"THE GREAT MADCAP" "Directed by" "Stop moving around." "Let me sleep!" "Sorry, I had an itch and was scratching." "Why don't you scratch your own leg?" " I couldn't find it!" "Shut up and let me sleep!" "Let's have some peace and quiet around here!" "Hey you, dandy!" "Who, me?" "The Judge wants you." "Well..." "Sorry, but I have to leave." "I can't stay here." "So long." "Till next time." " A pleasure." "The pleasure was all ours." "Hope this isn't the last we see of you." "It was great." "See you around." "Juan, the boss came back while you were in the kitchen." "Is he well?" " Muzzy, as always." "I'll tell everyone." "Yes." "What's up?" " The boss is home and in his room." "What?" " Your father's home." "Virginia!" "open up!" "I'm dressing." "Come near the door." "Father's home." "Get done quickly." "Right away." "We must see him one at a time." "You wait downstairs." "Good morning, Ramiro." " Hello, brother." "You're going out?" "Don't you want to rest?" "What for?" "I slept very well." "You caroused all night." " It was great." "Well, you're rich..." "and still young." "You have to enjoy life..." "I understand." "You are very smart, Ladislao." "Have any money?" " For you, anytime." "I was naked so I ordered a few suits." "How much?" " Not much... 1800 pesos." "Send the bill to the office." "I can't find my wallet." "Thanks... see you downstairs." "Good morning, sir." " Hello, Juan." "What is it?" " This, it's the dry-cleaning bill." "You're always so careful with my things." "How much?" "230 pesos." " Tell my office to give you 300." "Good morning, family." "Morning, brother-in-law." "Having breakfast?" "I had my breakfast in bed, now I'm resting a little." "I can't, I just had my colagogo..." "Cola... what?" "Medicine for my liver." " Colagogo?" "Come on..." "Since you weren't here, I bought a few things." "The Elegant Fashions." "It cost 1.000 pesos." "Doctors and medicines..." "five thousand eighty-nine..." "What an ugly number!" "This one is for Virginia's party." "I told Ladislao I never carry cash." "Send for a check." "Doesn't he look awful." "Add something for me in the check he'll give you." "Don't you worry." "I almost forgot the pills for my depression." "How's papa?" " He is in the dining room." "Who's first?" "Me." "Wait!" "Call it!" "Heads!" "I win!" "How are things, dad?" "Son, sit down." "want to have breakfast with me?" "No, I can't, but I wanted to speak to you." "How much do you need?" "Ask for whatever you want, I am your father." "And a real good father." "Yes, you are the best father in the world." "I'd like a new car, a Cadillac convertible." "And the old one?" "Some stupid jerk got in my way." "I smashed it up." "Very well, no son of mine is going to ride around in a wreck." "Buy a new one, of course." "Send the bill to the office." "Thanks, father." "You're one of a kind." "Another thing, I quit school." "The teachers were picking on me." "one insulted me." "I told him my father was rich and I didn't have to take his crap." "You have plenty of time to work and study." "You don't have to take abuse from anyone." "Good morning, father, am I interrupting?" "How can you?" "Never." "I am going, father, thanks for everything." "What a boy!" "Just like you." "Sit down, beautiful." "Just one moment." "Alfredo will arrive shortly." "Don't forget the party this afternoon." "Party?" "Alfredo is going to ask for my hand." "Ah, yes..." "Alfredo." "I don't like that boy." "He's not for you." "He's only after your money." "You're too good for him and I'd hate..." "Marriage!" "oh, how dizzy I feel." "Marriage is a very serious thing." "For two to live as one, you need understanding... sacrifice you will be struggling together for happiness." "Like your mother and I did." "That was a long time ago." "I like Alfredo, he's so good looking." "If you like him so much, go ahead." "He's going to be your husband, not mine." " You're the best father there is." "You're beautiful." "More handsome than anyone." "All my friends like you." "That's our inner beauty." "That must be Alfredo." "You'll see, you will change your mind about him." "So long, beautiful." "Juan, what happened to the cigars I had here?" "They were getting dry, so Don Ladislao and I smoked them." "What a pair of..." "Where should I be going now?" "Possibly to your office." " That's a good idea." "It's been days since I was there." "To my office." "Say yes." " Be quiet." "Good morning." "You're resting whenever I come." "well, go right on." "Mrs. Eludiges, what are you knitting?" " Don Ramiro, it's a sweater for my Pepito." "When you're here and have nothing to do, would you make one for me?" "How are you, Alfonso?" " God bless you." "How are things around here?" "Don't tell me." "You know I obey all your orders." "But my friendship compels me to tell you this can't continue." "You are headed for ruination." " Don't exaggerate." "In any case, it would be my fault." "And why are you being so formal?" "In business matters, it is necessary to be correct." "Please Ramiro... be sensible." "You don't show up, don't attend meetings." "The board of directors is threatening to quit." "Let them!" "who cares?" "We will go broke, that's all." "Drinking again?" " A fine whiskey." "Ramiro, we've been friends a long time..." "Even your own family cares little for you." "You're wrong." "It's true!" "They only care for what they can get out of you." "You don't know what your son has lost lately." "I do, because I paid for it." "They do what they please, And all you do is drink." "That's the only thing you care about." "I lost what I loved most in the world, my wife." "And I cannot forget without it." "You'll have to get over that, or you'll go broke." "Another thing." "Your ideas of pushing up the mining shares is crazy." "we could lose everything." "Just do what I told you." "I'm sorry." "I'll