"My darling" "My heart belongs to you" "No matter what you've done I still love you I love you" "While you' re locked in there all those years I ' ll be locked up out here waiting for you" "I want to send a letter to a guy who cheated me" "Mr Ze Amaro!" "Thank you for what you did to me I trusted you and you cheated me" "You even took the keys to me apartment" "Dear Jesus" "You' re the worst thing to happen to me I ' m only writing because your son Josue asked me to" "I told him you' re worthless and yet he still wants to meet you" "Address?" "Jesus de Paiva" "Bom Jesus do Norte Pernambuco" "Dalva Dalva" " My hot pussy" " Pussy?" "Your body against mine rolling around in the motel bed our sweet boiling me, I still" " l still feel - infatuated" "That's it, infatuated!" "l don't know the exact address -l need it" "Third house after the bakery Mismo, Pernambuco" "Cansanca, Bahiha" "Caragola, Minas Gerais" "Town of Relutaba, Ceara" "Muzambinho, Minas Gerais" "Hello, Mrs Dora" " How are you, Mr Pedrao?" " Okay" "See you tomorrow" "See you" "Irene!" "Irene!" "..." "Irene!" "What?" "Come on up!" "Now!" "Coming" "This piece of crap is as old as I am isn't it?" "Sit down here" "Not again, Dora I want you to know that I disapprove of this, okay?" "Here, give me a hand Read this one" "I saw your ad in the personals column and your description was the only one that interested me" "This jerk wrote the same thing to ten different women I ' m tall I have brown eyes straight hair" "and an education They say I ' m good-looking" "He's as ugly as a worm" "Education?" "He can't even write" " Trash?" " Trash!" "Dear Jesus You' re the worst thing to happen to me" "At least try and show up for your son he still wants to meet you" "She says the boy wants to meet his father, a drunkard ln fact she just wants the guy back" "Don't tear this one up!" "She says the boy wants to meet his father a drunkard." " So what?" " You' ll ruin for them" "He's a drunkard and used to beat her" "So the boy's to grow up fatherless?" "Better than living with a drunk who' ll beat him lt's decided trash" " But isn't it her first letter?" " lt' ll be an exception!" "I 've had enough of this, I ' m leaving" "He' ll smash her face in" "So?" "It's not up to you!" "It's her face" "Okay, I ' ll put it in the drawer" "No, you' ll send it tomorrow I ' ll send it next week if we decide" "Liar!" "Those letters stay in that purgatory for years" "I ' ll send it next week Sit down Let's get back to work" "You can be a pain in the ass sometimes." "They say many people often lose control during the Carnival." "We both had a good time but forget it now" "Oh, I like this one" " You do?" " Really" "Really?" "Really?" "I haven't heard from home for a while I don't think they get my letters" "Our postal service sucks you can't trust them" "Or maybe they've moved" "You thing so?" "One buck, Mr Sergio" "See You, Mrs Dora" "The other day i sent a letter through you Remember?" "Sure" "Did you send it?" "No, I ' m sending it today" "Oh, good!" "I want to tear that one up and send another" " l think I was too hard on him" " Go ahead" "Dear Jesus" "Your son Josue really wants to meet you" "He wants to visit you since he don't know you." "Doesn't know" "He doesn't know you and wants to visit I ' m on vacation next month and can come with him" "Then I can see Moises and Isaias I ' m dying to see that bastard again!" "You' re experienced tell me what do I say now?" "How should I know?" "Help me, please" "You think about it and come back" "The truth is, I still like him a lot." "Jesus, I miss you so much." "If I had one strand of black hair left on my head I 'd leave it for you to tear out" "That's great!" "Wait for me, I ' m coming back." "Love" " What's your name?" " Ana" "Put this in the letter." "There it's in the letter." " Shall I send it or not?" " Send it." "How much?" "Two bucks..." "Minusone for the unsent letter" "Mom, how do you know she' ll send the letter?" "Don't be rude--- She's helping me" "Next!" "Good-bye!" "Give me your hand." "Hey, my top!" "Come on, Josue!" "What happened?" "A woman got run over by a bus ls she dead?" "She's gone to meet her maker" "Mom !" "Mom !" "Take him away!" "Mom !" "Mom !" "Thank you, ma'am" "I want send a letter to my father." "Start