Three Rats by WILFRIDO MA. GUERRRO

THREE RATS
-WILFRIDO MA. GUERRRO

CHARACTERS:
Gonzalo
Nita (his wife)
Adrian (his best friend)

PLACE: -- Forbes Park, a suburb near Manila
SCENE:
The living room. A coffee-table in front of the sofa. On left side, a large balcony through which the street lights pour in. On a table near the balcony are a telephone and a lamp. A floor-lamp beside the sofa. Magazines on the tables. The room re¬veals the refined taste of the owners.

TIME: Evening, about nine o'clock. August.
GONZALO is seated on the sofa, reading the paper. GONZALO is tall, with a compelling personality. About twenty-seven, he possesses a warm and attractive charm, except for his piercing eyes which can flash with contempt when the occasion demands. He wears a well-cut suit, and a flashing red tie. He speaks with a low cares¬sing voice.
NITA, his wife, comes in with a large tray, with a pot of coffee and two cups, etc. NITA is an attractive woman of nineteen. She is rather short, with laughing eyes and a gentle voice. Her ex¬pression is innocent, and there is a subtle air of adolescence about her. She wears a striking evening gown.

NITA: Here's the coffee, Gonzalo. (She sets the tray on the table.)

GONZALO: (Without lifting his eyes from the paper) Is it hot?

NITA: (Laughing) -- Boiling. (She pours a cup and gives it to him.) Here. (He takes his cup, slowly sips it, without taking his eyes off the paper.) You must be tired from your trip to Baguio.

GONZALO: Not at all, Nita.

NITA Two whole weeks. Long enough for me. I was – lonely.

GONZALO Were you? (Looks at her briefly.)

NITA Of course, Gonzalo. I forgot to tell you. I dismissed the maid this morning. I couldn't stand her insolent ways.

GONZALO. Cora insolent? I never noticed it She was quite efficient, it seems to me -- and we've had her for a good many years

NITA. (Laughing again). No, Gonzalo, remember? We got her when we were married-- and we have been married only seven months (She sits beside her husband and puts her arm around him). Do you know that the prices of canned goods have gone up?-- And it took me a long time before I could find the right pair of shoes to go with this dress.. Luckily I found what I wanted at Rustan's. By the way, Menchu came this. afternoon and brought me the towels

GONZALO. Hmm?

NITA. You aren't listening, Gonzalo.

GONZALO. Who did you say came?

NITA. Menchu. I had her initial the new towels They turned out to be perfectly charming. Your initials are in blue.

GONZALO. You said somebody came this afternoon?

NITA. (Laughing long). Yes, Menchu, the woman who does the embroidery.

GONZALO. Ah yes. Sorry, Nita. Who else?

NITA. No one else, Gonzalo. (She starts imperceptibly, a flitting across her face. But all this Gonzalo does not notice. Suddenly he puts dawn the paper and stares at her dress, NITA sits, inexplicably tense.)

GONZALO. Nita.

NITA. (With a slight trembling of the voice).. Yes?

GONZALO. How come?

NITA. What do you mean?

GONZALO. What are you all dressed up for?. (NITA relaxes and laughs again)

NITA. Like it?

GONZALO. Exquisite.

NITA. I'm glad it's to your taste. I’m merely trying it on for the big day tomorrow.

GONZALO. Tomorrow?

NITA. You haven't forgotten, Gonzalo?

GONZALO. Frankly-- it escapes my memory.

NITA. Our wedding sort-- of-- anniversary.

GONZALO. Our first anniversary?

NITA. (Bursting out Laughing.) No, no, Gonzalo We've been married only seven months. We decided, during out honeymoon -- remember? -- to celebrate our anniversary every month of our marriage.

GONZALO Ah, this beautiful forgetful memory of mine.

NITA (Playfully) Yes, I know it has been getting worse lately. Two weeks ago, before you went up to Baguio, we decided to go out and celebrate at the Jai-Alai that's where we met for the first time-- a year ago.

GONZALO. Or like it, definitely.

NITA. (Mockingly, but hurt). Well, I am flattered. Husbands are so hard to please these days.

GONZALO. Where did we celebrate last month?

NITA. We went to Hilton.

GONZALO. And the month before that?

NITA. May I refresh your failing memory? The month before last we had supper at Bon Vivant-- and the previous month we went to La Parrilla and afterwards to Manila Hotel for dancing.

GONZALO. The first month?

NITA. We went, to that panciteria on Carvajal street.

GONZALO. Couldn't we go tomorrow to another panciteria and just have siopao and arroz caldo?

NITA. Oh no, Gonzalo! I want to show off my beautiful dress!

GONZALO: As you wish, Nita. Know something?

NITA What?

GONZALO. You look as beautiful and as young as that night we met.

NITA, But, Gonzalo, do you expect me to turn into an old hag so soon?

GONZALO. I must buy you a present then. What would you like?

NITA. How much can you afford?

GONZALO. The sky's the limit--

NITA. Is business that good?'

GONZALO. I closed a big deal in Baguio¬

NITA I saw a diamond bracelet at Estrella del Sur that simply took my breath away.

GONZALO. How much?

NITA. A bargain, practically.

GONZALO. How much of a bargain?

NITA. Ten thousand (GONZALO gives a low whistle. NITA laughs too. She stands up.) That's too much, I know. I was only kidding. But you did' say the sky's the limit, so¬—

GONZALO. You heard right, Nita. Buy it.

NITA. (Embracing him) -- Oh Gonzalo, thanks! I'm a lucky wo¬man to have such a wonderful husband, (GONZALO smiles briefly, but there is irony in his smile. NITA starts putting the cups on the tray.)

GONZALO. Nita, did a man come this afternoon?

NITA. (Stiffening imperceptibly). A man? why-- no.

GONZALO. I mean-- I sent a man to fix the TV set.

