"INSTRUCTIONS NOT INCLUDED" "My Dad used to say that fear is like the creatures in nature that man can tame." "A creature?" "Like which one?" "Like like a wolf." " Why a wolf?" " Because if a wolf sees you're scared, it will attack you." "You have to stare back at it to learn how to tame it, to scare it away." "He'd also say there were big fears and small fears." "Hold on, son." "Everything's okay." "That's why I named you Valentin." "Because you're so brave." "Dad, please, let me out of here!" "Dad!" "My Dad not only prepared me for this world's fears." "Hold on, kiddo." "It's almost midnight." "Tame the fear son." "Everything's okay." "Remember..." "He also prepared me for the fears of the afterlife." "Please, Dad!" "Let me out, Dad!" "Come here." "You're so brave, son!" "Congratulations!" "What happened?" " Did you pee yourself?" " No, it wasn't me." " It was the wolf." " What wolf?" "You're crazy." " Let's go home." " No, let go of me!" " I don't love you anymore!" "But I do!" "Come on, let's go find some ghosts!" "Run!" "Even though, honestly I was never able to master the small fears..." "Don't throw me in the water, Dad!" "...or the medium ones..." "it's for your own good!" "If you do this, you'll never be scared again..." "...or the big ones." " Dad!" "25 YEARS LATER 25 afios después" "Kiss me." "But if I couldn't master the big fears the medium fears and the small fears..." "I love it when you grab my hand." "...let alone the mother of all fears:" "Valentin marry me!" "Commitment!" "Valentin!" "Valentin do you love me?" "Why?" "I love you because because you're different." "Because you're... different." "Because you're different!" "I adore you, Julie." "You're my first and last love." "20 MONTHS LATER... 20 meses después" "Yes?" "Have we met?" "What?" "I was your eternal love a year and a half ago." "Oh, yeah!" "Right!" " Is that your baby?" " Yes." "Did you get married?" "No, you idiot!" "She's your daughter." "No." "Hold on a minute!" "I don't want to have children." "I don't want troubles, and that baby doesn't even look like me..." "Do you have ten dollars?" " What?" " Ten dollars, to pay the cab." "No, I don't have dollars." "Let me see..." "Stop that!" "That's not your food." "I don't think your sister is coming back for the baby." "The truth is it looks like I'm the baby's father." "You did it with your sister?" "No!" "No,no!" "No, it's just that..." "Well... she's not my sister." "But she did go to pay the cab, though." "Well..." " Here!" " What?" "What?" "I just remembered I have to go to the doctor." "Yes, I have a problem with my... prostate." "Yes." "Bye, honey." "Women don't have prostates." "No?" "Well, that's why I have to see a doctor." "Bye." "Hey, but... ...you said you'd stay the whole weekend!" "Hey, you know your mom." "She wouldn't leave you here, would she?" "Would she?" "Hello?" "What Julie?" "Oh, Julie!" "Julie, where are you?" "Julie!" "I can't do it." "...what is it you can't do?" "Julie!" "Julie, where are you?" "Julie!" "Passengers on Flight 2264 bound for Los Angeles please proceed to Gate 9." "I'm such a moron!" "The next time I leave you alone and you don't say anything I swear I'll leave you." "AIRPORT" "DEPARTURES" "Excuse me, ma'am." "Have you seen a blond girl kind of hippy, in her twenties?" "Julie!" "Julie!" "Julie!" "Your baby!" "Your baby!" "Julie!" "Julie!" "No, no." "It's hard." "It falls down!" " Valentin!" " Can you change diapers, Sammy?" "Yeah, sure." "It doesn't have to be disgusting." "It's dirty, but you have to I just go to the bathroom and wash my hands afterwards." " Where's Judeisi?" " She's over there." "I'll call her." "Judeisi!" "What is this?" "That's it, my baby." "She's full of crap." "I'll change her diaper." "What's your name?" "What's her name, Valentin?" "I don't know." "It must be here." "Maggie?" "Her name is Maggie." "She's named after a sauce." " Have some vegetables, kid." " What are you doing?" "I'm giving her carrots." "That's too spicy." "Why don't you just keep her?" "It's high time you settled down." "No way!" "What would I do with a baby?" "Goodbye freedom, goodbye tourists!" "What will I do for a living?" "I might even have to get a job." "And you'll have to learn English." "'Cause when she starts talking, you won't understand her." "I'll have to send her to school, feed her." "Every day, three times a day." "And speak to her like a dummy so she'll eat." "Eat, baby!" "Eat, baby!" "And I'll have to watch Barney over and over." "One day she'll ask me why she's growing