MGA ANINO SA LIKOD NG MEDALYA

PLAYWRIGHT:
Ashleya Faith Canete

GENRE: Social Realism

CAST OF CHARACTERS

THE LEADS:

ELARA (17) The Valedictorian. Perfectionist, trembling,

on the verge of collapse.
JAKE (17) The "Chill" Student. Observant, empathetic,
the moral center of the story.
MRS. SANTOS Elara’s Mother. Image-conscious, strict.
SIR CRUZ The Adviser. Values grades over mental health.
BIA (17) The Salutatorian. Envious and competitive.

SUPPORTING:

RICA The Gossip / "Marites" of the class.

MARK The Classmate who just wants to pass.
CLASSMATES (5-8). The "Chorus" or background noise.
 SCENE 1

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - MORNING

(SETTING: Monday Morning. The atmosphere is tense. 10-15

CLASSMATES are scattered. Some are reading notes
frantically
while walking. Others are gossiping.)

(RICA and MARK are near the center.)

RICA
Narinig mo ba? May bumagsak daw sa STEM
kaya nilipat dito sa HUMSS?

MARK
Weh? Sino?

RICA
Ewan. Pero buti nga sa kanila. Akala nila
madali ang HUMSS?

(Suddenly, the SCHOOL BELL rings. It is loud and jarring.

Everyone jumps slightly, then moves faster.)

(ELARA enters. She is walking slowly. She drops a pen.

She tries to pick it up, but she is dizzy. She sways.)

(BIA enters with her friends. She sees Elara stumble.)

BIA
Oops. Careful, Elara. Baka mabawasan ang
points sa deportment.

ELARA
(Straightens up quickly)
I’m fine. Puyat lang.

BIA
Puyat kakabasa? Or puyat kaka-memorize ng
speech mo?
(Turns to her friends)
Alam niyo ba, sabi nila she already drafted
her Valedictory speech? Grade 11 pa lang tayo!

ELARA
Bia, please. Not today.

BIA
Why? Takot ka bang maunahan?
(Steps closer)
 You know, everyone hates a perfectionist.
Nakaka-umay.

(Bia walks away laughing. Elara stands there, gripping

her books so hard her knuckles turn white.)

(MRS. SANTOS enters. She is holding a Tupperware.)

MRS. SANTOS
Elara! Kanina pa kita tinatawagan!

ELARA
Ma? Nasa school ako—

MRS. SANTOS
Nakalimutan mo yung vitamins mo. Brain
boosters yan. Mahal ang bili ko dyan.
(She hands her a pill and water)
Inumin mo. Ngayon na.

ELARA
Ma, nahihilo ako pag iniinom ko 'to.

MRS. SANTOS
(Voice drops, deadly serious)
Nahihilo? O tamad ka lang? The Dean of UP
is watching the rankings, Elara. Do you want
to be average? Do you want to be like your
cousin na sa call center lang bumagsak?

ELARA
(Swallows the pill painfully)
No, Ma.

MRS. SANTOS
Good. Ayusin mo yang buhok mo. Mukha kang
bruha.

(Mrs. Santos leaves. Elara touches her head. The stage

lights flicker slightly to show her dizziness.)

FADE OUT.
 SCENE 2

INT. CLASSROOM - LUNCH BREAK

(The classroom is a warzone of noise. JAKE is at the

back,
sketching in a notebook. RICA and MARK are taking
TikToks.)

(Elara is at her desk. She is surrounded by THREE thick

books. She is muttering to herself.)

ELARA
Mitochondria is the powerhouse... no, wait.
Sociology. Karl Marx. Conflict Theory. Bourgeoisie.
Proletariat.

JAKE
(Throwing a crumpled paper at her)
Hoy. Earth to Elara.

ELARA
(Jumps)
What?!

JAKE
Galit agad? Chill. Kanina ka pa dyan
bumubulong. Para kang nangkukulam.

ELARA
I have to memorize this, Jake. Sir Cruz is
giving a surprise recitation.

JAKE
Recitation lang, hindi death sentence.
(He walks over and sits on her desk)
Kain muna. May extra sandwich ako. Peanut
butter.

ELARA
Ayoko. Tumataba ako.

JAKE
Tumataba? Eh mukha ka ngang stick na
konting hangin lang, tutumba na.

(Elara looks at the sandwich. She is hungry. She reaches

for it, but—)

(SIR CRUZ slams the door open. The class scrambles.)

 SIR CRUZ
Keep quiet! Sit down!

(Everyone freezes. Sir Cruz walks slowly to the front.

He holds a stack of papers.)

SIR CRUZ
I checked your essays. And I am... disappointed.
(He throws the papers on the desk)
Only one person understood the assignment.
Elara. Stand up.

(Elara stands up, legs shaking.)

SIR CRUZ
Read your opening paragraph.

ELARA
"The... the structural functionalism of society
depends on..."

SIR CRUZ
Louder! Are you unsure? Or are you weak?

ELARA
(Louder, voice cracking)
"Depends on the cooperation of its parts!"

SIR CRUZ
Good. But not great. Your handwriting is
messy on page 2. Why?

ELARA
Sir... my hand was cramping...

SIR CRUZ
Excuse. If you want to be on top, you don't
get cramps. You don't get tired.
(He looks at the rest of the class)
Look at her! She is tired, but she delivers!
Kayo? Anong excuse niyo?

