"I had a strange dream." "I was five or six, and my mother entered my room in an elegant dress." "She introduced a young lady as my babysitter." "I couldn't see my father, but I could hear him calling my mother." "They were probably having a party." "I heard music and people dancing downstairs," "so I imagine the party was at home." "But the strangest thing is that 80 years later" "I saw the young lady's face again." "Where had I kept it?" "In which corner of my mind had I hidden it?" "Now I try to hold on to it, for fear of losing it forever." "THE WINDOW" "Everything's dry now." "Tell Alberto to air the mattress." " Which sheets?" " The light blue ones." "What would he like to eat?" "We could do a leg of lamb." "What if he doesn't eat meat?" "They say Europeans don't eat meat." " He's never been here before?" " Not since I came." "It seems he and Don Antonio aren't speaking." "Why not?" "Alberto said they'd had a fight." "San Juan." "Farina calling." "Get everything ready." "San Juan..." "Farina calling." "Over." "Yes, Don Farina." "How are you?" "I'll be in your area, so I could drop off the checks." " How's Don Antonio?" "Over." " Better." "Over." "Then I'll stop by." "Over." "No problem." "Over." "I'll be there before noon." "Over." "We'll be expecting you." "Farina's bringing the checks." "I suppose he won't stay for lunch." "No, I hope not." "Shall we give him some jam?" "No, better not." "He's not going to be upset?" "Give him the sugar-free kind." "Good morning." "How are you today?" "Fine, fine." "Don't forget." "Your son's coming today." "How could I forget?" "And the piano?" "Is that man coming?" "Yes, Alberto's picking him up at the intersection." "It's a really good piano, a German one." "Not again!" "Don't you like how I do it?" "You've got a knack for it." "Then don't complain." "All this junk makes me feel bad." "It makes me weak." "Tell the doctor." "I'm only following his instructions." "Right, let's sit you up for breakfast." "Am I getting butter and jam?" "Yes, butter and jam." " Not the diet kind?" " No, the usual kind." "Good." "Do you want to write later?" "Yes, maybe." "Okay, I'll bring the computer after breakfast." "Okay." "Do you feel sick?" "No, I had a strange dream." "A nightmare?" "No." "A really beautiful dream." " Tell Alberto to come and see me." " Okay, I'll tell him." " Emilse." " Yes?" "I can't receive Pablo like a sick man." "See if the blue jacket is okay, if it needs ironing." "I'll tell Maria del Carmen." "Good morning." " How are you doing?" " Come in, please." "I'll leave the suitcase here" " and take the bedpan up." " I'll take it, Alberto." "Thanks." "How was your journey?" "A bit long." "I left yesterday evening." " We're a long way out, right?" " A bit." "Put your things here." "So this is the beast." "Yes, I'll take the cover off." "Nobody's played it for a long time." "Don Antonio's son used to play." "He's a famous pianist, and Don Antonio wants the piano tuned for him." "That's him, see?" "What a piano!" "A Steinway!" "The best there is." "Yes, he's very successful." "And he lives in Europe now." "Yes." "One must go abroad in order to make career." "Right, let's check it out." "Pianos are like women." "You must play them now and then." "If you don't..." "Sorry, I was only joking." " Just joking." " It's okay." " I suppose you haven't had breakfast?" " That's very kind of you." " Would you like coffee, tea or mate?" " Coffee is fine." "I'll bring it right away." "Don Antonio." "Alberto, please go down to the pantry and find the biggest bottle there." "A big bottle of wine." "Bring it to me, please." " I need the key, Don Antonio." " Here." " And bring it back to me." " Of course." "I always bring it back, Don Antonio." "Excuse me." "Here you are." "Thanks." "I'll move that." " Roberto Giorgio." " Hello." "Pleased to meet you." " What a luxury!" "It's all homemade?" " Yes." " These rolls, too?" " Yes, we