"I know you'll spend a lot of time looking for me." "Maybe you'll find me." "Maybe you won't." "If you don't, you know what you have to do." "I want you to write my story, which is Guido's story." "The real one, not that garbage they made you write." "They'll say I was depressed, that I was crazy..." "That you should have stopped me, that it was your fault, but don't listen to them." "Listen to me and write what really happened." "What are you doing?" "Let's see your ID." "Why?" "The street belongs to everyone." "Identify yourself." "That's me." "I'm having a good time." "That's why I like to get drunk." "It's bad the next day... but it makes up for all of life's shit while it lasts." "Roxana..." "Geraldine, Jorge..." "That's Gabriela, a Peruvian history teacher." "She was convinced that this miserable country called Peru could get ahead thanks to education." "She was taking her students to Nazca to show them the wonders of our culture." "At the time, she couldn't imagine what was going to happen." "Baby, too bad you're not answering." "I guess the signal is out." "I'm going to the nursery." "The butterflies are due to come out." "If all goes well, there'll be 30 new butterflies to welcome you." "I'll call you and let you know." "Miss, can I sit with you?" "I can't sleep." "Sure." "Shall we read about the Nazca lines?" "I downloaded some information." "Gabriela Torres was like that." "She had enormous faith in the future, did her work well, inside and outside the classroom, day and night, like an honest and caring worker ant." "She had never been touched by evil." "Get off, asshole." "Wiill you turn that shit off?" ""Where are you, Angela?" "I'm worried." "Call me, O."" ""O", asshole." "Your little Angela is in heaven right now with some "O"ther guys, so stop fucking interrupting." "If poor "O" knew where his little Angela was..." " What time is it?" " Early." "Shit, I have to work." "Come on, Angela." "We're just getting started." " Hey, Angela." " What?" "What?" " Hey." " Where are you going?" "Fuck off, asshole." "Hey, come on." ""Not only do we Peruvians not take care of our historic legacy, but our self-esteem's so low we can't believe that these magnificent figures were made by our ancestors and we prefer to believe that extraterrestrials made them."" "Do you think aliens made them?" "I don't believe in aliens." "But you believe in angels?" "They're butterflies." "For your wedding, right?" "Each guest will get an envelope with 10 live butterflies inside." "Imagine how pretty it'll look when they open them." "Hundreds will fly out, in all colors." "While you and your boyfriend come out of the church." "How pretty." " How many butterflies do you need?" " About 1,000." "Wiith Guido's friends and family and mine, there'll be a lot of guests." "A thousand?" "Where will you get so many?" "We're raising them." "The first ones came out last night." "I hope." "Angela." " What are you doing here?" " How about breakfast?" "The bread was warm when I got here." "Can I come in?" "Yeah, come on." "Where were you?" "Why didn't you sleep at home?" "I stayed at my mom's house." "It's gone 8 o'clock." "I've been waiting for an hour." "Did we arrange something?" " I got up early." " And I'm not psychic." "I've no right to ask where you go, but I worry about you." " You know I always..." " Oh, not now, please, I'm so damn tired." "I just want to sleep a little before I go to..." "Hello?" "Right now?" " Okay, I'm on my way." " What is it?" "Some idiot got killed." "What else?" "I'm going to shower." "We'll have breakfast some other time." "I'll make some coffee while you shower." "You should always be helpful like this." "You smell of liquor." "Won't you tell me where you've been?" "I already told you." "At my mom's." "Good morning." "God, I slept awful." "Did you get in touch with Guido?" "Hello?" "What is it?" "What?" " What did you say?" " What is it?" "Stop!" "Stop, stop the bus!" "Stop!" "Open the door, open the door!" "Don Guido, it's a tragedy." "Where is he?" "Where is he?" "Take me there, boy." "Take me." "Where is he?" " Sir, you can't go in." " Let me through." "I have a right, I'm the father." "My name is Artemio Flores, I was the attorney's assistant." " Go in, sir." "Go ahead." " Thank you." "Please stand back, sir." "My son!" "My son!" "Miss, please leave." " We're from "El Papi"." " I'm sorry, you must leave." " Who got killed?" " Guido Pazos." " He lived here?" " Yes, ma'am." " What did he do for a living?" " He was a magistrate." "Now, please leave." "My God, how could this happen?" "Such a polite man, a real gentleman." " Did you see anything suspicious?" " Yes, three men got out of a taxi at around 10 PM." "One of them had two bags of fried chicken and beer." "Several bottles." "It was late and he never has guests." "A good man, ma'am." "Always doing good for others." "Oh, they're bringing him out!" "May we?" "Just a few pictures." "Leave him alone, leave him alone." "Don't expose my son to this." "People have to be informed." "I know they do." "But will you tell the truth?" "Wiill you?" "Wiill your paper be decent enough to say what really happened?" "Look, miss, go to the Courts and ask about my son." "If there are any brave people left in that place, they'll tell you my son was one of the few honest judges who couldn't be bribed by miserable mafia thugs." "Please calm down, Don Guido." "Have some respect, the gentleman doesn't want any pictures." "Always the same shit." "Always somebody else's fault." "Is it my fault people want to see corpses in the newspaper?" "Or that somebody killed his son?" "Ajob's a job and this is the one I have." "As if you could choose what job you get." "And there she was." "She should have been teaching her students that the Nazcas had an advanced civilization." "Instead she was going to the morgue to pick up her fiance's body." "Did she realize she'd never been on those streets before?" "She lived in her little rich girl's school world and her glass house, as if life were a fairy tale." "But here, no civilization." "Just the law of the jungle." "That guy was one of the few good judges we had left." "Killing a judge because the government didn't like his ruling!" "They must be really desperate." "And they get away with it." "They're blaming this one on the government too?" "They haven't even started investigating and you already solved the case?" "That's just