"THE NIGHT RUNNER" "Haven't we seen each other before?" "Yes." "Yes, somewhere.I'm Raimundo Conti, real estate agent." "Eduardo." "Eduardo Lopez." "I don't have a card on me." "That doesn't matter." "Let me guess." "Insurance." "Yes." "Yes." "I have seen you." "At some conference, some bank..." "Yes, your face is very familiar." "And your face looks very thin." "Too many planes, not enough sleep." "Yes, I have trouble sleeping when I fly and at airports." "No, no." "I know you can't here." "Enjoy it at home." "If the smoke doesn't bother your wife." "A Davidoff." "A Davidoff." "Lenin smoked these." "He'd buy them at the shop in Geneva." "Zino Davidoff's father opened it there." "Made millions selling smoke." "Sound familiar?" "Good smoke comes expensive, Lopez." "Then 10 days in Morocco." "Tangier, Casablanca..." "Rick Blaine and all that." "You get sand in your eyes but it's worth it." "And you?" "Me what?" "Where have you been?" "In Milan." "A week, on business." "First time?" "Yes, but it rained the whole time." "I didn't like it." "It's hard to see ll Duomo with sunshine." "Did you get to see it?" "Yes." "Imposing." "Seeing the third greatest church in Christendom makes any trip worthwhile." "It took four centuries to build." "No, more actually." "Even Da Vinci worked on a project to make changes to the dome." "The gargoyles are a bit gloomy." "You're falling asleep." "And it's contagious." "Take a nap.I'll go to Duty Free and tell you when they start boarding." "I won't forget." "Shall I leave you my passport as a guarantee?" "Don't worry." "Lopez." "You dropped this while you were asleep." "Time to go." "Come on." "Bye, kids." "Hi." "Darling!" "How are you?" "Okay?" "Five minutes earlier and you could have had breakfast with the kids." "Yes, I saw them driving off." "How did it go?" "Well, pretty crap." "I'll tell you all about it." "So I came back without any contracts signed and the Italians may stop being our partners." "Iribarne would never have let that happen." "Who's lribarne?" "The old manager." "Don't you remember?" "I took over from him." "But that was 10 years ago, Eduardo." "He must be dead by now." "It's different now, you're in charge." "Don't worry, nobody will compare you with him." "I knew it wouldn't go well." "Well, at least you tried, darling." "Know what you've got to do now?" "Rest." "When you wake up, things will look brighter." "What did you bring the kids?" "Nothing." "I forgot." "Not even at Duty Free?" "No, I wasn't thinking very..." "It's okay." "The trip and all..." "Sure." "I'll tell you what..." "On the way to the practice," "I'll stop at a toyshop and get them something and say you brought it back, okay?" "Yes." "Good idea." "Right." "I'll drop this off at the cleaner's on the way." "Next time, bring them something." "They were expecting you to." "What's...this?" "How long have you smoked these?" "lsn't there a card with it?" "No." "No?" "No." "Let me look." "Strange..." "Something important?" "No." "Just someone I met when I changed planes in Madrid, who gave me the cigar and his card, and who I'd often seen before and we ended up talking at the airport but... it's not important." "So why worry about the card?" "No reason, and I didn't give him mine, so... that's that." ""Davidoff"." "Refined." "Yes." "They want more than we can give." "To a certain extent, yes." "So that we won't accept?" "I think we still have some bargaining space." "What we couldn't get face to face will be harder over the phone." "Don't you think?" "I know it wasn't exactly successful..." "No, that's for sure." "Successful it was not." "Is this our best counteroffer?" "We can try and bring down the supply price a little, though not much." "Then try." "And when you've done it,let me know." "I'll have it ready by midday." "Then I'll leave it till later." "You don't need to come with me so don't worry about that." "Do this and give it to Cinthia." "Perfect." "Excuse me." "There's someone here to see you." "Mrs. Iribarne." "What does she want?" "She didn't say." "She just asked to see you." "She says she won't leave without seeing you." "Tell her to come in." "You're Eduardo, aren't you?" "Yes, Eduardo." "Eduardo Lopez." "How are you?" "This is so different." "Did you know this was my husband's office?" "Antonio lribarne, we all have fond memories of him." "And he appreciated that." "Lopez, you said?" "Lopez, yes." "Eduardo Lopez." "How can I help you?" "I talk to Antonio a lot." "He asked me to pick up his retirement bonus." "His retirement bonus?" "I think there must be some mistake." "No." "My husband pays attention to details." "Never forgets anything." "He said, "Talk to the people at the company." "They can't delay payment any longer." "It's mine."" "Yes, but, as you can see, I didn't know anything about this." "But I came for the payment." "You should have told us." "I just got back from a trip and can't see to that now." "Antonio will understand." "You can't fool me, Lopez." "Madam, all these years you must have received a pension." "As far as I know, the firm paid him all he was entitled to, even the burial, so I don't understand what you want." "You!" "You all owe us that money!" "My husband wasn't cold and you'd already taken his place." "So inconsiderate." "You didn't even wait for me to come and collect his things." "You took his diplomas down, emptied his desk and put it all in a box." "And that was that." "All the years he gave you, all his abilities, were represented by that bonus he never received." "That girl who was so nice..." "Thelma..." "Isn't she here?" "Not any more." "There are very few of us left from then." "What a shame." "Hello." "Hi." "Who gave me this shit?" "You don't like it?" "No." "Guess!" "I don't know if I can." "What's the problem?" "Guess." "I'm