"You're right, believe me, I'm also sad to leave this town where I taught for 25 years,... where my wife is buried and where Antonio was born, but it was necessary." "It's time to go, I have to give the signal." "Give it, man, give it." "I'd like to give it an hour late." "So wrecks would occur?" "Let's hope not." "Goodbye, my great friends!" "Who will now be my buddy?" "Well, Mr..." "Mayor?" "Bah!" "~ What do you mean by "bah"?" "~ Nothing." "Do your damned duty, Don Juan!" "~ Bon voyage!" "~ Bye, Don Juan!" "Bye, bye to everybody!" "You hate leaving the town, right?" "Things are always like this." "But you'll see, one day you won't regret it." "Look, the city we're going to is very large and beautiful,... and there are hundreds of cars,... huge palaces, trams --- understand?" "Yes, Dad." "Listen, come here." "Your Dad is doing this for you, to give you a future,... so you have a chance at life, but you won't talk with your Dad." "You think this is right?" "Sorry, Dad." "Look, it's hard to explain,... but each person is born with a destiny, you know?" "God, when a child is born, says "this will be a fisherman",..." ""this one doctor",..." ""and this one who's slightly chubbier, a cook."" "And for me, what did he say?" "He said you'll be a painter." "By the way, let me see the portfolio,..." "I'd really like to see what you've been drawing lately." "Here we go..." "Not bad, but..." "These fish, what kind are they?" "Sardines." "Then you're wrong, because the boat is very small, and they seem like sharks." "You're right, Dad." "And now you'll give up drawing and... begin to paint in oils." "Hang on, I'm going to give you something --- now where did I put it?" "Here it is." "This is the brush with which your father began to paint." "You got that?" "Save it, it's yours." "Thanks, Dad --- you'll teach me, right?" "Yeah, sure." "You, and all the other children." "I've sent the request to the Ministry." "Dad, what's our new house like?" "It's pretty, a little old but very nice." "And the school?" "Well, the school now, I'll show it to you, you'll see it." "See, it's in a very wide street." "This is the building, these are trees,... a fence, stairs,... a bit of grass,... this is the gateway... ~ And who are they?" "~ They're us." "Yes, very nice." "I had heard of you, but frankly, I did not think..." "In a province, we have free time." "And what are your plans?" "To create a painting class where all children can learn to paint... and develop their artistic qualities." "It is a very ambitious plan... but I am sure it will fly." "Hurry to submit your proposal to the Ministry." "Thank you, sir." "The fact is that I've done this already." "Good --- even better, but now we have few teachers, and you'll have to take a class in the general stream." "Yes, yes, fine, but, listen, let me ask you a favor." "It's my son --- I would like to have him in my class." "No problem." "Sorry, I thought you were alone." "Come in, Ma'am." "I'd like to introduce our new teacher, Mr. Juan Merino." "He'll also teach drawing." "Miss Luisa Martinez,... is doing her Ph.D. with us." "~ My pleasure." "~ Enchanted." "I think you may like to know his proposal for a painting class." "I warn you, Miss Martinez is opposed to innovation,... as you'll soon learn." "Headmaster, I'll head off to meet my class." "Do you need anything else?" "Nothing, thank you very much." "~ Miss..." "~ Goodbye." "Sit down, young lady." "Do you want to see this?" "Sit." "This is my son Antonio." "He will be your classmate." "Go find a seat." "~ My name is Pablo." "~ Hi, I am Antonio." "~ Is your father a tough nut?" "~ No." "~ I'm the janitor's son." "~ Great!" "Guys, I do not like making speeches, so I won't." "I'm still a stranger to you,... but in a few days, at least I hope,... we'll begin to know each other." "And now we go to work." "First lesson." "What do you want?" "Come here." "What's your name?" "It's a Russian name?" "Godofredo." "Go ahead." "Silence!" "No need to laugh." "Demosthenes also stuttered, and he became a great orator." "And how did he do that?" "He always kept a pebble in his mouth,... and so, little by little, he corrected this weakness." "Well, take out your books." "OK..." "Let's see..." "We'll begin with natural sciences." "And for that we won't need a comic book." "It's nice here, and this here and now..." "What's this damned suitcase doing here?" "We'll put it in the back." "Be careful not to crush a finger." "Don't worry, Dad." "You heard me?" "Mr. Merino, I'll buy some vegetables tomorrow." "I couldn't go to the market today, you see?" "I'm alone as the concierge." "Thanks, thanks anyway." "It just means that I'll cook today." "What, you cook?" "Sure, when there's no woman at home... one has to make do, as I have since the boy was two months old." "And how did you handle his nursing?" "With a bottle, of