15. TRAVELOGUE VIEWS OF MEXICO CITY. NIGHT.
EXT. PLAZA GARABALDI.
This is a lively spot, where mariachi bands congregate, and is always filled with crowds of local people. They listen to the various bands, who play different tunes at the same time, filling the air with melodious confusion.
There are also many food stands, and stalls selling trinkets.
CYNTHIA, JORGE, PHYLLIS and ZAMORA are strolling around the Plaza.
CYNTHIA: This is really Mexico, isn't it?
ZAMORA: Si. La Plaza Garabaldi. It's like a fiesta here all the time.
CYNTHIA and JORGE drift off in one direction; while PHYLLIS stays with ZAMORA.
CYNTHIA and JORGE listen to a band performing "Besome Mucho".
JORGE: Do you know what "Besome Mucho" means?
CYNTHIA: (Smile) "Kiss me a lot".
JORGE: Oh that is a very nice idea.
CYNTHIA: Not if you're planning to have me do a decapitation dance, in time to the music.
JORGE: Now don't be worried. We have no intention of doing anything unlawful. We may have some fun with you, but it won't be unlawful.
CYNTHIA: Would Coatlicue object to you having fun with her Prophet?
JORGE: I don't know. Would you object?
CYNTHIA: I'd like to make sure I can trust you first.
CUT TO PHYLLIS AND ZAMORA.
BELTRAN COMES INTO VIEW. He is very well dressed.
BELTRAN walks up to ZAMORA.
BELTRAN: Senor Zamora.
ZAMORA: (Very respectful.) Buenos noches Senor Beltran.
BELTRAN: I received a telephone call from our friend the Bruja. She said that you had found the Prophet. A Norte-Americana. Is she the one?
ZAMORA: No Senor. This is her friend Phyllis. The Prophet is over there.
BELTRAN glances at the crowd.
BELTRAN: Good evening Miss.
PHYLLIS: Buenas noches Senor.
BELTRAN: Then the return of Coatlicue is truly at hand.
ZAMORA: It looks like it.
BELTRAN: You know I will give you all the help I possibly can.
ZAMORA: Gracias Senor Beltran. I am truly grateful.
BELTRAN: How long do you thing it will be before it begins?
ZAMORA: In the morning, we are going off to search for the sacred writings.
BELTRAN: In the morning? Then we had better begin making our plans tonight.
ZAMORA: Tonight? I am sorry Phyllis. I should not do such a terrible thing, and leave you alone; but some of the most important things in history are happening. I am needed.
PHYLLIS: Oh I understand. Don't worry. Cynthia and Jorge are right over there, I'll be all right.
ZAMORA: Buenas noches Senorita.
ZAMORA leaves with BELTRAN, making their way through the crowd.
CYNTHIA and JORGE come over to PHYLLIS.
CYNTHIA: What happened?
PHYLLIS: He's been forced to stand me up.
They see ZAMORA and BELTRAN get into a waiting limousine. It drives away.
CYNTHIA: Who was that man?
PHYLLIS: He said his name was a Senor Beltran.
JORGE: Ignacio Beltran.
PHYLLIS: He's interested in the return of Coatlicue. He said he wanted to give all the help he could.
JORGE: Ignacio Beltran is the leader of the men who killed Juanita Perez.
CYNTHIA: What do you know about Juanita Perez?
JORGE: She lived in my village of Tlantepic. Senor Beltran leads a gang of thieves and cuthroats. They've been terrorizing many villages.
Junaita Perez told us to stop being terrorized by the Marxists, and try to get help.
The next day, Senor Beltran came into the village with two of his men. They had the head of Juanita Perez on a stake.
PHYLLIS: And Zamora and that Bruja both want his help.
JORGE: We have to find the Sacred Writings, before Senor Beltran can get his hands on them.
16. MEXICO CITY HOTEL. NIGHT.
INT. HOTEL ROOM.
CYNTHIA is on the phone. PHYLLIS is listening.
CYNTHIA: He's just telling us the usual crap. You know. The Marxists are nothing but thieves and cutthroats, and he's accusing them of chopping the girl's head off.
(Listens)
Well what I think Mr. Stratton, is that the guy who says this, belongs to a weirdo religious cult, that relies on drug induced visions; So whoever killed the girl, was probably one of them. So good-night Mr. Stratton.
Buenas noches.