the girl of your dreams and your worst nightmare." "Use your head." "Yes?" "Yes, please." "Put him through." "Excuse me, an urgent call." "When do I get the cheque?" "Don't worry,I'll let you know." "Say hello to Thelma when you see her." "Thank you." "Cheapskate bastards." "Did you smoke that cigar?" "Pardon?" "The Davidoff." "Did you smoke it?" "No, I haven't been able to yet." "What can I do for you?" "I just called to remind you about lunch tomorrow." "I suggest the Crichet." "I'II make the reservation." "At 12.30?" "12.30?" "I know I gave you my number but I don't remember talking about meeting." "You gave me your card, as we said goodbye." "I have it here." ""Eduardo Lopez Barcia, vice-president"." "Strange, I'd swear I didn't give you a card, I'd run out." "Economic stability is a thing of the past and prospects are still bad." "Bad results are causing investors to doubt the soundness of companies on the stock market." "It's hard to find a precedent to an economic situation like this." "Let's take a look at share prices." "Busy?" "No." "What can I do for you?" "Iribarne's widow came in to see me." "Remember her?" ""The First Lady"." "That's what we called her." "A very bossy woman." "Not so much now." "She's older now and shows signs of confusion as far as I can see." "Did lribarne get everything he was entitled to?" "Well, his widow, I mean." "Not all he deserved." "The company fell back on a few clauses that..." "You know, the small print." "I see." "How long ago did he die?" "7 or 8 years?" "The time you've had your job." "Just before they kicked out Thelma Rodriguez and Polanski." "He was really ill and didn't know, right?" "Iribarne?" "He had a fatal heart attack at home." "But you know all about that." "What do I know?" "You and Polanski were both in line for promotion, despite your youth." "In the end it was lribarne who solved the problem... by dying just then." "You're saying I had something to do with his death?" "Only your conscience can answer that." "Iribarne's widow came to see me today." "She's completely out of her mind." "She came to claim something from 10 years ago." "A payment she said we hadn't made." "It's nice to meet again in quieter circumstances." "There are a few issues still outstanding I'd like to go into." "In a way I've been connected with the insurance business my whole life." "I think there are several deals we could both profit from." "I appreciate that but I've already got enough with my job." "I don't want to get into anything else." "Your job's an impediment, Eduardo." "I mean, nowadays it's hard enough trying to run a home, isn't it?" "Have you got any children?" "Yes, a girl of seven, and a boy of 9." "A couple of them." "Very nice." "Very nice." "Clothes, school, food,... health care, a lot of expenses, right?" "Sorry,I don't know what you're getting at.I don't follow you." "I know how it is working for a firm that sucks your blood." "Endless meetings, trivial conversations where you think there may be something in it for you but really you know you're wasting your time." "You spend your life behind a desk for a salary plus commission that never makes up for all you do." "That's bad and somehow it must seem unfair too." "I imagine." "No,you imagine too much." "The Classical Greeks were ashamed of working." "They thought it was for slaves." "Their greatest ambition was leisurely contemplation." "They'd find that hard in these times but in your case, I think you should reduce your effort and increase your income." "And I can help." "Who told you I needed help?" "Looking at you is enough." "That forehead with more and more lines from looking at your watch every 5 minutes." "That bitter grin that comes from the pressure of working hour after hour, in the search for that... pathetic, old-fashioned notion of security." ""l have my career," you tell the mirror as you shave." ""But I have something else." "I have every chance that, at almost forty, I'll get fired."" "Yours is a docile kind of dedication." "But they domesticated you for that, didn't they?" "Who do you think you are to talk to me like that?" "Am I wrong?" "It's late, I have to go." "Late for what?" "No, you're still in time." "It was very lucky we met." "Maybe." "The bill, please." "Leave it." "You'll have other opportunities to pay." "I assure you." "Anyway..." "Thanks for coming." "Nothing under Conti." "Where are you, you bastard?" "Hi, Clara." "Can you talk?" "Yes." "I just called you at the office but Lucia said you'd left." "Yes, I left because I had a splitting headache." "They rang me from the school." "Santi got hurt playing football." "I had to take him to hospital." "lf you'd called, I'd have gone too." "You're always in important meetings." "But you called now." "Don't you want to know how he is?" "How is he?" "I suppose he's okay, he's with his mother." "They gave him a painkiller and put some cream on the bruise." "Well, I'll see you soon." "Everything's under control." "Right." "Fine." "Excuse me." "Someone left this in my car." "I'd left it locked and I paid you to look after it." "Fucking idiot." "Jerk." "You were lucky." "You could have broken a bone." "Have your friends called?" "Some of them and the coach too." "Leave the ice there a little longer and it'll go down." "Are you hungry?" "Do you want something?" "No." "If you need anything, call me." "lf it hurts or whatever." "Mum said that." "Shall I call you both?" "Yes, yes." "Have you subscribed to this magazine?" "No, somebody gave it to me." "Ah, yes, your new friend." "I forgot to tell you." "He called to ask about Santi." "About his accident." "Who?" "Raimundo Conti." "I didn't tell him." "How did he know?" "And he's not my friend." "Did you talk to him?" "Yes,just before you got back." "What did he say?" "What's