Zoot Suit (1981) - full transcript

♫♫

♫♫

Here are the keys, ese. Take it easy.
Yes, sir.

Orale! Hey! Take it easy, gaey.

Baboso!

♫♫

♫♫

♫♫

♫ put on a zoot suit ♫

♫ makes you feel real root ♫

♫ look like a diamond ♫



♫ sparkling, shinin' ♫

♫ ready for dancin' ♫

♫ ready for the boogie tonight ♫

♫ all the hepcats up in Harlem
wear that drape shape ♫

♫ como los pachucones
down in L.A. ♫

♫ where huisas in their
pompadours look real keen ♫

♫ on the dance floor of the
ballrooms donde bailan swing ♫

♫ you better get hip tonight
and put on a zoot suit ♫

Hey, baby doll.

Hey, pretty. Shake it.

Hey, man, you call that dancing?

- Downey! Rifa!
- Toma!

It's not your night.

Rafas!



♫ trucha, ese loco ♫

♫ vamos al borlo ♫

♫ wear that carlango ♫

♫ tramos y tando ♫

♫ dance with your huisa ♫

♫ dance to the boogie tonight ♫

♫ 'cause the zoot suit
is the craze in California ♫

♫ también en Colorado
y Arizona ♫

♫ they're wearing
that tacuche en El Paso ♫

♫ y en todos los salones
de Chicago ♫

♫ you better get hep tonight ♫

♫ and put on a zoot suit ♫♫

Ladies and gentlemen,

the mono you're about to see is
a construct of fact and fantasy.

But relax, weigh the facts...

And enjoy the pretense.

Our pachuco realities will only make
sense if you grasp their stylization.

It was the secret fantasy
of every vato...

Living in or out
of the pachucada...

To put on the zoot suit...

And play the myth.

Mas chucote que la chingada.

Pues, orale!

Ese?

Extra! Extra!

Ese?

Qué pues, nuez? What
the hell's going on, ese?

The city's cracking down
on pachucos, carnal.

Don't you read the newspapers?

Death awakens Sleepy Lagoon."

Extra! The cops ain't got
nothing on me, and you know it.

You're Henry Reyna, carnal.

Hank Reyna.

The zoot-suiter.

The bitter young pachuco
gang leader from 38th street.

That's what they got
on you, ese.

They can't do this to me, ese.

They can't lock me up! Calmantes montes.
Chicas patas.

Haven't I taught you to survive?

It's all a marijuana dream, loco.

And I was supposed to
report to the Navy tomorrow.

Muy Popeye The Sailor Man, huh?

You just couldn't stand
to see me go, could you?

They were gonna cut off
your d.A., carnal...

Give you those tight puto pants,
make your ass look like an apricot.

So what business is it
of yours? It's my ass.

Muy patriotic, huh?

The Japs have sewed up
the Pacific.

Rommel's kicking ass in Egypt.

But the mayor of L.A. has declared an
all-out war on chicanos. On you. Te curas?

Look, ese, I don't wanna hear that.

And as soon as Uncle Sam finds out
you're in jail again, pues, ya estuvo.

Unfit for military duty
because of your record.

Forget the war overseas, carnal.

Your war is on the home front.

City of the Angels.
Monday, August 2, 1942.

El pueblo de nuestra Senora La Reina
de Los Angeles de Porciuncula, pendejo.

Press release.

Los Angeles Police Department.

A huge showup of nearly
300 boys and girls,

rounded up last night by police
and sheriff's deputies,

will be held tonight, 8:00, central
jail, First and Hill Street.

Victims of assaults,

rape, robbery,

purse snatching and similar crimes...

Are asked to be present for
the identification of suspects.

I don't believe you really
want to be in the Navy, Hank.

Pachuco shit's hitting the wartime fan.
You go around dressed like a target.

I was born a target. Orale.

Right here in L.A. simon.

So what's the phony charges this time?
Why, you jackass zoot-suiter...

Can it, smitty. Don't
tell 'em shit, ese.

We know all about the big gang fight
Saturday night out at the Sleepy Lagoon.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

You don't know what I'm talking about?
What's this from?

What's that from?
Playing parcheesi?

We've got witnesses, Hank.

You and your pachucos drove into that
Williams Ranch like Pancho Villa,

and you left a corpse behind...
A kid named Joe Sanchez.

I know 50 guys by that name.
How about Henry Reyna?

They a dime a dozen too? Nel, ese.
There's only one. This one.

Then you must be
the one we want.

Anchors aweigh, ese.
Good-bye, Navy.

Start talkin', Hank.

The lieutenant's over there, smart-ass.
Screw you, flatfoot.

Why, you...

Te vamos a chingar, cabron.

Hang tough, ese.

You don't deserve it,
but you're gonna get it anyway.

Ah, forget it. He's out cold.

♫♫

Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

♫♫

Get up and escape, Henry.

Leave reality behind.

Con tus Buenas garras
muy Chamberlain.

Escape through
the barrio streets of your mind.

Through a neighborhood
of memories,

all chuckhole-lined.

And the love...

And the pain...

As fine as wine.

♫♫

It's a lifetime ago,
last Saturday night,

before the Sleepy Lagoon
and the big, bad fight.

Tu mama', carnal.

♫♫

Vieja!

Ah? I'm home.

Ah, just in time.
Supper's ready.

Ah. Where's the boys?

Inside. Hmm.

♫♫

♫ Sam, Sam,
for goodness' sake ♫

♫ go out and get yourself some clothes
that rate ♫♫ some clothes that rate ♫

♫ go shopping now so you
can meet your Sunday gal ♫

♫ I'll do it I'll do it today ♫

Henry! Rudy! Vengan a cenar.

♫ and this is what I'll say ♫

♫ I want a zoot suit
with the reet pleat ♫

♫ with the drape shape
and the stuff cuff ♫

♫ to look sharp enough
to see my Sunday gal ♫

Henry. Yeah, ama.

Come and eat. Ay.

I thought you weren't gonna
wear that thing anymore.

Oh, ama, just this one last time.

It's my farewell dance.

Hmm. I don't know. I don't know what you
see en estas cochinadas de "suit zoots."

Drapes, ama. We call 'em drapes.

Ah, si, drapes, huh?

Zoot suit, esta.
Muy funny, verdad?

And what are the police
calling them, huh?

They're arresting boys
right off the streets.

Chale! Only the worst-dressed.

♫ to look sharp enough
to see my Sunday gal ♫

what?

Dolores!

La cena pues! I don't know.

I have a terrible feeling that
something bad is going to happen.

Say, carnal. Hmm.

It's all right, ese.
We can handle it.

♫♫

♫ I want a very scat hat
with a trim a-brim a-baby ♫

♫♫

♫ just to see my Sunday Sam ♫♫

Orale, jefita.

