Origin
The persons mentioned in this story are the original voice over actors for these characters.
Joaquin Garay- Panchito Pistoles
Clarence Nash- Donald Duck
Jose Oliveira- Jose Carioca
Walt Disney- Mickey Mouse
Dolores Voght Scott was Walt Disney's secretary from 1930-65
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Chapter One: The Interview
December 1944
Walt Disney Studios
Joaquin Garay sat in a business suit and matching hat in the waiting room of Mr. Disney's office waiting for an interview. The secretary, Dolores Voght Scott, was filling papers and writing down call back numbers. "Yes sir..." she said, in a sweet but motherly voice. "I'll have Walt call you back when he's available." She hung up the phone. Her maroon sweater and white shirt with frilly collar accompanied by Worth perfume (the latest trend in Paris) made her feel younger than she actually was. She was forty-seven.
The intercom beeped. "Is he here yet Dolores?" A voice asked. Dolores pressed the red button on the receiving end. "Yes Walt," she said. She released her finger and looked over at Joaquin. "You can go in Mr. Garay." Joaquin smiled, stood and walked towards the office of Mr. Walt Disney, tipping his hat to Dolores along the way.
Walt's office was cheerful. Plush dolls of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, and Goofy adorned the shelves that were behind Walt's big oak desk which was covered with papers, forms, and old paperwork. He was a terrible organizer but everyone in the place knew never to touch his desk. There was a system to his madness and Walt knew where every single paper, pencil, and paperclip was. Two chairs, one on each side were present. Near the hot seat chair (the chair opposite the business side of the desk) was a small coffee table. Mr. Walt Disney was sitting in the chair on the business side of the desk. His face was beginning to show a bit of age, but his mustache was still youthful, still full of promise, still full of grand spirit. Walt stood and shook Garay's hand. "Well if it isn't Mr. Joaquin Garay himself." Walt said. "Hello Mr. Disney." Joaquin said. "Call me Walt please," Disney said, "I hate Mr. or boss, it's just too formal." He sat down. "Please," Walt continued, "sit down." Garay smiled and took his seat. "Gracias."
"Want some tea?" Walt asked. Garay nodded, "Yes please," he said. Walt pressed the red button on the intercom. "Dolores, would you be a saint and prepare two cups of tea for me and Mr. Garay?" A pause. "Of course Walt." Dolores replied.
"Now, I bet you're wondering on why I flew you up here from the border Joaquin." Walt said. "Yes, you weren't very specific on the telephone," Garay said, "all you said was something about a cartoon." Walt nodded, "It's a good will piece, a bit of fluff for the Latin folk to keep them on our side."
"Sounds reasonable," Joaquin said. "What do you need me to do?"
Dolores came in with a silver tray with a teapot, sugar, two cups of tea, and crème. She sat it on the coffee table, smiling as she left. "Crème or sugar?" Walt said, reaching for his tea and ready to add some crème or sugar if asked. "I'll take two lumps of sugar." Joaquin said, reaching for the sugar spoon. Walt grabbed it first and poured the requested amount. "So," Walt said leaning back in his chair and sipping the tea. "I need you to be a rooster."
"A rooster?" Joaquin said a bit confused. "I'm sorry I'm not sure if I follow." Walt smiled and pressed the red button on the intercom again, "Dolores, send in Panchito Pistoles please."
"Right away sir."
Mr. Garay sipped his tea. "I'm assuming that's him?" He asked. Walt nodded, "You'll be working with Clearance and Jose, you'll become The Three Caballeros."
"The Three Caballeros huh, has a nice ring to it." Joaquin said, stirring his tea with a stirrer and drinking it some more. "What's the story?" Garay asked.
"The story Senor Garay," Walt said, "is Donald's birthday, and you and Mr. Jose are going to give him the time of his life. It's a package feature. First it will be Donald by himself, then Jose will come in, and you will be last." He sipped the tea, "Your part is going to be fun because well, you're going to teach Donald a thing or two about Mexico and how to party, something that he never really gets to do that much." Footsteps down the hallway. Joaquin turned, expecting to see the rooster but instead it was Mickey Mouse, humming a little tune to himself.
"Mickey, how nice of you to stop by." Walt said with a smile. "I just wanted to say hello to the newest member," Mickey said gaily with all the spontaneous energy he could muster. He extended his hand to Joaquin. "Pleased to me 'ya. I'm Mickey Mouse," Mickey said, "what's your name?"
