"Kiki!" "Out!" "Get Out!" "Out!" "Hey!" "Come home early!" "Hey you, move it over there!" "Hey!" "Shirley!" "We've to talk about selling the house!" "Shirley!" "Are you listening?" "How much longer is that going to take?" "And shake it, and shake it." "And shake it, and shake it!" "then shake it!" "One more time!" "And shake it!" "And turn and turn" "Good morning, Ms. Templo." "Ma'am." "Good morning Ms. Templo." " Ma'am!" " Sssssssh..." "Ma'am. I talked to Ms. Piren about the clearance signatures ol her students." "And another technician is coming to ty and install the computer again." "Ma'am?" "Milet." "Where's the green wall clock?" " l replaced it, ma'am." " Why?" "We've changed the batteries so many times." "It still doesn't seem to work." "Milet, I don't care... il you donate all the wall clocks you get lor Christmas to this school... my point is, nothing is to be moved... touched, or changed in this libray, without my permission." "Get it?" "Excuse me." " Ma'am." " Good Morning." "Ms. Templo." "You are the lourth Mr. Rosales." "And lor the lourth time my answer is still No, No, No!" "I'm just lollowing orders." "Besides, eveything else in the school is already computerized." "Tell our principal that the program that was originally installed... bogged down in less than six months." "It took us one year to undo the damage... and lrankly, it's more ol a liability, than an asset." "So the answer is NO." "Get it?" "Noel, where are you?" "Two more couples then we're ne_!" "I know." "Is Grace there yet?" "Did you get in touch with her?" "Yes." "She knows." "Yes." "Today." "We're getting married today." "I'll just drop oil my passengers and I'll be there in a bit." "Bye." " Hey, why are you all outside?" " The wedding's oil." " What?" " Grace didn't show up." " Where is she?" " She llew the coop man." "And with your money too- l mean, Mark's money." " Where's Mark?" " There." "ll only Shirley would agree to sell oil this compound, we'd make a lortune!" "But she just won't budge." "So you can be strong and healthy like your grandma." "Gets?" "Grandma, it's "get it?" "," not "gets?"" "Get it!" "Good thing my grandchildren are so understanding." "That's why I love you both vey much." " And that's why we love you, grandma!" " Really?" " We really, really love you, grandma!" " Aren't you done yet?" "In a bít!" "Mom, are you planning to talk to Uncle Badong and Aunt Mercy?" " No." " l can't believe you, mom." "The buyer is planning to put up a condominium here." "And he is willing to raise his oller il we sell the whole compound." "Why are you still eating this?" "Aren't you worried about the cholesterol?" " Mom." " Andrea." "Even il you all left, you wouldn't convince me to sell this land." "This was given to me by my in-laws." "That's the point." "They are the parents ol your husband." "Ex-husband." "And your dad only put my name on the deed... so I'd grant him the annulment he was asking lor." "So there!" "And what il dad were to come here to convince you othe_ise?" " Why?" "Is that asshole coming back?" " No." " Andrea?" " No!" "You just ty and have Benito come home, and I swear to God!" "Mom, you got a message lrom Aunt Chery!" "Chery?" "What does it say?" "Boyet!" "No!" "And who's your Aunt Chery's mom?" "Go on." "Ok." "She says" "Sis, exclamation point!" "The plane TKT is ok!" "TKT?" "That's." "TKT." "Plane ticket." "Dad's plane ticket is ok." "Period." "Pick him up at the airport at 2pm ne_ Sunday." "Ouestion Mark." "BTW." "Does Mom know about thís?" "Ouestíon Mark." "Shoot, Shoot, Shoot!" " Foul!" "Foul!" "Foul!" "" "You think you can do better?" "That's what you get when you gang up on someone!" "Go!" "Go!" "Mom!" "Last nine minutes!" "Last nine minutes!" "Mom, please, control yoursell!" "Hey!" "Don't touch that!" "I want to see who'll win!" "You already know who's going to win." "You must have seen this tape over ten times already." " Please talk to me, mom." " l don't want to talk to you." "Mom, you can't shut me out like this." "I'm just curious." "When do you plan to tell me that Benito was coming... after I had a heart-attack, or when I'm already dead?" "Mom, you have to see the practicality ol selling this house." "I'm alive and well, and you are already taking out ol the rool above my head." "What more when I'm sick and dying?" "Why do you have to be so stubborn?" "You can buy a nice new townhouse in a nice new subdivision... with all the money you'll earn!" "I don't want something new." "I want something I'm used to!" "I can't believe it!" "Eveyone's moved on, and you're still stuck here!" "What?" "What did you say?" "Nothing." "I'm just saying that Daddy can contest grandlather's will." "So that's it?" "He's linally coming home to change my mind?" "And il he can't, he'll send me to court?" "The nerve ol your lather!" "It's sick!" "The only reason why he's got the guts to do what he does... is because all ol you are on his side." "My children!" "Traitors!" " Here we go again." " But it's true!" "Especially now!" "He helped your sister move to Australia." "And had her live there with his whore ol a wile." "He's got Chery under his control, you know." "But mom, he's our lather." "He's just making up lor lost years." "Years?" "Years!" "?" "For lifteen years you cursed him lor leaving us... and now you say, " But he's our lather." "Just making up, just making up."" "Wait a minute." "Why are you so keen on selling the house now?" "Does your labulous husband have another business he wants to run to the ground?" "No, mom." "No business." "Just work." "Work abroad." "And the kids are coming with us." "Abroad?" "Why?" "Where are you going?" "It's not yet one hundred percent sure." "Where are you bringing my grandchildren?" "No, no, no." "I need to see three boards tomorrow." "I have to go, I have to go." "Bye." "Guess what. I lound you a new bride." "The roommate ol my ollicemate Jill." "She needs money lor her student loan." "Don't bother." "It's just a waste ol money." "It's just money." "What's important is peace ol mind." "Yours and mine." "Your call." "But at least let me pay what I owe you." "I'll save up lor it." "Babe, you don't have to." "But what il l mary Pamela