Desire (Deseo)

THE FEAR OF POISON IS FEEBLE AGAINST THE SENSE OF THIRST GEORGE ELIOT

Rogelio: Come in.

What do you want?

Rogelio, it's me, Elvira Fuentes.

Don't you remember me?

Oh my! Sorry. It's been so long.

-Well, how are you? -Fine.

-What can I do for you? -Lola sent me a message.

Something about a job, I think.

-Lola? -Yes.

Lola! Lola!

What is it?

-Elvira! -Hi.

Elvira, you're gorgeous!

You were a child the last time I saw you.

At your poor father's birthday.

-Before the war. -Do you remember?

She looks like him, doesn't she?

Tell me, how's your mother? How are your sister and Julio?

They're fine. Well, Julio is still at Carabanchel,

but he'll be free soon.

My mother's getting by, as usual.

What about your son?

He's been living in Mexico since the war ended.

He's been lucky and has a good job.

But he's far away. Not that far.

We're just getting older and we're alone.

Oh, well... Elvira's here for another reason.

I think it's a good job. Right, Rogelio?

Of course it's a good job.

The salary is 50 pesetas per week.

The schedule is from 9 to 2.

It's just one man, from Argentina.

He's a businessman and he's single.

He travels a lot. You know, business.

Your job is to clean, iron, cook...

Sounds like a great job.

-Can you start tomorrow? -Yes, of course.

Good morning, Pedro. Good morning, Elvira.

-Hello. -Hi.

I already took the coal up to your mother.

Thank you very much.

-So? -It's done.

I have a job. I'm glad, Elvira.

Be very glad. It's 50 pesetas per week and only mornings.

You're lucky. And how are they? How's Lola?

The same as always. She sends kisses for you.

It seems that they're fine. Rogelio has put on some weight.

He is fatter than ever.

But they look very well.

I'm excited, Mother. I start tomorrow.

This is the kitchen. What do you think?

It's beautiful.

Come. I'll show you the rest of the house.

This is the dining room. This way.

A lot of money. Lucky people.

Be careful not to break anything or we'll be in trouble.

Don't worry. I won't break anything.

Well, I'll leave you.

The library is that way. It's a little big,

but don't worry. Lola will help you.

Thank you.

-Good-bye, Elvira. -Good-bye.

"How can I keep my soul so that it won't touch yours?

How can I elevate it past you and onto other things?"

-Good morning. -Good morning.

-Elvira. -Yes.

My name is Pablo Walther. Nice to meet you.

Rogelio told me you'd be here.

Nice to meet you. Hello.

-Do you like Rilke? -Yes.

Me too.

Well, is there anything you want me to explain about the house?

-No. Would you excuse me? -Yes, of course.

Rilke!

Do you think it's normal for a maid to read Rilke?

Excuse me.

I've finished. The food's ready. Do you need anything else?

No, nothing else. Just a moment.

You can take it if you want and give it back to me later.

-Thank you very much. -Mhm.

-I'll bring it back tomorrow. -Whenever you want.

-Thank you. -See you tomorrow.

He's handsome, well educated and well dressed.

I guess it's easy, being rich.

The best part is the library, Mother. It's beautiful.

Ours was bigger, and I'm sure it had more books.

Remember how Dad made us take care of it?

I hope all of this ends soon and we have a good house again.

I'll get more water.

Hello, Rogelio. Good afternoon.

Good afternoon, Mr. Pablo.

-Rogelio... -What is it, Mr. Pablo?

What references do you have of Elvira, the new maid?

I don't know. It was my wife's doing.

-Is there a problem? -No, not at all.

-Tell Lola I want to see her. -She's out buying groceries.

Tell her to come up when she gets back.

Mr. Pablo, there's nothing to worry about.

We've known Elvira since she was a baby, you know?

She comes from a very good family.

Her father was an extraordinary man. He was a doctor.

The nicest man in the world.

The thing is, he died and the family lost everything.

It happens.

But they are very good people.

Very well. Thank you, Rogelio.

Mr. Pablo, will Lola need to go upstairs?

No, it's not necessary. Thank you.

-Good afternoon. -Good afternoon.

-Good morning. -Good morning.

Good. Nobody had cleaned the library in a while.

-I'll come back later. -You can stay. I don't mind.

I have to finish with the kitchen.

Oh, I see that you have returned Rilke.

How was it? Did you like it?

Yes, very much.

-Did you know him? -Yes.

You should read this one, if you haven't already.

Here you go.

-I don't speak German. -Of course.

I'm afraid I don't have a translation.

Anyway, you can take anything you want.

-As long as you return it. -Thank you.

-I'll let you know if I do. -Very well.

-May I go? -Yes, of course.

Julio: They took my blanket. Just imagine,

Romero and me sleeping together in the same bed tonight,

frozen to death.

What did you expect?

You've never known the rules of the game.

I have 53 days left. Let them take everything.

Well, not the food. You're too skinny.

I'll make soups for you when you get out.

And Raquel will make cakes. She's learned how to make them.

I'm dying to play the piano again, Elvira.

First, I'll take any job.

Then, as soon as we have the money, we'll get away.

Together.

Of course.

-Good morning. -Hello.

-That's heavy. I'll help you. -No!

-Yes, I insist. -Thank you.

Would you like to go for a drink?

No, thank you.

Tell me, is someone waiting for you at my house?

-No. -So?

Come! Let's go. It's okay.

Aren't you going to taste it?

Go on. Try it.

It's strong, isn't it?

I had forgotten it's taste.

Rogelio told me about your father.

I know things have been hard since he died.

It's a common story.

Yes, my dad also died because of the war.

A year ago, in Berlin.

I'm sorry.

Were you there?

No. I've been here since 1940.

I came for business and I stayed.

I thought you were Argentinian.

Yes, I am. My mother is from Buenos Aires.

So, your family is in Germany.

No, my mother is in Argentina.

I'm trying to convince her to come here, but, well...

she's a peculiar woman.

She thinks Spaniards are... wild, backward... I don't know.

I see.

-Do you want something else? -No, no.

Open the door!

What's going on?

Policeman: Open the door! Police!

I said, open the door!

Are you Pedro Gonzalez?

-Come with me. -Don't take him.

-He hasn't done anything! -Come!

He never leaves the shop. He's never getting in trouble!

He hasn't done anything!

He hasn't done anything.

Shit!

I'm sorry, Mother. That scared me.

What were those papers, Raquel?

Just papers. Things. What else?

What if they had come in here and taken us?

-Look what they did to Pedro. -Well, bad luck.

What will you do in prison if they arrest you?

Look, Elvira, I don't want to leave in fear. Remember Dad.

You have to risk your life for what's good, whatever it takes.

-I'm not afraid. I'm angry. -Then what do you want?

What do you mean?

The same thing you want.

I want food every day. And new shoes.

And books, music and all the things that are good,

but you don't get that in prison, my dear.

That's not in there.

You have to fight for what you want.

It's okay, Mother. Don't worry.

-Hello. -Hello.

-It's nice, isn't it? -Yes.