"To Alfonso, my father." "The writer Ernest Hemingway lived over than twenty years in the country estate Vigía, located in San Francisco de Paula, a town in the outskirts of Havana." "The action in this movie took place in 1956." "The Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industria Cinematográfica presents" "Come on, Flora, come on, hurry!" "Come on!" "Flora, hurry!" "Hurry, come on!" "Come on, Flora, come on!" "Come on, hurry!" "Hello, Hemingway" "First voice in our hearts that tells us that love has come, first beat of our sweet sixteen looking for love." "Nothing in the world can be better that listening to that happy beat  for heaven's sake, I lowly beg you to listen to me as well as your only-Begotten assisted the good thief... oh... oh..., it was really," "oh... oh..., happiness." "Ill be able to return to that sweet..." "Hurry, Larita;" "your lunch will get cold!" "St. Dimas give me back my earring, thief." "Give me back my earring, thief!" "Come on, girl, finish up." "Hey, Larita, hurry or I won't wait for you." "oh, cousin, you think I can still do with this blouse?" " Look at that..." " Let me see." "Gee..." "Look, like that youre trendier and you hide the patch." "oh, but if its the Elvis Presley style." "I think you care more about self-love than about your studies." "oh, no, of course not, Aunt Rosenda, if it were so, I wouldnt go to high-school." "Mom, Im leaving." " Be careful, sweetie, yes?" " Yes." "Lalita, Im leaving;" "Im not waiting for you." " oh, wait for me." " Im leaving." "Bye, grandma." " Girl, but..." " oh, no way, bye family." "Girl, eat, that you cant live on studying alone." " No way, Josefa, I have no time." " Just a moment..." "May St. Lazarus, the Virgin of Regla, Charity and your guardian angel be with you, sweetie." "Praise be to God, Josefa, what I have in tow is a procession." " Hey, uncle... uncle, wait." " okay, okay, okay... eh?" "Hey, whats wrong with this girl that shes always in a rush." "Flora..." "Wait up, cousin." "A man can be destroyed but not conquered." "Grammatically, we can see a passive voice in that sentence." "Which is the passive voice?" "Underline it, Marisabel, please." "Can be destroyed..." "You know the passive voice is formed with the verb To BE and the participle of the main verb in the sentence." "Tomorrow I want you to bring me three sentences in the passive voice with the verbs that are on the left of the blackboard." "Hey, the three Marías, and the one in the middle is mine." "Hey, and who told you Im yours?" " Adela told me..." " Y if she passes Ill kill her." "Hey, Larita, arent you coming to the ice-cream parlor?" " No, I cant now." " I treat, serious, I treat." " I cant." " Victor." "Remember we have to draft the association rules." "okay." "See you tonight at your place." "Hey, but for the nth time." "Are you drafting the rules or what?" "Larita." "Come on, the ice cream will melt." "No, I cant." "I have to see Dr. Martínez." "Thank you very much for lending it to me, Doctor." "Thanks to you it got an award." "I put a new cover on it." "And thanks to your studying, Hilaria, otherwise, the loan would have been useless." "In fact, you can have it." " oh, no, Doctor, I cant accept it." " Why not?" "I don't know, Im embarrassed." "Embarrassed that youre given a gift for your outstanding grades." "oh, thank you, Doctor." "By the way, Hilaria, how about the other subjects?" "Any flunks?" "No." "The best I have are:" "first yours..." "A great 1oo... and literature." "Great." "Doctor, I wanted to ask you a favor." "Yes, lets see." "on the bulletin board theres an announcement of scholarships to study in the U. S." "And you applied for one?" "But what I need is a letter of recommendation from a teacher at the school." "to be able to present at the embassy." "By all means, my best student." "Hildelisa, I was clear and said it in class." "Come along." "This is not a composition, this is a political pamphlet or I don't know what." "If you want to do politics, you do it on zulueta Street and beyond, not in my class." "Come here." "No libels or demonstrations of any kind are allowed here." "Do you know that I can expel you from school right away, without ceremony?" "Now you go home and return with your parents tomorrow." "Well look at the way youve behaved." "Hey, Tomás, how many marvels you have here!" " Few can appreciate it." " Do you want some?" "oh, Id like to have a library like this at home." "Im sorry but I cant give them all to you." "If you guys are buying something, choose quickly, its almost time to close." "Hey, Victor, tell Doctor Martínez" "I already got her the book I was looking for." "Give it to me, Tomás, Ill give it to her tomorrow." "To you?" "Id rather not." "Its the Príncipe Edition of The old Man and the Sea." "Hemingways novel?" "oh, I know him; were neighbors." "Yes, really." "I live quite close to him there in San Francisco of Paula." "one thing is to be neighbors and another, quite different, is to know a writers work." "Lets see, do you know The old Man and the Sea?" "Have you read Farewell to Arms, "For Whom the Bell Tolls"...?" "Well, neither have I. The truth is Im not very fond of novels, you know?" "Logically; these are adult readings." "Jeez!" "the old fisherman." "Be seated." "Have you been to Cojímar?" "No." "I have spent whole Sundays there gazing at the sea and Ive seen Hemingways old hero fighting tooth and nail