Original subtitles

[train horn blares]

BASED ON TRUE EVENTS

[man snoring loudly]

[clock ticking]

[snoring]

[distant horn blaring]

[woman] Get up.

Up, up.

- [claps] - Up, up, up, up.

[man continues snoring]

[woman kisses]

Time to get up.

[yawns]

- [boy 1] Let go! Stop it! - [on radio] Clearance sale...

[woman] No fighting. No fighting. Come set the table. Careful with the mugs.

[on radio] Furniture sets, 30% off.

- Dining room sets, half off. - [boy 1] Make yourself useful.

[on radio] We must be crazy to offer prices like these.

High-quality, low-price furniture could be yours now!

Act fast before these deals pass.

- Don't do it... - [switch clicks]

[metallic banging in distance]

A little peace and quiet never hurt anyone.

[hurried footsteps approaching]

[boy 1] Can you move the table back a bit?

[boy 2] No, move over.

You two, hurry up and eat. We're expecting customers, eh?

[boy 2] I don't understand. Why did you ask them to come so early?

[man] Well, I don't exactly like having guests at the crack of dawn.

It's just that... [sighs]

...they come by early enough,

and I don't have to wait around all day, you know?

- [boy 2] Do we have any butter? - [banging continues]

[man] Huh?

- Are there a lot of customers today? - [man] Uh... [chuckles]

I'm perfecting my sales strategy, Mechita.

Although... they're my only customers today.

- [baby screaming in distance] - [Mechita] Ah.

Take some.

[liquid pouring]

[baby continues screaming]

It's all gone. [scoffs softly]

[grunts] Efraín! I nearly broke my neck on the floor polisher.

[Efraín] Sorry, I'm really busy, Mechita.

- [Mechita] You don't have anything to do. - [Efraín] Okay, Your Honor.

- [doorbell rings] - [dog barking]

[whispering] Uh-uh, sh-sh.

[mutters gibberish]

- Welcome. - Hello. Thank you.

Nice to meet you. I'm Efraín. Come on in.

- Make yourselves at home. - [Mechita] Hello.

- [woman] Hi. - Anyone like a glass of water?

- [woman] Yes. Thank you. - [Efraín] Oh, please.

If the bride needs to reapply makeup, you can sit over here.

- This spot is just for you. - [Mechita] Yes!

Your water, and you look beautiful.

- Thank you so much. - Are the pictures a souvenir?

- They're for the invitation. - [gasps] What a great idea.

They're gonna be lovely.

When we got married, Mechita had this brilliant idea.

She, uh... [chuckles]

...she wanted to send handwritten invitations.

Half the guests got lost.

They couldn't find the church. They couldn't read her handwriting.

- Then she went to school for typing. - [boy 2] Oh my God!

We're gonna be late! Hurry up!

- [boy 1] It's not my fault! - [boy 2] It is! It's always your fault!

[Efraín quietly] Will you shut the fuck up?

- [softly] Efraín. - Yeah?

The young man's complexion is pretty bad.

- Be sure to use a fill light. - Yeah, I will. Yeah.

- Efraín. - Please.

Fix the polisher today.

Yeah, I'll fix it. Okay.

Well, uh... [chuckles]

...just a few more things and we'll get started.

- [Mechita] Have fun. - Oh, thanks.

[Efraín] Need to adjust this light and move you over.

[bride] Okay.

[bright music playing]

[car horn blares]

[woman] The lawyer told us he's in preventative detention.

But... we can ask that he be released on bail.

[Mechita] Okay, let me see what I can find out.

Just one second.

[typewriters clacking]

- Good afternoon. - Good afternoon. Can I help you?

Someone's been murdered at 1035 Agustinas Road.

Near the Crillón Hotel?

At the Crillón Hotel. Inside the tearoom.

[apprehensive classical music playing]

MURDER AT THE CRILLÓN HOTEL

Thank you, sir.

LADIES AND SALESMEN NOT ALLOWED THANK YOU

Take this, please.

Thank you.

[indistinct chatter]

[reporter 1] Wait, that's him.

[Mechita] Give him room. Make room. Excuse me. Please take a step back.

[reporter 2] Can I get a statement? Hello? Wait. Just want your statement.

- [reporters clamoring] - [reporter 3] Just a quick word please.

[reporter 4] Can I get a statement? Do you have anything to tell us at all?

- [reporter 4] Judge. Sir, please. - [reporter 2] Over here.

[soundscape muffles]

[intriguing piano music playing]

- [flashbulb pops] - [muffled soundscape echoing]

[indiscernible overlapping chatter]

[reporters jabbering]

- [officer 1] Please! Make way. - [photographer] Here please.

[reporter 2] Tell us a statement, right now.

[officer 2] Right this way.

[camera shutters clicking]

IN HER PLACE.

[intriguing music continues]

[music trails off]

Merceditas, this your first time inside the Crillón?

Come here.

[man] Gálvez, give Judge Aliro the report.

- Here, take this. - [Aliro] Hmm.

"Georgina Silva Jiménez."

[sighs] Yes. Silva shot him close range.

She couldn't have been more than one or two meters away.

The gun was hers, correct?

That's right. I'll show it to you before they get it to Ballistics.

- [Aliro] Okay. - Here.

- Take a look. - Ah!

FN Baby. Made in Belgium. 6.35 caliber, eh?

She's a real beauty.

- Merceditas? - [Mercedes] Hmm?

Look how exquisite.

- [gasps] Wow, yes. - [Aliro] Look at that.

- It belongs in a jewelry store. - [Aliro chuckles]

Any intel on the dead man's wife?

[man] According to the information we got, Silva was his partner.

Sure, but what about his spouse?

No, the victim had no wedding ring on, Your Honor.

[Aliro] Hmm. Take the body away.

[man] Gálvez.

[Aliro] Merceditas, sit here.

- Arnés, sit over there. - [Arnés] Okay.

Reach your arm out. Grab this spoon. Five gunshots, huh?

That woman must be mad as a hatter.

Yes, but the clues have shown that she was standing up already.

The reason why is that the gun was hidden in her coat pocket.

- Making it easier for her to pull out. - Merceditas, stand up.

You look to be about the same height.

Makes me wonder, was shooting from this angle easier,

or did she want to be closer to her victim? [grunts]

Or maybe she wanted everyone to see?

- What do you think? - Gálvez?