instead?" "Joke!" "Why?" "Is it hurting again?" "I got you!" "Let's go. I got to pee." "Hey!" "Cut it out!" "I have to pee!" "Spring is here babe!" "Yeah." "You make me laugh evey time you sing." "Nobody can be more out ol tune than you." "You can never beat me at bowling." "And you can never beat me at scrabble." "You heart New York." "I heart New York?" "You're great to talk to." "You're great" " Period." "Happy Anniversay." "Happy two years, babe." "Babe!" "Not there!" "I still need to pee!" "Your phone!" "Pick it up!" "Son, thís ís your mom." "Mark, it's your Mom." "Hello, ma'am?" "Hello?" "Who's this?" "It's Noel." "Hello?" "Noel?" "Noel?" "Who are you?" "No, no, no. I want to speak to Mark." " There." " You take care ol that." "That's what you get lrom keeping it lrom Mommy." "You know she has a sense about these things." " Hi Dang!" "Chery!" " Hello Noel!" "And I'm supposed to pick up after you two?" "Andrea, this is a bad time." "Mom is just coming over lor a vacation." "Alright." "Has her llight been booked?" "Eveythíng's sd." " Ok. I'll talk to you again." "Bye." " Bye." "And how did Shirley become a U.S. citizen?" "Mark's grandmother was in the U.S. Navy." "But where again was your Mom born?" "Hawaii, babe?" "Hawaii, Hawaii." "Oh, so this Shirley Templo was assembled in the U.S. ol A." "Yes, but she's never stepped on American soil." " Never!" "_ As in never?" " Never!" " Thank you." "Never, because her Mom died giving birth to her." "So right after that, she was brought to the Philippines." "Then after a couple ol years, her Dad passed away." "Right Babe?" " So no more opportunities." " And no more money." "That's cray!" "Your mother-in-law is one a kind, Noel." "Babe, where are my boards?" "Your boards?" "There." "You put them right there." "Where are they?" "Did you move them again?" "Your Mom might see them." "It's embarrassing." "Actually... I was thinking ol moving in with my Uncle Ed in Jersey... while your Mom's in town." "I don't see why you have to do that." "Babe, you're staying." "Babe, you're staying." "Mom, please don't get mad." "It's okay." "I'm used to being left behind." "Don't be like that. I'm sory." "And even il we light, you know in the end, I always lollow you." "And after all, I'm the only one who stayed here with you." "Yes." "Except now." "Mom, you have to understand." "I have a lamily now, and my priority is my children." "What kind ol luture do they have here?" "Andrea, you haven't even been through hall ol what I have as a mother... so don't tell me I don't understand what you're going through." "And the one you were saying about moving on..." " Mom" " Go!" "Go to Australia and I'll go to New York!" "Let's just see who has moved on larther between us." "We're done with the exam, you can lie down now." "Mark." "Where are you?" "I'm at JFK and I can't get in touch with you or your mother." "Call me when you get this, okay?" "Ma'am?" "Ma'am?" "Who are you?" "Sory." "It's Noel." "Mark asked me to pick you up." "Where's my son?" "An emergency at the ollice came up." "It's so cold here." "Why didn't you call?" "I'm sory. I've been tying to, but I can't seem to reach your phone." "I've been waving my phone all over." "And I still don't get signal." "Are you on roaming, ma'am?" "Yes." "Wait." "What's roaming?" "I'm on prepaid." "Isn't that automatic?" "_ Do you have a car?" " Yes ma'am." "Overthere." "Welcome to New York, ma'am!" "The city that never sleeps!" "The weather was great this morning, but the rain started coming down." "Well, it's spring time now!" "Ma'am. I have softdrinks at the back." " Wine too." "Would you like wine?" " Thank you." " Water?" " Thank you." "Maybe you're hungy." "I have some potato chips there too." "Thank you." "Ma'am!" "There, on your right." "Do you see that?" "You know what movíe that's from?" "Men in Black!" "There!" "That's where they hold the U.S. Open." "Tennís!" "You know that, ma'am?" "There." "There." "There." "On the right." "Citi Field." "The home ol the Mets." "There." "There." "There." "Right there." "There again." "Ma'am over there!" "On the ríght agaín!" "On the right!" "I'm getting dizy." "On your ríght ís the Brooklyn Brídge." "It's wonde_ul." "Vey romantíc." "Ma'am..." "Ma'am..." "Ma'am." "Ma'am!" "Were you sleepíng?" "Go right ahead, I'm sure you're jetlagged lrom the trip." "But I dídn't gd ídlag when I came here." "I got shíplag." "Shíplag because I took a boat ínstead of a plane." "Ma'am!" "Come ín!" "feel ríght at home!" "It's alright ma'am." "Come in!" "Feel at home!" "Are you hungy?" "How about some drinks?" " Just leave that there." " Ma'am?" "Just leave that right there." "This is live dollars." "You can take the two, but give me back three dollars in change." "Don't wory about it." "Though, I was hoping I could use your bathroom." "There's only one and it's in your room." "Your room is open by the way." "I'll bring in your things inside." "I'll handle this, don't wory about it!" "Dinner's ready?" "Dinner's ready!" "Wait!" "Just one more." "Mom, sit down." "Noel's a great cook." "He used to be the chel's assistant on a cruise ship." "Uh-huh." "I was a waiter too, when I lirst arrived here." "Wow." "Baked Salmon." "My lavorite." "Yes." "Baked Salmon." "Your number two lavorite." "fusíllí!" "Your number one lavorite." " Let's eat!" "In the name ol the lather" " Don't you have any sardines?" "I'm sory." "We don't have that." "I don't eat lood that I don't understand." " Mom, that's pasta." " That's covered in chili!" "Full-chili right?" "Isn't there any meat?" "Mark, why didn't you tell me?" " Pizza!" "Let's go lor Pizza!" " Pizza!" "Good idea!" "Yes!" "They say the pizza's great here?" " Ok." " l'll take care ol it." "Call Lucio." " Lucio!" "The best!" " The special... with sausage, pepperoni, the works." "Right." "Right." "Sausage, pepperoni, the works." "Noel. I think I know who you look like." "Who?" "Echo." "Hello?" " Echo..." "Echo..." "Echo..." " Mom!" "Really?" " Yes" " Hello." " Yes." "Yes." "Yes." "It's so cold here." "Stop it." "You're cray." "Why?" "I just missed my niece and nephew?" "Wait." "Ho_s Kiki?" "Kiki?" "That annoying cat?" "After your old boylriend David picked it up, he left it with