"The stage is cluttered with wooden tables and chairs." "Two women enter on the scene dressed in slips, eyes closed, like two sleepwalkers." "You're afraid the poor things are going to bump into everything!" "Then suddenly we see a man with a very sad face the saddest face I've ever set eyes on and he whisks the chairs out from their paths." "You can't imagine how moving it was!" "A man in his 40s was sitting next to me a handsome guy it brought him to tears more than once." "No surprise." "It was beautiful!" "I brought you something!" "I went backstage and got Pina Bausch's autograph." "I had to buy the picture." "It's in English." "It says:" ""Overcome your obstacles and dance again!"" " She has her period." " It's early this month." "Yes." "Hello." "Would you mind doing the night shift?" "I can't leave the kids with my sister, so I'm stuck." "Why did you come in?" "You could have just called." "Am I pushing things?" "You've stayed three nights this week." "Don't worry." "All I need is one afternoon free." "I need to talk to the contractor about the work in my apartment which is a mess." "Then I have to get a picture framed and that's it." "My situation is not going to improve." "We could ask the clinic administrators and see what they say." "It's not your fault your husband left you with three kids." "Do the night shifts you can, and I'll cover the rest." "We'll manage between us." "Thanks a lot." "You took her off the enteric IV." "She couldn't handle it." " We'll give it to her tomorrow." " You go now." "And chin up!" "Six bulls and one woman!" "Next Wednesday, in Brihuega Lydia González will face off against six bulls." "Now, that's a lot of bulls!" "Good evening, Lydia." "Good evening." "Why such a dramatic choice?" "I'm a bullfighter." "I'll fight two bulls or six..." "Whatever I need to." "Lots of bullfighters refuse to fight with you just because you're a woman." "They can say whatever they want." "Each to his own." "You've got to admit, bullfighting is a macho world." "With exceptions, of course." "Because the Valencia Kid happily shared the bill with you for several months." "That's over now." "Do you think it was just for self-promotion and then he dropped you?" "I told you I wouldn't talk about this." "Hey, it's good to talk." "Talking is the first step towards resolving a problem." " The Valencia Kid..." " That's enough!" "Don't be rude, let me finish my question." "The Valencia Kid..." "I told you before the show I wouldn't talk about this." "You didn't say anything of the kind." "And don't claim that because it will look like this was scripted." "I don't go by scripts." "I'm one of the few brave enough to go live." "And you should be brave enough to admit the Valencia Kid has taken you for a ride." "A guy who shared not only fame and the bullring with you, but also your bed and dropped you cold when it suited him." "Hello, Juan Luis." "This is Marco." "How are you?" "I'd like to ask you something." "I want to do a story on Lydia González." "I'm watching it too." "I'd like to do something in depth." "For the Sunday supplement." "Great." "Bull!" "That woman's out of her mind!" "It's all for you." "She'd let a bull tear her innards out just to get your attention." "We shouldn't have come." "Least of all you." "The Kid doesn't have time for problems." "I'm not going to give him problems." "Tell him to come pick up his things, or tell me where to send them." "Send them to my house." "It's between him and me." "You have nothing to do with this." "You're off duty now." "Good evening." " A Scotch on the rocks." " Short or tall?" "Tall, please." "Excuse me." "Could I have a quick word with you?" "Excuse me." "What did you say?" "I wondered if I could have a quick word with you." "If you give me a ride to Madrid, we can talk on the way." " I'd be happy to." " Let's go, then." " Who chose the name Lydia?" " My father." "LYDIA AND MARCO" "That certainly set your destiny." "He wanted to be a bullfighter but was just a banderillero." "He was always behind me but he died a year ago." "I'm sorry to hear that." "El País commissioned me to write a story on you." "Do you write about bullfighting?" "Your name doesn't ring a bell." "The truth is I don't know a thing about bullfighting." "Then what are you doing here?" "I know nothing about bullfighting but lots about desperate women." "Oh?" "Who said I was desperate?" "I just got that impression." "So it's not about bullfighting." "You just care about my relationship with the Valencia Kid." "You can tell El País to forget it." " Good night." " Good night." "What's wrong?" "Get me out of here!" "There's a snake in the kitchen!" " Give me the key." " The door's open." "Calm down and stay here." "My purse." "Thanks." "Take