"DON'T TOUCH THE DEAD, KID" "LOGROÑO, THE 50'S" "You don't want hot water?" "No, it burns, it burns." "You must be happy, Don Fabian." "They're bringing you one of those television gadgets." "You'll let me see it, won't you?" "The ads for stockings..." "You'll be the envy of the neighborhood." "They're putting it at the foot of your bed, like a guardian angel." " No, no." " It won't burn you." "Don't you like it?" "I put it in the bain marie." "You only did a couple of drops." "Not Salamoya." "Not Salamoya." "In dodecasyllables, let's see." ""My verses are sad tonight."" "No, not tonight." ""My verses are sad this evening." That's better." "Careful, mom, coming through!" "Fabianito, don't run around like that." "Don't you know grandpa is resting?" "Hey, where's the fire?" "Mom, when is grandpa going to die?" "Goddamn kids!" "Come inside." " Thank you for coming." " Not at all." "Where can it be?" " So long, love." " Bye, Cristina." "The stone!" "Fabianito!" "Shouldn't you be studying?" "Help me with Don Ildefonso." "You've almost got a mustache now." "You'll knock me over." " I'll try to lift you." " I'll try to get up." "Be careful." "Can you get up the stairs?" " So the bastard hasn't died yet." " Now, now, Don Ildefonso." "We had a friend, and with all the bother of the burial he decided not to die and ended up burying his wife!" "Careful, this step is tricky." "Help him, son." "I can walk on my own!" "Goddammit!" "Don Pablo, still nothing?" "No, he's hanging on tooth and nail." "We'll leave the wheelchair here." "It would scratch our floor and then my wife..." "Don't worry." "And just in case, I've swept and waxed the hall, so it's all ready if the undertaker comes." " Thank you very much." " You're welcome." "Grandpa, see how pretty her First Communion dress is?" "What do you think?" "Leave his dentures alone!" "You have to get better!" "For her Communion!" "Give Grandpa Fabi a kiss." "It makes me feel sick." "I said, give him a nice kiss Whatever next!" "What a pathetic kiss!" "Goddamn kids." "That child is very fussy." "No, not there, father." "The television is going there." "Forget the television!" "What my father needs now is to see all the saints so he's familiar with them." "Look, father." " Virgo potens." " Ora pro nobis." "Virgo clemens." "Ora pro nobis." " Come on, grandpa." " Virgo fidelis." "Virgo..." "How is he, Don Mariano?" "This is taking a long time, a very long time." "He's on the way out, it's obvious." "And the television people still haven't arrived." " Aren't we getting a television?" " Yes, dear, we are." "And he was so keen to see the television before..." "We'll have to call Dr. Salamoya." " Not Salamoya." " Oh, Lord." "What are you doing in bed, you old crock?" "Sleep will kill you faster than the illness!" "Come in, Don Ildefonso, he loves having visitors." "Come on, my old pal, you and I are going to "Las Escalerillas" and we'll have half a lamb and a bottle of claret." "That's a lot better than medicine." " Get a chair for Don Ildefonso." " Come on, a chair!" "A chair close to the bed." "I'm sure you'd like some anise, or a brandy, wouldn't you?" "Well, I'll have both." "A drop of each." "Bring two glasses, Luisa." "We mustn't forget the drinks." "Abelarda, the drinks tray!" "Tell him about that bullfighter." "What'll we do about Salamoya?" "Oh, Lord." "But if we've no option..." "Well, he's an expert when it comes to dying." "He should be, with what he charges." "Marcial, you're the greatest, anyone can see you're from Madrid." "The public were on their feet, they started to sing..." "Don't give my father very much." "Don't drink." "You'll get tipsy and I'll get the blame." "Just one." "Really, between the Communion and the bereavement, we'll be begging at the church door." "We won't give her a watch for her Communion." "I mean, why does she want one?" "She isn't in a hurry yet." "Look at how she moves!" "Abelarda, bring the feather duster, there's dust everywhere." "And take this." "Heavens!" "Don't be filthy!" "I'm leaving you so clean." "Your daughter has got some cheek." " She took that from someone." " Really?" "From whom?" "Your degenerate sister." "You had to bring her up!" "We'll have to let Clara know." " OK, you tell your father." " You're a wimp." "I mean, a real wimp." "Don't even mention that profligate." "But, look, father, if Clara hears grandpa died and we didn't tell her she could turn up and make a scene!" "In front of the mayor." "The mayor will be at the wake, won't he?" " I don't think so." " Really!" "Shame on you!" "I hope the mayor comes, to help push the nomination." "So do I call Dr. Salamoya or don't I?" "Yes, and call the TV people, or they won't be here in time." "Dr. Salamoya's surgery?" "Not Salamoya." "Abelarda, please!" "Poor Don Fabian." "Dying when he was about to turn 100 and appear in the newspaper." "And without seeing the television working." " Did they call back?" " No, no one's called." "Here's the jacket." "Why don't you lie down, father?" "You sat up all night." "It's hard to get hold of Salamoya." "Did you tell him Fr." "Amalgo has anointed him?" "He won't die sooner because Salamoya comes." "No, but we can get started on things." "Fabianito, I know you're in there with the dictionary!" "Those two are always the same." "We need the patience of a saint!" "Come on, sit down." " Do you know what he did?" " Hush, we're having breakfast." "He was in the bathroom, looking for dirty words in the dictionary, to do a "leggy" or something like that." "An elegy." "To do a what?" "Leave him alone, Luisa." "He's a good boy." "He told me he was writing a poem to the future deceased." "They were hendecasyllabic verses." "Casyllabic, casyllabic..." "Lolin, darling, go to your room for a minute." " I haven't had my breakfast!" " Don't answer back." "Go on." "At it from first thing in the morning, are we?" "Listen, Fabianito." "That's why you lock yourself in with the dictionary?" "To write verses?" "I had a call of nature." "I'll give you a call of nature." "If I see you with the dictionary again I'll put horseshoes on your hands." "I can read it to you." "Let me do it." "I can give it the intonation." ""To my great-grandfather."" ""That distant clamor that tears the wind"" ""is the funeral voice of a bell,"" ""of a somber, gaunt corpse"" " "who will sleep in dust tomorrow."" " Beautiful!" "But that's Zorrilla." "It's Larra." "Well, Zorrilla on the death of Larra." "But I wrote the dedication." ""To my great-grandfather" is mine." "I'll talk to you later." "Larra, indeed!" "Yes?" "No, he's not dying, he'll bury all of us." "All right." "Ma'am, that was Doña Presen." "Good morning." " What's wrong?" " Salamoya is here." "Oh, my God!" "My God!" "Abelarda!" "Look, father." "Look at how she