"FICTION" "Santi!" " Hi." " Hi." "Hello." "Judith?" " Alex." " Hi." "I didn't hear you." "How are you?" "Fine." "Very well." "It's great to see you, really." "Hello." "Hello." "Alex, this is Monica, a friend of mine." "He's Santi's friend." "He makes films." "Monica plays the violin." " The violin?" " Yes." "Come with me..." "I found this furniture in a house in the village which was being emptied and I restored it with Violeta." "She's my Argentinean girlfriend, but I won't tell you her age." "I know, Santi filled me in." "You like it?" "How many rooms have you got?" "Six." " And you cook..." " No." "I leave their breakfast ready." "I don't like being a maid." " Open a bottle of wine, Alex." " Sure." "You arrived today?" "Yes." "Just a bit ago." "And you?" "The day before yesterday." "But it feels like a week." "Time flies by here." "Compared to Madrid, I mean." " You live in Madrid?" " Yes, been there for 2 years now." "I told you about her." "Remember?" " You used to live in Holland?" " Yes." "I went to Amsterdam a couple of years ago and" "Judith told me about you, gave me your phone number." "Yes, I did, but he didn't call you." "You didn't call me?" "I probably wasn't in anyway." "I was constantly traveling with the orchestra." " Some wine, Judith?" " I can't." "Sure you can, just a bit." "Well, okay." "Cheers!" "Why didn't you tell me your friend was here?" "I'd have brought some flowers." "Hi." " Hi." " I'm Santi." "Monica." "Judith's told me everything about you so..." "We're very happy to have you here." " You've met my friend?" " Yes." "Don't be impressed by the "film director"." "Well, have you settled in?" "Sure, and made some changes." "I can imagine." "That's it?" "You call that a greeting?" "You haven't seen each other in a year, have you?" "How about a hug?" "I've bought a motorcycle." "I'm the first vet in the area to work with audiovisuals." " You filmed that today?" " Yes, this morning." "You can borrow my images for your film." "I didn't see your film until the other day." "Santi lent me the DVD." "It's nice." "I expected something totally different." " She loved it, she fell asleep." " That's not true." "No, but it sounded sad." "It..." "Are you writing another one now?" "Yes, I'll try to finish it here." "With as many characters?" "No." "There's just one... an actor." "What's it about?" "Well..." "That's too personal." "You don't know each other enough..." "To answer that, he needs a serious relationship first..." "It's his birthday." "It all happens in a day." "They throw a party that evening and... until the next morning." " How old is he?" " 39." "39..." "Oh!" "Those filmmakers who like to work with metaphors!" "So, what happens?" "Well..." "Nothing... they just spend the night talking." "Dialogues with other characters, friends, who are also his age." "Conversations about themselves." " Their lives now, and..." " Their crises." "Yes." "Are you having a crisis?" "Well, like everyone else." "A bit." "It's called an identity crisis." "What do you mean by that?" "Well..." "Knowing who you are, who you really are, and not what you wanted to be." "And rather accept the decisions you've made." "A lot of people have a crisis like this at our age." "Like my sister." "She takes pills for everything, to sleep, to go shopping, and she was the Spanish archery champion." "Does your character have any children, a partner?" "Yes." "That must be it." "When was the last time they made love?" "Do they still have oral sex?" "Santi." "Isn't it a good question?" "Is he a good actor?" "Does he work?" "Yes, he works." "Maybe now, at our age, it's sadder than when we were..." "Ten years ago." "I feel a bit sadder too." "I mean, you look back, you look ahead, and..." "I understand he feels like that." "Your character, I mean." "You're in the film too?" "That's why I'm here." "Do a musical." "People love music." "Or a spaghetti western." "You can shoot a western here." "There're horses." "I've got a harmonica." "I'm joking, but seriously." "If you want to move in, it's quieter here." "Thanks." "Where are you off?" "To the fountain." " It's this way, isn't it?" " Yes." " To get inspired." " How's it going?" "Fine." "But at home it was too quiet." "And Santi?" "He left early." "Can you ride?" "A horse?" "No." " She can't ride very well." " I haven't ridden much." "Come with us." "So I won't be the only idiot." "Come