me to a hotel." "I'm not setting foot in there again." " Which hotel?" " The Eurobullding will do." "Please don't tell anyone about the snake problem." "Only my family knows." "Don't worry." "If there's one thing I respect it's other peoples' phobias." "After what you've done for me I feel a little funny saying no to your story." "Just sleep on it." "Call me tomorrow and tell me what you've decided." "Thanks for everything." " Good night." " Good night." "Would you rather I stayed?" "I can sleep on the couch, it wouldn't be the first time." "No, I have to learn to be alone." " Hi." " Hi, Benigno." " Hello, everyone." " Good morning." " Are you washing her hair?" " What does it look like?" " How did the night go?" " Nothing special." " Here, I'll take over." " I'll be going now." " See you later." " Bye, Matilde." "Is it ever hot!" "We should cut her hair." "Nice and short, it's more comfortable." "Cut it like before, when she first got here." "I don't want her to notice a difference if she wakes up." "After four years in a coma, that would be a miracle." "Well, I believe in miracles and you should too." " And why me?" " Because you could use a miracle." "One could come your way and you wouldn't even notice." "Boy, is it hot!" "I bought something for perspiration because of the stains on my uniform." "This stops underarm perspiration but my whole body still sweats." " What's it called?" " Perspirex." "Yes." "Hello, this is Marco." "Do you remember me?" "Of course I do." " How are you?" " Practically naked." "I need to buy something to wear." "All I have is this dress." "I can go pick up clothes from your house." "I don't want anything from there." "I'll get around to shopping." " Where to?" " Sybilla's." " You must think I'm crazy." " Why?" " Because I don't want to go back home." " No." "I understand." "After we separated couldn't sleep in the same bed." "So I slept on the couch." "I did that for over a week." "Until I bought a new bed." " So you're separated." " I'm on my own." "SEVERAL MONTHS LATER" "Marco, after the bullfight we need to talk." " We've been talking for an hour." " You have." "Not me." "That's true." "Did you read about the nuns?" "The ones the missionaries raped in Africa?" "It was the priests, how awful!" "If you can't trust a missionary, who can you trust?" "They used to rape the natives." "But when AIDS came along they started raping their colleagues." "How horrible!" "And to think I put missionaries on a pedestal!" "They're not all rapists!" "I hope not." " Some of them are pedophiles." " What?" "When it comes to screwing the sky's the limit." "What a way to talk, Antonio!" " How does the bullfight look?" " Good, but it's a big bull." " How big would you say?" " More than 500 kilos." "Whoa!" "Well, I'm off to the bar." "Lydia, you're having dinner with us." "If the kids don't get to see you, they'll be upset." "Here he comes!" "Try to relax." "Hi, how is she?" " In bad shape." " It ripped her in two." "My father should be satisfied!" "My mother and I always said, "Not her, not our baby"!" " But she's just like him." " Calm down, now." " What time is it?" " They've been in there for four hours." "THREE WEEKS LATER" " So you're off to Cordoba?" " Yes." "I want to stay, but I can't." "There's nothing we can do here." "The bar has been closed for three weeks and the kids are with the neighbors." "Don't worry." "If anything happens, you can be here in two hours by train." " I sure will." " You've got to keep the faith." "Faith?" "I still light candles to the saints but it's hard to have faith." "When do you think we can put her medals back on?" "Not yet." "What, with her injuries, the tracheotomy..." "She never took them off." " Hello." " Hello." " I'll get a vase." " Thanks." "I have to go to America for 3 months." "My agent says it's important." "But given the situation here I don't want to go." "Would you mind stepping out, please?" "You can't smoke here." "You two talked before the bullfight?" "Yeah." "That is, I talked." "What did you talk about?" "My things." "Did she mention me?" "The truth is she hadn't mentioned you for a long time." "All that's happened was my fault." "No, it was my fault." "The music really got to me." "Marco, there's something I've always wanted to ask you." "Why did you cry that night, after you killed the snake?" " It brought back memories." " What memories?" "Years ago I had to kill another snake." "We were in Africa." "She had the same phobia and waited outside the tent horrified, defenseless and completely nude because she had seen the snake." "Was it the same woman that you slept on the couch for?" " I hate that woman." " I haven't seen her for years." "Even worse." "What can I do to make you forget