We Were Strangers Page #2

and financial standing...

are not in the reference files.

I'm looking to you to remedy that.

That will not be difficult.

They should be stamped

with the date of arrival at the bank.

The fifth, seventh and eighth of June.

The fifth, seventh and eighth of June?

How much time do I have?

The sooner it is done, the better.

In case anything unusual comes up...

you will get in touch with Mr. Fenner

at the Hotel Vista Allegro.

Don't discuss this matter over the phone.

Good night.

- Good luck.

- Thank you.

Seorita Valdez.

Seor Ricardo Icentia's credit limit...

is being raised from 2,500 to 4,500 pesos.

What's the matter with you? You look ill.

Nothing. I'm all right.

Miss Valdez.

Miss Valdez, this is Seor Ariete,

from the government.

Would you ask the chief clerk...

to bring the folders of all American

accounts opened in the last three months?

And would you check with the tellers

if anything has come in this morning?

- Yes, sir.

- Thank you.

Thank you.

No new American accounts have been

opened this morning, Mr. Seymour.

This one is perfectly all right.

He's a cigar importer

with whom I've done business in the past.

This one, Thompson...

a joint account of an elderly couple.

I remember this one, too.

Name is Fenner.

He's a chap that's hiring theatrical talent.

The disbursements seem to be mainly for...

steamship fares and advance salaries

on American contracts.

This is a business account.

Fellow's financing a small fishing fleet.

No, Seor Ariete, it doesn't appear

that any of these are what you're after.

Do you keep yourself informed

about changes in all the accounts?

- Withdrawals, deposits, and so on?

- Yeah. More or less.

Any happening of an unusual nature...

within the accounts

will come immediately to your notice?

Of course.

Then you will notify me

in case anything of this kind occurs.

Immediately. Is that clear?

I am holding you personally responsible.

Very well, seor.

That's all, Miss Valdez.

And I don't have to remind you,

Mr. Seymour...

you're in a foreign country.

Have we not met before, seorita?

I don't believe so.

There is something familiar about your face.

- Indeed?

- I don't think I'm mistaken.

It's not likely I'd forget such a pretty face.

I assure you, we have never met.

Perhaps.

Mr. Tony Fenner, please.

I'm not worried

about his coming to the bank.

I'm not worried

about his coming to the bank.

I expected them to start checking.

They'd have to be pretty dumb

not to guess...

that funds are being supplied

from the outside.

What's his name again, the Porrista?

Armando Ariete.

- And you say you know him?

- He is the man who killed my brother.

He killed him on the steps of the university.

Manolo had been distributing pamphlets.

That is why he killed him.

- Did you see it?

- I saw it.

Does Ariete know who you are?

For him it was just one of many murders.

I am going to ask for permission

to kill Ariete.

Will you speak for me

to one who is in authority?

He needs killing, the hyena.

Then you will speak for me?

Perhaps.

- Where do you live?

- Opposite the Colon Cemetery.

- How far is that?

- About a mile.

- Do you feel like walking?

- I often walk.

Do you always go home through this place?

Yes. It saves several blocks.

- Where's your house?

- By the west gate.

- Across the street from the cemetery?

- Yes.

How many are there in your family?

There were five of us

until Manolo was killed.

There wasn't much room,

but we got along all right.

We were all very good friends

and we were never hungry.

Manolo must have been your favorite.

We used to sell flowers

to the tourists in the streets at night.

You would never guess

where we got the flowers.

I might.

It was bad to do, very bad.

But we always said a prayer

whenever we took a flower.

Manolo believed that was

more than a fair exchange.

The owners never put up an argument,

anyway.

Not during the day.

But sometimes at night they would.

I would wake up with a nightmare...

and swear by the Virgin

that I would never do it again.

But then the next day

we would need rice and coffee and beans.

So you'd go across the street

and steal a few more flowers?

The politicians always have

the biggest funerals...

with the most flowers.

Soldiers fire volleys over their graves...

and sometimes the President himself

makes a speech.

Hundreds of people come,

but only a few weep.

That the poor part of the cemetery?

Yes, over there,

where the wooden crosses are.

And the little headstones. It is very different.

There are no marble vaults for our dead.

Their coffins are simply put into the ground.

Yeah.

What's the matter?

Nothing.

- Has your house got a cellar?

- Yes, it has. It's one of the old houses.

Is it possible to get your family

to go away for a few weeks...

- to Matanzas, for instance?

- Go away? Why?

Never mind why. Would they go

without asking questions?

- Well, they have not the money.

- The money would be furnished.

- Yes. They would do it if I asked them to.

- I'll let you know in a few days.

In the meantime,

forget about killing the Porrista.

What's that got to do

with my family leaving the house?

Plenty, honey, plenty.

I know how to kill him, all of his friends,

including the bloody President.

If only the leaders will give me

the go-ahead sign.

I know how every one of those hyenas

will die.

The tomb is not the end.

It is merely the way.

Our Cuban tobacco makes the best cigars.

You are all strangers to me

and to each other.

But the organization

knows each one of you.

On former occasions you have displayed

determination and courage.

And that's why you're here.

For we have a special job to do.

One that requires

both of these characteristics...

and even more than that.

As a rule, we would simply give an order

which you would be expected to obey.

But because of the

special nature of this plan...

you are going to be given the choice.

If you are willing, fine.

If you refuse, if you decide that you

do not want to take part in this thing...

you have only to say so

and no one will hold it against you.

- Is that clear?

- Si.

This is the man who originated the plan...

and under whose leadership

it will be carried out.

I'll let him tell you about it.

Suppose it were possible to get

the President and his Cabinet...

all the heads

of the government departments...

all the army big shots,

the chiefs of police, the Porristas...

all in one place.

And suppose once you had them there,

you could wipe them out.

Kill every one of them with one blow.

Would any of you object to that?

That is what we have been waiting for.

Suppose this would involve

the killing of innocent people as well.

- How many innocent people, amigo?

- 20, 30, maybe 100.

The Porra kills innocent people everyday.

What are these people doing

close to the President...

if they are so innocent?

Wives, children, servants.

I have seen children lying dead

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