"What do you want?" "Beer." "All I got is piss-warm Chango." "That's my brand." "This is good." "This is the best beer I've ever had." "Actually..." "Need anything?" "I'm just glad to be alive." "I was up a few towns away." "You know Saragosa?" "I was visiting a bar there like this." "They serve beer." "Not this good, but close." "I saw something you wouldn't believe." "I'm sitting there by myself." "Now, this bar was full of real lowlifes." "Not like this place." "No, I mean bad." "Like they were up to no good." "Anyway, I'm by myself." "I like it that way." "Meanwhile, things are going on." "Under-the-table kinds of things." "Not too obvious... but not too secret either." "So I'm sitting there... and in walks... the biggest Mexican I have ever seen, big as shit." "Walks in like he owns the place." "Nobody knew what to make of him or what to think." "There he was, and in he walked." "He was dark, too." "I don't mean dark-skinned." "This was different." "It was as if he was always walking in a shadow." "Every step he took toward the light, when you thought you'd see his face... it wasn't." "It was as if the lights dimmed just for him." "So, this guy... takes a seat at the bar... asks the bartender for a soda, says nothing." "He ordered a soda?" "I wasn't interested in his drink." "I was more interested in what he was carrying... when he walked in, some sort of a suitcase, heavy." "He sat that thing beside him as if it were his girl." "Then, all of a sudden, the bastard spoke." "He talked low to the bartender." "I knew he was talking business because it upset the bartender." "Especially when he mentioned..." "He said something like..." ""bitch" or "Bucho."" "That's what it was." "Bucho." "Whatever he said pissed off the bartender." "Some of those unsavory characters... not class acts like these boys, but real scum, got pissed too." "Started pulling guns and knives, starting some shit." "The stranger... he bolts out of his bar stool, grabs his case and dives into the room." "I don't know what he does on the floor, but in two shakes the suitcase opens... and he's pulled out the biggest hand cannon I've ever fucking seen." "That was just the beginning." "You stood there while this went down?" "You didn't run for cover or join in?" "I was frozen stiff." "All I could do was watch this... thing tear the place apart." "It was amazing." "Cutthroat scumbags... were coming out of the woodwork and dying much-deserved deaths." "Don't get me wrong." "This was no class-act group like you got here." "Not at all." "These guys were world-class turds." "I'm sorry, but they got what they deserved." "It was Judgment Night." "He grabs one of these guys... the only guy still breathing." "He starts getting information from him." "I knew by the whispering... this guy was giving up all the goods." "Spilling his guts." "Confessing the world." "He told that stranger everything." "Everything?" "Can I get a cleaner mug?" "This one's dirty." "Fuck you!" "It's the cleanest one I got." "So anyway... without warning, without any hint or preview... the stranger whips around... and he sees... me." "You saw his face?" "His face?" "His eyes." " He didn't do anything to you?" " Not really." "Because he turned his attention back to the guy on the floor." "The stranger shot him... walked to the bartender, paid and left." "So the bartender lived?" "The bartender never gets killed!" "But as the stranger neared the door..." "No, man, the bartender got it worse than anybody." "Here." "It's on the house... if you can remember his face." "Thanks, but no thanks." "I'm clearing out of here, boys... 'cause I think he's headed this way." "Thank you!" "You all take care." "Who is it?" "It's your only friend." "Don't you think you're being a little too cautious?" "One day, you'll lay down too hard on that and blow your brains out." "What do you want?" "He's there." "I mentioned his name and they freaked." "Bucho's there?" "One second they weren't listening to a word I said... but as soon as I mentioned him, they couldn't hear enough." "And suddenly they got very interested in who you were." "I laid the story down nice and thick." "How thick?" "Pretty thick." " You were the biggest Mexican I'd seen." " Wonderful." "I blew it out of proportion, but they bought it." "They're shitting bricks." "I promise." "Where do I go?" "Tarasco Bar's a start." "Try and keep it from turning into a fucking bloodbath like last time." "That