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Are there things I should know and don't?

Oodles.

But if I tell you

you'll be annoyed

or you won't believe me.

I promise I'll believe you

and I won't be annoyed.

Mom's been appearing all the time.

To whom?

Sit down.

She was with Aunt Paula until she died.

It was she who called Agustina

and opened the door

so she could find the body.

It was she who put out the money

so they'd bring her bread

and who left everything paid

for the funeral.

Did Agustina tell you all that?

You don't believe me.

Agustina is crazy!

Last time we saw Auntie

you said yourself it was incredible

that she could live like that,

with her mind gone and half blind.

Remember?

Yes, I do, but what are you saying?

That she wasn't alone.

Who do you think made the wafers

and put them in tupperwares,

one for each of us?

Who do you think took the dolls

and Auntie's valuables

before the neighbors swiped everything?

Now do you understand?

Have you seen her?

Yes.

Is she, by any chance,

the Russian?

Yes.

Where is she?

In there.

Mom!

What are you doing down there?

Weren't you dead?

I've come back to ask you to forgive me.

I knew nothing about it.

I never even imagined it.

Come on, Paula!

My little girl!

The worst is over.

She's seen me

and she didn't reject me, did she?

No.

Did you really come back

to ask her to forgive you?

And also to be with you.

Some day you can explain it all to me.

Yes, and that day

I hope you understand me

and that you forgive me too.

I have to talk to her.

Why don't we go back?

Now?

Sure.

- I've dreamed about this so often.

- So have I.

I don't know where to begin.

You're not a ghost, are you?

You're not dead.

No, love, I'm not.

That's such a relief.

But even if I had died,

I'd have come back

to ask you to forgive me

for not seeing what was going on.

I was blind.

I found out the day of the fire.

Had you really left dad?

Yes.

I couldn't stand his cheating.

The afternoon of the fire

you rang and spoke to Auntie.

As usual, you didn't ask for me.

I got angry and told your aunt

you were heartless.

As I kept badmouthing you,

your aunt

defended you

and told me everything.

That your father had abused you,

that you'd got pregnant,

and that Paula

is your daughter

and your sister.

I couldn't believe it.

How could such a monstrous thing

happen in front of me

without me realizing it?

Then, I understood everything.

I understood your silence

and why you grew so distant.

I understood why your father

went to Venezuela.

He couldn't cope with the shame

of what he'd done.

I understood

why, after marrying Paco,

you went to Madrid

and wanted nothing to do with us.

I hated you for not noticing anything.

And you were right, love.

When I found out,

I was like a wild thing.

I went to the hut,

ready to scratch his eyes out!

I found him asleep

with Agustina's mother,

both of them worn out.

They didn't see me.

I set fire to the hut.

It was a windy day

and in no time the flames

had devoured everything.

They didn't have time to wake up.

The ashes in your grave

are those of Agustina's mother?

Yes.

Afterwards,

I wandered the countryside for a few days,

hiding,

like an animal.

I was going to give myself up

but first

I went to Paula's house to see her.

She was in a terrible state.

When she saw me

she wasn't at all surprised.

I came from the past,

where she was living.

She greeted me

as if I had just gone out the door.

With the tragedy,

she lost what little reason she had.

I couldn't leave her on her own,

so I stayed and looked after her

until she died.

In the village they think you're a ghost.

That's the good thing

about such superstitious places.

It was easier for me

to go along with them

than to speak the truth.

I thought I'd be arrested.

I never imagined

that no one would investigate

or punish me,

although all this time

I swear I've been in a living purgatory.

Never better said.

It's too early to go to the village.

We shouldn't arrive in daylight.

Why don't we drive by the river?

It's been so long since I saw it.

It's not what it was. It's dry.

How do you know?

Because there's a drought

all over Spain.

Don't you know?

We used to come here for picnics.

Remember, Raimunda?

Yes.

There was more water then.

I told you it was dry.

Shall we eat something?

Not for me.

- I'm going to eat a wafer.

- Me too.

This was your father's favorite place.

Paco's?

Yes.

It was the only thing he missed.

This river.

I'm glad he's resting here.

If Paula were alive

and could see us now,

all together...

She'd be so happy.

Have you always had such a big chest?

Yes, since I was little.

I remembered you having less.

Have you had anything done?

No! What a thing to say!

All right.

Grandma, did you ride the bike?

Yes, half an hour every day.

It's good for blood pressure

and the heart.

What did Aunt Paula say?

She roared laughing.

'Bye.

It's Aunt Paula...

Don't start.

I'll get it.

Hide mom's plate and cutlery.

- Who is it?

- Agustina.

We're having supper.

I'm sorry to bother you.

Don't stay out there.

Thank you.

Good evening.

- Sit down.

- Thank you.

I came to apologize about the show.

You shouldn't have done it.

It wasn't right.

I know that.

It's no excuse,

but they offered

to take me to Houston.

They cure everything there.

But I couldn't do it.

I'd rather die alone in my house,

but at peace,

and able to look you in the eye.

- Mom, I'm going to bed, all right?

- Yes, go on.

- Will you have some supper?

- No, thanks.

I heard you're going to sell the house.

We'd thought about it

but now we're here...

There are so many memories.

Well, I have to go.

Why don't you stay a while?

I have to go to the nurse

to get my injection.

In Madrid they told me

to learn to do it myself

but it gives me the creeps!

Your sister is unforgivable.

Leaving you alone like this.

Don't even mention her.

As I didn't say what they wanted

on television

she's not speaking to me.

She's very angry with me.

But I'm even angrier with her.

With good reason.

I envy you two.

You're so close.

Irene!

I've longed to see you.

Here I am.

I heard about your problem

and I can imagine how lonely you are.

Very lonely.

If only Paula were here...

I'm here to look after you.

You left the door open.

Don't worry, I closed it.

Did you go to the nurse?

No, I'm very tired. Tomorrow.

Tomorrow you'll be in a lot of pain.

Have you got the medicine

and the needles?

Yes, I bought it all in Madrid.

Good, I'll give you the injection.

I was born in this bed.

My mother slept here.

And in this bed

we held your sister Paula's wake.

I know,

and I'm so grateful.

We have to talk, Irene.

About everything you want.

But don't tell anyone I've come back.

Don't worry.

Thank you for not talking

about me on television.

It's our own business.

That's right,

and no one else's.

Mom, it's me, let me in!

What are you doing here? Come in!

I missed you.

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