boobs." "When she's older, she'll want to borrow my car." "I'll have to beat up her boyfriend when he knocks her up." "No, no!" "Besides, I'll suck as a Dad." "Hey, I have an idea!" "Write to Angelina Jolie." "Tell her the baby's from Acapulco or Oaxaca." "Maybe she'll adopt her." "I know!" "Let's go to your house." "I found this other box." "You must have something from that Julie woman." "Didn't she leave you a souvenir?" "She did." "But I got rid of it with penicillin." "I mean, a telephone number, an address." "Something." "Here's a letter from a Julie." "A Julie." " Really?" " Yes, look." " She wrote a letter?" " Didn't you know?" "She wrote it a year and a half ago." "Look!" "Let me see!" "Does she say how to contact her, a phone number, anything?" "No." "It only says:" ""I miss you kissing my..."" "How very explicit!" "Kisses from L.A." "What does L.A. mean?" "Loving American, no?" " Look for her at this hotel." " What hotel?" "This one." "Look." "California Hills Hotel." "It looks like she works there." "Where is that?" "Hey, that's in Los Angeles." "I barely understand English." "I hate the language." "I always flunked it." "Besides, I'm broke." "And you're scared of flying." "Really scared." "You're crazy." "I'm not scared of planes." "Well, then you have no choice but to keep the baby." "She's so beautiful." "You'll end up falling in love with her." "I've never been scared of airplanes." "It's just that if we go by road, we'll save money." "We'll have more time to chat." "We'll have more father-daughter moments." "Now, if I return you to your morn it doesn't mean I don't love you." "It's just that you'll be better off there." "For example, movies premiere much earlier there." "Just think." "When Twilight premiered here it was already Breaking Dawn there." "Besides, if you stay here you'll be pretty, but darker and smaller." "But, if you grow up there you'll probably be blond, blue-eyed tall." "Besides, here you could get mugged any time by a thief or a cop." "Not to mention the corruption drug dealers demonstrations the traffic the politicians potholes the national soccer team." "There are only disadvantages here." "What?" "Are you sleeping again?" "But it's time to eat!" "Don't you want to eat?" "Look." "Your milk is warm now." "I want an abortion!" "Damn cheap condoms!" "Is the baby real?" "Get in!" "My name is Lupe." "Enough!" "Enough!" "Enough!" "I said it's enough!" "It's enough!" "Can you change diapers?" "...I was just asking..." "Yuck!" "Is she sick?" "Sorry." "It wasn't her this time." "Change her already, will you?" "I'll change her for a quiet baby." "Don't try to be funny." "Change her!" "I'll just finish my burger first." "Right now!" "Good idea." "Right now!" "See?" "You could've changed her three hours ago." "She sounded just like me!" "We're identical, mija!" "Look, the baby's a gringa!" "I'll just drop her off with her mom in L.A. and come back." "I told you I don't have one, I didn't know, Mr. Copper." "But I'm not staying." "I'll just drop her off and come right back." "I'll be back today." "You can have my watch and my ID as proof that I'll be back in 5 hours." "What?" "Didn't he go for it?" "Why didn't you tell me you didn't have a visa?" "Are you going to Los Angeles, too?" "Water!" "Say hello to your Aunt Zenaida." "Careful!" "Get up." "Say hello to Queta, babe." "Tell her that grandma didn't even make it to Cuernavaca." "Thank you." "Thank you, Lupe." "Thank you so much." "Lupe"." "Do you know where this hotel is?" "I'll find her." "What?" "But the dog?" "What about the dog?" "Gimme a break." "They let the dog in." "Hey, paisana, help me out." "Do you know this girl?" "Julie." "Her name is Julie." "I was told..." "Can you call Julie?" "Hey, girl!" "Baby!" "What was it?" "What was it?" "She was named after a sauce." "Cholula...!" "...no..." "Tabasc...!" "...Tabasco." "Valentina!" "Valentina!" "No, don't throw me in the water." "Dad, please!" "Dad!" "If you do this, you'll never be scared again." "I have to learn your name!" "You could be a great stuntman." "You're brave." "Here they're all softies!" "No." "No, I live in Acapulco." "I only want to go back with my daughter." "I don't want to be a wetback." "When you cross..." "When you cross the border and they see the baby is a gringa they'll take her away and you'll go to jail." "Think it over." "I'll give you a good job as a stuntman." "1 ano ONE YEAR" "TWO YEARS" "Poop!" "Poop!" "Maggie!" "THREE YEARS" "Maggie!" "Maggie, why did you draw on the walls, honey?" "I told