Salakab (2023) Movie Script

1
Help!
Help me, please!
Arthur! Arthur!
Come here!
I got accepted for the scholarship!
- Really?
- Look!
Wow!
I'll be able to study in Manila!
Are you really not going
to change your mind?
Hardly anything has changed
here since we were kids, right?
I thought it's fine?
I'm sorry. Manila is just so far away.
Four years is just a short amount of time.
And I will come home
during vacations, anyway.
But I already got the scholarship!
What about food there? It's tough
enought to find a decent meal in here.
Then I'll work to
support my education!
Manila can be dangerous...
something might happen to you there.
Will we remain like this forever?
Okay then, Lena, answer me...
Who here on this island went
to Manila and had a better life?
Or who among us returned?
Huh? Answer me!
It's me!
I'll make sure to give you a good life!
Stop forcing it. That's enough.
No more of this.
Put your clothes back in the closet,
come down here,
and help me dry the fish.
Come on, let's do this.
Let's go.
Lena!
Lena!
Lena!
What's happening?
If you won't support my education,
I'll put myself through school!
Just let me get out of this place!
Listen to your mother, dear.
Not you, too, Dad!
Weren't you the one who taught me
how to dream when I was a kid?
It's different now,
things have changed!
Dear, just accept that some dreams
never come true! Right?
If only I knew you'd
grow up to be so stubborn,
I would've suffocated you
when you were a baby!
I wish you did!
- Maring, enough!
- I'd have preferred that!
- Lena!
- If you're happy with this life, I'm not!
You ungrateful, disobedient child!
You're worthless!
Maring, enough!
You ingrate! All you have,
you owe it to us!
You're a worthless child!
- Maring, stop it!
- You have a lot of nerve to go against us?
You want to go to Manila?
Fine, then leave!
But you will not
bring anything with you!
Everything you have,
we gave to you!
So, go ahead, strip!
- You bitch, take off your clothes!
- Maring, that's enough!
I told you, strip!
Strip! Strip!
Aren't you ashamed
in front of the neighbors?
No! Because your daughter
is shameless!
Lena, that's enough, she's your child!
You're humiliating her!
I raised you, I gave birth to you!
I could also kill you!
Do you understand? Huh?
- You ingrate!
- Stop it!
- Stop it, please.
- You animal!
Maring, that's enough!
This is embarrassing!
She deserves it!
What the hell are you doing?
Let go of me!
Maring, stop!
Enough of this. Please.
Go ahead!
Just remember,
you're no longer my child!
- Damn you!
- Stop it, please.
Maring, enough.
Lena.
Lena, go home.
Stop this.
Thank you.
Let's eat.
I'm sorry for all the trouble.
It's fine.
I talked to Tatang, and he
agreed for you to live here.
I'll head to Manila
once I save enough money,
so I can catch up with the enrollment.
Lena,
what if your mom completely
disowns you for pushing through with this?
I'm sure she'll forgive me
once I prove to her I'm right.
Well , if you're really determined...
then I'll take care of your tuition.
I'll sell the boat.
Thanks...
but even helping with
my fare would be enough.
I can manage once I'm there.
I'll take care of myself.
I'll take you there...
until I'm sure you're settled.
I can handle it.
And your dad might
get sick if you're not here.
Alright... but let me
help you with your tution,
and let me visit you every now
and then once my Dad's okay.
Actually, I prefer that you continue
with your studies as well.
They have Marine Engineering in there.
Don't worry about me,
I'll do that once you graduate.
Arthur...
It's best for our future kids.
They're lucky,
their mom has a degree...
and think about it, you'll be
the first accountant here in Sitio.
Can you wait for seven years?
Seven years?
I thought it was only four?
Because after graduation,
there's a board exam...
and...
I plan to help Mom and Dad for
a couple of years before we get married.
No matter how many years
it takes, I'll wait...
just as long as you stay mine!
Of course!
Let's eat.
Mmm, delicious.
Motor-taxi!
Motor-taxi!
Motor-taxi!
Motor-taxi!
Motor-taxi!
Motor-taxi!
Make sure to always call
and chat me, okay?
If anything you'd be the one having
problems with the signal in this place.
I'd climb any mountain just
so I could get to talk to you.
There are lots of
handsome guys in Manila...
don't replace me that easy, huh?
Maybe it's you who
won't be able to resist,
you're like a rabbit.
I could see Manila from here.
Seems like you want
to cross over. It's quite far.
It's unlikely she'll get back to you.
Lena's not like that.
she loves me.
That's what I said back then,
when my wife went to Manila.
Gemma's not like that...
but she ended up with someone else.
