São Paulo, S.A. (São Paulo, Sociedade Anônima)

Coward! You coward...

"This story is a work of fiction and happened between 1957 and 1961."

Don't go away, Carlos, don't go.

- We'd be just procrastinating. - No.

Why do you want to go away, Carlos? Why?

It's useless. It's like a cancer.

I think it's been 5 years.

It was 5 years ago.

At that time, it was Ana.

It was just Ana...

She didn't want to come.

I thought I loved Ana.

Citizens, take part in the Civic Education campaign...

to try and help the poor, so that the poor citizens...

I can't on Sunday, Carlos. My mom is not feeling well.

Saturday, I have to work. My boss asked me to.

- But I must visit mother on Sunday. - Go visit her tomorrow.

São Miguel is not so far. Take the train, it's a 40 minute-ride.

I can't either. Why insist on something I can't change?

If I don't pay the bills, who will do so? Who?

Do you know how it feels to have your mother in hospital and no one to help?

You know how that feels?

Do you know how it feels to have your mother in hospital and no one to help?

You know how that feels?

The sea has become rougher.

- Bye, Ana! - Bye, Glauco!

Bye, Waldyr!

Oh, Carlos...

Do you remember that old Mexican movie, "La Pecadora"?

I hate Mexican movies.

Yo soy pecadora

pecadora como mu jer de filme mexicano

I thought I loved Ana, who wanted to live as in a Mexican movie.

But I earned too little.

I quit my job at the office when the car industry opened new positions.

I just had to open the paper and choose.

"Automobile industry needs young competent professionals."

With my industrial design diploma, I soon got a job at Volkswagen.

The work was hard, but the pay was better.

I began in the quality control sector as production manager.

Carlos, they want you at the office.

- Who? - The boss.

- Go on, I'll finish this. - Can you do it for me?

Sure.

Arturo was also a child of the Brazilian automakers miracle.

A large shed, some old machines, a bunch of workmen...

and a belief he'd sell gears to Volkswagen. And he did sell.

His shed got larger. It became one of the 2,000 auto parts factories...

that boomed in São Paulo overnight.

Before my boss, Arturo and I acted as two total strangers.

I pretended that if we could find better stuff...

I'd never allow Volks to buy Arturo's gears.

But we had no alternative.

We had to comply with the automobile nationalization plan.

Arturo was insistent and had his means to convince people.

His auto parts were approved and everybody was happy.

I wish I could believe you, but I'm afraid.

You know what's like a woman being afraid of doing what's best for her?

The man might be good, but if he has no money, he's worth nothing, right?

- You know I'm not ambitious. - No, I don't. Besides...

your mommy is sick in an asylum, right?

Please, don't start with that again.

I'll take you there some day and you'll see it's true.

Whether it's true or not, you're a slut. Your only concern is money.

- I hear the music. - I hear the music.

- I don't hear you. - I don't hear you.

- Do you see me? - Do you see me?

- I drink water. - I drink water.

The door, please.

Let us continue.

- I drink water. - I drink water.

- I don't drink whiskey. - I don't drink whiskey.

- Do you drink milk? - Do you drink milk?

- I play the piano. - I play the piano.

- I don't play tennis. - I don't play tennis.

- Do you play the violin? - Do you play the violin?

- I speak English. - I speak English.

- I don't speak Portuguese. - I don't speak Portuguese.

- Do you speak French? - Do you speak French?

- I smoke cigarettes. - I smoke cigarettes.

- I don't smoke cigar. - I don't smoke cigar.

- Do you smoke a pipe? - Do you smoke a pipe?

- Do you dance the valse? - Yes, I do.

I finished Junior High and didn't want to keep on studying.

My parents didn't care much. I'm lazy.

Why did you decide to study English now?

One never knows the future, you know.

It's handy to know some English.

- Handy? For what? - Just handy.

Suppose I need to work some day.

The pay is higher if one knows another language.

- Can you typewrite? - No, I'm learning it.

So you left all the study for now.

