"Shredded Ear!" "Here!" "Come here, Shredded Ear, come on." "Come along." "What a shame he has a shredded ear." "Does it matter, man?" "~ Come on, clean him thoroughly." "~ Yes, my Ramón." "His shredded ear makes him different from the rest." "That's why my dad doesn't like him." "Nor anyone else except India." "Quit petting that mule!" "You have him so spoiled, that's why his owner doesn't bear him, not even his picture,... for being so rebellious and spoiled, this mule!" "Ouch!" "You see?" "Even disrespectful, he is!" "He just slapped my with his flies-chasing tail!" "~ Because you offended him, Ramón." "~ Yes, he doesn't like being insulted." "What he doesn't like is getting up early." "He's like the son of a rich man,... but here one has to bend one's back to earn one's daily bread,... while these mules enjoy the high life." "Shredded Ear is no mule." "Not a mule, but twice a mule he is, then." "Just the other day I wanted to put on the brakes and bad blooded he is!" "He threw me such couple of kicks, which, if I didn't jump aside they'd... ~ Don Ramón...!" "~ ...fly me back to Mexico, that's it." "Good, hurry." "Look for me after breakfast." "I want them to take some pictures of me with him." "Now, well." "Well, after washing down the horse, Ramón, what's next?" "Well, you know what's first: pick up all the mule flops." "They're not mules, Ramón, they're horses!" "Well, as far as I'm concerned they're mules, you may be sure!" "Look, they suck it down like mules, they leave their apples like mules, and they make us work like mules." "Are they mules, yes or no?" "No, I mean yes." "I'll definitely get rid of that horse." "No, Dad, Shredded Ear is as good a horse as your favorite mare." "But what are you saying?" "How can you compare that smelly beast with India?" "Don't be cruel." "Besides, I think she's right, it doesn't hurt anything to have that horse here." "Absolutely not." "I'm not going to continue to support that useless animal here." "But if he's useless, no one would buy him." "You shut up." "I'm not arguing any more!" "He's in a bad mood because he must race tomorrow, India won't be able to run,... so you'll have to pay out half the bet as a no-show." "Why not run Shredded Ear?" "I'm sure he could beat Mr. Matías." "What are you saying?" "With this horse I'd get nothing but ridicule." "Please, Dad, give him a chance!" "Listen, girl, this is what I'll do:..." "I'll race Shredded Ear against Matías's horse." "If he wins the race I'll spare his life and let him stay here... but if he loses I'll have him killed and sent to the slaughterhouse." "Clear?" "Yes, Dad, it's a deal." "Shredded Ear will win the race." "Now I have to tell Julián." "Wait, Candy!" "I'm not pleased with the closeness she has with that boy." "It's just an innocent friendship." "But I'm not happy with it, I don't know why she has to be by his side all the time." "Please, Andrés!" "Remember he's a young orphan,... and that Ramón promised his friend, before he died, that he'd take care of him." "You have to beat Mr. Matías's, if not my Dad will kill you." "Show the old guy you can do it!" "~ Julián!" "~ I mean..." "Don Andrés." "And if you win I promise you a stable fit for a champion." "And I promise you I'll convince Ramón to change the concoctions he feeds you." "Sure!" "This mule wouldn't win even if you put him on skates." "Oh, what a mess!" "Hey, how sensitive!" "All this fuss just because I called you a mule." "What would happen if I called you "son of a donkey"?" "Oh, no, no!" "All right, all right, easy, easy!" "Peace, peace, peace, peace." "Andrés, hold on because I'm a letting you run with that frog of yours that you brought." "You'll see that your dad'll win." "Full ahead!" "Easy!" "Wow!" "Andrés, Andrés!" "Go get the horse." "~ Fetch a doctor, quickly." "~ Yes, Ma'am." "~ Andrés, how are you?" "~ Dad!" "Andrés, are you hurt?" "Andrés!" "Careful, boss." "Look..." "I'm going to kill him this very moment." "I'm sorry, Andrés, this time you mounted your worst horse." "Or is that the best you've got?" "~ Please, my love." "~ Old idiot!" "Pay up, stewards!" "Here you are." "You owe me a rematch, next time it'll be double or nothing." "OK, OK, Andrés." "You set the date, and with luck you'll ride Shredded Ear." "Come on, I'll buy you a drink, this time I'll bring the money." "You shut up, take the horse to the stable, I'll give him his due when the time comes." "Please, it's not Ramón's fault." "Oh, Shredded Ear, now you fucked it up for real!" "No help this time, death will take you." "My dad's going to kill him!" "Don't worry, Candy, I won't let the old..." "I mean, Don Andrés --- kill him." "This time we really fucked it up, Ramón." "This is the worst embarrassment I've had in my entire life." "And what gets me most is Matías's mules." "But this is the last straw, that horse is going to pay." "First thing tomorrow I'm killing him." "No, Dad, don't kill him, give him another chance!" "Julián said a rat scared him." "That's enough, Candy." "Turn off the waterworks." "Say goodbye to that animal." "I'll buy another horse who's a real champion, not a damn nag like that." "Sorry, my love, sorry, but I don't think I can convince him after this." "Mom, it's not Shredded Ear's fault." "I know, Candy, but who can make your father understand that?" "Nothing will change you, right?" "Your pride is stronger than the suffering of our daughter." "She's a girl, she'll get over it." "What is it, Candy?" "My dad's going to