Original subtitles

Quiet, quiet, quiet.

[suspense music][doctor] help me! help me!

[Gabriel] Take me with my pretty!

[doctor] Quiet.

[electricity]

[dogs] [fire]

[me] They say my father wentmad...

Nobody wanted to believethat the fire was anaccident ...

[People screaming]Fire

[hombre] I do believe it wasan accident,

he was not evil

He was sick andunintentionally, he burnedeverything,

and in so doing, he sealedthe fate of the AguileraValadez family...

In the village people saidthat he wanted to killhimself,

he fled from the crowd, fromthe fire, from himself...from his shadow.

I think it was just part ofthe madness, his only wayout.

[people screaming] It's not fair, Gabriel.

We could barely extinguishthe fire before it reachedthe mountains.

What about those screams,what happened?

They are shouting the nameof my father.

They are telling many lies.They're looking for him. Dadisn'’t like that, is he?

My dad has never doneanything wrong

why are they looking forhim?

They say he went mad. Lastnight he gave a macheteblows to Juan Chango

it'’s miracle he's alive, andthey are saying that heburned the fields.

I don't believe anything,Mom,

-Do you know where he is?-I don't know

Some say that he just stayedin the fire

and others are looking forhim drowned in the river.

You guys go into the house;

I will look for his father.

I'll look for him in theriver!

[fire]

[Gabriel] First it trembles,then the sky darkens...

where is my horse?

Fi-fi-first.... first....

-Hey! -first... [scream]

First it trembles!First it trembles!

Over her, ma'am.

[writing machines]

He has been like this sincehe arrived

as if he weren'’t with us,ma'am.

Gabriel.

Gabriel.

[whistle]

My pretty!

Here's my pretty ... And thenew kid, did you bring him?

I wanted to meet him...

Why did they bring him here?They should have taken himto the doctor.

Your husband is under arrestma'’am.

At night they'll come forhim from the Municipaloffice

to see what the Councildecided

where they'’ll take him.

I'll ask you to leave

and come back later to knowhis status.

Nobody will move me fromhere; I will not leave myhusband.

Ma'am, there's nothing youcan do here.

If you want to stay you cando it outside.

I told you that your husbandmay not be accompanied,

and I need to take astatement,

if he learns to speak inwhat remains of the day.

I'm going with you, ma'am.

[people screaming] We lost the harvest! Makehim pay us for what we lost!

[farmer]What are we going todo now if that madman burneddown everything?

[people screaming]

To decide on the legalstatus of the detaineeGabriel Aguilera Rodriguez

has called for a communitycouncil of uses and customs

Mr. Fidel Lopez,is present.

Plaintiff for the allegedattack of which his son,Adolfo Lopez, was victim

Adolfo is in the municipalinfirmary for a macheteattack

qualified as very seriousphysical damage.

Mr. José Guadalupe Aguilera,is also present.

Father of the accused

And finally, with us is thedetainee'’s wife

Mrs. Victoria AguileraValadez.

We can start.

How much do we come toplead? That bastard almostkilled my son

if he hasn'’t died whilewe're here.

Let the bastard rot inprison!

all the lands are burned!

Almost all hectares arecharred...

But even he burned his ownland! I know him

and he has always been agood man,

we need to see if he is notright in the head, drunk orsomething...

[priest] I must confess thata few days ago Gabriel cameto me.

He was very distressed

and frightened by somethoughts that would not lethim sleep.

He asked me to help him tobring God back into hislife.

I'm sure he'’s not a bad man,

but he lost his way.

Remember....

In any flock there'’s a straysheep, and we must learn toforgive.

[Jose]we are a community.

but we have always overcomeevery adversity becausewe'’ve been united.

My son made a mistake, onlyGod knows why.

Mistakes must be paid, Iknow. So I ask you,

to let me take my son to thecapital to heal him.

There are many doctors therewho know... know... how tocure.

To condemn my son iscondemning an entire family.

Do you want to condemn myhusband as a criminal or amurderer?

I know what he did waswrong,

but why don'’t you rememberall the good he has done forthe people?

Gabriel is a good man and abetter father.

Don'’t know what's wrong withhim, I don'’t understand it.

But remember that he fixedthe church, lent his horse,

went every day for yourwife, Don Torres,

while you were with yourrheumatism. Please,gentlemen.

We all make mistakes, and ifwe are a community

we have to behave as such.

What will you gain byleaving my family withoutGabriel? [crying]

We have a newborn baby;

he deserves to have his dadand mom together.

Victoria, it'’s not easy tobe alone, we know that.

Don'’t think that we aredeciding without taking youinto account.

But something must be done,someone has to pay.

prison or a mental hospital,as proposed by Don Jose.

