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| DEAN FRANCIS ALFAR |
| The Kite of Stars |
| THE AUTHOR HOLDS THE COPYRIGHT TO THIS PLAY. THIS IS POSTED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR. FOR INQUIRIES ON HOW TO SECURE THE PLAYWRIGHT'S PERMISSION TO STAGE THIS PLAY, PLEASE E-MAIL HIM AT THIS ADDRESS. |
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| A Choral Play in One-Act
For Nikki & Vin, for always CAST OF CHARACTERS MARIA ISABELLA, a woman whose quest takes a lifetime LORENZO VICENZIO SALVADORE, the object of her adoration BUTCHER’S BOY, Maria Isabelle’s faithful companion MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ, the famous old maker of kites and aquilone REUEL ANTEVADEZ, the new master kitemaker MAN ONE, A member of the CHORUS MAN TWO, A member of the CHORUS MAN THREE, A member of the CHORUS WOMAN ONE, A member of the CHORUS WOMAN TWO, A member of the CHORUS WOMAN THREE, A member of the CHORUS SETTING Cuidad Manila and various places in the Philippines TIME The early 1700’s, during the Spanish Period PERFORMANCE TIME Approximately 45 minutes PRODUCTION NOTES “The Kite of Stars” is a choreo-play, written to be performed by a number of principal actors supported by a Chorus of three men and three women. The Chorus takes on all the smaller and auxiliary roles in the play. For the purpose of staging, it is recommended that the stage be kept bare, with only a number of large boxes that contain the various props and costumes kept onstage. (BLACKOUT. The lights slowly brighten, revealing a portion of the stage and the CHORUS.) CHORUS This is a story MAN ONE A magical story WOMAN ONE Of something that happened a long time ago MAN TWO Hundreds of years ago, in fact WOMAN TWO When the Ispancialo had been in Hinirang for sometime MAN THREE But also when wonder was strong WOMAN THREE Legends were true CHORUS And memories were still being made MAN TWO This is the story of CHORUS The Kite of Stars! (The lights reveal the rest of the stage. MARIA ISABELLA, as an old woman, is suspended on a marvelous kite.) WOMAN ONE The night when she thought she would finally be a star WOMAN TWO Maria Isabella del Cielo MAN ONE That's her (MARIA ISABELLA begins to sever the rope that holds the kite in place. The light on her begins to dim.) WOMAN ONE Struggled to calm the trembling of her hands WOMAN TWO Reached over to cut the tether that tied her to the ground WOMAN THREE and thought of that morning many years before when she'd first caught a glimpse of Lorenzo Vicenzio Salvadore (Lights on LORENZO VICENZIO SALVADORE, eyes closed. MARIA ISABELLA, in the darkness, changes costume to become her younger self.) MAN ONE That's him WOMAN THREE Tall, thick-browed and handsome WOMAN TWO His eyes closed WOMAN ONE Oblivious to the cacophony of the accident waiting to occur around him. MAN THREE That's the nature of memory. CHORUS Memory. MAN THREE Memory. MAN TWO Everything in crisp detail MAN ONE Captured in glass MAN THREE Like words taken to heart WOMAN TWO An instant is held WOMAN ONE Reflected and reflected upon WOMAN THREE Once twice a thousand times over CHORUS Colors are imbedded Every sound remembered All movements burnt distinctly WOMAN TWO For warmth when time is past MAN TWO For solace when day grows dim WOMAN THREE For companionship in solitude CHORUS This is what she knows MARIA ISABELLA I remember MAN ONE She remembers (Enter young MARIA ISABELLA.) WOMAN ONE Maria Isabella had just turned sixteen then, and each set of her padrinos (Enter MAN ONE, MAN THREE, WOMAN TWO and WOMAN THREE as MARIA ISABELLA’S godparents.) MAN TWO That's them MAN ONE, MAN THREE, WOMAN TWO & WOMAN THREE That's us MAN ONE & WOMAN THREE Godparents MAN THREE & WOMAN TWO Ninongs and ninangs MAN TWO Each of her padrinos had given her all manner of things MAN ONE Sequined brida du caballo MARIA ISABELLA Oh! WOMAN TWO Dresses of rare tulle WOMAN THREE Organza WOMAN TWO And seda MARIA ISABELLA Oh! Oh! WOMAN TWO & WOMAN THREE And the floral circlet of young womanhood MARIA ISABELLA It's beautiful MAN