"THE YEAR OF THE FLOOD" " O, Mary..." " Conceived without sin." "Here." "Come on." "Leo!" "Blackie!" "Stop that!" "Leo!" "Blackie!" "Come here!" "Don't worry, sisters." "They're harmless." " O, Mary..." " Conceived without sin." "I am the Mother Superior of the convent in San Ubaldo, and this is Sister Matilde." "We have come to see your master, if he is in." " He's in, but he's busy, Sister." " Be so kind as to tell him we would like to talk to him." "Right away." "Careful with those." "They're watchdogs." " Morning." " Good morning." " Please sit down." " No, thank you." " As you wish." " What is your name?" "My name..." "Maria, but they call me Pelon." "Pelon?" "An unusual name." "But if you like it..." "I don't like it or dislike it." "It's the name of everybody in the family, and mine since I was born." " O, Mary..." " Conceived without sin." "As you know, the hospital is run-down." "The walls are almost falling down, there are leaks, it's cold, the materials we have are unusable." " I know about the hospital." " I have been sent here to try and put things right." "But it's even worse than I expected." "We've spoken to the Mayor" " and the Governor's secretary..." " They all listen politely but no-one will lift a finger to help." "That is not a criticism." "They say the Ministry is to build a new hospital in Basora and that therefore..." "But no date has been set" " for work to begin." " I know about the hospital." "I contribute to its maintenance, like my father and grandfather." "My plan is to convert the hospital into a home..." " A home?" " For old folk." "If you'll allow me to explain..." "What about the figures?" "I have some rough calculations." "Would you like to see them?" "Excuse me." "Would you like a drink?" "No." "Perhaps a glass of water." "Accept my hospitality." "As it hasn't rained this year the lemons don't need sugar." "A bad year for the country, Sister." "If this drought goes on, it'll ruin many." "Maria, lemonade." "And serve it in the garden." "Don't worry, Sister." "It's only decorative." "They talk, like parrots." "Though this one doesn't say a word." "On the way over from America they learn swearwords which they come out with unexpectedly." "I ought to teach him something but I'm not a good teacher." " What do you think?" " Where did you get the figures?" "They came from here and there..." "They're no good." "It says two million pesetas." "You'll need four at least." "Maybe even more." "You haven't included labour costs." "I thought we could do that." "We're not afraid of hard work." "Because you don't know what it involves." "I'm a man of few convictions but experience has taught me respect for labour above all else." "You're confusing work with effort." "Don't make that mistake." "Work is effort but it's also being wise and constant." "Look at the landscape here." "Everything around us, the garden, the terraces, the house, that lemonade, is the result of tremendous effort." "Nothing is here by chance." "It wasn't made by nature, chance or the weather." "Not even by divine providence." "I know you have the best of intentions, but I can't take these fantasies seriously." "The Governor and the Bishop were right, though I'm sure they were more diplomatic about it." "I'm just a man of the country." "Excuse me for being blunt and to the point." "It's getting late..." "Going to the convent, Sisters?" " Climb in." " Lf it's no trouble..." "No, it's no trouble." "Climb in then." "It's hot and we're going your way." "Yes, the paths are terrible." "We haven't had a drop of rain for 3 months." "Perhaps you could pray for rain." " We will, Lieutenant." " Then do it, Sisters." "And let's hope God hears you." "And won't have me promoted." "I'm a corporal." "Corporal Lastre, at your service." "Goodbye, Lieutenant." "And thank you." "Just corporal, Sister." "If you need me, you know where I am." "Either back at the station or roaming God's good earth." "Thank you again." "I hope we won't have to trouble you again." "That you never know, Sister." "I am the new Mother Superior, Sister Consolation." "What is your name?" "She won't speak." "Isn't that right, Teresa?" "What lovely flowers." "Who brought them?" "Who brought you these flowers, Teresa?" "Leave her alone." "Cover yourself this moment!" "And don't waste water." "The X-ray unit doesn't work and we've no plates..." " This won't last anyway..." " And in the meantime, what?" "Reverend Mother, we need more catheters." "The drainage tubes are running out, and we need" " more compresses and gauze." " Didn't the pharmacist send any?" " No." " And at the new hospital there won't be any room for me." "I'll talk to you later, Sister." "Do the best you can." "Economize, Sister." "Economize." "Any problems, Father Benet?" "Just that