Sambalanga
Page 3
to the table. The Bear speaks in accentless Spanish to the Waiter.
THE BEAR (CONT'D)
Mas cerveza, quesadillas, sopa de frijoles y tacos de carne, por favor.
The Bear thinks for a second. He speaks to Jaime.
THE BEAR (CONT'D)
You said yesterday that you majored in biology and had a minor in math and general elementary education?
JAIME
Yeah.
THE BEAR
Are you interested in being a schoolteacher?
JAIME
Yes.
THE BEAR
Do you have a teaching job?
The Bear stops speaking and drains his mug of beer.
JAIME
No. I'll find a job when I get back to New York City.
THE BEAR
Do you have a large family?
JAIME
No. I live with my Grandmother and my cousin Nick.
Jaime finishes his beer.
Two WAITERS bring lunch and more beers.
CUT TO:
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY - A LITTLE LATER
The table has been cleared. The Bear and Jaime drink coffee.
A few MEXICAN PATRONS are seated at the surrounding tables.
THE BEAR
Andy, I can offer you a job.
JAIME
Why would you offer me a job? You don't even know me.
(Pause)
What kind of job?
THE BEAR
It's a teaching job. I have a friend with two young children. The boy's name is Tony, he is eleven years old. His sister's name is Beatrice, she is ten.
(Pause)
The children can speak English. But they need to be taught formal English and a higher level of mathematics.
(Pause)
There is more to the job than just teaching.
JAIME
What else is involved?
THE BEAR
You'd have to be able to protect them. You would be their bodyguard as well as private tutor.
JAIME
The target practice was with a rifle. A body guard carries a handgun.
THE BEAR
The rifle practice was a training exercise.
Jaime studies The Bear for a few seconds. Jaime is very skeptical about this offer of employment.
JAIME
What is the actual deal? And don't bull-shit me.
THE BEAR
I own an international security organization. Some employees are ex-soldiers. But I have employees that work as electronics experts, interpreters and analysts. All are trained in the use of firearms. (Pause)
I have a personal friend, Antonio Cunha, that needs a tutor for his children. You also have to be capable of protecting them. That is the job I am offering you.
JAIME
What is the salary?
THE BEAR
Twenty thousand dollars. But I have to train you. Training will take eight to ten weeks. The job requires travel.
JAIME
Well, I like to travel.
Jaime rubs the hair on his head. He is nervous.
JAIME (CONT'D)
Twenty thousand dollars is a lot of money. Is the job for one year?
THE BEAR
The teaching assignment begins the end of September and finishes before Christmas. Your job training will start immediately.
JAIME
I can't tell my Grandmother that I am being trained to be a bodyguard.
THE BEAR
You can tell her that you are taking a two months course in Spanish.
(Pause)
I'll arrange for you to have a post office box here in Mexico City. All your letters will be postmarked from Mexico and any letters from your Grandmother or cousin Nick will be brought to you at my ranch in Guatemala.
JAIME
(Surprised)
Guatemala?
THE BEAR
Look, if you don't like the training you can quit. If your academic credentials don't check out or I feel you don't have the ability to perform the job, I'll discharge you.
The Bear reaches into his pocket and pulls out an envelope and hands it to Jaime.
THE BEAR (CONT'D)
Here is two thousand dollars. I'll pay you another eight thousand dollars at the end of your training. You get another ten thousand when the tutoring job is complete. All expenses, travel and living are covered.
JAIME
If this doesn't work out, do I get to keep the two thousand dollars in this envelope?
THE BEAR
Yes, you keep the two thousand and I'll pay for your plane ticket home.
Jaime rubs his hair and looks at the envelope filled with money. He hands it back to The Bear.
JAIME
What happens if I get killed working as a bodyguard?
THE BEAR
A check for twenty thousand dollars from a life insurance company will be sent to your Grandmother. She will receive a document stating you died in an accident and your body was cremated.
JAIME
I need to think about this.
THE BEAR
Give me your decision tonight.
CUT TO:
INT. THE BEAR'S HOTEL SUITE, STELLA MARIS HOTEL - NIGHT
Jaime sits at a table with The Bear and Marta. They drink coffee. Jaime accepts the job offer.
JAIME
OK, I'll take the job. What's next.
The Bear pulls the envelope filled with money from his sports jacket pocket. He gives it to Jaime.
Jaime opens the envelope and counts the two thousand dollars. He puts the money in his jacket pocket.
THE BEAR
I'll make arrangements for us to leave for Guatemala. I need your passport now. I'll supply you with another one. You get the original passport back when the training period is over.
