DEAD STARS SCRIPT Julia: There was this man, I kept calling him with the

wrong name. Nasuko bitaw siya, unya iya jud kong

SCENE 1: The first meeting of Alfredo Salazar and Julia gishagitan. Kabalo ka? Wala jud nako siya mapasaylo.
Salas.
Alfredo and Julia laughed loudly. Then the two
One evening, Judge del Valle invited Alfredo and Don gentlemen playing chess glared at them.
Julian at his house.
Julia: Dili ta diri oi. Naay mga bitter!
Judge del Valle: Welcome to my humble home. *knocks
at the door* Julia stands up from her seat and Alfredo follows. The
two of them went to the vine-covered porch to chat.
Julia: *opens the door* Maayong gabie.
Julia: Kabalo ka? Nakat-on jud ko ato. Nga usahay diay
Alfredo: Maayong gabie sad, Miss del Valle. kinahanglan ka magpabuta-buta, magpabungol-bungol
unya pasagdaan ang usa ka tawo nga makaamgo sa
Julia: *smiles shyly*
iyang sayop sa iyang kaugalingon.
Judge del Valle: Please do come in, gentlemen.
Alfredo: Sama sa imong gibuhat karon? Still you looked
Julia and the Judge enter the house. Alfredo and Don amused every time I–
Julian follow behind.
Julia: I was thinking of someone else.
Alfredo: Is it something I said?

Don Julian: *chuckles* My son, that woman is not the

SCENE2: Julia’s farewell to Alfredo at the beach.
Judge’s sister but rather his sister-in-law. Her name is
Julia Salas. Julia and Alfredo are alone sitting on the sand at the
beach. Both of them are enjoying the sea breeze
Don Julian and Alfredo followed Julia and Judge del
touching their faces and watching the waves dance in
Valle in the living room.
front of them.
Judge del Valle: Please have a seat, my friends.
Julia: It’s so nice of Don Julian to invite us here, don’t
Don Julian sees a chess board set up on up on the table you think?
near the couch where they are sitting.
Alfredo: *nods and smiles* I hope you are enjoying this.
Don Julian: So I see you play chess.
Julia: Kaayo! It looks like home to me, pero wala lay
Judge del Valle: I do, but just if I have spare time. mga nindot nga beach sa amoa.

Don Julian: Do you mind if I challenge you in a game? Both of them were in silence for a while.

Judge del Valle: Not at all. Alfredo: Julia…

The two gentlemen set the board to start the game Julia: Hmm?
while Julia and Alfredo watch.
Alfredo: I really enjoyed your company for the past few
Alfredo: About ganina ba… weeks.

Julia: Ngano diay ganina? Julia: Nalingaw pud ko sa imoha.

Alfredo: Why didn’t you correct me kadtong gitawag The two of them smiled at each other.
tika’g Miss del Valle?
Julia: Dalia ra sa adlaw sa?
Julia: I was about to, pero naa lang koy nahinumduman
Alfredo nods.
nga experience pareha ani before.
Julia: Murag last na ni nga visit nako.
Alfredo: Oh, mao ba?
Alfredo: Ana man jud ka, mamiya.
Julia: Ana man gyud na. Dili sa tanang panahon ang Julia: Wala nay panahon, ka ang panahon dugay nang
tawo mo-stay. Naa lang gyuy mga butang nga dlili ug dili nahanaw. Joke!
angay magpabilin.
Alfredo: But—
Alfredo: Char oi!
Don Julian: *shouting from afar* Gather around
Julia: Bitaw oi, mouli man ko sa among hometown. everyone. The food is ready.

Alfredo: Ganahan lage ko makabisita sa inyoha. Alfredo slowly reached for Julia’s hand. Upon contact
Julia rose from her seat and turned away. Before she
Julia: But there is nothing to see. walked towards the others, she whispered in a voice just
enough for Alfredo to hear…
Alfredo: Nothing? But there is you!
Julia: Goodbye.
Julia: Me? But I am here.

Alfredo: Di man sad ko moadto basta wala ka.

