Mexico City Confidential (4) GOMEZ is perched over PACO like a vulture explaining how he wants him to write out the information for the active and inactive clients in two separate notebooks. He then places before PACO the first bulky ledger to begin sorting out. As he leaves PACO’S temporary office to return to his own ANITA appears in the doorway. GOMEZ grunts at her as he passes. She has let her hair down and stands in the doorway gazing at PACO. 47 ANITA Could I order you something to eat before I go? PACO looks up startled relaxing when he sees her familiar face. PACO Thanks but you don’t have to trouble your self. Did Carmela get my message? ANITA (approaches swallowing her pride) Oh yes… (innocent) The boss gave her a ride home… she had all those flowers to carry. (reaction PACO, ANITA bites her lip at her “faux pas”) She and I both assumed they were from you… ( she leans on the desk) Are you sure I can’t get you anything before I go? PACO (troubled) No… thanks… ANITA See you tomorrow then. PACO (distracted) Yeah right… INT/EVE, HIGH-CLASS RESTAURANT CARMELA is giggling at HANNIBAL’S flattery, they are already on their second bottle of champagne as HANNIBAL refills her glass every time she takes a sip toasting to the health of her parents for bringing her into the world. CARMELA Shouldn’t we order something? I mean I’m not used to so much wine on an empty stomach. HANNIBAL Please forgive my thoughtless oversight! (he snaps and a waiter appears as if from thin air) A double order of oysters, clams, mussels and beluga caviar… and another 48 bottle of champagne. (to CARMELA, taking her hand) Now where were we? CARMELA (pulls her hand away gently) Excuse me but I think I must powder my nose… HANNIBAL rubs his hands together as she tipsily sways away from the table. INT/EVE, LADIES ROOM CARMELA staggers up to a card phone. She digs in her purse and the first thing she extracts is HANNIBAL’S card. Without looking at it she tries to put it in the card slot then realizes her mistake with a giggle and shoves it back in her bag digging until she finds a real phone card. She dials… CARMELA Hello mother!… Of course I’m fine! Just having a little drink with a girlfriend from work… If PACO calls tell him that, I’ll call him later OK? Yes mother I’ll be careful… She hangs up, pulls her card out of the slot after two tries then pauses to check herself in the mirror. CARMELA I hope you know what you are doing… With another giggle she shoves off to return to the table. INT/EVE, CARMELA’S APARTMENT The familiar chaos prevails as the doorbell rings and CARMELA’S MOTHER lumbers to answer. She is taken aback when she sees MUNGO. MUNGO Mrs. Vallejo? She nods and he hands her the three dozen roses. MUNGO I was asked to deliver these for Miss Carmela… Her MOTHER stares from MUNGO to the flowers then back again. She rifles the pockets of her housecoat then gestures to MUNGO. 49 MOTHER Wait just a moment… MUNGO Please madam, it isn’t necessary I am well paid by my employer… Good evening to you. He bows and disappears down the stairs MOTHER staring after him. The phone rings and she closes the door and waddles over to pick up. MOTHER Hello… (frowns) No she is not here… (gazing at the flowers she suddenly smiles) She has gone for a drink with some friend from work, she said she would call you later… (dispassionate) You too. She hangs up the phone and kisses the flowers laughing. MOTHER That’s my girl! INT/EVE, ACCOUNTING OFFICES GOMEZ is suddenly startled as PACO slams the phone down in the next office. He gently kisses a photograph of he and HANNIBAL before replacing it in his drawer. His loyalty finally makes sense. He stands and goes to poke his head in PACO’S office. GOMEZ Is something wrong? PACO No, sorry if I disturbed you, just nerves. GOMEZ shrugs and returns to his desk. PACO stares blankly at the huge ledger before him. POV PACO his eyes gradually focus on the pages of accounts. The amounts are staggering. PACO sits back thoughtfully, he had always had a vague idea of what money flowed through his bag, he had never stopped to multiply that sum by twenty, not to mention eighty if one were to include the “straight” end of the enterprise. His mind suddenly reels. He stares in amazement from the ledger to GOMEZ then back at the ledger… He digs in his pocket and fishes out a small notepad. With furtive glances towards GOMEZ he begins to jot down code numbers and addresses of “high rollers”. 