kill him tomorrow." "I don't want him hurt." "What are we going to do, Julián?" "I don't know, but something will come to me." "Don't cry, Shredded Ear, you're going to make me cry too." "Julián, you'll save him, won't you?" "Sure, Candy, even if I have to deal with your father man-to-man." "You'd do this for me?" "For you I dare do anything." "Look, kids, I'll tell you one thing:..." "Shredded Ear belongs to Don Andrés, and he can do whatever he wants with the horse." "But not kill him." "Nobody has the right to kill an animal just because you don't like him." "Well, yeah, that's true, you're right." "So what can we do?" "~ There's only one solution." "~ What?" "~ What?" "Look, come close." "We steal Shredded Ear and get him off the ranch, and then head off." "And stop seeing Candy?" "Oh, I should keep my big mouth shut!" "Well, that you have to decide yourself." "Either you stay at the ranch and ogle Candy or you head off and save the horse." "Ah, your choice, your choice." "Ramón, we're stealing Shredded Ear." "It's the only way to save his life." "Your dad's sure to kill him tomorrow." "Yes, Julián, steal him." "Ramón and I are leaving tonight." "Will you wait for me until I come back for you?" "Yeah, but don't take too long or I'll be over the hill." "Don't worry, Candy, I'll be back as soon as I've raised enough money to pay the old shithead for the horse." "~ Julián, it's my dad!" "~ Oh, it makes me sick with anger." "How far are you going to go?" "I don't know, maybe Alaska...or someplace else, maybe." "Is that very far away?" "OK, knock off the chatting." "Well, if we're going to do this we'd better get started." "These things are best done warm." "So, then, go say goodbye to Candy." "We have to prepare everything and get out as soon as possible." "By the time they catch on, let's be long gone." "So look: you get Ear and I'll get the trailer." "See you outside." "~ Candy." "~ Yeah?" "Don't worry about Shredded Ear, I'll look after him like it was my own life." "~ Goodbye, Julián." "~ Goodbye, Candy." "What's up, Julián?" "What are you doing standing there?" "You look like a burned out town lamppost." "Go on, move, move, go on!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "~ Up you go, Ear." "~ Go on." "~ That's it, we can go." "~ Come on, let's go." "Shh!" "Don't give me away now." "~ I've been thinking." "~ What about?" "Well, what we're doing." "Why?" "What why?" "You know what a common criminal is?" "Yeah, they're part of the society, right?" "No, no, no, my son." "That's those who commit crimes against society and the established laws." "~ What are you getting at?" "~ What do you mean, "what am I getting at"?" "We're just a pair of common thieves, horse thieves." "Just look!" "Why?" "What "why"?" "Do you know what common criminals are?" "You think they're going to send out people to look for us?" "Well, you know how they are in the United States, maybe they'll send the FBI or the CIA... to chase us into the ground." "Oh, boy!" "And if they catch us, what do you think they'll do to us, Ramón?" "Well, maybe they'll put us to death by electrocution." "No, don't be scared, my Julián, Ramón here won't let you get hurt." "Neither FBI nor the CIA nor the whole US Army will be able to grab us." "You'll see." "Fuck!" "Don't they have any regard for the passengers?" "Oh!" "Sure, if you could talk like me, you'd send them to Hell, too." "Ramón!" "Ramón!" "Excuse me, boss, Don Ramón isn't on the spread." "He's gone." "How could he have left?" "Well, nothing of his is here, neither are your pickup or your trailer." "~ Nor Shredded Ear." "~ Not Julián, either." "Candy, get up, I want to talk to you!" "What's the matter?" "That cursèd Ramón and the brat have stolen my horse." "~ India?" "~ I meant stallion." "Shredded Ear." "Candy!" ""Dad, I'm going with Shredded Ear because you want to kill him." ""Kisses to Mom."" "Fuck that, they've kidnapped her!" "My God, Andrés, my daughter!" "How is this possible?" "Candy!" "~ Andrés!" "~ I'm going to inform the sheriff." "Those fucking assholes!" "I never thought they could be so ungrateful!" "But that's what I get for being a good Samaritan by providing food and shelter to a couple of bums." "Enough already, Andrés, stop telling lies." "Neither Ramón nor Julián grabbed the girl." "She went along off her own bat." "How can you defend them?" "It's true they committed a crime by taking the horse,... but they were saving his life, and trying to avoid the girl's being hurt." "Look, Marcela, I'm fed up with the antics of your daughter and you treating her like a queen." "~ Change your attitude or..." "~ Or what?" "Did you think that we haven't realized that your horses come before your family?" "All right, this isn't the right time to discuss these matters." "Oh!" "Ramón, can I get Shredded Ear to drink from the stream?" "Sure, go ahead." "But, Candy, what the hell are you doing here?" "Well, finally you stopped." "Even my ID hurts." "God help me!" "Candy, what are you doing here?" "Now your dad'll think we kidnapped you." "Where Shredded Ear goes, I go." "Besides, I left a note, and brought along a copy." "Look." "Now the witch has jobbed us!" "We've become common criminals times two." "Oh, my girl!" "Do you know what you've done?" "Now your father is going to send the whole National Guard, and the Air Force, after us." "It won't happen because we're going to Alaska, like Julián says." "You told her that?" "Well, I thought the old guy would never find