Film Script: Kiss For Joe - Part -2

Kiss For Joe

by
Pedro MALLOL & Edgardo VIERECK

Adapted from the novel "Muriendo por la dulce patria mia" by Roberto Castillo

For Part I

EXT. BAY/OCEAN. NIGHT.

Arturo and Cholo hold the buoy.  They look exhausted.

ARTURO

I hope it will not take long.  I'm freezing.

CHOLO

(looking at the sea bottom)

Easy Godoy.  It's coming.

Arturo dips his head under the water and opens his eyes.  After adjusting his vision, he can see an old shipwreck strangely glowing in the dark.  Arturo sticks his head out, eyes wide open.

ARTURO

See how beautiful is the Esmeralda!

Its lights are all on!

CHOLO

It's the sea salt sticking to the ship what shines to the moonlight, stupid.

ARTURO

Gee, you really know a lot of stuff Cholo.  And you didn't even go to school much.

Cholo keeps looking into the ocean depths.

CHOLO

They are all dead down there Arturo.

ARTURO

Stop it.  They might get mad and come up here to get us.

CHOLO

That's what I want, to be taken all the way down there.

Cholo laughs dreadfully.  Arturo's now spooked and angry.  Cholo continues to laugh.  The moonlight spills all over the ocean's surface, giving the whole scene an almost surreal air.  From above their heads, we see  the image of the sunken ship, glowing in a beautiful ghost-like manner. 

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET FAIR. NIGHT.

Arturo and Cholo approach the great tent of "The Circus of Wonders" as seen before from the beach.  Both wear dry clothes but their hair is still soaking wet.  They're counting money as they walk, unaware of they fact that they’re followed by two shadows.

CHOLO

Let's get into the tent.  It's show time.

ARTURO

No thank you.  I'm tired, I'm going home.

Suddenly Arturo halts and sees the pretty girl from the movie theater walks pass holding her father's arm.  They take a look at the large sign standing next to the circus entrance.  Arturo can't help being hypnotized by her beauty.

ARTURO

Well, didn't you want to see the show?

CHOLO

Now you wanna go, uh?.  All right, let's go.

Both friends head towards the line of people awaiting to get in.  Someone holds Cholo from a shoulder.  It's a slightly older young man, FERNANDITO, 24.  Next to him there's a scrawny and slightly deformed fellow, EVARISTO, 33.

FERNANDITO

Hey Cholo!  I wanna have a word with you two boys!

Arturo turns around and looks at them intrigued.

CHOLO

Oh yeah?  What about?  Your sister maybe?

FERNANDITO

You think you're funny you damn Peruvian?  I know where you got all that money from!

CHOLO

What money jackass?

FERNANDITO

Don't get smart on me.  Just cut us a share and we'll keep our mouths

Shut all right?

CHOLO

What if we don't feel like it?

FERNANDITO

If not we'll tell the tale.

ARTURO

What’s your problem asshole?  Do you think they're giving away cash?

EVARISTO

You now what they say, "A thief that steals from another gets a hundred-year redemption!

Cholo pushes Fernandito to the side and heads to the tent.  Fernandito runs behind and grabs Cholo's shirt from behind.  He’s just about to punch Cholo in the face when Arturo gets in the middle and thrusts Fernandito away from Cholo.  Fernandito's now on to Arturo, but he's decisively ready for the attack.  Everyone lining up is watching the scene.  The blond girl and her father look disturbed.

CROWD

Come on, hit him!  Hit him!!

Fernandito hesitates; looks at Evaristo who doesn't seem to have any desire to get involved.

EVARISTO

Drop it Fernandito ...Let's get out of here...

Fernandito looks at Arturo who remains solid, with no sign of fear in his expression.

FERNANDITO

(Tightens his jaw)

You will see what happens to you, little punk...

ARTURO

(Defiant)

What's gonna happen to me!  Come on, say it!  What's gonna happen to me!

Fernandito and Evaristo leave.  Arturo sees the girl and her father walk away.  Arturo looks down, trying to contain his anger.  Among the crowd there's an older man of neat appearance.  It's W.I. Farr,58, a British sports reporter.

CUT TO:

EXT./INT. CITY OF IQUIQUE. TENT'S ENTRANCE. NIGHT.

A colorful bulb-lit sign reads "The Great Circus of Wonders".  Cholo and Arturo try to enter the tent.  A decadently flashy doorman does not allow them in.

DOORMAN

I'm sorry, I can't let you in, we

Want no trouble here.

CHOLO

Hey, we're not going to do anything.

ARTURO

You saw it, didn't you?  They were looking for trouble, not us.

DOORMAN

I don't care who started it.  Now, please step aside and let these people pass.

The doorman pushes Cholo.  This enrages him.

CHOLO

What the fuck is wrong with you....

Arturo stops him.

ARTURO

Come on, knock it off.  Better go home, come on, let's go.

A hand gets in between Arturo and the doorman displaying a bill.  It's W.I. Farr.

FARR

(With heavy British accent)

Could you be so kind and let these gentlemen pass please?

