Original subtitles

[crowd clamoring]

[operatic music playing]

[man on mic] We assume that no global problem

must be resolved by force.

Nobody has the right

to use violence against any human being.

[rhythmic footsteps]

If we do nothing,

nobody will be saved.

In this fight, as in many others in the past,

victory is possible.

[crowd cheering]

[crickets chirping]

[birds chirping]

[somber instrumental music playing]

Alexis Arayán Rodríguez.

First evidence is that he died of suffocation.

I'd say between 8:00 p.m. and midnight.

But with this heat...

Where did you find this?

In a purse that was lying here.

Who found the body?

A kid who jogs every day with his dog.

But around the body,

there are footprints of another heavy person.

But there are no signs of a struggle.

That's strange.

Everybody defends themselves.

[theme song playing]

[Conde] Just what I needed.

To be assigned the homo's case.

I thought you didn't have any hang ups.

None at all, Manolo.

I like things to be clear.

You tell me how you see this thing.

I think it's obvious.

The woman, who was not a woman,

came with a guy who thought he was a woman.

Things got heated up,

the guy started to touch him, and hell broke loose.

He went crazy and killed him.

That could be it.

We have to check transvestites

with records for soliciting and public disorder.

The weirdest thing is how he was dressed.

Like he was wearing a costume.

Of course!

Trannies dress up, right?

Good morning.

Good morning, Lieutenant. The major is waiting for you.

[Rangel] Come in.

[door shuts]

Hey, man. Who is she?

Where's Maruchi?

Maruchi has been transferred.

I don't know where or why.

This is worse than I expected.

Real shit.

Okay.

The dead guy in the forest is Faustino Arayán's son.

The diplomat.

And you know Arayán is not just anybody.

So you have to give this case top priority.

Yeah, I know.

And I have to be discreet,

and I can't go too far, and be careful...

And cut the bullshit with me.

Do you think it's easy to work

with an army of Internal Affairs here in the headquarters?

You know two cops were fired for corruption.

And two others for negligence.

And I get blamed for them.

Don't take it so hard.

Has the dead guy's family been notified?

No. You get to do it.

Me?

[suspenseful music playing]

Good morning.

Good morning.

We're police detectives. We want to talk to Arayán.

Mr. Faustino isn't here.

I'll go tell Mrs. Matilde.

You can come in.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Toña tells me you're with the police.

Yes, ma'am.

Are you Alexis Arayán Rodríguez's mother?

What's happened to Alexis now?

I gave her pills for her blood pressure and a sedative.

We need your help.

What time did Alexis leave here yesterday?

He wasn't here.

He hasn't lived here for six months.

Really? Where did he live?

With a friend of his, Alberto Marqués.

[somber instrumental music playing]

What am I being accused of now, Officer?

You may sit down.

[clock ticking]

Did Alexis Arayán live here?

Did you have any relationship with him?

We were friends.

Don't think anything else.

I let him use the room in the back about six months ago.

He told me he wanted to emancipate from his parents.

Do you remember what time he left yesterday?

Did he tell you where he was going?

I didn't see him leave.

Truth is, he was very discreet.

His room has a side door he can leave from.

What did he do, by the way?

At the fund of cultural goods.

He was a plastic arts specialist.

Do you know if he had a relationship with anybody?

A guy called Salvador K who considers himself a painter.

Won't you sit down?

Those armchairs don't bite.

[medical examiner] He definitely suffocated to death.

There is every sign that the transvestite

was kneeling before his murderer when he was choked to death.

Did he suck him off?

He didn't have any trace of seminal fluid in his mouth.

I'd say he didn't.

He didn't have sex with his murderer.

Any drugs?

No, he was clean.

Though the guy could have immobilized him quite easily.

Judging by the marks left by the attacker, he could weigh 200 pounds.

Any fingerprints?

None.

When did you meet Alexis?

[clattering]

When Alexis was at school,

he studied at the library I worked at, arranging books.

I understand you were a theater director.

I was.

Until I was expelled in 1971.

Not just me. A lot of people.

I was accused of being extravagant,

pro-foreign, being non-ideological,

and of course, being a faggot.

Sorry.

Better said, "Outwardly homosexual."

And at that time, you and Alexis...

No, please. He was a child.

[clock ticking]

He was a very sweet kid.

Very well read.

On the other hand, he went to church

every Sunday to confess his sins.

[laughs]

Nothing like me.

[clicking]

Oh, Lord.

[medical examiner] Nothing revealing was found at the scene of the crime.

The usual garbage in those places.

A bottle,

a used condom, cigarette butts,

a rusty key,

cigar ends, marked and unmarked.

We have to work with that.

The weirdest thing hasn't been mentioned.

You like fucking around. Let's hear it.