writing!" "Dad, come to Rio because mom 's been hurt." "Got any money?" "Yes." "Show me!" "Show me!" "Who do you know in Rio?" " My mother" " Who else?" "Go on, write the letter like I said" "Only if you show me your money" "Then give me my mother's letter -l 've already sent it" "Now, go away." " Give me the letter!" " l said, scram !" "Move it, kid." "Scram !" "Come on, beat it!" "Get out!" "..." "Beatit !" "Hey, kid." "Wake up" "Want a sandwich?" "Not hungry?" "I 've eaten, thanks." "Special offer!" "Today only!" "All beauty products one buck!" "Combs half-price!" "Everything's good I have so many customers I ' m saving up to go back to school." "Thief!" "Nab him !" "Nab him !" "Don't move!" "Shut up!" "Wait!" "don't shoot!" "I ' ll return it" "Good evening, Mrs Dora" " Evening" " Leaving already?" " Hey, son - l ' m Josue," "Josue, is it?" "Let me see your top." "Oh, I see Your mother told you not to talk to strangers" " But you needn't be afraid of me - l ' m not." "It's all right, Mr Pedrao." "I know the boy." "Then I 'd like to talk to you." "Hey, there" "My name is Josue Fontenele de Paiva." "How admirable!" "That's very good Mine is Isadora Teixera" "Would you like to come home with me Josue de Paiva?" "I told you I ' m waiting for my mother." "She won't be coming." "You' re lying!" "She won't be coming She's dead" "Do you have any relatives here in Rio?" "An aunt?" "Answer me!" "Look!" "Take this!" "If you change your mind you just follow me." "Okay?" "I mean it." "Come in." "Where's your husband?" "I don't have one." "And your children?" "No children, no husband no family, no dog." "Then I can use the bathroom?" " Go ahead" " Where is it?" "Over there." "Hi!" "It's hot as hell today!" "I ' ll go freshen up in the bathroom." "I have a guest this evening." "This is Josue." "Was it good?" "See what a demanding guest he is?" "It's just that his mother's cooking was better." "No, she was a lousy cook, too." "Hey, you should be a little more grateful You brat!" "Irene, what kind of work do you do?" "Guess." "You seem like a teacher, like Dora Except that she's a letter writer" "You' re right we used to be teachers." "You've no husband either?" "Neither of us." " So who takes care of you?" " We look after ourselves" "Your mother lived on her own Who took care of her?" "Me, of course!" "And your father never showed his face?" "He's a carpenter he works with wood." "He makes tables, chairs, doors, tops, houses..." "all by himself." " Wasn't his father a..." " Well, what do you want to do?" "I ' m going to be a truck driver." "Our fathers used to drive big trains." "Yeah, and they were drunkards, too." "You okay, Josue?" "What are you doing?" "You sneaky rat!" "Can you read?" "You think I won't mail your mother's letter?" "It's been so hectic I haven't had the time yet." "Give it to me I ' ll take it to my father." "Are you crazy?" "Do you know where he lives?" "Thousands of kilometers away" "l ' ll get there!" "You' ll never get there I think the best thing is if I mail it tomorrow I promise I will" "Do you swear you promise?" "I swear I promise." "You' re not going to lie again?" "No." "Where are we going?" "You' re going to a great place." "Hello, Mr Pedrao" " Hello, Mrs Dora" "Hi there, son." "We' re late" "Hello, Pedrao" "Please come in." "Yolanda, this is Mrs Dora" " Nice to meet you what he's told you but as you can see we treat our children as if we were one big family" "They' ll all be going to wealthy families in Europe, the States" "Once you' re loaded with dollars you won't forget us, right?" "Let aunty see your tongue now." "Go on." "It's okay to be rude." "That's it, great!" " l 'd like more information" " We' ll talk about it." "What's your name again?" "Tell me, Josue" "Are you into video games?" "an ice cream?" "No, thanks." "Then let's go play with Shirlene." "This is for you Pedrao told you how much" "$1 000 for you." " $1 000" " OK" "It's all there." "Bye, Josue." "Oh. my goodness!" "Blessed Virgin, mother of God!" "We made it to the remote control age!" "ls it in stereo?" "lt doesn't work" "Maybe the batteries are dead How'd it go with Josue?" "Very well He' ll be in one of the best children's institutions." "Which institution?" "The Padre Jesuino Vidal Foundation in