NITA. No, nobody came-- aside from Menchu. But there's nothing wrong with our TV, Gonzalo. I was watching my favorite program half an hour ago. (GONZALO, aware that his wife it staring at him, tries to laugh it off.)

GONZALO. I'm sorry-- an agent was selling me a new TV set this morning-- and I thought I had bought it-- oh, what am I saying? This splendid memory of mine, Nita

NITA. (Smiling). And you at the decrepit age of twenty-- seven. GONZALO. (Changing the subject). The coffee still warm?

NITA. (Touching the pot). It is (She fills up his cup again. GONZALO has sat down... As he drinks his coffee, NITA, her back to him, is arranging the tray.

GONZALO takes out a piece of paper and unfolds it. NITA turns and sees it.) What's that, Gonzalo?

GONZALO.. (Quietly). Cyanide.

NITA. Cyanide?

GONZALO. Potassium cyanide.

NITA. Is it dangerous?

GONZALO. It should be. People are known to commit murder or suicide-- with it.

NITA. Is it that fatal?

GONZALO. Those are the rumors.

NITA. (Alarmed). Why do you carry it around with you?

GONZALO. Oh-- just as a joke.

NITA. Gonzalo! Carrying poison around isn't a joke.

GONZALO. Well, it isn't the kind of a joke the average person would indulge in, but, Nita, don't bother your pretty little head about it. Cyanide is sold in drugstores, and you wouldn't order closing the drugstores because of it, would you?

NITA. (Sitting beside him). Why, in heaven's name, do you have that poison with you?

GONZALO: It isn't just ordinary poison-- it's an unusual one. I use it in my business. Cyanide is a necessary ingredient in the plating process. We couldn't do without it.

NITA. I understand now, Gonzalo. But I still think you should throw it away. (Taking two or three crystals of cyanide, GONZALO drops them inside the cup. NITA gasps softly.) Gonzalo!

GONZALO; Will you stop worrying? You can throw it away later

NITA. But the cup--

GONZALO You can throw away the cup and the cyanide together.

NITA But the cup is from my favorite coffee set. Adrian gave it to us.

GONZALO He did?

NITA It was his wedding present.... Oh Gonzalo, your memory!

GONZALO I can always buy you another.

NITA You wouldn't find another like it, even if you looked all over town.

GONZALO One set is as good as another.

NITA (Softly but with a strained tone). No, it isn't, Gonzalo. The sentimental value --

GONZALO. People attach too much importance to sentimental value. One should attach himself to nothing and to nobody. (NITA looks at him, aghast)

NITA (Slowly and softly, as if afraid to contradict him). How can you say that, Gonzalo? Attach oneself to nothing and to nobody. Don't I mean anything to you? And Adrian -- your best friend -- you've always been so attached to him.
(GONZALO stares at her briefly, smiles feebly, and goes to her.)

GONZALO Sorry Nita, Business worries and all that sort of thing. You know how deeply attached I am to you.

NITA And to Adrian.

GONZALO And to Adrian.

NITA The doctor told you time and time again to take good care of your hyperthyroid. You refuse to take Lugol. He also told you to avoid any emotional strain.

GONZALO I know, Nita, I know. All this irritability and my high-- strung condition --

NITA (With a conciliatory tone). You should have taken a good rest in Baguio, instead of rushing about with your business--

GONZALO I did try to rest up there, but something unexpected came up -- I got through with my business sooner than I expected.
NITA Something unexpected? Something serious?

GONZALO No, nothing important really. (Changing his tone.) By the way, has Adrian been around?

NITA Not since you left two weeks ago.

GONZALO Does he know I am back?

NITA How could he? You arrived only a few hours ago.

GONZALO Nita, please bring me some whisky, please.
(NITA picks up her cup and puts it in the tray.)

GONZALO (Laughingly). You know what your cousin Chita once said at a party? She said that Filipinos who have bars in their homes are cheap imitators of Hollywood and the American ways, and -- guess what else she said?

GONZALO; What?

NITA. She said drinking in one's home is a sign of decadence. Can you imagine her insolence?

GONZALO. Perhaps she's right, Nita. Perhaps we're becoming decadent (GONZALO still holds the cup with cyanide in it; NITA puts Out her hand to get the cup, when the telephone Tint'. NITA grows slightly tense. She puts down the tray and is about to answer the telephone, but GONZALO rises abruptly, still holding the cup, and goes to the table.) -- Hello?-- Adrian (NITA becomes apprehensive.) Well-- talk about the devil! Nita and I were just talking about you. (NITA pretends to busy herself with the tray, but she is listening.) Oh, I arrived a few hours ago. Where are you now? In the drugstore across the street? Well, drop over. When? Right now-- No, no, Nita and I are still awake. I'll give you exactly one minute. (He promptly puts down the receiver. GONZALO has left the cup on the table.)

NITA. What did he want?

GONZALO. Nothing. He said he was calling from the drugstore. How did he know I was back?

NITA. He probably heard about it.

GONZALO. (After a brief pause.) Naturally.

NITA. (Taking the tray). I'll get the whisky-- (She goes out. GONZALO sits immobile. His eyes turn to the table where the fatal cup lies. He stands up, picks up the cup, and puts it down again. He goes to the balcony, waves his hand at someone he has seen. NITA comes in with a tray.)

GONZALO. Adrian is here!
(NITA sets the tray on the low table, as ADRIAN comes in. ADRIAN is twenty4ive, with a boyish personality. He wears a pair of brown pants and a light-colored coat. He carries his clothes indifferently. He smokes incessantly. His voice is slightly high-pitched but pleasant. He goes to GONZALO and shakes hands).

ADRIAN. When did you get back?

GONZALO. Didn't you know I was back?

ADRIAN. (flushing). Why-- er-- yes. I missed you, Gonzalo. (Turning to NITA.) Hello, Nita. Stepping. out?

NITA. (Pointing to her dress). Oh, this? No, just trying it on (GONZALO has motioned ADRIAN to sit down.)

