Original subtitles

"I want to love you completely, your body, your flesh,

the roads that I travel to reach your soul."

You're crazy.

One year before

You shouldn't have gone to the funeral!

But it would look bad if I didn't.

Everybody knows we knew each other.

That look of yours, you madman, you cynic.

I didn't know whether to cry or to look at you.

My condolences, Laura.

Thank you.

You can count on me if you need to.

- I know. - You have my phone number.

I'm at your disposal if you need anything.

I truly thank you for that.

Cynic! Madman!

The poor thing. So young, already a widow.

I told Valter to deal with the inventory,

to give her all the support she needs.

Maybe she doesn't know anything about these things.

- Can't you do it yourself? - It's best that I don't.

It's been awhile since I've been to the office.

He took over my cases.

Are you really going to stop practicing law?

- I already did. - Once and for all?

It's definite.

Now what I'm interested in is the art gallery.

I want to get it going. I'm counting on you, Margot.

"The Lumberman" by Aluísio Azevedo

Do you remember |the first time we met?

At the restaurant? Oh, that greeting card...

The great Júlio. I'm surprised to see you.

- How are you doing? - Im fine!

Nice to see you, man. Do you come here often?

Once in awhile.

Let me introduce you. Baltazar, this is Júlio Nobre,

a great friend of mine.

He's a lawyer in his free time, but what he really enjoys is art.

He's a first class art dealer.

He owns a beautiful |art gallery.

Counselor Baltazar Aroeira.

- How are you? Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you.

- His wife, Laura. |- Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

Here is my wife, Alessandra.

Nice to meet you.

Why don't you join us?

Thank you, but I'm going to meet some friends for lunch.

That's a pity! Look, I'm going to get in touch with you

because my chief editor loves painting and wants to buy some.

Ok, it's a deal.

What a coincidence!

I also need some works of art for my house.

It's for that bigger room, darling.

- Do you have a card? - Of course.

- I'll call you. Thank you. - It's a deal.

Well, folks, feel free to call me. Excuse me.

Júlio...

But what a pleasure...

Are you by yourself?

I don't like no one to bother me when it comes to these things.

Am I late?

Right on time.

But it was good that you called ahead, because today it's Thursday,

I usually don't come in.

I'm sorry, I had no other day open on my schedule.

Don't mention it. It's a pleasure, an honour.

Wouldn't you like to first take an overall look,

see the pieces and then choose the one that interests you the most?

Sure, sure. Great! What do you have to show me?

I have an exhibition of beautiful photographs. Let's see it?

Yes.

I like everything.

Your gallery is beautiful, congratulations.

But I confess I'm a bit undecided.

Now I don't know what kind of piece I want to buy for my house.

Are there any guidelines for this sort of thing?

To like it. That's the only rule.

That you like it and your heart approves of it.

It's time.

I'm sorry, I must go.

I'd like to make you a proposition.

How about you come over to my house, have some tea,

see the space and help me choose?

Great! I can take a book with some pictures of our collection,

it will make visualizing it easier.

Wonderful!

I'll check my schedule and I'll give you a call.

I'll take the opportunity to invite over some good friends for you to meet.

Then it's settled.

Sir, make yourself comfortable. Mrs. Laura will be right with you.

Thank you.

Look who's here.

Was it hard to find the way?

I know Santa Teresa well.

I've thought a lot about living here.

You don't know what you are missing.

Well, unfortunately we're not going to be joined by my friends.

Yeah, I called it off so I could be comfortable

to decide about the pieces.

So, what would you like to do?

Should I show you the place where I want to hang the pictures

or should we have tea first?

It's up to you.

Your husband he didn't want to see them?

He would like to, but he had to leave home early

to run some errands and then go to see the doctor.

I hope he's well.

It's just some routine stuff.

- So, shall we see the space? - Sure!

Here is my hideout.

It's where I work, here I shut myself away from the world.

Where I am always alone.

I forgot to tell you I write.

I haven't published anything, but one day I will.

- Poems? - No, no. Novels.

Besides myself and, sometimes, my husband,

only very special people come in here.

But this environment is so natural, so beautiful,

so perfectly complete that I really don't see any place for pictures.

No? Not even a little spot?

I think I'm going to have to ask for my husband's opinion.

It would be a good idea.

Actually, I'm beginning to admire that guy.

Oh yeah? That's nice. But why?

You talk so much about him I'm beginning to feel envious.

Envious? Why envious?

That envy that we, the unloved, feel of others,

the ones loved by beautiful women.

