Sambalanga, Page 2

window. The wooden shutters are closed.

  Nick is sound asleep in his bed.

  CLOSER

  Jaime turns on a small radio and tunes into an AMERICAN POP MUSIC station. The VOLUME is soft and low. Linda Ronstadt SINGS, "I feel so bad I got a worried mind; I'm so lonesome all the time, Since I left my baby behind, On Blue Bayou."

  Jaime opens the shutters slightly and lights a cigarette. He puffs smoke out the window. He stares and is in deep thought.

  DISSOLVE TO:

  INT. STELLA MARIS HOTEL DINING ROOM - MEXICO CITY - 1971- NIGHT

  TITLE CARD: STELLA MARIS HOTEL, MEXICO CITY JULY 4, 1971. NINE YEARS EARLIER.

  The dining room is small, with a typical Mexican atmosphere. RANCHERO MUSIC softly plays in the background. There are eight tables, Couples occupy four of them.

  Jaime sits alone at a corner table reading a paperback book. His physical appearance is different. His face is younger and he is a few pounds heavier. He is not wearing glasses.

  On the table is a large glass of red wine and a cigarette in the ashtray.

  INSERT

  The BOOK is, "THE THIRD EYE" by T. Lobsang Rampa.

  ANOTHER ANGLE

  At the table across from Jaime, THE BEAR and a young, brown- skinned, well, built Mexican Woman, MARTA, are having dinner. Both are well dressed.

  The main difference in The Bear's appearance, from the Rome sequence, is his hair color. His hair is dark brown, without any white or gray. The Bear's physical appearance is exactly the same as in Jaime's dreams.

  The Bear walks over to Jaime's table. Jaime closes the book, places it on the table and looks directly at The Bear.

  The Bear speaks with an educated British accent.

  THE BEAR

  Are you into astral projection? The author Rampa say's he can astrally project himself anywhere.

  JAIME

  Maybe he can but I don't know anything about astral projection.

  (Pause)

  I don't think the author, Rampa, is really a Tibetan monk as stated in the text.

  THE BEAR

  Why's that?

  JAIME

  Because the author, Rampa, mentions God and Buddhists do not believe in one all-powerful God.

  The Bear extends an extra, large, hairy hand to Jaime. Jaime gets up from his chair and shakes The Bear's hand.

  THE BEAR

  My name is George Foster.

  JAIME

  My name is Andy.

  THE BEAR

  Are you on holiday?

  JAIME

  Yes.

  The Bear glances toward the Mexican Woman at his table.

  THE BEAR

  Well, sit and have dinner with Marta and me, instead of being alone.

  JAIME

  No thanks. I'm finished with dinner.

  THE BEAR

  Then have an after dinner drink and a cup of coffee with us.

  Jaime slightly shakes his head up and down.

  JAIME

  OK.

  Jaime crushes his cigarette in the ashtray. Gulps down the red wine and places the glass on the table. He picks up the paperback book.

  ANOTHER ANGLE

  The Bear and Jaime go over to The Bear's table and sit down with Marta.

  WAITERS clear both tables.

  THE BEAR

  What would you like, Andy?

  JAIME

  Just black coffee.

  The Bear turns his head towards a Waiter.

  THE BEAR

  Please bring three black coffees and two brandies.

  MARTA

  My name is Marta.

  Marta speaks English with an American accent and extends her hand to Jaime.

  Jaime and Marta shake hands across the table.

  JAIME

  My name is Andrew Jackson Como.

  The Bear smiles.

  THE BEAR

  Is that really your name?

  JAIME

  No. I wanted to say Andrew Jackson or Perry Como. But it came out Andrew Jackson Como.

  The Bear and Marta laugh.

  A Waiter brings a pot of coffee and two brandies. He pours three cups of coffee and walks off.

  Marta and The Bear pour brandies into their coffees. Jaime sips his coffee.

  THE BEAR

  Andy how is your holiday going in Mexico City?

  JAIME

  I did not really come here for a vacation.

  THE BEAR

  What did you come here for?

  JAIME

  I came to Mexico City to sign up for a Spanish language class at UNAM, the University here. But I was a week late.

  THE BEAR

  That's the National Autonomous University of Mexico?

  JAIME

  Yeah that's right.

  Jaime takes another sip of coffee.

  THE BEAR

  Are you a language major in college?

  JAIME

  No. My degree is in biology.

  (Pause)

  I have minors in math and general elementary education.

  THE BEAR

  So, you are just going to hang out in Mexico?

  JAIME

  Yeah. I'd like to see some Mayan ruins.

  THE BEAR

  Andy, are you busy tomorrow morning?

  JAIME

  No. Why?

  THE BEAR

  Would you like to accompany me to my club? You can meet me outside the hotel lobby at 10 AM. We can have brunch.

  Jaime looks at The Bear and slowly answers.

  JAIME

  OK.

  Marta lights a cigarette. Neither Jaime nor the Bear light up.