Pelotas," "But I thought he'd be nearby so we could see him." "It' ll give you a chance to visit Pelotas, you love to travel." " This thing doesn't work" " No, Dora." "Like this." "Can I go see him in the Juvenile Division?" "No I think he must have already left for Pelotas." "Where did you get the money to buy that TV?" "I sold a gold ring a while back." "You' re lying..." "Otherwise you wouldn't bother to explain" "Right, Irene I ' m lying!" "You know everything about my life" "Where did you get the money?" "Tell me the truth." "A friend at the station knows people who find foreign families to adopt these children" "I can't believe you did that!" "He' ll be better off Better then in an institution here" "Don't you read the papers?" "Those children aren't adopted They' re killed and their organs are sold lt's not that at all I went there!" "He's too old to be adopted Dora." "Damn it, Irene!" "I 've had enough of you!" "There's a limit to everything, Dora." " Hi" " Hi" " l was here yesterday" " Yes lt occurred to me afterwards that you might be interested in other children" "We don't need any more right now." "They' re lovely children have a look." "Look at this one" "Who is it?" "Hold on, I ' ll have a word with my partner." "Let me sleep, damn it" "But look how many--- This one's so cute." "We' re not a 24-hour pharmacy here!" "I never said we were" "Yesterday I went to bed at dawn." "You' re always complaining You' re a born complainer." "Josue wake up!" "Hurry!" "What are you doing here?" "Go away!" "Let's go" " No" " Come with me" " Liar!" "Go away" " Come with me - you' re no good" "Come on" "l ' ll call Yolanda - you' ll call no one" "Come with me" "Hush!" "What's going on?" "The bitch!" "You old cow, I ' ll get you!" "You' ll die, you fucking bitch!" "Old bag!" "Sleaze!" "Bitch!" "Cow!" "I ' ll get you!" "I ' m going to kill you!" "You goddam bitch!" "You' re already dead!" "Esperanto Street, in Cascadura." "I ' m sorry, I 've changed my mind." "Hello?" "Who is this?" "Guess I ' m glad you called." "Irene, listen carefully!" "If a big guy with a mustache comes around asking for me, you scram !" "and don't you invite him in for coffee, okay?" "Well, actually..." "l don't believe it" " Yes" "He's there?" "If he is, say something crazy?" "Milton, I can't see you this evening I 've made plan to go dancing with a friend" "Say no more." "Where are you, Milton?" "At the barracks?" "I ' m at the bus station And I ' m in deep shit!" "is that cute little friend of yours on duty with you?" "Josue with me I 've taken him away I always knew you were a good soldier." "Irene, do me a favor" "Lock up my apartment." " One last favor" " What is it?" "Could you lend me $200 bucks?" "Send this to the Bank of Brazil in Bom Jesus do Norte" "Here's your ticket We' ll be off soon." "Take it, kid." "I ' m trying to help I ' ll go by myself" " l ' m going with you - l don't want you along." "Why not?" "Because I don't like you." " Why not?" " Like I said, you' re no good" "How will you get there, then?" "Give me some money for food my dad' ll pay you back" "Stupid idiot" "Give me my mother's letter." "What's the shirt for?" "Getting married?" "It's for when I meet my father" "What are you looking at?" "Go back to the bus" "is it far still?" "What?" "My father's house" "Watch for the road signs they' ll tell you" "How do they measure a kilometer?" "A kilometer is a kilometer 1 000 meters l know." "But how can they be sure?" "How do they count them?" "They make it up" "Do you think that man is a father?" "What?" "Do you think that man there has children?" "He doesn't look like a father I know the type" "Just like my father" "A saint in the house and a real prick outside" "Someone once said Are you Dildo's daughter?" "That was what they called him ' Dildo' I don't like riding the bus prefer taxis" "You should always take the bus, not a taxi" "The bus has a defined route with definite stops" "While a taxi can take any route then gets lost" "Why?" "That was in a letter my dad wrote to my mom saying he was tired of riding the same bus everyday and he'd decided to take a taxi" "But my mother took a taxi too, a space taxi" "She died when I was your age" "Get back to your seat I ' m Josue Fontenele de Paiva Paiva from my father" "Look