the priest at St. John's has asked me to stand in for him." "He has a stipendiary funeral." " What if we need you?" " Reverend Mother!" "Come quickly!" "What is it?" "The gardener's on the roof again!" "Bartolo?" "What is it now?" "Bartolo, come down this minute!" "Don't want to." "They're coming." "They're coming, and you'll be in for it!" "I'll call the Civil Guard." "Call whoever you like, I'm not scared." "Keep away or I'll jump!" "What do you mean jump?" " You'll break your neck." " My neck, so what?" "I'd die." "I'm not stupid," "Mother." "There are no flies on me." "Dying's nothing." "People die in wars." "So what?" "Yes, but if you jump, you'll be in a state of sin." "And you'll go to hell." "For all eternity..." "Scared, Mother?" "Yes." "Don't worry, I'm here." "It's of this house." " I didn't mean to startle you." " I didn't hear you." "I didn't even hear the door open." "Well I didn't come through the wall." "It's this house, before the war." "They used to shoot believers in God." "Sorry to bother you again." "I shouldn't steal your time, but I've been going through those figures again..." "For the old folks' home..." "And yes," " you were right." " Where's the other sister?" "She's sick." "If it doesn't rain soon, there could be an epidemic." "An employee came with me." "Bartolo?" "I've known him since he was born." "O, Mary!" "Were you so sure" " I'd be back?" " Yes." "I hope you aren't offended." "I'm not offended, but do you think I'm so obstinate?" "There's nothing wrong with that." "Perseverance is a virtue." "As is rectification." "This is more realistic." "But what makes you think" "I can help you?" "You have the influence to make the authorities take our plans seriously." "Who told you about me?" "In such a small place as this, one hears so many stories..." " Not all of them true." " No." "But all with some basis of truth." "What else have you heard?" "Nothing worthy of listening to." "Not by me, anyway." "So it's only my money and influence?" "Moral judgements" " I leave to God." " But the things you've heard." "You believe them?" "Do you care whether I do or not?" "Of course I do." "Mr. Aixela, yes, I have heard certain rumours about you." "Things I know little about and of which I do not wish to know." "But if the things I've heard about you are true, all I can do is pray God will help you," "and that is what I am doing." "In any case," " I did not come..." " What's your name?" "Sister Consolation." " Is that how you sign cheques?" " No, for business transactions" "I have to use my lay name." " What is it?" " I can't tell you that." "You can and you must." "If we're to engage in a business transaction." "Unless this is all some plan to save my soul." "No." "That is up to the local priest." "Did I hear you say we're engaging in a business transaction?" "Yes, but I didn't say we'd complete it." "And I still don't know your name." "Constanza." "Constanza Briones." " Not a name to blush over." " Am I blushing?" "It must be the lemonade." "Don't tell lies, Constanza Briones, or you'll have to go to confession." " But the figures..." " I told you." "They seem reasonable, but I can't help you." "Unlike you, I live withdrawn from the world." "Don't believe what you've heard." "I don't have any influence anywhere." "I'm sorry, believe me." "A dead body, Mother!" "Bravo!" " Good Lord!" " The revolution, Mother!" "Nuns up against the wall!" "Stop that or I won't take you out again." "Want a swig, Mother?" "Where did you get that?" "What's going on there?" "Stop." " Is he dead?" " No." "Unconscious." "The lorry drove off the road and the driver..." "A strange accident..." "It was no accident, Sister." "This was a hold-up." "It's war!" "What are you looking at?" "Have they gone?" " Drink some of this." " What happened?" "They stopped the lorry, made me get out and then took" " the lambs and 6 hams." " How many were there?" " Lambs?" "Two." " No, how many men!" "I don't know..." "Five... seven..." "Maybe more." "I bet it was Balaguer." "Then they'd be armed." "Shotguns... or that's what it looked like to me." " They hit him." " When I saw them take the meat," "I went for them." "Then one of them hit me." "Bastards!" "We used to give them poisoned cheese..." "It's just a scratch, but come to the hospital" " and we'll dress it." " Can you drive?" "I feel a bit dizzy." "You, go with him." "Yes, Corporal." " Get in the jeep, Sister." " Who was it?" " Bandits?" " Maquis." "We had them under control before but with the drought things are worse." "Hunger brings them out." "So maybe we'll get to finish them off sooner." " Are we in danger?" " It's different now." "They don't bother with priests and nuns." "They're after something else." "What then?" " People with authority and money." " People