The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit

In 1945, Ray Bradbury traveled with a friend to Mexico.  Having gone to high school in Southern California, he also grew to have a Latino friends and loved ones.  These adventures, bitter and sweet, inspired numerous stories including the following.

The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit

The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit gives us a picture of the kinds of Latinos that Ray Bradbury knew and loved at this time in his life, some of which getting memorialized in Death is a Lonely Business.  Amazingly, this was a short story in A Medicine for Melancholy that became a play in The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit and Other Plays for Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond Tomorrow before Disney Picked it up and turned it into a very wonderful feel-good movie.

Here’s the Wikipedia plot synopsis of the movie version (spoilers included):

The story starts off with Jose Martinez, a poor young man living in East Los Angeles who is in love with the girl next door. He sets out to go say hi when he encounters a strange man eyeing him. He runs down the street and throws his wallet with his last $20 to escape. When cornered in the alley he is given back his money where the man measures his body frame. This man is Gómez who introduces himself and then whisks Martinez off to a run-down bar. There he meets two other similarly-sized Latinos, Dominguez, a wandering guitar player, and Villanazul, a burgeoning philosopher and speaker for the people.

Barely letting the dust settle, Gómez shows them that they all have the same measurements, height, and weight. It is at that moment that Gómez shares his vision. The most beautiful, exquisite, vanilla-ice-cream-white summer suit is for sale at the downtown suit emporium. It is one of a kind and costs only $100. Alone, none of them have enough to purchase the suit, but by combining their money, they may be able to own the one-of-a-kind suit together. Each of the four has only $20, leaving them with $80 – just $20 short. They need one more person to complete their dream. In their haste, they choose to go along with a bum outside, Vámonos, who has the last $20 they need.

Once they buy the suit, they work out a system to decide who will wear it. Each partner will get to wear it for the entire night, one night a week. However, on the first night, they will each wear it for one hour, then return to the bar. Dominguez goes first, and stirs up a parade with his guitar playing, inspiring those who hear it to ¡Muévete! Villanazul is second, and during his hour he interrupts a politician on a soapbox to perform a poem he has written. Martinez, third in line, returns to the balcony where he first saw the girl next door. While she had previously not noticed him (because she did not have her glasses on), this time the bright white suit attracts her attention and Martinez gets her name: Celia Obregon.

Gómez is next. Acting on an earlier hunch that Gómez’s plan was a scam to get the money from the others to buy the suit and then leave town, Villanazul reminds Gómez to “go with God.” This was indeed the plan all along, but on the way to the bus station, Gómez encounters a mural of five men, each resembling a member of their group. Gómez decides not to leave, and returns.

Finally it is Vámonos’s turn. Gómez is infuriated that the filthy Vámonos did not get clean before it was his turn. Along with the others, they force Vámonos to take a bath, something he hadn’t done in years. Once clean, Gómez lays down a series of rules, aimed at keeping the suit clean: no eating juicy tacos, drinking wine, smoking cigars, even standing under trees with birds. Furthermore, he insists that Gómez avoid meeting with a woman named Ruby Escadrío, whose boyfriend, Toro, would ruin the suit in a fight. Vámonos heads off to a club. He is followed by the other four members, who watch him ignore every one of Gómez’s rules.

Ruby Escadrío shows up, and she and Vámonos dance. Toro, predictably, is angry. The others protect Vámonos from Toro, Gómez even going so far as to insist Toro hit him instead of Vámonos. The fight ends after Toro hits Vámonos with his car. His leg is broken, but Vámonos insists that they quickly take off the suit before the ambulance arrives, because the paramedics would cut the suit off and ruin it. They do, and Vámonos is rushed to the hospital.

In the final scene, Dominguez has ironed the suit and placed it on a mannequin. As the scene continues, it becomes apparent that the suit is one of the few things the group has left: they are sleeping on a rooftop, with only a few hammocks between them. Vámonos is fine, though his leg is still in a cast. Martinez contemplates that if they were rich, they would never have had the great time they have spent together, before Villanazul tells him to get some sleep.

 

64 thoughts on “The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit”

  5. I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.

    Reply

  8. Hey! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group? There’s a lot of folks that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Many thanks

    Reply

  9. Great – I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your web site. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs and related information ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, web site theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Nice task.

    Reply

  10. The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.

    Reply

  11. I like what you guys are up too. This kind of clever work and reporting! Keep up the great works guys I’ve added you guys to my personal blogroll.

