"CARESSES" "How strange." "What?" "All this." "What do you mean?" "Haven't you noticed?" "No, what?" "I've got this feeling..." "Go on." "This strange feeling..." "What's wrong?" "lt's as if..." "What?" "As if we..." "What?" "As if we didn't have..." "What?" "...anything to say to each other any more." "Yes." "What?" "We have something to say to each other." "Well, what?" "Nothing occurs to me now." "You don't want to see it." "What the hell should I see?" "Shall I repeat?" "No, you'd better shut up." "Okay." "If I'd better, I'll shut up." "You know we have plenty of things to say to each other." "I know there are things you think and don't say... or don't want to say... to me, because of some problem of yours I don't know about,... and that hurts, you know?" "It upsets me to see... us filling our idle time... with empty words... and insults." "You insult me... when you say there's nothing." "Excuse me." "Why are you interrupting?" "You do that when I have a coherent argument." "You're just like my mother." "I didn't leave home to... go live with someone like her, or even worse!" "I was the one talking, and will continue talking!" "Let's see if things start changing in this shit-hole!" "When someone says "excuse me",... you shut up and listen!" "I said it to make a comment on your ever-so... coherent argument, and I'm going to do it!" "I'm going to do it!" "I didn't say I have nothing to say to you." "I said we haven't." "Not me." "Not you." "I said "we"." "What do you want for dinner?" "What do you want?" "l don't know." "What is there?" "There's meat,... eggs,... salad." "Spaghetti, if you want." "No pasta at night." "I get heartburn." "A salad with lots of different things, and a good dessert." "We've got... lettuce, tomatoes, carrots,... sweet corn, olives, celery, onions." "No onions, they repeat on me." "Yes, and afterwards there's an unbearable stench in bed." "Mix in bits of apple and... pineapple, if we've got any." "Yes, a tropical salad." "The pineapple is canned." "That's okay." "Well,... okay." "I don't know if there's anything for dessert." "How about cream caramel?" "Yes, I forgot." "I bought some at lunchtime,... and yoghurt as well." "I'll have caramel." "l'll have yoghurt." "l'll have caramel." "Okay,... you have caramel... and I'll have yoghurt." "No problem." "No problem." "Want help with the salad?" "Yes, it'll be quicker." "Excuse me." "What?" "We're out of oil." "Ask the neighbour for some." "Get up, we can't waste time." "Grab a glass and, while I soak the lettuce,... go get olive oil from our neighbour." "I cant's stand sunflower or corn oil." "They're tasteless!" "Son of a bitch!" "Get in the kitchen." "You're repulsive!" "Are you getting up, or not?" "Are you going to the kitchen, or not?" "Are you going to ask the neighbour for oil, or not?" "Do you want a tropical salad, or not?" "What?" "Sorry, I can't understand you." "If you don't articulate more clearly..." "Do you want to tell me something?" "Yes." "You see... how you've still got something to say to me?" "What do you want?" "Listen to this." "Listen to what?" "Let me read it to you." "It's difficult for me to speak, and I want to tell you." "But..." "Listen carefully." "What is it?" "It doesn't matter who wrote it." "The words are what matter." "It's meant for you... and for me." "I hope you understand it." "Now that night is coming,... silence is frightened away... because it's not true that silence is night." "It's a cliche to think every- thing stops when everyone does." "And then everyone thinks that... stopping after all that routine... means stopping time and entering into rest,... and thinks that is night:" "A soldier's rest,... a boring piece of theatre,... a prelude to sleep,... a hollow interval,... a much needed nothingness." "Now that night is near,... a new time denies time,... fuels desire,... fosters excesses:" "moments become eternal,... unconfessable secrets are... brutally revealed,... pretences collapse,... some mad gesture can make everything explode,... unusual passions,... unsuspected desires." "Night is the motor of eloquent silence,... where time is not time,... where place is no place at all,... where darkness is radiant... and nothing is impossible." "That's enough, mother!" "What?" "Shut the fuck up!" "Shit, what a pain!" "What are you trying to tell me?" "You haven't made me come so far and late for this nonsense." "To spit those pedantic words at me." "Pretentiousness for idiots who don't know they really are." "As if I didn't know you." "Stop all this rubbish!" "What do you