on, we're late." "Get in." "I dropped my cell phone." "Lucky I noticed." "I can't feel my legs." "You'll see when you get off." " And now back on again?" " Yes." "How was it?" " Nice, isn't it?" " Yes." " Working a lot." " That's Judith's fault." "Yes." "I can't concentrate in such quiet places." " I prefer a noisy bar." " Really?" "I go to the kitchen to study a score." " The kitchen?" " Yes." "I don't know why." "Each to his own..." " You have kids, right?" " 2." "And you?" "None." "But soon." "Congratulations!" "You can hardly tell." "No, we're adopting a little girl." " From where?" " Africa." "Madagascar." " Her name is Nirina." " Nirina." "Pretty name." "Nirina." " You live in Barcelona?" " Yes." "But now we want to buy a house on the outskirts." " Far from the city?" " No, 25 minutes from downtown." "There's a train, and the sea." "We thought about that as well." "But I couldn't live outside the city." "How peaceful!" " It's 900 years old." " 900?" "Yes, here everything is... that's why I like it." "I feel very safe." "They're saying mass again." "Tomorrow, if you want..." "How long have you been here?" "4 years." "Have you got an euro?" "The doctors told me everything helps, and I believe them." " Hi, darling." " Hi, love." " You've made dinner!" "...of course." "It's nice to find someone at home." "Yeah." "I was thinking just the opposite." "Do you like it?" "Judith painted it." "She's back into painting." "It's nice, isn't it?" " They fit you?" " Yes." "Then keep them." "Whichever you want." "I have a lover who has a shoe shop." " Didn't I tell you?" " No." "Yes, for about 6 months or so." "And whenever I see her, she gives me new models." "She's 55 years old." " You have a 55-year old lover?" " Yes." " Does the husband know?" " The husband?" "No." "Why should the husband know?" "You're making a movie out of this." "Yes, but I believe that if Silvia was cheating on me, or me on her," "I think I would know about it..." "Some detail, something." "Such a long time together." "I don't know why I'm saying this." "You should know." "Silvia called this afternoon, asking for you." "We talked about you for a while." "Your wife said not to tell you, ...but you forgot her birthday." "I'm telling you just in case." "Alex, tomorrow is Sunday." "We could go shopping, okay?" "I'm leaving tomorrow." " You had an argument with Silvia?" " No, I couldn't find her." "Three days." "Why do you have to leave so soon?" "Why do you have to leave?" "'Cause I'm not doing anything." "Maria had a fever." "Silvia's just overworked." "And I'm not writing anything." "Nothing that I like." "I've been on holiday, riding a horse." " Riding?" " With your friend." "I'm leaving tomorrow and that's that." "We'll come and see you some weekend." "Where are the towels?" "There, in the closet." "Why are you pissed off?" " I'm not pissed off." " You're nervous." " I'm not nervous." " Yes, you're tense." "Tense?" "'Cause I always want people to like what I do." "Each film... everything..." "It would happen to you too, right?" "No, that's just an excuse." "You're like that." "Why don't you get some therapy?" "It worked for me." " That's not the point." " No?" "Then what is?" "For people to go to the cinema." "It's about being successful, right?" "Besides, now I'm talking about myself." "What am I doing?" "Is it good?" "Well, let's have that delicious omelet you've made." "But you're not leaving." "Do the film you fuckin' want." "You don't make action movies." "Well, I'd love to." "Go take a shower, have a wank, and drink a gin-tonic." " Alex." " Yes?" "It was Judith." "We're going for a hike to the lakes." "I promised her at the hospital." "I wormed out of it a few times, but since you're..." "You're here... and Monica." "I'm leaving, Santi." "I know..." "I thought perhaps you'd feel like it." "We'd go there, spend the night, come back tomorrow." "But I've already told them you wouldn't come." " What did they say?" " That they'll miss you." " Where are the lakes?" " Behind those mountains." " A long way?" " No, well..." "It's great we're all here on this walk." "I know you all came because of me, and I'd like to thank you." "Shall we go?" "Mountain!" "Yes, I have some." " Here." " Thanks." "Look, this is Nirina." " Pretty, very pretty." " Yes." " Do you have any more?" " No, just this one." "When I first saw her I was in Milan, on my way back from a