Coco Page #4

EXT. STREET - MOMENTS LATER

Miguel catches up to his family.

TÍO BERTO

How many times have we told you --

that plaza is crawling with

mariachis!

MIGUEL:

Yes, Tío Berto.

Dante ambles up to Miguel, sniffing and whining for a treat.

MIGUEL:

No, no, no!

Abuelita shoos him away.

ABUELITA:

Go away, you! Go!

Dante darts off, scared.

MIGUEL:

It's just Dante...

Abuelita throws her shoe at the dog.

ABUELITA:

Never name a street dog. They'll

follow you forever.

(beat)

Now, go get my shoe.

CUT TO:

INT. RIVERA WORKSHOP

The Rivera workshop is abuzz with family making shoes.

WHOMP! Miguel is plopped onto a stool, ready for a lecture.

ABUELITA:

I found your son in Mariachi Plaza!

PAPÁ

(disappointed)

Miguel...

14.

MAMÁ

You know how Abuelita feels about

the plaza.

MIGUEL:

I was just shining shoes!

TÍO BERTO

A musician's shoes!

Gasps from the family. PRIMO ABEL (19) is so shocked he

loses his grip on the shoe he is polishing, which zips away

from the polisher and lodges itself in the roof.

MIGUEL:

But the plaza's where all the foot

traffic is.

PAPÁ

If Abuelita says no more plaza,

then no more plaza.

MIGUEL:

(blurting)

But what about tonight?

PAPÁ FRANCO

What's tonight?

MIGUEL:

Well they're having this talent

show-

Abuelita perks her ear, suspicious. Miguel squirms, deciding

whether to go on.

MIGUEL:

And I thought I might...

Mamá looks at Miguel, curious.

MAMÁ

...Sign up?

MIGUEL:

Well, maybe?

PRIMA ROSA:

(laughing)

You have to have talent to be in a

talent show.

15.

PRIMO ABEL:

What are YOU going to do, shine

shoes?

The shoe from the ceiling falls back down on Abel's head.

ABUELITA:

It's Día de los Muertos -- no one's

going anywhere. Tonight is about

family.

She deposits a pile of marigolds in Miguel's arms.

ABUELITA:

Ofrenda room. Vámonos.

CUT TO:

INT. OFRENDA ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Miguel follows his Abuelita to the family ofrenda, holding

the pile of flowers as she arranges them on the altar.

ABUELITA:

Don't give me that look. Día de

los Muertos is the one night of the

year our ancestors can come visit

us.

(beat)

We've put their photos on the

ofrenda so their spirits can cross

over. That is very important! If

we don't put them up, they can't

come!

(beat)

We made all this food -- set out

the things they loved in life,

mijo. All this work to bring the

family together. I don't want you

sneaking off to who-knows-where.

She looks up to find Miguel sneaking away.

ABUELITA (CONT'D)

Where are you going?

MIGUEL:

I thought we were done...

16.

ABUELITA:

Ay, Dios mío... Being part of this

family means being HERE for this

family... I don't want to see you

end up like--

Abuelita looks up to the photo of the faceless musician.

MIGUEL:

Like Mamá Coco's papá?

ABUELITA:

Never mention that man! He's

better off forgotten.

MIGUEL:

But you're the one who--

ABUELITA:

Ta, ta, ta-tch!

MIGUEL:

I was just--

ABUELITA:

Tch-tch!

MIGUEL:

But--

ABUELITA:

Tch!

MIGUEL:

I--

ABUELITA:

Tch-tch!

MAMÁ COCO

Papá?

They look to find Mamá Coco agitated.

MAMÁ COCO (CONT'D)

Papá is home...?

ABUELITA:

Mamá, cálmese, cálmese.

MAMÁ COCO

Papá is coming home?

17.

ABUELITA:

No Mamá. It's okay, I'm here.

Mamá Coco looks up at Abuelita.

MAMÁ COCO

Who are you?

Sadness rises in Abuelita; she swallows it down.

ABUELITA:

Rest, Mamá.

Abuelita returns to the ofrenda.

ABUELITA (CONT'D)

I'm hard on you because I care,

Miguel.

(beat)

Miguel... Miguel?

She looks around the room. Miguel is nowhere to be found.

Abuelita steps up to the ofrenda.

ABUELITA (CONT'D)

(sigh)

What are we going to do with that

boy...?

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