Unloved? You must have a bunch of girlfriends.

Why do you think that?

I don't know, it's a hunch.

There must be a reason.

You seem like a ladies man.

I can't deny I like women.

They are far more fascinating than men

and, when they are beautiful, intelligent and cultured,

they become admirable beings.

You seem to always have a compliment on the tip of your tongue.

It's tea time.

It's different with you.

There's something about you that brings forth this sincerity.

Your eyes speak more than your words.

I feel you are offering me something

that you usually don't offer.

Am I right?

Who knows? But that's dangerous.

- Dangerous? - Yes.

To read what's written in my eyes.

What I'm reading is that your desire is the same as mine.

Even if it is the same, my desire is meant to be tamed.

That's why we, women, are admirable beings.

Wasn't that what you said a moment ago?

The writer speaks!

Desires are what makes life worth living.

What makes life worth living?

That's a question that I cannot answers.

Only time can tell.

It's time that tells us what's right and what's wrong.

It's our master.

Let's see the pictures?

Since we haven't found a place here

maybe we could try another room.

She's a fox, Valter. You need to see it.

- I'm going for it, man! - Going for what?

Her! I can't let such a woman pass me by.

Look! Where did this masterpiece come from?

That day at the restaurant. I told you.

Roberto Malta introduced me.

Right, Malta. It's always Malta. He's also a womanizer.

And yet another married one. It had to be.

What's this fixation, Júlio? Won't you ever learn?

I screwed up that time, it's true, but now it's different.

Laura is what I could call an adventure not to be missed.

And was she, by any chance, up for it?

Did she fall for any of your art dealer lines?

What art dealer lines!

Those that are between abstract and figurative, Júlio,

but that are nothing but a forgery.

You know I'm a sincere guy.

I won't let this woman get away,

- ... you can bet, man. - I won't bet anything.

Betting or not, you already lost.

You know what? I'm going to meet her now.

I called her and she was up for it right away.

It's happening tonight, my brother.

Later I'll tell you about it with all the juicy details.

Laura, I was thinking about what you told me

the other day, do you remember?

What?

That time is our master.

Tell me something, then.

If only time can tell us what's right and what's wrong,

we are only going to know what will happen between us

if we give it a try. Am I right?

You are a character, do you know?

In a comedy or a tragedy?

Let's settle for somewhere in the middle: a drama.

A love drama?

And where are you seeing love around here?

In the future, who knows.

And it starts in our present, right now.

I didn't know. Can you foresee the future?

Well, just don't forget we're in the middle of a drama.

A love drama, alright...

You are the one who created the drama.

Laura, the writer.

I, on the other hand, see desire, joy, passion.

And love, lots of love.

Then you really can't see the drama?

Have you got no principles?

This is my principle: to live life to the fullest,

without ever regretting what is done.

It's quite different from mine.

I need to take things like honour and loyalty into account.

I'm a married woman,

and my husband doesn't deserve anything else.

Even if there is desire, I'll know how to resist.

I'm sorry if I was harsh with you at the restaurant,

but I needed you to know how I really am,

without room for doubt.

Forgive me for this invasion through letters.

I think all writers are like that, fearful.

Writing makes it easier to resist to the other's gaze.

But I couldn't let you think that you don't mean anything to me.

May these letters be as the kisses,

the embraces that I'll never be able to give you.

I want, however, to meet you one last time.

This Tuesday, I'll go see you at 10 a.m. in your gallery.

Am I interrupting?

I was waiting for you.

And while doing so, enjoying the view.

For inspiration.

Well, it's a pity I see you so rarely.

If it wasn't for the letters...

They are the reason why I came here.

I came to tell you that I'll stop.

There will be no more letters.

What do you mean, stop?

They've become a burden.

But I love your letters.

They express your deeper, most intimate desires.

They became an aggression against myself.

They are not worth my regret, my guilt.

They are already an infidelity.

The more so now, given the shape he is in.

I don't understand.

My husband is very ill.

But what's wrong with him?

I would rather not go into details.

I came here to tell you...

personally the reason why I'm stepping aside.

I will step aside, and it will be definitive.

Laura, are you sure?

Isn't there anything I can do to help you?

He needs me.

He needs me more than ever.

I can't keep on exposing myself to you this way.

I came here to tell you personally

so I wouldn't seem like a coward.

It's a pity.

But if you are standing by your words...

I hope you'll respect my decision.

You can count on me for whatever you need.

I know.

Six months later

Oh, Júlio. Laura, again? Wasn't that over?