her?" "Exactly what you're doing." "You were sleeping." "We didn't want to wake you up." "Is Dr. Vega in?" "He should be in his office." " Good morning." " Good morning." "Rosa, close the door!" "There's a draft." " She opened her eyes." " It gives me goosebumps." " What about when they yawn?" " It freaks me out." "Doctor, I'd like a word with you." "Of course." "How was your night?" "Coffee?" "Doctor, how long do you think Lydia will be in this state?" "Months, years..." "The rest of her life." "There's no hope?" "As a doctor, I have to say no." "Nevertheless..." "Back to Life" ""Meryl Lazy Moon comes out of a 15-year coma."" "She went into a coma after the birth of her third child." "She was in a vegetative state, just like Lydia." "In theory, unconscious for life." "The fact that she woke up contradicts everything I say from now on." "That means there is hope!" "Scientifically speaking, no." "But if you believe there is..." "Can she open her eyes, or am I just imagining that?" "Yes, she can." "But that doesn't mean that she sees you or understands what's going on." "Lydia's cortex is destroyed." "But her brain stem is intact." "The brain stem is what regulates body functions like breathing, sleepiness, wakefulness, bowel movements." "She can open her eyes, but that's just a reflex." "She can't think or feel." "Come in!" "Hey, there." "Come in, come in!" "Yes, you." "Hello." " My name is Benigno." " Marco Zuloaga." "That's Alicia." " Is this your first night here?" " Yes." "You'll get used to it." "Why is she wearing those boots?" "To keep her feet straight and upright." " They look like Ibizan espadrilles." " Oh, really?" "I've never been to Ibiza." " I know you." " Maybe from my writings." "No, no." "It was watching Café Müller." "I was sitting next to you." "I didn't notice." "There was a moment when I saw tears in your eyes." "That's the guy I told you about." "He cried during Café Müller." "I've got to go now." "Already?" "We haven't had a chance to talk." " Another time." " Will you be back this afternoon?" " Yes." " Come by and see us." "I'm always here." "I spend lots of nights here too." "Let me know if I can help." " Thanks." " See you later." " Mr. Roncero." " Good morning." " Shall I call Dr. Vega in?" " No, don't let me interrupt you." "The other day, looking through my papers I found a notebook with notes from the day you came to see me." "I jotted down something about a subject to bring up in your next visit, which never happened." " And what was that?" " Your sexual preference." "My sexual preference?" "Yes, your sexuality." "Whether you prefer men or women." "When you came to see me, you said you were a virgin." "Well, to answer your question I think I prefer men." "Is that why you came to see me?" "I really don't remember now." "I suppose so." "But I'm fine now." "Do you have a partner?" "More or less." "I'm not alone." "That's not an issue now." "I hope my question didn't put you off." "No, no." " So her father came by?" " Yes." " He asked me if I was gay." " No way!" "He asked that subtle American-style question of what my preference is." " And what did you tell him?" " That I prefer men." " Is that true?" " No, silly." "I lied." "How could he dare ask me if I prefer men or women?" " Whose business is it?" " I always like to know." "Does he ask the head nurse if she's a lesbian?" "Or does he ask you if you're into sodomy or coprophagy?" "No, you're right." "You don't ask those questions." "I may have to travel." "So maybe I can't come to see you every week." "They offered me to do a choreography in Geneva which is very exciting." "I have an old idea for a ballet called Trenches." "Set in World War I." "Problem:" "It needs a lot of male dancers." "Because war is about soldiers." "Sorry." "But everyone dances in Geneva." "It's fabulous!" "And there are girl dancers too." "Because in the ballet, when a soldier dies his soul, his ghost comes out from his body." "And that's a girl dancer." "In a long white tutu, like the Wilis in Giselle." "But with bloodstains." "Red." "How beautiful!" "Alicia is loving this." "It's nice because from death emerges life." "From the masculine emerges the feminine." " Right, right." " From the earth emerges..." "The... beach?" " No." "From the earth emerges..." " Water?" " No, the ethereal." " Oh, of course." "Ethereal, the impalpable, the ghost." "And I've decided on the music." "A work by Penderecki." ""Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima." That's World War ll, but it's okay." "Of course!" "And Alicia remembers it perfectly." "It's the battle music." "It's just amazing." "And for the music of the dead I found a fabulous piece." "Which I'll put on for you right now." "You'll just love it." "Alicia, my