the matter?" "Does he annoy you?" "No, it's just that I didn't give him this number and I didn't say anything about Santi either." "He's a pain and can't keep his nose out of my business." "Well,our number's in the phonebook." "He probably rang your office and your secretary gave it to him." "If he's a decent kind, it's no surprise he called." "Yes, but..." "Don't make excuses for him." "He obviously wants to win you over." "He wants you to like him." "I'll put that guy in his place tomorrow." "You're being too sensitive, darling." "Is there something you haven't told me?" "Sit down and tell me about it." "You're not at work now, Clara." "Who'll make the adjustments?" "You." "Who else?" "The accounts will balance if we reduce by one employee per department." "One per department, that's very drastic." "You have to, you have all the data." "You'll be able to justify that." "Sure, but it's not the most pleasant task anyone would want to be given." "Depends how you look at it." "The one who does the laying off keeps his job." "Unless you want to sacrifice yourself." "You haven't seen the kids today." "No." "Again." "I couldn't get back in time." "Two days running they've been asleep when you've got back." "It's the last thing I wanted." "So what's going on?" "There's a lot going on." "The restructuring, and today they even told me I'd have to fire people." "Imagine what that's like." "When?" "I have to make a list as soon as possible." "Don't take it personally." "They've forced it on you." "Yes, but... they've been doing that all the time lately." "For instance?" "They pay you a salary, trust you." "It's your job." "Yes, but we're talking about people, understand?" "They're numbers for them but they're people." "Galvan is retiring in 18 months and I don't know how I'll save him." "A lot of them have kids..." "Okay, you're right." "It's terrible." "But, I mean, can't you try and stop thinking about it?" "Listen to me." "The caretaker brought up an envelope earlier with what looks like a film in it." "Is it a present?" "No, no, no." "I don't know." "Maybe it's advertising." "Where is it?" "On the table in the hall." "Are you gonna get it now?" "Hello." "Am I interrupting?" "Who is this?" "Raimundo." "How's your son?" "Nothing serious, right?" "No, no." "In fact..." "he's already playing again." "It was just a scare, that's all." "That's good." "Did your wife tell you we spoke?" "Yes, she did." "She's very nice." "What does she do?" "She's a psychologist." "Who is it?" "Speciality?" "Why all the interest?" "Don't think I'm prying." "Did you see the video?" "What video?" "The one I sent you." "It's only 2 or 3 minutes but well worth watching." "Watch it." "I'll be in the Expreso Bar." "Watch it and meet me there." "I want to see you." "alone, of course." "What is this?" "Juana?" "What's the matter?" "I'll be right back." "Where are you going?" "What is this crap?" "What have you done, asshole?" "It's your daughter, Eduardo." "I know it's my daughter." "What do you want?" "Did you film this?" "Explain." "Yes, I filmed her." "A harmless video of a little girl playing." "It's my hobby." "Birds in flight, old people." "Children." "I filmed her and sent you the video because I thought you'd like it." "But all you do is insult me.What have I done wrong?" "Where's the harm?" "Give me a reason, you asshole." "We don't know each other." "How did you know it was her?" "Why did you film her?" "Explain or I'll kill you!" "It's just a tiny demonstration of my power." "It worked, as you came running." "Don't fuck with my family, Conti." "Such a shame you're so upset or we could talk as friends..." "We are not friends." "Following me around like that." "What the fuck's going on?" "Is Valeria asleep?" "Now you listen carefully." "I won't say this twice." "Nobody says no to me or avoids me." "I never take no for an answer." "It's your lucky day, Eduardo." "But you've no idea what might happen if you don't respect me." "Because that's the way it has to be." "I could show you right now but that's enough for now." "It's been a pleasure talking to you." "Thank you for the brandy." "You're sure nobody approached you to give you a present or to ask you to do something?" "No, Dad." "Nobody." "You're sure, right?" "No, Dad, we don't talk to strangers." "Very good." "Very good." "And now especially." "What's the matter?" "No, nothing's going on." "Some people are a bit crazy and you have to be careful." "Here." "That's why you're changing the lock?" "Of course." "Yes, that's why." "Hello?" "Somebody called me from this number." "Yes, Ruibal." "This is Eduardo Lopez, from your insurance company." "I insured your house a few years ago." "Remember?" "Ah, yes, Lopez." "How are you?" "Well, as you were in the police," "I wondered if you could help me out with something." "What is it?" "I'd rather talk in private." "If you have a moment now, I'll meet you wherever you like." "Mum, do you want me to do his homework?" "Whom?" "Santi's..." "Antonio Ruibal." "How are you, Lopez?" "Very good, good." "All I can find out is if the guy has a record." "Even for the smallest offence." "I can't think of anything else for now." "But look... he's been filming my kids and watching them." "And me too, probably." "Look, so far he's done nothing against the law." "There are plenty like him around who you can't pin anything on." "You'll have to watch out, especially when your kids are concerned." "And your wife too." "From what you've told me, the guy may be interested in her too." "What could he be after?" "I don't know." "He must have some idea in mind." "Extortion...or to scare you..." "Who knows why?" "Or maybe not." "Maybe he's mentally ill." "Or a practical joker." "Have you got a gun?" "Me?" "Yes." "No, no, no." "There are some advantages