"THE GREAT ELIAS" "I do not want" "I deny the thought that" "You are so blinded" "By another, that you see me not" "None other Waits for you as I do" "And I will not allow any other" "To want you more than I" "I do not want" "To lose you, Guard me from such anguish" "Seeing you" "With another, Would be death to me" "I can take" "All and every suffering" "But not your indifference" "Because I want you" "I do not want" "All I want" "Is that you be mine alone" "I believe" "There is only one heaven" "And I despair" "Held by deep fear" "My love for you is such" "I do not even know, my love, if I hate you." "Good evening, Miguel." "See?" "She wants and wants not." "Well?" "Come on, Miguel." "You're needed." "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen." "I have the honour of introducing you to my twin brother." " Say "good evening"." " Good evening." "Twin, that's to say, my better half." "That is... my sixth sense." "I can see, hear, smell, touch, enjoy..." "So can I." "Silence!" "Let's go over that again:" "Smell, touch and enjoy." "This is the skill we will reveal to you, ladies and gentlemen." "Go on, then!" "What time it is by that gentleman's watch?" "That one?" "The one with the toupee?" "I'm sorry, sir." "Won't you ever get some sense?" "Let's see..." "What time is it by that gentleman's watch?" "Well?" "Tell us." "You're embarrassing me." "Mind what you say." "What time is it?" " It isn't." " It isn't?" "Does the gentleman not have a watch?" " He does, but it's stopped." " Stopped!" "And you took so long to tell me that?" "Of course!" "I had to go to the Montepio." "Be quiet!" "Not another sound." "I'm sorry, sir." "You see, I was lost in time." "Yes!" "And so is the watch." "Go and fetch a cue." "Don't waste your time." "You know Ana Maria doesn't like that kind of stuff." "Why not?" "There's always a first time." "You?" "My girl, you should go to a convent." "It's true!" "I'd forgotten Ana Maria "wants and wants not"." "That's right!" "Look at her courting the ventriloquist." "What could be more platonic?" " You sound jealous." " What do you mean?" "Nothing." "Don't get excited, it's not worth it." "The show ends today and I won't be bothering you again." " You don't bother me at all." " Nor me." "Good." "Goodbye girls." "Good night and have fun." "Thanks, Miguel." "You're the only one who remembered my birthday." "Thank you so much." "You're welcome, Ana Maria." "All I ask is that you let me think of you always." "Why shouldn't I?" "Goodbye, Miguel." "Goodbye, Ana Maria." "Hello?" "Yes?" "Good evening, Mr. Alfredo." "Is there anything for me?" "Just a moment." " Good job you're here." " Me?" "Yes?" "Yes, it's me." "What happened today then, dad?" "What happened?" "What happened..." "Yes!" "I didn't pick you up because I'm here at a meeting with a banker." "No." "I swear I'm at a bank." "Yes, but they're working late today." "Mate?" "Late, dear." "Night shift." "That's right." "All right, dad." "I understand." "See you later." "Goodbye." "See you later, dear." "But listen here..." "Do you give me your word of honour that that plan is right?" "I'll give you "yours" and even mine, if you like." "Word of honour it's for sure." "Go on then." "It's very simple." "We'll do a kitty of a hundred escudos." " You give the hundred escudos." " And you?" "I'll bet it's worth three thousand five hundred escudos." "Think it's not enough?" " But I don't understand..." " There's nothing to understand." " You get that chip..." " No, drop it." "Or that." "Drop that hundred onto 17." "Why 17?" "Because, it couldn't be any other according to my calculations." "Pay attention." " How many months are there in a year?" " Twelve." " And what's the date today?" " The sixth." "Sorry, what was it yesterday?" "Fifth." "Twelve plus five, seventeen." "Plus seventeen." "17 plus 17 is 34, take away half, that's 17." "See?" "It's mathematical." "But hang on." " How old are you?" " Forty." "Forty?" "Say no more." "There are seven days this week." "Forty seven." "There are two minutes to go to 1:47." "There's no time to lose." "Give me the chip." "You have two minutes to win three thousand five hundred escudos." "All right." "But this is the last one, and I'm scared." "Scared?" "Don't be such a coward." "This never fails." "Let it be God's will." "I don't have a cent left." "That's true." "What about the train fare?" "Don't worry, old chap." "We'll go by car." "Didn't I tell you?" "You were certain it was seventeen, but after all it was thirty-two." " It was your fault." " Mine?" "You missed your chance." "My calculation was for 1:47." "You gambled at 1:49." "See." "Two minutes are very important in maths." "And now, I don't have a cent and I'll have to go on foot to Lisbon." "On foot?" "!" "We'll get a lift." "You'll see." "It's even harder than getting a seventeen." "Load of selfish slobs!" "Daddy, coffee's on the table." " Good morning, Anita." " Good morning, dad." " Has the postman been?" " Yes, but there's nothing." "Nothing?" "And it would certainly come in handy." "There's something fishy here." "Your aunt is never late." "That's true." "Especially now that we're really overdue." "At the grocer's, with the rent, at the baker's." "Speaking of baker's..." "Where were you last night?" "You came home so late." "Late?" "Get off!" "Even the porter said "Good morning, Mr. Carlos"." "Don't try to hide." "Tell me the truth." "What were you up to?" " I was working." " Working?" "Daddy, what are you on about?" "You must be feverish." "You'd better go to the doctor's." "Yes, and I really worked up a sweat." "My legs never stopped." "That's not possible." "We were trying to sort out this money problem." "'We'?" "I know, you were with that rogue, Elias." "Rogue?" "Don't say that." "Elias is a good pal, you know." "I can see." "Naturally, he must have found another way of throwing away the money that's supposed to be coming from Brazil." "I wish!" "That would mean the money had arrived." "Daddy, you never change." "I sometimes think mum had a lot of reasons to get away from you." "That spendthrift habit of yours, and doing nothing..." "Hang on!" "That wasn't the reason." "You know very well your mother abandoned us the day she saw the piano on the way to the pawnbroker's." " That's the truth." " And isn't that enough?" "What the heck!" "If none of us played it..." "At least, like that, we got a few notes in return." "Go and see!" "It must be your aunt's letter." "Where the devil are my glasses?" "How about that?" "!" "It's the warning letter to pay the Radio Licence." "Yes, sir." "What a programme." " Look, the wireless is for sale." " What?" "That too?" "Well!" "It's in the stars that there can be no music in this house." "On tick or not." " Would you like some?" " No, thanks." "Bon appetit!" "The more for us!" "At least he doesn't stand on ceremony." "Just a little." "Just a little not to get fat." "Well, Mr. Tito Schippa?" "Mind I want to hear Manon later." "Where are you?" "Come here." "Come on, Johnny." "Come on, Johnny!" "Well, Johnny?" "What a 'kidsitter'!" "Just as well you won't tell anyone." "Right!" "Now me." "4-7... 4-1-7." " Hello?" " Is that you, Miguel?" "Thank you very much." "You're always so kind." "Oh, damn." "What does that ventriloquist want?" "He probably smelt food." "Yes, I can hear very well, Miguel." "Well, you shouldn't be listening to him." "I don't understand what the hell you see in that bag of bones." "Yes, and as for money..." "He doesn't have much, I know, but he's an honest, respectable chap." "Yes, but he comes here by car." "What?" "Ah, you've bought a couple of ducks?" "Make sure he sends them roasted." "That's the cheque now." " Good morning." " Good morning." " Is this it?" " That's it." "You'd better check." "You must have a letter from Brazil." "There's nothing else." "Are you sure?" "Let's have a look." "Well, do you accept?" "I'm the happiest man in the world." "I'll just finish lunch." "Would you like some?" "No, Miguel." "I've already eaten." "See you later, Miguel." "The post..." "Dad..." "They can't even deliver a letter." "A simple letter." "But if the poor chap doesn't have it..." "He doesn't, but he should." "What is delivery for?" "Isn't it to deliver?" "Yes, but..." "And whose is that one from?" "I don't know." "Here." "You read it." ""Vacuum Cleaning"." "They must be joking." "They want to vacuum clean someone who is already "clean"." "It's not worth