"In the state of Oaxaca, there are several villages that throughout the year, celebrate in honor of their main saints a series of festivities they call Mayordomias." "The parish priest says who will be organizer and coordinator of such a celebration picking among the people of highest morals and economic wealth." "He on whom this honor is bestowed is called "Mayordomo"." "These feasts are made up of religious and secular acts masses dances and meals." "The Mayordomo pays all the expenses of the feast, which are considerable since the whole town is invited." "For the elected one, this honor implies a sacrifice but this important man is able to entertain his brothers splendidly and gain their affection." "It's true that these customs harm the natives' economy remarkably." "It is also true that the Mayordomia is one of the few things that make our natives forget their legendary sadness and feel happy, during the three days that the celebration lasts." "This is the story of Animas Trujano who wanted to be Mayordomo because he needed to feel he was "The Important Man"." "Leave, malignant spirit." "Let go." "Leave him alone." "Go get some money." "We must go to the big town for the doc." "I'll go then." "Leave him alone." "Animas Trujano is no beggar!" "If God wants him to die, he'll die." "But we must help God not to want it." "The witch doctor is here to help him." "Hail Mary, full of grace." "The Lord is with you." "Blessed be the fruit of thy womb, Jesus." "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and in the hour of our death." "Amen." "Hail Mary, full of grace." "The Lord is with you." "Blessed be the fruit of thy womb, Jesus." "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and in the hour of our death." "Amen." "Hail Mary, full of grace." "The Lord is with you." "Blessed be the fruit of thy womb, Jesus." "Holy Mary, Mother of God." "Pray for us sinners..." "Lots of friends, "compadre"." "Lots of friends!" "Yes, "compadre"." "They are my friends." "I "brung" them myself." "But it's my dead!" "Be forewarned!" "Be of good cheer." "Itfs a feast." "Anybody would want to die young like him to get into heaven quickly." "Juana what are you waiting for?" "Everyone's eyes are on us." "Smile!" "What will they say?" "Come on!" "Dance!" "Tadeo!" "Gregorio." "Come in, Tadeo." "Stop for a bit." "Look who's back." "Itfs Tadeo." "Tadeo." "Tadeo's back." "After five years, it's so good that Tadeo is back." "Tadeo is going to be a good Mayordomo." "The priest has just named him..." "..." "Mayordomo of the Holy Cross." "Did he come back rich?" "Almost rich, but Ifll be poor again." "You were Mayordomo once." "Help me organize the feast." "Ifll help with the fireworks." "Ifll get the flowers." "Me, the mezcal." "Where're you going?" "To see the Mayordomo." ""To see the Mayordomo."" "What do they see in him?" "Look, mama, it's the woman who kisses the men." "You were gone long." "Five years." "Yes, but now I'm back to stay." "Tadeo!" "Go in." "Tadeo!" "You bastard!" "You ruined my party for me." "I just came to pay my respects to your dead boy." "You just came to humiliate me." "Go and show off your money someplace else." "Tadeo is my guest!" "You're worse than him." "You had that big party just to make me feel small." "How was I to know?" "Go away." "You can't tell my "compadre's" guests to leave." "Stop right there; it's my house." "But it's my wake!" "Get out!" "I won't do anything to you because you're drunk." "Now git!" "Me, "compadre"?" "You yourself." "Ifm not in your house anymore!" "Tadeo, don't pull out the machete like that!" "Get out!" "Tadeo, you are a Mayordomo." "Play!" "Come out, Tadeo!" "You're stronger than me." "You'll win!" "Let's go dance, Tadeo." "You look like a woman, Tadeo." "Worse than a woman!" "You look like a bitch!" "Come out, "compadre"!" "Anyone!" "Come on out!" "You can kill me easily." "Go home!" "Go be with your children!" "Ifll be seeing you." "Catarina!" "He'll give me money!" "Tadeo has money!" "You're worse than" "You look like an animal in heat." "Look!" "You want money!" "Here is the money, hidden." "Itfs full of money." "Just let it start playing." "The ace of gold." "Do you mock me?" "I