CYNTHIA hangs up.
PHYLLIS: You think they chopped the girl's head off, and you still want to stay with them?
CYNTHIA: That's the only way we'll find a definite connection, between them and the C.I.A. Beside, I can't forget the Sacred Writings. I am the Prophet of Coatlicue.
PHYLLIS: You're kidding! Cynthia, are you sure you're all right?
CYNTHIA: No. It's that thing I saw in the vision. I saw Coatlicue. Coatlicue is a devil. She's waiting for me in Hell, if I don't complete this task.
PHYLLIS: Cynthia you're loosing control and forgetting why we're here.
CYNTHIA: No. We'll find the C.I.A. along with the sacred writings.
17. BUS TRAVELING ALONG THE TOLL ROAD TO CUERNAVACA. DAY.
INT. JORGE and CYNTHIA are seated together. PHYLLIS sits behind them, listening.
JORGE: We can't let Senor Beltran get his hands on you either. They might try to celebrate the return of the sacred writings, the same way our ancestors did.
CYNTHIA: You mean they might try to make me do the Decapitation Dance?
JORGE: Our ancestors considered it a high honor.
18. EXT. TEPOZTLAN. DAY.
This is a small town, between two cliffs, about 12 miles east of Cuernavaca.
TOWN PLAZA.
A rickety second class bus drives up and stops. People get off. Among them are JORGE, CYNTHIA and PHYLLIS.
CYNTHIA looks up at the surrounding cliffs.
CYNTHIA: It's up there, on the cliff to the north. I'm not sure of the exact spot.
JORGE: Where are the writings? Adonde Coatlicue?
CYNTHIA points.
CYNTHIA: Up there. That's the spot. As soon as you called on Coatlicue, I knew it.
PHYLLIS: Then you really are the Prophet.
JORGE: But how do we get up there? It looks impossible to reach.
CYNTHIA: No. It's easy.
CYNTHIA, PHYLLIS and JORGE walk down the street to the cliffs.
19. HIGH ON THE SIDE OF A RUGGED CLIFF. DAY.
This is the same spot where the PRINCESS had been, in the vision.
JORGE is removing the slab, while CYNTHIA and PHYLLIS stand beside him on the narrow ledge.
JORGE: I can't believe that a woman actually moved this into place alone.
PHYLLIS: I beg your pardon.
CYNTHIA: She had another maiden helping her.
JORGE finally manages to remove the slab from the niche. It slips from his hands, and falls off the ledge.
OFF SCREEN: Dogs are heard howling in the distance.
JORGE, CYNTHIA and PHYLLIS all look inside the niche, and see the sealed jar.
CYNTHIA: There it is. Just the way I saw it in my vision.
JORGE reaches into the niche, carefully putting both hands on the jar.
PHYLLIS looses her footing for a moment.
JORGE takes his hands off the jar, and PHYLLIS recovers herself.
CYNTHIA: Careful Phillis. The other maiden fell to her death from this spot.
JORGE: Cynthia. I think that Coatlicue only wants you to touch it. No one will fall if you do.
CYNTHIA reaches inside the niche, puts her hands on the jar, and carefully removes it.
CYNTHIA: Jorge. As soon as I put my hands on it I knew. Someone's going to die.
20. TEPOZTLAN. DAY.
CYNTHIA, JORGE and PHYLLIS walk along the street, returning from the cliff. CYNTHIA carries the jar.
A limousine is parked, with BELTRAN, ZAMORA and the BRUJA standing beside it; waiting for the three, who walk up to them.
ZAMORA: Are the writings in the there?
JORGE: The jar is sealed. We haven't looked inside yet.
ZAMORA: What's the idea of coming down here without us?
CYNTHIA: What's the idea of you planning to use me as a human sacrifice?
ZAMORA: Is that what he told you?
BRUJA: What do you think we are? Locos?
JORGE: I did not lie.
ZAMORA: You want to steal Coatlicue from us Aztecs, and keep her only for your people.
JORGE: Senor Beltran here wants to use Coatlicue, to aid him in his terrorism.
PHYLLIS: I don't know if any of you ought to be trusted.
CYNTHIA: Let's ask Coatlicue.
CYNTHIA raises the jar.
CYNTHIA: Tell us Coatlicue. I am your Prophet. Which of these people should I trust?
The sound of rattling comes from inside the jar.