Una de lamina con uno
de cemento de volada.

Orale. Deje ahi!

It's just a good taco, ama.

Oye! Oye! What are
you doing with my coat?

My tacuche, apa. Chicano style.
Chicano?

Me lleva la chingada!
Ay, viejo.

Hijo, don't go out
like that, eh?

Por favor.

You look like an idiot, pendejo!

Ay, Enrique. Rudy, sit down.

Chicano. Haven't I told
you not to use that word?

It means you're trash.

You're mexicanos. Mexicanos!

You about ready to go, Rudy?
Where's the carnala?

Putting up her pompadour,
like always.

Come on, sis! Step on it! We
still gotta pick up Della!

I'm coming. Della?

My compadre's daughter?

What happened to
what's-her—name?

Mmm, pues which one?

Ooh, you mean la Bertha.

That's the one! The one with the tattoo.
Hay, senor!

Henry, sit down, hijo.

Oh, I'm not very hungry, jefita.

Oh, look, here's my share
for this week's refin, eh?

Ay, no, hijo. No, go ahead.

I got my last paycheck
at the shoe repair today.

Bendito sea dlos. I still can't
believe you're going off to war.

I almost wish you were
going back to jail.

Qué caray, mujer. The muchacho
is finally doing something right.

Ah. I should know!

Chihuahua! When I was in
the Mexican revolution, I...

Ay, no empieces con tu diablo de
revolution, because we'll be here all night.

What are you laughing at, mensito? You
worry about getting yourself a job.

You're still
eating here for free.

All right then.
Keep your pinche beans!

Rodolfo!

You see? You see how he is?

How long before
he ends up in jail too?

Henry.

Come here, mi hijo.

Vieja, where's my Tequila?

Por qué? What are you gonna do?
The bottle, mujer!

And two glasses.

Hmph. No, pues si.
Just like the saying goes,

"from such a stick,
such a splinter."

"De tal palo, tal astillota."

So, you're taking out
my compadre's daughter, eh?

She's very pretty.

And very young too.

Innocent. Tu sabes?

Mira, apa.
I'm not gonna do anything.

Ah, pero qué va, hombre.

I know I can trust you.

I'm glad you're leaving all
this pachuco mierda behind you.

And I'm proud
you're in the Navy.

Just do me one favor, eh?

You know that switchblade
in your pocket?

- Yeah, apa.
- Rip apart that goddamn silly suit.

Why bother to wear anything?

Hay, ama! You look like
a puta... uh, a pachuca.

Where's the skirt? Here.

Ah, Hijo! Where's the rest of it?
Hay, apé!

It's the latest American style.

Like the guys' drapes,
huh, Hank?

Ahi los guacho. "Ahi los guacho"?
What's that?

Uh, it means,
"I'll see you later," jefe.

Me lleva la que me trajo.

♫♫

♫ cada sabado en la noche ♫

♫ yo me voy a borlotear♫

♫ con mi Linda pachucona
las caderas a menear ♫

♫ Ella le hace muy de aquellas ♫

♫ cuando empieza a Guarachar
y al compas de los timbales ♫

♫ yo me siento petatear♫

♫ los chucos suaves
bailan Rumba ♫

♫ bailan la Rumba y le Zumban ♫

♫ bailan Guaracha sabrosén ♫

♫ El Botecito y El Danzon ♫

♫ los chucos suaves
bailan Rumba ♫

♫ bailan la Rumba y le Zumban ♫

♫ bailan Guaracha sabrosén ♫

♫ El Botecito y El Danzon ♫♫

You got a match?

El pueblo de nuestra senora...

De Los Angeles de pachucos.

August 8, 1942.

Orale! Here comes Hank.

Hey, how about it, fellas? What's
the real scoop on the story?

Sex? Violence?

Marijuana?

Yeah. Sex.

Now go get screwed.

Hey, kid, this is no time to be
antisocial. There's a war on.

What's a good-looking American boy
like you doing with these beaners?

Dodging the draft?
They're gonna kill us all.

Look, I can't believe it, Hank.

Are they really gonna
pin us with a murder rap?

Hey, look. I got a
wife and kid, ese.

"Zoot-suited goons
of Sleepy Lagoon"?

Hey, that ain't bad, ese.

Listen to this pip-squeak.

About the biggest heist he ever
pulled was his tootsie roll.

Here's your tootsie roll, ese.

Hey, why don't you
vatos knock it off!

Pachuco Army
is falling apart, ese.

You better do something.

I don't need your advice.
The last time I

listened to you, the
bulls gave me the saps.

What did you expect,
a parking ticket?

Mira, ese. The d.A.'S indicted
the whole p inche gang for murder.

All except for
little brother Rudy.

He was at the Sleepy Lagoon too,
throwing chingazos.

The cops don't know that.

They got ways of finding out.
Guacha! Cop.

Hi, boys.

The name's George shearer. Your, uh,
parents retained me to handle your case.

Do you mind if we sit and
talk about it a little bit?

Po'ngase trucha.
Este me huele a chota.

Uh, did you...
You say to sit down?

Thank you. Uh...

Uh-huh.

Well,

first thing we better do
is get your names straight.

Let's see here.
Who's José Castro?

Right here.

Ismael torres. Yeah, that's me.

But they call me Smiley.

"Smiley"?

Oh, I see.

Uh, you must
be, uh, Thomas Roberts, huh?

I ain't zoot suit yokum.

Well, that makes you
Henry Reyna.

So what if I am? Who are you?

I told you. The name's George shearer.
I'm a people's lawyer, Henry.

A people's lawyer? Pues, Simon, ese.
We're people.

At least they didn't send no
animals' lawyer.

So what does that mean?
You work for free, or what?

That's really none of your
damn business, is it, Henry?

But for what it's worth,
I'll tell you a little story.

The first murder case
I ever tried...

And won, incidentally...
Was for a Filipino.

I was paid exactly $3.50 plus a
pack of lucky strike cigarettes...

And a note
for a thousand dollars.

Never redeemed. Does that
answer your question?

Yeah, well, how do we know
you're really a lawyer?

Well, you think I'm a cop?
Maybe.

What are you trying
to hide from the cops? Murder?

Sabes qué, Mr. Shearer?

Don't do us any favors.

All right. All right.

You want another lawyer.

All right. I'll talk to the
public defender's office about it.

Wait a minute, ese.
Where you going?

Del cincho se le va a volar la tapa.
All right. Come on, kids.

Come on! Cut the crap!

All right. All right!

It's fine. It's fine.
Everything's fine.

Thank you.

I think you're making
a big mistake.

I wonder if you, uh, know
who your friends really are.

You realize that you boys
are facing a mass trial?

Any of you know what that means?

