"My darling," "My heart belongs to you." "No matter what you've done, I still love you." "I love you." "While you're locked in there all those years," "I'll be locked up out here, waiting for you." "I want to send a letter to a guy who cheated me." "Mr Zé Amaro, thank you for what you did to me." "I trusted you and you cheated me." "You even took the keys to my apartment." "Dear Jesus," "You're the worst thing to happen to me." "I'm only writing because your son Josué asked me to." "I told him you're worthless, and yet, he still wants to meet you." "Address?" "Jesus de Paiva." "Sitio Volta da Pedra." "Bom Jesus do Norte, Pernambuco." "Dalva," "My hot pussy..." "Pussy?" "Your body against mine, rolling around in the motel bed, our sweat boiling, me, I still..." "I still feel..." "Infatuated." "That's it, infatuated!" "I don't know the exact address." "I need it." "Okay, then write:" "Third house after the bakery, Mimoso, Pernambuco." "Cansanção, Bahia." "Carangola, Minas Gerais." "Town of Relutaba, Ceará." "Muzambinho, Minas Gerais." "Hello, Mrs Dora." "How are you, Mr Pedrão?" "Okay." "See you tomorrow." "See you." "CENTRAL STATION" "Irene!" "What?" "Come on up!" "Now!" "Coming..." "This piece ofcrap... is as old as I am, isn't it?" "Sit down here." "Not again, Dora." "I want you to know that I disapprove ofthis, okay?" "Here, give me a hand." "Read this one." "I saw your ad in the personals column and your description was the only one that interested me." "Thisjerk wrote the same thing to ten different women." "I'm tall." "I have brown eyes, straight hair, and an education." "They say I'm good-looking." "He's as ugly as a worm." "Education?" "He can't even write." "Trash?" "Dear Jesus, you're the worst thing to happen to me." "At least try and show up for your son," "he still wants to meet you." "She says the boy wants to meet his father, a drunkard." "In fact, shejust wants the guy back." "Don't tear this one up!" "The kid wants to..." "meet his dad and reunite the family." "So what?" "You'll ruin itfor them." "He's a drunkard and used to beat her." "So the boy's to grow up fatherless?" "Better than living with a drunk" "It'll be an exception!" "I've had enough ofthis, I'm leaving." "He'll smash her face in..." "So?" "It's not up to you!" "It's her face." "Okay, I'll put it in the drawer." "No, you'll send it tomorrow." "The trash or the drawer..." "I'll send it next week ifwe decide..." "Liar!" "Those letters stay in that purgatory for years." "I'll send it next week." "Sit down." "Let's get back to work." "You can be a pain in the ass sometimes." "They say many people often lose... control during Carnival." "I'm one ofthem." "We both had a good time," "but let's forget it now."" "Oh, I like this one." "You do?" "Really?" "Really?" "Really?" "I haven't heard from home for a while." "I don't think they get my letters." "Our postal service sucks, you can't trust them." "Or maybe they've moved." "You think so?" "One buck, Mr Sergio." "See you, Mrs Dora." "The other day I sent a letter through you." "Remember?" "Did you send it?" "No, I'm sending it today." "Good!" "I want to tear that one up... and send another." "I think I was too hard on him." "Go ahead." "Dear Jesus," "Your son Josué wants to meet you." "He wants to visit you since he don't know you." "Doesn't know..." "He doesn't know you and wants to visit." "I'm on vacation next month and can come with him." "Then I can see Moisés and lsaías." "You know what..." "I'm dying to see that bastard again!" "You're experienced, what do I say now?" "How should I know?" "Help me, please." "You think about it and come back." "The truth is, I still like him a lot." "Jesus, I miss you so much." "It's awful to wake up without you next to me." "If I had one strand of black hair left on my head, I'd leave it..." "for you to tear out." "That's great!" "Waitfor me, I'm coming back." "Love..." "What's your name?" "Ana." "Put this in the letter." "There, it's in the letter." "Shall I send it