loves her grandpa Fabi." "If you don't die soon," "I won't be able to make my First Communion this year." "Go on, die, grandpa Fabi, please, die." "Science has given up, so why are you refusing to make your peace with God and die?" " Dr. Salamoya." " You go." "Pablo." "Not Salamoya." "You two go to your room." "Move!" "Not Salamoya." "Not Salamoya." "I have to say, warrant officer, I'm doing this for you." " Good morning, doctor." " Ma'am..." "At this early hour I don't..." "We're worried that he's suffering." "I'm the one who's suffering." "I haven't had breakfast yet." "You see, Salamoya, even when it comes to dying, stubborn as a mule." "Old people are the worst." "They're like children, capricious." "We'll see about your breakfast right away." "That's good." "Luisa, a large white coffee, he hasn't eaten yet." "While you're at it, if you could bring me two slices of toast and butter," " spread on both sides." " Of course..." "And, please, with lots of sugar on the butter." "The maid will bring it now." "Abelarda!" "Everyone out!" "You're disturbing me." "Let's see how we are." "Shit." "I fear that this is the end." "Not Salamoya." "Not Salamoya." "Not Salamoya." "I don't give him more than two minutes." "One, two, three..." "Let's toss for grandpa's room." "Heads, you get it." "Tails, I get it." "All right?" "All right." " No!" " Let me see!" " Second minute." "One..." " Wait." "Tell me, dad." "Ma'am, there's no toast." "Just two sponge fingers." "Well, if that's all there is..." "It's just to dunk." "Tell me, dad." "I'm Mariano, your son." "29, 30..." "How strange." "What did he say?" "He said: "Potatoes"." "Twice." ""Potatoes, potatoes."" " He must be hungry." " I'll make potatoes for him." "No!" "Starch is forbidden." "Ask how he wants them." " With salami?" "Fried?" " Now you can go peacefully." "59... and 60." "Two minutes." "Just as I said." "Not a second more or less." "Bang on!" "To all of you, my deepest sympathies." "How could he die?" "He was asking for potatoes." "Poor grandpa, he was so good!" "My baby!" "Come here to mommy." "You poor thing, don't cry." "Grandpa is in Heaven." "Why does my brother have to get grandpa Fabi's room?" "It's the biggest one!" "Who told you that, love?" "Abelarda!" "Answer the door!" "You're not going to school today." "Go to your room and practice your First Communion, OK?" "So I can make my First Communion?" "Of course." " Who does my little girl renounce?" " Satan!" " "Satan", she says." " Isn't that lovely!" "Talking of Satan, we should go to the bank about grandpa's savings book." "Why?" "He's got nothing." "He spent it all on the television." "And all for nothing." "Your poor father won't be long after him." "Give him a glass of anise to calm him down." "And get rid of the doctor, the meter's running." "That's awful for the liver." "Awful." "Have a drop, it'll help you relax." "He'll miss the bullfight on Sunday." "Did I tell you about when Marcial Lalanda dedicated a bull to him?" " Doña Luisa, I'm so sorry." " Faustina." "First you have to tie up his jaw with a scarf, or he'll look like a drooling idiot." "And you need an old sheet." "Abelarda, see if you can find one that isn't dirty or mended." "No, nothing old or worn." "Grandpa will be laid out in our best sheets." "Abelarda, a basin and a towel." "Leave him be, he's filling out the certificate." " Thank you for coming." " Not at all." "The first thing to do..." " We're from the newspaper." " About the 100th birthday." "He's dead." "You should've come sooner." " I'm very sorry." " Yes, but if you'll excuse me..." "Your fee?" "This isn't the time." "I'll send you a bill." "Here's the certificate." "But the discount if..." "We prefer to pay promptly." "But he's just died." "This isn't the time." "What an idea!" "What an idea!" " We're very grateful." " My deepest sympathy." "It comes to us all." " Goodbye." " Goodbye." "Shit, grandpa." "You're really dead." "Look, we tossed for your room and I won." "So, a promise is a promise." "Where's she going?" "Ma'am, I'll start washing him." "Rinse him well." "And if necessary use cologne." "What about Clarita?" "Do I call her or not?" "You ask him, coward." "Should I call Clarita?" "The dishonor was enormous, enormous." "Faustina, what are you doing?" "I'm going now, I have to give the news." " People will be waiting." " They can read it in the paper." "We'll be paying a fortune for the death notice." "Yes, but they'll be asking questions." "Can they pay a visit?" "Perhaps the neighbors, Doña Presen or Doña Ramona." "As a wife and mother, your wife is excellent, but my Clarita..." "She was so full of life." "My wife is very sharp, I know, but calm down." "Oh, Clarita, the girl from Madrid..." "That's enough, there's a corpse here." "Look, Faustina, I don't care if the Holy Virgin comes." "Fabianito..." "Come here." "What did you say to your sister about grandpa's room?" "Troublemaker!" "Move!" "Then Marcial said to him:" ""I hadn't noticed." "Thanks for the warning."" ""This is for you, maestro!"" "It laughed!" "The corpse laughed!" "Come on." "Get your bike and go to this address." "But your grandpa Mariano mustn't find out." "But hadn't you fallen out?" "Never mind about that." "If you don't tell me, I won't go, and I'll tell grandpa." "Goddamn kids." "She was stupid!" "She fell in love with a man who was wrong for her." "What'll I say?" "If she wants to give Grandpa Fabi a kiss, she can come." "But she's not to dare bring the... the knife grinder." "Who's that?" "Just listen." "Tell my sister that when she comes she's to say..." "I don't know." " That she had a feeling." " A feeling?" "Yes, anything except that I told her." "Understand?" "Then go on, get going." "Be quick about it!" " Hello, Faustina." " Hello, love." "The poor man, he was so good." " Goodbye, pet." " Goodbye." "Shit!" "Look out below!" "Kid, you looking for somebody?" "For Doña Clara Bigaro Menendez." "Hey, they're looking for you!" "Are you the knife sharpener's wife?" "Yes, but he isn't here." "You can leave it for him." "No, it's..." "Grandfather is dead." "My husband's grandfather?" "No, your grandfather." "Don Fabian." "Oh, Lord!" "He never looked angry, even at the fatal hour." "He was a saint." "Yes, the fact is he died very happy." "We have to talk about the funeral." "What class of funeral will it be?" "If the mayor's coming, it has to be first class, obviously." "It'll be obvious, all right." "We need some air in here, it's very stuffy." "And people are arriving." "Don Abdon, come in!" "I came as soon as I heard." "What a pity!" "A man who was strong as a rock and in good health!" "We are honored, Don Abdon, in this family's tragic hour." "Did he make a will?" "Of course, when he had the first colic." " And prudent