Original subtitles

NOTHING

EVER

HAPPENED

NOTHING EVER HAPPENED

Come on, boy.

What do you mean, take your dog, Antonio?

That doesn't make any sense.

If you don't take him, I'll have to shoot him.

He's old, but he can still hunt partridges.

All right, then.

Why have you got your shotgun?

This gun's older than I am.

It was your grandfather's. It goes with me.

I know this isn't easy for you.

It's what your mother would've wanted.

Dad...

Thanks.

The living room...

That's the sofa bed,

but we think you'd be better off in Pedro's bedroom.

And he's okay with that?

It's not up to him. I'll go get your things.

The hallway...

The bedroom. The bathroom.

Pedro?

Pedro? What are you doing at home?

Pedro? What are you doing at home?

Shouldn't you be at school?

The teacher's depressed so we're out early.

Get up.

Come on.

You see that, Dad?

- Say hello to Grandpa. - Hello Pedro.

You can put your stuff on this side.

With drawers down there.

- Why aren't those drawers empty? - They're almost empty.

But not empty. So just do it.

Dad, later you can...

I'll get dinner together.

Cool hat, Grandpa.

Would you rather I sleep in the living room?

It's all the same to me.

All the same?

Yup.

This is delicious.

Dad brought the ingredients from the village.

Antonio,

when you want to go back, you just have to say so.

Jorge will take you.

What we want is for you to feel at home.

You can come and go, eat what you want,

watch the TV.

I can't remember when I last saw a film.

You're kidding!

Do you watch series?

Pedro, you're talking to Grandpa.

We didn't have a TV.

Dad,

how do you want to handle the money?

When I need some I'll tell you. I don't need much.

But it's your money.

No,

it's for you.

I'm going out.

- Don't you have school tomorrow? - I won't be out late.

Need any money?

Do you have some?

Pedro!

Pay attention to what you say in front of Grandpa.

Do you realize what he's sacrificed for us?

Don't you realize?

Why did you say that? And behave this way?

I was only answering...

Show some respect.

Pedro.

So I can go?

Go on.

I almost thought you weren't coming.

My father was giving me a sermon.

My granddad moved in today.

Tell yourself you won't have to put up with him very long.

So when do we fly?

We were just talking about it.

For me, the sooner the better.

But I bet Paulo will back out.

Maria...

Me, back out? Do I look like I'm gonna back out?

Stop it!

You're not backing out, right?

Come here.

And your father?

He's in the living room, dozing.

Should I wake him up?

That's probably a good idea.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Oh yeah... I won't be home for dinner tomorrow.

I'm going out with Paula.

I can't fall asleep.

I can hear all the neighbors.

How do you manage?

The only thing that wakes me is screaming.

Screaming?

Is there a lot of screaming?

No, not a lot.

Good night, Grandpa.

Good night.

Edmund Husserl, mathematician, philosopher, Austro-Hungarian.

How did he define phenomenology?

Maria, help me.

You're late, Pedro. I'm going to have to mark you absent.

- I know, I know. - Go sit down.

But what is time, really?

Isn't it just a human construct?

Yes, and as it's defined

by a set of irreversible events,

I'll have to mark you absent. Sit down.

Maria, answer my question, please.

Cut that out.

How did Husserl define

phenomenology?

It's the theory of pure conscious phenomena.

Very good. And what did he mean by consciousness?

Stop that, Maria. You know the answer.

Consciousness is a sequence of experienced events.

Sit down, please. Sit down.

Who gave you permission to leave?

Consciousness isn't the soul.

It's an activity comprising actions.

Touch.

Passion.

We'll meet on the other side.

Anyone else want to leave?

And where are you going? Paulo...

With your permission.

Did you see?

Do you feel it?

Maria, you're out of it!

Don't you feel it?

When you know you can get out, you feel free!

The revolution starts today. Nothing will ever be the same!

Here, boy.

Here, boy.

It starts next week.

Are you still trying to find work?

This is the fifth time I've come here.

Fill out the form, please.

Do you still live at the same address?

Are you actively looking for work?

Yes.

But there are fewer and fewer offers.

And more and more people looking.

What's your education?

I'm an electrical engineer.

By now I thought everyone here would know that.

Dad?

Dad?

Do you often eat without your wife or son?

No, not often.

It's not like in the village, Dad.

People are more...

flexible.

If you don't find work,

the money will run out.

I know.

In the village there's lots of work.

In the village?

What about my family?

In the village!

Shouldn't you be in bed?

And you?

I was just about to go there.

Wait a minute.

Talk to your mom for a minute.

What's going on?

Nothing.

Just to know how you're doing.

That's all.

I know you're doing well in class...

And with the girls?

Mom...

You can tell me anything.

You know that, don't you?

So can you.

You know that I love you, don't you?

Do you think you'd like to live away from here?

What? We're moving?

Where?

Forget it.

I was just thinking out loud.

I was dreaming.

Go on.

Go to bed.