I thought so, but suddenly, while going over the letters,

it all came back to me.

I kept remembering all of our craziness.

- Is it back or was it never over? - I thought it was over.

But didn't you tell me you were so in love?

It all started as an impossible affair.

Back then her husband was still alive, do you remember?

- Whiskey? - No ice.

I found the most adorable woman I could ever meet.

Simple, warm, intelligent, hot. Of course, a temptation!

I tried to seduce her but I failed.

Thank you.

I insisted but she didn't cave in, so faithful.

It only happened after her husband died.

That's rare for you, isn't it, Júlio?

Júlio, I always thought that what you fell for

was the forbiddenness of it.

I don't know.

And now, six months after that,

guess what the doorman handed me this morning?

Another letter.

Do you have it? Can I read it?

Let me read it.

"Dear Júlio, I know you've kept my letters

and I want you to give them all back to me.

Come have dinner with me in my house

and bring the letters tomorrow at 8 p.m. Can you do that?"

And then she adds:

"The reason for this request is very serious.

Don't bail on me.

Count on the appreciation of the one expecting this favor from you.

It will be the last. From your friend, Laura."

- Is that all? - Do you need more?

What the hell does she want with these letters?

Could she be afraid you might show them to someone?

In that case she would have asked from them a long time ago.

Anyway, she says there's a serious reason.

To finish it completely, cover every track of it, Júlio.

Leaving no traces.

Ok, but why cover the tracks?

Good evening, Laura.

Oh, look what we have here.

That's the only way to make you come to my house.

Welcome.

- Did you bring them? - The letters?

Of course. Your requests are like orders to me.

You know that.

Good.

Have a seat.

So, give me the letters.

May I know what game are we playing?

What game?

Demanding the letters back.

Are you afraid someone might see them?

That's not it at all. I trust you.

Then what?

Why should you have them? There's nothing more between us.

Who knows...

You're always the same.

You wouldn't even remember me if it wasn't for my letter.

"Damn, who is this chick?"

That's so unfair.

How could I forget a wonderful person like yourself?

- Stop it, stop. - You are even younger.

- And more beautiful. - As if.

- Stop it! Come to your senses. - I don't deserve anything anymore?

Let's give the past a rest and deal with the future.

I'm thinking about the present.

In the present we are friends and that's what I want from you.

That you be my friend.

I'll ask dinner to be served. Do you want to have a drink first?

- I do. - No, no! Stop it!

Then it's all over? Everything?

Can't you see my desire is greater than ever,

that everything could start over if you only want it to.

Enough!

- Everything is over then? - Everything.

- Everything, everything? - Completely.

And this is forever?

It's how you wanted it to be, it's your fault.

Do you know why I asked for the letters back?

Why?

Because I'm going to get married.

What?

I'm going to get married in two months.

Who are you marrying?

He deals with lumber.

- A lumberman? - Yes. Why are you so surprised?

Oh, okay.

A woman like me has the right to marry.

But to lumberman?

He loves me much more than you ever did.

Ad he's willing to do something

you never had the courage to imagine.

Yes, I will get married.

And I swear that I will be worthy of my future husband's trust.

As I was worthy of my other husband's trust.

Don't look at me that way. I will get married.

Give me the letters.

Look, it's best I don't give them now.

I'll bring them another day.

Another day?

If I give them now, what excuse will I have to come back later?

Come back? Why coming back?

I won't give them. Forget it.

Why are you doing this now?

It's your own fault.

Who told you to be even more beautiful?

Blackmail?

This is wrong, you know?

Pour me some more wine, please.

It's better if you are my friend.

I don't wish for anything else.

I only hope that you, as my friend, can protect me

instead of creating problems.

- Me? - What the hell! I am getting married.

The lumberman loves me, but he's a very strict man.

What if he finds out about our affair?

If he finds out about the letters, those lewd words

I wrote to you while I was still married to Baltazar?

My God, he'd kill me. And kill you too.

I will give you the letters, rest assured.

Then give them.

With the condition that this visit of mine is a long one.

Are you crazy?

Let's get away, let's get out of here,

holding each other, with plenty of kisses,

without seeing time pass, until morning, what do you say?

You are really a piece of work!

Then forget about the letters.

I'll only give them back if we sleep together the way we used to.

One last time, I promise.

As a definitive farewell. What do you say?

Blackmailer!

I give you my word.

I can't believe I'll have to give in to your blackmailing.

Do you promise you'll give me the letters afterwards?

It was great, I kept my end of the deal.