worrying about." "If it's not here today, it'll come tomorrow." "Calm down." "I don't need to calm down, it's the cheque I need." "Never mind." "It's my birthday today..." "Heck, I'd forgotten." "Give us a kiss." "...so I don't want any trouble." "I'm spending the afternoon in the country." " The country?" "And the money?" " I'm going with Miguel." "He's invited me to see the house he's rented in Porcalhota." "In Porcalhota?" "You're joking!" " Joking?" " Yes, he can't be serious." "A down-and-out like him with a house in Porcalhota..." "It's true!" "And we're even taking the ducks, the chickens, the lamb..." "What about here?" "Is there nothing coming here?" "Yes." "Miguel is coming." "I've invited him for dinner." "That's all I needed." "Don't get angry, daddy, I'm a birthday girl today." "We're having roast duck." " See you later." " See you later." "Miguel, careful, you'd better not cross over." "This can drive, fly, and even jump if necessary." "This is my castle." " It's so tiny." " But it'll grow." " Grow?" " I mean, I hope to add to it if one day..." " If one day..." "Shall we let the animals loose?" "Now we'll see if there are any missing." "Doesn't seem to be any missing." "A chicken, a duck, another duck, a turkey..." "You?" "Damn!" "Damn?" "!" "What a way to welcome a friend." "Take no notice." "I thought it was the post." "What?" "The old woman hasn't sent the dough, yet?" "She's sent nothing." "So, as for 'cruzeiros', nothing's been said." "Have you been to the bank?" " No, what for?" " The cheque might be there." "Don't you see, the Marshall Plan has stopped cheques being sent home." "Oh, yes?" "America owed them a lot of money, you see, so the banks are getting their money back." "And so, they're holding on to the money." "I didn't know." "You never know anything!" "If it weren't for me you'd be lost somewhere out there." "Yes, but yesterday, because of you," "I lost that dough that would so come in handy today." "What's gone is gone." "Let's think of what's coming." "I'll go to the bank if you like, I'm a friend of the manager's." "Are you?" "You'd never told me." "Yes." "Sometimes, when there's some funny business, they even send for me." "You?" "The other day, they needed to get some rice through customs." "The rights were about two hundred pounds and the depositor would only pay fifty and ten barrels of syrup." "So, I had an amazing idea:" "Add the rice to the syrup and it could get through as rice pudding, which is a cinch." " And did it get through?" " Of course it did." "And the cheque will also come through." "It's money in the coffer." "You're very canny." "By the way, have you got twenty escudos I could borrow?" "Me?" "No." "I'm completely broke." "Never mind." "You can lend me some when you get Aunt Adriana's cheque." " Of course." " I'll bring you some news later on." "Thanks, see you later." "We can relax now." "Noah's Ark's arrived and its passengers are at the hotel." " And what is Noah going to do?" " To take care of the New World." " Start a new life." " New life?" "Yes, Anita." "The theatre is on its last legs." "People aren't paying, and when they do it's always long overdue." "One day I'm going to leave it all, come here and become a farmer." "How will you make a living, Miguel?" "From the land, the rain, the poultry, the sun..." "I've worked it all out." "Do you want to see?" "Look, in 17 years' time, I'll have 635 sheep, 2.147 rabbits, 7.635 chickens." "The number of eggs alone wouldn't fit on paper." "Look..." "Just look at that!" "Let's not talk of serious matters." "What would you like to drink?" "Coffee, tea, liquor, whisky, vermouth..." " I'll have what you have." " Very well." "Two Cinzanos and a small dish of olives." "Do you want dry Cinzano or with fizzy water?" "It's up to you." "As you can see, there's nothing missing here." "Not even music for those moonlit nights." "For sunny days, like today." "Anita, why don't you sing, and make this lonely sparrow's nest even happier?" "Nightingales don't sing in sparrows' nests." "But I'll pretend to be a nightingale." "A great idea." "Let's see, Romeo." "What do you have to say to your Juliet?" "I can only tell you what I have to say with music." "I'm all ears." "The more I want to hide" "How deeply I love you" "The more my eyes show" "That I live because I love you" "You need not to say" "What I have long discovered" "Because I have eyes to see" "And read I already have" "So, have pity on me" "Being alone Is a heavy cross to bear" "You do not live, nor are you alone," "You have the ducks, the turkey and the dog" "Within the walls of my home" "But you're not there, my love" "Those walls are a prison" "And I like air and light" "No-one can live on air alone" "Nor on light, divine gift" "And though I do not want to boast" "Ugly I am not, but kind I am" "You are better than any other" "And handsome you may not be" "But I know very well" "What you can do" "If you know thus, have pity" "Being alone Is a heavy cross to bear" "Don't insist you're alone" "You have the ducks, the turkeys and the dog" "Alone is he who exchanges not" "A heart for a heart" "All he can do Is destroy Ioneliness" "And love someone" "Bravo, bravo." "Very good." "Did I sing well?" "Did you like it?" "Very much." "Even I didn't know you had so much to tell me." "And that's not all." "No?" "What else is there then?" "Sit down on the sofa." "Well, didn't you hear?" "Sit down on the sofa." "I'll sit between you both." "Should I obey him?" "I think so." "I'm curious to hear what he has to say." "Right!" "Is this all right?" "Yes, very well." "Anita, do you know what Miguel needs to make him happy?" "No!" "What is it?" "A bride." "Well?" "Don't you have anything to say to each other?" "What do you want us to talk about?" "You two?" "What else?" "Of love." "Miguel, for God's sake, scold him!" "Listen here, you fool, are you scared of courting her?" "Fool, me?" "I think you're going over the line." "Yes, a fool!" "Do you know what I'd do if I were on my own with such a beautiful girl?" "His ideas worry me." "He's very impertinent." "Go on you fool." "Take the chance." "Don't you know he's shy?" "What did you want him to do?" "To marry you." "Be quiet, you villain." "There!" "There's your punishment for being so impertinent." "Anita, don't turn around." "I didn't know how to tell you..." "I'm sure we'd be happy..." "Just one word." "Do you like me a little?" "Why do you ask?" "You know very well I like you." " Well?" " We must wait." " Very long?" " No." "All you need are 120 rabbit, 306 chickens and another car to hatch the eggs." "Congratulations, congratulations." "Very well, Mr. Miguel." "Do what is right, because this duck you brought is out of..." " This world?" "No, out of this dish." "I'm not surprised, he raised it..." " With the bottle?" " Almost!" "I'm not one for rudeness." "I'm eating it, too." "As politely as possible." "In the style of Louis XV." "And now..." "I raise my glass, to congratulate my "little girl", hoping that this day will be repeated for many more years." "And the duck, too..." "And also to Mr. Carlos," "I drink to your health and hope to God that the post brings news of aunt Adriana." " The post?" " Yes." "That the post brings news of aunt Laureana." "Aunt Adriana!" "That!" "It's her." "The aunt?" " Is Mr. Carlos Ferreira here?" " Yes." " A man's voice." " It's an uncle, then." " Please sign here." " A moment, please." "Daddy!" "At last!" "It's a telegram." " The banker's order." " Sign here." "Let me see." "A knife." "Slowly, daddy." "Maybe a feather." "Yes, even a duck's feather will do." "Let me see." "Here you are." " Thank you, miss." " Goodbye." " But it can't be!" " Bad news." "What's that, daddy?" "What's wrong?" "The telegram is from her." "From aunt Adriana." "Quickly, give me some water." "There!" "But this is wine, you idiot." "Wine?" "Yes, it was." " But what does the telegram say?" " Here, read it." "Excuse me, I'll read it." "Arriving Friday thirteenth." "Panair plane." "Looking forward to seeing family." "Love to children." "In great health." "Adriana." "Friday thirteenth." "How unlucky." "Unlucky?" "On the contrary." "Aunt Adriana is coming at the right time to take us out of this mess." "That's what you think." "We've had it." "How about that!" "I never thought an aunt could do so much damage." "Take no notice." "My father is exaggerating." "Exaggerating?" "!" "If only you knew..." "I