DEAD STARS SCRIPT

By: Paz Marquez Benitez

FIRST SCENE: Alfredo and Esperanza’s love flashback 4 years ago (*PARK*)

SECOND SCENE: *Carmen sees Alfredo through the window pane thinking inside their
house while talking to Don Julian(Their Father) about Alfredo and Esperanza’s
wedding (*ROSE GARDEN IN THEIR HOUSE*)

Carmen: Papa, and when will the ‘long table’ be set?

Don Julian: I don’t know yet. Alfredo is not very specific, but I understand Esperanza wants it to
be next month.

Carmen: Why is he not a bit more decided, I wonder. He is over thirty is he not? And still a
Bachelor! Esperanza must be tired of waiting…

Don Julian: She does not seem to be in much of a hurry either *SNIPPING THE ROSES WITH
SCISSORS*

Carmen: How can a woman be in a hurry when the man does not hurry her? *LONG PAUSE
WHILE THINKING*

Papa, do you remember how much in love he was? *FLASHBACK OF ALFREDO’S PROPOSAL
TO ESPERANZA*

(VOICE OVERLAPPING THE VIDEO)

Don Julian: In love, with whom?

Carmen: With Esperanza, of course. He has not had another love affair that I know of…What I
mean is that at the beginning he was enthusiastic – flowers, serenades, notes, and things like
that –

*VIDEO STOPS*

*Carmen sees Alfredo thinking deeply again in their house*

Carmen: What do you think happened?

Don Julian: I supposed long – engaged people are like that; warm now, cool tomorrow. I think
they are often cooler than warm. The very fact that an engagement has been allowed to prolong
itself argues certain placidity of temperament – or of affection – on the part of either, or both.

*LONG PAUSE, DON JULIAN SITS DOWN*

Don Julian: That phase you were speaking of is natural enough for a beginning. Besides, that, as
I see it, was Alfredo’s last race with escaping youth –

*Carmen laughs at what his father said*

Don Julian: A last spurt of hot blood…

*Alfredo stands up from the couch and walks to gate as he looks at the house with
emotion and reminisces

THIRD SCENE: Flashback 6 weeks ago *One evening*

*Alfredo busy with paper works*

Don Julian: Come Alfredo, we shall visit Judge Del Valle’s home.

Alfredo: But I have to finish this

Don Julian: A little mental relaxation now and then is beneficial besides, a judge’s good will, you
know; is worth a rising young lawyer’s trouble

*Alfredo leaves his paper work and both of them walk to Judge Del Valle’s house*

FOURTH SCENE: THEY ARRIVE AT THE DOOR WHERE JULIA OPENS THE DOOR FOR THEM

*Don Julian knocks on the door*

*Julia opens the door*

Don Julian: Good evening, is Judge Del Valle home?

Julia: Yes, he is

Don Julian: I’d like to introduce myself and my companion, I am Don Julian and this is my son
Alfredo. We are your neighbors

Julia: *Shakes hands with both of them* Ah, it’s nice to meet you. I am Julia, please hold on
for a moment I shall call my kuya, please sit down and make yourselves feel at home.

Alfredo: Thank you Miss Del Valle

*Julia smiles with a wide grin at how Alfredo had addressed her*

*A few minutes later Judge Del Valle comes and so does Julia

Judge Del Valle: Ah, what a pleasant surprise Mr. Salazar

Don Julian: Good evening Mr. Del Valle, I hope we are not interrupting you

Judge Del Valle: Not at all

Don Julian: By the way this is my son, Alfredo

Judge Del Valle: Ah, so you are the lawyer I presume

Alfredo: Yes. I am *Shakes hands with Judge Del Valle*

Judge Del Valle: Would you mind if we play chess as we chat? I feel like playing a little game of
Logic

Don Julian: Anything you prefer

Judge Del Valle: Will you please excuse us

Alfredo: *NODS*

*While they were outside playing chess*

Judge Del Valle: Would you want anything to drink? A bottle of cerveza, maybe?

Don Julian: That would be nice

Judge Del Valle: Adela can you fetch us two bottles please?

