Once in the Red Moon
~ Act 1 ~
Fade in, on a bedroom which is large enough. In these rooms, neat one shelf full of books, some written by Karl Marx, Engel, Lenin, Tan Malaka, Pramoedya A Toer and also Soe Hok Gie. Beside that, there is a wardrobe which Tan Malaka poster is sticked on there. Near from it, there is an unkempt desk, a sign that it had been used by the owner, but forgot to trim again. Above the table there is an alarm clock that shows two o’clock in the morning. Above the table there is also a wood-framed glass windows, the curtains are open.
Outside the window, half moon dim red light decorates the sky. The night sky was dark black with no stars. In addition to the corner of the wall, there is a small bed made from bamboo. There sleep a 20-year-old boy’s. His foot is doing a little moving, his breathing irregular snorted. His body was drenched in cold sweat. Within seconds he streaked. He wakes from his bed. Across the room we can hear his mother is screaming.
Winarko go out from his bed, and then he stepping to the door, it was also his mother immediately went to her room with panting breath.
Aisah : Astaffirulah ...are you okay son?
Winarako : Of course I’m alright mom. You looked so worried, something is
wrong, mom?
(Then Aisah sitting in a chair near the table, Winarko immediately give her a glass of water in the kitchen)
Aisah : Son, I’m to worry about you.
Winarko : Worry? What do you mean?
Aisah : Son, somehow I get bad feeling tonight. Boy, what have you done
lately? Whether your collage fine?
Winarko : Mom, why you so suspicious? Like the other students, discussions,
studying, demonstrations…
Aisah : That is it, Ko…Ko… You are student, but I see everyday you follow demonstration do you forgot to study?
(Winarko looked angry, then he got up, walked to the bookshelf and look at the book)
Winarko : Ah ... you were worried with me just because of that problem
anyway? Do not worry mom, my friends and I doing demonstrations in
order to fight for something we think is right. Our fight is for the poor
people mom.
Aisah : Son, if you forget your brother? Have you forgotten how he died?
(Winarko turn around to his mother while bring book of Soe Hok Gie)
Winarko : Precisely because he died when he defended the oppressed, I became
fascinated with him. I still remember mom. I remember twelve years
ago he was protesting and demonstrating in the streets Gejayan. I still
remember the news in the newspaper that he was the victim of the
shooting apparatus. Mom, to me, he is a hero.
Aisah : Son, you know, your brother died because he likes fighting. He never
comply with his parents, he died because he likes against their parents.
You know, he’s not at all good brother. I worry, your fate will end up
like your brother.
Winarko : C’mon mom, now we are free from the Suharto regime which is
militaristic and totalitarian. Indeed, our current president still remains
from the military, but, democracy now already in the open freely.
There was no such firing like in the past.
Aisah : Son, you don’t understand.
(Winarko move to bed, and sit)
Winarko : You also mom, you always doesn’t understand.
Aisah : Son, you know I was just got a bad dream. I dreamed that one of my
teeth is loose. Before your brother died, I also dreamed the same thing.
Winarko : Ah, Javanese, mom, it was just a dream. Mom it was just coincidence. Please do not be too superstitious. May be, you better pray to God for me.
Aisah : If it’s your own decision, it’s up to you son. I think you had been grown up, know the best for yourself. Mom can only pray for you son. But remember my son, your family is still always love you. I still not willing you participate the demonstration. Demonstration is dangers Winarko. I forbid you to participate in demonstrations again. Your job is to study!
(Winarko lay down and covered themselves with blankets)
Winarko : Mothers, at least you know that I’m doing this solely for the sake of the people instead for my ambition. I want to fight mom, I want to make changes. As a young child, I felt responsible to not say anything when I saw the oppression.
Aisah : May God always be with you son. Good night.
Winarka : Good night.
(Aisah out from the room)
~ Act 2 ~
Class’ atmosphere in that morning was so quiet. The only sound is only from scratch chalk from lecturer who wrote words “SOEKARNO” on the blackboard. In this class there are also studies of the ten students of history who were attending a national history of Indonesia. One of the ten students is Winarko.
