Barrio Barrister (F-9)
For Barrio Barrister (F-1) click here. For BB (F-8) click here.
Ricardo Chavez Ortiz
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. COMMERCIAL JETLINER — 1972 — MORNING
We see RICARDO CHAVEZ ORTIZ, 36, thin, clean shaven, Mexican, beige shirt, nervously leaves his seat and walks to the cabin door. He knocks and enters. CO-PILOT turns to him.
(Subtitle) Frontier Airlines, flight 91, April 13,1972
CO-PILOT
The restroom is back the other way.
RICARDO ORTIZ
(takes out .22 Pistol)
I don’t want to hurt no one, please. This is for save my sons and…your sons, too.
PILOT turns towards him, grasps the situation.
RICARDO ORTIZ
I am trying to save America, to save the whole world, because we are all crazy.
PILOT
(calmly)
My name is Captain Williams, what is your name?
RICARDO ORTIZ
Ri….Ricardo.
PILOT
Ricardo. This is a serious thing you are doing, Ricardo.
RICARDO ORTIZ
Yes. I know.
PILOT
Do you want money?
RICARDO ORTIZ
No money.
PILOT
Well, we do not have enough fuel to go to Cuba from here. We will have to refuel first.
RICARDO ORTIZ
I don’t want to go to Cuba.
PILOT
Where then?
RICARDO ORTIZ
Los Angeles.
PILOT
…..Los Angeles?! You don’t want money. You don’t want to leave the country. What is it you want?
RICARDO ORTIZ
I want to tell the world what is being done to my people.
PILOT
You want a press conference?
Ricardo nods his head yes.
PILOT
Anything else?
RICARDO ORTIZ
….Could I please wear your hat?
Pilot, amazed, complies with the request.
EXT. LAX TARMAC — 12:30 PM — DAY
The last passenger leaves the plane and journalists begin moving broadcasting equipment on.
EXT. FBI POST (250 YARDS FROM PLANE) — DAY
An FBI SHARPSHOOTER takes aim while another FBI AGENT stands next to him.
EXT. FBI SHARPSHOOTER’S RIFLE SCOPE VIEW OF PLANE DOOR — DAY
We see the door of the plane through his rifle scope.
EXT. FBI POST — DAY
FBI agent touches sharpshooter’s shoulder.
FBI AGENT
Not while the press are here.
INT. PARKED JETLINER — DAY
Press are crowded around Ricardo Ortiz with microphones. Radio and TV stations have set up to broadcast the event live. Four members of the crew are next to Ortiz who is wearing the pilot’s hat. Ortiz still holds the gun.
RICARDO ORTIZ
My name is Ricardo Chavez Ortiz. I am Mexican. We pick your food, wash your dishes, clean your houses and hotels, and take care of you when you get old.
INT. RESTAURANT KITCHEN — DAY
A MEXICAN DISHWASHER stops to listen to radio news.
INT. PARKED JETLINER — DAY
Ricardo touches microphone, then continues.
RICARDO ORTIZ
We live with the cockroaches. Our children… go ask them… know nothing about our culture after years of schooling.
INT. FAMILY HOME, LIVING ROOM — DAY
A MIDDLE CLASS WHITE FAMILY watches “Breaking News” story on their television.
INT. PARKED JETLINER — DAY
Ricardo looks about nervously.
RICARDO ORTIZ
I am afraid that at any moment a policeman will take out his pistol and shoot me or one of my sons.
EXT. FBI SHARPSHOOTER’S RIFLE SCOPE VIEW OF PLANE DOOR — DAY
We see the sniper still looking through his sites at the plane’s door, no one is entering or exiting.
INT. PARKED JETLINER — DAY
Ricardo looks at microphones, then cameras.
RICARDO ORTIZ
My sons are in trouble. My life isn’t worth a single peanut. What I want is for the justice we have coming.
INT. HOME OF MEXICAN FAMILY — DAY
A MEXICAN FAMILY have stopped eating lunch at their table, watching the TV news in silence.
INT. PARKED JETLINER — DAY
Ricardo speaks emphatically, then reverts to shyer self.
RICARDO ORTIZ
I ask God that when I die I come back to repay them for all the injustices they have done to Mexican-Americans, blacks, orientals and other minorities …… I guess that’s it.
He hands the hat first, then the gun to Pilot.
RICARDO ORTIZ
There’s no bullets.
INT. ELDER MIGUEL’S LAW STUDY — PRESENT — DAY
ELDER MIGUEL
That was my very first case. I was not the lead lawyer, I had been admitted to the California Bar only two months earlier.
MASON
(taking notes)
Tell me about the trial.
ELDER MIGUEL
Well, it was a devastating experience. Judge Carr was a mean, reactionary who never even tried to hide his bias for the prosecution. Because of this experience, I spent the rest of my career making sure I would be super prepared…always.
INT. COURTROOM, 1972 — DAY
Miguel, then 29, challenges the judge. He stands.
ELDER MIGUEL (V.O.)
Mike Hannon had been a cop who was fired for participating in a rally in front of Parker Center, who then became a lawyer. When he didn’t confront the judge, I tried to. But I just did not have the experience.
MIGUEL
Your honor, Mr. Ortiz was extremely distressed. He had been away from his family, was nearly out of money, and had been the victim of police harassment on multiple occasions.
JUDGE CARR
Did your client plead not guilty by reason of insanity?
MIGUEL
(flustered)
Well, no your honor.
JUDGE CARR
Then it isn’t relevant, is it?
MIGUEL
His state of mind…
JUDGE CARR
(emphatically)
Is… not …relevant!
MIGUEL
This is the only skyjacking ever where no money was asked for, nor did he ask to be taken to another country. No bullets in his gun-he only asked for justice. Strictly speaking it was illegal…
JUDGE CARR
Strictly speaking this is a court of law, counsel. Go cut your legal teeth in someone else’s court.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. UNION OFFICE OF BERT CORONA — DAY
(Subtitle) Press conference at union office of Bert Corona, 1972
Bert Corona, 60’s, thinning hair slicked straight back, is flanked on either side by supporters sitting along a long table. There are signs leaning against the table. One reads “FREE ORTIZ! FLY ME TO FREEDOM!”
ELDER MIGUEL (V.O.)
The great Bert Corona, by then known as El Viejo, had been head of the committee for Ortiz’ defense.
BERT CORONA
Families put up their homes as collateral to raise his bail. The great actors, Cantinflas, and Anthony Quinn sent letters of support. Ricardo Ortiz is a hero who tried to notify the world what every minority person in Los Angeles knows already only too well — that the LAPD and sheriff’s departments routinely harass us and can virtually get away with murder. President Echeverria, I ask you to ask President Nixon, to pardon this man who did nothing to harm anyone-but bravely spoke out against injustice and the abuse of power. The fact he got life in prison only proves his contention that our system is racist,
(looks at Hannon, Miguel)
and that he had woefully inadequate representation provided him.
Miguel is visibly upset.
Click here to see Bert Corona discussing the Ortiz case. Note: There is a period of no sound in the middle of the recording.
Note: Ricardo Ortiz was sentenced to life in prison. Later his sentence was reduced to 20 years. He served only 7 years and was let go for good behavior, but was deported to Mexico. Mr. Ortiz continued to maintain communication with Miguel until his death in the summer of 2022. Bert Corona is deceased. This is a true story. PS-Once in Mexico, Ortiz obtained a pilot’s license — something he had always wanted to do.
For Barrio Barrister (F-10) click here.
