The Vessel Page #2

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Soraya?

Do you come here often?

Sometimes.

My mom used to

bring us a lot as kids.

And by the way,

thank you for the books.

Oh, yeah.

I actually read through

a few of them but...

I couldn't understand much.

They were my husband's.

He used to study in bed

with a stack of books

between us.

It used to drive me insane.

You know?

That old paper smell.

And now I can't even sleep

without them.

Can I tell you something?

I used to go to your house

and watch you.

I mean...

It wasn't

in a disrespectful way.

I just wanted to see you.

I knew.

I always knew.

Mama, stop it.

Mama.

Fidelia do you want more rice?

- Fidelia.

- She doesn't hear you.

Put it outside the fence

where it belongs.

You're right.

I made it too mushy.

The yucca's better.

- She's beautiful.

- Who?

Your mother.

There's something very romantic

about her.

Okay.

I suppose men don't see

their mothers that way.

She's not a mother.

I didn't mean that.

I understand. It must be

difficult seeing her like this.

I just don't know

if she would be like this

if I would have died

instead of Tigo.

I don't think that

would have made any difference.

One time...

I was swimming

with my brother...

And we saw this buoy

far out from shore.

It had a bell on it.

And we didn't realize

how impossible it was so...

We decided to swim to it.

We got too far out

from shoreand...

We both started panicking

and yelling for my mother.

And finally she saw us

and jumped in the water

and started to swim towards us.

I remember

trying to reach her...

But when she got to me...

She just passed me by

and saved Tigo instead.

She probably knew

you could swim better than him.

Yeah.

I know.

But she still had a choice.

And she chose him.

"And now with her eyes she would

look full upon his face.

And now again

she would fail to know him.

Cruel mother,

thou hast an unyielding heart...

Why dost thou hold

aloof from my father?

Why do you not sit by his side

and ask questions?

No other woman would harden

her heart as thou dost...

And stand aloof

from her husband".

I know it sounds crazy but...

That's the truth.

Bigo!

What is going on?

Father, it's a miracle.

What miracle?

What are you talking about?

Leo!

Come and see!

You have to believe me.

You see?

You see? You see, father?

Remember how she was?

See? She's happy now.

Huh, Lela?

Seora Guzman.

Someone had to be

the first to forget.

Has Soraya been sleeping here?

Who said that?

People talk.

I don't care what people think.

You hungry?

Concha!

Concha!

Yes?

Father Douglas and Leo

are here for lunch.

Hello, Concha.

Excuse me.

Oh no, please, father, don't.

I'm so sorry for the delay.

Something's happening

around here.

People are acting different

and father Douglas says

it's because of me.

Because people think

I'm special.

But you know that's not true

don't you, mama?

I want you to know

that I forgive you.

For pushing dad away.

For pulling my ear

when the cat broke your vase.

For loving Tigo more than me.

Mama, stop it.

You're right.

I didn't give you enough corn.

Please, mama.

I know you can hear me!

Where's Leo?

Is this some sort of game?

You're playing to prove

how clever you are, Leo?

All right so now it's a boat.

Congratulations,

that's wonderful.

What are you gonna do with it?

And please don't tell me

you don't know.

Will you say something

for Christ's sake?

I want to sail it.

You can't be serious.

- Why not?

- Why not?

What do you think will happen

if you put it on the water?

- I don't know.

- I do know.

It will sink, Leo. Immediately.

It might not.

Oh it would I promise you.

And have you given any thought

to the effect that would have

on the people?

Have you thought about that,

Leo?

It would be a disaster.

And even if by some miracle

it did not sink,

what would that prove?

What the hell

would that prove, Leo?

No.

We'll disassemble it

and we'll put everything back

the way you found it.

And maybe everything

can return to normal.

Whatever the hell that is.

After Tigo died...

my dad started

sleeping on the couch.

When he finally left,

he gave me

his lucky pocket knife.

She's pretending, he said.

I threw that knife in the sea.

Sorry about that.

It's okay.

All right...

So, what can I do for you?

I had a dream last night,

father.

It's ok.

Tell him.

I was giving birth,

but instead of a child...

A river of water

poured out of me.

It was so much water

it ran through the streets

and flooded the whole town.

So everyone

piled into Leo's boat.

It was bigger in my dream.

And then we all sailed

to an island...

Where the children

were laughing and playing.

Then...

Primo woke me up.

She was laughing in her sleep.

So what do you think this means,

father?

I don't really know.

I think that's

for you to decide.

What is it?

Well...

We did decide, actually.

Decide what?

We weren't sure

if the timing is right...

But we want to try

and have another baby.

Good for you. Congratulations.

Congratulations. Good for you.

Good for you.

Father, son, holy spirit.

Wonderful.

Here, Carmen. Here's

the matching color for that.

Yes that's great.

Put the green edge with

the white one.

Yes, pull those together.

They're gonna

have to be doubled.

Are you using

a strong enough thread on that?

No wait,

I think you should use this.

Remember these

are gonna be double edged.

Hi.

Hi, Leo.

Bigo.

I was thinking...

Maybe I should leave Lela here

with the cart.

If you have

to move anything else.

Ok.

Thanks.

Just remember me...

when the time comes.

Hey, Leo.

Looking good.

Pretty solid.

What's that?

It's a sail. For you.

- A sail?

- Yeah.

The mothers from the community

got together

and made it for you.

May I sit down a while?

Listen, I uh...

I feel badly about the way

I spoke to you the other day.

I hope there's no hard feelings.

Okay.

And you know...

I've been thinking a lot about

this boat of yours lately...

Thinking...

What it means...

How it can serve the people...

And it occured to me...

That maybe this boat

is not meant to sail at all.

That maybe it is meant

as a symbol

of some kind.

A symbol?

Yeah. Would that be

such a bad thing?

And you know what?

We can move it closer

to the church

so that it has a more

central location.

Everybody could see it

all the time day and night.

And it could be

a great source of inspiration.

Leo, give it some thought.

Because I think god

has given you

a great opportunity here.

And we don't want to waste it.

I would offer you coffee,

but the water's still out.

Is everything ok?

Yeah.

How did people act when I died?

- Why do you ask?

- I don't know.

I'm just curious.

Did anyone care?

I guess it happened so fast.

Well I should get home.

Will I see you tomorrow?

No.

I can finish everything

on my own.

Leo!

You have to help me.

Leo is here.

It's okay now.

It's okay now, Rosita.

Come on!

Do something!

Help her!

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