Coco Page #18

HÉCTOR

What?! You said you were a

musician!

MIGUEL:

I am!

(beat)

I mean I will be. Once I win.

HÉCTOR

That's your plan?!

(beat)

No, no, no, no, no, you have to

win, Miguel. Your life LITERALLY

depends on you winning! AND YOU'VE

NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE?!

Héctor reaches for the guitar.

HÉCTOR (CONT'D)

I'll go up there--

Miguel recoils, keeping hold of the instrument.

MIGUEL:

No! I need to do this.

HÉCTOR

Why?

MIGUEL:

If I can't go out there and play

one song... how can I call myself a

musician?

HÉCTOR

What does that matter?!

MIGUEL:

'Cuz I don't just want to get de la

Cruz's blessing. I need to prove

that... that I'm worthy of it.

HÉCTOR

Oh. Oh, that's such a sweet

sentiment... at SUCH a bad time!

Héctor looks in Miguel's eyes. The kid is sincere. Despite

himself, Héctor softens.

72.

HÉCTOR

Okay... okay, okay, okay. Okay.

Okay.

(beat)

Okay.

(beat)

Okay you wanna perform? Then

you've got to PERFORM!

Miguel perks, surprised that Héctor wants to help.

HÉCTOR (CONT'D)

First you have to loosen up. Shake

off those nerves! Sáquenlo

sáquenlo, sáquenlo!

Héctor does a loose-bone skeletal shimmy and Miguel copies.

HÉCTOR (CONT'D)

Now gimme your best grito!

MIGUEL:

My best grito?

HÉCTOR

Come on, yell! Belt it out!

OOOOOOH HE-HE-HEY! Ha! Ah, feels

good! Okay... now you.

MIGUEL:

(uncertain)

Ah -- ah -- ayyyyy yaaaaayyyyay...

Dante whimpers.

HÉCTOR

Oh, c'mon kid...

On stage, Los Chachalacos wrap up to raucous applause.

STAGEHAND:

De la Cruzcito, you're on now!

HÉCTOR

Miguel, look at me.

STAGEHAND:

Come on, let's go!

HÉCTOR

Hey! Hey, look at me.

(beat)

(MORE)

73.

HÉCTOR (CONT'D)

You can do this. Grab their

attention and don't let it go!

EMCEE (O.S.)

We have one more act, amigos!

MIGUEL:

Héctor...

HÉCTOR

Make 'em listen, chamaco! You got

this!

EMCEE (O.S.)

Damas y caballeros! De la

Cruzcito!

The crowd applauds as Miguel is led on stage.

HÉCTOR

Arre papá! Hey!

Héctor's face contorts with a mix of encouragement and dread.

ON STAGE:

Miguel slowly takes the stage, guitar in hand. He's blinded

by the lights and squints out at the audience. He's frozen

stiff.

OFF STAGE:

HÉCTOR

(to Dante)

What's he doing? Why isn't he

playing?

ON STAGE:

Panic is painted across Miguel's face.

AUDIENCE MEMBER (O.S.)

Bring back the singing dogs!

The crowd begins to murmur impatiently. Miguel looks to

Héctor in the wing.

Héctor makes eye contact with Miguel and does the "loosen up"

bone shimmy.

74.

On stage Miguel shakes off his nerves. Deep exhale and...

MIGUEL:

HAAAAAAAI-YAAAAAAAAAAAI-YAAAAAAAAI!

The sound is full-throated and resonant. People in the

audience whistle and whoop. Some return the grito, some

applaud lightly. His brows go up and he begins his guitar

intro.

MIGUEL:

(singing)

WHAT COLOR IS THE SKY?

AY MI AMOR, AY MI AMOR

YOU TELL ME THAT IT'S RED

AY MI AMOR, AY MI AMOR

WHERE SHOULD I PUT MY SHOES?

AY MI AMOR, AY MI AMOR

YOU SAY PUT THEM ON YOUR HEAD

AY MI AMOR, AY MI AMOR

As the audience warms up, so does Miguel. Héctor perks up,

he's got this!

MIGUEL (CONT'D)

YOU MAKE ME UN POCO LOCO

UN POQUI-TI-TI-TO LOCO

THE WAY YOU KEEP ME GUESSING

I'M NODDING AND I'M YES-ING

I'LL COUNT IT AS A BLESSING

THAT I'M ONLY UN POCO LOCO...

INSTRUMENTAL INTERLUDE. Dante grabs Héctor by the leg and

drags him onto the stage with Miguel.

HÉCTOR

No, no, no, no...

Once in the spotlight, Héctor warms up and busts out some

percussive footwork to Miguel's guitar.

MIGUEL:

Not bad for a dead guy!

HÉCTOR

You're not so bad yourself,

gordito! Eso!

CUT TO:

75.

EDGE OF AUDIENCE

A ripple of glowing footprints leads Pepita and the Dead

Riveras to the edge of the audience.

MAMÁ IMELDA

He's close. Find him.

The Dead Riveras fan out through the audience.

ON STAGE:

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