The First to Die at the End

Feeling like he’s having a terrible day, Frankie thinks about his day. He thinks Valentino has already died, and he’s upset that Rolando has quit his job at Death-Cast. He is also upset that Joaquin Rosa has already admitted that Death-Cast isn’t foolproof, which has ruined Frankie’s plan to make him look bad. He feels stuck in this building and wishes that everyone would leave.

Paz runs in, announcing that he was cast in a commercial. Frankie wonders why Paz gets a win when he doesn’t. Then, he hears Gloria come in with Rolando. He is furious.

Floyd drives Orion and Valentino to Valentino’s apartment. Orion sits in the front seat, with access to airbags, which was a compromise the Youngs asked for. Dayana, Dalma, and Dahlia drive separately. Everyone is a little nervous that being around Valentino when he dies could also cause their death. It makes Valentino feel like he’s being driven to his funeral.

Dr. Emeterio calls Orion and asks for Valentino. They talk briefly, and then Valentino reveals that the board approved the surgery. Orion is happy that, although they can’t save his life, Valentino’s death will be calmer. He thinks, “Death-Cast for the win” (485).

Gloria feels she has spent too much time in fear. She remembers the first time Frankie hit her and the many times since. She knows she has to leave. She greets Frankie and Rolando goes to hang out with Paz.

Alone, Gloria tells Frankie that she wants a divorce. She says she’s doing it for her because Frankie thinks it’s because of Rolando. He kicks his chair, and Gloria wonders who will survive this night.

The Youngs and Valentino arrive at his apartment. Dayana tells Orion and Valentino to come down by seven o’ clock, which is in 20 minutes. They go upstairs, kissing at each landing.

Frankie wants to kill Rolando. He storms into Paz’s bedroom, yelling at Rolando. He tells Gloria to leave, but he won’t let her take Paz. She refuses.

Frankie attacks.

Valentino hears Frankie and Gloria fight and then Gloria’s cry for help. He tells Orion to stay where he is and runs into Frankie’s apartment. He pulls Frankie off of Rolando and then is elbowed. Frankie pushes him into the wall and then comes at him with a broken chair leg, hitting him again and again.

He remembers each moment with Orion, thinking, “Is this what they mean when they say your life flashes before—,” which is cut off before Valentino can finish his thought (499).

Death-Cast didn’t call Paz, and he’s scared. He has seen his father attack his mother before. Paz runs to the closet and wants to save his mother’s life. He gets a gun and aims at his father. Then, he pulls the trigger.

Paz’s aim is true, and he fires again, hitting Frankie twice.

Dalma recognizes the sound of gunshots. Her parents tell her to get in the car, but she runs into the apartment building, wanting to save Orion.

Orion is horrified. He heard gunshots, but he knows he’s not dead. He thinks Valentino is asleep, but he can’t wake him up. He even tries kissing him. However, Valentino’s chest is rising.

Dalma finds Orion trying to wake Valentino. She knows that Valentino’s death is going to stay with Orion forever.

Floyd announces that Valentino is still alive, and Orion adds that he was kicked down the stairs. Dalma says that Floyd is trying to save Valentino, but she knows that Valentino is going to die.

Floyd picks up Valentino. Dalma grabs Orion’s arm, and they run out of the building.

Gloria is shocked that Paz has shot Frankie. The little boy is shaking, and she takes the gun from his hands, feeling like she has failed him by letting her relationship with Frankie reach this point. She carries Paz to his bedroom, and they cry together.

Orion, Valentino, Dalma, and Floyd arrive at the hospital. Dr. Emeterio appears. Her team rushes Valentino away to try to save his life, and Orion is supposed to get ready for surgery. He is nervous since he doesn’t know if Death-Cast was supposed to call him.

Orion thinks about everything he didn’t get to say or do with Valentino. He calls Scarlett and explains what’s happened. He says that Valentino is a hero. Dr. Emeterio returns, and Scarlett stays on the phone. The doctor announces that Valentino is experiencing brain death, and Orion shuts down.

Then, Scarlett tells him not to let Valentino’s heart go to waste. Orion vows to live. He is rushed into another room and prepped. He thanks the Youngs for welcoming him into their family. Then, he goes to see Valentino and tells him that he loves him.

He doesn’t know how this night will end.