Pickpockets Page #2

---

-Yeah.

Reggaeton is rap too.

The thing is, my friend here doesn't like

anything from Latin America.

They told him that rap was from up there,

in America.

But what he doesn't know is

that rap isn't American.

It came from our African slave brothers

who shouted and played drums!

That's rap!

So... did you make that deer yourself?

Yes.

Have you seen them around?

Yes.

All over the place.

It's really beautiful.

Thanks.

Are you guys into graffiti too?

Well, we're--

No, we're dancers.

No, come on, look at this.

-Pretty good, right?

-Cool.

Can you paint me one?

-Really?

-Go ahead.

Okay then.

I bet you don't even know

there are deer in Bogot.

-Did you know that?

-I had no idea.

Up in the mountains,

taking care of the highlands.

That's why I paint them...

for clueless people like you

who have no idea they exist,

and they won't disappear altogether.

Cool.

So where do you hang out?

At the junkyard in Las Cruces.

Ready?

Let me see.

Nice!

Thanks, but I'm hers.

Oh, yeah?

Okay, see ya.

-Bye.

-Later.

-See you later!

-Bye.

Are you ready?

I have a good idea.

I need an Alka-seltzer.

Please! Call an ambulance, please!

He's having convulsions!

Call an ambulance!

What happened?

Not a bad trick, but there's room

for improvement.

Go back to the tailor shop

and keep practicing.

Help me out, honey.

With my words...

I distract your mind.

With my eyes...

I distract your eyes...

And with my hands...

You're a bore.

Have you seen Juana?

I think she's over there.

Thanks.

Juana!

Juana!

-Hey.

-Hey.

What are you doing here?

I came...

to give this back to you.

Where did you get it?

The record store.

You must have dropped it.

Right.

I dropped it.

And my ID?

I don't know.

Okay.

So you're coming in?

Wear this if you don't want to get dizzy.

I don't get dizzy.

Sure?

Yes.

I'm sure.

This is what I'm working on now.

You see?

It's looking right at us,

and nobody even knows.

Wow.

It's really pretty.

Really what?

Pretty.

"Really pretty"! You're an idiot.

I...

I want to do things...

that are different.

Things that disturb.

That's art, right?

Freedom.

Transgression.

Do you like murals?

The ones on 26th Street.

The ones on 26th. Good.

They're very pretty.

Not pretty!

They should have an effect.

They should transform...

make you feel different.

You.

Me what?

You make me feel different.

I'm stoned.

Are you alright?

I need air.

Doggy!

If you're gonna work the streets,

you have to be invisible.

Mix in with the people.

Remember, we want to be forgotten,

not remembered.

Okay, that's enough!

This isn't recess!

What's so funny?

Always dress in solid colors that don't

stand out. Greys, browns, like that.

Ties...

they're essential.

People are idiots.

They trust anyone in a tie.

That's why bankers wear ties.

To steal better.

Always dress in layers, lots of layers.

Makes it possible to change appearance

quickly and get away if you're caught.

Fresh, stand over there.

Come here.

Put this on.

Your friend, Fresh, is a cop

and he's gonna grab you.

Use your instinct.

Now what?

You're ready.

Hit the streets.

Crowds are the pickpocket's

natural habitat.

Always work at rush hour.

Tourists are better than locals.

Shoppers are more distracted

than working stiffs.

Open bags are better than closed.

Backpacks are better than jackets.

Jackets are better than pants.

Back pockets are better than front.

Don't even think about trying

a front pants pocket.

Work in threes.

One distracts...

one steals...

Watch where you're going!

...the other one runs.

What do you see here?

Us.

And what do you notice?

It's like a game to you, not a job.

You're slow.

Spot a victim, distract him, rob him.

And move on to the next, and the next.

Looks who's here!

Our buddy Chucho.

Listen, time marches on

and still no money.

What's up with that?

I don't have it all yet.

But you've got it to gamble, right?

Just remember...

"He who gambles out of necessity

is sure to lose."

As the old folks used to say.

Let me have some of that.

What the f*** is this?

Alms for the poor, Chucho?

Do I look like a beggar?

Don't be shameless.

I heard you got an army of kids

out stealing for you.

I don't care how you get the money.

Get going, man.

To show you what kind of guy I am,

I'll make a deal.

Let's be partners.

-Partners me and you?

-Yeah.

Never.

Who f***ed this up anyway?

You did.

You killed my bird,

f***ed up the betting.

That's why they wanna kill you.

You know who your guardian angel is?

Look at me.

Me.

Leave the f***ing hat on the table.

This is bullshit.

Bullshit?

You think it's a lot?

It's what we made today.

I need you to be faster.

I need a million pesos a day.

A million pesos?

That's three times what we're making.

Well, you're three times better

than you used to be, right?

Right?

Right.

Look.

This is the area I control from here,

with these monitors...

From here, I can feed you groups

of tourists, crowds.

If you steal where and when I say,

we'll make a million a day.

Under no circumstances

will you leave this area.

I can't protect you outside of it.

That's not a suggestion, it's an order.

The area down there is Jaime's?

Yes.

Perfect. This is Jaime's turf.

The rules are different here.

It's where idiots die young.

Forget Jaime, you work for me now.

With my rules.

No more violence, or guns,

or running from the cops.

You follow my rules.

And find a third partner.

I'm not working with you.

Why not?

Because of this.

I'm your eyes, your guide,

I protect you from here.

Good morning, can you do me a favor?

We're not from around here...

We're here, right?

We need to get to this tower over here.

Okay, look...

We're here, right?

You need to go left here...

Look at this book!

Do you work here? How much is this?

Do you remember this book?

My mom had a copy.

What's up?

Your partner looks good.

I told you.

Careful there.

A million.

That's a lot of money, right?

What's a lot of money to you?

Enough to buy a toilet every time

I take a sh*t.

You'd spend your money on toilets?

You're a genius!

What about you, Juana?

What do rich girls spend their money on?

Your parents are rich, aren't they?

No...

they're neither rich, nor poor...

just normal.

Normal.

But clearly, you're not like these two.

You're not a street kid.

No?

So, Fresh, what will you spend

your money on?

I don't know.

What do you mean you don't know?

There's nothing you want?

Well...

Fresh!

Why are we doing this?

If it were only for the money,

we'd sell drugs, right?

You two don't understand.

He's in it for the psychological,

not the physical challenge.

Stealing for the sake of stealing.

You'll change.

Why?

-Did you change?

-No.

Because I need money.

A lot of money, to pay my debts.

Here's to a good day's work

and to the rich girls.

And here's to Spanish thieves.

Hey, what's up?

Hey, Alex, my wallet!

As if you didn't know!

-Look at this!

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes