El Mariachi

Screenplay by

Robert Rodriguez

Produced by

Robert Rodriguez

Carlos Gallardo

Directed by

Robert Rodriguez

Cast List:

FADE IN:

It's an early Friday morning and a patrol car drives up an unpaved road and parks next to a gutted police car on cinder blocks. The camera pans with the OFFICER as he exits his car and walks up to a ramp leading to the babay blue JAIL HOUSE. He is carrying a greasy bag of fast food.

The Officer enters the lobby, tosses the bag of food to his PARTNER who is sitting at a desk. He grabs a tin cup and walks over to barred entrance to Block A. Twenty or so CRIMINALS, from drunks to drug dealers are sleeping peacefully in their cell on Block A. The Officer rattles the tin cup between the entrance bar.

The inmates stir, rubbing their dirty faces and trying to sit up. The camera dollies slowly down the narrow hallway of the block which has three cells: Two small ones side by side, and one bigger cell that faces the block entrance. The sound of scribbling and business dealing can be heard from inside the cell. It is AZUL jottin ginto a business ledger while chatting on his cellular phone. His cell is equipped with a small desk and a refridgerator. He hangs up the phone and continues writing.

The Officer with the tin cup sits in a couch across from his partner, who is now eating, and reads a magazine.

Azul picks up his phone and makes another call. He talks business. In the other cell, prisoners are getting up and looking around. Azul hangs up the phone and writes.

A gorgeous, bikini-clad BABE struts slowly into a tighly framed glamour shot. She pauses, takes a deep breath, then dives a 'perfect ten' dive into a house-side moat. She swims long, slow motion strokes around the moat as the camera tracks alonside her, lovingly admiring her tan lines and hydrodynamic build. She slides out of the water and walks up a cobble stone walk, dripping as she passes a seated GENTLEMAN in a white suit. His face is unrevealed. As she enters the house, he sets his drink down by a phone. He lifts up the receiver and dials.

Azul's phone rings. He looks up at it, startled, as if no one has ever called him before. He glances at his watch, and then back at the phone, hesitating to answer it. He looks around the cell block as if someone might be playing a trick on him. Finally he answers it, pausing before saying hello. It is El Moco.

Good morning, Azul. Do you know who this is?

Moco... What the hell do you want after all these years?

MOCO is sitting on his porch drinking tequila.

We've got a lot to talk about. I'm just a few town away with a whole new gang. I heard you were nearby so I thought I'd give you a call, amigo.

That's sweet of you, asshole. I don't suppose you could get me out of there, and then maybe hand me over my share of money.

Yes, I figured you'd want your money, my friend. That is why I have called you. I heard you were getting out soon, and figured I should deal with our situation. But do you really need me to help you get out? From what I hear, you're running quite a business out of your cell with a phone and some loyal men. It keeps you well protected I hear. Not a bad idea. I may try that myself sometime.

I could stay in here and earn peanuts compared to what you owe me if I were to get out. So, yes, I want you to help me... my friend.

Soon my friend, soon. I'm sending you some people in a few days to get you.

Really? Well, that's more like it. Just like the Moco I used to know.

Azul is walking towards his window at the sound of a truck racing in.

Just hang in there my friend. I won't forget that you have been a big part of our success. What's wrong.

A large truck drives up to the jail, parking beside the police car. Two tall, well-dressed MEN step out. They reach into the cab and pull out machine guns. They walk briskly towards the jail.

Azul walks to his toilet and stands on it to see out his barred window.

There's something going on outside. Is this a double surprise? Are you getting me out today, Moco?

There is no response from Moco.

The Guard reading the magazine stands when he sees someone approaching the door.

Close tracking shot of guns as Tall Men open the door and enter the jail.

Azul looks out of the jail cell suspiciously. Peering down the hall, he sees the guys with the guns. He hides behind the wall, peering out to see what happens next.

The Tall Men walk right up to the guard, and hand him a huge wad of money. The Guard tosses the money to his partner (still eating), then turns to unlock the block entrance bars.

Azul puts the receiver back up to his mouth.

There are two men here with guns. Did you send them?

Moco, glancing at his watch, hangs up.

Azul hangs up the phone and kicks his Bodyguard awake. The Bodyguard gets up and peers out the bars as Azul hides in a corner.

The Tall Men walk steady and alert, ready to kill. They enter Azul's block and scope out the cells.