with money?" "Well they are bandits." "Just make sure you tell me everything, okay?" " And leave the rest to me." " How do you recognize them?" "I have my methods, just as you have yours." "Be careful when you go out." "You be very careful." "I have people to protect me." "Don't trust the Pelons." "Or anyone else." "And keep your eye on him." "After you." "May we?" " O, Mary..." " Conceived without sin, Sisters." " What can I do?" " Sorry to interrupt, Corporal." "I wanted to tell you something connected with what you told me the other day." "About those bandits." "Just a minute." "I had a pencil somewhere..." "No, that won't be necessary." " Actually..." " Is there someone suspicious at the hospital?" "No, there are only women there." "And old men, some sick, others mad." "Most of them both at the same time." "Well, after what you told me the other day... about those men and what they're after, the other night I thought I heard..." " I thought..." " Well, well, well!" "What a surprise." "We were just leaving." "We were passing and thought we'd say hello." "God be with you, Corporal." "At your service, Sisters." "Sister, what did we come here for?" "Nothing, Sister." "Nothing." "Sisters!" "Wait!" "I'm glad you're better, Sister." "Why did you rush off like that as if I was the devil?" "I assumed you had things to talk about with the corporal." "Village gossip, that's all." "I was here so I thought I'd drop in to see him." "What about you?" "No lies, now." "I know you." "The other day the corporal frightened us with talk of the Maquis." "Last night I thought I heard shots near your house." "It was probably a nightmare." "No, you heard shots all right." "And from my estate too." "It was me, hunting." "Did you think I was being attacked?" "I thought someone might be in danger." "It's my duty to worry about people." "Worry about me more than others." "I'm your financial consultant." "Have you still got that famous blue folder?" "Leave it with me a few days." "I'm going to Madrid and I may see someone..." "I can't promise anything." "Perhaps you can bring it yourself." "I'll have a few questions." " How about tomorrow afternoon?" " Lf my duties allow." "Try to make them." "I've missed your company and conversation." "For you to find my company pleasant, this must be a very boring place." "Don't be a hypocrite or you'll go to hell." "Maybe providence has put you on my path for some reason." "And I sometimes wonder who put you on my path." "Here." "What is it?" " A gift to celebrate our meeting." " No, absolutely not." "Don't be so suspicious." "It's for your patients." "Even so, I cannot accept it." "Thank you anyway." " O, Mary..." " Conceived without sin." "Do you keep your vow of obedience?" "Yes, Reverend Mother." "Then I order you to tell me what you're thinking." "Well, I think that if Satan appeared to us just the way he is, it wouldn't be easy to recognize and rebuff him." "Temptation always wears the face of innocence." "You remind me that we are all human." "That is true." "To our detriment we are human." "And weak and prone to sin." "We should aim our efforts at not being so human." "I appreciate your sincerity, but do not agree with you." "The essence of Christianity is charity, and to be charitable one must be gay." "Remember the Wedding at Canaa." "Religion must be simple and spontaneous." "Now where were we?" "Bartolo had a flute with just one hole and people said," ""Play your flute, Bartolo."" "As you wouldn't give my present to your patients, I have." "I said the cigarettes were from you." "Well, little things like this can do them more good than any medicine." "Hurray for Sister Consolation!" "Hurray!" "Hurray!" "All right..." "Half an hour more, but this is the last time." "Bartolo went fishing with just a fishing rod and people said," ""Get out your flute, Bartolo."" "I saw them first." "I was the lookout on the roof." "So we saw Franco's Moroccans coming when suddenly..." "The Fascists came up behind us and..." "At least ten dead, their backs full of bullets." "And the Moroccans fixed bayonets..." "That's enough, Bartolo." " Can you only talk of violence?" " That's how it was." " That's war." " You're just a child." "All that was years ago." "Now it's time to forget." "It may be for you." "Your side won." "Not my side." "God decided who would win." "I'm sure Alvarado will remember me." "We were students together, he got a job and I never saw him again." "We weren't exactly friends." "But we were both scoundrels, and sometimes went out together... you know what I mean." "A short time ago I heard he'd been posted to Madrid." "Some government ministry or other." "It'll be like looking for a needle in a haystack." "Unless you help me with a prayer or two." "Don't joke about