sweet potato, bye-bye." "Goodbye, my sweetness." "My sweet potato." "My sweetheart." "My little baby." " Take care." " You too, Katerina." "You look great." "Trenches awaits you!" "I'll do it." "Take good care of her." "Don't worry." "Bye, now!" "Look, we'll put this by the window." "ALICIA AND BENIGNO" "So you will see your friends dancing." "And look at this..." "I love this bedroom." "I'm going to order the set." "Hello!" "Close the door behind you." " Hello, there." " Hi, Benigno." " Have a seat." " Thanks." "Alicia, look who's here." "We're just out here getting some air, reading magazines." "Who was the woman that just left?" "Katerina." "Alicia's teacher." "Teacher?" "Yeah, her dance teacher." "She's a real character!" "She has a dance school near my house." "Alicia was her student." "Katerina loves her like a daughter." "FOUR YEARS EARLIER" "Benigno, you've been there for half an hour." "Coming, Mama." "Are you following me?" " No." "Well, yes." " Why?" "I think this is yours." "You must have dropped it." "Thanks." " Is everything there?" " Yes." " I didn't even open it." " Thanks." " Where are you going?" " Home." "Mind if I walk you home?" "I'm not busy right now." "Okay, but I'm going home." "Right, I know." "That's fine with me." "Dancing is my whole life." "I love watching dance." "Do you like dance?" "I guess so." "Yeah, sure." "But I've never seen a performance." "What else do you do, besides dancing?" "I like to travel and I go to the movies a lot." "I just got into silent films." "I love them." " Silent films?" " Yeah." "What do you do for fun?" " Nothing." "I don't go out." " I'm sure you go out sometime." "No." "I used to take care of my mother." " She died two months ago." " I'm sorry." "Mine died too." "But a while ago." "Well, we're here." "Thanks for my wallet." "Dr. Roncero." "Psychiatrist." "7th floor." "Twenty-three." "I spent all day at the window but she didn't show up." "I knew her address." "Her father was a psychiatrist." "Dr. Roncero's office." "I'm calling for an appointment." "How about tomorrow at 5:00?" " Could it be earlier?" " No." "Tomorrow at 5:00." " Okay." " Your name, please?" " Can I help you?" " I have a 5:00 appointment." "Come in." "Come in." "In here, not there." "Benigno Martín?" "I'll need some information." "I just wanted to see Alicia again." "He was a psychiatrist, so I'd tell him I missed my mother." "The last 15 years, was it?" "Yes." "I was just a kid when I started taking care of her." "And during those 15 years all you did was take care of your mother?" "I was always by her side." "Well, I was also studying to be a nurse." "And took classes in beautician work, makeup and hair." "Those were correspondence courses." "Do you mean you did your mother's makeup and hair?" "Sure." "I cut and dyed her hair, did her nails and sponge-bathed her, front and back." "My mother wasn't incapacitated or crazy." "She was just a little lazy." "She was a pretty woman." "I didn't want her to let herself go." " What did your father say?" " Nothing." "What could he say?" " Is he dead?" " Heavens, no." "He lives in Sweden, I think." "I haven't heard from him in ages." " He doesn't come to visit?" " No." "After he and my mother divorced, he got on with his life." "We're not in touch." "Why did you come to see me?" " Well..." " What's bothering you?" "Nothing!" "Something's brought you to see a psychiatrist." "I guess it's loneliness." "Have you ever had sex with a woman?" "No." " How about with a man?" " No." "Could we meet again next week?" "Is something wrong?" "No, but your adolescence was, well, unusual." " Not that unusual." " Yes, very unusual." "Whatever you say." "Better to analyze it in depth." "Okay, we'll analyze it." " Should I come back next week?" " Yes." " Thanks, goodbye." " Goodbye." " What are you doing here!" " I was on my way out." "Don't get upset." "I just wanted to see you but I'm harmless." "Dr. Roncero's office." "Hi, Lola!" "I just took the world's biggest dump." "One, two, three." "Back straight." "What?" "An accident?" "Can you take over the class?" "Alicia never went back to dance class." "I went to her house the following week as I'd agreed with her father." "It rained nonstop that week." " The next time I saw her was here." " What happened to her?" "A car accident on one of those rainy days." "Her father wanted round-the-clock care for her." "He asked for names of nurses and I've got a good reputation here so they recommended me." "When we met he remembered who I was and hesitated but ended up hiring Matilde and me." "That was four years ago, and here we are." "Right, Alicia?" "I started going to the ballet on my days off." "I also see as many silent films as I can:" "German, American, Italian, everything." "I