us there." "~ Excuse me?" "~ I mean..." "Don Andrés." "Which way's Alaska, anyway?" "~ To the north." "~ To the south." "To the north --- to the south is pesos, to the north is dollars!" "Piece of cake!" "Come on, reach an agreement." "OK, OK, I was wrong." "Settle down." "¤ How sad my ranch is without my colt White Legs!" "¤ My father used to easy ride him while I sat on his haunches." "¤ I was clinging to his waist as we skirted the canyon." "¤ When I turned 7, the colt was my present." "¤ "You're a little man now and you're not a bad rider,... ¤ "you can ride him onto the plains, but just don't wear him out."" "¤ But the bad neighbors from Rancho Las Tialías... ¤ they lassoed him, causing me to get thrown... ¤ and they took my horse to the other side of the river... ¤ and I spent days looking for what was mine." "¤ When my father learned of this he went to confront them... ¤ but since he was alone he couldn't last out the fight... ¤ and he came back without the colt, also with a bad heart." "¤ You should not go for vengeance, punishment will come from the Almighty... ¤ but I won't forget my father or my friend." "¤ I know I have no consolation now but someday I'll grow up... ¤ if heaven doesn't avenge me, I will do it myself." "Let's eat!" "Come on, let's eat!" "Well, you'll settle for this because there isn't anything else, OK?" "Don't worry, Ramón, we know how not to complain." "Isn't it great?" "We've saved Shredded Ear's life." "Take it, Ear, take it." "Me, I won't feel safe until we hit Alaska." "I was thinking the same." "OK, kids, nothing to do but spend the night here, and tomorrow we'll see." "Whatever you say, Ramón." "Wait for me." "I'll make sure there are no Moors on the coast." "Come on, already." "No, there's nobody." "Get down, let's have breakfast." "And what's Shredded Ear going to eat?" "Well, grin and bear it." "After, we'll get him some pasturage." "Come on." "~ Good morning." "~ Hello, Miss." "Party for three?" "Yes, good morning...what time is it." "Eh?" "Oh..." "I don't have a watch, brother." "I don't have a watch." "This side, please." "Come on, sit down, you're not ranchers." "What do you like to eat?" "Well..." "Would you order some enchiladas with tortilla chips, some refried beans, tortillas, and some warm coffee, for me?" "Would you?" "Why don't you order it yourself?" "Because I can't speak the gringos' language well when I just got up." "Oh...me even less so!" "Well, I'll give it a try." "Hey, Lady, well, well, very well..." "Potatoes and beets." "Oh, English!" "How can I ever love you if you don't let me have lunch?" "Lady, I would like, give me the "enchiladas" with your "frijoles", "tortillas", a glass of milk, you know." "I'm sorry, sir, I don't understand." "She said she doesn't understand me." "It was perfectly clear, I understood you." "All right." "Fine...give me chips on the "platé"." "Pâté?" "No, not pâté, it gives me heartburn." "~ You know...?" "~ No." "OK, give me coffee and donuts." "~ Coffee and donuts." "~ And ham and eggs." "Ham and eggs?" "~ And the..." "leche." "~ Leche?" "How do you say "milk" in English?" "No brother, well if "café" becomes "coffee" then "leche"..."lechee"." "~ "Lechee"?" "~ "Lechee"." "~ Ah..."lechee"." "~ "Lechee"?" "~ "Lechee"." "Yeah, "lechee"." "Well, you know, "toast, you half breed!", "hail my very chewing mouth!"" "Good, I did it." "Now you ask her, because with my English, I'd drown in the river... and if I didn't drown by crossing the river, the last thing I want is to drown by speaking English." "Go on, you ask her." "And, what would you like, kid?" "Ladies first." "I want scrambled eggs, toasted bread, and hot chocolate." "And for you?" "~ She asked you to order!" "~ But how do I order?" "~ Do you want the same as me?" "~ Mmm." "But with hot sauce." "The same for him." "Scrambled eggs, toast, and hot chocolate." "Thank you." "Oh, you!" "If you speak English well, why did you make me use up all of mine?" "Because you speak it really funny!" "Monkeys, brother, they've already burned you." "My God!" "What shape could our girl be in?" "May she'll think things over and come back home." "It's all Ramón's fault, but soon it'll be me to face the music." "Come in." "~ Excuse me, boss." "~ What is it, Flavio?" "Some guys went into the old track and they're racing their cars." "They're also scaring the horses." "We talked to them but they don't want to leave." "There's a few of them and they're drunk." "What should we do?" "~ That's all I need!" "~ Andrés, don't go." "They could be dangerous." "Warn Jacinto we're coming there." "Andrés, be careful." "What'll your bet be now?" "How does ten cases of beer sound to you?" "~ I'll drink them all at once." "~ You'll drink them...!" "~ First win them from me." "~ I'll win them from you." "~ Who won?" "~ Ricardo." "~ I beat you." "~ What you won was a little trumpet." "Fine, go another 10." "How does another 20 sound?" "You're on." "~ Manuel, go to the finish line." "~ OK." "Hey, you!" "This is not public property." "Please do us the favor of leaving." "And if we don't want to leave, what happens?" "Look, I've got a lot on my mind." "It's better if you leave." "If you've got a lot of problems, go take care of them and leave us alone." "You've got three second to leave." "Just three?" "Then you can start counting right away." "One." "Two." "Three." "They won't be back." "~ Now what?" "~ Let's take a peek." "~ At what?" "~ To see if it's the horse you're looking for." "You claim