want?" "I have a dinner date." "I can't waste time like a crazy old woman." "Go." "Don't start." "I'm just asking for a little while." "I'm so lonely, my child." "And I think about so many things." "Since you left, the place isn't what it used to be." "Before it was hell,... a constant battle:" "rows, sour faces, shouting, worry, nerves, stress." "A war had broken out between us." "Perhaps it was my fault." "The cruellest war is between women,... and more so between a mother and a daughter." "But now that you're not there... I need her so." "Have you gone mad?" "Yes." "You admit it?" "Yes." "is that why you called me,... why you bothered me to come and listen to you?" "To tell me you're out of your mind?" "To tell you the time has come!" "What time?" "The time." "To put you in an asylum?" "To tell you the truth." "If at home you're so lonely, afraid of growing old,... go live in an old people's home." "It wasn't my fault." "You'd meet people, enjoy yourself." "I'm told they're beautiful." "Like a hotel for old people, but clean." "You can even go on outings." "l've waited too long." "You paid no attention to me." "l'm not your mother." "Yes,... a home is a good place for you." "What time is it?" "It's very late." "Child." "What?" "I thought this was... the best place... to tell you I've reached a decision... about your obsession of getting rid of me... and not be a burden to you and the world." "I'm still young,... but I'm aware of my illness,... that I can't live alone,... that I lie to myself to kill time." "So, I'm asking you..." "You sound like a book." "...to take the steps,... spare me problems,... the paperwork, and... the phone calls and visits." "Pay no attention to what I say." "To what I said." "Yes, you're right." "It's the best place." "It's such a... peaceful park." "So deserted, mother." "So deserted." "I don't understand." "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything." "Thanks." "Mother." "What?" "You should have aborted." "I'll like it." "I'm sure." "I'll like the home." "Good-bye." "And stop reading those things." "They'll drive you madder." "Call me." "Even more." "l liked dancing the tango." "l liked rock-and-roll." "I always danced rock-and-roll." "Every Saturday." "I'd sneak out every Saturday,... and my parents didn't know." "He waited for me in the alley." "We would hold hands." "His hands were always warm." "Mine were cold, and he'd warm them." "We could hear the music from the main street." "Real rock-and-roll, and we'd dance like mad." "That lasted a year, perhaps more." "Our hands and bodies pressed together,... every weekend." "Until... my baby came along." "That stupid little girl." "Imagine how I hated my disgusting daughter!" "I couldn't dance while pregnant." "My parents put bars on the windows... while my stomach got bigger and bigger every day." "But one day... I ran away and went to... the dance all by myself." "All by myself!" "He wasn't there and... I never saw him again." "But I still remember him." "Muscular arms, strong legs." "A bronze stomach and burning hands." "That night I danced like never before." "It was a drug, I couldn't stop." "Everyone looked at me while I danced alone." "That stupid parasite... sucked my blood for 7 months,... in this flabby belly, bouncing up and down." "I wanted to shake her, make her dizzy, vomit her." "My revenge." "For 6 months she had avoided my dancing rock-and-roll." "That idiot, monstrous creature!" "He ran away, and they locked me up!" "That evening I danced like mad in front of everyone." "When they played my favourite song,... my blood flowed to my ankles." "I liked dancing the tango... because I too hate men." "I hate them too." "And when we danced, that idiot didn't even notice." "He was happy thinking he dominated me." "They say the male dominates the tango,... but I knew better." "And I left him there, at the dance-hall." "He tried to feel my legs... after his favourite tango,... which wasn't mine." "Poor guy." "I can't even remember his face." "Only his hary hands,... like black caterpillars,... and that horror between his legs." "Poor guy." "The only man in my life,... luckily." "I never danced with any other man again,... and I liked the tango." "Oh, well." "It's strange." "I liked the tango." "I didn't know you were here." "Don't worry, you'll get used to it." "Time flies." "So they say." "You look very well." "That's not true." "Really." "Shall we dance?" "Let's give it a go." "It's unbearable!" "lt's horrible!" "That's enough!" "How awful!" "Stop it!" "ls it always like this?" "Stupid