Come on, India!
Come on!
Roberto, get back to the house!
Roberto!
Get back to the house!
- I'm on my way.
Pedro!
Honey?
Honey, where are you?
What's going on?
She's waking up.
Sit down.
Guess might as well.
Did you work hard?
Same as always.
Hey, why are you always crying?
Come to your daddy.
Come to your papa.
Now you'll stop crying.
Hush.
Hush now.
Hush!
You take her.
She doesn't love her daddy.
She doesn't love her daddy.
Talk to me.
You okay now?
Slow down, Indio.
- She's hungry.
- There you go.
Just look at her.
Little crybaby.
She's hungry.
Mommy doesn't feed you.
Shall put this on her?
Don't suck so hard.
Easy.
So you don't get cold.
Go on, have all you want.
Didn't you feed her earlier?
Sure, but she's always hungry.
Now she's done.
Come here.
Go with Daddy now.
I'm thinking of crossing the border
and going north.
What do you think?
It's hard to earn much here.
They're laying people off.
If go, I'll stay a year.
We can't make ends meet here.
She'll have to go to school.
She'll need clothes and all that.
I'd rather you didn't go,
but guess...
whatever you want.
In six months I'll make enough
to come back home.
That should be enough.
Then we won't have
to eat so many potatoes.
That'd be a nice change.
Dear Virgin of Guadalupe,
who appeared here below,
ease, dearest Mother,
all my sorrow and woe.
You're going off
just like your father Alberto did.
And he never came back.
Don't go, son. Please.
Don't worry, Mama.
I'll make lots of money in the U..
Give me a little smile.
You can do better than that.
That woman!
Come on!
I'm a poor little deer
who lives in the hills
I'm not very tame,
so don'! come down in daylight
come down at night
Straight into your arms, my love
climbed the highest hill
to look out over the plains
Hawks don't rule
where eagles soar
Neither does la migra
with its chickenshit airplanes
Stand up and proceed downhill.
There are officers
waiting at the bottom.
Come out and walk toward them.
Don't run!
Stand up and don'! run.
We can see you.
Officers are waiting below.
We see you
down there in the bushes.
Don't run.
What?
What's goin' on?
Who is this guy?
- I'm just passing through.
- thought you were Immigration.
- Are the tortillas ready?
- In a minute.
- And coffee?
- You want coffee now?
Of course.
Look what turned up
out of the blue.
Scared the heck out of us.
We thought he was Immigration.
- How about a tortilla?
- Sure.
Here are the beans. Dig in.
Help yourself.
He's one of us.
There's a few of us.
We just sleep in different places
so if Immigration comes,
they won't catch us all at once.
Bring it closer.
Don't be embarrassed.
We're all friends here.
Dig in, guys.
We gotta get going.
You think there's a chance
could get work here?
Sure, someone will hire you.
Just don't ask questions.
Tell the boss
you're just here to work.
Don't ask questions.
That's all.
So you want to work here?
- Hey, the beans will burn.
- No, they won't.
- Take 'em off now.
- They're good, huh?
- Where are you from?
- Michoacan.
- Lots of michoacanos here.
- What about you guys?
I'm from Guanajuato.
- What about you?
- Guadalajara.
And you?
Zacatecas.
We're from all over the place.
Puebla. Everywhere.
All over the place.
When did you cross the border?
Yesterday?
Where's the sugar?
What kind of work
is there around here?
Picking tomatoes.
Want a chile?
- Sure.
Seems a little rotten.
Watch out for Immigration
as you come out.
They're around a lot now.
Yeah, you'll get work.
Just stick with us.
We'll teach you everything.
Move it, man.
You're falling behind.
It's la migra, boys!
Let's go!
Run!
How'd it go?
They cleaned us out again
early in the day.
That one's sharp.
He got away.
See you tomorrow.
Hey, what about my pay?
You're the one who hired me.
Hey, you hired me!
You hired me!
You're the one who hired me!
You want work?
Like this.
This is a good size
for the baskets.
- What about this one?
- That's good too.
- Okay to turn 'em over?
- Yes. That's the size.
Can you make money here?
Don't let 'em see you.
Watch, like this.
Where you headed
when you're done here?
When I'm done here?
don't know.
Don't know these parts.
Have one if you're hungry.
The man's right there.
Look. Watch this.
Don't be scared.
- The black dog came after me.
- Their black dog?
You can make good money here.
- That's what came for.
Here's where we'll stay.
It's a chicken coop.
Didn't you know
they call us illegals polios?