The murderer introduced two one peso coins in the guy's rectum.

Well, now. Two pesos up his ass?

Mm-hmm.

What the hell does that mean?

You're asking me?

[creaking]

[somber instrumental music playing]

Did Alexis often dress up as a woman?

As a woman?

Not that I know of.

Officer, Alexis was a homosexual, not a transvestite.

It's strange

because he was wearing a very weird red dress.

With ruffles like this?

Sort of.

So he was dressed as Electra Garrigó.

Electra Garrigó?

Like the character in Virgilio Piñera's play?

[exclaims]

You're very much on the ball, Officer.

When I was kicked out of the group,

I was working on a play about Electra Garrigó

that was never released.

I arrived in Paris in 1969.

In spring.

I could still feel the atmosphere of '68.

I was staying at Recio's.

And in the middle of Saint Michel,

I saw her.

Like an apparition.

The most beautiful woman I had ever seen,

wearing that red dress.

And it wasn't a woman.

Recio corrected me. "That's a man, Marqués."

What a shock!

Something happened inside of me, Officer.

Something very big.

And I found the solution I was looking for

for the concept of my Electra Garrigó.

Why might Alexis have used this dress?

I couldn't set up my theater play.

But Recio was able to write

and publish his book.

The Transfiguration.

Look.

You might find the answer

to why Alexis wore Electra's dress yesterday.

No shit! Two pesos up his ass?

That's right.

What the hell does that mean?

I don't know, but it must mean something.

I'm sick of all this homo stuff. I don't understand shit.

Fucking old man and this goddamn heat!

Do you think the coin thing

might be a code between homos or something?

Maybe it's a gay vendetta.

We have to find Alexis' ex-boyfriend.

Salvador K. Manolo, this is getting messy. It's getting messy.

[somber instrumental music playing]

-Are all of these pieces yours? -Yes.

Salvador,

you know Alexis is dead.

Yes, of course. All of Havana knows.

Especially gay people.

My wife isn't feeling well. Could we step outside to talk?

It's scorching hot outside.

We were told that you and Alexis had a relationship...

Those are rumors started by jealous people.

Alexis was a specialist in cultural goods

and he helped me sell my paintings.

Prepare my exhibitions.

That was my relationship with him.

We were also told

that Alexis and you had an argument recently.

Who told you that?

It doesn't matter who said it. Is it true or not?

It was silly.

Alexis didn't like some of my paintings, and we had an argument.

An aesthetic argument, of course.

After that, we drifted apart.

Salvador, where were you last night?

Painting, in my studio.

Where is that?

Around 18 and 21.

That's near Havana Forest.

Did anybody see you there? Can anyone confirm it?

I don't know, maybe. It's an isolated place.

[woman] Salvador? Is there a problem?

Excuse me.

We have to get a search warrant fast.

Mm-hmm

-Is that your wife? -Yes.

I told you she wasn't feeling well.

We'll probably have to come back.

And then we will talk to her.

See you.

How did it go with Marqués?

Do you think he's got anything to do with Alexis' murder?

I don't know.

But that guy, Marqués,

is too intelligent.

Did you figure anything out?

Old stories.

He's one of the people "parametered" in '71 for being a homo.

What the hell is that?

Somebody said artists had to comply

with certain parameters.

It was a damn witch hunt.

What does that have to do with the two pesos in the ass?

I don't know. But it might be related.

During those years,

hatred was all over the place.

And you know hatred is not easily forgotten.

In the end, the shit always hits the fan.

And that guy, Marqués,

has plenty of reasons to be filled with hate.

[somber instrumental music playing]

Before coming over, I spent, like, two hours

reading a book Marqués gave me.

About transvestites, transformation,

all that stuff is really complex.

Do you have to read all that to know who killed the boy?

He dressed up as a woman but he wasn't a transvestite.

There must be a reason.

You get yourself into such things, brother.

And the parameter thing as well.

Skinny, you know I'm not into homos.

But from there,

to fuck their lives and fire them,

I think all that shit is crazy.

That's when we were at school, remember?

We were accused of being problematic,

they shut down the literary workshop...

Why don't you take me to have a beer at the bar Candito opened?

They say it's great.

Have you gone crazy?

I'm a cop, remember?

It's a clandestine bar.

There's no sign on your forehead.

You're a cop in civilian clothes.

I'm a police officer!

A police officer! I'm not going anywhere.

Tell them you--

I'm a police officer, man!

[upbeat Spanish music playing]

[singing]

Are you having fun or not?

This is wonderful.

Not enough women, but it's awesome.

You want it all, brother.

This is top-notch.

Conde, things are fucked up.

I'm not doing anything wrong.

I'm offering a service.

[Conde] But it's right here in plain sight.

