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Episode #104: Silent Cry

Summary of Darna Episode 104
(August 24 2005, Thursday)

Darna battles ferociously with Demonica. She elbows and kicks this new fiend repeatedly. Demonica is angered and lets out a shrill cry that pierces Darna’s ears. Darna falls on her knees and this buys just enough time for Demonica to make a retreat. Then Darna decides to go and look for Efren once again.

Efren goes home drunk. It is early morning. He falls down on the couch and goes unconscious. Ava walks in a few hours later and tells him to get up as it is their wedding day. He looks uninterested but tells her he will get dressed. Efren is still thinking of Narda. He goes upstairs and emerges sometime later in his barong Tagalog. They go out.

Narda runs down the street. As she passes by a corner, Divina is waiting in ambush and elbows her in the face. Narda sees her momentarily but is knocked off her feet. She falls down and Divina swiftly sucks out her voice and puts it in a bottle. When Narda comes to, she realizes that she has no voice. She decides to become Darna, but no matter how often she swallows the stone and tries to shout her name, no sound comes out.

Milagros wakes up and sees Narda stumbling into the house. She has no voice but she looks frantic. Her grandmother cannot understand her. Narda grabs a pen and paper and runs out. Narda goes to see Alice who confronts her about the crystal. Alice asks where her lucky charm is. She begs her friend to give it back. Narda makes signs but Alice demands that she speaks. Narda then runs off. She is able to get a taxi ride to the church.

Divina gloats over her collection of voices on bottles. She notices that the bottle containing Narda’s voice is cooler and fuller than the rest. Divina wonders what could be so special about this, as she knows Narda as an employee of the hotel. She asks herself what the girl’s secret could be.

Efren looks like is on death row. A lady tries to encourage him. Ava walks down the aisle. Efren remembers Narda doing the same escorted by her father. They then face the priest together. Narda is now inside the church but she is stopped. She starts to write on the paper when she hears the wedding ceremony being concluded. The groom kisses the bride. Narda can only stare at them.

- written by: South Rock

Episode #103: Teardrop

Summary of Darna Episode 103
(August 23 2005, Wednesday)

Alice asks Narda why she is still working. Narda replies that since Efren’s wedding is tomorrow, she has volunteered to go overtime rather than sulk. She is also sad about Lenlen’s condition and the family who are now claiming Iking as their own. Narda then passes by Ava’s room. The door is open and the latter invites her in. She is asking for a massage since her head is aching. Narda says there is a spa still open at this time of night, but Ava says she does not want to squander the money her “future husband” gives her. Narda reluctantly agrees to massage her head and temples. As she does so, Ava chats happily about her upcoming wedding to Efren and how she wants Narda to be there. Narda’s eyes fill with tears. A teardrop falls on Ava’s forehead but she does not feel it. Her snake’s skin begins to show in patches all over her face. Narda’s eyes widen in surprise. She gets up suddenly and leaves, saying she has to get back to work. Ava smiles, thinking her rival is just jealous.

Iking’s aunt and cousin visit late at night. Milagros is cranky and asks what they want. She repeats that she does not want a DNA test done. The aunt tells her they have not come for that; she just wants Iking to get to know his cousin, Miguel, her son who is wheelchair-bound. Iking goes down and Milagros cannot stop him from playing with the boy. They spend a long time and Iking is happy to have a playmate. He suddenly remembers Lenlen and hopes that he will not lose Miguel in the same way.

Valentina tells her mother what happened in the ladies’ room and Efren’s desire to visit her parents’ tomb. Prospera is worried and keeps reminding her daughter that she cannot deceive Efren like this forever. Valentina is determined; she says she loves Efren and she will fight for him to the death.

Narda goes to a fellow chambermaid and tells her she must leave as there is an emergency. She takes her clothes and bag from the locker and runs off. Alice then enters searching frantically for her lucky charm, the crystal fragment. She asks the other chambermaid if she has seen it, and the latter replies in the negative. Alice asks who was there last in their locker room, and she is told it was Narda. Alice immediately concludes that Narda is a false friend who has treacherously stolen her lucky charm.