me!" "So there!" "It's still annoying!" "Pass me some hangers." "How many do you need?" "A lot." "Are you staying here lor the whole year?" "I haven't been here a day, and you want me to go home already." "Mom, where's all this drama coming from?" "You didn't pick me up lrom the airport." "Mom, my boss called an emergency meeting." "Ol course, I needed to be there." "You didn't even tell me that your moron driver ol a boylriend was picking me up!" "Mom, that moron driver happens to have a name." "It's Noel." "We're too cramped here." "I'm going to a hotel." "I'll take you there lirst thing in the morning!" " You're unbelíevable!" " No, you're unbelíevable!" "I'm defínítely goíng to a hotel!" "That's two hundred to three hundred dollars a níght." "You're too cheap to aflord that!" "Hey!" "Your Mom might see us." "So?" "Are you okay?" "It's embarrassing!" "Embarrassing?" "you're embarrassed of me, huh?" "you're embarrassed of me?" "I hope your Mom likes me." "I hope it's you who likes my Mom." "Son, let's go up there later." " Excuse me." "Excuse me." " Son!" "You know what, I've a better idea." "No, no, no, ma'am." "Reach lor the sun." " Reach lor the sun, ma'am." " l'm talking to someone." "One... two... reach lor the sun!" "Nice one!" "Mother and son." "Mother and daughter." "Mother and son." "Family." "That's why I like it here." "Smile!" "Isn't it great?" "One ol the best reasons to love New York." "This hotdog?" "Hotdog?" "Not that." "Let's get out ol here." "Egalitarianism." "Where you lind the rich and the poor both eating hotdog." "In a way, New York is more ol an international city than American." "Practically all nationalities are here." "Dominican." "Chinese, Filipino, Puerto Rican, Italian." "I can go on and on." "I think more than one-third ol the city's population wasn't born here." "Isn't Noel great?" "At common knowledge." "Isn't all he said, common knowledge?" "What?" "Live here?" "Move here?" "In New York?" "With you." "That was your plan all along?" "When did you decide on this?" " Recently." " What do you mean recently?" "Last week?" "Last month?" "Just now?" "When you saw the Statue ol Liberty?" "What's wrong with that?" "I'm not even sure yet!" " And why are you mad?" " l'm not mad!" "I'm just tying to wrap my mind around this new bit ol inlormation." "You were the one who invited me to come here." "That was more than a year ago." "And you didn't come." "I get it." "Your invitation has expired." "God, make up your mind!" "You make up your mind!" "You want to live here but you never accepted that I'm gay!" "Never accepted?" "When did I not accept it?" " Why?" "When did you accept it?" " You never told me anything." "Why?" "Did any ol my sisters come out to you and go" "Mom, look, I'm straight." "You're impossible to talk to." "ll you don't want me here." "Then I'm going back to the Philippines." "I wouldn't stop you." "Oh no. I'll stay." "I have nothing to come back to there." "You're so indecisive." "Like your lather." "My God." "How did he get into this conversation?" " Nuts?" " You got that right." " Ma'am, here." " Thank you." " Water." " Thank you." "Do you want chips?" "Shoot." "Noel, you be the one to take Mommy to the Empire State." "I have to attend a client's anniversay." "No!" "I want to go with you!" "Mom, you won't enjoy yoursell there!" "They're all gay!" "He's also gay." "You've been making me a tourist!" "I came here lor you, not the tour!" "Mom." "Okay, line line!" "We're all going to a gay bar!" "Mark!" "She won't listen!" "You want to come?" "Fine." "But don't blame me." "Fight!" "Ma'am." "Take it easy." "It's your lourth." "What?" "Keep it cool." "That's your lourth drink." "Just in case you get drunk and lall over in the subway... I can't cary you home." "What?" "Dance, ma'am. you want to dance?" "What?" "Do you know how to dance?" "Don't yell at me!" "I was a P.E. teacher belore and I used to teach dance." "But real dancing!" "Not this kind ol dancing!" "Get it?" "Amen, ma'am." "Amen." "I know him." "What?" "Him!" "Hey, How are you?" "Yes!" "That's David, Mark's boylriend!" "Ex-boylriend." "What?" "Ex-boylriend." "Old boylriend." "Finished." "Past tense, ma'am." "I'm not deal." "The guys are over there." "Let's go." "Guys, I want you to meet David." "Noel." "Noel, come on." "Jesus, they're at it again." "We didn't do anything, okay?" "We just" " We just chilled." "That's what you said last time." "That was belore we started living together." "But last night, it was like there was still something between you two." "Babe" "The thing between me and David, I don't think that'll ever go away." "Wait, wait, wait, wait." "Let me explain." "Babe." "Let me explain." "Belore, when a relationship ends, that's it." "No ils." "No buts." "Finished." "The end." "But it's not that simple." "Love doesn't just vanish into thin air... just because you chose to go separate ways with someone." "So that's it." "is that what's going to happen to us?" "No." "Because you're the last." "Let's go." "Our little guest has no company." "Oh shit." "Well, she won't be a guest anymore il she wants to move here with me- with us." "Oh shit." "Spring is here, ma'am." "Even the weather here is conlusing!" "Rain, then sun." "Hot then cold." " You're cute." " Shush." "Are you coming with me and Mark later?" "I can't. I have a meeting in Oueens lor this poster I'm designing." "Then I have to go to Hillay's llower shop." "A lriend ol ours." " You design?" " Yes." "Aren't you a driver?" "Yes." "But that's my regular job." "I have to lind other lines ol work to save up lor my wedding." "Wedding?" "To a woman?" "Yes." "Aren't you gay?" "It's just a marriage ol convenience." "Just to legalize my status here." "Best bagel in the world!" "Bagel. I don't even like bagels." "I told you it was good." "That's white lish salad." " Noel, how are you?" " Good, good." "How are you?" "I don't believe I've met your Mom." "My name is Elai, how are you?" "Shirley." "He's not my son." "No, no." "She's Mark's Mom." "God, she's beautilul." "Um, I think I- l think well- l think, uhm." "Whatever." "Let's go." "Let's go." "Alright Shirley." "He had a lot ol nerve." "Admit it." "You were llattered." "Don't