at that The kid's fucking drunk!" " You drunkard!" " Hag!" "The old bag's drunk!" "If I were your mother I 'd let you have it!" "But you' re not you' re not related to me You' ll end up a drunk like your father" "Just like you!" "Why'd you come with me anyway?" "I wanted to help Hear that?" "I wanted to help you!" "Benemerecia!" "Ten minutes" "I ' m with my nephew who's meeting his father in Bom Jesus do Norte" "This is as far as I go, however" "Could you make sure the boy gets to this address?" "I don't know, it's complicated What if something happens to him?" "Wait a minute" "This is for you Go on." "Please take it" " A ticket for Rio - sixty bucks" "You should have stayed on that bus" "You were right you' re better off without me" "I 'd arranged everything for you" "Why don't you want to leave me now?" "If you want to talk I ' ll be over here" "Where's your backpack?" "Where is it, kid?" "Don't tell me you left it on the bus!" "Can I get a refund for my ticket?" "I can't refund your money The bus to Rio just left" "What some?" "No, thanks" "Thank you" "Here, help me out I can't eat all of this" "You don't look well lt's my heart it's suddenly sped up" "With your little finger press in time to your heartbeat" "Like this?" "Going to Bom Jesus to fulfill a vow regarding the boy?" "Yeah, talk about a vow!" "Where do you live?" "Here" "And your wife?" "Here we go again!" "Why do you always ask that?" "I ' m married to the road I have no family" "So you' re like her" "I 've got to unload I ' ll be about 20 minutes" "Give the man a hand, Josue" "Nice to see you, Mr Bene!" "I ' ll get the other one" "Long time no see!" "You can stay here" "The boys and girls of today are being converted at a young age" "They' re a generation raised in the values of Christ I always see them in church now wherever I go" "There's a Reverend who's been inspiring them" " What've you got?" " Let's go eat in the truck" "Put it in my bag!" "Right now!" "I ' ll take it back" " Why?" " Go on lf your father knew he'd thrash you!" "Want to go to jail?" "Put that in here and go wait for me in the truck!" "I ' ll try my best to bring that Reverend here in two weeks" "We' ll see what he can do for the youngsters in our parish" "Ma'am !" "May I see what's in your bag?" "let me see what's in your bag" "She's a friend, Mr Bene" "Well, let's see what's in the bag And the matter's settled" "Bene, even though we' re friends and we' re brothers in faith I won't let you humiliate a woman I know, my friend" "Okay, it's all right I must've been mistaken" "Thank you!" "Don't you want to get anything?" "There's nothing worth buying here" "Don't you ever do that again" "Look what I got with the money I had left I even had enough to buy this" " You didn't have any money left - l did so." "Here, eat this" "Liar!" "What?" " you stole even more" "Show some respect I could be your mother" "My mother wouldn't steal or drink like you" "Right, your father was the one who drank" "No!" "he built the house and he can make anything out of wood" "Your father was a drunkard Know what that is, a drunkard?" "You' re a liar and so ugly no one will marry you!" "You look like a man don't even paint your face" "You' re not like Irene" "Even with tons of paint on her face she didn't marry" " You should always steal sausage - l hate sausage" " Would you like some?" " No, thanks I ' m sorry about what happened back in the store Mrs" "Dora." "But I liked Joana" "Have some" "Mr Bene is a good guy but he tends to be suspicious" "The boy wants to be a trucker when he grows up" "Then you' ll have to carry a lot of flour" "To buy a truck like this, you think it's cheap?" "I want a huge one with a turbo engine" "Could you let the kid get behind the wheel?" "Sit over here Careful now don't hit the accelerator" "It can get cold here in the Sertao" " Dora!" " Coming!" "Where are you from?" "I ' m from Vitoria de Conquista I feel like I 've changed my life ten times over" "The downside is that you meet many people and then you never see them again" "You two, for example" "We' ll probably never see each other again" "We don't have to lose contact I ' m cold!" "I ' m coming!" "Excuse me" "In Rio, I had two girlfriends" "Did you know that in Rio all women have sex before