On the Job (2021): Season 1, Episode 3 - Arnel - full transcript

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.

We already know about it, Francis.

Any update, Herman?

I don't know the exact location, sir.

Not a problem.

Ben's on his way to Charlie.

Hello?

Good.

And the cop?

He's lucky.

It's not his time yet.



Isn't that your voice, General?

I invoke my right

against self-incrimination, Senator.

Are you also denying that you were with

Congressman Manrique that night?

I invoke my right
against self-incrimination.

I'm here at the Senate

where the Senate inquiry just ended...

Senator Samson rejected the audiotape

as evidence against

DILG Secretary Rene Pacheco.

They await the testimony
of one star witness

who has damning evidence against Pacheco.

This is Pam Sarmiento for TVA.



It's fine. Ben's on his way to Charlie.

Not a problem.

So you're turning this into a circus.

The cop?

Not a problem.
Ben's on his way to Charlie.

A certain Ben was mentioned.

-Hell!
-Would that be your bodyguard

Captain Ruben Diaz?

I invoke my right
against self-incrimination.

You can't touch me.

If something were to happen to me...

Relax.

Somebody just wants to talk to you.

If you remember, in the '90s

we formed this anti-communist
vigilante group

composed of civilians.

And they were effective in neutralising

communism in the provinces.

Unfortunately, some former members

formed their own crime syndicates.

They were into everything.

Armed robbery, kidnapping, drug-dealing...

you name it.

And so, Carmen

it has become my life's mission

to eliminate every one of these criminals.

Sit. I don't like looking up.

Fine.

Let's hear your offer.

I don't cut deals with idiots like you.

But isn't it ironic

that for all your open history

of fighting against criminality

you are now rumoured to be

the mastermind
of this big crime syndicate?

I wouldn't be surprised

if that's what they plan to accuse me of

at the Senate hearing.

I've heard that before.

You see, the sad reality is

some of the former members

of the Alsa Bayan (Rise Up, Nation)

are now even engaged in politics.

Entire families even.

They cover up for one another

from the governor
down to the district head.

That's why I'm running for senator.

To push for legislations

to stop these criminals once and for all.

Let's hear it.

What were you planning to expose

in the Senate?

Alex, get the car.

Quick.

Another 400,000, sir?

Are you a businessman, sir?

Hi, Mr. Pangan. How are you today?

I'm Janet and I'm your account officer
for today.

Can I offer you our bank's

products and services, sir?

We have car loans, housing loans

anything you want, sir.

Can I take this?

Thank you.

A good good good morning

to all of you, brothers and sisters!

Wakey, wakey! Stretch those muscles!

And knock on that head!

Anyone home?

Of course, Buddy!

The latest survey results are out.

Coming in 3rd as the people's choice
for VP

is our very own Pedring Eusebio.

Correct, Buddy!

Our Manong (big brother)
is definitely running.

But I wonder, why not for President?

Right, brothers and sisters?

A big, big thank you to
Councillor Bong Padilla

for last night's heart-stopping
roast pork!

Geez, Bebs.

I think I need to go for another check-up.

Good thing

we have Manong Pedring's medical program

down at the health centre.

That's on until Sunday!

We're so lucky to have such a leader.

A good morning to all of you

brothers and sisters!

Wakey, wakey! Stretch those muscles!

And knock on that head!

Anybody home?

No doubt about it,
there's no stopping Manong!

Don't listen to his detractors.

I bet they're not even from La Paz!

Why? Because it's plain to see

that the Eusebio admin is here
to serve us.

Right, Lito?

Right, Buddy!

Back when I was a little boy

criminals roamed free.

If you were unlucky

not only would they take your goods

they'd feel up your loved ones as well.

May lightning strike them!

Lightning! Lightning! Lightning!

But now you can walk the streets alone

and no one will bother you.

And we owe that to the Eusebios.

La Paz is thriving and peaceful today.

We owe that to

the Eusebio brand of public service.

Let's not forget that,
brothers and sisters.

Of course, Buddy!

Yes! A good good morning to you, Ditas.

How may I be of service?

How much are the Eusebios paying you

to sing their praises?

Why don't you report on

your precious Manong's rotten ways?

A leader of the poor farmers

from Rosario was killed last week.

The government stole his land.

Is that so, Madam Ditas?

You are misinformed.

The truth is,
the land those farmers tilled

was only lent to them by Manong Pedring

because he took pity on them.

Guess what those leeches did?

They divided up the land among themselves

and barricaded it.

And now that the local government needs it

they accuse the government of
land-grabbing.

May lightning strike them!

Light...

The land is theirs.

