"What are you reading?" " Nothing..." "I'm sorry." " Don't worry." " Will that be all?" " Yes." "This machine drives me crazy." "I'll register it later." " 1.25 plus 3.75..." " 5" "Yes, five, of course." "Don't you have anything smaller?" " Not enough change." " I'll make it." "¡What an idiot!" "I do have." "The taxi change." "The taxi-driver's change." "I took it all from him." "10, 20, 30, 40, 50." "I'm sure you need the change." "If you have a 100 bill, I'll give you 50, and 50, 100, in change." "Yes." " Bye, thanks." " Bye." " Bye." " Bye." " Hi." " Hi." "We'll put it over there." " He did that to me." " What?" "You know, the change." "Be careful." "He's pulling a trick to take money from you." "What the fuck is going on?" "What did you take from her?" "He pulled a trick on me!" "He took money from me!" "Son of a bitch!" "Call the police, Betina!" "That won't be necessary." "Don't call." "Who the hell are you?" "You thought I'd forget, right?" "You think I'm a prick, just like all the assholes you swindle?" "Is that it?" "You fucking thief!" " Freeze, motherfucker!" "Don't resist." " I won't resist." "Stop it, goddammit, look what you...!" "Who the fuck do you think you are talking to?" "I'm sorry..." "Is this the money you took from her?" "Is this it?" "You'll get a call from the precinct." "To file your report, and to return this to you." "Don't move from here." "Do you smoke?" " Smoke these?" " No." "A pity." "I no longer smoke." "Crunchy... made in Greece." "This country is going to hell." "Do you want?" "I'm such an asshole!" "What an asshole!" "It's not that bad." "I should know when someone's pulling a trick on me." "Depends on who's doing it." " It was the gun that convinced me." " The gun?" "The only thing handy." "Are you mad, kid?" ""He pulled a trick on me"!" "Why did you help me out?" "It was a pity that you'd get canned for 45 lousy bucks." "How do you know it's 45 bucks?" "I did that trick a million times." "And I know you can't do it twice at the same store." "You get in, you do it, and you get out... that's it." "Unless you want to get beaten and canned... not necessarily in that order." " You are swindler//..." " A dentist." "The professional felt pity for the asshole." "Beginner." "I hope one day I'm as good as you, teacher." "Thanks, anyway." "Goodbye." "Hold it!" "What do you want?" "That's a strange way of saying thanks." "I said thanks." "What else do you want?" "Not me, what do you want?" " What do I want?" " Survive, I guess." "I can teach you a couple of tricks." "Why?" "Because otherwise you're heading for trouble." " Thanks a lot, but I'm doing fine." " Yeah, I can see that." "I'm not the smartest, nor the fastest, but I know the st w that nobody gives anything away for free, specially" " What do you want?" " I already told you." "Try telling me the truth." "I work with another guy, a partner, Turco." "He disappeared a week ago, completely." "Them thing is, I need a partner." "I don't know how to work on my own, I can't." "I saw you at the gas station and I thought... perhaps..." "Why me?" "Why not?" "No, look..." "I work alone, and besides, I don't know you." "My name is Marcos... and yours is...?" "Juan..." "But you always wanted to be called..." "Sebastián." "Guys called Juan always want to have another name." " Let's do business, Sebastián?" " Juan." "Just for today, one day only." "Then you can decide." "No, thanks." "you to do it." "If you want to keep on playing in the sma" "Here, Kid." "Don't loose your money." "Hey..." "Marcos... just for today." "Who is it?" " Auntie?" " No, who is it?" " I'm sorry." " Who is it?" " Auntie?" " No, what auntie?" " Excuse me." " Hello?" " Auntie?" " No, wrong floor." " Excuse me." " Who is it?" " Auntie?" " Who is it?" "Wait, wait..." "Hang on." " Do you have kids?" " No." "What's that for?" "It's for me." "I had one like it when I was a kid." "A bit larger than this one." "It belonged to my father." "When there was a game on TV... it was one of the few days dad stayed at home." "I would set my wooden racetrack and play with the car." "Mum would listen to her favorite record, by Rita Pavone." " Rita Pavone?" " Yes." "A real fan." "She wouldn't acknowledge she was outdated." "When we were together at home we listened to Rita Pavone." " "ll Ballo del Mattone" Know the song?" " Who is it?" " Auntie?" " No, wrong floor." " Excuse me." "It was very popular." "They used the song for a movie, mum told me." "It went... para pa pa pa para..." "Who is it?" " Auntie?" " Yes... who is it?" "You can't recognize your favorite nephew?" " Fabían, is that you?" " Yes, auntie, it's Fabián." "It's been a long time, dear." "What a miracle!" "You have a cold?" "I can't hear well." "I hardly recognize you." "You came to visit me?" "No, you'll be mad at me." "I'm with a friend... visit someone near here and my car broke down clo" " The car?" " Yes." " You bought a car?" "You didn't know?" "You have to see it." "You'll love it." "Guess what color it is." "What color?" "Don't tell me." "Turquoise." "No, I wanted turquoise, but I got a blue one." "The thing is, they are about to tow it to the garage... and upon checking my wallet I realize I'm without money." "It was then I noticed I was close to your place..." "Fabián, how could you?" "You have to check before going out." "Don't give me a hard time." "Could you lend me some money?" "Say, 50, 60 pesos." "e garage, then I'll get the cash and come back to retur" "There's no need for you to return it so fast." "But you could have a coffee with your aunt." "I promise, auntie." "We'll have a coffee together." "Look, I don't want to leave the car alone." "My friend is staying here, give him the money." "Don't worry, I'm coming down." "Your friend can be trusted?" "She gave me 100." "Nice old lady." "She sends her love to your mother." "'s tough, I'd have to go to the cemetery, too much tro" "And she gave me this to return to her." "Why didn't you keep it?" "I'm not a crook." " What is it?" " Nothing." " You want the ring?" " No, it's not that." " What is it?" " The old lady..." "Let me see if I get this right:" "Gas station clerks, it's OK, trusting old ladies, never." "It's not that... she told me I looked like her grandson." ", return her the money, and set up a grocery store." "W" "How can you work the streets with such a conscience?" " That's my problem." " No, that's our problem." "For today." "Hang on, since we are here..." "Go in, order a coffee... pay with this... and get out." "You don't know me." "I need money." "That's original." "No, I need money, now... lot's of it." "That's why I'm on the streets." "What is it, you woke up feeling ambitious?" "No, it's my father." "I'm gathering money for