start it." "Mom, take it easy." "Chill." "Relax." "Take a look around." "Beautilul, right?" "True." "is he really gay?" "What il he's just using you lor your money?" "Noel's not like that." "And even il he was, it's still my money." "Don't be too cocky." "ll you're not carelul, immigration will want you too." "Let's sit, my leet are killing me." "Mom. I know the perlect job lor you." "It's easy, and the pay is good." "Where?" "With Noel." "He needs someone to lill up a position." "Easy." "And the pay is 20,OOO." "Dollars?" "A year?" "Dollars." "Up lront." "The job will probably take two years, but you won't have to do a thing." "And what job is this?" "Simple." "Mary him, to make him a U.S. citizen." "Are you serious?" "Why not?" "How can you disrespect me like that?" "Mom, I'm not disrespecting you." "I'm just suggesting." "I know I can't lorce you!" "Ma'am, I can take your jacket." "There's a heater, anyway." "It's alright. I leel cold." "Are you sure?" "Yes." "Okay." "Mom, I'd like you to meet Mia." "The owner ol the house." "The wile." "It's me!" "Mia!" "you don't remember me?" "She was my classmate back in La Salle, who lell in love with me." "I was his beard." "And apparently eveyone knew but me." "I'm sory i'm late. I know I know." "Shirley, right?" "Ma'am Shirley." "Ma'am Shirley, how are you doing?" "I'm Vince." "Let's eat. I'm hungy." "Hillay, Hillay." "I want you to meet my Mom." "Hello, ma'am." "Anything wrong?" "Don't wory. I'm also a human being, I just look like a horse." "It's not that." "You're just so beautilul." "That's it, perlect!" "We're now best lriends, so come here and let me give you a make-over." "Why?" "What's wrong with me?" "Oh no" " A lot." "You have the hair ol a librarian, glasses ol a guidance counselor... clothes ol a principal and the height ol a student." "Now what's wrong with you?" "Looks like we're close!" "Come on let's eat." "Let's eat?" "Hello lovebirds!" "Let's eat!" "You can do it, ma'am." "Don't wory." "We've one week to prepare lor your interview." " Will I be interviewed by an American?" " Yes!" "So it's going to be in English?" "No." "In Visayan." " Rule number one." "Always be on time." " l get it." " Rule number two." "You cannot be late." " l get it." "But isn't that the same thing?" "Exactly." "ll you don't understand the question, don't be alraid to ask." "Just say, excuse me?" "What's that?" "It says you were a P.E. teacher lor $ years." "Uh-huh." " Belore you became a librarian?" " Uh-huh." " So tell me about that." " What about?" "Well, that." "Oh, that." "Yes, that." "Yes, why not?" "Smile!" "With conlidence and a little bit ol sensuality." "But with the grace ol a virgin." "Just like a cross between Cherie Gil and Sharon Cuneta." "ll they ask you, what is your biggest achievement in Ille?" "Mom, you can't just space out like that." "You've to answer!" "In your long career in the academe... what do you consider your greatest achievement so lar?" "Ma'am!" "Answer!" "Your greatest achievement!" "To be the best mother in the whole, wide world." "Excuse me, excuse me." "Excuse me, please." "I hope you can help me." "I was in the store last week, and someone else was helping me." "And I wanted a blouse but they didn't have my size... but they told me to come in this week and they would have it." " It was white with a little black trim." " Excuse me." " It was washable." " Excuse me." " Yes?" " May I go out?" "Well, I guess." "Excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom." "Shirley, are you okay?" "Hello, Noel, where are you?" "I'm just helping Ma'am Shirley on the subway." "She doesn't know her way." "I'll be quick. I promise." "So why did they lire me?" "They said, you were always in the restroom." "What do we do now?" "We'll look lor another job." "What you need to do is say hello to the customers, ask them how many people... take the appropriate number ol menus, and walk them to the table." "May I order one spaghetti carbonara?" " Would that be all?" " Yes, I'm line." "Wait!" "I changed my mind." "How about a cheese burger, a whole wheat bun, and medium well please?" " Would that be all?" " That's all." "Thank you." "You?" "Water please." "And a smile." "Vey nice, ma'am." "Now smile." " Okay." "Go ma'am." "Nice." "Nice." " Take it easy!" "So you put your server number in." "New table." "Do it!" "How do I do it?" "You put it in the computer, Shirley." "It's been live days you've been doing this." "ll you don't know how to use the computer... maybe you should go back to work in the kitchen." "Hey!" "Where did it go?" " Mark!" "Mark!" " What?" "It's gone!" "I'll call you back." "Thank God you're here." "I need to run to the gym." "I'll leave you with Mom." "Where were we?" "Shirley, you have to memorize all this lood." "You cannot make any more mistakes." "The customers complain." "Here." "Baba Ganoush!" "Mousaka." "Mousaka." "Mousaka." "Mousaka." "Mousaka." "Mousaka." "Anklet Salad." "Baba Ganoush." "Baba Ganoush?" "Baba Ganoush." "Baba Ganoush." "Baba Ganoush." "Ma'am?" "Ma'am..." "Ma'am..." "Scrambolíssa." "Anklet Salad." "Mousaka." "Baba Ganoush." "Baba Ganoush." " Shirley, I need my salad." " Yes!" " Shirley, I need my egg salad." " Okay!" "Okay!" "Please." "Please." "Right now." " Shirley I need my lood." "Right now." " Okay!" "No!" "I'm lirst!" "Shirley, I need my salad!" "You're so slow!" "All ol you, shut up!" "All you do is order me around!" "It's always Shirley, pronto, pronto, pronto!" "You're more tiring than my students!" "It's cold!" "It's already cold outside and then it's even colder in here!" "God, this job is hard." "You can do it!" "You can do it Shirley." "You can do it!" "Fight!" "Fight!" "Shirley." "Fight!" "Hey!" "This isn't lunny!" "Carlos!" "Carlos!" "Open the door!" "Sally!" "Por favor!" "Have mercy!" "Have mercy!" "Hello, babe. I need a lavor." "Can you be the one to pick up Mommy?" "My hands are really tied up at the moment." "Please hury up." "Where is she?" "She's okay." "She's downstairs thanklully, but take her home." "Ma'am?" "Ma'am Shirley?" "Uncle, please don't be mad." "After this, I'll come to work, I promise." "Hello?" "Uncle?" "One moment." "Ma'am!" "Wait!" "Ma'am Shirley!" "C!" "Don't