[cries]

Pablo, comb your hair, son.

Gabriel.

Gabriel.

-My pretty -Are you better?

Is this the new kid?

He'’s crying a lot, he hasn'tfed well...

[baby crying]

Come! Why have you noteaten? [whistle]

His name is Albertito.

Alberto! Now, my pretty,this one'’s like me.

Children, say goodbye toyour father.

We'll wait as long asnecessary.

Do it for your children.For your children.

[laughing strong]

[man] It was one of thosemoments

The most away you are fromhome, the darkest become theway.

The misfortune reached usall.

[In Purpechan] You stink!

-Victoria, I want to talk toyou. -Yes?

This is the last time I cangive you work, woman.

How?

The village is very tense.There are things that arehard to forget.

Don Julian, you know well

I have to feed my family.

I cannot risk the peopleturning against me

Please understand me.

Ok! You said we were acommunity.

And you said that the peopleshould support us at theworst times, didn'’t you?

When my husband returnshe is going to put them allin their place.

Open your eyes, Victoria.Gabriel is never comingback.

There'’s nothing else?

Yes, mom. You said you wouldbring food from Don Ruiz.

You better forget about DonRuiz, daughter.

do not tell me thosemiserable people threw youout again.

Life in this town isbecoming a hell.

If you want, I can work.

And who will take care ofyour brothers?

They can also work.

No, Virginia.

[earthquake]

-Is it an earthquake? - Yes, it won't be long.

Do you think my dad will beaway for long?

No, no that much.

You'’ll see. In the city theywill sort out his ideas andhe will return to help us.

[Gabriel]Water and fire ...fire ... [breathing strong]

the earth is going toswallow my horse

MY PRETTY! NO! MY PRETTY!It will swallow myAlbertito.

Shut up! [hit him] Eh!

Let's go!-help me!

Let's go.

[screaming]

Doctor, Take me withVictoria, doctor!

Doctor, I want to go with mykids, doctor!

You have no children ... youhave nothing ... they didn'’teven leave your underwear.

Ready.

[electricity]

[shaking]

I'm looking for Mr.Alvarado.

Is he expecting you?

No, he did not know I wascoming.

I'’m sorry, but he asked notto be disturbed by anyone.

But you can leave a message,

Victoria? Please come in.

Take a sit. Is there anynews of your husband?

I pray every day for him tocome back soon and healthy.

It will be so, Victoria. Godnever gives you a crossbigger than you can bear.

With the absence of Gabriel,

I have many mouths to feed

and... well, I thought Icould be useful here.

Victoria, I want to help,but ...

-But? -I am not in a position...you know.

Sorry, it was a mistake tocome...

Victoria.

No. I came to ask for work,not for alms.

I understand what you'regoing through,

but there is no way you canwork here at the factory

Because of my wife...

she knows that you oncecourted me. But, I can'’taccept this money,.

Take it! Please, it's alittle help... As friends.

Thank you Don Manuel. Restassured that I will notbother you again.

[galloping horse]

-thanks! there you are. .-thanks!

Hi, give me a kilo of beans,please.

Madam, I am very sorry, butI can'’t keep giving youanything at credit any more.

Then give me half a kilo,then.

[cough] ok.

-Thanks -Yes ma'am. thanks!

Abel, take the money.

[church bells]

Shhh!

-Virgin Mary.-Conceived without sin.

Daughter, I have not seenyou in church.

I can'’t go anywhere

The people...

I understand... Tell me yoursins.

I have many sins, Father,but I am not here for that.I come to ask your advice.

[baby crying]

Virginia, take him out fromhere I don'’t want a scandal.

Don'’t forget that we arehuman, Victoria.

Even so, Father, I amtreated worse than a dog.

Many who I never imaginedended up being the worst.

Daughter, people arevery angry

And it will take a while forthem to forgive you andGabriel.

I don'’t want be forgiven,Father,

only to be left alone tolive quietly with my family.

-My little brunette!-Little eyes!

Federico! My mom is in thechurch.

If God knows then, leteveryone know, so what!

You'll wake him ...

Do you know what I miss?When we used to go forwalks...

Behind the dynamo. What doyou say, my pretty, shouldwe take a walk?

No. I have to take care oflittle Alberto.

I'm also waiting for my mom.

Little Alberto? He shouldhave been named Federico.

[Priest] Maybe the solutionis not in this town.

Do you have any relatives?

We are alone ... or so itseems. Thanks for youradvice, Father

but I'm not moving untilGabriel returns.

Together we will solve it.

-Daughter...-Thanks for everything,Father.

Let's go.

look how beautiful he lookswhile sleeping.