Get the woman's personal belongings, please.

[Gálvez] Okay.

Don't forget to take notes.

His name is Mr. Roberto Pumarino Valenzuela.

[light humming]

[thoughtful music playing]

DEATH AND MADNESS AT HOTEL CRILLÓN

[man] Murder at the Crillón!

SHE DIDN'T KILL SEEKING CHEAP LITERARY GLORY

THE HOTEL CRILLÓN TRAGEDY

[man] Get your newspaper! El Mercurio! El Clarín!

Get your newspaper! La Nación!

El País! Get your newspaper!

[Mercedes] Everyone's saying the same.

María Carolina Geel committed murder in front of every aristocrat in Chile.

Look here. The news made the front page, boss.

A respectable person should only make the papers three times.

When they're born, when they get married, and when they die.

- Isn't a judge always respectable? - That's sweet, Merceditas, but no.

I can't stand all these vultures circling my case.

Bunch of sick people.

When I was coming in earlier,

a journalist asked if we were gonna hear testimony from "the vampire."

The vampire.

- Yes, Domingo, I heard you okay. - [Domingo chuckles]

I'm gonna make myself a coffee. You want another one?

- [Aliro] Thanks. - [Domingo] You got it.

[Aliro] How about that, Merceditas?

This institution upholds centuries of legal traditions,

and we're made into a circus by the media.

Well, if I was murdered at the Crillón Hotel,

I'd like people to wonder what happened to me.

They'd have to invite you in first.

CRIME OF PASSION

[Aliro sighs] My God.

These nosy sickos are gonna tear that poor woman apart.

I swear, I almost feel sorry for her.

First, she goes crazy, murders her boyfriend.

Now she's become the villain of the century.

This woman is going through hell.

We are gonna be famous, Mercedes. I wish I'd put some gel in my hair.

If the boss wants to have lunch here, I think he's gonna have to dig a tunnel.

He should wait to convict her later, when all this chaos dies down.

No. He's got a soft spot for women of her type.

[siren approaching]

- [reporter 1] Excuse me. - [reporter 2] Do you have a statement?

- [reporter 1] María Carolina, please! - [reporter 3] Why'd you do it?

[indistinct overlapping chatter]

- [reporter 3] María Carolina! - [reporter 1] Why'd you do it?

[reporters clamoring]

- [reporter 4] Why? Why did you do it? - [reporter 5] Tell us a statement now.

[reporter 6] Did you? Did you kill your boyfriend?

- What can you tell us? - [reporter 7] María!

You are Miss Georgina Silva Jiménez?

My name's María Carolina Geel.

I don't understand.

Your Honor, that is the pen name my client uses for her writing career.

And when she killed Mr. Pumarino, was she Silva or Geel?

What? I... They're the same person.

I don't know what you mean.

And do you admit to firing the five shots

that killed Mr. Roberto Pumarino Valenzuela

on April 14th at the Crillón Hotel?

Your Honor, my defendant invokes her right to not respond to that question.

- Just for the time being. Until forensic... - Yes.

I admit it.

And do you also admit to carrying, on that day, an FN Baby pistol

with which you intended to kill your boyfriend?

No, not boyfriend.

[Aliro] So who was he to you?

He wasn't mine.

I didn't want that.

[musical chimes playing]

[gentle classical music playing]

[Aliro] Okay, Miss Silva.

[clears throat]

[typewriter clacking, dings]

Help me help you, all right?

It's in your best interest, trust me.

Did he do anything to you?

[door opens]

Montero's on his way here. He wants to see you.

Mr. Concha.

Yes, sir.

[footsteps departing]

Do you have a cigarette?

Smoking's not allowed here.

My lawyer was smoking.

And are you a lawyer?

No.

Ah.

Are you a lawyer?

No.

Ah.

[Aliro] Mercedes.

[men talking indistinctly]

[Aliro] Mercedes!

[Domingo] The medico-legal services have prepared all the documents.

Please tell these people when the psychological exam has...

What psychological evaluation?

If the nature of the crime requires it, I will consider complementary disciplines.

But I'm not here to give you explanations, okay, Mr. Montero?

The defendant will have to appear before medico-legal services tomorrow.

She will be escorted to the interview from here.

That poor soul is staying at the police station

until the experts confirm what we've already determined.

She should stay in a mental home. Hmm?

Front page. Look!

[Mercedes] "Montero's accusation."

"The writer killed willfully and with malice in a premeditated murder."

[Concha sighs]

"She deserves swift punishment at the hands of the law."

[softly] Poor Judge Aliro.

[Concha] Your Honor, the defendant can't spend the night at a police station.

Are you aware of... of her fragile mental state?

She barely knows where she is. Could we send her home, perhaps?

I have a proposition.

She'll stay at Buen Pastor.

- At the church, she'll have a quiet cell... - Yes.

...away from journalists and noise.

The nuns will look after her. End of story.

Yes, sir.

I'm sure you can imagine, she isn't... the type of woman...

who's used to staying in a prison cell.

And you're aware that I'm not the Pope, right?

[Mercedes chuckles]

Yes.

But, um... will you permit the defendant to be given the bare essentials?

- You know, clean clothes... - All right. I'll allow it. I'll allow it.

Yeah, well, the problem is, her sister lives in Parral.

And, well,

how would it look, a lawyer getting clothes from her place?

[chuckles sheepishly]

Uh, it's my understanding that the keys to her apartment are in court custody.

[Aliro] Well?

Who me?

I'll go.

[reporters clamoring]

And how long are you keeping her at Buen Pastor?

Until she's sentenced.

What good will it do to keep her in a common cell?

She'll get scabies. Then all the papers will blame me.

[sighs]

[police siren wailing]

Okay. I'll see you both soon.

- [Mercedes] Bye. - See you.

- I had scabies once. - [chuckles] Me too.

Just saying it makes me itchy.

[keys rattling]

[soft, ethereal music playing]

[clock striking]

[musical chimes playing]

[clock ticking]

[music intensifies]

[footsteps retreating]

[music fades out]

[clock ticking]

[breathes deeply]

- [indistinct shouting] - [dog barking]

[distant chatter]

[switch clacks]

[toilet water gurgling]

Overexposed it.

- Morning, officers. - Morning.

Uh, Mr. Concha. You know lawyers aren't allowed past this point.

- Oh yeah. - Here. This is her stuff.

