Put some stones n the vase, or t' l fall over
Th s bloody wind!
Pollsh the etters well.
There are so many widows!
The women here live longer than the men.
Except poor Mom.
Mom was lucky.
Raimunda, don't say that!
She dled ln Dad's arms and she oved him more than anyone.
Burned to deathl
That's the worst way to dle.
They were asleep.
They didn't even rea ze.
Even so, how can you say somethlng like that?
Hello, Agustina.
See you later, Agustlna.
-Good mornln, Manola. -Good mornlng.
-ls that everything, Mom? -l' l get the rest
Th s ls wonderfull
Good kord!
-ls this Paula? -Of course.
She s all rown up!
Give her a kiss
She s got yourfathers eyes.
-How are you? -Not good.
Don't say that.
l want to give my grave the once-over.
With th s w nd, you can't keep t clean.
-lt looks love y. -C ean ng lt relaxes me
l often come and sit here on my own, and tme goes by
We're going now, we have to see Aunt Paula.
Come and see me afterwards
Sure
How's Paco?
He's f ne He stayed in Madrd, worklng.
Mom,
does Agustina realy come and cean her own grave?
Yes, t's the custom here.
They buy a plot and ook after lt al the r ives
llke a second home.
-That freaks me out! -lt's tradltlon here.
-Shall l drive? -Yes
Aunt Paulal
Who s lt?
Ralmundal
-Don't take all day. -Don't rush me
l don't llke golng back in the dark.
Be nice to Auntie dont laugh at her.
Al r ght.
Th s house stl sme s of Mom.
How are you, Aunt?
You re very thlnl Have you had the baby?
Fourteen years ago.
Doesnt tlme fly!
And who are these?
Who do you think? So e and my Paula!
The same name as mel
And Sole
Shall we go lnto the din ng room?
That Sole looks l ke a rght sourpuss.
For heaven's sakel
The wind carried the cinders to the bushes.
The result is the most tragic fire in the last 13 years.
-Mind f l turn it off? -No, l can t see t anyway
Flres are dreadful.
That's how your grandparents dled.
Why did l come ln here?
l don't know.
-To talk? -No.
-To get some food? -Yesl
Look ln the sldeboard.
l'm very shaky on my pins.
kook, wafersl
Just lke Mom's. Eat up.
How was the cemetery?
Your mother is de ighted.
Did you scrub the headstone properly?
Of course
She likes t to be clean
lf she could, she'd cean lt herself.
But of course she oan t.
Of course she can t.
Don't you feel lonely in th s big house?
No.
You'd be better off in a home, where you'd be ooked after
l'm f ne as l am.
l'm golng to the bathroom.
We , gol
You can't l ve on your own. l m worrled about you
How do you manage your meals?
Very well.
Agustina brings me bread your mother does the cooklng,
and if l need anything l ca the store and they brlng lt
l'm flne.
What a love y touch!
Lookl
lt's got your name on lt.
Shall we go?
Yes.
Were leaving now.
l'm so shaky on my pins.
Don't get up.
How cou d l not get up?
Next t me l come back, l'm taklng you home w th me
Yes, next tlme.
What matters ls that you come back.
You've gotten very wobbly.
Take care of yourself.
l wll.
Mlnd how you go!
We ll do that. l love you ots!
-Sha l we go to Agustlnas? -Yes.
Come in!
Well?
How did you flnd your aunt?
-Bad. -Terrble.
She's gotten very shaky. l don't know how she copes.
She does very well wthout going outslde.
She eats a stlck of bread every day.
She leaves the money for me.
Let's go onto the patlo.
Shes ln an awful state love.
She doesn't know what year it is.
She talks about Mom as f she were sti allve.
For her, she snt dead.
She can't accept lt.
Sit down fora while
l'd like to pay you somethlng to look ln on her every day
l won't accept anything!
l'm very happy to do lt.
l'd take her home,
but l'd have to throw my husband out to make room
But we have to do somethlng.
Every morning, before l go shopping, l tap on her wlndow
and l don't move untl she answers me.
l keep an eye on her.
l really appreciate that.
l llke to thlnk
someones dolng that for my mother,
wherever she ls.
Lookl Wasn't she cutting edge then?
The on y hipple in the v llage.
Look at her p astic jewelry.
They're awesome!
First-rate p astic.
Every time l smoke a jolnt l think of her.
That's a f ne example you're setting for Paulal
There's stlll no news?
Nothing.
lt's llke the earth swallowed her up.
And yoursister Briglda?
Her?
She s ln Madrd, she's a big hlt on trash TV.
Mom, l m out of credltl
Good we' get a break from the telephone.
You can use mlne.
-She' l bankrupt you. -ln that case, no.
As l was saying, Briglda ls on so many shows
she can put a deposit on an apartment ln Madrld
And she's go ng to make a record.
She always l ked s nging.
So did th s one
Remember when you and she,
you must've been thirteen,
went to an audltion for ch d slngers?
Hey, you nevertold me that!
lt was your granny's idea. She was up for anyth ng.
Talking of mothers, maybe yours hasn't shown up
so as not to ruln your sisters career.
No.
Mom wou d love to be on telev slon.
Shed o crazy.
Want some?
No no no.
l grow t myse f. Look at the plants.
We have to leave.
Yes.
D d you report her dlsappearance to the pollce?
Brigida thinks t sn't necessary.
Shes said t so often on TV
Yes, but you have to report t to the police, not say t on TV.
l don't know.
ln any case, it's not the f rst time she's left home
But neverfor so long.
lt's been over three years.
Don't g ve up hope.
And take care of yourself, you don't look wel
Your oleander looks wonderful.
Yes, t d dn't get aphids thls year.
But lve really lost my appetlte.
Maybe it's the joints.
No, if it weren't for them, l wou dn't eat at a l
Yourfathers eyes.
Ajoint makes me feel a bit hungry, and t re axes me
Safe journeyl
Guess what l saw upsta rs bes de the bathroom?
What?
An exerclse blke.
That freaks me outl
Why would Aunt e want a bike f she can t walk?
Exacty, she's lost her mlnd.
Don't talk llke that about her.