wasn't my fault." " Of course not." " They started it." "Whatever." "Just remember, Bucho's the one you want." "He's got plenty of underlings." "But without them, he's as good as dead." " Save your bullets." " Suddenly, you're my big brother." "I do feel some responsibility for you." " May I ask you something?" " Yeah." "What happens when he's dead?" "When Bucho's dead... it's over." "He's the last one." "End of payback?" "An eye for an eye and all that crap?" "You'll be satisfied?" "I think so." "I hope so." "I don't have the stomach for this anymore." "You never did." "Neither did you." "I just called the Oro Verde Bar in Saragosa." "There was no answer." "Let me know if you hear anything." "Okay." "Bye." "I want a close lookout on all operations." "That means double and triple checking, even our regular customers." "I'll handle it." "Where is my car?" "Is it finished?" "How long must I wait?" " I didn't like it so I sent it back." " Again?" "I could've built it myself." " What's this?" " It's my sister's nephew." "He's looking for work so he wanted to show you his fighting abilities." "What?" "You call this an audition, fighting against Pipon?" "If he can't beat Cristos, I'm not interested." "Cristos, get in." "Get out." "He doesn't look special." "Kick his ass, Cristos!" "That's more like it." "He'll never dance again." " So much for Cristos." " Told you." "Yeah, yeah." "Listen." "This is what I want you to do." "Place extra men around the Tarasco Bar and La Asteca." "These Colombians are wondering if I can handle the extra volume." "They're watching us enough as it is." " Say..." " What?" "And him?" "Cast that leg, and welcome to the family." "I have a house payment." "Excuse me, but..." "I used to work in a bar, so I know what it's like to wait on people." "I want to bring to your attention that the service here... needs immediate improvement." "What do you mean?" "What do I mean?" "Our waiter, where is he?" "Don't tell me he's still in the bathroom." "Our waiter never came back to see if we wanted anything else." "We did." "He never brought us our check." "We wanted it so we could get the hell out." "Here." "This should be sufficient." "And don't be expecting a tip." "If you don't treat me good, I won't ask you out." "Your beer tastes like piss." " We know!" " Because we piss in it!" "That's not all." "Bad beer, bad service." "Don't people know not to come in here?" "Two cervezas." "These are for you." "This will just take a minute." "I wanted to see the guitar." "Do you play?" "Yes." "Do you?" "A little bit." "Play something." "Not right now." "This is my father's, but he doesn't play anymore." "No?" "There's not much work for a mariachi." "He just watches TV." "I'm sorry to hear that." "He was never that good anyway." "Not as good as I'm going to be." "Listen to this." "Loosen your fingers." "Like this." "You know what I mean?" "Loosen them up." "How do you do that?" "All right." "Give me this." "Forget this hand." "You want to get faster." "Here's the secret." "Got it?" "Good." "Practice this... every day." "All day." "Next time..." "I'll show you how to play a tune using what you've learned." "Practice." "This reminds me of a joke." "This guy comes into a bar." "Walks up to the bartender." "Says, "Bartender, I got a bet for you." "I'll bet you $300 that I can piss... into that glass and not spill a single drop."" "This glass is ten feet away." "He says, "Let me get this straight." "You'll bet me $300... that you can piss standing here... way over there into that glass and not spill a single drop?"" "The guy says, "That's right."" "The bartender says, "Young man, you got a bet."" "The guy goes, "Okay, here we go."" "Pulls out his thing." "He's looking at the glass." "He's thinking about the glass." "Dick, glass." "Thinking about his dick." "Dick, glass." "Dick, glass." "Be the glass." "Dick, glass." "And then he lets it rip." "And he's pissing all over the place." "He's pissing on the bar, the stools, the floor... the phone, the bartender." "He's pissing everywhere except the fucking glass." "Right?" "So, the bartender is laughing his fucking ass off." "He's $300 richer." "Piss dripping off his face." "He says, "You fucking idiot!" "You got it in everything except the glass." "You owe me $300, punta."" "The guy goes, "Excuse me one second." Goes in the back of the bar." "In the back, a couple guys playing pool." "He walks over to them." "Comes back