Characters:
● Ms. Delgado (Supervisor)
● Lena (Employee)
● Aira (Co-worker)
● Narrator
SCENE 1:
Ms. Delgado:
Lena. Why is this report still incomplete?
Lena:
Ma’am, I stayed late last night to finish the previous batch. I’m just finalizing this last file—
Ms. Delgado:
You were given a deadline, and I don’t care how long you stayed. I care about results.
Lena:
Yes, ma’am… I understand.
Ms. Delgado:
Do you? Because this doesn’t look like you do.
SCENE 2:
Aira:
Hey, you’ve been doing double work this whole week… Are you ok? Should I tell Ms. Delgado?
Lena:
No, it’s fine. I just need to keep up.
Ms. Delgado:
You know, if you have time to talk, you have time to work.
Ms. Delgado:
Let me make this clear again, everyone—if you can’t keep up with the workload, just resign
already.
SCENE 3:
Lena:
Ma’am… I just wanted to ask… about the overtime hours. I’ve been staying past 10 PM almost
every day—
Ms. Delgado:
So does everyone, you’re not an exception.
Lena:
But… it’s not reflected in my pay yet—
Ms. Delgado:
Who said overtime is paid?
Lena:
But I am already handling the workload of two people, ma’am…
Ms. Delgado:
And? That’s exactly why more is expected from you. Or would you prefer we give your position
to someone who can?
SCENE 4:
Aira:
Ma’am, with all due respect, Lena has been consistently performing well. Maybe the workload—
Ms. Delgado:
Are you questioning management now?
Aira:
No, ma’am. I just think—
Ms. Delgado:
Stop questioning. You are employees. You follow what you’re told. That’s it.
Ms. Delgado:
If either of you find this “unfair,” the door is always open.
SCENE 5:
Aira:
This isn’t right. You’re putting in so much extra time for nothing.
Lena:
I know… but I badly need this job.
Aira:
That’s exactly why they keep doing this. They know we can’t leave.
Lena:
Every day feels like I’m just proving myself I deserve to stay…even when I’m already giving
everything.
SCENE 6:
Ms. Delgado:
Guess you might be staying late again tonight. New tasks just came in.
Lena:
Ma’am… I stayed late every night this week already.
Ms. Delgado:
It won't hurt to stay another night, won’t it?
Lena:
Actually… it does.
Ms. Delgado:
Excuse me?
Lena:
I’ve been working past my hours every day, handling more than what my role requires… and
none of it is being compensated.
Ms. Delgado:
So, what are you implying?
Lena:
I’m saying I’ve done more than what’s expected of me. And I’m done pretending that it’s normal.
Ms. Delgado:
Careful, Lena.
Lena:
No, ma’am. I’ve been careful. That’s why this kept happening.
SCENE 8:
Aira:
She’s right. We all stay late. None of us get paid for it.
Ms. Delgado:
You’re both crossing a line.
Lena:
I’ll finish what’s within my working hours today. But I won’t be staying late anymore unless it’s
properly compensated.
Ms. Delgado:
…We’ll discuss this later.
FINAL SCENE:
Aira:
I didn’t think you’d say that.
Lena:
Me neither.
Aira:
You okay?
Lena:
Yeah…I think I finally am.
Narrator:
In workplaces like this, effort is not rewarded, but expected, stretched, and taken.
Employees give more than what they are paid for, while those in power demand more without
consequence. This is labor exploitation, when workers are forced to give more labor than what
they receive in return. And power imbalance, when employees cannot refuse, cannot speak,
and cannot leave…because survival depends on obedience.
donedonedone