GONZALO. Whisky, Adrian?

ADRIAN. You know. I never touch it.

NITA. How about some coffee?

ADRIAN. I don't mind. (NITA goes out.)

GONZALO. Where have you been hiding yourself?

ADRIAN. I've been very busy lately.

GONZALO You and your restless nature. You have passed the bar exams. Why don't you get settled once and for all?

ADRIAN I will Gonzalo, I will.

GONZALO What did you call me up for just now. Adrian?
(ADRIAN hesitates briefly.)

ADRIAN Er -- my cigaret case. The plating. finished?

GONZALO. It was ready before I left for Baguio. I have it here with me. (Takes cigaret case from his pocket.) You'll hardly recognize it. It looks like new.

ADRIAN. This was a present from you-- our college graduation, re¬member?

GONZALO Yes, I remember. the saleslady told me it was gold, -- but it turned out to be only gold plated.

ADRIAN Youtre looking fine, Gonzalo.

GONZALO Frankly, I lost a few pounds. (GONZALO goes near the balcony, lights a cigaret.) By the way, Adrian, were you here this afternoon?

ADRIAN. Yes, Gonzalo.

GONZALO. At what time?

ADRIAN. I came at about two, but the maid told me Nita was asleep, so I left. I thought perhaps you had already arrived from Baguio. Didn't the maid tell you?

GONZALO. (Picking up the cup and setting it down). Oh yes she told me. (NITA comes in with the coffee tray, but has forgotten to bring in cups. She puts it down on the coffee ta¬ble. ADRIAN feels the pot.)

ADRIAN. Ouch! Boiling!

NITA. Gonzalo likes it that way.

ADRIAN. I'll wait till it cools off a little.

GONZALO. (Filling up his glass with more whisky). As you wish. (NITA sits beside GONZALO.)

NITA. You know what your friend Gonzalo said a while ago?

ADRIAN. Not unless you tell me--

NITA. He said, and I quote: "One should attach himself to nothing and to nobody."

ADRIAN. Did you really, Gonzalo?

GONZALO. I don't remember.

NITA Imagine Gonzalo talking like that, when he talked so much -- about you before we got married. In fact, once or twice we had a quarrel because he insisted on repeating "Adrian said this and Adrian said that and Adrian and I did this-- " (Pause) How. old were you when you became friends?'

ADRIAN.. I was about ten then.

GONZALO. Adrian and I went to grade school together.

NITA. You managed to be classmates all the time?

GONZALO. We managed.

NITA. But aren't you older?

GONZALO. By tad years. Once, in seventh grade, the. teacher in¬sisted on putting us
in separate sections.

ADRIAN. The teacher thought I was smarter and should be in Sec¬tion A.

GONZALO. But Adrian went to the principal's office and pleaded--

ADRIAN I won. We both stayed in the same section.

NITA. Section A?

ADRIAN. No, Section C. (They laugh.)

GONZALO. Adrian looked so boyish then-- he was considered the best-looking in school-- that I used to tease him by calling him Baby- Face.

NITA. He still retains much of that baby-like expression, doesn't he? (They laugh again. GONZALO grows serious.)

GONZALO. Adrian had a characteristic then.

ADRIAN. Yeah? What was that?

GONZALO. Mind you, I am not saying you still have it-- besides, it wasn't anything usual.

NITA. A characteristic?

GONZALO. Adrian was seldom satisfied with what he had. Once-- in high school--

NITA. I see your memory is still good, Gonzalo.

GONZALO. (Quietly). Yes, strange how oftentimes our memory vividly relives incidents hidden in our past--

ADRIAN. Go ahead. You were saying--

GONZALO. Well, my mother gave me, on my birthday, a linen suit. Adrian liked it so much he insisted on borrowing it every Sunday. He had other suits, but he fell in love with this particular one.

NITA. What happened?

GONZALO. I finally gave it to him.

ADRIAN. (Laughing). I don't recall that incident.

GONZALO. And on another occasion Nita. Guess what I found this afternoon, while looking over some papers? Some pictures of our wedding.

GONZALO. (Suddenly). Not becoming sentimental at so early a stage of our marriage, are you, Nita?

NITA. I. know, but Adrian was best man-- and he looked so funny in one of the pictures. He was staring at me, while you, Gonzalo, were looking somewhere else.

ADRIAN. Let me see it. I haven't seen any of the wedding pictures

NITA. I'll get them. (NITA goes out. GONZALO walks over to the table, picks-up the poisoned cup and places is on the low table in of the sofa.)

ADRIAN. Gonzalo- I'm glad you're back. (GONZALO looks at ADRIAN for a brief moment. With the usual clairvoyance of old friends being able to read each others expression, GONZALO goes to ADRIAN and puts his arm around him.)

GONZALO. What's wrong?

ADRIAN. I-er-I'm in trouble again.

GONZALO; Financial? (ADRIAN nods sheepishly.) How much is it this time?

ADRIAN. Quite a sum.

GONZALO. One thousand?

ADRIAN. Two and a half. (GONZALO takes out his check book and pen, and sits down.)

GONZALO. Poker?

ADRIAN. Races and Jai-Alai. (GONZALO writes out the amount.)

GONZALO. (Giving him the check). You haven't changed, Adrian. (After a pause.) No woman trouble?

ADRIAN. (Taking the check). Thanks. You know I've never had much use for women.

GONZALO. It's about time you started looking for someone to settle down with.

ADRIAN. If I find the right girl-

GONZALO. And your idea of the right woman?

ADRIAN. You know what my idea of the right girl-

GONZALO. I still remember it. "She must be serious and intelligent-she must be a virgin and-"

ADRIAN. Can you find a woman like that nowadays?

GONZALO. There aren't many, I admit, but if you look hard enough- (NITA comes in.)

NITA. Here it is. (Both men look at the picture, and then burst out laughing).

