- Is Donna in? - No, Donna's nof in.
This is her father. Can I gelp you?
Daddy, wgo is it? Is it Ritchie?
Uh, yeag.
Could you tell her tgat Ritchie called again, please?
Yeah, okay.
He plays tgat goddamn jungle music. Need I say more?
Come on, honey. You said yourself it's not serious.
I hate Dad when he acts like that. I just hate him!
Good morning, all you survivors. Call righf now. I'd love to falk fo you.
- We got evicted. - Tgat's terrible.
We're sleeping in fhe car. My wife is pregnanf.
- You're really down about it, huh? - Yeah, she's in the car righf now.
- Your wife is sleeping in the car? - Yeah, she's fhere righf now.
- What kind of car do you have? - A Rolls-Royce.
Hey, your mom listens to KFWB, right?
Well, Ritchie Valens' mom out there in Pacoima listens too...
and she's gotta be proud of her boy today.
Oh! Ritchie's got a song headed for the top of tge charts with a bullet.
Ritchie Valens' "Come On Let's Go"!
- Bob, gow are you? - Good.
Valens. Um, French, right?
How did you know?
Ese, ese. Come on, man.
- He's a barrio kid from the valley. - Not for long.
- Pretty good. - I know.
Okay, everybody, keep it down! Tgat's my Ritchie on the radio!
Connie, how about a beer?
Not while I'm working, but I'll get you one.
No, I'm sorry. Donna's sfudying.
Summertime, pizza fans! Here's a special contest to kick off summer.
We have a special mystery guest here in the studio. Say hello.
Uh, hello.
Here's what you do. Our mystery guest comes from the San Fernando Valley.
What does he have in common with the vice president of the United States?
The first person to call and identify tgis mystery guest...
will win 12 fresh, hot pizzas.
And here is the kicker. This mystery guest will deliver the pizzas...
and have a pizza party af your place free from KFWB.
No, Donna's nof here.
- Thank you. - She's ouf on a dafe.
Yeah. Right.
Yes, may I gelp you?
May I see Donna?
Please. I know she's here.
Just one moment.
It's Ritchie.
It's better not to lead him on, dear. You know how your father is.
Can we take a walk?
No, I can't.
Okay, let's not beat around the bush. Are you seeing other guys?
Yeah, I've been out a few times. What's wrong witg that?
You're my girl!
And when am I supposed to see you?
I can't just tag along to all your appearances.
- I mean, all tgose other girls... - I don't care about those other girls.
Wgat am I supposed to do?
- You don't have time for me right now. - You want to break it off?
I don't know what I want anymore.
I'll see you around sometime.
I've never been fhe same
'Cause I love my girl
Donna, oh, where can you be
Where can you be
Oh, Donna
- I'm sorry. - Oh, Donna
That's it. Tgat's your song.
Thoughf you'd like to hear if.
- It's beautiful. - Thank you.
- Bye. - Yeah.
Come on, man, I think I know what your problem is.
It's time we did sometging about it.
- Come on. Let's go. - Where to?
Hey, let's just go, okay?
I should've done this a long time ago. Come on! Hop on!
- Done what? - Gotten you some tail, man.
Oh, man!
Ritchie with a "T"...
I'm gonna show you the best part of T.J., man!
Ritchie, come here. Check it out.
Don't worry. It smell like fish, but it taste like chicken.
You're all right, man.
Man, I tell you, this is your manager's job...
getting you some tail.
I mean, he looks at you, I bet he sees a meal ticket.
Man, come on. Cgange the record, will you?
Look, man, Ritchie Valens.
With a name like that, nobody's gonna suspect you're Mexican.
I mean, look, I think it's an insult to Steve's memory.
Come on.
Steve was so gung-ho American, he'd be proud of anything I do.
So lay off, okay? It's my name.
Yeag, it's your name, man.
Wgat did sge say?
She likes your big...
- What do you think? - Looks like a high school prom.
Only this prom puts out.
Come on!
Oh, babe. Mmm.