and disadvantages there." "The advantage is that you won't shoot him in a fit of rage." "The disadvantage is that the only way to stop them if they're crazy is to hold a 38 to their head." "You think I should buy a gun?" "If you want one, I can advise you." "Some lunatics loose interest and move on." "No violence... for the time being." "Later, we'll see." "Would you like me to meet him?" "If you think it'll help." "It can do." "I'll tell you what." "The next time he calls,you let me know." "Arrange to meet him in a bar." "I'll be there and I'll stay out of sight." "Ok, do what you consider the best..." "Romina, I need a list of the last figures on external consultations and the commissions per sale report." "Why the reports?" "It's for the accounts." "I'll get it and bring it in." "Yes, Raimundo." "Eduardo." "Nice to hear you." "Am I interrupting you?" "No, but I am working." "Then I'II keep it short." "Did you think about our last meeting?" "Please don't get my methods wrong." "This isn't the time for that." "Right, I agree." "Could we meet when you finish work?" "For a drink on me, it's my turn." "I can't today." "I have to pick my wife up." "Your wife?" "Clara." "A lovely name, isn't it?" "Yes, Clara." "Clara, my wife." "Well then..." "Just a quick encounter." "Clara can come too." "No." "I'll tell you what, we'll meet at Casa Cruz." "It's near here." "6 o'clock, no later." "Okay?" "Hello." "A dry martini." "Well?" "What did you want to talk about?" "Let's admit we both went too far last time." "Especially me." "But that's not the point." "So what is the point?" "Could we ever be friends?" "Friends choose each other." "I chose you, Eduardo." "But I didn't choose you." "Since the airport everything seems to fall in with some plan of yours." "We spoke in the lounge, chatted on the plane, and that was it." "There's nothing between us." "Or do I attract you in some way?" "No, no." "Prejudice and false appearances again." "I film your daughter so I'm a pervert, I approach you so I'm gay." "Any business proposition is a scam." "That's no way to think, Eduardo." "No, no." "You've no other friends?" "In the world, many." "And aren't they enough?" "You don't come across true friends by chance." "True friendship must be sought out and is enriched with effort." "Don't you encourage or discourage your children's friendships?" "Don't your friends come from the same social class, or from a circle you consider appropriate?" "The bonds of friendship are complex, Eduardo." "I've no reason to consider you my friend." "It's not a question of what's appropriate or effort." "It isn't." "I think you need help." "People don't go around hunting down friends or choosing them as if in a supermarket." "And why me?" "Because I can." "I could become the best friend you'd ever found in life." "Let me put it another way." "What would you expect of a friendship with me?" "Going to brothels together, drinking together, getting me to smoke joints, talk about insurance." "What?" "My kind of friendship is unselfish, generous, not mean." "Leave that to others who are not your true friends." "No, I'm talking about something your narrow-mindedness rejects." "It's late." "I have to go." "The conversation's only just begun and you run away." "I told you what I thought." "You're too damn insistent." "Leave us alone." ""Us"?" "Why "us"?" "I told you the other day, stay away from my family." "Excuse me." "Where's the toilet?" "At the end of the corridor." "Hello." "Are you still at the practice?" "Yes, I've been waiting for ages." "Yes, sorry." "I know I'm late but I'm on the way there." "We're still going to that exhibition, right?" "Yes, of course." "Like it?" "Yes." "We can go, if you want." "Hold on..." "The battery's almost gone." "I'll have to plug it in." "Are you expecting a client to call?" "Yes, something like that." "You're obsessed with your work." "All right, let's go." "He's a clever guy." "Did you manage to follow him?" "I've followed a lot of people but this never happened before." "What happened?" "He vanished." "I waited by the door but when I went in, he wasn't there." "When I left, I sensed that someone was following me." "I think it was your friend." "He isn't my friend." "I don't get it." "How could he get away without me seeing him?" "And then follow me?" "Well thanks, Ruibal, we'd better drop it there." "Sorry, I'm not dropping it." "I'm on an investigation." "I checked up on him and he's completely clean." "No record, not even a parking fine." "No political record." "It's as if he didn't exist." "I need information." "You made a mistake going in there." "It's you who made the mistake." "And you don't understand." "Listen to me." "I don't do things by halves." "But don't worry, from now on, I'm doing this for me, not for you." "Okay?" "The guy made a fool of me." "I want payback." "This is confidential." "I called you because I like you and respect you." "I know you've been here a long time." "The situation is the accounts don't balance and there'll be some restructuring." "I'm working on an alternative plan and I think it's possible to adjust things by cutting salaries," "instead of laying people off, as I was asked to do." "What do you think?" "I've been expecting something like this." "Yes." "In any case, there's nothing definite yet." "When are you due to retire?" "The middle of next year." "So you wouldn't get a full pension." "That's right." "But don't worry." "That plan won't be accepted." "Who?" "The directors." "Especially the gringo." "You don't seem to know him." "The important thing is the saving." "But not that way." "All the drama gets lost." "But I'm giving you a chance to reduce costs more." "Don't kid yourself, Eduardo." "You fought hard for your position." "But you seem to have forgoffen