Queens (Reinas)

LIMA, PERU, EARLY 1990'S

As a result, a carton of milk at a price of 120,000 intis today

will cost 330,000 intis starting tomorrow.

A kilo of white sugar, priced at 150,000 intis today,

will cost 300,000 intis effective tomorrow.

A baguette, which cost 9,000 intis this afternoon,

will cost 25,000 intis starting tomorrow.

May God help us.

Taxi driver isn't my real job.

I'm actually an actor.

But I learn a lot from observing people.

An actor is a great observer.

Oh, yeah?

And are you a TV or a film actor?

Mostly theater.

I don't like television.

I've done movies, but not a lot.

The scripts I get are really bad.

We have a shortage of screenwriters.

I've only been in four films: One by Robles Godoy

and three that were produced by Roger Corman here in Lima.

Hour of the Assassin, Ultra Warrior,

and Crime Zone, with David Carradine.

Do you know who Roger Corman is?

Er, no.

One of the most important American producers.

He's the one who saved Boris Karloff when he was down and out.

Do you know who Boris Karloff is?

No.

Queens

There's someone in the car, right?

I don't see anyone.

Oh, it's Carlos.

-Carlos? -Carlos?

Dad?

Dad?

With this beat-up car, who else could it be?

You're so mean.

Hi.

-Hi, how are you? -Hey.

I'm so glad you came. The girls will be thrilled.

I don't wanna bother you, I'm just dropping off the gift.

Don't be silly. Come in.

Come in, come in.

Girls.

Say hello.

Give your dad a hug, my queens.

They're not big on hugging.

It's good to see you.

How are you guys?

Good.

Happy birthday, my queen.

Thanks.

Where have you been?

In the jungle.

This... is what happened as I was hunting...

a crocodile.

Now I'm an expert on crocodile hunting.

Yeah, right. Come on, let's sing.

You came at the right time.

Come on, girls. Let's sing.

Matches.

No way. "El Loco," Carlos Molina.

Jorge. How are you doing, buddy?

-It's good to see you. -You, too.

Carlos.

Gonzalito, you've become a real gentleman. Good to see you.

Hi, Carlos. How are you?

Lydia, how are you? Good?

What are you doing these days?

I'll be traveling abroad soon for an export company.

It's constantly moving.

What are you exporting?

Doña María Elena. How are you?

You always shine through your elegance.

Carlos. What a miracle.

If I'm here today, it is a miracle indeed.

I almost died out there.

What happened to you? A crocodile?

Well, I was walking on Army Avenue this morning,

just before the Magdalena police station.

I grabbed a smoke, minding my own business.

I lit up my cigarette.

I looked all around, on the sides, everything.

You always have to be vigilant.

It's a quiet neighborhood, but you never know.

Then all of a sudden, my cigarette fell from my mouth onto the floor.

And just as I was bending over to pick it up,

a few meters away, boom!

A car bomb went off in front of the police station.

That cigarette saved my life.

That's weird. I live nearby and didn't hear a thing.

Where did you say it was?

It was on the news. A car bomb at the Magdalena police station.

Yeah, it could've happened.

Too bad you dropped your cigarette.

Oh, come on, Mom...

Yes, honey. Shall we sing for Aurora?

Yeah!

No. Hold on, hold on.

Don't turn the light off yet. What happened?

It's a blackout.

-No. -Again?

Those fucking terrorists.

Don't swear, Gonzalito.

Go get candles.

The government was behind the last outage.

-Oh, cut the crap. -It's true.

Let it go, honey.

But it's true.

Are we good, Mom? Hurry up, the candles are about to go out.

Come on, here we go. Three, two, one.

Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday, dear Aurora Happy birthday to you

Yay!

Let's see, who wants cake?

Cut the cake, cut the cake Cut the cake

-Let's go. -I'm gonna grab something from the table.

-Just a tiny one. -Yeah?

Yeah.

Here you go. Just a little cake.

Wanna dance, Lucia?

No.

Lucia, you wanna come?

Yes.

Can I come, too?

No, you should stay with your mom, okay?

Mom, they don't want me to go with them.

Tell them, "Can I please go play with you?"

Son, do you want more cake?

Yes, Mom. Please.

-He already has some. -He needs to put on weight. He's skinny.

It's never too much.

-Cheers. -Cheers.

Cheers. Thank you.

My niece is a little too big for these types of games.

Not at all. She's still a child.

They need to hurry a little. Her friends are leaving soon.

Javiercito is fast asleep.

Relax, we'll worry about that later.

Want some?

Yes. Thank you.

Hey, why don't you spend a little time with the girls next week?

-They haven't seen you in a while. -Okay.

We'll be at my mom's house. We leave in three weeks.

I can't wait to get out of this country.

Want a shot?

Ten. Yeah.

Cheers, buddy.

Cheers, Jorge.

So you're in Lima?

Yeah.

And you, how are you doing?

-It's a fucked up situation. -We make do.

They're all leaving me high and dry.

Is it your stubbornness?

Stubbornness? You mean bullshit.

What am I supposed to do?

Leave politics.

To do what?

I don't know anything else.

Shit!

You scared me.

Sorry.

I'm sorry. Careful.

Watch out, don't cut yourself.

Leave it, I'll clean up tomorrow.

Bye, sis.

-Bye. -Bye.

Bye.

Well, I should go.

Hey, before you leave, check with the girls.

When do you wanna see them?

It can be any day except Tuesday.

We'll be at the consulate about the visas.

Sure thing. Yeah.

And we need to figure out when to go back to the notary's. Okay?

You have to sign the travel consent form.

Sure.

We had an appointment and you didn't show.

I left you a message. I got held up.

I'll sign it.

Yeah. Yeah. But the sooner, the better.

Hold on.

Girls, come say goodbye to your dad, he's leaving.

Girls?

-Forget it. -They're coming.

Wanna do something, my queens?

Spend some time together?

Can you take us to the beach?

Yeah. Yeah, sure.

How's Thursday morning? Yeah?

Perfect.

What about you, Mom? Don't you wanna go to the beach?

Oh, honey, I have so much to do.

You'll have a great time.

Nothing bad will happen if you're with me.

Bye, girls.

-Bye. -Bye.

-Bye. -Hey.