She dldn t even reconize us.
lt's the wlnd.
That goddamn East w nd here drlves peop e crazyl
The wafers are del clous.
How can she bake those when she s as b nd as a bat?
Hello, Regina.
Going to work?
Got no choice, love.
Why not g ve her a llft?
Where are you golng?
To the club lf you drop me ln the center that'd be great
-A l right. -Thanks.
See you later.
-H , Dad. -Hi
Hello.
Well?
Dld you have fun?
ln the cemetery? You kidd ng me?
Were you having a party?
Me? What do you mean?
Paula sit properly. C ose your egs!
Wil you br ng me another beer?
Are you kiddlng?
Go on please.
Haven t you had enough? You have to work tomorrow.
l'm free tomorrow, and the day after, too.
How come?
l was flred.
Hang on.
Chrlst Alm ghty!
l' l get a job on Sundays, lt s my only free day
l' l get a job.
But let me watch the game n peace.
You can forget about soccer.
There' be no more cable.
Were a poorfam ly and we' ive like one.
Paula put that phone down!
Your suppers here if you want lt.
Are you angry?
No.
l'm worried about my aunt.
Shes worse than ever
She dldn t even reconize Pau a and Sole.
-l don't know how she manages. -But she does.
Leave me be.
What's wrong?
l'm worn out, and l have to get up early.
l'll do the work.
Don't be a pest!
Don't call me a pest.
Sorry.
What are you doing here?
Wa tng foryou.
What for?
l called you loads of tmes to te l you to buy bread
l don't suppose you thought to buy any.
No.
You're soaked.
How ong have you been here?
A whlle.
Where were you? Wlth your pals?
No.
l wasn't anywhere.
Why didn't you answerthe phone?
What's wrong?
ls something wrong?
Te me, what s happened?
Wheres yourfather?
He's ..
Where?
ln the kltchen.
What happened?
l was n the k tchen
with my back to h m,
and sudden y Dad jumped on me.
He was drunk.
l asked him what he was dolng,
and he sa d he wasn't my father.
l pushed h m away.
But he got up and put his arms around me.
l pushed him agaln.
He unzipped h s pants.
He kept say ng that t wasn't wrong
and that he wasn't my father!
l took a kn fe from the drawer
and l threatened hlm,
but lt was only to scare him.
He dldn't belleve me.
He sald l wou dn't dare
and he jumped on me.
What are you golng to do?
l don't know.
Go and change, oryou ll get pneumonla.
Remember l kllled h m,
and you saw nothing, you weren t here.
lt's very important you rememberthat.
Don't open!
Who can lt be?
l don't know.
Go to your room.
Ralmunda, it 's me, Emillo.
Coming!
Hl there.
l'm sorry, l know it's ate but l'm go ng to Barce ona tomorrow.
l want to g ve you the restaurant keys in case anyone comes to see t
l don't m nd, lt's just l'm never at home.
What about Paco? Hes always here.
Paco...
He f nally got a job. He's starting tomorrow
Are you hurt?
Women's troubles.
But now that l thlnk about lt,
with Paco working l'l have more free tlme.
-Give me the keys, l' l sort lt out. -Here.
Th s is my brother's home number.
The other s my ce l phone.
-You're leaving tomorrow? -ln the mornlng
Te me, how much are you asklng?
l always llked your restaurant.
lt's a plty you dldn t like the owner, too.
Em io please...
For the lease, f ve m llion, but t's negotiable.
We'l m ss you.
And l' m ss you girls.
-Good luck. -Thanks.
-ls Emilio eaving? -Yes.
Go back to your room.
l want to be with you.
You'l have to help me later.
Don't answerl
lt' l be one of your pals.
Answer lt, tell them you can t talk.
Th s is no time to be ca ling.
l can t talk...
What do you mean? lts yourAunt Sole.
Put your mother on.
lt's Aunt Sole
Te her l m busy.
Shes busy now.
Put her on lts important.
Take the phone Mom.
Sole, l've got a pile of lronlng,
and l was out working all afternoon.
Agustna rang.
Aunt Pau a ls dead.
When?
A little while ago.
Aunt Pau a ls dead.
Just a mlnute ago l was thinking of brlnglng her here
She died a a one!
Don't cry pet.
L sten Agust na said we're not to worry.
She and Squ nty wlll ay her out before we get there.
Auntie had everything organ zed.
She even chose her coffln and pald for everythlng.
lt's incredible that she was so ucid at the end.
l cant go to the funeral.
l'm truly sorry,
but l'm very busy.
How can you not go? What wll people say?
l can t go, not remotely.
You have to go on your own.
On my own?
No way.
You know l m terrfled of the dead.
But you needn t see Auntle.
l' l tell Agustlna to make sure of that.
And if they ask for you?
Say l've had a ga lbladderoperatlon.
Anything.
l' l go later, but today its not remote y possible.
l don't understand you. Auntle oved you so much
And l loved her.
l' l exp ain it to you someday, and that day, you' fllp
l'm f pplng now.
Take a tranqui zer. l'm go ng to take one too
And you go tomorrow mornlng.
Al right?
l guess...
The doorl
Wait!
You stay here. Stay here and keep watch.
l hope it hasn't changed slnce l worked here.
DEEP FREEZE
Stay where you arel
Sorry.
What do you want?
ls the restaurant open?
No.
Why?
Give me a hand
Were shootlng a film in the area,
and l'm looking for somewhere we can al eat.
Do you know any restaurants around here?
How many are you?
25 and 5 30.
C0me on help me.
l can do it for you, if you want.
We were golng to close today.
S0, lunch f0r 30.
At what tlme?
We stop at 3:3o, and were very close.
Around 4:00?
Yeah.
And te me, how much?
Ten euros a head.
That's flne.
l'm sorry l shouted at you,
but you scared me.
-We l l l see you at 4 00. -Sure
Thanks a lot.
lt's 10 00l
-Two kilos. -Glve me another two kllos.
How much are the potatoes?
1 60 forfour kilos.
Give me eight kilos.
Sure
Hello, Regina.
Hello, you re cartlng quite a oad!
l have to make lunch for 30.