Jaime stands up and takes the passport from his front pants pocket. He hands it to the Bear.
The Bear looks at Jaime's picture and name on the passport.
THE BEAR (CONT'D)
Do you want Andrew Jackson Como on your new passport?
JAIME
Put whatever name you like on it.
CUT TO:
INT. JAIME'S HOTEL ROOM - EVENING
TITLE CARD: THE NEXT EVENING
The Bear and Marta stand with Jaime inside his hotel room.
The Bear hands Jaime the new passport.
THE BEAR
Your name is James Andrews; you were born in Toronto, Ontario Canada.
Jaime looks at the passport.
JAIME
This is a British passport. My picture is the same but I'm a year older.
THE BEAR
The birth month and day are the same. It'll be easy for you to remember your new birth year.
Marta hands Jaime a plane ticket.
MARTA
Your plane ticket is dated Wednesday, July 7, 1971. You will be traveling with us tomorrow morning. It is Mexicana Airlines, one way to Guatemala City.
THE BEAR
Meet us in the lobby at 8:00 AM. (Pause)
Oh, would you like to have a late snack with Marta and me?
JAIME
No. I need to pack.
THE BEAR
See you in the morning.
The Bear and Marta leave Jaime's room.
Jaime looks at the passport and plane ticket and places them on the desk. He sits in the desk chair. There is a basic Spanish textbook on the desk.
INSERT
The BOOK COVER says, "BASIC SPANISH."
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. LA AURORA AIRPORT, GUATEMALA CITY - DAY
TITLE CARD: LA AURORA AIRPORT, GUATEMALA CITY
The Mexicana Flight lands. PASSENGERS exit the airplane directly onto the airfield and walk a short distance to the terminal.
INT. AIRPORT - CUSTOMS INSPECTIONS LINE - DAY
Jaime, The Bear and Marta stand in the Customs Inspection line with other Passengers.
; The CUSTOMS INSPECTOR checks Jaime's new passport and looks at him. There is no problem. The inspector stamps the document.
Marta and The Bear follow routinely.
EXT. STREET - AIRPORT TERMINAL - DAY
There are TWO MEN standing directly outside the exit of the airport terminal. They are dressed in plain white short sleeved shirts, tan chino pants, plain black shoes and white socks. Taxicabs are parked at the curb.
The Two Men walk over to The Bear and Marta.
The First Man takes Marta's luggage. He is tall, thin and wiry. He has sun-tanned skin. His eyes are oriental. He is a Filipino-Greek. His age is approximately thirty-eight years old. He speaks in a Cajun accent suggesting he is from New Orleans. His name is LUKE TWO.
The Bear turns his head towards Jaime and points at Luke.
THE BEAR
This is Luke Two.
The Second Man takes The Bear's suitcase. He is taller than Luke and more muscular. He is about forty-three years old. His skin is brown. His speech pattern is definitive New York City. His name is JOHNNY WALKER.
THE BEAR (CONT'D)
This is Johnny Walker.
The entire group walk across the street to the parking lot.
Jaime follows in the rear, carrying his one suitcase.
EXT. AIRPORT PARKING LOT - MOMENTS LATER
They stop at a passenger van.
Johnny opens the back of the van and places a suitcase inside. Luke and Jaime follow and put the luggage into the van.
The Bear addresses Luke and Johnny and points to Jaime.
THE BEAR
This is Jaime.
Luke and John nod hello to Jaime.
Jaime nods back.
ANOTHER ANGLE
They all enter the van. Luke gets into the driver's seat, while Johnny gets into the passenger's front seat.
Jaime enters through the side door and sits in the far back seat with the luggage.
Marta and The Bear follow and sit in the middle section seats.
CUT TO:
EXT. MAIN GUATEMALA HIGHWAY - DAY
MOVING
The van travels on a main highway from the airport. The highway runs outside Guatemala City. The road follows the countryside and turns into a private road. The journey covers 20 kilometers from the city through areas of cultivated farm land.
EXT. RANCH GATE - SAMBALANGA RANCH - DUSK
The van slows at the entrance gate to a ranch. The ARCH at the top of the gate reads, "BIENVENIDOS A SAMBALANGA." The van drives through.
CLOSER
There are MALE and FEMALE GUATEMALANS working in the coffee and banana fields on the plantation. It is late in the day, just about dusk.
EXT. FRONT OF MAIN SAMBALANGA RANCH HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
The Bear, Marta and Johnny exit the van. Marta enters the main ranch house. Luke stays in the driver's seat and