Babel Page #3

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AMELIA:

(In English)

None, because he started to like

quesadillas.

Amelia strokes his hair. A car horn honks. Amelia looks

out and sees a school bus parked outside the house.

DEBBIE:

Is the bus here?

AMELIA:

(In Spanish)

Yes, but today you're not going to

school.

DEBBIE:

Why?

AMELIA:

We have things to do.

Amelia turns around and walks out to the street. Through

the door we can see her saying something to the bus driver.

The school bus leaves and Amelia walks back into the house.

18 INT. T.V. ROOM, L.A. HOUSE -- DAY

Debbie and Mike are watching cartoons while Amelia talks on

the phone.

AMELIA:

(Both in Spanish)

I just want you to take of them for

today.

WOMAN (O.S.)

I can't, Mrs. Black is home.

AMELIA:

And she won't go out?

WOMAN (O.S.)

No, I don't think so.

AMELIA:

Ok, thanks. I'll call you tomorrow.

She hangs up and remains pensive.

13.

19 EXT. STREET, LOS ANGELES -- DAY

Amelia and the kids walk down a street in Santa Monica.

20 EXT. LUCIA'S HOUSE, LOS ANGELES -- DAY

Amelia and the kids are standing in front of a house, talking

with Lucia (22), who is dressed in a black and white uniform.

LUCIA:

(Both in Spanish)

I can't Amelia.

AMELIA:

Please, it's my son's wedding. I

helped you out with that thing with

your boyfriend.

LUCIA:

I really can't.

AMELIA:

Just for the day, Lucia. I'll be

back for them tonight.

LUCIA:

And what do I tell Mrs. Black?

AMELIA:

Tell her they're your nephews.

Lucia looks down at the blonde-haired, blue-eyed children.

LUCIA:

Yeah right, they look just like

me...with this gringa look I have.

21 INT. CHILDREN'S ROOM, L.A. HOUSE -- DAY

Amelia is packing the children's clothes in a small suitcase.

Debbie and Mike, curious, watch her.

MIKE:

Are we going to see your house?

AMELIA:

Yes, you're going to see my house.

MIKE:

Is it far?

AMELIA:

(In Spanish)

Not very.

14.

22 EXT. LOS ANGELES HOUSE -- DAY

A run-down '88 Ford Pinto parks in front of the house and

honks its horn. The front door opens and Amelia walks out,

carrying the small suitcase, with the two kids.

Santiago (24), a young Mexican with light eyes.

SANTIAGO:

(Both in Spanish)

Good morning Aunt Amelia.

AMELIA:

Good morning.

Santiago, surprised, looks at the children.

SANTIAGO:

Are they coming?

AMELIA:

I couldn't find anyone to leave them

with. Their parents aren't coming

back today.

SANTIAGO:

Why bring them, they're just going

to make trouble.

AMELIA:

They're good kids.

SANTIAGO:

I know a woman who can take care of

them.

AMELIA:

Santiago, I have to take them. I

can't leave them with just anybody.

SANTIAGO:

What if you lose your job?

AMELIA:

Come on, don't tempt the fates.

Amelia opens the door for the children to get in.

23 EXT. CASBAH TAMNOUGALT, MOROCCO-- DAY

Richard (45), tall, thin, weathered, and Susan (38), good-

looking, with an athletic body, visit the impressive Casbah

with a group of American, French and English tourists. Most

of them are old, with a few couples in their forties or

fifties.

15.

Anwar (30), a man with a kind face, is the tour guide showing

them around.

ANWAR:

(In English, with an

Arabic accent)

The Berbers built these kasbahs.

They made them like forts and here

they would reside after finishing

their caravans.

Richard listens attentively. Susan looks hot.

RICHARD:

This place is beautiful, don't you

think?

SUSAN:

(not very

enthusiastically)

Yeah, yeah it's very pretty...

Anwar walks toward one end of the aisles and calls the group.

ANWAR:

Now, I'd like to show you the

materials that were used to build

the walls...

The herd moves docile toward Anwar's voice.

24 EXT. SMALL EATERY, MOROCCAN DESERT -- LATER

The group of tourists spread about a small eatery with open

air tables on a dusty terrace. A bus is parked behind them.

At a table, on one end of the terrace with views to a cluster

of mountains, Richard and Susan look through some menus.

Richard seems at ease in this place. Susan appears to be

bothered by the dust and otherness.

A waiter brings a plate and some cutlery.

WAITER:

(in broken English)

You want to order?

RICHARD:

I'll have a chicken cous-cous and a

Coke, please.

SUSAN:

What do you have that doesn't have

fat in it?

WAITER:

Everything is delicious.

16.

Susan reads the menu again.

SUSAN:

I'll have the fried eggplant and a

diet Coke.

WAITER:

We don't have diet Coke.

SUSAN:

Then a regular Coke.

The waiter smiles and goes to place the order. Susan takes

out a small bottle with antibacterial gel, cleans her hands

and then starts wiping the plate and the cutlery thoroughly.

Richard looks at the mountain range through a pair of

binoculars. He spots a hawk flying over the plains.

RICHARD:

Look, look:
a hawk.

Richard follows the hawk with his binoculars for a few seconds

and then puts them down.

RICHARD (CONT'D)

This country is incredible.

Susan remains silent and then turns to look at him.

SUSAN:

Richard, why did we come here?

RICHARD:

What d'you mean why? I thought you

would like it.

SUSAN:

Really:
why are we here?

Richard knows that Susan's answer implies something else.

RICHARD:

To forget everything, to be alone.

Susan, sardonically gestures toward the other tourists with

her chin.

SUSAN:

Alone?

Richard sighs in disappointment. The waiter arrives with

the Cokes and the food, which does not look particularly

appetizing. He leaves everything on the table and goes.

Richard is about to pour his drink when Susan stops him.

17.

SUSAN (CONT'D)

Throw out the ice.

RICHARD:

The Coke is warm.

SUSAN:

Yeah, but you don't know what kind

of water is in there.

She grabs Richard's glass and tosses out the ice. Then she

does the same thing with hers. They are quiet for a moment.

RICHARD:

Why can't you ever relax. You're

always stressed.

SUSAN:

You're the one stressing me out.

You're why I can't relax.

RICHARD:

You could if you tried.

SUSAN:

Tried? Don't you think I tried?

RICHARD:

You're never going to forgive me,

are you?

SUSAN:

Do you even know what I'm talking

about?

RICHARD:

Susan, please; we didn't come all

this way just to argue.

Susan gets angry and faces him.

SUSAN:

Oh, we didn't? Then when are we

supposed to "argue"? Or are you

planning on running away again?

Richard sighs, defeated. They stop speaking and sit looking

at the mountains.

25 EXT. BUS -- MOMENTS LATER

The tourists crowd around to board the bus. Some boys in

rags approach to sell them trinkets.

BOYS:

Stilo...stilo...

18.

Some of the tourists buy them. They come to Susan, who

becomes instantly uncomfortable. She gestures with her hand

to say they have no money, but the kids insist.

BOYS (CONT'D)

Stilo...stilo...

SUSAN:

I don't have any money... I don't

have any...

Richard takes off his binoculars and gives them to the

youngest of the boys (7), who receives them with wide eyes.

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