Orphanage "Good Shepherd" Hello?
It's all prepared.
She is outside playing. She doesn't know yet.
Laura will be very happy in her new home.
Do not worry. See you this afternoon.
Your friends are going to miss you very much, Laura.
I got you!
Mamaaaaaaa!
Mamaaaaaa!
Mamaaaaaaaa!
Mamaaaaaaaaaaa!
-I will go. It's my turn.
Mamaaaaaaaa!
-I'm on my way.
- Simon.
- They are outside, don't you hear them?
- Go to sleep.
Sorry, honey, no.
Sure. Watson and Pepe have been playing
outside until late
and now they can not get inside, right?
Come inside.
Don't you think that you are a bit too old for these things?
- When you lived here -as a little girl- were you not afraid?
- No child. There was no reason to be afraid in this house,
There were many children in the room -
- and the lighthouse lit up the room all night.
- Was there a lighthouse?
- There still is, but it doesn't work anymore, son.
Tomorrow when go to the beach, I will show you.
- And why does the lighthouse not light anymore?
-Can you keep a secret?
- Yes.
- Actually it does work, but the light is invisible, ...
and protects us against all dangers.
- How can the light be invisible?
- Look, I will show you.
Look through the window. Out there.
There. Don't move.
Do you see it?
What? Did you see it?
- The children who will come here,...
why can't they stay at home?
- Honey, they are very special children,
Who need a lot of care... a lot.
And they can not go and come every day,
because they live quite far away, do you understand?
Can I sleep in your bed tonight?
- You little brat! Ok then.
- Is Dad is not going to come to the beach with us?
- Why don't you go with Watson and Pepe?
- They can't go.
With all the noise tonight they haven't slept a wink.
-- Bullshit!
It seems to me that you mention your friends...
... only when you are interested.
Come on. Take your medicine.
-- The "S" stands for Simon.
-Well, go up to your room and get your bag,
... Dad will meet us at the beach later.
Okay?
One of these days the two of us needs to talk to him...
- about those invisible friends of his.
- It's normal for someone his age. Don't worry.
He's just bored and lonely.
Just wait until the other children are here,
then he will forget the invisible friends.
Everything will be fine.
We will create a beautiful orphanage.
I am very happy that we are here together.
- Pirate!
- Pirate.
- Cave ...
- Cave.
- And lighthouse.
- And lighthouse. Let's see ... There once was a bad pirate,
... who hid his treasures in a cave near a lighthouse.
- And what treasures?
- The treasures that he had stolen. But to enter the cave...
Don't think it was easy to enter the cave! He...
(Sound of the Sea)
- Hello.
Hello.
- Simon?
Simon, let's go!
Simon!
- What's your name?
I am Simon. Do you want to play with me?
Well, would you like to come and play at my house?
- Simon. What are you doing there back?
- We are playing.
- But Watson and Pepe didn't come to the beach with us.
- Not them, it's another boy.
- Well, play this game somewhere else. It is too dangerous here.
Come on, come on.
- Can you come home to play?
- Hmm.
- Why are you leaving the shells like that?
- It is a path for my friend to find the way...
...and to come home to play.
- Shells in the middle of the road.
- If things keep up like this, soon we won't have room for the other children!
- Hello.
- Good afternoon.
I am sorry that I come this unannounced ...
... But it was impossible to catch you on the phone.
My name is Benigna Escobedo. I am a social worker.
- Well, I think you made the trip in vain...
... we don't have any job interviews today.
- Job interview? No. I am here because of Simon.
- What a lovely room! It's a beautiful house.
- How did you find it?
I grew up here. It used to be a small orphanage.
I always longed to return.
So we came up with the idea of a residence.
- A residence?
- A residence for needy children.
I thought that was why you came.
- You would need a lot of staff for something like that ...
... to be able to handle everything.
- It is not that type of residence.
With 5 or 6 children we would be happy.
- Otherwise, it would too complicated. Right?
- What regarding Simon did you come for?
- Yes. Yes, of course.