Narda calls Efren’s landline but there is no answer. Efren has been driving all night and drinking, reluctant as he is to get married. Narda transforms into Darna, telling herself the wedding must not take place; she cannot let Valentina deceive Efren. She cannot see Efren anywhere. Instead, she comes upon Divina, now Demonica, spreading her evil in the city. Demonica is a hideous-looking female wearing a black cape. Darna yells at her to stop what she is doing and to fight her instead. Demonica turns around and the combat begins.

- written by: South Rock

Episode #102: Iking’s Family

Summary of Darna Episode 102
(August 22 2005, Tuesday)

Valentina is surprised. She knows these women must not know. She holds her open hand out and hypnotizes them, telling them they will remember nothing of what they have just seen. She is angry. Now she knows water causes her disguise to come off and therefore, she must never let herself be touched by water in Efren’s presence.

Darna is present later in an investigation of the death of one of Divina’s victims. An investigator thinks it is an inside job. Darna wonders who could be behind this, perhaps, Valentina. Meanwhile, Divina has obtained a new place for herself now that the hotel’s owner is gone. She acts proudly and arrogantly. Some people recognize her as a singer.

Efren tells Ava six months should be enough waiting period for them before their wedding. Ava is upset and says he wants to wait that long in the hope that he and Narda can get back together. Efren says that is nonsense and suggests two months, then one month, two weeks, and finally, one week. Ava is happy with the last and agrees. Efren does not look happy with what he has gotten himself into.

Iking comes downstairs to see guests in their house. One is the woman who gave him that toy. Narda and Milagros are talking to them. They ask why Iking went downstairs. He tells them he knows who that woman is. The woman stands up and insists this boy is her nephew. Narda refuses to give up Iking just like that. The woman says she cannot be wrong since Iking has the same birthmark her nephew did; she saw it when he was born. She says he is her sister’s son. Then she narrates how she had waited for her sister the latter’s family at the bus terminal. The sister with her husband and newborn baby had to cross a bridge, but they disappeared and were never seen again. This woman now is positive that Iking is that missing nephew of hers. Narda and Milagros remember that night. They cannot answer. The woman’s lawyer suggests that a DNA test be made. Iking goes off and prays by himself. He does not know what to do. He does not want to leave Narda and Milagros. He also wants to do what his real mother would have wanted him to do.

Efren and Ava go to make arrangements for their wedding. The wedding planner is the same one Efren and Narda consulted before. She cannot help but compare the two, and wonders why Efren will now marry another. Ava notices the comparison. The wedding planner thinks Narda was a lot nicer. Later, Ava complains to Efren about how she cannot get out of Narda’s shadow. Efren tells her he is doing everything he can to forget his ex girlfriend. Then he asks if they can visit Ava’s parents grave, as he wants to formally seek their permission to marry their daughter. Ava then makes an excuse. She says she is hungry, and then she faints.

- written by: South Rock

Episode #101: Wet Look

Summary of Darna Episode 101
(August 22, 2005, Monday).

Divina is with the hotel’s owner when she feels herself changing. He holds her hand and the wrinkles and lines begin to show. She is transforming. Divina tries to get away but is unable to. The man is shocked to see an old woman before him. He screams. Divina uses her occult power to suck out his voice just as she has done with all her previous victims. He runs away.

Iking is holding the toy given him by that woman. He holds it aloft when Milagros sees it. He tells her how he got it. She scolds him for accepting gifts from strangers, then she apologizes as she is just worried for him. She tells him the doctor has advised them to go home and wait for word on Lenlen when she recovers. They go home.

