"Farewell, shadows who pretend before my deadened senses to be body and voice, when thou possess not a body." "For, I know now the truth, that life is but a dream." "CALDERON DE LA BARCA" "Go to Comala, Juan." "That's where your father lives." "I shall do that, Mother." "Don't ask him for anything." "Demand what is rightfully ours." "What he should have given me." "And never did." "Make him pay dearly for having forsaken us, son." "I will." "You must go see him." "He'll be happy to know you." "His name is Pedro Paramo." "Mother." "All your life you missed Comala." "Yet, you never went back." "Where are you going?" "I'm going down, sir." "Do you know a place called Comala?" "That's where I'm headed, sir." "What takes you to Comala?" "I'm going to see my father." "Oh." "He'll be glad to see you." "Nobody's been down here for so long." "What does your father look like if I may ask?" "I don't know him." "I only know his name:" "Pedro Paramo." "See all that land?" "It belongs to Pedro Paramo." "In the meantime, we are born on a mat." "Is there any water around here?" "Yes." "Here you go." "But it's old water." "What happened here?" "A roadrunner passed by." "That's what they call those birds." "I was only asking about the village." "It looks so sad." "Like it's deserted." "Sign of the times, sir." "Well." "I live further down." "If you're staying, look for Mrs. Eduviges Dyada." "If she's still alive, tell her I sent you." "Where can I see Pedro Paramo?" "All over the place." "Pedro Paramo is pure resentment." "Who are you?" "Abundio." "I'm also Pedro Paramo's son." "Comala, my town." "Rising over the plain like a coin box where we keep our memories." "You'll find my affection there, son." "A town that smells of freshly baked bread and spilt honey." "Where did you send me, Mother?" "To the place I once loved." "Where I would like to live for all eternity." "Good evening." "Come in." "She didn't tell me until now." "Who?" "Doloritas." "She told me you were coming today." "Who?" " My mother?" " Yes." "I'm Eduviges Dyada." "Come in, Juan Preciado." "The house is a royal mess." "The people who went away meaning to return kept their belongings here." "Then, they seemed to forget about the town." "But here's the room that I was saving for you." "I keep it tidy in case somebody comes." "I'll fix your bed tomorrow." "You need some rest." "And sleep is an excellent mattress." "Who told you about me?" "The muleteer who brought me over." "A character named Abundio." "The good Abundio." "So, he still remembers me!" "I used to tip him for each passenger." "A great conversationist." "But that ended." "He became deaf, and decided not to speak things he couldn't hear." "The man I saw could hear." "It probably wasn't him." "Besides, Abundio is dead." "They're all the same." "You give them everything, and they leave you with the pain." "I'm thirsty." "Is there any water, Mrs. Eduviges?" "Your mother, did she ever mention me?" "All she said was..." ""You must see him"." "He'll be happy to know you." "Who?" "My father." "Pedro Paramo." "Do you know him?" "Of course." "He went to Half Moon today." "Looking so handsome in his English suit." "Come in, Fulgor Sedano." "Shucks, Pedrito." "Last time I saw you, you were this tall." "Sit down, Fulgor." "We can relax and talk." "I rather stand, Pedro." "Suit yourself." "But don't forget the "mister"." "So, how's the land?" "Not good." "There's nothing left." "We sold the last head of cattle." "Mr. Pedro." "I've been the administrator for so long." "I know what needs to be done." "What about the San Juans?" "Have they come into town?" "No way." "They're probably at the mines." "You shouldn't worry about the people who are gone but about the ones who are here." "We owe money to everybody." "The Arias, the Preciados, the Guzmans." "Why?" "Because there's no way to pay." "Why's that?" "Because your family borrowed and never paid back and they used everything up." "However..." "Somebody's interested in the remaining land." "Although at a lower market price." "Are you talking about yourself?" "How could you believe that?" "I believe in holiness." "We'll address our issues later." "I understand that we owe the greatest amount to Mrs. Doloritas Preciado." "What assets does this Mrs. Doloritas have?" "Well, you know." "The middle ranch." "Tomorrow, you'll ask for Lola's hand." "How could she ever want me?" "You'll ask in my name." "You'll say that I'm deeply in love with her." "While you're at it, notify the preacher." "I really enjoy working for you, Mr. Pedro." "It's true Sedano, I love her." "It's her eyes, you know." "Oh, and go ahead and ask her for a loan." "Forgive me for blushing." "I never thought Mr. Pedro fancied me." "Comala is filled with pretty girls." "He can't sleep just thinking of you, Dolores." "There's nobody else." "Let's set the date for the day after tomorrow." "Isn't that rather soon?" "I have made no arrangements." "I must order the trousseau." "Let's see, today is the first." "On the eighth, yes." "Ask him to wait a few days." "He would do it right now." "Besides there's something else on those days." "Oh, how embarrassing." "Women things." " You know." " So what?" "Marriage is all about loving." "The rest isn't important." "You don't understand, Mr. Fulgor." "I do." "The day after tomorrow." "Father