course." "Oh, I forgot, this card came." "Oh, it's from the mayor,..." "By the way, I'm expect a letter from the Ministry,... it's very important." "As soon as it arrives, give it to me..." "Well, don't worry." "But tell me what I owe you." "We'll do the accounts later." "Don't forget, it's very urgent." "Dad, do you like the way I hanged the picture?" "Not bad, now we we'll put this other one..." "Now where did I leave that hammer?" "I'm losing my memory with age and I forget everything." "You're right, but I'm young and I remember everything." "What are you getting at?" "You promised to take me to the park, Dad." "And it's such a fine day..." "You're right, son." "Well, you're right." "You know what we'll do?" "Let's leave all this and... head to the park." "Dad, and to the lake, too?" "To the lake, the park, and wherever you want." "Let's go." "Wait, wait, don't be impatient, and don't leave the sidewalk." "Give me your hand." "~ Bye, Clotilde!" "~ Bye, Don Juan!" "Bye, Antonio!" "~ Don't forget that letter!" "~ I won't." "Dad, look at the fountain!" "Can you see the fountain?" "Come on, Dad, it's best from here." "Yes, well, it looks better." "And when have I seen it before?" "We'll race to see who gets there first." "You're crazy if you think I'm going to run." "Dad, don't give me that!" "Wait!" "One, two, and three." "I came in first." "Yeah, because you started first." "What a race!" "Look, Dad, see at how we move in the water." "Careful we don't fall in." "~ Look, it's like a mirror." "~ I'll break it!" "You shouldn't, broken mirrors bring bad luck." "Oh God, what a race!" "Next time, instead of racing to see who arrives first at the fountain,... we'll have a contest to see who paints it better." "By the way, where's your brush?" "I've left it in the drawer of your desk at school." "Why?" "Well, because I wanted to paint the playground with trees, the chapel..." "OK, not a bad idea." "~ This hurts." "I can't breathe." "~ Then let's walk." "Wait, first you have to say goodbye to these gentlemen." "Bye, bye!" "Well, let's go." "Look, Dad!" "A box." "I see, pick it up." "Ah, but my back hurts so much..." "Your back hurts, and I'm 50 years old." "Do I have to do it?" "But there are pens in it." "Well, all more reason to pick it up, right?" "Come on, Dad, don't be like that, pick it up." "Ay, ay, ay." "The things I do!" "With the pain I have in the kidney... first running and then bending over..." "Well, let's see the pens." "Traitor!" "Now you'll see, I'll..." "Dad!" "Come with me to play football." "Come on, Dad, come on, I'm shooting from here." "Careful!" "Didn't you see that car coming?" "We must be vigilant, and not playing in the street." "Do you hear?" "You'll kill me with your carelessness." "And very important was the help that the brothers Pinzón... contributed to the discovery of America." "You may go." "Wait a minute, guys, wait." "I know it's time to go play with your friends in the playground,... but I must tell you one thing." "Starting tomorrow after recess... we'll play in class, a great and true football championship." "Calm down, boys, I'm going to explain." "Ours will be a championship without the ball." "Instead of ball, we'll play with the questions of the day's lesson." "We will form six teams with different colors." "And each team has four players and a captain." "Regulations will be those governing the national football championship and... at the end the team with most points will be the winner." "When you return from recess in half an hour,..." "I'll explain the details." "Today's contest will be on today's lesson, on geography." "More specifically, on Egypt." "But if any of you are not prepared,... bone up during the break." "And now, you can go." "Dad, you're the best teacher in the world." "And you, the most holy and good son on Earth." "And you, the biggest father of the universe." "Yes, you may be right." "It's time I did something about my weight." "Come on." "What's up with you guys?" "You're still studying?" "You don't want to play today?" "We are preparing for a football championship." "Good morning." "Please be seated." "I think that Miss Luisa has to make an objection." "Although officially not part of the teaching staff of this school,... the Ministry has granted her the privilege of attending our meetings." "And she can even express her opinion in relation to our educational system." "Miss Luisa, you have the floor." "I have a question for Professor Merino." "Certainly, young lady." "I've heard a football tournament has been organized in your class." "Can you please explain this?" "Yes, look, Miss." "I've noticed that children in the city,... are distracted by certain things, not always appropriate to their age,... and that most of the time, are often more harmful than recreational... like cinema, radio, television,... sports, comic books,..." "I