Original subtitles

[rain and storm]

Aguilera.

Don'’t stand there.

Go throw that away and comeback.

[doors open]

[rain] [Magallanes] It'’sbetter to wait for the rainto stop.

[man] And, if the raindoesn'’t stop...

How long would it take us todecide to move?

Alberto, I don'’t understand.

Yes...

What would happen if it rained forever?

We'’d stay here, watching the rain,

or maybe we decide to moveto a place where it doesn'’t rain...

maybe it rains there too...

or maybe not., [laughs]

Sometimes, one has to movein order to find the sun

or a different storm,

one in which we'’d like tostay.

One moment.

Aguilera, here'’s the motherof "“Raúl Bravo"”. -Si.

-Help her find him. -Si.

Come with me.

Do you have a visitationsheet?

Wait for me there. I'’ll go get him.

Boy, please don'’t be long.

I snuck out of work withouttelling anybody.

[kids playing]

[suspense music]

Look at him. He wet himself!

Drop the lunch, plebe, if you know what what'’s good for you.

Stop crying and give it...!

Give it to me, you bastard!

Hold it in, pussy! [laughs]

-Are you ok?-Leave me alone.

[mean boy] Hey, let me see.

Hey!

And this one? Who'’s this?

He'’s been here since he was born

He'’s the post boy... the onewho looks for those who have visitors.

So the visitor'’s guy is leftwithout his "“visitation"”?[laughs]

No one comes to see me.

Of course not, with that face...

And who comes to visit you?

[exhales] well...

Nobody.

You'’ve got no father and nomother either.

[laughs]

Boy. Hey, boy! And my nephew?

I'’ve been waiting over there!

Excuse me, ma'’am. I...

We were going for younephew, It'’s just that...He went into the bathroom.

Can you go for him, please?I must leave.

-Yes. -Hey, hey. Kid.

Give me my bag!

[screaming]

Give it to me!

We'’re not finished... Who pushed the lady?

Was it you, Aguilera

Or was it this trash?

Let'’s go the Headmistress'’ office.

It hurts now, eh?

It did not hurt when youwere doing that? right?

Come on, come on,come on.

Last week you were on reportfrom the kitchen.

Now you'’re stealing thingswith the help of this brat.

I thought you were different.

I never thought you'’d turninto a grimylittle delinquent.

Keep going like this and,I will not be able to help you anymore.

I... I'’ll behave myself.

I'’ve heard that before,Aguilera!

Your mother never comes tovisit you. Is that whyyou'’re behaving like this?

I don'’t know.

How long has it been sinceyou saw her?

She'’s never come. My motherdoesn'’t care about me,

what'’s more... she cares aboutnobody

Can you punish me already,Headmistress?

I'’ll see what I do with you.Get out of my sight, now.

[breathes] Let'’s see whatwe'’re going to do about thislost cause.

[brushing the wall]

Look what we have here,

the classroom'’s tattler.

This is for you to learn how to not open your mouth.

[laughs]

-what's wrong? -I need to go to therestroom.

Why don't you go! MOVE!

[Alberto singing] Andthe relentless destiny, wants to see me crying.

Even thought you don'twant me, you will have to adore me.

Wow, where did you learnedthat song?

My dad used to sing itwhen my mom died.

The only thing I remember,the nice things.

Who taught you that song?

I don'’t know. I don't havemany memories. I don'’t careabout them, in any case.

You really don'’t rememberanything?

Right now, the only thing Ican'’t remember

is that I haven'’t eatenbecause of you.

Someday, someone will payfor your misdeeds, andyou'’ll remember me.

I'’ll give you my lunchtomorrow if...

[kid coughing]

Are you all right?

It hurts when I swallow.

[kids playing]

[whistle] You'’ve got twominutes to be in your bedswith all your mess put away.

SAVE ALL YOUR STUFF.

WHOEVER TALKS WILL BEPUNISHED.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

Did you hear that, Aguilera?