you not to draw on the walls." "That's what notebooks are for." "Don't cry, honey!" "Calm down." "Calm down, don't cry." "Don't yell at me!" "Surprise!" "Surprise!" "FIVE YEARS" "6 anos" "SIX YEARS" "Maggie!" "7 anos" "SEVEN YEARS" "Dad, it's your turn." "Coming, Maggie." "Why do you always go to the bathroom before work?" "Are you scared?" "No way!" "I'm not scared, I'm concentrating." "What's that?" "Thinking." "To concentrate is to think." "And you use your brain to concentrate?" "I heard what you're thinking." "Valentin!" "You know I hate English, okay?" "We're waiting for you." "Maggie's already there." "Coming." "Just remind me:" "Why the hell am I doing this?" "Because it's the only thing you know." "Because you're scared they won't let you take Maggie to Mexico." "Because"." "...no other job pays up to 10,000 dollars a day!" "Because..." " Okay, okay, okay." "Enough." "That's enough." "Are you ready?" "Tell her I am." "He says to enjoy yourself." "All ready?" "Everybody standing by." "What's wrong, Dad?" "Are you scared?" "Don't look scared, Dad." "We'll have to do it again." "No fall, nor wound, nor aching head can stop this charm from bringing you back from the dead!" "No fall, nor wound, nor aching head can stop this charm from bringing you back from the dead!" "You'll be scared if you forget!" "Dad?" "I want to be like you when I grow up." "A stuntman?" "No, I want to be immortal just like you." "Good afternoon." "Mr. Bravo, your mail." "Thank you." "I'd like to remind you about the elevator maintenance fee." "Please." "I already paid it." " Oh no, Mr. Bravo." " I gave you the money yesterday." "Mr. Bravo!" "I never forget these things." "It's okay." " You haven't paid." "Here." " I'll write you down on my list." " Yeah, okay." "Dad, Mr. Anders is kind of absentminded." "You think?" "Hey!" "I can't write you down!" "It says here you haven't paid." " Hello." " Hi." "Hi!" " How are you?" " Fine." "Fine." "But my bathroom is still broken." "When are you coming to check my pipes?" "Later." "Well..." "Bye." "Dad." "That woman's drain is always clogged, isn't it?" "You should take a look at it." "Wanna play?" "You're on!" "Stop!" " Stop!" " Get out of the way!" "Stop!" "Shut up!" "Way to go!" "Bravo!" "Well done, honey!" "Okay, time for your bath, kiddo." "Come on." "Is Johnny Bravo really my grandpa?" "That's right." "Why doesn't he ever visit me?" "Because, I told you he doesn't have a passport." "Besides, he's working on his diving." " Tell me about grandpa." " Again?" "You know his life by heart." "Come on, so I can tell my friends." "Okay." "Johnny Bravo was the greatest diver of La Quebrada." "That's right!" "He loved diving from the very top!" "No." "He loved diving into dumpsters!" "Everybody loved Johnny." " Because he had..." " A big heart!" "No." "He had a big pimple on his nose that looked really funny." "No, that's not right!" "Tell me the story right." "Okay." "When I was a kid one day, your grandpa threw me from the top of La Quebrada." "Don't laugh." "I'm serious." "It was awful!" "I was about I don't know, six or seven years old." "Like you." "But thanks to that I was never scared again." "I'm seven years old when will you take me to Acapulco to jump from La Quebrada?" "No." "I'd never do that to you." "Come on, please." "I don't want to be scared of anything." "Good shot!" "Good shot!" " Very good." " Your turn." " Dad, it's your turn." " Coming." "Take my turn." "Let's see." "Bills more bills." " What?" " Look, Maggie!" "A letter from morn!" ""Dear Maggie I've been too busy to come and see you, 'cause I've saving the world." "On my way home, I stopped to buy you a present." "And that was when, a mysterious masked man dressed as a bat, asked me to help him..." "He wanted me to help hand out bean tacos and cactus juice to the earthquake victims in Gotham City."" "I bet that masked man was Batman!" "I bet he was." "What else does it say'?" ""After that, I was sent on a mission in Australia." "I had to save the last duck-billed platypuses from extinction." "The mommy platypus fell in love with a Canadian beaver much younger than she was and the tease ran off with him, abandoning her nest." "So, I had to sit on the eggs she'd left behind." "I even had to fight off some wolves to save the poor things since their morn never came back to sit on her eggs."" "With her beaver?" "No, no!" "I mean, she chose her beaver, over her children." "Yes... yes..." ""While I was waiting for them to hatch, I thought of you." "As usual, I miss you very