too easy." "Did he have a wife, a mistress?" "Was he on drugs?" "I understand he was a Christian." "Church every Sunday, really involved at the parish." "So what?" "I know a lot of scum that go to church and don't believe in anything." "They say he was a faggot." "Shit, a faggot." "The tabloids in action." "Always slandering people." "I'm only repeating what I've heard." "I have good sources." "And what if he was?" "Did your sources tell you about his cases, too?" " Or would being gay make him dishonest?" " I'm just saying he wasn't spotless." "What do you think, Angela?" "I think that's the dead guy's fiancee." "My love, my love!" "No, no, no, no!" "Who did this to you?" "Why?" "No!" "No!" "In circumstances still under investigation," "Judge Guido Pazos'body was found this morning." "Motives are unknown, but robbery has been ruled out." "I SHALL NEVER TIRE IN MY FIGHT TO WIPE OUT CORRUPTION" "So, Angela, are you done?" "When you got here you had enthusiasm, you fought for articles, you even managed to be original." "You were the best, my star reporter, the Peruvian Falacci, but now you're just like the rest." "You party all night..." "What do you want me to write, Osman?" "Look, Angela, look at this, this is journalism." " This has impact, this is raw." " Is that what happened?" "That's how it has to be, Angela." "That's how it has to be." "Want to do something later?" "I'll be free." "I can't." "I want to sleep." "Alright." "If you change your mind, call me." "Okay, honey?" "Now read this and that's what you write." "First and last names with initials." "Have to protect minors." "Now read it." "Aida, did you feed the butterflies?" "Yes, madam, you helped me." "Remember we went to the nursery earlier?" ""A black butterfly flutters in the room... the cardinal hour... the afternoon takes off her veils." "The servants were wrong..." "they came back without their master." "Wiith him... with him... they left."" "That's how it was." "When she came," "I knew there was a tragedy coming." "Poor maiden of the cardinal hour." "Poor maiden." "Who came, madam?" "What do you mean who came?" "The black butterfly." "It sat on the window there." "Don't play dumb." "You know you saw it and you know what it meant." "I'd like to sell this house and go back home." "Barcelona is so pretty." "But you'll have to go without me, child." "You'll have to bury me first and then go." "Before you know it, you'll be in love again." "Look..." "They're dead." "Maybe Guido calculated wrong." "Or maybe it's the cold." "They're dead." " What?" " You owe me 3 months rent." "How long am I supposed to wait?" "The end of the month." "You said that last month." "Until this first appearance in public with President Fujimori," "Until this first appearance in public with President Fujimori," "Dr. Vladimiro Montesinos, his chief adviser and Head of Intelligence, had kept a low profile, away from the press and all offiicial events." "But this morning he made up for this by attending a meeting with the President..." "What time do you think it happened?" "Guido thought the monarchs would hatch last night." "Didn't he realize they were dead when he saw them?" "Guido didn't come last night." "If they'd hatched last night, he'd have come." "I'm sure he would have dropped everything and wouldn't have been home waiting to be murdered." "If I hadn't gone on that damn trip, he'd have been here, with me." "He'd always come to see me after work, even if he was tired or sick." "Wouldn't he, Aida?" "Yes, Gaby." "Did you really see a black butterfly?" "Guido Pazos was a truly fair man." "He always wore the medal of honesty with pride." "He was a good son, an excellent friend, he was loyal, a true Christian." "Doing his duty with honesty was his highest priority." "How many times did he leave the offiice late at night?" "No one used the word "murder", not even the old man dared to say anything to the big men or demand justice." "But he insulted me, of course." "After all, I do work for a shitty newspaper." "Do you have my cell?" "My cell phone." " Yes." "You left it but I have it." " Give it to me." "What are you doing?" "Baby, too bad you're not answering." "I guess the signal is out." "I'm going to the nursery." "The kids made you a card." "Here." "Baby, too bad you're not answering..." "Gaby, give me that." "It's not good for you." "Let me listen." "Let me." "It's the next block over, but go straight on." "It's a one-way." "I'll get out here." " No, wait." "I'll pay and go with you." " I'm fine." "Don't worry." "GAY JUDGE DIES IN FAGGOT ORGY" "You don't keep your articles anymore?" "You used to collect them." "It's very well written." "I take back what I said." "They're very happy." "Who's very happy?" "Do you want to go to Mancora?" "I traded for a trip." "I want to talk to the person who had this written!" "And I'll keep yelling until the coward shows up!" "Where is he?" "Then, I'll wait." "I won't move!" "I have all the time in the world." "I will not let you write lies!" " You don't know who I am!" " I already told you." " I can give you an appointment..." " I don't want an appointment." "I want to talk to him now." "Now!" "What's this yelling?" "Are you the editor of this shit newspaper?" "I want to know who wrote all these lies." "Yelling won't get us anywhere." "I'll see what I can do for you, but please calm down." "What right do you have to print this?" "What kind of journalists are you?" "This is libel, you're all filthy liars!" "What?" "Are you crazy?" " Get her out of here!" " Prove what you've written!" "Why don't you say something?" "Because it's all lies!" "Who is this N.N.?" "You coward, you hide behind your security because you know..." "Get this woman out of my newspaper, goddammit!" "Crazy bitch!" "You haven't heard the last of this!" "Goddammit!" "If I see her around here again," "I'll press charges, dammit!" "She should be in an asylum." "What was she talking about?" "She's Guido Pazos' fiancee." "I thought she'd go away, but she sat on a stone outside the offiice and didn't move all day." "What was she waiting for?" "For Osman to leave through that door?" "Or was she just not thinking and stayed because anything was better than being at home, suffering and missing Guido?" "How long do you plan to stay there?" "The editor left hours ago out the back door." "You work there?" "Yes." "Then you know who wrote this." "Everything here is