Renteria has been advised." "And the judge has been notified that you will keep joint assets." "Eight short little days." "Father Renteria wants 60 pesos for overlooking the paperwork." "He says you're a known heretic." "You haven't paid your tithe since your mother died." "Did you ask Dolores for an advance?" "No, boss." "I didn't want to break her joy." "You're such a child, Fulgor." "Well, you can hire all the hands we need." "I have here a young girl to look after you." "Damiana Cisneros, at your service." "But we can't pay them." "And we still have the Toribio Aldrete affair." " What affair is that?" " Borderlines." "He put up a fence and wants us to finish off the remaining area." "Land has no divisions." "He measured his property correctly, I saw him." "Tell him he made a mistake." "Tear down the fence if necessary." "What about the laws?" "What laws?" "From now on, we are going to be the law." "By the way..." "Tell me, Fulgor." "Who murdered my father?" "To tell the truth, boss nobody knows for sure." "But as soon as he died all the buzzards fell upon his property." "Then, we can say that Comala killed him." "The whole town of Comala." "Isn't that so?" "Shucks, boss." "Let's celebrate the wedding." "We wouldn't want innocent people to pay." "Hurrah for the bride and groom, hurrah for the bride and groom." "Cheers, boss, congratulations." "Hurrah, boss, cheers." "Cheers, boss, cheers." "Cheers, boss." "Congratulations, cheers." "Any blanket can keep you warm if you wrap it properly." " Do you know who his mother is?" " No, Father." "Pedro Paramo brought him and said:" ""This is my son Miguel"." ""Take care of him while he's young."" "With that blood running in him, let's hope he's baptized." "Just in case, I'll smuggle him to be ointed with Holy Water." "Maybe now there will be peace, maybe now." "Let's pray, Father Renteria that we don't die before confession." "To you, to your happiness." "I hope we get along like I did with your father." "My father is dead, Toribio Aldrete." "You have to make new agreements with me." "Why?" "Isn't my word good enough?" "Did he make a mistake in his calculations?" "I'm certain, he miscalculated." "You see, Aldrete?" "You invaded my land at Half Moon and took over Vilmayo hill." "Where my father was killed." "I'm too much of a man for your treachery, Pedro boy." "As far as your father his ambition and cruelty brought on his death." "You can't blame anyone." "I can, and I will very soon." "She must be having nightmares, she can't rest." "Sometimes she doesn't dream at all, that's the problem." "Remember I cured you when you stopped dreaming?" "That's why I called you." "As a dream weaver, that's your job." "Raise her fever like you did mine." "There you go, you swindler." "Don't wake up, I'm Saltaperico." "I'm here for you to get well." "Sleep, girl." "Sleep." "Dream." "Do you feel you have a fever?" "The moon is wicked tonight." "And your future, well, it doesn't look very good." "Let's see, Fulgor." "Let's see, let's see." "Tomorrow." "Tomorrow you're on commission with Aldrete." "You're going to file a complaint against him for usufruct." "Or whatever you come up with." "That won't be easy, Mr. Pedro." "Like I said..." "I want to recover the Vilmayo lands." "The other landowners will get upset." "And then one day you'll end up stiff." "Just like your father." "Let's take this on, Fulgor." "Let us suppose that Aldrete killed my father." "There's no harm in supposing, Mr. Pedro." "But Aldrete is no chicken." "He's got more guts than you and I together." "Oh, Eduviges." "You go instead of me." "Where?" "To see Pedro Paramo." "Saltaperico said I shouldn't be with a man tonight." "I can't, Dolores." "It's got to be you." " He'll know." " No." "In the dark, he won't notice." "Go on, do it for me." "I'll repay you." "Now, go on." "It's a new day." "What did he do to you?" "I don't know yet." "Usufruct." "Usufruct." "Look, Mr. Toribio." "Signature this document and I assure you'll continue to enjoy your physical and mental abilities for many years." "With this paper." "Half for you." "Half for me." "You and I." "We'll fix this." "How about it?" "Because my borders are correctly marked." "No." "You know it." "Remember." "I'm following orders." "Look, look." "You." "You're talking to me this way, Mr. Fulgor not on your own account but because of the power backing you up." "Board off that door, Viges." "He won't be heard from again." "Ever." "He behaved like a chicken." "The power backing me up." "Well." "As if Fulgor Sedano didn't have what it takes." "By the way..." "What's your mother?" "As soon as the fevers hit Sayula she left us in a breath." "Poor Doloritas." "No wonder her voice was so weak." "As if she had traveled a long way to get here." "Maybe that's why you're so pale." "I'm tired, Mrs. Eduviges." "Do you have anything to eat?" "I must have something." "Yes, sonny." "There must be something left of the provisions I'm about to send to the miners at Andromeda." "That's where the San Juans are." "Susana, get over here." "Get a bath of regal water, if you can." "Start gathering the portions for the main house." "What's the news in Comala?" "There is none, Mr. San Juan." "It's dead down there." "I prefer the Greater Coast." "Where people are more noble and less afraid." "Not really." "People