Lecturer : Who is the Indonesian that is not familiar with Sukarno? I guarantee that every Indonesian must know Sukarno, he was charismatic, eloquent, our proclamator, and he was a founding father of Indonesia.
(Winarko raise his hand)
Winarko : But sir, I think the role of Sukarno in Indonesia to fight for the independence do not much as the other great figures such as Tan Malaka. Even according to the study, Sukarno was not the founding father of Indonesia, but Tan Malaka. He was the one who wrote the book "Naar de Republiek Indonesia" in the book it’s formulated what it is called an independent Indonesian republic. Sukarno even use that book as mandatory reading books.
Lecturer : Son, you don’t understand. You know, your experience is still a bit young. Throughout the majority of Indonesian people if asked would be answered that Soekarno are heroes all of us. His role is very important for Indonesia
Winarko : Sir, I think when the Japanese occupation, Sukarno even takes it easy on the suffering of Indonesian people. Before the proclamation, he had been kidnapped and forced by the youth to proclaim the independence of Indonesia.
Lecturer : Young man...full of passion, but less cautious in speech. Maybe you are too much influenced by the mind of Tan Malaka, the communist. Son, Indonesia had Sukarno, and he was the proclamator. Akh, 11 o'clock, okay class that’s all for the lesson and discussion. For Winarko, I hope you're more careful when speaking. See you next time class.
(Winarko put up his books in his bag. Class dismissed, but he with his four friends (Tono, Jodi, Waskito, and Toro) is still in the class. Tono and Winarko are sit on the table, the others is sit in the chair.)
Winarko : Huh, ignoramus lecturer, anti-critique, knowledgeably, and cocky self-righteous!
Tono : True that! Feudal lecturer like that should be replaced only by lecturer who are more democratic and respect the opinions from the younger.
Waskito : It is also true, if he have said the wrong then he should also be able to provide with the appropriate justification. Do not just blame it, but when asked for an explanation she could not answer. He instead thinks that we are not a smart young man and still sloppy.
Toro : Okay, we discuss it enough, how about now we think of where we want to go after this? how about a trip to a computer exhibition.
Winarko : Than a walk to the computer exhibition, how if we go with 700 workers to demonstration in the Malioboro street. Remember, now is May Day.
Jodi : Yes, I remember that May is struggle month for all of the workers in the world.
Toro : C’mon friends, you are too hard to think our country. We are still students, our job right is studying, and we don’t need to follow demonstrations every day.
Winarko : Hey, we are students. our task is to learn, but most importantly how we use our knowledge that has been able to help others. Remember, Pramoedya once said that the scholars must have been unfair since in his mind.
Jody : True that! Revolution! People and student together.
Tono : ah ... Jody, you are only just joined in. Okay, so, shall we go to street Malioboro right now?
Jody : Toro?
Toro : Okay, I’m joining.
Winarko : Let’s go friends!
~ Act 3 ~
In the living room of Winarko’s house. Aisah was sewing clothes while watching television. On the television there are shown news during the day. The news shows that there, in Malioboro street there are clashes between security forces and the demonstrators. The news is mention that some students and workers seriously injured.
Aisah : Oh, God.
(Winarko suddenly opened the door and entered the living room)
Aisah : Winarko, if you had been joined demonstrations in Malioboro?
Winarko : Yes, what’s the problem? sonny, I've already told you, it's better not to follow the demonstration again. but you still break them. Mother also had multiple hook say, your job is to learn rather than a demonstration. Akh mom, you never understand!
(Winarko straight to his bedroom)
Aisah : Son, come here. I understand you!
(Winarko stop his step and saw his mother’s face)
Aisah : Winarko, the mother gave you permission to fight. mother gave permission. mother willingly. mother had seen the faces of the workers victims of the violence. I saw on their faces no brother's face. in the face of the fire victims I see there is your father's face. I therefore allow you to fight.
(Winarko huge his mom)
Winarko : Thank you mom! I’ll fight!