that." "You had to hurt a lot of people without looking back." "And now you talk to me about consultations." "The one who was always passed over." "It's obvious you're scared." "Being at the top of the pyramid is dangerous." "If you lose your balance, you could fall off." "Don't be so hard on me." "Did you expect me to clap?" "Give me a reason not to fire you." "Don't be a coward, Lopez." "They're sizing you up too." "The firm's using us all." "Don't forget that." "Me, retire?" "I'm not dead yet." "Keep this to yourself." "I'm trying to save everybody." "Here I am leaving you another message." "Just to say I've got an extra patient." "Don't worry, I spoke to Rosa about it." "I don't know why I bother really, you never show any interest." "Anyway..." "Don't call me, please, because I'm going to turn my mobile off." "You're Lopez, aren't you?" "Yes, madam, I'm Lopez." "But we're closed and I have to go." "My husband said you were having a party for him." "No, madam, there's no party, nothing." "It's your imagination and you come here busting my balls." "Go on like this and you'll end up with nothing." "Give me what's mine!" "Go away, madam." "The first lady." "How are you?" "A familiar face at last!" "I was leaving." "Let's go down together." "I came to meet my husband but he's very busy." "And look what time it is." "Almost everyone's gone and he's still at it." "He's so responsible." "I know." "Shall I come with you?" "I'd like that very much." ""They should go to the dentist more often."" "Hi!" "Hi, Daddy!" "Hi." ""They should go..."" "Hi." "Hi." "Did he ring you at work?" "Who?" "Your friend." "Which friend?" "Conti." ""He was afraid to go to that doctor..."" "Conti?" "I'm sure it was him." ""So he washed after..."" "Did he say his name?" "He has a distinctive voice." "It was the same voice as last time." "What did he say?" "He called to ask for an appointment." "But I think he wanted to meet me." ""He washed..."" "He's a son of a bitch." "Eduardo, please!" "He's a rat." "Who, Daddy?" "Nobody, darling." "You don't know him." "The worst part is that he knew you knew it was him." "That's the game he plays." "I'm going to call Ruibal." "The one who was supposed to call you?" "Yes." "He's a client, an ex-cop." "What time was it exactly?" "As I was finishing." "Even though it's the title, put it in." "Are you going running?" "A strange discovery." "65-year-old Antonio Ruibal a former member of the Police Investigation Department who was employed as a consultant for a security company, was found dead yesterday in Lezama Park." "He apparently died of natural causes although an autopsy has still to be performed." "There were no signs of violence on the victim's body." "Now let's take a look at the weather..." "Is there anybody who might know something?" "A colleague, perhaps." "Yes, if you can give me his son's telephone number, then I'll ring again later." "Thank you very much." "Yes, I'll call back." "TAKE OFF YOUR GLASSES AND YOU'LL SEE BETTER." "YOUR lNVlSlBLE friend." "None of them looks like police." "That guy looks upset." "I'll be right back." "Hello." "I'm very sorry." "Are any of you family?" "The only relative is his son, the taxi driver." "It's absurd to worry about this." "Almost no relatives, no colleagues..." "He had other problems." "Why should we feel guilty about this?" "What does worry me is that if they do investigate, they might find some connection between Ruibal and Conti or me." "You're worried about the sunglasses." "Whatever." "Or maybe some note he left." "Shall we go to the police?" "What for?" "Tell the police some unlikely story about Conti?" "Hand in the sunglasses as evidence?" "But evidence of what?" "There's nothing." "You still have them, don't you?" "We have them, yes." "Anyway..." "So if we cancel the commissions on sales we introduced in 1998, plus the 10% deduction on the lowest salaries," "20% on the middle-range salaries the reduction would be lower than dismissing one employee per sector." "Which is what I was originally asked to do." "It's not about reducing risk but deciding who'll pay for this crisis, who'll jump out the window." "There are no alternatives." "Those who stay must know that if things don't improve, they could be next." "Then they'll work harder." "Can't you see this is a good opportunity to streamline the workforce?" "Something like this happened in 1929 and after the Crash my country grew and never made mistakes again, at least not financially." "You can't come to me with that and expect me to accept it." "We need a list of layoff candidates, not some charity plan which is obviously doomed to failure." "Now I hope that's clear." "Okay, we'll meet again when I'm back from my trip." "Please don't mention this to anyone." "Mr. Harrison..." "Do we throw out of the window only those we need to throw out or do we cover ourselves completely and push a few more?" "Don't push it." "There's our image to think of." "Do you know anything about the adjustment plan?" "Who said there was one?" "There are rumours." "Don't worry, you're okay." "Did you like the present?" "You're sick." "What made you think that decrepit old fool would fool me?" "Why did you do it?" "Killing's easy, Eduardo." "One loser less." "His funeral said it all." "Nobody." "Not a single tear." "How can you be such a son-of-a-bitch?" "To protect us." "If he'd started digging up your past, he'd have ended up blackmailing you." "What do you want from me?" "Tell me and let's have it done, you bastard!" "A coffee works wonders." "I don't want a coffee." "All right." "How did you kill him?" "Knowing is dangerous." "You get involved." "Answer me." "Answer my question." "Details." "You're interested in details?" "It wasn't brutal." "There was no hate, no passion." "He realised who he