threw holy water on it." "Shut up!" "See?" "Itfs blessed." "It can't lose." "It'll give us plenty of money." "You'll see me with lots of money." "Ifll be Mayordomo." "Animas Trujano the Mayordomo." "Don't run, evil woman." "Stay there!" "You're making fun of me, bitch." "I saw you since you walked in with Tadeo." "You think Ifm drunk." "Drunk, damn it!" "Damned people!" "They went to humiliate me." "You went to humiliate me!" "Me!" "You sons of--!" "My poor little angel in the graveyard!" "My little dead boy!" "Catarina!" "Catarina!" "Open up." "Open up!" "If I open, what will I do with two?" "Two what?" "Tadeo, the Mayordomo, is coming." "Shut up!" "Darned dog!" "Look me in the eye." "Look at me, I said!" "You're always complaining I don't come to you." "Well, go ahead now that Ifm in the mood." "Go feed the chickens, "m'ija"." "Yes, mama." "What you looking at?" "Keep painting your letters." "Yes, mama." "Sweep that!" "I can get married now." "That "gourd" is empty." "He doesn't work and he can't read." "He just learns to drink wine." "Go on!" "Hurry up and sweep those leaves." "Marry someone who knows how to work the land." "Someone who loves you nice and respects you." "Choose well." "Like you did?" "Don't judge your father." "Pedro, let's go." "Coming, mama." "Hurry up and do Doña Hilaria's laundry." "He kept goats, and was poor like you." "An indian like you." "And he went to school." "Then he even became president of all Mexico." "He was really important." "Wow!" "They called him Benito Juarez and he was born in Oaxaca." ""l am selling this lot in two twenty-five hundred pesos."" "How much did you pay for this chunk of land?" "Nothing." "My grandpa left it to me when he died." "And why did my papa sell it?" "Because he felt like it." "Now go do your chores." "THE GOLDEN ROOSTER STORE" "One peso now." "Heads." "Tails." "Two pesos now." "Heads." "Tails." "Four pesos now." "Heads." "Tails!" "Eight pesos now." "Hea-- no, tails." "Heads!" "Now" "Now go to hell." "Ifm not playing anymore." "Thanks." ""Thanks."" "Cheat!" "All right, Ifll buy him." "But if he loses the fights tomorrow, you'll have to swallow the blades too." "Hello, Don Fermin." "Hello, Animas!" "How much will you give me today?" "Maybe Ifll take your store." "I can't lose today." "You first." "Now double." "Now off you go!" "My ace of gold." "The water was wrong." "What water?" "The holy water doesn't work!" "Holy water doesn't work." "It helps the rival." "I must find a different magic." "Mama!" "Mama!" "There're well-paid jobs at the Espa?" "ol's mezcalera." "I can't go." "Who are they giving jobs to?" "Anyone who wants to work." "Look." "They prepare the soil." "Oh, Mama, Ifm scared." "Better not." "We must face this." "Bring the mezcal for your pa." "What're you waiting for?" "I was thinking and thinking about something they told me." "Itfs about time you get what you want." "Here it is." "Wait there." "I was saying it's about time they made you Mayordomo." "High time." "Itfs possible. I was doing numbers, and it is." "At the Espa?" "ol's mezcalera they say..." "They told me." "You've never seen a real Mayordomo, Pedrito." "Just wait and see." "The Mayordomo Animas Trujano your pa." "And if we all go, much better." "We can get a few cents together and then some more." "Opening just one shop we'll get money and more money." "That's it." "You'll be Mayordomo." "We could go tomorrow, to start at once at the mezcalera." "To work." "You trick me!" "I can't read like you, but Ifm not dumb." "Always putting me down in front of the kids." "Get to work!" "You still don't know who Animas Trujano really is?" "Why the nasty look?" "You always look at me like that." "I know what you think." "So you won't think that about your father." "How did he guess I wanted to crack his head?" "Shut up, "m'ijo"." "Your father is always right." "And even if I weren't, what of it?" "The mezcalera..." "You're teaching my kids to be farmhands." "Teach them to lead, not to obey strangers." "All right." "Just to show'em." "Tomorrow we all leave for the mezcalera." "Let's go get our stuff." "Your mother always coddles you." "I beat you because I love you more." "Behave, Catarina." "Gimme