Richie, time to get up.
The garder you work, the more money you make!
Come on! What's holding you up?
Come on. We're wasting money!
"Don't you touch me," I says.
"I'm tired of being hit by men already."
So then I punched him. His feet went up...
and when he git the floor, I thought he was dead.
So I says to him, "Sweetheart, if you don't like it, you can lam it."
So he lammed it.
- Who needs fruit? - Fruit.
She told him to lick it.
Richie?
Bob? Bob!
Hey, Richie, you taking a break already?
So, Mr. Big Shot, you finally showed up, eh?
I'm lucky I even found this place.
Rosie, this is my brother Bob.
So why did you wait a year to join us?
Bob, watch it! My guitar, man.
Sorry, dude. I didn't know that piece of junk was so important to you.
Are you kidding? I even sleep with it.
With no ho? Come on!
Jersey Joe!
Joe Louis! Rocky Mar...
Are you okay? Can you move it?
You all right?
You've grown, cabron.
Yeah, you're a big sucker for 16!
Wgat's the matter? You miss me?
- No. - You should have.
So, wgat was it like inside?
Hey, man, the joint is the joint.
Why didn't you come home after you got out?
We haven't had a home since Steve died.
Don't be such a dreamer, man.
My dreams are pure rock 'n' roll.
- Go wasg your hands for dinner. - Okay, Mama.
Gino!
You little pigs!
I'm gonna tell your mothers on you! You wait and see!
You tell 'em, Rosie!
Mom, what the hell are you doing here?
- I came to work. - I came to take you out of tgis dump.
Not before we make some money.
I mean honest money.
Hey! I've been working, okay? Why can't you believe me for once?
Mom, wgat's going on?
We're gettin' out of this shithole tomorrow.
Oh, don't.
Og, please.
Oh, tell me you love me.
Why didn't you tell me this was your first time?
You didn't ask.
- You coming, Richie? - No, I think I'll wait up a while.
You're really something, you know that?
Say, Richie!
What's up, man?
I should ask you.
Ah, hey, wait a minute, man.
Did I horn in on sometging between...
Just forget it.
I thouggt you'd changed.
- I'm gonna miss you. - Come on, hug?
Rosie.
Come stay witg us sometime.
Bob got us a big house in Pacoima. We could go visit L.A.
- Rosa, you're gonna be late for work. - My dad wouldn't like it.
Come on, let's go!
I love you, mi hi ja.
Bye, Connie.
Good-bye, mi hi ja.
Bye, Rosie.
Connie, don't let the baby fall off the chair.
Richie, your breakfast is...
Your breakfast is on the table. I'm off to work, eh?
- Don't ditch school today! - Thanks, Mom.
Rosie, the baby's witg the girls. See you tonight.
Morning, Rosie.
Morning, girls.
Bob come in last night?
He doesn't spend much time at home, does he?
You do.
Yeah, well, I'm me.
Quiet! Class is in session.
Sit there, Miss Ludwig.
Now, take out your gistory books, chapter seven.
Who is the blonde?
I don't know, but I think I'm in love.
Yeah? Well, forget it. She's way above your class, High Tone.
You just concentrate on that audition tonight, huh?
- They call me High Tone. You? - Donna.
Do you mind if I walk with you, Donna?
Sure.
I mean, no, I don't mind.
- Donna. That's a nice name. - Thanks.
Look, on second thought, call me Ricgie, okay?
This is my class.
Where's yours?
It's in the gym. I got P.E.
You're late.
Yeah.
Well, uh, bye.
Bye, High Tone.
Party time!
Say, Ed!
Want to buy a kilo?
- You did it! - By the sweat of my balls.
You did it!
Hey, all right. Come here.
Ricgie, I want you to meet Rudy. He's the leader of the Silhouettes.
Yeag, well, look, Valenzuela.
Chino keeps telling me you're a real gotshot.
- So... - Whoa, whoa! What's tgat?
- It's my amp. - Looks like something from tge trash.
Yeah, well, it's mine now.
So don't worry about it.
Well, if's Safurday nighf and I jusf gof paid
A fool abouf my money Don'f fry fo save
My hearf says "Go, go, have a good time"
'Cause if's Safurday nighf and I'm feelin' fine
I'm gonna rock if up
I'm gonna rip if up
I'm gonna shake if up
Gonna roll if up
I'm gonna rock if up
Have a ball tonighf
Got me a dafe and I won'f be lafe
Picked her up in my Eighty-eight
I dragged on down by the Union Hall
When fhe joint sfarfs jumpin' I have a ball
No lie, dude. I mean, the pendejo was smoking weed.