    Reply

  12. Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  13. Thank you for another magnificent post. Where else could anybody get that type of information in such an ideal way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information.

    Reply

  15. Good web site! I really love how it is easy on my eyes and the data are well written. I am wondering how I might be notified whenever a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your feed which must do the trick! Have a great day!

    Reply

  16. Have you ever considered about adding a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is fundamental and all. But imagine if you added some great pictures or videos to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and videos, this blog could undeniably be one of the greatest in its field. Fantastic blog!

    Reply

  18. Merely a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw great design. “Reading well is one of the great pleasures that solitude can afford you.” by Harold Bloom.

    Reply

  21. Heya! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone 3gs! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the excellent work!

    Reply

  22. I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks

    Reply

  24. Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Very helpful info specially the last part 🙂 I care for such info much. I was seeking this certain info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.

    Reply

  25. What i don’t realize is in fact how you are now not actually much more smartly-liked than you might be right now. You are very intelligent. You recognize therefore significantly in relation to this topic, produced me in my opinion imagine it from a lot of numerous angles. Its like women and men aren’t interested unless it’s something to do with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs great. At all times handle it up!

    Reply

  29. Great post. I used to be checking constantly this blog and I’m inspired! Very helpful info specially the last section 🙂 I maintain such information much. I was looking for this particular information for a very lengthy time. Thank you and good luck.

    Reply

  30. I have been browsing on-line more than 3 hours nowadays, but I by no means found any interesting article like yours. It is lovely value sufficient for me. In my opinion, if all site owners and bloggers made excellent content as you probably did, the net can be much more helpful than ever before. “When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.” by Lao Tzu.

    Reply

  31. Good web site! I truly love how it is simple on my eyes and the data are well written. I am wondering how I could be notified whenever a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your RSS which must do the trick! Have a nice day!

    Reply

  32. I enjoy you because of every one of your effort on this web page. Betty loves making time for internet research and it’s simple to grasp why. All of us know all about the powerful ways you give reliable guides by means of this website and therefore foster participation from other individuals on this idea then my child is truly understanding a lot of things. Take pleasure in the rest of the new year. You have been performing a terrific job.

    Reply

  34. you are in point of fact a excellent webmaster. The website loading velocity is incredible. It seems that you are doing any distinctive trick. In addition, The contents are masterpiece. you have done a magnificent job in this matter!

    Reply

  45. I am now not sure where you’re getting your information, however good topic. I needs to spend a while studying much more or understanding more. Thanks for wonderful info I used to be on the lookout for this information for my mission.

    Reply

  47. Undeniably believe that which you stated. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the net the simplest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed while people consider worries that they plainly don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

    Reply

  48. Hey! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

  50. Good – I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your website. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs and related info ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Excellent task..

    Reply

  51. Have you ever considered writing an ebook or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog centered on the same topics you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my audience would value your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e mail.

    Reply

  52. 벼룩시장 신문그대로보기 (구인구직, 부동산) 벼룩시장 신문그대로보기 바로가기 그리고 지역별 벼룩시장 종이신문그대로보기 방법 (구인구직, 부동산) 알아볼게요. 교차로신문 같이 벼룩시장은 지역별 일자리, 구인구직, 부동산 등 다양한 정보를 제공해요. 교차로신문그대로보기 바로가기는 아래에서 확인하고, 오늘은 벼룩시장 신문그대로보기 바로가기 그리고 사용법 섹스카지노사이트

    Reply

  54. I carry on listening to the news bulletin talk about receiving free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the most excellent site to get one. Could you tell me please, where could i get some?

    Reply

  55. I am very happy to read this. This is the kind of manual that needs to be given and not the accidental misinformation that’s at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this greatest doc.

    Reply

  59. I am very happy to read this. This is the kind of manual that needs to be given and not the accidental misinformation that’s at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this best doc.

    Reply

  60. I have realized that online education is getting preferred because obtaining your college degree online has turned into a popular choice for many people. Many people have certainly not had a possible opportunity to attend a conventional college or university yet seek the increased earning possibilities and career advancement that a Bachelor’s Degree affords. Still people might have a degree in one discipline but would like to pursue some thing they now develop an interest in.

    Reply

  61. We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your web site offered us with valuable information to work on. You have done an impressive job and our whole community will be thankful to you.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *