"I hadn 't seen my father for years, nor had I really missed him." "I almost never wrote him... just a few postcards to say I was fine, and that Antonio and I sent our love." "I didn 't want to see him sick, struggling to recover from a recent operation." "At the time, my marriage was in crisis..." "Well, one of a series of crises." "When I got my sister's telegram, telling me of his illness, and then an anxious call from my family that revealed how serious it was," "I decided to go to Madrid." "Selfishly speaking, finally I had an excuse to get away from home and calmly reflect upon my own situation." "As I got further away from Antonio," "I realized I couldn 't go back to the man with whom I'd spent 7 years." "I left, I now realize, knowing I'd never return." "A very cozy place to I ive." "You can't imagine the winter." "Remember last Christmas, Julian?" "We froze to death." "It's unbearable." "Even with the heater on." "Mom, he's not here." "What do you mean?" "No!" "How strange." "One day he'll give us a real fright." "Dad?" "At least he's not ill." "Isabel?" "Yes." "Look." "Over here." "This was here." ""Be right back"." "Thank God." "I was worried..." "He's so isolated here." "Not even a phone." "What if he get's sick?" "You know what he says?" "Better to die alone than in bad company." "Where's the old man?" "You could show a little respect." "The "old man" left a note." "I was worried." "There's nothing to worry about." "Where do I put this?" "ln the kitchen, where else?" "I'm tired." "Put it in the fridge." "No, in the freezer." "Or it won't be cold." "I can see why he never locks the door." "Nothing to steal." "Isabel." "Can't you ever relax?" "Can't you help?" "See if there are any more dirty dishes." "No." "Can't you leave her alone?" "Stop washing things for once." "It's easy for us." "We can surprise him." "Do what you want." "I need some fresh air." "Come on, help me!" "Jacobo!" "Arantxa!" "Daddy!" "Come and play!" "My fatigue is that of someone..." "My fatigue is that of someone going nowhere." "But where was I going?" "What was my goal?" "Maybe it was all just an illusion." "I can 't say I've been deceived, because I was party to the deception." "Only now do I realize that the things I've learned, although mostly worthless, but which gave my life meaning..." "I've reached the point... where they are no longer of use to me." "Now this man I see in the mirror wants to begin a new life," "without rejecting his past." "This man has nothing." "Neither youth nor physical charm, nor does he feel that he 's found truth," "but simply believes that life itself is it's own reward." "This man hasn 't even the confidence to partake of those joys said to come with maturity." "This man, stumbling awkwardly along his path, has resigned himself" "to begin a new life." "And the only obstacle in his path" "is the fear that it's already too late." "Look..." "Grandpa!" "What a surprise!" "Hi Arantxita!" "Jacobo!" "Hi, Luis." "How are you?" "Hi, Dad!" "We brought a surprise." "Hi." "Hi!" "Remember the song?" "One, two, three..." "Grandpa..." "What do you say?" "Happy birthday!" "Hi." "Happy birthday." "I'm stuck!" "Yes, you are!" "Very good, very good." "Did we surprise you?" "Did you ever!" "Pass me that bread?" "Did you see that?" "Let's have a toast." "To Luis, and many happy years to come." "Thank you." "Happy birthday." "Thanks." "Happy birthday." "Thanks." "Happy birthday." "Thank you, Elisa." "Good champagne..." "It's great." "May we be excused?" "Go ahead." "Go outside and play." "Can I ride the bike?" "Sure." "Stay in the yard." "Why?" "Because!" "Don't laugh." "Children need discipline." "Because!" "When they grow up..." "No, no, no." "It's your birthday." "We'll wash up." "Have a seat, Julian." "More?" "Yes, please." "It's a special day." "What a great meal." "There's nothing like a good impromptu lunch." "And the paté..." "Delicious." "From Strasburg." "It's superb." "But the fresh paté in Paris..." "Perigord." "Cigarette?" "No, no." "I gave it up." "Still?" "I really don't know why." "Here." "Who gets to serve the coffee?" "Remember?" "Yes." "No, let me." "When we were little we fought over who poured the coffee." "Cheater." "You always loved coffee." "Your mother