"THE ANCHORITE" "In those days, all the deserts were full of anchorites" " Anatole France." "Fives!" "You're always causing trouble, Mr. Lillo!" "Sir, there's a man saying something about some reports." "Go have a look." "If you'll excuse me, don Fernando." "It makes no sense." "Let's see." "Have you sent a message out to sea?" "How silly." "Would I send a message out to sea?" "Bullshit." " Who is it?" " A private eye." "He says that in London someone asked him for a report about you." "Must be a mistake." "Have him come in, we'll see." "Excuse me." "Just wait in the hall, we'll continue later." "Mr. Tobajas, Mr. Calvo." "As I said, it's impossible." "Mr. Tobajas hasn't left this place in eleven years." "It's physically impossible, then." "Unless..." "No, no." "A misunderstanding." "For sure." "But if there's anything I can do..." " I presume those reports are confidential." " Of course." "Come on, at least be civil." "You too, Marisa, come on." " Would you like something to drink?" " Never while on duty, thanks." "Have a seat." "Calvo!" "Just have a seat." "So... you live here." " Yeah." "But you're here for the message." " That's right." "It might be mine." " Did they tell you about the text?" " Just one piece of information." "The message was sent in an aspirin tube." "Then it's mine, no doubt." "Write it down." ""In those days, all the deserts were full of anchorites " ""Anatole France. "" " Will you report or won't you?" " Yes..." "If you don't mind..." "It's just that my notebook is such a mess..." "Yes, of course." "I don't mean to be indiscreet, but you're shut in here." "Why?" "As Kipling would say, that's another story." "Just type." "Calvo, from the Lux Agency, reporting from the address of an affirmative answer, that the message might be his..." " given that..." " Come on!" "Have some respect!" "The subject of this report also declares that he's been shut up... in the bathroom for 11 years, although he keeps his motives private." "Madrid, on..." "Well, that's it." "Thank you very much for cooperating..." "Sure, it was my pleasure to cooperate." "Now... now I need your cooperation." " I don't understand." " I'd like to know who got my message." " Understand?" " But, you know, discretion is our norm." " Professional secret!" " I'd pay, naturally." "Well... that's a different tune!" "I mean, it would be a job for the agency." "Just out of curiosity, would you be in charge?" "Yes, of course." "It's just that..." "as it is an assignment... the agency's policy is to charge a part up front to..." " pay for the first expenses." " Augusto, give this gentleman..." "Telex, boarding, double customs..." "Well... we can start off with... 5000 pesetas." "5000 to this gentleman." "Thanks for everything." "I hope to hear from you." "Just a moment!" "Just a..." "You'll hear from me, don't worry." "It's been a pleasure." "Just what are you up to?" " Nothing, my business." " Fine, your business." "So a wife can't know what her husband's up to?" "Come on, Marisa, at this stage of our lives..." "All right, don Fernando, let's get back." " No, we'll continue tomorrow, OK?" " OK." "Just a moment." "You have to tell me what's going on." "I told you, my business." "See you tomorrow, Lillo." " See you tomorrow." " Please." ""This is my message number 2159," ""written and thrown on the water..." ""on January 23, 1976." ""In Madrid, Ortaleza Street," ""Number 11 "reprise", fourth floor, on the right." ""For the first time, somebody has acknowledged..." ""one of my messages." ""Little strokes fell great oaks." ""As the saying goes." ""Unfortunately, it doesn't mention the size of the oaks." ""Signed, Fernando Tobajas. "" "Clarita, dessert for the master!" "Good daughters get married to whom?" "Engineers, lawyers, doctors!" "Serious people!" "No money at all!" "Nothing!" "Bourgeois!" "What do you think?" "About the money?" "You know that's Augusto's business." " He manages it." " And you're a cuckold." "Don't you care that I have to ask my mother's lover for money?" "Shut up!" "You're a bad daughter!" "Get out!" "Holy Mother of God!" "Good heavens!" "Good heavens!" "Bye, dad." "Bye, and see if you can get something from that idiot Augusto." "Marisa!" "What a thing to say!" "And in front of the maid!" "Come on." "After all, Clarita already knows about it." "Or at least suspects it." "Knowing is not the same thing as suspecting!" "And she heard it from my daughter!" "Come on.." "It's the detective again." "Come on, dry your tears." "Don't put on a show, Mr. Calvo is here." "You're the only one with a show here!" "Come on, Marisa!" "Come in, Mr. Calvo." "Excuse me for coming at this time, but I've had a terrible day." "Don't worry, I was just finishing my dinner." "Have a seat." "Have a seat, please." "So?" "What is it?" " News?" " News!" "Good news, If I may say so." "Mind if I take off a shoe?" "Sure." "Take both off, you'll be more comfortable." "They even sent a photograph." "It's marvelous!" "But is she the one that got my message?" "Of course." "Miss Arabel Lee, 23 years old." "Panamanian nationality." "English father." "Russian mother." "Unknown address." "It seems that for six or seven months now... she's been living under the protection of Mr. Jonathan Boswell, a well known figure in the world diamond market." "Habitually, Miss Arabel Lee... accompanies Mr. Boswell in his constant worldwide trips." "In other words, she's his lover." "Go on." "...worldwide trips..." "Currently living in London in Mr. Boswell's residence." ""Bel-grade muse" and there are some signs and numbers I don't understand." "Let me see." "It's perfectly clear." "Address, zip code, even the phone number." "The English are serious people." "And, of course, they've got the means." "You know, in my case, on foot..." "Okay, okay." "Thanks for everything." "I'll be seeing you." "See Mr. Calvo out." "At your service." "Good night." "Fernando, let's get one thing clear first." "I don't care if your daughter has lost all respect for you." "I even find it logical." "But losing her respect for me, the only one who works in this fucking house!" "Benita!" "Benita!" "Yes, don Fernando!" "Tell your husband to come on up!" "As Homer said:" "In youth and beauty, wisdom is but rare!" "Young people don't understand us, Augusto." "Take comfort in knowing that we don't understand them either." "You're so laid back one of these days your balls will hit the floor." "One more thing." "What did the detective want?" "Nothing." "Just an exchange of opinions." "That'll be all." "I have to work." "Work?" "Fernando, I'm telling you, you have no shame." "But this will stop some day." "Keep it in mind." "Good night, Augusto." "Okay." "You're extension." "My coat." "Thanks a lot." "Just one thing." "How do I call London?" "07, wait for the tone." "Then 44, 1, and the number." "Wake don Augusto up." "Have him sign whatever and give these men a tip." " Good day and thanks again." " Good day." "Augusto, hang up!" "Augusto!" "The phone." "Out with the phone!" "Don't you have one in the living room?" "Or do you want to drive us crazy?" "I can't leave the bathroom." "And I can't throw money away on your whims!" "Let's see." "Tell me, fool, who do you need to call?" "The... police." "It's 091, right?" "The police?" "What do they have to do with it?" "They