"Perla, what have you arranged for my return?" "Thursday, 26th, okay." "Put everything together for that day." "There won't be any delays." "Dad'll be strong as a horse." "You won't have time to miss me." "Bye." "I'll pay you the month anyway." "It's in the kitchen." "Okay." "Have a good journey." "Bye." "Bye." "private lives" "You go to bed." "Your mom's with him." "Oh, he couldn't sleep, what with Carmen coming." "I gave him a pill." "Not advisable, but insomnia can be worse." "Come in." "What do you think?" "It was mine once." "All right, I guess." "I'm not in a position to say." "More than me you are." "I haven't seen it for 20 years." "That's my age." "Dad won't forgive me." "He wanted to be awake." "Even bought a new robe." "When's she arriving?" "1 1 :30." "Should be here." "Not staying?" "Gotta be at the clinic." "The flowers." "What?" "Too much color." "Too... exuberant." "Carmen's here!" "Incredible." "She hasn't changed." "What's up?" "I'm dizzy." "All the emotion." "Shall we go down?" "l have to phone someone." "Downstairs." "No phone here?" "ln the study!" "Good morning." "Pleased to meet you." "Carmen." "Ana?" "Great you could come." "Dad would have survived without me." "How is he?" "Weak, but stable." "He was dying to see you." "He didn't sleep, kept asking for you." "Wasn't it a secret?" "We did try." "Not very hard." "is he upstairs?" "He's asleep." "But he'd have loved to see you." "I'm glad." "Heart patients must control their emotions." "Mom?" "She's with him." "I hope you like your room." "I prepared it myself." "Thanks." "Tell them to bring up my luggage." "Great to have you back, Carmencita." "Are they going to operate?" "It would be dangerous at this moment." "Better to wait and trust the medication." "Are you staying longer this time?" "I told you on the phone." "Who's the doctor?" "After five years, why can't you stay a bit longer?" "We're all overjoyed." "Alejandro Rosenberg." "is he the doctor?" "Answer me, mom!" "Not so loud." "You called Alejandro Rosenberg?" "He's one of the best around." "And the only one I know." "The only one you can call at 2:30 a.m." "and know he'll come straight over." "What did I do wrong?" "You know very well." "Well I don't care." "Thanks to him, we're here and not in the cemetery." "What else could I do?" "Sit here waiting for you to call and recommend a specialist?" "Someone living next to the Prado museum, who doesn't do home visits?" "How can you be so selfish?" "He's here, isn't he?" "Carmencita, I do understand you, honey." "But you must understand that it's much worse for him." "He did come, and get your father taken in, with the best team at his disposal." "How are you?" "You look... great!" "Thanks." "Not so bad yourself." "Seriously, your hair, hairstyle." "Your general air." "Even your voice." "All intact." "Shame about the accent." "I've been in Spain for 20 years." "That's okay." "Go on, talk to me in Argentinean." "You haven't changed, always asking for things I can't give you." "Thanks for what you're doing for my father." "My job." "No need to thank me." "Mom says you're a top doctor." "I wouldn't go so far." "The heart is such a... common organ." "How is my father's?" "Broken." "Like yours, mine, and everybody's." "Your professional opinion." "I'd rather reserve that for your mother, and the patient." "Nice to see you." "Not staying for lunch?" "l have to go." "You said that before and stayed." "That's my problem." "I never listen to myself." "Pity you didn't try it." "It was delicious." "Don't worry." "Gladys'll be pleased." "Why are you a vegetarian?" "lt's the diet I need." "To be so charming?" "Meat can't really be that bad." "Where is that woman?" "is she deaf?" "Sit down, mom." "I'll go." "It's not the harm meat does." "It's its commonness." "l'm working. I'll get fired." "l know that." "They won't fire you." "I can't wait." "Why are you so hot today?" "." "You're gorgeous." "You're crazy!" "You're driving me crazy." "My little goddess!" "Move up a bit." "There!" "Gladys!" "Why the property transfer?" "Dad's idea." "Are you sure?" "It's not like him to do that." "Death to him was a weakness." "The stroke changed all that." "is the process