Arturo and Cholo are first puzzled, then look at Farr smiling.  The doorman baffles, and then looks at Arturo and Cholo with scorn.  The disdainful doorman finally grabs the money.

DOORMAN

Ok, get in quick.

FARR

Go on boys ...

Arturo and Cholo enter as they mock the doorman.  Farr follows.

CUT TO:

INT. CITY OF IQUIQUE. TENT'S INT. NIGHT.

Arturo and Cholo watch the spectacle mouths wide open.  Over a broken-down stage theater, a group of actors in disguise yell at each other all kinds of patriotic threats.  Roughly characterized as "Chilean" and "Peruvian" sailors, they form two gangs cornered to opposite sides of the stage.  Emblems of both countries crown two large papier machée battleships, the "Esmeralda" and "Huáscar".  A large, bearded FAT MAN with a vague resemblance to the Chilean Captain ARTURO PRAT, vociferate his harangue.

PRAT

Sailors!  The fight isn't equal!  Our flag has never surrendered to the enemy and this will not be the chance for that to happen!

A "Peruvian" comes from behind and hits captain Prat.  The fellow’s small and skinny, which allows Prat to pick him up easily.  Then Prat walks around the stage as his attacker kicks the air.  The audience laughs hysterically.

Loud cannon blasts are heard.  The battleships clash in the stage center.  Heavy smoke fills the air.  The audience coughs between laughs.  Farr chokes; Arturo helps him by tapping him on his back.

When the smoke dissipates, Chileans and Peruvians fight each other using boxing gloves.  It is a kind of absurd Battle Royale.  The spectators roar supporting the Chilean side.  Jokingly Arturo and Cholo mimic the fighters, delivering blows in all directions.  Captain Prat attacks another bearded man that resembles Grau, the Peruvian admiral.  Grau barely defends himself with an obvious willingness to get hit.  Applause.  A thick curtain falls.

CROWD

Arturo, Arturo, Arturo!

The attendance keeps applauding with vigor.  Cholo raises Arturo’s arms, as he was the one acclaimed.  Arturo’s abashed.  Behind them Farr watches it all and quickly jots down words in a tiny notebook.

CUT TO:

INT. CITY OF IQUIQUE. TENT'S INT. NIGHT.

The curtain raises.  Now a coarse painted background represents a southern Chile landscape, full of green and the perennial Andes' snowed mountaintops.  The same fat man previously disguised as Captain Prat appears, now dressing as an Araucan Indian chief.  Applause.

FAT MAN

Good evening ladies and gentlemen.

I am Monsieur Adem Rak Suleimán, your servant.  It is honor for me tonight to present you the last piece entitled:

(Raises his voice with solemnity)

Arauco in arms, will never be tamed!

Applause.  Farr continues scribbling.  Arturo and Cholo eat juicy empanadas, smudging their hands.  Heavy drumming announce three chubby araucans, badly characterized and with a ridiculously trim haircut.

ARAUCAN 1

Lautaro was called, the one who in this very land was born.

They wanted to frighten him, but only made him furious!

ARAUCAN 2

(Continuing previous verse)

... he and Caupolicán, who's courage did not stay behind, surrender he could not, nor could the rest of them!

ARAUCAN 3

(Completing verse)

...Tucapel, Galvarino and everyone else, although Galvarino the worst of them all, as you will see yourselves!

Applause.  Galvarino shows up chained, held by two Spanish soldiers.  Galvarino's hands are wrapped by two large boxing gloves displaying a design with the Chilean flag colors, blue, white and red.  The soldiers push him facing an execution fork, Galvarino falls on his knees.  The he puts his hands over the fork.  One of the soldiers grasps a large ax and drops it down with violence.  The gloves roll over the floor.  Galvarino stands up reaching high with his arms.  Loud, deep, drumming emphasize the moment.  Galvarino displays his stumps to the public.  Full of anger he kicks the boxing gloves to fly over the audience's heads.  The crowd fights over the gloves.  Arturo and Cholo manage to get one of them.

Meanwhile, Galvarino places himself in the center of the stage to perform.

GALVARINO

(With his arms up high)

I will die in grace and bliss... Dying for my sweet homeland!

Applause and cheers to Galvarino.  Arturo and Cholo look overly excited.  Farr watches them with interest.

CUT TO:

INT. CITY OF IQUIQUE. ARTURO'S HOUSE. NIGHT.

Arturo enters his home.  The mother comes in with her hands full of money.

MOTHER

(Furious)

Where did you get this money Arturo?

Where from!!

Arturo’s perplexed.

MOTHER

The police came and said that you hang around with criminals.  I told them that was a lie, that I’ve raised you properly, that you were honest.  And now, look what I found!

ARTURO

(Whispering)

Fernadito ... fucking bastard ...

MOTHER

What are you saying...thief?!  Wait 'til your father gets here!

The woman starts hitting him, he barely defends himself.

MOTHER

From who did you steal this money?

Tell me!

ARTURO

I stole from nobody mama, I made this money unloading cargo at the dock!

MOTHER

Liar!!  Everybody knows there isn't any work there!  Liar!!

CUT TO:
....to be continued....