lies." "It's garbage." "Yes." "It's a tabloid, it's trash." "Why did you buy it?" "Or maybe you're not so sure about your boyfriend..." "Where there's smoke there's fire." "What's wrong with you?" "Nobody hits me." "I'll get a cab to take you home." "Let's walk to the corner." "I need to know who wrote those lies." "Why did they write them?" "Why?" "I need to know, I have to know why." "I wrote it." "I wrote that your boyfriend got killed at that gay party." "If that's all, you can calm down now." "Now go home, take a sleeping pill and end of story." "Why did you write it?" "Why?" "I investigated, gathered information, talked to witnesses." "That's what a journalist does, didn't you know?" "Just so you know, I'm a college graduate, I have a degree." "Did you make it up or were you told to write it?" "Who sent you?" "Montesinos?" "Montesinos..." "That man doesn't know I exist." "You think the most powerful man in Peru has time to cook our articles?" "Please!" "You have no idea how things work." "How do they work?" "Somebody told you to write it." "We print trash to sell more copies." "It's that simple." "And it's not every day a judge dies." "Did you think we wouldn't write anything?" "You can see you never met Guido." "You'd never have written this filth." "When he applied to be a judge," "I told him he was crazy." "That the judicial branch was full of corruption." "He said someone had to do something, or otherwise it would just get worse." "He made a butterfly nursery at my home so that he could learn to raise them and teach the parish women to go into business for themselves." "He was helping them get some land when I got the idea that on our wedding day..." "We were going to get married next year, when we had 1,000 butterflies." "But we never had any." "They started threatening him, called him on his cell phone and said they'd kill him." "I told him if they killed him, I'd kill myself." "That night a black butterfly appeared." "That same night." "Do you want to get a drink?" "A beer?" "You're the journalist." "You could find out what happened, who told your boss to write that." "I'm going to give you my number." "She spoke of dead butterflies." "She said seeing them dead was like a sign from Guido telling her what to do." "That's what she thought." "That Guido was calling out to her and she stayed up all night thinking how to kill herself." "Please call me, I want you to hear the messages." "Maybe you'll recognize the voices and you can tell me if..." "But when she read the headline, she saw that that wasn't the message." "She couldn't die before she cleared Guido's name." "Who would have thought the garbage I wrote would stop a suicide?" "I could have become journalist of the year, if that award existed." "Gaby." "What happened?" "Where were you?" "What's this?" "You look gorgeous." "Just like a model." "What's wrong?" "Aren't you happy I'm taking you to the party?" "I'll be the envy of all my colleagues." "You'll love it." "We're going to have a great time." "Pedrito." "The man finally got here." "Work's work, buddy." "It never forgives." "Have a seat, Angela." "I see you all got comfortable." "This is Angela, my star reporter." " And the lady is...?" " My star model." " Don't you recognize her?" " No." "Wiith her on the cover I'll sell more than all of you put together." "So how does this work?" "Buffet?" "They started with a round of Pisco Sours." "I don't see any top-notch people around." "They don't want to be seen in the pictures with us." "If one camera got in and the rumors" " Were confirmed..." " It's all under control." "Security gets more and more effiicient." "They know exactly who's who, who talks to whom..." "Even who fucks who." "That's how they got that congressman..."Shut your mouth or we send this video to your wife."" "And they had a video of the guy with a transvestite." "That shut him up." "You have to take care of yourself." "Gargamel won't mess with me, will he?" "Gargamel?" "Like the character from the Smurfs." "The Great Gargamel, alias the hose freak." "He hit his men with a hose for not listening to him." " Did you know that?" " No." "That's why they call him the hose freak." "And the video freak..." "They say he tapes everything." "Hundreds of videos in his offiice." "Maybe he wanted to be an actor." "But a brilliant freak, no doubt about that." "I think Doc was sent by the Lord." "Gargamel is kind of nuts, but you have to back him up." "If he goes, it all goes to hell." "Starting with us." "I'm losing advertisers and no one's answering my calls." "If this keeps up, I'll have to close and I have the tax people on my back." "You know anything about it?" "Someone's trying to put me on his bad side." "It's true he tapes everything." "But I hear that some of the tapes have disappeared from his offiice and they're up to the highest bidder." "What's that got to do with me?" "Someone told him you're interested in buying to make them public... or to blackmail him." "Me?" "They told him that?" "I'm loyal to the Doc." "I always clean up for him." "Having a good time, Angela?" "Is Gargamel coming?" "Gargamel." "You liked that, didn't you?" "I don't think so." "He practically lives at the offiice." "He almost never leaves." "He has a room and a bathroom with a Jacuzzi where his girl waits for him." "He'll be in a meeting, even with the President, and he'll say," ""I'll be back," and he's gone 20 minutes." "That motherfucker owns Peru." "And he really has nothing to do with that judge?" "What judge?" "Let's sit down, this is getting cold." "Gaby, come downstairs!" "Look, Gaby." "All the butterflies." "Aida, it's your daughter." "Don't take too long, I need the phone." "Aida, can you please hang up?" "I'm expecting a call." "It's 3 PM." "What are you doing sleeping at this time?" "Look at you." "You can't go on like this." "Aida says you don't go out, that you're always cooped up in here." "She exaggerates, you know her." "I'm fine, don't worry." "I have plans for us this afternoon, but take a shower first to freshen up." "No, I can't." "I have to be here." "I'm expecting a call." "What call?" "A call." "Do you have basil?" "Basil?" "No." "It's so complicated when you cook." "We should have ordered pizza." "You should learn the difference between junk food and..." "You expecting someone?" "It must be the old lady." "She's bugging me about the rent again." "What do you mean?" "How