50 INT/NIGHT, HIGH-CLASS RESTAURANT HANNIBAL feeds CARMELA oysters and she laughs. CARMELA They are so slippery you don’t really get a chance to taste them. HANNIBAL That is the idea… He “slips” his hand onto her thigh and she slips it off again waving a prohibitive finger at him. CARMELA You promised your intentions were noble… HANNIBAL I am a man my dear not a machine… even the prophet would have difficulty restraining himself in the face of such temptation… He tries to kiss her neck but she slips to the side grabbing his wrist. As she sees his watch her eyes pop open. CARMELA Oh heavens! My mother will be beside herself! Please forgive me but I must leave immediately, my parents are old school so long as I live in their home I must respect their rules… HANNIBAL grits his teeth but there is nothing he can do in the face of her modest entreaty without giving himself away. HANNIBAL (stern) I understand… I insist we set a formal date however, so your parents will have no reason to worry, after all we haven’t even finished our appetizer… CARMELA (timid) Tomorrow night? HANNIBAL I will call for you at seven o’clock, you are a big girl so no curfew. 51 CARMELA (swallowing hard) No curfew… HANNIBAL (picking up his cellular) My driver will see you home. CARMELA Wait, let me leave the tip. HANNIBAL You insult me. CARMELA You insult me! HANNIBAL Well, now that we’ve insulted each other, Let’s make up. (tries to kiss her) CARMELA I will leave the tip. HANNIBAL That isn’t necessary. CARMELA I know it isn’t, but I’m going to do it. (She leaves a substantial tip) HANNIBAL Well, if you insist. My driver is waiting for you outside. (As soon as she turns to go, he steals the tip and jams it into his pocket with a big juicy Cesar Romero smile) INT/NIGHT, NEIGHBORHOOD BAR PACO is slumped over his drink, his friend ANGEL looks at him expectantly… ANGEL So? PACO So she said yes… 52 ANGEL That’s great! Isn’t it? PACO We haven’t set a date… Hell one night I ask her to marry me, then all of a sudden the boss offers me overtime and I’m telling you this asshole wouldn’t even give his mother overtime if she begged for it. Then I’m told he gives her a ride home and when I call she’s not there, she’s out with some “friend” from work having a drink all of a sudden. ANGEL Does she love you? PACO What is that supposed to mean? ANGEL You know what it’s supposed to mean. PACO Yeah, I don’t know either. I cant compete, you wouldn’t believe the numbers I was looking at tonight with zeroes like you use to measure the distance between stars.. And I’m paying out half my income in taxes on my income like a peon while this pendejo… ANGEL You're afraid of losing her. PACO I'm not gong to lose her, I already tried that. I've got to lose Hannibal ANGEL Lose him. Take a break (reaction PACO he laughs bitterly) Well, you’ll be getting the overtime right? PACO It will cover the Yugo and pay off Carmela’s ring… whatever’s left over might cover cab fare to the airport. ANGEL And none of those extra-terrestrial numbers ever seems to rub off on you… Doesn’t that piss you off just a little? 53 PACO A lot… ANGEL So why do you still work for him? PACO At my age? Where would I go? and what would I do when I get there? I better get going… ANGEL You’re already gone PACO casts him a baleful glance as he stands. The drinks are on me… PACO Thanks. INT/DAY, ELECTRIC CITY (MUSICAL BRIDGE) CARMELA goes about her duties she is clearly troubled by something. ANITA observes her from a distance. EXT/DAY, MEXICO CITY STREETS PACO makes his rounds he also seems troubled. EXT/DAY, RENATA’S HOUSE PACO counts off a few bills and hands them to his mother. She kisses him on the cheek tenderly and does a little jig as he pulls away. EXT/DAY, MEXICO CITY STREET We see PACO inside the jewelry store. He hands some money to the salesman and emerges from the store counting the leftovers. With a heavy sigh he shoves the money in his pocket and climbs aboard the mini-bike. INT/DAY, ELECTRIC CITY CARMELA says something to ANITA indicating her watch and ANITA nods. CARMELA dashes out of the store on some errand. A moment later a beleaguered PACO enters and asks for CARMELA. ANITA indicates that he has just missed her. He scribbles a quick note and 54 hands it to ANITA who nods with a pert smile. As soon as PACO leaves she reads it… OVERSHOULDER we see “I’ll be able to make it to the movies after all! Meet me out front at 21:30… I miss you, Love PACO.” ANITA purses her lips then folds the note and slowly