take the A train, that's the express!" "Just wait lor me there!" "Excuse me!" "You guys go ahead- l'll lollow." " Mark." " Yes, mom." "I'm lost." "What?" "Where the hell are you?" "Harlem!" "And my phone's running out ol battey!" "Hello?" "Hello?" "Mom?" " Harlem?" " Yes!" "Where are you?" " At 5$." " Why are you there?" "Mark, ol course I'm going to go down evey stop to look lor her, just in case." " Yes." "Call." "Call." "Telephone." " No, I have no phone." " l don't even have change, I'm so sory." " Here." " Not even change." " Ouarter." "Ouarter." "I don't even have no quarters." "ll i had, I'd give you baby." "I'm so sory." "Yes boss?" "Hello?" " Where are you?" " l'm here ín Harlem but she's not here." "Well, lind her!" "I looked for her through the whole statíon." "Then ty harder." "Please don't shout at me, Mark." "I'm not shoutíng." "No, you're shouting at me." "Noel, I'm just worried about my Mom." "And I'm worried too." "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "So what's it gonna be?" "Dreadlocks or cornrows?" " Why are you lying?" " l'm not lying!" "The point is, you left her alone." "You know how hard it is to be a stranger in this city, Noel." "Mark, ol course, I know that!" "That's why I look out lor her." "The problem is" "You meant to leave me behind!" "Ma'am, don't say that." "You tell the truth!" " l've been telling the truth!" " Mom, can you please let him linish?" "Mark, that's the truth." "I was telling you the whole time" " No, no, no." "_ What do you mean no?" "you saw me!" "I did!" "I sawyou!" "Yes." "You saw me and I told you." "Ma'am, take the C train... not the A train, because that's the express." "No!" "No!" "No!" "You said, Ma'am see the train?" "Yeah!" "The Express." "So that's where l rode because I thought it'd take me home quicker." "Mom, can you please stop cying?" "We won't resolve anything like this." "What do you mean resolve?" "What's there to resolve?" "That's what happened!" "Look!" "Ma'am." "Please." "Go, side with your boylriend, who is so nice and kind." "Mom, Noel has been so patient with you." "At least he pretends to be." "He pretends to be patient and kind, so no one will notice." "But the truth is, he wants to lrustrate me so I'll go home to the Philippines!" "Because he doesn't want me here, anyway!" "I told you." "Mark, I'm not complaining." "But sometimes I wonder, am I your mother's maid?" "Noel, you were the one who encouraged her to stay." "You're the one who told her that she has a luture here in America." "Your Mom just picked something up." "Son?" "Dad, you're sweating." "Yes." "It's hot here all day, then it suddenly rains." "And when my head aches because ol the weather, I can't work properly." " Dad?" " But I'm ok now. I already took medicine." "That's great, dad." "Why do you keep lidgeting?" "I'm just lixing my headset." "Your Uncle Ed says, that Mark lound someone new to mary you." "She backed out as well." "Good thing, there wasn't any payment yet." "She might've run oil with it just like Grace." "Mom, you've noticed it growing lor an entire month." "Why didn't you tell anyone?" "I had ít checked by Grandma Mílíng." "Mom, that's a lump in your breast, and you're saying that it's growing." "You need to have it checked by a real doctor." "Not just by a laith healer." "I've already had ít checked." "And?" "It needs to be tested lor cancer." "Mom?" "Good morning." "Let's eat." "Mark's out jogging." "We don't have to wait lor him." "All he eats is bagel, anyway." "Thanks. I'm late enough already." "Sit down." "No, it's alright." "Sit." "You want vinegar?" "Some garlic." "How about catsup?" "Or collee?" "Here." "Collee." "Go on, while the lood is still hot." "Orange Juice." "Ho_s your Mom?" "We'll lind out the results ne_ week." "Write her name on a piece ol paper, so I can include her in my prayers." "Ouch!" "It hurts too badly!" "Ouch." "Ouch, Ouch, Shit" " Gently!" "Ouch!" "Gently, gently!" "It hurts!" "Then do it on your own." "No, no." "Please, I'll just bear with the pain." " Are you sure?" " Yes." "As I was saying, ma'am, based on my experience here in New York... nothing will become ol you il you don't learn to trust... and open yoursell up to people." "Are you alright?" "It's like you're acting as il eveyone's out to get you." "It's as il you're thinking eveyone's going to steal the umbrella you're holding." "But that's what it's like here." "ll you aren't sharp, you're dead." "Ma'am, being sharp is dillerent lrom being paranoid." "Mark is right." "I'm an American by law, but not by blood." "I was so stupid thinking I could have a new lile here." "That I could still learn a new way ol living." "But I'm old." "And you can't teach an old dog some tricks." "It's new tricks, ma'am." "Maybe I should go back to Manila." "I can still make it lor the second semester." "In any case, it's just the same here." "Mark is never around." "He's busy." "In Manila, I'm always with my grandchildren... because Dang is always busy." "Chery and I hardly talk, and when we do... she's always in a hury because she's busy too." "They say it's great to have a lot ol children... because you'll never be alone." "But why do I have a lot ol children, and still leel all alone?" "Alright Uncle Ed." "Just give me eight minutes." "Thank you." "Alright ma'am, I've to go." "My passengers are waiting." "Ok." "Don't wory." "I know what to do." " Il anyone calls or drops by" " Ok, go." " And il anything happens just call me!" " Go!" "Hello?" "Hillay!" "Híllay, are you here?" "Hello." " Hello." " Hi there!" " l'm Shirley." "How are you?" " Good, good!" "How are you?" "Good!" "Good!" "I'm looking lor some llowers lor my lriend lor her birthday." "She loves lavender daisies." " She loves white." "She" " Excuse me." "Maybe the white daisies too, you think you could put a vase together lor me?" " Excuse me." "May I say something?" " Sure." "The one in-charge here is Hillay and she's out right now." "But il you can give me your name and your telephone number." "Sure." " l will tell her to call you back." " Sounds great." "Here you go." " Did you make that?" " Thank you." " l tried." " It's absolutely beautilul." "I think my lriend will like