The Bodyguard, seeing the tall men, retrieves his shotgun from under his mattress and grabs his machete from under the sink. He stands ready to fight.

The Tall Men move slowly towards the big cell, somewhat cautious. They see the Bodyguard a second too late, for he sticks the shotgun between the bars, and shoots one of them before they can react. The shot one stumbles back into his buddy's arms. Azul's Bodyguard, amused by all this, opens his cell door effortlessly, and walks out as if to greet them. The Tall Men hear the sound of the other cells opening, so they turn around. The other prisoners on the block begin exiting their cells, carrying guns and Molotov cocktails. The Tall Man drops his gun. Finally, Azul exits his cell carrying his phone. The Bodyguard forces the Tall Men into an empty cell, closing and locking the door.

Azul presses the #-button on his phone. Moco's phone number is automatically redialed.

Moco answers.

I'm still here, Moco. And so are your little friends. But not for long. They have something they want to scream to you. Listen close, because you're going to repeat it to me when I come to visit you.

The cellmates throw their Molotov cocktails into the cell. Moco hears the men screaming as they burn to death. Azul is holding the phone at arm's length into the cell.

The Guards exchange glances when they hear the screaming, they smile and shrug, then go back to what they were doing. As Azul and his Bodyguards exit the block, the Guard with the magazine stands up as if to stop them, but Azul tosses him a wad of money and the guard sits back down to count it.

A blue truck races towards the jail.

Azul exits the jail carrying a shotgun. His Bodyguards get inside the Tall Men's truck and start it. Azul waits patiently for his blue truck.

As the blue truck pulls up, two little rat-like VATOS exit the blue truck, one handing Azul a guitar case. Azul tosses it onto the hood. The Bodyguards wave as they drive away. Azul waves back. He opens the case, revealing an arsenal of weaponry. Azul notices one piece is missing. One Rat quickly pulls the missing weapon from his jacket and replaces it in the case. Azul is unamused. He grabs his MAC-10 machine gun from the guitar case and aims it at the thieving Rat's head.

Suddenly, the Guard bolts out the jail waving the wad of money, as if complaining.

Azul turns his MAC-10 onto the Guard instead. A few blasts later Azul and his rats pack up and go as the Guard twitches helplessly on the ground, still clutching the money in his bloody hand.

The blue truck barels down the highway and the camera pans with the truck as it passes a hitchhiker, MARIACHI, standing in the sun with a thumb in the air. The truck passes him up so he continues walking. Mariachi is carrying a guitar case in one hand and a black jacket in the other. He is wearing a white T-shirt, black pants. The camera pans to a sign that reads "ACUÑA 18 miles".

Mariachi is walking around downtown Acuña. He notices a bar across the street and, liking the way it looks, he puts on his jacket and crosses over to it. He stops to read a sign on the building that says "MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS ONLY". He prays silently to himself before confidently walking inside.

Mariachi enters the club, greeting the PATRONS as ge makes his way to the bar. No one seems to greet him back. He sits on a barstool near some OTHER DRINKERS, laying his guitar case down lovingly beneath his stool. He looks around the place, as if sizing it up.

What do you want to drink?

Refresco.

The other drinkers stare at him.

Glancing around the room, Mariachi notices a small, table-shaped object draped with a cloth in one corner of the room.

Sitting directly behind him are four mean-looking dudes. Mariachi is served his drink.

No hay musica?

Why?

I'm a mariachi. A good one. I play beautiful ballads, old classic ballads, on an old-fashioned guitar.

So what?

I could add a little class to this place. I work for fairly cheap, I live mostly off tips. But I need steady work, and I can guarantee bringing in more customers.

Tell me, why would I need one little guitar player when I've already got a full band?

Mariachi gives him a silent "what" look.

The BARTENDER motions to a YOUNG MAN sitting near the small draped table.

The Young Man removes the drape revealing a keyboard. Puts on his mariachi hat, dips his fingers into his shot glass and rubs his fingers together (as if warming up for the big show). He hits a few switches in EXTREME CLOSEUP as...

... Mariachi adjusts himself to the seat.

The Young Men gently taps one switch and the keyboard sounds like an accordion, pulsing out a beat. He then presses another switch and a horn section swells to a crescendo and waltzes the familiar riffs. He adds the string and horns accents by banging on the keys. He sounds awful.

Mariachi grimaces slightly then turns back to the Bartender who seems to enjoy it.