THEN DO IT. I don'’t want tohear any snoring, are we clear?

[kid coughing]

Take a sip, this can helpyou.

[kid coughing]

[door opens]

Dona Maria.

how have you been?

I was around and I said....

How are Victoria and her kids?

I'm happy to see you...

I brought you food.

Aww, you are always thinkingon us.

Thanks much.

How are you?

Well, many things havehappened.

I started working incustoms, where my Luis used to work...

Don Luis, we still rememberhim,

How'’s your boy? How's littleAlberto? How long has itbeen since you last saw him?

I don'’t know...

You'’re hedging, Victoria.

You haven'’t stepped into TheTribunal in two years.

How do you know...?

Look... Work is scarce, ma'’am.

When you get some, well...

One must give it her all forall kids, not just for him.

Don'’t be like that. He'svery alone!

Yes, but... I'’ll go see himsoon.

How soon? On Three KingsDay?

Mother'’s Day is around thecorner and they have afestival there.

It'’s just that it's been solong and...

See? It would be a bigsurprise. Imagine his littleface...

[prefect]in order for you togo to the streets as honestpeople

and to bring honor to thisinstitution'’s name and tothis country,

it'’s time to choose one ofthe five workshops

that will teach you a goodwork.

Choose wisely,

because for the next fewyears, these men will beyour tutors.

Teachers.

[kids celebrating]

[everyone celebrating] [kid laughs]

[laughs] With me, no one ishungry, kids.

I teach baking.

[kids bullying] -We can tell.-Fatty!

Quiet kids!

With me, you'’ll learn how tomake shoes.

Outside, you'’ll earn goodmoney with this job.

[in Spanish] Ostia. [laughs]

Well, kids, those of you whowant to learn how to fixcars, motorbikes,

engines... That'’s what I'mhere for. [claps]

[whistle] Shut up. Quiet!

You can speak now, Juanito.

[whistle] They are talkingto you [laughs]

Juanito.

[laughs] Juanito.

Good morning, kids.I'’m Juan Contreras, thetinsmith.

The tinsmith.

[Juanito]With me you willlearn how to make prettythings.

For your houses,for those one looking forfinery.

[kids bullying] To cut cheese...

For the kitchen, that youcan-can do...

[kid] we don't even have ahouse. -to cut the cheese...

It's so funny!

What's so funny?

Aguilera.

What's so funny, intern?

Prefect, he is old anddeaf. How will he teach us?

Shut up, already! He'’s notdeaf, only old!

And, even if he were a bitdeaf and short... what mattersis that he'’s good, isn't it?

-shut up, Aguilera. -shut up.

[kids bullying] Move!

Well kids, get out to theyard

and reach an understandingwith the teacher you chose.

[kid mad]

Didn't you hear the one whomakes shoes?

Let's clean shoes.

-Move-Move fast.

[Juanito]It's such a thin sheet.

[man] I don'’t know why Ichose Juanito...

Maybe it'’s because I likedhim,

or because I'’ve alwaysidentified with those whoare different...

[laughs] Oh! look! thelittle butterfly.

[man] Or because hereminded me of thegrandfather I never had...

the one I saw once and gaveme a cup of hot cocoa.

Actually, I think he choseme.

I'’ll never stop beinggrateful, because he changedmy life.

Juanito came along when Ineeded him the most,

and so, from an early age Ilearned that when life is atits most difficult,

there'’s always somebodywith a cup of cocoa

to help you with the bittertaste.

[coughs]

Stop that, you bastard. Ifyou don'’t shut up, I'’ll getup and hit you until you do!

are you feeling well?

I'’m cold.

Take this, don'’t make morenoise. Do you want to go tothe infirmary?

[coughs]

Shut up

[screaming]

Give me the key

No? Give me the keys!

[keys falling into thefloor]

[beating him]

Don'’t even try it

Take them and we'’ll fuck youup, you bastard.