-Cou d you end me 100 eur0s? -l'm broke love.
l've just bought a chunk of pork this blg.
l could use that. l' buy t from you.
lt cost me 10.80. lts all l havel
l' l pay you tomorrow Come on!
l' l bring lt over to you now.
-Thanks love. -l' have to dlet today
lt' l do you good.
Hey, lnés! Back from the villae?
l got here yesterday. How are you?
Did you happen to bring any sausages or chor zo?
l certainly dldl The sausages are great.
My mother-in- aw orders them specialy for me.
-l need a k lo or so. -Why's that?
-l have to cook for 30. -Whos comlng?
l' l tell you later.
Can l buy them? l ll pay you tomorrow.
-Sure, it's no problem. -Thanks
Dld you bring anythlng sweet?
l brought some cookies that me t in your mouth
Wlth the way your glucose and cholestero are,
l can't belleve you brought cookies.
lt's my on y v ce Three boxes.
You shou dn't eat them.
-What do l do give them away? -Se them to me
At least et me taste them.
You can eat three or four, but don t stuff yourself
-Br ng them round to me love. -l ll do that.
-Thanks. -Bye, love
Bye pet.
HOMEMADE SPANlSH FOOD
OMEkETAND BLOOD SAUSAGE
PORK SAkAD
Whod like some pork? lts de cious.
You too?
Some pork? lt s del cious.
Agustina?
ls that you?
So edad,
daughter.
So e
l have to talk to you.
So e!
There there.
Take t easy.
Where s she?
Upstairs, ln my mother's room,
the best room ln the house.
l brought her here to g ve her a betterwake.
Thank you so much.
Come on, we re the prlncipa mourners.
Good afternoon
l spoke to your sister.
Shes just had an operation.
Yes, what timlng.
She said you re not to see the body.
Don't worry, you won't have to.
Say hello to Vicenta s dauhter.
We ll et her rest a wh e shes very tlred.
Come on
Over here
lt was ate at nlght.
l'd had supper, and l was watching the te evislon
l heard someone knock ng at my door.
l wasn't sure, but just then
l heard the same nolse,
and l asked 'Who s lt?''
And a voice answered,
''Agustlna.''
l wasn't afrald.
l went outs de but l saw no one.
l looked over at your aunt's house,
and the door seemed to be open.
l thought lt was odd,
so l went ln.
l called your aunt,
but she d dn't answer me.
How cou d she answer me, poor thing?
l went nto her room,
and l found herthere ln bed,
as stll as a l tt e blrdl
lt was her sp rt that warned you.
But was t Paulas splrit or the other ones?
One of the two
l can't say who t was, l didn t see.
But just as l'm listen ng to you now,
someone or somethlng warned me that Paula had d ed
and opened the door so l could go ln.
Come into the kitchen
l bet you haven t eaten yet.
No.
Not since last n ght but l m all rlght.
l thought as much.
Th s' l do you good.
Don't give me any more That's enough.
What dld the women mean?
lt was just talk.
You know what v llages are like.
They were talking about my mother.
Some people say they've seen her.
They say she came back to look after yourAunt Pau a
Has she not appeared to you?
No. What about you?
No, but those things happen.
l know.
My grandfather God rest hlm appeared to my grandmother
At first she was frightened.
Eat up!
Then she asked hlm what he wanted,
and h s spirit to d her
there was a promise he hadn't fu fllled.
She carr ed it 0ut,
and the whole v llage went wth her to the cemetery,
where they left my grandfather so hed rest ln peace
And he never appeared agaln.
That sn't just a story l heard.
l llved lt.
Do you want to go nto your aunt's house
ln case you want to take anythlng?
No Ralmunda will oome later.
Te her it went very we l and the whole v llage came
l' l do that.
l'm go ng to miss her so much!
Go on
ket me out, Sole!
Let me outl l m your mother.
l won't do anything to you.
My mother ls dead.
lf you re anything, you're her ghost or her splrlt
Whatever you say, but get me out of here.
l'm in the trunk of your car.
Really Mom, the th ngs you do!
So edad,
daughter,
don't be afrald of me.
l'm your mother.
Aren t you golng to give me a hug?
Now, g ve me a hand.
Take thls.
-Auntie's suitcasel -Yes.
What ls a l thls?
Clothes and some valuables Auntie had
A good thing l hid them before the nelghbors arrlved
Except forAgustina, they a went through everyth ng
but l'd got there first.
You'l have to give Agustina a gift, shes been so good
Betterthan your sister.
There was such a fuss when she dldn t turn up
lf you'd heard what Squ nty said about her!
Thank heavens you came.
l'm wrecked afterthe trlp.
-Are you s eeping here? -Yes, where do you want me to go?
What a s ght!
l'm not surprised l scared you.
Do you still have the l egal halr salon?
That's how l make my lvlng.
-ls that the guest room? -Yes, that's lt.
Tomorrow, you can give me a oolor and a trlm.
And l need dark g asses, too.
l don't want to be stuck n the house all day.
l have to go out.
Nobody knows me here.
ln the village, l couldn't even go to the front door.
l need a blt of alr.
Are you staylng for long?
You want to throw me out already?
No, l m just asklng.
l' l stay foras long as God w lls, lf you don t mind
When you t re of me, you just have to say so
But for a separated woman,
who's better company than her mother?
Un ess you ve got yourself a sweetle-ple.
No Mom.
l'm a one llke always.
Not anymore.
Answerthe phone.
-Are you back? -Yes.
You were out of range so rang Agustlna.
She said it a went very well.
The whole village came.
l've been thinking about you all day.
l really wanted to be there.
Hang on, Sole.
300.
-What do l owe forthe drinks? -Nothing
They're on the house.
-We l tomorrow, same time. -Sure
-The crew was very happy. -l'm glad
lf you don't mind, and even f you charge more,
cou d the helplngs be more generous?
Tomorrow, you' have food comlng out your eyes
-Great, see you then. -So long.
Sorry, Sole.
Have you got a job ln a restaurant, too?
Yes, l've taken over Emi o's place.
Good kord!
He was sick of it,
but that s not the only news.
Paco has eft us.