ONE & MAN THREE and a purse filled with coins to spend on anything she wanted MARIA ISABELLA For me? Thank you, thank you all! WOMAN ONE And so she'd gone past the Calle de Leones MAN TWO where sleek cats of various pedigrees sometimes allowed themselves to be purchased, though if so, only until they tired of their new owners MAN THREE & WOMAN THREE (AS CATS) We came here on ships From a hot and dry land WOMAN THREE (AS CAT) Let me ask you MAN THREE (AS CAT) Can someone truly own another someone? WOMAN THREE (AS CAT) Or a something? WOMAN TWO Maria Isabella walked through the Avenida de los Conquistadores MAN TWO Where the statues of the conquerors of Hinirang lined the entirety of the broad promenade CHORUS They brought wonder to a place of wonder MAN ONE And faith, don't forget faith WOMAN TWO To add to that which we already believed in CHORUS And made her way to the Encanta Caminata WOMAN ONE That maze-like series of interconnected streets, each leading to some marvel for sale CHORUS If you know where to look If you know what you're looking for MAN THREE It may just find you WOMAN ONE That was where little musical conch shells from the islets near Palawan could be found. MAN ONE Those she liked very much. MARIA ISABELLA If you hold one to your ears, you can hear the sea MAN TWO In the vicinity of the Plaza Grande, she saw a young man dressed in a coat embroidered with stars walk almost surely to his death. MARIA ISABELLA Oh, no. MAN THREE In that instant, Maria Isabella knew two things with the conviction reserved only for the very young WOMAN THREE First, that she almost certainly loved this reckless man MARIA ISABELLA I love him. WOMAN TWO And second, that if she simply stepped on a dog's tail – WOMAN ONE The very dog watching the same scene unfold right next to her - MARIA ISABELLA This dog. WOMEN She could avert the man's seemingly senseless death. MARIA ISABELLA Yes, yes I could. (The CHORUS take on the next roles in pantomime.) CHORUS Observe: a dog. MAN THREE A horse and a kalesa driver. WOMAN THREE A panadero. MAN TWO Some rain water. (Two circular pieces of blue cloth are laid down on the stage.) WOMAN TWO A pair of delivery men. MAN ONE A broken bottle of wine. (A bottle of wine is set on the stage floor.) WOMAN ONE And, of course, Lorenzo Vicenzio Salvadore (The CHORUS and LORENZO VICENZIO SALVATORE begin to move.) MARIA ISABELLA I love him. WOMAN ONE Without a moment's further thought, Maria Isabella stepped on the tail of the dog that was resting near her. WOMAN TWO The poor animal yelped in pain MAN THREE (as DOG) Aaaoooiieee!! WOMAN ONE Which in turn startled the horse, making it stop temporarily MAN ONE (as HORSE) Nuiiegh! Frrghh! WOMAN TWO Which in turn angered the kalesa driver even more MAN TWO Animale! WOMAN ONE Which in turn upset the delicate melody that the panadero was whistling (MAN THREE whistles out of tune.) WOMAN TWO Which in turn made the him miss stepping into the two puddles of rainwater (MAN THREE, still whistling, avoids the rain puddles, struggling to find the melody.) WOMAN ONE Which in turn gave the men delivering the sheet of glass belonging to the Most Excellent Primo Orador an uninterrupted path (MAN ONE and MAN TWO pantomime carrying a sheet of glass between them.) MAN ONE Careful, careful. MAN TWO Good, good. WOMAN TWO Which in turn gave the young man enough room to cross the street without so much as missing a beat or stepping onto the broken wine bottle (LORENZO VICENZIO SALVATORE, eyes closed, almost steps on the bottle.) WOMAN ONE Which in turn would never give him the infection that had been destined to result in the loss of his right leg and, ultimately, his life. LORENZO You mean I could have--? WOMAN TWO Yes, you would have. LORENZO Well. WOMAN ONE Yes? LORENZO Well, it's a good thing, then. WOMAN TWO Yes, yes it is. LORENZO Imagine that. Well, I have to go now. (LORENZO VICENZIO SALVATORE closes his eyes and continues walking.) WOMAN THREE Everyone and everything continued to move on their own paths, and the dog she had stepped on growled once