"La Bamba" opens with a dreamy sequence showing some kids in a schoolyard playing basketball on a nice summer day. In the background, high above in the sky, an airplane is approaching. A few moments later, another plane coming from the opposite direction appears above the schoolhouse roof. The game continues in slow motion while the planes fly over the schoolyard, when they suddenly smash into each other, explode, and crash down on the schoolyard below.

Ritchie wakes up with a loud gasp. A baby is crying in the background, and his mother is calling his name from outside, telling him it’s time to get up. It is 1957, and Ritchie is living in a Northern California migrant camp with his mom and two little sisters, where both Ritchie and his mom work

as apricot pickers. Ritchie works hard at the camp to help his mom put food on the table, and seldom complains about anything. The Valenzuela's are a close-knit family, and Ritchie knows that you have to make sacrifices for those you love, so helping just comes natural to him.

A few nights later Bob and Ritchie get into a big fight after Bob tells Ritchie that Ritchie was always treated like a king by their (now deceased) step dad, and Bob just had to take whatever leftover (love) he could get, just like a dog. Ritchie doesn’t feel that this is true and a yelling match ensues. Bob goes on to tell Ritchie that Ritchie doesn’t treat him with respect anymore, and reminds Ritchie of how he used to look up to him, and follow him around wherever he went. Ritchie yells back at Bob, “Yes, I did look up to you, way back when I still thought you were somebody”. Fists start flying, and Bob ends up ripping Ritchie’s Talisman off his neck, at which point Ritchie has had enough, and storms out of there.

Ritchie is so busy working that he doesn’t even notice the motorcycle pulling into the camp until it’s almost upon him. When he suddenly looks up and sees his half-brother Bob, who he hasn’t seen since before he went to prison, come walking towards him, his face lights up with joy as he leaps forward to embrace him. It is obvious that Ritchie idolizes his brother, even though he always seems to get into trouble by partying and drinking too much, and makes his money dealing drugs.

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