much do you owe?" "Why didn't you tell me?" "You know I'd have..." "No, I didn't want to bother you." "Don't be silly, I'm happy to help you." "Here, I'll give you the rest later." "Or shall I talk to her?" "No, I'll go." "What are you doing here?" "Can I come in?" "No, I'm with someone." "No." "I got tired of waiting." "If I have to spend all night waiting for your visitor to go, I will." "I'll wait outside." "Did the old lady calm down?" "Yeah." "Is something wrong?" "Okay, so what's so urgent?" "I want you to hear the threats I recorded." "Guido died because he was honest and never took a bribe." "The orgy was to cover up the truth." "I believe you." "I don't need to listen to any tapes." " You may recognize the voices." " Me?" "You think because of the newspaper, I'm friends with murderers?" "I know just as much about that as you do." "I don't know anyone and I hate politics." "Your editor must know." "Didn't you say you wrote what he told you to?" "Ask him." "And how shall I ask him?" ""So," "Mr. Editor, did Montesinos have Guido Pazos killed?"" "Is it that hard to ask him?" "You're close, right?" "Otherwise he wouldn't come" " To your apartment." " What do you know?" "Sorry..." "Can I come in?" "No." "Let's go somewhere else." "If you want to marry that motherfucker, tell him to do what he has to do." "If he doesn't, we'll put his finger up his ass and rip it out through his mouth." "Got it?" "That was a month before..." "Tell him to keep away from the trial or you'll end up a widow." "That motherfucker doesn't know who he's messing with." "I don't like drinking alone." "If you want to keep talking, have a drink." "Why don't you do what widows do?" "Take him flowers, get on with your life." "Don't you have friends to talk to?" "You're young and pretty, you have a decent job." "You'll soon meet new guys and start living your life again." "I know what to do with my life." "Lucky you." "You don't know?" "How are the butterflies?" "Fine." "I'm sure that if you ask your boss..." "Cheers." "To the butterflies." "I need to know who killed Guido." "Tell me, I'm confused..." "So... let's suppose, let's say you find the killers." "What would you do?" "Turn them in?" "Sometimes it's better not to know." "You could find out some ugly things and you're a decent young woman." "You go to church every Sunday and I'm sure you confess and get communion and work at the parish." "Start with the first commandment." "Turn the other cheek." "See?" "You know how to laugh." "What are you laughing at?" "I don't know that commandment." "I kind of know them." "That one doesn't exist." "First, love God above all things, second, don't take His mane..." "His name in vain." "No head for liquor." "Angela." "You're going to be my angel." "Guardian angel." "Sweet company." "Don't leave me, night... or day." "Gabriela, wake up, we're here." "We're here, wake up." "Do you have keys?" "In my pocket." "Angela." "Don't forget me." "Don't leave me waiting." "You're the only person in the world who can help me." "Here." "It's stupid." "I can't get that face out of my mind." "Really." "I don't know what to do." "She thinks because I'm a reporter I can get to the killers." "I'm not a detective." "If that's what's stopping you, I have an informant." " You wouldn't screw me, would you?" " Asshole." "Won't Osman help with this?" "They say you and him..." "Fuck off." "Does your source know anything about the murder?" "Medical operations." "Have you heard about the videos?" "The Doc likes to see how his people do their work." " Medical operations?" " He tapes everything." "He likes checking out his people because he's sick or something." "Does your friend have money?" "I don't know." "If she does, she can get the tapes." "I don't get it." "Wiith those tapes, why doesn't anyone do anything?" "If one went public, there'd be a scandal." "People like Osman only print what they're told to for money." "Don't be an idiot." "Not everyone's like Osman." "There are people who are against the government..." "But they don't have the money, or they're scared, like my boss." "There's all kinds." "For luck and good fortune..." "Call her and ask." "What was I thinking, telling Ramon I couldn't sleep since Gabriela asked me to help her?" "I should have just gone to a shrink and asked for sleeping pills." "Just a moment." "It's for you." "It's Angela." "Maybe madness is contagious and I started thinking about clearing Guido's name, too." "Clearing his name." "Shit." "Clearing his name would cost, for starters, her life savings." "The informant wanted $10,000 to show us one of the "medical operations"." "That's what he said." "Medical operations." "You can still go back." "I can tell Ramon the deal's off." "$10,000 is a lot of money." "You could go to Europe, study, or stop working for a time." "Ramon sent me." "Okay." "He said you have something we need." "This isn't very suitable for young ladies." "Make yourselves comfortable." "I'll turn off the lights, like in the movies." "Rewind the tape." "There, stop." "Do you know that man?" " Can you help me find him?" " Yeah." "But the price goes up with names and addresses." "Interested?" "How's this?" "Do you know the place?" "You're dressed to seduce someone, right?" "Is that what you want?" "You'll let him?" "Think it's easy to let some stranger touch you?" "You have no idea what it's like." "But let's say you do it." "What do you gain?" "You know he was one of the killers." "What else do you want?" "Damn it," "I can't work out why you're looking for him." "I don't get it." "I swear I don't." "And I really don't get why I'm going with you." "I want to look him in the eye." "That man was the last thing Guido saw." "I want to see what he saw." "Okay, you get a good look, maybe you'll even see Guido's face." "Who knows?" "But then what?" "I know what I have to do." "Two beers." "Want to dance, sweetheart?" "No." "Don't be like that." "Let your friend decide." "Fuck off, alright?" "I'm going to the bathroom." "What's your name, honey?" "Leave me alone." "Where is it?" "Just around the corner." "Don't be scared, I'm a gentleman." "Is it a hotel or do you live there?" "I rent a little room." "Humble, but decent." "Jacqueline." "Nice name, but what is it really?" "I bet Jacqueline is just your street name." "Where did you come from, Jackie?" "I know everyone here and I've never seen you before." "This isn't my