The Bitter Stems (Los tallos amargos)

One to Ituzaingo. First class.

One way only.

We arrived at the perfect time. We don't have to wait.

The rain is awful. It's going to rain more.

I thought it wouldn't be so hot traveling by night.

Yes, but it doesn't matter.

Of course it doesn't matter.

We'll have a good time. It's always pretty outside.

We worked a lot.

Now we'll take a break.

You worked like a dog, Gasper.

Yes.

But it is worth it, Liudas. They will be saved.

The three of them.

May they come to this beautiful land...

to forget.

You have to forget the bad things.

- Do you like to forget? - You can't always.

You have to learn to forget, or nothing's okay.

- Tired? - Very tired.

But with money.

The idiots believe.

They believe.

I also believed.

Some months ago, we couldn't go on holidays.

It was a tough fight.

Now you can rest at your place.

I'm going to sleep for a long time.

Yes, Liudas.

You're going to sleep for a long time.

A very long time.

You are right.

Some months ago, we couldn't go on holidays.

It was a tough fight.

Some months ago...

life was different for me.

Gasper, the chief editor wants to see you urgently.

Okay, I'm going.

Better go now, because he's in a bad mood.

Write this.

It's not the first time, Gasper.

We can't continue like this. We can't.

I need the report on the fire.

- What fire? - This afternoon's, Gasper.

This afternoon's.

It's in all the papers. It was on all the radio stations.

I don't listen to the radio, and I haven't read the papers, yet.

But...

If it was up to me, you could come collect your salary...

I collect my salary for my work, Noriega.

But when the director asks at 7:00 why there's no one around...

he yells at me.

What do you want?

Here.

Here is the information on the fire.

Roman is bringing good photos. I want long quotes.

Hello?

Hello, how are you, Carmen? Hold on.

Gasper.

Hey, a little more effort, and come earlier, okay?

How are you, dear?

I suppose we'll have dinner together.

- Hello. - Hello.

I'll be at the bar.

Who?

Be happy. Nebide, your great editor.

I'll be right there.

Hi, Nebide, how are you?

Fine.

Waiting for your translation, Gasper.

As you didn't give it to me, I came for it.

I had a lot of work, and I've got some problems.

You should have told me. I would have given you an advance.

It's not only that.

There's an issue, right?

Issues are always disturbing.

By the way...

the first part of the translation...

is quite lame, Gasper.

What did you see in it?

It lacks, I don't know...

fluency.

That's it, fluency.

I did the best I could, Nebide.

Whatever.

- Is it all here? - All of it.

Well, then I'll see you soon.

Nebide.

Yes?

- When can I...? - Call me one of these days.

And when is "one of these days"?

I don't know. In five or six days.

I have some difficulties with the bank.

But I'll arrange everything as soon as I can.

Good bye.

Have you got a smoke?

- How did it go? - Just promises.

- And the credit extension? - I have two more days.

I had to beg them.

They talk about seizing it, as if you were a criminal.

Well, don't go like that.

It happens to all of us.

It's not only the money problem.

Tell me, Andreani...

do you like working here and at the magazines?

Sometimes. You don't?

I got into journalism expecting a life of adventure.

To visit many countries, to talk to heads of state...

to write about the customs of unknown people.

To be the man of the books, of the novels.

- To be a hero, Andreani. - A hero?

If you get to be one, you won't be aware of it.

There are reporters like the ones you mentioned.

But they started from scratch, Gasper.

From scratch.

Take the hero out of your head.

Live in peace.

What peace? Nebide's?

The one of those who are content with anything?

I don't know how you can live next to Noriega...

next to Yrurtia, who only talks about soccer.

And Sange who talks about boxing. And Rufino, about women.

And Gasper, who talks all daylong about a glorious boss.

It's a deceit and a comfort...

to blindly deliver our fate to another man...

as heroic and responsible as he might be.

You make him infallible.

You have an old passion.

The need to obey.

- Passion to obey? - To be a subordinate.

But not a simple subordinate.

Napoleon, Alexander the Great, Caesar's subordinate.

That's bad, Gasper, bad.

That doesn't work.

Hello?

Yes, Susana, yes.

Okay.

Choose the film you want.

At 10:00?

Perfect.

Let's go.

I'm sorry, Alfredo.

I didn't know it was a war film.

- Tell me why. - You wouldn't understand.

Yes, I never understand.

We've got nothing to talk about.

Tell me, will you continue to hold back your troubles?

You've had this obsession for a long time.

My troubles.

Can you just calmly watch as a city is bombed?

A battle?

I can't.

I can't.

And yet, I didn't do anything, just like you.

I stayed here.

I told myself a thousand times that I have a family.

Excuses.

Alfredo.

I was saying if everybody who watches war films got like that...

Are you bored with me?

No, why? - You are serious, sad.

It's not that, Susana. It's my problem.

Sometimes I think my life is worthless.

I don't do anything important.

I'm 32...

and I haven't found anything worth working for.

Something or somebody.

I can't keep on like this for much longer.

You understand, Susana?

I'm sorry.

Today I had to review many models. I'm very tired.

I understand. See you tomorrow.

Hello, Gasper. What a surprise.

- You in this place? - What's up, Chavez?

Alone? Are you expecting somebody?

You're like a cop. You ask too many questions.

Don't you say that.

- Would you like a drink? - A brandy.

I know. You liked the photo in the window.

What a woman!

- Does she dance or sing? - She sings.

But she's sick. That's what they say.

What a pity. You'll have to come some other night.

Here's my wife. Let me introduce her.

- Have you met Gasper? - I've never met him before.

He's one of our best reporters. But he's got such a character.

I owe him a big favor. That matter about the whiskey...

How much Chavez spoke.

I suddenly noticed something.

For some time you were observing me closely.

You wouldn't stop staring at me with your piercing eyes.

You look weird. Do you have a headache?

No, I'm very tired, Liudas.

- And with this heat. - Yes, it's very hot.

- And it won't rain. - Tickets, please.

You only got one way?

The return trip would be useless.

It only lasts 24 hours.

Tickets.

- Hey, buddy, what's your name? - Misha.