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OVER BLACK

A metal gate CREEKS.

FADE IN:

EXT. JUAN AND AIDA'S HOUSE - EVENING

JULIO (30s) steps through the gate and strides towards us.

Behind him, we see his raven-hair, tired-looking girlfriend, CARMEN (30s), as they walk up to the front door of a light purple house.

JULIO

Let me do the talking for now.

Carmen nods. Julio knocks on the door. The door opens, revealing an elderly woman, AIDA (65), who gasps and takes a step back.

All dialogue is in Spanish.

AIDA

Julio?

JULIO

(sheepishly)

Hey, mom.

Aida pulls her son into a tight, breathtaking hug and kisses all over his face.

AIDA

Oh, mijo lindo! I'm so happy to see you! Are you hungry? I was just about to cook dinner.

Mid-hug, Aida's eyes open and land on Carmen.

AIDA

Who's this?

JULIO

This is... Carmen.

AIDA

Oh, you didn't tell us you got married!

Carmen shoots Julio a you didn't tell her? look. Julio purses his lips. Aida entraps Carmen in her arms and kisses her cheek.

AIDA 

Oh, nice to meet you, my love.

She pats the top of Carmen's belly.

AIDA 

Oh! And you too, baby!

(and then)

How exciting! Let me get your father! He'll be so happy to see you!

She excitingly rushes back into the house, leaving the two outside in awkward silence. Julio winces and looks down. Carmen looks over at him with a raised eyebrow.

AIDA (O.S.)

Juan! It's Julio!

JUAN (O.S.)

(annoyed, but slightly concerned)

What about him? He okay?

AIDA

Yeah, come here!

Juan's POV: PAN DOWN to the two large suitcases standing by Julio's legs, and Carmen's hand rested on her very, very pregnant belly.

JUAN

Oh god!

CUT TO:

INT. JUAN AND AIDA'S HOUSE, DINING ROOM - LATER

TILT UP to Julio sitting between Aida and Carmen, his eyes slowly shifting back and forth as he takes a bite of his food.

Juan sits on the far right, as stiff as a statue. Abruptly, he SLAPS the table. 

JUAN

You had one job! Just one

job!

AIDA

Ah, leave him alone already!

She adds a huge ladle of food to Julio's plate.

AIDA

(to Julio)

You look thin, mijo. Eat more.

JUAN

I just can't believe it! Only you would get deported over a goddamn tail light!

JULIO

(quietly)

I already said I'm sorry, dad.

JUAN

(mockingly)

Sorry, sorry!... 

(and then)

That's all you have to say? Who's going to send us money now?

AIDA

We're getting along just fine with the car wash.

JUAN

No, we're not! We're poorer than the street dogs that eat our trash!

AIDA

Oh, hush!

(to Julio)

We're not poor, mijo.

Carmen glances behind her, at a LARGE FLAT SCREEN TV mounted on the wall. She shakes her head. 

CARMEN

(In English, under

her breath)

As poor as the street dogs, huh?

JUAN

(throws his hands up)

Ah, Dios! You couldn't even get a girl who speaks Spanish?

CARMEN

(in Spanish)

I speak Spanish!

Julio grabs Carmen's hand under the table.

JULIO

(lowly, in English)

Please don't...

Carmen rolls her eyes.

CARMEN

(in Spanish, to Juan)

And I'll have you know, I'm American.

JUAN

What the hell are you doing here then?

CARMEN

I love your son. I'm having

his baby. I want to be-- with him.

JUAN

(scoffs)

--Aida, do you hear this!

AIDA

Leave him alone! This is why he's barely called in the past ten years!

JULIO

(under his breath)

It's only been five years, mom.

AIDA

He didn't even tell us he got married!

Juan glances at Carmen's hand gripping her fork. No ring. He sucks his teeth.

JUAN

Don't be silly, Aida. They aren't married! He knocked her up.

AIDA

What?! How do you know that?

Juan gestures at his own left hand. Aida gasps at the couple, horror-stricken. Carmen stays quiet. Julio picks at his crumbs.

AIDA 

Tell me he's joking...

An ugly pause. Aida puts down her fork.

AIDA 

(gasps)

Oh my god, I can't believe you!

(to Carmen)

Do your parents know?

CARMEN

Well--

JUAN

That's what you're worried about? Your son just screwed up our second income! I was about to retire!

Juan shoves his last forkful into his mouth. Aida's chair SCREECHES against the tile floor. She stands up and gathers their plates, mid-meal. 

JULIO

Mom, we weren't finished.

Aida, tight-lipped, shuffles into the kitchen. Another ugly pause before--Juan leans forward, scowling at the couple.

JUAN

You two are gonna need to contribute if you want to live here.

CARMEN

(gesturing down)

I can't get a job.

The two look at Julio, expectantly.

INT. JULIO'S CHILDHOOD BEDROOM - LATER

A light switches on, revealing various band posters hung on the wall. A skateboard lies in the corner. A dusty guitar case sits near the end of the bed.

JULIO

I wanted to be the next Richie Valens.

Carmen raises a brow and chuckles. Julio rolls his eyes, a small smile creeping on his lips as he scans around the room.