much, honey." "The only thing that comforts me is knowing that you're taken care of by the most loving, intelligent brave, and above all the most handsome Dad ever!"" "She's exaggerating." "As usual." ""You must be very proud of your Dad because he's the best man in the world."" "Please stop!" "Stop!" ""P.S. Tell him to keep on helping the neighbor with her pipes." "God will repay him some day." "Lots of love, morn."" "Dad." "You have to go to the doctor tomorrow." "No, I'm not going." "I don't like doctors." "They only give you shots and medicine." "You're scared of shots!" "Of course not!" "It's just that I don't like people looking at my butt." "I think you're scared of going alone and want me to go with you." " That'd be nice." " Okay." "But you have to start going alone." "What will you do when we can't be together anymore?" "Why do you say that?" "Because when I go to college, I won't be able to go with you." " Have fun, honey." " I will, Dad." "I love you, Dad!" "Mr. Bravo, can we talk?" "Why didn't Maggie come to school yesterday?" "Oh!" "It's just that I took her to the shooting of Aztec Man." "It's the sequel of the sequel." "You know Aztec Man, don't you?" "And the day before?" "Well, I..." "I... organized a Quidditch match, and..." "What?" "Quidditch." "You saw Harry Potter, didn't you?" "Mr. Bravo..." "Maggie doesn't lead a normal life." "The girl has issues because she lives in a fantasy world." "Real life is not Disneyland!" "What are Maggie's issues?" "I know you are a good father, and I can see you do everything you can to make her happy." "But it seems as if you're overcompensating." "What really happened to Maggie's mother?" "She went to pay the cab." "All set." "You see, Dad?" "It didn't hurt." "You're right, it didn't." "That's why I like you to come with me." "Take care of him, Maggie." "Remind him to take his medicine." "What about my vitamins?" "See?" "You should learn from her." "I bet she doesn't forget to take her vitamins every day." "Maggie would you like to feed the fish?" "Go on." "Hurry." "The treatment didn't work." "HOW long?" "Not long." "I'm sorry, Valentin." "Do you know what the doctor prescribed?" "Shots?" "Wow, Dad!" "My head is spinning." "We'd better leave, then." "No." "I'm okay." "I might barf, but that's all." "What is it?" "I wish mom were here." "My friends say mom is like Santa Claus." "Chubby and bearded?" "No, Dad." "They say that because I've never seen her." "If she loves me, why doesn't she come see me?" "Oh, sweetie." "I'm sorry, Frank." "I know you're busy, but I need your help." " What do you want'?" " Look." "That's the dumbest idea I've ever heard!" "No!" "Do it for Maggie, please!" "No, no." "I won't do that!" "I just need..." "Frank!" "Show me your left profile." "Right profile." " What do you think?" " She's good." "Maggie my daughter I'm Julie your mother!" "Why don't you make up a story about Julie going on a mission to Afghanistan and not coming back?" "No, no, no." "Maggie needs to meet her mother." "Number 13, please!" "I'm here to pick Maggie up." "Mr. Anders, what are you doing here?" "I called him to check Miss Jackie's drain." "I tore apart the entire drainpipe and couldn't find any problem." "Now we have to pay Mr. Anders for all he did." "Not to mention that you still owe me the elevator fee." "Alright, already!" "Thank you." "Oh, sweetie..." "It's so nice of you to be so helpful, honey." "So nice..." " What?" " Look, Maggie!" " A letter from morn!" " Yes!" "A letter from morn!" " Hello?" " Valentin?" "I'm I'm Maggie's mother." "Maggie's..." "Oh!" "Oh, Maggie's mother!" "What's up?" ""Dear Maggie:" "I'm writing from nuclear submarine Pancho Villa ll." "I'm going to capture the leader of AI Qaeda because I discovered he's planning to buy lighters to increase global warming." "As soon as I finish, I'll finally be with you." "This time, baby, there won't be penguins, beavers duck-billed platypuses or earthquakes to prevent me from visiting you." "Lots of love Mom."" "I understand your aloofness." "Well, that's me on the phone but I'm just the opposite in person." "I'm calling you because I don't know how to say this." "Don't be nervous." "Look, if it's about money, talk to Frank." "No, no." "It's not about money." "What I want is..." "We have to meet in person." "I'd love to but being good in bed won't get you the part." "It's up to Frank to decide who's the best mom for Maggie." "Okay, number..." "What's your name?" "Valentin, my name is Julie." "Julie Weston." "And I'm the mother