I'll give cuter boys thanthis.

Leave it at home and let usgo to the countryside.

-No!-Come on...

It seems that you don'’t loveme anymore.

Don'’t you see everythingthat's going with my family?

and you're thinking of purenonsense.

Not nonsense. Come withme...

I'm not going with anyone,now I have to support mymom.

When my dad comes back youcan talk it over with him.

Go on, then ...look for melater, without your brother

This is how you leave me?To think that'’s why I likedyou.

Let's go.

[crickets]

Ay! my baby. Maybe it wasgood that you and he barelycoexisted,

because this way you won'’tmiss him.

I can'’t way for the day whenhe returns and puts house inorder,

I don'’t want you to grow upin a family that peopletreat like pariahs.

You don'’t know it, but whenhe was here we were veryhappy

my mom was different, shesmiled more, and she wasaffectionate.

Now she won'’t even let me tobe near Federico.

Oh, my little baby, I don'’tknow who to pray to so thiscan end soon.

[electricity] [shaking]

[Gabriel screaming] [suspense music]

[intern]Hey!

[intern]Hey! come!

[intern]come! come!

[intern]help me! help me!

[alarm starts]-[interns]Hey! Heeey!-[intern]help!

[interns screaming]

[alarm continues]

Mendoza, Mendoza!

Alfredo! -Here.

Get on!

-Do you really have to go?-I have no choice,

there will be no harvestshere and the gringos needhelp with the harvest.

-Yes, but...-It's just one seasonI'm coming back with money,

-To talk to my dad!-Juarez López Federico!

For whatever you want, mypretty. I have to go now.

I'll come back when theharvest is over. -Juarez López Federico!

-I'm here, I'm here.-Get on!

I'll wait for you, littleeyes!

[car engine starting]

Alberto, You were born invery bad time, poor boy.

You'’ve had it hard, morethan my other babies who arein heaven.

My little angels ...

[whistle]

Gabriel? Gabriel, is thatyou?

My pretty!

-Gabriel! -I'm back, my pretty.

Dad! I knew you'd come,I saw you in a dream.

Come on, I'’m sure you'restarving.

Dad, are you okay!

Federico will also returnsoon; he will be very happy.

I think we can have thewedding whenever you say,

just as soon as he comesback.

You are going to take me tothe altar, aren'’t you,Daddy?

And who is this one, whowants to steal my daughter?

Federico Juarez. The DonChano's son.

He is a hard worker and agood man.

Is there any more?

-Take mine -No, I'm already full.

I just missed yourseasoning.

Pablo, go to tell yourgrandfather that your dadcame back.

no, do not go, son, I do notwant to see anyone.

What I need is rest,

I feel I haven'’t slept in athousand years.

You heard. your father wantsto sleep.

I don'’t want to you making ascandal

[all together] Yes, mom.

[electricity flashbacks]

Ay! What are you doing?!

[whispering]-How does it feel?-what?

What do you hear?

I said What do you hear?

Dad?

Do you know how many monthsthey tortured me because ofyou?

Do you know how manysleepless nights I had?

It was not me, you neededhelp, my love.

It was that or jail.

Anything would have beenbetter than that hell!

No!

[scream] Dad, what'’shappening, what are youdoing to my mom?

My pretty... My pretty...

Lupe, go get yourgrandfather, run!

No, no, no!

Grandpa Lupe, Grandpa!

-What'’s going on? - My dad is pulling at mymom very roughly!

-WHAT? -He is crazy.

What about your dad?

Let's go!

ESPERANZA! MY PONCHO!

[Victoria cries][Victoria]Calm down...

[José] calm down! Gabriel!Stop.

[man] My father's return wasnot as everyone expected.

There was no cure for thedisease that affected all ofus.

[José] stop... stop...calm down.

My pretty! wait... No!

[man]They say we are all alittle bit crazy. But thatnight...

it was clear that theGabriel whom my mother hadfallen in love with...

He would never return. Theytook my father that night,

some say backto La Castaneda.

We never heard from himagain. Some say he diedthere,

others say that he escapedagain.

[kid crying][man] No one knows where hisgrave is...

His fate'’s a mystery withwhich I learned to live.

[all crying] [man] We couldn't imagineit by then...

But we would never see mydad again.

Gabriel Aguilera,disappeared, forever.

Victoria would never be thesame again

I got to know a verydifferent woman than theysay she was.

[baby crying]

When I get married, my dressis going to be beautiful.

with a long tail, and you'regoing to carry it

and then you're going tovisit my house... my newhouse!

[doors opens and closes]

Ay Virginia, you haven'’tstarted with the stove,girl!

Your brothers will arrivesoon.

Right now, I already cut offeverything.