to save his fish." "Beautiful story!" "Beautiful story." "Maybe Im just a sea book fan and this is one of my favorites, Hemingways best." "I mean, to me." "Listen up." ""It was an old man that was fishing alone in a boat in the Gulf Stream and he hadnt caught a fish in 84 days." "A boy had been with him, over the first 4o days, but after 4o days without fishing anything, the boy's parents had told him that the old man was definitely and altogether wretched, which was the worst form of bad luck." "Did you see what a beginning?" "And the whole story is like this, simple and clear." "But behind all this simplicity, there is a world." "If you like it so much, as well as Doctor Martínez, it ought to be very good." "Give her one, Tomás." "Dear diary, I have two big pieces of news for you." "one, I might go on a long journey." "How crazy, huh?" "Two, today Victor gave me the first kiss, and I felt like giving him one back." "Don't worry;" "I can control myself." "Keep it a secret." "Love." "Larita." "Ah... he also gave me "The old Man and the Sea."" "Think of me, and at this moment youll..." " Where will I get the money from, sweetie?" "oh, I don't know if mommy does, but I need clothes to be able to study, shoes... and for the interview with Miss Amalia at the embassy." "Mommy knows this is my only opportunity to continue to study." "Larita, help me." "Help me to find that earring, for four eyes see better than two." "oh, Josefa, I cant now, I have to take a bath before going to school." "Ill look for it later." "Flora... oh, grandma, youre still messing around with that earring?" "That earring won't appear anymore." "That earring has to appear, or St. Dimas will lose his hide and Clavelito the glass of water." "oh, sweetie, what happens is my mom gave me that earring the same day..." " You got married." " That same day." "That same day!" "oh, Ive found it Josefa, Ive found it." "Look." " You found it." " I found it." "oh, you were born a lucky girl, indeed." "Yeah, lucky and with an earring in her ear." "oh, grandma, let me see it." "oh, how pretty, how pretty." "Let me see it." " Ill put it on tonight, grandma." " No." "No." " Yes, babe, yes." " I said no." "Mommy, I won't put on that blouse again." "The old man was thin and gangling, with deep wrinkles in his neck and his hands were full of scars." "Everything in him was old but his eyes, which were the very color of the sea and were cheerful and unbeaten." "His shirt had been mended so many times that it was like the sail, and the sun-bleached patches had quite a few shades." "Young girl, please!" "Thats no way to enter the class." "oh, Seferiano, problem is it rained a lot over my place and my blouse didnt dry." " Sefe, dont be like that if you know me." " Nobody is going to break the rules here." "and much less with political demonstrations." "Hildelisa knows it." "You heard the principal." "We cant allow indiscipline and you won't come into class like this." "Hey, and what are you doing here so early?" "They didn't let me in for my uniform was incomplete." " Then you spent the 2o cents for nothing." "oh, yes, Aunt Rosenda." " Heres the coffee, mom." " Thanks." "Seems there werent enough of us." "And where on earth have I put my cigarettes?" " That happens to me because I live so far." " That happens to you because youre always mooning." "Trying to conquer the world naked and barefoot." "Thats enough, Rosenda." "From Diezmero to San Miguel del Padrón the fare isnt so expensive but from here, from San Francisco de Paula... here everything turns out worse." "oh, darling, ask your mom to get you a penthouse on Paseo del Prado." "oh, leave the girl with her illusion, Rosenda." "Yes, thats right, so she can die of disappointment." "You and the clouds got me quite crazy..." "You and the clouds will kill me..." "But the only thing I want to do is to study, Aunt Rosenda." "Thats okay, but you should have chosen a more practical career:" "shorthand, typing, trade." "Those that end soon and yield money sooner." "oh, I have to finish high school to be able to begin college." "Have a little coffee." "Careful, its hot!" "So, may we know..." "what the young lady wants to study?" "Philosophy and arts." "What?" "Philosophy and Arts." "Philosophy and what..." "Wow, a philosopher in the family." "The old man fell asleep at once and dreamed of Africa, of the time he was young boy." "and of the long golden beaches and the white beaches, so white that they hurt your eyes, and the high promontories and the big long mountains." "But tonight, the scent of the land breeze came very early and he knew it was too early in his dream and he kept dreaming to see the white peaks of the islands rising from the sea." "He dreamed of lions on the beach." "Since hes been reading that Hemingway book he thinks its the greatest thing on earth." "and, after all, the only thing he knows about Hemingway is his pool." " Hey, you too." " Whats that?" "oh, grandma, that was 2 or 3 years ago." "Stinger, the one next door, does set the dogs on you, but Hemingway... okay, okay, but dont even think about it again." "Study, Larita, study, even if studying oppresses you, for a woman with no learning is like a flower with no perfume." "Grocer, whats the matter, why are you so happy," "I think its the result of whats in vogue..." "Every person is one world, but you have to go on with your own stuff, elevating your