SPICE!
written by Tobie Abad
note: knowledge in Filipino is necessary
SPICE is a term used to connote lesbianism, it is in no way seriously meant to refer to the Spice Girls.

Costumes: All cast members wear a mask of some sort that hides their true personality. The Mask must be easy to remove for the mirror scene to be effective.

Cast:
VIC: self affirmed homosexual male. Parents not like the situation though. College student. Tall, clean cut and quite appealing. Note: role must be played in an anti-cliché manner. No "maarte" squeaky voices and no "butterfly fingers" motions. Yes, there are homosexuals who still act normally. Gender is NOT action. Gender is Identity.

MARGA: closet homosexual female (or more appropriately, lesbian). Still unsure of identity and projects her "defensiveness" towards Vic. Again, avoid anti-cliché approaches to the lesbian image.

STEPHEN: straight male. Macho type. Well combed hair, goatee if possible. BUT, wears "gay" colors (fushia or peach) and has a tendancy to use hand motions to explain ideas. Must seem a bit younger than Vic or Marga.

SHADOWVIC: All black, bodystockingtype of outfit. Shows the very expressive gay personality of VIC.  Has no lines, communicates via hand motions and body expressions. Appears in all scenes with VIC until stated otherwise.

SHADOWMARGA: All black, bodystockingtype of outfit. Shows the very expressive gay personality of MARGA.  Has no lines, communicates via hand motions and body expressions. Appears in all scenes with MARGA until stated otherwise.

PROPS PERSON: One extra dressed in black who handles setting up the props while onstage.

Note: Setting of play is De la Salle University grounds. If to be produced in another university, proper alterations to the script may be done, with proper permission from the writer.

MARGA and VIC are waiting on a bench nearby. They are talking about how VIC had finally told his parents. MARGA is tense and worried. VIC a bit excited.

MARGA: So VIC, anong sabi ng parents mo?

VIC: Actually, wala. They haven�t spoken to me for a week now.

MARGA: Sabi ko s�ayo na �wag �mong sabihin kasi, eh. Now look at what happened. Things like that kasi, shouldn�t be brought up.

VIC: Hindi naman sa ganoon. MARGA, naiintindihan ko naman sila. Lately lang naman talaga nag-start yung mga Gay-Lesbian Liberation Movements. They don�t realise that we have the right to express ourselves in whatever way we want. My parents� Our parents were not raised to see homosexuality as natural or normal. It just was one of them taboo things.

MARGA: Hanggang ngayon naman, no. Kasi, why didn�t you just keep it to yourself.

VIC: But why should I? Bigyan mo ako ng isang magandang rason.

MARGA: Well, minsan kasi, hindi ready ang isang tao sa mga ganyan na bagay. It�s not like everyone in the world has a friend who is gay or lesbian, no.

VIC: Sigurado ka ba diyan sa sinasabi mo?

MARGA: VIC, seryoso ako. Kahit ako, I had to learn to accept you.

VIC: MARGA, the point is, you DID accept me. Di mo ba ako maintindihan. When I first told you, diba napaka-negative mo sa self-affirmation ko. I remember, you were even telling me to stop talking like that. To tell you I was just joking. To just shut up cause it wasn�t funny anymore.

MARGA: Hindi naman kasi talaga nakakatawa ang ganoong biro.

VIC: MARGA, are we getting back to that sort of an argument?

MARGA: Basta, VIC. I just thing you shouldn�t have told them. Tingnan mo ngayon, namomoblema ka, pati ako naaapektohan.

VIC: Siyempre no (pa cute) Kaya nga tayo friends diba?

MARGA: Oo na.

STEPHEN enters. VIC notices STEPHEN and starts staring. MARGA notices VIC then starts hitting him to gain his attention. STEPHEN walks to and fro, looking around.

VIC: Whoa! Type ko siya.

MARGA: Tumigil ka nga diyan. Marinig ka niyan!

VIC: So? Eh ano, guwapo naman talaga siya.

MARGA: Puwede ba. Not my type. Too�

VIC: Ano?

STEPHEN looks at MARGA, natutulala, tapos titingin sa malayo.

MARGA: Basta. Hindi ko siya trips.

STEPHEN looks to and fro ulit, looks at the two then shrugs shoulders and looks tense.