*A few minutes later Dona Adela brings the bottles to them

Judge Del Valle: This is Dona Adela my wife, Julia’s sister

Don Julian: Hello, Mrs. Del Valle I am Don Julian

*They chat for a few hours

Julia: Would you want me to keep you company for a while? I think their chat and game of chess
would take them a couple of hours

Alfredo: If it is not that much of a burden to you Ms. Del Valle

Julia: *Smiles* Not at all

Don Julian: Alfredo may I excuse you from this fine lady for a moment?

*Alfredo walks up to Don Julian*

Alfredo: What is it, father?

Don Julian: I just found out that Julia is not Judge Del Valle’s sister but rather his Sister-In-Law

*Alfredo sits near Julia again*

Alfredo: I apologize for calling you Ms. Del Valle, if you had told me sooner I wouldn’t have

Julia: That is nothing, each time I was about to correct you, but I remembered a similar
experience I had once before

Alfredo: Oh

Julia: A man named Manalang – I kept calling him Manalo. After the tenth or so, the young man
rose from his seat and said suddenly, ‘Pardon me, but my name is Manalang, Manalang.’ You
know, I never forgave him!

*THEY LAUGHED TOGETHER*

Julia: The best thing to do under the circumstances, I have found out is to pretend not to hear,
and to let the other person find out his mistake without help

Alfredo: As you did this time. Still, you looked amused every time I –

Julia: I was thinking of Mr. Manalang

FOURTH SCENE: On Sunday mornings after the mass they would go to Del Valle’s
house to chat and bond with them, Judge Del Valle and Don Julian would play chess as
Dona Adela bring them beer and watch them play while Julia and Alfredo talk in the
front porch *Fast forward to them showing each other that they are attracted to one
another*

FIFTH SCENE: *6 WEEKS LATER* *PRESENT TIME* Esperanza patiently waits for Alfredo
by the church

Esperanza: I wonder what is taking him so long he is not usually like this

Friend 1: Maybe he’s busy

Friend 2: We can accompany you home if that is what you want

Esperanza: I’m fine; I will just wait for him here

Friend 1: Are you sure?

Esperanza: Yes

Friend 2: Okay then, we’ll just leave you here, take care Esperanza

*All wave goodbye

SIXTH SCENE: Alfredo doing his paperwork while Esperanza is reading a book

Esperanza: I see that you’ve been really busy lately

Alfredo: Yes and sorry about that, I am almost done

Esperanza: Even on Sundays, you seem to forget to wait for me outside the church

Alfredo: *Becomes uneasy remembering that for several Sundays he had been with
Julia instead*

I just had a lot of paper work to do *Long pause*

Esperanza: Ah, I understand with your job and all…

SEVENTH SCENE: Julia and Alfredo in the porch of Judge Del Valle’s house

Alfredo: Up here--- I found something---

Julia: *Smiles* Amusement?

Alfredo: No; Youth--- Its spirit---

Julia: Are you so old?

Alfredo: And heart’s desire

Down there, the road is too broad, too trodden by feet, too barren of mystery.

Julia: Mystery – that is so brief –

Alfredo: Not in some *LOOKS INTO JULIA’S EYES* Not in you.

Julia: You have known me a few weeks; so the mystery

Alfredo: I could study you all my life and still not find it

Julia: So long?

Alfredo: I should like to.

EIGHT SCENE: Fast forward to when Alfredo and Julia shows affection for one another
(Park & Judge Del Valle’s house)

NINTH SCENE: Don Julian invites Judge Del Valle, Dona Aleda, Carmen and her 4
children, Julia and Alfredo to spend the Sunday afternoon before the Holy week at
Tanda. (House with a beach facing it)

*DONA ADELA AND CARMEN*

*4 KIDS RUNNING AROUND AND PLAYING*

*JUDGE DEL VALLE AND DON JULIAN DISCUSSING THE NATURE*

*ALFREDO GOES UP TO JULIA*

Alfredo: I hope you are enjoying this

Julia: Very much. It looks like home to me, except that we do not have such a lovely beach.

*ZOOMS IN TO THE BEACH*

*GOES BACK TO FACE JULIA*

Julia: The afternoon has seemed very short, hasn’t it? This, I think, is the last time – we can visit.