You're all going
on the block together,

the whole so-called
38th street gang!

The DA's charging conspiracy, Henry!

He's gonna put you and all your
buddies right in the gas chamber.

- But we didn't do nothing!
- Simon.

We're innocent. On the level.

Okay, say we believe your people's
lawyer stuff. What does that prove?

The press has already tried and convicted
us. You think you can change that?

I honestly don't know.

But public opinion
comes and goes, Henry.

What matters is
our system of justice.

I happen to believe
that it still works,

no matter how slowly
the wheels grind.

Now I promised your parents the
best defense that I'm capable of.

The question is, uh, Henry,

will you trust me?

Chale!

We need a lawyer, ese. You
expect us to defend ourselves?

What difference does it make?

"What difference does it make?"

Whose pinche side
are you on anyway?

The side of the heroes
and the fools, Hank.

Which one are you?

- You're on.
- Hey, good.

Same here. It's about time.

All right.
Now let's get to work.

Now,

I want you guys to tell me
exactly what happened,

right from the beginning.

Well, rafas pushed Rudy... the pedo
really started at the dance...

Last Saturday night.

♫♫ [Man I orale, little dude.

Yea, Rudy! Hi, little dude.

♫♫

♫ cuando salgo yo a bailar ♫

♫ yo me pongo muy catrin ♫

♫ las huisitas gritan ♫
♫ daddy, vente ♫

♫ vamos a bailar El Swing ♫♫ Hey!

♫♫

Orale! Who do you
think you are?

Don't touch me!

Ese, surote.

How about a dance
for old times' sake?

No te hagas gacho.

Wanna trade partners?
Sorry, Bertha.

Is this your new huisa?

This little fly chick? Come on, berti.
Let's dance.

Golly.

Ese, Hank,
that's the Downey Gang.

Think they're looking for pedo.

Nel, ese. There's only
a couple of them. Be cool.

"Be cool." U y, uy, uy.

Forget it, Smiley.
He's with Shirley Temple.

She doesn't know the difference
between being cool and being culo.

Watch your mouth, Bertha.

♫♫

♫ cuando voy al vacilon ♫

♫ yme meto a UN salon ♫

♫ las chavalas gritan ♫
♫ papi, vente ♫

♫ vamos a bailar Danzon ♫♫

♫♫

Mmm!

Qué traes, cabron?

♫ aquellos ojos verdes ♫

♫ de mirada Serena ♫

♫ dejaron en mi Alma ♫

♫ eterna sed de amar♫

Hank, I feel like
everybody's looking at us.

So? Give 'em the shine.

♫ de besos y ternuras ♫♫

Hank, I'd really like
a cigarette.

Oh, yeah? Yeah.

- Okay, let's go for a smoke.
- Hey, sailor.

How you doin'?
Hey. Outta my way.

Hey, carnal!

What do you say, brother? Ese,

how do you feel? I'm flying high, Jackson.

I'm feeling good.

Sabes qué, carnal?

I'm gonna join the
Army Air Force, carnal.

Yeah? Simon, tail gunner, ese.

Button up your fly, gunner.

Uf, Simon, ese.

Huisa, lupe-lu.

Rudy, if you go home drunk again, mi
apa's gonna use you for a punching bag.

Yeah, right.

Hey, Hank. Are you and your tomato
going out to the Sleepy Lagoon later on?

Why? You need an excuse
to take my sis, cabron?

What are you looking at, ese?

Jesus, Hank, have
a little finesse, huh?

Hey! Hey, vato!

Huisa, Ese, rafas.

Estoy guachando, ese.

Maybe we should take Rudy home.

Relax.
Everything's under control.

come on. Let's dance. ♫♫

♫ tocan mambo sabroso'n ♫

♫ se alborota El corazon ♫

♫ y con una chavalona vamos ♫

♫ vamos a bailar El mambo ♫♫

♫♫

Hey, man!
Don't push me around, man!

♫♫

It was an accident, ese.
You're chickenshit!

Rudy! Rudy!

Come on, carnal.
I can take care of myself.

Rudy, you're drunk.

I told you not to mess
with my familia, rafas.

We were after the Navy bean.
Aguiitala, ese.

Let's kick the swab jockey's
ass together.

I don't like the odds.

You think you're some kind of hot shit just
because the Navy accepted you, huh, ese?

As if you didn't try. You better go back
to Downey, ese, before you regret it.

Don't let him tell you that, ese.
Toma, ese!

That's what I think of your
puta Navy, Army and Marines.

What are you gonna do about it? I'm
gonna have to teach you some manners.

Calmenla! You and how many queers?

Just me and you, cabron.

Es tuyo, rafas.

All right. That's the way you want it?

You got it. All right!

Come on.

Hank!

Pues, that's exactly what the
show needs right now, ese.

Two more Mexicans
killing each other.

Guacha!

Everybody's looking at you, ese.

Don't give me that bullshit, ese.
I got this filerofrom you.

Did I tell you to kill the vato?

Control yourself, Hank.

Don't hate your raza more
than you love the gringo.

Get out of here. Pintate!

What? Oh, shit!

Esta' suave, ese.
I'll see you later.

Anytime, cabron. After the war.

Rafas! Orale pues! Ese puto!

Chinga a tu madre!

Hey, you did it, ese!
Se escamaron todos!

You were solid, Hank!
That was "all reet"!

Ha! He didn't do nothing.

The old Hank would have
slit that rafas's belly...

Like a fat pig.

That's all I'm gonna take
from you, Bertha. It's over.

Come on, baby.

Orale pues!

Buy us war bonds! Defeat Downey!
Thirty-eight rifa!

♫♫

♫ de los bailes que menté ♫

♫ El bolero y El beguine ♫

♫ de todos los bailes juntos ♫

♫ me gusta bailar El Swing ♫♫ Hey!

Hey!

Henry Reyna?

Hello,
my name is Alice bloomfield,

and I represent the congress
of industrial organizations.

Okay. So?

Henry, I'm here to offer you...

The support
of the working people.

And you're gonna need the support
of the working people, Henry,

because the press has been saying
that this pachuco crime wave...

That this pachuco crime wave
is fascist-inspired.

Can you beat that?

No.

They claim it's sinarquismo.

Sinar qué?

Sinarquismo.

"A fifth column fascist movement dancing to
tunes played by Rome, Tokyo and Berlin...

As relayed through Mexico City."

Did you ever hear of it?

This one's all yours, ese.

Look, lady, I ain't stupid, but I don't
know what the hell you're talking about.

I'm talking about you, Henry, and what
the daily press has been saying about you.

Are you aware you're in here...

Because some big shot up in San
simeon wants to sell a few papers?

It's true. So what?

So he's the man that started all this Mexican
crime wave stuff. You get the picture?

Somebody's using you as a patsy.

