Original subtitles

A NETFLIX SERIES

A PRODUCTION BY PERRO AZUL

[ominous music]

[rustling leaves]

[ominous music]

[crying softly]

[soft music]

[Man's voice] Manuel!

Manuelito!

What happened?

I don't want to!

- Relax, you're gonna like it. - No, no!

This is gonna be our secret.

No, let me go!!

Let me go!

Let me go!! Let me go!!

[sounds of struggle]

[thump]

[tense music]

Get off me!

Leave him alone!

- No! - Please help me!

Let me go!!

[grunting]

[sounds of struggle]

That's it, you fucking faggot!

Don't touch him!

[breathing heavily]

[water splashing]

[water gurgling]

[soft music playing]

[water gurgling]

[ominous music]

THE SECRET OF THE RIVER

[cheerful music]

[passengers chatting]

[women conversing]

[soft music]

[Erik] Does your grandson play baseball?

- Erik! - We're looking for a catcher.

He doesn't know, right?

Have you told your grandson about what's happening right now?

- No, I haven't. - Mh-hm.

Are you going to the market, Rafaela?

No., but I sent the tamales earlier.

THE ISTMEÑO

[cheerful music]

- It's running late. - Now what?

I've got to get to my game.

It can wait, you'll make it, honey.

Hey, they're coming!

They're here!

- There's my little boy. - Is he as strong as me?

- Are you his grandma? - Yes.

How was your trip, mijo?

Hi, grandma.

Wait for me here, OK,

- I'll get your stuff. - Manuel?

I am Luisa, Your mom's my best friend.

This is Erik, my son.

You're the same age.

You were born in the same month.

Just tell him you were waiting for him to take him to play.

The game's over,

it's kinda late, mom.

Are you tired?

I'm sure Manuel doesn't remember a thing.

He left when he was only a year old.

Why don't you show him around, hon?

We'll see you at the house.

I made a special dish for him.

You can't say no to that.

Of course we're coming.

You two go for a walk, see you at lunch.

Have some fun. Just go.

I really like to pitch, but I also play second base.

Do you like baseball?

I like it, but I don't play, I just watch.

Oh! You like soccer more?

No, I don't play that either.

If we're exactly the same age, why are you so tall?

I don't know.

Follow me.

He's Carmen's son, don't you remember?

He came to spend his vacation with Rafaela.

[Girl] You'll get bored, there's nothing to do here.

Rocío! He's here to help his grandma.

And to play with Erik and his friends too.

Yeah.

Alright,

who wants mango dessert?

- Me, me! - Me!

- Me too, thank you. - I'll be right back, I'll get it.

Alright. Yeah.

You can tell.

Jacinto, gimme a break.

You just met that kid.

And I can already tell the boy is queer.

[dishes clattering]

[soft music]

Jalapeño.

- [in Zapotec] Jalapeño. - [in Zapotec] Jalapeño

One more time.

[in Zapotec] Jalapeño.

We're gonna practice the language. Don't you worry, mijo.

We have to get up very early in the morning.

- What time? - When the sun comes up.

We need to start as soon as the dawn breaks. Okay?

We have to finish cooking.

Get everything ready, and pack all the food.

Then you have to go deliver all of the orders that came in.

- But I don't know the village. - It's impossible to get lost here.

Hm? Very well.

Change your clothes and go to bed. Hm?

[soft music]

[upbeat music]

Molito de camarón.

Thank you.

Is the market over there?

Up the street.

- This is for you. - Thanks.

Here's your fish and potato cakes, ma'am.

That'll be a hundred and fifty.

- Hey, padiuxhi. - Hello!

How are you?

What are those?

- Oh, Peregrina, you left early last night, - I know.

In good company, you have a lot to explain.

Okay? Huh? Padiuxhi. Hi there!

Good morning.

Good morning.

[women teasing in Zapotec]

I don't know Zapotec.

Boy, it looks like you've never seen a Muxe.

He hasn't!

Just catch it, okay?

Ready?

Man, you gotta keep your eyes on the ball.

That's what I did.

Let's change, you throw it.

Erik?

Can you tell me what a Muxe is?

- I saw them at the market and... - Throw me the ball.

Cool. Ready?

[birds chirping]

We don't have play together.

Does your mom make you?

She forces you to hang out.

Listen,

tell her you were with me,

and go wherever you want.

You do you. I'll play by myself.

And I'll tell my grandma that I was with you.

How 'bout that?

Fine.

What are they doing?

They're hunting iguanas.

For real?

C'mon. Here. I've got an idea.

[whispers] What are you doing?

[forest sounds]

I'm saving the animals.

What?

Manuel!

I know those guys,

if they see us, they'll kill us, Manuel.

What are you doing?

You take that bike.

Are we really gonna steal their bikes?

- Yeah. - Manuel, you're nuts!

Hurry up!

Hey! - You little shits! Come back! That's mine!

Iguanas, run from this hunter's village.

Goodbye!

What are those?

Turbines, they're cool.

What do those things do?

They turn wind into electricity. We can't go inside.

NO TRESPASSING

What are you doing?

I hereby authorize you to enter here for the first time.

Oh, my God, we're gonna end up in jail.

Yeah, but happy!

- Woah! - Freedom, Manuel!

Woah!

Faster, Manuel!

[cheerful music]

- Woooooah! - Woooooah!

You're totally crazy, Manuel.

Nooooo!

[Jacinto] - You'll see when you meet him.

No way, "homo"? Like for real?

Yeah, you know my sister, man.

She wants us to understand that the Muxes are part of our tradition.

Thanks, mija.

Now, this - is our tradition.

[soft music]

They are men that dress up like women.

The Muxes.

Why would you ask me that?

Out of curiosity, pretty much.

There are no Muxes where I live.

I had never seen one before.

[soft guitar music]

Stop sending your brother to lecture me, OK, Luisa?

Sergio and I feel the same way.

You can't be so close-minded, Jacinto.

There have always been Muxes among us.

Here we are women, men, and Muxes.

That is why some even call them "the third gender".

What the fuck?

- C'mon, you woke teacher. - What?

I'm not that.

My grandpa told me that,

ages ago. He used to tell me

that virginity was much more valuable to the girls back in the day

so the boys used to have sex for the first time with the Muxes.

They used to learn with the Muxes.

Ugh, gimme a break, that's just gross.

- You won't change my mind. - No?

I know how I wanna raise our son.

- Okay. - Hey, and by the way,

when is Carmen taking the boy?

Once the summer break is over, I guess. Why?

Grandma,

- Hm? - so tell me how do you

translate "garnachas"?

There's no translation, well, at least not in Zapotec.

But fried stuff is the most popular food here.

I know.

Tell me.

Tomato.

[in Zapotec] Tomato.

Good.

And "Muxe"? How is it translated?

Uh-huh. Yeah, I'm sending it.

It's just me. Sergio, don't panic.

Jeez, Luisa, what happened?

- Gimme a second. - Luisa!

- Oh, no! - Sergio, don't!

C'mon, sis, what the fuck?

Seeing the bride is bad luck.

It's not bad luck because it's just a dress.

I'm out, because...

I have to go buy the booze for the wedding.

Be careful, Sergio, OK?

I've heard many stories, brother.

It's your wedding. Don't get drunk and stray into the villages.

Baby sister, please don't worry about me.

I'll be back.

Wait, wait! What happened with Jacinto?

Jacinto hates that kid!

Where are we going?

Where are we going?

[vehicle rattling]

[glass splintering]

Life's a bitch, son.

You know what they say:

"birds of a feather flock together".

Hold it like a man.

It's true what they say,

if you hang out with thieves,

they'll say you're one.

Good.

Oh, grandma, it's so hot today.

Of course, honey, I'm hot too.

This is the village, mijo.

Let's see if they'll offer us a glass of water.

Okay?

Padiuxhi, everyone!

- Rafaela! - Hello, girls.

- How are you? - Fine.

What brings you here?

- I'm looking for Solange. - Yeah, of course.

I can hear her.

Come in, she must be over there.

Make yourself at home.

- I can hear her sing. - Yes, that's her.

Excuse me, girls.

[Muxes chatting]

[♪ singing ♪]

Hey, good morning.

What a beautiful surprise, Rafaela!

And who's this handsome kid?

This is Carmen's son, my grandchild.

- What are you saying now? - That you are her favorite grandson.

He saw you at the market and he asked about the Muxes.

He's curious now.

What's your name, honey?

- Manuel. - Manuel,

well, my name is Solange.

"Solange"?

- That name is so weird. - That's exactly why I chose it.

I'm so unique no one else has that name here.

Make yourselves at home, would you like some water?

Steady, it has to be very firm.

Always keep your eyes on the scope, use your shoulder for support.

Now breathe,

and ready, shoot.

Very nice.

Listen, Erik, nobody can go against Nature,

do you understand?

If you are born a man, you're a man.

If you are born a woman,

you're a woman.

And that's all.

[Jacinto] You're either a boy... or a girl.

Everything in between is twisted,

deviated.

Doesn't fit in.

Shoot again.

- Your plantain molotitos... - Yummy.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

Hold on a minute.

Not all is what it seems, honey.

You can have the strength of a man - and also the heart and spirit of a woman.

That's what Muxes are.

Thank you.

[gunshot]

Erik! You have a visitor.

- Thank you. - Of course.

You didn't show up.

You kept me waiting.

Is something wrong?

Well, you're weird, you know?