make them here." "It's the wonderful thing about country life." "We city folks don't have pleasures like this." "Excuse me." "You're not from around here, right?" "No, I'm from Santiago del Estero." " Santiago." " Yes." "And do you have family here?" "No, I came alone." "That's good." "Yes." "Now if you'll excuse me." "Sorry, one more thing." "Who's the woman in the picture?" "I don't know." "She looks a bit like you, doesn't she?" "Look, Don Antonio." "What a lovely day!" "Let's sit you here, and I'll change the sheets." " Sit down here." " Wait." "Let me see." "Come on, Don Antonio, we have a busy day." "Was there much damage last night?" "No, the storm didn't last long." "Just a few broken branches." "I told Emilse I want to look nice tonight." " Remember the blue jacket?" " Yes, I do." " The one with the monogram on it." " You want to wear the jacket in bed?" "No, I'm not going to be in bed." "I can't be in bed." "You can't drag the IV all over the house." "Remember the shock you gave us last time?" "We'll make you look elegant in your bathrobe." "And maybe you can receive Pablo in that armchair." "We'll ask the doctor." "Don Antonio, is it this one?" "Let's see." "Don Antonio, what are you planning?" "I want to make a toast when Pablo arrives." "This bottle is over 40 years old." "My wife and I were keeping it for a special occasion." "You weren't planning to drink it, were you?" " Sorry?" " You weren't planning to drink it?" "No." "Don Farina asked if you accept checks payable in 60 days." " 60 days?" " Yes." "60 days is an eternity." "No, tell him to pay on time." "Don Antonio, what would your son like to eat?" "How should I know after all these years?" "Maybe he's a vegetarian." "They say Europeans don't eat meat." "What?" "Of course they eat meat!" " How's the vegetable garden?" " Fine." "It must have suffered in the storm." "We'll tidy it up." " What do we do with all this?" " We have it put in storage." "Help me with the bed." " Wow, it's heavy." " A bit." "How long is Senor Pablo staying?" "Don't know." "A few days, I suppose." "What on earth is that?" "It looks like a painting." " Can I have a look?" " Okay, but leave it as it was." "What is it?" "I can't make it out." "It's weird." "Why has he kept it?" "Emilse!" "Coming!" "Yes, Don Antonio?" "I kept money in this book." "It's not there anymore." " Well?" " I don't know." "Perhaps you put it somewhere else." "No, I wouldn't have forgotten." "No." "Okay, I'll let Maria del Carmen know, and we'll look for it." " Emilse!" " Yes, sir." " This is very serious." " Yes, sir." " What did he want?" " The usual." "He lost money." "If I had half the money they get, I'd pave it all." "With proper asphalt." "Good old-fashioned stuff." " Fixing the piano?" " This way." "I'm tuning it." "A piano without a cover." "My cousin had one." "He played at every school function." "Played the national anthem very well." "What were we talking about?" "Yes, asphalt." "Have you been on Highway 225 lately?" "A real pit." "The government calls it paved." "Highway 225 paved?" "They wasted all the money." "Paved?" " How's Don Antonio?" " A bit better." "I heard." " He was lucky." " Yes." "People were worried, because he's well liked." "He's a gentleman." "Yes." "We have to take care of ourselves." "Always worrying." "Where does that get you?" "Nowhere." "Remember I mentioned the checks and the 60 days?" "Could you ask Don Antonio if I can make it ninety?" " They're my checks." "He knows..." " I'll ask." "My checks are my checks." "He knows I'm like a bank." "I got that from my dad." "Okay, I'll tell him." "Thanks, that's very kind." "Give him my best wishes and tell him we're all very concerned." " Okay." " Thank you." "Don't you feel well?" "My blood pressure's a bit low." " Can I get you a glass of water?" " No, thank you." "Put your head down." "Try to push my hand away." "Harder!" "Harder!" " Feeling better?" " I'm a new