El Mariachi Page #4

MARIACHI CHECKS IN TO HOTEL - DAY

Mariachi enters the run-down lobby of the motel. The Viejo Clerk

at the counter is reading his yellowed newspaper. Mariachi sees

the Pit Bull laying by the counter.

MARIACHI:

Pit bull.

VIEJO CLERK:

Yeah, pit bull.

MARIACHI:

I need a cheap room for a week, and I'd prefer to pay you in a

few days, after I've found some work.

VIEJO CLERK:

S�, later...

MARIACHI:

Thank you...

The Old Man hands Mariachi a key for the second floor.

MARIACHI:

Thank you, friend.

As Mariachi walks away, the Clerk notices the guitar case and

black clothes and he rereads the card Mean Dude left him.

VIEJO CLERK:

(different tone of voice)

Uh, excuse me se�or? I forgot, I need a small deposit...

Mariachi stops in his tracks. He turns back to the Clerk

slowly... thinking.

MARIACHI:

(walking back slowly)

You can trust me.

VIEJO CLERK:

I am very sorry, se�or. But... how much can you spare?

The dog is watching the event.

MARIACHI:

(disappointed)

I've only got a few pesos... I plan on finding work in town.

VIEJO CLERK:

(grabbing money)

Oh, that's enough for now, sir, thank you and... enjoy your stay.

The Clerk deposits the money, slams the register shut, and

continues reading his yellow paper. Confused, Mariachi pockets

his empty wallet and turns to find his room. The Clerk peeks over

his paper, eyeing the guitar case as Mariachi goes. He hears the

sound of Mariachi's footsteps trailing off. The old man drops the

paper and bolts silently to the phone as he dials El Moco's phone

number...

INT. MARIACHI'S HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Mariachi opens his room, tosses his guitar onto the bed and hangs

his jacket in the closet. He has only his white T-shirt

underneath. He glances above the bed to a plaque bearing a mace

and two crossed swords. He checks out the shower and washes his

face in the sink. He sits down on his bed. A few seconds later he

drops back and lays there a minute before kicking the door shut.

He tries to sleep.

INT. HOTEL COAHUILA LOBBY - DAY

The Old Clerk is talking on the phone to the bad guys. He hangs

up the phone, then reaches into the back of his counter for a

gun. He places it on the counter and covers it with his newspaper

and continues reading.

INT. MARIACHI'S HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Top shot of Mariachi sleeping. A shot of the mace on the wall.

CUT TO:

DREAM IN BOYSTOWN - DAY (5.7 KINOPIC LENS)

Mariachi is suddenly sleeping in the dirt. Same top shot as in

the hotel. He opens his eyes, then groggily he sits up.

ESTABLISHING SHOT of Mariachi sitting in the middle of a ghost

town. He stands up.

VARIOUS SHOTS of the empty town with nothing and nobody.

Medium shot dolly into Mariachi as he stands, turns and sees a

BOY bouncing a ball in slow motion. The Boy stops short, holding

the ball tight against the chest. Mariachi glances around to

maybe spot more people, before concentrating on the Boy.

The Boy places the ball carefully on the ground, then gently

rolls it to Mariachi.

Tracking shot of the ball rolling to Mariachi. The ball sounds

like a speeding truck. Mariachi smiles at the boy.

CLOSEUP of the ball rolling.

CLOSEUP of the Boy smiling.

Mariachi bends to get the ball which makes the sound of a

screeching truck as it hits Mariachi's foot. Mariachi notices

that it's a man's severed head.

INT. MARIACHI'S HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Mariachi bolts up in bed.

EXT. HOTEL COAHUILA - MEAN DUDES #5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 - DAY

The Mean Dudes jump out of their truck and rush into the hotel,

guns drawn.

INT. HOTEL COAHUILA LOBBY - DAY

The men burst into the lobby and the old men tells them the room

number. They run out into the courtyard with the old man

following. The Pit Bull is uninterested in the action.

EXT. COURTYARD IN HOTEL COAHUILA - DAY

The Mean Dudes run up the courtyard stairs and kick open the

first door they come to and start blasting into the room. Screams

are heard. The men stand back, and finally look down the steps at

the Viejo Clerk who is waving his arms frantically.

VIEJO CLERK:

127!!! Cuarto 127, pendejos!!!

They run to the room numbered 127 and cautiously stalk towards it

as they reload their guns.

INT. MARIACHI'S HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Mariachi is sitting on his bed listening to all this. He bolts to

the restroom and turns to the shower.

EXT. HOTEL COURTYARD - DAY

Shot of men still stalking, cocking pistols.

POV shot of what men see, as camera nears the door.

INT. MARIACHI'S HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Mariachi rushes out of the bathroom towards the door.

MARIACHI'S POV

As camera nears the door, doorknob starts to move. Remembering

that he never locked the door, he jumps to the side of the door

as...

EXT. HOTEL COURTYARD - DAY

Men kick open the door and burst into the room.

INT. MARIACHI'S HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Low-angle shot as men burst in. There is no one in the room. Mean

Dude #5 hears the shower and motions to keep it down and stalk

quietly... They rush into the bathroom and start blasting.

Mariachi slips out from behind the door and runs out.

EXT. HOTEL COURTYARD - DAY

Mariachi runs out of the room and jumps off the stairwell onto

the courtyard in front of the Clerk.

MARIACHI:

(pointing to his room)

Cuidado, viejo!

Mariachi darts out into the lobby. The old man watches him go

then turns his attention back to Mariachi's room.

VIEJO CLERK:

(pointing in Mariachi's direction)

Pendejos!!!

INT. HOTEL COAHUILA LOBBY - DAY

The dog watches as Mariachi tosses his keys into the cubby hole

where they belong. Mariachi then jumps over the counter, banging

keys on the register to get it open.

EXT. HOTEL COURTYARD - DAY

The Mean Dudes run out of Mariachi's room, dart down the stairs,

passing the old man who is telling them where to go.

INT. HOTEL COAHUILA LOBBY - DAY

Mariachi, unable to open the register, jumps over the counter.

CLOSEUP of his feet as he lands, causing the register to burst

open.

Mariachi truns for a second to ponder gettin ghis money or

risking dying, but then he checks to turn and run. Two seconds

later the Mean Dudes run in, one jumps over the counter to see if

he's there.

EXT. HOTEL COAHUILA - DAY

Mariachi runs atop the Mean Dudes' parked truck then jumps into

the bed of a passing truck. Mean Dudes run outside. The Dudes hve

their hands up as if they don't know what to look for.

MEAN DUDE #5

He wears black!

Shots of lots of people walking around, wearing black items.

EXT. DOWN THE BLOCK - DAY

The truck turns a corner and the driver halts, comes out with a

gun and tell Mariachi to get the hell out of his truck. Mariachi

leaps out. He is about to continue running, but he stops,

clenches his fists, and turns slowly as the camera dollies into

his face.

INT. MARIACHI'S HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Camera dollies into the guitar case on Mariachi's bed.

EXT. DOWN THE BLOCK - DAY

Mariachi runs back in the direction of the hotel, but as he turns

the corner he has to slow down for the Mean Dudes are everywhere.

Each one has his gun out and is looking around for the man in

black. Mariachi walks slowly, whistling and nodding to everyone

as they pass. A few look suspiciously at him but continue

searching. Mariachi ducks inside the hotel.

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