Coco Page #6

As Mamá teaches, Miguel and Dante sneak across the roof and

drop to the sidewalk outside the compound, Miguel clutching

his guitar.

Suddenly Tío Berto and Papá round the corner carrying a small

table from storage.

PAPÁ

Mamá, where should we put this

table?

Miguel and Dante back up to avoid the adults, only to find

Abuelita sweeping the sidewalk behind them! Miguel and Dante

jump into the back into the Rivera courtyard before she sees

them.

ABUELITA:

In the courtyard, mijos.

PAPÁ

You want it down by the kitchen?

ABUELITA:

Sí. Next to the other one.

INT. OFRENDA ROOM

Miguel backs out of the courtyard and into the family ofrenda

room. Nearly cornered, he ushers Dante past a sleeping Mamá

Coco. He stashes the dog and the guitar under the ofrenda

table.

22.

MIGUEL:

Get under, get under!

ABUELITA (O.S.)

Miguel!

Miguel straightens up to notice the doorway of the ofrenda

room darkened by three figures.

MIGUEL:

Nothing!

His Abuelita and parents stare straight at him. A pit grows

in his stomach; he's been caught.

MIGUEL (CONT'D)

Mamá -- Papá, I--

Papá lifts his finger to silence his son.

PAPÁ

Miguel...

(beat)

Your Abuelita had the most

wonderful idea!

(beat)

We've all decided -- it's time you

joined us in the workshop!

Abuelita hands Papá a leather apron, which he hangs over

Miguel's shoulders.

MIGUEL:

What?!

PAPÁ

No more shining shoes -- you will

be making them! Every day after

school!

Abuelita shuffles toward Miguel squealing. She squeezes his

cheeks, full of pride.

ABUELITA:

Our Migueli-ti-ti-ti-to carrying on

the family tradition! And on Día

de los Muertos! Your ancestors

will be so proud!

She gestures to the shoes adorning the ofrenda.

23.

ABUELITA (CONT'D)

You'll craft huaraches just like

your Tía Victoria.

PAPÁ

And wingtips, like your Papá Julio--

Miguel crosses away from the ofrenda.

MIGUEL:

But what if I'm no good at making

shoes?

PAPÁ

Ah, Migue... You have your family

here to guide you...

(beat)

You are a Rivera. And a Rivera

is...?

MIGUEL:

...A shoemaker. Through and

through.

Papá swells.

PAPÁ

That's my boy!

(calling out)

Berto, break out the good stuff, I

wanna make a toast!

Papá heads out of the room, Mamá follows. Last is Abuelita,

who smothers Miguel with tons of kisses as she leaves.

With the family gone, Miguel deflates.

Suddenly, a noise comes from the ofrenda. Miguel turns to

find Dante on the bottom tier, licking a plate of mole to his

heart's content. Miguel is horrified!

MIGUEL:

Dante! No, Dante, stop!

Miguel pulls the dog away from the ofrenda, but the table

shakes. The frame with Mamá Imelda's photo sways back and

forth, then topples to the ground with a sickening crack.

MIGUEL (CONT'D)

No, no, no, no, no! No...

Miguel picks up the old photo of Mamá Imelda, which unfolds

to reveal another portion, hidden all these years;

24.

the man with no face is revealed to be holding a familiar

skull-headed guitar.

MIGUEL:

De la Cruz's guitar...?

MAMÁ COCO

Papá?

Miguel turns, startled. Mamá Coco points a crooked finger at

the picture in his hand.

MAMÁ COCO (CONT'D)

Papá?

Miguel's eyes go wide as the connection dawns on him. Could

it possibly be true?

MIGUEL:

Mamá Coco, is your papá... Ernesto

de la Cruz?

MAMÁ COCO

Papá! Papá!

CUT TO:

INT. ROOFTOP HIDEOUT

Miguel goes to his secret ofrenda, to the record album of

Ernesto de la Cruz. He compares the guitar in the family

photo with the guitar on the sleeve. An exact match!

MIGUEL:

Ha, ha!

EXT. ROOFTOP

Miguel runs to the edge of the roof, overlooking the

courtyard, photo in one hand, guitar in the other.

MIGUEL:

Papá! Papá!

His parents stop, looking up at Miguel.

MIGUEL (CONT'D)

It's him! I know who my great-

great grandfather was!

25.

MAMÁ

Miguel! Get down from there!

MIGUEL:

Mamá Coco's father was Ernesto de

la Cruz!

PAPÁ

What are you talking about?

Miguel whips off his shoemaker's apron, striking a pose with

the guitar.

MIGUEL:

I'm gonna be a musician!

CUT TO:

EXT. COURTYARD - EARLY EVENING

Miguel's guitar is cast at his feet, along with his de la

Cruz albums. The whole family encircles the boy.

ABUELITA:

What is all this? You keep secrets

from your own family?

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