marriage?" "All of them" " What' ll you have?" " We' re just keeping him company" "Not at all I insist on treating you" "Make that three portions And I ' ll have water What about you?" "A beer" "And your son?" "A coke" " What do you do, Dora?" " l was an elementary school teacher" "No, she's a letter writer She makes money writing letters for people" "After I retired I started doing that to help make ends meet" "Don't you like table football?" "Go play, kid!" "No, I can't have any I ' m an Evangelist" "I ' m sure He's not watching you up there" "I ' m really glad I missed that bus" "Really glad" "Listen, I ' ll be back in just a second" "Could I borrow your lipstick?" " lt's almost finished, keep it" " Thank you" "Why did Cesar leave?" "Don't you have an answer to that like you usually do?" "He got scared He's one of those queer men" "No..." "Heisn't" "You look a lot prettier with lipstick on lt's a truck!" "hurry up!" " Good afternoon" " Afternoon." "You wouldn't be going to Bom Jesus?" "I am, but it's far it' ll cost you ten bucks per person" "My mother taught me that" "Want some?" "No, thank you" " Yes, thanks" "Sure, you' re a growing boy How many under the belt?" "I ' m nine." "At that age, I could've eaten a whole cow" " Have some, it's good" " No, got too many under the belt" "Too bad" "Mom always said dad would show me the Sertao one day" "I wonder where she is now?" "Do you think they gave her a decent funeral?" "Come on, come with me" "Put your mother's handkerchief there" "Are we going to my father's house?" "Yes, Are you happy?" "What's the matter?" "Don't tell me you've changed you mind I don't want him to see me all dirty like a beggar" "Your father will like you Josue, Don't worry" " The problem is, will you like him?" " l do like him" "Listen!" "Your father's not the person you think he is" "You don't know him he built our house I know!" "I know all that by heart You' ll soon be with your father lf you like, I can ask if you can stay with us for a few days" "Do you know where this is?" "Go on, Josue" "Ma!" "There's a boy here" "Anybody there?" "Yes?" " Does Jesus live here?" " Yes..." " Would you like to see him?" " He's gone out" "But he' ll be back You can wait if you like" "She's here to see your husband" " Did you offer her coffee?" " No, thanks." "Could I know why you want to see my husband?" "I ' m sorry I can only tell him" "Your friends have been waiting to see you I 've come from Rio I must talk to you in private" "Okay Maria, mother please excuse us" "Go on, boy!" "Get out!" "Tell me." "I 've brought this boy to you." "His mother died He's got no one else but you now" "What's your relation to him?" "We' re not related." "Why did you bring him here, then?" "Let's just say we' re friends ls he a good boy?" "Yes, He's a good boy." "This letter is for you." "That's not me I ' m Jesse The letter's for Jesus who used to live here." "Wait a second, Here this is his new address in the new settlements" "He won a house in the lottery and so he sold this one" "But let me tell you He drank it away, house and all" "Dora!" "Everything okay?" "Did you send the money like I asked?" "Yes, the money's already there in Bom Jesus da Lapa." "Bom Jesus where?" "Isn't it da Lapa?" "I found no truck to get away from this godawful pilgrimage" " Where are we going?" " To hitch a ride on the road." " We' re walking?" " Yeah, walking!" "Hell!" "Whit did I ever do to God to deserve this?" "I ' m hungry." "You think you' re the only one?" "What about me?" "We've no money, no food nothing left!" "Understand?" "What's should we do?" "I don't know." "your parents should never have had you." "Now it's me who has to put up with you." "Where are you going?" "Come back!" "Come back here!" "Josue!" "Josue!" "Josue!" "Josue!" "Josue!" "Oh!" "God Josue!" "Josue!" "Thank you!" "Thank you, Jesus" "Here I am, Lord I beg of you I ' m praying with all my heart I ' m a Franciscan from the bottom of my heart" "Bless my people!" "Bless my pilgrims I ' m a sinner, Jesus!" "For the blood of Christ" "Look at the hardships I must bear!" "I suffer in my flesh my bone, my blood my body, like our Lord, Jesus Christ" "Protect me, mother!" "Bless me, mother." "Burn, Lord!" "Burn..." "Flood the darkness with light Lord!" "Let us keep away