old bags!" "is it?" "l told them a thousand times!" "How terrible!" "lf that player were mine..." "lf it were ours..." "No way." "Music for old people's homes!" "These damned old women are... crazy about music for old people's homes." "But I hate it, and I'm not the only one." "I'll complain again." "Let's complain." "Yes, it's better if we both complain." "I'll help you." "We'll have to be firm." "We'll be firm." "Take drastic measures." "Such as?" "A hunger strike." "Yes, until they play the music we want." "They may let us die." "Maybe." "l've little time left." "No." "Yes." "We've got each other." "You'll get used to it." "I'm lucky you're here." "Why?" "lt's lucky we met again." "What?" "l thought I'd lost you." "What?" "You've taught me so much." "What?" "About life, in such a short time." "Sorry." "What?" "I don't remember you." "Whore dressed as an old lady!" "What are you looking for?" "Food." "It's been over 1 0 years." "I'm hungry." "Anything to say?" "Bitch!" "Anything to say?" "Bitch... !" "I'm hungry!" "Someone told me you were here, and I decided to come." "1 0 years is a long time, but you haven't changed." "9:30." "9:30." "I've walked 6 hours after lunch." "I walked around." "I'm not familiar with these streets... although they're in the centre." "I was told me you were here, that you sleep on the street." "Your bedspread is a newspaper." "I've known for 1 0 years... and I've finally come." "I don't know why." "Or perhaps I do." "I don't know." "A sardine!" "l don't feel sorry for you!" "Three sardines!" "I don't feel sorry for you." "Go away, bitch, they're mine." "l don't want to eat." "Bitch!" "Bitch, I know who you are." "I know who you are." "You do?" "Yes." "A whore dressed as an old lady, a disguised cop." "No." "Don't cut my hair." "I want to stay here, not wash and fart!" "Don't clean the shit, I like dry shit." "My ass doesn't get cold." "The sardines are mine." "Come to the home." "I don't want my ass getting cold." "I want shit." "Come to the old people's home!" "My sister lives... in an old people's home." "Your sister?" "Whore dressed as an old lady!" "l have to go." "Little sardine." "Nice little sardine." "Come on." "Garbage!" "It's salty." "I'm thirsty." "It's salty!" "What are you doing?" "Salty sardines for old whores!" "I'm hungry, I'm thirsty." "What if this were the last time we saw each other?" "You're strong." "You're mad, and madmen are strong." "Too strong to die before their time." "I'm ill and older than you." "Not much, but I am." "Only three years." "But we're old." "Before,... what were 3 year to us?" "Nothing." "We got along." "When the light went off in our room... we'd whisper... and laugh." "We weren't afraid." "We got along." "We'd tell each other everything." "Chicken!" "l don't feel sorry." "A half-eaten chicken!" "I don't." "Roast chicken,... good pickin'!" "I won't give you any, you old bitch!" "Old dike!" "I'm not hungry!" "You're... not a cop?" "No." "You're an old lady." "Yes." "An old lady who... was once young." "Yes." "Are you good?" "Yes." "Then I can tell you a little secret?" "Yes." "Do you like it?" "Yes." "I had a wife." "l know." "You don't know anything." "Come to the home." "A wife of my own." "Your wife?" "She died." "A long time ago." "She left me." "Come with me." "She left me." "Too long ago." "She left me before dying." "That's not true!" "She had a girlfriend." "Come to the home." "What lovely chicken!" "l'm good." "I used to cook." "I'm dying." "My sister." "1 0 years without seeing you." "While I cooked..." "Sorry." "my wife had a girlfriend." "My sister." "I'm hungry." "9:45." "The home closes at 1 0." "Won't you come?" "I'm leaving." "Whore dressed as an old lady!" "She's dying." "What have you got in your pockets?" "Go to bed, kid." "Go to bed." "If you've got any money, give it to me." "What time is it?" "Isn't it rather late?" "Isn't it?" "It's not even 3." "Or even 4." "Shut up!" "Okay, okay." "What's in the bag?" "You're just a kid." "It's late at night." "The bar's closed." "Give it to me!" "Son of a bitch!" "Your mother's a bitch!" "My mother's no bitch, idiot!" "You want to mug me?" "Sons of bitches mug and beat people up." "They do." "What are you looking at?" "Do you want a photograph?" "A photograph?" "No." "You're just a kid." "Kids don't live in the dark, but I do." "Then you're not a kid... you're evil." "An animal." "You're the animal!" "No, no." "No, I'm a man!" "I'm a man!" "I'm a man!" "Do you want a smoke?" "They're great." "The best." "They cost me 375 because they're the best." "A