JULIO 

They didn't even get rid of my stuff... They were probably waiting for the day I'd come crawling back.

A beat. His smile fades.

LATER

The couple, now in their night clothes, lie in bed. Julio glances over at Carmen, out cold. CLOSE UP on Julio, as he sighs and stares up at the ceiling.

HARD MATCH CUT TO: EARLY MORNING

Julio, fast asleep. A LOUD BANG echoes in the room, causing the couple to awake with a start.

JUAN (O.S.)

Wake up!

Carmen groans and buries herself in the blanket. Julio stumbles to the door and flings it open.

JULIO

Dad, what the hell? It's still dark out.

JUAN

It's five o'clock in the morning!

Juan SHOVES two bath towels into Julio's hands, topped with two toothbrushes and a tube of toothpaste.

JUAN

Your mom's making breakfast, so hurry up!

JULIO

For what? Where are we going?

Juan stomps off, grumbling something under his breath. Julio closes the door.

EXT. JUAN'S CAR WASH - MORNING

Two car doors SLAM closed. A pair of feet DRAG into frame against the pavement, each step a trial.Julio and Juan walk up to a modest car wash. It looms over them.

JUAN

Here it is.

He points over to a BABY-FACED TEENAGER, on his knees in a puddle of soapy water, towel-drying tires.

JUAN

You'll be working with Hector.

JULIO

What? I'm not going to be the manager?

JUAN

(chuckling)

Manager? That's cute!

JULIO

...I thought you were going to retire.

JUAN

And let you mess up again? You're not going to screw over my business!

CLOSE ON: Julio, distressed.

INT. JULIO'S CHILDHOOD BEDROOM - EVENING

Carmen lies in bed. A light switches on. She stirs awake, but doesn't bother opening her eyes.

CARMEN

Oh, you're back. You know if dinner's ready? Your mom wouldn't let me help so I took a nap. Dead silence. She turns over to find Julio, leaning against the door frame. She sits up and takes in his appearance: Soaked sneakers. Half-wet jeans and a wrinkled t-shirt. Disheveled hair. Complete exhaustion etched onto his face. He stares out in front of him, pensive and fuming.

CARMEN 

...How was work?

(re: his silence)

You ok?

JULIO

That man had me wiping tires!

CARMEN

Wha--?

JULIO

I thought I was going to be the new boss, or at least a manager. But no! I was on the ground with some infant, wiping down cars for hours!

CARMEN

He's just trying to make you prove yourself. You'll get promoted in no time.

JULIO

Promoted? I'm his kid! I should be at the top!

(beat)

What the hell? I gotta find a way out of this.

She reaches out her hand and pulls him to sit on the bed.

CARMEN

Don't worry. We'll make this work.

JULIO

(beat)

What?

CARMEN

I said we'll be alright.

His hand pulls away.

JULIO

...What? You wanna stay?

CARMEN

Well, I want to stay with you--

Julio jolts up from the bed.

JULIO

You really think we should stay?

(gesturing around)

Here?

Carmen unconsciously rubs her stomach.

CARMEN

I'm just saying that... maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea. Our baby will grow up with our culture, our language, his grandparents--

Julio scoffs and drags his hand over his face. He lets out a heavy sigh and stares up at the ceiling.

CARMEN

Besides, if we have to stay, at least the baby will still be American. At 18, he can claim you, and--

JULIO

--You think I want to be here for 18 years waiting on a baby who may or may not like me?

CARMEN

Why wouldn't he like you?

JULIO

Look at me and my parents! I don't like my dad!

CARMEN

But, you love him, right?

JULIO

Yeah... but I don't like him!

CARMEN

Which one is it?

JULIO

Both. There's a difference!

CARMEN

How are they different?

JULIO

They just... are!

He stares back up at the ceiling.  A pregnant pause.

CARMEN

I know our son is going to love you.

JULIO

(beat)

How do you know that?

She grabs his hand and caresses it.

CARMEN

Because you're not your father.

He lets out a heavy sigh.

CARMEN

Let's just sleep on it, ok?

JULIO

Fine. I'm gonna take a walk before dinner.

EXT. JUAN AND AIDA'S HOUSE, PORCH - MOMENTS LATER

The night sky, littered with stars. Grey clouds hang like canvases.

TILT DOWN to reveal Julio, standing by the gate, stiff.

CLOSE ON: Julio, deep in thought.

EXT. MEXICAN-AMERICAN BORDER - DAY

CLOSE ON: on Julio, relief washed onto his face.

A GROUP OF MEN AND WOMEN pass by him. He looks behind him.

JULIO

You okay?

PAN TO Carmen, waddling towards Julio. She glances around.

CARMEN

Are you sure about this?

JULIO

(beat)

Yeah.

CARMEN

Okay, I'll meet you on the other side.

She grabs his hand, and he squeezes back.

JULIO

Okay, babe. See you on the other side.

Julio leans in and they kiss.

FADE TO BLACK

Alima-Sarah Masamba-Ndiaye's script won second prize in the 2024 Humanities & Sciences Undergraduate Writing Contest. Alima-Sarah graduated from SV in 2024, with a BFA in Film. She is currently pursuing a Master of Library and Information Science degree at Syracuse University while interning at The Morgan Library & Museum.