Carol's Journey (2002)

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CAROL'S JOURNEY

Carol.

Carol, wake up,
we're almost there.

- Morning, don Amalio.
- Morning, father.

Porter!
My bags, please.

Aurora!

Daddy!

How are you?

- Fine... very well.
- Carol, your grandfather.

You look just like a princess.
And so tall. How about a kiss?

Hey, coming, Tomiche?

I'll tell you in a minute.

Can I take something
to the village for you?

- I don't charge much.
- No!

Get out of here. I told you before
not to bother the passengers.

Go on!

Tomiche!

Come on, let's go.

- He's your nephew!
- Stay out of this.

He's got it in for you.

Come on, Pebbles!
Last one there's a fairy!

Hey, that's not fair.
You're a cheat, Tomiche!

Damn it!

Why did you do that?

What's are you saying,
you weirdo?

What are you writing?

Why did mom and grandma argue?

Well... it's very difficult
to explain to a child.

My grandparents in New York tell me
the truth. They don't hide things.

I'm sorry, you're right,
after all you're grown up now.

When your mother met your father,
she jilted her fiancée

and your grandmother
never forgave her for it.

If your telegram had come sooner,
the house would be ready now.

Chana's got
your mother's room ready.

A letter from Robert.

Robert?

A local Portuguese smuggler
brings in letters from the front.

It came a week ago.

Thank you.

Dad.

Come and live with us.

Too many memories.

And I've got used
to living at the spa.

Thank you.

Aurorita!

Maruja!

- Aurora!
- Maruja!

Goodness!

Let me look at you.

- You're so pretty.
- And you haven't changed a bit.

Come and meet my daughter.

- Hello, Don Amalio.
- Hello, Maruja.

- This is Carol.
- Pleased to meet you, Carol.

I'm Maruja.
She looks just like you.

Maruja was my teacher
and later my best friend.

We're expected in Villablanca.

- We can talk some other time, right?
- Yes.

And now we're going slowly,

And now we're going slowly,

So let's make up some stories...

So let's make up some stories...

Hares run in the sea,

Hares run in the sea,

And sardines run up the mountain,

And sardines run up the mountain...

I left my camp,

I left my camp...

Afternoon, don Amalio.

Afternoon.

So moving!

What a voice!
What music!

And what words!

I'd like to propose a toast.

To my sister-in-law Aurora
and her daughter Carol.

All the best on their return home.
To them both.

The village must seem
so small to you after New York.

We weren't great ones
for the city life.

Almost two years
since we left Madrid.

We left on the 18th July, 1936,

and since then
no shops, no theatres...

- Nothing. Only fields.
- Adrián's in his element there.

He'll be an important man

in the new Spain.

That's for sure.

There are a lot of
able men in Spain, Mayor.

You'll soon be returning to Madrid.

We're about to liberate it.

Right, don Amalio?

Well, sooner or later...

It goes without saying that...

No time for half- measures.

Yes, Madrid will fall.
It's bound to.

Or for cowardliness.

Or foreign interference.
What do you think

- of these International Brigades?
- Alfonso, please!

It's all right, Adrián.

I don't give a damn
about this w*r.

It leaves me cold.

Understand?

Dolores.

- Thank you.
- Cheers.

We could almost be sisters.

They were engaged
to each other once.

I don't understand it, Aurora.

You didn't
even say goodbye.

I know, I should have.

But what could I do?
I was pregnant...

- Can I ask you a question?
- Of course you can.

What did you see in Dolores?

Your sister bores me to tears.
You're so unlike her.

Let's drop it.

You startled me.

I'm sorry, Chana.

I'm in a bad mood today.

Do you understand me?

Can you read and write?

I'll teach you if you like.
It's not difficult.

Go to bed if you like, Chana.
I'll clear up.

Your grandfather's so stubborn.

The three of us could be
so happy here together.

But he's at his spa
and we're all alone here.

Why don't you ask him
to come and live here?

I'm sure he'd listen to you.

What do you say?

Carol,

I think I know why
you're angry.

Darling,

look at me.

I've never lied to you.

If I had to own up
to anything, I would.

May I go to bed?

Yes, you may go to bed.

Maruja!

Maruja!

Yes?

- Make me some coffee?
- Of course.

When Carol was seven or eight years old,
we were very, very close.

She was like my shadow.

Sometimes it was actually too much.

