Coco Page #15

Miguel brightens. Frida turns back to the rehearsal.

FRIDA:

The dancers exit, the music fades,

the lights go out! And Ernesto de

la Cruz rises to the stage!

A silhouette rises from a trap door. Miguel leans forward.

A spotlight shines on the silhouette revealing it to be a

mannequin.

MIGUEL:

Huh?

59.

FRIDA:

He does a couple of songs, the sun

rises, everyone cheers--

Miguel hustles up to Frida.

MIGUEL:

Excuse me, where's the real de la

Cruz?

FRIDA:

Ernesto doesn't do rehearsals.

He's too busy hosting that fancy

party at the top of his tower.

She gestures out a large window to a GRAND ESTATE lit up in

the distance, atop a steep hill.

Suddenly Héctor rounds the corner, out of breath.

HÉCTOR

Chamaco! You can't run off on me

like that! C'mon, stop pestering

the celebrities...

Héctor pulls Miguel away, but Miguel won't be wrangled.

MIGUEL:

You said my great-great grandpa

would be here! He's halfway across

town, throwing some big party.

HÉCTOR

That bum! Who doesn't show up to

his own rehearsal?

MIGUEL:

If you're such good friends, how

come he didn't invite you?

HÉCTOR

He's YOUR great-great grandpa. How

come he didn't invite YOU?

Héctor walks away from Miguel toward the musicians.

HÉCTOR

Hey Gustavo! You know anything

about this party?

60.

GUSTAVO:

It's the hot ticket. But if you're

not on the guest list you're never

getting in, Chorizo...

MUSICIANS:

Hey, it's Chorizo! / Choricito!

HÉCTOR

Ha ha, very funny guys. Very

funny.

MIGUEL:

Chorizo?

GUSTAVO:

(to Miguel, re:
Héctor)

Oh, this guy's famous! Go on, go

on, ask him how he died!

Miguel looks to Héctor, eyebrow cocked.

HÉCTOR

I don't want to talk about it.

GUSTAVO:

He choked on some CHORIZO!

The musicians laugh. Miguel tries to stifle a giggle.

HÉCTOR

I didn't choke, okay -- I got food

poisoning, which is a big

difference!

More laughter.

HÉCTOR

(to Miguel)

This is why I don't like

musicians... bunch of self-

important jerks!

MIGUEL:

Hey, I'm a musician.

HÉCTOR

You are?

61.

GUSTAVO:

Well, if you really want to get to

Ernesto, there IS that music

competition at the Plaza de la

Cruz. Winner gets to play at his

party...

Miguel's wheels start turning.

HÉCTOR

No, no, no, chamaco, you are loco

if you think--

Miguel looks to his hands, progressed in their skeletal

transformation.

MIGUEL:

I need to get my great-great

grandfather's blessing.

Miguel looks up to Héctor.

MIGUEL (CONT'D)

You know where I can get a guitar?

Héctor sighs.

HÉCTOR

I know a guy...

CUT TO:

EXT. UNDERPASS TUNNEL - NIGHT

Pepita sweeps across the sky, landing in a darkened corner.

She casts a shadow on the wall, then lurches into the light.

She sniffs out the spot where Héctor painted Miguel's face,

finding a canister of shoe polish. She lets out a low growl.

The Dead Riveras follow after her.

MAMÁ IMELDA

Have you found him, Pepita? Have

you found our boy?

Pepita breathes on the ground, revealing a footprint. It

glows for a moment. The family leans in to inspect.

TÍA ROSITA

A footprint!

62.

PAPÁ JULIO

It's a Rivera boot!

TÍO OSCAR

Size seven...

TÍO FELIPE

...and a half.

TÍA VICTORIA

Pronated.

MAMÁ IMELDA

Miguel.

Pepita leans forward, breathes again, and the glow spreads to

reveal a trail of footprints.

CUT TO:

EXT. NARROW STAIRWAY

Miguel follows Héctor down a steep stairway. Miguel looks to

his bony knuckles, concern on his face.

HÉCTOR

Why the heck would you wanna be a

musician?

MIGUEL:

My great-great grandpa was a

musician.

HÉCTOR

...Who spent his life performing

like a monkey for complete

strangers. Blech, no, no thank

you, guácala, no...

MIGUEL:

Whadda you know?

As Miguel descends the staircase, de la Cruz's distant

glowing tower is obscured by old forgotten buildings.

MIGUEL:

So, how far is this guitar anyway?

HÉCTOR

We're almost there...

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