thought I can use... let's say, one of these drawbacks, the healthiest and longest-lived,... to generate their best performance." "Very original." "Tell me, in your class, you'll let the children play with a ball?" "They do not play with a ball, they play with questions,... about the lesson of the day, and these serve as the ball." "Could you explain further, please?" "Yes, this is a true championship game,... and finally, the team that gets more points, is awarded the cup." "Sorry, what cup?" "The cup, as in real matches." "As you can see, this is something new in education,... if you can call it teaching." "I know only that children know the lessons,..." "I'm glad to hear them, and with all the details." "And what book on teaching methods inspired this approach... to change the rules of a school... with this championship?" "No book, Miss." "Let me tell you, to teach it is not necessary to memorize... books full of texts and the law of teaching." "True pedagogy is learned in life." "If I may?" "Wait, sorry, I'm not finished." "I'll explain." "It's the first time that I have taught in a city... because I've always practiced my profession... where children who go to school, often walk many miles in the rain,... and sometimes even in the snow." "Also, in the evening, they often work at home or on farms." "With them is where you learn pedagogy, and how to understand them." "Ladies and gentlemen,... there exists in every human being the innate trait of emulation,... the will to compete and overcome,... and children have precisely this trait... which must be used, as a teaching tool... by giving them joy in learning,... to feel better about themselves and their peers." "But here we're in the city." "Here, it's another story." "But children are the same everywhere,... isn't that what the textbooks say, Miss?" "OK, I think the best we can do is to watch one of these games." "If you think so, tomorrow morning after recess." "OK." "Tomorrow morning after recess." "Good morning." "Goal!" "Jorge!" "What did Philip II say when he was given the news... that the Armada had been destroyed by a storm?" ""I haven't ordered my army to fight the elements,..." "I have sent them to fight men."" "For José: who was the character who famously said..." ""I neither hurt nor help the king, except as it helps my lord"?" "One." "Two." "He has forgotten." "And three." "Rubens Beltran wrote it." "Goal!" "Another point in favor of the blue team." "Silence!" "Your turn, Marcelo." "For Pablo:..." "Who was the mother of Don Juan of Austria?" "Who was she?" "One." "Two." "Barbara Browning." "For Godofredo:..." "When did Napoleon die?" "One." "Two." "Bravo!" "Godofredo, come here." "Answered in time, considering the difficulties you have in speaking,... please go back to your place." "Go." "And now I want to hear a question asked by you." "For Pablo:..." "I don't understand anything." "Hey, it's impossible, do you understand, Dad?" "~ Do you understand?" "~ No." "Try to be clearer." "Who discovered the Strait of Magellan?" "Magellan." "Idiot!" "It's nonsense, they cheer for any nonsense." "Come on, man, this is the headmaster." "Come on, your question." "For Jorge:" "Who invented the telescope?" "One." "Two." "Three." "Galileo Galilei." "Goal, another score for the blue team." "Well, today we've had enough." "After this victory, the blue team is ahead in the competition." "The final will be within seven days... and you'll have a week's time to study." "Miss Luisa!" "Good morning, Mr. Merino." "I would like to explain that..." "I must admit that the show you have given us this morning was very interesting." "Thank you very much but I must beg your pardon." "For what?" "For what happened yesterday, I did exaggerate,..." "I defended my opinions with too much heat." "What matters is that you believe what you say, doesn't it?" "Yes, of course, naturally." "Any word on the project of your school of painting classes?" "Well, I'm awaiting a response from the Ministry." "I'd welcome your theory on application of painting to education." "Thanks, look, I'm seeking something,... something that uplifts the daily life... and this is something I find only in my studio." "Ah, you have a studio?" "Yes, a studio in an old neighborhood,... it's very nice, with a large window as a panorama." "I would like you to come see it some day." "I wouldn't want to bother you." "By God, on the contrary, you'll make me very happy,..." "It's on Cross Street, number two." "OK, I'd love to visit." "~ Thanks, bye." "~ Bye." "Dad!" "Dad!" "How are you?" "Are you OK?" "I'm hungry tonight... but there's nothing for dinner?" "I got nothing ready, I had a visitor." "Ah, yes, who was here?" "Well, one of the teachers at school, she wanted to see my pictures..." "Ah, now, Miss Luisa --- but let's eat, OK?" "Don't worry, this evening we're going to