Volver

Put some stones in the vase

or it'll fall over.

This bloody wind!

Polish the letters well.

There are so many widows!

The women here

live longer than the men.

- Except poor Mom.

- Mom was lucky.

Raimunda, don't say that!

She died in dad's arms,

and she loved him more than anyone.

Burned to death!

That's the worst way to die.

They were asleep.

They didn't even realize.

Even so, how can you say

something like that!

Hello.

- Is that everything, Mom?

- I'll get the rest.

This is wonderful!

Good Lord!

- Is this Paula?

- Of course.

She's all grown up!

Give her a kiss.

She's got your father's eyes.

- How are you?

- Not good.

Don't say that.

I want to give my grave the once- over.

With this wind, you can't keep it clean.

- It looks lovely.

- Cleaning it relaxes me.

I often come and sit here on my own,

and time goes by.

We're going now,

we have to see Aunt Paula.

- Come and see me afterwards.

- Sure.

How's Paco?

He's fine, he stayed

in Madrid, working.

Mom,

does Agustina really come

and clean her own grave?

Yes, it's the custom here.

They buy a plot

and look after it all their lives,

like a second home.

- That freaks me out!

- It's tradition here.

- Shall I drive?

- Yes.

Aunt Paula!

Who is it?

Raimunda!

- Don't take all day.

- Don't rush me.

I don't like going back

in the dark.

Be nice to Auntie, don't laugh at her.

- All right.

- This house still smells of Mom.

How are you, Aunt?

You're very thin!

Have you had the baby?

- Fourteen years ago.

- Doesn't time fly!

And who are these?

Who do you think?

Sole and my Paula!

The same name as me!

And Sole.

Shall we go into the dining room?

That Sole looks like a right sourpuss.

For Heaven's sake!

...the wind carried

the cinders to the bushes.

The result is the most tragic fire

in the last 13 years.

- Mind if I turn it off?

- No, I can't see it anyway.

Fires are dreadful.

That's how your grandparents died.

- Why did I come in here?

- I don't know.

To talk?

- To get some food?

- Yes!

Look in the sideboard.

I'm very shaky on my pins.

Look, wafers!

Just like mom's.

Eat up.

How was the cemetery?

Your mother is delighted.

Did you scrub the headstone properly?

Of course.

She likes it to be clean.

If she could, she'd clean it herself.

But, of course, she can't.

Of course, she can't.

Don't you feel lonely

in this big house?

You'd be better off in a home,

where you'd be looked after.

I'm fine as I am.

- I'm going to the bathroom.

- Well, go!

You can't live on your own.

I'm worried about you.

How do you manage your meals?

Very well.

Agustina brings me bread,

your mother does the cooking

and if I need anything

I call the store and they bring it...

I'm fine.

What a lovely touch!

Look!

It's got your name on it.

Shall we go?

Yes.

We're leaving now.

I'm so shaky on my pins.

- Don't get up.

- How could I not get up?

Next time I come back,

I'm taking you home with me.

Yes, next time.

What matters is that you come back.

You've gotten very wobbly.

- Take care of yourself.

- I will.

Mind how you go!

We'll do that. I love you lots!

- Shall we go to Agustina's?

- Yes.

Come in!

Well?

- How did you find your aunt?

- Bad.

Terrible.

She's gotten very shaky.

I don't know how she copes.

He does very well

without going outside.

She eats a stick of bread every day.

She leaves the money for me.

Let's go onto the patio.

She's in an awful state, love.

She doesn't know what year it is.

She talks about mom

as if she were still alive.

For her, she isn't dead.

She can't accept it.

Sit down for a while.

I'd like to pay you something

to look in on her every day.

I won't accept anything!

I'm very happy to do it.

I'd take her home,

but I'd have to throw

my husband out to make room.

But we have to do something.

Every morning, before I go shopping,

I tap on her window

and I don't move until she answers me.

I keep an eye on her.

I really appreciate that.

I like to think...

someone's doing that for my mother,

wherever she is.

Look! Wasn't she cutting edge then?

The only hippie in the village.

Look at her plastic jewelry.

- They're awesome!

- First- rate plastic.

Every time I smoke a joint

I think of her.

That's a fine example

you're setting for Paula!

- There's still no news?

- Nothing.

It's like the earth swallowed her up.

- And your sister Brigida?

- Her?

She's in Madrid,

she's a big hit on trash TV.

Mom, I'm out of credit!

Good, we'll get a break

from the telephone.

- You can use mine.

- She'll bankrupt you.

In that case, no.

As I was saying,

Brigida is on so many shows

she can put a deposit

on an apartment in Madrid.

And she's going to make a record.

- She always liked singing.

- So did this one.

Remember when you and she,

you must've been thirteen,

went to an audition for child singers?

Hey, you never told me that!

It was your granny's idea.

She was up for anything.

Talking of mothers,

maybe yours hasn't shown up

so as not to ruin

your sister's career.

Mom would love to be on television.

She'd go crazy.

Want some?

I grow it myself. Look at the plants.

We have to leave.

Did you report her disappearance

to the police?

Brigida thinks it isn't necessary.

She's said it so often on TV.

Yes, but you have to report it

to the police, not say it on TV.

I don't know.

In any case, it's not

the first time she's left home.

But never for so long.

It's been over three years.

Don't give up hope.

And take care of yourself,

you don't look well.

Your oleander looks wonderful.

Yes, it didn't get aphids this year.

But I've really lost my appetite.

Maybe it's the joints.

No, if it weren't for them,

I wouldn't eat at all.

Your father's eyes.

A joint makes me feel a bit hungry

and it relaxes me.

Safe journey!

Guess what I saw upstairs

beside the bathroom!

What?

- An exercise bike.

- That freaks me out!

Why would auntie want a bike

if she can't walk?

Exactly, she's lost her mind.

Don't talk like that about her.

She didn't even recognize us.

It's the wind.

That goddamn East wind here

drives people crazy!

The wafers are delicious.

How can she bake those

when she's as blind as a bat?

Hello, Regina.

- Going to work?

- Got no choice, love.

- Why not give her a lift?

- Where are you going?

To the club. If you drop me

in the center that'd be great.

- All right.

- Thanks.

See you later.

- Hi, dad.

- Hi.

Hello.

Well?

Did you have fun?

In the cemetery?

You kidding me?

- Were you having a party?

- Me? What do you mean?

Paula, sit properly. Close your legs!

Will you bring me another beer?

Are you kidding?

Go on, please.

Haven't you had enough?

You have to work tomorrow.

I'm free tomorrow, and the day after too.

How come?

I was fired.

Hang on.

Christ Almighty!

I'll get ajob on Sundays,

it's my only free day.

I'll get ajob, but let me

watch the game in peace.

You can forget about soccer.

There'll be no more cable.

We're a poor family

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