Robert and I have drifted apart.

Things never work out
like you expect them to.

I feel so lonely.
Him with his work,

things the way they are now...

Well...

I won't overdramatize.

Carol's going through
a difficult stage, that's all.

Can I take one?

- You smoke, Maruja?
- I always have.

I thought only
men smoked in this village.

The men and Maruja.

Give it to me.

Well then...

Going to tell me or not?

You didn't come
to talk about Carol.

What's the matter?

What is it?

I'm dying, Maruja.

I'm dying.

I came home to die.

And I don't want to.

I've still got
so many things to do.

I've got a little girl
who needs me.

It's not fair, for God's sake!

So many things left to do...

Carol!

Carol!

- Morning.
- Morning.

- Have you seen Carol?
- No, sir.

Thank you.

Carol!

Nobody said
you could look at that.

Right, but
I wasn't going to pry.

I've got a present for you.

Come on, what are you waiting for?
Come on down.

That's it. Try it now.

- How is it?
- Fine.

What you looking at, weirdo?

That's my hat.

Finders keepers, losers weepers.

Mind your own business, Cagurrio,
and shut up.

Here's your hat.
Come on, then.

Ole!

Ole! Like a bull, go on then.

Ole!

- Fairy.
- Hear what she called you?

If you weren't a girl I'd...

- Fairy!
- You've done it now. Want a fight?

With one hand behind my back.

Keep still, will you.
I'll show you!

Give up or I'll hit you.

Fairy!

Christ!
What shall I do, k*ll her?

We won't tell on you.

If I didn't feel sorry for you...

Let's go down to the river.

Hey, fairy!

She kicked you in the knackers!

Christ!

Does it hurt very much?

You look terrible.

What happened?

Come on in.

And the other one said,
"She kicked...

you in the knackers. "

What does "knackers" mean?

Knackers?

You kicked him in the ba*ls?

You did that?

That's what I like,
to see you smile.

Right, then.

That's that.

I want to show you something.

I bet you've never seen anything
like this in New York.

The worms eat mulberry leaves
and make silk cocoons.

Marvelous, isn't it?

You know,

it's as if you were inside a cocoon,

but it'll open soon and then...

I'll turn into a silk butterfly?

Yes, something like that.

- Give it to me, please.
- It's getting harder and harder.

And I'm risking my life...

- How about five pesetas more?
- Since it's you... all right.

Fifteen pesetas.

Come this way, please.

Let's see.

A, E, I, O, U...

You've learned the vowels, Chana.

Now the whole alphabet.

Do as many as you can.
I'll be right back.

"Dear Robert,
I've been very unfair to you.

I can see now that we've drifted
apart for silly little things

when so many other things
bring us together.

I love you more than ever.

As for Carol, don't worry.

We've an extraordinary daughter
and she's mad about you

and she's adapting
very well to life here.

Darling, I'm writing this in the
small hours and I'm a bit tired.

I'll carry on tomorrow. "

Mommy!

You'll be fine here,

and you have your cousins
to play with.

We couldn't have stayed
in the big house all alone.

- When the w*r's over...
- Will the w*r finish soon?

- I'm sure it will.
- Who's going to win?

I don't know, dear.

Nobody does.

Grandpa,
will you do me a favor?

If I can.

Of course you can.
I want you to promised...

- To promise.
- To promise.

I can't if you don't
tell me what it is first.

Okay, but when you've promise...

Now it's "promised. "

When you've promised,

you mustn't tell dad
mom's dead.

There's no point
telling him right now.

Look, dear, that'd be
a great responsibility to assume.

- You're asking too much of me.
- It's not too much.

All right, I promise.

- On one condition.
- What?

You obey your uncle and aunt.

- Well, if I have to...
- There's no other way.

Okay.

Do you want to drive?

Reins to the right, turn right,
to the left, turn left.

Hello, darling.

- Hello, dear.
- Daddy.

- Let me.
- Thank you.

I've put you in with your cousin,
you'll be fine together.

- Where are the kids?
- A birthday party.

You know, if you send them to one
you have to send them to another.

It's a nuisance.

Hello, Carol. Welcome.

Well, I must leave you now.
Goodbye, dear.

How about a kiss, Carol?

Don't forget your promise.

Or you.

Don't worry about me, mom.
I'm fine.

And the w*r will be over soon.