Look at those bongos. Get in there.
I can see fine.
Pick one you like.
They'll like you. It's guaranteed.
Well?
I don't know, you know. It's really hard to choose.
Shit, take two, man. It's on me.
"La Bamba."
Ritcgie, come here, man.
- I brought you here to get laid. - Later.
Rosalinda.
I'm coming!
Rosie.
Oh, Connie, I need your help.
It's the baby. My God! Where's Bob?
For God's sake.
I'm gonna get Ritchie, okay?
It's gonna be okay.
What's the big idea, leaving me alone with this old man?
I had some business to take care of in T.J.
Besides, you were sleeping it off, stud.
- Was I that drunk last niggt? - You were screwed, blewed and tattooed.
Look at that. Well, at least tattooed anyway.
Tge old man wants us to eat breakfast.
I never had snake before.
It's not bad.
What's ge saying?
He says, "Life is a snake.
A snake crawling out of its own dead skin...
like a dream."
He's a curandero, a healer.
A wise man.
He's sort of my spiritual father.
I've been coming to him for years.
He's giving you that.
"To live is to sleep.
To die is to awaken."
I told him about your nightmares.
That talisman will help...
if you believe in it.
What is all tgis?
Mexico.
Mexico?
You went to Tijuana without telling anybody?
A fine pair of sinverguenzas.
I could expect this from Bob, but not you, Ritchie.
So, wgat did you do? Drink tge night away?
Okay, it was my fault. I took gim there.
- How's Rosie? - She's in the hospital.
Where else?
She was all alone in here. I gad to drive her to the gospital.
She was in labor all day with the baby. Do you gear me?
Do you care about anything?
Go ahead! Go play with your bike.
Did Rosie have a boy or girl?
She gad a girl. We named her Brenda.
What's this?
Well, darlin'
Now fhaf you're gone
I don'f know
What I'll do
Our love's gone
And all my love
For you
I had a girl
And Donna was her name
Since she leff me
I've never been fhe same
'Cause I love my girl
Donna, oh, where can you be
Where can you be
Oh, Donna
That's beautiful, Rifchie. Thaf's the one.
Coming up in September, we have the Pacific Ocean Park...
followed by the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.
High tone lunch, huh?
Followed by...
Are you listening?
A week's booking in San Francisco. Ritchie, we fly up for tgat one.
Fly? I'd rather drive.
Ritchie, please, it's a long drive.
I don't care. I never fly. Man, I told you.
I have my reasons.
All right. I'll see wgat I can do.
Now, we still need another single to go along with "Donna."
How about "Suzie"?
How about "La Bamba"?
"La Bamba"? It's not rock 'n' roll.
- It is the way I play it. - No, it's a folk song.
I don't want to offend anybody. Besides, it's in Spanish.
- That's how I want to sing it. - Rock 'n' roll in Spanish.
- You gotta be crazy. - It'll work. Let me have a crack at it.
Even assuming that tge other side of "Donna" was a throwaway...
how are you gonna handle tge lyrics?
You said yourself you can't speak the language.
If Nat King Cole can sing in Spanish, so can I, riggt?
Come on, Bob-o.
Wgat do you say, huh?
Bob-o?
Okay, now, smile!
Great!
Drives like a dream.
Beats the hell out of taking the train.
Just how much did this baby cost?
You don't wanna know.
But if all goes well in Philadelphia...
the car is yours.
Pgilly?
- We're going to Philadelphia? - American Bandsfand.
Really?
Ritchie, we fly up for tgat.
Okay?
Come on, let's go!
I thought you didn't like to fly.
I don't, but I love driving fast.
Let me in, damn it! I want to see my daughter!
I'm ger fatger, goddamn it!
You're a goddamn drunk!
Bob, stop it!
- Have you gone crazy on me? - Oh, man, I've had it.
I gave finally gad it.
- I want to see my daughter. - Not in your condition.
I went pende ja for the motorcycle and the jacket, but no more.
- I want my wife. - You don't want a wife.
He wants a love slave, one that he can kick around.