was up against and died without help." "Death from natural causes." "A little jab in the carotid artery is hard to detect." "You used poison, you bastard." "Air." "To form a blood clot, a lethal bubble." "A gaseous embolism." "I'm going to tell the police, Conti." "I have great plans, Eduardo." "I need your loyalty." "Another crime?" "Crime?" "Talking of crimes..." "You still have to atone for lribarne, don't you?" "What?" "lribarne." "Doesn't it ring a bell?" "You've got it wrong." "He died of a heart attack." "So you didn't have anything to do with that?" "You didn't give him some air?" "Or was it poison?" "You're raving mad." "I'm not judging you." "I am you friend." "And in a way, your story moves me because it brings us closer." "But I'm worried about what you're turning into." "A guy who's about to lose everything because he turned docile." "But don't worry, I'm going to save you." "Clara." "She's very pleasant." "Very pleasant." "Tell her I said so." "She'll appreciate the compliment." "I'll kill you." "I swear I'll kill you." "I'll kill you." "I'll bash your brains out." "Hugo Ruibal?" "Yes." "I'm Eduardo Lopez." "I phoned you." "Ah, yes." "First of all, sorry about your father." "I didn't want to bother you at the funeral because I didn't have enough proof of what I'm going to say." "I knew your father and I have very good reasons to believe... forgive me for saying this..." "that he was killed." "Why do you say that?" "He was doing a job for me." "He was..." "He was following... a very dangerous person who he knew could be a criminal." "I seriously suspect he killed him by injecting air into his neck with a syringe." "I'm willing to testify to what I'm telling you now in court or to the police, whatever's necessary." "If you want me to." "Me and my father aren't..." "hadn't been... very close for a long time." "I see." "I wasn't at the cemetery because I went to say goodbye." "Actually... it was to make sure that he'd gone for good." "You understand?" "The truth is..." "I don't give a damn... how the son-of-a-bitch died." "He made everyone's life a misery, I won't go into detail." "And I assure you if he was murdered, then he deserved it." "I hope he was conscious when they killed him." "He died as he lived." "Alone and in the gutter." "I appreciate your good intentions but... for me, that's the end of it." "Hi, Dad." "Hi." "Hello." "Hello, darling." "How are you?" "How come you're awake?" "Santi yelled and woke me up." "Did he?" "Yes." "Why did he yell?" "He had a nightmare." "And he wet the bed." "Poor thing." "Yes." "Mummy's in the bathroom with him." "Anyway, let's go to bed now, shall we?" "Okay." "I don't want to have nightmares, Dad." "Doggy will help." "Let's read a story and it'll be okay." ""And whenever she was frightened, she thought..."" "What was the angel's name?" "His name was Roberto." "He was a good..." "Was his name the same as hers?" "Yes, almost the same." "He also appeared after she'd closed her eyes." "Otherwise he didn't appear." "She closed her eyes and Roberto came." "He helped her to relax and little by little..." "she fell asleep." "If you had a bet with Polanski to see who'd get the boss's little friend." "You're out of the running." "Were you waiting for me?" "Polanski brought me in his car." "Is he still asleep?" "Fast asleep." "Sleeps..." "Take off your clothes..." "No, Lopez, let's forget about Galvan." "I'm fine with the rest." "Have you worked out the compensation?" "Yes, yes." "To be paid strictly legally." "That gives us a few months' breathing space." "I've heard from the Italians." "They're still in but they've made a condition." "I went to Milan before Delaware." "I think you shouldn't have visited them." "It was my fault for sending you." "They've thought it over, I'm glad to say." "Good." "I'm glad." "They've appointed a local adviser." "A lawyer, I suppose." "He'll be in later." "It doesn't matter who he is." "The important thing is we don't need a loan now and the adjustment to our budget will give us some fresh air." "I may be retiring soon." "But don't add me to your list yet." "No, no." "You can't leave the business." "I have other plans." "A little pleasure." "I want to travel without having a list of meetings." "And play all the golf I can." "That's a huge surprise." "You have to know when to retire." "But don't mention it to anyone." "It's still not official." "I imagine you're wondering who'll take over from me." "Lopez, I hope you won't feel overlooked but we both know." "You're not cut out to take the pressure of a position like this." "Frankly, I could add your name to that list right now." "I'd prefer to leave the decisions to the Italians." "And if everything works out," "I'll be off to play golf and a never-ending summer." "What are you doing here?" "Do you spend all day watching me?" "Yes, it relaxes me." "Get in, we're going for a beer." "I can't." "I have to keep going." "Galvan gave you the photos, right?" "What?" "He's your accomplice." "Who's Galvan?" "I have some news, Eduardo." "Important, I think." "You've interrupted my rhythm." "I can't talk now." "I'm going away tomorrow, so, wait..." "We can run while we talk." "You run?" "Yes." "Like you, of course." "You don't trust me, huh?" "Well... if you won't be my friend, you'll be my dog." "Bark and I'll let you go!" "Stop!" "Son-of-a-bitch!" "Stop, you fucking bastard!" "Stop!" "Life is passing you by, Eduardo." "All the time." "Lying there, at this hour..." "It's time to get up and take proper care of your family." "Hi." "Hi, Dad." "How are you?" "Hi." "Did you have trouble sleeping last night?" "Yes, I stayed up reading..." "Hi, darling." "Hi, Daddy." "So what happened with Ruibal's son?" "Nothing." "He doesn't care what's happened to his father." "So we won't get