INT. GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE – EVENING
A picture of an old Filipino man hangs above the fireplace adorned with flowers and candles. People are sitting in folding chairs at the front of the room. A standing CROWD fills the empty space in the living room reaching back into the kitchen.
GERALDINE, a 25-year-old Filipino woman, sits at the front of the room with her family. Her GRANDMOTHER, a small old Filipino woman with short, freshly dyed black hair, is sitting in front of the fireplace leading the prayer.
GRANDMOTHER
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
CROWD
(In unison)
Grant unto them eternal rest.
GRANDMOTHER
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
CROWD
Grant unto them eternal rest.
Geraldine’s mother, MARISOL (50, Filipino), silently clutches a rosary with her head down. The Grandmother discretely smacks Marisol on the leg. Marisol wipes the tears from under her glasses and raises her head.
MARISOL
(In unison with the crowd)
Grant unto them eternal rest.
Geraldine’s father, MARCO (50, Filipino), a tough-looking bald man with kind eyes, rubs her shoulder comfortingly.
INT. GRANDMOTHER’S KITCHEN – NIGHT
Geraldine scoops food from various trays onto a paper plate and covers it with saran wrap.
GERALDINE
I’ll see you tomorrow night, Tita.
The woman takes the plate and gives Geraldine a tight hug.
Geraldine continues to pack take-home plates for departing guests.
GRANDMOTHER
Ging, did you make sure to get more chairs for tomorrow night?
GERALDINE
Yes, I did. I have everything covered.
Geraldine hands TITA EILEEN, a middle-aged Filipino woman sporting an asymmetrical bob and freshly touched-up nude lipstick, a wrapped plate and kisses her on the cheek. She continues to pack leftover food and tidy the kitchen.
GRANDMOTHER
Good. Your mother wanted everyone to stand tonight I guess.
GERALDINE
Ma, she’s just upset, let her rest.
GRANDMOTHER
Gah, she’s rested, she had a seat.
Geraldine turns to face her Grandmother and plants her hands on her shoulders.
GERALDINE
Not everyone can be as strong as you, Ma. Go to sleep, I’m almost done.
She gives her Grandmother a kiss on the cheek and continues to clean. Her Grandmother slightly grins when Geraldine turns away then walks out of the room.
INT. CAR – NIGHT
Geraldine’s fiance GARRETT, a 25-year-old waspy white guy, drives while she stares out of the window.
GARRETT
What are you thinking about?
GERALDINE
Student loans.
GARRETT
I think it’s good you took some time
off. Your research project topic was kind of bleak anyway. It would’ve been draining, y’know, considering.
GERALDINE
It’s not my fault pangolins are going extinct.
Garrett sighs.
GERALDINE
Thank you for coming, by the way. Only six more days of this.
GARRETT
Of course. Even scientists need emotional support.
He takes her hand and squeezes it.
GARRETT
Nine days is kind of a lot though. When my Grandpa died we just scattered his ashes in Lake Michigan.
GERALDINE
It’s a Filipino thing. If his friends and family don’t pray for the whole nine days then his soul won’t make it to heaven. At least that’s what they say.
The sound of the CAR HUMMING becomes clearer through the silence.
GERALDINE (CONT.)
Sometimes I think it’s almost over then I remember that the family has to keep praying for 40 more days.
The HUMMING continues.
GARRETT
I think your grandpa would have liked Lake Michigan.
Geraldine forces a chuckle and looks back out of the window.
INT. GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE – FOLLOWING DAY – EVENING
Geraldine is setting up chairs in the living room while her mother replaces the flowers on the fireplace.
GRANDMOTHER
Is this it?
Geraldine’s face drops.
GERALDINE
Don’t worry, Garrett is on his way. I’ll call him now.
She takes her phone out of her purse and calls her fiance.
GERALDINE
Hey! Are you close?
GARRETT (O.S.)
Damn, I was just about to call you. I can’t make it, my producer just called. He’s making me hunt down this actor at some party tonight.
Geraldine faces away from her Grandmother.
GARRETT (O.S.)