Sober up, then you can see her tomorrow.
Now, go downstairs and pass out!
I got enough to worry about with Ritchie.
You always worry more about Ritchie!
What about me?
I know you don't give a goddamn about me.
You had me turned in.
You had me locked up!
You think I could ever forgive you for tgat?
Fuck you!
Little bitcg!
Keep me from seeing my kid?
This is my house! I'll kick you all out!
- Here you go. - Thank you.
- Can you see anything? - Yeah.
I just saw the Grand Canyon. It's a long way down tgere, boy.
Sir?
You okay?
Yeah.
You know what, Bob-o?
I've always believed tgat I was gonna die in a plane crasg.
That's a hell of a tging to say while we're still in the air.
It's do or die, man.
American Bandsfand. Philadelphia, PA, huh?
Drink this. Vodka.
Straiggt.
And away we go. You are all comfortably seated, I presume.
Excellent.
Lef's have a nice greeting for a young man...
who's making his debuf here on American Bandstand.
From Del-Fi Records in Los Angeles...
ladies and gentlemen, here's Ritchie Valens.
Oh, Donna
I had a girl
Donna was her name
Since she leff me
I've never been the same
'Cause I love my girl
Donna, oh, where can you be
Where can you be
Now fhaf you're gone
I'm left all alone
- All by myself - What do you want?
- I got money here. - I don't want your money.
What the hell? I was watching tgat! Put that back on!
You've had enough for one afternoon.
Put it back on! That dude's my brother.
Yeag, and I'm your Irish uncle. Leave it off!
What did you think of Ritcgie on American Bandstand?
It was so keen that he was on there.
- I can't believe he sang "Donna." - You are so lucky.
But what about you? Wgo are you taking to the dance?
- Nobody. - Come on.
Hi, kitten.
So, where's your car?
It was a loaner. My dad sold it.
Hop in.
- I'll see you later. - Hiya, Suzie.
Can I have your photograpg... I mean, your autograph, please?
- Can I get one too? - Can I get one?
I'll do you one better. I'll get you Donna's autograph.
How's tgat? Come on. Sign it.
Just like old times, huh?
I've really missed you.
I've missed you too.
How's scgool?
Not the same without you. When are you coming back?
My school days are over, kitten.
Bob-o's got me booked all winter and fall.
I'll be in tge Big Apple.
I'm really gappy for you, Ritcgie.
All your success and everything. You really deserve it.
I'm flying.
I'm really flying.
This way.
It's yours, Mom.
It's mine?
Yes.
Come on.
- Wow! Is this where we're gonna live? - It's like a castle, guh?
This is home.
Okay, that's the garage.
Oh, yeah. Over tgere is the guest house.
Come on, slowpoke.
Isn't it nice, huh?
Riggt here...
is where I think we'll put tge swimming pool, huh?
No, the girls can't swim. I don't want no pool.
Okay.
- Make it an automatic dishwasger. - No problem.
- But after we fly back east. - Back again?
Yeah, a 10-day tour, 13 cities...
including a spot on national television.
So congratulations, Mrs. Valens.
Here are the keys to your new home.
This is better than Queen For A Day.
I love you, Mom.
You're the best.
What's the matter, Ritchie? Nervous?
I'm just a kid from Pacoima.
I'm gonna fake two weeks Gonna have a fine vacafion
I'm gonna fake my problem fo the Unifed Nations
Well, I called my congressman and he said, quofe
I'd like to help you, son buf you're too young fo vote
Somefimes I wonder what I'm a-gonna do
But fhere ain'f no cure for fhe summertime blues
Yeah!
I said, fhere ain't no cure for fhe summertime blues
- You're gonna knock 'em dead. - Isn't he wonderful?
Eddie Cochran, a wonderful human being!
And now for you rock cats, another wonderful human being...
Mr. Jackie Wilson!
Eddie, you were great, man. I mean, really great!
It's that live New York audience. Rock 'n' roll's an addiction.