She even forgot about our kids.
She's probably in an air-conditioned
room right now.
Yeah, so, buddy, just a friendly advice.
Don't expect too much.
Hey, Lena, how are you?
I'm okay, still adjusting.
Do you have any money left?
There's still some of
the money you gave me.
The down payment and advance
for the boarding house are quite expensive.
But I'll start looking for a job.
No need, just focus
on your studies.
I'll send you some money.
I have a little saved up here.
Thank you, Arthur!
I'll pay you back
once I find work.
Lena, are there men
in your boarding house?
Yes, most of the people
here are students too.
Maybe you could move to
an all-girls boarding house.
Come on, Arthur...
It's hard to find
a cheap boarding house.
- And it's close to the school, so
- Just move.
Where it's all girls.
I'll do something about your deposit.
Okay. Okay, bye.
So, Arthur, can you handle it?
I told you, construction work is tough.
Fishing isn't a walk
in the park either.
one foot already floating
in a grave of water.
If luck is against you,
you'll come home empty-handed.
That's why I avoided fishing...
the sea doesn't give easily.
But people are also abusive.
Just let me know when
you have a project, I'll join you.
I'm impressed with you, kid.
It's just you and your old man...
but you work hard as all hell,
what do you even need the money for?
Have you been here long?
Kind of.
I can't reach Lena.
She probably ran out of battery outside.
I wish someone would contact me as well.
My boyfriend, I can't reach him either...
He might have someone else
in Manila already.
So now I'm looking for a foreigner...
like Letty.
Do you know Letty?
No, I don't.
Well, if that's how it is.
Why don't you find a new boyfriend?
I feel like...
I've already found one.
You know,
you're beautiful,
but I'm sorry, I don't have time
for that kind of thing.
Even this?
You don't have time... for this?
I'm really sorry, I need to go.
Why do you like Arthur so much?
He's already with Lena.
Me, I promise I'll take care of you.
Everybody says that.
Do you want me to prove it to you?
There are so many people here.
No, that's fine.
- Goodbye!
- Bye!
- Happy birthday!
- Thank you!
- Happy birthday!
- Arthur!
Thank you, Arthur.
But please don't tell me you traveled
all this way just for my birthday.
Arthur, it's quite far.
You wasted money.
Is it a waste if I got to see you?
Arthur...
Let it go, it's your birthday...
Of course, I want to be with you.
You didn't come home
during vacation either...
It's been a year since
we last saw each other.
I'm sorry, but I'm just
being practical.
How's your dad?
She's with Aunt Saling.
How are you?
You know, I miss you.
I'm sorry if we don't talk much...
I have a lot to do in school.
By the way, who's the guy
who drove you here?
Ah, he's a classmate,
they greeted me for my birthday.
Treated me, as well.
Who's over there?
Those are my schoolmates.
And on the other side?
Hmm, a married couple,
but they don't come often.
So, can we?
What's wrong with you?
Let's do it quietly.
Arthur, don't! Someone might hear us.
Please!
You've only been here for a year,
but you've changed a lot.
Who knows, next time,
I might not even recognize you.
Lena,
what if I just work
here in Manila?
I find it hard,
us being so far apart.
What about your dad?
I'll bring him here.
Arthur, it's not that simple.
The cost of living here is no joke.
And it's hard to find a high-paying job
if you're not a college graduate.
Or even if you are a college graduate,
it's still not that easy!
I thought I could endure
four years of being apart.
Don't think about it too much.
You won't even realize
it's been four years.
I've already graduated
and returned home.
What if, after four years,
you realize...
our small town isn't
big enough for your dreams?
Your allowance, by the way.
Do you really love me?
Of course!
Thanks for this.
I failed in a major subject.
My grades didn't meet
the scholarship requirements.
Maybe you could still
talk to your professor.
You're studying hard, after all.
It is what it is.
Maybe I'll work for a while
to save up for my enrollment.
No, let me do something about it.
It's dangerous, man!
We won't go through with it.
You go ahead, but
I'm telling you it's dangerous!
Let's go!
Come on, let's go home.
- Let's go!
- Let's go!
No, man. I'm leaving.
Don't go through with this,
the weather tells you so.
Look how dark it is!
You can't see anything!
See that! A storm is coming!
Lena isn't even your wife yet, son.
Just take it easy.
Hey, you got here ahead of us.
You fool, you scared us.
We thought you wouldn't come back.
I thought the same,
the weather was so bad.
But luckily, it cleared up today.
I really needed the money
for Lena's enrollment.
Is that why you're here?
There it is!
Ma'am, island hopping!