thought, mixing with people that speak nicely, being in weightier things." " What you need is another..." " Another blouse." "No, another full uniform." "oh, Larita." "Let God give you luck, for knowledge is worthless for you." "Yes, Josefa, but if luck comes with the degree in my hand, all the better." "I don't know, sweetie, I don't know." "No?" "Ah, look at what Hemingway says, just in case." "Lets see." "Look." "Its better to be lucky, but Id rather be exact." "Then, when luck comes, Ill be ready." "Lets see, repeat that, the last part." "Then, when luck comes, Ill be ready." "Hey, youre quite right." "Hey, for days, Ive been..." "Why don't you go and speak to Hemingway?" "Me?" "And what for?" "I don't know, you never know, maybe he gets you a job." " Youre prepared; you know English." " Yes." "He may even hire you as his own secretary." "oh, Josefa, hire me?" "And how will I address him?" "Hello, Hemingway." "To think he is there, at La Vigía, stinking rich, and us here, at the foot, without a penny even to buy a piece of cloth." "oh, darling, don't worry." "Look, wait until I come from the United States with my High School certificate." "Things wont be the same." "Larita, youll see well have to admit Rosenda is right." "Youre crazy, girl!" "Its true Josefa." "The Institute received scholarships to study in the U. S." "Is that true, Larita?" "Yes, of course." " And do you have a chance?" " Yes, Josefa, like any other student." "But I cant miss even one day at school." "You won't, what the heck." "They spread out after leaving the port mouth and each headed for that part of the ocean where they hoped to find fish." "In the dark, the old man could feel the morning come." "His faith and hope had never failed him, what happens is that hes had no luck;" "but who knows, every day is a new day." "Maybe Im not that strong said the old man but I know many tricks and have will power." "The old man knew hed go a long way off the coast and he left the smell of land behind and rowed into the clean morning scent of dreams and when it began to clear up he found he was farther from where hed planned to be by then." "Today Ill work there, where the bonito and albacore schools are, and there may be a big fish with them." "Chances are my big fish is moving around them." "If we want to make a career and succeed in life, we are constantly subjected to choosing." " Your name?" " Cinthia." "Cinthia." "You all should fill out the forms conscientiously and think your answers well." " Your name?" " Roberto." "Keep in mind that what you write expresses your thoughts and likes." " Your name?" " Enrique..." "Henry." "Very well, Henry." "The first selection will depend on these forms." "You have two hours." "of course, anyone who finishes before may hand in earlier but, please, never later." " Your name?" " Hilaria." "Hilaria." "Two hours is enough, don't you think?" "Time is money." " Your name?" " Diony." "Diony." "Its quiet;" "the temperature is nice." "The air-conditioning perhaps a little too high, but its good that you get used to the cold." " Your name?" " Sulma." "Sulma." "Ah, and lastly, something very important, write in ink." "If you didn't bring one, here we have pens for all;" "of course, as a loan." " Your name?" " Patricia." "Patricia." "Blots are not allowed; just an I mean or rather, if you need to change a phrase." " okay?" " Yes, Miss Amalia." "Dear diary, things that Id like to have in the future:" "one, to have a house for me and my mom;" "two, to have my own, blue, car, of course;" "three, to have a very elegant and distinguished figure;" "four, to have a college degree;" "five, to be a world-renowned writer, like Hemingway." "of all my ambitions, I settle for the last two." "Love, Larita." "Hey, Hemingway, I love you." "oh, Hemingway, Larita." "At sea, life is more pleasant." "At sea, I love you much more." "With the sun, the moon and the stars at sea, happiness is all around." "Hey, Larita, drop the curtain cause there is no show." " Hey, a curtain, a curtain." "Im coming with a curtain." "oh, me, me, me." "Come on, come on." "The curtain goes up and Batista appears nodding..." "The curtain drops." "The curtain goes up and Batista appears now shaking his head." "Whats the name of the play?" "You." " oh, Batista at the theater." " Batista at the circus." "okay, okay, okay, everybodys lost." "No, no, no, Lari, no; everybodys lost." "Batista mur-der-er." "How funny." "Rafael, one day youll be in a mess like Hildelisa." "oh, speaking of Hildelisa, did you see that?" " That little girl is gutsy." " Gutsy?" "Id say shes crazy." "Issuing a proclamation against" "Salas Cañizares, in the middle of the class, and before Dr. Sanchez..." " Estela." " What, Rafael?" "That guy is extremely pro-Batista, like the principal." "Look, Rafael, the association needs people like Hildelisa." "Hey, buddy, I see youre very fond of Hildelisa." " My love..." " Why so jealous, you fool?" "Quit that two-for-nickel jealousy." "oh, how funny you are." " one has to defend oneself, dont you think?" "Victor, dont even think about it." "That girl..." "You don't realize everybody was speaking of fashions, of cinema artists and she came up with that bombshell." "Here are the documents you needed." " Thank you very much." " Youre welcome." "See you." "Come on, Larita, the little bird..." "Larita, say cheese." "Cheese..." "Hey, enough, enough or Ill come out