JOSÉ AND EDUARDO
EXT. ANIMATED MEXICO CITY SQUARE, DAY
JOSE, a small, 7 year old boy is standing by a post playing the accordion. The music he plays on his beat-up, old accordion is beautiful. It is the best an accordion has ever sounded. He plays with passion and joy, and the air has a sweetness to it when José plays, like the world is full of light.
Several passersby sneer at the joyful Jose, as if they cannot stand his beautiful music. Lying by his feet is his open accordion case, which is empty.
Jose becomes noticeably upset by the people ignoring him, He runs up to these strangers, smiling and playing his music. They snub him once more.
Dismayed, José goes back to his post and slinks down. The once magical feeling of the air is gone, and the light is now hot and harsh.
José notices 12 year old EDUARDO from across the square. Eduardo plays a shiny, new accordion. He plays far worse than Jose, but he is mocking him. His accordion case is filled to the brim with pesos.
Infuriated by the mocking, Jose storms over to Eduardo.
JOSÉ
Eduardo, why do you do this to me? Tell me what I have done to hurt you and I swear, I will fix it!!
Eduardo continues playing his accordion. He is very mediocre.
A passerby drops money into Eduardo’s case.
JOSÉ
Please! You gave me your accordion, you were my teacher, and my friend! You have to tell me!
Eduardo begins to play again. This time, he is playing the same song that José was, but it sounds like a middle schooler is playing. It is dull and passionless Eduardo looks jealously at José’s instrument. Eduardo spits on Jose.
JOSÉ
Fine. If you will not tell me, then I will guess. Was it the time Guillermo thought that you had broken your ankles and I told him you were just big boned?
Eduardo looks slightly annoyed but ignores him.
JOSÉ CONT’D
Was it the time I took the last tortilla chip? Oooh was it that last time we payed together at the Tupaka Mariachi mixer and I -
EDUARDO
-TOGETHER?! You were six years old the last time we played together. You are stupid little crying baby and you still ruined everything for me!
JOSÉ
But I-
Eduardo cuts him off
EDUARDO
My mama threw me out, the band turned against me, you destroyed me before you even turned seven, and don’t you dare mention the Topeka Mariachi Mixer again!
Eduardo spits at him again.
EDUARDO
NO I DON’T WANT TO PLAY TOGETHER, NO I DON’T WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND, AND YES!!
Eduardo picks José up by his shirt.
I am going to destroy you.
José looks terrified.
Eduardo drops him and José falls to the ground in pain.
Eduardo starts to walk away.
JOSÉ
You’ve already turned the whole town against me! What more can you possibly do??
Eduardo passive aggressively starts playing the accordion.
José picks up his and plays louder, initiating an accordion-off.
The two get completely stand-offish and resemble two male peacocks fighting for their mate.
EDUARDO
Stop playing!
JOSÉ
Only when you stop playing!
EDUARDO
You are such a child!
JOSÉ
I’m seven!
EDUARDO
Shut up, Dirt-face!
The accordion battle continues until both of their arms get tired and they stop at the same moment and fall on the ground, laughing.
Eduardo notices the laughing and immediately stops and frowns.
JOSÉ
Oh come now, Eduardo!
Eduardo folds his arms grumpily.
JOSÉ
Do not forget that you are a child also.
EDUARDO
I’m not a child. I’m 12 and three quarters.
José looks at him, implying “come on!”
Eduardo chuckles once more.
EDUARDO
Too much has happened, José. I cannot be your friend.
JOSÉ
But why does that mean you must be my enemy?
Eduardo gets increasingly flustered. Their bonding moment has passed. Eduardo becomes angry once more.
EDUARDO
Because...because...because... it just does!
Eduardo crosses his arms and faces the other way, pouting.
JOSÉ
All because of the-
Eduardo starts to get angry.
EDUARDO
Do. Not. Say. It.
JOSÉ
Tupaka...
EDUARDO
Don’t.
Red, hot steam starts lightly spewing out of Eduardo’s ears.
JOSÉ
Mariachi...
EDUARDO
Don’t you dare!
JOSÉ
Mixer?
The steam explodes out of Eduardo’s ears, making a sound of a train whistle. Furiously, rips his own accordion in half.
José and Eduardo both look dumbfounded for a beat and tears begin to well up in Eduardo’s eyes, as he holds his broken instrument.
EDUARDO
This is all your fault!
JOSÉ
No! How is it my fault??
Eduardo wipes the tears from his eyes, and stands up. He looms over Jose.
José starts to back slowly away from Eduardo.
Eduardo lunges for José’s accordion but José holds onto it for dear life.
José starts to run away, and Eduardo follows.
Right as Eduardo is about to catch him, Eduardo trips over his own broken accordion, smacks his head on the ground and passes out.
José notices and hesitates. He starts to continue running away, but eventually goes back to help him.
JOSÉ CONT’D
HELP! HELP! PLEASE MY FRIEN- Eduardo is hurt!
A woman walks by and Jose tugs at her skirt.
JOSÉ CONT’D
Please! Can you help him?
The woman ignores Jose’s cries, and no one else will come to Eduardo’s aid.
Jose props Eduardo up on a post and sits beside him.
José picks up his accordion, accepting there is nothing he can do. He cries while he plays his beautiful song, and once more the air is sweet.
END