That was what the government told them.

That after 20 years, they would own it.

Do they have the land titles?

No, but they were told...

Lightning strike me!

Their stupidity is no excuse
for what happened.

No land title, no ownership.

It's that simple, Madam Ditas.

Is that so, Buddy?

So if you're poor, you're fair game?

The law is the law.
It applies to everyone.

You mean,
the law is there to serve Eusebio.

You're not from La Paz, are you?

If you were, you'd know that La Paz

is the envy of the entire country.

You have no pride

in Manong Pedring's accomplishments.

What kind of a citizen are you?

You're saying I should be grateful to them

for milking La Paz for all it's worth?

Getting elected doesn't give him

the licence to do as he pleases.

He can't strip people of their rights...

What kind of rights?

The right to create havoc?

I see only one solution.

If you're not happy here, leave.

We don't need your kind in La Paz.

Am I right, brothers and sisters?

Yes, Buddy!

Always there to help

Always there for the people

Buddy Sisoy, at your service!

Ditas?

Ditas?

I guess we've lost contact with her.

Maybe she's packing her bags.

Safe trip, Ditas!

Safe trip, Ditas!

OK! That's why lightning should strike

those spreading lies

about Manong Pedring Eusebio!

Lightning! Lightning! Lightning!

Good morning, Arnel.

This is Julie Abesamis from LPN, sir.

Just following up on the ad placement

you promised Buddy.

Sir?

Oh, thank you! Really?

-We look forward to it.
-Weng.

Hey. Prepare all the papers

we need signed and approved.

-Mandy.
-Yes?

Meeting in 15 minutes.

OK... OK.

Boss called for a meeting. Get ready...

Godfather, my papa hates liars.

Yes, as should all of us.

But Godfather, aren't you a liar?

Me?

Why would I lie?

Everything I say is true.

Then why is Papa not talking to you?

It's his ego acting up.

Your papa doesn't like it

when somebody tells him he's wrong.

Make peace with him.

Make peace with him.

He's mad at me, not the other way around.

So he should reach out first.

You're not mad at him?

It's normal for friends to fight, kiddo.

We'll patch up, you'll see.

Buddy! How are you?

Let him pass. Don't you know who he is?

Thank you!

But please reach out to him.

So you can join us in Manila.

Why? Why are you going to Manila?

We're moving there.

What?

Who told you that?

Papa did. It's supposed to be a secret.

Don't tell him I told you.

He'll get mad at me.

-Hey!
- Sir, good morning!

Idol!

Yo, yo, yo! Have a snack.

Leave some for Glenn.

Eat up, Glenn. Or they'll finish it all.

-Snack time!
-Buddy, Arnel is here.

-He's asking for you.
-Why? What's up?

-Buddy! How are you?
-Hey!

Did you tune in to my show?

-A while ago.
-Yes. We miss you.

You tuned in?

Wazzup wazzup, people of La Paz?

You look serious. What's the matter?

Did you listen to today's show?

That troll struck again.

I bet she thought I'd let her off easy.

Did Eusebio put you up to this?

What?

Tell him

even if he gets the President to sign that

we're not saying sorry.

Everyone here was given a choice.

No one was forced to sign.

Ask them. Mama Mands?

Nel, the ad boycott in these
past few months

is killing us.

We can't fight this.

Even private businesses

have withdrawn their ads.

Sir...

Since we're not cutting down on pages...

I suggest we publish weekly instead.

What? We can't let that happen.

Everyone's worked too hard for this.

They only signed because you said

they'd lose their jobs if they didn't.

"They?" You signed too, Weng.

Of course. I don't want to lose my job.

Arnel.

We only want to be reassured

that our jobs are safe.

Nobody really wants to apologise
to Eusebio.

I knew you'd turn on us, Weng.

That's not what I'm doing.

We talked about this.

No ads, no paper.

This is a business we're running here!

Weng,
would you rather see Arnel go bankrupt

just so you have a job?

There you go pointing fingers again.

Why don't you talk to your boss?

Tell him to stop harassing us.

-We're bleeding here.
-Enough... enough!

-You've always...
-Enough! Stop.

Whatever happens, we will not apologise.

And that's final.

If the paper goes bankrupt, so be it.

We'll never apologise
for publishing the truth.

Even if everyone here loses their job?

Nel, what's going on with you?

Are you thinking straight?

You think you're saving LPN by doing this?

What use is the paper
if we lose our readers?

What will they say?

That we're all on Eusebio's payroll!

Who cares?

The important thing is we have a voice.

Pick your battles. We can't win this.

Everything Capistrano said was true.

I verified it myself.