Yes.

- Are you... an only child? - No. I've got a brother.

- He's in Brasilia with my parents. - Don't they live here?

Yes, they do, but they have a hardware store there.

Lately, they've been staying half the month there.

My brother takes care of the store but he doesn't have much experience.

He didn't want to keep studying either. So father made him work.

Right. Men need to work.

- I have to go, it's getting late. - I'll walk you there.

There's no need. My bus stop is just behind the school.

As you wish. When can I see you again?

At school.

But that's just next Tuesday. Can't we meet before that?

Well, I don't know.

If you want, there'll be a little party at home on Sunday.

It's not really a party. Just a bunch of friends.

Every Sunday we meet at someone's house.

I'm not sure you will like. They're a bit young.

Do you think I'm too old? I'm just 25.

No, that's not it. They're a bit too young, that's all.

It doesn't matter.

Okay, as you wish.

- See you on Sunday, then. - Okay.

- Bye. - Bye, Luciana, see you.

Bye.

Let's catch a movie, Luciana?

- Leave him there, sleeping. - I can't. No way.

- You really don't wanna go? - No.

See you.

You sure you don't wanna come?

Next time I'll go.

Bye.

The other day I came by the favela

But she wasn't there

Today I walk around the city

And I finally come to see

That happiness is no more

My favela, which was hers And which was mine

Has left me such a longing

For nothing else she left behind

- Hadn't you a newer song to sing? - I'm old, don't know anything new.

"You think I'm too old? I'm just 25."

I'm still a little girl, just 21.

Aren't you ashamed of hanging out with those playboys?

At least, they can dance, something this old man can't do.

Instead of having fun, he just sits there drinking whiskey.

Only drunk I can cope with all that boredom.

You... you need to go, Carlos.

My aunt is coming over, I don't want her to see us alone here.

And you still got an aunt? That's all I needed.

But of course!

What did you expect? That I was left alone when my parents were out?

If I knew, I wouldn't have waited this long.

So leave at once. Nobody asked you to stay.

You weren't even invited. You came because you wanted to.

And period! Whom do you take me for?

Don't get nervous, honey. I didn't think anything wrong.

Your aunt can come anytime she wants...

I just think you're like any other girl.

When you have the chance to be alone with a man...

- What do you mean? - Nothing, honey, nothing.

I'm just honest.

When two people like us have the chance to be alone...

what else is there to do?

You're drunk. If you weren't, you wouldn't have the guts to say that.

That's exactly why I hit the bottle.

Poor fellow.

I have to sleep at a friend's tonight.

Why?

My aunt can't come over.

Are you going there?

- Over there. - I'm going too.

I thought I heard a shot, but don't know what happened.

- Excuse me. - Let me in, sir, I'm her neighbor.

Step back!

Please, officer, let me see what's going on inside.

- The janitor is coming with the key. - It was such a fright!

- Here's the key! - The janitor brought the key.

Good Lord, what's happening in there? Open up right away.

Can he open it?

- Did you open it? - Excuse me. Excuse me.

I'm a friend of hers, officer, can I come in?

Alright, come in.

I saw her in the elevator a few days ago. She looked so pale!

I asked if she needed anything and you know what she said?

A cuss word!

- What was her name? - Mrs. Hilda.

Hilda something. She was married to an engineer.

Not an engineer, a farmer.

Did you know this lady well?

Yes, we were friends.

Four years ago, Hilda worked at the same office I did.

She quit after arguing with the boss. She didn't keep a job too long.

But she could have as many as she wanted. I didn't see her too often.

You know of any reason, anything in particular for her to do that?

Many.

Hilda could've had many reasons.

What could that officer understand about her? What did I understand?

I don't know. Hilda had the need to be different.

Three days ago it could've been possible.

We had a chance to get to know each other better.

Did I make a serious effort?

What did I really feel when I realized Hilda was lost?

Maybe Hilda expected too much.

She wanted too much.

She had the need to try everything...

to go deep into everything.