at her and then twisted around to nurse its sore tail (MAN THREE, as DOG, whimpers.) WOMAN THREE But Maria Isabella's eyes were on the young man in the star-embroidered coat, whose life she had just saved. CHORUS She decided she would find out who he was. MARIA ISABELLA I must know. (The CHORUS transforms into a crowd scene.) WOMAN THREE The first twenty people she asked did not know him. MARIA ISABELLA Pardon me- MAN ONE I'm sorry. MARIA ISABELLA Would you know- - WOMAN ONE No, excuse me. MARIA ISABELLA Who this man is, who- MAN TWO I have no idea. MARIA ISABELLA Forgive me, but do you know who- MAN ONE You asked me already. MAN THREE I don't know WOMAN TWO I don't know WOMAN ONE I don't know (Enter BUTCHER’S BOY.) BUTCHER'S BOY His name is Lorenzo Vicenzio Salvatore. WOMAN THREE It was a butcher's boy who told her who he was, as she rested near the butcher's shop along the Mercado. BUTCHER'S BOY I know him because he shops here with his father once every week. My master saves some of the choicest cuts for their family. They're rather famous, you know. MARIA ISABELLA They are? BUTCHER'S BOY Yes, yes. Maestro Vicenzio, the father, names stars. MARIA ISABELLA Stars? BUTCHER'S BOY Stars. MARIA ISABELLA I did not know they had names. BUTCHER'S BOY Not all of them do. MARIA ISABELLA What for? BUTCHER'S BOY What for? MARIA ISABELLA The stars. Their names. BUTCHER'S BOY Well, how else would we refer to them if they didn't have names? Even cows have names. Even the parts of the cow have names. MARIA ISABELLA And would you know why he walks with his eyes closed? The son, I mean. BUTCHER'S BOY Well, Lorenzo certainly isn't blind. MARIA ISABELLA No, I didn't think he was. BUTCHER'S BOY I think he keeps his eyes closed to preserve his vision for his stargazing at night. He mentioned he had some sort of telescope he uses at night. MARIA ISABELLA How can I meet him? BUTCHER'S BOY You? What makes you think he will even see you? Listen, he only has eyes for the stars. MARIA ISABELLA Then I'll make him see me. CHORUS As she straightened up, her mind began to make plan upon plan upon plan WOMAN TWO rejecting possibilities MAN TWO making conjectures MAN ONE assessing what she knew WOMAN THREE whom she knew MAN THREE And how much she dared MAN ONE It was a lot for anyone to perform in the span of time it took to set her shoulders, look at the butcher's boy, and say MARIA ISABELLA Take me to the best Kitemaker. MAN TWO And so the butcher's boy, who at fourteen was easily impressed by young ladies of a certain disposition WOMAN TWO immediately doffed his white cap MAN TWO bowed to Maria Isabella WOMAN TWO gestured to the street filled with people outside MAN TWO and led her to the house of Melchor Antevadez WOMAN TWO famed throughout Ciudad Meiora and environs as the Master Builder of kites MAN TWO aquilones WOMAN TWO cometas MAN TWO saranggola WOMAN TWO and other artefactos voladores. (Enter MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ.) BUTCHER'S BOY That's him. MAN THREE They waited seven hours to see him WOMAN THREE for such was his well-deserved fame that orders from all over the realms came directly to him - MAN ONE for festivals WOMAN ONE celebrations MAN THREE consecrations WOMAN THREE funerals MAN ONE regatta launches and such CHORUS They did not speak to each other. WOMAN THREE Maria Isabella was thinking hard about the little plan in her head MAN THREE and the butcher's boy was thinking of how he had just lost his job for the dubious pleasure of a silent young woman's company. MAN ONE He spent most of the time looking surreptitiously at her shod feet and oddly wondering whether she WOMAN ONE like the young ladies that figured in his fantasies WOMAN THREE painted her toes blue, in the manner of the circus artistas. BUTCHER'S BOY Blue toes, blue toes. MAN TWO Now, when it was finally their turn (for such was the nature of Melchor Antevadez that he made time to speak to anyone and everyone who visited him, being of humble origin himself), Maria Isabella explained what she wanted to the artisan. MARIA