Tejano (2018) - full transcript

- ( music playing )
- ( church bells ringing )

( man speaking Spanish )

( grunts )

( gasping )

( breathing heavily,
grunting )

Man over radio:
11206, 198.

( continues, indistinct )

- ( helicopter approaching )
- ( takes deep breath )

Man:
I got another one.
He went under.

Just keep the light on the bag.
I'll take care of it.

( men continue talking,
indistinct )



( dogs barking )

Motherfuckin'
parking brakes.

( woman whispering
in Spanish )

( speaking Spanish )

( rancher shouting in Spanish )

( turns off engine )

How's it goin', Javi?

Good, good.
( grunts )

Man: How's Arturo?

When's he gonna get
back up on the rig?

He's doin' better.

Should be just another few days
before he's back on his feet.

Well it's a good thing.

Apparently I need some guys
that can drive a straight line.



Here you go.

- Here you go. Thanks.
- Thank you.

By the way, some illegals
punched through the fence

down by the levee.

Man:
Well, did you fix it?

'Course.
La Migra's probably
picked 'em up by now.

( gun fires in distance )

( gun fires )

( chickens clucking )

- ( gun fires )
- ( man speaking Spanish )

( man replies in Spanish )

( both continue in Spanish )

Su puta madre.

( "Cielito Lindo"
playing on radio )

( radio turned up )

( water turned on, then off )

( music continues )

( grandfather
speaking Spanish )

( Javi replies in Spanish )

( song ends )

( sighs )

- Okay. No?
- No, no, no, no.

( coughing )

Hmm?

I'm gonna head
out in a minute.
Gonna take the truck.

No. I'm going
over to Brownsville.

Duke wants
to look at some car.

If you keep going to
Matamoros after dark,

you're going to get
your throat cut.

I'm not going to Matamoros.

( Spanish-language
pop music playing )

( door bell jingles )

Woman: No... No.

( woman speaking Spanish )

( speaking Spanish )

( speaking Spanish )

Not with these prices.

Oh, so it's the prices.

Yeah.

( Javi replies in Spanish )

( ringtones playing )

I'll see you later.

Later.

- I don't think
he really likes me.
- ( bell jingles )

( pop music playing )

Flaca, I'm gonna get
you out of here, okay?

I promise.

As soon as I have
enough money saved up,
we're gonna get you across,

and then we're gonna
go up to San Antonio
like we always talk about.

- You know I--
- Look, I know that
I talk a lot,

but I'm serious.

Look, let me
show you something.

( dog barks in distance )

It's an apartment
up in San Antonio.

It's one we can
actually afford.

When can we go?

Well, I haven't totally
worked that part out yet.

Yeah.

I guess I am just...
going to have to find me

another cute boy
with a truck...

to take me to San Antonio.

Oh... really?

- Mm-hm.
- Okay.

Well, then, he's
gonna have to fight.

( laughing ) Shh!

( laughing )

Let's go next week.

Okay.

( muffled
passionate moaning )

( camera clicks )

( moaning continues )

( groans )

( both speaking Spanish )

- Officer: Passport?
- Javi: Yeah. What's up.

Alright,
how's it goin'.

Bringing anything back
today?

- Nope, just a couple memories.
- ( chuckles )

All right, get the hell
out of here, Javi.

( rock music playing )

Female vocalist:
♪ The fire's been lit... ♪

You are the champ!

- Let's wrestle!
- Aaah!

♪ I have hope in you... ♪

( grunts, laughs )

- You like that?
- What the hell's that?

Yeah, that there...

is a Colt Delta...

Shit. ( chuckling )

...Elite 10 milometer,
motherfucker. Yeah.

Ha!

Yeah, I ran into
a couple thousand,

so I added that little
lady to my collection.

Couple thousand, huh?

What, another one
of your little bonuses?

Oh, yeah.

There have been some
bonuses at work lately.

You really gotta be careful
with that shit, you know?

Yeah. Yeah,
I heard that shit before.

What's your abuelo think
about you leaving, anyway?

I haven't told him yet.

You don't need no shit.

What's he ever
done for you?

What, you mean,
besides raising me

from the age of ten
after my parents died?

Yeah, besides that.

He taught me
how to shoot.

What--
Oh, shit!

Holy fuck!

I don't know who the fuck
is gonna clean that up,

but it sure as shit ain't me!

