Group 1:

All: It was the year 1889 and Gay Paree was gayer than ever for visitors all over the world were pouring into
the city to see the famous International Exposition.
Girl 1: It seems the entire world was participating in the great affair and Paris wore her most festive air to
welcome her numerous visitors.
Girl 2: Among these foreigners was one Jose Rizal, a Filipino, who came to Paris to see the exposition and at
the same time to establish his pet project-The International Association of Filipinologists.
Girl 3: The Philippines was then a subjugated colony under severe Spanish dominion and a few Filipinos, like
Rizal, had gone abroad anxious to see, for themselves the freedom and independence that countries on the other
side of the world enjoyed.
All Girls: Rizal had just had a happy reunion with his compatriots: Antonio and Juan Luna, Baldomero Roxas,
Lauro Dimayuga, Gregorio Aguillera, and Valentin Ventura.
All Boys: It was good to see brown familiar faces; clasp friendly hands and warm homesick hearts with that
deep Malayan affection so binding among Filipinos far away from home.
All: One night they went sight-seeing at the exposition. Together, they revelled at the multi-colored, brilliantly
festooned and fabulously decorated grounds of the exposition and had a grand time amidst the gay atmosphere
of the French capital.
All Girls: Merry-making being the rather exhausting enterprise that it really is, towards midnight, Rizal and his
celebrating companions were tired and very hungry.
Antonio: We must take a midnight snack!
All: suggested Antonio Luna, the hungriest of them all.
Rizal: An excellent idea!"
All: countered Rizal.
All Boys: Agreed! Agreed!
All: shouted the others
Girl 1: Happily, they sauntered into a big restaurant and occupied one of the ringside tables.
Girl 2: Clapping his hands, Luna summoned the waiter and with the sharp edge of his appetite prodding him,
ordered a sumptuous meal for all.
Antonio: 'We must show these, Frenchmen that we know how to eat,
All: said Luna, while waiting for the drinks that were to precede the meal.
All Boys: That we shall!
All: agreed the others as they sampled one round of drinks after another.
All: After eating to their hearts content, they ordered a bottle of champagne smothered with ice in a bucket.
All Boys: Filling their cups with the ice-cold wine, they drank a toast to the future happiness of the benighted
Fatherland and to each others health.
All Girls: Fed and happy, they were full of goodwill to men and to all the world.
Group 2:
Girl 1: From a corner nearby, the waiter, who from the start had been a little suspicious of these brown
gentlemen, hurriedly approached the table, no sooner. was the toast drunk, to present his bill.
Girl 2: Bowing stiffly, he presented the statement (and a long one it was) which was on a white porcelain platter
to Antonio Luna.
Waiter: Monsieur,
All: he said formally,
Waiter: "the bill.
Girl 3: Nonchalantly, Luna motioned him to give it to Rizal.
All Girls: Rizal was surprised to be accosted by the waiter regarding the bill.
All: Turning to Luna he said.
Rizal: Here is the bill, Antonio. Why dont you pay it?

Antonio: Pay it?

All: asked Luna.
Luna: How can I pay it when I am completely broke; you pay it.
Rizal: But you invited us!
All: said Rizal.
Antonio: I didnt invite anybody. I just said, Lets eat!
All Girls: A look around the table revealed apprehensive faces that obviously were hiding empty pockets.
All Boys: It seemed that everyone was broke.
Girl 1: Brown skins became noticeably lighter as the figure of the waiter loomed bigger and more impatient.
Girl 2: Rizal quickly took charge of the situation.
Girl 3: Talking in Tagalog he asked the others to come across and pay the bill.
All: But their worst fear was continued; all were dead broke.
All Boys: It was really just a misunderstanding. Luna thought Rizal had money and Rizal thought that Luna was
inviting so he did not bother to say that he did not have a sou in his pocket. The others thought they were invited
to the treat; and as it happened they also had no money.
Girl 1: As the dismaying predicament seemed beyond solution, Rizals nimble brain conceived a cute solution.
Girl 2: Appearing perfectly at case, he turned to the waiter and said,
Rizal: My dear fellow,
All: he spoke in French,
Rizal: don't you worry.
All: Pointing to Luna with a flourish of his hand, he said,
Rizal: Monsieur is quite right. I am the host of this party and I will take care of everything. But first, let my
guests complete their meal. We must have black coffee and the best brandy the house can offer. I want the
coffee to be freshly brewed. Tell the chef to boil it slowly and nicely. Ill give him a handsome tip-and to be
sure, you will receive a bigger one.
All Girls: The waiter relieved at the turn the situation had taken and heartened by the promise of the big tip,
went to the restaurant's kitchen to supervise personally the making of the coffee.
Waiter: The brown gentleman spoke such excellent French, he surely must be a rich potentate or Maharajah
from the Far East. There was really nothing to fear about the bill,
All: so he mused.
Group 3:
All: Back at the table, the Filipinos were demanding an explanation.
Girl 1: Rizal was silent, his brown eyes twinkling with suppressed amusement.
Antonio: Now, youre making it worse,
All: upbraided the hot-tempered Luna
Antonio: You know we all have no money and still you ordered coffee and brandy to say nothing of the big
tips you promised the cook and the waiter. Why do you want to disgrace us all? Are you a fool?
Rizal: No,
All: was Rizal's laconic answer.
All Girls: To the great amazement of Luna and the others Rizal took out from his coat pockets a portable water
color set, and serenely began to paint a 10-pound sterling note-on the porcelain platter.
All Boys: Dexterously, with a few master strokes he finished an astounding replica of the note before the arrival
of the steaming coffee and the brandy.
Rizal: My good fellow,
All: Rizal told the smiling waiter. Pointing to the platter:
Rizal: Theres the payment for all we have taken. You may keep the change.
Girl 1: The waiters eyes lit up.