too." " Yes, indeed." "After him, they broke the mold." "What is it, Don Abdon?" "A chamber pot!" "Abelarda, the basin, hurry!" "The carpet!" "Abelarda!" "But..." "What's grandpa Fabi laughing about?" "That's what I want to know." "Why is a corpse laughing?" "And then it's always just a couple of drops." "When is the funeral?" "The usual time, mid-morning, about 11:00." "A bad time." "People are working." "Even the mayor won't go to the burial." "You want us to bury him at night?" "You can leave it until Sunday!" " Don Abdon!" " Where are you going, father?" " Not now, this isn't the time." " Don Abdon, as you are a notary, I'm informing you of my last will." "I want between 10 and 12 thousand people to attend my funeral." "And also 200 old folk from the Sisters of Charity." "And it's to be on a weekend." "Understood?" "And as it's my last will, you'll have to comply with it." " Take note." " I'm doing that." "Did you see the hug the hairdresser gave him?" "What is it to you?" "Doña Luisa, hello." "Doña Ramona, hello." "He's so accepting." "Look, he's dead and it seems he doesn't mind." "Listen, when I was young" "I had some terrible erections." " Really?" " Well," "I'll tell you, to hit the john I had to aim in an arc." "Careful!" "Like with artillery." "You're a soldier, you understand." "Of course I do." " Ma'am..." " My condolences." "Doña Presen!" "You're so thoughtful." " My deepest sympathy." " Thank you." " I know about these things." " And your husband?" "Please excuse him, he's just had an appendix operation." "Hello." "Oh, how lovely!" "Don Pablo, it's Father Amelgo." " His fly!" " I'll do it up." "He's smiling like a little boy!" "Careful with the basin, it's splashing." " What were his last words?" " "Potatoes, potatoes."" "Good, good." "We have to see those words as a rejection of everything." "If you'll allow me..." "Proceed." "We'll get rid of that smile." "You must understand that appearing before the Almighty with such a jovial, shameless expression..." "Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come..." " Mom, when is lunch?" " Lolin, for God's sake!" "What's she doing here?" " Come up with me, love." " I don't want to." "Go on, pet, Grandpa will come up for you later." "I want to see the dead body!" " There's no need for her to suffer." " That's what I think." "There's no need to suffer." "I was 16 and very stupid." "My parents wanted your mother and me to be nuns." "They thought marrying Jesus Christ was a bargain." "But the cloister wasn't for me." "I liked the cinema and dreaming of marrying Tyrone Power." "Do you like the cinema?" "Yes, the ones with James Dean." "So do I. I used to be such a dreamer." "They didn't throw you out for that, aunt." "Just call me Clara." "Who told you they threw me out?" "I ran away." " With the knife grinder?" " Yes, with Lolo." "It was all your grandpa's fault." " Grandpa's?" " Yes, he was so capricious." "On his birthday, he got a craving for rice." "And my mother had to kill a chicken." "And as the knife was blunt it had to be sharpened." "And who had to see to it?" "Stupid Clarita." "My sister was playing the piano." ""Clarita, go downstairs,"" ""the knife grinder will sharpen the knife to kill the chicken."" "I went down, and guess what?" "I was wearing an apron because I was making dessert and he thought I was a servant, so instead of treating me like a lady while he was turning the wheel..." "He made improper advances?" "Good Lord, what a polite nephew!" "Yes, he got all stupid." "He looked all moony-eyed and said he felt lonely." "You know what I mean, don't you?" "Yes, I'm a poet." "In that case I'll continue." "I took up with Lolo." "Without getting married?" "No, we got married, we were even in the papers." "But grandpa still didn't forgive me." "He even denounced him as a red." "What happened?" "He was put in jail, and to buy him cigarettes I went into service." "And then Marianin came along." " Mother, look!" " Thank you, darling." "Look." "Say hello to your cousin Fabian." "Give him a kiss, go on." "Listen, darling." "When dad comes, tell him to wash and change and come to grandpa's house." "Great-grandpa is dead and I'm going to his wake." "Mom told me the knife grinder shouldn't come." "Leave the snails over there, and cover them with a cloth, I don't want any slime." "What will you tell dad?" "To go to fucking great-grandpa's house 'cos he's dead." "And he's not to drink." " One thing, Don Mariano..." " Barley has gone up!" "Father, you just can't stop thinking about business." " The bicarbonate, dear." " Oh, yes." "What did you want?" "This is the death notice." "Tell me what you think." ""Don Fabian Bigaro Perle"" ""died yesterday at the age of 99..."" "Yesterday?" "Was I asleep for a whole day?" "Father, really!" " It's for tomorrow's paper." " Of course." "I'll continue: "having received the Holy Sacraments full stop."" ""His grieving son, Don Mariano Bigaro Galabarda comma..."" "Put "businessman"." "I'll put "businessman"." ""Businessman comma"," ""his granddaughter Doña Luisa comma..."" "Put "pianist"." "Why?" "You haven't touched the piano since we got married." "True." "But if I hadn't married you I'd be giving concerts everywhere." "All right, but if people laugh don't get angry." "Didn't I study the piano?" "All right, you're a pianist." ""pianist comma"," ""his son-in-law Don Pablo Hidroso Fritada, army officer"" ""comma, his great-grandchildren Fabian and Lolin,"" ""announce the terrible loss etc." What do you think?" "Clarita..." "Clarita..." "The undertaker's men are here." "Come along!" "We'll need his medals." "Come on, careful." "That's it." "Watch what you're doing!" "Good, now go back." "To you." "Our deepest sympathy." "I guess that guy is the deceased." "And I'm his direct orphan." "With your permission." "These Italian bedrooms are great for laying out the body." "My daughter may want to use the dining room." "No, no, not the dining room." "It's much more discreet in here." "Give me that." "Do we have to dress him?" " What are you doing Sunday?" " What is it to you?" "You'd knock anybody's eyes out." "Have some respect." "At least for the deceased." "Abelarda!" "I like the grey, it's more serious." "But it's almost new." "Next year, it'll do Fabianito, he keeps growing." "I'll say nothing about that." "I'll leave his medals here." "He must wear his medals." "Well, away you go!" "Here's the navy blue suit." "Pants, jacket..." "Need anything else?" "The usual stuff:" "shirt, tie, shoes..." "Here's the shirt, collar and cuffs ironed." "And socks, otherwise it looks very ugly." "His nails are long, they should be cut." "No, they'll grow again." "Some families put on the vest and underpants too." "It's up to you." "Like he was going to a bullfight!" "What's