used to put it in your milk." "Sugar?" "No, thanks." "I love coffee." "Could I...?" "I just love coffee." "I could drink it all day." "Want some?" "That's why you toss and turn." "Last night you wouldn't shut up." "She also talks." "Really?" "What did I say?" "I don't know, but you had fun!" "You were laughing." "Thank God." "I always have the same dream." "What is it?" "Well..." "I dream... we're back in Madrid, in Mom's house... well, in Mom and Dad's house," "and nothing has changed." "The same paintings, the same table, the same walnut sideboard... and on the sideboard," "the silver tray, with the silver tea set." "It was always there..." "It's a very bright day, and the light comes through the window in such a way..." "I can't explain it." "It's almost blinding... reflecting off all the silver." "Then I get this strange feeling..." "I can't describe it..." "It's as if everything were alive." "I don't know..." "The teapot, and the cups... they begin to shake... to quiver." "But not exactly, no... it's..." "I can 't explain it, but... we're... all sitting around the table." "Dad, Mom, and I..." "What about me?" "You're there, too." "Mom and Dad are all dressed up." "Dad's wearing a suit and a tie." "Mom..." "Mom's wearing one of her Liberty dresses." "And you..." "I can 't remember." "We've just eaten." "Suddenly I look up, and the chandelier also starts to tremble, to vibrate ever so slightly..." "Everything is shaking, and quivering..." "It must have been an earthquake." "I was in one once, and I remember al I the furniture and all the dishes shook like crazy." "The paintings fell off the walls." "It wasn't like that." "It's hard to explain." "It's as if everything... were throbbing..." "I can't say." "What happens then?" "Nothing." "I wake up." "The tea set wasn't silver." "Wasn't it?" "It was porcelain with blue flowers." "Remember?" "I vaguely remember." "Wasn't it blue?" "Dad!" "It was white porcelain..." "with an oval mirror..." "That's it." "The chandelier had those funny arms... and tiny prisms hanging from it." "What were they called?" "Spiders." "Spiders." "Your mother insisted on hanging that thing." "It was a wedding gift I always hated." "I liked it." "Isabel, we shouldn't stay too late." "Well... whenever you think we should go." "In a little while." "Half an hour." "I have a big day tomorrow." "A big case." "I'm totally swamped." "Dad, where's the photo album I gave you?" "In my workroom." "Can I get it?" "Sure." "It's with my files on the left." "Are you coming?" "Yes." "What's this important case?" "It's worth a fortune." "Expropriated land, tax evasion." "We'll uncover quite a scandal." "It's time the law be applied to everyone." "You believe in those laws." "I don't." "You avoid reality." "Whose reality?" "Yours?" "Your wife's?" "Or mine?" "That's not what I mean." "The reality of society, formed by individuals who accept the rules of survival." "And who decides?" "What does it matter?" "Common sense, history, people..." "Sorry, but I don't believe that." "My point is, these rules must exist for everyone." "Those rules are destroying humanity." "I've reached the conclusion now that I think about it, that I'd like to go back." "To forget everything I've learned." "Reading, math..." "Even the alphabet." "lmpossible." "Maybe impossible, but I'd like to." "Those laws and rules can drive men insane." "Didn't you read about that guy in the paper?" "Some poor believer who couldn't take anymore, shut himself up in his room for 6 or 7 hours, and the police shot him." "Even worse, people wanted him shot." "It's a terrible symptom..." "Proof that despite these laws and rules, human nature is vindictive." "Always seeking revenge." "Something's wrong with your rules when a sick man is shot down like a dog and his own neighbors called for his death!" "There it is." "Look." "White with flowers." "And here." "You' re right." "You see?" "The soup server was silver." "Photography really frightens me." "Why?" "I don't know." "It's like a miracle... to see yourself in the past." "That's me." "Who's that?" "Mom's cousin." "That's right." "That place..." "Our cave was there." "Remember?" "Yes, back there." "Nobody came in without the password." "What was it?" "Toe-toe-toe..." "Blue