long?" "It depends." "Could be months, a year." "I mean my part in it." "Signing papers and all that crap." "I'm back in Madrid in 15 days." "I hope it'll be enough." "Weren't you staying longer?" "I thought of showing you my places." "There aren't many, but... I even thought of introducing you to Javier." "Mom'd be jealous though." "She hasn't met him." "You can send me a photo." "I only have my time and I can assure you it's not much." "What about dad then?" "He'll be okay." "He has a heart of steel." "Alejandro doesn't agree." "He's being sentimental." "Don't listen to him." "What's this?" "The transfer info." "I know all that." "Tell me when there's something new." "I'm going to unpack." "This is Carmen Uranga." "I reserved an apartment from Madrid." "For 15 days." "In 48 hours?" "Excellent." "I'll pay when I pick up the keys." "Bye." "Shit." "If of all the numbers in the world you called this one, it's because you got it right." "Leave your name, number and requirements, so Roxana Rodo can call you back." "You won't regret it." "This is Carmen Uranga." "I'm in Buenos Aires for two weeks." "I'll call later." "What are you doing?" "Baby!" "I'm going." "You're going?" "Yes." "Come here. I want a nibble..." "before you go." "You have to pay." "I have to pay you." "Let's see how much we've got here." "Okay." "Didn't force you, did she?" "No." "The husband didn't show up?" "No." "She paid the agreed price?" "Yes." "So it went great then, not just good." "You have to quit coffee." "It's not in fashion." "Any messages?" "One." "I called the agency." "They're amazed at the campaign results." "And I got you a spread." "In ldentikit." "You'll be in the New Faces section." "This is Carmen Uranga." "I'm in Buenos Aires for two weeks." "I'II call later." "Welcome home, Uranga!" "What's this?" "I got them for you." "Like them?" "Gustavo Gana?" "Yes, it's your artistic name." "Trust me." "It's sexier than Bertolini." "And repeating initials always brings results." "I mean, I dunno, like Marilyn Monroe." "You can try them out tonight." "There's an opening at Las Canitas." "No, I can't tonight." "Who will you cheat on me with?" "With my dad." "Gotta run him to the station." "The captain wins again!" "You could introduce me to him." "Uniforms really excite me." "No more uniforms." "He's retired." "So?" "What?" "You didn't say anything." "Want me to congratulate you?" "lt's my first job." "Stripping off in front of millions?" "lt's just an ad." "Fuck ads." "Listen." "Didn't you think of me?" "Yes I did." "No, you didn't." "Didn't you think of my friends?" "Look, the Bertolini kid in the buff!" "Looking like a jerk in front of everyone." "Dad." "No." "I have my name to think of." "That's why I changed mine." "What?" "No connection now. I'm Gustavo Gana." "You changed your name?" "Gustavo Gana." "Sounds good." "Sounds good, right?" "It's an artistic name." "We all use artistic names in this game." "It's the way it is." "Look." "Here." "No." "What's all this?" "No, Gustavo. lf that's the way you earn it, I don't want it." "Stop, dad." "Want to see my id?" "It still says Bertolini." "I'm not interested." "Take it dad." "It's no big deal." "Take it." "You can fix up the porch for when I come." "Wow." "We found it looking through old things." "Your mom sent it, not me." "She misses you." "Take this away." "Please." "Are you not hungry?" "." "I would be if it was food." "Real food." "Not this hospital puree muck." "Well, anything else?" "A double whisky... and a Montecristo." "Dad..." "Bring Carmen here, go on." "Doesn't time pass for you?" "Give me one reason to prove it passes." "Your twenty years in Spain?" "Your smartness, my dear?" "That's nothing." "Your success as a business woman?" "Can't fool me, Carmen." "We can't remake our lives." "We're doomed." "You're a great doctor." "That's all you are for me." "I don't believe you." "As usual, you know more about me than I do." "Why do you avoid me?" "Why could I never see you?" "You tell me." "You're so perceptive." "It's a lithium battery." "Three hours life." "You're afraid of me." "That's why you run away." "Do me one favor, Alejandro." "That only you could do." "Come in, Ana." "Don't