such things." "Why do men always have to talk nonsense when they see a habit?" "They can never resist the temptation." "And you reproach me all the time." " It's not all the time." " Why do you interrupt when I'm telling you something interesting?" "Unlike me, my friend really is an influential man." "If I can find him and get him interested... or if he just listens to me..." "Careful, this pool's treacherous." "They say a lovesick girl drowned herself in it once." "Sorry..." "I wasn't thinking..." "It's getting late and duty calls at the hospital." "Of course, officium parvum." "I can't tell you how grateful I am." "Don't then." " Are you all right?" " Yes..." " I'll take you back in the car." " No, no." "Good afternoon." "Now!" "Careful, Sister." "You'll get wet." " Thank you." " Stop it!" "You're the hospital boss?" " Yes..." " That's a good action." " A good action." "I..." " Thank you." "Keep away from her." "The sister knows the way." "Don't be frightened, Sister." "He's a good man really." "A Pelon like me." "Are you all right?" "It was nothing..." "The heat..." "And exhaustion." "You work too hard." " How do you know that?" " Your hands..." "Women always work too hard." "Did you hear the shots last night?" "Shots?" "Yes, I did hear..." "But I thought it was thunder." "Thunder?" "No, Sister, real shots." "The baker said the Maquis and the Civil Guard fought last night." " Good Lord." "What happened?" " No-one knows." "It seems they tried to rob a bank." " Was anyone killed or injured?" " No, thank God." "As it was so dark..." ""Solace for the elderly..."" "Who's there?" "Is anyone there?" "Come out this minute or I'll ring the bell!" "It's me, Mother." "Bartolo." "What a shock you gave me!" " What are you doing there?" " I ran away for a while." "Now I've come back." " They said to give you this." " Money?" "Who said?" "Durruti." "I think." "Sister Jacoba, wake up!" "Bartolo comes in and out at night as he pleases." "This isn't a hotel!" "He must have used the little gate." " What little gate?" " In the garden." "They made it in the Civil War to escape from the Reds." "It's always open, just in case." "Well, tomorrow I want a bolt put on it." "I'll check it myself." "Yes, Reverend Mother." " Who brought that?" " I don't know," "Reverend Mother." "A relative, I suppose." "The same one who brings the flowers." "Smells good, doesn't it?" "Take it to the kitchens." "Let everyone enjoy it." "Impressed?" "Aren't you rather big for childish pranks?" "I'm back from Madrid." "Is this the reception I get?" " Forgive me." " Just joking." "Look who's with me." "We've come to the festival." " You too?" " No, we've been to the pharmacy and have to take some medicines..." "Leave that till later." "Your patients aren't in a hurry to die." "Five minutes." "From a distance." "Music is a gift from God and dancing from the earth, like tomatoes." "Don't frown on it." "Don't you want to know about Alvarado at the ministry?" "The ministry?" "Oh, yes, the trip to Madrid." "You've already lost interest in your plan." "Typical of people to lose interest just when things start happening." "What do you mean?" "Did you really see your friend?" "Yes." "I seem to have more faith in the power of prayer than you." " I didn't think..." " How are you?" " Fine, thank you." " Hello, lovely." "You didn't think I was interested." " I didn't say that." " But you thought it." " Do you want to know or not?" " Of course." "Afternoon, don Augusto." "Sister." "Reverend Mother, Corporal." "Reverend Mother." "I'm glad to see you." "This morning there was..." "A skirmish." "They told me." "Come and see me." "Yes, sir." "Reverend Mother." "Goodbye, Corporal." "Got a light, Corporal?" "Why don't you come and see me?" "And I can give you your folder back." "There are a few figures to go over." "This isn't the best time." "Maria, be careful." "Don't worry." "He's my cousin." "That hasn't stopped them from multiplying." "Excuse me, I have to go home." " Did she come with you?" " Who?" " The nun." " No." " What do you care?" " Does she often go to his place?" " Hospital business, right?" " How should I know?" "Mind your own business." "Come whenever you like." "And I hope you'll be a good influence on everyone." "The master's taking his siesta." "What did you mean "good influence"?" "He needs putting back on the straight and narrow." "Has he strayed so far?" "Don't pay any attention to me." "Maria." "Don't be silly." "You can tell me." "All right, if you won't..." "His mother spoilt him." "He had the devil in him and she spoilt him." "And he's no different now." "Really?" "That's no good for anyone's health or the farm." "The master's caused a lot of suffering." ""As ye shall sow, so shall ye reap!"" "I'm just a servant." "I can't say