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INT. BLACK SCREEN 1
VOICE OVER
I always knew I would tell this story,
even if I didnÕt know how. You see the
beginning was like an end, and the end
was like a beginning. We were almost
halfway through our senior year...
FADE IN:
SUPER: DECEMBER, 1968
EXT. A HILL OVERLOOKING EAST L.A. - DAY 2
The CAMERA PANS, taking in a view of LA's Eastside: busy,
bustling, full of smog and La Mexicanada. WE HEAR their
conversation as the CAMERA REVEALS five teenage boys. PEDRO
PARRILLA, DAVID LOPEZ, SAL RAZO, RUDY MARIN & AUGGIE CAZARES
lie sprawled over, in and around a clean-looking '53 Chevy.
DAVID
Next semester, its going to be me and
Gloria, man. I swear.
AUGGIE
(reading Want Ads)
That's what you said this semester.
SAL
(chews gum)
That's what David says every semester.
DAVID
Forget you, guys! This time I mean it!
AUGGIE
(to Pedro)
There're no jobs, Pedro.
Auggie passes the newspaper to Pedro.
SAL
I can't believe you mothers! Except for
Rudy, here we are, Senior A's next
semester, and all you can talk about is
some vieja that just shines you on.
DAVID
Hey, man. Gloria is not just SOME vieja.
She's fine.
SAL
She's stacked.
(CONTINUED)
2.
CONTINUED: 2
DAVID
Your ass hurts! She grew those chichotas
over the summer. I was watching!
SAL
So what's her secret? Does she water
them?
AUGGIE
(bites nails)
Maybe she just massages them a lot.
DAVID
Auggie thinks that things grow when you
massage them, Ôcause we know what Auggie
massages.
AUGGIE
Que? ....(dawns) ..La tuya guey! You
know you're sick, Mr. V-I-PEE-PEE. How'd
you ever get elected Student Body
President?!
PEDRO
Muscles and sweet talk.
DAVID
(feigning)
Afterall, I ain't got no ehgee-kay-shun,
man!
SAL
Who does?
RUDY
(bites toothpick)
Who does what, Sal?
SAL
Who does have an education?
RUDY
Shit.
SAL
I'm going to school and I don't even know
what I'm learning, you know? When I was
in the fifth grade, mi 'apa showed me how
to tune-up the car. In the seventh
grade, mi Tio Enrique showed me how to
make a table and a sofa...All this pinche
time in high school, y que? Vale madre!
AUGGIE
School sucks! It really sucks.
(CONTINUED)
3.
CONTINUED: (2) 2
PEDRO
Just six more months.
DAVID
(overwhelmed)
Graduation, heh-VEEEEE. That's only six
more months of sucking for Auggie!
AUGGIE
Your old lady's chi-chitas, ese!
DAVID
She doesn't have any. She had them cut
off. Cancer.
AUGGIE
(astounded)
No bullshit?!
DAVID
No, bullshit. But maybe we can get some
for you from a dog.
AUGGIE
You're sicker than puke, David. You
belong in an institution.
SAL
He is. He's in school.
AUGGIE
Well I'm breaking out in June, vatos, and
then a little "vida loca." Right, Rudy?
RUDY
Hey, loco. Sometimes I think about going
back.
AUGGIE
Why? You got a job, a carrucha and
cruising money!
RUDY
Puro pedo. Like I really get kicks
working for minimum wage at the gas
station, ese...waiting on cars and
waiting for my draft notice. Que suave,
you know.
DAVID
Hey, I hear if you stay in school or go
to college or something, they won't draft
you.
(CONTINUED)
4.
CONTINUED: (3) 2
SAL
Simon, but how do you do that? Have you
ever known anybody that went to college?
DAVID
Ni madre. Maybe some of the teachers.
SAL
So the question is: Which sucks more?
School or the draft?
AUGGIE
The draft don't scare me, eh. A lot of
dudes get drafted. They---
PEDRO
Hijo de su madre!
(reads from newspaper)
"Richard Madrid, Eastside High graduate,
was reported killed in action while on
maneuvers along the Ho Chi Minh Trail."
Here's his picture.
DAVID
(taking paper)
Let me see that.
SAL
Chingale!
RUDY
The vato was in my class.
SAL
I can't believe this.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY 3
PEDRO, SAL, DAVID, AUGGIE and a FEW OTHERS pay their respects
at the burial of their classmate.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. RUDY'S BACKYARD SHACK - NIGHT 4
Strewn with an old sofa, a mattress, a guitar, a collection of
liquor bottles, car parts and junk, the smokey shed is lit
dimly by an old lamp. A full liquor bottle adds to the
humanitarian aid THE BOYS (PEDRO, SAL, DAVID & AUGGIE) bring
to RUDY in his time of need.
(CONTINUED)
5.
CONTINUED: 4
DAVID
Hey, Rudy. Maybe they'll send you to
Germany, like Elvis.
SAL
That was before Vietnam.
Auggie takes a swig from the bottle, passing it on to Pedro.
RUDY
I hear there's a lot of smoke in 'Nam.
DAVID
Most of it's napalm.
SAL
Just stay away from the smack.
DAVID
If the VC don't get you, the smack will.
AUGGIE
Or the clap.
SAL
Why don't you go to Mexico, carnal? The
paddies are splitting to Canada.
PEDRO
I think I'd go to Mexico.
AUGGIE
What a bunch of maricas! Man, if they
drafted me, I'd go. This is our country,
dudes.
PEDRO
My grandfather says that war is a game
played by politicos with the blood of
poor people.
DAVID
You know, we wouldn't have to worry about
going to 'Nam if the paddies hadn't taken
half of Mexico.
AUGGIE
They took it?! Where are they hiding it?
SAL
Get serious, ese.
TIGHT ON AUGGIE - Befuddled.
(CONTINUED)
6.
CONTINUED: (2) 4
TIGHT ON RUDY - Crashed out.
DISSOLVE TO:
SUPER: JANUARY
EXT. BUS STATION - MORNING 5
THE BOYS (PEDRO, DAVID, SAL & AUGGIE) see RUDY off to boot
camp.
AUGGIE
Rubbers, ese. The secret word is
rubbers.
RUDY
I hate going to the pharmacy for those
chingaderas. It's embarrassing.
DAVID
They give them to you in the army for
free, Rudy.
RUDY
For free?
DAVID
The rubbers are free, but the clap you
pay for.
SAL
That's because after they make you a
lean, mean fighting machine, they would
rather you died shooting bullets than
shooting your wad.
PEDRO
Maybe he won't even go to 'Nam.
SAL
Everybody's going to 'Nam, except the
rich paddies --- they go to college.
PEDRO
What's in 'Nam?
AUGGIE
Los Commies, ese.
RUDY
Shit.
AUGGIE
They look like martians, but they're
yellow.
(CONTINUED)
7.
CONTINUED: 5
DAVID
I heard they multiply by cell division.
That's why there're so many now.
SAL
Pura madre. Lately, I quit believing
everything I hear about them. I want to
see them for myself.
AUGGIE
You can't do that, ese. They hypnotize
you and make you torture yourself!
RUDY
How could they make me torture myself?
AUGGIE
When you're hypnotized, you don't feel
any pain. You could cut off the big one,
and you wouldn't even know it for days!
PEDRO
C'mon you guys. We're scaring Rudy.
SAL
Pedro's right, guys. And Rudy's got to
catch his bus.
AUGGIE
So what are you going to do with your
wheels, loco?
RUDY
I've been thinking. Of all you guys, I
know Pedro isn't going to screw around
with it.
AUGGIE
Pedro!
RUDY
(hands him keys)
But you gotta take my jefita to the store
twice a week. All right?
PEDRO
(surprised)
OK, Rudy. Gracias.
RUDY
Now why don't you guys get going, so I
can go, too. I don't want my carnales
watching me so much. It don't make it
easy, you know.
(CONTINUED)
8.
CONTINUED: (2) 5
SAL
Don't give us no shit. We're with you,
carnal.
He gives Rudy a back-slapping bear-hug and stands off for an
elaborate 3-4 part handshake.
RUDY
Pinche Sal.
Then PEDRO, DAVID AND AUGGIE affectionately maul him. CAMERA
favors Pedro.
PEDRO (V/O)
So we sent Rudy off to boot camp and
wondered how soon it would be our turn.
But at least I started the final semester
with a car.
ANGLE ON CAR
CUT TO:
SUPER: FEBRUARY
EXT. EASTSIDE HIGH - DAY 6
ROLL CREDITS
The MUSIC of SAM THE SHAM AND THE PHARAOHS' "WOOLY BOOLY" runs
over ESTABLISHING SHOTS of Eastside High as students arrive by
car and on foot to school.
SHOT OF P.A. SPEAKER
PRINCIPAL MORTON (V/O)
Welcome, Eastside High students, to
Spring Semester, 1969. New students will
meet in the auditorium for orientation.
INT. PRINCIPALÕS OFFICE 7
PRINCIPAL MORTON speaks into a mike on his desk.
MORTON (CONT'D)
Continuing students will proceed to their
homerooms. And, to all Senior A's, best
of luck as you take on your final course
load, and prepare to enter the job
market. I'm confident your educational
careers here at Eastside High will be a
source of pride, honor and satisfaction
to all of you in the years to come.
CUT TO:
9.
EXT. A SERIES OF SHOTS: ARRIVING STUDENTS - DAY 8
MUSIC RISES as the cars and variety of dress clearly reflect
East LA youth in the Late Sixties: tuck-n-roll; hydraulics;
longhairs in jeans; teased-hairs in mini-skirts; cholillos in
Pendeltons, T-shirts, khakis and hushpuppies; Jetters in Sir
Guys, sweater-vests & A-1s; footballers in t-shirts; girls in
lettermen's sweaters; bouncing pom-poms and swinging lunch
sacks.
END CREDITS; MUSIC OVERLAPS AND ENDS THUNDEROUSLY.
CUT TO:
INT. COUNSELING OFFICE - DAY 9
On a bulletin board, TWO FLYERS are tacked side by side; one
announcing college entrance exams is obscured by the other,
Tio SamÕs invitation to join the army.
Underneath, PEDRO PARRILLA waits first in a line of SEVERAL
STUDENTS to see the counselor, MRS. REDDICK, visible through
an open door at her desk with a STUDENT.
PRINCIPAL MORTON enters, tacks a small flyer over the exam
announcement. Morton's flyer reads: Principal Morton says
"Avoid the 3-D's...POOR ATTENDANCE = Delinquency, Drugs,
Death. You canÕt come to school when you're dead."
PRINCIPAL MORTON
My dear students, I can not over-
emphasize the importance of good
attendance, because you know who benefits
most from your good attendance? You.
Never, ever forget that. Have a good
semester.
Morton leaves.
NEW ANGLE
The counselor juggles some papers and her student leaves;.
MRS. REDDICK
OK. Who's next?
Pedro enters, sits and hands the counselor the paperwork.
MRS. REDDICK (CONT'D)
(reads)
Par--rilah, Pay-dro. One, two, three,
four solids! What are you trying to do,
go to college or something?
PEDRO
I never thought about it before.
(CONTINUED)
10.
CONTINUED: 9
MRS. REDDICK
Well, you're probably a little masochist,
and I probably shouldn't, but here you
are. As for college, well, if your name
were Jones, I'd probably encourage it.
But, I wouldn't want you to have to bear
the pain of failing to meet unrealistic
goals. Now, if your name were San
Pedro...ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
The counselor signs Pedro's program of courses.
TIGHT ON PEDRO - HeÕs not laughing.
CUT TO:
INT. TEACHERSÕ CAFETERIA - DAY 10
ANGLE ON CESAR TORRES
CESAR stands in line, serving himself a cup of coffee.
NEW ANGLE
MANNY HERRERA, 47, and VP LUPE MOLINA sit at a table with
their coffees.
MANNY
We looked at houses in Montebello, too,
but we found one we really liked in
Monterey Park.
MOLINA
The lots are so much bigger in San
Gabriel and we're getting San Marino
schools.
Cesar comes into the shot.
MANNY
Join us, Cesar.
CESAR
Thank you. Con gusto.
(to Molina)
They still let you fraternize with labor?
MOLINA
We're looking for a way to use student
body funds to build an admnistrators'
lounge. Then I won't have to.
MANNY
So when are you going to teach a Spanish
class? I know it's on your credential.
(CONTINUED)
11.
CONTINUED: 10
CESAR
I wouldn't mind teaching Spanish, but
it's been three years since I've had a
class that really turns me on like C.A.P.
MOLINA
'Turns me on.' Our students need basic
skills, but Contemporary American
Problems turns him on.
Cesar looks uncomfortable.
CESAR
They also need to learn about themselves,
their history, their present. We need to
show them how to think critically and
develop their sense of self-worth.
Manny groans from stiffness.
MANNY
They think fine. But only about parties
and dances on Friday and Saturday nights.
And I think I need to stretch the old war
horse.
MOLINA
The old war wounds acting up?
MANNY
Thank God the weather's warming up. IÕm
hoping for a good hot semester; it helps
the walking.
NEW ANGLE
As Manny and Molina leave, JIM TAYLOR, an Anglo teacher, sits
with Cesar.
TAYLOR
Still trying to convert the old guard?
Could be a job for Superman.
Cesar can only smile and shrug his shoulders.
CUT TO:
INT. COUNSELING OFFICE - DAY 11
GLORIA RIVERA, good-looking, books-against-chest type, has her
turn with MRS. REDDICK, the counselor.
GLORIA
But I already know how to cook.
(CONTINUED)
12.
CONTINUED: 11
MRS. REDDICK
Oh?
GLORIA
IÕve learned a few things from my mother.
MRS. REDDICK
Here take this to the clerk.
GLORIA
But I don't need a class in cooking!
MRS. REDDICK
Oh, no? And sweetheart, I suppose that
some day you'll be so rich, you'll just
have your own personal cook!
GLORIA
I can cook lots of things already.
The genuineness of her response prompts a pause, then Mrs.
Reddick's hearty laugh. She guides Gloria out. Bewildered,
BLANCA waits next in line. Gloria moves on to the clerk.
GLORIA
You donÕt care what I want, do you?
MRS. REDDICK
Would you rather go somewhere else?
Next!
CUT TO:
MUSIC TRACK: CANNIBAL & THE HEADHUNTERS' LAND OF 1000 DANCES.
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY 12
ANGLE ON CHOLILLO - A cool swagger with an even cooler spin.
EXT. SCHOOL GROUNDS - DAY 13
The school swarms with young CHICANO STUDENTS in a high school
of 1000 faces, fronts, backs and twice as many legs.
INT. COUNSELING OFFICE - DAY (MUSIC UNDER) 14
SAL's next; AUGGIE sits inside with MRS. REDDICK. Reading,
Sal seems fairly involved with a novel: J.A. Villarreal's
|POCHO|. With inflated cheeks, Auggie exits, his mocking
undetected. Sal enters, handing over paperwork.
MRS. REDDICK
So, it looks like you could graduate this
June, Sal-vah-dor. You don't need much.
Let's see.
(CONTINUED)
13.
CONTINUED: 14
SAL
I don't want any more shop classes, Mrs.
Reddick. I think I've taken them all.
MRS. REDDICK
Well, there's C.A.P. with Mr. Torres,
and sewing...
SAL
(incredulous)
Sewing? Sewing! Cooking's closed, huh?
Look, do you have any classes where I
could just read a few books, maybe like
this one?
MRS. REDDICK
What is that?
SAL
It's about this man that crosses the
border after fighting in the Revolution,
moves to San Jose, and has pocho
children. It was like reading about my
uncle and my cousins, and the police
hassles...
MRS. REDDICK
Given your reading level, I can
recommend more remedial reading. But
your folktales, like comic books and
nudie magazines, have no place in an
institution of learning.
SAL
If this is supposed to be a place of
learning, how come I feel like I'm not
learning anything?
MRS. REDDICK
It's very simple. You kids are too damn
lazy. We shouldn't have to be your
mothers.
SAL
Something is really wrong here, Mrs.
Reddick.
MRS. REDDICK
Most certainly. Look unto thyself,
Salvador.
CLOSE ON SAL - He knows the problem is elsewhere.
(CONTINUED)
14.
CONTINUED: (2) 14
ŌLAND OF 1000 DANCES" FADES.
CUT TO:
EXT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY 15
STUDENTS circulate between classes.
PEDRO (V/O)
Mrs. Reddick probably believed all she
said about us. But at some point I know
we stopped believing it ourselves.
CUT TO:
INT. CLASS - DAY 16
The BELL RINGS and CESAR TORRES, 35, teacher, addresses a
class that includes PEDRO, DAVID, SAL, AUGGIE, GLORIA and
BLANCA.
TIGHT ON DAVID - He can't keep his eyes off Gloria.
TIGHT ON GLORIA - She notices, but remains indifferent.
NEW ANGLE
CESAR
It's nice to see some familiar faces
among the new ones. My name is Mr.
Torres. I teach History, I'm the faculty
advisor to the student newspaper, and I'm
very excited about teaching this
particular class --- Contemporary
American Problems. Our Student Body
President has a question. David?
DAVID
What kinds of problems are we going to
study?
CESAR
What kinds of problems would be important
for a class like this to study?
Auggie meekly motions.
AUGGIE
You know my math isn't so good, Cesar.
You're not going to give us math
problems, are you?
CESAR
No favors, Auggie. Here's a one just for
you.
(CONTINUED)
15.
CONTINUED: 16
AUGGIE
Chale!
TIGHT ON BLANCA - She can't keep her eyes off Pedro.
TIGHT ON PEDRO - When he notices, he gets very self-
conscious.