Narda is in the building and she knows someone needs help. As Darna she runs into the hotel owner and asks what has happened to him. He runs away to his room to get a pen and paper to write down his answer since he cannot speak. But Darna has not gone after him. Instead, Divina is there. She is angry with Darna for meddling as usual with other people’s affairs. She smiles at him with an ice pick in her hand. The poor man tries to escape. She stabs him dead and he falls.

Efren goes to see Ava and finds her packing. He asks why, and she tells him she needs a change of scenery and wants to check into a hotel for a day. Efren offers to take her there. She agrees, but reminds him he must not check in with her.

Ava and Efren are now in the hotel. Ava wants to see Narda working there. Narda does see them and Ava knows, but Efren does not. Narda hides and calls over a coworker. She asks the other woman to give a letter to Efren along with her engagement ring. The woman does as requested. She tells Efren someone wishes to give them to him. He opens the letter and asks where Narda is. The woman informs him Narda has left as their shift has begun. Efren reads the letter. In it, Narda says she wanted to do this in person but was unable to. She reminds him that they must move on with their separate lives. Ava looks on as he reads it. She asks why she doesn’t have her own engagement ring. Efren says it is not necessary as he has already proposed to her. Ava says she still wants one so he tells her he will buy her one too.

Ava steps into the ladies’ room to wash her hands and face. As she does this, the green snake’s skin begins to manifest in her face and arms. Two young women enter just then and scream. They have seen Valentina.

- written by: South Rock

Episode #100: Demonica

Summary of Darna Episode 100
(August 19, 2005, Friday).

Efren wonders if he has done the right thing offering marriage to Ava. Yet he reminds himself that it was Narda herself who told him they cannot be together. He looks at the newspaper with Darna’s picture in it. The phone rings; the answering machine is on and he hears a message from Ava. She tells him that he was right; he has given her a reason to go on. She thanks him for his marriage proposal.

The villain has had her way with the victim. Narda senses something wrong, but Alice comes around and calls impatiently to her. She says it is time for their interview. Narda reluctantly goes with her.

Divina takes a walk at night and bumps into a drunkard. He tries to flirt with her. She pretends to play along, then she puts a small bottle in front of his mouth and forces out his voice. When she leaves, the man’s wife finds him and screams for help. Narda hears her. She knows this woman and asks what is wrong. The woman tells her that her husband cannot speak. Narda concludes that the voice-thief has struck again. She wonders how this is possible since Braguda is gone now.

Narda tells Alice she is still worried—about Efren and Ava, and Lenlen as well who is still comatose. Alice cheers her up. They get the job, and soon they are in uniform, eager to start work in the new place. Alice credits her lucky charm – the crystal fragment – with this. She drops it on a bed and looks away for a few moments. Narda picks it up. She has a bad feeling about the crystal which looks oddly familiar to her. Alice notices her and asks what she is looking at. She asks for it back as it is hers. Narda apologizes and returns it, but she is still nervous.

Iking is sweaty. His grandmother takes off his shirt and makes him put on a new one. A woman outside has spotted them and noticed the birthmark on his back. When Milagros leaves for a few minutes, the lady goes to Iking and makes friends. She asks where his parents are, but he tells her they are gone and that the people he lives with now are not his blood relatives. Milagros and Narda later come back and the woman has to leave. When the Iking is alone again, the woman returns and offers him a toy. He gladly accepts it. She asks if she can see his birthmark; he consents. The woman tells herself this is the one whom she thought it was.

Divina wonders what to do. She has collected her victims’ voices in slender bottles. She decides to drink them all up to see what will happen. When she has consumed the last bottle, she falls back as a strange, alien power seizes her. Divina is transformed into a creature of evil, a vampire-like villain. She laughs out loud holding her crystal in hand. She reminds herself not to stop what she has been doing, as she must preserve her youth and voice and regain her lost fame.

Alice goes to bed with the crystal near her. She wakes up later feeling an intruder is around. The crystal’s power shines when she is asleep.