Better run away and forgetyou saw this.

You just fucked yourself!

[whistle] let's go!

-Let's go-Let's go!

Look!

[keys] So that'’s how it is,you bastards?

Now you'’ll see where we'llget the leather for newbelts!

No, wait! Aguilera hadnothing to do with it.

To your beds,

hurry! Show'’s over!

[keys]

Then?

Do you remember now?

This mess has two options,Alberto...

either you'’re a witness, oryou'’re an accomplice. Whichdo you prefer?

I know you'’re afraid,

But this is dangerous.

Without you, who knows whatthose thought would havedone to the prefect.

Or if they do the same toyour friends.

You'’re the only one who sawthem.

Ok...

They won'’t stay their handsat the first opportunitythey get.

umm?

I just want to protect you. -Tavo, my bunkmate... How ishe?

-I'm sorry.-You took him to a doctor?

he died of pneumonia. I'’msorry.

[piano music]

Aguilera, [laughs]

If you like to read,

I guess you like tellingstories. right?

Tell me a story,Aguilera?

They'’re talking to you!

Come on!

Tell me a story from whenyou saw the Prefect on theyard.

-I saw nothing, I told you..-let's see...

Should we believe him?

No [laughs]

I'’ll give you a lesson sothat you won'’t be a tattletale, Aguilera.

[beats] [kid crying]

What are you doing? We scared him

I think he won'’t open hismouth.

Would you like to be in hisplace?

If you don't move...

If I don'’t move... what?

Let me go.

Shut up [beat him]

Fuck both of you!

[beating them]

[whistle]

If I hear that you starttalking, Aguilera...

Let's go!

Your mothers will love

what you make for them intheir day...

Come in, Hugo, sit down.

What are you doing here?

I switched workshop

-Why'’s that?-[Juanito] Aguilera.

What would you like to giveyour mother?

What does it matter if she'’snot coming to see me?

I understand you, believeme.

It must be tough that yourmom never comes.

You must be very angry...right?

Do you miss her?

Listen to me well: in lifewhen you get angry, youlose.

It'’s better to love, becauseit makes us better persons.

Remember the good times withher

and believe that she willcome to see you.

I barely remember anything,I was so little...

She kept her necklaces in acoffee can...

[laughs]

What are you doing, Juanito?

Music, Aguilera, music fromthe soul.

You'’re very intelligent,Aguilera.

One day you'’ll understandthat if you don'’t bringmusic from within,

you'’ll never have it outthere.

Play it!

-Tin, tin, tin -Tan, tan, tan

[kids playing in the yard]

-Want some? -No

Your loss. Who knows whenPoncho'’s mom will return,

and don'’t think she alwaysbrings these...

[can in the cement]

[can in the cement][hammer]

[can in the cement][hammer][sanding wood]

[whistle] [music]

[music continues]

[wood breaking] Ah!

[kids playing in the yard]

[Juanito playing violin]

Let that be, Aguilera.Better finish you gift.

There'’s only ten days leftand you haven'’t even started

with the ornaments on thelid.

Here... This is your gift.

Well now! I meant youmother'’s

Now I understand aboutfeeling the music inside.

I'’d like you to teach mesome more.

I don'’t know why I'm surethat this year

my mom'’s coming to thefestival on Mother'’s day.

I'’d like to sing a song forher... and I'’d like your help.

Of course, Aguilera. I willhelp you.

The chord is not right. Getup to the third fret.

Here... Ok, do it.

[Alberto plays guitar]

Sing.

Like the air is needed inthe world, I need you thisway...

Do you see the difference?

When you play in SOL,you can'’t hit the note, boy.

Play it again.

[Alberto sings] Swallows,mockingbirds, goldfinches

gather around for all of youto hear

the most beautiful song inthe world

that is the laughter of whoI love the most.