tell her what I've seen." "These four years have been the best in my life, taking care of Alicia doing what she liked doing, except traveling, of course." "Just the opposite happens to me with Lydia." "How so?" "I can't touch her." "I don't recognize her body." "I can't even help the nurses turn her over in bed." "It makes me feel mean." "Talk to her." "Tell her about it." "I'd like to, but she can't hear me." "How can you be so sure?" "Because her brain is gone, Benigno." "A woman's brain is a mystery, And more so in this state." "You have to take them into account, talk to them pamper them now and then." "Caress them when they least expect it." "Remember they're there, alive and important to us." "That's the best therapy." "I know from experience." "What experience do you have with women?" "Benigno, what experience do you have with women?" "What?" "What experience do you have with women?" "Who, me?" "Tons!" "I lived with one for 20 years, and now four with her." "I like the bullfighter's boyfriend." "I bet he's well-hung." "How do you know?" "Have you had a look?" " Cookies?" " Yes." "No, their faces tell all." "I'd say it's their crotches." "I have a sixth sense." "Isn't he friends with Benigno?" "Yeah." "Do you think he's gay too?" " Are you kidding?" " Are you saying Benigno's gay?" " Well, the word's out." " You're so mistaken!" " Dr. Vega told me so." " How does he know?" "Alicia's father told him." "He was getting too close to the patient but the doctor said that women weren't his choice." " He goes for men." " Oh, come on!" "I'm leaving, you two can keep gossiping." " Poor thing has a crush on Benigno." " That's a good one!" " Hi." " Hi, Benigno." "I'm off tonight." "Going to the movies." "Want to come?" "I'm meeting with my editor." "I've got to get back to work soon." " She needs some attention." " Benigno, please!" "Come on, listen to me." "Her skin's dry, poor thing." " Have you talked to her?" " No." "Don't push it." "Bye, Lydia." "Just have patience with this guy." "Okay, take care!" ""Shrinking Suitor."" "SHRINKING SUITOR" "Rosa has the flu." "I hope you didn't catch it." "I'm glad you're okay." "I'll give you a massage and an alcohol rubdown." "No, nothing's wrong." "Last night I saw a movie that really got to me." "It's a love story between Alfredo he's chubby, like me, but a nice guy and his girlfriend Amparo, a scientist." "She's doing research on an experimental diet totally new!" ""You only think of yourself."" ""I've got it!"" ""It's risky, I haven't tested it on humans yet."" ""Do I still seem selfish?"" ""That went down nicely!"" ""Don't worry, darling!" "I'll find the antidote!"" "But time passed." "Amparo couldn't come up with the antidote." "And poor Alfredo steadily shrank." "...my darling." "I'll always love you." "To save her from suffering, Alfredo left her and Madrid." "He returned to live with his mother." "He hadn't spoken to her in 10 years." "He had never told Amparo where she lived." "Lots of other things happen." "But the important part is that after years of regrets and digging around Amparo discovers where Alfredo's mother lives and shows up at the door." ""Hotel Youkall." "Room 15"" """ " Sleep, my darling." " What if I crush you in my sleep?"" "And Alfredo remains inside her forever." "ONE MONTH LATER" "Let's get your hands comfortable." "That's it." "This fresh air feels great!" "Nice to be out on the balcony, isn't it?" "Lydia's happy to be out here too." "Right, Lydia?" "You heard her, she loves it." "Look at them." "You'd think they were chatting about us." "What do you think they'd say?" "They're not shy." "Women tell all." "Absolutely everything." "She'd say she was gored by a bull two months ago." "Benjamin and Angela do you come to be wed of your own volition..." " ...freely and voluntarily?" " Yes, we do." "Then, wishing to contract holy marriage join hands and give your consent before God and the Church." "I, Angela, take you, Benjamin as my husband." "I will be faithful and will be yours in joy or sorrow in sickness and in health, all the days of my life." "May the Lord, the source of your love consecrate this union declared before the Church." "Whom God hath joined together..." "What are you doing here?" "We planned to meet at the hotel." "I changed my mind." "I love weddings." "Weren't you going to see your sister?" "I called her." "We'll meet at the hotel." "I promised we'd eat with them tonight." "That's fine." " Nice wedding, wasn't it?" " Beautiful." "She's so young." "You don't trust me." "Marco, I came because I need to talk to you right away." "Relax, it's all over with Angela." "I can prove it." "I didn't cry during the ceremony." " You're the one who cried." " True." "And you had no