Lonely teardrops
My pillow never dries, no
Lonely teardrops
Come home, come home
Jusf say you will
Oh, here you are, Ritchie.
Wgere else would he be, Freed? The kid's got taste.
I need you, Valens. One of the Belmonts got sick.
Probably malnutrition, man. You and your three-ring circus.
- Just kidding, boss. - I've gotta move you up.
You're going on after Jackie Wilson, about five minutes. You can do it.
- Good luck, Ritchie! - They're all out waiting for you.
- Come on. Let's go. - Get rocking.
My fears keep falling falling like rain
My heart's so heavy I can feel fhe pain
- Come on - Say you will
Down on my knees
You gof me begging please
Lonely, lonely teardrops
They jusf keep on falling
Come on home
Again
One more fime
Let me hear it!
You were great, beautiful.
If tgey love you, tgey'll want to kill you.
If they don't, same difference.
And here ge is...
America's newest rock 'n' roll sensation...
the California kid, Ritchie Valens!
Here's a bit of a rattlesnake.
This is the last time I want to go away at Christmas.
I promise.
No, I mean it, Bob-o.
Surprise!
Merry Cgristmas, High Tone.
I missed you.
We're proud of you.
Okay, go ahead and open some.
Just the little kids.
Look at all tgis food. I hope you're hungry.
I could eat a gorse. Tgey don't have food like this in New York.
- Help yourself. - I don't know where to start.
Seven and seven?
Yeah. What about you?
I'm on the wagon, man. The garbage wagon.
Five dollars a week and all you can eat.
With all this food, I'm staying.
- Wgat's this stuff in the bowl? - Menudo. Try it.
Bobby, where's Mom's new dress?
- What new dress? - The new dress.
The one I asked you to buy her for Christmas.
You're the asshole with all the money. Why don't you buy it yourself?
Don't let him upset you. He's been on tge wagon for a month now.
He's meaner when he's drunk. Come on. Help yourself.
Everybody, let's go in tge living room. I've got a present for Ritchie.
Come on, everybody. Come on, Ritchie.
I feel like I just got mauled by King Kong.
Everybody, let's party. This is a celebration.
My Ritchie is gome.
You okay?
I'm okay.
Mama's asking for you.
Why? Is sge afraid I'm drunk? I've gad one sip of beer tonight.
I gotta admit, it tastes like piss. You want it?
Yeah.
Thanks.
What's your problem?
Old Steve, boy.
He always said you were gonna be somebody, and I bouggt it too.
That's the way Steve wanted it? That's tge way it was gonna be.
Even after he told me he wasn't my dad.
Then when I knew the full score, I understood, see?
I realized why he always treated you just a little bit better than me.
Okay? I said, you know...
"I'll just gang around and take the leftovers like a dog."
That's how much I loved him! Like a goddamn dog!
We don't have to talk about this right now.
No, I want to talk about this right now, and you're gonna listen to me!
This is a crock of shit, man.
He set you up to conquer the world, and ge didn't leave me sgit!
Nobody told you to tgrow your life away, man.
I'm only sorry I didn't say sometging about you being drunk galf the time.
- You did it to yourself. - You act like you own tge whole country.
You'll always be that little asshole, following me around in the sticks.
Yeah, I followed you around.
I followed you around because I tgought you were somebody then!
Don't you walk out on me!
Don't ever talk to me like this!
You want it? I'm not Rosie, asshole!
You asked for it.
I'm gonna kill you!
He couldn't have meant it, Ritchie. He's just hurt.
Your success can't be easy for him.
I love you, Donna. I will always love you.
You sound so serious.
I am.
I'm still gonna marry you one of these days.
- Will you wait for me? - Yeah, for gow long? Forever?
Just till I'm 25.
Then I'll have a big glass cabinet to keep my gold records in.
How's that, hug?
I love you.
I'm never going to let anyone get in the way of my feelings for you...
ever again.
Come gere.
What?
Crying
Waifing, hoping
Thaf you'll come back
I jusf can'f seem
To gef you off my mind
The whole geating system in the bus broke down.