You're free to wait here.

Can I have a cigarette?

They're going to conduct a forensic exam to assess your general well-being.

To see if I'm crazy?

If they find you have a mental disorder,

they'll be looking into alternative forms of incarceration.

- I won't go to a mental home. - [knocking at door]

[man] Come on in.

Good afternoon.

You coming?

It's a private exam.

[door hinge squeaking]

[suspenseful jazz music playing]

Good morning. Thank you for coming.

"Mr. Rolando de la Fuente."

According to the police report,

you are the one who waited on Roberto Pumarino

and Georgina Silva's table.

[Rolando] Yes. Exactly. I was their waiter.

Okay. Can you tell me about what happened that afternoon in the Crillón Hotel?

Let's see. Uh, the man was seated at table number three.

Uh... he chose the seat which faced the room.

I remember asking if he wanted a drink.

He told me he was waiting for someone to join him.

After that, the woman arrived.

Right. The woman, was she acting strange?

Totally normal. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Was there anything off about their greeting?

It was all perfectly normal.

Uh, what did catch my attention though was the chair the lady chose.

[Aliro] Ah, the chair that was turned away from the other tables?

- [Rolando] Yes. - [dramatic string music playing]

[Rolando] It caught my attention because the ladies prefer

to sit facing the room, you see.

[typewriter clacking]

- [Aliro] And how did she behave? - [Pumarino] Okay, listen...

I looked over at Pumarino and saw that he had this expression,

like he was disgusted.

[Pumarino] Don't write to me. Don't come to my house.

- [María] You're getting married? - Yes.

[woman] My sister was the one who overheard something.

She said, "Do whatever you want. It's your life."

- They're getting more drinks. - More drinks?

I don't meddle in other people's business,

but I overheard some things when they raised their voices.

- What kind of things? - [Pumarino] Don't look for me anymore.

Things like, "Let's call it quits." "This is over."

Something like, "Why aren't you interested?"

[typewriter clacking]

[Aliro] So you didn't witness an outburst from Miss Silva during this conversation?

Never saw her become enraged?

No. Not at that point, no. But it all changed shortly after.

[softly] Don't look at them!

- [typewriter clacking] - Hey.

And that's when I heard the chair.

You heard it?

[chair scrape echoes]

Then what happened?

Then she stood up from the chair

and immediately began shooting Mr. Pumarino.

- [panicked screaming] - [gunshots]

[Rolando] I heard the gunshots, of course.

But, at first, I didn't know where they came from.

[faint screaming]

Then the lady left the gun on the table.

I was behind them, so I left my tray,

walked over and covered the gun with a napkin.

- [Aliro] Why'd you do that? - [Rolando] I don't know.

I didn't want the gun to scare the customers

or give her the chance to grab it again.

I don't know.

In the moments after Miss Silva stood up,

do you remember if she waited a bit or did she shoot immediately...

No, it all happened so quickly. She had the pistol and the shooting began.

He was right next to her. She just pointed and shot.

- Uh, was he still alive? - I think he died right away.

And that poor man was shot so fast, he couldn't yell.

He died in silence, like a gentleman.

[dramatic music continues]

Did Miss Silva try to end her own life at the time,

or did you see her try to escape after shooting the man?

No.

No. The opposite really.

- [music intensifies] - [Rolando] She got down and hugged him.

And then, uh, she frantically started kissing the guy on the cheeks.

[music building]

Then she got on her knees

and put her hands in prayer and began to yell, "Save him!"

- [inaudible dialogue] - [music intensifies]

- [music fades out] - [typing stops]

- [Efraín] That's enough. All right. - [boy 1] Stop it! Cut it out!

- [on radio] Welcome back to... - [Efraín] Where are they sending Lucho?

- [boy 1] To the north, to Iquique. - [Efraín] Ah, guarding the frontier.

[boy 1] Yeah.

[boy 2] They should call you for military service.

- What? He wants the room all to himself. - No, I don't.

You need to start worrying about your future too, you hear me?

Won't be long till you're facing the same choices as your brother.

[chatter continues on radio]

What about you?

- Do you really wanna go to law school? - [boy 1] Mm-hmm.

I'm gonna be a court clerk for a year, then become a lawyer.

Then I'll be a judge in two years, just like Mom.

[Efraín and boys chuckle]

Yeah, Mom could be your secretary.

[boy 1] Hmm, yeah. [chuckles]

[on radio] The ongoing case against María Carolina Geel

heard eyewitness testimony...

Turn that off, son.

We're just trying to be in the know. After all, the judge is very secretive.

- [boy 1] We learn the news on the radio. - I'm not asking.

Today, El Clarín published an article, where Mistral commented on the case.

[Mercedes] But she doesn't live in Chile.

I don't see why she would care about what a woman did in the Crillón.

- Uh, she's a Nobel Prize winner. - But in literature, not law.

And is there a Nobel Prize in law? No?

[on radio] There is speculation about the timeline...

- He's right, Your Honor. [chuckles] - Will you stop it already?

You all know I'm not a judge. Know what? If I was a judge, you'd all be in jail.

- What for? - For being disobedient!

Argh. [scoffs]

- [static crackles] - [broadcast stops]

- [dog barking] - [clatter]

[Mercedes groans] Efraín!

Fix the damn polisher.

[boys snicker]

- Hey. Hey! - [boys chuckle]

[suspenseful jazz music plays]

- Mr. Sergio Pumarino, good afternoon. - Good afternoon, Your Honor.

Tell me about your brother. How would you describe him?

[man] He was the best brother ever.

[emotionally] The best amongst all of us.

[sniffles]

- That's quite all right, Walter. - [Walter] I'm sorry.

- [Aliro] Take your time. - [woman sobs]

What's your sister like? What can you tell me about Georgina?

- She's very sensitive. - [typewriter clacking]

- A bit volatile as well. - [typing stops]

- [Aliro] Explosive, maybe? - [woman] No, no, no. Nothing like that.

No, everyone liked her. They were always asking her to events, to parties.

She was stubborn, that's what he said.

And moody.

One day, she wanted him to go. The next, she called him crying.

Roberto asked her many times to marry him.

Four or five times.

- She always responded no. - A complex woman.

I'd say she was very... independent.

You know.

Like women nowadays.

[Walter] Then she begged him to come see her. So he went.

That became normal.

