Original subtitles

No. This is no good,

your daughter still using that old thing.

Every time you played a record on it it got scratched.

That seems to be it.

I bet she'll like it.

Nice and small.

Everything's like that nowadays. Smaller and smaller.

I read an article in a magazine yesterday.

"How to live in 20 square metres."

There was room for everything-

So, do you like the present now?.

When I bought it, they gave me a card

in the supermarket. I'm a "member" now.

Don't look at me like that.

I know I said I'd never shop in a place like that.

But what could I do?

Look.

You can pay in instalments with this card.

I asked to pay over 20 years.

And do you know,

they weren't at all surprised.

Just as well you're here

because your mother doesn't understand me.

Happy birthday, darling-

Dad-

-Like it? -Dad. There was really no need.

My record player still works.

Mum, that record player's the oldest thing around here.

Almost, anyway.

Didn't they teach you any manners at school?

-Happy birthday. -Thanks, darling.

Come on, Irene.

Enjoy your present.

Dance with your son.

No, no, I can't dance.

Don't contradict him. You know how he gets.

-I can't. Really. -It's easy.

I'll show you. Come on.

Two steps to the left,

two to the right.

Forward... back.

Back, centre and that's it.

Okay? Ready?

Very good.

You're too stiff-

-I said I couldn't... -Rubbish, David.

You can do it perfectly.

No, Mum. I'm useless. I can't get it.

You won't if you don't try. Let me lead you.

Just follow the music.

Look, I said I couldn't dance. I can't dance.

All right.

You want me to? Then I will.

What are you doing? Not like that-

For goodness sake-

Stop-

-It's got it all. -Great-

This is the alarm.

And this is the stop-watch.

Your actors give good presents-

To everybody with something to teach

and who teach well.

To my daughter, Irene-

It seems like only yesterday that you were born.

With your eyes open.

Your mother's eyes.

Your mother had the most beautiful eyes in the world.

Even as a girl.

And you know what?

The first time

she saw me she couldn't take her eyes off me.

She didn't say a word but her eyes... they almost

-made me dizzy. -That was hunger.

That too.

-But I'll never forget them. -Come on, Dad.

We all know they lined up for you.

But I married her.

It might have been yesterday.

3rd October of...

Damn-

3rd October 1956.

That's right. 3rd October 1956.

That'll be for me.

You're not going out?

Sorry, I've arranged to see Clara.

What about the birthday cake?

Save me a piece.

That girl's his girlfriend, is she?

How about some champagne?

All right.

No, Dad.

I don't know why she doesn't like her.

Her eyes shone. Did you notice?

The thing about your granddaughter is that when she gets like that

she never changes her mind.

SOMETHlNG TO REMEMBER ME BY

For tomorrow do a plan of the structure in its present state

and preliminary sketches of your projects.

Sorry... Tomorrow?.

Yes, tomorrow.

Tomorrow. The bastard.

Come on, the plan'll take no time and the project can be rough.

Yeah, but I have the structures assignment for tomorrow as well.

Let's have a coffee and you can give me a hand.

No... I can't now.

Are you seeing Clara?

No. I've got things to do.

David, how long have you two been going out?

-A year? -More or less.

And our friendship?

How long have you and l known each other?

When your friend's about to refail the shittiest subject of the course

-you help him out. -By the way,

did you get the classification of that house?

My brother was going to get it from the archive,

but if I don't remind him,

he may not remember...

You bastard- All right- Just get it for me.

-I need it. -Okay.

I'll email you those sketches tonight.

Great. That's the way-

You know, I'm worried about you.

You don't even come out for a drink any more.

You're entrapped. In love.

You're like a puppet.

You'll be emailing me a wedding invitation next.

I'm not getting married, stupid.

I'm only moving in with her.

You're going to live with her?

At her place? All the time? David-

BlCYCLE REPAlRS

-Hello, David. -Hello.

Give me a ride on your bike?

Stay where you are.

Leave him alone now.

Go on or you'll be late.

They're going to karate lessons.

-See you. -Bye.

