WANTED: A CHAPERON
Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
To the Memory of Amalia B. Reyes

First Performance: The Filipino Players, under the author’s direction, at St. Cecilia’s Hall, November 21, 1940

CHARACTERS:

-DON FRANCISCO (the father)
-DOÑA PETRA (the mother)
-NENA (their daughter)
-ROBERTING (their son)
-DOÑA DOLORES
-FRED (her son)
-FRANCISCO (the servant)
-PABLO (the mayordomo)
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TIME : One Sunday morning, at about eleven.

SCENE: The living-room. Simply furnished. A window on the right. At the rear, a corridor. A door on the left Sofa, chairs, etc. at the discretion of the director.

When the curtain rises, DON FRANCISCO, about sixty, is seen sitting on the sofa, smoking a cigar He wears a nice-looking lounging robe. Presently ROBERTING, his twenty-year old son, good-looking, well-dressed, enters. He wants to ask some. thing from his father, but before he gathers enough courage, he maneuvers about the stage and clears his throat several times before he finally approaches him.

ROBERTING (Clearing his throat). Ehem-ehem-ehem!
FRANCISCO (Looking up briefly). Ehem
ROBERTING. -Father-
FRANCISCO (Without looking at him). What?
ROBERTING. Father-
FRANCISCO. Well?
ROBERTING. Father-
FRANCISCO. Again?
ROBERTING. Well, you see it's like this-
FRANCISCO. Like what?
ROBERTING. It's not easy to explain, Father
FRANCISCO. If it isn't then come back when I'm through with the paper
ROBERTING. Better now, Father. It's about-money.
FRANCISCO. Money! What money?
ROBERTING. Well, you see-
FRANCISCO (imitating his tone). Well, you see-I'm busy!
ROBERTING. I need money.
FRANCISCO (Dropping the paper). Need money! Aren't you working already?
ROBERTING. Yes, but-it isn't enough.
FRANCISCO. How much are you earning?
ROBERTING. Eight hundred, Father.
FRANCISCO. Eight hundred! Why, you're earning