ISABELLA Senor Antevadez, what I need is a kite large enough to strap me onto. Then I must fly high enough to be among the stars themselves MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ The stars? MARIA ISABELLA Yes, so that anyone looking at the stars will see me among them MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ The stars? MARIA ISABELLA Yes, and I must be able to wave at least one hand to that person. MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ What you need is a balloon. Or someone else to love. MARIA ISABELLA No, a balloon simply would not do WOMAN ONE it would not be able to achieve the height she needed, didn't he understand that she needed to be among the stars? MARIA ISABELLA A balloon indeed. MAN ONE He cleared his throat and told her that such a kite was impossible MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ Impossible MAN TWO that there was no material immediately available for such an absurd undertaking MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ Impossible MAN THREE that there was, in fact, no design that allowed for a kite that supported the weight of a person MEN and that it was simply impossible, impossible, impossible. MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ Impossible MEN Impossible to design. Impossible to find materials. No, no, it was impossible, simply MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ Impossible! MARIA ISABELLA I don't think so. WOMAN ONE She pressed him then for answers WOMAN TWO to think through the problem WOMAN THREE she challenged him to design such a kite WOMEN and to tell her just what these impossible materials were MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ Conceivably, I could dream of such a design, that much I'll grant you. If I concentrate hard enough I know it will come to me, that much I'll concede. But the materials are another matter. MARIA ISABELLA Please, tell me what I need to find. MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ None of it can be bought, and certainly none of it can be found here in the Ciudad, although wonder can be found here if you know where to look. MARIA ISABELLA Tell me. CHORUS And so he began to tell her. (MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ pantomimes reciting his incredible list of requirements. MARIA ISABELLA begins to write it all down. Reams of paper begin to litter the stage.) WOMAN THREE Sometime during the second hour of his recitation of the list of materials, she began to take notes, and nudged the butcher's boy to try to remember what she couldn't write fast enough. MARIA ISABELLA Wake up, wake up. I cannot write down everything. BUTCHER'S BOY All right, very well. MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ To create an impossible kite I need impossible things Are you listening? MARIA ISABELLA & BUTCHER'S BOY Yes, yes MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ It is not a simple matter Of wood and string and paper Certainly not, certainly not MARIA ISABELLA & BUTCHER'S BOY Yes, yes (MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ continues his long list. Papers fly as the sun sets and rises.) MAN THREE At dawn the following day, Melchor Antevadez stopped speaking, reviewed the list of necessary things compiled by Maria Isabella and the butcher's boy, and said MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ I think that's all I'd need. As you can see, it is more than any man could hope to accomplish. MARIA ISABELLA But I am not a man. WOMAN TWO She looked down at the thousands of items on the impossible list in her hands. MAN TWO The butcher's boy, by this time, was asleep, his head cradled in the crook of his thin arms, dreaming of aerialists and their blue toes. BUTCHER'S BOY Blue toes, blue toes. MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ Is any love worth all this effort? Looking for the impossible? MARIA ISABELLA What makes you think I'm in love? (MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ raises an eyebrow.) MARIA ISABELLA