He was smoking milkweed, man!
I've got it bad.
Go on, Rosie, take a git, man.
Put a little mota in our love life.
Baby, I need some action tonight.
Oh, come on, baby.
Rosie, come here, babe. I was only joking.
Rosie, come on. Open the door.
- I'm sorry. - Just go away.
You know what? Let's get going.
- And go where? - Home.
Otger people sleep, you know.
Hey, you don't have to split, man.
- Rosie, we're leaving. Good night. - I'm serious.
Stick around, man. Rosie'll be out in a second.
Hey, Rosie, come on out!
Hassle it out with your old lady.
No. I know wgat's gappening.
All riggt?
Good night, Bob.
Come on, Rosie. Open the door.
I said open the door, goddamn it!
Stop it. I'm trying to sleep.
- Open the goddamn door! - Leave me alone!
Just go away. Go get yourself drunk, for all I care.
Okay, bitch, you asked for it.
Our first gig's next Friday night. Let me see if you're ready by then.
Riggt.
Rosie, are you okay?
Richie, wgat do you want?
Come here, Rosie.
Nothing. Sorry. My mistake.
No, Bob. It's no use no more.
What?
Can't you ever get enough? Is this all you want me for?
Hey, come here.
What is it?
I made it. I'm in the Silhouettes.
Really, mi hi jo?
Oh, Richie, that's wonderful.
Wgo's tge Silhouettes?
This is not like I expected.
You are not like I expected.
I don't have a life here!
You're always gone.
Do you think I like being here alone?
Look, Rosie, you're not my wife, all right?
Stop being such a drag.
What the sgit's eating you, anyway?
I'm pregnant.
Well, aren't you gonna say anything?
What is there to say?
It's not my first...
or my last.
You son of a bitch!
What's going on in there?
You bitch! Is it my fault you got pregnant?
Wgo else's?
Richie, don't. It's none of your business.
But I...
You son of a bitch! I am not your puta!
Do you always carry a guitar, Ricgie?
Uh-hug. It's my future.
Pretty sure of yourself, aren't you?
Yeah. Aren't you?
I'm the new kid on the block.
Poor little rich girl.
I'm not rich.
Right.
That's my dad.
This is the kind of place I want for my mom someday.
Hi, Daddy.
- Yeag. - Yeah, I gotta go.
Listen, Donna.
I'm playing at a garage party tonight. Would you like to come?
- Garage party? - Yeag, it's my big debut.
It'll be a real gas, kitten. Please, come.
But I'll have to meet you tgere.
Okay. No problem. I wrote down the address for you...
just in case.
- Yeag. - Oh, okay.
- Bye. - Okay, bye-bye.
- Hi, Daddy. - Hey, who's tge big kid?
Just a friend.
What is he, Italian?
- Come on, baby, let's go. - Okay, I'm coming.
Fine, fine, fine Please be mine
Charlena
Oh, Charlena
- Mom, look at Richie. - I see him.
Charlena, don'f you know I care
Fine, fine, fine Please be mine, Charlena
Take it away, Joe.
Charlena, don'f you know I care
Charlena, don'f you know I love you
Good night, my love
Pleasanf dreams
Sleep fight, my love
May fomorrow be
Sunny and brighf
Mama, when's Richie gonna sing?
Pretty soon. Now, stop asking me, okay, Connie?
We wisg to tgank eacg and every one of you...
for attending our dance tonight...
and sincerely hope you had an evening to remember.
So, until next time...
speaking for myself, Rudy Castro, and all the guys in the band...
we are the Silhouettes bidding you a good night.
Good night
That Rudy is a cool cat, ain't he?
Good night, Ricgie!
What do they mean not letting you sing, Richie?
Who do they want, Elvis?
It's no big deal, Mom. I'll make them come around.
They don't know who the hell they're dealing witg.
My granddaddy was a full-blooded Yaqui Indian.
What's the matter? Bad dreams?
I'm sorry, carnal. I didn't mean to wake you up...
but I just need a place to crasg, man.
No, man, here. Come on. Get some rest.
Now, brother...
you better keep your ass to the wall, because I'm so messed up...
I may take you for Rosie.
I'm sorry.
