"THE EDGE OF FEAR" "Is that you, Antonio?" "I thought you wouldn't make it." " Good evening, Clara." " How was your trip?" " Fine, but I'm a little tired." " Let's have dinner." "I've prepared one of your favourite meals." "Clara!" "Who brought this letter?" "I don't know." "Someone slid it under the door." "My dear children..." "My beautiful and distinguished daughter in law..." "Tonight I'm toasting to... the most select court of good-for-nothings that a father could have ever reunited around his table." "To you, dear Carlos." "He's the first born." "Refined and distinguished because he took after his mom." "He's ruining my business in town." "He's an apathetic coward." "Don't worry, Julia." "Your husband won't say anything." "He's been putting up with me for years." "He's waiting..." "waiting for this armchair to be empty." "It isn't worth losing your cool and ruining everything, right, Carlos?" "On the other hand, Javier is different." "To you, my son." "Let's admit he's a mediocre student, but... he has a strange talent for acquiring debts and picking up tarts." "I've never asked for more money than what you give me." "You know I wouldn't give it to you." "Did you hear that?" "He's got pride." "He's a real Urdaz." "But he doesn't mind wasting his vacation courting our gardener's goddaughter." "Of course... we've always been very democratic about that." "My daughter Amelia, for example." "She didn't mind falling in love with a nobody and even having a baby outside of marriage!" "Father, is all this necessary?" "Why?" "Am I upsetting you?" "Do you feel guilty?" "I don't know what you're talking about." "I'm talking about this." "Read it!" "Out loud!" ""Cesar, you'll die tonight. "" "An anonymous letter." "Who's the wretch who wrote this?" "Who?" "!" "Fine..." "Each of you has reasons to wish me dead." "Even you, Marta!" "You know you're in my will." "Sir!" "Any of you could hate me." "But whoever wrote this is a coward!" "If you've got the guts if you're not afraid of an old man, then show yourself." "Come and face me!" "I'm still strong enough to crush a wretch!" "I challenge all of you." "Who was it?" "!" "Who?" "!" "Go open the door, Amelia." "It's Antonio, the judge." "To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?" "Nothing... it has to be a mistake." "A mistake?" "What mistake?" "Maybe it's a misunderstanding, a bad joke." "Well, you came for a reason." "What is it?" "It's because..." "Somebody sent me a letter, about you." "About me?" "And what does it say?" "That you were murdered." "But I see that it's all a mistake." "Excuse me..." "I'm sure you all were having a lovely evening." "I wouldn't want to..." "Anyway, good night." "Morons!" "You want to scare me, huh?" "I'll bury you all!" "Julia is tired." "If you don't mind, Dad." "Sure, son." "Dad doesn't mind." "Beat it!" " Good night." "Are you leaving too?" "Are you going to see that girl?" " I want to talk to you." " Father..." "I know what you're going to tell me." "I don't want to argue with you." "Good night." "An Urdaz... a real Urdaz." "Marta, you're the only one who understands me in this house." "Get me another drink." " What's wrong?" "I'm not the one you should be yelling at." "Sometimes I wonder if you have blood in your veins." "The way he treated you, that was awful." "And you didn't even say a word!" "When he gets like that we have to tell him he's right." "Sure!" "I guess he was right too when they took Amelia's son away." "What could I do?" "Dad didn't let anyone see him." "Carlos..." "I'm going to be a mother too." "Are you sure?" "Great!" "Great!" "Dad will be so happy." "A legitimate grandson!" " I wish you were the happy one." " I am happy!" "This is the best news you could've given me." "You know what this means?" " My son won't be born here." " Sure, wherever you like." "We'll find the best clinic." "I doubt my Dad will be against it." "You don't understand, Carlos." "My son will never live here." "I don't want him to fall into your father's care." "What?" "Are you crazy?" "If we stay, we'll secure our future and his too." "No, Carlos, let's leave." "I can't take it anymore." "Let's go somewhere else and save our child." "I don't want your father doing to him what he did to you." "I don't!" " If you don't come, I'll go by myself." "Julia!" "Julia, we can't leave now!" "You don't even dare to think for yourself." "This is no kind of life, Carlos." "Julia..." "I'll fix this..." "I swear." "Your coffee is going to get cold." " For me?" " Yes." "It's beautiful." " You know why I'm giving it to you?" " No, I don't." "I want you to wear it to mass