[clock ticking]
[loud knocking on TV]
[cartoon woodpecker, in Spanish] Hi. How's it going?
-[horn honks] -[cartoon woodpecker laughs]
[in English] Okay, my sweet love. You know the drill.
No TV during dinner.
I made you your favorite soup.
[indistinct chatter in Spanish on TV]
[quietly] Very funny.
[thunder rumbles]
You're a cheeky little monkey.
Here.
You can have that after dinner.
Do you want some hot milk? It'll help you sleep better.
Yeah? [softly] Okay.
-[horn beeps on TV] -Okay, come on.
If you eat your food, you can watch it after.
Eat.
[in Spanish] Know what I did to the last…?
[in English] Jodie, this isn't funny anymore.
Eat your food. Otherwise, you don't get TV for a week, okay?
Enough!
Okay. If you… If you don't eat, I'm gonna call the witch,
and she's much more mean than I am.
-[Marie] I'm… [sighs] -[crow caws]
Sorry. I'm sorry. There's no witch. I just… just… just please eat your food.
[Jodie] Liar!
[thunder rumbles]
Jodie, just stop.
-Liar! Liar! -Just sit down and eat your food. You--
-[Jodie] Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar! -Jodie, calm down. Please, just--
[Marie] I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Just…
Jodie, you're scaring me.
-Jodie. -[Jodie screaming]
-Liar! -[flames roaring]
-[high-pitched ringing] -[ominous music playing]
[mystical theme music playing]
[fire crackles]
THE CHOSEN ONE
3. THE AWAKENING
-[high-pitched ringing dissipates] -[birds singing outside]
[pastor] Now more than ever, ask yourselves
if God set your lives on fire,
would you survive the flames?
[tense music playing]
Matthew says that all manner of sins shall be forgiven unto man. All.
But not blasphemy.
Whoever seeks to build on the foundation of Christ
with gold, silver, or precious stones
or wine…
will be consumed by the fire of the Lord.
[bright music playing]
[pastor] Do not allow yourselves to be fooled by the serpent's words!
[breeze blowing]
[pastor] For whoever listens to them are deaf to the words of our Savior.
Do not fall into its trap of intoxication.
[indistinct chatter]
[pastor] Because it doesn't matter which shape it takes.
Beelzebub is always there, lying in wait.
Through one man, sin entered the world.
And that is how death came to all of God's children.
Because of one sin… all sin.
[gulls calling]
-[music fades slowly] -[gull call echoes]
I hope we have the same luck tomorrow.
[man] I hope so, kid. I hope so.
[soft knock on door]
Hey.
-Yeah? -[Marie] Magda's here.
Oh, um…
Oh God.
Jodie, hey.
Hey.
I told your mom we'd walk to school together.
[vendor whistle plays outside]
I had trouble sleeping.
Yeah. Me too.
[sighs]
Would it be cool if we didn't tell anyone?
I just don't want Hipólito to find out.
Hey. You finished your costume for the Pastorela.
-It's pretty cool. -Thanks.
Did you put salt in the bottle?
-[tense music plays] -[Tuka] Jodie!
How'd you do it? How'd you do it? How'd you do it? How'd you do it?
[Jodie] How did I do what?
Don't mess with me. How did you do it?
There must be, like, 20 bottles of wine, dude.
Where did you get them?
HISTORY OF THE CROSS
Take one. It's a gift.
-Have a seat, please. -Thanks.
-Is this about Jodie? -Yes. Yes, yes.
Sarah, my flock is alarmed and concerned.
You see, things are getting out of control.
The bottles of water turned into wine overnight. Magic, for real.
[Jodie] But how do you know it's real wine?
Yesterday, Jodie and his little friends were selling people bottles of water.
I don't see how that's a problem.
They broke into several houses,
including mine, and swapped the water with wine.
MINERAL WATER
Want to try some?
I took a sip already.
Open and see for yourself.
-[bright music playing] -[coughs]
[Hipólito] It's real wine.
Jodie, I think this was a real miracle.
You performed a miracle!
Don't be stupid, Tuka. It's just a scam to make more cash.
Dude, I just had a really great idea.
They not only profaned the Holy Scriptures.
They committed blasphemy.
Believe me, I would love to do nothing more
than to help Jodie get back on the right path.
COME SEE THE MIRACLE CHILD
[pastor] We can help him.
MINERAL WATER
[tense music playing]
[knocking on door]
[Tuka] Jodie, are you okay?
[Jodie] Give me a second.
Ever since the accident, everything's changed in Santa Rosalía.
I don't know what's going on.
I'm so confused.
[Tuka] In the Pahko, we dance and ask God for guidance.
Maybe that's what you need.