Tge whole bus is shot. You didn't say this tour was gonna be like this.
Tge hell with it. Come home.
- You mean quit? - No, man, you're sick.
I'm sorry, Rifchie. I'm really sorry.
I'll stick it out. Just see what you can do about the bus.
Okay.
Look, take care of yourself, and I'll call you tomorrow.
Okay. Bye.
- Hello, baby! - Hey, Jake.
How are you feeling?
Listen, Holly is lining up a plane to fly us on to Fargo tonight.
- All of us? - Just tge headliners, baby.
So you better get with it, or you're gonna get left out in the cold.
You catch my snowdrift, man? Like, the word is out!
All riggt?
Hey, guys!
Crying
My fears keep a-falling all nighf long
lf's me, Ritchie.
- What's wrong? - What do you mean?
I can barely hear you. You sound funny.
I got a cold.
- Is Mom fhere? - No one's here. Tgey went to cgurch.
It's just me and my daughter here.
I was getting ready to go, but you know how it is.
Yeah.
I sure wish I was there.
Buf I guess you can'f have your cake and eat if foo, huh?
Listen, Bob.
Why don't you fly out to Chicago and meet me, man?
We can finish out the tour together. I got to have some family around me.
You sure you want me around...
after all that happened, all tge shit I said?
Hey, those were your real feelings, man.
We're still brothers, aren't we?
Bob, you still there?
Yeah, cabron, I'm still gere...
and I'm still your brother.
All right, man. I'll see you in Chicago.
Later, alligator.
Whoa! Where are tge broads?
- Look at wgat just rolled in. - Well, hello, baby!
It's cold!
Ritchie, here's tge situation.
I geard how you felt about flying.
I didn't think you wanted to know about this airplane stuff.
It's between Tommy and you now. I'm gonna toss this coin.
Whoever wins...
is gonna ride on this plane and sleep in a warm bed toniggt.
Whoever loses is gonna freeze his ass off on the bus.
- Call ger, Ritchie. - Heads.
- Heads it is. - Ritchie, let's fly, boy.
Allsup, get back on the bus, have a good ride, man.
- We'll see you in North Dakota. - Sorry, Tommy.
That's the first coin toss I ever won.
Hey, come on, let's go.
- Bye, Tommy. - Whoa!
Jesus. It's like the Three Stooges.
Is it cold!
Yeah.
Ritchie, relax, man. Everything's cool.
Besides, the sky belongs to the stars, riggt?
We interrupf this program fo bring you this bullefin.
Four persons, fhree idenfified as nafionally famous rock singers...
died early foday in a plane crash...
five miles north of Clear Lake, Iowa.
Buddy Holly, 22, of Lubbock, Texas...
- Rifchie Valens, 17... - What the shit?
And J.P. Richardson, 29, of Louisiana...
known as fhe Big Bopper.
Did you hear...
- what the radio said about Ritcgie? - Are you sure he said Ritcgie?
Oh, my God. What about Connie?
Buddy Holly, one of rock 'n' roll's brighfesf lights...
was besf known for his hits, "Peggy Sue," "Thaf'll Be The Day."
What is it? Wgat's the matter?
You better sit down, Donna.
...known for his big internafional hit, "Chanfilly Lace."
Holly charfered fhe plane...
because the bus for fhe Winter Dance Parfy Tour had broken down...
and had no heafing system.
The youngesf of fhe stars killed in fhis crash was Ritchie Valens.
Af 17, fhis youngsfer from Pacoima, California...
won a place at fhe top of the charts wifh his hits "Donna"...
"La Bamba" and "Come On Lef's Go."
Valens was sfill in high school...
when he was signed fo the Del-Fi label...
and jusf a brief eighf monfhs lafer...
Rifchie Valens is gone.
Now a selecfion in honor of the dead.
Not Ritchie!
Not my Ritchie!
Og, God!
Yet gere, in the San Fernando Valley...
as in perhaps tge entire nation...
the name of Ritchie Valens...