awful." "Come on, sweetie, serious." "Looking over here, my darling." "Look at the little plate." "Here." "Now, here." "Soften up, soften up a little." "Serious, serious." "Dear diary, what a busy day." "We walked around a lot and I got all the documents I needed." "I took my cousin to the University, and there, in front of the Alma Mater," "I promised him that some day Id climb those steps and get my degree." "We looked for the fritter stall where mommy works but we lost our way through the Havana porches and we ended up sharing a single roll with beefsteak." "Cousin, your scholarship may be free all right, but all this rushing around youre in is what youre paying with." "oh, yes, my cousin, but look, for making it to college Id even go to Santiago on foot." "up to Santiago on foot..." "But not everything is a bed of roses." "My uncle Manolo is a little weird lately." "Last night he had a fight with Aunt Rosenda until very late and I seemed to understand he had problems at the police station." "But, anyway, as Hemingways old hero says:" "now I have to think of only one thing." "He loves you, Larita." " When did you study English?" " Mary's Academy." "Edison's Institute." "Havana Business Academy." "At St. George's School." "Havana Business Academy." "Kendler College." "Public School Number 2o at San Francisco of Paula Town." "Now, every time I look at the sea," "I seem to be looking at the old man trying to catch his big fish." "Hey, have you read our novel yet?" "Yes." "And, is it good?" "Ill lend it to you." "No, no." "Id rather that you told it to me softly, here." " Where?" " Larita, in Cojímar." " It was here that it happened, wasnt it?" " Yes." "Come on, tell it to me." "It was an old man that fished alone." "And he sailed away and away into the ocean, until he no longer saw the shore." "His obsession was to fish a big fish." "And, finally?" " He fishes it." " Yes?" " Yes." " How nice!" "It was a huge fish, bigger than the boat." "Wow, how scary." "But then come the sharks and start to bite into him." " Into the old man?" " Hey, no, into the fish." "Look, he had such an obsession that he even makes a promise to the Virgin of Charity to go to El Cobre if he managed to bring it undivided to the shore." " To El Cobre?" " Yes." "If goes to oriente he does have to wrestle with a heap of sharks." " The people there are like hell..." " oh, no, Victor." "You only think about the Association and the tyranny." "Yes?" "About the tyranny, too." "About the Association and, also, about the tyranny." "And about you." "Don't I think of you?" "Hey, don't you get mad now." "Tell me, does he finally go to El Cobre?" "No." "The sharks eat up his fish." "What?" "All of it?" "Nearly..." " He makes it to the shore." " How unlucky!" "But only with the skeleton." "Come on, but nothing good happens to that old man?" "He dreamed of lions on the beach." "Listen to this, look." "At sea, life is very pleasant, At sea, there are plenty of lions." "Look, buddy." "You and the old man." "At that time of day... oh, Victor..." "You make no sense of fantasy." "... I wasnt born to be poor, I like..." "Hey?" "Milk for the shoes!" "What a luxury!" "I read it in a magazine, the best for a patent leather shoe is milk." "Its better to drink it." "Its hardly enough for breakfast and you waste it." "oh, Aunt Rosenda, its a little drop;" "look, the fat that was at the bottom of the pitcher." "Yes, darling, but its that fat that makes you put on weight." "But, Manolo, what are you doing sitting there?" " So you were rushing me..." " oh, Rosenda, leave me alone, please?" "Hey, Larita, not even goat milk can enhance those shoes." "Nothing can." "Look, heres your dress for the feast." " oh, thats gorgeous!" " How did it look on you?" "Beautiful." "Its just fine." "okay, but look, now you rest and Ill iron the skirt..." "No, sirree, Ill iron it; you werent born to work; you were born to study." " Hey, let her iron it." " Yes." "Why should you iron it?" "Let her do it." "You finished early." "Manolo..." "I cant go on in this business." "Im embarrassed to death." "Well, at least you get yourself something, dont you?" "I prefer to wash, iron, cook, whatever, but in a house." "Sister, Im dead tired." "This six-by-six shift is killing me." "Why, don't you sleep at the station once in a while?" "In that mad-house?" "Its clear you don't know." "Manolo..." "Is what the people there are saying true?" "No." "You dont want to know." "A lieutenant there has taken it out on me." "I cant stand him." "The house and the family are making me bite my tongue." "Youre crazy, Leonila." "oh, you did right, mommy shouldnt be selling fritters on the porches." "Thats outrageous." "outrageous is not to have a penny, sweetie." "Look, how do I look in the dress?" "You got that!" "Flora lent it to me," "Josefa fixed it and Aunt Rosenda ironed it." "But, its the shoes that are..." "These young people now, Leonila, don't want to understand that those shoes have to last one year undamaged, one year worn-out, and one year waiting for the others." "Here..." "eat it up." "At least, this way its used." "How delicious!" "From the scent you can tell its very tasty." "Hey, pies." "Mom, Flora, hurry." " oh, what a banquet." " Whats that?" "Christmas Eve was brought forward." "Im unhealthy but..." "later." "oh, look, look, this stuffed potato looks like my cousin, round all over." "Shes round but, look, the