my shoe." "You can't get me." "l can." "Get me my shoe." "l don't feel like playing." "Gimme a kiss, Tadeo." "Ifll kiss you, but you behave, Catarina." "Don't go." "Ifm not going." "Behave." "You're so naughty." "Gimme another kiss, Tadeo." "I will, but you behave." "Give me my shoe." "Give it to me." "Go on!" "Do it!" "What are you up to?" "Do I look like a maguey to you?" "Gesto!" "Animas!" "Be more careful!" "If he can't do that, he can lead the donkey like the kids." "Dumb indian!" "I was working fast and I get scolded." "Ifm making up for the time I worked in a hurry." "Forty-four kilos." "Pedrito!" "Forty-seven kilos." "On top or below, you're the same size." "And Ifm mine." "Belarmino." "Yes, father." "Order them to stop cutting in Loma Larga." "Yes." "Go on, move!" "Itfs funny that from such a sweet thing you can get water to make you drunk." "I don't think it's funny." "Change the mashing shift!" "Boss what d'you think?" "Itfs not well fermented yet." "Pass it to that barrel." "What do you care?" "Your honor!" "Your honor!" "I need you to get me off this scale." "Why?" "Itfs that I get dizzy up there." "It'd be more practical to get your husband up there." "Yes, your honor." "But with a rope around his neck." "Where's pa?" "Wasn't he with you?" "I haven't seen him." "The donkey returned alone." "Go look for him, "m'ijo"." "You too, "m'ija"." "A rope around his neck." "Don't go." "What's your name?" "They call me Dorotea." "You're not ugly." "Did you like it?" "I think so." "Belarmino." "Belarmino!" "Son!" "Hey, you, lazybones!" "Are you spying on me?" "Get up, you shameless drunk." "Ifm not drunk." "I just got too much sun." "Then go cool off at home." "Ifm not looking for trouble." "I just came here to rest." "But if you want to fire me, go ahead." "If it weren't for that woman of yours..." "My woman!" "Fire me if you wish." "Ifm not gonna beg." "Fire me." "You fired me!" "I wasn't, but now I am." "There, you're fired." "Go on, get your stuff and leave." "My woman..." "Dorotea!" "No!" "No!" "Animas!" "What have you done?" "Belarmino, son!" "Belar" "Let me go!" "Let me go!" "Bad daughter!" "Bad daughter!" "You bastard!" "And you!" "A chip off the old block!" "Your honor." "God saved the son." "Now, save my man." "Sign if you forgive him, your honor." "Let that crazy indian rot in jail." "You're so dumb." "Don't you get it?" "You can get rid of that pest." "Sign if you forgive him, your honor." "He tried to kill my son." "You want me to forgive him?" "Yes, your honor." "Don't forgive him, but sign if you do." "Look." "These are indians, and they forgive Animas because he has a good heart." "Yours must be "gooder" and "bester"." "Crafty indian."Sign here that you forgive him, your honor."" "I hope you don't regret letting that fiend loose." "With these signatures, they will be more lenient." "One year in jail." "One year?" "No, sir!" "No, sir!" "No, sir!" "Why one year, sir?" "No one's accusing him now." "Why?" "Why?" "Why?" "Because he commited a crime forbidden by the law." "But with fifteen hundred pesos he can get out on bail." "What does that mean, Mr. Justice?" "A bail is... I mean..." "Fifteen hundred pesos." "Itfs too much." "Too much!" "Too much!" "Too much." "Couldn't it be less, Mr. Justice?" "Fifteen hundred pesos." "Don't cry." "Light many candles to the Imprisoned Saint." "Where's the drink?" "I almost forgot." "Funny you should forget the most important thing." "Ifm off." "Juana!" "Juana!" "Don't go "disremembering" your husband!" "Juan!" "Over here!" "You're out!" "You heard'im." "Ifm out of this filthy jail." "My magnet stone was more miraculous than your saint." "This little holy stone is very powerful." "May I have it?" "No, you can't." "Unless you give me your blanket." "Now, use it." "Soon they'll send you out of here." "Your little Spaniard is pretty." "His pa seen him already?" "Your grandpa Animas is gonna be real happy when he sees you." "He'll even reward your mama when he sees you so white." "So very white." "If you could have one it would be multicolored." "Do you almost have the money to get pa out?" "Hurry up!" "No, "m'ija"." "He's right." "Where you're going no one will believe it's his