Salt and Fire

Please, you must drink some tea.

Here. Take it off.

Here.

Could you move your head forward please?

A little.

There we go.

Nice meeting you again.

I demand to be set free.

Now... Now!

Please drink.

No, thank you.

It may taste strange, even bitter,

but it will help you adapt to the altitude.

I do not care.

The tea is brewed from coca leaves, that is it.

I want my handcuffs removed.

You have scratched one of my men and bitten another.

I am proud of that.

Well, that is why you are wearing handcuffs!

Can I take them off now?

Look at me!

Look at me.

Can I take them off now?

Yes, you can!

Please put the cup down.

Put the cup down.

Your hands...

Ah! Ah!

Is that better?

I demand an explanation.

Everything will fall into place.

When will I get my passport back?

I'm not sure.

When will I be able to leave?

Of that, too, I am unsure.

I'm hungry.

I haven't eaten since I was on the plane.

30 hours ago.

Thank you.

Here. Please, take the tablecloth.

Thanks.

Would you like me to get you something else?

No, I get terribly jet-lagged

when I eat too much on overnight flights.

Just leave me the apple juice, please.

- Okay. - Thank you.

Sweetheart.

Can I have another glass of champagne, please?

Your fourth?

I like that you keep count on what's good for me.

And another glass for my most attractive companion.

Professor Sommerfeld.

L-A-U-R-A Sommerfeld.

Merci.

Let's celebrate.

Celebrate what?

Can we get another glass for Dr. Meier,

who's right there, across the isle?

We are all on the same... journey together.

We need to warm up for the journey ahead.

Make mine a double bourbon.

Straight, no ice.

And, uh, what, if I may ask,

is your joyful party all about?

We are a scientific delegation.

Ah.

She's Professor Laura Sommerfeld,

our fearless leader.

We come with the United Nations.

To look into an ecological disaster.

The Diablo Blanco Disaster.

Diablo Blanco? I hadn't heard of that.

Diablo Blanco will soon be a household name.

Dr. Cavani.

Fabio.

You can call me Fabio.

Sorry.

Is there anyway I could change seats?

I am so sorry. The plane is completely full.

I'm so sorry I can't help.

Professor Sommerfeld.

Sleep well.

Call me Laura.

What's the local time?

- I don't know. - Let me do it for you.

Thank you.

What's our greeter's name?

Helmholtz.

He's from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment,

and he's coming with two people, um...

which, uh...

Uh...

I can't seem to read this. It's...

It's my own handwriting. I...

I don't even understand it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Hm, no. No signal.

Mine's dead, too.

We will ask them to provide us with local phones.

You know but, my apps can become very useful.

Such as?

My diary.

April 14th...

Arrivals hall, immigration line.

The line is, uh...

lethargic.

It's, uh, listless...

torpid...

moribund.

I think I put that quite well, didn't I?

Right?

And, uh, we're waiting.

And staring.

Staring. People staring at us.

As if they were competing for the world championship

of slow looks.

Dr, Meier, why are they staring at us?

When I stare back at them, they don't look away.

Where is my luggage?

Mine is not coming out either.

Oh, fuck, I forgot to pack my toothbrush.

I didn't bring a toothbrush with me.

Mierda.

No? Bueno.

Gracias.

Let's just go.

Yeah.

It happens.

Well...

I'm sure they'll come any minute now.

Sure thing. Oh, yeah.

Where are they?

You confirmed our arrival plans, Cavani?

Right?

Right-o! Yeah.

I did.

Shall I check at the curb?

No, no, no. Let's stick together.

Someone will show up sooner or later.

Hello, hello. I'm sorry I'm late.

It's me. Welcome.

Oh, Professor Sommerfeld. Welcome, welcome.

Hello!

- Doctor Cavani, welcome. - Yes.

You must be Dr. Meier.

Welcome to you, too, sir. Welcome.

Did you have a good flight?

Yeah. Good.

We are just a little bit jet-lagged.

Of course, I can understand.

Oh, I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself.

I am Aristides from the Ministry.

Aristides?

Yes. Aristides. Now...

the Minister and his group apologize.

There has been a change of plans.

The Minister is already in Oruro,

and he asks that you take his plane directly there.

"Forgive us, kind gentlemen,

but we are forced to meet you in Oruro later today."

The letterhead says Internal Security.

Isn't our liaison

the Minister of Agriculture and the Environment?

Oh, there's been a mistake. This shouldn't be here.

A mistake?

Yes. This is a mistake. Uh...

Uh...

I wasn't supposed to let you know,

but I am obliged to now.

The Minister is, in fact,

also associated with the security establishment.

It shows his increasing importance within the government.

But we don't have our luggage yet.

Oh, don't worry about that. Don't worry about anything.

My boys will take care of everything.

In fact, they'll see you through security.

No inspections, no passports.

I just need your luggage tags

and we'll have your luggage taken directly to the plane.

Great. Sounds like a treat.

Okay. Let's go.

I'm afraid I'll have to leave you here.

- And our luggage? - It's already loaded.

How did you load it so quickly?

This isn't a German airport or New York.

We are much more efficient.

It's just my instruments.

I don't care about my shirts, but my equipment.

Let us worry about all that.

Bon voyage.