakan sa telepono! Mahiya ka naman sa sarili mo!

JOCELYN suddenly stands, and the lights shift back to normal. She again has a dazed look on her face. With each narrative, an accompanying sound effect echoes her words.

JOCELYN
Pinag-sasampal niya ako. Isa. Dalawa. Tatlong beses sa mukha. Sa lakas ng sampal niya, hindi ko na malayan na natabig ko yung mga baso sa mesa. Para bang bumagal ang lahat sa aking paligid. Isa isa silang nabasag.

Sinabunutan ako ni MRS FELICIANO. Hinila niya ako palayo sa teebee at papuntang kusina. Hindi niya pinansin ang aking mga sigaw. Kumagat ang mga bubog sa balat ng aking paa. Malakas ang daloy ng dugo. Pakirandam ko'y mawawalan ako ng malay. Sinaktan ako. Pinagsamantalahan.

Lights fade to a subdued hue.

NURSE
Seminal smears were not found on JOCELYN Dumuhol. Adhensions, on the other hand, were located, signifying that a forced entry was indeed performed on her.

S.P.O. CHIEF 1
Teka teka teka... sino ang nag-rape sa inyo?

JOCELYN does not answer. Instead, she gives the impression that she is fighting back tears. Her hands try to cover her body, as if she could feel the hands of the rapist feeling her over again.

JOCELYN
Amanda... Sabi niya kasing ganda ko si Amanda Page. Sabi niya. Amanda Page.

Loud sound of door slamming open. JOCELYN continues to act out the seduction and rape sequence, ignoring all voice over dialogue.

ROMMEL
Putang ina mo! Anong pinag-sasabi mong ni rape kita! JOCELYN! Puta!!!

S.P.O. CHIEF 1
Sino nagpapasok sa iyo?

ROMMEL
Wala akong ginawang masama! Wala akong... Puta, JOCELYN, sabihin mo ang totoo!

NURSE
The administering doctor thus concludes that JOCELYN Dumuhol does show enough signs present to give the conclusion that she was indeed raped.

ROMMEL
Huwag kayong maniwala sa kanya! Hindi totoo! Hindi totoo ang mga sinasabi niya!

S.P.O. CHIEF 1
Arestuhin ang lalaking iyan. Dali!

ROMMEL
Putang ina! JOCELYN aminin mo ang totoo!

Sounds of a heavy struggle. Papers falling, S.P.O. CHIEF1 and ROMMEL arguing and ROMMEL moaning in pain once the handcuffs are placed on his hands. A glass falls, the shattering sound breaking JOCELYN's dream-like reenactment of the rape. JOCELYN falls to her knees, hands flat on the ground , looking upwards as if staring at God or some higher being.

JOCELYN
Hindi na mauulit ang pagkakamaling nangyari kay Flor. Kahit ang mayaman ay maaaring bigyan parusa kapag lumabag ng batas. Ang mahirap ay mayroong lakas ngayon. Hindi na kami nag-iisa.

HUKUMAN (dialogue overlaps with responses of Accused)
Case number 40291 - 4, JOCELYN DUMUHOL against the MRS FELICIANO, having reviewed the evidence presented to the Court...

MRS FELICIANO
Inaamin ko, sinampal ko siya dati. Isang beses lamang nangyari iyon! Isa!

HUKUMAN
I find myself appalled that a highly looked upon family such as that of the FELICIANOs can go so low as to do such a thing...

MRS FELICIANO
Sira na pangalan ng pamilya ko. May mga taong nambato ng mga bintana namin. Kahit kapitbahay namin, ayaw na kaming kausapin. O pansinin man lang.

HUKUMAN
I find in favor of the PLAINTIFF, Miss JOCELYN Dumuhol. In the charge of SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURIES, this court find you guilty and sentences you to pay a fine of no less than 170,000 pesos in addition to both the medical and legal expenses incurred.

MRS FELICIANO
Anong kalokohan ito? Wala ako sa bahay ng makitang bugbog sarado yang punyetang taga-bundok na iyan! Wala akong ginawang hindi ginagawa ng ibang amo sa Pilipinas!

JOCELYN rises to her knees and raises her hands as if in thanks to God. Tears begin to stream down her cheeks.

HUKUMAN
Case number 40291 - 5, JOCELYN DUMUHOL against the ROMMEL FELICIANO, had it not been for the fact that you and the Plaintiff are nearly of the same age, I would have been less kind in my decisions. The evidence reviewed is strongly against you.

ROMMEL
Evidence? Anong evidence? Wala akong ginawa sa babaeng iyon!

HUKUMAN
This court finds in favor of the Plaintiff.

ROMMEL
Ni isang beses ko siya nilapitan ng may balak... May girlfriend ako! Why in the world do I need to rape her? Happy kami ng girlfriend ko!

HUKUMAN
ROMMEL FELICIANO, you found guilty of the offense of rape and sentence you to 20 years of imprisonment.

ROMMEL
Hindi! Hindi maaari! Malapit na ako matapos sa Colehiyo! Hindi ninyo puwede gawin sa akin ito! Wala akong ginawa! Wala! Wala!!!

Usual courtroom sounds emit the chaos that ensures. People, most likely the Press, clamouring for interviews, comments, etc... The Judge demanding for order and silence in her courtroom, MRS FELICIANO and ROMMEL proclaiming their innocence. As the sounds of chaos builds, JOCELYN begins to stand. At first she weakly giggles, then begins to laugh until her laughter is overpowering everything else.

JOCELYN
Hay grabe talagal. Sobrang nakaka-aliw ang panahon ngayon. Para ba talagang pelikula.

JOCELYN walks to one side of the stage and begins to remove her dirty, messy clothing. She grabs a piece of kleenex and begins to wipe away the "blood and dirt" on her face and arms. All of this happens as she speaks the rest of her monologue.

JOCELYN
Mahirap ang buhay ng isang katulong. Maaga gumising, huling matulog. Unang mag-sasaing, subalit huling kakain. Maraming nagsasabing "kawawa" kaming mga tsimay.

(A smile) Hindi ako naniniwala doon! Dati sigur... Hindi ngayon!

Ang sarap nga maging mahirap ngayon. Kapag may-nakaway ka; maging congressman o amo, pulis man o artista, ikaw lagi ang bida sa mata ng nakararami! Hindi nga! Basahin mo ang mga diyaro. Makinig ka sa radyo. Ang mahihirap ang kinakampihan ng marami ngayon. At ang maganda pa dito, kahit sa ibang bansa ka magloko... pagdating ng balita sa Pilipinas, ikaw pa ang "bayani!"

JOCELYN wears a neatly pressed outfit, has now combed her hair and begins to put on some make up.

JOCELYN
Si Flor Contemplacion? Sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam kung siya talaga ang nagkasala. As sa totoo lang, I'm not interested okay. Basta ang alam ko, salamat sa kanya, dumali ang buhay ko. Konting sugat lang, puwede na akong tumakbo sa Hoy Gising at maging sikat na tao. Ako kasi ang mahirap eh, pero di tulad ng ibang mahirap, creative ako diba.

JOCELYN begins to walk towards the RIGHT side of the stage, only to stop and look at the audience as if having heard something.

JOCELYN
Talaga bang ganito kaming mga katulog? Of course not, ha! Ako lang yata ang smart. Bakit, gusto mo bang turuan ko ang ibang katulong maging tulad ko? Hmm, okay na sideline yon! Sino ba sa inyo naghahanap ng katulong? May experience na ako.

LIGHTS OUT, softly begin playing "Bagong Bayani" of Nora Aunor for the curtain call.