Babel Page #15

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YUSSEF (CONT'D)

They're shooting at us.

Abdullah stands before his sons and lifts up the rifle as a

sign of surrender. The shots cease for a few seconds, but

they suddenly start again.

ABDULLAH:

Get down. Run.

The three shepherds run, huddling as low as they can. More

shots. They desperately climb between the rocks. Bullets

whiz past everywhere.

Abdullah makes one last attempt at surrender. He lifts up

the rifle again, sets it on the ground and backs away. But

the gesture is in vain, as the bullets still rush past.

They begin to run again when Ahmed is hit in one of his

calves. He collapses and rolls downhill. Abdullah hurries

to rescue him and drags him behind a rock.

Ahmed won't stop screaming from the pain.

AHMED:

They shot me, they shot me...

78.

Yussef dives on his belly and snakes his way through the

rocks. He gets the rifle, loads it and aims at the trucks.

He shoots without hitting anything. Abdullah turns to him.

ABDULLAH:

Don't shoot, don't shoot!

Yussef doesn't pay attention. He loads again and aims.

138 P.O.V. RIFLE SIGHTS -- DAY

Yussef aims carefully. He picks out one of the cops who has

been shooting barely protected by one of the trucks' fenders.

Yussef shoots and the policeman collapses.

139 EXT. HAMLET "LOS LOBOS" -- LATER

The religious ceremony has ended and everyone throws rice at

the bride and groom. Debbie and Mike enjoy doing it.

Several cowboys, among them Santiago, have gone to their

trucks and are loudly honking their horns.

Music begins to blare.

140 EXT. HAMLET "LOS LOBOS" -- DAY

The band plays various Norte.o songs. Everyone waits for

the music to start. After a while a couple starts to timidly

dance. Then another, and another, until the dance floor

becomes a sway of heads moving to the same rhythm.

Amelia dances with Mike and Debbie with Santiago; both Amelia

and Santiago show them a few steps.

SANTIAGO:

(To Debbie, in Spanish)

Like this, look...

He kicks his heel back, then forward. Debbie watches,

entertained. Jacinto (55), overweight and with a good-natured

face, moves closer to Amelia and watches her dance for a

while, she notices and stops, embarrassed.

JACINTO:

(Both in Spanish)

Amelia, will you let me dance with

you?

Amelia remains unperturbed, without answering him.

JACINTO (CONT'D)

I've been asking you for a dance for

30 years. Does it really cost you

that much?

79.

Amelia stares at him.

AMELIA:

I don't think your wife would have

liked that.

JACINTO:

C'mon Amelia, she's been dead for 10

years.

Amelia looks around and then turns to him.

AMELIA:

Okay, just one.

Jacinto chivalrously takes her by the waist and they begin

to dance. Santiago watches them, amused, and continues to

dance with Mike and Debbie.

Jacinto draws Amelia closer and they kiss gently.

141 EXT. HAMLET "LOS LOBOS" -- NIGHT

Beer starts to flow and some of the guests get overbearing.

There is a small scuffle at the edge of the dance floor, but

order is soon restored.

The guitarist in the band stops the music.

GUITAR PLAYER:

(All in Spanish)

Now, Luis and Patricia, come forward.

Everyone makes way for the bride and groom.

GUITAR PLAYER (CONT'D)

We-want-cake, we-want-cake...

The audience and the band sing the little cake song. A giant,

tacky wedding cake, covered in cream, arrives. The bride

grabs the knife and gets ready to cut it.

GUITAR PLAYER (CONT'D)

Take- a- bite, take- a- bite...

The bride gives into the ritual. She tries to take a bite

out of the cake without using her hands and someone pushes

her face into the cream. Debbie and Mike laugh.

A cowboy pulls out a gun and, festively, fires. Debbie is

frightened and goes to hide behind Amelia.

AMELIA:

Don't worry, it's ok.

The man puts the gun away and walks back onto the dance floor

as if nothing had happened.

80.

Luis asks the band to stop the music for a little bit and he

takes the microphone.

LUIS:

Good evening everyone... Hey... I

want to say something. Love came

today, it came here all pretty...

(he taps his heart)

It's kind of like a little mouse is

crawling inside of me. Because that's

what love is, it's like your insides

get all twisted into knots... and

that, baby, is what you've taught

me. And because you've shown me, I

want to tell everyone that hopefully

love will get inside them

too...because it feels so good,

really...Thanks a lot and keep havin'

a good time...

Everybody applauds and Luis steps down from the dais, proud

of his speech. He goes to Amelia and gives her a very long

and loving hug.

142 EXT. HAMLET "LOS LOBOS" -- NIGHT

Night has fallen. The music plays full blast. Everyone

dances, people start to make out, the drunk collapse.

Patricia breathes regularly with her hands on her belly.

Luis drinks beer beside her while he watches the guests dance.

Debbie falls asleep on Amelia's lap while Mike watches the

party, overwhelmed.

MIKE:

When are my parents getting back?

The question catches Amelia off guard.

AMELIA:

Pronto...muy pronto...

MIKE:

They told me they were coming back

today.

AMELIA:

Se quedaron m.s rato.

The answer seem to makes Mike anxious.

MIKE:

My dad's coming back with my mom.

AMELIA:

Yes. Yes he is.

81.

MIKE:

I don't want him to leave again.

AMELIA:

He won't.

He starts crying.

MIKE:

I miss Pat.

Amelia embraces him and kisses his head.

AMELIA:

Yo tambi.n hijito, yo tambi.n.

The boy, tired and sleepy, leans his head on Amelia.

143 EXT. HAMLET "LOS LOBOS" -- NIGHT

Santiago, a little bit drunk, and Amelia, carrying Debbie

who has passed out, say goodbye to Luis and Patricia. Sleepy,

Mike leans on the hood of the car.

LUIS:

(All in Spanish)

Stay the night.

AMELIA:

I can't. I have to take these kids

home and it's almost dawn.

LUIS:

But Santiago's pretty drunk.

SANTIAGO:

Drunk my ass. I'm fine. I'll go

and come back in an hour.

PATRICIA:

Stay for another while, the party's

just getting started.

AMELIA:

I wish, but these kids have to go to

school.

Santiago opens the door for Amelia, who carefully sets Debbie

on the back seat. Mike gets in and as soon as he does he

nestles in to go to sleep.

AMELIA (CONT'D)

See you soon, son.

Luis and Amelia hug each other. Then Amelia hugs her daughterin-

law.

82.

AMELIA (CONT'D)

Congratulations, dear.

(She points at her

belly)

Take care of my grandson 'cause I'm

dying to be a grandmother.

She gives her a kiss and gets in the car. Luis turns to

Santiago.

LUIS:

You sure you're not too drunk?

SANTIAGO:

Drunk my ass. I'm fine. I'll be

back soon.

Santiago stumbles to the driver's side and opens the door.

144 EXT. DESERT HIGHWAY -- NIGHT

The night spreads over the highway that cuts across the

desert. Santiago's car drives along, illuminating the cacti.

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