neighborhood but a friend told me about it, so I came." "I thought so." "You really are pretty." "I bet you work in Miraflores." "How would you know?" "Are you a cop?" "Here we are." "What the hell is wrong with you?" "Crazy bitch." "Damn it, you could have been killed." "Why the hell am I here?" "You're crazy." "I thought you just wanted to look him in the eye!" "Damn it, I think you killed him." "Why did I come with you?" "It was Montesinos." "He works for him and he gave the order." " He talked to him?" " Not directly." "To his boss or something." "But I'm sure it was Montesinos." "So what's new?" "You're sick." "I'm stopping a cab and you're going home right now." "This is as far as I go." "I can't go home like this." "Look at me." "I'm not crazy." "Don't look at me like that." "Now I know what I have to do." "I'm going to kill Montesinos." "That motherfucker gave the order." "Kill him..." "Kill him, no less." "And how will you do it?" "He's the most powerful man in the country." "He's surrounded by specialized security." "And do you have a plan?" "Okay, tell me your plan." "I just need to get to him." "You have no idea what you're saying." "Unless you're suicidal." "What happens afterwards doesn't matter." "Besides," "I'd be doing a great service to my country." "One crooked politician less." "It's strange but..." "I feel better than ever." "I'm even sleepy." "And I haven't taken a pill." "Maybe it's because I know what to do." "Come on, I'll move over." "I can stay, right?" "I know you don't believe in those things, but I saw Guido in the killer's eyes." "It was a sign." "I'm getting better at understanding his messages." "He made me meet you." "I know he did." "FUJIMORI GIVES AWAY 100 HOUSES IN ABANCAY" "FUJIMORI GIVES AWAY 100 HOUSES IN ABANCAY" "Right, Malu." "You know what to do." "Then change the background so there's more contrast and always a wide shot, okay?" "Good." "Well, I'll be off." "Bye." " Bye." " I'll leave you to it." "For now." "Just a minute, please." "Angela, come in, come in." "Osman, I have an idea." "I want to interview Montesinos." "Montesinos?" "Since when are you into politics?" "You say I'm not my old self anymore..." "Get me an interview with him." "We'll do a 2-page spread with good pictures, you know, help his image." " He'll be grateful to you." " It's a good idea, but it's impossible." "Ask." "You talk to him, don't you?" "When he wants an interview, he calls, chooses the reporter, writes the questions." "He doesn't even know you." "But he can meet me." "Invite him to dinner and take me." "The Doc lives in his offiice at the National Security Service." "Sometimes he has parties at the Hotel America." "Very low key." "They have a good time in that suite." "See?" "Who does he party with?" "Mostly military, from his class." "He takes them there as a reward for their..." "Ioyalty." "There's good food, good whisky, all for free, even the women." "Where does he get them?" "Are they whores?" "You remember Dotty Pacheco?" "The one with the school we did a publicity spot for?" "The Columbus School?" "Yeah, I remember." "Dotty." "You should wear that more often." "How about lunch?" " No." " Come on." " No, I have things to do." " I'll see you later." "I'm selfish." "I crossed my fingers so you wouldn't go with him." "Or maybe you saw me and didn't go?" "No, I didn't see you." "You're not in love with him, are you?" "Why were you waiting for me?" "To see what you found out." "You promised me..." "I didn't promise anything." "Besides, I've been working all day." "What do you have to do now?" "Last night about 100 butterflies came out." "Would you like to see them?" "I thought you'd lost interest in them." "I'd sworn I wouldn't help her, but I don't know what happened and I told her." "I shouldn't have." "What I should have done was shut up and then nothing would have happened." "I told her about Dotty Pacheco, her school and the parties at the America." "Do you know their names?" "This one for instance." "What's the name?" "What else did he say about her?" "That she's a lesbian." "Gaby, I've been calling you all day." "Why didn't you come to work?" "I can't believe you forgot your leave was over today." "Sorry, I didn't know you were..." "This is Angela, a friend." " Delia and I work together." " My pleasure." "How did you meet?" "Angela's a reporter." "A reporter." "Which newspaper do you work for?" ""El Papi"." "Know it?" "How can you be friends with someone from the paper that wrote that trash?" "What's going on?" "I'm quitting the school." "What?" "What's wrong with you?" "Why?" "I just want to do something else." "Let's have a drink, I'll buy." "Now?" "A drink?" "Where?" "The bar at the Hotel America." "But we can't go dressed like this." "I'll lend you some clothes." "Good afternoon." "What can I get you?" "A martini." "Dry, no olive, please." "The same." "Are you alright?" "Yes." "No, Gaby, you're not alright." "You sleep all day or you're out with that strange friend." "And quitting your job!" "I'm going to work here." "Here?" "Yes." "The Doctor comes here, to this hotel." "The Doctor?" "What doctor?" "Why would you want to see that miserable...?" "I'm going to kill him." "What's wrong with you, Gaby?" "You're scaring me." "You have to stop this." "Stop what?" "This insanity." "You're quitting work, you say you're going to kill Montesinos..." "What's wrong with you?" "I don't know why I told you." "Why don't you go to Trujillo, stay with your cousin?" "It'll be good for you, to be somewhere else." "I'll ask the nuns to give you the rest of the year off..." "I'm not leaving Lima." "I feel fine." "Better than ever before." "Good morning, Amelia." "Sorry to interrupt but yesterday I didn't get a chance to welcome you." "My name is Dotty Pacheco and I'm the director of this institution." "I want you to know that you've made a good choice." "Columbus is the most prestigious secretarial school because of its high quality." "If you don't pass a course, you leave." "Lack of discipline, the same." "Why aren't you wearing a uniform?" "I just enrolled, ma'am." "Stand up when you answer me and speak louder, I'm a little deaf." "What's your name?" "Moira Rios." "We'll make an exception just this once, but the uniform is mandatory." "Come in." "I asked for your file." "It doesn't exist." "Is there a problem with your papers?" "I didn't know I needed them, but I'll file for