Fade To Black

Hero(played by Aga Mulach) makes his body a shield to save the Heroin (played by Angel Locsin ). He catches several bullets, some of which from a high powered sniper rifle. Bleeding, he drops to the ground. Red is splattered all over his white polo. His face, a contortion of pain and love.

The scene fades into black.

Just like the spaces between the words, the line break between paragraphs, the spaces between the panes of a comic book,  the loading screen, the endless waiting time between day to day, between one meaningful event unto another.

Just what is in this space?

Anticipation and suspense: that he may live. That he may die. Affirmation: that our predictions will come true, confirming our logic or jadedness – he dies… confirming our hopefulness or cluelessness about the damage a high-powered sniper rifle can do - He lives.

The scene returns with Aga Mulach very much alive, with Angel, with the child, and with the car. All smiles, they ride away to the realms of happy ever after.

It is the end, the movie rolls its credits. Closing time, you can’t stay here. It is time to leave the theater, the sofa, the desktop. With them? With her/her? Or with yourself?

The scene fades into black in the interminable distance between here and there, the spaces between the scenes, the walk outside the theater, another ride to your workplace, another day at work, another loading screen.

The scene fades into black.

Your eyes close. In the land of dreams or no dreams, though you may be sleeping in the hands of somebody else’s, when your eyes close, there is no one behind the stage but yourself.

You go here alone.

But.

You could try looking for “me”

Because you are not alone.  “I” have always been here in the backstage waiting for you - lying in anticipation

for your next scene which is better than the last. Or another scene all the same – a boring filler.

But it could be worse. But that is good because the audience likes suspense.  I like it to. It adds excitement.

“I” have seen them all, and will see it all

Including your final act.

When you close your eyes, listen to me.

Though you may not always find me, know that I am  here. I have always been here. You are not alone.  Never.

Now look for “me”. In the short silence that will follow. Listen. Listen. Or forever be alone.

Fade to Black.