richest and tastiest thing is in the middle." "These girls are the devil himself" "Fortunately Manolo is not here, or else..." " No, Cachita, or else hed be one more mouth." "oh, grandma." "Look, guys." "This fritter here is my cousin always trying to get out of the pan." "Hey, here everyones going to bed today with a swollen belly." "Dont you worry, a full stomach makes for a happy heart." "Hey, the height of a fisherman, to swallow the bait." "Eat, sister, eat that your mouth is not twisted." "Im already tired of so much frying." "Save something for Manolo." "You guys can feel doubly lucky." "First, because youre part of a rigorous group of select people that have passed the tests with flying colors and thats a victory in itself." "Number two, because youre almost one step from knowing the United States, but not with the fleeting and superficial outlook of a tourist but as active members of its social system." "Youll also have the chance to deepen into the language, to make new friends and to study under the most advanced academic programs." "of course, if you win the scholarship." "For the scholarship." " Congratulations, brave students." " Thank you." "But you were very excited talking with Hildelisa." " Hildelisa?" " Yes." "Sure, good girl." "People like these are what we need for the association." "By the way, we need your help in the preparation of the newsletter and the association rules." "Hey, and what makes you think I can do it?" "Your company." "No, no, serious, serious." "Were entangled in a part there." "The matter is we want to say some things that cant be said openly, then, we want those things to be said so that theyre said without seeming to mean what they mean." "oh, no, thats too much." "I don't understand." " But do you understand me?" " So-so." "But Hildelisa made a composition." "And are we going to keep nagging at Hildelisa the whole afternoon?" "You made me wait for her." "But okay..." "My neurons tell me I have something for you." " For me?" " Yes." "For you, for me, for all the children here." "Hey, how cute." "But you know what?" "Come." "I prefer the original." "Do you want me to dedicate it to you?" "Though itll never be as beautiful as what you wrote me in our book." "Its for a passport, isnt it?" "How come?" "oh, I see; youre going into exile." " Hey, youll be in the fashion." " Yes..." "Maybe..." "Perhaps..." "Why not?" "okay, okay, speak clearly." "What are you at?" "Im applying for a scholarship in the United States." "I waited until I was sure to tell you." "But Ive already been shortlisted." " Have you?" " Well, theres one last round to go but I think there are few applicants left." "Why?" "Why are you doing this, Larita?" "okay, you must know." "How long?" "A year or so." "Larita, what about us?" "I tried to tell you in Cojímar but..." "I thought youd be happy." "At least about the picture." " I had it taken thinking of you." " No, no, you had it taken because of that other thing and by the way..." "But if thats what you want..." " Thats not what I want, Victor, its a scholarship." "Its a piece of shit." " Im leaving." " Larita." "Larita, understand, youre planning to leave me, to leave all this." "Don't you realize?" "Don't you realize that now you leave and the association and the rules." "Larita, understand me, please." "Think it over." "Take this." " Do you know all that can happen during this time?" "Yes, I know it all too well." "If I lose this scholarship, whats in store for me is the worst." "What nonsense are you saying?" "Why, cant you study here anyway?" " No." " This way we wont understand each other." "Well, if you don't like the way I am, then you can walk away." "Do you know what you are?" "Do you know what youre showing me you are?" "A child." "An immature and lowbred child." "Yes, and what do you want me to be like?" "Like Hildelisa?" "Larita, youre too old for that foolishness already." "Listen, if you go, forget that I exist." "Twenty three, steamer." " Twelve." " Evil woman." "When is Manolo supposed to arrive?" "He was to be here a long time ago." "Have you prepared the bowl yet?" "Because hes worse than the 1926 hurricane." "Look if Im right?" " Policeman." " Pair, mom." "Pair, pair, pair." "Call out twenty, to make a center, for I already have a corner." "Corner, pair and center." "The only thing Larita washes in winter." " Pig." " Lie." " Yes, look, thirty two, pig." " Yes?" "Thirty two, Ive got it." "Bingo." "Hey, if you won, you could be happier, couldnt you?" "The princess is sad." "Whats wrong with the princess?" "You sing, nightingale." " Twenty-one." " Snake." "Snake, snake, your moms whatever you say." "oh my, Manolo cant seem to arrive and Im dying for smoking." " Thirty nine." " Hermit crab." "oh, Larita, you that always find everything, find my pipe" "Lets see if I get something from this damned cardboard." "First, she has to find herself." " Here, in San Francisco de Paula." " And where, Doctor?" " In San Francisco, California?" " Enough;" "leave the saints alone." "oh, Manolo, its good youve arrived;" "I was crazy for smoking." "Manolo..." "Manolo." "Whats wrong, Manolo?" "Why do you do this to me, Manolo?" " You think youre at the station, damn it?" "You shut up, crazy old woman." " Dad..." " Manolo... oh, my God." " Shit, this damned old woman with her witchery." " oh, my glass of water for the Holy Sacrament." "Get out of here, Pharisee." "Dad, take