VIC: (tatayo) Alam mo, sa limang taon nating pinagsamahan, lahat ng type ko hindi mo trips. Lesbi ka �ata, eh.

MARGA: (irritated) Tumigil ka nga diyan. No way am I a lesbian, okay. Anong akala mo sa akin, Spice girl?

STEPHEN looks at the two again then approaches. VIC goes silent, mouth agape. MARGA keeps from smiling and gives VIC a nudge.

STEPHEN: Excuse me.

VIC: (Natataranta) Yes?

STEPHEN: Saan dito ang SC office?

VIC: (MARGA natatawa kay VIC) Ah, doon sa third floor ng SPS building.

STEPHEN: SPS?

VIC: Oo, SPS building. (shocked) Don�t tell me hindi mo alam kung saan ang SPS building!

STEPHEN: (hesistant and ashamed) Ah� well�

MARGA: (naaaliw todo) Freshman ka ba?

STEPHEN (nods) VIC (Shocked todo, stares at the audience mouthing "Freshman")

MARGA: Alam mo kung saan yung bookstore? Tinuro �yon noong orientation.

STEPHEN: Eh� hindi ako pumunta sa Orientation kasi.

VIC: (notices time, stands, tense) Shit! MARGA, I have to go. Late na pala! Kailangan ko pang I-type yung LITFORM paper ko! Deadline na bukas!

STEPHEN: Ah, (reaches for VIC�s hand) ako nga pala si STEPHEN. (hindi makakagalaw si VIC. Paralyzed. Smiles.)

MARGA: MARGA. (points at VIC) Si VIC.

VIC: Hi�

STEPHEN: Nice to meet you. (gently let�s go of VIC, turns to face MARGA) Yung bookstore?

VIC: Ano� doon sa� Alam mo�

MARGA: (sternly) VIC.

VIC: Puta naman, eh!

MARGA: Ako na bahala sa kanya, go!

VIC: Puwede kong i-type bukas ng umaga. O kaya magpupuyat�

MARGA: Vic? (mouth action) Obvious na!

VIC: (padabog) Oo na. (kay STEPHEN) See you around? (Masho-shock sa sarili, tapos tingin kay MARGA) Behave ka ha, Spice!

MARGA: (asar look) Go!!! (Sabay takbo ni VIC offstage.)

MARGA: Sorry about that. This way pala.

STEPHEN: Thanks.

MARGA and STEPHEN do the Simulated Walk. MARGA and STEPHEN walk to the center of the stage then walk in place. The props people bring the bench out of the scene and the other cast wear a different mask walking past them. Occasionally in the lines, MARGA and STEPHEN stop walking. All other cast stop too. Simulated Walk ends when they reach the Boldfaced lines.

MARGA: Hope you don�t mind me asking. Ba�t ka pala pupuntang SC?

STEPHEN: I heard about this theater thing, kasi. Uh, ano nga ba name n�un. Alternatibong�

MARGA: ATBP?

STEPHEN: Yun.

MARGA: Okay ah, member kami ni Vic doon!

STEPHEN: Oh? Cool, eh di may kakilala na ako kung sumali ako!

MARGA: Oo nga no. Alam mo, nakaka-gulat na balak mong sumali sa ATBP.

STEPHEN: Nakakagulat? Bakit naman.

Simulated walk ends at LEFT SIDE, audience view.
PROPS people set up two CHAIRS and a TABLE for them to use.
If no props are to be used, both use TENSION EFFECT.
On RIGHT SIDE, audience view, set up of LAMP and BED.
VIC sits on bed, facing RIGHT SIDE, imaginary typing action till his monologue.

MARGA: Well, (hesitant) it�s not like maraming straight guys na sumasali sa Theater. Of course, Hindi ko naman sinasabing �wag kang sumali, okay? Ano lang talaga, minsan lang talaga sumali ang tulad mo. Those who join tend to be those na madal-dal, expressive, yung chika kasama. Most of the time kasi mga�

STEPHEN: Tulad ni Vic?

MARGA: (shocked and a bit defensive) Huh? Ano, uh�

STEPHEN: Okay lang, no. Obvious naman siya, diba.

MARGA: (smiling) Well, actually�

STEPHEN: Okay lang, no. I don�t mind kung maraming gay sa ATBP. Actually, it doesn�t really matter naman. Why should it, diba? Everyone is free to act they way they want and be who they want to be.