I believe in you, Jodie.
[gentle music playing]
What does your heart tell you?
"I believe in you!"
[both laugh]
-You're a really great friend, Tuka. -[school bell rings]
[audience applauds]
[traditional music playing on stereo]
[principal] After Herod ordered the slaughter of the innocents,
they left Judea and walked towards an uncertain future.
And on the path to Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary were tempted by the devil.
But they did not succumb.
And with the strength of their faith and the word of God as their guide,
they continued on tirelessly to keep baby Jesus safe.
-And in a humble manger. -[music stops]
Among animals and pilgrims, on December 25th--
-[feedback squeals] -[quietly] What the fuck?
-Long live Yaquis! Long live Yaquis! -[principal] Hey!
-Hey, kids! -[Tuka] We're still here!
-Long live the Yaquis! -[principal] Hey, what are you doing?!
-[Tuka] Long live the Yaquis! -Kids, you're ruining Pastorela!
-[loud whistling] -[Tuka] Let go of me!
[groaning]
[Tuka] You devils! Let go of me! [grunts]
You think this is funny?
-You never show any of our traditions! -[principal] That's right.
But this holiday isn't about your people. We don't dance and sing to the moon here.
You're suspended, Tuka.
If Tuka's suspended, then suspend me too.
Yeah?
[students murmuring]
You hear that? He's not from Mexico but thinks he's Yaqui.
[students laugh]
-[feedback squeals] -[rhythmic music playing]
[in Yaqui] Hernández can't erase the Yaqui people's history.
We'll teach him a lesson together!
[in English] Enough! Shut up!
[audience murmuring]
-What are you doing? -[Mirna] Shut up, Rosa.
He can't do that! That's not right!
[female voice] Jodie.
At the height of the Yaqui nation, the land was worked equally.
Until Hernández's family bought the mine and forced the Yaquis to work it.
Those who accepted their fate became slaves.
Those who refused fled to the sea.
They were free men.
[echoing] Your mother didn't listen
to the men that worked at your great-grandfather's mine,
when they warned her that the tunnels wouldn't stand.
Over 100 Yaquis were killed.
-[Hernández breathing shakily] -The bodies were burnt in the smelter.
[tense music playing]
[Jodie] And they threw their ashes into the sea with the slag.
One day, the sea vomited the ashes.
And that's why the beaches of Santa Rosalía are black.
[high-pitched ringing]
[Hernández breathing heavily, gulps]
[quietly] Where did you hear that?
That's enough! Go to your classrooms! Time to go to class!
Pastorela is over!
Jodie, come with me.
What kind of stunt was that, huh?
Who do you think you are?
[school bell rings]
[Elvis] Excuse me.
What is the problem, Principal?
Where's your mom?
[Elvis] She couldn't make it.
I'm the emergency contact. You know that.
In front of the entire school,
the boy tarnished my family reputation with malicious lies.
He even attacked my mother.
And to top it all off…
a student was caught drinking this red wine.
Everyone says it was Jodie's.
The kid threw up in the classroom, and I have to suspend him too.
What a great example you're setting for him.
Jodie is suspended for a week, and I want to speak with his mom.
That's all. Have a nice day.
Thanks for ruining Pastorela.
[footsteps fading]
[upbeat music playing on radio]
[Elvis] You know I always have your back.
If you want, I'll beat the shit out of that asshole Hernández.
But you gotta tell me what happened.
I really don't know what's wrong with me.
I've never felt this way.
It's like I've been taken over by a fucking mutant from another planet.
That's always been my specialty.
You know, feeling like a fucking mutant. [laughs]
You know what a mutant is, right?
It's someone who transforms into something else.
I just wanna be normal.
Normal? Ugh. Yeah, right. That's boring.
When I met you and your mom, I knew you weren't normal.
That's what I like about you.
José! Those trays are done. Please take them out.
[José] Yes, boss.
You know, when the real me first expressed itself.
I was scared my family would reject it.
But only my asshole brother disowned me.
Little by little, people have come to accept me.
And even the ones who were shitty to me are still eating my bread.
If anyone can help you understand, it's your mother. Trust me on that.
'Cause no one loves you more than she does. Well, and me.
I'm your foster mom.
I have no idea what's happening to you.
But I drank from the bottle.
That was the real shit.
How did you pull that off?
-[Sarah] What were you thinking? -I didn't… I didn't mean to… I…
-You didn't mean to? -Come on. Come on.
Hey.
He doesn't understand what's happening to him.
Don't be mad. Go talk to him.
Hmm?
First, the accident. Now this.
You expect me to stay in the house forever?
Jodie, I told you to not draw attention to yourself.
