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MANOLO: (rising) Well, one thing is definitely settled now. You cannot go on living together, the three of you- not with all this hatred and bitterness among you. This house must be sold. Father must be placed in a hospital. You cannot take him away from us now! You must give us time- time to atone for what we did! We must go on working for our forgiveness! He will never get well until he has been completely separated from the two of you! They can stay until this house has been sold-- but they must dismiss this border of theirs at onceand I shall arrange to have Father transferred to a hospital as soon as possible. I expect to have this house disposed of before the end of this month. You will come to live with me, Candida. Paula, you will live with Pepang. And listen, all of you- this is absolutely the last talk we shall ever have on this matter. Pepang, are you ready to go now? (going or her bag) Yes Manolo. Wait a minute while I go in and see if Father is still awake. (He exits). (earnestly) You say this picture is your punishment. I do not think Father would be so cruel. He did not paint this picture to punish you; he painted it to release you, to free you! Do you not see? When you said all those bitter things to him, he was not angry; he understood your predicament; and he took pity on you. He could not give you say money, of course- but he could give you this picture, knowing that you could make money out of it- the money to release you, to set you free! Paula, Candida- your happiness is in your hands. You can have money of your own. You will feel secure and independent. You will not have to worry anymore about the future.

PAULA: CANDIDA: PAULA: MANOLO:

PEPANG: MANOLO: PEPANG:

(Enter Manolo) MANOLO: Now remember- you are to dismiss this border of yours immediately! And take away all those signs from the door.

(Exeunt Pepang & Manolo) PAULA: CANDIDA: PAULA: CANDIDA: (after a pause) Candida, have you no news? Oh tell me you have news- good news! To this Bureau of Health and Science? (shuddering) Oh Paula, it was horrible! They thought I was crazy! Oh Candida! They only made fun of me. They sent me from one department to another. Oh I thought they were seriousand I tried to act very smart, told them I wanted to catch rats, that I was an expertand they listened attentivelyI thought they were really interestedbut they were only laughing at me, they were only making fun of me. (taking her sisters hands) Oh Candida! Pepang is right. There is no place for us anywhere in the world. We are completely useless. We must separate. You go and live with Pepang. I will go and live with Manolo. I will take care of his children and keep an eye on his servants. You will look after Pepangs laundry, brush her hair, and answer her telephone. She will make me wear her old clothes and I must pretend to be grateful. And Manolos wife will make me cut my hair and paint my face. Oh Candida, is there no escape for us?

PAULA: CANDIDA:

PAULA: CANDIDA: PAULA:

CANDIDA:

(turning face towards Portrait) Did you hear what Pepang said? She said this picture is our release, our freedom. (As they gaze wonderingly at Portrait, a car is heard stopping down in the street. They glance quickly at each other. Candida shudders)Oh I cannot talk to him now!

(She hurries to doorway and Paula follows. Tony Javier is heard running up the stairs & shouting Miss Candida! Miss Paula!. The sisters pause in the doorway. Tony appears on the landing, breathless.)

TONY: PAULA: TONY:

Oh Miss Paula, Miss CandidaI bring wonderful news! This is your salvation! Mr. Javier, what is all this? Come here ladies, and you shall know! Come and listen to me, please!