of your daughter, Maggie." "Dad, Dad!" "Dad, guess what!" "Mom is coming!" "Mom is coming!" "Your morn is coming." "Yes!" "For the first time!" "Is that her?" "No..." "Well..." "I'm not sure." "I haven't seen her in a long time." "Wait here a sec." "Hello." "What?" "You don't speak Spanish now?" "A little." "That's Maggie." ""Hi, Maggie!" Is that all you have to say?" "Just... "Hi, Maggie!"" "Maggie is very pretty!" "Pretty!" "You take off for 6 years and you come back and all you can say is "she's pretty"?" "How can I calm down?" "After so many years you suddenly show up and say you want to see Maggie?" "You have some nerve!" "Dad, I don't think that's Mom." "She's too sloppy-looking." "What's your name?" "Not Julie?" "No, Maggie, trust me." "It's not her." "Maggie?" "Mom?" "Does she know I left her?" "No." "She thinks we were married and then we divorced." "That you left for some years and..." "Hey, mom, they are like the ones in Africa, right?" "Yes, Maggie." "Do elephants bark or what do they do?" "I don't know." "And..." "...how did you find us?" " I tracked you down." "I work for Newman, Newman, Newman  Newman." "What's that?" "The most important law firm in New York." "Hey, Maggie, why don't you go find out what elephants do?" "Let's see." "You took off and now you just show up out of nowhere?" " What do you want'?" " To get to know her, for starters." "Oh, for starters." "And then?" "She's an amazing girl." "You've done great, Valentin." "Oh, thank you!" "I'm glad I didn't disappoint you." " I was so worried!" " Mom, mom!" "I found out what elephants do!" " What?" "It's green and runny." "Hey, Mom?" "Do the baby platypuses know their mother left them to run away with her beaver?" "Of course they know, Maggie." "You can't keep those things from children." "Remember Snow White?" "She abandoned the dwarves to hook up with a prince and everybody found out." "Mom, you know Batman, right?" "Why does he wear his underwear on the outside?" "Honey, do me a favor." " Go find me a cazacuaz." " A cazacuaz?" "Yes, a cazacuaz." "Go!" "Do I know Batman?" "I'll explain later." "How long are you staying?" "I don't know." "It depends." "Do you want to play target practice, mom?" "Are all these toys yours?" "Yes." "Mine and Dad's." "It looks nothing like your bachelor pad in Acapulco." "Acapulco?" "You've been on missions in Acapulco?" "Missions?" "Your missions, Julie." "To save the world and ensure people's well-being and happiness." "I have all your letters, Mom!" "Wanna see them?" " My letters?" " Your letters." "Your letters." "Your letters." "Look." "Come here!" "I kept them all." "When you freed Willy when you found Nemo when you revived the Dead Sea." "When you saved Private Ryan." "I wrote quite often, didn't I?" "Once a week." "At least." "And I've been to all these places?" "And to Africa with Bono." "With Prince William and Adam Sandier and with La India Maria!" "And with Lionel Messi." "He's Maggie's favorite player." "You even sent her his autograph." "Remember?" "Look!" "Here it is." ""Julie, I would've never made it without you." "Thank you so much." "A big hug for your daughter." "From male champion to female champion Lionel Mesi."" "Written with only one" "Well you have to forgive him." "He hit the ball with his head so many times he has spelling issues." "Hey, Maggie." "Do you speak English?" "She's asleep, out like a light." "Yeah, that sounds like her." "Why didn't you tell her the truth?" "I considered it but after a lot of thought, I couldn't find a politically correct way of telling her:" ""Your mom didn't love you, so she left."" " Thank you." " I didn't do it for you." "You've done a great job with her." "She's a happy, sweet little girl." "You can take my bed." "I'll sleep on the couch." "Thank you." "She finally came back from paying the cab." "Looks like the cab driver didn't have any change, so..." "What is it you wanted to tell me?" "Come on, say it." "Some years ago, I was I was filming in Minnesota and I had an accident." "Well, work stuff." "I was taken to a clinic in Rochester." "Maggie was with me, as usual." "The point is that, when we were there..." "I have a meeting in 15 minutes." "But tell me." "You were at the clinic and..." "No, no." "It's okay." "I'll tell you later." "Are you sure?" "Sure." "I don't have any cash." "Do you have ten dollars for the cab?" "What?" "And then you won't come back?" "Thanks." "So you didn't tell her." "No." "There was no time." "But I thought it over and I'd rather not tell her." " Why