Georgina doesn't talk about her problems.

- She doesn't like to be pitied. - He put up with her for too long.

Do you recall your brother ever saying he wanted to break up with her?

No, he... he worshiped her.

We never understood why, but he always got back together with her.

That's why I was so relieved when he finally let her go and moved on.

He started dating this other woman.

[suspenseful music continues]

Who is she?

Alicia Castro.

A family friend.

She got back together with Roberto a couple of months ago.

[Sergio] Alicia was happy to be marrying my brother.

She saw what we all saw in him.

A very good man.

Decent.

Eager to be a dad.

[woman] She's a bit tormented in matters of the heart.

Our Georgina

never learned how to be alone.

She always needs to have someone around, if that makes sense.

[typewriter clacking]

I mean, my sister is extremely fragile. More than normal.

That woman was... perverse, yeah?

Abnormal.

Incapable of being like other women.

[typewriter carriage rasps]

My sister was too much to handle for that man.

Did you imagine that she

could be a killer?

[Sergio] A killer, yes.

But to do it like that, in cold blood, in front of everyone?

The last time I saw them together, he was extremely cold to her.

Poor Georgina seemed so exhausted.

[inhales] Messing around with a divorcee was my brother's real mistake.

Because she was divorced for a reason.

[Aliro] You've known Miss Silva for a long time, haven't you?

- [music fades out] - Yes, I was married to her for 13 years.

And how would you describe Miss Silva?

An exemplary woman.

Intelligent.

Very restless too.

Difficult, perhaps?

No. No.

Curious, I might say. An avid reader, very talkative.

And as a mother?

- I don't see how that's relevant. - Just answer me, please.

[pen nib scratching]

- She's an excellent mother. - [typewriter clacking]

Always there.

A loving mother.

Okay, so she was never violent to you, and she was an excellent person.

Then can you explain to me why she might have killed Mr. Roberto Pumarino?

[music reprises]

No, I'm afraid I can't.

To me, it's very clear. She wasn't going to be left with nothing.

That woman was jealous.

If anyone says they didn't see it coming, it's clear they didn't know her.

She, uh... she cared about appearances.

She turned down my brother when he proposed,

but as soon as he wanted to ask another girl's hand in marriage,

she murdered him.

That's Georgina Silva.

[music fades out]

[Efraín snoring loudly]

[distant bell ringing]

[distant voices in street]

[horn tooting]

- [loud banging] - [snoring continues]

[clock chiming]

[chuckles softly]

[chiming stops]

[clock ticking]

MARÍA CAROLINA GEEL YENIA'S SLEEPING WORLD

[grunts softly]

[poignant classical music playing]

TRAGIC CRIME OF PASSION IN DOWNTOWN SANTIAGO

WRITER MARÍA LUISA BOMBAL SHOOTS EULOGIO SÁNCHEZ ERRÁZURIZ.

- [music stops] - [engine rumbling noisily]

Your Honor, we have a list of witnesses

who are willing to testify about the cruel way in which Georgina...

[Aliro] Mr. Montero.

We all love a juicy bit of gossip.

- [Concha chuckles] - [Aliro] But this is a courthouse.

The report, Mercedes.

Thank you.

"The patient is currently experiencing menopause..."

- "...an extremely important factor for..." - There's more below here.

"This has produced changes in her behavior."

"What is usually known as temporary insanity."

That's absolutely right.

Don't start celebrating yet, Mr. Concha.

- Your Honor, I hope you'll excuse me if... - Gentlemen, I need a recess.

[Concha] Ah.

We'll send a copy of the report to your respective offices.

Thank you.

[Aliro] I'm ready to pass sentence.

Unfit to plead, according to the witnesses and science.

Seeing this, we can let her spend the weekend in her own home. Hmm?

Thank you so much. [sipping]

And this brood of vampires

can start reporting on news that is actually important.

And we can be done with these humiliating lockdown lunches.

- It's really not that bad. - [scoffs] Come on now. It's terrible.

I'm holed up in my office, eating pickled chicken.

But I knew I'd have to make sacrifices

when I decided to give my life to justice.

[Domingo] Hmm.

Actually, it's truly commendable.

That's so true. Imagine having your face on the front pages...

But it's not just that, Domingo. It's so much more.

It's impressive how committed you are to the truth and to justice.

Domingo, wherever we go,

we can be proud to say that we work for a judge with integrity.

Even though his reputation is in question.

Who's questioning my reputation?

You've said that you'll deliver a fair sentence, right?

Even though public opinion is swayed against you.

- That's very brave, Domingo. - [Aliro chuckles]

- Very brave indeed. - [Aliro] Hold on, hold on, hold on.

Merceditas, I'm a judge of the Republic.

This type of manipulation may work at home with your kids, but not with me, hmm?

But she's right, Judge Aliro.

If you let her off, you'll catch hell from the newspapers.

Is that so? Because I thought they might celebrate me.

I'm not trying to convince you of anything.

But I'm afraid, this time, I have to agree with Domingo.

If you let her off, you'll just be prolonging the circus.

[typewriters clacking]

Merceditas, did you keep that list of witnesses that Montero gave you?

- [Mercedes] Mm-hmm. - [Aliro] Know what?

Let's bring a couple of them in ahead of sentencing, just to be safe, huh?

Are you watching your back?

- Is that insolence I'm hearing from you? - You're right. I'm sorry.

A judge of the Republic doesn't watch his back.

He analyzes his case from every angle, that's all.

Of course, Your Honor.

[playful jazz music playing]

MARÍA CAROLINA GEEL PERCES THE TEENAGER DREAMED AND LOVED

[jazz music continues]

MARÍA CAROLINA GEEL STRANGE SUMMER

[music fades out]

Oh, new in the building?

No, no.

- No. - You're her sister.

- Right? - No, no, no.

- [clears throat] Good afternoon. - Good afternoon.

Here.

Initial.

- Full signature. - Your Honor.

Oh my goodness! [chuckles]

I wasn't told to dress for a gala.

I've never seen you dress up like this. It's new, right?

- Because of the journalists? - No.

It's because

I have respect for the courthouse.

There.

You shouldn't shy away from a compliment, Merceditas.

[footsteps retreating]

Her perfume is new too, right?

No idea.

Thanks, Domingo.

[Aliro sighs]

Merceditas?

Yes?

What perfume do you have on?

It's just soap.