I asked grandpa not to say anything
to daddy about you dying.

He's suffering a lot, poor thing.

- Take that!
- Stop that.

That's enough.

Wait for me at the gate.

- Stop that, idiot.
- Go on.

Don't leave it there,
someone will take it.

Shall we bury the hatchet?

Look,

it's a chick,
I just caught it.

- It's trembling.
- Do you want it?

- What are you doing?
- It was mine, wasn't it?

Thanks for the advice.

Wait!

That's what King Kong climbed up.

It's the Empire State.
I've been up with my dad.

The people
in the street look tiny.

This is Carol,
she wanted to bury the hatchet.

Where did you get the pigeons?

I knew it,

from don Adrián's estate,
didn't you?

Come here.

I said come here!

- Tomiche's dad bit his ear off.
- His own brother's.

You're coming with us.

Mister, mister...

My uncle
gave him permission.

Is he a friend of yours?

- Yes.
- He's the wrong sort of friend.

A bad lot.

Go on. You've been really lucky.
Really lucky.

- It's an apple pie.
- Thanks.

Where are you going?

You know my arrangement
with your mother.

Delicious.

Finished.

Already?

That was quick.
Let's see.

"Freedom

is the most priceless gift... "

- "Priceless?"
- Priceless.

Priceless...
"given to men and women. "

That's very good.
It's "women" not "wimen. "

Write out "women"


Then you'll remember it.

Then I'll give you some pie.

Maruja,

when a man likes a woman,
what should he do?

Tell her, I suppose.

And how do you do that?

I don't know.

But telling a girl
how pretty she is never fails.

I've never seen a black...

And I've talked to Indians
of both kinds, and Chinese...

Chinese!

Yellow as urine.

Know what they eat?

- Snakes!
- That's disgusting!

Look, there she is.

- Ask her to come.
- Pebbles can ask.

- You ask.
- Piss off.

Go on.

Tomiche wants to know
if you're coming with us.

- Blanca, are you going home?
- I'm coming with you.

- You're too young.
- You're too fat!

Do what you like.

- What did she say?
- She's thinking.

There's not much to think about.

- It tastes awful.
- Pass it on.

Can I try?

You still wet the bed.

Last one's a fairy.

Come on, Pebbles,
or it'll be you.

Last one's a fairy.

Fairy.

You're very pretty.

Fairy!

Fairy!

Fairy!

Fairy, fairy!

Shut your face, little girl!

She's right.
Come on, roll.

Piss off!

Don't get angry, Cagurrio.

They're coming, mother.

You know what time it is?

And look at the state of you!

I want an explanation.

It was my fault.

I'm asking your cousin, not you!

Have you nothing to say?

No.

To your room.
I'll talk to you later.

And you're old enough
to have more sense, Carol.

Just like your mother.

Rather like her than you.

You hurt me so much.

Go on with your cousin.

No lunch for either of you.

Take off those trousers!
You look like a militiaman!

I'm glad you live with us.

You're like my big sister.

Carol?

Carol, where are you?

Carol, you're scaring me!

Carol!

You'll be in for it.

I can't do it, Carol.

Why not?
Just tell me why you can't.

Because... damn it,
I'm happy here.

With my friends, my dominoes,

my baths...

And I'm supposed to live
in a house full of bitter memories

with a little girl for company!

You'd be the first to get bored.

Selfish!

Carol!

You're even more stubborn
than your mother.

Can I live with you then?

Yes, dear, yes.

I knew you'd say yes.

Chana, don't you think
grandpa's happier since he came

to live at the big house?

He says he isn't,
but he's fibbing.

YANKEE SON OF A b*tch

I think in the circumstances
it's best not to do anything, Carol,

and pretend we haven't seen it.

You want me to walk past
that every day,

as if it wasn't there?

That'd be cowardly.

Carol, someone left this.

A letter from your father.

I think you should open it.

Maruja!

Maruja!

- Have we got a lesson today?
- No.

I thought there was something
wrong with my memory. Come in.

No, no, I'm not sure about this.

What does it matter to you?
It's on my head.

Your head? That's a laugh.

Lying to your father?

I'm not lying to him.

I don't want him to suffer.

He's all alone.

My mother would say it's all right.

- How did she begin her letters?
- "Dear Robert. "

Dear...

Robert, comma.

I haven't answered

your last letter before

because...

I had a small accident in the house

and broke my wrist.