Who you calling "patsy"?

I meant a political victim.

What do you mean "victim"?

Uh, look,

let's back this whole thing up
and start all over again, okay?

Henry Reyna, hello?

My name is Alice.
I'm with the c.I.O.

Puro pedo. She's nothing but a dumb broad,
only good for you-know-what. Vémonos.

Look, thanks a lot,
miss bloomfield,

but I'd rather be
left alone, all right?

Wait a minute. Please.

I'm someone who wants very much...
To be your friend.

Can you believe that?

Why should I?

Because I'm with you. Yeah? Well,
how come you ain't in jail with me?

We're all in jail, Henry.

Some of us just don't know it.

Alice?

Hey, George. What the
hell are you doing here?

Never mind. I should know better
than to ask. Have you two met?

I introduced myself. Twice.
Oh, figures. Figures.

Alice has volunteered to
help me in this case, Henry.

She's gotta be the most red-hot
organizer the c.I.O.'S ever had.

George, that's a lot of red-hot...
You-know-what. You see what I mean?

Well, you two have a lot of work
to do, and my ego is killing me.

Oh, whoa, Alice. Just a minute.
I'll be right with you.

Guard.

Well, Henry, uh,

tomorrow's the big day.

Anything you need? Anything I can
get for you besides clean clothes?

Some socks. Some undenivear. I can't
go to court looking like this.

I want you to, uh,
take a look at this, son.

Lilegitimi non carborundum.

That's Latin for "don't let
the bastards get you down."

Excuse me, um, do you have a light?

Sorry, there's no smoking here.

Trust me. Thanks a lot.

Thank you. I didn't even see it.

All right.

Come on, Alice. Let's scram.

Good luck, Henry.

We're gonna beat this rap.

"Good luck, Henry.
We're gonna beat this rap."

You really think
you stand a chance, ese?

Yeah, I think I stand a chance.
'Cause that white broad says so?

Nel, ese. Because Hank Reyna says so.
The political patsy, huh?

Mira, ese.
Hank Reyna's no loser.

I'm gonna come out
of this thing on top.

Me entiendes, Méndez?

Don't try to
out-pachuco me, ese.

Pues, we'll see
who comes out on top.

Let's go to court.

The superior court of
the state of California...

In and for the county of
Los Angeles, department 43.

The honorable f.W. Charles presiding.
All rise.

Please be seated.

Call this case, bailiff.

"The people of the state
of California versus Henry Reyna",

Ismael torres,
Thomas Roberts, Joey Castro...

And 18 other 'pa-coo-cos.

Uh, your honor,

it was reported to me on Friday
that the district attorney...

Had absolutely forbidden
the sheriff's office

to permit these boys
clean clothes or haircuts.

Now, your honor, it has been two
months since these boys were arrested.

Your honor, the boys
of the 38th street gang...

Are characterized by their haircuts.
Two months, your honor.

The thick, heavy heads of hair, the
ducktail comb, the pachuco pants.

You're trying to make these boys
look disreputable, like mobsters!

Yet clothes like these are being
worn by kids all over america.

The zoot clothes
seem to be necessary...

For purposes of identification
of the defendants by witnesses.

I don't believe we'll have any
difficulty if they get a little dirty.

What about their haircuts,
your honor?

They didn't go to jail looking
like marines, Mr. Shearer.

Their hair was long
to begin with.

It's a little late to try to
change their tonsorial appearance.

You may call your first witness.

The prosecution calls
sergeant frank galindo...

Of the Los Angeles
police department.

Sergeant frank galindo
of the Los Angeles police department.

Look at your gang, ese.

They do look like mobsters.
Se guachan bien gacho.

Place your left hand on
the Bible. Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear to
tell... come on, vato. Sit up.

I'm tired, Hank.
My butt is sore.

Yeah. Look at the soft chairs
the jury's got.

Hank is right, vatos.
We look bad.

Mas alba nalga, ese.
Put some class on your ass.

Céllate El hocico! Sit up.
Come on.

Sergeant galindo, were you the first
officer to arrive at the Williams ranch...

Near the so-called
Sleepy Lagoon...

On the night of... or the early
morning of August 1, 1942?

Yes, sir. I got a call saying that
there was a disturbance there...

Stemming from a birthday party.

When I arrived, I found
the body of José Sanchez.

[D.a. I you, uh, talked to the
mother of the deceased in Spanish.

Yes. That's correct.

She told me it was
her birthday party.

She said a gang of pachucos
attacked the ranch about 1:00 am.

Henry Reyna and his 38th street gang.

Objection, your honor. The use of the
word "gang" is prejudicial to my clients.

Objection overruled.

"The Caucasian,
especially the anglo-Saxon youths",

when engaged in fighting,
will resort to fisticuffs...

And may at times kick each other,
which is considered unsportive.

But this Mexican element...

Considers all this
to be a sign of weakness,

and all he knows and feels...

Is a desire to use
a knife to kill,

or to at least let blood.

"This inborn characteristic comes
down from the bloodthirsty aztecs."

Objection!
Objection, your honor!

Objection overruled!

I move that this entire report
be stricken from the record!

You're out of order, Mr. Shearer!

Objection overruled.

You may proceed.

"And when added to
the use of liquor or marijuana",

then we certainly have
crimes of violence."

Mmm, pues.

Put on your feathers, ese.
Ya te chingaron.

♫♫

♫ mari-mari-juana ♫

♫ mari-mari-juana boogie ♫

♫ mari-mari-juana ♫

♫ mari-mari-juana boogie ♫

♫ mari-mari-juana ♫

♫ that's my baby's name ♫

♫ put on your drapes,
ese, vato ♫

♫ make those calcos shine ♫

♫ ooh-wop ♫

♫ ahhh ♫ ♫ put on your
drapes, ese, vato ♫

♫ make those calcos shine ♫

♫ ooh-wop ♫

♫ ahhh ♫ ♫ they're holding
court on the corner ♫

♫ marijuana boogie time ♫

still feeling patriotic, ese?

What do you mean?
The trial just started.

Let's cut the shit and get to
the verdict, Hank. This is 1942.

Or is it 1492?

You're doing this to me, vato.

Something inside you craves the
punishment, the public humiliation...

And the human sacrifice?

But there's no more pyramids,
carnal. Only the gas chamber.

But I didn't do it, ese.
I didn't kill anybody!

♫ I got a woman named juana ♫

♫ juana, juana, juana ♫

♫ juana ♫

♫ but all the men
she made love to ♫

♫ they call her ♫

♫ marijuana ♫

[Together
I ♫ mari-mari-juana ♫

♫ that's my baby's name ♫♫

♫♫ [ends j

who knows, ese?

Maybe your little chick can
save your cachetes. Guacha!