them tomorrow." "Tell me, Moira, how did you learn about our school?" "I always saw the sign when I passed by here, so finally I decided to come in as I've always wanted to study." "I'm curious... how old are you?" " Twenty-six." " Twenty-six?" "Who would have thought?" "You're like..." "Who was the one who made a pact with the devil?" " Faust." " No, that doesn't ring a bell." "One that never got old." "My memory's getting worse." "He's a famous literary character, I think." "He sold his soul to the devil so he wouldn't get old." "And the devil obliged." "So would I if I could." "Old age is a tragedy." "Anyway..." "You don't look it, but you're not as young as the others." "It's strange, wanting to be a secretary at your age." "What did you do before?" "No, let me guess." "You married before you were 20, had two, three kids" " And your husband left you." " No, I'm single and I don't have kids." "I studied teaching but I don't want to be a teacher." "I want a change, something more interesting, less routine." "You think being a secretary is less boring?" "Depends where, right?" "I think that if you work in a hotel it could be very interesting." "Depends on what you do there." "Could you wait outside, please?" "Hi, sweetheart." "I forgot all about you!" "Why didn't you knock?" "You've been waiting for hours." "Moira, 26 years old, no papers." "Are you doing anything?" "I'll buy you dinner." "I have reservations for two and my guest cancelled." "Take it as an apology for making you wait." "What do you say?" "You're a grown woman." "I guess you don't need to ask permission." " Unless your boyfriend's..." " There's no boyfriend." "And maybe on the way I'll remember who it was sold his soul to the devil." " What a nice place." " You like it?" "It's "in"." "Everybody comes here." "Who's everybody?" "Ministers, generals, politicians, people in government." "Dotty." "And friendly media also." "Do you know them?" "A load of assholes who're making a fortune in Intelligence." "Oh, right, Montesinos." "Why does he pay them?" "You can tell you know nothing about politics." "You're better off." "Politics is filthy." "So you're not in it, Mrs. Pacheco?" "I mean, with your personality you could be in Congress." "You know what I hate?" "A girl like you calling me "Mrs. Pacheco"." "Shall I call you Dotty?" "I felt like it all along, but I didn't dare to." "Really?" "You're so pretty." "Sure, call me Dotty." "For starters, I think we should have a drink." "What do you like to drink?" "Dry martini, no olive." "Dry Martini." "Well, aren't you sophisticated?" "Sounds good, but I prefer a pisco sour." "And bring us the usual appetizers while we decide." "I'll be right back." "So you want to work in a hotel." "I'd love to." "I like you, Moira." "I'll see what I can do." "So cheers, to our friendship at first sight." "New, but true and long-lasting, right?" "That sounds nice, Dotty." "Cheers." "And I'm glad you made me wait." "If not we wouldn't be here." "I feel really happy." "Really?" "Me too." "It's strange." "Like you said, friendship at first sight." "Never happened to you before?" "You're kind of shy, aren't you?" "But also a little naughty." "How many men have you slept with?" "It's some question, I know, but tell me." "Not many." "And no women, I suppose." "Why do you ask?" "See?" "You are a bad girl." "What about your boyfriend?" "He left you for someone else." "Most men are assholes." "Don't you agree?" "Totally." "That guy messed you up, right?" "That's why you want a new job, to start a new life." "Cheers, Dotty." "To our friendship... at first sight." "Cheers." " And?" " The dumbass stood me up." "I have a dirty mouth, but don't go telling your classmates." "So who's the dumbass?" "A girlfriend?" "Don't make me say more than I should." "Apart from my mother, I don't trust a soul." "That's why they call me The Vulture." "Did you know that?" "No, I didn't know." "I don't think it's fair." "I've only known you a short while and I think you're a good person." "Of course, I understand that you can't trust me yet, but I hope that eventually... in time..." "You're very sweet, Moira." "You know what I'd like?" "To drive you home." "Don't worry, I live near here." "Sleep well, Dotty." "See you tomorrow." "It's been a while since I had such a good time." " So what's your new name?" " Moira." "You picked a weird one." "It was the first name that came to me." "I didn't think they'd want papers." "It's best no one knows you were Guido's fiancee." "So what do you need?" "Birth certificate, ID, and elementary and high school diplomas, too?" "And a degree in teaching." "I said I'd studied that." "You'll have to pay up front." "Half now and half when we get everything, smartass." "Miss, we don't con anybody." "We're a serious business and it's cool, you'll see." "You'll have it all in two weeks." "Two weeks?" "No, that's too long." "She might get suspicious." " When do you need it?" " Yesterday." "Look, this isn't easy work." "I mean, it's possible... but we're talking about a different price." "Whatever, just make them." "They'll be ready in 20 minutes." "Moira Rios Salvatierra." "Let's see..." "Year, day, and month of birth." "Any preferences?" "How about July 28?" "Independence Day." " Place?" " Lima?" " What school did you go to?" " I don't know." "Nor why I thought of that name." "Leave it to me." "I'm a reporter." "I can make up a whole life in a second." "Moira, what are you doing here?" "I waited all day." "I thought you weren't coming anymore." "I had to file for my papers, but here I am." "I know you work late so I decided to wait here, to avoid any talk." "Maybe you're busy and I'm wasting your time..." "Don't even think it." "I don't have plans." "What do you feel like doing?" "This house came with years of hard work, you know." "I love it, it's so you." "It's very cosy." "You walk in and right away you feel..." "I don't know..." "Get comfortable." "I have whisky, wine..." "I know!" "Champagne to celebrate our meeting." "To us." "A lovely toast." "You surprise me." "I didn't know if it was just me or..." "Oh, God." "Last night when we said goodbye, all I wanted was to see you again." "I didn't know where to find you." "You didn't leave me your phone number..." "But when I saw you standing there..." "Oh, sweetie, I don't know what's happening." "You too, right?" "You're so sweet, so pretty... so..." "Leaving without