let my father die." "ls that all he ate?" "He wants to see you." "You wanted to know your sis." "You've just had a crash course." "Sorry." "I shouldn't have come." "Carmen is right." "I'm the same imbecile I was 20 years ago." "Ana!" "Don't look at me like that." "I've had enough with Carmen." "Have you fainted before?" "No, I've felt dizzy, but..." "But?" "Was Carmen's husband any relation?" "He was my cousin." "That's strange." "I didn't know you existed." "What's so strange?" "We're related." "Why did I not know?" "I'm a sort of burden from the past." "A troublesome burden." "It's a long story." "And I'm asking the questions." "I'm the doctor, right?" "Has there been a delay...?" "ln your period?" "Should have come ten days ago." "No, it would be madness to think about it." "Some would call it a miracle." "What are you gonna do?" "There." "There." "You work fast." "Maybe too fast." "Staying in too much?" "The Pilar farm." "A romantic place." "Been there with your guy?" "." "Or do you just study clauses?" "The "Los Patos" place." "Wasn't it sold?" "No, just rented." "Then dad took it off the market." "Why?" "." "He wants you to have it." "For a hopeless case, you've recovered quickly." "Give your father a hug." "I'd love it if you used perfume again." "Why do you insist, dad?" "What's wrong with it?" "Regarding Los Patos apartment, we agreed to sell it." "l changed my mind." "So I see." "With no consultation." "It's my decision." "I think it's for the best." "Why?" "." "Rent it, sell it, demolish it." "Do what you want." "But it's down to you." "Otherwise it's no use." "My life isn't there." "Yours is." "My life is in Madrid, ten thousand kilometers away." "20 years and you still don't get it?" "Then, just look on it as a real estate operation." "You've all agreed on this." "Mom, you," "Ana?" "Leave Ana out of this." "Now Alejandro's involved." "What do you want from me, dad?" "I'm here, am I not?" "And I'm alive." "I can catch a plane and visit you." "I can argue with you, see you when you're ill." "I don't come as often as you'd like." "But to live, I have to be where my life is." "I can't neglect my responsibilities." "It's a luxury I can't afford." "And well you know it, dad." "All I know is you've changed." "Thanks to you." "Anyone who survives has to change." "And I'm a survivor." "I saved you so you'd stay close to us." "Not just abandon us." "Close the door and stop all calls." "How's things, Roxana?" "Very well, as you can see." "I can't complain." "But regarding that, our thing, you could say I'm semi-retired." "Retired?" "From escort work." "Too much responsibility." "People are crazy, and in the bad sense." "Let's just admit it, the 80's are over." "Now it's..." ""low profile."" "Do you live with anyone?" "l said "low profile, not dead"." "Why do you ask?" "Just the voice on the answering machine." "No. it's not like that." "We're... master and disciple." "Training the new lot." "I can't count on you?" "You can, Uranga." "You can." "I have contacts, and I'd never let my old pal from Northlands Bank down." "So what is it?" "The usual." "A couple." "What style?" "I don't mind." "What about this guy?" "." "What guy?" "." "Your disciple." "He'll have had the necessary training." "But you don't even know him." "I know his voice." "That'll do." "You haven't changed." "Just fix him up with a girl." "We agreed you should avoid any tension." "Don't tell me that." "You're my patient." "I have no control over everything else." "We'll have to increase the dose." "She got upset." "Like we'd done something terrible." "All because dad gave her the apartment." "What apartment?" "Los Patos." "Why?" "." "Marcos and Carmen lived there." "Yeah, so it's her right to have it." "You get mad when you're disinherited, not the other way round." "Dad wasn't obligated to do it." "He did it for her sake." "And that's that." "Even if she comes every 5 years for a flying visit." "She has no right to get mad." "What do you think?" "Who am I to teach someone to deal with their traumas." "All right." "How long is this story going to go on?" "What story?" "." "Marcos left Los Patos one rainy night, a car ran into him, and he was