I'll get everything. MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ But it may take a lifetime to gather everything. MARIA ISABELLA A lifetime is all I have. (MARIA ISABELLA shakes the BUTCHER’S BOY awake.) MARIA ISABELLA I cannot go alone. You're younger than me but I will sponsor you as my companion. Will you come with me? BUTCHER'S BOY Of course. After all, this shouldn't take more time than I have to spare. MELCHOR ANTEVADEZ It may be significantly longer than you think. MARIA ISABELLA Then please, Senor Antevadez, dream the design and I'll have everything you listed when we return. WOMAN ONE That very day, Maria Isabella told her parents and both sets of her padrinos that she was going off on a long trip. MAN TWO She invoked her right of Ver de Mundo WOMAN ONE when women of at least sixteen years MAN TWO and men of at least twenty years WOMAN ONE could go forth into the wideness of Hinirang; sometimes to seek their fortune MAN TWO or sometimes to run from it CHORUS They all gave her their blessings WOMAN TWO I remember when she was so much younger WOMAN THREE How you'd sing WOMAN TWO and dance WOMAN TWO & WOMAN THREE dance and sing MAN ONE Now you are a woman MAN THREE a full citizen WOMAN ONE At the Porton de Transgresiones with more recalled memories of her youth, they sent her on her way. MAN ONE & WOMAN TWO Goodbye, goodbye MAN THREE & WOMAN THREE See you soon WOMAN TWO Oh, she's barely a woman MAN ONE Hush, you'll make me cry MAN TWO As for the butcher's boy, he waited until she was well away and then joined her on the well-worn path along with the supplies she had asked him to purchase. BUTCHER'S BOY I'm ready to go MARIA ISABELLA What did you tell your kinfolk? BUTCHER'S BOY That I would be back in a month or so. WOMAN ONE It took almost sixty years for Maria Isabella and the butcher's boy to find all the items on Melchor Antevadez's impossible list. CHORUS Sixty. WOMAN ONE Sixty. CHORUS Sixty years. (The travel sequence. The CHORUS follows MARIA ISABELLA and the BUTCHER’S BOY around the stage, pausing occasionally to point at sights.) MAN ONE They began at Puranan, and then trekked to Katakios CHORUS Pur'Anan MAN TWO Katakios MAN THREE to Viriato where the sanctuary of the First Tree stood unmolested by time CHORUS Viriato WOMAN ONE They traveled north to the lands of Bontoc WOMAN TWO to Cabarroquis where the Povo Montaha dwelt in seclusion CHORUS Bontoc WOMAN THREE Cabarroquis MAN TWO They sailed eastwards to Palawan MAN THREE to the Islas Calamian where the traders from countries across the seas converged in a riot of tongues CHORUS Palawan MAN ONE Calamian WOMAN TWO They ventured westwards to the dark lands of Siquijor WOMAN THREE to Jomaljig where the Silent Ones kept court whenever both sun and moon occupied the same horizon. CHORUS Siquijor WOMAN ONE Jomajig MAN THREE They visited the fabled cities of the south: Diya al Tandag, Diya al Din WOMAN THREE and Diya al Bajao where fire-shrouded Djin and the Tiq'Barang waged an endless war of attrition. CHORUS Diya al Bajao WOMAN TWO They entered the marbled underworld of the Sea Lords of Romblon MAN TWO and braved the Lair of the Marinduque in whose house the dead surrendered their memories of light and laughter. MAN ONE Romblon WOMAN THREE Marinduque MAN THREE Puranan WOMAN TWO Katakios MAN TWO Benguet WOMAN ONE Vigan MAN ONE Tabuc WOMAN TWO Los Trinidades MAN THREE Viriato WOMAN THREE Bontoc MAN TWO Cabarroquis WOMAN ONE Palawan MAN ONE Busuangoan WOMAN TWO Cuyo MAN TWO Catbalogoan WOMAN THREE Siquijor MAN THREE Siarjao WOMAN TWO Jomaljig MAN ONE Calamian WOMAN ONE Diya al Tandag WOMAN TWO Diya al Din WOMAN THREE Diya al Bajao MAN TWO Diya al Mati MAN THREE Diya al Maganay MAN ONE Diya al Tandag WOMAN ONE When they ran out of money after the third year of travel, Maria Isabella and the butcher's boy spent time looking for ways to finance their quest. CHORUS She began knowing only how to ride MARIA ISABELLA dance WOMAN TWO sing MARIA ISABELLA play the arpa WOMAN THREE the violin MARIA ISABELLA and the flauta WOMAN TWO