That degenerate cop did all that

just to get back at Manong Pedring.

Why was he killed then?

Why did they shoot him
in front of his children?

For his many sins, I'm sure.

Hell, Sisoy.

Do you hear yourself?

Do they pay you so much

you forget
what it means to be a journalist?

No, Nel.

What's wrong with earning from something

I truly believe in?

Look at those scumbags who play all sides.

They're the real crooks!

So it's all a battle of wits now.

The cunning prevail

while everyone else bites the dust.

What's wrong with you, Arnel?

Glenn said you're moving to Manila.

Are you and Carla having problems again?

This has nothing to do with Carla...

Then why move?

And why keep it from me?

Maybe I can help...

As much as I wanted to tell you...

you wouldn't have listened anyway.

Just wait. The truth will come out.

What truth?

What?

Tell me, Nel.

Don't you trust me anymore?

You've lost all trust in me?

Who built this company with you?

I had to force you into it.

You think I'd stick around this long

if I didn't love what I was doing here?

What part of our job do you like?

Huh, Sisoy?

When was the last time
you wrote a real story?

Maybe it's all for the best.

So you can think about
what you really want.

Is it this job?

Or maybe you want to go into politics.

You seem well suited for it.

Go to hell, Arnel.

-Oh, Sisoy!
-Are you OK?

Godfather!

Go be with your crazy father.

Hello? OK, I'll look for them.

Gomez.

Fix this.

Boss.

That faggot must be a big shot.

I don't know.

The deal was I'd serve time
for just a year.

Stupid. You shouldn't have owned up to it.

The victim's family is rich.

Their lawyer will make sure
you rot in here.

But they said they'd fix it.

And you believed Nato?

My cousin wouldn't lie to me.

Would he?

Sometimes, even outsiders

are more trustworthy than family.

Is there any left?

I like the sticky rice balls.

It's all rice balls and sweet yam.

Toilet's going to explode again.

Stop it.

Before you knock her up.

Just being affectionate, sir.

Let's go. We're going somewhere.

Now.

Thank you, Joy.

Stay here. We'll be back.

I'm not sure about that.

Plenty of work in the fields.

I'll walk out with you.

Hey, Boss, I want in too.

I'll put in a good word for you.

I'll go ahead.

-OK, take care.
-You too.

Joy, if I were you

I'd look for a new husband.

That one's gonna rot in here for sure.

I'll be on my way.

Obet.

Take charge of those assholes.

Don't mind him. All he can do is look.

Let's go.

Get in.

Go change.

Cigarettes.

Wind down the windows

if you're going to smoke.

OK, come down.

Roman, Jek, follow me.

We're slaughtering a pig.

You're late.

Hello?

Almost done here, Boss.

May I have a cup of tea, please?

OK. OK, that's good. But can we try...

Sorry, excuse me.

Diane! Please get that.

Sorry about that.

Can you try that again, please?

Come on, Pa!

-Are you fighting again, Pa?
-That bastard.

Did Glenn mention anything to you?

He was just pestering me as usual.

Kept pulling on my earphones
until it broke.

Maybe he was telling you something

and you weren't listening.

Don't worry, I'll get you new ones.

When's the parent-teacher meeting?

It's over, Pa.

Why didn't you remind me?

It's OK. They know how busy you are.

Shoot, I didn't get to meet your teacher

with the nice bum.

Pa!

I have her number.

How did you get Miss Espinosa's number?

She gave it to me last Recognition Day.

You have so little faith in your papa.

Now I know why she kept asking about you.

-What did she say?
-Pa, she's my teacher!

-Hello? Manong!
-Sisoy!

Don't forget about later.

Of course, I'm free tonight.

I always have time for you.

You printed your resume?

Keep it well.

Someone might see it.

You're going to get everyone panicking.

I can't be out of a job, Miss Weng.

Same goes for everyone.

I have three kids I'm sending to school.

I have faith in Sisoy.

Everyone, relax.

He won't allow this paper to shut down.

-Whatever.
-What if he sells it?

You guys hungry?

Let's go eat.

My treat.

Guys, rare offer from the boss. Let's go!

I have to finish something.

I'm waiting for an e-mail.
I'll catch up later.

Make sure you do.

Arnel, let's go somewhere near your house

so we can drop off your boy.

Is Carla back?

No, her seminar ends tomorrow.

There's a new sisig place near you, sir.

See you.

We can fit 12 in here.

What about Glenn?

-Take care of it.
-Sure, Buddy!

Brothers and sisters! How are you tonight?

-Buddy!
-How are you?

Did you tune in earlier?

Give me a kiss.

OK.

