The Communion Girl (La niña de la comunión)

Stop...

My doll is lost.

Her skin will be rotten by now.

Stop. Stop. Stop.

She's all alone.

She's all alone and...

and she's cold.

Stop!

How are you?

Your mum said you got some sleep.

That chicken looks good.

I'm not hungry.

How about we share it?

It's just the lights, Sonia.

Sonia.

She's coming.

Nobody's coming. You're safe here.

Sonia.

She was here.

-Behind you! -There's nobody here.

-It's in your head. -No!

The girl is real.

She's everywhere.

She takes me to horrible places.

-Put the fork down. -I don't want to!

I don't want to.

-I can't take it any more. -Sonia, calm down.

I can't...

I can't take it any more.

No, Sonia. No!

Sonia. Sonia!

No, love.

No, love! Help!

Fuck!

Somebody help!

Help!

Help!

Help...

THE LITTLE COMMUNION GIRL

4 YEARS LATER

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

-Amen. -Amen.

-The Lord be with you. -And with your spirit.

It needed a few more frills around the neck.

No Mum, it's great.

-It doesn't look old-fashioned? -No.

No way...

Excuse me. Excuse me.

-Excuse me. -Look what she's wearing.

-Excuse me. -She needs to sit down!

Hi, how are you?

...subject to the commandments of God.

Where the hell have you been?

I've been working on the taxi all morning.

...and it should be celebrated.

-Is someone taking us? -Tano.

No, not Tano!

Look. Salva's full up and Juanlu's wheels got slashed.

Can't he fix them for tonight?

He's flat broke, with what?

Fuck...

-I'm not sitting in the front. -That's the one condition.

-Damn it, Rebe. -You're fresh meat, girl.

The others are old news.

If he touches me...

We're meeting at 10 p.m. in the bar for a drink.

Don't be late, your cousin will be looking for a ride too.

-I'll do my best. -You'd better.

Wear something sexy, it's not the seminary.

What's your problem? Do you have a puncture?

Miss Durán, you can't talk during the Holy Office.

Come with me, please.

See you there.

Do you wish to participate in the Holy Eucharist

by receiving your communion with your family members

and friends here today?

-We do. -We do.

So you're happy in the town? Your job's not too hard?

The company looks after us.

I'm delighted, I hope it stays that way.

Slaughterhouses aren't for everyone.

But it's hardly a time for turning down work!

Antonio and I are very grateful.

Laura. Laura, come here.

Come here. Come here right now.

How many times have I told you not to go near the ruins?

My friends are allowed...

Well you're not. Play with the dolls, that's what they're for.

And you, look after your sister.

Or do I have to do everything myself?

Come on. Come on!

-Go on. -Let's go, Laura.

What's she like? If she runs around like that

-she'll lose the medal we got her. -She showed it to me, it's lovely.

It's one of the best, 18 carats.

Juan wanted a silver-plated one, I said no way...

If it were up to them, the kids would do communion in tracksuits!

By the way, your little girl's dress is beautiful.

You can hardly tell it's from Zara.

Judith loves it.

She even wears it to bed.

What did you give her?

Sara!

-Sorry. -Don't touch me!

You'll make it worse. Holy mother of God, it's ruined!

Don't worry, Aunt Teresa.

That cheap polyester is easy to clean.

-It'll be good as new. -Water.

I don't want water.

-Who wants a photo? -Me!

And smile.

Great.

Next?

Where's your doll, princess?

Here.

Put it between your hands as if you were praying.

You'll look so pretty.

Let's see you smile.

Smile.

Perfect. Next?

So pretty.

How about that?

-Sara, leave her alone. -Mum!

Was that fun or what?

-Stop it! -That's enough, Sara.

Have you seen my daughter?

-I don't know. What's her name? -Marisol...

Marisol Beltrán.

She should be here.

I don't think we've seen her...

-You haven't seen my Marisol? -Marisol?

She should be in the square.

-I don't think so... -She's dressed like...

like her, for her communion.

-Do you think someone... -Come on, what are you doing?

Don't worry. I'll let him know.

Bye.

Rosales has given us two more hours.

-Damn. -From Tuesday I'm on nights all week.

-I'll be on nights too then. -I know, I told him... it's no good.

-We should talk to the union. -Yeah, right...

Your sister will fire both of us, just what we need.

Where are you going?

-To the bar with Rebe. -Who's Rebe?

Her school friend.

The punky one? With all the normal girls in town

you had to befriend that one.

-Leave her alone. -What about her cousins?

-Did you agree to this? -Dad, I told you days ago.

It's fine.

-But I want you back by 1 a.m. -No, not 1 a.m.

Mum, it's not long enough.

-How about 3 a.m.? -I want you home by 1 a.m.

Or would you rather stay?

Fine.

Take the rubbish out on your way.

-What's this doing in the rubbish? -I don't know.

-This cost Dad a fortune. -I didn't want a rosary.

I wanted a doll... like everyone else.

Tough luck, Judith, this is what you got.

Don't let me find it in the bin again or those will end up there too.

Is that clear?

-Don't take my things! -You're a shitty sister.

Oh, boo hoo.

Sara.

What?

I don't like this town.

The people are weird.

No, Judith.

We're the weird ones.

Fucking hell... Well, well!

-What time did I say? -Sorry, trouble at home.

-Go on. -Where's Tano?

He's gone to get his car. Move it, or he'll go without us!

Rebe, I can't keep up.

Shit!

Shit... Hey!

-Get out! What are you doing? -Hey!

Let go of the door, you'll break it.

I'll break you if you don't get lost.

Hey, stop it. All four of you can stay behind.

-You promised. -You were late.

-We'll find someone else. -No.

Sorry, but you know... in love and war...

-Take that. -You bitch!

Love and war is one thing, taxi and disco another.

Come on, Tano. Let's get going!

-Drink? -Mixed drinks.

We're going to the bathroom.

-See you here? -Yes.

Watch it, watch it.

How's our strategy going? What time is it?

-It's 11 p.m. -Right, 11 p.m.

Number one: meet boys. From where?

-From the city. -So they can get us out of this town.

-Not Horta or Gandesa... -None of that.

Valencia or Barcelona, at least.

And quickly, in an hour or two they'll be messed up.

Number two... Number two?

Keep an eye on Tano so he takes us home.