eat at a restaurant,... but why are you home so late?" "We studied the entire lesson for the next game." "Well, go, hurry and change clothes, we're going." "Dad, I think that after dining out... you like going to the movies, right?" "Yes, indeed." "Well, if it's OK, I'll go with you this time." "Perfect, we'll go first to dinner and then to a movie." "Next door they're showing an American movie, the kind with cowboys." "Great!" "There will be horses, right, Dad?" "Of course, horses and some Indians." "I mostly like horses, how about you?" "I mostly like Indians." "So when the Indians arrive, I'll wake you up?" "Look, look at the fish!" "Hello, little one." "This is much more interesting than the movie you saw yesterday." "It's great!" "~ Good morning, Julio." "~ Good morning, Don Juan." "~ What's this?" "~ It's a calpa." "It's small now, but in a few months, it may no longer fit in there." "When they have young, they all circle around it." "By the way, Sunday is my grandson's baptism,... because my daughter has been visited by the stork." "Congratulations!" "Then you'll come to the party?" "Well, the truth is, I..." "It will be a cozy thing, there will be some dancing,... cakes, soft drinks --- all teachers will come,... and Miss Luisa has done us the honor of becoming the boy's godmother." "By the way, here she comes." "Good morning!" "Good morning, Miss Luisa!" "Please convince Don Juan to come to my grandson's baptism." "I came just to ask the time of the ceremony." "At 11." "~ OK." "But won't you come?" "~ Dad, I'm going down." "One moment, one moment --- I want to introduce you my son." "Your father has told me a lot about you." "You're very handsome." "Now you can go play." "~ Bye, Miss." "~ Bye." "Go wait for me in the playground." "Then you'll come?" "I really..." "Is it that you don't dance?" "Yes, but these modern dances seem a little ridiculous to me." "You are quite right, but you don't have to dance." "Let's celebrate the birth of his grandson." "In that case, I'll not let you down." "So, until tomorrow." "Until tomorrow." "Say, Julio, what is usually given upon an occasion like this?" "There are many things..." "The crib for the baby, a bassinet,... rattles, a bottle of special wine... ham,... outfits for the newborn,... a blanket... a shawl for the mother,... and at the christening of my first child,... one teacher gave me shoes,... and another a box of cigars,... but don't bother, please... what's important is your presence, nothing more." "~ Can I?" "~ Good evening, Professor!" "Hello, Rita." "Welcome, Don Juan." "Will you give me your hat?" "Give him this glass." "Take this, it's very good." "Well, I never drink, but..." "Do you like it?" "I made it." "Take this one." "You can take it, it's very lively." "You liked it?" "But why did you bother?" "But she bothered me, flying around me, so I caught her." "But since you bothered, wouldn't have been better to kill her?" "Of course not, because it lays eggs." "And the stock, who does?" "And that is made with cubes." "Hello, Juan!" "With the cubes..." "I have heard that the soup is made with white chicken." "But precisely, this is a white chicken." "Thank you very much." "Here, take it to the terrace,... but if it lays no eggs, I'll kill her." "Sure, if it does not lay eggs..." "We'll introduce you to my children." "Felipe!" "Felipe!" "I'm here, Dad." "This is my son." "Nice to meet you." "Don Juan, the new teacher." "With your permission, let's dance." "Now are you going to meet the King of the house." "How wonderful!" "Look how well he cries!" "Yes, I hear, now." "And you do not know how well he eats." "Yes, yes, only seeing him, he's huge." "Hey, a toast to the child?" "Thank you." "~ You made it?" "~ No!" "How is it?" "Resembles... ~ You've been stained." "~ It's nothing." "It's hot, right?" "Yes, very." "You're not dancing?" "Not yet." "I'm very fussy." "~ This is very small." "~ Yes, a little." "And there are too many people." "Why don't you go to the balcony, which will be cooler?" "Yes, come, come here." "Have fun." "What should we do, dance?" "We can try..." "Do you like it?" "Yes, very much." "And your son, you brought him?" "I didn't want him to see this show." "What show?" "Well, the show I give dancing, you know, that modern dances,..." "Moreover, the championship final is only two days away... and as he is captain of one of the finalist teams,... he is studying at home." "He is very studious." "He is, yes." "Mrs. Martínez?" "Would you please call Pablo?" "Thank you." "It's you, Pablo?" "Listen, I'm Antonio." "How about if we ask this question for a penalty?" "Who was the first to shout "land" when they discovered America,..." "Rodrigo de Triana, or Christopher Columbus?" "Christopher Columbus." "Nah, silly, it was Rodrigo de Triana." "Fine." "A sure goal." "Hey, do not you want to come to the party, it's