CESAR
Fifty percent of East Los Angeles
students drop out of high school. Why?
What happens to them? What happens to
their lives?
The students are left thinking. Perhaps Pedro & Sal think
about it the most seriously. Auggie calculates figures.
AUGGIE
Cesar, is this a trick question?
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET/ROCKY'S - DAY 17
ANGLE ON RUDY'S '53 CHEVY (OVERLAP DIALOG)
With PEDRO at the wheel, DAVID, SAL & AUGGIE pack the weighed-
down Chevy, as it pulls into ROCKY'S, a drive-in hang-out on the
boulevard. SPARKS fly from scraping bottom.
INT. ROCKY'S - DAY 18
PEDRO, DAVID, SAL & AUGGIE sit squeezed in a booth passing
around some papers.
DAVID
The dude said the school could even give
me money. Financial aid, I think he
called it. Some of it I don't have to
pay back.
AUGGIE
They pay you to go to college?
SAL
I gotta check this out, man.
PEDRO
How did you find out about it?
DAVID
Cesar gave me this number to call at the
university.
(CONTINUED)
16.
CONTINUED: 18
AUGGIE
(mimicking)
THEEEE university! Que chingoneria!
SAL
Shit, getting paid to go to school beats
pumping gas, ese.
DAVID
I'm not in yet. I'm just applying.
SAL
We need more applications, carnal.
DAVID
Let's apply to more than one college!
SILVIA SEVILLA, a cheerful, chummy & shapely waitress arrives
with a loaded tray.
SILVIA
Who gets the lemon-limes, you guys?
PEDRO
(speechlessly)
Aaaaaaaah, me!
AUGGIE
I get one.
DAVID
The hamburger is mine.
SILVIA
(serving)
...And now 2-cokes and 4 fries. I hope
your mothers feed you at home better than
this.
(walks off)
AUGGIE
I think I'm going to ask for cola,
instead of lemon-lime, eh.
SAL
C'mon you guys. She's at least 21 and
she's got a kid. Show some respect.
DAVID
How do you know?
SAL
My cousin's friend used to go around with
her.
(CONTINUED)
17.
CONTINUED: (2) 18
Pedro's eyes haven't left Silvia; he's absolutely taken.
Auggie motions to the others to take notice.
AUGGIE
Pedro! Wake up!
The guys laugh at an embarrassed Pedro.
DAVID
Don't wolf on him, Auggie Doggie.
SAL
Simon. The little dude is falling in
love.
DAVID
Hey, Pedro. Are you falling in love?
What's it like, carnal?
AUGGIE
Do you feel holy?
PEDRO
Que gachos.
CUT TO:
INT. TORRES LIVING ROOM - DAY 18 19
CESAR arrives to find his pregnant wife, AURORA, painting;
furniture covered with a plastic tarp sits in the center.
CESAR
I thought you weren't going to do any
more strenuous work.
AURORA
For one thing, it's not very strenuous.
For another, I thought you were going to
paint this room before the new semester
started.
CESAR
I ran out of time. But what's your
hurry? We've got four months before the
baby's due.
AURORA
And if they go by as quickly as the first
four, May will be here tomorrow.
CESAR
You're probably right.
AURORA
How is the new semester shaping up?
(CONTINUED)
18.
CONTINUED: 19
CESAR
It's a little early to tell. The C.A.P.
class has some bright kids. But I've got
so many sports writers in Journalism, I
don't have enough assignments for all of
them. If I can redirect some and recruit
a few more from the C.A.P. class, I
might be able to cultivate a little more
thoughtful expression.
AURORA
What do you mean "thoughtful expression?"
CESAR
You know..a..
AURORA
Yes, I know. Auxilio, Padre Santo.
CUT TO:
INT. JOURNALISM CLASS - DAY 20
PEDRO has his nose in Pocho; DAVID & SAL read student
newspapers; AUGGIE goes through a photo file & CESAR attends
to OTHER STUDENTS in the b.g.
SAL
You don't have to ask anyone.
PEDRO
I'm behind on my homework, anyway.
AUGGIE
Don't be a bofo, Pedro! The Red Satins
are playing. It's going to be BAD!
DAVID
How about Blanca?
PEDRO
Not Blanca. She's been bugging me since
before Christmas.
AUGGIE
Hey, check out our leading scorer. He's
so good, he plays with his eyes closed.
Auggie hands a still to Sal.
INSERT STILL: Eyes closed, David poses
in his basketball uniform and a silly
grin.
(CONTINUED)
19.
CONTINUED: 20
NEW ANGLE
Cesar approaches.
CESAR
So guys. Who's going to join the class?
DAVID
I've got baseball.
PEDRO
You should help cover student government.
AUGGIE
Can I take pictures?
CESAR
We can show you what to do.
SAL
(raises newspaper)
You say Chicano high school students in
Texas do this?
CUT TO:
INT. KITCHEN - EVE 21
PEDRO enters the kitchen to find his mother (SRA. PARRILLA)
filling plates for his father (SR. PARRILLA) and 13 yr-old
sister (YOLANDA) seated at the table. Pedro sits.
SRA PARRILLA
Y esto? Tan arreglado? You look so
nice.
YOLANDA
There's a dance at the high school
tonight, 'ama.
PEDRO
I'll need a couple of bucks, 'apa.
SRA. PARRILLA
Don't ask your father for money, Pedro.
Your father lost his job yesterday.
PEDRO
Como!?
SR. PARRILLA
It's OK. I'll give you a dollar, hijo.
(CONTINUED)
20.
CONTINUED: 21
SRA PARRILLA
Fifteen years at the factory, and now?
30 days notice! Increible!
SR. PARRILLA
And it's just the Mexican workers being
laid off, a lot of veteranos who were
hoping to cash in on their pensions.
YOLANDA
How chicken!
PEDRO
So what will you do, 'apa?
SR. PARRILLA
I'll have to look for another job, hijo.
CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOL GYM - NIGHT 22
A Valentine's Dance swings to the sounds of CHRIS MONTES'
"LET'S DANCE." PEDRO, DAVID and SAL weave through the crowd
of students to check out the action: Sal, cooly acknowledges
acquaintances and slaps a few hands; David, oozing charm and
smiles, shakes a few hands and slaps a few backs; and Pedro,
uncomfortable, awkward, but gracious.
ANGLE ON MRS. REDDICK
SAL approaches her.
SAL
Mrs. Reddick! I need to change a class!
MRS. REDDICK
What do you want to drop?
SAL
Cooking.
MRS. REDDICK
What do you want to add?
SAL
Journalism
MRS. REDDICK
Get serious.
SAL
But the lady's not teaching me anything!
I'd rather learn a little journalism and
get my cookies from a girl scout.
(CONTINUED)
21.
CONTINUED: 22
MRS. REDDICK
With your reading level, you should stay
in Cooking. IÕm sure Journalism doesnÕt
want you. Oh, but can you imagine if
they ship you overseas next year and they
assign you to the kitchens? God save our
soldiers.
ANGLE ON - A dancing BLANCA who spots PEDRO.
BLANCA (yells)
Pedrito!
Pedro notices and timidly waves.
BLANCA
Don't forget! We're going to dance!
Pedro nods and gestures "in a little while" with his hand.
Sal and David are amused.
CUT TO:
INT. RESTROOM - NIGHT 23
PEDRO, DAVID and SAL take leaks and "touch up."
PEDRO
Maybe if Blanca wasnÕt such a loca.
DAVID
OK, camaradas, a la conquista like Aztec
warriors, eh.
SAL
But they lost, loco.
DAVID
Lost what?
SAL
Everything!
DAVID
Oh... I knew that. Pedro didn't.
As the boys exit, Pedro still combs his hair. Less than
satisfied with his looks, he sighs with resignation and goes
out.
CUT TO:
INT. GYM/DANCE - NIGHT 24
The MUSIC of SONNY AND THE SUNLINERS' "TALK TO ME" brings
embracing couples to the dance floor.
(CONTINUED)
22.
CONTINUED: 24
ANGLE ON ENTRANCE - as GLORIA arrives with an WELL-
PROPORTIONED DATE.
ANGLE ON DAVID
Surprised at seeing Gloria with a date, he stops momentarily.
PEDRO bumps into him from behind; seeing Gloria and her date,
Pedro can't help laugh --- until BLANCA taps his shoulder.
BLANCA
Ay, Pedrito. Where have you been? I've
been looking all over for you!
ANGLE ON SAL
Visably affected by the counselor, he roams the gym.
ANGLE ON GLORIA & DATE
GLORIA'S DATE leaves to hang up her coat and get some punch.
DAVID wastes no time moving in.
DAVID
You know, this could be the last chance
we'll ever have to dance!
GLORIA
(unfazed)
Could be. When my date gets back it'll
be your culito.
DAVID
Well, that's better than being killed by
a Vietnamese.
GLORIA
What are you talking about?
DAVID
I'm being drafted.
GLORIA
(w/genuine concern)
Oh, no!
ANGLE ON PEDRO AND BLANCA - In a bear-hug grip, she moves
his breathless body around the floor.
ANGLE ON GLORIA'S DATE - as he checks in her coat.
ANGLE ON GLORIA & DAVID - They're dancing.
GLORIA
You're taking this very well.
(CONTINUED)
23.
CONTINUED: (2) 24
DAVID
Well, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta
do!
GLORIA
You're so brave.
David beams.
ANGLE ON GLORIA'S DATE - He waits in the punch line.
ANGLE ON BLANCA AND PEDRO - Dancing.
BLANCA
Ay, Pedrito. You're just not like the
other guys.
PEDRO
I'm not?
BLANCA
Ay, no! Most guys are either mendigos,
babosos or animales. You? You're nice.
You're polite.
PEDRO
I am?
BLANCA
You're cute. A real chulo.
PEDRO
Oh?
BLANCA
Ay, Pedrito. You know what I'm going to
do?
PEDRO
What?
BLANCA
After this dance I'm going to pin you and
make you my Valentine!
PEDRO
You are?
ANGLE ON ENTRANCE - SAL
He evaluates his in-coming prospects when he spots AUGGIE
outside approaching the door.
He leans out and around a GOLIATH RENT-A-COP with lumberjack-
arms.
(CONTINUED)
24.
CONTINUED: (3) 24
SAL
Hey, Auggie! Were you sleeping? Nobody
answered your door.
AUGGIE
Hey, vato! I'm awake now! Where are the
women?
ANGLE ON GLORIA AND DAVID - Still dancing.
GLORIA
OK, OK, but not tonight.
DAVID
Why not? Tonight's a good night.
GLORIA
I came with him and I think I should
leave with him. Besides, the "being
drafted" was a good act, but nobody gets
that lucky.
"TALK TO ME" ends and David politely leaves, seen by GLORIA'S
DATE returning with cups of punch in each hand. David picks
up some bad vibes as THE BLENDELLS' HUGGIE'S BUNNIES increases
the tempo.
ANGLE ON BLANCA AND PEDRO
At the punch line Pedro pays his dimes, hands one cup to
Blanca and keeps one for himself.
BLANCA
(displays Valentine)
Isn't it cute! IÕm thinking of
taking the journalism class!
PEDRO
It's a little heart. You are?
BLANCA
I have to find a pin. Don't go away!
PEDRO
(quesy)
Blanca, I donÕt think---I think I
have to go---to the restroom.
BLANCA
OK, but don't be long. I'll meet you
right here. Are you OK?
CUT TO:
25.
INT. BOY'S RESTROOM 25
PEDRO finishes heaving over a toilet in a stall, takes some
toilet paper and wipes his mouth.
CUT TO:
INT. GYM DANCE FLOOR/ANGLE ON PEDRO 26
He bumps into David
PEDRO
You gotta help me ditch Blanca, man. If
I let her pin me, I'm gonna be stuck with
her all night!
DAVID
Pinche Pedro!
PEDRO
You gotta help me, David!
DAVID
All right! All right! It's time to
split anyway.
They make for the door as the PULSATING BASS of "HUGGIE'S
BUNNIES" intensifies.
ANGLE ON GLORIA'S DATE - He surveys the crowd for David.
ANGLE BLANCA - with pin in hand, a love-smitten and determined
stalker.
ANGLE ON ENTRANCE
SAL & AUGGIE argue with MRS. REDDICK, The Counselor and the
goliath RENT-A-COP.
AUGGIE
Hey, man. It's cool. I really don't
want to go in anyway.
SAL
This is bullshit, man! You know he's not
going to start any hassles! He's my
neighbor.
MRS. REDDICK
He can come in if he has his student I.D.
I don't make the rules.
DAVID & PEDRO emerge from inside.
DAVID
Come on, you guys. Let's split.
(CONTINUED)
26.
CONTINUED: 26
SAL
Wait a minute man!
MRS. REDDICK
Are they friends of yours, David?
DAVID
Yes, Mrs. Reddick. They are.
MRS. REDDICK
Get'em out of here before I have them
arrested.
SAL
You know he's a student. You're chicken
shit, lady!
MRS. REDDICK
What?
DAVID
Hey, shut up! We're going! We're going!
AUGGIE
Later, two-ton. We're gonna go see your
mama in the zoo. Hey, who's got the
peanuts?
David muffles Auggie, as the Mrs. Reddick moves quickly to
grab Auggie by the hair and lay a slap across his head that
sends him sprawling.
ANGLE ON GLORIA'S DATE
He peers out the door, spots David and comes out.
NEW ANGLE
SAL
You didn't have to do that!
MRS. REDDICK
You kids could learn a little respect.
SAL
Respect goes two ways, lady.
At the counselor's side, the Rent-a-Cop steps aside to
menacingly flex his massive arms. He lands an elbow to the
nose of GLORIA'S DATE coming from behind to confront David.
Gloria's Date struggles up and staggers off. Sal, Pedro &
David back off. A stunned Auggie rejoins the group.
(CONTINUED)
27.
CONTINUED: (2) 26
DAVID
Hey, we're going alright? We don't want
hassles. Right guys?
The guys back away cautiously.
NEW ANGLE
AUGGIE
The ruca belongs on Roller Derby.
SAL
Happy Valentines Day, Mrs.Reddick. We
love you and we just love the way you
treat us.
AUGGIE
(rubs ear/shakes head)
What did you say, Sal?
Mrs. Reddick ignores Sal's last remark and goes inside.
PEDRO(V/O)
Somehow things never seemed the same
again. Because the next day, Sal took us
to a rally at the Union Hall...
CUT TO:
INT. UNION HALL - NIGHT 27
The hall is packed with MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN, GRANDPARENTS &
STUDENTS in a highly-charged atmosphere. On stage, a skit
progresses. In the style of guerrilla theater, a sign
establishes the group of exaggerating performers as TEATRO
ESTUDIANTIL and the set as "High School." A placard and a
white mask identifies an abnoxious TEACHER, who stands before
SEVERAL STUDENTS taking roll. PEDRO, AUGGIE, DAVID, and SAL
together. In the audience we recognise GLORIA and BLANCA, who
wonÕt look PedroÕs way.
INTERCUT AMONG AUDIENCE
TEACHER
Ramirez.
RAMIREZ
Here.
TEACHER
Your first name, Ramirez?
RAMIREZ
Francisco.
(CONTINUED)
28.
CONTINUED: 27
TEACHER
We'll go with Frankie.
RAMIREZ
It's Francisco, teacher.
TEACHER
You'll get used to it, Frankie. Unless
you prefer "Cisco." Or "Sissy." Ha-ha-ha-
ha!
NEW STUDENT enters.
TEACHER (CONT'D)
You're late. What's your name?
STUDENT
De la Cruz. Jesus de la Cruz.
TEACHER
Gee-zus? Gee-zus of the cross? And I
suppose your mother is the Virgin Mary?
(laughs hysterically)
And your father's a carpenter!
JESUS
My mother's name is Maria Virginia de la
Cruz, and my father's name is Jose, and
he works in construction, teacher burlon
tapado.
TEACHER
(indignant)
Are you serious? I swear to God, nothing
is sacred! You Mexicans have no respect
for religion. I should name my kid, God.
(beat)
Take a seat, boy, there's one in back.
JESUS
You can call me Chuy.
TEACHER
Chewy? Sounds like something one would
say about a candy bar. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
Just take your seat. This is Home Room
Orientation. I'm your your home room
teacher, Mr. White, and on occasion I'll
be your counselor, your mother and your
babysitter. Comprendy? For most of you
boys, we'll get to know each other real
well, since I teach auto shop, too.
(more)
(CONTINUED)
29.
CONTINUED: (2) 27
TEACHER (Cont'd)
That is, of course, unless you can't cut
it, and you drop out, which about half
of you will anyway. In high school we
don't have MR programs like you've been
used to.
MALE STUDENT
(raising hand)
Mr. Gabacho---I mean, Mr. White?
TEACHER
Yes?
MALE STUDENT
I really don't want to take auto shop.
TEACHER
Oh, really? A choosy beggar here!
That's why this country has welfare
programs. You'll have more time to make
your babies and the government will pick
up the tab. What a wonderful country.
DIFFERENT STUDENT
(stands & salutes)
El USA! Red, blue and WHITE!
MR. WHITE
Good, you've learned something already.
FEMALE STUDENT
Mr. White, I'd like to take auto shop.
TEACHER
(laughs)
Sweetheart, prepare yourself for the
future. This isn't kindergarten; you're
almost an adult. If you girls think
you'll have time to work AND make babies,
take advantage of the excellent
homemaking classes this school has to
offer, and you'll have a better chance of
getting jobs as maids and cooks.
DIFFERENT FEMALE STUDENT
Gee, Teacher, I've always dreamed of
making gabacho cochinadas.