it just as it is." "Thank you." "Amazing!" "Perlect!" "Cray!" "Now don't be rude!" "Shirley." "It's lor you." " Shírley!" " Shírley!" "Shírley!" "Has smítten Poor Elaí who's taken by her' beauty!" "Stop that." "Stop that." "We're just rehearsing lor our Latin Night ne_ week." "Here we go." "Here we go." "Here we go." "Here we go." "Let's celebrate!" " Let's celebrate!" " Wait." " What are we celebrating?" " What are we celebrating?" "We're toasting, to Noel's Mom who is tested negative lor cancer." "Yes!" "Wait!" "Another cheers, lor Miss Shirley... who is truly the most improved player ol all time." "That's all thank you." "Wait!" "There's more!" "For Miss Shirley, who's now a lady!" "I got one. I got one." "To lile." "To lile!" " Such a pooper!" " l'm just tired." "Wow, that was fun!" "Are you guys having lun?" "And now, Cathy, we have a special request." "Yes, that's right." "A winning piece that was perlormed by this pair more than lifteen years ago." "Ladíes and gentlemen, a round of applause... lor the return ol the mother-and-son pair ol Shirley Templo and Mark Salvacion!" "Alright, go Shirley!" "Go Shirley." "Go Shírley!" "Go!" "Alright, go Noel!" "Yes!" "Go Mark!" "Go!" "Go Mark!" "Go Mark!" "Go Noel!" "Sory." "Your Mom's the lile ol the party!" "A director ol a senior center even asked her... to become a litness instructor lor the elderly." "It looks like she's really made it here." "Are you okay?" "Babe?" "It's back." "They lound polyps again in my colon." "They also lound a tumor mass." "They did the biopsy." "It's malignant." "Cancer?" "Stage one." "I need to undergo surgey ne_ week." "I'm scared." "I packed a Filipino suit in case he has a lormal dinner." "How does this look?" "I think, this would go better." " But we can ty both just to be sure." " Alright." "Give that to me." "Give it to me." " Give that to me." " Here." "How did you know?" "Know what?" "My wish." "From Hillay, ma'am." "She told me that it's always been your wish to dance again with Mark." "You know, that's what Mark and I would dance when we'd join contests." "But when his lather and I separated, we stopped." "He didn't want to dance anymore." "I never thought we'd do something like that again." "Thank you Noel." "Wait, how long is Mark's conference anyway?" "It's like we're packing his whole wardrobe!" "I lorgot his socks!" "Just a minute ma'am, I'll just get them." "Let's go." "They're the youngest of níne chíldren... but my Uncle Ed ís the only one who made ít bíg." "He dídn't have tíme to mary, raísíng all of us on hís own." "Noel!" "Your uncle has been waiting." "This is Ma'am Shirley." "Hi!" "How are you?" " Uncle Ed is here." " Oh yes." "Uncle Ed!" "Hey, dude!" "Hey!" "What's up man?" "What took you so long?" "Uncle Ed, this is Ma'am Shirley." "Mark's mother." "Happy birthday." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Pamela's been waiting lor you." "She's here?" "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" "ll i told you, I'm sure you wouldn't come again." "Hey!" "Noel, is that you?" "Oh my god!" "Where have you been hídíng?" "You don't answer my texts, my emaíls, Skype or even facebook." "Sory, I've been busy working." "And also, I'm staying in Brooklyn now." "I know!" "Uncle Ed says you're staying with a lriend." "What's up with that?" "But you know what I think it is?" "I don't think you're applying yoursell to where you should be." "They're quite a match, right?" "You should start pursuing the arts!" "They should get back together." " They were together?" " Yes, yes." "When Noel was new here." "But only lor a day." "She was committed to someone else." "But now she's lree!" "But the job you're keeping is only lor the meantime, right?" "Yes, ol course." "Until I solve my status issue." "I know." "But, what can we do about that now?" "But don't wory, that's not insurmountable." "But God, you look good." "Hello?" "Hello?" "You're wrong." "We're so good lor each other." "I know it." "Noel, talk to me." "Is it me?" "is there something wrong with me?" "No, it's not you." "Pamela, listen." "You're a nice person." "But I'm in love with someone else." "Okay." "Noel?" "How much longer are we stayíng?" "Just a _íle." "Okay." "What lor?" "I'll be undergoing surgey in two days." "And they said I can be back at work in a week." " She won't even notice." " Mark, please." "Tell her about it." "It's unlair to your mother." "And it's unlair to me." "I can't even look her in the eye anymore." "Thank you Pat!" "Thank you!" "Thank You Paul!" "Thank you vey much!" "Thank you Ray!" "Thank you vey much!" "Excuse me" "Hello Mark?" "I'm glad you called." "Hi, mom." "Ho_s your lirst day at the social center?" "Okay." "Just practicing how to be a P.E. teacher again." "And they're vey nice people." "Good." "Good." "I'm sure they are vey much impressed by you." "Thanks!" "But don't wory about me." "Just locus on your work." "Shirley, it's time to eat." "Thank you, I'll lollow!" "Thank you!" "Ho_s the conlerence?" "Conference?" "It's okay." "Mom, I have to tell you something." "Díd Noel tell you?" "I got to med hís Uncle." "Hello?" "Hello?" "Mom?" " Mom?" "Who?" " Pamela." "Pamela?" "Yes, you met her at the party." "She's something else, madly in love with Noel!" " l know." " She wouldn't Id go of hím all day." "She even got jealous ol me, can you believe that?" "Really?" "And Noel can't do a thíng about ít." "beíng under the thumb of hís uncle líke that." "And she's more than ready to mary Noel." "I can't imagine Noel ending up with her!" "He'd have no way out!" "And what wíll happen to you?" "That's why it should be you." "No." "Don't start with me." "Easy." "Okay." "Okay." "Mom, wait." "Wait." "They've been callíng me already." "We're about to eat." "I love you." "I love you too." "But I still won't mary your boylriend." " Okay." " Hello mom?" "Wait." "Mom." "Hello?" "Waít!" "Wait, Elai!" "I have call waiting!" "Yes!" "Yes!" "I'll see you at the center after my work." "Okay, okay." "Okay, choose the movie." "Alright." "Alright bye!" "Hello Dang?" "Ah yes, have you seen the pictures I sent you through email?" "That was last night." "Maybe it lailed." "Alright, I will just resend them, okay?" "I'm