On the eve of Cinco de Mayo, 1942, nightfall arrives on the beach in front of the cottage where Ben and Rita are relaxing. Unbeknownst to them, they are in a potential battleground.
On the other side of the road they had walked down the previous day, Mexican troops move into positions to maintain the high ground above the beach in anticipation of an assault by American forces. The cottage is so well hidden the Mexican soldiers are unaware it exists. Ben and Rita are so preoccupied they are unaware armed men are so close.
On a U.S. Navy destroyer approaching the nearby Mexican coast, Private Harry Johnson and thousands of other American soldiers nervously await the dawn when many could be in harm's way. Harry smokes a cigarette as he stares off into the distance at the unknown.
Cinco de Mayo opens with a beautiful sunny morning at the beach in front of the cottage. Save for Ben, Rita and the Mexican soldiers, the area is deserted. The honeymooners remain asleep inside their cottage.
At 8:59 AM, the officers on the bridge of the U.S. destroyer are quiet and professional as they await the President's 9:00 AM deadline imposed on the Mexican government to turn over Julius Karchevsky. The communications officer anxiously waits for the possibility of a last second reprieve from Washington.
In the Oval Office at the White House, President Roosevelt, alone, sits silently at his desk waiting for his deadline to arrive, hoping for good news, but prepared to see his decision through.
Inside the cottage, the two naked lovers are just waking up after a beautiful night together. Rita rolls over and lies on top of Ben.
She says, "Good morning, my love. Feliz Cinco de Mayo."
And then she kisses him sweetly on his lips.
It is 9:00 AM on the bridge of the U.S. destroyer. The deadline has arrived.
The captain firmly announces, "Commence firing."
Inside the cottage, the lovers are kissing. Suddenly, a loud explosion is heard just above them and all goes black.
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