(Paula glances at Candida, Candida walks back into the room and Paula follows) CANDIDA: TONY: CANDIDA: TONY: Well, what is it Mr. Javier? (waving towards the sofa) Oh, sit down, sit down first! (going to sofa) Very well Mr. Javierbut you must hurry. We still have our cooking to do. (She and Paula sit down on sofa) Sit down Miss Paula, sit down and listen! Now, about this Americanhes going back to the States. All the Americans are being sent homeevacuated, you knowso they wont get caught here when the war breaks out. Well, this particular American is leaving in a week. He still wants this picture; he wants to take it back with him. Oh, he says hes crazy about itdo you know how much hes offering now for that picture of yours? (A pause, while he looks at the sisters) He is offering ten thousand dollars! (after a stunned pause) Ten thousand dollars! And thats twenty thousand pesos! Twenty thousand pesos! Oh, he wants it bad, and he wants it at once! Hes leaving Friday. (The sisters are silent, staring at Portrait) Well, what do you say now? Oh, just think of it! Twenty grand! Enough money to last you for years and years! And you can snap your fingers at this brother and sister of yours! (after a pause, rising) We we are very sorry, Mr. Javier. But we told you before that the picture is not for sale. Well it is stillstill not for sale. WHAT? (Candida remains seated, staring at the Portrait) Wait, wait, WAIT! Oh my God! Think, ladiesthink! This may never happen again! This is the chance of your lifetime! (with a slight smile) It seems to be rather the chance of your lifetime, Mr. Javier. Mine? Why? You are so anxious to make the sale. Has this American offered you a very big reward? We are very sorry you cannot earn your reward. Miss Candida, will you tell her what a chance youll be wasting? (Candida rises in silence and walks away. Paula, astonished, takes a step to follow her.) (grabbing Paulas arms) Oh, stay and listen! Listen to meplease! (walking slowly towards doorway) I must go and do the cooking Oh Candida, do not leave me alone!

CANDIDA: TONY: PAULA: TONY:

PAULA: TONY: PAULA: TONY: PAULA: TONY: TONY: CANDIDA: PAULA:

CANDIDA: PAULA: CANDIDA: PAULA: CANDIDA:

(whirling around with sudden passion) Why? Are you afraid? (startled) Afraid? (Tony releases her arm.) (fiercely) Yes, yesafraid! Afraid to stay! Afraid to find out that it is true after all! Everything they are saying, everything they are whispering and laughing about! Candida! You know it is not true! Then why are you afraid to stay? Why do you always need me at your side? Are you a baby, am I your nurse?

Pages 101 103

CANDIDA: TONY: CANDIDA: TONY: And you were right! (with a leer) And you were willing to let me persuade your sister to sell too! Oh yesyes indeed! You were even willing to let me take her out and convince her! You didnt care how I did itas long as it was effective! (mockingly) And was it? You bet it was! I chose the most effective way in the world to convince her! (smiling contemptuously) Ahbut did you? (flushing furiously and giving her a shake) You know I did! All I know is that she came back alone! All I know is that she got away from you! Well, she cant back out now! And you cant either! Ive got the both of you in my hands! Oh, dont worryI wont doublecross you! Youll get your ten grand; all I want is my commission. (jerking her arm loose) Your commission! And that is all you ever wanted, wasnt

CANDIDA: TONY: CANDIDA: TONY: CANDIDA: TONY:

CANDIDA: it? TONY: CANDIDA: TONY:

Sure! Why? Did you think I wanted you? Did you think I wanted your sister? How could you have the nerve to touch her! Remember, CandidaI had your permission! When you walked out of this room that day, you left her completely in my hands! (trembling; her fists clenched) Please go! I beg you to go at once!

CANDIDA:

(Unnoticed, Paula has come up the stairs, carrying a prayer-book, rosary & umbrella; her church-veil draped around her shoulders. She pauses and glances towards the two people in the dim room. Paula, too, is wearing her best dressan archaic blue frockand her jewels; and she looks very young, happy & tranquil. She has fought, she has conquered; now she comes back radiantmerciless as a child; ruthless as innocence; terrible as an army with banners.) TONY: Im waiting for that picture. The American is waiting for that picture. Give it to me and well all get what we want. He gets his picture. You get your ten grand, I get my commission. Yes, Candidathat was all I ever really wanted! Just a little money to start me offto get me away from here! But I wouldnt take you or your sister with me if the

both of you had a million dollars! What do you take me fora nut? I can get younger women, Candidawomen to my taste! Not a pair of skinny, screwy, dried-up old hags! (Paula goes to set her umbrella in stand.) CANDIDA: TONY: PAULA: TONY: PAULA: TONY: PAULA: Will you goor shall I call the police? Will you give me that pictureor shall I go in and tell your father? My father knows, Tony. (whirling around) PAULA! (moving calmly forward) My father always knows. (hurrying to meet her; agonized) Why did you run Paula? Why did you leave me? (passing him by as she goes to table and lays down her prayer-book & rosary) Because there was something I had to do. Something very important. (in anguish) Oh Paula, I could kill myself! I could kill myself for having touched you! (smiling at him) How vain you are!