tomorrow." " Good evening." " Hey, Javier." "You're just in time to have some coffee with us." " Hello." " Hello, Elena." "Well, well..." "Sit down." "Want some?" "Elena made them." " They're very tasty." " Thanks." "Well, I'm going to take a look at the flowers." "It looks like it'll be below freezing tonight..." "Bye." "We agreed you wouldn't come back here." "You said that." "I didn't agree to anything." "Besides, I think I have the right to come see you." " As a friend?" " As a friend." " Shall we dance?" " No." "As friends." "Friends dance too." "But I can't dance." "You'll see... it's very easy." "Now put this hand here." "Like this." "See?" " If your father knew you were here..." " He already knows." "What are you doing here this late?" "I'm covering these flowers." "They're very delicate." "You have to protect them from frost, ...and from weeds." " Ok, ok." "Listen, Sebastian." "I spoke to the housemother about your goddaughter." "She agrees with me about Elena going to the boarding school." "But why?" "Elena has a home." "She's happy." "Elena is an orphan." "She has me." "She went to school." "I raised her the best I could." "Yes, you took her in and nobody is trying to take the credit away from you." "Where's Javier?" "He's with her, isn't he?" "Well... yes." "And you left them alone?" "They've known each other since they were kids." "But they're not kids anymore!" "Keep her away from Javier." "Yes, Ms. Amelia." "Let me go." "I don't want to dance anymore." " But were doing it so well." " I'm just tired." " When are you leaving?" " School starts on the 8th." "You must be itching to go back." "You get bored here, don't you?" "I'm having a great time." "Specially tonight, Elena." "Sure, but it's different there." "There are more ways to have fun." "Here it's always the same." "This time I'll regret having to leave." "After 15 days, you won't even remember to send me a letter." "What if I show you that I love you more than you think?" "It's really cold out there." " Good night, Sebastian." " Good night, son." "Bye." "Elena!" "Elena!" "Elena!" "They said he was with this girl..." "Elena!" "Elena, come here!" "Slow down!" "Elena!" "What do you want?" "To walk with you." "You're going home, right?" " What did I do?" "Did I upset you?" " We're through." "You're like every other man." "I should've ignored you, you liar!" " Me, a liar?" "Don't play innocent." " What did I do?" "Mercedes just told me about your girlfriend in town." "They saw you walking with a girl." "Mercedes!" "Damn it!" " Deny it if you dare." " I do deny it." "Maybe it was a classmate." "I don't have a girlfriend!" " Then go walk with them!" " Elena, wait!" "It doesn't mean anything." "I didn't do anything, I swear!" " You don't have to explain." " But I will!" "I'm not cheating on you." "Sometimes we leave school together, boys and girls, but that's natural." " Come on!" " Leave me alone!" " What's going on?" " It's Cesar." "What is it?" "Yesterday..." "He got a death threat." "What time is it?" "It's still early." "It's not even midday." "Are you still upset?" "You won't listen to those jealous people anymore?" "Javier!" "Look, it's Sebastian." "What's going on?" "I've been looking for you." "I tried the church, but you had left." " What happened?" " Your father is missing." " Missing?" " Yes." "Let's go!" "Well, let's be reasonable." "A man has the right to spend a night out." " Did he take any money with him?" " Who knows." "He keeps it locked in his desk." "He must have the keys on him." "You'd have to kill him to get them." "If you want, we can search the area." "It's odd that he left without telling anyone." "But it's too soon to consider other possibilities." "What about the letter?" "It doesn't tell you anything either?" "Well, maybe Cesar has gone into hiding." "In any case, if he's not back tomorrow we'll call the police." "Oh, Javier." "Marta said you were the last one to come in last night." "Yes." "Do you remember if you closed the door?" "Yes, I think so." "Why?" "This morning the door was open." "Sebastian, did you notice anything strange last night?" "No, no." "Excuse me, the priest is here." "Let him in." "Good morning, Father." "Good morning." "I'm so sorry about what's happened." "A man like Cesar..." "so full of life." "Sorry, Father." "We still don't know anything." "Well, I don't understand." "Someone put this in our collection box." "What does it say?" "Antonio, what does it say?" "A mass for Cesar's soul." "Miss Marta." "Miss Marta." " Are these small enough?" " They're fine." "Put them away." "I agree." "Anyone could've sent the letters." "Come on, Carlos, our