LA MISA SANGRIENTA

"THE BLOODY MASS"

Written by
John Paul Brammer
Jpbrammer@gmail.com
5807045528
FADE IN:
INT. - CATHOLIC CHURCH - DAY
The church doors part to reveal a beautiful bride, CHICA
(26), holding a bouquet of red flowers. Soft light filters in
behind her. She wears red lipstick. She walks down the aisle
in SLOW MOTION.
LA MALAGUENA plays in the background as the bride passes PAPA
(50s) sitting in a pew. A LARGE SCAR on his face.
EXT. - BURNING HOUSE - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
Papa carries a YOUNG CHICA over his shoulder away from a
burning house. The little girl reaches toward the house,
tears streaming down her face.
CHICA
Mama! Mama! No! Mama!
PAPA
(panting heavily)
Lets go Chica. Come on now mija,
come on. Lets go.
CHICA
(hysterical)
Mama!!
END FLASHBACK.
INT. - CATHOLIC CHURCH - DAY
Chica continues down the aisle. She looks up towards the
altar. A handsome man in a tux, ROMERO (33), smiles back at
her.
INT. - MARKET PLACE - DAY - FLASHBACK
Chica holds a basket of bread and other goods. She struggles
to reach something on the top shelf when Romero grabs it and
hands it to her. He looks at her hungrily.
CHICA
Thanks.
ROMERO
No problem, senorita.
Chica smiles awkwardly and tries to walk away, but Romero
slides in front of her.
ROMERO (CONTD)
Whoa now, I didnt catch your name.
Chica smiles politely.
CHICA
I know.
Chica tries to sidestep Romero, but he puts his ARM out to
block her.
ROMERO
Oh come on now, dont be like that.
Whats your name gorgeous?
Chica rolls her eyes.
CHICA
Chica. My name is Chica. Okay? Now
how do I get you out of my face?
ROMERO
(chuckling)
How about you give me your number?
INT. - CATHOLIC CHURCH - DAY
Chica takes a few more steps toward the end of the aisle. The
Malaguena goes just a little faster. She passes a young man,
JAVIER. He wears a RED FLOWER on the lapel of his blazer. He
looks up at Chica with serious eyes.
INT. - CHICAS HOUSE - DAY - FLASHBACK
Chica sits tilted back on a chair. She toys with a DAGGER.
Javier paces nervously back and forth in front of her.
CHICA
What is your deal? Hes just some
guy I met at the marketplace.
JAVIER
Shit, shit, shit. You brought him
here. How could you bring him here?
Shit.
2.
CHICA
So I bring a guy home. Big deal.
Ive never known you to be this
protective, Javi. Im a grown
woman, you know.
(beat)
Besides, hes really quite the
charmer once you get to know -
JAVIER
You really have no idea who that
is, do you?
CHICA
Romero? He -
JAVIER
That is Romero Guzman! Boss
Panzons son!
Chica locks eyes with her brother, shocked.
CHICA
Boss Panzon?
JAVIER
Time to move again. We better start
fucking packing.
He slams his fist into the wall.
JAVIER (CONTD)
Shit, shit, shit!
Chica sits back, twirling the dagger in her hand.
CHICA
So he doesnt know who I am either,
does he?
END FLASHBACK
INT. - CATHOLIC CHURCH - DAY
Chica is over halfway down the aisle. The Malaguena picks up
faster, as if the music knows the tension in the room is
building. Still in slow motion, Chica passes a fat, weathered-
looking man, BOSS PANZON, sitting on the other side of the
aisle. He follows her carefully with probing eyes.
3.
INT. - BOSS PANZONS MANSION - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
Boss Panzon sits in his smoky office. He rifles through
hundred dollar bills. Romero sits on the other side of his
desk.
BOSS PANZON
Youre a fucking failure.
ROMERO
Huh?
BOSS PANZON
I said youre a fucking failure.
You know that?
ROMERO
Aye, Papa, I got the money,
alright? It wasnt easy but -
BOSS PANZON
You got the money over a month
late. Do you know how that makes me
look? Huh?
ROMERO
I -
BOSS PANZON
Weak. It makes me look weak. You
know something? I dont think you
have what it takes to run this
business. Look at you. Think you
can just be a playboy forever, eh?
Think you can just fuck around the
rest of your life?
ROMERO
Take it easy old man, I said I got
the money what else do you -
Boss Panzon interrupts Romero with a backhand across the
face.
BOSS PANZON
Dont you dare interrupt me.
