El Mariachi Page #6

MEAN DUDE #5

Good morning, Domino.

DOMINO:

What happened?

MEAN DUDE #5

Give me the phone. I have to call Moco.

She brings up the phone and sets it down where the cloth was. He

picks up the cloth and wraps his arm with it.

MEAN DUDE #5

It's not as bad as it looks. Domino, has anyone come through

here? A stranger, maybe?

DOMINO:

This is a boder town. I get strangers all the time.

MEAN DUDE #5

Dressed all in black, carrying a guitar case?

DOMINO:

No.

MEAN DUDE #5

Well, he shot me... and has killed ten of Moco's men... all in

one day.

Domino looks a little upset. She slides the phone towards him a

bit.

DOMINO:

Aren't you gonna call your boss?

MEAN DUDE #5

(nodding)

I have to tell Moco that he got away again... So, you better give

me a drink first.

Domino smiles and pours him half a beer mug with tequila. He

laughs and drinks. As he's dialing, the camera is on Domino as

she cleans up a few things, every once in a while glancing

upstairs.

MEAN DUDE #5

(into phone)

Moco, he got away. Shot me in the arm. Killed La Palma. Pepino,

Sunday. This guy is one slick maricon. Yeah. Also, I didn't get a

look at him. So, unless he's still carrying that guitar around

and hasn't changed clothes, I won't even spot him, and I don't

think he'll be that obvious...

MOCO (V.O.)

Don't worry. If there's one thing I know, it's that he'll always

wear black and he'll always carry that guitar with him. It's his

signature. Besides, that's not a guitar he's carrying. It's a

guitar case full of weapons. Find him.

Mean Dude hangs up and puts his head in his hands.

DOMINO:

Que paso?

MEAN DUDE #5

I screwed up. The guy left his guitar case in the hotel room. We

chased him out, but he came back for the case.

DOMINO:

Maybe he loves his guitar. It's probably an antique.

MEAN DUDE #5

It wasn't a guitar. It was a guitar case full of weapons that he

uses on his victims. Adios, I'm gonna take a nap. And thanks for

the drink.

Mean Dude #5 stumbles as he tries to stand.

MEAN DUDE #5

If you see this guy, call us.

He is about to walk off with the bloody towel and he turns back

pointing at it. She waves her hand at him, as if granting him

permission to take it. She cleans his glass, and when he is gone

she slams the glass down and runs for the stairs. A few seconds

later she comes back into the bar, grabs the gun from under the

counter and calls her assistant to watch the bar. He sees the gun

and wonders what she's up to. She storms upstairs.

INT. DOMINO'S LOFT - DAY

Domino opens the door abruptly and finds Mariachi taking a bath.

He bolts upright, pulls a towel up from the floor and sits frozen

waiting for Domino's next move. She laughs and walks to the

counter.

DOMINO:

(friendly)

I thought I told you not to touch anything.

MARIACHI:

Sorry. I needed to relax. I can...

DOMINO:

(smiling)

No, it's alright, Finish up. Do you want shampoo?

MARIACHI:

(laying back, closed eyes)

Yes, please.

Domino tunrs to a counter and her smile fades. She looks like she

wants to rip Mariachi's throat out with her teeth. She puts the

gun down on the counter. She finds an omnious-looking knife and

then grabs a bottle of shampoo. She walks over to him, then pulls

the knife up to his throat with one hand while grabbing his hair

with the other. He opens his eyes wide. The shampoo hits the

floor and begins to roll.

DOMINO:

Who are you?!

MARIACHI:

(choking)

I'm a musician!

The shampoo bottle rolls into the guitar case and stops. Domino

sees this, and with her foot reaches out and pulls the case

toward her.

DOMINO:

What do you have in here? GUNS? KNIVES?

Mariachi tries to catch his breath, pausing before answering her

as if wondering if all this is really happening.

MARIACHI:

No! My guitar!

Domino slides her foot out of her shoe, and unsnaps one of the

latches with her toe.

DOMINO:

We'll see...

She unsnaps another. The latches snap loud and echo in the quiet

room. Mariachi gasps as she tightens her grip.

DOMINO:

You're very modest, Mariachi...

She squeezes his hair and unsnaps another latch.

DOMINO:

(through gritted teeth)

You told me you killed four men, when you really killed seven. Or

were they still breathing even you shot out their hearts?

Another latch snaps.

MARIACHI:

(groing dizzy)

I'm a mariachi...

SNAP!

MARIACHI:

... not a murderer...

SNAP!

DOMINO:

Aren't you going to watch?

She lifts the lid with her foot. It seems an eternity before the

case is fully open. Domino is looking into the case, but Mariachi

is not. He knows what's in there.

MARIACHI:

I told you... I am a musician.

Slow dolly into the case, which contains a white, well-kept

classical guitar. Domino is seeing it, and for a moment she

almost believes he is telling the truth.

She rushes to it, grabs the guitar and tosses it to Mariachi. He

catches it, choking after she releases the blade. She is on the

other side of the tub, now. She jams the knife down between

Mariachi's legs. Mariachi's eyes bug.

DOMINO:

Play it.

MARIACHI:

(still choking)

W...w...what?

Domino shoves the knife in deeper and Mariachi grimaces horribly.

DOMINO:

Play it, damnit, play something sweet!!!

Mariachi is sweating and his face is extremely red. He pauses for

a long time before plucking an odd note. She squints as if she's

caught him. But he eventually starts picking out a sweet little

melody.

DOMINO:

(growing impatient)

SING!

Mariachi starts to sing but chokes on the words. He starts over,

playing a "Rancho Grande" sounding song with his own made up

words.

MARIACHI:

(in a high sweet voice)

What is this place?

That treats me like a murderer?

They've all got their heads up their butts...

Even this beautiful girl,

With a knife to my balls,

Should I kiss her or hit her...

Or both?

He finishes his song, bowing and thanking his imaginary audience.

Domino is smiling. She pulls the knife slowly out of the water

and wipes it off on her apron.

DOMINO:

You're a mariachi, all right. And a good one.

Mariachi bows a solemn thank you.

MARIACHI:

I think this is the best I've ever played. You... inspired me.

CLOSEUP of the knife.

She laughs.

MARIACHI:

Hire me.

Domino looks at him with a silent "what?".

MARIACHI:

I'm good. Hire me to play in your bar. I'll work mostly from

tips. But, I need steady work.

DOMINO:

I couldn't pay you. I have no money.

MARIACHI:

This fancy place and you have no money?

DOMINO:

It's the truth.

MARIACHI:

I'll work for room and board, then. Please, I'm desperate.

DOMINO:

(thinking)

Will I have to keep a knife at your balls to get you to play like

that?

MARIACHI:

(smiling)

Not if you're paying me room and board. Please... until I find a

permanent job.

DOMINO:

(thinking)

You won't find a permanent job in this town... but OK.

She gets up slowly, and turns to leave. Mariachi settles back,

smiling triumphantly. Suddenly she darts around and slams the

knife between his legs again with a furious look on her face. He

bolts up out of this triumphant daze with a look of complete

shock. She loosens up and laughs.

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