TEACHER
(reassuringly)
Sounds a little exotic, but that's the
spirit.
The BELL RINGS.
(CONTINUED)
30.
CONTINUED: (3) 27
TEACHER (CONT'D)
Before you leave, let me welcome you once
again to Eastside High. I know many of
you won't last the year, so remember
this: I still get paid whether or not you
learn anything. It's not my problem;
it's YOURS. Dismissed!
The hammy performers stand, take their bows and exit to an
applause that accelerates into a Chicano clap. ONE sporting a
beret, comes to the podium clapping.
ACTOR
Que viva el Teatro Estudiantil!
CROWD
Que viva!
ACTOR
Chicano!
CROWD
Power!
ACTOR
Chicano!
CROWD
Power!
ACTOR
Que viva la raza!
CROWD
Que viva!
SAl participates. PEDRO, DAVID and AUGGIE look a little
overwhelmed.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROCKY'S - DAY 28
DON & JUAN'S "WHAT'S YOUR NAME" runs under an establishing
shot of Rocky's. The CAMERA MOVES IN revealing an
inconspicuous 'HELP WANTED' sign in the corner of a window.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ROCKY'S - DAY 29
PEDRO, DAVID, SAL and AUGGIE sit at a table.
AUGGIE
You know, I think that play had a
message, man. It was funny.
(CONTINUED)
31.
CONTINUED: 29
SAL
Like high school is real funny, eh.
DAVID
SomethingÕs funny.
PEDRO
Like the way they treat us.
SAL
ThatÕs it! ThatÕs the message!
DAVID
How to keep a Mexican down without really
trying?
SAL
TheyÕre not going to change!
DAVID
Of course theyÕre not going to change!
PEDRO
We have to change.
SAL
Simon! TheyÕll do it to us until we stop
letting them. I could feel it! It just
hadnÕt reached my brain yet.IÕm going to
write a letter for the student paper.
And I want you to help me.
PEDRO
Me? You're the one with all the
complaints.
DAVID
You're the one that gets good grades in
Composition, ese.
PEDRO
But I've never written anything like
that.
DAVID
Nobody'll read it anyway. The teachers
don't care.
SAL
Maybe. Maybe not. But how many students
will read it?
Ideas and glances flash around the table. SILVIA arrives with
coffee.
(CONTINUED)
32.
CONTINUED: (2) 29
SILVIA
Here you are guys.Four lemon-limes.
PEDRO
(uncomfortably)
Gracias.
AUGGIE
(indicates tag)
Another Silvia!
SILVIA
Another Silvia. It saves on name tags.
AUGGIE
(turns on charm)
Silvia, these are my camaradas, Pedro,
David, Sal and my name is Auggie.
The guys nod.
PEDRO
(weakly)
Hi.
SILVIA
Silvia Sevilla. A sus ordenes.
AUGGIE
Silvia, Pedro's too shy to ask, but he
wants to know if you can give him a job.
SILVIA
He can talk to the boss tomorrow.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROCKY'S - DAY 30
Next day PEDRO stands before the "Help Wanted" sign in the
window. He gathers his courage and goes in.
CUT TO:
EXT. VARIOUS - DAY 31
A SERIES OF STILLS of modern school facilities.
SAL (V/O)
Everything's so new! Even a covered
lunch area. Nice.
(CONTINUED)
33.
CONTINUED: 31
CESAR (V/O)
Most of the schools outside black and
Chicano areas get more money, not just
for construction, but equipment,
supplies, you name it.
PEDRO (V/O)
Do they have as many students?
CESAR (V/O)
They don't have the overcrowding problems
that we do.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. TORRES LIVING ROOM - DAY 32
PEDRO, DAVID, AUGGIE, CESAR sit around the living room. SAL
sits on the floor at the coffee table with pen and paper.
They share the snapshots.
SAL
It's the pinche counselors, too. If I
want to take a class that's not sone
Mickey Mouse chingaderas like shop, the
vieja tells me, 'I don't think you'lldo
very well in that class, afterall, you
people work better with your hands.'
AUGGIE
You should've showed her what you can do
with your hands, eh! I would've!
SAL
No jodas! You're the dude that thinks
chi-chis grow bigger if you massage them.
AUGGIE
I've seen books, ese. I've seen books!
They use three fingers, like pinche
boyscouts.
DAVID
I told Old Lady Reddick I was going to
take what I wanted and if I screwed up,
it was my ass.
AUGGIE
She's the one who told Rudy he couldn't
learn anything if he tried, so why come
back.
PEDRO
Is that when he dropped out?
(CONTINUED)
34.
CONTINUED: 32
AUGGIE
He didn't drop out! It was fifteen
months of Christmas Vacation, ese.
DAVID
Hey, I gotta split. I told my jefito I'd
wash the car.
SAL
Man, I'm never gonna finish this thing.
DAVID
You can do it! Cesar will help you;
Pedro is staying.
AUGGIE
I'll stay and help you, ese. I know all
about how school don't teach us nothing.
TIGHT ON SAL - Unimpressed, but smiles.
CUT TO:
INT. ROCKY'S - DAY (OVERLAP DIALOG FROM NEXT SCENE) 33
Working as a busboy, PEDRO gracelessly hustles picking up
dishes, wiping tables and narrowly missing a customer.
ANGLE ON SILVIA - She watches with amusement.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ROCKY'S/KITCHEN - NIGHT 34
School paper in hand, SILVIA finishes reading Sal's piece as
PEDRO skoots in with a tray of dirty dishes.
SILVIA
'Ultimately, the faculty and administra-
tion of Eastside High would rather see us
drop out at the rate of 50% and go die in
Vietnam, than teach us to read, write and
improve the quality of life for
ourselves. Afterall, we're Mexican and
expendable, and they're glad they're
not.'
(pauses)
He tells it like it is. I wish I had
realized that before I dropped out. I
wouldn't be playing 'catch-up' now.
PEDRO
What do you mean?
(CONTINUED)
35.
CONTINUED: 34
SILVIA
It took me two years to get my diploma in
night school! I would have had more
college credits by now.
PEDRO
You're going to college?
SILVIA
Just East L.A.J.C. right now. But in a
couple of years I'll be able to transfer
to State.
PEDRO
Really?
ROCKY, the pot-bellied owner, passes through.
ROCKY
We got customers. That means money and
that means I can pay you. Get the
picture everybody?
PEDRO
Yes, sir.
SILVIA
(aside to Pedro)
You think I want to work here all my
life?
The two exchange smiles and get back to work.
CUT TO:
INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - DAY 35
The school principal, TOM MORTON, cooly drops a copy of the
student newspaper on his desk. With the VP, LUPE MOLINA, as
witness, Morton has CESAR on the grill.
MORTON
Freedom of Speech, my ass! This is an
offensive malignment of myself and this
institution's faculty by some bean-brain
student who's never had better than a "C"
in any class he's ever taken!
CESAR
I'm a little unclear, Mr. Morton. Are
you concerned about the academic
credentials of the student or the
legitimacy of the points he makes?
(CONTINUED)
36.
CONTINUED: 35
MORTON
Legitimacy!? What legitimacy!? Let's
call a spade a spade, Mr. Torres. This
student has a serious case of sour
grapes. He can't cut it, so he blames
the school. Does the student really
believe we'd rather have him die in some
rice paddie? Hell, these kids are
killing themselves in their own streets
every night!
CESAR
Mr. Morton, the community has some
serious problems. One is gang violence.
Another is a school capable of graduating
only half of each freshman class coming
through its doors. But I don't suppose
you see any relation.
MORTON
We have had high dropout rates among the
schools with Mexicans and Negroes for
more than the 20 years I've been with the
district. You draw your own conclusions,
Mr. Torres, you're Mexican.
CESAR
What are you trying to say, Mr. Morton?
MOLINA
What he's trying to say Cesar, is
something we both know. Our students are
not ah--- academically inclined. They're--
CESAR
Lazy? Retarded?! Why not? They've been
hearing it all their lives. Thank God,
they're not stupid, or they'd believe all
of it.
MORTON
Look, enough said. I don't want to see
a repeat of this kind of thing. It leads
to bad feelings all the way around. Your
colleagues are outraged.
CESAR
But Mr. Morton---
MORTON
(calm but firm)
MISTER Torres. I don't think I need to
remind you that I know you had some
problems at the last school you were at.
I don't want any problems here.
(CONTINUED)
37.
CONTINUED: (2) 35
CESAR
May I just say one thing?
MORTON
There is nothing left to say, Mr. Torres.
Except maybe answering this question.
Are you a troublemaker?
CESAR
No, sir.
MORTON
Fine, let's keep it that way. Now don't
you have a class to attend to?
CESAR
Yes, sir.
MORTON
Then attend to it and let's put this
unfortunate incident behind us.
CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY 36
SAL walks through the hallway, receiving back slaps, hand
shakes and head nods from congratulatory STUDENTS. The
attention is new to him, but he manages a few smiles. PEDRO,
DAVID & AUGGIE stand outside a class looking on. As VP MOLINA
comes by,
ANGLE ON MOLINA - An icy stare for Sal.
CLOSE ON SAL - Uncomfortable, but tries to ignore it.
ANGLES ON PEDRO, DAVID & AUGGIE - exchanging glances.
CUT TO:
INT. TEACHERS' CAFETERIA - DAY 37
With a cup of coffee CESAR sits down with teacher JIM TAYLOR.
ANOTHER TEACHER approaches, throwing a copy of the student
paper on the table in front of Cesar.
TEACHER #2
Your rag reached new lows this week,
Torres. I'm placing a stack in all the
toilets. Such diatribe has to be good
for something.
The teacher walks out with a couple of OTHER TEACHERS, all
generous with their icy stares. Taylor looks embarrassed.
(CONTINUED)
38.
CONTINUED: 37
TAYLOR
So much for freedom of speech.
On his way in, MANNY HERERRA meets them at the door and
immediately senses a problem.
CUT TO:
INT. TORRES LIVING ROOM - DAY 38
With a tray of punch in paper cups and CESAR'S help, the
pregnant AURORA circulates through a room packed with
STUDENTS, including PEDRO, AUGGIE, SAL, DAVID and GLORIA in
the middle of a meeting on a Saturday afternoon.
STUDENT #1
Sometimes I think the counselors and the
teachers LIKE to make me feel stupid.
PEDRO
And then they ask you why you don't come
to class when they really don't want you
there anyway.
GLORIA
Cesar's is the only class I ever really
want to go to. How come we don't have
more teachers like Cesar?
STUDENT #2
Simon! We need more teachers like Cesar.
SEVERAL
Yeah! Simon! Good question!
CESAR
Well, the answer is simple, but the
solution isn't. There aren't enough of
us going to college to become teachers.
AUGGIE
How come, eh?
SAL
Because there aren't enough of us
graduating from high school prepared to
do anything besides work at a gas
station.
AUGGIE
And pumping ethel really sucks, man!
There's laughter from a few students.
(CONTINUED)
39.
CONTINUED: 38
CESAR
Now that doesn't mean we have to wait
until all of you graduate from college
before we get more Mexicano teachers.
There are a few out there, but principals
have to do some recruiting.
DAVID
How do we get them to do that?
SAL
I think we need a petition. We can offer
some solutions and present them to the
administration.
DAVID
How about the School Board?
AUGGIE
Hit them both!
(thinks further)
Shit, send it to the governor! The
pinche President!
SEVERAL
(a few laughs)
Simon! Yeah, the President!
DAVID
So who's going to write it?
SEVERAL
Cesar! Cesar should do it!
CESAR
No, no, no. This is YOUR petition.
These are YOUR demands. Sal did a good
job with the letter; may be he can handle
it. Sal?
PEDRO
It was Sal's idea.
SAL
Well, I ---
SEVERAL
Do it, Sal! Do it!
SAL
I'm going to need some help.
CESAR
You'll get help. Right David? Pedro?
(CONTINUED)
40.
CONTINUED: (2) 38
DAVID
No problem.
PEDRO
I guess so. But what if they don't read
it? Or they ignore it? Then what?
CESAR
You cross that bridge when you come to
it. Right now, I only agreed to help two
or three of you with your college and
financial aid applications. The next
thing I know, I've got a house full of
students and there's nothing but this
fuchi Fruity-Rooty-Tooty to drink!
CUT TO:
EXT. ROCKY'S - NIGHT 39
The light on the sign goes off; it's closing time. MUSIC
TRACK: CHRIS MONTES' "CALL ME."
EXT. BACK ENTRANCE - NIGHT 40
Bundling up, SILVIA and PEDRO exit. ROCKY follows, locking
the door and setting the alarm.
SILVIA
G'night.
PEDRO
G'night.
ROCKY
G'night everybody.
SILVIA
G'night, Pedro.
PEDRO
G'night, Silvia.
CUT TO:
EXT. DOWN THE STREET - NIGHT 41
PEDRO walks with his hands stuffed in his pockets as a VW
pulls up beside him. It's SILVIA.
SILVIA
How far do you have to walk?
PEDRO
Over by Lorena and the freeway.
(CONTINUED)
41.
CONTINUED: 41
SILVIA
Come on. Get in.
PEDRO
It's OK. I don't mind walking. It's not
that far.
SILVIA
But it IS late. So get in!
Pedro gets in the car.
CUT TO:
INT. SILVIA'S CAR - NIGHT 42
Chris Montes plays on the radio.
SILVIA
I thought you had a car!?
PEDRO
It's my friend Rudy's and tonight I
loaned it to my other friend, David. But
I'm used to walking anyway.
SILVIA
As long as you don't get jumped.
PEDRO
Sometimes I run.
SILVIA
That helps.
PEDRO
I mean for the practice. I've never been
chased.
SILVIA
Oh, I have.
PEDRO
Y? What happened?
SILVIA
They sent him to Vietnam as a specialist.
(laughs)
PEDRO
Why are you laughing? Pura madre?
SILVIA
No. It's true. I guess I just can't
believe it myself sometimes.
(CONTINUED)
42.
CONTINUED: 42
ŌCALL MEĶ FADES.
CUT TO:
INT. PARRILLA LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 43
The TV buzzes with a TEST PATTERN and WE HEAR a VW drive off.
PEDRO walks through, his FATHER asleep in the arms of his
snoozing WIFE on the couch.
CUT TO:
SUPER: MARCH
INT. TORRES LIVING ROOM - DAY 44
CESAR and AURORA stretch and do light exercise with some
effort.
AURORA
Cesar, I think you should stop having
your mass tutoring sessions here at the
house.
CESAR
I've been thinking of moving them to a
park or a restaurant or something.
AURORA
But you haven't been thinking of not
having them for a while or maybe a LONG
while.
CESAR
Actually, I already have. The last few
weeks we've done less and less book
learning.
AURORA
You're the one that lets them turn into
these strategizing bull sessions. You
can change them back.
CESAR
I don't know if I can. These students
are different.
AURORA
A ver? Explain.
CESAR
I don't know. But when have you ever
known Mexican kids to circulate petitions
and speak out for themselves like this?
(CONTINUED)
43.
CONTINUED: 44
AURORA
Cesar, theyÕll transfer you again.
CESAR
I won't let them meet here any more.
CUT TO:
EXT. WHITTIER BLVD/SIDEWALK - DAY 45
ANGLE ON SAL & AUGGIE W/YOUNG MAN ON THE STREET
MAN
Why should they care if we get a good
education or not?
AUGGIE
That's just it, ese. They don't.
MAN
So what do you want me to do about it?
I'm not a student anymore.
SAL
You sign the petition as a community
member. If enough people sign, we can
show them we have some power.
AUGGIE
Student power.
MAN
How about Chicano Power, eh?
SAL
(agreeable)
You got it. Chicano Power. That's all
right, eh.
Enthusiastic and elaborate fraternal handshakes ensue.
CUT TO:
EXT. EASTSIDE HIGH/LUNCH AREA - DAY 46
ANGLE ON SAL, DAVID, AUGGIE & OTHERS
A STUDENT PETITION circulates.
STUDENT #4
Simon, ese. I signed one of these
before.
AUGGIE
This one?
(CONTINUED)
44.
CONTINUED: 46
DAVID
You can't sign more than once.
STUDENT #4
The other one was in front of the store
the other day. Something about grapes.
SAL
I heard some mexicano farmworkers are
boycotting lettuce growers.
STUDENT #4
So this isn't about a boycott?
DAVID
You can't boycott a school!
STUDENT #5
Simon! I've been boycotting school since
the seventh grade, loco!
DAVID
How do you boycott a school?
STUDENT #5
You go to the beach, menso!
REACTION SHOTS - David, Sal & Auggie.
CUT TO:
EXT. SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES - DAY 47
An ESTABLISHING SHOT of "The Hill."
EXT. PARKING LOT/ ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES - DAY 48
PEDRO sits at the wheel of Rudy's Chevy, with AUGGIE & DAVID
in the back seats. SAL comes along and gets into the front
seat of the car.
PEDRO
Ya?
SAL
That's it.
DAVID
What did they say, Sal?
SAL
Not too much. The lady said it would go
on the agenda at the next meeting.
(CONTINUED)
45.
CONTINUED: 48
PEDRO
Did she read it?
AUGGIE
Was she surprised at all the signatures?
SAL
She could barely lift the pinche thing.
CUT TO:
INT. ROCKY'S/KITCHEN - NIGHT 49
SILVIA handles orders, while PEDRO handles dishes.
SILVIA
Two thousand signatures! That's almost
everybody in the school!
PEDRO
Some regular people signed it, too.
SILVIA
Regular people?
PEDRO
You know, community members.