lively... there is a cake..." "No, Pablo --- dance parties bore me to tears... and Dad didn't want me to go." "Well, your father is having fun." "He's dancing." "My dad, dancing?" "But he can't dance!" "That's pretty clear, but he's still dancing..." "How strange, I can not believe what you're saying." "Antonio, the letter from the Ministry!" "Forgive me, Pablo, a lady wants to talk to me." "Wait for me at the phone." "Where's your father?" "He's out." "They have brought this letter for him, is from the Ministry, which he was waiting for... don't lose it, give it to him as soon as he's home." "I'll tell him quickly." "Hey Pablo, call Dad, I'll give him good news." "Ah, no, no, don't tell him, I'll give him a good surprise." "I'm coming over right now, be right there." "Great, then I'll keep you some candy." "Antonio, where you going?" "I'm taking the letter to Dad, bye." "Be careful!" "You said you danced badly, Don Juan?" "She's the caretaker of my house." "Let's see?" "It's the letter!" "It's the letter from the Ministry, come on!" "Come dance to celebrate!" "She is my caretaker, you know?" "She is so good and nice, I love her a lot..." "Go on, go, go on home now." "Go away, please." ""Dear Sir:" "We are pleased to inform you that your proposal to found a school of painting has been accepted." ""Please attend with minimum delay the Ministry to discuss the details."" "Who told you to sit there?" "Nobody." "Take out your notebooks." "Dictation." ""He was at the age when everything seems wonderful,..." ""day, night, trees, a new friendship,..." ""an afternoon with no problems but..." ""with a new emotion..."" "Slow down, please, Teacher,... we can't keep up." ""But with a new thrill every minute,..." ""and a desire in his heart to grow." ""Because when you are eight years old, you don't known that growing up is to die a little." ""He was kind, intelligent, generous,..." ""and he loved his father." ""And his father has lost him."" "Good morning, Teacher." "Leaving school?" "I can't work here any more." "But why not?" "I can't, it is beyond me." "Believe me, Sir, I can't." "Look, if it were any other profession,... but here, among these children who have been my son's friends and make me remember him,..." "I can't, I can't." "You'll get a grip when some time goes by." "I don't want the time to pass." "Excuse me, but I've made my decision,... and nobody can make me change my mind." "I will present my resignation." "You can not leave your class." "Our duty is above our feelings." "You are an excellent teacher." "What about your big projects?" "And your efforts?" "Since this happened, there's nothing." "Listen a moment: years ago, the person I loved more than anything in this world, died... and the next day I came to school." "You think that I have no heart?" "I won't judge the feelings of others." "For me there are only mine." "Yours?" "The feelings of a man fleeing from himself and his mission..." "The mission of a teacher is the most sublime that can exist." "We mold the souls of children." "We make them men." "How many times has a teacher, by example, steered a child away from getting off track?" "And how wonderful to see them grow,... move from one class to another,... and when they are able to cope with life,... say goodbye." "It's thanks to us that this life will be happier for them." "You know what happened to me the day after the death of that person?" "I started with a reading in the class." "I could not hold back the tears, and the children cried with me." "That cry was a relief to me." "You miss your child... but don't you see that all the students are your children,... and will have for life the feelings and character that you will instill them?" "We train future men." "Life has to continue with its load of responsibilities and duties." "My life is not worth it." "I wish I had not heard that phrase which I refuse to understand." "You need rest." "Believe me,... take a week." "What do you think?" "Do not insist." "I have decided irrevocably." "Tomorrow is my last day here." "But, by God!" "Let God be quiet." "As you wish --- however I can not accept your resignation,... you must send it to the Ministry." "You can go." "Sorry, I forgot to tell that the person who died was my only son." "You can sit down." "Open your books to page 32." "Eduardo, would you please read first?" ""This famous city is in itself a complete history of Spain,..." ""the history of Visigothic Spain, and four centuries of Saracen domination." ""In the center of the province, the old kingdom of Castile and Leon..."" "Enough" "I said enough!" "Go and play outside, enough!" "Who are you?" "A new student, Teacher." "And where are you from?" "From nowhere." "I started this morning." "Our courses are very advanced." "Yes, but my parents sent me today." "Well, what are you doing here?" "Nothing." "What's