or not?" "Send it." "How much?" "Two bucks..." "Minus one for the unsent letter." "How do you know she'll send it?" "She hasn't even put it in an envelope." "Don't be rude." "She's helping me." "Next!" "Give me your hand." "Hey, my top!" "Come on, Josué!" "What happened?" "A woman got run over by a bus." "Is she dead?" "She's gone to meet her Maker." "Mom!" "Thank you, ma'am." "I want to send a letter to my father." "Start writing!" "Dad, come to Rio because mom's been hurt." "Got any money?" "Yes." "Show me." "Show me." "Who do you know in Rio?" "My mother." "Who else?" "Go on, write the letter like I said!" "Only ifyou show me your money." "Then give me my mother's letter." "I've already sent it." "Now go away." "Give me the letter!" "I said, scram!" "Get out of here." "Move it, kid." "Scram!" "Come on, beat it!" "Get out!" "Beat it!" "Hey, kid." "Wake up." "Want a sandwich?" "Not hungry?" "I've eaten, thanks." "Special offer!" "Today only!" "All beauty products one buck!" "Combs half-price!" "Everything's good." "I have... so many customers, I can hardly handle them all." "I'm saving up... to go back to school." "Thief!" "Nab him!" "Mr Pedrão!" "Go get him!" "Don't move!" "Don't move!" "Don't move." "Shut up!" "Don't move." "Wait... don't shoot!" "I'll return it..." "Good evening, Mrs Dora." "Evening." "Leaving already?" "Hey, son." "I'm Josué." "Josué, is it?" "Let me see me your top." "Oh, I see..." "Your mother told you... not to talk to strangers." "She's right." "But you needn't be afraid of me." "I'm not." "It's all right, Mr. Pedrão." "I know the boy." "Then I'd like to talk to you." "Hey, there..." "Josué Fontenele de Paiva." "Paiva from my father, Fontenele from my mother." "How admirable!" "That's very good." "Mine is lsadora Teixera." "Would you like to come home with me, Josué de Paiva?" "I told you, I'm waiting for my mother." "She won't be coming." "You're lying!" "She won't be coming, son." "She's dead." "Do you have any relatives here in Rio?" "An aunt?" "Answer me." "Look..." "Take this." "Ifyou change your mind, you just follow me." "Okay?" "I mean it." "Come in." "Where's your husband?" "I don't have one." "And your children?" "No children, no husband," "no family, no dog." "Then I can use the bathroom?" "Go ahead." "Where is it?" "Over there." "It's hot as hell today!" "I'll go freshen up in the bathroom." "I have a guest this evening." "This is Josué." "Was it good?" "See what a demanding guest he is?" "His mother's cooking was better." "No, she was a lousy cook, too." "Hey, you should be a little more grateful... you brat." "Irene, what kind ofwork do you do?" "Guess." "You seem like a teacher, like Dora." "Except that she's a letter writer." "You're right, we used to be teachers." "You've no husband either?" "Neither of us." "So who takes care ofyou?" "We look after ourselves." "Your mother lived on her own." "Who took care of her?" "Me, ofcourse!" "And your father never showed his face?" "He works too much." "He's a carpenter." "He works with wood." "He makes tables, chairs, doors, tops..." "houses... all by himself." "Wasn't his father a..." "Well, what do you want to do?" "I'm going to be a truck driver." "Our fathers used to drive big trains." "Yeah, and they were drunkards, too." "It sucked." "You okay, Josué?" "What are you doing?" "You sneaky rat!" "Can you read?" "You think I won't mail your mother's letter?" "Well, you're wrong, kid." "It's been so hectic..." "I haven't had the time yet." "Give it, I'll take it to my father." "Are you crazy?" "Do you know where he lives?" "Far away, on another planet!" "I'll get there!" "You'll never get there." "Never." "I think the best thing is if I mail it tomorrow." "I promise I will." "Do you swear you promise?" "I swear I promise." "You're not going to lie again?" "No." "Where are we going?" "You're going to a great place." "Hello, Mr Pedrão." "Hello, Mrs Dora." "Hi there, son." "We're late." "Hello, Pedrão." "Please come in." "Yolanda, this is Mrs Dora." "Nice