not?" " No, no." "Tell her the truth!" "No." "It's enough that you and I know it." "I don't want pity." "Hey, what did you feel when you saw her?" "I don't know..." "I didn't even remember her face!" "But when I saw her she looked so gorgeous." "It was as if time had stopped..." "I'm listening." "So... what?" "Yeah, I was saying that..." "I don't know, after so much time I saw her and she looked gorgeous, she looked so elegant..." "So..." "What did you feel?" "Oh yeah, I was telling you..." "She's changed a lot." "She's changed so much, and I don't know I felt like..." "like kind of..." "So?" "What did you feel?" "Fine." "Fine." "Well, sort of." "You know... it was a long time..." "So..." "You felt nothing?" "Yeah!" "I didn't care." " You didn't care?" " Yeah!" " I would've thought you..." " No!" " After so many years..." " Hey, tell the limping girl not to limp!" "She's messing up the hay!" "Do you miss Acapulco?" "She's asleep." "Like last night." "Out like a light." "Yeah." "Why are you here?" "I needed to meet her." "So you did it for yourself, not for her." "But now that I know her it's different." "Sometimes I even think we could've been a family." "Why not?" "No, no way!" "We don't need to be together to fulfill Maggie's dreams." "She thinks we're divorced, right?" "It's not a big deal nowadays." "Besides, I can't stay in Los Angeles." "I live with someone in New York." "And I hope you don't mind they are coming tomorrow to meet Maggie." "My Dad has more hair." "My Dad is younger." "My Dad is more more more Mexican." "Here they come." "This is Renee... mm)' Partner." "She is your boyfriend?" "Do you remember that episode of Barney where they talked about families that were different?" "Johnny Bravo?" "Another fantasy of yours?" "No." "My Dad is Johnny Bravo." "Dad, can we invite mom and Renee over to the set so they can see how very brave you are?" "What is he saying?" "He wants you to jump from a little higher." "No, honey." "I can't jump from any higher." "There's not enough room." "I could fall outside the air mattress." "No way!" "Tell him I can jump one more floor, tops." " What did he say?" " He said congratulations on being so brave and jumping from so high." "Tell him thanks, honey, but..." "Look, I thought it over." "No higher than the fifth ﬂoor." "It's too risky." "In fact, ask him if I can jump from the fourth ﬂoor." "No, sir!" "Did you hear? "No, sir." Sorry!" "40.0ft" "50.0ft" "88 Bit" "We've made the necessary adjustments." "What adjustments?" "What floor is this?" "No, no!" "You're making a mistake!" "No, my friend!" "For God's sake!" "No, no!" "No, please don't!" "I beg you!" "What did you tell them, Maggie?" "!" " What's going on?" " It seems Maggie lied to us all." "She said you agreed to jump from this height." "No, tell the director I did agree." "I'm screaming because..." "I'm acting, you know?" "But I'll do the jump." "No fall, nor wound, nor aching head can stop this charm from bringing you back from the dead!" "What was that "aching head" thing all about?" "It's a game Maggie and I play." "I pretend to be dead, and she resurrects me." "What would happen if someday the game became real?" "Who would take care of Maggie?" "You don't have any family." "Your job is very dangerous, Valentin." "My job allows me to give her the lifestyle she deserves." "Don't you think you spoil her rotten?" "So what?" "You have no right to butt in!" "I do have a right." "I'm her mom, and I'm part of her life now." "And you can visit us on holidays." "If your Dad's okay with that, of course." "You won't travel around the world, helping people anymore?" "Maggie, I never went to the Moon." "Or to Australia." "You lied to me?" "No, no." "He told you that so..." "So you wouldn't forget her." "So you wouldn't stop loving her." "But, Well that's in the past." "Because you can't..." "You can't miss school." "Dad says it doesn't matter." "Right?" "If you come with me you'll leave your dad alone." "Doesn't that matter?" "Dad will always be with me." "You liar!" "What?" " Liar!" "Liar!" "Liar!" " Please, honey, don't..." "Go away!" "Get out of my room!" " Calm down!" " I don't love you anymore!" "Don't say that!" "I love you." "Why are you angry at me?" "Because you lied to me!" "1 semana después" "ONE WEEK LATER..." "Why are you doing this to me, Julie?" "This wasn't our agreement." "Valentin, you need to find a low risk job." "According to statistics, being a stuntman is the third most risky job." "What are the first two?" "Pizza delivery boy in Mexico