The world is an apple by A. Florentino

The world is an apple by A. Florentino

Narrator: Mario enters. sits down and buries his head in his hands. Gloria crosses to him and lay a hand on his shoulder.

Gloria: I know something is wrong. Mario, I can feel it. Tell me what it is

Mario: Gloria, I've lost my job

Gloria: Oh, no! How did you lose it? Mario! Have your sinful fingers brought you trouble again?

Mario: Now, now, Gloria Don't try to accuse me as they did. An apple! Yes, and they kicked me out for it for taking one single apple

Gloria: So that's what you get. . .

Mario: Could I guessed they would do that for one apple? When there were millions of them? We were hauling them to the warehouse. I saw one roll out of a broken crate. It was that big. Suddenly, I found myself putting it in my lunch bag. Do you remember that day I took our little girl out for a walk? On our way home we passed a grocery store that sold "delicious" apples at seventy centavos each. She wanted me to buy one for her but I did not have seventy centavos. She cried. So, when I saw this apple roll out of crate, I thought that Tita would love to have it.

Gloria: We're not rich. We can live without apples.

Mario: Why? Did God create apple trees to bear fruit for the rich alone? Didn't He create the whole world for everyone?

Gloria: So, for a measly apple, you lose a job! Filching an apple that's too small a reason to kick a poor man out a work. You should ask them to give you a second chance, Mario.

Mario: They won't do that. Can't you see they had waiting for me to make a slip like that? They've wanted to throw me out for any reason, so that they may bring their men in.

Gloria: You should complain. . .

If I did, they would dig up my police record. They will do anything to keep me out. But, don't worry, I have found a good job.

Gloria: I know God wouldn't let us down. Mother was wrong. You know, before we get married, she used to tell me "Gloria, you'll commit the greatest mistake of your life if you marry a good - for - nothing loafer!." Oh, you've changed!

Pablo: Hmmmm. How romantic.

Mario: Pablo!

Gloria: What are you doing here? What do you want?

Pablo: Your daughter. . . how is she? Here, I'll loan you a few pesos. It may help your daughter to get well.

Gloria: No. Thank you. Mario has stopped depending on you, since the day I took him away from your clutches! I have no regrets. Mario has none, either.

Pablo: How you can be sure? When he and I were pals we could go to first -class air- conditioned movie houses every other day. I'll bet all the money I have here now that he has not been to one for four years!

Gloria: One cannot expect too much from honest money - we don't

Pablo: What is honest money? Does it buy more? Staying in this dungeon you call a house, is that what you so beautifully call "honesty"?.

Mario: Pablo!

Gloria: I know you have come to lead him back to your dishonest ways, but you can't.

Pablo: You call this living? This Gloria,, is what you call dying - dying slowly minute by minute.

Mario: Pablo, stop it!.

Pablo: Tell her that you no longer believe in the way she wanted you to live.

Gloria: Oh! Mario, . . you promised me you were through with him.

Mario: Gloria. . . you . . . must understand . . . I tried long and hard . . . but could not lift us out of this kind of life. . .

Gloria: You are not going with him, You take good care of yourself and our child.

(Mario walks away with Pablo, Gloria stares dumbly at then.)

Gloria: Mariooooo! ( she cover her face with her dress and cries into it.)