child." "Fifteen hundred pesos." "Bitch!" "A lousy piece of land is better than your husband!" "You just had a month to go." "I wanted the land for you." "Shut your mouth!" "There's your land." "And here's the hatred you have for me." "Since it's mine, Ifll take it!" "Lots of money." "Now..." "Catarina is just for you." "Yes?" "Well, not now." "I just brought it so you could smell it." "What a shame!" "Tadeo would've made such a tantrum." "Are you still seeing him?" "If you don't want me to, I won't." "My back's very itchy." "Scratch it yourself." "I like your nails better." "Ifll scratch you." "Ifll scratch you!" "COCKFIGHT RING" "Your skull, your little devil." "Your skull." "Your skull." "Your little devil." "Go take him his skull." "Look, your honor, your skull." "Gentleman, put the hat back on." "Go on, very good, Pepito." "That's how you do it." "Now let's call the people to mass." "Go on, ring the bell." "Good." "Again." "Very good, Pepito." "Itfs warm." "Let's bathe the child now." "Go on." "That's it, Pepito, go on, very good." "You're a good shooter." "Carve a good one into this bastard." "Point right at him." "You, miss, do you want Pepito to tell you your fortune?" "Let's go." "Hold on." "The gentleman too." "Listen, Pepito, this girl and the gentleman want their fortunes told." "Careful, choose well to show them the way." "The girl's first, and the gentleman afterwards." "Here you go, miss." "Here you go, sir." "Go on, Pepito, go on inside." "Move." "You read it. I didn't "brung" my glasses." "You're a great female and you know how to love." "Men will follow you, and even die for you." "That's it, miss." "For you, sir." "Gambling and romancing, you're one of the best." "You'll find your luck today, even if you try and hide." "That's it, sir." "You heard that?" "Today we're getting rich." "Your little animal deserves more." "You lost." "Red one won." "Wait up, where to?" "l didn't even bet." "Wait up." "Attention, please." "You already paid?" "Everyone happy?" "Yes." "No complaints?" "No." "Open the door!" "Now." "Now." "Now we'll go." "No." "Just one hit more." "You never dreamed of having so much money." "Yes, I did!" "Two two-hundred." "Silence, everyone!" "Last fight of the evening!" "The Atlacoluna yellow against the Huchitan red!" "Place your bets!" "All against your cock!" "No, Animas." "Ifm a gambler." "I know when to quit." "Today's your day." "Don't be a wuss." "You're not leaving now." "No, I don't like the idea of my store in your hands." "Animas, Ifll take that bet." "The yellow." "One day, you took my woman." "Now she's with me." "You were Mayordomo then." "Now it will be me and with your money." "You'll never be Mayordomo." "Ifm betting." "Close the doors!" "Let the cocks out!" "Go on, red!" "In case the little bird fails." "The red one!" "Come on, red!" "You're worse than dumb." "I told you we should go!" "The yellow wins!" "Red one loses!" "He's not drugged." "It was a clean fight." "Catarina!" "Catarina!" "Hey!" "What are you up to?" "Give it to me!" "l already paid you." "Bastard!" "Ifll tell you your fortune without lies, like you!" "Or would you rather I wring your neck?" "What do you say?" "Or you wanna fly?" "Yeah?" "Wanna fly?" "Darned chick!" "You really have bad luck!" "Don't think so." "Animas Trujano don't hurt nobody." "But everybody despises him." "Nobody loves me." "Not even my son." "Not even him!" "If God knows Ifm good why doesn't he want my cocks to win?" "Why does he make me lose again and again?" "What's wrong with me?" "What's wrong with everybody?" "But Animas is good." "He doesn't want to hurt you." "Go away." "God always does what I don't want!" "Ifm getting tired of God!" "Come!" "Ifm calling you." "I want a word with you." "Come!" "Come!" "I believe in You!" "Devil!" "Demon!" "If it's the soul that matters Ifll sell you my soul!" "Lord from Hell!" "You surely must help me!" "Come!" "I want to be Mayordomo!" "Take my soul!" "Take my soul!" "Don't mention the evil one in this hallowed place!" "Even the devil despises me!" "On nights like this, among the crosses in the graveyard the golden rooster crows three times." "He who hears it has to run immediately to his house." "Because