more." "Has no-one tried to help him reform?" "There have been a lot of women." "We've all been young, you understand." "But help him reform?" "No." "Now you..." "Me?" "You're a good soul and a strong woman." "You could do a lot for him." "I wouldn't know what..." "You could show him that not everything's for the taking." "All about my past you ask... how it was." "Before love one must have faith..." "To give for love life itself without dying..." "All is vanity and illusion." "Don't be afraid." "They're only dead rabbits." "Perhaps that wimple affects your hearing." "That's the second time I've startled you." "I'm sorry." "These animals..." "Take a few back with you." "It's too much food for me." "Then why kill them?" "Rabbits are God's creatures too." "Reproaching me again?" "They're pests." "They spoil the crops." "It's God who sends death." "He doesn't send it." "He allows it." "I want to show you something." "This was my mother's room." "She spent the long years of her illness here." "And here she died." "I left the room just as she left it." "It's never been used since." "Sometimes I come here..." "I sit on that chair, where she'd sit for hours looking out of the window." "I brought you here because I wanted you to see it." "No-one else has ever seen it." "Are you all right?" "It smells of flowers." "O, Mary..." "What are you thinking?" "No... please..." "Corporal!" "You startled me!" "The rain caught us in the garden." "Mr. Aixela, I need to talk to you." "It's urgent." "The Sister's unwell." "Can you take her back to the convent?" "The rain might get worse." "Reverend Mother, your papers." "I'll bring the car to the door." "Will you come back?" "Never." "Look at me at least." " They're rabbits that..." " I know they're rabbits." "And that he hunts them out of season." "But so what?" "After all it's his land and his rabbits." "But he shouldn't go wandering over the mountains with the Maquis about." "I've told him time and again he'll end up like one of those rabbits." "Do you really think he's in danger out there?" "Would I be around otherwise?" ""Those who truly love, love all that is good, wish all that is good, favour all that is good, praise all that is good, and love only truth and all that which is worthy..." "They compete with none nor do they envy, for they wish no other thing than to please He whom they love, and would die for His love, and devote their lives to knowing how best to please Him..."" "Hail, Mary, full of grace." "Reverend Mother General," "A diabolical pride has driven me to rashly challenge the world." "I now know how much I have strayed and how fragile the soul is when God does not hold it in His divine grace." "For the salvation of my soul" "I beg you to transfer me to a place of withdrawal where I may pray for the forgiveness of my sins and end my days in silence and solitude." "The new one's broken waters!" "Sister, stop being silly and call the fire brigade." "We have, but they're at the school." "It's flooded too." "And the Town Hall and the shop basements..." "Ready?" "That's right." "Very good." "Now take a deep breath, close your mouth and push hard." "All right?" "Now!" "Push!" "Push!" "Very good!" "Now again." "Take a deep breath..." "Very good, Sister." "Keep going." "Very good." "She's very pale." "Take her pulse." "I can't find it!" "We're losing her!" "She's gone." "We'll call him Moses, who was saved from the waters." "Dear Sir," "For reasons of health I must leave the hospital and transfer my residence elsewhere, perhaps to another country." "I wish to say goodbye." "I do not know if this decision will cause you the same pain, but you must understand, Augusto, my love, that you are more to me than God Himself." "Maria." "Tell him I'm here, that I need to talk to him now." "Right away." "Maria, leave us." "No, bring me a glass of water." "So why have you come?" "To say goodbye." "I'm withdrawing to a cloister." "To bury yourself alive?" " Is that what you want?" " I must." "Because it's you I love." "I love you, I love you." "I love you as if I'd never done anything else" " but love you." " And what's wrong with that?" "In my case it's against God's will." "Not God's will but yours." "It was you who decided to become a nun." "You can change that." "It's senseless to go against your feelings." "Go away!" "And your plans?" "What about them?" "I've moved heaven and earth for you." "If you go what do I care about the home and the patients?" "No." "Nothing can be bought at this price." "Price?" "Have I ever asked for anything?" "What are you scared of?" "Facing up to yourself?" "Could it be that all your plans were due to your pride?" "What you call the price is a need to come down off your pedestal and accept your weakness." "Even Jesus had to become a