can understand, having guests means extra expenses and you're worried about the money you're going to spend." "Don't be silly." "I'm not worried about the money I'm going to spend, but what I've spent." " A very good evening." " Good evening." "What a delicious smell." " Were you having dinner?" " Yes, we were." "First of all, Carlinhos, I've got good news." " It's turkey, isn't it?" " It's duck." "Duck?" "That's my specialty." "Yes, it's true." "I bring good news." "I've been to the bank." "But I'll tell you about it later." " With olives, isn't it?" " Would you like some?" "I didn't come to eat, but I might as well celebrate." "As I was saying..." "I've been to the bank and things are being sorted out." "The order has arrived, but as the papers are not in order, they won't give us the stuff." "The money, you mean." "No, the stuffing." "It's quite something." "They won't give the order to give the order, do you understand?" "But the money's here already." " I spoke to the director." " You did?" "It's a cheque." " And what's more..." " More?" "Yes, just a little." "It's delicious." "Who cooked this duck, worthy of Vatel?" " I did." " Did you?" "You've passed in duckology, then." "But there's more." "I've made my astrological calculus." "It's the eighth today, the cheque will be here tomorrow." "On the ninth." "I don't think it could get here any sooner." "And now let's celebrate its arrival." "Cheers..." "What's the matter?" "Why the long faces?" "The payment order has just arrived." "Read it." "I see, you're touched." "The children, Panair, Adriana..." "I wasn't expecting this." "Damned telegram." "But there's something here that I don't understand." "What does she mean with "love to the children"?" "The children?" "Could she be joking?" "I don't know!" "Maybe the telegrapher made a mistake." "But who sent for her?" "This will be the end of the world." " She's the atomic aunt." " For God's sake, daddy." "Explain yourself." "Yes, you're right." "I'd better explain, tell you everything." "Yes, you do that while I finish off the duck." "I'll leave if this is private." "For God's sake, Miguel, you can stay." "But what's happened, daddy?" "What's all this mystery?" "It's no mystery." "It's twenty years of lying, my child." "Aunt Adriana is not aware of the situation we have reached." "She thinks I'm swimming in money, that I have an ice factory, that I live in a palace." "In a palace?" "So?" "And because she so wanted a photo of our house, to make the lie more credible, I sent her one of the Palace of Queluz." "You did what, daddy?" "It's not possible." "It may not be possible, but it's true." "But it was Elias' fault." "Right!" "You wanted to pretend you're rich and send one of Necessidades?" "You don't understand a thing of psychology." "And did she believe you?" "So much so that she got him a credit of two hundred thousand escudos." " There you are." " 200000 escudos?" "200000 escudos?" "But what did you want so much money for?" "Another one of Elias' ideas." "He said it was for a button factory." "And what did you do to the money?" "Hell, they buttoned on to it!" "But that's not the worst part." "Worst?" "There can't be any worse." "Yes, there can." "She doesn't know your mother and I haven't lived together for 20 years." "And she doesn't know you're an only child, yet." "But I am, aren't I?" "No, you're not." "Be patient." "These things happen." "She isn't?" " She thinks you have more siblings." " More siblings?" "I'm going mad!" "Calm down!" "I'll explain." "A few years ago, Carlos, poor chap, went through quite a crisis." "And so I had this brilliant idea to increase his earnings." "You?" "I should have known." "Aunt Adriana used to send five thousand escudos on your birthday." "So, if he announced another child's birth, there'd be another five a year." "That's right, isn't it?" "Dad!" "And you did such a thing?" "What do you want?" "Elias convinced me." "He had this idea of opening up an artificial sugar business." "Artificial sugar?" "How's that done?" "I'll sell you the recipe this minute for a hundred escudos." "And you believed such trickery?" "It wasn't trickery." "The sugar was perfect, white and fine, just like the real thing." " And at two escudos a kilo." " Two escudos?" "It only had one problem, it didn't sweeten." "So, it was excellent for diabetics." "And it all went down the drain." "Excuse me, I made up for that loss with a new idea." "We sent aunt Adriana a telegram saying we had had twins." "You're not a man, you're a qualified midwife." "And that's how I got you a sister, Alice, and twins, Francisco and Ernesto." "And now, what are you thinking of doing?" "We'll say it was the telegrapher's mistake." "She might think it's funny." " A mistake that's lasted for..." " More than twenty years." "If you convert that to escudos, it was the Christmas lottery." "This is terrible." "I was weak, shy." "There's only one think I can do, shoot myself in the head." "Hang on - shooting's with me." "I'll take on the responsibility of deceiving the old woman." " I'll tell her..." " Shut up!" "Not another word." "I'm the one who's speaking now." "You don't realize how serious this is." "I love aunt Adriana." "She paid the college where I was educated." "She's been so devoted to the family that's she's been sending money for more than twenty years, to me, and to those brothers and sister you made up." "If she knew that, despite such generosity," "I had to go into show business so we wouldn't die of hunger, because all the money she sent was spent gambling, she'd die of shock." "That telegram shows her kindness, the love she has for us." "What are you going to tell her now?" "That there is no family and that you've used her shamelessly?" "No!" "I'm completely against it." "But, if there is no palace to welcome her..." "We'll make one up!" " And your siblings?" " We'll find some!" "Bravo, bravo." "That's the way to go." "You be quiet!" " And your mother?" " She has to come back home." " But that's crazy, Anita." " There's nothing else we can do." "We'll all be lying, but now it'll be for her love." "We'll pretend to be what we're not, we'll live in a palace, we'll introduce her to children that don't exist, just so that we won't hurt her with what matters most to her," "the love of the family." "And we won't ever tell her the truth?" "No way!" "You're mad." "But I will!" "When she's gone," "I'll write her a letter with every detail." " What if she spends longer in Lisbon?" " I shouldn't think so." "But if she does, we'll just have to be patient." "While she's here, we'll lie through our teeth to avoid disappointing her." "In that case, could I possibly offer my assistance?" "No, not you." "And who'll make up the lies?" "And they will be quite a few." "It'll have to be a specialist." "Let's go slowly." "What shall we do about Alice?" "Your "sister"?" "I don't know!" "I know!" "Alice died last year with an atack of crazy chickenpox." "And we didn't tell her so as not to worry her." "Not bad, that's one less." "What about the twins?" "Francisco and Ernesto." "I have one already." "Miguel." "What do you think?" "Anita, if you think..." " I'll do anything for her." " Thank you, Miguel." " And the other one?" " The other one?" "Don't worry about the other one." "We'll find a way of getting rid of him." "Oh!" "And what about your mother?" "That's something you'll have to sort out." " Shall we kill her, or what?" " I think she'll do anything for me." "Right!" "It's all sorted out." "And now let's get back to the duck before it's cold." "But wait a minute." "What about the most important part?" " What's that?" " The house." "Oh, yes!" "The house!" "The thing is, we can't welcome aunt Adriana in this decaying house." "Well, son, they won't lend us the Palace of Queluz, that's for sure." "Well, that's your problem then." "You deal with the house." " Me?" " That's what I'm saying." "Didn't you get my father into this mess?" "Now, sort yourself out." "Mr. Elias, could even get the 'Casa dos Bicos'." "You couldn't get me any worse, I tell you." "Your inventive skill is being put to the test." "You have twenty-four hours to get us a house." "Well!" "Let it be God's will." "I don't know how yet, but I can guarantee you'll have a palace by tomorrow." "A palace?" "My dear Elias, mind what you're getting yourself into." "My hat." "This time, I'll be the one to win the Nobel Prize." "Don't go