Thank you, brothers and sisters.

Make yourselves comfortable, OK?

That looks delicious.

Am I late?

Hey Lucing, where's the land title?

Manong!

Hey, Sisoy!

Senator, good evening.

Hi!

You're just in time, Sisoy.

This Harvard blowhard is busting my balls.

Come with me.

We're from the school of hard knocks.

-They've got nothing on us.
-Exactly.

Inday!

-This is Sisoy.
-I'm Inday Arcega.

She's our contact to the local media.

OK.

So are we running?

Warden. Joe.

Are we running for national office?

It's still being ironed out.

-Is that so?
-It's in Inday's hands.

Bernie says she handles Internet cleanup.

Of course.

Is there really that much dirt out there?

You know how it works, Mayor.

They'll start digging dirt on you

because of the recent survey results.

We have to anticipate
the other party's moves.

Let's fix it before they cause any damage.

-Let's discuss this later.
-OK.

The karaoke king is here!

Where's the food I set aside for Sisoy?

That's it, you eat first.

Stop bugging me.

It has only been a few months.

It's been almost two years.

I don't want to rot in prison

for something I didn't do.

Just wait.

One year was what I agreed to.

It's what I told my father.

He's all alone on the farm.

Your sister's there.

I wouldn't have agreed

if I knew this is how it would turn out.

Can you...

Can you earn this kind of money

on the rice fields?

No, right?

Roman...

If I were you, I'd just up my price.

Tell them,
their payment was only for a year.

That's what you should do.

Just fix it, Nato.

OK, I'll remind Santillan.

Hello?

What?

OK, fine.

He's on his way.

But he's got company.

Guys, guys...

It may not look it,
but Sisoy is loyal to LPN.

The question is,
which carries more weight?

LPN or Pedring?

Campaign season is starting soon.

Eusebio's camp might use us
just like before.

Won't we be closed down by then?

Closed down?

Aren't we publishing an apology?

We have a reputation
has a credible media outlet.

It's worth saving.

But that's all up to Arnel.

Boss, he's slamming you.

Sell the paper instead.

What do you want, Obet?

Just drive.

Wait, wait. We're from LPN.

-Your phones...
-What's this about?

Give me your phones.

-Now!
-Just give it to him.

Your friggin' phones, now!

I'm the one you're after, Obet.

-Don't drag them into this.
-Yes, please.

May lightning strike you!

May lightning strike you!

Shut up, brat!
Want me to bash your head in?

I thought it was only one guy?

Gonna chicken out?

Friggin' wuss.

This song that I'm about to sing

almost got me killed.

Tell the story, Sisoy.

Haven't I told you?

Not yet?

All right, here goes.

My wife had just died.

May her soul rest in peace.

So...

Arnel told me we should go out

and meet up with friends.

So we went to Pacing's sisig place

at the corner of Estrella

which is where Pussycat Bar is now.

Sadiwa knows that very well!

You know it!

We drank. A lot.

I was drunk.

Somebody was hogging the mic

and singing horribly.

When this song came on

I took the mic away from him.

Told him to stop singing
and start listening.

I sang.

When I finished...

no one clapped.

I looked at Arnel and he had gone pale.

I thought,
"Wait, this guy's in good health."

"No high blood pressure or asthma."

"No heart condition either."

Yet he had gone deathly pale.

And then I saw the table behind us

was Manong's table!

May lightning strike me!

It was Manong that I had kicked off
the stage!

Santillan challenged me to a fight.

There was going to be a riot for sure.

All of a sudden,
somebody started clapping.

It was Manong!

He said...

He said, "Good.
Very good! Sing some more!"

Who was I to refuse?

So I grabbed the mic again.

And I held on to it all night.

And I was so happy that night.

I forgot all my troubles.

My debts...

even my wife.

I just want you to know that...

you changed my life that night.

This one's for you, Manong.

Music, please!

You're my world,
you're every breath I take

You're my world, you're every move I make

Other eyes see the stars up in the sky

But for me, they shine within your eyes

As the trees reach for the sun above

So my arms reach out for you, my love

With your hand resting in mine

Stop the engine.

I feel the power so divine

You're my world, you are my night and day

You're my world,
you're every prayer I pray

If our love ceases to be

Then it's the end of my world for me

You're my world, you are my night and day

You're my world,
you're every prayer I pray

If our love ceases to be

Then it's the end of my world

It's the end of my world

Then it's the end of my world

For me

Take everything.

That bloody kid.

Finish him off.

Why don't you do it?

Hell.

Help me push the car.

Let's get this over with.

Obet.

It's too shallow.

Fix this.

I'm going home.