man." "My dad had the same thing." "It's hereditary." "He started sweating, went pale and bang!" "Mom used to worry her head off." "I had an uncle who could move his ears." "He inherited it from his father who got it from his father..." "Don Antonio, we'll go back to bed, because the doctor's coming." "I just sat down to write." "No, you've been there for an hour." "Come on." "That's it!" "I want to stroll around the vegetable garden." "I want to see how it looks after the storm." "All right." "After you've recovered." "But I'm fine." "Okay, I'll ask Maria del Carmen." "But I'm fine." "We'll take you tomorrow." "Tomorrow." "Good day, Antonio." "How are we feeling today?" "Fine." "I fell asleep." "Working?" "I was re-reading what I wrote the other day before it happened." "Listen." "Listen." ""I'm starting to forget Irene's house." "From time to time, without any reason," "I remember the green light in the window, the sound of my footsteps in the field at night as I returned from her house full of love, rubbing my hands from the cold." "And in rare moments, when my solitude torments me, and sadness overwhelms me," "a few vague memories return."" "And everything stopped at that moment." "I couldn't find a single key." "These incidents generally happen very suddenly." "Suddenly everything was over." "Well, it wasn't over:" "Nobody dies before their time is up." "Now I'm too afraid to carry on with the story." "You'll get over it." "You'll get better soon." "We'll go fishing..." "I could have gone on like this..." ""...for some reason" "I am beginning to think that she remembers me, too," "and is waiting for me." "And one day we will find each other." "Irene, where are you?"" "My niece always asks about you." "She wants to know when you're publishing another book." "So the prodigal son is arriving today?" "Do you think I could get up?" "No." "I don't want him to see me in bed." "You have to let your heart recover." "And take the medication." "Emilse said you've been rejecting it." "The medicine is very strong." "It knocks me out." "The medicine's nothing to do with it." "Do you want them to admit you?" "Then cooperate." "My brother told me they saw huge trout in the Pedregoso River." "Rest now, and we'll go fishing in November." "I want to tell you something." "Last night I dreamed about someone" "I haven't seen in 80 years." "80 years!" "She appeared in my dream as if I'd seen her every day." "Isn't that weird?" "Where had I kept that image?" "Quite a mystery, isn't it?" "I try to remember her face," "but what was her name?" "Garber?" "Garbo?" "I don't know." "Garber?" "Garbo?" "It's like in "Morel's Invention."" "The characters disappear at daybreak." "I'll add some Atenolol." "It's a regulator." "I'll give the prescription to Alberto, so he can pick it up." "Now that we're talking about "Morel's Invention,"" "could you look for a green book by Borges?" "It's on the upper bookshelf." ""Morel's Invention" is by Borges?" "No, but..." "Borges really admired the story." " This one?" " Yes." "That looks like it." ""A Universal History of Infamy."" " A first edition?" " Yes." "Ah, a dedication." ""For Antonio Romero, a promising young man in search of the truth that awkwardly emerges in these tales." "J.L. Borges."" "How about that!" "I think I kept my promise." "Take it." " What?" " The book." "Take it." "But it's a first edition." "Signed." "I can't accept it." "Don't be a pain!" "It's a gift!" "Like to stay for lunch, Doctor?" "Thank you, but no." "I have to get to Chasicó." "I'll make you something quick." " No, thanks." "Next time." " Okay, I'll see you out." "Give this to Alberto." "How is he, Doctor?" "We have to wait." "I'd be happier if he went in." " When's the son arriving?" " Tonight." "Fine." "I'll come tomorrow and we'll decide." " Call me if you need anything." " Okay, thank you, Doctor." "Come on." "Get out." "Good afternoon." "Good afternoon." "Oh, excuse