The BRUJA gasps and goes down on her knees, gagging for breath; so do ZAMORA and BELTRAN.
JORGE: It looks like Coatlicue doesn't trust any of you.
All four tires on the limousine blow out.
JORGE: I think that means she doesn't want you to follow us either.
JORGE, CYNTHIA and PHYLLIS hurry away down the street.
ZAMORA, BELTRAN and the BRUJA have caught their breaths. They stand up.
BRUJA: Coatlicue is still our Goddess. We haven't lost yet.
ZAMORA: We just did.
BRUJA: We brought no sacrifice. He is bringing two.
21. EXT. MEXICO CITY AIRPORT. DAY.
A Mexicana Airline jet roars down the runway and takes off.
22. EXT. The Mexicana Airline jet flies south over the mountains; passing the crater of snowcapped Mount Popacatepetl, and lands at the Oaxaca (Pronounced: Wa-ha-ka) Airport.
23. EXT. OAXACA AIRPORT. DAY.
The Mexicana Airline jet stands outside the Terminal. The PASSENGERS are coming down the boarding steps. CYNTHIA, PHYLLIS and JORGE are among them.
PHYLLIS: Hey it's beautiful here! What a place to be, the first week in February!
JORGE: Wait 'til you see my village of Tlantepic.
24. INT. TERMINAL BAGGAGE CLAIM.
The PASSENGERS are waiting for their luggage, which is coming out on the conveyer belt. A tightly bound cardboard box is also on the conveyer belt. JORGE picks it up and hands it to CYNTHIA who is standing with PHYLLIS.
25. EXT. TERMINAL PARKING LOT.
CYNTHIA, JORGE and PHYLLIS get into one of the Airport limos; watching with concern as the DRIVER loads the cardboard box into the back with the rest of the luggage.
26. INT. LIMO.
JORGE, CYNTHIA and PHYLLIS are seated. Another Passenger gets into the limo. He is MIKE.
MIKE: Buenos tardes.
PHYLLIS: Mike? Mike Randolph?
MIKE: Phyllis Kranowski? Of all people to meet in Oaxaca Mexico.
PHYLLIS: Cynthia. Mike and I went to high school together. Mike. This is Cynthia Jacobsen and Jorge Henriquez.
27. EXT. The limo drives along the road from the Airport, into Oaxaca, through downtown Oaxaca, where it passes a 2nd class bus terminal.
INT. LIMO.
JORGE: That's where we'll get the bus to Tlantepic, tomorrow morning.
CUTAWAY TO
The cardboard box, in the back of the limo. The sound of rattling comes from inside.
CUTBACK TO
MIKE: Then Phyllis and I can have a nice little high school reunion tonight.
EXT. The limo continues on its way through Oaxaca.
28. TRAVELOGUE VIEWS OF OAXACA. DAY.
29. EXT. SIDEWALK RESTAURANT BY THE MAIN PLAZA. DAY.
CYNTHIA is seated at a table, having lunch.
PHYLLIS comes up to the table holding a newspaper.
PHYLLIS: The Manhattan Times has worldwide circulation. This is today's edition. I just bought it over there.
PHYLLIS sits beside CYNTHIA.
PHYLLIS: Here's the story.
(Read)
"Spokesmen for both the White House and the C.I.A., have denied allegations, that the C.I.A. is involved with a Mexican Religious Cult, which has launched a campaign of terrorism against the Mexican People's Army, a humanitarian organization, which is working for the betterment of local farming communities.
"According to reliable sources, the unnamed terorist cult has recently cut off the head of a young woman, who was working for the Mexican People's Army.
CYNTHIA: "Reliable sources". That's you and me.
PHYLLIS: "Allegations." All you need are allegations. That'll be enough to give our readers a cause to support. That's what we're here for.
CYNTHIA: We need confirmation Phyllis. That's how we'll silence the supporters of the C.I.A.
PHYLLIS: What if it's not there? We really don't know what the hell's gonna happen when we get to Tlantepic.
CYNTHIA: Of course we know. They're gonna chop our heads off and stick them on the ends of sharp wooden stakes.
PHYLLIS: I have no wish to be a phallic symbol.
CYNTHIA: Relax. They're not gonna hurt the Prophet of Coatlicue.
PHYLLIS: You don't know that. How much do you trust Coatlicue?
CYNTHIA: We won't be going unarmed.