duck." "Toe-toe-toe blue duck." "Yes." "How are things with Julian?" "Fine." "Like everyone, I guess." "Good days, bad days..." "Why do you ask?" "I sensed a bit of tension between you two." "Why?" "When he said you talked in your sleep, you looked worried." "As if you're hiding something." "Well, I am hiding something." "Really." "You're happy?" "Yes." "You love him?" "Very much." "Anyway, your turn now..." "What's wrong with you?" "I have no idea." "I don't know." "I have to make a decision... and I can't." "I don't know." "Jacobo, Arantxa." "What?" "Get your things, we're leaving." "Here." "Thanks." "Goodbye." "Give me a kiss." "Okay." "Goodbye, Dad." "I mean Grandpa." "Goodbye." "Bye." "Take care." "Thanks." "It was a lovely day." "Why don't you stay with me a few days, Elisa?" "What?" "lf you don't have other plans." "I was going to Isabel's for a few days." "Don't worry, go on." "Really?" "Her bag's in the car." "Julian, get Elisa's bag." "She's staying." "Let me." "I won't be a nuisance?" "Of course not!" "Will you stay?" "Yes." "Wonderful!" "Come on, we can beat the traffic." "Bye, Luis." "Goodbye." "Bye." "See you later." "Bye, Julian." "Thanks." "Goodbye." "Bye." "Shall I show you around?" "You're not tired?" "No." "Well, there isn't much to see, but I like it." "I take my walk around this time." "ls it religious?" "No." "Well?" "It's a long story." "I walk up and down that path almost everyday." "Well, one day I found a woman lying on this very spot." "At first I thought she had fainted." "I went to help her, but she was dead." "I turned her over and she had a wound in her chest." "Her dress was full of blood." "I called the police." "All they did was grill me with questions." "Then came all the reporters, asking about the "dead widow"..." "That's what they called her." "They actually thought I was the killer." "And the flowers?" "Are they from a relative?" "No." "And that's my secret." "I'll share it with you." "A year later, someone brought... that white stone and a vase with flowers." "I'd almost forgotten, but later I realized it could have something to do with the murdered woman." "Why else would someone put flowers there?" "I thought the same thing." "A relative, or friend..." "or lover..." "Yes." "Every year on the same day, someone replaced the flowers and cleaned the stone." "One year, curiosity got the best of me." "I decided to find out who it was." "I waited for hours." "Just at dawn, a man appeared on a bike, his face hidden." "He changed the flowers and vase." "Do you know him?" "Yes." "I recognized him." "After that, I decided to find out why every year he religiously performs his little ritual." "I read all I could about the crime," "I asked about the man in the village, and I concluded..." "That he's the killer." "Yes." "Absurd as it may seem," "I realized he could very well be killer." "Did you go to the police?" "No." "Well, I could have been wrong." "I prefer not to meddle." "I'm no judge." "Come on, it's getting cold." "I'm not cold." "We'll fix up your room." "Is there a towel in there?" "Elisa." "No." "It lacks conveniences." "I used to have a cleaning lady, but she was too nosy." "I need my privacy..." "It's worth the mess." "Yes." "I'm no handyman." "I think I have a curtain for you." "I don't like curtains, but I'll get it for you." "No, that's all right." "Tomorrow." "I'm very happy you decided to stay." "So am I." "My father's figure grows with time." "I now realize my image of him came from my mother." "Once it hit her that he wasn 't coming back, very subtly, but sure of her own conclusions, she tried to convince us, to show us, and herself, that my father was a sick, selfish man." "My mother was the backbone of the family." "She had a strong will, but at times would get depressed." "She would say she wanted to die, and shut herself in her room for days." "It was strange, without an explanation." "She felt empty, useless, unsatisfied... incapable of coping with everyday life." "I'm not sure, but I think she tried to kill herself, though half-heartedly." "The strange thing was a few days into the crisis, she would just hop out of bed, her strength restored, smiling as usual." "The strange thing was, a few days into the