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PACIANO (Rising)
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 Ah, Jose, at last you've come.&nbsp; Now what has happened?&nbsp; Why did you send for me? 
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RIZAL
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 Nothing very terrible, Paciano. 
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PACIANO 
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You never can tell. If it's any trouble at all, it may end by being terrible. What is it? 
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RIZAL 
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Well, you know there has been another Liceo poetry contest. I submitted a poem,&nbsp;using a pen-name as the others did.&nbsp; 

My poem was given first place;&nbsp; but when they found out who had written it,&nbsp; they changed their decision and gave first 

prize to a Spanish boy whose poem had been second.&nbsp; I don't care about losing the prize. &nbsp;But why should they 

take it from me? 
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PACIANO
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 The devils!&nbsp; They are after you already, &nbsp; even before you are out of school. 
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RIZAL 
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Why should they be after me,&nbsp; Paciano? 
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PACIANO 
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Ah,&nbsp; Jose,&nbsp; the answer is only too easy.&nbsp; First you are a marked man because you are a Rizal.&nbsp; You 

know how they have persecuted Mother.&nbsp; Think of it, brother, two years in jail for nothing at all, kept there on one 

false charge after another. You know how they made her walk from Kalamba to Santa Cruz when they took her away.&nbsp; The 

devils! They have no hearts! 
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RIZAL 
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But I have done nothing wrong. 
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PACIANO 
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No, Jose, no!&nbsp; You have only dared to love your country, and to say so.&nbsp; You have led our boys in their 

battles at the Ateneo.&nbsp; You have been a better student than the Spanish boys.&nbsp; You have written a patriotic 

poem that won a prize, and now you have deserved another prize.&nbsp; That is enough to get you shot, Jose, if they can trap 

you.
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RIZAL 
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Shoot me for writing a poem? 
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PACIANO 
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Caramba!&nbsp; Tomorrow if they could.&nbsp; Don't you remember that beginning of your other poem?With brow uplifted 

proudly stand, O Filipino youth today; Your splendor shines on every hand, Youth rich in valor for the fray, Hope of my 

Fatherland.&nbsp; Well, they know you were not thinking of Spain when you wrote that word "fatherland". 
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RIZAL 
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Of course not.&nbsp; What of it? 
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PACIANO
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 What of it?&nbsp;Treason when they find the right time.
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RIZAL 
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Anyhow, I can't take back what I wrote.&nbsp; There is nothing to be done. 
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PACIANO 
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Something must be done.&nbsp; Jose, the good Lord has given you brains.&nbsp; Already the younger Filipinos think of you 

as a coming leader.&nbsp; Somehow you must be allowed to go on learning what you will have to know when your country needs 

you. 
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RIZAL 
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Then I shall stop writing poetry and quit taking first place in class.&nbsp; Maybe they will not bother me. 
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PACIANO 
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No, you can't do that; for then you will lose your leadership.&nbsp; That is not the thing to do. &nbsp;I'm surprised 

that you yourself don't think of what you ought to do. 
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RIZAL 
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There's only one other way. 
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PACIANO 
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That's what I mean.&nbsp; You must go to Spain to finish your school work. 
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RIZAL 
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How can I do that? 
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PACIANO 
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It will be hard to do, but maybe it can be managed. 
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RIZAL 
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It will cost a lot of money. 
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PACIANO 
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We can provide the money.&nbsp; I will attend to that. 
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RIZAL 
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But won't I seem to run away, to desert my comrades? 
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PACIANO 
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Well, you will not be allowed to do anything here; you will probably be put into jail.&nbsp; Don't you think your comrades 

will understand that you are forced to go?You may be sure they will.&nbsp; And they will also see that you will be better 

prepared to lead them after you have been educated abroad, among free people. Maybe you can come back and tell us how to be free. 
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RIZAL 
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Still, there is the passport.&nbsp; Will they give me a passport? 
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PACIANO 
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Ah, that is a question.&nbsp; How can we geta passport? They will not grant one, I am sure. 
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RIZAL 
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Then we must fool the authorities.&nbsp; I have a plan.&nbsp; Let cousin Jose get one for me; my name is Jose Mercado 

too. 
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PACIANO 
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Good. I believe it can be done.&nbsp; But there is more to think about.&nbsp; Nobody but our parents and cousin Jose 

must know that you are going;&nbsp; and the authorities must not be able to prove that we knew.&nbsp; You must seem to run 

away.&nbsp; Otherwise there will be trouble for us. 
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RIZAL 
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Well then, let everything go on as usual. &nbsp;I will enroll for the next semester at Santo Tomas, and pay my tuition. That 

will make the family appear innocent.&nbsp; You have cousin Jose get the passport for me; and when the chance comes, I'll try 

to slip on board the boat. 
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PACIANO 
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All right, Jose.&nbsp; Now remember, nobody else must know. 
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RIZAL 
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Just one other, Paciano, only one.
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PACIANO 
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Well, if you think so, Jose.&nbsp; But remember, it will bring danger upon her. 
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RIZAL 
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She is not afraid.&nbsp; It would be unfair for me to go without telling her.&nbsp; She will be here soon, and I will talk with her. 
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PACIANO 
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Then I'll go to see cousin Jose.&nbsp; Wish us good luck, for we need it. 
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RIZAL 
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I certainly do.-Paciano, you are the best brother in the world.&nbsp; I hope someday to be worthy of you. Good-bye, and good 

luck. 
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PACIANO 
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Don't think of me, Jose.&nbsp; Just try to be worthy of your mother.&nbsp; And when you go to Spain you must study as 

hard as ever, and learn all you can for the sake of your country. 
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RIZAL 
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I will, Paciano.&nbsp; I promise.&nbsp; Good-bye. (They shake hands. Exit Paciano. Jose sits down by a small table, 

and picks up a book. Begins to read.