Island hopping, ma'am!
- Ma'am, here's my boat.
- Isla Verde! Isla Verde!
- I wanna ride you.
- Sorry?
I mean, I wanna ride your boat.
Sure.
Is it okay?
Shall we?
Okay, turn around.
Wait,
that wasn't part of the deal.
Don't worry, I'll add
another five thousand.
I'm sorry, no.
I bust quickly,
and I brought a condom!
How about I do you instead?
No, bro, I'm a top.
What if I make it seven thousand,
will that work for you?
And you won't earn much
from fishing anyway.
I know a lot of gay guys,
I'll refer you if I enjoy it.
So, are you okay with it?
Hey, wake up, we're here.
We're here!
- You pervert!
- Arthur, that's enough!
- Asshole!
- Enough!
- Asshole!
- You'll know your place soon!
Hey, cut it out!
The boat is about to leave,
and you're still picking a fight.
The nerve on that guy!
I wish you just let it go,
you could've been sued.
I'm sorry, I really can't stand it
when someone disrespects you.
Mom! Dad!
Lena!
Lena, I know I have to wait
for three more years
before we get married,
as you requested of me.
But if we're headed in that direction,
why should we delay it?
Lena...
Will you marry me?
Did I say it right in English?
Arthur, I'm sorry.
Sorry, sorry.
I'm really sorry.
I'm sorry!
Ah, the food is getting cold.
Let's eat.
Please continue playing.
Lena, Lena, wait a minute.
Lena, let's talk.
Sorry if I surprised you earlier.
You're not ready yet, it's okay.
I understand.
I'll wait for you!
Unless I'm no longer the man
you see as your future partner.
I'm still the one, right?
You wouldn't replace me
with someone else, right?
You love me, don't you?!
Lena?!
I love you so much.
Don't leave me.
Don't leave me, please!
Lena!
Tell me what I did wrong, Lena!
Lena...
Lena!
I love you so much!
Lena!
Let me go!
Lena!
Lena!
Lena!
You embarrassed the man.
You know what, I already forgave you,
despite your stubbornness.
Because your dad said
your education in Manila
might bring something good.
But right after you arrived,
you proved to me
that you didn't learn anything.
What more do you want, Lena?
Arthur sacrificed a lot for you.
You wouldn't even graduate without him.
Men like him are rare, Lena.
Sure, be picky as hell,
you might end up with a loser.
Make up your damn mind!
Maring,
that's a decision
we shouldn't meddle with.
What do you mean
we shouldn't meddle with,
that's our job as her parents!
To make sure she ends up with
someone who will provide for her.
Then what the hell are you doing?
And it's embarrassing, Lena.
What will other people say?
That we're a family of users?
Mom, I'll pay back everything
Arthur spent on me.
And there's a job waiting
for me in Manila already.
That's something you'll never
learn in Manila.
You can't repay a debt
of gratitude with money.
And you can't return the pain
you caused to someone!
What else, Lena, what else?
Did Arthur do something
wrong to you, huh? Answer me!
Nothing, right?
Do you have a boyfriend in Manila?
Or do you not want to
be tied to this land forever?
I wanted us to have a proper
conversation before I go back to Manila.
Didn't we agree that
you'll be working here?
We'd start a business here
once we've saved enough capital.
I won't be able to do that now.
Arthur. Please forgive me.
Is it because of what happened yesterday...
at the port?
It's my fault, please forgive me.
Just be honest with me.
Do you have someone else?
I didn't mean to.
I didn't mean to.
Shit!
Since when?
Damn it!
You still love me, right?
I'll forgive you,
let's fix this.
Lena... I love you so much.
- Forgive me.
- Lena, don't do this to me.
Lena, don't leave me.
Lena...
Arthur!
- Lena!
- Cut it out!
Lena, I love you
so much, don't leave me.
Lena.
Here, sir.
- Ah.
- Here.
Alright. Thank you, kid.
Here, this is for you.
Thanks.
Excuse me.
Yes?
Good day, sir. Is this Lena's house?
Why, what do you need?
I'm looking for her.
Sit down.
Thank you.
Right here?
What do you need from my daughter?
I'm Onjie.
Lena's boyfriend.
I'll be straightforward.
Lena has a boyfriend here,
did you know that?
Yes, ma'am. She told me about it.
And you're fine with it?
Well, you see.
She told me that
she's choosing me.
That's why she came back
here to sort things out.
But, I received a text from her.
She's breaking up with me.
What else are you doing here?
I just wanted to know why.
We never disagreed on anything.
We love each other.
So I mustered up the courage to come here.
Is she still here?