Tu huisita, carnal. ♫♫

♫♫

After the dance that Saturday night,
Henry and I drove out to the Lagoon...

Around 11:30.

There was a
new moon out that night.

As we got to the Lagoon, we noticed
right away the place was empty.

- That's it, baby.
- It's beautiful.

It's just a reservoir.

At least at night you can't
see the tires and tin cans.

Come here.

Come on.

It was such a beautiful night,

and the sky was
so full of stars.

We couldn't just sit in the car. So
we got out to look at the Lagoon.

Neither of us
said anything at first.

So the only sounds
were the crickets and the frogs.

♫♫

Then we began to hear music.

What's that?

It sounds like a party. Where?

Over there at that ranch.
See the lights on the shacks?

Oh, yeah. Ah, jijo.
Sound like some party.

Do you want to crash it?

Chale. I promised to keep
you out of trouble, remember?

My father.

He makes me feel
like a nun sometimes.

You know, you're the first guy
he's let me go out with... alone.

Maybe he knows what he's doing.

A lot of guys don't know
how to respect a girl.

Go ahead, ese. Pop her cherry.

You know she wants it.

What's wrong?

Your old man and my old man.

I don't like
shotgun weddings, esa.

Hank, I'm almost 18. You're
going off to war, and I love you.

Not here, esa.
Any place but here.

Too many memories of Bertha?

What do you want to bring her up for?
I, uh...

Do you want to be like her?
Is that it? Huh?

Well, get in the backseat. Come on.
Get in the backseat.

What, Hank? Come on.

You must really think
I'm a square.

I'm sorry, Della.

I was just trying
to prove a point.

I don't want to go to jail
for statutory rape.

Why does everything
have to be a crime with you?

Can't you just love somebody?

Just then another
car pulled up to the Lagoon.

We thought it was Tommy and lupe and
the rest of the gang, but it wasn't.

Come on, ese. Let's see what
you're made of. Come on!

Let's go, ese. Come on, ese.

Toma, ese!
You better stay here.

Hank? Stay here. Qué se traen?

Come and find out, puto!
Come on, ese!

Let's play some baseball!

Stay here!

Rafas and his gang left,

heading for the party
at the ranch,

and I held Henry in my arms
until he came to.

The first thing he said was...

"Let's go into town
and get the guys."

♫♫ [ "In the mood" j

Come on, 38th!

It took about an hour
to go into town and come back.

We parked by the Lagoon
and walked toward the ranch.

The lights were still on, but the place
looked deserted.

Orale pues!
Pues, qué Paso', ese?

I thought you said
the joint was jumpin'!

Is this your idea
of a big party?

I'm gonna take care of
that pinche rafas for good!

Ay, go to sleep, Rudy! Shut up.

Looks like the party's over, Hank.
You see any signs of rafas?

Nel, ese. They're gone. Then
let's go to Downey and get 'em!

Chale!

ya estuvo. Everybody, go home.

Go home?

Put the car tools away. Go home!

Vémonos. Get in the car.

Listen to what he says, Rudy.

♫♫

That's when we heard
music coming from the ranch again.

We didn't know
rafas and his gang...

Had been kicked out of the place for
starting fights and causing more trouble.

So when Joey said... Orale pues!

The party's still got life in it!

They're dancing to records.
Orale. Come on, ese.

They all went
there yelling and laughing.

Let's go!

Come on.

At the ranch,
they saw us coming...

And thought we were the
Downey Gang coming back again.

They attacked us.

An old man ran out of the house with a
kitchen knife, and Henry had to hit him.

And then some girl
grabbed me by the hair,

and in a second, everybody
was fighting and yelling.

Come on!

Before we got to the cars, [saw
something out of the corner of my eye.

It was a guy, and he was hitting a
man on the ground with a big stick.

And Henry yelled at him.

Come on!

Come on!

But he wouldn't stop.

He wouldn't stop.

He wouldn't.

Your witness.

Hey, your
honor, the jury's getting...

It has been
brought to my attention...

That the jury is having trouble
telling one boy from another.

So I'm going to rule that
the defendants will stand...

Each time
their names are mentioned.

Objection, your honor!

If the prosecution
makes an accusation,

it will appear to be
self-incrimination.

Not necessarily.
You may cross-examine, Mr. Prosecutor.

Ready for the verdict now, ese?

Chale.

[ D.a. I miss barrlos,
are you deliberately...

Concealing evidence from this court?

No. Are you covering
for Henry Reyna?

- Please stand.
- No.

Then who was this guy you saw
beating another man on the ground?

It wasn't Henry.
He was standing right beside me.

We were just defending ourselves...
I didn't ask for your comment.

Why don't you ask me about the
Downey Gang? Just answer my question!

But they attacked the party! Maybe
José Sanchez was already dead!

Your honor, will you instruct
the witness to be cooperative?

I must caution you, young lady. Answer the
questions, or I will hold you in contempt.

[D.a. I sit down.

Now, miss barrlos, if your boyfriend
wasn't the guy with the big stick,

who was it?

It was too dark to tell.

How big a stick would you
say it was, Miss Barrlos?

As big as this one? Objection! Your
honor, no such club was ever found.

The prosecution is implying... your
honor, I'm not implying anything.

I'm merely using this stick
as an illustration.

Objection overruled.

- Could it have been a lead pipe?
- No.

How about a Blackjack? A heavy chain?
No. No!

A baseball bat? No!

Did your boyfriend run over to José
Sanchez, hit him on the head and kill him?

He could hardly walk.
How could he run any place?

Did Smiley torres? Did Joey Castro?
No. No.

Did Tommy Roberts? Did Henry Reyna?
No. No.

Henry Reyna!
Henry Reyna! Henry Reyna!

Did Henry Reyna willfully
murder José Sanchez? No! No!

- No.
- ♫♫

A-hoo-ah!

Ah-ha-ha-hi!

Whoo-hoo!

A-hoo-ah!

♫♫ - Objection!
Objection, your honor!

The prosecution is pulling out
objects from all over the place,

objects that were never found
at the Sleepy Lagoon,

objects that have
never been proven...

To be associated with my clients
in any way whatsoever.

Objection overruled.

If the court please, I wish to make an
assignment of misconduct by the bench.

Quite frankly, Mr. Shearer,

I'm getting rather tired of your
repeated useless objections.

I have not made
useless objections.

I'm sorry. Someone
is using ventriloquism.

We have a Charlie McCarthy
using Mr. Shearer's voice.

I'm going to assign
that remark of your honor as misconduct.

Fine! I would feel
rather badly...

If you did not make an assignment of
misconduct at least twice every session.

You'll have them, your honor.

How would you like to get slapped with
a citation for contempt, Mr. Shearer?

Witness is excused.

However,
I'm going to remand her...

