What the Light Leaves Behind (PILOT EXCERPT)
Written by:
Tania Dominguez-Rangel
EXT. TRAIN STATION – DAY
SUPER: Reynosa, Mexico 1917
We look out onto a seemingly peaceful mesquite landscape. The train station is quiet. Even the train seems to be holding it’s breath.
Then, clouds of dust are kicked up as horse hooves and men’s boots disrupt the calm. Shouts and gun shots ring through the air as men and women with reserves of bullets strapped around their chests engage in battle.
EXT. ALLEY – CONTINUOUS
DULCE, MARTA, and a small group of other ADELITAS hide in the alleyway. DULCE (Late teens, petite, unarmed except for a knife and with bundles of herbs tied around her hips) is holding a crying baby in a bundle. This is Lucero “LUZ” de la Garza. MARTA (early 20s, small but strong, fully armed) takes something out of her pocket then turns to DULCE.
NOTE: The dialogue in this scene is in Spanish
MARTA
Dulce, stick close to us and we’ll get us all on the train. We can ride it all the way to the North. Here.
Dulce looks down to see Marta tucking a small wad of cash amongst Luz’s blankets.
MARTA (CONT’D)
Just in case.
Dulce’s eyes are scared but understanding. Luz lets out another boisterous cry. Marta looks down, takes a bullet from the her vest. The bullet is engraved with a rose and a gun. Marta kisses it, and tucks it among Luz’s blankets. The bullet shimmers just for a moment. Marta kisses her daughter’s forehead before looking to her group.
MARTA (CONT’D)
Alright, ladies arms at the ready!
The group braces themselves to enter the chaos. Then they emerge from the alley. Bullets fly, the sisters duck. They weave in and out of alleys. Everything is chaos and dust.
Dulce, head down, runs as fast as she can
with the bundle in her arms until
they reach the train tracks
where other women help
Dulce and Luz onto
the train.
They have made it just as the train lets out a shriek and begins moving. Soon, the train is at full speed, leaving Reynosa in the dust. Dulce lets out a sigh of relief.
DULCE
We did it Luz! We did it Marta!
She looks around.
DULCE (CONT’D)
Marta?
Her sister is not amongst the crowd of women onboard. The train continues speeding north.
EXT. NEW YORK CITY – NIGHT
A match cut between the train and a subway car.
SUPER: New York City 1997
INT. NEW YORK RESTAURANT – NIGHT
Alejandra “ALEX” Paz (25, poster child for the clean girl aesthetic) is silent and stoic, seated at a big table surrounded by expensive-looking food and people. Next to her, her boyfriend JASON (late 20s, flashy businessman type), is having loud conversations with other people at the table. He taps his champagne glass with a knife and stands to make a toast.
JASON
Alright ladies, gentlemen, and Kyle.
He laughs and points to some old buddy of his.
JASON (CONT’D)
I am oh so happy that you could all join me tonight in celebrating my new promotion.
The people around the table clap and cheer, but contrasted to Jason’s buddies is MELANIE (25, Alex’s best friend, indie sleaze vibes) who is downing the rest of her wine.
JASON
But uh, there is one more reason to celebrate tonight.
He turns to Alex and grabs her hand, snapping her out of her trance.
JASON (CONT’D)
Alex, you have been with me through thick and thin. You are ambitious and smart. About to graduate with an MBA from Columbia, I might add.
More cheers.
JASON
I would not be the man I am without this woman always being by my side, supporting me. So Alex…
He gets down on one knee.
JASON (CONT’D)
Will you do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Jason Martinez?
Opening a small black velvet box, he presents Alex with a big ass engagement ring. Melanie’s jaw is on the floor, everyone else is letting out aw’s and oh my god’s. Alex, still not smiling, eyes welling up with tears, looks at the ring, then at Jason, then back at the ring. The room grows silent until Alex says…
ALEX
Yes.
EXT. CAR – DAY
SUPER: One month later
Alex is in the passenger’s seat of a car with Melanie driving.
ALEX
No! I can’t tell them yet, not with everything going on!
MELANIE
Your family is going to take it better than you think. Just be like “Remember how last month I was engaged? Funny story…now I’m not. And I’m moving back home, and I haven’t found a job, and-” oh my god as i’m saying it, it just keeps getting worse, sorry.
