“The Fight for Life”

by:
Prince Zairay J. Yuson
Niño Emmanuel C. Sabelino
Khelzo Jon A. Uy
Alexa Zoe Marie Baco
Maria Thereza Villanueva

Copyright© 2024, Consolacion, Cebu, Philippines

by Prince Zairay J. Yuson (63) 917 844 4465
Niño Emmanuel C. Sabelino Fax: [email protected]
Khelzo Jon A. Uy Email: [email protected]
Alexa Zoe Marie Baco
Maria Thereza Villanueva
 CAST OF CHARACTERS

ANTONIO: A vibrant adult in his early twenties who has an uncontrollable

addiction to drugs, which he wants to overcome.
MIGUEL: A middle-aged adult who is very protective of his younger brother.
JUAN PARING: Your neighborhood’s kind but secretive neighbor who seems to
have a mysterious past and present.

SCENE
The late 2000’s in the average American suburb. Inside the house of the Hernandez
Family

TIME
9:00 PM – 11:30 PM and 9:00 PM the next day
 ACT I I-1-1
SCENE 1
“The Fight for Life”
At rise. It was a peaceful night in the Hernandez household. Food was
getting cold on the dinner table, and Miguel isn’t answering Antonio’s
calls. It was looking like another lonely Friday for Antonio. He calls
up a particular friend to meet up at his place, realizing he ran out of
his favorite substance. He quickly got up when the doorbell rang, and
he wasn’t expecting a particular someone to show up. Miguel enters.
MIGUEL - Hey, you didn’t think I would show up, didn’t you? Sorry for arriving
late. I had to visit some old friends of ours on the way here.
ANTONIO - (visible confusion on his face) Oh yeah. Hahahaha, that’s fine. I was
just doi-
MIGUEL - Are you just going to leave me outside? Move out of the way. I am
starving. You better not have eaten the food I left on the table a while back.
ANTONIO - Yeah yeah, I cooked my own food, so you have nothing to worry
about. You know I’m a picky eater, right?
MIGUEL - I also know that you are a chubby freeloader. Now stop yapping and
sit at the dinner table. You are almost twenty-two and you still act childish.
Crickets make noise as they reach their hands out for prayer and eat
dinner as brothers. Awkwardness never settles in this household
because there’s always something interesting to talk about. They
cleaned up and did their own respective chores and at the end meet up
in the living room to watch the late-night broadcast.
Miguel notices Antonio has been isolating himself recently and felt
how his brother was feeling more lost each passing day and is now
very worried concerning his brother. Unaware his brother’s struggles
he works hard everyday to keep their lives intact from the aftermath of
the housing crisis. As he worked harder, his brother’s life
unbeknownst to him has been devoured by the life of drugs and
 unable to share his feelings to others afraid of being shamed by his
own peers and alike.
ACT I I-2-2
SCENE 2
MIGUEL - Hey bro, real talk. You are the best brother I could have ever asked
for. You know, even though I might be harsh and intimidating sometimes, it's for
the best. You have been filling the void in my heart for the past four years, ever
since both our parents passed away. I'm proud of you buddy.
Silence fills the room, and Antonio sheds a tear. Moved by his
brother’s words, a wave of nostalgia hits him. He recalls both the
happy and the sad experiences he has experienced during his
childhood. Ever since then, Antonio has been battling himself for the
past 4 years alone and has been excessively using drugs to fight this
losing war with his own character..
ANTONIO - (Sniff and visible sadness in his voice) Thank you, Miguel; I really
needed to hear that.
MIGUEL - Hey, I noticed a change in your behavior these past few months. Is
there something bothering you? I am always here if you want to talk. I’ll make
every effort to help you get through this.
Not wanting to burden his older brother, Antonio brushes it off.
ANTONIO - For the past six months, all I have been doing is studying for
the entrance exams that are tomorrow. I'm happy I took a year off before
starting college to explore who I was. You don't need to be concerned since I
have discovered who I am. I'm doing just fine!
MIGUEL - (skeptical tone) Alright, if you say so. If you need anything, I
will be in my room.
ANTONIO – Alright, I may have invited someone over to help me with my
studies. His name is Juan Paring. Our next-door neighbor. He teaches at
Grove Street Community College. You may have heard of him before. In the
science nationals last week, his class won state titles, and he received an
honor for that amazing accomplishment.
MIGUEL – I am glad you are taking this college business seriously. I am
glad mom and dad instilled great values in you.

I-2-3

Minutes later, Antonio hears knocking on the door. Juan Paring

enters.
JUAN PARING – Hey! There’s my favorite student! I am so glad to see you in
need of my “teachings” yet again!
Juan is clearly carrying something heavy inside his suitcase and it
isn’t books.
ANTONIO – Likewise professor Paring, say, why don’t we go inside my
room to study. I highlighted the important parts of our lesson last week and I
want to continue what we started.