But that...

might worry him.

I sprained my wrist.

Don't worry,

it's nothing serious,

although it means I can't

hold a pen

to write to you with...

so our friend Maruja's
writing this for me.

You may not remember her...

Is Tomiche in?

Upstairs, stripping corncobs.

Feel sorry for them, don't you?

It's poor man's fare.

Tomiche!

He can be naughty but
he's good to me. He's a great help.

Hi.

Back in a minute.

- What is it?
- I want you to take a letter.

You brought the money?

Fifteen pesetas.

Let's have it then.

And next time come to the house.
People can see us here.

Let's go.

We're going goldfinch hunting.

I know you eat them
but I hate seeing them k*lled.

Not these, I sell them
because they sing.

Come on, you'll like it.

- I'll ask my grandpa.
- You have to get up at 4 AM.

Then I won't ask him.

What's going on?

- Evening, sir.
- Is everything ready?

- Yes.
- Move, we don't want to be noticed.

They're going hunting too.

For bigger birds...

- Where are they going?
- To dinner first,

then, when they're drunk,

they'll take
some poor devil for a walk.

- Know what "going for a walk" is?
- No.

Grandpa!

I love you.

- How can you pee so far?
- I just can.

I get nervous
and can't do it at all.

Come on, Carol,
I'll show you something.

Watch this.

Carol!

Tomi!

- Tomi?
- So romantic!

You're both just stupid.

She's in your pocket.

Wait, Carol!

Carol!

Carol!
Quick, come and hide!

Come on,
it'll soon be dawn.

They're in the net.

They've had their walk.

Tomiche's father
was taken for one too.

Come now, don Amalio,
even though you put in

an appearance at church, you're
a freethinker but I still respect you.

But with the child
it's different.

Carol's a protestant.

Then she should stop being one,
this is Spain.

For the sake of her soul,
and even her happiness.

- She'll be a misfit otherwise.
- The black sheep of the family.

Sooner or later she'll

see her school friends
having their First Communion.

She doesn't go to school.
Maruja teaches her.

After the w*r, we'll see...

I don't understand you, father.

Would you deny her
her First Communion?

No, I wouldn't deny her anything.

But she should be
the one to decide.

Your grandfather
and aunt Dolores and I

- have decided...
- We haven't decided anything.

Yes...

We've decided to consult you

on a matter of utmost importance
to a child...

a Christian child.

Do you wish

- to receive the Eucharist?
- What?

To do the First Communion?

Of course I do.

On one condition.

Catholics don't make conditions.

I want to wear a sailor-suit.

Look, another one!

I sell them by the dozen.

Tomiche talks a lot
but it's her who takes the lead.

Look.

Come on.

It's a good hiding place.

Nobody else knows about it.

Not even Pebbles.

I hid here for days once.

And when they caught you?

They made me regret hiding out.

This is my dad.

It was taken on Long Island.

- He really flies planes?
- Sure, for commercial airlines.

But he's fighting in the w*r now.

You take that book everywhere.

My diary. I write down
everything that happens to me.

- Have you written about me too?
- Of course.

Can I see?

- It's in English!
- Give it here.

"Tomiche's a bit rough
but I like him.

Will he pluck up
the courage to kiss me?"

I'm going to bed.

Sleep tight, dear.

What are you doing?

Putting the news
from the front on the map.

This is them.

And this is us.

And that is the mystery
of the Holy Trinity.

- Late again, Carol?
- Sorry, it won't happen again.

I hope not.
We were

talking about the Holy Trinity.

Three persons in one and only

one true God. What do you think
of the mystery, Carol?

Well, as a mystery
it's very... mysterious.

Quiet!

You must make an effort.
April's almost here.

You need to catch up
on spiritual matters.

You have to stay
in the ring, Carol.

- Carol's "it" now.
- No, you're "it", you cheat.

I'll hit you, Blanca!

- Can we start later?
- Are you waiting for someone?

Well, yes.
Some friends.

- All right, we'll wait then.
- Thanks, grandpa.

Can't you get started?
Come on, let's cheer her on.

Carol, Carol, Carol,

Carol, Carol!

Hurry up, everyone's
waiting for you.

Come on!

Just a minute, children.

Think of a wish. You have
to blow out all the candles.

It's my dad!

Look, here he comes!

See that?
It's my dad!

Wait.

There he is!