him." "How much?" " A lot." " Come on, how much?" "Seventy grand." "Holy shit!" "What is it with your father?" "He is in trouble." "And you solve your dad's problems?" "Yes... we get along fine." "He taught me the tricks for working." "When I was a kid, as a game." " "Mosqueta", "Toco Mocho"..." " The basics..." "The something happened, I don't know what." "He regretted having taught me." "He said it was wrong." "He told me not to screw my life like he had screwed his." "He told me to do anything else." "Anything." "I did as he said." "I did anything." "And it didn't work..." "Everything I did was a failure." "What did you answer when asked what did you want to be?" "Left wing." "I wanted to be an accomplice." "I heard it a lot at home... and what can you do for a living with such a vocation?" "Minister?" "Now that my dad needs the money the only way I have to get it... is to use the tricks he taught me." "I try hard to remember each phrase, and each flick of the hands..." "I sell my apartment to start an import business... that didn't even get of the ground..." "Well, the 70 grand are still there, like the carrot... an asshole because the 50 grand I scraped are good" "You were saying?" "Could you give me my change, I've got to go." "What change, sir?" "The change for the 100 pesos I gave over 10 minutes ago." "No, you gave me nothing." "Come on, I'm in a hurry." "Sir, you didn't pay me." "What is it, you are serving too many tables?" "Shall I help you?" "Manager!" "You didn't pay, 100 or anything else." "Don't shout..." "Don't tell me what to do." "Manager!" " What is it?" " The gentlemen says he paid me, but it's not true." " Are you calling me a liar?" " No, sir." "There must be some confusion." "What confusion?" "There's no confusion." "I had a coffee and paid with a 100 peso bill." "I don't have that many to get confused." "I had two, and now I have one." "Check." "Perhaps you got confused." "Don't insist with the confusion bit." "There's no confusion." "Look." "I had two bills, now I have one." "Look, that's it." "The tip is cut off." "The bill with which I paid is missing the tip." "Check in your register box if you have a bill with a missing tip." " Let's cut it out, I'm in a hurry." " Come with me." "I'm not going anywhere." "Go and get me my change." "I'm not going anywhere." "Are you crazy?" "What is it?" "Your cut." "Like it?" "I knew this trick." " You do it?" " No." "Why?" "Too much people around, you have to make a scandal." "It's not my style." "But that's the point, pal." "They are not prepared to get into a scandal." "What is the key?" "Get offended." "The more offended you are, the least suspect you look." "If the going gets tough, you accuse the rest of them." "But it's not the same." "What part?" "The exposure, I don't like it." "The risk of something going wrong." "If the going gets rough, I can't do it." "You chose the wrong job." "I didn't chose." "Do you have some small change?" "I have to make a call." "It's private... you know..." "Arrange it... bye." "Who were you talking to?" "With my lawyer." "I have to call every now and then." "I still have some outstanding business." " Who was it?" " A friend." "OK, what's next?" "I don't know." "In fact I've been thinking..." "I don't know if its worth it." "All this... perhaps it's best that you go on with your stuff." "Turco must be coming back soon... and if he finds out I replaced him he'll get mad." "Turco is a bit jealous." "No, wait, what is it?" "Nothing... this is not for you." "You are not into it." "You could fuck up, and if that happens..." "Wait... what could I fuck up?" "What kind of an asshole do you think I am?" "The kind who thinks too much." " Is that a liability?" " It's a liability." "Why?" "If you think too much, some things you won't do." "Look, I need the money." "Splitting 50% with you I can make more than 100% on my own." "This is not about learning a couple of tricks." "Any asshole knows this." "You need something else for this job." "Talent... and you've got it." "Otherwise, I wouldn't be alive." "ou that good?" "Can you achieve anything you set out t" "Anything." "Can you get that purse in less than two minutes?" " That she voluntarily hand me her purse?" " In two minutes." "No, not that." " I can." " No, you can't." "I bet you the ring." " Hi." " Hi." " Go ahead." " Thanks." " What floor, madam?" " Fourth." " And you?" " The penthouse." "What is it?" "I don't know." "These old elevators, they break down, they fall down." "Please, don't say that." "It happens, all the time." "Holy shit!" " Let's get help." " Makes sense." "No, we'll do something else." "We're going out, and we'll use the stairs." "Let me help you." "Hand me your purse, I'll place it here." "Shall I hold it for you?" "I didn't know that one." "Neither did I." " You improvised?" " Yes." " Really?" " Yes." "That was fast." "And you have another asset... that'll make your life easier." "Something money can't buy." " What." " You look like a nice guy." "This is incredible!" "Once again you've sent me the wrong paper!" "How many times must I tell you this is the one I want?" "I'm sick and tired of coming myself to get it." "What's your address?" "Viamonte 1242, 2º " B"." "Why are you so cheap?" "Can't you buy it?" "Don't call me "cheap"." "Are you offended?" "Of course I can buy it, but I can also not buy it." "As everybody else would do, if they could." "Do you think everybody is like you are?" "Like me?" "Most." "The thing is they don't have enough balls." "At least it's "most"." "Then there's the decent folk, and then there's you... and you would be... what?" "What's up, man?" "You wouldn't have got her out of the elevator, would you?" " What are you talking about?" " The purse." "You would have walked away with it." "What do you mean?" "You think I am a thief?" "I don't kill people." "I don't use a piece." "Anyone can do that." "Do you want to see thieves?" "Come." "Those two... are waiting for someone with the briefcase on the street side." "That one, sizing up loaded victims." "They are there, but you can't see them." "Well, that's what it's all about." "They are there, but they are not." "So mind your briefcase, your case, your door, your window, your car." "ings." "Mind your ass." "Because they are there, and the" " Thieves." " No... that's what everybody calls them." "They are spitters, breakers, skin workers, blind fronts, digit dealers, holsters... hooks, stalls, petermans, night raiders, spitters... mustard chuckers, fences, operators, swindlers..." "I'm hungry." "Let's go to my office to get a meal." "What is it?" "Sit there, wait for me." "Anibal, could you clear my desk?" "Your sister called." "How do you know it was my