What are you talking about?
She left the other day.
She went to Manila!
Huh?
Are you sure?
I just came from her
boarding house in Manila.
She hasn't arrived there yet.
That's what she told us.
Arthur.
Arthur.
Arthur.
Arthur.
I'm sorry, I was going to ask you,
do you know where Lena is?
In our last conversation,
she said she was going to Manila.
She told us that too, but she's not there,
and we can't reach her either.
Who told you?
Oh, Onjie, Lena's new boyfriend.
He went to our house
and he's looking for Lena.
Arthur, sorry for what our daughter did.
We are truly sorry for
what she did to you.
Arthur, maybe our daughter
told you where she is.
We're just so worried.
Maybe you can help us.
I really don't know either.
I want to keep my distance from anything
related to your daughter for now.
But if I get any
information about her,
I'll let you know right away.
You son of a bitch.
You asshole!
You son of a bitch!
Where's Lena?
I don't know what you're talking about.
I don't know her!
Help!
Help!
Help! Help!
I brought some food, but you should
change your clothes first.
You might get sick.
You asshole.
What is it that you're
planning to do with me?
There's a fiesta in
the neighboring village.
The usual boats here
joined the race.
If it's okay with you,
I'll take you to town.
Thank you, Arthur.
I'll wait for now,
in case someone arrives.
It's already late, and
the waves are getting high.
No other boats will
be traveling at this time.
If you really need
to get to town today,
let me take you there.
Why, Lena? Are you afraid
that I might harm you?
Do you think I'm that bad?
I'm sorry for the things I said.
I was just really hurt.
But I won't cause you harm or anything.
I understand.
But I hope that
you can forgive me.
If not today,
but I hope that it'll come.
Not for my sake,
but for yours.
You deserve to be happy, Arthur.
If this is really is
the last time I'm seeing you,
at least let me
take you to town.
So, I can make sure you're okay
until you can catch a bus.
Arthur, this place seems
far from town.
Arthur!
Arthur! Please answer me!
Arthur, where are you taking me?
Don't break my trust!
- Damn it!
- Help!
What the hell!
- Stop, I said!
- Help!
Help!
- Help!
- Stop it!
Damn it!
Arthur, please.
Let me go.
If you can just be kind to me,
and listen to everything I say,
I won't hurt you.
We won't have any problems.
Don't even try to
escape from me, okay?
Because I will kill you
and your parents.
Eat, I said! Eat this!
Eat!
Then die from hunger, you bitch!
You should eat.
Come on now.
I won't poison you.
What's wrong? I love you so much.
Arthur, let's stop this game now.
Let's go back, please.
It's happy here, it's quiet.
Our own little world.
I have no rival here.
It's just the two of us.
We'll build a happy family here.
Do you think I'll still love you
with what you're doing, huh?
You're going crazy, Arthur!
You're insane!
Yeah.
Yes, I'm crazy.
I'm crazy for you!
And you're mine, Lena!
You're mine alone!
You're disgusting, Arthur!
Even I'm disgusted with myself.
In order to make your dreams reality,
I even sold my body.
So, are we good?
Shall we continue?
Are you okay?
Turn around!
If I only relied on fishing
and occasional construction
work for your education,
it wouldn't be enough.
Especially when you
lost your scholarship.
Just so you get to keep
on going to school,
I had to resort to
selling myself to tourists.
Gay men, matrons, old people...
I didn't choose.
As long as they could pay.
Some were generous, some were stingy,
some were weird.
Over time, they all
looked the same to me.
When you were doing your thesis,
it cost a lot!
That's why I had to turn
to dealing drugs.
It's a shame, you were
so close to graduating.
You know, one time,
the police caught me with shabu.
Get down!
- Please have mercy.
- Get down!
Please don't kill me, sir.
My father is sick.
He only relies on me.
You drug pushers always
say that when you're caught.
There are too many of you.
How about we trim the numbers?
Please, sir, don't kill me.
I'll do anything.
Anything?
Put it in your mouth.
Swallow it!
Okay, now.
Swallow this.
No, please.
- What do you mean no, huh?
- Have mercy, sir!
Will you do it? Or should I
blow your fucking ass?
Suck it!
Turn around!
No please!
You bastard!
I made it home alive.
That bastard didn't file charges
against me either.
But it was like
I was imprisoned too,
because every time
he needed release,
I couldn't refuse.
I endured it all!
But you know, there's one
thing I couldn't take.
I lost my father.
Because I didn't bring him
to the hospital right away,
because I put you first.
I put your needs first.
I never once blamed you
or held it against you.
I wanted to do those things for you.