everywhere have rotten souls." "We have to send provisions to the labor store." "We have to reinforce the southern gallery at Andromeda." "Go to the mines, that's your place." "Whatever you say, Mr. San Juan." "You're back early from the mine." "I don't feel like working." "You're growing up, Susana." "Girls here become women all of a sudden." "What would you like, Father?" "I'm very lonely." "But that's all right." "You're slender and strong." "Get dressed." "You have to help me." "Notify me when you're on the ground." "Tell me if you see something." "I can't see anything, Father." "Give me that, Susana." "It's a skull." "Look beside it, whatever it is." "Money." "Gold circles, look for them, Susana." "There aren't any, I can't see anything." "I'll have to go down myself." "How long ago did your mother die?" "What brought that up, Father?" "You're..." "Just like her." "When she was young, when I met her." "Susana." "Your body felt so good on the hot sand." "Florencio." "It had to be you." "Only with you." "Always with you." "I like you better at night." "Under your sheets." "I like it better in the sea." "Look." "Florencio's funeral." "They say a roof caved in on him at the gallery." "Yes, that's what they say." "They're taking him to a shaft." "There are other dead people there." "Poor people who don't leave any gold behind." "He asked for it." "They should have buried him at sea, Bartolome." "Mrs. Doloritas." "Have you ordered my breakfast yet?" "Mrs. Doloritas." "It's so late, ma'am." "I can't waste time like this." "Eat." "This dish is cold, cold and insipid like you." "My sweetheart gave me a handkerchief." "Let's go up." "My sweetheart in my world shall be by my side." "Come on." "What of my father dies of anger?" "He's so old..." "You're pretty." " You're young, you'll have it all." " Wait a bit, Mr. Pedro." "Come on." "My father won't be alive much longer." "You're shaking." "Your heart is going to come out of your mouth." " Susana." " Margarita, boss." "Susana." "Where is your body?" "Florencio." "Stay." "Embrace me like that." "Strong." "Like in the ocean." "Susana." "Open up for your father, Susana." "Can't you hear me, you wretch?" "Yes Bartolome, I heard you perfectly." "Why are you always sighing, Doloritas?" "I wish I was a buzzard so I could fly to my sister's." "You can go this minute." " That's all I needed." " What's this?" "God help us." "Damiana." "Leave that, and go to Sayula with the lady." " Help her with the delivery." " So long, Mr. Pedro." "You'll call me back one day." " Damiana, do you want to return?" " Me?" " I do, Mr. Pedro." " Then, return." "Bye, Mrs. Doloritas." "I'll send your things tomorrow." "You'll feel better at your sister's." "And you can sigh all day." "Martin, Cacarizo, go with them." "We'll need a lady at Half Moon, Mr. Pedro." "What we need is something else." "Like the Fregosos lands the Guzman's ranch, the Pinzon's corral." "They were the plunderers." "Taking from thieves isn't stealing." "Watch your tongue, Fulgor." "Once all the land is mine remind me that there is still something else I want." "Salaries will be doubled by decree." "You'll work eight hour shifts." "From now on, the mine belongs to the nation." "Hurrah for General Obregon." "Long live the Western section!" "Long live Iturbe and Obregon!" "Hurrah for Iturbe and Obregon!" "Boss, shall we kill the administrator?" "Leave him there, let's see if he can dig." "Pedro Paramo never loved your mother." "All he thinks about is Susana, and she's insipid." "Show me the way to get to my father." "All roads lead to Heaven." "And only I know the shortcuts." "I haven't the strength for anything else." "Oh, dear." "Is it you, Mr. Eduviges?" "Mrs. Eduviges." "Where are you?" "Were you scared?" "The mules are ready, I'm leaving." "To the Greater Coast this evening." "The soil is good there." "Pity they don't belong to one man." "If the cornfield yields, we'll pay him at harvest time." "It's his life or mine, but he won't get away with it." "Requiescat in pace amen, brother-in-law." "Just in case, the dead don't return, unfortunately." "Damn him." "He deserves it more." "What about the rapes?" "I'll be damned, that son of a gun of your boss." "Comala, my town, where dreams weakened me." "Life there is aired as if it were nothing but a murmur." "Yes, Mother." "You can hear the murmur." "Shouts, echoes." "But I can't find anyone at your town." "This way you'll hear me better." "I'll be closer to you." "You'll find the voice of my memory and of my death." "If death ever had a voice, that is." "He spent his nights with me until that girl soaked up his brain." "You should be happy you're having a fair son." "Mr. Pedro, he'll always be a ladies man." "What have you been searching for, boy?" "Hey, you." "Who are you looking for?" "I'll go with you, you don't need to force me." " I can't." " Yes you can." "What does a woman mean, after all?" " Are you leaving me alone tonight?" " Perhaps." "Little mule, don't go while I tighten the belt." "The first time hurt so much." "We had to populate this poor town somehow." "My sweetheart gave me handkerchief." "Sweetheart, you're in my world, I wish I was your eyes." "Excuse me, madam." "I'm not a madam." "They used to call me Miss Renteria." "Now I'm Anita, the old maid." "Are you from these parts?" " Do