[footsteps rapidly retreating]

Merceditas.

[footsteps approaching]

[Mercedes] Hmm?

African bird, four-letter word?

Ibis.

Thank you!

Our office issues all the statements throughout different parts of the city.

Just one comma has the power to alter a sentence's meaning.

Hmm. Truly fascinating, Fernando.

Now let's move on from your work and focus on the deceased.

What was it like between Mr. Pumarino and Miss Silva?

Uh. Well, it was complicated.

Complicated. Very complicated.

Sometimes, when they came back from lunch, it wasn't hard to see they'd been arguing.

The signs were there, tears and all.

She'd return from lunch, and you could tell she'd been crying?

She didn't cry, he did.

- Him? - Yes.

And would you say that you were closer to the victim or closer to Miss Silva?

Oh, Roberto.

In my opinion, he was a very good, a very kind man.

Roberto was a great boss. He really was.

I mean...

- He was so attentive. - [clears throat] What about her?

No, I'm afraid I can't say that she was.

I'd be lying, frankly, if I did.

Georgina was always looking down on everybody.

Like she was better than us.

She seemed to be bored at work. Georgina lived in her own world.

Bored at work? What gave you that impression?

She started to write other stuff the minute she was alone.

- [Aliro] Her books? - [Fernando] Exactly.

[mystical music playing]

[Fernando] We all would have loved to write stories and silly stuff too,

but we would have lost our jobs within a week.

[Aliro] So you don't think she loved him?

[woman] I think she was using him.

Roberto just went running and gave her whatever she asked him for.

She was quite terrible, "the child."

Wait. Which child?

Georgina. He called her that. "The child."

[man] When she needed any money, Roberto was always there.

He was always willing to break the bank.

[woman] Ridiculous to treat her like a child, a full-grown woman.

What Georgina was really skilled at was emptying his pockets.

My name is Rebeca Vizcaya Pérez.

I am a receptionist in the finance division.

And I was employed by Roberto Pumarino.

And what would you like to declare, Miss Perez?

Um, has anyone told you about the floor polisher?

[wearily] No.

Nah. But please, enlighten me.

Perhaps you were informed, but Roberto gifted Georgina

one of those electric polishers.

- [Aliro] I see. - [Rebeca] Not a mop.

It was the kind with a plug.

When you say polisher, you mean the upright one?

- Mercedes. - [Rebeca] That's exactly right.

One of those floor polishers.

You'll never guess what that woman did next.

- She said no. - [typing halts]

[Roberto] Surprise!

What's that?

- [Rebeca] I think, deep down, Mr. Roberto... - Oh, wow.

[Rebeca] ...always wished

that she would be the kind of woman who stayed in the house. Makes sense?

[Aliro] Miss Vizcaya, I was told that you were going to bring me a file.

[Rebeca] Oh, yes.

Um, the thing is,

I've been going through the boss's old filing cabinets at work, and, um,

in one of the drawers, I found this big mountain of paper

that was all shredded and torn up.

And so I took it upon myself

to put all the little pieces of paper back together.

And I've brought that to you.

So what is it?

It was a letter.

[inhales deeply]

- [dramatic music plays] - [Aliro sighs]

[Mercedes] "Roberto,

I've been thinking hard about it."

"Last night, you told me that I must make a decision."

"First of all, I appreciate your demeanor,

which is considered chivalrous within the frame of social conventions."

"I admire it, because I know it's valuable."

"And if I decline your offer... know that it's because

the reasons to predict a negative outcome for our marriage

are numerous."

Stuck-up bitch! Any woman in Chile would love a polisher.

- You didn't choose just any woman! - You're crazy!

[María grunts, huffs]

[music intensifies]

"Roberto,

my nature,

my character,

my interests,

my age,

my experience,

they are all contrary to matrimony."

[fast-flowing water rushing]

"If you add to the equation a deep sensitivity,

forever in conflict with the ideals of this world,

and absolute skepticism regarding life itself...

you must accept

that nothing in me responds to the so-called institution of marriage."

"And I'm not the kind of woman

that your situation requires."

[music intensifies]

[cross-fades into "I've Been Dreaming"]

[on record player] ♪ I've been dreaming of a brighter day ♪

♪ Where the worries all just fade away ♪

♪ I wanna rise above the storm ♪

♪ Finding a place we belong ♪

♪ I leave the past behind ♪

♪ Leaving the life where I come from ♪

♪ Hoping for... ♪

[door lock clacks]

[man whistling]

♪...a new state of mind... ♪

- [man whistles] - [Mercedes murmurs]

♪ Seeking peace from dusk to dawn... ♪

[Mercedes murmurs]

♪ Every step I take, I'm moving on... ♪

- [Mercedes whimpers] - ♪ I'm gonna sing a brand-new... ♪

[Mercedes whimpers]

[man chuckles]

I should count my blessings.

Thank God I gifted you that gorgeous robe

and not some fancy electric floor polisher.

Otherwise, it would be my memorial at the bar right now.

- No. Sorry, I'm not her. - I know you're not.

[Mercedes sighs]

Of course you're not. Hmm.

Because Mari, my Marita,

is in jail right now, paying for the worst of crimes.

Being an artist and a woman.

[music continues]

Can I interest you in a drink?

My Marita always told me

she didn't like it when I drove home wasted.

So she gave me this key.

[metallic jangle]

[chuckles] My Mari.

She even takes care of me from jail.

How about you? Are you also trying to keep a drunk driver off the roads?

No. No.

We're cousins, but I'm from La Serena.

Oh, makes sense.

Tell me your name.

Dominga.

Hmm. And what exactly are you doing in your cousin's apartment?

Just tidying up and keeping things in order.

M... making sure it's not dusty.

Ah, very good.

Visiting from La Serena to clean the place?

In a robe. Funny.

- Am I under interrogation? - [chuckles]

Well, aren't you feisty?

I like it.

Dominga.

[music intensifies]

[music ends]

- Murder for love is not a crime. - [chuckles]

I'm blessed that nobody has ever loved me that way.

To clarify, the woman killed for love, but not for him.

For love of art.

It's not a homicide but an homage.

It was a literary quote. Look.

January 1941.

The greatest novelist our nation has ever lost.

- Mistral. - No.

Novelist, not poet.

María Luisa Bombal grabbed a gun and shot her lover.

Do you know where?

