Original subtitles

- Check out those vultures.

- Were those turkey vultures?

- No, turkey vultures have red heads.

Those are

Coragyps atratus, also known as the Urubu or black vulture.

They are the best known of the American vulture

with an enormous distribution range

from the Pacific state of Washington

southwards to Patagonia.

We have a double room booked.

- Your names please?

- Paul Henderson and Karen Fisher.

Okay.

- My grandfather was a good writer, huh?

- Very.

- He was pretty much responsible for figuring out

that many symbols in Mayan writing represent syllables

as opposed to whole words or concepts.

- I wish I had met you before he died

so I could have met him.

I can't believe how much you look like him.

The resemblance is really uncanny.

- That's lovely.

What do you think?

- What is it?

- I don't know.

Some sort of fang.

- She says it's a jaguar fang.

Maybe you shouldn't get it,

aren't they highly endangered?

- Yeah, but, for precisely that reason

it's probably not true.

She might just be saying it's a jaguar.

It's probably a piece of bone or horn

that's been sharpened and smoothed out.

- 500, that's like $40.

- She won't let go of my arm.

Okay, that was weird, let's go.

- Look at this fossilized scorpion.

Imagine being trapped in amber for all eternity.

I just have to use the bathroom

and then we can go eat.

I'm starving.

- I'm a man.

- Bob Dylan.

- I'm a dead man.

- Gandhi.

- I'm a French man.

- Balzac.

- I have a complex.

- Napoleon.

- Good job.

- I'm an animal.

- Wolf.

- I'm a bird.

Parrot.

- Check out that dog!

- What is it?

- It's a Xoloitzcuintli.

A Mexican hairless dog.

The Aztecs used to eat them.

They were also believed to lead the dead to the underworld,

so they were often buried with their masters.

Hey.

Do you have any bits that are just

tortilla and cheese over there?

- Yeah.

- Give them to her.

- I don't want to.

- What do you think the laws are

for bringing dogs back from Mexico to the US?

You think there's a quarantine or something?

- I don't know.

And I don't care, there's no way we're bringing

that dog back to New York with us.

- Why not?

She's sweet, and homeless, and crazy looking.

People won't know it's a dog,

they'll think we're walking a giant rat or something.

- I'm exhausted, can we go back to the hotel?

- Okay.

Look at her Karen.

Are you sure?

Can't we just take her back to the hotel with us

while we think about it?

Uh-uh.

- That woman was in my dreams last night.

- What woman?

- Right there, that naked woman standing on the riverbank.

- The naked woman?

- Well she's right there with the vultures.

- I see the vultures but I definitely

don't see a naked woman.

Are you feeling okay?

- There's a fucking naked woman standing right there!

I fucking see her!

- Jesus Christ!

Don't yell at me just because you're

seeing things that aren't there!

What the hell is wrong with you?

Are you okay?

- I feel like shit.

- You're definitely clammy,

but I can't tell if you have a fever or not.

- Well I'm having sharp pains in my stomach.

- It's probably something you ate.

Maybe the enchiladas from last night.

Although I feel fine.

Maybe it was that dog you were feeding last night.

Maybe she had a virus of some sort.

- It's not like I made out with the dog.

- No, but she was eating from your hand.

Do you want me to ask the reception desk

if they have a doctor?

- I don't want them to think it's an emergency or anything.

- Okay.

Do you want a glass of water or anything?

- Yeah, water.

- Okay.

- How are you feeling?

You slept pretty soundly, I was surprised.

I thought you'd be getting up

rushing to the bathroom all night.

- I was really sick, wasn't I?

- Yeah, you were hallucinating and vomiting.

- That's so weird.

Not that I was sick,

but because I feel perfectly fine today.

Like after all that I fell asleep

and now I feel okay.

Not just okay, I feel great.

Well rested, ready to go.

- Well that's good.

- What were we planning on doing today?

- We had talked about going to Palenque,

but it's a long bus ride over there.

- That's okay, let's do it.

Dog sounds like it's right outside our door.

- There's definitely something there.

- Look who it is.

- What the fuck?

- It's definitely the same dog from two nights ago.

Can you believe it?

Get that dog out of here Paul.

- Why?

- Because it's creepy that she's here.

How did she get here?

San Cristobal is like five hours away.

- Well I don't know.

Maybe she's not a stray.

Maybe she belongs to another tourist

and they happen to be at that restaurant in San Cristobal

and now they happen to be at our hotel in Palenque.

It's not inconceivable.

All the tourists visit the same places.

- Of course she's a stray.

She was ravenous and filthy that night.

Besides, what kind of tourists travel with their dogs?

- I guess you're right.

Look, if this isn't a sign that this dog belongs with us,

I don't know what is.

- There's no way we're keeping the dog Paul.

Now even less so.

She scares me.

- You're scared of this sweetheart?

That's ridiculous.

- Where are you going?

- To find some food for her.

The restaurant kitchen might still be open.

Maybe they have some scraps or something.

- Please don't leave me alone with her.

- Baby, come on.

She's not gonna do anything.

Pet her.

I'll be right back.

Baby, you scared me.

- Where's the dog?

- She was scratching at the door wanting to be let out

so I let her go.

- What?

Why did you do that?

- Because I told you, I don't want that dog Paul.

I told you she scares me

and it's like you don't even care.

She started growling at me the second you walked out.

- Yeah, right.

- What's that smell?

- Here little chicken.

Come out little girl.

Come out and play.

- Stop it, you're being mean!

So most of the palaces and temples in Palenque

were constructed under the rule of Pacal the Great.

He reigned here from 615 top 683 AD,

starting at the age of 12 for 68 years.

- So he lived to be about 80.

- Go sit over there.

Paul!

Paul!

Karen.

- There you are.