I’m so sorry. If I can get this guy to star in my film I-
GERALDINE
It’s fine. We only have five more days of this, right?
GARRETT (O.S.)
I’m really sorry.
GERALDINE
It’s fine. Love you.
She hangs up the phone and turns to her Grandmother who has a calm yet angry look on her face.
GRANDMOTHER
I guess I’ll just stand.
The doorbell RINGS. ANTHONY (mid-twenties, Filipino, handsome) walks in with a duffel bag and a row of folding chairs on each arm.
MARISOL
Tony!
ANTHONY
Sorry, the door was open so I just let myself in.
Marisol scurries over to Anthony and gives him a warm hug. The duffel bag slips off of his shoulder and THUDS onto the ground upon impact. Geraldine’s face goes red with surprise.
Geraldine’s Grandmother nudges her and raises her eyebrows, offering her a sly, playful look. Geraldine notices but tries to ignore her.
MARISOL
It’s been too long! Here, I’ll put your bag in the spare room.
GERALDINE
Anthony. H-Hey, what are you doing here?
ANTHONY
I just got in today. Sorry I couldn’t be here for the service, I got the soonest flight I could find.
MARISOL
You’re so tall!
Anthony smiles and greets the rest of the family. Geraldine shakes herself out of her shock and straightens out the rows of chairs.
EXT. GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Geraldine waves to the last departing guest from the porch. She closes the door and locks it. Her forced smile drops into a face of exhaustion. She leans on the closed door and takes a deep breath. She collects herself and walks over to the kitchen.
INT. GRANDMOTHER’S KITCHEN – NIGHT
The kitchen is spotless. Anthony pulls a full garbage bag out of the can and ties the drawstrings. Geraldine scans the house.
GERALDINE
Did you put the chairs away already?
ANTHONY
Your Ma was annoyed at how long people were staying. I figured they would leave faster if there wasn’t anywhere to sit.
Anthony picks up two large bags of garbage and makes his way over to the backyard. Geraldine follows.
GERALDINE
Thank you for coming.
She opens the sliding glass door for him. He walks through into the backyard.
ANTHONY
Of course. Henry was like my Grandpa, I wouldn’t miss it.
Geraldine opens the garbage can lid. Anthony puts his hand on top of hers to prop it open wider. Geraldine’s face goes red. He throws the bags in and wipes his hands on his pants.
ANTHONY
I would’ve come sooner but flights from Chicago are expensive.
Geraldine stares at Anthony with her hand still on the can, unable to muster a word. Anthony smirks and walks back inside.
INT. GRANDMOTHER’S KITCHEN – NIGHT
Anthony reaches into the refrigerator.
GERALDINE
H-Have you been to Lake Michigan?
He emerges behind the fridge door with two beers in hand.
ANTHONY
Yeah, I can see it from my office.
He holds the beer out for her to take. She grabs it with a limp, reluctant hand and screws the cap off.
ANTHONY
Why?
Geraldine takes a big sip and finally relaxes her shoulders. She leans on the counter across from Anthony.
GERALDINE
Thank you for helping my mom out with those chairs. This… whole thing has been stressful.
ANTHONY
She’s the one that insisted I stay at your Ma’s place.
He takes a swig of his drink and squints at her.
ANTHONY (CONT.)
You seem to be taking it well. (beat)
Are you?
GERALDINE
I guess I haven’t really had time to think about it. My mom’s not handling it well, that’s for sure, so I can’t really afford to take it any other way. And you know how Ma can be.
ANTHONY
She’s a tough lady that’s for sure. But she’s also hurting. Did you see how pissed she got about the food?
Geraldine lets out an honest laugh.
GERALDINE
She picked the food! Barbeque… What an odd choice.
She takes another swig of her drink.
ANTHONY
I think it’s because your neighbors came.
GERALDINE
(condescendingly)
Oh yeah. The Andersons. Look at us! What did they expect?
ANTHONY
Um, aren’t you with someone named Garrett?
GERALDINE
Hey, my mom said the true test is if they’ll eat your food. Garrett loves lumpia.