City and bricklayer." "Valentin!" "Julie!" "Why?" "Why are you doing this to me?" "We're not supposed to speak before the trial." "Why would you take her away?" "I never prevented you from seeing her." "Why?" "I'm talking to you, Julie!" "The child shouldn't live with someone who might kill himself any time." "For God's sake!" "Two weeks ago you left saying:" ""Bye, see you on vacation."" "You were so calm, and now you want to take her from me?" " Why?" " Because I fell in love with her!" "Because I'm not willing to see her just two weeks a year." "Because she's safer with me, and because she's my daughter!" "Would you like to live with her?" "It's a Court order." "It's in English." "It says that during the trial I have the right to spend 3 afternoons a week with Maggie." "Go with Mom, okay?" "See you in a while." "I'm glad you picked me up, Mom." "I've acted in many movies, I've received many awards." "I've worked under many directors." "I've been killed in so many ways but, I have..." "...never played ...an embryo?" " Well, can you or can't you?" "Yes, I can." "What's the point of all these awards if you can't play something as simple as an embryo?" "Make me believe you're an embryo!" "You're shaking too much." "I must be getting old..." "I'm trying to play a mature embryo, Mr. Cuarén." "I'm not Mr. Cuarén." "Aren't you?" "Isn't this the casting for the movie... . ." "And here I am making a fool of myself!" "Damn!" "I need a low risk job." "I need an embryo for a commercial." "Are you interested?" "No!" "I need something to impress the judge." " Why don't you just tell the truth?" " No." "No judge would take Maggie away if you told the truth." "No, no." "Never!" "I need another job." "Nothing to do with movies." "A common job, nothing risky." " Recommended by Mr. Frank?" " Yes." "Oh, yes!" "The job I offer is very simple." "You have to walk Diego and Frida." " Your grandchildren?" " No." "And you have to drive me to the bank to the mall, fix the electricity..." "The job is very simple, but it's really fun." "Get him off me!" "Get him off me!" "Get him off me!" "Ouch!" "Not there!" "Get him off me!" "Frida!" "Diego!" "Valentino!" "Ma'am?" "Ma'am!" "Ma'am!" "Ma'am!" "Stop!" "Ma'am!" "Ma'am, please!" "Valentino, it's 5 pm and you're taking a nap?" "What will I say, Frank?" "I'm terrible at speaking." "Please, Valentin, tell the truth." " No." " That will convince them." "No!" "Not that." "Something else." "Okay, say whatever you want, but convince them!" "Don't worry." "...I even quit my job, the only thing I know how to do because I love my daughter." "And I don't know if I am a good father, but when she's with me, she's so happy." "Tell them the truth." "What else?" "Sometimes we sit next to each other, watching the sea, and when the sun goes down at the beach I feel her body shake next to me." "It's... her pulse it's her face it's her hair it's her kisses..." "I start to shake." "Anyway your Honor I don't think you should give a little girl a father let her get attached to him and then take him away from her, just because the mom thought it over and wants her back." "That's all, your Honor." "Come on Dad, you have to learn English!" "You keep putting things away and I'll ask you." "Let's see..." ""No se"." "Oh, Dad." "It's so easy." ""No se"." "No se!" "Look... it says "NOSE"." "Maggie!" " How do you say "pasa" in English?" ""Pasa"?" " Valentin." " What's wrong?" "Julie asked for a paternity test." "Here, Dad." "So you'll remember me." "Don't you wanna go pay the cab?" "I'll wait for you downstairs, okay?" "I don't wanna go!" "I wanna live with you all my life!" "Valentin, open the door!" "Valentin, we're going to miss the flight!" "Now, coming back to Mexico with me doesn't mean you don't love your mom." "But it's best for you to be my paisana." "Look, if you stay in the US just because you're gringa over 100 million Mexicans will resent you." "Not only Mexicans, all Latin America will hate you!" "Not to mention that Terminator might be your president one day." "Besides, in Mexico you'll be the envy of many dark-skinned, short girls because you're blond and have blue eyes..." "And you'll probably be tall and leggy..." "Get in." "I'll give you a ride." "My name is Lola." "What's this?" "I had to glue some, because they kept falling down..." "It's not cheating!" "Valentin!" "It's so good to see you!" " This is Judeisi, baby." "You're so cute!" "How are you?" "And the baby?" "Where is it?" "Where did you leave it?" "Have some vegetables, honey." "Aztec