Veneno

-What's so funny? -You are.

You think I'm funny? Finally someone believes it!

Do we have the video or not?

I don't get what's going on tonight.

You're making them nervous. Oh, here we go.

Your son's awake.

Did you feel this feminine when you were a man?

Yes, exactly the same.

-Since when do you feel like a woman? -Since I was born.

I used to dress up in my mother's clothes.

-So you were sure about it then? -Completely sure.

-But the village where I grew up... -Hey, what're you doing up?

-You have school tomorrow. -didn't understand this,

so I moved to Madrid, where I made a good friend,

and that's when I said: "Let's do this".

THIS STORY IS BASED ON THE MEMOIR WRITTEN

BY CRISTINA ORTIZ, LA VENENO,

AND ON THE ACCOUNTS OF THE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES SHE CHANGED.

AS A STORY PRODUCT OF THE MEMORY, IT HAS A BIT OF REALITY AND FICTION.

AND, AS IN ALL FICTIONAL STORIES, IT HAS SOMETHING PROFOUNDLY TRUE.

Oh! Man.

-Aw man, I lost again! -Here, lemme try, it's my turn.

No. I wanna go again, my finger just slipped.

You are totally addicted, Amparo.

-Addicted? -Yeah.

You're addicted to weed, and I don't say anything, Rubén.

Yes you do, every day.

Come on, gimme a turn.

-Here. -Thanks.

-Hey, Rubén. -What?

Have you ever noticed that this game is like life?

-What are you saying? -It is, totally. Check it out.

You start out small,

but the more you eat, the bigger you get.

And the bigger you get, the harder things get,

because the space doesn't change,

it's always the same four walls.

And suddenly one day, you notice that you've changed,

you're completely different, and you don't fit anymore.

Until your ass smacks you in the face, and then you die.

-Geez, you're making me all paranoid. -Why wouldn't you be paranoid?

Life is rough, Rubén. You have to think sometimes.

-Hey, honey. Got a light? -He does.

Whoa! Nice schlong.

-I can tell you mean business. -No.

Thanks, bad boy.

Do you know who that was? Did you see? No way!

-Did you see...? -Excuse me. You...

-You're La Veneno. -Of course I'm La Veneno, honey.

World famous.

-What're you doing in Valencia? -I've got some gigs.

Awesome!

-You saw her grab my dick, right? -Of course she did!

It was the least she could do, Rubén. Do you know who that was?

GUESS WHO I JUST SAW

URGENT

WHO, BITCH?

INCREDIBLE!

WHO?

LA VENENO!

CHAPTER 1 THE NIGHT WE CROSSED THE MISSISSIPPI

With this bombshell of a woman,

"Being young" is another look at the dark side of the American dream.

Are we in the presence of a new talent or not?

The truth is when it comes to looks, they aren't always deceiving.

-Hey girl! -Hi.

-What're you doing here? -Just visiting.

What a surprise. If you'd let us know,

-we'd have brought you a little gift. -No, it's fine.

-Hey, congratulations. -Thank you.

-ETA continues to kill. -Love you.

-Sonia. -Hey girl!

How are you, sweetie? Lemme see. You look great.

I can't wait to meet your baby. I'm sorry I couldn't come visit.

-I sleep all morning. -No worries.

It's hard work at night. I just can't wake up.

-Don't worry. -I have to tell you about Romario.

-What happened? -Sonia Monroy, first call.

-Really? -Yep... Look who's here. No way.

No, no. Look, I even have a video. I'm willing to tell you everything.

-Absolutely everything! -Keep your voice down.

-Faela, what're you doing here? -Mari!

-I'm so happy to see you. -How are you?

-Come with me. -How's it going?

I've beem the last two hours in the dressing room with Mario Conde.

Looks like he wants to sing with one of Los Brincos.

Out of the blue, and with the mess he's in.

-I tell you, this place... -No, no, I'm following you guys.

-And it's really turning out... -It's good, yeah.

You shoulda seen Carlotti yesterday with two huge cured hams,

coming through the crowd to greet us. Listen, I've to go.

Hey, how's the new girl?

Machús?

