Original subtitles

Good evening, Mr. and Mrs., um, "Occupant."

Tonight’s story is called "Strange Miracle."

And I consider it first class.

Before I’m permitted to deliver it, however,

there’s a certain gentleman with another message

which I can only say is in a class by itself.

I have attempted to dissuade him

but neither snow nor rain,

nor any amount of acrimony can stay this eager courier.

Here he comes now.

-[train tracks clattering] -[hammering]

[ambulance siren]

[steam hissing]

[man thinking] Is that my hand down there?

Should I try and move?

Can I move?

Hand can move...

[straining] Water...

Señor, water please!

Water!

[groans] Ah...!

[woman] Wait here.

Oh!

[crying]

Oh, you’re alive!

-Thank God-- -[shushing]

Darling, I’m-I’m all right. [shushing]

What did the doctor say?

Darling, tell me the truth.

I-I... I don’t have any pain, I-I’m lucky.

You’re going to...

to walk again, aren’t you?

It’s... it’s just a nerve, something in, in my back

but let’s not talk about that anymore, huh?

I-I like that dress.

I like the way it fits.

[shushing]

Well, I’m your husband.

I can notice, can’t I?

Can’t you move your legs at all?

Not the tiniest bit?

Stop thinking what you’re thinking!

I love you!

I’m going to be well!

In two weeks, I will be home and

I will walk in that door!

[car approaching]

Señor?

Do you know where, uh, Sr. Sequiras lives?

Drive up a little closer.

-Is he still paralyzed? Yes, señora.

-But he can be cured? -The doctors have tried all they know, señora.

I am an insurance adjuster for the railroad company.

I assure you your husband will receive compensation for the accident.

[piano playing]

Did you lock the shutters?

[woman] No, I just closed them.

But I asked you to lock them.

The door is locked, why should we bother?

-Because I want them locked! -[piano playing stops]

I’m tired.

I’m going up to bed.

It’s a very attractive dress.

Thank you for wearing it for me tonight.

You’re welcome.

[chuckles]

Darling, I’m so tired.

I have to go to bed.

Goodnight, Lolla.

Goodnight, dear.

I’m sorry you’re tired tonight!

It was nice of the father to come and see me, wasn’t it?

[Sequiras] Lolla!

Didn’t you hear me?

Yes, I heard.

When we get the money from the railroad,

we can buy an automobile.

You can drive me all over!

We could even buy this house!

Please don’t talk anymore, I want to get some sleep.

We could go to Acapulco!

Yes, yes.

Would you like that, Lolla?

Yes.

Go to sleep!

Pedro, you can walk!

You’re cured!

Of course not!

I am incurable,

understand?

Incurable!

The great specialist who came all the way from Mexico City to examine me,

the one the railway paid especially,

said I’d never walk again.

But then... you have cured yourself?

Of course not.

I keep telling you, I am incurable.

And I intend to remain incurable until they pay up,

and they will pay up plenty.

I can tell you that.

But it’s wrong!

It’s cheating!

Don’t you understand?

I have fooled them all, all those people at the hospital.

We need only to be patient and the money will roll in.

We’ll have enough for the rest of our lives.

[whispering] Oh, darling.

What’s the matter, Lolla?

Are you sure they won’t find out?

[piano playing]

[piano playing stops]

Where’s that bankbook?

Let’s have another look, eh?

Ah.

Isn’t that pretty?

Hmm.

Every morning I lie in bed counting all the zeros,

and then I worry a little.

Stop worrying!

We better go for our walk.

It’s time to make your daily appearance.

Let’s go.

I don’t wanna go.

You have to!

I can’t stand looking at that wheel chair anymore!

What do you want to do?

Walk out and lose all the money?

It’s easy for you to talk.

You don’t have to sit in a wheelchair for the rest of your life!

You think I like to wheel you every afternoon?

You think I wanted to get rid of the maid so she wouldn’t find out the truth?