- Yesterday I received his file,
and I thought I should visit
and introduce myself, in case you need anything.
Do you plan to make many changes within the house?
- Sorry, but I still don't understand the reason for this visit.
- This is information is pretty old.
- I know, but I just recieved it.
There are new treatments.
There is a pilot program.
One needs to make an application and...
I thought that maybe you were interested.
- My husband is a doctor, as you know.
And we are very up to date ...
with the treatments for Simon's disease.
And now I have to ask you to leave.
Simon does not know that he is adopted.
And he doesn't know anything about his illness.
Besides. I would rather talk to him about these issues myself...
when my husband is at home.
"Change of residence"
"HIV-positive"
- I'm going, it's my turn.
- Who's there?
(Noise of metal falling)
What are you doing here?
Carlos! Carlos!
- What's going on?
- You're going to hit the old lady on her head with a stick?
Sleep tonight with Simon.
If we see her around the house again we will call the police.
- Mom, Mom?
Can I wake up now? Can I wake up?
Can I wake up now?
- You are awake now. You can get up now, honey.
- Will Wendy get old and die?
- Wendy gets old, but Peter Pan comes every year...
... to take her daughter to "Neverland."
- And why doesn't Wendy go with them?
- Because...
- And if Peter Pan came to me, would you come with me then?
No... I am too old to go to "Neverland", son.
- How old are you?
- 37.
- In how many years will you die then?
What kind of question is that?
Well, a long time will pass before I die.
When you are much older.
- I am not getting older.
I am not going to grow.
- You want to be like Peter Pan?
- Like my new friends.
- Now, you have more than one?
- There is six.
- And they will not grow either?
- They can't grow.
- What are these things that they are carrying?
- That's their treasures to play with.
- Your invisible friends are playing with you?
- Well, of course. They take my treasure away.
Something you like very much. Then you have to find it.
- So that's the game? To hide your treasure?
Yes. And I find what they have taken...
...by following the clues.
If you find it, they grant you a wish.
- I understand.
And do you have a treasure?
-I found coins. An old man had left them in the park.
I think they are gold. Very valuable.
Do you want to see them?
Do not look yet.
- Where did you get all this?
- I found it.
- And this?
- That's from the first ice cream that I got after the angina operation.
- My magical box.
- These are not coins...
... It's your baby teeth. Where did you find them?
- Don't you understand? They are the first clue!
They have taken my coins.
- Do you want us to play treasurehunt?
- No, the game has already begun.
You have to remember where my baby teeth were.
If I find my treasure, I can ask for a wish.
- Sand! Where could there be sand?
- You have prepared everything, haven't you?
At the beach?
- No, no! It has to be at home.
- And this?
- The sewing box!
- Simon, wait.
Come on, run. Come!
I know this key! I know! It is the key to the kitchen drawer!
- My treasure!
- Those are dad's things.
I now have the treasure! Now I get a wish!
- Simon!
These are daddy's and my things.
And you mustn't hide any of them. Is that clear?
- It wasn't me! It was the others!
-Don't tell me lies! I don't like that!
- I didn't lie!
You are a liar.
You are saying that you are my mother and you are not my mother.
- What do you mean?
- You are not my mother.
- Who told you that?
- My friends told me.
- Who is your friend?
- Thomas, Thomas told me the truth.
That I am like them.
That I do not have a father or mother.
That I will die.
You are not my mother! You are a liar!
- We wanted to wait until you were a bit older...
.... to talk about certain things.
- If you have something that you want to ask, whatever ...
- What about Santa Claus? Is he a lie, too?
- Simon, look: You overheard what mom was talking about with the social worker.
You saw what was in the envelope, and you invented this game.
Because you were afraid to ask about what you had discovered.
- What if one day I don't take them?
- Nothing will happen.
But how long would it be -if I don't take them- until I die?
- Many, many days. Many weeks, right?
Look, don't worry, we will take care of you,
... and you will not get ill, let alone die.
All right?
Simon, come down now!
Simon.
