La Linea

A gang boards the train, so Javi, Miguel and Elena quickly jump off. The gang drags three screaming girls into the bushes. Elena is terrified. Miguel cannot get her to move back onto the train. Javi holds Elena’s hand and promises he will not let anything happen to her. He swears they will make it across the border. They reboard. Miguel believes that Elena sees Javi as their savior since Javi did save them from Morales and helped them with all the obstacles they have encountered so far. When soldiers stop the train, the three jump off again, but Javi severely injures his ankle. He urges Miguel and Elena to run, but they help Javi into a cornfield and then a thicket. The soldiers give up their search for migrants. Javi’s ankle is swollen. He tells them to hop the next train. Miguel believes Javi can no longer help them and will be a burden. Miguel thinks he and Elena must continue north without Javi.

Elena refuses to leave Javi. Miguel takes a walk and considers other ways to get north. They could work, but he believes no one would hire them. They could beg, but would only get food, not money. Hopping the train is the only solution. Returning, Miguel hears voices in their hiding place. Elena has paid an old Native man and woman to get a ride north in their cousin’s truck the next day. Miguel is furious that Elena spent their money without consulting him and says that Javi is using them to go north. Miguel believes Javi would leave them if he had to. Elena says the money was hers. They argue. Miguel criticizes Javi, but Elena asserts Javi has helped them while Miguel was useless. Elena shares that she had counted on Miguel to get her north when their parents did not return for them. Miguel spitefully tells her about Papá’s refusal to take money from Don Clemente. Elena is stricken to know they could have been reunited long ago. Miguel is sick of Elena and thinks their partnership is over. 

Miguel thinks that Elena trusts Javi too much, and will do what Javi wants, like spending their money. Miguel tells Elena to go with Javi in the truck, and Miguel will hop the train in the morning. He will camp by the tracks if she changes her mind. Miguel leaves them. That night, he cannot sleep. He hates the train, but it is free, and he will be alone again. Miguel sees Elena, crying, watching him from the cornfield. He wonders if she is coming to apologize or join him, but she disappears. Miguel recognizes she is his blood and wonders what do to. He worries about leaving Elena with Javi and decides he does not want to be alone and does not want Elena to go north alone. Miguel rejoins Elena and Javi in the morning. Elena is joyful at Miguel’s return. The three hide under a tarp in the back of the truck for two days and nights. Miguel worries the worst is yet to come.

Miguel searches for his contact in the dusty border town. News headlines detail a recent train derailment: Hundreds, mostly children, are dead and injured. Miguel, Javi, and Elena believe it was the last train they rode or the next one they would have hopped. Miguel wonders how long their luck will continue. Stalls at the market sell everyday items, but some, like El Coyote, also sell necessities for those crossing the border. A kindly couple hands out pamphlets listing tips on how to survive the crossing but also explaining how to surrender to the Border Patrol. The couple advises people to return home. At a bootmaker’s stall, Miguel asks for El Plomero, the plumber, saying Don Clemente sent him. The man tests Miguel by saying he spoke to Don Clemente that morning. Miguel responds that Don Clemente died, and he believes Juanito killed him. The man, El Plomero himself, despises Juanito and agrees to help the three of them cross the border. 

While they wait to meet El Plomero back at the bootmaker’s shop that afternoon, Javi rests his still-injured ankle, and Elena reads the survival pamphlet and jokes with Miguel about signs of dehydration that each already possesses: Miguel’s irritability and Elena’s illogical decision-making. In a secret room behind his shop, El Plomero outfits them with gear including new clothing, boots, first aid kits, and water. Miguel realizes El Plomero is a professional. El Plomero waves aside Miguel’s money and announces he is guiding them himself: It will be the last thing he can do for Don Clemente, who wanted Miguel to receive special care. El Plomero, whose name is Moisés, offers them a chance to back out, saying they will be taking a new, harder, western route that will require two nights of walking. No one changes their minds. They get a ride out of town and then start walking after sunset. Miguel’s backpack is heavy with his water. Moisés carries some of Elena’s water, thinking she would slow them down otherwise. Moisés declares they will not stop for anyone.