sister?" "She said she was your sister, Valeria." " I didn't know you have a sister." " Yes, I have a sister." " At what time did she call?" " About an hour ago." "Did she say what she wanted?" "Get an office with a secretary and stop busting my balls." "Get me something to eat, something tasty." "If you don't mind, I'll chose the food the next time." "You are a pain in the ass, kid." " When?" " This morning." " What did you say?" " That you were hospitalized." " Why were you hospitalized?" " No..." "I think I'm running out of credit." "I'm a mess with money." "It's hard for me to..." "A mess?" "Your sister." "Hello... either we never get to talk or we speak twice the same day." "No, I can't now." "And why should it concern me?" "If you are fucking with me to get me to go to talk about our grandparents business... wait... wait a second!" "Alright, I'm on my way." "Yes!" " Problems?" " I don't know." "Maybe." "I'm going to see my sister." "And what shall I do?" "Come along." "You never know with my sister." "Maybe I might need a witness." "Pay for this." "I'll pay you later." " Your sister works here?" " Yes." " Does she...?" " No" "My sister is a responsible person." "A miracle." "I called and you came." "I'm fine, thanks." "And you?" "Fine, we are fine." "Thanks for your concern." "You called to give me shit?" "I'm trying to keep the party going, to be polite." "I wish it were a party, and there's no need to be polite with me." "It would be enough for me if you just carried out your responsibilities." "I heard that song before." "I think it was your mother singing it." "You are a bastard!" "Watch your mouth." "Be careful, perhaps one of your bosses could listen." "How many are they?" "¿10... 20?" "Never seen a woman with as many bosses as she has." " Who is this?" " Juan, a friend." " I called you." " And I came with him." "What do you want?" "Come." "Marcos, how many times did I ask you not to meddle with the hotel and its guests?" " That you do your business elsewhere." " Too many." "Today I was at the lobby and that partner of yours, the old man... what was his name?" " Sandler?" " That's it, Sandler." " I thought he had died." " Don't fuck with me, Marcos." "I'm not." "I haven't seen him in six or seven years." "Besides, Sandler was not my partner." "He does something else." "Anyway, he was at the lobby, very nervous, insisting to see on of our guests." " I imagined it was one of your affairs." " You're wrong." "I had you called, they didn't find you, and I had him out." "You've become a snitch?" "This is my job, and I work my ass off 12 hours a day to keep it." "I hope not literally." "When the old man was being thrown out he had a seizure, he fainted." "The house doctor has already seen him... and they'll call an ambulance shortly." "What does all this have to do with me?" "The old man recognized me and asked me, begged me, to call you... that it was urgent, he needed to talk to you." "My life is quite a mess as it is." "Make sure he doesn't come back." "Neither do you." " You called me." " He did." "Whatever you have to settle, do it, and go away." "It makes me nervous to see you here." "You are as loving as always." "By the way... are you dating someone, did you get married?" "I'm dating." "It will be one year tomorrow." "Congratulations." "Do I know him?" "I don't think so." "He's decent." "Nice ass, right?" "Marquitos, you came." "You called me, Sandler." "I thought... you know..." "And him?" "He's with me." "If you want to I can ask him to leave." "Juan?" "Aren't you Juan, Ramiro's kid?" "I worked with your father many years ago." "I would forge the papers for him, and he pushed them." "Sandler is an artist." "Yes, an artist." " I wanted to make big money." " They were other times." " You don't remember?" " No." "You were small then." "Perhaps ten, twelve." "Good memory." "He was a smart kid." "This is all very touching but, why did you have me called?" "Hand me the briefcase." "Esteban Vidal Gandolfo is a guest at this hotel." "Do you know him?" "Owns a holding." "Must leave the country in a hurry." "Parliamentary investigation." "Deportation to Venezuela." "500 million dollars?" "Whatever it is, it's too big for you." "He's got a hobby." "He's worth 500 millions, and he's got a hobby." " What?" " Stamps." " Didn't you have a...?" " Brother in law." "A stamp collector." "Very good." "The husband of my sister, Berta." "The one who lives at the Kavanagh." "My rich sister." "He died 8, 9 years ago, and left her the whole collection..." " including the Nueve Reinas." " Nueve Reinas?" "The Nueve Reinas is a sheet of stamps from the Weimar republic." "Defective." "Rare, and very valuable." " How much?" " I don't know." "I didn't have time to establish a price." "You wanted to sell them to Vidal Gandolfo?" "My sister's stamps?" "No, not hers." "She wouldn't sell them." "She says they remind her of her husband." "So?" "But, I got to see them." "I studied them." "I took photographs." "You copied them." "My best work ever." "Original paper." "Year 1920." "Hand-cut." "One perforation at a time." "This is one of your photos?" "The trick is the time." "I know they wouldn't pass a lab test." "But they are taking the guy to the airport tomorrow." "He doesn't have the time to really check them." "That's why they must be sold today." "He'll go for it." "He must believe it's now or never." "Please, take me to the toilet." "Easy." " Do you know this Spaniard?" " Yes, I read something about him." "Then he exists..." "Yes, of course he exists." "Let me get this straight." "You came to the hotel asking for the dago." "When you couldn't get through you got nervous... because you thought you'd blown it." "Is that so?" "It was then that you blew your fuse." "So you need someone to sell the goods for you... today." "Why me, of all people?" "When I fell ill I saw your sister and I thought:" "Why not?" "It's been a long time." "You didn't expect this, did you?" "Here I am, again trusting you." "You are desperate." "You called me because you had no one else to call." "I can give you 20%." "No." "No, look..." "Let me tell you what the situation is:" "You don't set the percentages, I do." "Because if I leave now all you'll get will be an enema at a public hospital." "Listen, I'm 73..." "I don't have many opportunities left, and this one is mine, rightfully." "Don't fuck with me, Marcos." "I can call someone else." "No, if you could call someone else you would have already done so." "How much do you want?" "90%." "You are crazy." "No, the thing is I got you by the balls." " Let's do it 50/50%" " I am not negotiating." "I'm making you the only offer you'll ever get." "10% for you... or nothing, zilch." "I didn't come