do." "Because if you don't apologize to the phone people and let them leave..." "I'll call 091 and report you." " Me?" " You." "First of all for embezzlement." "And then for the even more serious crime of adultery." "But... but... you...!" "There's a lady who wants to talk to you." "What does she want?" "I don't know." "Says she's the message woman." "The message?" "Well, I'll be." "Just what kind of message was that?" "Just a moment." "Don't worry about the phone, I don't need it anymore.." "Call the phone people and tell them to remove it this afternoon." "Go now." "You heard, I've got a visit." "Mr. Fernando Tobajas?" "No." "It's him." "Him." "But come in." "Come in." "Good... good morning." "Miss Arabel Lee, I presume." "Because I too have feel..." "excuse please my English." "I don't speak it very often." "I also have been investigated about you." "If you prefer we can speak in Spanish." "I told you in English that I also had you investigated." " And why?" " Augusto, get out!" "Because I wanted to know who was interested in me." "Then it's true!" "An anchorite in a bathroom." "Fantastic!" "Well, a lay anchorite." "And in eleven years you never left this place?" "It'll be twelve years in September." "This is Mrs. Tobajas and I'm Augusto Gordales, a pleasure." "Married?" "So is your wife an anchorite too?" "No, no." "They live outside, in this floor, in the apartment." "This is a very personal thing." " Where'd she come from." "Who is she?" " I'll explain later." "Let's see what you call a personal thing." "The agency." "You know, they're like spies." "Double game, double fees..." "Why did you shut yourself off here?" "I don't know." "Let's just say I was bored outside." "Do you have lots of fun here?" "Lots." "And if I get bored, I bore myself." "The others don't bore me." "In such a small place?" "May I?" "So?" "How dumb!" "It may be dumb but the bathroom gets larger, doesn't it?" "It's really incredible, you know, when I found the message..." "The message!" "Do you know it's the first time I get an answer?" " Really?" " Yes, yes." "Tell me." "What number is it?" "I number them all, see." "2159 up to this point." "It's like a... diary." "The difference is that I send them out to sea." "To sea?" "How do you manage that without leaving this place?" "Well... the truth is that they follow a rather indecent route." "Amazing!" "Absolutely amazing!" "Elementary." "You suppose that..." "the water... may reach the sea." "And once at sea..." "due to the marine currents..." " Where did you find the tube?" " In Capri." "Capri?" "How odd." "Because it would have been normal for the tube..." "Here's Madrid." "Following the flow of the rivers Manzanares, El Jarama and El Tajo... it gets here." "It would have remained circling in the Atlantic Ocean." "But the message was found in the Mediterranean." "That's what's odd!" "The tube was carried by the current that crosses the Strait of Gibraltar." "Here!" "A current that flows counterclockwise." "See?" "The tube traveled along the whole African coast." "It altered its course when it ran into Palestine." "It then went between Turkey and Cyprus." "It crossed the Sea of Crete and the Ionian Sea... went round the Adriatic and entered the Tyrrhenian by the Strait of Messina." " And in the Tyrrhenian, in Capri." " That's where I was, in Capri." "You were there." "What's the number on the message?" "1921." "Can't remember it." "You... understand." "I am very curious about these silly..." ""This is my message number 1921." ""Water-borne in Madrid on February 21, 1970." ""In Flaubert's 'The Temptation of Saint Anthony'..." "Madam would like to know if Miss wants breakfast, we've bought some pastries." "Out!" "Out!" "I don't want to be disturbed!" " She came in a Rolls Royce!" " The doorman told us." "And you bought some pastries." "Misers!" "Pardon." ""If you place a finger on my back, said the Queen of Sheba to the anchorite," ""you'll feel a burst of fire in your veins." ""Possession of even the tiniest part of my body..." ""will make you happier than conquering an empire." ""My kisses taste like a fruits that melt in your heart." ""Drunk on the scent of my breasts," ""starry-eyed while glancing at my limbs." ""Embraced in my pupils," ""you'll be swept away by a whirlwind. "" ""Anthony was a saint, and by making a sign of the cross..." ""he made the Queen of Sheba flee, humiliated and tearful." ""But would I resist the Queen of Sheba..." ""if she came here to my retreat, to carry me out?"" "Signed:" "Fernando Tobajas." "Let's suppose I was the Queen of Sheba." "I don't... understand." "That's absurd." "Quite less than sending a message out to sea." "You seem to be asking the Queen of Sheba to come and seduce you." "You... you're joking." "I have to go now." "They're waiting for me downstairs." "Where is that music coming from?" "It's Mr. Pollack, a neighbor." "So, it's Mr. Boswell waiting for you, right?" "Goodbye." "Can I come back and tempt you some other day?" "Please." "Don't mock me." "I could be your father." "I didn't know you knew my mother." "No, of course not." "Of course you can come back." "Are you staying for some time in Madrid?" "I'm not leaving until I manage to get you out of here." "But why?" "It might be fun." "Don't you think so?" "See you soon." "I'm a beautician." "I have the certificate!" "But you know how it is." "Life is like that." "Since I'm not a foreigner, I've had to manage as a manicurist." "I use this set up, even when involved in sports." "And you know how violent, how crude, how horrible light is outdoors." "No, I don't." "You'll look ten years younger, don Fernando." "Give me a mirror." "What?" "It's better if you speak here." "A mirror!" "Give me a mirror!" "Don Fernando, where do I put these bottles?" "There, on the shelf." " Are they the brands I ordered?" " Yes, of course, sir." "Good afternoon." "What's this?" "Just a moment!" "Didn't Augusto tell you there's no game on today?" "Nothing at all." "See you tomorrow." "So?" "What do you think?" "It looks fine." "Norberto!" "Miss Irazábal has very skilled hands." "Fernando, Fernando!" "A gentleman." "A foreign one." "Says he was sent by..." "He says his name is Mr. Boswell." "Mr. Boswell!" "Tell Augusto to pay them." "Augusto is in the other apartment with the plumber, the kitchen's flooded." "Then you pay them." "They did a good job, you look so different." "If only you did it more often." "Give them a tip." "My wife will see you out." "Have you got everything?" "Please excuse me, I have a guest." " I left the cream for you." " Good afternoon, don Fernando." "Ask him to wait a minute." "Marisa!" "Bring the gentleman in, please." "Mr. Boswell." "Are you the anchorite?" "And you're expecting Miss Arabel Lee, right?" "Well... she called and said she's coming at seven." "Come." "It's better to talk business sitting down." "Sit down." "Let's not waste time." "The Queen of Sheba, Saint Anthony..." "Stuff from the Middle Ages, and all this in a bathroom." "Are you being serious?" "If you're talking about my retreat..." "I'll tell you that it's the only serious thing that has happened in the world... since..." "I don't know when." "That's the way I see it." "Excuse me." "What's your name?" " Fernando." " You can call me Jonathan." "Jonathan." "Fernando... that