ADRIAN. Gonzalo looked scared or something.

GONZALO. I was. The last words in the ritual "-till death do us part' were still
ringing in my ears-and the doctor had just told me I might live up to seventy. (NITA laughs long and loud.)

NITA. Look who's talking? I hope to live up to eighty myself.

GONZALO. (As he pours himself another drink). You know, Adrian was always an
idealist. That's why he hasn't married yet. He's twenty-four

ADRIAN. Twenty-five.

NITA. I like the cold-blooded callousness with which men reveal their age

GONZALO. I remember. during our college days-- Adrian fell in love once. When he
found out the girl had a regular boy friend, he gave her up.

NITA. But if the girl was engaged-

GONZALO. She wasn't. And even if she were that doesn't stop most men from going after her.

NITA. Men's tremendous conceit. And you still have those ideals, Adrian?

GONZALO. Adrian will never change.

NITA. Don't rush him. He'll give up those ideals yet.

GONZALO. (Brusquely). Why? (Caught by the suddenness, NITA stops.)

NITA. Well, people-sometimes-alter their ideals as they grow older, don't they?

GONZALO. (Softening his tone). You're right. People shouldn't hold on to their original ideals, too long. (Taking the bottle again.) Want a drink, Adrian?

ADRIAN. But I don't drink.

NITA. Just try once, Adrian.

ADRIAN. All right. (ADRIAN takes the drink. As he puts back the glass on the table, the newspaper falls off the low table.)

GONZALO. (Picking up the newspaper and tossing it on a chair). Have you read this afternoon's paper?

ADRIAN. Haven't had time.

GONZALO. There's an interesting item on the front page.

NITA. What about?

GONZALO. About a murder last night.

NITA. I shudder at the mere sound of the word "murder"

GONZALO. (Laughing briefly). You never can tell, Nita. Some¬day you or I might be a witness to one.

NITA. Oh, not me!

GONZALO. Suppose we’re walking along the Escolta, and some-body sticks a knife into or shoots somebody? Shall we dose our eyes and pretend we didn't see it?

NITA. That would be different. But I know I’ll be careful not to be around when a
crime takes place.

ADRIAN. What was last night's case?

GONZALO. (Glancing at the paper). You know Mr. and Mrs. Tito Viterbo?

ADRIAN. The prominent attorney, isn't he?

NITA. Not the Viterbo married to Mila Revilla?

GONZALO. You know her?

NITA. Very well. Mila and I were classmates in the same convent school, the Annunciata.

GONZALO. A very religious woman, according to the paper.- She never missed going to
Quiapo church every Friday afternoon-you know, the Nazarene.

NITA. She was the most religious girl in our class.

GONZALO. The papers say she used to meet her lover in Quiapo church.

NITA. Did anything happen to Mila?

GONZALO. It seems Tito Viterbo's best friend was having an af¬fair with Tito's wife.

NITA. I can't believe it of Mila.

ADRIAN. Mr. Viterbo killed his friend?

GONZALO. No, he killed his wife;

NITA. Poor Mila.

ADRIAN. Unfortunate husband.

GONZALO: (Laughing). Unfortunate, my eye! Stupid rather!

ADRIAN. But why?

NITA. Gonzalo, how can you be so callous? After all, he had the right to kill her.

GONZALO. Because she was unfaithful to him? Decades ago that might have been
justified-but in an enlightened age like-ours, killing a faithless wife or her lover
speaks none too highly of the husbandts sense of proportion.

ADRIAN. (Shocked). What an idea, Gonzalo!

GONZALO. To kill the wife because she is unfaithful is for the husband to admit that
he has lost her-and if you lose some-thing or somebody. don't you think that it's
most probably through your own carelessness? The sense of possession is strong in
every love.

ADRIAN. Granted. in another generation. when material things were few and
expensive, one could understand the fierce desire to possess and hold on to
something.

NITA. Gonzalo, you can't confuse love with the material.

GONZALO. I am not confusing them. True love isn't a material thing. It's intangible,
spiritual~ capable of touching the stars, reaching the infinite, embracing God!

NITA. Poetry, Gonzalo.

ADRIAN. No, Nita. Truth.

GONZALO (Smiling). But not all marriages are born of love.

ADRIAN. Of what then?

GONZALO. Of passion. And if it is passion in your marriage, to lose the object of
your passion need not-should not-necessarily be tragic.

ADRIAN. What would you have had Mr. Viterbo do, then?

GONZALO Forgiven his wife..

ADRIAN. But Mr. Viterbo's wife was guilty of breaking-

GONZALO. The fourth commandment-

NITA. The sixth, Gonzalo.

GONZALO. (Laughing). Right. "Thou shalt not commit adul¬tery." Ah, but I know the
ninth. 'Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife."

NITA. Splendid. Your memory is improving.

GONZALO. (As he pours himself another dnnk). There's one word that has disappeared
from the vocabulary of the moderns.

NITA. What word?

GONZALO. The word adultery. The moderns have such a revolt¬ing dread of such an
ugly, repulsive, old-fashioned word that they have substituted for it, "So-and-so is
having an affair with-or is in love with somebody else," and similar, charming,
harmless phrases. But the word adultery itself they. avoid and abhor. To the
moderns, adultery doesn't exist any more.

NITA. Your narrow views surprise me, Gonzalo.

ADRIAN. Levity aside, if ! had my way I'd have a name for Mr. Viterbo's wife and her
lover.

GONZALO. And that is-

ADRIAN. I'd call them a couple of rats.

GONZALO. (Laughing uproariously). That's interesting, Adrian. Why, in heaven's
name?

ADRIAN. Adultery is punishable by law, don't you know?

GONZALO. If I may be permitted to stretch the point further, I'd prefer to call the
three of them rats.

NITA. Why include the poor husband?

GONZALO. For breaking the fifth commandment-"Thou shalt not kill." (They all break
into laughter. GONZALO again takes the bottle.) Another, Adrian?