[clapping]

[Magallanes] It must havebeen hard

never to get any visits fromyour mother.

[man] Life acts in curiousways, Eduardo.

It goes by like this road.

we keep advancing...

waiting for whatever comesnext...

guessing at what will comelater.

But not even the world'’sgreatest seer can predict

what'’s to come.

That'’s what happened to me.

When I had convinced myself

that my mother would neverreturn... -Did she return?

[school ring bell]

Aguilera, stop daydreamingand go back inside!

Visitations are over.

[steps]

Wait, wait a moment, please.

You can't come in.

[keys]

I'm sorry.

And who are you looking for?

Alberto Aguilera.

Let me look for him.

I am Alberto Aguilera.

Jum.

[kids playing] [Victoria] Of course Irecognize you.

I was just playing with you.

I like that you'’re learningto make things.

Where would you have learnedto make this outside?

I've been waiting for solong to give it to you.

I don'’t know why you insistwriting letters and askingme to take you out here

It is clearly good for you.

So, you do read them?

How do you think I feel thatmy own child

reminds me I can'’t even reador write?

You can ask Virginia. It'’s so you know what I dohere.

I don'’t deserve it when youwrite these kinds of things.

You'’re old enough to realizethat I'’m not the best motherin the world...

but I do what I can.

I'’ll always write you.

You'’re my mother and I loveyou, even though you nevercome to see me.

Get me out of here...

I'’m old enough to work.

I swear I won'’t be a burden.

See how you get? Is that whyI came to see you?

Well, I must leave.

So soon?

learn more, so you become agood man.

Bye.

[melancholic music]

[man] I always asked tomyself what she was doing

During the two longest yearsof my life.

Why she never came to seeme?

Maybe she had a lot of workto do.

[dancing music]

[man] Or she was so sad.

Or maybe she was trying toenjoy life.

♪Now that you are gone forever♪

♪ you left a scar that will never be close♪

Guess where they changed meto.

Cool! Now we'’re bunkmates,aren'’t we?

What's that?

[rain and storm] So, shecouldn't come, then?

You know she's alwaysworking hard.

But you ask me to give you[kiss him] a lot of kisses,and hugs.

Alberto, change that face.

I have good news.

Guess what? look...

You'’re going to be an uncle!I'’m pregnant!

Alberto, wait.

[man] It was sad for me tohear that Victoria did notwant to see me.

But it was sadder to seeVirginia pregnant.

My world broke.

She, who always took care ofme as a mother, would nolonger give me that love,

but would give it tosomebody else... I was jealousand in a lot of pain.

[Micaela] I gathered youhere to tell you that

the Mayor will visit us in afew days.

[exhales] what....

[Micaela] I know, there'’snothing to do about it. Sothere'’s this now.

We have to organize awelcome

because Mr. Mascareña iscoming with reporters andother politicians.

Let'’s see if he takes thetime to give us something.

I'’m sure he'll take a coupleof pictures and leave.

Are we organizing a welcomeevent?

Yes, Juanito. The Mayor'’scoming and we have towelcome him!

Let Aguilera sing to him!

Juanito, that'’s not abad idea!

Maybe that will soften hisheart!

But we want to soften hiswallet!

[laughs]

What do you say, Aguilera?Do you want to?

Yes, sing them that song,the pretty one that Juanitotaught you the other day!

I don'’t know...

"Like the sun that needsthe moon to give uslight..."

Well, enough, Hugo. I may bedeaf,

but even I regret yourhowling.

Go, don'’t be stupid. Yousing to him

and then ask him to give youa gift.

I don'’t care about that... butsince you insist... I'’ll askhim for a radio.

[Juanito laughs]

That'’s my boy! I'll go tellthe Headmistress right away.

Thanks, Hugo...

[piano music]

[Alberto singing] like thesun needs the moon

without him she could notgive us light.

like the air is needed inthe world. I need you.