evil" "Josue!" "this is the carnival of Satan!" "He's down below jumping for joy!" "Hallelujah, brother!" "For a few coins, I ' ll tell your fortune I 've no more money" " You pay me what I deserve - l 've no more money" "You only pay if I deserve it." "What a pest!" "Where are you going, Josue?" "Sir, how much is a photo with the saint?" "lt's three bucks" "That much?" "That's the price" "Does it include a message to the saint?" "No, only the photo of you and the saint." "Don't want to it?" "Josue, what are you doing at this stall?" "Miss!" "She's a writer She' ll send the saint a message." "Can you?" "Only one buck!" "Letters!" "Send a letter home a message to a saint!" "Letters!" "Only one buck!" "Letters!" "Send a letter home a message to a saint!" "Letters!" "Only one buck!" " How much to send a message?" " One buck." " One buck?" " Two, if you want us to post it." "Holy shit!" "If it's okay, wait in line." "Letters!" "Send a letter home a message to a saint!" "Shall I start?" "Criseldinha, I 've come here from ltabaiana." "ltabaiana I walked all the way along the road." "I ' m fulfilling the vow I made to come here if Benicio agreed to marry me." "Thank you, Jesus for answering my prayers" "My husband has stopped drinking." "Leontina Emerentina, I am now the happiest man in the world." "How long has he been away?" "Four years." " You've had no news at all?" " No." "Love to mother Maria Adalgiza Bezerra." "Josefa Maria da Silva in Sao Bento do Una." "To my fiance, Joao Pedro da Silva, in Sao Paulo." "To our father Jose Alves da Silva" "Thank you, baby Jesus for answering our prayers." "Thank you for bringing us rain this year." "I came to Bom Jesus and set off ten colored rockets in you honor" "Sebastino." "Here you are." "Your letter" " Thanks" "We' re rich." "We can even eat." "Let's shake I ' ll shake you up!" "Come on, let's go!" "I ' ll get you this dress as a present." " For me?" " Yes, for you." " How much is it?" " Five bucks." "You' ll look much nicer in that dress." "No, don't do that." "Should we tear them up first?" "Give them to me." "I ' ll do something with them later." "Will we look for my dad tomorrow?" "Yes, there's a bus that leaves at lunchtime." " Good night, Josue" " Night, Dora." "Do you always go to bed like that?" "You don't expect me to sleep naked?" "Sleeping naked is much nicer." "Well, take off your clothes if you like I don't mind." "What?" "Are you embarrassed?" " you've never seen a woman naked - l 've seen loads" "Sure, your mother" "Not true!" "I 've seen other women." "Well, you might've seen but that's as far as it went." "I had sex with them" "Oh, you did?" "How did you do it?" "It's not something to discuss with women" "So I 've got a real man in my bed!" "How long will it take to get there?" "Stay here, I ' ll be right back." "Dora!" "The bus!" "It's packed." "Could you tell me where F street is?" "Hey, you!" "Where's F Street?" "That's the new street, the paved one" "lt's that way" " Thanks" "They' re all the same" "Yeah, you' re right" "Did your mom have your dad's photo?" "Yes" "Do you think you can remember his face?" "Sometimes I can remember but then it gets blurry" "I forget my father's face, too" "Damn photo shouldn't be there to remind us" "We should be able to forget I left home at sixteen and never saw my father again I froze them found the courage to go up to him" "Remember me?" "I said Do you recognize me?" "I could see he hadn't recognized me" "He didn't recognize his own daughter" "He said:" "How could I have forgotten such a lovely girl like you?" "I heard he died soon afterwards" " You understand?" "What did I do?" "You' ll soon forget me, too -l don't want to forget you" "Even so... youwill" "Mr Jesus!" "Jesus doesn't live here anymore." " Do you know where he lives?" " No." "Vanished into the wilderness, no one's heard from him since." "So he' ll never come back?" "I don't think so I ' ll wait for him." "It's no use, Josue He's not coming back." "Why don't you come with me?" "I 'd really like that, kid I really would" "Let's go." " The father's vanished" " What are you going to do?" "I can't leave the boy here on his own." "Of course not." "You know him he's really a good kid." "Are you coming home with him?" "l ' m not sure what to