ADRIAN. If you don't mind, I'd like some coffee.

NITA. Oh, I forgot to bring in new cups.

GONZALO. (Stopping her as she is about to go). Don't bother,

NITA. Here's one.

NITA. But you used that cup before.

ADRIAN. I don't mind.

NITA. (Staring at him-realizing it is the fatal cup). Gonzalo, that cup--

ADRIAN. I don't believe in germs, Nita.

NITA. (Alarmed). It isn't that-

GONZALO. Adrian is right, Nita. One cup is as good- (NITA utters a muffled scream.
GONZALO goes to her and holds her arm firmly, cruelly. NITA winces.)

ADRIAN. Is she ill?

GONZALO. If you call expecting a baby-

NITA. No! (But NITA, still feeling the pressure of GONZALO'S hand on her, remains
speechless.)

ADRIAN. Well, congratulations!

GONZALO. It's too early to tell.. She'll be all right Women insist on deluding
themselves that they can be the equal. of men. When they are pregnant, they wake up
from their trance. (NITA, struck with terror, falls in a chair. GONZALO takes the
pot, and, making it seem accidental, spills some' coffee on ADRIAN's clothes) How
stupid of me!

GONZALO. Go inside and wipe it off. (ADRIAN stands up and walks toward the door.
NITA tries to follow.)

NITA. I'll 'get you a clean towel.

GONZALO (Looking at her steadily). Adrian knows his way around. He's like one of the
family. There's a clean towel in the bathroom. (ADRIAN goes out. NITA springs up
from the chair and runs to GONZALO.)

NITA. What are you trying to do?

GONZALO. What are you talking about?

NITA. The cup, Gonzalo, the cup!, (He looks at her, without saying -a word.) Throw
it away, throw it away! (GONZALO pushes her away, roughly.)

GONZALO. Shut up, you bitch!

NITA. Don't do it, don't! (GONZALO lights a cigaret, sits calmly.)

GONZALO. So no one came this afternoon. Adrian admitted he did.

NITA. No!

GONZALO, (Ignoring her interruptions). But he made one slight -mistake: he said he
had told the maid he had come. But he doesn’t know you dismissed her this morning.

NITA. N~, no!

GONZALO. That's why you dismissed Cora. She knew 'and you were afraid she was going
to talk. Adrian has been coming here every afternoon for the last two weeks. I had .
my suspi¬cions-that's why I went up to Baguio. I could have~ come hack in a day or
two-but I wanted to give you and-Adrian the satisfaction of a last romantic, evil
fling! (NITA throws herself on his knees.)

NITA. Gonzalo-Gonzalo!

GONZALO. Both of you pretending, deceiving, lying behind my back!- (NITA breaks into
sobs.)

NITA. True, true! And I'm so ashamed!

GONZALO. (Contemptuously). Ashamed? (Gently.) You know the meaning of the word?

NITA. I don't know why I did it, I don't know!

GONZALO. Now you know-and it's too late.

NITA (Pleadingly). What are you going to do?

GONZALO. Destroy him

¬NITA. Adrian?

GONZALO. You're quite psychic, beloved.

NITA. Let Adrian go!

GONZALO. Because my love for him is deeper-him I must destroy

NITA. But not this way-not this callous way! Give him an even chance!

GONZALO. For a rat like him?

NITA. If you must destroy, destroy me then! Spare Adrian!

GONZALO. (Softly). He means that much to you, my dear?

NITA. No, no-not now-not any more! But there must be some pity left in you!

GONZALO. There is-a tiny bit-but my pity isn't for Adrian. I’m reserving it for you.

NITA. Destroy me then-I'm just as guilty!

GONZALO. No, Nita, I cannot destroy you. I'll let you live-but I'll let you
breathe, eat, and sleep~ every second of your cursed life-with that ugly word
adulteress in your heart!

NITA. I'd rather die! I'd rather be destroyed!

GONZALO. You must live, my dearest Nita. Dying is so easy. And why die when there's
so much ahead of you?

NITA. (Brokenly). There's nothing-nothing-ahead, or me-now.

GONZALO. Your feelings are a matter of indifference' to me. Soon you're going to
witness a crime. You're going to see your beloved-and my beloved friend-Adrian-die
the death of a rat

NITA. I won't stand it. I won't! I won't! I can't! (GONZALO stands up smiling.)

GONZALO. You're going to stay here and not utter a single word or make the least
gesture. (His tone dripping with venom.) Even though you aren’t a very intelligent
woman I think you understand my words. (Bending over.) Come, my dear, allow me to
take you to this chair. You need, a rest. (GONZALO for¬cibly raises NITA up. She
sinks, exhausted and terrified, into a chain Presently ADRIAN comes in.)
Everything all right, Adrian?

ADRIAN. It was nothing. It won't show.

GONZALO. (Pouring). Take your coffee.

ADRIAN. Sorry. I must be getting along.

GONZALO. Take your coffee first.

ADRIAN. (After a brief hesitation). All right.(Seeing NITA) she feeling worse?

GONZALO. Nothing serious.

ADRIAN. She should go in and rest, don't you think?

GONZALO. She will, presently.


ADRIAN. (Taking the cup). This coffee is still hot. (NITA wakes up from her trance
and watches GONZALO'S actions. ADRIAN takes some sugar and stirs it.)

GONZALO. Still warm?

ADRIAN. Just right. (As he is about to drink it, NITA stands up.)


NITA. Oh Adrian, I'm sure it's cold now-

ADRIAN. Don't bother, Nita-

GONZALO. (To NITA). Stop being so fussy-

NITA. Are you sure, Adrian?

ADRIAN. Sure. (He gulps down tire drink. NITA covers her mouth with her hand.
Frightened, site rushes out.)

GONZALO. Poor Nita. Sometimes, Adrian, I think you're better off as a bachelor.