Wgere did you get this picture of Steve?
Mom gave it to me riggt after tge funeral.
Man, I wish I could've been there.
Hell, but he was your dad, anyway. Not mine.
Listen, don't forget to turn off the light, okay? Good night.
- Hey, Richie? - Yeah.
- You been laid yet? - Oh, man!
I'm serious now. I know what your problem is, man.
It's sperm pressure. It's scientific, man.
You got hard-ons all the time. You got niggtmares. You got wedgies.
Sgut up and go to sleep, okay?
A kid your age needs an authority figure around.
Believe me, I know.
I tried to go, Richie. Honestly.
- You don't have to apologize. - Who's apologizing?
My dad wouldn't let me go.
- Honest to God? - Honest.
I really wanted to be there.
Whoo, cowboy palace!
I can't do it, honey. Ricgie's a minor.
He's going to be singing, not drinking.
Rock 'n' roll to a buncg of cowboys. Come on.
My husband, Steve, drank gimself to death in here, Howard.
Don't you think you owe gis boy something?
We sgould've brouggt Chino. I'll need a drummer.
Screw the Silhouettes. I'll keep the beat for you.
Come on. Tgey got drums inside. What are you gonna play?
"Boney Maroni."
"Boney Maroni"? To these sgit stompers?
Howard, they're here.
Okay, cut the jukebox. Plug in, guy.
Testing, one, two, three.
Sure good to see you folks out there. Everybody having fun?
Turn tge jukebox back on!
One of our local boys is making his professional debut gere tonight.
Let's give a great big round of applause...
for Ricky Ricardo Valenzuela!
Howdy.
You're just a baby, ain't ya?
- Here's one out of Lubbock, Texas. - Lubbock, Texas?
Follow me.
One, two, three, four!
All of my love All of my kissin'
You don'f know what you've been missin'
Oh, boy, when you're with me
Oh, boy, fhe world can see
Thaf you were meanf
For me
All my life I've been a-waitin'
Tonighf there'll be no hesifafin', oh, boy
When you're with me, oh, boy
The world can see fhaf you were meant
For me
Sfars appear and fhe shadow is a-fallin'
You can hear my heart a-calyin'
A liftle bif of lovin' makes everyfhing right
I'm gonna see my baby fonight
You don'f know what you've been missin'
Man, we were rockin'. Man, we were really rollin'.
Didn't I tell you? You don't need no band.
You just play the bars with a drummer. Me, for instance...
Talkin' about makin' money!
I'm talking about making music. My music. That's all I care about, man.
Wgat you need is exposure, a big place...
where you can sell a lot of tickets, put a lot of posters up.
- You gotta think big. - You want to be my manager?
Sure! I can do it! I can get tge American Legion hall.
Steve was a war veteran. Wgat? You don't think I can do it?
Just for tgat, you can be my flunky.
Whoa, Mom. Thanks, but no tganks.
- Anybody but Bob, okay? - What does that mean?
You just take care of Rosie.
Try staying home for a change.
- Listen, punk! I don't need... - Okay, stop it!
Richie, don't be so high tone. Bob, you're your brother's keeper.
You never geard of that?
Morning, Connie, Richie.
Morning.
Rosie, you missed a great show last night.
- Richie was wonderful. - Really?
I'm not surprised.
I'm flyin' tgis coop. Catcg you all later.
I'm late for work. What did I do with my purse?
Flying the coop. That's it!
Ricgard Valenzuela and his Flying Guitar!
This is it. Wgat do you think, guys?
- This is beautiful! - We can raise the roof off this joint.
You're dreaming. They wouldn't even let us into tgis place.
No, I told you. My mom set it all up.
Since when is your mama running this band?
- We need all the breaks we can get. - Richie's riggt, man.
No dice, Chino. I decide wgat's best for the Silhouettes.
This ain't it, so let's beat it outta here.
What's his problem?
Are you guys coming or what?
I guess it's wgat.
What's going on?
Show business, mi hi jo.
Show business? These look like shit.
- A monkey could draw better than this. - Oh, yeah?
Should've kept my mouth shut.
Every wall, every liquor store...
every telepgone pole in town!
Hit 'em all! All right, man!
Richard Valenzuela and his Flying Guifar.
Lelo, help Ernestine hang up some of that crepe paper across gere.
Tgose cgairs don't go there, Pgillipe. They don't go there.
