- [first lines]
- Title Card: At the beginning of the last century, the United States declared war on Spain. They pledged to free the island of Cuba, ninety miles to their south, from colonial rule. It was thus that the American troops came to yet another Spanish colony, half a world away. They decided to stay.
- Locsin: Why does he hate the chinos so much? He has a Chinese name.
- Policarpio: You have answered your own question.
- Chief: [pointing at newly hung telegraph wire] On this wire flows the words of the Americans, like fallen leaves on a river, all the way to Manila. And soon the wires will spread to ever corner of the island.
- Villager: And what can they have to say?