SILVIA
Oh, I would've signed! Why didn't you
ask me?
PEDRO
I don't know. I guess I don't think of
you as regular people.
SILVIA
Just because I work here, go to college,
study and I don't party a lot, doesn't
mean I'm not a regular person!
PEDRO
You know what I mean.
SILVIA
I go to movies, I exercise, I cook ---
and pretty well, too!
PEDRO
So how was I supposed to know? Perdon.
SILVIA
One of these days I'll show you.
(CONTINUED)
46.
CONTINUED: 49
PEDRO
Show me what?
SILVIA
That I can cook. I'll invite you over to
have dinner with me and Vicky.
PEDRO
You will?
SILVIA
Sure. Then you'll see.
PEDRO
See what?
SILVIA
That I'm a regular person, with a regular
apartment and an exceptional child. You
will come over if I invite you, won't
you?
PEDRO
I-I guess.
SILVIA
OK. It's settled.
PEDRO
When?
SILVIA
I don't know! Soon. Ah...How's
Saturday?
PEDRO
In the afternoon?
SILVIA
When do regular people usually have
dinner?
PEDRO
In the evening.
SILVIA
(exasperated)
Good. We'll have dinner at my apartment
Saturday evening....Que batalla!..Why am
I doing this? I hope you like lasagna.
PEDRO
Simon. What is it?
(CONTINUED)
47.
CONTINUED: (2) 49
SILVIA
Tenia que ser.
CUT TO:
INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - DAY 50
MORTON and MOLINA are having grilled TORRES.
MORTON
What do you know about this, Torres?
Morton pushes the students' petition on his desk in front of
Torres, who leafs through it.
TORRES
It looks like a petition with several
hundred signatures.
MORTON
Well, I am encouraged, Mr. Torres. You
obviously got something out of this
educational system. You can read.
TORRES
Miracles do happen, sir.
MORTON
Don't get smart with me, Torres! I want
to know why this came to me from the
Hill! Why the first name on the petition
is one I was hoping to forget, Salvador
Razo. I want a explanation!
TORRES
Apparently, the students have some
complaints and would like a greater voice
in decisions that affect their education.
MORTON
The only decisions any student has to
make is to come to class and when to do
homework. The rest falls into place.
Why didn't the students bring this to me
before taking it to the Board?
TORRES
I don't know; I'm sure they intended to.
MORTON
You're sure! You know Torres, I know
you're not the innocent mouse you pretend
to be. Do you know how this makes me
look on the Hill?
(more)
(CONTINUED)
48.
CONTINUED: 50
MORTON (Cont'd)
If I find you're behind any of this I'll
bounce you out of here so fast you'll
look like a jumping bean. In fact, I'll
see to it you don't get another teaching
assignment in this district again! Is
that clear, Mr. Torres?
TORRES
Yes, sir.
MORTON
Stick the 'sir' crap where the sun
doesn't shine!
TORRES
Yes, s---. As you wish, Mr. Morton.
MORTON
That's two strikes now, Torres. Three
and you're out.
TORRES
Does this mean there'll be no response to
the petition from the Board or yourself?
MORTON
Response! You want a response! Here's
your response.
Morton casually starts to shred the document and Cesar lunges
forward reaching over the desk. Ripping more, Morton finally
drops it in the wastebasket. Cesar straightens up.
MORTON (CONT'D)
Do you really think the Board can be
bothered with petty student grievances
that question the ability and integrity
of a faculty with 200 years of
cummulative experience? (softly) Get out
of here!
CUT TO:
INT. SILVIA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT 51
The RADIO PLAYS THE PREMIERS' "FARMER JOHN."
ANGLE ON MANTEL
A pair of FUZZY pictures come into FOCUS: one of VICKY,
Silvia's daughter, the other of a G.I.
(CONTINUED)
49.
CONTINUED: 51
NEW ANGLE
PEDRO blinks and rubs his eyes trying to maintain his vision
despite the wine. In the background SILVIA picks up the after-
dinner mess.
SILVIA
That's Vicky's father. I haven't heard
from him for almost 2 years.
PEDRO
Where is he?
SILVIA
Vietnam
PEDRO
(spirited)
This is the best wine I've ever had.
SILVIA
I wish I had some more.
PEDRO
The best lasagna, too!
SILVIA
Chistoso. I thought youÕd never had
lasagna before.
Pedro is thinking slowly, but he hasn't gone under yet.
PEDRO
(cautiously)
Doesn't that make it incomparable?
SILVIA
What kind of underpriveledged chicanillo
are you? Where do you learn words like
"incomparable?"
PEDRO
I watch Password.
VICKY enters from her bedroom with a book.
VICKY
Pedro, read me another story.
PEDRO
Another one?
(musters energy)
OK.
(CONTINUED)
50.
CONTINUED: (2) 51
VICKY
How else can I know if you're going to be
a good papi?
SILVIA
Victoria Sevilla! Por favor!
VICKY
Si, mami.
(low)
No hay nadie de quien escoger.
Pedro sits on the couch with Vicky on his lap.
CLOSE ON BOOK ILLUSTRATION - A red-hooded girl and a wolf in
sheep's clothing.
PEDRO
Little Red Riding Hood. Is this the one
where the wolf puts the viejita in the
closet or eats her?
VICKY
He eats her. Fuchila.
PEDRO (OS)
Orale.
ANGLE ON SILVIA - Washing dishes.
SILVIA
(loudly)
She's learning both languages easier than
I did. Maybe she'll do better when she
starts school next year. I figure the
more bilingual she is, the better.
(beat) When I started school here, they
wouldn't let me speak Spanish. I hated
the teachers for making me feel so ah---
de menos --- inferior. (painfully) It
was years before I ever said anything in
a class. The Anglos have no memory of
how hard it is to change countries. De
repente, Ingles, everywhere. La radio.
La television. (beat) Why do all the
teachers have to be gabachos?
She finishes the last of the dishes, wipes up, and grabs a
towel to dry her hands.
NEW ANGLE
Entering the living room she finds Pedro with Vicky in his
arms, both asleep. She carefully takes her daughter in her
arms, not waking her, but waking Pedro.
(CONTINUED)
51.
CONTINUED: (3) 51
SILVIA
Go back to sleep.
PEDRO
(half-asleep)
I gotta go.
SILVIA
Sleep off the wine and go home later.
PEDRO
(still dreaming)
I gotta go. I gotta get there before the
wolf.
With one hand Silvia helps him up and he stumbles to the door.
SILVIA
Pedro? Are you sure you should go?
PEDRO
(babbling)
The old lady is by herself.
SILVIA
Thank you for coming, Pedro.
PEDRO
You're welcome...Lobo condenado, I'm
gonna kick your butt. Cabron puto.
Pedro stumbles out; Silvia closes the door behind him, shakes
her head and can't contain her chuckles.
SILVIA
Ay, Parrilla.
PEDRO (V/O)
Thinking back, I wasnÕt the only one
looking for a fight at the time...
CUT TO:
MONTAGE SEQUENCE:(MOS)
As THE SHAM & THE PHARAOHS' "LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD" comes up.
EXT. BOARD OF EDUCATION PARKING LOT - DAY (MOS) 52
SAL slams his fist on the car hood, having learned the
petition is not on the agenda. DAVID in the driverÕs seat
looks surprised.
(CONTINUED)
52.
CONTINUED: 52
PEDRO(V/O)
Sal could have fought the whole school
board when we found out they wouldnÕt
schedule time to discuss the petition and
our grievances.
INT. ROCKY'S - DAY 53
SAL and DAVID bring the news to AUGGIE, PEDRO, SILVIA, GLORIA,
and a FEW OTHER STUDENTS.
EXT. PEDRO'S HOUSE/PORCH - DAY (MOS) 54
PEDRO licks, seals an envelope, and sticks the letter in the
mailbox. It's his college application.
PEDRO (V/O)
But I did win one fight. I deciphered
the form and made the deadline for
submitting by college application. It
was worse than saying a whole rosary for
having bad thoughts about Monica Reyes in
the third grade.
SAM THE SHAM FADES WITH THE END OF THE MONTAGE SEQUENCE.
CUT TO:
INT. CESAR'S CLASS - DAY 55
As CESAR lectures to students, PEDRO now fights to stay awake
from working long hours. We see DAVID, SAL, AUGGIE, GLORIA,
BLANCA and OTHERS. On the board, a timeline from 1830 to 1850
presents the major events in the U.S. annexation of its
present Southwest: From the first Anglo Texas settlers, to
California statehood.
INTERCUT AMONG STUDENTS AND BOARD AS NEEDED
CESAR
...Manifest Destiny, the idea that the
U.S. had some God-given right to expand
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, became
the justification, the rationalization,
if you will, for this period of hostile,
aggressive, even racist expansion. "Free
the territory from the tyranny of
Mexico," was John Fremont's cry when it
became clear he wasn't in California just
to explore and draw maps. The Gold Rush
brought an invasion of more greedy and
unscrupulous anglos, or yankees, as they
were called then, than the Californios
(more)
(CONTINUED)
53.
CONTINUED: 55
CESAR (Cont'd)
had ever seen!
CUT TO:
EXT. LAGUNA PARK - DAY 56
STUDENTS meet, including the boys (PEDRO, DAVID, SAL, &
AUGGIE) and CESAR.
PEDRO
We write letters and they get ignored.
We sign petitions and they get ignored.
SAL
And lost!
PEDRO
What else are we supposed to do?
CESAR
(baitingly)
How about giving up?
SEVERAL
No! Forget it, man!
Cesar smiles at the reaction.
SAL
I don't know about you guys, man, but
I've just begun to fight.
A FEW
All right! We'll kick some butt.
Chingasos. En la madre!
DAVID
But how do we fight them? This isn't a
street fight where we throw chingasos and
bust heads. They call the placa and then
WE get busted.
SAL
The dude's right, man. They're the
establishment. They've got the power.
AUGGIE
We got power, too. We're chingones, no?
SAL
As long as we organize ourselves, we'll
have power in numbers, you know?
(CONTINUED)
54.
CONTINUED: 56
PEDRO
You mean like a union?
DAVID
Maybe like an association.
SAL
An association of students.
VARIOUS STUDENTS
All right a club! Do we get membership
cards? How about secret decoder rings?
Maybe we can sponsor dances like the
Cruzzzers.
DAVID
This won't be a club, locos. There's
going to be too much work to do.
GLORIA
What are we going to call it?
AUGGIE
How about "C/S"?
SAL
Con safos?
AUGGIE
No, guey. Chicano Students.
PEDRO
I thought it meant catholic schools.
DAVID
I know! Mexican American Student
Association.
SAL
M-A-S-A. MASA.
DIFFERENT STUDENT
(laughs)
MASA!? How about tamal?!
AUGGIE
(indignant)
How about mi tamalon, cabron!
ANOTHER STUDENT
Tamalito!
AUGGIE
La tuya, guey! Pues orale! Ponte!
(CONTINUED)
55.
CONTINUED: (2) 56
SAL
Will you guys sit down and SHUT UP!
We're trying to be serious here.
AUGGIE
I'm serious.
SAL
A serious CASE!
CUT TO:
SUPER: APRIL
EXT. DRIVE-IN THEATER - NIGHT 57
MUSIC TRACK comes up: RENE & RENE'S "ANGELITO."
INT. SILVIA'S CAR 58
With SILVIA behind the wheel, VICKY on PEDRO's lap, they munch
popcorn and wash it down with soda pop.
INT. (ELSEWHERE AT THE DRIVE-IN) RUDY'S CHEVY 59
DAVID and GLORIA on a date, also watch the movie.
EXT. DRIVE-IN KID'S PLAY AREA - NIGHT 60
SILVIA stands by as PEDRO pushes a delighted VICKY in a swing.
The lights blink indicating the start of the next feature. Pedro
stops the swing, Vicky hops off, loses her balance,falls and
scrapes a knee. Crying, she opts for Pedro's comforting arms
instead of her mother's.
The threesome walk back to the car.
EXT. RUDY'S CAR 61
The windows are fogged.
INT. SILVIA'S CAR 62
VICKY sleeps on the back seat, as SILVIA cuddles and rests her
head on PEDRO's shoulder. He's wide-eyed and stiff as a
board.
INT. SILVIA'S CAR 63
No one has moved, but SILVIA sleeps; PEDRO'S eyes are shutting
and his head is tilting.
MUSIC TRACK: RENE & RENE'S "ANGELITO" ENDS.
CUT TO:
56.
INT. CLASS - DAY 64
Cesar shows a film in class: Teatro Campesino's I AM JOAQUIN.
The images on the screen and Luis Valdez' delivery of the Corky
Gonzalez poem captivate the STUDENTS.
INTERCUT AS NEEDED
NARRATOR VALDEZ
... I have made the Anglo rich, yet
Equality is but a word, the Treaty of
Hidalgo has been broken, and is but
another treacherous promise....My land is
lost and stolen, my culture has been
raped, I lengthen the line at the welfare
door, and fill the jails with
crime...These then are the rewards this
society has for sons of Chiefs and Kings
and bloody Revolutionists....
CUT TO:
INT. TEACHERSÕ CAFETERIA - DAY 65
CESAR stands in the chow line with OTHER TEACHERS. JIM TAYLOR
stands behind Cesar.
TEACHER #3
I don't think there's been a summer I've
looked forward to more than this one.
TEACHER #4
Three months away from this cess pool of
an institution.
TEACHER #3
You can't teach them if they don't want to
learn.
TEACHER #4
Yeah, I know. I went to college for
this?
Both teachers pipe down under Cesar's glare.
TAYLOR
I went to college because I thought
teachers were supposed to be committed to
teaching all colors and all races. So
why do I feel like a minority?
CUT TO:
EXT. LAGUNA PARK - DAY 66
With a number of students, GLORIA, PEDRO, DAVID, SAL & AUGGIE
attend a student meeting. Brown Beret, RAFAEL GUEVARA
addresses the group.
(CONTINUED)
57.
CONTINUED: 66
INTERCUT AS NEEDED
GUEVARA
...As I've told students from Lincoln,
Wilson, Garfield, Roosevelt and Belmont,
the Brown Berets are here to help you.
We are coming together because we all
want the same things: The right to
bilingual-bicultural education and
teachers; an end to police brutality;
that our people be given the right to
vote regardless of how much or how little
they speak or write any language!
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. TORRES LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (LATE) 67
A sleepy CESAR enters to find MRS. TORRES on the sofa nursing
a cup of Mexican chocolate. He sits next to her, puts his
arms around her, kissing the back of her head and neck,
rubbing her bulging belly.
CESAR
Couldn't sleep?
AURORA
No sabes. It's getting so uncomfortable.
And then with a kick in the ribs that
almost made me yell. The truth is, I'm
worried.
CESAR
About?
AURORA
Cesar, we can't afford to have you risk
your job. I'll need to spend time with
the baby after she's born.
CESAR
He. And I'm not taking any risks.
AURORA
I don't want to have to go back to work
right away. A baby needs HER mother.
CESAR
His.
AURORA
Her. Now these are a bunch of kids,
frustrated, angry and disillusioned with
an educational system that's failed them.
(more)
(CONTINUED)
58.
CONTINUED: 67
AURORA (Cont'd)
If it spills over and flows out of
control, YOU get burned.
CESAR
I'm keeping my distance so I won't get
burned. What more do you want me to do?
Tell them their complaints aren't
legitimate? That they have no right to
demand a better education? That they
should just sit back and take it? You're
talking to the son of a union man, mi
amor. And---
AURORA
I know, I know. And you were practically
BORN on the picket line during the El
Monte Berry Strike.
CESAR
OK, OK. I wasn't even going to mention
it.
AURORA
Like hell you weren't.
CESAR
You think you know me, don't you?
AURORA
Te conozco mosco.
CESAR
So what do you want me to say?
AURORA
I don't know, Cesar. Tell me my baby's
father will have a job when she's born.
Tell me anything.
CESAR
My SON will have a father he can be proud
of. One who's dedicated to his students
in class and out.
AURORA
You're a great help.
CESAR
(takes her hand)
How about 'I love you.'
AURORA
Wonderful. That'll pay the bills.
(CONTINUED)
59.
CONTINUED: (2) 67
CESAR
With you, I just can't win.
AURORA
You've already won me. That's the
problem.
She exits, flicking the light switch off, leaving Cesar
sitting in the dark.
CUT TO:
INT. PARRILLA LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 68
Arriving home, PEDRO finds his FATHER laid out on the couch,
an empty bottle at his side; he's smashed. The TV blares with
"EMILIO ZARAGOZA and the News." Pedro picks up the bottle as his
sleepy MOTHER enters and moves to pick up her husband.
PEDRO
I'll take him, 'ama.
Pedro carries his father off to bed.
CUT TO:
INT. CLASS - DAY 69
CESAR shows his students SALT OF THE EARTH. The STUDENTS'
eyes are fixed on the screen as they watch the story of
striking Chicano mine-workers unfold.
INTERCUT AMONG STUDENTS
ON THE SCREEN we see the sequence of the moment the men
respond to discriminatory practices in general, and a work-
related accident in particular, with an on-the-job decision to
stop work, walk-out and strike the company. As the wheels of
production halt, the scene ends with a shot of women picketing
on a nearby hill.
CUT TO:
EXT. LAGUNA PARK - DAY 70
On a grassy knoll, PEDRO, AUGGIE, DAVID, GLORIA, AND A FEW
OTHERS huddle around SAL, like a team around its quarterback.
SAL
Orale. Aqui esta la onda. I've been
talking to brothers and sisters from
other schools: Belmont, Lincoln,
Roosevelt, Garfield, Wilson; all the
Chicano high schools. Everyone's talking
about walking out and boycotting classes.