to you, Sandler." "It was the other way round." "I never learn." "I'm an asshole." "You are not an asshole." "You are fucked up." "Well?" "The wife has the stamps at their place." "If I tell her the old man sends me, she'll give them to me." "He asked me not to mention the hospital." "He doesn't want her to get scared." "Do you know anything about stamps?" "They are small square papers you stick on envelopes." " You'll go ahead with it?" " What is it with you?" "Of course!" " What?" " Nothing." "I find it a bit strange." " Which part?" " All of it." "Strange?" "You find it strange?" "Kid, I've sold barbed wire seeds, and got thanked for it." "Do you think I can get scared with some stamps?" "What can I lose?" "I risk nothing." "If I sell, I keep everything." "And if the cops get involved?" "No, kid." "This is something else." "This is something you can wait for all your life, and could never happen." "It's one in a million." "The old man is a good artist." "He's the best." "And I can sell those stamps." " I can probably get... thirty grand." " Thirty grand?" " More, you think?" " Come." "What is it?" "What do you want?" "I want in." "In where?" "The deal." "I need the cash." "I want a part." "A part?" "Are you crazy?" "I'm not saying much." "I mean a percentage." "We are together for the day, right?" "Why should I give you a percentage?" "This reached me through my sister." "Who the fuck do you think you are?" "Well, I was there." "Fuck that!" "You don't even know Sandler's address." "I'll need help." "Stay with me for a lumpsum: one grand." "Three." " One and a half." " Two and a half." " OK." "Two." " Two and a half." " OK." "Two." " Two and a half." "Alright!" "Only if we pull it through." " What was the name of the guy...?" " None of your business." " Vidal Garófalo?" " Gandolfo." "Gandolfo." "He likes you." "I'd like to talk to you about..." "why do you ask?" " It's nothing." " Don't meddle with that guy..." " I'll be back." "Do you remember by any chance a song by Rita Pavone, "ll Ballo del Mattone"?" "That's it, let's go." "We won't bother you again." "Listen, what about our grandparents' issue?" "Not again!" "Talk to your lawyer." "Don't fuck around with me, you lawyer is delaying it." "That's what lawyers are for." "If you won't do it for me, do it for Federico." "What does the kid have to do with this?" "You are screwing him too." "The third part is his." "I'm not screwing anybody." "You wanted to sue me?" "You did." "What else do you want now?" "Do you want my blood?" "Look at the victim." "You are a bastard!" "Don't insult me." "And leave the boy out of this." "He is not staying out." "You explain it to him." " Marcos, how are you?" " What's up, boy?" " Fine?" " How are you?" "Didn't you say he never came, that he didn't care?" " How are you?" " Fine, and you?" "In the end your sister got to have you working with her, all dressed up." "Yes, well, we need the money." "We still have debts." "You don't have to explain." "There's nothing to feel ashamed of." "Explain to your brother why he can't collect his grandparent's money." " Valeria, cut it out with that." " Yes, cut it out." "Don't be naive, Federico." "Don't involve me in this mess." "He already explained what happened with the inheritance, and it's enough for me." " And you believe him?" " Of course. he is my brother." "Do what you have to do, sue him." "I don't care." "But don't bust my balls." "I have to go back to work." "See you." " Good." "Bye." " Good afternoon." " What do you want?" "Your husband sent us, to pick up an envelope he left for us." "He said it's a yellow, large, envelope, in the shelf in the living room..." " under the Chinese jar." " My husband is not in." "Yes, I know." "He said that even if he were not home... we could come by to pick up the envelope." "He's not in!" "Come back at some other time." "We'd love to, but we can't." "Sandler, Mr. Sandler said that..." "He's not in!" "He's not in!" "My husband is not in!" "Who are you?" "What do you want from me?" " Nothing, it's just..." " Go away, or I'll call the police..." " Madam, please..." " Go away!" "I know your kind." "You take advantage of old ladies like me." "But I will not allow this, I won't let you." "That's why I don't open my door to anyone." "Let's go, the lady is right." "There's no point." "Your mother will understand, it's not that bad." "If we ever visit her again, we'll take her the photos, otherwise, not." "Goodbye." "Forgive us, madam." "My brother gets all worked up when he's going to visit mother." "And she was looking forward to see these photos... but, never mind." "We'll fix it somehow." "Goodbye." "Listen... no, not you." "You stay there." "Come here." " Yes?" " In the envelope there are photos for your mum?" "Yes, some old photos of my uncle Livor and his family in Poland." "You husband promised to make us some copies of the originals... and we wanted to give them to my mum, now that we are traveling to visit." " Where does your mother live?" " In Entre Ríos." "Ah, Entre Ríos!" "Entre Ríos." "Would you wait a minute?" " OK, 20%." " 50/50%." "No fucking way, I'd kill you first. 25%." "Without me, you are left outside." "I'm not Sandler, and you really need the dough." "30%, that's it, minus expenses." "Do you know Entre Ríos?" "Mum would never leave there." "She always says:" "A Meckler stays in the land where he was born." "Meckler?" "Is she related to Rabi Meckler, of Basavilbaso?" "Her cousin, I am his nephew." "Vidal Gandolfo will be at the hotel the whole afternoon..." "The ordered drinks for 3:30 PM." "How will you approach him?" "I don't know." " We must think of something." " Think fast." "He's leaving tomorrow." "You don't have much time." "We." "I mean, you could contribute with 30% of an idea." "How are you, dear Marcos?" "I'm sorry, Washington." "We are busy." "Marcos, it'll take you longer to dismiss me than to check the goods I have for you." "You are right." "What do you have?" "Whatever you want." "National, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Cooperative..." " Third parties?" " And blank checks." "I have some complete check books, if you want." "What I want is for you to leave." "Don't you want to make a gift?" "You could impress your loved ones." "Nothing better than a Paraguayan Rolex to impress your loved ones." "And you, young man?" "Anything else?" "Perfumes, clothing, imported sneakers?" "Computer software, paintings, electronic goods?" "I have an excellent Japanese motorbike, with minor damages." "What damages?" "A hole in the tank." " A perforation?" " Small caliber." "That's it, I need a gun, but something large." " Do you have a 357?" " Marcos..." "I'm not a crook." "Have a nice