concert." "Back at the hotel, Paulo, my partner, sent me a fax from Madrid and there was the child, looking at me, on that crappy fax paper." " It is a bit crappy." " Yeah." "I'm a modern mother." "My dad used to go to the mountains a lot." "I have pictures of him back in the 60's." " Some are from around here." " Really?" "Dad died when I was a kid." "I just know him from photographs and like you now with your daughter, right?" " Yes... and how old were you?" " Three." " Like her, right?" " Yes, three." " You dropped this." " Thanks." "A little more." "Why didn't you tell me you had a lover?" "I don't know." "It's not important." "And why do you say she isn't in love with you?" "Because she isn't." "I give her what her husband hasn't got." "Or perhaps, with you, she dares doing and feeling things she doesn't with her husband." "That happens." " Yes." " How old is she?" "55." "Good for you." "Recently she enjoys smoking a joint before having sex." " I like to do that too." " Really?" "I had a girlfriend who, when she smoked and got high, always called me Ramon." " And who was Ramon?" " I have no idea." " You never asked her?" " No." "She never realized, so I never asked." "Good morning." "Good morning, Monica." " Is my wife still sleeping?" " Yes." " Did you sleep well?" " Yes." "And you?" "I slept with Santi..." "Let's go." " Is it very far?" " No." "Two hours up, then a half-an-hour climb to the cross." "Once we get there, each one does his spiritual exercises... and back down." "Look." "There they are." " Haven't we arrived yet?" " No." " Look, it's them." " My battery's gone dead." "I didn't bring mine." "I don't understand why they don't wait for us." "This is never-ending." "What if it's a...?" "What do you call those desert things?" "Oh, you mean a..." "There's no cross here." "That's not a cross, is it?" "Maybe further up." "What should we do Alex?" "We're on the wrong mountain." "It can happen to anyone." "Let's rest here for a while." "Let the fog clear." "Then we'll go back, that way to the lakes." " Okay." "We could put the sofa here." "Yes, and the bed, the TV there." "Are you okay?" "I'm a bit dizzy." "Must be the spiritual exercises Judith said." " A good place to shoot a film." " Yeah?" "What would happen?" "Nothing." "This." "Two people who climb up here, rest for a while, each one with his own thoughts." "Each one with his own thoughts..." "Why don't you shoot it?" "How would it end?" "A spaceship would come and carry you away." "Alex, we didn't come this way." "No?" "The lakes were down there." "Let's keep going." "It gets dark early in the mountains." "We can always sleep under a tree." "Where are we?" "Now I don't know, Monica." " Are you bleeding?" " Yes, a branch..." " Does it hurt?" " No." "Let's carry on." "I bet I don't look scared." "Thanks." " This is a road!" " Yes." " What's it say?" " "Shelter, 10 minutes"." " A village 3 hours away." " And the lakes?" "It says nothing." "It's starting to rain." " Are you okay?" " Yes." " Got a lighter?" " A lighter?" "Wait." "Here are some matches." "Alex, the fireplace is ready." "Yes, I called before..." " Does it hurt?" " No." "Want some more?" "You're very kind." "I'll never forget these potatoes." "Lock it with a stick or something." " Are you okay?" " Yes." " Want this?" " No." "No?" "How old are your children?" "Nine years old." "And the other, six months." "How long have you been with...?" "A long time." "Many years." "We split up once, for almost a year." "We were separated." "Where did you meet?" "At high school." "What's your wife's name?" " Silvia." " I'm interrogating you." " Is your partner a musician too?" " No, no." "Paulo is a journalist." "He's the correspondent for A Portuguese TV in Madrid." "We met in Lisbon." "He came to a concert, saw me play, and fell in love with me." "How long ago?" "Two years." "My life's the opposite to yours." "Paulo is my first real partner," "I had never lived with anyone before." "Of course I'd had boyfriends but..." "Now it's different." "I'm still getting used to it." "We argue a lot and..." "Do you two also...?" " I'm bad-tempered at times." " Really?" "Yes." "Are you comfortable?" "At least we're not sleeping under a tree." "We could stay here, couldn't we?" "And wait for someone to come for us." " Here." " Thanks." "They were looking for us on the other side." "We lost our way." "It was even on the