They tried to kick us out this morning

but didn't have a court order.

We're a step ahead of them.

Let's go and talk inside.

That's 122 euros 60, please.

Thank you.

No wonder you're always the last.

Didn't you see all the stuff she had?

Too bad. She shouldn't have come shopping so late.

That's why we get home so tired.

Is anything wrong?

Nothing... Just Clara. She's happy... like a lettuce.

I'm glad.

Ignore her. She's joking as usual.

-Go on. I'll take it. -Thanks.

See you back at home?

They make a nice couple.

Anything wrong?

I'm a bit nervous about the supper.

We don't eat people in my family-

Is it such a good idea?

We've talked about this.

We have to do this together.

Your mother doesn't like me.

She'll have a fit when we tell her.

She'll get used to the idea.

Of you leaving home or of me?

Of your filthy car.

Very funny-

Let's go. lf we're going to upset your mother, let's be punctual.

-What are you doing? -Changing.

Or maybe your mum'll like my uniform.

Well, it turns me on.

That's cos you're a pervert.

Stop it- We'll be late.

I once passionately desired two things...

to marry and to become an author.

I have succeeded in neither.

She's here at last-

Even the sound of her footsteps is music to me.

I am madly happy.

Nina, my girl of dreams-

-I cannot be late. Am I in time? -Yes, yes.

I was so afraid that

my father would prevent my coming.

But he and my stepmother have just gone driving.

How I urged my horse to go faster and faster-

And now I'm happy-

Okay, Eva. We'll stop there.

That's it for today.

-Really? -Already?

All right...

-What time tomorrow?. -Same time.

Okay.

-Irene. -Yes?

-How was l? -Fine. Fine.

Look, Eva...

Nina's young, naive, inexperienced... Right?

Yes.

But this isn't a game to her. It's the life she wants.

-Okay, I see that... -Use that approach.

You have to sign the budget.

No, not today. That's it-

I'm sick and tired of talking about money- I resign-

You love all this really.

And who would I fight with? I need you.

Then you can buy the beers. Let's go.

Not today. I have to go home.

-Anything wrong? -No.

-Your dad okay? -Yes. It's just a family supper.

What a pity.

Someone else will have to treat me.

Eva?

No, I didn't hear that.

Hold on- I'll come. I'll just have one.

Why did you come to Madrid?

My father remarried so I left.

But you visit, right?

-He must want you to... -I don't think so.

We started having differences

when my mother died.

What I really miss is the house.

It's nothing special but I love it.

I loved looking out of the window at the lemon trees.

And I miss

the countryside too. Most of all, a tree.

-I thought you were from Madrid. -Yes.

But I come from a place on the outskirts,

almost in the country, surrounded by fields and vineyards.

My father had his printing press out there

and I spent all my time

inside an olive tree.

Inside it?

Yes, there was a hollow in it. The perfect hiding-place.

And why did you hide?

So I could read in peace.

I read anything that came my way.

My father had stored all his books in the loft.

In alphabetical order.

The Cs on the third shelf on the left...

Carroll, Cervantes...

Clarin, Conrad, Cooper...

-The national library. -I ate up

those books inside that tree. I'd stay there till it was dark

and I couldn't see and then my sister

would come and pull me out

and take me back for supper.

You look like my sister.

Really?

Don't worry.

She must have been held up.

I'm not worried. I just don't get it.

-Let me help you. -No.

I couldn't come before.

I can't be at everybody's beck and call.

I'm going to bed. I'm tired.

We'll talk tomorrow... If you want.

Good night.

David? Can I come in?

Look at that.

Your guy's not too bad after all.

Hey...

What will he do with this?

He's great, isn't he?

Oh, sure-

He should be pleased he found you.

Come on, it's getting dark.

I see why his mum doesn't like you.

Clara, dear, can't you use a glass

like normaI people?

No.

Bye.

At this time, when the lights come on in the houses,

I look at them and...

I'd like to be in them.

-All of them? -No, silly.

One would be enough.

But, I don't know...

Not today. For the first time.

Where does your granddad's sister live?