cigarette?" "You're disgusting... but you can have one if you don't go to the cops." "I won't say a word." "Not a word." "Here." "But you haven't seen me." "No, no." "It's your father's." "My father doesn't smoke, you idiot." "I stole it from a guy I got along with real well." "He'll never think I stole it." "Wanna know?" "Yes." "Yes." "The guy I stole it on... sold me some hash in the subway." "And it was fuckin' great!" "What a trip!" "I've run out because I've got a disgusting friend... who smoked half of it." "He's a retard!" "And then that buy... took us over to his place." "Shit, and what a place!" "It had been a week since... my friend and I didn't shower." "He was naked in his room... with a naked broad, and she said:" ""Who are those kids"." "He said we were buying hash." "Then she got up... and came into the bathroom." "And we laughed." "Her cunt was real black." "She's the lead singer of a band called..." "Spunksmell." "What a fuckin' coincidence!" "She said we were very young." "I asked her if she was with Spunksmell." "She said yes and asked our ages." "I told her I liked her and that I was 1 3." "Then he came in and said:" ""Get dressed and piss off. " And sold us the hash." "He charged us only 3.000." "We became friends." "Then I stole his lighter... and we took off, laughing." "We smoked it all in one night." "Stoned, we spent the night at a squatter's." "What a trip!" "I was flying high, like an angel,... on beer and joints." "I was like in heaven, with no noise or shouting." "How peaceful!" "But my friend fell asleep." "Like an idiot." "Like an angel." "But,... when we left there... we went to a place some punks had told us about." "It was fuckin' out of this world!" "We got half a trip for 2.000." "That's real cheap." "My friend said:" ""Fuck, how cool!"" "We bought it and had it right there." "Fuckin' hell, man, what a cool trip!" "I was in heaven,... like an angel." "I couldn't stop laughing." "Like an angel." "We pinched a thousand from the owner and took the bus." "All the retarded old women... and old queers like you would move away." "If my mother saw me, she'd get scared too." "With the thousand we had a pizza... at a park full of snobby cunts." "They make me sick." "If I had the bread they've got... I'd have my fill of fuckin' grass and fixes!" "I'd love that." "After that we had only 91 3 left,... so we bought cigarettes." "They cost 350." "That's fuckin' expensive." "Today's are more expensive:" "375 'cause they're imported." "Aren't they better?" "Then we hung around the park." "We don't have an "okupation" to do all day long." "We don't want to do anything." "At times, I'm too lazy to even roll a joint." "We even got free beer!" "I thought: "Tonight I'm going to fly high too. "" "We had to share it with my disgusting friend... and the other four guys... who had been my brother's friends." "I got only 4 or 5 slugs." "One of them had a joint." "Between that and the glue we sniffed,... we went wild." "I made them swear... they wouldn't say a word to my parents." "They left and I was real cool... on a swing." "l dreamt about my brother." "A little angel." "How do you know?" "I'm sleepy." "You talk and talk... and I don't understand you." "How do you know." "Little angels." "That's not true." "Go to bed." "That's enough talk." "Enough." "It's not true." "My brother isn't a little angel." "Mom says he is!" "She says so every day!" "Now he's gone... because I say he isn't." "God doesn't exist." "Heaven is a lie!" "Shut up, you son of a bitch!" "Go to sleep and shut up." "My brother is no angel." "They lie at school and angels don't ride motorbikes." "Ever seen an angel with his head split in two?" "God doesn't exist." "It's a lie." "Go to bed, kid." "To bed." "It happened over there." "There's still a black and red mark from his brains." "Sleep." "Sleep." "Dream." "Give me your fuckin' money, you asshole!" "Little angels." "Little angels." "Come on, you asshole!" "Son of a bitch!" "You disgusting queer!" "Shit, nothing!" "The ring!" "Son of a bitch!" "Son of a bitch!" "Son of a bitch angel!" "Big, huh?" "Not like yours." "Almost." "Yeah, I wish." "Lots of hair." "Not as curly as yours." "You'll get there." "We'll see." "You'll see." "Why are you looking at me?" "And you?" "Do you want to take a bath?" "No." "Where's mom." "Sleeping." "Fantastic." "Who?" "The water, of course." "Who did you mean?" "Who else?" "Mom." "She's fantastic?" "Not bad." "Not bad." "Others are better." "Sure." "And much worse too." "Yes, of course." "But a lot of worse ones." "Really?" "You've got