this?" "It's a crate!" "My poor father in a crate lined with sacking!" "We're dressing him in his navy blue suit and his medals just to send him off with a third rate burial?" "What do you mean, a crate?" "And a third rate burial?" "It's a second rate burial." "It is, isn't it?" "Second rate!" "And he's boasting about it!" "When I die, you can abandon me." "Throw me on a garbage dump and it'll cost you nothing!" "Father, don't exaggerate." "It's what you contracted." "Look." "And no medals!" "Don't take them!" "Don't take them from me!" "You can't take medals from a sub-officer!" "All right!" "I'll give them to him." "Good God!" "Don't bring that in, the hall's clean." "We had a puncture." " "We"?" " Yes, my aunt Clara and I." "Good morning." "And good morning to you." "Aunt Clara, remember about the feeling." "Yes, don't keep on." "Tell me truth, who is that?" "She's my aunt." "Like hell she's your aunt." "She's a tart." " No." " I'm telling you." "Aunt!" "...Don't abandon me." "What's the matter, Rosa?" "Are you scared of us?" "Why won't you answer us?" "In any case, you know you can trust us." "I'd rather..." "I'd rather talk about something else." "Well, then, good bye." "Until tomorrow." "Daughter!" " Father!" " Let me hug you." "Forgive me." "You forgive me." "I've lost a father, but I've gained a daughter." "Come and see him." "How did you find out?" "I guess you had a feeling, isn't that so?" "Yes, that's right." "I was watering the geraniums and suddenly I saw him, lying dead in that very coffin." " And he kept calling me." " Sister..." " Sister." " My sister!" "Sister-in-law." "Have you had lunch?" "Well, not really." "The mayor!" "Get in line." "Ma'am, the antenna man." "'Morning." "Pelayo Pozuelo from Electro Tele." "Oh, excuse me." "My deepest sympathies." "I'd better come back some other day." "No, you must be joking!" "We've been waiting two weeks for you." "On a day like this, dear?" "Yes, father." "If you'll tell me where you want it to go..." "Yes, come this way." "Look, right here." "Abelarda, move the altar." " It's going here." " Right beside the?" "Of course." "From now on, this will be the TV room." "So when we watch it, we'll remember him." "OK, I'll look for the best place to wire it up." "Go ahead." "Do you want to appear on TV?" "Me?" "As what?" "Whatever you like." "I can give you a hand." "Keep your hand in your pocket!" "We have to put in Dad's dentures." "It's not essential." "It's not that, but without his teeth his cheeks are hollow and it looks bad." "All right, put them in." "No, you do it, you're not one of the family." "That's lovely!" "Grandpa, because of the TV I'm not getting the room." "Go on, make the TV not work." "What do you care?" "You're dead now." "I saw the look you gave the antenna man." "You're such a flirt." " No, ma'am." " Yes." "Last week it was the milkman." "What are you thinking of?" "Abelarda!" "Here, nice and warm." "Thank you." "I see you have a pressure cooker." "I wonder when I can buy one." "Are you as hard up as that?" "If only you knew." "Poor as a church mouse." "But it's the life I chose, so..." "Forget about romantic phrases." "Look where they got you." "Yes, you're right." "What'll we do?" "We're not throwing out dentures that are almost new." "We should have got the undertakers to do it." "To think you're a warrant officer..." " Son, wouldn't you like to try?" " Not me." "You little shit." "Yes, good idea." "These village girls aren't fussy about anything." "Abe!" " Yes, Don Mariano." " Look, it's just..." "Would you mind putting..." "No, not a chance." "That's asking too much." "Careful!" "Don't go and fall now!" " Why don't you pull the cable?" " I can't!" " Why not?" " There's a dead body." "What can I do?" "Hey, have some manners." "We're in mourning." "Yeah, but understand my position too." "Afterwards, if the picture isn't clear, whose fault is it?" "Electro Tele's." "And then it's always:" ""Why install a German gadget"" ""if you can't see a thing?"" "The man's right." "I'll have to call the workshop because" "I hadn't reckoned on this." "Behave yourself." " Good afternoon." " God protect you, but we're not giving alms today." "I am Manuel Lanzagorta Porrua." " Where is my wife?" " What wife?" "Don't let him in!" "Get my son-in-law!" "And he's to bring his gun!" " Don Pablo!" " You're for it!" "I'm going to kill that crowd of bastards!" "I'm at the home of Mr. Bigaro" "Perle, yes." "Number 8, Porzones Street." "What's going on?" "What's going on?" " The knife grinder!" " I'll slit your throats!" "Damn gun..." "It's jammed!" "Stay where you are, Marianin." "Come out here." "Keep him occupied." "Bring some oil." "No, wait." "We don't want a bloodbath." "Put that gun away." "Let's talk." "Like hell we'll talk!" "What's that?" "What's that banging?" "It's nothing, Luisa." "Are you opening the door?" "Yes." "I'm opening it, in peace." "What's going on?" "Father, the neighbors." " Doña Luisa, what's happening?" " Doña Ramona, it's nothing." "What is it, Doña Luisa?" "Please, everyone get inside." "Come here, my love." "Hello, son." "Are you really called Marianin?" "Yes, father, like you." "How about that?" "Thank you, my dear." "Excuse me." "With the emotion I've forgotten your name." "Manuel Lanzagorta Porrua." "My pleasure." "He even put on his wedding suit." "Too late, but let's forget about that." "Will you give me a kiss?" "Will you give me a peseta?" "A peseta?" "Well..." "The kiss?" " Come in, Don Manuel." " After you." "The fact is, you might get us out of tight spot." "Where's the body?" " Come along." " Very well." " Fabianito, this is your cousin." " Yeah." "You two go into the kitchen for afternoon tea." " We haven't had lunch yet." " Go on!" "I'm coming now." "You know what a whore is?" "I'm going to get Lolin so she can meet her cousin." "Oh, God." "Here's the oil." "Great!" "Be careful, don't hurt him." "Careful..." "You don't want the spoon?" "I work better with this." "I'd have done it, but I have to take the death notice..." "Yes, son-in-law, now I can see him." "That's dad!" "Be brave, Don Mariano." "He looks so handsome." "He's like a painting." "Tell me, has my grandson made his First Communion?" "I don't think so." "I'll fix that." "We'll buy him a naval uniform and he can make it with his cousin." "What a business." "She won't come down and meet her cousin." "That's all right." "Stop playing at cousins." "It's easy for you to say." "Thank you, Abe." "This is very consoling." "You know what?" "You should go up for her." "I can't, I have to take the death notice to the paper." "No one helps here." "I'll take it for you, brother-in-law." "We're here to help." "Someone has to sit with the corpse." "I'll give you the money." "You won't have enough on you." "I'm