radio." "Santi told me they waited up for us all night." "Now he'll call Judith." "She's at the doctor's." "They can't come until this afternoon." "He said we can call a taxi, if we want to." "But I have no money." "They must have old rooms with enormous beds here." "I would get in it, and sleep all day." "Thank you." "Thank you." "This is how it was." "At the turn of the century," "Agatha Christie came here." "She told me." "Do you play chess?" "I was a champion." "I won two trophies when I was twelve." "I promise." "It's been a long time." "We can leave it." "No, no." "Did you play?" " They say I had a natural talent." " Let's see." "We spoke to a fireman friend of Santi's, and he calmed us down." "Have a rest..." "Santi told me he'd come for dinner, wait for him." "Ok, thanks." " Take care of your..." " Yes." " You done?" "I'll take a shower." " Sure." "Can I keep it?" "I have no pictures of your kids." " Know what I did this winter?" " What?" "I asked Judith to have a child with me." "No way." "We already talked about it a few times." "But I asked her again more seriously." "Why can't two friends have a child?" "We live really close." "We won't argue or get divorced." "What did she say?" "She said yes." "We went to the hospital for blood tests." "Everything Okay." "But then, during one of her medical checkups her blood tests were a bit off, and she got depressed." "She needs another transplant?" "No, she's fine now." "She knows her liver has an expiry date." "And that she won't probably live as long as we will." "But we've been talking again and..." "She's cheerful, isn't she?" "Like in the mountains." "We have an appointment at the Hospital next week." "Congratulations." "Well, no, not yet..." "Above all, don't tell anyone." "Neither Silvia or, nobody." "Judith is very reserved." " I won't tell anyone." " You know how she is." "We'll announce it once it's done." "Yes?" " Alex." " What?" "Could you take Monica to the clinic tomorrow?" "Her cut is infected, Judith can't go, and neither can I. You can, right?" "Yes, he can." " Hi." " Hello you." "Do you know where the clinic is?" " When you get to the town..." " Yes, Santi already told me." " Call me, ok?" " Sure." " Hi." " Hi." " How are you?" " Does it still hurt?" "It does more today." " Do you have a fever?" " No." "And you?" " I mean, how are you?" " Fine." " Aren't you going?" " Yes." "Listen, could we stop by a couple of places?" "In fact I need a taxi for the whole day." "It's my day off." "Where to?" "I have to go to a travel agency." "I have a problem with my ticket to Madrid." "And to the pharmacy to pick up something for Judith." " Anything else?" " No, thanks." "What did you do yesterday?" "Did you write about our adventure?" " Not yet." " Not yet?" " I like your beard." " Yeah?" " I shouldn't shave?" " Not yet." " I'm a bit dizzy." " Sit down." "I'll ask for a month's leave and stay here." " Want anything?" " Just a minute." " You want a minute?" " Yes." "What if I couldn't play the violin again." "You could always..." "Look." "Nice shirts!" "They'd look nice on you." "Then you could..." "It's not dirty." "I'm not saying it is." "Haven't you got any others?" "I hardly brought any clothes." "Does it look dirty?" "No, not really." "But it's got a kind of..." " Are you afraid of heights?" " No." "Are you staying much longer?" "Until Sunday." "I'd like to read the script once you've finished." " I'm not going to write it." " Really?" " No." " Why not?" "Not this one..." "Don't know..." "Not anymore." "Besides, Santi doesn't like it..." "What about my character?" " Will you have something?" " Yeah, sure." " What do you want?" " I don't know." "A beer." "Two beers." " Thanks." " Thanks." " Want to play pool?" " I don't know how to." " Want one?" " No." "Good." " What?" " That's better for you." "A mirage." " Remember?" "A mirage." " A mirage, yes." "Do you want something to eat?" "No." "And you?" "No." "Today it's on me." "It's my turn." "The rain's easing off." " Lf you want to change the music..." " No." " This bag too?" " Yes... and this one... and..." "Thanks." "Well, thanks for today..." " Good night." " Good night." "Dad...!" "Andrea, what's wrong?" "There's an enormous balloon down there." " A what?" " A balloon." " Where's Mum?" " Downstairs." "Give me a kiss." "Come on." "I'll be right down." "Here, Andrea." " Hi." " Hi." "What a surprise!" "Let me