killed." "Ah, that story." "How do you mean?" "I heard it wasn't raining and it was a truck, not a car." "It was a terrible tragedy." "But that was 20 years ago." "So you were born to succeed." "The last question Gustavo..." "Gana?" "Let's wrap up there." "He's very busy." "Hi." "How are you?" "l think that'll do." "Everything okay?" "." "Yeah." "Call me." "I've tickets for a big party in Palermo." "Lots of people." "Great." "Looking cute." "You too." "When'll it come out?" "15 days." "Well, make it good." "Sure." "Bye." "See you." "Read me your horoscope." "Why did you mention my dad?" "It's a bit morbid." "It creates interest." "He won't like it." "l don't think he reads ldentikit." "Look, there's Vicky!" "Come here, gorgeous." "Just do exactly what you're told to do." "Vicky, Gustavo." "Gustavo, Vicky." "Wait." "Don't forget to roll up the backdrop." "Okay, all clear, yeah?" "Don't be nervous, babe." "The easiest and best paid job of your life!" "That's if you're punctual." "Okay, go on, off you go." "What sign was he?" "Gemini?" ""Love."" ""And finally meets the wrong person."" "Do it better, I can't hear you." "Just talk, will you." "Do you like it?" "Come on, do you like it?" "Yes." "No, not you." "It's him I want to hear." "Yes." "You like it?" "Yes!" "Carry on talking, Christ!" "You, the girl, sit on him." "And now you fuck her." "Now!" "So it's like you were fucking inside my head." "l'm coming." "No, wait." "That's it!" "I want to hear you talking." "Carry on." "I'm coming!" "I'm coming!" "Talk to me more." "Now, now." "You can get dressed." "We've finished." "No smoking in here." "Your money's in the kitchen." "Who is it?" "It's closed downstairs." "I'll open from here." "Next time you come alone." "The money's the same, but without her, okay?" "." "Good morning." "I left you to sleep." "Not often you sleep till ten." "Thanks." "How did it go?" "I'm old but not blind." "From your face I can see you had a ball." "What about my face?" "Relaxed, rested, confident." "The face I would like to see more often." "Hello, honey." "Morning, Anita." "Come and sit here." "And you, mom, sit closer." "Looks like a meeting's going on rather than three girls having breakfast." "What's that?" "Documents for you to sign." "Later." "What are you having?" "Hot chocolate." "Yeah?" "You should have coffee or tea." "At your age." "Shouldn't always obey mommy." "Hey, cheer up, will you." "You're my lawyer, but also my sister." "I know I was very hard on you, but you took me by surprise, and I usually overreact." "I asked papa to forgive me." "Now I'm asking you." "I've nothing to forgive." "Regarding the apartment, maybe I'll take a look." "Wanna come with me?" "Roxana Rodo?" "From the magazines?" "Old school friends." "They always keep in touch." "What do they have in common?" "No idea." "But curiosity killed the cat." "Didn't you ask her?" "l'm sure they met yesterday." "Wasn't she in a great mood?" "I'd prefer to enjoy it than ask questions." "Bye, mom." "Take the book that's on the table." "It's okay, you only have to read." "Open it where it's marked, and read it all, very slowly." ""You say you'll suck me off and I'll lick you, you depraved girl."" "Slower, read slower, for me." ""You say you'll suck me off, and I'll lick your pussy, you depraved girl."" "That's it." "That's it." ""l wait for you to surprise me asleep, fully dressed." "And assault me with a whore's gleam in your eyes." "You unbutton me gently, and slowly withdraw your lover's thick member." "In your humid mouth you hide it, and suck until it spurts in your mouth." "I'll also surprise you asleep." "I'll raise your nightdress, pull aside your hot panties." "I'll get on top of you and start to lick around your sex." "You'll tremble and then I'll lick your pussy lips," "and you'll start to moan and gasp with desire." "I'll lick faster, like a voracious dog," "until your pussy is a mass of scum, and your body a wild contortion."" "Pull it towards you." "lt won't open." "I'll do it." "Here." "I never did like blind man's buff." "Can we put a light on?" ""Blind man's buff."" "I couldn't remember what it was called here." "Careful, it must be a chair." "You have to stick to