to know a lot about horses, go see whether it has a shredded ear." "~ When I was a kid, I was a cowboy, the best!" "~ Let's see if you're up to expectations." "And how the hell should I know?" "I can only see the mule's butt." "Go and check out its ear." "Well, didn't you say you were a good cowboy?" "Note it does indeed have a shredded ear." "I'll go report to the boss." "Don't go, right?" "Oh, Mama, we're dead!" "Is that there your horse?" "Yes." "Note this, clerk:...." ""Mr. Andrés Carranza:..." ""You've accused Ramón Ramírez and the boy Julián Campos Sánchez..." ""of kidnapping your daughter and stealing a horse belonging to you."" "This is true." "That's a very serious charge, folks." "What say you in your defense?" "It's not true, the man's lying!" "Right, he's lying!" "Look, your most excellent and illustrious lordship, Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen:... we accept the responsibility for having stolen Shredded Ear,... but not that about Candy, since she came along off her own bat." "Wow!" "Then you kidnapped another person." "Well, there is always a crime of abduction." "I protest, Your Honor." "We took Shredded Ear for humanistic reasons." "Humanitarian." "Well, for both humanistic as well as humanitarian reasons." "Note well, clerk." "Look, Your Honor, come close." "My boss, Mr. Carranza, wanted to kill Shredded Ear capriciously, and that's why we stole him." "It was just to save his life." "Now we're prosecuting an attempted murder charge,..." "Take note, clerk:... main motive for the double kidnapping, in addition to attempted murder." "Back to where you belong!" "To the same place I was?" "~ Back to your place!" "~ Oh, yeah!" "Wow, Wowie!" "Bring me Shredded Ear to testify." "But, Your Honor, that's impossible." "He can't testify." "I mean..." "Bring me Shredded Ear to testify." "Everyone will know from his demeanor if he was kidnapped or threatened." "We have him tied to a post in the street." "Tied to a post...but...but..." "Are you nuts?" "You see, Judge." "There is certainly a misunderstanding." "You don't know..." "You don't know the laws of the United States, so you're not going to instruct me." "Keep quiet." "Bring me to see Shredded Ear." "~ What the fuck is this?" "~ It's a horse." "Yeah, I know it's a horse, but what's it doing here?" "He's Shredded Ear." "Shall I swear him in, Your Honor?" "Get back to your seat at once." "This is the horse they stole?" "Yes, Your Honor, and I demand that those two get banged straight into jail." "Here's it's me who give the verdicts." "Do you hear?" "Not you." "Fine." "Oh, Your Honor, let me explain this whole mess!" "When I ask you a question, you may reply." "And why won't you listen to Candy, who's asking to testify ages ago and you wouldn't let her?" "OK, youngster." "What do you have to say?" "~ My father's lying." "~ You shut up!" "Why should she?" "Tell me, girl, why would your father lie?" "First off, Your Honor, the horse is mine." "Second, they didn't kidnap me, I went along on my own initiative." "This proves it." "It's a copy of the note I left my father telling him I was leaving the house, and he has the original." "As soon as we get home, I'll beat up your daughter until she won't be able to sit down for two months." "If you dare do that, you'll deal with me." "Your Honor, the United States has a law which says... you mustn't kill an animal unless it's sick or becomes a threat." "Very good, boy, that's right." "And I'm glad you know the law." "Well, Shredded Ear is a good horse." "He's healthy, a great runner, and it doesn't particularly like being called a mule." "Right, Ramón?" "Clear." "And if it isn't, just ask her, General." "He just has a problem with an ear." "~ Oh, he's deaf." "~ No, it's been shredded." "Fine, but that hardly matters." "Mr. Carranza: is it true you gave this horse to your daughter?" "Yes, it's true, but it's a useless horse." "I've been supporting it but it doesn't earn its keep." "Yes, one moment, one moment, Mr. Carranza." "You have the obligation to maintain this horse since you gave it to your daughter." "Your Honor, can I give my horse to Julián?" "Well, it's your horse, right?" "Julián, Shredded Ear is yours." "The judge, the sheriff, and the police are witnesses to my giving it to you." "But where am I going to keep him?" "Hah!" "That's your problem, because the vehicles you took are mine and those I'll take with me right now." "He can do that?" "Yes, the vehicles are his to do with what he may want." "Don't worry, Candy, Ramón and I will make sure he wants for nothing." "Take good care of him, Julián." "You know Shredded Ear is a good horse, and one day he'll be a champion." "Gentlemen, I find no sustainable charges and the defendants are exonerated." "The case is closed." "This court is adjourned." "Candy." "Don't worry, my Julián, we've already been turfed off even better ranches." "And, like Manuela, my old friend, says "Don't complain about your friend,..." ""you better send him to Hell"." "Let's go." "You're not hungry, girl?" "You haven't touched your dinner." "No, Mom." "Can I go to my room?" "But, girl, you have to eat something." "Let her go, she's in a snit." "Besides, I haven't forgotten the little theater she pulled on me in court." "~ Good night girl." "~ Good night, Mom." "Good night, Dad." "Good night, Candy." "~ This is your room." "~ Thank you." "I'll expect you early tomorrow morning in the kitchen." "Yes, we'll be there on time, and you'll see