(CONTINUED)
60.
CONTINUED: 70
AUGGIE
Madre!
SAL
You see when students don't show up, a
school doesn't get as much money from the
government. They get money when we're
here, but not when we're absent. They
can ignore letters and petitions, but
they can't ignore students walking out of
all the Chicano high schools.
CUT TO:
EXT. SILVIA'S APARTMENT/DOOR - LATE AFTERNOON 71
A red-eyed SILVIA opens the door to receive PEDRO. She's been
crying.
PEDRO
(awkwardly)
Aaaa---You didn't come to work, so I--
VICKY exits and jumps into his arms.
VICKY
Pedro! Pedro llevame al parque, no?
SILVIA
Pedro, take her for a while, please.
VICKY
Si, al parque. Al parque.
PEDRO
OK. OK. To the park.
(To Silvia)
Is something wrong?
SILVIA
Later. I just need to be alone right
now. Thank you, Pedro.
CUT TO:
EXT. PARK - DUSK 72
MUSIC TRACK, THEE MIDNITERS' SAD GIRL comes over BRIEF SHOTS
of PEDRO and VICKY: on the swings; down the slide; on the
merry-go-round & eating cotton candy against the setting sun.
INT. SILVIA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT 73
ANGLE ON SILVIA - Lying in bed, crying.
(CONTINUED)
61.
CONTINUED: 73
ANGLE ON DOOR - Still red-eyed, SILVIA opens her door to an
awaiting PEDRO, with VICKY asleep in his arms. They enter.
TIGHT ON PEDRO as he carries VICKY off to her bedroom. He
glances at the mantle to notice:
CLOSE ON MANTLE - VICKY's picture stands alone; the one of her
G.I. father is missing.
ANGLE ON VICKY - As PEDRO tucks her into bed and kisses her
forehead.
CLOSE ON SILVIA'S NIGHTSTAND - The missing picture frame lies
face-up under the lamp.
ANGLE ON PEDRO & SILVIA - He gently hugs her and the pain of
losing a former loved one tightens in her throat, quivers on her
lip and shuts her eyes.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. TORRES BEDROOM - NIGHT 74
CESAR lies awake, pensive. He turns over, puts his arm around
his WIFE's bulging belly and snuggles up.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SILVIA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT 75
In bed, PEDRO & SILVIA sleep embraced.
"SAD GIRL" Fades.
CUT TO:
INT. PARRILLA KITCHEN - MORNING 76
The FAMILY is having breakfast: SR. PARRILLA, ragged, hung-
over, nursing a cup of coffee; YOLANDA, eating and reading the
funnies; SRA. PARRILLA, spoons eggs on to a plate. Yolanda
bursts into hysteric laughter, startling her father, who spills
his coffee and burns himself.
SR. PARRILLA
Ay, muchacha!
YOLANDA
Sorry, papi.
Freshly showered, PEDRO enters, kisses his mother and sits.
PEDRO
Buenos dias! What a nice morning!
(CONTINUED)
62.
CONTINUED: 76
YOLANDA
Sure. And you don't want to miss it by
having to sleep.
PEDRO
I slept.
YOLANDA feigns a coughing spell.
SRA. PARRILLA
Pedro, I brought your father to bed at 5,
and your room was empty.
SR. PARRILLA
Maybe you think I don't notice. Why do
you come home so late almost every night?
And don't tell me you go to the library
to study with David, or Sal or Auggie!
Those are good kids; their parents always
know where they are.
YOLANDA (choking)
Madre mia, I'm going to die.
(drinks)
PEDRO
(spitefully)
OK. I stayed home last night 'til we
finished your bottle. Or don't you
remember?
SRA. PARRILLA
Pedro!
YOLANDA
Low blow. Looking good.
SR. PARRILLA
I don't want to get angry and I don't
want to say it twice. Escuchame bien.
You won't be 18 until the summer and if
you decide to still live here, I will
still tell you what to do...I don't know
who this putita de Silvia is, and I don't
care. On school nights I want you home
by 9, and you don't see this, this
Silvia, again. Entendido?
PEDRO
(stands)
You don't even know her. You don't have
the right!
(CONTINUED)
63.
CONTINUED: (2) 76
SR. PARRILLA (stands)
I have the right. And I do it for your
own good.
PEDRO
MY own good!? Why don't you do something
for the good of this family?
SR. PARRILLA
I always do. What do you mean?
PEDRO
Like get a job!
SRA. PARRILLA
Pedro!
Reaching slightly, the father sends the back of his hand
across Pedro's face with a reverberating whack. Pedro falls,
gets up and his father leaves the room. Pedro rubs an aching
jaw as his mother rests her head in her hands.
SRA. PARRILLA
Ay, madre purisima!
YOLANDA
(wipes mouth)
There are times IÕm glad IÕm a girl.
(exits)
PEDRO
'Ama, when are you going to tell him I'm
working?
SRA. PARRILLA
Pronto, mijo. Muy pronto.
CUT TO:
INT. TORRES' LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 77
CESAR is up late correcting papers at the dining room table,
when AURORA walks in sleepy-eyed, with bathrobe and belly.
AURORA
That's three nights this week you've
spent correcting papers.
CESAR
What can I do? With the way things are
going, I won't get an aide this year.
(CONTINUED)
64.
CONTINUED: 77
AURORA
(finds chair)
Then you can either not assign so much
work, or not make so many waves.
CESAR
I haven't really done anything except
informally advise the students.
AURORA
And you think the administration believes
that?
CESAR
They can't prove anything.
AURORA
Not yet.
CESAR
I haven't taken a leadership role,
really. I've allowed the students to act
on their own ideas, to let their own
leadership emerge.
AURORA
Sal has certainly seized the opportunity.
CESAR
He's developing quickly, isn't he?
AURORA
May be too quickly. Can you keep him in
line? 'Cos whether you like it or not,
you're being drawn into this thing way
past your nalgotas. You stand more to
lose than anyone.
CESAR
The students stand to lose.
AURORA
They'll get into another school more
easily than we can find you another job.
CESAR
Tell me something I don't know.
AURORA
You can't sacrifice your family to change
the world.
CESAR
IÕm not trying to change the world. Just
(more)
(CONTINUED)
65.
CONTINUED: (2) 77
CESAR (Cont'd)
a few Chicano lives.
CUT TO:
SUPER: MAY
MONTAGE SEQUENCE
EXT. EASTSIDE HIGH STREET - DAY 78
The BELL RINGS, school is out. Horn honks, 'Arriba-Arriba'
and a wild devil-may-care cackle bring on the sounds of THEE
MIDNITERS' "WHITTIER BLVD," bursting over shots of cruising
cars full of girls; cars full of guys; guys extending
invitations; girls accepting & cars exchanging passengers;
couples; singles; street strollers; bouncing hydraulics, a
little rubber peeling and a BA pressed against a back window.
ANGLE ON a theater markee announcing "The Trip" & "Riot On The
Strip."
As Thee Midniters continue...
CUT TO:
INT. ROCKY'S (VARIOUS) - DAY (MOS) 79
ANGLE ON AUGGIE - He tries on a brown beret in a mirror.
Satisfied that he looks good, he flashes a smile at SAL, who
already wears one.
ANGLE ON PEDRO - He reads a copy of La Raza, an independent
community newspaper, that features a front-page headline:
"Tijerina Fights for Return of New Mexico Land Grants."
ANGLE ON GLORIA - She puts finishing touches on a flyer
announcing a community forum at the Union Hall, May 1. She
shows it to SAL & CESAR, who with OTHERS, nod their approval.
ANGLE ON DAVID - He reads a copy of Inside Eastside, another
independent community newspaper. It carries a headline
announcing: "Chavez & UFW Look to ELA Barrios for Grape
Boycott Support."
ANGLE ON SILVIA - She brings a tray of drinks to the group.
CUT TO:
EXT. EAST LA/VARIOUS SHOTS - DAY (MOS) 80
STUDENTS LEAFLET stores, parked cars, street corners, rec
centers and schools.
PEOPLE read the flyers: SOME with interest and approval;
OTHERS with neither.
(CONTINUED)
66.
CONTINUED: 80
ANGLE ON PEDRO & SILVIA - He hands a flyer to a SHERIFF'S
DEPUTY, who reads it, crumbles it up, throws it in Pedro's
face, takes the rest of the flyers and dumps them in a nearby
trash can. Silvia objects and receives a hard push that
quickly sits her on her butt. Grabbing Pedro as if he were a
doll, the deputy throws him into the trash head first, legs
kicking. Silvia helps Pedro tip out of the trash can.
"WHITTIER BLVD" FADES.
CUT TO:
INT. UNION HALL - NIGHT 81
A COMMUNITY MEETING ensues, A CHICANO CLAP segues to the next
speaker. The hall is packed with MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN,
GRANDPARENTS & STUDENTS in a highly-charged atmosphere. In
the audience, PEDRO, AUGGIE, DAVID, and GLORIA together, SAL
along the side.
ANGLE ON SAL
Sporting his beret, he comes to the podium clapping.
SAL
Chicano!
CROWD
Power!
SAL
Chicano!
CROWD
Power!
SAL
Que viva la raza!
CROWD
Que viva!
The crowd quiets down.
SAL
Raza querida, hijos, hijas, nietos y
nietas de revolucionarios, perhaps too
few teachers really care about Chicano
students and their educational problems
because there are too few Chicano
teachers. And the few that we do have,
are tokens afraid to speak out for better
education for all of us.
(more)
(CONTINUED)
67.
CONTINUED: 81
SAL (Cont'd)
But fortunately, Eastside High has one
man who has helped us understand the
problems and has given us hope to find
solutions. Ladies and gentlemen, damas
y caballeros, companeros y companeras,
Cesar Torres!
An applause emerges as Cesar assumes the podium, subsiding at
his gestures to quiet down. INTERCUT FOR AUDIENCE REACTION as
Cesar builds momentum.
CESAR
Sometimes, I wish I could just go to
work, collect my pay, go home to my wife
and wait for our new baby. Certainly,
with the threats by the administration to
fire me for sympathizing with the
students, that remains an attractive
option. But then I think about my baby,
not only of the kind of world he or she
will grow up in, but of the educational
opportunities he or she will have. Or
not have. Then I think about what
Eastside High was like when I was a
student,one thing has changed. We have
opened our eyes. They say we drop out at
a rate of 50%; we say they push us out at
a rate of 50%! For the sake of our
children, our brothers and sisters, I
suggest with a clear conscience that at
the Cinco de mayo assembly, Eastside High
School students consider a massive walk
out to protest the failure of our schools
to serve and educate the Chicano,
Mexicano community! Gracias.
Furious applause and ecstatic shouts erupt as the crowd comes
to its feet. Cesar and Sal exchange looks of surprise at the
overwhelmingly positive reception to Cesar's speech. A chant
emerges. Sal joins in.
CROWD
Walk out! Walk out! Walk out! Walk
out! Walk out! Walk out!
ANGLE ON VP MOLINA - Almost unrecognizable in a shawl; a
recorder operates in her bag.
(CONTINUED)
68.
CONTINUED: (2) 81
TIGHT SHOTS ON DAVID & GLORIA, SILVIA, AUGGIE & PEDRO.
Overwhelmed, but applauding.
PEDRO (V/O)
We didnÕt know it then, but we had
reached a point of no return. What had
started as a simple letter, now seemed to
have a life and fire of its own.
CUT TO:
INT. PRINCIPAL MORTON'S OFFICE - DAY 82
DAVID LOPEZ, ASB PRES, stands before MORTON and his VP,
MOLINA, listening to a recording. The taped-up petition sits
atop his desk.
CROWD (V/O)
Walk Out! Walk Out! Walk--
Morton stops the player, remaining silent for a moment.
MORTON
(intense)
What's your role in this?
DAVID
(struggles)
I'm---an observer, mostly.
MORTON
I found your name on this petition.
(looking)
You're number 369. I would guess that
the drafters would be among the first,
like Sal Razo, wouldn't you agree?
DAVID
I-I hadn't thought too much about it
before.
MORTON
Could this walk out come to pass on the
mere SUGGESTION by Mr. Torres?
DAVID
I-I don't know, sir.
MORTON
Well, know this, mister! This is no
semester for you to be jacking around!
Not if you have any thoughts about
graduating.
(more)
(CONTINUED)
69.
CONTINUED: 82
MORTON (Cont'd)
Now, just because you jocks get elected
on beauty votes, doesn't mean you can't
be good for something. At the assembly
I want you to condemn the walk outs.
You've got time to prepare a few words.
I'll even help you if you like.
Additionally, find out what this MECHA
is. This Movimiento estudiantil ---
whatever. It's gotta be a front. I
can't imagine what else. Get involved
if you have to. Infiltrate.
David stands wide-eyed, with his jaw ready to drop.
MORTON (CONT'D)
Well, don't just stand there! Go!
Shell-shocked, David heads for the door.
CUT TO:
INT. OUTSIDE DOOR 83
Shutting the door behind him, DAVID regains his breath.
CUT BACK TO:
INT. MORTON'S OFFICE 84
MORTON and MOLINA.
MORTON
There's no reason not to suspend Salvador
Razo. But I need more on Torres.
CUT TO:
MONTAGE SEQUENCE
INT. MORTON'S OUTER OFFICE - DAY (MOS) 85
A version of VIOLETA PARRA'S "ME GUSTAN LOS ESTUDIANTES" runs
over.
ANGLE ON SAL - The SECRETARY instructs him to enter. He cocks
his beret and does.
NEW ANGLE - LATER
Suspended, SAL exits Morton's Office minus a beret and very
shaken.
(CONTINUED)
70.
CONTINUED: 85
Parra's "Me gustan los estudiantes" ends.
CUT TO:
INT. RUDYÕS SHACK - DAY 86
PEDRO peeps through the open door to find AUGGIE, SAL & DAVID
sprawled around.
PEDRO
Y Rudy?
AUGGIE
His mom said he was getting ready.
PEDRO
When did he get back? He wasn't even
gone that long.
SAL
Two days ago. She says he's been
sleeping. Something about the time
difference.
PEDRO
Give me the keys, David.
DAVID
Auggie has them.
PEDRO
Give me Rudy's keys, Auggie Doggie.
SAL
Este Auggie has been a bad doggie.
DAVID
The sucker's been a real dog, eh.
AUGGIE
Ya, chivos. I feel bad enough already
with all the zurrada coming down.
DAVID
Rudy lucked out. He missed all this
shit.
AUGGIE
Besides, Pedro's the one that's been
playing Mr. Lover, but heÕs not talking!
SAL
Maniaco Auggie can only think of one
thing.
(CONTINUED)
71.
CONTINUED: 86
DAVID
She invites him to her apartment for
dinner.
SAL
De aquellas!
DAVID
And they go to the drive-in.
PEDRO
With her 4-year-old!
SAL
So the little vato likes to play papi!
AUGGIE
That's worse than PW, ese! That's like
marriage!
PEDRO
Estos gueyes! We're not even going
around or anything. Besides why would
she want to marry me?
SAL
Why not? You got some kind of disease?
RUDY
(at door)
If you got VD, don't sweat it, bro.
Penicillin didn't save my ass, but it
saved my pee-pee.
His duty in Vietnam prematurely over, RUDY has returned from
the service, a battle-victim, paralyzed below the waist and
confined to a wheelchair. Shocked shitless, the boys are
hardly prepared for this.
RUDY (CONTÕD)
They just kept sending us out, and
sending us out. They called us the Dog
Squad. The browns and the blacks trying
to snuf the yellows 'cos the whites say
they're red.
(beat)
The dudes that weren't smoking their
brains out, were shooting up. How can
you tell the red-yellows from the yellow-
yellows when everybody's hallucinating,
man?
(beat)
When I heard the whistling, I just hit
the ground. I woke up on the chopper,
(more)
(CONTINUED)
72.
CONTINUED: (2) 86
RUDY (Cont'd)
and I couldn't get up.
CUT TO:
INT. OFFICES/L.A. METROPOLITAN DAILY - DAY 87
CESAR TORRES receives instructions from a SECRETARY who
directs him beyond a maze of desks occupied by NEWSWRITERS.
Cesar makes his way across the room to a newswriter, BEN
FLORES, 37, pecking away at his typewriter.
CESAR
Ben?
FLORES
(shakes hand)
Cesar! How've you been? How long has it
been?
CESAR
I've been hanging in there, and it's been
about six years.
FLORES
The Viva Kennedy Club, huh?
CESAR
That was it.
FLORES
Did you get your credential?
CESAR
Yeah, I've been teaching about 4 years,
now.
FLORES
You don't sound too excited about it.
CESAR
Well...Sometimes it's like trench
warfare.
FLORES
The kids aren't really that bad, are
they?
CESAR
Hell, the students are great. They're
willing to learn. The problem is they
know they're being cheated. They're
getting restless.
(CONTINUED)
73.
CONTINUED: 87
FLORES
Aren't they all? Look at the students in
Paris. I've got cousins in Mexico City
marching in the streets! I've never seen
anything like it!
CESAR
I donÕt know if thereÕs a connection with
the Mexican primos, but something is
really happening to these students.
There's a spirit in the air. A new
attitude. A new pride!
FLORES
Would you call it Chicanismo?
CESAR
So you know what I'm talking about.
FLORES
My sister's kid is a senior at Garfield.
He doesn't want to be called "Mexican-
American." He says it's a sissy name for
agabachados. He wants to be called a
"Chicano."
CESAR
Probably drives his mother up the wall.
FLORES
His grandmother!