the walls." "The number one rule." "I could always get around in the dark." "A friend taught me." "We must have been seven or eight." "Poor thing, thought she was going blind." "Didn't want to be taken by surprise." "For years she practiced going round houses in the dark." "From one end to the other, without touching, not even brushing the furniture." "She was perfect at being blind." "I can't open the window." "Carmen?" "So it was useful after all." "You frightened me." "The night they came for us, there was a blackout in the entire building." "Like you, I tried to open a window to see if the neighbors had light." "But it was stuck." "I went to the kitchen to look for candles." "I never got there." "When they broke down the door, I was standing exactly where you are now." "The ten months I spent in captivity, I also spent in the dark." "I put my friend's teachings into practice." "What would you do in a place like this?" "Why tell me this now?" "Poor thing." "Why tell me this now?" "Why was I told those lies about the accident?" "Why not?" "I believed it too." "What good's the truth when it's too late?" "Well, the problem now is this place." "Any suggestions?" "l dunno, demolish it." "Or give it to an enemy." "An idea I hadn't thought of?" "Get a new hairdo?" ""Now I can remember that night I took you from behind." "It was the dirtiest one." "My dick was in there for hours and hours, in and out of your cheeks, all sweaty on my belly." "And I saw your face..." Hey!" "Are you okay?" "." "Open up, please." "What did you say?" "." "I thought something had happened." "Say it again." "You fell. I thought something had happened." "You talked without me asking you to!" "You've never spoken to me before." "I was frightened." "No, I liked it." "You sound good when you're scared." "You can address me informally." "Doing anything now?" "No." "Sing something." "Anything." "What you feel like." "I never remember the words of songs." "It doesn't matter." "It's not a contest." "I want to hear you sing." "Only that." "That's lovely." "How did it go?" "You can go." "Wait." "l want to see you Tuesday." "See me?" "Silly!" "It's a way of speaking." "I think she's got a guy." "That's impossible." "Why?" "." "She's isn't fit to fall in love." "Who mentioned love?" "Milk or lemon?" "Even less have sex." "Not after 20 years." "It's an open wound." "Physical contact is just not on." "Lemon." "Why are you so sure?" "You still love her?" "I'm not in love." "I'm ill." "You talk like a doctor." "You haven't seen her in years." "Do you know her that well?" "Yes. I don't need to see her." "I don't need to know anything." "Nobody's been as close to her." "Not even Marcos." "Just get rid of her." "Bury her." "Get on with your life." "How could you be closer than her husband?" "I was in the next cell." "Every day and night for ten months." "I heard her scream." "I talked to her." "So she wouldn't let herself die." "I asked them to torture me." "Me!" "I got this to show for it." "After that, I doubt whether anyone can think about sex." "Uranga, Roxana." "Hope I'm not interrupting, but I can't reach you." "Listen, I'm going to need Baby for the weekend, from Thursday." "I'm opening a hotel and I can't go alone." "So call me to rearrange your time." "One kiss for you and one for my disciple." "You knew about the trip?" "Yeah." "Do you want to go?" "Roxana says it could be important." ""Roxana says!"" "So you decide nothing yourself?" "lt's work." "And your life?" "You do have a life out there, don't you?" "What happens to the money?" "." "Do you spend it, or does she manage the accounting?" "I send it to my parents." "We're progressing." "Now I know you're not an orphan." "And you're a good son." "So you're going on the trip?" "We can fix another day." "Am I your only client?" "Yes." "What'd she tell you about me?" "Nothing." "Come on." "You tremble when you lie." "I know... that you live in Spain, you've known each other for ages." "Did she tell you my name?" "I heard it when you left the first message." "Say it." "I want you to say it." "Carmen." "Say it again." "Repeat it." "Carmen." "Now tell me you're not going on that trip." "That you won't leave