crisis," "she would just hop out of bed..." "Her strength restored, smiling as usual." "I can't make any noise." "I can't make any noise." "If I make noise, I'll lose..." "That's it." "That's it." ""ls it possible that despite his inventions and progress, despite his culture and knowledge of the universe, man has but touched the surface of life's meaning?"" "Hi, Daddy." "Elisa." "Aren't you asleep?" "Where are you going?" "I'm going on a very long trip." "Kiss me goodbye?" "For how long?" "I don't know." "Go to sleep." "Take care of your mother." "I was nine when Dad left us forever." "He left without a word." "Well..." "He did come and kiss us goodbye." "Maria was asleep, but I was awake." "I asked him where he was going." "He said "for a walk"." "He seemed happy." "He didn 't take anything with him, or leave a note..." "He simply vanished from our lives in silence." "When I saw torn photos of him in the garbage, I knew that for us, he was dead." "I was upset, sort of." "Maria cried and cried." "Separation." "Divorce." "Words we heard at school," "But not things that happened to people we knew." "My mother was calm, though pale, and listless." "She would come home late from work." "Once I heard her cry." "Poor thing." "Though she would never admit it, she 'd have preferred him dead." "It would have freed her to start a new life, something she could never do with him alive." "Line 9242, Booth 4." "Antonio?" "I'm fine." "Real ly, I am." "How are you?" "No, well..." "Look, I called to say..." "I'm staying a few days." "I'm at my father's." "Well, I changed my mind." "Now I'm with my father." "No, I don't need anything." "I just need a few days to myself." "I need to get some rest, that's all." "No, nothing's wrong." "I'm fine." "I don't know." "No, I just want to be alone." "I'll be back in a week, or ten days." "Antonio, no." "Thanks, but I prefer to be alone." "Don't you get it?" "Well, Antonio..." "Goodbye." "Are you still translating?" "Of course, I can't stop." "It pays badly but it's enough to live on." "I have my classes as well." "But what else do you do?" "I don't know." "I think, I breathe, I walk..." "I live." "No small feat!" "I have no social security, no insurance, no stocks, none of those things." "This house isn't even mine." "It's rented." "You're a total disaster!" "Perhaps." "Perhaps." "I could never do what you did..." "Just leave everything behind." "The wine?" "On the fridge." "Wait, wait." "Delicious." "lsn't it?" "I'll get the cheese." "Okay." "You must have been pretty fed up... to do what you did." "I was a lot older than you are now." "Not so much older." "lt looks good." "We'll see." "Al dente." "Sauce?" "A little." "I hope it's good." "Thanks." "Dad?" "What." "What do you write about?" "Are you really interested?" "Yes." "Nothing much." "I gather material slowly, and write a little each day." "Not in any set plan." "When I feel like it." "Occasionally I realize none of it makes sense, and I burn it." "You burn it?" "Yes, and start all over." "They say all writers want to be read." "Yes." "That's true." "But it's more important to feel the need." "Sometimes I feel that need." "When it burns inside," "I write." "But... without being pretentious." "I write because I enjoy it." "Nothing more." "I can't stand people who go on about art, those who think they're creating something important." "For me, writing's no better than sweeping the street or laying a brick." "I remember your letters." "Really?" "Well, I saved them." "I remember one especially." "After Grandma's funeral." "There was nothing tragic about it." "You said they gave her make up and a wig to make her more presentable." "And the family fought over all her things, her paintings, her furniture, her jewelry... and you broke into laughter." "You said it seemed much more logical that when you die all of the things you had in life should also disappear." "People, loved ones, family... even your furniture... you mentioned an old armchair... and photo albums, books, even favorite landscapes." "Did I really say all that?" "No." "I've had enough to drink." "Yes, yes." "Conclusion:" "Never write letters." "No, no." "When I was young," "I was quite a literary snob." "I wrote several drafts for