-His sister? -Yes.

Nowhere. She died in Madrid in the Civil War.

Didn't we come to the beach to relax?

But we haven't done anything.

Did you know the Civil War ended here?

No.

Well, it did.

A lot of Republicans took cover here.

Over 20,000 people came to Alicante to be evacuated.

On Russian and English boats.

But the boats never came

and this place became a trap.

A lot of them preferred suicide to being captured.

My granddad told me.

-Was he here? -Yes.

After his sister was killed

his folks sent him to stay with his cousin Jose's family

who'd come to this area.

There was no food in Madrid.

What happened to him?

All he wanted was to be with his folks.

So he went back to Madrid and his cousin

and aunt and uncle stayed. He never saw them again.

How did he get to Madrid?

Walked. All the way from Alicante.

He was only 15. He says he took 22 days.

When he get there he heard his mother was in jail.

In jail? What for?

No real reason.

The Republicans had lost the war.

His dad had been a printer for the government.

They had no time to leave.

What happened to his mother?

When he asked for his mother at the jail,

they gave him her case.

So he knew she was dead.

And later they shot his father.

Poor Mateo.

They killed thousands.

Or sent them tojail for life.

For being loyal to the government.

The legal, democratically-elected government.

Didn't you know?.

No. They never talked much about that at home.

I see.

Like it had never happened.

-Name? -David Robles.

-Tomorrow. -Thanks.

Hey-

What are you doing here?

Nothing.

It doesn't look like it.

Nothing-

-That's why you're hiding it. -All right.

I don't want you to know before it's time.

A surprise is a surprise.

By the way...

Here. I found this in the skip.

Fancy throwing this away-

Clara asked about your family.

I told her about Alicante.

Yes... the end of the war.

What really happened? Why didn't the boats come?

The boats...

Yes, we waited for the best one.

The "Hispaniola."

They said it was easy to handle.

That even a child could sail it.

We all wanted to see its sails unfurled,

gleaming in the sunlight like silver.

Finally we were ready to set sail. The "Hispaniola"

was to begin her voyage to Treasure lsland.

My cousin Jose and I read the story hundreds of times

in our loft at home.

We even hid the treasure map.

And my father gave me a wooden parrot

like Long John Silver's.

I don't know where he got it from

in that time of scarcities.

That's what I was thinking about

in the harbour.

That my cousin and his folks would go

in the "Hispaniola," not in the Russian boats that never came.

Your father rang.

I know. I spoke to him.

I gave him my address.

I'm going shopping.

I'll come with you.

Or you'll forget half the stuff.

And two kilos of apples.

Green, I like them sharp.

No, not those. How much do I owe you?

You're the only one who likes sour apples.

And as you don't live at home now...

Go on, love. Indulge the kid.

Anything else?

No. How much?

4 euros 60.

Thanks.

I was going to tell you at supper but you didn't come.

I couldn't.

Sometimes things get complicated.

You didn't give me another chance.

You'd only have talked me out of it. I know you.

That means you're not sure.

No, I'm okay with Clara. Really.

And I miss you.

Going to the market, talking...

You wouldn't think so.

Oh, come on- You could make it easier.

And you'd like Clara if you made the effort.

-A checkout girl- -Don't start.

I'm not being snobbish, David.

But that's what she is. What will you live on?

Or do you think Mummy will go on paying your expenses?

I can't do that. And I don't want to either-

You don't have to. I'll get ajob.

Fine. Where? In a bar?

In a supermarket like her?

8 or 9 hours of grind a day.

Then what? The university then study.

When will you sleep?

If I can't, I won't.

Sure, you'll manage. You're young.

But your marks are bound to suffer.

People don't pass exams just like that.

What's really bothering you?

That I moved in with Clara, or that I'm independent of you?

You know what really bothers me?

That you can't see you're throwing your life away for that girl.

Why do you say that?

Can't you see? Clara has no ambitions in life.

But that "girl with no ambitions" is easy to live with.

Oh, really?

I had no idea life at home was such an ordeal.