ADRIAN. Well, well! A while ago you were advising me to get mar¬ried.

GONZALO. You should, Adrian, you should.

ADRIAN. I'm not prepared-to settle down yet.

GONZALO. Aren't you afraid to die a bachelor?

ADRIAN. (Laughing). I expect to live a little longer, Gonzalo.

GONZALO. A little longer is right. (ADRIAN'S face slowly begins to get red. He
feels a giddiness in his head-- he presses his temples.)

ADRIAN. My head-

GONZALO. What's wrong?

ADRIAN. Don't know-my head-never felt like this-

GONZALO. Sit down. (ADRIAN sits on the sofa.) You'll feel better.

ADRIAN. (Touching his throat). My throat-- can't breathe¬

GONZALO. An aspirin will do you good.

ADRIAN. The coffee-- could it be--

GONZALO. (Picking up the cup and smelling it). No, I don't think so. Probably the
effect of the whisky eh Adrian?

ADRIAN. (Laughing dryly). Yes-first time, you know.

GONZALO. By the way, will the two thousand and a half be enough? I could lend you
more.

ADRIAN. (Taking out the check from his pocket). Thanks, Gon¬zalo Always the
wonderful friend.

GONZALO. Friendship is unto the grave-

ADRIAN. And beyond it.

GONZALO. Yes-even beyond it.

ADRIAN. I sometimes-wonder-what I would do-or where-I would be-without you. Gonzalo.

GONZALO. (Affectionately). Aw, shut up, Baby Face.

ADRIAN You haven't-called me-Baby Face since Our high school days- (ADRIAN'S eyes
start to protrude-they become staring and wide open the pupils dilated and
immobile.)

GONZALO. Lie down -- you're just tired. The light must be bother¬ing you (GONZALO
turns off all the lights, leaving the scene in complete darkness, except for some
light streaming through the balcony from the street.)

GONZALO. Just rest, Adrian.

ADRIAN. No, no-I must-tell you-something-GONZALO. Not now. Tomorrow.

ADRIAN. (Terror in his voice). Now!-very important-very-(ADRIAN begins to gasp and
moan softly. Then silence.)

GONZALO. I attach myself to nothing and to nobody.

(As ADRIAN continues moaning, GONZALO lights a cigaret. A long
silence, Then-ADRIAN falls noisily upsetting the coffee table, breaking the cup and
glasses. Simultaneously, we hear a long, shrill, agonizing, terrifying scream
outside.)

NITA. (Outside-- unspeakable terror in her voice). Adrian-Adrian! ADRIAN!! (Her
words are followed by heartrending sobs which keep on till the final curtain.
GONZALO throws his cigaret away, goes to ADRIAN, gets the check, tears it up. Slowly
he goes to the telephone and dials.)

GONZALO. (Quietly and deliberately). Hello? Police Department? If you care to come
to 60 Banaba St., Forbes Park, you'll find three rats- (pause) yes, yes, that's what
I just said-three rats.



(As we hear NITA hysterically sobbing her heart out, the curtain falls)


NOTE: You can download the file here:

Three Rats by WILFRIDO MA. GUERRRO

Advocators of Management

1. Henri Fayol

Contributions:

- Fayol has been described as the father of modern operational management theory.

- One of the most influential contributors to modern concepts of management, having proposed that there are five primary functions of management: (1) planning, (2) organizing, (3) commanding, (4) coordinating, and (5) controlling

- Pioneer of the 14 principles of management. Namely:

• Specialization of labor. Specializing encourages continuous improvement in skills and the development of improvements in methods.
• Authority. The right to give orders and the power to exact obedience.
• Discipline. No slacking, bending of rules.
• Unity of command. Each employee has one and only one boss.
• Unity of direction. A single mind generates a single plan and all play their part in that plan.
• Subordination of Individual Interests. When at work, only work things should be pursued or thought about.
• Remuneration. Employees receive fair payment for services, not what the company can get away with.
• Centralization. Consolidation of management functions. Decisions are made from the top.
• Scalar Chain (line of authority). Formal chain of command running from top to bottom of the organization, like military
• Order. All materials and personnel have a prescribed place, and they must remain there.
• Equity. Equality of treatment (but not necessarily identical treatment)
• Personnel Tenure. Limited turnover of personnel. Lifetime employment for good workers.
• Initiative. Thinking out a plan and do what it takes to make it happen.
• Esprit de corps. Harmony, cohesion among personnel.


2. Frederick Winslow Taylor

Contributions:

­ Father of Scientific management

­ Proponent of Scientific Management Principle

­ Was one of the first management consultants

Scientific Management Principles

• Replace rule-of-thumb work methods with methods based on a scientific study of the tasks.
• Scientifically select, train, and develop each employee rather than passively leaving them to train themselves.
• Provide "Detailed instruction and supervision of each worker in the performance of that worker's discrete task"
• Divide work nearly equally between managers and workers, so that the managers apply scientific management principles to planning the work and the workers actually perform the tasks.

3. Max Weber

Contributions:

­ One of the founders of the modern study of sociology and public administration

­ Proposed the Beaucracy Theory which arose by sub-dividing the functions that the owner-managers originally did themselves such as supervision, personell selection, accounting and financial management, record keeping, job design, and planning.



4. Douglas McGregor

Contributions:

­ Proponent of theory X and Y

Theory X & Y

• Theory X - In this theory, management assumes employees are inherently lazy and will avoid work if they can. Because of this, workers need to be closely supervised and comprehensive systems of controls developed. According to this theory, employees will show little ambition without good incentive program and will avoid responsibility whenever they can.

• Theory Y - In this theory management assumes employees may be ambitious, self-motivated, anxious to accept greater responsibility, and exercise self-direction, autonomy and empowerment. It is believed in this theory that employees enjoy their mental and physical work duties. There is a chance for greater productivity by giving employees the freedom to perform at the best of their abilities without being forced to abide by rules.


5. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth

Contributions:

­ Proponents of Laws of Human motion

­ Proponent of concept of Therblig

Therblig Concept

• Search
• Find
• Select
• Grasp
• Hold
• Position
• Assemble
• Use
• Disassemble
• Inspect
• Transport loaded
• Transport unloaded
• Pre-position for next operation
• Release load
• Unavoidable delay
• Avoidable delay
• Plan
• Rest to overcome fatigue

The Decameron - The Third Day, the Tenth Novel

This was of course discussed in most literature subjects and sometimes its kinda hard to find over the internet so i will post it in this blog..Enjoy reading the story!

The Decameron - The Third Day, the Tenth Novel

By Giovanni Boccaccio

Alibech turns hermit, and a monk, Rustico, teaches her to put the Devil in Hell. Afterwards she is brought home, and married to Neerbale.

Dioneus listened attentively to the Queen’s discourse, and when she had done and he knew that only he remained to complete the day’s entertainment, without trifling away the time or awaiting a command from the Queen, thus he began.

Gracious ladies, it may be you have not heard how the Devil is put in Hell. Therefore, and since it will not be far off the subject of this day’s discourse, I will tell it you. Perhaps, hearing it, you may the better understand that albeit Love more affects gay palaces and luxurious bowers than the cabins of the poor, yet he by no means disdains to manifest his power even in the depths of the forest, on stark mountains and in the caves of the desert; and thus we must acknowledge that all things wheresoever they be are subject to him.

Coming, then, to my story, I must tell you that in Capsa, a city of Barbary, there dwelt aforetime a very rich man, who had among several children a little daughter, fair and of a docile temper, whose name was Alibech.

This girl, a heathen in a place where many were Christian, used often to hear her neighbours extol the Christian faith and devotion to the service of God; wherefore she asked one of them how God could best be served and with the least hindrance. She was told that they best served Him who removed themselves farthest from the things of the world, as in particular the hermits who had withdrawn from the city to the wilds of Thebais.

The simple maiden, aged perhaps some fourteen years, moved rather by a childish whim than any real vocation, set out on the morrow alone and telling nobody to walk into the desert. So firmly was she resolved that after several days of hardship she reached the wilderness of Thebais. From afar she descried a little hut, and coming up to it, found there a holy man. Amazed to see such a one there, he asked what she came to seek. Her answer was that, aspiring towards God, she came thither to serve Him, and in the hope of finding a teacher to that end.

The pious hermit, seeing her so young and fair, was afraid lest the Devil might ensnare him; so he praised her intent, and giving her roots, wild apples and dates to eat and a draught of water, said: “Daughter, not far from here there dwells a holy man such as thou seekest: a fitter man than I. Go thou to him.” And he put her on the way.

The second hermit advised her as the first; and faring farther she came to the cell of a young hermit, a very pious and righteous man, whose name was Rustico. To him she repeated her mission. Willing to put his resolution to so great a test, he forebore to send her away, and took her into his cell. At nightfall he made her a bed of palm-leaves, and bade her lie down to rest.

Temptations did not long delay an assault on his constancy; and finding it much beyond his strength to withstand them, he soon gave up the battle, and confessed himself worsted. So putting away all saintly thoughts, prayers and mortifications, he let his mind dwell on the freshness and beauty of his companion. From this he passed to thinking of the best means of bringing her to his desires without giving her cause to suspect him of lewdness. Therefore, satisfying himself by a few questions that she had never had carnal knowledge of a man, and was indeed as innocent as she seemed, he thought of a plan to enjoy her under colour of serving God. He began expounding to her the Devil’s enmity to the Almighty, and went on to impress upon her that the most acceptable service she could render to God would be to put the Devil in Hell, whereto the Lord had condemned him.

The little maid asked him how this might be done. “Thou shalt soon learn,” replied Rustico, “only do as thou seest me do.” Thereupon he took off what few clothes he wore, and stood stark naked; and as soon as the girl had done likewise he fell on his knees as though to pray, and made her kneel face to face with him.

This done, Rustico’s desire was more than ever inflamed at the sight of her beauty, and the resurrection of the flesh came to pass. Seeing this, and not knowing what it meant, Alibech asked: “Rustico, what is it thou hast that thrusts itself out in front, and that I have not?” “My daughter,” quoth Rustico, “it is that same Devil of whom I have been telling thee. Dost thou mark him? Behold, he gives me such sore trouble that I can hardly bear it.”

“The Lord be praised!” said she; “for now I see that I am more blessed than thou in that I have not this Devil.”

Rustico retorted: “Thou sayest truly; but thou hast another thing that I have not, and hast it in place of this.”

“What is that?” says Alibech.

To this Rustico replied: “Thou hast Hell; and will tell thee my belief that God gave it thee for the health of my soul. For, if thou wilt take pity on me for the troubling of this Devil, and suffer me to put him in Hell, thou wilt comfort me extremely, and at the same time please and serve God in the highest measure; to which end, as thou sayest, thou art come hither.”

All unsuspecting, the girl answered. him: “My father, since I have this Hell, let the thing be done when thou desirest it.”

Then Rustico said: “Bless thee, my dear daughter; let us go at once and put him in his place, that I may be at peace.”

So saying, he laid her on one of their rough beds, and set about showing her how to shut the accursed one in his prison. The girl, who until then had no experience of putting devils in Hell, felt some pain at this first trial of it; which made her say to Rustico: “Father, this Devil must indeed be wicked, and in very sooth an enemy of God, for he hurts Hell itself, let alone other things, when he is put back in it.”

“My daughter,” said Rustico, “it will not always be so.” And to make sure of it, before either of them moved from the bed they put him in six times, after which the Devil hung his head and was glad to let them be.