you know Pedro Paramo?" " Yes." "I'm the priest's niece." "I heard you were lost, come in for a rest." "Thank you." "At the house where I was staying I heard shouts, as if somebody was being murdered." "Must be an echo that got pent up." "That's where Eduviges Dyada hanged herself long ago." "They boarded up windows and doors until she dried up." "I don't know how you went in there." "Mrs. Eduviges let me in." "Poor Eduviges, she must still be grieving her desperation." "But come in, Juan Preciado." "This is my room." "I'm thirsty." "Is there anything to drink here?" "Let's see if there's any mass wine left over." "It's the best there is for tremors." "Nothing." "There is never anything." "When will you get some rest?" " What's wrong, Miss Ana?" " It's Red." "Galloping down the road to Half Moon." " Is somebody coming?" " No." "It's only Miguel's horse..." "I can't hear any noises made by a horse." " Who's Miguel?" " Another one of Pedro Paramo's sons." "Another?" "They're all Pedro Paramo's offspring." "But he only acknowledged the motherless one." "Our Father, stand up, Satan." " You shall die, you shall die." " Help, help!" "Miguel is going to cause a lot of trouble." "Let him be, he's come of age." "You're entitled to your opinion, sir." "But that woman who came crying was truly inconsolable." "I offered her 50 shares of corn for her to forget the matter." " But she refused." " Who was it?" " Some poor people I don't know." " Don't worry, Fulgor." "To me, those people don't exist." "We have to push the Aldrete's cattle beyond what used to be the Guzman ranch." "What about the Guzman's cattle?" "Ease them over to the Pinzon's corral." "Hurry, a storm is approaching." "Let's go." " Yes, boss." " Let's get goin'." "Well, another good year for Half Moon." "When the grass grows, we won't have to feed the cattle corn, although there's enough." "All right, now." "Find Bartolome San Juan, tell him I need him." "Things are pretty tough in those parts, Mr. Pedro." "It's rumored that the miner is lost on the mountain." "Find the San Juans, and take my offer to the old man." "And my boss Mr. Pedro Paramo says you can live in Comala." "He'll even lend you a house." "Tell your boss I don't accept charity." "Carlos." "It isn't time for the ranch yet." "There's no work, the girl is alone." "She needs some distraction." "Don't worry, she has someone to distract her." "The veins are drying up." "Some things are more powerful than any metal in the world." "Like what?" "Well..." "Those dog-goned affections." "Those looks." "The desire." "And if you can't get rid of your desires you have to get rid of other people's." "Is this any way to live?" "There's no other." " Have a good trip." " Bye, boss." "Giddee-up, let's go." "Why are you hiding?" "I want to rest." "Only your blessed mother can rest." "Why do you recall her?" "What have we done, Susana?" " Why did our souls rot?" " Leave me alone, Bartolome." "Wait." "Let's see where you and I can get to together." "No." "I'll leave, I'll leave a thousand times until I die and you can't find me." "Father." "Are you calling me, Father?" "Father." "Bartolome." "Florencio." "Leave me alone." "Come." "Don't abandon me." "You know that only somebody who loves you more than I could take you away from me." "And there is no such person." "Where were you at these hours, boy?" "Milking cows." "You like to nurse on fine milk." "All kinds of milk are good, Mother Villa." "Especially when your father is the owner of every cow around." "Do I depend on my father?" "That's what they say." "Miguel Paramo is his own man." "And if you don't believe me..." " ..." "I'll prove it right now." " Let's see if you can." "The first person to walk by." "Alms, sir." "To pray for the dead." " Who are you?" " They call me Dorotea." "The Cuarraca." "And who's he?" "Was." "He used to be Mr. Timoteo Renteria." "Brother of the priest of Comala." " He was visiting." " Besides begging what do you do?" "I want a son, sir." "That's why I wander up and down the streets carrying this pain." "Good-bye, Dorotea." "Forget the dead man, and about the son maybe I can give him to you." "The deceased left a daughter behind." "They call her Ana Renteria." "Now she's going to be a temptation at the priest's home." "That's my Cuarraca, you must be broker." "My son would never kill anybody." "For that, you need kidneys this size." "Could be." "But Miguel is so violent and lives so fast that he seems to be racing against time." "Blame me for everything he does." "What's up, Cacarizo?" "Turns out that son of a gun Bartolome ripped up your promissory note." "And when I got back he was gone without a trace." "I think his miners ganged up." "You're going to look for Bartolome San Juan yourself." "If you're fond of your skin don't come back without him." "Fulgor Sedano." "Shucks, Mr. Pedro, you send me on some hard errands." "Stop crying, dear." "I came to tell you that your father wants to talk to you tonight before he loses his incarnation." "You know darn well that Miguel Paramo killed him." "Don't repeat the devil's rumors." "Miguel is a saint." "He's named after an archangel." "Believe me, Anita." "Leave me alone, Dorotea." "My father is dead." "And I'm so alone." "You know the things that penitent souls do." "Tonight." "At the graveyard." "If you still have