to the bar." "Goes, "Here you go, Mr. Bartender." "$300."" "The bartender's like..." ""Why are you so happy?" "You just lost $300, idiot!"" "The guy says, "See those guys there?" "I just bet them $500 apiece... that I could piss on your bar... on your floor, on your phone and piss on you... and not only would you not be mad about it... you'd be happy."" "That's funny shit!" ""You'd be happy about it!"" "Guess what?" "He didn't check out." "And you... you checked out just fine." "Well, I knew I would because... me and Bucco we go way back." "Him, too." "And this guy, I just met him today." " Go in." " Good work, by the way." "Good work." "It's nice to see you cross the I's and dot the T's here." "It's cool, ese." "Lead the way, Jorge." "In there?" "That's fucking disgusting." "What do you want?" "I'm looking for work." "No work here." "I see." "Something to drink?" "Something in the guitar case?" "Yeah." "What?" "My guitar." "Are you sure you don't want to hear me play before you say there is no work?" "We want to see what's in the case." "If it's what you say, you can drink all you want." "But I told you already." "I'm a musician." "This is my guitar." "Don't touch it!" "Get him away." "Hurry up!" "How you doing?" " What is it?" " It's a guitar." "It's a guitar." "We heard stories of a guitar case full of guns." "I know." " Had to make sure." " I understand." "It's him!" "Yes, it's me." "I'm not against you guys, so keep it down." "I'm just looking for a man who calls..." "Not yet." "What's going on?" "Is that now?" " Watch him." " What's going on?" "Friends of yours?" "I swear I have no fucking idea what the hell's going on!" "Shit!" "You missed me!" "Get up." "Come here." "I'm looking for a man who calls himself Bucho." "That's all." "But you had to do it the hard way." "Listen to me." "I don't want to kill you." "I just want you to take me to him." "Understand?" "You like to shoot me in the back?" "Fucker!" "If you want to go, go." "If you want to stay..." "Relax, okay?" "Fuck you!" "Look at you now." "The money's still in the back." "So is the pickup." "Pick-up Guy's lying on the floor with three bullets in his head." " Tavo must have shot him." " Where's Tavo?" " Tavo's outside, boss." " Where?" "Two blocks up." "Tell him to get his ass over here!" " I want to know what happened." " He's dead." "I'll tell you, boss... whoever it was, didn't come looking for the money." "No." "They came looking for me." "You've heard stories about the man who carries a guitar case full of weapons." "Those are stories." "That's all they are." "Can't you see we are fucking closed?" "We must find him." " You said the Colombians watch us." " We must move quickly." "He's probably left town." "He knows I'm here." "He's not going anywhere." "Where am I?" "Where am I?" "Bookstore." "Bookstore Cafe." "What the hell did you give me?" "Painkillers." "I'm operating." "Where is everybody?" "I closed early so no one could come." "No one would come anyway." " Why?" " Nobody reads." "Is it yours?" "All those books?" "It's mine." "My parents passed away." "They left me the building and money." "I have an apartment upstairs." "Why a bookstore?" "This town never had a bookstore... so I get this bright idea." "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" "Why a bookstore?" "All right." "Isn't there a hospital?" "Trust me." "You don't want to go to a hospital here." "You'll never find work in this town." "What?" "The guitar." "Nobody hires musicians around here." "I know." "I use it to pick up girls." " Yeah?" " Yeah." "Come on!" "See this?" "That had your name on it." " Yeah?" " Yeah." " You don't know my name." " That's right." "I don't know your name." "You smoke?" "It's the least I can do for you after saving my life." "Have a couple more." "Painkillers." "Hot water." "Shit!" "What do you do to me?" " I'm sorry." " You're crazy." "Relax." "This is the cold water." "Better?" "Let's stitch you up." "Get out of here." "I know who you are." "Really?" "You're that guy you always hear stories about." " You kill drug dealers." " I'm looking for Bucho." "Know him?" "I hope you don't think you can take Bucho alone." " You know him?" " Yeah." "I have a few friends I can call." "They owe me a favor." "Don't complain." "That would be straight if you hadn't been moving so much." "That one's worse." "Who did that one?" "I did a long time ago." "I don't even want to know what that is." "Well, saved