Barrio Barrister (F-3)
To reach Barrio Barrister (F -1) click here.
For Barrio Barrister (F-2) click here.
Note: Originally there was more to this story — the family sitting around at dinner when they hear of another body guard being killed, and a scene when Miguel’s father confronts the new mayor. They were cut for time.
MASON (smiles)
You were an immigrant. Where were you from originally?
Elder Miguel sits back and reminisces. Elongating syllables.
ELDER MIGUEL
A small town you probably never heard of — Zo-coal-co de Tor-res, in Ja-lis-co, Mexico. My father used to run the town for whomever was the current mayor. I have very fond memories…There were classic Mexican buildings…
EXT. ZOCOALCO CATHOLIC CHURCH — 1953 — DAY
PEOPLE are entering the church.
ELDER MIGUEL (V.O.)
And classic Mexican traditions.
EXT. ZOCOALCO PLAZA — DAY
BOYS walk in one direction, GIRLS, followed by their GRANDMOTHERS, walk in the opposite direction. A BOY hands a GIRL a rose as they pass, and they continue on. The two girls glance knowingly at one another. A CHILD smashes a confetti egg on the boy. When they have completed a circle, the girl smells the rose, and keeps it. The boy walks and talks with her, while the grandmothers follow behind.
ELDER MIGUEL (V.O.)(CONT’D)
And some practices unique to just Zocoalco…
EXT. ZOCOALCO STREET — DAY
We see a GRANDMOTHER taking her GRANDCHILDREN to get warm milk from a cow which they drink still warm. They take some of the milk with them in a container.
ELDER MIGUEL (V.O.)(CONT’D)
There was old Mr. Sanchez who was always ready to make ice cream for the children.
EXT. ZOCOALCO HOME — DAY
Grandmother and children bring milk to MR. SANCHEZ with a hand-cranked ice cream machine. He adds rock salt, chocolate, ice and their milk and begins to grind.
ELDER MIGUEL (V.O.)(CONT’D)
Everyone knew everyone…
EXT. ZOCOALCO STREET, OUTSIDE GARCIA HOUSE — 1953 — MORNING
A WATER MAN pours water into a pila and returns the container to his wagon, starts to drive away. YOUNG MIGUEL, 10, is playing La Serpiente on a cobblestone street with other MEXICAN CHILDREN. They make way for TWO RIDERS looking grim, with rifles in their saddles. A STREET VENDOR steers his cart, and catches a loose container before it can fall off the Water Man’s wagon. The Water Man tips his hat in thanks.
EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOT-OUTSKIRTS OF ZOCOALCO, MEXICO — DAY
Three Mexican men walking abreast down a slope towards Zocoalco away from camera, a low stone wall to their left. ALFONSO (23, on left), DON MIGUEL (40, center) (Miguel’s father), and PONCE(48, right). They are all armed.
ELDER MIGUEL (V.O.)(CONT’D)
We had a quaint custom in those days of bumping off the old mayor when a new one took control. Usually it did not affect my father, but one day in 1953 that changed. Note: this scene could be done in Spanish with subtitles.
PONCE
When will it ever stop?
DON MIGUEL
(shakes head)
The day those with power stop abusing it, …or
(smiling)
… perhaps when cows grow balls.
PONCE
My money is on the cows.
ALFONSO
Don Miguel, how is it when these things happen you still wind up having a job?
DON MIGUEL
Good question, Alfonso. They are mostly interested in glory and power. But they still need someone who knows how to run a town to actually run it for them. But times are changing.
Rifle shot from the trees ahead just misses them.
PONCE
Down! Now!
He dives right, off camera. DON MIGUEL and ALFONSO dive left. Three more shots ring out. The men return fire with their pistol and rifle. Two figures in the distance are seen to run off.
ALFONSO
(dusting himself off)
That was close that time. Everyone okay?
DON MIGUEL
(softly-looking at Ponce’s body)
Not this one.
EXT. ZOCOALCO, MEXICO, FRONT OF CHURCH — 1953 — DAY
Don Miguel walks past the church. TWO SOLDIERS approach him.
ELDER MIGUEL (V.O.)
My godfather, two body guards and another relative met similar fates. When my father was asked for his guns, he insisted on being taken to the one who had issued the order.
INT. ZOCOALCO, MEXICO, OFFICE OF EL PRESIDENTE — 1953 — DAY
The soldiers have left Don Miguel with the new mayor, EL PRESIDENTE JIMENEZ, who looks startled to see him. Smiling, Don Miguel walks around to the mayor and pulls out his gun, aiming it at his head.
ELDER MIGUEL (V.O.)(CONT’D)
There he negotiated our exit from Zocoalco.
To read Barrio Barrister (F-4) click here.