To the custody of the ventura
state school for girls...

For a period of one year...

What?

To be held there as a juvenile
ward of the state. -

Bailiff. If the court please...

If the court please...

This court is in recess
until tomorrow morning.

I'm sorry about Della, Henry,
and I'm afraid it was my fault.

I shouldn't have
antagonized the judge.

I thought you said
we had a chance.

Now listen to me, son.

This case is going to be won...

On appeal.

Appeal?
What did I tell you, ese?

You mean you know we're gonna lose?

It's not unusual, Henry.
It happens all the time.

Don't you see, Henry? Judge Charles
is hanging himself as we go.

I've already cited over a hundred
separate cases of misconduct by the bench.

It's all going into the record.

Prejudicial error, denial of due
process, inadmissible evidence.

Sabes qué, George?

Don't give me any more
of your shit.

Henry.

Is there anything I can do?

Ready now, ese?

Simon.

Then let's have it.

Has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, your honor.

How say you?

We find the defendants guilty of
murder in the first and second degrees.

Ay, hijo. Hijo de mi vida.

The defendants will rise.

Henry Reyna, José Castro,

Thomas Roberts, Ismael torres.

You have been tried
by a jury of your peers...

And found to be guilty of murder
in the first and second degree.

The barrio needs you, ese.

The law prescribes the capital
punishment for this offense. Fight back.

Stand up to them with some style.
However, in view of your youth...

Show the world Hank Reyna
has some balls.

And in consideration
of your families,

it is hereby the judgment of
this court... and remember,

pachuco yo, ese. That you be
sentenced to life imprisonment...

And sent to the state
penitentiary at San Quentin.

24-528.

Torres. 24-527.

Roberts. 24-526.

Castro. 24-525.

Reyna.

"" Los Angeles,
California, may 5, 1943.

Dear boys,

announcing the publication by
mimeograph of the appeal news,

your very own newsletter, to
be sent to you twice a month...

For the purpose of keeping you
reliably informed of everything:

The progress of the Sleepy
Lagoon defense committee...

We have a name now... and, of
course, the matter of your appeal.

We are going to stand beside you
until your names are absolutely clear.

I swear it.

Viva...

El cinco de Mayo.

Your editor,

Alice...

"Bloomfield."

♫♫

Hey, boys.

Orale, Alice. How's things in L.A.?

Any good news about the appeal?

How's my wife?
One at a time, guys.

Tommy, this is for you.
It's from your mother.

Careful. I think it's a cake.
Orale.

And this is cigarettes. Oh, wh...

And "love from Elena."

These are for Henry.

And that... is for Joey.

Oh, wow.

Thanks, grandma.

You mind if I call you grandma?

No, I don't think so.

I like your zoot pants.
Ah, bonaroo, huh?

Solid!
Eres una ruca de aquellas.

I'm a what?
A ruca. A fine chick.

De aquellas. De aquellas.

Oooh, all reet, esa.

Hey, look, miss bloomfield. I don't
want my wife going around begging.

Oh, it's not begging.
It's fund-raising.

I don't care what you call it.
I don't like it.

There's no shame in asking
for money for a good cause.

It's not our custom. If that's what
it's gonna take, then count me out.

Smiley, wait a minute.
Okay. It's not your custom.

I won't ask your wife
to go door-to-door, okay?

So where's Henry?
Isn't he joining us?

He couldn't make it.

Why not?

Look, that's his business.
Leave him alone.

I'm afraid I can't do that,
Smiley. It's not my custom.

Joey, what's going on?

Okay, Tommy, give.
Don't look at me, doll.

Tommy, I didn't come here to do
anything but bring a few letters and...

No. Listen, Alice. I know what
you're trying to do for us,

and that's reet, see?

Shit. Most paddles would probably
like to see us locked up for good.

Now I'm in here because I
hung around with Mexicans,

but I grew up with these vatos,

and I'm pachuco too, see?

Simon, esa.

You'd better learn what
it means to be chicano,

and I mean p.D.Q.

Hello, Henry.

I'd like to
talk to you in private.

You vatos want any
of this okie corn bread?

Orale. "Paddy cake," ese.

Mmm. Mmm.

All right, ese. That's good.

What can I do for you?

For me? Ni madre.

I don't understand.

I'm dropping out
of the case, Alice.

You're what? You heard me.
I'm bailing out, esa.

Getting out of the case.

Henry, you can't. Why can't I?

Because you c... you can't.

What about George
and your family...

And all the people in
the barrio who've given

their time and money
in the last few months?

You can't just quit.

Oh, no?

Just watch me.

Henry, if you felt this way
before, why didn't you tell me?

Well, why didn't you ask me?

But you've seen me
coming and going.

I've been writing to you,
speaking for you,

traveling up and down the state.

Nothing has come before my
attachment and my involvement...

And my passion for this case.

My boys have been everything to me.

"My boys"? "My boys," Alice?

What the hell are we,
your personal property?

Well, let me
set you straight, lady.

I ain't your boy, sabes?

You know I never meant it like that.

You're just a white broad using
Mexicans to play politics.

Congratulations, Henry.

That's the worst thing that
anyone has ever said to me.

Why don't you go help
the colored people?

Why don't you go to hell?

You know,
you really oughta try...

Working at the Sleepy Lagoon
defense office for a few months.

All the petty arguments and the
haggling and the lack of cooperation...

"You're too sentimental and
emotional about this, Alice."

"You're too coldhearted, Alice."

"Alice, you're collecting money and
handing it over to the lawyers...

While the families
are going hungry? Alice."

"Alice, they say you can't be
trusted 'cause you're a communist...

'Cause you're a Jew, Alice."

Okay. That's the way
they feel about me?

The hell with them.
I hate them too.

I hate their language,

I hate their enchiladas,

and I hate their goddamn Mariachi music!

You all right, miss?

Yes. I'm fine.

Oh. Oh.

You got a lot of guts.

No one's ever talked to me
like that before.

Yeah, well, you gotta watch out
for us white broads, ese.

I take it back. All right?

I said a few things too.
I don't really hate enchiladas.

It's huevos rancheros
I can't stand.

Mmm, pues. How about huevos pachucos?

So...

What do we do now?

You tell me.

Can we go on with the appeal?

Okay. Good.

And now I...
I was wondering if...

You would do something
very special for me.

Write an article.

No, I'm serious.
I'll get it published.

Article? Pues, who told you
you could write, ese?

Chale. The
guys would razz me silly.

I can't write. Puro pedo.

I've seen the letters you write
to your family. Come on, Hank.

What do you say?
Where's the old pachuco spirit?

Right here, and I say puro pedo.

Look, can't we just start
by writing each other?

I mean, in private.

Of course. That's a...
That's a wonderful idea.

Then it's a deal?