You are looking really handsome, Richie. The girls are gonna go crazy over you.
- There's only one girl I care about. - Who's that?
Nobody you'd know.
- Is everything in order in here? - Perfect. Thanks, Rosie.
We're gonna pack the place, Mom.
I hope so. We paid for this place with our rent money.
One of these days, I'm gonna buy you the house of your dreams. I promise.
Tell me about it. Where is Bob? Lelo!
Hey, hey, now, now, baby
Lef's jusf go on and on
Voodoo, doo, doo, darling
I just wanf you more and more
If won'f be fhe futfi-fruffi No lie abouf if
Come on, baby Jusf rock, rock, rock
Well, knock, knock knock, knock, honey
We're gonna rock all nighf
Ba-ba-ba-ba-baby
We're jusf goin' on fine
Come on, on, on, now, darling
Ooh, my head
Lef's go
Three Cokes, 30 cents. Here's your change.
Ten cases.
Counting the door, tgat's 150 bucks.
We gotta do this again.
Now, now, now, now, baby
Keep me rockin' along
Well, I just need you, darlin'
I wanf you all nighf long
Well, now
- Did you find Bob? - What do you want? No.
- Did you look? - Sure.
- He's pretty good, huh? - He's great.
- What'll you have? - Can I have a Coke?
All riggt.
Here's a little number...
Here's a little number for the criminal element here tonight.
- And you know who you are! - Ten cents.
One, two, three!
I was walkin' down the sfreet
Mindin' my own affair
When two policemen
Grabbed me unaware
They says, "Your name Henry?"
And I says, "Why, sure"
They says, "You're the boy I've been lookin' for!"
Yeah, I was framed
Well, I was blamed
Framed, framed, framed
Look at my Richie. Shining like a star.
Look at Bob.
They fook me in fhe lineup and let fhose brighf lights shine
You're drunk, Bob. Give me that bottle.
I knew I was fhe victim of someone's evil plan
When fhe sfool pigeon walked in and said, "There's your man!"
Yeag, all right!
Yeag, Richie!
I do nothin' wrong
Buf I always gef blamed
One more time.
That's my brotger!
- Out of my way! - Asshole!
Come on!
Stop it!
Why, Bob?
How could you do tgis to Richie?
To Richie? I did this to me, okay?
That's my Bob. Always thinking of others first.
- Shut your goddamn mouth! - Don't take it out on Rosie.
Richie, you don't understand.
You don't understand a goddamn thing!
Wgat do you think, the whole fucking world revolves around you?
Is this where you live?
I live down the street.
I'll take you home.
- Why don't we just go for a drive? - Okay. You drive.
Well, wgat do you think?
Not bad, for a birthday present.
You say you're not rich?
My dad sells cars. Can I help it if he knows his business?
He just didn't want me walking home anymore.
Because of me?
How come you've been avoiding me?
Was it that blowout at the dance?
Don't be silly.
Then what's the problem?
My dad.
Does it mean I can't ask you out on a regular date?
Wgy don't you ask me?
I got my own wheels now. Who cares what my father tginks?
Get your ass in gear, Morales!
We still got a lot of places to stop at.
Hey, look at tgis.
It's Woody Woodpecker and Buzz Buzzard.
Hey, this is the real stuff. They make cartoons out of these.
Can it, jerk-off. It's kiddy stuff.
Finders, keepers.
Eat it!
Yes?
Yeah, he lives here. Why?
This old man
He played six
He played knickknack on a sfick
Wifh a knickknack, paddiwack give a dog a bone
This old man came rolling home
All righf
Happy birthday, mi hi ja.
That was good.
Richie, there's a man here who wants to talk to you.
Hi, Ricgie. Mind if I call you Richie?
My name is Bob Keene. I'm president of Del-Fi Records in Hollywood.
I don't speak Spanisg.
But we can speak business.
Look, let me just say that I really dig your music...
and I'd like to record it.
What do you say?
Welcome to Del-Fi Records. I work out of the basement.
This is your recording studio?
Tge Ampex is good. Tge mikes are excellent.
What more do you need? Relax, Richie. Tgis is just for starters.
Now, I thought we'd start off easy...
play a few riffs, move on to some vocals, nothing heavy.
And then when you're ready, we'll record a little.
- Okay? - You mean today?
What about my band?
Frankly, Richie, I can't use any of them. Is that a problem?
Yeah. They're my buddies.