MARGA: Oo nga. (malayo ang tingin. May iniisip ng malalim)

STEPHEN: Marga, okay ka lang?

MARGA: Huh?

STEPHEN: Don�t tell me ikaw ang naiilang na may gays sa ATBP!?

MARGA: Hindi no. Five years na �ata kami ni VIC na magkaibigan. (VERY OBVIOUSLY DEFENSIVE) I�m not bothered by it.

STEPHEN: Ba�t pakiramdam ko hindi totoo ang sinasabi mo?

MARGA: (pagalit) Ba�t ba ang�

VIC: Gulo gulo kanina. Shit! Obvious siguro ako kanina. (tatayo, shaking head, near audience ng konti) Buwisit talaga yung MARGA na yon. Pagkakataon ko na nga na may makilala, uunahan na niya ako. Yung babaeng yon talaga, (walks up to one side, imaginary bag placed there. Titigil sa isang lugar) Ah, ako nga pala si Vic. Si Vic. Puta naman talaga, si MARGA pa nagpakilala sa akin. Sira na diskarte ko sa kanya. (walks to audience side again, deep thought) Ang ganda ng itsura niya, sobra. (walking to and fro in front of bed.) Hindi ako nakakatulog nito�

VIC motions to fall into bed. PROPS people lift bed and lamp shade to perpendicular view (bed nakatayo sideways) to do SIMULATED TOP VIEW scene. VIC moves back to rest against bed. Effect: Top view ni VIC na nakahiga sa kama.

VIC: Stephen� Stephen� ang ganda ng pangalan mo. (hands start moving across body, feeling around) Ako kaya feeling kung naging tayo� (Hands moving slower, more sensual. VIC rises a bit for SHADOWVIC to separate slowly.) Kung magkasama tayo ngayon dito sa kuwarto ko� (SHADOWVIC lies beside VIC, hands still running across body slowly) Buong gabi� magdamag� (SHADOWVIC moves ontop of VIC, begin sensual motions) Stephen� (extended call of name, linking to next line)

MARGA: I-fill up mo na lang ito. Ako na bahala magpalakad kay Mike, yung President namin. I�m sure okay lang sa kanya na humabol ka sa membership.

STEPHEN: Okay ha. (focus sa imaginary paper, tapos titingin kay MARGA) Uh, Marga?

MARGA: Hmm?

STEPHEN: Ano, uh� hope you don�t mind me asking� May boyfriend ka na ba?

MARGA: (aliw) Me? No, wala naman akong makitang worth it, eh. Bakit mo naman naitanong?

STEPHEN: Ah wala. (defensive) Na-isip ko lang itanong.

MARGA: (pawang galit ang mukha) Talaga?

STEPHEN: Oo nga pala, ba�t ka inasar ni VIC na "Spice?"

MARGA: Yon? Wala yon. Mahilig lang talaga mag-asar yung si VIC. Five years na kasing hindi pa ako nagkakaboyfriend. Tuloy, inaasar ako ni VIC na Spice Girl. Lesbiyana daw ako!

STEPHEN: Lesbians ang Spice Girls?

MARGA: Sabi daw.

STEPHEN: (natatawa) Bakit, Lesbiyana ka ba?

MARGA (matatahimik)

STEPHEN: (realises mistake) MARGA? Nainsulto ba kita? Sorry�

MARGA: Okay lang�

STEPHEN: Hindi naman totoo, diba?

MARGA: Hindi! Ah, teka lang ha. Restroom lang ako.

Aalis si MARGA bago makasagot si STEPHEN. Pupuntang FRONT CENTER si MARGA, tatayong nakaharap sa audience, pawa bang nakatingin sa salamin at natatakot sa nakikita sa reflection. Lahat ng available cast pupunta sa likod ni MARGA. Sisimulan ang MARGA monologue ni STEPHEN. Bawat linya, lilitaw ang isang maskara na lulutang -lutang sa tabi and likod ni MARGA.

STEPHEN: May boyfriend ka na ba?

SHADOWMARGA: Ang ganda ganda ng anak ko! Paghahabulan ka ng mga lalaki!

SHADOWVIC: Marga mahal kita.

VIC: Lesbi ka ata?

STEPHEN: Hindi naman totoo diba?

SHADOWMARGA: Nakaka-hiya ka! Ba�t mo nagawa ito?