Prospera and Valentina go to the hotel and see Narda working there. They decide to leave. Alice and Narda see them. The former says it’s better that Efren goes to Ava than to her friend’s cousin.

The owner of the hotel looks around for Divina and finds her in a quiet place there. He holds her and she welcomes his embrace. She is happy to experience the joys being young and attractive once again. She laughs to herself.

- written by: South Rock

Episode #99: Black Widow

Summary of Darna Episode 99
(August 18, 2005, Thursday).

Darna comes to the rescue of Divina’s victim. She takes her to a hospital, where the doctor informs her that this is not the first time someone has complained to him – at least, in writing – that someone took his or her voice away. Darna learns that the assailant is like a monster who uses a strange power to suck out human voice.

Efren drops by Ava’s house to see her. He comes upon her about to attempt suicide. She says she has no reason to live anymore. He takes the gun away from her and hastily proposes to marry her, telling her that would give her many reasons to go on. Ava agrees, then she relents and indicates that she knows Efren said that only out of pity. She says they just met and maybe he was just startled. Efren thinks about it and seems to be reluctant to do what he said. When Ava senses he is about to change his mind, she pretends to be in pain and starts crying out. She says she fears her end is near; she wants to get married now. Efren tries to comfort her.

Divina, a tall, handsome woman with a powerful voice, attracts a man and he invites her to his place. She goes with him and he takes her to a hotel. He is the owner and takes her on a tour. Divina hears a singer and says she, too, would like to sing. The man is supportive and lets her give it a try after the professional singer’s number. Divina enchants the classy audience with her voice; she vows to regain her fame as a diva.

Valentina is back at home. Prospera is amazed that she got Efren to propose to her—or rather, to Ava. Valentina then relates how she faked her hysterics and used a prop, a gun, to convince Efren that she wanted to die. Now she knows even Narda will not be able to get in the way. Prospera wonders how Efren and Narda broke up.

Narda and Alice go to apply for a job in this same hotel the next day. They notice Divina and Alice greets her. Divina greets them back in a friendly manner and learns they are applying as chambermaids. She says they are too pretty for that; she suggests that they audition as her backup singers and even offers to escort them. Narda quickly replies that they do not know how to sing. Alice signals that she is interested. Narda takes her aside and they start to debate. Alice says this could be their chance at fame. Just then, a woman comes by and directs them to the HRD for their job interview. The two friends say goodbye to Divina then, with Alice adding they will call her in case they do not get this job.

Efren is driving, but his mind is elsewhere. He accidentally bumps a couple and they hit the ground. Efren hurries out of his car and asks if they are all right. The woman looks at his hand and warns him to be careful. She tells him she is a good fortune-teller, and she can see great hardships are in store for him. She warns Efren to beware of people who want to deceive him.

Divina is annoyed at the woman who stood in her way. She comes up to her and asks for some assistance. When she is alone with this new victim, Divina again uses the crystal to draw out the lady’s voice. Narda is back outside now and she looks in the direction where Divina is hiding with her victim.

- written by: South Rock

Episode #98: Lucky Charm

Summary of Darna Episode 98
(August 17, 2005, Wednesday).

Narda is with Ava. She looks sad, but she tells the girl she is happy for her. Ava asks about her and Efren, and Narda explains they just cannot be together. It is evident Narda now leaves him in the care of this new woman. She fights back her tears while Ava smiles to herself.

Divina’s companion finds her and tells her to go home and eat with her. The old woman asks how she was recognized. The other woman laughs scornfully and says Divina’s wrinkles are unmistakable. So she now knows she is back to her old self again. When alone, she talks to the crystal and says she knows it has power to make her young again, and that it did that earlier just to give her a taste of it. Divina observes that this wonderful object is able to discern her deepest wishes and desires; it knows what she wants.