my life more than once." " You can have it." " Oh, no." "Thanks." "No." "I'm okay." "Will you help me?" "I don't think I can help you." "I need to leave my things here for a few minutes." " I can trust you?" " Yeah." " Really?" " Yeah." "All right." " Where are you going?" " I have to go to church." " What for?" " Confess my sins." "I'm a sinner." "I know." "Did I thank you?" "No, you didn't." "I will." "Bucho, what do you think?" "Bulletproof windows, sidings... the hood." "Just what you asked for." "Listen." "There are no pickups scheduled today except one in Hidalgo." "Stay away from there." "The rest of the town is game." "Take this car and find him!" " I'll take my truck." " Take the car." "That's why I bought it." "If you see someone you don't know, kill him." "I can't take more chances." "Sunroof is bulletproof." "Works as a shield for when they shoot from the top." "Look at this guy." "It works." "Now go and get him." "Zamira." "Take her with you." "You'll need all the help you can get." "You, too." "Bless me, Father, for I have just killed quite a few men." "No shit!" "From what I hear, you cleaned out the entire Tarasco Bar." "Nice job, asshole." "Every hit man in Cahilla's looking for you." " Things got out of hand." " I told you, no more bloodbaths." "I told you, Bucho's the last one." " After him, I'm finished." " No, I'm finished." "They killed the woman you loved." "Okay." "Then they shot through your hand." "Two points." "Wake up." "There is no payback for that." "Walk away." "Trust me." "This is one you're not going to want to see through to the end." "What do you mean?" "Let's just say, I've done some checking." "Bucho is not someone to mess with." "Trust me." "I cannot leave without Bucho." "You don't expect to live much longer?" "Fine." "I do." "Seriously." "You need any more help, don't call me." "Call your friends Campa and Quino." "They're crazy." "I should be able to count on you!" "You!" "Those days are gone." "Wait!" "Come on!" "Good luck." "Don't get shot." "Did you want confession?" "Maybe later, Father, because where I am going..." "I'd just have to come right back." "Hello." "Yeah?" "Look..." "I didn't call about it before because I could handle it." "Yes, he's got no place to go." "I got my men on him right now." "What do you mean you brought someone in?" "How long has he been here?" "Who is he?" "What are you talking about?" "We can handle it." "Someone like that will tear the place up and make a lot of noise." "What does your guy look like?" "I've got to know or the wrong people might get killed." "Next time I'll call you sooner, but I knew I could handle this so..." "Hello?" "Hello!" "Shit!" "What's the number to the phone in my car?" "Fuckheads, what's the number to the phone in my car?" "Number!" "It's in your car, boss." "What is the fucking number to the phone in my car?" "Fuck!" "What are you doing?" "Get away." "You can't go away." "I need you." "I dreamt about her again." "So what?" " Listen to me!" " What?" "You are right." "Maybe I should quit." "You're finally talking sense because let me tell you... you keep this up, it's going to be over real quick." "Get in!" "Watch that!" "Hey, it's me again." "About the man you sent in..." "What does he look like?" "So I know, so that my people don't get confused." "Dark hair, dark skin." "I figured that much." "Can you give me more details?" "A tattoo on his chest." "A tattoo of a woman on his chest." "What else?" "Weapons?" "Throwing knives." "And?" "Pay phone money so he can call you with progress reports." "Yes." "Okay." "That should do it." "Thanks." "Yeah." "We'll stay out of his way." "Thank you." "Fuck!" "This is what I was talking about!" "Our own people are watching us." "He's been here since this morning checking up on us." "Bastards!" " Go and find him." " Find who?" "There's no one else." "He's claimed as one of the Colombians." "They won't admit they're going after you!" "There's someone else out there." "I know there is!" " I want to find him now!" " Who else is there?" "The guitar player?" "The guy is a myth." "You are not a believer." "That will be your downfall." "I'm going with you." "I can't leave this up to you." "Now my ass is on the line." "Why aren't you practicing?" "I told you." "Every day, all day." "I can't play this guitar." " Come on." " Where are you going?" "I'm gonna get my guitar." "I'll wait here." "It's right there." "What's over there?" "My