Mm-mm.

Right here, in his arm.

That's not important. What's important is it happened in no other place than...

The Crillón Hotel.

You already knew?

- Hmm? - No, I just figured.

[man] Mm!

So this woman is going to jail for a crime that she didn't even plan on her own.

[chuckles] How is that possible?

[man] Don't be such a philistine, woman.

[grunts]

I'll explain.

The art of today is inspired from the art of yesterday.

[clock chimes]

It's so exact that she's even going to mirror Bombal

in the grand ending, which is the pardon.

What do you mean, pardon?

Because Bombal was pardoned, right?

- Don't you get newspapers in La Serena? - [chuckles] Yes. We do get them.

But I remember that Bombal was the greatest novelist in the nation.

- Mm. - I'm not sure who would pardon Silva.

- The president, yeah? - [chuckles]

Once he hears the voice of an angel.

Not from La Serena, of course, but from Vicuña, which is closer.

[chuckles]

["El Merecumbé" by Orquesta Huambaly playing]

- Oh, that's pretty. - It's gorgeous.

I gifted that to Mari.

- No. - Yes, Dominga.

- No, it's mine. - Yes, no.

- It's mine. - You know, Dominga...

You don't look like a Dominga.

Dominique maybe, but not Dominga, no.

Guess what else I know?

My Mari... doesn't have any relatives in La Serena.

But don't worry about it.

This house is like an embassy.

Lots of people come through here.

My name's René.

What's your name? Your real one.

Mercedes.

[René] Mm.

[chuckles] That's it.

Mercedes, yes.

[softly] Mercedes.

I'm sorry.

But don't worry.

Tomorrow, I won't remember.

I'm a poet with a spotty memory. That's why I haven't gone anywhere.

Mercedes, if...

if you're not her cousin, it doesn't matter.

Because we're so tired of being who we are.

We need a place where we can be no one.

What happened?

[music intensifies]

[lyrics in Spanish]

[music continues]

[music stops]

- [train horn blares] - [clock ticking]

[inhales dazedly]

[swallows]

[sighs]

[horn blasting]

[gulps, sighs]

[distant banging]

[banging continues]

[in English] No tea?

- No, but it can't get any worse. - Mm.

Ángela confirmed. [blows]

Are they staying with us?

Of course they are.

There's no room.

- [Efraín] Mercedes. - Hmm?

[Efraín] Did you come home smelling of booze last night?

No, I didn't drink anything last night.

[children shouting in street]

You reeked of pisco.

- Strange, I didn't have any pisco. - [doorbell rings]

It's my client with her children.

[distant banging continues]

[baby screaming]

No, no. Bullshit.

Put your heads a bit closer together, and keep looking right at me.

- [woman] Smile, my love. - [Efraín] Okay? That's it.

- See you, Dad. - Hey, we're off.

[Efraín] All right, boys.

- I have two boys as well. - Oh really?

We'll have to play nice with our daughters-in-law.

If not, who will take care of us in our old age, am I right?

Yeah.

Big smile, my love.

[water trickling]

[man] There's stew and mechazo.

Ah, mechazo.

- Yummy. Can we... - We'll all have the stew please.

Of course.

- [Aliro] Thank you. - [Mercedes] Thanks.

Is something wrong, Merceditas?

- Just checking if there are new starters. - But I just ordered stew for everyone.

- Are you on a special diet or something? - Well, she looks thinner, doesn't she?

[Aliro] Maybe it's the new dress.

[Domingo] I don't know if you've noticed, but...

- I have to leave. - Your stew's on the way.

I'll grab something. Don't worry.

Since when do we waste food in this country?

- Don't waste it. - Should we have them wrap it up?

You eat the stew.

I don't understand.

[inaudible]

Oh no, Montero.

[Mercedes] Mr. Montero, don't disturb...

[Aliro] This man is gonna make my hair go gray.

[Montero] Your Honor.

Sorry, Mr. Montero, the clerk and I were just wrapping up here.

The family of the victim got wind of a rumor

that the accused is living like a princess at Buen Pastor.

Private cell, her own bathroom, and there's even laundry service.

It's like she's staying at a luxury hotel, Your Honor.

Buen Pastor is not like a luxury hotel, Attorney Montero.

It's an institution operated by nuns.

- The family requests... - [Aliro] That's it. I'm done.

I'm done. I'm done. Look here.

I have to get back to my office and finish work on some documents that are pending.

If you ever see me having my lunch again, please let me enjoy my meal in peace.

Understood.

Excuse me.

I did try to stop him, sir.

- Mercedes. - Yes?

I want you to go Buen Pastor tomorrow.

Check out the living conditions that the defendant has there

and report back, yeah?

Yes, of course.

[boy 1] I'm on a roll.

[bell ringing in distance]

Let me see here.

- [horn blares] - Hello there.

- [boy 1] Hi. - [boy 2] Hi, Mom!

I got held up.

Well, nobody noticed.

Wow! The judge is looking fancy.

[boy 1] We're starving, Mom.

[Mercedes] Okay.

- [boy 1] It's your turn, Dad. - Come on.

- [boy 1] God! - [Efraín grumbles]

- [boy 1 gasps] - [boy 2] Keep your hand still.

[Efraín] Have a good day at the courthouse?

Hmm? Yeah, it was fine.

There's a lot to do there.

Nothing out of the ordinary?

[Mercedes] No.

Thankfully.

[brush handle tapping on table]

[boy 1 gasps]

- [bag unzips] - What are you doing with the camera?

They asked me to go take some pictures at Buen Pastor.

Why do they need you to go take pictures?

They couldn't find someone from the courthouse?

I am someone from the courthouse.

Is it for that Crillón lunatic?

I don't think she's a lunatic. I think she's acting.

[boy 2] That's so unfair. If she can use the camera, so can we.

My father... left me this camera.

- If the cameras were your dad's to begin... - But he gave this one to me.

This camera is mine.

[boy 2 quietly] Oof.

Each roll in the camera holds 12 photos, so you can keep track.

- It can be temperamental... - Thank you, Efraín.

[camera rattling]

[gentle classical music playing]

[camera whirring]

[whirring stops]

[church bell ringing]

[officer] Good afternoon, ma'am. Do you have business here?

Can I take a look?

[indistinct chatter]

Miss, is that a camera?

Would you mind taking my picture?

Of course.