[indistinct conversation]

[indistinct conversation]

-[Candito] Son of a bitch! -Hey! Hey!

Son of a bitch! You homo!

Damn it! Fuck off!

You're crazy!

Fuck you!

-Damn it! -Fuck you!

Stop it, shit!

You are crazy, fuck.

What the hell is going on?

Did he try to stab you?

I don't know.

When will you drop this shit?

Drop all this illegal crap and the nightlife, man.

Man, stop it.

Damn.

[panting]

Toni!

I loved your novel, beautiful.

[Toni] Thanks, I've started another.

I don't know much about Salvador K.

I know he's a painter, one of many.

Although he makes good money with his shit.

Yes, he's a homo, but in the closet.

[Conde] And Marqués?

What about him? If he's a homo?

No, no. That I know.

What type of person is he?

[chuckles]

If you go right now to the front door of writer's union

and shout, "Who is Alberto Marqués?"

You'll have 200 guys kneeling

and bowing, saying, "He's God. He's God."

But if you asked the same question 20 years ago,

"Who is Alberto Marqués?"

Those same 200 guys might show up

raising their fists, shouting,

"He's the devil.

He's the enemy of the working class." [laughs]

Damn.

A while back, you almost couldn't mention him.

Now they say he's the father of Creole postmodernism.

Why didn't he go back to the theater when everybody returned?

Well, he says he doesn't want to do theater or publish anything.

He held up like a man and stayed here.

He says that if he leaves Cuba, he'll die.

Do you think he'd be capable of killing someone?

[laughs]

That queen?

Well...

a guy that crazy

is capable of anything. Don't you think?

Be careful.

The truth is, I've never had problems with Salvador.

He pays the rent on time,

and I turn a blind eye.

What do you mean?

It's nothing. Sometimes he comes with a young man.

Alexis.

Watch out!

Unbelievable.

Come this way.

Youngsters.

Do you know if Alexis came here yesterday?

Salvador got back in the evening.

And when I went to throw away the trash,

he was with somebody.

I can't say if it was Alexis.

Did you notice if Salvador left again or stayed in the whole night?

You know what?

Salvador is always listening to music.

Opera.

Last night, there was no music.

[exclaims sternly]

Is everybody cleaning today?

Wait, wait!

Goodbye!

Goodbye.

[operatic music playing]

[sobbing]

[clattering]

[sobbing continues]

Mario.

Tamara.

How are you?

Quite well. And you?

I need to talk to you.

Of course.

Come in.

After your husband died--

Thank you for not coming.

I thought you needed time.

Although I'm here now for another reason.

More things Rafael did?

No, no.

Since your father was a diplomat for so many years

and you grew up in that environment...

I wanted to ask you

if you know Faustino Arayán's family.

Yes, of course.

The old Arayán is almost a legend at the ministry.

Why is that?

Imagine.

His story goes back to Batista's time.

He fought in secrecy.

A man with a flawless track record.

Although my dad said he was too strict.

Do you know his son was a homosexual?

No, I had no idea.

He was killed two days ago.

The man of stone hid his son's homosexuality?

Nobody's perfect.

Mario, that's always your best excuse, isn't it?

[Conde] I'm leaving! You're a bunch of drunks!

[man 1] He's acting just like a cop!

[man 2] Where is he going? There's no public transportation!

[men talking indistinctly]

[somber instrumental music playing]

Sergeant?

Salvador K disappeared.

Shit, I knew it.

His wife says he left last night.

He had a briefcase, but he didn't come back.

Did you search his home?

Nothing. She said some clothes were missing. A pair of shoes.

But she didn't find it strange,

because he sometimes sleeps at his studio.

So we went to his studio.

No sign of him.

Request an arrest warrant for Salvador K.

We have to find him.

[indistinct chatter]

[Rangel] You know you screwed up.

How on Earth did you lose the main suspect?

I don't like this case, man.

No kidding.

Which case does the little boy like?

With all that homo crap,

you never know who's lying

and who's telling you something that resembles the truth.

On top of that, the whole parameter thing--

Forget about it already, nobody cares about it now.

Listen...

I don't want you even to talk.

Listen...

Wasn't I clear with you

about taking it easy?

I told you there was an investigation that came from way up.

And look at you.

You're nuts.

Or a shithead.

Both.

You will find the murderer.

But quietly.

Or I'll have to change my name from Antonio Rangel.

[Conde] We're very sorry to bother you, Arayán.

Don't worry.

It's your job.

Even I have one.

Life goes on.

Tobacco.

Thank you.

I'll smoke it later.

[sniffs]

What can I do for you, Lieutenant?

[Conde] Do you know Salvador K?

Apparently he and your son had a relationship.

Yes, I know.

I know about my son's relationships, but I don't know him.

I imagine Alexis was a difficult kid.