girl..." "Arabel." "I don't know if you can understand me, but... she's the only thing..." "I want... in the world." "Let's call it a senile passion." "I don't know if you understand what I'm trying to say." "Senile passion is a disaster." "Because... what can I offer Arabel, uh?" " Come on, Mr. Boswell..." " Jonathan, call me Jonathan." "The only thing I can offer her is... security." "I mean, a problem-free life." "Fernando." "Fernando, surely you don't want to ruin my dear Arabel's life." "Jonathan, please... but that's..." "Thank you." "Thank you, Fernando." "I knew we'd come to an agreement." "I could tell right away that you're a sensitive, delicate person." "That's it." "When Arabel comes tomorrow morning... you let her convince you and cheerfully leave the bathroom." "Of course, once Arabel has satisfied her whim... and I take her away, and she returns to her normal life... nothing can stop you from returning to life as an anchorite in your bathroom." "I can understand that all this is an inconvenience for you." "It'll be a pleasure for me to offer you some compensation." "Just tell me in a simple, friendly way." "How much do you want?" "To leave the bathroom?" "Well..." "Let's say it's so Arabel can fancy that she's won and made you leave this place." "Because... naturally, this conversation has to stay between you and I." "That's obvious." "That's it." "But please, please, don't overdo it, okay?" "Let's limit the zeroes in the figure." "Yes..." "I'd like it double, with just a drop of mineral water." " Clarita!" " Yes!" " A bottle of mineral water." " Yes, sir." "All right, Fernando." "I know it's difficult to decide on a figure... but..." "let's say... 800 pounds?" "800 pounds?" "800 pounds are... 100,000 pesetas." "No." "But..." "What is it?" "Do you reject the 800 pounds or are they not enough?" "Jonathan, Arabel is the most important thing in the world to you, isn't she?" "How much?" "Everything." "Every... thing..." "Every what?" "Everything." "Your fortune, your businesses." "Everything." "Sorry, but Clarita is busy." "Why don't you just say you won't leave this bathroom?" "It would have more style." "Why don't you just say there are more important things for you than Arabel?" "It would be more truthful." "A drop of mineral water and an ice cube." "Let's not talk with words." "Let's talk figures." "We'll multiply by 10..." "so it's 8000 pounds." "Tomorrow morning you'll leave the bathroom... and I'll compensate you with..." "with one million pesetas." "A small fortune!" "Very often when hoping to increase your fortune, you lose the one you have." "Rockefeller said it." "Is this gentleman giving you a million pesetas to leave the bathroom?" "Who's this man?" "Nothing, nobody." "Ice for me." "But... are you rejecting 8000 pounds?" "No... just a moment." "Wait." "Marisa!" "Augusto, Mr. Tobajas' administrator." "You can talk to me." "Marisa!" "But... this is a private matter, not a family meeting." "It doesn't matter, I manage everything." "Tell me, explain." "I'm at your service." "And Mrs. Tobajas is here too." "Come, let me introduce you to..." "Listen, sir, up to now I've behaved in an honorable fashion." "But now it's over." "Do you know what I'm going to do now?" "At this very moment?" "No, you don't know." " What's going on, Augusto?" " I don't know." "No, you just can't imagine." "I'm going to buy this building." "And I'll have it demolished first thing in the morning!" "A bulldozer will get you out of here tomorrow morning!" "Just a moment, just a moment." "Do you really want to buy this building?" " Shut up!" " You'll have to deal with me to buy it." "Are you the owner?" "Mr. Tobajas is the owner." "But he won't sell it." "We can try." "Come, come." "Why does he want to demolish the place?" "Can you hear me?" "Can you hear me?" "Yes, I can hear you, Jonathan!" "I've got news for you." "You'll never see Arabel again." "I'm taking her away." "Hear me?" "I'm taking her away!" "We're interested in selling." "Mrs. Tobajas here is also a party..." "The exit!" "Where's the exit?" "Take your hands off me, you idiot!" "The young lady!" "She's here!" " What lady?" " The young lady..." "Good morning." "Why did you cut your hair?" "It's just that... once a year..." "I..." "Good morning." "How are you?" " Capri!" " Yes." "It's Capri!" "How pretty." "Good morning." "Hi." "So, you were thinking of me." "Excuse me." "Augusto, please!" "He's having a bath." "And I... as you can see." "Why don't you wait a while outside?" "I fly in from Los Angeles just to see you and you send me to the living room?" "I'd like something to eat." "Breakfast on the plane was horrible." " Clarita." " Yes, sir." "Breakfast, for two." "Should I wake madam up to see if we need pastries?" "Incredible!" "How did you know it was here where I found your message?" "Do you like pastries?" "Three eggs, please." "Fried in butter." "Go on, Clarita." "Come." "Sit down." "Did you prefer it longer?" "No." "It's fine like this." "Glad to see me?" "Sure, sure, of course." "But it was a surprise." "As you'll understand." "But I told you I was coming back." "Yes, yes." "But Mr. Boswell was here and..." "Yes, I know." "And you rejected his 8000 pounds." "I couldn't accept them." "If you had fooled me, if you had pretended to leave this place, if..." "Is that man staying here for good?" "No, no, he's leaving." "Come on, get out." "How can I get out?" "Come on, come on!" "This is too much." "Not even a bath!" "The pajamas!" "The eggs!" "Three of them." "And a cup of strong black coffee for me." "But Mr. Boswell is downstairs." "No." "We came to an agreement." "And he gave me a week's vacation so I can become the Queen of Sheba." "But... you're not the Queen of Sheba." "I thought anchorites treated their temptresses less formally." "So..." "I will." "After all, if I had met your mother, I might have been your father." "But you're not the Queen of Sheba." "A siren, perhaps." "Well, I want to be the Queen of Sheba." "With no camels?" "No onagers?" "No white elephant?" " You've read "The Odyssey", right?" " No." "But you must have heard of the sirens." "Nymphs that were famous due to the sweetness of their singing." "Yes." "According to Homer, they lived in an island close to the Scylla Strait." "Later on, their residence was said to be on Cape Pelorum, Anthemusa Island..." "Sirenuse Islands... or Capri." "No." "Sirens are not related to anchorites." ""The sirens, attracting the sailors with their melodious voices," ""kept them in a large meadow full of bones of the previous sailors..." ""and there, the sailors would soon perish. "" "So you prefer to die rather than leave the bathroom?" "No, no, that's foolish." "Ulysses didn't want to die either." "Ulysses was a Greek." "I know that." "Or do you think I'm completely ignorant?" "He had his men tie him to the mast, and plugged his ears with beeswax." "So... you'd rather be Ulysses?" "No." "I was only trying to..." "The mast, we need a pole!" "And this is the ship." "A pole." "Where can I find a pole?" "It doesn't matter." "You get in there." "Now I'll tie you up." "The rope!" "The wax." "Here it is." "Don't worry." "You'll be fine." "No, no!" "The wax was for the sailors." " Are you sure?" " Of course." "Ulysses wanted to hear them." "As he was tied up, there was no danger