man." "You are the devil." "It's me who's doing the tempting?" "Isn't it you who's tempting me?" "I didn't go to you, I didn't make you come here." "I'm not listening." "And don't worry..." "You're not the devil." "If you were, you'd know that it's not your arguments that are making me do this." "I thought nuns wore their hair short." "That was before." "But in the war we let it grow to avoid recognition if necessary." "And now..." "What will become of me?" "Don't worry." "Just confess and God will forgive you." "Who is it?" "What do you want?" "The corporal wants to see you." "He says it's urgent." "Tell him I'll see him right away." "Ask him to hold on a moment." "I'm lost!" "Go out that way." "It leads to the garden." "I'm lost, but not in that way." "For God to forgive me I should be repentant, but I'm not." "We can talk about that some other time." "The truth." "Do you love me?" "Yes, woman." "Will you go on loving me?" "Of course." "Then I'll come back." "Tonight." "I'll be waiting." "Come in, Corporal." "Mr. Aixela, you must..." "What?" "It's those bandits again." "Reinforcements have reached the village." "They may get them this time." "God willing." "May God put an end to this violence." "We are all brothers." "Our duty is to love one another." "Sister, the corporal's here." "He wants to talk to you." "Good day, Sister..." "Reverend Mother..." "There's been a fight with the Maquis and one of them was wounded, I think seriously." "They may try and bring him here." "I've posted guards to stop them, but in any case don't let anyone in or out of here." "Right, Corporal." "Thank you for warning us." "Good day." "I know what I'm doing is terrible." "All I ask is that no-one else suffers because of me." "If you don't work a miracle to stop this, then I'm lost." "But don't." "Please don't." "Don't shout, Mother." "It's me." "Bartolo?" " Why are you out of the convent?" " I've run away." "Like you." " Well go back this very moment." " I was looking for you." "Me?" "Somebody needs your help." "What kind of help?" "It's somebody who's sick." "Can't they go to the hospital?" "No he can't, Mother." "What about the doctor?" "It has to be you." " The wounded man, right?" " He's lost a lot of blood." "If you don't come, he'll die." "It'd be a miracle if..." "I don't know much about medicine." "And I haven't any instruments." "I brought you this." "Put it on." "My name's Boix." "Follow me." "You're safe with me." "Come on!" "We're wasting time!" "Don't be afraid." "I'm not afraid." "If you made me come, it's because you needed me." "I knew you'd come, Sister." "I've seen you before." "At Aixela's and in the village." "So you're Balaguer." "What happened?" "They outnumbered us." "If they find us now..." "I'll do what I can but he should go to the hospital." "We can't send back to the village for help now." "Lieutenant, we're going on." "You can do what the hell you like." " Useless bastards!" " Whatever you say, Corporal." "You're a good woman." "I told you so the other day." "You don't know what I am." "But I know what you are." " Does that hurt?" " No." "Your temperature's high." " You're shivering." " The cold night air." "Nonsense." "Patients are all the same." "They think that if they lie about the pain, it'll go away." "Go and ask the pharmacist." "We need bandages, penicillin..." "Especially penicillin." "They're coming." "I can hear engines." " We have to go!" " No, he can't be moved." "We'll see about that." "Stay here if you like." "Let's go!" "Bartolo, go where they told you to go and then to Pere's place." "Right." "Pere's place." "Halt!" "Where are you going?" "We're there." "I'm dying, aren't I?" "I don't know." "Perhaps." "Promise me something, Sister." "If I die, look after my mother." "You know her." "She's in the hospital." "She's Teresa, the one who doesn't speak." " So it was your flowers and ham?" " Who else?" "She's only got me." "And now, not even that." "All her life making sacrifices for others to end up living on charity." "It's all very sad." "And sadder still to have a son like you." "If you're so worried about her, you should reform and go back to her." "She's proud of me." " I think you're wrong." " No, Sister." "You're the one who's wrong." "The money for your home..." "You went to the wrong person about it." "Aixela's a swine." "He'll cheat you." "He won't give you a penny for your home." "If he said otherwise, he's lying." "And he'll know why." "The rich are like that, or they wouldn't be rich." "I've robbed a good many so I know." "It gives you insight into people." "Don't talk so much, especially all this nonsense." "It's all true." "But you're infatuated with that swine." "Listen to me." "Aixela's no good for you." "Don't give him your heart." "Anything else, that's