Alfonso,

he's showing a white flag!

I don't give a sh*t!

Look!

Get down, it's a b*mb!

Madrid's fallen!

Victory,

victory, victory!

Long live Spain!

Long live Spain!

Long live Franco!

Long live Spain!

Carol.

Let's go home.

...and I shall see you no more.

...5th day since the Victory.

With the w*r over, more and more
people join the glorious uprising.

The new law of political liability

will take effect immediately
all over Spain.

Political parties and workers' unions
are declared ill*gal,

their assets have been seized
and redistributed by the new regime.

On churches and other buildings
all over Spain

the face of the victorious leader
of the armed forces

is beginning to appear.

The only bad news in these times
of rejoicing

is the death of
Major Joaquín García Morato,

k*lled in an air crash
as he was giving an exhibition

for a group of German filmmakers.

This ace pilot, hero of

the glorious national movement...

- Long live Spain!
- Long live Spain!

- Long live Franco!
- Long live Franco!

THE REPUBLIC

Your attention!

Can you hear me?

Good.

The authorities will soon be here.

I want the cheers and applause
for our Leader to fill the square.

Long live f*cking Franco!

Who said that?

- Who said that?
- Let's go.

Such coarse remarks must not be used
in connection with the Generalissimo.

From now on "Long live Spain!"
And no more.

Go on, take it.

No, there's nowhere
to take letters now.

- Just one last time.
- Go away!

- What?
- You're so stubborn.

I told you he wouldn't take
any more letters.

Nowhere to take them now.

- See you tomorrow?
- Yes, same place as always.

I bet your dad escaped.
You'll see.

Where are you going?

Well, well, well.
Look what we have here.

Come here.

Don't be frightened.

- I only want to talk.
- Tell me from there.

I said come here, f*ck it!

That's more like it.
Obedient.

I can't hear you from here.

Understand?

Now let's settle a few scores.

You shouldn't do that to the kid.
Let him go.

What the f*ck do you mean?
Shut up and stand to attention.

Stand to attention, f*ck it!

Hey, you! Stop!

Stop!

Stop or I'll fire!

Get your strength back first,
then we'll see.

Grandpa,

I know you'll say no but I want
to bring Tomiche to meet him.

That could be dangerous.

It's important to me.

You're so stubborn.

Tomi.

Tomi.

What happened to you?

My uncle caught me
on the way home.

I told mum I had a fight
with Cagurrio and Pebbles.

I can't tell her
her brother did it.

I've got a surprise for you.

Come on.

Search the ground floor.

What's going on?

Good morning, Amalio.

I see you don't know

there was trouble last night.

I've heard nothing.

It seems a fugitive
disguised as one of our men

was sighted but escaped.

And that justifies all this fuss?

He was a foreigner.

I see.

Given the circumstances, I want
to search the house. Security.

I can't allow that, Adrián.

We all have obligations.

Adrián!

Adrián!

Come up here.

- He must be down at the river.
- Let's go after him.

- He's not here.
- Give me that.

- Don't let anyone through the door.
- This way, Alfonso.

Come on.

- Wait. Where are you going?
- I live here.

Well?

Go on then.

Come on.

Grandpa!

Chana, what is it?

Where's my father?

He escaped by the river.

Come on.

- I'm going down to the river.
- Me too.

No, you wait here, okay?

Tomi.

Be careful.

- Where's Carol going?
- To her grandparents' in New York.

Is grandfather Amalio going too?

- Stupid!
- Alvaro!

He's taking her
to the port in Lisbon.

- Can I go with her?
- No.

- What about when I'm older?
- If she asks you.

Of course she will.

This rosary's for you.
His Holiness himself blessed it.

Mother said I can go
and visit you when I'm older.

Will you invite me?

Of course I will.

Chana.

I love...

you.

Tomiche's mother

wants you to have this.

Off you go.

And be happy.

Don't worry, Carol.

Nothing serious
will happen to your father.

He's a prisoner-of-w*r
from a powerful country.

That's very much in his favor.
At the worst...

they'll only hold him
for a couple of months.

I hope so.

Grandpa,

why don't you come too?

Can you see me in Manhattan without
my friends and my dominoes?

That would be ridiculous.

But I promise you one thing.

I'll go and see you

when your father's back home.

- Carol.
- Carol.

Carol.

Goodbye.

CAROL'S JOURNEY