of..." "Who cares?" "And now..." "I'll sit down here." "On this rock." "Arabel, please." "And I'll start singing." "I can't do it with that music." "Mr. Pollack!" "Mr. Pollack!" "Yes, don Fernando." "Could you... interrupt the rehearsal for a few minutes?" "Just a few minutes." "Of course, at your orders, don Fernando!" "Thanks a lot." "Didn't Ulysses look at them?" "The eggs!" "Get dressed." "Get dressed." "I'm coming, Clarita!" "Shut the door, the servants don't need to know about your filthy behavior." "This wretch here didn't accept the million!" "And you know why?" "I'll tell you and I don't mince my words!" "Because he wants to fuck you!" "But I'll tell you one thing..." "This is the first... the first and last time I'll ever be your servant!" "Degenerate!" "You're a degenerate!" "Is she jealous?" "No, no, just mortified." "Have your breakfast." "Why is she mortified?" "Because you rejected the money?" "You're just too beautiful." "I don't understand." "The other ones were different." "I mean, they were more or less like her." "Physically, I mean." "Who?" "Just a moment." "This is my message..." ""It seems that in London, the changing rooms in clothes stores are now unisex." ""Both sexes use them at the same time, with the resulting promiscuity." ""The reporter who writes the article is shocked," ""and asks himself how far the immorality of our age can go. "" "Stop reading." "Come here and answer me." ""In my opinion, the reporter has no reason to be shocked." ""It would be different if bathrooms became unisex;" ""public and private." "I know from experience." ""Ever since I shut myself up in my bathroom," ""five years ago," ""all the women that have come inside have made themselves available. "" "They come in here to...?" "Until we fixed the maid's bathroom, yes." ""What's the cause of this availability?" "As I understand it, there are two:" ""First: the intimacy and secrecy of the place." ""And second: how defenseless they are, bereft of their most intimate underwear." ""Signed:" "Fernando Tobajas. "" "Who were they?" "Who do you think?" "My wife's dressmaker, the bathtub man's cousin, the maids' friends, maids from other floors." "Do you see now why my wife wasn't mortified by them?" "What are you doing?" "And where were you?" "I was there, behind the shower curtain." "Come on, come on." "I want to see you." "Go hide, I want to see how you did it." "They'd take off their panties, and then..." "That's it." "I'd come out and..." "Come out." "You'd come out..." "Like this?" "Standing up?" "Didn't you take them to bed?" "Well... sometimes I did and sometimes I didn't." "You'd take me." "You'd take me to bed." "And we'd lie down and make love." "And later, later, you'd come out of the bathroom." "No!" "No." "But why?" "The others never asked me to leave this place." "So the Queen of Sheba, humiliated and tearful, left Anthony in peace, right?" "Well, I'm not giving up." "And guess what?" "Now I'm going to become friends with your wife." "Open up, please." "Why?" "Why?" "To simplify things." "Open up." "Ciao." "Mr. Pollack!" "Yes, don Fernando!" "Go on!" "Go on and excuse me." "Won't you eat anything?" " She, on the other hand..." " She, what?" "She... she's making a killing." "She complained that the chickpeas tasted like wood... so don Augusto made paella and sangria for her." "And since she liked it so much, she said she'd buy don Augusto a motorcycle." "Marisa!" "Come on, get out." "Out!" "Marisa!" "What's going on?" "What's this about the girl buying Augusto a motorcycle?" "They're getting along fine!" "That's the way it is." "She's charming." "I have to admit I got her wrong." "Your fault, of course." "The way you like to keep everything secret." "Look!" "Did she give it to you?" " Leave that bag!" " She asked me to fetch it." "You have no right to..." "Holy Mother of God!" "Fernando!" "Fernando!" "Be good to her." "You don't deserve her." "If she wants the bag, she can come and get it." "And give back that ring now!" "The ring?" "Up yours!" "Arabel, honey, come for a second." "Fernando wants to see you." "Augusto is a great cook." "And your wife is very nice." "Don't you take naps?" "No." "I'll be working the whole afternoon." "But don't worry, I won't bother you." "Work?" "Your wife told me you've never worked in your whole life." "So I don't work!" "And what's this?" "And this?" "And this?" "Eleven years of work." "And it's just the beginning, because one day I'll have to start classifying, ordering..." "A very complex task." "Yeah, but what is all that?" "These press cuttings are the history of our time." "And also my motives for being shut up in here." "I see." "You have your own political ideas." "Ideas belong to politicians." "My stuff is from the gut." "No, those aren't the reasons why you shut yourself up in here." "You did it so I could come and tempt you." "Come." "Sit down." "Could you take my boots off?" "Listen." "Did Marisa really fall in love with you because once you recited a verse by..." "What did she say?" "Yes!" "By Pe..." "Petrarch." "She's so dumb!" "University didn't do her any good." "It was a sonnet by Dante." "The coat." "Tell me." "She told me you were in a forest, and that the birds were singing." "Amazing!" "We were in some encine woods, in Extremadura." "My feet." "Would you warm them up?" "Do you want some hot water bottles?" "I've got some in the cabinet." "No." "I prefer your hands." "Tell me." "What happened?" "The truth?" "It was in her village." "We went for a walk in the encine woods." "It was full of pigs looking for acorns." "Marisa was attractive then, of course." "But what I liked about her was her naiveté." "A naiveté that bordered on... might as well say it, a naiveté that bordered on stupidity." "Playing like a child, she climbed an encine tree." "I never told anybody." "She was there, on a branch, against the sky." "Dressed in white." "Like an angel." "But a cart with some peasants passed by the road and... to greet them, she stood up on one foot and stretched the other leg." "She wasn't wearing knickers, I mean panties." "Quite a sight." "Go on." "No, it's embarrassing." "But I can barely hear you, I'm already asleep." "I..." "I lost my head." "Maybe it was the sun... it was August." "And... she was still there... waving." "And..." "I was below... and..." "And then I recited Dante's sonnet to Beatrice." "So winsome and so worthy seems to me my lady, when she greets a passer-by, that every tongue can only babble shy and eager glances lose temerity." "Go on." "Sweetly and dressed in all humility, away she walks from all she's praised by, and truly seems a thing come from the sky to show on earth what miracles can be." "So much she pleases every gazing eye, she gives sweetness through it to the heart, which he who does not feel it fails to guess, it seems from her features ever to depart." "A spirit full of love and tenderness that, reaching for the soul, says softly "Sigh"." "In the fields of my Andalusia the minstrels at dawn wake me up with their little bells and make me cry with their guitars they make me cry." "And make me feel like the birds on the limbs, ready to fly." "I'm not a carnival fan..." "Don't be a spoilsport." "Besides, it was Arabel's idea." "Right, Marisa?" "She was sorry you couldn't be with us for the