Hear me?

Fucking weirdo
motherfucker.

Pinche cabrón.
Shit!

( whooping, laughing )

( cow mooing )

( dog barks )

( laughing )

( grandfather speaking Spanish )

( coughing )

( clears throat )

( grandfather
speaking Spanish )

Oh, yeah.

Well, yeah.

Did you start at
the top or the bottom?

I got halfway.

( laughing )

( turns off engine )

( panting )

- Abuelo!
- Help me, Javi.

- What happened?
Just put him down.
- I don't know.

- What happened?!
- We need some water!

- Did you call somebody?
- I'll get someone.

- Water. Water.
- Hey, hey. Hey. Hey.

Hey, hey, hey, hey.
What's happening?

You should breathe.
Breathe. It's all right.

( wheezing )

Javi: Abuelo?

- Come here, sit up.
- ( grunting )

Well, what, do you want to
just lay here and die, huh?

Let me help you.

( speaking Spanish )

( healer chanting
in foreign language )

( coughing )

( coughing continues )

( both speaking Spanish )

( scoffs )

Uh-huh.

( Abuelo coughing,
speaking Spanish )

( rock music blaring )

Javi:
Really not the way I wanted
to spend all my savings.

What?

Paying for the old man's
hospital bills, dude.

No, no, no.
How much you got saved, man?

I don't know, enough to get
Lorena across, and maybe--

In dollars, wey?

I don't know, eight grand,
maybe a little more.

( scoffs )
Eight grand?

You got eight grand saved

and you made me
buy the beer today?

You are a fuckin' asshole,
dude.

Well shit. Sounds like
you would've been set.

Not anymore though, I mean,
what's your old man got again?

Fuckin' tumor
in his lung.

Man, that shit
is expensive.

( harsh chuckle )
No shit.

And no health insurance?

Dude, you know I don't have
any fuckin' health insurance.

I mean, what the fuck!

You know, I think
I could help you out.

Yeah, and how's that?

With that kind of cash, man,
we could buy a bunch of cocaine,

drive north of Sarita
and flip it.

Shit, we could do that
a few times, man, we'll
make some real money.

No man, no way.

I understand.

All I'm saying is,
you probably could've had

the best of both worlds,
that's all.

Here you go.

Need anything else?

( speaking Spanish )

Yeah, sure.

( New Age music playing )

( phone ringing )

Javi?

Javi?

( phone beeps )

- ( sighs )
- ( dialing phone )

- Duke: What's up dude?
- Let's do it.

Duke: Yeah, just meet me
at the gin up there on 343

around 5:00.

Bring all of it.

Voicemail:
This is Duke.
Leave a message,

or don't, I don't
really give a shit.

Have a great fuckin' day.

Hey, Duke, I'm here.
Hurry up and get over here,
man, seriously.

( birds chirping )

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

( Javi groans )

- ( man speaking Spanish )
- ( Javi stammering )

There's no fuckin' money, man!

( groaning loudly )

Okay, okay!

( man mutters )

( Javi speaking Spanish )

- No, no, no!
- No, don't kill him!

Duke?

( Lorena speaking Spanish )

Lorena: Javi!

( Javi grunting, groaning )

( Abuelo singing
"Cielito Lindo" )

( singing continues )

( banging on truck )

What are you doin' here?!

( man shouting in Spanish )

( banging on door )

This is the way I found it
this morning.

I suppose he took everything
he thought he could pawn.

Hell, he even took six
World War II gold pieces
from my room.

They're worth more
than his goddamn car.

Duke's always had
problems with money...

but honestly,
I just can't afford
to pay his debts anymore.

You know that
I'd pay you back,
every last penny.

You know, last several years...

( sighs ) we've just
been getting too little rain
when we needed it the most...

and too much when we didn't.

I guess the future's in
these damned ugly windmills.

Either way, Javi,
I... I just can't swing a loan.

I just can't.

If I find anything of Duke's
that's worth something--

Thanks.

- Hey.
- ( Abuelo speaking Spanish )

Just working,
Abuelo, just working.

- ( speaking Spanish)
- Lorena: Javi?

Lorena. Where is he,
where's Adelio?

- ( speaking Spanish )
- I need to talk to him.

Please, just tell me
where he is. Fuck.

Please I need to talk
to Adelio, where is he?