to meet you." "Now, I'm not sure what he's told you, but as you can see... we treat our children as ifwe were one big family." "They'll all be going to wealthy families in Europe, the States..." "Once you're loaded with dollars, you won'tforget us, right?" "Let aunty see your tongue now." "Go on." "It's okay to be rude." "That's it, great!" "I'd like more information." "We'll talk about it." "What's your name again?" "Tell me, Josué..." "Are you into video games?" "And would you like an ice cream?" "No, thanks." "Then let's go play with Shirlene." "This is for you." "Pedrão told you how much... $2000." "$1000 for you." "$1000." "It's all there." "Bye, Josué." "Oh, my goodness!" "Blessed Virgin, mother of God!" "We made it to the remote control age!" "Is it in stereo?" "But this stupid thing doesn't work." "Maybe the batteries are dead." "How'd it go with Josué at the Juvenile Division?" "Very well." "He'll be in one ofthe best children's institutions." "I talked to thejudge." "Which institution?" "The Padre Jesuino Vidal Foundation in Pelotas, state of Rio Grande do Sul." "But I thought he'd be nearby so we could see him." "It'll give you a chance to visit Pelotas, you love to travel." "This thing doesn't work." "No, Dora." "Like this." "Can I go see him in the Juvenile Division?" "No, I think he must've already left for Pelotas." "Where did you get the money to buy thatTV?" "I sold a gold ring a while back." "You're lying..." "Otherwise, you wouldn't bother to explain." "Right, I'm lying!" "You know everything about my life!" "Now let's watch TV." "Where did you get the money?" "Tell me the truth." "Please..." "I can't believe you did that!" "He'll be better off." "Better than in an institution here." "Don't you read the papers?" "They aren't adopted." "Their organs are sold." "It's not that at all, I went there!" "He's too old to be adopted, Dora." "Damn it, Irene!" "I've had enough of you!" "Let'sjust leave it, all right?" "There's a limit to everything, Dora." "Hi." "Hi..." "I was here yesterday." "Yes..." "It occurred to me afterwards that you might be interested in other children." "We don't need any more right now." "They're lovely children, have a look." "Look at this one..." "Yolanda!" "Who is it?" "Hold on, I'll have a word with my partner." "Letme sleep, damn it..." "Butlook how many..." "This one's so cute." "She's on to something." "Whatkindofwork is this?" "We're nota 24-hourpharmacy here!" "Ineversaid we were..." "Yesterday I went to bedatdawn." "Afteryougotme into thatbig mess." "You're always complaining." "You're a born complainer." "Ifyou're nothappy, you can getout!" "Quick!" "Josué, wake up!" "Hurry!" "What are you doing here?" "Go away!" "Let's go." "No!" "Come with me." "Liar!" "Go away." "Come on." "No, you're no good!" "Hush!" "I'll call Yolanda." "You'll call no one" "What's going on?" "The bitch!" "You old cow, I'll get you!" "You'll die, you fucking bitch!" "Old bag!" "Sleaze!" "I'll get you!" "I'm going to kill you!" "You goddam bitch!" "You're already dead!" "Esperanto Street, in Cascadura." "I'm sorry, I've changed my mind." "Hello?" "Who is this?" "Guess." "I'm glad you called." "Irene, listen carefully." "Ifa big guy with a mustache comes around asking for me, you scram!" "Anddon'tyou invite him in forcoffee, okay?" "Well, actually..." "Idon'tbelieve it." "Yes..." "He's there?" "If he is, say something crazy." "Milton, I can't see you, I've made plans to go dancing with a friend." "Say no more." "Where are you, Milton?" "At the barracks?" "I'm at the bus station." "And I'm in deep shit!" "Is that cute little friend ofyours on duty with you?" "Josué's with me." "I've tken him away." "I always knew you were a good soldier." "Irene, do me a favor." "Lock up my apartment." "Got that?" "Lock it up." "And watch outfor yourself." "One last favor." "What is it?" "Could you lend me 200 bucks?" "Send to Bank of Brazil in Bom Jesus do Norte." "Here's your ticket." "We'll be offsoon." "Take it, kid." "I'm