guitar." "I want to show you I've been practicing." "Stupid kid." "Stay back." "No one else is supposed to be here." "See?" "Here it comes." "See?" "This one I can play." "Don't think about it." "Give me the guitar." "Go away." "Shit." "This your father's guitar?" "Is this why he doesn't work anymore?" " They switch guitars every few days." " What do you get?" "My father doesn't have to work." "He watches TV." "They hide it all over." "Ladies with baby carriages." "The church." "Bookstores." "Ask Carolina." "She'll tell you." "She does the same thing." " What did you tell him?" " Who?" " You work for him?" " I work for nobody." " I want to know what you said!" " I said nothing." "Nothing?" "You told him I was at the church!" " I haven't said anything to anybody." " Look at me now!" "You are protecting him." "I'm not protecting him." "If I was, I would've told him you were here." "You don't want him dead." "I don't want anybody dead." "Killing him is not the answer." "You know what I see?" "I see that you are no better than he is." "The same shit!" "Anybody can be bought." " Not anybody." " You're so good?" "This bookstore is my bookstore." "Someone comes and drops something off." "A few days later someone comes and picks it up." " How much?" " All I do is rent out space." " How much?" " Just the bathroom." "How much does he pay you?" "$50,000 a year." "Cash." "Look at you." "You're a mess again." "Come here." "On the counter." "I didn't open this place just to see it fail." "It wasn't making money." "I would have had to close it." "One day, Bucho walks in with a suitcase full of money." "He says to me, "Carolina, take this and go on about your own business... and I will give you $50,000 a year."" "They've done it with a lot of people around here." "They use our businesses as fronts." "I used some of the money to keep this place open." "I stashed the rest, thinking... if some day things started to get really bad around here..." "I'd have the money to leave." "But I can't leave... 'cause once you're in, you can't get out." "The closest thing I had to a brother... was just killed." "I cannot stop what it is I must do." "Do you need help with that?" "No." "I was trying to move my cash register." "I needed a new one anyway." "So what brings you here?" "I don't come around much anymore." "Do I?" "How have you been?" "Been okay." " Business?" " Business is good." "About as good as it can be." "I told you." "Bookstores?" "Not in this town." "And you?" "I am looking for someone who is threatening our business." "You may have heard about the bar this morning." "Yeah." "There was a shooting." "Have you seen anyone that may look..." "Suspicious?" "The guy I'm looking for is obviously dangerous." "I'm not asking you to confront him." "But if you see him... will you call me?" "Sure." "I mean... we can't have any more shootings." "But I haven't seen him." "You wouldn't lie to me, would you..." "Carolina?" "That's some mess." "I'd better clean it up." "Thank you for the coffee." "Call me." "Yes." "If I see him, I'll make sure and call you." " Is that him?" " Yes." "Don't do anything to him here or you'll get us both killed." "I don't want to die over this." "Stay away from the window." "This one's not so bad." "Actually, it's almost straight." "Why didn't you tell him..." "I was here?" "I don't know." "I know you think he's a terrible person." "He is." "He is." "Not really." "He's got a good side to him." "That's the only thing that can save him." "What is this?" "That was for you." "It was for me?" "It's not for me anymore?" "You can have it." "I didn't get you a case since you already have one." "It's beautiful." "Thank you." "I was thinking you can clear out the guns... and put this in instead." "Maybe." "Play something." "Come on." "Let me help you." " I'm sorry." " Careful." "It's okay." "I can't play anymore." " Why?" " Look at my hand." "It's..." " I can't." " Okay, we can improvise." " Improvise?" " Yeah." "Do you play?" "A little." "All right." "That's not even a note." "Let me show you." "Put these two fingers here." " Like this?" " Yeah." "Good." "That's nice." "Let me see." "Memo, he's in the bookstore." "I'm sure of it." "Check it out." "If he's in there and she's hiding him, kill them both." "Make it look like an accident." "It's a bookstore." "Burn it down." "Move!" "Come on!" "Hurry up!" " Take this." " What?" "Wait!" "I've gotta get my purse!" "Wait." "You look