your hopes up, that is." "It's Miguel Paramo, don't be afraid." " I came to apologize." " Let go of me, you monster." "Don't you know how to forgive?" "My uncle says you shouldn't hate anyone." "I'm getting married to you tomorrow." "If you're going to kill me, do it now." "Stay still." " Let me go." " Stay still!" " Let me go." " I'm going to embrace you to death." "I'm going to dive into your bones, Anita." "I've always loved you." "Oh, well, I'll be darned." "Those damned dreams." "That's the kind of love that makes us live more than we should." "Did you hear?" "That devil is on his way back." "I can't hear anything." "In that case, it's my sixth sense." "A God-given gift." "Only I know how much pain this has caused me." "What do you mean?" "I loved him many times." "Against my will." "And, on that night I was in bed when I heard his horse approach." "What's wrong?" "You have a terrible expression." "Something very strange happened to me." "Didn't you go to Sayula, to settle the paperwork?" "That was only an excuse I gave you." "The truth is the Cuarraca told me that the girl from Sayula was waiting for me." "But I couldn't find the road." "I looked all over." "But Sayula doesn't exist." "I came to tell you because you love me." " Anyone else would call me crazy." " Not crazy, Miguel." "You must be dead." "They told you that your horse would kill you." "I tried to get Red to jump over the stone wall that my father built on the road to Sayula." "I know I jumped and galloped away." "And I had my things ready to go away with you." "To tell the truth I didn't care about the sanctification anymore." "Listen, Anita." "I feel all broken up now." " All eaten-up inside." " Go away and rest in peace." "Your father will twist and turn in pain tomorrow." "I'm grateful for your having come to say good-bye." "But I hate you, Miguel Paramo." "Who is it?" "Miguel, Mr. Pedro." "What did they do?" "It wasn't anybody." "His horse killed him on the road to Sayula." "I'm starting to pay." "The sooner the better." "That way it's over faster." "Looks bigger than he was." "Father." "I want you to bless him for us." "No." "I won't." "He died in sin and he will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven." "I know you hated him, Father, and you had a right." "But forget all that now." "God won't like my interceding for him." "Have pity and forgive him." "Like God may have forgiven him." "Here." "Alms for your parish." "Leave me alone with him." "They are yours, Father." "He can buy salvation." "You know if this is the price." "As for myself condemn him, Father." "All right, Father." "You win." "Requiem Aeterna Dona Aeis Domine" "Requiescat in pace" "Glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, as in the beginning is now and shall ever be, world without end." "Amen." "Our Father who art in Heaven hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." "It's too much uproar for my deceased." "If he had been theirs, they wouldn't cry quite as much." "So, like they told me, they can have him." "My boss will protect you over at Half Moon." "And the lady." "How can you guarantee it?" "If my boss is as much of a man as I think he is who knows, he may even recover your mines." "Another one of his foremen." "Maybe we can return Andromeda." "And rest alone." "All right, Bartolome." "Fear not." "I'll always follow you." "Pedro Paramo is powerful." "We will have no salvation from here." "Yes, let's go to Comala." "To live in peace." "Pray three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys." "I absolve thee." "In nomine Patrii, et Filii et Spiritu Sanctii, Amen" "I confess to almighty God..." "Are you drunk?" "I was at Miguelito Paramo's wake." "I had one too many." "Why did you come to waste my time?" "This time I am with sin, Father." "And too many of them." "Well, go ahead and confess." "I can't cause him any harm so I confess it was me who brought him the girls." "To the deceased Miguelito." "You took them to him?" "Yes, sometimes." "Other times, I just arranged the encounter." "And others well, I would just give him instructions." "What shall I do with you, Dorotea?" "Look inside, try to forgive yourself." "I can't, Father." "But you can." "That's why I came to confession." " Where there many?" " Tons of them." "Imagine, even your niece Anita was involved in the mess." "You'll never know Heaven, Dorotea." "You won't even see it." "May God forgive you." "If the only door is that of hell I should never have been born." "Did you know he killed your father?" "What did you do to stop it?" "Nothing, Uncle." "He came and said he was sorry." "Let us give thanks to the Lord our God for taking him away from this town he hurt so much." "Even if He has him in His Glory now." "Did you grant Miguel Paramo forgiveness?" "What do we know about Heaven and hell?" "Prayers don't reach our stomach." "And it's Mr. Pedro who supports me." "Uncle." "What have you done with the strength of God?" "My father is gone." "Miguel is gone." "I didn't want to be alone so I went off to the Cristera war with my uncle." "All I did was learn foul language from the troops." "And I was shot in my temple." "But I asked Uncle, bury me in Comala." "Miguel's horse is still wandering about." "And the old son of a gun, may he rest in Glory, did it." "It's the first time