trying to help." "I'll go by myself." "I'm going with you." "I don't want you along." "Why not?" "Because I don't like you." "Why not?" "Like I said, you're no good." "How will you get there, then?" "Give me some money for food." "When I get there, my dad'll pay you back." "Stupid idiot..." "Give me my mother's letter." "What's the shirtfor?" "Getting married?" "It's for when I meet my father." "What are you looking at?" "Go back to the bus, I've something to buy." "Is itfar still?" "What?" "My father's house." "Watch for the road signs... they'll tell you." "How do they measure a kilometer?" "A kilometer is a kilometer." "1000 meters." "I know." "But how can they be sure?" "How do they count them?" "They make it up." "Do you think that man is a father?" "What?" "That man there." "Do you think that man there has children?" "He doesn't look like a father." "But this one does." "I know the type." "Just like my father." "A saint in the house and a real prick outside." "Someone once said:" ""Are you Dildo's daughter?"" "That was what they called him:" ""Dildo"." "Prick!" "Prick!" "I don't like riding the bus, I prefer taxis." "You shouldn't." "You should always take the bus, not a taxi." "while a taxi can take any route and then gets lost." "Why?" "That was in a letter my dad wrote to my mom saying he was tired... of riding the same bus everyday, meaning my mother, and he'd decided to take a taxi, meaning another woman." "But my mother took a taxi, too, a space taxi..." "She died when I was your age." "Get back to your seat." "I'm Josué Fontenele de Paiva." "Paiva..." "from father, Fontenele from mother." "Look at that, folks!" "The kid's fucking drunk!" "Prick!" "You drunkard!" "The old bag's drunk!" "Fucking hell!" "If I were your mother, I'd let you have it!" "You're not, you're not related to me!" "You'll end up a drunk like your father." "Just like you!" "Why'd you come with me anyway?" "I wanted to help." "Hear that?" "I wanted to help you!" "Benemerência!" "Ten minutes." "Excuse me, please." "I'm with my nephew who's meeting his father... in Bom Jesus do Norte." "This is as far as I go, however." "Could you make sure the boy gets to this address?" "I don't know, it's complicated." "What ifsomething happens to him?" "Wait a minute..." "This is for you." "Go on." "Please take it." "A ticketfor Rio." "Sixty bucks." "You should have stayed on that bus." "You were right, you're better offwithout me." "I'd arranged everything for you." "Why don't you want to leave me now?" "Ifyou want to talk, I'll be over here." "Where's your backpack?" "Where is it, kid?" "Don't tell me you left it on the bus!" "I've decided not to go to Rio." "Can I get a refund for my ticket?" "I can't refund your money now, ma'am." "The bus to Riojust left." "Want some?" "No, thanks." "Yes..." "Thank you." "Here, help me out." "I can't eat all ofthis." "You don't look well." "It's my heart, it's suddenly sped up." "Like this?" "STRENGTH IS IN EVERYTHING, BUT ONLY GOD IS POWER" "Yeah, talk about a vow!" "Where do you live?" "Here." "And your wife?" "Here we go again!" "Why do you always ask that?" "I'm married to the road." "I have no family." "So you're like her." "Please excuse me, I've got to unload." "I'll be about 20 minutes." "Give the man a hand, Josué." "Nice to see you, Mr Bené!" "Long time no see!" "How long has it been now?" "I'll get the other one." "You can stay here." "The boys and girls oftoday are being converted at young age." "It's wonderful." "They're a generation raised in the values of Christ." "I always see them in church now wherever I go things have changed." "They'll be living in a different world, more in keeping with God's will." "There's a Reverend... who's been inspiring them." "What've you got?" "Let's go eat in the truck." "For Christ's sake, kid..." "Put it in my bag!" "Right now!" "I'll take it back." "Why?" "Go on." "Ifyour father knew, he'd thrash you!" "Want to go tojail?" "Put that in here and go waitfor me in the truck!" "I'll