follow your orders." "Hello?" "Very well... who is it?" "Just one moment." "Your friend Carmelito." "Give it to me." "Yes, how did you know I was here?" "I told you I didn't want to be called here." "We're in my apartment having a few drinks." "It's stupid to drink so early." "Don't bother me." "Come on over." "Very well, I will be there in ten minutes." "We'll have a little surprise for you when you get here." "Hurry!" "What a man that Carmelito." "He's fantastic!" "You're going to leave after what I just said?" "This situation sounds so black, I'm going to have a couple of drinks." "That's the door." " You open it, I'm very busy." "Who's calling, please?" " I'm one of the family." "I'll tell them..." "No, I want to surprise them." "Are you a servant?" "Yes, sir." "Then serve me!" "I must be very sick." "It's not possible." "It's less than 37 degrees." "This doesn't work!" "You take chances with your health." "You must be careful." "Ramiro!" "Ladislao!" "It's Gregorio!" "Brother!" " Gregorio!" "Come and let's hug." "Not so hard." "Brother-in-law!" "How nice to see you again." "What have you been doing with yourself?" "As always, hospitals, conferences, asylums I'm totally dedicated." "To what do we owe this surprise?" "To a letter." "From Ramiro?" "From his lawyer, Don Alfonso." "He told me everything." "Since he lost his wife, he's turned into a drunkard, a great madcap, a woman chaser." "Weeks go by without him coming home or going to the office." "You exaggerate." "It's true that he drinks a little, but..." "Drinks a little?" "Don Alfonso has had to get him out of jail on quite a few occasions." "If he continues, he will lose everything." "Why haven't you stopped him?" "We thought the drinking would help him forget." "Yes, especially since it suits you all." "Right?" " wrong!" "Do you think we want to be poor?" "Do his children know what he is doing?" "Yes, but Ramiro doesn't care." "What a calamity!" "I'm glad I came." "I will take charge." "It will be difficult." "His mind is not right." "He's always drunk." "We'll see. where are the children?" "Virginia is with her boyfriend." "Eduardo went for a car." "Some fun, the father drunk, the kids partying and you living a gay old life." "You're insulting!" "Where is Ramiro now?" "That's what we'd like to know." "Ah, this is the life." "The best life of all." "Wake up friend." "I've had enough dancing." "I can't go on any more." "Me, neither." "Why are you stopping?" "Don't, man, don't do that." "We started about noon, Ramiro." "Who cares?" "This is the life, right girls?" "Drink up everybody." "we have to get our strength back." "To drink and enjoy  our glasses of liquor..." "You have a good set of pipes." "Shall we do a rumba?" "That's what we like, a rumba." "Listen, I'm going to sleep." "Thanks." "I like you very much. what's your name?" "Helena." "No, impossible!" "You can't be Helena." "That's my name." "Don't call yourself Helena." "Say you're not Helena!" "What's the trouble?" "That's better... but not Helena, no!" "I thought he was going crazy." "His wife's name was Helena." "Ramiro... drink up and calm yourself." "I am calm, but some things really upset me." "You behaved like a child." "She didn't mean to offend you." "Look what you did to her." "Poor kid!" "You will permit me to calm her?" "Do what you like." "Listen Ramiro, somebody called Don Alfonso wants you to come home right away." "A party?" "Some jackass wants to marry my daughter." "But I'm going to fix that right now." "In this condition?" " Yes, I can make it." "Are you happy?" " Very happy." "Did you like the liquor mother sent you?" " Very much!" "It's more of a gift for your father." "Uncle!" "He is man who likes to celebrate in style." "When you have so much." "It ends when you don't work to expand your capital." "But you've never worked a day." " I stick to my philosophy of 'laidback-ism'." "My motto is, why do anything when everything's already been invented." "Very funny!" "Now if you will excuse me." "He has a great sense of humour." " Yes, but he doesn't leave us alone." "My love!" " Everyone's watching!" "Who cares?" "we'll be engaged today and married in a few days." "So soon?" "Then we will travel a lot." " And when we return?" "We will only think of our undying love for each other." "Are you that rich?" "Don't give it a thought." "Stop it!" "I told you to stop it!" "Are you crazy?" "I can't drink." "what time is it?" "Half past six." "I mustn't miss my pills at six." "I have to watch out." "A spoonful at seven-thirty, an injection at eight." "This is not living." "Give me my pills." "Why don't you consult a good doctor?" "I have... several." "And they all agreed?" " Yes, on what they will charge." "Father is late, eh, auntie?" "Very true..." "I am also surprised." "I don't understand." "No, I said it because we had already agreed..." "He'll be here." "Don't worry, mother, we're not in a hurry." "That's Don Ramiro's voice." "Excuse me." "There he comes..." "and now he comes!" "You're lucky, Gregorio..." "You're going to see your brother with a big load on." "I am so good, they carry me on their shoulders!" "Let me down easy because I am very fragile." "I was coming home and I saw him trying to open the door with a cigar." "He's loaded." "Looks like a fun fair!" "Father, please!" "Daughter!" "What's this, man?" "What do you care?" "I am the boss in my own house!" "Isn't that so?" "What are they talking about?" "This is terrible!" "I'm dying!" "It's incredible!" "I was looking for you." "Silence!" "Nobody opens his mouth..." "Except me!" "I decided not to let my daughter fall into the hands of a moron like you!" "Listen, sir..." " Yes, my good man?" "Lady..." "I'm a lady!" "Better shave, because you look like a man." "Father, please!" "My little girl, come here, look..." "You're too good to marry that fortune