That's why l couldn't go to the funeral.
We were having a row when you rang.
l knew somethlng was wrong.
Dld he hlt you?
Paco wasn't vlolent.
He's just gone,
forever.
He' l come back you' l see.
l doubt lt.
Why are you so sure?
You can te these things.
Wel , so long.
So ong.
Bye.
None of the three of us had any luck wlth men
Ralmunda and l dldn t, but you...
Me, what?
Dad adored you.
Raimunda says that you were lucky,
you died in the arms of the person you loved most
Your s ster sn't a bad person, but she's got a nasty streak.
l was bllnd about him,
and he cheated on me unt the day he died!
-What do you mean? -lt's true
l kept that quiet al my life. l neverwanted you two to know
But lets drop it. l don't want to ta k l of the dead.
-ls he going to appear? -l hope not
And your husband?
What about h m?
Mlght he turn up someday?
l doubt lt.
l haven t heard from h m in two years.
All the better. lt' l just be the two of us together
The pork cost you 10?
10 80.
-l' glve you an extra 3 euros. -Thanks love.
And l' pay you for four boxes of cookies, not three
Thanks.
l don't want you to th nk l d cheat you.
C0uld you help me with thls? l can't move t on my own.
-Where are you taking it? -To the restaurant.
You're the expert in removals. Where do we...
Get ahold of it, t p lt over, but not al the way
-Otherwlse, we won't get lt through. -ls thls a r ght?
Now, stra ghten up to the right, more to the rlght
-We can't see anything. -l'll gulde you
Careful, ltll come this way.
All the way...
Don't rush lt.
Are we at the door?
The e evator ls here.
Wait, wait This has to go n straight.
l' l take thls end.
You take lt.
You're do ng fine.
Good kord! Th s is tough.
Carefu !
Call it from downstairs
l want them to see we don't use frozen food.
lt's all natural, fresh every day.
Overto the corner
-And the otherfreezer? -lt s broken
So you re taking overthe restaurant?
Yes, at east untll the crew fnlshes the fl m.
Then l'll see.
You can count on me l make great desserts
And l can serve drinks at nlght.
l don't know if well work nights, but l m counting on you.
-Sure. -And thanks.
Mom...
ls there anything you want me to do?
Cut my halr.
l mean,
ls there anyth ng
you eft undone ln lfe
that won't et you rest in peace?
People always leave th ngs undone,
or done badly,
and l'm no exceptlon.
But l don't know if they can be f xed.
And f they can,
lt s up to me to fix them.
My clients wi be arrving soon. Whatll we do?
Look after them. l' help you.
But l can't say you re my mother.
They know l'm an orphan.
l' l say l'm a forelgner.
A foreigner? From where?
Dom nlcan Republic?
No there are lots around here,
they'd notice your accent.
Chinese?
Madrid s full of Chinese
Whod bel eve you're Chinese?
Something we don't have around here.
Russ anl
Do l really look more Russian than Chinese?
Yes, the Russ ans are llke us.
Look, whatever you hear, keep your mouth shut
And don't et them see that you understand us
l' l show you how everyth ng works.
ln the bedroom, l cut, dry and color,
and here l wash thelr halr.
lf the client s tall, lft this up.
lf shes small, put it down.
Th s towe s to keep you from s ipplng.
And l keep th s here
because up above its very uncomfortable,
and lf t's down there,
l have to bend down so often l wreck my back
l get a lot of backaches, too.
And the shampoo ls measured out.
Sit down
-Are you all right? -Yes.
Just one towel orthe ol ent wl fee suffocated.
l'm the same.
And then, wlth that same towel,
you dry her ha r a b t so it doesn't drlp down her back
lt's all so well organ zed. You're very smart, love
Hello.
She doesn't speak Spanish, shes Russlan.
They're in a terr b e state.
l took her n out of charlty.
When l saw her begg ng in the street, she rem nded me of my mother.
Don't trust all the old women you see.
Especia y Russians. There are ots of maflas.
People take advantage of you.
Are you gettlng streaks? S t down here.
-Wash hair. -Yes.
She was a hairdresser in Russia
How do you communicate?
Wlth s gns She understands everythlng. She's sharp.
Shell speak Spanish ln no time.
Yes, ook at a the top mode s who are Russ an.
Heavensl
-So, Russlan? -Russla
The water,
not hot,
not cold.
Very good.
Hello.
Hey there.
We have a day off tomorrow.
Then we'l have one too. We need a break.
And we finlsh up next week.
We wanted to have the wrap party here.
Great
Do you want a s t-down meal or a buffet?
A buffet would be great.
And we'd like to have the terrace just for us.
That's no prob em.
Don't ook at me like that, you make me nervous
Same here
Go and have a drink l m worklng.
Al r ght.
Shes been strane s nce she came back from the vlllage
lf she asks you about Paco, you know noth ng.
And t's true.
The ess you know, the better.
And above a don't keep think ng about lt.
Hello.
-Are you with someone? -No.
-l'm going to the bathroom. -What for?
l'm dylng to piss.
lt s broken l'm waltlng for the p umber
l ll throw some water down, for Chrlsts sakel l have to piss
Hel ol
What's wrong wlth you?
-l'm at a d fficult age. -You re not the only one
-l'm going to trim your hair. -No, l know you
-Just the ends -Less than a centlmeter.
Tell me,
has your Dad not come back?
No.
He said goodbye forgood.
That s incredible. l just don t understand
lt smells of fartsl
What's your mother up to?
What?
She's such a palnl Ever slnce she was a chlld.
And in those days we didn't have a bathroom
We d d t in the yard.
Wed be waitlng for her all day.
All day ong she'd be in the yard, wlth the hens.
Ralmundal
Th s dresslng gown...
lt's Mom s.
l know that.
And the smell?
What smell?
ln the bathroom and here.
lt's as if Mom had just been here, fartlng her ass off
Don't you smell lt?
The way she used to fart!
And she cou d never hide it because she was the f rst to laughl
lt's as lf l can hear her now.
Dont be s lyl
Why did you bring these clothes?
No wonder you have nightmares.
You give away dead peop e's clothes.