Because I love you.
I love you. Please
don't leave me, Lena.
Forgive me, Arthur.
I hope you can forgive me.
I admit that when
I went to Manila,
I saw how small our world in Sitio was.
The world is so big.
I reached a point where
I didn't want to come back to you.
I felt...
I no longer fit the simple life
you wanted for us.
Maybe that's why I let
myself fall for another man.
So I had a reason
not to return to you.
If this is how I can make up
for all your hardship and sacrifices,
I'll do it.
I'll do whatever you want.
I need to pee, too,
I have to relieve myself.
Can you please remove this chain?
Don't worry, I won't run away.
Come on.
Hurry up, hurry up.
Thank you.
But if we stay here
any longer, Arthur,
people from our place
might look for me.
I've thought it through,
just do what I'll tell you.
I'll go back to Sitio tomorrow morning,
I have pick something up.
When are you coming back?
Arthur, I can't be here alone.
Please!
We've also posted on social media
if anyone knows Lena's whereabouts.
But there's nothing.
Are you sure your daughter
doesn't have any enemies?
My daughter and I don't really
see eye to eye on a lot of things.
Maybe she just ran away
to cool things off a bit.
It's hard to believe that, sir.
What if
something bad
happened to our daughter?
Her ex-boyfriend mentioned that he got into
a fight with someone who disrespected Lena.
He suspects
that the guy took revenge
on Lena instead of him.
If that's the case,
you can file a formal complaint.
So we can investigate it.
Sir, can you make sure
to investigate Lena's ex too?
He still holds a grudge against
Lena because she left him.
Good day, sir.
Arthur, come in.
Mr. Lito, Mrs. Maring.
It's Lena. She sent
a voice message.
I wanted to ask for your
forgiveness again, Arthur.
I hope that one day
you can forgive me.
And I also hope that you find
a woman who can reciprocate your love.
I'm going away for a while,
I want to be alone and
think things through.
Please tell Mom and Dad that I'm okay.
I'll come home when
I'm ready to face them.
You heard it.
Next time, before you report us,
make sure to confirm the facts.
The trip to your place is quite far,
it takes three hours to cross.
I'm sorry, sir.
Thank you very much.
Alright, we'll go ahead now.
I'm sorry, sir. Thank you!
Come on.
You're probably just going
to follow Lena to Manila,
that's why you're going
to work there.
Cut it out, man. There are plenty
of other girls around here.
No, man. I'm really
looking for a job there.
Plus, I'll go back to school.
I want to prove something to myself.
I managed to send Lena to school,
why not myself?
That's right! Well, there's
no progress here in our place.
Just don't forget us
when you get rich, okay?
- Of course, right?
- Yes.
You're my friends ever since.
- Here, take a shot.
- We shouldn't leave anyone behind.
So we get to drink more, right?
There you go.
So, you're not just a home-wrecker,
you're a thief too.
You're the thief here!
Why do you have Lena's phone?
And her clothes, too.
What?
Where's Lena?!
You son of a bitch!
Where's Lena?!
Asshole!
You're crazy!
Are you insane?!
You son of a bitch!
Sorry, it took me a while.
Are you hungry?
Who did you have
a fight with this time?
You're letting your temper
get the best of you again.
Huh? It's nothing.
I'm going to finish building
this hut so you won't get wet.
Why aren't you
going for a swim?
You used to do that, didn't you?
When I catch fish using this net,
it means I won't go hungry.
I'll be able to support my family.
I can start my own family.
I'll regret it for the rest of my life
if it's not you who I end up with.
Arthur, I don't know if you
can trust and love me again,
but I'll try if you give me a chance.
Arthur, should we get married?
I am Arthur De Luna.
I am Malena Magpayo.
I pledge to love you...
in good times and bad,
until death do us part.
Let's eat.
I'm going to town later.
I'll buy some materials for our home.
Ah, this is fine as it is.
It's a shame to put in the effort
to improve it
when we're going to leave it anyway.
Leave?
Why? Aren't we happy here?
We left a life
outside this island, Arthur.
And you know we can't
just turn our backs on it easily.
Life here is safer
and quieter, Lena.
I want to start a family here.
What?
What family?
What are you talking about?
I don't want to live
on this island forever, Arthur!
I want to dream,
and I want you to
dream for yourself, too.
All I want is to be with
you for the rest of my life.
If you truly love me,
you won't be selfish.
All I want...
is to be with you
for the rest of my life.
And I won't allow
that dream not to come true.
You son of a bitch!
Get back here!
Lena!
Lena!
Lena!
Don't leave me, Lena!
Lena!