Efren goes to Alice and asks if she knows her best friend has returned. She tells him yes, and that she even went out with his new girlfriend, as Alice calls Ava. Efren looks surprised and does not know what to make of it. He sees Narda arrive with Ava. Ava goes to his side and tells him Narda has left him in her care and has told her all she needs to know. Narda smiles and excuses herself. Efren runs after her to tell her that there is nothing going on between him and that woman. Narda assures him it is okay since Ava is a good person.

Divina holds the crystal and something tells her what to do to regain her youth. When her companion arrives, Divina turns on her and says she needs her voice. Divina uses the power of the stone to suck out her victim’s voice and draw it into her throat. When this is over, the frightened woman runs away and finds her voice gone. Divine smiles and leaves to look for more victims.

Alice tries to console Narda while they are having lunch outside. To cheer up her friend, Alice suggests that they look for new work, namely as chambermaids in a hotel. Narda does not think it is a good idea, as they got turned down before when they went job-hunting. Alice says it can work this time as she knows somebody in a hotel who can help them. She adds that she has a lucky charm now. Alice shows the crystal fragment to Narda, who is startled. Narda asks where her friend got it, saying it looks familiar to her. Alice dismisses this.

Efren and Ava are in his car. She asks if he still loves his ex-girlfriend, and he says he does. She asks him to love her instead since she has only a little time left in this world. Efren tells her the heart cannot be taught how to love. But Ava pleads with him; she says she wants to know how it feels to be loved. They hold each other.

Divina goes to a classy restaurant where there many young people hang out. She asks some young women if she can join them. They laugh at her and so does the manager. Soon, everyone else is laughing with them. Divina then uses her power and draws their voices out of all of them. She becomes young again with a voice big and strong. Divina remarks how funny it is that she who was once laughed at is now the one who is laughing. She leaves and looks at herself in a mirror, laughing. She goes hunting for more victims to preserve her youth.

Efren is alone at night looking at Narda’s ring. Darna flies by and calls to him. He says this meeting reminds him of those days when he did not know yet that Narda and Darna were one. Darna replies that she certainly remembers those days; she cannot forget them. Efren asks if this is really the end for them. Darna tells him that even if there was still a way for them to be together, it would be unfair of her to make him wait any longer. Efren asks what about her. Darna tells him not to worry, as she is the Darna who is strong, brave and powerful. Efren responds that she is also the human Narda who experiences love, pain and loss. Darna ends the argument by explaining that, for as long as the hero and the human are one, she cannot give Efren what he needs. She hears one of Divina’s victims screaming for help, and she turns to go. Efren whispers goodbye to both Darna and her alter-ego.

- written by: South Rock

Episode #97: Divina

Summary of Darna Episode 97
(August 16 2005, Tuesday).

Darna returns to the fight scene where the trio of villains is waiting of her. Mambabarang, Sulfura and Molecula merge into one giant whose powers are a mixture of their own. It hurls a blanket of sticky particles at Darna, who is unable to get it off her. At length, she breaks free of it and uses her blades to strike the monster. People watch anxiously as they fight. At first, it appears the monster is immune to Darna’s power, but in the end, she defeats it. The giant humanoid splits into the three villains again and explodes.

Shreds of crystal from the monster fall to the earth. Alice, who has been cheering for Darna, now pushes through the crowd to be at Darna’s side. She asks if she has seen Narda anywhere. The hero assures her that she has seen Narda and that she is all right. The crowds cheer for Darna until she leaves.

Alice picks up a crystal fragment from the monster and takes it home with her. She wonders what it is, quite sure that it is not ordinary glass, nor is it a precious stone. Alice decides to keep it and places it on a table. She goes to the bathroom to take a bath. When she leaves, a plume of black smoke arises from the crystal. The crystal also has a shining red hue like the color of the Anomalka.

Narda returns to her family. Milagros – who forbade Iking from helping his sister – is relieved to see her alive. She cries and says the pain would be unbearable if Narda were taken away from them a second time. Narda promises that will never happen again.