Could you, as a father, tell me a little bit about him?

Alexis always gave us a lot of headaches.

Not only because of his problems,

but because of his personality.

Any other kid would have been happy with the life we gave him, but not him.

He'd always complain about us

being out of Cuba for so long, and him having to stay

with María Antonia and my mother-in-law.

Why did Alexis leave home?

We argued a few months ago.

What about?

Politics.

He accused me of being dogmatic, an extremist.

After that, he left home.

This tragedy that happened to Alexis

is nothing but the result of choosing

the wrong friends, immoral and promiscuous people.

Especially when he met that low-life.

Alberto Marqués.

After that, there was no more communication.

He brainwashed him.

[birds chirping]

[somber instrumental music playing]

[Conde] Everybody defends themselves.

The Almendares River.

Many poets were inspired by this river.

What a disaster.

How come you're so quiet?

Nothing.

Something's bothering you.

I know you. You didn't say a word at Arayán's house.

I didn't say anything because I didn't want to worry you.

What's up, Manolo?

I got a call from Internal Affairs.

I'm so fed up.

Don't worry about it, man.

You're clean. So don't pay attention to those cocksuckers.

Let's go.

Come on, Manolo.

You aren't in any trouble, are you?

Don't fuck with me, Conde.

[Conde] I'm more and more convinced of one thing.

Alexis was not a transvestite.

He didn't dress up to show off, or to hook up.

He was after something else.

[Manolo] If Salvador is the murderer, the explanation might be simpler.

Alexis wanted Salvador to leave his wife

and he threatened to tell her everything.

Salvador fools Alexis and he lures him here.

But they weren't together anymore.

I don't know. Maybe Salvador was jealous because Alexis had another boyfriend.

You always like to make it more complicated.

Let's stop the nonsense.

Why didn't the murderer throw Alexis' body into the river?

It might have never appeared.

And the two coins? What the hell do they mean?

This story is fucked up.

The most important thing is to find Salvador K.

[somber instrumental music playing]

[Skinny] Mom! Come on, we're starving!

This is made with grated corn,

which is better than ground corn,

and I added pork, chicken and beef.

One day you'll have to tell me where you get all this food.

And I'll have to arrest you

because you can't even find beef on the news.

-Mom, there's more, right? -Yes.

Whoever asks for more is a pig.

[chuckles]

[suspenseful music playing]

[officer] J-9 calling Central Unit.

We have the possible suspect in sight.

Can we proceed?

[officer on radio] Make sure it's him before you make a move.

[officer] Conde, still no sign of Salvador K.

We were waiting at his studio, but he didn't show up.

This bastard won't show up.

I'm sure he's still in Havana.

Where the hell is he?

It's gone.

What's gone?

The rum.

To make things worse, the rum is gone.

I'm dying to get drunk

and fall on my face.

I don't want to think ever again.

[laughing]

Damn it. He took it hard.

Stop drinking!

[both laughing]

[somber instrumental music playing]

Mishima, Zweig,

Hemingway, Calvert, Pavese...

Casey...

All suicidal.

Did Alexis ever talk to you about suicide?

He suffered too much.

If he hadn't been killed,

I would have said he committed suicide.

Did he suffer for any specific reason?

Poor Alexis said everything in his life was a mistake,

his sex, his family, his time.

He said that if we're aware of those mistakes,

suicide could be the solution.

The Bible is missing one page.

Who ripped it out?

The only one who came in here was Toña.

-Who? -María Antonia.

The lady who's always worked at the Arayáns'.

She comes to clean once a week.

Poor lady.

She spoiled Alexis more than his mother.

She always brought him good things to eat.

Those you never see anywhere, and only--

Maybe Alexis himself ripped out the page for some reason.

[somber instrumental music playing]

Did they really find him dressed as a woman?

That's very strange because he had a complex

and he was very shy--

Look, Fleitas, we need to know

who Alexis was in contact with.

With many people,

especially for work related things.

Alexis was one of my best specialists.

-He got along with the painters-- -Yes, but,

you knew about his relationship with Salvador K, didn't you?

Yes, of course.

As far as I know, they had a fight.

Do you know if Alexis was with someone else?

Alexis was very discreet about his things.

What I don't get, Marqués,

is why you didn't return to theater after things changed.

Yes.

Actually, that would have been easier.

But nobody came to tell me they were wrong.

And nobody tried to give me back what they had taken away.

I understand you hate the police.

[laughs]

Who picked up Alexis' things?

Nobody. As far as I know.

Would you like to go to a party at my friend's place tonight?

What?

Don't be scared, Lieutenant.

There will be interesting people there who knew Alexis.

Could any of them be the murderer?

[indistinct chatter]

Conde, this is really strange.

Somebody emptied out Alexis' office and cleaned his desk.