me." "Please." "Say it." "I won't go on the trip." "I won't leave you." "You're a traitor." "I'm not missing this historic moment." "At least wait till you taste it." "It's delicious." "It's my only dish." "Your father'll die." "The stroke didn't kill him." "This surely won't." "I'm uneasy about dad's present." "I need help." "I understand." "Don't worry." "This'll be your present to him." "It was mine but your father would much rather you gave it to him." "She went berserk." "Said I had betrayed her." "You told her you'd come?" "She knew anyway." "Do you regret it?" "No." "Why did you do it?" "I need the cash." "It's in the kitchen." "It's double the usual." "You can go if you want." "You did it for me?" "Say you did it for me." "Can we start?" "We've already started." "I did it for you." "Sit down and read." "Very slowly." ""lt must be the first time they've kissed." "There they are, silhouetted against the coming storm." "While he kisses her, his hands come to rest on her breasts." "They're surely talking, but very softly." "They must be murmuring the words of love, that rise to their lips..." "Between two kisses..." "Like bubbles." "What's the matter?" "I don't want tears!" "Carry on!" "You can't cry!" "You've no right!" "You can't go!" "Not now!" "We haven't finished!" "All right." "I'll confirm the reservation." "Come in, mom." "Good, thank you very much." "Tell Gladys to pick up my dress." "I'm booked for Saturday." "Couldn't you wait a day?" "." "Nothing to wait for, mom." "One day!" "Sunday is dad's birthday!" "I have 20 people expecting me there." "They can't wait any longer." "Dad has recovered, and I signed the papers." "I've done all I came to do." "When will you be back?" "When you have space in your diary?" "." "When I have a tumor?" "Don't make a scene, mom." "Yes, from 4A." "We arranged to leave you the keys." "You can come and get them." "Okay, I'll be here for a while." "Bye then." "Thanks." "Hi." "It's me." "I have to see you." "I need to see you." "There's a light in your window." "I'm in the phone booth in front." "Carmen, if you're there, answer me." "It's not possible." "Carmen, hello." "What do you want?" "Why did you come back?" "We have unfinished business." "No." "You and I are finished." "Why did you come down then?" "Don't touch me." "Can't touch, can't look." "You're not a monster, are you?" "What's it to you?" "We had a deal, and you broke it." "There's nothing to say." "I saved your life." "No, you ruined it." "Why do you follow me like a dog?" "You and I are finished." "Do you want money?" "." "is that what you want?" "No, no." "But, why do you keep humiliating me?" "You should be at home or out with a girl." "I had to see you." "That's all I know." "Since the other night, it's like I'm ill." "I don't talk to anyone." "If I didn't see you I might stay like this." "It's here." "Lights." "Anyone expecting you?" "Do I look terrible?" "A bit worse for wear." "You can blame it on me." "It's not your fault." "Didn't I ruin your life?" "Yes, but you're not to blame." "Go." "Just go, now!" "Go!" "This is him." "The father of your child?" "No, the guy Carmen's seeing." "Like something to drink?" "No, thanks." "Go." "To accuse someone you gotta have proof." "I saw them." "Carmen came home with him." "That doesn't mean much." "I saw him leave the apartment." "What apartment?" "Carmen rented one when she came, and they use it to be together." "I hope you're wrong." "Stop being a kid, don't deny everything!" "His dad's in the army." "That's odd." "I'm sure she doesn't know." "Besides, you're not in a condition to sort anyone's life out." "I was thinking... and... I may abort." "I'll tell mom and Carmen I'm pregnant." "I'll get sick if I don't." "is that a good idea?" "You said I should decide about my life." "It's dangerous." "You've no idea of the harm..." "You're just like mom and Carmen." "You look the other way." "This is different." "Carmen can't deal with it." "And me?" "How long can I deal with it?" "I've decided." "Wait." "Listen." "Carmen had a child." "In prison, and lost it there." "What do you mean?" "The pregnancy was confirmed after her arrest." "I never knew anything." "I was ten