TONY: PAULA:

TONY: (approaching) Do you know what I did when I found you gone? I went out and got drunk! I got roaring drunk! I wanted to kill myself! I wanted to kill everybody! PAULA: TONY: PAULA: TONY: PAULA: TONY: PAULA: TONY: Poor Tony! And all he wanted was his commission! To hell with it! I dont want it anymore! All I want is. . . that you forgive me! You will never forgive me, Tony, for what I have done to you. Oh Paula, dont hate me! Why should I? Then listen to me! Believe me! I listened to you before, Tony, and I believed youremember? I was lying then, I was only fooling you! Oh, you know what kind of a beast I am! Im always out for what I can get! You were there for the takingso I took you! And besides, you were thinking of your commission. Yes, I was thinking of the money too! I needed the money! And you also wanted to hurt my father. Yes, yesthat also! I wanted to hurt him, to spite him, and to spite this house! Oh, I did it for spite, and I did it for the money, and I did it for a lot of other reasons you wouldnt understand because you havent lived my kind of life! Paula, dont hate me for what I did! Try to understand me! Oh, we started all wrong, you and Ibut we could start all over again. We could make it right. I want to make it right Paula; I want to make up for what I did to you. Oh, say you believe me! I believe you. I deceived you that time, Paula, but now I speak to you from the heart! Im on the level nowas Ive never been in all my life! I believe you.

PAULA: TONY: PAULA: TONY:

PAULA: TONY:

PAULA:

TONY:

Then where is the picture, Paula? Give it to me. It is not your salvation alone anymore; it is my salvation too. It is our salvation. Well go away, Paulajust like we said. Well go away together. Spain, France, Italy. Well start a new life. And Ill make you happy, Paula I promise! I will learn to be good, you will learn to be free! (with a laugh) To be free! (horrified) Oh Paula, dont laugh, dont laugh! You were laughing the last time, Tony. Now, it is my turn. (staring at her) Dont you believe me? (gravely) Do you. . . love me? I will learn to love you, PaulaI promise! All we need is to get away from here. All we need is the money so we can run away and be free. Where is the picture, Paula? The American is waiting. Then you must go and tell him to stop waiting. (She turns her face towards the site of the PORTRAIT.) The picture is no more. (his eyes widening) What have you done with it? I have destroyed it.

PAULA: TONY: PAULA: TONY: PAULA: TONY:

PAULA:

TONY: PAULA:

(A pause, while Tony & Candida stare at her. She is getting down at her hands.) TONY: PAULA: TONY: PAULA: TONY: PAULA: (stunned) OH NO! OH NO, NO! (turning towards Candida) Did you hear what I said, Candida? (feverishly) Say its not true, Paula! Say its not true! I have destroyed our picture, Candida. No! No! Its not true! Its not true! (exultant) I slashed it up and I smashed it up and I tore it up and then I burned it! There is nothing left of it now! Nothing, nothing, nothing at all! (bursting into sobs) Oh, you are mad, mad! Are you angry, Candida? (approaching) No, Paula.

TONY: PAULA: CANDIDA:

(She embraces her sister. Tony has sunk, sobbing, to his knees.) PAULA: CANDIDA: PAULA: CANDIDA: Candida, are you crying? Oh nolook at me! (looking round the dim room) But someone is crying. I hear someone crying. (indicating Tony) Only Mr. Javier.