not used to carrying any." "Go on." "Look, I need a bit more space here, so, if you don't mind, we'll move the corpse a bit." "Let's go, we have to prepare the wake." "Come on!" "How much food do we have?" "Very little." "Abelarda couldn't get down to the store." "Ma'am, this death will finish us all." "Sir, we'll lift it and the ladies can move the trestles." "Abelarda, the trestles." " Help out." " Stand back." "On 3." "Careful." "What strength!" "Excuse me, ma'am." "Careful." "And the one you call "La Goya"?" "She's a whore, she's got a gold tooth in her mouth and a tattoo on her ass." " Have you seen it?" " The tooth?" "No, the tattoo." "La Goya is really nice." "Every time I post a letter for her she gives me a kiss and a peseta." "Who does she write to?" "Her son, he's in the Reformatory." "What's her house like?" "It's a whore house." "Like a house, but with ornaments." "With benches for people to sit on, and a pianola." "And how do they dress?" "La Goya, for example." "Like everyone." "During the day they wear dressing gowns and look ugly because they don't fix themselves up." "But at night they paint their lips and their eyes, they wear cologne and look like film stars." "Do they dance naked?" "No." "They only take off their bra and panties in their room when they're busy." "Have you ever seen them in their rooms?" "The boss doesn't let me in at night and if she catches me looking she hits me with her slipper." "So you only see them in their dressing gowns." "Right." "But you've seen La Goya's ass." "Well, hers and everyone's." "That's when I'm doing messages and they're washing." "Listen, sister, if you could sew the black armbands for me it would be a great help." "Why not send these two for pastries?" "Clean your mouth, you're a big boy now." "I can go to the bakery for you." "Look at how good the poet is." "Poet?" "Don't talk to me, poet!" "Can my cousin come with me?" " I'm not going." " Be quiet and go with him." " I'll give you some money." " A peseta?" "Marianin, stop asking for money!" "Go to La Conce's and get 6 Ibs. of the big pastries..." "No, the small cream ones." "They go farther." "Fabianito, take him with you." "He's being a pest." " Abelarda!" " Coming!" "Put on yourjacket, Fabianito, it's cold now." "My little girl!" "Come here!" "Look, Clara!" "Look." "Lolin, this is your aunt Clara." "Isn't she pretty?" "Give her a kiss." "You're not coming to my Communion." "Go on, get out of the kitchen." "I know who you took after." "Goddamn kids." "Pepita is a slovenly slut." "Orujo, Honorio!" "I'm telling you." "A slut!" "And I'm an idiot." "That's what I am, an idiot." "Read this for me, please." ""Don Fabian Bigaro Perle"" ""died yesterday at the age of 99"" ""having received the Holy Sacraments."" ""His grieving son,"" ""Don Mariano Bigaro Galabarda, businessman,"" ""his granddaughter Doña Luisa, pianist,"" ""his son-in-law Pablo Hidroso Fritada, army officer,"" ""his great-grandchildren Fabian and Lolin"" ""announce their painful loss."" " That's it?" " That's all it says." "Damn that crowd of bastards!" "Cheers, my friend." " Give me that." " Here, Lolo." "Hey..." "You look as if you write well." "School handwriting, with the Jesuits." "If you've be kind enough, add this for me." "With pleasure." "Go ahead." ""His granddaughter Clara, housewife,"" ""her husband,"" ""Manuel Lanzagorta Porrua..."" "Lanzagorta?" "Are you from Bilbao?" "No, I'm a traveling knife sharpener." "And add there:" ""Great-grandson..."" "Not grandson, great-grandson, "Marianin"." "I'd even include the maid, because she's an eyeful." "All right." "Sir, allow me." "Thank you very much." "Keep it, keep it." "No, and as well, I'm paying for this." "Why not?" "I'm paying right now." "No, not at all, it's my wine." "Drinks for everyone!" " Shit, you must be from..." " My buddy." "You know what a French is?" "Yes, someone born in France." "No, dummy, I mean what the French girl does." "Well, she isn't French but that's what they call her." "She works more than anyone." "What does she do?" "Give me a peseta and I'll tell you." "It's something Spanish women don't want to do." "If they do it, they'll go to hell." "How do you know?" "A regular told me." "Courage, my boy." "Enjoy life, happiness lies first of all in health." "Then it gored him in the neck and tore his femoral artery." "That artery isn't in the neck." "It's down here, near the thigh." "Are you a doctor?" "Forgive me, I'm a barber." "I'm head of the Bullfighting Club and a doctor at the ring." "And when a bull gores a bullfighter in this area the horn tears the femoral and the aponeurosis." " It comes to us all." " Please, this way." "My deepest sympathy." "If my mother asks you, it's four pounds." " Old yellowbelly!" " Little fleabag!" "Forgive him, he's a joker." "He's a son of a bitch." "Marianin!" "With all the horny men here, how do you defend yourself?" "Or don't you?" "I say I'm a virgin and that stops them." "They're very Catholic!" "Yeah, they're very Catholic but, for example," "I bet that wimp of a brother-in-law..." "Not anymore." "Doña Luisa caught him telling me that if I let him into my bed he'd get her to give me a pay rise." "If you'd seen what she was like..." "But she didn't throw you out." "No, she threw him out." "Doña Luisa told him that she was very happy with me." "While she was trying to scratch his eyes out, she said:" ""For once that I have a proper maid"" ""who works hard, doesn't cheat me,"" ""and accepts one day off, you're going to corrupt her?"" ""Go sleep in a boarding house, you swine!"" "He was sleeping there for a month." "I'm not surprised." "When she was little she'd an awful temper." "And my father?" "Don Mariano?" "He's like a priest." "He comes up Sunday nights to hear what I did with my boyfriend." "I tell him and he tells me to repent or I'll go to hell." "Then he gives me 5 pesetas to put in the plate at mass." " He doesn't touch you?" " Not at all." "Good Lord." "Good morning." "Good morning." "It's a terrible loss." "The best go first." "That's disgusting!" "Good morning." "I'm Don Pablo Hidroso Fritada." "I'm an army officer, you know?" "Primo de Rivera made a mistake in introducing protective covering because as the bull couldn't gore the horses it lost interest and didn't want to fight." "But it used to be a bloodbath." "And you must admit, Arbejas, that as the bulls couldn't disembowel the horses the soft-hearted Spanish women could go to the bullring." "No, there isn't a problem." "The problem is the person I sent with the notice hasn't come back." "I don't know if I've told you about when Lalanda dedicated a bull to my father." " No." " Well..." "Thank you." "At ease, Sanchez." "Have something." "Yes, sir." "They're printing the edition." "Just as