Once Upon a Time in Mexico

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DNA:

- I never heard of him.

- Who?

The man you recommended.

The guitar fighter?

Wiped out a couple towns

single-handedly. A real nut. Yeah.

You heard of him. You just didn't know

it was him they were talking about.

You should meet him.

Me. Me. That's me.

As long as I'm not the guy

that has to make the introduction.

Were you in Mexico during

the Barillo cartel massacre?

No.

That's when I first heard about him.

He was a legend.

They used to say he was the biggest

Mexican they'd ever seen.

That was total bullshit.

He was 5'9", 5'10", tops.

That's no record,

but bigger than most of us.

But Marquez, that's a different story.

Marquez.

Marquez.

Gen. Marquez.

Powerful, dangerous.

Marquez, he really had it in

for this Mariachi, see.

They called him "Mariachi"

because he used to carry this guitar.

A guitar?

Believe me, he really knew

how to play it too.

Look, this story is well-traveled.

It might have picked up some

embellishments along the way.

Just read between the lines.

Now, he may not have been

the biggest Mexican ever...

- All right.

...but she was as deadly...

...as she was beautiful.

- There's a girl?

- Oh, yeah. There's a girl.

When he'd run out of ammo,

she'd take over.

The most drop-dead gorgeous

woman you'll ever see.

That's where all the trouble began.

She was with Marquez.

And when Marquez saw that she was

with the Mariachi, well, he went crazy.

He hunted him down and fought

Mariachi to the death. And then she...

...put a bullet in his heart.

Only he didn't die.

- I don't know what happened after that.

- Would you like some?

No. Maybe Marquez caught up

with them, or the cartels.

But like I said, the man

is a myth, a legend.

And if he's still living,

he's the one you want.

Well...

...that is truly unbelievable.

Well, I'm not big on telling stories.

Where's the money?

That's the reason I'm here.

I couldn't find a briefcase

small enough...

...for $10,000 in cash.

It'll do.

Just for my own edification,

I offered you 50.

- Why'd you say no?

- I'm not a greedy man.

Not looking to get rich quick.

Besides, 50,000 is a lot for what

you wanted me to find out, you know.

You may as just as well put a bullet

in my head as cough it up, right?

But 10?

Ten thousand is civilized.

Ten is something

we both can live with.

Ten might still be too much.

You'd kill me over $10,000?

You wouldn't dare.

You wouldn't dare.

Yes, I would.

Would you do me the honor?

You need to learn to play.

That's why you're here.

I hear this is a town of Gunmen.

We only make guitars here.

Mariachi.

Which one?

I don't know who you mean.

I'm honored to be in your presence.

But there's someone else who

wants to meet you.

Keep it. He made that for you.

You know, if I was you, son,

I'd turn around and go back right now.

Go back to where I came from...

...instead of selling my mind

and my soul to these cocksuckers.

You speak English?

I didn't think so.

Attempts have been made on me

and my family by the cartels.

The same cartels that are

threatening our freedom...

freedom which we must

defend to the death.

I present to you Senor Blascoe.

Please sit.

We hear you want to work for us.

I too am ready to start a new life.

This is your lucky day.

Did you order my pibil?

- Does it have a name?

- They call him "EI."

As in "The."

I know what it means. Thank you.

Alert the Barillo cartel...

...that El has come out of hiding.

- I don't think we should...

- Are you a Mexican...

...or a Mexi-can't?

I'm a Mexican.

Good.

Then do as I say.

- Nice tune.

- Something my brother taught me.

I killed him.

Yes, I was privy to that

information already. How charming.

You know, El,

if I may call you that...

...I've been doing a little snooping

around, and it seems that the cartels...

...have quite a price on your head.

I wouldn't want to be you.

Tell me, is there anyone

who doesn't want you dead?

You tell me.

I need you to kill a man.

El, you really must try this

because it's puerco pibil.

It's a slow-roasted pork, nothing fancy.

It just happens to be my favorite...

...and I order it with a tequila and lime

in every dive I go to in this country.

And honestly, that is the best

it's ever been anywhere.

In fact, it's too good.

It's so good that when I'm finished,

I'll pay my check...

...walk straight into the kitchen

and shoot the cook.

Because that's what I do.

I restore the balance to this country.

And that is what I would like

from you right now.

Help keep the balance

by pulling the trigger.

- You want me to shoot the cook?

- No, I'll shoot the cook.

My car's parked

out back anyway. You...

...will kill Marquez.

Do you remember Gen. Marquez?

He's being paid by Barillo...

...to kill the president

in an attempted coup d'etat

- Attempted?

- Oh, no. The president will be killed...

...because he's that piece of good pork

that needs to get balanced out.

I say "attempted" because we don't

want Marquez taking power.

I need you to put the hurting,

so to speak, on Marquez...

...after he's killed

the president. Savvy?

- So why me?

- You've got nothing to live for...

...and, in a way, you're already dead.

And Marquez is the man

who killed you.

So why not return the favor?

Go to the church.

Meet with an associate

of mine named Salome at 3:00.

And I will contact you afterwards

if we have a deal.

Was I right?

I guess not.

The last shipment of guns

that were seized at our border...

...have not been

accounted for, Sanchez.

You are now off that assignment.

Who wants to volunteer?

Okay. You, Gomez, it's yours.

With el presidente's new campaign

against the Barillo cartel...

...their activities are being

pushed into the forefront.

Large payments, deliveries,

whispers of a political takeover.

I need new point men,

strong and willing.

This is a top priority of el presidente.

Who wants this?

Romero, it's yours.

Pick your secondary person.

A third, if you have to.

That's all. Dismissed.

I should take his left nut.

You're with us.

People of Culiacan.

I've come here to bring you a

message of peace.

Peace that at this moment is being

threatened by a group of people

that is threatening our nation.

People like Armando Barillo.

I invite you to gather our forces...

...in order to prevent the

destruction of our unity

...and our peace.

El presidente, history teaches us

no matter how great your armies are...

...you will always need

the favor of the inhabitants...

...to take possession of a province.

How can you compete with

a man like Barillo? He owns Culiacan.

He doesn't own its people.

Barillo purchased hundreds

of homes and ranches...

...in the northern part of Culiacan.

And then he has turned around

and given these homes to the people.

- He's a folk hero to them.

- He's also a mass murderer...

...and a drug kingpin.

He's trying to make himself a martyr

by drawing the people to his side...

...but the people can see through that.

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