day." "Excuse me, do you have cell phones?" "Any make in particular?" "An idea?" "Hello... yes, it's me." "What's up?" "It's not a good time." "I'm about to take a leak." "At the hotel." "I came because I was given a tip, but I doubt it will work out." "No, no..." "I'm going to Montevideo on Saturday." "I'll try to sell them there." "Yes..." "The thing is not when..." "but how much." "Are you crazy?" "For the Nueve Reinas?" "No..." "I tell you what." "For that amount go to the post office and you'll get as many stamps as you like." "No, not even close." "Forget it." "Now, that's better." " What the fuck are you doing here?" " I'm talking on the phone." "Don't fuck around with me!" "This is the second time today I see you around." "You and that other prick." "What do you want?" "I do the asking, you just answer." "What are you doing here?" "What is the trick this time?" "This is no trick." "I have something to sell." "It's legal, no strings attached." "In the hotel restroom?" "Don't fuck with me!" "Do you want me to get real mad?" "We are all here now." "Look at the face of this guy." "Where did you find him?" "The people at the hotel are worried." "Come and explain everything to me." "That won't be necessary." "I'm sure you won't mind showing me your ID." "Put the gun down." "And who are you?" "A guest at the hotel, and these gentlemen are here because I summoned them." "You summoned them?" "Please, put the gun away." "You might be a guest here, the king of Spain, but I don't..." "You come with me." "And you, wait for me." "You bastard!" "You liked it!" "You liked it!" "Fucking asshole!" "Who said you had to hit me?" "I should go to Hollywood." "He bought it!" "I should do this for a living." "We must go back." "Take whatever he gives you and consider yourself paid." "No, you have to give me your part." "You owe me 200." " I'll give you 100 now and..." " 200." "My pleasure." "I'd like to have a word with you." "Follow me." "My partners are waiting for me." " Are you OK?" " Yes." "Where did your friend get the ID?" "He gets it at his job, together with the gun." "Let's not waste any time." "You told the cop you have something to sell." "A legal deal, as you said." "And for what I heard of your phone conversation..." "I might be interested." "Who are you?" "If what you have to offer is what I believe it is..." "Excuse me." "Who are you?" "The person you were tipped off about The one you came to see." "I have nothing to sell, nor did I ask any favor." "We are here to be polite." "You helped us out in the restroom, a misunderstanding" "But the truth is, I don't know who you are." "What do you say?" "My partner speaks for me too." "Well... professionals." "Do you see, idiots, how these things are handled?" "If you had something to sell to me you'd knock on my door... just like a book peddler." "But if you were a smart argie... you'd try to interest me." "You'd find a way to have me look for you, and not the other way round." "You could, for example, have a telephone conversation... with an alleged buyer... and make sure I'd listen to it." "But you have to be subtle." "You shouldn't say anything like:" "What?" "For the Nueve Reinas?" "You are crazy!" "And then the cop: "Please, don't hit me." "I have something to sell." "But it's legal, I promise"." "Do you understand?" "It was so ridiculous!" "I don't know what you are talking about." "Look, man." "There is no point in insisting with that." "Besides, it is true that if you had approached me directly... perhaps I would have never talked with you." "I don't care you did it this way, really." "As long as what you have is good and interests me." "I really don't know what you are talking about." "Man, cut it out." "The show is over." "You are here, and I'm listening." "If you have something to offer me do it or fuck off." "I have little time left and much to do." "Do you have this?" "And where did you get it?" "My grandfather gave them to me, shortly before he died, a few months ago." "He got them from a German guy he met on a ship." " He paid seven pesos for them..." " Seven pesos..." "I told my cousin and he suggested I sell them to a collector." "Are you interested?" "Don't push me." "I mean, as you have so little time left and so much to do..." "I might want to buy them." "That would be good, for all of us." "Come back, in an hour." "I want to see the stamps, and then we'll talk about money." " Today" " Today, yes." "I don't have much time." "Unfortunately I have to leave your city tomorrow morning." " You didn't know that?" " I didn't know." "That's the way it is." "And, believe me, I'll miss this country." "I've never seen such good will for doing business." "In my room, at four o' clock." "Let go that phone, goddamit!" "I told you not to fuck around in the hotel." " Don't worry, we..." " Stay out of this." "Really, it has nothing to do with..." "What is it with you, asshole?" "Don't you know how my brother's partners end up?" "Or do you really believe you'll get any money out of Marcos?" " Don't come back." " We'll be back." "I'll call the police." "Call them." "What will you say?" "Excuse me... by any chance, do you remember a song by Rita Pavone..." ""ll Ballo del Mattone"?" "Come on..." "let's go." "What did your sister mean with what she said?" "About what?" " How your partners wind up." " How could I know?" " Why did you stop working with Sandler?" " None of your business." "The thing is, for this day I'm your partner. it is my business." "Technically we could say I unilaterally readjusted the dividends." "You fucked him..." "You fucked your partner." ""You fucked your partner" Sandler was always an asshole." "Besides, it couldn't have been that bad if he called me again." "Don't worry." "I won't fuck you." "Why not?" "I'm getting old, and I'm sure you run faster than I do." "I'm not convinced." "Doesn't bother me." "No, goddamit, no." "Because I won't maintain an unfavorable position..." "How much?" "That's better." "Offer an option at 19.000 and freeze." "Yes, we'd only be losing, let me see... two and a half, three million." "I'll call you later... alright." "Give me that." "Do your stuff." "Mr. Vidal, I must insist." "These are not the right conditions." "We should run lab tests on the ink..." " and a spectrography." " I don't have time, goddamit!" "You are supposed to be the best, at least I'm paying you as if you were." "So, cut it out and tell me if they are good or not." "Should I pay for them or somebody with lots of guts is trying to screw me?" "Go ahead, do whatever is necessary." "The stamps are good." "Excuse me, any of you remembers a song by..." "How's the game going?" "A sheet of stamps of the Weimar republic... with a rare distribution