flamenco." "That's why she brought them." "Mr. Tobajas, these are the performers." "Beleña, Lenteja, "Lame" Avellán." "Good evening." "Don't you want to hear them?" "Yeah, let them sing." " Help me bring the glasses and ice." " And the bicarbonate." "Sit down, people." "Feel at home." "Just a moment, don Augusto." "Am I going to sing here?" "Of course." "I told you that the gentleman..." "Are you having a laugh?" "You think I'm going to sing in a bathroom?" "Fucking hell!" "Upon my mother's memory this has never happened to me!" "Let's get the hell out of here!" "The money, "Lame", they have to pay us!" "So, you're not singing." "I've already explained." "The gentleman can't leave the bathroom." "Besides, do you want the lady's 10000 pesetas or not?" "Don Augusto, you're an honest man." "You can't speculate with a poor man's needs." "The gentleman's right." "Good night." "Good night." " The money first, Lame." " Not a penny if Lame doesn't sing." "Wait." "I have an idea." "Do you want to sing in the hall?" "Well... now you're talking, don Augusto." "Now, well..." "Coming through." "Are you leaving?" "No, they'll sing in the hall." "It's the acoustics, see?" "Just a moment." "Right, but where do we serve the drinks?" "Yes, have him sing for the "Virgin Face"." "That's right." "For the "Virgin Face", right, Fernando?" "Don Augusto, for heaven's sake, not for the "Virgin Face"." "Not for the "Virgin Face"." "It's too hard." "I want to hear the "Virgin Face"." "This young lady came from the USA to hear the "Virgin Face"." "If you don't sing it, you're not a man." "You want to hear the "Virgin Face" song, you'll hear it!" "On my mother's honor!" "Don't sing it, Lame, you'll bust a vein!" "You don't do that to a friend, don Augusto!" "What's the matter with them?" "Artists' stuff." "Go on, take them to the hall." "Don't sing it, Lame, you'll bust a vein!" "Do you want them to leave?" "No, it's fine." "Let them sing." "Let him be." "He's easily amused." "Let's go to the hall and I'll explain the "Virgin Face" to you." "Listen!" "Come on." "Gestures and expressions are very important to flamenco." "Understand?" "Listen!" "What have I done to you?" "Tell me!" "Nothing." "Don't worry." "I'm fine." "Mind Augusto, he's explaining something." "Mad, and for a moment I wouldn't want to feel..." "Do you really want me to mind him?" " Fernando!" " Forget him, he's a bore." "Listen, listen to the feeling in this couplet." "The man is in love." "And says that he'd rather be mad so that for a moment he doesn't have to feel..." " Fernando!" " Yes." "Do you really want me to mind him?" " Listen to the good part!" " Go ahead, go ahead." "Fernando, I..." "I'll show you who you're dealing with, idiot!" "And you, off with your pants!" "Augusto!" "Augusto, come!" "He threw up!" "He's bleeding!" "A chair!" "Let this moron recover!" "Don't you know you can't sing that?" "What's wrong with him?" "What's wrong?" "Same thing every night!" "The rude lady demanding the fucking "Virgin Face" crap!" "Where is the bastard?" "I'll kill him!" "Silence!" "The money first." "Let's get the money." "Does he always throw up when singing the "Virgin Face"?" "It's a singing style that requires a lot of effort." "And when he forces it, his vein busts!" " There you go." " It's nothing, we'll pay you right now." "Arabel..." "The money." "10000 pesetas to bust a man..." " Open the door for them." " Good evening, gentlemen." "And you greet them!" "I hope you all die!" "Get them a cab, quick!" "Before he bleeds to death in the doorway!" "Where are you going?" "I'm retiring for the night." "I like to be discrete." "Weren't you about to go to bed with Augusto when that man started bleeding?" "Do you see?" "He's irresponsible." "He gets me into an impossible situation." "Fernando, do you want me get into bed with him?" "He won't answer you." "He never answers when he gets in there." "Fernando!" "Open up or... or..." "Come, come!" "You better sleep in Sandra's bed tonight." "He'll be all right tomorrow." "Fernando!" "I'll sleep with him!" "Come here." "Get undressed." "I..." "I can't get undressed." "I can't do that to him." "Puppet!" "All night you've been feeling me up, drooling!" "Now you're afraid?" "I'm getting undressed." "Did you hear me?" "No, no." "Not here!" "In Sandra's room." "In Sandra's room!" "And now Augusto will get undressed." "Come on... off with your clothes." " In..." "Sandra's room..." " Lie down!" "I don't know if the moron will come out of the bathroom... but he'll have to come out of the closet unless he's impotent!" "No." "Wait, Arabel." "Fernando, I didn't want to..." "They've gone." " No, no." "It can't be..." " Just a moment, Marisa..." " No, no!" "I'll kill myself!" " Listen, Marisa!" "It was all Fernando's fault!" "Shut the door, please." "It was all Fernando's fault!" "The longer you resist, the harder it'll be for you." "Don't you understand?" "You'll fall in love with me, that's a bad thing." "Bad for who?" "For you." "Don't worry about me." " Can I sleep with you?" " No!" " Not that!" " Why not?" "You know better than I do!" "Because if I sleep with you, tomorrow you won't be here." "Understand?" "You won't be here." "As you please, moron." "I'm in no hurry." "What are you doing?" "They're for you, for your feet." "Are you really going to let me sleep alone?" " Good night." " And what about you?" "In the closet." "What is it?" "Open up!" "I can't, I'm taking a shower!" "Open up, Fernando!" "It's over!" "What is over?" "I'm leaving!" " Come in, Alvarez!" " But, what's wrong?" "Hi." "Good morning." "I just want you to sign this paper and assume responsibility for the finances." "I'll sign an IOU or whatever for any discrepancies." "Alvarez, tomorrow is the tax deadline." "Don Fernando will give you a check." "Good grief!" "These are the rent receipt books." "Until don Fernando finds another administrator... it'll be your job to fill them and to get paid." "Stop it, Augusto." "Stop it, please." "Can I make the bed?" "No, not yet." "So that's why madam is crying!" "I'm leaving this house." "I'm leaving this house!" "Why is everyone leaving?" "Out!" "Out both of you!" "Give him the papers in the hall, but leave me alone!" "Out." "Out!" "I don't want to know about it!" "I shut myself off in here because I don't want to know!" "Is that clear?" "Is it all my fault?" "No, no." "But this is a mess." "Why?" "Tell me." "If Augusto leaves, it's a mess." "With him, I don't have to manage anything." "Not even Marisa." "But if he leaves..." "you can imagine, right?" "Marisa will be lonely and she'll start bugging me, and..." "Do you want me to help you?" "You're not interested in my problems." "Of course I'm interested." "Clarita!" "A large towel." " Fernando!" " Yes, Arabel." "I'll give my mink stole to Marisa." "And I'll buy Augusto the motorcycle." " The motorbike?" " Yes, the motorbike." "The towel." " Clarita." " Leave me alone." "Clarita, listen." "There's nothing going on between the young lady and me." "Even if there were..." "You have to understand." "I'm separated from my wife." "Let's see..." "let's see." "Answer me:" "If don Augusto and my wife lived in another house, wouldn't I have the right to... to... start my life over?" "And what about me?" "Me?" "You have no heart, that's the problem!" "The