me." "How are you doing?" " How's work going?" " Progressing." "It's a good piano." "A German one." "Yes, it is, but it's a little abandoned." "Nobody's played it for a long time." "I can tell." "But there are broken strings, a few jammed keys, a few moth-eaten felts." "Look, I'll show you." "I put new felts here, all new felts." "I replaced them all with new ones." "Are they German?" "No, Japanese." "Japanese, German, they're all the same." " See you later." " Very well." "See you later." "Could you do me a favor?" "Yes, of course." "Could you tie my shoelaces?" "Of course." "Wait a second." "Are you going for a walk?" "A little stroll." "Let's see..." " Thank you." " I'll just do the other one." "Not too tight?" " No, that's perfect." " Thank you very much." " Okay, see you later." " See you later." "Hold on, I'll give you a hand." " Thank you." " My pleasure." "Come on." "You can do it." "Come on, useless old man!" "How are you doing?" "I caught a hare!" "I'll barbecue it tonight if Mom lets me." "Let me know if you want to come!" "Wait!" "Ciao!" "Wait!" "Wait!" "Excuse me, Don Antonio." "Maria del Carmen, Don Antonio isn't here!" "Oh, my God!" "It can't be!" "Why isn't he here?" "I swear he's not here!" " Did you look in the bathroom?" " Excuse me." " I saw the gentleman go out." " Go out?" "Yes, he went that way." "But why did you let him?" "I'll get the IV." "Senor?" "Are you okay?" "Vicky, come here." "Vicky!" " What happened to him?" " I don't know." "He can't answer." "Maybe he fell over." "Did you fall over?" "We have to call someone!" " Where are the guys?" " Don't know." "Around here somewhere." "Javier!" "Javi!" "What shall we do now?" " Vicky." " What?" " What's he got there?" " What?" "There." "It's an IV." "Then he's sick." "Why don't you tell us where you live?" "We'll take you home." "What if we sit him up?" "No." "What if he hurt his neck?" "Maybe there's a house behind those trees." "Okay, I'll go look." "You stay here." "If the guys come, tell them not to move him." " Please, hurry!" " Yes." "They've gone for help." "Keep calm." "I'm staying here." "Over here!" "Get in closer!" "I can't." "I have to drive around." " There he is!" " Where?" " How is he?" " He's calmer now." "Don Antonio, have you lost your mind?" " We'll have to carry him." " We have to be careful." "He could have hurt his neck." "What neck?" "He's just pigheaded!" "The guys are here." "What happened?" "We found this man lying here." "He's sick." " Who is it?" " I don't know." " He lives back there." " Let's lift him up." " Alberto!" " Coming!" "Careful, please, guys." "Alberto, take his shoulders." "Careful with his back." "Here we go." "Careful." " Careful with the IV." " His neck!" " Careful." " Okay there?" " The IV." " Get his things." "Careful." "Slowly." " His arm!" " The Panama hat!" "We have it, Don Antonio." "Take it easy, guys." "We're going down here." "It's okay." "We're nearly there." "His leg... there." "Watch his head." " The head..." "Here we go." " Let's sit in the back." "The IV." "Let's go!" "Come on." "Let's go!" "To the right!" "To the right." "Evening." "Careful." "Excuse me." "What happened?" "We found him unconscious in the field." "We didn't know what was wrong, so we brought him here." "He went out a while ago." "He was fine then." "How strange." " Guys, I'll drive you back in a minute." " Okay." "San Juan calling." "Over." "Yes, San Juan." "I can hear you." "Good evening." "Is the doctor in?" "Over." "No, Dad isn't here." "He went out." "Over." "Do you know where he is?" "Over." "He went to Bahia Blanca with Mom to do some shopping." "But I don't know how to reach him." "I think they wanted to eat there." "Over." "Ask him to pay a visit to San Juan if possible." "We have a problem." "Over." "I'll let him know when he comes in." "Okay, thanks." "Over and out." "Come on, guys." "Let's go." " Ciao." " Ciao." "Excuse me." " Yes." " I'm