do" "What do you mean?" "I 've made so many mistakes in Rio you know that, Irene" "So what are you going to do?" "Listen, I want you to sell my fridge and my sofa..." "The TV?" "Yeah, sell the goddam TV." "What are you going to do?" "When I ' m settled somewhere I ' ll call you" "Tow tickets back to Bom Jesus" "Not till tomorrow morning" "What about somewhere else?" "Nothing till tomorrow This is the end of the world here" " How do I get out of here?" " Tomorrow." "Are you looking for my father?" "Your father?" "Yes, Jesus. I was told some strangers were looking for him." "Do you know him?" "I ' m a friend of his." "What a coincidence meeting his son." "Not really given the size of this place." "Nice to meet you. I ' m lsaias." "Nice to meet you, Dora" "Are you visiting?" "Well, I was in the area and I remembered an old friend" "Then you must come to the house for a bite." "I insist..." "You're not going to refuse me." "And who's this?" "What's your name?" "Geraldo." "Geraldo, Mrs Dora, please." "I insist." "Come" "Geraldo." "Know what a tongue twister is?" "No" "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. ." "Now you say it" "Peter pecked a pick of paper" "What a dope!" "This is where me and my brother moved after father left." "Moises!" "Guests from far away!" "Moises, this is Mrs Dora," "Hello" "Hello" "Mrs Dora, how long is it to get here?" "lt depends on the way you come" "Moises is dying to see Rio They say it's nice, but full of crooks" "You find crooks everywhere" "We took this land and are squatting on it and put in this carpentry workshop" "Moises grinds away here all day long He's even better than father now" "He can make tables chairs, everything" "We even sell things to the capital" "Go on, Geraldo You can get closer" "Hey, the kid plays pretty well!" "No praise, his head is already big enough!" "I play okay it's just that they' re lousy!" "Give it to her--- She can read it for us" " What's she got to do with it?" " She's dad's friend" "Then I ' ll get it." "All right, get that damned letter." "This came six months ago from dad to Ana Fontenele" "She was the woman he was with after mother died" "Nine years ago Ana Fontenele took off to Rio" "She was expecting our little brother" "Dad waited two years for her to come back" "For dad to leave a bottle half empty something serious must have happened" "He just vanished but it was better for us" "We saved money" "Don't say that, Moses - l will say it!" "He's an okay guy." "Okay?" "I ' m going to ask her to read it" "Yes, ask her lt's a letter to Ana not to us" " Dad never cared about us" " But Ana never came back," "You don't mind reading it to us, do you?" "Not at all." "So?" "It says where he is?" "Go on, read it." "Ana," "My misfortune." "It was hard to find a letter writer to tell you you went back and found our new little house, while I ' m here in Rio looking for you" "I hope I get back before this letter, but if it arrives before me, wait for me I ' ll be coming home, too." "The letter arrived six months ago." "He's been held up." "I left Moises and Isaias to look after things" "To look after things?" "Ana, I may work in the mines for a month before coming home but I ' ll be back." "Please wait." "Then we' ll all be together me, you, Isaias, Moises" "and Josue" "You' re a bad-tempered mule" "but I 'd give all I have to see you again." "Forgive me--- lt's you and me, for life" "Jesus." "He' ll be back." "No, he won't." "Yes, he will, one day." "Did my father really say?" "He wanted to meet me?" "Of course he did I know he didn't" "I fixed up dad's bedroom for you, Mrs Dora." "Thank you." "Tongue twister, boy" " Again?" "How now brown cow Say five times very quickly" "How now brown cow" "You dope!" "Dora!" "Josue!" "I haven't sent a letter to anyone for a while but I ' m sending you this one now." "You were right Your father will come back, I remember riding with my father in his train I was a little girl" "When you' re driving down the road in your big truck remember that I was the first person lt will be better for you to stay with your brothers" "If you miss me one day look at the picture we took together" "I ' m telling you this because I ' m afraid you too may forget me I long for my father" "I long for everything." "Dora"