- Simon, hurry up. The first of the children are coming.
- We can not go downstairs yet.
I have to show you something important.
- Really? What do you have to show me?
- Thomas' little house.
- Not now, darling.
Tomorrow when the children are gone, okay?
- No.
- We don't have time now, Simon.
- Now!
- Go downstairs now! I'm telling you!
- But I don't want to!
- Go now!
- I said that you have to come and see Thomas' house!
- Ok, if you don't want to come down, then stay up here. Nobody's forcing you.
- See the mask, would you like it?
Simon!
Honey!
Honey?
Simon!
Simon?
Simon, darling.
(Shout)
Carlos!
What's happening?
Honey?
Simon?
(Laughter children)
Simon!
(Noise of metal falling)
Simon!
Simóoooon!
Darling!
Simóoooon!
Lauraaaaa!
Noooooo! (Shout)
Simon!
Simóoooon!
Noooooo! Simóoooon!
Simóoooon!
- There he is, Carlos!
- Nobody is there, Laura.
I am telling you: There is noone there!
We can not stay here any longer!
- That is my son. Sim -...!
Carlos is here. He spoke with the police.
And now he wants to talk with you,
if you feel okay.
- How are you?
He was not in the cave.
- But I saw someone, Carlos.
- You must have imagined that in the excitement of the moment.
Rest assured, Your son was not there.
My name is Pilar.
I know what you are going through. But ...
You must know that we are doing everything ...
- we're doing everything we can
to locate your son, as soon as possible.
- Pilar is a psychologist. She works with the police.
They are working hard to find Simon.
- I would like to ask some things.
Your husband told me about the adoption.
And about your son's disease.
Since Simon was adopted ...
...there are possibilities, that we can't overlook.
- Like what?
- A possible abduction by his biological relatives.
I understand that the other night you discovered...
... a woman sneaking around your house.
-- Benigna Escobedo. From Social Services.
She appeared at our home a few days ago.
- There is no woman at Social Services under that name.
Could you describe the woman?
- She was about 70 years, white hair, blue eyes,
... and very thick glasses.
- Please be assured that we will find this woman.
No doubt about that!
- Who is going to let me care for their child,...
... if I can not even take care of my own?
- We have to do something.
Have this medal of Saint Anthony from my grandmother.
You know how much I love it.
It is a sort of lucky charm.
- But you don't believe in such things.
- Yes, exactly. So therefore it will be much stronger with you!
It is not a gift. It is a loan.
When we have Simon back, you will return it to me.
(Shout)
Carlos?
(Strike a strong metal)
Carlos!
(Newsletter): As time passes ...
the parents of small Simon Sanchez feel
more and more desperate.
Yesterday was 6 months since...
Since the 7 year old boy...
Disappeared from his home without a trace .
The situation is even more serious
because Simon is sick
and needs daily medication for treatment .
The parents ...
(Laura): My son disappeared 6 months ago. His name is Simon.
There are posters all over the town.
You have probably seen his picture.
We have tried everything. Not a clue.
Not the smallest clue.
My son had some imaginery friends, who he played with.
But we never took it seriously.
I have the feeling that they are in our house.
- I saw my daughter. One year after her death.
It was night, and we were sleeping.
I woke up. And, without knowing why, I went to her room.
And there she was.
Smiling and calm.
And I think that was her way of saying:
I am fine. I am safe.
Do not suffer more for me.
-- It is not unusual: Somehow...
to feel the presence of a loved one...
after their death.
Any of those in this group of mourning
... could tell similar stories.
- You don't understand.
My son is not dead.
His invisible friends have taken him..
I saw one myself, ... the day he disappeared.
He was in the house.
And I will do everything I can...
... to get my son back. I am not mad.
Believe me. I know what I saw.
(Sound horn)
- It's her! It's the woman who was at our house.
Benigna?
(Shout)
(Scream)
Simon!
- We have been in Benigna's house.
We found photographs...
and old Super 8 movies.
I would like us to have a look at them.
Are any of these faces familiar?
