Coco Page #17

Miguel is stunned, concerned.

Héctor picks up his shot glass, lifts it in honor, and

drinks. He places it rim down next to Chicharrón's glass,

which is still full.

MIGUEL:

Wait... what happened?

HÉCTOR

He's been forgotten.

(beat)

When there's no one left in the

living world who remembers you, you

disappear from this world. We call

it the "Final Death."

MIGUEL:

Where did he go?

HÉCTOR

No one knows.

Miguel has a thought.

MIGUEL:

But I've met him... I could

remember him, when I go back...

HÉCTOR

No, it doesn't work like that,

chamaco. Our memories... they have

to be passed down by those who knew

us in life -- in the stories they

tell about us. But there's no one

left alive to pass down Cheech's

stories...

Miguel is deep in thought.

Héctor puts his hand on Miguel's back, suddenly cheerful.

HÉCTOR (CONT'D)

Hey, it happens to everyone

eventually.

He gives Miguel the guitar.

HÉCTOR (CONT'D)

C'mon "de la Cruzcito." You've got

a contest to win.

68.

Héctor throws open the curtain and exits. Miguel looks back

at the glasses, then turns and follows.

EXT. LAND OF THE DEAD

Héctor and Miguel hang off the back of a moving trolley.

Miguel holds Héctor's photo in his hands, scanning it, while

Héctor fiddles on the guitar idly.

MIGUEL:

You told me you hated musicians,

you never said you were one.

HÉCTOR

How do you think I knew your great-

great grandpa? We used to play

music together. Taught him

everything he knows.

Héctor plays a fancy riff, but botches the last note.

MIGUEL:

No manches! You played with

Ernesto de la Cruz, the greatest

musician of all time?

HÉCTOR

Ha-ha, you're funny! Greatest

eyebrows of all time maybe but his

music, eh, not so much.

MIGUEL:

You don't know what you're talking

about...

The trolley arrives at the stop for the PLAZA DE LA CRUZ.

There's a giant statue of Ernesto de la Cruz in the center.

Miguel pockets Héctor's photo.

HÉCTOR

Welcome to the Plaza de la Cruz!

(beat)

Showtime, chamaco!

Héctor hands the guitar to Miguel.

QUICK CUTS:
Energetic plaza shots. Lights and colors,

beautiful dresses, violins, pyrotechnic bullfight, dancing.

A t-shirt vendor is selling "de la Cruz" shirts.

VENDOR:

Llévelo! T-shirts! Bobble-heads!

69.

A stage is set up in the plaza.

EXT. ON STAGE

An EMCEE greets her audience.

EMCEE:

Bienvenidos a todos! Who's ready

for some música?

The audience whoops.

EMCEE (CONT'D)

It's a battle of the bands, amigos!

The winner gets to play for the

maestro himself, Ernesto de la

Cruz, at his fiesta tonight!

The audience cheers. Héctor elbows Miguel as they head

backstage.

HÉCTOR

That's our ticket, muchacho.

EMCEE:

Let the competition begin!

QUICK MONTAGE:
Acts perform on stage -- a tuba/violin act, a

saxophone player, a hard-core metal band, a kid who plays

marimba on the back of a giant iguana alebrije, a DJ with a

laptop and keyboard setup, a dog orchestra, nuns playing

accordions...

EXT. BACKSTAGE

Miguel and Héctor stand amongst other contestants.

HÉCTOR

So what's the plan? What are you

gonna play?

MIGUEL:

Definitely "Remember Me."

Miguel plucks out the beginnings of de la Cruz's most famous

song. Héctor clamps his hand over the fretboard.

HÉCTOR

No, not that one. No.

70.

MIGUEL:

C'mon, it's his most popular song!

HÉCTOR

Ehck, it's too popular.

Elsewhere backstage, they notice multiple other acts

rehearsing their versions.

SKELETON MUSICIAN

(singing)

REMEMBER ME, THOUGH I HAVE TO TRAVEL FAR,

REMEMBER ME...

OPERA SINGERS:

(singing)

REMEMBER ME!

DON'T LET IT MAKE YOU CRY!

One man plays water glasses to the famous tune. Héctor looks

at Miguel as if to ask, "Need I say more?"

MIGUEL:

Um... what about "Poco Loco?"

HÉCTOR

Epa! Now that's a song!

STAGEHAND:

De la Cruzcito? You're on standby!

(to another band)

Los Chachalacos, you're up next!

ON STAGE:

An impressive banda group steps onto stage.

CROWD:

LOS CHACHALACOS!

They burst into a mighty introduction and the audience goes

wild. They're very good.

BACKSTAGE:

Miguel peeks at the frenzied audience from backstage. He

looks sick and begins to pace, fidgety.

HÉCTOR

You always this nervous before a

performance?

71.

MIGUEL:

I don't know -- I've never

performed before.

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