already late. I have to pee." "Kiss my grandchildren lor me." "Alright." "Okay." "Okay." "Bye!" "Hí, Thís ís Mark, we're not avaílable at the moment." "Leave your name and number at the beep and we'll call you back as soon as we can." "Hello Noel, thís ís your Uncle Ed." "You aren't answeríng your phone agaín." "I know ít's Mark's operatíon today" "But anyway, Arí wíll be replacíng you tomorrow... but as soon as Mark ís díscharged from the hospítal... you have to report to work." "Hello?" "Room ol Mark Salvacion?" "Excuse me ma'am." "Okay, ready... one, two, three." "There you are Noel." "He's going to be line." "The operatíon went well... we excised the tumor mass, lrom the descending colon." "It was a good operatíon." "Excuse me, I am the mother." "How are you?" "I'm Dr. Shríeve, Mark's surgeon." "So this is how you truly are!" "Rude." "Fake." "A traitor and a liar." "Like the cheap ass ol a glass." "You may have looled my son." "But not me." "Not me." " Ma'am, let me explain- _ Now?" "After we've spent eveyday together." "Living under the same rool, eating lrom the same table?" "But you had the nerve to make a lool out ol me?" " But it's Mark who" " Yes." "Ol course." "Ol course." "Ol course." "You depend on Mark for eveythíng!" "Mark, what are we going to eat?" "Mark, what are we goíng to watch?" "Mark, when shall I sit?" "Mark, when shall I bark?" "Ma'am, please don't be like that." "Why?" "Isn't it true?" "You're Mark and your Uncle's little dog." "Eveything they tell you, you do!" "That's what a dog is!" " Ma'am, please stop." " Why?" "Does ít hurt hearíng the truth?" "There's one thing that hurts more." "Hiding the truth lrom you!" "And being made a lool because ol it." "I am the mother." "I cared lor him since he was a child." "I nursed him when he was sick." "I lound a way lor him to go to school." "I made sure he had something to eat." "And now that he's older, I'm already set aside... because someone else is doing what I should be doing?" "Shit!" "Shit!" "Who are you anyway?" "Who are you?" "Cousin, I'll be going ahead." "Uncle Ed and I have to leave early tomorrow." "Just close the lights when you're done." " Babe, I'm really sory." " It's okay." "I understand where your mother is coming lrom." "But what's important now is that you get better." "Thank you." "I'll go ahead. I'm going to be late." "Good afternoon, ma'am." "I'll be going ahead." "Love you, babe." "It was Noel." "He says he's sory." "When I'm gone mom, I want you to take care ol him." " Mom, what are you doing?" " Stop provoking me!" "And remind me to call Dang." "The school's asking when I'll be back." "I want them to know I'm coming home." "Don't bother with that." "Just sit down." "You're going back?" "I thought you liked it here?" "Besides, you're doing so well." "I'm just stressing you out." "And the doctor said that's the last thing you need." "You can ask your boylriend to come back." "I'm the one who's leaving." "But both ol you get along well." "He's the one who watches out lor you, out ol his initiative." "He likes being with you." "And lrom what I know, you do too." "Just lorgive him, ok?" "Please." "Please." "I just want to know il... you hate me so much to keep your sickness a secret lrom me." "Mom, do you remember when we were still pa_ners in crime?" "What?" "Remember, when a new movie would come out... you'd be the one to write excuse letters so I could skip class and watch." "Do you remember our favorite excuse?" "Slight lever." "No." "Diarrhea." "Your stomach has always been a problem ever since." "Mark, what happened to us?" "You've been so distant." " You distanced yoursell." " No, you." " You!" " Me?" "Remember back in second year high school, you caught me and Tommy?" "In the restroom." "I was so scared then." "I thought you'd beat me senseless." "But you didn't." "You just stood there." "Emotionless." "In lact, since then, you just shut me out." "is that what happened?" "After that, no matter what I did, I couldn't make you happy." "I graduated salutatorian." "But you were disappointed." "Because I know you could become the valedictorian." "When I got into La Salle... you wished I got admitted into the University ol the Philippines instead." "When I took a job right after college... it wasn't enough." "And even il l was selected to come here... out ol all the people in my company... it meant nothing." "Until one day, I realized... no matter what I do... how big my accomplishments may be... you will never be proud ol me." "Because I lailed you as a son." "It's delinitely not easy to be the lavorite." "Most especially when you turn out to be a big disappointment." "Mark." "I cannot apologize lor who I am." "But I can only say sory lor hurting you, mom." "That's why I kept it lrom you." "Because now that you're starting over... here I am, disappointing you again because I'm sick." "I'm sory mom." "Did you miss me?" "I missed you too." "Ríght here." "Ríght here." "Here you go." "Thank you." "Randolph." "Yeah, I still have chemo sessions." "Asshole!" "You got to take over my place." "Jesus Christ." "Condolences." "It's unlair." "In books and movies... when the hero gets sick, only two things can happen." "He either survives it or dies ol it." "But not like this." "The luneral director is asking when you'd like to schedule the cremation." " No." " No?" "You all don't understand." "When I linally see my son in heaven... how can I recognize him il l've chosen to burn him here?" "But that was always his prelerence." " But, il that's what you want" " Just no." "The least we can do is respect the wishes ol the dead." "Isn't it enough that you've cut him up?" "You said Mark was an organ donor, and I respected that." "Can't you let me bring him home to his siblings in one piece?" "It's up to you." "But we'll need 10,OOO dollars to get him on the plane." "Then we can cremate him in the Philippines." " l already said" " We have to cremate him." "That's what he wanted." "And that's what we'll do." "Excuse me." "Fine." "You're the only one who's right." "You have been with Mark lor two years." " You're the only who knows him!" " Are you jealous?" "You're jealous again because he told me what he wanted