ALEX
Melanie, as it is, my mother wants to disown me. I can feel her judgement from here. As far as they know, we’re just going to Abuela Marlena’s funeral so please, please, please don’t say ANYTHING. I’ll tell them …eventually.
MELANIE
Fine. I’ll take on the role of secret keeper in addition to emotional support best friend and chauffeur.
ALEX
And I will take on the role of eternally grateful, totally owes you several, best friend.
MELANIE
Honestly, the way that asshole left you with no apartment, no car, and totally humiliated -sorry- you could’ve asked me to move a dead body and I would’ve tagged along. And anyway, I’ve never been to Chicago. Chi town. Make some IlliNOISE!!
ALEX
Please, don’t ever say “IlliNOISE” again.
EXT. PAZ HOUSE – AFTERNOON
Alex and Melanie park in front of Alex’s parents’ house. Her dad, GERARDO (50s, mustache forward father wearing work boots and a hat) and two younger brothers SERGIO (22, tall, muscular, dreamy) and CHARLIE (18, scrawny, youthful) are outside waiting for them. Before Alex is even out of the car her father is pulling her in for a huge hug. NOTE: The conversations with her parents are in Spanish, conversations with the brothers are in English.
GERARDO
I missed you so much Alex!
ALEX
Me too Dad.
GERARDO
And your friend is here! Hello, nice too meet you. Gerardo Paz, at your service.
He walks to the other side of the car and greets Melanie with a warm smile and a handshake.
MELANIE
It’s so nice to meet you Don Paz. Your home is so beautiful!
GERARDO
Please, call me Gerardo. I’m so glad you like the house. Last year I installed these new windows-Boys help your sister unload the car while I show her friend the house.
He leads Melanie to the side of the house and begins giving a detailed account of everything about it. Sergio and Charlie meet Alex at the car to begin unloading the suitcases.
SERGIO
Mom’s pissed.
CHARLIE
Super pissed.
ALEX
It’s nice to see you too.
SERGIO
Just warning you.
They open the trunk of the car.
SERGIO (CONT’D)
She was extra mad that she had to deep clean the house because of your friend staying over.
Sergio grabs a box and heads around to the back of the house.
ALEX
What else is new?
CHARLIE
Oh, and I moved into your room so you and your friend gotta stay in grandma’s.
Charlie grabs a suitcase and starts walking away.
ALEX
What?
CHARLIE
Figured since you’re engaged now, you won’t need the room anymore.
INT. GRANDMA’S ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Sergio, Charlie, and Alex set suitcases down on the floor. Inside the room is a bed and a metal shelf stacked with boxes, bedding, gardening tools, and various antiques and knick knacks. Gerardo and Melanie’s tour has reached the room.
GERARDO
We tried cleaning it up a little, but it was hard to get rid of Marlena’s stuff.
ALEX
It’s fine dad. I can go through some of this stuff. Charlie, Sergio can you help m-
SERGIO
Sorry sis, some of us have jobs.
CHARLIE
I’d love to help, but I’m taking a summer class so, no time.
SERGIO and CHARLIE walk out of the room.
The people around the table clap and cheer, but contrasted to Jason’s buddies is MELANIE (25, Alex’s best friend, indie sleaze vibes) who is downing the rest of her wine.
GERARDO
I’ll help you when I can, or maybe I can send one of my guys to help you with taking down shelves or something.
MELANIE
Don’t worry Gerardo, Alex and I can go full HGTV on this room.
ALEX
You’ve already done a lot.
MELANIE
I’m already here, might as well. But you owe me one of those Portillo’s hot dogs.
They exit the room arm in arm.
INT. PAZ HOUSE – CONTINUOUS
The interior of the Paz house is simple and functional. There are minimal decorations with the only exception being an altar to the Virgin of Guadalupe in the living room that is covered in yellow flowers, candles, and a picture of Grandma Marlena and Grandpa Emiliano. The smell of cooking fills the home as Alex, Melanie, and Gerardo walk through the small hallway to get to the kitchen/dining room, there’s flashes of quick moving hands stirring pots on the stove and opening and closing the refrigerator.
GERARDO
Melanie, this is my wife Jessenia.