eyes." "Don't you see them on the street?" "At times." "Liar." "Do you?" "Always." "Shut up." "You don't want a bath?" "No." "l'm wrinkling." "Then get out." "You'll shrivel up." "Come off it!" "Shall I do your back?" "No need." "Need anything?" "You know what?" "What?" "Tomorrow..." "What?" "They'll be a surprise." "What?" "l won't tell you." "Why?" "lt wouldn't be a surprise." "Come on!" "Mom doesn't know either?" "What is it?" "You'll love it." "is it for me?" "For everyone." "For mom too?" "For everyone." "Who'll like it most, you, me or mom?" "You more than mom." "And you?" "I'm crazy about it." "Shit, a new car!" "Yes, but don't tell mom." "Shit, man!" "l get it tomorrow." "Can we go for a ride?" "Happy?" "Yes!" "So am I." "Mom'll like it too?" "I'm sure." "What car is it?" "You won't believe it." "Try me." "Not a word." "It's red." "My favourite color!" "That's why." "Let's wake mom and tell her." "Come on!" "Tomorrow she can see the three of us,... both of us inside." "You'll see." "Okay." "lt'll be fun." "Sure." "What a laugh!" "Don't you want to take a bath?" "I'll add more hot water." "You should get out." "Just a little more, it's great." "That's no good." "Why?" "lt's not." "You're bothering me." "Get out." "Who's bothering you?" "You!" "How?" "There you go again." "Me?" "Who else?" "How?" ""Get out, you'll catch cold."" "Forget it!" "l didn't say a cold!" "You were going to." "l don't get you." "l can't stand you." "I'm going to bed." "No bath?" "With me." "Do we fit?" "Don't you remember?" "Make room." "Does it have an alarm?" "What do you think?" "Of course." "What else?" "Air conditioning." "Electronic sunroof, remote control locking." "Power steering, power ABS brakes." "A catalyst converter." "You can open the trunk and gas cap from inside." "A stereo system with a tape and CD player." "CD!" "Yes." "Wow!" "It's boiling." "No, it's cold." "For you, perhaps." "Take it slow." "Sure." "A lot bigger." "What?" "Yours." "My what?" "Can't you see?" "Yours is much bigger." "No really." "And so much hair." "You'll make it." "We'll see." "You'll see." "The water's risen." "lt is fantastic." "Mom?" "The water." "Dad." "What?" "Look." "What?" "Feel it." "Why?" "l'm ahead of you." "You?" "Look how big it is now." "You've got a hard-on!" "Mom's snoring." "How did she find out?" "The smell of your cunt." "Go to hell!" "It's my fault." "l didn't wash last time." "What did you say?" "Nothing." "Nothing?" "Her imagination." "Did she buy it?" "What are you going to do?" "What do you mean?" "What are you going to do?" "Nothing." "You won't tell her?" "Have you gone mad?" "I don't get you." "You'll miss the train." "l'm staying." "What are we doing here then?" "Discuss my cunt and your carelessness, rudeness." "I think we should let it ride." "Sure, let it ride." "You can still make it." "What?" "Catch it." "What?" "The train." "By the way,... you should wash more often." "So as to avoid problems." "What do you mean?" "Your cunt, of course." "It stinks." "All cunts smell." "They smell... sweet, with just a slight foul smell." "Not at all unpleasant." "But... yours, and I can tell you now we've split up,... stinks... terribly." "It's not that smell of rotten fish or a dirty cunt... during your period." "Yours is so something else." "More sour than sweet." "Like a mixture of ammoniac and rotting meat." "That's rather unusual." "With clothes on, I couldn't tell, until I found out." "I was surprised the first time." "People usually wash for a first date." "Perhaps you're not dirty." "It could be physiological." "An internal illness, a glandular... malformation, an infection." "Like bad breath." "Your stomach's dirty, or you're about to vomit." "When you 1 st took your panties off, I couldn't believe it." "I'm sorry to have to tell you now but... you can only say this when you've split up,... with no bonds." "When you feel free, like I do now." "The first time I almost felt sick." "What a stench!" "I looked at your crotch,... held my breath and expected to see... a thick vapour come out." "It really stunk." "But you get used to these things anyway." "Even washing my cock 3 times, the stink still remained." "I'd carry your stink all day." "There was no way I could forget you." "In fact... she should have noticed sooner." "Her sense of smell isn't as fine as mine." "Whenever I did it with you... I wouldn't take my shorts off in front of her." "I'd go to the bathroom with my pyjamas,... wash again and put my shorts directly in the washing machine." "After smelling them and feeling sick." "When I was a