Aunt Paula s sultcasel
The antique do sl
Her jewe case!
What were you going to do with thls?
Nothing.
You were golng to keep lt.
Really, Sole.
Don't get the wrong idea.
l didn't brlng the case.
Then why ls it here?
When l got to Aunt Pau a's house...
What?
l'd never have bel eved thls.
Steallng the few things she had before she was even ln the grave.
What a nervel
Don't go off like that!
We have to buy anotherfrldge.
Why not fix the one in the storeroom?
lt doesnt work.
The motors mak ng a noise.
l said no one s to go in there, lnclud ng you.
The doorwas open, l went n for a hammer.
Has anyone else been in?
l don't thlnk so.
You sa d you'd got rid of h m.
l wasn't able to.
You th nk l like havlng him ln there?
Get dressed everyone w l be arr ving soon.
Why are you st l llke that?
-l m not ln a party mood -Ne ther am l, but t's work.
Don't be such a lazybones.
Come on, pet, l'll help you.
What's wrong?
l can t forget about it when he's so near, n the storeroom
That's the best way to go crazy, and to drve me crazy too.
You don't know what it's ke to have kil ed your father
Paco wasn t yourfather.
Don't ie to me anymore.
l know you re doing it for me, but please don't e.
l'm not lying.
He recognized you as his daughter,
but he knew he wasn't your biologlca father
So was he telling me the truth?
Yes.
But that doesn t justify what he dld.
l prom se l ll te you everythlng another t me.
Whats the po nt of sittlng here?
Who was my father?
A guy in the v llage.
Do l know h m?
He's dead.
l' l tell you everythlng.
l swear.
l'll hold you to yourword.
-Two moj tosl -Comlng upl
What about you, love? Another two?
With emon lt's perfect.
We need more g asses.
l can hardly keep up.
lsn't Paula ooking pretty?
Here.
Thanks.
How dellclousl
l can't take any more. Theyre really good
With your cleavage and my mojitos, we'd make a fortune
We shou d start working nights and try to llven up
thls lousy neighborhood.
We' l talk about that. Flrst, we have to keep th s lot happy
Have a mojito!
Keep down they mustn't see you!
l'd llke to see Ra munda and Paula.
The other day, l only saw thelrfeet.
And look at the fuss you caused!
ls that the restaurant?
She sa d t was golng well, but l never imagined th sl
She deserves it
Shes had a hard time
Stay in the carand don t let anyone see you.
No one can see me herel
What are you doing here?
Th s ls great!
l've brought you Aunt Pau a's things. l didn't know about the party
lt's a film crew ce ebrating the end of the shoot
l've been catering for them.
Let's put the sultcase away.
Why did you bother?
l'd never have kept anyth ng of Auntles,
much less hidden t from you.
l know that. l'm sorry forwhat l sald.
l always shoot my mouth off.
Hello, Auntle.
-You want anything? -No.
l can see the twinkling of the lights in the distance
That are marking my return
Remember?
How cou d l forget?
lt's so long since l heard you sing!
l've never heard her slng.
Really?
Really never.
-Would you l ke to? -What do you th nk? Of coursel
Come on!
l can t bel eve lt.
Sit there
Be qu etl
Slt down! Th s womans oing to sing!
Good evenlng.
l'd llke to thank the crew
forthe work you ve given us these past weeks.
Thank you so much.
l haven t sung for a very long time,
but l'l do t tonight and see how it goes.
I'm afraid of the encounter
With the past that's coming back
To confront my life
Your grandma taught herthat song
forthe audltion for ch d singers.
l'm afraid of the nights
That, fiIIed with memories
Enchain my dreams
But the fleeing traveler
Sooneror later must come to a halt
And even though oblivion Which destroys everything
Has kiIled my old illusions
l stillretain a humble hope hidden away
And that is all of my heart's fortune
Coming back
With a wrinkIed forehead
And the snows of time
Silvering my brow
FeeIing
That Iife is an instant
That 20 years is nothing
That the feverish eyes
Wandering in the shadows Seek you and name you
Living
With my soul clinging
To a sweet memory
That l weep for again
Autos Amigos.
Go0d morn ng l'm ca lng because l saw your ad.
l need to rent a van.
What kind, and for how long?
The cheapest one you have. lts just for one day
Yes?
Could l speak to Miss Raimunda?
Speaklng.
Emilio gave me your numberso you could show me the restaurant.
l'm very keen to see it. My name is Carlos.
We l,
you should have cal ed earier
because a ne ghbor has taken it over.
EmiIio didn't tellme that.
That's h s strategy, just n case.
Could l speak to the person who's taken it over?
Th s is her day off, l'm sorry.
lf you call Emi o l m sure he' l exp aln everythlng
Thank you.
Goodbye.
-Hello? -Emll o? lt s Ralmunda.
lt's great to hear you. Did a man go to see the restaurant?
Yes but l d dn't trust him. l thlnk he wanted lt as a front.
Forwhat?
For drugs, or to open a brothel. l don t know.
When l sald lt wasn t dolng well he said that was even better so...
Why on earth did you say that?
l've been mean ng to call you for days.
l hope you understand.
l know its not the way to do things,
but l've taken over the restaurant.
You? What do you mean?
l can exp a n it all to you.
You were out of line, way out of line.
You abused my trust.
lt's no excuse,
but when the fllm crew appeared, l was desperate
And now that Paco's left us, you can lmag ne..
What? Paco's left you?
Yes We had a huge flght.
He's gone and l don t think hell be back.
He left the same day you went to Barcelona.
How are you coping?
Me? l'm hystercal.
Clutchin at straws.
WelI, we'll try to sort it out.
Te me what l owe for the month, and l' send lt to you,
but give me a few days.
-Hel o? -Raimunda?
Yes, whos that?
lt's Agustina. I'm in Madrid and l'd like to see you
lt's difficult, l'm really busy today.
Tomorrow?
No, the who e week ls a real mess.
Don't say that. l'm in the hospital.
What's wrong?
l've got cancer. The doctors told me yesterday
l need to see you.
Te me what hospital you re in, l'll come today
I'm in Central Hospital.
God bless you.
