Coco Page #21

MIGUEL:

De la Cruz...

INT. DE LA CRUZ'S MANSION

Miguel heads into the foyer but loses de la Cruz in the

crowd.

MIGUEL:

Señor de la Cruz!

Miguel elbows his way through the room.

MIGUEL:

Pardon me, Señor de la Cruz! Señor

de la--

He finds himself in a huge hall with hundreds of guests, the

heart of the party. Film clips play all around the room from

de la Cruz's movies.

DE LA CRUZ (FILM CLIP)

When you see your moment, you

mustn't let it pass you by. You

must seize it.

Miguel takes it all in. Synchronized swimmers make

formations in a sparkling indoor pool. A DJ lays a decades-

spanning mash-up soundtrack.

A clip of de la Cruz riding his noble steed plays behind

Miguel.

DE LA CRUZ (FILM CLIP)

We're almost there, Dante.

84.

Miguel jumps to see above the crowd.

MIGUEL:

Señor de la Cruz! Señor de la--

Miguel is unable to get his great-great grandfather's

attention. Meanwhile, a clip behind Miguel features de la

Cruz as a good-natured priest:

NUN (FILM CLIP)

But what can we do? It is

hopeless...

DE LA CRUZ (FILM CLIP)

You must have faith, sister.

NUN (FILM CLIP)

Oh but Padre, he will never listen.

DE LA CRUZ (FILM CLIP)

He will listen... to MUSIC!

The passionate words embolden Miguel. He climbs a pillar to

the landing of a grand staircase, he stands above the crowd.

Miguel takes a breath and throws out a grito as loud as he

can. It echoes through the space, and party guests turn.

The DJ fades the music.

Garnering some attention, Miguel plays his guitar. More

guests turn.

As a hush falls on the crowd, the sound of Miguel's guitar

becomes singular.

MIGUEL:

(singing)

SEÑORAS Y SEÑORES

BUENAS TARDES, BUENAS NOCHES

BUENAS TARDES, BUENAS NOCHES

SEÑORITAS Y SEÑORES

TO BE HERE WITH YOU TONIGHT

BRINGS ME JOY! ¡QUÉ ALEGRÍA!

FOR THIS MUSIC IS MY LANGUAGE

AND THE WORLD ES MI FAMILIA

Miguel continues to play and sing as he nervously walks

forward; the crowd parting, he moves closer to DLC.

MIGUEL:

FOR THIS MUSIC IS MY LANGUAGE

AND THE WORLD ES MI FAMILIA

85.

He passes a movie screen where a clip features de la Cruz

singing the same song in one of his films, the songs

overlapping for a brief moment.

MIGUEL & DE LA CRUZ

FOR THIS MUSIC IS MY LANGUAGE

AND THE WORLD ES MI FAMILIA

Miguel's soul pours into the strings as he approaches his

hero--

MIGUEL:

FOR THIS MUSIC IS MY LANG--

SPLASH! Miguel tumbles into the indoor pool.

The party-goers gasp, but it's Ernesto who rolls up his

sleeves, and, in true movie hero fashion, jumps into the pool

and lifts a coughing Miguel to the edge.

DE LA CRUZ:

Are you all right, niño?

Miguel looks up, mortified. His painted face begins to run,

revealing him to be a living boy. De la Cruz's eyes go wide.

The crowd gasps and murmurs.

DE LA CRUZ:

It's you... you, you are that boy,

the one who came from the Land of

the Living.

MIGUEL:

You... know about me?

DE LA CRUZ:

You are all anyone has been talking

about! Why have you come here?

MIGUEL:

I'm Miguel. Your great-great

grandson.

More murmuring from the crowd. De la Cruz is shocked.

DE LA CRUZ:

I... have a great-great grandson?

MIGUEL:

I need your blessing. So I can go

back home and be a musician, just

like you.

(beat)

(MORE)

86.

MIGUEL (CONT'D)

The rest of our family, they

wouldn't listen. But I... I hoped

you would?

DE LA CRUZ:

My boy, with a talent like yours,

how could I not listen?

Miguel hugs de la Cruz who sweeps Miguel up onto his

shoulders, showing him off to the room.

DE LA CRUZ:

I HAVE A GREAT-GREAT GRANDSON!

The crowd roars.

CUT TO:

EXT. BOTTOM OF THE TOWER

CROWD:

Look, it's Frida!

The silhouette of Frida Kahlo steps up to the security guard.

HÉCTOR

Yes, it is I. Frida Kahlo.

The security guard lets her in immediately. No need to check

the list.

SECURITY GUARD:

It is an honor, señora!

HÉCTOR

Gracias...

Hector steps onto the funicular, readjusting his unibrow to

maintain his diguise.

CUT TO:

EXT. DE LA CRUZ'S MANSION

Quick cuts over instrumental version of "Remember Me:"

De la Cruz barges into several conversations, proudly

introducing Miguel. He seems almost giddy. They wedge

themselves into a group laughing in the garden (which

includes Jorge Negrete & Pedro Infante):

87.

DE LA CRUZ:

Hey Negrete! Infante! Have you

met my great-great-grandson?

CUT TO:

De la Cruz and Miguel ride up on horseback while guests play

polo:

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