I heard you calling me, but I could have sworn

it was from the other direction.

- I didn't call you, where have you been?

- On top of this temple, I thought you were up there.

- How could I be up there?

I was taking pictures and somebody pushed me.

Look at me knees.

- How did that happen?

- I just told you, somebody pushed me

and I fell forward.

I scratched my hands and my camera screen too.

- Well who pushed you?

- I don't know, there was nobody there.

- Then why are you saying someone pushed you?

- Because someone did and then there was no one there,

it was really fucking scary Paul, but where were you?

You ran ahead and left me alone.

- I didn't run ahead, baby.

I mean, I guess I was ahead of you,

but then I heard you calling me from the top of the temple

so I climbed it.

- Can we go back to the hotel?

- Really?

- Yeah, I'm sore and freaked out.

- But there's so much we haven't seen yet.

- Okay, well I'm gonna go back to the hotel,

you can stay here if you want.

- No, I'll come with you.

Maybe we can come back tomorrow.

- Exactly.

No!

No!

No!

Help!

No!

- What is it? - Where's the dog?

She's not here anymore, you let her go, remember?

- Yeah she is, she was biting me.

- Nothing was biting you, you were having a nightmare.

- No, that dog and other dogs, they were attacking me!

Ow!

Paul look!

They're bite marks from the dogs!

- That's not possible baby, nothing bit you.

It must be from when you fell at the ruins today.

Did you clean those?

- So, how would you feel about going back earlier,

like today or tomorrow?

- Are you serious?

- Yeah, I kinda wanna go home.

I'm not having a good time here.

- But we're only here for three more days.

It's nothing.

And, if we fly back now,

we'd have to change tickets to Mexico City

and to New York, it would cost 100s of dollars.

- Well, how about flying back to Mexico City

and spending two nights there

and keeping our same tickets to New York?

- Where would we stay in Mexico City?

- At a hotel.

- And what about the ones we have booked here?

- We can cancel them.

- How 'bout this, let's see how today goes

and if you manage to have a nice time, we'll stay.

But if tonight you still wanna leave,

we'll fly back to Mexico City tomorrow.

- Deal.

- And, instead of going back to the ruins today,

I think we should go to Agua Azul.

It's not too far from here,

and I think it would be good for you to swim and relax.

- Okay.

Who are you waving at?

- God, she's beautiful.

- There's no one there Paul, you're hallucinating again.

Where are you going?

Paul!

Fucking dog son of a bitch!

Mm-hm, that's correct.

I wanna change both of the flights,

but for one of the passengers, Karen Fisher.

Yeah, okay.

So there's seats on the Mexico City to New York flight

but none on the Chiapas to Mexico City?

Okay.

No, I think I'll keep them how they are then.

I can't fly to New York any sooner

if I can't get to Mexico City to catch my flight, yeah.

Yeah, maybe I'll look into a bus.

Sorry about that.

- Thank you.

- Shape-shifting.

- You speak English too.

- Yeah, some.

I went to University in England for several years.

- Can I speak in English?

Of course.

- My boyfriend has been very sick.

He's been physically sick, as in fever and vomiting,

but also, he's seeing things.

Hallucinating and acting strange.

Not like himself.

- What sort of things is he hallucinating?

- He keeps seeing a naked women that I can't see.

And then I finally did see her,

she's a young Indian woman.

- I see.

- And we've seen a hairless dog twice.

Once in San Cristobal and once here in Palenque.

Same dog.

- So you have seen the dog twice

and the young Indian woman twice.

Was she also in different places?

- Yes.

Paul saw her first in Canon del Sumidero

and again yesterday in Agua Azul.

- So both times near water?

Yes.

- Fascinating.

- What are you thinking?

I'm thinking about.

I'm thinking that the young Indian woman

and the dog are the same being.

Have you seen anything else strange?

- Now that you mention it, yes.

There was an old woman that my boyfriend

bought a bracelet from on our first day in San Cristobal.

And she held onto his arm in a strange way.

- I'm worried about your boyfriend.

I would like to speak with him if I can.

- Of course.

Do you think he's in danger?

- He could be.

- I'm Karen, by the way.

- Manuel Alarcon, it's a pleasure.

- Paul, are you awake?

Paul?

- I'm driving to San Cristobal tomorrow

and I'm thinking I should go and speak

with a Tzotzil friend of mine there.

I once heard that something strange happened

when your boyfriend's grandfather was living with a Tzotzil,

and I'm wondering if there is a connection

between what happened to Henderson then

and what's happening to you now.

- Really?

What happened to Henderson?

- That's what I don't remember,

so I will ask my friend.

Will you be at this hotel?

How can I reach you by phone?

- I don't really know where I'll be.

- You're not gonna stay here

and see if your boyfriend comes back?

- I don't think so.

I don't think he's coming back.

- No?

- No.

I think I'd like to go with you

and hear this story.

Both Paul and I have to make our way back to San Cristobal

before we fly to Mexico City anyway.

- Well, yes, you're welcome to drive there with me tomorrow.

We can talk to my friend as soon as we arrive.

- Yixmal.

- Karen.

- She left with her dead baby in her arms

while children threw stones at her.

Yaxte lives up on that hill now.

All alone save for some animals.

She has been there since she was banished from the village.

She comes down sometimes to buy food,

to sell her crafts.

It must be her that sold the bracelet to Paul.

- He has the same blue eyes.

That's how his grandfather looked like.

- Can we go up and talk to Yaxte?

Maybe she has seen Paul.

- What time do you want to go tomorrow morning to see Yaxte?

- As early as possible.

- How 'bout nine?

- That sounds good.

I'll meet you right here?

- Try to get some rest.

Everything will be all right.

- Thank you.

Karen, help me.

- Manuel.

Manuel Alarcon.

No!