Dear Anak Filnigh Selvy Lines

Scene 3 - Coming to America

DOMINIC [optimistic] Thank God We Finally landed!

My legs could not handle sitting any longer.

[sassy tone]

So... this is America? That's it? what about the Hollywood sign? Where is it?

Scene 3 - Coming to America

NELSON

[acting confident, but is also nervous inside]

It will be okay mahal ko, we are going to be okay. Let's just thank God that we have arrived in America all safe and sound.

Dom, anak help me with these bags.

[DOMINIC walks over to Nelson to help with the bags]  Kids, do you smell that? Who's hungry?

[Family spots a McDonald’s nearby. Eyes widen]

SELVY [reading the menu, confused and agitated] Wait... they don't have the McDo spaghetti?

Or the burger rice plate?

Where the heck is the pineapple juice?

[Annoyed]

If they don't have the food I like then I want to go home. I miss my friends, my teachers, and the house.

[yells in agitation]

Why did we have to move?!

Ama, you ruined everything just for your own personal goals! And you call me the selfish one in the family.

Scene 3 - Coming to America

NENE

Do not speak to your ama that way Selvy. No one is happy about this move, but it's for you and your brother.

You both might not understand this now, but it is for your future. We're trying our best to provide for this family, and we thought this would be the best way to do that anak.

Okay Ama, I'm sorry

Scene 3 - Coming to America

NENE

[chuckling]

You two? Having a hard time finding friends?

[chuckles]

You both will be just fine making new friends at school and in our new house, there are a lot of kids that are the same age as you and your ate.

What do you mean by that? Why does it sound like there will be a lot of kids the same age as me and Dom in ONE house?

Scene 4 - This is it?

NELSON

Yes it does Pare! It feels a lot lighter here!

Edwin, I want to introduce you to my family!

[gestures towards DOMINIC]

This is my bunso Dominic.

[DOMINIC lets go of the luggage and Mano EDWIN]

This my kinamagulangan Selvy.

[SELVY Mano EDWIN]

Good evening Tito. Thank you so much for picking us up from the airport!

Scene 4 - This is it?

DOMINIC

Yes Tito very much! I can't wait to eat rice. That airplane food was so bad.

Yeah, they only gave us sandwiches. Like that’s supposed to make us full.

Scene 5 - Steakhouse

DOMINIC

This?

[lift up a journal]

This was my going away present from Lusviminda!

Oooooo lusssss

Scene 5 - Steakhouse

DOMINIC

[chuckles]

Ano kako?

SELVY

[chuckles]

I have no idea...

Scene 5 - Steakhouse

WAITER

Great what kinds of potatoes? Baked potatoes, double baked potatoes, French fries, garlic fries, mashed potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes, cheesy mashed potatoes?

[trying so hard not to laugh]

Look at Ama, he looks so confused.

Scene 5 - Steakhouse

WAITER

Lastly...

[Clears her throat]

My mama and I will be sharing a Bone in Ribeye with a side of salad please!

Waiter: What kind of salad? etc.

Can I just get the green kind?

Scene 6 - This is not okay

EDWIN

[should be walking in from stage right]

Welcome Home! Let me bring your bags to your rooms!

[Takes the bags toward their rooms and walks off the stage]

[Suspiciously looks around the house]

This is it?

Scene 6 - This is it?

NELSON

[optimistic and opening up his arms to the audience]

This is it!

[while exiting to stage left]

Hoy Edwin, let me help you with those!

B-but? It's so small...

Scene 6 This is not okay

NENE

[scolding SELVY, but also is in shock]

Ay, stop complaining! It's just for a little bit.

[gets one luggage]

Dom anak, lets go help your Tito with our bags

DOMINIC

[annoyed looking at SEL VY, walking exiting on stage left with NENE]

Just be happy we have a place to sleep tonight Ate.

[yelling toward stage left]

You guys need to stop acting like this move is okay!

This

[pointing at the the crowd]

is not okay.

Scene 7 - What's your plan for the future?

SELENA

oh and when he went to college, cause he never really talks about it. He just says,

[trying to imitate DOMINIC]

"oh when I was in college... things back then were harder, you are lucky it's not that hard."

[SELVY walks in in from stage right]

[chuckling]

Let's see if it was really "that hard" back then.

[with a sassy tone]

So iha, what is the plan for college? Your mom says you want to go far.

Why?

You are going to be so far from us.