have him." "No, let me." " How come you came?" " They missed you." "But not me." "No one gives me surprises." "I love surprises." "Even if they're bad." "You look more and more like me." "Why?" "You're very thin." "Really?" "And..." "You never called?" "I did, yesterday, but your cell phone was off." " Here." "Will you give it to him?" " Okay." "The estate agent's called yesterday, we're meeting on Tuesday." "Is that Santi's?" "No." "I bought it yesterday, with the pants and shoes." "You went shopping?" "How is Judith?" "Is she feeling better?" "Yes, she's better." "She's very well... yes..." "Why don't we get on the balloon?" "Come on..." "Are you afraid?" "Shit, I forgot my cell phone!" "Okay, the waitress thought I was an actress." "They all think I'm going to film here." "What the fuck is it now Silvia?" "What the fuck have you forgotten now?" "Don't talk to me like that." " Let's go." " Ready?" "Did I sleep a lot?" "Let's go for a walk to Judith's house." "You don't feel like it?" "Not really." "I want to go." "I'd like to say hello to her." "Stay, if you want." "Let's go?" " Where are your shoes?" " Over there." " Hi." " Hi." " Hi." " Hi." "She's a friend of Judith's." "This is Silvia, my wife." " How are you?" " Fine." "They're gorgeous!" " What's your name?" " Andrea." "And yours?" "Monica." "What a change!" "Yes, she's made a lot of changes." " Isn't Judith in?" " She's picking Violette up." " Has Judith got a girlfriend?" " Yes, she has." "Well, what now?" "They won't be long." "Have a seat." "Right." " How about some tea?" " Okay." " I'll make some more." " I'll do that." " No problem." " No, I'll do it." "Thank you." "Alex, the tea is in a cookie box." "Have you been here long?" "Yes, more than a week." "But time flies." "Judith always told me to come but," "I live in Madrid and..." "But I like this a lot." "It's very nice." "Have they left?" "No, she's showing them the bedrooms." "Are you from Buenos Aires?" "Yes." "I've been here for 3 years." "It's very nice." "I'd like my daughter to be younger." "About that age." "You won't have to change her nappies." "There's a pussy cat outside." " And?" " Judith says we can keep it." "I don't know, Andrea." "Ask Mum." "Okay." "My sister's coming for dinner." " Why don't you come later?" " What about the kids?" " You're leaving on Sunday?" " Yes, aren't we?" "Yes, on Sunday." "Tomorrow we'll take Monica to the train, and we'll see you later." " You're leaving?" " Yes, I have a plane to catch." "Right, let's go?" " Nice to meet you." " The same here." " Bye." " Bye." "Bye." "I overslept." "Did you watch it all?" " Nice, right?" " Yes..." "The lakes..." "What's wrong?" "Has he got a fever?" "No." "He must have been dreaming." "I'm going to bed." "Will you bring me a glass of water?" "I'll be right up, darling." "Gin and tonic?" "Yes." "You've got something there." "A yellow bag." " Where?" " On the washing machine." "A surprise?" "It's a present?" "What is it?" "I bought it in Puigcerdà, with Monica." "What?" "I bought it in Puigcerdà, with Monica." "You didn't have to." "I don't know what to say." "I'm going to miss you." "I was getting fond of you again." "I suppose she picked it out." "What time is it?" "It's early." "Where are you going?" "To buy some breakfast, and the newspaper." "Silvia." "I don't know if I want to live outside Barcelona." "I know." "I'm not sure either." "We'll decide..." "Buy one of those pastries I like." "Okay." " Alex!" " Hi." "I didn't recognize you." "What's up?" "Nothing." "I came to say good-bye." "I don't know how to do this." "But, yesterday..." "I'm sorry." " I had a knot in my stomach." " Yeah." "I'm glad I met you." "And all these days..." " We've fallen a bit in love." " A bit." " I didn't know how..." " Me either." " And I would have liked to..." " Me too." "But you are as you are." "And now I'm doing things right." "It's nice to fall in love once in a while." "If not, what?" " I'm going to kiss you." " Okay." "I don't want to interrupt but you'll miss your train." "You can say good-bye to me too." "I won't see you again?" "We're going to the beach with Violette." "Say good-bye to Silvia for me." "Take care." "It's a matter of faith." "Next time, come here to film and stay a few months." "Write something that isn't sad, something romantic." "You forgot this." " Maybe I'll see you again." " Maybe." " Bye, Alex." " Bye, Monica."