Deal.

I think that we're going
to be very good friends.

You think so? I know so.

Time, miss.

Gotta go, boys.

Say hello to berti for me, will you,
grandma? And my wife, Elena.

- And give my love to Lupe, eh?
- Time!

I gotta go.

We'll see you, grandma.

I love you! Tough luck.
She loves me.

Chale, ese. She loves me, ese.
She told me.

Oh, come on. Pendejo.

Pinche puto.

So you got yourself
a pen pal, huh?

Don't lean on me, ese.

You're going stir-crazy, carnal.

Why don't you just let manuela
stroke you and get it over with?

Este vato.

That ruca's never gonna
see you as a man anyway.

You know what they say, carnal.

"A Latin lover's nothing
but a fucking Mexican."

Orale.

Give me a break, vato.

One break coming up.

Rec time.

♫♫

♫ keep your eyes on the ball ♫

♫ get your back
against the wall ♫

♫ let the rhythm of each stroke
become your pleasure ♫

Ahhh.

♫ use your mind concentrate ♫

♫ you must win this bout
with fate ♫

♫ or become a prisoner
of its hold forever ♫

♫ handball ♫ - ♫ handball ♫

♫ handball ♫ ♫ handball ♫

♫ watch the way it comes
reflecting off the wall ♫

♫ handball ♫ ♫ handball ♫

♫ oh, it's how you play the game
that shapes your life ♫

trucha,

♫ now you've got time
on your hands ♫

♫ so wise up and be a man ♫

♫ and define the game
according to your rules ♫

♫ ooh, ooh, ooh ♫

♫ 80 just get hep, get in step ♫

♫ the pace is yours to set ♫

♫ and you alone control
the tempo of the rhythm ♫

♫ handball ♫ ♫ handball ♫

♫ watch the way it comes
reflecting off the wall ♫

♫ handball ♫ ♫ handball ♫

♫ oh, it's how you play the game
that shapes your life ♫♫

Reyna.

Your, uh,
Jewish broad's here again.

Hi, licha.

Hello, Henry.

I went to ventura.

I've seen Della.

Aren't you gonna ask me
how she is?

Yeah. How is she?

She looks fine. She's, uh...

She's very strong.

I hate it when
you do that to me.

Half the time I don't
know who I'm talking to.

Why didn't you answer
my letters, Alice?

Nobody ever wrote me
love letters before.

I'll keep them, Henry,

but I can't answer them.

I can't.

I can't be your mother
or your sister...

Or your huisa...
Or your white broad.

Nobody's asking you
to be a white broad.

I don't know who to be for you.

Tu sabes, Hank?

No.

I am Alice bloomfield.
I'm a person, just like you.

We...

When... when we win this appeal,

you get to go home,

and I get to go on
to the next fight.

That's who I am.

And if I lose sight of that,

then I don't know
what I'm doing here.

Thanks a lot, miss bloomfield.

If you walk out on me this time,
I won't stop you.

Ahi te guacho.

Bye, Hank.

"Licha," huh? Qué gacho, ese!

That ruca really put it to you.

Sabes qué, ese?
Ya callate el hocico.

You know what
your problem is, Hank?

You can't stand yourself, and
you can't stand me telling you.

Shut up, ese.

San quilmas was made for
self-victimizing suckers like you, Hank.

Underneath that big, tough
bullshit exterior you put on...

Is a little snot-nosed
Mexican kid... shut up.

Begging for the gringos' attention.
Shut up.

You turned yourself
into a target, ese,

a willing victim
of the pinche racists,

and they threw your ass in
prison for life. Shut up!

All right. New work assignments.

Everybody report to the Jute Mill.
Let's go!

What's the matter with you, Reyna?
Got lead in your pants?

I said let's go.

We're supposed to work in the mess hall.
You've got a new assignment.

Since when? Since now.

Get going! Come on, Hank.

Yeah. Be cool, ese.
Let's go, ese.

Does the warden know about this?
What the hell do you care?

You think you're something special?

Come on. Move it, greaseball.

Make me,
you white paddy bastard.

Back. Back off. Back off!
Don't be stupid.

All right, Reyna.
You got solitary.

I'd say about 90 days.

Where in the hell you been, ese?

Solitary.

They gave me solitary.

Only this reality
is real now, Hank.

Only this place is real...

Sitting in the lonely cell
of your will.

Guacha.

Each second is a raw drop
of blood from your brain...

That you must swallow,
drop by drop.

And don't even
start counting, ese,

or you'll lose your mind.

Where am I, ese?

What am I doing here?

You're here to learn
to live with yourself, Hank.

You're a marijuana dreamer, floating in
an endless night of unfulfilled fantasies,

and there is no time.

I'm Henry Reyna, ese.

Hank Reyna! A dream, carnal.

Just a dream.

My family.

I gotta think about my family.

- Mi hijo.
- Mi hijo.

Mis jefitos.

My carnalillo.

My sis.

Forget them. Forget them all.

Forget your family
and the barrio beyond the wall.

There's still a chance
I'll get out.

Fat chance, ese.
I'm talking about the appeal!

And I'm talking about
what's real.

Pues, qué traes, Hank? Haven't
you learned? Learned what?

No court in the land's
gonna set you free.

You're in here for life, vato.

The moment your hopes come crashing
down, you'll find yourself on the ground,

foaming at the mouth, como loco.

Sabes qué, ese?

I got you all figured out.

I know who you are, carnal.

You're the one that got me here.

And you know what?

You're me.

My worst enemy...

And my best friend.

Myself.

So get lost.

Get lost!

Orale pues!

Pues, don't take the pinche
play so seriously. Jesus!

Es puro vacilon, ese. Guacha.

You want me to go? Pues, orale.

But not before you check out
what's happening back home today.

The Navy has landed
on leave with full pay,

and war is breaking out...

On the streets of L.A.

♫♫

♫♫

Come on. Out!

And stay out! Yeah.

I told you.
Get your hands off of me!

Mmm, I'm feeling suave tonight.

Let's dance.

Mmm. Let's get out of here.

Man #2 fine-looking chick, baby.

Ow!

Hey! Hey, watch it!

Burrito!

♫♫

- Orale! That's enough!
- ♫♫

Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. North and
South America and all the ships at sea.

Let's go to press. "Flash. Los
Angeles, California, June 3, 1943."

Serious rioting broke
out here tonight, as

flying squadrons of
marines and soldiers...

Joined the Navy in a new assault
on the zooter—infested districts.

A fleet of 20 taxicabs,
carrying some 200 servicemen,

pulled out of the naval armory
at Chavez ravine tonight...

And assembled a task force that
invaded the eastside barrlos.

The zoot-suiters,
those gamin dandies"...

Why don't you tell them
what I really am, ese,

or how you've been forbidden
to use the very word?