your name?" "Gabriel." "And your father's job?" "He is a carpenter." "He is a carpenter, nice job." "Makes furniture..." "And you, what do you want to do?" "That brush is yours?" "This brush was my son's." "I'd like to paint." "Go to the playground to play with the other ones, go on." "You must not send that letter." "What letter?" "That one." "You know what it says?" "I can see it." "Well, then you can read upside down." "I do, and very well." "Look, boy, these are things that are no concern of yours." "Do what I said, go play outside, do me a favor." "Yes, I will, but don't get angry." "Bye." "Be seated." "You must copy this sentence and then analyze it." "And Don Juan did not come in today?" "No." "I think not." "Is he sick?" "I'm afraid that's all I know." "Good morning, Sir." "Good morning." "I've told the children that you probably didn't feel well,... but I see that's not the case." "Yes, there are those days." "Anyway, I'm glad to see you." "Who told you to sit there?" "It was one of the free seats." "Didn't you know this seat was my son's?" "I knew --- I sat here on purpose." "How dare you!" "?" "It's just that I could be your son." "Don't you think?" "Well, OK." "Well, you can stay in it, after all..." "Today we'll have a history lesson." "You, Gabriel, give us the names of the Catholic Kings." "Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar." "What is this, eh?" "Are you sure?" "Absolutely, they brought gifts." "Fidel, who are the Catholic Monarchs?" "Isabel and Fernando." "Those you said, Gabriel, belong to the sacred history." "That happened many years ago." "But they still bring gifts." "For whom?" "To those who deserve them." "Me, for example?" "Why not, if you're good?" "Good morning, Teacher." "Good morning, Teacher." "Good morning, Don Juan." "Haven't you come to hear the Mass?" "You're not OK?" "No, no, I am very well." "Well, by God, get improved and have a good Sunday." "Thank you." "Bye." "Good morning." "Good morning." "Have you noticed, Don Juan, what happened to Baby Jesus and the Virgin who we have in our chapel?" "No, I haven't entered the Chapel." "Baby Jesus has a hand rasied, but the hand is empty." "What do you want him to have?" "Well, I don't know, a fruit,... a bird, a rosary, or a heart..." "Anything, I imagine." "In all the churches I've seen, he's giving something to us." "Yes, indeed." "He needs something in his hand." "Well, I'm going home." "Happy Sunday, Teacher." "Bye." "Anyone know what he means now?" "Do not be afraid, speak without stuttering." "Try, try." "Come on!" "I wonder why Baby Jesus has not offered anything to you." "Maybe he can't find a gift that you'd like." "Gabriel,..." "You're not going home?" "Yes, and you?" "Where do you live --- far away?" "No, next door." "In the square of Baby Jesus." "You must come and see my house." "Yes, did you figure that I'm in the mood to go anywhere?" "What a pity that you could not hear the Mass,... it was so beautiful..." "I didn't feel good." "And now, are you feeling better?" "I don't know." "Happy Sunday, Don Juan." "Good morning, Professor." "Good morning." "Why weren't you in the chapel?" "What's the point?" "Don Juan, you shouldn't blame anyone." "They should not die,... children should not die." "Listen, I have finished my thesis, but before I leave, you must promise me one thing." "What?" "Do NOT leave the school... believe it or not, your life is here." "If we had not left the village... my son would still be alive,... because it was my ambition that brought us here." "It's as if I had killed him." "You should not feel guilty." "I feel that I hate this school, and yet,... look, every day there's something that drives me, that makes me come here." "I seem to be living a nightmare." "My parents have a house in the mountains, why not visit this summer?" "It will do you well." "Thank you, Miss Luisa, but I have to give up everything... everything, to reduce my suffering,..." "I haven't purged my guilt." "They haven't finished the Mass?" "Yes, everybody's out." "Must be the organist." "Really, Don Juan, if you change your mind, let me know." "Farewell, and take courage." "Thank you." "Sit." "What happened?" "Nothing." "Not true --- Eduardo hit him." "Come closer." "Why did you do it?" "I didn't just slug him, I challenged him, but he won't stand up like a man." "He didn't defend himself so I gave him a punch." "He just "I can't hit you" --- he's a coward." "I'm not a coward, but I can't." "I mustn't hit anybody." "You, come here." "Why did you hit him?" "Because he called me Judas." "The only thing I said was it was very wrong to refuse to take communion on Sunday,... to choose to go swimming with friends instead." "And what that all has to do with Judas?" "Judas sold out God for 30 pieces of silver, and Eduardo has done the same,... he abandoned God to go to have fun." "I