ANTHONY
Where was he tonight?
GERALDINE
Some fancy work thing. Super important. But hey, he has five more shots at it.
ANTHONY
I thought the forty other were for scheduling conflicts.
INT. GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE – FOLLOWING DAY – EVENING
A mix of chatter in English and Tagalog fills the room. People are laughing and smiling. Men have their ties loosened. A group of middle-aged women gossip in the kitchen. THE ANDERSONS, an old white couple with color coordinated cable knit sweaters, inspect the food for something familiar. Children intermittently run through the groups of adults.
Garrett stands closely behind Geraldine and tries to keep up with her conversation in Tag-lish. He nods along at every English word that pops up. Everyone is holding a plate of homemade food except for Garrett. Anthony walks up to the circle.
ANTHONY
Hey, Dine.
GERALDINE
Oh, hey! Babe, I want you to meet my best childhood friend. The one from that prom photo you always make fun of.
ANTHONY
Hey, man! Want me to get you a plate?
GARRETT
It’s all good I ate alre-
Garrett’s phone BUZZES. He answers it while walking away.
ANTHONY
Busy guy.
GERALDINE
It’s the last night and you have to give him credit for sticking it out this far. You should have seen him meeting Tita Eileen.
The two share an honest laugh.
ANTHONY
Nine down, forty more to go!
GERALDINE
Oh, he’s not coming to those.
ANTHONY
What? Why not?
GERALDINE
That’s family only.
Anthony has a confused look on his face.
ANTHONY
Aren’t you guys engaged?
GERALDINE
(Slightly embarrassed)
Yeah, but like… You know.
She stirs her drink with a straw.
GERALDINE (CONT.)
I’ll remind him about it later. He’ll come.
Anthony raises his eyebrows at her.
GERALDINE (CONT.)
Forty more days of prayer just us and my Grandma? My mom if she can get herself together. Why wouldn’t he come?
Anthony gives her a grin that says “suit yourself!”
GARRETT walks back with a quick pace and a big smile. He grips Geraldine’s shoulders with two hands and faces her towards him.
GARRETT
We have a lead!
GERALDINE
(Smiling but confused)
Huh?
GARRETT
He loved my script! We have a leading man! I’m taking him out tonight to celebrate.
GERALDINE
That’s amazing! Congratulations!
The two hug.
GARRETT
I have to leave early so I can make it, is that cool? Everyone seems to be in good spirits.
Geraldine holds a forced smile. She glances over at Anthony who has been watching the whole exchange.
GERALDINE
Y-yeah, of course. Do your thing!
Garrett takes her face in his hands and kisses her on the forehead.
GARRETT
Love you!
Garrett leaves. Geraldine turns to Anthony with a disappointed look on her face.
Geraldine quickly whips around to Garrett before he walks out.
GERALDINE
Wait! I’ll have to get a ride home, can I have your key?
GARRETT
I don’t think I’m going to be home ’til late tonight. Can you just sleep here? I’m sure your Grandma would love the company.
Geraldine’s face turns stone cold.
GERALDINE
Yeah, I’ll just stay here. For the
next forty days.
Garrett raises his eyebrow in confusion. His phone buzzes in his hand and he checks it, completely disregarding Geraldine’s comment.
GARRETT
Sure yeah babe. I really gotta go. I’ll see you tomorrow, love you!
He swiftly kisses her on the cheek and runs out of the door. Geraldine stares at the closed front door, embarrassed and unable to look at anyone.
ANTHONY
Well, I’ll be here until June.
A smile spreads across Geraldine’s face as she turns toward Anthony.
Anthony puts his drink down, walks over to the kitchen, and starts wrapping to-go plates. The group of women all coo at him and pinch his cheeks. The Grandmother smiles at him.
Selena Kuikahi is a twenty three year filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California. Selena graduated from the University of Arizona’s school of film and television and currently alleviates her newfound corporate monotony with freelance script editing and PA gigs (joy, no really). She enjoys dyeing stained white clothes, her grandma, Tracy Chapman Radio on Spotify.