The Ruffian (El rufián)

For only 20 pesos, a beautiful artistic photo.

Step right up, folks. Take home a family keepsake.

A plane, a pair of newlyweds, Hawaii, or a drive around the Obelisk.

Step right up, folks. Come on in!

For only 20 pesos, an artistic photo.

Step right up, sir. This way.

Come in, sir. This way. Good, good.

What a lovely couple. What trip will you choose?

Get settled in, miss, and look into the distance.

For God's sake, sir! Switch places! It's indecent!

There, there. Keep still, okay? Keep still there.

Keep still, right there.

Watch the birdie. Now smile.

Keep still!

THE RUFFIAN

"He who digs his grave will fall in it." Ecclesiastes, Chap. XXVII, v.29.

We look married in the photo, don't you think?

It's the loveliest photo I've ever seen.

- You've gotta try and hit the target. - No, I always miss. - Come on!

- Gimme a gun so I can hit the circle. - It's a bullseye, not a "circle".

- Aren't they the same? - No way. - Of course they are!

You've gotta turn a bit.

Oh baby...

We'll have so much fun.

Get in, ma'am.

Come on.

- Thanks, sir. - It was nothing.

You're very kind, sir.

This story is based on a real event

published in a police blotter in the French press.

Only the names and the place have been changed.

A stand.

Just like back home.

Hey, what's that?

"Madame Florelle".

Must be a French woman.

She guessed everything, even the thing with your boss.

I never would've believed it. Nobody knew that, not even his wife.

I was getting creeped out.

- Want to get our fortune told? - If you want to...

- Good evening. - Good evening.

Card reading: 20 pesos. Palm reading: 20. Horoscope: 30.

See your future in the crystal ball: 50 pesos.

- The tarot cards? - Better the crystal ball, right?

- The ball, then. - Have a seat.

- That's 50 pesos. - Oh, right. I'm sorry.

- Are you dating? - No.

- Friends? - No, we're...

- We got married yesterday. - Yesterday?

And you came here today... There are better honeymoon spots.

I see good luck at first.

Good luck!

I see you alone together in a small house in a remote neighborhood.

There's a tree-lined street and lots of sky.

The man works...

smiles...

- What's your profession? - Carpenter.

I see you working in a workshop.

Your workshop, I think.

- I told you, see? - Yeah.

I see days of happiness and worries.

You'll have children.

I see them. There are two of them.

A boy and a girl.

Now I also see...

farther along...

a woman.

A bad woman.

She crosses your path and wants to split you up.

But the woman disappears.

Years pass.

You live peacefully...

and death is far away.

Death...!

Let's go.

What are you doing here?

- Get out! - She's crazy.

Didn't you hear?

Get out!

Hey, are you alone?

Always the same on Saturdays. Nobody has any money to spend here.

Is this all you made? It's not much.

You can't be asleep, especially on Saturdays.

You have to be at the door calling to people.

What's wrong? Seeing things again?

It's horrible to be unable to remember...

and to see that man there who wants to kill me.

You'll end up crazy.

Crazy...

Crazy...

Hello, who are you calling for?

Andres, I'm all alone. I need to see you. Can you stay over tonight?

Wrong number.

It's true.

You never believe me, but it's true. He's leaving jail to kill me.

- I just saw him. - Where? - You know where. You know me.

- In my crystal ball. - Oh, right, sure. - Who is he? - I don't know.

I don't know, but... I need protection, someone to escort me home.

All right, ma'am, calm down. We don't have anyone available now.

But we'll watch over you. On your block, they have orders to.

- Yes, but I'm afraid. - You'll be fine, ma'am.

You pity me, don't you?

You think I'm crazy and you're putting me on. - No, ma'am.

Let her out.

Here you are, Dr. De Marco.

- Thanks for your help. - It's fine. It's the least I could do.

Who is she? A nut. Always thinks she'll get killed.

- Know her? - Yeah, she's a local.

She works at the fairgrounds and lives alone in a vacant house.

- That's why she's scared. - Quite logical.

- Good night. - Good night, doctor.

Ma'am!

Do you feel unwell, ma'am?

Who, me?

I saw you at the station. You seemed uneasy, like you were scared.

Want me to take you home?

Get in.

I don't like to walk the streets alone this late.

Thanks for driving me.

- Where do you live, ma'am? - Not far. On Leandro Alem and Sibel.

I noticed you watching me at the station.

- You heard what I said, right? - Some of it.

They think I'm crazy, but I'm not. What I'm saying is true.

Your name is Isabel.

Isabel?

No.

My name is Florelle.

- Did your husband die? - I've always been alone.

You don't remember having seen me before?

I don't know who you are. I've never seen you.

Why do you ask?

Years ago, I met a woman who looked just like you.

She was my friend's wife.

Just like me, you say?

Thank you.

- It was very nice of you to drive me. - Can I ever visit you?

Whenever you want. At night I'm always at the amusement park.

- Careful with the railing! - Oh, you scared me!

The railing is like the house: It's falling to pieces.

- How are you out this late? - I told my folks I'd study at a friend's.

I can stay all night.

Don't look at me like that. Aren't you glad?

Yes, I'm glad you came. I'm really scared to be alone.

- So you wanted to be with me? - I was dying to see you.

- Who is it? - It's me, open up.

What was with you last night?

I was afraid, and felt lonely.

I told you never to call me at home!

Call my office if you have something to tell me.

Yesterday I saw the court clerk.

I got you permission to stay another six months.

And I paid the electric bill.

Thank you.

You look pretty.

Now that I'm here... I might as well stay a while.

I slept badly. I don't feel well. Tomorrow's better.

All right. Where should I wait for you?

- Down at the bar, at midnight. - Be on time. - Okay.

Why are you getting dressed? It's early, only 7:00.

You can't go home yet. What's wrong?

- I heard everything you two said! - Like what? - He wanted to come inside!

- He's the manager. - And he comes this late?

They let me live here because of him. They evicted everyone else.

Like I said, I had nowhere to go.

He had me stay when the owner died and the heirs started feuding.

I'm not interested in those stories.

You're jealous.

- You're very foolish. A little boy. - No, I'm not a little boy.

- Last night, you yourself said... - Stay!

I love you more than anyone.

You're so young...

The man who came is your lover, right?

I'm sure you've kissed.

Don't go.

I'll never come back!

Look, look, look.

The more you look, the less you see, eh? Look.

Lower it.

Sir, want to be in the air so your wife can't see you?

No, you don't?

There she is again. She wants to talk to you.

- Why are you here at this hour? - I can't keep working. I saw him again.

I see him every night in my crystal ball. He leaves jail and looks for me.

He'll come soon, I know it. I'm scared.

This morning I broke a mirror.

- I'm leaving, okay? - You're nuts!

- Far away, where I can't be found! - Don't shout, idiot!

You owe me lots of money. If you want to go, first pay me in full.

Besides, nobody leaves me unless I want them to.

And you... I still like you.

Why won't you tell me who I am, and where you found me?

Get out! Go do your work! End of discussion.

- You're abusing her, Nino. - She wants to leave. - Then let her.

- Her stand cost me 8,000 pesos. - You made that and more.

- You've exploited her for 10 years. - I do what I want, got it?

Watch out, Nino.

I'm running out of patience.

Some day it will all come out and it won't be pretty.

- You? - I wanted to see you.

- You weren't expecting me? - Yes... no, I didn't know when you'd come.