proceeds to tear it up. Tossing it in the trash with a satisfied smile she gets back to work. EXT/EVE, STREET BELOW CARMELA’S APT. The big Mercedes waits, MUNGO holds the door open for CARMELA as she emerges from the building. As MUNGO closes the door he salutes MOTHER who looks on from the first floor window. We see MOTHER wave back with a triumphant expression. INT/EVE, ACCOUNTING OFFICES PACO slaves away over the books he is clearly distracted. His eyes keep darting to the clock we see it is 19:45. INT/NIGHT, HIGH CLASS RESTAURANT This time HANNIBAL doesn’t run the risk of making a fool of himself at the hotel. This restaurant is on the water front but none the less opulent. He gazes at CARMELA intently as the waiter clears the plates from the appetizers. CARMELA (nervous) You see we finished our appetizer… HANNIBAL (starring into her eyes) Did we now. She looks away bashfully, starring down at her hands that fiddle with the napkin in her lap. HANNIBAL grins mischievously and extracts a long narrow velvet box from his breast pocket. He opens it and places it strategically in CARMELA’S field of vision. CARMELA’S eyes grow wide. 55 POV CARMELA we see a diamond and emerald necklace glimmering in the candlelight. Her eyes move from the necklace to PACO’S dainty ring on her finger and back again. CARMELA It is lovely. HANNIBAL Compared to your beauty it is a simple trinket. If you are a good girl there are a matching bracelet and earrings that would find their purpose adorning your lovely ears and wrist... CARMELA gently closes the box and slides it across the table towards HANNIBAL. CARMELA (soft smile) I could never accept such an extravagant gift. After all you hardly know me. HANNIBAL frowns then pushes the box back in her direction. HANNIBAL You needn’t be threatened my dear… You must have realized by now that for me this is a simple gesture. CARMELA Your simple gestures may not seem so simple to others. I know nothing about you really. HANNIBAL Do you enjoy my company? CARMELA (self conscious) Well yes… HANNIBAL Then what else do you need to know so you will feel at ease? CARMELA (regards him a moment) Are you married? He laughs a bit self-consciously then puts on his most morose expression. 56 HANNIBAL I was… I lost her some time ago. You could say from then on I became a, how do they say… workaholic. CARMELA I’m… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so insensitive. It’s just… HANNIBAL (consoling) It’s just that you are an extraordinarily beautiful young woman and many many men have been less than honest in the attempt to sway your affections. CARMELA You could say that is part of it… He places his hand on hers looking into her eyes, this time she can not pull away. HANNIBAL I don’t want you to feel I am pressuring you. I think you can understand my enthusiasm however, it isn’t often that such a young and desirable woman gives me the time of day! I want you to hold on to this… (he pats the velvet box) If at our next meeting it still makes you uncomfortable I will take it back, other wise I hope to see you wearing it. Do we have a deal? CARMELA (laughs) OK it’s a deal. The waiter approaches with their entrée. INT/NIGHT, ACCOUNTING OFFICES PACO enters GOMEZ’ office carrying his bag and rubbing his eyes. He is not at all accustomed to this type of work. GOMEZ gazes up as he approaches. PACO I’ve finished with that ledger. A lot of dead weight in there. GOMEZ I thought as much. 57 PACO looks at GOMEZ’ computer screen with simple curiosity. PACO Can I help you with anything else? GOMEZ These are the collections assignments for the rest of the week I’ve nothing more for you now. PACO (interested) No kidding. Have you done mine yet? GOMEZ (regarding him suspiciously) Why do you ask? PACO Now that I’m working nights too it would save me time if I could make out my routes before I pick up my packets. GOMEZ (grunting approval) I suppose that wouldn’t be a problem. He saves the screen he is working on and calls up PACO’S, with the touch of a button he begins printing them out. He hands them to PACO who reverently folds them and places them in his bag. PACO notices the time, 21:20, and groans. PACO Oh man I’m gonna miss the movie! Thanks Gomez, see you tomorrow! GOMEZ simply nods with a dismissive glance. EXT/NIGHT, CINEMA PACO arrives at the box office on foot and out of breath, his bag weighing him down as usual. He looks around but there is no sign of CARMELA. The line outside has already