hunter." "He's only after your money." "What a spectacle." "Take him away!" "Wait!" "As your father I have rights..." "I oppose this wedding!" "Don't push!" "You are honourable and you will agree, sir." " I repeat..." "I am a lady!" "Sit down, Milagros." "You, madam, must have children..." " I am a man!" "Excuse, but as she says she is a lady, I thought you were one also." "Insolent!" "Father, please!" "As for you, Miguel, I don't want to see you in my house ever again!" "Go out and work to earn money!" "Drunkard!" "I'll never forgive myself for bringing him to this house." "Come my friends, let's go." "Sit down!" "Father!" "what is it?" "Is it bad?" "Let's take him to his room." "Give me a hand." "I am getting very sick." "How is he?" "Better, his pressure is normal." "He's a bit quieter now." "Three days ago I thought he would die." "Come with me to the library." "I want to talk to you all." "Sit down and listen." "Pay close attention." "I have to talk to you about something important." "My dear family..." "Put your foot down." "The situation is serious." "Fortunately, Ramiro has recovered from his attack but he will have a relapse if he continues like this." "We must stop him or he will find himself penniless." "His illness is mental and emotional." "I thought of something that may cure him." "And to accomplish this I need all your cooperation." "Whatever you want." "As long as we can save him." "Many sacrifices will be required of all of you." "What kind of sacrifices?" " You'll see..." "We have sacrificed." "Yes - eating and loafing all day long." "True?" "We'll do anything." "You can help most of all." "Postpone the wedding." "It is postponed." "You're upset?" "Right now my only concern is daddy." " You are young and will find someone better." "And now, we will start our plan this very moment." "You... and you..." "What a place!" "How terribly vulgar!" "where has Gregorio stuck us now?" "He says it is part of the plan to cure Ramiro for good." "I'll die here." "That Gregorio is crazier than his own patients." "What a house!" "There come our new neighbours." "They've seen better days." "Shut up!" "They arrived at night, very mysteriously and secretly." "They moved into the old Gonzalez house." " Yes, I saw them bringing in a sick man." "Why do you think that they are rich folk?" "Because of the way they talk." "I think there is something funny about that family." "To think we must live here!" "As long as it's necessary." "What about my friends?" "You will be a good son sacrificing for his father." "What terrible stairs." "It hurts me when I walk up." "And this room, it's a pig sty!" "How frightful!" "Quiet down." "Where's father?" "He's sleeping." "He doesn't know night from day." "I'm worried." "He's been like that for days." "It's because of the injections." " They dangerous?" "Don't worry, he'll awaken soon." "Here are the duties for each of you." "Milagros, you will do your sewing here." "You will do the kitchen and the ironing." "You will be shining shoes over there, Eduardo." "Shine, anyone?" "And for you, Ladislao..." "there is this carpenter's bench." "Couldn't you have found something a bit more comfortable?" "That's not to sit on, that's to work on." "Get to work!" "Work?" "A man of my standing?" "How do you work this?" "What do you think of my new dress?" " Very appropriate." "This is the cook's." " Marvellous." "I'm not a carpenter." "Quiet, you'll wake him!" "Where do we sleep?" "Eduardo and you with father. we, in there." "How awful." "At least this won't be for long." "How ever long it takes." " Exactly." "I wonder if this is going to work." "But we trust you." "You're his brother, the doctor." "Who knows?" "In this case I am not a doctor." "I am a brother, someone who loves him." "This happened because of his weak character, triggered by his wife's death." "We have to help him recover, and to do that he has to realize that he was on the path to ruination." "Here is the proof of his failure." "Newspaper clippings, of the bankruptcy." "He has to be made to believe all this." "When the time comes, we will show them to him." "Won't he resent all this when he finds out the truth?" "He'll come to appreciate it after the first blow." " First he'll strike me a blow." "He's awakening." "Places everyone and may God help us." "You, to your sewing, and you to your bench." "I'm tired of all this mending and washing." "It's a dog's life!" "This lumber is terrible, it's full of knots!" "Be patient, it was worse last week and you made a nice table." "What a life!" "All this work for a few measly crumbs." "Shut up, you fool." "He left." "How silly, I thought I had awakened." "Here he comes!" "What are you doing here?" " working." "You two, working?" "That's impossible!" "You should have stayed in bed." "You want a relapse?" "Relapse?" "You are working, Ladislao?" " If it weren't for me, how would we eat?" "Please, tell me what is going on?" "Each day we ask ourselves that same question." "Explain!" "Don't yell at me or I'll saw your head off!" "Such energy, Ladislao?" " Enough energy to keep us out of jail." "It's my fault?" " All yours!" "You don't remember your fraudulent bankruptcy?" "And the arrest warrant against you?" "We made the police think you had fled and we hid you here." "If you don't believe me, go and look." "I must have been very ill." "You're better now, but you should have seen yourself when we left Las Lomas a year ago." "A year ago?" " Yes you've been unconscious ever since." "You didn't know who you were or remember anything." "The alcohol!" "If you'll excuse me I'll go fix our meal and do the washing." "No, that's impossible!" "Look, Ladislao, I am ready to believe anything my ruin, this life of misery, everything!" "But that you are working, that I can't swallow!" "My children!" "I want to see them." "Lalo!" "Virginia!" "You