That's what I asked you, right?
What aren't you telling me?
[Sarah sighs]
[Sarah] Jodie, when you were a little boy, you started showing these…
I hardly know what to call them.
These… gifts.
[clock ticking]
They started happening all the time.
These gifts would happen when your emotions took over.
And people started paying attention.
The medication, it's not for seizures.
[tense music playing]
I just didn't want you to get hurt.
Look at me.
That's what the pills are for.
They keep you calm.
They keep you in control of everything.
I'd recommend that you take them.
It's up to you whether you do or not.
I'm just trying to keep you safe.
[music playing on radio]
[Hernández] So, you're not gonna tell the church about this?
And what would I say?
I don't know. Uh…
Start with, uh, condemning this kid for lying about his so-called miracles.
That would only give him a bigger audience.
He's making everyone lose their minds.
I'm not surprised, with how ignorant this town is, but still…
I keep thinking, if you and I were in Nazareth,
back when Jesus performed his miracles,
what would we do?
Would we believe?
Or would we do nothing?
Would we stand there and watch him be crucified?
[Hernández] What the fuck are you talking about?
Nothing. How's your mother?
[sighs] Getting worse.
[sighs]
The windshield will be right under the water. Like this.
Hipólito will hold it up.
And that's your cue.
[imitates fanfare]
You're gonna step onto it.
On the other shore, Magda will set off thousands of fireworks.
Boom! Pa, pa, pa! Pew! Pa, pa, pa!
Everyone will yell, "That's amazing!"
Boom, boom! People will go nuts. Standing ovation.
You'll run across the water.
Then Tuka removes the windshield while they're all distracted.
Nobody will notice because of the fireworks.
And meanwhile, the star of the show has just walked on water.
Another successful miracle.
Boom, right?
-I don't wanna do that. -[Hipólito] Me neither. That one's absurd.
Got anything else, Wagner?
Uh…
You don't get it. I'm done. I'm done doing tricks.
[Hipólito scoffs] You're not actually buying into this?
You don't have any superpowers.
None of us have any damn superpowers.
[reggae music playing on stereo]
[knock on door]
Out. Hey.
Sorry, I wanted to let you know that the snacks are ready.
If you want some.
[Wagner] Great. Let's go.
Hey, don't worry about it. I have everything under control.
I've been thinking… What if we--
-[laughs] -[Tuka] Erik, are you all right?
[Wagner] Look at your miracle, Jodie. He's blind as a bat.
-[Erik sighs] -[Hipólito] How are we gonna make money?
All your plans are stupid.
-[Wagner] No, I'm serious. -[high-pitched ringing]
[Erik breathing heavily]
[ethereal chiming]
[mystical choir singing]
[Wagner] It's not bullshit. They're miracles.
People want to see miracles!
[Erik] I can see perfectly! [chuckles]
[Wagner] That's hilarious, man.
-I'm laughing my ass off. -No. No, I'm serious.
Over there. I can see Father O'Higgins working across the street.
Erik, another word, and I'll remove the heads, legs,
and arms from all your toys.
I'm serious, so shut up.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I'm telling the truth. Look.
He's there.
He's there, right?
-[Wagner] Open your eyes. -[Erik] Ouch, stop.
-Wagner, stop. -[Wagner] Wow.
What the hell?
[in Yaqui] I told you it was a miracle.
[in English] No way. Come on.
He's right.
[Wagner] Jodie, your magic is real.
We're gonna be stinkin' rich.
Let's see what else he can do.
"What else I can do"?
There's something wrong with me. And you guys don't give a shit!
Listen to me. I don't even know who I am!
Or what I am!
Seriously, cut the shit. He doesn't wanna do it.
[birds singing]
[Jodie] So then, you don't believe Jesus came back from the dead?
And what, he never performed any of the miracles?
No, no, I'm not saying that.
I believe the miracles are metaphors.
How does that help explain what's happening to me?
What's happening to you?
-I don't know, the truck? -Okay, listen.
Could you have died? Yes.
But I've heard of these things happening.
What about the wine?
I'll give you credit for that because everyone bought it.
But it says more about them than you.
-So how do you explain it? -How do I explain what?
Do you remember my sermon?
About how science and faith can work hand in hand?
There's a logical explanation for everything.
Especially for the things we initially can't explain.
[gentle music playing]
Just be careful. What you're doing is dangerous, kid.
This… working miracles.
Someone could end up hurt.
[O'Higgins] Miracles don't exist.
[tense music playing]
[O'Higgins] Lord, why don't you talk to me anymore?
[ominous music playing]
[engine starts]
[monitor beeping steadily]
[Álvarez] He's taken a turn for the worse.
You don't need to make the final decision right away, but
you're gonna need some support.
Will he wake up soon?
Ángelo, I need to know if your mom is able to be here.
No.
She crossed the border a while ago.
Will he ever recover?
Is there any other relative of legal age that you can call?
[birds singing]
[Jodie] You know what?
I can hear and feel the terrible things that people think and feel.
Can you hear what I'm thinking about?
Not right now.
Well, if you have some sort of antenna,
capturing the bad thoughts and feelings of people,
it may mean you have to do something with it.
Like people who can see ghosts.
They could need your help.
But I don't know how.
[tender music playing]
I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE
[crickets chirping]
[Ángelo] Come here, fuckin' gringo.
-Move, I'll cut you or your girlfriend. -Stop it! Let him go, fucker!
-Hey. I'm not joking. -[Jodie] What do you want?
[Ángelo] Time to see what you can do, Miracle Boy.
[Magda] Get off him, Ángelo! You're hurting him!
Where are you taking him?
[engine revs]
[Jodie] Magda!
[breathing shakily]
[quietly] Sarah.
It took 30 hours to make this one, but I can give you a discount, Sarah.
No, thank you. Don't. I wanna pay you what it costs.
[Magda] Sarah!
-Ángelo took Jodie. -What?
-In his truck. He had a knife. -Where?
I'm not sure. But I think I have an idea.
[ventilator hissing]
[Ángelo] Get in there.
-You better heal him, you piece of shit. -[monitor beeping steadily]
[tense music playing]
I don't know.
-I can't do it. -Are you the fucking Miracle Child or not?
You either wake my dad up,
or you will need a miracle when I'll cut off your ears.
Understand, motherfucker?
-[Jodie groans] -Heal him.
Do it now!
[Jodie panting]
-[electricity thrumming] -[monitor beeping rapidly]
[eerie silence falls]
[voice gasps, whispering]
[low rumbling]
[female voice] Find me, Jodie.
[sounds distort]
[monitor beeping steadily]
[Jodie panting]
Defend yourself, asshole!
-Defend yourself! -I'm trying to help!
-Defend yourself! -It happens.
I don't know how it works! I don't know why!
[Ángelo and Sarah grunt]
Don't touch him! Do you hear me?
[knife clatters]
[Ángelo breathing shakily]
Are you okay? Hey. Come on.
[crying]
Knowing why you have these gifts is not as important as keeping you safe.
-Mom, do you know how confusing this is? -How confusing this is? Yeah, sure.
I need you to make the right decisions.
Do you know how this makes me feel?
This is so unfair.
I can't live like this!
[insects chirring]
[rhythmic music playing]
[ethereal woodwind melody]
[woman, in Yaqui] We've all cast our nets into the water
and had them come up empty.
That's why we're here today,
in this Pahko, to ask the fish to return to our seas.
For our homes.
[crowd] Yes!
[flames crackling]
[music fades]
[tense music playing]
[church bells ringing]
[mystical music playing]
[female voice, in English] Find me, Jodie.
Who are you?
Hello?
[female voice] Come.
[flames crackling]
-[mystical music continues] -[percussion instruments playing]
[sounds distort]
[Tuka, echoing] I trust you, Jodie.
But you need to trust yourself.
[crows caw faintly]
[bird calls]
[horn blares, muffled]
[female voice] Tell me your name.
[Tuka] Listen to your heart.
[female voice] Don't be afraid.
[in Yaqui] Lord, help Jodie find his way.
-[female voice, in English] I feel you. -[Jodie] I feel you.
Are you an angel?
[mystical music continues]
EVANGELICAL CHURCH
-[Cruz] Good evening. -[woman 1] Good evening, Pastor Cruz.
[piano playing]
-[Cruz] Good evening. -[woman 2] Good evening.
-[man 1] How are you? -Good evening.
-[woman 3] Good evening. -Good evening.
[man 2] Good evening.
Blasphemy…
walks among us like a wolf in sheep's clothing.
[congregation] Amen!
So you all should ask yourself this question.
If the Lord, our Savior, were to set your lives on fire…
would you survive the flames?
[congregation] Yes!
The Apostle James tells us that--
[footsteps approaching]
-[door closes] -[man] He's alive! It's a miracle!
Dear God!
-[man] He's alive! -Dad!
-[congregation clamoring] -[mystical music playing]
[woman shouting in Spanish]
[mystical music swells]
[inaudibly] Papa?
[mystical music ends abruptly]
[rhythmic closing theme music playing]
BASED ON THE GRAPHIC NOVEL AMERICAN JESUS BY MARK MILLAR AND PETER GROSS
Subtitle translation by: Ivan Cukier, Meredith Cannella