Now you have to keep yours.

Was it worth it, Ma'am?

No comments! Now, the letters.

The letters...

Take them!

Ten letters?

Ten letters. Half of them.

And why half?

Or do you think I'm as naive as to give you upfront all of your letters

and then have to beg for another dinner?

Oh, you son of a bitch!

This is blackmail.

Yeah. So what?

I'm considering not taking any of them.

Don't be proud. It's take it or leave it.

I'll leave you ten letters now and bring the rest next week.

Blackmailer!

At another dinner...

- Júlio... - What?

Be careful, okay?

And are you going to keep your promise?

Of course. I can't wait.

Be careful, man. What if the lumberman finds out?

The late husband never found out.

Yeah, but a lumberman is a lumberman, right?

Now, tell me something. How are lumberman like, hun?

How would I know what a lumberman is like?

I imagine a big guy, carrying logs in his arms.

That's an english lumberman, my friend. We're in Brazil,

here these lumbermen are mostly skinny guys.

Skinny and packing a chainsaw.

Are you on my side or on the lumberman's side?

Maybe the guy is chubby, average, no big deal,

only dealing with the money.

But what if he isn't? Has she told you where he lives?

She led me to understand he's rich, that is, I think he is,

or else she wouldn't want to get married.

There's nothing quite like having as a rival a guy I don't even know.

What's more important is that in three days I'll once again be

in the arms of that devil, taking her the letters.

All the letters that are left, Júlio?

Man...

You just gave me an idea.

Margot, are the frames here yet?

They called and said they'll only be done tomorrow.

Oh, these guys are always mess up.

I'm thinking about going back to our old supplier.

Aside from that, is there anything else?

There's a strange guy here.

He's not a client, I'm sure, I don't know what's his business.

- Mr. Júlio? - Yes.

- Júlio Nobre? - How can I help you?

Someone recommended you.

I've been observing the pieces in your gallery,

but I couldn't find one that was right for me.

What are you looking for, exactly?

Nevermind.

If I decide on something, I'll come back.

What a weird man.

The guy stood there for one hour just for that?

To me, there's something fishy about it.

Did he tell you who he is, what he does for a living?

Not one word.

Ok, call the frame suppliers...

He really didn't say anything?

Is there something wrong, Júlio?

Nevermind.

It's weird, Valter. Come on, it's weird.

I was talking about the lumberman, then this guy comes out of thin air,

without saying who he is, and keeps hanging around my gallery.

You're worried for nothing. Forget about it!

Are you afraid of the lumberman?

It's not that I'm afraid. I'm a bit intrigued.

If she's really into this rustic type, the guy could be dangerous.

- You are afraid! - Afraid of what, man?

Face it! I just can't understand why you are afraid of a shadow.

Of a guy who you don't know what's like,

that you've never seen before, Júlio.

You are right. I have no idea how he's like.

If he shows up out of the blue, he could shoot me,

he could break me in half.

Hold on. You gave me an idea.

I'll ask to see a picture of him, isn't that a good move?

That's it, man.

Five, what about the others?

Let's take it easy?

You promised me the ten that were left.

I want to meet you again.

You blackmailer.

I only brought you here for the letters.

I misunderstood. I thought you also wanted to see me.

No.

These are five? They are mine.

You still owe me those five.

What five?

The letters.

But first one condition.

- What condition? - A photo.

A photo?

Of your fiancee. I want to know my competition.

A least know who I'm turning into a cuckold.

I have no photos. He hates having his picture taken.

- Is he that ugly? - To me he's gorgeous.

Is just that he doesn't like his body.

He's huge, muscular arms, thick legs... a real lumberman.

There are no photos?

How come there are no photos, my dear Watson?

When did you ever hear about a pictureless fiancee, Júlio?

No, no, she had to have a photo.

Foz do Iguaçu falls, Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, nothing?

And since when do lumberman like these things?

I think they never travelled.

The fact is that I found the guy again, having tea at Colombo.

At Colombo?

It couldn't possibly be a coincidence.

What would a guy like that be doing at a place like Colombo?

A tea drinking lumberman?

Watching me, that's what.

It isn't long before the shot.

Let me say this: the way things are going,

you have to make the first move.

Go up to the guy, Júlio. Go straight up to him.

Ask him who he is, what he wants.

But take a witness, because you are no fool.

Quit it, man.

You!

- Yes, you! - What?

- Why are you following me? - I'm not following you...

- Who are you? - Calm down.

- Who are you? - I don't understand.

