Calle Mayor: Juan Antonio Bardem 1956 Page #6

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bachelorettes!

Federico! Going?

You're all rascals,

a bunch of little cowards.

A bunch of rats that

someone should exterminate.

You, for instance.

Me or any other real man.

You're just a bunch of

filthy thugs and fags.

Federico, listen.

You listen:

tell Isabel the truth.

The truth!

You have the entire day of tomorrow

or till the ball starts.

- Otherwise...

- Otherwise what?

I'll tell her myself.

Federico, Federico.

It's only a joke.

A joke. I'd told you:

they are bored.

Everyday from the Circle to the

Miami bar, the theatre, Main Street.

And again the Circle, bar, caf,

theatre, Main Street...

And again...

They need entertainment.

Nothing matters to them.

They do their work, and then no

inquietude, no ambition...

Nothing to think about.

Someday they find that the

person next door is a fantastic show.

Especially if the person is not

loved. Then it's so much fun.

You see? Like a child

playing with ants.

You can also play

with someone.

How? With a prank...

It's a provincial town.

No. It must be more than that.

You know? It was very good

for me to come here.

It's silly to live in Madrid.

You're exaggerating.

Try to understand. In this Madrid of

neon lights, of the Gran Va.

Furthermore, it's false.

Truth lies here, in this town.

And others like it.

The Main Street, the people.

And farther away, over there,

in the fields.

My country stays, first

and foremost, here.

I can recognize it. One can try to

ignore it, pretend it's something else.

But, no. It is here.

Glad to know it. What else?

What are your plans?

What can I do?

Not much:
to see, to hear, to tell.

Not to be afraid...

Afraid?

Afraid of the truth.

Like Juan, like you.

Telling the truth can bring you pain.

It is bad, and mostly uncomfortable.

One cannot peacefully enjoy one's

life, drinking a good wine.

You can also call it egoism.

Do you think that your friend,

that Juan... will tell the truth?

I don't know about him.

I will.

And her?

Isabel...

Isabel...

I love you very much.

Why? You don't even know me.

I will soon

I will soon...

What if it is too late?

Too late? For what?

I may not be what you imagine.

Doesn't matter. I don't imagine

nothing, I just know that I love you.

But you don't understand...

- What I mean is...

- What do you mean?

That you snore? That you are

an egoist and a little conceited?

That you don't like your job?

You had dreamed of doing great

things, to travel, to be independent.

You consider yourself a loser...

You don't believe in anything,

everything means the same to you.

You only think... of existing the best

way you can, without complications.

Is that what you're

trying to tell me?

Yes, and other things.

Other things?

Maybe... The women you

have met before?

Or... Someone in particular?

Something else.

I really don't care, Juan.

I don't want to know.

I love you and that's enough for me.

Sure, you could endure anything

now that you have a fianc...

This is all that matters!

All that matters to a...

To a bachelorette like me, no?

A husband, whoever he is.

Do you think I'm like that?

Forgive me. I didn't want to hurt you

Don't cry.

Please don't cry.

I'm not crying. I'm happy.

We had a fight...

I don't have any fear anymore.

Fear?

Of course. It's not a good thing

to be constantly happy.

Now I'm happy and

a little unfortunate.

It's a balance...

Nothing can happen anymore.

What if something did happen?

Like what?

If everything had been a prank,

if I didn't love you.

Don't be silly.

That's like saying...

If the moon were to fall,

if you didn't love me...

Isabel...

I must tell you that...

Juan. Look me in the eyes.

And now answer me.

Do you love me?

Yes.

There you go.

Say no more.

This is where we talked for

the first time. Remember?

And this is where we had

our first fight.

I'm happy.

I love you. Nothing

can happen. Nothing.

You didn't tell her.

I didn't tell her.

I couldn't.

You and your truth.

What is truth good for?

You must tell it.

You get covered in lies. You tell

one and cover it with another.

Till when?

You're making a snowball so

huge that it will run you over.

Tell her the truth, Juan.

Tell it!

No! I can't!

I don't want to!

Then I'll tell her.

Tell her, tell her.

I shall never see Isabel again.

- There is another solution.

- What?

To run away!

Or to kill myself.

It's the same.

I'll be gone and no one will suffer.

She will adore me forever, forever.

It's not bad to love someone.

Even you won't miss

me too much.

And Tonia...

"Poor Juanito, he was a good boy"

Everybody sad, but happy.

Nobody suffers. Neither me.

Don't be silly.

You're not going to kill yourself.

No? Why not?

Tell me! The truth!

Because you are a coward.

That's why.

Only cowards commit suicide.

Here's your change.

- Keep it.

- Thanks.

You're staying?

I must close.

When my friends returns.

He has gone to the toilet.

The toilet is that way.

That door leads to the backyard.

There's another way out,

isn't it?

Of course.

Thanks.

Juan!

- Girl! Come and have lunch!

- I'm going, mom.

Girl! Girl!

Coming! Coming!

Don Federico, phone call for you.

From the bank.

Thank you.

Say it.

No, nothing new.

That is what I wanted to know myself.

No. No idea.

No. Neither sleeping

nor eating.

I'm sorry.

No, eating, no.

I will.

But where can that boy be?

Did something happen to him?

I'd call the hospital or the morgue...

Madam!

Hey, I'm trying to help.

Thank you.

But where could he be?

- It's getting late, no?

- Yes.

- He's always punctual.

- Yes.

Don't worry. He'll be here soon.

- Juan won't say the truth.

- I know that.

And I also know that

he didn't commit suicide.

He may have ran away.

That I know he could do.

Or he may be walking around,

waiting for the whole thing to pass.

Do you know him well?

We never know no one,

my friend.

You love him.

Me?

He comes here, and he talks...

loudly...

About those things

that we hide within.

As if he is confessing.

Do you understand?

I'm here, by his side...

and I love him...

Yes. I love him.

Juan doesn't know it.

And he never will, right?

No.

Why don't you go the Circle?

I've been there.

No one has seen him.

He'll probably show up there.

You're right. I'll go.

Thanks for everything.

And what will you do?

Same as usual:
to wait.

Waiting for a man,

like that poor woman.

Isabel?

She's also waiting.

We women can't do anything

but wait.

On the street corners,

in the square's arcades.

Walking down Main Street.

Behind the windows.

Good luck!

What about Juan?

I haven't seen him.

I'm searching.

You too? He hasn't come to

the Lodge or to my house.

I thought I'd find him here.

Don't worry about Juan.

No, really? Maybe he

just wants to make me a surprise.

Look!

And look.

It looks like a mirror... a delicate

one. We can almost skate on it .

Do you dance?

Last year, and the years before,

I just stood here...

all night, sitting with myself.

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