No, you don't get it-

I loved living at home. You're the best mum in the world.

But now I need to live my own life.

You could at least have confided in me.

I always have in you.

There she is.

Excuse me, is there any news about David Robles?

Yes... in a minute.

David Robles?

Yes.

How's my son?

We've stabilized him. He's in the operating theatre.

What... are his chances?

I can't say till after the operation.

I'm sorry.

I'll keep you informed.

Bye. Thank you.

Does it hurt?

What?

Your back.

I've been handling heavy things.

A hard day, eh?

Yes, but it's over now.

Fancy a drink before you go home?

No, thanks. I was waiting for David but...

something must have

held him up, so I think I'll go home

and take a bath. See you tomorrow.

See you.

-I'll change and go back. -I'll come with you.

No, you stay here and rest.

I don't want to rest.

Stay here and come in the morning.

Irene.

Where is he?

In there, lntensive Care.

They operated an hour ago.

-We have to wait. -What happened?

A car ran him over.

He didn't see David or David didn't see him...

I told him not to go out on that bike-

No, please, no-

No, please, please, please-

Pull yourself together-

Please...

That's enough. Act like an adult.

If you're only going to cry

then go. You're no help like that.

-lgnacio Sanchez? -Yes. I'm his wife.

Come with me, please.

He's not dead yet.

The doctor would have brought out the organ donation forms otherwise.

Please pray for my husband.

For the Virgin Mary's help.

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women,

blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

Holy Mary, mother of God,

pray for us sinners now and at the time of our death...

Take it easy.

Try and calm down.

Got a cigarette?

Thanks.

This is Carlos and Katja's number.

lf you want. leave a message after the tone.

Thank you.

Carlos, this is Irene.

I rang because...

It's... David.

I don't know how it happened... Dad and I came right away...

Carlos, David's in hospital.

It's very serious.

mummy.

peter's granddad's dead.

oh dear. poor thing. he must be sad.

mummy...

I don't want to die.

Don't worry, David, you won't die.

You know why?

Because we only die when we want to.

When we've done everything we wanted to do.

Like peter's grandad.

I expect he'd done everything he wanted. That's why he died.

The books were in alphabetical order.

lining the loft walls from floor to ceiling

filling every available space.

Some were hand-made and very well cared-for.

Mateo read all afternoon

until it was no longer possible to read the print.

one day he reached the "S"shelf.

Salgari. Scott.

Shakespeare. Stevenson...

he found "Treasure lsland." It never returned to its shelf.

David.

It's Mum.

Everything's all right.

You're going to be okay, you'll see.

Everything's all right.

Have you seen him?

How is he? How did he seem?

I'd rather not talk now.

David lives with me. I've a right to know-

Would you mind leaving me on my own?

Are you David Robles's family?

Yes.

David stopped responding to treatment an hour ago.

What? What does that mean?

We're doing all we can.

But you should prepare yourselves for the worst.

Please...

I...

I don't even remember the prayers but...

I swear I'll believe in you again if you save my son.

That's all I ask.

Please-

-Good morning. -Good morning.

My deepest sympathies.

Thank you.

You'll like the food here.

You're in good company.

It's only a few hours

and time flies by here.

Look- Look at the date-

This expired 15 days ago-

But it's good enough for us of course-

The supermarket sends

food past its expiry date here.

What do they want? To poison us?

We'll be no more trouble then-

Irene... Are you in there?

I'm back.

Clara- Where have you been?

What's this?

What happened to you?

Come on.

Look...

I know you're really upset

but you can't go on like this.

Out in the street like you had no home.

And you're not eating.

I don't like to say this...

but you're going to end up sick

and you'll lose yourjob.

You know what those bastards are like.

So come on.

Chin up.

Where's all that energy of yours?

No-one listens to me.

They suffer me because I'm his son.

Who am l? What am l?

I left university in the 3rd year,

I write but I don't know if I have any talent.

Nojob,

not a penny to my name...

Irene?

Yes, it's me.

Irene.

I'm so sorry-

-What can we do to help? -Thank you.