Alfredo: The last? Why?

Julia: Oh, you will be too busy perhaps.

Alfredo: Do I seem especially industrious to you?

Julia: If you are, you never look like it. Not perspiring or breathless, as a busy man ought to be

Alfredo: But –

Julia: Always unhurried, too unhurried, and calm.

Alfredo: I wish that were true, A man is happier if he is, as you say, calm and placid

Julia: Like a carabao in a mud pool

Alfredo: Who? I?

Julia: Oh! No!

Alfredo: You said I am calm and placid

Julia: That is what I think

Alfredo: I used to think so too. Shows how little we know ourselves

 I’d like to see your hometown

Julia: *LOOKS AT THE FAR DISTANT OCEAN*

Alfredo: Nothing. There is you

Julia: Oh, me? But I’m here.

Alfredo: I will not go, of course, until you’re there.

Julia: Will you come? You will find it dull. There isn’t even one American there!

Alfredo: Well – Americans are rather essential to my entertainment.

*JULIA LAUGHS*

Julia: We live on Calle Luz, a little street with trees.

Alfredo: Could I find that?

Julia: If you don’t ask for Miss del Valle *Julia smiles teasingly*

Alfredo: I’ll inquire about –

Julia: What?

Alfredo: The house of the prettiest girl in the town.

Julia: There is where you will lose your way. *Julia becomes serious* Now, that is not quite sincere.

Alfredo: It is

Julia: I thought you, at least, would not say such things.

Alfredo: Pretty – pretty – a foolish word! But there is none other more handy I did not mean that quite –

Julia: Are you withdrawing the compliment?

Alfredo: Re – enforcing it, maybe. Something is pretty when it pleases the eye – it is more than that when –

Julia: If it saddens?

Alfredo: Exactly.

Julia: It must be ugly.

Alfredo: Always?

Julia: No, of course you’re right.

Alfredo: Why did you say this is the last time?

Julia: I am going home.

Alfredo: *LONG PAUSE, THINKING* When?

Julia: Tomorrow. I received a letter from Father and Mother yesterday. They want me to spend Holy Week at home.

*LONG PAUSE* That is why I said this is the last time.

Alfredo: Can’t I come to say good – bye?

Julia: Oh, you don’t need to!

Alfredo: No, but I want to.

Julia: There is no time.

*LOOKS AT THE OCEAN* Home seems so far from here. This is almost like another life.

Alfredo: I know. This is Elsewhere, and yet strange enough, I cannot get rid of the old things.

Julia: Old things?

Alfredo: Oh, old things, mistakes, encumbrances, old baggage.

*THEY HELD HANDS BUT JULIA DIDN’T FACE ALFREDO*

Alfredo: Good – bye

TENTH SCENE: *HOLY THURSDAY* *women wearing vivid apparel*

*Esperanza walks in the church catches Alfredo’s eyes and pretends not to notice*

*Julia walks in and Alfredo stares at her with such compassion*

*A few moments later crowd was walking pass then Alfredo catches up to Julia*

*Alfredo looks at his watch*

Alfredo: Good evening

I had been thinking all this time that you had gone

Julia: No, my sister asked me to stay until they are ready to go.

Alfredo: Oh, is the judge going?

Julia: Yes.

*LONG PAUSE*

Julia: Mr. Salazar, I wish to congratulate you.

Alfredo: For what?

Julia: For your approaching wedding.

I should have offered congratulations long before, but you know mere visitors are slow about getting the news

Alfredo: Are weddings interesting to you?

Julia: When they are of friends, yes.

Alfredo: Would you come if I asked you?

Julia: When is it going to be?

Alfredo: May

Julia: May is the month of happiness they say

Alfredo: They say, would you come?

Julia: Why not?

Alfredo: No reason. I am just asking. Then you will?

Julia: If you will ask me

Alfredo: Then I ask you.

Julia: Then I will be there.

*LONG PAUSE*

Alfredo: Julia, did you ever have to choose between something you wanted to do and something you had to do?

Julia: No!