  Jaime finishes his cup of java. He gets up, shakes Marta's hand, then shakes the Bear's hand.

  JAIME (CONT'D)

  See Ya in the morning. Thanks for the coffee.

  CUT TO:

  EXT. THE STELLA MARIS HOTEL - DAY

  The Bear stands outside the hotel. He reads a newspaper.

  INSERT

  The NEWSPAPER is an English language paper. It says, "MEXICO CITY NEWS, Monday July 5, 1971."

  VARIOUS ANGLES

  Jaime exits the Hotel Lobby. He walks up to The Bear. The Bear lowers the newspaper and looks at Jaime.

  Jaime is wearing glasses.

  THE BEAR

  Nice glasses, you were not wearing them last night.

  JAIME

  I'm near sighted. I don't wear glasses all the time. I don't need glasses to read.

  THE BEAR

  I am a member of a Gun Club. I thought you might enjoy an activity like shooting targets. It doesn't matter that you wear lenses. There are some excellent marksmen that wear glasses.

  Jaime is startled that he is going to a Gun Club.

  JAIME

  A gun club?

  THE BEAR

  Don't worry this will be fun.

  Jaime and The Bear walk over to a taxicab a few feet away. The Bear opens the door for Jaime.

  EXT. STREETS - DAY

  MOVING

  The cab travels through the crowded streets of Mexico City, passing from high class neighborhoods through slums.

  THE BEAR (V.O.)

  Just enjoy the ride. We can talk when we get to the club.

  RANCHERO MUSIC plays on the taxi radio.

  The cab enters a modern four lane highway and travels West. The Gun Club is located on the outskirts of Mexico City, a ten kilometers ride.

  EXT. GUN CLUB - DAY

  The taxi pulls in front of a building. There is no sign stating this is a gun club. The gun club's appearance is the same as any private golf club with a parking lot in front for the members.

  The Bear and Jaime exit the taxi and walk through the entrance of the building.

  INT. THE GUN CLUB - DAY

  The Bear goes to the front desk. He speaks to the MANAGER.

  ANOTHER ANGLE

  Jaime waits for him a few feet away. He HEARS the CRACK of GUNSHOTS coming from the range
outside.

  The Bear signals Jaime to follow him. They walk through the interior of the club to an outside target range.

  CUT TO:

  EXT. TARGET RANGE - DAY

  The target range is similar to that of any golf club driving range. There are fourteen stalls. The targets for each stall are located at 25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 meters on an incline plane (slightly uphill). The range ends against the backdrop of a large hill.

  Half the stalls are filled with SHOOTERS. The Bear and Jaime enter a stall.

  INT. STALL - TARGET RANGE - DAY

  THE BEAR

  Have you ever fired a rifle before?

  JAIME

  Yeah, when I was seventeen years old.

  THE BEAR

  About five years ago?

  JAIME

  Yaup.

  THE BEAR

  Who taught you how to shoot?

  JAIME

  Two of my friends were deer hunters. They taught me to shoot at a target range.

  The Bear methodically interrogates Jaime.

  THE BEAR

  Where was this target range located?

  JAIME

  In Totowa, New Jersey.

  THE BEAR

  So you were never in the military?

  JAIME

  No. I had a student deferment and high draft lottery number.

  An ATTENDANT brings binoculars, a rifle and a box of ammunition. He hands the binoculars and rifle to The Bear and the box of ammo to Jaime. The Attendant exits the stall.

  THE BEAR

  This is a Remington model 40X, single shot, twenty-two calibre rifle.

  CLOSER

  The Bear shows Jaime how to load the weapon, point the rifle, sight the target and squeeze the trigger.

  Jaime takes a single shot at the large 100 meter target.

  BINOCULAR POV - TARGET

  The target has not been hit.

  ANOTHER ANGLE

  The Bear puts down the binoculars. Jaime already knows that he completely missed the target. The Bear corrects his form.

  Jaime aims the rifle and slowly fires three more shots, a single shot at a time, reloading for each shot.

  BINOCULAR POV - TARGET

  All three shots hit the target inside the outside circle.

  ANOTHER ANGLE

  Jaime aims the rifle again and fires a fourth shot.

  BINOCULAR POV - TARGET

  The fourth shot is dead center, a bull's-eye.

  INT. STALL - TARGET RANGE - DAY

  Jaime puts the rifle down. He is very excited that he has finally hit a bull's-eye.

  THE BEAR

  Excellent shot.

  JAIME

  (Proudly)

  Thanks.

  THE BEAR

  Let's grab a taxi back to the city and have a bite to eat.

  JAIME

  Fine with me.

  CUT TO:

  INT. RESTAURANT - DAY

  The Bear and Jaime sit, facing each other across a table. They drink from large mugs of beer. The other tables are empty.

  JAIME

  Where are all the customers?

  THE BEAR

  The Mexicans don't come in until two o'clock.

  A WAITER comes