Girl 2: Bowing low in the best tradition of a French waiter acknowledging an unusually good tip, the waiter was
full of effusive thanks.
Waiter: Monsieur is most generous, Merci!
Girl 3: Reaching for the platter he bowed out with many sonorous kiss of his fingertips.
All Boys: Calmly Rizal started to sip his coffee and brandy while enjoying the amazement on the face of his
compatriots who all held their breaths while waiting for what inevitably would happen next.
All Girls: In no time at all the waiter came back. He was quite a spectacle; really; his face puffy and flushed, his
mustache going up and down at the incoherent wordings of his mouth while the fingers of his right hand were
rolled tightly into a fist that punctuated the in air with short angry jabs. In the left hand he clutched the porcelain
platter.
Waiter: C est une grande deception!
All: he shouted
Waiter: This is no 10-pound note. It is nothing but a drawing. Monsieur is a fraud! Robber! Thief!
All: he continued to rant and shout while the brown gentlemen on the table helplessly looked on. Even Rizal
was quite subdued.
All Girls: The commotion aroused reached the managers ears and he quickly emerged to investigate the
situation.
Manager: What is wrong?
All: he asked of the waiter.
Waiter: These gentlemen at the table, Monsieur le Manager,
All: he answered, still very angry.
Waiter: They feasted and drunk on our best food and wines and promised a large tip. And look what they have
paid for it!
All Girls: Indignantly, he thrust the porcelain platter under the managers eyes. The manager scrutinized the
platter.
Manager: Why, Pierre,
All: said the perplexed manager.
Manager: It is perfectly all right. Why on earth are you embarrassing these gentlemen? You know we always
accept Pound Sterlings. It is the best money in the world!
Waiter: But Monsieur Le Managr!
All: said Pierre, desperately tearing at his hair.
Waiter: Look well. It is not money. It is nothing but a drawing!
Group 4:
All: The manager couldnt believe it.
Girl 1: He stepped down and touched the note on the platter;
Girl 2: his finger emerged a little moist with the still wet paint.
Girl 3: Incredulity spread slowly over his face.
Manager: C est magnifique,
All: he murmured softly. Turning to the table, he inquired,
Manager: Which of the gentlemen drew the note?
All: Rizal slowly stood up.
Rizal: At your service, Monsieur.
All: He said in faultless French, enunciation and diction perfect. The manager was impressed.
Manager: Monsieur speaks perfect French!
All: he remarked admiringly.
Rizal: Thank you!
All: said Rizal.

Rizal: Will you allow me to make an explanation? My friends and I came to your restaurant thinking we had
money. It turned out that we are all completely broke. Believe me, it was only a misunderstanding. We are all
truly sorry. I did the next best thing. I painted a 10-pound note on a platter to pay for our meal.
All: The manager kept on scrutinizing the 10-pound note.
Manager: Its amazing!
All: he said.
Manager: Monsieur is a great artist.
All: Giving the platter back to Rizal, the manager said.
Manager: Some of the water color has come off on my finger. Will Monsieur be so kind as to repair the
damage?
All Girls: Promptly, Rizal produced his colors and repainted where the color had rubbed off.
All Boys: The 10-pound note was whole again and it lay on the platter in almost perfect reality.
All: With a smile, the manager embraced Rizal and kissed him in both cheeks.
Manager: Truly, Monsieur is a great artist! he repeated admiringly. Permit me to felicitate you. This platter
with your painting will be cherished in my art collection.
All: Turning around, he told the waiter,
Manager: Pierre, you may collect the change from the note at the cashier for your service (tip) as Monsieur L
Arti'st has followed.
All: Turning to Rizal and his friends, the manager bowed. gallantly.
Manager: Monsieur, you have honored my restaurant with your patronage. Come again whenever you wish.
All: Graciously he accompanied them personally to the door