You go up, l'm in a hurry. G ve thls to your aunt.
-He o, Auntie. -What are you doing here?
ls that your mother shoutlng?
Come to the window!
What?
l'm leav ng Paula wlth you.
But l m worklng.
l have to go to the hospital to see Agustina. She's got cancer
What a p ty, the poorthing.
Paula is bringing up Auntie's case. Keep it
l've got to do a few things, and then l' l come back.
Give my regards to Agustlna.
-Tell her you saw mel -Yes, nulsance
Can l come in now?
Yes, ove.
How are you?
They opened then closed me up agaln.
-l knew l had something nasty. -Don't glve up hope
The f owers are ovely!
You shou dn't have bothered. Leave them there
l have to ask you a favor.
Whatever you want.
Close the door
Get a chair
l won't ast very long,
but don't want to die without knowing what happened to my mother
But what can l do?
You can te me f she's allve or dead.
How wlll l know?
Ask your mother.
My mother? She's dead!
But she appeared to yourAunt Pau a
and ooked after her unt she dled.
The whole vlllage knows that.
lf she should appear to you, ask her about my mother
That's a l l'm asking.
What you re asklng me s crazy.
Did you ever see herwth your own eyes?
No.
And you live across the street.
l thlnk she hld from me.
But l heard your aunt talking to her a thousand tlmes.
lf l hear anything, l' l tell you.
But l th nk t's unllkely.
You owe me thls.
lt's all l'm asklng.
l have to go, l've got lots to do.
Wait, my sister wants to see you. She' be here any minute
Some other day, l'm in a rea hurry.
She wants you to go on TV.
You know she works on Wherever You Are.
They want to surprise her, and they thought of you
You were friends as ch dren, and you both went to an audltlon
That's enough for several shows,
with lnterviews, muslc and songs
from yesterday, from today and for all times.
Te her l don t llke telev slon.
Neither do l. l' l tell her, but don t forget what l sald
l won t.
The Russlan oves TV.
l don't know if she understands, but shes hypnotized
Theres somethlng about trash TV.
Once l start watching lt, l can t stop.
l feel worse and worse, but l'm hooked.
lt's llke a drug.
l had to stop watching it at nlght.
l couldn t sleep afterwards.
All that shouting drlves you crazy.
Do you like dolls?
l like these they look like they're from a horror movle
Theyre very old.
Your mom p ayed with them when she was pregnant wlth you
Why didn't mom llve wlth you?
We were very short on money.
Your granddad went to work ln Venezuela,
l kept Sole,
and your mother went to l ve wlth Aunt Paula
What has she told you?
Nothlng she doesn t like talking about that tlme
Do you get along well?
lt's better now,
but at times she s really stroppy, Grandma.
Shes ot a temper.
How did you get a ong with her?
When she was little, she was the app e of my eye,
but as a teenager,
for some reason l d dn't know,
she grew away from me
until l lost hercompletely.
Your mother dldn t love me.
lt rea ly hurts when a daughter doesn't ove her mother.
That's why,
now that its just the two of you,
you have to love her very much,
and she has to feel that.
Why have you come back?
Because l was very lonely.
Good afternoon
Hello.
l need elght meters of plast c clothesl ne
and some packlng tape.
How much tape?
Four or flve ro ls.
Very well.
Flve ro ls.
One
Two...
And a pick and a shovel.
Very well.
-Greatl -Byel
How are you, Ra munda?
Fed up.
How's Agustlna?
Mad as a hatter.
H Moml
-What's up with you? -Nothing
Fetch me a g ass of water, love.
Do you mind f she stays here tonlght?
No, but where wil she sleep?
ln the spare room.
Paco's coming overtonight. He wants to talk
l'd lke us to be alone.
Al r ght.
You're s eep ng here tonight.
l'm off. l've got a long nlght ahead of me
Hello.
l need a favortonlght.
Ton ght? Can't it wait until tomorrow?
No but l ll pay you, ke any client.
No, ove foryou a discount,
but l d dn't know you llked pussy.
l don t.
So lf you don t want t0 go muff-divlng, what do you want?
l'll exp ain on the way.
First, we have to put the freezer in the van...
-What? -And take t to a dung heap
We can't carry that on our own!
Well ask the ne ghbors to help us.
Put on something comfortable.
L ke what?
You look like you re going to exp ode ln that
-Wa t Wait! -Llke thlsl
lt stlcks out here.
Get it on the sidewalk
-lt's sllpp ngl -No, lt s not.
Get lt paral e to that.
Now, up! One, two three!
C0me onl One two three!
Pushl
lt's ln.
Bloody hell.
Dld you hurt yourself?
Who needs a sp een anyway?
Where are we golng?
To the Jucar River
Wheres that?
180 k lometers away.
180 kllometersl
ltl take us all night just to go and come back
l sald 'd pay by the hour.
Just to go with you?
To come with me to the r ver dig a hole,
bury the freezer, and not ask questions.
Look, l appreciate yourtrust,
but my lifes complicated enough!
l have no job, no papers, l have to work the streets to survlve.
Christ, you could have asked me!
l'm asklng you now How much?
You shou d've asked flrst.
Al r ght,
give me the nlghts.
What n ghts?
The drinks at n ght, for a month.
And l keep what l make from my cocktails.
And you buy the bottles.
Al rght partner,
but not a word about thls.
What can l do? l'm your accompllce now.
Just so you know, l haven't k lled anyone.
Don't tell me anything.
l wasn't going to.
Get out of the way Glve me that.
Oh my Godl
l can't do any more, l'm dead.
Take a break l ll fi thls ln.
What are you doing here?
-Can we talk? -l'm really busy.
Come in
-How are you? -The same.
-Have you found out anything? -About what?
About what l asked you.
l didn t thlnk you were serious.
May l s t down?
Have pity on me.
l do all the plty you want,
but don t ask crazy things.
All l want s to know lf she's a ive or deadl
l understand that with the wlnd and the oancer
you've lost your mind,
but you can't complicate other peoples llves
We ve got enough on our plates.
The day your parents d ed in the flre,
my mother d sappeared.
Don t you think that's a strange co ncldence?