have no choice but to punish you --- learn from it." "No, don't punish him." "Do not talk nonsense, go back to your seat." "Shut up, I say!" "~ Get out, everybody." "~ Me, too?" "Yes, you too." "Recess." "What are you doing?" "Didn't you hear what I said?" "I promised your son." "What did you promise, huh?" "That you wouldn't leave the school." "But --- you've met my son?" "I promised." "Look, I'm sorry but I've got to go." "Well, boys, now you can go to have fun with your friends,... don't go very far, and be very careful at the pond." "I don't want any trouble." "Be back here in an hour." "Don't sit there, it's too deep." "Hey, I'm not scared." "OK, but don't fall." "Hey, Teacher, have you noticed what the pebbles do when they hit the water?" "That is as old as the hills." "But you haven't realized how beautiful it is." "What?" "A circle made another and another and another..." "Don't fall in, OK?" "No." "What are you doing here?" "Nothing, can't you see?" "I said you're going to have fun, and with just an hour at the lake, go, go." "I want to stay with you." "Didn't I speak clearly?" "Didn't you hear what I said?" "Go and leave me alone." "You're my friend." "Why do you think there could be friendship between a boy and a man of my age?" "Between friends, age is not important." "Well, what are you looking at?" "You." "You are always sad." "It's that nobody loves you?" "I don't know." "I love you very much." "Mr. Teacher, can we go to the kiosk to buy ice cream?" "Yes, José." "Thank you!" "I told you, hold me by the hand!" "Where are you going?" "Don't follow me, go and buy an ice cream or take walk with the others." "I don't want you to follow me anymore." "And you must not take my hand." "Do you hear me?" "Tell me, who taught you that song?" "My father --- do you want to learn it?" "No, I already know it." "Beat it!" "Haven't you heard me?" "Leave me alone." "Leave me alone, please." ""Minister of Education." "Illustrious Sir:" "the undersigned, Juan Merino, a teacher at St. Mary School,..." ""hereby submits his resignation from his position."" "Very good!" "You weren't playing in the playground?" "~ Yes." "~ How did you manage to get up here so fast?" "I run a lot, you know?" "I'm not like you." "Good." "Aside from that, why did you say "very good"?" "For having torn up that letter." "But you know what that letter said?" "It is the same one you were writing the other day." "It is impossible that you have read the letter." "I have very good eyesight." "Yes, no doubt." "Come, come here." "Look, Gabriel, I've decided that I will stay in this school." "Fine." "Hey, I beg you to forgive me if I treated you badly." "~ No." "~ Yes, yes, I admit it." "I've been mad at you unfairly, and I've treated you badly." "One of these days, you know what we'll do?" "We'll both go to the park alone together." "It will not be possible." "Why not?" "Because I'm leaving." "Where are you going?" "Where?" "With my people, with my parents." "And when are you going?" "Tomorrow morning." "Well, you're kidding, right?" "How is it that your parents send you to school for a few days?" "My father said: "We'll return when we finish our work here,..." ""you'll go to that school and then we'll go home."" "It is far from here to your village?" "Very far." "We have to travel a long distance to reach it." "But that's not right --- once started, no one should go,... and you, more than any other student,... we are friends." "~ Don Juan..." "~ What?" "I want to give you a gift." "A gift?" "It is a memorium, a medal of Baby Jesus." "Very nice." "Thank you." "Well, now I'll have to get a chain to wear it around my neck." "Where will I put it?" "Here?" "No, no, in the closet." "It'll be safer." "Well, I should have to give you a gift." "Let's see, what could I give you?" "I would like you to give me one thing." "Really?" "Tell me what it is." "Simply ask." "The brush stored in this drawer." "This brush was my son's, and I..." "That's why I want it." "But you know it's broken?" "No, it isn't." "I fixed it this morning." "It seems never to have been broken." "You know my father is a carpenter --- he helped me fix it." "Take it." "Thank you very much." "You'll see, you'll soon have your painting classes." "But who told you about that?" "I've heard." "I won't." "It is too much for a poor teacher." "Do you want to make a promise?" "Yes." "If you ever hear anything about me, will you come to visit me?" "Yes, if you tell me where you live..." "I've already told you, do not you remember?" "Ah, yes, in the square of Baby Jesus." "But you know what happens when two people should part, if they promise to meet again,... they never meet again." "No, it's not always the case." "No, do not move, you have to stay here." "Farewell, Teacher." "Why do you say goodbye, if you just said we'll meet again?" "Saying goodbye does not mean not