try my best to bring that Reverend here in two weeks." "We'll see what he can do for the youngsters in our parish." "Ma'am!" "May I see what's in your bag?" "You heard me, let me see what's in your bag." "She's a friend, Mr Bené." "Show the bag." "The matter's settled." "Bené, even though we're friends and we're brothers in faith..." "I won't let you humiliate a woman I know, my friend..." "Joana." "Okay, it's all right." "I must've been mistaken." "Thank you." "Don't you want to get anything?" "There's nothing worth buying here." "Don't you ever do that again." "All you had to do was ask." "Look what I got with the money I had left." "I even had enough to buy this." "You didn't have any money left." "I did, too." "Here, eat this." "Liar!" "What?" "You didn't buy anything, you stole even more." "Show some respect, I'd be your mother." "My mother wouldn't steal..." "or drink like you." "Yeah, your father's the one who drank." "No!" "He built the house and he can make anything out ofwood." "Your father was a drunkard, boy." "Know what that is, a drunkard?" "You're a liar and so ugly no one will marry you!" "You look like a man, don't even paint your face." "You're not like Irene." "Even with tons of paint on her face, she didn't marry." "You should always steal sausage." "I hate sausage." "Would you like some?" "No, thanks." "I'm sorry about what happened back in the store, Mrs..." "Dora." "But I liked "Joana"." "Have some." "Mr Bené is a good guy, but he tends to be suspicious." "WITH GOD I FOLLOW MY DESTINY" "The boy wants to be a trucker when he grows up." "Then you'll have to carry a lot offlour..." "To buy a truck like this, you think it's cheap?" "This is a small one, I want a huge one with a turbo engine." "Could you let the kid get behind the wheel?" "Sit over here." "Careful now, don't hit the accelerator." "It can get cold here in the Sertão." "Coming!" "Where are you from?" "I'm from Vitória da Conquista." "But I left there a long time ago." "Since I've been on the road," "I feel like I've changed my life ten times over." "You meet many people and then you never see them again." "You two... for example." "We'll probably never see each other again." "We don't have to lose contact." "I'm cold!" "I'm coming!" "Excuse me..." "In Rio, I had two girlfriends." "Did you know that in Rio all women have sex before marriage?" "All ofthem." "What'll you have?" "We'rejust keeping him company." "Not at all." "I insist on treating you." "Make that three portions." "And I'll have water..." "What about you?" "A beer." "And your son?" "A Coke." "What do you do, Dora?" "I was an elementary school teacher." "No, she's a letter writer." "She makes money writing letters for people." "After I retired," "I started doing that to help make ends meet." "Don't you like table football?" "Go and play." "Go play, kid!" "No, I can't have any." "I'm an Evangelist." "I'm sure He's not watching you up there." "I want to tell you something." "I'm really glad I missed that bus." "Really glad." "Listen, I'll be back in just a second." "Thank you." "Why did César leave?" "Don't you have an answer to that, like you usually do?" "He got scared." "He's one ofthose queer men, isn't he?" "No..." "He isn't." "Can I tell you something?" "You look a lot prettier with lipstick on." "Good afternoon." "Afternoon." "You wouldn't be going to Bom Jesus?" "I am, but it's far, it'll cost you... ten bucks per person." "My mother taught me that." "Want some?" "No, thank you." "Yes, thanks." "Sure, you're a growing boy." "How many under the belt?" "I'm nine." "At that age, I could've ate a cow." "Have some, it's good." "No, got too many under the belt!" "Too bad..." "Mom always said dad would show me the Sertão one day." "I wonder where she is now?" "Do you think they gave her a decentfuneral?" "Come on, come with me." "Put your mother's handkerchiefthere." "Are we going to my father's house?" "Yes." "Are you happy?" "What's the matter?" "Don't tell me you've changed your