- This is Antonia, the school's head teacher,
and around her the children of the orphanage.
They were my friends.
This is Martin. I especially liked him.
Rita, Victor. I think this child was named Guillermo.
She was named Liliana, she was blind, ... and that's me.
Benigna?
- Yes. The woman who was in your house.
She was one of the caretakers at the orphanage.
- But that's impossible. I would have remembered her.
- She didn't work there very long.
She had a son: Thomas.
Apparently the little one was born with a malformation.
That's why she kept him separated from the others.
Nobody knew about him.
For the townspeople it was a real shock,...
...when they found his dead body.
- What do you mean?
- Apparently he disappeared while playing ...
...at the cave on the beach.
That was shortly after you were adopted.
One of the children confessed later,
that they had played a prank on him.
They had gone with Tomas into the cave...
And then removed his bag, to see if he dared to come out without it..
But he didn't come out. He drowned.
They found his body when the tide went down.
The children were never charged
of the crime. They had only been playing.
- This child was in my house.
- We asked everyone who was there...
... at the festival opening.
Nobody remembers seeing a child with a potato sack mask
on while at the party.
(Laura): - I don't know anymore, what it's like to sleep through the night.
I can not stop thinking.
Do you remember when we saw Simon the first time?
Two kilograms. My two extra kilograms, you said. That was what he weighed.
The doctors said that he was very little for his age.
But, of course, to you and me it was enough.
And we knew that ...
... he didn't have many chances ...
... to become a normal person like us.
But when we got to know him better...
When we saw his smile for the first time. And his eyes, ...
...saw his big, big eyes...
Simon made us strong, Carlos.
Together we are strong.
Together.
And if we ever again lose our nerves, when it gets difficult again...
Carlos, there is someone in the bathroom.
- What's going on?
- Someone was in the bed.
Carlos, don't look at me like that! Feel it, it is still warm.
- Of course it is warm, I just got up.
- Someone has been in this bed. I am sure.
This is what Jung states,...
...when he says, that the subconsciousness is the place,...
... where the living are together with the dead.
In Germany they have another name for this connection:
The "Doppelgänger".
It is a being who looks exactly ...
...as one self. It is a double.
Crossing the path of self...
... meeting a "doppelgänger",...
...the way I described it, is without a doubt...
... a passport to the other world.
- How much time has passed since your son disappeared?
- Nine months.
Strange things are happening in our house,...
...things related to the disappearance of my son.
And I don't know anymore, who to turn to.
- It is not so simple.
You will not find an exorcist in the yellow pages.
- This is from the boy, who abducted my son.
The police claim that he died more than 30 years ago.
Someone has my son.
I do not know why.
But I assure you that I will not sit at home waiting.
- There is someone in this field whom I trust dearly.
Of course, I am only speaking out of instinct.
Would you be okay with a visit from a medium in your house?
- This was not the bedroom for the children ...
...when it was an orphanage, right?
- No, the childrens bedroom was back there.
- Then it would be best to begin there. Enrique!
- Perfect, I will be ready in an hour.
-- I would like an old object from this house.
Something related to it's past.
And, if possible, also a piece of clothing from that time.
We are not alone.
(Bell)
-- There is a psychologist who is working with the police,
Pilar, who would like to attend the meeting,
if that's okay.
- Perfect, perfect. The police, huh?
-- Could you explain, why she needs this doll?
- Aurora needs an object to get into trance.
The clothing and other objects help her concentrating,
So she can move back in time.
- A regression?
An invocation of mind. The past, present...
...and the future overlap and intersect.
It would be something like a trip back in time.
I know, it sounds like witchcraft,
but I can assure you that it is not...
... a parallel perception.
If there is anything there, Aurora will see it.
- If there is anything there, I hope that we will all see it.
- We are ready, Enrique.
- We can begin, if you want.
- Aurora, can you hear me?
- Yes, perfectly.
- Let's begin.
Everything around you begins to fade.
The darkness forms a circle around you...
...and moves closer and closer.