Can you call him?

Lorena, I don't have
that kind of time, okay?

This is only gonna be once,
okay? I swear. I swear.

- Lorena--
- Que no.

I swear--

Lorena, please help. Please.

Javi.

( door bells ring )

( chatter in Spanish )

( billiard balls clacking )

( chatter continues )

( Javi speaking Spanish )

( grinder buzzing )

( woman speaking Spanish )

Um...

( Adelio speaks Spanish )

Hey look, I'm an
American citizen, okay?

That means that I have papers.
I speak perfect English.

I cross that border
almost every single day,

and no one bats an eyelash.

( Gloria laughing )

Okay.

( ratchet clicking )

No.

Okay.

( clangs )

( panting )

( chuckling )

Ah...

( speaking Spanish )

( Adelio mumbling )

( clears throat )

Uno...

dos...

Aaaah! Fuck no, no!
Fuckin' sh--!

Fuck. Fuck.

What the fuck.

( gasping )

- ( gasping )
- ( footsteps approaching )

( moans )

That was some
tough shit, Tejano.

( Gloria speaking Spanish )

( whispering )

( Gloria speaking Spanish )

( whimpering )

( man speaking Spanish )

- ( crack )
- ( Javi screams )

( both speaking Spanish )

Fuck.

No, no, no, no, no.

( Javi speaking Spanish )

No, no, no.

( Doctor speaking Spanish )

( Adelio speaking Spanish )

Adelio: Whee!

Whoo!

You're like a walking
fucking party, wey.

( sniffing )

Ahhhh!

Sssss!
Hey, let's get serious.

Our friend is feeling sick.

Let's all wish him
to feel better.

Adelio: Bien...

Adelio:
English, maricón.

( laughing )

- Oh, that's fucking funny.
- Javi: What?

Hey, hold still.

- ( camera clicks )
- What is it?

Nah.
Don't worry about it, bro.

- ( camera clicks )
- Andale. Vamonos.

( clanks )

( Spanish-language
rap music playing )

They ask you what happened,
tell 'em you got fucked up

in a car crash in Brownsville.

They call the clinic,

And Dr. Garcia will
tell them the same shit.

Then you meet me at
the Las Palmas Hotel
off the 77 highway.

You know where that is?

Once you get across,
you call me.

If anything happens,
you call me.

If I don't hear from you,
if you pussy out or whatever,

I'll come fucking find you.

The number on the phone is Mom.

Hey. ( clicks tongue )

This is important.

Once you get on that bridge,
you don't stop moving.

They stop people who hesitate.

Right.

But don't go slow either.

What the fuck?

Hey, what about the money?

I'll have the cash with me
at the place tomorrow. 10 a.m.

( chatter in Spanish )

( officer speaking Spanish )

Javi! ¿Que paso?

Officer:
Passport.

Thank you, sir.

Let's see.

Mr. Ramirez.

Awesome, you're all clear.
Thank you.

Can I see your backpack, please?

Thank you.

Nice backpack.
I like it.

Let's see.

Here you go.
You're all set.

Here's your passport.

There you go.
Have a good one,
take care.

Next. Passport.

All right, you guys
bring anything back
from Mexico today?

- Man: No, sir.
- No? Awesome.

All right,
you ladies are all set.
Thank you so much.

- Okay.
- Take care.

Sir, your passport?

- Yeah. Hey, what's up man?
- How's it goin'.

What happened to your arm?

It was a car accident.

You didn't
have that last week.

Yeah, no, it, uh, just
a couple days ago
in Brownsville.

You bringing
anything back today?

Nope. Went out for
a couple beers and tacos.

What's going on?

- Follow me, please.
- W-Why?

Just gonna ask
a few questions.

Dude, I mean, he sees me here
every week.

I come by--
I go through
every week.

Go with the agent,
please.

Sir.

Stop.

Step back.

Hey, what about my passport?

( door opens )

All right, just tell Martinez
we'll make that call tomorrow.

I'll get back with you.

Apologies, sir, but your name
was flagged in our system,

so according to
United States immigration law,

I'm gonna have to ask you
a few questions.

( door opens )

Now, if you can answer
these questions honestly,

we'll be able to get you
out of here, understand?

Where you headin'?

- Back home.
- And where's home?

I live off 343,
by the old cemetery.

And your occupation?

I work for a man
outside San Benito.