kid... I used to like to smell of my balls in my shorts." "But now, I don't get it." "Won't you say anything?" "Why not?" "I dreamt this a couple of days ago." "Your train." "But differently." "Different, but not completely." "Your wife had found out." "It was at a station too, but you had to catch a train." "I remember you insulted me, more or less like now." "And what I told you." "I shouted." "It was noisy and full of people." "Newspaper boys, passengers, conductors... and a lot of street cleaners dressed in yellow." "I was furious, but lucid." "I told you misfortune doesn't come by chance." "Men have a dangerous tendency to think so." "But not women." "Not me." "I'm a woman, and blamed you, yelling." "I blamed you in front of everyone." "Everything was your fault." "Absolutely everything, all your misfortunes." "Your wife's hysteria,... your son's instability... and the death of your elder son." "All your fault." "And everyone was applauding." "Then you left alone, on the train." "And it ran off the rails... with you inside it." "But only you." "And we all cried out for joy." "We were all very happy." "I wanted to think it was a nightmare but,... it was just a simple premonition." "I'm leaving." "I don't want to miss the train." "Why won't you say anything?" "Your breath stinks." "Your breath stinks too." "My cunt, my breath." "Know what stinks on you?" "Your misfortune." "It's skin-deep." "Lend me your newspaper?" "Why the newspaper?" "To read it on the way." "Will you?" "Are you okay?" "Have a nice trip." "Do you regret not washing the last time?" "l don't think so." "Then, why are you crying?" "Good-bye." "You have no reason." "No one knows." "Your misfortune is nobody's business." "Don't worry." "This smelly cunt and breath are saying good-bye without... shouting, nerves or anyone listening to us." "Dreams are lies." "And trains don't crash." "Good-bye." "I hate you." "What are you preparing?" "A salad." "That's all?" "No." "What else?" "Want to help me?" "Do you want me to?" "I prefer watching." "Like before." "Why do you like that so much?" "What?" "Cooking." "You've always refused." "What?" "Learning." "One person to do it is enough." "Hand me that knife." "l said I'd just watch." "You're right." "May I?" "I don't like those trousers." "Fish." "What?" "After the salad, a nice piece of fish." "lt's fresh." "Terrible." "They're for young people." "l am young." "Yesterday a friend told me a lie." "This has worms." "Throw it out." "What friend?" "l don't like worms." "The salt is behind you." "I've got it." "Look at me." "Look." "I'm not asking anything of you." "See?" "I'll get it myself." "Let go of it." "Thanks." "Now... keep on watching." "I hadn't seen her in years." "I think I know who you mean." "Why the salt?" "They glitter so." "How disgusting!" "When you grab them they curl up like balls." "She sees you often." "When you put them in salt... they explode." "She says you're a most interesting mature man." "Repulsive." "l know who she is." "She lives nearby." "What lie?" "That you're a most interesting mature man." "What was the lie?" "Those worms make me sick." "You don't watch like before." "You've grown up." "Too much so." "You used to only watch." "Now you watch and criticize." "Ask about my trip." "Your trip?" "That apron isn't yours." "How was your trip?" "Fine, as usual." "I'm happy with my job... and getting away from this lousy city." "It was great." "There are no more worms." "Make sure of that." "It's your mother's apron." "You gave it to her." "What a memory!" "What a stupid present!" "Practical." "Stupid." "You gave it to yourself." "lt's better than mine." "I gave it to you." "Look at these fillets of sole." "A tasteless fish." "I haven't seen you for a month and you... prepare tasteless fish and a salad... full of worms and a tasteless fish." "I came to dinner because I leave the day after tomorrow... and you rack your brain for the most adequate dishes." "I can imagine you... selecting what the occasion calls for:" "a boring daughter, a forced visit." "A boring visit and meal:" "salad and sole." "Plus the garnish." "With what?" "The sole." "What?" "Boiled potatoes." "Small and round." "What have I done to you?" "They're so good." "Will you take long?" "You know what's wrong?" "Well, the thing is... I'm in a hurry." "A big hurry." "Mom should be here by now." "Or will she close the shop later,... knowing I'm here?" "What do you think?" "This isn't fattening." "What about mom?" "And you?" "She should be here." "Maybe she should." "She'd make a mess of the