started filing in to take their seats. PACO approaches the box office. PACO (to cashier) Have you seen a gorgeous girl here waiting for someone? The cashier gazes at PACO skeptical, he shakes his head. 58 PACO Thanks… He paces up and down the sidewalk until the last couple has entered the cinema. With a glance at his watch he decides to buy a ticket and enters. INT/NIGHT, CINEMA The previews have already finished and the film has started when PACO takes a seat in the very last row. His eyes keep turning towards the door but no one enters. The film is a romantic comedy and the audience is primarily couples. His attention is continuously drawn from the screen to the door to the various couples in front of him who enjoy the film snuggled up to each other. He looks at his watch again. PACO Maybe Anita forgot to give her my note… The nearest couple shushes him and he can’t take it any more. He stands up and walks out. EXT/NIGHT, PACO’S STREET As he rounds the corner PACO stops abruptly thunderstruck. He ducks into the shadows. POV PACO we see CARMELA and HANNIBAL emerge from the big Mercedes. He tries to kiss her but she successfully dodges with a playful reminder that they agreed to take it slow. She trots off towards the entrance and HANNIBAL gets back in the car. INT-EXT/NIGHT, HANNIBAL’S MERCEDES POV HANNIBAL he watches CARMELA’S hips all the way to the door. MUNGO You know whose house this is? HANNIBAL Of course I know… I want to let the comparison sink in. Then it will be a much more poignant lesson for the both of them… EXT/NIGHT, PACO’S STREET POV PACO the Mercedes pulls away. 59 PACO steps out of the shadows. He appears devastated. He glances up as the lights in his apartment come on. PACO I can’t believe this… He takes two steps toward his apartment but stops. His expression gradually changes from disbelief to outrage. He lights a cigarette and leans against a wall to think. PACO Overtime eh? Trust my ass! (he tosses away his cigarette angrily) But you, Carmela? He kicks a can and heads off down the street to blow off steam. INT/NIGHT, PACO’S APT. CARMELA hangs up the phone. She tried the office but no one picked up. Puzzled by the fact that PACO is not there she goes to the bathroom to freshen up. Opening her purse she encounters the velvet box. She opens it and even under the cold fluorescent light the necklace is dazzling. She snaps the box shut and sets it to the side. Appraising herself in the mirror she sighs. CARMELA What is it that you really want eh? Sure he’s obviously rich… God knows that would make mother happy… but what about you? She notices her eyeliner has smeared. She wipes it away with a tissue then begins digging in her bag to find her pencil so she can reapply. It seems hopeless so she just uprights her purse over the sink allowing the contents to spill out freely. In the midst of the myriad cosmetics, tissues etc she sees a business card. She picks it up out of curiosity. POV CARMELA we see the card: “Mr. Hannibal Huerta, Managing Director, Electric City Inc.” She staggers back and sits abruptly on the can. Her eyes flare. CARMELA Widower eh! Conniving son of a bitch! She tears up the card with a vengeance and tosses it in the toilet promptly flushing. Going to the sink she hastily scoops up the 60 contents of her purse pausing a moment to gaze at the velvet box with a demonic chuckle. CARMELA We shall see what I’ll do with you! She tosses it in her purse as well and storms out of the bathroom. She pauses to scribble a hasty note to PACO before shutting off the lights and slamming the door behind her. EXT/NIGHT, STREET PACO walks with an almost military gait obviously fuming. A Cadillac slowly passes stopping a few meters ahead of him. As PACO draws near the automatic window lowers and a familiar voice stops him in his tracks. ANGEL Que paso? PACO You want the short version? ANGEL Sure. PACO Good. ANGEL What’s the long version? PACO Not good. ANGEL Let’s arm wrestle. PACO I’m no good at that. But he does anyway. Angel lets him win too easily. PACO turns and looks over the car. ANGEL Success experience. Get in the car, let’s go. 61 PACO gets in the car and wheels spinning ANGEL pulls away. INT/NIGHT, ANGEL’S CADILLAC, ROAD HEADING OUT OF THE CITY PACO stares ahead at the road moodily. ANGEL glances at his friend and shakes his head. ANGEL Open the glove box, there should be a bottle of something toxic in there you look like you could use it.
Copyright © 2000 Victoria King |