CESAR
Look, Ben. The reason I'm here. The
students at Eastside High may walk out
Friday, demanding a range of things: up-
graded facilities, upgraded curriculum,
bilingual-bicultural education and
faculty, and, recognition of their
organization, Movimiento Estudiantil
Chicano de Aztlan, MECHA.
FLORES
These are radical times for Eastside
High.
CESAR
The administration has tried to ignore
them, hoping they'd go away. I know
they'll react, but I don't know how far
they'll go. They've suspended one of the
key leaders already.
FLORES
Would they call in the police?
(CONTINUED)
74.
CONTINUED: (2) 87
CESAR
I hope not.
FLORES
Then the media would descend like
buzzards.
CESAR
Quoting only 'official sources' and
making the students look bad, which is
why we need you to provide some balanced
reporting.
FLORES
If you only knew what token Latino
reporters have to go through here.
CESAR
What do you mean?
FLORES
You know the editor makes the decisions
on what gets covered.
CESAR
Right.
FLORES
If an anglo writer pitches a story on a
Latino subject, the response is, 'Well
OK, but don't take too much time on it,
'cos nobody's going to read it.' If I
pitch a story, it's like 'How can you be
objective if you're Latino? Let's have
Joe Smith do it, or at least have him
work with you. Then they expect me to
live on peanuts and prestige. My
salary's for the birds.
CESAR
But your by-line's for the people.
FLORES
(reflective)
Look, I'll do what I can.
CESAR
Just be there at least.
FLORES
I'll be there.
CESAR rises to leave.
(CONTINUED)
75.
CONTINUED: (3) 87
FLORES (CONT'D)
Hey wait a minute! What will they do to
you?
CESAR
Transfer me. Make it tough to get
tenure. The usual. I don't think
they'll bar me from the district, but I'm
not giving'em too much rope to hang me.
FLORES
Play it cool.
Cesar smiles.
CUT TO:
INT. RESTAURANT - EVE 88
With a cup of coffee, SILVIA takes her break at one of the
tables. She puts a coin in the juke box slot and makes a
selection. THE BLENDELL'S "LA,LA,LA,LA,LA." plays under as
PEDRO clears a nearby table.
SILVIA
You haven't said five words to me in two
hours.
PEDRO (sits)
It's been busy.
SILVIA
Not that busy.
PEDRO
I've been busy thinking.
SILVIA
Your brain must be tired by now.
PEDRO
I'm tired of worrying.
SILVIA
You've been worrying, too, ah?
PEDRO
The students will probably walk out
Friday.
SILVIA
That's good!
PEDRO
Principal Morton thinks I'm one of the
leaders---so I could get suspended.
(CONTINUED)
76.
CONTINUED: 88
SILVIA
That's bad.
PEDRO
My friend, Rudy, came back from 'Nam in
a wheelchair, paralyzed.
SILVIA
Madre santisima!
PEDRO
And my dad doesn't want me to see you
anymore.
SILVIA
Oh.
(beat)
Does he think you can work with your eyes
closed?
PEDRO
He doesn't know I'm working.
SILVIA
Ay, Parrilla.
PEDRO
What should I do?
SILVIA
Do like Oedipus and pluck your eyes out.
PEDRO
Eddie Pus? Sounds like an infection.
SILVIA
Some Greek mother. You'll probably run
into him in college.
PEDRO
He'll run into me. If I pluck out my
eyes, then I really wouldn't be able to
see him OR you.
SILVIA
So, you keep your eyes. It makes driving
easier. Now there's not much you can do
about Rudy, but you still have to decide
whether or not to walk out and get
suspended.
PEDRO
What about you?
(CONTINUED)
77.
CONTINUED: (2) 88
SILVIA
If I can get off work, I'll walk out; it
sounds like fun.
PEDRO
I mean what about my seeing you?
SILVIA
That's a tough one. Pretend I'm a
figment of your imagination.
PEDRO
And pretend I'm not in love with you?
SILVIA
Just don't tell me and don't put any-
thing in writing.
PEDRO
But I've already told you.
SILVIA
I know. But I've already forgotten. So
don't tell anybody else and you've got
nothing to worry about.
PEDRO
I should tell Vicky?
SILVIA
Oh, you play dirty, canijo.
PEDRO
What do you mean dirty?
SILVIA
Ay, Parrilla!
THE BLENDELL'S "LA,LA,LA,LA,LA." FADES.
CUT TO:
INT. PARRILLA HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 89
Newsreporter, EMILIO ZARAGOZA, and his SPANISH LANGUAGE TV
NEWS blare on the set, illuminating a sleeping SR. PARRILLA,
as PEDRO unexpectedly peeps through the window.
ZARAGOZA (in Spanish)
"...in another day of confrontation
between students and Paris police, that
ultimately threatens to close the
university....
(CONTINUED)
78.
CONTINUED: 89
Pedro enters carefully, kills off his dad's near-empty bottle
of tequila & creeps off to bed.
ZARAGOZA (CONT'D)
Meanwhile, returning to the U.S., James
Earl Ray, the accused assassin of civil
rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr.,
continues to deny...
CUT TO:
INT. TV CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT 90
Standing behind a couple of TV TECHS, CESAR TORRES watches the
broadcast on a monitor and through a window to the set where
ZARAGOZA wraps up the broadcast.
ZARAGOZA (CONT'D)
...any involvement in the assassination
and no evidence has surfaced yet to
support his allegations of being framed.
That concludes this evening's edition,
please join us next time. For Noticiero
en Espanol, this is Emilio Zaragoza, muy
buenas noches.
Credits roll on a monitor to the newscast's CLOSING TUNE. Off-
camera, Zaragoza unmikes himself, leaves the set and enters the
Control Room.
ZARAGOZA
Sr. Torres, thank you for waiting. Are
you bored or intrigued by the
broadcasting process?
CESAR
I teach 30-40 students at a time. From
here, you can reach thousands!
ZARAGOZA
Sr. Torres, the media is very powerful.
Unfortunately, in this country its main
function is to sell products to
consumers, not to educate or inform.
CUT TO:
EXT. HILLTOP - NIGHT 91
ANGLE ON CAR RADIO
OFF-SCREEN DAVID and GLORIA share the back seat of the Chevy
and some heaving breathing, but not much of the view. A
version of "LA BAMBA CHICANA" blasts from the radio.
(CONTINUED)
79.
CONTINUED: 91
SINGER (V/O)
...Para ganar la huelga, se necesita un
poquito de boicot...Yo no sere vendido...
GLORIA (OS)
Turn it down a little, David. I've had
enough.
WE SEE a hand reach over the front seat to the radio and lower
the volume.
NEW ANGLE - Gloria combs her hair.
GLORIA
I want to talk.
DAVID
You want to talk? Now? About what?
GLORIA
Things.
DAVID
Like?
GLORIA
Like what would you do if I were
pregnant?
DAVID
I would help you find the father.
GLORIA
Who's do you think it would be?!
DAVID
I don't know. Could be anybody's.
GLORIA
ANYBODY'S!? What kind of person do you
think I am?!
DAVID
(seductively)
Fine, esa. Pero muy fine.
GLORIA
Is that all you can say?
DAVID
You're nice. Pero MUY nice.
GLORIA
How about insulted and bored?
(CONTINUED)
80.
CONTINUED: (2) 91
DAVID
Bored? We make out for 30 minutes
straight and you're bored?
GLORIA
David, you have to learn to kiss and
breathe at the same time. You're brain
dead.
DAVID
Don't worry about me, Gloria. I can hold
my breath for a pretty long time. Watch.
(holds breath)
GLORIA
Do you know anybody that's better at
conversation than sucking lips off? Come
on, David, we've got a walk-out coming
down and you and I donÕt talk about it.
We never talk about anything really. We
donÕt communicate! Thank God IÕm not
pregnant.
David exhales.
CUT TO:
EXT. EASTSIDE HIGH - DAY 92
CESAR TORRES and another teacher, MANUEL (MANNY) HERRERA, walk
from the office to the campus.
MANNY
I'm not saying that there shouldn't be
more of us teaching or that there
shouldn't be bilingual education or
bicultural studies.
CESAR
It could mean more support for your
Spanish classes.
MANNY
That's true, but it's your tactics I
can't support, Cesar. The students will
learn more by staying in class than by
walking out tomorrow.
CESAR
My tactics, nothing. The students make
their own decisions.
MANNY
And I suppose you've had no influence?
(CONTINUED)
81.
CONTINUED: 92
CESAR
You underestimate the students, Manny.
MANNY
There are some real radicals emerging,
Cesar. I'm even hearing talk of some
international conspiracy.
CESAR
Pura mierda. Don't believe it.
MANNY
One can never be too sure.
CESAR
Now you're sounding like Molina.
MANNY
I think Molina does the best job she
knows how and I don't expect you to
understand that. If I don't give you my
whole-hearted support on this matter,
it's because you don't know the system
yet; you're still too wet behind the ears
to be rocking the boat like you are.
Things take time. You want change now!
CESAR
ItÕs only been about a hundred and twenty
years.
CUT TO:
INT. TEACHERSÕ LOUNGE - DAY 93
CAMERA TRACKS around picking up bits and pieces of on-going
FACULTY conversation between bites.
TEACHER #1
Now how many of us have never passed a
student along just because we didnÕt want
him back again?
CAMERA TRACKS ON.
TEACHER #2
I donÕt understand this business of
A.D.A.
TEACHER #3
Student attendance generates money from
the feds.
(CONTINUED)
82.
CONTINUED: 93
TEACHER #4
Average Daily Attendance pays your
salary.
TEACHER #5
No students, no class, no ADA, no job.
CAMERA TRACKS ON.
PRINCIPAL MORTON
ThatÕs all we know. We donÕt know how
many will walk out, if any.
TEACHER #6
You canÕt tell me Torres isnÕt behind all
this. Students donÕt do this on their
own.
TEACHER #7
God knows how hard I try. This is
terrible. Such ingratitude.
MRS. REDDICK
Anyone who thinks we donÕt try our best,
has never been there to see the dedicated
job our counseling staff does. I donÕt
understand how the students can write
these things.
CAMERA TRACKS ON.
TEACHER #8
Chicano Studies? Why do they want to
learn about that? ThatÕs not not going
to help them. What is it anyway?
TEACHER #9
All this boils down to having the
students decide whatÕs important for them
to learn.
TEACHER #10
Are they going to do the teaching, too?
TEACHER #11
Forget teaching. The moneyÕs in
aerospace.
CAMERA TRACKS ON.
TAYLOR
...and when the cops stepped on campus,
the tension was so thick you could cut...
(CONTINUED)
83.
CONTINUED: (2) 93
ANGLE ON DO0R
The ROOM GOES SILENT, as CESAR TORRES and MANNY HERRERA walk
in. Cesar looks around, turns and walks out. Manny stands
alone feeling like heÕs conspired with the enemy.
CUT TO:
INT. ROCKY'S - EVE 94
MUSIC TRACK: RENE & RENE "LO MUCHO QUE TE QUIERO" plays softly
on the juke box as PEDRO and his father share coffee at a table.
Dressed neatly for a job interview, SR. PARRILLA enjoys the hot
drink now that heÕs off the booze.
SR. PARRILLA
Three months. Que baboso. Was I
drinking so much I couldn't see that you
were working? Here I thought your mami
was really stretching the unemployment
checks.
PEDRO
I guess we thought you'd find a job soon.
SR. PARRILLA
I found where the jobs are at, but they
won't give me one.
PEDRO
Why, Papa?
SR. PARRILLA
Ay, mijo. I'll be fifty next year and I
didn't finish secundaria. They want
young men with high school diplomas.
Someday, they'll probably want college
graduates, only.
PEDRO
I want to go to college, 'Apa.
SR. PARRILLA
How mijo? College costs money.
PEDRO
I'm finding out about financial aid for
minorities. David and Sal are applying,
too.
SR. PARRILLA
What do you want to study?
(CONTINUED)
84.
CONTINUED: 94
PEDRO
I don't know. I just know that I have to
go. I guess I want to feel educated,
and if the Anglos can do it, I can do it.
SILVIA comes by with a pot of coffee.
SILVIA
Mas cafe, senores?
PEDRO
'Apa, this is Silvia.
SR. PARRILLA
Mucho gusto, Silvia.
SILVIA
Encantada y un placer. Will you be
coming to the rally tomorrow, Sr.
Parrilla?
SR. PARRILLA
Rally?
SILVIA
Tomorrow at Laguna Park after the
students walk out.
SR. PARRILLA
The students are walking out?
SILVIA
Ay, Dios!
SR. PARRILLA
Pedro, are you walking out!?
CUT TO:
INT. TORRES LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 95
On the sofa, AURRORA knits her first baby bootie as CESAR
leaves his paper correcting and approaches with a kiss.
CESAR
I'm not walking out with the students.
AURORA, incredulous, canÕt help roll her eyes.
CESAR (CONTÕD)
They don't need me to show them the way
to the park and I have to be there for
the students that don't walk out.
(CONTINUED)
85.
CONTINUED: 95
AURORA
Why are you changing your mind?
CESAR
Walking off the job is a lot different
than boycotting a class. The students
have to make the statement, not me.
Besides, I need a job to support a wife
and a-a, child.
CUT TO:
INT. RUDY'S BACKYARD SHACK - NIGHT 96
PEDRO enters, finding the guys sprawled around (DAVID, SAL,
AUGGIE); RUDY in his chair.
PEDRO
I hope I'm not too late, you guys.
AUGGIE
Pedro would be late even if he only had
to go to the bathroom.
SAL
It's just us now. We had representatives
from Roosevelt, Garfield, Wilson,
Lincoln, and Belmont.
DAVID
It looks like there'll be students
walking from almost all the Chicano high
schools around.
PEDRO
Chingale. This is getting so big!
AUGGIE
Could be over a thousand, huh?
SAL
Maybe more.
AUGGIE
We're going to have a party de aquellas,
vatos!
DAVID
Everything's a party for Auggie Doggie.
AUGGIE
Simon! Getting out of school means party
time.
(CONTINUED)
86.
CONTINUED: 96
DAVID
ThatÕs because the only decision you ever
have to make is which finger to put up
which nostril.
PEDRO
It takes more than just fingers, eh.
AUGGIE
Orale, Pedro, el chingon!
PEDRO
And... I'm not walking out.
SAL
You're what?
AUGGIE
From chingon to coyon.
SAL
You little chicken shit.
DAVID
Hey, lighten up on the little dude. I
know how he feels.
SAL
What are you turning chicken on me, too?
AUGGIE
Que party poopers, estos!
DAVID
I've got the principal coming down on my
ass if I don't condemn the walk out and
you guys if I do.
PEDRO
I decided I want to go to college, so I
can't risk not graduating.
AUGGIE
You? College?
DAVID
Simon! Isn't this what it's all about?
Our getting educated?
SAL
It's about educating ALL Chicanos. You
think I'm in this just for myself!
(CONTINUED)
87.
CONTINUED: (2) 96
DAVID
And I suppose YOU'RE going to get me into
college!
SAL
Now tell it like it is. Are you guys
with us or against us?
DAVID
Come on, Sal. It's not that simple, man.
SAL
It IS that simple, David! United we can
make some changes! Divided we can't do
jack! Don't you believe in the cause?
AUGGIE
Simon! La causa!
DAVID
You know I do!
SAL
What about you, Pedro?
PEDRO
Right now I don't know what to believe
in, you guys. There's too much
happening. The last few months,
everybody's changed! Sometimes I think
Sal's right. And othertimes I think it's
just some power or glory trip!
SAL
This is what I get for putting my ass on
the line and getting suspended, huh?!
PEDRO
All I know is that before this semester
I never even thought about going to
college! Now I don't want to screw up.
What if they won't graduate us? Then
what!
AUGGIE
The little dude is scared!
PEDRO
All right! So I'm scared!
AUGGIE
(clucks)
Puck-puck-puck-puck-PUCK!
(CONTINUED)
88.
CONTINUED: (3) 96
DAVID
So what if he's scared! I'm scared, too!
SAL
Me lleva! All I see now is my carnales
wimping out!
DAVID
We're not wimping out! This is not a
street fight or a game, ese!
PEDRO
I just don't know if walking out is the
right thing to do.
AUGGIE
It's too late now!
DAVID
It's NOT too late!
SAL
It IS too late. This thing is bigger
than all of us! It's a student movement!
AUGGIE
A Chicano Student Movement!
SAL
That's right! And you maricas can't stop
it. Now I don't care if Pedro walks or
not. What I want to know is:
(to David)
Are you going to turn vendido and condemn
the walk out at the assembly tomorrow?
DAVID
I don't know.
SAL
Carajo! I can't even count on my
friends!
Sal storms out. Pedro and David have never felt more
pressure.
CUT TO:
INT. HOMES OF CESAR & SAL (ON THE PHONE) - NIGHT 95 97
INTERCUT
CESAR
Morton isn't letting me address the
students tomorrow.
(CONTINUED)
89.
CONTINUED: 97
SAL
Chingale! What if pinche David condemns
the walk-out? Who's going to lead them
out? If I set foot on campus, Morton'll
probably have me arrested. What am I
going to do, Cesar?
CESAR
You've done all you can do, Sal.
SAL
What if nobody walks out?
CESAR
You know that's not going to happen.
SAL
You gotta lead them out, Cesar.
CESAR
We've been through this already, Sal.
SAL
You know a lot of students aren't walking
'cos you're not going out with us.
CESAR
That's enough, Sal. Look, our work is
done. For the time being, anyway. Now
we just wait and see how big a statement
the Chicano students of East LA can make.