of the edges." "You are right, Mr. Vidal." "No more tests are necessary." "These are the Nueve Reinas." "You, pay him." "Let's talk about money." " What I had thought..." " Don't think." "You just listen." "I don't know what you do for a living, and I don't care." "One thing is for sure:" "You don't sell stamps for a living." "These stamps were dropped on your lap and whatever you get for them is like a gift from heaven." " Am I wrong?" " No." "It's true." "We don't know much about stamps." "Nevertheless, we'd rather sell them here, now, without any further delays." "But I could also get financing, or go to the States..." "I can auction them." "I mean to say, we won't give them away." "If we check the catalogues..." "Fuck the catalogues!" "What is it?" "You've turned into an expert all of a sudden?" "It's me who is going to buy those stamps." "The rest is bullshit." "I tell you the price, and you accept it." "I won't give you a cent more than... 300.000." "This is not what we had agreed." "I will not be robbed." "My grandfather kept these stamps all his life... and I will not give them away to the first one who comes along..." "I don't care how millionaire he is." " Listen." " You listen to me." "You and I have an agreement, but I decide." "I won't blow them, and that's final." "Well, well, well..." "What amount would please your grandfather?" " 450 grand." " What?" "This guy is going to buy the stamps from us." "We deliver them at 10, and he'll pay us 450.000 dollars." "10% of that is for Sandler, and 30% of the balance is mine." " Minus expenses." "Where is the trick?" "What?" "You are screwing me." "This is a trick." "You are pulling a trick." "You think I'm screwing you?" "How?" "I don't know." "I can't understand it and it makes me mad." " This is not real." " It's not real?" "Give me that." "This is as real as it gets, asshole." "It's 450 grand." "It's more real than you and I." "What is it, kid?" "Something keeps you from enjoying life?" "Do you need assurances?" "Look, you can be sure I'll kill you if I lose this deal because of you." "Does it look suspect?" "OK." "You are out." "Get out." "Leave me alone." "Bye." "Get out, come on." "Have a good one." "Why would I need you?" "I should get rid of you right now." "Perhaps you are starting to love me." "What do you want?" "How did it go?" "How did what go?" "What do you want?" "Did he buy them?" " What is he talking about?" " I don't know." " What do you want?" " My cut." "What's due to me." "What are you talking about?" "What the fuck are you talking about?" "Look, you know very well those stamps are worth nothing." "I mean, the originals, yes, but what you are trying to sell to Vidal..." "They are not bad." "They are well done." " You want your cut?" " Yes." "How much?" "Well, 15%." " I did you a service." " I didn't ask." "I'll tell him, I promise I'll go up there and tell him they are false." "If you tell him..." "I'll pull your liver out of your ass and make you swallow it again." "Who the fuck do you think you are talking to?" " 10% - 2%." " 7.5 - 5%." "Alright?" "Give me an address and a phone number." "I'll get in touch with you." "How do I know you'll call?" "Do you want me to sign an IOU?" "Among thieves, this is the way it's done." "It's based on trust." "I'm not a thief." "Sure." "I'm sorry." "Come on." " I'm at this number in the mornings." " At what time?" "8 to 1 1." "Except Wednesdays." "Go, I'll call you." "Goddamit!" "Is it this way everywhere?" "We are fucked." "You are handing out too many shares." "I mean, 10% for one guy, 5% for another..." "No!" "What a mess." "I lasted... four hours." " Dreams don't last that long." " It wasn't a dream." "It is now." "What is it?" "Every day you lose a fortune?" "No, but... there's nothing to be done, it's over." "These stamps are fucked up, the others..." "What is it?" "The others, the originals..." "Sandler's sister has got them, at the Kavanagh." " Yes, but Sandler said that..." " Sandler is an asshole." "We offer her a share." "We tell them they are already sold... and that we only need to deliver them and collect." " And if she doesn't want to?" " She'll want." "The old bag will do it." "If not, you can do your crone seducer part." "Come." "So... the Nueve Reinas." "Exactly." "And what did my brother tell you?" "He suggested that perhaps you were very attached to the collection..." " and that it would mean a memory for you..." " Of my husband, of course..." "It's true, the stamps remind me of my husband." "Square, sticky..." "Anyway, we dared to come because we thought that... with the possibility of an immediate operation..." "My brother believes I would never sell those fucking stamps?" "What an asshole!" "I wouldn't give them to him." "But that doesn't mean I wouldn't sell them if I need the money." "For some time now I've been thinking in turning them into something useful." "I'm running expenses..." " Your commission is...?" " 15%." "We would do the operation still today." "How convenient." "What is the price?" "Fifty thousand, cash." "Who do you take me for, stooge?" "Excuse me, I honestly don't..." "Cut the acting with me." "You thing I don't know those stamps are valuable?" "What's your line of work, swindling old ladies?" "I don't know the exact value, and I don't care." "Let me explain, dear." "I set a price that makes me happy." "Whoever wants the stamps puts that amount on my table... and he can take them." "That's all." "No percentages, no consignments, no down payments." "Whoever wants them, pays for them, and takes them." "And what is the happy figure?" "He speaks..." " Beautiful virtue..." " How much?" "Let's say... 500.000 dollars." "Sit down." "That amount is too high." "The stamps are not worth that." " No?" " No." "Listen..." " I think we could reach 75.000." " No way." " 450." " 100.000 400." " 250." " We should go." "350.000." " 200.000, perhaps." " Let's go, now." "250.000 dollars." "That's final." "If we were to bring the money still today... would you have the stamps available?" "Sure." " You have them here?" " That's none of your business." "If you pay today, you have them today." "What is it?" "We are fucked, aren't we?" "This is it." "We must go on." "It would be crazy to let go." "We must go on." "What are you talking about?" "Buying the stamps from the old bitch." "Are you crazy?" "No, she asks 250 grand, they are sold for 450 grand." "One day of work, 200 grand profit." "Where are you going to get 250 grand?" "I have some money." "I could use it." " 250 grand?" " No, less." "Ah, your sister's... that issue." "I saw an opportunity, and grabbed it." "I was swifter than she, that's all." "If not, she would have done it to you." "Without any doubt." "I planned not to use it for a year or so... until the whole thing blew over, the trial forgotten." "Then we are saved." "We buy, we sell, 200 grand profit, like you say... 30% for me, without risking a cent." "But I don't have all the money." "I have the inheritance plus something I can get from the lawyer... plus my money, totals... 