Everything fades.
We are no longer here.
Now you are all alone in the midst of the darkness.
The darkness begins to disappear.
I will count backwards from the number 10,
And when I finish, you can go anywhere.
You can see anyone, who is hiding in this house.
10 ... 9 ... 8 ... 7 ... 6 ...
5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 1
You can open your eyes.
- ... It's cold. The window is open.
- Aurora, I want you to look around you.
Is there somebody else in this room?
- I hear someone .
I hear .
I hear something .
The sound comes and goes .
Now I hear .
It seems that I have lost it.
I hear something .
(mumbling voice)
I am sure that there are children here
... On the other side of the hall. I think it is the other side .
I can not open the door. .
It's closed .
But there is someone .
(Crying Child)
- Why are you crying?
- We are sick ....
Who are you?
- I do not come to harm you. Do not be afraid .
Open the door. Don't be afraid. Open the door .
(Crying Child)
- I want to get out.
(Cry of a child)
What have you done?
(screaming children)
- Aurora, I need that you tell what you are seeing.
- The children are very sick. They are crying. Oh! What happened?
- Oh! Who could do such a thing?
(Voice of girls): We are going to be killed!
- Is my son there?
- Aurora, is Simon with you?
- (Aurora): Is Simon here?
I have come to...
- Aurora! Aurora! Can you hear me?
Aurora, it is necessary that you stay in the middle of the room.
I am going to count from 10.
10 ... 9 ... 8 ... 7 ... 6 ...
5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 1
- I was in this house. But it was very different.
The beds, toys, decoration...
... everything was much older.
The light from the lighthouse came through the windows.
- And you didn't see Simon anywhere?
- It was very dark, sorry.
I could not recognize anyone. But there were children.
- So you saw the children. Is that correct?
- That's right.
- So you are saying that there are ghosts here?
- What is a ghost, Carlos?
There is something in this house. And we all saw it today.
- When something terrible happens,...
... sometimes it leaves a footprint.
A wound which is like a tie between two periods of time.
It's like ... like an echo that is repeated over and over again,...
... waiting to be heard.
Like a drip of blood... Oh! Forgive me.
Like a mark from a pinch, which seeks the relief of caressing.
Laura ...
We human beings, who are close to death ...
...we are more receptive to this kind of message.
- So you are trying to tell me that my son could see these children...
...because he...?
- Well, Laura, I think that enough is enough.
Get your things and go, please.
- But, Carlos, we can not deny that these people were doing well.
- Laura, this is a farce,
... a trick show.
- I don't believe that. And why?
What reason do they have?
What they said was true, right?
And they didn't ask for money.
- Not now, no.
- So what do you suggest?
Let's see, tell me what you think we should do?
All this time the police couldn't find a single sign,...
...not ONE pertaining to if my son is ...
... dead or alive.
What am I supposed to do?
Just sit and wait?
What should happen if I listen to these people?
- Laura, please, enough already.
- No, leave me in peace!
Leave me alone Pilar, how many similar cases have you
dealt with already?
Find another job if this is too boring!
You are not welcome here anymore.
- What am I now supposed to do?
- You are a strong mother. Your love gives you strength.
Only you can decide,...
...how far you want to go to find your son.
- I don't know what to do now.
- You will hear, but not be heard.
It's not seeing before believing,
... but believing before you can see.
Believe, and then you will see.
- What are you doing?
- I don't think that we should stay here any longer.
We should leave. At least for a while.
-- But the children are here.
Aurora has seen them. I can not leave them.
You've heard their voices, too.
- That guy, Enrique,...
... had been busy for one hour fiddling with his cables.
Don't you realize that everything could be a scam?
- That's Pilars theory, right? That everything is a complete fabrication.
Is that your "scientific theory"?
- Pilar is only trying to protect us.
- Protect us from what?
- From things like tonight.
That some coincidental people...
... come into our house, and ruin our life even more!
Protect us from THAT!
- But they only wanted to help us!
- Help us how?
Haven't you paid attention to what they were saying?