care or this will fall." "Dad, youll get cut." " Let me go to hell, damn it." " Dad!" "A heap of women in this house, and theres not even water to drink." "Damn it!" "Dad!" "I won't let you come around breaking things here, okay?" "Here I break what I fucking wish." "Damn it, I break what I fucking wish." "cause Ive built all this penny upon penny and nail upon nail, scraping the ground, damn it, for all of you that don't deserve a damned thing." " A bullshitter is what you are." " Ill show you." "Dad, no!" " You cruel, with your own daughter, damn it." " oh, mom. oh, mom." " Sit here, my god." "Dad, no!" "You cruel, with your own daughter." "Whats wrong?" " Whats wrong?" " Dad. oh, I think dad is dying." "Could he have an embolism?" "Rosenda, Ive been dumped." "oh, Manolo, for heavens sake, don't tell me that." "You see, mom, that these Bergointias are all crazy?" "This one is dumped;" "the other doesn't want to sell fritters and the other, even crazier, is thinking of college." "Damn it, I should drop dead;" "the earth should swallow me." "Dear diary, today I don't feel like saying anything." "Im sorry, but since one cant scream or cry on this sheet..." "Im sometimes very scared." "Could I be about to lose everything?" "I wonder why people can be so hateful." "I hate Victor." "He has also showed me how far he is from me." "But some day everyone will know what I am able to do." "We have something important to tell you, please." "okay, as you all have known for some time now were trying to create the student association that existed..." "Its known." "of course, at other times and that fell through at the time of..." "Coup." "But okay, okay, please, the important thing is that well very soon have the Student Association again with us." "I guess youve already read the rules, yes?" "Yes." "Then, you all know by now what the purposes of the Association are." "Yes." "To defend our rights, the students rights." " People, this has to be taken into the street." " Now therell be no more abuse indeed." "Tomorrow the newsletter will be distributed with this and some other news." "okay, lets put this to the vote right away." "Those who agree, stand up." "Come on, boys and girls." "Victor, approved by a majority." " Thank you very much, Doctor." " Congratulations." "If it werent for you." "She stayed seated." "Yes, one of these days, morning will find her with her mouth full of ants." "You got out of it because youre a girl, or else..." " This is none of your business." " Come on, leave her alone." "She didnt feel like standing up." "Come on." "Look, I stood up but I dont agree either." "Besides, my dad says youre all a bunch of revolutionaries." "Hey, go to hell, will you?" "Are you leaving?" "Come on." "Aren't you coming to my place to study?" "Well, Im leaving." "I treat you to an ice-cream;" "come on, lets go." "okay." "See you tomorrow." "Hey, whats happened to you?" "Cry, cry, cry." "Cry as much as you want." "You can flood the bookstore if you want to." "Its not a bad place to think and shed a tear in, from time to time." "of course Id rather see you happy, like that afternoon when Victor gave you the book." " Do you remember?" " Dont even mention it." "Love heart-breaks are the happiest heart-breaks there are." "But don't worry, hell return." "Do you remember those terns the old man gazed at from his boat?" "or havent you read the book?" "Yes, I did read it." "And we also went to Cojímar and we thought of you." "I had sympathy for the birds, especially the small, delicate and dark-colored terns that were always flying and looking and that seldom found anything." "And you thought, the birds lead a harder life than we do, except for birds of prey and big and strong birds." "Why should birds as delicate and fine as those terns have been made when the ocean is capable of so much cruelty?" "Rest, little bird, rest, and then go try your luck, like any man, bird or fish." "Come on, get that ice down!" "Come on, come on." "And what about the scholarship, after all?" "Not yet." "I smell a rat." "If I were you, Id get to work." "oh, no, its just necessary to wait a little." "Besides, where?" "Right here." "You just heard it Larita, here." "Look, I have a vacant shift." "If you want, now when Floras done, you come in the early morning shift." "How do you like it?" "Come on, Larita, so you can study by day." "Dont miss this chance." "No, no, no;" "no studying at all." "Here there is a rotating shift and you know that better than I do." "Who told you I wanted to work at that place?" "I did you a favor, didnt I." "A favor with that stupid." "He may be stupid all right, but thanks to him our home gets some money now and then." "But Id rather wait a little to see if I get something better." "I cant drop high school in the last year, either." "Understand me, cousin." "The only thing I can understand is that not a single penny comes into the house and moms taking in washing." "Damn it." "When I get paid, the first thing Ill do will be to buy a flash-light." "Youd better not be afraid and trust, old man he said to himself." "Im not religious, but Id say ten Lords Prayers and ten Hail Marys to catch this fish." "And I promise to go on a pilgrimage to the Virgin of El Cobre if I catch it." "Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;" "blessed art thou among women" " and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus." "Say