The Keyboard Mariachi finishes his song, sits back down.

There you see? Either I can pay one guy to sound like a full mariachi band...

Mariachi picks up his guitar and lays some money next to his full drink. He looks disappointed.

... or I could spend the same money only get one little guitar player... Understand?

Thank you, sir.

You want to earn a living? Get a real musical instrument.

The Bartender picks up the bottle of soda pop Mariachis left behind and offers it to the other men on the table. They say no, pay, and leave. The Bartender offers it to the MEAN DUDES at the table.

They all shake their heads no.

The Bartender shrugs and dumps it.

Mariachi walks out and looks up and down the street. He decides to walk south.

As he walks down the sidewalk, the camera pans into a CLOSEUP of another guitar case that is moving towards the Corona Club. The camera falls back a little revealing the backside of Azul, dressed also in black. Azul walks into the bar.

Azul enters the bar, notices to his left the table with the four mean-looking Dudes, drinking and eating chips and salsa.

The oldest one, with his back to Azul, takes a sip from his mixed drink, then stands and excuses himself to the restroom.

The Old Mean Dude walks into the first stall and sits down.

The three remaining Dudes notice Azul's guitar case. So does the Bartender. They all look at each other and laugh.

What the hell is this, mariachi day? There is no work for you here!

Azul walks the mean Dude's table. Their laughing quiets down a bit as Azul stands before them. The Bartender stops smiling.

Bartender... one beer.

In a bottle, wey.

Bartender stops filling the beer, stares at the half-full glass for a moment, then drinks the beer.

Azul is staring at the three Mean Dudes. They stare back.

The Bartender slaps the unopened bottle down at the counter.

Ready.

Azul doesn't pay attention to him.

I'm looking for an old friend of mine. His name is... Moco. Do you know where I can find him.

You can sometimes find him here. He owns this place.

So you know him?

We work for him.

That's too bad.

Azul turns to the mean Dude sitting to his left, and places the guitar in his hands. The Mean Dude is confused.

Hold it please.

Azul opens the case and pulls out the MAC-10. The other two Mean Dudes are already reaching for their pistols.

The Bartender ducks beneath the counter.

Azul fires a million bullets into two of the Mean Dudes, (the other is holding the case in shock). Their chests explode, causing neat little dollops of flesh and blood fly everywhere. The Mean Dude holding the guitar case is frozen with fear. He manages to look up at Azul, who is watching the Mean Dudes die a slow, bloody death. The barrel of the MAC-10 is smoking. Azul turns slowly to the Mean Dude holding the case. Azul aims his MAC-10 in the Dude's face. Still frozen holding the case, he spends his last moments looking down the gun's barrel.

The shots caused Old Mean Dude to peer out from his stall as the toilet paper fell to the ground and started to roll across the floor. He now watches it roll as more shots ring out. He pulls up his pants and and walks toward the door slowly. He is sweating profusely. He slowly picks up the toilet paper, plotting his next move. It grows silent... He takes a deep breath and rushes out the door.

The Old Dude bursts into the room with a roll of toilet paper in his hand, and a sheet of sweat sliding down his face.

The Bartender rises up from behind the counter.

The camera dollies slowly by the dead Dudes. Their blood-bathed faces twisted into odd shapes and expressions. The camera continues to dolly to the one dead Dude still holding the guitar case. His face is a bloody pulp. The camera stops dollying to the old Dude's mixed drink. A hand is stirring it with a straw. The camera pans up the arm to reveal Azul, standing expressionless with his gun sling over his shoulder.

Shot at 16fps the Old Dude quickly drops the toilet paper and runs back inside the bathroom.

Azul turns to his guitar case and carefully chooses another weapon. He grabs the drink and tosses a napkin over his arm like a waiter, then casually follows the Old Dude into the bathroom.

The Bartenders glance at each other. One pours a shot glass full of tequila and raises it to his lips to drink it. Shots ring out and the Bartender spills the drink over himself.

Without warning Azul bursts from the bathroom and walks calmly to his case. He replaces the weapon, picks up the case and leaves.

A few seconds pass before the bartender grabs the phone and furiously dials.

Get me Moco!!!

The door bursts open as Azul reenters, storming to the bar.

The Bartender is so petrified he doesn't think to drop the phone.

Azul walks right up to the Bartender.