Come on in.
Make yourself at home.
Don't be scared.
Just needs a quick cleaning.
Come on in. Welcome.
Have a seat.
Here's a blanket.
Some pants.
Nice and clean.
A shirt.
You can shower over there.
My name's Joe.
Roberto.
- Nice to meet you.
- Likewise.
Welcome.
This is your home.
It'll do, right?
You can sleep here.
- It'll have to do.
- That's right. It's all we've got.
Hey, watch this.
You're already drivin'
the girls crazy.
But you've got a lot to learn.
You gotta smile.
A confident little smile.
Watch me.
Let's see you now.
But why?
So you can learn.
Look confident. Like this.
Go ahead.
Look confident.
- Why?
- So you can learn.
So the girls will look at you.
Like the gringos do it.
That's it!
- Show 'em your teeth.
- But why?
- So you can learn!
So the gringos will look at you.
Watch - it's easy.
You try. Look confident.
Now for your first lesson.
Pay attention.
Lesson number one. Watch.
This is the coffee shop,
and you're gonna go in.
You open the door confidently,
with a smile.
You look around at everyone.
You walk confidently
and sit down at a table.
Always cross your legs.
Look confident.
You pick up the menu.
You read it.
You wait for the waitress.
What's the first thing
you always order?
Tortillas and beans, right?
Here in the U..
you ask for ham, eggs, and coffee.
Now you do it,
and look confident.
Just once, so you can learn.
Go on! Don't be scared.
Give it your best. This is
the coffee shop, and you walk in.
I'm the waitress.
Berto's the waitress.
You come in and sit down.
Smile and look confident.
And now you order...
And if the waitress is pretty,
talk to her.
Give her a little kiss.
But I'm married.
That's in Mexico.
Here you gotta act
like the people here.
Here we're all unattached.
Got that?
But I'm married.
Beer!
What's your name?
- Tavo.
I'll speak English like you guys
by the time go back.
You'll be a real gringo.
A little toast.
- Sure.
What's the name of the town
we're going to?
That's where we're headed tomorrow.
There's good money there.
That what want, man.
Money.
- We all need money.
- sure do.
We'll work the lettuce fields.
It's good money.
Come on.
Another car will come along soon.
Look at this.
- What's that?
- My green card.
It cost me $40,
but it was worth it.
He told me we can't hitchhike.
- Whatsit we do?
He'll be gone in a minute.
We'll catch a ride soon.
First we wait for the train.
We hop on that
and ride to Stockton.
We make some money
picking lettuce,
then we get ourselves
some beer and some girls, okay?
Sounds good.
What are we gonna do?
Hit that button.
Ah, it's for the windows.
Hit that button on your right.
Look at that!
Up and down.
Let's go to Florida.
Put your seat belt on.
It's on your right.
- How?
- Just pull it like this.
Let it go all the way back in,
then pull.
Now stick it in there.
Fasten it.
Look at the setup over there.
Put your arm through there.
Okay, here we go!
We're riding in style now.
- What's that for?
- Like the gringos.
Look at this.
This is really great.
It's so comfortable.
- Look in the mirror.
This is really comfortable.
Look at the cars down there.
The train's moving.
Look.
Let's eat here.
Wave hi to the girls.
The one in the pants.
No, don't like that place.
How about somewhere
that serves carnitas?
Let's get some taquitos.
- Uh-oh, cops!
- What?
Get down, man.
don't believe it!
Get down.
Hey, out it out!
Cut it out, man!
Cut it out!
Get this thing off me!
They can't do anything.
They can't catch us up here.
Do like showed you.
You enter my solitude
Your smile lights up my darkness
Your body next to mine
truly do need you
if only for a while
Your passion eases my pain
Hey, you missed some.
Thought you didn't want those.
Yeah, put 'em in the bucket.
Working hard?
Very hard.
Let's go.
One, two, three, four...
...thirteen.
Thirteen?
Then 13 more.
- How's it going?
- See ya around.
Sharon.
What's up, man?
Got another job.
It pays better.
I'm gonna be rollin' in dough now.
What do you think?
What do you think?
Work.
How's it look?
Very nice.
It's going to Mexico.
Tonight give you a scarf
So you'll come dance with me
My hearts full of affection
That gladly offer to you
Tonight your eyes are shining
Like mirrors re?ecting my love
Your smile like the new moon
Playing hide-and-seek
La migra! Out the back!
Illegals!
Anyone without papers!
Out the back!
Stand against the wall.
Any matches or cigarettes?