"Joaquin Garay."
"Well, let me just say, it's a pleasure to have you aboard, I'm sure that you'll do fine. Panchito's a bit crazy but he has a heart of gold." Mickey said. "Crazy and a heart of gold, I can work with that." Joaquin replied. "Good, because you're going to have to provide his voice."
"His voice?" Joaquin looked a bit confused, he figured that he was going to do voice over work, but by the way Mickey said, 'provide his voice' Garay got the sense that the mouse meant something else entirely.
"Mr. Garay," Walt said, sitting his teacup down on his desk, leaning over and folding his hands, looking at the Mexican man with complete serious. "Panchito doesn't have a voice. He's completely mute. We need you to be his voice. All it takes is your cooperation for five minutes and you can be on your way if you wish or you can stay until the feature is completed."
"Is there a catch to this?" Joaquin asked.
"The only thing that will happen after your cooperation is that you two will be linked." Walt said, "Especially when it comes to traumatic or dangerous situations. If you're ever in any danger or have a problem, he'll be there to help you out. Even risk his life for you if it comes to that."
"Sir." It was Dolores on the intercom. "Panchito's here."
"Send him in." Walt said, pressing the button again and letting go.
The rooster walked down the hallway and towards the office, smiling and bobbing up and down as if he were listening to his favorite song. He did a shimmy and bit of samba and when he saw Garay he smiled, shook his hand and bowed, removing his sombrero. "Well," Joaquin said, "he's polite I'll give him that."
"I told you, heart of gold." Mickey said. Panchito stood up and turned towards Mickey and preformed a bit of sign language, asking him to translate. Mickey nodded as Panchito began moving his arms about in sign language. He stopped turned towards Mickey who translated. "He said, 'Hello sir, welcome to the family, my name is Panchito. What's yours?'"
"Joaquin Garay."
Mickey signed Joaquin's name. Panchito nodded, and signed some more. "Pleased to meet you." Mickey said. "Likewise, how are you doing today?" Joaquin replied. Mickey signed and Panchito quickly signed back. "He says that he's fine, and is very happy that you're here. He also say that it will be a pleasure working with you." Mickey turned towards Panchito again, who signed some more. Mickey translated, "Now can we please get on with the procedure? I only know so much sign language and I'm running out of things to say."
Joaquin looked at Walt, "Wait, I want to look at the contract first, where is it?" He said. "Right here." Walt said, and handed the document to him. Joaquin read it over and over, he became appalled, rather disgusted. "I'm sorry," Garay said, "I just can't do it right now, you'll have to get somebody else."
Walt sighed in frustration, "That's the problem we've run into Senor Garay," he said, "you're the only one available. Every other person has declined, it seems that nobody wants him."
"Maybe there's a reason." Joaquin said, he turned towards Panchito, "I'm sorry, I just can't." He shook his hand. The rooster looked at him, disappointed but understanding. He was used to rejection and this was no different than everybody else, except for one difference. He wouldn't be able to speak if Joaquin agreed to the terms and it would be rendered an 'obsolete character' because of the simple fact that silent films just aren't made anymore like they used to be. Everything was sound, and Panchito couldn't produce a single solitary one. Joaquin left but Panchito tapped him on the shoulder. The rooster signed something rather quickly. Garay turned towards Mickey who translated once again. "Thanks for talking to me, normally most people would just turn around, you're the first who's ever asked me how I was doing." Joaquin smiled and placed his hand on his chin and moved it outwards, it was the only thing he knew when it came to signing. The sign for 'you're welcome.' Panchito smiled and embraced him quickly, patting Garay on the back and letting go before it became awkward but it immediately was. Joaquin just looked at Panchito and slowly embraced him back, not bothering to look at him, but his face was priceless. Confused and uncomfortable. The rooster let go and Joaquin turned around and left. Walt looked over towards Panchito and sighed, "Maybe that's the reason no one wants you," he said, Panchito turned, "you're too much of a hugger." Panchito smiled, shrugged his shoulders and walked out as if nothing happened at all.
"You know what's going to happen to him right?" Mickey said. Walt nodded, "Yeah I know Mickey, it'll be a shame, he's a good hearted one too. I'll give him another month."
"And if nothing turns up?" Mickey asked. Walt sighed, looking in the direction that Panchito and Joaquin went and said, "Then I guess we'll have no choice then."