finished." "I'll tell Maria del Carmen to come and see you." "Could someone drive me to the intersection to catch the bus?" "Alberto will take you." "Want to try the piano?" "I don't know anything about it." "Come here." "I'll show you something." "See those strings?" "They're in bad shape." "I can get some new ones to replace them." " Okay, I'll ask." " Just let me know." "I'll tell Maria del Carmen." " Have we reached the farm yet?" " No." "We must take Highway 33 and drive 12 miles." "How big is San Juan?" "About 750 acres now." "There was more land before, but we had some problems and had to sell part of it." " There's no signal." " What should I do, Claudia?" " You promised me." " I thought there'd be one." "They'll call to close the deal and think I'm on vacation, or I don't care," "or I'm irresponsible." "There's no phone, is there?" "No, there isn't, but we get by with a radio unit." "We'll take care of it, Claudia." "Yeah, right." " Hello." " Good evening, Senora." "Good evening, Senor." "How are you?" "Please, come in." "We've been expecting you." "Alberto, take the luggage to his room." "Take it to Senor Pablo's room, please." "We'll put up another bed." "We didn't know the lady was coming." "It's fine." "We'll work it out." " How's my old man?" " In general, fine." " But he escaped this afternoon." " Escaped?" "He was found in the field." "So he's a bit tired now." " Is the doctor coming?" " Yes." "He wanted to talk to you." "He thinks it'd be better to have him admitted." " Do you want to see him?" " Of course." " Is he awake?" " Yes, he'll be expecting you." " Are you coming?" " Yes." "Remember the house?" "Not really." "Don Antonio, look who's here." "How are you, old man?" "All right." "What a shock!" "How was the trip?" "Good?" "Okay." "Dad, this is Claudia." "How are you doing, Antonio?" "Hello." "Rest now." "Take it easy." "The flight... was it long?" "A bit, but I'm used to it." "Maricarmen, the bottle!" "But, Don Antonio, how can you even think of it?" "He wants to make a toast with the wine he's been saving." "Dad, shouldn't we wait until you're feeling better?" "The bottle and three glasses!" "Now!" "Okay." "I must change the IV and give him his pills." "Of course, please come in." "I've got a signal." "Hello?" "Yes, I can hear you." "At the Rosenthal Studio?" "Yes." "Yes." "When?" "When?" "Hello?" "Hello?" "What happened?" "Claudia, what happened?" "They picked me." "I have to go to Rosenthal's." " But I don't know when." " They'll call you back soon." " What if they can't reach me?" " They'll call you." " Please, come over." " When are we leaving, Pablo?" "What do you mean?" "We just got here." " Please, come over." " Okay." " Come on!" " I'm coming!" " You'll open it, Senor Pablo?" " Yes." "Sorry, Antonio, but I've been waiting for that call since this morning." " This is Mom's writing, isn't it?" " Yes." "We'll see how it is after all this time." "A good champagne." "Is it cold?" "Yes, it's fine." "It's flat." "The cork is fine." "Let's see about the rest." "We'll sit you up, Don Antonio." " Claudia." " What?" "Dad." "You'll toast but not drink." "Right." "Here's mine." "Cheers!" "Get well soon." "Okay, old man." "Dinner's ready in 30 minutes." "Is that all right?" "That's fine." "I'd like to shower beforehand." "Everything's in your bathroom, Senor Pablo." "I'll bring the towels right away." "I'll go and shower." "Dad, I'll come up and see you later." " Are you coming?" " I'll stay a bit." "Just in case." "It seems to be the only place I can get a signal." " I'll bring you the towels." " That's fine." " I'll put them in your bedroom." " Thank you." "I don't know if the lady would like a bath." "Don't worry." "She'll sort it out herself." "Alberto said you asked about the property sale." "Yes." "Sorry." "Do you need anything?" "I beg your pardon?" "Are they dancing downstairs?" "What?" "Are they dancing downstairs?" "THE WINDOW"