up to you." "But not your heart," " because you'll lose it forever." " What are you talking about?" "Don't try and fool me, Sister." "I know everything." "Even about the cloister." "Give me that jacket." "Look in the pocket." "You're a thief." "I gave this letter to the postman myself." "The postman's a Pelon, who gave it to me, another Pelon." "See how simple it is?" "All you need to be a bandit is good connections." ""I beg you to transfer me to a place of withdrawal where I may pray for the forgiveness of my sins and end my days in silence and solitude."" "Nonsense!" "Your place is at the home with those who need you." "What time is it?" "Half past ten." " Hasn't the penicillin come yet?" " No, and it's taking too long." "The pharmacist wouldn't betray us." "I'm thirsty." "I feel better." "This'll teach you to keep out of mischief." "It's all I'm good at." "I was born bad and society made me worse." " A brave excuse!" " It's no excuse." "It's the way of the world." "All the rest is deception." "The laws are made for the rich to keep the poor down." "And if the law's harsh, so what?" "Not being poor they've no need to break the law." "And the priests, the bishops, the Pope..." "If you go on with this heresy" "I'll go and your men can look after you." " No, don't go." " Then shut up and eat." "Here." "How did you get wounded?" "The path back from the village was flooded by the rain." "I stupidly took another and they caught me." "Why did you go to the village?" " Some business at the bank." " I can imagine what business." "Don't be like that." "It was all legal." "Something to do with you." " With me?" " Yes." "You see, just lately things haven't been going badly at all." "I wouldn't have thought so." "Till yesterday, anyway." "A cousin of mine works at the bank, so I decided to become a capitalist." "You'll get a donation soon." "To help start work on the home." "It was what you needed, right?" "My cousin Maria told me." "But that money's..." "Nobody'll know where it came from." " I can't accept it." " Or reject it." "An anonymous donation." "It's also a way for me to save my soul." "Salvation can't be bought with stolen money." "That's not what the church tells the rich." "Not so rough!" "And another thing." "The home is a good action." "But it's not the only one." "I..." "Don't get me wrong..." "I feel something special for you." "As I'm dying, I can say it." "The penicillin hasn't come." "Too bad." "I know I'm only a wretch to you, but don't think I don't have feelings." "God works in strange ways." "That is definitely true." "Sometimes I wonder if he's testing me, or just pulling my leg." "Have a drink, Sister." "I can't offer you anything else." "Why not join the gang, Sister?" "You'd make a good guerrilla." "If the bishop saw you drinking!" "Bartolo's back." "Without the penicillin." "They caught him, cut off part of his ear, and he talked." "They sent him back to us." " Why let us know they're coming?" " To scare us." "So we'll surrender." " Are there many?" " They have reinforcements brought in from Barcelona." "Aixela finally had his way." " Aixela?" " Of course." "Why do you think he went to Madrid?" "Now run!" "I said run!" "Listen, go out with your hands up." " They won't shoot a woman." " What about you?" " I'm done for." " Give yourself up." " They'll gun me down." " I'll go out with you." "They'll kill us both and say a stray bullet killed you." "You think everyone is evil?" "Halt!" "Civil Guard!" "Throw down your guns!" "I repeat, throw down your guns!" "They're here." "If you hadn't stood there arguing..." "Hold this!" " What will you do?" " Defend myself." "Halt!" "Civil Guard!" "Throw down your guns!" "Cover me with this." "All you have to do is pull the trigger." "Fire three times and get down." "Fire into the air." "You wouldn't want to hit anybody." "How can I be a nun if I do the things men tell me?" "Shoot!" " Carry on, Corporal." " Yes, Lieutenant." "Bartolo." "What are they going to do?" " Scared?" " Yes." "Squad, two paces forward!" "Load your guns!" " Take aim!" " Corporal Lastre, it's me!" "What the hell?" "I saved your life once, remember?" "Fire!" "We didn't see anybody fire from the cabin, understand?" "Nobody." "There were no women here." " To the hospital, Sister?" " No, not there." "Wherever you say." "Faster!" "I think this is yours." "No, no..." "My dear, what have they done to you?" "Where is he?" "When he saw how things were he left for Barcelona." " Barcelona?" " To see madame." "His mother." "His mother's alive?" "He's not worth it." "It's always the same." "With drought the earth gives nothing." "Then the storms and flooding." "Those who work the land always lose." "Mr. Aixela's not a bad man, but he knows nothing about droughts or floods." "He takes