kitchen." "We'd finish sooner." "She's a mess." "She's not obsessive." "Everything!" "At least she doesn't." "lt would be awful." "lt would be human." "She does it all wrong." "Why do you like it?" "lt's a gift." "lt's shit." "lt's a legacy." "Lost." "I can't stand you." "A lost legacy. I haven't wanted to learn it." "You can't learn it." "Then I haven't failed you." "The potatoes are so small." "l haven't failed you." "They're difficult to peel." "Your legacy ends with you." "Mother's here." "lt ends with you." "Hear her?" "You'll have nothing left." "Hear the keys?" "Nothing." "Smell her perfume?" "You're alone." "Go say hello." "lt's not my fault." "Why don't you make dinner?" "Why do you love yourself so much, dad?" "A present." "What is it?" "Guess." "From the shape, that's easy." "A painting." "No." "Don't unwrap it." "Not yet." "Why not?" "You'll see." "Pour me some whisky." "I have none." "You don't?" "You finished the bottle off." "I don't remember." "l filled your glasses." "l don't remember." "That's normal." "What is there?" "l'm nervous." "What is there to drink?" "Water." "Not much." "I wasn't expecting you." "Why are you nervous?" "Today, my sister was at mom's place." "l saw her the other day." "Exactly." "On the street, as usual." "We should live further away." "All together, but further away." "This neighbourhood is shit." "Everyone bumps into everyone." "There's no privacy." "lf you want... yes." "What do you mean?" "Do you know how old I am?" "l don't want to." "Why?" "It would trouble me." "Fifty." "That troubles me." "Who could tell?" "Nobody." "Fifty." "And your sister can..." "She does it on purpose!" "She said it in front of mom, once again." "And looked at me." "You think she did." "She does it for me to know... she knows everything." "Obsessions." "Let's change the subject." "I'm scared." "Troubled, scared." "Too young." "Give me water." "The package." "I'm thirsty." "Not yet." "Help yourself." "You get it!" "Get comfortable." "I already am." "What were we talking about?" "l don't remember." "Privacy." "Yes." "I'm 50 years old." "I'll shut the window." "And not even my daughter knows about this." "These damned apartments." "Suck me off." "Sure." "My fly's open." "Someone could have seen us." "Your mouth." "Damned neighbours." "Make it fast!" "How about the water?" "Later." "Get undressed." "Get your clothes off." "Undress me." "Your hand!" "You're driving me crazy." "Do you like me?" "Yes, a lot." "You drive me crazy." "Get up." "Now." "No, now!" "What?" "Go get it!" "Now?" "Yes, now!" "What should I do?" "What do you want?" "Leave it next to the bed." "Yes." "That's it" "Now what should I do?" "Don't be afraid." "l'm not." "You've gone limp." "l'm not afraid." "Open it and come here." "lt's a mirror." "Yes." "Come on." "First my nipples." "Now!" "Your mouth!" "That's it." "Do it right, slowly." "I want to see it all, to the end." "Your skin." "I'm alive." "Slowly." "Yes." "You're so good." "Don't you look." "What are you doing?" "l want to see." "Afterwards." "Afterwards." "Keep going." "Yes." "That's it." "The four of us, all by ourselves." "Just the four of us!" "Just the four of us!" "Only!" "We're four." "That's it!" "That's it!" "You three are... the only ones... who love me." "A great dinner." "Today I looked at myself in the mirror." "I hadn't for days, or maybe... weeks or maybe 1 0 years." "The supermarket got me into a bad mood." "Prices go up so fast." "I'd like to climb the stairs of this decrepit building... that fast." "Make coffee." "As I opened the door, the phone rang." "Guess who it was." "The landlord's raising the rent." "It's strange for the phone to... ring while you unlock the door." "It's not?" "To me it is." "It never happened before." "Both things seemed connected." "Besides,... it's not often somebody calls here." "It's not normal." "It's irregular." "You know that." "I always though your main... reason for leaving me,... to become independent,... ls that how you put it?" "...was that the phone didn't ring much." "Really." "That's what I always thought." "So you can imagine the look on my face at the doorstep." "I was tired,... worried,... with the shopping bags cutting my wrists... and my purse empty, and it's not even the end of the month." "To get the phone... and not miss that blessed call... I dropped the bags... and broke seven eggs." "Then I had to run to the phone like crazy." "In a fraction of a second... I wanted to hear a pleasant voice saying hello,... cheering me up... and encouraging me for the rest of the day." "The rest of the