I have a gun, do you want a piece of me?

- Do you want a piece of me? - I think I recognize you.

Don't you own a gym?

I own a gallery, you know that. I own an art gallery.

So... I've been to your gallery, I was looking to buy a painting...

You know what? I know everything, you got it?

I know everything, she told me.

- Who is she? - Laura! I want you two to be happy.

What's this about Laura, buddy? I don't know who is Laura.

- You are crazy! Get a life! - You are the one who is crazy!

You're crazy, crazy!

One, two, three...

There were five! Only three? Two are missing.

You should be happy.

These letters are not worth the risk I'm at.

What risk?

Your fiancee has been following me.

I had to face him.

- My fiancee? - Your lumberman.

I sent him running.

I don't know what might happen the next time around.

That's impossible.

He's away, he's not here in Rio.

That's what he's telling you. He's plotting my death.

To make up for yesterday's scare, there's only one way.

Three letters.

I hope you know how to make up to me.

Do you think I'm dumb? Two my ass.

I gave her one letter back and kept the other.

But how can I, now, give her this last one?

I'm like a player shooting a penalty at the last minute of a game.

You are really smitten, aren't you buddy?

If I give her the last letter I'm doomed, no more Laura,

what a disgrace!

Why did I let her go?

What do I do, Valter? Give me an idea, please.

You had to go and give her ten letters that first time around.

And five the other time, and then three more. Stupid!

I squandered my funds. I could have made it last longer.

Actually I didn't count on her giving in so soon.

Now I'm going to give her the last letter.

Help me, Valter, give me a light, please.

At least you'll get rid of the lumberman.

That stupid, no-good, murderer!

- How? He's been here? - He just left.

But how do you know it was him?

That gorilla, looking like an ogre.

What did he want, Margot?

He said he came to apologize for upsetting you in the street.

To apologize. So he's playing the good guy, the bastard.

It isn't long before he shoots me.

That guy will kill me, Margot. That guy will kill me!

I guess you did something then, right?

It's the last one.

Isn't this moving to you?

So moving.

Boy, you have no idea.

Sure, you will get rid of me.

No, don't say it like that.

Are you happy now? This is our last bond.

But I won't have it.

I'll keep this half.

I'm still entitled to half a dinner and half a night of love.

You crook!

And it was the most delicious night of my life.

Delicious? Ardent, explosive, volcanic!

A freeforall of love that I had never known.

As if it was the last time we ever saw each other.

It's a pity, Laura.

Here's what's left of the last letter.

Now there is no way, right?

It will be the end of me, you know that, right?

You may not believe it, but now I know I love you.

I really do.

I can't bare to lose you.

What is this?

Do you want me to give them all back to you?

What do you mean? Are you giving me the letters back?

But now it's my turn to impose a condition.

What condition?

We being together. For real.

And we'll only start playing these games again after our wedding.

Wedding?

It's everything that I want in this life.

I can't believe this. Do you swear?

Are you serious?

I've never been so serious in my life, Júlio.

I love you, I've always loved you.

No, hold on. What about the lumberman?

- And your marriage? - Do I know any lumberman?

No, but the guy came after me, he was hot on my trail.

Only if you had your own lumberman, because mine never existed.

How could I introduce you to someone who doesn't exist?

Explain it. What about the engagement?

I'm not engaged to anyone.

You are telling me it was all an act?

It was the only way to lure you. To make you rekindle that flame.

To make you rediscover me.

It's all I ever wanted.

You cheater. Just like a writer.

And an actress too.

Who are you to say anything... Blackmailer!

But of course. How could I lose you?

I was an idiot who didn't know how to appreciate you.

It took this torture, these letters...

to make me find out, Laura,

I no longer can go on living without you.

I've know that for a long time.

- Hello! - Hi!

What a trap you made me walk into!

- You were too obvious. - Really?

The guy was really nervous.

I thought he was going to shoot me.

I was worried too,

but what's important is that everything worked out.

Here's you check, thanks a lot.

Thank you.

Whenever you want, show up at the theater to see me.

- Oh, ok. - It's a great play. You'll like it.

- Ok. - And bring your boyfriend.

He'll love it.

Listen, what are you doing Friday after the play?

Nothing much, why?

Do you remember this place?

Of course I do, it was here we first met.

So, I brought you here to celebrate.

Celebrate? What are we celebrating?

Us.

Please...

May I help?

If you want to, we can think about...

a sailor, or maybe a fireman... a doctor!

- Laura, the writer... - That's me!