towel." "There will be no breakfast here today, that's for sure." "Don't be silly." "I'll fix everything in two minutes." "No." "Not Clarita." "My pants." "What's wrong with Clarita?" "Why does she want to leave?" "I don't know." "She's sentimental." "How dumb." "Please, get a pair of panties and a shirt from my bag." "Why is she sentimental?" "Well..." "look, I'm sorry if I seem conceited, but... she's like... in love with me." "And, well... she's upset because you..." "That's not possible." "Well, it's just my impression." "Fernando." "What?" "Level with me." "Did she also come in here to pee?" "Well..." "Should I give her the mink?" "The mink?" "Why not?" "If we can get breakfast that way..." "No, no way." "Marisa would go crazy." "I'm sorry." "I don't know what I'm saying." "Don't worry." "I'll buy Marisa a new one." "Dolphins are intelligent." "You're also intelligent, you don't send out messages." "To the message." " Cheers." " Cheers." "Why do you say it wasn't you who found the message?" "Because the message found me." "Tell us, so we can finally know!" "I was feeding caviar to the fish." "Caviar to the fish at sea?" "They love it." "They'd come by the dozens, by the hundreds!" "First the smaller ones, then the bigger ones." "I was snorkeling when suddenly: ping!" "I felt a knock on the tube." "So then I popped my head out of the water." "And there, in front of my nose, was the aspirin tube." "What a coincidence!" "Just imagine, Augusto, with the vastness of the sea!" "And a little tube!" "No coincidence." "It was destiny." "They were made for each other." "If you're so kind, could I have the leftover caviar?" "Excuse me." "Will the gentleman be having seconds after the crêpes?" "No, no." "It's not for me, it's for my fish." "Yes!" "Let's try it with yours." "Fernando, you're not going to..." "Marisa, this is crazy!" "125 pesetas the gram!" "Wait!" "Just a moment." "Try it with one of our cans, the German one." "It's cheaper!" "Let me have a teaspoon." "A drink, sir?" "Eh?" "No, no." "We'll carry on with the champagne." "You can leave." "Excuse me, sir, but we have to clear the room now." "I mean, take everything away." "Well... you can clear the room tomorrow." "Tomorrow." "Sir, that's impossible." "We'll do it now." "Here, for you." "Tomorrow you bring the bill to the young lady and clear the room in peace." "Thank you very much, sir." "That's very kind of you." "My apologies if the service wasn't top notch... but you'll understand that serving dinner in this environment..." " It was perfect!" "Perfect!" " Thank you very much." "Thank you." "Now... now I remembered something." "When I was a little kid..." "Let me tell you..." "I spent a summer feeding the ants." "Guess what they liked the most." "Wheat!" "Wheat?" "Cured ham!" "They would drag pieces this size." "Ever since you were a little boy..." "Ham for the ants!" "He's crazy, Marisa." "He's crazy!" "Do you see?" "This isn't caviar." "Fernando, where is the Iranian caviar?" "Let go!" "Scoundrel!" "It's for the fish." "No." "Feed it yourself." "Look!" "Look!" "Just imagine it at sea." "Just imagine feeding them ten or twelve cans." "They'd come from everywhere." "The small ones, the big ones, the swarms!" "And the water got all foamy." "It must be wonderful." "Because with the ants and the ham there was no foam or anything." "Listen, would you like to see Jonathan's yacht?" "Can't you stop thinking about getting me out of here?" "Fernando, I swear I wasn't thinking about that." "You have to believe me." "I was just absent-minded." "I thought it would be fun for you." "Don't mind him, Arabel." "Party pooper, that's what he is." "Didn't she say it wasn't on purpose?" "Cut it out!" "We were having a good time." "Besides, Arabel's got a present for you." "Yes!" "That's it, Arabel." "The present!" "Give him the present!" "Fernando, Jonathan never wanted to come with me to feed the fish." "He'd laugh at me." "On the other hand you, you didn't laugh." "You used to feed the ants." "That's why I asked you to come with me to the yacht." "Is that true?" "Forgive me." "Do you want to see your present?" "Be careful." "Where will we put it with that table?" "Right here." "Tomorrow we'll fix it." "What is it?" "It's a surprise!" "The mink for Marisa." "The motorbike for me, and for you..." "A real telescope!" "But, why?" "Because this one's very small." "Beyond comparison." "Pity you can't see the motorcycle." "A fabulous Laverda!" "Don't you like it?" " Yes... of course..." " Of course he likes it!" "The problem is he's thinking of Clarita." "But no." "Clarita didn't get the mink stole, no way." "But don't worry, we've bought Clarita a beautiful off the rack dress." "Arabel, honey, thanks for everything." "It's been a wonderful evening." "Next week we can invite them." "How about it, Augusto?" "You can count on it." "Come on, let's go." "Fernando is tired." "See you tomorrow, Arabel." "Good night, beautiful." "What about the man?" "See you tomorrow, fool." "That's what you are." " Poor Augusto!" " Why?" "He has to endure Marisa." "Don't be mean." "The telescope is marvelous." "I really like it." "Want to have a look?" "No, not tonight." "The champagne." "I'm soaked in champagne." "This man Pollack is overdoing it." " At this time of night." " But it's beautiful." "Come." "To bed?" "Promise me you won't abuse me." "No." "Not until you want me to, Fernando." "I'd like it." " Of course I'd like it." " Making love?" "On the yacht." "While feeding the fish." "It was many and many a year ago, in a kingdom by the sea," "That a maiden there lived whom you may know by the name of Annabel Lee;" "Not Annabel" " Arabel!" "Annabel, Arabel..." "What's the difference?" "And there's more... more." "And this maiden she lived with no other thought than to love and be loved by me." "Is this one also by..." "what's his name..." "Dante?" "No!" "No..." "Edgar Allan Poe." "But I'm not..." "coming out of the bathroom." "Arabel!" "Here." "Until tomorrow!" "Until tomorrow." "Arabel, honey, look." "It's assembled." "Assembled with my hands!" "And now, time for some mileage!" "But we'll be cramped for space." "Yes, but you couldn't go on with the sofa." "Here, I'll do it." "You go to the kitchen." "Augusto, give me a hand." "What do you think?" "What do I know?" "The bed is her business." "Same old story." "Always avoiding commitment." "Always avoiding responsibility." " The foreign gentleman again!" " Excuse me." "Good morning!" "Good morning, Jonathan." "What's this?" "Are you living in this bathroom?" "You gave me a week." "What are you doing here?" "I... don't... know." "I... was..." "Fernando..." "You haven't left the place." "She's stayed..." "Are you living together?" "No, no, Jonathan." "I haven't..." "That's absolutely true." "Look, we've just set up the bed." "Don't explain any further." "He shouldn't have come." "I don't want to see him again!" "Just... a moment, Arabel." "You gave a week and now you've spoilt it all." "Swine!" "Jonathan." "Capri." "It's hot!" "But... be honest, Fernando." "What's going on here?" "Nothing." "Arabel's having fun." "She found a toy she'd never had before." "Me." "At my age... it's not good to be jealous." "It's bad to get upset." "You can have a stroke." "I've had two." " Have you slept with her?" " No!" "For the