All of you, but the best thing we can do is carry on.

Continue.

-You want me to go on? -Yes.

-Where from? -Where you stopped.

...if I have any talent.

Nojob, not a penny to my name...

When, in my mother's salon, all those artists and writers

condescended to look at me,

it was as if they were measuring my insignificance.

Look, Costia. I like writers.

I once passionately desired two things.

To marry and to become an author.

I have succeeded in neither.

She's here at last-

I cannot live without her. Even the sound of her footsteps...

Go on, Eva. Go on.

80 euros 35, please.

Sometimes I feel like slapping her.

-Don't say that. -l don't know how to console her.

And I feel bad seeing her like that.

I don't know what to do.

Why don't the three of us go out tonight?

-The three of us? -Yes, sure.

If we both ask her, I bet she'll say yes.

We could go and see a film.

No.

I'm off.

Don't look at me like that. I haven't got laid for ages.

Don't worry about Clara. She's having a great time.

She's pissed out of her head.

Just as well. About time she let herself go.

Look... You take her home, okay?

Clara. Let's go.

Careful.

Now a shower and off to bed.

I feel awful-

Awful-

Let me do that.

I smell awful.

-Do I disgust you? -No.

You're in love with me, aren't you?

You wanted to see me?

I just wanted to give you this.

Aren't you keeping it?

No, I don't want it.

I...

I'm so sorry about your son. He was

a brilliant student.

Irene, wait.

It's me.

Here.

David said it was really, really urgent.

It must be personal or to do with the family.

I don't know what it is.

It's the classification of an old house.

He wanted to know if it had any historic or artistic value.

All he said was that it was really urgent.

Sometimes he didn't say much.

No, he didn't.

I had some trouble with my notes yesterday,

and I went to ring David.

As I dialled the number, I remembered.

I suppose that's perfectly normal really

because I still can't believe it.

Every time I go into class I expect to see him.

Or here, in the cafeteria.

Hi- You having lunch here?

Yes.

Anyway, I must go.

Irene.

Bye, Nacho.

HAPPY BlRTHDAY, MUMMY

Darling...

No. Don't do that.

That's not the way.

You can't erase his memory all at once.

David's left home.

David hasn't left home.

-David's dead. -Shut up-

And the sooner you face up to that...

Leave me alone- What do you know?.

I just... can't-

on May 11th a lorry took relatives to the outskirts.

They were told to stand in front of a line of bodies on the floor.

Mateo thought it had been silly to go.

his father wouldn't be there.

he'd watched the prison gate and never seen him leave.

But then he saw him.

among the line of corpses.

he felt terribly afraid and refused to recognise the body.

he ran away and never returned to madrid.

he fled from anywhere

he might be recognised.

people were afraid and shunned each other.

he thought he would die of hunger.

Who would help the son of an executed man?

For so long he felt such grief that it seemed

that terrible month of May 1939 would never end.

He wrote down things I don't even remember.

With details, dates. Everything.

Even the story of the orange my mother kept for me.

Oranges in the war?

I saw one once.

The day they took me to Alicante. She'd kept it for that day.

She went to get it but when she came out,

the lorry we were in was driving off

and she ran after it with the orange in her hand.

And she shouted, "This is for you. I'll keep it."

-Somebody ate it. -l expect so.

After the war,

I often thought of that orange I never ate.

Often more than I thought of my mother.

-Less often, surely? -No, really.

Especially that year when there was no food.

Everything came together. Remember?

The drought, the embargo,

-the tram strike... -That was later.

Later? No, you're wrong there.

The tram strike in Barcelona was much later.

No, that's impossible.

I was...

It was the same year as the drought.

And I'm telling you it wasn't, Mateo. You forget things.

I do not-

Where are you going? You haven't eaten yet.

Where's the receipt for that?

Just a minute.

Hello, Clara.

Hello.

Mateo.

My dear-

I can't find the receipt.

You know him? He's holding

everybody up.

Yes. I'll look after him.

Mateo, I expect it's in the bag.

Yes, it is.

Sorry.

I can't get David out of my mind.