I drive combines.

Farm, ranch work.

- You from the valley?
- Yes.

Where'd you
graduate high school?

I dropped out.

Well it seems like
he's telling the truth.

Agent 2:
Just a second, Duke.

I have a few questions
for him.

( clears throat )

What was your business
in Matamoros today?

Visiting my girlfriend.

What's your girlfriend's name?

It's none of your business.

And you're sure that's your
only business in Matamoros?

Yes.

How'd you break your arm?

I was hit by a car. A truck.

Got a good look
at the driver too.

Real fuckin' ugly,
probably inbred.

Where were you treated,
what hospital?

Brownsville. Got a note
from my doctor here.

( laughs )
Seems a little funny that
you'd be walking around

with a note
from your doctor.

I figured you guys
would give me trouble here,
so I had Doctor--

I had-- I had the doctor
write me-- write me one up.

You don't know
your doctor's name?

I was--
I was in a lot of pain.

Agent 2:
That's a funny-looking cast.

And It's got quite a smell too,
doesn't it?

Doesn't it, Duke?

You know, actually I can't
really smell it from here.

Well, not from over there,
you can't.

( sniffing )

Yeah, I'm actually kinda
getting over a cold right now,

- so I can't really smell shit.
- Agent 2: Mm-hmm.

Agent 2: I'm gonna have
to take a sample

of whatever that is
on your arm.

Well, I'm-- I'm--
I'm pleading the fifth.

What's that?

I'm pleading the fifth. I--

I want a wa--
I want a warrant,

and I want my phone call.

( laughs )

You see son, we haven't
let you back in yet.

You're in No Man's Land.

You aren't a citizen,
and you don't have any rights

until you cross that little
yellow line out there

on the linoleum floor
that reads,

"Welcome to the United States
of America."

We don't need a warrant,
and you don't get a phone call.

Now let me see--

What the fuck, man?!

Haven't you ever seen
a fuckin' broken arm before?

All righty.
( snaps fingers )

( door closes )

( door opens )

Sir, we have
not been satisfied

with your answers
to our questions,

so we're gonna
have to ask you

to take a sample of that cast.

Now why don't you step
into this room over here,

we can ask you
a few more questions.

This way.

( Duke groans )

( speaking Spanish )

( children laughing,
chattering )

( panting )

( speaking Spanish )

( children laughing )

( whispering in Spanish )

Man:
He wants to get away.

( man continues,
indistinct )

Man: No, I...

Don't worry I'm trained,
I'm on it.

Oh, I'll get
the son of a bitch
when he comes up.

I don't see anybody.

I don't see any bubbles.

( continues, indistinct )

( muffled speech continues )

I'm ready.

( muffled speech continues )

Man:
This is just a bag.

I'm coming back up.

Man over radio:
Copy, 23, 23.

( panting )

( flies buzzing )

Ohh!

Fuck.

Oh, shit. ( groans )

( owl hooting )

( groaning )

Fuck.

( grunting, panting )

( grunting, groaning )

Fuck!

Arrrghh!

Fuck!

Hey.

( speaking Spanish )

( speaking Spanish )

( chuckling )

Gracias.

Hey.

( groaning, grunting )

( knocking on door )

Hey.

( speaking Spanish )

To your arm.

What the fuck happened
to your clothes, bro?

( chuckles )
Pinche cabrón.

Here.

Put these on.

( grunts )

( exhales )

Hey.
Where's the money?

Relax.

Ow. Fuck.

Hey, do you have those pills?

Oh, fuck, yeah.

Sorry, we took some.
Pretty shitty high.

Hey, take that shit off.
My cousin'll make you
another one for cheap.

What?

We don't want to lose
any of the coke, wey.

Andale.

- ( Adelio speaking Spanish )
- Girl: Mmm.

Bye.

- Wey.
- Yeah?

( camera clicks )

( scoffs )
Yeah, real fuckin' funny.

I thought so.

( silenced gun fire )

...motherfucker.

( speaking Spanish )

( Javi choking )

( blow dryer blowing )

( screaming )

( coughing, gagging )

( whimpering )

( gun fires )

( gun firing )

( shouts )

Man:
Hey, man.

- What?!
- Whoa!

- Fuck, lady!
- ( gun fires )

( gun firing )

( engine revving )

( panting )

( frustrated grunt )

( muffled voices )

( Adelio speaking Spanish )

Oh, shit.