and say you were cheated, this is an honest house, you hear?" "It is honest, but my wife's taken to bed." "The lobster was off." "Maybe it was your wife who was off." "Mind your mouth, don't be rude." " Do you need any help, Francisca?" " No, no problem." "It's this gentleman's wife who fell ill because of the lobster." "She probably ate it with its shell and all." "I'm going to complain to the Management." " What's he saying?" " Let him get it off his chest." "Some say worse things." "See how I could be useful at your side?" "You?" "You were never useful, and now you're too old to change." "You're wrong, Francisca, I've changed." "We could still be very happy." "I don't think so." "You know I would only go back home if you changed your lifestyle." "But that won't happen, not even with penicillin." "Well, Francisca," "I've come here precisely to ask you to come and be with us." "How about that?" "!" "It's a kind of marriage proposal." "No, it's Anita, our daughter, who told me to ask you." "Anita?" "And why didn't she come herself?" "Because she wanted to punish me." "Well, stop all this mystery and spit it all out." "What do you want from me after all?" "Listen, Francisca, I'll explain everything." "Settle down, because there's a lot to hear." "Could you please tell me if the Panair plane from Brazil is on time?" "The Panair planes from Brazil are always on time." " It's in the air." " And shouldn't it be?" " I mean, it's landing now." " Now?" "Petrified - that's how I've been for more than a week." "Attention, p/ease!" "The Panair flight from Rio, Brazi/, has just /anded." " Adriana!" " Carlos!" "No doubt about it." "You haven't changed." "And you are twenty years younger." "I almost didn't recognize you." "Looks can be deceiving." "My liver has been causing me trouble." "Oh?" "And weren't you scared of flying from so far?" "No-one is scared of the Panair flights from Brasil." "The Brazilians are so friendly that travelling becomes a pleasure." "And when are you going back to Brazil?" "You know it's very hot here too." "Everything's changed." "But all I need is this sun, this blue sky, to feel brand new again." "It's just a pity it's for such a short while." " Oh, yes?" " Yes." "I'm not staying long." "I can't leave my business matters." " When the cat's away..." " Of course." " Go and get a taxi." " A taxi?" "Where's your car then?" "My car..." "It couldn't make it." "It's in bed, with a temperature." " In bed?" " The car, I mean, the "chauffeur"." "Every once in a while one of them breaks down." " We always walk." " Walk?" "How terrible!" "Good job our tyres are good." "Adriana, this is our butler, Elias." "Elias da Silveira e Paiva Serôdio Linhares de Runa e Barbante." "What a name!" "It sounds like a monarch's name." "Almost..." "Elias is more than a butler, he's practically a friend." "My pleasure." "Dear aunt!" " Welcome!" " Which one's this?" "Anita." "How pretty you are." "She's your best work of art, Carlos." "You'll never make more like her." "I shouldn't think so either." "Especially now that I'm getting old." "Hello there!" "Hello my dear sister-in-law." "My wife, Francisca." "She looks just as she did in the last photograph." "And it's five years since." "You're looking good, too." "You don't even look as if you've come from so far." "But come in, come in." "This way, ma'am." "If you please." "This is wonderful." "Come on, sister, don't make fun of the poor." "Carlos!" "Always putting on airs." "Please sit down, you must be exhausted." "If you say so!" "All the way from Brazil." "Ma'am." "Know that I don't want special treatment." "I wanted to be treated the American way." "Ok." "Excuse the reception, but your telegram arrived so late..." " It did?" " Very late." "We almost didn't have time for anything." " Did you arrive all right, aunt?" " Very well, thank you." " This is..." " One of the twins, Mi, Mi..." "Francisco." "You said Mimi..." "We used to call him Mimi when he was little." "But it doesn't seem right now he's a man." "It's silly, isn't it?" "Strange." "He looks nothing like you or his mother." "On the other hand, the other twin looks like us both." "From here up he's his mother." "From here down he's his father." "God!" "What's wrong?" "I heard an echo inside." "Ouch, Dad." "I sometimes get this." "Yes, it's because of when he had the measles." "You never change." "You almost broke the vase." "And what a shame." "It's from your factory, I suppose?" "My factory?" "What factory?" "Didn't you tell me you'd got a glass factory?" "Glass?" "Yes, I was "glassed"," "I mean, asked, but I didn't accept." "No." "Well, I thought he'd gone to Marinha (the Navy)." "At my age?" "And I even get seasick." " To Marinha Grande." " The factory, daddy." "How silly!" "Marinha on land!" "No, no." "I've been sailing through other industries." " I've been into ceramics." " A lot of ceramics." "That's true." "He's done nothing else." "Good afternoon, ma'am." "Shall I serve tea, miss?" "Leave it, Leonilde, I'll pour." "Look, we made this tea set." "Oh, yes?" "Very nice." "What are you drinking?" "Tea with or without milk?" "I'll cheat my diet today." "No milk and very strong, please." "Drink as much as you like." "It's Olong-Uxing-Ponchong." "It won't harm you." "It came to Europe on the English caravels in the 15th century." "Is it better than Ceylon?" "Better than Ceylon?" "I don't know!" "Maybe." "It's a question of having a more or less 'refined' taste." "I can see you're knowledgeable." "Elias knows it all." "Tea, glass, ceramics, he's into everything." "He's been our best collaborator." "I do what I can." "Well, I'd like to see a piece like this being made." " It's with fire, isn't it?" " Yes, with fire." "And then, of course, it's cooled down." "But it's Elias who's been at our factory, who knows all about that." "Aunty, wouldn't you like a cookie?" "Just a moment, darling, let me hear the commentary." "Go on then." "Forgive me, but it's Mr. Carlos who should explain." "He's the manufacturer." "No, no!" "You're very skilled at making sentences more colourful." "And in this ceramics business, colour is everything." "It's quite simple, really." "The porcelain is kneaded, put into previously greased trays, and put in the oven..." " Like sponge cake." " Then it's broken into slices..." " Slices?" "Did I say slices?" "Into slices, yes." "It's a technical term." "The cups are separated from the saucers, and then the handles are glued on." "An off they go into the world, to serve "five-o-clock-tea", which, in this case is "five-o-clock-aunty"." " Elias is a poet." " Yes." "A fine ceramic poet." "Well, I can see that this is a business secret you don't want to reveal." "I'll be happy in just tasting this delicious tea in a cup that's the 'family's work of art'." "And quite some art!" "The finest national industry." "All you can find of the finest and most national quality." " A sandwich, aunt Adriana?" " No, thank you." "Here, Elias, careful you don't break such treasure of national industry." "God forbid!" "That would be a shame." "But not everyone's here, yet." "Where's Alice?" "Alice?" "She's probably not come back from school." "Why have you all gone quiet?" "What has happened to Alice?" "Yes, Alice." "Forgive us for not telling you, but Alice, may God keep..." "May God keep?" " What?" "She's dead?" " Completely." "Dear sister!" "Francisco, you know mother can't take these things." "Poor child." "Well?" "You have to be strong to bear these tricks played by fate." "We were worried about telling you." "But you're brave." "We'd better tell you everything, don't you think?" "No!" "Say no more!" "For God's sake!" " But is there anything else?" " Yes, aunt." "Ernesto passed away." "Ernesto!" "Impossible!" "I mean, he didn't exactly die." "It would have been better if he had." "This was worse." "A lot worse." "A year's already gone by and it seems like yesterday." "A year?" "Just a minute!" "But you asked me for money a few months ago to finish the course." " I did?" " Yes, and I sent it." "Ten thousand 'cruzeiros'." "You did that, daddy?" "Look, I honestly didn't remember." "Carlos has always been very forgetful." "But he's got worse these last few years." "May I give my modest opinion?" "Go on, Elias." "He's like one of the family." "As you know, there are two kinds of death, physical death and moral death." "But did he or didn't he die?" "To us, he did." "He doesn't belong to