She's OK, but not like you.

See you.

You jerk!

-What's up? -I can't stand her.

-She'd put Judas to shame. -Video's up in 15 seconds.

Let's go to the story. Cut to camera. Hurry up, guys.

-Have you seen her segments? -She's not a journalist.

Of course she's not.

She's like Mama Chicho or something, but she's no journalist.

And now, let's hear it for Machús Osinaga.

-What? -The ones upstairs want her onscreen.

The girl's easy on the eyes, so...

What've you got today?

Well, today I've got a man with a Super Dick!

-Yep, that's right. -We'll have to wait a few minutes,

we've gotta cut to commercial.

Then, Juan Ignacio Blanco with new passwords.

Don't touch that dial.

And, we're out. Juan Ignacio, first call.

Makeup please.

-Faela! What're you doing here? -I wanted to see you.

I can't stay locked up in my house all day, right?

-I want to talk about... -I'm listening.

-Let me introduce you. -How's it going? Nice to meet you.

Yeah, we've already... Pleasure. Great.

How amazing, right? Man, it's gotta be incredible.

What?

-Being a mom. -Oh, yeah, it's incredible.

-And a surprise, right? -Could we have a moment, please?

Yeah sure, of course.

Two minutes, guys.

-What? -Reporters on set?

Since when?

I can see that motherhood suits you.

Tell me about it. No, seriously. The new girl on set?

-Anything you'd like to share? -Yes, Faela.

We've got a show every single day and we need to try new things.

Next time I'll run it by you so you can give me the OK.

Alright, we're coming up on the end of the break.

-Places, everyone. -Faela.

Faela.

Good seeing you, I miss you.

-Here, sweetie. -Alright, and in...

-Five, four... -Hey, I'm on my way, OK?

Great.

How's Lucas?

Alright.

Is he sleeping?

Great, that's perfect.

Hey, Mom?

Thank you.

Look out, bitch! You almost run me over!

-What's your deal? -Sorry, I'm sorry.

Look, I'm sorry. I didn't see you.

In her book "The Spiral of Silence", Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann

examines public opinion as a form of social control

in which individuals shape their behavior to the prevailing

attitudes about what is acceptable and what is not.

Neumann theorizes that society threatens individuals with isolation

if they express positions that stand in contrast to the majority.

Let me clarify so you all understand.

As individuals, we are trained to perceive

the dominant climate of opinion,

and we base our responses on that climate.

U SURE IT WAS HER?

TOTALLY!

U HAFTA TELL ME EVERYTHING

There is a theory in the book, that it's wonderful.

SURE, COME WHEN YOU WANT.

OK!

C U, LUV

Sorry.

-It's just my friend saw La Veneno. -Who?

Cristina, La Veneno. Here, in Valencia. I'm freaking out.

What're you talking about? Who cares? We're in class.

Silence please, if you would. Thank you.

Just a minute, listen up.

This book is an extremely important sociological keystone.

It poses an essential question for you, as journalists.

Just a moment! There is a question here that is really important,

about the role that the media plays in our society.

Read the book and write an outline for next week.

A journalistic one, I don't want it simple.

Don't make it boring, alright?

That's it, you're free to go.

-What's she like? -Enjoy, guys.

Fat, but beautiful. She was fat, but so beautiful.

Like a cross between a superhero and a virgin.

-Come on, girl, a virgin... -Like an apparition of the Virgin.

And lemme tell you, she has gigantic tits.

Oh my god, Cristina, La Veneno.

-But she was in jail. -Yeah.

-La Veneno? From TV? -One and the same.

That's right, from TV.

I ran straight into her. We're this close, like you and me.

What's she doing here, Amparo? I don't get it.

-She said she had some gigs. -Gigs?

Gigs? No way.

-She's with the La Fe girls. -The what now?

-The girls from the Hospital. -Those hookers?

Hey, who asked you?

Just because she's trans, you assume she's a prostitute?

-She's had lots of gigs in Valencia. -Honey, I live around there,

and she's always stopping cars.

But I'm a big fan, I love her.

Peace out! See ya.

Geez, I knew he was gay. I just knew it.