days." "The rest of my days." "l'm going to take a piss." "But no." "It was a friend of my sister's... who lives in a place for people like her." "I would never even set foot there." "Going through some papers she found my number... and called for me to visit her." "Her and her friends, to go God knows where... in a bus full of people like us." "How awful!" "She said "like us"." "Imagine." "We're out of oil." "Ask the neighbour for some." "But I got out of it by... talking about trivial things." "About my excellent health,... how nice the people are around here,..." "Are you going to ask the neighbour for oil, or not?" "Do you want a tropical salad, or not?" "In a daze, I went to look... at myself in the mirror." "What had she imagined,... that old bag?" "How dare she call me?" "But, it doesn't matter." "I calmed down right away." "I still haven't got a single wrinkle." "I don't need to look in the mirror for another 1 0 years." "What about the coffee?" "You startled me." "You'll never change." "You're a sadist." "Why have you turned out like this?" "I don't get it." "l've got to go." "Who do you take after?" "I'm going." "Not your father." "So charming." "Sit down." "And much less your sister." "She's sensitive and delicate." "Calm down." "You can't go around frightening women." "If you frighten me, I'm sure you frighten others too." "What women?" "I don't know." "The ones you take to that dump where you live... to do only God knows what." "Come see me sometime." "My pill." "Sit down!" "You never invite me over." "l'll have coffee elsewhere." "You'll have it here, with me." "How much?" "Next time you can come over with a girlfriend." "Company doesn't bother me." "We women get along." "It would be less boring." "Why are you so boring?" "I have to take my pill." "Afterwards!" "Take it afterwards." "After what?" "I don't know." "What?" "My mind's gone blank." "I'll make coffee." "Now you don't want any?" "Can anyone understand you?" "I don't think so." "You should see a doctor." "Have you gone crazy?" "There are very good ones." "They keep you company." "I've gone blank." "I've gone blank." "You haven't answered me." "How can we waste so much time?" "You call me almost every day, insisting... I should come over." "I know you're the best cook." "You wouldn't believe how I talk about your cooking." "And I give in." "I come to see you." "I don't know why I stay so long." "Perhaps out of masochism." "Do you know what I mean?" "Yes." "You do." "If you know what sadist means,... you understand masochist." "Something tells me I can't leave until you answer me." "I'm waiting the same as you waited for the question." "I had to stand an unbearable dinner." "Excellent, of course." "But sluggish and full of your empty talk." "From now on we can spare all that." "I don't like going blank." "It makes me sick." "I ask for coffee, and you don't make it." "And times goes on." "It's all useless... because you're actually waiting." "And I'm waiting." "That's tiring and it hurts." "It ruins us." "So, this time, don't turn a deaf ear." "I want to go." "Don't worry." "I'll be back." "Some other day, some other week or some other year... because I'm your son." "How much do you want?" "20.000." "1 8." "I owe you 2.000." "Thanks, son." "An excellent dinner." "You're having coffee elsewhere?" "Yes." "I have to take my pill and you know how sleepy I get." "Can anyone understand me?" "I can, son." "I can." "Good-bye, son." "Good-bye." "I'll call you tomorrow." "If I'm fucking, I won't answer." "Now you start to joke around?" "Good evening." "Good evening." "Could you do me a favour?" "Yes, of course." "Just a moment." "Could you... please fill this glass with a little olive oil?" "We've run out." "Sure." "Of course." "Come in." "Please excuse the mess." "What happened to your face?" "Nothing." "Are you hurt?" "No, it's nothing." "Was it on the stairs?" "Did you slip on the stairs?" "How unfortunate!" "Come in." "Come in." "You're trembling." "Calm down." "Come with me." "Have a seat." "Relax." "I'll treat you like a mother." "Even better." "I would surrender to whoever wants me... as if... it weren't on purpose." "That surrender would be... as if... I weren't me." "I would surrender to whoever... who would take me... for ever and ever." "In such a way that none of me would remain... and of myself I... would be drained." "I would surrender... for a kiss,... for a single kiss,... from whoever... wouldn't... kiss me." "I would surrender to whoever wants me... as if... I weren't aware,... as if... it were out of despair."