No, but you like money, too!

Oh, be quiet!

Let’s go!

[chattering]

Maria, I’m glad to see you.

And I’m glad to see you, father.

Who’s the girl?

She lives out in the country.

She comes every market day.

The blanket, is there something wrong with her?

She’s paralyzed.

He’s calling us.

Sr. Sequiras,

a very dear friend of mine, Maria.

Maria, like you, sir, bears affliction with grace.

What else can we do?

We are in God’s hands.

I have hope.

-[Sequiras] Hope? -Maria goes every year

to the shrine at Nogales.

-Really? -[Maria] Yes.

I pray for a miracle.

And each year I try to make the pilgrimage.

Are you making the pilgrimage this year?

No, not this year.

This year she hasn’t the money.

Maria supports herself by knitting

and things haven’t been going to well.

But I have hope.

Father, you have shown me a wonderful example.

I, too, shall try to live as cheerfully as Maria.

Goodbye, father.

We met a young girl just now.

She’s paralyzed, too.

But she never complains.

Has she received any treatment?

The priest says she goes every year to Nogales to try for a miracle.

Well...

I brought your final payment.

And a statement for you to sign.

You know, more pilgrims are going to Nogales every year to be cured.

Ah, here it is.

You may sign it now,

or show it to your attorney and sign it later.

Because I must point out to you,

that once you sign this,

your claim is settled once and for all.

You realize that?

I realize that.

But I’ve had a fair settlement.

Speaking of Nogales.

There is a convent there and in the courtyard is a fountain.

And on the fountain is a statue of the Virgin.

the waters from that fountain, they say, have miraculous powers.

You mean cripples are actually cured?

[Vargas] So I have heard.

You mean somebody like me can get well?

Well, I would not say that, señor.

One has to have great faith.

And this check is for you.

Well,

that concludes the business here.

Sr. Sequiras.

-Thank you, señor, goodbye. -Goodbye.

Señora.

You had better know my plan.

It might be a good idea if you started talking about it in the neighborhood.

What do you mean?

We are going to travel, you and I.

Where on earth can we go?

The police will always find us.

We are not going to hide.

Quite the contrary.

I want our neighbors to know that we’re going to Nogales.

There I will suddenly find my legs.

Just another of the famous miracles.

[water running]

[chattering]

Now, do not help me.

I am going to drag myself to the fountain.

[whispering] The nun is watching.

When the clock strikes 5:00,

I will dip my hand into the water,

and then I will stand.

-Let’s do it tomorrow, please. -[whispering] Be quiet.

[bell tolls]

A miracle!

-[pilgrims] A miracle! -A miracle!

[pilgrims] A miracle! A miracle!

My legs!

My legs!

I cannot move them!

Father, there is something I have to tell you.

What is it my child?

I know you won’t believe me but please hear me out.

Of course I’ll hear you out. What’s the trouble?

It happened yesterday,

exactly at 5 o’clock.

Mother had gone to market

and I was alone in my room.

I suddenly had the impression

it had become very dark.

And then,

in the corner of my room,

over the statue, there was a sudden light.

And I heard the Virgin’s voice.

-My dear child, you must not-- -No, no!

She spoke to me!

She said, "Maria,

I have taken from someone a pair of useless legs

with which you will be able to walk perfectly well."

And when I stared at the statue, she smiled, and said,

"Stand up, Maria. Stand up and walk."

You had a dream.

-It was a dream. -No, father.

It wasn’t a dream. Look!

[clock ticking]

I shall see you in a moment.

I have orders to get this package to the address with all possible speed.

Yes, I haven’t much time.

Well, I delivered my package.

[explosion]

It’s a shame I didn’t give it to the right person,

but there wasn’t time.

The important thing is that someone got it.

After all, the mail must go through.

That’s all for tonight’s delivery.

Next week, I shall have some more, until then,

goodnight.