- [mimics shutter click] - Thanks, dear.

- Are you a journalist? - No.

I work at the courthouse.

Oh, you're just who I'm looking for.

I need someone who works at the courthouse to help me.

Mm. I don't think I'm the one to help. You probably need a lawyer.

Ah. But I don't know how to get a lawyer. [chuckles]

Tell me your name, ma'am.

Rosa

Janequeo Saavedra.

And why are you here? What did you do?

Murdered my son-in-law.

I slit his throat like a dog.

Don't be scared.

I'm not an evil person.

You see, I had to do it, because he was so abusive to my daughter.

He kicked her as hard as he could while she was pregnant.

Like he was spurring a donkey.

- Is your daughter better now? - Oh, now, she's great.

She and the baby finally have a peaceful home.

They're both safe, yeah? Truth is, I have a nice life here.

I sleep with a clear conscience.

- Have they come to visit you? - Every Sunday morning, rain or shine.

- Hmm. Wonderful. - Yeah.

- Really. - [woman] Miss, follow me, please.

- Thank you. - [Rosa] Bye.

- Have a nice day. - See you, miss. Have a nice day.

- Take care. - Yeah.

Right through here, please.

- In there? - Yes.

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

[typewriter clacking rapidly]

Excuse me?

[María] Come in.

[clacking continues]

- Good morning. - Good morning.

I'm Mercedes Arévalo. We met at the courthouse.

The lady with the cigarettes.

This won't take up too much of your time. I'm here to take pictures of your cell.

We're hoping to add to the medico-legal services' report.

In this case, by taking pictures of your living situation, okay?

You didn't have to bring the camera. I'll sum it up.

The nights are quiet.

The guard doing his rounds barely disturbs our sleep.

He passes by...

and then quiet falls upon the wards again.

[poignant music playing]

The days, however,

pass by with easy words,

laughter,

heresy...

It's time to start. Excuse me.

[camera rattling]

[camera winds]

MARÍA CAROLINA GEEL WOMEN'S PRISON

Are you keeping a diary while you're here?

- [music fades out] - Can I read it?

I read Bombal.

I see.

I think that you two have a lot in common.

May I?

[poignant music reprises]

[camera shutter clicks]

[camera winds]

[music fades out]

[music reprises]

Why did you do it?

Everyone wants to know why you killed him.

I'm here because of my actions. The reason doesn't really matter.

You learn to build your freedom.

[muffled indistinct chatter]

[poignant music continues]

I don't mind it.

- Ah! Ooh! - [shutter clicks]

[woman] This looks delicious. Thank you.

[music fades]

[music continues]

[liquid sloshes gently]

[woman] No, that's not it.

The blackberries and the snails need each other. They help the fruit grow.

- Snails clean up the garden. - Fertile soils, the fields provide. Yeah!

We also heard that José Dolores passed away.

- José Dolores passed away? - He did. Yep. José Dolores died.

Yeah, he died of old age.

- [Efraín] How old was he? - [man 1] He was as old as you.

- [Ángela] He was very old. - [boy 1] That's crazy.

[man 2] These two want to come to the fields with me.

- [gasps] - [man 1] Cheers, to my brother-in-law!

- [man 2] Cheers. - [boy 1 chuckling] Cheers!

[man 1] I salute him in the kitchen.

Santiago is a difficult man, and he looked just like a chicken.

- Ahh! - [all chuckle]

- No respect at all, eh? - You guys.

- [water running] - [Mercedes whimpers]

[man 1 chuckling]

[water stops]

[Ángela] When he misses you, the crying starts.

In the fields, you have an uncle who loves you boys with all his heart.

- [man 1] Ah! It's true, it's true. - [Efraín] Ah!

[sniffing shakily]

[Ángela chuckling] Shut up already!

I have an idea. Kids, come here.

- Come open your present. - [man 1] Hey, yeah, it's right here.

- We put a lot of love into this. - Oh, for me? You really shouldn't have.

- Wow! - [boy 1] Hey, look at that.

- Oh... whoa. - [boy 1] That's nice!

- Look at the handle on that knife. - [chuckles]

- Let's try it. - [man 1] Here.

[boy 2] Oh nice! Yeah.

I love it. To keep up with the news.

- [all chuckling] - No. No, no. Look here.

"Professional photographer García Arévalo."

"Marriages, first communions, quinceañeras, baptisms."

- Are we gonna become famous? - [man 1] Ah!

- That's great. - Congratulations are in order.

You outdid yourself. Thank you.

- [man 1] Congratulations. - It's really nice. It is. It's so good.

- [boy 1] Oh, wow. - I have a surprise for you, Mechi.

Close your eyes. No peeking, no peeking, no peeking.

Mechita, close your eyes.

[Ángela] Cover your eyes.

- [mechanical whirring] - [boy 1] Oh boy!

Oh! You can look now, look.

- [boy 1 chuckles] - [Efraín] I fixed it.

- [boy 1] Look at that. - It's got an engine from America.

- [Ángela laughs] - [Efraín] Can you believe it, eh?

I've seen them, but I've never used one. Let's see.

- You gonna help her? - No, no, no. Not happening.

- Oh, so it's a buffer? - [boy 2] Uh-oh, sorry.

[man 1] I don't trust those electric things.

- [man 2] It's great. It's... - [man 1] It's great now, but...

Being together, spending time with the family's really nice,

don't you think?

There's no reason for you to come home late all the time, Mechita.

- [sobs] - Hey. Hey!

- [sobs] - Hey, hey.

Don't get emotional.

We're here now.

You have to be here.

- [indistinct chatter in background] - [Mercedes breathes shakily]

- [Ángela] Very slowly. - [man 1] Yeah, I'll place that bet.

[man 2] We have to. Maybe there's some people who take...

- [Ángela] Ah, yeah. [laughs] - [man 2] Ah, trust me.

[thunder rumbling]

[breathing shakily]

[soft, ethereal music playing]

[muted soundscape]

- [thunder rumbles] - [clock ticking]

[ticking intensifies]

[ethereal music continues]

[music fades out]

[thunder crashes]

[knocking at door]

[clock chiming]

[knocking at door]

[Efraín] Meche.

It's me.

What is this place, Meche?

It's an apartment I found for myself.

It's only temporary.

Open the door.

Please.

[poignant string music playing]

This place,

who lives here?