Have they ever mentioned ....
...that they could bring Simon back?
No! All these people want to do ...
...is to get in contact with the dead, Laura.
If Simon still is alive,...
... How can these people help us then?
And if he is not alive anymore, then they won't bring him back to us.
I do not want nor can I suffer this anymore.
Let's move away from here. Please!
-Noone can ask me to give up now!
Not Pilar or anyone else, Carlos, no.
- Laura, we can get through this.
Many couples lose a child and continue on with their lives.
- I just... I want to be back together...
... with Simon, don't you understand?
I just want to be with him.
If you want to go, I can't stop you.
I just want ... to be with him.
Where are you now? I am not afraid.
You want to play?
Are you playing with me?
Benigna!
- There are 5, right?
- Yes
-- All my friends. Martin, Rita, Alice, William, Victor.
Benigna killed them.
She returned to the shed to get rid of their bodies.
I have been thinking about it.
The children played with Thomas and then killed him.
And now they are playing with Simon and me.
Don't you understand?
Simon is in danger, and I don't know the rules of the game.
I don't know how to play.
- Laura, that is the story that you came up with.
- Carlos, I have seen it with my own eyes.
How do you explain what happened this afternoon?
Who laid out all these clues?
- Simon invented this game to get your attention.
- Who? Tell me. Come on, tell me who.
-- I packed the suitcases. I don't want us to stay here.
- But I can not leave.
- I will not stay in this house any longer.
And you can not stay here alone.
- I can not go from here so suddenly.
Too many memories, Carlos.
I need to say goodbye.
Two days. Alone.
I need it. Please.
Please.
(bell ringing)
What else do you want from me?
What else should I do? What else should I do?
I do not have time. I do not have time. I do not have time. I do not have time.
You want to continue playing? Right?
That's all I want, too.
So, let's make a deal.
I play a little more with you,...
...and then you tell me where Simon is.
All right?
1,2,3, touches the wall.
(louder): 1,2,3, touches the wall.
1 ... (a sound)
1,2,3, touches the wall.
1,2,3, touched the wall!
1,2,3, touches the wall.
1,2,3,
Wait! Wait! Wait!
... Wait, I won't hurt you.
Really, I justwant to find Simon.
-Simon?
- Mom, why are you crying?
- Oh, my darling. Are you ok? You are ice cold, my son.
Don't be afraid. Don't worry...
... I will get you out of here.
(voices of children)
- Don't go! Stay and play with us.
- No, love, we can't play now.
(Children laughing)
Simon, I want you to do what I now tell you.
I want you to imagine, that it's only us here, you and me.
All right?
Think of the days before we moved into this house.
Do you remember that, son?
Well, just think about it, okay?
Think only that.
And about dad, and the upcoming Christmas.
And all the things...
...we still want to do together.
So many things, my love. Close your eyes!
Close them! Close them! Strong! Strong! A little more!
Think. Think what you would like to be, when you grow up.
What would you like to be, my love?
And which college you want to go to.
And the children that you will have.
And... and. .. and think only for a moment,
... Thomas and the other children, are all a fantasy.
That this is crazy.
That this ... this is like a bad dream.
A long bad dream, alright?
Close your eyes. Please. Soon they will be gone. Please.
Close your eyes, my love.
Continue playing with me, okay?
Continue playing, sweetheart.
Okay?
- What do you have to show me? - The house of Thomas.
Noooooooooo! Noooooooooo!
Nooooooooooooooooo! Nooooooooooooooooo!
I found you... This is not fair.
I found you.
I want Simon back.
Mom, Mom, can I wake up now?
Of course, my love. Of course you can.
Mom, mom, I found my magical coins.
Now I can ask for a wish.
I wish, that you stay here and care for all of us.
Laura.
It's Laura!
Hi, Laura.
She has grown old, like Wendy in the story.
It is Laura.
Come to my side.
The little house, the beach, and the lost children.
Yes.
Once upon a time, there was a little house at the beach,
...where they lived ...