The Bartender shuts his eyes. The sound of the beer bottle popping open canbe heard, along with the sound of thirsty guzzling. The Bartender opens his eyes to Azul.

CLOSEUP of the empty bottle slamming to the counter.

The Bartender glances down at the bottle.

CLOSEUP of Azul tossing a few coins near the bottle as payment. Azul leaves.

A few seconds pass as the Bartender is standing there. You hear Moco yelling into the receiver asking what's going on.

Moco is on the porch trying to get the Bartender to answer him.

WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE, ANSWER ME!!!

You hear Moco's voice through the phone. The camera dollies into the Bartender as he screams into the receiver.

The camera dollies in to the corpses...

... and finally a low outdoor frontal tracking shot of Azul walking away smiling as the image fades out.

Low angle of Hotel Coahuila sign. MEAN DUDE #5 enters the frame as his beeper goes off. He runs into the Hotel Coahuila.

Mean Dude #5 enters the lobby where an OLD CLERK is sitting at the counter reading a yellowed newspaper. There is a pit bull on the floor beside him.

Da me telefono.

Take it.

Mean Dude #5 grabs the phone and dials Moco's number. He glances down at the PIT BULL lying on the floor.

Pit bull?

Yeah, pit bull.

The line is picked up and Mean Dude talks into the phone. He pulls out a piece of paper from his coat pocket and places it on the counter. He begins jotting down four names. He then slowly crosses their names out.

Dead?

The Viejo Clerk glances up from his paper. The Pit Bull also glances up.

All of them? How long ago? OK, What does this guy look like?

Clerk goes back to reading his paper. Pit Bull is still paying attention, though.

Same low-angle shot of the outdoor sign displaying the name Hotel Coahuila. Mariachi walks into frame, and pulls out his wallet. Mariachi pulls out a few measly bucks then seems to be considering what to do next.

An inside shot looking out of the front glass reveals Mariachi looking at his wallet as Mean Dude talks to the phone. No one notices him.

... carries a guitar case... And what was he wearing?... all black...

The Pit Bull turns and looks out of the window. Seeing Mariachi, he gets up and walks to it.

Mariachi is putting his last few dollars back into his wallet. As he is walking away he notices the Pit Bull and he bends down for a closer look.

Don't worry, Moco. We'll find him, and we'll mess him up real good.

Low shot with long lens at full zoom of Mariachi tapping on glass.

CLOSEUP of dog responing.

CLOSEUP of Mariachi tapping.

Mean Dude hangsup the phone. He writes a few more things. He turns to leave.

Gracias señor...

As he passes the camera you can see Mariachi still playing with the dog. Inside view CLOSEUP of Mariachi tapping on glass.

Callate, hombre!!!

Mariachi looks up at the Clerk, then stands.

The Mean Dude turns around and looks and looks at the Clerk. Clerk turns to look at Mean Dude, who is walking back to the counter.

Mariachi picks his guitar from the ground. He is in full view, but no one is looking at him.

Viejo, if you see anyone new in town, carrying a guitar case, dressed in black... you can call this number, OK?

Mean Dude writes down a phone number and the description of Azul on a little card.

And if I don't call, you'll kill me...

No. I won't kill you... he will...

The sarcastic smile fades from the old man. Mean Dude walks away. The old man reads the card, then glances out the window. Mariachi is gone.

Mariachi is turning a corner just as Mean Dude #5 exits the hotel. The Mean Dude walks off in the other direction.

Mariachi enters Domino's bar. DOMINO is waiting on a few bar bums that are nursing their jaws. Mariachi sits with them, asks for a refresco, He gets looks again. Domino serves him and he asks to see the owner. She says he's looking at the owner. He then asks her for work as a mariachi. She says she has no money to pay him. He looks arund the classy joint and knows she's lying (it turns out to be true, she has no money). When he asks how a girl can take care of herself in a town like this she stuffs a gun barrel in his mouth. He nurses his jaw, pays and leaves, as the others laugh.

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.

Pit bull.

Yeah, pit bull.

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.

Sí, later...

Thank you...

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

Thank you, friend.

Uh, excuse me señor? I forgot, I need a small deposit...

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

You can trust me.

I am very sorry, señor. But... how much can you spare?

The dog is watching the event.

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

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...

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.

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.

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

CUT TO:

Mariachi is suddenly sleeping in the dirt. Same top shot as in the hotel. He opens his eyes, then groggily he sits up.

ESTABL