Weird how?

I don't think I'm weird.

Well, my dad says you're queer.

Are you or not?

Why would you ask me that?

You're queer when instead of liking girls, you like other boys.

No.

"No", what? Don't you know?

C'mon. We're finding out today.

C'mon, Manuel. Hurry up!

Take my hand.

- What are we doing here? - C'mon.

Hold this, please.

[girls' voices]

C'mon.

What do you think?

What?

What do you mean, Manuel?

The titties. C'mon, didn't you see?

Yeah. I did.

And?

Well, yeah. They're so cool.

You have to eat something, mijo. Please.

[in Zapotec] I am not hungry.

Did I say it right?

Yeah.

My mom said she'd call me every week, but she hasn't.

You can call her too.

Just call her.

No, I better not.

How many days until I go back?

One less, mijo.

Manuel, come with me.

These are your mom's, Manu.

[tender music]

They're covering the place with ornaments, we're gonna have

paper decorations everywhere,

And over there, a path of

flowers for us to come down.

And on that side, the band will be playing,

for us to dance and all that.

We're gonna have a lot of guests.

Tables everywhere you look.

There will be our first dance... the best thing!

Are Manuel and his grandma going to the wedding?

Your uncle told me they were invited.

You two do get along, right?

We do, but dad doesn't really like that.

- He doesn't want me to play with Manuel. - No, no. It's not like that.

Sometimes your dad can be kinda... well, he's stubborn.

Sometimes he doesn't get it.

But I'm very happy that you and Manuel are friends now.

And his mom?

- Is she okay? - Yeah, but why?

She promised to call him back, but she never calls him.

Isn't it weird that a mom doesn't want to talk to her son?

[Carmen] I don't want him to hear me like this, mom.

I'll have the biopsy in a week's time.

And then, depending on the results, I'll bring Manu with me.

Don't you worry about us, we're fine, love.

Take good care of him. Hopefully I'll be fine.

I'm looking after him as if it were you.

For now I prefer not to talk to him.

Okay.

Just rest, don't skip meals.

Yeah, mija. Don't worry about it.

[soft music]

You really haven't noticed?

Mm, what?

Look at the way you stand.

Like this.

- What's wrong with that? - It's different.

Different to what?

You also walk weird though.

Here, just look at me.

Go ahead and walk.

You see? There it is.

What do you mean?

I don't know why you don't get it.

Anyways, want me to show you my favorite place?

C'mon. It's over there.

It's bad ass, isn't it?

It's beautiful.

Who cares about the way I walk?

I don't mind, it's the rest of the people.

But I don't care about the rest.

Look, there.

Paulina.

Paulina. Hurry up!

What's wrong?

That's Paulina.

We go to school together, and she's the prettiest girl in class.

One day she'll be my girlfriend.

Hey! How's the match?

It's going good.

What is it, Erik? I'm gonna hit you a home-run!

- And you're out! - Let's go, Erik!

Erik! Good job! [cheering] Erik! Erik!

- Why didn't you invite him to the game? - Wait, who?

Your friend, the new boy.

The one staying at Rafaela's.

I saw you at the river together.

Yeah, I know, I saw you too.

What's going on, Pau? Were you spying on me or what?

Yeah, right, you wish!

I found you by chance that day.

Are you friends with that boy?

Well, kinda, but Manu doesn't play,

so I didn't ask him to come today.

It doesn't matter. Because he'd be welcome anyway.

You seem to be trying to hide that kid.

Of course not.

I better go. See ya.

Pau!

I want you to be my girlfriend.

Don't say no, I know we'll get married one day.

- Well, hello there! - Hi!

Come on in!

Please don't be shy, Manuelito.

Hey, Manuel, what have you got there?

Listen, to make it easier, try using both hands with the needle.

Well, for an outsider, honey, you sure know

how to do it, don't you?

I may not be from here, but I learn very fast.

Yeah, we've already noticed, baby.

[chuckling]

[soft music]

So when you were my age,

how did you feel?

I knew something was going on, that I...

was a different kind of kid.

And what did you do?

It was difficult.

Very hard to understand, and accept it.

But little by little I realized that...

I wasn't myself as a boy, you know?

But somehow I didn't feel like a girl either.

Then I learned I was a Muxe.

Of all of us, Jacinto has been married the longest.

- Any advice for our friend here? - No, gimme a break!

His sister's my wife!

- So what? - Yeah.

Here's what my dad told me

when I got married.

Whenever you get home, make sure

you scold your wife every time.

If you don't know the reason why, she does!

Nah, that doesn't work here.

Women here are disobedient.

Shit, look who's here!

C'mon, share the table.

This is your bachelor party, man!

Gimme a break!

[dance music playing]

It hasn't rained lately.

I'll be right back.

Hello there!