reason to." " Don't you trust me?" " Yes." "It took me a decade to get over it." "But I swear it's over." " Marco..." " Lydia, trust me." "It's over." "Angela and I traveled a lot." "Supposedly to write travel guides about exotic places." "But actually to get her away from drugs." "Out of Madrid." "Life in Madrid was hell." "Our relationship only worked on the run." "Five years and seven travel guides later I brought her here to Lucena, to her parents away from drugs and from me." " Did you still love her?" " Yes." "I cried whenever something moved me because I couldn't share it with her." "There's nothing worse than separating from someone you still love." "What a sad story!" "Love is the saddest thing ever when it's over as Jobim's song says." "Marco, we have to talk." "We've been talking for an hour." " You have, not me." " That's true." "...I'm glad I was gored by the bull." "That way I can stay by your side, my love." "Nothing will take me away from you." "We were back together." "It had been a month." "She was going to tell you but I figured she hadn't." "So her tears were for you?" "She called the restaurant to say she'd thought of me and cried." "That was the last time we spoke." "Because of the injury I won't be fighting for a while." "I'd like to stay with her." "Make yourself at home." "Hello, Alicia." "I'm alone, once again." "I caught you admiring her breasts." "They're filling out by the day." "Benigno, I'm planning to take a trip." " Why's that?" " I have to get back to work." " What about Lydia?" " Lydia doesn't need me." " Have you split up?" " That's one way to put it." "Marco, I saw it coming." "Don't ask how, but I did." "There was something there that just didn't click." "When are you leaving?" "In the next few days." "I'll be sad to see you go." " Hello, Rosa." " Hi, Marco." "Well, I'm off, Benigno." "See you soon." " Bye, Rosa." " Ciao." " Did she get her period yet?" " No." "I'm looking at last month's chart..." " ...and she should have had it by now." " Yeah, it's a little late." "Two weeks." "That's too much." "Are you sure she got it last month?" "I put on the pad myself." "It was the week you had the flu." "She seems a little bloated." "Sometimes they get off schedule." "Lydia's period disappeared altogether." "Yeah." "But anyway Dr. Vega should be told." " Hi, Benigno." " Hi." "I brought some of my travel guides..." " ...for Alicia and you." " Thanks." "I just said goodbye to Lydia." "Then I went to see Alicia but Dr. Vega was in her room and I couldn't go in." "Is something wrong?" "I think Alicia might have an infection." "Could you give me a ride home?" "I hope it's nothing serious." "They're doing some tests on her." "They didn't want to tell me what the problem was." "Abidjan, Yemen, Brazil, Turkey, Cuba." " I'll read them to Alicia." " They're only travel guides." "I'm sure they're a good read." " Are you going alone?" " Yes." "I wanted to talk to you about that, Marco, before you left." " About what?" " Loneliness." " I want to get married." " Married?" "To who?" "To Alicia." "Who else?" "Are you crazy?" "We get along better than most married couples." "What's so strange?" "Because she is in a coma!" "Alicia can't say "I do" with any part of her body." "Her life is just a vegetative life!" "Get in the car!" " How can you say that?" " Get in the car!" "What you have with Alicia is a monologue and it's crazy." "We also talk to plants but we don't marry them!" "I can't believe it." "I thought you were different." "Never mention this subject again!" "Nor even think about it!" "Promise." " Why?" " Because you'll be in big trouble and I won't be around to help!" "If it makes you feel better, I promise." " As lovable as she may be..." " You're attracted to her too?" "Of course I am!" "How could I not be?" " She feels the same way about you." " She is practically dead!" "She can't feel anything!" "Not for you, not for me, not even for herself!" "Our patient has been raped and is pregnant." "Her father doesn't know yet." "First, I want to know who is the SOB who did that." "Sir, we all feel shocked." "You should feel responsible!" "Alicia is your patient." "Then let me be the one to fill you in on the situation." "Rosa, go ahead." "Alicia hadn't had her period in two months." "I thought it was just one month late, but I was wrong." "There was no mention of it on the chart." "A sanitary pad was applied as usual." "I was out with the flu that week." "You wrote that, didn't you, Benigno?" "It's your handwriting." "Yes, I did." "Why did you do this?" "I didn't want anyone to get alarmed." "Other patients stop getting periods." "That's true." "But why wasn't anyone aware of it?" "What about the other nurse?" "Matilde?" "She couldn't be here