mind now." "I don't want him to see me all dirty, like a beggar." "Your father will like you, Josué." "Don't worry." "The problem is..." "will you like him?" "I do like him." "Listen..." "Your father's not the person you think he is." "You don't know him, he built our house..." "I know!" "I know all that by heart." "You'll soon be with your father..." "Ifyou like, I can ask ifyou can stay with us for a few days." "Do you know where this is?" "Go on, Josué." "Ma!" "There's a boy here." "Anybody there?" "Yes?" "Does Jesus live here?" "Yes." "Would you like to see him?" "Yes, is he home?" "He's gone out." "You can wait." "Come in." "Thank you." "Afternoon." "She's here to see your husband." "Did you offer her coffee?" "No, thanks." "Could I know why you want to see my husband?" "I'm sorry..." "I can only tell him." "Your friends have been waiting..." "to see you." "I've come from Rio." "I must talk to you in private." "Okay." "Maria, mother, please excuse us." "Go on, boy!" "Get out!" "Tell me." "I've brought this boy to you." "His mother died." "He's got no one else but you now." "What's your relation to him?" "We're not related." "Why did you bring him here, then?" "Let'sjust say we're friends." "Is he a good boy?" "Yes..." "He's a good boy." "This letter is for you." "That's not me." "I'm Jessé." "The letter's for Jesus... who used to live here." "Wait a second." "Here, this is his new address in the new settlements." "He won a house in a lottery and so he sold this one." "But..." "let me tell you..." "He drank it away, house and all." "Dora!" "Everything okay?" "Did you send the money like I asked?" "Yes, the money's already there in Bom Jesus da Lapa." "Bom Jesus where?" "Isn't it "da Lapa"?" "I found no truck to get away from this godawful pilgrimage." "Where are we going?" "To hitch a ride on the road." "We're walking?" "Yeah, walking!" "Hell!" "What did I ever do to God to deserve this?" "You're my punishment." "I'm hungry." "You think you're the only one?" "We've no money, no food, nothing left!" "Understand?" "Nothing!" "What's us going to do?" "I don't know." "I don't know." "Your parents should never have had you." "Now it's me who has to put up with you." "You're a curse, you're a curse!" "Oh, hell!" "Where are you going!" "Come back!" "Come back here!" "Thank you!" "Thank you, Jesus." "Here I am, Lord." "I beg ofyou, I'm praying with... all my heart, with all my soul, Jesus." "I'm a Franciscan from the bottom of my heart." "Oh, Jesus..." "Bless my people!" "Bless my pilgrims." "I'm a sinner, Jesus!" "For the blood of Christ!" "Look at the hardships..." "I must bear!" "I suffer in my flesh, my bone... my blood, in my body, like our Lord, Jesus Christ!" "Protect me, mother!" "Bless me, mother for the blood ofthe Holy Ghost." "Burn, Lord!" "Burn..." "Flood the darkness with light, Lord!" "Let us keep away evil..." "and let the light come through!" "Josué!" "This commerce, this madman's fair, is the fair ofthe devil and the... merchants ofthe temple, this is the carnival of Satan!" "He's down below... jumping forjoy!" "The evil beast roars with laughter at... the sight ofsuch shamelessness!" "For a few coins, I'll tell your fortune." "I've no more money." "You pay me what I deserve." "I've no more money." "You pay if I deserve it." "What a pest!" "Where are you going, Josué?" "Sir, how much is a photo with the saint?" "It's three bucks." "That much?" "That's the price..." "Does it include message to the saint?" "No, only the photo ofyou and the saint." "Don't want it?" "Josué, what are you doing at this stall?" "Miss!" "She's a writer." "She'll send the saint a message." "Can you?" "Only one buck." "Letters!" "Send a letter home, a message to a saint!" "Letters!" "Only one buck!" "How much to send a message?" "One buck." "One buck?" "Two, ifyou want us to post it." "Holy shit!" "If it's okay, wait in line." "Is that right?" "Shall I start?" "Criseldinha, I've come here from ltabaiana." "I walked all the way, along the road." "if