how well we'll wash the dishes --- ah!" " without breaking one." "~ Tie this animal there." "~ Oh, that's good." "~ And it better not cause problems." "~ I assure you, you won't have any." "There better not be." "No, he's just like a puppy!" "Now, come on, and behave, right?" "Go on." "Come on, come on." "Good, until morning, my Ear, and behave yourself." "Come on, my boy." "There." "How well we'll sleep here tonight!" "I would have liked to sleep in the countryside." "Oh, you're just like ants!" "We're tired, we need to rest." "Besides, tomorrow we have to work, OK?" "That's why we got the room." "And the food." "No, well, maybe." "I don't know..." "look, there's a bed and a sofa." "Let's toss a coin." "to see who gets the bed and who gets the sofa." "OK?" "~ Go on." "~ There." "~ Come on, call it." "~ Heads." "Oh, I lost." "No matter, I'll take the sofa." "I'll take a look at Shredded Ear." "Go ahead." "Don't get me into trouble." "No neighing even if you're hungry." "Hold on until tomorrow until we're working in the kitchen." "I'll grab you something to eat." "You understand?" "Fine, good night." "Candy, you ought to be in bed by now." "It's late." "I can't sleep, Mom." "I'm worried about them." "The poor guys." "How could they be getting by?" "Don't worry, girl, Ramón knows how to take care Julián and the horse." "~ Mom?" "~ Yeah?" "~ What is it, girl?" "~ Why is Daddy such a dipshit?" "No, girl, your father's not a bad guy, he's just stubborn, very stubborn,... but he loves you as much as I do." "Good, and now get some sleep." "~ In the morning, Mom." "~ Good night, my life." "My son..." "Take it." "Got it." "Hurry up, now!" "What, nothing else?" "~ Now I'll get you another five." "~ Come on, bring them quick, let's get rid of them." "No, Shredded Ear, no!" "We're about to be throw out." "Sigh, such a pity!" "Let's boogie." "Bye, see you around." "Quiet, you're not thrilling me." "We're without breakfast, without work, and it's all your fault." "You have to be ready for Sunday." "Matías is coming for my birthday and I get a rematch." "I don't want to lose this time." "Andrés, the girl is ill." "She doesn't want to eat or come out of her room." "~ Isn't she a beauty?" "~ Andrés, I'm talking about your daughter!" "I told you she was in a snit." "You've spoiled her." "This time Matías doesn't have a chance." "Now I realize why the boss wanted to kill him." "Look, he just munches away like nobody's business while we're dying of hunger." "That's not fair!" "You're right, brother, you don't have to walk in pain." "You can go back to the ranch or look for other work, I'll go my own way with the horse." "No, my Julián, don't mind me." "I was just grousing out of habit." "But listen:" "I won't leave you with the package even if I die." "And calm down, soon you'll be so rich you'll actually be able to gain weight!" "They'll be confusing us with Don Quixote and Sancho Panza." "Don't mind me!" "It's just how I am!" "We'll keep on as this threesome." "Let's go, Shredded Ear!" "María." "The girl hasn't eaten anything?" "~ No, ma'am, not a bite." "~ All right, I'll call the doctor." "The girl's sick, and all you care about is bookmaking on the horses." "¤ I'm singing the verses you hear from my heart,... ¤ they're those in honor of Peach Blossom, a very nice horse." "¤ His light hooves hitting fiercely the Jalisco ground,... ¤ a horse of great size that was never defeated,..." "¤ he was born in Autlán de la Granma and he grew all around the country." "¤ His mother was Texana and his sire Colorado." "¤ They say Peach Blossom could have been more famous,... ¤ against the very Moro de Zumpango he would have won easily." "¤ They say he could beat Lobo Gateado." "¤ People came from Pihuamo de la Barca and from San Gregorio... ¤ to see Flor de Durazno when he beat Alas de Oro." "¤ Even though he barely won, he won, and that was the main thing." "¤ They looked for a horse to diminish his fame." "¤ They prepared Rayo, the Terror of Guadalajara,... ¤ and Flor de Durazno won easily." "¤ But on Palm Sunday he won in Puerto Vallarta... ¤ the jockey who ride the mare shot Flor de Durazno,... ¤ and that was the end of the fastest horse in the region." "Fine, but now stop the warbling." "We have to get some sleep because tomorrow you have to pedal very hard, OK?" "Pass me my hat, Ramón." "~ Come on, stop the fuss." "~ Thanks." "~ And fall asleep fast, fast, fast." "~ Yeah, see you later." "Until tomorrow." "There's nothing wrong with your daughter, she's just enervated,... sad, as if focused on an impossible love." "I know, Doctor, but how can I get her to eat something?" "I'll prescribe a syrup." "It'll whet her appetite." "What she needs is a good beating." "You've already changed your hog's engine?" "I just put one in so you won't see me or my dust, brother." "This time you pay for the beers." "Last time you won because my car skidded." "You'll never win." "Don't even dream about it, you'll buy the drinks forever." "And you, go to the finish line." "You get into your cockroach." "~ Hey, guys!" "~ What's up?" "You look set to have a little run, right?" "That's right." "What do you want?" "Excuse me..." "You won't accept another competitor?" "Where's your car?" "No, I'll race my nag." "But a car against a horse?" "~ So what?" "~ Of course I do!" "Besides, each rides what he can afford." "Right?" "Now we go for gold." "~ Good, but with one condition." "~ What?" "It should be a 50 meter run." "And what are you prepared