seeing each other anymore,... only the hope that God will join us again." "See you later." "Gabriel!" "Gabriel!" "Gabriel!" "~ Gabriel!" "~ Good morning!" "Have you seen Gabriel?" "Who is Gabriel?" "Gabriel, the boy who just went down the stairs." "No, I didn't see anyone here." "Yes, he runs well, surely he went down before you arrived." "Thank you very much." "~ Not at all, Don Juan." "~ Bye." "Excuse me, where is Gabriel's home?" "There's no one here is named Gabriel." "He's a small boy of about eight years, blond hair." "Ah yes, the son of Mrs. Mary, who had recently arrived in town." "He lives up here, no?" "Yes, just go to the well." "And where's the well?" "To the left, in the square." "Here in the square, thanks." "Yes, no, wait a minute." "Gabriel!" "Your mother is named Mary?" "And you don't have a little brother like you?" "No." "Well, do you know if another blond child lives here?" "No, I have no idea." "He's not the child I'm looking for." "But that child, you know him?" "Well, of course..." "And the father, what does he do?" "He is a carpenter, but I haven't seen any carpenters around here." "Look, there's one." "Hey, do you want to pay me?" "How much?" "15 pesetas." "Just a minute." "Good evening." "Sorry, do you have a son named Gabriel?" "No, I'm single." "But you'd know if there's kid that with that name in the neighborhood?" "Sure, but I don't know him." "And is there any another carpenter around here?" "No, sir." "~ Are you sure?" "~ Sure." "Haven't you found him?" "And now where do we go?" "What do I know..." "Where is he?" "Are you still going to look?" "At school!" "~ Which school?" "~ At Santa Maria's!" "Come, come, come, hurry!" "This child has never been in this school." "I had him in my class until an hour ago, look." "Not possible." "In this book, he's not enrolled." "But the Secretariat isn't the only record?" "Exactly." "There's no other?" "Well, then maybe you didn't registered him because he just recently came to our school." "Why didn't you say that before?" "We could have saved the trouble." "We haven't entered any new students since the day we closed enrollment." "~ Are you sure?" "~ Sure." "Are you ill?" "You know where your classmate lives?" "Which classmate do you mean?" "~ Gabriel." "~ Gabriel who?" "You mean to tell me you don't know who was sitting right here beside you?" "Since Antonio died, no one's sat here." "How's that?" "That boy, the blond, blue eyes..." "Pablo's right, I don't know him either." "But how is this possible?" "How?" "You are mistaken." "You want to convince me that nobody knows him." "You, how often have you played with him in the playground?" "And you, Eduardo, don't you remember when you hit him because he called you Judas?" "And then you said he was a coward and a few days after you fell off the swing,... you were helped by him!" "And you, Pablo, he was always talking to you,..." "What, nobody says anything, no answers, everybody ignores me?" "You shut up!" "Look, Teacher, that kid has never been here." "His name is Gabriel, Gabriel." "OK, calm down,... but what you know about this Gabriel isn't enough." "I've seen him, talked to him, I took his hand with this hand of mine." "At times I managed to forget my misfortune, because he was so kind to me,... simple, strange, and charming... and he asked me so many questions, sometimes I did not know how to answer him." "If you had seen --- how naïve when he once said he wanted to be my friend... but you believe this is crazy, a fantasy, right?" "Sometimes we think that what we imagine is true." "You have been a bit upset with the death of your son." "You have lived these days with a clear view of the child." "No, no, it can't be that." "Really, Mr. Merino, this has all been a figment of your imagination, believe me, but... you have fever, and a high one." "Believe me, forget everything and get into bed." "In a few days, you'll be completely restored." "Anyway, if you don't feel well, you can see our doctor." "~ But how is it possible, how?" "~ What?" "This has been a nightmare." "Yes, indeed." "And it's a nightmare no one would give me his address?" "But didn't we agree that that child didn't exist?" "You must promise to go home directly." "Do you want me to come with you?" "No, no thanks." "Thank you." "On the left, on the Pony, at the left." "Are we in your way?" "~ No, no." "~ No problem." "Excuse me, let me go, let me through." "He is very tired." "Good morning, Teacher." "Good morning." "Welcome." "Thank you." "You'll stay with us today?" "Yes." "And tomorrow?" "And forever?" "Yes." "Well, I think..." "How late it is!" "Go to your places." "Yes, Teacher, right away." "Mr. Teacher, may I sit here?" "Sit." "We'll begin with a dictation." "Let's see..." "You have pens?" "And your notebooks?" "OK." ""It was a beautiful spring day..." ""a day when he came to Earth...""