200 grand." "And where are we going to get the rest?" "Well, you have 50 grand for your old man..." "Until you said it." " You are a bastard!" " Stop it!" "Do you think I'm an asshole?" "that I'll give you 50 grand, everything I have... which is for my father, that I'll give it to you?" "For you to do business?" "Fuck off!" "You are crazy!" "I wouldn't try to fuck you with money." "Would I show you the way I do things, the way I am, how I work?" " What sort of a dumb fuck would that make me?" " A very intelligent one." "What did you fix?" "You arranged it with the old girl?" "What does she get, 30%?" "How much does Sandler get, less?" "15%, 20%, how much do you give him?" "You are an idiot." "You have an opportunity sitting on your lap and you can't see it." "You have 200 grand, Marcos." "I have 50." "The lady wants 250." "Fuck you!" "Exactly, shithead." "Listen." "Nobody could invent something like this, unless it's true." "Juan... these things happen, mate." "It's a one in a million chance." "Once in a lifetime." "It's happening to you an me, now, here." "One in a million." "Fuck you, asshole!" "I'll give you 50%, whatever amount you contribute." "Fucking hell!" "Juan, Juan!" "Thanks for the cigars, you didn't forget my favorite." " How are you?" " Fine." "Although I think I'd be better at home." "This is full of crooks." " And what about the money?" " Tough." "I no longer have two or three months." "What happened?" "Vizcardi will be inhibited, an issue of jurisdictions." "The case will be drawn again and anyone could be the judge... and anyone won't fix it." "So, if I don't get the money in 10 days..." "I lose the train." "Only ten days?" "Ten days... three months..." "What difference does it make?" "Where am I going to get 70.000?" "You can't stay here, dad." " I could..." " Don't even think of it." "Am I losing it?" " Why?" " Why, what?" "Why can't I try to help you?" "Not in the way you are thinking." " Listen..." " No, you listen." "I told you a thousand times." "I have already made those mistakes." "Don't you do it again." "Do you think it's a game?" "Do you think the guys who do this are easy?" "I got fucked a thousand times... and you haven't seen see what I saw." "I mean it, don't be dumb." "Don't do anything that could land you here." "You wouldn't survive." "What must I do for you to understand?" "If you give me a hard time, lt'll take me longer to finish my business." "That's it." "I'll call the police." "I don't know what I'll say, but you won't stay in my hotel." "Your hotel?" "Is this your hotel?" "You'll call the police?" "Wasn't it enough busting my balls all my life... occupying mum's place as soon as she died... and now you want to fuck me with this?" "Listen well, I'm only going to say it once." "I am not fucking around in your hotel." "My hard luck is that the guy is staying here." "That's all." "If you interfere, in any way... if, for your fault this falls through, I promise I'll kill you." " You don't kill people." " You don't know me." " What are you doing?" " Ah, friends!" "You are here, already." "And in good company." "The best in the hotel." "You had already met?" "We've know each other for a long time." " The lady is my sister." " Really?" "How interesting!" "I'm about to close a fantastic deal with your brother." "I'm going to make you rich." "Him, I'm sure not me." "Shit!" "I seem to notice some tension in the air." "The best would be for us to go to my room and..." " finish our business." " Let us." "Let's finish our business, yes." "You OK?" "Did he hurt you?" "No, he didn't hurt me." "I'm OK." "Listen, I've just made a change in our agreement." "An addition." " In the price?" " No, in the package." " I want to include her." " Valeria?" "Valeria, yes." "Knowing she's your sister makes me hornier." "Man, it's only one night." "Tonight." "I've been wanting to fuck her since the day I got here, but I couldn't." "And now I can." "Do you want the money?" " Convince her." " If she doesn't want to?" "Then the deal is cancelled." "You are willing to give up the stamps for a piece of ass?" "More than you are willing to give up the money." "Have her bring me the stamps." "But it's got to be her." "I won't receive anyone else." "What happened?" "If it were any other woman I have 50 different ways to convince her." "And all good." "But not her." "It's different with her." " Valeria won't go for it." " How do you know?" "For what I've seen so far..." "You like her, shithead." "I saw you looking at her." "You must believe she's a saint." "Can't you see the way she swings her ass?" "There are no saints." "There are different tariffs, that's all." "Do you like men?" "Would you fuck a guy?" " You wouldn't fuck a guy for 10.000?" " No." "10.000, it's a lot of money." "No." "If I gave you 20.000?" " Real money." "All for you." " No." " 50.000 dollars." " No." "500.000." "You see?" "We are not lacking pillow biters, just financier." " Have you seen Valeria?" " Over there." "Valeria..." "I have nothing to say to you." " Give me a minute." " I don't want to listen." "It's about our grandparent's money." "Chito, go get Federico, tell him to come a minute." "No need to bring in the kid." "Why not?" "We share expenses, we are roommates." " He's got a right to know." " To know what?" "Whatever it is you are going to propose to me." "I know you." "What do I have that interests you?" "I'm doing a big deal with Vidal Gandolfo." " What is it?" "You again?" "What happened?" " What are you doing?" "You tell him, or shall I?" "Your brother wants me to sleep with a guy so that he can make a deal... and wants to give me money for it." " Some of the money he stole from us." " It's not true." "You are a bastard!" "What does it take for you to say the truth, ate least once?" "Not again." "Why did you call?" "I want you to listen your brother's proposal." "This is between you and I. Leave him out of it." " He's right, bye." " Fede, Fede!" "Tell him the truth." "I'll win the trial." "I don't want the money, I want you to tell him the truth." "He'll decide the rest." "If I tell him the truth, you'll go with Vidal?" "Yes." "And how do I know you'll do your part?" "Give me your word." "That was always your weak spot." "I give you my word." "Fede, come!" "And now, what?" "Are you sure?" "The truth can hurt." "It's a complicated affair." "Your sister is right about our