to lose?" "How about $50 each?" "If you lose, you lose $100." "Wowsers!" "OK, brother, but where will we get the money since we don't have it?" "Hey, take pity on this kid if he loses!" "Poor us, because those guys are quite capable of chopping us into mincemeat if we don't pay up." "~ Shut up." "Fine." "Are you ready?" "~ Ready." "You measure it off, you've got smaller feet." "Hand me the bridle." "Here." "Let me fit his steering wheel on." "A fair measurement, please, OK?" "You'll lose, old man, say goodbye to your $100." "~ Let's see, let's see." "~ Hurry up." "44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50." "Far enough, brother, you go there." "This way a bit, brother, so no one'll say I won it for you, that you won it yourself." "No, a bit this way." "A bit more there." "That's fine, brother." "Oh, my God, we're so hungry, help us!" "Let Shredded Ear win!" "Oh, brother, our guts already spur, God of mine!" "More this way." "Ah, great, brother." "Go for it, my Ear!" "Go, Shredded Ear, go!" "Go for it, my Shredded Ear, go for it!" "We're winning!" "Come, my Ear, come here." "You're a champ." "A shame that Candy wasn't here to see you win." "Fine, my boys, let's pile up the money, we beat you honestly, each one gets his due, right?" "Here's your $100." "And you know, if you want a rematch, just let me know." "You'd better leave, friend, before we regret this." "If you don't want to lose that horse." "Ah, yes, yes, yes." "Now I remember, we haven't eaten." "See you around." "Let's go, son!" "Never step on the tail of a dog and turn around to see what happened, because it can bite your...well, whatever." "Let's go before it gets dark." "Very good, Ear, now we'll eat like we'd been shipwrecked!" "Well, you saved yourself, which gives me an idea." "Think, think, think..." "No, sure." "Come along with me!" "No messing around, OK?" "Good morning, good morning." "Good morning, Sir." "May I help you?" "~ You speak Spanish?" "~ Of course we do." "Ah, that's what I said, because my English is the pits." "How much for the wagon?" "$35." "Christ, it's not a Cadillac!" "~ $20, and no argument." "~ This isn't a charity event." "Are these prices fixed?" "OK, give me $30." "Look, I need it to work." "Then I'll bring you used stuff, and we'll trade." "Fine, we both win at $25." "How about it?" "~ I'll take it." "~ Just this amount!" "I mean this money." "Tote it up." "~ How much?" "~ Just give me $24." "Hold on, you." "Fine, lend me the $25 and we'll be square." "Done." "Now it's ours, right?" "~ It's all yours." "Goodbye." "~ Thank you, very much." "~ Thank you, very much." "~ Bye." "Old clothes to sell!" "Come to the hawker, folks!" "Tepito has arrived in Texas!" "Change your old tires for new junk, mousetraps, and even buckets made in the USA!" "You're selling all kinds of stuff?" "Yes, Miss, we're used stuff hawkers graduated from the New Stepping Stone Company." "What might I offer you, Milady?" "Show me what you've got." "Come check this out." "Choose what suits you." "~ Whatever you like." "~ I'll be right back, I'll get some things." "Come along, ma'am." "Bring your junk and trade for what you need." "We trade new junk for old." "The used stuff hawker is here!" "~ Sir, listen, listen." "~ Yes, ma'am." "Can I change this for a new one?" "This is overindulgence, it's of no use to me, either." "But it's hardly been used!" "It might last some years." "With a bit of cleaning it could look brand new." "Oh, no, ma'am, this man is skin and bones!" "He's from the previous World War, silent films times." "Look, if you want to get rid of him then take him to an asylum." "There they'll treat him well." "Now, about you, you're still in good shape,... with a bit of makeup this guy friend of mine could still go for you." "Hey, I don't know whether you understood,... but I'm talking about my husband's suit." "Ah, yes, yes, yes!" "Well, so!" "I thought you wanted to entrust him to me!" "No, if it's about the suit, I say yes." "I'll give you $5 for it." "$8." "Make it seven, for new customers." "I'm starting right now, I'm going to do the cross." "Fine, give me the money." "~ Well, first remove the bones." "~ What?" "Well, how can I take the suit with your husband still inside?" "~ Well, look, I live in that house." "~ I'll go with you, ma'am." "~ You'll bring the money?" "~ Of course, I'm the cashier." "~ Well, let's go." "~ Let's go." "Oh, let's see what you brought, Miss!" "Let's see, let's see, let's see..." "Ah, well, I've seen all your stuff." "So what do you like of mine?" "~ From you, nothing." "~ No, no, from what I brought here, on the cart." "~ Well, let me see what I'll go for." "~ Sure, go ahead." "Take the toaster and iron." "~ Don't you like picture frames?" "~ Yes, of course!" "Well, look, toaster, griddle, picture frames, for the stuff you brought, and we're even." "What do you say?" "Deal, but only if I get the shovel, too." "What do you say?" "Well, I say yes just because it's you." "Ah, that's good." "Thanks very much." "Here's $300." "1, 2, 3, and 5 = 8. $308." "OK...take it easy, take it easy." "Let's do our accounts." "You owe me $30, right?" "$25!" "If you keep on working that way you'll soon be millionaires." "Ah, may God hear you, and we'll even buy your store!" "Thanks, Don Fidencio." "See you later." "Safe journey." "Congratulations." "Used clothes for sale, old shoes, torn underwear!" "We buy all your used stuff!" "Hey, you guys, stop right there." "Me, why?" "Was I a bit