Imagine This Line (After Rauschenberg

CECILIA continues speaking; NARCISA bites down on her fist, struggling to keep quiet in spite of her sobbing. “NARCISA” paces; “BOUCHER” mimes smoking a cigar while on the phone.

cecilia Nothing, Sir. I’m just surprised by your request. That much money… Sol and I will never want for anything again. I know… I know I haven’t been my best lately, but this will be different. My portraits always have life when they’re Sol.

“BOUCHER” lets out a deep laugh.

Mr. Boucher, you have my word. I won’t let you down again.

The other two “portraits” move again, this time with one posing as “NARCISA” and the other as “SOL”. “SOL” lies on her stomach, keeping still for “NARCISA”. “NARCISA” mimes painting “SOL”. The two exchange laughter.

“NARCISA” speaks at the same time as NARCISA, CECILIA, and REI.

narcisa, cecilia, & rei Konti na lang, Sol. Matatapos na rin ‘to.

Just as “SOL” opens her mouth, the “portraits” freeze. The other two “portraits” move again.

One portrait poses as “NARCISA”, the other as “SOL”’s finished portrait from the year before. “SOL” stands still while holding a candle; “NARCISA” stares at her, then mimes lighting a match.

NARCISA, CECILIA, and REI all scream for SOL as “NARCISA” mimes lighting “SOL”’s portrait on fire.

SOL’s screams are heard through the door.

143 · Aleina Zelin T. Duque

The “portraits” contort themselves wildly.

NARCISA, CECILIA, and REI collapse on the floor together, wailing, heaving, breathing in quick gasps. They find one another, grasping for each other’s shoulders, necks.

They start matching each other’s deep, anguished cries and wail at the same time. The “portraits” crawl towards the pile of remaining paintings, their bodies rising and falling in time with CECILIA’s, REI’s, and NARCISA’s.

Struggling to breathe, NARCISA closes her eyes and sees the following: NARCISA staring at the blank canvas the same way REI was at the beginning of the scene, she reads the words “PROPERTY OF SOL” engraved on the canvas’ frame; NARCISA muttering to herself in different tones as she throws the paintings into a pile, then stopping in front of the blank canvas again (just as CECILIA did). NARCISA spotting the canvas’ art label below the frame, saying: “Sol Galvez. Narcisa’s Dirge. Soul on canvas.”; NARCISA at the dining table, eating and talking alone; NARCISA arguing with SOL.

With a final wail, NARCISA recovers her last memory.

scene 5

INT. NARCISA’S STUDIO — NIGHT

sol (clutching NARCISA’s painting of her) Napakasahol mo, Narcisa. Sagrado… Sagrado ba ko kung binebenta mo lang din ako nang parang karne sa palengke?

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narcisa (trying to hold SOL) Makinig ka sa ’kin, Sol. Sol. Kung ibenta ko ‘to, pwede na tayong umalis. Pwede tayong tumira kahit saan mo gusto, kahit gaano pa kalayo.

sol Ayokong umalis dito, Narcisa.

narcisa Well, I don’t want to fucking die in this place! Plath’s oven to you is the Philippines to me!

SOL shoves NARCISA away.

sol Lahat ng ginagawa mo para lang sa sarili mo.

narcisa Hindi ka nakikinig. Think of our future, Sol. With this much money, you won’t even have to write anymore. Let’s face it, with your skill, walang magbabayad ng ganto kalaking halaga—

SOL gasps, her face crumpling. She drops the painting.

narcisa No, Sol, wait.

SOL turns away. She runs her hands through her hair and tries to calm herself. With a deep breath, SOL turns to NARCISA and steps forward until they are face to face.

sol Ganyan kababa ang tingin mo sa ’kin? A good-fornothing writer from Manila who lives in the shadow of her world-renowned artist girlfriend? Her artist girlfriend with no soul?

SOL balls up her fists.

145 · Aleina Zelin T. Duque

sol Walang ikaw kung wala ako sa ’yo, Narcisa. Hindi mo alam kung anong matitira sa sarili mo kapag nawala ako.

narcisa And you do? Tingin mo hihigit ang kahit anong isulat mo sa lahat ng mga piyesa ko?

sol Ako ang mga piyesa mo, Narcisa. Ako ang buto’t laman, ako ang dugo’t pawis. Ako ang abo at ako ang liyab. Ako ang wakas at simula.

scene 6

INT. NARCISA’S STUDIO — NIGHT

NARCISA opens her eyes. “CECILIA” and “REI” are gone. All the portraits are still in a pile, no longer “alive.” The fire in the studio has now engulfed all the walls. The blank canvas is the only object that survives the fire.

SOL appears in front of NARCISA. NARCISA gazes up at her.

SOL helps NARCISA stand up. They both face the blank canvas. NARCISA takes one last look at SOL.

NARCISA reaches her hand out. With one final breath, NARCISA touches the canvas.

The camera cuts to the first shot of the play: the closed door of the studio, with a bright orange glow seen through the cracks.

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