When I sit down, I sit him down in front of me.

When I lie down,

I lay him by my side.

Sometimes when I'm walking down the street I hold out

my hand like this...

and then close it, as if he was holding it.

I talk to him too, out loud.

Is it the same with you?

Yes, it is.

My friend Ana says it's the first sign of madness

but I don't give a shit.

What I regret is not knowing more about him.

Not having had time to ask him more about himself.

You'll get over it.

You're young, you've got the rest of your life ahead.

Why do you talk to me like that?

How... should I talk to you?

Like before.

Not like a stranger you're giving your condolences to.

I'm sorry, Clara.

You're right.

I'm just a silly old fool

and I sometimes say stupid things.

Especially on an empty stomach.

Shall we share this?

Put that back.

I was only looking.

What are you doing here?

I was leaving.

You had to bring her, didn't you?

That crybaby of a girl... to remind me of my son.

What's the matter with you, Irene?

What's the matter with me?

Don't you realize, Dad?

I'm not like you. To go on living I need to forget.

I refuse to talk to the dead.

If David's gone, then let it be forever.

I'm sure David had a past

that only his mother knows about.

but what I know about him is from after we met.

The day he was born it snowed.

It wasn't particularly cold

but at two o'clock in the afternoon when they took Irene through.

it began to snow.

Irene?

It's so nice in here.

It's not cold.

It's so nice in here.

It's not cold.

Do you hear the wind?

As Turgenev said, "Happy is he who can sit at night

under the roof of his house."

Shit-

I'm here, Eva.

Sorry, I hadn't realized.

Did you hear me? I was going over my lines.

Eva.

What?

You still have some sight. Can't you see shapes?

Not any more.

Since when? And why didn't you tell me?

When should l have told you?

There's no special day for that.

It's something that happens

but you think it'll stop

and leave you with some glimmer.

I'm so sorry, Eva.

Maybe we're overdoing things

-and should take a rest. -From what?

I mean stop.

For a while.

Put off the opening.

Just now?. Why?

No, not now. Everything's going perfectly.

No.

Nothing's going perfectly.

Yes, it is.

We must go on.

Listen to this.

Watch me, all right?

It's so nice in here.

It's not cold.

Do you hear the wind?

Turgenev said,

"Happy is he who can sit

at night under the roof of his home,

who has a warm corner in which to take refuge."

I am a seagull.

And yet... no.

What was I saying?

You see?

Are they okay?

That's 10 euros 20.

-He's at it again. -What?

He can't stop looking at you.

You should talk and make things clear.

Things will get complicated if you don't.

-Have you finished? -Yes, I'm off.

Look, I was going away for the weekend,

-but I can stay if you want me to. -Don't worry. I'm okay.

I need to talk to you.

We need to talk.

I don't want to be a pain but I can't go on like this.

Maybe this weekend...

-over a coffee... -Can you drive me?

What?

I need to go somewhere but I can't drive.

You want me to take you?

No.

Forget it.

You don't have to.

Where do you want to go?

David. This is Mauricio.

I need to see you urgently. We need those papers.

or they'll evict us.

David. listen. Call me.

They're going to demolish the house!

David.

This is Mauricio.

I need to see you urgently. We need those papers.

or they'll evict us.

David-

David-

David-

Clara-

Clara, come back-

What are you doing?

Before I met David, I was like lost.

I'd go out in the evening and walk and walk,

without stopping, aimlessly.

Till I was exhausted.

Then I'd go back home and lie down on the sofa

and fall asleep in front of the TV.

That's why I mustn't stop thinking of him.

If I do, I'll be completely lost

and then I'll spend the rest of my life walking aimlessly.

-This'll do you good. -Thanks.

His family?

No.

I don't know who they are.

Why are you doing this?

You asked me to bring you here.

I don't know why I'm doing it.

I should be at home, taking the dog for a walk...

Yet I'm here,

doing things I wouldn't usually do.

This is crazy.

David's granddad was here years ago.

At the end of the war.

Yes, these are the papers we were waiting for.

