El Mariachi

Synopsis: El Mariachi just wants to play his guitar and carry on the family tradition. Unfortunately, the town he tries to find work in has another visitor...a killer who carries his guns in a guitar case. The drug lord and his henchmen mistake El Mariachi for the killer, Azul, and chase him around town trying to kill him and get his guitar case.
Director(s): Robert Rodriguez
Production: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  7 wins & 4 nominations.
 
IMDB:
6.9
Metacritic:
73
Rotten Tomatoes:
93%
R
Year:
1992
81 min
613 Views


FADE IN:

EXT. A JAIL IN MEXICO - DAY

It's an early Friday morning and a patrol car drives up an

unpaved road and parks next to a gutted police car on cinder

blocks. The camera pans with the OFFICER as he exits his car and

walks up to a ramp leading to the babay blue JAIL HOUSE. He is

carrying a greasy bag of fast food.

INT. JAIL LOBBY - DAY

The Officer enters the lobby, tosses the bag of food to his

PARTNER who is sitting at a desk. He grabs a tin cup and walks

over to barred entrance to Block A. Twenty or so CRIMINALS, from

drunks to drug dealers are sleeping peacefully in their cell on

Block A. The Officer rattles the tin cup between the entrance

bar.

INT. JAIL CELLS - DAY

The inmates stir, rubbing their dirty faces and trying to sit up.

The camera dollies slowly down the narrow hallway of the block

which has three cells: Two small ones side by side, and one

bigger cell that faces the block entrance. The sound of

scribbling and business dealing can be heard from inside the

cell. It is AZUL jottin ginto a business ledger while chatting on

his cellular phone. His cell is equipped with a small desk and a

refridgerator. He hangs up the phone and continues writing.

INT. JAIL LOBBY - DAY

The Officer with the tin cup sits in a couch across from his

partner, who is now eating, and reads a magazine.

INT. JAIL CELLS - DAY

Azul picks up his phone and makes another call. He talks

business. In the other cell, prisoners are getting up and looking

around. Azul hangs up the phone and writes.

EXT. EL MOCO'S RANCH - DAY

A gorgeous, bikini-clad BABE struts slowly into a tighly framed

glamour shot. She pauses, takes a deep breath, then dives a

'perfect ten' dive into a house-side moat. She swims long, slow

motion strokes around the moat as the camera tracks alonside her,

lovingly admiring her tan lines and hydrodynamic build. She

slides out of the water and walks up a cobble stone walk,

dripping as she passes a seated GENTLEMAN in a white suit. His

face is unrevealed. As she enters the house, he sets his drink

down by a phone. He lifts up the receiver and dials.

INT. JAIL CELLS - DAY

Azul's phone rings. He looks up at it, startled, as if no one has

ever called him before. He glances at his watch, and then back at

the phone, hesitating to answer it. He looks around the cell

block as if someone might be playing a trick on him. Finally he

answers it, pausing before saying hello. It is El Moco.

MOCO (V.O.)

Good morning, Azul. Do you know who this is?

AZUL:

(into phone)

Moco... What the hell do you want after all these years?

EXT. EL MOCO'S RANCH - DAY

MOCO is sitting on his porch drinking tequila.

MOCO:

(into phone)

We've got a lot to talk about. I'm just a few town away with a

whole new gang. I heard you were nearby so I thought I'd give you

a call, amigo.

AZUL (V.O)

That's sweet of you, a**hole. I don't suppose you could get me

out of there, and then maybe hand me over my share of money.

MOCO:

(into phone)

Yes, I figured you'd want your money, my friend. That is why I

have called you. I heard you were getting out soon, and figured I

should deal with our situation. But do you really need me to help

you get out? From what I hear, you're running quite a business

out of your cell with a phone and some loyal men. It keeps you

well protected I hear. Not a bad idea. I may try that myself

sometime.

AZUL (V.O.)