Thank you. Excuse me.
Wait, Richie. Wait a minute, man.
Look, I understand about friendship.
But I'm being honest here.
Not everybody in this world gets a shot at the brass ring.
You're gonna have to ask yourself what's more important...
your friends or your music.
My family.
You're mine
And we belong togefher
Yes, we belong together
For eternify
- Is tgat you? - Hey, Richie, come here.
- Look at that. - Did you trace this or what?
Trace? Hell, this is freehand. Look at this.
Art contest, man. $500 in prizes.
Think I should enter it?
Yeah, man, go for broke.
You're mine
And we belong togefher
Yes, we belong togefher
For efernify
Efernify
Fantastic.
I wasn't really there wgen it gappened, but in the dream it's like I am.
My best friend got killed...
got crushed by one of tgose falling planes.
Where were you that day?
My grandfatger's funeral.
I guess his death saved my life, guh?
Thank you.
My mom says it means I was saved for something really special.
- Know what it is? - Rock 'n' roll.
Yeah.
I'm gonna be a star...
and stars don't fall out of the sky, do they?
You think I'm gonna dump garbage for the rest of my life?
How are you gonna support the baby? Drawing Woody Woodpecker?
I don't want that piece of junk in here.
Then to hell with you. You don't respect any shit I do.
What about your respect for me?
I almost gave to rape her just to have sex.
To ger, it's dirty.
Look, Bob.
It's cool if you move in with me, man...
but sgouldn't you be witg Rosie when the baby comes?
Hey, my old man wasn't around when I was born.
Why should I be?
Figure it out, man.
Tgere you are.
Bob Keene called me at the restaurant.
You're recording at Gold Star Studios next Wednesday.
Right in Hollywood.
Didn't you hear me?
That means he's gonna put you under contract with Del-Fi.
Oh, Richie, I'm so happy!
It's only the beginning.
Bob gas great news too. Come on, tell her, man.
That art contest... I won it. $500 in prizes.
That's great. With the baby coming, that money will come in gandy...
In art lessons.
See? Tgey gave me a drafting table.
See?
All our dreams are gonna come true now. I just know it.
Well, now, baby, baby I love you so now
Now I'll never, never lef you go now
Come on, litfle baby let's go bye-bye
Cut, Richie. Let's start again.
Well, I'll kiss you once and I'll kiss you once again now
Cut! Don't rewrite the song. Do it the way you did tge first time.
Hey, hey, baby, baby tell me you love me
That you are always fhinking of me
Come on, come on lef's go again and again...
Cut! Richie, that was our fault.
Hey, hey, baby, baby tell me you love me
That you are always fhinking of me
Come on, come on, let's go and again and again and again
Cut! That's more right on, Richie...
but that "little darling" line... I like that better, all right?
Lef's go, lef's go lef's go, liffle sweefhearf
Cut!
I don't see what's wrong with those takes. Tgat's the way I sing.
- Each take has to be identical. - Why?
So that we can edit later.
- Look, this isn't Mexico. - Who said it was?
I understand tge tradition of tge song. Tgey're always changing the lyrics.
I've never even been to Mexico. My music is my music, hug?
You tell him, carnal.
Look, how many more takes?
As many as it takes, okay?
Oh, well, baby, I love you so
And I'll never let you go
So come on, baby come on home
Oh, prefty baby I love you so
- Well... - Cut! That was good.
Same energy. Just try it again.
Come on, lef's go and do if again
Again and again and again
And then again and again and again
Come on, lef's go and do if again
Shall I get a new roll of tape?
No. I tgink we got him. I can cut sometging here.
Nice work, Richie. Sixty takes man, guh?
How's the throat? I tgink we got it.
Sixty takes. I didn't hear a difference in one of 'em, man.
- I'm ready to go gome. - Sure.
I want to discuss one thing with you, okay? Come here.
- What is it? - Your professional name.
From now on, it's Ritchie with a "T."
R-l-T-C-H-l-E.
I got a new last name for you too.
Valens witg an "S." Ritchie Valens.
- How does that grab you? - I don't like it.
That's for shit, man! Valenzuela was our dad's last name.
- You can't just cut it in half. - It's no big deal.
People in this business cgange their names like they cgange wives.
Even me. My last name is Kuhn.
Look, trust me on this one.
Let's go.
Thanks.
Look, it could've been worse. You could've been Ricky Zuela.
- 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...