first." "The shoeshine kit!" "Did you call, father?" "My own son!" "what are you doing?" "You can see." "Shining shoes." "That's impossible!" "You, my own son!" "Where did you get this idea?" "I tried to find work." "Nobody wanted me." "They didn't trust me, because of what you did." "This way I help earn our bread." " No, no..." "No!" "Not that, Ladislao!" "Calm yourself!" "From tomorrow I'll kneel down and do the shoe shining." "It hurts to see you like this on my account." "Forgive me." "And all of you, Ladislao..." "please forgive me." "Forgive me!" "What are you going to do?" " Tell him!" "He hasn't cried since mother died." "We have to continue." "He's responding well, he feels remorse." "This will all be over soon." "I'm glad, because this carpentry is killing me." "You go in now." "Later, leave him alone to think." "Be tough and don't mind his tears." "It'll be his salvation." "I can't!" " Don't be afraid." "Good morning, daddy." "Listen. what they tell me can't be true." "Please tell me the truth." "Don't be like that." "You have to be strong." "No, no, it can't be." "No, tell me it didn't happen." "You think I would lie to you?" "It isn't bad." "I have not been unhappy all this time." "All this time?" "what happened, dear?" "You had total amnesia." "And the bankruptcy?" "We had to sell everything, even the house, to pay our bills." "Look at these newspaper clippings." "They tell the story." "'Fraudulent bankruptcy!" "Police looking for Ramiro de la Mata. '" "'Believed to have fled the country. '" "And this other one." "The stock went down!" "It was my fault!" "I told Alfonso to buy 'cause it was going up!" "Be calm. we have to face reality!" "What a terrible reality!" "Forgive me child, forgive me!" "The important thing is to get well now." "To get well?" "The best thing would be to die!" "What are you thinking?" "That I must find a solution." "My poor little one." "I wanted to give you the best of everything." "Don't worry, your father will find the way to get you all out of this misery." "Go." " But..." "I need to be alone." "Exquisite!" "with your permission, I'm going to eat this." "I don't know what I'd do without these moments of relief." "These sweets will make my dyspepsia worse." "Eat, Virginia." "Father worries me." "He's been locked in there for two hours." "Leave him alone so that he can do some soul-searching." "I'm going to see if he's all right." "What do you want?" "Daddy, you all right?" "Yes, I am resting a little." "What'd he say?" "He's resting." "No reason to worry. with your permission I'm going try this cream torte." "Come on, dear." "You eat, too." "'Forgive me for this." "Life doesn't interest me... ' '... and my death will save all of you. '" "'My lawyer has my life insurance policy. '" "'May God help you all and forgive me for my sins. '" "Hey, listen!" "Are you crazy?" "Don't move." "Let me go, I tell you!" "Good God!" "You almost did it!" "You'll only hurt yourself if you jump." " But surely I'll kill myself." "No, you'll only break your legs." "You think so?" " I'm sure you'll become a cripple for life." "Why are you so desperate?" " I'm more than desperate, so let me go." "A match?" "Why do you laugh?" "I see you in a wheelchair the rest of your life." "If you really want to kill yourself, I'll show you where." "Let's go back up." "I'll help you." "Are you hurt?" "It's nothing." "Just imagine if you had fallen into the street." "Sit down there... rest a little while." "Thank you, young fellow, you are very kind." "Don't you have any family?" "Yes, I have a son and a daughter and brothers." "But they are in misery on my account." "You have to be strong." "You have to take it in stride." "You are one of the new tenants?" "The ones who arrived yesterday?" "No, sir, we've been living here for a year." "Don't tell me a year!" "I know everyone who lives here." "You moved into number seven yesterday." "Yesterday!" "Number seven!" "How many moved in?" "My mother said, two women, an old lady and a young one." "And a sick man on a stretcher." "What is today's date?" "May 31 st." "1949?" "Then it was all a lie!" "Ladislao made all this up!" "I won't let you do it!" "I won't kill myself." "I'm going to kill someone else." "You're dangerous!" "You shouldn't be left alone!" "Damn him!" "To push me to suicide!" "Let me go, I tell you!" "Hold still, man!" "I don't like to hit and old man, but..." "Auntie!" "Eduardo!" "What's wrong?" "See what father has written!" "He has killed himself!" "You see what you did with your experiment?" "You killed him!" "Maybe it's not too late." "Let's look for him!" "Pardon me... this belongs to you." "Is he dead?" " I knocked him out." "He wanted to jump." "Bring him inside." "No, sit him up, it will be better." "Look, he's coming to!" "If I had known what this would cause, I wouldn't have tried it." "Are you better, daddy?" "what a scare you gave us!" "It would have been worse if a young man had not..." "Thank you very much." "I owe you my life." "You're a good friend and maybe someday I'll be able to repay you." "Forget it." "Swear you won't try it again." "I swear." "I won't be such an idiot again." "My God!" "Gregorio, you here?" "I heard about your illness and came to help." "I almost gave you up for dead." "A curious case, which we call disorientation in time and space." "Disorientation?" "As you can see, I am orienting better already." "I ask forgiveness for trying to kill myself." "It's my fault for bringing you all to this." "Who cares, father?" "we are all happy as we are." "You're all happy." " Very much." "And you, Lalo?" "Virginia is right." "Life has taught us a lot." "Young fellow, thank you again." "And you, Ladislao, I see you like to work?" "I love it!" "I can't understand how I lived without doing anything." "He's another man." " obviously..." "Well, back to work." "Let's