The Devil's Backbone (El Espinazo Del Diablo)

What is a ghost?

A tragedy doomed to repeat itself time and again?

An instant of pain, perhaps.

Something dead which still seems to be alive.

An emotion, suspended in time.

Like a blurred photograph.

Like an insect trapped in amber.

THE DEVlL'S BACKBONE

We'll be there soon.

What the -

lt fell quite a while ago, but it never went off.

Bomb squad came,

defused it...

and just left it there. Stuck. No one can move it.

Follow me, please.

Carlos...

wait right here. We won't be long.

Who are those guys outside?

The caretaker and two men who help him.

They're from the town nearby. There's always work to be done.

They're building a chicken coop now.

What's going on out there?

- They're here. - Ayala and Domínguez, again?

Yes. And Ayala's wounded.

They're always in trouble.

They've brought another boy.

As if we didn't have enough already.

Let's go.

You just arrived?

Got any candy? Maybe a bit of bread?

l'm Gálvez, he's Owl. He doesn't speak but he stares a lot.

l'm Carlos.

Got any fruit, even if it's soft?

No, but l've got some comics and toys.

- Want to see them? - Yeah.

l can't do it.

l can't take another boy.

l can barely feed the ones we have. l'm sorry.

He's the son of a comrade fallen at the front.

- The boy doesn't know. - He doesn't know.

Your husband was a brave man, a true Leftist.

Oh, no. l'm the brave one.

Ricardo was a man of books and ideals.

But he decided to die and leave me to defend them.

The Nationalists will arrive any day and what will they find?

Reds looking after Reds' children.

Not to mention this!

l can't keep it anymore. lf you want to leave the boy...

take the rest of the gold.

There are 1 0 ingots left.

At least you can buy guns.

l can't even buy bread with it.

- Take it away. - We can't.

- We're crossing enemy lines. - Your decision:

The boy goes hungry here or gets killed out there.

Class time! Come on!

Look, Owl, a comic book!

l'll swap you.

Look at this marble. lt's my favorite. lt came from China.

Or look at this one.

Owl made it himself.

Hard snot and mud. Six months of snot.

Hey, you! That's mine!

- Are you here to stay? - No.

Then why are you here?

l came with Mr. Ayala, my tutor.

- What's the fuck's a tutor? - He looks after me while my father's away.

Shit, that's fancy!

No one here has a tutor.

You want it back? Take it.

Take it away. C'mon.

Carlos, look!

Mr. Ayala.

Your tutor's leaving you, faggot!

Stay with him for a while.

He seems quite meek.

So, l'm sure you'll get along.

We'll have to fix this.

The Count of Monte Cristo.

Has Edmond Dantés broken out of prison yet?

- Has he met Abbot Faria? - They're digging a tunnel.

- Do they manage to escape? - Mmh. l don't know.

Why don't you read on, and then tell me?

There are only three teachers left. The lady with thick glasses is Alma.

She teaches math and reading.

And the distinguished lady you saw, remember?

Her name is Carmen.

- ls she your girlfriend? - No. She's the headmistress.

Why did they leave me behind?

Why can't l be with my father?

Carlitos...

you're staying with us for a while...

Just for a while.

So be patient.

Your soap bar has to last you all year long.

Don't lose it...

or you'll get punished: two weeks of extra tasks.

You can play in the yard, but never inside the building.

This is your bed.

Number 12.

Why are there so many empty beds?

Some boys run away, but l wouldn't advise it.

lt's a day's walk to town.

The nights are cold and the days -

For your locker.

Do you understand?

There are no bars here. This isn't a prison.

See where they put the new kid?

- ln Santi's bed. - Shut up!

The Pig and l think that even if you complain a lot...

you're all cozy here.

Far away from the war, well hidden.

Well looked after.

- What could be better? - Granada.

Going to Granada?

Yes. We're getting married.

We'll buy a small farm.

Sure.

Granada!

Does Conchita have family there? Do you know anyone?

l don't need anyone.

l've managed fine so far, all on my own.

Right.

Without parents.

Those Reds we saw, they were here for the gold.

That's right, the school's gold.

That's why they dine so well here... All that gold!!

You don't believe me now, but l'll show you.

l'll try these two tonight and let you know what happens.

That's great, kid.

Got a smoke?

- No. - All right, so long.

l don't like those two.

They make me sick.

This place makes me uneasy.

When l was a kid...

l'd stand here...

in the middle of the yard...

and l'd look up at the sky.

l dreamed of getting out of here.

l prayed to become rich...

so l could buy this dump and l could tear it all down.

Forget it now.

No. l don't want anyone to know l spent 1 5 years here.

Well, l'm glad you came back.

Let's go to my room. lt's getting chilly.

San... ti...

Who are you?

What are you doing?

- Me? Nothing. - What the hell's going on?

The fucking new kid dumped the water.

Come here.

You'll have to fetch some more from the kitchen.

lsn't that off limits?

No one's ever been caught.

What about the "one who sighs"?

So. What's it to be? Are you going or not?

Who's the "one who sighs"?

- You're a chickenshit. - No, l'm not.

You're a shit, a queer.

All right, l'll go.

But you're coming with me.

We'll each fill a jug.

But if you're scared -

They all say she's switched off.

But l don't believe it.

Put your ear against her, you can hear her ticking.

That's her heart.

She's still alive.

And she knows we're here.

Hide!

That one.

C'mon.

See you outside.

"No one's ever been caught." Bastard.

Shit!

Hello.

Who are you?

Do you live down here?

Many of you will die.

Jaime!

What are you up to?

"Out, out, yearnings of mine. Let not respect bind you.

lt flatters pity -

lt flatters pity not to be able to hide.

Let your lips bear witness...

to the blaze in your heart.

No one will believe the fire if the smoke sends no signals.

He who cares for his well-being keeps not his feelings silent.

My grief is greater than l.

And that being so...

it will be easier...

for it to defeat me...

than for me to command it.

Consideration does not suffice to prevent the cry.

He is not a brave prisoner who dares not break down his jail."

A grain of strength.

Carlos, are you going to tell me who was with you last night?

He's not going to tell.

He'll squeal in the end. Wait and see.