But in the succeeding days he rose up many times; and the girl, always disposing herself to subdue him, began to take pleasure in the exercise, and to say such things as: “I see now the truth of what the good folk in Capsa told me, that serving God is a delight; for I never remember doing anything that gave me as much joy and pleasure as this putting the Devil in Hell. So I think the people who spend their time otherwise than in serving God must be very foolish.”

Often she would come to Rustico and say: “Father, I came hither to serve God, not to stand idle. Let us go put the Devil in Hell.” And once, when it had been done, she asked: “Rustico, why does he want to get out of Hell? If only he would stay there as willingly as Hell takes him in and holds him, he would never want to come out at all.” By thus constantly egging him on and exhorting him to God’s service the girl so preyed upon Rustico that he shivered with cold when another man would have sweated. He had perforce to tell her that it was not just to punish the Devil by putting him in Hell save when he had lifted his head in pride; and that by God’s mercy they had so chastened him that he only implored Heaven to be left in peace. Thus for a time he silenced her.

But she, finding that Rustico did not call on her to put the Devil in Hell, said one day: “Even though your Devil is punished and no longer troubles you, my Hell gives me no peace. You will do a charity if with your Devil you will quiet the raging of my Hell, as with my Hell I tamed the pride of your Devil To these demands Rustico on a diet of herbs and water could ill respond; and he told her that to appease Hell would need too many devils, none the less he would do all that in him lay. At times he could satisfy her, but so seldom that it was like feeding an elephant with peas. Therefore the girl thought she was not serving God as well as she would like, and she grumbled most of the time.

Whilst things stood thus amiss between Rustico’s Devil and Alibech’s Hell, for overmuch eagerness of the one part and too little performance of the other, a fire broke out in Capsa and burned the father of Alibech with his children and every one of his kin, so that Alibech became the sole heiress to his goods. Whereupon a certain Neerbale, a young man who had wasted his patrimony in high living, sought for Alibech in the belief that she was alive, and succeeded in finding her before the Court had declared her father’s goods forfeit as being without an owner. Much to the relief of Rustico and against the girl’s will, Neerbale brought her back to Capsa and married her, so becoming entitled in her right to a large fortune.

One day, when as yet Neerbale had not lain with her, some of her women asked how she had served God in the desert. She replied that she had served Him by putting the Devil in Hell, and that Neerbale had committed a grievous sin in taking her from such pious work. Then they asked: “How is the Devil put in Hell?” To which the girl answered with words and gestures showing how it had been done. The women laughed so heartily that they have not done laughing yet, and said to her: “Grieve not, my child; that is done as well here. Neerbale will serve God right well with thee in this way.”

As one repeated the words to another throughout the town, it became a familiar saying that the most acceptable of all services to God is to put the Devil in Hell. The saying has crossed the sea and become current among us, as it still is.

Wherefore, young ladies, I beseech you if you would deserve Heaven’s grace, lend yourselves to the putting of the Devil in Hell; for it is a thing beloved of God, pleasing to the participants, and one from which much good comes and ensues.

A thousand times and more were the chaste ladies moved to laughter by Dioneus’s novel, so much were his phrases to their liking. And the Queen perceiving that as his tale was ended, her office had expired, took the crown of laurel from her head and graciously placed it on the head of Philostratus, saying: “Now we shall see whether the wolf will rule the sheep better than the sheep ruled the wolves.” At this Philostratus laughed, and retorted: “If I had my way, the wolves would have taught the sheep to put the Devil in Hell, no less well than Rustico taught Alibech. Since we did not, call us not wolves, for ye were no sheep. Howbeit, I will reign as best I may, seeing ye have laid the trust on me.”

Neiphila cried out: “Mark this, Philostratus; in trying to teach us you might have had such a lesson as Masetto di Lamporechio had of the nuns, and recovered your speech just as your bare bones had learned to whistle without a master.” Finding himself thus evenly matched, Philostratus ceased his pleasantries; and beginning to consider on the charge committed to his care, called the Master of the houshold, to know in what estate all matters were, because where any defect appeared, every thing might be the sooner remedied, for the better satisfaction of the company, during the time of his authority. Then returning backe to the assembly, thus he began. Lovely Ladies, I would have you to know, that since the time of ability in me, to distinguish betweene good and evill, I have alwayes bene subject (perhaps by the meanes of some beauty heere among us) to the proud and imperious dominion of love, with expression of all duty, humility, and most intimate desire to please yet all hath prooved to no purpose, but still I have bin rejected for some other, whereby my condition hath falne from ill to worse, and so still it is likely, even to the houre: of my death. In which respect, it best pleaseth me, that our conferences to morrow, shall extend to no other argument, bit only such cases as are most conformable to my calamity, namely of such, whose love hath had unhappy ending, because I await no other issue of mine; nor willingly would I be called by any other name, but only, the miserable and unfortunate Lover.

Having thus spoken, he arose againe; granting leave to the rest, to recreate themselves till supper time. The Garden was very faire and spacious, affoording, large limits for their severall walkes; the Sun being already so low descended, that it could not be offensive to any one, the Connies, Kids, and young Hindes skipping every where about them, to their no meane, pleasure and contentment, Dioneus and Fiammetta, sate singing together, of Messire Guiglielmo, and the Lady of Vertur. Philomena and Pamphilus playing at the Chesse, all sporting themselves as best they pleased. But the houre of Supper being come, and the Tables covered about the faire fountaine, they sate downe and supt in most loving manner. Then Philostratus, not to swerve from the course which had beene observed by the Queenes before him, so soone as the Tables were taken away, gave commaund that Madam Lauretta should beginne the dance, and likewise to sing a Song. My gracious Lord (quoth she) I can skill of no other Songs, but onely a peece of mine owne, which I have already learned by heart, and may well beseeme this assembly: if you please to allow of that, I am ready to performe it with all obedience. Lady, replyed the King, you your selfe being so faire and lovely, so needs must be whatsoever commeth from you, therefore let us heare such as you have. Madam Lauretta, giving enstruction to the Chorus prepared, and began in this manner.