well." "Yes, indeed." "Why hasn't Lolo come back?" "He knows there's no place for him in this house." "Everyone got to their feet and started to sing:" ""Marcial is the greatest..."" "Mom, why is the TV like that all the time?" "Isn't she funny!" "It's provisional until they erect the main antenna." "No, forget "provisional"." "Finish what you started." "The TV is paid for, and in "articulo mortis"." "But you're facing north-east, it's hard to pick up the signal." "That's not my problem." "Tell me, is your sister staying for dinner?" "I can't deny her a plate of food at my table." "It's not one plate of food, it's three." "The child eats, the knife grinder eats." "And the mayor is coming." "Stop going on about the mayor!" "I'm not saying it for me, it's for your father." "He's obsessed with the nomination." "Fat chance." "The errand boys!" "Let's see what you've brought me!" "Is this all?" " It's what you said." " No!" " Four pounds." " Four pounds!" "Take your cousin to your room and neither of you come out." "Gluttons!" "Stay out of my sight!" "The mayor!" "I knew he wouldn't let my father down." "Don Mariano, a close friend of your father, he says." "Good evening, sir." "Ma'am..." "I've just heard that Don Fabian is dead." "May I say a prayer for the eternal repose of his soul?" "Did you know my father?" "You're his son, and his living image." "We appreciate your condolences but may I show you the door?" "Good Heavens, he said he knew my father!" "Come this way." "Don Fabian, may God rest your soul." "He didn'tjust help me with alms, he enlightened me with his advice." "Do you like smoking?" "Smoking?" "No." "Then what'll we do?" " I can read you a funeral prayer." " What's that?" "Something for grandpa." "He's very dead." ""He was smiling even at the end."" ""He died, and is lying without rest."" ""He used to whistle, and also in his..."" "Who are you?" "Marianin, the knife grinder's son." "And you?" "Lolin." "I don't want to be your friend." "Master Fabian is a real devil." "The other day he filled my wardrobe with hearts." "He cut them out, painted them red, and pinned them to all my panties." "Mom..." "Yes, love." " When are we going home?" " When your father comes back." "I'm bored with my cousin, he wants to read me things." "You can stay here if you keep very quiet." "May I measure your arm?" "I have to make the armbands." "Of course, here's my arm." "Like I was giving blood." "You haven't got a job." "That's awful." "I did have a job, I was a bricklayer." "Why did you quit?" "For some vice." "No, it was a revelation." "We were building a house and suddenly I thought:" ""I could only have a house like this if I become bullfighter or a gangster."" "But I'm not brave enough to be a bullfighter and I don't have the money to go to America and be a gangster." "What a talker." "So for ten years I've been a beggar, an employment in which I have introduced personal techniques." " Really?" " Yes." "I prefer lottery offices by day and brothels by night." " Do you know La Goya?" " Marianin!" "Why the lottery offices?" "People who've bought a ticket give me 10 cents in the hope that Divine Providence rewards them with the jackpot." "You've got it all thought out." "Then there are wakes." "Where else would I get delicious soup like this?" "Thank you for the compliment." " The soup stinks." " Marianin." "Soup is the only thing the little shit is fussy about." "In that case, I'll have both." "I can't see shit." "Is this all there is?" " I don't believe it." " The radio's better." "An American invention that'll never catch on." "If it's Franco..." "See?" "It doesn't work." "I'm sorry, the signal is only 40 microvolts." "Get them to put more." "Like I said, Don Mariano." "All these years shaving your father, how could I fail him now?" "And a few hours after decease the hairs are like scales." "Won't you have something to eat?" "I'm on duty this evening." "I'm going to the procession with my wife." "Arbejas, you've finished your military service." "If you insist, I'll stay." "Is this TV never going to work?" "I've installed almost all the TVs in this city and the problem isn't in the set, it's German." "If it's German..." "Doña Luisa!" "Don Pablo!" "A gentleman who insisted on signing the book four times and he's with another one who's just as bad." "They nearly fell down the stairwell." "Wait here." "The knife grinder." "Look at the state he's in..." "Dad!" "There's my handsome boy!" "Go to your mother." "This gentleman is from Bilbao, and a very good friend." "Get out, please." "Brother-in-law..." "Forgive me if this is untimely, but I'm pleased to offer you my condolences." "Holy Mother of God!" "Shit..." "Brother-in-law, this is lñaki Mari." "If I may, I'm going to pray to the Virgin of Begoña to take him to Heaven." "The deceased, I mean." "And for your information, I almost sang mass, in Loyola." "Ignacio Maria" "Arrigorrotxu" "Mendazubieta." "President of... the Board of Directors of Iron, Steel and Metal Ltd." "Ltd." "Pablo, we'll have to offer this gentleman something when he's finished praying." "A man who scatters 40,000 pesetas like that..." "What's this?" "A television!" "He likes the TV!" " But it doesn't work." " Who says so?" "Excuse me, I'm Ignacio Maria." "What area do they cover?" "I mean in kilometers." "They have a radius of about 70 kilometers." "70 kilometers!" "Ignore him, lñaki Mari." "It doesn't work." "It's not the TV, it's the antenna." "Then go up on the roof and fix it." "Sure, and risk my life." "You want me to risk mine?" "Take him away!" "To the roof!" "Come on." "Excuse me, I've come to pray." "Now that we're alone" "I'll introduce myself properly." "Pablo Hidroso Fritada." "I'm the grandson-in-law of the deceased." "And this is my wife." " At your service, ma'am." " A pleasure." " Excuse me." " Of course." "Have you got fruit salts?" "No, we don't, but I can give you bicarbonate, or lithia water, or some camomile tea." "No, fruit salts would be better." "Come to the kitchen with me." "We'll soon sort it out." "After you, ma'am." "Come here." "What's up?" "Where, how and when did you find that dimwit?" "Those are private things but that's where friendships are born." "That's rubbish." "Look, lñaki Mari had a sweetheart called Pepita and he caught her in a hotel with a waiter, and so as not to kill the waiter or the sweetheart he went out drinking." "You're worse than him." "Each one has his troubles." "My God!" "Pablo!" "The gentleman from Bilbao!" "Now what is it?" "I want my father." "He's coming now." " I want my father." " Listen, Marianin," " do you go to catechism class?" " No." " So you don't know how to pray." " No." "My God!" "What's wrong with him?" "I gave him bicarbonate in a glass of soda water." "My Lolo." "You've