[beat]

[trying to tease SELENA and put her hand on her shoulders]

WAIT WHAT is it? Are you hiding a boyfriend?

Scene 7 - What's your plan for the future?

DOMINIC

[puts hand on SELENAS shoulder]

Gosh, always with the negatives anak. No matter what you do, we know you will make us proud.

[SELENA and JAZMINE look at each other again]

SELVY

[SELVY picks up a photo album]

Oh my god! Is this you Dom?

[shocked, looking at the in DOMINICS direction]

With that one white girl none of us liked?

[emphasizes]

Especially mama, may god rest her soul!

Scene 8 - First Day, First lessons

DOMINIC ALVARADO Oh, that's my ate right there!

[SLEVY and DOMINIC start walking to eachother, SELVY looking very mad,and BBOY says Hi to SELVY in passing, but keeps walking toward ensemble to ear his lunch]

Dom, Hali ka dito! What are you doing here

DOMINIC ALVARADO you are so maarte, telling Ama and mama about you not being able to find friends,

[mocking SELVY]

and you missing your friends back home. Look at you now. Mama is right!

so dramatic

[hits DOMINIC]

dramatic? Is that a new word you heard in your class today?

I need to be cool in front of Americans, we can't all be losers sitting by ourselves at lunch.

Besides, I might as well embrace the

[imitating Nelson]

land of opportunity

If not, I will be a loser like you. With no friends.

Scene 16 - What is she thinking?

JAZMINE

Don't say that Lena, you won't lose them. Please, they wouldn't have had this whole party for you if they weren't proud of your accomplishments.

[points at BBOY] Maybe she got influenced by your daughter Bboy.

With her being too American. I've been seeing them always talking at parties. And I overheard them talking about doing a job that she loves.

Scene 16 - what is she thinking?

DOMINIC Just so much hard work for nothing. Ama's hard work, our hard work to put her in school.

[beat]

And she just chooses to be a teacher?

SELVY So what are you gonna do Dom? Lose her because of a decision you disagree with? Hold her back from all the opportunities that are there for her?

Scene 16 - what is she thinking?

DOMINIC I know that Ama.

SELVY Do YOU know that Dom?

[Gets in DOMINICS face]

Scene 16 - what is she thinking?

LUSVIMINDA

[Gets in between them] Mahal, we are in America, maybe we should let her try it. We talk all the time about taking advantage of all the opportunities that come her way.

This might be her way of showing that.

You have raised an amazing daughter, she can do it. You should let her try.

BBOY Jaz has been saying that she is doing a really good job with school, work, and volunteering... Just like we did when we were in high school, remember Dom?

[Facing the Audience] Nobody expected us to be where we are today. No one thought we would get out of Vallejo, out of high school, and go to college.

[looks at NELSON]

Scene 16 - what is she thinking?

DOMINIC What if she fails?

Then she fails! She can pick herself back up, just like you did at Stanford.

Scene 16 - what is she thinking?

LUSVIMINDA But we won't be able to help her. What are we going to do?

Letting go of your first daughter is terrifying. But you're not protecting her by hold her back.

Scene 21 - Oh have the turn tables

SELVY I told you, you would lose her.

DOMINIC Oh shut up Ate! She is just too American

SELVY Yes, but don't we live in America? Let the girl do her thing.

[beat]

let her fail and pick herself back up. Let her make mistakes. Let her be her.

If Ama did not let us be us, we wouldn't be here. Just do what he did, support when needed. She's an adult na, you cant keep her here for the rest of her life.

[beat]

Do you remember those diaries you used to write in all the time?

Scene 21 - Oh how the turn tables

DOMINIC Yea? Why?

SELVY I think you should look at them and remember what you were like when you were her age.

I remember you used to tell me that you started every journal with dear anak and you were not sure why. This is why Dom. We never tell our kids our failures in life because we don't want them to make the same mistakes we did. But sometimes that shows that we are human, and allowing her to read them shows that it's okay to be human too.

Dont let this be the wedge between you and your daughter Dom. Because of this, her getting to choose the career she wants, instead of the career choosing her. This is the goal that Ama wanted for our future generations.

So let her go to college to pursue teaching, please Dom.

Scene 21

DOMINIC Wow for someone who hated America the most when we first arrived, you came around the quickest Ate.

SELVY What can I say? We had to approach things with an open mind. Dont you wish you were more like me? Just try to find the light in all this darkness Dom, I know you will.