(The CLASSMATES glare at Elara. She feels their eyes.

It burns.)

SIR CRUZ
Elara, stay later. Rewrite the whole thing.
Make it perfect.

(Sir Cruz exits.)

(RICA whispers loud enough for Elara to hear.)

RICA
Sipsip talaga. "My hand was cramping." Arte.

(Elara sits down. She puts her head on the desk. Jake
looks at her, worried.)

CUT TO:

SCENE 3
(THE HOME)

INT. ELARA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT (2:00 AM)

(This is the new scene. It shows the real horror.)

(Darkness. Only a study lamp is on. Elara is drinking

coffee. There are papers everywhere. A clock ticks
loudly.)

(SOUND EFFECT: TICK. TOCK. TICK. TOCK.)

ELARA
Chapter 4... Chapter 4...

(MRS. SANTOS enters wearing a pantulog. She holds a glass

of water.)

MRS. SANTOS
Gising ka pa?

ELARA
Tinapos ko lang yung essay ni Sir Cruz, Ma.

MRS. SANTOS
Good.
(She sits on the bed)
Anak, tignan mo 'to.
(Shows her phone)
Si Tita mo, pinost yung anak niya. Top 2
lang sa section nila, pero ang daming likes.
Nakakahiya.

ELARA
Ma... pagod na ako.

MRS. SANTOS
Pagod? Elara, ako nagbabayad ng tuition mo.
 Ako naghahatid sa'yo. Ang hinihingi ko lang,
maging number one ka. Mahirap ba yun?

ELARA
(A whisper)
Yes.

MRS. SANTOS
Ano?

ELARA
(Louder)
Wala po. Sabi ko, tatapusin ko na 'to.

MRS. SANTOS
Dapat lang. You are a Santos. We don't fail.

(Mrs. Santos kisses Elara on the forehead. It feels cold,

not loving. She leaves.)

(Elara looks at the lamp. She starts to cry silently,

hyperventilating. She grabs a pillow and screams into it
so no one hears.)

FADE OUT.

SCENE 4

INT. AUDITORIUM - RECOGNITION DAY

(THE CLIMAX. The stage is set. Bright lights. The cast is

seated. They are clapping robotically.)

SIR CRUZ
And now... the moment of truth. With a GPA
that breaks our school record... Elara Santos!

(Applause. Elara stands up. She looks like a ghost.

She walks to the podium. She trips slightly but catches
herself.)

(She stands at the mic. Silence.)

ELARA
Good morning.

(Silence. She stares at the audience.)

ELARA
 My speech is about... success.
(Beat)
Success is...

(She looks at her cues cards. Her hands are shaking so

badly the cards fall. They scatter on the floor.)

MRS. SANTOS
(From the crowd)
Pick it up, Elara!

ELARA
(Into the mic)
No.

(The crowd gasps.)

ELARA
I don't want to pick it up. I don't want to
read this speech. Because it's a lie.

SIR CRUZ
Elara, sit down. You are unwell.

ELARA
(Screaming)
I SAID NO!
(She grips the podium)
Tignan niyo ako! Look at me! Do I look successful
to you?
(She points to her eyes)
I haven't slept in 72 hours. My hair is falling
out in clumps. I threw up my breakfast because
my stomach is so acidic from coffee!

(She rips the medal off. She holds it up.)

ELARA
This medal? Ito? Ito lang ang habol niyo!
My mother loves this medal more than she loves me!
Sir Cruz loves this medal because it makes him
look like a good teacher!

MRS. SANTOS
(Standing up, crying)
Elara, stop!

ELARA
Pero ako? I am hollow. Ubos na ubos na ako.
Tao ako! Bata pa ako! Bakit niyo ako pinapatay?!
(Elara collapses. It’s a slow, painful fall. She hits the
floor and curls into a ball, sobbing.)

(The room is dead silent. No one moves.)

(Then, JAKE stands up. He doesn't run. He walks slowly

to the stage. He sits on the floor beside her.)

JAKE
Andito na ako.

CUT TO:

SCENE 5

INT. CLASSROOM - SUNSET

(The Resolution. It is quiet. The "Classmates" are no

longer gossiping. They look guilty.)

(Elara is sitting on a chair. Mrs. Santos is kneeling

on the floor, holding Elara's hand. Mrs. Santos is
crying.)

MRS. SANTOS
Sorry... sorry, anak.

ELARA
Ma...

MRS. SANTOS
I pushed you because I was scared. Takot ako
na magaya ka sa akin na nahirapan sa buhay.
But I broke you instead.

(Bia walks over. She holds out a bottle of water.)

BIA
Water.

ELARA
Thanks, Bia.

BIA
You know... I hated you. Kasi akala ko ang
dali ng buhay mo.
(She laughs sadly)
Hindi pala.
(Jake stands on a table.)

JAKE
So? Ano na? Bagsak na tayong lahat?

(The class laughs weakly.)

ELARA
(Smiles)
Okay lang bumagsak. Basta babangon.

(The whole cast (40 students) walks to the center. They

don't line up perfectly. They stand like a community.
They look at the audience.)

ELARA
To everyone watching... grades are just numbers.
Medals rust. Certificates fade.
But you? You are real. You matter.

ALL
(In unison)
Hinga. Pahinga. Padayon.

(BLACKOUT.)

----------------------- END OF PLAY ---------------------