father is a tyrant, and all tyrants have enemies." "Do you really have to call him a tyrant?" "Sorry, but I like to call things as they are even if someone doesn't like it." " If you mean me, just say so!" "I just mean that a lot of people hate Dad." "When you talk about Dad, be respectful!" "At least when I'm around!" "Are you done arguing?" "We won't fix anything like that." " I'm only saying that father has many enemies." "That's enough!" "I forbid you to speak like that!" "Wow!" "That's the first time I've heard you raise your voice here." "Why don't you sit there?" "You want to." "After all, you're the eldest." "And why shouldn't I?" "In Dad's absence, it's logical for me to take his place." "Marta, bring that coffee here." "So you already knew about my sister's son." "In towns, everyone knows everything, even if they don't want to." "Last night someone was wandering around the house." "And?" "Have you considered that the boy my father separated from us is an adult now?" "He might be full of hate and could even kill." "So you're afraid your father is dead?" "What about you?" "Do you think he's alive?" "I don't know." "We can only say that he's missing." "But the way you talk about that stranger it's like you assume we're dealing with a killer." "Maybe he is." "You'll finish tomorrow, Sebastian." " Go home." " As you wish." " Is there any news?" " Nothing yet." "If Cesar doesn't show up soon, I don't know what'll happen." "That's his room." "My God, it's Cesar." "So... have you found the will?" "You?" "What'd you come for?" "What are you doing here?" "I could ask you the same thing, although it's quite clear." "You're here to break our father's desk." "I can be in here!" "I know what I'm looking for!" "I'm the oldest, the first-born!" "Calm down, Carlos." "You've been the first-born for a long time now since you were born." "There's no reason to start shouting it now." " You're just jealous of me." " Are you sure?" "You've got no shame!" "But things will be different from now on." "To start with, you'll leave Elena!" "You'll have to obey." "Me, obey you?" "What I say goes!" "I can throw you out of this room." "You're getting ahead of yourself." "Want to see me throw you out?" "You're shaking, Carlos." "Tell me the truth." "What are you afraid of?" "That our father is dead, or that he'll suddenly show up alive?" "You're both crazy!" "You have no respect." "Carlos." " I thought you were sleeping." " I can't." "I'm scared." "I've been... thinking and thinking, and I can't manage to close my eyes." " Carlos." " Try to rest." "There's no point in tormenting ourselves." "I'm afraid, Carlos." "Last night you talked about making a decision." "Maybe I pushed you with my selfishness, with my threat to leave you." "What are you thinking?" "I get the strangest ideas." "I can't help it." "It feels like you're different, like I just met you." "I am a different man." "Now I don't have to grovel at anyone's feet." " It's my turn now." " Why do you say that?" "Do you have any proof your father is dead?" "Don't think any more about that, Julia." "Try to sleep." "You can't do anything now." "Carlos!" " Carlos!" " What happened?" "Calm down, Julia!" "Calm down!" "Julia!" "Marta, what's going on?" "My God, it had to happen!" "I knew it!" "It had to happen!" "I knew it, I knew it!" "What's going on?" "It's Carlos." "He's missing." "Do you always close this gate at night?" "No, it's usually open." "I closed it last night because of what happened." "This proves someone broke into the house last night, ...or at least the garden." " Who knows." "It could've been someone from inside." " Are you serious?" " It's a theory." "What is clear is that Carlos went out last night of his own volition." "The door to the house was open again." "Maybe they opened it not to get out, but to get in." "Where is Amelia?" "In the living room, I think." "She was just there." "Thanks." "No, stay here!" "I want to speak to her alone." "May I enter?" "Come in, please." "How is your sister-in-law?" "Very well." "The doctor gave her an injection and she's resting." "Well..." "I'd like to talk to you about something." " It's something that..." " Tell me." "I don't like to dig up family matters, but your brother Carlos came to see me yesterday." "He mentioned a boy who, years ago, was let's say, exiled from this house." "He also mentioned to me the possibility that... that exile..." "could be responsible... for Cesar's disappearance, and now for Carlos's as well." "My God!" "It can't be." "He even gave me some information, which I hope might help find him." "Yes!" "Look for my son, look