Salon Mexico (Salón México)

Hurrah, good!

- Good evening, Merceditas. - Good evening, Lupe.

Thank you.

I have to win this contest.

Tell everyone to vote for me.

Thirteen. If they don't, beat them. But outside.

Remember Paco, the cup is for you and the money is for me.

Don't think about the dough, concentrate on winning.

- We'll talk later. - No, Paco.

I am in dire need of money.

Move it, it'll be God's will.

Dance a black "danzòn".

- Dance a black "danzòn ". - That mulatta enjoys it...

Dance a black danzòn.

Dance a black danzòn - Well!

That's it, not here.

Paco, Paco.

Paco, Paco.

Paco, Paco.

Paco, Paco.

Paco, Paco.

Number thirteen is the winner of the contest tonight...

I will deliver the cup and the five hundred pesos.

You figure it out.

Give me my money, that was the deal.

Look, don't be impertinent.

Let's just turn the page.

Go have a drink for our victory.

Paco, please.

I warn you, I don't like games, you know me.

I'm asking you nicely, give it to me.

I don't want to spite you. I need it badly.

That's why I entered the contest.

The money was for me.

So you need it badly?

Get dough somewhere else. There are some tourists...

Rip them off, maybe they'll let you.

Stop trying my patience, give it to me.

You have to give me my money, I really need it.

Paco...

Give me half the money. And keep the cup.

Here, keep the cup, that's more than you deserve.

Paco.

Give me half, we won the contest together.

Leave me alone, will you?

Come on, I'll give you half.

Leave me alone, or I'll smack you.

- Good morning, Miss Mercedes. - Good morning.

Miss Mercedes.

- Good morning, superintendent. - Hello.

Did you come for you little sister?

Yes, superintendent.

I arrived in the city last night...

to spend the day with her.

The principal wants to talk to you.

With me?

She's in the office.

Thank you. Excuse me.

- Good morning, principal. - Hello.

The superintendent said you wanted to see me.

Yes.

It's about Beatriz.

I should have told you before.

Don't you think you forsake her?

The other parents pick up their girls on Saturdays.

On Saturdays?

That's when I work the hardest, principal.

Besides, I don't forsake Beatriz.

God knows I think about her all the time.

I wait for Sundays to see her.

Well, please make an effort and...

normalize your situation with the school.

You've never attended a test, party...

or a mothers' meeting. Our students are young women.

They notice these things, so do their families.

Besides, don't you think that Beatriz...

resents your distance?

I work very hard, principal, in order to make a living..

And to provide for Beatriz.

That's why I strive to sell different things...

and scurry during the week...

so come Sunday, I can see her.

But I can assure you one thing.

She'll have what her peers have.

Look, I brought 500 pesos to pay for next month.

And for Beatriz's uniform.

And these under garments...

for her to wear on Thursday, her birthday.

She's turning seventeen.

You have no excuse.

I know you strive to give your sister an education.

But please make an effort to be closer to the...

school, do it for Beatriz's happiness.

She's waiting for you outside.

Excuse me.

Good day.

She's Beatriz, my baby sister.

I enrolled her at this boarding school.

I visit her every Sunday.

See to your sister, Miss Mercedes.

I just wanted to say hello, but I can do that at the hotel.

I'm bound to see you over there anyhow.

It was a pleasure, miss.

Have a nice day, a nice outing.

My friends go to mass at San elipe...

or at Profesa. Why don't we?

You say when.

You like the cathedral better.

It's so big and impressive.

After being here, under its naves...

everything else seems so small.

Less overwhelming.

Let's go, we're still going to the museum...

to the lndependence party, and the parade tomorrow.

- How much is this? - Ten pesos, miss.

Ten pesos.

I'm so proud of your intelligence...

and your being the first in school.

Not the first, Mercedes.

Our of us have straight A's.

I feel like crying at seeing you so tall.

And so full of light.

It's what I dreamed of for you.

Or you to get far.

Where there is no poverty...

no shadows, no horrors.

I simply wanted to tell you...

how happy I am that you are practically a graduate.

In December, God willing.

Long live the lndependence!

Long live the Heroic children!

Long live Mexico.

The music is good.

I have no way to repay such kindness.

I am at your service.

Don't say that, Merceditas.

I knew exactly what my obligation was.

I am prepared to go to the police.

I stole Paco's wallet, the one you were holding.

Now you know why I needed the money.

Let's go.

Every day I move further from understanding things.

Your having to do that, like a thief...

while the real thieves...

are respectable, surrounded by comforts.

Life is backwards, I don't know where we're heading.

I'm the one who should apologize.

I startled you, didn't I?

I thought you'd arrest me in front of my sister.

You have a very cute and very pretty sister.

You can tell from her eyes that she's smart.

She's in school, she doesn't know what I do for a living.

I pick her up on Sundays.

That's why I need the money.

To support her.

Well, get to work. Go on.

So, you aren't going to arrest me then?

Get to work and make the money you need for your little sister.

Hurrah, yes.

- Enjoy yourself. - I can't any more.

- Dance. - Ao.

Nobody's going to rescue you, don't make a scene.

Let's go outside, pretend we are very happy.

Take the key to number six.

I'll pay you back, Paco, just don't hurt me.

Shut up, we'll talk upstairs.

Please, Paco.

Leave me alone.

Don't hurt me.

So, what did you say...?

You thought you'd take the money...

and papers from my wallet.

There weren't any papers, Paco.

There was only the 500 pesos.

Where's the dough.

If you don't give it to me I won't let you out...

and I'll give you a beating. Where is it?

I don't have it, Paco.

- You thought you could con me. - Stop it.

- Where is it? - Please, Paco, stop hitting me.

Do you think I'm a fool?

Don't hit me, no, please stop hitting me.

Leave me alone, stop it, Paco.

Not on my face, Paco.

- No, Paco, don't. - Come on, come on, Mercedes.

- I told you. - Leave me alone.

I'm leaving.

This dame took my wallet with all my papers...

and 500 pesos, Take her to the dump.

Wipe your face.

And go.

Come on, strike a man.

You want a fight, but don't read me my rights.

Ix your uniform, read me my rights.

I'm the civil party.

Strike a man, I say, if you're such a stud.

Stop.

So, now you know.

You won't touch that woman with the tip of your finger...

or I'll kill you.