The Dancer Upstairs

We are recording tonight...

... and because we are recording, we 're trying to do some things...

... actually, that, I'm too tired to do.

But we'll...

But as Faye Dunaway, I think it was...

She said when Bonnie and Clyde came out and all...

... she said she tried to give people what they wanted.

That's a mistake, really. I know.

You can 't do it, but only after...

You use up everything you got trying to give everybody what they want.

But I will learn my lesson soon...

... and then you will buy more records, right, because you 'll want to see me.

Let's see what we can do with this lovely, lovely thing...

... that goes past all racial conflict...

... and all kinds of conflicts.

It is a reflective tune.

At some time in your life...

... you will have occasion to say, "What is this thing called time?"

You know, "What is that?"

The clock. You go to work by the clock...

... you get your martini in the afternoon by the clock...

... and your coffee by the clock...

... and you have to get on a plane and arrive at a certain time...

... and it goes on and on and on.

Why does she talk?

And time is a dictator, as we know it.

She's preparing to sing.

Where does it go? What does it do?

Most of all, is it alive?

Iatin america

Is it a thing that we cannot touch and is alive?

the recent past

And then one day you look in the mirror. "How old. "

And you say, "Where did the time go?"

We 'll leave you with that one.

General Latche, leaving to cast his vote...

... asked people to judge the past 12 years fairly.

He spoke with supporters gathered on the lawn...

... and then departed.

Polls show that Latche 's lead has eroded sharply in the last few months...

... particularly in the capital.

Papers.

Sergeant Rejas.

Hello?

What about her?

She drove all night.

What is that?

It's his dog. We ran it over.

We' re giving him a lift to Huanta.

What was your dog's name?

Tupac.

Where have you come from?

The capital.

That's 1700 miles.

What brings you here?

Her father.

He's being buried this afternoon.

Sorry.

Why do you have temporary papers?

Mine were stolen.

Even temporary papers need a photo.

T echnically, I should detain you.

Pisac, stay with the truck. Would you mind getting out please?

How was the road?

Government assures us it will be finished any day now.

I'm sure you have faith in all government pronouncements.

Yes, of course.

I was hoping to take that route tomorrow.

- Why? - I've been promoted.

So your name is Melquiades Duran?

And you're a laborer?

- You were born in Galiteo de Maranon? - That's right.

Has your colleague always been corrupt?

I don't know about always, but certainly while I've known him.

Does that bother you?

I was a lawyer once, so regrettably I have some familiarity with corruption.

Distinguishing marks?

What's wrong with your neck?

The country gives me a rash from time to time.

The countryside.

That too.

I have to take you outside.

Will you take off your glasses?

That's it.

One second, I'll be right with you.

Sergeant Rejas. Hi, Sylvina.

Listen, I have everything here ready--

Hey, Pisac?

Pisac? What are you doing?

five years later

the capital

What the fuck is that?

Jesus.

Wow.

The point of the next century...

... will be for man to rediscover his gods.

Long live El Presidente Ezequiel. "

Who the fuck's Ezequiel?

- There's something in his throat. - Yes, there is.

Dynamite.

Yes, Sergeant Gomez?

Sergeant Gomez?

It's Lieutenant Rejas.

Will you check in our library any reference to a person...

... or perhaps an organization called Ezequiel?

Like the prophet.

No, Gomez, in the Bible.

And also what a dead dog might symbolize?

Yes, thank you.

Have you any ideas, sir?

In my village, when you died...

- ... your family buried your dog with you. - Why?

Dogs were good at swimming across rivers in the underworld.

People believe that?

Sucre, where I grew up...

... we were taught foreigners were demons who came to rob body grease...

... and that the government used this human fat to lubricate its machines.

Sir?

Should I ask him if he wants to borrow my penis?

Should l?

- Lieutenant Rejas? - Yes.

Sergeant Sucre?

I'm Major Kwan. Thank you for helping us out.

At the other side of the building there's a door in the wall.

In the next few minutes, a man will walk up.

At his request, then you open the door, wait by the car...

... and make sure no one engages him in conversation or takes his photograph.

And for your information, do be discreet in what you say.

There are microphones everywhere.

May I ask you to pull your car over there?

- Thank you. - Yeah.

And who is this person?

A private citizen.

Hey.

What's in the briefcase?

My laundry.

His laundry.

Yes.

I'll spell it out for you.

E- Z-E...

... Q-U-l...

... E-L.

Excuse me. Weren't you a junior partner at Belaunde & Vargas?

Yes, I was.

Welcome, Mr. President. Congratulations on your election.

Good luck, Mr. President.

Congratulations, Senor Presidente.

Let me hang this up first.

Death to Deng Xiao Ping

Long live President Ezequiel

Yeah, rice wine has that effect on me too.

So, who was that shadowy motherfucker?

T ristan Calderon. He's a lawyer.

He represented the drug cartels.

He represented that British soldier who made all the students disappear.

He also represented the president elect in a statutory rape case.

How do you know?

I worked at the law firm which acted as counsel for the girl.

What happened?

She closed the case after her father lost his job...

... and her brother was raped. She now lives in Miami.

Jesus Christ!

Fuck.

When I hear the word culture I reach for my pistol

Okay, now...

What sort of a person would do that?

I don't know.

But I wouldn't entirely rule out a cat lover.

I have something for my father, Senor Granizo.

Okay, okay. Senor Granizo? Here's your son.

Papa, Papa!

Viva El Presidente Ezequiel!

Viva El Presidente Ezequiel.

- You were a lawyer before? - That's right.

Lawyers.

They' re the worst.

Bent. But you never catch them.

You want one?

No, thanks.

Why did you want to be a lawyer?

- I don't think I did want to be one. - Well, what did you want to be?

I wanted to be a coffee farmer.

Like my father.

So why didn't you? What stopped you?

I lack a coffee farm.

- What happened to your father's? - The military seized it.

Do you have a feeling about that? Or are you the Gary Cooper type?

Yes, I do have a feeling about that. But perhaps I am the Gary Cooper type.

So...

... you went to university, you got yourself a first-class degree...

... a prestigious law prize...

... worked with a bunch of fat cats...

Suddenly, you quit.

Not to move to Florida, like anyone with half a brain...

... but to San Luis Police Academy.

Jesus Christ, Rejas.

You're 36 years old. You could be heading for a judgeship by now...

... not a lieutenant having to make ends meet on diplomatic road watch.

Why are you here?

I heard a powerful attorney once say, "The establishing of the truth...