Coco Page #16

63.

Héctor jumps from the stairway and crashes on the ground

below. But his bones reassemble immediately.

HÉCTOR (CONT'D)

Keep up, chamaco, come on!

Héctor leads Miguel through a stone archway.

EXT. SHANTY TOWN

Graffiti on the archway depicts skeletal angels with wings

the color of marigolds.

Inside the archway, a group of ratty skeletons huddle around

a burning trashcan and laugh raucously. They are gray and

dusty, not unlike Héctor, but there's a camaraderie about

them.

RATTY GROUP:

COUSIN HÉCTOR!!

HÉCTOR

Eh! These guys!

RATTY MEMBER:

HÉCTOR!!

HÉCTOR

Hey Tío! Qué onda!

MIGUEL:

These people are all your family?

HÉCTOR

Eh, in a way... We're all the ones

with no photos or ofrendas, no

family to go home to. Nearly

forgotten, you know?

(beat)

So, we all call each other cousin,

or tío, or whatever.

They approach three old ladies playing cards around a wooden

crate. One, TÍA CHELO looks up.

TÍA CHELO

Héctor!

HÉCTOR

Tía Chelo! He-hey!

Héctor hands them a bottle.

64.

OLD TIAS:

Muchas gracias!

HÉCTOR

Hey, hey! Save some for me! Is

Chicharrón around?

TÍA CHELO

In the bungalow. I don't know if

he's in the mood for visitors...

HÉCTOR

Who doesn't like a visit from

Cousin Héctor?

INT. SHANTY BUNGALOW TENT

Héctor holds the curtain open. Miguel and Dante walk in.

The tent is cramped, dark, and quiet. Piles are organized

everywhere:
stacks of old dishes, a drawer full of pocket

watches, magazines, records. This place belongs to a

collector of things. Miguel almost knocks one stack over.

Héctor spies a hammock piled with old junk, a dusty hat on

top. He lifts the hat and finds the grumpy face of

CHICHARRÓN.

HÉCTOR

Buenas noches, Chicharrón!

CHICHARRÓN

I don't want to see your stupid

face, Héctor.

HÉCTOR

C'mon, it's Día de Muertos! I

brought you a little offering!

CHICHARRÓN

Get out of here...

HÉCTOR

I would, Cheech, but the thing

is... me and my friend, Miguel, we

really need to borrow your guitar.

CHICHARRÓN

My guitar?!

HÉCTOR

Yes?

65.

CHICHARRÓN

My prized, beloved guitar...?

HÉCTOR

I promise we'll bring it right

back.

Chicharrón sits up, incensed.

CHICHARRÓN

Like the time you promised to bring

back my van?

HÉCTOR

Uh...

CHICHARRÓN

Or my mini-fridge?

HÉCTOR

Ah, you see­-

CHICHARRÓN

Or my good napkins? My lasso? My

femur?!

HÉCTOR

No, no, not like those times.

CHICHARRÓN

Where's my femur?! You--

Chicharrón raises his finger to give a tongue lashing. But

then he weakens and collapses in his hammock, a golden

flicker flashing through his bones. Héctor rushes forward.

HÉCTOR

Whoa, whoa -- you okay, amigo?

CHICHARRÓN

I'm fading, Héctor. I can feel it.

(looking to guitar)

I couldn't even play that thing if

I wanted to.

(beat)

You play me something.

Héctor looks surprised.

HÉCTOR

You know I don't play anymore,

Cheech. The guitar's for the kid--

66.

CHICHARRÓN

You want it, you got to earn it...

Héctor sighs, then reaches over Chicharrón and takes the

instrument.

HÉCTOR

Only for you, amigo. Any requests?

Héctor begins tuning the guitar.

CHICHARRÓN

You know my favorite, Héctor.

Héctor begins a lovely, lilting tune. Chicharrón smiles.

Miguel's eyes go wide at Héctor's skill.

HÉCTOR

(singing)

WELL EVERYONE KNOWS JUANITA,

HER EYES EACH A DIFFERENT COLOR.

HER TEETH STICK OUT,

AND HER CHIN GOES IN,

AND HER...

Héctor eyes Miguel.

HÉCTOR (CONT'D)

...KNUCKLES THEY DRAG ON THE FLOOR.

CHICHARRÓN

Those aren't the words!

HÉCTOR

There are children present.

(continuing)

HER HAIR IS LIKE A BRIAR,

SHE STANDS IN A BOW-LEGGED STANCE.

AND IF I WEREN'T SO UGLY,

SHE'D POSSIBLY GIVE ME A CHANCE!

Héctor finishes with a soft flourish.

Chicharrón is tickled, joyful. For a moment he's present and

bright.

CHICHARRÓN

Brings back memories. Gracias...

His eyes close. He looks at peace. Héctor looks sad.

Suddenly, the edges of Chicharrón's bones begin to glow. A

soft, beautiful light. Then... he dissolves into dust.

67.

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