been drinking." "What's wrong?" "I was accompanying my friend in his misfortune." "You're my misfortune." "Mom, is he going to die too?" "No, love, don't say that." "Eat and be quiet." "Pepita!" "Pepita!" "Traitor!" "Pepita my ass!" "Pepita is his sweetheart, or she was." "You look beautiful." "Don't touch me." "Let me see." "All that's wrong is his nose is bleeding." "We plug his nose and that's that." "If it keeps bleeding we'll have to cauterize it." "Thank you, Abelarda." "Here, put that in." "Give me a smaller piece." "How can I put that in?" "Have you got nothing to cure the headache you've given me?" "This omelet would make me fall in love." " Put it farther in!" " Press it!" "Plug it well, if you get blood on the sheets it never comes out." "This is disgusting!" "You'll hurt him." "Help me, hold his head!" "I'll teach you to bless yourself." "Do it like this." "In the name of the Father, the Son" " and the Holy Spirit." " What a bore." "I bet you went whoring with him!" "There were no whores, I swear." "Here it is." "A peach stone!" "It's mine, it's a memento." "You little shit!" "Why are you so sad?" "Lord, look at that!" "Lolin, love, wake up." "We'll sit for a while with poor Fabian." "He's all on his own." "Come on, pet." "I feel so sorry for you." "You're going to sleep at Doña Ramona's." "You'll love it there." "No, Doña Ramona smells of garlic!" "A coin for the road." "Abelarda, for God's sake." "Will you please get this man out of here?" "You don't come to a wake to scrounge." "I'd rather live off charity than go around shouting "Up the revolution!"" "and getting beaten up by the police." "How dare you say that in the home of a Spanish sub-officer?" "Someone hold me back!" "Get out, you'll ruin our evening." "My God, what a day!" "Let's try and concentrate." "This man has to lie down." "Brother-in-law, antenna man!" "We're taking the queen to her throne." "Take the beret." "This is extra." "OK, we do it on one, on two and on three!" "Mind his head, it's worth millions." "His shoes." "Footwear is very important, his ankles could swell and cause a thrombosis." "Shit!" "You make me a man." "So I am a man." "Hello, Aunt Clara." "Oh, I'm sorry!" "I'll go now." "No, no, stay." "Are you studying at this time?" "No, I was reading poetry." "You're a poet, that's right, you told me." "Were you crying?" "No, I wasn't crying." "My mascara ran, it's hot out there." "I thought: "I'll go and see my old room"." " This was your room?" " Yes." "And your mother's." "I always stood here when I was little." "Me too." "A lovely English boy lived across the way." "He had red hair and a face full of freckles." "And that was your mother's bed." " Really?" " Yes, and this was mine." "The poems you write, may I ask what they're about?" " About love." " Love?" "I want to hear them." ""Virile explosion in breasts covered with hard frost."" ""Clay in the consumed breast."" ""Flower delta, carniverous."" ""Carniverous."" "Go on." ""Storm of kisses in the sea of your back,"" ""vertigo in your endless waist."" "Well, this goes on, but..." ""At times I want to die outstretched on your body."" "Jesus!" "Fabianito, you're a demon!" "No, not with the corpse there." "The corpse is dead." "Let's go down to the van." "Master Fabian!" "I guess the refrigerator is causing the interference." "I'm going down to the van." "It's just..." "Yes, I know your verses." "Go on, close the door." "Where's the front door?" "Oh, that's right." "Good evening." "The front door?" " Thief!" " Shut up or I'll cut you!" "Virgin of Begoña!" "Did you shit yourself?" "Good evening, Ignacio Maria." "Good evening." "Can't you sleep, sir?" "I have an awful headache." "I was looking for Abelarda to..." "Grandpa is decomposing." "Are you sick?" "Yes, but I don't know how to explain it." "Go ahead." "He's shit himself." "What are you saying?" "Attention!" "It's true, I don't know how it happened." "Forgive me, please." "That's all right." "You shit yourself." "It happens in the best families." "I did it on my wedding night." "As soon as I saw him again I went to pieces." "It often happens." "Don't worry." "You go and get washed, we'll give your clothes to Abelarda, she'll wash and iron them, and you'll be like new for the funeral." "No, funerals should be a family thing." "And aren't you one of our family now?" "Don't worry, I'll see to this." "Maybe you can be of some use." "If you say anything, I'll slice yourjugular." "Not again!" "I've caught you!" "This time I've caught you!" "No, dad, I was just cooling myself down." "You were cooling "it" down, pervert!" "I'm going to kill you!" "What's going on?" "Come here!" "I know what you've been up to with my son!" "Come here this instant!" "I'm going down to the store, I'll get the carving knife and I'll chop your balls off." "You're leaving him blind and puny!" "Help Ignacio Maria." "I'm finishing things off." " Now what do we do?" " The sink." "I'm dying." "With this?" "It's freezing." "Come on, start undressing." "I'm leaving, tell me when you've finished." "Yes, you go on." "Yes, go on, we don't want you to get a fright." "Take everything out of your pockets." "Leave it all there." "This is like a hold-up." "Your pants." "The rich may eat well, but..." "What a wonderful cistern!" "If my wife could see it..." "She's Catalonian and the day before she makes oven baked cod she puts it in the cistern to de-salt it." "Abelarda!" "Put these in the bathtub and soak them." " Yes, Don Pablo." " And help Ignacio Maria." "Brother-in-law, this house is going to be full of officials, including the mayor." "You want me to go?" "Please." "That depends." " Depends on what?" " On one detail." "And the change from the death notice." "Don Pablo, that man's asleep." "Good morning." " Good morning." " Good morning." "What a family." "So you were here." "No one could stand this." "Do you think the cape?" "Don Mariano, nothing less would do for member no. 2 of the Bullfighting Club." "Look, here are the marks of the nose, of the shoulder, of the back." "This is the Holy Shroud of bullfighting." "So I see." "Don Mariano, Doña Ramona is bringing Lolin down." "But, Abelarda, I'm..." "Arbejas, if you don't mind..." "The eleventh, don't be a nuisance." " Ramona..." " I brought the little one." "As you said you'd come up for her," "I was waiting." "Grandpa Fabi has got flies." "It's true!" "They're going to eat him." "I'll tell Abelarda to bring some "Fly-Flit"." "Lolin, would you mind going to your room?" " Am I not going to school today?" " No, you're not." " So can I see the graves?" " Whatever your mother says." "I wanted to know if you'd slept well." " I had a terrible night." " Oh, heavens." " A terrible nightmare." " Really?" "My fatherjumped out of the coffin when the