Man'?" "The one in the movie?" " You're not the Aztec Man!" " He is." "Your father's a wuss!" "Yes, yes." "He wouldn't change a light bulb because he was afraid of heights." " That's not true, is it, Dad?" " Yes, yes." "It's true, honey." "But your grandpa taught me not to be scared of anything." "My grandpa Johnny Bravo?" "When are we going to meet him?" "Didn't you hear?" "Hear what?" "Well, that he..." "He doesn't live where he used to..." "Here on Earth." "I mean, he left this world." "He's gone from this life." "He went with God." "I hope he's in Heaven, hopefully." "What can we do?" "He's gone." "To the afterlife, because he's not here anymore." "He's not here anymore." "He's with God, right?" "To live for all eternity." "Forever." "He's gone, gone." "When we're gone, we're gone." "If you're dead, you never come back." "Never again." "You only live once." "You can't come back." "You have to be careful with your life..." "JUAN "JOHNNY" BRAVO THE BRAVEST, THE BEST..." "I look like him, don't I?" "You do, baby." "You look exactly like him." "Why didn't he ever visit us or call?" "We grew apart when I was very young and I never understood his way of raising me." "I thought he hated me." "I started to understand him after you were born." "Why didn't you ever call him?" "I was holding a grudge." "I wanted to thank him." "Give him a hug." "And take him diving with us!" "Will you make my dream of jumping from La Quebrada come true?" "In life, there are blows harder than being thrown from La Quebrada at 6 years old." "Now I know all my Dad wanted was to make me ready." "It was his way of telling me that he loved me." "Of preparing me to face life." "And, though my fears have not left me altogether the wolf and I have made peace." "It's just that during the time Maggie and I were together we learned a thing or two about fear and about life." "We learned that 7 years can count as much as 70 or as 700." "And that 10 dollars for a cab may end up being the best investment of your life." "Watching her was way better than watching the sunset." "I saw her run and wondered when those skinny legs of hers would break." "It didn't last long but that doesn't matter." "It was worth it." "Sometimes life surprises you and hits you with one of those bombshells." "A little flaw... there... in your heart." "And then the doctor explains to you that there is no explanation." "He says one day, like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon that little flaw will grow and develop leaving you in a coma." "Or it will just put you to sleep forever." "Maggie was gone, 2 weeks after fulfilling her dream..." "No, my love no, my love...!" "1 afio después" "ONE YEAR LATER" "In life, there are blows harder than being thrown from La Quebrada at 6 years old." "I'll always carry with me the memory of the two great loves of my life." "The first one taught me to be ready to face life." "And the second one taught me to face life without being ready." "I know that Maggie is happy now jumping from some cloud into her grandfather's arms." "And from there the two of them continue teaching me how to face life without them." "Yes, your Dad is gone now." "He's gone, he..." "He's gone now, you know?" "He... he went on ahead..." "to a better life." "He's much better." "He wen... he..." "he wen... went first." "He went on ahead." "He kicked the bucket." "He kicked..." "He passed away." "He's better now..." "He's in... in..." "heav... heaven, right?" "With the angels, with God..." "With a..." "with a heavenly life." "He's bett..." "better off than here." "He... he..." "feels no... no pain." "Here, he was always going on about how his feet hurt." "My hand hurts." "My nose..." "my nose hu... hurts." "My mouth hurts." "My head hurts." "He hurt all... all... all over." "He will be better off there with God, with the angels, in a heavenly life." "Where there's no pain like in this world." "Here, we even have dirt, we tred on it." "There, we'll be treading Glory." "It's better there..." "Better than being here." "Not in earthly life, but in a heavenly one." "It's very different being here than there with God, with the angels." "He'll be bett... better off there." "There's a sea..." "a sea there, too..." "A sea and everything." "When I go to Acapulco, my problems soon disappear." "On the bus coming here, there was a beautiful girl." "And I told her Baby, let's get down!" "Acapulco, Acapulco, Acapulco is my love." "Acapulco, Acapulco, Acapulco is my love." "Acapulco, Acapulco, Acapulco is my love!"