You'll turn off my light?

You have a good time, at dinner?

Did I wake you up?

No.

You didn't have fun?

Yeah, I suppose.

In fact, we had a few laughs.

Any news?

No.

But everything's okay?

As well as yesterday.

And the day before.

Good night.

Good night.

It's your opinion, and I respect it.

Who's this?

Good morning.

I'd like to play.

Sorry, you're out of luck.

I've never had any.

You're the one who's out of luck, pal.

The one who gets here first gets to play.

As does the guy who owns the cards.

You been here long?

I get up early.

Arnaldo.

Antonio.

Yes, speaking.

Yes, but my work hours don't leave me much time.

Is it serious? Can't you tell me on the phone?

I don't understand.

But he leaves every morning.

Yes... I'll see what's going on.

Yes...

I know. But I really have to hang up.

Excuse me.

Lena, how many times have I told you?

I know, but it was Pedro's school.

How do you like it?

Is it pretty?

Things okay at school today, Pedro?

Yeah. Same old same old.

Is that so?

You sure?

You've got nothing to say?

What's up?

What's up is that it's two days since our son's been to school.

What?

What's this about?

It's a mistake. They must've confused me with another Pedro.

Maybe with Pedro Silva. He's...

Stop! And you look at me when I'm talking to you!

Calm down.

Don't "calm down" me! And you?

Home all day doing nothing. And your son?

It's me they call at work!

Stop getting in my way.

That's all I ask.

You don't help. You don't do anything. So don't get in my way. Okay?

Is that possible?

Fuck this!

I'm sorry, Dad.

You're so intelligent, Pedro.

Intelligent people don't do stupid things.

It was stupid. I won't do it again. Promise.

Give me your plate.

And help me clean up.

Grandpa?

Wanna watch a film?

I wake up and I can't breathe.

Like someone's choking me,

crushing my throat.

And I can't cry out.

No one comes to save me.

No one.

All I want to do is escape.

What are we still doing here?

If they won't let us dream,

we won't let them sleep.

I know you're not sleeping, Grandpa.

I was waiting to see

if I'd hear someone scream.

But nothing.

You gotta be patient.

Sooner or later it'll come.

Do you ever dream?

Do I dream?

All my dreams are like scenes from movies.

What are yours like?

I dream...

I dream about your grandmother.

I would've liked to know her.

Always on the move.

She never stopped.

And she laughed.

She laughed a lot.

As if everything in life was funny.

Sometimes I didn't even know what she was laughing about.

She had short hair.

And she always wore a headscarf

and gold earrings that were my mother's.

She loved those earrings.

I buried her with them.

Everyone said I should've kept them.

That they were worth money.

No.

She really loved them.

She took them with her.

She always worried about your father.

We used to have a pile of wooden planks

that we used to make barrels.

He'd climb up on top and say it was a wooden castle.

That he was king of that realm.

And your grandmother

would go crazy.

"Get off of that!" she'd holler.

"You're going to break your neck!"

It was her who convinced me to let Jorge come to Lisbon.

I wanted him to stay in the village

to help us with the crops.

But not her. She insisted.

That he was intelligent.

That he should study. Go to university.

She was a good woman.

My Rosa.

Before she died

she grabbed my arm and pulled me toward her.

She whispered something in my ear like she was scared.

But I didn't understand.

I didn't understand.

And then she died.

I dream about that sometimes.

This is how it goes.

You weren't kidding.

Cut it out.

Hold on.

You act like an asshole sometimes.

Let's go.

We don't need anything.

You think this is normal?

What?

How we feel.

Does it matter?

Hi. Excuse me. Have you seen my husband?

No. He hasn't been in yet.

Damn. He was supposed to meet me here for lunch.

Do you mind if I wait for him?

Not at all.

Can I get you a coffee?

Coffee's not a good idea. But I'd like water with gas.

Thank you.

Are things picking up at the store, Lena?

Mario is really worried.

Lena?

Is business any better?

No.

Everything is so complicated.

The idiot!

He's waiting for me outside. Thanks.

Pedro!

Pedro, you're dreaming.

It's hot, let's cool off. I've got a story for you.

Three friends

Jean-Paul Sartre in Paris in 1933.

Do you want to get some air?

So... Simone de Beauvoir

and Raymond Aron.

They're in a café called the Bec de Gaz

on rue de Montparnasse...

THE KINGDOM OF WOODEN CASTLES

You can talk to me.

I...

Maria, Paulo and I...

Maria and Paulo are cutting class.

They shouldn't do that.

This is the wrong time for that.

Where are they?

Where are they?

We're lost, all three of us.

No! You're all wonderful!

Maria, Paulo, you, you're all wonderful.

With your lives to live.

There's no tragedy, Pedro.

Enough. There's no tragedy, okay?

We're done here!

You're wonderful and you'll all find your way.

But they have to come to class.

You see this?

Oh, come on. Yours were better?

No, but they look kind of...

You have to taste them.

All right.