today." "Didn't she notice the first skipped period?" "Matilde has family problems." " She's missed nights." " Who covered for her?" "Benigno." "Do you expect me to tell Mr. Roncero she was in his care?" "Please, let's not lose our heads." "Benigno, do you realize you've become the prime suspect?" "Why'd you hide that she skipped a period?" "I'm sure you can explain it." "You wouldn't harm Alicia." " You can be sure of that." " So?" "Yesterday, in the parking lot I overheard a conversation between Benigno and Marco." "Benigno said he wanted to marry Alicia." "Mr. Zuloaga tried to talk him out of it, but Benigno wouldn't listen." "He said that many married couples didn't get along half as well as they did." "JORDAN, EIGHT MONTHS LATER" ""Lydia González was buried yesterday, April 13th." "The 33-year-old bullfighter daughter of Antonio González, had been in a coma."" "El Bosque Clinic." "May I speak to Benigno Martín?" "He no longer works here." "To get these signed..." " Are you sure?" " Absolutely." " Is Rosa Lazaga there?" " Who's calling?" " Marco Zuloaga." " Just a moment." "I'll connect you." " Where do I get these signed?" " In the office." " This is Marco Zuloaga." " Marco." "I'm in Jordan." "I just read that Lydia died." "Yes." "She did." "I'm really sorry, Marco." "I wish somebody had contacted me." "We've had so many problems here..." "What's going on?" "Benigno doesn't work there now?" " No." "Benigno is in jail." " In jail?" "What for?" "He's been accused of raping Alicia." "You can't be serious!" "Help him." "The poor thing has no one." " Have you seen him?" " Who, me?" "After what he did, I just can't." "You've got to help him." "You're his friend." " Okay." "What prison is it?" " Segovia." "Wait for me here, please." " Hello." " Hello." "I'd like to visit a prisoner." "That's in Communications." "On your left." "Thank you." " Hello." " Can I help you?" "I'd like to see a prisoner, Benigno Martín." "Sorry, I can't hear you." "Today's not visitor's day." "And the resident hasn't requested any visit." "He doesn't know I'm in Madrid." " Right." "Are you a relative?" " No, a friend, Marco Zuloaga." " May I see an ID, please?" " Sure." " Can I call him?" " No." "But he can call you." "I've changed my number." "Could you pass it on?" " Of course." " Thank you." "Visiting days are Saturday and Sunday but the resident has to request it." "If he doesn't want to, there's nothing we can do." "He'll want to see me." "Thank you." " By the way, we don't have..." " I can't hear you." "We don't have prisoners here, we have residents." " Goodbye." " Goodbye." "6-2-7 9-6-6-4-0-9." "No, nine, nine." "6-2-7..." "Yes, hello?" " Marco, is that you?" " Yes, Benigno." "It's great to hear you!" "I requested your visit for Saturday." "Yeah, okay." " Where are you?" " Outside the clinic." "Dr. Vega filled me in." "How could you do it, Benigno?" "You didn't come back to lecture me, did you?" "No." "If you need anything, I'll bring it on Saturday." "I need information." "How's Alicia?" "Nobody at the clinic will talk to me." "They said her father moved her." "I don't believe that." "They won't tell us where she is." "Are you still my friend?" "Of course." "Why else would I be here?" "Then find out how Alicia is." "If she's alive, if she had a girl or boy, if it's alive." "I have to know, Marco." "You understand, right?" "Yes." "I'll try to find out." "See you on Saturday." " Do you have news?" " Not yet." "But I'll get some, just be patient." "I was until Alicia's due date." " But that was a month ago!" " You'll have to keep waiting." " How do you spend your days?" " I work in the infirmary." "Since it's a new prison it's not too bad in here." " It doesn't look like a prison." " That's not the problem." "The problem is missing Alicia." "According to the pathologist and Alicia's father, I'm a psychopath." "Yeah, a psychopath." "They say it works in my favor for the trial." "I don't care about the trial." "I need to see Alicia and know how things turned out." "And if I don't, I swear I'll stop at nothing." "I'm a psychopath, right?" "I'll behave like one." "Don't say that, Benigno." "Find me another lawyer." "Mine's court-appointed." "The guy hates me." "Okay, I will." "The concierge will give you my keys." "Rent out the apartment." "I could take it on." "Mine's rented out." "I like the idea of you as my tenant." "I've thought of you often these last months, especially at night." " Why at night?" " I read at night." "I've read all the guide books you gave me." "It was like months of traveling with you by my side." "Giving me the inside story." "My favorite was the one on Havana." "I could really relate to those people who don't have anything." "When you describe that Cuban woman