the family anymore." "Will you explain yourselves once and for all?" "If you'll allow me..." "As I'm not part of the family, it might be better for me to explain." "Let it out then, I'm anxious to find out." " Mr. Silvestre, my master..." " Ernesto, Elias." "Ernesto Elias." "Pardon me." "This commotion takes my voice." "Mr. Ernesto fell into absolute disgrace, dishonouring the family's name in an infamous manner." "Tell me, tell me." "What happened?" "What happened?" "He killed an old..." " How terrible!" " Elias, no!" "Enough, Elias!" "That's not something to say just like that." "But excuse me..." "All I wanted to say was that Mr. Ernesto killed an old tradition," ""honour above all"." "He was what is called the 'black sheep' of this flock." "One day, high on his horse..." "I'll tell the rest now." "You can go Elias." "There are things that should only be dealt with by the family." "Very well." "Now, mind how you explain yourself." "Go on, let it out man." "Ever since he was a child, Ernesto was always in trouble." "When he was nine, he sold daddy's false teeth." "I had to eat 'Nestles' porridge for three days." "At fourteen, with others the same age, he stole a tin from the grocer's." " With a lot of money?" " No." "It was a tin of biscuits." "But he ate them all." "And now listen to this." "Daddy got him work in a garage, but he didn't want to work because he's so lazy." "I wonder who he takes after?" "Being lazy?" "I don't know!" "Now, where was I?" "At the garage." "One day, he pawned every tool, and naturally, he ended up in jail." " How terrible!" " Enough!" "Stop mortifying aunt Adriana with such a list of shameful actions." "No!" "I want to know everything." "Above all, the truth." "The whole truth." "Tell her then how much I spent in a year when he was in prison." "Daddy sold the factory and mummy pawned her jewels to pay his boss back." "More than two hundred thousand escudos." "A lot more!" "The tools he stole were worth so much then?" "No, he stole the tools to break into the garage safe, you see." "My nephew, breaking into safes." "If only you knew!" "He is so strong he can pull a house down." "And he did!" "A house." "A factory with chimney and all." "So much so that he became a professional fighter." "A fighter?" "At least that's not so bad." "But he's one of those worthless fighters who only fight for money." "Imagine the shame!" "For money!" "That I won't forgive him." "But how does he spend that money?" "He only drinks brandy." "He's always drunk." "His last feat a few days ago..." "He got so drunk that he broke another fighter's neck." "The poor fellow left three children and two women." "Two women?" "His wife and his sister." "Yes, of course." "Little did I know the family's name was written on circus posters." "No!" "He had the good sense to use another name." "In those surroundings he's known as the 'Black Panther'." "He's an animal." "Poor Carlos!" "Poor Francisca!" "What you must have suffered." "Well, now you know everything let's not talk about it again." "Let's get some air." "Yes, yes!" "Let's get some air." "Mrs. Adriana." "Your luggage has arrived and it's in your room." "All right, Elias." "I'm coming." "Why did you number everything in the house?" "Us?" "We numbered what?" "Look, this armchair is number 47." "And this box is 152." "How about that!" "This table is 134." "That's funny!" "This chair is 22." "And the piano is 28." "I'd never noticed that." "Nor me!" "What?" "Forgive me, it was I. I decided to make an inventory of the furniture." "You understand, since we admitted new staff, and there's much thieving going on, so much dishonesty." "Were you worried the maids would steal the piano or the 'Frigidaire'?" "Who knows!" "Some people are capable of anything." "This you see here can disappear from one moment to the next." "Good God!" "The devil be deaf and dumb!" "Come on, aunt!" "You must want to rest a little before dinner." "Come on, come on." " See you later." " Goodbye, auntie." "At your service." "Heck!" "I couldn't take anymore." "What do you mean?" "Explain or I'll go crazy." "Calm down, calm down, or there'll be trouble." "Let's go over there." "Go on, tell me quickly." "What is this house?" "And how did you manage to get it?" "Calm down, calm down." "Don't get all worked up." "Is there no danger of the police intervening?" "Relax!" "It's obvious that a furnished house for free is not something you can get by snapping your fingers, through strictly legal means." "I should have known." "It must be Limoeiro." "What was it like then?" "I'll tell you the truth." "You know Leitão, that friend of mine who buys and sells real estate and has an antique shop?" "Who doesn't?" "!" "Of course I know him." "He has an eagle eye for his trade and is full of "it"." "Right, that's the one." "Luckily this house was for sale and the goods up for auction." "I told him about aunt Adriana, about who she is, a very rich widow, who might like the house and keep all this." "But he'd have to let me have it for a week." " And he did." " As you can see, you're the owner of this palace for a week." "Really?" "Really!" "There's no danger of us ending up at Torel, then?" "We can relax for eight days." " And then?" " And then it'll be hell!" "On the ninth day he'll start auctioning the goods." "That's why everything's numbered." "Yes, they're only tags for now, but if the old woman decides to stay another eight days, the tags are off and we are out." "Anyway, we've a week to breath, which isn't so bad." "Daddy!" "Look how pretty." "Aunt Adriana gave it to me." "Pretty and valuable!" "What a beautiful present." "A widow's necklaces." "Even in a bottle, they're a beautiful present." "Dear aunt!" "She's adorable." "I'm glad she came." "Yes, but now we need her to go as soon as possible." "She's not going!" "She's delighted with the family." "She says she's not going to Vichy and she's staying 2 or 3 months more." "What?" " Three months?" " Ninety days!" "Worse than a promissory note." "And the auction takes place in eight days' time." " Eight days!" " Three months!" " Eight days!" " Three months!" "What's up?" "What are they going on about?" "I don't know." "I'm not saying a word, I'm dumb struck." "There's nothing at all" "That can comfort more" "Than to cycle along the road" "Under the sunlight" "It's comforting to hear" ""God bless you"" "And happily reply" "Goodbye!" "Goodbye!" "Water running" "From river to sea" "Bells ringing" "Laundry whitening" "And the flowery fields" "Scenting" "Colouring themselves" "The light and the air" "Anita, are you completely happy?" "Completely happy, Miguel!" "And you?" "I don't know." "Pinch me hard." "Pinch you?" "What for?" "To be sure that I'm wide awake." "Miguel, can't you hear me, see me here, next to you?" "That was always my dream." "But whenever I woke up," "I'd see you disappear like a princess in a fairy tale." "But now you'll see that I'll never disappear." "The spell has been broken and I'll belong to my prince forever." "Forever." "It's such a pity that I only have this life because it won't be enough for what I have programmed." "You have a programme, then?" "One that can't be altered, not even for unforeseen reasons." "And what is the first occasion on such programme?" "The usual, the symphony." "Celestial music, Adaggio," "Moderato, Allegro." " "Ma non troppo" - "Alegro Vivace!"" " Good morning." " Good morning, ma'am." " Hello, Adriana." " Good morning." " Good morning, ma'am." " Good morning, Elias." "Did you sleep well?" "Very well." "Like a log." "You can't imagine my happiness when I opened my eyes and saw I was in Portugal." "In Portugal with your family." "Especially when the family is as close as ours." "That's true." "Close husband and wife, parents and children..." "The like I've not often seen before." "Just now, when I opened my bedroom window," "I saw Francisco and Anita kissing with such love, it was endearing." "Mi?" "Francisco and Anita kissing?" "Oh, that so-and-so..." "What do you have to say about this?" "Well, Mr. Carlos, they are brother and sister." "If they are brother and sister, it's only natural..." "It's shameless." "Don't you worry, I'll deal with them." " Good morning." " Good morning." "Good morning." " Good morning, aunty." " Good morning, dad." "Dad?" "So, you scoundrel..." "You went cycling and didn't invite me." "What?" "You cycle too, daddy?" "Yes, yes, I do." "One day I might