Barrio Barrister (F-4)
For Barrio Barrister (F-1) click here. For BB (F-3) click here.
EXT. MIGUEL’S FAMILY CAR — 1954 — DAY
A light brown 1937 Dodge is heading north from the border in Tijuana. Eleven year old YOUNG MIGUEL is pointing to road signs. Miguel’s older SISTERS, IRMA, BETTY and LETTY and mother, CHAYO and father, Don Miguel, are in the car.
ELDER MIGUEL (V.O.)(CONT’D)
Dad worked as a policeman in Tijuana while mom found a good paying job as a seamstress with a fashion company in Los Angeles. A year later we left Mexico for a new world, Los Angeles, California. We couldn’t read the signs in English, but knew the route we had to take was 101.
YOUNG MIGUEL
Ciento uno. Miren, ciento uno!
BETTY
Miren! Ciento uno!
IRMA
Ciento uno! Ciento uno!
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. LOS ANGELES, SAME CAR — DAY
Young Miguel has fallen asleep in the back seat. Waking up, he happily points to a sign.
YOUNG MIGUEL
Ciento uno.
But the rest of the family is looking perplexed. The CAM pulls back more to reveal 1953 Los Angeles, with a labyrinth of roads.
EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOT, BOYS BURGERS — 1961 — NIGHT
We see young people going into a restaurant.
ELDER MIGUEL (V.O.)
I did well in school, picking up English quickly from friends and fellow students — and keeping up my Spanish at home. In high school I met my first love, Rosalinda. I also learned about the way policemen treat people from the barrio.
INT. BOYS BURGERS — NIGHT
Miguel, (18 here) and ROSALINDA (18) are sitting at a dining table. Waitress brings hamburgers, fries and cokes with straws. The restaurant is filled with young Chicanos from a dance. Rosalinda is explaining a movie.
ROSALINDA
…Then El Vasco calls the Swedish guy a penguin. Right to his face!
MIGUEL
Sounds like an interesting movie.
(searching)
You think it’s the kind you’d want to see again sometime?
He takes a bite of burger. We see red lights on a squad car pull up outside the window.
ROSALINDA
With you?
MIGUEL
If you play your cards right.
ROSALINDA
Oh, if I play my cards right?
There is a commotion at the door. A chorus of groaning goes up. Two policemen make their way through the restaurant their nightsticks out, swinging them to and fro.
POLICEMAN #1
Closing time. Everybody out. Vamoose. Let’s go.
More complaining and groaning. A manager hurries over.
MANAGER
It’s Friday…dance night.
POLICEMAN #2
Not tonight, amigo. Closing time.
The policemen continue along the tables, occasionally tapping them with their sticks. Patrons hurriedly pay their checks. One of them puts his money down, looks around at the commotion, then picks his money back up and hurries out. The police are passing Miguel and Rosalinda’s table.
POLICEMAN #1
Agita la lotta! Let’s shake the can there, Juan Valdez.
MIGUEL
My name is Miguel. Look, officer, we just got served a minute ago.
Policeman #1 grabs two “to go” containers from a passing waitress and plops them on the table.
POLICEMAN #1
Well, take it to go, then. Now!
MIGUEL
We’re paying customers. This place is always open late.
POLICEMAN #2
I said now!
MIGUEL
But…
POLICEMAN #2
You get your fat ass up — take your food and your señorita — and vamoose — or get arrested, amigo, it’s up to you.
MIGUEL
On what charge?
Rosalinda shakes head and looks down at her plate, worried, but can’t help a shy look up at Miguel. Then she giggles.
EXT. BOYS BURGERS — SAME NIGHT
Miguel and Rosalinda leave the restaurant, carrying their “to go” boxes. Other patrons are also leaving. There is a dumpster to the side of the parking lot with rummaging sounds coming from within. Miguel notices the sound, rubs his elbow.
MIGUEL
Are you okay?
ROSALINDA
I am. How about you?
MIGUEL
Never knew those things stung so much.
(feels his elbow)
Miguel walks over to the trash bin.
MIGUEL
What are you doing in there?
EXT. MIGUEL’S POV DUMPSTER. — SAME NIGHT
An African American YOUNG BOY, 10, looks up at him.
YOUNG BOY
Shoppin’ for my antique collection.
MIGUEL
Kinda late, isn’t it?
YOUNG BOY
That’s my business.
MIGUEL
Looking for food?
YOUNG BOY
Vacationing.
Miguel looks at the boy for several seconds. Then hands him his “to go” box.
ROSALINDA
Who you talking to?
She peers into bin. The boy remains standing, holding Miguel’s “to go” box. She takes in the situation.
ROSALINDA
Why don’t you open it and eat it?
YOUNG BOY
No rush. Maybe I just might share it when I get back.
Rosalinda looks at him. Then she hands him her “to go” box as well.
For Barrio Barrister (F-5) click here.