record, she's not bitter." "She's having a lot of fun." "No frustrations." "On the contrary, she's very cheerful!" "That's what I feared." "She's falling in love with you." "That's silly!" "Come on, Jonathan." "Calm down, calm down." "Mind if I lie down a while?" "I didn't get a wink on the plane." "Sure, sure." "But take off your clothes." "It's a fresh pair of sheets." " You'll sleep better." " No, no." "I don't want to sleep." "Here." "Perhaps you prefer to lie down." "No, no." "I'm fine, I'm fine." "Tell me, between you and I, do you understand women, Fernando?" " No." " ... no." "I don't either." "What do they want?" "Lie down, lie down." "Don't get me nervous." "Or else, I'll sit up." " It's your bed!" " All right, all right." "I'll lie down." "What do they want?" "What are they demanding?" "What are they asking for?" "Regarding what?" "Regarding what?" "Regarding men!" "Tough question." "The couple." "Of course... the couple." "It doesn't work out." "Nevertheless, no other formula has been found." "Not even Marxism has been able to..." "Marxism has nothing to do with this." "But it's supposed to be a total revolution, isn't it?" "Please!" "Leave Marxism alone." "Keep your feet on the ground." "Be pragmatic." "When you have a personal problem, you have to solve it yourself." "What are our personal problems?" "What is our problem?" "Well, Jonathan, it's your problem." "Less formal, less formal." "Be less formal with me." "We're friends, right?" "Yeah, sure." "Thanks, Fernando." "I'm very grateful." "I'll never forgive myself." "I was rude to you the first time." "I... didn't know you." "Offering you money!" "I've thought it over carefully, and reached the following conclusion:" "You're shut up in this bathroom... because there's nothing that life can offer you that fully satisfies you." "Isn't that so?" "More or less." "This means... that if life had offered you something really interesting... you wouldn't be shut up in here." " Obvious." " Obvious." "So, then." "What would you have liked to find in life?" "Hold on a moment." "It's one of my messages." "Just like Arabel found hers, you could have found this one." "I'm not interested in messages." "They just stay in bottles for years." "This one's different." "It's my answer." ""Being a college student all your life. "" ""That would have been a dream worth living for." ""So many times I've imagined myself settled into a college." ""Free of care." "Studying with the only goal of learning." ""Of knowing, without the obligation of using the acquired knowledge." ""To live and die there," ""looking over the campus," ""where every year would bring a new generation of friends. "" "Friends... and girlfriends." "Why not?" "Girlfriends like Arabel." "Why not?" "Please, Jonathan!" "That's just dumb." "I explained it to a psychiatrist and he had a different opinion." "My foolish wife brought him over to get me out of the bathroom." "But the psychiatrist certified that I wasn't insane." "But rather monstrously lucid." "Exaggerated, no doubt." "I fancy myself instead as a monster of lightness." "Surely you don't think I'll give you a university." "I'm not asking for that." "Sure, because you've already got it." "You're comfortable here, sitting on your throne, with no responsibilities at all." "While everyone else, everyone;" "your wife, your administrator..." "Arabel, even myself... take turns to satisfy your whims." "Fernando." "Fernando, forgive me." "Who am I to judge you?" "Your psychiatrist was right." "I like to win, but I know how to lose." "And I know how to wait." "Rest at ease." "I won't bother you again." "Neither you, nor Arabel." "Yes, yes, I'm serious." "I won't even... say goodbye to her." "So?" "Friends?" "As far as I'm concerned..." "Thank you from the bottom of my heart." "Your friendship is an honor." "Fernando, tell Arabel she can count on me whenever she might need me." "The same goes for you." "And I wish both all the best." "And the longer it lasts, the better." " A hug?" " A hug." "You'll hear from me." " Do you know it has 10 satellites?" " Can you see them all?" "No, I don't think so." "See them?" "No." "It's leaving!" "It's leaving!" "How weird..." "It's the wall!" "The wall in the court." "Get it?" "It's the wall in the court." "Then the telescope is useless!" "I was never able to see Saturn with mine." "It was so pretty." "We can watch it some other night." "Let's close, otherwise we won't be able to have dinner." "Besides, what time is it?" "Aren't we having dinner tonight?" "Marisa!" "Clarita!" "Shall we have dinner?" "Fernando's hungry!" "And have her fire up the boiler!" "It's freezing in here." "Arabel?" "Arabel, what's going on?" "There's nobody here." "I found this in the kitchen." ""This is a message from Augusto Gordales to Fernando Tobajas. "" "What does is say?" ""Dear Fernando, upon the invitation of our common friend, Jonathan, Marisa..." ""and I will be spending a month in the Bahamas." ""We've sent Clarita to her village." ""As for Alvarez, he won't be available as he's having a hernia operation." ""This means that Arabel will have to take care of you." ""Jonathan, Marisa and myself hope that she carries out her task with pleasure." ""Hugs, Augusto. "" "How stupid!" ""P.S. Upon Jonathan's instructions, I'm now in charge of Arabel's money. "" "The money?" "Judas!" "Worse than Judas." "He kissed me twice." "Jonathan!" "Don't you understand?" "This morning, here, he discovered that I can't stay here without help." "Jonathan wouldn't dare do this to me!" "No, he's done nothing to you." "He did it to me." "Let me see." "Your passport..." "Your ticket." "Los Angeles" " Madrid" " London." "At least your return trip's paid for." "I'm not going back to London." "I'm staying here!" "I'll show that old idiot!" "But... can't you understand that I can't manage the house... the neighbors?" "And, besides, who'll feed us?" "And what about me?" "But... but, would you be willing to...?" "Just watch me." "I'm ready for anything." "That moron will have to beg forgiveness on his knees." "On his knees!" "Fernando, there's nothing to eat." "Have you checked the fridge?" "It's empty." "And the pantry?" "There's a pantry, a room with shelves, on the right." "Empty." "It's all empty." "They've taken even the last crumbs." "So, they decided on a hunger siege." "That scoundrel!" "That old bastard!" "What are you doing?" "How do you call London?" "It's useless, he won't answer." "Besides, leaving us without food wasn't Jonathan's idea." "That was Augusto." "It's his signature." "Why did they all agree with him?" "They also want me to leave this place." "Go." "What about you?" "I'll..." "leave tomorrow." "And I don't care." "Now, I don't care about anything." "I've met you, and that's all I need." "Let's hope that Marisa didn't take your mink stole to the Bahamas." "I don't need the mink." "It must be terribly cold." "Arabel?" "Arabel!" "Arabel!" "Can't you understand that I don't want to leave?" "I want to stay with you!" "Sardines in oil, poacher's rabbit, pickled trout." "Canned squid, cooked asparagus, canned bell peppers and bean stew." "Do you want anything else?" "No!" "Nothing else." "I'm happy with the tuna." "It tastes great." "Well, I'm hungry." "Is the bean stew from Asturias any good?" "You're not going to eat that