every letter, even spending the whole day to write a single page." "I was sure someday, someone would publish my letters." "Now the letters I really like are spontaneous... with spelling errors... badly written letters often mean the most." "Also in photography." "I hate all those modern, artificial poses." "I detest them." "But speaking of that letter, I don't know." "I wouldn't write it today." "When you die, well..." "that's it." "Why drag others along with you?" "It's silly." "What do you write about?" "I write about myself..." "Well, that's not exactly true." "I'll show you someday." "A psychiatrist might call it occupational therapy." "Is it autobiographical?" "Yes." "In a way." "You write about Mom, Isabel and me?" "Yes, I suppose I do." "But it's not a confessional piece, I assure you." "I'd hate to fall in that trap." "No..." "Still, it's inevitable." "We write what we know... it's all personal experiences, and using your imagination, though I have little to use." "You feel more secure writing what you know." "Yes." "You see?" "Look at us." "We sound like scholars." "I'm contagious." "It's true." "Dad." "Yes?" "Why don't you show me?" "You're interested?" "Come on." "Dad!" "No." "No, Elisa." "Another time." "I need to revise." "Dad." "Another time." "Here." "Why did you send me to a nun's school?" "It was your mother's idea." "Yeah, sure." "Her idea." "You'll love the girls." "Yes." "At first it was hard, but now I like teaching." "Very much." "All the formalities never change." "How are you, Sister?" "Very well." "She's not my lover, Sister." "This is my daughter, Elisa." "Very well." "In my day, we had to walk in line." "Keep in line or else!" "Times have changed." "At night we had to sleep with our arms crossed like this... to avoid evil temptations." "Sister, if you wouldn't mind..." "Quiet down, girls!" "Silence!" "I'll go." "lf you need me." "Thank you." "All right, sit down." "First introductions." "This is my daughter, Elisa." "Good morning." "Good morning." "Sit here, by my side." "Let's see..." "Have you all studied your lines?" "Yes." "Sure?" "Yes." "It's Maria's turn to begin." "You know the part?" "Yes." ""Who calls me?" "Who shouts?"" ""Come hither World." "Thy Maker calls."" ""What are thy demands?" "Thy orders?"" "Wait a moment, Maria." "It says the Maker is seated." "Then she gets up and walks around." "We'll take it from there." "The introduction." "My character says:" ""l give thee a feast for entertainment is best applauded as a reflection of humanity, so let our feast a comedy be." "Thou shalt be Supreme Maker, and thou," "and thou the World"." ""Thou the World"." "Dad, stop." "Don't be shy." "You're a good actress." "Up to your old tricks." "No." "Look, this is the part." "The World." ""Oh, Supreme Maker..."" "No, no." "Over there, next to the Supreme Maker." "Get up." "You'll be fine." ""Oh, Supreme Maker..." "Gen..."" ""Oh, Supreme..." "Maker..." "Oh, Generous one, whose power... and voice all obey." "I... the Great Theater... will execute your wish... that men may play on my stage."" ""Come one, come all"." ""Come one, come all."" "Who are they?" "Call them." "María Jesús," "Paquita," "Conchi," "María Antonia," "Angeles," "Sofía," "Rosa Mary, and María Jesús Valcels." "I destroyed him." "He was too kind, too gentle to survive my rejection and abandon me with impunity." "A crueler man... would have hated me more and suffered less." "I forced him into cruelty..." "This part's difficult." "No, look." "A crueler man would have hated me more... and suffered less." "I forced him into cruelty, a state that was unnatural to him." "He would..." "He could never forgive me." "It's beautiful." "Why did you cross this part out?" "I don't like it." "This is the part I like." "It's as if it were me." "As I got further away from Antonio," "I realized I couldn't go back to the man with whom I'd spent 7 years." "I left," "I now realize, knowing I'd never return." "Elisa." "Dad." "Hi." "Your magazines." "Thanks." "And a letter." "What's that?" "This one." "Not that one." "Who taught you to do that?" "A photographer." "This one's beautiful." "How about some coffee?" "I'll do it." "No way." "Our pact." "No pampering." "Sorry." "This is my favorite." "Do you want