over the speed limit?" "Wow, brother, we're wrecked!" "The reason I stopped you, sir, is because your vehicle doesn't have a registration or plates." "Are they necessary?" "Yes, sir, to travel on the public road you need a registration and plates." "Oh, wow, I didn't know!" "I'll take care of it first thing tomorrow, sir." "Not "sir"!" "He's the sheriff." "Don't you see the badge?" "~ Sorry, no!" "~ There!" "Don't you see it?" "Oh, yeah, sure enough, there it is!" "Of course, Mr. Sheriff!" "Fine, sir, you have 24 hours to get a registration and plates... for driving your vehicle and for work." "~ We'll get it first thing tomorrow." "~ Yeah, you bet, Mr. Sheriff." "Now what do we do, Ramón?" "You shut up, we'll get it tomorrow." "Meanwhile, we keep at it." "Come on, keep shouting and earn your pay." "Used clothing for sale!" "Welcome, ma'am, welcome, sir!" "Bring what's broken and take away what works!" "Look, all your used stuff, I trade everything." "New chairs, swapped for old." "Used clothing for sale, and any other stuff swapped." "~ Come here, welcome, welcome, ma'am!" "~ Anything broken you can swap for new." "$508." "What can we do to turn that into $1,000?" "Listen, Ramón, what's today?" "July 7th." "Why?" "Tomorrow's the party at Don Andrés's." "There'll be horse racing." "Oh, you rogue!" "I understand, you rascal!" "~ You want us to compete?" "~ Mmm." "And to see Candy." "Well, if possible, why not?" "Of course." "Sure, she'd like a good gift." "Do buy something tomorrow." "Here." "You know what, Ramón?" "You're a great old relic." ""Welcome to the party at the Carranzas' Ranch."" "¤ It's going to win the race, I tell you again, because a handsome cowboy will win, Don Andrés." "¤ It's going to win the race, I tell you again... ¤" "~ Hello, Matías." "~ Hello, ma'am." "You think they'll let us compete?" "Sure, they have to." "It is customary for this holiday anyone can challenge his employer." "Julián!" "Julián!" "Candy!" "How great you came to the party!" "~ Now let's go!" "~ Let's go, India, let's go!" "~ Go, India, go!" "~ She's going, she's going!" "~ Go, go!" "~ Paco, Paco!" "Run, run, run, you mare, move!" "India won and the gray horse lost, folks!" "India won!" "What are you doing here?" "With all due respect, boss, I came to challenge you." "Challenge me?" "I don't accept challenges from..." "Andrés, the custom for this ranch is for all challenges to be accepted." "Mind your own business." "Of course!" "It's my business when my daughter's happiness became involved." "~ How much are you betting?" "~ $500." "It's not worth it, you'd be better off keeping it." "Look, boss, I know that you're used to betting large sums." "Even if it seems like chump change to you, it's big bucks for us." "Don't be a prick, give us a chance." "First stake $5,000 and then I'll give you a chance." "You already have it, not $5,000 but $10,000." "That's my mom!" "So my own wife's betting against me?" "You got it." "If that doesn't sound like enough, then tell me how much." "You'll lose your money, you can't risk it on this broken down old nag." "Shredded Ear isn't a nag." "He's a horse, and a good one." "I've never seen him let us down." "Flavio!" "Prepare Piotillos." "Let's teach these punks a lesson." "Now we'll see." "Andrés, do you want to state the bet?" "What?" "If I lose I'll pay you $10,000, but if I win, I want to hire back Ramón and Julian." "What do you say?" "That's not much, because if I win, I'll throw a feast in his honor." "We won, boss." "India ran very well." "Thanks, Flavio." "Here's my money." "Congratulations, boss." "~ I want a rematch." "~ Whenever you want." "Next Sunday, but this time it'll be for $100,000 so it'll squeeze us dry." "Your word is law." "Get on into it, Ear, get on into it." "Get on into it, Ear." "Go, go, go." "Put him in the right position." "Point him straight ahead." "Don't open the doors yet, Your Honor." "I'm still not set." "Put him in position." "No, don't even give the boss a chance, do it for me, I need this." "I'm older." "That's it, move to the right position, Ear." "Run fast, Ear, you're carrying our entire fortune on your back!" "Come on, Shredded Ear, you know what to do!" "I'm ready, steward." "Hold it back strongly." "I'm ready, steward, let's go." "There you go, showtime." "Shredded Ear wins and Don Andrés's horse loses!" "And I've been obliged to rehire you for reasons I won't explain." "~ Thanks, boss." "~ Thanks, boss." "And that dreadful horse will sleep in the old stable." "I don't want to see you near the house, and I held you responsible for that keeping that boy away from my daughter." "Is that clear?" "That's all, you may go." "OK?" "González, look for some gas cans." "What's up, boss?" "The only way Andrés can lose this next race is if India suffers an accident." "You understand?" "Yes." "I'll wait for you at the track." "Hurry." "You, get in." "Go on, bring the gas." "You have to give me a rematch." "~ You know what, Ramón?" "~ What?" "I wish I was still peddling junk." "Huh?" "Light it up on this side." "Let's go, that's enough." "I don't like that." "Me neither." "Let's check it out, brother." "Go on." "Come on, fire, the stables are burning!" "What's going on?" "Boss, get the water!" "Quickly, quickly, it's on fire!" "Hurry, this is burning!" "Bring more water!" "Flavio!" "Give me your pistol." "~ Give it to me!" "~ But, boss..." "Give it to me, I say!" "Andrés." "Dad!" "Don't do it." "Careful, boss, what are you going to do?" "Let