CUT TO:
MUSICAL MONTAGE SEQUENCE (MOS):
VARIOUS - NIGHT
The music of EL CHICANO'S "VIVA TIRADO" underscores the
tension building in our characters, most of them having
trouble sleeping the eve before the storm.
INT. PARRILLA HOUSE / LIVING ROOM 98
PEDRO watches TV with his FAMILY: his SISTER on the floor, he
and his PARENTS on the couch.
Preoccupied, Pedro pays little attention to the tube; his mind
is on something else, Silvia.
INT. SILVIA'S APT / BEDROOM 99
SILVIA & VICKY - sleeping together.
90.
INT. PARRILLA LIVING ROOM 100
PEDRO goes off to bed.
INT. AUGGIE'S BEDROOM 101
AUGGIE sleeps like a baby.
INT. SAL'S BEDROOM 102
In bed, SAL reads John Womack Jr.'s ZAPATA AND THE MEXICAN
REVOLUTION. He puts it down to reflect momentarily.
INT. DAVID'S BEDROOM 103
Wide awake, DAVID stares at the ceiling, lost in thought.
CUT TO:
INT. TORRES BEDROOM 104
Restless, CESAR rises from his bed and sleeping wife, crossing
to the baby crib, all prepared for the new arrival. He runs his
hand across the mattress and a toy strung from rail to rail.
He's feeling the anticipation of fatherhood and the uncertainty
of the next day.
INT. RUDY'S SHACK 105
RUDY sits in his wheelchair, teary-eyed, staring out the door,
holding his guitar. He's been crying, but he's showing
strength.
INT. PEDRO'S ROOM 106
PEDRO picks up the phone to call Silvia; he hesitates, then
hangs up.
END OF MONTAGE SEQUENCE & EL CHICANO'S "VIVA TIRADO."
CUT TO:
INT. EASTSIDE HIGH AUDITORIUM - DAY 107
In a packed auditorium, bored STUDENTS sit through the
highlight of the school's Cinco de mayo celebration: VP
MOLINA's ethnographic slide presentation and patronizing
commentary of her vacation in Mexican provinces. Molina
"lectures" from the podium on stage. PEDRO, GLORIA & AUGGIE
sit among the students.
EXT. IN FRONT OF SCHOOL - DAY 108
SAL checks his watch and RUDY runs some licks on his guitar.
91.
INT. AUDITORIUM 109
ON THE SCREEN we see shots of small town plaza: a CHURCH,
GOVERNMENT PALACE, MARKET PLACE, STORES AND SHOPS, and a
BANDSTAND.
MOLINA (V/O)
... a church at one end, the government
offices in a palace at the other, a
mercado, stores and shops along the
sides, were typical of all the little
pueblos we saw. And of course, a band-
stand in the middle, where on Sunday
afternoons the boys meet the girls.
The LIGHTS go on, waking up the sleepy heads.
MOLINA (CONT'D)
I know if I were a young girl growing up
in a small pueblo like the one my
grandparents did, I would want to be
(MORE)
MOLINA (CONT'D)
courted in the plaza with all the music
and romance of ol' Mexico. It's no
wonder that they live just like they have
for 1 or 2 hundred years. Village life
is so stable and just so romantic. Thank
you. That concludes my presentation.
A RASBERRY is heard over the WEAK APPLAUSE. PRINCIPAL MORTON
approaches the podium with a proud grin, clapping with
conviction.
MORTON
Thank you, Vice Principal Molina for a
lovely presentation. It was simply heart-
warming and inspirational.
VOICES IN AUDIENCE
It sucked! Que mamada! Puro pedo!
Pinche pochada!
Molina looks a little shaken.
MORTON
(to Molina)
Don't let it bother you, dear. There are
always the smart-ass malcontents.
On the verge of tears, Molina leaves the stage.
MORTON (CONT'D)
Now I know you're all expecting to hear
from Mr. Torres, but we're running over
time and---
(CONTINUED)
92.
CONTINUED: 109
AUDIENCE
(resoundingly)
Booooooooo!!!
MORTON (louder)
---But Mr. Torres is not....
AUDIENCE (louder)
Booooooooooooooo!!!! We want Cesar!!!
We want Cesar!!! We want Cesar!!!
A little flustered, but not intimated, Morton steps to the
wings where David Lopez, ASB President, watches, as the
student body continues calling for Cesar.
MORTON
(to David)
I want you to get out there and quiet
them down! Maybe they'll listen to you.
DAVID
What am I supposed to say?
MORTON
I don't know. Anything. Tell 'em this
assembly is over and they can go to their
next class!
With his arms raised, David walks across stage to the podium.
The crowd immediately quiets down.
DAVID
(in mike)
I have an announcement to make.
STUDENT #1
Where's Cesar?!
DAVID
I don't know.
STUDENT #2
No seas vendido, David!
DAVID
Principal Morton says the assembly is now
over. You can now go to your next class.
AUDIENCE
Booooo! We want Cesar!
STUDENT #3
We get Cesar or we walk out now!
(CONTINUED)
93.
CONTINUED: (2) 109
DAVID
Wait! Wait a minute!
SEVERAL
Vendido! Traitor! Traidor!
David looks helplessly at Morton, who comes back on stage and
takes the mike.
MORTON
This assembly is now over. You may go on
to your next class.
AUDIENCE
Boooooo! Where's Cesar?
MORTON
Mr. Torres is unavailable at this time
and the assembly is over. Will someone
ring the bell?
GLORIA
Why won't you discuss our demands?!
MORTON
This is not the time or place for the
discussion of anything.
SEVERAL
Walk out! Walk out! Walk out!
MORTON
Let's have some order! There'll be no
walk out! That'll only get you into
trouble. The best thing you can do is
just go on to your next class. Right,
David?
David hesitates.
MORTON (CONT'D)
(aside)
David! Tell them the most destructive
thing they can do to their educational
careers is to walk out!
David quiets the few walk-out chanters with the raise of an
arm.
DAVID
My fellow students, you know the issues,
you know the demands, you know what the
response has been so far. All I can
say,...is to exercise your consciences.
(CONTINUED)
94.
CONTINUED: (3) 109
SEVERAL
All right, David! Bravo. Que huevotes!
Walk out! Walk out! Walk out!
AUGGIE & FEW STUDENTS rise, clapping hands and chanting.
Morton shoves David aside, knocking him down.
MORTON
(shouts)
Anybody that walks out will be suspended!
STUDENT #3
You can't suspend all of us, bofo
principal!
With that MORE STUDENTS rise, clapping hands, and starting to
walk. Then more. And more. PEDRO watches, scared.
MORTON
I hereby order all of you to your classes
imme---
A STUDENT pulls the plug from the podium to the floor,
disconnecting the PA, and cutting Morton off.
Morton scrambles off stage as David watches the developments
in amazement. As MOST OF THE STUDENTS are walking out the
door, clapping and chanting, PEDRO, then DAVID, finally
follow. The BELL RINGS.
CUT TO:
EXT. SCHOOL GROUNDS/GATE - DAY 110
MORTON tries blocking the gate to the street.
MORTON
Go back! Go to your classes!
The mob pushes him aside; he spots SAL wheeling guitar-toting
RUDY along the sidewalk clapping and encouraging students.
MORTON
Outside agitators!
CUT TO:
INT. CESAR'S CLASSROOM - DAY 111
MORTON rushes in to find CESAR flinging darts at a target with a
picture of Gov. Reagan and his top aide, Bonzo.
MORTON
Torres! Torres! You've got to stop'em!
(CONTINUED)
95.
CONTINUED: 111
CESAR
Stop who? Stop how?
MORTON
The students! They're walking out!
CESAR
Oh, yeah?
Cesar goes to the window.
CESAR (CONT'D)
Well, what do you know about that?
MORTON
You're the only one that can stop'em!
CESAR
Me? I'm afraid they're walking out
'cause of you, not me.
MORTON
Now's not the time for it, Torres.
CESAR
No, it never is.
A chant, "We want Cesar" precedes AUGGIE and a GROUP OF
STUDENTS, who storm into the room.
AUGGIE
Let's go Cesar!
MORTON
Torres, if you walk, don't come back.
It's not a threat; it's a promise!
CESAR
Sorry, guys. I can't walk out.
AUGGIE
A la chingada!
The students pick up Cesar, load him on their shoulders and
make for the door.
MORTON
Torres!!
CESAR
(helplessly)
I'm not walking out!
(CONTINUED)
96.
CONTINUED: (2) 111
MORTON
You're on your way out of this
institution, mister!
CESAR
I guess that makes two of us, Mr. Morton!
STUDENTS
All right!!! Vamonos!
Morton is left standing in an empty classroom.
CUT TO:
EXT. EASTSIDE HIGH STREET - DAY 112
STUDENTS SWARM out of Eastside High, clapping, shouting. From
the sidelines, PEDRO and DAVID watch, still uninvolved.
STUDENTS
Education! Not discrimination! Educa-
tion! Not discrimination! Education!...
Suddenly David erupts clapping and shouting.
DAVID
BILINGUAL Education! Not discrimination!
BILINGUAL Education! Not discrimination!
Clearly, more students are walking than anyone ever
anticipated. David gives Pedro a big smile and a nod. No
longer afraid, Pedro enthusiastically joins in. The two make
for the head of the line, where SAL, RUDY, AUGGIE and CESAR
are coming together. With Cesar still riding atop shoulders,
the group marches off.
ANGLE ON RUDY W/GUITAR - He breaks into a rendition of "YO SOY
CHICANO."
RUDY
Yo soy Chicano, y tengo color. Mexicano
de puro honor.
ANGLE ON SCHOOL BLDG - Teachers look out their windows.
RUDY (CONT'D) (V/O)
Cuando me dicen que hay revolucion
defiendo a mi raza con mucho valor...
FULL SHOT - THE SCENE
CUT TO:
97.
INT. PRINCIPAL MORTON'S OFFICE - DAY 113
A disheveled MORTON talks to police on the phone.
MORTON
What do you mean you can't do anything!?
We've got truancy laws!
(beat)
I don't care what's happening at Lincoln!
MOLINA rushes in; Morton gestures her to wait.
MORTON (CONT'D)
...Garfield? Roosevelt? Wilson?
Belmont?
(pause)
Ten thousand!? Get-get bigger jails!!!
(pause)
What do you mean don't call you, you'll
call me?! Now listen here! I --- I --
(pause)
He hung up!
MOLINA
Some of the teachers want to know if they
can go home. All but 15 students have
walked out.
MORTON
(in schock)
Ten thousand East LA high school students
are walking out.
MOLINA
Oh, my God.
She blesses herself. Morton sighs deeply.
MORTON
There goes our ADA.
CUT TO:
INT. RESTAURANT/KITCHEN - DAY 114
PEDRO bursts through the back door and into the kitchen, where a
BUSBOY handles dirty dishes and SILVIA picks up an order.
PEDRO
(breathless)
Silvia!
SILVIA
Pedro!
PEDRO
I walked out!
(CONTINUED)
98.
CONTINUED: 114
SILVIA
Looks more like you ran.
PEDRO
I did, but I walked out first!
SILVIA
Good! How many walked?
PEDRO
Everybody I think!
SILVIA
Everybody?!
PEDRO
Almost. You should've seen it!
Everybody's marching down the boulevard
to the park. Do you want to come?
SILVIA
I can't right now, Pedro. But I'll try
to get over there a little later.
PEDRO
Si, no?
SILVIA
Si. Right now we're a little busy and
Rocky won't be back for an hour.
PEDRO
Will you marry me, too?
SILVIA
What?!
PEDRO
Will you marry me? I love you, you know.
SILVIA
I know.
PEDRO
And I know you love me.
SILVIA
(amused)
You're pretty sure of yourself, aren't
you?
PEDRO
No. But will you marry me anyway?
(CONTINUED)
99.
CONTINUED: (2) 114
SILVIA
Well, not now! I've got to work and
you've got to go to the rally. Maybe
later.
PEDRO
Maybe later?
SILVIA
Maybe later.
PEDRO
Are you sure?
SILVIA
No. I'm not sure. How am I supposed to
be sure?!
PEDRO
I don't know.
SILVIA
Well, neither do I. So get out of here
a go to the pinche rally!
PEDRO
Are you angry?
SILVIA
No!!! I'm not angry!!!
PEDRO
OK, so I'll see you later?
SILVIA
OK! I'll see you later!!!
PEDRO
Bye.
SILVIA
BYE!!!!!!
Pedro runs out.
TIGHT ON BUSBOY - Rinses dishes; shakes his head.
BUSBOY
Tocadiscos, hombre!
CUT TO:
MUSIC TRACK: YO SOY CHICANO, resumes.
100.
EXT. WHITTIER BLVD - DAY 115
INTERCUT "SEAMLESSLY" FROM REQUIEM 29 (and other stock
footage): THOUSANDS of young Chicanos, including Brown Berets,
march down the Blvd, many with raised fists, giving power
salutes and yells. Picket signs read: "Brown is Beautiful,"
"Unidos estamos."
RUDY V/O (CONT'D)
Tengo todita mi gente, para la
revolucion. Voy a luchar con los pobres,
Pa' que se acabe el borlon.
An array of various picket signs and banners read: "Bilingual
Education, Not Discrimination," "Stop Killing Chicanos in
Vietnam," "End Police Brutality and Gestapo Tactics,"
"Organizense Raza," "Chicano Power," "Bajo con la guerra
vietnamita," "End Cultural Genocide in Our Schools," "La Raza
Unida Jamas Sera Vencida," "El Pueblo Vencera"...
RUDY V/O (CONT'D)
Tengo mi par de caballos, para la
revolucion. Uno se llama canario, Otro
se llama gorrion.
INTERCUT FROM REQUEIM 29: WIDE SHOT OF LAGUNA PARK - Packed.
RUDY V/O (CONT'D)
Tengo mi orgullo, tengo mi fe. Soy
diferente, soy color cafe. Tengo
cultura, tengo corazon, Y no me lo quita
ningun cabron.
FROM R-29: ANGLE ON FOLCLORICAS - Dancing.
FROM R-29: CLOSE UPS - Young Chicano faces.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - DAY 116
AN ENGLISH-LANGUAGE NEWSREPORTER interviews CESAR.
CESAR
This is hardly a simple class-ditching
exercise. These are students that gen-
uinely feel their schools can do a better
job of educating them.
REPORTER
And what has been the response of the
school board and administration thusfar?
CESAR
Instead of opening a dialog, they've
chosen to ignore the students.
(CONTINUED)
101.
CONTINUED: 116
REPORTER
How will they respond now?
CESAR
Hopefully, this peaceful demonstration
will encourage them to listen and move
toward resolving the problems.
CUT TO:
EXT. PARK/STAGE - DAY 117
A placard indentifies a group on stage: EL TEATRO CHINGONCITO
performing "EL PICKET SIGN."
SINGERS
El picket sign, el picket sign, Lo llevo
por todo el dia. El picket sign, el
picket sign, conmigo toda la vida.
ANGLE ON OUR GROUP
AURORA TORRES sits on a blanket in front of the stage,
surrounded by PEDRO, DAVID, GLORIA, SAL & AUGGIE. Gloria
curiously rubs Aurora's belly, as the guys engage in some
elaborate "Chicano" handshakes.
SINGERS (V/O)
Que vivan los estudiantes todos los que
son Chicanos, ellos son la sal hermanos.
El picket sign, el picket sign, lo llevo
por todo el dia...
ANGLE ON BLANCA - She spots Pedro and turns her nose up,
prefering to concentrate on the music.
ANGLE ON PEDRO - Spots Blanca; he looks a little embarrased.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - DAY 118
REPORTER
One last question, Mr. Torres. There are
unconfirmed reports that this is an
international conspiracy directed by
Moscow via Mexico.
CESAR
Bullcaca.
REPORTER
Pardon me?
(CONTINUED)
102.
CONTINUED: 118
CESAR
Do you see any Russians around?
REPORTER
No, but I do see a lot of Mexicans.
CESAR
(amused)
There have been Mexicans around here long
before any of your ancesters started
showing up. And you have no idea of the
trouble we've been having ever since.
CUT TO:
EXT. STAGE - DAY 119
As MC, SAL introduces RUDY on stage.
SAL
I don't have to remind anybody that a
disproportionate number of Chicanos are
dying in Southeast Asia. Our next
speaker is a carnal who's lived on my
block since we were little escuincles.
He's lucky to be back, and we're lucky to
have him say a few words to us. Un
aplauso muy grande para nuestro
companero, Rudy Marin!
Rudy rolls himself forward, as Sal lowers the mike.
ANGLE ON OUR GROUP - Applauding.
ANGLE ON BLANCA - Suddenly interested.
CUT TO:
INT. SILVER DOLLAR BAR 120
CESAR greets Chicano reporters, FLORES & ZARAGOZA at the bar.
CESAR
I hope I didn't keep you guys waiting too
long.
FLORES
No, we were just talking shop.
CESAR
I was being interviewed by this tapado
gringo reporter.
FLORES
Aren't all reporters?
(CONTINUED)
103.
CONTINUED: 120
ZARAGOZA
Que? Tapado o gringo?
CESAR
Present company excluded, both.
CUT TO:
EXT. STAGE/PARK - DAY 121
RUDY
...but I don't hate nobody no more.
Eventhough my Chicano brothers are dying
over there, I know things are going to be
different. Mi raza is coming together;
we're looking out for each other now.
TIGHT ON BLANCA - Moved to tears.
CUT TO:
INT. SILVER DOLLAR BAR 122
CESAR shares a beer with his reporter friends, FLORES &
ZARAGOZA.
CESAR
It's in the questions they ask, and the
conclusions they draw. Frankly, they
could care less.
