Esmeralda’s Twilight (Cría puercos)

Sales office. Good evening. My name is Enrique Aguirre.

Good evening. I'm looking for Felipe Garcia.

This is his mother, Mrs. Esmeralda Garcia.

Good evening, ma'am. I'll put you through to him.

Thank you very much.

Hello, mom.

Hi honey. How are you?

I told you to call me on my cell phone.

Oh, son. Look.

It was hard enough for me to learn how to dial that number.

Remember I don't get used to things so easily.

I just want to know how you've been.

What have you been up to?

Well, you know, I've been working non stop.

One's always busy here.

So, how is my father?

Fine, son. He's doing fine.

Do you think I can talk to him today?

Hold on a second.

Arnulfo!

Arnulfo! Your son Felipe is on the phone.

He's working late today.

He called to see how you're doing despite how busy he is.

No, don't move. Stay there.

That's better.

There, there. Get some rest. Go back to sleep.

He fell asleep. Can you believe it, son?

OK.

I gave him his dinner and tucked him in.

He fell asleep a short while ago. He's like a baby.

Don't worry, Mom. He doesn't know who he's talking to anymore.

The other day, he mistook me for your aunt Bety.

Remember how happy he'd get when

she arrived from San Francisco?

Sorry, Mom, but I have to go. I'm needed back at work.

But I promise I'll call you soon, all right?

I swear I've been really busy.

Don't worry, son.

I was just calling to see how you were.

But I wanted to let you know that we're also doing fine.

Thanks.

You take care.

Yeah, yeah.

Eat well and rest.

Yeah. Take care and don't stop talking to Dad, OK?

Be well, my dear. Have a lovely night.

You too.

We'll be in touch.

Sure, mom. Bye.

Goodbye, son.

"Esmeralda's Twilight"

Thanks for being here today, Martita.

Thank you for coming.

Don Antonio, thank you for joining us.

Thank you. Thank you for coming.

Thank you very much for joining us, teacher.

Excuse me.

A little help?

Is there any cinnamon left in the kitchen? Should I send for more?

There is, don't worry.

What did Alonso tell you about the cemetery?

They're looking into it. By the way,

we were wondering if we put the right things in the box.

Look, here's the professor's belt that you told us about.

Let me see.

Thanks a lot, but I think I'll change a thing or two.

If you don't mind, of course.

No, no.

And the picture?

Did you find the one I told you about?

Yes. We chose this one 'cause the three of you look so good.

We can use another one if you want, though.

I think I have another one under there.

No. This one's fine. No need to bother.

It's no bother, Doña Esmeralda.

By the way, isn't your son coming?

He couldn't make it, he's very busy with work.

Sorry, I think I'll use that other photo after all.

There's another one that might be better.

It's down there.

The one where he's wearing his professor suit.

I wouldn't like not seeing it again, but

This is it, right?

Oh, yes, he looked so handsome, my teacher.

Into your hands

I lay my life, dear Lord.

Into your hands, I lay my existence.

To die, one must first live.

Into your hands, I lay my heart.

To die, one must first live.

In your hands, I lay my heart.

Cheers!

Thank you all for joining us.

If anyone wants a bite to eat,

we'll be at Doña Esmeralda's. It's all set.

Thanks.

Sorry, Doña Esmeralda.

See? I said I wouldn't bother you anymore.

It's no bother.

It's just that Don Aurelio gave me some pears from his house

and they're just too many for me.

You shouldn't have.

It's no bother at all.

Did you talk to Felipe?

Was he sad?

Poor son of mine.

He said he might come visit, but

you know he's had a lot of work lately.

Is he really coming? That's great!

See how much he misses you, Doña Esmeralda?

Will you please hand me a plate?

You already know how Don Aurelio is.

His trees are loaded with fruit, and he's all alone.

He'd rather give them away than watch them go bad.

And truth be told,

these pears are soft as butter.

Well, thanks a lot.

Look, these are perfectly ripe.

But we better put them in the fridge, so they'll last longer.

Wow, it looks like you just cleaned out the fridge.

You threw away all the food.

Doña Lorenza, don't say that.

The truth is I accidentally left all the containers out

and it's been so hot that when I checked 'em up

the food had gone bad.

Good morning, Esmeralda. How are you today?

All right, Doña Lorenza.

Remember I said I wanted to make some bean tamales?

Well, guess what?

I brought you some. Come on, try one!

Look, I left the iron on. But I'll keep this one

or drop by your house later.

Don't worry. I'll leave you that one and two more in case you get hungry later.

And I also brought you some mezcal.

What? I found it in my house.

We can have a sip if you want.

No, no. We'll have that sip later.

All right, then.

You shouldn't have.

I'll see you later.

Let me know if you liked them.

Hello, Doña Esmeralda. How are you doing?

All right.

I made this chichilo stew from my sister in law's recipe.

Look, I brought some for you to try.

Tell me if it's good.

I also brought you rice

and some buñuelos for dessert.

Thanks, you shouldn't have bothered.

It's no bother, Doña Esmeralda.

Let's go. See you later, Esmeraldita.

How are you doing, Cesar?

Very good, Esmeralda.

I wanted to ask you over for some chichilo.

From a new recipe I just made, let's see if you like it.

Well, let's try it.

There's also rice, buñuelos, some mezcal.

We'll be over later.

Don't take too long, OK?

We'll be there in a minute.

Let's go eat!

Let's go.

Have some chichilo when you're done with your rice.

It goes perfectly with these chilies.

Thanks a lot, Esmeralda.

How about some mezcal?

Sure.

Aren't you eating?

I'm fine with my mezcal. You boys eat.

- Cheers! - Cheers!

- Mom? - Son, what happened?

I'm sorry to call so late, but

did he at least die peacefully?

Yes.

He just fell asleep.

But why did I have to hear it from Cesar?

Everybody knew except for me.

I didn't tell you because I didn't want to trouble you.

But he was my dad, for fuck's sake!

I had a right to know!

Son, you were only going to suffer more.

And you had just told me you couldn't leave the country.

I don't get you, Mom.

You're always telling me to be with you

and now that it was so necessary, you lie to me!

Look, Felipe you hadn't called me for days.

So I thought you were really busy, that it wasn't

I'm sorry, Mom.

I only ask God to let you know how much I love you.

May God forgive me, but you really hurt me this time.

Good morning, Don Manuel. How are you doing?

Good morning, Esmeraldita.

Sorry, I couldn't park in the square because of the procession.

You know how these people are.

You know? My mom thinks of you often.

Every time I come to Santo Domingo

she asks me if I saw you.

You know, if I paid you a visit.

Thanks a lot, Manolito. So nice of your mother.

What are you hauling?