1993
El Mariachi, a traveling musician, arrives in a Mexican town seeking work but is mistaken for a hitman named Azul due to his guitar case, which actually contains weapons. This mistaken identity leads to him being targeted by Moco, a powerful drug lord, and his henchmen, who are pursuing Azul for killing Moco's men. The Mariachi finds refuge with Domino, a bar owner who eventually realizes his true identity and falls for him, while Azul continues his violent rampage against Moco's organization. The conflict escalates when Moco captures the Mariachi, realizing he is the wrong man, and Azul forces Domino to lead him to Moco's ranch. In a final confrontation, Moco kills both Azul and Domino, prompting the Mariachi to avenge their deaths by killing Moco and riding off into the sunset, forever changed by the violence he encountered.
Save the Cat beat sheet
A mysterious, armed musician known as the Mariachi arrives in a small border town, uncovers a drug operation run out of a bar, and becomes a one-man vigilante against the crime lord Bucho.
Open full beat sheetEL MARIACHI is listed as Protagonist / Vigilante. A former musician turned vigilante with a scarred hand and a guitar case full of weapons. In the parsed data, EL MARIACHI is connected to 18 scenes, 13 dialogue lines, 13 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
18 scenes / 13 dialogue linesBUCHO is listed as Primary Antagonist. A powerful drug lord who runs operations in Northern Mexico and is the Mariachi's brother. In the parsed data, BUCHO is connected to 9 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 12.
9 scenes / 4 dialogue linesRIGHT HAND is listed as Antagonist. Bucho's primary henchman. In the parsed data, RIGHT HAND is connected to 9 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 19.
9 scenes / 1 dialogue linesCAROLINA is listed as Love Interest / Ally. A bookstore owner who acts as a front for Bucho's operations but eventually aids the Mariachi. In the parsed data, CAROLINA is connected to 8 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 18.
8 scenes / 6 dialogue linesSHORT BARTENDER is listed as Antagonist / Informant. The proprietor of the Tarasco Bar who works for Bucho. In the parsed data, SHORT BARTENDER is connected to 6 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
6 scenes / 4 dialogue linesNAVAJAS is listed as Antagonist / Assassin. A professional assassin who uses throwing knives. In the parsed data, NAVAJAS is connected to 5 scenes, first appearing around scene 4.
5 scenes / 0 dialogue linesBUSCEMI is listed as Messenger / Informant. An anglo character, about 28 years old, who acts as a go-between for the Mariachi. In the parsed data, BUSCEMI is connected to 4 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
4 scenes / 3 dialogue linesNIÑO is listed as Supporting Character. A nine-year-old boy who plays guitar and is used by his father to transport drugs. In the parsed data, NIÑO is connected to 3 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 6.
3 scenes / 1 dialogue linesCAMPA is listed as Ally. A musician and hired gun who assists the Mariachi. In the parsed data, CAMPA is connected to 1 scene, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 30.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesQUINO is listed as Ally. A musician and hired gun who assists the Mariachi. In the parsed data, QUINO is connected to 1 scene, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 30.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesBuscemi enters the Tarasco Bar and tells a long, rambling story to the Short Bartender about a mysterious, faceless stranger who committed a massacre in another bar.
BUSCEMI, SHORT BARTENDERMariachi wakes up in a hotel room and is visited by Buscemi, who informs him that Bucho is in town.
EL MARIACHI, BUSCEMIShort Bartender calls Bucho to report on the situation.
SHORT BARTENDER, BUCHO, RIGHT HANDMariachi walks along the highway with his dog and guitar case.
EL MARIACHI, NAVAJASShort Bartender deals with tourists and verifies the identity of two men.
SHORT BARTENDERMariachi arrives in town and teaches a young boy how to play guitar.
EL MARIACHI, NIÑOShort Bartender kills one of the men after receiving a call from Bucho.
SHORT BARTENDERMariachi enters the Tarasco Bar, confronts the Short Bartender, and is forced to reveal the contents of his guitar case, which contains weapons.
EL MARIACHI, SHORT BARTENDERPick-Up Guy is killed by Money Man #2 after hearing the shootout in the bar.
BUSCEMIMariachi finishes the shootout, killing the rogues, and forces the Short Bartender to provide information on Bucho.
EL MARIACHI, SHORT BARTENDERMariachi is attacked by Tavo and saved by Carolina.
EL MARIACHI, CAROLINABucho discovers the carnage and the note left by Mariachi.
BUCHO, RIGHT HANDCarolina operates on Mariachi to remove a bullet.
EL MARIACHI, CAROLINABucho orders his men to find and kill Mariachi.
BUCHO, RIGHT HANDMariachi teaches the boy guitar.
EL MARIACHI, NIÑOMariachi meets Buscemi in a confessional.
EL MARIACHI, BUSCEMIMariachi chases a man and is attacked by Navajas.
EL MARIACHI, NAVAJASCarolina investigates the Mariachi's guitar case, discovering it is an arsenal. Mariachi confronts her, and they discuss his mission to find Bucho.
EL MARIACHI, CAROLINABucho inspects his new bulletproof limousine and berates his henchmen for failing to find the vigilante.
BUCHO, RIGHT HANDCarolina stitches Mariachi's wound while they discuss his past and his vendetta against Bucho.
EL MARIACHI, CAROLINARight Hand and his men patrol the streets while Navajas watches them from a payphone.
RIGHT HAND, NAVAJASBucho receives a call about an assassin sent to kill the Mariachi and realizes his own men are being watched.
BUCHO, RIGHT HAND, NAVAJASNavajas attacks Mariachi with throwing knives, but is killed by Bucho's men in a limo.
EL MARIACHI, RIGHT HAND, NAVAJASMariachi meets the boy, Niño, and discovers he is being used to transport drugs in his guitar case.
EL MARIACHI, NIÑOMariachi confronts Carolina about her involvement with Bucho's drug operations.
EL MARIACHI, CAROLINABucho orders his men to burn down the bookstore to kill the Mariachi and Carolina.
BUCHO, RIGHT HANDMariachi and Carolina are attacked by Bucho's men at the bookstore.
EL MARIACHI, CAROLINABucho watches the bookstore burn and receives a report from his men.
BUCHOMariachi and Carolina watch the bookstore burn; Mariachi spots Bucho and considers shooting him but hesitates.
EL MARIACHI, CAROLINA, BUCHOMariachi and Carolina discuss their situation and the money; Mariachi calls his allies.
EL MARIACHI, CAROLINA, CAMPA, QUINOBucho is enraged at his men for failing to kill Mariachi and demonstrates his frustration by killing his own henchmen.
BUCHO, RIGHT HANDI'm sorry about all this, but I've heard stories of people that run drugs out of their bars... for a man named -- Bucho?
Bullet proof windows, sidings... hood. Mirrors. The ashtrays are bigger than the last ones.
What I can't understand is how you can let him get AWAY WHEN YOU KNEW WHERE HE WAS!!!
I'm sorry. I wanted to find out what was going on. You told me you were a musician.
Bucho. We just talked to the Oro Verde Bar in Saragosa. There was no shoot-out.
I know who you are. You're the guy that you always hear stories about.
Bless me father for I have just killed a bunch of drug dealers.
I appreciate what you did for me. But... you shouldn't be...
SlugDB turns parsed screenplays into scene, character, dialogue, trivia, semantic search, Save the Cat, and API-ready analysis.
Use SlugDB when you need screenplay API data, movie dialogue search, character evidence, scene context, or MCP tools without building a scraper first.