JESSENIA (50s, short, stocky woman) doesn’t acknowledge their presence. She is focused on her cooking. Her hair is up in a tight bun, not a hair out of place. She’s wearing an apron over a long skirt and a loose blouse with chanclas on her feet. The kitchen is filled with warmth and movement, but Jessenia’s presence leaves a chill.
MELANIE
Hello, Jessenia. It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Alex’s friend Melanie.
JESSENIA
Young lady, to you, I am Doña Paz. And right now I am too busy cooking to talk so please either sit down or you can help me.
Gerardo hugs his wife, interrupting her trajectory around the kitchen. Her frantic demeanor is calmed for a moment.
GERARDO
Yessie, the girls just got here and you’re already giving them orders. Lighten up a little or you’ll scare our guest.
Jessenia slips out of his embrace and continues her tasks.
JESSENIA
If they’re going to be staying here, then they better make themselves useful.
ALEX
I can set the table AND help with cooking. Melanie is a guest.
Acknowledging her for the first time, JESSENIA looks at her daughter.
JESSENIA
Well then don’t just stand there looking stupid, Alejandra. Go do it.
The cooking continues.
MELANIE
Are you sure Alex? I can help.
ALEX
No, it’s fine. Go get settled in. You can take the bed. I’ll find an air mattress.
MELANIE
Ok…I’ll go unpack then. Nice to meet you Doña Paz.
JESSENIA
Mhm.
Melanie walks out leaving Alex with her parents.
GERARDO
Well I’ve got to go do one more thing for work, but I’ll be back by dinner. Bye, sweetie.
He kisses Jessenia on the cheek and grabs a hat from a hook in the hallway on his way out.
ALEX
(Whispering) You’re leaving?
GERARDO
I’ll be back soon.
Gerardo kisses her on her forehead and heads out. Alex braces herself to cook with her mother. She heads back into the kitchen and begins warming up the tortillas on the stove. The only sounds are those of her mother cooking.
INT. ROOM – NIGHT
Alex is blowing up an air mattress on the floor while Melanie is on the bed going through a box.
ALEX
I actually thought she would be harsher, but I guess she doesn’t want to make a scene with you here. So thank you.
MELANIE
Damn, if this is her being nice to guests, I don’t wanna get on her bad side.
The whir of the air mattress pump fills the room as Melanie keeps pulling things out of the box.
MELANIE (CONT’D)
Oooh, there’s a ton of brushes in here was your grandma Picasso or something?
ALEX
Oh my god, those are my old paint sets. I guess my dad kept them.
Melanie pulls out a diary from the same box. There is an engraving of a rose and gun on the cover.
MELANIE
Ooh is this one of your old diaries. Let’s read your juicy teenage secrets.
ALEX
I didn’t keep a diary. The only notebooks I owned were for school.
MELANIE
Nerd!
Alex takes the diary from Melanie and inspects it. There is a lock, but no key.
ALEX
I guess it was my grandma Marlena’s.
Alex turns the diary over. There is a name etched at the bottom.
ALEX (CONT’D)
Wait, here it says “Luz de la Garza.”
MELANIE
Another family member?
ALEX
Not that I know of. But my grandma was always buying stuff at garage sales maybe that’s where she got it.
Melanie gets up and grabs a towel out of her suitcase.
MELANIE
Ok, well I’m going to try to take a shower. Pray that I don’t run into your mom holding a knife and candlestick in the hallway.
ALEX
Good luck!
Melanie exits, leaving Alex alone with Luz’s diary. She looks in the box again hoping for a key and finds a bullet attached to a chain. The bullet is engraved with the same gun and rose as the diary. She swears she can see the bullet shimmer.
She notices the lock is the same shape as the bullet, but it can’t be. Right? She pushes the bullet into the lock and hears a click.
The diary swings open and Alex is sucked into the diary with a flash of light.
EXT. CITRUS FARM – DAY
ALEX materializes in a grove of citrus trees. Disoriented, still wearing her pajamas.
SUPER: Rio Grande Valley, Texas 1937
Workers are picking fruits from trees and one of them goes right through Alex. It’s like she’s a ghost.
ALEX
What the fuck!?
Tania Dominguez-Rangel
[insert bio]