Vasil

What is it, Dad?

Nothing, just that I can't make lunch today.

I have to accompany someone to the Social Services office.

Someone?

Well, I don't even know him. He's from Bulgaria.

Speak up, Dad. I can't hear you.

- I can't! - Why not? Is he there with you?

He had nowhere to stay, so he spent the night here.

At yours? But you've got no room.

- On the sofa. - Seriously, Dad?

Well, it's only temporary...

A night or two. Anyway, whatever.

I said I'd go with him. He doesn't speak much Spanish.

Whereas your Bulgarian is brilliant.

No, but he speaks some English too.

Which Social Services office is it?

I've got the address written down, but I can't tell you right now.

I'm in the dark.

So turn on the light!

- I'm in bed. - So get up!

OK, fine, when I get off the phone.

- Dad! - What?

Forget it. Hang up.

Hello.

- Good morning! - Morning.

- Can I...? - Sure.

Thank you.

Oh, good coffee!

Street... here?

Let's see.

OK...

See this street?

We are here.

Here, there is a bus stop.

Bus? No, no, no, me walking.

Always.

Better.

OK, then. As you wish.

Look, he can't go back to the hostel.

He's used up all his days, both for accommodation and food.

I can put him on a waiting list for a bed in another municipal hostel,

but it's outside the city and...

Without young children, it's hard to get a place.

So what can be done? This man is sleeping on the street.

- He's staying with you now, right? - A few days, it's not a solution.

I don't know him at all.

- No hostel? - Seems not.

I'll give you an address. Look.

Here they work with personalize, social rehabilitation programmes.

You can go there this afternoon from five.

This afternoon not possible.

I have a bridge match.

Tonight, come to my house at nine.

- OK? - Nine, I am there, OK. Thank you.

I'm not sure how all this works.

We'll talk to Maureen later and she'll explain it to you.

Yes, I talk later.

OK, then!

He's been playing several days and everything was fine.

His monthly fee has been paid, so what's the problem?

I've just been told that this man has no fixed abode.

So?

We can't make him a member without an address.

What a load of nonsense! Besides, he does have an address.

Address? Conde Al tea, 20.

Fine, he can play.

- But this is highly irregular! - Thank you.

Problems with the organization again?

Can you believe someone told them that he lived on the street?

Nasty people!

They say he's really good.

Champion in Bulgaria! Just imagine!

- Don't you play with him? - No, I have my usual partners.

Everything OK.

Are you here on Friday? The tournament's better.

I'm free on Friday. If you like, we can play together.

If you don't have any other plans.

Yes, OK.

- Sorry! I'm Carmen. - Vasil.

Carmen...

Friday perfect. Thank you.

- No, thank you! - Carmen.

- It's a way to lend him a hand too. - Of course!

- How are things at the club? - More or less the same.

Although, you remember Marisol?

Yes, she was married to José Miguel, the jeweler.

- She was a good player. - Well, she's stopped coming.

She had a row with the Vazquez sisters.

You know what they're like. You couldn't stand them.

Not me, nor anyone else!

You play together?

Yes, before.

And we were pretty good too!

Well...

And why

you stop playing?

I gave it up. I didn't like the atmosphere.

He had a row with some of them.

Alfredo?

They're a bunch of snobs with dandruff!

Dandruff?

A lot of dandruff.

And today that rubbish about a fixed abode... Please!

And you? Why do you...?

I like playing cards too much!

Anyway...

I'd better get going.

Vasil, don't forget.

Tomorrow, before bridge,

we'll go to the social services office.

Yes, no worry.

I'll take care of it all.

- We'll have this fixed in a few days. - No problem.

Bye!

OK, I'm off to bed.

- Good night. - Good night.

He's played chess against the great Russian masters.

He's amazing at playing bridge.

Oh... and he's also a backgammon champion in Bulgaria.

He came to Spain a year ago looking for work.

And well, he was working for a company as a cook for a while,

but it went bankrupt and he found himself on the street.

He has a wonderful mind and he's living on the street.

Where did he sleep?

In a park, I think.

Which one? The bridge where the Africans are?

I don't know.

What kind of company did he work for?

I don't know. It closed down.

- How long's he been in Spain? - A few months.

What did he do in Bulgaria?

I haven't asked him.

- Does he have family? - I don't know that either!

What have you talked about all this time?

We haven't got that personal!

Hi!

Dad has a Bulgarian sleeping on his sofa.

A Bulgarian?

A favour for an Irish friend he used to play bridge with, Maureen.

- Did you ever meet her? - No.

Me neither.

How does she know the Bulgarian?

He turned up at the club a few days ago,

but they couldn't understand him so she helped translating.

- So, what do we do? - Us? Nothing, it's up to him.

Yeah, but... what if something happens?

What's going to happen? He's not going to rob him.

I guess not...

I just can't believe Dad's letting a stranger stay at his house.

I don't know... What do you think they do together?

Who knows. And with Dad's English...

I imagine he just ignores him.

Probably. So, what else is new?

Don't you think that's enough?

I don't know, how are you? How's everything?

- Fine... normal. - I don't know why I bother asking.

- What are you writing? - A letter.

- To your ex-wife? - No, my daughter.

Don't you speak to her on the phone?

My daughter's always on her phone. She does everything with it.

I send letters so that she'll read something.

- Shall we go? - Yes.

- Do you have your passport? - Yes.

And the form from the Social Services office?

Oh... no.

Vasil, what a disaster! What did I tell you?

- Don't worry, I'll go get it quickly. - No, Vasil! It's too far!

I'm joking, I have form!

Give it here!

You haven't filled in the last section.

- No? - No.

In order to apply for guaranteed minimum income,

you have to meet the requirements. They're all listed here.

You have to bring all the documents that prove you meet the requirements.

This is only half of them.

That's not what I was told over the phone!

I'll save them in your file until you bring the rest.

I'm told something different every time I come!

I don't know, just a few days. A week at the most.

What city in Bulgaria is he from?

He told me, but I can't remember.

Do you know any apart from Sofia?

Honestly, no.

Did he really play against Kasparov?

Yes, when he was young.

Why don't you tell him to come and play one day?

Here?

I don't know...

I can ask him.

- See you! - Bye!

Bye!

- Going with clubs was the best idea! - Quite...

You won all the points.

- It's easy when he's your partner! - No, she plays very well.

Thank you very much.

She didn't play this well last year.

Your husband surely very proud.

- He doesn't play? - No, I'm a widow.

Where did you learn to play so well?

I play many years in Bulgaria.