THE PERMANENT GIRLFRIEND
THE MUSE OF Makati
THE PERMANENT GIRLFRIEND – Written by Alan Nafzger
Copyright 2020
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FADE IN
INT. FERRY STATION – Cagayan De Oro
JOHN PAUL (24) leaves the counter and sits beside a poverty-stricken but intelligent looking MINDANAOAN (60). John Paul sits and looks at his ticket. The trip is a big move for him and he shows the seriousness.
The Permanent Girlfriend
MINDANAOAN
Where ya going, friend?
JOHN PAUL
I’m moving to Manila.
MINDANAOAN
Oh, no. Not another.
JOHN PAUL
Another what?
MINDANAOAN
A dreamer.
JOHN PAUL
I’m going to be a writer.
The Permanent Girlfriend
MINDANAOAN
Well, what do you do now?
JOHN PAUL
I teach at a rural high school.
MINDANAOAN
Here?
JOHN PAUL
In Lanao del Sur.
MINDANAOAN
Friend, stay here. There’s plenty of poverty to write about here, just look around.
JOHN PAUL
Well, I’ve saved up and have enough funds for a year.
MINDANAOAN
You saved up that much money?
JOHN PAUL
Well, I did save, but I’ve also sold my grandfather’s Cadilac. He left it for me.
MINDANAOAN
That’s serious.
JOHN PAUL
Well, I’d rather write than drive.
MINDANAOAN
Do you know anyone in Manila?
JOHN PAUL
There’s an archeologist, a professor who’s agreed to mentor me.
MINDANAOAN
For what?
JOHN PAUL
I’m writing a television series.
MINDANAOAN
About archeology?
JOHN PAUL
About a cavemen?
MINDANAOAN
Are you sure people want to see that?
JOHN PAUL
Yes, it will be about the first Filipino.
MINDANAOAN
Every week?
JOHN PAUL
Yes, believe so. It’s interesting. Lots of drama. Cannibals, tigers, rhinocerous, poisonous jellyfish. Survival and all. Drama.
MINDANAOAN
The world has gone insane.
The Mindanaoan stands and approaches someone with his hand outstretched. He’s a beggar.
BEGIN TITLES
EXT. FERRY – INNER PASSAGE BETWEEN ISLANDS
The ferry moves between along the inner passage.
There are several stops along the way. We see both urban and rustic scenes.
John Paul is solemn, but is clearly observant and taking notes. He has three suitcases which he builds into a desk for his laptop.
The Ferry pulls into Manila Bay and he can see the skylines.
END TITLES
John Paul looks at the skyline, and MOTHER with a BABY and then at GRACE (20). With each subject, John Paul types something.
Grace notices him and will play hard to get; she turns up her nose. She pretends disapproval. John Paul wants to explain, but before he can, Grace moves away and stands at the rail. She wants to be the first to disembark. She’s left her umbrella. The mother hands him the umbrella and points to Grace.
John Paul approaches her, and she feels that he’s about to speak.
GRACE
I’m not interested.
JOHN PAUL
I don’t mean to be rude…
GRACE
Bugger off, creep.
JOHN PAUL
Your umbrella.
GRACE
It’s not mine.
A transit security guard walks past.
GRACE
Officer, this man is trying to rape me.
JOHN PAUL
I’m not. I didn’t.
The officer looks around, and there are plenty of people anxious to get off the boat. No one looks overly concerned.
JOHN PAUL
I was just…
GRACE
Arrest him.
JOHN PAUL
I’m just trying to…
GRACE
He follow me everywhere on ferry just to get my body. He touched me here and here.
She gestures to her breasts and Derriere.
JOHN PAUL
Are you out of your mind?
SECURITY
Did you touch her?
JOHN PAUL
Of course, I didn’t.
GRACE
Arrest him.
JOHN PAUL
There was a lady there with a young child. She sent me with this umbrella.
GRACE
It’s not mine!
JOHN PAUL
Ask her.
The security officer looks at Grace and the mother signals that the young girl is crazy. The security guard doesn’t want to be teased or used, so he simply walks away.
JOHN PAUL
You tried to get me in trouble!
GRACE
Yes, so? Don’t go bananas!
JOHN PAUL
Well, I didn’t do anything to you.
GRACE
You might have; Manila can be a dangerous town, and I’m a defenseless woman. Look at all your big muscles.