even ride with you." "You know, I've been thinking about poor Ernesto." "What Ernesto?" "Your deceased husband?" " No." "Your son." " My son?" "The twin." " The twin?" " Yes." "I can't get him out of my mind." "I was so moved by what you told me, I've decided to speak to him." "You?" "Speak to him?" "Have you gone mad?" "That's it." "I want to see him." "See him?" "Only if it's a photograph." "What idea is this now, sister?" "I think Ernesto should come back to his parents' house." "Back here?" "Don't even think about it, Adriana." "We don't even know where he lives." "It doesn't matter." "We'll get a private detective to find him in an instant." "That may be in Brazil." "Here detectives don't find a thing." "Excuse me, ma'am, but involving the police now would be a massacre." "I don't see why." " Ernesto could kill you." " Me?" "I'm not scared." "But we are, aunt." "I beg you to forget it." "No, Francisca." "I'll see him and speak to him." "After all, he's your son and my nephew." "I cannot let a man who uses our name to be dragged through the mud." "But he doesn't use it." "He's "Black Panther"." "And anyway, no-one knows where he is." "If you'll allow me..." "I know where Mr. Ernesto is." "And if you'll allow me, tomorrow night I'll take you to the den where he lives a life of poverty and debauchery." "Well?" "It's time." "They should be arriving." "Wait, a taxi has stopped." "It's them!" "Take your place." "Boys, they're coming." "This has to be for real now." "You mind you're careful, don't go and kill the lad." " Don't worry." " Attention!" "Tune that throat of yours." "Ready." " Is this it?" " Yes, it is ma'am." "My God!" "Well, come on!" "There he is!" "It's that one!" "Eh, we've got visitors." "Shh, listen to the siren." "Mr. Ernesto!" "Mr. Ernesto!" "What's up?" "What do you want?" "Galego!" "Bring us some brandy!" " Mr. Ernesto, don't you recognize me?" " No." "And you?" "Elias." "Don't you remember me?" "Your old butler." "Yes, now..." " Well, are you paying or drinking?" " Later." "Aunt Adriana is here and she wants to see you." "Aunt?" "Are you drunk?" "Aunts, me?" "Elias, I've never had them or wanted any." "But you're wrong." "Don't you remember aunt Adriana from Brazil?" "Eh, he has an aunt in Brazil." "You're drunk, man!" "All I know from Brazil is their rum." "Want a sip?" "Come on, Mr. Ernesto?" "You don't say that to Elias." "Remember I'm practically part of the family." "I have no family." "They're all dead." "Everyone..." "I'm "orphin", you hear Mr. Elias?" "A true "Orphin"." "As you can see, he's completely soaked." "I agree." "Look at that wretch." "Is he going to drink all that?" "That's nothing." "He has three bottles just to kill the devil in him." "Three bottles?" "And then what?" "After killing the devil, he'll kill a man just as easily." "How dreadful!" "Let's go." "I'm short of breath." "You'd better check you're not short of anything else." "You never know." "Come on, come on Mr. Elias." "Stop!" "Tattooed!" "We've got visitors then." "Just as well because we're having a party today." "Really?" "Excuse us then, we haven't been invited." "No-one's leaving." " Who says?" " I do." "You!" "Let's have a little chat." " No, not with you." " Tut, tut." "You'd better come or I'll go and fetch you." "Just you dare." "Let's see." "The police!" "The police!" "The police!" "The police!" "The police!" "Perfect!" "Congratulations, Miguel." "It really looked real." "Yes, you'll only find more real than this at the morgue." "Come in!" "May I?" "Come in and close the door." "At your service." "I sent for you so you can clarify something." "I can clarify whatever you request." "But before that, I'd like your opinion about what measures to take regarding my nephew." "That opinion, only given now because you request it, is that nothing can be done." "Mr. Ernesto is completely and utterly lost." "Lost?" "You think so?" "He has the kind of weak spirit, impotent to react to the impulses of an adverse fate." "Unlike my case, for example, I who despite all ups and downs, have known how to keep my line of ancestral nobility, even hidden under the clothes of a simple butler." "Forgive me!" "You said hidden, but not so much that I should not have noticed." "Your poise, your manners, your language." "Yes, ma'am, I confess..." "It was necessity that made me take on this difficult disguise." "And I say "difficult" because you must imagine how difficult it is to serve people on a another level, other procedures, another mentality." "I understand very well." "I was brought up under the strict principles of noble lineage." "Truth above all, loyalty before all, dignity, well... over all." "Please take a seat, Mr. Elias de Barbante." "But what was the reason for such change?" "It's a simple story." "My paternal ancestors go back to the Visigoth kings." "My father's great-great-grandfather had a tent..." "He was a salesman?" "No, a campaign tent in Alcazer Quibir." "My mother, of Italian origin, had popes in the family." "What nobility!" "Our escutcheon carried the Cross of Malta, the Cross of Carlos Magno and the Cross of the Crusades." "Three crosses!" "Real blue blood." "Genuine!" "Then came the wars and looting and we were robbed of everything." "One day, I woke up an orphan and poor." "I tried every trade and felt men's ungratefulness." "But not that of women." " Are you single, Mr. Elias?" " Absolutely." "So was my father." " Your father was single?" " Forgive me." "My father was of the opinion that only rich men should get married." "And so he always lived alone." "He was even known as Don Solitude among nobility." "A question." " Wouldn't you be interested in..." " Interested?" "I have never lost interest." "How can I put it, a job in management, managing a large agricultural property?" "Agriculture has always been my golden dream." "If I had the capital, I'd put my invention into practice." "Synthetic wheat." "It's the combination of azote and phosphorus extract that produces the "ersatz" grain." "It would be the same as sowing pounds in gold." "No!" "Synthetic wheat doesn't mean anything to me." "So, there's no chance of making flour." "If it were sugar I might be interested." "Sugar?" "But that's even easier." "By transforming the starch into sucrose and the division of alkaline potassium into sacarine starch." "With about three hundred thousand and so escudos..." "Well, we'll talk about that later." "Now we have to solve this problem of the family." "That can't even be solved chemically." "Three rings." "It's for me." "Time to serve coffee." "Back to my state as a butler." "I'm going down, too." "We'll both go down." "Excuse me, ma'am." "Go on, Mr. Elias, go on, and remember there's no wrong that can last forever..." "Nor good that will last." "All I want" "Is that you be mine alone" "I believe" "There is only one heaven" "And I despair" "Held by deep fear" "My love for you is such" "I do not even know, my love, if I hate you" "Bravo!" "Lovely song." " Where did you learn it?" " I used to sing it at the theatre." "It was a success every night." "At the theatre?" "Yes, at college." " College?" " Yes." "We'd have recitals once in a while." "For Christmas, for Easter, for Carnival." "Yes, I understand now." " What did you think it was?" " I don't know!" "I've had so many surprises." "And after what happened last night, with Ernesto, nothing else can surprise me." "Stop thinking about that wretch." "Just pretend he doesn't exist, auntie." "That's easy to say, but for someone who saw your brother and my nephew as we did, in that villains' den, completely drunk, a true human waste." "I can't forget it." "Awful, awful." "But..." "There's still something I don't understand." "How can a chap with that build be a fighter?" "He can because he's a lightweight." "Called the "fly weight"." "There are three categories in fighting, you see?" "Heavy, medium and fly-weight." "It's not possible." "He must get beaten by everyone." "You're wrong." "He's like a snake." "No-one can grab him." "He never gets beaten either because he doesn't' have enough vital area to take a punch." "Why don't we talk about something else, aunt?" "No, this is of great interest." "Because, above all," "I actually thought there was some kind of hoax going on." "Hoax?" "Adriana..." "I don't know, Ernesto can be anything." "A musician, an artist..." "But a fighter, no!" "I don't believe so." " It's..." " Yes, he