They left nothing behind.

I found this Bible in Alexis' room and a page is missing.

The first page of Chapter 17 of Saint Matthew's Gospel.

How important could that be?

That's where Jesus' transformation is mentioned. Listen.

"Seven days later,

Jesus takes Peter, Santiago, his brother, John,

and they climb a high mountain.

And he transformed before their eyes."

What are you talking about?

Manolo, it's obvious.

The day Alexis was killed was August 6th.

What does that date tell you, buddy?

Not a damn thing.

That's the day Catholics celebrate Christ's transfiguration.

Isn't it too coincidental?

What if Alexis was crazy...

and he transformed on his own to enter his own cavalry?

The only one crazy here is you.

Don't start, Manolo.

And go find Salvador, wherever he is.

[knocking at door]

Thank God you showed up.

Here's a gift to make your day. Real tobacco.

But you've got to tell me what the hell happened to Maruchi.

[sniffs]

Finally, good news.

Maruchi is none of your business.

Tell me how the case is going.

Man...

what I've got is a huge sticky mess.

I have transvestites and the Gospels,

Electra Garrigó and Christ's transfiguration.

-[chuckling] -Although Manolo thinks

this could be a crime of passion between homos.

What's the relationship between Major Rangel and Lieutenant Conde?

Their friendship could interfere with work.

They say the major favors the lieutenant.

Some say he's Rangel's protégé.

Lieutenant Conde has alcoholic tendencies.

Who are his informants?

We know about a guy called "Candito," alias "Red."

He had a relationship with Tamara Valdemira.

[Internal Affairs officer] Why does the lieutenant like to go into churches?

What about his standard of living?

Is it true he likes to write?

What does he write about?

Squalid and touching stories.

[typewriter tapping]

[knocking at door]

[Manolo] Conde?

[Conde] Hey.

What are you doing here?

They know everything.

What do they know?

They know everything.

I don't know if they're after you or the major,

but heads are starting to roll.

First it was Captain Cicerón.

He was accused of corruption

and he's been sent home until all this is over.

They took Cicerón out?

A son of a bitch wants to fuck him.

I don't know if I'm an idiot or what.

But I never imagined this would be like this.

Conde, it's like living inside a fish tank.

[upbeat music playing]

I love the Paseo del Prado.

It reminds me of the Ramblas in Barcelona.

Many of the foremen who worked here

were Catalonians.

If you want to take a close look at the customs of gays in Havana,

you have to come here.

Although I should tell you

that at night it is a very different show.

[upbeat music playing]

[speaking indistinctly]

[kisses]

[man] Finally,

a count and a marquis in my humble abode.

What an honor!

Kiss?

This is Alquimio.

And you are Mr. Conde?

Come with me. I've got a horror mystery for you.

Poly, look after this man as he deserves.

Hello.

Hello.

Is it true you're a writer, as Marqués says?

No. Just aspiring.

[chuckles] That doesn't matter.

It's better to aspire than to actually be.

Oh, really?

Are you heterosexual?

-Me? -Mm-hmm.

-So far... -[Poly laughs]

Are you heterosexual?

Almost always.

If someone wants to explore all possibilities,

sooner or later, he or she must have a homosexual relationship.

Didn't Marqués tell you that?

No, he knows I tend to be macho-Marxist.

[laughs]

I've done well until now.

So don't worry.

Poly, did you know Alexis?

Yes.

He was a friend of mine.

What I don't understand is why he was cross-dressed.

He didn't do that.

Yes.

The transvestites are scared

because they think there's a serial killer.

That's why I haven't seen a transvestite here, right?

You haven't?

Then you're blind.

[both laughing]

Poly, I like this ambiance.

I'd like to write about this.

Why don't you tell me about the guests?

There's everything here.

Militants from all parties.

Those who engage in free sex,

playwrights with plays or without them.

Homos of all types.

Souls in pain looking to be comforted,

ballet competition winners,

end of the days prophets,

and others with their ration cards in hand.

Marxism converts,

and Marxists converted into shit.

Heretics and followers of all religions.

Alcoholics,

psychos,

rheumatics

and dogmatics.

And one macho-Marxist heterosexual.

Poly, the last time you saw Alexis,

did he tell you he was in love? Did he have a boyfriend?

I think...

What an interrogation!

Don't fuck with me. You must be a cop.

Me, a cop? Now that's crazy!

No, it's just... This party is...

We can go to my place. It's just around the corner.

You aren't a transvestite?

Find out for yourself.

[door opens]

[light switch clicks]

[door shuts]

What are you looking for?

You're frisking me like a cop.

[laughing] Stop.

[grunting]

If you want to arrest me, your work is cut out for you.

[instrumental music playing]

[moaning]

Tell me.