No, it's just a co ncidence.
You sa d your mother left ln the morning
and t wasn't the f rst tme she disappeared.
Your grandmother had to ralse you because she was never at home.
Don't make me say more.
My motherwent off that mornlng,
but lt was to join yourfather ln the hut.
That's a lle.
-No one saw her. -Of course not.
She made sure of that
My motherwas hav ng an affair with yourfather
What are you saying?
My motherwould never have allowed it!
That's why she went to live wlth your Aunt Paula
She did that because my aunt wasn t well,
but she never eft him. She went between the two houses.
You don't know you weren t there,
and you hardly had any contact with your mother for years.
l often heard her comp ain you treated her ke sh t.
Those were herwords.
l've heard a lot of things.
Once
l heard a row between your mother and mlne
Your mothertold her she could have your father,
she didn't care.
And she d dn't envy her
because he'd been born to hurt the women who loved h m
What are you getting at?
That your parents' death
and my mother's dlsappearance are connected.
Then why haven t you gone to the pollce?
They ask a ot of questions,
and we should wash our dirty linen at home.
That's why l won't go on TV even though my slster ls lnslst ng.
You and l have to sort thls out.
l have to get back to work.
Th nk about what l sald.
How's Paco?
What?
He's flne.
Shouldn t we call Aunt e to say we're comlng?
She never goes 0ut.
We shou d warn her.
Why?
lt's not pollte just to turn up at someone's house
even f she is your slster.
Whats up with you and So e now?
lt's a question of manners.
You and your aunt are getting on my fucklng nervesl
You're so vulgar.
What have you brought, Ra munda?
Food for the three of us.
Why did you bother?
Why are you shouting? Are you golng deaf?
-Yes, l'm deaf. -Deaf as a post
We're staying a while, l want you to cut my halr
Why dldn t you call? l've got a cllent.
Don't worry, l'm ln no hurry.
And we have to talk.
-About what? -Aunt Pau a's house.
-May l go and watch TV? -Yes go on
We have to sort out a the paperwork.
Grandma!
l'm here.
Don't make a sound, my mothers here.
l heard her.
Wheres the Russlan?
-Who's the Russ an? -A woman who's helplng me
l was te ling her about my son being expe led agaln
He slashed the tires of the priest who teaches hlm rellgion
l was telling her, and she eft me ta k ng to myse f
with my hair half-washed.
She must have gone out.
l don't know, but she went off llke a shot.
l'll finish you off.
Shes ot caustrophobla,
and at times she needs to go outslde.
Some help she is.
Do you pay her?
No l took her ln.
She eats and sleeps here. l gave her Mom's clothes.
l don't like you tak ng in people you don't know.
We to d her that. People take advantage of her
Look at the Russian. Shes liv ng n luxury here
How was Paco the other nlght?
Unpleasant. He came to get his clothes.
l think he's living with someone, but l cou dn't care ess.
Why didn't you tel me you had a Russlan?
l guess l forgot.
That's Agustnal
wherever you are
Good afternoon, Agustina.
Good afternoon
We know from your s ster
that your mother was a slngle parent.
My motherwas a hipple.
That's Agustnal
She never married
S0 she practiced free Iove.
Your mother had a friend
who died the same day she disappeared.
Yes.
How did she die?
In a fire.
There are lots of fires in my village,
because of the East wind.
Agustina's village is the wondertul Alcanfor de Ias lnfantas,
which, according to statistics,
has the highest rate of insanity per inhabitant.
Do you think that perhaps your mother was mentally unbaIanced?
No, when my motherwasn't well, as she was a hippie,
she'd leave the viIlage.
Mntil one day she leff and nevercame back.
Yes, that was almost four years ago.
And that friend?
We're very interested in that friend who died
the same day your mother disappeared. TelI us about that.
About what?
We'd like you to tell us about the woman who died in the fire.
-You know there are rumors... -I don't believe in rumors.
l'd like you to explain what you told our producer.
lt was something important about that woman and her husband
that linked them to your mother's disappearance
Is that true?
I'd rather
not taIk about that.
Those were suppositions of mine.
But you're here to talk about that woman and your mother
l've changed my mind.
she can't belleve her s ster
What's wrong? You look uncomfortabIe, a bit nervous.
l'd like to exp ain
that Agust na is also here to tel us
that shes got a termlnal i ness.
lsnt that so?
Agust na has got cancer.
You've got cancer.
But don't be nervous, you re among friends.
A big hand for Agustina!
Agustina has got a speclal wish.
To go to a cllnlc n Houston.
But to go to Houston you have to speak out
Remember, you made a comm tment to thls channel
Agustlna came to see me.
She did?
She lnsists that Mom appears to us.
She wants me to ask her about her mother
She also sa d that when she disappeared,
her mother was hav ng an affalrwth Dad.
Do you know anythlng about that?
No.
Well, Mom to d me, after...
Afterwhat?
After she found out.
Look at me.
Are there thlngs l should know and don't?
Oodles
But lf l tell you,
you'l be annoyed or you won t believe me.
l prom se l ll be eve you and l won't be annoyed
Mom's been appearing all the tlme.
To whom?
Sit down
She was wth Aunt Pau a unt l she died
lt was she who ca led Agust na
and opened the door so she cou d find the body.
She put out the m0ney so they'd br ng her bread
and eft everyth ng paid forthe funeral.
Did you do all that?
Yeah.
Did Agust na te l you all that?
You don't belleve me.
Agust na is crazyl
Last tme we saw Aunt e
you said yourself lt was lncredib e
that she could ve like that with her m nd gone and half-bllnd
Remember?
Yes, l do, but what are you saylng?
That she wasn't alone.
Who do you think made the wafers and put them in tupperwares,
one for each of us?
Who do you think took the dol s and Aunt e's valuables
before the nelghbors swlped everything?
Now do you understand?
Have you seen her?
Yes.
ls she, by any chance,
the Russlan?
Yes.
Where s she?
ln there.
Moml
What are you doing down there?
Weren t you dead?
l've come back to ask you to forgive me.
l knew noth ng about lt.
l never even lmagined lt.
Come on Pau al
My litt e girll
The worst s over.