for him." "Please." "I would've done it but I was afraid of my father." "Are you still afraid of him?" "No." "Now I don't care about anything except my son." "Hello?" "Yes." "One moment, please." "It's for you." "Thank you." "Hello?" "Yes." "Yes." "Thank you." "They've called for another mass." "This one's for Carlos." "Come with me, Batan." "Elena." " Hey, Martin!" " What?" "We've already looked here!" "Where are we going?" "We're going that way!" "Toward the bridge!" "Do you want to eat something?" "No, I'm not hungry." "I'll get you a little coffee." "Don't burn yourself." "It's fresh." "Hey, over here on the bridge!" "Come here!" "Come on, they found something!" "Look." "It's the axe from my house." "We've searched the area." "We've talked to everyone." "They didn't take the train or the bus." "We don't even know if they're alive." "Antonio, leave the game." "Your soup is going to get cold." "Did you know... that the housekeeper is included in the will, and that the mansion will go to Javier?" "It's all very strange." "Come on, let's have dinner." "Who is that?" "Who's there?" "It's you." "I would've preferred that this matter remain private." "But I've already reported it to the police." "Tonight or tomorrow, two detectives will arrive from town." "Nobody heard anything?" "Not a sound?" "Not a voice?" "Why a voice?" "It's clear that someone managed to lure them away." " I don't know how." " You think it's Amelia's son, right?" "I'm thinking about a thousand things." "We can't even consider the missing people as victims." "All we have are these." "The letters." "This handwriting..." "The text..." " Don't they tell you anything?" " Maybe it's all a family conspiracy." " Excuse me." " Come in." "What is it?" "I found this in the garden." "It's from Amelia's nightgown." " What did you find?" " Nothing." "Hey, come inside." "No, Javier." "Let's wait until this nightmare is over." "You make it sound like you've never been inside before." "But I've never been past the kitchen." "Well, today you'll come in through the front door." "Why does it have to be today?" "I want to give you something to remember me by." "It'll only take a moment." "Come on." "Come on." "Go look around." "It's a house like any other, except it's larger and older." "The gift is upstairs." "What's in here?" "It's my father's bedroom." "Come on." "Come here, it's for you." "It's not very valuable." "It was my mother's." " Why are you giving it to me?" " I want you to wear it." "Forever." "She has such beautiful eyes!" "This house was different when she was alive." "You'll change all that." "Don't say that." "So much can happen." "You'll be my wife." "Now nobody can keep us apart." "I love you." "Let me go." " I want to go, please." " Why?" "I don't know." "I have a strange feeling." " It's like someone's watching us." " Who?" "Your siblings, your father." " Yes, what is it?" "Antonio, the judge, is downstairs waiting for you." "He wants to speak with you." "Come on." " You know Elena, right?" " Yes, of course." " Any news?" " Well, yes." "I have news about Amelia's son." "The news... it's surprising." " You know where he is?" " We know he has a record." "The police are looking for him now." "Javier." " Do you think I should go?" " Why do you ask that?" "I don't know." "I have a feeling that Carlos could come back." "What's wrong?" " There's a man in the window." " Are you sure?" "Yes." "I saw him." "He was watching us." "Maybe you imagined it." "He was there." "I saw him." "Okay." "Try to act naturally as if you hadn't seen anything." " Go to the dining room and watch Julia." " What's going on?" "Do as I said." "Hello?" "Javier?" "Yes, the detectives." "Sorry, I didn't have time to tell you." "Good night." "Don't be afraid, it's me." "I can't be in my room alone." "I'm scared." "I'll stay with you." "Together, I feel calmer." "It's cold in here." "Let's go to the living room." " What's going on?" " Julia can't sleep." "If you'll allow me, I'll keep her company." " Are you staying too?" " What for?" "So we can keep an eye on one another?" "I'm going to my room." " Good night, Javier." " Good night." "Who is it?" "Who's there?" "Now?" "I'm coming." " Good morning, ma'am." " Good morning, Sebastian." "Julia!" "Julia!" " Javier isn't in his room." " My God!" "He's gone!" "Go tell the judge immediately." "Sebastian, where are you going?" "Sebastian." "Sebastian!" "It was a trap." "They were like weeds." "They wanted to smother Javier and Elena's love." "The only beautiful thing there was." "I had to do it." "Now maybe in the afterlife, they'll be better." " Come on." " What?" "Okay."