Crossing Borders (Un franco, 14 pesetas)

Martin.

Martin.

Martin, wake up.

CROSSING BORDERS

Here you are.

Now!

Wake up, Martin! I'm pissing on you!

How can you want to act the fool at this time?

I've been up for four hours.

- You got a smoke? - No.

Hey, I'm watching you!

Where are you going?

I don't know yet.

I might use the money to open a bakery in my village.

Or I might go abroad, there's a lot of work there.

And you can make money too. Switzerland is supposed to be good.

But they say it's hard to get in.

My cousin went last year and he had no problems.

I'm thinking about it. A few years there and you come back rich.

It's never half as good as people say.

You'd miss the language, football, all that.

You'll make it dizzy, love. Just drink it up.

I don't want any more.

Didn't you hear?

Football players take it to score goals. Come on, finish it, Pablo.

This child eats nothing.

The doctor said to take him to the village.

Shall we go see that?

- See what? - Just some friends.

Come on, Pablo.

Have a cookie, darling.

Come on!

"SAN MANTIN" BUILDING AND PROMOTING. THE HOME OF YOUR DREAMS

Here it is.

The shepherd was right.

And we just went to see it.

He'd never buy it. Your brother is a coward.

And rightly so!

Pilar, the apartment costs 63,000 pesetas

and Martin earns 1,300 a month.

But it's a steady wage, every month. It all adds up.

Look at what I managed to save.

I don't know.

It's a lot of money for a place

so far out of Madrid.

It's not so far.

- Some day, this'll be Madrid too. - Come off it!

Not a chance.

It may be Madrid some day, but we won't see it.

- Luisa... - What?

Can I borrow that dress to wear this evening?

I've got no money, I'm waiting for my husband.

Goodbye, Miss Azucena.

They fired you?

How could they do that?

Pablo, sit still or I'll wallop you. You're driving me crazy.

Don't take it like that, I wasn't the only one.

There are too many employees.

Other places are worse than us.

I left the basement clean,

now your father will fill it with wires again.

Shall we prepare the whitebait for supper?

Pilar! Do you hear me?

Pilar, my mother's talking to you.

She's not talking because she's angry. She won't let me play.

Yes, Amalia, we'll do what you want.

Then I'll start cleaning them.

And you be quiet.

You're always interrupting the grown-ups' conversations.

Go up with your grandma.

Come on, love.

It isn't the kid's fault.

- What did you want to tell me? - Nothing. It was silly.

Good morning, father.

Are you up already?

Pilar told me you didn't sleep a wink all night.

What do you expect?

And I'm so used to the factory hours,

I was wide awake at 6:30.

What'll you do?

Look for something.

Why not try Anselmo's workshop?

He was very pleased with you.

The pig?

No, he's an exploiter. And it's a lousy workshop.

Lorenzo! Move, I'm going to shake the rug!

Wait a minute.

Go inside and close the door

or all the dirt will blow in.

Three weeks and I've found nothing. Everyone's the same.

Marcos was lucky.

A good mechanic like you will always get work.

Hey, Martin! You're a great man!

- Hello, mother! - Haven't you gone to work yet?

- Is anything wrong? - I'll tell you now.

What is it you want to tell me?

- Tell him, Marcos. - Yes, tell me.

I'm not with Pegaso anymore.

- They fired you. - Why would they?

- He was third in his year. - The second.

The first pulled a few strings, we know.

What's up?

I wasn't fired. I took the money and left.

What have you done?

Let him tell us.

- I've got a plan, father. - What is it?

You and I are going to work in Switzerland.

- What do you mean? - Really.

I've heard about a town called

- Uzwil... - Uss...

Mari-Carmen!

They need milling mechanics. We just fill in these forms

and bring them to the Consulate.

What do you say?

Rubbish.

Like your father says, rubbish.

I don't see why you have to go so far.

It costs you nothing here. Six can eat as easily as three.

Don't get involved in their affairs.

I heard in the hotel

that Switzerland is the country that pays best,

even better than Germany.

I think a franc is 14 pesetas.

I don't think it could be that much.

Anyway, I wouldn't leave my family alone.

But we wouldn't be alone, We'd be with your parents.

We're with them anyway,

and it'd only be for a year or so.

What?

I'd thought of it too.

Why are you shaving now?

You can do it in the morning.

It's habit.

And I know you like to see me smooth at night.

Martin,

I have to tell you something.

And I've something to tell you.

I didn't know you were so keen for me to go away.

I have to get out of here.

When we got married, you said it was for a few months

and we've been down here 5 years.

You were born here, you're used to it,

but I can't get used to the basement.

We're in the center of Madrid.

What more do you want?

Do you remember

the day

you were fired?

From the factory?

- Yes. - Yes, and?

I put a deposit on an apartment.

Christ Almighty!

You did what?

I put a deposit on an apartment.

You gave 6,000 pesetas?

But this isn't valid.

Without your husband's consent you can't buy or sell anything,

and I signed nothing.

I'll go there tomorrow and get the deposit back.

Well,

you won't be able to. I forged your signature.

We tried already and it was no use.

If we go back, it'll be worse.

Pilar, did you forge my signature?

Did you forge my signature?

Finish shaving.

From now on, we'll each do as we please.

6,000 pesetas! Four months' salary!

Where do you get that money?

I saved it.

You saved 6,000 pesetas from what I give you?

Yes, I did.

You say it as if I'd earned it on the street.

I count for nothing in this house.

- Are you very? - Don't touch me, please.

6,000 pesetas. Are you crazy?

How are we going to pay it?

Weren't you very...

very angry?

Yeah, but one thing doesn't affect the other.

With you, nothing affects the other.

I'll go to the Swiss consulate tomorrow.

Whatever you want.

Careful!

Did you leave the cases on their own?

A soldier is looking after them, but you can do it if you want!

No, they'll be fine with the soldier.

The cases are on board.

You should get on, the train's about to leave.

Let them say goodbye. We're going now, mother.

You're crazy to go without a work permit.

- I'm worried. - You needn't be.

In my new suit, I'll look like a tourist.

- It'll fit you like a glove. - For sure.

Is your redundancy money in a safe place?

Yes, it's all here.

Try not to wrinkle your shirts. I sweated blood ironing them.

But the only warm thing you've got is your raincoat.

It's summer in Switzerland too.

But then it'll be winter.