coffee or not?" "I don't feel well." "I'll make tea later." "All right." "I'll get the kettle." "And the pact?" "Well..." "Oh, Dad." "All right, go ahead and spoil me." "Thanks." ""Elisa, you seem so distant." "What's wrong with you?" "I love you."" "Antonio wants you to go home?" "More or less." "Everyday I realize we're further apart." "It's strange..." "You live with someone for years, then realize you don't know them." "I don't know Antonio." "I don't mean to bore you." "Not at all..." "I'm glad you confide in me." "What will you do?" "I don't know." "I don't know." "I can't leave him." "These situations are always painful." "Objectively speaking, things aren't so tragic." "All I can say is think twice about it." "Just a little fatherly advice..." "The past is more powerful than we think." "It's hard to let go." "I speak from experience..." "But I'm just an old man." "You're not an old man!" "Not far from it." "One of the first symptoms of senility is memory loss." "You forget things that just happened." "But for some strange reason, you remember the distant past." "It's happening to me." "I was wrong about Antonio." "It's no discovery," "I knew it all along." "We've never understood each other." "I could never stand his constant manipulation, his constant need for reassurance." "I knew we'd break up, but I kept lying to myself." "I've always been afraid to face things." "It's not all his fault, he has good qualities." "But... it's over." "Finished." "It's time to start over." "I didn't know things were that bad." "Well, they are." "They are." "He was unfaithful." "That hurts the most." "No..." "That's not it." "Of course it hurt at first." "But what hurt most was his breaking a pact we'd made." "Without mutual honesty, what's the point?" "You know who with?" "Sofía..." "Well, you wouldn't... know..." "Sofía." "She was my best friend." "A friend for life." "It's a pretty vulgar story, of course." "You know how I found out?" "One day, a woman called me." "Her voice was horrible." "She said," ""Elisa Santamaría?"..." ""Yes"." "She says," ""Your husband's name is Antonio?"... "Yes."" ""Antonio is cheating on you with someone named Sofía."" "I said, "What?"" "She repeated it." "Then I said," ""Who are you?"" "She hung up." "What then?" "Nothing." "I didn't believe it." "I didn't... she was my best friend." "My friend for life." "I could understand why he was attracted to her." "She was beautiful." "Beautiful." "It took me a while to react." "I threw myself on the bed, and just lied there, silently." "My world fell apart." "In one brief moment I saw the failure... of a relationship that had never worked." "I felt lost." "Sofía, my friend." "I began to think maybe it was a joke." "Or a lie." "I went out and wandered around in shock." "I think in such a moment your desperation is intensified." "I went in a shop," "and bought some idiotic, useless item, which I threw away immediately." "Al I I knew was I had to make a decision right away." "Maybe it was a I ie." "And if it were?" "Some people enjoy playing dirty tricks." "I felt alone." "Lost." "I was 30 years old, and felt absolutely useless." "I have a degree, but it's just something to brag about." "I speak languages..." "I can find a job." "But first I had to face the truth." "I got my courage up, and I went to Sofía 's to tal k to her." "When I got there, the doorman said she wasn't there." "She'd been gone for two months." "He thought she was abroad." "It made sense, her mailbox was full." "How strange." "So you never found out if it was true." "Later I found out it was." "She wasn't abroad?" "I don't know." "And I still don't know who called." "You never saw her again?" "Never." "How strange." "I hate her." "They grow potatoes... and lots of sunflowers." "But this summer has been so dry, all is lost." "I saw as I came in." "It's a shame." "Yes." "Antonio." "Elisa." "Hi." "How are you?" "Hi, Dad." "Hi." "What's up?" "I wanted to talk to you." "I'll go." "No, Dad." "Stay." "Of course." "We'll go for a ride." "Well, all right." "See you later." "Bye." "Bye, Dad." "You can live with someone for years," "Then realize you don't know them." "Life takes it's toll." "It wears us out, and makes us old." "Your letter really hurt