Romero holds his cheek.
ROMERO
Uh-huh.
Boss Panzon lights up a cigar and gives it a puff. He sits
back in his chair.
4.
BOSS PANZON
Youre spineless. How did you end
up so spineless? I raised you
better. Raised you stronger.
ROMERO
I know.
Boss Panzon gives his cigar another puff.
BOSS PANZON
Look at you, Romero. What are you,
thirty something? No ambition. No
motivation. You cant even find a
wife. And you expect me to let you
run this business?
Romero sits there, dejected. He rubs his cheek.
Boss Panzon rubs his forehead as though suffering from a
headache.
BOSS PANZON (CONTD)
Im getting old, son. Im getting
old and Ive got no one to take
over when Im gone. Who can I trust
more than my own son, huh? Who?
Sometimes I think you just dont
have it in you.
Romero stares at the ground.
END FLASHBACK
INT. - CATHOLIC CHURCH - DAY
Chica continues to walk down the aisle. People sitting in the
pews on the brides side look nervously at one another. Chica
looks resolved. The Malaguena, yet again, speeds up.
INT. - PAPAS HOUSE - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
A YOUNG CHICA sits on Papas lap in a small room with a fire
going in the fireplace. Papa stares at the fire, its red glow
reflected on his scarless face.
PAPA
Theres not a day that goes by that
I dont think of her, mija.
Young Chica looks up at Papa with hollow eyes.
5.
PAPA (CONTD)
She was... she was quite the woman,
your mother. A brave woman. And she
had a kiss on her that could knock
a man dead, I tell you. She sure
did.
CHICA
Papa?
PAPA
Yes, mija?
CHICA
Why did those people kill Mama?
PAPA
Orale, she asks the big questions
this one! Well, they were bad
people, mija. Your mama and me...
your mama and me were trying to
stop them.
CHICA
But you didnt stop them?
PAPA
No. Im afraid not, Chica.
CHICA
Are they still out there?
PAPA
Yes. Im afraid so. But there will
always be bad people, mija. No
matter what you do, there will
always be bad people.
CHICA
Papa?
PAPA
Hmm?
CHICA
I dont want to move anymore.
PAPA
Me neither, mija. Me neither.
The fire crackles and hisses.
END FLASHBACK
6.
INT. - CATHOLIC CHURCH - DAY
Chicas feet move faster and faster in sync with the
Malaguena. The people on the grooms side of the aisle are
exchanging knowing looks of their own now.
EXT. - BOSS PANZONS MANSION - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
Chica and Romero return from a night on the town. They laugh
and kiss and hug and Romero looks exceptionally happy. Chica
wears a BIG DIAMOND RING. Romero beams.
ROMERO
Chica, youve made me the happiest
man in the world today.
CHICA
And Im the luckiest girl.
ROMERO
Well Ive got some business to take
care of, but... Im sure Ill see
you tomorrow?
CHICA
I promise.
Chica grabs the back of his head and pulls him in for a big,
passionate kiss.
ROMERO
Madre de Dios, now thats why Im
making you my wife.
CHICA
See you tomorrow.
Romero watches Chica leave until she is out of sight. He
turns to walk into the mansion, grinning like an idiot. Boss
Panzon waits in shadow by the door. He points his lit
cigarette in the direction Chica went.
BOSS PANZON
That the girl?
ROMERO
Sure is! Isnt she something?
BOSS PANZON
Beautiful.
7.
ROMERO
I knew youd say so. She isnt like
the models or the actresses either,
Papa. I mean this bitch... this
bitch has bite to her, you know
what I mean? Shes smart too. And
she can fight! I saw her... I...
what Im saying is this bitch is
something else, Papa. She -
BOSS PANZON
Thats Emilio Cortezs daughter.
ROMERO
Wait, who?
BOSS PANZON
Government agents. All of them.
ROMERO
I dont understand, I -
BOSS PANZON
We take care of them. Not much more
to understand than that.
ROMERO
No, Papa, wait. Its not like that.
Shes not what you think.
BOSS PANZON
And what makes you so sure shes
not what you think?
ROMERO
I swear! Youre making a mistake,
she -
BOSS PANZON
Romero, in this business, theres
no room for mistakes. We will do
what we must.
Boss Panzon turns to walk back into the house, but Romero
GRABS him by the arm.
ROMERO
No! I wont let you touch her!
Boss Panzon looks back in stunned silence.
8.
ROMERO (CONTD)
You wont hurt her. I love her,
Papa. You touch her and Ill...