Benício agreed to marry me." "Thank you, Jesus, for answering my prayers." "My husband has stopped drinking." "Leontina Emerentina," "I am now the happiest man in the world." "How long has he been away?" "Four years." "You've had no news at all?" "No." "Love to mother, Maria Adalgiza Bezerra." "Josefa Maria da Silva in São Bento do Una." "To our father, José Alves da Silva..." "Thank you, baby Jesus, for answering our prayers." "Thank you for bringing... us rain." "I came to Bom Jesus and set offten colored rockets in your honor." "Sebastiano." "Here you are." "Your letter." "We're rich." "We can even eat." "Let's shake." "I'll shake you up!" "Come on, let's go!" "I'll get you this dress as a present." "For me?" "Yes, for you." "How much is it?" "Five bucks." "You'll look much nicer in that dress." "I'm beat." "Give them to me." "I'll do something with them later." "Will we look for my dad tomorrow?" "Yes, there's a bus that leaves at lunchtime." "Come, you can sleep here." "Good night, Josué." "Night, Dora." "Do you always go to bed like that?" "You don't expect me to sleep naked?" "Sleeping naked is much nicer." "Well, take offyour clothes if... you like." "I don't mind." "What?" "Are you embarrassed?" "I bet you've never seen a woman naked." "I've seen loads." "Sure, your mother." "Not true!" "I've seen other women." "You might've seen, but only that." "I had sex with them." "Oh, you did?" "How did you do it?" "It's not something to..." "discuss with women." "So I've got a real man... in my bed!" "How long will it take to get there?" "How long?" "Stay here, I'll be right back." "Dora!" "The bus!" "It's packed." "Could you tell me where F Street is?" "Hey you!" "Where's F Street?" "That's the new street... the paved one." "It's that way." "They're all the same." "Yeah, you're right." "Did your mom have your dad's photo?" "Yes." "Can you remember his face?" "Sometimes I can remember... but then it gets blurry." "I forget my father's face, too." "Damn photos shouldn't be there to remind us." "We should be able to forget." "I left home at sixteen, and never saw my father again..." "Exceptfor once... years later, I saw him in the street." "I froze, then found the courage... to go up to him. "Remember me?" I said. "Do you recognize me?"" "I could see he hadn't recognized me." "He didn't recognize... his own daughter." "He said:" ""How could I have forgotten such a lovely girl like you?"" "I told the rat I'd made a mistake and left." "I heard he died soon afterwards." "You understand?" "What did I do?" "You'll soon forget me, too." "I don't want to forget you." "Even so... you will." "Mr Jesus!" "Jesus doesn't live here anymore." "Do you know where he lives?" "No." "Vanished into the wilderness... no one's heard from him since." "Thank you." "So he'll never come back?" "I don't think so." "I'll waitfor him." "It's no use, Josué." "He's not coming back." "Why don't you come with me?" "I'd really like that, kid." "You know that." "I really would." "Let's go." "The father's vanished." "Whatareyougoing to do?" "I can't leave the boy here on his own." "Ofcourse not." "You know him, he's really a good kid." "Are you coming home with him?" "I'm not sure what to do." "What do you mean?" "I've made so many mistakes in Rio, you know that, Irene." "So whatareyougoing to do?" "I want you to sell my fridge and..." "my sofa..." "What else have I got?" "The TV?" "Yeah, sell the goddam TV." "What are you going to do?" "When I'm settledsomewhere, I'llcallyou." "Two tickets back to Bom Jesus, please." "Not till tomorrow morning." "What about to somewhere else?" "Nothing till tomorrow." "This is the end ofthe world here." "How do I get out of here?" "Tomorrow." "Not till tomorrow." "Are you looking for my father?" "Your father?" "Yes, Jesus." "I was told..." "some strangers were looking for him." "That's right." "Do you know him?" "I'm a friend of his." "What a coincidence, meeting his son." "Not really... given the size ofthis place." "Nice to meet