months next to her." "A premature birth, but the boy survived." "He even cried, which not all premature babies do." "I had a sleepless night." "I heard Carmen's screams from my cell." "They came for me." "I was finishing my degree, and they used me to examine prisoners." "I remember thinking," ""he'll survive."" "When I arrived," "Carmen was completely lucid." "Her eyes were wide open, just like a blind person's." "I went over." "I wanted to say I'd heard him cry..." "he would survive." "But she didn't give me time." ""l'm glad he died," she said." "lt's late." "Go home." "Tell me it isn't true." "We've had a terrible night." "Please... lt isn't late." "I want to stay and listen." "l saw the boy..." "Please, this is... lt's madness!" "Ana, you can go." "What?" "Your father's died." "Go with your family." "l didn't sleep." "I heard the birth screams deep in my soul." "is he your father?" "Yes." "What a lovely place!" "It's Villaguay." "He lives there with mother." "How old were you in that photo?" "Seven or eight, wasn't I?" "No, I don't remember." "What are these trees?" "Willows." "Willows." "When I was seven my father took me to pick oranges." "It was my favorite outing." "He took my hand and we walked in step, with the same foot forwards like a dance duet." "When we reached the orange trees, I freed my hand and started running, as if I was drunk." "My father was so young." "He gave in to all my whims, even the impossible ones." "Specially the impossible ones." "Once I asked him to promise he would live forever." "He said he would." "That he would." "That he would live forever." "Don't touch me." "You're so young I feel ashamed." "Are you blushing?" "Tea's getting cold." "NAME AND RANK BERTOLlNl, captain" "alias "HOOK"" "married, NO children" "So he's the father of a boy?" "." "No children listed here." "You see, here?" "Gorosito, Bonzo, Estevez, Bertolini." "The offender found homes for kids born in prison." "What's that list?" "The waiting list for adoption." "Look, Alejandro, if your Bartolini has a child, be assured it's not his." "Bet you don't know which one's me." "This one." "You're a witch, Ana." "Even I took longer." "Ask for anything you want." "You won." "Could you answer the phone, Ana?" "Hello." "Just a moment." "Nice voice, huh?" "How are you?" "Yes, I knew." "A surprise?" "Tell me what it is." "Give me a clue, at least." "Wait, Ana, don't go." ""Boquitas Pintadas?"" "I don't know it." ""Montserrat."" "Okay, on the corner." "See you tonight." "Well?" "I dunno. I'm surprised." "He seems... young." "I'm crazy, aren't I?" "He's twenty two." "The same number of years I've lived in a frozen wasteland." "I'm only sure about one thing." "For the first time, I don't feel alone, Ana." "I left a thousand messages." "Not a cheep." "I can consider myself fired." "I see." "Shall I try?" "." "I've known Roxana for years." "What will you say?" "." "I'll explain what's happened." "What?" "You're right." "Even I don't know." "So what now?" "I'll retire." "I'll go to Villaguay." "Twenty two is a good age to retire." "Go fishing." "Save some money and travel." "To Madrid." "What's in Madrid?" "Not much of anything." "I don't advise it." "So why live there?" "You could say I didn't have a choice." "You were kidnapped?" "It's an old story." "I don't want to talk about it now." "Could you pour me some wine?" "You can always choose again." "It's not that easy." "Or the story isn't that old." "Hey, I could help you choose." "I'm the ideal counselor... I've never been anywhere." "I don't have a passport." "I only know Buenos Aires and Villaguay." "You've two choices." "It's that simple." "Don't go on." "Don't make me cry." "Let's see." "It hurts, it hurts." "It hurts." "How's your hand?" "is it still hurting?" "I never thought pain could be so pleasant." "Don't be afraid." "I'm trembling too." "Tomorrow could be worse." "Tell me if you slept with Carmen." "l don't understand." "Yes or no." "You joking?" "lt's very serious." "Stop seeing her." "My family will pay the price you ask." "Did you sleep together?" "I'm not ill, if that's what it is." "No, it's not that." "Answer, please." "Why should I answer?" "I don't know your