the fruit and when things get bad, he drives off in his car." "Don't hold it against him, dear." "You're not the first..." "Go back to your life and forget him, as we've all had to do." "She's a martyr, poor thing." "Thank God she's not badly hurt." "When they said you'd been kidnapped we couldn't believe it." "How terrible!" "We all prayed for you." " I'm all right." " You're just tired." "Before you came back, the manager of the Basora Bank came." "He told me that some charitable soul who wishes to remain anonymous has deposited four million pesetas in the hospital's account." "First and foremost we have to see to the plan of the hospital." "That's the first thing." "The layout." "Then we'll need a name." "In the meantime," "I'll talk to the Civil Governor again and if necessary," "I'll write to the ministry." "It's so good to have you back with us, Sister Consolation." " Give me your hand." " No." " Hurray for Sister Consolation!" " Hurray!" "O, Mary!" "Careful, please." "Don't crowd her." "Sister Consolation?" "What did you call me?" "Sister Consolation." "That's your name, isn't it?" "My name is" "Constanza Briones." "Not for me, it isn't." "I know who you are." "My name's Moses and I'm to be your doctor." "Moses?" "Saved from the waters." "You brought me into the world." "The flood." "Don't say I haven't changed." "We've both changed a little, haven't we?" "Yes, but in different ways." "I stayed here and you've travelled the world over." "I followed your travels in Spain," "Latin America, as you opened hospitals, homes..." " Like St. Teresa." " Or Hernan Cortes." " A warrior saint." " Saint?" "No, no." "It was all a lie." "A lie?" "Yes." "I'm afraid of dying." "You know, you have lovely hands." "Strong." "I was strong once." "And very proud too." "The year they sent me here" "I didn't know a thing." "They'd condemned the hospital and I wanted to build a home..." "I never told anyone where the money came from." "That way they thought Aixela had donated it." "They've even put up that awful statue of him." "But it wasn't his money." "It was stolen money." "Blood money." "I shouldn't have accepted it but I paid such a price for it." "Then they sent me somewhere else." "I never saw the home completed." "Until today." "It's not a very exemplary story." "What are you laughing at, you rascal?" "You think I'm rambling, don't you?" "No." "I've been a doctor here all my life and I'm a Pelon." "I know everybody's secrets." "I knew that story... and that the money came from Balaguer." "And I know something else that you don't." "What?" "That money had been stolen from Aixela." "Balaguer's money came from Aixela?" "Now that's a good one!" "They fleeced him." "And when he was old he came here, to live on charity." "Everybody thought he'd given the money for the home so they treated him like a king." "And it wasn't in his interest to deny it." "He always was a scoundrel." "Do you feel better now?" "No, but thank you anyway." "Perhaps I won't go to hell for lying now." " They did away with that." " What?" "Hell." "The Pope did away with hell." "Now try and sleep." "If you need anything, a nurse will come." "But I'll be next door." "Shall I put the light on or the TV?" "Rest then." "Goodbye, Pelon." "When I mentioned hell yesterday I didn't mention everything as I was moved by a modesty made even more absurd now by that fact that when I should have been modest I was not." "As you know," "I lost first my head and then my honour over a man for the love of whom I would have abandoned religious life had God not worked his indisputable will." "All this in the year of the flood." "After a long drought the heavens opened and struck the region." "But I did not care about that for the breeze through my window brought from the garden the pure, gay scent of the flowers." "Perhaps we could have been happy together if all of nature's elements and a succession of bloody and terrible events had not conspired to separate us." "And then he left." "The rest of my life has been a long, unspoken falsehood." "After many years I continue to take refuge in the warm memory of the only moment of intimacy granted to me in this world." "Without him I would never have stood such loneliness, such injustice." "I have confessed that sin a thousand times but have never felt the guilt, for I am still there, next to the pool, bathed in the delicate sunlight of that summer afternoon, indifferent to all else," "though I know such arrogant wilfulness will be my condemnation." "I have always feared eternity and I think it little given to reunions." "If indeed this is so," "Augusto, my love, and we never meet again, then know that I have always loved you and always will." "Always, even when my spirit has crossed the boundary of this world."