embroider MARIA ISABELLA sew WOMAN THREE and write poetry about love MEN The butcher's boy began knowing how to cut up a cow. BUTCHER'S BOY Every part has a name MAN ONE By the time they had completed the list, they had more than quintupled the amount of money they began with, and they both knew how to manage a caravan MAN TWO run a plantation MAN THREE build and maintain fourteen kinds of seagoing and rivergoing vessels MAN TWO raise horses big and small MAN ONE and fowl MAN THREE dogs MAN TWO and seagulls WOMAN TWO recite the entire annals of the mountain folk from memory WOMAN THREE speak and write nineteen languages WOMAN ONE prepare medicine for all sorts of ailments MAN TWO worries MAN ONE and anxieties WOMAN TWO make flashpowder WOMAN ONE el fuego ladron MAN THREE and el picaro fuegos artificiales WOMAN THREE make glass MAN ONE ceramics WOMAN ONE and lenses from almost any quality sand MAN THREE and many many other means of making money. CHORUS In the seventh year of the quest, a dreadful storm destroyed their growing caravan of found things. (The storm sequence. MARIA ISABELLA and the BUTCHER BOY’S stockpile of items get scattered and lost.) MARIA ISABELLA & BUTCHER'S BOY No! WOMAN ONE They lost almost everything MARIA ISABELLA & BUTCHER'S BOY No! MAN TWO Maria Isabel clutched vainly at things as they flew and spun in the downpour of wind and water MARIA ISABELLA No! No! MAN THREE and the butcher's boy fought to keep the storm from taking her away as well. BUTCHER'S BOY No! MARIA ISABELLA No! No! BUTCHER'S BOY No! WOMAN THREE It was the last time that Maria Isabella allowed herself to cry. (The lights dim, centered on MARIA ISABELLA.) MARIA ISABELLA No. WOMAN TWO The butcher's boy took her hand BUTCHER'S BOY Come on. MAN ONE and they began all over again. BUTCHER'S BOY Come. MARIA ISABELLA Yes. BUTCHER'S BOY Yes. CHORUS Yes! WOMAN ONE They were beset by thieves and learned to run WOMAN THREE out of houses WOMAN TWO and caves WOMEN and temples MAN TWO on roads MAN THREE and on sea lanes MAN ONE and in gulleys WOMAN TWO on horses WOMAN THREE and aguilas WOMAN ONE and waves MEN They encountered scoundrels MAN ONE and sinverguenzza WOMAN ONE and learned to bargain MAN TWO at first with various coins MAN THREE and jewels WOMAN THREE and metals WOMAN TWO and later with promises WOMAN ONE and threats MAN ONE and dreams CHORUS They learned to defend themselves MAN TWO first with wooden pessoal MAN THREE then later with kris WOMAN TWO and giavellotto WOMAN THREE and lamina WOMAN ONE In their thirtieth year together, they took stock of what they had, referred to the thousands of items still left unmarked on their list, and exchanged a long look MARIA ISABELLA It's only a matter of time WOMAN ONE and went on searching for the components of the impossible kite (As MARIA ISABELLA and the BUTCHER’S BOY acquire components of the kite, they pass it to the CHORUS who follows them.) CHORUS the dowel MARIA ISABELLA we planted a langka seed at the foot of the grove of a kindly diuata MAN TWO and waited out the seven years it took to grow MARIA ISABELLA & BUTCHER'S BOY unable to leave BUTCHER'S BOY We won the lower spreader in a drinking match against the three eldest brothers of Duma'Alon (The CHORUS pantomime a drinking match.) WOMEN Isa pa! Isa pa! MEN All right, just one more. WOMEN Isa pa! Isa pa! BUTCHER’S BOY It's your turn. (The MEN collapse.) MARIA ISABELLA We assembled the pieces of the lower edge connector while fleeing a war party of the Sumaliq MARIA ISABELLA Run! BUTCHER'S BOY Run! CHORUS Run! BUTCHER'S BOY We solved the riddles of the toothless crone Ai'ai'sin to find what would be part of a wing tip WOMAN THREE Bugtong, bugtong Ano ang nasaisip ko MARIA ISABELLA & BUTCHER'S BOY Ano ang nasa isip mo? WOMAN THREE Hulaan mo MARIA ISABELLA We climbed Apo'amang to spend seventy sleepless nights to get the components of the ferrule CHORUS Seventy sleepless nights (The sun prop rises and sets in rapid multiple succession.) BUTCHER'S BOY We crafted an artificial wave to fool the cerena into surrendering