anywhere there." "So?" "That's the end of it." "No need to get obsessed with all this.It's over." "So that's the end of the problem?" "We're going to forget about it?" "The video and the glasses...?" "Eduardo?" "What?" "We changed the lock... we went to a securit consultant who's now dead, and we forget it all?" "What'll Conti's next little joke be?" "Have you forgoffen that he called me and harassed you for weeks?" "Wipe the slate clean and move on." "Know what we're going to do?" "What?" "Buy a gun." "That's what." "Are you crazy?" "Don't worry, I've asked around." "Who do you think you're living with?" "You don't agree?" "I don't want guns in the house, Eduardo!" "Bye bye." "Listen to me!" "I don't want that in the house!" "What are you doing here?" "Eduardo." "The man who runs." "The vice-president who climbed and climbed and never realised." "You could be my friend." "You could be my dog." "But you don't deserve that." "You'll be my subordinate." "What is this?" "Some kind of trick, deceiving everybody?" "No, Eduardo, no." "I'm here to save you." "I know who Galvan is now." "Is he fucking with you?" "No." "Harrison rescued him." "But the gringo is halfway out of the business." "I told you not to fuck with me." "When you're managing director..." "When you're managing director... you can do what you like with Galvan." "What are you talking about?" "What did you do to Polanski?" "Nothing." "I didn't do anything to Polanski." "You did." "You got him fired." "Seen him lately?" "The wreck he turned into." "No." "He deserved it." "He played his cards badly." "All I did was help him see the truth." "No." "He didn't go wrong because he played his cards badly." "It was because he didn't take the chance to play them right." "But I like that." "Helping people to see the truth." "I like that." "We're starting to understand each other." "You wretch!" "How dare you come here?" "What a cheek!" "Madam, I didn't..." "It's your fault my husband died!" "There must be a mistake..." "Get out!" "Get him out!" "I'm sorry..." "No, you're not!" "I do understand..." "Get him out of here!" "But why?" "Get out of here!" "Watch out!" "Watch out!" "I'm sorry." "I..." "Sorry." "DO YOU KNOW RAlMUNDO CONTl?" "IS it TRUE YOU ARE APPONTlNG him director OF YOUR office?" "I'm in holidays." "I'll come back on September 6th." "What do you think of the new representative?" "I haven't decided yet." "Any hunches?" "Look, Lopez, at least I'm still here." "I understand if it hadn't been for you, things would have been different." "I did what you said I should." ""Don't be a coward," you said." "Remember?" "Your chat with Harrison made him nervous." "Remember Thelma Rodriguez and those photos?" "Of course I do." "Who kept them?" "Someone sent one to my home the other day." "I wonder who it was." "And why, especially." "Did you ask Harrison too?" "No." "I'd ask him." "He's the only other one still here." "It's not worth going into it any further." "Did you ask the widow?" "The first lady." "Speaking of which, remember the other day you said you didn't know much she was owed?" "Yes." "Well, I was thinking about it..." "And I think when lribarne died, the widow couldn't find the insurance policy." "What I don't know is if you signed for the whole amount or part of it to be paid." "If you're still interested, I could look it up." "No, no." "I'm not interested." "I had my doubts." "You know?" "Do what you want then." "Hi." "Hi." "Hello?" "Didn't you hear the phone?" "No, I had the ringer turned off." "Have you talked to CIara?" "No, I just got in." "Talk to her?" "What about?" "I invited you both to dinner." "I arranged it with her." "At 9 in the same restaurant as the other night." "Wait, she just got in." "Hello?" "Wait a minute, please." "What's this about dinner with Conti?" "What about the kids?" "I just left them at Amalia's." "Why didn't you call me before arranging it?" "I did call you." "Yes..." "I'm busy." "CIara will tell you the rest." "She must have worked out who to leave your kids with." "Okay?" "All right." "See you later." "Clara, what's going on?" "What's this all about?" "Calm down." "What's the matter?" "How could you arrange to have dinner with Conti?" "It's a good opportunity to see what he's up to." "It's not a good opportunity." "It's a terrible one." "You seem to forget he's the managing director now." "I don't give a shit if he is!" "What's up with you?" "What's up?" "You arranged dinner with Conti." "With that guy, Clara." "Without checking with me." "I called you 20 times and you never answered." "You could have made up an excuse." "Well, I didn't." "So what now?" "Nothing." "We have to go out to dinner with that trash, that's what." "No." "You could ring him." "Ring him and call it off and you make up an excuse." "What's the matter?" "It's not that important." "Are you jealous?" "You're jealous." "You're jealous!" "You're jealous." "But the Italians remembered that my links with them... went back to when my grandfather was consul in Milan." "And as everybody needs someone to trust, they offered me the job here, with the firm." "So you were a lawyer." "You look radiant, Clara." "New look?" "You kept it quiet." "Yes." "Yes, I am a lawyer too but I never practised." "A degree is a certificate of effort but doesn't prove one's abilities or talent." "Right, Clara?" "You're forgetting about your hobby... filming people." "Yes, but you know about that." "I have a lot more of you that I never gave you." "This is for you." "It's perverse." "How many others are there?" "I don't like your tone, Clara." "I don't like you being so defensive all the time." "You're my friend's wife." "Change your repertoire, please." "I can understand Eduardo, with all the pressure." "But you?" "What's the matter?" "I tried to make this dinner