is, aunt." " I don't believe it." " He is, sister!" "Can I?" "Go on, Elias, go on." "I'm an old fighting amateur and personal friend of a few champions." "I've seen Mr. Ernesto fight many times and can confirm, without denying the paternity, that he's a real bull in the ring." "A bull!" "I could 'throw' you..." "Sorry, I could tell you, some of the noteworthy episodes I've seen." "Go on then and see if you can convince her." "It's useless." "I'll only be convinced when I've seen Ernesto fight." "Fight?" "No!" "That's impossible!" "It's not impossible!" "I actually think it's quite easy." "And if you wish to see your nephew fight, he's fighting the day after tomorrow at the Parque Mayer Stadium." "You're lying." "He's not fighting at all." "This man's mad." " Forgive me, I saw it in the paper." " It's true then." "It's a lie." "I'm telling you." "Ernesto doesn't fight." "How is he?" " Don't insist." "He might fight." " You think so, too?" "If you'd like to watch, I can buy the tickets." "There are no tickets!" "It's in the paper, too!" "Sold out!" "There are some men outside with some musical instruments." "Instruments?" "It's a mistake." "They're not for us." "Yes, they are!" "Wait!" " They're for the auction." " Auction?" "Did I say auction?" "I meant Olsen." "It was a mix up." "Olsen, auction." "Send them in!" "Send them in!" "I forgot to say that Mr. Saramago, Mr. Olsen's friend..." "All right, Elias, say no more." "You know, Adriana," "I wanted to surprise you, but they've spoilt it all." "I bought these instruments at an auction." "So we could listen to some concerts in the evening." " As I know you like music..." " Thanks for the good intention." "Please come in." "Put it there, carefully." " Let me see." " What a beautiful saxophone." "Just look at all that." "You spent a fortune." "It was in a sale." "They belonged to the "Peace and Harmony Orchestra"." "But they had to sell it all." "You used to be a good musician." "Do you still remember?" "You never forget those things." "Notes are with him." "All he needs is someone to extract them from." "Do you need anything else?" "No, everything's all right." "Good afternoon." "Good afternoon." "Thank you." "Francisco plays the saxophone?" "And Elias, too?" "Everyone does." "Why else would I want the instruments?" "But does everyone 'royally' play?" "As for myself," "I should tell you that I was a member of the 'Royal Charanga' and contrabass at the 'Royal Theatre of São Carlos'." "More "royally" than that, is not possible." "But we'd better play something otherwise aunt won't believe us." "Nothing simpler." "Remember "Nocturnal" by Chopin?" "Is this it?" "Come on, come on." "That's "du pain"." "Chopin." "I know, but to me, Chopin is "du pain"." "Something like: "it's peasy"." "One, two, three." "Nice, isn't it?" "Very nice!" "But seeing you in such harmony, makes me think how good it would be to have 'our poor Ernesto' playing the violin with you." "No, no and double no!" "I've said I'm not fighting and that's it." "Whatever, Miguel, but you have to fight." "There's no other way out." "The old woman is already suspicious and if she catches us out, it will all go down the drain." "Well?" "Wasn't it him who came up with Ernesto?" "Now let him carry the load." "I get it, 'til they finish me off." "In that case, I'd rather tell aunt Adriana that Ernesto died the other day at 'K. O. Bar' and that's it." "Oh, yes?" "What if she wants to see the body?" "She's capable of that." "What do I care?" "I'll tell her the whole truth and that's that." "In that case, I'll be the one who'll kill you." "Once upon a time there was a ventriloquist." "Now you choose!" "Calm down, calm down." "We won't get anywhere like this." "Miguel will fight and that's it." "Right, that's it." "You must really see me finished for ever." "There won't be a bone in one piece." "Bones can be fixed easily nowadays." "Put in some catgut, make a graft." "After the graft I'm going to have, only if it's a pall-bearer." "Tell us then, are you or aren't you a man?" "I'm a man, but I don't want to be a dead one." "I still want to live a few more years." "But I can guarantee you'll come to no harm." " I've had an idea." " I know." "A blood transfusion or a wheelchair." "No, I won't fight!" "And that's that!" "Coward!" "Chicken!" "It's as if you're already knocked out." "There really is a knock." "Come in!" "Well?" "Is he convinced?" "He's been beaten even before fighting." "And this is a man who wants to get married." "Yes, I want to get married in one piece." "There's not much flesh, if my bones are taken there'll only be hair left." "No, and double no!" "What now?" "What shall we tell aunt Adriana?" "I don't know!" "It will be a catastrophe." "She'll disinherit us, call us doublecrossers." "Which is quite a slander." "Miguel..." "Miguel, I know it's a great sacrifice, but for our love, I beg you not to refuse to help us." "Our future, our happiness, depend on that." "I have faith in you, that everything will go smoothly." " You think so?" " Absolutely!" " I trust you." " You do?" "What optimism!" "So be it!" "I'll do anything for you, Anita." "I'll fight, even knowing I'm going to die." "Good." "Very well." "Very well." "You'd only need to be black to be Louis." "You're yellow already." "I always said he was a man." "Not a man." "A panther." "A black panther." "Don't go and hurt the lad." "During the first minutes avoid each other as much as possible." "Won't he attack me?" "No!" "Don't worry." "And if he does, it'll be like attacking a shoe." "There's no danger." "In the last five minutes, you let yourself go down and he'll hold your shoulders to the floor." " Agreed?" " Agreed." "But he mustn't forget to twist my fingers in the 2nd round." "Don't worry." "And the dough?" "It's here, man." "We're honest people." "Yes, yes, but never to trust." " Is this the fight already?" " No, this is the massage." "Go gently then so I'm still alive when I get to the ring." "This is nothing." "Careful!" "I'm a volunteer, I'm doing this for love." "Really?" "Are you ready?" "Yes!" "I'm almost ready!" "Everything's been arranged with Rodrigues." "You'll be sidestepping the first few minutes." "In the second round, when his back's to you, you twist his little finger." "He falls, and you bring his shoulders down onto the floor." "What is it?" "Nothing." "This gentleman put his hands on my shoulders." "Rodrigues!" "You're wanted on the phone." "Coming." "Hello?" "Yes, yes." "It's me." "Is that you, Miro?" "How's your sister?" "What?" "She had a boy?" "Yes, yes." "I'm coming." "João, my wife's had a boy." "A boy, a boy." " Congratulations." " Thank you." "But, Rodrigues!" "What about the fight?" "Well, now..." "It's time!" "Now and forever... amen." "Let's go!" "This floor doesn't seem very safe." "Courage!" "Glory awaits you!" "Jesus, don't say that." "That's the name of a nurse at the Montepio." "God forbid!" "You go on ahead!" "Come on, courage!" "We've got spare rib today!" "But that's not Rodrigues." "No, it isn't." "This one's stronger and more brutal than the other one." "But this is a rip off." "What about my dear cash?" "You put your bet on Rodrigues?" "You'll make a win then with the swap." "The mulato will knock him over in a flash." "You'll see." "Oh, dear." "This is going to be quite a sight." "I'd rather not watch." "Attention!" "Ladies and gentlemen!" "We have the honour of presenting the second fight this evening, where two famous fighters meet for the first time:" "Ernesto, the 'Black Panther'!" "Forty-nine kilos, two hundred and fifty." "And Pepe Rodrigues, better known as 'Back-Breaker'!" "A hundred and thirteen kilos and fifty grams." "Attention!" "Four five-minute rounds, with two-minute intervals, and referee Mr. Narciso Linguiça!" "Thirty nine kilos twenty five grams." "I'm so nervous, Aunt Adriana." "I'm not surprised, he is your brother after all." "One, two, three, four..." "But this is a miracle." "No, no!" "You can't twist fingers." " It's not part of the agreement." " What?" "Down!" "Get down!" "Don't move!" "Stay there!" "What?" "!" "Get down here!" "Coward!" "All right!" "This isn't right." "Courage, Miguel!" "Hang on, it's almost finished!" "So am I, so am I." "Don't tighten so much." "I've told you that's not allowed." "This chap isn't keeping to the agreement." "Let go of my foot!" "Let go of my foot!" "Attention!" "Ladies and gentlemen!" "The jury has decided