hello to your mom." " See you." " Saint Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the time of our death." "Amen." "Saint Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners," " now and at the time of our death." "Amen." " The completed form, photos, a list of grades, a letter of recommendation from Doctor Martínez." "First Communion Certificate," "Certificate of Baptism, Birth Certificate." "We need to know the characteristics of the applicants so that they feel comfortable there, for example, youre a Catholic, if you got the scholarship youd go to a Catholic school;" "a Protestant would go to a Protestant one, and so on." "Do you understand?" "Here, in the Certificate of Baptism, were you on Charity?" "Well, in your certificate of baptism you appear as Hilaria Suárez Bergointia and in the birth certificate as Hilaria Bergointia Padrón." "Hilaria, the documents have to be clear." "We understand there should be people from Charity surnamed Valdés." " Yes, but not me..." " Im aware." "As well as I know there are children taken out of this or that orphanage and adopted" "Well, but the documents explain the reasons for each case." "Yes, Miss Amalia." "Do you live alone with your mom or do you have siblings?" "No, with a cousin whos like a sister to me," " y with my mom and with..." " thats a housewife." "with my cousin's grandma, with my aunt and with my uncle." "Whos the head of the family." "What does he do for a living?" "You have to bring a letter of recommendation for him." "Preferably from his boss." "And we also need a letter of recommendation from a respectable family thats not your kindred or a teacher from the Institute." "Don't you remember?" "Any problems?" "No, Miss Amalia." "Anyway, theres still a round to go." "For the next interview..." " Do you think there'll be a next interview?" "And why not?" "If it isnt here, it can be at your place." "Ive never visited San Francisco de Paula." "The old man looked around the sea and now he realized how alone was." "Dear diary, Im crying of pain and anger." "Everything goes wrong." "I have lost my last hope," "Hemingway is on a trip through Africa." "I no longer have anything or anybody left." "Now in my heart theres room only for distrust." " Rice and cowpeas again?" " Hey, thank God." " And to make it more enjoyable, sweet potato." " The only thing thats missing is the avocado." " Bang, bang, dont talk nonsense." " Stop fooling around." "And thank God I work my butts off in the yard so the stove can be used every day." "If everybody here worked, wed be eating some other thing." "When I get my degree Ill get a good job." "Thats the never-never tale, Larita." "Isnt it enough the way they fooled you with that scholarship stuff?" " Which turned into nothing." " Will you start with that humdrum again?" "Im going to hell." "Damn it, you can no longer eat quietly in this house." "You see what the babble brings about?" "Yes, but it was you that started all this." "Stop talking nonsense, lets eat the cowpeas in peace." "Leonila must surely be cooking a nice meal." "But not for her." "Why don't you bite your tongue?" "Larita!" "Larita!" "I pawned them for your sake." "Don't give up." "Studying... studying..." "Forget it, now I do have to leave the Institute." "Hey, dont even kid about it." "How can you quit now when youre about to finish, my dear?" "oh, but what do you think, mommy." "I cant go on this way." "I don't dare to turn up empty-handed in San Francisco de Paula." "To go on there, I have to work." "Here, go ahead." "You look a little nervous." "So many pictures, interviews, talks and run-a-rounds they put me through." "oh, every time I think a new year will begin and instead of prospering Ill be worse off." "Worse off." " Hey, you want to have it all at once." " oh, I want have it all at once, mommy, when I settle for less and less every day?" "Right now Id thank God for being able to go to college even if in rags." "oh, my God..." "I cant even focus on my studies because of the shame of having to sit at a table thats not mine to eat cowpeas and sweet potato Im given as a favor." "Thats not a favor at all;" "thats my brother's -- your uncles-- house." "Thats the house where were taking shelter." "Why didn't you get married;" "lets see?" "Why didn't you raise me in a house I could call my home?"" "Why so much changing of names and surnames that I cant even say who I am?" "Come on, tell me." "Look, I waited ages for your father." "I was hopeful;" "I don't know." "But then I had to register you on my own, for you needed a birth certificate for school." "Do you understand now?" "And if you turned out good and industrious, its also because of me." "I taught you to read, to pray and I always wanted the best for you." "The best, the very best..." "in public schools, in orphanages... oh, my goodness." " Im the only one thats been sacrificed here." "Yes, with mended blouses, with wornout shoes, with a borrowed life." "But not anymore." "No." "oh, Ill get money even if I have to sell coffee for three cents." "Go one then, I dare you." "I can get you out by the hair." "After Ive sacrificed and struggled so much so you can have a career and be a decent woman." "Decent!" "That takes all I lack, all you havent given me." " Good afternoon." " Hello." " Im Laritas teacher, at the Institute." " oh, how do you do." " Come in." "Make yourself at home, please." " Thank