Shes seen me,
and she d dn't reject me did she?
No.
Did you really come back to ask herto forglve you?
And also to be with you.
Someday you can exp ain it all to me.
Yes, and that day l hope you understand me
and that you forgive me, too.
l have to talk to her.
Why don't we go back?
Now?
Sure
-l've dreamt about th s so often. -So have l.
l don't know where to begln.
You're not a ghost, are you? You re not dead.
No love, l'm not.
That's such a rellef.
But even lf l had dled,
l'd have come back to ask you to forg ve me
for not seeing what was going on.
l was bllnd.
l found out the day of the fire.
Had you rea ly left Dad?
Yes.
l couldn t stand h s cheatlng.
The afternoon of the flre,
you rang and spoke to Auntle.
As usua , you d dn't ask for me.
l got angry and told your aunt you were heartless.
As l kept badmouthing you,
your aunt
defended you
and told me everythlng.
That your father had abused you,
that you d gotten pregnant,
and that Pau a
ls your daughter
and your sister.
l couldn't be eve lt.
How cou d such a monstrous thlng happen n front of me
without me realizing lt?
Then, l understood everythlng.
l understood your silence
and why you grew so distant.
l understood why your father went to Venezuela
He couldn't cope wlth the shame of what hed done.
l understood
why after marrying Paco,
you went to Madrld
and wanted nothlng to do with us.
l hated you for not noticlng anythlng.
And you were r ght love.
When l found out,
l was like a w d thlng.
l went to the hut, ready to scratch h s eyes outl
l found him asleep wth Agustina's mother,
both of them worn out.
They didn't see me.
l set flre to the hut.
lt was a windy day,
and n no time the flames had devoured everythlng
They d dn't have time to wake up.
The ashes ln your grave
are those of Agustina's mother?
Yes.
Afterwards,
l wandered the countrys de for a few days,
hid ng,
llke an anlmal.
l was going to give myself up,
but flrst
l went to Paula's house to see her.
She was in a terrible state
When she saw me,
she wasn't at a surprised.
l came from the past, where she was ivlng.
She greeted me as lf l had just gone out the door
With the tragedy, she lost what litt e reason she had.
l couldn t leave her on her own,
so l stayed and looked after her
untll she dled.
ln the vlllage they thlnk you re a ghost.
That's the good thing about such superstltious p aces
lt was easlerfor me to go along with them
than to speak the truth.
l thought ld be arrested.
l never maglned that no one would lnvest gate
or punish me,
although all thls time
l swear l've been in a livlng purgatory.
Never better sald.
lt's too early to go to the v llage.
We shou dn't arrive in dayllght.
Why don t we drive by the rlver?
lt's been so long s nce l saw lt.
lt's not what it was lts dry.
How do you know?
Because there s a drought all over Spaln.
Don't you know?
We used to come here for p cnlcs. Remember Ralmunda?
Yes.
There was more waterthen.
l told you it was dry.
Shall we eat somethln?
Not for me.
-l'm going to eat a wafer. -Me too.
Th s was your father's favorte place.
Pacos?
Yes.
lt was the only thing he missed.
Th s rlver.
l'm g ad he's resting here.
Come on. Nobodyll see you now.
lf Paula were allve
and cou d see us now,
a together,
she'd be so happy.
Have you always had such a big chest?
Yes, slnce l was lttle.
l remembered you hav ng ess.
Have you had anythlng done?
Nol What a thing to sayl
Al r ght.
Grandma, did you ride the blke?
Yes, ha f an hourevery day.
lt's good for blood pressure and the heart.
What did Aunt Paula say?
She roared laughlng.
Bye.
lt's Aunt Paula...
Don't start.
l' l get lt.
H de Mom's plate and cutlery.
-Who is it? -Agustlna
Were having supper We've just arrived.
l'm sorry to bother you.
Don't stay out there.
Thank you.
Good evenlng.
-Slt down -Thank you.
l came to apo oglze about the show.
You shou dn't have done it. lt wasn't rght.
l know that.
lt's no excuse,
but they offered to take me to Houston.
They cure everything there.
But l cou dn't do lt.
l'd rather d e alone in my house, but at peace,
and ab e to look you in the eye.
-Mom, l'm going to bed all right? -Yes, go on
-W l you have some supper? -No, thanks.
l heard you're go ng to se l the house.
Wed thought about lt, but now we're here...
There are so many memories.
Well, l have to go.
Why don t you stay a whlle?
l have to go to the nurse to get my njectlon.
ln Madrid they told me to learn to do lt myse f,
but it g ves me the creeps.
Your sister is unforgivab e Leav ng you a one llke thls
Don't even mentlon her.
As l didn't say what they wanted on telev sion
she's not speaklng to me.
She's very angry wth me. But l m even angrier wlth her.
With good reason.
l envy you two.
You're so close.
lrenel
l've longed to see you.
Here l am.
l heard about your prob em,
and l can lmagine how lonely you are.
Very onely.
lf only Pau a were here...
l'm here to look after you.
You eft the door open.
Don't worry, l cosed lt.
Dld you go to the nurse?
No, l m very t red. Tomorrow.
Tomorrow you'l be n a lot of paln.
Have you got the med cine and the needles?
Yes, l bought lt all n Madrld.
Good l ll give you the njectlon.
l was born n thls bed.
My mother slept here.
And in this bed we held your slster Pau a's wake
l know,
and l'm so grateful.
We have to talk, lrene.
About everything you want.
But don't tell anyone l've come back.
Don't worry.
Thank you for not talking about me on te evlslon.
lt's our own business.
That's right,
and no one elses.
Mom lts me let me inl
What are you dolng here? Come ln.
l m ssed you.
-Are you golng to stay here? -Yes, unt the end.
Agustina s very ill.
After what l dld to her mother,
the least l can do is look after her untll she d es.
l have so much to tell you.
l haven t told you about Paco orwhat l've done.
l'm dying to hear everything, but go away now
l'll see you every day Between us we ll manage
Yes.
l need you Mom.
l don't know how l ved all these years w thout you.
Don't say that.
l' l start to cry,
and ghosts don t cry.