leaning out a window sitting there, doing nothing watching time go by." "I thought, that's me." "Good morning." "I'm Benigno's friend." " Are you Marco, from Argentina?" " Yes." "I'm the concierge." "Benigno called to say you'd be renting his place." " Right." " You'll find it very dusty." "I'm not allowed to do the cleaning." "I wouldn't have charged him, but..." "I'll take care of that." " Do you want the key?" " Yes." "Let's see where it is." " Have you seen him?" " Yes." " How is he?" " Fine." "Poor thing wasn't even lucky with jail." "He barely got any press!" "No TV reporters have come by, not even the paparazzi." "With all the junk shows on TV, no one even bothered..." "The state of the media is really sad in this country." "Yes, I agree with you." "The key." "Thanks." "By the way, do you know why Benigno is in jail?" "He's so reserved." "When I last saw him he didn't say a word." " Benigno is innocent." " I know he's innocent." " But of what?" " I don't know." "Of course you do, you just don't want to tell me." " But I'll get it out of you." " Okay." "Bye now." " If you need anything, tell me." " Right." "Alicia, I was thrilled to see you come in on your own." " On your crutches!" " It's great." " How did rehab go today?" " Fine." " Are you tired?" " Yes, very." "That's okay." "We're going to do a little more exercising." " Some leg stretches." " I've done 100 today." "That's good, we'll just do a few more." " I'm here to see Mr. Sanz." " Come in." "The baby was stillborn." "It was a boy." "She's out of her coma." "Benigno should know." "I don't think so." "He's capable of anything." "I can't lie to him." "I'm his friend, he trusts me." "I'll talk to him." "It's not a problem for me." "I'll say Alicia is still in a coma and that the child died." "Promise me you won't say anything." "Any chances of ball?" "Not promising and it would be high." "But we can try." " Hi, Marco." " Hi, Benigno." " Did you get wet?" " A little." "Be sure you don't catch a cold." "When you get home have a glass of warm milk with honey." "I'll do it." "Now I like rainy days." "Have you met the lawyer?" "Yes." "He came to see me." "He filled me in on things." "It looks bad." "Yes." "At least Alicia's condition hasn't changed." "That's the one consoling factor, and gives me hope." "Are you okay, Benigno?" "I'd like to give you a hug." "That means asking for special permission." "I checked into it." "They asked me if you were my boyfriend." "I didn't dare say yes, in case that would upset you." "It doesn't upset me at all." "Say whatever you want." "I've hardly ever hugged anyone." "A message?" "Marco, I was happy to see you today and to say goodbye to you." "As you know, I only will get out of here to change prisons." "I don't want to live without Alicia." "I can't even have her hair clip to hold onto." "So I've decided to take off." "I didn't want you to worry or try to stop me." "A big hug, Marco." "Taxi!" " To Segovia." " Segovia?" " To the prison." " The prison?" "I need to see Benigno Martín." "It's urgent." "It's a case of life and death." "The director is waiting for you." " Where's his office?" " This man will take you there." "Empty your pockets, please." "Wait, slow down." "There." "Hello, I'm Marco Zuloaga." "Benigno left this letter for you." "Dear Marco, it's still raining." "I think that's a good sign." "When Alicia had her accident, it was raining too." "I'm writing you just before the big move." "I hope I've taken enough to put me in a coma and join her." "You're my only friend." "I leave you the home I set up for Alicia." "Wherever they take me, come visit and talk to me." "Tell me everything." "Don't hold back." "Your friend, forever." "Here are the belongings we were holding." "And his personal effects." "Sign here, please." "Sir?" "You need to sign here." "Benigno, it's me." "Alicia is alive." "You brought her back to life." "When I heard your message I rushed to the prison but I got there too late." "I've put Alicia's hair clip in your pocket." "Together with pictures of her and of your mother so they'll be with you forever." "...cruel, the masculine below, the feminine above." "I'll get us some water." "Have a seat." " Are you okay?" " Yes." "I don't know." " Now I feel much better." " What's that?" "Ah, sweetheart, let's go back in." "Come on!" "You're shaking." " No." " Yes." "Why?" " What did she say to you?" " Nothing." " I saw you two talking." " She asked me if I felt okay and I thanked her." "You may see me around." "I live across from your school." " In Benigno's house?" " Yes." " Why there?" " Benigno died." "Some day you and I need to talk." "Yes, and it'll be simpler than you think." "Nothing is simple." "I'm a ballet teacher, and nothing is simple."