What's your name?
Roberto what?
Ramirez.
Good-b ye, California
They're taking me away
But'll always carry you with me
God willing, I'll
return very soon
I'm leaving my experiences behind
will return
Dear Lord, grant me this much
Let me have your attention, men.
Please.
You all know...
it costs $200
to get to the U.. to find work.
Right?
Well, you bums got lucky.
You won't have to pay
a single peso.
If you're hard workers
and are really looking to work,
can take you there,
and it won't cost you a peso.
Why would do this?
Because like you so much?
You're all smart guys, right?
can't fool you.
The thing is, there's a strike
going on in Colorado,
and they need men like you
to pick melons.
So if you want,
you can go now and pay later.
The $200 will come
out of your pay.
But that won't be a problem.
Listen, just got back
from Colorado.
They're paying better
than in California.
So how many are interested?
Come on.
Have a beer on me
after you sign up.
Want to go too.
I'm a hard worker,
and have a daughter.
Let me finish with the men first.
Then I'll see what can do, okay?
Don't worry.
It's just on the other side, see?
The worst is over.
Tomorrow morning
a truck will pick you up
and take you to Colorado,
where you'll make good money.
So relax for now,
and by tomorrow...
you'll be making good money.
Get up. Come on.
Get up. On your feet.
The food's here.
Alberto!
Ramirez!
That's my dad!
This is where your father lived.
It's not much.
A broken-down bus.
- They always live like this?
- Sometimes, man.
This is where your old man lived.
What's that?
This is all he left behind.
He could read English.
Oh yeah.
He spoke it well.
- What's this?
- Glycerin.
- What for?
- It's medicine for his heart.
He was sick, poor guy.
A postcard.
What's this?
A letter.
That's not my mother.
He was married here to...
Look, this is a $50 money order
from Alberto Ramirez
to Mrs. Grace Ramirez.
That was her name.
They don't live far from here.
Can take you there if you'd like.
It's just a few hours.
Don't like this food.
Don't like this food.
Wanna go home!
Wanna go home!
It's good food.
- Don't like it.
- Look, beans.
They're good and fresh.
Good fresh beans
and tortillas.
Don't like this food!
With tortillas?
They're good beans.
Don't like this food!
- Help me, boss!
- What am supposed to do?
Help me!
Get me outta here now!
Eat something, man.
You're gonna get sick.
Eat something.
Want to leave.
Right now!
You can leave tomorrow.
Want to go now.
- Have a taco.
Don't wanna eat.
wanna leave right now.
Don't wanna be here.
We'll work a few days,
and then we'll go.
Just wait.
What can we do without money?
Don't want to be here!
How are you?
Where are you going?
- Back to Mexico.
You have papers?
You'll have to come with me.
Do you have papers?
Are you sick?
What's going on, ma'am?
What's the problem?
Are you sick, ma'am?
MY baby's coming!
This woman is having a baby!
Cover her up.
A little more.
You're almost there.
- My baby!
Do you want
an ambulance, ma'am?
There, it's out.
It's a boy.
Is my baby all right?
Let me see him.
Lift him up so she can see him.
My son.
He's a little man.
He was born here.
My son will have papers.
He can work here,
back and forth.
Yes, he was born here, sweetie.
Went up north as an alambrista
Not knowing what to expect
Back on the farm left behind
My daughter, my wife,
and my poor mother
One night, like a little deer
crossed over from
Tijuana to San Diego
La migra caught
almost all of us
God knows how got away
don't know how did it,
but here am
to tell the tale...
In the fields met other pollos
Who taught me all the ropes
Like how to order ham and eggs
in English with a smile
Beta and Joe taught me that
Joe was a good friend to me
And took me
with him to Stockton
Hanging on for dear life
beneath a train
Poor Joe met his fate
on those tracks
was lost
on the streets of Stockton
When a waitress
defended me from attack
And almost stayed with Sharon
Who shared her house
and her affection with me
picked grapes and cucumbers
And sent money
back home to my wife
But la migra
nabbed me at a dance
And landed back in Tijuana
Like the wind
beneath a starry sky
Me and some others
crossed the desert
A gringo rancher had hired us
And a coyote
took us to Colorado
Beneath a sun the color
of copper and blood
worked as a scab
ask the Virgin '5 forgiveness
For any harm caused others
There came across my father
His heart ca I've out
night in the fields
He never knew was at his side
The son he'd abandoned
Little dove
flying home to my land
I'm flying night behind you
I'm going back to see my family
And lay my heart at their feet