keep on fighting." "Gregorio, I'm feeling better..." "It would be good to take a walk." "No, you shouldn't." "You're not well yet." " You've been sick a whole year." "I assure you that I am a new man." "If you wish." "If he goes out, he'll find out everything." "I'll see to it that he doesn't talk to anybody." "Will you tell us what happened to my father?" "Well..." "I didn't know I had such a beautiful neighbour." "I know everything." " what?" "I know the reason for all this nonsense and I thank you." "I will take advantage of this lesson." "My only thought was to cure you." "I hope I succeeded." "The trouble is that you almost didn't." "What are you thinking?" "While we're experimenting, I'll give my family a lesson, too." "First I despaired, but now I laugh about my son shining shoes." "Well, let him shine all the shoes in Mexico." "My car is outside." "From what your father said, I figured that before you came here... you could afford anything you wanted." "We live in this misery because..." "May I help you?" " Don't bother." "We came here for the purpose of..." "Don't get mad." "This happens everyday." "Rich today and poor tomorrow." "It happened to my grandfather, too." " It's not that." "In our case it happened because..." " Don't say anything." "We're poor but we have our friendship." "I'll do everything I can to help." "Many thanks." "You live here?" " Yes, downstairs, with my mother." "Forgive me for insisting, but when there's no fire in the kitchen..." "I mean to say..." "I heard you." "Sometimes we can't even buy a bowl of beans." "That's not right." "You all have to eat." "How many are you?" "We're six." "Now I have no time, but this evening I'll buy something to feed you all." "Wait a minute, you're leaving with my shirt." "Sometimes words are not enough." "There are times when words..." "See you later." "I didn't forget anything, did I?" " I think not." "Very well." "We are agreed on everything." "Notify the bank and all the employees." "If my family asks, tell them what I told you." "I hold you responsible." "I expect you to visit us and to behave." " I'll try." "Let's go, Gregorio." "Let's see..." "Everybody into the office." "Don Alfonso has something to say." "Let's move." "From now on, no more fooling around." "I am going to watch everyone." "Those who don't work, will go!" "Now you know." "Go on inside." "I am very happy to see you this way." "That's nothing." "In a few months I'll have a model household." "And now back to my part in playing out this farce." "Let me sit down, son." "You're annoying, auntie." "You know, my kidneys are killing me." "I spent a horrible night in that awful bed." "This pill is for the liver." "And this one is for the pressure, and this one for the bile." "And this one is for tired blood." "Hide the sweets." "If Ramiro sees them, everything is lost." "Don Alfonso." "Good afternoon." "Is Don Ramiro here?" " Yes, but he's resting." "Come in." "Want a candy?" " This is no occasion for candy." "How about a sweet?" " Also not for sweets." "What's new, Alfonso?" "Why did you come?" " Speak low." "No need for secrets any longer." "So why have you come." " on a serious matter." "Please sit down." "You have a headache?" "No sir, it's something else." "Dear friends, there are terrible coincidences in our lives." "We mortals, like poor worms..." " Don Alfonso, come to the point." "To tell you in a few words: we are nothing, ladies and gentlemen." "What may not happen in a year, can happen in an hour." "Tell us already." "Life is short..." "Security now is ended." "I say with the church: 'pulvis et umbra sumus. '" "Another word of Latin, and I'll kill you." "Well, it's about Don Ramiro's wealth..." "He has lost everything." " what?" "He's totally broke." " Impossible." "Prove it, or you won't leave here alive." "Unfortunately, it is true." "My word of honour." "I warned Don Ramiro a long time ago." "I'm sorry that it has affected you the most." " I'm getting sick." "He was playing the market." "I warned him, but he ignored me." "Yesterday the bottom dropped out of the mining share price." "We owe four hundred thousand pesos." "Holy Virgin!" "How awful!" "More work." "Father knows?" " what's it to him?" "He already fell for our lies." "I'm going to die." "This is the end." "This is terrible." "Now the loss is real." "He may go to jail." "He won't be able to pay off this debt." "We'll pay with our work." "Let's sell the house and my jewels." "Anything to save him." "We'll have nothing." " who cares?" "What misery." "Yes madam, it's the naked truth." "What's going on?" "Alfonso, why are you here?" "Why did you come?" "To inform you that..." "No, I can't." "What's wrong?" " You're totally ruined." "That happened a year ago." "we are used to it now." "There's only one thing left..." "our love for one another." "You can't eat that." "We still have Milagro's washing, your carpenter's tools... and Lalo's shoeshine kit..." "and the will to work." "How painful." "My soul hurts watching this poor family." "There's no reason to worry." "What will we do?" " we'll work, my son." "You shining shoes, Ladislao sawing boards and you in the kitchen and Milagros washing and mending." " Not me, I'm too sick." "With no money, you don't get sick." "To work!" "Well, get going." " I have no work." "You have no work?" "Fix it, or you don't eat." "Come, cook, my love." " There's nothing to cook." "You finished what the boy brought last night?" "There's more here, rice, beans, flour, chocolate, coffee, sausage..." "We have enough credit for a few days." "Many thanks, my boy." "I'll get you work." "If we don't help each other, who will?" "That's what I call a heart." "To work!" "Work?" "And what will you do?" " I'm convalescing." "Good morning, Dona Atanasia." "How are all your troubles?" " I am better." "You get used to