PROPS PERSON: Bakit hindi mo ako mahal?

VIC: Wala namang masama doon,

Paulit-ulit sasabihin ng mga cast ang kanilang mga linya hanggang ito�y maging isang makakabinging halo ng mga boses at magulong paglilipad ng mga maskara.

MARGA: (sisigaw) TAMA NA!!!

Sa sigaw ni MARGA ng linya niya, biglang tatago ang lahat ng maskara sa likod. Iiyak si MARGA ng kaunti (para may-oras makaalis ang cast at bumalik sa tamang lugar Babagsak si MARGA sa sahig.

STEPHEN: (tatakbong papunta sa harap) MARGA? MARGA??? (walang imik si MARGA)

STEPHEN: MARGA, okay ka ba diyan? MARGA? (seconds pass, no answer. Papasok si STEPHEN) MARGA! (luhod sa harap niya) MARGA, what happened?

MARGA: (naiiyak) Bakit� hindi puwede�

STEPHEN: Ano? Anong hindi puwede?

MARGA: (galit sa sarili, lumalaban sa hawak ni STEPHEN) Hindi ako Lesbian, HINDI! HINDI!!!

STEPHEN: Shh�. (yayakapin si MARGA) Shh�

Hihina ang paglalaban ni MARGA. Magpapahinga ito sa balikat ni STEPHEN, naiiyak parin ng kaunti

STEPHEN: MARGA, easy ka lang. Kung hindi ka lesbian, eh di hindi. Kung lesbian ka, okay lang. Walang masama alin man sa dalawa. Walang nakakataas. Walang mas mabuti.

MARGA: (naiiyak ulit, hihigpit ang hawak kay STEPHEN) Hindi ako lesbian, ayoko maging lesbian. Nakakahiya. Nakakadiri!

STEPHEN: Nasa iyo yan. Buhay mo yan. Decision mo iyan.

MARGA: Anong sasabihin ng mga magulang ko? Hindi ko �to kaya. Hindi ako lesbian� Ayokong mabuhay na araw araw nagtatago sa likod ng isang maskara.

STEPHEN: Shh� Hindi na. Hindi na.

LIGHTS OUT

Alisin ang lahat ng props. Ilalagay ang MIRROR sa FRONT CENTER Ang PROP PERSON ay nakatayo sa RIGHT BACK nito, akmang nagkukuwentuhan. Si MARGA at si STEPHEN ay nasa BENCH, si MARGA nakaupo at si STEPHEN nakahiga sa BENCH, nakasandal kay MARGA. Wala na sa stage ang SHADOW____. FADE IN MUSIC LIGHTS IN

VIC: (papasok) MARGA! Kamusta ka na?

MARGA: VIC! Pasado ako sa Midterms!

STEPHEN: VIC! Kamusta na!

VIC: Eto, single pa rin. Ikaw kasi, ayaw mo naman sa akin.

STEPHEN: (natatawa) Sorry, fat chance pare! I�m straight!

VIC: (matatawa) Oo nga pala, MARGA, kamusta na si ELISA?

MARGA: Yoon, nagtatampo.

VIC: Nanaman? Hanggang ngayon pa ba? Mag-wa-one month na kayo diba?

MARGA: Well, selosa kasi siya, eh. Titingan ko lang yung ibang dumadaan, minsan akala niya pinagpapalit ko na siya. Tapos pagnakikita niyang kasama ko si STEPHEN, yun, na-iinsecure.

STEPHEN: (to MARGA) Ako pa ngayon may kasalanan. You two better fix that, okay? (MARGA nods, tatayo si STEPHEN) Guys, mauuna na ako. May Relsone class ako.

VIC: Sige, ingat ka, STEPHEN!

STEPHEN: Sige, VIC� MARGA.

Aalis si STEPHEN. Uupo si VIC, ituturo yung PROPS PERSON.

VIC: MARGA, ang cute n�un, o!

MARGA: Hay naku, VIC. Ang baduy ng taste mo, ha.

VIC: Well at least hindi ako Spice Girl.

MARGA: Sira! Tara na nga, yosi break muna tayo.

VIC Tara. EXIT STAGE si MARGA at VIC. PROPS PERSON lilipat ng position, uupo sa bench, titingnan ang pinuntahan ni VIC at sabay body motion ng bading na tao. LIGHTS OUT.