at 5 pm." "Besides, you have to heat it." "Don't care, I'll eat it cold." "Why don't they have caviar at the supermarket?" "If we start with the caviar, the telescope will last us two days." "What we have to find is that motorbike." "Where did that miser put it?" "Ouch!" "I've cut myself." "Let's see." "Let me see." "I've told you, the cans are my department!" "They're very dangerous!" "Haven't you heard about botulism?" "Let's see... a bandage." "Nothing!" "No bandages, no nothing!" "It's nothing serious." "Here, here." "Wait, it's better to let it bleed." "What's that?" "A call?" "Jonathan, for sure." " Fernando." " Yes?" " She says she's your daughter." "Hi, dad." "Who's she?" "Arabel." "Her name is Arabel." "She's living with me." "Get in bed, you'll freeze there." " And mom?" " In the Bahamas, with Augusto." "And here we are, in Capri." " Is he your...?" " So, you've separated?" " Finally." " It was about time!" "This is my boyfriend." "Don Fernández!" "So?" "What do you do?" "Getting along?" "We work in an Arab restaurant." "Good food!" "Kafta, kebab, couscous, shashlik, tahini..." "I... maître d'..." "She..." "Sandra... kitchen." " You know how to cook all that?" " I wash the dishes, dad." "I can't understand this girl." "She leaves home to wash dishes." "And I'm happy for it." "At least, I'm free." "She's right." "No, sure, it's fine." "It's fine..." "It's just that..." "I was thinking, perhaps they can solve our problem." "How much do you make a month?" "Both of you, I mean." " Depends on tips." " Whatever." "I'll pay the same and you can come and work here." "You can cook, and you..." "whatever you like." "Waiter, maître d'..." "Or administrator!" "What do you say?" "I say no." "You're such a bore." "Since you're a maître d', could you open that can for us?" "Right away, don Fernández!" "What a medieval Arab!" "I understanding you." "You thinking me too much old for your daughter." "But she and I, no marital life." "She frigid." "I paternal thing." "All right, all right." "Just open the can and shut up." "No plate." "Directly, madam." "You don't mind if I take this, right, dad?" "Since you're not going to use it." "She treating me like child." "The gloves." "Good for the chilblains." " Chilblains?" " Yes." "Goodbye." "He was going to freeze to death." "Goodbye... what's your name?" " Arabel." " Goodbye, Arabel." "Poor girl." " Don Fernández!" " Yeah." "Let's go." "Bonjour, monsieur!" "Bonjour, madame." "Goodbye!" "So, then, you closed it." "Master closing, dear Lillo." "Let's see: 8, 12, 18..." "I can't play like this." "It's the cold, it's numbing." "42!" "At 10 pesetas the point, that makes it 420 pesetas." "Hear that, Arabel?" "I won almost 500 pesetas." "Good." "I've caught a cold." "And it's your fault." "Mine?" "Just remember the neighbor's meeting about central heating." "You were on Augusto's side." "See you tomorrow, unless I have to stay in bed." "Listen!" "What about the 420 pesetas?" "Don't you trust me?" "Add them to the rent bill." "No, no." "Gambling debts must be honored." " And I need them." " So, you insist." "All right, all right." " Here. 500." "Keep the change." " Thank you very much." "For the record, I'm not coming back here." "We're through, Tobajas!" "See that?" "Some people are bad losers." "I'll put it in here." "Go away!" "Leave me alone." "Does it bother you that I got paid?" "Arabel." "What's wrong?" "Nothing, just leave me alone!" "You should wash your hair, it smells of oil." "What do you expect?" "I have to fry your sole, don't I?" "The master won't accept canned food." "The master demands fresh fish!" " But, Arabel..." " Arabel!" "Why don't you call me Clarita?" "That's what I am to you - a servant." "That's what you've turned me into." "Arabel, what are you saying?" "The truth!" "I'm here washing, cooking, cleaning like an idiot!" "While you play that stupid game with Lillo and leave me to rot!" "You're right." "And I apologize." "Arabel!" "Will you forgive me?" "I love you." "And I don't want to lose you." "Please stop crying." "It won't happen again." "Do me a favor." "There are some closets in the hallway." "If my coat was there, so will be my suits." "Could you bring me one?" "Are you... finally leaving?" "We're leaving." "Go on." "Bring me a suit, a shirt, socks." "No, Fernando." "I can stay here with you if you want." "I was just nervous, that's all." " But I promise you..." " No." "I have no right." "We can't go on like this." "Go on." "Bring me the clothes." "I didn't find any shoes." "It doesn't matter." "As soon as I'm out, I'll buy a pair." "If I had died without coming out, I would have been buried wearing this." "Come on." "Come on, get ready." "How much money do we have?" "I don't know." "Where are we going?" "Don't worry." "I'll take care of everything." "I hope that my pants don't tear up suddenly." "With no underwear!" "Here's what: put all the clothes you washed in a plastic bag, so your bag won't get wet." "I'd like to see the look on Augusto and Marisa's faces when they return." "Do you think we should leave them a note?" "What's wrong?" "Where will we go, Fernando?" "Silly question!" "To a hotel." "Well, first to a boarding house." "And then when I find a job..." "I forgot how to tie my knot!" "Come on." "Pick up your things." "Well, look, I remembered." "This must be like riding a bike." "Once you learn, you never forget." "Boy, have I put on some weight!" "How do I look?" " You say you're going to work." " Of course." "But, what can you do?" "I'm a lawyer." "No, Fernando." "Can't you see?" "It's impossible, Fernando." "Impossible!" "Impossible, what?" "How are we going to live?" "You mentioned a boarding house." "I couldn't stand that!" "You were able to stand this for more than a day, weren't you?" "Besides, the boarding house will be temporary." "Forget the boarding house." "We'll go to the Palace, the Ritz, wherever you want." "I'll manage." "I'll get credit, sell the house." "What matters is that you love me." "Arabel, you do love me?" "Fernando, that doesn't mean anything." "I loved you." "I love you right here in this bathroom... living absurdly, dressed in a jogging suit." "Try to understand." "Look at yourself in the mirror." "Here, you're a distinct human being, a unique one." "But like this, on the street, how do you look?" "What are you?" "One more guy." "I'd cheat on you with any man." "I'd leave you in two hours." "Forgive me, Fernando." "I know I'm hurting you." "Oh my God!" "Why did I come here?" "Why?" "You're right." "Seriously?" "Do you mean that?" "Yes, I mean it." "And you?" "What will you do?" "Nothing." "As soon as you get to London," "Jonathan will kick Augusto and Marisa out of the Bahamas... and everything will be as it was." "Except one thing, of course." "Which thing?" "Nothing." "Here." "Wear it until you get to the airport, at least." "Do you want me to stay?" "I can phone Jonathan and ask him to send us money." "If... if you don't leave today you'd leave tomorrow." "Or the next day." "Didn't you understand?" "I'll be back." "Do you want me to?" "We'll laugh together, when we remember..." "Goodbye, Arabel." "Go now." "Mr. Pollack always on cue." ""There will come a time when all the bathrooms will be full of anchorites." "Signed:" "Fernando Tobajas. "" "subtitles: scalisto for KG"