Ill kill you.
Boss Panzons lips curl into a sinister grin. Romero slowly
relinquishes his grasp.
BOSS PANZON
Now where is this passion when
youre doing business, Romero?
Romero looks at the ground, shocked at what hes done.
BOSS PANZON (CONTD)
If you approached business with
this kind of fire you might just
have it in you to take over after
all. Maybe that girl is good for
you. Who knows? I tell you this
much, though, well keep an eye on
her.
Romero breathes heavily, his own outburst has visibly shaken
him.
BOSS PANZON (CONTD)
Oh, but Romero. We wont be going
to the wedding unarmed. Any funny
business comes up, any at all, and
we kill them. Every single one of
them. Starting with the girl.
END FLASHBACK
INT. - CATHOLIC CHURCH - DAY
Chica is nearly at the end of the aisle. The Malaguena is
playing so fast that it sounds like the strings of the guitar
might break. The faces in the crowd look suspiciously at one
another across the aisle.
Visible through the back of Chicas veil is a BRIDAL CATRINA -
a Mexican Day of the Dead figure - tattooed on the back of
her shoulder. It is a skeleton in a wedding dress. It smiles,
almost laughing.
INT. - CHICAS HOUSE - DAY
Chica, Javier, and Papa all sit in the living room. They load
up GUNS and a variety of other WEAPONS.
9.
Chica arranges something special - a gun hidden in the bridal
bouquet. Papa slides a round of bullets into a pistol. Javier
sharpens a knife.
CHICA
This is it. No more running.
PAPA
No more running.
JAVIER
No more running.
END FLASHBACK
INT. - CATHOLIC CHURCH - DAY
Chica climbs the first few steps to the altar.
INT. CHICAS HOUSE - DAY - FLASHBACK
Chica, Javier, and Papa continue their conversation.
CHICA
And the guest list is ready?
PAPA
Ready.
CHICA
No children?
JAVIER
No children.
CHICA
Alright then. Right when the priest
says you may kiss the bride...
END FLASHBACK
INT. - CATHOLIC CHURCH - DAY
Chica stands side by side with Romero on the altar. The
priest says something, but the rapid Malaguena makes it
inaudible.
10.
INT. - CHICAS HOUSE - DAY
CHICA
And Romero leans over and I lay one
on him...
END FLASHBACK
INT. - CATHOLIC CHURCH - DAY
The priest continues to speak. Chica and Romero look at each
other, smiling.
INT. - CHICAS HOUSE - DAY - FLASHBACK
CHICA
And then...
END FLASHBACK
INT. - CATHOLIC CHURCH - DAY
The Malaguena comes to a sudden halt. The priest stands
before Chica and Romero.
PRIEST
You may kiss the bride.
Romero leans in for a kiss.
INT. - CHICAS HOUSE - DAY - FLASHBACK
Chica holds the deadly bouquet in her hands.
CHICA
Boom.
She fires. Red petals fly everywhere as the bullet bursts
through the bouquet.
END FLASHBACK
INT. - CATHOLIC CHURCH - DAY
Chica and Romero are about to kiss, when suddenly, in a move
that is either passion or caution, Romero grabs Chicas
bouquet and holds it aloft to go in for a more passionate
kiss.
11.
Papa looks panicked. Boss Panzon is apathetic. Javier appears
frustrated. Chicas eyes are wide with fear.
The two pull away to mild applause. Chica, looking around as
if wondering what to do, grabs Romero and plants another big,
passionate kiss on him. She twirls him around so that his
back faces the audience. He goes limp, drops the bouquet, and
puts both arms around her.
More applause. Meanwhile, Chica has grabbed a large
candlestick from the altar. She strikes Romero with it,
stunning him. She grabs the bouquet from the ground and
fires.
Red petals fly into the air in SLOW MOTION. DEADLY SILENCE in
the room. Romero falls to the ground clutching his heart.
The blood bath begins.
Boss Panzon and the grooms side of the aisle draw their
guns. The brides side follows suit. Bullets fly in every
direction, people fall one after the other - MASS CHAOS.
Every last person in the church except for the priest has
fallen. He stands there, blood on his white collar, hands
shaking, horrified.
Bodies lay strewn about the ground. Papa, Javier, Romero,
Boss Panzon, and Chica. She has been shot multiple times.
Her full, red lips part into a little smile.
The Malaguena starts playing at full speed.
FADE TO BLACK.
THE END
12.
13.