The Substitute (El suplente)

The one who has already read addresses those who haven't read yet

and offers them a piece of writing

as an invitation to read.

So I give the floor to Lucio.

Thank you very much, Martín.

I read...

"I travel the air

with a hand guided

by the breath

of an angel that insists

on searching for what is his."

I was thinking of what Martín said a while ago,

thinking of this point in time

where language is so standardized, more standardized than ever,

and where, paradoxically, an excess of communication

ends up isolating us from ourselves.

I think about the importance of writing and reading poetry nowadays.

And here comes the contradiction...

For whom do we write?

Who reads poetry today?

Okay, thanks, Lucio.

I'm sure they'll all run to buy the book now.

Right?

- You're flattering me. - Yes, I'm flattering you with admiration.

Thank you very much.

I liked it a lot, Mari.

- Thanks. - Honestly, it surprised me. In a good way.

- It better! - I was a bit scared that you'd read it.

Why?

Because you're fierce.

- Hey, Mariela... - Oh!

- What? - You never like anything.

- See? - Hey, Martín!

Says the destroyer of the new Argentine narrative.

Don't compare me...

"Don't compare me..." We're among friends.

- If it's not good... - You really liked it?

I liked it a lot, Mari. Truly.

- Great. - Yes.

- Are you writing anything now? - Yes. Well, I'm trying.

Well, he takes his time. You know?

- He likes stopping, then going back. - I'm not a genius like her.

Well, seize the moment. You have time now.

Something will turn up.

Unbelievable. Who invited him?

I invited him. I couldn't not invite him.

Why did you invite him? This is an awkward situation for me.

Please.

Take the chance to talk. Try to make peace.

Talk about what?

I mean it. What would we talk about? He screwed me over.

He did not. He beat you at the contest, that's all.

You're taking his side?

That professorship wasn't gonna solve your life, right?

- Okay. - What?

I'm not gonna ruin your night.

- Thanks. - Well, I've got to pick up Sol.

Go on. Our girl should go to bed early.

Bye.

My dear Mariela!

Welcome. How are you?

Thanks.

- I didn't make it, sorry. - Oh, don't worry about it.

THE SUBSTITUTE

Good morning.

The main office?

- Upstairs, down the corridor. - Thanks.

Last signature right here.

Okay.

- There. - Do you have the student list?

- No, not yet. - Okay, give me a sec.

Professor Garmendia.

Hi, any trouble getting here? I'm Amalia.

Amalia! Hello.

- Let's go to the classroom. - I'm waiting for the list.

- Yes. - How's your dad?

Coping.

We're all a bit worried about him.

Yes, but he'll be fine.

Yes, of course, he'll be fine. I know from experience.

Besides, he's a fighter.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

That's how it is.

Yes.

- Okay, dear. Thanks. Let's go. - All right. Thanks.

Regretfully, it happens.

Sometimes teachers don't show up either.

See?

These kids have a free period.

Of course.

Yes.

Good morning!

Morning.

Hi, how are you?

Well, this is Professor Garmendia.

He's substituting for Professor Jarkowski.

- Hi. Good morning to you all. - Morning.

Here's the list.

- Thanks. - Let me know if you need anything.

Okay.

Thanks.

Can anyone tell me what literature is for?

Anyone?

To make us go to sleep.

Anything else?

Your name?

- Karen. - Karen?

- Yes. - What about you?

- I don't read. - You don't like reading?

No, not at all.

Uh...

Yes?

Literature is used to tell stories.

Your name?

- Mayomi. - Mayomi.

That's true now.

We don't only need literature to tell stories, right?

- Your name? - Dilan.

What do you think literature is for?

For nothing.

Say it a bit louder and see if our friend back there wakes up.

I said literature is good for nothing.

He's almost awake.

Almost.

Okay, your classmate says literature is good for nothing.

And I think he's right. I agree.

Literature is actually of no use to us.

It has no use. It isn't a good.

We can't eat it. We can't breathe it. We can't buy anything with literature.

Right? In practical terms, it's completely dispensable.

Then, why come? What are you doing here?

- Your name? - Kevin.

Kevin.

To give some sense to the classes we spend together.

Okay. I want you to grab a piece of paper and write

the things you like and don't like.

And include your name.

For instance, "I'm Dilan. I like trap, and I don't like your class."

Something like that. Great, Dilan.

Expand on it a bit more, but that's the idea.

Excuse me. Where is the teacher's lounge?

- Hi, yes. I'll take you there. - Okay.

I'll introduce you to the others.

I'm Clara, biology teacher.

- Welcome. - Thanks. I'm Lucio, literature substitute.

Yes, I know who you are.

You do?

Aren't you the Chilean's son?

Oh, yes, I am.

Hello!

- How's it going? - Hi.

This is Lucio. He's substituting for Aníbal.

- Hi! - Welcome, Lucio. I'm Nando.

- How are you? - I'm here if you need me.

- Morning. - Want some tea?

Great. Thanks.

Do you have a mug?

- I didn't bring one. - We have some.

Okay, thanks.

I'm Florencia. Welcome.

- How are you? - Fine.

- Matías, Nadia, José. - Welcome.

Have you read Facundo by Sarmiento?

Yes, Civilization and Barbarism.

Welcome to barbarism.

- My goodness! - Hey, don't scare him away.

There's also food here if you wanna eat.

- Great. - Help yourself.

How were your first hours?

Good.

A bit unfocused at first, but then they seemed to connect.

This obviously isn't college.

No.

LA ISLA COMMUNITY KITCHEN

Okay, now. Wait.

We'll leave it, and you take care of it.

Okay, get going. Beat it.

Scram!

- We're going. - Get the hell out of here.

- What's wrong? - Nothing.

- What's the problem? - Jonny!

Open the car. Do it, please.

- What's up? - Open the car.

- I don't want this paint. - What?

Take them to the car.

- Come on. - Who sent them?

- It's fine, let me. - Okay.

Open up.

There you go. All of them, quickly.

Well, I'll put the tables here. We're fixing the restrooms, and...

I've got to paint.

Then why didn't you accept the cans they brought?

I want nothing to do with that jerk.

- Who is he? - Olmos, the Dog.

- Who's this Dog that makes you so nervous? - A drug dealer.

- Oh, look! - A drug dealer?

Look at the new kitchen I got.

What's up?

- Hi, Roberto. - How's the food? Good?

- Afternoon. - Good.