me go, I don't want India to suffer any more." "No, boss, don't kill her yet." "Give me a chance." "I'll get her." "Let me go." "Dude, give me the blanket." "Soak me to the skin." "Don't risk it, Ramón, play it safe!" "Yeah, let me alone, I'm going to save India." "Let me go, son." "I'm going." "Easy, India." "Calm." "I'll have you right out." "He's coming, he's coming, Ramón saved her!" "Get more water, get more water!" "Wet her tail!" "She's shocked, she's burned!" "Now I know what Hell's going to feel like." "Ramón, did something happen to you?" "Were you burned?" "No, nothing, ma'am, nothing." "What you did was stupid, but we are very grateful." "Thanks, ma'am." "I may be a dry old stick, but I don't burn." "I'm sorry, Don Andrés, but India won't be able to run for a while." "Damn it!" "If I postpone the race I'll owe Matías $100,000." "But why postpone the race?" "You've got Shredded Ear here." "Yeah, Dad, and he just whipped Piotillo." "Don Andrés, run him!" "He won't let you down." "Go on, Dad, Shredded Ear can beat Mr. Matías's horse." "As you see, Andrés, that horse deserves the chance." "I've already given him one, and you've seen the results." "Oh, boss, the past is the past!" "You'll see how that horse does in the clutch." "Quiet, Ear, quiet." "You have to prove you're a champion." "Hey, you're going to race me with this horse?" "~ Don't disparage, it already beat Piotillo." "~ Yeah, but it won't beat Rebel." "~ That horse is as useless as a bellied frog." "~ You think?" "Sure, the Rebel is very light." "You know that." "I thought you were going to stake with India." "That can't be." "She suffered an accident but will be better soon." "What happened?" "A damned scoundrel wanted to kill her by setting fire to the stable,... but I have my suspicions and I think I'll nab the bastard." "Help me, go on." "Now it's your turn, boss, let's run over the track record of this Rebelde." "Come on, Shredded Ear!" "Win this race and I'll swear..." "I swear you'll have the same privileges as India." "Take me to the lockers." "Grab it and center it well." "~ I'm not ready, steward." "~ I'm not ready, steward." "No, I'm not ready." "Easy, Ear." "Easy." "Treat him nicely, huh?" "You don't take any risks, treat him nicely." "Don't worry, old-timer." "Now they're going to learn who I am." "Now, OK." "Not yet, not yet, don't open the gates." "Easy, Rebel." "Let's go, let's go win." "Whenever you're ready!" "Easy." "This is for you, boss." "I salute you." "Ready!" "Go for it, Shredded Ear!" "Shredded Ear's wins, Rebel's loses!" "~ He won, Mom, he won!" "~ Yes, girl." "Shredded Ear wins, and Rebel ended up going down!" "Go on, go congratulate Julián." "~ Are you OK?" "~ Fuck off, Flavio." "Happy?" "$100,000." "You can count it if you want." "You've done it already." "That was a boot in the slats, huh?" "Now you'll have something else to worry about on top of India." "Andrés, you owe me a rematch." "Hey, Matías, isn't that yours?" "Yes." "Where did you lose it?" "In the races." "In the races." "What a load of bull!" "In the stable, when you started the fire!" "This guy started the fire in the stables." "~ This was, this was." "~ Catch him." "It's not worthwhile getting your hands dirty over a guy like that." "Now, go away." "And don't expect a rematch." "Far from here, far!" "Take your crap and never come back!" "Fireworks, fireworks, fireworks!" "¤ From there, a hidden ranch, emerged from a pack... ¤ a red colt with shoes of iron... ¤ and of a good size, called Shredded Ear." "¤ He was an ordinary horse, but he was fast." "¤ He ran against other horses, sometimes he was a bit lazy." "¤ but after 200 yards he'd left them all behind." "¤ Suddenly a horse came from there, from the ranch." "¤ They put him on short notice and noted the day,... ¤ and they arranged tickets for the match up." "¤ The day arrived and the course was laid out." "¤ Together on the starting line, the flags were dropped... ¤ but on reaching the halter the mare was left behind." "¤ Mauro, the owner of the mare, remained in doubt." "¤ His mare behaved, and he got a good rider,... ¤ to match up to Ear and chase the runner out of him." "¤ On the second occasion, the looked-for triumph came... ¤ in the rope, sirs, the stewards said it was a draw." "¤ Some guys say Ear won, but the judges didn't play fair. ¤" "Bravo, Julián!" "Come on, Miss, come on!" "~ Congratulations, Julián." "~ You were great." "~ You sing very well, Julián." "~ Thanks, Candy." "Don't you think there are others who deserve an apology?" "Well, yeah." "From tomorrow I want you to be the foreman of my ranch." "All right?" "Oh, wow, I wasn't expecting that." "Thanks, boss!" "Like my Aunt Eulalia says, "In this life you can't quit, but if you can't sing, you'll have to work"." "And you, from tomorrow, you're going to school." "I don't want in the future, if you and my daughter remain friends, that she marry an illiterate." "Well said, he'll study, boss!" "And now, Candy, your mom has a surprise you all." "What?" "Shredded Ear is about to become a father." "~ A bountiful family!" "~ Can we go see Ear?" "Come on, come on!" "¤ That day, she was back at her desk, I went to bring her back her crayons." "¤ She said, "I've suffered horrors since the day I left."" "¤ And I blushed when she said flatly "How I've missed you!"" "¤ My room is celebrating, today I got a 10 in history,... ¤ I memorized my daily English lesson." "¤ As my grades rose, your sleepy eyes looked at me again. ¤"