JOHN PAUL
I’m harmless. Do you want your umbrella?
GRACE
Come to think about it, that is my umbrella.
JOHN PAUL
Can you at least say, “thank you?”
GRACE
You are welcome.
JOHN PAUL
Wait; I was being sarcastic.
GRACE
I hope you’re sorry.
JOHN PAUL
Why should I be sorry?
GRACE
You walked up to me crazy, and for what? To return a silly umbrella?
JOHN PAUL
Yes. Well, it’s the rainy season.
GRACE
This old thing?
She pitches it in the bay, like it is nothing.
GRACE
Why you force me to call the officer?
JOHN PAUL
Force you? You almost got me arrested.
GRACE
What are you, you can’t be arrested?
JOHN PAUL
I’m a writer, well I’m here to write.
GRACE
What is your real job?
JOHN PAUL
I’m a teacher.
GRACE
Now you are going to tell me you know everything.
JOHN PAUL
I don’t.
GRACE
And I know very little.
JOHN PAUL
Actually, I’m here to learn.
GRACE
Sounds to me like you are not a teacher then. But a student and maybe not even a very good one.
JOHN PAUL
But I am.
GRACE
Wait a minute.
(long beat)
You are a teacher but don’t know anything? You look like you might try to persuade me that you do.
JOHN PAUL
I said, I don’t.
GRACE
Then how will you write a book?
JOHN PAUL
It’s not a book, it’s a TV show.
GRACE
Intelligent people like me, we don’t watch TV.
JOHN PAUL
I didn’t say…
GRACE
But you admit that you don’t know anything and you watch TV?
JOHN PAUL
You’re the most infuriating girl I’ve ever met.
GRACE
Wait until I tell my professors about you and your silly idea. They will get a chuckle out of you.
JOHN PAUL
I didn’t tell you my idea and are you kidding?
GRACE
My name’s Grace.
JOHN PAUL
Grace, my name’s John Paul.
They shake hands.
GRACE
Like the Pope?
JOHN PAUL
You live in Manila?
GRACE
Oh, during school. Sometime Cebu.
Sometime Visayas.
(beat)
My father’s very rich, you know.
He has… three houses and a condo.
JOHN PAUL
Well, I’m honored.
GRACE
So you’re a writer, huh?
(beat)
The kind of writer that cheats on his wife? Writers always cheat.
JOHN PAUL
No.
GRACE
You aren’t married or you don’t cheat?
JOHN PAUL
I’m not married. And I don’t cheat.
GRACE
Yes, writer always do. Unless you write children’s books. Do you write children’s books?
JOHN PAUL
No.
GRACE
Then you cheat.
JOHN PAUL
I wouldn’t.
GRACE
I hear of one boy who wants to be a writer at school; he has seven girlfriends, one for each night of the week.
JOHN PAUL
Well, that’s wrong.
GRACE
You’re an old fashion boy?
JOHN PAUL
I guess.
She takes a long look at him.
GRACE
And a virgin!
JOHN PAUL
Is that something to be ashamed of?
GRACE
No, I’m one myself.
The bang plank comes down and she begins to walk away, off the boat.
JOHN PAUL
Wait, I haven’t finished talking to you.
GRACE
I don’t talk to writers.
JOHN PAUL
They tend to steal my words and I’m never paid. Sorry.
GRACE
Oh, I see.
JOHN PAUL
Maybe we could…
GRACE
- Goodbye.
JOHN PAUL
Wait.
GRACE
Goodbye. I hope someday you’ll be a famous writer.
(beat)
But it won’t be possible if you’re still a virgin.
JOHN PAUL
Huh?
GRACE
That’s my opinion. You are in Manila now, farm boy. Try the Pegasus on Quezon Avenue.
JOHN PAUL
My professor friend lives in Makati? I think I’ll stay near there.
GRACE
Makati is that way, but those clubs cater to foreigners. They might laugh at a Mindanao farm boy.
Grace disappears into the crowd.
TAXI DRIVER
Sir, you mentioned Makati. You need a taxi?
JOHN PAUL
Can you recommend a cheap hotel there?
John Paul pulls up an email on his phone.
JOHN PAUL
Something near Burgos and Kalayaan streets?
TAXI DRIVER
Excuse me, but it is not for you, sir.
(beat)
It’s for foreigners and the people there are very sinful, sir.
JOHN PAUL
Great, plenty of inspiration. I’m here to write!