saying goodbye?" "Don't leave like that, sweetheart." "Come here." "I didn't want to wake you." "I didn't call home and they'll worry." "So I have to go." "But you can't go out all alone this late." "I'll take you home early tomorrow." "Just stay here with me." "I'll take a cab." "You stay and get some sleep." "You're so hot." "Too pretty for me." "Don't say that." "You're so attractive." "You don't think I'm too old for you?" "Don't be silly." "I'm getting in the mood again." "You're just so..." "Why do you have to go?" "Come on, tell me the truth." "I have a sick grandmother." "She has Alzheimer's." "My mom died when I was young and I don't have brothers or sisters." "Oh, my dove, no wonder you're so sweet and fragile." "I'll take care of you." "I'll be your mommy, your daddy." "I'll help you take care of your grandmother." "We'll be happy, I'm sure of it." "Because you like me, right?" "You like fooling around with me." "Of course I do." "Dotty, you have to help me get a job." "I need it." "If you're nice to me, if you're a good girl, you won't need anything." "Working at a hotel would be perfect." "Late shifts so I wouldn't miss classes." "I have some contacts." "We'll see." "What have you done to my world?" "You've turned it upside down." "Dorian Grey..." "That's the name!" "Goddamn, I finally remembered." "It looks authentic, right?" "Yeah, it's all set." "I made you a curriculum for Moira Rios." "Study it so if Dotty asks you questions you won't get it wrong." "Hello?" "Dotty, baby." "No, I couldn't." "My grandma was sick." "I couldn't leave her." "Really?" "Dotty, you're the best." "No, I know someone who'll look after her." "So... 8 o'clock at the hotel." "What should I wear?" "Okay." "Me too." "Of course I miss you too." "Bye." "The hotel manager wants to meet me." "He's a friend of hers." "Baby?" "Did you call her baby?" "What's wrong?" "Wrong?" "I don't know what the hell's wrong." "I have to go." "Where are you going?" "Do you think it's wrong?" "You always say what you think, Angela." "Say it." "What do you want me to say?" "Congratulations?" "Want me to celebrate your success with The Vulture?" "Alright then, cheers." "So cheers." "I don't want to drink." "I'm meeting Dotty." "Dotty... right." "She's the key now, right?" "So how'd you win her over so fast?" "Did it take a while, or did she like you right away?" "Tell me, did you do it?" "Do you think it's wrong?" "Is that why you talk to me like that?" "Know what I think?" "That you're a slut." "If that's what you think, what can I do?" "You seem to be forgetting why I'm doing all of this." "Maybe." "I'm sorry." "I'm almost there, Angela." "I'm getting closer." "You're right." "We should celebrate." "I said 8 o'clock." "I've been waiting for half an hour." "Marcelo, being European, is very punctual." "Are you crazy?" "I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself." "Have you been drinking?" "Just a little, to loosen up." "Don't be mad at me, Dotty." "Dotty, my dear." "How are you?" "You must be Moira." "You're very pretty." "Dotty really didn't do you justice." " Don't get fresh with my girl." " Same old Dotty." "Come to my offiice and we'll talk." "Tell me a little about yourself." "Have you finished your studies?" " Do you have a diploma?" " Stop being an ass." "Okay, Moira." "You've got friends in high places, so you're hired." "I want her in reception." " She'd be better as a hostess..." " I'm not going to argue," "Mr. Manager." "And when I say no, I mean no." "You know me." "Just my humble opinion, Dotty, but we'll do as you say, so don't worry." "We'll take care of little Moira like a rose petal." "Why don't you want me to be a hostess?" "I'll tell you later, sweetie." "So, when does she start?" "Whenever you say, Dotty." "You decide." "You need to know who can't come in here." "Reporters nowhere near the hall." "They're like the plague for us." "Unless they're invited, of course." "Hello, Ramon." "Where are you?" "No, no, nothing's wrong." "I just don't feel like being home." "Alright, I'll be right over." "Bye." "Don't register the generals with their mistresses." "They don't pay." "Just military offiicers?" "Friends of theirs and of Doctor Montesinos." "Some congressmen too." "It's different with tourists." "Ask for ID and give them a receipt." "This is the form." "You look more like a hostess than a receptionist." "How'd you get the job?" "I have a friend who's friends with the manager." "Who?" "Dotty Pacheco." "Ah, The Vulture." "A good friend to have." "The job at the hotel became a routine." "Dotty picked her up every night but what she needed to happen wasn't happening in Reception." "I thought she'd get used to that kind of life and would slowly forget why she'd gone in the first place." "But no." "She waited." "Nothing and nobody made her forget Guido." "Maybe he doesn't want you to keep doing this." "Any more signs?" "I never said it would be fast." "I have to get out of Reception." "How are things with Dotty?" "Luckily she's out of town." "On business." "She was suffocating me." "See?" "Guido got her off my back, at least for a few days." " What about Osman?" " It's over." "See, Guido's protecting you too." "He got him off your back." "This is another sign." "Guido's saving it for me." "They're celebrating Artillery Day or the class reunion..." "He might come." "He's been busy lately but if he comes, we have to do everything to show him a good time." "How many are coming?" "Seven, eight..." "Could I ask for an autograph?" "No one'll believe I saw him." "No autographs or stupid shit." "Remember what I said when I hired you?" "Discretion." "That's our strength, discretion." "Why else do they pick us for their get-togethers?" "Sorry, it won't happen again." "That's what I expect, of all of you." "Now go get ready." "Two hours to get ready." "Any questions?" "Yes, Moira?" "My shift's over..." "I don't know if I'm out of line, but... can I work with the girls tonight?" "I'd be delighted, Moira." "I'm sure our guests would be happy to be with a girl as pretty as you, but there's Dotty..." "Dotty can't decide for me anymore." "I don't know if you know but we aren't..." "Alright." "Fine." "Yes, great, of course." "You here?" "I'm done at reception and Marcelo said I could help out here." "I hate just standing here." "These heels are killing me." "One more general and I can close the doors." "The Doctor's