Synopsis: Leo Capili (Phillip Salvador) is a fence for stolen goods and a male chauvinist. Although he lives with his wife, Rowena (Gina Alajar) and his brother, Manolo (Joel Alano), he spends his time with Cedes (Amy Austria), a pretty bold model. Despite his philandering, he is still the dutiful husband who comes home to his wife, eats his meal, performs his marital duties and sleeps. Rowena is the martyr wife who suffers in silence and is cold to his lovemaking.
Business has been bad to Leo and now he snitches his wife’s meager savings from her
dressmaking and accepts doleouts from Cedes. One day, he is picked up by a mysterious woman in a cream Mercedes Benz. They have sex in a motel. They enjoy each other’s companionship but, the woman refuses to reveal her identity.
While shopping for an umbrella, Rowena bumps into Ramon (Juan Rodrigo), her longtime suitor, who recently arrived from Chicago. He asks about her welfare. She had married Leo because she thought she was pregnant. Ramon wants a better life for her and plans to immigrate to the States with her. However, Rowena is undecided over leaving Leo. Cedes too realizes that she is pregnant. She wants to shack up with Leo and live in the province. Leo wants her to have an abortion which Cedes refuses to do. He walks out of her house — and her life. Cedes is also fired from her job when the manager finds out about her delicate condition.
Meanwhile, Leo stumbles upon the identity of the mysterious woman when he spots her in a five-star hotel. She is Bea Garrido (Lorna Tolentino), wife of a millionaire. He visits her in her flower shop in Pasong Tamo. He wonders whether her husband has the same macho mentality and would object to the relationship. She explains that he has his own mistress and is not aware of her flings.
Rowena goes to the doctor and finds out that she is pregnant. This is a sign for her to stay with Leo. She calls up Ramon for a meeting to make the final break with him. Manolo overhears the conversation and informs his brother. Leo beats up Ramon in the restaurant and drags Rowena to their house. He beats her up and she loses her baby.
It is now a different Rowena intent on revenge. She seduces his kid brother while he is taking a bath. Leo finds the two in bed and punches Manolo. He is kicked out of the house.
In a bar, two men try to solicit the help of Leo in disposing stolen jewelry. He agrees to look over the merchandise. He is brought to a secluded warehouse and finds it is a trap set up by Garrido’s men. He is beaten to a pulp and becomes unconscious. Simeon Garrido (Johnny Wilson) tells his wife to dress up and brings her to the place. She is shocked to see the
bloodied Leo, who is brought back to consciousness. She tells him to beg for forgiveness — which he obeys. Simeon instead lifts his gun and shoots him.
In their mansion, Bea and her husband quarrel. She threatens to leave him but he thinks it’s a bluff. Bea then tells him that she has called the police and informed them of the murder.
In the cemetery, there are three women around I.eo’s tomb: his wife Rowena, Cedes and Bea who leaves a red rose.
(Source: Lino Brocka: The Artist and his Times)
"Caught in the Act" (1981)
Regal Films
Release Date November 27, 1981
Story and Screenplay Joey Reyes
Cinematography Totoy Jacinto
Editing Rogelio Salvador
Music Max Jocson
Direction Lino Brocka
Cast Lorna Tolentino, Gina Alajar, Amy Austria and Phillip Salvador
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