Hey, boys, wanna dance? There are three of us.

Why don't you just leave?

Baby, why would you say that?

Don't call me that!

- Jacinto! - She's not doing anything, moron!

- What are you doing, brother! - Jacinto!

- Come on, let's go. - Fucking psycho.

Calm down, let's have a beer, OK?

You'll meet Paulina at my uncle's wedding.

She's so freakin' awesome.

Manuel.

- Are you listening? - Yeah.

- It's just that I'm thinking. - About what?

Is it your mom?

No.

It has to do with me.

And it scares me a lot.

I'm also afraid that when you find out about it,

you won't be my friend anymore.

When you took me to the locker room, I lied.

You really don't like titties, or girls.

Not even a little?

So, what now?

Do you like boys then?

No, it's not that, Erik. I don't think about that.

It's just something else.

It has to do with the way I feel,

with what I am.

I feel different, you know.

Do you like me?

No, of course not!

Just know that if you ever try to kiss me, I swear I'll beat you up, okay?

You're uglier than axolotls.

Jeez, Manuel.

When do you leave?

The day after your uncle's wedding.

I will tell my mom that we should come in December.

We're still friends, right?

No matter what my dad says,

you and I will still be friends.

[soft music]

[wedding procession]

[cheering]

Long live the couple!

Long live the couple!

They're so cute.

Bravo!

In a couple of hours, everyone will be drunk.

- Won't they? - Yeah, it's always

like that. Wait and see.

I'll be right back. Wanna come?

- The most beautiful girl, right? - Yeah.

But you don't stand a chance.

Wanna bet?

You look like an axolotl. No girl will ever like you.

- You're the axolotl. - No one will ever like you.

- Oh, I love her dress. - Kiss her! Kiss her!

Cheers to the bride and groom, my brother-in-law.

[raucous cheering]

Why do you look at it so much?

My mom had one just like it.

It's fine if you find it pretty.

Here.

What are you doing? You better cut that shit, kid.

Thank goodness you're leaving town tomorrow.

[urinating]

[running]

[suspenseful music]

[dance music]

[wedding guests chatting]

Erik!

Your father just smacked Manuel.

He told him thank goodness he's leaving tomorrow.

- Where is he? - Over there.

[wedding guests cheering]

[crying softly]

[Sergio] - Manuel!

Manuelito!

What happened?

[suspenseful music]

[sounds of wedding party]

Jacinto, have you seen Sergio?

Huh?

- I don't think so, no. - Have you seen my brother?

No, sorry.

This river is so... refreshing.

Don't you want to bathe in it?

Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah, hell yeah, Manuel! Let's wash away the drunkenness.

Yeah, c'mon!

Hey! Where are you going?

[ominous music]

[Rafaela] I love you very much. God bless you.

Rafaela, what's wrong?

- I can't swim! - You're gonna like it.

I don't want to!

- No! No! - This is gonna be our secret.

- No. Please help me! - Aah! Let me go!!

- Nobody's gonna know. C'mon, Manuel. - Let me go!!

- Let me go!! Let me go! - You're gonna like it.

Let me go! Please, help me!

Nothing bad's gonna happen.

You can't swim with your clothes on.

[thump]

[breathing heavily]

Erik! What are you doing?

Uncle! What were you doing to Manuel?

No, no, wait. We're not doing anything wrong.

I'm gonna tell my mom, and your wife, too!

What are you gonna tell them, huh?

I'm gonna teach you a lesson.

Come here, you little fuck!

Leave him alone! Run, Erik!

[grunting]

[sounds of struggle]

That's it, you fuckin' faggot!

Don't touch him!

[loses footing]

[water splashing]

[water gurgling]

[river gurgling]

[ominous music]

Uncle!

Uncle Sergio!

- He won't come back. - He has to, Manuel.

He's been wasted before, on all fours, but he always comes back.

They'll put us in jail, Erik.

Sergio, where are you?!

[suspenseful music]

[wedding music]

Why would he disappear?

Relax, he's just drunk, he'll come home.

- I can't believe it. - Sergio's just a bad drinker.

We're screwed.

What do we do?

We better not say anything.

They'll know what we did.

How do I look?

[crying]

Paulina!

- Have you seen Manuel? - He's right there.

Come here, you little rascal.

- Where have you been? - I was playing with Erik.

Oh, my God, you're such a mess.

I've got news, mijo, we'd better go right now.

It's important. See you, Erik.

Erik? What happened?

Wait, were you crying?

No,

- I've got something in my eye. - Hm.

Where have you been?

Around.

[Orlando] Okay guys, Sergio is nowhere to be found,

let's look for him,

this group, over there, and this group, over there.

Okay, sure.

C'mon, everyone, move it!

- Sergio! - Sergio!

- Sergio! - Sergio!