¿Donde esta?

Chinga tu madre!

( healer chanting in Spanish )

( continues chanting )

( chanting )

( dialing )

( line out ringing )

( ringtones )

( Gloria speaking Spanish )

- ( whacking )
- ( man groaning )

( cell phone ringing )

( ringing continues )

( woman moaning on TV )

( ringtones continue )

Chill out.

( man speaking Spanish )

( ringtones )

( cursing in Spanish )

¿Que?

( breathing heavily )

( gunshot )

Okay, is that it?

- How much are those knives?
- Four ninety-nine.

- Can I see the
one with the eagle?
- OK, there you go.

That's it.

( Spanish-language pop music
playing on radio )

( dogs whining )

( dogs barking )

- ( barking )
- Shh.

( wind whistling )

( dogs barking )

( New Age music
playing on stereo )

( gun firing )

( distant gunshot )

( dogs barking )

Javi:
W-What if I just cut it off?

Cut it off and
stashed it somewhere?

With the money, and we'll
tell them where it is,

they can go get it,
and that's it.

You know,
they'll have everything.

But why? She'll have the money,
she'll have the coke.

She's not gonna
need me any longer.

How do you know that?

Well, we need to get
the fuck out of here.

And you just got
the one rifle?

( cell phone ringing )

( ringtones )

( Gloria speaking Spanish )

( Gloria sighs )

( phone ringing )

Javi.

Yeah? Okay, coming over
right now.

Yeah, thank you.

Abuelo, I'm going over
to Duke's house, okay?

( Javi speaking Spanish )

( starts ATV )

( dogs barking )

( gunman speaking Spanish )

( Adelio speaking Spanish )

( gunshot )

( explosion )

- ( guns firing )
- ( shouting in Spanish )

( gunfire )

( gunfire continues )

- ( gunshot )
- ( groans )

( gunfire )

- ( gunfire )
- ( grunts )

...motherfucker.

( gunfire )

( shot ricochets )

( grunting )

( gunshot )

( thud )

Ahhh...

Ohh.

( Abuelo speaking Spanish )

( clink )

( scoffs )

( dogs barking )

( vehicle approaches )

( chuckling )

...motherfucker.

( Gloria speaking Spanish )

( chuckling )

( Abuelo coughing )

- ( cocks revolver )
- ( whimpers ) No.

( whimpers )

( distant gunshot )

( bullets whizzing )

Lorena:
Adelio!

Adelio!

Gunman: Aaah!

( laughing )

( gunfire )

( chatter in Spanish )

( gunfire continues )

( gunfire continues )

Aaah!

( groaning )

( gunshot )

( all firing )

( gunfire stops )

( kisses cross )

Verga.

( men shouting in Spanish )

( glass shattering )

( gunshot )

Where the fuck did they go?

( gunfire continues )

( gunshot )

( automatic weapon-fire )

( gunfire )

( Lorena shouting in Spanish )

- Motherfucker.
- ( gunfire )

( shouting in Spanish )

Javi! Javi!

Javi!

Javi!

( gunfire )

( relieved chuckle )

Where's Lorena?

( chuckling )

Pinche cabrón chingada....

( gun clicks )

( gunshots )

- No Abuelo!
- No!

Hey. Hey.
Hey, hey, hey.

Hey, you're okay,
you're okay.

It's okay, you're
going to be all right.

Hey, just breathe,
breathe Abuelo.

Just breathe.

Lorena:
No, Javi, no!

( shouting in Spanish )

Javi!

- ( Javi grunting )
- Javi, no!

( shouting in Spanish )

( Adelio groaning )

No! Javi!

- ( Javi choking )
- No... no!

Adelio:
Motherfucker!

- ( knife punctures )
- ( Adelio gasping )

No. N--

( Adelio gurgling )

( crying )
Javi...

( sobbing )

( Lorena speaking Spanish )

No! No!

( sobbing )

( Lorena screaming
in Spanish )

( Lorena sobbing )

Lorena:
Adelio!

( Abuelo singing
"Cielito Lindo" )

♪ Ay, ay, ay, ay ♪

♪ Canta y no llores ♪

♪ Porque cantando se alegran ♪

♪ Cielito lindo,
los corazones ♪

( Spanish-language ballad
playing )