1. “DEAD STAR”
by: Paz Marquez Benitez
A love triangle between Alfredo, Esperanza, and Julia Under the tree, Alfredo was
remembering what happened six weeks ago. He had gone neighboring with Don Julian,
his father, to Judge Del Valle’s house wherein he met Julia Salas. After the procession
for the Lady of Sorrows, Alfredo and Julia met again.
But Julia found out about Alfredo’s wedding, so she congratulated him. He went home
to Esperanza. They talked and there, the last word has been said. Alfredo: “ one tries to
be fair— according to his lights –but it is hard. One would like to be fair to oneself 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—””if 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?”
But still, Alfredo and Esperanza got married. After eight years, Alfredo was sent to a
distant village due to a legal assignment. The place named Sta. Cruz, Julia’s hometown.
He went to Julia’s house and he found her there, still unmarried. They talked. And he
realized his love for Julia was gone.

2. CHARACTERS:
Alfredo Salazar – son of Don Juan , a more than 30 years old man and a bachelor. He
is engaged to Esperanza but him still fleeting to Julia Salas.
Esperanza – wife of Alfredo Salazar, she is a homely woman, literal minded and
intensely acquisitive. She is one of those fortunate women who have the gift of
uniformly beauty.
Julia Salas – sister-in-law of Judge Del Valle. She is the other girl of Alfredo Salas that
remains single in her entire life.
Don Julian – an old man, a father of Alfredo Salazar and Carmen.
Carmen – sister of Alfredo Salas
Judge Del Valle – brother-in-law of Julia Salas
Donna Adela – sister of Julia Salas, she is small and plump, a pretty woman with a
complexion of a baby with an expression of a likeable cow.
Calixta – note-carrier of Alfredo Salazar and Esperanza
Dionisio – husband of Donna Adella
Vicente – husband of Carmen
Brigida Samuy – she is the illusive woman whose Alfredo is looking for.
SETTINGS:
Don Julian’s House
Judge Del Valle’s House