a messenger of the rooster is gonna take him loads of money." "Ifm not fooling you." "If the spell doesn't work, you don't pay for it." "You just give something for the rooster." "Six hens." "If it crows for you, you leave them." "If not, you don't." "It has to be right now at twelve." "In the graveyard." "Among the crosses." "They're plump." "No one's come see me?" "No." "Won't be long now." "The golden rooster crowed for me three times." "He's gonna send us loads of money." "The witch doctor told me so." "The rooster crowed!" "So close, I could almost feel his feathers." "You don't believe, do you?" "If you want me to believe Ifll believe." "That's it." "Animas will be wealthy!" "What will you do with so much money?" "You already know." "I will get all your lands back and the children will go to school.." "...in the big town." "The rooster's messenger is taking too long." "Something happened to him." "Something happened to the messenger." "The rooster crowed for me." "I wouldn't wait anymore." "I saw the witch doctor in the market." "He was selling chickens." "The same someone took from us last night." "I don't believe you!" "I don't!" "Your Juana never lies." "Pa, someone's here." "l come in peace." "What for?" "To bring you a lot of money." "Did the golden rooster send you?" "Damn!" "He has the same impish face." "What?" "Did the golden rooster send you?" "Look." "All one-hundred bills." "After you give me my grandson back." "He was nobody's." "He's mine now!" "Not even his father came." "He's not for his father;" "he's for me." "I want to be a father again, from scratch." "Yeah?" "Well, start from scratch and make one!" "Give it to him!" "I order you!" "You can order your kids and your wife because we're yours." "But not this one!" "No tragedies!" "If you get violent, Ifll leave." "Look at your children." "You want your grandson to live like that too?" "You want this ragamuffin to be his role model?" "Irresponsible?" "Illiterate?" "Lazy?" "A parasite?" "A gambler, a drunk who respects nothing and whom nobody loves." "A fool with killer instincts who tried to turn my son into mincemeat." "You want your grandson to be that?" "That!" "You want the kid to be like me?" "Think about it." "Sleep on it tonight." "Wait!" "If I think about it, Ifll never give him to you." "I want you to take him." "I hope you put that money to good use." "I know just what to do." "Animas Trujano will get his revenge." "The small money." "And the big one." "Pa!" "All the former Mayordomos are here!" "No!" "So what, mama?" "May I have permission to go with Don Chon?" "What will you do so far, in San Pablo?" "He wants to be a shepherd." "Just like Benito Juarez." "To be president!" "That's good." "To order people around." "No!" "To be like him." "I like that you aim high." "Keep dreaming even if they say you're crazy." "One day, you'll be president." "Just like your father is Mayordomo." "See, mama?" "How soon he forgot the land and everything he promised?" "My pa's no good." "Don't say that." "We come to say hello, Mr. Mayordomo." "We bring help for your party." "Mezcal!" "Turkeys." "And lambs." "And plenty of fireworks." "Look at this." "I don't need favors from anybody!" "Much less from those who humiliated me." "We're following the custom." "If you break it, you'll be the first one." "That's what I want to be." "The first, and the "bestest"." "Go back to town!" "Ifll order what I need to order." "Tadeo!" "You haven't said if you like my suit." "Didn't you say I'd never make Mayordomo?" "Very pretty." "But you'll never be seen in it." "Only if they have no eyes!" "Itfs your fault." "Mine?" "The priest said no one could be mean forever." "He made him Mayordomo to see if he quit being so crazy and aggressive." "So he said." "Let's see if it's true now that he can truly give orders or if he's still the same." "The priest was mistaken." "How could he?" "Of course he could." "He's also a real man." "He was mistaken." "l tell you he wasn't." "He's not just a real man." "He's a priest." "Ifll order what no other Mayordomo has ordered." "Not even the best of them." "Follow me, "m'ijo", so you'll learn." "Ring all the bells long and loud as soon as the