anyone did anything for me." "Miss Renteria." "Ana." "Blessed Mary, pray for us, blessed Mary, pray for us." "Holy Virgin of Virgins." "Father, I confess that I slept with Pedro Paramo yesterday." "I confess that I had Pedro Paramo's child." "That I leant my daughter to Pedro Paramo." "Free us, Lord, from the spirit of fornication, free us, Lord." "Comala." "At dawn, the ears of wheat wave on the green plains." "And at noon, the fresh leaves of the trees brush the town square." "Father, I can't go on anymore." "Take me with you." "Get me out of here." "Come, I will guide you." "Climb up that slanted street, the Colimotes alley and you'll see the Half Moon light up the night." "That's where your father Pedro Paramo lives." "You took so long." "I got lost in the whispers." "Do you live here?" "I'm Damiana Cisneros." " And this is Half Moon." " Then you're the nanny my mother told me about." "Yes, I am." "I took care of you from your first day, Juan Preciado." "Come in." "Here we are, my boy." "Falling apart in this house that starts pressing down on us from every side." "Come in." "What brings you here?" "I'm looking for Pedro Paramo." "It seems he was my father." "I was brought by hope." "Hope?" "That can cost you dearly." "But it's only natural, son." "Only natural." "You'll have to see your father later." "At the moment he's busy with some men who just arrived from Half Moon." " Did both of them come?" " Yes." "Mr. Bartolome and his woman." "Could it be his daughter?" "By the way he treats her, I believe she's his woman." "Get yourself some rest, Fulgor." "Later we have to settle that matter with Galileo Arechiga who not only hasn't paid up, but says the land is his." "Welcome to Half Moon." "Thank you." "I appreciate your hospitality, I can pay you with work." "That was always my intention." "Good administrators are hard to come by." "That's why I insisted so much, Mr. San Juan." "Oh, yes that must be it." "Thank you, then." "There's nothing to thank me for." "We are both going to benefit." "I was told that you can recover the mines." "Andromeda has possibilities if we work steady." "However, I need people." "Everybody's at the rebellion." "Fulgor will be in charge of the men." "You, go to the mine." "See what should be done, and then come back." "I'll give you whatever you need." "Damiana." "Yes, Mr. Pedro." "Take the mistress to her quarters." "Doloritas' old room." "I'll show Mr. San Juan to his." "That's the river, isn't it?" "Yes." "That's where we met as children, and I learned to love you." "Do you remember?" "I'm not sure I want to remember." "I've spent a lifetime searching for you, Susana." "I waited until I had it all." "Everything a man can get, just to have you." "Now you'll be mistress of Half Moon." "Tomorrow you'll visit the whole ranch." "You'll see how large it is." "I've never loved any other woman." "And I'll love you forever." "Tonight I want to rest, Pedro." "I'll only ask one favor of you." "Don't let Bartolome come in here." "Lord." "You don't exist." "I asked you to protect him." "To take care of him for me." "That's what I asked." "But you only take care of souls." "And what I want from him is his body." "Susana." "I waited all my life for you." "Now we have to forget all the years I spent putting your name and face on every other women." "Then let me give you another body and another face when you come." "Don't ask for more." "Don't you know you're mine?" "Yours?" " Yours?" "What does that mean?" " Mine." "Susana belonging to Pedro Paramo." "To me and nobody else." "You'll never understand, I have my dream." "I want my sea." " What are you whispering?" " Never mind." "Come here." "Learn to remember me, come." "Learn to dream of me when I am alive again with my love." "You know, Fulgor..." "This is the most beautiful woman that ever existed." "I don't want to lose her again." "Do you understand, Fulgor?" "Tell her father I accept." "He may go back and continue to exploit the mines of Andromeda." "And I suppose it'll be easy to make the old man disappear over there." "Could be." "We need it to be." "She has to be... orphaned." "It isn't hard to do." "Well then, get going, Fulgor, get going." "What if she finds out?" "Tell me, just between you and I, who's going to tell her?" "Who?" "I'm sure nobody will." "Forget the "I'm sure" part..." "Forget it right now." "And everything will turn out fine." "You make me like it." "You make me forget the sea." "Everything." "Susana, open the door." "Why won't you let me in?" "I'm naked, father." "So what?" "I want to tell you that I'm returning to the mines." "I'll come back to get you as soon as I fix things." "We'll live over there forever." "But this time, protected and alone." "Alone, protected." "With you, Bartolome?" "Don't talk so much, and take care of yourself." "Remember that man is married and has had a load of women." "Yes, Bartolome." "Stop calling me Bartolome." "I'm your father." "As far as I'm concerned, that man is pure evil." "That's Pedro Paramo." "And I, who am I?" "You're my daughter." "Mine." " Daughter of Bartolome San Juan." " That's not true." "No, it isn't true." "Why are you denying me as your father?" "Are you mad?" "Of course I am, Bartolome." "Didn't you know?" "Is that you?" "Bartolome." "You're seeing things again, Susana." "I'm telling