I could stay in here and earn peanuts compared to what you owe me

if I were to get out. So, yes, I want you to help me... my

friend.

MOCO:

(into phone)

Soon my friend, soon. I'm sending you some people in a few days

to get you.

AZUL (V.O.)

Really? Well, that's more like it. Just like the Moco I used to

know.

Azul is walking towards his window at the sound of a truck racing

in.

MOCO:

(into phone)

Just hang in there my friend. I won't forget that you have been a

big part of our success. What's wrong.

EXT. JAIL - DAY

A large truck drives up to the jail, parking beside the police

car. Two tall, well-dressed MEN step out. They reach into the cab

and pull out machine guns. They walk briskly towards the jail.

INT. AZUL IN JAIL CELL - DAY

Azul walks to his toilet and stands on it to see out his barred

window.

AZUL:

(into phone)

There's something going on outside. Is this a double surprise?

Are you getting me out today, Moco?

There is no response from Moco.

INT. JAIL - DAY

The Guard reading the magazine stands when he sees someone

approaching the door.

EXT. JAIL - DAY

Close tracking shot of guns as Tall Men open the door and enter

the jail.

INT. AZUL IN JAIL CELL - DAY

Azul looks out of the jail cell suspiciously. Peering down the

hall, he sees the guys with the guns. He hides behind the wall,

peering out to see what happens next.

INT. JAIL LOBBY - DAY

The Tall Men walk right up to the guard, and hand him a huge wad

of money. The Guard tosses the money to his partner (still

eating), then turns to unlock the block entrance bars.

INT. AZUL IN JAIL CELL - DAY

Azul puts the receiver back up to his mouth.

AZUL:

(into phone)

There are two men here with guns. Did you send them?

EXT. EL MOCO'S RANCH - DAY

Moco, glancing at his watch, hangs up.

INT. AZUL IN JAIL CELL - DAY

Azul hangs up the phone and kicks his Bodyguard awake. The

Bodyguard gets up and peers out the bars as Azul hides in a

corner.

INT. TALL MEN IN HALL - DAY

The Tall Men walk steady and alert, ready to kill. They enter

Azul's block and scope out the cells.

The Bodyguard, seeing the tall men, retrieves his shotgun from

under his mattress and grabs his machete from under the sink. He

stands ready to fight.

The Tall Men move slowly towards the big cell, somewhat cautious.

They see the Bodyguard a second too late, for he sticks the

shotgun between the bars, and shoots one of them before they can

react. The shot one stumbles back into his buddy's arms. Azul's

Bodyguard, amused by all this, opens his cell door effortlessly,

and walks out as if to greet them. The Tall Men hear the sound of

the other cells opening, so they turn around. The other prisoners

on the block begin exiting their cells, carrying guns and Molotov

cocktails. The Tall Man drops his gun. Finally, Azul exits his

cell carrying his phone. The Bodyguard forces the Tall Men into

an empty cell, closing and locking the door.

Azul presses the #-button on his phone. Moco's phone number is

automatically redialed.

Moco answers.

AZUL:

(into phone)

I'm still here, Moco. And so are your little friends. But not for

long. They have something they want to scream to you. Listen

close, because you're going to repeat it to me when I come to

visit you.

INT. TALL MEN IN CELL - DAY

The cellmates throw their Molotov cocktails into the cell. Moco

hears the men screaming as they burn to death. Azul is holding

the phone at arm's length into the cell.

INT. JAIL LOBBY - DAY

The Guards exchange glances when they hear the screaming, they

smile and shrug, then go back to what they were doing. As Azul

and his Bodyguards exit the block, the Guard with the magazine

stands up as if to stop them, but Azul tosses him a wad of money

and the guard sits back down to count it.

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Robert Rodriguez

Robert Anthony Rodriguez is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and musician. He shoots and produces many of his films in Mexico and his home state, Texas. more…

All Robert Rodriguez scripts | Robert Rodriguez Scripts

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