Come everyone, becauseyou're going to listen to

the most beautiful song.

the laugh of whom a lovethe most.

[clapping]

Well done, boy. What avoice!

Take me a picture with thestar.

[camera flash]

[René] Well, look, boy.Since you gifted me thatbeautiful song,

I'’d like to give yousomething in return...

I'’d like a radio!

In fact, a radio is what weleast need, sir.

If you want, I can show youthe facilities

and chat for a bit aboutsome of the things we lack,don'’t you think?

The radio is yours. Youearned it.

Thanks.

[clapping]

[happy music]

[claps]

[whistle]

get gown!

move!

TURN IT OFF!

[Exhales]

You'’ve been cleaning forover an hour. Put everythingaway and go eat something!

Are your things ready?

Yes, sir.

Don'’t forget to leave thebed sheets in the laundryroom.

What'’s he talking about?

Let'’s go eat, I'm hungry.

Tell me the truth, Hugo. Areyou leaving?

My aunt is taking me to livewith her.

Why didn'’t you tell me?

I don'’t know.

Hurry up or there won'’t beany soup.

[violin's music]

It'’s time.

I'’m not going with my aunt.

I'’m being transferred toanother place.

I don'’t know where myparents are,

nor do I have any aunts.They just threw me in here...

I'’ll miss you, Hugo. A lot.

What's wrong with you?

[Alberto exhales]

Hugo, I'’m sorry...

HUGO.

[closes car door]

[car engine starting]

[melancholic music]

Aguilera.

Surprise!

Oh, Juanito, you remembered...

My hearing is quite bad, butmy memory is fine, don'’t youthink?

[Alberto] A notebook?

Here, you can writeeverything you can'’t say,son.

[laughs] Congratulation!

[Juanito y Alberto singing]This is a morning song thatthe Rey David used to sing.

Today, that's your birthday,we sing it to you.

[Juanito y Alberto singing][echoes] Look, it's alreadymorning, the birds sings,

The moon it's not thereanymore.

[thunder]

You'’re a teenager now,Aguilera.

Are you still writing? May I?

Yes.

"“I don'’t want to talk aboutlove to you. I just want tobe your friend"”

They'’re mostly phrases thatoccur to me.

You'’ve got a poet's soul,Aguilera.

You know, many songs arejust poems with music.

This pocket knife is gift,but I'll keep it for you.

Because if hte know I bringthis to you, the kick meout.

[stone on the wall]

[dove falls to floor]

[melacholic music]

What happened here?

I'’ll bury him.

[melacholi music continues]

[books on the desk]

Let's see Aguilera, read.

"“The dove'’s death"” Never will you return, sad dove the dovecote is left lonely

"The dove drowning in sobs because he can no longer cry..."

Don'’t stop, keep reading.

[Alberto singing] [Juanito plays violin]" Poor dove,

"tired of suffering and looking to the sky towards God,"

"asking for his death since he doesn'’t want to live like this."

"Since it cries, it cries, it crieees, it can no longer see, nor can he fly."

"Since it cries, it cries, it crieees, it can no longer see, nor can he fly."

"Death is coming, agonizing from waiting so long..."

Did you realize it,Aguilera? You just composedyour first song.

[laughs]

[rain and storm]

[Prefect] Aguilera.

[Prefect] Aguilera.

Don'’t just stand theredaydreaming. Go throw thataway and come back.

[open the door]

Don'’t get wet now, Aguilera.

Go through the shade, allright?

[rain continues]

[man] I always knew thatlife was outside, wherefreedom is.

I took a great decision, onethat would shape my destiny.

My first great decision.

What did I know about life,right? Since I had alwaysbeen locked up.

But I felt that it was themoment to find out how itwas.

I left to sing, to get toknow, to compose songs...

following my heart.

And that was the first bigstep I gave towards mycareer,

towards my life... towards myown storm.

[Juan Gabriel interprets "La muerte del palomo"]