And we'll see.

This land...

You think it's good for anything?

You'll see.

Taste these tomatoes.

Tell me they're not great.

It's okay, after all, this soil.

We used to grow everything here.

Now they plant buildings.

Instead of planting potatoes.

You eat already?

How much you spend on shopping?

- You need money? - I didn't spend anything.

Arnaldo gave me the potatoes.

And who's Arnaldo?

I play cards with him.

Your wife doesn't eat lunch with you?

No, she eats at the shopping center.

It saves time.

And your son?

He's getting good grades?

He's first in his class.

His teacher even says that his problem

is that he thinks too fast.

He's always miles in front of the others.

I wonder where he gets that from.

From you.

You too, you were very sharp.

Why do you think your teacher came to see us?

She came to tell us you should continue your studies.

That you had a future.

Leaving already?

Yes. Do you need anything?

Lena, what's going on?

It doesn't change anything.

It doesn't change anything?

Between us.

I'm not a whore

you fuck in the basement when you feel like it, Mario.

Lena?

Dinner's ready.

I've got a headache. Eat without me.

Can I bring you a tea or a glass of milk?

No.

I just want to shut my eyes for a while.

Okay?

You're going out?

Money's missing from the register.

Now? And your headache?

What should I do, Jorge?

Stay here so we both wind up unemployed?

I'm sorry.

Don't go.

I have to go, Pedro. It's work.

I won't be late.

Am I a better fuck than your wife?

Say it.

There's no one I like fucking as much as you.

Fuck me like a whore.

Fuck you like a whore?

Yes.

I'm your whore.

I'm your whore.

I see things.

Two or three times a week

she comes home with her clothes all wrinkled.

Once I asked her how come.

She didn't know how to answer.

And him, he just sits there

in front of the TV,

like a zombie.

Or a blindman.

Sometimes a man doesn't know what to do.

Sometimes he does, but is afraid to.

I don't want to end up like my father.

I want to do what I gotta do,

even if I'm afraid.

When you're afraid,

do this.

As if you're filling up your body with courage.

You don't have to be quiet.

You know very well I'm awake.

You don't even have to take off your clothes.

Why don't you come to bed?

Come to bed.

Come to bed.

Go fuck yourself, Jorge.

Where did Pedro use to sit?

Over there.

"The kingdom of wooden castles."

I have no idea what it means.

Thank you.

The cabbage looks delicious, Antonio.

Was it you who picked it?

Yes.

Have you considered selling it?

No.

You should.

Are you crazy?

Stop.

Stop!

Jorge! Stop!

Stop! Jorge!

Let go of me!

You were sleeping just next to him, Dad.

Right next to him.

And you didn't see anything?

Dad...

How could you not see anything?

He'd talk, but...

- I didn't understand... - You never see anything.

You never saw anything.

You never try to see.

You understand nothing!

Nothing.

Well, Dad?

Am I wrong?

It was his sister's doll.

He won't let go of it now.

Do you have other children?

No.

Maria...

Did she leave a note? Anything at all?

No.

Nothing.

Pedro either.

Did you ever think she might do something like that?

Never.

She never wanted for anything.

She'd argue sometimes with her father, but it was never serious.

Sometimes I think

she did all this to hurt me.

To punish me.

For what?

For bringing her into the world.

People pity me.

They come in and see me all alone.

They're too embarrassed to not buy anything.

Can I do something for you, Lena?

Like what?

Whatever you need.

Like taking me far away.

Somewhere I've never been, where I know no one.

Forget it.

Forget it.

Hey, cut that shit out!

Sorry.

I didn't see you.

- I'd like to talk to your son. - He doesn't want to.

Do I gotta repeat myself?

I have a right to.

Cry for your son but leave mine alone!

Fucking spying on him? You think he didn't see?

Hasn't he enough problems?

- I just wanted... - To hear what?

That your son and that crazy bitch made him jump?

Is that what you want to hear?

Go back inside.

I won't bust your head because I pity you.

But my pity's wearing thin.

Go back in, Paulo!

Come back and I'll fuck you up.

That's not true!

Here, boy!

THE KINGDOM OF WOODEN CASTLES

Dad.

Dad!

Your father?

He's gone to bed.

The fires took a lot out of him.

He's...

All of this...

He doesn't speak.

And you? How was your day?

The usual.

And yours?

Something's gnawing at me.

The bloodline ends here.

There aren't any descendants.

You can still have other children.

You want a divorce?

Will Mario leave his wife?

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

It's okay.

It's gonna be okay.

Sit.

That's a good boy.

See you tomorrow.

What did you do here?

We'd talk.

About what?

Whose idea was it?

Whose idea was it?

Maria?

You?

No.

He used to make a joke out of it.

That everything was just shit.

That no one accepted us.

I thought he was just joking, but...

Eventually it was all we talked about.

And...

We made a pact.

We couldn't go back on it.

I miss them.

A lot.

Good morning.

Good morning.

For Pipo

A Film by