[Efraín grunts softly]

You've lost your mind?

Does this woman know that you're here?

Tell me.

Huh?

[photo frame rattles]

She isn't around. She's in jail.

We've worked out an arrangement though.

I water the plants and... air it out.

Clean a bit.

You're taking...

someone else's place,

a murderer's.

You're... you're using her things and even wearing her clothes every day.

Meche, no.

Meche, I could understand it if you fell in love with somebody else.

- But I don't... I don't know what this is. - No, no, no.

- What is happening with you? - That isn't it at all.

[Efraín] Huh?

It's the tranquility.

What does that mean, tranquility?

[thunder crashes]

There's so much noise.

All the time.

I can't cope. I'm not strong enough.

But it doesn't bother you.

You don't need silence.

But I'm going crazy.

[poignant music continues]

[clatter]

[serene, ethereal music playing]

[wind chime tinkling softly]

[music continues]

[clock ticking]

[ticking slows]

- [Efraín snoring continuously] - [music fades out]

[footsteps approaching]

[Efraín] What are you doing, Meche?

I'm cleaning the carpet. There's mud on it.

Why do you care? It's not your carpet.

If I don't get it out now, the stain will be set by tomorrow.

- Stop it. - It'll be ruined.

Mercedes,

you won't be back here tomorrow.

[scrubbing continues]

Meche.

Get dressed. It's time to go home. This doesn't belong to you.

Meche.

[footsteps]

[door closes]

[suspenseful jazz music playing]

"She bore the blame for a crime committed together with her man."

"She spent many years in jail."

"The man spent his days searching for a new girlfriend."

- Do we believe that? - No.

- They're gonna eat us alive. - Yep.

This woman refuses to talk to anyone, but she writes a book?

Right when everyone wants her head planted on a pike? No.

Enough.

I have to pass sentence. It's time.

[muffled clamoring]

[tense music playing]

MARÍA CAROLINA GEEL WOMEN'S PRISON

[Aliro] In Santiago, on July 11th, 1956,

in consideration of article 391 number two of the Penal Code,

we hereby find the defendant, Georgina Silva Jiménez,

guilty of homicide.

She will serve a prison sentence of 541 days,

the maximum punishment,

for the premeditated murder of Roberto Pumarino Valenzuela,

carried out on April 14th, 1955, at the Crillón Hotel.

[Concha] Please, Your Honor, this is excessive.

- Here, Domingo. - Yes, Your Honor.

[man] Georgina! What do you think about the verdict the judge arrived at?

Is it fair? Will you appeal it?

[thoughtful music playing]

[shutter clicks]

[shutter clicks]

[shutter clicks]

[shutter clicks, camera whirring]

[elevator pings]

- Good morning. - Good morning.

- How are you doing? - Fine. How about you?

Fine. Have a nice day.

[music fades out]

Who?

Hello?

Hello?

May I come in?

- Judge Aliro? - Mm?

A call from the bar at the Union Club. Someone is waiting for you there.

- Right now? - Mm.

- At the bar? - Mm.

Do me a favor, Merceditas.

In an hour, come by to rescue me.

Sure.

Hopefully, they let me in.

[door shuts]

URGENT

See you soon, Antito.

Let's go, Merceditas.

This is such a funny place.

They won't let me in, and they won't let you out.

I'll buy you lunch at Don Pepe.

I thought you were having lunch at the club?

Don't I wish.

I was ambushed by the president, Merceditas.

- Did the president come to yell at you? - No. No.

You might say, he gave me the courtesy of a warning.

About what?

About how I'm gonna look like a fool.

[chuckles] Why would you make a fool of yourself, sir?

Merceditas,

a judge speaks for justice.

But sometimes there are... those to whom laws don't seem to apply,

and even the words of a judge are pointless.

[fanfare plays on radio]

And then justice... is rendered mute.

[music crescendoes]

[man, on radio] We interrupt our regularly scheduled broadcast

to bring you breaking news.

In a surprising turn of events,

the Head of State, Carlos Ibáñez del Campo,

has granted presidential pardon

to infamous murderess and writer María Carolina Geel.

This decision has been made following a vigorous advocacy campaign

spearheaded by renowned poet Gabriela Mistral,

who penned a letter directly to the president beseeching...

[loud chaotic sound reverberates]

[muted soundscape]

[musical chimes tinkling]

MARÍA LUISA BOMBAL THE TREE AND OTHER STORIES

[chimes fade out]

[camera clicking]

[mournful music playing]

[shutter clicks]

[shutter clicks]

[music fades out]

["I'll be Seeing You" by Billie Holiday playing]

♪ I'll be seeing you ♪

♪ In all the old familiar places... ♪

[indistinct chatter]

♪ All day through... ♪

Darling, we can't go in without you.

♪ In that small café ♪

♪ The park across the way ♪

♪ The children's carousel ♪

♪ The chestnut trees ♪

♪ The wishing well... ♪

MURDER AT HOTEL CRILLÓN WRITER MARÍA GEEL SHOOTS LOVER

♪ In every lovely summer's day... ♪

MURDER AND MADNESS AT HOTEL CRILLÓN SHE KILLED HER LOVER AND DRANK HIS BLOOD

LOVE DROVE HER CRAZY

LETTER FROM CAROLINA TO ROBERTO PUMARINO PROVES HOW MUCH SHE LOVED HIM

ONLY 541 DAYS IN PRISON

"IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE PLEA BY OUR BRILLIANT WRITER"

Honorable Mr. President: I beg Your Excellency

to confer your pardon, knowing of your compassion and magnanimity.

We respectfully beg Your Excellency to grant a full pardon

to María Carolina Geel, as is the wish of us Latin American women.

We will never forget it.

Yours truly, Gabriela Mistral

PARDONED! MARÍA CAROLINA GEEL

♪ I'll be seeing you ♪

♪ I'll be seeing you ♪

♪ In every lovely summer's day ♪

♪ In everything that's light and gay ♪

♪ I'll always think of you that way ♪

♪ I'll find you ♪

♪ In the morning sun ♪

♪ And when the night is new... ♪

BASED ON THE BOOK "WHEN WOMEN KILL" BY ALIA TRABUCCO

♪ But I'll be ♪

♪ Seeing you ♪

[music ends]

["I've Been Dreaming" by Paz Court playing]

[music ends]

[suspenseful jazz music playing]

[music fades out]