sun goes down?" "Why do you want to upset the village?" "Don't ask;" "you just ring them." "But maybe the priest will send me away." "Maybe he won't pay me." "Maybe I won't find another job." "You just ring them." "Maybe... who cares what happens to me?" "Now you know:" "ring them loud and long." "As soon as the sun goes down." "There he is!" "There he comes!" "I used to get drunk so I could dream all this." "So I could see it while I snored on my "petate"." "But now Ifm wide awake and I don't need to drink." "Poor Animas Trujano died and Mr. Mayordomo is now being born!" "What's wrong?" "Nobody looks at me!" "Long live the Mayordomo!" "Animas Mayordomo!" "Long live my pa!" "He sold a grandchild." "Next year he'll sell a son!" "Want some?" "Let's go!" "Animas, give us more money for the mezcal." "And the fireworks, Animas." "You must call me Mr. Mayordomo!" "All right Mr. Mayordomo." "Help him, "compadre"." ""Compadre" I feel the people hate me." "No, "compadre"." "Itfs not hate." "But a Mayordomo must be loved!" "Otherwise, he's no Mayordomo." "Good afternoon, Mr. Mayordomo." "You came to apologize?" "I just came to tell you Ifm leaving." "l was a fool to leave you." "Dirty water's no good to drink." "But if you want me to stay, I will." "Donkeys of the same color always go together." "I think I think and I don't know the answer." "You have to find it yourself to understand it." "What's pa looking for?" "He's looking for Animas Trujano." "The Mayordomo..." "He thinks he'll make it better." "No." "No, I said!" "He's a drunkard." "But anyway, he's spending good money..." "...to better it..." "He's spent a lot of money..." "Sure!" "Although he's bad, he must be given his..." "Did you find the answer?" "How does a man become big?" "Giving good things." "He is good." "All this cost me a lot of money." "You want to buy respect, and that can't be done." "Why not?" "Ifm big now." "You have always been small inside." "Look." "Ifm a man now." "Look." "I have one hair." "You too?" "What will happen when you're a real man?" "By the Lord in Heaven swear you won't do it again." "All right, mama." "I won't drink again." "Go on, say it's my fault!" "Animas Trujano is always to blame for everything bad!" "But listen to me!" "Listen, everybody!" "Everybody listen to me!" "You ate my food!" "You drank my mezcal!" "You danced to my music!" "And now you despise me worse than a skunk who stinks!" "Well, Animas Trujano will no longer go on wasting his money!" "Nobody loves you here." "Let's go far away." "Animas!" "Juana hurt Catarina." "She deserved it." "Let's hope she dies." "Yes, I hope she does." "Why did you do it?" "So you would stay with us." "But now, get lost!" "We don't need you anymore!" "You're mean!" "Let him go, Juana." "No, he'd better hide." "Let's bury Catarina." "In the hills, where no one will know." "Sure." "Itfs for the best." "And his children?" "Really, what about them?" "His poor children!" "Don't worry about them, "comadre"." "Ifll take the little girl." "And the rest won't want." "Sure." "Ifll take the eldest to work with me." "Ifll take one of the girls, if you want." "If you want, Ifll take the other one." "Really." "Leave the little girl to us." "Those bells are for Mr. Mayordomo." "And Mr. Mayordomo is boss here." "And he says that Animas Trujano killed that woman." ""Compadre", hand me over to the law!" "Show-off!" "Even in this you want to be important!" "This barely makes you a man." "Leave the village!" "Behave!" "Silence!" "Silence!" "No one speaks here!" "Look what you caused." "Do you really think we blame you?" "We could just let all these folks beat you to death." "Let them do it." "What do you care?" "Maybe I believe you." "But, what if you repent?" "We'll all have to lie to the judge?" "Fool." "When I repent, it'll be over." "What do you think, Mayordomos?" "What do you say?" "Let's vote." "Hurry up and decide!" "The blame you take is for all your life?" "Go home." "Go be with your children." "Whenever you say so, "compadre"." "Pa!" "Pa!" "I wanna go with you!" "You stay here and be good." "Wait up, "compadre", for God's sake." "Let me go." "You don't know what prison is like!" "I don't want to regret this!"