everything." "Before, we had brass and a car to go around." "Now we have to hoof it all the way." "You have to have luck." "I better go before the beans get burned, or my man will get very upset." "So long." " Bye." "Get a move on, Ladislao." "'Get a move on?" "'" "He talks funny, eh, neighbour?" "Where did you learn that slang?" "In the market." "And other expressions I wouldn't repeat, like..." "Son of a!" "Forgive me." "Back already?" "And very tired." "Give me the list." "Ladislao, get to work." "Is it only noon?" "I'm hungry for two o'clock." " Your stomach is fast." "Better set it right." "That's the oil." "Beans, rice bread, cabbage..." "where's the cabbage?" "There's no cabbage, sugar or bread in there." " I only had 8 pesos." "You kept 3 for yourself." " I wanted to buy a pair of stockings." "Paint your legs." "The money." "Here." "I spent 20 cents on the bus." "The bus?" "Luxuries again?" "This is too much." "I work like a horse and I don't even have enough for aspirins." "If nothing hurts, why complain?" "The washing is going to kill me." "Pablo brings me a ton every day." "He's helping us." "Helping?" "Let him go help his own." "Silence!" "He does the same to me." "Every day he brings three to four chairs." "His cruelty has no equal." "Don't talk, work." "Ramiro, let me sit down and have a cigarette." "Smoking sitting down is no good." "Smoke and work." "What do you do?" " I do accounts, working in a funeral parlour." "That's all I could find." "You think it's easy to sell coffins?" "It's nice to feel attractive and break hearts  and by wearing 'Venus Stockings' you will do that." "Ask for them  at your favourite store." "Here comes Pablo." "Virginia will be down soon." "You should learn from him." "He fixes radios, does announcing..." "Loves your daughter." " That's the best." "Finished." "Didn't I tell you?" "All down?" " only half, the rest isn't dry." "Now deliver this." " okay." "Seen Pablo?" " No, why?" "No reason, I just like him very much, but not as much as I like you." "You're really something." "Do you want to kill me?" "They pay 10 pesos for each one." "They could give you better ones and pay 20." "What a man, Ladislao." "I'm on my way." "Can I take you anywhere?" "I'm delivering these, if you don't mind?" " It's a pleasure." "Take care of her." "You can be sure of that." "My high-powered 'Cadillac'." "Do you like it?" " It's very cute." "Shall I put on some music?" " Good idea." "If you want your skin to look beautiful, buy 'Foam of Flowers!" "'" "{y:i)One application will guarantee amazing results." "Many a woman who went to bed ugly  awoke in the morning, beautiful, thanks to 'Foam of Flower. '" "Does this happen often?" " Not often, three or four times a day." "Now what?" "It will start up soon." "I came prepared." "We put some water here, and as soon as it cools off..." "Please wait a little while." "Besides, I'd like to talk to you." "Why are you looking at me?" "I'm admiring your beauty." "Am I being too forward?" "Ice pops!" "Ice pops!" "We have ice cream!" "Ice pops!" "Want one?" "See if he has chocolate." "Two chocolates." "What is it?" "I was thinking how things happen." "For all of you it has been a tragedy, but for me, it has been lucky." "Because of it, I've met you." "I wouldn't have talked to you if you were rich." " why not?" "Because I am a nothing." "Not exactly a nothing." "Thanks to my electrical work and my announcing, I have done pretty well." "And I am saving to open a radio repair shop." "I also have a few inventions, and with a little luck I could..." "You could what?" "Virginia, don't you remember that first day?" "I only have to close my eyes and I see you, because..." "Won't you help me?" "Help you?" "Yes, to tell you that I love you." "Say it." "I said it." "What?" "I love you." "The car has cooled off." "I was saying..." " we'll see." "Louis VXI!" " This one had worse intentions." "I'm hungry." " Fancy some broth?" "Let him wait." "Here, cups of broth are numbered." "I've been working like a mule and eating like a canary." "Complain to the animal protection society." "The most beautiful lady's dresses..." "They're back." "... are available at reasonable prices." "We undersell our competitors." "Almost there." "We'll stop a moment." "You must answer me." "Come hear this." "Didn't you hear me?" "I heard you." "What is your answer?" "Look, Virginia, I know I'm a small potato now, but I intend to grow." "All I can offer  is my love, you know, which has grown in a short time." "Go on." "Maybe you think I'm vain  but I think  I think you like me a lot." "I'm sure of it." "Don't make me suffer." "Look me straight in the eye..." "Let me go!" "What will father say?" "That you are a pair of fools." " Quiet!" "I love you." "I want to marry you." "I want you for my own  I want to take care of you." "That girl is very hard to convince." "No, please stop, Pablo!" "My life!" "My love!" "Stop there. wait till after the ceremony." "The speaker was still on." " How embarrassing." "She was hard to convince, eh?" "Pardon me, sir. what time do you leave for the funeral parlour?" "The funeral parlour?" "oh, yes... at six." "Then it's time." " I'll go, then." "If Ladislao knew that my funeral parlour job was to come here and rest, he'd stop it." "He'd murder me on the spot." "For lunch tomorrow?" " A lobster, fresh and well cooked." "To drink?" " A little wine." "A little?" "How temperate you have become." " That's life, Juan." "Don Alfredo?" "I want to talk to you." "Let's go inside." "I'm very tired." "It's a hard life." "I'm getting used to it." "Women and animals are creatures of habit." "Don't say such stupid things." "Hard day's work?" "Looks like everybody around here decided to die today." "What's to eat?" "Something good." "Pablo's mother is coming." "I'm not hungry." "I'll just nibble." "Funny, you're never hungry, but