Chapter Text
Mazatlan, Mexico, in a cantina, early June, after graduation
Tyler is playing dominoes with a Police sergeant. Both are drinking Coronas, while Brey is chatting up a bunch of Federales, asking them about off the beaten path adventures accessible by motorcycles. That he is on assignment for Lonely Planet, and helping craft a new guidebook on authentic Mexico. That T. is his photographer, but all he seems interested in is taking pictures of all the beautiful women they met.
What does T. stand for?
Depends on the girl he's talking to, Brey quips, Tortuga(turtle) usually.
The Federales laugh and give the young travel writer a few good leads, and ask him where they are staying.
On the beach, in our hammocks, is his vague reply.
When their food is ready, they put it in their saddlebags along with their water, and head out of town. Tyler wears a helmet, but Brey refuses.
I want to go quick, if it comes to that, he has let it be known.
When Brey sees a quiet street cordoned off ahead, he goes around the barricades, as they wish to stay within sight of the ocean.
They see a group of armed men in front of them, dragging away an incredibly beautiful girl, who is holding a rosary in her hands, and weeping. Tyler guns his motorcycle and races over to them, and locks up the brakes and sends it into a skid, deftly jumping off and freeing the girl from her shocked captors. He takes off his helmet and throws it at the nearest armed man, who raises his hands to block it, and Tyler hits him hard in the gut. Brey drives right into another man near the girl, and then is off and throwing punches.
A man with an M16 assault rifle points it at them, and Tyler steps in front of Rosita, shielding her with his body. The machine gun roars and Brey knocks the barrel up, and wrestles with the shooter.
Cut, the director yells, and people stream from out of the nearby houses.
Who are you? the girl demands angrily.
Brey looks around, and figures out the score.
El Breydon. This is T.
Quick, let's get out of here.
They pick up their bikes, but Tyler's bike is severely damaged, and the shifter is broken on Brey's. They hear sirens coming in the distance, and sit down next to their bikes. The girl walks over to them.
Did you really think I was being abducted?
They don't answer her.
What does T. stand for? Tyler looks up at her and grins.
For you, all the time in the world.
Then the cops arrive and put cuffs on them, and haul them away to the police station.
Didn't we just see you at the cantina? One of the cops asks. Brey nods.
What were you doing down that street?
We'd heard that a famous soccer player lives there, and wanted to catch a glimpse of him.
Who? Brey tells him.
Does he live there? We didn't get a chance to find out; we saw a girl so beautiful that we crashed our bikes, Tyler tells them with a grin.
Oh, Rosita, the officers laugh, and smile back at the Americans.
Please tell me about her. Tyler pleads. So for the rest of the ride to the station, the cops explain the complicated plot of The Young and the Restless.
They seem like good guys, the cops whisper to the duty officer. Just put them in a holding cell by themselves; their parents have money - their bikes are BMWs. Tyler and Brey don't protest or ask to make any phone calls, and just sit quietly in their cell.
Our bikes are toast, bro, Tyler says. I think it's a sign that we should chill out here and learn to surf for the rest of the summer.
Brey chuckles. Rosita is her name.
We had a moment, Tyler says. You saw how she came over to me afterwards.
Yep, and I'm willing to stay here until she bails us out of jail or until you run out of hope, Brey announces. I'm not calling Raymond. It'll be on you.
I accept those terms. Tyler pronounces, and they shake hands formally. Now how should we play it when she comes to get us?
We're brothers - gypsies, touring Mexico. We won the bikes in a card game.
Where?
We were drunk; we don't remember.
They spend the night in the cell, and refuse to eat or drink. Don't drink the water, Brey says, we'll get sick.
The duty officer asks them in English if they'd like to make a phone call.
No comprende ingles, Brey answers.
But you have American passports and drivers licenses in your motorcycles, the man counters in Spanish.
We won them in a card game, Tyler admits. We were all so drunk.
Where was this card game?
We were celebrating in Culiacan. It was dark. The music was loud. The girls were pretty - and he and Tyler grin.
The duty officer shakes his head, and walks away, bemused.
There's a heavy man in a grey suit along with an attorney waiting at his desk. They don't want to make any calls, patron. And claim not to speak English. They claim to have won the bikes in a drunken card game in Culiacan. They do not complain, but they refuse to eat or even drink water. What do you wish me to do, patron?
Leave them alone in their cell, but make sure they have bottled water. Call my attorney when they wish to talk - who gives the man his gold embossed card, with a hundred dollar bill folded up discretely behind it.
Two more days go by, and Brey looks over at Tyler. Give up?
She'll come. Tyler says resolutely. She's testing me.
The two Americans are now the subject of much speculation, and a prisoner whispers to a guard what they've said. The guard tells the duty officer, who calls the attorney.
That afternoon, the cops come and escort them out of their cells. Both are haggard. There is a heavy man in an expensive suit waiting for them.
You are free to go, the duty officer announces.
Brey grips Tyler's shoulder and says quietly in English. I'm sorry, buddy; she isn't worthy of you.
I'm Rosita's uncle, the man tells them, hearing this. My niece told me what you did. She's been calling me up night and day, crying, begging me to get you out of jail. But I wanted to test you. Well done, young man, he tells Tyler, and shakes his hand. But you really couldn't expect her to come to a place like this, could you?
They walk outside.
Please be guests at my home while your bikes are being repaired, the man offers.
We're gypsies, and not fit to eat at your table, or sleep under your roof, Brey tells him. We have only the clothes on our back.
Clothes can be bought, but honor cannot. I've seen the footage of what you did. Thank you for your gallantry. And drop the act, I know who you really are: Breidyn and Tyler, straight out of Sara's diary. There are people who want to meet you.
He takes them to a private clothing store, and they are outfitted in suits and shoes. At dinner, the director and producers join them, and offer them a walk-on role on the soap opera, the Young and the Restless.
Rosita stares in awe at Tyler, as they stroll in. He grins at her and walks over.
I'm T. The T. also stands for Tiesto, for my heart is in a tempest, ever since I met you.
She isn't able to speak, as he seats her at the table.
So what are you doing in Mexico? The director asks.
Brey tells them the story of the Picasso painting up in Chicago. How his then girlfriend, Alyssa, took him there to the art museum and showed him it. And he wasn't impressed. Then she told him to look closer. And he was blown away, when he saw the image of the woman that was imprinted on the memory of the Old Guitarist. Then they were studying Lorca's poem, La Guitara, and it all came together. And that was what he had secretly hoped to find in Mexico.
The director and the producers look over at each other.