me." "All right, I'm sorry." "Please forgive me." "It's all my fault." "Let's not drag this out." "Elisa, come home with me." "Why?" "It will be the same thing again." "No, Antonio." "I can't." "Let's try it." "One last time." "I love you, Elisa." "I love you." "I can't live without you." "Elisa, my love..." "Antonio, leave me alone." "I don't want to live with you." "I won't go back." "Antonio, we're not children who fight, kiss and make up as if nothing happened." "We're adults now." "At this point... the only solution is separation." "This way at least we might salvage some fond memories..." "There's someone else." "You know that's not true." "I don't love you." "Not anymore." "I'm sorry." "I wish I did, like before." "It's my fault." "That doesn't matter." "Elisa, I'm begging you to come back." "I want a quiet life." "That's not true." "All you want is to be the center of attention." "You can't see that other people need love, warmth..." "Love, warmth..." "And you?" "You give nothing." "Our emotional and sexual ties are dead." "You think so?" "Please, Antonio." "You know I do." "I think we can start over." "If we're both willing to make an effort." "Nothing would change." "We can't even say," ""We'll live together but have an open arrangement."" "We already tried that and it failed." "Remember?" "I still loved you then." "I thought it could work." "But as time passed," "I began to see you in a different light." "I saw who you really were, and still are." "The real you." "And who am I... if I may ask?" "I'd rather not say." "Tell me." "This can't get any worse..." "As you wish." "You're a person incapable of giving, incapable of love." "You keep things inside." "You're selfish, calculating... always trying to benefit from everything." "You've never seen my sensitivity, my insecurity, my need for reassurance," "my loneliness... nothing." "My anxiety..." "You don't know me." "After 9 years you still know nothing about me." "And you?" "Who do you think you are?" "Selfish, possessive, destructive..." "When have you ever encouraged me?" "You've made enemies of my friends... good friends..." "You've estranged all my friends." "I was a happy person, full of life." "You've turned me into a sad, tormented man." "I have?" "Yes." "Thanks a lot." "I'm sorry you came." "I'll never go back." "Never." "I still think we could try again." "No, no and no." "All right." "Don't bother, I know the way." "You can live with someone for years, then realize you don't know them." "Life takes it's toll." "It wears us out, and makes us old." "We try to salvage the sinking ship, our illusions, the feelings we once shared, and deeply valued." "It's hard to accept that it's not only others, but ourselves as well, that deteriorate faster than we want to believe." "I've spent my life trying to prolong those few happy moments to which all humans are entitled." "Grasping... to justify the rules I must follow, to me, no more than a saddle and bridle on a horse." "When Antonio became a stranger to me, my world fell apart." "Everything about him annoyed me." "The way he ate, the way he sat, the way he dressed, his odor, his smile..." "We didn 't even bother to fight." "We reached a point where nothing excited us." "Come on, El isa." "Don't cry." "Come on, it's al I right." "You' ll be fine." "I won't go back." "Fine, you can stay here." "I won't go back." "Never again!" "Never!" "You can stay here with me." "Calm down." "Never again!" "Of course not." "Never again!" "Of course not." "It's easy for you to say." "Well..." "You think I'm a fool!" "No, I don't." "You think I'm hysterical!" "No, that's not true." "You just need to calm down, Elisa." "I am calm!" "No..." "I'm calm!" "I'm calm!" "Elisa..." "Come here." "Relax." "Be reasonable." "I am reasonable." "No..." "It's not worth getting upset." "You have no right to say that." "All right, I have no right." "Just relax." "Let go." "Relax." "I'm relaxed." "No, you're not." "Don't cry." "Come on!" "You're a fool!" "I'm not a fool." "Fool!" "A fool!" "All right." "An idiot!" "All right." "ldiot!" "That's enough!" "Don't hit me!" "Don't hit me!" "Please!" "Don't hit me!" "Dad..." "Don't hit me!" "Dad!" "I was never told, Elisa, my love... in our sweet