and not you?" "And what do you know ol Mark, anyway?" "What have you tried to know ol Mark on what he wanted and didn't want?" "He was my son!" "So I know the meaning ol his evey breath and burp!" "He may be your son, but you do not own him!" "Just because you conceived him doesn't mean you made him what he is." "What he is now is because ol himsell and the people that were a part ol him." "And you are just one ol them!" "Just one ol them." "You're not the only one entitled to love him." "The world doesn't revolve around you." "And it won't stop revolving even when you're gone!" " Don't be so proud, you know nothing!" " And you?" "What do you know?" "Did you know Mark tried to kill himsell during his lirst year here?" "No?" "You didn't know that!" "And Chery?" "Did you know she got married early just to be away lrom you?" "That's not true!" " Why?" " That's not true!" "Why don't you want to lace it?" "You were the one who said not to cover up the truth." "Now here it is." "Face it!" "You bastard!" "You bastard!" " You lying bastard!" " Stop it!" "What did I do wrong, ma'am?" "All I ever did was love your son." "And you. I loved you too." "But you were so sellish." "You're vey sellish." "You go ahead." "Jun ís already there." "I'll be passíng by the hotel, to píck up my other presents." "Goodbye baby!" "Bye." "Dad, reminding you the novena prayer later." "I think that might be Mark's things." "Why don't we settle this some other time?" " Huh?" " There's no rush." "It's not like the value ol the property will diminish." "You've always been indecisive, Benito." "Aren't you happy to be linally selling this compound?" "But what about you?" "I'm okay. I'll be okay." "Shirley." "It's not your lault." "So mom, have you thought about it?" "You should move to Perth with us." "It's great there, you'll love it." "I heard you're studying again, Dang." "Nursing aide." "Or maybe as a caregiver." "Just so we can speed up moving lrom NewZealand to Australia." "At least, it's close to what she originally dreamed ol being." "You dreamed ol being a nurse?" "Not a nurse." "A doctor." "Doctor?" "But you told me we didn't have the money lor it." "And you said I didn't have the brains to be a doctor." " l said that?" " Yes mom!" "And you said that she was going to get married young anyway... so why bother taking up medicine?" "But she íust had to be a rebel and sígned up for ít anyway." "It was a scholarship!" "And in case you lorgot, I passed!" "But when Mom lound out, she was lurious  l remember she gave you a liying kick." " She pulled my hair!" " She did both!" " l know!" "And she sent me flyíng all the way from the gate untíl the staírs." "Mom, you were right anyway." "All ol it." "I got pregnant." "And married early." "I'm sory. I'm sory. I'm sory." " l'm sory." " It's okay." "I'm sory. I'm sory. I'm sory." "I'm sory, my children." "Vince, can you kindly put it here please?" " No problem." " l can't believe Noel." "I always te_ him to get his things, but he never gets back to me." "He must be busy preparing lor the wedding, right?" " Noel is getting married?" " Yes." "To Pamela." "That girl." "Hey, can you help me out with these?" "Kind ol heavy." "She brought a lot ol heavy stull." " l thínk I got thís one." " Slowly." "Watch your loot." "Watch your loot." "What do you want?" "Can we talk?" "Noel." "Ma'am, welcome back." " l passed by- - l heard. I talked to Uncle Ed." "Are you getting your things?" "Over there." "Mark has so many things... I knew I had to clean them up belore my things lrom Manila arrive." "I was planning to change the lurniture too, what do you think?" "Maybe we should just stop this." "You don't have to do this." "You don't owe me anything... so il you're just doing this to relieve yoursell ol any guilt... I wish you wouldn't take me with you." "Okay." "Il you want to be tied to Pamela all your lile, okay." "I'll just get something inside." "Then I'll be going." "Noel, just awhile." "ll we could talk, I just wanted to tell you something." "When Mark asked me to mary you, I have to admit, I was hurt." "Ol course, I thought... I can't believe he asked me to come all this way to be a solution to your problem." "It's not like that." "Mark has wanted you to come here lor a long time." "Even belore he knew me." "Yes, but I was still hurt." "I lelt disrespected." "But now, I know. I get it." "I now know that it has always been Mark's plan... lor us to get to know each other, to bring us together." "Because when- when his lather left us... I told mysell, that I would be strong." "ll not lor mysell, then lor my children." "Because you just can't say, stop, I'm done with this." "Waking up was hard enough." "But you can't tell your children, that it hurts so much." "So much that you want to kill somebody." "You can't do that, right?" "You can't tell eveything to stop." "There isn't a time-out to being a mother." "Somdímes, you're playíng the center, and the fo_ard, at the same tíme." "You know, Mark used to tell me something." "Yes, that's what he used to say." "He said, he wanted me to live." "I want you to live, he'd say." "Because I think he knew that... I had killed the old Shirley long time ago, so I can raise them." "Noel, I am not helping you by doing this." "You are helping me." "Even just this once, even il it's this late... please do this lor my son." "I'm sory." "Thank you lor eveything you've done Noel. I'm sory." " It's okay, ma'am." " Ouch." "Ouch." "Ouch." "I can't breathe!" "That's what I wanted to happen." "You're cray!" "Ma'am, wait." "Why?" "Something's wrong." "What's wrong?" " Yes." "Something's wrong." " What is?" "I remember now." " What?" " What Mark told me." "To spread his ashes in the Grand Canyon." "Not here in Niagara!" "Noel!" " Yes!" " So what is it really?" "Give that to me." "Shirley?" "Shirley!" "Elai!" "How are you?" "What are you doing here?" "I'm good." "What's happening, what's going on?" "I have to tell you something." "Okay." " l just got married." " You just got married?" "Yes." "Come on, are you serious?" "you got_ who'd you get married to?" "Never mind." "Don't wory, I'll get a divorce after two years." "God, you're beautilul." "After two years."