SCENE 3: Julia and Alfredo’s talk near the church.
Julia: Moadto jud ka? You will find it dull. Wala ra bay
Alfredo was out of the church waiting for Esperanza to
mga Amerkana didto.
come out when suddenly he caught a glimpse of Julia
Alfredo: Ngano diay? Naa bitaw ka. Salas at the end of the row of Chinese stores. He quickly
rushed towards her and greeted…
Julia: *smiles* We live at Calle Luz. Kanang lugar nga
daghag kahoy. Alfredo:*panting* Good evening. Naa pa lage ka? Abi
nako’g imo na kong gibiyaan.
Alfredo: Alfredo: Could I find that?
Julia: Wala pa oi. Pero padulong na. *pause* Bitaw,
Julia: Yes, kung dili ka mangita ni ‘Miss del Valle’ *smiles magdungan ra mi nila Ate.
teasingly*
Alfredo: Oh, is the Judge going?
Alfredo: I’ll inquire about—
Julia: Yes.
Julia: About what?
The air was filled with silence for a moment.
Alfredo: The house of the prettiest girl in the town.
Julia: Mr. Salazar, I wish to congratulate you.
Julia: Na! Masaag jud ka ana.
Alfredo: For what?
Alfredo: I meant it. Tinuod bitaw. Pabebe sad ka da.
Julia: Sa imong umaabot nga kasal. I should have
Julia turned away and stared blankly at the sea. congratulated you long before pero wala man ko
kabalo.
Alfredo: So, when will you be going home?
Alfredo: Are weddings interesting to you?
Julia: Tomorrow. Nakadawat man gud kog letter gikan
sa akong parents. They want me to spend the Holy Julia: Kung para sa akong friends, yes.
Week at home.
Alfredo: Ganahan ka mo-attend sa akong kasal?
Julia pauses for a while waiting for Alfredo to speak but
he did not. Julia: Why not?

Julia: That is why I said this is the last time. Alfredo: Wala lang nangutaana lang ko. Then you will?

Alfredo: Pwede ihatod tika? Julia: Moadto lage ko. But for now, I shall get going.
Goodbye.
Julia: Ha? No need na oi.
Alfredo: Goodbye.
Alfredo: But I want to.
SCENE 4: Alfredo’s fight with Esperanza. SCENE 5: Farewell

Alfredo is left alone with Esperanza in the in the living Alfredo has arrived at Julia’s home town. One evening
room. Esperanza was murmuring about how bad Calixta he went looking for Julia’s house at Calle Luz. While
has been. strolling, he saw a figure of a woman sitting on a bench
outside a wooden house. Later on he recognized the
Esperanza: I can’t believe Calixta left with that man! figure to be Julia Salas and immediately approached
her.
Alfredo: What about it?
Alfredo: Good evening.
Esperanza: She is not married to him! Besides, she
should have thought of us. Nanay practically brought Julia: Good evening. Naa lage ka?
her up. We never thought she would turn out bad.
Alfredo: Naa man gani ka. *laughs*
Alfredo: You are very positive about her badness.
Julia: Won’t you sit beside me?
Esperanza: But do you approve?
Alfredo sits beside Julia on the bench.
Alfredo: Of what?
Julia: O, kumusta naman ka?
Esperanza: What she did.
Everybody pauses for a moment as Alfredo talks in
Alfredo: No. soliloquy.
Esperanza: Well? Alfredo: I just can’t take my eyes of her. I missed her.
Oh, God knows how much I missed her. Does she feel
Alfredo: All I’m saying is that she’s not harming
the same way about me? Wala may nausab niya pero
anybody.
nganong murag naay kuwang. What had she lost? Or is
Esperanza: She has injured us. She was ungrateful. the loss mine? So after all these years—since when?—
Am I just seeing the light of dead stars, long
Alfredo: The trouble with you, Esperanza, is that you extinguished, yet seemingly still in their appointed
are— places in the heavens. *pauses* WALAY FOREVER!

Esperanza: Why are you angry? I don’t get you at all! I

think I know why you have been indifferent to me
lately… Dili ko buta, dili ko bungol; nakakita ug
nakadungog ko sa mga butang nga gustong itago sa mga
tawo kanako. Nganong dili man ka mosulti sa tinuod?
Wala man lang ka naghunahuna nako ug sa isulti sa
ubang tawo!

Alfredo: Yes… one tries to be fair— pero naa man juy

mga sitwasyon nga mauna nato atong kaugalingon. Kay
sa panahon karon gamay nalang ang loyal.

Esperanza: Unsay buot mong ipasabot? I know I have a

way, of my place, to find a man.

Alfredo: Esperanza—if you— suppose I—

Esperanza: Kung gikapoy ka na, o kung gusto na nimong

bawion ang pagmahal nga imong gisaad kanako…
nganong dili mo nalang isulti karon? *walks out*

Alfredo: Esperanza!