We're complying in the interest
of the war. How are you complying?

We're using other terms. Like
"pachuco" and "zoot-suiter"?

What's wrong with that?
The zoot suit crime wave...

Is even beginning to push the
war news off the front page.

The press has distorted the very
meaning of the word "zoot suit."

All it is for you guys is
another way to say "Mexican"...

Without insulting your ally
south of the border.

But the idea of the original
chucois to look like a diamond...

To look sharp, hip, bonaroo.

Finding a style of
urban survival...

In the rural skirts and outskirts of
the brown Metropolis of los, cabron.

Come on!
It's an affront to good taste!

Like the Mexican, the Filipino
and the black who wear it?

It looks just as ridiculous on the white
kids. You mean the WOPs and the Jews?

Hey, look, sport. Be honest.

You guys weren't
even wearing clothes...

When the white man pulled you
out of the jungle.

If a uniform is what you
want, join the goddamn Army.

Why?

Because there's a war going on. What
the hell are you trying to prove?

You're no better than anybody else
in the states. We've got shortages!

Patriotic citizens are going
without collars and cuffs...

So you can wear
those zoot suits.

So? So what are we fighting for,

if not to annihilate the enemies
of the American way of life?

Perdon, senior.
Is that supposed to be us?

There's that spic. Come on!

Let's get him! Let's go!
Yeah, sucker!

Come on! We got you now!

Come on. That's it. Asshole!

I said,
"is that supposed to be us?"

Say it.

Go on. Say it!

Kill the pachuco bastard!

♫♫ Come on, zooter.

Think you're more important
than the war, zooter?

Let's see if you got any balls
in those funny pants, boy.

Say, fellas. Maybe we shouldn't
be doing this. Are you nuts?

What'd he do to us?
He's a draft dodger.

Watch out for the knife.

That's it, baby. Come on.
Look out!

Come on. Come on, boy.

All right. Come on!

Son of a bitch.

Caged like an animal.
A monkey in a monkey suit.

Come on.
Let's tear it off his back!

Come on, man.

He dropped his shiv! Get him!

- Come on, you bastard.

Come on!

Whoo-hoo-hoo!

Come on. That's...

That's it. Fight, sucker!
Come on. Come on!

Enough!

Whoo!

They ganged up on me, carnal.

You left me,
and they ganged up on me.

Why?

Why didn't you take me with you?

I was at the Sleepy Lagoon. I was there
throwing chingazoslike everybody else.

I went to the pinche
dance with Bertha.

I was wearing your zoot suit.

All chingonin your tacuche.

They stripped me.

They stripped me, carnal.

Hijo,

they stripped me.

They told me you did
90 days in solitary.

You okay?

Simon.

When did you get out?
Oh, a while ago.

I got four months off
for good behavior.

It's good to see you.

I was afraid things had changed.

So much has happened.

I heard you're living
with my jefitos.

Yeah.

When I got out of ventura,
my parents gave me a choice:

Forget about you
or get out, so...

Alice says you guys
will be out soon.

Oh, yeah? Yeah.

George is ready
with the appeal brief.

Oh, Hank, it's almost over.

Then what?

I'll be an ex-con.

What do you think I am?

Look, Hank, I'm not trying
to push you into anything.

If you still want me,
Orale, suave!

But if you don't,
that's okay too.

But I'm not gonna hang around
like a pendeja all my life.

I got nothing
to give you, Della.

Just give me some hope.

How? Ask me to wait.

What if we lose the appeal?
We won't.

I've screwed up your life
enough already.

You did eight months for me.
Isn't that enough?

I would die for you.

I love you.

Pero me chingan la madre if I'm
gonna throw away my life for nothing.

Della.

Wait.

No touching.

What the hell. Go ahead.

I love you. Oh.

I love you.

♫♫

♫♫

♫♫

If the late summer of 1942
was the low point,

two years later, the war for the allies is
pounding its way toward certain victory.

On the home front, Americans
go on with their daily lives...

With growing confidence
and relief...

As the war pushes on
to inevitable triumph.

Los Angeles daily press,
Wednesday, November 8, 1944.

Headline: "District court of appeals
decides in Sleepy Lagoon murder case."

Boys in San Quentin given"...

Freedom!

Orale. Good to see you, ese.

I thought I lost you.

It take more than the U.S.
Navy to wipe me out, ese.

Welcome back.
It's good to be home.

No hard feelings, Hank?

Chale. We won, didn't we?

Simon, ese.

And that's a perfect way
to end this play.

Happy ending y todo.

Ah!

But life ain't that way, Hank.

Henry Reyna went back
to prison in 1947...

For robbery and assault
with a deadly weapon.

While incarcerated,
he killed another inmate...

And wasn't released until 1955,
when he got into hard drugs.

He died of the trauma
of his life in 1972.

That's the way you see it, ese,

but there's other ways
to end this story.

♫♫

Hey, baby, go!

♫♫

♫ carnal, pongase abusado ♫

♫ ya los tiempos han cambiado ♫

♫ usted esta muy aguitado ♫

♫ y hasta buti atravesado ♫

♫ antes se bailaba El Swing ♫

♫ Boogie-Woogie Jitterbug ♫

♫ pero eso ya torcio
y esto es lo que sucedio ♫

♫ los chucos suaves
bailan Rumba ♫

♫ bailan la Rumba y la Zumban ♫

♫ bailan Guaracha sabrosén
El Botecito y El Danzon ♫

♫ los chucos suaves
bailan Rumba ♫

♫ bailan la Rumba y la Zumban ♫

♫ bailan Guaracha sabrosén ♫

♫ El Botecito y El Danzon ♫

Henry Reyna went
to Korea in 1950.

He was shipped there on a destroyer
and defended the 38th parallel,

but he was killed
at Inchon in 1952,

being posthumously awarded the
Congressional Medal of Honor.

Henry Reyna married
Della Barrios in 1948.

They still live in Los Angeles.

They have five kids, three of
whom are now attending university,

speaking pachuco slang and
calling themselves chicanos.

♫ los chucos suaves
bailan Rumba ♫

♫ bailan la Rumba y la Zumban ♫

♫ bailan Guaracha sabrosén ♫

♫ El Botecito y El Danzon ♫

♫ los chucos suaves
bailan Rumba ♫

♫ bailan la Rumba y la Zumban ♫

♫ bailan Guaracha sabrosén El
Botecito y El Danzon ♫♫

Henry Reyna, the born leader.

Henry Reyna, the zoot-suiter.

Henry Reyna, my friend.

Henry Reyna, my brother.

Henry Reyna. Our son.

Henry Reyna, my love.

Henry Reyna, El pachuco.

The man, the myth still lives.

Hey! ♫♫

A-hoo-ah!