(continued)

2EXT. 2EXT. STREETS - GUATEMALA - DAY2

A local gang controls the town. The leader, RAMON (20), walks in the middle of the streets with some of his MEN. As they travel to the dump, they harass KIDS on the way. They bully them and extort money. Life is hard.

Along the road there are YOUNG BOYS with pouches for sniffing glue. They are high. Some are in a coma from the glue. Lucion (16), a one-leg teen, tries to catch up with the gang, but he’s too slow. Ramon taunts him.

RAMON

Does your mummy know you’re half a crawling worm now?

(talking to his gang members)

Too bad the train only did half the job. His mother was so hot ! Now that she’s in El Norte, I bet she didn’t stop doing what she was good at.

(looking back at Lucion’s dark empty eyes)

Why do you think your loving mummy left you behind?

3EXT. DUMP - GUATEMALA - DAY3

Ramon and his men are walking towards Pablo who’s too busy scavenging to spot them.

A very young boy, CHRISTO (8), is sitting on the border of the dump, crying. Tonio is showing him his new friend, the mouse, trying to comfort him.

TONIO

--and let me introduce you to my new friend. Her name is—is—Lady Favela! Lady Favela—Christo. Christo—Lady Favela. She just told me our mothers will come back soon.

CHRISTO

Don’t fool me. I know they’re gone for—

Tonio spots Ramon approaching Pablo. He stands up and joins his brother immediately, and they both face the gang.

RAMON

Hey. Look who’s here! You’ll stink

when you go to the church.

(mimicking somebody else’s voice)

“You better wash your hands, hermelitos.”

Ramon snaps his fingers for one of the gang members, a tall teen, to get Tonio. Then he looks menacingly at Pablo:

RAMON

If you care anything about your little brother you’d better bring us some money from the church today. OK?

PABLO

I can’t any more. Padre Esteban is very suspicious now. You made us steal too many times!

RAMON

(smiling coldly)

Hey, it’s up to you.

(pointing at the dump)

If you don’t want to find your brother over there, you better have the stinking money. Got it? We’ll come to your place after the

Procession.

Tonio kicks the gang member in the balls. The tall guy can’t move, can’t breathe, can’t swear.

RAMON

Hey!

The other gang members jump on Pablo and Tonio who try to resist but very soon they’re lying on the ground with the gang leaning over them.

PABLO

(talking their way out of the fight)

Hey, look. Look. We’re late. If you want your money-­

4INT. CHURCH VESTRY - GUATEMALA - DAY4

PADRE ESTEBAN (30) is in the Vestry when Pablo and Tonio run in. They hurry to their robes to put them on.

PADRE

Uh, uh, uh! “You better wash your

hands, hermelitos”. Better get your faces too!

PABLO

(out of breath)

Sorry we are late Padre.

The kids wash hurriedly in the basin in the Vestry.

PADRE

Dios Mio!

(Crossing himself)

What am I going to do with you!

TONIO

Sorry Padre!

PADRE

(Shaking his head)

No time to change out of those dirty clothes before the Procession. Take care putting on the nice clean robes I spent the morning preparing!

PABLO AND TONIO

Si, Padre.

Tonio takes his robe and lets it fall down on the floor. Padre Esteban sighs and raises his arms to the sky. Pablo helps his little brother to put on his white robe and gold braids for the Procession.

TONIO

(to Padre Esteban)

I talked to Christo today. I’m worried about him. He’s so sad.

PADRE

Does his mother still send him money?

PABLO

(sadly)

It is not enough. Sending money. Asking a sister to take care of your sons. “Some sons” would rather have their mothers with them no matter how poor they are - wouldn’t even mind risking the journey to join her, up there—in El Norte.

PADRE

Think twice about it. We need you here. You are my most faithful Alter Boys. Besides, it’s a long and very dangerous journey!

PABLO

I’m not saying we’re leaving!

PADRE

I didn’t say you were.

(A moment later.)

We haven’t seen your Father in Mass since your Auntie died.

TONIO

Nope. Not since he drank all the Communion wine!

Pablo nudges Tonio to hush.

PADRE

Is he still drinking a lot?

TONIO

Well... When he’s not making whoopee he-­

Another nudge from Pablo.

PADRE

You tell him to come to see me. “God” didn’t forget the money “he borrowed” from the offering plate.

Pablo and Tonio exchange an “oh, oh!’ Look.

(end excerpt)

(c) Fay Hauser-Price