Mr. Pedro that I'm leaving." "I can't stand it." "You aren't going anywhere, wretched Damiana." "You'll never find someone who loves you as I do." "No, I won't go." "I'll always take care of you." "You poor little thing." "Stop crying." "I'll tell Pedro Paramo that you're very kind to me." "I'm crying because you're alone now, Susana." "I just got word that your father is dead." "Then it was him." "He came to bid farewell." "Who?" "Him." "He came from the sea." "He and I can only love each other in the sea." "Don't you understand?" "I hear him." "Go away, Damiana." "Leave me alone with him." "The land is mine." "Did you hear me, Galileo?" "You're kind of stupid." "After all these years, you still don't know Pedro Paramo?" "If I were you, I'd take my family and run." " Right, Terencio?" " Yes, Mr. Fulgor." "But we're not alone this time." "You'll see how long a rebel will last on these lands." "Perseverancio!" "Did you run out of laughter?" "Here we are, the revolutionaries." "And we've come for your boss' land." "Go and tell Pedro Paramo that we'll be seeing him there." "Who killed Fulgor?" "Some so-called revolutionaries." "They yelled:" ""Tell your boss we'll be seeing him." "Run."" "What are you waiting for?" "Tell them I'm here for whatever they want." "But first, go around by La Consagración." "Do you know Tilcuate?" "Tell him I need him on the double." "I'll do that, boss." "Those men are coming down the mountain." "They'll be here soon." "Other men?" "Is Florencio among them?" "Florencio, who?" "What are you talking about?" "They say nobody can love like Pedro Paramo." "That's what all the women say." "I've never been with Pedro Paramo." "Father forbade it before he left." "Oh, dear." "He goes into your room every night." "You think I don't know who loves me?" "You think I'm crazy, too." "Only in madness can a woman dream." "Say what you will." "You used to make me angry." "Now I know I'm here to take care of you." "You don't know anything." "Poor dumb Damiana." "How do you know it isn't true?" "I know that somebody is dreaming us up." "When they wake up, you and I and Pedro Paramo and the Half Moon will disappear like a nightmare." "And we'll all be dead." "Before we're even born." "So?" "Well that's all." "We're up in arms." "What more do you need?" "But, why?" "Hold on while we get instructions." "Then, we will find out the cause." " Anyhow, now we're here." " I know why." "We turned against the government because it's treacherous." "And against you, because we're tired of putting up with you." "How much do you need to make your revolution?" "Maybe I can help." "Let's see, Casildo." "About how much do we need?" "Well, off the top of my head I'd say fifty thousand wouldn't be bad for starters." "But, of course maybe you consider it too little." "Since you're so charitable." "I'm going to give you 100 thousand." " How many men do you have?" " Three hundred." "Well, I'll lend you three hundred more." "You'll have the money and the men in a week" "The money is a gift from me." "The men are just on loan." " Is that all right?" " Certainly." "There's just one problem." "We want the money right now." "Here's half." "You can collect the rest in a week." "It's been a pleasure meeting you, men." "Remember, if you don't keep your word you'll hear from Perseverancio." "That's my name." "You assure you, I'll remember." "Perseverancio." "The man named Pedro Paramo owns this area." "And we're up in arms to take the land from these feudal lords, right?" "Don't worry, Perseverancio." "First we'll take the money we need to buy rifles." " And overthrow the government." " And then what?" "Then, when we are the government we'll split the wretch's land to give them to the people who work it." "Tilcuate." "Who do you think their boss is?" "I guess it's that fat guy wearing glasses that didn't even look up." "No, Tilcuate." "You're the boss." "Or, don't you want to revolt?" "I can't wait." "Then, enlist 300 men of your trust." "And join those rebels." "By the way do you like Stone Gate ranch?" "I sure do." "From now on, it's yours." "Gee, thanks, boss." "But with or without this I'd join the revolt just for the fun of it." "Well, you know." "Try not to wander too far, in case any others come by." "They must see that the place is already occupied." "I'll be seeing you, Mr. Pedro." "How many birds have you killed in your life, Damiana?" "A lot, Susana." "Did it make you sad?" "Yes, Susana." "Then what are you waiting for to die?" "Death, Susana." "If that's all it'll come soon enough." "Don't worry." "Damiana." "Please, go cry somewhere else." "I heard you were defeated, Tilcuate." "And you gave in." "You were misinformed, boss." "My people are intact." "You see, some of my men opened fire on a platoon that turned out to be a whole army." " Villistas, you know." " Where are those from?" "From up North, they're taking everything." "They're powerful, nobody can deny that." "Join them." "I told you, you've got to be in the winning side." "I am, but we need money." "We're all relatives here." "We don't want to steal." "I already gave you some." "Why do you think you're there?" "Why don't you rob Sayula?" "It's full of rich folk." "Take some of it away, let them know you're not playing." "Anyhow, boss, I always get something good out of you." "Come