Who are you writing lettersto?

How do you know it's aletter?!

How could I not know thatthis is a letter? I can'’tread, but I'm not stupid.

How many times do I have totell you to forget that boy?

[tearing paper] Mom!

By now you he must be withsomeone else. And you arestill waiting for him.

He will return. He swore tome.

Ay Virginia, Virginia!Virginia! Virginia!

Do you think someone fromthis town

will want to marry someoneof our family?

Open your eyes!

Federico is a good man, Mom.

I don'’t doubt it, mydaughter,

but don'’t you realize thatin this town no one talk tous?

I don'’t even think hiscoming back, surely, healready found a better life.

Virginia, I don'’t want tohurt you.

What I want is for you notto suffer by waiting forsomething

that is not going to happen.I talking from experience.

The shameless one is now onthe hunt.

-Hi!

-Hi. -Hello.

Give me soap, a quarter ofbutter and salt, please.

You have money, right?

Of course I do.

soap, a quarter ofbutter and salt, please.Four pesos, my queen.

I only have three, don'’t bemean, write it down and I'llpay you tomorrow.

[cough] If you want, we cango back and see how you canpay that missing peso.

Don'’t think because I am asingle woman I don'’t knowhow to defend myself,

You old pig.

-Victoria, good afternoon.-Good afternoon.

Thanks for joining me, DonLupe. Now I truly am alone.

Be faithful, my daughter, Befaithful. Come!

You'’re not going to convinceme with that innocent face.

A healthy man like mybrother

doesn'’t go crazy from oneday to another. You didsomething to him.

I have enough problems toalso have to endure myfamily.

You and I are nothing.

You know my husband; youknow that he is not a badperson.

I also know that you are ina difficult position, butimagine us.

All of a sudden my childrenlost their father.

No one gives me work and...

there are days we don'’t eatanything more thantortillas.

[people talking] We are acommunity and we must helpeach other.

If I may, [pause] I offer myhands

and my children'’s hands

[people talking]

so the fields may have lifeagain.

These lands are not going tobe used until the next year,Victoria,

and we all know why. Do wenot?

[all together] Yes, ofcourse.

That man left my son injuredand my grandchildren withoutfood to eat.

We are all equally screwed.We demand that he pay withthe use of his lands!

[all together] Yes.

[Mayor] Be quiet. The damageis done.

it is right that thoseaffected move forward, asyou should do, Victoria.

The Council has decided thatthe Aguilera family'slands....

will pass into the hands ofthose affected for the nextten years.

[people talking] Whatever isharvested will be used tooffset

the losses caused by thistragedy.

Nice to see you. What bringsyou around here?

I hope not to get you intotrouble, Manuel.

if I came here it'’s becauseI have no one else.

I am leaving to Juarez,Manuel.

Here there is nothing forus.

I wanted to see if you canstill lend me[pausa] something.

-How much do you need?- Only for the train.

Whenever I get work I'’ll payyou back.

I promise.

It is not necessary, sodon'’t worry.

Thank you.

I never forgot you,Victoria.

I could make you happier.

Never, Victoria.

[Sofia] Slut! Don'’t you havea shred of decency?

Enough!

I never wanted to getinvolved in your perfectlife.

I never want to see thatwoman in this house again,Manuel.

Don'’t worry, I will notreturn.

Calm down!

[car]

Have you seen Federico?

Excuse me! Have you seenFederico?

Are you Virginia?Federico gave me anassignment

-he said that you'd be here -Is he all right? Didsomething happen?

He is fine, still working onthe whit.

He told me to give you this.

Thanks.

[Victoria] spare me yourproblems. Right now, I'm notin the mood for that.

Also, whatever that lettersays must be pure lies.

They are not lies, Mom. hewrote very clearly

Yes, right!

He is going to stay longerto collect more money andthen...

And then? And then what?

Well...

There will be no "then",Virginia

and get this into your head:

Your "Federico" is notcoming back

It'’s better that vanishesnow

and not after has given youfive or six kids.

Yes, he is coming back, Mom!I want to stay in Parácuaro!

I'm not asking. You'recoming with us

Please. What if dad comes,who will care for him?

That's not going to happen.Go!

grab your stuff!

Imagine leaving you herealone in this nest of vipers

The only one that willremain is your brother Lupe

to see if he can fixanything...

in case things do not workthere.

Move! come on!

Walk fast since we have toget on the road before itgets dark.

I want to stay with Lupe,Mom.

I'm already big, I canhelp!

No, my son. Now you are theman of the family, I needyou there with me.

And stop whining, Virginia.The world is not going toend.

[Juan Gabriel Interprets: "Ya lo se que tu te vas"]