I'm always starved." "Virginia went for bread." "Here she comes." "What are you doing here?" "Virginia, what happened?" "It's nothing." " who was that?" "An old friend." "Then why didn't you speak to him?" "I don't feel like resuming old friendships." "I changed my life, and my friends, too." "Have some more, it's good for you." " I've had too much already." "These are delicious. what's in them?" "The usual... pork rinds, onions, of course, and a little lard." "I used to hate them, but now I could lick the pot clean." "Here's to you, Virginia." "You, too." "What a lovely couple." "They are made for each other." "My son is quite a boy." "And he likes to see people work." "This is a good life." "Before, we were selfish, living like strangers." "Milagros couldn't even digest chicken before..." "Now nothing I eat bothers me." "Yes, now we are back to a good life." "Now we know the value of a real home." "Ladislao was the biggest bum in the world." "And you, Milagros, always playing sick." "Lalo was a dull young man." "And Virginia, well my daughter always had a good heart." "Thank her... and we?" "what can we say?" "He's right." "Who's that." " Go look." "Maybe it's more work for me." "Good evening." "What are you doing here?" "How did you find out?" "You disappeared without a trace." "we didn't know what to think." "A little while ago, we saw Virginia go in here and we don't know what to think." "But Don Ramiro..." "you people living like this?" "You have eyes." "Why are you here?" "We're working." "What's so strange about that?" "Amazing." "How terrible I feel." "Why didn't you tell us?" "Good God." "You're okay?" " we're quite all right." "Poor Virginia." "If we only had known." "You should have told us." "We were almost like members of the family, weren't we?" "She's right." "I still consider you my future wife." "Is that so?" "Now, everything has changed." "Not for me." "As always, everything we have is yours." "Forgive me, Alfred, I have badly misjudged you." "Forgive me." "Let's go, mother, we're not wanted here." "But, son..." "We don't want to intrude upon your conversations." "Virginia, what a happy occasion." "I was desperate." "Father." "Calm down." "No explanations now." "we'll discuss this later." "You should not stay here any longer." " Like I always said." "We know you're very proud, but our friendship will win you over." "Tomorrow I will find you a house." " You are our guardian angel." "I always said you were something special." "Is anyone home?" "Come in, Gregorio." "Hello, you lousy bum." "where were you?" "Visiting friends." "Don't think I forgot you." "I called your office often." "I just came from there." "Can we talk?" " of course." "Milagros is doing the laundry and Ladislao went out to buy nails." "Virginia?" "Talking to Pablo." "Something disagreeable happened." "Your business is growing like soap bubbles." "And the capital is increasing." "It's easy to see that I'm not managing the business." "If this continues, you'll double your money before the year is out." "The Board was waiting for you Saturday morning." "I couldn't go." "I make up the shopping list in the morning." "And I watch Milagros and Ladislao do their work." "Why do you bother with those little details?" "They're not little details, they're what counts most in life." "I wouldn't change it now for the old life." "It's about time you told them." " Not yet." "I would hate to see them go back to being selfish, useless and lazy." "A little while longer." "This is like a dream, and I don't want to wake up." "I'm going to wake you up!" "Where should I hit you first with this hammer?" "Ladislao, he is head of the family." "I'm going to break his head in name of the family." "Nobody gets away with deceiving me." "I worked like a slave." "I had little to eat and you a millionaire." "I'll kill you!" "I'm going to nail him to the floor." "Look at that odious vampire, that exploiting dictator." "I'll kill him!" "He is your brother." "But he's deceived me." "I'm tired of listening to you rave." "The Ramiro who was your playmate, is no longer!" "You will do what I say, understand?" "And who doesn't, will be out on the street." "Don't be like that." "Imagine how we feel." "What's going on here?" "It was a lie about Ramiro losing everything." " Are you serious?" "Ramiro, tell me the truth." "It's true." "This has been a lesson for us all." "And for you, too, Ramiro." "For me, too." "What's new, friend?" "Pablo, let me try to explain." " I don't want to know." "Don't be stupid." "what can I do to convince you?" "Nothing!" "You had a boyfriend and you were going to marry him." "I told you that the wedding had been cancelled." "To pass the time you made a fool of me, right?" "I'm poor and he is rich." "I'm as good as he and I'm more honest." " And better looking too." "That's not important." "what's important is your deceit." "I will have to get father to convince you." "I want you to come with me." "And no more carpentry!" "And no more dirty clothes!" "Everything set right?" "I can't convince him." "I want you to tell him the truth." "Your father is the biggest liar in the world." "We had to live here when his business was going great." "Shut up, Milagros." "I am going to explain everything." "To you too." "You're telling me that you're rich?" " Unfortunately, Pablo." "This has been a comedy." "I'll explain." "And trying to kill yourself was a joke?" "That was the one thing that was serious." "You disgust me!" "You be careful!" "You came here to have a good laugh at the poor?" "This takes time to explain." "And everybody in the neighbourhood trying to help you." "My mother helped you out of compassion." "You must have had lots of laughs." "Father, tell him." " Listen..." "I don't want to hear anything, especially from you." "Go back to your mansions and to your rich