The classification of the house.

-Please come in. -No, really.

Please come in.

Come and meet the family.

I can't tell you how urgent these papers are.

I must ring the lawyer right away.

Omar, you know who this lady is?

David's mother.

Please come through.

Carmen, look who's here. Go through.

I must be going.

No, no. I was going.

Carmen, this lady is David's mother.

She's brought us those papers.

This is my wife Carmen.

Pleased to meet you.

I'm so sorry about your son.

We didn't know anything till she told us.

He was a marvellous lad.

Bring some coffee and biscuits.

-Don't bother... -It's no trouble.

You've saved our lives.

It's the least we can do.

And the young lady who brought the photos.

I'll keep the ones of the kids.

-And the ones of the house? -We don't need them now.

But please, do sit down.

I was telling the young lady.

The owners have sold it

to a construction company

who want to build flats on the site,

and they're offering a pittance in compensation.

But David said the house might be

a "historic building."

He often came round.

He'd sit out in the back yard for hours at a time.

And eat his biscuits.

-So you were friends? -Yes.

He came here one day asking to see the house.

He said he was an architect.

A student, anyway.

And then he started helping us.

Poor lad-

He so wanted to save the house.

Dad?

Dad, are you there?

Didn't you hear?

What?

I was calling.

Sorry. I didn't hear you.

It doesn't matter.

David's parents separated when he was 11 years old.

Carlos stayed in Germany.

Irene and David came back to Spain.

The day they arrived

was the first time I'd come to madrid in years.

I'd never wanted to come back.

he always liked stories

and was always asking me to tell him about when I was a child.

And I loved telling them.

The first time he realised I'd forgotten something

I'd told him a thousand times

must have been when he started writing things down

so that I wouldn't forget them.

Yes?

Clara, this is Irene. Can I talk to you?

So this is the famous flat.

Yeah.

A bit small, isn't it?

It was enough for us.

A bit cramped.

We were okay.

That's why he didn't bring his things.

He didn't need anything else.

Anyway he liked everything at hand.

Yes, but tidy. He wasn't lazy.

That depended.

He'd stay in bed all day if he could.

My son?

But he used to get up early and gojogging.

Jogging?

Sit down. I'll make some coffee.

Clara, could David dance?

Did he dance with you?

Of course he did.

Why did you come here, Irene?

Why was David so interested in that house?

I can't work it out so I thought you must know.

He never mentioned it.

I don't know why he went there

and watched that man working.

Mending punctures.

Perhaps he liked the daughter...

I don't believe that.

Do you really think so?

I can't think of another reason.

I can think of a better one.

He went to eat biscuits.

At least you took them something useful.

I only took them photos of the house.

You know what bothered me most?

That you were more important to him.

He never felt lonely.

He always knew you were there.

No.

That's not true.

I let him down in the end.

And I never got the chance to make it up to him.

I'm sure he didn't think that.

You know,

since...

David died...

I've tried to forget him.

Forget him in order to go on living.

And every time I forgot something I'd just try and get it back.

Clara.

Do you remember his voice?

Yes.

I remember it.

Do you know where Irene is?

She's on-stage.

-Thank you. -Don't mention it.

Hello.

Hello.

This was at home on the answering machine.

It's only a message, but it is his voice.

hi. it's me.

l see you're not at home... Never mind.

Keep it.

Clara...

Thank you.

Little by little...

Breathe now.

Take it from Arkadina's entrance.

-Lidia? -Yes.

Go ahead.

There are no actors left like him. The stage is not what it was,

Irina Nikolayevna.

There were sturdy oaks

growing on it then,

where now but stumps remain.

The play's about to start. Your attention, please.

hi. it's me.

l see you're not at home. Never mind.

l need to see you.

l can't stay at home... All I do is think of you.

l sound like my mum's old records!

hey. I think...

l know this may sound corny...

but I think I love you.

How can I Dad?

How can I live with this the rest of my life?

How did you manage?

How did you survive?

I started talking to them.

It was as if they were alive

and I could go on telling them things.