After a moment Leonor enters. &nbsp;&nbsp;
(Jose puts down book and rises quickly).&nbsp; 

Ah, Leonor, I was wishing you would come. 
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LEONOR 
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Reading and wishing at the same time? 
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RIZAL 
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Yes, Leonor, reading to make the time seem, shorter. 
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LEONOR 
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That's a compliment, Jose. 
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RIZAL 
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I meant it that way.&nbsp; But, Leonor, there is something very important that we must talk about. 
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LEONOR
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 What is it, Jose? What has happened? 
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<td>
RIZAL 
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Why, not very much has happened.&nbsp; It's what may happen that troubles us. My poem won the Liceo prize; and then, when 

they found out that it was mine, they gave first prize to a Spanish boy and put me second.&nbsp; It's only a little thing; 

but added to other things, it shows which way the wind blows.
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<td>
LEONOR 
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Oh, Jose, why must the padres and the government hate you for being clever.&nbsp; It's unjust! It's terrible. 
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<td>
RIZAL 
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Yes, it's unjust.&nbsp; But you know my name is Rizal.&nbsp; That explains it.&nbsp; They are striking at me to 

hurt the family.&nbsp; Now listen, Leonor.&nbsp; I must go away to finish my studies.&nbsp; I must go to Spain. We 

have to say good-bye, Leonor. 
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<td>
LEONOR 
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<td width="85%">
No, no, Jose, don't go away.&nbsp; Oh, why can't they let you alone? 
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RIZAL 
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Will you miss me, Leonor? Will you be lonely when I'm gone? 
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<td>
LEONOR 
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But you must not go.&nbsp; You must not leave your mother.&nbsp; Why, you might never come back! 
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<td>
RIZAL 
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<td width="85%">
Oh, yes, I'll come back.&nbsp; But you haven't answered my question, Leonor.&nbsp; Will you be lonely when I'm gone? 
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LEONOR 
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Of course I will, Jose.
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<td>
RIZAL 
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Ah, Leonor, I hope so.&nbsp; I want you to miss me.&nbsp; I want to know that you are thinking about me all the time 

just as I shall be thinking of you.&nbsp; I love you, Leonor.&nbsp; Will you wait for me? Will you let me hope that 

someday we may be married? May I go away with your love to give me courage? 
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LEONOR 
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Oh, Jose, if you love me, how can you go away.&nbsp; I can't stand it to think of your going.&nbsp; Why can't you stay 

here and just be more careful about what you say and do. 
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<td>
RIZAL 
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<td width="85%">
It's too late for that now.&nbsp; They have me on their black lists, and I must go until things change.&nbsp; Besides, 

I need the education that I can get abroad.&nbsp; It will be only two or three years. Leonor, and I'll love you every minute 

of every day. 
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<td>
LEONOR 
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<td width="85%">
But we'll not see each other all that time. 
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<td>
RIZAL 
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No, but we can think of each other, and we can write letters.&nbsp; Will you wait for me, Leonor? May I ask your father to 

approve our engagement? 
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LEONOR 
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<td width="85%">
Oh, must you ask Father? Maybe he will say no. 
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<td>
RIZAL 
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Anyhow, I must ask him.&nbsp; And I can't tell him that I'm going away, for that must be a secret.&nbsp; You must 

never tell anybody that you knew it beforehand.&nbsp; It might bring trouble to all of you.&nbsp; You must be as much 

surprised as the others are when I go.&nbsp; I cannot even tell you of those who know that I'm going. But, Leonor, do you 

love me enough to wait?&nbsp; Please answer me. 
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LEONOR (Bashfully) 
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Ye-es, Jose, I'll wait for you as long as you want me to wait. 
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<td>
RIZAL 
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<td width="85%">
Ah, Leonor, you make me happy in spite of everything. 
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<td>
LEONOR 
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I'm happy, too, and sad at the same time. 
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<td>
RIZAL 
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And will you write to me often?&nbsp; I shall need your letters.
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LEONOR 
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Yes, I'll answer every letter that comes from you. 
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<td>
RIZAL 
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<td width="85%">
And I shall send you poems.&nbsp; My love makes me want to write poetry for you.&nbsp; I want to pour my heart into 

verses for you alone, to tell you in burning words how much I love you. 
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<td>
LEONOR 
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<td width="85%">
Ah, Jose, must you go away? 
</td>
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<td>
RIZAL 
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<td width="85%">
Yes, dear, it can't be helped. And now I must see your father and mother. &nbsp;But first, Leonor, may I kiss you good-bye?

&nbsp; There might be no other chance.&nbsp; (Embraces and kisses her). 
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<td>
&nbsp;
</td>
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<h2>CURTAIN</h2>
</td>
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</table>







Source: 
Rizal; a chronicle play in eight dramatic moments, 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;by H. P. Scott and C. P. Romulo, 1925 
University of Michigan Digital Library

A chronicle play - Rizal's dramatic moments (Scene 1)