on, boys, let's go to Sayula." "Follow him, men." "Father." "The lady has lost all direction." "She no longer wants to live." "What will become of my arms if they don't have your body to hold?" "What will become of my tender lips without your mouth to kiss?" "Susana." "Susana." "Is that you, Father?" "Yes, daughter." "Tell me." "Why are you here if you're dead?" "I'm here to comfort you." "Good-bye, Bartolome." "No, don't come back." "I don't need you." "I only came to prepare you for death." "Am I going to die now?" "Yes, daughter." "In that case leave me alone." "Don't take my dream." "How will I recover it later?" "Repeat after me and you'll fall asleep." "My mouth is full of soil." "Susana." "Look at me." " It's me, Pedro." " My mouth is full of soil." " Yes, Father." " Don't say yes, Father." "Repeat after me and you'll never wake up again." "Susana, listen to me." "My mouth is full of soil." "I'm swallowing foamy saliva." "My mouth is full of soil." "My mouth is full of you." "My mouth sinks twisting in grimaces." "Perforated by teeth that puncture and devour it." "My mouth is sinking, you hold me in your arms." "I dreamed of you since childhood, don't go." "I'm cold." "Hold me, I'll protect you." "We spent very happy moments at sea." "Since where were you dead that I never met you?" " I wonder what happened." " Mrs. Susana died." " Who died?" " The mistress." " Your wife?" " Pedro Paramo's." "The poor woman croaked." "Let's go to the racket, Saltaperico." "Before the cacique stops your provocation." "Come on, natives, let's make a racket." "Hurrah for life!" "There's no making them leave." "There's no way to make them understand it's a duel." "They hear the bells toll and think it's a holiday." "I'll cross my arms." "And Comala will starve to death." "Have you ever felt a corpse's moan?" "It's her, Susana San Juan." "A woman who was from out of this world." "She seems to be moaning." "There must be a reason." "Maybe Pedro Paramo made her suffer." "No." "Not really." "She was already hurting and crazy when he got her." "But he wanted her so badly that he stays there every afternoon looking at the road they took her away on." "While Comala becomes flooded in farewells." "Let everybody go." "Burn down the houses." "That way, only you and I will be left." "You left a long time ago." "Ever since then I've been dying every day." "Susana." "I asked you to return." "They say we end up forgetting all memories." "My heart is filled with love." "All I see is mud." "A heart drowning in black mud." "You know?" "I've been wishing for death." "That's what I've been doing." "To see if maybe I can cry a little bit like that." "Susana." "Together, we will see all the land." "The kingdom of the cacique Pedro Paramo." "You raped us." "You murdered us." "You stole from us." "You abandoned your children." "And Comala is dying of starvation and poverty." "Susana." "Come." "Come." "I'm cold." "I feel like I'm dying, Damiana." "Heavens." "It must be the three strikes of St. Pascual Bailon notifying someone that their time of death has come." "Damiana." "What are you doing?" "I'm asleep, boss." "Come here son, you're so pale." "Let's get our of this damned bedroom before it caves in from the earth tremors and catches me one day under its rubble." "What about my father?" "Where is my father?" "You saw me leave the door ajar for him." "But he never came back for me." "Pity." "Because he's a real man when it comes to loving a woman." "I'm going to say that he's leaving Miguelito fairly young." "Where will I go now to find him?" "You have but one road left, boy." "The one coming from Sayula and crossing the land, it's the farthest one." "Where does it go?" "To the graveyard, Juan Preciado." "I'm going back." "I have nowhere to go." "Half Moon is getting quite lonely now." "Damiana." "Nanny." "Nobody is as lonely as I am." "The day before yesterday Cuca Refugio was frolicking with me like a young mare." "And she died only yesterday." "The evil eye, the cold breeze, and other curses." "My Cuca Refugio." "There is nobody left in town to help anyone, Mother Villa." "They say there's new life on the other side of the mountain chain." "They are dividing the land and building schools for the poor." "Give me the pint that's left, Mother Villa." "I'll drink it beside my deceased." "Beside my Cuca Refugio." "Maybe all the bloodshed was to some avail, there is hope." "Go away from Comala, Abundio." "Go away now." "And don't forget to say good-bye to your father." "My father." "I don't know him." "Where are you, Juan?" "Here." "With your people." "You sent me to a lonely town to search for someone who doesn't exist." "Walking on this long night only to die for you." "Can't you hear me, Mother?" "Yes, son." "I am by your side." "Come closer." "Hug me." "Mother." " You taste of dust." " Come, Juan." "Come to my arms." "Your lap is so warm." "Rest." "You are no longer alone." "I couldn't find my father." "Pedro Paramo is never done dying." "Go see what that man wants." "Give me some charity so I can bury my wife." "Free us of our enemies' traps, Lord." "I've come for a bit of help to bury my deceased." "Father." "Who are you?" "Pedro Paramo's son." "I am Pedro Paramo's son." "I am Pedro Paramo's son." "We are all Pedro Paramo's sons." "Coming." "I'm coming." "Susana." "THE END"