friends." "And you, go back to your old sweetheart." "You go too far now." "You haven't heard anything." "I have plenty more to say." "Don't insult my father." "Leave this house right now!" "Come, come, calm down." "What's new?" "Nothing." "I was fixing the cloth on this chair." "This is really marvellous." "Look at this work of art." "Look at these lovely lines." "They don't do work like that now." "All my life I sat on chairs and never knew their value." "By the way, I want to talk to you." " what about?" "Why don't we open a furniture factory?" "Don't laugh." "You put up the capital and I'll do the work." "Good idea." "What are you talking about?" " About interesting things." "How is the baking coming?" " Fine." "We'll never have to buy anymore cakes." "The cupboard door is stuck. will you fix it?" " of course, right away." "I have taken a great liking to carpentry." "How are you father?" "What is making you so happy?" "Something you will like." "I have gone back to school." "You couldn't have made me happier." "Where is Virginia?" " Planning her wedding." "I want to tell her something." "Tell her to come down." "I want to talk to her." "Did you want me?" "Sit down next to me." "Everything ready?" " Almost." "I wish you would be frank with me..." "talk to me freely." "You're going to take a big step in your life." "However I think you're marrying Alfredo to spite Pablo." "You are mistaken." "Alfredo is nicer than we thought." "Have you changed your mind and accepted him?" "Have you forgotten Pablo already?" "I beg you not to speak of him." "It was all ridiculous." "What happened was due to our circumstances and surroundings." "Please excuse me, but I have a lot to do yet." "All I want is for you to be happy." "I will be... if there is such a thing as happiness." "Pablo, why don't you come and eat?" "You shouldn't carry on this way." "You're so warm." "You have a fever." "Why don't you have something." "You don't even eat." "All you do is sit and brood." "The wedding's tomorrow." "What can we do about it, son?" "Forget her." "She was not meant for you." "You'll meet a nice girl, one that is in your class." "Why not her?" "Because she is rich and I am poor?" "It's easy for you to talk about classes." "I wish I could forget her, but I can't." "I just can't!" "To the bride and groom." "No, I toast to the bride only." "Don't cry... didn't you get married?" "That's why I'm crying." "You should see how beautiful she is." "She's coming down soon." "Already celebrating?" "The cars are ready." "What is it?" "Please listen." " Later." "It may be too late." "Tell me what it is." "Nobody is to hear this." "Come on, finish with your mystery." "In the past I have always misbehaved." "I smoked your cigars..." "drank your liquor." "Remember the watch you lost?" " The gold one?" "I pawned it." "Is that all?" " No, this act is the worst of all." "It's perfidious... it's about the man your daughter's about to marry." "What are they so secret about?" "Just look at father's face." "Impossible!" "And why didn't you tell me before, animal?" "What's the trouble?" " I must talk to you." "Virginia, dear, I just found out something terrible." "Remember the night Alfredo came to see us?" "Well, that afternoon he spoke to Juan and learned the truth." "What did Juan tell him?" " That I pretended to be broke and he gave him our address." "All his protestations were..." " False!" "He's a scoundrel." "The wedding is off." "You're mistaken, father." "The wedding will go on." "I will marry him, no matter what." "You must know what he's after." "Who cares!" "This one loves me for my money, the other hates me for it." "With Alfredo at least I know what to expect." "And as Milagros, says:" "'Love comes with time. '" "I won't permit it." " You want another scandal?" "You want people to say I'm crazy and irresponsible?" "No, father, I have suffered enough." "After all, I don't have many illusions." "Listen, dear..." " Don't try to change my mind." "Let's go." "You, the wife, must obey your husband in everything." "You shall scorn superfluous adornment of the body in favour of the beauty of your virtues." "You shall defend diligently the interests of the family." "You shall not leave your home without the permission of your husband." "You must be virtuous and chaste as a sealed fountain." "And nobody, after God, will she love more than her husband." "The female is false and treacherous, the Bible tells us that." "Remember Eve's apple!" "Trust neither her promises nor her pleas." "{y:i)Only those who wear 'Venus' stockings  deserve to be loved." "Stockings... 'Sighs of Venus. '" "Nor the husband anymore than his wife." "And in that which does not contradict our Christian beliefs try to please each other." "Buy 'Sighs of Venus' stockings." "If you don't want her to leave you  play the National Lottery." "The Lottery guarantees the fidelity of your wife." "And the wife obeys her husband..." "Devil's ham, buy it at the 'Perfecta. '" "And in the name of the Lord to you and all those present that if there is any impediment wherefore this marriage should not be performed step forward with complete freedom." "I repeat:" "If anybody knows of any impediment to this marriage, let him now speak." "There's one impediment, there are a few..." "First:" "She doesn't love him." "Second:" "I'm opposed to it..." "And third..." "You shut up!" "we know what you planned." "we know your tricks." "The man's drunk." "And you better shave." "Go and grab that boy and his devil's ham." "Yes, father." "I expect you to give me an explanation." "Explanation?" "Get it from that lady." "Come, I don't want to miss this." "Forgive me." "Pablo, please disconnect the microphone." "I don't care if the whole world hears." "You love me?" " I adore you." "Don Gregorio!" "Please, my mother fainted." "I hope she recovers." "THE END"