grandparents inheritance." "My lawyer blocked the estate in Italy... and submitted me as only heir." "and split the money." "Don't give me that..." "Tell me it's not true." "I'd love to, but I can't." "That business of the middle man in Italy stealing the money, the taxes...?" "I didn't want you to find out that..." "That my big brother robbed me and lied to me." "It was a lot of money." "What's that about sleeping with a guy?" "Your sister is a grownup, she knows what she's doing, Fede." "Don't call me Fede!" "Don't say anything." "That's it, then." "Go with Vidal." "Remember..." "Make sure the money is good... and count it, I don't want to be screwed." "The put it here." "Let's go downstairs." "What can we do here?" "¡Hey, hey!" " Is she out?" " No." " Did you sleep at all?" " No." "Not everybody is lucky to have..." " a clean conscience." " A what?" " Be careful, man." " Vidal..." "Vidal!" "My dear friend, you came to say goodbye." "Nice gesture." " The money..." " The girl's got it, like I told you." "By the way, I don't know what's her cut in this, but whatever it is, it's not enough." "What a woman!" "Mr. Vidal." "No, he can't leave." "She didn't come down yet..." "Vidal." "Hear that?" "This is fun." "I can't leave!" "The girl hasn't come down yet." "I can't leave?" "A check?" "A check?" "You are such an asshole!" "What is it?" "The dago is hung like a horse?" " How can you take a check?" " A registered check." "A check certified by the bank." "It's the same as cash." "I know perfectly well what a certified check is. he didn't have time to do it." "We fixed the price yesterday afternoon." "He had several checks with different figures." "He must have fixed yours considering the checks he had." "He had one for 600 and another for 650." "You came out cheap." "How do you know that?" "The hotel has an executive assistance service." "We did it for him." "The same as cash." "It's 45 minutes before the bank opens." "Have a drink, I have to make a couple of calls." " It's over." " This will never be over." " No, I referred to this business." " Me too." " How is Federico?" " He'll be fine." " It's the Banco Sudamericano de Crédito." " I've noticed." "A friend of mine works there." "Not really a friend." "A guy I once did a favor to." "I put him in business." "I wanted to say something." "I wanted to apologize." " Why?" " Because I didn't trust you." "The truth is I though you were fucking me." "I wanted... to thank you." "After all..." "I forgot the cigarettes." "Wait." " Excuse me." " I'm sorry." "Let's go?" "I thought the bank was nearby." "Turco, son of a bitch." "It serves him right for disappearing." "He'll want to die when he finds out." "Good pair, you and I." "Yes, but no." "We settle the numbers, collect, and that's it." " Really?" " Yes, sir..." "It's over." "We split the cash, and that's it." "You are offended because I made you make a fortune?" " You and I are different, Marcos." " Different?" "Of course we are different." "You know what is the difference?" "That I can handle what I do." "You are afraid of being singled out." "You think you are better than I am?" "You are the worst kind." "You are a coward." "You want the money, but you don't want to get your hands dirty." "Do you know what is the difference?" "To be a bastard you need balls." "To be a real bastard..." "No, wait, Castrito, let me explain." "Please!" "Over there." "Come!" "Get in there!" "Castrito, let me explain." "I was going to pay you!" " My mother got sick." " Your mother is dead!" " Right, she got sick, and died..." " Shut up!" "Piece of shit!" "For a year you've been fucking me with the same old story!" "I want my money, now!" "Or I'll fuck you up!" " Please, I beg you!" " Stop begging!" "I want my money now." "Or I'll kill you like a dog." "Kid..." "Are you joking?" "You want to get killed for a fucking check?" "The thing is..." "what did you do with the money?" "I hid it." "I didn't want to risk being robbed again." "Give it to me." "No, if you kill me, no money." " Then I'll kill him." " Go ahead." "I will kill him." " Such is life." " Juan!" " No." " No?" "Why?" " Because he said "fucking check"" " What?" " You said "check" instead of "bread"" " I didn't say check." "Yes, you did." "I didn't say check." "Yes, you said check." "Goddamn you!" "You called me upon short notice, I had no time to prepare." "Fuck off, nitwit!" "You are an asshole, get out!" "And my fifty?" " I need fifty to pay for the gun." " Stick that gun up your ass." "Fucking shithead!" "You understand why I need you?" "Why do you look like a raped virgin?" "What is it?" "Don't you know my line of business?" "What did you expect?" "A miracle." "Come on, let's go." "The bank is already open." " Give me the check." " I carry the check." "No... the deal is mine." "Give me the check." "Cárdenas, Cárdenas!" " What happened, Cárdenas?" " What are you doing here?" "You are lucky." "At other time I would have gone out and beat the shit out of you." "No, I'll return it to you." "A problem with my accountant." "What happened?" "What happened?" "We were all royally screwed." "We found out this morning when we got here." "They held as long as possible, and when the thing got rough... they sold all the assets and took off." " Who?" " The Board?" "All eleven." "They took 135 million." "The Central Bank already knew." "But they only got involved today." " I've got to go." " Wait... come." "This is good?" " Wow... what are you into?" " Cárdenas!" "Is it good or not?" "Maybe." "But what difference does it make?" "Wait... this is for you?" "You were going to cash this?" "You'll have to shove it up your ass, Marquitos." "Hey..." " How many?" " Give me two." "None for me." "Who said you could use my chips?" " Not yours, your father's." " Don't interrupt." "Are you tired, Sebastián, or in a bad mood?" "Boris, at the theatre you also drink as much?" "You know what happens?" "I do a better dago when drunk." "The guy from the bank called, the one who tipped you about the closing." "Cárdenas?" "Yes, he says he'll come to collect later today." " What about Turco?" " He also called." "He wants to know if he can stay another week with your cousin." "What are you staring at?" "You were scared, kid." "Never." "By any chance, do you remember a song by Rita Pavone... a song they used for a film... a long time ago..." "Come on, Berta..." "Nice kiss you gave me at the hotel." "I couldn't help it." "Happy first anniversary" "Isn't it too much?" " It's yours." " And yours." " Minus expenses." " What?" "Nothing, nothing..." "And this?" "This belonged to my mother." "My grandmother gave it to her." "It's been in the family for... a hundred years." "I remembered!" "I remembered it!"