Alfredo: I thought maybe you had had that experience; then you could understand a man who was in such a situation.

You are fortunate

Julia: Is – is this man sure of what he should do?

Alfredo: I don’t know, Julia. Perhaps not. But there is a point where a thing escapes us and rushes downward of its own
weight, dragging us along. Then it is foolish to ask whether one will or will not, because it no longer depends on him.

Julia: But then why – why – Oh, what do I do know? That is his problem after all.

Alfredo: Doesn’t it – interest you?

Julia: Why must it? I – I have to say good – bye, Mr. Salazar; we are at the house.

*JULIA WALKS AWAY*

ELEVENTH SCENE: ESPERANZA’S STANDS NEAR THE CHURCH AS SHE WAITS FOR ALFREDO BUT LEAVES
INSTEAD FOR HE TOOK TOO LONG

TWELVETH SCENE: At Alfredo’s house Esperanza was waiting---

Esperanza: *Sitting on the couch*

Oh you are home, have you heard the news about Calixta?

Alfredo: *DISTRACTED AND THINKS ABOUT JULIA INSTEAD* *THOUGHTS IN HIS HEAD* (Was that the last time
we will be speaking with each other? Why does this bother me? It shouldn’t. I am already engaged to this lovely woman)
Well, what of it?

Esperanza: She is not married to him, besides, she should have thought of us. Nanay practically brought her up. We
never thought she would turn out bad.

Alfredo: You are very positive about her badness

Esperanza: But do you approve?

Alfredo: Of what?

Esperanza: What she did.

Alfredo: No
Esperanza: Well?

Alfredo: All I say is that it is not necessarily wicked.

Esperanza: Why shouldn’t it be? You talk like an – immoral man. I did not know that your ideas were like that.

Alfredo: My ideas? The only test I wish to apply to conduct is the test of fairness. Am I injuring anybody? No? Then I am
justified in my conscience. I am right. Living with a man to whom she is not married – is that it? It may be wrong, and
again it may not.

Esperanza: She has injured us. She was ungrateful.

Alfredo: The trouble with you, Esperanza, is that you are –

Esperanza: Why do you get angry? I do not understand you at all! I think I know why you have been indifferently to me
lately. I am not blind, or deaf; I see and hear what perhaps some are trying to keep from me *PAUSE*

Why don’t you speak out frankly before it is too late? You need not think of me and of what people will say.

Alfredo: Yes, one tries to be fair – according to his lights – but it is hard. One would like to be fair to one’s self first. But
that is too easy, one does not dare –

Esperanza: What do you mean? Whatever my shortcomings, and no doubt they are many in your eyes, I have never
gone out of my way, of my place, to find a man.

Alfredo: Esperanza – you – suppose I –

Esperanza: If you mean you want to take back your word, if you are tired of – why don’t you tell me you are tired of me?

*Esperanza starts turning her head away from him and tears well up*

TWELVETH SCENE: FAST FORWARD TO ESPERANZA AND ALFREDO’S WEDDING

THIRTEENTH SCENE: 8 YEARS LATER *ON A BOAT RIDE TO JULIA’S HOMETOWN*

*ALFREDO REMINISCING BUT TRIES TO FORGET*

*Background voice: Instead of going with the Police man who fetched him to go to Brigida Samuy’s house he stayed in
the boat instead. He then thought of searching for Julia Salas’ house, deep inside he knew he would find it.*

Alfredo:

Julia: Good evening. Oh! Are you in town?

Alfredo: On some little business

Julia: Won’t you come up?

*HE SHAKED JULIA’S HAND AND SOMEHOW HE DIDN’T FEEL ANYTHING ANYMORE*

*While showing how Julia and Alfredo are catching up with one another*

*Background Voice: he immersed himself in an illusion, in a dream that he can possibly be with Julia despite hurting
Esperanza, and of course, breaking a lot of society's rules. In the end, in his final encounter with Julia where the girl did
not seem to respond to his last show of love, there he was redeemed from that delusion, that all along he was holding on
to nothing; that all along he was looking at dead stars.
Stars that appear presently to the naked eye on the sky are already dead. They are light years away from us.*