La Bamba Page #4

without telling anybody?

A fine pair of sinvergenzas!

Id expect this from Bob

but not you, Ritchie.

What did you do, drink the night away?

Okay, it was my fault. I took him there.

-How's Rosie?

-She's in the hospital, where else?

She was all alone.

I had to drive her to the hospital myself!

She was in labour all day with the baby.

Do you hear me?

Do you care about anything?

Go ahead! Go play with your bike!

Did Rosie have a boy or a girl?

She had a girl. We named her Brenda.

What's this?

Bob.

That's beautiful, Ritchie. That's the one.

Coming up in September,

we have the Pacific Ocean Park...

...followed by

the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

High Tone lunch, huh?

Followed by...

Are you listening?

...a week's booking in San Francisco.

Now, Ritchie...

...we fly up for that one.

Fly? No, Id rather drive.

Ritchie, please. Its a long drive.

I don't care. I never fly, I told you.

I have my reasons.

All right, Ill see what I can do.

We still need another single

to go along with Donna.

How about Suzie?

How about La Bamba?

-La Bamba? Its not rock 'n' roll.

-It is the way I play it.

Its a folk song.

I don't want to offend anybody.

-Besides, it's in Spanish.

-That's how I want to sing it.

Rock 'n' roll in Spanish.

You gotta be crazy.

-Itll work. Just let me have a crack at it.

-No.

Even assuming that the other side

of Donna was a throwaway...

...how are you going to handle the lyrics?

You say yourself you don't speak Spanish.

lf Nat King Cole can sing in Spanish,

so can l, right?

Come on, Bob-O. What do you say?

Bob-O?

Okay, now smile!

It drives like a dream!

Beats the hell out of taking a train.

How much did this baby cost?

You don't want to know.

But if all goes well in Philadelphia...

...the car is yours.

Philly?

We're going to Philadelphia?

American Bandstand.

We fly up for that. Okay?

Come on, let's go.

-I thought you said you didn't like to fly.

-I don't.

But I love driving fast.

Let me in, damn it!

I want to see my daughter!

Im her father! Im her father, goddamn it.

You're a goddamn drunk!

Bob, stop it.

Get back. Have you gone crazy on me?

I have finally had it.

-I want to see my daughter.

-Not in your condition.

I went pendeja for the motorcycle,

but no more.

-I want my wife.

-You don't want a wife.

He wants a love slave.

One that he can kick around.

Sober up and you can see her tomorrow.

Now go downstairs and pass out.

Ive got enough to worry about

with Ritchie.

You always worry more about Ritchie.

What about me?

I know you don't give

a goddamn about me.

You had me turned in!

You had me locked up!

Do you think I could ever

forgive you for that?

You can't keep me from seeing my kid.

This is my house. Ill kick you all out.

You see anything?

I just saw the Grand Canyon.

Its a long way down there, boy.

You okay?

You know what, Bob-O?

Ive always believed

I was going to die in a plane crash.

That's a hell of a thing to say

while we're still in the air.

Its do or die, man.

American Bandstand, Philadelphia, PA.

Drink this. Its vodka.

Straight.

And away we go.

You are all comfortably seated, I presume.

Excellent.

Let's greet a young man

who's making his debut...

...here on American Bandstand.

From Del-Fi Records in Los Angeles.

Ladies and gentleman,

here's Ritchie Valens.

What do you want?

I got money.

I don't want your money.

What the hell?

-I was watching that! Put that back on.

-You've had enough for one afternoon.

Put it back on! That dude's my brother!

Yeah, and Im your Irish uncle, too.

Leave it off.

What'd you think of Ritchie

on American Bandstand?

-I think it's so keen that he was on there.

-I can't believe he sang Donna.

You are so lucky.

And you?

Who are you taking to the dance?

-Nobody.

-Oh, come--

-Hi, kitten.

-Hi.

So, where's your car?

It was a loaner. My dad sold it.

Hop in.

-Hi, Suzy.

-Hi, Ritchie.

Hi, can I have your photograph?

I mean, autograph?

-Can I get one, too?

-Can I get one?

Ill do you one better...

...Ill get you Donna's autograph, too.

Just like old times?

I really missed you.

Ive missed you, too.

So, how's school?

Not the same without you.

When are you coming back?

My school days are over, kitten.

Bob-O's got me booked all winter and fall.

Ill be in the Big Apple.

Im really happy for you, Ritchie.

All your success and everything,

you really deserve it.

Im flying.

Im really flying.

Its yours, Mom.

-Its mine?

-Yes.

Come on.

-Is this where we're going to live?

-Its like a castle.

This is home.

That's the garage.

Over there is the guest house.

Come on, slow poke.

Look at this. isnt it nice?

Right here is where I think

we'll put the swimming pool.

No, Ritchie, the girls can't swim.

I don't want no pool.

We'll make it a dishwasher, right?

No problem. But after we fly back east.

-Back again?

-10 day tour, 13 cities.

Including a spot on national television.

So, congratulations, Mrs. Valens.

Here are the keys to your new home.

Ritchie, this is better

than Queen for a Day.

I love you, Mom.

You're the best.

What's the matter? Nervous?

Im just a kid from Pacoima.

You're gonna knock 'em dead.

Eddie Cochran, a wonderful human being!

And now for you rock cats, another

wonderful human being, Mr. Jackie Wilson!

Eddie, you were great, man. Really great.

Its that live New York audience.

Rock 'n' roll is an addiction.

Here you are, Ritchie.

Where else? The kid's got taste.

I need you, Valens.

One of the Belmonts got sick.

Probably malnutrition

from this three-ring circus.

-Just kidding.

-I got to move you up.

You're going on after Jackie Wilson.

In five minutes. You can do it.

Good luck.

They're waiting for you.

-Let's go!

-Get rocking!

lf they love you, they'll want to kill you.

lf they don't, same difference.

And here he is...

...America's newest rock 'n' roll sensation...

...the California Kid, Ritchie Valens.

This is a bit of a rattlesnake.

No, I mean it Bob-O....

Merry Christmas, High Tone.

Ive missed you.

Okay, go ahead and open the presents.

Just the little kids.

-Look at all this food.

-Wonderful.

-Hungry?

-I could eat a horse.

Seven and seven?

What about you?

Im on the wagon, man.

The garbage wagon.

$5 a week and all you can eat.

With all this food, Im staying.

Bobby, where's Mom's new dress?

-What new dress?

-The one I asked you to buy her.

You're the a**hole with all the money.

Buy it yourself.

Don't let him upset you.

He's been on the wagon for a month.

He's meaner when he's drunk.

Come on, help yourself.

Let's go into the living room.

I got a present for Ritchie.

I just got mauled by King Kong!

Everybody, let's party!

This is a celebration. My Ritchie is home!

You okay, Bob?

Sure, Im okay.

Mom was asking for you.

She afraid Im drunk?

Ive had one sip of beer,

and it tastes like piss to me. Want it?

What's your problem, man?

Old Steve.

He always said you'd be somebody.

And I bought it, too.

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