hearse was driving past the Town Hall and started insulting the police." "The mayor, who was out on the balcony, gave him the finger." "Marianin, what are you doing?" "I came to pray for grandpa." "A fine grandson." "Mariano, I think I'm going to have a turn." "That's from grief." "Some tea will help you." "You say the Our Father." "I won't be long." "Don't touch the dead, kid." "Dad!" "Dad!" "Dad!" "See if you get something out of this too." "Dad, let's go." "Yes, we're going." "See you back at home." "Holy Mother of God!" "Hurrah for Spain." "Hurrah." "Is the deceased here?" "The mayor!" "What do I do with him?" "The dining room!" "Come in." " Ask him to wait." "We won't be long." " This way." "Yes, this way." " There aren't many." " They're what the nuns sent." "There aren't even half a dozen." "This is happening to me because I'm an idiot." " What's happened?" " Nothing." "If I catch the knife grinder..." "By the way, look, this is the bill." "Now you mention it, why don't they have candles?" "They look like they're going to the gallows." "No, candles aren't included." "Please, for God's sake!" "I told my father: "You can rest in peace now, dad."" "Don Marcelo Palosanto, the mayor, has come to see you." "Is there greater recognition?" "It's an honor to have you here, Don Marcelo." "Would you like anything?" "Perhaps some consomme..." " No, no." " A glass of sherry." "I'll have some consomme with an egg yolk." "Well, if you insist..." "Why are you wearing that?" "I don't want to make my Communion." "I want to see the graves." "Women don't go to the cemetery." "Take off the dress, or I'll slap you." "This city will never forget Don Julian." " It's Don Fabian, mayor." " Yes, Don Fabian." "Look." " How was it?" "What happened?" " He didn't suffer." "Excuse me, mayor." "Please make yourself at home." "Thank you." "The knife grinder has shafted us." "Let me see." ""Manuel Lanzagorta Porrua,"" " "honorable knife grinder."" " Honorable!" "I'll kill him." "My father was right." "With reds, the big stick!" "Of course, if you could name my father favored son of the city..." "What do you think?" "We'll have to see about it." "So it's possible?" "It's a great loss." "What's this?" "Excuse me." "This gentleman came from Bilbao for my father's funeral." "From Bilbao?" "I woke up in the bath tub and I don't know where..." "Could someone bring me my pants?" "Yes, I'll have them ironed right away." "We put them in the oven to dry them faster." "And my shorts?" "Look in the kitchen." " Really!" " He owns the Altos Hornos." "Go on." "How can he own the Altos Hornos?" "They belong to the Spanish State." "They want to know if we're bringing down the corpse." " We'll see the deceased." " Come along." "I'll take this with me." " Enjoy it." " It's got yolk, hasn't it?" "Go and put on your uniform." "You're a mess." "Wait." "Look." "Here." " For the cortege?" " No, it's for you." "No, I don't want it." "Yes, open your hand and close your fist." " I'm ashamed to take your money." " Ashamed!" "You weren't ashamed when you should have been." "Listen, it's not for your husband." "It's for you." "No, this is for the pressure cooker I've wanted for so long." " Give me that." " What?" "Don't splatter me." "Go away, get out of here." " No, I want you to give me that." " Get out." "Go to hell." ""Above and below the ground, losing his metal, now silent."" "As I said, there are people here more deserving, and with more right, to take down the coffin." "Who's got more right than you, who came from so far, to carry this man on your shoulders?" "Of course." "Wretch, how can my father be named favorite son if you've given him a pauper's funeral?" "He's going to the best part of the cemetery, with the rich." "And the family vault?" "I'll introduce you." "Don Ignacio Maria Gurru-gurra..." " Arrigorrotxu Mendazubieta." " That's it." " The mayor." " My deepest sympathy." "I just met her in the kitchen." "Delightful." "She even sewed the button on my fly." "He's very funny." "So you're sewing "Ignacio's" buttons on his fly and you're delightful." "Don't you know I have relatives in Arrigorrriaga?" "You won't see a cent, not one." "Gilda, worse than Gilda!" " Redistribute the load." " He doesn't weigh anything." "When it comes to it, he will." "Two in front, two behind." "Gentlemen, please, we'll never get out of here." "Put on the lid." "My boy's first long pants." "If he and his sister weren't the death of me..." "Just look at him." "He looks like a man." "Doña Luisa gave us permission." "You have to be very quiet." "She could change her mind any minute." " We'll see the television." " Of course." "They're taking out the corpse." "Did he confess and take communion?" "He was a red." "He was redder than the cape they put on him, and totally anti-clerical." "I've finished." "It's called "Prayer for a man who was"." "Go on, read it." "My James Dean." "Ma'am, the undertaker says the priest is waiting." "My God!" "Father, it's time." "What was given is over, dad." "Go ahead." "All right, gentlemen, go ahead." "One step forward and up." "Up to heaven with him!" "Don't damage the walls." "Like the great bullfighters!" "Shoulder high!" "A victorious exit." ""He dreamed and died sweetly,"" ""looking without seeing us."" ""He used to whistle, and his whistle was so sweet."" ""Certain things melted away."" ""Then he died." "And he was smiling at the end..."" "Come on, come on." "Wait till you see how lovely it is." "Sit down, come on." "This is the test card." "There's nothing now because we need the martian connections through the air with waves from at least 70 kilometers away." "I've heard they show comedies, serials, soccer games, bullfights, mass on Sundays." "I don't know how it'll all fit in there." "If that's true, I won't be at the cinema." "Maybe I'll really see Pedro Pablo Ayuso." "Excuse me if I've abbreviated things." "It's been a hard spring and this morning I've got a backlog of burials." "I'm sorry." "This is the best part of the cemetery?" "The Bigaro tomb is right beside the chapel and my dear mother is buried there." "If you'd paid the rent for the last 20 years, we'd have a tomb but as you didn't, it belongs to another family." "Another family?" "That's desecration." "And he'll never know that he is dead." "Irremediably cold, eternal and solitary before the stone that tirelessly seeks his rest." "My deepest sympathy." "Thank you." "Not much of a turn-out." " Why is the mayor here?" " It's ridiculous!" "We've done enough for this family." "You have to see this, Don Ignacio Maria, on All Souls Day." "The fact is, the deceased was very unpleasant." "With all the bodies here there's lots of fertilizer." "Look at the beautiful trees." "And look at the snails." "Enormous, terrifying..."