their locks of hair that would form a portion of the tether MARIA ISABELLA Quickly, while she sleeps BUTCHER'S BOY Quietly, quietly CHORUS Shhh. MARIA ISABELLA We reared miniature horses to trade to the Duende for parts of the bridle WOMEN Tao po! MEN Dadaan po! CHORUS And spent eighteen years painstakingly collecting the fifteen thousand different strands of thread that would make up the kits surface fabric. BUTCHER'S BOY Fifteen thousand strands of thread MARIA ISABELLA & BUTCHER'S BOY Up and under Down and over BUTCHER'S BOY this way and that way that task and this test MARIA ISABELLA answer a riddle BUTCHER'S BOY win a trade MARIA ISABELLA run in your sleep BUTCHER'S BOY walk with the living MARIA ISABELLA rest among the dead BUTCHER'S BOY tremble in the rain MARIA ISABELLA breathe in the sunlight BUTCHER'S BOY search the islands MARIA ISABELLA cross the mountains BUTCHER'S BOY brave the trees MARIA ISABELLA eat on the road BUTCHER'S BOY talk to strangers MARIA ISABELLA learn the stories BUTCHER'S BOY sing the songs MARIA ISABELLA speak the language BUTCHER'S BOY know the people MARIA ISABELLA spend a lifetime BUTCHER'S BOY sixty MARIA ISABELLA sixty MARIA ISABELLA & BUTCHER'S BOY sixty years (As the CHORUS chants, MARIA ISABELLA and the BUTCHER’S BOY change costume to their older versions.) CHORUS Up and under Down and over this way and that way that task and this test answer a riddle win a trade run in your sleep walk with the living rest among the dead tremble in the rain breathe in the sunlight search the islands cross the mountains brave the trees eat on the road talk to strangers learn the stories sing the songs speak the language know the people spend a lifetime BUTCHER'S BOY sixty MARIA ISABELLA sixty CHORUS sixty years MEN field and mountain earth and sky WOMEN river and stream low and high CHORUS sixty years WOMEN roads and pathways night and day MEN seas and byways every which way BUTCHER'S BOY sixty MARIA ISABELLA sixty CHORUS sixty years MAN ONE After sixty years CHORUS sixty MAN ONE At last they returned to the Ciudad, both stooped and older BUTCHER'S BOY Well, here we are at last. (MARIA ISABELLA nods and makes a sign of the cross.) BUTCHER'S BOY Do you feel like you've wasted your life? (The CHORUS, as a caravan bearing many things, lumbers into the city.) MARIA ISABELLA Nothing is ever wasted MAN ONE They made their way to the house of Melchor Antevadez and knocked on his door. MARIA ISABELLA Senor Antevadez! BUTCHER'S BOY Senor Antevadez! MAN ONE A young man answered them and sadly informed them that the wizened artisan had died many many years ago, and that he, Reuel Antevadez, was the new Maestro du Cosas Ingravidas. WOMAN ONE And that is the tragic truth. REUEL ANTEVADEZ I am the new Maestro. CHORUS That's him. MARIA ISABELLA Yes, yes. But do you still make kites? REUEL ANTEVADEZ Kites? Of course. From time to time, someone wants an aquilone or-- MARIA ISABELLA Before Senor Antevadez, Melchor Antevadez, died, did he leave instructions for a very special kind of kite? REUEL ANTEVADEZ Well, my great-grandfather did leave a design for a woman named Maria Isabella del Cielo, but-- MARIA ISABELLA I am she. CHORUS That's her. MARIA ISABELLA Listen, young man. I have spent all my life gathering everything Melchor Antevadez said he needed to build my kite. Everything is outside. Build it. BUTCHER'S BOY Build it. WOMAN ONE And so Reuel Antevadez unearthed the yellowing parchment that contained the design of the impossible kite that Melchor Antevadez had dreamed into existence MAN ONE referenced the parts from the list of things handed to him by the butcher's boy WOMAN ONE and proceeded to build the aquilone. CHORUS Build it BUTCHER'S BOY Build it CHORUS Build it BUTCHER'S BOY Build the kite CHORUS The kite of dreams The kite of wonders BUTCHER'S BOY Her kite of stars MAN TWO Build it BUTCHER'S BOY Build it WOMAN TWO Build it BUTCHER'S BOY Build the kite MEN The kite of wonders BUTCHER'S BOY The kite of her dreams WOMEN Her kite of stars WOMAN THREE Build it MAN THREE Build it CHORUS