family." "Are you crazy?" "." "Who are you?" "From the mafia?" "What's your family to me?" "I know she doesn't think like you." "You don't know anything." "Carmen isn't who you think she is." "Who is she?" "You wouldn't want to know." "Did you sleep together?" "is that what you want to know?" "Yes." "Tell them we did." "Yes, we slept together." "I've told you." "Now tell me who Carmen is." "Doesn't matter now." "You're gonna tell me why I can't see her." "Wouldn't do any good." "You're gonna tell me." "She has another life." "She's married." "To Marcos Rosenberg for 25 years." "In '77 they went to live in Spain." "They live in Madrid." "And he's expecting her back." "Marcos Rosenberg." "How do I know it's true?" "I need a good drink." "Do you like it?" "I bought it for you." "It's all I listen to in Madrid." "It sounds a bit old." "Change it then." "It's a record." "What's up?" "Why did you go to Spain?" "To Spain." "Why bring that up now?" "That's not all you listen to." "I think you do the same there as here." "That's how we met, right?" "Don't talk like that." "All that feels like centuries ago, in a different world." "Nobody knows me like you." "Or your husband." "What?" "Does he know about your hobby?" "." "Should do after 25 years marriage." "You don't know." "lsn't your husband Marcos Rosenberg?" "It's a cliche. 25 years and now you don't touch each other." "With you it's just talking." "The photo would fool anyone." "The image of the ideal parents." "That's all dead." "More than 20 years ago." "But recently I buried it thanks to you." "I was choking when you gave me air." "I was desperate waiting for you." "I was dying when you gave me life." "Now there's no way back." "Well, we'll put the farmhouse in your name." "The farmhouse and you are all we have." "Maybe that'll encourage you to come and live here." "So," "A lawyer's going to visit you in Buenos Aires." "You'll have to sign for it." "What name shall I use?" "Bertolini." "What else?" "That other name you use up there?" "You won't like me signing Rosenberg." "We'll do up the house a bit." "We're already fixing the porch." "And we're going to paint the shed... so you can have a room there." "And the one you're in now could be... a guest room for when you come from Buenos Aires." "You always knew this could happen, huh?" "To make the farm bigger your mom wants..." "to plant fruit to sell." "Dad!" "We're going to..." "We're going to plant... a row of trees all the way... to the gate." "One next to the other." "Dad." "I'm giving you an opportunity." "Tell me what you prepared for this moment." "lt'll be paradise." "Dad!" "Dad!" "Why?" "." "Let me go!" "Why did you have to find out?" "I wanted to tell you." "But I was afraid if I did you would go." "Did you ever go without anything?" "Did you?" "Tell me!" "All right!" "You had everything." "Let go!" "Tell me." "Look at me." "We gave you all we had." "But why?" "." "Tell me." "Dad, let me go!" "We just didn't want you to go." "Dad, why?" "." "Didn't you have everything?" "l just wanted a son, that's all." "No." "But I couldn't have one." "If I lose you, I don't mind dying." "Mom!" "Mom!" "Oh my God!" "Oh, God!" "Don't go, please." "Where are you going?" "I'll find something." "Don't worry." "We did everything to protect you." "Everything we could." "You can't blame me." "l don't blame you." "I just can't go on living in this house." "Don't do this to me, please." "Poor mom." "I'm not doing it to you." "I'm doing it to me." "Doing it for me." "You already did too many things for me." "Now it's my turn." "Excuse me, ma'am." "Are you having lunch?" "Hi." "Hi." "I'll need a couple of days." "ls it allowed to smoke here?" "Yes." "I had quit 20 years ago, but..." "You want one?" "You growing a beard again?" "I don't have a shaver." "Here, Ana told me you can't use razors here." "I've also brought you toothpaste and a toothbrush." "What's up?" "You've never seen a mother and a son?" "Do you need a coat?" "No, it's still hot." "Sure, silly of me." "l've brought you a jersey." " What?" "A sweater." "Do you wear high collar sweaters?" "I didn't know your size." "It could be worse." "It's not bad. lt's not bad, it's not bad."