you." "I'm lsaías." "Nice to meet you, lsaías." "Are you visiting?" "I was in the area and I remembered an old friend who lived here." "Then you must come to the house for a bite." "People don't often come to visit dad." "I insist..." "You're not going to refuse me." "And who's this?" "What's your name?" "Geraldo." "Geraldo, Mrs Dora, please." "I insist." "Come..." "Come here, Geraldo." "Know what a tongue twister is?" ""Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers." Now you say it." ""Peter pecked a pick of paper..."" "What a dope!" "This is where me and my brother moved... after father left." "Moisés!" "Guests from far away!" "Moisés, this is Mrs Dora, a friend offather's." "Imagine!" "Hello..." "Hello." "Mrs Dora, how long is it to get here?" "It depends on the way you come." "Moisés is dying to see Rio." "They say it's nice..." "We took this land and are squatting it, Mrs Dora." "All of it." "We took this... house after dad lost the other, and put in this carpentry workshop." "Moisés grinds away here all day long." "He's even better than father now." "He can make tables, chairs, everything." "We even sell things to the capital." "Go on, Geraldo." "You can get closer." "Hey, the kid plays pretty well!" "No praise, his head's already big enough!" "I play okay, it'sjust that they're lousy!" "Give it to her..." "She can read itfor us." "What's she got to do with it?" "She's dad's friend." "We can trust her." "Show it to her, please." "Then I'll get it." "All right, get that damned letter." "This came six months ago, from dad to Ana Fontenele." "She was the woman... he was with after mother died." "Nine years ago, Ana Fontenele took offto Rio." "She was expecting..." "our little brother." "Dad waited two years for her... to come back." "He stopped working and started drinking all the time." "He sold the house to pay his debts." "on the table." "That worried me." "For dad to leave a bottle halfempty... something serious must have happened." "He vanished, but it was better for us." "We saved money..." "Our lives improved." "Don't say that, Moisés." "I will say it!" "You know father..." "He's an okay guy." "Okay?" "I'm going to ask her to read it." "Yes, ask her." "It's a letter to Ana, not to us." "Dad never cared about us." "But Ana never came back, so we can open it." "You don't mind reading it to us, do you?" "Not at all." "So?" "It says where he is?" "Go on, read it." ""Ana," "and found our new little house, while I'm here in Rio" "looking for you." "I hope I get back before this letter, but if it arrives before me, do as I say:" "waitfor me." "I'll be coming home, too."" "The letter arrived six months ago." "He's been held up." ""I left Moisés and lsaías to look after things."" "To look after things?" "That's ajoke!" ""Ana, I may work in the mines for a month before coming home, but I'll be back." "Please wait." "Then we'll all be together:" "me, you," "Isaías," "Moisés," "and Josué and Josué, who I can't wait to meet." "You're a bad-tempered mule, but I'd give all I have to... see you again." "Forgive me." "It's you and me, for life." "Jesus."" "He'll be back." "No, he won't." "Yes, he will, one day." "Did my father really say he wanted to meet me?" "Ofcourse he did." "I know he didn't." "Thank you." "Tongue twister, boy." "Again?" "You dope!" "Josué, lhaven'tsenta letter to anyone fora while, but I'm sendingyou this one now." "You were right." "Your father will come back, andhe surely is... allyou say he is." "Irememberriding with my fathering his train." "I wasjusta littlegirl, buthe let me blow the whistle the whole time." "Whenyou're driving down the road inyourbig truck, remember that I was the firstperson to haveyouputyourhandon the wheel." "It willbe better foryou to sty withyourbrothers." "You deserve much more than lcan giveyou." "Ifyou miss me one day, look at thepicture... we took together." "I'm tellingyou this because I'm afraidyou too may forgetme." "Ilong formy father." "Ilong foreverything." "Dora."