Build it MARIA ISABELLA My kite of stars WOMAN ONE When it was finished, it looked nothing at all like either Maria Isabella or the butcher's boy had imagined REUEL ANTEVADEZ Your kite, senora. CHORUS Her kite of stars MARIA ISABELLA My kite of stars. BUTCHER'S BOY Your kite of stars MARIA ISABELLA Help me, help me. (The BUTCHER’S BOY assists MARIA ISABELLA onto the kite.) WOMAN TWO After he helped strap her in, the butcher's boy stood back and looked at the woman he had grown old with. MARIA ISABELLA This is certainly no time for tears WOMAN TWO Maria Isabella reprimanded him gently, as she gestured for him to release the kite. BUTCHER'S BOY No, there is time for everything MAN TWO the butcher's boy whispered to himself as he pushed and pulled at the ropes and strings, pulley and levers and gears of the impossible contrivance. (The kite rises.) MARIA ISABELLA Goodbye, goodbye! WOMAN THREE Goodbye, goodbye she shouted down to him as the star kite began its rapid ascent to the speckled firmament above BUTCHER'S BOY Goodbye, goodbye MAN THREE Goodbye, goodbye the butcher's boy whispered MAN TWO as his heart finally broke into a thousand mismatched pieces MAN ONE each one small, hard, and sharp MAN TWO The tears of the butcher's boy WOMAN TWO who had long since ceased to be a boy MAN TWO flowed freely down his face as he watched her rise MAN THREE the extraordinary old woman he had always loved strapped to the frame of an impossible kite. MAN ONE As she rose, he sighed and reflected on the absurdity of life MAN TWO the heaviness of loss MAN THREE the cruelty of hope MAN TWO the truth about quests MAN ONE and the relentless nature of a love that knew only one direction MAN THREE As his hands swiftly played out the tether he realized that all those years they were together… BUTCHER'S BOY She never knew my name. (All lights dim except for one focused on MARIA ISABELLA on the kite.) WOMAN THREE As she rose above the city of her birth WOMAN TWO Maria Isabella took a moment to gasp at the immensity of the city that sprawled beneath her WOMAN THREE recalled how everything had begun WOMAN TWO fought the trembling of her withered hands WOMAN THREE and with a fishbone knife cut the glimmering tether. WOMAN TWO Up WOMAN THREE Up WOMEN Up WOMAN ONE higher WOMAN TWO and higher WOMAN THREE and higher she rose WOMAN TWO She saw the winding silver ribbon of the Pasig WOMAN THREE the fluted roofs of the universities WOMAN ONE the trellises and gardens of the plazas WOMEN and the dimmed streets of the Mercado Coristas CHORUS And Maria Isabella looked down and thought she saw everything, everything. MARIA ISABELLA Everything, everything. WOMEN Everything MARIA ISABELLA Everything BUTCHER'S BOY Everything WOMAN ONE At one exquisite interval during her ascent, Maria Isabella thought she spied the precise tower where Lorenzo Vicenzio Salvadore, the Stargazer, must live and work. MARIA ISABELLA Everything WOMAN TWO She felt the exuberant joy of her lost youth bubble up within her WOMAN ONE & WOMAN TWO and mix with the fiery spark of love she had kept alive for sixty years WOMAN THREE And in a glorious blaze of irrepressible happiness she waved her free hand with wild abandon, shouting the name that had been forever etched into her heart MARIA ISABELLA Lorenzo! WOMEN Lorenzo! MAN ONE When a powerful wind took the kite to sudden new heights, when the city and everything MARIA ISABELLA Everything MAN ONE below her vanished in the dark, she stopped shouting, and began to laugh and laugh and laugh. (MARIA ISABELLA laughs as the lone light on her slowly dims.) WOMAN ONE And Maria Isabella looked up at the beginning of forever and thought of nothing, nothing at all. MAN THREE And in the city below, in one of the high rooms of the silent Torre Astronomos MAN TWO where those who had served with distinction were housed and honored MAN ONE An old man, long-retired and plagued by cataracts, sighed in his sleep and dreamed a dream of unnamed stars. B L A C K O U T This play won Second Prize for One-Act Play in the 2004 Palanca Awards |