[officer] Sergeant, we're looking around Cerro and Santos Suárez.

And?

No sign of Salvador K.

-We'll keep looking. -Let me know if you find anything.

At your service, Sergeant.

Salvador K's wife called.

She's desperate because he's not showing up anywhere.

We'll just have to keep looking for him.

Last night I dreamed of the murderer.

Really?

We can close the case already.

Problem is I couldn't see his face.

But I had the feeling it's somebody we know.

What's with that shitty face?

I have to go talk to Cicerón.

Conde...

Don't come if you don't want to, I have to go.

Thank you.

[instrumental music playing]

[approaching footsteps]

You're the only one from headquarters who's come here.

I really appreciate it.

[sighs] These bastards want to bury me.

What the fuck did you do, Cicerón?

Conde, I swear I'm clean.

You shouldn't come around here anymore.

When they want to screw you, they do it.

If you didn't do anything, I'll keep coming.

But if something happens to Major Rangel because of you,

I'll come and kick your ass.

Don't you understand, I didn't do anything?

Nothing!

I believe you, Cicerón.

I'm telling you just in case.

You know he's like a father to me.

[wind blowing]

[rustling]

[rain pattering]

[typewriter tapping]

[telephone ringing]

Hello?

[Manolo] Marqués called the headquarters.

He says he's got something important for you.

I think he likes you. [laughing]

Very funny.

Yes.

This is the page from Alexis' Bible.

Where was it?

Marking a page of Electra Garrigó.

Of course.

He was reading Virgil...

and it occurred to Alexis

to wear the dress you had designed for Electra.

"Dear Lord,

why do you force him to such sacrifice?"

Is that Alexis' handwriting?

Yes.

I think so.

This confirms...

why Alexis cross-dressed.

Either he was crazy, or he had a plan.

Some reason

to reenact the transfiguration dressing up like this?

Like he wanted to be crucified?

What if he were scared of suicide?

Alexis was Catholic.

And Catholicism condemns suicide.

Although it condemns homosexuality as well.

You see.

It's never been easy to be a homo anywhere in the world.

Much less on this island.

Did you really write this?

[chuckling]

Really?

This is fucking good.

Don't joke around.

No, I'm serious.

Squalid--

And touching.

[laughing] And touching, I swear.

The title is missing.

This is really good.

We have to celebrate this.

Mom!

Mom, Conde wrote again!

Take out four pesos and buy a bottle.

You must have something stashed away.

Are you kidding? I'm broke! Give me a kiss, man.

Jose, this chicken and rice is amazing.

Your story inspired me.

Mom, make me a coffee.

Son, you don't even let me take a break.

If we had some good tobacco, this would be perfect.

The other day they gave me a Montecristo.

-And? -Amazing tobacco.

I gave it to the major. He's my partner.

That's high treason.

What a kiss-ass.

Giving 20 dollars worth of tobacco to your boss.

When your friend here is crippled.

-Where are you going? -[Conde] To put music on.

You know what to put, right?

[Conde] Creedence.

If you put on Creedence, I'm leaving.

Did you find out who killed the transvestite?

Keep quiet, I'm almost ready to throw in the towel.

While you find the killer

I'm going to have seconds

-because this is... -Amazing.

[Skinny] Yes, sir.

You're eating my lunch here.

["Born on the Bayou" playing]

[moaning]

Today you're...

What's the matter?

Hmm?

This job is shit.

[Vilma] Something's bothering you.

Today they asked me to testify against Conde.

My God.

I don't understand.

I don't know what they're after.

Okay.

[shushing]

Stop.

I'm here with you now.

[instrumental music playing]

[suspenseful music playing]

You're under arrest, Salvador.

[Manolo] If you're innocent, like you say, why did you disappear?

Look, I left home because I didn't have the courage

to face my wife and tell her the truth.

Why did you and Alexis drift apart?

Alexis was too complicated

and I wasn't ready for all that.

Why was he complicated?

I don't know.

Sometimes he got depressed.

He started feeling guilty

and saying strange things about Christ, God...

I don't know.

Where were you the day Alexis was killed?

I was in my studio.

But I was with Fleitas.

I couldn't say that at that moment.

[instrumental music playing]

[Conde] Manolo, if Salvador's telling the truth

and Alexis was obsessed about religion,

it's clear he couldn't commit suicide.

But he could look for some kind of martyrdom, right?

[Manolo] Here we go again.

Good morning.

Good morning, I wasn't expecting you.

Faustino, could we talk to you?

Well, right now...

I'm going to an important meeting and I'm running late.

But my wife can help you. Please.

[Conde] Thank you.

[Conde] Thank you very much for seeing us, Matilde.

Matilde...

see if you can recognize Alexis' handwriting.

-I think it is. -Yes.

It's his handwriting.

