Rodeo King Dies
Nani jumps onto the mule.
She jerks Smiley up into the saddle in front of her.
Smiley grabs the reins from under Nani's thigh.
Behind the mule, Rodeo King runs a few drunken steps, then springs up.
He lands his butt { THUMP! } on the butt of the mule, behind Smiley and Nani on the saddle.
The mule spooks, rears up on its hind legs.
Rodeo King reaches around Nani, grabs the pommel in front of Smiley.
Faraway police SIRENS wail.
MEXICAN COP
(on loudspeakers, faraway)
Párate, criminál Rodeo King!
The mule tears off running, bucking.
SMILEY
Andele!
RODEO KING
(bounces on mule's butt)
Haijo Mulo!
SMILEY
Woohoo!
NANI
Haijo, mulo! Rapido!
Moonlit rabbits careen to get out of the way of Smiley's mule.
SMILEY
I can hold 'im, Daddy!
Rodeo King guzzles his bottle of mescal.
RODEO KING
(burps)
RIDE 'im Smiley!
Rodeo King pours the last drops of Mescal down his throat.
Smiley looks back, sees the WORM stuck in the bottle.
SMILEY
Eat the worm, Daddy!
Rodeo King POUNDS the bottom of the upturned tequila bottle.
{ thwack, thwack, THWACKKK! }
The worm FALLS into Rodeo King's mouth -
MEXICAN COP, gun drawn, stands in the road ahead.
MEXICAN COP
Párate, Criminál!
The Mexican Cop fires his gun.
The bullet whizzes over Smiley's head.
The bullet smashes the bottle in Rodeo King's hand.
The mule bucks.
Smiley & Nani go flying.
Smiley sees Rodeo King fall off in a backwards somersault.
The mule KICKS backward ...
The ... HOOF ... SMACKS ... Rodeo King's ... HEAD!
The ... worm ... flies ... out of Rodeo King's mouth.
Rodeo King ... sails ... backward ...
He lands on the ground { _THUNK_! }
Rodeo King lies lifeless on the ground.
A dark BRUISE covers Rodeo King's forehead.
Smiley runs ... slips ... falls in the gravel ... he reaches out his hand toward his Dad.
SMILEY
I'm sorry Daddy! I tried to ride good!
Nani runs, grabs Smiley.
She pulls Smiley away from Rodeo King.
Nani sobs, tries to hide Smiley's eyes.
NANI
No es culpa tuya, mi hijo! No es culpa de nadie!
SMILEY
(sobs)
It's my fault!
NANI
Eet' no' yo' falt' baby!
Smiley bats Nani's hands away from his eyes.
Nani hugs Smiley's face into her chest.
NANI
(screams, crying)
Policia! Policia! Ayuda! Buscar el Medico! Ayudanos!
Whores circle around Rodeo King. The whores cry at the heartbreaking scene.
Nani lays her ear on Rodeo King's heart, then his mouth.
She mouths a prayer to the sky...
Hearing no heartbeat or breathing, Nani straddles Rodeo King's torso. She pushes up, down on his chest.
Gasps wheeze in and out of his mouth.
SMILEY
Daddy's breathing!
NANI
(screams)
Respiraté!
Nani blows air into Rodeo King's lungs by mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Cameras flash onto Nani straddling Rodeo King, breathing into him.
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