And sometimes I'd laugh

when I thought of my father's face when my mother argued with him.

Or your sister...

pulling you out of that tree by your ears.

And one day you realize

that time's passed

and the pain's less intense.

But you still talk to them.

And you sometimes think your father's out of his mind.

No, Dad. It's not that.

You're right.

I still keep them with me.

Because one day I realized

I couldn't allow myself to forget them.

I owed it to my parents and my sister.

But it's been so difficult

and sometimes all I wanted was to free myself of a burden

that's become heavier with time.

But I couldn't.

I knew I had to remember everything.

Till they give the honour back

to all the nameless dead

that merciless regime swept away.

I'm sorry, Dad. I'm so sorry.

But as the days go by I realize

that they'll never ask for our forgiveness,

that they'll never put up the names of the dead

in some prominent place for all to see,

as they did over 60 years ago with the names

of those who died, "For God and Spain."

Young people should know.

David knew, Dad.

Looking for the tenants?

Yes.

They left yesterday.

But that's not possible-

They took all their things.

Hold on.

They gave me this number in case.

The new place has got it all.

Natural gas, and no damp.

The wife and kids are really happy.

So is it being demolished?

Yes, I suppose so.

The papers David got said it couldn't be.

Thanks to those papers we got three times as much compensation.

We're so grateful to that boy.

Irene, this is Clara. I'm at that house of David's.

Come as soon as you hear this. They're knocking it down.

Are you mad?

This place could collapse with us inside-

Only if they demolish it.

Come on in.

What are we doing here?

I thought you'd help.

-To do what? -To keep it standing.

Look at this brochure.

"Holidays for Senior Citizens at unbeatable prices."

Do they expect us tojump forjoy or what?

With how much you've travelled...

Me?

I've never travelled anywhere.

No.

My cousin Jose.

He sailed out of Spain and travelled all over the world.

Where did you go, Jose?

Mateo, want tojoin the painting class? They want us to register.

I bet he's been

in some fantastic places. Did you ever go

-to lndia? -Me?

Didn't you ever play as a child?

Yes, with pins.

With different-coloured heads?

I collected a lot.

But I had to sell them to buy exercise books.

We had plenty of paper at my father's press.

Didn't we, Jose?

What paper are you talking about? And my name's Julian.

Everything smelled of ink.

The paper, your clothes, the house...

Who are you talking to? Have you lost your mind?

Is that what you all think? That I'm going mad?

Look, are you going to sign this or not?

You can stick your list-

It's all been no good-

Mateo, calm down-

What's wrong with you?

I'm not mad, dammit-

You've got no idea. You and all the others.

You're like sheep-

They offer some shitty course

or trips for old fogies and forget everything else.

Mateo, calm down-

Watch his blood pressure.

Apart from that he's perfectly all right.

He should stay in and rest for a couple of days.

Hello, Mateo. How are you?

Dad, are you okay?

Can you get up?

We're going somewhere.

The lines of print used to be there.

There can't be anything in the loft now.

There is. Let's go up.

Come on.

Come and see.

TREASURE lSLAND

That lad-

Did you know he'd found it?

"From Father.

For you to pass on to your children and them

to your grandchildren."

-A girl met Antonio from work. -Really?

-Maybe he'll stop bothering you now. -He didn't bother me.

So now you liked him really?

Clara, don't tell me you liked him-

Anyone ever told you you're a pain?

Yes. But it's the first time I'm glad to hear you say it.

Hi.

-l thought you weren't coming. -l had to park.

I'm sure you'll like the play.

What's this?

Open it or you'll never know.

You said you were sorry you didn't know more about him.

The day he was born it snowed. It wasn't particularly cold...

That's only the beginning and maybe I forgot a few details...

As you know, my memory sometimes fails me.

I'm sure it's all okay. Thank you.

-Ready? -Yes.

Why do you always wear mourning?

I dress in black to match my life.

I am unhappy.

Unhappy? I don't understand it.

You are healthy, and though your father is not rich,

he has a good competency.

My life is far harder than yours.

I only have 23 roubles a month to live on...