not coming?" "He's been here for a while." "He came in through another door." "Look." "Know what?" "I'm bored." "I don't think that general's coming." "If he does he can knock, right?" "Shall we go in?" "We need ice." "I'll get some." "Can I take the drinks?" "I want to see him up close." "His hair..." "I wonder what he does with it." "Cameras and microphones everywhere." "They're filming us." "That's how he chooses the girls he invites." "So..." " Who wants to go?" " I will." "Want to dance?" "She doesn't live here?" "I've driven her here several times." "Wake her up or I will!" "You can't come in here." "Who are you?" "Call the police, she's probably a thief." "Don't let her in." "She wants someone named Moira." "She burst in here!" "Do you know her?" "Yes, Aida, shut the door." "So I don't decide for you anymore?" "So there's nothing between us anymore?" "Did you think I wouldn't find out?" "You think you're so smart but you don't know me!" "I'll bury you, I swear I'll bury you." "I leave you alone for a few days and look what you do, you fucking bitch!" "I treated you better than anyone in my life." "I was honest with you, took you home with me!" "Why are you doing this, Moira?" "Answer me." "Why are you doing this to me?" "Say something." "Why?" "Why?" "I love you, Moira." "More than I've ever loved anyone." "Anyone, do you understand?" "Why are you doing this to me?" "You made me fall in love with you and now you say there's nothing!" "Is there nothing?" "Do you really think that?" "Are you just going to throw me away like that?" "I can't live without you, Moira." "I don't know how I'll live without you." "But you're fucked." "I'll get you fired." "You don't know me!" "She didn't get fired." "Some generals had already checked her out and they spoke up for her when they found out Dotty wanted her fired." "Who knows, maybe when she talked to Gargamel he got interested in Gabriela, the famous Moira," "Dotty's ex-girlfriend." "Her time had apparently come." "Moira." "General Montesinos asked for you." "I wouldn't make you, but he asked specifically for you." ""The famous Moira", he said." "No, no..." "I just..." "I wasn't expecting that." "I'm surprised... but yes." "They'll pick you up at 9 o'clock." "I'll give you a room at the hotel to get ready in." "Go to our salon and buy whatever clothes you need in the boutique, okay?" "Why do you think it's strange?" "You thought of it." "Yes, but it's so sudden." "You started working at that hotel, right?" "What happened?" "Don't you go there anymore?" "Did you get bored?" " Aida told me some awful woman..." " Aida talks too much." "It's much more simple than it seems." "I got the week off." "I'm taking your advice and I'm getting out of Lima." "Where are you going?" "Cuzco." "Where really, Gabriela?" "I don't buy it." " You said..." " I'll be late." "When are you coming back?" "Sorry." "I always get kind of stupid before a trip." "Gaby, you're back." "Did you have fun?" "How was it?" "No, Grandma." "I'm going." "Where are we going?" "Is Aida coming with us?" "No, no." "You have to stay." "To take care of the butterflies" "But I want to go." "Take me with you." "I don't want to be alone." "Don't leave me." "I can't take you with me, but promise me you'll do what Aida says." "Delia will come and see you." "Won't you, Delia?" "She'll take you out, you can go to church on Sundays and go out for ice-cream." "Ever since Guido died" "I can't stop wondering if I'm dreaming." "It's like I'm living a nightmare." "And now..." "Don't go." "I just want to get there and have him in front of me, close." ""I'm Guido Pazos' fiancee, the judge you had killed."" "That's what I'll say." "I want him to die hearing Guido's name." "Don't go, Gabriela." "Wiill you help me get dressed?" "It's almost time." "I've done so many things to get this far." "I can hardly believe it." "What makes me sad is that I'll miss what you write about Guido." "Write the truth, won't you?" "Write it as if Guido and I could read it." "Ready, Moira?" "They're here." "I'll be out in a minute." "I'm going to follow you." "I'll be outside the building and I won't move until you come out." "What for?" "Just feel good." "If it hadn't been for you," "I'd never have been able to do this." "Thank you, Angela." "I'll never forget you." "Take this." "If I don't come out, listen to it." "Guido was killed on the night of April 29, 2000." "It took her 4 months to get where I never thought she could..." "Face to face with Montesinos, the most powerful man in the country." "That was the last time I saw her." "I'll never know what happened." "Maybe it was how she thought it would be." "She got out of the car, someone at the door showed her in..." " Your bag, please, Miss." " No, no, let her through." "She went through." " Your name, please." " Okay." "She's here to see the Doctor." "This way, please." "He'll be here in a minute." "Make yourself comfortable." "Would you like a drink?" " A whisky." " Alright." "Here you are." "Excuse me." "Your name's Moira, right?" "You're even prettier up close." "Come here, dance with me." "I'm Guido Pazos' fiancee, the judge you had killed." "The honest judge whose name you dragged through the mud." "Murderer." "Moira..." "Sorry to keep you waiting." "Something always comes up." "Nice to have you here." "It's a pleasure." "You're shaking." "Don't be nervous." "No, I'm fine, sir." "Don't call me sir." "I want to be your friend." "Just trust me." "Come here and dance." "Put your head on my shoulder." "I'll spoil you and take care of you, okay, baby?" "What the fuck is this?" "Murderer!" "Murderer!" "I'll kill you!" "Get this bitch out of here, she tried to kill me." "Get her out, dammit!" "I want to know who fucking sent her!" "Did it happen like that?" "I waited outside for 4 hours." "I talked to the agents at the gate, to some offiicers, but they treated me as if I was crazy." "There was no record of Moira Rios entering the building at 9.30 that night." "Did Gabriela die in that room?" "Was she tortured?" "Did they dismember her?" "Did they cremate her so that no one would know?" "They could have done anything with her body to pretend nothing had happened." "But Gabriela existed." "Maybe you'll find me..." "Maybe you won't." "If you don't, you know what you have to do." "I want you to write my story, which is Guido's story." "The real one, not the garbage they made you write."