Narda goes to work after being absent for so long. She calls Alice who shouts in delight when she sees her best friend. They hug each other happily like children. Alice asks if the wedding will still push through. Narda says no, without explaining why. Ava comes in that day and sees Narda. Valentina here feigns ignorance and Alice introduces the two. Ava invites Narda to go out with her, and the latter agrees with some hesitation.

An old woman, Divina, reminisces about the good old days when she was a famous diva adored by the crowds. She goes out that day looking for whatever fortune she may find. She stumbles upon another crystal fragment like the one Alice found. She, too, becomes curious. The crystal momentarily transforms her into the young woman she once was. Divina is amazed. Not long after this, her companion, a fat, younger woman who likes to mock Divina, arrives and asks what’s up.

- written by: South Rock

Episode #96: The Wily Fox

Summary of Darna Episode 96
(August 15, 2005, Friday).

Aio is devastated. She shakes her head angrily and says she will never be able to forgive Narda. Braguda tells them nothing can stop her now, not from destroying the world, but from conquering it. Narda reminds her of her promise not to harm them. Braguda affirms this, but claims she never promised not to turn them into slaves; she says they, too, will be converted to Anomalkan citizens. The queen raises her hand with the stone in it, but nothing happens. It is then that Braguda realizes she is holding a counterfeit version of the stone.

Ava tells Efren she knows he only feels sorry for her. Efren asks her not to underestimate his feelings for her. She says sorry and admits she is tired of being pitied by others. She asks Efren to take her out of the hospital so that she can spend the last days of her life with him. He obeys.

Narda smiles and tells Braguda she is still holding the genuine white stone. She explains that when Braguda sent her that message about Aio, Darna foresaw the enemy’s plan. So she went to the woods and chose a round stone and transformed it with her power to make it look like another mystic white stone. When she later dislodged the true stone before Braguda, she dropped it into her right hand and then deftly passed it into the left, meanwhile handing out the fake stone with the right hand. Braguda is incensed by this deception and vows to punish Narda. She hurls red laser beams at her and Aio. Aio tells her to run and use the true stone while she fights Braguda.

Ava and Efren have left the hospital. She asks him why he broke up with Narda. He does not want to say, but she presses on and asks if Darna is the reason. Efren hesitates, and says in a way, that is so. Ava asks if this means he is in love with Darna. She comments that he has fallen in love with somebody who is impossible to love. Then Ava hints that she herself is not impossible to love, and that she is just there, waiting and willing to accept whatever will be given her.

Darna returns to action. Braguda brags that the former is not the only one who can transform. She, too, shouts a magic Anomalkan name and morphs into a warrior in an alien armor. Aio tells herself this is the first time Braguda has displayed such power. She wonders what this means. Darna and Braguda now engage in a brutal struggle. At length, Darna overcomes her foe from the air. She whips Braguda with a powerful kick that sends the queen crashing down to the forest.

Valentina goes home momentarily to report to her mother, who has been waiting for her all day. She tells the latter she has a plan again, and decides to visit the lair. She goes there and finds nobody there. Valentina orders the magic wall to show her Braguda, and there she sees the action. Braguda is shown retreating from battle in a spaceship. Darna wants to go after her, but Aio holds her back, warning that Darna has no idea what sort of evil may be in that vehicle. Darna is frustrated. Aio changes the subject and tells her she admires her for the deception practiced on Braguda. Aio asks for Darna’s forgiveness and says that now, she knows she is a worthy keeper of the stone. Darna smilingly replies that she will never give up the white stone just like that. She says she cherishes it in the same way that she cherishes the life of her mentor. They smile at each other and clasp hands. Aio is beside herself with joy. Darna hears the calls of the other villains and says she has to go.

Valentina sees that Braguda has fled. She dislodges the black stone. Valentina understands that Braguda has left everything in her care. She sees herself as the one who will rule the world, and proclaims herself as the new queen of darkness.

- written by: South Rock