Did Alexis ever tell you he wanted to commit suicide?

I don't understand that question.

Alexis didn't commit suicide.

No. He didn't commit suicide.

But he might have provoked the murderer

to do something he couldn't do by himself.

It doesn't make sense to try to explain to you

what I felt when...

When I understood my son was homosexual.

It was worse for Faustino, of course,

because of his position.

[crying] Alexis realized...

and he started drifting away from us.

In one of his last arguments with his dad...

he told us...

that for us, it would have been better...

if he were dead.

[Matilde sobbing]

That is plain nonsense.

Why would anyone taunt his murderer to kill him?

I'm practically convinced he did.

[horn honking]

[Conde] Just like Christ climbed the mountain for his transfiguration,

Alexis could have lured the killer to the Havana Forest.

[Manolo] What are you talking about, Conde?

[Conde] There was something in that forest that we've missed.

[Manolo] Missed?

Don't fuck with me, Conde.

I'll see you later.

[water running]

Good morning, Lieutenant.

Good morning.

How's your case going?

Not as well as you.

Christ's transfiguration has me...

very worried.

[knocking]

Come in.

I just ran into the horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Drop the mystery and tell me what happened with Maruchi.

I can't.

But I'll tell you so that you stop bugging me about that.

Your friend Maruchi

also works for Internal Affairs.

She was here as part of the investigation.

They were investigating our asses.

-Really, Maruchi? -Drop that.

Now tell me how the case is going.

I don't have anything specific.

But I have a hunch.

Fucking great!

What did you do with the tobacco I gave you?

Screw you, I already smoked it.

Where did you toss what was left of it?

I don't know. I think in the trash.

What are you doing?

This might seem crazy.

But with the whole transfiguration thing...

I hope it's good crazy.

[somber instrumental music playing]

[Conde] Yes.

[Frutos] Lieutenant, this is Colonel Frutos.

We've heard it's the second time you visited Arayán's home.

We're being pressured by the Ministry, Lieutenant.

So be very careful, you hear me?

[line disconnects]

[receiver clanks]

[medical examiner] The Montecristo found in the forest

had no fingerprints. It was too wet and damaged.

So?

What I can tell you is that the last tobacco you brought,

the Montecristo Rangel smoked,

looks a lot like the one in the forest.

We could say they have the same origin.

They are made with a similar leaf.

Same tobacco quality.

And probably the same picking.

Of course,

this is not conclusive.

[door opens]

[door shuts]

Sit down.

Tell me something.

Do you know why Alexis left home?

He left after that argument with Mr. Faustino.

Yes, but why did they argue?

I don't know.

Politics, I think.

He never told you anything?

Well, he was investigating his father's past.

He'd been obsessed with that lately.

And I think that very same day...

he reproached Faustino for something.

But these things--

What's your opinion about Faustino?

Well...

Mr. Faustino is a revolutionary--

I mean as a human being.

I don't like to talk behind someone's back...

but Mr. Faustino...

never accepted Alexis' nature.

He wanted to hide it.

He didn't want it to be a stain on his career.

Maria Antonia, I've had the feeling all along

that you want to tell us something about Alexis' death.

No, I...

Maria Antonia...

you might be the key

to catching whoever killed Alexis.

Mr. Faustino...

usually leaves his clothes everywhere.

That's why I was shocked on Friday when I went to do the laundry,

and in the washing machine

I found a shirt I usually wash by hand and a pair of pants.

And I noticed the bottom of the pants were a bit muddy.

That same day...

you told us that Alexis was dead.

What did you do with the pants?

[somber instrumental music playing]

Any news?

Yes, that's why we're here.

We need you to come with us.

Can't we talk here?

I have work at the office--

You have to come with us, Faustino.

It'll be better for you.

[clicking]

[Faustino] Are you crazy?

How can you think I could kill my own son?

That tobacco proves nothing.

There are millions of Montecristos.

Do you know how much trouble you're getting into?

Look, Faustino.

We have a witness who saw you leave on Thursday in your car

with a woman dressed in red.

That woman was Alexis.

Unless you can prove otherwise.

He was crazy.

Alexis was totally crazy.

That day he showed up at the door of the ministry

dressed as a woman.

[indistinct chatter]

[Faustino] It's true.

I drove with him to the forest

to talk with him, but...

It wasn't possible. We had a big argument.

And I left.

I left him there alone.

At night.

Maybe somebody...

confused him for a woman, and...

attacked him.

Lieutenant...

think about what you're doing so you don't regret it afterwards.

I have a reputation in this country and I demand respect!

[door opens]

You left me alone.

That guy sickens me.

That guy has more medals than a Soviet marshal.

Either we find a way to make him talk

or he'll get away.

Keep going, Manolo.