a celebration because Eduardo's off the list of layoffs." "I blocked Harrison and made the condition to the Italian group that Eduardo should stay on." "But this dinner is going to get spoiled because Eduardo's wife won't stop manipulating, suspecting, calculating, distrusting and sticking her nose where she shouldn't all the time." "You humiliate Eduardo with your desire to control." "You humiliate him with the suspicion you've exuded since you sat down." "You've spoiled everything, Clara." "Unfortunately." "My treat." "Son-of-a-bitch." "I don't have to go on putting up with you." "If you want to fire me, go ahead." "Better still, you'll find my resignation on your desk tomorrow." "What I said to Clara upset you." "I did it on purpose so that she'd leave us on our own." "Let's go for a drink, Eduardo." "Don't let the neighbourhood put you off." "If you asked where we are, I'd say nowhere." "This is the city's basement, far from the madding crowd." "Welcome." "Come in." "Clara's very manipulative, isn't she?" "No?" "She'll be watching the end of what I filmed now." "She'll have no-one to share it with because her husband isn't where she wants him, with her, under her control." "Many marriages get broken for things like that." "Let's hope yours can take it." "Though I doubt it." "Here's to doubt." "I'm going to use this, Conti." "I swear I am." "You're going to shoot yourself?" "Sit still." "Here comes the best part." "It's all been paid for." "Hello." "I'm leaving and taking the kids." "Going?" "Where to?" "My mother's." "What about your classes?" "That can be worked out." "This can't." "What about your patients?" "Pass them on..." "Or drop them." "But I can't do either." "I'm doing the only thing I can, darling." "And what are you doing?" "Hello." "Good morning." "What's the matter?" "You didn't hear about Harrison?" "What about Harrison?" "He killed himself." "What?" "It seems he jumped off his balcony on Friday night." "But he was happy about travelling, retiring." "I can't believe it." "No, they say that really the Italians were making him leave." "Why didn't anyone call me?" "They didn't call anybody." "His wife called this morning." "She wants to take his body back to the U.S. and not bury him here." "Is that Polanski?" "Yes." "What's he doing here?" "He has an appointment." "Lopez Barcia." "Hello, Polanski." "It's been a long time." "A long time, yes." "You're looking well." "How's things?" "Do you really care?" "Yes, of course." "I haven't been very busy lately." "It's like in boxing." "The first time down hurts more than the last." "When you least expect it, you're down for the count." "And on top of it, the ones hitting you should be taking care of you in your corner." "Understand?" "Yes, yes." "I'm on the canvas." "I'm selling furniture now." "Ah, you're working." "No, my furniture at home." "Joking, right?" "No." "I'm selling my furniture because I want to go away from here." "But I'm not complaining." "Im laughing." "They're waiting." "Excuse me." "I don't know what at but I'm laughing." "I laugh a lot." "Harrison's dead." "How terribl!" "I am so put out!" "What a blow!" "When he hit the ground, I mean." "But we can't allow grief to stop us." "We must always keep going, Eduardo." "When there's strength, keep going with your penis." "When it flags, keep going with your tongue." "When there's none, keep going with your ass." "But always go on, Eduardo." "What's Polanski doing here?" "I'm readmitting him." "The man has some value." "Nothing to do with Harrison's death." "He'd already written his resignation." "But it's forced me to bring the changes forward." "You're giving him my job?" "No, Eduardo." "Friendship is friendship." "Now it's your turn for promotion." "Going up and up." "Happy?" "No, I'm not going anywhere." "Best if you do." "You wouldn't like the alternative." "Is Polanski happy with his life?" "You'll have my resignation in 10 minutes." "Eduardo..." "Going up is difficult because you're on your own." "But you wouldn't believe how easy it is to come down." "Everybody helps you." "But if you do want to go up..." "I need your acceptance." "Accept that morality is an invention of the weak." "You'll climb, step on people, push them out, without remorse or guilt and not worry about what you left behind you." "And you'll never get punished for doing it." "If you accept, you'll get only rewards and promotions." "But I need your acceptance." "That's the condition." "The protocol." "First thing tomorrow morning in my office, your answer." "Yes!" "Acceptance, Eduardo." "Acceptance." "Santi won't eat and he hardly speaks." "He wets the bed every night." "And Juana has nightmares." "They need you, Eduardo." "I'm going to resign, Clara." "Don't be stupid, Eduardo!" "After all you've done to get where you are." "What do you want me to do?" "Stop whining." "You let the monster grow and you say you don't know what to do, but you do." "Hello, Polanski." "Very punctual." "Luis Gutierrez, I don't know if you..." "Are you going to sign or shoot yourself?" "I don't want Polanski here." "Shall I tell him?" "No." "Leave it to me." "It's a deal." "Your office." "Your desk." "My building." "It's simple, Eduardo." "Like running on and on." "We're being generous, Galvan." "The difference between you and the others is that you never... got up to date." "You can't even turn on a computer." "Say hello to Eduardo..." "That in itself is reason for dismissal without compensation." "We're offering you much more than that." "Don't ever mention Raimundo Conti again." "I don't know who he is." "I don't even know if we have ever met him." "Now we need to go back to our normal life... and, for that, I have to keep on getting better." "You'II see that this will not happen again." "He'II leave us alone."