valley," "under a gentle breeze, as we picked tender blossoms," "I was never told... the sad day would come," "which would put a bitter end... to all our dreams of love." "Sleep." "You're so good to me." "Shall I stay a while?" "Yes." "Elisa..." "Go to sleep." "All right." "Still, with surprising perseverence, he struggled to keep breathing, ignoring her presence, intent on staying alive." "I wrote al I night." "I feel I iberated." "If only I could prolong this moment..." "I feel so alive... alive..." "She lay awake all night, unable to sleep." "But she doesn't mind... in fact," "she likes to lie awake in the darkness... to let her imagination wander freely, waiting... for memories to emerge." "Memories..." "What memories?" "This pain... it's back again." "Such a nuisance." "I can't remember things." "They slip through my fingers." "So much forgotten." "The only way to really know, is to take him to the hospital for testing." "It'll be hard to convince him." "I'll try." "Do it soon." "It's serious?" "It could be." "Do it soon." "Yes." "Thanks." "Goodbye." "Bye." "What is it?" "My funeral, right?" "You need rest." "Sure, so do you." "No..." "I prefer the light." "All right." "What else did the quack say?" "Move over." "He said you need testing at the hospital." "He needs to see the results." "And you must stay in bed." "I have class today." "I've never missed." "Today you're staying in bed." "You'll stop me?" "Yes." "Oh, Dad." "Dad." "I can't stop you." "If you keep this up..." "You need to stay in bed." "I'll do the class." "You?" "How?" "Why not?" "Yes." "Why not..." "Tomorrow the hospital." "Don't worry." "Now go." "You'll be late." "You'll stay here?" "Yes." "ln bed." "You promise?" "I promise." "Only you understand me." "Because I love you." "I'm all right." "I'm used to this." "You'll see." "Bye, Dad." "Bye." "Stay there." "Don't move." "Quiet down!" "Silence!" ""Come, mortals, come!" "Prepare for the World Theater Performance." "Speak, Supreme Maker."" ""lf man could choose, none would ever choose pain." "All would choose a role of power... unaware that it is only a role." "They believe it is life." "I, Supreme Maker, know which role suits you." "Paquita, thou shalt be King."" ""l as King shall govern and be worshipped." "Give me your gold."" ""Why gold?" -"Such is my role."" ""The Fair Maiden of Beauty will be Conchi."" ""Great is my joy!" "I am Beauty itself!" "Give me jasmine, musk and roses." "Mine are the stars in heaven, the envy of the sun."" ""Antonia will be the Rich and Powerful."" ""Mine are riches, luxury and pleasure."" ""Angeles, the Worker."" ""The Worker?" "I object!"" ""The Worker." "You'll work from dawn to dusk." "I command you."" ""I object!"" ""I command you."" ""I object."" ""Take thy plow." "Sofía, thy role is discretion." "Rosa María, the Poor and Miserable." "María Jesús, the Unborn Child."" ""An easy enough role..."" ""Take thy place."" ""Why am I the Poor in this comedy?" "Why give tragedy only to me?" "Why can't I be King?" "Or Rich?" "Are they better men, to be given better roles?"" ""The Poor." "I give you nothing, for that is your Worldly reward." "I strip thy garments." "Thou shalt walk naked." "All must play their part in this Comedy." "The better man plays better his role." "be it Rich or Poor." "The renumeration shall be earned if merited." "On this stage, life is but a performance."" ""On this stage, life is but a performance."" "Well." "Dad?" "Dad?" "Oh, no." "Dad?" "Dad..." "I hadn't seen my father for years, nor had I really missed him." "I almost never wrote him... just a few postcards to say I was fine," "and that Antonio and I sent out love." "I didn 't want to see him sick, struggling to recover from a recent operation." "At the time, my marriage was in crisis..." "Well, one of a series of crises." "When I got my sister's telegram, telling me of his illness, and then an anxious call from my family that revealed how serious it was," "I decided to go to Madrid." "Selfishly speaking, finally I had an excuse to get away from home and calmly reflect upon my own situation." "As I got further away from Antonio," "I realized I couldn 't go back to the man with whom I'd spent 7 years." "I left," "I now realize, knowing I'd never return."