great." "Thank you." " Where are we going?" " Downstairs, out the front." "Take this." "Jesus Christ!" "What are you doing?" "Let's go!" "Let's get out of here!" "Let's go!" "Go!" "Go!" "I'm sorry, Carolina." " That's him." " What?" "That's Bucho?" "I can get a clean shot." "Motherfucker." "What?" "What are you doing?" "Shoot him!" "My whole life was in there." "Can't you see?" "He's going to kill me." "Damn it!" "What's the problem?" "You had the perfect chance." "Why didn't you shoot him?" "Come on." "Wait a minute." "It's one thing if you can't find someone running around the city... hiding anyplace he chooses." "I can understand that." "What I can't understand... is how can you let him get away when you knew where he was?" "You drive around town." "You see someone you don't know, you shoot them." "How hard is that?" "Look there." "I don't know him." "Never seen him before." "He has a gun." "It must be him." "How hard is that?" "It's that easy." "Look." "Who are those guys?" "I've never seen them either." "How hard is that?" "Can you handle that, or must I do it myself?" "I'll handle it." "You bet your ass you will." "Take my car." "It's what I bought it for." "Zamira, stay here." "I need someone competent guarding this place." "Hurry up." "I wasn't always like this." "I can see that." " I was a musician." " Were you any good?" "I was okay." "They shot my hand." "You know... it's easier to pull the trigger than play guitar." "Easier to destroy than to create." "They killed the woman I loved." "They ruined my life." "Bucho's men were responsible for it." "Why didn't you kill Bucho?" "All right... here's the plan." "You can still get away without me having to kill him." " You have money." " There is no money." " What?" " It's gone." "I had it hidden in the books." "It burned." "Shit!" "I have nothing." "Nothing." "Great." "Shit." "What about calling your friends?" "Campa." "Quino." "They would destroy the city." "And Bucho would still get away." "Forget it." "It may not matter to you... but he'll follow me everywhere I go until I'm dead." "It does matter to me." "Campa?" "Is Quino there?" "How fast can you two get to Santa Cecilia?" "I'll be looking for you." "Thanks." "Campa, bring your guitars." "Give me the strength to be what I was." "And forgive me for what I am." "Back together again." "Yeah." "Let's play." "Cover yourself!" "I'm not sure this is the place." "This is the place." "I'm going with you." "Manito." "What are you doing here?" "I thought I was looking for the devil himself." "All this time, it was my own brother." "I didn't know it was you." "I only found out this morning." "I ought to kill you right now." "You disgraced me." "We always knew you were up to no good." "Never thought you'd go this far." "So my little brother comes here... to teach me a lesson, show me what's right from wrong." "You are a guitar player." "What are you doing... killing my men, ruining my business?" "They killed the woman I loved." "But you killed them, so what do you want from me?" "I don't set out to kill innocent people." "You just buy innocent people." "You don't kill them... until you've run out of use for them." "Isn't she the woman you love now?" "When we take away something, we replace it with something else." "She's a real piece of work." "Trust me, I know." "Sorry about the bookstore." "I told you it would go up in smoke." "Had I known it was my brother you were fucking, I would've acted differently." "Cesar..." "I have learned to read the eyes of many men." "What do you read in mine?" "Defeat, brother." "Defeat?" "Look at you!" "You came here to kill me." "Papa wouldn't be proud of you anymore." "You were his little quitarrista, his little mariachi." "And now, just a piece of shit like me!" "You want to kill me?" "Let me tell you something." "You have already killed me." "Put your hands up, Manito." "Let's go." "I'm sorry, but I can't have you... acting heroic while I punish Carolina for betraying me." "Let me do this and we'll be even." "Clean slate." "You killed my men." "What's done is done." "I'm finished anyway." "But now..." "I kill Carolina." "And you get to watch." "Good-bye, Carolina." "Everyone I've killed... was someone's father... someone's son... someone's brother." "Practice." "Where are you going?" "I don't know." "Did I thank you?" "I will." "So?" "I want you to thank me right now." "Thank you." "Just in case." "It's a long ride to the next town."