to suspend the fight, disqualifying Rodrigues for attacking the referee three times and announce Ernesto, the 'Black Panther', the winner." "ANTIQUITIES AUCTION" "Come in!" " Did you call?" " Yes, you can take this." "Well, how's my nephew Francisco?" "A little better." "What happened to him after all?" "I don't know, ma'am." "It seems he was run over." "His face is bruised and his arm is broken." "It's just as I thought." "Would you like anything else?" "Yes." "A taxi at the door in an hour." "Yes, ma'am." "Good morning." " Well?" "What did the man say?" " Did he agree?" "Nothing can be done." "The auction starts, without delay, at three today." "Yes, sir!" "My sacrifice was worth it." "But you said we could relax for eight days." "But the auction is taking place after six days." "What can I do?" "It was Pires, Leitão's partner, who put the date forward." "The owner of this place needs the "dough" and wants to leave." "He's another ragamuffin like us." "Dad, six days has already been a big favour." "And now, what shall we do?" "I don't know." "I think I've had a great idea." "No!" "No!" "I suppose I now had to jump off the Lift at Santa Justa without a parachute." "I don't want any more experiences." "Look at this." "There's only one solution here." "Tell aunt Adriana everything." "But the truth is the worst thing we can tell her." " I don't have the courage." " Nor me!" "Don't tell me it's Ernesto?" "Don't worry." "I'll deal with this." "Heck, man!" "Meanwhile, try and find a way out, an absolving idea." "At the moment, there's only one real way out of it." "Everyone for himself!" "I'm going to get cigarettes." "Wait a moment, Mr. Elias." "Come in!" "When Mrs. Adriana comes down, tell me immediately." "Mrs. Adriana has gone out and told me to warn you that she'd only be back after three." "What?" "What's she saying?" " Dear God!" " Say that again." "Mrs. Adriana has gone out and will only be back after three." "All right, you may leave." "But this is the end of the world." "When she gets back, she'll find the house's been invaded and the furniture is being sold." "I'm going to pack my bags and get a move on as soon as possible." "Stay where you are woman, that won't help either." "Go and ask Leitão to postpone the auction 24 hours." "But that won't help either." "If it were 24 months..." "It's just to give us time to think of another lie..." "Another lie?" "Run Miguel, there's that black chap." "...or tell her the whole truth." "Well, I'll try." "Wait!" "I think I've had the best idea in all my life." "AUCTION" "Ladies and gentlemen let's begin the auction." "Let's start by showing a magnificent English piano of the 19th century, a true wonder, still looking new, as you can see." "How much am I offered for this valuable item?" "Ten thousand escudos." "Ten thousand escudos." "Ten thousand escudos the piano." "Ten thousand five hundred." "Ten thousand five hundred." " Eleven thousand." " Twelve thousand five hundred." "Twelve thousand five hundred." "Any more bids?" "Nothing can be done now." "We're doomed." "Never mind, man." "Where there's life, there's hope." "That's when there's life, not when there are pianos." "It was Elias who double-crossed us." "He hasn't showed up for more than three hours." "So much sacrifice, and we're worse off than before." "Fifteen thousand, five hundred." "Twenty thousand." "Twenty thousand!" "Twenty thousand for the piano." "Any more bids?" "Going for the last time..." "Going, going..." "Stop!" "Stop the auction!" "Please read this..." "This is a trick." "But we're not thick." "Out!" "Out!" "Silence, gentlemen." "Very well." "Ladies and gentlemen, for unforeseen reasons, the auction has been cancelled." "I would request that you leave." " It can't be." " How shameless." "Silence!" "Did you not hear, gentlemen?" "You have nothing more to do in my house." "Ma'am..." "My dear Elias, could you please accompany these gentlemen." "This instant!" "This way, please." "If you please." "If you want another auction, there's one in Cartaxo." "There's a train at six, magnificent, ultra-modern." "Have a good day." "At your service." "My pleasure." "You have a handsome beard." "Alone, at last." "Well, my good friends, do you have nothing to say?" "Well?" "I understand." "You're lost for words." "I'll speak, then!" "I won't tell you how disappointed I was." "No!" "I'm a practical person and I don't like ready made phrases." "I only want you to know that since I arrived," "I immediately realized you were trying to ilude me." "That cries out to heavens!" "When I read about the auction in the newspaper today," "I went to the agency to reveal the mystery." "And there I found our good Elias, who, like myself was desolate, angry with your ungratefulness, and told me the whole truth." "You?" "You told the truth, Elias?" "Yes!" "The whole truth!" "I was the one who told the whole truth." "And I did so because I have a noble body and soul and I was suffering to see the heart of such wandering beauty, beating with affection and tenderness, could be hurt to its most sensitive and delicate core," "for the love of her family." "Yes, I was an accomplice to this load of lies, because my ancestors' motto was 'to serve with loyalty'." "And so, I was a loyal servant, until duty impelled me to fight for a lady." "Alone and defenceless against a horde of ambitious schemers." "Ambitious for money?" "Never!" "Because money has never tempted them." "Merely ambitious to maintain aunt Adriana's esteem, who they did not wish to disappoint when she suddenly visited Lisbon." "And thus, they forged as many pitiful lies as their distressed minds could think of." "And so began their anxieties, their fear of being found out." "I did advise them not to do it." "But in the end, they convinced me that it was the only way of keeping you from such grief." "Your Honour!" "I'm sorry!" "Ma'am." "One must thus consider the mitigating circumstances, which are quite a few, and which work in favour of the defendants..." "Pardon me... your relatives." "Especially their persistence, their tenacity, and the spirit of sacrifice they gave proof of." "And so it has been proven that there was no dishonest aim purpose in this mystery, as we may call it." "Not so!" "Carlos' frankness has also been proved, in letting himself be taken in by ambitious advisors." "The pure innocence of Francisca and Anita, who were completely unaware of all that went on before your arrival." "And finally, Miguel's love for Anita, has also been proven, by putting his bones and his life at stake in an uneven fight between a mosquito and an elephant, in which the anopheles beat the pachyderm." "And so, in brief, here is a family you can be proud of and whose blood I would gladly make a transfusion of into these old aristocrat's veins." "Old..." "Adriana..." "I can see in your eyes, filled with kindness and pardon, the sentence you will proffer." "Before you, you have four people who hunger for your kindness, begging for the charity of a smile." "Bread and roses are yours to share." "This is the moment to share them among all of us." "I have said!" "I must confess, I cry tears of happiness." "I was already certain you'd had good intentions." "But it was this noble soul, divested of interest the soul of a true nobleman, who made me realize that my mission in life was not complete." "So, I want Anita and Miguel to get married as soon as possible and be very, very happy." "This house is my wedding present." "You, Francisca, will go and live with your husband, who can and should help you." "Carlos is a good man." "Yes, he is!" "He got into bad company, that's all." "Thank you, Adriana." "I promise that from now on we'll be like Romeo and Juliet." "Aunt Adriana, I still don't believe there can be so much happiness." "Now, whether you want to or not, you must be my aunt." "My dear Elias!" "It was wonderful what you did." "Hang on." "You've only heard about the small prizes." "The lottery is still to come." "Now, I have to talk about myself." "I'm going back to Brazil in a few days." "But relax, I'm not going alone." "I need someone to help me, so Mr. Elias is going with me." "You scoundrel!" "You played the whole ticket." "Mr. Elias?" "He's going, too?" "Yes, he is!" "We're making synthetic wheat." "Pardon me, but it's not exactly wheat." "This time it's corn." "I'll be making corn." "Translation and Subtitling Helen Carter / CRISTBET, Lda."