you very much." "Shes been absent some days because she feels a little sick." "Yes, thats why I came to see her, for I was told she was sick." " Yes, come in." " Thank you." "Larita." "Larita, look whos here, your teacher at the Institute." "But get up and look after her, baby;" "she came to see you." "No, let her lie in bed if she feels sick." "oh, what she has is a mere cold, but shes sleeping her life away." "Do you care for some coffee?" " Yes, please." " okay, with your permission." "I was worried about you." "Don't tell me youll flunk the year for a mere cold." "oh, Doctor, you don't know..." "What is it I don't know, Hilaria?" "That youre a striving girl thats trying to rise above the environment she was born in?" "I had to make sacrifices to study, too." "Yes, Doctor, but you had your parents, your home..." " Youre not living under a bridge." " Worse than that." "Dont be sorry for yourself, Hilaria, because that doesn't help you." "What happens is youre very sentimental." "So am I." "Did you read it?" "Did you like it?" "But youre a Hemingway admirer." "I don't know." "Its a very sad novel." "That old man alone in the middle of the ocean." "At the beginning, I thought hed win, especially when he gets to catch his fish," "but then, the fight with the sharks, beating his way through, with nobody to help him." "Nobody." "I don't like novels that end up wrong." "I felt like itd happen to me." "I prayed to God never to find myself like that." "Fortunately, Im not a fisherman." "You didn't understand the novel." "Don't look at that book as a defeat story." "Are you going to class tomorrow?" " Let me try; youll see." " Why cant they let me in?" " Dont become exasperated." " Hey, Im going to come in." "Victor!" "That is an order and you cant enter here." "You cant enter here." "You cant say that." "He is the president of the association and hell enter." "Association, my foot." "Thats worth nothing here now." " okay, nobody will enter, then." " You cant come in." "Go home." " You cant come in here." " Victor!" "Victor!" "Victor!" "Dont let anybody in!" "Dont let anybody in!" "Dont let anybody in!" " Estela, what happened?" " Youre back, my friend." " But, what happened?" " Salas Cañizares was killed." "Thats the best news we could have received." "But, Marisabel, youre crazy." "Don't you realize that man had a family like you and me?" "Hey, and the people he killed, too." "Look, I didn't know you were pro-Batista." "Im not pro-Batista;" "Im just humanitarian and Im not happy about anybodys death." "So they kick out Victor, they ban the association, and this girl..." "Rafael!" " Rafael!" " Victor!" "Victor!" "Estela, nobody cant enter here if Victor is not allowed in." "Thats his problem, Rafael, not mine." "What a jerk this girl is!" "... should be ashamed, hes a partner that fought with us." "And you unruffled." "Hey, Marisabel, nobody can come in here;" "lets make a chain." "Dont let anybody upstairs." "Long live Victor, pillar of the Association!" "Thats one of the main troublemakers!" "Hey, young man, for the good of your government," "I tell you this is..." "A good government is what Cuba needs..." " Victor." " Down with Batista." "Down with Batista!" "Down with Batista!" "Batistas head!" "Batistas head!" "This is crazy, Marisabel, you dont do things this way." "Why do you say that?" "Come along, come on, don't get into trouble." " Pedro... what are you up to?" " Come in with me, come on." "Come on!" "Come on!" "Lets beat it quick; this will end up in a shooting!" " I have to see Doctor Martínez." "Doctor!" " Hey, Doctor Martínez, my foot; come on." "Doctor!" " Lets go, Victor!" " I have to see her." "Doctor!" " Lets go!" " Victor!" "Larita!" "Ill speak to Doctor Martínez but now go." "okay." "Tell her well meet at The old Man and the Sea bookstore." " Come on, Victor." " Come on, run!" "Get in, get in." "Wait for me in there." "Doctor." "Whatever youre about to do, abide by the consequences." "I won't let them push and shove any of my students." "oscarito, shut the doors." " Let me out!" "Doctor!" " No, not." "Let me out!" "Doctor!" "No." "Doctor!" "Doctor!" "Let me out!" "Doctor...!" "Its a Galician song." "My father used to sing it to me." "You know, Josefa?" "once I dreamed it was chilly and that a strong wind was blowing and I was alone in the middle of the ocean, yearning for my bed." "Nightmares." "Ive had them too, and worse." "oh, baby, gather all your strength, pain, and pride; go through with it and don't fall asleep." "Dear diary," "I havent paid much attention to you lately." "Forgive me if I couldnt tell you all Ive been through but you know youve always been on my mind, just like Victor has." "I miss him a lot." "His parents sent him out of Havana and I havent heard from him." "Can he have forgotten me?" "A strange peace overwhelms me;" "I don't know what it is." "Its maybe the warning that Ill feel unsuccessful later." "Something has changed in me." "You know it and you understand me because youve been my best friend this year." "My only comfort." "Larita." "Merry Christmas." "Hilaria." "Hilaria Bergointia?" "Thats me." "Do you want some coffee?" "Thank you." "Its good to see you." "Congratulations." "Up there, by the road, in his cabin, the old man was sleeping again." "He was still sleeping face down and the boy was by his side, gazing at him." "The old man was dreaming of lions on the beach." "Cast"