I have a hunch...

that this puzzle is missing a piece or has one piece too many.

[Matilde] No, no.

Faustino can't have done it.

You must be wrong.

It's possible, Matilde.

To know for sure,

we need to know why Alexis and Faustino

argued the last time they saw each other.

It's just that...

About everything...

They argued about everything.

About everything, politics...

Everything.

When was the last time? Think about it.

Remember what happened, Matilde.

Nothing.

That day Faustino offended Alexis very much.

And I felt so sad.

I went to his room and told him

that Faustino wasn't as perfect as he seemed.

He had also committed sins.

What sins, Matilde?

What sins did he commit?

Things from the past.

Just that. Things from the past.

[somber instrumental music playing]

[banging]

A man with a stainless track record.

Although my dad said he was too strict.

[Maria] He was asking about his father's past.

He was obsessed with that lately.

And I think that very same day he reproached Faustino for something.

I have a reputation in this country and I demand respect!

This was back when Batista was in power.

He fought in secrecy.

[Matilde] I told him that Faustino wasn't as perfect as he seemed.

He had committed sins.

Faustino.

We know why you killed your son.

We're going to prove...

that Alexis threatened to expose the fact that you fabricated your past.

That whole heroic story...

that you fought in secrecy

against Batista's military dictatorship...

is a lie.

We will bring in

all those alleged comrades to declare.

Alexis' death...

was in vain.

Everybody will know you're a fake.

You've got nothing. Nothing.

[Conde] We'll check dates.

We'll check the authenticity of some signatures.

We'll even bring in your wife to declare.

No!

Not her, please.

Look...

nobody needs a scandal here.

If you promise me--

Nobody is negotiating with you, Faustino.

We're going all the way with this.

You don't understand anything.

How could I know...

In the end, I did what Alexis wanted.

I saw it in his eyes.

I saw it in his eyes.

[somber instrumental music playing]

[sighs]

Have you lost your mind...

or the little decency you had left?

Decency?

What decency are you talking about?

You're an opportunist.

Your life has been nothing but a lie.

I know you forged documents

to show you had fought in secrecy against Batista.

[slapping]

I'm the one who's ashamed of you.

[Faustino] Where are you going?

Where are you going, Alexis?

[car door shuts]

Alexis!

Alexis!

I did what Alexis wanted.

I saw it in his eyes.

He wanted me to kill him.

Who the fuck told you?

You won't fool anybody else because I'm going to report you.

You can't report me.

You'll have to kill me because I'm reporting you.

Alexis, you can't report me.

You can't report me, Alexis.

You won't report me, Alexis.

[grave instrumental music playing]

[choking]

What about the coins?

[Faustino] I don't know.

So they would think it was something between homosexuals.

Faustino, how could you have such a twisted mind...

to kill your son

and then prepare the scene

to save yourself?

But I see...

that you're used to it.

[door opens]

This is going to be a scandal.

Father kills son.

Has this country gone crazy or what?

I think so.

Look what's happening right here, in the unit.

Everybody spying on everybody.

And what they did to Cicerón...

They've got your friend Cicerón by the balls.

Currency trading,

fabricated information,

and on top of that, smuggling.

I don't believe it.

Cicerón swore he was clean.

They want to ruin him here.

Unfortunately, there's a lot of evidence.

They've ordered his arrest.

Cicerón fucked me.

Because I trusted him, damn it.

Like I trust you, Conde.

I stopped them from investigating him twice.

I even forbade them to suspect him.

I put my balls on the table for him.

Old man...

I resign.

I'm going home.

There's no need for that.

I've been forbidden from giving you another case

until further notice.

You're officially suspended.

Will you ever tell me...

why you became a cop?

If I ever figure it out... I'll let you know.

But I can tell you something I do know.

That you are the greatest police chief in the world.

[somber instrumental music playing]

You're full of surprises, Conde, my friend.

That's something I do when I get the urge.

This story of yours

is very well written, considering you're a cop.

Although I did see some ideological problems.

A little too existentialist.

I wanted it to be squalid and touching.

I'd like to show you something.

Also squalid and touching. At least to me.

These are eight theater plays written over the last years.

And an essay about the reenactment

of Greek myths in western theater in the 20th century.

You never tried to publish it?

Of course not.

My character must endure silence until the end.

But the actor did what he had to.

That's why he kept writing.

Some day they will remember the writer

and nobody will remember

the sad civil servant who buried him.

This is my only contribution to the world.

But nobody can know.

Don't you worry.

Your secrets will be safe with me.

I only have one doubt.

The first time I came to this house,

I went to the bathroom.

Were you watching me?

Me? Do you think I'm capable of that?

And much more.

[instrumental music playing]

Honey!

Do you need company?

[talking indistinctly]

[Spanish ballad playing]