FLORES
They see the readership or audience only
as White anglo saxon protestant, and they
reinforce all the pre-existing
assumptions and misperceptions they have
about us.
ZARAGOZA
Efectivamente. The English language
media cannot objectively cover issues and
events relating to Latinos, at least not
without more Latino reporters.
FLORES
Tell that to my editor.
ZARAGOZA
Cuando quieras.
CUT TO:
EXT. EASTSIDE HIGH STREET - DAY 123
The ENGLISH LANGUAGE REPORTER interviews Eastside High
Principal, MORTON.
(CONTINUED)
104.
CONTINUED: 123
MORTON
Dialog?! You can't expect them to
understand the complexities of the
educational process. They're being
manipulated.
REPORTER
So what's to be done?
MORTON
If our law enforcement officials had any
guts, they'd come in a put a stop to this
outrageous insurrection.
REPORTER
But it's a peaceful demonstration.
CUT TO:
INT. SILVER DOLLAR BAR 124
CESAR guzzles his drink and gets up to leave.
CESAR
It's time for me to get over to the
rally. I don't want to miss Corky
Gonzalez, and I want to check on my wife.
With a baby in her panza she doesn't get
around too easily.
ZARAGOZA
We'll be over there en un tantito.
FLORES
I don't want to miss Corky either, but I
can't put away beer like that.
CESAR
Well, we'll see you guys in a few
minutes, then.
Cesar pats their shoulders and walks off.
CUT TO:
EXT. STAGE - DAY 125
A banner identifies the group on stage: EL TEATRO CHINGONSOTE
performing a corrido: "DESDE MEXICO HE VENIDO"
PERFORMERS
...En tiempo que hay eleccion es puro
'alo' y 'hay mai fren,' ay, navaja, no te
(more)
(CONTINUED)
105.
CONTINUED: 125
PERFORMERS (Cont'd)
amelles! Ya viene llegando el tren...
CUT TO:
INTERCUT FROM R-29: SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES cross the street in
front of a market. Others in the park move into position.
PERFORMERS (V/O)
...Ya pasada la eleccion, ya no hay mas
'alo' y 'hay mai fren.' Pongan cuidado,
senores, que ese tiempo se acabo.
DEPUTIES RUSH FLEEING CHICANOS.
ANGLE ON OUR GROUP NEAR THE STAGE
CESAR returns to find his WIFE, PEDRO, AUGGIE, DAVID & GLORIA
enjoying the entertainment.
AURORA
So you decided to come back to me. What
was her name?
CESAR
Chamba. Jale.
GLORIA
She almost sounds African.
DAVID
Well, black is beautiful, too, no?
AURORA
(to Cesar)
But not black and blue, like when I get
through with you.
Shouts and screams come from behind them. Cesar cranes to
see.
CESAR
What the hell?
>From on stage, SAL yells.
SAL
Ooo-que-la--! There just had to be a
fight.
AUGGIE
Orale pues! Chingasos!!
PEDRO
Who?! Who's fighting!!
(CONTINUED)
106.
CONTINUED: (2) 125
AUGGIE
(pats fist)
Who cares! Les damos en la madre!
CUT TO:
MUSIC TRACK: The pounding percussion and whailing guitar in
SANTANA'S JINGO underscore the pain and punishment of the
ensuing sequence, a stylized blend of stock and directed
footage.
INTERCUT REQUIEM 29 - A sheriff's deputy blindsides a man
with a club to the head .
ANGLE ON DAVID & GLORIA - David tries to protect his head
with one arm and Gloria with another. A DEPUTY'S CLUB bashes
his arm and sends him to the ground.
INTERCUT REQUIEM 29 - FOUR DEPUTIES carry off a MAN.
ANGLES ON CESAR & SAL - They are carried off by a team of
EIGHT DEPUTIES.
ANGLE ON PEDRO & AURORA TORRES - Pedro restrains Cesar's
frantic wife.
INTERCUT REQUIEM 29 - A tear gas cannister lands in the
middle of a group; a youth throws it back.
ANGLE ON STAGE - RUDY rolls off stage, falling out of his
chair.
INTERCUT REQUIEM 29: A DEPUTY beats a YOUTH, on the ground
kicking in self-defense.
ANGLE ON AUGGIE - A whack from a DEPUTY'S billy club leaves
him on the ground.
ANGLE ON PEDRO & AURORA TORRES - She's gone into labor; Pedro
helps find refuge under the stage, behind the skirts.
INTERCUT REQUIEM 29 - After she throws a bottle, a DEPUTY
blindsides A WOMAN, brutally hitting her in the back of the
head and in the ribs; then facing a barrage of rocks and
bottles, he charges forward.
ANGLE ON BLANCA & RUDY - Tenderly helping Rudy off the
ground, she gets whacked by a PASSING DEPUTY.
UNDER THE STAGE - AURORA TORRES starts an anguishing delivery;
we can read her husband's
ANGLE ON PADDY WAGON - DEPUTIES take some pleasure in roughing
up CESAR and SAL.
(CONTINUED)
107.
CONTINUED: (3) 125
ANGLE ON RUDY & BLANCA - Recovering and showing mutual
concern.
UNDER THE STAGE - PEDRO delivers the TORRES' BABY; he places
the baby wrapped in his shirt in AURORA's arms.
ANOTHER ANGLE ON PEDRO - He sticks his head out, from behind
the stage skirts. Ducking a swipe by the first passing DEPUTY
with a club, Pedro turns, looks the other way not seeing a
SECOND DEPUTY, who passes, leaving Pedro knocked out cold from a
brutal macanazo.
INTERCUT REQUIEM 29 - Swarming and clearing out the park the
DEPUTIES continue to beat and drag away resentful and
resisting CHICANOS.
CUT TO:
EXT. SILVER DOLLAR BAR - DAY (FREEZE FRAME/STOCK STILL) 126
A DEPUTY stands in front of the Silver Dollar pointing a tear-
gas rifle into the saloon.
INT. SILVER DOLLAR BAR 127
Ready to leave, ZARAGOZA and FLORES stand up and down their
beers.
SFX: The deafening blast from the deputy's rifle reverberates,
ending JINGO.
CUT TO BLACK.
FADE IN:
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY 128
SILVIA stands by PEDRO'S bed, as the TV SOFTLY BROADCASTS news
in English. An unconscious PEDRO breathes deeply, his head
bandaged.
NEWSCASTER
...Several community organizations have
demanded an investigation into the
actions of the County Sheriff's
Department that left two Mexican-American
journalists dead and a mile of
destruction along East Los Angeles'
Whittier Blvd, two days ago.
(beat)
While community spokespersons decry the
Department's actions as unprovoked,
excessive and racially motivated,
official sources maintain that the
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
108.
CONTINUED: 128
NEWSCASTER (CONTÕD)
Department acted appropriately and
justifiably to disperse rock and bottle
throwing demonstrators before they could
do damage to public property or loot
local businesses...
Pedro comes to.
PEDRO
(groggy)
The baby!...What happened? Is the baby
OK? Where am I? How did I get here?
SILVIA
You're in the hospital. You were hit in
the head. And you didn't have a baby.
PEDRO
No baby?
SILVIA
I found you sleeping under the stage at
Laguna Park like a wino.
She takes a letter from the dresser.
SILVIA
Here. Your mother left this for you a
little while ago.
PEDRO
My mother?
SILVIA
Yes, your mother! You must have been hit
pretty hard! No baby, but you do have a
mother.
PEDRO
(opens letter)
It's all blurry.
SILVIA
Here, let me. (reads) A caray!
PEDRO
Que?
SILVIA
Contingent upon your graduation, you've
been accepted to LA State!
PEDRO
Chingao! I never thought I'd! --- I
gotta graduate, huh?
(CONTINUED)
109.
CONTINUED: (2) 128
SILVIA
You still might. I don't think Eastside
High wants you for another year.
PEDRO
Did we get married yet?
SILVIA
No. You decided to have the baby first.
PEDRO
Oh. Well, shouldn't we get married,
then?
SILVIA
After.
PEDRO
After? After the next baby?
SILVIA
After your graduation.
PEDRO
After graduation!
SILVIA
From college.
PEDRO
Oh.
CUT TO:
INT. ANOTHER HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY 129
In bed with the baby at her side, AURORA reads EL GRITO DEL
PUEBLO, a local independent newspaper, with the headline: ELA
COMMUNITY DENOUNCES RACIST ATTACK AND MURDER OF FLORES &
ZARAGOZA;" and a subheadline: "TORRES AND 13 STUDENTS FACE
CONSPIRACY CHARGES IN ELA WALK-OUTS." A still of the Deputy
shooting into the Silver Dollar Bar is displayed front and
center. With flowers in hand, CESAR pokes his head through
the door, enters and approaches his wife's bed.
AURORA
Mira, mijita. Tu papi, the jailbird.
CESAR
(taking baby)
Que linda!
AURORA
They're charging you with conspiracy. Do
they have a case?
(CONTINUED)
110.
CONTINUED: 129
CESAR
It depends on how much they have to make
up. I don't know why the hell the cops
had to be there. We weren't hurting
anyone.
AURORA
They said in the paper that someone threw
a rock or a bottle at them.
CESAR
And that started the whole thing?
AURORA
You know how they treat us.
CESAR
Something has to be done about the deputy
that shot Ben and Emilio.
AURORA
It won't happen, Cesar.
CESAR
But these are journalists! Educated
professionals!
AURORA
Pero son Mexicanos.
CESAR
I know....I'm suspended till June. Then
they'll decide what to do with me.
AURORA
Ay, Cesar. It's a good thing I have the
savings.
CESAR
(kisses her)
Can you believe some teachers say they're
hurt 'cause they've tried so hard to do
a good job.
AURORA
Poor babies. Did the cops bust their
heads, too?
CESAR
They'd be screaming bloody murder.
AURORA
Over 10 thousand students, and their
families. I still can't believe it
happened.
(CONTINUED)
111.
CONTINUED: (2) 129
CESAR
We've got pictures and film. They won't
be able to write this one out of the
history books....We have to name this
hermosura.
AURORA
She has a name. Adelita. Because she
was born into the revolution.
CESAR
Not bad. I have a middle name for her.
AURORA
Oh, no. Well, at least she's not a boy.
That saves her from Cuauhtemoc or
Moctezuma.
CESAR
Tonantzin.
AURORA
Ay, Dios. Sounds like a pain reliever.
CUT TO:
SUPER: JUNE
EXT. MAN ON THE STREET - DAY 130
He reads the DAILY METROPOLITAN with the headline: "District
to Consider Proposals for Bilingual-Bicultural Education;
Teacher Reassigned For Fall; Authorities Prepare for ELA
Graduation Disturbances."
EXT. HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM STEPS - DAY 131
ANGLE ON DOORS - Bursting open with a flow of CAPPED & GOWNED
GRADUATES.
ANGLE ON PEDRO - His hand is taken and pulled by VICKY toward
SILVIA.
VICKY
Andale, Pedro
PEDRO
David!
ANGLE ON DAVID & GLORIA - He pulls her along with his casted
arm.
DAVID
Come on.
(CONTINUED)
112.
CONTINUED: 131
ANGLE ON PEDRO'S FAMILY
Pedro's MOTHER, SISTER, FATHER w/camera, waiting. SAL &
AUGGIE stand off to the side.
ANGLE ON SAL & AUGGIE
SAL
That's just the beginning! The Plan de
Aztlan will lay out a program of action
to deal with all those issues!
Especially when cops get away with
beating up women and children and blowing
away journalists.
AUGGIE
How can you talk about going to this
chingon Southwest Chicano student
conference, when you won't even be a
student?
SAL
If I make up my fifteen credits and get
into the university next year, what does
that make me?
AUGGIE
A year behind David.
SAL
Chale, a year to do some organizing and
heavy-duty reading, brother! Then we'll
see who's behind!
AUGGIE
And what if we get convicted of
conspiracy charges and we go to jail?
SAL
O.K., so I don't go to the conference.
ANGLE ON RUDY & BLANCA - She holds the door open and awkwardly
helps him out.
ANGLE ON GROUP - PEDRO arrives with SILVIA, VICKY, DAVID &
GLORIA right behind.
DAVID
Hey, you guys! Guess what! Gloria's
going with me in September!
GLORIA
He's not the only one who got admitted to
the University of Aztlan, but he thinks
I'm going with him.
(CONTINUED)
113.
CONTINUED: (2) 131
YOLANDA
Aztlan?
DAVID
You know! The home of the Aztecs before
they went chasing the eagle and the
snake.
PEDRO
It's now the Southwest U.S.
YOLANDA
Are the guys any good there?
DAVID
Well, I'm going. What does that tell
you, chulita?
YOLANDA
Maybe Gloria can do better.
DAVID
What do you know, mocosa? Besides boys
can mess up your studies, right Gloria?
GLORIA
Then your head, your body and your life!
AUGGIE
Cold blooded! That was from the North
Pole, sister!
ANGLE ON BLANCA - Looking disheveled and ragged as she
hustles bringing RUDY over to the GROUP.
RUDY
OK, raza! I'm here. I even brushed my
teeth because I'm going to smile, eh.
NEW ANGLE - THE GROUP
SAL
Wait a minute! There's Cesar!
ANGLE ON CESAR AND MANNY
They embrace; theyÕve reconciled. Sal grabs CESAR and pulls
him over to the group.
DAVID
Hey, man. What's the news?
CESAR
The talk is Chicano teachers, Chicano
studies, and the district is listening.
(CONTINUED)
114.
CONTINUED: (3) 131
PEDRO
Where are they sending you, Cesar?
CESAR
The Valley. Monroe High.
PEDRO
IsnÕt Monroe the one...?
CESAR
HeÕs the one. You win some, you lose
some.
PEDRO
We haven't lost! These are new
beginnings. La lucha continua.
Cesar smiles and extends his hand to a developing and now
former pupil.
NEW ANGLE
PEDRO (V/O)
I couldnÕt believe IÕd said that to him.
But after all that had happened, we were
all somehow different, stronger,
unafraid.
PEDRO (CONT'D)
OK, you guys. Let's get together. 'Apa,
are you ready?
PEDRO (V/O)
Like I said when we started, this is a
story with an ending like a beginning.
Maybe itÕs like some continuing saga that
wonÕt end because there are so many ways
to wage our struggles.
Pedro & the GROUP, SR. PARRILLA & OTHER PARENTS approach the
street to position themselves to take a group shot as
SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES in riot gear assemble across the street.
A tense SILENCE comes over STUDENTS AND FAMILIES on one side
of the street facing menacing deputies on the other.
Suddenly, a hand removes Auggie's GRADUATION CAP and launches
it across the street, striking a deputy squarely in the chest.
The sides face each other momentarily until the crowd backs
away, expecting an attack.
AUGGIE breaks from the crowd, crosses the street, cautiously
picks up the cap, places it on his head and backs away.
Slowly rejoining the group, he ceremoniously moves the tassle
from one side to the other. SR. PARRILLA steps in front of
the group to set up his shot and
(CONTINUED)
115.
CONTINUED: (4) 131
WE SEE THE GROUP framed through the lens of a HANDHELD CAMERA.
AUGGIE
(un grito)
Ayyyyyyyyyy! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ayyy!
Auggie raises both arms, Sal gives a power salute, David
raises his cast, while Pedro and Cesar give peace signs. Rudy
bears his teeth and Blanca straightens up. The SHUTTER
CLICKS and we
DISSOLVE TO:
The resulting IMAGE of the GROUP supered over a stylized
MONTAGE of STUDENTS & FAMILIES in orderly dispersement with
the DEPUTIES never moving. A rousing version of "EL CORRIDO
DE AZTLAN" erupts:
SINGER (V/O)
De los files a los campos, De los barrios
a los pueblos, Donde quiera que haya
raza, Declaramos nuestro plan. Nuestra
gente es la raza, Y nuestro pueblo es
Aztlan Ay, ay, ay, ay. Al grito de
guerra. A liberar a nuestra gente Y
hasta morir por nuestras tierras....
SUPER: After one year, conspiracy charges were
dropped against Cesar and the students
for lack of evidence.
An investigation led to no action taken
against the deputy that fired the deadly
teargas projectile into the Silver Dollar
Bar.
As the images of the dispersing STUDENTS & FAMILIES fade,
leaving the GROUP SHOT, the CAMERA PANS the following
principals and their SUPERIMPOSED biographical info:
PEDRO PARRILLA Newspaper
Reporter DAVID LOPEZ Legal Aid Attorney
SAL RAZO Ph.D., Professor of Political
Science
RUDY MARIN Handicapped Therapist/
Special Ed Teacher
AUGGIE CAZARES High School Spanish
/Adult ESL Teacher
/ Girls Softball Coach
GLORIA RIVERA Broadcast Journalist
(CONTINUED)
116.
CONTINUED: (5) 131
SILVIA SEVILLA After her graduation
she started a pre-
school, became a children's
rights activists and married Pedro
after his college graduation.
CESAR TORRES Ph.D.,
Historiographer
The energy and heighten consciousness of
Chicanos in the late 60's and early 70's
led to unprecedented achievements in
bilingual-bicultural education and
faculty development through the late
70's.
Unfortunately in the 1990's, due to a
decade of budget cutting and program
dismantling, drop-out rates as high as 40-
50%, overcrowding, deteriorating
buildings and few bilingual-bicultural
teachers prevail at Los Angeles Latino
high schools.
Equally unfortunate, many sectors of the
Latino Community continue to suffer
brutal and racially-motivated treatment
at the hands of law enforcement.
CREDITS ROLL
THE END